IPSY BAG: August 2014

i'm trying to fall back into routine but it's so difficult to settle back in after visiting the happiest place on Earth (as well as another magical place - The Wizarding World of Harry Potter!). i took a two week trip to Florida mid-August and it was amazing!! 

hot hot hot but amazing. 8 days straight of theme parks (with a water park day thrown in the middle) which included plenty of eating, lineups, rides and merchandise but it was all fun. ALL of it. we did 4 days of Disney World and 3 Universal Studios. i hope i will get to doing a whole post on the trip!

August : Beauty Schooled

1) ABSOLUTE : You're the Balm Lip Balm in "Grape"
Treat your lips with this ultra-moisturizing lip balm from Absolute New York. This lightly tinted, creamy, conditioning formula softens, smooths, and protects lips for a seriously kissable pout. Discover this must-have balm for sensationally soft and luscious lips! 
size: 12 g
retail value: $5.99 (24 g - duo)
promotion: 30% off online purchase with code IPSY; US only; expires Sept 11, 2014

i love love love the smell of grape products... sooooo yummy! as much as i love grape, the glitter in this balm is a turnoff. i do not like putting just glitter on my lips - it's okay if there was some color in the product but i find it odd if it's just specks of glitter on my lips.

2) Dr. Brandt : Pores No More Pore Refiner Primer 
A cult favorite, Pores No More Pore Refiner Primer is Dr. Brandt’s quick fix for flawless, photo-ready skin. It is the miracle base to create the perfect skin canvas for long-lasting makeup and well-preserved skin. This velvety formula absorbs excess oil, minimizes pores, blurs fine lines and is resistant to sweat and humidity. Prime, touch-up and treat while perfecting your makeup.
size: 7.5 mL
retail value: $45.00 (30 mL)
promotion: 20% off online purchase & free travel size Pores No More Pore Refiner Primer & free shipping with code IPSY20; expires Oct 31, 2014

i wish i can actually see my pores minimizing but i have yet to encounter a product that does that. primer is always handy though.

3) Urban Decay : Perversion Mascara
Urban Decay's ultra-creamy, lengthening and volumizing mascara features triple-black pigments and a deeply nourishing ingredient blend. Perversion Mascara gets you sexy in one stroke, yet it won’t quit until you say when.
size: 3 mL
retail value: $22.00 (12mL)

this mascara boasts 'triple-black pigments' which sounds pretty interesting to me. i already have dark eyelashes (albeit being extremely sparse) so i am curious if this would make them even darker.

4) Coastal Scents : Forever Blush in "Fresh" and "Elegant"
Coastal Scents Forever Blush boasts 18 perfectly pigmented, powder blushes with a long-lasting rush of color. Complete with a mirror, these color-packed compacts go a long way.
size: 2.4 g
retail value: $7.95 (10 g)
promotion: 25% off online purchase with code blush25off; expires Oct 6, 2014

i decided not to swatch this because i have too much blush to use... the two shades in this sample are Fresh and Elegant. Fresh is a matte peach and Elegant is a satin pink - there's a bit of shimmer in this one.

5) Lord & Berry : Silk Kajal Kohl-Liner Eye Pencil in "#1001 Black"
Sensual and exotic, that's the effect that Silk Kajal Kohl Eye Pencil delivers. Just like the traditional Kohl, but with the modern ease and control of a pencil. Giving a semi-matte finish that is also smudgeable, Silk Kajal Kohl's soft tip is ophthalmologically-tested and gentle enough to be used on the inner eye. Also available in Nudo and White.
size: 0.6 g
retail value: $16.00 (1.44 g)
promotion: 25% off online purchase with code LAB@14091; expires Oct 15, 2014

this mini black eye liner goes on nice and dark but smudges easily. it is intended to be that way but i would advise against using it on your lower waterline if you do not wish to transform into a raccoon mid-day.

the August bag was a bit of a miss to me. there are some products i could have liked but there was always something missing (or in some cases like the lip balm - there's too much of...). i don't want such products to go to waste so i will be putting up a For Sale section. i will post the link up here once it's done!

TOPBOX: December 2011

soooo thank you all for staying tuned!! i am happy to say that this is my first ever review - and it will be about the first beauty sample box i ever received. this box came from Topbox on December 14, 2011. needless to say, i was super excited to open it after seeing many many videos about similar sample boxes from Canada, US and England.

i find that it is interesting to check out what people received in their boxes since it seems that some people receive different items according to where they live. (reminder: i live in calgary, ab).
let's begin!!

it came wrapped up in in a cylinder shape with a large Topbox sticker. underneath was a pretty box with a purple design.

besides the samples, it came with some matching purple tissue paper, crinkled black tissue (not sure if there is a proper name for these!), the Topbox card, and a coupon for shopper drug mart points if you purchase Cover FX products.

apparently, Topbox ran out of the Bella Pella soap so instead i got a Dr. Brandt eye serum. i heard that this was included in the november box but since i wasn't subscribed then, i didn't mind too much.

products i received:
1) Cargo Cosmetics gloss in "Big Sur" - came customized for me as well as in full size. it came with something called TimeStrip technology which tells you how much longer the lip gloss is good for - according to Cargo, the lifespan is 9 months. i took a picture of it just a couple of days ago to show you how surprisingly accurate it is.

the color is alright with me: it looks like i'm wearing just a hint of gloss since my lips are already quite pigmented. (i apologize for the lip pictures - i find that close-ups of lips are really strange looking!). the left picture is of my bare lips, and the right one is with the gloss on. i've used it a couple of times and it doesn't feel too sticky which is a plus. sadly though, the plastic tubing around the gloss has come off so each time i use it, i have to pull off the tube and then twist it open. it gets a little messy around the edges now.
size: 4.75 g (full size)
retail value: $25

2) Cover FX primer - i haven't actually used this product yet but when i went to test it, the tube felt quite empty. i love using primers since my skin is often oily and makeup doesn't tend to last long on such skin. hopefully, this doesn't turn out to be too greasy. i've tried it on my hand and it comes out as a clear liquid, but as for staying power, i will have to find out.
size: 7 mL
retail value: $45 (30 mL)

3) Skinceuticals gel - i have never used a gel before and was a little confused as to what to do with it. i went online, and it was suggested that i use it before applying makeup as it helps create a smooth surface to work on. i found it made my skin really soft. i will definitely keep using it, but as for purchasing it in the future - not likely. it is very expensive for a full size product and i have not yet seen long-term benefits that will convince me to fork out the money.
size: not sure - but quite tiny.
retail value: $78 (30 mL)

4) Dr. Brandt eye serum - i find that i do not really have a use for collagen eye serums yet since i am 24 and have not been developing wrinkles just yet... still, when i went to test it, i had to really squeeze the tube in order for some product to come out. did anyone else have the same problem? i am not sure if this is a common thing... or if the tubes are not supposed to be fully filled? anyway, it comes in a white liquid.
size: 2.5 mL
retail value: $65 (~14.8 mL)

all in all, i was slightly disappointed with my first Topbox. none of the products really wowed me. i will continue to use a few of the products but only because i have them, otherwise i would not go out and purchase them. it was also unfortunate that two of the products seemed to be empty. however, with this said, i kept my subscription since i feel that i should not judge a company entirely based on one month's review. seeing that i have already received the january box, i will update you about this soon!

please note: i have heard that Topbox is sold out for the next couple of months but they are working on shortening the wait time.

thanks for reading!!