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Thursday, December 20, 2012

TOPBOX: December 2012

my Topbox arrived in Calgary last Thursday but Canada Post decided to hold it hostage until Tuesday. still, it was the first (and only) subscription box i have received this month.
when i got my hands on it, i didn't tear into it immediately... i had already read some comments about it on Facebook and let's just say, i was less than excited to see what was inside...
even though the festive packaging on the outside is so deceiving...

December's list of disappointment (Box 36) includes:

1) Chloe Eau de Parfum - Topbox, Topbox, Topbox... another fragrance, another Chloe. this time though, it's not a lotion. it's the kind where you have to dab the perfume on... and it smells way too strongly of flowers for me. i disliked the other Chloe lotion and placed it in the box to swap or give away. i think ever since Topbox started to include fragrances in their box, things have really gone downhill. i must remember to say i am sensitive to fragrances on the next survey...
size: 5 mL
retail value: $90 (50 mL); $115 (75 mL)

2) Ferro Cosmetics Blush X3 in "Miss Priss" - before opening the lid, you can tell the jar is only half full. once you open the lid... you will probably lose another third. it is the messiest product i have ever opened!! or closed! it really needs a sifter. "Miss Priss" is looks like a shimmery nude color so i don't really see how it would be a blush. on the site, it says that it is their "sexiest color yet" and it's a "warm kiss of pink with a quiet peachy afterglow".

both the pictures on the both were taken with flash to show you the color and shimmer better. also, you can see how opening and closing the lid is such a messy process. even the swatches on my arm were just taken from the product that had spilled all over. i don't really see any pink or peach in this shade. looks much more like a bronzer than a blush to me!
if you are interested in purchasing from the Ferro Cosmetics website, shipping to Canada is a steep $20! but i heard that Topbox will be selling some of their products through their site soon enough.

size: N/A but very little
retail value: $17 (4 g)

3) Goldwell Jelly Boost Bodyfying Spray Gel - bodyfying... that's a new one. so on the bottle itself, Goldwell says this product helps to style short hair. however, on the Topbox card, Topbox says it can be used on short or long hair styles. is this just to trick us long-haired folk in believing that this product is right for us?

this is the first time i've ever seen a gel dispensed as a spray. it smells Heads & Shoulders and does not leave your hair feeling crunchy at all. i tried to use quite a bit of it to make up for my hair length but i saw no difference.
size: 30 mL
retail value: $18.95 (150 mL)

4) Murad AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser - i haven't tried any Murad products and i just ran out of my philosophy one (also from Topbox) so great timing!
i had no idea what AHA and BHA referred to so i did a little search and it led me to this Paula's Choice site: AHA stands for alpha hydroxy acid; an example of an AHA is glycolic acid. BHA stands for beta hydroxy acid and an example of this is salicylic acid. both AHA and BHA are exfoliants but differ in terms of which types of skin they are best suited for. AHA exfoliants are better for dry skin while BHAs are recommended for oily skin. head over to the website for more info!
this Murad cleanser had tiny little balls in it - much gentler than a scrub. there was a slight scent to it but nothing unnatural.
size: 30 mL
retail value: $35 (200 mL)


so yep. that's it. i know it may have been a little greedy on my part to expect more during the month of Christmas but it has even fallen short of my normal standards. i hate to say it but Topbox has really fallen from the top.
i understand that they are announcing a "Privé Box" which will feature one brand specifically. everyone will be getting this particular box in January (which will replace the regular one) and then after that, there will be times when you can request one or the other. my question is whether or not we will have any idea what kind of brand will be featured before receiving the box.
after opening this month's box, i pretty much forgot about it.

- - - - -

maybe it's because i also just came back from seeing "The Hobbit".
** spoiler alert ** so a little 'review' on the movie: every time they played a familiar Howard Shore track, i was lost in it. or when the scene pans over Rivendell, i felt all gleeful inside BUT overall, it was a "good" movie. it's just that whenever the group got into a sticky situation, Gandalf would suddenly show up in the nick of time to save the day (he was always gone off somewhere else before this). it just felt like it was too easy... does this stay true to the book though? i read it ages ago and can't quite remember.
but on another note, YAY for being able to dive into J. R. R. Tolkien's and Peter Jackson's works again. it looked amazing (and i only watched it in 2D - i was going to watch it in HFR but i heard people got nauseous... i rather enjoy the movie than get sick from it... maybe HFR on a second viewing?).

and and and, totally swooning here - King Thranduil <3!!
Source: AceShowbiz.com (2012)

we only got a glimpse of him in this movie but it's LEE PACE - who has been my laptop background for who knows how long. plus, he plays Legolas' father. everyone knows how obsessed i was with Legolas/Orlando Bloom so this is completely fitting!! :)
Source: Fanpop, Inc. (2012)
a sexy brief introduction to Lee Pace:
Source: /Film (2011)
Source: Listal.com (2012)

okay so that completes my Topbox/Lee Pace post! haha
Topbox is having another Pari Beauty giveaway and it ends Christmas Day - enter here.
what did you think of your Topbox? or better yet, about "The Hobbit"??

26 comments:

  1. Hi Helen! Oh i'm sorry to hear that you weren't too happy with your box :( I guess with these boxes, it's pretty much a lucky draw thing sometimes :( I hope the next one will be better for you!

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    1. hi mandy :) yeah i wasn't too excited about this one... here's hoping for a Topbox comeback in the new year!

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  2. I neeeeeed to see the Hobbit!

    Jealous of that Murad cleanser...I've loved everything I've tried by Murad! I've loved the Ferro shadows I've tried, but that blush is kind of an odd color. Sorry you got a disappointing box this month!

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    1. you do neeeeeeed to see the Hobbit!
      thanks for letting me know your feelings about Murad. i haven't tried anything from them!
      as for Ferro, i've received a veil prior to this but haven't tried their eyeshadows. the blush is very non-blush like haha

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  3. lovely!

    theistyleblog.blogspot.com

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  4. A bit of a disappointment - I still haven't received my Topbox, but from the looks of the spoilers, I pretty much know what I'm going to get.

    I had a spray gel once from Garnier. It was really good when I wanted my hair to be curly, but otherwise I didn't find it to be very versatile.

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    1. ahh i hope you don't end up with the same things as i did. the cleanser was really the best part of it for me.
      i wish i could use a spray gel to get my hair to be curly or even wavy! straight is quite boring sometimes :P

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  5. with loose powder i usually top the lid and the sides so it can go all down then open it :)

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    1. i tried that too but a lot of it was already stuck in between :/ maybe i'll be a little more aggressive with it haha

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  6. That's a shame your box was pretty lackluster :( I really wanted a Topbox when they first came out but am glad I never ordered one.

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    1. wow you definitely have some willpower! there are SO many people that braved the oh so many months waiting list...

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  7. I don't know what's going on with my topbox, I still haven't received it until now and yet I live in Brampton, a city away from Mississauga. The excitement kinda died down especially with the disappointing reviews this month

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    1. yeah i know what you mean... CP is really strange this month! my ipsy has been stuck in Mississauga forever.
      my Glymm wasn't supposed to be delivered til the 27th but i got it yesterday...
      i hope you get a better box than i!

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  8. I too was mega disappointed with my Topbox. It's ever since they took all of those ppl off the wait-list...I think Topbox bit off more than they could chew.

    AHHH, Hobbit!!! I can't wait!

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    1. it definitely seems like that was the case! and then they couldn't get enough samples from companies so they had to settle for free fragrance samples.. bah!

      and when are you watching the hobbit!! :)

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  9. great products!
    have a great weekend <3
    enjoy <3
    xxxx love

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  10. I was disappointed with my TopBox too. I mean I'll try the hair products out, but I think I'm gonna give my Kellet samples to my sister.

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  11. I wasn't too excited either...but it's so hard to quit when you waited so long... SIGGGGGH what to do, what to do?

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    1. i know!! the waitlist is still a few months long which makes it harder to make a decision whether to keep the subscription or drop it

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  12. i too was very disappointed with topbox this month. it used to be my favourite subscription service but now it's on the chopping block... i think i may cancel in early 2013 pending what the prive box in january brings...

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    1. it used to be my fav too! i didn't know it was going to come to this but i am going to reevaluate my subscription next year :/

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  13. It's a shame this box wasn't what you expected :( I haven't seen the Hobbit yet but I want to see it soon!
    x

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    1. :) yay! just so you know it is going to be a trilogy!! apparently a few of my friends didn't know that so they were disappointed at the end of the movie hahaha

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  14. I almost forgot this was about the box, I was so immersed with your bit on The Hobbit! I watched it midnight premiere and as a huge Tolkien fan I was very excited to see the movie. The whole bit on Gandalf is from the book as he is always disappearing and coming to the rescue. I feel like it was better done in the book than in the movie though. They kind of messed up with the order of events in the movie, but they did a good job in trying to tie in all the aspects of Tolkien's lore. Overall I really enjoyed it! I will definitely be watching the other two movies!

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    1. hahaha nancy! i couldn't help but throw in some elf pictures in this post!
      thanks for refreshing my memory of the book - i should reread it! i'm definitely watching the other two movies! i can't wait!

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thank you for reading! i appreciate your feedback and i read them all!
have a fantastic day :)

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