BEAUTY BOX 5: September 2014

a quickie post to get September reviews out of the way... ugh it gets harder and harder to keep up and now the holidays are creeping up on us. next week is my work Christmas party already!

and i must say i am very proud of myself this weekend. got a few people checked off my shopping list already!!! normally i am panicking on Christmas Eve but i am hoping to avoid that at all costs this year. it's looking good so far... :)

September's BB5 - "Balancing Act"

1) Nicka K New York : Eye Light Crayon in "NEL007 Bronze"
size: 1.6 g (full size!)
retail value: $4.49

i was giddy when my eyes fell upon this item. giddy! a feeling i haven't had while opening beauty boxes as of late. but i have a thing for gold (this is actually a bronze, i know)... and crayons.
"Bronze" is not too bronze-y and is a very nice shimmer. i wouldn't use it as an all over color on the eyelids but it's great for giving off that POP in the corner of your eyes. prettttttty.

2) Natural Style by FUBU : Deep Conditioner & Co-Wash
size: 14 mL x 2 
retail value: $9.99 (340 g)

haven't tried this.
plenty of oils.
what is a co-wash?

3) Sally Hansen : Toe Spacers 
size: 1 pair (full size!)
retail value: $1.99

aaaaaand not going to use these. i've probably ever used toe spacers once or twice in my life.

4) My Beauty Spot : Nail Polish 
size: 12 mL 
retail value: $24.99 for a set of 6

aaaaaaalso not going to use this. the purple (with shimmer) is actually slightly darker than it appears in the photos.

5) Lashem : 3 in 1 Eye Bright
size: 5 mL
retail value: $40.00 (15 mL)

hmm. i've been told that eye creams are useful but i haven't seen its benefits just yet... so i will just hold onto this.

so one hit and the rest are misses for me. those aren't good numbers.
oh well. back to Doctor Who! i just watched a Steven Moffat-written episode and i can't stop thinking about it.

AT THIS MOMENT ...
currently listening: "New Flame" by Chris Brown featuring Usher & Rick Ross
just watched: A Million Ways to Die in the West (not recommended)
still watching: Doctor Who Season 4 // Walking Dead Season 5 // Brooklyn Nine-Nine Season 1
now reading: "When God Was a Rabbit" by Sarah Winman (still - i know! i sort of took a break...)

LUXE BOX: December 2013 [Winter Edition]

gooooooooood evening!
i've swung by today to give you a mighty quick post on the... last... December box i have? i might be wrong. there could still be one more hiding.

this is getting ridiculous, i know i know!

here goes:

1) Clinique High Impact Mascara in "01 Black"
ho hum - i've seen plenty of these included in the gift sets during Clinique bonus time.

size: 3.5 mL

retail value: $9.50 (8 g)

2) COVERGIRL LipPerfection Jumbo Gloss Balm in "245 Ruby Twist"

i haven't dabbled with COVERGIRL for a while and i was surprised with how quickly i fell in love with this - the ease of application, the color, the moisturizing and light feel it has - all of it! it's so summery too which i am sure everyone is anticipating the change in weather.

size: 314 g (full size!)

retail value: $10

3) Essie Nail Lacquer in "728 Dive Bar"

most of the Essies in my collection are matte shades so this is something different. Essie calls this color "a mysterious blackest blue with shimmer". i love how it is dark with a blue-green shimmer. must try on my nails next week.

size: 13.5 mL (full size!)

retail value: $11

4) EVOLVh UltraShine Moisture Conditioner 

hmm something seems to be missing...

oh what's that? shampoo?

that's right! i don't know why Loose Button decided to cheap out on us and just give us the second step and not the first... 

but i must admit, i loved this when i received it in my Glymm bag who-knows-when (actually i do - it was September 2012!). it's natural, smells lovely and makes your hair feel super soft and light.

which is why i wish there was a shampoo to go with this!! aghhh 

size: 75 mL

retail value: $25 (250 mL)

5) Honibe Honey Lozenges in "Lemon"

whaaaaaaaaaaaat? 

size: 4 lozenges

retail value: $5.99 (10 pack); $9.99 (20 pack)

6) Loose Button Gel Eye Pads

i don't own a set of these so i was feeling okay about getting these. but if you scroll down a bit and see the value Loose Button slapped on these, your eyes might fall out of your head and you will no longer be able to use such expensive gel eye pads.

size: 2 pads

retail value: $30 (yaaaaaaaa right)

7) L'Occitane Pivoine Flora Eau de Toilette

the heart of this scent lies in peonies - which i like. it's not 'heavy' and the tiny bottle is adorbs. i actually haven't tried any L'Occittane eau de toilettes before (or even knew they had a fragrance line...).

size: 5 mL

retail value: $47 (80 mL)

8) Simple Pleasures Hand & Body Cream in "Vanilla Bloom"

the scent is nice and not overpowering but i can tell that creams like this one tend to be sold in clothing stores who throw all their body care items near the checkout i.e. F21, H&M. the lotion is watery so it does not do much for long-lasting moisture.

(oh wait! it is the same brand as the cream in last season's box - no wonder the quality felt the same...)

size: 237 mL (full size!)

retail value: $10

i sort of wish i could've cancelled when i was strong. but now there is another Luxe Box sitting in the corner, waiting for me to get around to it. i must say i am happy to try the COVERGIRL Jumbo Gloss Balm. the Honey Lozenges counted as 1 of my 8 items which is sort of silly... the cost of those eye pads were outrageous... conditioner, mascara, lotion - nothing really grabs me anymore.

maybe it's time.

are you still with Loose Button? and are you happy? 

thanks for reading!

BEAUTY BOX 5: June 2013

i realized it has been exactly one whole MONTH since i last posted. that makes me a really horrible blogger. i am well behind on all my beauty boxes but i feel the need to still post this June box...

then i'll have some more goodies for you! i went on a 9-day road trip to Vancouver and Seattle so i picked up a few things. not that many since i still have like 5 (maybe more) beauty boxes sitting unopened in a corner of my room. i know, horrible blogger!!

the trip was the longest one i took this summer. i hadn't been to Vancouver for a few years now so it was fun to visit again. ate oysters at Rodney's, discovered awesome bubble tea at Bubble Queen, walked along English Bay, biked through Stanley Park, went to the Richmond Night Market, shopped at Daiso (first time! and ended up visiting like 3 Daiso locations including the ones in Seattle).
it was also my first time driving across the border to the states. we did some shopping at the outlet mall, visited Pike Place (fish market), checked out the gum wall (gross!), Space Needle, Chihuly Garden & Glass (so pretty!), ate at Crab Pot... plenty of eating actually.

before this road trip, me and the boyfriend also went out for a weekend get-together at his uncle's farm. we got to shoot some arrows which is tough but really fun!
also did a couple of runs this summer - the Zombie Survival Run as well as the Color Me Rad one.
plus a friend's wedding as well as the Bruno Mars concert in Edmonton.

all in all, it's been a great summer! we've had a few days this week with almost 30 degree weather so i hope it lasts a little while longer :)

- - - - - - -

okay let's do this! i *almost* have June out of the way!

1) Coolway Cool Cleanse Shampoo & Hydrate Conditioner - with this shampoo and conditioner set, i am now able to enjoy the whole Coolway system together!

size: 30 mL each x 2
retail value: $25 (254 mL)
promotion: 20% off sitewide before 7/15/2013 [expired]

2) Just Being Sexy Body Bronzer - i've never really used body bronzer before... especially a liquid one like this. i find that it is too much of a hassle, even with the gradual tan body lotions - the 5-10 minutes i'd have to wait for it to dry before putting on clothes seems like forever!

size: 8 mL x 2
retail value: $49 (180 mL)
promotion: 15% off sitewide before 7/15/2013 [expired]

3) Brazen Cosmetics Eyeshadow in "No Regrets" - more Brazen Cosmetics! i am still not a fan of the packaging for loose eyeshadows since they tend to get messy everytime i unscrew the lid, even if i do the tapping thing before i open it.

"No Regrets" is more a antique-y metallic-y gold like the bottom left swatch and less yellowy than shown in the bottom right picture.

size: N/A
retail value: $7.99 (5 g)

4) Aveeno Protect + Hydrate Lotion Sunscreen - mmm actually smells quite nice for a sunscreen. still has that sunscreen scent but slightly fruity at the same time. SPF 30!

size: 14 g
retail value: $9.99 (85 g)
promotion: $1.00 off any Aveeno sun care product - expires March 31, 2014 with coupon

this box was one of those meh boxes for sure. nothing i was super excited about. i hope the other boxes that are started to become a tower aren't as underwhelming!

i hope you all had a lovely summer! thanks for sticking with me :)

GLOSSYBOX: December 2012

i bet you have heard plenty in regards to the drama with the December Glossybox. you might be sick of it already, but let's recap just in case you haven't heard it.

- 2 items in the box - the Avon and the Revlon product - may have been discontinued/expired products
- some people have said that the Revlon nail polish had dust or Rite Aid clearance stickers on them
- some have also contacted Revlon Canada who said that they were not in partnership with Glossybox
- others said Avon confirmed their product was discontinued (there were a variety of Avon products sent out so i am not sure which one they were talking about)
- Glossybox's first response didn't help the matter either - they were very careful choosing their words. the first sentence angered many people, including myself: "GLOSSIES, we are sorry that some of you were disappointed with your full-size Revlon nail polish."
pretty much, they are emphasizing that the Revlon was full sized (lucky you!) and that they are not apologizing for the product itself but sorry that you are disappointed with it.
- Glossybox said they needed to speak to their European supplier about the Avon products. they later updated us with "We’ve communicated with our supplier in Europe, who has been a reliable GLOSSYBOX provider in the past, and they have reassured us that the product is in date, new and unopened, but we are devastated if our GLOSSIES are upset."
see that last part of the sentence? again, they are not taking responsibility.
- Glossybox said they will keep investigating the matter and will reevaluate their quality control processes for the future.
- this box was partnered with LOULOU Magazine. all they have said about the issue is that they are looking into it.
- some say that Glossybox has been deleting negative comments on their Facebook (i do not have evidence of this myself since i haven't been following that closely)

so personally, i do not have any issues with my Revlon nail polish. i can't find any information on the Avon lip gloss i got on the Canadian website nor the European website. i've seen a few eBay listings but none of them say discontinued...
what bugs me most is how Glossybox is handling the matter. they are not being honest upfront. plus, they claim to offer the "latest in high-end...beauty" and "only sources from the best cosmetics companies". both claims are directly challenged with this box.

everything was silver/gray this month - the box, the ribbon and the tissue since it was specially curated by LOULOU Magazine this month. there was also another Golden Ticket item - 50 people got a Nobia necklace. (by the way, i got the box on December 31).

even the GlossyMag is gray-ish

onto the products itself - this month's box is called the "Bejeweled Box" (i got V2):

1) TRESemme Fresh Start Volumizing Dry Shampoo - i actually have a full size version of this which i bought when i was trying dry shampoos for the first time. it didn't do much in terms of removing oil - i thought my hair still looked and felt greasy. near the end of the day, it even made my scalp itchy. the only plus side i could see is that it smells good.

size: 56 g
retail value: $5.99 (161 g)

2) Aveeno Ultra-Calming Daily Moisturizer SPF 30 - i have been using my Aveeno Positively Radiant Daily Moisturizer (also from Glossybox) since April last year! it was a huge bottle and now i have two more Aveeno moisturizers to go through. i think i am set, Glossybox - in terms of moisturizers and in terms of Aveeno.
i do like that it has SPF 30, but i don't have dry skin nor the redness that comes from dry skin.

size: 73 mL (full size!)
retail value: $22.99

3) Aveeno Positively Radiant Tinted Moisturizer (Fair to Light) SPF 30 - like what i said in 2)... so many full sized moisturizers from Aveeno... when will i ever try something different?
this one is tinted though and it is in my skin tone so that's neat. SPF 30 is a plus so i will definitely use this... after i finish the Aveeno i am currently using. i will do a swatch then!

size: 75 mL (full size!)
retail value: $22.99

4) Avon Glazewear Extreme Lip Gloss in "Pale Pink Shine" - ahh.. here we are. we've reached one of the products that have caused a flare up in the discussion on the Facebook page. there are plenty of variations of "Glazewear" lip glosses on the Canadian and European Avon website but no "Glazewear Extreme".
either way, i am unsure exactly what to do with this. i have way too many lip glosses opened as it is so i would prefer to give it away or something but i don't think anyone would want it now. i read that someone else used this and it was fine and surprisingly pigmented.

size: 6 mL (full size!)
retail value: N/A

5) Revlon Nail Enamel in "168 Temptress" - i was initially turned off by the color and the packaging since the Revlon label does make it look like a really old polish... but i changed my mind!

the color "Temptress" is actually from the 2010 Limited Edition Fire and Ice Collection. the collection was inspired by Revlon's first lipstick EVER - "Fire and Ice" from 1952. back then, they released a collection featuring matching lips and nail polish. in 2010, they relaunched it with new shades (but kept the Fire and Ice lipstick, of course). my info sources came from Nouveau Cheap and IAMBRIGITTE.

so now i understand why the Revlon label looks so vintage. i also appreciate the color since i've seen some swatches where the pink is actually brighter than it appears in the bottle (shimmery peachy pink). plus, nail polish doesn't go bad so this product is fine with me. i did some research about nail polish and expiry dates when i wrote my Forever 21 Hello Kitty nail polish set (scroll to the bottom).

it's not quite as pink in real life...

size: 14.7 mL (full size!)
retail value: $5.99

6) Glossybox Lashes with Adhesive - i see how holidays = false eyelashes for everyone in the beauty subscription world. 3 of my December boxes contained lashes... and these Glossybox lashes are the er.. worst looking ones. the lashes are so long and dramatic and too shiny! the whole thing, including the box and adhesive, looks cheap.

size: 1 pair (full size!)
retail value: $12.50 (are you kidding??)

7) *bonus* TRESemme Split Remedy Shampoo and Conditioner - my hair reaches the middle of my back so i can tell you that aside from lack of volume, i suffer from split ends. when i am bored, i even like to pick at them. i won't be able to see the "80%" reduction in split ends since i don't see how i will get 3 uses out of this sachet.

size: 9 mL each x 2
retail value: $5.99 (700 mL) each

8) *bonus* Nobia X-Cessories Tiny Mint Earrings - at first, i thought this was the Golden Ticket item since these earrings were not listed on the card. i did not think that these were all that special but it turns out that everyone got it as a bonus item anyway. check out Petite Pear Style's blog to see what her Golden Ticket item was!
according to the Nobia website, these are $14.99! honestly, i would not pay that much for these "aquamarine" earrings. i don't mind the blue jewel but i don't like the rim (correct term here please?) around it.

size: 1 pair (full size!)
retail value: $14.99 ... according to nobia.ca

- - - - -

so drama aside, the box is decent but you gotta admit, it's pretty boring - just like every past Glossybox. they contain products i'll (most likely) use but they are pretty much all drugstore. it's hard to pick a favorite since i am not really excited about any of them but i'll have to say the Aveeno tinted moisturizer, though i haven't tried it yet...
i really hope Glossybox addresses the problems soon because people want some answers!

what are your feelings about Glossybox at the moment? did you have a discontinued or expired product in your box?

GLOSSYBOX: November 2012

my November Glossybox arrived yesterday!! even though it is already December... oh well, the packaging made up for it! and it was also a heavy box - almost 1 kg.

i predicted that we would start getting the Glossy Mag after GB introduced the "North America-wide" pricing (since American subscribers were already getting it). i flipped through it (the cover model's stare is slightly scary, no?) and there are some interesting products in there plus an interview with their "Blogger of the Month". i only skimmed through it rather quickly for like 3 minutes and i have already found two spelling mistakes ("keps" and "cheif")... i don't mean to be nit-picky but i always cringe when i see spelling errors from professional businesses.

ahh... the wrapping makes me so happy! the red ribbon and the tissue paper puts me in a festive mood!

there was the possibility of another Golden Ticket in this month's GB - i did not receive one but i also didn't know about it this time around so i wasn't as disheartened haha.

November's goodies (version 1):

1) Nicole by OPI Kardashian Kolor in "Here We Kome A-Karoling" - this is part of their Holiday Collection. i understand that the family has a thing for "K"s but the name of this polish looks so odd with the "C"s substituted.

anyway, i am glad that i didn't get "A Gold Winter's Night" since i already mentioned how it looks exactly like Nailtini's "Millionaire". i am a bit jealous of those who got "All is Glam, All is Bright"! looks like a lovely glitter and it matches the box's wrapping with the red and white... hehe.

"Here We Kome A-Karoling NI K32" looks nothing like it is shown on their website - which also says that "This deep, grape purple will make your heart sing.". it is a deep purple but they failed to mention that there are shimmers in it. it's a little hard to tell unless you look closely at it in a some light.

swatch coming later!

size: 15 mL (full size!)
retail value: $10.99

2) Kryolan for Glossybox Blusher in Glossy Pink "Glossy Rosewood" - not sure why they printed "Glossy Pink"... did anyone actually get that color? i like how this is another item created specifically for Glossybox. the color is also very pretty - looks like a dusty pink. i noticed that this blusher actually had a scent - like a perfume. i've never experienced that before...

the best i could do - stop going down so early, sun!

size: 2.5 g (full size!)
retail value: $16.73

3) Nexxus Salon Hair Care: Hydration Kit - i already received this set in my August Topbox as a bonus item; the only difference is that it didn't have the box which i am assuming is because it would not fit inside the Topbox. i am actually trying to finish this up since i am trying to use up my hair samples... guess this additional sample is going to deter me for a while!

both the shampoo and conditioner smell good but the shampoo is rather sweet. makes my hair feel nice and soft.

size: 89 mL each
retail value: shampoo $9.99 (400 mL); conditioner $14.99 (400 mL)

4) Vitabath Moisturizing Bath & Shower Gelee in "Fresh Citrus Twist" - this is made in Canada but the website is not Canadian-friendly... there's no information on how much it costs to ship in Canada (even though they say they do ship here) and using the store locator, you can only enter zip codes... hmm.
BUT if you are a fan of their products, i went shopping today and found them in two different locations. so strange how once you are introduced to a new item, your eyes seem to be on alert and they start popping up everywhere. i found Vitabath at Sears and at Shoppers (plenty of gift sets!).

"Fresh Citrus Twist" smells like oranges. i will get to it once i finish my current body wash (the Dove one that i got from GB). i don't normally use body washes or shower gels but feel the need to go through them since Glossybox keeps sending them to me.

size: 170 g
retail value: $15 - $18 (60 g - 170 g) i think this was for the lotions, but for the gelees it's $18 - $40 (300 g - 910 g)... they also sell it by the gallon... why it is in g instead of mL is beyond me.

5) Maybelline MNY My Gloss in "765" - i had no previous knowledge of MNY so i did a little research. it is a branch of Maybelline that is currently prevalent in only European countries. MNY seems to be targeting younger girls with their packaging that resembles the doodling you did in class and their collections like "Red Riding Hood".

"765" is part of the "Yellows & Greens" family which is why it is not surprising that i was a little afraid of the color. there is also a ton of glitter in it. MNY is all about being fun and colorful so i am really quite curious how pigmented this gloss is going to look. but then again, i don't want to open it and waste it... did anyone experiment with this color?

size: 9 mL (full size!)
retail value: $7.49

6) ** bonus ** Curel Hand & Cuticle Therapy Cream - i actually bought a hand and cuticle buffer recently since i noticed my cuticles could need a little pampering (review coming up!). this would be the perfect cream to use afterwards.

i also have a Curel cream specifically for feet from a previous Glossybox - looks like i am all set. this Hand & Cuticle Therapy Cream is very smooth and smells like flowers.

size: 100 mL (full size!)
retail value: $3.99

7) ** bonus ** Über Loyalty Card - so apparently i can get 50% of all online purchases with this code. sounds pretty amazing right? i checked the website out but i am not impressed. they have a women's line called "Über Sassy" and for men, "Über Slick". this along with their logo (a winky face) makes it seem a bit juvenile to me. again, i find that the professionalism of a page is hindered when the company is not consistent - sometimes they don't capitalize the beginning of their sentences; sometimes they use "Uber" and other times, "Über". maybe i had to write too many website critiques in university but i do not want to buy their products.

value: $20 (how was this calculated??)

- - - - -

sooo the box is indeed jam-packed but is it sad to say that i was most excited about the wrapping? most of the items were full-sized or generous samples but shampoos, creams and shower gels don't excite me... especially since most are drugstore brands. i rather like the the blusher though and it's nice that there are quite a variety of items. at $21 a month, i just don't feel like i am getting enough value from the box to continue paying at this higher price point (for long anyways! plus, i am not actually paying for it since i got the subscription as a gift)... i am going to start canceling some of these subscriptions after the new year. go me!

on a side note, did anyone go to Superstore lately? thanks to Kylie (in the Canada Beauty Box Trades or Selling group on Facebook), i found out that they now carried e.l.f.!
a lot of it was gift sets ranging from $3.99 to huge palettes for $19.99.

and THIS is just amazing:

all the nail polishes arranged by color.. oh my. the geek in me applauses.