IPSY BAG: October 2014

ipsy's Beauty Candy bag (love the colors - reminds me of ice cream):

1) Ayres : Body Butter in "Patagonia" 
Enriched with plant emollients, herbal extracts and vitamins, this ultra-rich creamy body butter provides relief from dry, rough skin. Vitamin E natural antioxidant provides protection to your skin, while shea nut butter gives long-lasting hydration. Just drift away on a cool breeze of delicate jasmine and aromatic rosemary blended with lavender, bergamot, ylang-ylang, oakmoss, patchouli and fir. Inspired by Patagonia’s snow-capped mountains and blue lagoons, this fresh scent inspires a soothing sense of calm. size: 28 g
retail value: $28.00 (191 g)
promotion: 25% off purchase & free shipping on orders $40+ with code AYRESIPSY; expired 11/30/14; US only

"Patagonia" is all about the jasmine and rosemary and was inspired by snow-capped mountains and blue lagoons in Patagonia. no idea where this is. Google tells me that this is in South America.
i find the scent quite fitting because it is a cool scent. the body butter is different from most in that it is not very oily and not very thick - it's more like a cream but the hydration is great. i especially love the non-greasy but soft feeling.

2) H2O+ : Face OASIS Hydrating Treatment 

This oil-free moisture gel delivers deep hydration while minimizing the appearance of fine lines with phospholipids, multivitamin complex and moisturizing marine botanicals.
size: 10 mL
retail value: $36.00 (50 mL)
promotion: 25% off purchase with code IPSY14; expired 11/30/14

fancy shmancy - clinically proven and #1 global bestseller? the gel gives the skin an instant cooling feeling. i don't feel like the gel is very moisturizing though. or maybe that's the oil-free feature. 

3) Jesse's Girl : Mineralized Baked Powder Eye Shadow in "Ocean Breeze"

Get out-of-this-world eyes with Jesse’s Girl Mineralized Baked Powder Eyeshadows.

size: 2 g (full size!)

retail value: $3.99

promotion: 20% off purchase with code IPSYOCT2014; expired 11/30/14

this is much too blue for me. as pretty as it looks with all the shimmer, there's no way i can wear this comfortably everyday. you know where to find this!

4) Skyn Iceland : Mini Glacial Cleansing Cloths

When you're too tired to deal with the whole cleanser and wash cloth routine, these on-the-go foaming cloths are the ultimate skin savior. Infused with Icelandic glacial waters and beneficial natural extracts, they sweep away makeup, dirt, oil and other impurities while refreshing and soothing stressed skin. Best of all, there's no water required. It has a clean scent, never tacky. Great for travel or every day!

size: 10 single-use cloths

retail value: $15.00 (30 cloths)

promotion: 50% off one item & 20% off all additional items with code IPSYGCC; expired 11/21/14

ooooooooh i should have brought these last weekend for the wedding! i went to bed everyday between 3 and 4 am so this would have been nice... and thank goodness for Sunday naps.

5) Starlooks : Lip Gloss in "LG46 Guilty Pleasure"
Starlooks Lip Glosses are created with a truly moisturizing, luxury, non-sticky formula. This neutral-rose, yet glamorous shade provides the perfect glisten for any lip look and complements any skin tone! Can be worn alone or in combination with other Starlooks lip products for a truly customizable finish.size: 1 mini sample ~ 1 mL?
retail value: $13.00 (4 mL)
promotion: 20% off purchase - no code required; ends 12/31/14

"Guilty Pleasure" is a soft pinky nude. i was surprised by the pigmentation of the gloss when i swatched it on my hand, but sadly my lips are also pigmented so the gloss doesn't show quite as well on them. i prefer a little more color payoff but my sister will be happy to have this.

eeeeeeeeeeh. the bag is aight. my favorite product so far is the Ayres body butter and i am looking forward to trying Skyn Iceland cleansing cloths - i mean, Leighton Meester uses them, so they must be good right? :P

AT THIS MOMENT ...
currently listening: "Make Me Yours Tonight" by Lara Fabian & Mustafa Ceceli [Turkish version]
just watched: nothing...
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 (still!)

IPSY BAG : January 2014

January 2014 - 19 Reasons
i've finally made it to the 2014 subscriptions... aww yeah! i want to squeeze in another post before i leave for Philadelphia on wednesday though. i'm heading down to my friend's graduation and we will be visiting New York and Pittsburgh as well. it's all very exciting to me because i haven't been to many places in the states.

alsoooooo i went to my third (i think) BSB concert on friday and it was amazing (AHHH NICK CARTER)! it was awesome to see all 5 of them back together. they thanked the fans for being there for 21 years... 21 years!! that's crazy that it has been that long. i was super happy that they played a lot of their old hits. i also know some of their new ones since i had a BSB only playlist at work for the last 3 days in preparation :)

anyway, my phone died after the concert which made me kick myself the rest of the night because a friend convinced me to head to the after party and this was the closest i have ever been to them!! i could see the sweat on their foreheads! i touched AJ and Howie's hands!! i got Howie's autograph!!!

eeeeeeeee! i was in awe for sure! it was like an estrogen-fuelled mosh pit but it was worth it. Howie was super cool cause he was taking selfies with people's phones and signing autographs. yay!! i am very glad i went even though i felt super old at the club later. super old. a boy who actually looked 16 kept trying to hold my hand and dance with me and i was like 'i am pretty sure i am like 10 years older than you'! the club scene is veryyy strange to me now. 

anyway, back to ipsy! ipsy's 19 Reasons bag is referring to the 19 brands they worked with in January.  they also want you to find a reason why 2014 will be amazing. i'm already enjoying 2014 quite a bit and my upcoming trips to Philly/New York/Pittsburgh and then Orlando in the summer will be fantastic, i'm sure. plus, i just went to the Backstreet Boys and will be going to see John Legend next month. swoon!

1) Benefit : the Porefessional
Quickly minimize the appearance of pores & fine lines for smoother-than-smooth skin! Apply this silky, lightweight balm alone, under or over makeup. Translucent, oil-free formula complements all skintones and helps makeup stay put. Contains a Vitamin E derivative, known to protect skin from free radicals.
size: 3 mL
retail value: $31 (22 mL)
promotion: free gift with online purchase // expired Feb 15, 2014 

this makes it three! three times i've found this in a beauty bag. the other 2 times were from Topbox - April 2012 and February 2013. guess i won't be running out anytime soon and i still enjoy how smooth it makes my skin feel.

2)  (MALIN+GOETZ) : Mojito Lip Balm
The (MALIN+GOETZ) Mojito Lip Balm is as soothing to the lips as it is to the senses. Flavored with (MALIN+GOETZ) Mojito, this lip balm is scientifically blended to restore and replenish. The hydrating lip gel easily integrates for daily maintenance, prevention and treatment of dry, irritated lips. Color and Paraben free.

size: 10 g [full size]

retail value: $12

mojitos hey? that's a new flavor of lip balm for me. i am trying to rely less on lip balm cause i feel like my lips have to recover on their own from the winter but i might see if my boyfriend would use this. it looks plain enough right? i just don't know how he would feel about the gel texture...

3) Balanced Guru : Balm Me Up Organic Sweet Cocoa & Tangy Body Balm

Treat your whole body with a smooth and buttery body balm. Enriched with healthy butters and an invigorating blend of essential oils that will wake up your senses and moisturize your skin without leaving it greasy or tacky. Make sure you work it well into elbows, knees and even your feet, they'll thank you later!

size: 30 mL [trial size - $12]

retail value: $45 (120 mL)
promotion: 20% off online purchase // expired Feb 28, 2014 // US only

this body balm claims to moisturize your skin without leaving it greasy but i find that this is really difficult especially if the product contains so many different butters and oils. my experience with this body balm is that it leaves a shiny look/greasy feeling after application but over time, this will fade but the moisture remains.

4) Absolute! : Make-up Cleansing Tissues with 'Cucumber Extract'

Pre-moistened, refreshingly fragranced, water-based cloths designed to instantly remove even waterproof makeup without irritation. Infused with natural extracts and botanicals, Absolute! Makeup Cleansing Tissues are formulated to reawaken and soften skin, while helping to reduce puffiness. Made of delicate spun lace, our convenient, effortless 1-step tissues are gentle enough for use on sensitive skin and around the eye area.

size: 10 tissues [$2.49]

retail value: $7.99 [60 tissues]
promotion: 30% off online purchase // expired Feb 10, 2014 // US only

ipsy has teamed up once again with Nicka K. the Absolute! line of cleanings tissues include a number of other extracts such as Vitamin C, green tea and pomegranate. 

5) yaby : Natural Finish Liquid Foundation in 'Buff'

The yaby Liquid Foundation leaves an unbelievably natural, super smooth texture and is extremely easy to apply. Mimics the skin's natural sheen to create the most realistic flawless skin. Oil-free.

size: 8 mL [full size!]

retail value: $13.55
promotion: 20% off online purchase // expired Jan 31, 2014

the yaby liquid foundations all come in this small size which is great for carrying around. yaby also has color correctors as well. i've tried a few yaby products now (thanks to ipsy and Topbox) including some concealers which were decent but not highly pigmented. this 'Buff' shade is meant to be neutral but i think it is just a bit light for my skin. the smell is not the greatest since it smells sort of metal-y.

and tada! that makes up the first beauty bag from ipsy for the year... sort of a boring start in my opinion.

did you like your ipsy bag? what concerts are you going to this year?

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! :)

BEAUTY BOX 5: May 2013

oh maaaaaaaan. i am terrible! my attention span is really short these days - there's just so much to do! even though today was my first day at work since last week - which meant i had plenty of time to blog...

these days, much of Alberta is dealing with the aftermath of flooding. i never really thought that could happen here in Calgary. there was a flood in 2005 but i was completely unaware of it back then. Calgary goes through really random changes in weather (we get the occasional snow/hailstorm in May or June). and this June has brought in a lot of rain. and i mean, a LOT. of course, we had a leak in our roof (make that 2). 

last Thursday was very normal. i stood on the side of the street downtown where i work, waiting for my ride. but that changed within a few hours. i was not able to return to work until today - a week later - which i didn't really mind of course since i was able to work from home. but wow. so many pictures of disaster on Instagram and Facebook... stories of people forced to evacuate... people panicking and hoarding water and filling up their bathtubs... vendors jacking up the price of a bag of ice to $20...

really makes you feel rather small when Mother Nature can be so powerful. 

i hope those that have been affected by the floods are all healthy and safe. 

back to the err.. May BB5 (where did June go??):

1) Brazen Cosmetics Ultra Glaze Lip Gloss in "Centerfold"
This creamy formula will deliver a long lasting wear that will have you hooked! Apply alone for a slight hint of color or layer over lipstick for a bolder look.


- not Ferro Cosmetics as shown in the card above -

BB5 does not shy away from featuring the same companies again and again - which could be a good or bad thing.

Brazen has been on a 3-month streak with BB5 but this time around it is a lip gloss instead of a shadow.

i was a little turned off by the metallic-y copper color initially. it also slipped my mind that this was a gloss so i was thrown off by how gooey it is :)

still, the color isn't half bad. not a fan of applying lip products with my finger though - especially something that is sticky.

size: N/A
retail value: $8.99

2) Jean Pierre Self Tan Wipe - Jean Pierre is featured once again but i have not used self-tanning wipes before. i know there is two wipes but how much does one wipe cover? i don't want to be tanned only on one side of my body...

size: 1 wipe x 2
retail value: $8.99 (10 towelettes)

3) ModelCo Eyeliner in "01 Black" - again, a repeat brand. i thought i had an eyeliner from ModelCo already but i think i am just confusing myself with their lip pencils.

size: 1.2 g (full size!)
retail value: $18

4) Coolway Transform Styling Spray - Coolway has interesting hair products and are quite specific with their instructions on how to use the products. this one in particular lists the number of sprays you will need for your length of hair. my very long hair would require about 50 sprays. either this is quite ridiculous or i have been completely underestimating the amount of hair product to use in my hair...
this styling spray has the same sweet sugary scent as the other Coolway products but also smells like nail polish at the same time.

size: 100 mL
retail value: $24.95 (200 mL)

5) La Fresh Antiperspirant Wipes for Women - another 3-month streaker. La Fresh, how do you keep coming out with so many different types of wipes?! this is the first antiperspirant wipe i've seen (why only for women?). the weather is improving and getting crazy hot at times so i will likely carry these just in case.

size: 1 wipe x 2
retail value: $19.90 (48 packets)

summary? too much repetition. i am already getting a little bored with the whole beauty box subscription thing but now i seem to be getting the same brands again and again. and too many wipes! i thought everyone was impressed when BB5 took a step away from all the one-use sachets but it appears to be back again.

GLYMM BAG: January 2013

after doing my report card on the beauty box subscriptions available to Canadians, the January boxes that followed seemed to reaffirm my decision in regards to Glymm and Glossybox - wowwwwwwwwww i honestly cannot believe how bad both are this month.
thanks to both of them for making it easy for me. once i cash in all my points, i am outta here!!

Glymm's recent price increase was very sudden - we got the email late last month (Jan 21) and the price change was effective immediately. to me, the contents of January's bag do not reflect the increase in price... in fact, i don't think i would have actually been happy if it was at $12 or even $10 (which was what i was paying). holy cow!!!! i just realized that this means that this is a 50% increase for everyone that was grandfathered at $10 during the previous price increase!

wwwwwwwwwhaaaaaaaaat

okay, putting the massive price hike aside, let's take a look at the products:

1) LASHEM Double Trouble Mascara - this is the teeniest mascara sample i've ever seen! it's the exact same size as the LASHEM serum from last month. i will start testing this mascara this weekend... i am on the verge of tossing a few so it's time for something new. i am pretty sure i can use this one up much faster.

size: N/A
retail value: $20 (6 mL)

2) La Fresh Travel-Lite Facial Cleansing Wipes - i'm sure no one is seriously overjoyed when we receive a couple foil packets of facial cleansing wipes...

size: 1 wipe ("full size") x 2
retail value: $3 each

3) 360 Skin Care Lavender Mint Firming Serum - the serum smells like lavender which i am not a fan of but i can hardly tell when i apply it to my face. this is unlike any other serum i've ever tried... it's rather thick and difficult to absorb onto your face. you know how lotion dries up and leaves residue around the cap? the texture is sort of like that but not nearly as hard.
this firming serum is to be used around the eyes. just make you sure you really try to smooth it out on your skin or you will get odd yellow globs on your face. just a suggestion!

size: 6 mL
retail value: $34 (30 mL)

4) Coolway Boost Repair Serum - this patent pending serum is to be used as a replacement of your conditioner and has strict instructions that you should wait at least 2 days between use. i found this serum to have a unique scent for a hair product - very sweet and sugary. the product itself is white and has a very very slight gritty texture. so far i haven't seen any transformation in my hair but i will let you know down the road if my feelings change.

size: 30 mL
retail value: $40 (236 mL)

5) ** bonus ** Burt's Bees Naturally Nourishing Milk & Honey Body Lotion - ho hum. i am not a huge fan of Burt's Bees lotions - i don't find the scents appealing. oh shoot - as i stared at this sample while i type this, i realized i got a larger sample of this in my Glossybox that i have yet to post...

size: 7 mL
retail value: $12.99 (170 mL) ... according to my January Glossybox card

you can tell from the tone of this whole post that i am not exactly overjoyed with this bag. haha - it may be that i am harder to impress now that i've subbed to 6 beauty boxes but in all honesty, all of these samples are tiny and have very limited use.
does anyone have high hopes for February? also, who knows when Glymm's anniversary is?

by the way, i have a giveaway coming up!!!! please stay tuned!!! i am letting you know now so that you can make sure i do it this weekend. i am giving you permission to get on my case about it. 

i really hope that i can work on more posts for you this weekend! i miss this :(

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: August 2012

so last month's BB5 was sent via UPS rather than USPS (for July anyway) and i found that it was much faster. i could have sworn that they used UPS before but we got a special email saying that August's box was shipped using UPS so who knows..

the box says it was sent on August 17th and my dad picked up the mail on the 28th so it was the first time i've received it before the next month rolled along.

check out August's box (it seems that a few ladies and i received doubles of two of the following items; thanks for extras!):

1) Blum Naturals Pro Age Daily Cleansing Towelette - this is evidence that Beauty Box 5 is picking up their game! they have stepped away from sending out only 1 one-use sample and now there's 3! hooray! now we can actually test the product out.
size: 1 towelette x 3
retail value: $3.99 (10 towelettes)

2) H2O Plus Marine Calm Restorative Eye Cream - i have quite the stash of eye creams now and they're the kind of product where you have to use them over a long period in order to be able to reap the benefits. this one has an almost undetectable scent which is great for those that are sensitive. it's 3 key ingredients are: Japanese green tea, Paraguay tea and aloe vera.
size: 4 mL (accident: x 2)
retail value: $32 (15 mL)

3) Ferro Cosmetics Sheer Crystal Veil - this is a very small sample of the veil which makes it a bit difficult to apply with a brush since i can hardly grab any of the product. i wore it today and can't say there was anything noticeable about my skin (then again, it was cloudy and rainy today making it hard to see any illumination!). i like how the veil doesn't rely on shimmer or glitter.
see swatches below (the swatch of the veil is before blending it in).
size: ~ < 1 g
retail value: $19 (4 g)

4) Ellis Faas Creamy Lips in "L109 Pale Coffee" - it seems that many people are very excited about this product - personally, i have not heard of it before. on their main page, the company boasts the names of several celebrities that use their products (including Cate Blanchett).

there is no scent or taste to the product. the pen shape is very sleek and shiny - Ellis Faas actually sells their own special holders and clips. you turn the bottom of the pen to get more product but be warned that it takes more than 40 clicks to get it started. the applicator is a fuzzy sponge which i like the feeling of - it seems to help to smooth the color out on your lips.

the name of the actual shade can be found on the website. the site also explains how you can wear it two ways: full on or as a stain. you will see very soon why i much much prefer the stain version on myself. the color is described as "pale" but when placed on my pigmented lips, it takes on a rather dark tan brown. the color is very pigmented but i do not find it appealing on me at all - maybe it was a color of a bag or something but not on my lips. the closeup is not that horrible but if you saw my whole face with this lip color, you would know that when i say terrifying, i mean AGGGGHH!
(i'm sure it probably works better on skin tones that are not yellow-based).

before completely giving up on the color, i decided to try the stain technique - just putting on a little bit of the product and blending with your fingers (or blot for a matte stain).

still not a fan of the color but much better. the formula itself is in fact creamy and moisturizing but may be a bit too creamy. when you press your lips together, the product moves around so you end up having splotches on your lips. it's important that you do not do that to keep the application even but it's so hard to resist! it transfers easily when eating or drinking too so this expensive product turns out to be just meh for me.

a couple of arm swatches:

size: 2.8 mL (full size!; accident: x 2)
retail value: $35

5) Blinc Eyeliner in "Black" - honestly if this was not a makeup product, i'd probably be unhappy that i got another duplicate from the June 2012 box. BUT it is the blinc eyeliner so yay. click on the link for my previous review and detailed pictures.
size: 0.7 g
retail value: $26 (6 g)

BB5 is really picking it up these months and they're gaining more and more fans. i finally got an email back from them today in regards to my missing product in the July's box. if they could improve their customer response time, then i'm sure they will be here for the long haul.
oh and the box came with a discount code for Ellis Faas products and a gift certificate for Ferro Cosmetics :)

i am still two boxes behind!! think i can go for 7 consecutive days of blogging??