July 2012 BeautyBar.com/Allure Sample Society Shipment

Allure Magazine has partnered with BeautyBar.com in launching a beauty sampling program.  Each monthly shipment costs $15 dollars and contains 5 deluxe samples as well as a $15 gift code for a future purchase, and a booklet of tips.  If you end up using the code, the box pays for itself.

The July 2012 shipment contained the following:

• Borghese - Tono Body Creme (1 oz/28 g; full size 8.4 oz/$36.50) - An extra-rich treatment creme that locks in hydration with moisture intensifying molecules. 
  The body is veiled in invisible moisture, which becomes obvious in both the appearance and texture of the skin.
  Firms and smoothes skin tone.
  Features & Benefits:
  • Fennel, Witch Hazel, Matricaria, Horse Chestnut and Ivy Extracts - Hydrate skin and improve tone and texture
  • Acqua di Vita Living Water Complex - Restores all-over moisture balance
  • Peppermint, Rosemary, Lavender and Geranium Oils - Treat the senses to aromatherapy

• VBeauté- Eye Never Nourishing Repair Eye Crème (0.033 fl oz/1 ml sample; full size $85) - VBeaute Eye Never is an age-defining, line concealing eye cream that immediately smoothes and silkens the delicate skin around the eyes, minimizing the appearance of puffiness, lines and wrinkles. Formulated with the brand's powerful age-defying complexes, this eye cream boosts collagen production while protecting against free radical damage. At the same time, it helps increase moisture and relax muscle contractions to help prevent future signs of aging.

• Sisley-Paris - Hydra Global Intense Anti-Aging Hydration (0.14 oz/4g/4ml sample; full size 40ml/$250) - 


If you are suffering from major skin dehydration, turn to Sisley Hydra Global Intense Anti-Aging Hydration. Developed with a three-tiered approach to treatment, this formula uses botanical, mineral and aromatic extracts to replenish skin’s thirsty moisture cushion in the epidermis, dermis and stratum corneum layers of the skin. Skin is left intensely moisturized and revitalized, so that wrinkles and line lines are minimized and elasticity and youthful appearance are restored.
• Hydrating anti-aging skin treatment
• Utilizes botanical, mineral and aromatic extracts
• Reduces fine lines and wrinkles
• Restores skin’s elasticity and youthful appearance
Especially Suited For: All skin types
Essential Elements: Hydra Global features a unique combination of botanical (padina pavonica, wild pansy and chestnut), mineral (malachite) and aromatic extracts (essential oils of marjoram, lavender and sage) to hydrate and restore skin.
For Best Effect:Use Hydra-Global morning and night, on perfectly cleansed face and neck.

• Vincent Longo - Duo Eye Pencil - Sangria/White Glimmer (Full size 0.64 oz/1,81g/$26) - Smile your way through a glitzy event or a stop at the coffee shop with Vincent Longo’s Duo Lip Pencil. Providing you with maximum creativity and minimal guesswork, this smudge-resistant pencil is easy to apply and long-lasting. The soft texture and rich pigment allow for precise definition and shaping.
  
  
  • Sharpens without breakage
  • Non-chapping
  • Long-lasting
  • Smudge-resistant
  
  
  Available in 10 duo shades, this lip pencil has proven staying power that holds your lip color in place and eliminates bleeding.

• Jouer - Luminizing Moisture Tint SPF 20 (0.17 fl oz/5 ml sample; full size $38) - 
Jouer Cosmetics Luminizing Moisture Tint SPF 20 evens out imperfections and fades the appearance of fine lines with its light-diffusing multi-mineral formula. This lightweight, water-resistant, hypoallergenic tint features SPF 20 to protect from UVA and UVB rays while ginseng and gingko biloba leaf extract deliver antioxidants to the skin, promoting a healthy complexion.
• Moisturizing brightening tint formulated with SPF 20
• Evens out imperfections and fades the appearance and fine lines
• Water-resistant, hypoallergenic and oil-free
Especially Suited For: All skin types
Essential Elements: SPF 20 protects from UVA and UVB rays while ginseng and gingko biloba leaf extract deliver antioxidants to skin.
Free of: Fragrance, oil
For Best Effect: Apply to clean skin to even out skin tone. Layer for additional coverage.

Here are swatches of the tinted moisturizer and the duo lip pencil:




Jouer Luminizing Moisture Tint; Vincent Longo Duo Lip Pencil Sangria, White Glimmer

Jouer Luminizing Moisture Tint - blended; Vincent Longo Duo Lip Pencil Sangria, White Glimmer

July's tips:

1. Moisturize Your Body Like a Pro
2. How to Hide Crow's Feet
3. The Three Things Dry Skin Hates
4. Bold Lip Lessons
5. Look Good When You Oversleep

Overall rating: Booyah!

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

July 2012 GLOSSYBOX Shipment

I know it's the beginning of August but, believe it or not, my July 2012 GLOSSYBOX arrived today.  The July 2012 installment, entitled Summer Nights offered the most variety I've ever seen in a beauty sampling program.  The insert card reads, "After a sizzling day in the sun, there is nothing better than a cool summer night.  This month's GLOSSYBOX offers you the essentials you'll need to indulge in products that show off your sun kissed skin and hair and enhance sultry eyes.  Afterwards, thrown on your sexy sandals and dance the night away under the shimmering summer sky."

The contents of my July shipment were as follows:

Alessandro International - Pedix Heel Rescue Balm - Sample size: 30 ml; Full size: 100 ml/$18.50 - This foot cream oil imported exclusively from Germany provides intensive protection and nourishes skin, leaving it soft and supple.

Ofra Cosmetics - Universal Eyebrow Pencil - Full size: 0.04 oz/$10 - Created with a beeswax base for an effortless and long lasting application, this water resistant pencil is perfect for even the most sensitive eyes.

Sebastian - Color Ignite Multi Tone Shampoo - Sample size: 50 ml/1.7 fl oz; Full size: 8.4 oz/$14.95 - Smart color moisture complex that targets your color-treated strands, to deeply moisturize and restructure hair fibers wherever needed most.

Sebastian - Color Ignite Multi Tone Conditioner - Sample size: 47 g/1.65 fl oz; Full size: 6.6 oz/$16.95 - This micro-bubble conditioner whips, wraps and wows your strands leaving your hair with long-lasting color and vibrant shine.

Senna Cosmetics - Double Dose Lip Lacquer - Chocolate Cherry - Full size: 0.34 oz/9.65 g/$22 - This extremely shiny gloss formula contains light reflecting pigments that make your lips appear fuller and hydrated.  Vitamins and Jojoba Oil add extra conditioning to your pout.

Chocolate

Cherry

Bonus: Caswell-Massey - Almond & Aloe Hand & Body Emulsion - 2 samples 5 ml/.17 fl oz; Full size: 10 oz./$24 - Softens and moisturizes dehydrated skin.  The pure sweet almond oil will leave your skin as smooth as velvet.

July 2012 GLOSSY Mag - A mini-magazine with brief articles on Trends, News and Wellness.

Here are swatches of the eyebrow pencil and lip lacquer shades:

Top to Bottom: Brow Pencil (strokes), Brow Pencil (as a liner); Chocolate Lip Lacquer; Cherry Lip Lacquer

Here are the lacquer shades on my lips:

Chocolate (darker shade)

Cherry (Lighter Shade)

Cherry over Chocolate

Overall rating:  Booyah!  I loved the mix of products I received this month.  The insert card led me to expect an eyeshadow or liner rather than an eyebrow pencil as it mentioned sultry eyes but I can always use the pencil as a liner.

Beauty Box 5 July 2012 Shipment

Beauty Box 5 is a new beauty sampling program that costs $12 a month, $30 per quarter or $100 per year (www.beautybox5.com).  I received my first shipment which contained 4 items in a drawstring pouch.

Here is a list of my July 2012 shipment contents and descriptions as reflected in the insert card:

Blinc - Mascara - Black - Sample .7 g/.02 oz - Full size .21 oz; Retail $26 - Defy the summer heat and the swimming pool with this water-resistent, no-smudge, flake-free mascara that surrounds your lashes with little tubes of love.

Spongeables - Pedi-Scrub Foot Buffer - Lavender-Tea Tree Oil Aromatherapy - Trial size: 28 g/1 oz (good for 5+ washes); Retail $2.99 - Nourish, invigorate, and revitalize with this foot buffer for an at-home spa experience.  Use soft side to cleanse and moisturize and flip over to scruffy side to exfoliate and massage.

Hollyren - Eyelashes - 1 pair - Retail $7 - These easy to apply lashes give you the perfect full-lash effect for a night out on the town.

Bodyography - Makeup Primer - Sample 15 ml/.53 oz - Full size 1 oz; Retail $30 - Erase the look of fine lines, prolong the wear of your favorite foundation and help prevent collagen breakdown with this oil-free, anti-aging primer.

Overall rating: Booyah! for the variety of items this box included, not to mention the value.  From what I have gathered, it appears that the contents can vary for each monthly shipment, as I have seen reviews of other July 2012 boxes with different contents.

Have you tried Beauty Box 5?  What are your thoughts?

Glam Bag July 2012 Shipment

The July Glam Bag, themed "The Land of Beauty," was a hot pink mesh, striped zipper bag that contained skincare, hair care, nail and lip products as well as two bonus offers from Nu-Me (Glammies can choose one of the two).

Here's a review of the items I received and descriptions as reflected on the brand websites:

Juice Beauty - Green Apple SPF 15 Moisturizer - 15 ml/.5 fl oz deluxe sample; Full size 1.7 oz; $38 - Revitalize with optimum anti-aging benefits and protect with full-spectrum chemical-free protection. With a blend of brightening hydroxy acid, certified organic apple and lemon juices, age-defying peptides, DMAE, alpha lipoic acid, Co Q10 and vitamin antioxidants, this is the optimum dual purpose moisturizer.  The Green Apple Age-Defy Collection is designed for mature and all skin types (except very sensitive or rosacea skin due to the alpha/beta hydroxy fruit acids). This Collection is particularly effective for hyperpigmentation, dark spots, uneven skin tone and texture.  A blend of brightening hydroxy acid, certified organic apple and lemon juices, age-defying peptides, DMAE, alpha lipoic acid, coenzyme Q10 and vitamin antioxidants makes this an optimum dual purpose moisturizer. My thoughts: As I have dry, sensitive skin, the lemon juice included in the formula irritated my skin.

NU-ME - HydroPunch Hydrating Conditioner - 20 ml/.67 oz. deluxe sample; Full size $24.99 - Introducing Hydro-Punch, a revolutionary synergy between traditional Moroccan Berber, Moroccan Argan Oil, and the SERATIN-K Protein Complex (patented technology).  Made with naturally strengthening Bamboo, your hair is instantly detangled as sage extract and Jojoba oil increase the softness level of your hair.  This formula is enriched with the SERATIN-K Patented Technology, an active, protein-based complex shown to provide excellent moisture, binding capacity, and hair follicle nourishment for a smooth and silky feel.  Natural Argan oil from Morocco contains exceptionally high levels of essential fatty acids, such as linoleic acid (omega-6), for countering dryness in hair and loss of elasticity while preventing dull hair and split ends. A powerful antioxidant agent mends damage caused by weather or harsh chemicals. Healthy Vitamin E helps to regain shine and a gorgeous, vibrant look.  Bonus offers are $49 for a set of HydroPunch or Pure Remedy products or 50% off a styling product on numestyle.com expiring on October 31, 2012.  My thoughts: As I have dry, color-treated curly hair, this conditioner is right up my alley.  Sounds like I'll be taking advantage of the HydroPunch product offer.

Yes to Cucumbers - On-The-Go Facial Towelettes - 10 travel towelettes; Full size 30 wipes; $5.99 - Yes To Cucumbers Hypoallergenic Facial Towelettes gently remove dirt, sweat and makeup (eye makeup too!) without the need to rinse. Whether you're out and about, going for a run, or having a late night, these towelettes make it a snap to refresh on-the-go. Packed with green superfoods these all-natural, biodegradable towelettes naturally exfoliate, detoxify, and rejuvenate all-in-one. Stay gorgeous, and go from zero to clean in seconds!  My thoughts: I do like these towelettes but I find that it leaves a residue on my skin which requires rinsing.  Otherwise, they are not irritating in anyway to my dry, sensitive skin.

Buxom - Big & Healthy Lip Polish - Leslie - Deluxe Sample; Full Size $18 - Tingle, plump & shine your pout to super-sexy proportions. This shimmering, sheer lip polish instantly creates the look of fuller, more voluptuous lips with luminous shine. Vitamins A & E help keep lips soft, smooth and protected with a refreshing tingling sensation.  My thoughts: This lip gloss is very smooth and hydrating but the fragrance is bothersome for me and I'm not a fan of anything that makes my lips tingle that much.  It makes me think that there's something that I should not have applied to my lips.  Leslie is a shimmery peach neutral shade.

Circus by Andrea's Choice - Nail Color - Somersault - 13.2 ml/.45 fl oz; Full Size price unavailable as product launches Fall 2012 - The Circus Collection includes: Reverso, Ringmaster,Spectacle, Somersault & Tightrope. Each chip-resistant shade is vegan, cruelty free and free of Formaldehyde, Toluene and DBP.  My thoughts: This polish applies somewhat streaky so it requires several coats, though it dries to a glossy finish.  Somersault is a bright, yellow shade more suited for my tootsies as I prefer neutral shades on my hands.

Overall rating:  Booyah!  for value of the product contents and introducing me to NU-ME HydroPunch products; can't wait to try the other products in this line.  Overall, however, this Glam Bag was a Boo-Boo! for me as the formulation of the lip gloss and moisturizer, and the shade of nail polish did not suit me.