Beauty Army - January 2013 Shipment

January marked the start of a new year as well as Beauty Army's first anniversary.  This month's shipment was comprised of samples based on my selections from offerings based on my profile (www.beautyarmy.com; $12).  Unlike the Holiday box, this selection was packaged in the pink box with pink camouflage lining and it included an extra surprise as it was Beauty Army's birthday.

In my January shipment, I received the following items:

Not Your Mother's - She's A Tease Volumizing Hairspray - Apple Blossom & Bamboo - Travel Size - 2 oz/56 g/$3 - So you want big & beautiful hair and you’re tired of Mr. Humidity getting in the way, right? Then stop dreaming and make it happen already! SHE’S A TEASE™ will have the whole crowd gossiping about your huge head errr... I mean hair. Infused with natural apple blossom & bamboo, this salon formula will have you walking tall.

PRODUCT FACTS
- Firm Hold
- Creates volume and lift
- Humidity Resistant Formula
- Bamboo added for strengthening and volumizing benefits

 

Yes to Cucumbers - Facial Towelette - Sample: 1 towelette; Travel size: 30 towelettes/$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! 

• 98% Natural
• Biodegradable & FSC Certified
• Dermatologically & Opthalmologically Tested 

• Oil-free, non-comedogenic, hypoallergenic

Macadamia Natural Oil - Deep Repair Masque - Sample size 0.5 fl. oz/15 ml; Full size 8.5 fl. oz./250 ml/$32 - Macadamia Natural Oil™

Tea Tree and chamomile oils along with aloe and algae extracts combine with our Macadamia and 

Argan oils to produce miracle-like hair rejuvenation.

Nelson Beverly Hills - Argan Oil 7-in-1 Non-Foaming Shampoo - Natural Citrus Mint - Sample: 1 oz/30 ml; Full size: $20 - Nelson j Argan Oil Non-Foaming Shampoo is a revolutionary product in hair care. A 7-in-1 formula, this one product replaces your shampoo, conditioner, detangler, shine spray, smoothing serum, color protector, pre-styling lotion. It is the first non-foaming shampoo that cleanses hair thoroughly but without all the harsh ingredients that may be found in ordinary shampoos - it is designed so it won't strip hair and scalp of their natural oils. Your hair is left with shine, moisture, manageability and better color retention.

Enspri - Ultra Collagen 5-Minute Anti-Aging Facial Treatment - 2-part sample; Full Size: $99.50 - Enspri Ultra Collagen is a 100% ultra-fine marine collagen powder, free of unwanted chemicals and preservatives.

Naturally extracted at an extremely low molecular weight for greater absorption, giving your skin the full benefits of collagen.

Applied with our Vital Hydrator - a beneficial blend of essential vitamins and antioxidants with soothing and healing properties.
• Improves skin texture and elasticity.
• Noticeably tightens and tones skin.
• Shrinks and strengthens pores.

• Good for all skin types, including the most sensitive skin.

Lash Card - Mascara Shields - Sample pack of 2; Full size - $13.98 for 20 - Apply your mascara perfectly! Lash Card has two curves, fitting a variety of eye shapes. These contoured curves ensure nose bridge clearance and the ability to get into those hard-to-reach bottom lashes. Don't let smudging or clumping ruin your look; let the Lash Card prevent your mascara mishaps!

Bonus: mark - Scanda-lash Mascara - Black Lash - Full size: $6.50 plus a free hook-up connector - This super-rich mascara perfectly lengthens, thickens and defines lashes without clumping. 

About This Shade: A deep, dark black mascara. 

Overall rating: Booyah!  This was a great shipment.  It was nice of the Beauty Army Troops to include a bonus in celebration of their birthday.  Some of the items were tried and trues I didn't mind having again especially as they were accompanied by some new items.

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

I hope you found this blog post useful and that you'll subscribe.  I welcome your comments and feedback and thank you for stopping by.

Beauty Army - December 2013 Shipment

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 something new so here is some insight into what I received. Unlike previous shipments, this month's box was white with the same pink camouflage lining and came with a "Happy Holidays" banner around it.

In my December shipment, I received 3 deluxe samples and one full size kit 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.  I had received this before but it was damaged in shipping so they sent a replacement.  How nice was that?

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

Yes to Blueberries - Age Refresh Eye Firming Treatment - Sample: 0.1 fl oz./3 ml; Full size 0.5 fl. oz./15 ml/$19.99 - Formulated with Paracress Flower to Help Reduce the Appearance of Fine Lines and Wrinkles

• Paraben-free
• 95% Natural Product
• Free of Petroleum and SLS
• Paraben-free, naturally!
• Cruelty Free

Yes to Blueberries™ formulations naturally blend anti-oxidant rich fruits with special ingredients to help fight the signs off aging.  The collection features products that help improve skin firmness, protect skin, diminish fine lines and wrinkles, and nourish age-damaged skin.  use the entire collection for a recipe of youth-enhancing goodness!

Blueberries
Rich in Anti-oxidants such as Vitamin C and Anthocyanins to help fight the formulation of free radicals that can damage the skin's microstructure.

Paracress FlowerHelps firm and rehydrate and delicate skin around the eye to help reduce the appearance of fine lines and crow's feet.

BeeswaxProvides hydration, soothing and healing of age-damaged skin and promote the retention of moisture in the skin.

Olive Fruit OilRich in Oleic Acid to help regenerate skin cells and attract moisture to the skin.

The Power of Yes
Yes to™ Health.  Yes to organic fruits and veggies.  yes to caring as much about what you put on your body as what you put in it.  Yes to the benefits of anti-oxidants.  yes to being low maintenance and highly fabulous.  Yes to happiness.  Yes to you!  Join the Yes to movement at yestocarrots.com

Yes to™ Seed Fund  |  Seeds of Change
A portion of proceeds from every Yes To product goes toward the Yes to Seed Fund -- giving kids fun and engaging ways to connect with Mother Nature and teaching them to lead healthier lifestyles.

Mixed Sources
Product group from well-managed forests and other controlled sources

Macadamia Natural Oil - Deep Repair Masque - Sample size 0.5 fl. oz/15 ml; Full size 8.5 fl. oz./250 ml/$32 - Macadamia Natural Oil™

Tea Tree and chamomile oils along with aloe and algae extracts combine with our Macadamia and 

Argan oils to produce miracle-like hair rejuvenation.

Acquarella - Detox Bootcamp for your Nails - Polish Remover - Full size: 4 fl. oz./118 ml; Watercolor Conditioner - Full size: 0.42 fl. oz./12.5 ml; Includes full size black buffer, colored buffer and orange stick; Full set: $26 - Detoxify your nails from harmful, harsh ingredients and discover Acquarella's amazing water based nail system.

 

Kit includes:

- 3 Way File Shaped Buffer for better surface preparation of the nail
- Ultra Buffer (Pink/Purple) promotes better adhesion of Acquarella Nail Polish
- Cuticle Stick great for gentle removal of polish, pushback of cuticles and cleaning
- Conditioner to help strengthen and moisturize nails
- Remover to leave your nails squeaky clean and ready for application

Overall rating: Booyah!  This was a great shipment.  It was nice of the Beauty Army Troops to send me replacement items for a previously damaged shipment.  Additionally, paying $12 for a full-sized kit that retails for $26 is a great deal! I hope Beauty Army continues to offer deals like this in the future.

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

I hope you found this blog post useful and that you'll subscribe.  I welcome your comments and feedback and thank you for stopping by.

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?

I hope you found this blog post useful and that you'll subscribe.  I welcome your comments and feedback and thank you for stopping by.

May 2012 Beauty Army Shipment

Beauty Army strikes again with sending me great samples.  Granted, I selected them myself, but kudos to Beauty Army for even having these to choose from.

This month's kit contained 6 samples that are great for Spring:

• Leila Lou Fragrance Sample by Rosie Jane (full size: $48) - A light scent perfect for every occasion.  Leila Lou captures the alluring scent of innocence and freshness.  You will fall in love with this fragrance!
• Lucy B Pink Frangipani Fragrance Sample (full size: $48) - Top notes of pink grapefruit and pineapple play with middle notes of red suva frangipani.  Bottom notes of heliotrope and creamy coconut, infused with natural Australian flower essences.
• Kellett Skincare Moisturizing Gel (0.1 fl oz/3 ml; full size $95) - Improves skin's moisture retention while helping to reduce blemishes & calm inflammation.  Helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
• Weleda Almond Soothing Cleansing Lotion (.34 fl oz/10 ml; full size $19) - Nourish and balance sensitive skin with this fragrance-free, hypoallergenic, gentle cleanser.  Organic sweet almond oil revives skin's natural protective functions and restores moisture balance to even the most sensitive skin.
• Karuna Brightening Treatment Mask (1 mask: .95 fl oz/28 ml; full size $28) - All natural fiber cloth soaks skin with grapefruit seed extract and rare asian plant extracts to help even and revive skin's surface.
• Atopalm Intensive Moisturizing Cream (0.25 fl oz/8 ml; full size $30) - A deeply moisturizing face cream for creating, softer, suppler skin.

Overall rating:  Booyah!  Nice mix of mask, cleanser, moisturizers and fragrances, if I say so myself!

Beauty Army (beautyarmy.com) costs $12.  I must say that even though I know what I am getting ahead of time, I just love their boxes.  The black flip-top, pink camouflaged interior is stylish and great for organizing small items.  In the spirit of living "green," I reuse mine to store things.  Do you?

Beauty Army - January Shipment

After doing so well with Birchbox, I researched other beauty sampling programs and learned of Beauty Army (www.beautyarmy.com).


Beauty Army costs $12 and, unlike Birchbox, you can select up to 6 samples that are tailored to your needs based on responses to Profile Questions: Skin Tone, Preferences for a Night Out Look, Every Day Look,  Adventurous Look, Hair Type, and Preference of Nail Color.  After you answer your profile questions, you select what type of samples you'd like from a list of 20 categories:  Acne, Anti-Aging, Anti-Oil, Anti-Redness, Anti-Rosacea, Body, Brightening, Cleanser, Exfoliant, Hair, Make up, Men's Products, Moisturizers, Nails, Smoothing, Sun Damage Reversal, Tanning, SPF, All Natural, and Eye Area.

Lastly, you pick your age category, register and then you select your samples.  y first shipment came in a very cute, re-usable flip top box that is lined with a pink camouflage pattern.  My January selection, and their Beauty Army descriptions, consisted of:

• CellCeuticals PhotoDefense SPF 55+ (0.33 oz) - This hydrating formula provides tons of anti-aging and sun protection, aiding and improving the skin's natural defenses.  With all these powerful ingredients, your skin will stay youthful and free of sun damage. 

• Lift Lab Lift & Firm Eye Cream (0.17 oz) - This intensive eye cream is designed to specifically target crow's feet, wrinkles, dark circles, puffiness and sagginess of the delicate skin around your eyes.  With active ingredients proven to fight aging, this serum will protect and drastically improve skin.

• MAD Skincare Youth Transformative Age Corrective Serum (0.13 oz) - This multi-stem cell and multi-peptide technology infused serum will be a great choice in your anti-aging regiment to have the best possible looking skin.  Skin will feel hydrated, moist, plump, nourished, and recharged.

• Shea Terra Rose Hips Black Soap Deep Pore Facial Cleanser (1 oz.) - Sourced from the Youruba tribe in Nigeria, this black facial wash and mask has a true cult following.  Working like microdermabrasion to get rid of dead skin, this face wash is staid to make you look younger in minutes.

• Indie Lee The Body Scrub (Coconut and Citrus - 1.6 oz) - Delivers a daily dose of pampered, sexy skin.  The essential oils create a calming, light, lemon scent to start or end your day.

• LaRocca Skincare 24k Exfoliating Cream Facial Cleanser (1 oz.) - A silky cream with a gentle exfoliant that dissolves makeup quickly while it moisturizes and stimulates collagen growth.

As with most sampling programs, you can visit the website and order full-sized products.  

Overall rating:  Booyah!

I love the fact that these samples are tailored to my needs and wants and can't wait to see what the Beauty Army brigade offers me next month.

Have you tried Beauty Army?  Would love to hear your comments about their sampling program and any others.