Glam Bag/Ipsy August and September 2012 Shipments

The August Glam Bag, themed "Endless Summer," was an orange mesh zipper bag that was trimmed in hot pink with skincare, fragrance, eyeshadow, and nail products as well as a bonus lip product from My Glam.  (Incidentally, My Glam has become Ipsy so all references to the program and website will refer to their new name.)

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

Eclos - Moisture Therapy Regenerative Cream - 7 ml/.25 fl oz deluxe sample; Full size 60g/2 oz; $24.99 - This medium-weight moisturizer with restorative benefits helps smooth and brighten for a youthful finish. Hydration replenishes dry, dulling skin suffering from the signs of aging. Powerful extracts and antioxidants boost collagen levels for noticeable tightening and firming. Exclusively formulated with rejuvenating Apple Stem Cells, clinically proven to significantly reduce wrinkles and improve skin texture in two weeks. Formulated without parabens, sulfates, synthetic fragrances or dyes, mineral oil or petroleum. Directions for use: Apply to clean skin day and night. Can also be applied over EclosTM Cellular Activator Face Serum for optimal results.  My thoughts: I liked the feel of this product but didn't find the sample large enough to result in a firmer skin or a reduction in my fine lines.  For a drugstore product, I did like the formula though.  There is mild fragrance to the cream. There is an offer code for $10 off as well as a free cleanser on ipsy.com.

Eclos - Cellular Activator Facial Serum - 15 ml/.5 fl oz. deluxe sample; Full size 50ml/1.7 fl oz. $24.99 - This lightweight serum from Eclos helps wake up skin's self-renewal process to revitalize fatigued, stressed skin. Unique plant extracts help boost firmness and tone to smooth out fine lines and damage. Exclusively formulated with rejuvenating Apple Stem Cells, clinically proven to significantly reduce wrinkles and improve skin texture in two weeks. Comfrey, Gotu Kola, Tumeric and Green Tea antioxidants shield against skin aging environment assaults, helping to prolong a youthful appearance. Formulated without parabens, sulfates, synthetic fragrances or dyes, mineral oil or petroleum.  Directions for use:  After cleansing, lightly smooth a thin layer over skin in the morning and at night. May be used underneath EclosTM Moisture Therapy Regenerative Cream for optimal results.  My thoughts: I liked the texture of this serum.  There is a mild fragrance to it though.

Demeter - Roll On Perfume Oil - Clean Skin - Full size .29 fl oz/$10 - Simple. Subtle. Singular scents. Each Day. Everywhere. Demeter Perfume Oils are long-lasting and formulated with Jojoba Oil and Vitamin E to pamper and soften the skin. The convenient roll-on applicator is perfect for anyone looking for a great scent on the go. Apply to pulse points, wrists, and neck. Use as needed to refresh fragrance. Or, mix, match and layer them directly on the skin to create your own personal fragrance experience.  What's sexier than clean, post bubble-bath skin? A blend of orange, lemon, white rose, bergamot peach and vanilla, make for the perfect shower-fresh scent.  Clean Skin by Demeter is a virtually transparent and delicate fragrance. Smells like the best version of you - just better.  My thoughts: This fragrance was very mild and pleasant.  Great for my gym bag as it is a workout-friendly scent.  There is also a 20% off coupon code on the ipsy website.

Circus by Andrea's Choice - Nailcolor - Spectacle - 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.  Spectacle is a bright, orange shade more suited for my tootsies as I prefer neutral shades on my hands.

S.A.L.T.Y Cosmetics - Eye Shadow - Glama-ZOID! - 1 g jar; Small size 1.25 g/$4.50 - S.A.L.T.Y. Cosmetics is dedicated to producing a line of loose mineral, luxury eyeshadows, custom blended by hand. The array of colors and shades is designed to help you express your inner diva! Glama-ZOID!, an iridescent violet pink satin has a sexy touch of light reflecting sparkle. This shadow is perfect for all skin tones and works as an amazing highlighter for brow bone and inner corners. Best of all, this shade was created exclusively for the myglam community. We hope you glam it up and enjoy.  My thoughts: This opalescent shadow is finely milled and makes a nice highlighter not just for the brow bone and inner corners of the eyes, but a light application along the bridge of the nose, top of the cheekbones and over the cupid's bow provides a nice luminescent effect.

myglam - Glam Gloss - 01 - 7 ml/.23 fl oz - My thoughts: This light pink lip gloss is very smooth and not too sticky.  I love the texture of it.  Unfortunately, there wasn't any information on ipsy.com.  Wondering if there are more to come.

Overall rating:  Booyah!  for value of the product contents and introducing me to Eclos skincare products, the lovely, wearable Glam Gloss, lovely highlighter and the full size Clean Skin perfume oil.  These made up for the BOO-BOO! polish shade which did not suit me.

***** 

The September Ipsy Glam Bag, was a sleek, black zipper bag with a wristlet handle that contained hair care, nail, eye and lip products as well as a bonus $20 promo code for Just FAB.

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

SOHO - Smudge Brush  - Full size $5.97 at walmart.com - The SOHO Smudge Brush is the perfect tool for creating a modern smoky eye and works great for smudging liner, blending colors, and for applying shadow directly into the lash line. The brush has a sleek, lightweight aluminum handle with a dense, contoured brush head for superior application. My thoughts: I find the handle too long but like the feel of the brush as well as the bristles.

Carol's Daughter - Monoi Repairing Split End Sealer - 10 ml/.38 oz. deluxe sample; Full size 1.7 fl oz; $25 - A repairing lotion that instantly binds the frayed and separated ends of your hair so you can skip the trim and keep your length. For over 2,000 years, Tahitians have used Monoi Oil for its natural reparative properties that undo and prevent damage from the sun, sea and surf. Made of ingredients that only grow in Tahiti, Monoi Oil is made in a 15-day ritual using Tiare Gardenia Flower blossoms and Coprah Coconut Oil. Apply a pea-sized amount to wet or dry hair. Make sure to smooth completely through to the ends. Style as usual.   My thoughts: As I have dry, color-treated curly hair, this repairing treatment is right up my alley. There is a $5 off code on ipsy.com that I will definitely be taking advantage of.

Jane - Sparkle Gloss - Sparkle Pink - 6 ml/.2 fl oz;  1/3rd of the Friends of Jane Collection (3 tubes for $9.99) - Shimmer Gloss offers moisturizing, light reflecting medium coverage for your lips. Your lips will relish in the moisture-rich, Vitamin E infused formulas for a variety of gorgeous lip looks. Wear alone, over lipstick or mix and match to create custom shades.  My thoughts: The gloss has a nice texture but as I found that I needed to be careful when applying to be sure that the rich, deep pink color was evenly distributed.  There is a promotion code for 20% off a future purchase of $14.99 or more on ipsy.com.

Mirabella - Eye Colour - Semiformal - Full Size 2g/.07 oz; $10 - Eye Colour mineral eye shadows create flawless, long-lasting looks with an alluring array of shimmer, sheen and matte formulations. Semiformal Eye Colour, one of 40 shades available, contains a lightly pearlized sheen to softly illuminate the eyes. This talc-free formula gives smooth application and beautiful, pure color. The formula is also paraben-free, gluten-free, fragrance-free as well as D4 and D5 free.  My thoughts: Semiformal is a shimmery medium brown shade that is perfect for a transition shade.  There is a promotion code for 30% off on ipsy.com.

Circus by Andrea's Choice - Nail Color - Tightrope - 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.  Tightrope is a vibrant purple-fuschsia  shade more suited for my tootsies as I prefer neutral shades on my hands.  I will say of all the Circus shades I have received, I did like this one the most.

Overall rating:  Booyah!  for value of the product contents and introducing me to Carol's Daughter products; can't wait to try the other products in this line.  

Lost Crates Shipments - August and September 2012

With it being back-to-school time, the geek in me comes out as I just happen to love stationery.  I wanted to share with you the contents of my last two Lost Crates shipments with you (lostcrates.com).  Unlike other monthly subscription plans, Lost Crates gives you several options based on your interests:

• Stationery (my choice, because I just love office supplies and nothing beats a paper and pen)
• Petite Stationery
• Housewares
• Foodie
• Eco
• Jack's Picks
• Angie's Picks
• Found In: ____ (any given locale, from U.S. cities to foreign countries)

Costs vary from $20 to $68, based on your selection.  Stationery costs $38 per month.  My August shipment contained 4 great items as follows (descriptions listed are as reflected in shipment insert card):

Moleskine Booklight (Retail  $20) - This lightweight, flexible, portable LED light is bright enough to light up your literature in pure darkness.  It can even be recharged via USB.

Rite in the Rain Pad (Retail $8) - It's raining, it's pouring, but you're not snoring -- you're writing on your Rite in the Rain pad which is a waterproof, outdoorsy journal/sketchbook. (Personal note: Great gift for my hubby who is an avid fishherman.)

Palomino Blackwing Pencils (Retail $5) - Tired of sharpening your pencil every five minutes?  These beauties are designed to hold a point, so feel free to write or draw endlessly.

Bear Hug Card (Retail $6) - Does somebody need a great big hug?  This letterpress is a cutout of a big ol' bear that can hold onto a gift like money or a photo for an extra smile.

Overall rating: Booyah!

This shipment came in handy and the items were put to immediate use.  Pencils got sharpened so they could be ready to roll for quick notes, sketching, etc.; Pad went to hubby so he could take note of his daily catches for his fishing club competitions; Bear Hug card was made out and sent to a friend who was just a bit down due to stress on the job; and the Moleskine booklight was charged and placed on my nightstand with my Moleskine journal for quick notes and brain drippings like ideas, poetry or just recaps from life.

My September shipment contained 4 items also (descriptions listed are as reflected in shipment insert card):

Crayon Rocks (Retail  $7) - Admit it: you still love crayons.  And who doesn't love a good pet rock?  Combine both with these rockin' Crayon Rocks. (Person note: 16 colors are included.)

Quirky Cordies (Retail $10) - Organize your cables in the awesomest of ways with the Quirky Cordies.  At only 3.5" wide, it's compact, but it can store more cords than you could possibly need. (Personal note: Perfect for charging iPhone, iPad, etc. in one place.)

Chronicle Books One Sketch A Day Notebook (Retail $16) - With space or one drawing each day for a year, this new kind of diary lets you keep track of your day-to-day life with a whole new medium.

Loop Prehistory Jotter (Retail $7) - We love this lined notebook for the hand-drawn patters that wrap the spine.  It's also on recycled paper and printed with soy ink.

Overall rating: Booyah!

Love the Quirky Cordies gadget and notebooks!  Journals and pads are always put to immediate use in my house.  And the Crayon Rocks made a quick impromptu gift for my godson so he can explore his creative side.

One of these days I'll try out another crate-type.  If you've tried another, please let me know what you got as it might give me the courage to check it out.

Beauty Box 5 - August 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).

  

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

Blum Naturals - Make up Remover Towelettes  - 3 towelettes; Full size 10 towelettes; Retail $3.99 - Remove oil, dirt and makeup with these deep-cleansing towelettes that leave your skin feeling soft and silky smooth.

H2O Plus - Marine Calm Restoring Eye Cream - Sample: 4 ml/.13 US fl oz; Full size: .5 fl oz; Retail $32 - Use this marine, botanical-infused eye cream to deeply nourish and reduce the look of fine lines and dark circles.

Ellis Faas - Creamy Milky, Glazed Lips - L206 - Nude Brown - Full size 2.8 ml/.095 fl oz/$35 - Just twist the bottom of this gorgeous silver pen and you'll be wearing the new lip product that everyone is talking about.

Ferro Cosmetics - Sheer Crystal Veil - Sample; Full size .14 oz/$19 - This multi-purpose powder is the answer to illuminated skin!  Dust over or under foundation or mix with moisturizer for a dewy soft finish without the shimmer or glitter.  Also includes a $5 e-gift certificate toward a future purchase of Crystal Veil (offered in sheer, nude, rose, and amber) good through October 15, 2012.

Freeman - Anti-Stress Mask - 2 travel packets; 15 ml/.5 fl oz each; Full size 5 fl oz/$3.99 - Use this anti-stress mud mask to instantly absorb excess oil and deep clean pores.

Overall rating: Booyah! for the variety of items this box included, not to mention the value.  A full-size $35 product?!  What a deal!!

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

Beauty Army - August 2012 Shipment and Purchase

It's been a while since I've ordered a Beauty Army shipment (www.beautyarmy.com; $12).  It's not that I don't like their service, it's just that I receive a lot of beauty product sampling subscriptions and the variety of samples offered to me by Beauty Army based on my profile, just haven't been items on my wishlist.  This month, the offering featured some items that weren't presented to me for selection in the past.  Additionally, I made a full-size product purchase that I'd like to share with you.  Unfortunately, one of the shower gels opened during shipping so my box was badly damaged.  Too bad as I just love the pink box.  As a side note, I did contact Customer Service regarding my damaged shipment and they offered to include some extra samples in my next kit.

 

In my August shipment, I received 6 deluxe samples as follows:

Emani - Foundation Primer & Hydrating Serum - Sample; Full size 0.84 oz./$28 - Velvety in texture, it absorbs excess oils and minimizes the appearance of pores. Hydrating Primer Serum contains 10 different organic extracts to aid and prep your skin for an ultimate foundation application. It deeply nourishes, moisturizes, and softens the skin, creating a soft, luminous effect.

Skin Type: All skin types

For Best Results: Apply Primer Serum before powder based foundation. Use with moisturizer or in replacement of.

Includes:
• Ginkgo Biloba Extract, promotes microcirculation
• Chamomile & Witch Hazel extracts for calming of the skin
• Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice for added moisture and hydration

Bath & Body Works - Japanese Cherry Blossom Shower Gel - Travel size 3 fl. oz/$5; Full size 10 oz./$11 - Bath & Body Works' exclusive formula is now enriched with Shea Butter for softer, cleaner skin in their bubbliest lather ever! Moisturizing Aloe Vera and skin-loving Vitamin E combine with our exclusive, award-winning Japanese Cherry Blossom for lather that bursts with fragrance!

• Japanese Cherry Blossom is a seductive and mysterious floral scent
• Top Notes: Asian Pear, Fuji Apple and Ume Plum
• Mid Notes: Japanese Cherry Blossom, Butterfly Lily, Kyoto Rose, Mimosa Petals

For Best Results: Pour a button-sized drop on a mesh sponge, for the bubbliest lather. Rinse clean.

 

Bath & Body Works - Sweet Pea Shower Gel - Travel size 3 fl. oz/$5; Full size 10 oz./$11 - Bath & Body Works' exclusive formula is now enriched with Shea Butter for softer, cleaner skin in their bubbliest lather ever! Moisturizing Aloe Vera and skin-loving Vitamin E join our original, award-winning Sweet Pea fragrance for lather that bursts with fragrance!

• Sweet Pea is a fruity floral scent that evokes the intoxicating, floral-infused breezes of the Mediterranean
• Top Notes: Sweet Pea, Watery Pear, Logan Berry, Rhubarb
• Mid Notes: Cyclamen, Freesia, Raspberry

For Best Results: Pour a button-sized drop on a mesh sponge, for the bubbliest lather. Rinse clean.

Bath & Body Works - Paris Amour Shower Gel - Travel size 3 fl. oz/$5; Full size 10 oz./$11 - Bath & Body Works' exclusive formula is now enriched with Shea Butter for softer, cleaner skin in their bubbliest lather ever! Moisturizing Aloe Vera and skin-loving Vitamin E combine with the romantic scents of Paris to sweeten up lather that bursts with fragrance.

• Paris Amour is a romantic fragrance inspired by French tulips, apple blossoms and sparkling pink champagne
• Top Notes: Sparkling Mandarin, Petite Strawberry, Cassis, Pink Champagne, Apple Blossom, Dewy Freesia
• Middle Notes: Luscious Peach, Jasmine Petals, French Tulip, Water Lily, Frangipani

For Best Results: Pour a button-sized drop on a mesh sponge, for the bubbliest lather. Rinse clean.

Bath & Body Works - Twilight Woods Shower Gel - Travel size 3 fl. oz/$5; Full size 10 oz./$11 - Bath & Body Works' exclusive formula is now enriched with Shea Butter for softer, cleaner skin in their bubbliest lather ever! Moisturizing Aloe Vera and skin-loving Vitamin E combine with the seductive scent of Twilight Woods to provide a lather that bursts with fragrance.

• Twilight Woods is a hypnotic fragrance inspired by a romantic walk in enchanted woods
• Top Notes: Juicy Berry, Sparkling Mandarin, hint of Coconut
• Mid Notes: Creamy Frangipani, Soft Mimosa, Wet Honeysuckle, Wild Freesia, Apricot Nectar

For Best Results: Pour a button-sized drop on a mesh sponge, for the bubbliest lather. Rinse clean.

Fiafini - Divine Hydration Moisturizer - Sample: .17 oz/5g; Full size 1.7 fl. oz./$38.50 - Finally, complete complexion perfection with the moisture and anti-aging actives your skin craves.

Get the divine skin of your dreams with Fiafini! A hydrating and healing moisturizer that firms, minimizes wrinkles and restores elasticity, Divine Hydration Moisturizer is the triple-targeted solution to the most common signs of aging. Formulated to be ultra-hydrating yet never heavy, this moisturizer helps soothe and calm redness with Prickly Pear, Avocado and Evening Primrose extracts, while also reducing environmental stress on the skin. Powerful antioxidants Marula oil and vitamin E fight fine lines and wrinkles, and help visibly firm and lift the skin for complete perfection. And as with all Fiafini products, our moisturizer will always be free of fragrance, alcohol, mineral oil, and all parabens. No animal testing and Vegan.

For Best Results: Apply Divine Hydration Moisturizer to the face and neck morning and night, after cleansing until absorbed. Avoid eye area.

 

Overall rating: Booyah!  I'll be honest and admit I've used Bath & Body Works Shower gels in the past.  I love their consistency and how smooth and fragrant my skin is after showering with them.  I couldn't resist getting two classic scents (Japanese Cherry Blossom and Sweet Pea) and also trying two scents that are new to me (Paris Amour and Twilight Woods).  The size is perfect for my gym bag and I often carry one in my purse as my skin doesn't agree with some of the soap options offered in public restrooms.

For my full size purchase, I ordered the following two items:

Every Beauty - Every Drop Beauty Spatula - $4.99 - Gain extra weeks of use out of each beauty product. Use with any size bottle or container, the Every Drop Spatula is compatible with all liquids, lotions and creams. It will not stain or retain odors.

Eyecandy Coolers - Classic Chillin' Cucumber - $12 per pair - Eyecandy coolers are reusable, chill-able, candy-colored soft gel rounds that work quickly to reduce puffiness, minimize dark circles and fine lines, relieve allergy symptoms, and instantly soothe pesky tension or stress headaches. Eyecandy coolers may be safely used over and over again.

For Best Results: Simply chill in the fridge, freezer (briefly), or glass of ice water and you are ready to be eyecandy for the world in just minutes.

Overall rating:  Booyah!  Being the frugal person that I am, I just love the spatula.  I am certain to use every bit of my beauty samples and full size products.  I also use it to scoop out product from jars so as to not contaminate the contents with my fingers.  The cooler pads are great and easy to use.  I generally have fresh cucumber in my fridge but for those times I have run out, these come in handy.

Have you tried any of these products?  What are your thoughts?

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