GLYMM BAG: August 2012

imagine my surprise when i got my shipping notification from Glymm stating that their August bag was on its way. and then when i even received the bag before Topbox sent our their notification... that is mind-blowing!!

i got my bag yesterday which seems to be still later than everyone else. 

August's bag is black, shiny and quilted. very pretty! i am glad they switched it up. i am tired of the bags, but if Glymm has to absolutely keep them, then i rather they change the design every month and keep it exciting. 

the products inside can do with some improvement though. 

everything is very small. it seems that small samples are Glymm's specialty.

for August, we got:

1) Vitamine & Sea Mineral Clay Mask

This natural facial mask made with clay directly from the Dead Sea will tingle as it softly exfoliates, eliminates toxins, promotes circulation, cleanses and strengthens your skin.

the mask is to be left on your face for 20 minutes or until it dries. for me it was the latter - i think it dried within a few minutes! i think it's because i wanted to get at least 2 uses out of this so i used it sparingly which meant that the layer i applied was quite thin. it smells like dirt and rocks (if rocks had a scent, this is it). it left my face feeling fresh and smooth.
i do not use masks enough to justify paying $62 for it. plus, i still have plenty of samples to go through.

size: small (Glymm says 3 uses)

retail value: $62 (210 mL)

2) Naked Princess Naked Shine Luscious Lip Gloss in "Barely Nude" 

This sexy gloss stimulates collagen, is non-tacky and plumps your lips ever so gently.

this reminds me of the Anastasia gloss sample in March`s - you guessed it - Glymm, because they are both the tiniest lip gloss samples i have ever seen. i have never heard of the brand Naked Princess before but i like their look and their use of healthy formulas in their products.
the Naked Shine glosses come in 8 shades of nude. "Barely Nude" is completely nude on me. it just makes my lips look shiny. i doubt there is any way to build on the color, and even if there was, i would not be able to attempt it since there is not enough product. i like that the gloss is free of a number of chemicals and that it is non-sticky. the gloss has a sweet scent to it that reminds me of another lip gloss that i can't exactly pinpoint right now.

size: 0.25 g

retail value: $26 (2.96 mL)

3) Atelier Cologne Vanille Insensée

An electrical current runs through the subtle sweetness of vanilla, jasmine and fresh lime to bond with rich oak moss, woods and spicy coriander.

of the many fragrance samples i have received, i enjoy the packaging of Atelier Cologne. even though it's in the form of a vial, which is harder to use, i like the neat postcard it comes with. i also like the scent of it. it's not something i would normally wear but the vanilla is sweet and not overpowering.

size: smaller (~20 uses)

retail value: $70 (30 mL)

4) The Laundress Delicate Wash (Lady)

Take care of your beautiful delicates and lingerie with a wash that's effective yet gentle.

not what you would be expecting from a beauty subscription service. i do not feel like i need some special detergent for my delicates so it's not entirely useful to me. does it make sense that i think it would've been neat if it was a bonus product instead?

size: 15 mL

retail value: $22 (500 mL)

5) BENTA BERRY G-1 Moisturizing Face Cream for Boys and Girls (Regulating Line) 

This cream is made from 100% natural active ingredients: burdock, jasmine, mandarin, blueberry, white dead-nettle and zinc pidolate.

pheww that is a long name!! the packaging is eye-catching but really hard to decipher. under the Glymm notes, it says: "Its subtle fragrance was designed by a famous perfumer for both boys and girls." i actually did not know that perfumer was a word. and who is this famous perfumer?
i'm blanking out again because the scent reminds me of something else... agh. anyways, it's lightweight and helps mattify the skin. it is a bit out of my price range though!

size: 3 mL

retail value: $22 (30 mL)

6) Mai Couture Foundation Powder Papier in "Nude Glow"

The Papier collection by Mai Couture exudes novelty and modernism. Whether you need coverage, color or highlights you’ll find a quick and effective solution here.

foundation powder papier. i am intrigued about the idea since i cannot see how one sheet could substitute for foundation but... 

funny how Glymm does not listen to customers' feedback because i clearly remember back in February, when there was backlash as people calculated how much 2 sheets of blush papier was worth ($0.70!!). here, we are sitting at $0.76. 

if you look closely at the papier, you can see little shimmers on it. other glows available: fair and golden.

size: 2 sheets 

retail value: $19 (50 sheets)

everything is just so tiny. a number of the samples can only be used once, or max twice. the bag is cute but i rather have better products. the value of the bag does not seem to exceed or even equal its cost - especially for those paying $12. i heard some got a full size nail polish though - what did you get in your Glymm? 

GLYMM BAG: June 2012

seems like Glymm is becoming more consistent with their shipping. the last two months, i think they've arrived a few days after Topbox has. the new format of "bag" instead of "box" has made the package feel much lighter. this month's bag is blue! uh oh - you know what that means - it means that my mind may be twisted into thinking that i need to collect these colorful bags... ack! oh and i just noticed the "Glymm" stamped on the zipper. very cute detail.

it's nice that Glymm is going green, but i find the white tissue paper wrapping around the bag unnecessary. anyone else think so?
so Glymm decided to make things a tad harder for everyone by discontinuing the product card. this is the same as BB5 and i do not like this feature. i have to look everything up to see how to use it and i think it is too much of hassle. i hope i make your life easier by listing the description here as found on the Glymm website.
the Glymm bag felt light and it was visibly much less packed than last month's. in fact, everything was quite small.

June's samples:

1) La Fresh Acetone-Free Nail Polish Remover
Remove your nail polish in the most eco-friendly way possible. It does no harm to you or the planet, and it smells so delicious.

i have not tried these but have seen them mentioned on fellow bloggers' posts before. i've heard fantastic things about these so i am happy to try them. they are cruelty free and made from natural ingredients. apparently you don't even have to rinse your hands after using the wipe.
size: 1 pad (for 10 nails) x 2
retail value: $9.99 (18 pads)

2) Clark's Botanicals Smoothing Marine Cream
This exfoliating and moisturizing cream will leave your skin feeling smooth as can be.

interesting fact - Clark's Botanicals donates a portion of their sales to The Christopher Reeve Foundation (not sure what i'm talking about? re: Superman). anyway, it is supposed to be used prior to applying sunscreen. the directions sound a tad scary when it says: "Never apply this product to red or peeling skin." the use of the word "never" sounds very serious...
i used it in the morning before sunscreen as advised. the scent reminds me of old ladies but it's not unpleasant. it made my face feel soft. i'll gladly use this until i run out but i am not sure if the benefits of this product is worth $115 yet.
size: N/A but on the Glymm site it says around 10-14 uses
retail value: $115 (50 mL)

3) Salvadore Dali ItIsDream Eau De Toilette Natural Spray
This fragrance radiates romance, tenderness, optimism and joy. If you’re artistic and love to dream, then this is the fragrance for you.

i would not have known what brand this was by looking at it since a lot of the writing was rubbed off on my sample. be careful when you use it - it comes out more direct rather than a spray or mist -- spritz! one spritz is more than enough - the scent is pretty strong. a strong citrus-y floral. my sister described it as a musky floral. we both are clueless as to describing scents so don't take our word. i don't think it smells bad though. online, it says it is a combination of fruity-floral-woody... yay  i guess we win!
size: N/A ... 1 sample vial, ~ 35 sprays
retail value: $54 (60 mL)

4) Vitamine & Sea Perfect Skin Solution
This miracle serum is 100% natural blend of vitamin E and essential oils. It will leave your skin flawless.

hooray 100% natural! after reading more about this product, it seems like it is a miracle product: it fights acne and aging, smooths and repairs skin while protecting it from environmental damage. it is to be used at night - apply 2-4 drops on a damp, clean face and neck.
it's a little difficult to do 2-4 drops with this sample packaging so i had to slowly pour a little on my finger. perhaps i poured too much because i did not like the feel of this serum on my face at all. it felt way too oily on my face. i highly dislike oily makeup removers - imagine you are using that and spreading it all over your face. and the smell - ack! not a fan of stinky greasy products!!! i am scared to try this again even though it is apparently so good for your skin.
size: N/A... 1 sample vial, ~ 5 uses
retail value: $68 (45 mL)

5) Belvada Harmony Duo Lipstick/Lip Balm in "Balm/Elegant Maroon"
Everything your lips need for a night: some balm and some color in one lustrous package.

i was very intrigued when i picked this up but then the excitement died a bit when i saw the words "Elegant Maroon". i didn't know if i would like maroon on my lips. there are 3 other colors available: "Intense Red", "Natural Earth" and "Soft Pink".

when i took it out of the box, i was astonished at how large this product was! then, i quickly became confused as to how to use it. i even tried shaking it for a bit. i realized you pushed it on one side to get the opposite out and then you pull the tube out. when you are done, you slide it back in until it clicks (two times so it doesn't roll back and forth).

i took a close up of the "Elegant Maroon" side to show you the actual color as well as how much product there was in the tube.

i did swatches of both the balm and the lipstick even though the balm was clear. the balm feels really nice and moisturizing. and then i tried on the lipstick. i was pleasantly surprised by how much i like this color on me! i feel that it works with my complexion. even though it's definitely a darker color than i am used to wearing, it's a nice toned-down red.

 left to right: artificial light; natural light

i tried to show you on my arm how pearly the color was. as you can see, both of them have a nice shine.

top to bottom: artificial light; natural light

what's handy is that they also sell the lipstick/lip balm separately in case you run out of one side faster than the other. you can purchase them for $10 each.

size: 3.4 g/lip balm or lipstick x 2 = 6.8 g (full size!)

retail value: $20

i wonder if Glymm actually considers this part of our "samples", but on the products list, they included the blue makeup bag the samples came in. it is listed at $12 each - which doesn't make sense to me since the new Glymm bags WITH the samples cost $12/month so why wouldn't you just sign up? (perhaps, here? :))
** spoiler alert ** but aww, it looks like there is only one other color to get other than the pink and blue. oh well, i love orange!

so i think that Glymm did good this month. most of the samples are indeed very small  but the Belvada duo totally made the bag for me. what did you get in your Glymm this month?