TOPBOX: December 2013 [regular]

another quick post for you today since i am not excited about this December box. this is the first December 2013 box i've opened and it does not meet my holiday expectations at all! (yes, it's true, i've got a stash of unopened beauty boxes in a corner still.)

but come to think of it, it looks like i was disappointed last year as well - see December 2012.

maybe Topbox just doesn't like celebrating holidays?

anyway,

the Regular December 2013's box included:

1) Belvada Cosmetics Coconut Lip Butter

it does not look like much thought was put into the packaging of this product. Belvada simply stuck a sticker on a little brown tub. i can't find this on the website (the site doesn't even have a section for lips - just Eyes, Skin Care and Nails) so i am not sure if they are even selling this lip butter.

i don't usually like dipping my fingers in to use any type of lip product but the coconut smelt nice so i did. i dabbed it on my lips with my pinky finger and now my lips smell good. 

size: N/A

retail value: $10 (10 mL)

2) Cuccio Colour Nail Lacquer in "6029 Moscow Red Square"

the shade is a nice festive shimmery red shade. truth is i already own a whole bunch of festive colors and won't be cracking this open. let me know if you are interested in taking this off my hands!

the right pic is a better representation of the color

size: 13 mL (full size!)

retail value: $10

3) Estée Lauder Pure Color Intense Kajal EyeLiner Duo in "01 Blackened Black/02 Blackened Cocoa" 

my favorite item in the box. i like an intense liner and pencils usually don't give me that effect but i am pleased with this one. both colors are perfect if you want a dark and pigmented eyeliner. it is also very soft and does not pull on the eyelids. BUT sadly, the downside is that it smudges quite easily... as in i wore it on both my upper and lower lids and i looked like a raccoon at the end of the night. i didn't know that eyeliner could migrate that far onto my cheek area.

it says on the eyeliner that it is not for individual sale - i am guessing this was part of a gift set or something but "Blackened Black" and "Blackened Cocoa" are both sold individually for $25.

size: N/A

retail value: $26 (for another Eyeliner Duo or $25 for a full-sized of each color)

4) Wella Professionals Thermal Image Heat Protection Spray

another item up for sale! just because i don't use enough hair styling tools. but like all Wella products, this smells great.

size: 150 mL (full size!)

retail value: $14

and that's it. how did you feel about Topbox ending the year with this box?

BEAUTY BOX 5: May 2013

oh maaaaaaaan. i am terrible! my attention span is really short these days - there's just so much to do! even though today was my first day at work since last week - which meant i had plenty of time to blog...

these days, much of Alberta is dealing with the aftermath of flooding. i never really thought that could happen here in Calgary. there was a flood in 2005 but i was completely unaware of it back then. Calgary goes through really random changes in weather (we get the occasional snow/hailstorm in May or June). and this June has brought in a lot of rain. and i mean, a LOT. of course, we had a leak in our roof (make that 2). 

last Thursday was very normal. i stood on the side of the street downtown where i work, waiting for my ride. but that changed within a few hours. i was not able to return to work until today - a week later - which i didn't really mind of course since i was able to work from home. but wow. so many pictures of disaster on Instagram and Facebook... stories of people forced to evacuate... people panicking and hoarding water and filling up their bathtubs... vendors jacking up the price of a bag of ice to $20...

really makes you feel rather small when Mother Nature can be so powerful. 

i hope those that have been affected by the floods are all healthy and safe. 

back to the err.. May BB5 (where did June go??):

1) Brazen Cosmetics Ultra Glaze Lip Gloss in "Centerfold"
This creamy formula will deliver a long lasting wear that will have you hooked! Apply alone for a slight hint of color or layer over lipstick for a bolder look.


- not Ferro Cosmetics as shown in the card above -

BB5 does not shy away from featuring the same companies again and again - which could be a good or bad thing.

Brazen has been on a 3-month streak with BB5 but this time around it is a lip gloss instead of a shadow.

i was a little turned off by the metallic-y copper color initially. it also slipped my mind that this was a gloss so i was thrown off by how gooey it is :)

still, the color isn't half bad. not a fan of applying lip products with my finger though - especially something that is sticky.

size: N/A
retail value: $8.99

2) Jean Pierre Self Tan Wipe - Jean Pierre is featured once again but i have not used self-tanning wipes before. i know there is two wipes but how much does one wipe cover? i don't want to be tanned only on one side of my body...

size: 1 wipe x 2
retail value: $8.99 (10 towelettes)

3) ModelCo Eyeliner in "01 Black" - again, a repeat brand. i thought i had an eyeliner from ModelCo already but i think i am just confusing myself with their lip pencils.

size: 1.2 g (full size!)
retail value: $18

4) Coolway Transform Styling Spray - Coolway has interesting hair products and are quite specific with their instructions on how to use the products. this one in particular lists the number of sprays you will need for your length of hair. my very long hair would require about 50 sprays. either this is quite ridiculous or i have been completely underestimating the amount of hair product to use in my hair...
this styling spray has the same sweet sugary scent as the other Coolway products but also smells like nail polish at the same time.

size: 100 mL
retail value: $24.95 (200 mL)

5) La Fresh Antiperspirant Wipes for Women - another 3-month streaker. La Fresh, how do you keep coming out with so many different types of wipes?! this is the first antiperspirant wipe i've seen (why only for women?). the weather is improving and getting crazy hot at times so i will likely carry these just in case.

size: 1 wipe x 2
retail value: $19.90 (48 packets)

summary? too much repetition. i am already getting a little bored with the whole beauty box subscription thing but now i seem to be getting the same brands again and again. and too many wipes! i thought everyone was impressed when BB5 took a step away from all the one-use sachets but it appears to be back again.

IPSY BAG: April 2013

i don't know why i wasn't motivated enough to put this up earlier since it is a good bag... but i am blaming Glymm for dampening my spirits regarding beauty boxes. i was able to leave my Glossybox and BB5 untouched for two whole days! what what!

anyway here is a quick blurb about the ipsy bag for uhh... April.
"Pretty in Pink":

1) Be A Bombshell Blush in "Sweet Cheeks" 
"A highly pigmented pressed powder blush that highlights the complexion and provides long lasting color. Can be used both as a blush or a bronzer."

oh how pretty! i love the packaging and the names - hilarious! i got "Sweet Cheeks" (which has shimmer) but others got "Beach Please" (a matte).

i haven't gotten around to using this since i love this color (described as "medium rose pink") so naturally, i have like 10 variations of it :)

size: 5 g (full size!)

retail value: $16

promotion: 30% off and free full size pink shadow that expired on April 30, 2013 and was only available in the US - shucks cause that would've been awesome!

2) MicaBeauty Cosmetics Shimmer Powder in "72 Earth" 
"MicaBeauty Mineral Eyeshadows are extremely gentle, free of preservatives, chemicals, dyes, talc, oils, and other fillers. With this unique formula, the eyeshadows will look ultra smooth and stay put for hours without creasing or pulling the delicate eye area. Can be mixed with clear lip-gloss, clear mascara, and clear nail polish to add pigment to lips, eyelashes and nails!"

this is the deluxe sized version of MicaBeauty's multi-purpose shimmer powder. those who did not get this got a full size Two Cosmetics Duo Eye Shadow.

"Earth" is a shimmery pink champagne color. it looks to be a comfortable everyday kind of color and works on all skin tones.
i was thinking that it looks like a very pretty color but also so familiar at the same time...

so very familiar... and that's when i started digging through my collection and found this Bellapierre version - which is yet to be opened (like many, many, many others).

well would you look at that!
they are identical! they even have the same name! i tried to dig up some more info to confirm the relationship between MicaBeauty and Bellapierre but cannot find anything except someone posting in a forum that MicaBeauty, Micabella and Bellapierre are all just using different names.
i did find that MicaBeauty and Micabella are the same company - MicaBeauty is the US website while Micabella is the Canadian version. all three priced their "Earth" shimmer powders at $14.95-14.99.
did anyone else notice the similarities?

size: 2 g

retail value: $14.95 (2.5 g)

promotion: 30% off but expired April 30, 2013 and only valid in US

3) Miss Professional Nail Sation Nail Lacquer for ipsy in "2012 Of Corset I'll Call You"

"Sation Nail Lacquer is a contemporary beauty company, infusing a creative direction in nail care through a blend of lifestyle aesthetics. The collection features 120 colors from its seasonal & limited collections."

i have never heard of Sation nail polish or Miss Professional Nail before. the color "Of Corset I'll Call You" is part of a limited collection and is described as a "romantic lavender-rose". i think the color is just okay, maybe slightly boring so i am not in a rush to use it. i'd probably put it on my swap list.

size: 15 mL (full size!)

retail value: $5

promotion: 20% off online for US only until May 31, 2013

4) Sexy Hair Big Sexy Hair Powder Play
"Get ‘POW’ volume in an instant with Sexy Hair's Powder Play! Powder Play adds instant volume to any type of hair style or texture. Weightless, odorless, and colorless! Instantly liquifies when applied and adds volume and texture in seconds. Just sprinkle on dry hair at the root for lift and volume. Apply throughout the hair for extreme volume and texture."

anything that promises volume is always welcomed but i have gotten a bit lazy with these powders. even with dry shampoo (powders), i've found that if i am not careful, i would go to work and discover later that i had white residue on my scalp. and of course, it'd be on days when i'd have a conversation with some VPs of the company.

i have thick hair so i definitely have to use quite a bit in order to achieve the voluminous look. it looks great for a while but my hair would resume its natural flat state an hour or so later. but with this size, i guess you can always carry it with you and reapply it throughout the day/night :)

i've always been interested in the Big Sexy Hair line so i am glad i got this. ipsy members either received this or Healthy Sexy Hair Soy Renewal.

size: 2 g

retail value: $15.95 (15 g)

promotion: $5 off $25 purchase of Sexy Hair products from Ulta until May 10, 2013 - so again, not for Canadians

and that's that! all of these products are great but for me, i already have similar colors in my makeup collection so i'd prefer to swap them with someone.

i'm sorry this post is up later than usual but i have been busy with other fun events like the Calgary Comic & Entertainment Expo (if you have seen my instagram pic, you will know what i mean) and Army and Navy's Legendary Shoe Sale. they probably deserve their own blog posts - what do you think? ;)

TOPBOX: April 2013 [regular]

EEP!!!
it's been a week since my last post. i am sorry that i've been so busy! this weekend alone was filled with 2 birthdays and a funeral.
it may not have been as crazy as 4 weddings and a funeral but... i haven't seen the movie so who knows. (i hope this slightly comedic remark does not come off as insensitive!)

anyway,
quick post about the Topbox. yes i know, it came weeks ago. but i feel obligated (to myself?) to post this anyway! so here goes --

- - - - -

i interrupt this Topbox unboxing post to bring you an important message about Glymm:
what. the. eff.

i haven't been checking blogs and emails as often as i'd like last week but was able to find the news about Glymm shutting down operations from a Facebook group. sifting through my emails, i finally found the message from Glymm in my junk folder. Glymm's emails have always gone to my inbox before but this particular message of course, goes into junk.

i knew they were struggling the last few weeks since we did not receive our March bags. i believe that Glymm was saying that they were restructuring or something along those lines when they were bombarded with questions on their Facebook page.
well great. thanks for the heads up. all those Glymm points saved up for nothing. i could've, should've used them ages ago!! what was i thinking!!

the Glymm website, Facebook account, Twitter accounts, etc etc have all vanished. i'm hoping i can dispute some charges on my credit card bill... oh, the hassle. i am glad to finally wash my hands on this thing though. one less beauty box to be disappointed by.

- - - - -

back to Topbox!
like last year, they shipped all April boxes in the eco-friendly packaging in support of Earth Day (today!).

1) boxx cosmeticss Travel Foundation Brush - suh-weet! i was thinking of buying another foundation brush and this one is very neat! i like that the handle is travel-sized for convenience while the brush head is standard-sized so that it does not infringe on the brush's usability. 

the hairs are unlike any other brush i own - there is a mixture of goat and 3 toned synthetic fibers. it is very soft and thin as well. 

size: 1 brush - 25 g (full size!)

retail value: $28

2) Elizabeth Arden All Gone Eye and Lip Makeup Remover - i've always wondered if you could use regular makeup remover on your lips but since this one specifically says so, i do not have to question it anymore! remember to shake well before use and rinse afterwards. i am not a fan of oily makeup removers but they are better at removing resistant makeup.

*shake shake shake*

size: 50 mL

retail value: $24 (100 mL)

3) KMS California FREESHAPE Quick Blow Dry - i've received this previously from LB and i'm still working on it. i think it does a decent job but nothing so convincing that i need to use it every time i blow dry.

 *also shake shake shake*

size: 30 mL

retail value: $18.75 (200 mL)

4) Michael Todd Jojoba Charcoal Facial Scrub - i had a d'oh moment with this. for some reason, i thought this was a mask. so i applied it on my face like you would a mask - thickly, while i was thinking to myself: "why is this mask so runny? now i have to apply even more!" and then my sister asks me how long we are supposed to leave it on for.

oops!

the scrub doesn't feel super gritty so i felt that it would be fine for sensitive skin. my sister said it stung a bit on her more acne-prone skin. i could barely smell the scrub which is a great thing since charcoal products usually have an unpleasant smell to them. 

left my skin feeling nice and soft. felt the need to moisturize after.

size: 30 mL

retail value: $18 (100 mL)

this Topbox was a decent one... the product that won be over is the boxx cosmetics brush for sure. the rest is just okay since i've received the KMS hair product before and i am constantly overwhelmed with makeup removers. what type of brush did you get?

there isalso a limited edition Mother's Day Topbox available where you can get vial samples of 6 fragrances and redeem the gift card for a full size. the cost of the box is $80. nice idea but not something i need. i've seen something similar at Sephora and Shoppers before.

GLOSSYBOX: January 2013

oh this is sad.
i was not motivated to write this post at all. Glossybox, what happened?? are you trying to compete for the largest amount of dissatisfied customers with Glymm?

i got this box 10 days ago. there was a Canada Post processing error and i didn't even notice.

onto the items (from V1)...

1) Wella Professionals Brilliance Leave-In Mousse - i enjoyed the other Wella products i have received from their Brilliance line. this one says it is for colored hair - why am i not surprised that i got this? all it says on the back is that it helps protect colored hair... i wonder if it does anything else. i am not much of a mousse girl so i will probably pass it on to my mom.

size: 190 g (full size!)
retail value: $17.99

2) Too Faced Lip Injection Extreme - i had to laugh at this. Glossybox hardly ever breaks from their drugstore brand preference so this is quite rare! but of course, it had to be the tiniest thing ever! it only looks large below because i had to zoom close enough to see it :D see below to see how it actually compares it size.
this lip plumper is clear and shimmery - something you can wear layered over a lipstick.

size: minuscule
retail value: $28 (6 mL)

3) Burt's Bees Naturally Nourishing Milk & Honey Body Lotion - i already expressed my feelings on the scent of this lotion in my previous Glymm post. i am not exactly willing to open a larger sized sample.

size: 25 g
retail value: $12.99 (170 g)

4) Nivea Essential Lip Care - so a plain lip balm... that's rather boring, no? i have such a variety of lip products that i never reach for a plain lip balm anymore. passing this off to my boyfriend - he likes the plain ones. haha

size: 4.8 g (full size!)
retail value: $2.00

5) *Glossybox Best in Moisture* Vitabath Fresh Citrus Twist Hand Creme - at first, i thought it sort of resembled my Pacifica Tuscan Blood Orange Body Butter in the recent ipsy bag but it's nowhere as delicious-smelling. in fact, for a citrus scent, it could've been much better (the Pacifica one is also better for you - no parabens!).
i also got the same scent for my Vitabath shower gel (received in my Glossybox November 2012) and found that this hand creme smells more 'diluted' or 'manufactured' than the shower gel.

my camera does odd things to red/pink backgrounds

size: 60 g
retail value: $15 (120 g) ... according to myvitabath.com

6) *bonus* BeautySoClean Cosmetic Sanitizing Wipes - uhmmm so i was very happy to get these half a year ago (where i received 4) but i haven't even used them yet! i should definitely make use of them. anyone out there that uses these regularly?

size: 12 wipes
retail value: $12.50 (48 wipes)

so this box... rather blah. i am probably going to give away most of this stuff since i have plenty of other alternatives that i actually enjoy.

let's not talk about the box anymore.
who has seen Gangster Squad? i saw it on Tuesday and i quite enjoyed it! it was bloody and had plenty of guns but there was also Ryan Gosling. hahaha and Emma Stone. i liked most of the characters and was constantly on the edge of my seat (although you can sort of tell who is going to die... or not). :) what other movies in theaters would you like to see?

LUXE BOX: December 2012 [Winter Edition]

ahh.. Luxe Box... it arrived before Christmas but i haven't had a chance to blog about it until now.
it really is Luxe Box's fault since it was expected in November! however, since they were so very delayed this winter, Loose Button has revised their entire quarterly shipping schedule - they are now sending out seasonal boxes in March, June, September and December. note that you are billed on the 15th of these months for the next box. for instance, in June, you will get your Summer box; on June 15th, you will be billed for the Fall (September) box. so that is well ahead of time - be aware of this if you were planning to cancel!

the package was actually delivered to my door on the 23rd and my dad even had to sign for it. i was eager to find out what the other 5-6 products i was getting. i already knew what 2 of them were going to be since LB had two First in Line opportunities (which is where you are given 3 options and you can choose to reserve 1 of the 3).

instead of a 'silk scarf'', all the products were inside a silky drawstring bag with the LB logo in the corner. the card was again found in an envelope with a gold monogrammed sticker. i noticed that the letter "H" was not cursive like the one last time.

the long-awaited Winter Edition contains:

1) Loose Button Faux Eye Lashes - i had my doubts when i first saw that these were "Loose Button" eyelashes but i am very impressed! i really like the design of these lashes and they don't have the shine that makes them look fake either! i think there were a couple different styles sent out but there are no labels to indicate this.

i wore them on New Year's Eve and i loved the way they look. my eyes looked huge! haha normally i have a monolid and a very slight double eyelid on the other but these lashes really widened up my eyes (when i finally got them on).

excuse the red eyes - it was at night and i'd been wearing contacts all day!

size: 1 pair of false eyelashes (full size!)
retail value: N/A

2) Cake Beauty It's a Slice Supreme Body Mousse - i think i just found my favorite Cake scent! it smells really yummy like oranges but sweet instead of sour. it feels velvety soft too. major like!

size: 66 mL
retail value: $22 (250 mL) ... according to cakebeauty.com

3) Dermalogica Precleanse - sadly the cap on this was loose which made the other products oily. i can't exactly see how much is left in it but i am guessing maybe a quarter. i emailed Loose Button on December 29th using their contact form on their website. i also included a picture of the damage:

:(

i didn't get an immediate reply saying that they received the email but i did get a reply today (the 4th). i've heard that many people are having trouble getting them a hold of them so i guess i am lucky!
LB said they will be sending me a replacement product (at the beginning of January - so now?) but it might not be the the Precleanse:
"We'll be sending you a replacement product. It may not be Dermalogica PreCleanse but we'll do our best to match if we can. If we can't replace your original, we'll make sure it's something you didn't already receive in your Winter Luxe Box."

oh well! i'm crossing my fingers the replacement is not a fragrance! this Precleanse was the item i reserved in the first First in Line LB offered this season. the choices at the time were Dermalogica Precleanse, Kerastase Cristalliste Serum and Calvin Klein Euphoria.

the idea of cleaning before cleaning your face sounds like more work to me! but i guess it's good to use once in a while to ensure all the yuckiness is removed from the skin. to use, this oil should be applied to a dry face. then, wetting your hands, you continue to massage it and it becomes sort of milky. it smells lemon-y and does in fact, leave your skin feeling cleaner and softer.

size: 15 mL
retail value: $50.50 (150 mL) ... according to buy.dermalogica.ca

4) Schwarzkopf Professional OSiS+ Dust It Mattifying Powder - i already have this product but i reserved it anyway in the second First in Line (choices were: Schwarzkopf Dust It Mattifying Product, Blue Lagoon Skin Care Algae Mask and Prada Infusion d'Iris).

i wasn't too intrigued by the other options and i knew i already liked the Dust It. i was first introduced to it a few years ago when i got my hair cut. the stylist used it in my hair and it gave my hair volume which i was totally lacking. if you didn't know how to mattified hair feels like - this is the ultimate definition (if you use enough of it). you can either sprinkle it into your hair or put it into your hands first and then rub it in. make sure to rub it in good though since it is a white powder. the white powder is very, very fine so it shouldn't be too hard. the powder gives your hair texture/grit - be careful not to overdo it since it will be extremely difficult to comb out!

size: 10 g (full size!)
retail value: $23 ... according to the LB email

5) Donna Karan Woman Eau de Parfum - cool bottle! i've never seen anything like it. i'd love to add this to my collection but unfortunately, i am not a fan of the scent. i showed my sister and asked her what she thought of the bottle - and she said: "manly". then i dabbed it on my arm and asked her about the scent - and we both found that it was indeed rather manly... how ironic that this perfume is called "Woman". is it just me? maybe i am just not a fan of sandalwood?
also remember to hold the base tight and the perfume upright when you proceed to yank off the top!

size: 7 mL
retail value: $107 (50 mL); $144 (100 mL) ... according to sephora.com

6) B. Kamins Laboratories Mini Lip Balm - i've been trying to go through the one i received from Glossybox in September... and now i have another. i find that i need to reapply often with this lip balm - not as moisturizing as i hoped it'd be. it's thick and looks really glossy (click link for pictures). good to know that it has SPF 20 (this is not indicated on the balm itself).

size: 4 mL
retail value: $21 (15 g)

7) B. Kamins Laboratories Day Lotion SPF 15 - this lotion smells strongly of sunscreen. it has the same texture too - somewhat thick and runny at the same time...it absorbs better into the skin than sunscreen though. according to the website, this Day Lotion is recommended for oily and combination skin and can also be used as a primer... huh. interesting. i have to say that i doubt its abilities as a primer.

size: 15 mL
retail value: $80 (50 mL)

8) Loose Button Kabuki Brush - this is a cute little kabuki brush with the LB logo stamped on the bottom. i find the bristles to be soft and dense. not too shabby!

size: 1 brush
retail value: N/A

- - - - -

after opening this box, i thought it was a mediocre box with things i will use but they were not overly exciting. but after trying the eyelashes and the Cake Beauty lotion, i am slightly more content with the box. i wish that they included a bit more info on their card though (i.e. prices for full size items). if not on the card, maybe more info on the LB Personal Product Dashboard?? my Dashboard listed all 8 products, 6 of which lead to a dead link. the only ones that worked was for the B. Kamis products, which are sold on the LB website.

what are your thoughts on the Winter Luxe Box? are you remaining a subscriber through to Spring?