TOPBOX: August 2012

yes yes i know it is September 1st but i have fallen a bit behind my beauty box posts since i left for LA. plus Topbox shipped slightly later than usual last month.
AHHH SEPTEMBER! this month has come too soon. boo :(

so i am going to get straight into this one since i'm sure you've read plenty of unboxing posts by now. August`s Topbox was jammed pack with stuff - when i took it all out, i was amazed how it all fit in that tube.

August's samples included:

1) Chloé L'Eau de Chloé Perfumed Body Lotion - super cute packaging!! although it doesn't really help with getting the lotion out of the bottle... the scent is a nice floral but if i put on too much, it will give me a headache. i never find perfumed body lotions very moisturizing and this one isn't any different since their main purpose is to leave a scent on your skin. such body lotion can be used to accentuate the scent of a perfume and make the scent last longer when you wear them together.
size: 30 mL
retail value: $60 (200 mL)

2) Kellett Skincare Moisturizing Gel - the semi-transparent gel feels very lightweight against your skin. i can detect the slightest hint of a scent to this. the bottle is silver and very sleek. it is quite an expensive product though! this sample alone is worth $9.50.
size: 10 mL
retail value: $95 (50 mL)

3) Marc Jacobs Dot Marc Jacobs Eau de Parfum - ahhh even cuter!! so much detail went into this ladybug bottle. are perfume samples usually this adorable? and it also smells good! floral but citrus-y. i don't think i love it enough to add it to my collection though. this sample is not a spray; you can only dab it on.

my sister owns Daisy by Marc Jacobs and i thought i'd compare the two bottles:

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

4) Expression Round Crease Brush - this is the second Expression brush that Topbox has sent out. like the previous one, the bristles are very soft. like its' name, it works really well on the crease. my eyeshadow went on pigmented and i didn't have any fallout - this also depends on the quality of the eyeshadow itself though.
size: 1 brush (full size!)
retail value: $16

5) *bonus* Pink Wipes - i had an idea of what this was for but nothing on the packet tells you specifically, it just  says "wipe desired area". but the Topbox card is a little more helpful, calling it a "feminine wipe". guess it can be handy for summer!
size: 1 wipe
retail value: $12 (15 wipes)

6) *bonus* Nexxus Therappe Luxurious Hydrating Shampoo & Humectress Ultimate Hydrating Conditioner -  just in case you were wondering, they are both part of the signature line and are intended to be used together (in case you were slightly confused about the words Therappe and Humectress like i was). both of these hair products smell good - the Therappe shampoo smells like coconuts while the Humectress conditioner smells like spring flowers. both are generous sizes of hair samples. i felt that it made my hair nice and soft but nothing extraordinary just yet.
size: 89 mL each
retail value: $9.99 (400 mL) each according to well.ca (shampoo)

so i liked August's Topbox but i didn't absolutely love it. the items are all great sample sizes which Topbox never fails to provide - especially in terms of perfume and shampoo/conditioner samples. i'm glad i got this post out of the way since Topbox should start shipping September's box in a little over a week!

TOPBOX: May 2012

what can i say ... Topbox is always on top of things, wouldn't you agree? it's funny because this month was the first month that i've ever gotten a shipping notification from Glymm BEFORE Topbox, but it turns out Canada Post only received shipping info from Glymm but didn't actually get the item until 3 days later.
and so that is how Topbox landed in my lap yesterday and Glymm is still stuck in Montreal.
Topbox is one of my favorite ones to open - i'm sure the long waiting list speaks for itself.
this month was no different as you can see from these samples found inside:

1) Deborah Lippmann in "Whatever Lola Wants" - i saw a sneak peek on Topbox's Facebook page and this was the first item i pulled out of the box. it was wrapped in purple tissue because, well, it's Deborah Lippmann nail polish!! i can never afford these! i was totally bummed when i signed up too late to get the November box last year since people received "An Enchanted Evening" - it's soooo pretty.
the sheer pink and the glitter in "Whatever Lola Wants"sorta reminds me of last month's Essie nail polish from Loose Button (Pink-a-Boo) but this one is less of a baby pink and has a pearly sheen to it.

once applied though, the pinkness hardly shows at all:

as you can see, the more coats you do, the more sparkly it gets; it also seems to look "frostier". but you aren't really building on the pink color at all. the polish itself dries super quickly.

-- update May 20/12 -- still wearing it and it looks exactly the same! no chips at all and i didn't even use a top coat! --

personally, i would have preferred another color but i haven't found anyone else who has received a different shade. i checked the Deborah Lippmann website since the card said that she collaborated with many celebrities to create nail polishes. "Whatever Lola Wants" was created with Kelly Ripa (she came by Banff recently!). it actually says her name on the bottom of the polish too.
size: 15 mL (full-size!)
retail value: $20

2) Cover FX ClearPrep FX Matte Foundation Primer & Anti-Acne Treatment Gel - anti-acne? i'm down! this is perfect timing as i have had 2 zits pop up on my face two days ago. one of them is sitting right on top of the apple of my cheeks, just wanting to get noticed. no amount of green concealer could hide it. :(
i am also very happy that this is an "anti-acne" product rather than an "anti-aging" one or something that wasn't customized for my skin. hooray for Topbox and their ability to read customer responses (many companies lack in this area). i used it today and the clear gel is unscented. i will continue to use this to test its anti-acne properties.
size: 7 mL
retail value: $39 (30 mL)

3) Orlane Anagenèse 25+ First Time-Fighting Care Eye Contour - the name sounds fancy. and i am a few months short of being 25... the info on the back appears to suggest the following equation: reaching 25 = fine lines. i knew turning 25 meant becoming a quarter of a century, but i am not ready for no fine lines!
anyhow, as you may recall, we received an Orlane product last month from Loose Button, and similarly, the box may look like a decent size, but the sample is actually much smaller due to a larger pamphlet with instructions and etc etc in 56 languages (do not quote me on this). this product is unscented and has a milky formula.
size: 2 mL
retail value: $75 (15 mL) ... ouch!

4) Expression Bronzing Powder Brush - i remember being asked a question regarding makeup brushes in Topbox's last survey... something like which brushes i used the most often? i think i selected all of the above. did anyone else get a different brush?
this is actually pretty cool - first time i received a makeup brush in one of these beauty subscription boxes. it's a pretty big one too! i've never payed more than $20 for a brush before and i can feel the difference! it is the softest brush that has ever touched my face.
size: full size!
retail value: $25

there are a couple of promotions that came along with this Topbox:
from May 10 - 24, you can get an 8-peice brush set for $49 ($130 value) on the Topbox site
from May 15 - June 15, bring in the invitation to receive a free Deborah Lippmann nail file at Holt Renfrew

-- update May 20/12 -- i dropped by Holt Renfrew today after grabbing breakfast with my dad downtown. it was nearby and i was going to do some shopping anyway so i went to the Core shopping center. it is a very normal nail file - it's just made from recycled paper, but i couldn't tell the difference. it's not an item i would go out of my way to get. the lady opened up a new package of nail files for me so they are not running out anytime soon. --

and if you haven't done so already, win a Pari Beauty gift set from Topbox on Facebook here (open until the 20th).

so Topbox has not disappointed me yet! they have been the most professional beauty subscription company - responds to emails quickly, delivers on time, least amount of problems with samples/customer service and the list goes on! i am very impressed with them and will be sticking around for a long time :)

-- update May 22/12 -- new Cover FX Giveaway from Topbox! enter here until May 31. --