TOPBOX: December 2014

this will be a super quick post! the December's Topbox was a bit of a letdown.

1) Marsk : Mineral Eyeshadow in "Black Comedy"
size: 1.2 g (full size!)
retail value: $22.50

i just do not have the patience when it comes to loose eyeshadows. i have a brief 5-10 minute window for makeup before i run (never walk) to the bus stop. please be sure to check out the blog sale for this item.

2) Kinetics : Nail Colors in "KP299 Ice Smoothie"
size: 15 mL
retail value: $12.00

"Ice Smoothie" is a deep purple that can also be found on said blog sale page :)

3) Eslor : Soothing Refiner & Cleanser and Chlorophyll Lifting Mask
size: 5 mL x 4 packets
retail value: refiner/cleanser $28.00 (60 mL) and mask $38.00 (50 mL)

i have not heard of Eslor before but it is a company that claims to base their products from science. there is a soothing refiner/cleanser as well as a lifting mask which is meant for tightening the skin.

4) Me MAXeffects Naturals : Eye & Face Makeup Remover Plus Toner
size: N/A (maybe 5 mL?)
retail value: $19.99 (40 mL)

i have no idea how this product could possibly double up as a makeup remover and toner. personally, i felt that it didn't really pass the test as a makeup remover - especially at removing the eyeliner on my lower lash line. as for the toning properties, i can't say for sure. i am more used to toners that contain alcohol so i can feel the tingly sensation afterwards. this one is alcohol free so i can't exactly tell if this toner was doing its job or not.
pretty confusing. i've used the entire thing (in less than a week) and i am still confused what it supposed to do.
side note - this is made right by my house! as in, it's in Calgary! and i haven't even heard of it before now.

and bam! that's it, that's all.
the only neat thing is how these products all come from different countries:
Marsk - Australia/England
Kinetics - Latvia
Eslor - United States
Me MAXefects - Canada 

AT THIS MOMENT ...
currently listening: We - Kim Feel & Kwak Jin Eon
just watched: X-Men: Days of Future Past (not bad - but this changes EVERYTHING!)

still watching: Walking Dead Season 5 // Vampire Diaries Season 5 // Marco Polo Season 1 // Outlander Season 1
now reading: - -

BEAUTY BOX 5: November 2013

happy valentine's day and happy family day weekend! 

i am so glad for long weekends. i am exhausted! think i need to book a massage appointment asap. 

i hope you guys are enjoying your long weekend!

i know some people think valentine's day is just plain silly (my boyfriend included) but i can't help but feel the love when he sent flowers to my work and when my creative little sister created this pretty paper rose in a mason jar! my desk never look so purdddyy!

so yes, it's February but i'm going to take this long weekend to get in a blog post or two... i'm wrapping up the November boxes so slowly, but surely... we can get through it!

November's "prep. primp. sparkle" box:

1) Aveeno Positively Nourishing Calming Body Wash
smells lovely but keeps leaking for some reason...

size: 59 mL
retail value: $6.99 (473 mL)

2) Montagne Jeunesse Glacial Clay Spa in "Crushed Arctic Cloudberries"
i've seen plenty of these at Wal-Mart but haven't actually tried one before.

size: 1 mask (full size!)
retail value: $2.49

3) Blum Naturals Oil Absorbing Facial Tissues
i received these before in my June 2012 box... i emailed BB5 about this but i never heard back. oh well, guess i'll let it slide this time since i get greasy foreheads everyday by like 2 pm!

size: 50 sheets (full size!)
retail value: $2.99

4) Be a Bombshell Cosmetics Eye Crayon in "Scandalous"
"Scandalous", 'a unique blend of metallic black and gold'. as the swatches show, it is a very soft black with some gold shimmer.
left swatch is in natural light; right is with flash.

promotion: 30% off purchase online before Nov 30, 2013 [expired]
size: 2.5 g (full size!)
retail value: $14

5) Bellapierre Cosmetics Shimmer Powder in "Penny"
i think i am getting too many of these Shimmer Powders in very similar colors... "Penny" is the color of penny (copper)  - which, in case you didn't know, are no longer produced in Canada. i obviously still have a ton - when do you think they will be worth something (more than a penny)?? haha

promotion: 50% off Get The Look Kits online before Nov 30, 2013 [expired]
size: 2.35 g (full size!)
retail value: $14.99

and here is the whole November box. body wash and one-use face masks? seems like we are returning to the old BB5 days... and i've received the exact same oil blotting sheets before and similar shimmer powders so all in all, it was a rather boring box.

LUXE BOX: March 2013 [Spring Edition]

my spring Luxe Box arrived last week which was a surprise since i almost forgot it was coming.
this spring box was special in that it was partnered with Steven and Chris from CBC's Steven and Chris Show. i haven't seen the show before but i have heard of the duo.

a Spring Trends 2013 booklet was included and you don't receive every item listed. to me, this seems like a bit of a tease since i can read about items other people are getting. i don't think it is a smart business tactic because we are only comparing our items to what we COULD have received which means unhappy customers.
of the 10 products mentioned in the booklet, i received 3 of them in my box. i am quite jealous of those who got the Color Smash Hair Shadow! i've only dyed my hair once so it seems like a fun thing to try.

1) Loose Button Blending Sponge 
"A makeup sponge applicator that flawlessly blends in your makeup for the perfect look. The applicator should be dampened with water before use and can be used with liquid, cream, loose powder or pressed powder makeup. For best results, use the applicator in a stippling or bouncing motion."
i am sure you have seen the (seemingly) overpriced Beautyblender as well as many of its knockoffs. here we have Loose Button's version - a blue sponge that is not an exact egg shape like the real Beautyblender but it's more like an egg with a waist. it is really soft and squishy! definitely felt different from my other makeup tools... it was pretty fun using it to apply my foundation just by bouncing it all over my face.
i haven't used one of these before so i had to look it up. i dampened the sponge and used it to apply both a liquid foundation and powder by using bouncing motions. i think the sponge may have been too wet because i couldn't tell if it either spread evenly or the sponge soaked it all up. i will have to use it a few more times before i get it right...

size: 1 sponge (full size!)
retail value: N/A

2) Lancome Genefique Youth Activating Serum 
"Award-winning serum that helps create a more youthful-looking skin by promoting natural skin renewal that is characteristic of young skin. Visible skin in just 7 days. Drop by drop, skin is vibrant with youth, its tone becomes astonishingly even and its texture dramatically refined."
oooh. award-winning but not a product i am interested in using just yet.
comes with a dropper and has a very very light scent.

size: 8 mL
retail value: $125 (50 mL)

3) Blue Lagoon Rich Nourishing Cream
"Blue Lagoon rich nourishing cream We are happy to include our latest product, rich nourishing cream, in the spring Luxe Box. The Blue Lagoon rich nourishing cream, for normal to dry skin, smoothes, enhances radiance and helps to prevent signs of aging, like wrinkles. This new advanced formula contains Blue Lagoon active ingredients: algae and silica. Research has shown that Blue Lagoon algae have significant protecting and anti-aging effects and the Blue Lagoon silica helps to strengthen the skins barrier function* *in vitro and in vivo studies Blue Lagoon rich nourishing cream is: Dermotologically tested and Paraben free."
you are kidding me LB! a foil packet in a box that we pay almost $30 for? so sad, so sad. it's expensive yes, but how are you going to convince me to shell over such a large amount of money with so little product to test with?

size: 2 mL
retail value: US$130 (30 mL)

4) L'Occitane Shea Dry Skin Hand Cream
"This hand cream penetrates quickly to protect, nourish and moisturize your hands. Rapidly absorbed with no oily traces, this hand cream doesn't need to be reapplied even after frequent hand washing. The minimal scent makes it suitable for men and women."
funny enough, i got this hand cream from L'Occitane for FREE and in a BIGGER size a couple of months ago - how does that work??
this Shea Hand Cream smells like a baby powder/oil to me which i actually like.

size: 10 mL
retail value: $30 (150 mL)

5) Coach Coach Love Eau de Parfum 
"Coach Love blends dewy petals and fresh greens with sensual woods, rich caramel and a hint of musk in a scent as unforgettable as falling in love. Apply perfume to your pulse points for a longer lasting scent. Remember not to rub your pulse points together, as this will bruise the scent."

i am not a huge fan of getting perfume samples in my beauty boxes but it is so hard to dislike them when they come in such cute bottles.
i like the florals behind the scent but at the same time, i think the musk makes it a little too strong.

size: 6.5 mL
retail value: $92 (100 mL)

6) Pandora's Makeup Box Pandora's Eyes Mascara in "Black"
"The perfect addition to your your collection for a more natural touch! A smudge and clump free mascara that provides you with gorgeous, glossy colour that will never irritate the eyes. Developed specifically for sensitive eyes, this mascara glides on easily and thickens the lashes while adding glorious shine. The long brush handle allows you to maneuver into hard to reach areas and the clear tube lets you know when you're running low!"
this mascara came at the right time since i was just finishing an old one so i decided to give Pandora a try. the mascara comes in a clear tube so you can actually tell when you are running low. i have never had that before  so it will be interesting to see how much i can actually use up. it is much more likely that the mascara dries out before i make a solid dent in it.
the brush is on the thin side and the mascara is a very wet formula. i even sniffed it... and it doesn't smell good but i guess you aren't supposed to be sniffing mascaras anyway. the mascara looks like a shiny black - it lengthens my lashes but doesn't do much for volume. some of my lashes stuck together since the formula is rather wet. it also holds a curl decently.

size: 10 mL (full size!)
retail value: $19

7) B. Kamins BB Cream 
"B. Kamins BB Cream is an 8-in-1 multitasking cream that instantly lifts your look! Power packed with anti-oxidants, botanicals and vitamins, this super hero formula helps to reduce fine lines, wrinkles and dullness. The BB Cream moisturizes, evens skin tone and provides sheer, luminous coverage. Get up and go with BB Cream!"

i haven't used this yet and there was no indication of color so i checked out the website. looks like there is only one color available since it has a "transparent colour-correcting formula". that doesn't make sense to me - how it can be transparent but still cover redness and etc?
this is a good sample size though and i like how it has a pump.

size: 15 g
retail value: $49 (50 mL)

8) Blue Lagoon Silica Mud Mask 
"The Silica mud is the Blue Lagoon's signature element. The pure white geothermal mud deep cleanses and exfoliates. Naturally strengthens skin's barrier function¹. Brings out the skin's inner glow, gives it a vital energy boost and smooth complexion. Excellent face & body mask. Use 2-3 times a week or when skin needs en extra boost. Fragrance and color free. For all skin types."

the prices for Blue Lagoon products are way out of my budget. wowsaaaa!
anyway, i will be updating this after tomorrow with pictures!

size: 30 mL
retail value: US$100 (200 mL)

all in all, i almost forgot about this box and i still think it is forgettable. i thought mine was bad but after reading all the other complaints on LB's Facebook page and checking out what the other girls got, i think i actually fared slightly better than some... i was lucky to get a BB cream and a full sized mascara.
still, not too happy with the box. putting them all side by side, the samples all look rather small. you'd figure for a box that costs about $30 and that ships once every three months, that LB would put more effort in the samples (foils? really?!) and ship on time (supposed to be delivered in March).

one other thing that really bugs me are the emails they send referring to a "Limited Time Opportunity" and how i am eligible to upgrade my membership to a semiannual/annual plan. first of all, LB sends these emails all the time! it is NOT a limited time offer. secondly, this is not an opportunity - i don't like their choice of words here since they make it seem like it is some special offer that they are giving me. pfffttt.

TOPBOX: March 2013 [regular]

it's just my luck, it happens all the time.
does it have to be this way for me?

hell yeah, cause it's just my luck.

anyone else remember the Canadian group V.I.P.? lol i think they came out with 2 songs in the 90s. i love 90s music!!

but you know what i don't love?
this month's Topbox.

my spirits were dampened when Topbox emailed me after my box has shipped that one of the items i was supposed to get (Chloe perfume) was replaced with a "VWL" - which someone else pointed out could only be Vera Wang, another perfume sample.
i went with a regular box after given the choices of an Aveda, Pure+simple, Lippy Girl and Jurlique (upgrade) Topbox. i wasn't really excited about these options and figured that since last month's regular box was such a hit - Deborah Lippmann, MUFE...

but of course, this month's regular box was nowhere near as awesome.

1) Aveda Caribbean Therapy Body Creme - i already heard complaints about the scent of this before even receiving the box. it sounds like it would smell good - Caribbean mango, cocoa butter and warm island aromas. my sister says it smells like a pile of dying leaves mixed with some bug spray.
the creme says that was 'people-tested'... i wonder if these people had noses.

it does work in terms of moisturization but i'd probably apply it at night and on my legs so that it is furthest from my nose. haha ok it is really NOT that bad. but it isn't something i'd slather on.

size: 25 mL
retail value: $42 (200 mL)

2) L'Oréal Professionnel Mythic Oil - i actually have a full size of this... waiting patiently for me to crack open since Christmas. there was so much talk about this product online that once i found it on sale, i had to have it. so i really have no idea why i haven't used it yet! it feels great on my ends - it makes my hair smoother and less frizzy - and smells great at the same time!

check out Topbox's Mythic Oil giveaway here :)

size: N/A but 2 vials
retail value: $26 (125 mL)

3) MaskerAide Hydrating Facial Sheet Mask in "I Don't Wanna Grow Up" - another MaskerAide mask! but it is different from the other two i have received from Topbox and BB5. the name of it is exactly what i feel. i have my first "big girl" job now which is going great but there's all these other responsibilities and demands. oh shucks.

size: 1 mask @ 23 g (full size!)
retail value: $4.99

4) Vera Wang Lovestruck Floral Rush - i received Vera Wang Lovestruck exactly one year ago in the exact same size from LB. this March, i got the Floral Rush version which is a stronger scent than the other. the Lovestruck Floral Rush one also smells like fresh, fragrant flowers and has a younger feel while Lovestruck is softer and less-in-your-face. i personally prefer the Lovestruck one; what about you?

size: 4 mL
retail value: $79 (50 mL); $105 (100 mL)

- - - - -

so that's that for March's Topbox! i don't know if i prefer the surprise of a regular Topbox or knowing exactly what i am getting in a branded Topbox... agh! guess we will have to see for April. sneak peeks have already been released!
what kind of risk-taker are you?

BEAUTY BOX 5: December 2012

on the last day of December, i received my BB5 as well as my Glossybox (post on that later - there's quite a bit of drama with this one).

products this month was listed inside the form of a holiday card, along with some poetry. it was very cute - i love the thought they put into this.

December's products:

1) Jean Pierre Cosmetics Exfoliating Facial Cleansing Pads with Microbeads - this is a brand i've never heard of before. it looks like Jean Pierre Cosmetics specializes in all kinds of towelettes including self tan ones and nail polish remover wipes.

i should take a break from my makeup remover and cotton balls and start using these makeup remover wipes (i am currently hoarding quite a few!). 

size: 16 pads (full size!)

retail value: $1.99

shipping to Canada: not available in Canada - unless you want to use a package forwarding service

2) Everyday Minerals Flat Top Brush - i know this particular item got a lot of ladies to sign up for a subscription when BB5 posted a spoiler on Facebook. i, too, was quite excited! 

the brush is thick but small at the same time. the synthetic bristles are incredibly soft! very nice to the touch and it is 100% vegan. this flat top brush is ideal for applying powder and can be used to build up coverage.  

size: 1 brush (full size!)

retail value: $12.99

promotion: 20% off order before January 15, 2013

shipping to Canada: $4.95

3) MaskerAide Hydrating Facial Sheet Mask in "Pre Party Prep" - i have yet to use this MaskerAide, as well as the other one i got in my Topbox ("All Nighter") but seems like i am all set for some major partying! i've only heard fantastic things about these masks but i find the price for each one a little too high.

size: 1 sheet / 23 g (full size!)

retail value: $4.99

promotion: 20% off order before January 15, 2013 

shipping to Canada: $3.00

4) OFRA Cosmetics 3D Loose Shadow in "Diamond Glitz" - that is one huge pot of eyeshadow! this is the "smartest" packaging for a loose powder i have ever seen - it has a sifter where you can turn the lid to either open or close it. genius! 

in the jar, "Diamond Glitz" looks like a khaki green shadow with teal shimmers in it. the "3D" reminds me of my MUFE Holodiam Powder. when swatched, it looks like a different color - a very soft taupe with loads of gold shimmer. it doesn't look like much in the shade but once it hits some light, it really brightens up. i'd like to wear this over a darker color. will post pics when i wear it (it's a stay-at-home Saturday for me!). 

natural light; with flash

size: 4 g (full size!)

retail value: $19.90

shipping to Canada: $9.95

5) Demeter Roll On Perfume Oil in "Cherry Blossom" - i've actually seen this brand pop up in some of the fancier Superstores but i've never tested out their products. i have to say i am now super intrigued with their "Fragrance Library" and their 235 different classic scents!! there's such an extensive range - people who have always wanted to smell like a "Crayon" or "Sweet Cilantro" or "Fresh Hay" can finally find it all with Demeter. 

"Cherry Blossom" is one of their top 30 scents and i can see why. like Majorie (Petits Pots et Coquetteries) said, it is quite similar to Ralph by Ralph Lauren (the original blue one) which is one of the first perfumes i have ever fallen in love with. it's a soft floral and smells just lovely - it does fade in a few hours but the travel-friendly size means that you can reapply it whenever you want to.

size: 8.8 mL (full size!)

retail value: $10

promotion: 20% off order before January 31, 2013

shipping to Canada: $12.99

... uhm what? these are ALL full sized items? way to go, BB5! the total value of this box is quite impressive as you would've thought since the eyeshadow alone is $20! the total value is: $49.87 and even without knowing the prices, there would be no hesitation when i say that this box paid for itself and more. my favorites in this box would be the Everyday Minerals brush and the Demeter roll on perfume. 

on a separate note, i'd just like to throw in that i was finally able to watch Les Misérables (typing the title was no problem but you should watch me struggle in real life) on Wednesday night and i have had the soundtrack on repeat since then (red! black!). amazzzzzzzing movie!! i have always been indifferent about musicals but this one was really something. very powerful songs and emotions. i was impressed that all the singing was done live and that only about 10 lines throughout the movie were not sung. 

have you watched Les Misérables? what did you think of your BB5? what other scent would you like to try from Demeter? 

BEAUTY BOX 5: November 2012

got my BB5 recently and it looks like they went back to the normal BB5 product info cards. perhaps they only do the other one when they have a theme like Halloween? 

November's goodies:

1) Swagger Eyeshadow in "Swagger" - this pretty eyeshadow is not labelled but comparing it to the shades found on the website, it looks most like their signature color. i love the diamond bow logo - it's very cute (so is the website actually)! "Swagger" is a lovely blue-green color with glitter and is 100% vegan. 

when i swatched it, it turned out to be more blue and not as pigmented as i thought. it was slightly clumpy which made it difficult to get it through the sifter. this also meant that you had to put a little more effort in blending it out evenly. i'll update you when i wear it on my eyes but it seems that the color has pretty much disappeared off my arm already (it's been a little over an hour and i did not use primer)... 

promotion: 20% off order before December 25, 2012; international shipping = $6

size: N/A but i believe it is a 5 g jar that is only about a quarter full

retail value: $9.50 (5 g)

2) Envie De Neuf Platinum Lineless Eye Mask - i haven't used any eye masks before so i am intrigued, though i wouldn't be able to judge its effectiveness since i do not yet have any lines to make 'lineless'. 

promotion: 50% off order before December 31, 2012; Canadian shipping = $26.95 (ouch!)

size: 1 sachet - 10 mL ("full size"!)

retail value: $3.00 (1 sachet); $30.00 (10 sachets)

3) Global Goddess Shine Coconut Amla Revitalizing Hair Treatment - there are a ton of different oils in this (including coconut, neem, grape seed and avocado oils) to make your hair shine. it is to be left on your hair for 30 minutes before shampooing and conditioning. there are a variety of other methods of using this, such as leaving it on your hair overnight or using it on your arms and legs. 30 minutes sounds pretty long so i will use this tomorrow! i doubt that these foil samples contain enough product for my long hair though...

promotion: 20% off order before December 31, 2012; Canadian shipping = $8.95 and decreases depending on order amount

size: 5 mL x 2 = 10 mL

retail value: $20.99 (180 mL)

4) Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion - meh. i've seen this in stores everywhere but i haven't tried it. almost unscented, absorbs quickly, non-greasy, nothing too exciting but it will be used. it is a little difficult to control how big of a glob that comes out using this bottle. 

promotion: $1 off any Cetaphil product with manufacturer's coupon before December 31, 2012 but only in the U.S.. bah! useless.

size: 29 mL

retail value: $8.99 (236 mL)

5) ModelCo Shine Ultra Lip Gloss in "Strip Tease" - aww i'd love to try more ModelCo products but just my luck that i get a lipgloss in the exact same color as the one in my Glossybox (part of the lip duo). at least the mirror is not impractical like the other one!

this one also looks slightly different than the one on the website - i am guessing that they just changed up the packaging (mine is long and thin while the one online seems shorter with a different cap). i will be saving this for a gift or a swap. check out the link to my Glossybox post for a swatch.

promotion: none but shipping to Canada is $15.00

size: 4.2 mL (full size!)

retail value: $16

- - - - -

hrrrrrrm. i'm confused about Beauty Box 5 again - they started out iffy but then came a string of awesome boxes and now, we have returned to the age of foil samples. on the plus side, leave it to BB5 to continue introducing me to new brands i haven't heard of before.

what really stuck out to me is the Swagger eyeshadow - i'll have to keep experimenting with it before i decide whether or not i really like it. it's really too bad that i already have the ModelCo lipgloss or else that would be another hit with me. 

there was also a $10 gift card to MyNameNecklace.com... i've been wanting a personalized necklace for a while and there's free shipping! very very tempted!

did you like your BB5? what do you think of name necklaces?

TOPBOX: October 2012

got my Topbox on the 15th - i didn't think it was that long of a wait but judging from many of the Facebook comments, it seemed that some people were waiting forever or something.

let's see how long i waited:

2027! that's almost 15 years! if anything, i should be the one complaining on Facebook.

i really don't know what they are processing in 2027 since i have the actual box in my hands... haha all kidding aside, this month's box (version 6) was okay - like last month, it's alright if you compare it to other boxes but it's a little underwhelming if you compare it to earlier Topboxes. 

October's beauty items:

1) Aveda Invati Exfoliating Shampoo & Thickening Conditioner - i can already smell it when i take it out of the box; smells like some kind of spice (not very pleasant). i do not have thinning hair so this product is really not for me. i am going to pass it off to my boyfriend though who is concerned about his receding hairline... i hope that was OK for me to share. he sometimes skims through my blog but i hope he doesn't read that part.

the box came with an offer for a complimentary Invati botanical therapy hair treatment with a hair cut or shampoo style...  i actually got my hair cut recently at the ABA Show so i won't be needing another one soon.  in Calgary, this offer is accepted at Diva Salonspa and Redbloom (haircuts start at $30 if you wanted it to be done by a student).

size: 10 mL each x 2

retail value: $27 (200 mL) 

2) MaskerAide Hydrating Facial Sheet Mask in "All Nighter" - i have heard fabulous things about this Canadian company: it's hydrating, eco-friendly, natural and it works. but the price is a bit of a turn-off though. especially since it says on the back to use once per week.
and speaking of the name "All Nighter" - the only time i've ever pulled an all nighter was not even for homework or deadlines... it was for video games - a really really long 50 rounds of Mario Party. 

size: 1 mask - 23 g (full size!)

retail value: $4.99

3) Stila Eyeshadow Palette in "In the Garden" - there are two other versions of the eyeshadow palette sample available: "In the Moment" (purple cover) and "In the Light" (gold cover). 

the colors in "In the Garden" are absolutely gorgeous but i am not sure if i can use this enough to warrant its' label as a "deluxe" sample. the card also has instructions on how to create two different looks. 

some swatches:

i'd have to say some are pigmented and some not so much. the colors seem to be more intense on the right side. they are all very shimmery though. i tried to use as little as i could since i didn't think there was much to begin with. in the end, i seemed to take off just a bit off the edges:

size:  N/A - sample card

retail value: $50 (14 g)

4) Stila Prime Pot in "Taffy" - i am always excited to try new eyeshadow primers and this is a decent size. i used it today and it works wonderfully.

size: 2 g

retail value: $26 (3.3 mL)

so no wow factor in this Topbox but it's okay. i hear a lot of new subscribers already unsubscribing but i think they haven't given Topbox a fair chance. i know Topbox took on new subscribers this month so i hope that a greater number of subscriptions does not affect the quality of the Topbox.
how do you guys feel about your Topboxes?