Here are the latest fabulous beauty and cosmetics free samples that I’ve rounded up from across the web-o-sphere.

Free sample of Tom’s of Maine “Wicked Fresh Toothpaste”. Request your natural toothpaste freebie online by filling in your name, address and answering a short quiz. I always request freebies of toothpaste- they are perfect to hoard away in your cabinet for your next weekend trip.

Test out a free sample of Garnier Ultra-Lift Anti-Wrinkle Firming Moisturizer on your face for a few days before springing for a full size product at the store. You’ll also get a coupon along with your sample!

iPhone users can get an exclusive free sample of Tarina Tarantino Pearl Glow makeup primer from Sephora. You need to download the Sephora-To-Go app from the Apple App Store, then show the app to an associate in the store to claim your free sample. (Now I wonder when they’ll have a free sample like this for Android users… I want one!)This is such a great way to try a new makeup primer!!

Grab a freebie of LeNaturale skin care – simply click the link “Join our mailing list for your free sample!” in the lower right corner of your screen. You can opt out of the newsletter emails at any time after you request your freebie.

BJ’s Club Members (or if you have a relative or friend who will let you use their BJ’s membership number) can request a free sample of Dove’s Clinical Protection Antiperspirant and Deodorant. And since we all know how expensive those clinical protection deodorants are, this freebie will certainly help me save a few much-needed bucks!

Enjoy the freebies, Bionic Beauties!

Welcome to another freebie roundup from Bionic Beauty… It’s the end of another weekend, but thankfully most of us have a long weekend coming up! Holidays that fall on Mondays are some of my favorites. They take away that Monday dread and a four-day work week is divine!

Let’s get on to the freebies now, shall we?
Hourglass Cosmetics is offering free samples to send to your friends! Select up to three samples at their website and then fill in your and your friend’s contact information. I have their Prodigy lip gloss in Opium that I’ll be reviewing here on Bionic Beauty soon. It’s quite lovely!!

Aveeno has released new freebies of their Nourish+ hair care collection. I’m not sure if you can request them again if you got the first batch a few months ago, but it’s worth a shot!

Grab a freebie of Hugo Element – their new men’s cologne fragrance. Simply click on the free sample link on the lower left.

Enjoy!

Welcome to another freebie roundup from Bionic Beauty…

Walmart.com is offering freebie packs of Playtex Gentle Glide tampons. Yes, there are always a ton of tampon samples, but it certainly helps save a few bucks here and there!

Grab a free sample of Lanacane Anti-chafing gel – just click on the button in the lower right corner of your screen…
I’m guessing this is Lanacane’s version of the Monistat Anti-chaf gel…. remember the one that I raved about for it’s use as a makeup primer? So here’s your chance to give this version a try! The ingredients look about the same and they are certainly eerily similar to the pricier, luxury-branded makeup primers out there!

Enjoy the freebies, everyone!

It’s still summer, so I’m celebrating with a sunshine-inspired, citrus-spiked eye makeup look. Plus I have a nice tip to help lock those pretty eyeshadows in place. No more slipping or sliding… and the best part? This secret formula is at your drugstore and it’s cheap!

Sunny Citrus makeup look by Bionic Beauty

The tools and makeup used-

• Cotton Candy eyeshadow from PurelyCosmetics.com ($6.50 for a 5g jar).
• Sour eyeshadow palette is $4.99 at Hot Topic but it’s currently sold out online, so check your local stores instead!
• L’Oreal’s Bare Natural Mascara in Black Brown. Available at your local drugstore or online at Drugstore.com for $9.95.
• And for a primer: ReNu Multi-Plus saline solution which runs a super-cheap $4.08 for a 4 ounce bottle at AmericaRx.com.

The makeup used to create "Sunny Citrus"

Step 1: To lock your eye shadow down and keep it from fading away: Dip your makeup brush into a drop of Bausch & Lomb ReNu Multiplus saline contact solution before applying eye shadow. The sodium chloride (aka salt) in the solution will make the shadow extra moist since salt retains water, giving the pigment staying power! Who knew?

Step 2: Apply the orange eyeshadow from Hot Topic’s Sour palette across your entire lid. Blend it lightly up past the crease until it fades away.

Step 3: Use the neon pink shadow color right smack dab in the center of your eyelid. Blend it out just a tad to each side.

Step 4: Pick up a dab of Purely Cosmetics’ Cotton Candy (a shimmery light pink) and press it into the corner’s of your eyes. Between your tear ducts and your nose. This helps bounce light from that (typically) dark recess.

Step 5: Finish with your favorite mascara! I chose a Black Brown for this look since the colors are so bright. I felt a true black would be a bit harsh.

Step 6: Step outside and ROCK your look!

Sunny Citrus makeup look - final result

The brand new Twilight Beauty makeup line went live at 12:01am on August 28! For Twilight fans, it’s quite a big deal. For makeup fans, you’ve got some pretty nice options to check over. Only a few items are in stock right now… but you can take advantage of this limited pre-sale to reserve the items you want.

The makeup line is broken into two collections Volturi Twilight and Luna Twilight. Both lines were developed by DuWop Cosmetics. I’ve detailed all the products in each collection below.

I have tried Twilight Venom. It’s basically DuWop’s standard plumping lip venom but it’s packed with a bit more stingy cinnamon. Twilight Venom is also a lip stain. Be sure to shake the bottle well before applying- the red coloring settles to the bottom of the bottle. My experience: I didn’t experience any plumping from Venom; the lip stain color is a really, really bright red- not stop sign red, more like fluorescent red; and the color applied unevenly. I hope some of you have a better experience than I did. Twilight Venom is $16 and is available now.

I adore the packaging motifs on the majority of the collection. The Forks-esque tree outlines are very cool and mysterious. And the Volturi logo is stunning. However, is anyone else reminded of a plain Revlon lipstick when you see the square lip stick?

I guess both collections just seem a bit “standard” to me. There is nothing really outstanding about most of the colors, and the pricing is quite high. I can’t imagine being a teen in this economy and asking my parent’s to dish out money for this makeup. And besides the motifs and logos on each item, the packaging and look of the cosmetics seems a bit low.

And now the full rundown of each collection…

• Gleam Metallic Mascara $22, available in black shimmer, blue shimmer and silver. Ships Sept 20, 2009.
• Moonshadows Eyeshadows, $20 each, ships Sept 15.  This seems like a very unique product- each compact has a cream shadow and a shimmer powder shadow. Available in 4 duos.
• Femme Fatale lip gloss, $20, ships Sept 20. Available in 8 shades from clear in 53′ Chevy Red!
• Just Bitten Lip Staining Balm, $18. Available in 4 colors from light pink to deep maroon.
• Twilight Venom (see my comments above)
• First Light Body Glow, $34, ships Oct 30. A body lotion with subtle shimmer. I’m not sure of the size, so $34 could be a bit pricey.
• Mortal Glow Blushing Creme (for face), $22, ship Sept 20. Comes in a swirled pink or swirled beige.
• Sensational Palettes for eyes, lips and cheeks, $28, ships Sept 30. Each palette has 3 eye colors, a lip color and a blush. They’re based on the 4 female lead characters: Bella, Victoria, Alice and Rosalie.

Luna Twilight will also be available in Nordstrom and Dillard’s stores.

• Crown Metallic Mascara $16, available in black shimmer, blue shimmer and silver. I’m loving the looks of the blue!! Ships Sept 20, 2009. I’m not sure why this mascara is 6 bucks less than the Luna version…
• Foreshadow eyelid primer $11 (basically it’s a nude cream eye base)
• Labyrinth Loose Eyeshadows $9. Seven cool-toned shades including purples, silvers, and grays. Packaged in the little lucite stackers that Bonne Bell Cosmetics used to use. Ships October 30.
• Twilight Venom (see my comments above)
• Enrapture lip gloss, $12. Packed in little eyeshadow-style pans. Comes in sheer black and sheer pink. I’m guessing the black is similar to Lancome’s Piha Black that I adore. Ships Sept 30.
• Reign Scented Body Mist, $18 and ships October 30. Scented body shimmer sprays in pastel green (“Green Apple”), pink/musky (“Wicked”) , peach/vanilla (“Bella”) and lavender/floral (“Romance”).
• Immortal Liquid Body Shimmer in Tainted Love (Pink) and Black Magic (black). $20, ships Oct. 30. Too bad it won’t be out for Halloween.

Volturi Twilight will be available online, as well as Hot Topic, Ulta and Torrid stores.

I really like the idea of the Volturi body shimmer. Although I have a ton of body shimmers right now (my personal faves are Hampton Sun’s Shimmer Spray and Spell Cosmetics’ Body Gloss).

Does anyone else feel there should have been some nail polishes included in the collection? I would have thought Alice’s infamous “Blood Red” polish would be a given!

Head on over to TwilightBeauty.com and check out the collections. You can pre-order now and most items ship towards the end of September or October. Unfortunately there is no international shipping at this time (that sucks, I know.).

Do you plan to order now or wait for some reviews to come in? What items are catching your eye?

All photographs are the copyright of TwilightBeauty.com.

I decided it was high-time I checked out eye shadow primers. Being the budget-minded gal I am, I hopped over to my local  drugstore to grab L’Oreal’s De-Crease Eye Shadow Base.

First up, I wanted to try a swatch test before I actually went crazy creating eye makeup looks. The photo below shows seven eyeshadows of various brands, colors, and finishes. The top row is on my arm bare (no primer) and the bottom row is applied over De-Crease.

Click the image below for a full size photograph comparison (it will open in a new window/tab).

Shadows shown (from left to right):

• Nixie Professional matte pink shadow (unlabeled in my palette)
• Bobbi Brown Royal Blue (from the Brights palette)
• Purely Cosmetics Purple Diamond
• Milani’s Clover
• Coastal Scents’ Hi-light Violet
• Spell Cosmetic’s Aurora
• Milani’s Storm

As you can see, the primer helped to up the impact on most of the shadows (Milani is so pigmented I don’t think it helped too much), but what I really noticed was the staying power. All of the shadows stayed locked on my arm all day. When I showered, I had to scrub and then use eye makeup remover to get them off. If you’re looking for staying power ladies, this is it!

On another note, isn’t Coastal Scent’s Hi-light Violet gorgeous? I really need to use this color in an upcoming look. It’s perfect for the spring “metallic lid” trend.

If you’d like your own bargain tube of L’Oreal De-Crease, it’s only $7.95 at Drugstore.com.

And now… it’s share time! Do you use shadow primers in your daily makeup routine? Just occasionally? What’s your favorite brand?

When I first heard the mumblings that beauty fanatics were using a new product from Monistat as a makeup primer, my eyes bugged out. What??? Then I went on the hunt, stalking drugstores all around my area. Finally I found a tube of Monistat Soothing Care Chafing Relief Powder-Gel.

This isn’t your momma’s Monistat (i.e. don’t go using these to treat any, umm… infections). The Soothing Care line from Monistat is a body care line. Moisturizers, itch relief, body powder, and the like.

I headed home, scrubbed my face clean and prepped for a fresh makeup application. I moisturized, and applied a small amount of the Monistat across my face. It did apply nicely- soft, smooth, spread evenly and dried quickly. So far, so good.

I whipped out my favorite mineral makeup and my trusty Beauty Blender sponge. My makeup applied just fine over top the Monistat and with Dimethicone (which is similar to silicone) as the active ingredient it’s not too suprising this felt great on my skin. My pores looked smooth and it even helped minimize the wrinkles (UGH!) under my eyes. I also tested the primer in the following days with tinted moisturizers and regular foundations. This primer worked fine with all the formulations. Length of wear was improved, heat didn’t make my makeup slide or melt, and everything looked fresh throughout the day!

If you like primers, or want to improve your makeup wear- definitely check out Monistat’s makeup primer. I mean, Monistat’s new Soothing Care Chafing Relief Powder-Gel. A Bionic Buy!

Here’s a quick makeup primer price comparison…

• Monistat costs around $8 for 1.5 ounces
• Philosophy never let them see you shine mattifying primer- $20 for 1oz.
• NARS Primer is $33 for 2 ounces
• Laura Geller’s Spackle is $23 for 2 ounces
• Smashbox’s Primer is around $36 for 1oz

I’d confidently say this is one way to save bucks and embrace your inner recessionista. Want to try it out yourself? Pick up a tube at your local drugstore (be prepared to hunt, this stuff is flying off the shelves) or order online at Drugstore.com for $7.99.

I’ve included a full ingredient list below…

Monistat Soothing Care Powder-Gel ingredients: Cyclopentasiloxane, dimethicone, dimethicone/vinyl dimethicone crosspolymer, silica, tocopheryl acetate, trisiloxane.

With spring and summer quickly approaching, I thought this article could give us all some quick tips and reminders on how to deal with that “summer slide”. You know how it is… you shower, put on a fresh makeup face, and step out the door. Heat and humidity smack you in the face, (or a dry heat if you live in the desert…but anyhow) within minutes your foundation can start to bubble with droplets. As much as we hate it, us ladies *do* sweat. Plus layer the heat with SPF lotions, your standard makeup and other skin care, and you end up feeling coated even if you wear just minimal makeup.

So… check out the article, and let me know what tips you have for saving your makeup during the sweltering summer!

How to Avoid Makeup Meltdown

Pro tips on keeping a fresh face – all day long

Making makeup last all day doesn’t have to be a high-maintenance hassle. Follow these tips from pro makeup artists Charlie Green and Molly Stern and your look, whether natural or dramatic, won’t melt away before you finish showing it off. See tips

Does Jemma Kidd’s new JK for Target line attract you? It did me. I grabbed up the Mannequin Skin Complexion Enhancer at first sight!

I’m pretty much a sucker for anything that gives me a subtle ‘glow’. Since I’m pale (and actually like being pale), I don’t use bronzers or self-tanners. Quite often blushes and skin enhancers over power me or just scream SHINY.

Here are my thoughts after a thorough Bionical testing…

• Be sure to shake well.
• If you’re prone to breakouts, this may not be for you. Test in the store first!
• Probably not the best product for darker skinned gals. I think it might show too much on your skin.
• Be aware that it does seem to settle in wrinkles and skin creases. Hmmm… didn’t like this aspect. At. All.
• Smells nice! Fresh, fun & slightly fruity. Not makeupy.
• A bit expensive. I’d rather go with Spell’s all natural lotions and enhancers, or grab a good mineral makeup ‘veil’ for the same price and get more product. The JK tube is less than an ounce!!
• Packaging is brilliant. I said this in my previous post about the tinted moisturizer. It really draws me in.
• It’s great to be able to pick up a higher end product at my local Target. I abhor malls and traditional department stores, so this aspect is very attractive to me.

There you have it! If you’re interested in the JK Jemma Kidd Mannequin Skin Enhancer, you can pick up a tube (0.84 ounce) at your local Target store (or on Target.com) for $24.

I have tried many a version of mineral makeup; from drugstore to high-end brands. Being a gal that’s now in her thirties with some eye wrinkles (Where the heck did those come from???), acne flare ups, and dry skin patches, my skin just ended up looking like I had caked powder on it with most brands. The dry skin would be accentuated and the minerals would settle in my eye wrinkles. I have sensitive skin, so I really want to like mineral makeup.

Bionic sports a full face of mineral makeup by Purely Cosmetics!

All my worries evaporated once on I met Robyn, the founder of Purely Cosmetics. She’s such a friendly person, listened to my skin woes, and patiently taught me about what actually is good for skin and what isn’t and how to properly apply mineral makeup.

Purely Cosmetics went on like a dream. Since I really hadn’t put my heart into mineral makeup in the past, I also got a flat-top foundation brush from Robyn. This brush is a wonder. I can’t seem to do anything wrong when it’s in my hands! It’s soft and keeps me from having clumped makeup deposits.

My new fave makeup brush!

The biggest difference when I applied the Pure Silk Mineral Foundation was the feel. My skin felt soft and airy. My breakouts were covered but you could still see the real me under my makeup! The photo above is of me in the midst of a full acne breakout. Looks pretty smooth, right?

I ran outside to sweat a bit since my other issue with previous mineral makeups was found during sweating. Once my pores would open, something would react with my skin and cause extreme itching and burning. Not so with Purely Cosmetics. I didn’t feel a thing.

On the second day, I stayed inside in the dry AC to check if it would suck the moisture out of my semi-parched skin. By the end of the day I was even babbling about how this foundation didn’t dry me out to my neighbor (a lawn care ‘manly-man’) and other guy friends.

In short, I have found my must-have makeup. I still wear my tinted moisturizers occasionally, but I don’t feel the pull to them I had before. My little jar of Purely Cosmetics (I use the California Blonde color since I’m pretty pale) has a place of honor in my makeup case. I am extremely indebted to Robyn for creating such an amazing product.

Purely Cosmetics' all-natural Silk & Pearl Primer powder.

I also tested Purely Cosmetics’ Silk & Pearl Primer (for Normal/Dry Skin) – This provides a fantabulous primer under mineral makeup application (photo below). Use your standard face lotion, top it with the Silk & Pearl Primer, then follow with your makeup. The primer helps control face/oil shine while not allowing the environment to dry out your skin, minimizes pores, and prevents the makeup for settling into any creases (i.e. wrinkles). I typically do not use primers since I’m a “out-the-door” kind of gal, but w-o-w. This product is very cool, and worth it’s weight in moolah. Oh, and there’s also a all Silk powder Primer and Normal to Oily version as well. Definitely 2 thumbs up from Bionic! ($18.50 for a *huge* 10 gram jar)

So now I have another Bionic all-time favorite to add to my pretty small list: Milani eyeshadows, Physician’s Formula Mineral Wear mascara, Herbaria Soaps, and anything by Purely Cosmetics. It’s actually a pretty small list and quite an accomplishment to make it to my “loyal following” level. Thank you, Robyn!

Here’s an EXCLUSIVE DISCOUNT for Bionic readers! Get 10% off any Purely Cosmetics purchase (minimum $20) now through December 20th, 2008.  Enter code BB (case sensitive) in the “redeem code” box on checkout. Buy yourself a little something fun to wear for the holidays!

Stay tuned for eyeshadow looks I’ve been wearing using Purely Cosmetics’ cream-to-powder and loose pigment shadows!

Full ingredients listed below:

Silk & Pearl Primer – silk powder, pearl powder,mica, carnuba wax, allantoin.
Pure Silk Mineral Foundation – mica, titanium dioxide, iron oxides, silk, zinc oxides.

Brush and foundation primer photographs are the copyright of Purely Cosmetics and are used with permission.

FTC Disclosure: This item was sent to me free of charge in return for an honest review. The opinion in this article is based on my personal experience and was not influenced by any source. I was not compensated for this article. Feel free to read my disclosure policy for more information.