Product Review: Colgate® Optic White®

I was selected to take part in Influenster's Sugar 'n Spice VoxBox. One of the products that I received to test was the Colgate Optic White System. This system included a toothbrush, toothpaste and mouthwash. I was pretty excited to get a new toothbrush. It has "whitening cups" and "polishing bristles," which are supposed to help hold the toothpaste and keep it in your mouth and on your teeth. The back of the brush also had a texture added that you could use to scrape your tongue, which also helps to freshen breath.

I was a little hesitant to try to the toothpaste because I have always been a loyal Crest user, but in the spirit of trying new things, I decided to give it a whirl. The toothpaste foamed up in my mouth more than what I was expecting. It has a great taste, so I didn't really mind. The extra foam felt a little soapy at first, but after I got used to it, it felt like it was able to get in between my teeth and into all of the little nooks and crannies.

I'm not a huge fan of mouthwash, so I let Nick test that out. I just asked him what he thought and he said that he liked it, even though it was a little "stingy." I assume this means that its less painful than Listerine, because he continued to use it.

It was hard to tell if I got the whitening results that the product promised. I should have taken a before and after photo. I did feel like the products did a great job cleaning my teeth and freshening my breath. As a loyal Crest user, I feel like Colgate's Optic White toothpaste will be finding a place in my shopping cart very soon, as long as I have a coupon, of course.

Goody® QuikStyle™ Paddle Brush

When I heard about Influenster, which promised to "turn my social influence into rewards", I was intrigued. If you know me, you know that I love free stuff and I love trying new things. If I like what I try, I tend to talk about it and encourage you to sign up as well (let me know if you want an invite, its pretty fun). When I received my first VoxBox, I was thrilled. Among the  

items in the box was the Goody® QuikStyle™ Paddle Brush.

As a new mom, I need any and all products that will save me time while also helping me look presentable and professional. This brush promises to do just that, buy helping to cut down on the time it takes to blow dry my hair. According to Goody's website:

The GOODY® QUIKSTYLE™ Paddle brush works like a towel and brush in one. The super absorbent (and antimicrobial) microfiber removes 30% of water from wet hair to help speed your drying time! You can effortlessly detangle right out of the shower and continue using it while you blow dry!

I'll admit, when I heard "towel and brush in one", I was very skeptical. It could be because of the ridiculous amount of television that I had been watching during my maternity leave. I had seen so many products that promised to do everything from cushion your hiney to remove skin tags to suck out ear wax. I'd like it to be noted that I didn't purchase ANY of them, during my endless nights and days in the house. Since I received this brush for free, I figured that I had nothing to loose and gave it a shot.

Here is the quick and dirty:

• It works like a brush - duh. The brush is lightweight, but a little bulky. The bristles are soft and go through wet, damp and dry hair without any problem. I always comb my hair first before I use it, so I'm not sure how it will work if you're fresh out of the shower or bath. I noticed that the towel bristles get a little discombobulated, the longer that I use it, but so far they don't smell bad and don't get stuck in my hair. I haven't timed how long it takes to dry my hair with this brush versus my normal one - because I'm a new mom, remember? But I have to say that my hair looks smooth and healthy after using this. I think that the vented nature of the paddle helps - there's a vent in the back that helps heat the bristles and circulate air while I'm drying
• Do I like it? - Yes. Would I have ever purchased this on my own? Probably not. Can you borrow mine? Sorry, no.
• Would I suggest it to other people to buy? Probably - so long as that person had relatively straight hair already, and didn't require any extra styling steps. This flat brush, when used properly, can replace the extra step of flat-ironing my hair, which is a much appreciated time-saving perk.
• Price:  $10.39 on Amazon
• More information:
• Goody's website
• Goody on Facebook
• Goody on Twitter

Based on this first VoxBox, I can't wait to see what else Influenster has in store for me! Bring on the time-saving products!