Sample Sunday: Flirty Little Secret Firming Cream with Pheromones

Some girls get dressed up when the go the mall, but not me.  I like to get myself all prettified when I'm going to hardware stores.  I know that may seem odd at first, but it's all a matter of what type of guy you want to attract.  For me, Lowe's and Home Depot seem like the logical locations where I'd be more likely to meet my dream guy.  What's better than a guy who know's his way around a toolbox?

So after I finished getting dressed and making my face flawless one day, I thought I'd try a sample I've had for a while:  the Booty Parlor Flirty Little Secret Firming Cream with Pheromones. It claims to firm your skin and contain pheromones to make you irresistible to the opposite sex. I was hoping the pheromones would give an extra boost of sexiness.

Upon arriving in the Lowe's parking lot to purchase a gift for my grandfather, I slathered some of this stuff on my arms.  I noticed that it was quite thin.  My skin didn't feel too much smoother.  It had a sweet fruity smell as well which was okay.  

I walk into the store ready to fight off the inevitable hoards of men fighting to smell this irresistible scent emanating from my person but.....nothing.  No one even bothered to help me find what I was looking for despite the damsel-in-distress expression I put on my face.  It probably didn't help matters that there seemed to be a rule that any man entering the store had to be 70 or older that particular day.

So much for the pheromones.... :-p

Would I be interested in purchasing a full size product, based on this sample?  No

Okay, so I may have been joking a little bit.  I didn't really expect this stuff to be Love Potion No. 9, but I did hope that there would be something special here.  Unfortunately, my skin did not feel any firmer or softer, and I'm not a fan of watery moisturizers.

You can find more information about this product on Amazon.  It retails for around $25.

Last Minute Xmas Must: Sephora Favorites In the Glow Set

Procrastinators!  Gather around.  If you have a person in your life that's beauty crazed (or if you're looking for an awesome present for yourself) Sephora Favorites In the Glow set is the way to go to make anyone happy.  It's a great set of blushes, bronzers, and highlighters in travel size that anybody will find at least something they love in it.  Unfortunately, this set is no longer available on the Sephora website, but you may be still be able to pick it up in store.  Check out the swatches!

Sample Sunday: Alterna Bamboo Luminous Shine Mist

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Glossybox randomly sent me a box a few weeks ago that looks like it was from one of the Summer months. I'm not sure why I got it but it was free, so hey!  One of the items inside was a small bottle of Alterna's Bamboo Luminous Shine Mist.

I'm addicted to shine mists.  My absolute fave is from the brand Smooth N' Shine.  It gives my dry, dull hair the luster it always wanted.  So I was excited to try this as I've never used a shine mist outside of the drugstore or beauty supply store.

Firstly, it doesn't have the same consistency as shine mists I'm used to.  The ones I've had in the past tend to have a very lightweight texture, that doesn't feel wet if you accidentally spray some on your skin.  They feel more like a dry oil.  Alterna's, however, did feel wet.

Next, the smell.  When I first sprayed it, the concentrated smell gave me the impression of alcohol.  Once that subsided, though, it had a strong scent reminiscent of the way Garnier's hair products used to smell.  Kind of like avocados, which I can't stand.

By the middle of the week, I was definitely not impressed.  I can use my Smooth N' Shine over and over again every day for a week and not have my hair feel weighed down.  With Altherna, my hair felt oily and dirty by hump day.  

Would I be interested in purchasing a full size product, based on this sample? Nope

I'll be sticking to my Smooth N' Shine, thank you very much.  Not only does it work 100x better, it's also quite a bit cheaper.

You can find more about this product at Sephora's website.  It retails for $22 for 4 oz of product.

Influenster Beauty Bloggers Vox Box 2012

I always get excited when I qualify for an Influenster Vox Box.  I'm never dissatisfied with the range of products I get in a box and you get a generous amount of each product.  This time was even more exciting as it was a Vox Box themed around beauty bloggers!  Check out what I got!

Sample Sunday: Forward Skin Care Lift & Firm Cream

A while ago, I was given samples from Forward Skin Care and I'm just now getting around to writing about it.  Skin Care products always take me a while to form an opinion on because it takes time for you to see any real changes in your skin (unless the product sucks, then you can usually tell that right away).

So in a way, the fact that I've been taking a while with this Lift & Firm Cream review is a good thing, because if it was plain out bad I would've been able to review it already.  

On the other hand, though, it's hard to judge a skin care product on just a tiny sample.  So I'm just going to go into my first impressions of this cream so far.

And so far I think I like it.  I've been reaching for it a lot more lately now that the cold weather is drying up my skin.  I always worry about putting new products on my skin due to its sensitivity but I had no issues with Lift & Firm.  

Immediately after application my skin kind of feels like it getting firmer.  I'm not necessarily noticing a firmer appearance yet (like I said, I only have a sample) but it does feel firmer when I put it on.  I like to think it's doing something :)

Would I be interested in purchasing a full size based on the sample?  Maybe!

I don't shop around much when it comes to skincare because of my skin's sensitivity, but I'd be willing to give this one a shot.  It's a bit pricey for me currently, but I'd still like to see what it can do in the long term!

You can find more information about this product at the Forward Skin Care website.  Full size retails for $69.

Disclaimer:  I received this sample complementary from the Forward Skin Care company/PR.  I received no compensation for my review nor was I required to do a review at all.  As always, all personal views and experiences expressed are my honest opinions and in no way influenced by any other party or circumstance.

Look Bag October 2012: It's Back!

Remember a while back when The Look Bag announced that it was canceling it's beauty sample subscription service?  Well, it appears they've revamped everything are have decided to give the sample bag another try.  My mother had gifted me a 6-month subscription to the Look Bag that I only got a couple months out of, so with receiving this new bag I don't know if they were finishing my gift card off or if they just gave out a free one to people who were subscribed when they shut it down before to try to woo them back.  Either way, I got a bag so let's get into it!

Sample Sunday: Fortune Cookie Soap's Vampire Blood Body Wash

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You may have noticed that there was no Sample Sunday last week.  That's because I was laying back on the beach for the weekend before the hurricane comes by and ruins everything!  But even there I was still testing out products, FCS's Body Wash in Vampire's Blood to mention one of them. 

If you recall, I received this in the Halloween Soap Box this month, and since it was sample size, I figured it was the perfect size to travel with.  

Vampire's Blood is actually translucent black in color, which is kind of cool.  I smells like black cherry in the bottle, but on my skin it also had a hint of the traditional soapy smell along with the cherry, which I found very pleasant.

The biggest thing for me was that it didn't dry out or bother my skin.  My skin is very sensitive to me changing body washes and there have been many times when a new soap has made me break out it in itchy rashes all over the place.  This was not an issue at all with Vampire's Blood.  I was even more please that it didn't leave my skin feeling stripped or tight from loss of moisture.

Would I be interested in purchasing a full size, based on this sample?  Sure!

I'm pretty happy with my current Dove body wash, but if for some reason I wanted to change it up I wouldn't mind doing that with Vampire's Blood, or any of FCS's other body washes, for that matter. 

You can find more information on this body wash at the FCS website.  Full size retails for $10.99.

Ipsy Bag October 2012: Best Bag Yet!!!

When I say this is the best bag yet, I don't just mean the best Ipsy/Glam bag ever, I mean the best beauty sample bag or box I've gotten since I started subscribing to all of them.  I cannot begin to describe how thrilled I am with this month's Ipsy Bag!
Here's what I got:

• Be a Bombshell Eyeliner in Onyx
• Couture Color Pequi Oil Treatment
• Miranesse Lip Bomb
• The Balm What's Your Type? Body Builder Mascara
• Coastal Scents Eye Shadow Sample Set

I. LOVE. EVERYTHING!!!!!

First of all, the value of the bag is unreal.  The Lip Bomb is $28 alone!  

When I sign up for a beauty sample subscription service, I expect generous samples of beauty products.  Other bags that I've gotten in the past have either been small samples that I could've gotten for free at Sephora or all hair/bath and body products with no cosmetics.  

October's Ipsy bag is perfect.  Two full size products and then deluxe samples of everything else.  And I love that 4 out of 5 of the samples are actual cosmetics!  

Not to mention, the actual bag is too cute to handle.

Bottom Line:  Amber LOVES!!!!!

This bag really made me reevaluate whether or not I needed some of my other subscriptions that haven't been as awe-inspiring.  Ipsy has set the bar really high!

You can find more information about the Ipsy bag on their website.  It retails for $10 a month.

Sample Sunday!: Smashbox Photo Finish Lid Primer

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Once upon a couple months ago I bought Smashbox's Shades of Fame Palette but neglected to both use it or show you guys.  But I have been using the included deluxe sample of their Photo Finish Lid Primer lately.

When it comes to eye primer, I rarely see any significant difference between one or the next.  With the exception of Benefit's Stay Don't Stray, eye primers don't really excite me.  For the most part, this is still the case with Photo Finish.

I do like it, as much as I'm capable of liking a lid primer.  When using eye primers, I'm not looking for increased longevity as my lids are so dry there are no oils to crease or breakdown my shadows.  Rather, I'm looking for something that will grab hold of shadows and enhance their vibrancy.  Photo Finish accomplishes this to a degree.When you finish applying it, it doesn't completely dry down, instead leaving the slightest tackiness to better hold shadows.  I also like that it gives me some coverage on my lids.  Any redness or veins  are covered up with this easily, yet it's not opaque enough to look ashy on my tan skin.

Would I be interested in purchasing a full size, based on the sample?  Maybe (but probably not)

I really don't see myself being interested in many eye primers enough to put down a good chunk of change for them, but if I were into them, I think Smashbox would tempt me a bit more.  For now though, if I absolutely must have a primer, I'll just stick to the e.l.f. one for $1.

You can find more information about this primer at Smashbox's website.  It retails at Sephora for $20.

Glossybox USA September 2012: Better Late Than Never :)

If you follow me on Facebook or Twitter, you've already heard this apology but I'm gonna say it again:  I'm sorry I've been rather MIA lately.  It's midterm/project/group work time in grad school right now and I just haven't been able to sit still long enough to put out quality posts.  One of the casualties of this situation has been September's Glossybox, which I've had a while now and am just now getting around to showing.  And that's a real shame because it's quite awesome....

Sample Sunday: Guerlain La Petite Robe Noire Eau De Parfum

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FACT:  You read the title in your head with your best possible french accent...

The last time I put in an order for Sephora they were offering a deluxe sample of Guerlain's La Petite Robe Noire fragrance so I snatched one up.  I've always wanted something from the brand but as you may know, it's hella expensive.  To put it in perspective, Sephora recently put Guerlain's Illuminating Powder on sale from $59 to $58 - saving you ONE WHOLE DOLLAR!  What a bargain, right? 

So I figured any perfume from the brand would make me feel like I was bathing in liquid luxury.  And while it does indeed smell "expensive", it's not my cup of tea.  

To first describe the scent, I'd say it has a strong base of black cherry.  I also detected a bit of a powdery essence to it.  There is something smoky about it, too.  

There's a little too much going on here for me to fall in love here.  The black cherry bit can come off a bit too much like cough syrup at times and the smokiness makes it a little hard to breathe in at all.

Would I be interested in purchasing a full size, based on the sample?  No

It's not a horrible scent, but at $64 for the smallest size, it's not something I'm willing to drop that chunk of change on.  

You can find more information about this fragrance at the Sephora website.

Sample Sunday!: Lancome Hypnose Star Mascara

Here's one of the more exciting Sample Sunday's!  Sephora was giving away deluxe samples of Lancome's Hypnose Star Mascara last month with their Beauty Perks so I grabbed one up.  Looking at the packaging, I believe it's inspired by Betty Boop, who's one of my personal idols, so I had high expections of this one. And, as you can see from the photo above, Hypnose Star promises "show stopping" volume.

My Glam (or Should I Say Ipsy?) Bag September 2012

Right before I received my Glam bag for this month, I got email saying MyGlam was changing their name to Ipsy.  I'm not sure why this is, but according to the message you're still getting the same awesome service just with a different name.  And judging by my bag, I'd have to agree....

Sample Sunday: Skin, An Apothecary's Soy Body Whip in Poppy

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Earlier today in my Birchbox September post, I noted how my favorite part of the box was this Soy Body Whip from Skin, An Apothecary.  After using it again, I can now say that I really love it!

It has a truly whipped consistency, like whipped heavy cream.  I've had many a "whipped" body cream that didn't really feel whipped at all, but such is not the case here.  The Soy Body Whip feels very light when you dip your finger into it to apply.  But, even through it's whipped texture, it still maintains a significant substance in that it doesn't just dissolve into nothing once you rub it in.

Last Sample Sunday, I talked about how for some reason lately my forearms have been extremely dry for reasons unknown.  This cream makes the skin on my arms feel like silk.  They're so much smoother it's unbelievable!  

The sample I was given is in Poppy, a very fresh, floral scent.  I'm not crazy about straight-up floral scents but this is alright.  And I love that the scent lingers on my skin for quite some time after application.  I'm talking well throughout the day!  There's nothing I hate more than applying a beautiful scent to my skin and having it fade in less than an hour.  

Would I be interested in purchasing a full size, based on this sample?  Hells Yes!!!

My sample was 2 oz, which I thought was great for just a sample.  The full size is $27, which is a bit steep for me, but you do get 16 oz.  I'll definitely get a different scent but otherwise I'd love to purchase!

You can find more information about the product on the company website!

Birchbox September 2012: The September Issue

I don't know about Birchbox this month....

Fortune Cookie Soap Fall 2012 Soap Box Smells Just Like Autumn Should!

Is Autumn in the air, or what?  Y'all know I love my summer like an old friend but I have to say I tend to be happier in the fall.  The humidity's gone and there's nothing but pumpkin flavored yummy treats all around.  What's not to love?  And just to add to the awesomeness, Fortune Cookie Soap puts out their spins on the season with Autumn-themed soaps, lotions, and other bath and body products to drive our senses crazy.  As a fan of the FCS company, I finally decided to get in on their Soap Box subscription box and the Fall Box just popped up into the mail this week.  Check it out!

Sample Sunday: Nuance by Salma Hayek Dark Cacao & Coffee Firming Body Cream

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Everything about Salma Hayek's beauty line, Nuance, intrigues me.  First, you have the gorgeous Salma, herself.  Whatever her beauty secrets are, I want them!  Then you have the fact that many of her products include ingredients inspired by her Native American grandmother's own beauty tips.  Being Native American myself, I'm a sucker for stuff like that.  Surprisingly though, I haven't got around to purchasing anything from the brand yet.  I have, however gotten a few samples of Nuance's body care products from some displays at CVS.

The one I tried today was the Dark Cacao & Coffee Firming Body Cream.  The cream comes out a light brown color and, as the name suggests, smells like dark, bitter chocolate and coffee.  I liked the scent, but it was kind of strong at first and I wasn't sure if I'd want to smell that constantly for a length of time.  Luckily the scent wears down fairly quickly so I didn't have to worry about it.

As far as texture, it feels a bit on the thinner side, yet maintains its substance.  Does that make any sense?  What I mean is that some lotions that are thin almost feel like nothing once you start to rub it into your skin.  This Firming Cream, although thin, feels like it's actually sinking into your skin and doing something.  And the thinness helps it to spread easier across larger areas of your body.

My skin thinks it's in the depths of Fall already despite the summery weather that's still lingering and is starting to get really dry, particularly on the tops of forearms for some reason.  While the body cream was not able to forge a true battle on the drier spots, I'd say it still did a respectable job.  On areas where my skin wasn't too bad, it left the area feeling rather smooth.

Would I be interested in purchasing a full size, based on the sample?  Hmmm...maybe?

I thought the firming cream was okay but it's not really sufficient for me at this time.  I wouldn't hate to have it but I don't feel like I need to go out and buy it right this minute.  Maybe next summer when my skin's a little better?  And just a note, I couldn't really test out the firming claims of this since that's something I think you'd notice over a length of time and I wasn't capable of deciding that with only a sample packet.

You can find more information on this body cream on the CVS website!

My First Glam Bag (August 2012)

I've been on the waitlist for My Glam Bag for a couple months now and I finally got the "OK!" for August.  I've been very satisfied with my other beauty subscription service, Birchbox, so far, so I couldn't wait to see how My Glam Bag stacked up.  Keep reading to find out what's inside August's bag!

Sample Sunday!! (The 1st!) Viva La Juicy La Fleur

Source:  Sephora.com

Here it is, the first Sample Sunday on Amber Likes Beauty!  As you might remember from my last Beauty Sins Confession, I've decided to start give first impressions based on the samples I've tried during the week.  The sample experience I bring to you today is from Juicy Couture.  It is the new Viva La Juicy fragrance in La Fleur sample that I received in my Birchbox this month.  

I really love the original Viva La Juicy fragrance but unfortunately it doesn't mesh well with my own personal body chemistry.  You know what I mean?  It smells great in the bottle, but once it's been sprayed on me for a while it starts to smell a bit like cardboard.  I know this isn't the scent's fault, because my old roommate used to wear it and it smelled fine on her.

Luckily, I've had better luck with La Fleur.  It maintains it's bottle scent on my skin.  As far as the actual scent, it's very similar to the original Viva La Juicy.  So similar that I'd say if you're a fan of the original fragrance and have none of the issues I have, you probably don't need to purchase La Fleur.  

To me, La Fleur is ever so slightly fresher.  Both Viva La Juicy's have that sweet, fruity yet floral scent, but La Fleur seemed to me to have a few more flower petals thrown in the mix.

Looking at the descriptions for both perfumes, though, it seems that the only difference between the 2 is that La Fleur doesn't have the Amber and Pralines that Viva La Juicy has.  That annoys me a little bit because it almost seems like Juicy Couture just took their perfume, took out a note or 2, and then slapped a new name on it.  It's just not too creative.

Would I be interested in purchasing a full size?  Yes

Despite it being almost a carbon copy of the original Viva La Juicy, I can't deny that it does sit on my skin better and seems to be a little more lightweight of fragrance (possibly due to the 2 notes they took out).  It still maintains that flirty, fun fragrance that we've all gotten to know so well, just not as heavy (not that original was heavy in the first place).

Beauty Sins Confession: I Completely Waste my Free Samples!

I love getting free shit.  It doesn't matter what it is, as long as it's free.  So it goes without saying that nothing makes me happier than going to checkout at Sephora's website and seeing that I can get 3 free samples with my purchase.  I think this is a normal thing for all of us.  What I can't seem to figure out for the life of me is why I'm so anxious to grab these samples when I, literally, never freaking use them!