BEAUTY BOX 5: December 2012

on the last day of December, i received my BB5 as well as my Glossybox (post on that later - there's quite a bit of drama with this one).

products this month was listed inside the form of a holiday card, along with some poetry. it was very cute - i love the thought they put into this.

December's products:

1) Jean Pierre Cosmetics Exfoliating Facial Cleansing Pads with Microbeads - this is a brand i've never heard of before. it looks like Jean Pierre Cosmetics specializes in all kinds of towelettes including self tan ones and nail polish remover wipes.

i should take a break from my makeup remover and cotton balls and start using these makeup remover wipes (i am currently hoarding quite a few!). 

size: 16 pads (full size!)

retail value: $1.99

shipping to Canada: not available in Canada - unless you want to use a package forwarding service

2) Everyday Minerals Flat Top Brush - i know this particular item got a lot of ladies to sign up for a subscription when BB5 posted a spoiler on Facebook. i, too, was quite excited! 

the brush is thick but small at the same time. the synthetic bristles are incredibly soft! very nice to the touch and it is 100% vegan. this flat top brush is ideal for applying powder and can be used to build up coverage.  

size: 1 brush (full size!)

retail value: $12.99

promotion: 20% off order before January 15, 2013

shipping to Canada: $4.95

3) MaskerAide Hydrating Facial Sheet Mask in "Pre Party Prep" - i have yet to use this MaskerAide, as well as the other one i got in my Topbox ("All Nighter") but seems like i am all set for some major partying! i've only heard fantastic things about these masks but i find the price for each one a little too high.

size: 1 sheet / 23 g (full size!)

retail value: $4.99

promotion: 20% off order before January 15, 2013 

shipping to Canada: $3.00

4) OFRA Cosmetics 3D Loose Shadow in "Diamond Glitz" - that is one huge pot of eyeshadow! this is the "smartest" packaging for a loose powder i have ever seen - it has a sifter where you can turn the lid to either open or close it. genius! 

in the jar, "Diamond Glitz" looks like a khaki green shadow with teal shimmers in it. the "3D" reminds me of my MUFE Holodiam Powder. when swatched, it looks like a different color - a very soft taupe with loads of gold shimmer. it doesn't look like much in the shade but once it hits some light, it really brightens up. i'd like to wear this over a darker color. will post pics when i wear it (it's a stay-at-home Saturday for me!). 

natural light; with flash

size: 4 g (full size!)

retail value: $19.90

shipping to Canada: $9.95

5) Demeter Roll On Perfume Oil in "Cherry Blossom" - i've actually seen this brand pop up in some of the fancier Superstores but i've never tested out their products. i have to say i am now super intrigued with their "Fragrance Library" and their 235 different classic scents!! there's such an extensive range - people who have always wanted to smell like a "Crayon" or "Sweet Cilantro" or "Fresh Hay" can finally find it all with Demeter. 

"Cherry Blossom" is one of their top 30 scents and i can see why. like Majorie (Petits Pots et Coquetteries) said, it is quite similar to Ralph by Ralph Lauren (the original blue one) which is one of the first perfumes i have ever fallen in love with. it's a soft floral and smells just lovely - it does fade in a few hours but the travel-friendly size means that you can reapply it whenever you want to.

size: 8.8 mL (full size!)

retail value: $10

promotion: 20% off order before January 31, 2013

shipping to Canada: $12.99

... uhm what? these are ALL full sized items? way to go, BB5! the total value of this box is quite impressive as you would've thought since the eyeshadow alone is $20! the total value is: $49.87 and even without knowing the prices, there would be no hesitation when i say that this box paid for itself and more. my favorites in this box would be the Everyday Minerals brush and the Demeter roll on perfume. 

on a separate note, i'd just like to throw in that i was finally able to watch Les Misérables (typing the title was no problem but you should watch me struggle in real life) on Wednesday night and i have had the soundtrack on repeat since then (red! black!). amazzzzzzzing movie!! i have always been indifferent about musicals but this one was really something. very powerful songs and emotions. i was impressed that all the singing was done live and that only about 10 lines throughout the movie were not sung. 

have you watched Les Misérables? what did you think of your BB5? what other scent would you like to try from Demeter? 

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? 

EMPTIES: November and December 2012 (First Empties Post!)

since i am starting my no-buy today, it was only fitting that i start the new year with my very first empties post! it is one of my new year resolutions to use up what i have since i have filled another box with stuff that i have yet to touch.
i've never really been serious about new year resolutions before but i think this year i am going to try my best to stick to it! other things i hope to do this year is: get a job (or rather, a career since i'm all 'grown-up' now), become more active (my boyfriend got me a bike for Christmas so i am really excited to use this when it gets warmer), cut out soda (i did this before but my sister tricked me into drinking Coke again), use my sewing machine more (must finish the skirt i started in the summer) and to keep my finances organized (i even bought myself a receipt organizer - go me!).

this is my first empties post and i am excited to share this even though it is not an impressive list as compared to many other bloggers. especially since this was from both November and December... the list only includes products from beauty boxes right now - i have so much to go through that i haven't even had a chance to use up any of the stuff i bought myself.
nevertheless, i am glad that i am starting these empties posts since it will encourage me to keep going through my stash. too often i have started a sample, and then upon receiving a beauty box, i'd forget about it and switch to something new.

November's & December's Empties
from left to right, top to bottom  (i did not find that some of the products below did anything different or special so i didn't comment beside it. pretty much, if it worked fine and did what it was supposed to do, then i left it blank. click on the links for my original post and more info about the products):

* Fekkai Salon Technician Color Care Shampoo & Conditioner
* Global Goddess Shine Coconut Amla Revitalizing Hair Treatment - actually wasn't impressive. did not feel that my hair was any softer or shinier.
* Pantene Aqua Light Shampoo & Conditioner
* Aveda invati Shampoo & Conditioner - my boyfriend used these and the sample sizes honestly did not allow him to test it thoroughly. both of us were not a fan of the scent either.
* EVOLVh UltraShine Shampoo & Conditioner - i actually really enjoyed this duo! i felt that it made my hair softer and it was sulfate-free and paraben-free. i would probably get this with my Glymm points.
* Nexxus Therappe Shampoo & Humectress Conditioner
* Clear Total Care Conditioner *not pictured*

* Dove VisibleCare Creme Body Wash
* Caudalie Crushed Cabernet Scrub - oh how this smelled very strongly of ginger (not a fan!!).
* Elizabeth Grant Shower Gel in "Madagascar Vanilla" - very nice bottle but it smelled way too sweet (as if cupcakes puked on me).

* Mereadesso Beautiful Body Balm - i am not usually that picky with scents, but i don't like this one either!
* Orlane Active Hydration Body Care - i do not know what is up with this lotion but it made my hands peel. i'd use it on my hands and minutes later, i'd rub them and feel little balls of skin... first time i'm glad that the sample is so tiny!
* LillyPilly Kakadu Plum Hand & Body Creme

* CyberDERM PM Anti-Age - unique packaging but the scent was too herbal-y for me.
* CyberDERM H2O Hydration
* Philosophy purity 3-in-1 cleanser for face and eyes - i liked how gentle it was but that also meant it couldn't do anything for clearing my skin... had a few problematic pimples pop up.
* Kellett Moisturizing Gel
* BENTA BERRY G-1 Moisturizing Face Cream
* Dr. Brandt Collagen Eye Serum
* GlamGlow Mud Mask *not pictured* - very small sample but got a couple good uses. smelled like volcanic rock and made my skin soft. too pricey for me though!

i noticed that there is nothing makeup-related here since it is sooo hard to use those up! maybe this month? :)
what are your new years resolutions? happy new year everybody!!