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.