TOPBOX: November 2013

ooooooh gotta catch up catch up! there's so much to do at work too because of year-end and audits... eep! 

how's 2014 treating you?

Topbox wishlists for November included: Bioderma, Estee Lauder. Givenchy, and for an extra $8 - Cake Beauty and Orlane Paris.again, i went for the ol' regular one cause i'm boring like that!

November Topbox:

a few extras with this month's box:

1) Cover FX CC Cream Time Release Tinted Treatment SPF 30 in "Light" - i was very excited to receive a CC cream! it's one of those things that seemed to take over the beauty industry rather quickly but i wasn't won over just yet. the "Time Release" in the name refers to the anti-aging properties of the cream. like BB creams, i find the coverage of this CC cream to be rather sheer. there's also not as much product as you'd think... keep squeezing!

in the pictures below, the "Light" color seems to be a bit more on the yellow side but if you blend the same amount over a larger surface area, it evens out.

size: 5 mL
retail value: $45 (30 mL)

2) Shu Uemura Skin Purifier Anti/Oxi Skin Refining Anti-Dullness Cleansing Oil - i had no idea these beauty oils were so renowned: the Topbox card says that 1 oil is sold every 7 seconds! i've only tried it a handful of times so far but i'm enjoying it. i was always afraid that oils were no good for oily skin but this is not really heavy at all. plus, i'm horrible at removing all my makeup with a regular makeup remover... i always get that raccoon/black eye look after. this oil has helped me remove more of that makeup since it is gentle enough to use around the eye area.

size: 20 mL
retail value: $92 (450 mL); $44 (150 mL)

3) Parfums Issey Miyake Pleats Please - this may be the first time i am happy about receiving a perfume sample in a box. this is one of 3 perfumes i've become attached to lately but i have not quite made the leap and committed to just one. i love fresh fruity scents like these. i would've been happier if it was a rollerball though!

size: 4 mL
retail value: $106 (100 mL)

4) T•Langhans Castile Handcrafted Soap in "Lemongrass" - this is some luxury soap. i have no idea what the difference is with regular soap. this is a small sample... like the ones you would get at a hotel.

size: N/A
retail value: $12 (105 - 135 g)

so tada this is everything! this isn't an amazing Topbox but i am quite happy with its contents (especially the first 3 listed above).

by the way, did anyone watch the Golden Globes yesterday? i only watched the first half hour or so but i'm always interested in the dresses... loved loved the dresses worn by Jennifer Lawrence, Taylor Swift, Margot Robbie and Lauren Parsekian (wife of Aaron Paul). i also actually liked Emma Watson's and Amy Poehler's belted black dress on the red carpet.

what were your favorites?

TOPBOX: January 2012

hello hello hello!
im excited to have finally caught up to this month's boxes! whoohoo! also if you scroll down, you will notice - dun dun dun - i've switched to black frames! maybe next time it will be even crazier and i will do patterns or something :D i wouldn't mind some feedback!
so i'm always excited when i see Topbox in my mailbox. it means that there are more boxes soon to come. i got this box on January 17. the second i picked it up, i was very surprised by how heavy it was.
the exterior of the box was exactly the same as last month's, with the pretty purple design. i didn't even have to open the lid because it pretty much popped right off. guess it's because of the heavy products inside and the fact that it was stuffed to the top! also, all the liquid products were frozen solid. who knows, the box may have been there for only 2 minutes since we were having -30 degree weather in Calgary (without wind chill!)

it came with the usual Topbox card and 4 samples. i must say the size of these samples are impressive! i know Topbox says they are deluxe-sized and i completely agree.

January's samples include:
1) Principessa Beauty dry shampoo - first of all, YAY! i've always wanted another dry shampoo. i only have one by TRESemmé but everytime i walk into Sephora, I want to buy Oscar Blandi's dry shampoo. i don't wash my hair every single day since the natural oils in your hair are actually good for you so dry shampoo can help your hair look more voluminous and less greasy. i'm excited that this was customized according to my hair color (which is black but in the sun, it looks brown). i found it a tad difficult to open especially since i didn't want to spill it everywhere. i had to twist the cap and then just wiggle it back and forth until it came off. the product itself smells pretty nice.
size: 30 g
retail value: $24 (125 g)

2) Shu Uemura shampoo - the title of this shampoo is "full shimmer illuminating shampoo for color-treated hair". this confuses me since with the previous product, it was customized for me, but this one is not. i have not colored my hair... ever. i grew up with strict parents who would not allow me to color my hair back in junior high and high school. and now that i'm 24, i haven't had a strong desire to do so. but if i were to dye it... hmm.. maybe a really dark purple or blue? the kind of blue you'd only see in certain lighting? anyways, i tried the shampoo and it smells good. when you rub it in your scalp, it doesn't get soapy (you know, when you lather?) - i find i had to use more product because it felt like it wasn't enough. if only i had analyzed my hair beforehand i could tell you if it actually made my hair any shinier. oops.
size: 75 mL
retail value: $45 (300 mL)

3) Cake Beauty foot creme - after receiving a few hand creams (as well as the following sample), i was delighted that i received a foot creme - and from none other than Cake Beauty, which i've heard great things about. it is a white, non-greasy formula and smells just like spearmint gum.
size: 100 mL (full size!)
retail value: $16

4) LillyPilly hand and body creme - this one came with a seal. the second i opened the seal, the creme wouldn't stop coming out! i had to run to my sister so she can help me use it up. anyways, we both have to say that the smell is not the best - it reminds of me of old ladies (i apologize!). i'm thinking this is what rosewood smells like? however, it is moisturizing and doesn't feel too greasy.
size: 50 mL
retail value: $22 (150 mL)

even though there was no makeup in this box, i enjoyed the samples - especially the dry shampoo. i like how i can get plenty of uses out of these samples as well. definitely looking forward to my next Topbox! unfortunately for those who are currently unsubscribed, i heard on the grapevine that Topbox is sold out til June :(