BEAUTY BOX 5: September 2012

i picked up my September BB5 on the first of October. it's another good month for Beauty Box 5 - seems like there were some different shades so it's exciting to read other people's posts (there's not enough of them though!)

recently, BB5 has decided to include tracking info for Canadians! this is great but the tracking number they gave me provided me absolutely no info.
i was missing a product from the July box and they also sent that out last month so using its tracking info, i could see when it was accepted and when it left Austin, Texas but that was as far as it went (head on over to the July box to see the updated post).  i am not sure how this new change will benefit us if there are no (or hardly) any updates available. was this the same for everyone else?

September's BB5 contained:

1) h.wood.beauty lip shine in "ruby" - did you know h.wood.beauty was created by the Hollywood nightclub h.wood? the line was inspired by h.wood.tea so the products are actually infused with tea. pretty cool.

i got "ruby" which looks like a startling red but these lip shines apply sheer. on my lips, it looks like a dark pink-red. i like how easy it is to apply. the formula is very moisturizing and the color is just right for a tinted lip balm - you can actually see that i am wearing a soft pretty color on my lips. the color does catch on any dry skin, making it more visible so having smooth lips is recommended. there is a slight scent to it but it's not a bad one. like other tinted lip balms, it comes off easily after eating.

ooo a 25% off code... slightly tempting but i currently have way too much makeup. i have a box full of stuff  awaiting its turn to be blogged about and hence, they are unopened and unused.

shipping is a flat rate of $5.95 - not bad! they don't ship to international addresses though. i always get confused when i read this since some sites have a separate page for "Canadian shipping" and "International shipping" but others consider Canada to be international. i thought that anything overseas was considered "international"... what do you think?

size: 4 g (full size!)

retail value: $16 

artificial light; natural light

2) Goat Haus Dairy Bath Melts in "Angel Kisses" - just looking at the package, i was thinking i got some cheese. hahaha phew! a bath melt! i haven't taken a bath in who knows how long but i'd like to get around to doing so. "Angel Kisses" is described as a "light vanilla with a hint of lavender, extremely relaxing". 

size: 50 g (full size!)

retail value: $2.50

3) Silk Naturals Eye Color in "Nekkid" - my mineral eyeshadow collection has been growing lately, thanks to BB5! Silk Naturals has 272 eyeshadows on their website and describes "Nekkid" as a shimmery pink that is supposedly a dupe for MAC's "Naked Lunch". i don't own any MAC eyeshadows so i can't do a comparison here.
looking at the jar, it looks more brown but once applied , it looks like a orange-y pink with all its' shimmer. on the shimmer scale, Silk Naturals rated it a 5 out of 6. i don't think this type of pink looks flattering on me - sort of gives me a swollen look - i should just apply it lightly next time. the wear time is impressive though. even without primer, the shimmer and the color lasts all day.
swatches above (under 1)) are only two swipes of the color. a deeper color can be achieved. it also appears more intense on my eyelids.
another promo code offer - 5% off.
size: N/A but < 1 g
retail value: $4 (for a 5 g jar)

4) Nastassja Enzyme Facial Peel - it looks like a wetter version of Vaseline and has a slight lemon scent. i will use this peel tonight and let you know how it goes!
a 25% off code was included.
size: 7.5 mL
retail value: $45 website says $40 (60 mL)

5) NuMe Hydro Punch Hydrating Shampoo - hmm got this already in my July Topbox as well as a conditioner version in my May Glymm. now i have another one missing a partner again! oh and plus - it is for dry or colored hair and i no longer have virgin hair!!
again, the same $100 off code for NuMe products that is really, not that special at all.
size: 20 mL
retail value: $24.99 (250 mL)

BB5 is great for trying brands i have never heard of before - 4/5 of this month's brands were unknown to me. i also enjoy how there are a couple of cosmetic items and then a variety of other types of products including skincare, bath and shower.

what colors did you get in your BB5? if you are interested in joining, i'd appreciate it if you used my link. thank you thank you!

TOPBOX: July 2012

i'm a little late posting this since my Topbox was delivered last Thursday but the Calgary Stampede and my birthday took up my weekend.

so without further ado, my Topbox for July contained:

1) China Glaze Nail Lacquer in "70290 Purple Panic (Neon)" - yesyesyesyesyes!! i only did the post on my other neon nail polish last week and i loved the color and now Topbox hands me this amazingly bright magenta polish... love! i recall doing their survey a few weeks ago and there was a question regarding nail polish color preferences and i selected summer neons or something along those lines.

"Purple Panic" is from a pretty old collection - Summer 2006's Wow Factor - which consists of 5 other neons.  it's a cool magenta color (rather than purple) with some shimmer.
i used two coats in the following swatches. it dries really quickly as it dries matte. again, the neon is too powerful to be picked up properly by my camera... it's actually brighter and less pink.

artificial light 

natural light

i decided to do a subtle accent nail look by adding a topcoat. the glossiness brings out the shimmer when you look very closely.

size: 14 mL (full size!)
retail value: $10 - $12

2) NuMe Style Hydro Punch Hydrating Shampoo - hooray! my Conditioner from May 2012's Glymm is lonely no more!

i used both of them together and although i liked the smell, it didn't do anything spectacular to my hair - or i just didn't notice it. good to know that it does not contain parabens or paraffins.
did anyone else have a shampoo that was sealed but the conditioner wasn't?...

also got a $100 gift certificate from the company to use on styling tools and hair extensions. sound familiar? because Glymm also sent this out in the April 2012 box. i find NuMe products at Winners all the time and for much cheaper than on their website. when i say much cheaper, i mean that online their Vintage Ceramic Iron is $165 + $14.95 (shipping) - $100 (gift certificate) = $79.95 or you can buy the exact same one at Winners for $39.99 (not including GST of course). so definitely not worth it if you live near a Winners!
size: 20 mL
retail value: $24.99 (250 mL)

3) Pure + simple Calming Cucumber Mask - so i went to the company's website to find out more on how to use this item. it says to apply the mask after cleansing and toning (or preferably after exfoliating) and leave it on for 30 minutes. 30 minutes! that sounds like a long time! i don't use masks often but the samples i have received in the past suggested approximately 15 minutes. the other option was to leave it on overnight. i wasn't too fond of the idea of rubbing the cucumber mask onto my pillow so i decided to go with the former idea.
on the site, you can also find lists of routines that incorporates other products from Pure + simple. the product can actually be refrigerated which i assume increases the cooling effect of the mask.
the product is dispensed through the pump as a clear (with a greenish hue) gel and does not feel overly tight on my face. my face felt fresh and smooth afterwards. this was a very good sized sample for a mask since i don't seem to be using too much each time. definitely will last me a while!

size: 20 mL
retail value: $25.25 (50 mL)

4) SAMPAR Essentials Ultra Hydrating Fluid - SAMPAR originates from Paris and this specific product aims to do 3 things: moisturize, protect and resurface. it is to be used on cleansed skin twice a day.

the scent is pretty strong and smells like.. i'd hate to use this term again, but something older ladies would enjoy. it is moisturizing and does not leave a greasy feeling. the full size is a bit pricey but fear not - i have spotted SAMPAR at Winners as of yesterday. my Winners didn't carry this particular product but had a number of other products priced between $19.99 and $29.99. ahh... i heart Winners.

size: 2 mL x 2  = 4 mL
retail value: $80 (50 mL)

so maybe i've been spoiled by Topbox but i felt that this month's box was not extraordinary. yes, i love the nail polish and the other items are good but it did not have the same wow factor their previous boxes had (hahaaa - re: China Glaze's Purple Panic).
Topbox is currently holding a NuMe Sweepstakes on FB right now; you can check it out here.
did you enjoy your Topbox this month?

GLYMM BAG: May 2012

hello Glymm box that decided to show up finally (still earlier than Luxe Box and Glossybox - i was just anxious because i received the notification on the 11th)!
i already heard of the new packaging from other Facebookers and was aware of the price increase from $10 to $12 for new subscribers. you know how i was thinking of possibly dropping Glymm from my list? well i believe they have redeemed themselves! but i have to keep reminding myself that paying $10 instead of $12 per box is NOT equal to saving $2. i have a weird way of thinking when it comes to sales or discounts.

so even the outer cardboard box was slightly different (orange font and a Glymm sticker).
upon opening it i find the "Glymm Goes Green" note about how the company is taking a more eco-friendly stance. good for them :)
underneath that was the Glymm product card which also got a makeover. it opens up and is pretty big. i like the new format. i find that it gives you more information about the product and they've even included sample usage.
and underneath that was ... something wrapped in tissue. it was the new Glymm bag. it's very cute. i'm not sure if i will continue to like this when i've received more than 3 or something but i think i'll find some ways to reuse it.

the bag was super stuffed as you can see the zipper wasn't done up completely and there's a huge bulge in the middle.

this month's samples (it's a pretty long list!)

1) CK One Shock for Her and CK One Shock for Him - i haven't received this pair before and i heard that this smells lovely so i was happy. the CK Shock for Her does smell good - it's a non-overwhelming floral and i feel there's a touch of citrus-ness which are the two types of scents i prefer. since the card says i can have 35 uses from this sample, i think that's an adequate amount for me to determine whether i want to invest in a full sized bottle. i'll pass the CK Shock for Him sample to my boyfriend but he doesn't really wear cologne so we'll see. i just sprayed it on a blanket though and i find it a little too powerful. one spray is too much! i am not a fan of it. it sort of smells musky to me - i can't pinpoint any of the scents but it's on the card if you wanted to know.
size: 1.2 mL each x 2 = 2.4 mL
retail value: $45 (50 mL)

watermelon colors!

2) Coola Mineral Matte Cucumber Face Sunscreen - yay for sunscreen! i'm becoming more concerned about sun exposure so i welcome anything with spf. this one in particular has spf 30 and oddly enough, it says "chemical free sunblock" on the front. both ingredients on the back would be considered chemicals.  and on the back it also says "solar powered suncare" - so the sunscreen works when it is in the sun? ... how amazing...
also i don't think i'll get 4 uses out of this since in order to get the same amount of spf as listed, you're supposed to apply a pretty thick layer on your skin (like you were frosting a cake!) - i am guessing i can get maybe 2 uses?
size: 5 mL
retail value: $36 (50 ml)

the blanket is making me dizzy.

3) NuMe HydroPunch Hydrating Conditioner - i haven't tried any hair products with Argan oil so i'm excited to try this.
-- update July 18/12 -- tried this with the shampoo. it smells nice but my hair doesn't feel any different than from using other shampoos and conditioners. strange that my shampoo (from July's Topbox) was sealed but this conditioner wasn't. --
size: 20 mL
retail value: $24.99 (250 mL)

4) Mèreadesso Tinted Lip Treat in "Sheer Pink" - first time i've tried this brand even though i've heard other bloggers receive it in their previous boxes. i took off the lid and whoops! the whole lip product fell out. i took a picture so you can see how much product there is. oh well, i just shoved it back in. notice there wasn't a "Fragile" sticker on this month's Glymm.

swatches on my lips:

i'm happy with the color choice - for a "sheer" color, it actually builds up pretty well. it looks a bit frosty on my lips. also, even though it's moisturizing like a lip balm, this particular color brings out the imperfections of my lips (i.e. dry cracks). the scent reminds me of Dermologica Microfoliant (rice-based). 

i wanted to show you how you could build the color up. swatching it once gives the tiniest hint of color but 6 swipes gives a nice pink tint. 

size: 1.2 g

retail value: $28 (package of 2; 2.4 g)

5) Caudalie Crushed Cabernet Scrub - when i first saw this in the bag, i was like "what! they went back to jelly beans?" but nope. 

the jar is pretty large - the packaging is quite fancy for a sample. this is a best seller for the company but i don't think i'd be buying it even though i haven't tested it out yet. the scrub smells too strongly of ginger which i really dislike eating. i will still update you on my review though.

size: 60 g

retail value: $29 (150 g)

6) Caudalie Vinosource S.O.S Thirst-Quenching Serum and Vinosource Moisturizing Sorbet - after finding out that the other Caudalie product was not jellybeans, i was like "oh WAIT, there are candies!" but again, no.  these are really cute looking but odd at the same time. i don't know how i could reuse this because i'd have to lay it upright somehow and its current shape already makes it difficult. a card was included in the bag promoting these two products (promo: free lip balm with the purchase of 2 Vinosource products until June 4th). 

and since when did "sorbet" refer to a type of skin product? i want some actual sorbet!

size: 1 mL each x 2 = 2 mL

retail value: serum - $48 (30 mL); sorbet - $38 (40 mL)

there was no particular sample that was absolutely amazing to me but none of them disappointed me either. so i'd have to say that Glymm has definitely improved this month. i feel that i'm gonna stick around for a bit and see if this $2 increase in price will help them improve their sample selection and customer service. if you are interested in joining, please sign up via my link. i appreciate it!

IMPORTANT SIDE NOTE: did you hear that Julep is giving away an iPad as well as 80+ nail polishes!? that is an *astounding* amount of nail polish!!! so go enter the contest before June 15th!!

GLYMM BOX: March 2012

honestly, i have not been wowed by Glymm as of late, nevertheless i was antsy waiting for the box to arrive. partly because it arrived in Calgary early Friday but Canada Post chose not to deliver it and i had to wait all weekend! the weekend can feel super long in these instances, haha. it arrived today (well yesterday now that i posted it) - this time i had to go to my community mailbox to get it rather than find it on my doorstep. guess they have had enough issues with missing boxes? anyway, it is the smart thing to do.

removing the lid, i find the Glymm ribbon around the March 2012 edition card "Spring Fling". the lower pic is what it looks like when i remove the front card. the second card is an offer for a free Hydrafull lip gloss from Anastasia Beverly Hills with the purchase of any other 2 products. Anastasia products range between $16 and $85 on the Glymm website.

this month's samples include:

1) Anastasia Beverly Hills Hydrafull Gloss in "Sorbet" - well since we got a promo card, it is definitely nice to try the product out first. this is the tiniest sample of lip gloss i've ever received. at least i know i will be able to use this one completely since i have been getting a ton of lip products in my boxes. 

the applicator is different than usual - it is a paddle applicator. the only other time i've encountered this is when i bought my sister the tokidoki Prisma Lip Gloss. i took two pictures, hopefully you can see the paddle more when i applied the product. "Sorbet" is a nice coral pink but once i apply it, it just gives me a hint of color and some shine. it does not feel really sticky except when i tried to wash it off my hand after swatching it.

this product has apparently been clinically tested and is cruelty free! i never trust these test results unless i know specifics such as how many participants there were - "87% reported the lip gloss provides long lasting moisture" but 87% of say, 10 people, would not be very significant (okay i know you can't have 8.7 people but i am just giving an example!).

size: 1.0 mL

retail value: $27 (2.2 mL)

2) M. Asam Magic Fini - looking at the bottle, i had no idea what it was. according to other bloggers, this is a BB cream. there has been a huge BB cream craze, and this is the first time i've received one in a box. i already have one that my friend ordered from overseas which i really like already and i am glad that i can branch out and try this one too. as you can see in the picture, the color seems a little dark. it would've been nice if this had a safety seal on it or something. 

i don't know how to describe the smell, but the texture is similar to mousse. after putting it on my face, there was a noticeable reduction in redness and my skin felt very smooth. i've only used it once but so far, i'm a fan!

size: 5 mL

retail value: $38 (30 mL)

3) NuMe Feather Hair Extensions - i don't know what the name of this color is but to me it is an unattractive yellow-green. i already knew these were going to be in the box but i was hoping for at least a color i can MAYBE pull off like blue or purple (i have brown-black hair). but what to do with this one? i read someone suggested wearing them for St. Patrick's Day but that's a little too late now. a plus is that these are cruelty free and are made from real human hair. it also came with 5 micro rings. this sample was definitely a fun idea but risky for Glymm too since it would not be appealing to all age groups. but then again, you can't please everybody!

size: 3 feathers (full size!)

retail value: $25

4) Ocean Nail Polish in "80 White Opal" - so Glymm has also decided to answer my call for nail polish and kudos for that, but i probably got the most boring color out there! "White Opal" is not "vibrant, pastel and intense" like it says on the card. it dried pretty quickly but is it just me or does the nail polish smell seem to be stronger with this brand?

i decided to swatch this on my sister's hand since i already had nail polish on (she also has nicer nails than me). she has 2 coats of "White Opal" on her thumb, pointer and middle finger. i didn't do her last two fingers so i can show you how there is no color except for a bluish sheen. i have no idea if i will be using this color; possibly over another nail polish?

size: 15 mL (full size!)

retail value: $12

5) *bonus* Lise Watier Flash Lift Radiance Vial - oddly, this was not even listed on the card. guess they threw this in last minute. it is recommended that we use it in the morning to erase signs of fatigue so i have not used it just yet. the vial is a teeny tiny sample too. guess it is only for one use?

size: 1 vial (1 mL)

retail value: $27 (7 vials)     - according to the Lise Watier website 

so i am happy with my Glymm box this month. not a fan of the color i got for the feather extensions or the nail polish but i like everything else. i especially enjoyed the Magic Fini. if you are interested in finding out more about Glymm, click here.

as of today, i have not received any shipping notification from Loose Button or Glossybox. not sure what is going on there. Glossybox was sent out so early last month but they changed their policy recently so perhaps that was only a one-time thing?

i also wanted to note that i finally finished a book i started months ago - Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë. it was a hard book for me to get through since it was written in the 1800s - the language and style of writing were really different. there was also a lot of French - i had to type in paragraphs of French into Google Translate! i picked this edition up at a thrift store because i loved how it looked, well old, and i loved the gold lining on the side of the pages.

i can now finally watch the movie, HOORAY! (yes, i wanted to read the book first - i figured it must be good since there have been like 6 film adaptations). i think i will be starting on the Hunger Games trilogy (pressure from my sister) since the movie is coming out soon anyway!