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.

June 2012 GLOSSYBOX Contents

Since Glossybox launched in the USA in April, I have been looking forward to receiving my monthly shipments.  My June 2012 installment, entitled Summer Simplicity, included an insert card that reads, "As the weather heats up and you head to the beach, it's time to get back to basics and let your natural skin glow.  This month's GLOSSYBOX allows you to do so; treat yourself to lush products that will revitalize your face, pamper the body, enrich your locks and add a luxurious aroma of summer notes.  With your natural beauty restored, all you'll need to worry about is which bikini to wear."

The contents of my June shipment were as follows:

BeautyADDICTS Show-off Mascara - Full size: 0.39 oz/$20.00 - This unique formula with argan oil will give your lashes an intense, dramatic look without clumps or smudges.

First Aid Beauty Smooth Shave Cream - Deluxe Sample 2.0 fl oz; Full size 6.8 oz/$16.50 - Smooth Shave Cream is a gentle, non-irritating formula containing everything you need to obtain a close, long-lasting shave.  Keep your legs looking smooth and sexy all summer long.

Kinerase Restructure Firming Cream - Deluxe Sample 0.24 oz; Full size 1.7 oz/$98.00 - Erase the years from your face with elastin-strengthening technology that visibly transforms and contours your skin.

Shea Terra Organics Ultimate Moisturizing Body Crème - Deluxe sample 1 oz; Full size 9.0 oz/$18.00 - This moisturizing cream for the whole body is made with 30% organic shea butter, leaving your skin smooth and soft.

Wella Professionals Enrich Moisturizing Treatment - Deluxe Sample 0.84 fl oz; Full size 5.07 oz/$12.00 - Create free flowing hair with this lightweight treatment containing silk extract that instantly restores your mane.

A Perfume Organic Urban Organic Fragrance - Sample vial; Full size 0.41 oz/$65.00 - The combination of lavender and grapefruit makes for a fresh and citric scent.

July 2012 GLOSSY Mag - A mini-magazine with brief articles on Trends, News and Wellness.  Found it a bit unusual that the July edition was included with the June box.

Overall rating: Booyah!  This box was much better than the one I received last month.  The products were perfect for my skin and hair type and I was able to make use of them.

Glam Bag June 2012 Shipment

The June 2012 "Out All Night" Glam Bag, a gold glittered clutch, contained a mix of skincare, hair care, and makeup products, all for a $10 price tag.  The envelope, snap closure clutch featured items from Philosophy, NYX, Living Proof and Marbella as well as bonus offers from Living Proof and Philosophy.

The contents were as follows:

• Philosophy - Take a Deep Breath Oil-Free Energizing Oxygen Gel Cream Moisturizer - 12 ml/0.4 fl oz deluxe sample; Full size 2 oz.; $34 - This lightweight moisturizer detoxifies and helps protect for a healthy-looking glow. Bonus promo code for free shipping on a future order through 7/15/2012 on philosophy.com. My thoughts: I am glad the deluxe sample came in a tube as I don't really like products in jar containers as they often lose their potency as the air hits the contents.  I like this moisturizer as my dry skin tends to lean towards normal during the warmer summer months so this lightweight product fits the bill nicely.  I would definitely re-purchase a full size if Philosophy repackages in a tube so the product properties can remain stable.

• NYX - Round Lipstick - Iced Honey (556) - 4 g/.14 oz - Full size; $5 - Incredible color that resists wear and smudging, let your lipstick last all night with an amazing velvety smooth, mineral formula. My thoughts: I liked this formula but have never been a fan of frosty lipstick shades.  Otherwise, I would have kept this full-sized lippie instead of passing it along to a friend.

• Living Proof - frizz Nourishing Styling Cream - 60 ml/2 fl oz deluxe sample; Full size 4 oz.; $26 - Stops frizz in its tracks, keeping all styles frizz-free, soft and smooth.  Living Proof's miracle molecule OFPMA, conquers frizz by blocking humidity without silicone or heavy oils.  Bonus offer for a frizz Shampoo (2 oz.), Conditioner (2 oz.) and Nourishing Cream (4 oz.) or Weightless Spray (4 oz.) for $35 with free shipping and free sample at checkout.  There does not appear to be an expiration date on this offer.  My thoughts: I loved this styling cream.  It worked nicely on my dry, color-treated curly hair.  I used it after my regular leave-in conditioner and styled my curls.  I also used it before blowing out my hair and I noticed a nice, smooth finish on my hair, even on humid days.

• Marbella Permanent Eyeliner Pen - Black - Full size; Retail $19 - Master the art of beautiful eyes with this unique waterproof, smudge free, and long-lasting semi-permanent eyeliner pen.  My thoughts: I really liked this felt-tip liner pen, though the color payoff left much to be desired.  I prefer darker blacks, like the finish on my L'Oreal Carbon Black Lineur Intense.  I liked the staying power but I didn't get the results I expected as it didn't last all night.  I suspect that the formula didn't "agree" with my under-eye products so I will need to experiment with application techniques to see if I can maximize the longevity of this product.  One downside was that the ingredients of this product were not provided.  I had to research the ingredients online.

Here are swatches of the lipstick and eyeliner pen:

Overall rating:  Booyah!  The cost of a monthly Glam Bag is $10 so June was worth the price.