WANTABLE : October 2014 [Accessories]

today, i stayed home sick. lessons learned: do not consume expired miso paste.

let's get the last October box out of the way shall we?

1) Emily Maynard : Natalie Bracelet

retail value: $65.00

i was definitely intrigued when i pulled this fancy box (and pouch) out. looking at the name, it sounded like a celebrity... and then i remembered. her name was plastered on many tabloids by the checkout lanes - Emily Maynard was on the Bachelor who later became a Bachelorette. i haven't followed the show since Bob from season 4 and Trista from season 1. and Wikipedia tells me there has been 29 seasons of the Bachelor and Bachelorette! 29!

anyway, back to the Natalie bracelet. this brass ox-plated cuff is adjustable. the cuff has been hammered flat and does not feel heavy.
this is the most expensive piece i have received from Wantable, but sadly it is not something i would wear. check out the sale board for a great deal :)

2) Delany Earrings

retail value: $16.00

uhm no. definitely not me. these just scream 80s to me. the plastic is not impressive either. 

3) Harper Rose Earrings

retail value: $18.00

okay, did we do a 180 here? cause these earrings i love!
possibly my new favs. they are so easy to wear. small but definitely does the job. 

4) Shannon Ring

retail value: $9.00

i don't know how i feel about this ring. different but interesting... it doesn't look horrible but just... different. i could try to make it work but it is a tad big. it is slightly loose on my thumb so i am thinking it is a size 7.5 - 8?

so October's pieces are all over the place - i can't really see myself wearing two or more of them together. i received two pairs of earrings - one pair is totally my taste while the other one is the completely opposite!

AT THIS MOMENT ...
currently listening: Salvation - Gabrielle Aplin
just watched: Guardians of the Galaxy (again); Edge of Tomorrow (again); Beautiful Creatures (surprisingly good)
still watching: Doctor Who Season 4 5 (goodbye Tenth Doctor) // Walking Dead Season 5 // Brooklyn Nine-Nine Season 1 // Vampire Diaries Season 5
now reading: "When God Was a Rabbit" by Sarah Winman

FANCY BOX: October 2014

looks like Fancy is cutting back on the info cards... bummer. sort of defeats the purpose of getting a 'handpicked' item from Kelly if i have no idea why she chose it anyway... for all i know, someone not named Kelly is throwing these random items in. :P

1) American Apparel : Glow in the Dark Nail Polish in "65469 Neptune"
retail value: $18.00 (3 bottles)

okay, i can handle glow in the dark polish, i can handle blue polish, but WHY three bottles of it?! i do not understand... what am i going to do with 3 bottles? (see sale page...)
as you can see, the polish has settled and although i can see a ball in there, the polish is still very thick so it is difficult to shake this up. i don't have a UV light to test this polish out just yet.

2) DIY Nails: Nails Decals in "Celestial"
retail value: $10.00

DIY Nails is a UK company and they carry a range of nail decals - you can even get the faces of Breaking Bad on your nails! the nail decals can also double as temporary tattoos. nail decals seem like a lot of work to me but i might try it out one day if all it takes is a little bit of water...

3) Kitsch : Charm Jewelry Necklace & Earring Set in "Be Electric"
retail value: $32.00 (CAD $38.72)

hands down my favorite item in the box. i love simple jewelry like this - so easy to wear! and plus, lightning bolts! any Harry Potter references are welcome :)
the necklace and earrings are 14 k gold plated brass but they are also available in sterling silver plated brass. the necklace chain is 16 inches, so it sits right between my collar bones.
Kitsch ships to Canada and their prices aren't bad either. their rings are especially cute!

4) Paperwallet : Wallet in "Galaxy"
retail value: $14.00

this particular 'Galaxy' design is part of the "Pattern Series". it is a very pretty design... reminds me of my desktop background at work. the faces of two Sphynx cats chill on the inside where you would put your cash. Paperwallet products are made from a type of paper called Tyvek - it's thin and waterproof. i tried (not too hard) tearing it and it didn't work. it is also 100% recyclable! that's neat for sure but i don't really use wallets. instead, i rather flip through about 20 cards before i find my credit card. you know how it is. i gave this away during one of the Christmas exchanges last year.

5) WallsNeedLove : Wall Decals in "Silver - Coronata Stars"
retail value: $12.00

at first i was like, what am i going to do with this?? but, after checking out the website, i am inspired! there is one photo in particular where it looks like the stars are bursting from the corner of a room and the stars are just falling. very pretty!
there are plenty of designs as well as a number of colors to choose from - 40 to be exact!
tutorials are available which would definitely be useful to me.
i believe their design packs change recently because the website says there are 28 in each but mine says 30.

some of the contents were misses, but those that were a hit - hit hard! i especially love the Kitsch jewelry set because it is so dainty and cute. i was feeling iffy about the WallsNeedLove wall decals but their website has inspired me! i just need to figure out now where to release the inspiration... decisions decisions!

AT THIS MOMENT ...
currently listening: "Panic Cord" by Gabrielle Aplin
just watched: nothing since Edge of Tomorrow
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 

BEAUTY BOX 5: October 2014

yesterday, we celebrated our NINTH year together. my boyfriend and i decided to honor the day by going to our first Brazilian BBQ and eating meat, meat and more meat. regular meat, spicy meat and meat wrapped up in meat. then finishing with some cake. then we went home and fell into a food coma. it was a very lovely night.

- - -

October's box "Effortless Allure" is all about simplicity:

1) ChapStick : Dual-Ended Hydration Lock Day & Night
size: 2.2 g x 2 (full size!)
retail value: $2.99

first up, definitely a simple beauty product since it is ChapStick and all but wait... dual-ended!? that is impossible!
one end is for use during the day so it has SPF while night is about restoring moisture. i've never seen a product like this - intriguing but also slightly gimmicky,,,

2) Bellapierre Cosmetics : Cheek & Lip Stain in "Pink"
size: 5 g (full size!)
retail value: $19.99

pretty shade but slightly too pink as a lip color for me... check out the sale board! 

3) Extend Your Beauty : Cosmetic Tool
size: 1 tool (full size!)
retail value: $5.49

another product that i have not seen before which is neat but to be honest, it looks sort of cheap. it looks like a product i could find at the dollar store.

and check out the back! Diswasher safe? wait - wha?? so many questions...

4) Nanacoco : Nail Polish in "20055 Romantic Cruise"
size: 15 mL (full size!)
retail value: $3.95

i keep picking up blue nail polish and adding it to my collection but it's the shade i use least. why do i continue to do that? ... sale page time!

5) Lashem : Picture Perfect Instant Wrinkle Reducer
size: 5 mL
retail value: $3.95 (15 g)

last month we got the eye bright version. the wrinkles are coming. must. prepare.

and voila! meh meh meh. effortless indeed... don't have much to say; every item is lackluster.

AT THIS MOMENT ...
currently listening: Just A Lil Bit (Av.i Remix) - 50 Cent
just watched: Edge of Tomorrow
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 

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!)

IPSY BAG: October 2014

ipsy's Beauty Candy bag (love the colors - reminds me of ice cream):

1) Ayres : Body Butter in "Patagonia" 
Enriched with plant emollients, herbal extracts and vitamins, this ultra-rich creamy body butter provides relief from dry, rough skin. Vitamin E natural antioxidant provides protection to your skin, while shea nut butter gives long-lasting hydration. Just drift away on a cool breeze of delicate jasmine and aromatic rosemary blended with lavender, bergamot, ylang-ylang, oakmoss, patchouli and fir. Inspired by Patagonia’s snow-capped mountains and blue lagoons, this fresh scent inspires a soothing sense of calm. size: 28 g
retail value: $28.00 (191 g)
promotion: 25% off purchase & free shipping on orders $40+ with code AYRESIPSY; expired 11/30/14; US only

"Patagonia" is all about the jasmine and rosemary and was inspired by snow-capped mountains and blue lagoons in Patagonia. no idea where this is. Google tells me that this is in South America.
i find the scent quite fitting because it is a cool scent. the body butter is different from most in that it is not very oily and not very thick - it's more like a cream but the hydration is great. i especially love the non-greasy but soft feeling.

2) H2O+ : Face OASIS Hydrating Treatment 

This oil-free moisture gel delivers deep hydration while minimizing the appearance of fine lines with phospholipids, multivitamin complex and moisturizing marine botanicals.
size: 10 mL
retail value: $36.00 (50 mL)
promotion: 25% off purchase with code IPSY14; expired 11/30/14

fancy shmancy - clinically proven and #1 global bestseller? the gel gives the skin an instant cooling feeling. i don't feel like the gel is very moisturizing though. or maybe that's the oil-free feature. 

3) Jesse's Girl : Mineralized Baked Powder Eye Shadow in "Ocean Breeze"

Get out-of-this-world eyes with Jesse’s Girl Mineralized Baked Powder Eyeshadows.

size: 2 g (full size!)

retail value: $3.99

promotion: 20% off purchase with code IPSYOCT2014; expired 11/30/14

this is much too blue for me. as pretty as it looks with all the shimmer, there's no way i can wear this comfortably everyday. you know where to find this!

4) Skyn Iceland : Mini Glacial Cleansing Cloths

When you're too tired to deal with the whole cleanser and wash cloth routine, these on-the-go foaming cloths are the ultimate skin savior. Infused with Icelandic glacial waters and beneficial natural extracts, they sweep away makeup, dirt, oil and other impurities while refreshing and soothing stressed skin. Best of all, there's no water required. It has a clean scent, never tacky. Great for travel or every day!

size: 10 single-use cloths

retail value: $15.00 (30 cloths)

promotion: 50% off one item & 20% off all additional items with code IPSYGCC; expired 11/21/14

ooooooooh i should have brought these last weekend for the wedding! i went to bed everyday between 3 and 4 am so this would have been nice... and thank goodness for Sunday naps.

5) Starlooks : Lip Gloss in "LG46 Guilty Pleasure"
Starlooks Lip Glosses are created with a truly moisturizing, luxury, non-sticky formula. This neutral-rose, yet glamorous shade provides the perfect glisten for any lip look and complements any skin tone! Can be worn alone or in combination with other Starlooks lip products for a truly customizable finish.size: 1 mini sample ~ 1 mL?
retail value: $13.00 (4 mL)
promotion: 20% off purchase - no code required; ends 12/31/14

"Guilty Pleasure" is a soft pinky nude. i was surprised by the pigmentation of the gloss when i swatched it on my hand, but sadly my lips are also pigmented so the gloss doesn't show quite as well on them. i prefer a little more color payoff but my sister will be happy to have this.

eeeeeeeeeeh. the bag is aight. my favorite product so far is the Ayres body butter and i am looking forward to trying Skyn Iceland cleansing cloths - i mean, Leighton Meester uses them, so they must be good right? :P

AT THIS MOMENT ...
currently listening: "Make Me Yours Tonight" by Lara Fabian & Mustafa Ceceli [Turkish version]
just watched: nothing...
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 (still!)

BEAUTY BOX 5: October 2013

happy happy new year! :) i hope you all had a wonderful holiday! 

i just came back from Banff today and though it was a very short trip (just one night), it was super fun. went snow tubing at Mt. Norquay and hot-tubbing at the Hidden Ridge Resort. at first i was scared of tubing because i had no idea what it entailed but it's seriously fun stuff! you grab an inflated tube, stand on a conveyor belt kind of thing (a magic carpet) which takes you up and then slide down these large snow lanes. reminds me of those carpet rides at amusement parks. there are staff members at the top that get everyone 'boarded' - you can go single-file or in groups as big as 7 (depending on the staff member and how many they can spin). very sweet!

 

i know people have dedicated posts to their new year resolutions but i am absolutely horrible at keeping them so let's just make a general blogging-related one: blog more! yessss! 

and to do this, i need to finish my round of October unboxings... so let's get started here!

October's BB5 "Take it Easy":

1) Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion - very simple moisturizer... no SPF :(

size: 29 mL
retail value: $6.99 (226 g)

2) ModelCo Cheek + Lip Tint in "Rosy Red" - i received this in my Glossybox in March earlier last year. back then, i also received a full-sized version (10 mL). i mentioned that this product was great for adding color to your cheeks - you only need a tiny amount - but it didn't work too well on the lips. please click the link for swatches!

size: 5 mL
retail value: $22 (10 mL)

3) SwissCo Glitter Toe Spacers - i am not exactly impressed with these since they are your very basic toe separators but sparkly...

size: 1 set (full size!)
retail value: $2

4) La Fresh Travel-Lite Facial Cleansing Wipes - also not something exciting since i've received so many La Fresh wipes, i've lost count.

size: 8 wipes
retail value: $19.99 (48 wipes)

5) Nubar Nail Lacquer in "N295-7 Kristal" - this color is part of Nubar's Alter Ego Collection which was released this holiday season and features 8 3D glitter top coat polishes. on the website, it is listed as "Krystal" instead of "Kristal" and is described as a sheer silver white with multi-color sparkles and Mylar. what is Mylar? well a quick Google search tells us that it is often used to give that flakie/fleck nail polish effect. this polish is pretty but i feel like i have a few of these in my collection already. Nubar is hard to find though - i've only seen them at Winners stores. and i didn't even know they made mini polishes.

size: 7 mL
retail value: $8 (15 mL)

so everything is so... let's see here... SMALL. small in size or small in value. the Aveeno, ModelCo, La Fresh and Nubar products are all mini-sizes and then the one full-sized product - toe spacers - are worth $2. the total value of the box is $20.96 (the Aveeno moisturizer was worth less than $1). BB5 costs US$12 and the highest dollar value was the ModelCo tint but i've already received that in a prior box so the value is much less in my books. BB5 is normally not this disappointing so maybe it was just a bad month. we will have to see for November... which i should get onto stat! :)

IPSY BAG: October 2013

happy sunday! 

i finally have time to sit down and blog about this ipsy bag :) 

this weekend was quite eventful since we had the company holiday party on Friday night. it was a good time and i love dressing up for these occasions. holiday decorations and music make me so happy! the celebration was located at Spruce Meadows - i have not ventured out here before but i hear the Christmas Market is pretty fun. 

here's a picture i posted on instagram with my fellow accountants :)

and nowww the ipsy bag for October: "The Art of Beauty".

1) Bella Terra Mineral Cosmetics Mineral Shimmers in "NSH20 Emotion"

It's easy to create a variety of looks with Bella Terra Mineral Cosmetics Mineral Shimmers! As an 8-in-1 product, the Mineral Shimmers are a creamy eye shadow, matte eyeshadow, eyeliner, lip color, nail polish, mascara, body glitter, and hair color for fun hair streaks! Available for purchase in 60 luminous and luxurious shades.

this is a very shimmery purple pigment. the shimmer does not show up as much in the swatch though. i hardly reach for mineral eyeshadows but these are definitely fun for holiday parties! this was not very long lasting so i would suggest a primer, which would also help with the color intensity. 

the other option ipsy subscribers received was Navy. 

size: 2 g
retail value: $14.99 (2.5 g)
promotion: 50% off purchase and free shipping [expired Nov 15, 2013]

2) Coastal Scents Classic Medium Shadow Brush - Natural (BR-C-N02)
The Coastal Scents Shadow Brush is a medium sized brush made out of natural fibers that is wide in shape and condensed to allow an even distribution of eyeshadow on the lid. This professional cosmetic brush can be used for shading the crease and highlighting the brow bone with complete precision.

i used to contemplate about placing a Coastal Scents order for the longest time... but just never went through with it. now i get the chance to try one of their brushes! i was actually looking for this particular size of a brush. the natural hairs (there is also a synthetic version) are quite soft. i used this brush with the Bella Terra mineral shimmer - it picked up the product well and distributed the product evenly.

size: 1 brush (full size!)
retail value: $2.49
promotion: 25% off purchase [expired Nov 7, 2013]

3) Nourish Organic Deeply Nourishing Coconut & Argan Body Lotion
Nourish Organic's new Deeply Nourishing Coconut & Argan Oil collection is a new collection of ultra-moisturizing body lotions and body washes that hydrate, soften and smooth the skin. These products contain highly concentrated, precious ingredients that replenish your skin with essential nutrients and restore your skin's natural glow.

this body lotion has a whipped kind of texture and absorbs quickly... maybe too quickly - i feel that i need to use more of this lotion in order to feel that my hands are "deeply nourished". it's great if you don't like the greasy feeling afterwards (my guitar-playing boyfriend would have no complaints about that!). the scent is coconut and argan with hibiscus (i prefer just coconut but this smells alright - not too strong). according to ipsy, the hibiscus is rich in antioxidants and protects from environmental damage. other scents available are Lavender Mint and Almond Vanilla.

size: 30 mL
retail value: $9.99 (236 mL)
promotion: 20% off Nourish Organic purchase on target.com or in store [expired Nov 10, 2013 and N/A in Canada]

4) Sexy Hair Spray Clay Texturizing Spray Clay
The Sexy Hair Spray Clay Texturizing Spray Clay creates and allover textured look with a matte finish. This spray allows for a fine and even product distrbution and is great for all hair types.

this Spray Clay is used for adding texture and movement without the crunchiness.
you can use the product just like a regular hair spray (same nozzle and aerosol can).

as you can see, the cap on mine is a little bunged up but the product is okay.

size: 50 mL
retail value: $18.95 (157 mL)
promotion: $5 off $25 Sexy Hair purchase on ulta.com or in store [expired Nov 15, 2013 and N/A in Canada]

5) Zoya Nail Polish in "ZP679 Neve"
Part of the Fall 2013 CASHMERES & SATINS Collection, these shades are created to work together with this season's most stylish runway designs and luxurious fabric blends. These ultra long-wearing, glossy nail lacquers by Zoya are BIG5FREE - free of toluene, camphor, formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin and dibutyl phthalate (DBP).

ipsy members either got this color Neve (sapphire blue metallic), Giovanna (emerald green metallic) or Mason (red violet metallic).
Neve is described as a sapphire blue and if you look closely, you will see fine green and red glitters. i really wish i could capture that on camera since it is really pretty. i find that my camera also captures more of the blue in the polish while it is actually slightly more purple.

 i apologize for the bad swatch! it is actually more purple than this!

i love the formula of Zoya polishes - they are 5 free and are rather easy to remove - no staining! the polish lasted me long enough before i got bored with the color. it did start chipping within 3-4 days.

size: 15 mL (full size!)
retail value: $8
promotion: buy 2 nail polishes, get 1 free and a free Zoya Remove + at zoya.com [expired Nov 10, 2013 and N/A in Canada]

- - -

so here's the entire ipsy bag! ipsy always delivers in terms of variety... which can mean value for some. personally, i still enjoy ipsy. i need to make sure that i start doing those reviews on ipsy so that the ipsymatch could be more accurate.

thanks for reading!

have you started attending holiday parties / or started holiday shopping yet?