Showing posts with label Living Proof. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Living Proof. Show all posts

Friday, November 8, 2013

Sephora Holiday Blitz Sample Bag

I recently purchased some holiday gifts on Sephora, and conveniently they were running a promotion where you could pick out a bag containing 8 samples with any $25 purchase.  This is still going on, use code BLITZ to get your free stuff!  I picked the Holly Jolly Nourishment set.  As said in the fine print, the samples did vary a bit from what was shown on the website.

Here is what I got:

The Bag

Prime Style Extender 0.33 fl.oz. from Living Proof. Full size (5oz) $20. Sample worth $1.33
I have a deluxe sample of this already, no need for me to open the foil packet.  I'll save it for a vacation or something.  It definitely helps my hair remain less greasy than without, especially if I straighten my hair and use some oils in it to make it shiny.

Living Proof samples

Living Proof frizz nourishing style cream. 1fl.oz.  Best value for the full size is 8 oz for $36. 1 oz worth $4.50.
I used this today before straightening my hair (but after my beauty protector spray) and I definitely did not have any frizz, even though it kind of sprinkled on and off today.

Too Faced Beauty Balm


Too Faced tinted beauty balm in nude glow. 1.5 fl.oz. retails for $34. Sample is 0.17 oz. approximate value $3.85.
This color is a little dark for me, especially in the winter. It has a light coverage and didn't cover up the scar on my hand.  

Buxom Lash Mascara


Buxom Lash mascara from Bare Escentuals. Full size $19 for 0.37 oz. sample 0.2 fl oz, worth about $10.27.
I think I've tried this before, but I can't be sure.  I think I remember liking the deepness of color and volumnizing properties.  I have so many mascara samples that I don't know when I'll get to this!  I won't have to buy mascara for years, even if I throw them out after 3 months of being open like you are supposed to!

Clean Perfume

Clean (original) eau de parfum. Sample 0.03 fl. oz. best deal $69 for 2.14 fl.oz. this makes the sample worth 0.97$
This smells just like Dove soap.  It smells clean.  It doesn't smell like a perfume, but that is a good thing to me.

Fresh Sugar Petal Lip Treatment


Fresh Sugar Lip treatment in petal. Full size (0.15 oz) sells for $22.50. Sample 0.07 oz, worth $10.50.
I really like Sugar products, but they are so expensive for a tinted balm!  This is a nice color, smells like citrus, and even in 3 days of using it, has made a difference in the smoothness of my lips.  This product was the reason I picked this gift set, and it didn't disappoint.

Origins Plantscription Anti-aging Cream

Origins plantscription SPF 25 anti aging cream 15 mL. Full size 50 mL for $55. Sample worth $16.50. This is a very thick face cream, and I'm surprised Origins suggests using it in the morning.  I understand that it has a lot of sunscreens in it, and that is why, but it certainly is heavier than I like for a day cream.  It smells herbal in a good way.

Ren Hydra-Calm Cream


Ren hydra calm global protection day cream, 0.17 oz. Full size 1.7 oz for $45, sample worth $4.50.
This wasn't in the sample bag, but it wasn't one of the three free samples I chose to go with my order, so it may just be a stray that hopped a ride to my house! I'm not complaining ;)  I haven't opened the foil seal yet, so I don't have an opinion on it. 

Urban Decay b6 Prep Spray


Urban Decay B6 vitamin-infused complexion prep spray, 0.5 fl.oz.  Full szie $33 for 4 fl.oz, sample worth $4.13.
This is cornstarch in a spray bottle (plus some other fancy things that won't may any sort of difference).  It smelled much better than the other prep spray I've tried (I'm looking at you, Juice Beauty cat-pee-spray!), and the starch provided a nice smooth base for my makeup.  I would CERTAINLY not pay $33 for 4 fl.oz. of this product, though.  I could make my own for fractions of pennies!  Yeah yeah, there are other ingredients, so I'll throw in some aspirin and some aloe juice and call it even.  Same effect, much cheaper.

The samples are worth $56.55, not including the bag they came in.

Other samples I got with my order:

Evel Lom Package.  The cloth was folded up so neatly inside!


Eve Lon cleanser and one cloth. Cleanser $135 for 6.8 oz. cloths 3 for $22. One cloth and 0.17 oz worth $7.33 and $3.38, respectively and $10.71 total.
I love this! The cleanser has lanolin in it, which is one of my favorite ingredients ever.  The cloth isn't really a novel idea, but it works well in this system.  The cleanser smells like cloves and chamomile ("like ham tea" says my boyfriend.  HOT HAM WATER was my response.) and is amazing.  If it didn't cost so much, I would be all about this!  It really makes my skin smooth and soft.

Marc Jacobs Dot

Marc Jacobs Dot sample, 1.2 mL (0.04 fl.oz.).  I like Honey better, but Dot is nice, too.  It's more floral and less tropically fruity than honey.  Full size $92 for 3.4 fl.oz., sample worth $1.08.

Perricone MD Photo Plasma


Perricone MD Photo Plasma.  Antiaging SPF 30 face lotion.  59 mL sells for $69.  Sample is 2 mL, worth $2.34.



I also had 100 points, so I spent them on a Lancome Hypnose Star Mascara Sample.  The sample was 0.07 oz, and full-size is 0.22 oz for $28, making the sample worth $8.91.
This mascara  had a weird smell, but it made my lashes look fake!  I was amazed that one swipe could get me such a dramatic improvement- and I have long, dark lashes to begin with!  I couldn't get a good picture of my lashes, and my mascara is in my car at the moment so I don't have a picture of that either.  Sorry.

All together, I spent $70 on gifts (free shipping!) and got $70.68 worth of samples.  NOT BAD AT ALL.  




Friday, July 26, 2013

Birchbox Limited Edition Boxes

Birchbox has just put out two new limited edition boxes in conjunction with the Cosmetic Executive Women (CEW) Beauty Insiders' Choice Awards.

The first box is the Prestige Headliners box for $18.
Photo from Birchbox
The contents are:
Julep Nail Polish (one of my favorite brands)
Julep Essential Cuticle Oil (smells like lavender)
Living Proof Prime Style Extender (this stuff is awesome)
IT Cosmetics Brow Power Universal Brow Pencil
LA Fresh Eco-Beauty Oil-Free Face Cleanser Wipes
Elizabeth Arden Prevage Anti-Aging Triple Defense Shield Broad Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 50


The other box is the Mass Appeal box for $12.
Photo from Birchbox

This is the box I bought.  It contains:

Burt's Bees Ultimate Care Hand Cream 
Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain (I have 4 of these and can't get enough! Best drugstore lip product I've ever tried!)
Simple Revitalizing Eye Roll-On
L'Oreal Paris Infallible Eyeshadow
Nivea a Kiss of Olive Oil and Lemon Moisture Rich Lip Care
Olay Pro-X Spot Fading Treatment

I have enough Julep polishes and cuticle oil, and already have the living proof product, so I wasn't really interested in buying that box.  The one with the drugstore products, however, I was all about!

If you buy both, you get a $4 discount, bringing the total to $26 for all of the above products.


I had some BB points to spend, so I picked up theBalm's Mary Lou-Manizer since I've heard great things.


If you are not yet a member, you can use my referral code.  It won't get you anything extra, but here are some codes that will:
For free shipping use code BBSHOP
For 15% off a $35 order, use code 7TEEN15

You can only apply one code at a time, so I opted to save 15% (theBalm is shipping free this month) instead of applying it toward a bonus sample-sized product.

Are you getting either box?  I can never seem to resist ;)


Disclaimer: This post contains a referral link.  If you become a Birchbox subscriber using my link, I will receive 50 BB Points at the end of your first month.  All reviews and opinions in this post are my own and no compensation was received for it.