Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Goodebox: June 2012

Better late than never they say, eh? I'm sorry for being a crap blogger lately. The move is officially over, but now comes the settling in part. I sold all of my furniture so now I'm on the hunt for craigslist gems. So far each item I've found is a bit too loved for my taste, so painting is my new hobby. Nail polish and cute eyeshadows don't really go hand-in-hand with sanding and oil based primer. I got my June Goodebox right as I was about to move in with my Aunt's. So it has been in storage since I moved out of my apartment. Luckily I got a chance to revisit it and remember how excited I was when I saw what was inside!

What is Goodebox?
Goodebox is a monthly subscription service that delivers trial size healthy, eco-conscious, natural beauty and personal care products. Each month you will receive 6 or more products customized for you. The brands and products that Goodebox send out have been thoroughly evaluated upon the brand's use of non-toxic, natural ingredients that respect earth, animals, and humanity. The samples will range from make-up, skincare, body, fragrances, and some lifestyle and wellness products. Every month is a surprise, but the samples picked are based on a very detailed, thorough survey that even lets you indicate color preferences, any allergies, vegan, sensitivities, etc. Goodebox costs $16 a month, but the value of your box will be way above!
Click here to join Goodebox.

June 2012, Curated by Katherine Butler
Goodebox is gearing up for summer by giving extra love to elements-exposed skin. Think oil control, sun protection, and more. This month Goodebox teamed up with Katherine Butler who is a green beauty product guru. She serves as the beauty editor for EcoSalon which has scored her many green products to test out. She states that "Beauty is skin deep -- we're only helping ourselves by boosting it with good, green ingredients." I have to say I completely agree!

 Information Card:


Products:
Buddha Nose: Bodhi Sugar Scrub
Inspired by Buddha Nose's most popular massage & wellness balm, the Bodhi Balm Bodhi Sugar Scrub is made with the same unique blend of organic essential oils to quiet the mind while cleansing the face and body.
Full Size: 4 oz ($28.00)
Size Received: 1 oz? ($7.00)
I just realized that I got a body scrub in April box, but still haven't used it. I keep on wanting to use an exfoliating scrub before I try out my self-tanner wipes I got in my Birchbox. But Im so worried the self-tanner will turn out horribly and Ill have to wear long pants during the hottest month of the year! This one smells amazing! It is so refreshing! I almost want to sigh just smelling it. The oils that it is made up of is: cedarwood, frankincense, ho wood, and juniper berry. Things I'm not very familiar with, but it it is divine! The scrub can be used on your face or body.

Strawberry Hedgehog: Organic Glyercin Soap in Cooling Mint
Strawberry Hedgehog soaps are hand-crafted from natural plant-based ingredients. 100% certified organic coconut oil, a bit of organic palm oil, & pure veggie glycerin make the gentlest soaps that wash away smoothly, without residue or over stripping your skin. Free of artificial fragrances, dyes, or preservatives -- only essential oils, organic extracts, pure minerals, herbs, or spices for naturally scent, color, and texture.
Full Size: 5 oz ($8.00)
Size Received: 1.5 oz ($2.40)
I am not the biggest fan of bar soap. I always feel the residue and my hands feel dry afterwards. Not cool. Although I do love how handmade soap looks and smells. I received Cooling Mint which is pure peppermint oil with spearmint and a splash of vanilla. It perks you up a bit when you are using it and my hands feel so fresh. I am using it for hand soap in the kitchen and always love using it! With this soap there is no gross residue and my hands aren't too dry afterwards. I would definitely buy a full-size from this company.

Benecos: Natural Duo Eyeshadow in Noblesse
Eyeshadow duos offer two harmonizing shades, one vivid & one neutral, making it easy to create a variety of looks. Made with pure mineral pigment for brilliant natural color & organic jojoba oil for a light, comfortable feel.
Full Size: 4 g ($12.00)
Size Received: Full-size! 4 g ($12.00)
Oh eyeshadow, how I love thee! This duo is a perfect Neapolitan treat! A delicious rich and creamy brown and light pink. Both had a little shimmer and sparkle to make them a little extra special. The swatch I made was just using my finger and with only one swipe. I am so impressed with the color pay off! I used a thick, fluffy eyeshadow brush to apply it for the first time today and I got the same pigmentation. I was very happy with my look and it lasted all day. A great color combo that can be used together, separately, or easily with other colors I already own. I love this product!

EO Products: Lemon Verbena Body Lotion
A nourishing and protective moisturizer that applies easily and is quickly absorbed, leaving skin smooth and soft. Lemon Verbena Essential Oil reduces inflammation & tones ski; Oat Betaglucan moisturizers & promotes skin firmness; Rice Proteins diminish fine lines; Vitamin E improves elasticity; Mango Seed Butter and Olive Wax moisturize and protect, and Organic oils and botanicals condition, soften, harmonize, and nourish.
Full Size: 8 oz ($8.99)
Size Received: 1.5 oz ($1.69)
This has turned into my new crack. Who knew lemon verbena would smell so yummy. It pretty much smells like a lemon head. Or if you want to sound classy, tart lemon white tea. I've been using it as hand and arm lotion while laying in bed bored. But it is a great all around lotion. The scent sticks around for awhile which can be good or bad. It does a grand job moisturizing, but I do have to say that because it tones skin it tends to make me think my hands are dry. You know that after face toner feeling? But when I feel my skin it is silky smooth and not oily. Definitely loving this stuff.

Coola: Mineral Face Matte Finish Sunblock SPF 30 in Cucumber
Say hello to your new everyday sunblock. Ideal for all skin, especially oily or sensitive. Natural, mineral, matte formula provides broad-spectrum, SPF 30 UVA/UVB protection while hydrating & balancing skin with vitamins, antioxidants and repairing extracts that target early signs of aging. Refreshing, natural cucumber scent, 70% Certified Organic inactives, 95% natural, preservative free, water resistant, & no nano-particles.
Full Size: 1.7 oz ($36.00)
Size Received: 0.169 oz ($3.58)
I thought this would be the first product I used from my box, but I keep forgetting about it until after I put my entire 'face' on. This is the ideal sunscreen for my skin type. It mattifies the skin so it is perfect for layering beneath make-up on hot days like we've been having. This sunscreen doesn't stop there it is an anti-aging formula that will allow you to have a smooth line finish and improve skin's elasticity and retain moisture. And the cucumber helps to calm and sooth sun-exposed skin. I'm going to put this on tomorrow and am so excited about the product. However much I wish it could be my everyday sunblock I am having to save every penny so $36 is far too much for me right now.

Shamanuti: Activated Cleanser
A unique cleanser that utilizes the properties of activated charcoal to neutralize acidity and absorb impurities as well as gently exfoliate with maple extract. Beneficial for all skin types including sensitive or problem skin and is very effective as a treatment for reducing acne, rosacea, and eczema.
Full Size: 4 oz ($28.00)
Size Received: 0.5 oz ($3.50)
In January, everyone was raving about Shea Terra's Rose Hips Black Soap. Which had a similar black, molasses-like consistency. But instead of the main ingredient being black soap this is uses activated charcoal which is known to deep clean because of how absorbent it is. Apparently a single teaspoon of activated charcoal has more surface area than a football field! It is paired with natural ingredients like: lavender, cranberry, roobios tea, chamomile, maple and sugarcane, and more. All of these do so much for your skin, like toning and soothing, and exfoliating! I have very high hopes for this product. The rose hip didn't work too great for my skin, so who knows maybe activated charcoal is what I need! I haven't started using it yet, but I'm almost out of my current cleanser so I will try it out and see how it works.
(btw the labels (which were original scratched off with a sharpie) read 1oz, but they are 0.5oz containers)

Shamanuti: Seaweed Toner
Skin loves this nutrient and mineral rich toner. It will nourish and hydrate the skin while removing any residual make-up or cleanser, delicately adjusting pH, while nourishing, & refining pores.
Full Size: 4 oz ($28.00)
Size Received: 0.5 oz ($3.50)
When I first got acne I thought toners were products that were straight up oil. In other words I was scared of toners. I don't get why I thought it was oil, but what an idiot! Now I know oils are good for getting rid of acne,  but Ill stick to a toner and cleanser any day. This toner is alcohol free, which I absolutely adore. My only issues is every alcohol free toner I've tried makes my face feel slimy, almost like I have a layer of sweat. Yuck. This one not only left my face feeling residue free, but I also got that cooling/tingling feeling while it dried. I had to check twice to make sure I didn't read the ingredients wrong, but it is for sure alcohol free. Instead it is made of aloe, kelp, blue green algae, black willow bark, dead sea salt, and hyaluronic acid. Seaweed alone is absolutely amazing for your skin. It hydrates, it purifies, it soothes, it cleanses, and the list goes on. But the addition of willow bark and dead sea salts just makes this even more fab. I'm sold.
(btw the labels (which were original scratched off with a sharpie) read 1oz, but they are 0.5oz containers)

Total value of my June 2012 box:$33.67
I really enjoyed this box. It was a great mix of products that were perfectly in season. It's not like I got a heavy cream during the hottest month or a mattifier in December. Goodebox knows how to put together a box of goodies! If I had more money I'd already have bought the full-size of the Seaweed toner and looked in to getting more Benecos eyeshadows. Either way I loved this box and cannot wait to see what I get in July. And lucky for me it is on its way!


What do you think of my June Goodebox? What did you get in yours? Have you tried any of the products I received? Let me know in the comments below!

Friday, July 6, 2012

Free Target 'Beauty For Every Body' Summer 2012 Sample Bag!

Every few months Target offers a free beauty bag! I saw on my facebook newsfeed that the summer bag was going to be released last month and got ready to click away. Like last time it took a few tries to get the facebook app to successfully process. I expected the bag to ship mid-July so I put down my new address. Nope, this baby was shipped only two and half weeks after I signed up. And here we have my FREE Target Beauty For Every Body Summer Beauty Bag.

Inside the cute blue patterned linen bag was:
  • Aveeno daily detoxifying scrub (1.0oz)
  • Neutrogena UltraSheer Dry-Touch Sunblock SPF 70 (1.0oz)
  • TRESemmé Split Remedy Shampoo and Conditioner (1.0oz each)
  • Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter in Peach Parfait (swatch)
  • Garnier Fructis Color Shield Shampoo and Conditioner (satchels)
  • Book of beauty coupons

Okay Sarah why in the world did you sign up for the Target sample bag if last time you complained that the majority of the products were tested on animals? Well the facebook advertisement showed a canister of Revlon's Colorblast Lip Butter. Revlon is a cruelty-free drugstore brand, so I was giddy thinking I'd receive a full-size or at least a pint sized lip butter. Sadly the contents are just a swatch pad. I haven't even used the swatch yet since I dont want to waste it when Im not going somewhere special. But I am still really excited at the prospects of getting to try the infamous lip butters.

As I discussed in a previous post, Aveeno although marketed to be natural is made by Johnson & Johnson one of the biggest animal testing companies. So although I love trying out scrubs (and this one smells amazing) I'll have to pass this one along. Neutragena is another company that is owned by Johnson & Johnson, so the sunblock is no bueno either. Garnier is part of L'Oreal which test on animals. And while researching for this post I found out Garnier is sticky with human rights too (would not hire woman of color, link and sell toxic shampoos to children, link).

The good news is that with a little research it looks like TRESemmé is a cruelty-free company! If I hadn't signed up for this bag I'd have never found that out. On full-size bottles it is printed right on the bottle! The samples I received are split end remedy shampoo and conditioner. I have such thin hair that split ends are inedible when I grow my hair out. I look forward to trying these out and cannot get enough of the green apple-ish scent!

Maybe the best part of the bag was the coupon book. This time there was a coupon for $3 off Revlon and $2 Pixi! Next time I head to Target I better not forget my coupons!

Make sure you like Target Style's facebook page so you find out when the next beauty bag sign-up begins!
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