TOPBOX: December 2013 [regular]

another quick post for you today since i am not excited about this December box. this is the first December 2013 box i've opened and it does not meet my holiday expectations at all! (yes, it's true, i've got a stash of unopened beauty boxes in a corner still.)

but come to think of it, it looks like i was disappointed last year as well - see December 2012.

maybe Topbox just doesn't like celebrating holidays?

anyway,

the Regular December 2013's box included:

1) Belvada Cosmetics Coconut Lip Butter

it does not look like much thought was put into the packaging of this product. Belvada simply stuck a sticker on a little brown tub. i can't find this on the website (the site doesn't even have a section for lips - just Eyes, Skin Care and Nails) so i am not sure if they are even selling this lip butter.

i don't usually like dipping my fingers in to use any type of lip product but the coconut smelt nice so i did. i dabbed it on my lips with my pinky finger and now my lips smell good. 

size: N/A

retail value: $10 (10 mL)

2) Cuccio Colour Nail Lacquer in "6029 Moscow Red Square"

the shade is a nice festive shimmery red shade. truth is i already own a whole bunch of festive colors and won't be cracking this open. let me know if you are interested in taking this off my hands!

the right pic is a better representation of the color

size: 13 mL (full size!)

retail value: $10

3) Estée Lauder Pure Color Intense Kajal EyeLiner Duo in "01 Blackened Black/02 Blackened Cocoa" 

my favorite item in the box. i like an intense liner and pencils usually don't give me that effect but i am pleased with this one. both colors are perfect if you want a dark and pigmented eyeliner. it is also very soft and does not pull on the eyelids. BUT sadly, the downside is that it smudges quite easily... as in i wore it on both my upper and lower lids and i looked like a raccoon at the end of the night. i didn't know that eyeliner could migrate that far onto my cheek area.

it says on the eyeliner that it is not for individual sale - i am guessing this was part of a gift set or something but "Blackened Black" and "Blackened Cocoa" are both sold individually for $25.

size: N/A

retail value: $26 (for another Eyeliner Duo or $25 for a full-sized of each color)

4) Wella Professionals Thermal Image Heat Protection Spray

another item up for sale! just because i don't use enough hair styling tools. but like all Wella products, this smells great.

size: 150 mL (full size!)

retail value: $14

and that's it. how did you feel about Topbox ending the year with this box?

GLOSSYBOX: January 2013

oh this is sad.
i was not motivated to write this post at all. Glossybox, what happened?? are you trying to compete for the largest amount of dissatisfied customers with Glymm?

i got this box 10 days ago. there was a Canada Post processing error and i didn't even notice.

onto the items (from V1)...

1) Wella Professionals Brilliance Leave-In Mousse - i enjoyed the other Wella products i have received from their Brilliance line. this one says it is for colored hair - why am i not surprised that i got this? all it says on the back is that it helps protect colored hair... i wonder if it does anything else. i am not much of a mousse girl so i will probably pass it on to my mom.

size: 190 g (full size!)
retail value: $17.99

2) Too Faced Lip Injection Extreme - i had to laugh at this. Glossybox hardly ever breaks from their drugstore brand preference so this is quite rare! but of course, it had to be the tiniest thing ever! it only looks large below because i had to zoom close enough to see it :D see below to see how it actually compares it size.
this lip plumper is clear and shimmery - something you can wear layered over a lipstick.

size: minuscule
retail value: $28 (6 mL)

3) Burt's Bees Naturally Nourishing Milk & Honey Body Lotion - i already expressed my feelings on the scent of this lotion in my previous Glymm post. i am not exactly willing to open a larger sized sample.

size: 25 g
retail value: $12.99 (170 g)

4) Nivea Essential Lip Care - so a plain lip balm... that's rather boring, no? i have such a variety of lip products that i never reach for a plain lip balm anymore. passing this off to my boyfriend - he likes the plain ones. haha

size: 4.8 g (full size!)
retail value: $2.00

5) *Glossybox Best in Moisture* Vitabath Fresh Citrus Twist Hand Creme - at first, i thought it sort of resembled my Pacifica Tuscan Blood Orange Body Butter in the recent ipsy bag but it's nowhere as delicious-smelling. in fact, for a citrus scent, it could've been much better (the Pacifica one is also better for you - no parabens!).
i also got the same scent for my Vitabath shower gel (received in my Glossybox November 2012) and found that this hand creme smells more 'diluted' or 'manufactured' than the shower gel.

my camera does odd things to red/pink backgrounds

size: 60 g
retail value: $15 (120 g) ... according to myvitabath.com

6) *bonus* BeautySoClean Cosmetic Sanitizing Wipes - uhmmm so i was very happy to get these half a year ago (where i received 4) but i haven't even used them yet! i should definitely make use of them. anyone out there that uses these regularly?

size: 12 wipes
retail value: $12.50 (48 wipes)

so this box... rather blah. i am probably going to give away most of this stuff since i have plenty of other alternatives that i actually enjoy.

let's not talk about the box anymore.
who has seen Gangster Squad? i saw it on Tuesday and i quite enjoyed it! it was bloody and had plenty of guns but there was also Ryan Gosling. hahaha and Emma Stone. i liked most of the characters and was constantly on the edge of my seat (although you can sort of tell who is going to die... or not). :) what other movies in theaters would you like to see?

GLOSSYBOX: September 2012

amazing! i got my Glossybox for September before September ended? (anyone else automatically hear "Wake Me Up When September Ends" when you read "September" and "end"?)

anyway, it also seems that Glossybox shipped to the west coast first this time! like they said they would so that everyone would get it roughly around the same time. hooray! i've only seen like two other bloggers put an unboxing post up. this has not happened before!

so without delay, here is what i got in my V1 box - i am not sure how many versions there will be this month because if i had not gotten a particular product below, i would be quite unhappy!!

this month's glossy products (also deemed the "Red Carpet Ready Glossybox"):

1) Wella Professionals Mirror Polish Shimmer Delight Shine Spray - there looks to be a few typos here. according to the Facebook page, Glossybox explained that people either got 1) Mirror Polish Shine Serum or 2) Shimmer Delight Shine Spray. but putting them as separate numbers is confusing! people will think they are missing a product (which was my initial thought too). anyway, this Wella product is meant to give your hairstyle a little bling and comes in a clear glass bottle. i've tried the spray and though it smells nice (like all Wella products do), i do not see any "bling"-ing (shimmer). maybe it is harder to see with dark hair? or maybe i need to use a lot more of the product? i already used about 10 spritz on one side of my hair (to compare with the other). the hold level of this product is 1 out of 4 - which is the lowest but if you run your fingers through your hair, you can feel a little structure going on.
size: 40 mL (full size!)
retail value: $12.99

2) B. Kamins Bio-Maple Lip Balm - this is actually only a sample size of the lip balm - you could've fooled me! with the lipgloss sample sizes we have been getting from Glymm, i thought that this was pretty big.
i guess the amount in it is less though since it takes a bit of effort to squeeze the product out. plus, the formula of this balm is also quick thick. you really only need a tiny bit in order for your lips to feel hydrated. it looks white but goes on clear and has a really shiny finish that resembles a gloss. you can hardly detect the scent.
size: 4 mL
retail value: $21 (15 g)

3) B. Kamins Bio-Maple Maple Body Lotion - ooo maple again? very Canadian. by the way, these products are actually made in Canada (in Montreal)! i can smell the maple much better in this one and it is not too sweet. the lotion is on the more watery side which allows for faster absorption into the skin. it also contains shea butter so it feels very moisturizing.
the Glossybox came with a promo code for 25% off your next purchase on the website. this lotion is out of my price range though.
size: 12 mL
retail value: $41 (180 mL)

4) NYX Cosmetics: The Crimson Amulet Collection (S123) - i was blown out of the water. seriously, a full palette/makeup kit?! i saw the word "NYX" mentioned in a comment on the Glossybox page prior to getting the box, and i immediately shut my eyes and stopped reading. i knew i was going to love whatever it was going to be since i really like NYX and it's a little harder to come by here in Canada.
and so, can you believe it!? a limited edition collection in our Glossybox? you just made my September. yeah, i'm giving you the whole month, GB.

front and back of the box

i recognized this palette right away because i remember reading this post on Jayne's (Cosmetic Proof) blog. aww Jayne! what a weird coincidence!
the palette is set up like a journal - with a magnetic clasp to hold it closed. i think the design is very cute.

front, spine & back of the "book"

page 1: eyeshadows; page 2: mirror

page 3: instructions to recreate looks of the female characters;
page 4: eyeshadow base, eyeliner, illuminator, blushes, lipglosses

swatches are coming up soon! i haven't had time to play around with this so i can't comment on the wear time, pigmentation, etc etc just yet.

size: 43.2 g; an entire collection - 24 eyeshadows, 5 blushers, 1 illuminator, 1 eyeshadow base, 1 liner, 4 lipglosses (full size!)
retail value: $25

5) *bonus* Dove ClearTone Anti-Perspirant - this deodorant is designed to reduce underarm discoloration which i find useful except i haven't noticed any discoloration on myself. i do get dry skin from shaving though - sometimes it really irritates me how itchy it can get. i've been moisturizing the area before putting on deodorant and it helps. what do you ladies do? 
size: 17 g
retail value: $4.99 (45 g) ... according to well.ca

?6?) i am not sure what to do with this one since it is listed on the card and has a value assigned to it but i do not understand it. 5 units for $5.99?
the post-it note in the box says that if you like "Art of Fashion" on FB, you have a chance to win a YSL bag.

so hooray for GB :) i really love the NYX Crimson Amulet Collection - even though i tend not to use my other kits (i have one of those huge expandable Sephora makeup kits as well as a Victoria's Secret one) as much since they take up so much space and are just a bit of a hassle to deal with. but then again, this magnetic clasp doesn't seem to be too much of a challenge for me :)
i've never tried B. Kamins before so it's nice to be introduced to two of their products. and my Wella collection is ever expanding! i do not know if i have a use for all of them though.

Glossybox is my favorite beauty box this month (so far anyway - still waiting for BB5). it topped Topbox :)

GLOSSYBOX: June 2012

unfortunately, Glossybox has a reputation for delivering extremely late in the month. and this month was no exception. my June box arrived yesterday on July 3.as usual, however, the box was pretty heavyyy. i took off the lid and noticed that the box was pretty much filled to the brim. if anyone was wondering, i am a V4 (according to Glossybox, there are different versions of the box based on the skin type you selected in your beauty profile). this is quite the list of June's samples:

1) Bioré Combination Skin Balancing Cleanser - this is one of the items weighing the box down! this is a full-sized product and Glossybox took into account my combination skin. i admit i have not tried Bioré products before even though i've heard many many great things about their nose strips. based on one use, i really like the fresh scent and it feels gentle. it comes out as a clear liquid and becomes a foam. i will start using this regularly after my current cleanser is used up.
size: 200 mL (full size!)
retail value: $9.99

2) Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen Lotion SPF 55 - ahhh this is one item i would've loved to receive before the long weekend. SPF 55 would've been great for lying in a canoe all day (i did not do much/any paddling). still will be useful for the rest of the summer... and the upcoming Calgary Stampede.
size: 14 mL
retail value: $15.99 (88 mL)

3) Wella Professionals Ocean Spritz Beach Texture Hairspray - it appears that Wella is popping up all over the place! but wait!!! is this a beach texture hairspray?! i am so so so very excited about this product :) i've been wanting to try salt sprays to get beachy waves. i don't think it's possible with my hair but i've wanted to try forever. and another full-sized item? whoohoo!!
i tried it today and found that it gave me the piecey hair look - when your ends are separated into.. pieces? i lack the ability to describe this properly. anyway, about 12 spritzes gave me that look but some of the ends seemed to lie straight. perhaps i need to use more product since i have very thick hair. also i was focused on using this product on my ends only - but then my hair looked super flat on my head so i'd recommend using the hairspray all over. i'll try again tomorrow!
size: 150 mL (full size!)
retail value: $16.99

4) Olay Regenerist Wrinkle Revolution Complex - okay, who thought it would be funny to give me another one of these?? not cool.
size: 7 mL
retail value: $30.99 (50 mL)

5) CoverGirl Blast Flipstick Blendable Lip Duo in "800 Whisper" - i already own one of these from Christmas in the color "Cheeky" which i'll do another post on soon. on FB, it seems like the majority received the color "Minx" which i am glad i did not. the creme side of "Whisper" looks like a pink leaning on purple while the other is a shimmery darker version of it. i forgot how pigmented these Flipsticks are! i like the idea of creating different variations with the two lipsticks, but in reality, i rarely blend lipsticks together. the lipsticks do not have individual names so the clear packaging is useful in that you can see the actual colors (way better than guessing based on its name anyway).

i first tried on the lighter creme side and look at how it brings out the lines on my lips... it is very pigmented and the color is very light and does not complement my skin tone. wayy too frosty of a finish. my bottom lip looks like a very light pink but the rest is lilac-y.

next, i tried on the darker shimmery shade. again i was surprised, but this time at how metallic my lips look. very purple with a golden sheen. egad! look at those lip lines (does anyone still say egad?).

it says "New" on the packaging as well as on the card. i think these have been out for a while now. i'm curious as to when is something "New" not considered new anymore?
i'll have to say that i am not a huge fan of this lip product. although it has great color payoff, it is very drying. i noticed while wearing it that i needed to apply lip balm. but the day after you wear it is the bigger concern - every time i licked my lips, i could feel every single dry patch on my lips. i had to reapply lip balm constantly today. i am also not a huge fan of this color. AND it has a very unnatural taste - like i'm licking chemicals or soap. yuck.
size: 3.8 g (full size!)
retail value: $12.50

6) Gillette Venus Embrace Razor - i see Glossybox has ventured into an area where only Loose Button had been before - razor territory. this one i do not currently have in my stash. i will eventually get through them but i think i am set for the year.
size: 1 razor and 1 cartridge (full size!)
retail value: $13.43

7) **bonus ** Bioré Deep Cleansing Pore Strips - yay! the thing i mentioned in 1). i am excited to try this!
size: 1 pore strip
retail value: $9.99 (8 pore strips)

hmm, as you already know, most of these are drugstore items. but then again, most of them are also full sized. i feel that beauty box services need to find that balance between drugstore and high-end names, especially those that advertise "luxury" items. i enjoy receiving drugstore items since these are usually the items i am able to purchase on my own, but i also enjoy learning about brands i haven't heard before or products i haven't tried. so this box was not a miss for me - i love the Wella hairspray and i'll definitely use the Bioré cleanser, Neutrogena sunscreen and razor on a regular basis.

did you like your Glossybox this month? BB5 review coming shortly!
while you wait, why not enter Topbox's current Vasanti Cosmetics sweepstakes here?

GLOSSYBOX: April 2012

it's MAY already!!!!
well hooray for arriving yesterday so it counts for being in April i guess. hopefully the delay back in March does not continue to carry forward in the upcoming months.
you know how i was astonished at how heavy the March Glossybox was? well this one was even heavier! it was almost 1 kg (960 g to be exact).
upon first glance, i realized why this was:

pretty full hey?
aside from the products, the black envelope contained a note from Glossybox with the products list and a Wella Professionals brochure (as well as a bonus sample which i will mention later).

Glossybox's April samples:
1) Aveeno Positively Radiant Daily Moisturizer - first off, full size! and it's huge! it has all the things i look for in a moisturizer: SPF, oil-free, non-comedogenic... hooray! i was about to run out of my current Nivea Light Moisturizing Day Care which is really hydrating and works all day for me.
it's funny though, i received a sample of the same Aveeno moisturizer as a gift in my last Beyond the Rack purchase but the difference is that it is SPF 30. i checked their website and you can purchase this product in SPF 15 or SPF 30.
i used this moisturizer today and i already like it. it is lightly scented and makes my skin super soft. one pump is the perfect amount for my face and neck.
size: 120 mL (full size!)
retail value: $22.99

2) Elizabeth Grant Skin Care Shower Gel in "Madagascar Vanilla" - another full size product! i used it today and i actually feel that my skin is softer from it. "Madagascar Vanilla" has a really strong vanilla scent to it which makes me feel like i am showering with cupcakes. i don't use shower gels often so i don't think i will be purchasing this item again but i will however use this until it is finished.
size: 240 mL (full size!)
retail value: $20

3) Wella Brilliance Conditioner Fine to Normal - i found it odd that i received a conditioner without a shampoo but heard that many received one in Glossybox Canada's very first box (which i missed out on) so that makes sense for them. oh well, i am always running out of conditioner faster than shampoo. this product says that there is "diamond dust" in it - what? i am not sure what that means and how would that work? won't this dust just wash out? ingredients actually include "diamond powder" (as the very last item)... interesting.
i am also a tad confused as to why i keep being sent hair products for "Fine to Normal" hair or for "Colored" hair when i have the opposite - thick uncolored hair.
size: 30 mL
retail value: $13.99 (250 mL)

4) Wella Brilliance Treatment Fine to Normal - again, diamond dust? i wasn't too sure as to how to use this treatment since there were no directions on it but someone on Facebook asked the same question. Glossybox replied saying to use it after shampooing and leave in it for 5 minutes then rinse. so i skipped my normal conditioner altogether and found that my hair is indeed softer after using this. both Wella products smell very sweet, like candy.
size: 25 mL
retail value: $13.99 (150 mL)

5) Marcelle Xtension Plus Mascara - yes you counted right, this is the 3rd full size product in the box! i am glad to try any mascara that can claim to give me a "lash-extension look without adding extensions" (you can see why from my posts on my actual experience with mink eyelash extensions) but i am still using my previous YSL mascara sample from February's Topbox. i will update you when i can!
size: 9 mL (full size!)
retail value: $12.50

6) *bonus* Marcelle BB Cream Beauty Balm in "Light to Medium" - BB creams are all the rage right now so it is nice to try a sample of Marcelle's version. it is a one-use sample that is apparently "formulated especially for Canadian women". it has an impressive list of 8 beneficial properties.
size: unknown - one-use sample
retail value: $22.95 (45 mL)

phew! that was indeed a big box. i am quite happy with Glossybox - i would say Topbox and Glossybox are my top 2 beauty box subscription services. i can use all the samples in the box and am impressed with the sizes of these products. if you are interested, check it out here.