TOPBOX: January 2014

i went to another concert!! this has been a great year for concerts!! just recently i went to see SHANIA TWAIN! i heard she hadn't performed on a concert stage for over a decade... which is just crazy. her tickets were also crazy... crazy expensive! but i got a great last minute deal and was able to get pretty decent seats. she had back to back concerts at the Calgary Stampede since the first one sold out so quickly. i was definitely kicking myself when i missed the ticket release of both shows... blergghh... but i made sure i got tickets in the end.

here's her performance of one of my favorite songs of hers - From This Moment On

now back to a quick look at the last January box i have to review... after this... i am skipping to July boxes!!! i have accepted defeat.

January Topbox.
one word for this box: lame.
lame lame lame lame.

especially lame box to start off the year.

1) Aveda : Stress-Fix Body Lotion
size: 25 mL
retail value: $32.50 (200 mL)

yuck - stress-relieving or easy-sleeping lotions always throw me off because they never smell 'calming' or 'relaxing' to me. this particular scent smells like a spice to me... with some dirt thrown in. not good at all.

2) Miracle 10 : Solution II Extra Strength Clarifying Solution
size: 30 mL
retail value: $44 (120 mL)

i haven't used toners forever... forever as in since the time i was using the whole Pro-activ system for my pimples in junior high/high school. which is actually ages ago (almost time for a 10 year reunion!).
i did not forget the slight sting when i use toners... or how it burns my eyes a little when i use it too close to my eyes. it does make my skin feel a tad bit cleaner in a sense. as if all the bacteria are burning off of my face or something... haha

3) Elizabeth Arden : Prevage Anti-Aging + Intensive Repair Eye Serum
size: 3 mL
retail value: $275 (30 mL)

yeeeeesh. it is always the case with these super expensive samples: they are always itty bitty like this which is never enough to convince me to shell over almost $300.

4) Benefit : Benetint
size: 2.5 mL
retail value: $36 (12.5 mL) 

i already own one of these from last year's Topbox celebrating the same occasion - Chinese New Year. it's handy when you are carrying a small purse and would like to touch up later in the night. i find that it works better as a stain on the cheeks rather than the lips. please read post here.

and here it all is!
nothing to be excited about.

i hope you are happy to know the next box i review will be a JULY one. oh goodie. something relevant! :P
glad to get this final January post in and out of the way on my 27th birthday! now to start anew!

TOPBOX: March 2013 [regular]

it's just my luck, it happens all the time.
does it have to be this way for me?

hell yeah, cause it's just my luck.

anyone else remember the Canadian group V.I.P.? lol i think they came out with 2 songs in the 90s. i love 90s music!!

but you know what i don't love?
this month's Topbox.

my spirits were dampened when Topbox emailed me after my box has shipped that one of the items i was supposed to get (Chloe perfume) was replaced with a "VWL" - which someone else pointed out could only be Vera Wang, another perfume sample.
i went with a regular box after given the choices of an Aveda, Pure+simple, Lippy Girl and Jurlique (upgrade) Topbox. i wasn't really excited about these options and figured that since last month's regular box was such a hit - Deborah Lippmann, MUFE...

but of course, this month's regular box was nowhere near as awesome.

1) Aveda Caribbean Therapy Body Creme - i already heard complaints about the scent of this before even receiving the box. it sounds like it would smell good - Caribbean mango, cocoa butter and warm island aromas. my sister says it smells like a pile of dying leaves mixed with some bug spray.
the creme says that was 'people-tested'... i wonder if these people had noses.

it does work in terms of moisturization but i'd probably apply it at night and on my legs so that it is furthest from my nose. haha ok it is really NOT that bad. but it isn't something i'd slather on.

size: 25 mL
retail value: $42 (200 mL)

2) L'Oréal Professionnel Mythic Oil - i actually have a full size of this... waiting patiently for me to crack open since Christmas. there was so much talk about this product online that once i found it on sale, i had to have it. so i really have no idea why i haven't used it yet! it feels great on my ends - it makes my hair smoother and less frizzy - and smells great at the same time!

check out Topbox's Mythic Oil giveaway here :)

size: N/A but 2 vials
retail value: $26 (125 mL)

3) MaskerAide Hydrating Facial Sheet Mask in "I Don't Wanna Grow Up" - another MaskerAide mask! but it is different from the other two i have received from Topbox and BB5. the name of it is exactly what i feel. i have my first "big girl" job now which is going great but there's all these other responsibilities and demands. oh shucks.

size: 1 mask @ 23 g (full size!)
retail value: $4.99

4) Vera Wang Lovestruck Floral Rush - i received Vera Wang Lovestruck exactly one year ago in the exact same size from LB. this March, i got the Floral Rush version which is a stronger scent than the other. the Lovestruck Floral Rush one also smells like fresh, fragrant flowers and has a younger feel while Lovestruck is softer and less-in-your-face. i personally prefer the Lovestruck one; what about you?

size: 4 mL
retail value: $79 (50 mL); $105 (100 mL)

- - - - -

so that's that for March's Topbox! i don't know if i prefer the surprise of a regular Topbox or knowing exactly what i am getting in a branded Topbox... agh! guess we will have to see for April. sneak peeks have already been released!
what kind of risk-taker are you?

TOPBOX: October 2012

got my Topbox on the 15th - i didn't think it was that long of a wait but judging from many of the Facebook comments, it seemed that some people were waiting forever or something.

let's see how long i waited:

2027! that's almost 15 years! if anything, i should be the one complaining on Facebook.

i really don't know what they are processing in 2027 since i have the actual box in my hands... haha all kidding aside, this month's box (version 6) was okay - like last month, it's alright if you compare it to other boxes but it's a little underwhelming if you compare it to earlier Topboxes. 

October's beauty items:

1) Aveda Invati Exfoliating Shampoo & Thickening Conditioner - i can already smell it when i take it out of the box; smells like some kind of spice (not very pleasant). i do not have thinning hair so this product is really not for me. i am going to pass it off to my boyfriend though who is concerned about his receding hairline... i hope that was OK for me to share. he sometimes skims through my blog but i hope he doesn't read that part.

the box came with an offer for a complimentary Invati botanical therapy hair treatment with a hair cut or shampoo style...  i actually got my hair cut recently at the ABA Show so i won't be needing another one soon.  in Calgary, this offer is accepted at Diva Salonspa and Redbloom (haircuts start at $30 if you wanted it to be done by a student).

size: 10 mL each x 2

retail value: $27 (200 mL) 

2) MaskerAide Hydrating Facial Sheet Mask in "All Nighter" - i have heard fabulous things about this Canadian company: it's hydrating, eco-friendly, natural and it works. but the price is a bit of a turn-off though. especially since it says on the back to use once per week.
and speaking of the name "All Nighter" - the only time i've ever pulled an all nighter was not even for homework or deadlines... it was for video games - a really really long 50 rounds of Mario Party. 

size: 1 mask - 23 g (full size!)

retail value: $4.99

3) Stila Eyeshadow Palette in "In the Garden" - there are two other versions of the eyeshadow palette sample available: "In the Moment" (purple cover) and "In the Light" (gold cover). 

the colors in "In the Garden" are absolutely gorgeous but i am not sure if i can use this enough to warrant its' label as a "deluxe" sample. the card also has instructions on how to create two different looks. 

some swatches:

i'd have to say some are pigmented and some not so much. the colors seem to be more intense on the right side. they are all very shimmery though. i tried to use as little as i could since i didn't think there was much to begin with. in the end, i seemed to take off just a bit off the edges:

size:  N/A - sample card

retail value: $50 (14 g)

4) Stila Prime Pot in "Taffy" - i am always excited to try new eyeshadow primers and this is a decent size. i used it today and it works wonderfully.

size: 2 g

retail value: $26 (3.3 mL)

so no wow factor in this Topbox but it's okay. i hear a lot of new subscribers already unsubscribing but i think they haven't given Topbox a fair chance. i know Topbox took on new subscribers this month so i hope that a greater number of subscriptions does not affect the quality of the Topbox.
how do you guys feel about your Topboxes?