Well it seems like it’s been a decade and a half since I went freebie hunting.   Thankfully I found a nice, long roundup of beauty goodies for you to request.  Some of these are just plain awesome and will go darn quick… so hustle up everyone!

Ready to soothe your dry skin?  I am!  Here’s a new product to me… Get three free sample packets of TriLipiderm “All-body moisture retention creme” – Keep them for yourself or share ‘em with friends! (US only)

Nab a free sample of Hugo Boss cologne for yourself or send a personalized postcard with the sample to a friend!

Try out Aveeno’s new Nourish hair care shampoo and conditioner with this freebie. Answer a few quick questions and select your hair type so they can match you up with the proper version of Nourish hair care. (US only)

Keep smelling nice this summer  with free samples of Gucci Guilty fragrance and/or Gucci Guilty Pour Homme cologne. (Open to USA, Canada and most international countries)

Snag a freebie trial size of Avon Anew Solar Advance Sunscreen Face Lotion with SPF 45. Scroll down the page a bit to enter your information. Hurry, these will go quickly!

Get a free sample of Murad Oil Control Mattifier face cream with SPF 15! Simply click on the thumbnail image below and the full size coupon will open. Print the coupon and take it to your local JCPenney store with a Sephora counter inside. You can also get a complimentary skin consultation while you’re there! Offer expires July 13, 2011.

And because you can never have too many… here are some new freebies of CareFree Acti-Fresh Body Shape liners. (US only)

While not a freebie, you can get a coupon good for 35 cents off your next purchase of Carmex lip balm by filling out a short form on their website.

Stay Bionic,

Last week I was cruising my favorite grocery store (eh, hmm… Publix!) when I passed by the beauty aisles. My cart screeched to a stop when I spotted a familiar set of labeling and products. California Baby products at Publix?!?! Excellent!

The California Baby product line includes organic lotions, natural facial skin care, hair care (shampoos, conditioners, and treatments), body care, body wash, and sunscreens loaded with SPF. I’ve only checked some Publix’s during my recent trip to some southern states, but each one has had at least a few of the California Baby products. Some stores carry quite a large variety!

Southern ladies are in luck- Check your local Publix for organic skin care goodness!

If you live in the southeastern USA, locate your closest Publix store and head over to see if they’re stocking California Baby products yet. Is the California Baby brand new to you? Then be sure to catch up by reading my past reviews!

Aquafina did it first… now Glaceau, the makers of Vitamin Water drinks, have teamed with Bonne Bell to create Vitamin Schtick lip balms.

All the flavors come packed with SPF 20 to protect your lips this summer; and vitamin E to help moisturize. Glaceau sent me the Acai-Blueberry-Pomegranate flavor to test and review. While I certainly love the added vitamin E and SPF – this balm never really soaked into my lips. It sat on top as more of a liquid. It also wore off incredibly quick and actually dried my lips out after a few days of consistent use. Of course, you may have better luck.

For now, I’ll stick with my favorite lip balms: YBF’s Quench and all-natural My Lip Stuff.

Look for the Vitamin Schtick Lip Balms at your local Walgreens or grocery for $2.99.

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.

Are you looking for a more natural Sunblock/Sunscreen for this summer? Look no further! I just finished testing Coola’s Total Body Unscented SPF 30 Organic Moisturizing Suncare in the extreme Florida sunshine. In short- it’s fabulous!

Coola - An organic sunblock that works!!

Now for the details ~
Coola offers a variety of mineral and organic sunscreens for face, lips, and body; plus a few different scents (which they are expanding soon!). The Total Body SPF 30 is fragrance, paba, paraben, and petroleum free. The formula includes certified organic ingredients (full listing below) with several oils and Aloe for moisture. The drawback for me of many “natural” or organic sunblocks is that they leave your skin looking chalky white. Not so with Coola. It soaked right away without being too greasy.

Check out CoolaSuncare.com for all their products. The Total Body Unscented SPF 30 costs $30 for a 5 ounce tube but since this sunblock spreads easily and evenly, the tube lasts quite awhile.

Coola’s Total Body SPF 30 Organic Unscented sunblock ingredients ~
Active Ingredients - Octinoxate (sunblock) 7.50%, Oxybenzone (sunblock) 6.0%, Octisalate (sunblock) 5.0%, Avobenzone (sunblock) 1.5%.
Inactive Ingredients - Water (Aqua), Nylon-12, Sclerotium Gum, Cetearyl Alcohol (Plant Derived), Cetearyl Glucoside, Phenoxyethanol (Preservative), Glyceryl Stearate (Plant Derived), Polysorbate-60 (Plant Derived), C14-22 Alcohols, Ethylhexylglycerin (Plant Derived Preservative), C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Lecithin, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E Acetate), Dog (Rosa Canina) Rose Hips, Plankton Extract, Borage (Starflower) Seed Oil, Oenothera Biennis (Evening Primrose) Extract, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate (Stabilized Vitamin C), Linum Usitatissimum (Linseed) Seed Oil, Tetrasodium EDTA, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Disodium EDTA.
Certified Organic Ingredients - Aloe Barbadensis leaf juice (Aloe vera), Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Beeswax, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract.

This week’s Bionic Asks… What level SPF/sunscreen do you wear on a typical day? And do you have a favorite brand you swear by?

I use Lexli’s SPF 15 Day Lotion (read my Lexli review) under my Purely Cosmetics mineral makeup (which provides another “layer” of coverage) for my face, neck, chest and ears. I also carry a jar of SPF 45 clear zinc sunblock in my purse for touchups. It works great on both my face and body; plus it’s immediately effective since zinc is a physical sunblock (as opposed to chemical sunblocks which take around 30 minutes to be fully effective at blocking harmful sun rays). Oh, and the zinc is great for assisting in clearing up acne and breakouts. It’s perfect for me!

If I am going to be out in the sun for the day- whether it’s the park, driving my car, or walking my dog, I cover my body with SPF 30 or higher. My favorites for full body coverage are Clinique, Hampton Sun, and Coola Total Body organic suncare (review upcoming!). All of which last a long time without irritating my skin or causing body breakouts.

My first thoughts when I came across the new line of Up & Up skin care products at Target? Excellent! New, cheaper versions of my beloved beauty products!!

I grabbed a bottle of the Up & Up All Day Complete Moisturizing Lotion, for sensitive skin, and ran to the check out. The label promised similarity to Olay’s All Day Complete UV Moisturizing Lotion for sensitive skin and is packed Vitamin E, Aloe, and broad-spectrum UVA/UVB SPF 15 protection. All for a less expensive price than my usual Olay.

Joycey Couture puts Target's store brand version of Olay Daily Moisturizing face lotion to the test!

So how did Target’s knockoff version hold up to my testing?

That evening, I took my shower and popped open the top. The lotion went on smooth with no greasy flim. It truly felt like my beloved Oil of Olay products, but half the price.

The next morning I woke up and realized my face felt a little dry. I ignored it though and went about my business- washing my face, brushing my teeth and applying my new Up & Up lotion.

Later that afternoon I looked in and mirror and realized my face had started to peel. Peeling? In the midst of an abnormally cold, but still crazy humid, South Carolina winter? Odd.

I continued to use the product for another three days before I realized my face was getting worse. The dry skin was causing my face to over produce it’s natural oils- I started to break out. That’s when it hit me- even in the very middle of a economic depression, you can’t always go for the cheapest products on the shelf. When trying to save a few bucks, I ended up wasting $6.99 and throwing the product away. Maybe Oscar will find some use for it in his trash can.

What did I buy when I head back to the store? Exactly the product the Target knock off was trying to impersonate. Hmmmph, lesson learned.

$6.99 for a 4 ounce bottle at Target stores or Target.com.

DEAL ALERT! While shopping for a better buy on my beloved Olay All Day Complete UV Moisturizing Lotion for sensitive skin I found this Amazon deal for a 2 pack!

Product photograph is the copyright of Target Corporation.

Joycey Couture provides her Bionic thoughts on Azur's natural sunscreen products!

Whether you live in the Pacific Northwest, the Midwest or even the West coast of Florida, we all have one thing in common, and yes, we all know, it’s not our weather. However, it is closely related. It’s the sun!

Now, I know everyone has heard the media ramble on and on (and on…) about the sun’s harmful rays. But, have you ever wondered- what about the sunscreen?
Safety tests are constantly being done of course, however according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the common sunscreen brands we all use and love may actually contain chemicals that may interfere with the body’s normal hormone levels and disrupt the body’s ability to repair itself.
Scary, I know!

Want an au naturale alternative? One that isn’t too gloppy, too thick or too yucky, or blah smelly to use on a regular basis? Look to Azur Skin. Azur’s Advanced Pro-Cellular Sunscreen is perfect for any climate and any age; and the first cosmetically acceptable product line that is free these “so called” harmful ingredients. All this SPF goodness is brought to you by A.I. Specialty Healthcare Ltd.

The product I tested was Azur’s Face & Body Sunscreen in SPF 30. It went on smooth and rubbed in easily. And a nice bonus… you can apply this lotion while lying on the sandy shore line! No 30 minutes before sun exposure rule here! Since Azur’s sunscreens are “physical” sunblocks, they do not need the half-hour of time that a “chemical” sunscreen requires to react with your skin and absorb.

Ultimately, I found this to be a perfect product for individuals and families. It’s completely hypoallergenic, naturally tearless, and also dermatologist tested. I had no burning, skin irritation, white-skin effect, or any other negative reactions. And even though it’s a bit more expensive than your drugstore sunblock, it’s not a bad buy for this earth friendly, non-toxic, synthetic-free, and non-endocrine disrupting sunscreen. Azur’s SPF 30 Sunscreen runs $22.99 for a 4 fl oz tube; or get a 3-pack for $62.49.
Check it out. I must say, you will not be disappointed.

Azur Sunscreen Highlights-

• Advanced Pro-cellular Sunscreen with SPF 30 (an SPF 40 option is also available if you want a higher rating)
• Safe, and tailored, for both face & body
• Active ingredients: Titanium Dioxide 6.3%, Zinc Oxide 3.2%
• Retains SPF for at least 80 minutes (however, you should still reapply any sunscreen after heavy sweating, showering, swimming, etc.)

~Joyce Couture

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.

Last week I introduced you to the L’uvalla Organic Skin Care brand by reviewing their Balancing System. For ladies looking for help battling the signs of aging skin, I also tested their Age-Defying System.

During my review period, I found the L’uvalla Age-Defying System to be as incredibly gentle as their Balancing System. And that’s saying quite a bit since many anti-aging products can really create a flare up for sensitive skin types

Bionic Bronnie reviews the L'uvalla Organic "Age Defying" skincare regimen.

The Age Defying System

The Cleanser: A milky hydrating cleanser that gently removes makeup and pollution from our environment without drying the skin. The active ingredients also help will skin cell sloughing, which in turn encourages new cell growth. The end result is clean, smooth and hydrated skin. This face wash also has strong aromatherapy properties using Lavendin Oil to quiet the mind, lift mood, balance mood swings, and encourage restful sleep. Other standout ingredients include: Sunflower Seed Oil, Betaine, Hazel Seed Oil, Lotus Flower, Orange Peel, Meadowsweet Extract and Ginseng Root. The Hydrating Milk Cleanser comes in a 7 ounce plastic flip-top bottle.

Eucalyptus Toner: This toner utilizes Eucalyptus Leaf Extract to renovate and purify skin. The Eucalyptus Leaf Extract combined with Yarrow Oil work together for strong aromatherapy benefits to invigorate, soothe, and can assist you through major life changes such as menopause. Additional toner ingredients include: Maris Salt Extract, Sage Oil, Niaouli Leaf Oil and White Lotus.  This toner was by far my favorite of the two from L’uvalla. It feels wonderful on my skin! Like the toner in the Balancing System, the Eucalyptus toner is also pH balanced and it really helped clear up the splotches on my face. I used a cotton pad for application, but since it’s pourable you could use your fingers, a sponge, or anything in between. Just be sure to keep them in the glass bottles- glass is inert and won’t react with anything packaged in it. I truly appreciate the incredible amount of thought L’uvalla put into each ingredient in this toner… everything in it has a documented purpose.  Packaged in a 6.7 ounce cobalt-blue glass bottle.

Regenerating Age-Defying Day/Night Cream: Designed to nourish and hydrate aging skin.  The essential aromatic oils are Rosewood and Thyme- known to balance the mind and body, strengthen nerves, aid in concentration and combat exhaustion.  The ingredient list for this face cream is long, but a few of the highlights include Argan Oil, Hazel Seed, Palm Kernel, Castor Seed, Rosewood, Rose Geranium Flower, Wheat Germ Oil, Cypress, Thyme, Chlorophyllin-Magnesium and Bitter Orange. This lotion is a real workhorse with intensive moisture (great for winter, dry climates, or normal to dry skin types) and can improve skin texture, smooth fine lines, and reduce puffiness.

Is this face cream effective as an anti-aging skin regimen? In my opinion, I feel that long term use may help reduce signs of aging including fine lines, dull skin, puffiness, etceteras. But even the face cream on its own is deeply nourishing and packed with so many wonderful natural ingredients!  My favorite skin care products typically don’t have a list of additives and L’uvalla certainly fits that bill.

Here’s a helpful tip I picked up while testing the L’uvalla products- the company suggested mixing the two moisturizers/cream in a half and half ratio. It worked great for my combination skin. You could alter the mix to your own custom needs depending if you want more anti-aging benefits, specific moisture levels, and so on. The L’uvalla customer service was fabulously helpful in getting my ratio right.

Other L’uvalla Products
The dual-use Eye and Lip Cream is similar to the Day/Night Creams in L’uvalla’s regimens, except it’s a bit more concentrated. With an SPF of 20, it’s perfect for day use; then just use your Day/Night Cream at night.  Due to my sensitive skin, I usually have a hard time finding a sunscreen that doesn’t irritate my face. L’uvallas Eye/Lip Cream didn’t cause any burning… I didn’t know that was possible! It works as a physical-barrier sunscreen (which are effective immediately and block all the sun’s harmful rays; as opposed to chemical sunscreens which take around 30 minutes to work and must be absorbed by the skin… hence the occasional burning.) against UVA and UVB rays. I love it!

In summary, the entire L’uvalla Skin Care product line is a wonderful skin regimen. It works well with other products. In my opinion, you just can’t go wrong if you have some L’uvalla in the bathroom! Don’t forget Bionic Beauty readers can enter coupon code BIONIC25 at checkout to get 25% off your entire purchase (valid until December 22, 2009) ~and~ later this week check back for L’uvalla Skin Care giveaway!

The L’uvalla Age-Defying skincare regimen runs $109.22 and it should last you about 3 months.

~Bionic Bronnie

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.

Just a few days ago, I introduced you to Lexli Skincare through my glowing review. Well, since it’s one of my favorites- Bionic Beauty is holding a giveaway!  This is your chance to win a 5 piece Lexli Skin Care Starter Kit!

The Starter Kit contains enough product for 30 days of use… giving you ample time to try out all the goodies on your skin!
Here’s the Lexli Kit breakdown:

• Aloe-Based Cleansing Lotion (2 oz)
• Aloe-Based AloeGlyC® Renewing Exfoliant (0.50 oz)
• Aloe-Based Day Moisturizer with SPF 15 for Normal to Dry Skin (0.50 oz)
• Aloe-Based Tone and Balance (2 oz)
• Aloe-Based Night Moisturizer (0.5 oz)

In order to win…

Visit Lexli’s website and then leave a comment below with at least one (1) fact about Aloe Vera, which is a main ingredient in Lexli. You’ll find all the information you need on Lexli’s site, I promise!

The Rules: One (1) winner will be chosen randomly from the qualified entrants and will receive their suggested fragrance from Lexli Starter Skincare Kit as detailed above. Retail value is $80! To qualify for entry, you must follow the entry rules as outlined in this post. This giveaway is open to all residents of USA and Canada. Please enter only once; duplicate entries will be detected and discarded. Entry deadline is October 10th, 2009 at midnight USA ET. The winner will be chosen via Random.org and will be announced here on Bionic Beauty and contacted via email. *Please note that I will never share your email address with anyone! I only use your email address to contact you if you are a winner. However, if you do not enter a valid email address, you will be disqualified. Please do not post your email in the comment itself… *just* in the email box (for your own safety).

Don’t forget to sign up for the Bionic Beauty blog newsletter (or you can subscribe in your favorite RSS reader) so that you can keep up with the product reviews, beauty and makeup samples and giveaways offered here.

Good luck Bionic Beauties!!

I recently got the chance to try Lexli Skincare – a brand new to me. So while you may not have heard of them before, Lexli is making waves! They were recently in the Emmy Awards Style Lounge and are getting rave reviews in magazines and online.

Their skin care team even has a certified esthetician on staff to help you decide the best regimen for you. Since I am combination oily/dry skin, super-sensitive, and can be prone to sun damage (since I’m fair and have melasma flareups), my recommended routine was: Aloe-based Cleansing Lotion and Aloe-based Day Moisturizer with SPF 15 (for normal to dry skin) for morning; Aloe-based Cleansing Lotion, followed by the AloeGlyC Renewing Exfoliant, then the Aloe-based Night Moisturizer for evening.

Bionic Beauty reviews Lexli Skin Care

I love their simple approach. You pick a 4 step regimen that’s right for your skin and goals- and you’re done.
Here’s one of my favorite examples of skin care simplicity from their site:

“Dr. Abdullah – Do you think eye creams are necessary?
No. Eye creams are marketing ploys for you to buy multiple bottles of product. The eyelid skin is the same as the skin on your cheeks. Skin around the eyes should be treated like the rest of the skin on the face. However, be sure to avoid getting any product into your eye.

As the loyal Bionic Beauty readers know, I’m very picky in my skin care. I have uber-sensitive skin and want something that’s going to improve the look, feel, texture. I’m not just looking for maintenance. I look for the stand-out: the bright red dress in a sea of black. And Lexli was just that- a stand out. My pores were smaller, skin firmer and my breakouts cleared! My thin under-eye skin also plumped up rather quickly which helped hide my under eye darkness. Overall, I was able to just get away with a bit of concealer and my normal eye makeup after about two weeks!

I also love the fact that all Lexli Skincare products use Aloe as their main ingredient, instead of water. Your skin absorbs aloe much easier than it does water- hence, more moisture benefits and better delivery of the active ingredients!

The Lexli Cleansing Lotion ($24 for a 4 ounce pump bottle) is my new favorite face wash. It’s just amazing- no dryness, but clears my pores, removes my makeup, and the contaminants of the day. I love it!

Aloe-based Day Moisturizer with SPF 15 (for normal to dry skin), $58 for a 4oz pump bottle. This is one of the few SPF/sunscreen lotions that I can use daily. It doesn’t break me out, and it’s not greasy so my makeup doesn’t slip off!

The AloeGlyC Renewing Exfoliant is a bit pricey ($118 for a 1 ounce jar), but you only need a dab. Please don’t overuse it. The jar will last you a LONG time. At least 6 months in my estimation. I’ve hardly put a dent in mine.

Lexli’s Aloe-based Night Moisturizer ($46 for 1.6 oz jar) is another product that you only need a tiny amount for your entire face. I dip my pinky in and then dot it around my face and blend in. It does the moisture job perfectly, but doesn’t feel heavy – my skin can still breathe.

You can check out all the rest of their products (even sorted by skin type) at Lexli.com. Lexli Skin Care is definitely a Bionic Buy! And they have a complete money back guarantee! You can’t ask for more than that, right?

**Stay tuned… because this weekend, you’re going to have a chance to win a Lexli Starter Kit!!