Retrospective Look Back at Le Métier de Beauté VIP Program Plus Daily Refresh Tonic

June's entry for the Le Métier de Beauté VIP program was a full sized bottle of the Daily Refresh Tonic ($50).  I enjoy using toners, especially in the hot weather months, so this was a welcome addition to my growing collection of LMdB products.

The pump top works surprisingly well, and two squirts is plenty to do the job, which according to marketing lingo

"prepares the skin to better receive topical restorative treatments by stimulating circulation, restoring balance to the complexion, as well as conditioning and hydrating. It also re-energizes the skin, creating a freshly-flushed appearance."

It doesn't make my skin feel stripped or dry, and indeed features gentle, non-drying ingredients.  It still manages to pick up traces of dirt and makeup that my regular cleansing routine missed, however, so it's not a lightweight by any means :-)  I've yet to notice any warming effect from the oils mentioned below, nor has it irritated my skin.

Active Ingredients:

• Hemolymph Extract: absorbs oxygen from environment and delivers it to skin Peppermint, Cinnamon, Thyme and Geranium Oils: mildly stimulate with a gentle warming effect.
• Rosemary: gently cleanses skin
• Cypress Oil: balances the skin with soothing properties
• Anise Oil: provides a cleansing and warming effects on the skin
• Vitamins E, A and B: condition and protect

VIP Box 1

July marks the last box of the 2013 VIP subscription program, so I thought I'd do a look back at the products I've received and tally up the value for the year (minus July's box, yet to be received).  If you are on the fence about subscribing for the 2014 VIP program, perhaps this will be helpful.

The first box was pretty spectacular and included a coveted kaleidoscope.  I received the a lip version called Red Rapture, but they varied from face/eye/lip kaleidoscopes.  There were four full sized items (lipstick, eyeliner, kabuki brush, kaleidoscope) in the first box, making for a very nice introduction to the program.  Value was $254.

Box 2

Box 2 was the biggest letdown of the entire program, featuring two cream eyeshadows whose formula left a lot of people scratching their heads.  I could not get these to work for me, although some people reported success.  Box value was $56.

Box 3

Box 3 contained a skincare item, the Peau Vierge Complexion Serum & Dark Spot Corrector.  I finished mine in May, which was about 3 months of usage for the half ounce bottle.  Very nice product, with a value of $125.

Box 4

Box 4 contained 3 items, a lash curler, lash serum, and eye pencil in Tamarack.  I've enjoyed all 3 and use them regularly.  Box value was $149.

Box 5

Box 5 featured a blush kaleidoscope called Cheeky Chic.  I've actually not used this much, and did not fall in love with it as much as I was expecting to.  I've signed up for the Summer Kaleidoscope program, which should contain another blush kaleidoscope, and I'm interested in comparing the formulas.  Value of Box 5 was $95.

Box 6

Box 6 contained a dual action makeup remover, an item that springs up only periodically as a GWP in the LMdB world.  I don't typically use makeup removers like this as I do the two phase oil cleanse followed by a water based cleanser, which effectively removes my makeup.  Value of this box was $32, making it the lowest of the boxes received to date, but still over the $29/month that the subscription price breaks down to.

Box 7

Box 7 brought 3 items, 2 nail polishes and a lipstick.  I'm wearing Cocoa Cabana on my toes right now, although I've yet to try Red Lodge.  Box value was $68.

Box 8

Box 8 contained two impressive items, an eye mask that really worked, and a concealer that I now use every day.  The concealer caused a bit of controversy in LMdB subscription box land, as they had originally said no foundation items would be sent out as the boxes are not customizable.  Which makes sense, because people's complexion tones vary and all.  The concealer in medium worked fine for me, but not for others.  Hence, discontentment ensued.  LMdB is nothing if not customer friendly (IMO), and they've announced that the 2014 program will be customizable, which should cut down on issues like this one.  Box value was $113.75.

Box 9

Box 9 saw the Peau Vierge Anti-Again Pressed Powder in shade 2, further amping up people's angst if the shade didn't match them.  Again, fortunately I lucked out and really like this powder, which receives regular rotation.  Box value was $75.

Box 10

Box 10 featured 2 eyeshadows, both of which I really like.  They look lovely on their own or layered over each other in the LMdB couches de couleur tradition.  Box value was $60.

Minus the final July box, the total value of the 2013 VIP program comes to $1077.75, well over three times the value of the $348 price.  It was tough ponying up that amount upfront, but I've been quite pleased with the overall experience, and have already paid for the 2014 Beauty Vault VIP program.  LMdB has verified that 2014 will not repeat items from 2013, which helped me to make the decision to renew.  The program closes on 7/18 or when all spots are filled, and the first box ships in August.

Empties! May & June Products I Used Up or Tossed

May empties

Lots of empties for May and June, including more than a few lip items that had either gone bad so got tossed, or that I didn't care for and got tossed. So, let's get started with May, and description will be brief due to the number of items.  Links to full reviews are hyperlinked.

The UV+ was an item I received from Birchbox.  I like the idea of UV protection for my hair, especially since I color it.

Another Birchbox item was the Coola Mineral Sunscreen, which is billed as a natural BB cream.  I liked it, especially for weekend wear when I don't typically wear foundation.

My go to natural deodorant is now the Crystal Rock body spray, and Cobalt Sky is my preferred fragrance of the two I've tried.  I like the convenience of a spray and it works pretty well, given the hot and humid climate I live in (hello, the hot sauna that is Mobile, AL). 

I used up my Le Metier de Beaute Dark Spot Corrector, which I received via the VIP subscription program.  Good stuff.  Pricey at $125 a bottle, and for only .5 of an ounce.  Hence why I love the VIP subscription program, as I paid $29 for it.  The first year's program ends in July, and sign ups for the second LMdB Beauty Vault VIP subscription program are now open.  It's $348 up front, which works out to $29/month, and the value of the products received far surpass the price.  I've signed up for a second year, and a retrospective look at the items received in the 2013 program will be up tomorrow.

Murad's Clarifying Cleanser is a favorite of mine, and this is probably the third sample I've gone through.  Great for oily, blemish prone skin. 

The Super "h" Serum by 3 Lab was new to me, and I liked it.  I had no idea it was as expensive as it is ($330 for 1.17 oz), or I would have performed some small act of worship before applying each morning.  Too bad it's cost prohibitive for me.

The bareMinerals Prime Time primer shadows are nice, and I was sad to find I could not squeeze any more out of Sundance.  It may have dried up, although there was not much it it to begin with.

Reviva Labs Eye Firming Complex Cream dried up on me, or rather it looks like it dehydrated down to some of the core ingredients.  I neglected it, which must mean it didn't perform well enough to keep my attention.

Of the foil samples I used up in May, the Guerlain Lingerie de Peau Invisible Skin Fusion foundation made a favorable impression.  I'd like to try another sample and take pictures, as that often tells me how well a foundation really looks on me.

 Whew!  Okay, onto June's empties and more than a few items that I tossed.  I'll be highlighting the items I really liked.

I'm sad to see my Suki exfoliating cleanser gone, as I especially like using this during warm weather.  I like the lemony scent, and it does a good job of cleansing and exfoliating my skin.  There is some lingering residue that I can't scrap out, but it's gone :-(

Gena Callus Off is a favorite and the best performing of it's kind I've tried.  I need to get a new bottle soon, especially now that my feet are on full display.

Becca's Opal Shimmering Skin Perfector is another nice item, which I recently compared to the powder version.  I doubt I'll get a full sized version as I have plenty of luminizers on hand at the moment, but I did like it.

I finished two of my favorite eye creams in June, Vital C Hydrating Eye Recovery Gel by Image Skincare, and Le Metier de Beaute's Revive Eye Concentrate.  I like gel eye creams for daytime usage, as they are lighter in texture and don't seem to detrimentally effect my makeup wear.  At night, the LMdB Eye Concentrate made for a great moisturizer with added skin treatment benefits.  It's pricey at $175, however, so I'm fortunate to have gotten it as a GWP from LMdB's Beauty Vault.

I went through all of my lip glosses and lipsticks recently, and threw out those that had gone bad or that I never wore.  I recently found my EOS lip balm under some furniture, but the formula doesn't agree with my lips and makes them feel dry and irritated.  The All Natural Face glosses are too thin for my liking, which means you need to constantly reapply.  The bareEscentuals older gloss formula was uncomfortably sticky/goopy, and I never really wore it.  The butterLondon red glitter gloss was a "what the hell was I thinking" kind of purchase.  The NYC gloss smells off, and the one Julep lipstick tsat had great pigment, Lady in Red, is growing some kind of mold.  Yep.  Too bad, it was a great red.

More items that went bad, based on how they smell.  The Korres glosses have really nice pigment, and given that they more of a natural ingredient based product and at least 2 years old, it didn't surprise me they had turned.  I've got several stila glosses and Buxom lipsticks, but these were the only ones that have gone bad.  Could be bacterial contamination, I guess. 

Another item that got tossed after only one use was Cargo's Texaxlash mascara.  It gave me raccoon eyes, which is unacceptable.

Now, onto using up more of my collection before they go bad!  /Rampant consumerism.

Perversion Mascara by Urban Decay: Bigger, Blacker, Badder?

Disclaimer:  I received a sample.

As you've probably heard, Urban Decay has come out with a new mascara that is carrying the famed "Perversion" moniker.  The original Perversion was a blacker than black pencil eyeliner, and the mascara is

"So intense you might need a safe word, Perversion glides on and gets you sexy in one stroke. (Yet it won’t quit until you say when.) It’s insane how black it is…the purest, deepest, most intense black color imaginable."

The buildup to the release of Perversion mascara ($22) on July 13th has been quite the production, including a dedicated web site, contests, and free samples.  So, I was quite interested to try out the sample I received.

I've worn Perversion mascara 5 or 6 times now, and while I certainly don't want to dampen anyone's enthusiasm, here's my bottom line:  it's a nice black mascara, with one issue.   Well here, let me show you.

I like that it does a good job of coating my lashes without being finicky or developing clumps.  What you see above is one coat, which is all I usually apply.  I'll be honest and say that there are other mascaras from Estee Lauder and Clinique that I like better, and here's why:  Perversion mascara smudges on my lower lash line after 3-4 hours of wear. 

Granted, I've got oily skin, live in an uber hot and humid climate, and some smudging is inevitable.  But Perversion mascara starts migrating a bit more than I'm comfortable with, and more than the brands I mentioned above.  Perhaps it's a skin chemistry thing, and perhaps this would be a better fit for me in cooler weather.  Also, to my eye while Perversion is a deep black, it's no blacker than the other two shown here.  Estee Lauder's Sumptuous Extreme in Extreme Black looks the darkest to me.

I do like how Perversion looks on and that it contains lash enhancing ingredients (proteins, amino acids, honey extract, sea idrolized elastine, and marine collagen), so I'm not giving up on it completely (unlike Cargo's Texaslash mascara, which smudged so badly I tossed it after one use).  I'll just use a different mascara for the lower lashes to circumvent the smudging issue. Have you tried Perversion mascara yet, and if so what was your experience? 

May & June Eco Emi: Happy Independence Day!

June Eco Emi

Disclaimer:  I purchased these.

Yes, I'm a bit behind in posting the contents of my Eco Emi subscription boxes ($15/mo), so you are getting a twofer post today.  I'll start with June's box, since it had a 4th of July color motif.  I hope those who celebrate Independence Day are having a happy and safe one!

My faithful photo assistant, Maggie

I'll admit it, I'm excited about the dog shampoo sample ($2).  Maggie is the only one of my dogs that doesn't have to be bathed regularly, as she does not smell.  In fact, she smells really nice!  I think it must be a breed thing.  She's probably only had 7-8 baths in her 9 years of living.  The terriers, OTOH, can get a bit funky.  Both Lulu and Lily are in need of baths soon, so I'll be putting this item to good use!

The second item that caught my eye is the Lavender Cuticle Oil ($5.29) by Whooty Hoot Creations.  Love the rose petals in the mix.

I was super excited to see the eyeshadow duo ($12) from Lauren Brooke Cosmetiques!  Fortunately, it's a different color than the one I purchase last Christmas, Toffee/Sandalwood (review here).  I'll post a review once I've played with this a bit, but I can say the dark gray is super pigmented and smooth.

Also hard to go wrong with receiving a sunscreen this time of year, and the ingredient list of this Aubrey sample (68 cents) is intriguing.  I'll be trying this out while mowing my yard today or Sunday.

The Molly Rose Lime Coconut Lip Balm ($5) smells great, but the formula is rather dry/matte and doesn't provide enough moisture for my lips.  Given the ingredient list I'm not really sure why this is the case, but there ya go.  This one will probably join the others that just didn't gel for me in the not quite right lip balm cemetery.

I also received an emory board ($3), a hair tie ($1.33), and a Vanilla Chai Infusion mix ($2.99), which brings the total of June's box to $32.29.  Now for a quick overview of May's box!

May Eco Emi

The pleasant surprise for me in this box was the Suncoat polish in Cinnamon ($8.99).  I really wasn't expecting much, but it's quite pretty and wore very well for a water based polish.  Very happy with this.

I'm a proponent of aromatherapy and use essential oils to scent my house, so Chill Pill ($10.99) is a welcome addition.  I add a few drops to my heated diffusers and soon can smell the sweet orange, lavender, patchouli, mint, sweet basil, and chamomile that makes up this mixture.  It reminds me of a spa.

I've used the Strawberries & Cream Facial Mask by bodyBrana ($10.50) once, and I like that this is one you can mix with water, milk, or toner.  I used a rose toner and want to try mixing it with yogurt for my next go around. 

I need to find where I put the The Berry Sugar Scrub by Beazer's Garden ($1?), as I don't remember using it yet.  I do remember that it smelled delicious, and now is the time of year that I use sugar scrubs regularly.  

I also received 3 teabags ($1.38), each with a different blend:  Energize, Cycle-Ease, and Sweet Dreams. 

The other food/consumable items in the box were Wild Watermelon sugar-free gum by Glee ($1.09), and a Sundried Italian party dip by Ellbee's ($5), bringing the total of May's box to $38.95.  I'm pleased with both May and June's box, and after 2 years of receiving Eco Emi boxes, still look forward to them!

My Sunshine Lip & Cheek Gel Stain by Vincent Longo

Disclaimer:  I purchased these.  Links provided for convenience only.

I took advantage of a deal recently that may be my biggest score this year:  6 lip and cheek gel stains by Vincent Longo, all for $16.99.  Not $16.99 each (regularly priced $24), mind you, but $16.99 for all six of them.  More about the details of that later, but let me show you what may be my favorite lip/cheek gel stain formula to date!

Vincent Longo's Lip and Cheek Gel Stains are supposed to deliver a healthy-looking, sheer flush to the cheeks and lips featuring a breathable, hypoallergenic, liquid formula.  I'm happy to say that these really do deliver, and are a breeze to use as well.  I find them easy to blend and with enough pigment to produce noticeable color that indeed looks like a natural flush. 

My Sunshine is an orange leaning red that really packed a lasting punch of color on my lips.  Love it!  This is two layers with clear balm on top - I apply one layer, let it dry and then another.  For cheek wear, I apply a few dots and then quickly use a brush to blend.  My Sunshine's name and color are just perfect for this time of year, as it's supposed to be 96 today.  My poor air conditioner.

So where is this deal?  All Cosmetics Wholesale, and I only found out about it because I signed up to receive their emails a while back.  This was my first time purchasing from them, and to be honest I was a bit hesitant as I had no idea what to expect.  All I can say is that the products arrived in 2 days (!), were packaged appropriately, and in good condition.  I have no idea if they are expired, as the one site I know to check for those types of things, http://checkcosmetic.net/,  doesn't feature Vincent Longo.  They smell fine and perform nicely though, so I'm quite pleased.  Score!