IPSY Bag Shipment - October 2012

The October Ipsy Bag, themed "Hello, Bombshell," is a nylon black and white zipper bag trimmed in shiny red with haircare, lip stain, eyeshadow, eyeliner, and mascara as well as a bonus NUME gift certificate.

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

TheBalm - What's Your Type? "the body builder" mascara - 3.5 ml deluxe sample; Full size 12ml/$19 - This long-lasting, clump-free mascara boasts a highly pigmented formula and deep-black finish that won't smudge, smear or weaken throughout the day.  Specially formulated with Vitamin E, Panthenol, and Bamboo, "The Body Builder" works to condition and stregthen lashes to their fullest and foxiest. It's just what you need to build impressive body, without breaking a sweat. There is an offer for 15% off a future order on ipsy.com.

Mirenesse - Lip Bomb Glossy Lacquer Stain - #9 - Full size 3.1 g/$35.10 - A Revolutionary colour that combines gloss, stain and lacquer all in one!  A satisfying NEW INNOVATION in lip colour; beyond gloss, stain or lip lacquer. Colour that drenches your lips for a juicy high impact colour that's feather-light and super-moist with a velvety finish. Power packed with non-smearing pigment that lasts and lasts. Colours may be mixed easily to create countless intense or nude looks depending on your fashion mood! Infused with a breath refreshing mint taste and Lip Perfecting Spheres plus caring vitamins. Who says you can't have it all?, Apply a small amount and mix shades to create your own personal shade! Infinity Lip™ Applicator allows for professional application of precision colour. Don't apply too much! It's better to apply a thin layer first then build it up if you want more colour. For extra long wear pair with a matching lip liner.  My thoughts: Can't believe I got a full-sized product of this value in a $10 sampling program.  There is an also of $20 off a future purchase.

Couture Colour - Pequi Oil Treatment - Full size 15 ml/$12 - What it is: A restorative hair treatment derived from the Amazonian Pequi fruit. What it does: Pequi Oil Treatment revives even the driest, most brittle hair that's been color-treated or chemically straightened. It also tames frizz, mends split ends with a natural UV filter, and keeps color vibrant. It contains moisture-restoring antioxidants, Vitamins A and E, proteins and lipids that help make every hair type noticeably softer, shinier, and smoother like never before. What it is formulated WITHOUT:

- Parabens
- Sulfates
- Synthetic Dyes
- Phthalates
- GMOs
- Triclosan

What else you need to know: Pequi Oil Treatment absorbs instantly, won't weigh hair down, and can be used every day. It does not contain alcohol and has not been tested on animals.

Research results:
- Dull, damaged hair is up to 600% stronger* after one application of Pequi Oil Treatment.
- Pequi Oil Treatment provides a 250% improvement in shine on dull, damaged hair.
*based on a clinical study. My thoughts: This is absolutely fabulous and works wonders on my dry, color-treated, curly hair.  I have since ordered a larger size using my 20% offer.

be a….bombshell - Eyeliner - Onyx - Full size 3 ml/$14 - A basic black eye liner. Long lasting and highly pigmented – this eyeliner can be used with any look to bring definition to your eyes. 

Bombshell Application: Use like a marker, drawing with the tip closest to your lashline. To create a smoky eye look, gently smudge and smoke out liner.

Bombshell Tip: For Dramatic full-looking lashes, gently dot between lashes. Follow with a coat of Bombshell mascara. For a pop of color, try a colored pencil!

Bombshell Tip: To make lashes look more full, line the upper lash line with liner and follow with the lining the lower waterline. My thoughts: Another full-sized product!  What a bargain!  Who can't use a black eyeliner?  An offer for 25% off a future purchase is included!!!

Coastal Scents - Eye Shadow - Rosy Pink, Gunmetal, Elven Silver, Light Pink - 2 g sample packet; Full size 1.3 g/$1.99 - Rosy Pink: soft, mauve shade with a matte finish; Gunmetal: sultry, deep grey with a slight satiny finish; Elven Silver: shimmery light silver; Light Pink: a light, shimmery pink shade. These shadows are nice for the price but need a primer for staying power.  They are affordable and you get a lot of product for the price.  An offer of 20% off a future purchase is included.

NUME Style - Gift Certificate - $100 - Towards the purchase of professional styling tools and hair extensions. My thoughts: I could use a new curling wand but need to research reviews on the ones NUME offers.  Look for future posts to see if I've purchased one.

Overall rating:  Booyah!  for value of the product contents and introducing me to new products brands that I love.

Beauty Box 5 - October 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 October 2012 shipment contents and descriptions as reflected in the insert card:

Margania - Pure Argan Oil - Sample size/Full size 2 fl oz/$32 - With naturally high levels of Vitamin E and skin-supporting fatty acids, this "miracle" oil is perfect for healing skin ailments and protecting against premature aging.  Use alone or mix with your moisturizer. A promotion code for 25% off is provided.

City Lips - Lip Plumper - Los AngeLIPS - 1.5 ml Sample; Full size 5ml/$32 - These luscious lip plumpers are packed with antioxidants and moisturizing ingredients!  Apply alone or over lipstick for fuller, plumper lips in an instant! A promotion code for 20% off is provided.

Goat Haus Dairy - Lip Balm - Sugar Kisses - Appears to be full size though the balm portion is about 2/3rds the length of the tube; $2.50 - Your lips will lust after this light-weight soft and silky goats-milk lip balm!

ShowStoppers - Fashion Tape - Sample of 2 Black strips; Full size 24 strips/$9.99 - Lost a button on your shirt? Does your bra keep showing? Keep your "fashion fashioned" with these ingenious, purse-sized packets of double stick designer fashion tape.  A promotion code for BOGO free is provided.

Furlesse - Elevens - 3 day sampler; Full size 30 patches/$19.99 - Relax frown lines in a gentle, natural (no needles!) way.  Simply apply the clear patch, go to sleep and a few hours later you'll see fewer lines.  It's that easy.  A promotion code for 20% off is provided.

Lash Card - Lash Cards - Sample pack of 2 cards; Full size 10 pack/$6.99 - Great for maximizing curl, separating lashes and avoiding those bottom lash mishaps, these discrete little cards are your lashes new best friend!

Overall rating: Booyah! for the variety of items this box included, not to mention the value.  I put these babies to immediate use.  Don't you just love when you get a shipment of items you can use?

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

GLOSSYBOX Shipment - October 2012

The October 2012 GLOSSYBOX is the Spa Luxe edition with products to help us 
"Let Go, Unwind, and Restore."  Just in time to help me focus on myself post Hurricane Sandy.  The insert card reads, "GLOSSYBOX delivers a unique experience of indulences this month, ensuring your moment of beautiful, pure relaxation.  Break away from the daily grind and immerse yourself in a luxurious array of treatments designed to refresh and rejuvenate your mind, body, and spirit.  The combination of products, essential for a pampering Spa Luxe experience, are ideal for creating a sense of well-being and the ultimate beauty oasis."

The contents of my October shipment were as follows:

Alterna Bamboo - Luminous Shine Mist - Sample size: 0.85 fl oz/25 ml; Full size: 4 oz/$22 - An eco-certified shine mist made with Indian gooseberry and organic bamboo that controls frizz and flyaways.  It is a brilliant and weightless gloss for any hair type.

Kryolan for GLOSSYBOX - Blusher - GLOSSY Rosewood - Full size: 2.5 g/$9 - The micronized pigments in this semi-transparent cream powder allow for a vivid yet light application.  Perfect for the cheeks and can be used on the eyelids too.

Full swatch on top; blended on bottom

Heartland Fragrances - Exfoliating Loofa Soap - Peppermint - Full size: 6 oz/$8 - A truly unique hand-poured loofa soap encased in gentle glycerin provides the perfect blend of moisture and exfoliation.  This soap is designed to improve circulation and is great for exfoliating those tricky rough, dry areas.

Modelco - Lip Duo Lipstick & Ultra Shine Lip Gloss - Dusk Lipstick; Striptease Gloss - Full size: Lipstick .13 oz; Lip gloss .07 fl oz/$39 - An ultimate pairing in lip color - a flawless, long-lasting lipstick and an intense beaming gloss.  Each may be worn separately or layered for an individually tailored hue.

Lipstick Alone

Lipstick and Gloss

Lip Gloss Alone

Nastassja Skin - Enzyme Facial Peel - Sample size: 0.25 oz/7.5 ml; Full size 2 oz/$40 - This revolutionary facial peel is infused with vitamins and nutrients.  It exfoliates with papain, a naturally occurring enzyme in papaya, and gently eliminates dead, dry skin cells to reveal a more radiant you.

BONUS: Physique 57 - A coupon code was provided as part of this shipment for 20% off any DVD purchase at www.physique57.com.  Offer expires on November 15, 2012.

GLOSSYBOX Mag - SpaLuxe Edition - A mini-magazine with brief articles on Trends, Expert Advice, Star Looks, Editor's Picks, International Beauty, Beauty News, and Wellness.

Overall rating:  Booyah!  I loved the mix of products I received this month.  Value of this box was well over $60 and the variety was not to be beat!  Came in handy once my power came on and I needed to unwind.

POPSUGAR Must Have Beauty Box - October 2012

Halloween is just around the corner and we here on the Northeast Coast are waiting for the arrival of Hurricane Sandy.  With the pantry full and all supplies acquired, I decided to catch up on some postings and  decided to share the contents of my POPSUGAR Must Have October Box.  POPSUGAR'S Must Have Box costs $35 plus tax (free shipping) and it includes a variety of must have products from the worlds of beauty, fashion, fitness, food, and home.

My October Box contained the following items:

Home - Red Flower Petal Topped Candle - Gardenia - www.redflower.com; $38 - This sweet-smelling candle boasts 50 hours of burn time.  It is a lovely addition to my home as I just love candles.  The value of this candle more than covers the cost of this month's box.

Entertainment - The Casual Vacancy - This new book from J.K. Rowling of Harry Potter fame, retails for $35 or $21 at Barnes & Noble - This "quick to rise to the top of the bestsellers list" is tailored more for the adult reader. Said to be packed with dark comedy, this thought-provoking novel quickly made its way to my nightstand.

Fitness - Crescent Moon Socks - www.crescentmoonyoga.com; $9.99 - Perfect for yoga, pilates, or just walking around the house, these grippy socks kept me on my yoga mat during my last Bikram Yoga class.

Beauty - OPI Pink of Hearts Nail Polish Duo - www.opi.com; $11.45 on amazon.com - October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  This set contains two full-sized polishes in "You Glitter Be Good to Me" and "I Think in Pink."  Each can be worn separately or together.  OPI has donated $25,000 to the Susan Komen foundation.  I just love these shades.

Food - Dylan's Candy Bar Gummy Bears; 4 oz. - www.beckysblissfulbakery.com; $10.49 - Who doesn't love gummy bears?  This package, with its Halloween-themed label, brought out the kid in me.  In no time, I was squishing these babies and pulling them apart. Nom, nom.

Special Extras:

Food - Pirate's Booty; 1 oz. package - $22.99 for 24 packages on amazon.com; www.piratebrands.com; - One of my favorite snacks, Pirate's Booty is baked, all natural, and gluten- and trans fat-free!  They are baked rice/corn puffs that are flavored with real cheddar.  A great snack! 

Beauty - Clear Scalp & Hair Beauty Therapy Shampoo and Conditioner - www.kitschhairties.com; 3 oz. each; $1.99 each - Great for travel, this Total Care combo from Unilever meets hair and scalp needs.  This is the perfect size to assess whether or not the formula agrees with my hair type.  I find that the smaller sample sizes make it difficult to evaluate results.

Overall rating: Booyah!!!  This is my third shipment from POPSUGAR Must Have Bag and I am loving their shipments.  Each one is remarkable!

If you're interested in trying POPSUGAR, please click here.