May Beauty Army First Impressions (and why they're awesome)

Hi Lovelies! Another month and another Beauty Army kit! As usual, I'll show you what I got with some initial thoughts. Make sure you scroll down all the way to the end to see something really special about Beauty Army!:)

CellCeuticals
PhotoDefense SPF 55+

Photo-Defense Anti-PhotoAging Daily Skin Protector is an ultra light hydrating formula with patent pending Photoplex, which provides extreme anti-aging protection against daily UVA and UVB sun exposure, oxidative stress, and glycation. Fortified with a powerful Auto-Defense System and vitamin D to help strengthen the skin's natural defenses. PhotoDefense contains Photoplex, a photostable complex with exclusize Cellular EEQ (Excited Energy Quenchers) Technology. Photoplex provides broad-based spectrum UVA/UVB protection and quenches both free radicals and advanced glycation end products, which prevents premature skin aging.


I'm really excited about this! Every day I get closer and closer to 30 which means I'm closer to more and more wrinkles! The fact that this "prevents premature skin aging" means I should automatically love it!!:) Plus, I *love* how high the SPF is! I'm super fair, and the more protection I have, the better my skin is!;)

Weleda
Almond Soothing Cleansing Lotion

Sensitive and reactive skin gets soothed and restored with this gentle hypoallergenic Almond Soothing Cleansing Lotion. This natural face wash is a creamy, fragrance-free facial treatment with organic ingredients that gently cleanses and protects your skin.


Organic sweet almond oil in our Weleda Almond Soothing Cleansing Lotion is packed with essential fatty acids that help nourish and soothe your sensitive skin while balancing your natural moisture level for truly healthy beauty. Plum kernel oil in this natural face wash contains high quantities of antioxidants and vitamins A and E, which absorb easily to soften your skin and protect from harmful environmental influences. Your skin feels refreshed, soft and balanced when you use Weleda Almond Soothing Cleansing Lotion. Delightfully mild, you can’t help but be soothed by the purity of your naturally cleansed skin.

This stuff smells divine!! I was a little confused as to what it was--is it a cleanser? Or a lotion? Do I rinse it off? Or leave it on?? lol, I am very excited to try it out!

Aquolina
Pink Sugar Body Mousse
A soft mousse which captures the sweetness and sensuality of the Pink Sugar fragrance, leaving the skin long lastingly scented and soft.

I think it was last month I got the Pink Sugar perfume sample and FELL IN LOVE!!! It's been quite some time since I invested in a pricey perfume. For me, I've found that the more cheaper sprays from Bath and Body Works suited me just fine. But after having the Pink Sugar sample, I went to Ulta and bought the whole bottle! It is such a light, sweet smell. It's like cupcakes and cotton candy!! I'm like a walking sugar cane lol:) So I was super excited when I got to pick up the lotion mousse to try!!!

LaRocca Skincare
Cellular Gold Hydrating Body Balm
With an enriching blend of Cupuaçu butter, Shea butter and olive oil, this ultra-rich nourishing balm soothes and melts beautifully into the skin adding intense moisture lasting all day.

Directions: Scoop out with your fingers and massage into your skin, as often as desired. Best after bath.

I got a LaROCCA product in one of my first Beauty Army kits and I have been looking forward to trying some of their other awesome items! I've only used this a couple times since I got it, but it has a very fresh, fruity, kind of citrusy smell. But it is soooo soft and smooth! It is simply fabulous!

Lucy B
Pink Frangipani Eau De Parfum
Lucy B’s Pink Frangipani roll-on perfume oil is a tropical Australian beach scent that has top notes of pink grapefruit & pineapple with middle notes of red suva frangipani and bottom notes of heliotrope & coconut milk.It has the added benefit of the mood boosting natural Australian flower essences.

This is a really pretty, summery smell. It reminds me of walking on a tropical beach with the sun on my shoulders and the breeze blowing through my hair. I'm not in love with it, but I need to try it a little more to really see how it interacts with my body:)

Finally, Beauty Army is trying something new! There are products you can try for your man! I think this is a great idea, not just for the men in your life, but to even review some manly products! I understand most of my readers are female, but I know there are some men that also stumble upon my blog! So my last item in my Beauty Army kit for May is....

Sex Panther
Sex Panther Cologne is the most awesome cologne ever made in the history of the entire world. Scientifically engineered from space age petroleum distillates and animal byproducts. 60% of the time, it works every time.

Unleash your inner animal!

Sex Panther cologne lures you in with clean and refreshing top notes of fresh air accord and juniper while the heart of the fragrance centers around lavender and sensual musks. As the fragrance evolves it turns warmer as it envelopes you with masculine notes of cedar and sandalwood.

OMG. This stuff smells so unbelievably amazing!!! I have been unable to convince my man friend to try it out for me, and I'm wondering if I could test it myself and see what kind of reactions I'd get, but... we will see:)

So that's my May Beauty Army kit! But, as promised I wanted to tell you something about Beauty Army. You know I've been with them for a while now and my only complaint had ever been that it took too long to get the kit here! lol But that's more my impatience than anything;)

Last month I mentioned that each item wasn't individually wrapped--while I think that was something really special that they did, I don't think it's changed the quality of any of the products I receive. This month, the outside of the box changed. It used to have all kinds of beauty/makeup words all over the top--I thought that was so fun! Now it's just "Beauty Army" across the top. It definitely makes it more simple/sleek/classy/whatever, but I was sad and felt it took away some of the uniqueness.

You may be thinking, all right, Kristen, seems you're just complaining about them, can you get to the point? Well, the Lucy B. perfume in my kit this month--I was supposed to get two 1 oz samples. I got one. And it was a third of the way full. Almost like it had spilled out or something--though nothing was wet or smelly in the box. This made me very sad. :( So I emailed Beauty Army and just told them what happened. (here's where the story gets exciting) They responded to me in less than an hour (it was actually ELEVEN MINUTES) with an apology and told me that next month, send her a note to remind her and they'll let me pick an additional sample to make up for the loss! Thank you Beauty Army! I didn't expect anything from them (okay, maybe an apology lol) but I got way more than that!

I have always been impressed with how active Beauty Army is on Facebook and Twitter, but their customer service is seriously unsurpassed! Two thumbs up for Beauty Army! Thanks so much!!:)

How about you? What was in your kit this month? Have you had any experience with their customer service department? What company(ies) do you think have the best customer service??

Review: Joico K-Pak Revitaluxe

Hi Lovelies! I'd heard such great thing about the Joico K-Pak, and I'm super excited to tell you that I loved it as well!

I got this sample size in my Beauty Army Kit last month. Only a sample size, but a little goes a log way, so I have plenty that I am still using it!

Here's the product descritpion:
Indulge in the ultimate luxury treatment for dry, damaged hair from the leader in hair repair. Actively repairs, restores, protects, and hydrates hair, correcting years worth of damage while preventing future damage. With each application, hair instantly becomes stronger, softer, more moisturized, with improved elasticity. Blend of Bio-Mimetic Peptides, Keratin Amino Acids, Jojoba Oil, and Aloe Extract.

And how to use:
Apply to clean, wet hair. Massage through to ends. Leave on for 3-5 minutes. Rinse. 

What do I think? LOVE it. I shampoo and condition as usual then apply the K-pak throughout my hair and let it sit for a while. The texture of it is almost like a really thick conditioner. Very thick and creamy and it smells delish! After rinsing, my hair feels clean and soft. But the real excitement comes AFTER my hair is dry! I've been wearing it straight lately, so it's getting heat from the blow-dryer and my straightener (which, p.s. I got a new straightener a couple weeks ago that I still have to tell you all about!) which normally really damages my hair. Alas! My hair is soooo soft still!

I've tried a lot of different products that promise to smooth and soften hair, but this stuff is actually really amazing! I will definitely purchase this product in the future!

Have you used any of Joico's products? Do you like the K-Pak? What other products do you use to keep your hair soft and healthy?

April Beauty Army and First Impressions

Hey Lovelies! Another month and another Beauty Army kit! I'm starting to think they just keep getting better and better! And they've been getting here faster! LOL Or maybe it just seemed faster because I completely avoided reading any of the tracking information so I'd be surprised when it got here!:)

I opened it up, and the first thing that I noticed that was different this time was that not every item was individually wrapped! Just a folded sheet of pink tissue paper over top of everything... Beauty Army cutting costs and not paying someone to wrap everything? Or did my kit just get through quality control and someone forgot to do it? hahaha.

So without further ado! Here is what I got this month with some of my first impressions!

the pink tissue paper just folded in:( lol

everything in the kit when I removed the tissue paper!:)

First item, packaged almost like a mini-tampon, lol is the Aquolina Pink Sugar Eau de Toilette. They made it almost childproof to get in to! Hahah. Once I opened the plastic, it's just a little vial of perfume. This stuff smells soooo yummy! It's not too strong or potent, just sweet and feminine! LOL I'm writing my thoughts and I realize it's pretty much what's in the description:

Two drops of perfume and the world is tinted pink. Pink is the color of femininity, sweetness and passion. Pink is the color of emotions, of sensuality and indulgent innocence. Pink Sugar is a cloud of sweetness that lasts long on the skin.

A unique olfactory experience interlacing fantasy and reality. The encounter of femininity and inner childhood. The earliest memories in life are also the most addictive. Nostalgia of cotton candy tinted with gourmand raspberry, tickled by the greenness of fig leaf, and lifted by the citrus notes of bergamot and Sicilian orange.

Product Size: 1.7 fl oz ($45)

This is my second Indie Lee product and this is fabulous!!! It smells sweet with just a hint of tartness that gives it a little kick! The scrub seems really rough when you start, but as you work it into your skin (and it gets off all the dead skin) it starts smoothing out! I've only used this a couple times so far, but I am definitely a fan!
 
Indie formulated this all natural scrub, to deliver a daily dose of pampered, sexy skin. The essential oils create a calming, light, lemon scent to start or end your day.

Product Size: 12 fl oz ($38)

I had seen some other girls get this in the kits in previous months, so I was very excited when it was one of my choices! It really smells like bananas!!!! Kind of a cross between artificial banana (like a yellow Popsicle) and real bananas. It reminds me of a banana pudding or banana cream pie! Omg, I'm getting hungry just typing about it lol. Anyway, this stuff is super thick and super creamy. A thicker version of a Body Shop body butter! Almost like... cream cheese. That kind of consistency. I've used this a couple times on rough parts of my body (on my feet after a pedicure at home) and it is definitely moisturizing and softening. I'm almost positive I'll have this done before I get to choose my next samples! It's pretty fab!:)
 

Bananas and baobabs, oh my! Need that fresh from the jungle feeling? Well, you've got it. This luxurious, pampering cream will give you super soft skin all day long with a combination of 30% organic shea butter and African baobab oil. But that's not all. The all-natural banana extract in this baby will make you want to pull out a spoon and dig in.

African baobab oil is cold pressed for Shea Terra Organics in West Africa. Many of the amazing upside down trees are over 3000 years old. The oil is highly emollient and rich in omegas.

How to Use: Dig in and spread all over. Jump all over like a monkey in a baobab tree.

Product Size: 9 oz ($18)

I really don't have a lot to say about this product yet. But I will soon!:)
 
Strengthens hair, making it over 2x more resistant to breakage*
Protects against color fade by 94%**

Keratin Peptide Complex™:
• Bio-Mimetic Peptides
• Keratin Amino Acids
•Jojoba Oil
• Aloe Extract

*vs. untreated control group
**week following color service ($34.50)

I absolutely adored my BABOR sample last month (the Argan Cream! Like silk on my face!) and was looking forward to trying more of their products this month. I haven't tried this yet, but I will:)
 
BABOR CLEANSING is the first step to beautiful skin. BABOR has combined the natural cleansing power of oil and water to create a unique signature bi-phase cleansing system that ensures mild but thorough deep-cleansing. This gentle hydrophilic (water loving) cleansing oil is formulated with pure herbal ingredients, is free from preservatives and is suitable for all skin types. It is used in combination with a skin-specific Phytoactive cleansing fluid (sold separately).

Benefits: A gentle, water soluble cleansing oil that leaves no oily residue on skin. Must be applied with the skin specific phytoactive. Great for all water and oil soluble make up.

Application: Massage 3 pumps of HY-OL onto the skin. Immediately apply 2 pumps of Phytoactive on top and massage together. Add water, massage and rinse off. A wash cloth may be used, if desired, for the ultimate cleansing experience.

Product Size: 6.8 fl oz ($32)

LOL I took this picture next to a quarter just to give you a visual of the size of this last product. And the container really only has a little spot of product in it! (but, this is only like a .1 oz sample or something so what do you expect?) The whole concept of this intrigues me. It's like a concealer but thicker? or something. I'm a little nervous thought because it comes in "medium" and I am definitely "fair"... but we shall see!
 
Have a Boo-Boo? Skip the bandage and the shiny ointment. Look your best even while you heal with Boo-Boo Cover-Up. The innovative formula offers great coverage for skin imperfections while containing ingredients known in nature to promote healing.

Directions: Dot and blend a small amount over minor skin imperfections. A little goes a looooong way! Shake if needed. Apply twice a day for 6-8 weeks. Not intended for use on open wounds.

Shade: Medium 

Product Size: 0.5 fl oz. ($20.85)

Total Value of full size products: $188.35
Amount I spent: $12

And that, ladies and gentlemen, concludes this month's First Impressions of my Beauty Army Kit!:) Have you tried any of these products? Ones you love or loathe?

Also, Beauty Army has wait-listed a lot of people, but I think they are now opening new memberships! So get in while you can! Or at least on a wait list! I promise you it's a $12 a month well spent!:)

March Beauty Army--YAY!:)

I love Beauty Army! I can't say I'm their #1 fan, because that is clearly Marina at mCubed Makeup lol. But I am definitely a huge fan! This is only my 2nd kit, and I cannot wait 'til I get to pick my samples again for my next one!!

You may recall last month that I said my only complaint was that it took sooooo lonnnnngggg to get here. :( I will say this month wasn't nearly as bad! Probably more because I kept my expecations in check so that even when I got the email saying "Your kit is on its way!" I knew I should wait about 2 weeks before really checking the mail box. And really, it did better this time! It shipped on Feb 24th (I chose my samples on the 23rd! So they are super serious about sending your stuff out right away! Love this!) and I got it on Mar 6. Soooo, ladies and gentlemen, that is *only* 8 business days! Faster than last month! (by a day, BUT STILL!!:)

Anyway, without further ado, here's what I got this month!

MyFace Cosmetics Blingtone Eyeshadow in Caribbean Queen
Inspired by the tranquil, azure colours of the Caribbean, where the blues and greens of the sea and sky blend together so that you can't tell where one ends and the other begins...caribbean queen is an iced turquoise that shimmers like the sun on the ocean and makes you swear you can hear steel drums in the distance when you wear it. (Full size cost $20)
This is not like any color I normally wear, but I loved last month's Blingtone Eyeshadow so much that I was just excited they were offering me another one! 


Mama Mio Shrink to Fit
An incredibly effective cellulite-blasting serum set in a richly moisturising cream. Double whammy; smooth ‘orange peel-free’ legs wrapped in soft, toned, nourished, FIT skin. To reduce the appearance of cellulite, you need to kick start the sluggish circulation, decongest and reduce toxins. Shrink To Fit is packed with the most effective, expensive cellulite busters, circulation stimulators and antioxidants; all at very, very high levels to ensure we have made the very best anti-cellulite cream we possibly could. (Full size cost $56)
This is the same brand that made the Boob Tube that I picked last month. I have no idea if this will actually fix my cellulite, but it's definitely worth a shot:)

Weleda Iris Hydrating Day Cream
Dry to very dry skin gets daytime strength and protection with this moisture-regulating Iris Dry to very dry skin gets daytime strength and protection with this moisture-regulating Iris Hydrating Day Cream. Our all natural face cream is a nutrient-intensive treatment that balances your skin’s natural moisture and provides a healthy base for facing forward and starting a beautiful day.

Iris root extract found in our Iris Hydrating Day Cream can help your skin naturally balance itself. Draw your natural moisture to the surface with Biodynamic® iris root extract in this all natural face cream to hydrate naturally and evenly. Organic shea butter, a soothing moisturizer packed with fatty acids, carotene and vitamins A, E and F, protects your naturally balanced skin against harmful environmental influences when you use our Weleda Iris Hydrating Day Cream. Organic cocoa seed butter nourishes your skin into supple perfection. Your skin emerges after using this all natural face cream with a luminous, moisturized softness you can see and feel. Get your morning skin in balance for nourished, healthy beauty that’s prepared for whatever your day throws at you. (Full size cost $20)
I'm always up for trying new moisturizers and am excited to see how this one performs!

Babor Argan Cream
Foreign regions are opening up new horizons in the world of cosmetics. Experience the exotic nature of Morocco’s “Liquid Gold” Harvested from the ancient Argan Tree-which is found only in the Sous valley of southwestern Morocco- this precious oil has long been valued for its medicinal, nutritional and cosmetic properties. The active ingredients such as Agranyl and Aloe Vera work to aid skin in retaining elasticity, boosting firming power and rejuvenating cells. The unique Arganyl extract also stabilizes the skin’s collagen fibers and protects them against enzymatic breakdown. Experience younger, more hydrated skin in minutes. (Full size cost $125. Yes, you read that right)
I would never pay this much for a skin product (unless it performs miracles; then maybe I'd consider it). But I am sooo thankful that Beauty Army offers products like this so I can try the super-duper expensive stuff! The packaging of this is so amazing. I've used it for 2 or 3 days now, and it feels so wonderful on my skin. So far I love it. Of course, for a $125 product, it should be lovable!!! lol

Cover FX Eye Prep FX
This anti-age smoothing eye primer immediately soothes, hydrates and helps reduce undereye puffiness. Formulated to strengthen the skin around the eye, it firms and rejuvenates while lightening dark undereye circles. EyePrep binds concealer, foundation and eye shadows to lids and eye area for long lasting wear. Tolerated by the most sensitive skin, this formula is oil free, fragrance free, paraben free and gluten free. (Full size cost $43)
Always looking for a new or better primer, I was delighted to see this as an option for this month's kit!!


Indie Lee Squalane Facial Oil
A naturally occurring oil that promotes elasticity in the skin. As we age, its production diminishes. This key component of our sebum helps boost cell regeneration and oxygenation, leaving your face looking healthy and radiant. (Full size cost $24)
So far I love Indie Lee. Her story, what she believes, what she creates, etc. (again, though Marina is definitely Indie's #1 fan! hahaha) This is my first Indie Lee product, and I'm curious about how it will work, because I think "Squalane Oil" is a fancy way to say Olive Oil:)

Total cost of all products* sent to me this month: $288
Amount I paid: $12
Do I love Beauty Army: Um, do you even have to ask??? YESSSS!!! Love love love!!

When I first took the beauty quiz, I was interested in anti-aging stuff (hello! I'm nearly 30! Aging started already!) But I think I might re-take the quiz and see what other fun stuff I can get!

What did you get in your kit this month? Are you receiving Beauty Army yet? If you're in the USA, you totally should do it!!:)

Click to join the Beauty Army with me!!:)

*based on full size product cost. I only receive sample sizes. (exception: Blingtone shadow)

February Birchbox--First Impressions

Hi Lovelies! I got my first ever Birchbox today and wanted to write a quick post to show you what I got and share my first impressions!

A little background, Birchbox was actually the first monthly subscription service I'd heard about and I went to sign up right away. I've been on the wait list for a few months and was super excited to get the chance to join a week or so ago! I filled out the beauty profile and was ready to get my surprises!

Within a week, I got notice that my first box was shipped! I just found that out on Saturday... Today is Wednesday! (+1 for them on BeautyArmy which took FOR EV ER to get here! But, it was shipping from the east coast so it had a shorter distance to go;)

Without further ado, here it is! (I'll show you everything then share some things at the end:)

Here it is first opened!

the welcome card

everything!

perfume, lip gloss, free music downloads

stick on eyeliner, clothing adhesive, powder puff

description of everything I got

So! At first, I was sadly disappointed. Since I got my BeautyArmy kit a little while ago and their "sample" sizes were actually real sizes of stuff that I could use several times to give a good solid review of things. Birchbox "sample" size is more or less nonexistent on some stuff.

My next thought was, when am I even going to use this stuff? I rarely if ever wear clothes that would need adhesive to keep it on... And a random powder puff?

But! I will say, I sprayed a little spritz of the Juicy perfume and I LOVE IT. It is definitely a scent that I enjoy and works well with me! And the lip gloss?? What a perfect color for me!! It's light and makes my lips look wet.

I'll still use everything and give you more thoughts later on. Bottom line right now? I still felt a little let down, but my expectations may have just been a little too high. I'll try it for another month or two, maybe retake my beauty profile, and see if I get some better/different stuff then:)

Beauty Army Kit Sample Review: LaROCCA Gold Cleanser Exfoliant

Hi Lovelies! Happy Friday! OMG, this felt like one of the longest weeks I've had in a long time. But it ended on a pretty good note, and I know I am ready to enjoy the weekend!

So, I know it seems like I just keep saying such great things about Beauty Army's products--to the point where you're probably just rolling you're eyes and thinking, "oh, she's just saying that." I promise you, I am not. I'm actually really happy with everything I've tried so far because I kind of went into it thinking I wasn't going to like it much.

That sounds like a horrible thing to say. But quick reminder, I went with Beauty Army because everyone else had wait lists and I couldn't get other monthly subscriptions! I wanted something that was going to have more "makeup" products and less "beauty" products. But! Let me tell you! It was a blessing in disguise! So much of the Beauty Army stuff is products that I probably wouldn't even consider buying.

For instance, today I want to quickly tell you about the LaRocca 24K Gold Cleanser Exfoliant. It comes in this super teeny tiny little jar (the picture makes it look A LOT bigger than it is in real life, lol) And my first thought was, yeah right, I'll use this like one day and it'll be all gone. Nope, I've been using it all week and I *still* have stuff left! A little really goes a long way.

I'm not gonna post the whole description of what it's supposed to do; you can see that by seeing my original Beauty Army Kit post. I just want to tell you what it's done for me. It is AMAZING! I love this stuff!! I usually wash my face with it at night and moisturize before going to sleep. I wake up with a healthy glow (ok, maybe that is a SLIGHT exagerration; I kinda still look like crap when I first wake up lol) But I do notice that my skin does look healthier and fresher, if that makes sense.

Also, what I really like about it is that after using it just once, my nose had that smooth almost shiny (not greasy) feeling I get after using pore strips on it. My cheeks feel softer. It's just an overall good, clean feeling. :)

So, my one complaint that I'd had about Beauty Army was that it felt like my kit took FOREVER to get here (and it was 9 business days. And a weekend thrown in, I think) But whatever! I'm totally over that! Everything that I've been using so far has been sooooooo simply wonderful, that it is totally worth the wait:) I'm completely on Team Beauty Army and will continue to receive my monthly kits for quite some time:)

Beauty Army Kit Sample Review: CellCeuticals Resurfacing

Hi Lovelies! I have a confession to make today. My skin is not perfect. *sigh* I know I've talked about how I don't really need foundation and I only have random blemishes, blah blah. That's all true! However, on my arms I have a skin disorder known as Keratosis Pilaris. Sounds fancy right?? Basically, it just looks like I always have goosebumps on my arms (especially my upper arms). It's nothing dangerous; doesn't hurt; isn't contagious. It's really just annoying that it makes my arms look so rough. (literally, they just look bumpy and rough.)

I've had it for as long as I can remember and figured it was just something I'd have to deal with my whole life. Then last year, I was doing some research online and found a product at Walgreens (ActiFade Skinbumps :KP Cream and Scrub Kit) that promised to "smooth and prevent skin bumps." It was like a miracle! My arms were softer than they had been for longer than I could recall!

Well, when I got my Beauty Army Kit last week, I started to wonder if one of the products in that would work on my arms...

"CellCeuticals NeoCell Micro-Resurfacing Skin Treatment enlists the help of natural enzymes and volcanic micro-minerals to exfoliate without causing irritation. Enzymes gently eliminate dead skin cells as the volcanic micro-minerals buff away damage, smoothing skin texture and revealing a brighter complexion. Bisabolol and allantoin aid in soothing the skin, leaving it comfortable and calm."

It suggests to use it on the face, but I was honestly afraid it may be a bit too brash for my face; and I thought hmm, perhaps it would work on my arms??

In the shower, I squirted out about a dime size amount and rubbed it into my wet skin. I followed the directions and massaged in for about 2 minutes; then did the other arm; and rinsed with lukewarm water. I noticed results almost immediately!

This stuff is amazing!! I've only used it once so far, and I can already tell a difference! My arms are softer! Less bumpy! And there is no irritation or any redness at all!

I'm super excited I got this sample in my Beauty Army Kit!! Can't wait to see what I get next month!! (and don't worry, there will still be more reviews on stuff from this month's!!:)

Beauty Army ~ First Impressions

Hi, Lovelies! Those of you that follow me on Twitter know that I was intently waiting on my first ever Beauty Army kit! I am happy to tell you all, that my kit reported for duty yesterday and I was super exited to open it up and see everything I got!

For those of you that don't know, Beauty Army is one of the newest kids on the blocks when it comes to monthly sample subscription services. The thing that sets them apart from the others is that you get to choose your samples! You still take the profile quiz like the other companies, so it recommends things to you based on your answers, but the final choice is totally up to you! You can read more about them at their website.

I'm not gonna lie, part of the reason I went with Beauty Army was simply 'cause there's a wait list at Birchbox and MyGlam, so this was the easiest one to sign up for;)

After taking the survey and making my selections, I refused to log back into the site to see what I selected, I still wanted a little bit of mystery and surprise when my kit arrived;)

So I'm going to show you everything I got, then I'll share with you some of my initial thoughts and reactions:) (text in italics is the description from the site).

The outer box is pretty cool. When I'd seen pictures other girls had posted, I thought that it was Beauty Army tape around the box, but it's actually printed ON the box. 

 The outer box opens and the inner box appears!

 The inner box is a very fancy flip up style like pencil boxes I had in elementary school. It's covered with fun beauty words all over the top:)

 When the box opens, it has this pretty pink camo on the inside (for the "army" part;) and a welcome card!

 The navy tissue paper opens to a layer of pink tissue paper...

 Then everything is wrapped like Christmas presents!:)

The icy, iconic blingtone collection from myface cosmetics is the new Hollywood obsession and boasts a break-thru formula packed with crushed pearl, not gaudy, garish glitter.  This precious jewel and metallic coloured shadow is the perfect blend of pearl and pigment. Create a wicked wash of colour and dramatic, wet-looking shine.  Blingtone eyeshadows  glide smoothly on to the eye, and won’t drop or flake. Color: Purple Haze ($20)

This intensive LIFT & FIRM Eye Cream redefines eye area to visibly firm and reduce the appearance of crow’s feet, deep wrinkles, dark circles, puffiness and sagginess. This includes Cell Protection Protein to stimulate skincell regeneration and protect against harsh climatic elements, Aquafill to fill in wrinkles and lock in moisture, Glucosyl Hesperidin to increase circulation to reduce dark circles, Unirepair t-43 to protect and treat environmental aggressors, Niacinamide to increase microcirculaion to reduce dark circles, and MDI Complex to inhibit MMP breaking down skin's collagen. (the full size price of this is $95!!)

A silky cream with a gentle natural exfoliant that dissolves makeup quickly while it moisturizes and stimulates collagen growth. Our revolutionary cellular gold complex, made with 24K gold energizes the cells while the green tea extract is a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory that leaves your skin smooth and radiant. ($45)

For reddened, inflammed or Rosacea-prone skin. Aloe vera, vitamin E and vitamin A join forces to neutralize the redness and flushing that result from vascular over-stimulation. Non-irritating microfine zinc oxide provides full spectrum sunscreen protection. ($48)

Aim North, not South! What women really love about Boob Tube is that the quality of their skin changes so quickly. Within a week, you will notice that the skin on your neck, your chest and your boobs looks firmer, fitter, glowing, more dewy and youthful. Daily use will maintain this beautiful skin and over the years you will be so pleased you took the time to befriend your bust.No crinkles or droop for you – no turtle necks or even turkey necks! You are so wise to daily dose with Boob Tube, feel free to thank us in 20 years. ($45)

Neo-Cell Micro-Resurfacing Skin Treatment uses natural enzymes and volcanic micro-minerals to gently resurface skin without irritation, revealing smoother, more radiant, and healthier-looking skin. Natural enzymes and volcanic-minerals work together to exfoliate surface skin cells without irritation. ($47.50)

Ta-da! And that is everything! The prices I listed above are what Beauty Army charges for the full size products of everything in my kit. Adding them all together totals: $300.50!!! And I only paid $12:) (and got small size:) But still! This is extremely expensive/high quality stuff that I would probably never buy on my own, so it's awesome I get to try it first.

Now, here's my one complaint. I feel like it took FOR-FREAKING-EVER to get here. When my payment was received and it was shipped out was super fast. Then I just waited. And waited. And waited some more. The tracking site they sent me wasn't updated very frequently, and I got more impatient as I saw such little progress being made. They say to give it 5-11 business days, and it took 9 business days to get to me. Which, I understand is well within the timeframe they gave, it was just too long for me! lol

To solve this problem, I would almost rather not get a tracking email and just be surprised when it gets here. Hahaha.

Overall though, I'm really excited to try everything! Especially that boob tube stuff. I'm highly intrigued to see if it works:)

So how about you? Have you tried Beauty Army yet? Will you? What monthly subscription service to you use?