BEAUTY BOX 5: October 2014

yesterday, we celebrated our NINTH year together. my boyfriend and i decided to honor the day by going to our first Brazilian BBQ and eating meat, meat and more meat. regular meat, spicy meat and meat wrapped up in meat. then finishing with some cake. then we went home and fell into a food coma. it was a very lovely night.

- - -

October's box "Effortless Allure" is all about simplicity:

1) ChapStick : Dual-Ended Hydration Lock Day & Night
size: 2.2 g x 2 (full size!)
retail value: $2.99

first up, definitely a simple beauty product since it is ChapStick and all but wait... dual-ended!? that is impossible!
one end is for use during the day so it has SPF while night is about restoring moisture. i've never seen a product like this - intriguing but also slightly gimmicky,,,

2) Bellapierre Cosmetics : Cheek & Lip Stain in "Pink"
size: 5 g (full size!)
retail value: $19.99

pretty shade but slightly too pink as a lip color for me... check out the sale board! 

3) Extend Your Beauty : Cosmetic Tool
size: 1 tool (full size!)
retail value: $5.49

another product that i have not seen before which is neat but to be honest, it looks sort of cheap. it looks like a product i could find at the dollar store.

and check out the back! Diswasher safe? wait - wha?? so many questions...

4) Nanacoco : Nail Polish in "20055 Romantic Cruise"
size: 15 mL (full size!)
retail value: $3.95

i keep picking up blue nail polish and adding it to my collection but it's the shade i use least. why do i continue to do that? ... sale page time!

5) Lashem : Picture Perfect Instant Wrinkle Reducer
size: 5 mL
retail value: $3.95 (15 g)

last month we got the eye bright version. the wrinkles are coming. must. prepare.

and voila! meh meh meh. effortless indeed... don't have much to say; every item is lackluster.

AT THIS MOMENT ...
currently listening: Just A Lil Bit (Av.i Remix) - 50 Cent
just watched: Edge of Tomorrow
still watching: Doctor Who Season 4 // Walking Dead Season 5 // Brooklyn Nine-Nine Season 1 // Vampire Diaries Season 5
now reading: "When God Was a Rabbit" by Sarah Winman 

TOPBOX: October 2013 [regular]

LET'S GET DOWN TO BUSINESS
...
 to defeat the Huns!

actually, i determined the problem behind my inability to post anything in October.

it's because i'm lazy/busy and since i was already so behind in posting about my boxes, i was not motivated to put them up since no one was going to read them... but i will still put them up. just at a later date when i am caught up.
for now, i will post about boxes i just got - which means i will start digging through the pile of unopened boxes in the corner of my room.

yippee - blogging and not wasting products! i had almost forgotten the feeling of excitement of opening boxes and trying out new products...

here i go!

Topbox! yes, almost a month old but i am making my way through October. i can do this!

October's Topbox (regular) was the Murale (Shopppers Drug Mart) box. speaking of SDM, i misplaced my Optimum card for like 3 months and i was completely at lost without it. i felt like i was missing out on a gazillion points but i would not give up on it. i'd have terrible thoughts about some stranger finding it and using up all my points! agh!! the horror!

but the story has a happy ending! apparently i threw it in a box of receipts i was supposed to go through months ago but of course, i did not get to that.

so.... Murale! products in this box include:

1) Darphin Predermine Densifying Anti-Wrinkle (Anti-Wrinkly) Cream for Normal Skin - this is quite the fancy packaging. everything about this makes me think of something my grandma used to have on her vanity table - the lid, the other lid, the color, the scent... the texture feels light to the touch but once you smooth it on your face, it feels slightly heavier. this product comes in two forms - for normal or for dry skin.

size: 15 mL
retail value: $200 (50 mL) - ay, caramba! i will treasure this $60 sample... 

2) Erno Laszlo Transphuse Eye Refiner - this tiny sample is another anti-aging product but targeted for your eyes. this white cream smells a little funny to me... sort of like beer or something. see below 3) for a swatch of the product.

size: 2 mL
retail value: $120 (15 mL)  - looks like this box is filled with luxury items. this sample alone is worth $16

3) Rivoli Le Visage Luminous Serum - the serum is more like a very liquid-y form of a cream to me than a serum. most serums i have are clear and feels sort of thick. this one is white and runny. it has a light scent. i can't quite comment on much else since i've used it twice and the second time, i already had to squeeze the tube with my entire hand.

size: 3 mL
retail value: $220 (50 mL) - this $13 sample barely lasted me 2 uses...

4) Yves Saint Laurent Mascara Volume Baby Doll Mascara - there are different versions of this mascara to achieve different lash looks. this Baby Doll one is particularly great for a wide-eye look with long and separate lashes. the mascara comes in 4 different colors including a black, brown, blue and purple.

size: 2 mL
retail value: $36 (5 mL) ... $14.40 sample!

so looks like the trend with this Murale box is higher-end items... probably geared towards middle-aged women with all the anti-aging items as well as the fact that they are more likely to be able to afford such price tags.
in my opinion, this box was just alright. with my current financial position, i am not looking to spend $200 on a cream just yet... but i will gladly use up my sample.

i am a tad jealous of those that got the Elizabeth Arden lipstick sample... i really need to replace my missing lip brush... and a mini one? that would come in so handy!

other Topboxes that i was debating about for the month of October included the Dermalogica box or the Cosmetics Magazine Topbox (for an additional $5) - i was tempted mainly because of the Bio Oil but really, i could actually go out and buy it... i guess.

thanks for reading!!

IPSY GLAM BAG: November 2012

first up, a little rant about Google.
apparently i have maxed out my Picasa storage for my account - i had no idea that i was using Picasa this entire time nor was i aware that i had limits but okay. so the only way i can fix the problem was to a) get more storage by paying each month or 2) upload photos that are within size limits. these limits depend on if you are a Google + user; if you are, you can upload photos up to 2048 x 2048 pixels. if not, the max is 800 x 800. and so, obviously signing up for Google+ seems like the better choice. but now i run into some issues with their "Names Policy". apparently my name, Helen To, does not sound legit. so i had to submit online proof (you can also do offline like scanning an id) and i had to wait a day since my account was pending review.
this was ridiculously frustrating!!! have you other ladies encountered this storage problem before? what did you do?

- - -

sooo the wait is over!! ipsy has arrived in Canada and i just received their first bag on Monday! i was definitely one of those people who scrambled to sign up the second i heard that they have expanded into Canada.
i have been pretty excited about this since i have seen previous ipsy (myglam) bags before and the amount of makeup they include appeals to me. this particular bag, entitled "Party Perfect!", was a hit in this regard since the majority of items i got was in fact makeup.

i was driving with my parents after i picked up my mail and i was singing "i'm so excited" the entire way home and they just gave me the crazy look.
so let's dive into this flashy pink bubble mailer!

first up, i see a welcome message for Canadians and two cards: one with the list of products (no other info besides offers) and $20 off JustFab (which is like a shoe 'subscription' company).
i've browsed JustFab plenty of times but one of the major turn-offs is the shipping charge to Canada. i checked today and i think they have lowered it since i last checked - $6.95. not too bad...

okay, let's keep diving into the chocolate brown bag (which is very plain but has the ipsy logo inside).

November's contents (since it doesn't come with a detailed product card, i'll be copying what the info on the site says here; prices are also in US dollars):

1) theBalm Meet Matt(e) eyeshadow in "Matt Batali"
"Matt Batali is just one of the nine shadows found in theBalm’s Meet Matte(e) compact palette (named after their favorite Matthews next door) which can be combined to create a multitude of soft and wearable looks. Matt Batali leaves a dark, matte finish, perfect for creating a smokey eye."

hi Matt! what a cute sample size you are! i love the little 'book' with magnetic closure. if you look closely, you can see that my eyeshadow was nicked a bit - it's obviously not a fingerprint but i guess mine got into a little accident.

i'd describe the color as a taupe-y aubergine since it looks brown, gray and purple at the same time. the eyeshadow is pigmented and lasts all day. it was a tad chalky when i first applied it though.

promotion: get the Meet Matt(e) eyeshadow palette for 50% off - the catch? shipping to Canada is $40. how is that right?? shipping to the US is $2.15 and somehow ours cost 18x more... ridonkulous. but you have to agree that it's so clever that all nine eyeshadows are different Matts.
size: 0.9 g
retail value: N/A but the palette with a brush (9.5 g) is $34.50, currently on sale for $17.25

natural light; artificial light

2) Starlet Intense Eyeliner in "Black"
"These creamy eyeliner pencils glide on to deliver a lasting vibrant color in chocolate or black. Blend or line your lids to create your favorite glam look, whether a smoky eye or straight line wing tip."

i am so glad i got "Black"! this specific eye pencil doesn't seem to be listed on the website since it looks different from the "black eyeliner". perhaps this is the more intense version.

to me, it still looks like a soft black though (see above for swatch). i used it yesterday on both my upper and lower lash line and man, was that a mistake. within an hour, i was having mad raccoon eyes. i had to keep cleaning up under my eyes since it continued to smudge all through the day. and as for my upper lash line, after 4 hours, i had huge creases on the inner corner. and to think i even wore an eye primer!
to sum it up, it was just a huge mess. no likey.

promotion: 20% off. shipping one eyeliner to Canada costs $17.84! eep.

size: 1.5 g (full size!)

retail value: N/A but the less intense version is $11

3) Nailtini Nail Lacquer in "Millionaire"

"Introducing Millionaire nail lacquer from the new Nailtini “Speakeasy” Collection chosen specifically for the ipsy community. Millionaire spikes a base of rose gold micro-glitter with iridescent gold and teal tinsels for statement-making nails, whether worn alone or as a dazzling special-effect topcoat. The only line of lacquer developed to maximize the creativity of the user by "cocktailing" different shades, Nailtini serves up endless color possibilities with amazing performance, hip sensibility and tongue-in-cheek attitude. Always 3-free, made in the USA and never tested on animals."

i've seen Nailtini before at Winners and have been tempted to pick one up. "Millionaire" also looks exactly like Nicole by OPI's "A Gold Winter's Night" and tokidoki's SANDy which i considered picking up after seeing both on sale at Shoppers and Sephora, respectively. however, i was feeling conflicted about the bar glitter - is it pretty or is it hairy?

i love the clever description!

on the website it is described as a "golden glitter infusion; teal & gold tinsels awash in rose-gold microglitter" (i like the word awash). the teal bars may appear purple when you play with the light. "Millionaire" is part of the Speakeasy collection. i don't think it's a polish i'd wear on all of my nails - i personally just used it as an accent. i also prefer it as a two-coater. 

promotion: 25% off. shipping to Canada is $11.95.

size: 15 mL (full size!)

retail value: $13

4) bareMinerals Marvelous Moxie Lipgloss eclos Moisture Therapy Regenerative Cream 

"This medium-weight moisturizer with restorative benefits helps smooth and brighten for a youthful finish. Hydration replenishes dry, dulling skin suffering from the signs of aging. Powerful extracts and antioxidants boost collagen levels for noticeable tightening and firming. Exclusively formulated with rejuvenating Apple Stem Cells, clinically proven to significantly reduce wrinkles and improve skin texture in two weeks. Formulated without parabens, sulfates, synthetic fragrances or dyes, mineral oil or petroleum."

instead of the lipgloss, Canadians got an eclos anti-aging product instead. apparently, there were issues with shipping lipglosses here. this eclos product was included previously in the August 2012 bag.

eclos is part of the Freeman brand (you know, the bare foot products?). eclos is focused on using Plant Stem Cells from a rare Swiss apple that are clinically proven to help skin look younger. sounds promising.

it definitely has a herbal scent to it but nowhere as strong as CyberDERM's PM Anti-Age.

promotion: i actually found this on the eclos site listed specifically for myglam customers - use MYGLAM10 to save $10 and get a free sample. shipping to Canada seems to be about $15.57.

size: 7 mL

retail value: $24.99 (60 g)

5) Benefit They're Real! Beyond Mascara 

"they're real! beyond mascara lengthens, curls, volumizes, lifts & separates. The jet black, long-wearing formula won’t smudge or dry out. A specially designed brush reveals lashes you never knew you had!"

i already have one of these mascaras from September's Topbox. i've heard both praise and criticism about the mascara but i am still excited to try it (once i get through my current round of mascaras!).

promotion: free Sugarbomb deluxe mini face powder with $35 purchase. international shipping is $18.95 and decreases if you spend over $75.

size: 3 g

retail value: $23 (8.5 g)

6) *bonus* myglam Glam Gloss in "01" - whaaa? i thought they couldn't ship lipglosses but here's one! i cannot find any information on this except that it was also thrown in as a bonus for the August 2012 bag. the box was a little bunged up but the gloss is fine. the holographic box lists an expiration date for this gloss as well as the production date. it was back in May which is why it was still called "myglam" instead of ipsy (changed in September). 

it looks like a really cute pink but i will have to get around to this later! (again, too many products on my hands - this is not a complaint)

size: 7 mL (full size! or so i assume)

retail value: N/A

so did you count it? that's 5/6 makeup-related items! *applause applause* i have been getting too many lotions and shampoos so this is a nice change. i am also glad to be able to try out new brands - 5/6 of the items are from brands i have not received in beauty boxes before.

one gripe i have with ipsy though, is that i get emails about products that are in the bag. ever since they sent me an email that my bag was shipped and up until i actually got it, i've received 3 emails. they need to understand that us Canadians get this box later than the Americans so stop spoiling the surprise!!
how do you like your ipsy this month? 

GLOSSYBOX: October 2012

Glossybox made it to me yesterday and here's what i received in my V2 box...

October's goodies:

1) Jouviance Rejuvenating Anti-Aging Cream - first time i've heard of this brand - it's actually made in Canada. this white, unscented cream can be used as a day or night or specifically as an eye contour. i am building quite the collection of anti-aging items which is good as a preventive measure. however, in the last two weeks, there has been two people that tried to guess my age; one said 22 and the other one said 19 --> LOL. so i am glad that i don't exactly need these anti-aging creams just yet! :)

size: 5 mL

retail value: $93.50 (50 mL)

2) ModelCo Flipstick Lip Duo in "Dusk Lipstick/Striptease Gloss" - i was very excited to see a ModelCo item in the box! i have an eyeshadow, a blush and a few makeup brushes from them (which i picked up in Sydney) and i really like them. now i get to try a lipstick and a gloss - hooray! the brand is very difficult for us Canadians to get our hands on. 

this is marked as a "Special Edition" for Glossybox members only. i searched the ModelCo website and they do not have any Lip Duos on there. the Lip Duo is a combination of their Shine Ultra Lip Gloss and their Lipstick Lip Couture which you can purchase full size for US$16 and $22 respectively.

the Lip Duo is a bit on the chunky side but it does come with a mirror. i found it a little awkward to put on the lipstick since it is longer and wider than the average lipstick.
both the gloss and the lipstick smell like watermelons  strawberries but it is sweeter on the gloss side. the lipstick is very creamy and glides on your lips easily. it is also quite pigmented - this particular "Dusk" shade is a brown but a wearable brown (not sure if this will work on all skin tones). the gloss looks like peachy shimmer in the tube but applies sheer. i find wearing the gloss over the lipstick makes the brown appear softer and i like the combination better than wearing the lipstick alone.

size: N/A (full size!)

retail value: $38.75

3) Zoya Professional Lacquer in "Rory ZP620" - this is the second Zoya i own as well as the second pink Zoya i own. i got both from Glossybox and they are both nice pinks (the other one was Shelby) but i am loving Rory!! Rory is described as "Medium mauve pink with lilac tones, gold and silver reflective metallic shimmer accents, and a foil-like finish. The gentle color of this polish gives the foil finish a softened appearance." on the Zoya website. even the description sounds beautiful!

size: 15 mL (full size!)

retail value: $8

-- update November 2, 2012 -- i love how smooth this was to apply!! no streaking, quick dry time and the color was quite opaque! i only used one coat in this swatch:

 left to right: natural light; closeup; artificial light

sorry my nails aren't in the best shape but the swatches are done without me doing any cleanup! the brush definitely helps me be more precise. 
i am also in love with this color - Rory is a gorgeous deep metallic pink. i personally prefer these fun shades over the sheer pinks (no offense!) :)

4) Sebastian Professional Trilliance Shampoo & Conditioner - these two hair products are designed especially for "shine preparation". it contains "rock crystal" which i tried Google-ing but found nothing related to hair (except how to remove hair with a rock crystal - which is a completely different idea).
size: 50 mL each x 2 = 100 mL
retail value: shampoo - $15.79 (250 mL); conditioner - $16.59 (250 mL)

5) Gillette Venus & Olay Razor - another razor from Glossybox... ho hum. this one is the exact same as the one i got from Loose Button in May. i haven't even gone through those yet.
size: 1 razor & 1 cartridge (full size!)
retail value: $16.99

i almost forgot about the Golden Ticket item (Caroline Néron jewelry) until i read the card - boo i was not one of the lucky 50! let me know if you have seen anyone who got it!

in all honestly, i really like the box if i am considering it from a $15 point of view but at $21, i am a little unsure. i know that the retail value of the box is well over $21 but i have to remember that the retail value of the box and the value of the items to me are different.
i am most excited about the Zoya polish and the ModelCo lip duo - what were your favorites this month?

so i'm sure most of you heard the news buzzing around on Facebook yesterday - ipsy (previously known as myglam) has come to Canada. as soon as i heard the news, i felt a number of emotions: 1) excited because i've seen a number of ipsy unboxings and they have been pretty good (seems to be more makeup focused than others), 2) uneasy because i went to take a look at my finances and 3) torn because it means i will need to make some difficult decisions.

and to add to that, Topbox has also followed suit after its fellow Canadian subscription services and raised their prices. 

soon we will all be sitting at:

Glossybox: $21/month

Luxebox (Loose Button): $26/3 months

Glymm: $12/month (unless you were subscribed prior to the price change: $10/month)

Topbox: $12/month

Beauty Box 5: US$12/month

Ipsy: US$14.95/month

i know many of you probably have Julep and other beauty boxes to add to the list... are you guys going to reconsider your subscriptions too now that Ipsy has joined the table? let me know what you think! anything to make my decision easier :)

GLYMM BAG: July 2012

weird. i almost titled this post January 2012 instead of July. it does seem like the year is flying by though!

my Glymm bag arrived yesterday and as predicted, it's orange! i love orange but on the other hand, i do not know what to do with all these makeup bags! ideas anyone?

July's samples (with info taken from the Glymm site since there is no product card, boo): 

1) Mèreadesso Beautiful Body Balm 

This non-greasy, all over body balm, hand moisturizer and foot cream is the ideal skin solution for all skin types.

this is the second Mèreadesso product i've tried, the first being a "lip treat" from another Glymm bag (May 2012). the lotion smells something along the lines of musky lemons. personally, i'm not a huge fan of the smell but it does the job of moisturizing without leaving a greasy feeling. 

size: 30 mL

retail value: $54 (200 mL)

2) CyberDERM H2O Hydration 

This moisturizer will show your skin a good time. With more benefits than you can count, you can be sure to see some drastic results.

right after pulling out this box from the bag, i was confused. then i opened the box and i went from being confused to just being completely weirded out. these things look like syringes! and i absolutely hate needles. there's some faded lines (used to measure dosage) on the side which increases the likeness to an actual needle. there's also wording that says "Oral use only" which is very misleading (as well as calling themselves "the sunscreen company" when neither products turn out to be sunscreen related...)

it is a unique way of packaging their samples but it's just so very strange to me... 

anyway, enough freaking out over the packaging.

the company is actually Canadian, specifically from Ottawa, ON. there are two syringes - one is "H2O Hydration" and the other is "PM Anti-Age" (see #3). "H2O Hydration" can be used in the morning or at night. you take the blue cap off but be careful if it's the first time you're using it since the product immediately comes out without needing to press on the plunger. the moisturizer is unscented and feels nice on my skin.

size: N/A ... one syringe vial thing (lasts about 5 uses according to Glymm but i think it will last me a bit longer)

retail value: $60 (50 mL)

3) CyberDERM PM Anti-Age

Take a bold stance against physiological aggressors that age us with this powerful cream.

as the name suggests, it is to be used at night. i used it last night and oh.my.goodness. it smells terrible!! the whole time i was putting it on my face, i was like "gross gross gross". it has a very strong herbal smell (sort of reminds me of Chinese medicine). i do not think i'll be attempting this again.

size: N/A ... same as above ~ 5 uses

retail value: $115 (50 mL) ... which is almost twice as much as the one above!

4) MANE TEEZE Hair Perfume in "Social Butterfly"
Summer is a busy time for pretty socialites like you, so bring this hair perfume along with you when you need that little boost of luxury.

upon visiting the website for this company, you find their advertising slogan in large pink font: "EAT MY HAIR". seriously LOL.
MANE TEEZE is created by two Canadian ladies (T&M) and comes in two other scents for your hair: "Haut Mess" and "Black Widow". ***spoiler alert*** on their FB page, T&M says to "watch for our other two delicious signature scents in next GLYMM bags".

according to their site, 3 sprays and it's enough to last you 12 hours. the scent is a very strong vanilla and even with just 3 sprays i felt it was a little overpowering (smells good though). i'd prefer to use just 2 sprays next time. i like the idea but i'm not sure if i need a perfume specifically for my hair. especially since i don't expect my hair to smell bad... guess it's still a good idea to refresh mid-day when it seems like your other perfume has faded. Glymm says there is about 50 sprays in the sample so it should last you about 16 days!
size: 8 mL
retail value: $34 (50 mL)

5) Joico K-Pak Revitaluxe Bio-Advanced Restorative Treatment

This luxury hair treatment is clinically proven to instantly correct damage and protect against future damage.

the treatment is to be used on clean wet hair and rinsed off after 3-4 minutes. it's a slightly peachy colored creme and leaves my hair feeling extremely soft (it felt soft immediately after as well as 12 hours after!). this product will definitely be used up since the ends of my hair are quite (err...severely) damaged.

size: 50 mL

retail value: $25 (150 mL)

i like this month's Glymm bag - lots of variety in products. while i'm excited to try a few of them (the hair perfume is interesting and the Joico K-Pak treatment really works), i'm not a fan of the scents of certain products.
how do you feel about your Glymm this month?
also stay tuned for a semi-annual report card on the beauty box subscription companies coming up very soon!!

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?