GLOSSYBOX: April 2013

so this month's Glossybox had an extra sticker on it - Danone Silhouette... which is

yogurt?

well, it's not in the box itself but there is a coupon for a FREE Greek yogurt pack. sweeeeeet :) the only Greek yogurt i've tried was rather sour-tasting... is that the norm?

April's "Work That Beauty" box:

1) Jelly Pong Pong Lip Blush in "Marshmallow Pink" - well that's definitely an interesting brand name. Jelly Pong Pong is based in the UK and ships worldwide (minimum order is approx $40 CAD and shipping is a little over $6).
it took me a while to figure out what color i got since the outer packaging looks like it is "Cranberry" but the color itself is definitely a pink.
the lip blush is nice - moisturizing and pigmented. below, i have swatched it on my arm - the left is one swipe and the right one is 5.

"Marshmallow Pink" is described as a "soft petal pink"; i find that the blue base of the pink is very evident. still i love how pigmented this pink is on my lips. i didn't notice this at first but when the sunlight hits it directly, it sort of looks metallic-y (see top pic below).
lasting power of this lip blush is pretty impressive - about 4 or so hours. it is slightly awkward using it right now since the tip is really pointy but i'm sure it will round off later.

size: 2.5 g (full size!)
retail value: $18.70

2) Schick Hydro Silk Razor - oh hello first razor (from a beauty box) of the year! i wonder how many of these are there to come?

size: 1 razor & 1 cartridge (full size!)
retail value: $10.99

3) Boscia Recharging Night Moisture - this moisturizer feels light and absorbs quickly into the skin. it has a herbal scent to it that is not overly unpleasant. this made me curious about the ingredients so i did a little research and found that this moisturizer is like, good for (almost) everything: it targets wrinkles, dryness and redness. it is recommended for normal to dry or aging skin.

size: 15 mL (not full size like the info card says)
retail value: $44 (40 mL)

4) POP Beauty Cat Eyes Eye Liner in "Tasty Teal" - i was actually contemplating this eye liner when i saw it at Winners a couple months ago but they didn't have a black which is pretty much all i wear. still, "Tasty Teal" is a fun color and i like how the liner is slanted. 

however, what i do not like about this eyeliner is quite the dealbreaker. 

it creases. and it creases ridiculously fast.

i was doing my makeup in the car and had lined one eye, glanced down for a second and look up to find that it had already creased. yes it was that quickly! there's no way my eyelids were already that greasy since i was doing my makeup on my way to work (so at like 7 am!). in order to fix this, i just blended it and used it as an eyeshadow instead.

the next time i attempted this eyeliner, i used it on my lower lashes and it stayed relatively well put there. 

i think if i try this again on my top lashes, i will use a heavy duty primer and check on it multiple times a day, just in case it became super messy again.

size: 0.4 g (full size!)

retail value: $16

5) Heartland Fragrance Soothing Epsom Salts in "Jasmine" - this was definitely what i smelled the second i lifted the lid off the Glossybox. i am not a fan of the smell of jasmine but it is relaxing. i haven't used it in the bath yet but in the shower, the salts dissolve rather quickly.

the boyfriend also noted that these are probably specifically labelled "epsom" salts now due to the bath salt incidents - which were so crazzzyyy.

size: N/A
retail value: $10.10 (850 g)

so here's the whole box! it was definitely jam packed and there is a variety of items this month. favorite of course, is the lip blush. most disappointing? the eyeliner but i will try to make it work again. what were your thoughts?

also, Target arrived in Calgary a couple days ago - and i found it underwhelming. yes, there were two cosmetics brands that i haven't seen widely available in Canada before (Sonia Kashuk and Pixi) but i thought the prices were pretty high. my first purchase there that night included a body wash for the boyfriend and 2 pairs of socks. nothing cosmetic-related! however i did find the Sonia Kashuk area quite empty so maybe next time i will find some goodies.

GLOSSYBOX: March 2013

got my Glossybox on Tuesday and i am happy with it.

say what now??

check out the The Metropolitan Chic Glossybox (V1 or V3 depending on which Tresemme product you get):

1) ModelCo Cheek + Lip Tint in "Rosy Red" - i was quite excited about this product - it looks so fancy! i have one other product similar in function to this: the Benefit Benetint. the ModelCo one comes in a squeezable tube and blends out easily. it does not stain as well as the Benetint though. for both, i found it pretty useless on my lips - i'd have to use an excessive amount of the product to get it to actually show on my lips. on my cheeks however, i only need to dab the tiniest amount. the box says not to rub it in so i try my best to just dab it on - still, the majority of the tint remains on my fingers rather than on my cheeks. this product will be great to throw in my purse since i don't like carrying a powder blush around. 

size: 10 mL (full size!)

retail value: $24 

2) Jergens Natural Glow 3 Days to Glow Moisturizer in "Fair to Medium" - i've used moisturizers like this before but haven't exactly observed a difference. perhaps it's because i don't like to use them - waiting for the product to dry seems like such a hassle (cue: ain't nobody got time for that!). this moisturizer claims to make you one full shade darker within 3 days. guess i could start using it now since we still have snow on the ground and the sun won't be coming out anytime soon...

i am glad that Glossybox took my skin tone into consideration! the 3 Days to Glow Moisturizer also comes in "Medium to Tan". the product says "No Odour" and instead smells like perfume. 

size: 120 mL (full size!)

retail value: $12.99

3) L'Oreal Paris Youth Code Dark Spot Corrector Serum - i'd say the sound that came out of my mouth when i saw this can be described as a squeal.

i've been wanting to try a dark spot corrector FOREVER and i just couldn't decide which one to invest my money in since they can be quite pricey. i am very delighted that i get to try this one out and am especially glad that it is a serum since they are more effective than creams. i have a few sun spots on my cheeks near my nose so i will be using this serum completely and will post before and after pics!

the first actual pump didn't seem enough so i did 2 - which was a mistake because then i had way too much. i learned that you can actually control the amount the pump distributes. also handy is that the pump can be twisted and locked. the serum has a nice scent and isn't overly oily. 

but when i rubbed my face where i had applied the product, i felt little balls pilling underneath my fingers - not sure if it was just the product or my actual skin. i tried using less product and there is less of it but it's still there. anyone else have this happen?

the product says that it is clinically proven and that i should see great results within 12 weeks so i am crossing my fingers!

size: 30 mL (full size!)

retail value: $29.99

4) TRESsemme Platinum Strength Deep Conditioning Treatment - this makes it full-sized product number 4. this treatment reminds me of my Joico K-Pak Restorative Treatment which i absolutely love. i got it back in July and i'm still savoring it. 

i can use this conditioning treatment in place of my regular conditioner and it is supposed to repair up to 2 years of damage after 5 uses - howwwwww do they calculate that? hahaha - such claims should always be taken lightly. i must say though, that i definitely noticed a difference in my hair after using this - it feels lighter and softer and looks shinier. love!

size: 177 mL

retail value: $5.99

5) Beautiful Movements Cosmetics Eyeshadow in "Platinum Tiara" - the color is described by BM as a "rich, sparkly grey" and is a part of their "Starry Eyed Glamour Collection". although i prefer my greys to be darker than this, it is actually quite pretty. it applies very sheer but the color is buildable. it is also very, very shimmery and i love the name. in fact, many of the other colors on their website are gorgeous. their eyeshadows are 100% mineral. if you are interested in purchasing their products, shipping to Canada costs ~$7.00.

if you noticed that there is mention of a Kimberley all over the website, it is because they are referring to Kimberley Wyatt who is one of the co-founders of Beautiful Movements and previously part of the Pussycat Dolls.

size: 1 g

retail value:  £7.00/$10.93 (2 g)

so those are the reasons why i am delighted with March's Glossybox! as expected, the majority of the Glossybox was full sized but also of a drugstore brand. still, i am very excited to try out the L'Oreal Dark Spot Corrector Serum. i guess if dark spots and sun spots were not a concern of yours, you would not be as pleased as i was. i can even go as far as say that this is one of my favorite Glossyboxes ever.

what did you think of your Glossybox? i've only seen one other blogger post about it so maybe some people haven't gotten theirs yet or is it because many unsubscribed?

GLOSSYBOX: February 2013

soooooo i am stuck in Fernie right now due to poor road conditions but i am not complaining since i actually have time to put this post up right away! (had to call in to work though... not sure how well they took it since i've only been there for a little over a month!)

i bring you Glossybox's One Year Anniversary Box which i received just last Friday (March 1). i am totally trying to do these posts quicker for you... i still have my ipsy one to do but i can't upload those pictures yet since i don't have the right camera with me :/

just take a look at this pretty packaging! the pink, the bow... it really makes you hope that the contents inside are not a disappointment (Glossybox actually delivers this month!)

for this special box, i got V2. there was also a Golden Ticket item (ruffle undies) for 50 people. i still haven't been lucky enough to be 1 of the 50!

February's box of love:

1) Givenchy Gloss Interdit in "03 - Coral Frenzy" - ooooo Givenchy hey? Glossybox got all fancy shmancy with their anniversary box. this tube of gloss may seem tiny but considering that the full size is less than twice its size, the sample one is worth over $15!

"Coral Frenzy" is described as a soft coral. on my lips, the coral hardly shows but the shimmer is definitely there. the floral-scented gloss has a brush applicator and lasts about three hours on me. i like that it feels lightweight on my lips. at first, i would've said it was non-sticky, but after trying Benefit's lip glosses, i'd have to say that this one feels stickier than that.

on the Sephora website, the scent is described thoroughly - with top notes, middle notes and base notes - like a true fragrance - i am guessing that Givenchy put a lot of thought into the smell of their lip glosses.

size: 3.5 mL
retail value: $30 (6 mL)

2) Essence Quattro Eyeshadow in "03 Vamp It Up" - i've tried a ton of Essence products since i love the range and how affordable it is but i haven't tried their eyeshadows. the colors of "Vamp It Up" look fun and are colors that i'd use so i gladly opened this.

i found that the colors, although pretty, are rather chalky and the pigmentation is just okay. i'd say the blue is the most pigmented.

size: 5 g (full size!)
retail value: $3.99

3) Biore Deep Cleansing Pore Strips (Ultra) - ooo i am going to have some fun nights with these! the last time i used them was in August and it was my first time in a long time. the strips got really hard around my nose and i felt that it worked pretty good. yay for no blackheads!

size: 6 nose strips (full size!)
retail value: $9.99

4) Macadamia Natural Oil Healing Oil Treatment - it seems like hair oils are getting really popular now... this specific brand has been widely talked about on the blogosphere and i'm glad that we get to try a full sized version of it! i've been using this on the ends of my dry hair and it feels softer and actually looks healthier.
not exactly sure how to describe the scent to you but it is what you'd think macadamia oil would smell like...

size: 30 mL (full size!)
retail value: $13.50

5) Anatomicals You Need A Blooming Shower! Your Nose Smells Rose Body Cleanser - this cleanser is now called "Rose and Jasmine Body Cleanser". i think Glossybox might have gotten a load of the old packaging but i am not complaining since i have never heard of this English brand and i am happy to try it.
it is interesting how they use they term "blooming" as you learn from the excerpt on the back.  the paraben-free cleanser smells like roses and it might smell really strong when you sniff it right from the cap but when i use it in the shower, it is actually not overpowering.

size: 150 mL (full size!)
retail value: $3

6) *bonus* Eucerin Hyal-Urea Anti-Wrinkle Day/Night Cream Sachet - i haven't tried it yet but it is nice to try the day version and the night one together; although, i do not have "dry and very dry" skin...

size: 1.5 mL each x 2
retail value: $18.50 (50 mL) each

7) *bonus* Crabtree & Evelyn Tarocco Orange Ultra-Moisturising Hand Therapy Sachet - i have never tried Crabtree & Evelyn products before, even though i have walked by a couple of their stores. ever since i tried the Pacifica Tuscan Blood Orange body butter, i have taken a liking to blood orange scents so i think i will like this. it would be nice to too, since the Glossybox card says to stay tuned for a full size version!

size: 5 g
retail value: $8 (25 g)

8) *bonus* Glossybox Glossy Anniversary Cupcake Kit - this was a cute idea to celebrate the first year anniversary. i haven't baked cupcakes for a while now but now that i have these...

size: N/A (full size!)
retail value: N/A

so as expected, Glossybox stepped up their game with their anniversary box. why, there were even a number of non-drugstore items in the box!! the packaging and bonus items were also a nice touch. sadly, i don't think these occasional great boxes make up for the other ones including the discontinued/expired product issue and the price hike.
what are your feelings on February's box?

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?

REPORT CARD: 6 Beauty Box Companies // Jul - Dec 2012

oh my. it is, once again, time to report on the many many beauty box subscription companies out there. my first 'report card' focused on 3 companies, the next was on 5 and here we are now with 6.
if you want, you can read the first report card here or the report card for January to June 2012 here.

as more companies enter the market and as demand for these sample boxes appear to be tapering off, we are faced with the decision of which companies we actually want to remain subscribed to. i know i am facing quite a mountain of products in my bedroom that i will have to deal with soon...

i hope this post helps you with your decision. be warned that this is a rather lengthy post! there are pictures at the end of you just want to take a look at all the boxes :) 

i stuck with the same legend as before:

LEGEND:

• purple font = these are "bonus" products. note that all totals DO NOT include bonus products. 
• (number) = if there are brackets with a number beside a product, it means i have gotten that number of samples 
• number with a circle around it = the number represents the number of samples i received of the same product while the circle indicates that this is a one-use sample 
• i.e. in July's Glossybox, i received 4 makeup sanitizer wipes that are intended to be one-use only 

note: 

- gift cards are not included.

- makeup remover wipes are classified under "Cosmetics"; cleansing cloths are under "Skin Care".

- if a mini-size of a product was received and is available for sale in this size, it is still considered a "full sized" item.

TOPBOX

* Sold out - waitlist is currently a "few months" long
* Website? www.topbox.ca
* Cost? $10/month $12.00/month; $12.60 including tax (AB)
* Number of samples? 4 "deluxe"
* Beauty profile? Yes
* Feedback surveys? Yes - allows you to customize your preferences for next month including type of packaging (normal vs. eco-friendly)
* Referral program? Yes - for each every 3 friends who join, get 1 box free (limit of 6; invite through email via Topbox's website only)
* Other info? shop online (limited selection); tons of giveaways on Facebook; a "Review & Win " section;

the new "Privé box" - from February and onward, you may choose a brand offered by Topbox and you may receive a box featuring that brand. otherwise, you will get a regular Topbox.

* My thoughts: 

i have a love-hate relationship with Topbox. i really don't know what to do with them!! they were the very first company i subbed to. i had fabulous boxes from them but since they opened up subscriptions sometime during fall last year and started sending out fragrances, it went drastically downhill. oh and not to mention, the price has gone up. i can't believe how disappointing the December box was.

Topbox stays pretty true to their claim of 4 products in a box - occasionally they add a bonus item or the 5th would be a one-use sample. the only customization i've been seeing lately is through nail polish colors. 

we will have to see how i feel about these Privé boxes before making a final decision.

GLYMM
* Website? www.glymm.com or click on my referral link?
* Cost? $12/month since May; for active members prior to the change, price remains at $10) $15/month since February 2013 for ALL members; can also purchase semiannual, annual or gift memberships
* Number of samples? 4-5 "deluxe"
* Beauty profile? Yes
* Feedback surveys? Yes - get 10 points for each one completed
* Referral program? Yes - earn 50 points for each referral; 100 points = $10 off next purchase
* Other info? can shop online; Glymm Man & Glymm MAMA also available; switched to using makeup bags instead of boxes since May

* My thoughts:

this may be biased because i just opened my January Glymm bag - "seriously?" was what i was thinking the whole time. they jacked up their price (again), made secret changes on their website and to think that this bag is supposed to demonstrate that the price increase was worth it? nuh uh.

if i am looking at just the data for the last half of 2012, it was pretty decent. i was introduced to some brands that i really really enjoyed (EVOLVH, The Beehive, Villainess) but the majority of the samples tend to lean on the itty bitty side. more often than not, there will be one or two skincare-related items in your bag.

one of the best features of subscribing to Glymm is their loyalty program. however, there has been hush-hush changes to that (oh and free shipping starts at $100 now instead of $50).


GLOSSYBOX
* Website? www.glossybox.ca or perhaps click on my referral link? :)
* Cost? $15/month $21/month since November
* Number of samples? 5 "high-end" "deluxe"
* Beauty profile? Yes
* Feedback surveys? Yes - receive 20 points for each one completed
* Referral program? Yes - earn 200 points for each referral; 1000 points = free box
* Other info? Glossyboxes are available in 16 other countries

*My thoughts:

holy price hike! lately, there has been a lot of negativity surrounding Glossybox - due to the price increase as well as the discontinued/expired products from December's fiasco. Glossybox seems to make a lot of claims - "high-end", "niche" and "sources from the best cosmetic companies" - all of which have been directly challenged. there is no shortage of full sized items in Glossyboxes but they can all be found at your local drugstore. i have raked in enough Glossydots to redeem for a free box... but after that, it will be hard for me to justify paying $21 to build up my collection of Aveeno moisturizers.


BEAUTY BOX 5
* Website? www.beautybox5.com or many thanks if you join through my referral link :)
* Cost? $12 US/month; can also purchase quarterly or yearly subscriptions
* Number of samples? 4-5
* Beauty profile? Yes
* Feedback surveys? No
* Referral program? Yes - invite 5 friends, get 1 box free
* Other info? tracking info provided is pretty useless for Canadians

*My thoughts:

BB5 started off slow but they have made their mark in the beauty box industry. they have continually introduced me to new brands and new products. BB5 is the only one i do not have a monthly subscription for - i have the quarterly one but i am seriously considering a yearly subscription (if i cancel some of the others) - it is one of the best deals out there! if you like cosmetics, then this box will meet your needs.

LOOSE BUTTON // LUXE BOX
* Website? www.loosebutton.com
* Cost? $26/quarter ($27.30 with tax for Albertans); can also purchase semiannual, annual or gift memberships
* Number of samples? 7-8 "trial-sized"
* Beauty profile? No
* Feedback surveys? No
* Referral program? No
* Other info? switched from monthly to quarterly boxes back in June; quarterly boxes ship in the months of February, May, August and November March, June, September and December (bumped over a month because even though they switched to quarterly, they are still super slow at shipping); subscription has some "perks" - also has First in Line program; Luxe Box for Men is available; shop online at their Luxe Boutique 

*My thoughts:

yes, the silk-like packaging and monogrammed stickers are luxe but when you really think about it, it's almost $30 a box! so i don't know... i am sort of on the fence about this one too. then again, since it is only quarterly, it doesn't seem to sting as much. 

both quarterly boxes i received contained 8 items, at least 1 of which was a Loose Button item (exfoliating pad, kabuki brush, false eyelashes). the Loose Button item will be full sized and there would be 2 other full-sized items in the box.

IPSY // GLAM BAG

*Sold out - length of time on waitlist is unknown

* Website? www.ipsy.com
* Cost? $10 + $4.95 shipping US/month; annual membership also available
* Number of samples? no specified number but both "deluxe" and "full sized" terms are used
* Beauty profile? No but you complete a beauty quiz when you first sign up
* Feedback surveys? No
* Referral program? No
* Other info? all about the community - you can compete in Look Challenges, create videos, comment on other looks people have created...

*My thoughts:

i am loving my ipsy right now! i initially signed up for beauty boxes because i wanted more makeup and this particular subscription really delivers. they have shipped all makeup with the exception of 1 skincare product per bag. they have also partnered with some more prestigious brands such as Urban Decay and Benefit. there has been at least 2 full sized products in the last 2 bags - i like!

- - - - -

a quick summary:

and a quick analysis:

* customization has really gone down as more people subscribe. next time i do a report card, there will probably be no use for that column anymore! 

* you will get 1 full sized product from Topbox 50% of the time while it's a toss up for Glymm...

* Glossybox averages about 3 full sized products each month - same with Loose Button

* with BB5, you will get at least 1, and with ipsy, at least 2 (so far anyways)

* Glymm, BB5 and Loose Button seem to have the most variety in products but their main focus is still cosmetics

* skin care is huge for Topbox

* ipsy is the most makeup-oriented box

* only Glossybox and ipsy are fragrance-free while Topbox is increasingly sending out perfume samples

* if you add them all up, that's 149 samples to go through - from just half of the year!!

- - - - -

BRANDS

it is not surprising that these companies feature products from the same brand more than once (most common were the 3 Sebastian hair products from Glossybox and 4 CyberDERM products from Glymm). the most prevalent brand across the board is B. Kamins - they have partnered with Glossybox, Topbox AND Loose Button - i now have a total of 6 B. Kamins samples. both BB5 and ipsy have been more exciting for me since they are both American and therefore allow me to try brands that i cannot get here.

- - - - - 

SHIPPING

where the boxes come from:

* Topbox - Toronto, ON

* Glymm - Montreal, QC

* Glossybox - Mississauga, ON (with the except of December's box that was partnered with LOULOU magazine, which shipped from Winnipeg, MN)

* Beauty Box 5 - Austin, TX

* Loose Button - Mississauga, ON

* Ipsy - San Mateo, CA

all of the above use Canada Post (except for BB5 which uses USPS). ipsy uses Canada Post when it arrives at the border.

date the companies stated that they will ship boxes:
* Topbox - on the 10th
* Glymm - week of the 10th
* Glossybox - end of the month
* Beauty Box 5 - mid-month (15th)
* Loose Button - N/A but the Spring one should be mid-March

* Ipsy - mid-month

LEGEND:

• shipped = when the item was processed
• expected = estimated date it will be delivered; arrows indicate an estimate change because Canada Post received the item after cut-off time
• delivered = when it arrives in my mailbox/front porch

quick notes:

* Topbox and Glymm arrive around the same time (and now ipsy too). Glossybox and BB5 tend to arrive near the end of the month or early next month. as for Loose Button, i have no clue - they have not been consistent enough for me to even guess. 

* there is no tracking info prior to ipsy's Glam Bag arrival in Canada. for BB5,  it's reversed - i have no idea what happens to it after it leaves Austin, Texas. 

* BB5 is the only one that fits in my normal mailbox. the other ones require the larger compartments of my community mailbox. 

* the Winter Luxe Box was actually delivered to my door and my dad even had to sign for it.

- - - - -

CONCLUSION

i have some yeses, some maybes and some probably nots. i can never make up my mind! haha but i know that i am getting way too much stuff to even use and appreciate any of my older items so i have to cut back. 

i am confident that i am keeping ipsy and BB5. Topbox and Loose Button are maybes while Glymm and Glossybox are on the chopping block. i've been looking at my points for the latter two and will be using them up shortly. 

a summary through pictures:

Topbox (July to December 2012):

Glymm (July to December 2012):

Glossybox (July to December 2012):

Beauty Box 5 (July to December 2012):

Loose Button (August/Fall 2012; December/Winter 2012)

Ipsy (November to December 2012):

you can click on the "Beauty Boxes" tab at the very top if you'd like to read some reviews :)

what have you decided - are you dropping any subscriptions or picking up new ones? what factors greatly influence your decision? thanks so much for reading!