GLYMM BAG: September 2012

i think i am one of the last few people getting their Glymm bags this month. i did not peek but i already caught glimpses of people's comments on Facebook that it wasn't a good one.
you know how sometimes if you lower your expectations, you may be pleasantly surprised?
well, it didn't happen.

the bag - cute, same as last month's but in white.
the card - does not exist.
the samples - no cosmetics. only shampoo, conditioner, makeup remover and creams.

so now that i've got you all excited about it, here's what i got!

September's bag consisted of:

1) EVOLVh UltraShine Moisture Shampoo
Ideal for both color treated and virgin hair, this Shampoo gently cleanses while infusing moisture and nutrients, leaving hair nourished.
when you click on the product on the Glymm site, under "What it does" - "Turns straw into silk." that's quite a statement. and it also prevents split ends? definitely worth a try for me.
it smells really nice (citrus-y and flowery) and lathers quite well for something that is sulfate free. both shampoo and conditioners are vegan, sulfate free, paraben free, sodium chloride free, keratin safe, color safe and not tested on animals. how impressive is that?
size: 59 mL (Glymm says: 14 uses)
retail value: $24 (250 mL)

2) EVOLVh UltraShine Moisture Conditioner
Rather than coating hair, this conditioner penetrates the hair shaft to moisturize and repair hair from the inside out.
the conditioner smells more coconut-y but there is no coconuts in the ingredients list. i felt like i had to use a lot of the conditioner because i didn't feel the conditioning effect. it felt like there was just water on my hair - but now that i read the above statement i understand that is what they meant by not coating the hair. right now, my hair does indeed feel softer and lighter.
i really like this EVOLVh line and once i am able to spend this much on shampoo and conditioners, i will gladly add this to my hair care system.
size: 59 mL
retail value:  $25 (250 mL)

3) La Fresh Waterproof Makeup Remover
Gently wipe your eyes & lips with love and good intention. Soon they will be sparkling clean. No need to rinse.
more makeup remover wipes! i heard these were actually a bit on the greasy side - i really dislike that feeling on my face and prefer my makeup removers to be oil-free.
size: 1 wipe x 2
retail value: $9.99 (24 wipes)

4) BENTA BERRY Super Moisturizing Face Cream for Girls (Preventative Line)
The high-quality super moisturizing face cream for girls is made from 100% natural active ingredients: apple, prickly pear, strawberry, kiwi, kigelia africana and macadamia oil.
again, BENTA BERRY. again, teeny weensy sample. again, designed by a famous perfumer. who? and what makes this specially for girls while last month's sample was for girls and boys?
it's moisturizing yes, but it smells like musky strawberries. if i had to choose, i prefer last month's.
size: 3 mL (Glymm: 7 uses)
retail value: $19 (30 mL)

5) Villainess Dulces En Fuego Whipped! Body Creme
Whip your skin into shape and 'redefine bad' with this thick, yet light and quite soluble body crème - much like edible whipped heavy cream. Yum.
this is a rather thick cream but absorbs easily into the skin. and like its name, it looks whipped. when you open it, you can see a layer of oil. smells like cinnamon chocolate cookies - reminds me of Christmas.
the official description of the scent is this: musky bitter chocolate with vanilla, citrus, black pepper and nutmeg. very interesting combination!
i usually use floral or fruity scented lotions so this is definitely odd for me. the brand looks appealing though and so i checked out their website. i definitely want to try their other Whipped! Body Cremes - like Paradise Misplaced Whipped!. doesn't coconut, mango and green tea sound absolutely yummy??
or what about Candy Floss Cupcake Whipped!? pink cotton candy and buttercream frosted cupcake...
oh my. for those in Ontario, there are 2 stores that sell Villainess products!
size: N/A but i am guessing 15 mL-ish? (Glymm: 3 uses)
retail value: $15.75 (177 mL)

so Glymm - not the best beauty subscription service out there. we can all agree on that. many are unhappy and unsubscribing or are on the verge. i am on the verge. my sister bought me the subscription last December as a Christmas present, and even though we didn't select the one-year option, i think i just might hold out until then. i am curious how Glymm will respond to the negativity they have been receiving. the negativity has been there for a number of months now and it is about time Glymm addresses the issues.

i am most pleased with the EVOLVh products - decent sizes and free of harmful chemicals. usually i do not pick the shampoo/conditioner, but that's just what it says about the bag.
on a different note, i have updated my September Topbox entry to show you my Balenciaga pouch i picked up at Holt Renfrew as well as my e.l.f Matte Lip Color review with my recent discovery!

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?