Sample Society Product Reviews - Murad, Alterna, Jane Iredale, Oscar De La Renta, Caudalie

Doesn't this just LOOK luxurious! This might be my favorite box that I ever got from them. Each one is a spa day in a box. Click here to sign up! 





Something that they're doing now is letting you purchase past boxes, which I think is awesome! 


Murad Clarifying Cleanser - 6.75 FL. OZ.

Well, pretty much what they said! It's a very concentrated gel and after using it, my skin actually felt like it was absorbing my serum and moisturizer better. After use, your pores are tighter and you can see a difference in the amount of blackheads that you get after just one use. I wouldn't recommend this for dry skin, but if you're acne prone, check this one out. Murad is serious skincare, I have yet to use a Murad product that wasn't amazeballs.

Murad Clarifying Cleanser - 6.75 FL. OZ. This powerful gel cleanser combats acne and skin breakouts. The rich lather strips away pore-clogging grime, oil and irritants as it helps treat and prevent acne breakouts with time-released medication that remains active for hours, even after rinsing.

Alterna Bamboo Style Boho Waves

Alterna is another company that has yet to do me wrong. I LOVE this spray, I bought a full sized bottle after I used up my sample bottle (which says a lot considering I probably got 3 different bottles in different beauty samplers). Another product that does exactly what it says. Full, loose, sexy waves that give you a controlled tousled look. Since my hair is super fine, I really like the texture that it adds.

Alterna Bamboo Style Boho Waves Tousled TextureMist What is it: A weightless texturizing mist that instantly gives you natural, tousled, "just-back-from-the-beach" waves.Who is it for: Perfect for anyone who wants to add volume, texture, and a healthy shine to their hair.Why is it different: It combines bamboo extract and blue yucca root to help create long-lasting styling effects.How do I use it: Spray on damp or dry hair from roots to ends and shape with fingers for loose, tousled style.From Alterna.

Jane Iredale Just Kissed

An absolutely GORGEOUS, universally flattering lippie. This line really does plump your pout painlessly and beautifully. No feathering, long wearing and non drying.

Jane Iredale Just Kissed Sugar&Butter Jane Iredale new lip exfoliator and plumper, has gone to the top of the popularity list, so jane Iredale decided to bring out three new plumpers that we’ve named Just Kissed because that’s what they feel like! Plump up your attitude with Just Kissed, a rich, shea butter based tinted lip plumper. Just Kissed uses a peptide that has been shown to increase hydration and collagen synthesis, helping to reduce feathering. The gentle formula won’t sting or leave lips sticky. Plus, it comes in three wearable shades. Milan is a soft, matte pink, Sydney is a subtle, warm coral, NYC is a flattering neutral – a makeup bag staple!, Madrid (fueled by purple and blue tones) and Tokyo (a fierce but universally flattering red). Formula Benefits: Spearmint and peppermint oils, in combination with ginger root extract, stimulate blood circulation making lips fuller faster and without pain Shea butter, sunflower oil and aloe vera soften and hydrate Essential oils of lemon and tangerine help to exfoliate dead skin cells Unique time released peptides ensure lips stay plump Jane Iredale Just Kissed Lip Butter is available in Milan (fashion's newest pink), Sydney (a subtle, warm coral), NYC (a rockin' neutral), Madrid (fueled by purple and blue tones) and Tokyo (a fierce but universally flattering red). Net Weight: 2.3 g / 0.08 oz. Ingredients: Triisostearyl Citrate, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax, Beeswax, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Flavor, Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Extract, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Tribehenin, Sorbitan Isostearate, Palmitoyl Oligopeptide, Vaccinium Macrocarpon (Cranberry) Fruit Extract, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate. May Contain: Mica (CI 77019), Iron Oxides (CI 77489, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), Carmine (CI 75470).

Live In Love by Oscar de la Renta for Women Eau de Parfum Spray 3.4 oz

AND another product that I had to buy the full size of. It's a green floral, so not so sweet and cloying as many florals are. It starts out with a strong lily-of-the-valley floral blast, but it unfolds really quickly into a lovely soft green scent. It will last forevah on your clothing but not be overpowering on your skin. When I wear this, my mister likes to nuzzle me which to me is a top endorsement since I normally have to harangue him for his opinion on perfumes. (and the man even used to work the men's fragrance department at Dillards for pete's sake!)

Live In Love by Oscar de la Renta for Women Eau de Parfum Spray 3.4 oz Live In Love by Oscar de la Renta for Women Eau de Parfum Spray 3.4 oz

There is simply nothing I can say that they haven't already. Luxurious, refreshing, hydrating, plumping. Expensive and worth every single penny. I've been a Caudalie devotee for over a decade for a reason. This feels amazing on tired eyes and is like a full night's sleep in a bottle.

Caudalie Premier Cru The Eye Cream 0.5 oz
An antiaging cream to refresh the eye area. This luxurious cream offers ultimate antiaging action for instantly transformed eyes. Perfectly hydrated, the skin is smoother and firmer. Dark circles and puffiness fade away and the eye area is brightened with renewed youth. Caudalie's three signature patents are blended at their highest concentration for unparalleled age-fighting power: Resveratrol-Oleyl for lifting and firming, Viniferine for brightening, and antioxidant-rich grape-seed Polyphenes. 


And some beautiful handcrafted earrings by

Saving stressed out locks with Alterna and Ojon

So wow, I just realized that like my last 5 or 6 posts were about hair stuff! So why not one more?

A few months ago, I lightened my hair. It's not too drastic, about the color that it is at the end of the summer after I've been in the sun for a few months, but the process is nonetheless damaging. I'm used to having really soft, sleek hair and the rougher feel of it was a bit disturbing to me. That's when I decided to pull out the big guns, Alterna and Ojon.

For those unfamiliar with the Alterna brand, just know that they're so freakin awesome that KATIE HOLMES recently became a co-owner because she loved them so much. 
If you read my blog or watch my videos, you'll see me raving about Alterna all the time, and this shampoo can be added to the list. After one use (!) you can see the difference. Your hair is shiny, silky, and totally moisturized without being heavy or weighed down. There's no sulfates to stress out your hair or dry out your scalp, so a bonus for those with sensitive noggins like mine. If you color your hair, you don't have to worry about this stripping or fading your color, it actually helps your color to last longer!

Caviar, Seasilk, Bamboo, Kendi Oil & more—these precious, sustainable ingredients deliver pure, powerful benefits. And what we leave out of our products is just as important as what we put in. We believe beauty products should be FREE OF Parabens, Sulfates, Phthalates & other harsh or unnecessary additives. So important to us, this FREE OF claim appears on the front of every Alterna bottle, along with our commitment to eco-friendly packaging & fair-trade practices.

Alterna Caviar Anti Aging Seasilk Moisture Shampoo Transform your brittle, dull hair into strong, healthy, youngerlooking hair. Formulated with Seasilk technology that repairs, moisturizes and nourishes hair, and Photozyme Complex that protects hair from damage. Incorporates Alternas AgeControl Complex that includes Caviar Extract, Vitamin C and Cytokines to reduce the effects of aging and help stimulate protein production.

I think they need to hand out bottles of Ojon Damage Reverse conditioner to anyone who does any sort of chemical process to their hair. While I do not normally have anything even RESEMBLING dry hair, after the lightening it really needed something. Well, this stuff is nothing short of MIRACULOUS. My hair had been protesting any time I tried to brush or comb it, and it became frizzy and unmanageable. One use of this and it was smooth as glass and super shiny. I was able to use my shower comb on it and the comb slid through my tresses like a knife through warm butter. Now I wouldn't recommend using this every day if you have stick straight baby fine hair like mine, but it's an amazing transforming treatment and my weekly luxury.

Ojon Damage Reverse Restorative Conditioner, 8.5 oz What is it: A lush daily conditioner that treats damaged hair in the shower.Who is it for: Ideal for anyone with dry, damaged hair.Why is it different: This lush, concentrated daily conditioning balm doesn't just sit on the surface. It actually surrounds dry, brittle hair with nourishing lipids, including pure Ojon oil, nature's golden elixir, plus antioxidant-rich Brazilian buriti oil and murumuru butter. It helps seal in vital moisture and create the perfect buffer against daily damage, while instantly detangling. And it won't weigh your hair down. Your hair looks healthier, silkier, smoother, and shinier. How do I use it: work a small amount into hair and comb through. Leave in for a minute and rinse thoroughly. From Ojon.This product may contain nuts.