BEAUTY BOX 5: December 2014

oops!! it's been almost a month since my last post - don't worry, i have a long list of excuses: 

taxes, hockey playoffs, binge-watching a new series, an internet connection that refuses to work...

ugh. it's the worst! i have the Shaw wireless modem thing and i get internet on my iPad and phone no problem but my desktop computer struggles and struggles. bah!

anyway, LONG WEEKEND I LOVE YOU. i even took Friday off just because i needed the extra extra day. still, i did not want to get out of bed this morning. i'm long overdue for a vacation. hmmm but where? suggestions anyone? 

December's box: Merry & Bright

1) Jacqua : Rose Bouquet Hydrating Facial Mist

size: 50 mL (full size!)

retail value: $16.50

i already own a product very similar to this - which is the Australis Make-Up Finishing Spritz. both smell of roses but this particular Jacqua one comes in a fancy glass bottle. another difference is that this one does not have any mention of preventing makeup from fading so i might just hang onto my Australis one for now. 

besides, the Jacqua one was last seen on the Last Chance section on the website and is now sold out. 

2) Absolute! : Nail Polish Remover in "Spring Fresh"

size: 32 pads (full size!)

retail value: $2.99

my nails have been naked for like two months - what am i doing with my life!? so.sad.

3) Juice Beauty : Stem Cellular Moisturizer

size: 7.8 mL

retail value: $65.00 (50 mL)

this white cream moisturizer smells like lemons!

4) Nanacoco : Nail Polish in "#21124 Stardust"

size: 16 mL (full size!)

retail value: $3.95

not a fan... i have not seen many orange nail polishes in my life - coral yes, but not really orange orange. not only that, but orange sparkles?! straight to the blog sale board.

maybe this is why the nail polish remover was included?... am i being too mean now? sorry orange.

5) Lucky Brand : Fragrance in "Lucky Number 6"

size: 1 sample vial

retail value: suggested $50.00 (50 mL) but the CVS website says otherwise: $12.99

this was released way back in 2006 - which i did not actually know but found off the interweb. i find it a tad bit strong at first. it is described as having "notes of peony, tigerlily, jasmine tea, casheran, lotus leaf, musk, liquid amber, lychee". 

that's all folks! moving on to the next one... due to my silly rule of not opening a box until i finish blogging about one, the mountain is still growing... better get to it!

AT THIS MOMENT ...
currently listening: Big Girls Cry - Sia
just watched: The Princess Diaries (watched it once ages ago so it was nice to rewatch this - who would ever say no to being a princess EVER though??) //Monster's Ball (pretty depressing at parts) // The Age of Adaline (quite sweet and blake lively is just gorgeous all the time, but the scientific explanations was hil-ar-io-us)  // Almost Famous (recommended by the bf because of the music and i did enjoy it - great story) // The Maze Runner (second time around! still quite thrilling)
still watching: Walking Dead Season 5 // Vampire Diaries Season 5 // Marco Polo Season 1 (finished! the pace is rather slow i think but the parts that weren't, were really good!) // Outlander Season 1 /// Game of Thrones Season 5 (it's back!)  // Forever Season 1 (found a list on imdb about TV shows being renewed, cancelled, or up on the chopping block ... all the comments kept saying 'i hope they don't cancel Forever!' - i had never heard of the show so i looked it up and then i was hooked. i have 3 episodes left, and it's come to my attention that it was indeed cancelled. BOOO!!)
now reading: - -

BEAUTY BOX 5: August 2014

goooooooood morning!

BB5's August box, Radiant and Remarkable, contains 5 items - some more remarkable than others... and when i say 'some', i mean one.

read on to find out which one!

1) Pur~Lisse : Pur~Protect Essential Daily Moisturizer SPF 30 Sunscreen
size: 15 mL
retail value: $55 (50 mL)

seconds, only seconds, after i click 'Publish' on my latest Topbox box, i turn towards my next beauty box, open it and find my third Pur-Lisse Pur-Protect moisturizer in two months.
i think i am set for sunscreen... the 3 samples combined mean that i have 45 mL! which means i pretty much saved $55. hallelujah!

2) La Fresh : Travel Lite Oil-Free Makeup Remover Wipes
size: 8 wipes
retail value: $19.99 (48 wipes)

this must be BB5's favorite item ever. i'm pretty sure i've received about a gazillion of these - give or take a few.

3) Nanacoco : Lip Gloss in "#22114 Lovely"
size: 6.5 mL
retail value: $3.99 (full size!)

i've heard some people raving about this but the color was a bit bright for my taste so i wasn't exactly sure how i would feel about it. "Lovely" is a bright magenta with no shimmer.

i took the plunge and i agree with others who say that it is very smooth, shiny and pigmented. smells like a mixture of cotton candy and baby powder. it is very comfortable to wear and is just slightly sticky. i have never heard of this brand before but at $3.99, i would definitely consider buying more. their website provides a phone number for orders... and that is all i can really find.

4) Novex : Brazilian Keratin Extra Deep Hair Care Cream
size: 30 g
retail value: $19.50 (1 kg)

i... don't know about this. the packaging would not be appealing to the average beauty consumer since it looks more like something that would be found in a pharmacy or perhaps a hardware store. the term 'Hair Food' also sounds odd to me.
then again, this could be a gem and we just have to overlook the outside...?

5) Style Essentials : Nail Polish
size: 7 mL
retail value: $7.00 (28 mL)

there's no particular shade identifier on this nail polish but it is a part of the "Touch of Teal" 4 nail polish collection. there are large white hexagons, small teal hexagons, small white dots and white bars in this polish. it is pretty cute but an expert level of fishing is required to get those glitters out.

so i now have 3 Pur-Lisse sunscreen moisturizers and who knows how many of the makeup remover wipes. i am quite impressed with the Nanacoco lip gloss but not so much with their website since i can't really figure out how i can get more.
what was your favorite item?

TOPBOX: August 2014

i miss the wishlist for Topbox every month. seriously, every month. i don't know why i can't just check in a few days before the end of the month. i just never remember. ever.
and so, it happened again near the end of July while i was away for my boyfriend's sister's wedding. right after the wishlist closed, i emailed Topbox and asked if they could put me down for the Benefit box.
a rep emailed me back, saying that she would put my request in!

unfortunately, the request fell through and another regular, boring Topbox arrived in my mailbox August 19th.

1) Barefoot Venus : Macadamia Oil Hand Cream in "Wild Flower"

size: 60 mL

retail value: $5.99 [full size!]

i love the pretty details on the packaging of the hand cream. the cream itself is also quite lovely. smells great and is not overpowering. my skin feels lovely and soft afterwards. it's made in Kelowna - i was just there in July!

2) Pur~Lisse : Pur-Protect Essential Daily Moisturizer SPF 30 Sunscreen

size: 15 mL

retail value: $55 (50 mL)

i just received this in the ipsy July bag - and i am still working through that one. i like how it is non-greasy and actually feels light on the skin. great size to throw in your bag and reapply throughout the day. today, Calgarians experienced our first snow after the summer season. up to 10 cm one day after we floated down the Bow River, enjoying 26 degree weather. so we will probably not see much sun for quite some time...aghhhhhhh! no fair! we can't just skip over autumn entirely! :(

3) Lise Watier : Prebiotic Micellar Water

size: 12 mL

retail value: $25 (200 mL)

prebiotic micellar water... such a fancy-sounding name. this the very FIRST prebiotic micellar water -simply because everyone else calls it 'toner'. prebiotic refers to sugar molecules that "stimulate the growth of beneficial bacteria" - sounds like yogurt to me.
just like you would with a toner, you use this product with a cotton ball and dab it on your face. it doesn't sting a whole lot like some toners so that's why this is ideal for sensitive skin. 

4) Matrix : Oil Wonders in "Egyptian Hibiscus Color Caring Oil"

size: 5 mL x 3 = 15 mL

retail value: $22.99

seriously... i thought we were past the whole one-use satchet thing.
other than that, i've discovered i enjoy the scent of hibiscuses. you only need a tiny dab of this product or else it sort of weighs your hair down.
i've been using hair oils for a while now... after coming back from the hot and humid Florida weather, i noticed that when i curled the ends of my hair into a ball, it goes crunch.

crunch is not a nice sound for hair to make.

i have to admit that although this was an uninteresting box, i will be eventually using all of these items. still wish i had the Benefit box though!

IPSY BAG: July 2014

well would you look at this!

reviews for JULY beauty boxes in JULY!! say whaaaaaaaaaaat
i recently got my ipsy bag (July 15) and now i am posting about it. i hope i stay on track!! although it worked out better since i stayed in at lunch at work one day to blog. yaaaaye.

the fluorescent pink bag this month is quite adorable! i love the scallop edges!

July's ipsy bag is all about being "Sensationally Sunkissed" and to achieve this, you will need:

1) bareMinerals READY Eyeshadow 2.0 in "The Inspiration"
size: 1 g
retail value: $20.00 (2.7 g)
promotion: free shipping with bareMinerals purchase on ULTA.com with code 'IPSYBAREFS'; US only; expires Aug 10, 2014

bareMinerals READY® Eyeshadow 2.0 provides vivid, pigment-packed color with seamless blendability that lasts up to 12 hours. Powered by the proprietary SeaNutritive Mineral™ Complex, it delivers skin-nourishing benefits including reduced appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and puffiness plus boosted moisture levels.

"The Inspiration" includes the shades 'Muse' and 'Passion'. 'Muse' is described as a pink frost and it is a very light shade of pink. 'Passion' is a glimmering plum with golden flecks. both are very smooth to the touch. the pigmentation from these didn't blow me away - especially the pink shade.

2) derma e BB Crème in "Light Tint"
size: 14 g
retail value: $29.50 (60 mL)
promotion: 30% off purchase at dermae.com with code 'IPSY0714'; US only; expires Sept 30, 2014

Instantly erase the look of imperfections and turn back the clock on aging skin.
This multi-functional mineral beauty balm is an advanced skincare formula that also conceals with lightweight, color-correcting coverage. 

i was thinking this was not going to work out well as i blended the derma e BB creme onto my hand. it looked way too pink for my skin tone but surprisingly, it blended extremely easily and gave me some pretty decent coverage! BB creams are normally way too sheer and therefore not as appealing to me and my many sunspots. which makes me love the SPF 25 in it so much more :)
the texture is also different from other BB creams - this is very gel-like so it is super easy to smooth all over your face. the cream/gel combination leaves a dewy feeling on the skin.

3) Pixi Beauty Mini Tined Brilliance Balm in "Unique Pink"

size: 1.8 g
retail value: ~ $20.00 (3 g)
promotion: 25% off purchase at pixibeauty.com with code 'flawlesspixi'; US only; expires Aug 31, 2014

Packed with lip-loving ingredients, this glossy gel balm protects & hydates lips instantly. After the balm wears off, lips are left tinted with a flattering, personalized hue just for you (color & intensity depends on pH level of lips).

what an adorable size! at first look, it looks like a clear balm but the words 'tinted' caught my eye. upon application, i watch my lips turn a soft shade of pink. i find out from the ipsy site that this balm reacts with your pH level, so it's pretty much a mood lipstick - neat!

4) POP Beauty Sunkissed Bronzer in "Secret Sunshine" 

size: 6.95 g (full size!)
retail value: $10.00
promotion: 25% off purchase at popbeauty.co.uk with code 'POPIPSY'; US only; expires Aug 31, 2014

This radiance enhancing bronze glow delivers a soft honey beamed hue, adding warmth and a sun-kissed lift to your complexion. With added vitamin E.


the bronzer looks darker than most of the ones i have but i'm sure that blending, like always, will help. it has some shimmer in it. i'm not going to be able to use this for a while so it's going on the sale board (to be announced in the far future).

5) Pur~lisse Pur~Protect Essential Daily Moisturizer SPF 30 Sunscreen

size: 15 mL
retail value: $55.00 (50 mL)
promotion: 30% off purchase at purlisse.com with code 'IPSYSUMMER30'; US and Canada; expires Aug 15, 2014

Stay protected with pure flower power. Pur~lisse's unique peptide complex, Lotus Lupine 5, and Hydra-Shield Complex, offers superior full-spectrum sun protection in a light weight nourishing moisturizer. Skin is pampered and protected against premature aging caused by the day's rays.

i never complain about receiving moisturizers with SPF! this one is very nice too - feels light, non-greasy and has a soft scent.

tada!
these days, opening beauty boxes does not bring about the same excitement as it used to but ipsy still finds the ability to impress me! it's sometimes even hard to pick a favorite item!
this month, i'd have to say it's either the derma e BB creme or the Pixi Tinted Brilliance Balm. what did you think of "Sensationally Sunkissed"?

BEAUTY BOX 5: January 2014

so a small part of the reason why i haven't posted lately was because of a trip to the USA for my friend's graduation - she's a doctor now! 

i went for about 6 days and visited a bunch of cities i've never been to before. first stop was Philadelphia for Jenny's graduation - love you! went to a couple tourist-y areas including the Eastern State Penitentiary which was pretty interesting... wish we had more time there though! had dinner at Iron Chef Morimoto's restaurant and it's crazy how all the dishes were all so good! i love the restaurant itself - so pretty (top right photo). 

after two nights in Philly, we headed to New York by Boltbus and of course, checked out Grand Central Station, Central Park, Times Square, Wall Street, 9/11 Memorial Site... took the subway! saw a rat! rode a taxi... aiyyy... i forgot that all these cities we were visiting are 'older' cities, so i wasn't expecting so much graffiti, demolition and uneven roads. and man those roads are bumpy! 

we only did one night in New York so it was go-go-go! so stayed overnight in Elizabeth since some of our friends were departing the next morning from Newark. the top left photo of the cathedral is in Elizabeth. it is GORGEOUS. i love cathedrals! i just wished they were open! all of the ones we visited were either under construction or closed... 

took it easy the next two days near Oil City/Pittsburgh. did some some more outlet shopping which is always great. on my way out... my flight gets cancelled. man! i ended up staying overnight at the airport... definitely not the most comfortable place to stay for an extended period of time. if this ever happens to you, make sure you talk to the staff to see how they rebooked your flight because they automatically booked me for 3 connecting flights - ridiculous!

anyway, it was a fab time! i wish i had more vacation days!

onward to BB5!
January 2014 - Cheers to You! featuring That Awkward Moment

i don't have any desire to see That Awkward Moment because i can't handle watching raunchy sex comedies in theatres. but Zac Efron is very pretty. haha

1) H2O Plus : Spa Sea Lotus Body Wash
size: 30 mL
retail value: $17 (370 mL)

to date, i've received four H2O Plus products from BB5. each time i like to check out the website to find out what the 'key elements' are. for this Sea Lotus body wash, they are: water lotus, bamboo, red marine algae, and Vitamin E. similar to the last H2O Plus body wash i received in March 2013, it smells marine-y. it is indeed part of their Marine Skincare line but i just do not like that scent.

2) Nubar : Cuticle Oil in 'T3191-7 Green Apple'
size: 7 mL
retail value: $10 (15 mL)

it does smell like green apples! very light scent. the brush is different from a regular nail polish. this one is stiffer so you can dab it on your cuticles. i am not very precise since it just gets absorbed anyway.

3) Swissco : Bath & Shower Exfoliating Gloves
size: 1 pair [full size]
retail value: $5

i can always count on BB5 for something different. exfoliating gloves! haven't received or used these before. i think these will become very useful, especially with dress season around the corner.

4) Jergens : Daily Moisture Dry Skin Moisturizer
size: 29 mL
retail value: $6.99 (621 mL)

this light cream absorbs quickly into the skin and has a citrus scent with a hint of flowers. a tad boring but will be used someday.

5) Epic Blend : Lip Balm in 'Hemp Coconut' 
size: 4.2 g [full size]
retail value: $3.39
promotion: 25% off online purchase // expired Mar 31, 2014

i said i'd try to pawn off the (MALIN+GOETZ) mojito lip balm from the ipsy bag to my boyfriend but this is more his style.

6) BONUS : That Awkward Moment : Mirror Compact

a rectangular mirror compact that i probably won't use since i already have a mirror with my MUFE Pressed Powder. i'd bring it along for travel if it was bit bigger!

and so there it is. BB5 continues to have some interesting items like exfoliating gloves and brush cleaners in their boxes but it's offset with the boring lotions and shampoos. i also don't really see how this whole box ties in with the movie...

what are your vacation plans this year??

BEAUTY BOX 5: December 2013

who was i kidding? i was wayyy off with my estimate in my last post - i am more like half way done December's boxes.

next up: BB5's "Naughty and Nice" December box

1) NYX Cosmetics Love in Rio Eyeshadow Palette in "LIR02 Mo Rockin' Beats"
after a rather disappointing experience with a very similar looking palette with POP Beauty in ipsy's bag, i think i'll pass on opening this up... i mean the only difference between the two is that this one has a matte white, a shimmery grey and a matte black while the other palette had all the same shades but shimmery. i am totally up for a swap/sale if you are interested :) the bow where you pop open the lid is super cute!

size: 3 g (full size!)
retail value: $6.00
promotion: 20% off online purchase until Dec 31/13 [expired]

2) Body Drench Daily Moisturizing Lotion - The Original
when it say's 'The Original', it must mean that this was such a hit that it has been imitated right?
the lotion is non-greasy and has a whipped-like texture. it also smells strongly of baby powder which i personally don't mind.

size: 59 mL
retail value: $8.99 (500 mL)

3) OFRA Cosmetics Lipgloss Plumper in "Sultry"
the description refers to this lipgloss as the perfect color for winter. and i finally get to it just when winter is coming to an end... wait, who am i kidding?? i live in Calgary! snow in May is almost a guarantee. you just never know with Calgary weather - sorry to all you optimists that have been walking around in flats and skirts.

the lipgloss is only available in "Sultry" which is a shimmery maroon color. the shimmer is not extreme and the shade is actually not as dark as it appears in the tube. it's a color i would be comfortable enough wearing during the day.
the plumping effect is also not too strong - i feel just a hint of 'stinging' if you want to call it that and it is very brief after the lipgloss is first applied.

size: 10 mL (full size!)
retail value: $12.95
promotion: 25% off online purchase until Feb 28/14 [expired]

4) Clean & Clear Morning Burst Hydrating Gel Moisturizer
mmmmm this reminds me of my childhood... does this remind anyone else of a certain type of prescription medicine you had to keep in the fridge? and it was for tummy aches? or perhaps colds? i can't remember what it was but i thought it was banana flavored. anyways, i just remember it being yummy... just like Dimetapp-C!

this gel moisturizer is very lightweight and is absorbed quickly into the skin. i do not believe the moisture is very long-lasting since it just disappears so quickly. aside from being oil-free, i don't know what other benefits it really has since it doesn't have other important qualities i look for in a moisturizer (i.e. SPF).

size: 14 g
retail value: $6.99 (85 g)

5) Sam Villa Brush Cleaner
you can always count on BB5 for diversity: a brush cleaner! that's a first. and one that doubles as a teasing brush?? i'm all for volume! but teasing does make my arms feel weak rather quickly...

this would be immensely useful in my house since the hair collects on my round brushes until i can no longer see the brush... until finally the boyfriend takes a look at it and asks why you allow such a mass of hair/lint/other to grow so massively to which you don't really have a good answer for. so he proceeds to take it off himself not knowing how tangly and stubborn long thick hair could be. you try to ignore it as he struggles and struggles, only to find a nice fur ball on your pillow the next day.
lovely isn't it?

size: 1 brush cleaner (full size!)
retail value: $4.95
promotion: 20% off online purchase until Dec 31/13 [expired]

so that's a decent December box in my opinion. the only thing i probably will not use is the NYX eyeshadow but only because i have many palettes in the same shades. i love NYX so if it was any other color, i'd probably have cracked it open by now. as mentioned in the previous section, the brush cleaner will be useful!

BEAUTY BOX 5: October 2013

happy happy new year! :) i hope you all had a wonderful holiday! 

i just came back from Banff today and though it was a very short trip (just one night), it was super fun. went snow tubing at Mt. Norquay and hot-tubbing at the Hidden Ridge Resort. at first i was scared of tubing because i had no idea what it entailed but it's seriously fun stuff! you grab an inflated tube, stand on a conveyor belt kind of thing (a magic carpet) which takes you up and then slide down these large snow lanes. reminds me of those carpet rides at amusement parks. there are staff members at the top that get everyone 'boarded' - you can go single-file or in groups as big as 7 (depending on the staff member and how many they can spin). very sweet!

 

i know people have dedicated posts to their new year resolutions but i am absolutely horrible at keeping them so let's just make a general blogging-related one: blog more! yessss! 

and to do this, i need to finish my round of October unboxings... so let's get started here!

October's BB5 "Take it Easy":

1) Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion - very simple moisturizer... no SPF :(

size: 29 mL
retail value: $6.99 (226 g)

2) ModelCo Cheek + Lip Tint in "Rosy Red" - i received this in my Glossybox in March earlier last year. back then, i also received a full-sized version (10 mL). i mentioned that this product was great for adding color to your cheeks - you only need a tiny amount - but it didn't work too well on the lips. please click the link for swatches!

size: 5 mL
retail value: $22 (10 mL)

3) SwissCo Glitter Toe Spacers - i am not exactly impressed with these since they are your very basic toe separators but sparkly...

size: 1 set (full size!)
retail value: $2

4) La Fresh Travel-Lite Facial Cleansing Wipes - also not something exciting since i've received so many La Fresh wipes, i've lost count.

size: 8 wipes
retail value: $19.99 (48 wipes)

5) Nubar Nail Lacquer in "N295-7 Kristal" - this color is part of Nubar's Alter Ego Collection which was released this holiday season and features 8 3D glitter top coat polishes. on the website, it is listed as "Krystal" instead of "Kristal" and is described as a sheer silver white with multi-color sparkles and Mylar. what is Mylar? well a quick Google search tells us that it is often used to give that flakie/fleck nail polish effect. this polish is pretty but i feel like i have a few of these in my collection already. Nubar is hard to find though - i've only seen them at Winners stores. and i didn't even know they made mini polishes.

size: 7 mL
retail value: $8 (15 mL)

so everything is so... let's see here... SMALL. small in size or small in value. the Aveeno, ModelCo, La Fresh and Nubar products are all mini-sizes and then the one full-sized product - toe spacers - are worth $2. the total value of the box is $20.96 (the Aveeno moisturizer was worth less than $1). BB5 costs US$12 and the highest dollar value was the ModelCo tint but i've already received that in a prior box so the value is much less in my books. BB5 is normally not this disappointing so maybe it was just a bad month. we will have to see for November... which i should get onto stat! :)

GLOSSYBOX: April 2013

so this month's Glossybox had an extra sticker on it - Danone Silhouette... which is

yogurt?

well, it's not in the box itself but there is a coupon for a FREE Greek yogurt pack. sweeeeeet :) the only Greek yogurt i've tried was rather sour-tasting... is that the norm?

April's "Work That Beauty" box:

1) Jelly Pong Pong Lip Blush in "Marshmallow Pink" - well that's definitely an interesting brand name. Jelly Pong Pong is based in the UK and ships worldwide (minimum order is approx $40 CAD and shipping is a little over $6).
it took me a while to figure out what color i got since the outer packaging looks like it is "Cranberry" but the color itself is definitely a pink.
the lip blush is nice - moisturizing and pigmented. below, i have swatched it on my arm - the left is one swipe and the right one is 5.

"Marshmallow Pink" is described as a "soft petal pink"; i find that the blue base of the pink is very evident. still i love how pigmented this pink is on my lips. i didn't notice this at first but when the sunlight hits it directly, it sort of looks metallic-y (see top pic below).
lasting power of this lip blush is pretty impressive - about 4 or so hours. it is slightly awkward using it right now since the tip is really pointy but i'm sure it will round off later.

size: 2.5 g (full size!)
retail value: $18.70

2) Schick Hydro Silk Razor - oh hello first razor (from a beauty box) of the year! i wonder how many of these are there to come?

size: 1 razor & 1 cartridge (full size!)
retail value: $10.99

3) Boscia Recharging Night Moisture - this moisturizer feels light and absorbs quickly into the skin. it has a herbal scent to it that is not overly unpleasant. this made me curious about the ingredients so i did a little research and found that this moisturizer is like, good for (almost) everything: it targets wrinkles, dryness and redness. it is recommended for normal to dry or aging skin.

size: 15 mL (not full size like the info card says)
retail value: $44 (40 mL)

4) POP Beauty Cat Eyes Eye Liner in "Tasty Teal" - i was actually contemplating this eye liner when i saw it at Winners a couple months ago but they didn't have a black which is pretty much all i wear. still, "Tasty Teal" is a fun color and i like how the liner is slanted. 

however, what i do not like about this eyeliner is quite the dealbreaker. 

it creases. and it creases ridiculously fast.

i was doing my makeup in the car and had lined one eye, glanced down for a second and look up to find that it had already creased. yes it was that quickly! there's no way my eyelids were already that greasy since i was doing my makeup on my way to work (so at like 7 am!). in order to fix this, i just blended it and used it as an eyeshadow instead.

the next time i attempted this eyeliner, i used it on my lower lashes and it stayed relatively well put there. 

i think if i try this again on my top lashes, i will use a heavy duty primer and check on it multiple times a day, just in case it became super messy again.

size: 0.4 g (full size!)

retail value: $16

5) Heartland Fragrance Soothing Epsom Salts in "Jasmine" - this was definitely what i smelled the second i lifted the lid off the Glossybox. i am not a fan of the smell of jasmine but it is relaxing. i haven't used it in the bath yet but in the shower, the salts dissolve rather quickly.

the boyfriend also noted that these are probably specifically labelled "epsom" salts now due to the bath salt incidents - which were so crazzzyyy.

size: N/A
retail value: $10.10 (850 g)

so here's the whole box! it was definitely jam packed and there is a variety of items this month. favorite of course, is the lip blush. most disappointing? the eyeliner but i will try to make it work again. what were your thoughts?

also, Target arrived in Calgary a couple days ago - and i found it underwhelming. yes, there were two cosmetics brands that i haven't seen widely available in Canada before (Sonia Kashuk and Pixi) but i thought the prices were pretty high. my first purchase there that night included a body wash for the boyfriend and 2 pairs of socks. nothing cosmetic-related! however i did find the Sonia Kashuk area quite empty so maybe next time i will find some goodies.