GLYMM BAG: February 2013

there you are, Glymm! i almost forgot about you and your February bag until you finally showed your face March 8. i don't recall that it was going to be so late so i checked my inbox and i checked Facebook. there were no emails saying that you would be sending February bags out so late and there were a ton of concerns from your customers that went unanswered - until March 1. that post on March 1, informing us that they were finally shipped, took much too long and is very unprofessional on your part. Glymm bags are supposed to ship on the "week of the 10th" but i see that you have made changes to that and now say that you ship "by the end of the month". i have to say that customer response time and shipping times can definitely use some improvement.

aside from all this, Glymm's bag - as in the bag it came in - is my favorite yet. it is a satin black bag with white hearts all over it. super cute!

but haven't we been taught to never judge a book by its cover?

1) Purely Pro Cosmetics Eye Shadow in "Luxury" - how many people pulled this eyeshadow out and wished it was any other color? that navy blue in the pamphlet is pretty but it seems that everybody got a rather boring-looking brown (they even tease us by saying that this "innovative shadow is sure to make you stand out in a crowd"!). BUT if you have dark hair, you may be in luck since i found it to work well for filling in my brows!
the color is very similar to my Ameli Cake Eyeshadow in "Charcoal Brown".

size: 1.7 g (full size!)
retail value: $18

2) Villainess Bar Soap in "Ginger Snapped" - this is a newly released scent - smells more like cinnamon than ginger i think. if we are to keep receiving Villainess products, please oh please send Paradise Misplaced!

size: N/A
retail value: $6 (99 g)

3) Nailuv Gel Nail Polish in "Berry Sweetie" - i don't understand.... this polish requires me to purchase a $70 UV/LED light in order to use it? why do you bother sending this, Glymm? did your team research how many of us actually own such a device? and this is just out of curiosity but how many of you have brought your own polish to a salon before (as suggested by Glymm)?
sadly, the color actually looks pretty in the bottle (Nailuv: "a fresh dark pink with a hint of iridescent shimmer").

size: N/A
retail value: $14.95 (15 mL)

4) Femme Couture Plump Up The Color Lip Gloss in "827241 Coral Burst" - i haven't tried many Femme Couture's products so i was pumped up that we got a product from them but this shade is rather interesting. there seems to be multiple shades of coral in the gloss and it is very, very shimmery. i just don't feel like i would wear this often... but i'd love to see a swatch of someone who did try it!
there was some variability in the bags this month, where some got this Plump Up The Color gloss or  a Monster Gloss - which did you prefer?
the Monster Gloss is almost twice as big! 10.4 g! that's monstrous indeed.

size: 5.4 g (full size!)
retail value: $9

this month's bag also came with a 50% off a ShinySet subscription (jewelry) and a red heart lollipop. a subscription to ShinySet regularly costs $24.99 a month. they also have quarterly and annual ($299.99!) subscriptions. there's no way i'd subscribe for more than a month since jewelry is a very personal thing. it might be good to try it out for a month at 50% off though... hmmm. i'll need to do some more research!
as for the red heart lollipop... it would've been cute if it arrived by Valentine's... or even if it came while it was still February... oh - and if it wasn't slightly broken already :(
what are your feelings on Glymm and ShinySet?

GLYMM BAG: November 2012

i got my Glymm last Tuesday but this post has been delayed since shopping all weekend can be quite tiring ;)
even though Black Friday is not a Canadian thing, many shops have decided to extend this offer to us and i decided to join the fun. i went to the mall on Friday (okay, two malls) and did some online shopping today as well! i will do a separate post on all of this soon!

as for my Glymm bag, i can't help but describe it as "alright" or "okay" every single month! i am really hoping that December brings about some very very exciting bags! cross your fingers!

November's edition (in a black snakeskin bag):

1) Lys Parisien Professionnel Moisturizing Shampoo - so shampoo, nothing new here. except you have to admit that these are generous sample sizes and i'm intrigued about the argan oil. i haven't actually used argan oil on my hair prior to receiving this but i have heard plenty of great things about it...
my first experience didn't wow me but this will definitely get used up. the shampoo itself looks like a gorgeous shiny and shimmery light gold.
size: 60 mL
retail value: $24 (500 mL)

2) Lys Parisien Professionnel Moisturizing Balm - describing a conditioner as a balm was so confusing! good thing Glymm included the product information. both the shampoo and balm smell nice but the shampoo is definitely a stronger scent. the balm is a plain light gold (no shimmers in this one!). Lys Parisien Professionnel is a Canadian company and i can't seem to find any more information on them (there is no website either - strange).
size: 60 mL
retail value: $24 (500 mL)

3) Villainess Scintillating Bar Soap - i  don't mind trying more Villainess products since their creations all sound amazing. as described, the Scintillating soap smells strongly of mint with a touch of vanilla. i like the colors in this soap!

size: N/A
retail value: $6 (99 g)

4) The New Black Nail Polish - in who knows what color since they don't name them! i'd describe it as a tomato red (orange-red). if you take a look at the Glymm shop, i think this particular color may be found in the Ombre Kit in "Rover" or the I Want Candy in "Fever".
i had no problem with the formula - it applied thinly and evenly. you could definitely get away with one coat since a second coat only makes it slightly darker. i am pretty impressed with this polish! if anyone is interested, i've seen an 8-piece collection sold at Winners for $19.99 (compared to Sephora's $35).

size: 4 mL
retail value: $15-24 (set of 3-5)

5) The Beehive Eau de Parfum in "Alice Blue" - i didn't know perfume samples could get any smaller but here it is. i got "Alice Blue" which is described as flowery, sweet and fruity at the same time. i actually really like the scent. another surprise! i tried to find out where you can actually purchase the scent (other than Glymm) and their website is practically non-existent. they have their name, phone number and email - that's it! even the page is called "Untitled Document". they should get on that soon.

size: N/A... super tiny vial
retail value: $35 (100 mL)

as i come to use the products, i'm pleasantly surprised by a few of them. even though the sample sizes were ridiculously small, i do like The New Black nail polish and The Beehive smells really good! since i had not used argan oil on my hair before, i am eager to try the shampoo and balm. as for the Villainess soap, i enjoyed their Whipped! body creme last time so it is also welcomed.

did you enjoy your Glymm bag this month? did you take advantage of any crazy sales over the weekend?

GLYMM BAG: September 2012

i think i am one of the last few people getting their Glymm bags this month. i did not peek but i already caught glimpses of people's comments on Facebook that it wasn't a good one.
you know how sometimes if you lower your expectations, you may be pleasantly surprised?
well, it didn't happen.

the bag - cute, same as last month's but in white.
the card - does not exist.
the samples - no cosmetics. only shampoo, conditioner, makeup remover and creams.

so now that i've got you all excited about it, here's what i got!

September's bag consisted of:

1) EVOLVh UltraShine Moisture Shampoo
Ideal for both color treated and virgin hair, this Shampoo gently cleanses while infusing moisture and nutrients, leaving hair nourished.
when you click on the product on the Glymm site, under "What it does" - "Turns straw into silk." that's quite a statement. and it also prevents split ends? definitely worth a try for me.
it smells really nice (citrus-y and flowery) and lathers quite well for something that is sulfate free. both shampoo and conditioners are vegan, sulfate free, paraben free, sodium chloride free, keratin safe, color safe and not tested on animals. how impressive is that?
size: 59 mL (Glymm says: 14 uses)
retail value: $24 (250 mL)

2) EVOLVh UltraShine Moisture Conditioner
Rather than coating hair, this conditioner penetrates the hair shaft to moisturize and repair hair from the inside out.
the conditioner smells more coconut-y but there is no coconuts in the ingredients list. i felt like i had to use a lot of the conditioner because i didn't feel the conditioning effect. it felt like there was just water on my hair - but now that i read the above statement i understand that is what they meant by not coating the hair. right now, my hair does indeed feel softer and lighter.
i really like this EVOLVh line and once i am able to spend this much on shampoo and conditioners, i will gladly add this to my hair care system.
size: 59 mL
retail value:  $25 (250 mL)

3) La Fresh Waterproof Makeup Remover
Gently wipe your eyes & lips with love and good intention. Soon they will be sparkling clean. No need to rinse.
more makeup remover wipes! i heard these were actually a bit on the greasy side - i really dislike that feeling on my face and prefer my makeup removers to be oil-free.
size: 1 wipe x 2
retail value: $9.99 (24 wipes)

4) BENTA BERRY Super Moisturizing Face Cream for Girls (Preventative Line)
The high-quality super moisturizing face cream for girls is made from 100% natural active ingredients: apple, prickly pear, strawberry, kiwi, kigelia africana and macadamia oil.
again, BENTA BERRY. again, teeny weensy sample. again, designed by a famous perfumer. who? and what makes this specially for girls while last month's sample was for girls and boys?
it's moisturizing yes, but it smells like musky strawberries. if i had to choose, i prefer last month's.
size: 3 mL (Glymm: 7 uses)
retail value: $19 (30 mL)

5) Villainess Dulces En Fuego Whipped! Body Creme
Whip your skin into shape and 'redefine bad' with this thick, yet light and quite soluble body crème - much like edible whipped heavy cream. Yum.
this is a rather thick cream but absorbs easily into the skin. and like its name, it looks whipped. when you open it, you can see a layer of oil. smells like cinnamon chocolate cookies - reminds me of Christmas.
the official description of the scent is this: musky bitter chocolate with vanilla, citrus, black pepper and nutmeg. very interesting combination!
i usually use floral or fruity scented lotions so this is definitely odd for me. the brand looks appealing though and so i checked out their website. i definitely want to try their other Whipped! Body Cremes - like Paradise Misplaced Whipped!. doesn't coconut, mango and green tea sound absolutely yummy??
or what about Candy Floss Cupcake Whipped!? pink cotton candy and buttercream frosted cupcake...
oh my. for those in Ontario, there are 2 stores that sell Villainess products!
size: N/A but i am guessing 15 mL-ish? (Glymm: 3 uses)
retail value: $15.75 (177 mL)

so Glymm - not the best beauty subscription service out there. we can all agree on that. many are unhappy and unsubscribing or are on the verge. i am on the verge. my sister bought me the subscription last December as a Christmas present, and even though we didn't select the one-year option, i think i just might hold out until then. i am curious how Glymm will respond to the negativity they have been receiving. the negativity has been there for a number of months now and it is about time Glymm addresses the issues.

i am most pleased with the EVOLVh products - decent sizes and free of harmful chemicals. usually i do not pick the shampoo/conditioner, but that's just what it says about the bag.
on a different note, i have updated my September Topbox entry to show you my Balenciaga pouch i picked up at Holt Renfrew as well as my e.l.f Matte Lip Color review with my recent discovery!