Beauty Army June 2013 Review

As crazy as this summer has been, I am getting some seriously awesome things in the mail!  I can't wait to share them all with you!

My Beauty Army box for June 2013 just arrived, and it is just chock full of exciting things!

What's Beauty Army?  Beauty Army is an awesome beauty box program that is $12 a month.  This is the ONLY subscription service that allows you to CHOOSE your samples, so you never end up with something that you don't want to try.  Beauty Army also has the option to skip a month without cancelling, or to have one of their stylists choose the items for you.  You can choose up to SIX items each month.  If you are interested, here is a LINK to their site, and if you use this link, I receive credit towards receiving a free box (and then you can refer people, too!).

Ok, enough about this awesome service- let's get on to the good stuff!

Beautiful packaging!

Every box that I have received from Beauty Army has been a pretty pink box.  I am using four of them to sort my badges for Scouts; and any more after that I will have my husband turn into a storage center.  Reduce, reuse, recycle- that's the way to do it!

The insert card.

Each month, Beauty Army includes an insert card, with beauty tips and hints that are relevant to the current season.  I love getting these cards, plus- who doesn't love to be called gorgeous?

Nelson J Beverly Hills Argan Oil 7 Shampoo, 1 oz deluze sample size; retail value $2.25. Available HERE, 1 8 oz bottle for $22, or on BA's website HERE, 2 8 oz bottles for $36.

The first item in my box is a repeat for me, but a great product all the same.  I was excited to see this in my selection window- this non-foaming shampoo did a great job cleansing my hair and helping to repair the damage that I have done to it!  Seriously, Nelson J Beverly Hills Argan Oil 7 shampoo is the best!  The shampoo leaves my hair feeling silky and soft, and combing it out afterwards is a cinch! I just can't justify spending the $36 for a two pack, not when I can get samples now and then and use it as a supplemental product. 
GRADE: 5/5

GG Gatsby Raise Volume Shampoo; .5 fl oz sample, retail value $0.59.  Available HERE, or at BA's store, $9.99 for 8.4 oz.

I received TWO shampoo samples this month, and I selected this one just because I didn't see anything else in my selection window that I wanted to try (death to all foil packs!).  This cute little sample is another non-lather shampoo, that says that it will increase the volume of my hair.  I have super thin and crazy curly hair, so I am always on the lookout for something to help tame and volumize my locks.  It is hard to tell if you like a product from a foil pack, one time use sample, but it is easy to tell if you hate it.  I gave this a try, and was really surprised.  After just one wash, my hair was MUCH less frizzy, and although I didn't notice extra volume, I DID notice an BIG improvement in my hair!
GRADE: 4/5

Yes to Blueberries Eye Firming Treatment, 0.1 fl oz foil packet; retail value $4.00. Available HERE, or from BA's store; $19.99 for 0.5 fl oz.

I say it all the time- I hate foil packets.  This sample was another selection made just to try something new, and because of my Mini Kittour jar from last month, I can get more than one use out of this one.  Yes to Blueberries Eye Firming Treatment is to be used twice daily to help combat the fine lines around the eye area.  Because of my very hooded eyes, firming and lifting the skin around my eyes is a concern- my hooded eyes will only become more hooded as I age.  I tried this treatment out, and the first thing I noticed was the smell- VERY floral.  I have major fragrance allergies, so I definitely won't repurchase this, but it does feel very good on my skin.  This little foil pack lasts quite a while- you only need a dab.  All you need is a little container to put the leftover in!
GRADE: 3/5 (feels good, triggers my allergies)

Addiction NV Gel Liner Pot in Starstruck (silver), full size, retail value $16.00.  Available HERE (currently offering 70% off everything on their site, making this liner $4.80; use coupon code NV70).

I love me some gel eyeliner, let me tell you!  I was excited to receive the Addiction NV gel liner in Chaos last month, but was disappointed in how it went on my eyes as a liner.  I use it now as an eye shadow.  When this popped up in my selection window again (no matter how hard I tried, I could NOT get purple to pop up!), I thought I would give it a try again, and maybe it's just the Chaos shade that didn't work well for me.  

Swatch of Starstruck (indoors with flash- it's seriously bucketing out!)

This beautiful silver/grey shade is super creamy.  I tried this on, and I like this one a LOT better than the blue one I received last month.  It doesn't seem to be quite as creamy, and glides on really well, and has some serious staying power!  I love me some gel liner!

Let me add that this company MAY be going out of business- I went to find their site today and had a farewell message posted on the home page, but I could still get into the store.  Shop at your own risk!
GRADE:4/5

Mini Kittour 30mL Travel Bottle in clear, retail value $3. Sets of 2 (one PET and one HDPE plastic) are available from BA's site for $6.

I seriously loved the little Mini Kittour container that I received last month, and I was excited to receive this one too- I love to have ways to save samples for multiple uses, and cute ways to travel (if I actually ever go anywhere!).  I plan to put my GG Gatsby shampoo in this, to hopefully squeeze a second application out of the packet.  What a great idea- to have little sample sized jars, to save the excess from a foil packet!
GRADE:4/5 (nice to have but the smaller pots are more handy IMHO

Colorsmash Hair Shadow in Je Ne Sai Quoi (bright pink), 0.03 oz sample size, retail value $4.09.  Available HERE, or on BA's website, $15 for .11 oz.

I have a tween-aged daughter.  This probably isn't news to you.  When I told her that one of my samples this month was pink hair chalk, she screamed and jumped up and down.  That's tween-language for good, by the way.  Colorsmash Hair Shadow is easy to apply- just smash on, spray with hair spray to seal it, and go.  Ready to shed your color?  Simply wash your hair!  The sample is a decent size, too, although the weight doesn't sound like it.  It's a decent sized pan of shadow, about the size of a MAC or Ulta shadow, but not as full.

Swatch of Je Ne Sai Quoi Side note- do you know how hard it is to take a picture of your own hair?  I don't care that it's sideways, the pink looks cool, although it is more hot pink than this picture shows. (flash- it's seriously bucketing out so no sunlight!)

My hair is pretty dark, so I was curious as to whether or not the hair chalk would even show up, but I should not have worried.  This is seriously cool stuff, and my favorite item in this month's box!  I have to see if I can find a more inexpensive alternative to the hair shadow, though- If I find one, do you want to see a tutorial?  Let me know!  Just one little suggestion, though- wear gloves when applying, because this stuff got ALL over my hands, but it DID wash off with soap and water.
GRADE: 5/5

My Beauty Army June 2013 Box

And finally, here is my June 2013 Beauty Army box collection.  I think I got some neat things this month, what do you think?

Here is this month's financial breakdown, but remember- an item only has value if you love it, or found out that you hate it- something that you would never use, and never wanted has NO value at all in my opinion!

Nelson J Beverly Hills Argan Oil 7 Shampoo: $2.25
GG Gatsby Raise Volume Shampoo: $0.59
Yes to Blueberries Eye Firming Treatment: $4.00
Addiction NV Gel Liner Pot$ 16.00 (or $4.80 if you include the current sale)
Mini Kittour bottle: $3.00
Colorsmash Hair Shadow: $4.09
Total Retail Value: $18.73, if you cound the sale price, $29.93 if you don't.
Total Out of Pocket: $12.00, shipping included.
Not the best valued box, but still more than I paid, and I received some really cool stuff that I really like.  I'm a satisfied customer (but Ipsy is still my favorite!)

I hope you enjoyed this review of my Beauty Army box, and feel free to check them out if you like what you see!  Tell me- what did YOU receive this month?

Until next time, my lovelies- stay Only Average!

PS- Have you heard of Hand-Picked Words?  Enter HERE to win a 3 month FREE subscription!

 

Disclaimer: This review is solely my opinion, on a product that I paid for our of my own pockets.  I have not been compensated for this opinion in any way, and it is my honest thoughts and review on the products listed above.  The referral link in this post is one where I would receive credit for a referral, and be compensated with free product for referring 3 people.  Here is a link that just goes to Beauty Army, without my referral code.  Links to vendor's sites are not referral or compensated links.  I strive for honesty :)