June 2012 BeautyBar.com/Allure Sample Society Shipment

I have had a busy summer playing catch up and trying all my beauty sampling products.  In my excitement, I noticed I have been remiss in posting updates on my shipments as I receive them.  Here's information on the June 2012 BeautyBar.com Sample Society with Allure Magazine shipment ($15 a month).

The June 2012 shipment contained 5 deluxe samples as well as a $15 gift code for a future purchase, not to mention their usual booklet of tips as follows (descriptions courtesy of BeautyBar.com):

• Jane Iredale - Just Kissed Lip Plumper - Madrid (Sample; full size $25) - Make your lips full and kissable with Jane Iredale Just Kissed Lip Plumper. Special peptides give moisture and visible plumping that lasts. One single sweep of this tinted cool mint and ginger lip plumper and your lips will be transformed with sheer natural color and a refreshing feeling you can't top.
  • Refreshing lip plumper that makes lips full and kissable
  • Delivers a sheer natural color
  • Special peptides moisturize and plump lips
  Especially Suited For: All skin types
  Essential Elements: Just Kissed Lip Plumper features spearmint and peppermint oils, in combination with ginger root extract, to stimulate blood circulation making lips fuller faster without pain. Shea butter, sunflower oil and aloe vera soften and hydrate lips, while the essential oils of lemon and tangerine help to exfoliate dead skin cells
  For Best Effect: To moisturize, condition and plump your lips while adding just a kiss of color, sweep on Just Kissed Lip Plumper straight from the tube or with your Lip Brush.

• Oscar De La Renta - Live in Love (Sample; full size $58) - 
Inspired by Oscar de la Renta's passion for life, Live in Love Eau de Parfum Spray is a reflection of the woman who lives each day filled with joy and beauty. A green floral bouquet, with a sparkling heart and sensuous dry down. A classic scent in its richness and beauty, but with an updated more contemporary feeling.
• Women's fragrance inspired by her passion for life
• A green floral bouquet
• A classic, yet contemporary scent

• Alterna - Boho Waves Texture Mist (Sample; full size $22) - 
Alterna's breakthrough Bamboo Style Boho Waves Texture Mist combines strengthening organic bamboo extract and nourishing blue yucca root in a weightless texturizing spray that instantly gives you natural, tousled, "just-back-from-the-beach" waves. Sport them at the office, at the wine bar, on the beach - these waves are meant to be seen in.
• Adds texture, volume and shine
• Creates natural-looking, shore-sexy hair
• Weightless spray won't weigh hair down
Especially Suited For: All hair types
Essential Elements: Made with Certified Organic ingredients.
For Best Effect: Spray on damp or dry hair from roots to ends, and shape with fingers for loose, tousled style.
Free Of: Sulfates, sodium chloride, parabens, gluten, TEA, phthalates.

• Caudalie - Premier Cru Eye Cream (Sample; full size $95) - Caudalie Premier Cru The Eye Cream is the ultimate anti-aging eye cream for immediate and long-lasting visible results. It targets all the visible signs of aging around the eyes: wrinkles, loss of elasticity, dehydration, dark circles, puffiness, dark spots and loss of radiance. Premier Cru The Eye Cream immediately brightens and correct dark circles thanks to silvery, coppery and iridescent pearlizers.
  • Anti-aging cream
  • Targets visible signs of aging around the eyes
  • Eliminates dark circles
  Especially Suited For: All skin types
  Essential Elements: Caudalie Premier Cru The Eye Cream comes in a 0.5-ounce bottle.
  For Best Effect: Put a small amount of The Eye Cream on the tip of your finger and then delicately apply with a gentle tapping motion working around the eye from the inside out. Then, lightly smooth the area, beginning with the undereye, then moving out towards the temples and up to the eyelid. Repeat 3 times.

• Murad - Clarifying Cleanser (Sample; full size $26) - 
Use Murad Clarifying Cleanser that helps eliminate 99.9% of surface bacteria and clears blemishes. This cleanser prepares your skin to allow maximum penetration of ingredients and prevents new breakouts. It is especially designed for those with blemish-prone skin.
• Helps clear blemishes
• Prevents new breakouts
• Prepares the skin to maximize penetration of ingredients
• Suitable for blemish-prone skin
It contains various organic and pharmaceutical ingredients that releases acne treatment for hours even after rinsing.

Just For You: Blemish-prone skin 

A Closer Look: Murad Clarifying Cleanser contains various organic and pharmaceutical ingredients that cools and calms inflamed skin. It also can provide powerful antibacterial protection to inhibit blemish formation. 

Get Started: Massage a small amount over damp face and neck. Rinse with warm water and pat dry.

• June's tips:

1. Make Your Lips Look Plumper
2. How to Wear Fragrance Politely
3. Getting the Sexiest Beachy Waves
4. Eye Anti-Aging 101
5. Clear Skin Made Simple

Overall rating: Booyah!

Membership is limited so if you get the chance to join the Sample Society, I highly recommend it.

Carmine Box - October 2011 Shipment

Firstly, I must say that it is great to have friends overseas.  My buddy Grace (www.allthatslap.com) keeps me updated on UK products and I do my best to return the favor by letting her know what's being offered on this side of the pond.  Recently, she was kind enough to get me some beauty boxes that are offered there  that are not available to us here in the good old U.S. of A.  This post will be reviewing the Carmine shipment of October 2011.  I know it's a tad late for those of you from the UK reading this but I felt it worth posting as there are products featured here that are great to know about.

This beauty box, packaged in a great, sturdy reusable box, contains 5 deluxe samples for 12.75 GBP (including shipping and handling), or a bit over $20 USD, based on current exchange rates.  Considering the contents, it is well worth it, in my opinion.


The shipment, along with descriptions as provided by the box insert (my comments in italics), included the following:

• Balance Me - Super Moisturising Hand Cream (30 ml) - Made by the experts in natural skincare, this multi-award winning cream will get you soft and smooth from head to toe - with delicate aromatherapy scents included! A promo code for a discounted purchase is offered.

• Daniel Sandler - Eye Delight in Peach (3 g) - A pot of sweet, shimmery dust to give your eyes a little something to smile about.  Created by professional make-up artist Daniel Sandler this incredibly versatile eye color can be swept across the eyelids or mixed with water for a bolder effect.  A promo code for a discounted purchase is offered.  (I dare say this is a full-sized product which retails for 10.25 GBP.  When I compare the product I received to the photo on www.danielsandler.com, it appears to be the same size.)

• Trind - Nail Repair Natural (9 ml) - Produced by Dutch experts in nail, cuticle and hand care, this little lacquer is not just another nail varnish.  Made with TLC, brush it on to naturally strengthen and protect your nails.  A promo code for a discounted purchase is offered. (This is a full-sized product which retails for $14 USD so coupled with the Daniel Sandler Eye Delight, the box has paid for itself.)

• TheBalm - FratBoy All-in-one Shadow/Blush (8.5 g) - Want to get noticed by those college frat boys? (Not me, I'm a tad older than them.) This peachy-apricot-coloured blush doubles up as an eye shadow and miraculously adds life to any skin tone.  So hold the ketchup, here's a taste of vintage America that will also go nicely in your handbag. (Another full-sized product which retails for $21 USD...are you seeing a trend?)

• Caudalie - Quenching Sorbet-Creme (10 ml) - This deliciously creamy sorbet will naturally refresh and hydrate your skin with all the anti-oxidising powder of red grape seed.  It's the perfect way to quench your thirst after your summer holidays!  A promo code for a free Caudalie Travel Set with a qualifying purchase is offered.

Here are swatches of the Daniel Sandler Eye Delight in Peach and TheBalm Frat Boy Shadow/Blush:

Overall rating: Booyah!


I pray the folks at Carmine see this post and will offer shipment to the U.S.  I just love their sampling offers and can't wait to see what future shipments bring.  I could not take advantage of the promotions offered as they had long expired by the time the box got to me but I am pleased with my purchase nonetheless.