TOPBOX: October 2014 [Regular]

happy happy new year everybody! i hope your holidays were fabulous. i went back to work this week and i must say i could've used another week - only because it was quite a busy holiday. there was not one single day where i was able to lounge in pajamas and binge watch Netflix all day. other than that, it was a great time. spent plenty of time with friends and fam. and yes... somehow i ended up at the mall on Christmas Eve again. thought i was going to be able to avoid it since i was doing pretty good even before December hit. but lo and behold, every weekend in December was busy busy busy! one weekend it was my company's Christmas party and then there was a friend's wedding and then bam! it comes and goes so quickly doesn't it?
and then New Years. i feel that as i get older, fewer and fewer people have actual plans on New Years. for the beginning of 2015, the boyfriend and i just stayed in with his sisters. watched the countdown on TV. also watched a bunch of French rap videos. some of it is actually really good! actually i can't exactly comment on the rapping but to me - whose French is limited to bonjour, pamplemousse and voulez-vous coucher avec moi - it sounded pretty good.

flashback to October! October's Regular Topbox featured products available at London Drugs.

1) Prestige Cosmetics : Makeup Eraser Pen
size: 2.5 mL (full size!)
retail value: $9.00

oo neato! this is a product i've never used before... the slanted tip looks like it would be great for creating the perfect winged eye. it would also be very useful if you are as impatient as i am waiting for my liquid liner to dry...
i have only encountered Prestige Cosmetics at London Drugs. this pen is from their Back to Black collection; oil- and alcohol-free.

2) Cargo Cosmetics : Cargo_HD Picture Perfect Eye Shadow Primer
size: 5 g
retail value: $25 (11 g)

i have yet to be amazed by Cargo Cosmetics but i am willing to give this 'HD' product a chance. at first, the primer is a nude shade but blends into the skin.

3) Vichy : Purifying Foaming Water Radiance Revealer
size: 50 mL (full size!)
retail value: $23

fancy words hey? radiance revealer... one pump dispenses enough foam to lather your face. it feels like you are washing your face in a fountain of flowers. after rinsing, my skin is is feeling utterly soft.

4) Lise Watier : Lift & Firm 3D Duo Serum 24 Hrs (Instant Lifting Day Serum & Firming Night Serum)
size: 2 x 3 mL
retail value: $78 (2 x 20 mL)

the packaging touts the instant effectiveness of these serums - as quick as 15 minutes! there are high percentages of people saying they had firmer, smoother, denser skin... but if you look at the tiny writing, you will see that they tested this on 25 people. not very representative at all.
still - lifting and firming are going to be real issues in the near future. will hold onto these. :)

first time in a long time that i've been slightly impressed by Topbox. the Prestige Makeup Remover Pen is a new product for me so that is pretty exciting. maybe it is the timing as well since i was in need of a new cleanser. not sure how well foaming water will be at keeping pimples at bay...

AT THIS MOMENT ...
currently listening: "The Beginning" by Ryan Arcand (if you haven't checked out the video 'Man on the street plays beautifully', then go! the song is absolutely beautiful and moving)
just watched: The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (after re-watching the other two as well - LOVE the trilogy, which is not surprising since i was also blown away by LOTR. the final movie was amazing - i was in awe the entire time)
still watching: Doctor Who Season 4 // Walking Dead Season 5 // Brooklyn Nine-Nine Season 1 // Vampire Diaries Season 5
now reading: "When God Was a Rabbit" by Sarah Winman (finally decided to pick it up again - on Part 2!)

REVIEW: Cargo Swimmables Waterproof Pencil Kit

hello dears!
i recently picked up another great find at Winners (more specifically, the Stephen Avenue location in Calgary). it was a set of waterproof eye pencils. when i first saw them, i was a little iffy since i have purchased colored liners in the past and have not used them regularly. however, once i left the store and went online to read reviews, i decided i needed to add it to my makeup collection. i checked two other Winners but had to retrace my steps to the Stephen Avenue one - thank goodness because they only had 2 left.
i think my problem with colored eyeliners before was that they didn't stay on very long or the color didn't show up well - both of these problems are nonexistent with this Cargo kit.
the eyeliners were packaged in this cute box with a post office theme. there were 4 pencils, each 0.8 g.

i bought these for only $8.99! i can't find this specific set on the Cargo website but they do carry another set of shades for $19 US.

the colors included  in mine are:

top to bottom // left to right: Purple, Teal, Gold, Royal Blue

here is a swatch on my arm: (sorry for the weird indent near the Gold!! i had to roll up my sleeves)

these glide on SO easily - there is no tugging whatsoever. and the colors are just so vibrant.
since these are waterproof, i decided to do some tests to see how well they live up to this:

attempt #1: i submerged my arm underwater for a minute - i know it might be different depending on whether you are in sea water or chlorine water (and of course, the length of time but i got bored).

so after i took my arm out and wiped away the water, the colors are still pretty clear.

attempt #2: i used some tissue to try to rub it off - not only once but twice.

the colors hardly budged! very little product came off on the tissue. i think the one that faded the most would be the Teal or perhaps Gold.

so all in all, i find this a very good product. i use it only on my bottom waterline and it lasts all day for me. at first, i didn't know if i'd like all the colors but after trying each one, i really like the pop of color - some more subtle than others (like Teal) but pretty nonetheless. i really recommend this set to anyone looking for some fun summer eyeliners or waterproof ones.
what do you think? do you guys wear colored eyeliners?
thanks for reading!

TOPBOX: April 2012

aaaaaaaaand it has come.

hooray! it was shipped on the 11th and Topbox mentioned a batch that day was missorted so may take longer to arrive. the expected date was the 17th but i didn't get it until yesterday (19th). even with the delay, Topbox remains the first box i receive every month.

this month's box design was based on April's Earth Day. consumers are allowed to choose whether they receive this design or the purple design for their future boxes. i think this is a great idea - i like switching it up :) these boxes are great for storing makeup brushes or gift wrapping. i made a circle scarf recently and put it in this (it was a super tight squeeze though).

April's samples:

1) Benefit the POREfessional
YAY for a Benefit product!! i kept seeing people receive Benefit products in their boxes and this is my first time! i have some noticeable pores so this will come in handy! it comes with instructions as to how you use it. you can also use it under or over makeup. i tried it today using it over my makeup and the areas i applied it to became super soft. i didn't notice a big difference so i think i will try it again under my makeup. i like how it can also function as a primer! love multi-purpose products :)

the texture is very silky and there is a light fresh (lemon-y?) scent. it is an apricot color that blends into your skin.
size: 7.5 mL
retail value: $34 (22 mL)

2) Lise Watier HydraSmart
hmm.. does anyone else find that Lise Watier samples tend to be super tiny? plus, when i used it this morning it does not seem like the tube is even half full. not sure how many uses i can get out of this...
anyhoo, it is a "3D Hydration Tinted Veil". very fancy name. there is quite a bit of these fancy terms in the makeup market today like "3D", "blu_ray" (Cargo Cosmetics) and "HD" (Make Up For Ever).

this is also lightly scented like the Benefit balm but is much darker. however, it blends into my skin tone just fine. i am not really wowed by this product yet but will try again tomorrow.
size: 2 mL
retail value: $35 (40 mL)

3) Misa Nail Lacquer in "157 High Waist Hue"
this was actually the first item i pulled out and i was immediately overjoyed. love nail polish AND love the color. i don't know why but i have a thing with browns lately. not like super dark or dirty looking browns but pretty like this one!! this was a personalized shade according to the survey they sent out last month. i haven't seen any bloggers with this color yet. cute name too! i haven't been able to do a swatch yet since i bought some Orly polishes recently and immediately changed my nails like two days ago. will update with a photo soon!
on the side of the bottle, there is a special offer for 20% off your next Misa purchase.
size: 15 mL (full size!)
retail value: $8.99

-- update 05/01/12 --
i discovered that there is a blue shimmer to the polish when it is in the bottle, however it doesn't transfer to the nail when it is applied. i'm not a huge fan of the brush - it is too thin for me which makes me feel like i have less control.

here are some swatches of the nail polish: left pic was taken in artificial light; right in natural light.
sorry for all the imperfections again - i applied it before watching a movie and then became completely unaware as to what i did with my hands during it. oops! oh and this is 3 coats - 1 coat was way too sheer.

4) Bella Pella Tropical Flowers Body Lotion
ahhh i am having the hardest time pinpointing this scent because i am pretty sure i had a perfume that smelled exactly like this. hmmmmm...
so another body lotion. not very exciting but this is my first Bella Pella product and i like the scent. i find that is absorbs quite quickly.
size: 30 mL
retail value: $15.95 (175 mL)

5) *bonus* Cargo blu_ray Pressed Powder
i am considering this a bonus since it was just stuck onto the product card and is a "sponsored ad". in addition, this is not a deluxe sized sample since it is only for one use.

overall, i am happy with my Topbox (which is common). i especially love the Misa nail polish and the Benefit POREfessional. will have to try the color for the polish first to be sure but the shade seems lovely.
not surprisingly, Topbox is holding yet ANOTHER giveaway. click here to enter the Benefit Cosmetics gift set. you have until May 1 to enter :) 

a quick note on the First in Line program for Loose Button. it has been a super frustrating experience this month. it was supposed to open at 12 pm EST (or 10 am MST) yesterday. i decided to log in like 10 minutes after since last month it took me like 25 minutes to reserve a product. but of course, there were issues with the page. the program was not active on their website. Loose Button looked into it maybe an hour later? some people were finally able to log in - i figured they didn't want the site to crash or something so they were filtering access to certain people. but then for some reason, the program was suspended for everyone else. the company decided another approach - sent an email to everyone allowing them to choose a time slot. they would also be given a password so they will be able to reserve a product during that time slot.
again, problems arose. i was sent an email to register for a time slot 2 minutes before midnight last night. i selected 3-6 pm EST. did not receive a password, emailed them. the time slot has come and gone and i have yet to hear from the team. it is really too bad this is not working out because i really wanted the Essie nail polish i heard other people were reserving. i know many people think there shouldn't be complaints since this is supposed to be just an extra feature but the amount of time people have wasted trying to access it is ridiculous. hopefully Loose Button will be able to get things in order soon.

on a happier note, i reached 2000+ views today. yippee for another milestone :) thank you readers!

LUXE BOX: March 2012

hi all!

so it is nearing the end of March and i (as well as plenty of others) have not received our Glossyboxes yet. i heard that the Alberta ones were shipped on Monday so hopefully i will get it by this Friday! 

i did receive a box Monday and it was the Luxe Box! finally! as i was walking to my community mailbox, i realized that i usually find them on my doorstep so i ran back. it was not there so i proceeded to the mailbox once again. oddly enough, it was in my mailbox but the Canada Post shipping notification did not state "Do Not Safe Drop". 

it also happens to be Loose Button's first birthday and as a special gift, they used a seeded card that can also be used to grow a plant. you pretty much put the card in some soil and water it. i have no idea what kind of plant it would become. very neat idea!

the March edition contains:

1) Vera Wang Lovestruck - seeing that it was a longer perfume box, i was expecting a rollerball but it is just a bigger vial. i find that this made it even more difficult to use. it was inevitable that while attempting to open it, i will get the perfume all over my fingers. i do like the perfume though - it is a floral scent that is not overpowering.

size: 4 mL

retail value: $54 (50 mL)

2) Cargo Eye Shadow Single in "Sardinia" - actually, it wasn't a single - it was a duo. and there was no color labelled anywhere so i had to Google it (which didn't work) and use Google Images. apparently it is a part of the Spring 2012 collection which may be why it was so difficult to find more information about this product. by the way, does anyone know why Sephora stopped carrying Cargo products on their website? 

anyway, i wore it today without eyeshadow primer and after 13 hours, it still prevails! less so of the pink but still impressive since i have monolids. it goes on silky and is very pigmented. i really like the color - it's definitely something i'd wear everyday. i went digging in my box of eyeshadows since i recall getting a similar color combination from Clinique. the one on the left is my swatch from Cargo's "Sardinia" and the one on the right is Clinique's "104 Strawberry Fudge". 

size: 3 g (full size!)

retail value: $16

3) OPI Top Coat - it seems that the one i got was a tad different from other people's in that mine says "RapiDry". i don't mind! i tend to smudge my nails really quickly so this helps. it's funny how i mentioned the desire for nail polish in these beauty boxes last month and ta da! Topbox, Glymm and now Loose Button all send nail polish. maybe Glossybox too? 

-- update April 2, 2012 - since using this top coat six days ago, my nails still have not chipped! there are some edges visible due to daily wear but this is the longest that a nail color has lasted for me. they still look good but i'm getting a little tired of the color, haha. first time that's happened! -- 
size: 3.75 mL

retail value: $15 (15 mL)

4) CHI Silk Fusion - i wasn't entirely sure how to use this product so i searched online. many people suggested using it when your hair is damp. my hair immediately felt softer with just a tiny amount of this clear liquid. it reminds me of another product i own - Biosilk's Silk Therapy. on the sample it says "for hair & skin" but i do not know how one would use it for the skin... do you just rub it in for silky hands? 

size: 15 mL

retail value: $33 (180 mL)

overall, this month's box is pretty good. the products may seem small, but i really like my eyeshadow - which was reserved through Loose Button's "First in Line" program by the way! we were sent an email notification ahead of time (which is new) and so i was online once the program opened. and of course, the server crashes. i probably was able to get through around 20 minutes later. i guess i wasn't helping the situation by having two different browsers opened and refreshing constantly. :) (i also tried on my iPhone...)

i will also make use of all the other products. i do not have many nail polish top coats so yay. i'm a little tired of receiving perfume samples but at least i haven't gotten this one yet (it is a larger sample AND a contender for an important perfume award). as for the CHI product, i will continue to use it to see the long-term benefits many people have been gushing about.

happy birthday Loose Button!

LUXE BOX: February 2012

hello!
so here's the last box of the month! according to Canada Post, it was delivered on the 22nd .
it arrived in the cardboard box in its regular size (instead of last month's extra large edition). but wait a second - this month's box is an eye-popping red instead of the usual sleek black! Loose Button partnered up with FLARE magazine to create this limited edition box.

FLARE's March 2012 magazine cover is featured on the front of the sample list card. aside from the greeting card, there is also an offer for a FLARE subscription where you can also get a Nicole by OPI nail polish for free as well as another offer for $25 off a minimum purchase of $75 on Dealuxe.ca - haven't heard of this website before. sorry for the glare :)

Loose Button's samples of the month:

1) DKNY pureDKNY Verbena - cute bottle but i dislike not being able to spray it on! on the card, Flare's tip is to "spritz" it behind your knees or stomach so that it lasts longer which is a great tip since i was usually told pulse points were the way to go, BUT how do i go about this "spritz"-ing business?
the perfume is very floral - maybe i inhaled too much but i got slightly dizzy. i felt that the scent was a bit strong because once i got into a car (with the heater on since it was snowing), i was a little overwhelmed with the smell - again, the dizziness. and i had only dabbed it on!
size: 7 mL
retail value: $80 (50 mL); $105 (100 mL)

2) Cargo Lash Activator in Black - can't say much since i haven't been able to test it just yet. along with having quite a few mascaras (still unopened!), i also have many lash primers. i'd definitely use it in the future though since i am on the quest to overcome invisible eyelashes (slight exaggeration; very slight).
size: unknown - typical mascara sample size
retail value:  $35 (11 mL)

3) Redken Color Extend - i think Loose Button decided to give us 3 sets of these shampoo and conditioner samples to make them "deluxe sized". each one is like the sample you would've gotten from the mail/magazine. i am unsure why i keep getting sent shampoo for color-treated hair. i don't recall selecting that option... so i cannot really give you readers a review on it's ability to, well, extend color (hehe).
the smell was light and flowery. the packaging was the worst thing you could encounter in your shower. DO NOT ATTEMPT in the shower. it is impossible. i tried wiping my hands on a towel and still that was difficult. blargh! my hair is nice and soft now though. my hair reaches the middle of my back and i used about half the package.
btw, i thought the "Luxe Tip" for this was silly - i thought we were supposed to rub some in our eyes first? :)
size: 10 mL each x 6 = 60 mL
retail value: shampoo $15 (300 mL); conditioner $17 (250 mL)     -- guess, i don't buy salon shampoos/conditioners much since i did not know there was a price difference between the two.

4) Dermalogica Microfoliant - hmmm i don't think i've ever tried a beauty product that was rice-based. it even sort of smells like it. it did not feel like it was scratching my skin at all and now my skin feels really soft.

the top right image is when i just sprinkled the white powder onto my wet hands and the bottom right is when i had mixed in a little more water to create the paste. i will keep using this since it does not feel harsh like other exfoliating products and i've heard plenty of people have fallen in love with this product.
size: 13 g
retail value: $72 (75 g)     -- wowee, our sample cost almost $12.50!

so i am content with the box. it's a little depressing when you check out other people's blogs and find that they got different things like... NAIL POLISH! :( why not meeeeee. i've been hoping for one since i signed up for these boxes back in November but no such luck yet! i would've also very much enjoyed the Benefit Sunbeam some people received.
it's funny how once i decided to set up my mail account on my iPhone so i can be alerted the second Loose Button sends out those emails where you can reserve a product, the company chooses not to do it this month. oh well, better luck next month? :)

(sorry i forgot to take a photo of all the products before i used one of the Redken samples!)
stay tuned for an updated comparison of Topbox, Glymm and Loose Button. AND an arts and crafts special on what i did with my Luxe Boxes :) hooray for Reusing!

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!