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?

GLYMM BAG: January 2013

after doing my report card on the beauty box subscriptions available to Canadians, the January boxes that followed seemed to reaffirm my decision in regards to Glymm and Glossybox - wowwwwwwwwww i honestly cannot believe how bad both are this month.
thanks to both of them for making it easy for me. once i cash in all my points, i am outta here!!

Glymm's recent price increase was very sudden - we got the email late last month (Jan 21) and the price change was effective immediately. to me, the contents of January's bag do not reflect the increase in price... in fact, i don't think i would have actually been happy if it was at $12 or even $10 (which was what i was paying). holy cow!!!! i just realized that this means that this is a 50% increase for everyone that was grandfathered at $10 during the previous price increase!

wwwwwwwwwhaaaaaaaaat

okay, putting the massive price hike aside, let's take a look at the products:

1) LASHEM Double Trouble Mascara - this is the teeniest mascara sample i've ever seen! it's the exact same size as the LASHEM serum from last month. i will start testing this mascara this weekend... i am on the verge of tossing a few so it's time for something new. i am pretty sure i can use this one up much faster.

size: N/A
retail value: $20 (6 mL)

2) La Fresh Travel-Lite Facial Cleansing Wipes - i'm sure no one is seriously overjoyed when we receive a couple foil packets of facial cleansing wipes...

size: 1 wipe ("full size") x 2
retail value: $3 each

3) 360 Skin Care Lavender Mint Firming Serum - the serum smells like lavender which i am not a fan of but i can hardly tell when i apply it to my face. this is unlike any other serum i've ever tried... it's rather thick and difficult to absorb onto your face. you know how lotion dries up and leaves residue around the cap? the texture is sort of like that but not nearly as hard.
this firming serum is to be used around the eyes. just make you sure you really try to smooth it out on your skin or you will get odd yellow globs on your face. just a suggestion!

size: 6 mL
retail value: $34 (30 mL)

4) Coolway Boost Repair Serum - this patent pending serum is to be used as a replacement of your conditioner and has strict instructions that you should wait at least 2 days between use. i found this serum to have a unique scent for a hair product - very sweet and sugary. the product itself is white and has a very very slight gritty texture. so far i haven't seen any transformation in my hair but i will let you know down the road if my feelings change.

size: 30 mL
retail value: $40 (236 mL)

5) ** bonus ** Burt's Bees Naturally Nourishing Milk & Honey Body Lotion - ho hum. i am not a huge fan of Burt's Bees lotions - i don't find the scents appealing. oh shoot - as i stared at this sample while i type this, i realized i got a larger sample of this in my Glossybox that i have yet to post...

size: 7 mL
retail value: $12.99 (170 mL) ... according to my January Glossybox card

you can tell from the tone of this whole post that i am not exactly overjoyed with this bag. haha - it may be that i am harder to impress now that i've subbed to 6 beauty boxes but in all honesty, all of these samples are tiny and have very limited use.
does anyone have high hopes for February? also, who knows when Glymm's anniversary is?

by the way, i have a giveaway coming up!!!! please stay tuned!!! i am letting you know now so that you can make sure i do it this weekend. i am giving you permission to get on my case about it. 

i really hope that i can work on more posts for you this weekend! i miss this :(

GLOSSYBOX: July 2012

ahhh.. Glossybox. why is it that you are so consistently late?

i got mine just yesterday but already plenty of posts from other bloggers were up. i resisted taking a peek until i got my box and after reading about it on Blogger as well as Facebook, it seems that a TON of people are unhappy this month. 

most of the complaints are regarding the different versions - apparently there is a major price difference between them. i am a V2 this month (there seems to be 3 variations).

so upon opening the box, i can automatically tell it is more deflated than usual. still there is one very large item, but you will see why it is not a huge deal:

July's samples (and fancy, fancy - the product card is glossy this month):

1) Zoya Nail Polish in "Shelby ZP616" - ooooo my first Zoya nail polish ever! i've seen these floating around many nail bloggers' websites but i have never actually seen one in real life. woooooaah. 

i'm not sure where they are even sold in Canada! "Shelby" is from the Summer 2012 Beach Collection. it is a bubblegum pink creme. when i look at my nails, it makes me feel super girly.

i needed 3 coats to get full coverage. it dries rather quickly but not quick enough for me to avoid denting it in the following pictures (i blame this on having to put on 3 coats)...

size: 15 mL (full size!)

retail value: $8

left to right: natural light; artificial light

2) Alessandro International Pedix Feet Heel Rescue Balm - this company is based in Germany so kudos to Glossybox for branching out. Alessandro International also sells other pedicure items as well as cosmetics such as lipsticks and nail polishes.
the Heel Rescue Balm is nice - i think i am starting to build a little collection of heel creams. this one in particular has a fruity but minty scent. 

size: 30 mL

retail value: $19.95 (100 mL)

3) John Frieda Frizz-Ease Sheer Solution - frizz has never been a major concern of mine so i have never tried such products. the solution needs to be shaken before use and the cap that it has does allow for shaking 10 drops into your palm and then rubbing into your hair (as per directions). i can say that my hair seems to be less tangled but that's it.

size: 10 mL

retail value: $14.99 (60 mL)

4) Burt's Bees Lip Shimmer in "Strawberry" - this is the second lip product from Burt's Bees i have gotten from a beauty box. i am glad that this one has less packaging that the tinted lip balm had - if you have forgotten, click here. i am glad to get to try a different color since i find "Cherry" a bit similar to "Rose".

"Strawberry" is a sheer shimmery pink. it smells like peppermint and leaves a tingly feeling. i like that it is 100% natural and is moisturizing. the shimmer in addition to the pink doesn't work too well on my skin tone if i put on a few layers of it - it comes off as a bit too frosty so i need to stick with only a minimal amount.

size: 2.6 g (full size!)

retail value: $5.99

top to bottom: artificial light; natural light

5) Dove VisibleCare Softening Crème Body Wash - so here's the thing with Glossybox. i don't want to point the finger at Glossybox and say that this is exactly what they are doing, BUT it seems that Glossybox includes a full size drugstore item to create the illusion that there is a lot more value for your money. i hear plenty of people are unsubscribing this month because the drugstore products are turning them off. personally, i don't mind as much when it's something i can use but body washes aren't my thing. i can't blame Glossybox for that though.
the body wash smells nice but i don't understand why it is a "Limited Offer".

size: 200 mL (full size!)

retail value: $5.99

6) BeautySoClean Cosmetic Sanitizer Wipes - i missed the very first Canadian Glossybox that included the sanitizer mist so i am happy to get to try these wipes! i find the company's idea so simple but genius at the same time. i have a brush cleaner but hadn't thought of cleaning lipsticks or face powders before hearing about BeautySoClean. 

size: 4 wipes

retail value: $12.50 (48 pack of wipes)

so overall, it is a "good" box in that i will use mostly everything in here. i don't normally use body washes or frizz solutions unless they are given to me. i like being introduced to brands i haven't tried before like BeautySoClean and Alessandro International. my favorite item would be the Zoya polish though - it's hard to go wrong with nail polish!

NOTE:
i will be going to L.A, L.A, L L A, L.A (re: Bran Van 3000's Drinking in L.A.) in a few weeks!!! hooray hooray hooray! first time ever so i am asking all you lovely bloggers if you have any suggestions on things i need to see or do while i'm there. it would be fantastic if you know of any places i must visit for some awesome beauty deals (like CVS? or something haha) or any brands only available in the US? very excited! thank you thank you :)

GLYMM BOX: February 2012

hi again!
i'm actually surprised at my own willpower - i received all my boxes at once but i told myself to hold off and open each one after i have blogged about it. that way, i can enjoy the element of surprise longer.

however, that excited feeling quickly diminished as i went through the February Glymm box.
the box was delivered on the 21st which is pretty fast considering it was shipped out on the 17th and i live on the west side of Canada. anyway, as you can see, the "Fragile" label appeared to not have been applicable during this shipment. there were two holes in my cardboard box and this was the first time i had seen any sign of damage on my Glymm boxes.

untying the bow, you will find this lady:

and this month's samples:

1) Sula Natural Shadow in "I'm in Heaven" - i must have jinxed myself or something when i said in my last post about Topbox that blue eyeshadow wasn't really my color, because here's another one! this one is even lighter in color so i'm fairly certain that it will not show up on my skin or if it does, it will be appear white. i actually received another Sula product from Glymm previously, back in December (it was a lip gloss). again, the packaging is very pretty and girly. i didn't do a swatch here since i wasn't sure if i will be using it. i know some people actually received a cream eyeshadow, which i would not have preferred anyway since i have oily eyelids and that would have caused major creasing problems.
size: 4.5 g (full size!)
retail value: $8

2) Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Balm in "Rose" - this is yet another brand that that i have previously encountered with Glymm (January). i know Burt's Bees products are 100% natural but this also means they don't smell the greatest. as for the product itself, i'm liking tinted lip balms. in December, i got a Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter and i absolutely love it. it is my go-to lip product because it is so easy to apply, it's moisturizing AND it instantly gives you some color. for some odd reason, my camera makes the tube look more orange than it is - it's actually like a petal pink color. the color of the lip balm itself is actually a deep red color and once applied it's more red-orange. i wore it all day today and it is quite moisturizing.
size: 4.25 g (full size!)
retail value: $7.99

but look at this silliness! it is a bit ridiculous the amount of packaging for this lip balm. guess they needed the space to convince you how good this product is for you.

3) GlamGlow Tingling and Exfoliating Mud Mask - this one came with a promo code for a full size version. $50 is still pretty expensive - i currently do not have the funds to spend this much on mud masks. the advertising for this product is very flashy, which goes along with its name.

the sample itself is not very big. i applied a pretty thin layer when testing this out and i think i might have enough for one more very thin-layer use. the product is dark green and smells just like what you think volcanic rock must smell like. and a bit of the green tea that is also in there. let's just say that instead of the word "tingling", i would have used "stinging" because that's what it felt like for the first minute. after it dried, it became difficult to move my face (as it does with other mud masks). you can see bits volcanic rock and whatnot on my skin. after i washed it off, my skin definitely felt softer and smoother. as for the lightening of the skin, i probably do not have enough use left to test that one out.
size: 7 mL
retail value: $78 (50 mL)

4) Mai Couture Blush Papier in "Prettyful" - i must admit the concept is interesting. and it is paraben and talc free. but only getting 2 sheets to test this test this trend out? eh. "Prettyful" is a shimmery light pink. didn't get a chance to test this one out yet - think i should save it for times like it was intended for - when i'm in a rush? also notice how the little plastic bag was slapped on awkwardly (as if THEY were in a rush? funny, no?).
size: 2 sheets
retail value: $17.50 (50 sheets)

so final verdict: a tad disappointing this month. maybe it's that i feel that during months with holidays, it will be exciting to receive something themed. too high of an expectation? this was also the first time i got 4 products instead of 5 from Glymm and to add to that, the blush 'papier' sample should definitely not be considered 'deluxe-sized'. plus, there has been no replacement for those jellybeans yet! sad sad sad. it seems that Glymm is getting a little repetitive with its retailers these couple of months. i am hoping we get to try out some new brands in the future. on a lighter note, i am enjoying the lip balm and my currently soft skin from the mud mask.

one more month? what do you think?

GLYMM BOX: January 2012

hi everybody!
i am very glad that you have taken the time to visit my blog. i've had an *extreme* increase in page views since my last post (as in now there are readers other than myself!)  and it's makes me feel so excited! special hello to my 2 followers!! even though no one has commented yet, i really appreciate your time. :)
anyways, today's post will be about my recent box from Glymm, received on Chinese New Year (January 23). it arrived in the pink cardboard box with a "fragile" sticker on top - which is odd since there are no (spoiler alert) jelly beans in this one... :( sad sad sad!!

untying the ribbon you'll find the samples list behind the picture of the lady who sort of creeps me out by her stare... is it just me? you will also find a card telling you to visit glymm.com and another with a coupon code for a free lip shine with an online purchase. however, i heard these RMS Beauty lip shines sold out very quickly.

inside the box:
1) Kaia Naturals facial cleansing cloths - hmm.. apparently there are 4 uses for this cloth, so i guess they figured it will be okay if we only try it once? i prefer to use makeup remover (has to be oil-free though). some of the cleansing cloths i've used in the past didn't take my makeup off without me having to rub my eyes a few times, and then it will get in my eyes and it will sting. sometimes i will also lose an eyelash!! (a very sad time indeed since i have so few). hopefully it will not be the case with this one.
size: 1 cloth
retail value: $17.99 (30 cloths)

2) Vasanti Cosmetics face rejuvenator - i just tried this so i can't say if it has had an rejuvenating effects yet. it is a white liquid and when you rub it on your face, you can feel a little bit of the crystals that is in the formula.
size: 12 g
retail value: $34 (120 mL)

3) Anastasia Beverly Hills brow gel - hooray! this item was probably what i was most excited about. this brand is known for developing many products aimed towards providing you with well-groomed brows. i've wanted to try Anastasia products for a while now. anndddd i've never used a brow gel before. it definitely makes a difference though. it made me realize i need to do a little clean up around my eyebrows since this gel sets it in shape all day. it felt a little odd at first cause i can feel that there is product on my eyebrows. but at the same time it doesn't feel stiff... just strange. guess i will get used to it soon. by the way, it goes on clear.
size: 2.5 mL
retail value: $21 (~ 8.28 mL)

4) Burt's Bees body lotion - i received 2 of these samples of lotion which is good since i will be able to get a few uses out of it. however i haven't gotten around to trying these since i've already received a few lotion samples from my previous boxes. i've heard good things about the brand and its lip balm before so hopefully it is just as good.
update: just used this - me and my sister used one entire sample on our legs and arms. i am not a fan of the smell at all. i don't really know how to describe it - but it's a bit overpowering and smells musky with a hint of honey... other than that, it is quite moisturizing.
size: 7 mL each x 2 = 14 mL total
retail value: $12.99 (170 mL)

5) Cargo Cosmetics eye pencil in "Black" - i've noticed that sometimes people receive different products or different colors of products in their boxes, so i was glad that when i looked at the back of the eye pencil box, the label said "black". eyeliner ranks pretty high on my beauty must-have list. i feel naked when i am not wearing eyeliner. when i took the cap off, my first impression was that it looked like it was one of those eyeliners that will tug on your eyes. in my experience, all eyeliners that need to be sharpen will do that to you. i was wrong - it actually glides on pretty easily. but i still wish it was one of those self-sharpening pencils where you just twist the bottom - they make life easier.
size: 1.1 g (full size!)   *side note: on the card it says 2 g but that's including packaging
retail value: $16

overall, i'm happy with my Glymm box. the two most impressive products were the brow gel and eye pencil. i definitely will be putting those two in use. i am very glad i was once again introduced to a brand that i've been meaning to try by means of these sample boxes. can't wait to get my boxes next month!
also, it has been said that there has been instances where the jelly beans jar broke while in transit which could lead to damages to the other products or possibly harm the consumer, so Glymm has decided to stop sending jelly beans. they are working on a substitute! those jelly beans will be missed though - i've only received them once but they were so pretty (and delicious i'm guessing? i don't want to eat them now that they may be the last ones i get from Glymm...)

thanks! please let me know of any thoughts or feedback you might have :) have a good day!