IPSY BAG : January 2014

January 2014 - 19 Reasons
i've finally made it to the 2014 subscriptions... aww yeah! i want to squeeze in another post before i leave for Philadelphia on wednesday though. i'm heading down to my friend's graduation and we will be visiting New York and Pittsburgh as well. it's all very exciting to me because i haven't been to many places in the states.

alsoooooo i went to my third (i think) BSB concert on friday and it was amazing (AHHH NICK CARTER)! it was awesome to see all 5 of them back together. they thanked the fans for being there for 21 years... 21 years!! that's crazy that it has been that long. i was super happy that they played a lot of their old hits. i also know some of their new ones since i had a BSB only playlist at work for the last 3 days in preparation :)

anyway, my phone died after the concert which made me kick myself the rest of the night because a friend convinced me to head to the after party and this was the closest i have ever been to them!! i could see the sweat on their foreheads! i touched AJ and Howie's hands!! i got Howie's autograph!!!

eeeeeeeee! i was in awe for sure! it was like an estrogen-fuelled mosh pit but it was worth it. Howie was super cool cause he was taking selfies with people's phones and signing autographs. yay!! i am very glad i went even though i felt super old at the club later. super old. a boy who actually looked 16 kept trying to hold my hand and dance with me and i was like 'i am pretty sure i am like 10 years older than you'! the club scene is veryyy strange to me now. 

anyway, back to ipsy! ipsy's 19 Reasons bag is referring to the 19 brands they worked with in January.  they also want you to find a reason why 2014 will be amazing. i'm already enjoying 2014 quite a bit and my upcoming trips to Philly/New York/Pittsburgh and then Orlando in the summer will be fantastic, i'm sure. plus, i just went to the Backstreet Boys and will be going to see John Legend next month. swoon!

1) Benefit : the Porefessional
Quickly minimize the appearance of pores & fine lines for smoother-than-smooth skin! Apply this silky, lightweight balm alone, under or over makeup. Translucent, oil-free formula complements all skintones and helps makeup stay put. Contains a Vitamin E derivative, known to protect skin from free radicals.
size: 3 mL
retail value: $31 (22 mL)
promotion: free gift with online purchase // expired Feb 15, 2014 

this makes it three! three times i've found this in a beauty bag. the other 2 times were from Topbox - April 2012 and February 2013. guess i won't be running out anytime soon and i still enjoy how smooth it makes my skin feel.

2)  (MALIN+GOETZ) : Mojito Lip Balm
The (MALIN+GOETZ) Mojito Lip Balm is as soothing to the lips as it is to the senses. Flavored with (MALIN+GOETZ) Mojito, this lip balm is scientifically blended to restore and replenish. The hydrating lip gel easily integrates for daily maintenance, prevention and treatment of dry, irritated lips. Color and Paraben free.

size: 10 g [full size]

retail value: $12

mojitos hey? that's a new flavor of lip balm for me. i am trying to rely less on lip balm cause i feel like my lips have to recover on their own from the winter but i might see if my boyfriend would use this. it looks plain enough right? i just don't know how he would feel about the gel texture...

3) Balanced Guru : Balm Me Up Organic Sweet Cocoa & Tangy Body Balm

Treat your whole body with a smooth and buttery body balm. Enriched with healthy butters and an invigorating blend of essential oils that will wake up your senses and moisturize your skin without leaving it greasy or tacky. Make sure you work it well into elbows, knees and even your feet, they'll thank you later!

size: 30 mL [trial size - $12]

retail value: $45 (120 mL)
promotion: 20% off online purchase // expired Feb 28, 2014 // US only

this body balm claims to moisturize your skin without leaving it greasy but i find that this is really difficult especially if the product contains so many different butters and oils. my experience with this body balm is that it leaves a shiny look/greasy feeling after application but over time, this will fade but the moisture remains.

4) Absolute! : Make-up Cleansing Tissues with 'Cucumber Extract'

Pre-moistened, refreshingly fragranced, water-based cloths designed to instantly remove even waterproof makeup without irritation. Infused with natural extracts and botanicals, Absolute! Makeup Cleansing Tissues are formulated to reawaken and soften skin, while helping to reduce puffiness. Made of delicate spun lace, our convenient, effortless 1-step tissues are gentle enough for use on sensitive skin and around the eye area.

size: 10 tissues [$2.49]

retail value: $7.99 [60 tissues]
promotion: 30% off online purchase // expired Feb 10, 2014 // US only

ipsy has teamed up once again with Nicka K. the Absolute! line of cleanings tissues include a number of other extracts such as Vitamin C, green tea and pomegranate. 

5) yaby : Natural Finish Liquid Foundation in 'Buff'

The yaby Liquid Foundation leaves an unbelievably natural, super smooth texture and is extremely easy to apply. Mimics the skin's natural sheen to create the most realistic flawless skin. Oil-free.

size: 8 mL [full size!]

retail value: $13.55
promotion: 20% off online purchase // expired Jan 31, 2014

the yaby liquid foundations all come in this small size which is great for carrying around. yaby also has color correctors as well. i've tried a few yaby products now (thanks to ipsy and Topbox) including some concealers which were decent but not highly pigmented. this 'Buff' shade is meant to be neutral but i think it is just a bit light for my skin. the smell is not the greatest since it smells sort of metal-y.

and tada! that makes up the first beauty bag from ipsy for the year... sort of a boring start in my opinion.

did you like your ipsy bag? what concerts are you going to this year?

GLYMM BAG: August 2012

imagine my surprise when i got my shipping notification from Glymm stating that their August bag was on its way. and then when i even received the bag before Topbox sent our their notification... that is mind-blowing!!

i got my bag yesterday which seems to be still later than everyone else. 

August's bag is black, shiny and quilted. very pretty! i am glad they switched it up. i am tired of the bags, but if Glymm has to absolutely keep them, then i rather they change the design every month and keep it exciting. 

the products inside can do with some improvement though. 

everything is very small. it seems that small samples are Glymm's specialty.

for August, we got:

1) Vitamine & Sea Mineral Clay Mask

This natural facial mask made with clay directly from the Dead Sea will tingle as it softly exfoliates, eliminates toxins, promotes circulation, cleanses and strengthens your skin.

the mask is to be left on your face for 20 minutes or until it dries. for me it was the latter - i think it dried within a few minutes! i think it's because i wanted to get at least 2 uses out of this so i used it sparingly which meant that the layer i applied was quite thin. it smells like dirt and rocks (if rocks had a scent, this is it). it left my face feeling fresh and smooth.
i do not use masks enough to justify paying $62 for it. plus, i still have plenty of samples to go through.

size: small (Glymm says 3 uses)

retail value: $62 (210 mL)

2) Naked Princess Naked Shine Luscious Lip Gloss in "Barely Nude" 

This sexy gloss stimulates collagen, is non-tacky and plumps your lips ever so gently.

this reminds me of the Anastasia gloss sample in March`s - you guessed it - Glymm, because they are both the tiniest lip gloss samples i have ever seen. i have never heard of the brand Naked Princess before but i like their look and their use of healthy formulas in their products.
the Naked Shine glosses come in 8 shades of nude. "Barely Nude" is completely nude on me. it just makes my lips look shiny. i doubt there is any way to build on the color, and even if there was, i would not be able to attempt it since there is not enough product. i like that the gloss is free of a number of chemicals and that it is non-sticky. the gloss has a sweet scent to it that reminds me of another lip gloss that i can't exactly pinpoint right now.

size: 0.25 g

retail value: $26 (2.96 mL)

3) Atelier Cologne Vanille Insensée

An electrical current runs through the subtle sweetness of vanilla, jasmine and fresh lime to bond with rich oak moss, woods and spicy coriander.

of the many fragrance samples i have received, i enjoy the packaging of Atelier Cologne. even though it's in the form of a vial, which is harder to use, i like the neat postcard it comes with. i also like the scent of it. it's not something i would normally wear but the vanilla is sweet and not overpowering.

size: smaller (~20 uses)

retail value: $70 (30 mL)

4) The Laundress Delicate Wash (Lady)

Take care of your beautiful delicates and lingerie with a wash that's effective yet gentle.

not what you would be expecting from a beauty subscription service. i do not feel like i need some special detergent for my delicates so it's not entirely useful to me. does it make sense that i think it would've been neat if it was a bonus product instead?

size: 15 mL

retail value: $22 (500 mL)

5) BENTA BERRY G-1 Moisturizing Face Cream for Boys and Girls (Regulating Line) 

This cream is made from 100% natural active ingredients: burdock, jasmine, mandarin, blueberry, white dead-nettle and zinc pidolate.

pheww that is a long name!! the packaging is eye-catching but really hard to decipher. under the Glymm notes, it says: "Its subtle fragrance was designed by a famous perfumer for both boys and girls." i actually did not know that perfumer was a word. and who is this famous perfumer?
i'm blanking out again because the scent reminds me of something else... agh. anyways, it's lightweight and helps mattify the skin. it is a bit out of my price range though!

size: 3 mL

retail value: $22 (30 mL)

6) Mai Couture Foundation Powder Papier in "Nude Glow"

The Papier collection by Mai Couture exudes novelty and modernism. Whether you need coverage, color or highlights you’ll find a quick and effective solution here.

foundation powder papier. i am intrigued about the idea since i cannot see how one sheet could substitute for foundation but... 

funny how Glymm does not listen to customers' feedback because i clearly remember back in February, when there was backlash as people calculated how much 2 sheets of blush papier was worth ($0.70!!). here, we are sitting at $0.76. 

if you look closely at the papier, you can see little shimmers on it. other glows available: fair and golden.

size: 2 sheets 

retail value: $19 (50 sheets)

everything is just so tiny. a number of the samples can only be used once, or max twice. the bag is cute but i rather have better products. the value of the bag does not seem to exceed or even equal its cost - especially for those paying $12. i heard some got a full size nail polish though - what did you get in your Glymm? 

GLOSSYBOX: May 2012

first of all, i apologize for the slight neglect of my blog lately. i blame the nerdy gamer inside of me because i got caught up in the Diablo III craziness. my sister got it for her birthday (which was on the 22nd, happy birthday mui!) and then somehow i have invested over 15 hours in it.
still i was super excited when my Glossybox showed up in my mailbox yesterday without any notice! according to the company, Canada Post did not send out shipping notifications this month so a lot of people were confused. anyway, it's funny how Glossybox and Loose Button always comes soooo near the end of the month but just makes it right in time before the 1st.
the packaging of Glossybox still makes me happy. i love the sturdy box and untying the pretty pink bow. i also love how Glossybox is always so heavy! right away, i'm pretty sure there's a large bottle in there somewhere.

May's Glossybox items:

1) Curel Foot Therapy - fantastic! just in time for summer! i wear sandals/flip flops a ton in the summer and the heels of my feet often get super dry and cracked. this is a lifesaver :) it's a white cream with a floral scent that i really like. a very decent sized sample too.
size: 100 mL (full size!)
retail value: $3.99

2) Simple Eye Make-Up Remover - this is an item i definitely run out of so it is great that we received this. ever since i got the Simple Cleansing Face Wipes in March's Topbox, i've seen this brand being heavily promoted on TV and in magazines. i have yet to test its effectiveness but it says that it removes waterproof mascara. i hate getting a ring of black underneath my eyes when i use certain types of makeup remover that don't finish the entire job. will update soon!
size: 56 mL
retail value: $9.99 (125 mL) - i heard the card was wrong so i am assuming Glossybox meant 125 mL since it is the only size this item is available in

3) Simple Refreshing Facial Wash Gel - another Simple product but i don't mind trying it. i don't usually use gels to wash my face. i tried this one out and it boasts "No Soap" and "No Perfume" which is great for those who are sensitive, but to me it feels like there is no evidence it's working. it doesn't lather, there's no beads and i can't smell it so i guess i just can't really tell that it is doing anything to my skin. maybe it's just a weird me thing. it also says it is a non-drying formula but after i wash my face, i always feel the need to moisturize.
size: 50 mL
retail value: $9.99 (150 mL) - same assumption as for #2

4) Boxx Cosmetics Cream Corrector in "Evelia" - love multi-use products! apparently this one can be used as a primer, concealer, foundation and brightener. and it's a full size! this product is to be placed into one of those magnetic palettes that people who depot their makeup often use. or i guess you can use it in it's current container but it is very inconvenient. Boxx Cosmetics also sell their own version of compacts on their website.
i took a look at the other colors available and i am glad Glossybox sent me one in my skin tone! "Evelia" is meant for those with light to medium skin tone while "Terrwyn" is meant for fair skin, "Amber" for medium/tan and "Orel" for dark skin. "Melina" is yellow-based and best used for under eye circles.

it's much less yellow than in the photos!
there was a promo code for 25% off your first order included. on the site, there is free Canadian shipping over $100 (BS100). not sure if you can use both of them at the same time but you can try!
i think their names for each shade is really cute - they use words from different languages. if you click on the item, you can also see what they mean ("Evelia" is French for hazelnut while a lipcolor in "Akoko" is African for noise maker). so interesting!!
swatches coming soon!
size: 4 g (full size!)
retail value: $24

5) Sebastian Professional Volupt Shampoo - a familiar brand from a previous Glossybox (March). this is HUGE! any bigger and it would not have fit in the Glossybox. i am excited to try this since it's been a difficult journey searching for a volumizing shampoo/conditioner for THICK hair. does that exist?? please let me know! my hair's thick but on days i do not want to use a hair dryer, it falls completely flat on my head. not a great look.
size: 250 mL (full size!)
retail value: $15.78

great box this month! every single item is something i will use so i am excited! i feel that each month i get so much more value for my money from Glossybox. it may be the most expensive box at $15 but the sizes of these samples are awesome. just awesome. if you want to try it, click here!

thanks for reading! did you enjoy your Glossybox this month?
i got my Loose Button today so stay tuned!!

LUXE BOX: April 2012

the Luxe Box arrived on the first of may - which i was actually surprised about since Loose Button sent it out so late in the month. apparently they upgraded shipping for the west and east coasts to make up for it but i don't see anything different on the box and the Canada Post tracking info still says the same "Expedited Parcels".
anyway, i am glad i actually got the item i reserved for the First in Line program fiasco. as mentioned at the end of my Topbox post, i wasted a lot of time on it. so a quick summary of the process in April:
Thursday, April 19
- program was supposed to start at 12 pm EST but was not active
- Loose Button began addressing the issue maybe an hour later
- some people finally able to log in and reserve a product, but not all
- Loose Button suspended program temporarily and decided to send emails out instead for people to reserve time slots; once you pick a time slot, you will receive an email with a password to log in during that time
Friday, April 20
- was sent the time slot email at around 2 am EST; quickly reserved a time slot for next day between 3-6 pm EST
- did not receive email with password so sent Loose Button an email inquiring about this
- received an automatic reply that the company will be responding to emails over the weekend
- received my password at around 7:30 pm EST; First in Line program was no longer active
Saturday, April 21
- around 11 pm EST, received an email saying that they noticed i haven't reserved a product
- surprisingly, i was still able to reserve an Essie nail polish

the choices for April's First in Line program included: an Essie nail polish, Seche Porcelain, Bobos Remi leave-in conditioner and Panty by Post. i found the last option interesting but i did not feel i had enough time to do a little research so i went with what i knew.

after all the kerfuffle (first time ever typing that word and finding that is how it is spelled - nice!), April's samples are:

1) Essie Nail Polish in "793 Pink-a-Boo" - yay actually got what i reserved. i heard plenty of issues of people not getting what they reserved on Facebook so i was a little scared. i believe this color may be too sheer for me though since it is a very light pink color. it is super sparkly though - with purple and green glitter from what i can see; i got a little dizzy when i stare at it too long trying to pick out the colors of the sparkles. i will have to do a swatch for you later since i just put on the Misa nail polish from Topbox yesterday.
i Googled the color and found out that this polish is part of the Essie Resort 2012 collection. it's pretty exciting that it is brand new.
size: 13.5 mL (full size!)... card says 15 mL
retail value: $8

-- update 05/07/12 -- so i got around to using this polish and here are the results:
with 1 coat; natural light - super sheer. you can only see the glitter.

with 2 coats; natural light - you can see a hint of pink.

with 3 coats; natural light - i can still see my nail ridges but i think this is a nice soft pink. i think 4 coats would also be great.

i tried to do a close up here; first in natural light and then in artificial light.

my nails feel smooth (you can't feel the tiny glitter particles) and dried really quickly between coats! i didn't smudge them at all this time! hooray!

2) Orlane Perfect Complexion Treatment Foundation in "Beige 23" - the sample itself was quite small - the box was much larger because it also held a pamphlet in many languages. i had to take the picture at an angle because the box was super reflective.
the daffodil pin was attached to the top of the box.

i used to think that since i am Asian, that anything "Beige"-y would be similar to my skin tone. thank goodness i figured that one out (don't think Loose Button did though). as you can see, i tried it first on my hand and it already appears really dark. since some of the products in the past have also appeared dark but blended really well, i tried to do the same thing with this one. it definitely didn't blend into my skin - i put some on my face and found that this is to be used as a liquid bronzer instead.
size: 3.5 mL
retail value: $60 (50 mL)

3) Pantene Pro-V Aqua Light Shampoo + Conditioner - these came in the same cute black pouch that held the perfume sampler pack thing a few months ago. i like how they are in bottles rather than the style of the samples to be mentioned in like two seconds. i can't give you a review on these just yet since i alternate days where i wash my hair and i am just in between.
also i can already smell the product without even having to open it and it smells quite nice.
size: 50 mL each x 2 = 100 mL
retail value: $6 (375 mL) each

4) Fekkai Advanced Salon Technician Colour Care Shampoo & Conditioner - another shampoo and conditioner sample in the same box? i would have preferred a little more variety... and yet again with the hair products for coloured hair. what is going on with that?? as already mentioned several times, this sample packaging is terrible. you should open these before jumping in the shower because hands with any type of moisture will leave you extremely frustrated. at least we got 2 samples? :/
size: 9 mL each x 4 = 36 mL
retail value: $28 (236 mL) each
see #5) for pic

5) Fekkai Advanced Salon Technician Colour Care Rapid Results Moisture Mask - i have never used a hair mask before so i am interested as to how this will work. will update you soon on this.
size: 8.6 g each x 2 = 17.2 g
retail value: $45 (198 g)

since April is Daffodil month, we received a daffodil pin to show support for those affected by cancer. it is too bad we received this in May! i am glad that Loose Button is involved with the Canadian Cancer Society though. overall, i am mehh about the box. my favorite is of course, the Essie nail polish even though it may not show very well on my nails. nothing else is super exciting but i will probably use every single item in this box.

check out my link to Loose Button on the right if you are interested :)

GLYMM BOX: March 2012

honestly, i have not been wowed by Glymm as of late, nevertheless i was antsy waiting for the box to arrive. partly because it arrived in Calgary early Friday but Canada Post chose not to deliver it and i had to wait all weekend! the weekend can feel super long in these instances, haha. it arrived today (well yesterday now that i posted it) - this time i had to go to my community mailbox to get it rather than find it on my doorstep. guess they have had enough issues with missing boxes? anyway, it is the smart thing to do.

removing the lid, i find the Glymm ribbon around the March 2012 edition card "Spring Fling". the lower pic is what it looks like when i remove the front card. the second card is an offer for a free Hydrafull lip gloss from Anastasia Beverly Hills with the purchase of any other 2 products. Anastasia products range between $16 and $85 on the Glymm website.

this month's samples include:

1) Anastasia Beverly Hills Hydrafull Gloss in "Sorbet" - well since we got a promo card, it is definitely nice to try the product out first. this is the tiniest sample of lip gloss i've ever received. at least i know i will be able to use this one completely since i have been getting a ton of lip products in my boxes. 

the applicator is different than usual - it is a paddle applicator. the only other time i've encountered this is when i bought my sister the tokidoki Prisma Lip Gloss. i took two pictures, hopefully you can see the paddle more when i applied the product. "Sorbet" is a nice coral pink but once i apply it, it just gives me a hint of color and some shine. it does not feel really sticky except when i tried to wash it off my hand after swatching it.

this product has apparently been clinically tested and is cruelty free! i never trust these test results unless i know specifics such as how many participants there were - "87% reported the lip gloss provides long lasting moisture" but 87% of say, 10 people, would not be very significant (okay i know you can't have 8.7 people but i am just giving an example!).

size: 1.0 mL

retail value: $27 (2.2 mL)

2) M. Asam Magic Fini - looking at the bottle, i had no idea what it was. according to other bloggers, this is a BB cream. there has been a huge BB cream craze, and this is the first time i've received one in a box. i already have one that my friend ordered from overseas which i really like already and i am glad that i can branch out and try this one too. as you can see in the picture, the color seems a little dark. it would've been nice if this had a safety seal on it or something. 

i don't know how to describe the smell, but the texture is similar to mousse. after putting it on my face, there was a noticeable reduction in redness and my skin felt very smooth. i've only used it once but so far, i'm a fan!

size: 5 mL

retail value: $38 (30 mL)

3) NuMe Feather Hair Extensions - i don't know what the name of this color is but to me it is an unattractive yellow-green. i already knew these were going to be in the box but i was hoping for at least a color i can MAYBE pull off like blue or purple (i have brown-black hair). but what to do with this one? i read someone suggested wearing them for St. Patrick's Day but that's a little too late now. a plus is that these are cruelty free and are made from real human hair. it also came with 5 micro rings. this sample was definitely a fun idea but risky for Glymm too since it would not be appealing to all age groups. but then again, you can't please everybody!

size: 3 feathers (full size!)

retail value: $25

4) Ocean Nail Polish in "80 White Opal" - so Glymm has also decided to answer my call for nail polish and kudos for that, but i probably got the most boring color out there! "White Opal" is not "vibrant, pastel and intense" like it says on the card. it dried pretty quickly but is it just me or does the nail polish smell seem to be stronger with this brand?

i decided to swatch this on my sister's hand since i already had nail polish on (she also has nicer nails than me). she has 2 coats of "White Opal" on her thumb, pointer and middle finger. i didn't do her last two fingers so i can show you how there is no color except for a bluish sheen. i have no idea if i will be using this color; possibly over another nail polish?

size: 15 mL (full size!)

retail value: $12

5) *bonus* Lise Watier Flash Lift Radiance Vial - oddly, this was not even listed on the card. guess they threw this in last minute. it is recommended that we use it in the morning to erase signs of fatigue so i have not used it just yet. the vial is a teeny tiny sample too. guess it is only for one use?

size: 1 vial (1 mL)

retail value: $27 (7 vials)     - according to the Lise Watier website 

so i am happy with my Glymm box this month. not a fan of the color i got for the feather extensions or the nail polish but i like everything else. i especially enjoyed the Magic Fini. if you are interested in finding out more about Glymm, click here.

as of today, i have not received any shipping notification from Loose Button or Glossybox. not sure what is going on there. Glossybox was sent out so early last month but they changed their policy recently so perhaps that was only a one-time thing?

i also wanted to note that i finally finished a book i started months ago - Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë. it was a hard book for me to get through since it was written in the 1800s - the language and style of writing were really different. there was also a lot of French - i had to type in paragraphs of French into Google Translate! i picked this edition up at a thrift store because i loved how it looked, well old, and i loved the gold lining on the side of the pages.

i can now finally watch the movie, HOORAY! (yes, i wanted to read the book first - i figured it must be good since there have been like 6 film adaptations). i think i will be starting on the Hunger Games trilogy (pressure from my sister) since the movie is coming out soon anyway!

LUXE BOX: January 2012

hello!
so i received my Luxe Box from Loose Button on January 30, which is a bit later than usual BUT i was definitely more than pleased when i found such a big box waiting for me when i got home. i was getting a bit impatient this month so i did start peeking at other people's blogs so i already knew there were two boxes this month but i was still squealing when i opened it. the extra box this month was labelled "Bath and Body" and was slightly smaller than the normal black box.

so the first normal black box - again, i love the sticker on the tissue paper. other than the sample list, there were a number of advertisements and coupons.

Box 1 (January's Luxe Box):

1) Pür Minerals foundation in "Blush Medium" - i think Loose Button knew exactly what i needed this month - i was running out of powder foundation and tada! i was sent a full-sized one! i am also impressed that this has SPF 15. it is important to use sun protection even when it is not sunny. i have combination skin and there is often a slight redness on the skin between my cheekbones and nose. if i apply just this foundation, my skin looks better but it doesn't cover all the redness. i think it will be better if i used a liquid foundation first and then touch up with some powder foundation.
size: 4.3 g (full size!)   note: this is the net weight; on the card it says 8 g
retail value: $31

2) Olay Regenerist wrinkle complex - i am throwing this in with all the other wrinkle products i have now... i know it is beneficial to start using anti-aging products early, but i do not currently have wrinkles. cross your fingers! but wait a sec... this sample costs almost $30? is that right? i'll definitely pass it on to someone else who can make use of it.
size: 7 mL
retail value: $60 (15 mL)

3) Loose Button's MyScent - there's a cute little drawstring pouch with a note saying that i was selected to participate in this program called MyScent (selected? it seems like everyone else was selected as well).

there were 6 perfume samples, 1 of which i have also received in December's box. all of them except for Prada's Infusion d'Iris had a cap on the sample where you can spray on the perfume (as opposed to just dabbing it on). i haven't been able to try all of them yet but here are some quick notes.

i: Prada's Candy
size: 1.5 mL
retail value: $96 (50 mL)
ii: Prada's Infusion d'Iris - smells fresh and flowery
size: 1.5 mL
retail value: $95 (50 mL)
iii: Nina Ricci's L'Air du Temps - very sweet smelling and floral - similar to potpourri
size: 1.2 mL
retail value: $72 (50 mL)
iv: Nina Ricci's Nina  - mm smells sweet and fruity like the apple on the cover
size: 1.2 mL
retail value: $65 (50 mL)
v: Paco Rabanne's Black XS for Her - floral but not too sweet smelling - it's a deeper smell (?? that doesn't make much sense...)
size: 1.2 mL
retail value: $65 (50 mL)
vi: Paco Rabanne's Lady Million
size: 1.2 mL
retail value: $80 (50 mL)

4) NYX lip gloss in "110 Cosmo" - last year i was obsessed with getting NYX lipstick and ended up getting 9 of their round lipsticks on eBay. i've been meaning to try other products by NYX so i was happy i was sent a lip gloss but was initially turned off by how much sparkle there is. seriously, they were not kidding when they called it "Mega Shine Lip Gloss". i also did not think this copper color would work on me. once i tried it though, it wasn't as bad as i thought. it has a sponge applicator and smells yummy, like cherries.
size: 11 mL (full size!)   note: huh? on the gloss itself, net weight = 15 mL... doesn't make sense
retail value: $8

5) Seattle's Best Coffee in "Level 3" - this was a bonus item which is nice, but i do not drink coffee. i prefer my green tea lattes, ice cappuccinos and french vanillas. but i do know plenty of people who would enjoy this!
size: 56 g
retail value: $9.99 (340 g)

Box 2 (Complimentary Bath and Body Box):
this white box contained 2 products, an info card on the razor and a coupon for bonus points at Shoppers if you buy a Fekkai hair product.
6) Schick razor - so this is the second product that Loose Button knew i needed. my other razor was getting dull and so this was perfect timing. apparently i will be one of the first ones in North America to try this razor. it has 5 blades and looks like it does not require shaving gel since there is a serum on the razor that works in the shower.
size: 1 razor & 1 cartridge
retail value: $13.99

7) Fekkai shampoo and conditioner - Fekkai has some pretty expensive hair products so it is nice that we get a sample. my hair is pretty long, probably reaching midway down my back, so i don't think i can get 2 uses out of this.
size: 9 mL each
retail value: ~$25 US for 237 mL (according to the Fekkai website that does not ship to Canada)

phew!! that was a lot of products! even though there was no Loose Button chocolate coin to be found, i am very pleased with my Luxe Box this month! a great variety of products and ones that will be quite useful for me. just look at all this stuff!

one thing i was a little sad about is that Loose Button has a feature where you can reserve a product in your box. however, they always reach the reservation limit so quickly!! this month they offered Donna Karan cleansing lotion, Benefit cream eyeshadow & liner, Benefit blush (POWda WOWza) and Curly Hair Solution control for frizzy hair. i would have most definitely loved either of the two products from Benefit!! but sadly, i checked my email 2 hours after they sent out a notice and i was already too late. i guess i should hook it up to my iPhone so i don't miss my chance next month!
ps. yay - as of now, i am all caught up on posting about my subscription boxes! whee!! i recently heard about this great promo from Julep and i am so very tempted. it won't hurt to try it for a month right? :)