LUXE BOX: January 2012

hello!
so i received my Luxe Box from Loose Button on January 30, which is a bit later than usual BUT i was definitely more than pleased when i found such a big box waiting for me when i got home. i was getting a bit impatient this month so i did start peeking at other people's blogs so i already knew there were two boxes this month but i was still squealing when i opened it. the extra box this month was labelled "Bath and Body" and was slightly smaller than the normal black box.

so the first normal black box - again, i love the sticker on the tissue paper. other than the sample list, there were a number of advertisements and coupons.

Box 1 (January's Luxe Box):

1) Pür Minerals foundation in "Blush Medium" - i think Loose Button knew exactly what i needed this month - i was running out of powder foundation and tada! i was sent a full-sized one! i am also impressed that this has SPF 15. it is important to use sun protection even when it is not sunny. i have combination skin and there is often a slight redness on the skin between my cheekbones and nose. if i apply just this foundation, my skin looks better but it doesn't cover all the redness. i think it will be better if i used a liquid foundation first and then touch up with some powder foundation.
size: 4.3 g (full size!)   note: this is the net weight; on the card it says 8 g
retail value: $31

2) Olay Regenerist wrinkle complex - i am throwing this in with all the other wrinkle products i have now... i know it is beneficial to start using anti-aging products early, but i do not currently have wrinkles. cross your fingers! but wait a sec... this sample costs almost $30? is that right? i'll definitely pass it on to someone else who can make use of it.
size: 7 mL
retail value: $60 (15 mL)

3) Loose Button's MyScent - there's a cute little drawstring pouch with a note saying that i was selected to participate in this program called MyScent (selected? it seems like everyone else was selected as well).

there were 6 perfume samples, 1 of which i have also received in December's box. all of them except for Prada's Infusion d'Iris had a cap on the sample where you can spray on the perfume (as opposed to just dabbing it on). i haven't been able to try all of them yet but here are some quick notes.

i: Prada's Candy
size: 1.5 mL
retail value: $96 (50 mL)
ii: Prada's Infusion d'Iris - smells fresh and flowery
size: 1.5 mL
retail value: $95 (50 mL)
iii: Nina Ricci's L'Air du Temps - very sweet smelling and floral - similar to potpourri
size: 1.2 mL
retail value: $72 (50 mL)
iv: Nina Ricci's Nina  - mm smells sweet and fruity like the apple on the cover
size: 1.2 mL
retail value: $65 (50 mL)
v: Paco Rabanne's Black XS for Her - floral but not too sweet smelling - it's a deeper smell (?? that doesn't make much sense...)
size: 1.2 mL
retail value: $65 (50 mL)
vi: Paco Rabanne's Lady Million
size: 1.2 mL
retail value: $80 (50 mL)

4) NYX lip gloss in "110 Cosmo" - last year i was obsessed with getting NYX lipstick and ended up getting 9 of their round lipsticks on eBay. i've been meaning to try other products by NYX so i was happy i was sent a lip gloss but was initially turned off by how much sparkle there is. seriously, they were not kidding when they called it "Mega Shine Lip Gloss". i also did not think this copper color would work on me. once i tried it though, it wasn't as bad as i thought. it has a sponge applicator and smells yummy, like cherries.
size: 11 mL (full size!)   note: huh? on the gloss itself, net weight = 15 mL... doesn't make sense
retail value: $8

5) Seattle's Best Coffee in "Level 3" - this was a bonus item which is nice, but i do not drink coffee. i prefer my green tea lattes, ice cappuccinos and french vanillas. but i do know plenty of people who would enjoy this!
size: 56 g
retail value: $9.99 (340 g)

Box 2 (Complimentary Bath and Body Box):
this white box contained 2 products, an info card on the razor and a coupon for bonus points at Shoppers if you buy a Fekkai hair product.
6) Schick razor - so this is the second product that Loose Button knew i needed. my other razor was getting dull and so this was perfect timing. apparently i will be one of the first ones in North America to try this razor. it has 5 blades and looks like it does not require shaving gel since there is a serum on the razor that works in the shower.
size: 1 razor & 1 cartridge
retail value: $13.99

7) Fekkai shampoo and conditioner - Fekkai has some pretty expensive hair products so it is nice that we get a sample. my hair is pretty long, probably reaching midway down my back, so i don't think i can get 2 uses out of this.
size: 9 mL each
retail value: ~$25 US for 237 mL (according to the Fekkai website that does not ship to Canada)

phew!! that was a lot of products! even though there was no Loose Button chocolate coin to be found, i am very pleased with my Luxe Box this month! a great variety of products and ones that will be quite useful for me. just look at all this stuff!

one thing i was a little sad about is that Loose Button has a feature where you can reserve a product in your box. however, they always reach the reservation limit so quickly!! this month they offered Donna Karan cleansing lotion, Benefit cream eyeshadow & liner, Benefit blush (POWda WOWza) and Curly Hair Solution control for frizzy hair. i would have most definitely loved either of the two products from Benefit!! but sadly, i checked my email 2 hours after they sent out a notice and i was already too late. i guess i should hook it up to my iPhone so i don't miss my chance next month!
ps. yay - as of now, i am all caught up on posting about my subscription boxes! whee!! i recently heard about this great promo from Julep and i am so very tempted. it won't hurt to try it for a month right? :)

GLYMM BOX: January 2012

hi everybody!
i am very glad that you have taken the time to visit my blog. i've had an *extreme* increase in page views since my last post (as in now there are readers other than myself!)  and it's makes me feel so excited! special hello to my 2 followers!! even though no one has commented yet, i really appreciate your time. :)
anyways, today's post will be about my recent box from Glymm, received on Chinese New Year (January 23). it arrived in the pink cardboard box with a "fragile" sticker on top - which is odd since there are no (spoiler alert) jelly beans in this one... :( sad sad sad!!

untying the ribbon you'll find the samples list behind the picture of the lady who sort of creeps me out by her stare... is it just me? you will also find a card telling you to visit glymm.com and another with a coupon code for a free lip shine with an online purchase. however, i heard these RMS Beauty lip shines sold out very quickly.

inside the box:
1) Kaia Naturals facial cleansing cloths - hmm.. apparently there are 4 uses for this cloth, so i guess they figured it will be okay if we only try it once? i prefer to use makeup remover (has to be oil-free though). some of the cleansing cloths i've used in the past didn't take my makeup off without me having to rub my eyes a few times, and then it will get in my eyes and it will sting. sometimes i will also lose an eyelash!! (a very sad time indeed since i have so few). hopefully it will not be the case with this one.
size: 1 cloth
retail value: $17.99 (30 cloths)

2) Vasanti Cosmetics face rejuvenator - i just tried this so i can't say if it has had an rejuvenating effects yet. it is a white liquid and when you rub it on your face, you can feel a little bit of the crystals that is in the formula.
size: 12 g
retail value: $34 (120 mL)

3) Anastasia Beverly Hills brow gel - hooray! this item was probably what i was most excited about. this brand is known for developing many products aimed towards providing you with well-groomed brows. i've wanted to try Anastasia products for a while now. anndddd i've never used a brow gel before. it definitely makes a difference though. it made me realize i need to do a little clean up around my eyebrows since this gel sets it in shape all day. it felt a little odd at first cause i can feel that there is product on my eyebrows. but at the same time it doesn't feel stiff... just strange. guess i will get used to it soon. by the way, it goes on clear.
size: 2.5 mL
retail value: $21 (~ 8.28 mL)

4) Burt's Bees body lotion - i received 2 of these samples of lotion which is good since i will be able to get a few uses out of it. however i haven't gotten around to trying these since i've already received a few lotion samples from my previous boxes. i've heard good things about the brand and its lip balm before so hopefully it is just as good.
update: just used this - me and my sister used one entire sample on our legs and arms. i am not a fan of the smell at all. i don't really know how to describe it - but it's a bit overpowering and smells musky with a hint of honey... other than that, it is quite moisturizing.
size: 7 mL each x 2 = 14 mL total
retail value: $12.99 (170 mL)

5) Cargo Cosmetics eye pencil in "Black" - i've noticed that sometimes people receive different products or different colors of products in their boxes, so i was glad that when i looked at the back of the eye pencil box, the label said "black". eyeliner ranks pretty high on my beauty must-have list. i feel naked when i am not wearing eyeliner. when i took the cap off, my first impression was that it looked like it was one of those eyeliners that will tug on your eyes. in my experience, all eyeliners that need to be sharpen will do that to you. i was wrong - it actually glides on pretty easily. but i still wish it was one of those self-sharpening pencils where you just twist the bottom - they make life easier.
size: 1.1 g (full size!)   *side note: on the card it says 2 g but that's including packaging
retail value: $16

overall, i'm happy with my Glymm box. the two most impressive products were the brow gel and eye pencil. i definitely will be putting those two in use. i am very glad i was once again introduced to a brand that i've been meaning to try by means of these sample boxes. can't wait to get my boxes next month!
also, it has been said that there has been instances where the jelly beans jar broke while in transit which could lead to damages to the other products or possibly harm the consumer, so Glymm has decided to stop sending jelly beans. they are working on a substitute! those jelly beans will be missed though - i've only received them once but they were so pretty (and delicious i'm guessing? i don't want to eat them now that they may be the last ones i get from Glymm...)

thanks! please let me know of any thoughts or feedback you might have :) have a good day!

TOPBOX: January 2012

hello hello hello!
im excited to have finally caught up to this month's boxes! whoohoo! also if you scroll down, you will notice - dun dun dun - i've switched to black frames! maybe next time it will be even crazier and i will do patterns or something :D i wouldn't mind some feedback!
so i'm always excited when i see Topbox in my mailbox. it means that there are more boxes soon to come. i got this box on January 17. the second i picked it up, i was very surprised by how heavy it was.
the exterior of the box was exactly the same as last month's, with the pretty purple design. i didn't even have to open the lid because it pretty much popped right off. guess it's because of the heavy products inside and the fact that it was stuffed to the top! also, all the liquid products were frozen solid. who knows, the box may have been there for only 2 minutes since we were having -30 degree weather in Calgary (without wind chill!)

it came with the usual Topbox card and 4 samples. i must say the size of these samples are impressive! i know Topbox says they are deluxe-sized and i completely agree.

January's samples include:
1) Principessa Beauty dry shampoo - first of all, YAY! i've always wanted another dry shampoo. i only have one by TRESemmé but everytime i walk into Sephora, I want to buy Oscar Blandi's dry shampoo. i don't wash my hair every single day since the natural oils in your hair are actually good for you so dry shampoo can help your hair look more voluminous and less greasy. i'm excited that this was customized according to my hair color (which is black but in the sun, it looks brown). i found it a tad difficult to open especially since i didn't want to spill it everywhere. i had to twist the cap and then just wiggle it back and forth until it came off. the product itself smells pretty nice.
size: 30 g
retail value: $24 (125 g)

2) Shu Uemura shampoo - the title of this shampoo is "full shimmer illuminating shampoo for color-treated hair". this confuses me since with the previous product, it was customized for me, but this one is not. i have not colored my hair... ever. i grew up with strict parents who would not allow me to color my hair back in junior high and high school. and now that i'm 24, i haven't had a strong desire to do so. but if i were to dye it... hmm.. maybe a really dark purple or blue? the kind of blue you'd only see in certain lighting? anyways, i tried the shampoo and it smells good. when you rub it in your scalp, it doesn't get soapy (you know, when you lather?) - i find i had to use more product because it felt like it wasn't enough. if only i had analyzed my hair beforehand i could tell you if it actually made my hair any shinier. oops.
size: 75 mL
retail value: $45 (300 mL)

3) Cake Beauty foot creme - after receiving a few hand creams (as well as the following sample), i was delighted that i received a foot creme - and from none other than Cake Beauty, which i've heard great things about. it is a white, non-greasy formula and smells just like spearmint gum.
size: 100 mL (full size!)
retail value: $16

4) LillyPilly hand and body creme - this one came with a seal. the second i opened the seal, the creme wouldn't stop coming out! i had to run to my sister so she can help me use it up. anyways, we both have to say that the smell is not the best - it reminds of me of old ladies (i apologize!). i'm thinking this is what rosewood smells like? however, it is moisturizing and doesn't feel too greasy.
size: 50 mL
retail value: $22 (150 mL)

even though there was no makeup in this box, i enjoyed the samples - especially the dry shampoo. i like how i can get plenty of uses out of these samples as well. definitely looking forward to my next Topbox! unfortunately for those who are currently unsubscribed, i heard on the grapevine that Topbox is sold out til June :(