Beauty Army review, May 2014 (with coupon code and giveaway information!)

I received my second Beauty Army shipment yesterday. Beauty Army differs from many beauty subscription companies in that BA lets its subscribers choose which sample-sized products they want to receive. A subscriber can pick as many as six products from a selection customized according to the results of a survey that she completed when she signed up.

Why, hello yourself!

Here were my picks for the month:

1. Juice Beauty oil-free moisturizer
2. Nelson J Argan Oil 7 non-foaming shampoo

I have issues with dry skin, which is why I chose the moisturizer. I also have issues with dry hair, which is why I chose the sulfate-free shampoo. I'm a dry person, I guess.

3. Dermis 8 exfoliating soap bar
4. Agave healing oil treatment

More stuff to help with dry skin and dry hair.

5. Keratin Protein smoothing deep conditioner

6. Amala Hydrate Trio (face cleanser, cream, and mask)

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Once again, I was happy with my Beauty Army shipment. The packaging was great (I love the box that the items come in; I keep each one that I receive and use it to store stuff around the house) and I received the items that I ordered. I've read other reviews that said Beauty Army didn't vary the samples that it offered from month to month, so that subscribers had to pick from among items that they'd already received, or that they didn't really want. So far, that hasn't been my experience, as I was able to choose from almost completely different arrays of options both times that my selection window opened. I suppose it's something to keep an eye on for the future, though. (On its website, Beauty Army advises that, if a subscriber wants access to different types of products, she should simply retake her preferences quiz.)

A reminder that Subscription Prescription is giving away a free month of Beauty Army ($12 value) along with a bunch of other cool stuff. All told, the prize is worth over $100! Sign up for the giveaway here: Subscription Prescription May Giveaway Link

In addition, Beauty Army is offering a 30-percent discount off the cost of a year-long subscription. Throughout May, the price has been reduced from $132 to $92. That equals about $7.67 per month, which is a big savings off the $12 month-to-month subscription cost. Simply use the coupon code BALOVESME. Check it out here: Beauty Army Subscription Link

May giveaway from Subscription Prescription!

This month, I'm giving away a box full of goodies from various subscription boxes...and what amazing goodies they are! These are items that I loved, but, for various reasons, can't use, so my loss is your gain. On June 1, I'll be randomly selecting a winner who will receive all of the following:

1. Touch of Sparkle cubic zirconia earrings from the April 2014 Socialbliss Style Box (retail value: $50)

2. It's Sense earrings from the April 2014 Socialbliss Style Box (retail value: approximately $15)

3. Stella nail art kit from the April 2014 Socialbliss Style Box (retail value: $7)

4. All the Rage stone statement necklace from Little Black Bag (retail value: approximately $25)

5. Just Add Honey vanilla chai tea from the April 2014 Dottiebox Mini (retail value: $3.50)


6. And...a one-month subscription to Beauty Army (value: $12)!!!


That's over $100 worth of prizes! Sounds pretty good, eh? Just follow the steps below for your chances to win, and good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Beauty Army review, April 2014

Beauty Army is a subscription service that lets you choose five beauty samples every month. That aspect of the service--being able to decide ahead of time which products you want to try--can be a double-edged sword. On the one hand, unlike other beauty subscription boxes, Beauty Army doesn't afford you the thrill of surprise, as it's you who chooses the items that show up on your doorstep. On the other hand, because you choose your samples, you can rest assured that they'll be products you'll actually want to use. (And if you're anything like me, you'll forget what items you chose, so by the time the Beauty Army package arrives in the mail, it'll be a surprise anyway.)

The folks at Beauty Army were nice enough to send me a free shipment to review this month. I received the package yesterday. Here are my thoughts.

To start, I loved the packaging! Beauty Army packs its samples into a cute, and surprisingly durable, pink box with a camouflage lid. The package looks like a miniature (and much prettier) version of a cigar box, and is sturdy enough that I can use it to store and organize things in my bathroom. The way I look at it, Beauty Army basically sent me a bonus gift (the box) in addition to my samples.

Oh yeah, the samples. Let's get on to them. Keep in mind that I chose these items myself from among several options, so if you don't love what I got, you might find something more to your liking among Beauty Army's other offerings.

1. Remington Braided Hair Wraps (set of two)--these are made of suede, and I got them because I can always use headbands to hold back my hair when I wash my face and do other bathroom primping. They were of a better quality than I thought they'd be, so I'm happy with my choice.

2. Miracle Skin Transformer Acne Control--as I'm writing this post, it's occurring to me that I'm revealing all my beauty woes (acne, for instance) to the world. Too late to stop now, I guess. I chose this product because I get the occasional zit, so I'll be curious to see how it works.

3. Nelson J Moisture Healing Mask--In addition to acne, I have dry hair. I've heard that argan oil is a good treatment for damaged strands, so I'm eager to give this a try.

4. Amlactin Moisturizing Body Lotion--this past winter has beat up my skin, so lotion is definitely a good thing.

5. Embelleze Novex Brazilian Keratin--this is another treatment for damaged hair, and a fairly big sample, so I was happy with my choice. The only thing that made me unhappy was the fact that some of the product leaked out of the container en route to my house. The container wasn't broken in any way, so I'm not sure how the leakage happened, but luckily it was a small amount and didn't leave a mess. (Plus, the product smells good, so the box had a nice scent when I opened it.)

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My verdict? I was really happy with my first Beauty Army shipment, and will definitely be staying on as a customer. I already subscribe to Birchbox and Ipsy, both of which I love, but I like the fact that Beauty Army lets its subscribers choose the samples they want. I can be assured that the $12 I spend a month will be going toward products that I'll actually use. Aside from the minor Keratin spillage, my first shipment was perfect, and I'm already looking forward to choosing next month's samples.

If you'd like to join Beauty Army (which, as I mentioned, costs $12 a month), sign up here: Beauty Army subscription link