Birchbox- February 2013 Shipment

The February 2013 Birchbox, the "Red Carpet Ready" edition, is inspired by all the major award shows that February brings, not to mention that lovely holiday smack dab in the middle of the month.  Here is some insight into the picks that Katia, Hayley and the Birchbox team packed up this month.

This Birchbox included 5 items as follows:

• Beauty Protector Protect & Detangle (Sample size; Full size: $21.95) Great for all hair types, this nourishing elixir performs 7 hair-healing functions.  Among them: locking in color, adding shine, and instant detangling.

• Jouer Matte Moisture Tint in Nude (.07 fl oz/2.3 ml; full size $38) This SPF 15 oil-free tinted moisturizer blends in beautifully to even out skin and control shine.

• Kiehl's Powerful Wrinkle Reducing Cream (0.25 fl oz/7 ml; full size $52) The latest anti-aging treatment to rock our world, this new moisturizer is loaded with copper and calcium to restore elasticity and reduce wrinkles.

• Oscar de la Renta - Live in Love (Full size $25-78) Fragrance devotees adore this elegant floral, which layers ethereal notes of hyacinth and orchid over a rich base of sandalwood and cedar.

• Extra! Ghirardelli - Milk & Caramel Square - Thanks Birchbox for giving me my first taste of Valentine's Day chocolate.

Overall rating:  Booyah! for introducing me to a great hair care and skincare product.  Beauty Protector works wonders on my curly hair and the Kiehl's cream is a welcome addition to my night care regimen.

As always, Birchbox monthly shipments cost $10 (birchbox.com).  Access to the online Birchbox magazine is included with this month's features on Pantone's 2013 Color of the Year, Hollywood Hair, as well as insights on Red Carpet-Inspired manicures and insider tips on how to primp like a star.

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.