Beauty Army: July 2012

This is my first Beauty Army kit since April! I've been using the skip option most months and so thankful for it. Money has been tight and the selection hasn't been too optimal, so hello skip.

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.

July 2012
The Beauty Army product selection has not been that great the past couple months. I was pleasantly surprised that this month had some awesome products and brands I know of and some new ones to try out. I still had a problem with too many fragrances and old lady creams popping up. I find my best survey setting is to not select the fragrance category and say I'm 13-18. It's silly that the survey is so poorly tailored. I'd be more likely to get Beauty Army every month if I didn't have to fuss with the survey so much.


Information Card:

Products:
Cover FX: Clear Prep FX
A matte foundation primer and anti-acne treatment gel. Helps prevent and heal acne blemishes, minimizes fine lines and pores, plus provides an instant mattifying effect. 
Full Size: 1.0 oz ($39.00)
Size Received: 0.24 oz ($9.36)

I love primer! It is one of my favorite things to receive in these subscription services. I know Ill use it all and it helps make the products I already own even better. This primer was meant for my summer skin. It helps control oil, minimize pores and fine lines, and help control acne. It uses willowbark extract to exfoliate and reduce sebum, natural fruit aha to increase cell turnover (which also helps to unclog pores), and african bark extract to reduce pore size and also acts as an anti-inflammatory. This is a silicone style primer and has that smooth as ice gliding action. But what I did find out after the fact is that this primer contains hydrolyzed milk protein. None of their other primers have animal products so this caught me by surprise. 

Youngblood: Mineral Primer
Youngblood’s Mineral Primer is the perfect all-over primer for flawless make-up application and skin rejuvenation.
Full Size: 1.0 oz ($41.00)
Size Received: 0.17 oz ($6.97)
Well its a good thing I got two different primers. I already received a sample of this mineral primer and loved it. A vegan and cruelty-free primer, why not get a few? I was really hesitant about this primer the first time around since it uses pure essential oils and vitamins to hydrate skin. But it worked really well with my skin and again is a silicon feeling primer so it is silky smooth and a little goes a long way. It does have a bit of a weird smell, but once it is on your skin you can't smell it.

Juicy Jewel: Juicy Jewel Eau de Parfum

Juicy Jewel is a tantalizing array of scents and body products made of exotic fruits, flowers and nourishing oils.

Full Size: 1.0 oz ($55.00)

Size Received: 0.03 oz ($1.65)

Beauty Army only recently got perfume samples. The problem is if you say you are interested in trying out one, half of your samples to choose from will be perfume vials. Not cool. But when I saw the description for this perfume I had to get my grubby hands on it. The perfume is layered first of sparkling fruits: peach, pineapple, and blackcurrant. With a middle layer of jasmine and damask rose. And it dries down to musk and natural pheromones. It definitely is very sparkling up front. Almost immediately the rose and blackcurrant intermingle. What lingers is the jasmine, peach, and musk which makes a heavenly scent. I really like this one, but since every perfume I own is some variation of fruity floral I feel like I wouldnt buy the full size. I need to get some variation. 

Eyecandy: Eyecandy Coolers
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. 
Full Size: 1 set of coolers ($12.00)
Size Received: Full-size! 1 set of coolers ($12.00)
I was sold on these before I even tried them. The description states every problem I have: allergies, tension, dark circles, etc. These are reusable gel circles that you stick in the fridge for a rainy day. Whenever you need them just pop em over your eyes and relax. In minutes you will feel the soothing effects. Im not sure how it works on dark circles or allergies, but I found them to be calming and relaxing. I felt less pressure on my eyes and was a little more alert. Obviously this is similar to putting cucumber rounds on your eyes, but this seems a bit more sanitary and reusable!

Besame Cosmetics: Crimson Cream Rouge

For instant rosy cheeks and lips there is nothing more timeless than our vintage inspired cream rouge.

Full Size: 0.26 oz ($22.00)

Size Received: 0.1 oz ($8.46)

When I heard that Besame is one of the makeup companies that is used on the set of Mad Men I had to pick one of the products. If I can get rosy cheeks and lips like Joan, um yes? Isn't Christina Hendricks perfection? I love that she is curvy and sexy. She not only appeals to men but also is the epitome of beauty for women! Okay back to makeup. I received a sample of their crimson cream rouge. The pictures on the Besame website make this rouge look more like a bright pink, but I think it looks more red. I was pleasantly surprised at how nice this blends out. It melts so easily on your fingertips. I wore it a few days ago and loved how it looked. I felt a bit more done up and felt refreshed. Plus it lasted all day. I haven't used it on my lips yet, but from what I can tell it will be a perfect shade of pink-red. 

Macadamia Natural Oil: Healing Oil Treatment

For a quick touch-up or when hairs are too short to pluck, this unique grooming tool fine tunes your brows.

Full Size: 4.2 oz ($39.95)

Size Received: Full-size! 1 oz ($9.51)

I've always been scared of the word oil. My middle school years were plagued with terrible zits and oily skin and hair. If only I could find a picture of me from 6th grade. Although, I'd probably chicken out before I ever posted it. But that goes to say, don't give up on yourself! Your skin will even out eventually. It took my skin all the way through Senior year of high school to stop acting like a pre-teen. Anyways. I've finally stepped on the oil train. Natural oils do so many great things for your skin and hair. This oil treatment combines macadamia and argan oil to help out all hair types. It says it will help detangle and defrizz hair, smooth out and add shine, extend the life of color treatments, and reduce your hair drying time.Plus it is pH balanced and has a composition similar to our own oils making it highly absorbent and lightweight. And like all products I endorse, this company is cruelty-free!

Total Value of my July 2012 Kit: $47.95
Like always my Beauty Army kit is well worth my $15. I still don't plan on getting BA every month due to finances, but I do appreciate when BA steps up their game and gives us some amazing new products to try!

What do you think of the products I selected? Have you tried any of them? What did you select in your Beauty Army kit? Let me know in the comments below!
If you don't get Beauty Army, click here to join!

Sindulge: March 2012

At the end of February I found out about another subscription service, this one is different from the others because each month you have a live consultation with a beauty expert to talk about exactly what your beauty concerns are and what you would like. They had a deal where your first month was a penny so I jumped on board. The promo is still active so you too can try Sindulge for a penny by using promo code JKFF.

Don't know what Sindulge is?
Sindulge is a once a month beauty subscription service that delivers a cute box of beauty samples to your doorstep. Each month you will receive samples based on a personal consultation with one of their team beauty experts. The consultation's are 15 minutes long and can be done via video or text chat. Let the expert know what your concerns are and what new products you want to try. You can even ask the experts questions or ask for tips. The experts will do their best to fulfill your needs. Plus, there is a beauty profile on file to help the experts out. Sindulge costs $12 a month, and your box will always be valued way above!
Click here to join Sindulge.

March 2012, First Box!
I had my beauty consultation on 2/29 with Ami. It was a little confusing trying to figure out where I go on the website for the consultation, but since then they have made it more clear. I had a giant list of concerns that I wanted to chat about, so I wrote them down like a nerd so that I wouldn't forget anything. I let Ami know that I have very sensitive skin and some very red spots that nothing seems to work on. She said that she would include a good moisturizer/primer that will help reduce the redness and then maybe think about cosmetics to help even out my complexion. I also let her know that nothing I do ever gets my pores on my nose clean. She said she would include a product that does just that.

Although I had a smooth chat, I know many others did not. Some people's consultation got cancelled without reason, others had to reschedule and never got responses back, and others had no time to do the consultation so just emailed back and forth with their expert. I personally don't mind the consultations because in the future months I'll be able to let them know what products worked or not. And even though Im all about redness this month, maybe next month I want to try new mascaras. I love the idea of the personalization.

We were told that the boxes would ship out 10 days after our consultation, but alas that is not what happened. They kept getting delayed further and further without any notice. I wasn't worried, I figure it is their first month and it takes some time to get a groove going. But because so many people were upset, all current subscribers will receive April's box for free! That is so good customer service! Own up to mistakes made and I will stay by your side. So let's see how Ami did!

I love how the 'boxes' are so unique! They fold flat if you think you want to re-use it later. Plus, they aren't so thick that I will feel guilty tossing this in the recycling.

Information Card:

Before I begin my product review I had to say Im disappointed that they don't have a card letting you know what products they picked or why they picked them. And what is even more weird is that none of my products are available to buy on their website. Granted, it seems like their search and their shop is an absolute mess. I searched for the brand "Ferro" and got 4 pages of nail polishes and eyeshadows... The website in general is really messy, confusing, and not intuitive. For product descriptions, I will be using what is on the company's website.

Products:

LA Fresh: Waterproof Makeup Remover
Bye-bye waterproof color and all those other greasy makeup removers. Hello sparkling clean eyes & lips in an instant.
Full size: 24 count ($9.99)
Size Received: Full-size! 24 count($9.99)
Sweet!! I don't mind having these around. And since I received a full-size product I don't feel guilty using them at home. The company seems pretty awesome and they are stamped cruelty-free and all natural ingredients. The website states that the wipes are alcohol free, non-greasy, and will clean off even the most resistant makeup. I decided to try one tonight. At first I though they had dried out, but I could feel that there was oils on the cloth. I tried it out and sure enough my face is a clean slate. I do think they are a bit greasy, but that is because the only ingredients are a blend of 6 natural oils (olive, jojoba, sesame, grape seed, vitamin E, and lavender oil). Although my skin feels a little greasy, I dont think it will cause my skin to breakout. It is perfect hydration for overnight.

Youngblood: Mineral Primer
Infused with pure essential oils and vitamins to protect and hydrate skin. Use after cleansing to lock in moisture and after makeup application to set foundation.
Full size: 4oz ($41.00)
Size Received: .17oz($1.74)
So Ami had mentioned a primer, so here we go. It doesn't seem to have anything to do with evening skin tone though. But it is from a vegan and cruelty-free company, so I'll gladly take a sample. Im not sure how I feel about the primer being filled with oils. My skin is so sensitive that it may cause me to breakout. I tested it out on my hand and it is gel like and rubs on very soft, almost like a silicon-based primer (you know what I mean if you've tried them). My hands sort of felt a little oily afterwards, but who knows. I do have dry spots even though it is so humid where I live so maybe this would work to keep my moisturizer locked in all day long. We shall see.

Pixi: Endless Silky Eye Pen in No. 1 Black Noir
Long wearing, non-transfer, and waterproof eye pen gives the intense effect of a liquid liner but is much easier to apply.
Full size: .04oz ($14.00)
Size Received: .03oz($10.50)
Another clearly labeled cruelty-free company! I'm liking this trend. I had talked with Ami about never using liquid liner and being scared to even try it. But we had talked about brown to complement my fair skin. Alas, I got half of what I was told. I was a bit confused that the product is called a pen when it is clearly a soft pencil. But it sure is silky and glides on easily. It is intensely pigmented, although Im not sure it is quite equal to liquid liner. But application was easy, smooth, and solid. Only time will tell if it is smudge proof and waterproof as advertised.
eta: Used it today and it lasted all day! I watched a tearjerking Desperate Housewives episode and although  it did smudge a bit, you could barely tell.

Youngblood: Hi-Definition Hydrating Mineral Perfecting Powder in Translucent
Whether skin's under the HD spotlight or regular daylight, help it look flawlessly airbrushed and naturally radiant with this sheer finishing powder!
Full size: .35oz ($40.00)
Size Received: .02oz ($2.29)
I've been curious about Hi-Def finishing powders for a few months. Lately, even with my MAC Fix + Finishing Spray my make-up looks a little cakey or just blah. Hi-Def powders are meant to set your makeup, diffuse imperfections, and mattify. What I also found out while researching the product is that it has both licorice root and menthol that will help calm and conceal redness! Ami sure is listening!! I love it! Although I love my MAC Fix+, the humidity means my skin is back to shine crazy in a few hours. This hopefully will keep my makeup matte and looking flawless! Im glad they sent me the translucent color (they also have a warm glow) I want a finishing powder that does not interfere with my just finished makeup. And from a teeny swatch on my hand over the eyeliner it does not interfere with the color at all. I'm really excited about this!
eta: I used this product today. It was a crazy, humid day, but not once did I have to blot my face for shine. Even though I felt like my face was going to melt off, it stayed put, and was shine free! I think we have a winner!

Verabella: Bella Rosa Calming Skin Crème
This Calming Skin Crème will calms irritated skin, reduce redness and restore elasticity to create a youthful, radiant complexion.
Full size: 1.7oz ($88.00)
Size Received: .2oz ($10.35)
Apparently Verabella is a popular Beverly Hills spa that only recently is selling their products to the general product. This company also prides themselves on using all natural and botanical-rich ingredients. The creme has Organic Damask Rose Oil that helps to reduce redness and soothe irritated skin. It is also beneficial for sun-damaged or aging skin. Plus, it also has jojoba oil that is rich in nourishing proteins to increase firmness and elasticity and reduce lines. Plus, aloe-vera, vitamin A, and E. Every single line of the website description seems to fit my needs. From all my boxes this month I have a lot of options and hopefuls to reduce my redness. If I can get rid of redness and reduce fine lines, I'll take it!
eta: It seems like this bad boy is working. It is a really light cream and has not caused me to break out and has removed almost all of my redness!

Ferro Cosmetics: Matte Mineral Veil in Amber
For dark or tanned skin tones. Mattifying mineral and clay mineral powder that's tinted for a shine free finish over makeup or used alone.
Full size: .14oz ($16.95)
Size Received: .02oz? ($2.42)
Ferro Cosmetics is a mineral makeup line that is 100% natural, cruelty-free, vegan, and made in the USA. This is another finishing powder that absorbs oil, sets makeup, and mattifies. Unfortunately for me this product is meant for darker skin tones... I have NC20 skin, Im fairer than fair. How did I end up with this product? I thought maybe I could use it for a warm glow, but it is just too dark for my skin. The finish is just no good on my skin either. Every flaw or hyperpigmented spot on my face was intensified. I'm for sure going to let them know that it's sort of ridiculous that I ended up with this product when my beauty profile clearly states I have light skin and I even told Ami my exact skin tone. But this is the only let down, so I'll survive.

Total Value of my March 2012 Sindulge box: $37.29

Not bad for something that cost me a penny! Plus, next month is free for me! I think Sindulge has a lot of feedback to take in and hopefully they will improve. For me to stay a member I would need to see: better customer relations, my entire box based off of my profile and preferences, and more intuitive website. What I do like is that all the brands they featured are well-known and reputable. Plus, it doesn't hurt that they are all cruelty-free and vegan friendly!

What did you think of my first Sindulge box? How does it compare to yours? Did your consultant listen to your concerns? Let me know in the comments below!

If you don't get Sindulge, click here to join!