BEAUTY BOX 5: May 2012

hello readers!!
so a few months ago, i became aware of the existence of a 5th (or 6th if you are counting Julep) beauty box subscription available in Canada (that's not why it's called Beauty Box 5 is it??). BB5 ships to both the US and Canada. i think this actually affected my reasoning to subscribe to yet another service because it must be good if they could cater to TWO countries, right?... i have kept track of reviews of their boxes for the past couple months and people haven't been too happy. i wasn't impressed by the brands or the sample sizes but i took a risk anyway - partly so i can tell you guys all about it!

so this company offers monthly subscriptions ($12/mth - like LB), quarterly or yearly (you save quite a bit of money - $44 - if you choose this). boxes are shipped mid-month and you receive 4-5 samples. note that BB5 does not say anything about deluxe sizes. you can complete a Beauty Profile and if you want to purchase a full sized product, they have links on their website to help facilitate the process. i do not know many of the companies on their "Brands" list but BB5 prefers to include products with natural ingredients so it's great that i will be introduced to new names.

i was going to sign up in March but i completely forgot about the deadline (it`s usually around the middle of the month like the 15th, right before they start shipping) so i signed up 30 minutes before the deadline for April. guess they decided not to count me in for that month and i wasn't sad about this when i saw the unboxing posts online anyway.
finally, i was sent the May box. they shipped it out on May 16 (according to the postage sticker on my box) and i received it last Friday (June 1). i`ve heard shipping to Canada usually takes 2-3 weeks. i did not know it was coming since Canadians do not get tracking info. BB5 is shipped from Texas. in case you are wondering, there are no customs or duties and i found it in my community mailbox like the other subscription boxes.
without delay, here is what the Beauty Box 5 looks like. it`s a cute little box in an aquamarine color.

here's the contrast in size, as compared to a Glossybox.

shot of what it looks like when you open it:

the company definitely saved money by not including another box within the cardboard shipping box. the size is also smaller so i think they would`ve saved on shipping as well.
ANOTHER thing they saved on is by not sending you a product list. you have to go online to check out details of what you received.
half of the box was filled with the crinkled tissue paper to keep the products from shifting around - and the other half were the samples.as you can see, the samples were all in the little white pouch. already i can tell that most of them were one-use samples.

since there is no product card, i'll include the information i retrieved on BB5's website here. i am assuming all the prices are in US dollars. the two cards that are included:

my very first Beauty Box 5:

1) evie evan Mini Soothing Gel Masque
The Soothing Gel Masque is great for dry, dehydrated, and stressed skin, it instantly repairs while delivering comforting moisture. Recommended as a post sun burn treatment.

i usually don't get sunburn with the exception of my shoulders. it's a clear blue gel with a light scent that i can't quite put a finger on. i have yet to try this product so i will update more on this soon. this product is cruelty-free and vegan. there was a little card from the company listing other products and how to use them. for this gel masque, it is suggested you leave it on your face for 10-20 minutes before rinsing.
size: about 15 mL ("full size"!)

retail value: $12 ... i do not see a full sized version of this being offered on their website.

2) Tree Hut Shea Body Butter in "Hawaiian Kukui"
Luxuriate in the infusion of organic shea butter, cocoa butter, and safflower seed oil. This extra thick body butter seals in moisture, giving you rejuvenated skin with a healthy sheen. Natural Hawaiian kukui nut oil repairs cracked skin and provides deep moisturization. i love shea body butters. this one specifically contains no parabens and is certified organic. i had no idea what Kukui is but after doing a little research, found that it is a tree that bears nuts. Kukui nut oil is known to make skin feel soft and increase elasticity. i find that it also smells delicious! it leaves my hands moisturized without the greasy feeling.
size: 57 g
retail value: $7.49  (~198 g)

3) it's a 10 Miracle Hair Mask 
The Miracle Hair Mask from It's a 10 turns your locks up to 11! This high-performance mask gives you detangling, frizz reduction, vibrant color, and amazing body all in one. Just work through cleansed hair for one to three minutes and then rinse - in no time, you'll see more manageable, shinier, softer hair.

i haven't heard of this brand before but it seems that is quite popular. the brand is called "It's a 10" because each product "does 10 things instantly". i have received a number of hair masks recently and have yet to use one so i should get on this! it is recommended that you use this after shampooing and rinse after 1-3 minutes or if you prefer deeper conditioning, leave it in for 5-15 minutes. 

size: 13 mL

retail value: $22.96 (~237 mL)

4) it's a 10 Miracle Styling Serum 

No matter your style, get a flawless finish every time with It's a 10's Miracle Styling Serum. Whether your goal is bouncy curls or flowing straight locks, this serum is the solution for you. It protects hair from heat styling and environmental damage with naturally-derived ingredients like argania spinosa kernel oil (a hair-softening antioxidant), noni fruit oil (which improves elasticity while repairing damage to the hair shaft) and castor oil copolymer (moisturizes and provides deep conditioning).

hmm.. another one-use packet. you only need to use a small amount each time so i am not sure what i will do with the leftovers. this serum can be used on wet or dry hair. 

size: 7 mL

retail value: $24.96 (~118 mL)
please see previous item for pic!

5) Merlot Moonlight Radiance Night Cream

Infused with grape seed antioxidants, Merlot Skin Care's Moonlight Radiance Night Cream keeps skin hydrated and healthy. Specially-formulated peptides team up with natural grape seed to reduce deep wrinkles, fine lines and other signs of aging while locking in moisture. Find the tone, elasticity, and pH balance your skin has been craving!

this came in a little bag with 3 samples and a pamphlet about other products the company offers. on the pamphlet there are also photos of before and after using the night cream. i am actually excited about this since i was hoping that one of these beauty box services would send me some night cream. these are again, one-use samples but at least there are 3.
Merlot's products focus on grape seeds and using them to fight aging. i love grapes and there is a light grape scent. i think there is enough product in each sample to get 2 uses if you apply just to the face area. i am not entirely sold on the benefits behind grape seeds just yet but we will see.
size: N/A - one (or two)-use samples x 3
retail value: $19 (~118 mL)

6) Comodynes Self-Tanning Towelette
Get a natural-looking tan with Comodyne's Self-Tanning Towelettes - no salon appointment required! In just three hours, you'll have an even, clean tan with no side effects or streaking. Their special formula contains a moisturizing complex to keep skin feeling soft without artificial aromas or parabens. While the tan tone depends on your individual skin type, the self-tanning towelettes adapt to provide natural results for both fair and dark skin types.

hmm i don't normally tan but one towelette would not be suffice to fully test this product out. i am curious to see how effective this actually is. on the back of the sample, it says you get a tan in 3 hours. on the plus side, it's paraben free.
size: 1 towelette // 7 mL
retail value: $17 (8 towelettes)

so a few differences between this box and other beauty boxes is that there is no extra box to store your samples (not that i needed anymore) and there is no product card. this is all environmentally-friendly, but you`d think with all the money BB5 saved as well as charging $12/box, they could include larger sized samples (wayyy too many tiny sample packets!). i actually heard that this month's box was a step up from the previous boxes but i am not overly impressed. hopefully, BB5 will continue to improve since i will stick around for another month or two to see how this goes. if the sample size remains this small, your $12 may be better invested in something else.

BB5 likes to add spoilers to their Facebook page so if you do not want to know what will be in your box, do not check it! ** spoiler alert ** i checked today and it says June's box will include an eyeliner from Blinc! i am excited to try it since i've been wanting to try Blinc mascara anyway...
BB5 has a Sharing is Caring referral program, so if you are interested, i will appreciate it if you can click through my link. thanks so much :)

LUXE BOX: May 2012

luckily, i received my Luxe Box yesterday, just in time for me to put this up on the last day of May! strangely, i did not receive a tracking number for this either so i had no idea it was coming. what is up with that this month?

AND my dad found it on the front porch. it never arrives that way... like i said, strange!

hooray for the little bonuses from Loose Button! this month was "Thank You, Mom" Month so they included a complimentary Bath and Body Box like they did in January.

onto May's sample list:

1) Essie Nail Polish in "785 Navigate Her" - this is a very interesting green - i would describe it as a mossy green. it's not like anything i already own so i am happy to add this to my collection. this color is also part of Essie's Spring 2012 collection. i like how Loose Button includes colors that are in new collections like last month's "793 Pink-a-Boo".
note: mine has little cracks the inside of the polish. does that happen to anyone else?

oh oh oh i figured out why i like this color so much!!! i was applying it wen i noticed one of the snacks my sister brought back from her trip to Vancouver... this color reminds me of my favorite tea --> Matcha Green Tea!!! my fingernails look delicious! haha

sadly, i seem to have a bit of trouble with the formula. it won't apply evenly so i tried shaking it up a bit. now i have some little bubbles on my nails. i am wearing 2 coats (some fingers needed 3 since i could still see parts of my nail bed). 

left to right: natural light; artificial light

-- update June 7/12 -- as much as i love the color, it does not hold up very well - it honestly began chipping the day after i applied it (chipped on June 1). by June 2, my nails were quite gross. i did not use a top coat in this case since my previous Essie nail polish did not require it at all. Pink-a-Boo lasted a good week before i experienced the same kind of chipping i had with Navigate Her the day after. -- 
size: 13.5 mL (full size!)

retail value: $8

2) Orlane Active Active Hydration Body Care - another Orlane product?? they must have started hitting the Canadian markets recently because this is my third sample from them. the other two were a foundation from Loose Button and an eye cream from Topbox (both from April). again, similar packaging as the rest - it comes in a box but the sample is very tiny and there is a rather large pamphlet inside. since this particular sample is intended for the body, i would think a larger sized sample is needed. the other two were intended for the face and already the sample did not contain enough product in order to fully test it out. i didn't feel like this cream was anything special either. my hands did not feel very moisturized 5 minutes after i applied it. also, it felt like i used up like 75% of the sample when i was trying to get this picture!

size: 7 mL

retail value: $105 (250 mL) ... jeeeeeeebus. that is out of my price range! 

3) Paco Rabanne Black XS L'Exces for Her & Black XS for Him - i have received the Black XS for Him before in December's Luxe Box. i haven't tried to L'Exces for Her version but thank goodness it wasn't another normal Black XS for Her because i've received that twice from Loose Button. 

size: 1.2 mL each x 2 = 2.4 mL

retail value: for Her $74 (50 mL); for Him $56 (50 mL)

4) Goldwell Dual Senses Color Shampoo and Conditioner -  another shampoo/conditioner combo directed at colored hair and in this terrible packaging... why why why! i do not have colored hair!! i saw some people receive the Moroccan Oil and i am quite jealous :X i've wanted to try that for a while now. on the plus side, i like pomegranate (it has pomegranate extract).

-- update June 7/12 -- i loveeeee the scent. the shampoo lathers up quite well and i could get almost 3 uses out of it. however, the conditioner is a different story. i hardly feel like i have any product at all in my hair which makes me use more of it, so in the end, the conditioner portion did not last me 2 uses --

size: 10 mL each x 4 = 40 mL

retail value: shampoo $28 (750 mL); conditioner $32 (750 mL)

the complimentary Bath and Body Box contained: 

5) Gillette Venus & Olay Razor - i actually like receiving razors. especially now that it's summer time, i will be using them more often! 

size: 1 razor & 1 cartridge

retail value: $14.99 (according to Well.ca but that one includes a shower hook)

6) Olay Regenerist Wrinkle Revolution Complex - received before in the January's Luxe Box. i haven't used that one yet so this one will go in the stash as well. 

size: 7 mL

retail value: $37.99 (50 mL) ... according to Well.ca

the box also came with a post card you can send from P&G and a Goldwell advertisement card. there's also a $20 off a subscription promo code from Panty by Post (which was part of last month's First in Line program). i didn't choose it but the panties are pretty. still it is quite costly - with the code, it will still be $40 for 3 panties. one of the brands they carry is Blush which i've seen at The Bay and Winners. i'm pretty sure the panties were like $6.99 or something around that range at Winners. 

this box is just alright to me. i like the complimentary box and the Essie nail polish but it seems that all of these samples were just variations of some sample i have received before. as you can see from all my links above, i reference to another box quite frequently (usually from Loose Button again).

what did you receive this month? (if you are not subscribed and interested in doing so, click here!)

GLOSSYBOX: May 2012

first of all, i apologize for the slight neglect of my blog lately. i blame the nerdy gamer inside of me because i got caught up in the Diablo III craziness. my sister got it for her birthday (which was on the 22nd, happy birthday mui!) and then somehow i have invested over 15 hours in it.
still i was super excited when my Glossybox showed up in my mailbox yesterday without any notice! according to the company, Canada Post did not send out shipping notifications this month so a lot of people were confused. anyway, it's funny how Glossybox and Loose Button always comes soooo near the end of the month but just makes it right in time before the 1st.
the packaging of Glossybox still makes me happy. i love the sturdy box and untying the pretty pink bow. i also love how Glossybox is always so heavy! right away, i'm pretty sure there's a large bottle in there somewhere.

May's Glossybox items:

1) Curel Foot Therapy - fantastic! just in time for summer! i wear sandals/flip flops a ton in the summer and the heels of my feet often get super dry and cracked. this is a lifesaver :) it's a white cream with a floral scent that i really like. a very decent sized sample too.
size: 100 mL (full size!)
retail value: $3.99

2) Simple Eye Make-Up Remover - this is an item i definitely run out of so it is great that we received this. ever since i got the Simple Cleansing Face Wipes in March's Topbox, i've seen this brand being heavily promoted on TV and in magazines. i have yet to test its effectiveness but it says that it removes waterproof mascara. i hate getting a ring of black underneath my eyes when i use certain types of makeup remover that don't finish the entire job. will update soon!
size: 56 mL
retail value: $9.99 (125 mL) - i heard the card was wrong so i am assuming Glossybox meant 125 mL since it is the only size this item is available in

3) Simple Refreshing Facial Wash Gel - another Simple product but i don't mind trying it. i don't usually use gels to wash my face. i tried this one out and it boasts "No Soap" and "No Perfume" which is great for those who are sensitive, but to me it feels like there is no evidence it's working. it doesn't lather, there's no beads and i can't smell it so i guess i just can't really tell that it is doing anything to my skin. maybe it's just a weird me thing. it also says it is a non-drying formula but after i wash my face, i always feel the need to moisturize.
size: 50 mL
retail value: $9.99 (150 mL) - same assumption as for #2

4) Boxx Cosmetics Cream Corrector in "Evelia" - love multi-use products! apparently this one can be used as a primer, concealer, foundation and brightener. and it's a full size! this product is to be placed into one of those magnetic palettes that people who depot their makeup often use. or i guess you can use it in it's current container but it is very inconvenient. Boxx Cosmetics also sell their own version of compacts on their website.
i took a look at the other colors available and i am glad Glossybox sent me one in my skin tone! "Evelia" is meant for those with light to medium skin tone while "Terrwyn" is meant for fair skin, "Amber" for medium/tan and "Orel" for dark skin. "Melina" is yellow-based and best used for under eye circles.

it's much less yellow than in the photos!
there was a promo code for 25% off your first order included. on the site, there is free Canadian shipping over $100 (BS100). not sure if you can use both of them at the same time but you can try!
i think their names for each shade is really cute - they use words from different languages. if you click on the item, you can also see what they mean ("Evelia" is French for hazelnut while a lipcolor in "Akoko" is African for noise maker). so interesting!!
swatches coming soon!
size: 4 g (full size!)
retail value: $24

5) Sebastian Professional Volupt Shampoo - a familiar brand from a previous Glossybox (March). this is HUGE! any bigger and it would not have fit in the Glossybox. i am excited to try this since it's been a difficult journey searching for a volumizing shampoo/conditioner for THICK hair. does that exist?? please let me know! my hair's thick but on days i do not want to use a hair dryer, it falls completely flat on my head. not a great look.
size: 250 mL (full size!)
retail value: $15.78

great box this month! every single item is something i will use so i am excited! i feel that each month i get so much more value for my money from Glossybox. it may be the most expensive box at $15 but the sizes of these samples are awesome. just awesome. if you want to try it, click here!

thanks for reading! did you enjoy your Glossybox this month?
i got my Loose Button today so stay tuned!!