Beauty Army: January 2012

Only 300 lovelies got a chance to be part of the inaugural month of Beauty Army. I set an alarm weeks in advance and here I am with my hands on the first ever Beauty Army kit.

Don't know what Beauty Army is? Beauty Army is a once a month beauty subscription service that delivers a GORGEOUS kit of premium beauty samples to your door. So how is it different from any of the other services out there? Well you get to CHOOSE your samples. Each month based on your preferences (long, thoughtful style quiz that can be changed at any time) you will receive 9 products to choose from. From those you get to pick 6. The products this month ranged from beauty, skincare, hair, body, and more. Some of the products you can choose from are full-size items. Beauty Army costs $12 a month, and your kit will always be valued way above!
Click here to join Beauty Army.

January 2012, Inaugural Kit #1
The box the kit comes in is absolutely gorgeous. I normally recycle all other subscription service boxes immediately, but this is large enough that I could use it as storage. Although, its sad that most likely every future month will get immediately thrown in the recycling for me, but I wonder how many people throw these straight in the trash.  One complaint before I move on, the tissue paper wrapping the products was not well wrapped. Half of my products had fallen out of the tissue and must have been slopping around during shipment. 

Information Card:

Products:

myface cosmetics: Blingtone Eyeshadow in Sp'ice'y

Create a wicked wash of colour and dramatic, wet-looking shine. Blingtone eyeshadows glide on smoothly and wont drop or flake.

Full Size: 0.09 oz ($20.00)

Size Received: Full-size! 0.09 oz ($20.00)

On the Beauty Army website I was a little hesitant choosing the eyeshadow because of the color. It was a bit too red/brown for my taste. But when I got it in my hands I absolutely adore it! The sparkle is out of control! When it hits the light it makes your entire face brighten up. I am actually wearing it right now. It did glide on great and didn't drop, but I have noticed that my lower eyes have some dusting of shimmer. I love that it looks like an average brown, but when it catches the light that gold pops like wow.

Joico: K-Pak Revitaluxe

A luxury hair treatment clinically proven to instantly correct years of damage. Hair becomes automatically stronger, softer, and more moisturized.

Full Size: 5.1 oz ($24.99)

Size Received: 1.7 oz ($8.33)

I have pretty thin hair and barely ever use more than a dot of conditioner, but my hair needs revitalization as much as the next gals. I tried this out in the shower after my run today. You let it sit for 3-5 minutes and right away when you are washing it out you can tell how much moisture it added. My hair feels softer and more pliable. And that was just one wash! Im going to use this product once a week. It feels like I just went to the salon. I wasn't the biggest fan of the smell, almost like organic smells + chemicals. But I dont really smell anything in my hair. 

LaRocca Skincare: Shield Multi-Active Lip Balm in Proseco

Nourishes and protects with amino acids and anti-microbials. This lip balm improves the look and feel of your lips and smells amazing!

Full Size: 0.27 oz ($15.00)

Size Received: Full-size! 0.27 oz ($15.00)

Just what I need for winter. My lips get so chapped and I just eat them up while Im standing around at work. This certified vegan, cruelty free, and made with 100% wind energy (that alone makes me love the company!) moisturizes deep! It is really nice and creamy and my lips feel extra soft, even after it wore off. The color is a nice sweet pink, a good color for day wear. Definitely happy with this, and it is my new lip balm. Plus it has SPF 8!

Shea Terra: Rose Hips Black Soap Deep Pore Facial Cleanser

Sourced from the Yoruba tribe in Nigeria, this black facial wash and mask has a true cult following. Working like microderbrasion to get rid of dead skin this face wash is said to make you look younger in minutes.

Full Size: 4 oz ($18.00)

Size Received: 1 oz ($4.50)

I was very intrigued by this product, I mean I've never heard of black soap before. The consistency surprised me, it is almost like molasses (and uh sort of smells like dirt...). But you can even see in the swatch photo that there are many textures that would exfoliate deeply. Im excited to try this product. It can be used as a cleanser or a mask. I may even try it just on my nose tonight to see if it'll get those darn pores clean! I'll report back on my discoveries. 

Boo Boo Cover-up: Cover-up in medium

Keep looking your best, even while you're healing with this unique formula that doubles as a concealer and healing treatment. Containing natural ingredients known to accelerate healing, this concealer will ensure no one will ever know about your "boo boo."

Full Size: 0.5 oz ($20.85)

Size Received: 0.1 oz ($4.17)

I almost gasped when I opened up the container and saw how little was in there. I didn't even want to waste any for a hand swatch. It looks like it is very creamy and thick, so a little will go a long way. I don't have any zits at the moment, but the minute I do, Im slapping this cover-up on. For a medium shade it is pretty light. I was scared it would be too dark, but I think medium may actually be my shade. 

Chella: Anti-Fatigue Eye Mask Kit

The collagen in this eye mask lifts, firms, and smooths skin, hiding your tired eyes, fighting puffiness, and reducing dark circles. Wear this mask to make your skin glow like it would after a full night's sleep!

Full Size: 4 masks and 4 activators ($45.00)

Size Received: 1 mask and 1 activator ($11.25)

Being the biggest procrastinator in the world, I have lots of all-nighters. And my all-nighters do not mean Im in my bed by 5am, it means Im home by noon the next day. I know Ill get good use out of this kit. But Im going to be patient and wait until I look like death to use it. The activator gets poured on top of the masks and then once they are fully saturated you slap them under your eyes and leave for 20 minutes. Chella's website further explains that it also helps to reduce redness, hydrates skin, and stimulates collagen synthesis. I couldn't afford to buy this product on my own, but Im excited to see me turn from a zombie into a radiant in minutes. We shall see...

Total Value of my January 2012 kit:$63.25

Wowza!! Best valued kit I've ever received.

What did you think of my kit? What did you choose in your own? If you dont get Beauty Army, click here to join! Let me know in the comments below!