REVIEW: Skinceuticals CE Ferulic and Physical Fusion UV Defense

Finally a new review and it's a double header from Skinceuticals.

New Beauty Description: “Antioxidants protect from the inside. SkinCeuticals topical antioxidants neutralize the UV-induced free radicals not blocked by sunscreens and help provide the most complete photoaging protection. Sunscreens protect from the outside. SkinCeuticals broad-spectrum sunscreens shield skin by deflecting and absorbing harmful UVA and UVB rays before they cause aging photodamage. Full size C E Ferulic: $146 Full size Physical Fusion UV Defense SPF 50: $32last three weekd

Final Word: I've been using both products almost every morning for the last three weeks. The ferulic serum is a combination of vitamins C and E and feruluc acid in an antioxidant blend to alledgedly zap those nasty free radicals in your skin that can age you before your time. You only need to use anout 6 drops at most. I love the Physical Fusion Defense which is essentially a very light tinted moisturizer with a sunscreen. No weird smell, it blends easily and it doesn't have a greasy residue. I would buy this at retail. The serum is interesting. I like it and I do think it's been working. Keep in mind this particular product doesn't reverse damage, it prevents it. There's a mild funky smell but it dissipates almost immediately. It smoothes on easily and while I could feel it on my face, it wasn't unpleasant. It's pricey and I'm not sure I'd lay out the cash, but if you're rolling in some extra dough and want to treat yourself, go ahead.

Bzzagent Report: Dr. Scholl's Massaging Gel Insoles

Hello lovelies! I'm not sure how NOT working this week made me even more busy than usual, but it's been a crazy week. Samples are coming in fast and furiously so I'm trying to test them as quickly as possible. Today I received my free pair of Dr Scholl's Massaging Gel Insoles and I'm looking forward to trying them out and reviewing them them for you here. This is my first Bzzagent campaign. I also received my first Cravebox in the mail. More on that soon. Promise!

REVIEW: Bond No. 9 Bon Bon "The Scent of Peace"

The Company Propoganda:  "For the first time in fragrance history, a major, full-blown fragrance collection was launched as an homage to the fair city of New York.  In fact, fragrances either represent a specific Gotham neighborhood - from downtown, midtown, and uptown locales - or an island-wide Manhattan scent.  Headquartered in NoHo [North of Houston Street] at 9 Bond Street, the collection features women's, men's and unisex eaux de parfums - complete with seasonal debuts."

I'm a New York girl at heart.  (Yeah, I was born and raised in Jersey--whaddaya gonna do about it?)  Bond No. 9 has been a brand I've longed to try so my heart did a happy dance when I saw a Bon Bon in my Sample Society box.  I received The Scent of Peace.  It's creation was inspired by the events of 9/11 and in 2006, a portion of the proceeds from each bottle sold was donated to UNICEF.  It's a woodsy floral with grapefruit, blackberry and lily of the valley (which I normally hate but it works here).  It's got a base of musk and cedar which makes this "female" scent more of a unisex one if you ask me.  I love it, though it doesn't have a whole lot of staying power.  Within two hours it had faded considerably and after four it was GONE. 

Each Bon Bon is valued at about $45 a piece (about the size of a deluxe perfume sample vial) and you can buy the whole current collection of 18 scents for $260 here.

Rating:  3.5 out of 5 (4 for the scent, minus a half point for lack of staying power)

Next Up: May 2012 Sample Society Box

Hello lovelies!  While I'm currently testing my last samples from the Spring New Beauty TestTube (get it here), I thought I'd show you what came in the next sample program delivery that's up for review, Sample Society: 



At first glance, I'm pretty happy with what came in my May box.  Here's the rundown:

• Alterna UV+ Color Fade Proof Fluide Deluxe Sample-0.3oz.
• Bond No. 9 New York Bon Bon Samples
• Colorescience Pro SPF 20 Travel Puff Deluxe Sample
• StriVectin SD Intensive Concentrate for Stretch Marks & Wrinkles Deluxe Sample
• Stila Cosmetics Forever Your Curl Mascara, Deluxe Sample
• 15% off coupon for purchasing full size versions on their site.  (Or was that $15--gotta double check)

I was a little bit disappointed that there wasn't a single full-size product in here, especially for a sample program that's a little pricier than the standard, but maybe I'm just spoiled by the New Beauty TestTube.  All in all, I'm very happy with the selection and I like the box it comes in (more places to store my bits of junk).  My only negative is that according to the website, I was supposed to receive a mini-issue of Allure magazine as well as a year's subscription to the regular rag.  Gotta look at the fine print on the website, but it seems pretty clear to me.  Time to make a phone call.  I'll let you know how it works out.

REVIEW: Memoire Liquide Fragrance & Body Cream

New Beauty TestTube Description:  From the Bespoke perfume line, Memoire Liquide, is the reserve collection of fragrances and body creams that utilize the powerful sense of smell to evoke memories from the past…or to create new ones for the future.

Final Word:  There were three different items from the Memoire Liquide line included in my TestTube:  Two fragrance vials in Amour and Soleil and a full-size tube of body cream in Encens.  All three scents were very sensual and I liked them a lot (I'm already keeping the Amour in my purse).  The body cream is very rich and the scent is luscious, rich, almost earthy.  It’s way too intense in both scent and texture for the summer and it’s already getting warm here in Southern California so I’ve put the body cream away until the fall.  Now for the scents themselves:

Amour:  With notes of Madagascar vanilla, tonka bean and incense, it has a burnt sugar and vanilla scent with a hint of incense.  Not in any sort of stank-masking hippy kind of way.  Just warm and earthy.  I prefer clean, light scents in the summer, but the rest of the year, I could easily see this being a fragrance I’d wear daily.

Soleil:  Fresh grapefruit, tangerine, red orange, neroli, sandlewood and white musk.  It's citrusy, candy-sweet, but cut with a hint of sultry.

Encens:  Amber, white musk, black tea and Hinoki incense.  Wow.  Definitely an evening scent.  It’s sweet, ambery, woody and smoky all at once.  I love it.

All three of these scents had good staying power, varying  anywhere from 4-12 hours.  I’m also eager to try out their counter at Fred Segal (there’s also one at Henri Bendel in NYC).  They have more than 150 notes available where you can custom blend your own, unique scent.

Eau de parfum

Full Size Price:  $95

Sample Size Value:  $1.68 x 2 = $3.35

Body Cream

Full Size Price:  $48

Rating: 3 overall.

0 – Too early to tell.

1 – If you want to gross people out for Halloween—go for it.

2 – Useless, in my humble opinion. Don’t waste your money.

3 – Like it but not worth going into debt for it.

4 – Love it. Will treat myself for Christmas, birthday, etc.

5 – OMG. I would sell my mother for the last bottle/jar/tube of this stuff.

REVIEW: ybf Eye Liner in Plum Noir

New Beauty TestTube Description:  Rich plum hues are all the rage and ybf has converted this look into one supreme silky stick. The decadent hue of this “plum noir” eye liner emulates a deep burgundy to merlot color that defines and refines eyes any time of day or night.

Final Word:  First, the positives:  The color goes on smoothly and lasts a good while.  I LOVE the built-in sharpener in the cap.  I can't tell you how many times I've wanted to use a makeup pencil--whether eye, lip or brow--the tip has broken off, and I'm without a sharpener.  This is genius in it's simplicity.  The negative:  The color is awful.  Too much plum and not enough noir makes a color that gives me "pink eye."  Either that, I look like I've been on a crying jag.  I would definitely buy this pencil in some shade of brown or black or maybe even some other funky color like green, but I honestly don't know what they were thinking with this color.  It was nice of New Beauty to give me a full-size item, but since I'll never use it, it's kinda useless.  Oh, but wait--there's always Halloween...

Full size
Price:  $14.5

Rating: 1 for the color, 3 for the pencil in ANY other color but this.

0 – Too early to tell.

1 – If you want to gross people out for Halloween—go for it.

2 – Useless, in my humble opinion. Don’t waste your money.

3 – Like it but not worth going into debt for it.

4 – Love it. Will treat myself for Christmas, birthday, etc.

5 – OMG. I would sell my mother for the last bottle/jar/tube of this stuff.

REVIEW: Mally Evercolor Shadow Stick

New Beauty TestTube description: A creamy, glide-on shadow Evercolor Shadow Stick won't crease or wear away, leaving you with gorgeous color all day--right where you put it. The innovative silicone system seals color in place while the creamy formula helps smooth away fine lines.

Final Word:  This was one of the full-size products included in the Tube and while I was initially sceptical that the color (one of three--silver) I received would be something I'd wear, I was pleasantly surprised.  In a nutshell, it lives up to it's description and the twist-up stick form makes it very convenient to use.

Full size
Price:  $25

Rating: 4.

0 – Too early to tell.

1 – If you want to gross people out for Halloween—go for it.

2 – Useless, in my humble opinion. Don’t waste your money.

3 – Like it but not worth going into debt for it.

4 – Love it. Will treat myself for Christmas, birthday, etc.

5 – OMG. I would sell my mother for the last bottle/jar/tube of this stuff.

REVIEW: Olay Regenerist Wrinkle Revolution Complex

New Beauty TestTube Description: “This comprehensive wrinkle reducer combines Olay moisture with advanced micro-fillers to visibly smooth the sink's surface immediately, while a biopeptide-B3 complex continues to reduce deep lines within 14 days.”

Final Word:  I haven't come across a single over-the-counter skin care product that lived up to it's advertising 100%, but I've always liked Olay products.  They're gentle on my skin, they're not nearly as expensive as their department store counterparts, and they do seem to make my skin look better as long as I'm taking good care of myself (exercise, good diet, lots of water, yadda, yadda).   Olay's newest product is no different.  I used it faithfully for two weeks and I did see minor improvement, though not to the degree Olay claims.  Perhaps if I had a month's worth of sample I'd continue to see further softening of my deeper lines, of which thankfully I still have few.  It's scent is hardly noticeable and the product goes on smoothly, with no greasy feel (hate that grease).  As a basic moisturizer, you can't go wrong.

Sample Size:  .23 oz

Sample Value:  $3.79

Full Size:  1.7 oz

Price: $28

Rating so far: 3 – Like it but not worth going into debt for it.

0 – Too early to tell.

1 – If you want to gross people out for Halloween—go for it.

2 – Useless, in my humble opinion. Don’t waste your money.

3 – Like it but not worth going into debt for it.

4 – Love it. Will treat myself for Christmas, birthday, etc.

5 – OMG. I would sell my mother for the last bottle/jar/tube of this stuff.

REVIEW: Moroccanoil Frizz Control

New Beauty Description: “...keeps hair frizz and static-free in any weather.  This extraordinary formula contains weather resistant properties that weightlessly safeguard hair, keeping it smooth, calm and manageable in the most damp or dry conditions.”

First Impression:  I love the packaging of Moroccan Oil but I never would have bought it because my hair is super fine and straight and the idea of putting any product with the word "oil" in the name sends me running.  I am so glad this full-size product was included in my New Beauty Test Tube.  I gave it a try just to review here, fully expecting to pass the rest onto my niece who has long, thick, super curly hair that frizzes when you look at it funny.  Not now.  I am AMAZED at how well this stuff works on my hair.  It is very lightweight and made my hair silky and soft--no added weight or grease whatsoever.  I combed it through damp hair and let it air dry before I went to bed.  Woke up with smooth tresses that I didn't even need to put a comb through and that never happens.  NEVER.  I have a feeling this bottle will last a long time but I'll definitely be buying it when it runs out.  Can't wait to try it before a blow dry and style.  I also suffer from crazy flyaways during the fall and winter when it's dry as a bone here in SoCal.  If this stuff can tame those, I am a customer for life.

Full Size:  3.40 oz

Price: $32

Rating so far: 4 – Love it. Will treat myself for Christmas, birthday, etc.

0 – Too early to tell.

1 – If you want to gross people out for Halloween—go for it.

2 – Useless, in my humble opinion. Don’t waste your money.

3 – Like it but not worth going into debt for it.

4 – Love it. Will treat myself for Christmas, birthday, etc.

5 – OMG. I would sell my mother for the last bottle/jar/tube of this stuff.

REVIEW: Perlier & Elariia Body Cream

New Beauty Description:  “Take a mini vacation to the Mediterranean with body cream formulas created by Italy’s premier manufacturer of bath and body products, where fresh ingredients are cultivated and blended into natural, functional formulas.”

First Impression:  The jar is adorable and it’s very easy to chuck in your purse.  It’s glass but it’s pretty thick and sturdy so I don’t think you’d have any issues with breakage.  Unfortunately, the full-size jars seem to be opaque white plastic from what I could tell online, which isn’t nearly as romantic and I’m trying to get away from using plastics as much as I can.   The particular scent I received in my TestTube was Frangipani (a.k.a. plumeria).  Made with sunflower oil and Vitamin E, the cream feels very rich going on but melts into your skin.  I HATE feeling greasy and this stuff turns out to be as light as a feather.  The fragrance is delightful.  It’s flowery but not cloying and it’s very subtle.  You have to get really close to the skin to smell it.  I’d love to try all the scents in this line.  Typical ingredients used in Perlier body cream, depending on the scent, are organic honey, olive oil, citrus extracts, white jasmine, etc.  P & E also operates their own 150-acre farm to grow the ingredients used in their creams.  Nice.  The price isn’t too shabby either.

Sample Size:  1.0 oz

Value of sample size:  $3.66

Full Size:  6.70 oz

Price:  $24.50

Rating so far:  4 – Love it.  Will treat myself for Christmas, birthday, etc.

0 – Too early to tell.

1 – If you want to gross people out for Halloween—go for it.

2 – Useless, in my humble opinion.  Don’t waste your money.

3 – Like it but not worth going into debt for it.

4 – Love it.  Will treat myself for Christmas, birthday, etc.

5 – OMG.  I would sell my mother for the last bottle/jar/tube of this stuff.

REVIEW: Neostrata Skin Active Cellular Restoration

Neostrata Skin Active Cellular Restoration

New Beauty Description:  “Apple stem cell extract, peptides and maltobionic acid in Cellular Restoration work to repair the skin’s cells by reducing oxidative damage and restoring skin-plumping collagen.”

First Impression:  Easy to dispense, applied nicely, absorbed quickly and no greasy feel.  Didn’t really notice much of a scent.  The directions say to apply before bed, after cleansing.

Final Word:  I've been using this cream nightly for the last three weeks (and still have some left--way to go New Beauty!).  Nothing is ever going to replace a face lift--and no matter how depressed I get about my ageing face, I'll never go there--but I liked this cream a lot.  I think it actually had an affect on my skin, particularly on my neck and chest.  I really think I've seen some softening of lines and a reduction in that dreaded crepe-y look that the skin on my neck is just starting to show signs of if the lighting is bad.  I wouldn't hock my Hot Toys Christopher Reeve Superman figure to buy this (busted:  yes, I'm a geek), but if I had some extra cash lying around I would buy this again.

Sample Size:  .5 oz

Value of sample size:  $23

Full Size:  1.75 oz

Price:  $79

Rating so far:  3

0 – Too early to tell.

1 – If you want to gross people out for Halloween—go for it.

2 – Useless, in my humble opinion.  Don’t waste your money.

3 – Like it but not worth going into debt for it.

4 – Love it.  Will treat myself for Christmas, birthday, etc.

5 – OMG.  I would sell my mother for the last bottle/jar/tube of this stuff.

 

REVIEW: dr. brandt® signature BB Cream with Flexitone

Okay, I was pretty eager to get my first real review up.  Here you go: 

New Beauty Description:  "dr. brandt Flexitone BB Cream is a multifunctional perfecting cream that blends seamlessly with most skin tones and protects against the effects of aging."

First Impression:  I had heard good things about the dr. brandt line so I was excited to see this in my Test Tube.  It’s virtually unscented, which I love.  Essentially a tinted moisturizer but the cream requires more patience to blend it well, like a foundation.  Shouldn't something with “Flexitone” blend very easily?  I looked fine in the bathroom mirror but a bit blotchy in the bright sunlight.  And you’ll need to dust a little powder over this.  I was pretty shiny.  This isn’t going to cover imperfections (of which, thanks to a recent bout with adult chicken pox, I have quite a few) but it will even out your tone ever-so-slightly.  SPF 30.

Follow Up:  Since my initial review, I’ve learned a bit more about Asian BBs (beauty balms) that this cream is a take on:  1) The color gradually adjusts to your own skin tone (in theory); 2) you ARE supposed to blend it thoroughly; 3) the more you use, the darker the shade becomes.  It’s essentially a combo moisturizer/concealer/foundation.  After giving this a second try, I’m much happier with it.  It covered better and wasn’t blotchy, although I would still recommend a powder over this and you're still going to need your go-to concealer to cover serious flaws.  Asian BBs have a big cult following among makeup mavens and apparently this product had a lot of beauty bloggers practically wetting their pants at the prospect of a BB from such a notable company here in the US.  The reviews among them seem to range from good to mixed but no one was blown away.  Neither was I.  I’ll use up the rest of the sample happily but I can’t see myself shelling out big bucks for this.

Sample Size:  .25 oz

Value of sample size:  $10

 

Full Size:  1.0 oz

Price:  $39

Rating:  3 – Like it but not worth going into debt for.

1 – If you want to gross people out for Halloween—go for it.

2 – Useless, in my humble opinion.  Don’t waist your money.

3 – Like it but not worth going into debt for.

4 – Love it.  Will treat myself for Christmas, birthdays, etc.

5 – OMG.  I would sell my mother for the last bottle/jar/tube of this stuff.

New Beauty Spring 2012 Test Tube

I’m new to beauty sample programs and did quite a bit of research prior to subscribing to my first one.  Because I was familiar with their magazine, I went with New Beauty’s Test Tube.  Based on Internet reviews and Youtube videos, they looked like the program that gave you the most bang for your buck.  Most programs are $10 a month.  NB’s Test Tube comes once every three months and will set you back $30—so it’s pretty standard.  Included in my first box which arrived this past week was a copy of their magazine ($10 newstand value), and three different Spa Cards, worth $10, $25, or $50 off purchases from the New Beauty website, where you can buy full-size versions of all their samples.  There's also a very pretty booklet that describes each sample you've received and how to use it:

Here’s a list of samples/deluxe samples/full-size product that I also got:

• Mally Evercolor Shadow Stick
• Neostrata Skin Active Cellular Restoration
• Moroccan Oil Frizz Control
• Olay Regenerist Wrinkle Revolution Complex (and a $3 manufacturer’s coupon)
• YBF Eye Liner
• Memoir Liquide Fragrances
• Memoir Liquide Body Cream
• Skinceuticals CE Ferulic
• Skinceuticals Physical Fusion UV Defence SPF 50
• Perlier & Elariia Body Cream
• Dr. Brandt Signature BB Cream with Flexitone

It’s going to take me a some time to review all of these samples.  I expect to post after the first use, and after the sample is gone (or once I’ve used it a couple of weeks in the case of full-sizes).  Stay tuned!

Postscript:  I've reviewed all but two samples  from my New Beauty TestTube and it's shaping up to be the best of the sample programs I've signed up for (reviews from those coming soon).  At a cost of $30, the value of the items, including the coupon and gift cards, ended up being approximately $295.  That's an incredible buy and it gave me a chance to sample products that I never would have bought otherwise, due to their pricepoint.  I have no problem laying out good money for a product if I KNOW it's going to work but who wants to take a chance on a $146 dollar bottle of skin serum if a $10 drugstore version will work the same, or in some cases better?  There were three full-size products and the samples were truly "deluxe"-sized, as the company propaganda states.  If you only have enough money for one beauty sample program, New Beauty TestTube is it.

Beauty Sample Programs

Since costuming-related posts are slow coming, I've decided to make this a combo blog--I've recently signed up for my first beauty sample programs and since most ask that you post reviews in exchange for high-end product samples, well stayed tuned.