TOPBOX: October 2013 [regular]

LET'S GET DOWN TO BUSINESS
...
 to defeat the Huns!

actually, i determined the problem behind my inability to post anything in October.

it's because i'm lazy/busy and since i was already so behind in posting about my boxes, i was not motivated to put them up since no one was going to read them... but i will still put them up. just at a later date when i am caught up.
for now, i will post about boxes i just got - which means i will start digging through the pile of unopened boxes in the corner of my room.

yippee - blogging and not wasting products! i had almost forgotten the feeling of excitement of opening boxes and trying out new products...

here i go!

Topbox! yes, almost a month old but i am making my way through October. i can do this!

October's Topbox (regular) was the Murale (Shopppers Drug Mart) box. speaking of SDM, i misplaced my Optimum card for like 3 months and i was completely at lost without it. i felt like i was missing out on a gazillion points but i would not give up on it. i'd have terrible thoughts about some stranger finding it and using up all my points! agh!! the horror!

but the story has a happy ending! apparently i threw it in a box of receipts i was supposed to go through months ago but of course, i did not get to that.

so.... Murale! products in this box include:

1) Darphin Predermine Densifying Anti-Wrinkle (Anti-Wrinkly) Cream for Normal Skin - this is quite the fancy packaging. everything about this makes me think of something my grandma used to have on her vanity table - the lid, the other lid, the color, the scent... the texture feels light to the touch but once you smooth it on your face, it feels slightly heavier. this product comes in two forms - for normal or for dry skin.

size: 15 mL
retail value: $200 (50 mL) - ay, caramba! i will treasure this $60 sample... 

2) Erno Laszlo Transphuse Eye Refiner - this tiny sample is another anti-aging product but targeted for your eyes. this white cream smells a little funny to me... sort of like beer or something. see below 3) for a swatch of the product.

size: 2 mL
retail value: $120 (15 mL)  - looks like this box is filled with luxury items. this sample alone is worth $16

3) Rivoli Le Visage Luminous Serum - the serum is more like a very liquid-y form of a cream to me than a serum. most serums i have are clear and feels sort of thick. this one is white and runny. it has a light scent. i can't quite comment on much else since i've used it twice and the second time, i already had to squeeze the tube with my entire hand.

size: 3 mL
retail value: $220 (50 mL) - this $13 sample barely lasted me 2 uses...

4) Yves Saint Laurent Mascara Volume Baby Doll Mascara - there are different versions of this mascara to achieve different lash looks. this Baby Doll one is particularly great for a wide-eye look with long and separate lashes. the mascara comes in 4 different colors including a black, brown, blue and purple.

size: 2 mL
retail value: $36 (5 mL) ... $14.40 sample!

so looks like the trend with this Murale box is higher-end items... probably geared towards middle-aged women with all the anti-aging items as well as the fact that they are more likely to be able to afford such price tags.
in my opinion, this box was just alright. with my current financial position, i am not looking to spend $200 on a cream just yet... but i will gladly use up my sample.

i am a tad jealous of those that got the Elizabeth Arden lipstick sample... i really need to replace my missing lip brush... and a mini one? that would come in so handy!

other Topboxes that i was debating about for the month of October included the Dermalogica box or the Cosmetics Magazine Topbox (for an additional $5) - i was tempted mainly because of the Bio Oil but really, i could actually go out and buy it... i guess.

thanks for reading!!

WANTABLE: June 2013 [jewelry box]

last June box post!
this one's about my second box from Wantable. after my free May box, i decided to take another risk and pay (almost full) price for another jewelry box.

the June Jewelry box cost breakdown was:
Box                                                 $ 40.00
- Subscription Discount            (8.00)
+ Handling, Tax & Duty              9.46
Total                              = $ 41.46

June's Jewelry box is slightly different in that it includes accessories like sunglasses, headbands and scarves. it features Lara Eurdolian, an 'accessories expert'. i edited my preferences on June 20 and that was the same day my order was confirmed so i am not sure if my new answers were taken into account...

the answers i changed/added were (you can see my change in preferences after my reaction to my May box):

• type of accessories - sunglasses -- like; headbands -- like; scarves -- dislike
• type of materials - multi-tone -- changed from love to like 
• type of bracelets - bangle -- changed from like to love
• type of earrings - hoops -- changed from like to dislike
• scale of earrings - statement -- changed from love to like

in summary:

the box was shipped June 27 and landed in my mailbox on July 8. the contents of my box?

1) Sunny Sunglasses (2792)

nothing super crazy here. sunglasses usually look too big on me and my nose is never high enough to have it sit properly on my face. i don't think they look horrible on me - but someone did compare me to a bug when i wore these floating down the river.

the quality is alright with these sunglasses. doesn't feel flimsy so that's good. and it comes in a black drawstring pouch. UV 400 means that up to 400 nm wavelengths are filtered or reflected (see wiki). i will be putting 'Sunglasses' on my dislike list since i just wanted to try it once and see what i get.

retail value: $15.00

2) Maggie Bracelet

my least favorite item in the box... only because this is just not my style. at first, i really really disliked it but when i look at the pictures, it's not that bad. i just don't like how big and extravagant it looks on my wrist. the bracelet is adjustable in a sense since you can squeeze it around your wrist but i couldn't get mine tighter than this.

retail value: $26.00

3) Láska Necklace

these, more specifically the earrings, are my favorites from the box. i don't absolutely love them but they are cute - i like how these two pieces go together. i am not sure if i am actually supposed to get both of them since only the necklace is listed on the sheet. the necklace is cute but if only it was longer in length! i also found it difficult to match the necklace with any office attire so i have to save it for the weekends. the earrings on the other hand, are very easy to wear - very simple, very pretty.

retail value: $24.00

4) Beatriz Earring

hmmm so these earrings are just okay. they look a little too 'thick' for my liking.

retail value: $20.00

total retail value = $85.00

$85... not very believable in my books. i also wouldn't have actually forked over $41 for these items. i hope some of the cost was not for the new, fancier packaging. even though it looks good all packed individually and with a background sheet, it is a waste of paper/packaging.
i am pleasantly surprised that none of these items have caused any irritation. i thought it might be cheapie jewelry at first but it is not too shabby (definitely not worth $85, mind you).

i would like to say that i would probably have not gotten another box after this, but i forgot to skip... so stay tuned for another review (... and another - i am rather forgetful).

BEAUTY BOX 5: June 2013

i realized it has been exactly one whole MONTH since i last posted. that makes me a really horrible blogger. i am well behind on all my beauty boxes but i feel the need to still post this June box...

then i'll have some more goodies for you! i went on a 9-day road trip to Vancouver and Seattle so i picked up a few things. not that many since i still have like 5 (maybe more) beauty boxes sitting unopened in a corner of my room. i know, horrible blogger!!

the trip was the longest one i took this summer. i hadn't been to Vancouver for a few years now so it was fun to visit again. ate oysters at Rodney's, discovered awesome bubble tea at Bubble Queen, walked along English Bay, biked through Stanley Park, went to the Richmond Night Market, shopped at Daiso (first time! and ended up visiting like 3 Daiso locations including the ones in Seattle).
it was also my first time driving across the border to the states. we did some shopping at the outlet mall, visited Pike Place (fish market), checked out the gum wall (gross!), Space Needle, Chihuly Garden & Glass (so pretty!), ate at Crab Pot... plenty of eating actually.

before this road trip, me and the boyfriend also went out for a weekend get-together at his uncle's farm. we got to shoot some arrows which is tough but really fun!
also did a couple of runs this summer - the Zombie Survival Run as well as the Color Me Rad one.
plus a friend's wedding as well as the Bruno Mars concert in Edmonton.

all in all, it's been a great summer! we've had a few days this week with almost 30 degree weather so i hope it lasts a little while longer :)

- - - - - - -

okay let's do this! i *almost* have June out of the way!

1) Coolway Cool Cleanse Shampoo & Hydrate Conditioner - with this shampoo and conditioner set, i am now able to enjoy the whole Coolway system together!

size: 30 mL each x 2
retail value: $25 (254 mL)
promotion: 20% off sitewide before 7/15/2013 [expired]

2) Just Being Sexy Body Bronzer - i've never really used body bronzer before... especially a liquid one like this. i find that it is too much of a hassle, even with the gradual tan body lotions - the 5-10 minutes i'd have to wait for it to dry before putting on clothes seems like forever!

size: 8 mL x 2
retail value: $49 (180 mL)
promotion: 15% off sitewide before 7/15/2013 [expired]

3) Brazen Cosmetics Eyeshadow in "No Regrets" - more Brazen Cosmetics! i am still not a fan of the packaging for loose eyeshadows since they tend to get messy everytime i unscrew the lid, even if i do the tapping thing before i open it.

"No Regrets" is more a antique-y metallic-y gold like the bottom left swatch and less yellowy than shown in the bottom right picture.

size: N/A
retail value: $7.99 (5 g)

4) Aveeno Protect + Hydrate Lotion Sunscreen - mmm actually smells quite nice for a sunscreen. still has that sunscreen scent but slightly fruity at the same time. SPF 30!

size: 14 g
retail value: $9.99 (85 g)
promotion: $1.00 off any Aveeno sun care product - expires March 31, 2014 with coupon

this box was one of those meh boxes for sure. nothing i was super excited about. i hope the other boxes that are started to become a tower aren't as underwhelming!

i hope you all had a lovely summer! thanks for sticking with me :)