$20 Freeman Beauty Mystery Bag - October 2013 - pics, my review (a small rant with updated resolution!)

Hello, Beautiful!

So I have a small rant in this post, which I don't even like to do because I like to stay positive but this just really bothered me so I had to make a blog post about it - especially since I had recommended to others (on my Facebook page) to get this as well. Please know that I love the Freeman brand and their products and I'm still happy to have gotten a value from this promotion, but....

On October 1st Freeman Beauty sent out an email that they have a Spooky Mystery Bag for just $20 and it was supposed to be filled with products from all their brands and have a value at over $90 (plus you're entered to win a c.Booth Honey Almond Set when you purchase the mystery bag). I was so excited about it, so I went on and purchased it without hesitation within minutes of receiving the email. I also posted about it on my Facebook page to let all of you know about it because I thought it was a great deal. Plus, they have free shipping on orders over $25 for those in the USA, so I just ordered a two more products to get to the $25 mark so I could get free shipping.

If you are still interested, the $20 Freeman Beauty Spooky Mystery Bag is still available for sale at the time I write this post. Click here if you're interested.

UPDATE: Their customer service has gotten back to me and confirmed there were indeed missing items and they'll be sending out the missing items. They have great, quick customer service!

To read about my original small rant, continue reading but the issue has been resolved for me :)


Sounds like an amazing deal right? So why is this a rant? Well even though I did get more than $20 worth of products, I did not get an "over $90 value". Instead, the items were worth $62.06 exactly. That's pretty far off (by about $30, at least) to being the "over $90 value". While I appreciate still getting a good deal - it's a little over 65% off all the products retail price - I don't appreciate expecting to get over $90 worth of products and only get around $60.

For some reason their website doesn't list the "over $90 value", even though the email did. Hmmmm, maybe they made a mistake in the email? Maybe the 9 was supposed to be a 6? Or maybe whoever packaged my order added in my items that I ordered as part of it or plain forgot some items - since they didn't ship this "mystery bag" in an actual bag, as if it was already pre-packaged for this promotion. All the products were just thrown in the box with the other items I had ordered.




Below is a screenshot of my email:

In addition to the value, I didn't get products from every Freeman brand. I didn't receive anything from the Bare Foot Repair line (received two from the regular Bare Foot line) and I didn't receive anything from the Papaya line. 

Here is a list of exactly every product I received and how much they cost if purchased on their own:

$3.99 - Feeling Beautiful Facial Revealing Peel-Off Mask Pomegranate (no longer on their website)
$3.99 - Feeling Beautiful Body Anti-Stress Foaming Bath Dead Sea Minerals
$1.99 - Feeling Beautiful Facial Clay Mask Avocado & Oatmeal packet
$1.99 - Feeling Beautiful Facial Purifying Paper Mask Star Fruit packet
$1.99 - Feeling Beautiful Facial Hydration Mask Goji Berry packet
$3.79 - Bare Foot Foot Soak
$3.79 - Bare Foot Heel & Callus Balm
$12.99 - Eclos Anti-Aging Instant Radiance Facial Scrub (no longer on their website)
$7.99 - Ellin Lavar Textures InstantShine Shine Enhancing & Frizz-Fighting Mist
$2.99 - Psssst On-The-Go Instant Dry Shampoo
$14.99 - Vita-K Professional for Dark Circles
$1.57 value - C. Booth Honey Almond Body Butter (small size, 1.8 oz) The full size is 8 oz and $6.99 - so that's what I based it on for the value.

$62.06 total. 

On a side note, the Eclos Anti-Aging Instant Radiance Facial Scrub feels practically empty! It says it's supposed to be 5 oz but compared to the masks (which are also about the same size) you can clearly see it's no where near that much in the tube. That's why I took a side photo too because I couldn't believe how flat it was. However, I do know that packaging can be deceiving, but this just seems very flat for a brand new product. Check out what I mean...

 

I also was disappointed that the only c. Booth's product I received is a small travel size -- not even a full size. Why?! I was looking forward to c. Booth's products probably the most and I get a small jar of body butter?! It smells good - that's a plus, right?

I will say I love the Feeling Beautiful line of facial masks and scrubs, so I was happy to receive the most products from that line. Received a peel-off mask and three mask packets, plus a bath soak. I don't take baths often at all (maybe a few times a year - if that -- I'm a shower girl), so it's something I plan to giveaway but I have the mask version of the same scent and I like it.

I haven't tried anything from the Bare Foot line, so excited for both products - they will get used.

The Ellin Lavar Textures hair product is something I never heard of, but I will never turn down a shine spray.

The Psssst! On-The-Go Instant Dry Shampoo is actually one of my favorites, but again, why the travel size and not a full size? Certainly including full sizes of everything would have bumped up the value!

The Vita-K Professional for Dark Circles is something I may or may not use. For now I put it in my eye skincare drawer and will see if I reach for it anytime soon.

Would have loved to try something from the Papaya line but I did not receive anything.

Overall, I still got a value for what I paid but I certainly did not get what I expected. I plan to email Freeman Beauty about this - I'll also link them to this post so they can see everything - and see if maybe there was just a misunderstanding/packaging mistake. 

I had considered ordering more than one of these Spooky Mystery Bags to use as gifts and giveaways, but I wanted to wait and see what I received. Now I don't think I would order any more - which is ashame because I had planned to get at least 3 to 4 more! I'll update this post to let you know what response I get.

Now let me know what you think...

What do you think of this Spooky Mystery Bag? Did you order one? If so, what was your value? Discuss in the comments below.

Freeman Beauty Anti-Stress Dead Sea Mask

Hello, Beautiful!

I love the Freeman Beauty line of face masks because they're affordable (most are just $3.99), easy to use, and effective. I like to use them when my nieces come to visit because it's a cheap and easy way to turn my living room into a spa for them. I recently tried out their newest mask, the Dead Sea Minerals Facial Anti-Stress Mask. Did I like it? I sure did!

Check out my pics, swatches, stats, and review... click on pics to view them larger.

Freeman Beauty
Dead Sea Minerals Facial Anti-Stress Mask

 

Basic Stats for Freeman Beauty Dead Sea Minerals Facial Anti-Stress Mask:

Formula: cream

Cost/Availability: $3.99 (6 fl oz full size). Available on the Freeman Beauty website, at Wal-Mart, CVS, and everywhere else Freeman Beauty products are sold. Also available in a travel-size for $1.99 on the Freeman Beauty website.

Packaging: squeeze tube with pop-open lid

My Rating: 4 out of 5 Kisses

Formula:

This anti-stress mud mask is enhanced with Dead Sea Minerals to instantly absorb excess oil while clarifying and purging pores. Idea for oily skin and those with breakout prone skin.

Cost/Availability:

$3.99 (6 fl oz full size). Available on the Freeman Beauty website, at Wal-Mart, CVS, and everywhere else Freeman Beauty products are sold. Also available in a travel-size for $1.99 on the Freeman Beauty website.

Packaging:

Squeeze tube with pop-open lid.

Freeman Beauty Dead Sea Minerals Facial Anti-Stress Mask Review:

I have several Freeman Beauty masks because they're affordable, as well as quick & easy to use. The newest, their Dead Seal Minerals Facial Anti-Stress Mask, is a great option for my skin type: oily and acne-prone.

I have to admit that I wasn't expecting it to smell good based on the the fact this has Dead Sea Minerals, and with the sea shells on the packaging I wasn't sure what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised when I opened it and I liked the smell. I'm terrible at describing scents, so I'm not even going to try to describe this, but I did like the smell.

Another thing I liked was the color. I know, I know, who cares?! But I care! It's those little things that make me happy and if I'm taking the time to do a mask with my busy schedule, I'm going to appreciate everything it has to offer - including it's refreshing blue color.

To use this mask you simply apply, leave it on your skin until it's dry, then rinse off with warm water. I don't remember how long I left this on for because I was in the middle of doing work while I was using it. After I rinsed this off my skin felt smooth and refreshed. There wasn't much more effect than that, but I'm sure the benefits I can't see are there - such as helping with excess oil and clearing out my pores.

Overall, yes, I'd recommend this mask.

Now let me know what you think...

What do you think of this mask? Have you tried this or do you plan to? Discuss in the comments below.

MyGlam - February 2012

Hello, Beautiful!

This is my first MyGlam bag, although I should have received a January bag. My January bag was one that was in the shipping mix-up and delivered to someone else. They refunded me for that month, and said they'd include an extra item in this month's bag that would be worth over $10, but I don't think the extra gift this month was very impressive. You'll see everything below. Overall, I'm not super impressed with my first shipment, but it's only one shipment so I can't determine if I'll like the MyGlam service or not. I do like this month's bag... pink with black hearts! Super cute!

For more information on MyGlam, or to sign-up and start receiving your own MyGlam bag every month, CLICK HERE. $10 each month.

MONTH 2012 MyGlam Bag





The Included Info Card:

 

Shipment Quick Stats:

• Value of this month's MyGlam Bag: $17.81 (value is approximate and does not include the X Out product, Ghiradelli Chocolate, NuMe Gift Card, and the extra item for last month's shipping error)
• Total # of Items Received: 6  (7 if you include the extra item)
• # of makeup items: 1
• # of nail items: 0
• # of skincare items: 4
• # of body care items: 0
• # of hair care items: 0
• # of fragrance items: 0
• # of other items: 1

Now I'll break it down, product-by-product...

NYX Roll On Shimmer in Mauve Pink

• DESCRIPTION ON INFO CARD: NYX's brand new, intensely rich, shimmering powder that can be applied to the eyes, face, and body.
• MY THOUGHTS: I like the NYX brand, and I love shimmer/glitter, so I was looking forward to this product. The color is a pretty pink, and even though you can't really tell in the photos, it is very sparkly in person. I don't really like the roll-on style shadows, but I will de-pot this into a jar and use it as a loose shimmer powder (like I did with all my older Maybelline Roller Color shadows).
• FULL SIZE: 0.052 oz @ $4.50
• SIZE I RECEIVED: 0.052 oz (full sized item)
• VALUE: $4.50

 

 

X OUT Shine Control

• DESCRIPTION ON INFO CARD: Stay flawless and shine free with this oil-free moisturizer with a mattifying complex.
• MY THOUGHTS: This is from the makers of Proactive, so I was worried about having an allergic reactions, as I'm allergic to benzoyl peroxide (the acne fighting ingredients in Proactive products). I didn't see that listed in the ingredients, but I could be tricked and it could be listed differently. I only swatched it on my hand for the photos in this post, and today my hand is red where the swatch was. To be fair, I did do a lot of swatching yesterday so that could be the reason. Not sure if I will use this or not.
• FULL SIZE: ??? @ $???
• SIZE I RECEIVED: 0.75 fl oz 
• VALUE: $? -- I can't determine a price since it's not listed for sale on its own, and it's currently a "free gift" when you sign up for the face wash monthly program.

 










FREEMAN Pineapple Enzyme Facial Mask

• DESCRIPTION ON INFO CARD: Turn your date night prep-time into a soothing spa experience with easy-to-use skin-perfecting masks. 
• MY THOUGHTS: I like the Freeman line of masks; they're affordable and work nicely. I haven't tried the pineapple mask, but this one-time use sachet will be a great way to test it out. I didn't open this mask for the photos because I don't have a container to put it in after I open it.
• FULL SIZE: 6 oz @ $3.99
• SIZE I RECEIVED: 0.5 oz
• VALUE: $1.99 is how much it is sold for on the Freeman website (this exact size sachet), but the actual value is $0.33

PREMIER samples

• DESCRIPTION ON INFO CARD: Luxury skincare rich in life-enhancing minerals from the Dead Sea Waters.
• MY THOUGHTS: I received a sample of the Instant Stretching and Revitalizing Mask (the Cinderella Mask), and the Concentrated Facial Serum with vitamins E and C. I'm glad I get to try this brand out, as it's on the pricey side. I didn't open the samples up because I don't have containers right now to put them in, and I'm really interested in trying them out. They may seem like small samples, but they hold pretty good value for sample packets.
• FULL SIZE: Instant Stretching and Revitalizing Mask is 2.04 oz @ $149.99 --- Concentrated Facial Serum with vitamins E and C is 1.7 oz @ $149.99
• SIZE I RECEIVED: Each sample is 0.07 fl oz
• VALUE:  Instant Stretching and Revitalizing Mask is $5.15 --- Concentrated Facial Serum with vitamins E and C is $6.17

NUME $100 Gift Card

• DESCRIPTION ON INFO CARD: Enjoy $100 towards NuMe's products. Hair tools that will revolutionize your everyday look.
• MY THOUGHTS: Now before you get all crazy over this, the generous "gift card" isn't really a true gift card; it's a coupon. A very high value coupon, but it's still just a coupon. You can only use this towards the purchase of styling tools or extensions, and from what I've read, the cheapest option would be $15, plus shipping. I've also read that shipping was close to $25 for someone, making it not worth it at all, but I don't know how much shipping would be. To me, this isn't that much of a deal, unless you were already planning to purchase a NuMe styling tool or extensions. I'm also not including this in the value of this month's bag because it would actually cost me money to use this. Also, there was a unique certificate ID on the back of the card, which I removed in the photo.
• FULL SIZE: n/a
• SIZE I RECEIVED: n/a
• VALUE: $100.00  (I am NOT including this into the monthly value)

GHIRADELLI Chocolate

• DESCRIPTION (written on note in box): Dear Glammies, Here's a sweet surprise with love from San Francisco! Enjoy these decadent delights! xoxo, The MyGlam Team
• MY THOUGHTS: I'm guessing this was MyGlam's Valentine's Day treat. I like Ghiradelli chocolate, and was happy to get plain options (one dark chocolate and one milk chocolate square). It was a nice surprise, one that it already half-gone.

URBAN DECAY Eyeshadow Primer Potion

• DESCRIPTION ON INFO CARD: n/a
• MY THOUGHTS: This must be my extra item MyGlam promised to include in this month's shipping (to help make up for last month's shipping issues). They said the item would be worth over $10, but it's not. You can buy this size primer potion on Urban Decay's website for $9.00 -- sure, that's close to $10, but it's the fact that they specifically said it would be worth more than $10 that bugs me. I bet a lot of people will be let down, thinking it would be something good. It's not even the new version of the primer, in the squeeze tube, instead it's the old style with the doe-foot applicator. However, with all that said, it was still free. I can't really complain because I do like this primer, so it's always nice to have an extra. I just wish MyGlam would follow through with what they say.
• FULL SIZE: 3.7 ml travel size @ $9 
• SIZE I RECEIVED: 3.7 ml
• VALUE: $9.00

Let me know what you think...

Did you receive a MyGlam bag this month? If so, what are your thoughts on your box? Feel free to leave a link below to your MyGlam blog post. Discuss in the comments below.



Beauty Army - February 2012

Hello, Beautiful!

My Beauty Army kit has arrived! This month my kit was worth over $70! I'm happy with my selections, but I kind of wish there was at least one makeup choice for me this month; it was all skin and hair products. I know other people see different samples; I'd be curious to hear what others were able to choose from. I re-adjusted my beauty profile, so we'll see what happens with next month's selections.

Check out this month's shipment...

Beauty Army - February 2012












Included Info Card:

Shipment Quick Stats:

• Value of this month's shipment: $72.50 (value is approximate)
• Total # of items I received: 6
• # of makeup items: 0
• # of nail items: 0
• # of skincare items: 4
• # of body care items: 0
• # of hair care items: 2
• # of fragrance items: 0
• # of other items: 0

Now I'll break it down, product-by-product...


JOICO K-Pak Revitaluxe

• DESCRIPTION ON MY ONLINE SAMPLES PAGE: A luxury hair treatment clinically proven to  instantly correct years of damage. Hair becomes automatically stronger, softer, and more moisturized.
• MY THOUGHTS: I am always interested in products that say they will repair my hair. Because I dye parts of my hair blue, my hair can be very dry in those areas (which are are the underside of my hair). The texture always needs help, so I'm looking forward to seeing how this product will help. Just be careful when using this sample; it comes out of the tube really quickly!
• FULL SIZED: 5.1 oz @ $22.95
• SIZE I RECEIVED: 1.7 oz
• SAMPLE VALUE: $7.65

  








M.A.D. Skincare Age Corrective Serum

• DESCRIPTION ON MY ONLINE SAMPLES PAGE: This multi-stem cell and multi-peptide technology infused serum will be a great choice in your anti-aging regimen to have the best possible looking skin. Skin will feel hydrated, moist, plump, nourished and recharged.
• MY THOUGHTS: I'm actually going to be showing everyone a lot of M.A.D. Skincare products on my blog, as they sent me some products for consideration, but I still decided to add another M.A.D. Skincare sample to my Beauty Army kit this month. What I didn't realize, at the time I selected this sample, is that I already have this product in full sized. That's okay though; this will make a nice back-up or a gift to a friend/family member. I really like the M.A.D. Skincare line, especially with the way they break down their products (into 5 main categories depending on skin type and need).
• FULL SIZED: 0.5 oz @ $54.00
• SIZE I RECEIVED: 0.13 oz
• SAMPLE VALUE: $14.03

 








STRIVECTIN SD Eye Concentrate

• DESCRIPTION ON MY ONLINE SAMPLES PAGE: New to the StriVectin family, this eye cream targets signs of aging. Get rid of crow's feet, dark circles, and puffiness all with this powerful product.
• MY THOUGHTS: I'm always curious about StriVectin products, and I will likely always choose a StriVectin sample if it's available to choose from. I'll work this into my skin care routine eventually because I'd like to prevent signs of aging around my eyes; I already have some fine lines developing.
• FULL SIZED: 1 fl oz @ $59.00
• SIZE I RECEIVED: 0.25
• SAMPLE VALUE: $14.75

  

 

LAROCCA SKINCARE 24K Exfoliating Cream Facial Cleanser

• DESCRIPTION ON MY ONLINE SAMPLES PAGE: A silky cream with a gentle exfoliant that dissolves makeup quickly while it moisturizes and stimulates collagen growth.
• MY THOUGHTS: This is the second product in my February Beauty Army kit where I ordered a product that I already have in the full sized version. I must be a dummy this month, lol. Oh well; at least it's a cleanser I like! I love the LaRocca brand and the 24K products are fantastic -- including this cleanser. I'll save this sample for a friend/family or even for a giveaway on my blog (maybe I'll give it away after I review the full sized cleanser, and that review will be coming up soon).
• FULL SIZED: 4 fl oz @ $45.00
• SIZE I RECEIVED: 1 fl oz
• SAMPLE VALUE: $11.25

MAMA MIO Boob Tube

• DESCRIPTION ON MY ONLINE SAMPLES PAGE: 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.
• MY THOUGHTS: Seeing as how I have fake boobies, I obviously care about how my chest looks. This is a product I was really interested in, even though I don't have any problems with sagging or signs of aging yet. I want to keep my chest looking nice for as long as I can and I feel I can always do things to help prevent signs of aging if I act ahead of time. This is a VERY generous sample; it's half of the full sized! I can't wait to see what results it may give me.
• FULL SIZED: 3.4 oz @ $45.00
• SIZE I RECEIVED: 1.7 fl oz
• SAMPLE VALUE: $22.50

 

FREEMAN BEAUTY Psssst Instant Dry Shampoo

• DESCRIPTION ON MY ONLINE SAMPLES PAGE: The original dry shampoo to refresh and rejuvenate hair by soaking up excess oil, removing product build-up and boosting volume. Hair looks, feels and smells freshly shampooed. Cleans, deodorizes and conditions hair -- without water!
• MY THOUGHTS: Sometimes my schedule is so busy that my days blend together and I need a dry shampoo to help me get through till my next shower. Since I have darker brown hair, dry shampoos can show up white or gray on me. I have one that sprays on clear, and that's the only one that has been unnoticeable on my hair. I haven't tried the Freeman Beauty Pssssst Instant Dry Shampoo yet, so I'm not sure if it sprays on clear or not, but I do hope it works for me.
• FULL SIZED: 5.3 oz @ $6.99
• SIZE I RECEIVED: 1.76 oz
• SAMPLE VALUE: $2.32

 

Now let me know what you think...

Did you receive a Beauty Army kit this month? If so, what are your thoughts on your kit? Discuss in the comments below.