Topbox January 2014

Topbox has changed their shipping such that the box is shipped on the 15th of every month.  So, on January 16th I came home to my box!

I must admit that I haven't been very impressed with their regular boxes, however I have been thrilled with my privé boxes.  First the Givenchy box, and now the Benefit box!

The box is lovely, themed for Chinese New Year.  Check it out!  I was pretty happy to be getting this version.  No new products to try, but I have tried all of them and liked them, just not enough to buy the full size.

Benetint, BADgal Lash mascara, The Porefessional Primer and Total Moisture Facial Cream

BADgal has a massive brush.  Not my favourite mascara, but it is reliable, and perfect for travel.  The primer sample is smaller than I would have liked, but again great for travel.  This is a great general primer, on par with Smashbox.  The Benetint is tiiiiiiiiiiiiny, but travel and purse friendly.  I love it on my lips because it gives a nice tint, without being goopy (its a stain), and is kiss friendly.  As for the face cream, it does the job.  I am in love with the heavy glass jar.  I got a sample this size last year and I still use the jar for various products when I travel.

On Topbox, I really do not recommend the normal box.  I wasn't thrilled with my last one.  However the Privé boxes partner with great brands and often are a good choice.  While the surprise factor is lost, I like knowing that I will love (or at least not hate) what comes in the mail!

Topbox December 2013

This weekend was lovely because I came home to two boxes an a Julep order.  This morning got a little brighter when my LuxeBox arrived.  Can't wait to review that one in a few days once my final exam is over.  One little teaser though: love the Essie polish.

Back to Topbox...

As usual, four items.  There is a coconut lip balm, perfume, nail polish, and an eye cream.  Not too bad.  Bonus!  The box is the perfect size for wrapping up some of my mom's presents from Lush!

 Estée Lauder Modern Muse Eau de Parfum Deluxe Sample 2.9 mL
Value $3.33

Growing up I thought this was a brand for my mom, but they have done some serious rebranding.  Instead of smelling like a "Mom" perfume, this smells elegant and classy.  Perfect for lunch with the Grandparents, dinner with your boyfriend and his parents, or even for grabbing brunch with your best friends.  It smells ladylike, and who doesn't want to smell, and feel, like a classy young lady?

Belvada Coconut Lip Butter - Full Sized - 10 mL

Value $10

Nothing special, but it smells yummy, moisturizes well, and reminds me of the ones at the Body Shop.  The packaging leaves much to be desired, but it does the job.

Cuccio Colour Nail Lacquer - Full Sized - 14 mL

Value $10

I get nail polish sent monthly from Julep, so I am always hoping for something else from my boxes.  That aside, this polish applies well (2 coats in the following photo), and is a pretty cherry red.  Not sure if I will keep it or gift it, but either way its nice.  I was only a tiny bit disappointed that it was "Cuccio" and not "Gucci".  Read the label wrong when I first saw it! Oh well, a girl can dream!

Skiin Smoothing and Soothing Eye Cream 3mL

Value $9.99

 The packaging doesn't make me excited.  But I won't judge a cream by its cover.  I already have my skin care routine working well, but will set this aside for my mom.  Other reviews seem to rate it well.  It doesn't show up well in photos but it has little air bubbles or beads in it.  Neat.

Total Value $30.32
What I paid $12

Love Modern Muse and the lip balm.  Pretty indifferent to the other two.  Not bad Topbox, but I hope next month is better (and maybe has a Privé option...)

Ipsy December 2013 "Celebration"

After spending a few days away from home, I came home to my Ipsy bag, Topbox, and Julep Cyber Monday purchases.  Talk about sample overload!  It was fun to sit and open them all at once, but then it was done, and all I was left with was packaging that had to be thrown out, and a general sense of disappointment.

When I first saw this month's Ipsy bag I was pretty disappointed.  So disappointed in fact that I promptly canceled my subscription.  Last month I really had nothing to say, so I didn't bother post.  In short-- I am pretty sick of Be a Bombshell, Pop, J. Cat, and false eyelashes.  And look!  All four at once.  I enjoy Ipsy, and maybe in 6 months I will come back once they get their brand quality up a bit.  Once upon a time Ipsy gave me Smashbox AND Urban Decay in the same bag... those were the days.  Alas, those days are gone.  Perhaps they will come back?  And maybe when that day comes they will also actually personalize the bags?

This month I received Bright Up Your Life Eyeshadow Trio in "Smokin Hot" (Black/Grey/White), The One Stick by Be a Bombshell in "Girl Crush" (Pearly baby pink), Signature Fragrances by English Laundry, Big Lip Pencil by J. Cat in " Caramel Mocha" and Strip Lashes (fake eyelashes) by Andrea.

 

It is a sad day for Ipsy when my favourite thing about the bag is, well, the bag.  This is sleek, black, and  useful.  

A close up of the products.  The J. Cat pencil isn't as awful as the last J. Cat product (awful awful body glitter), and the Be a Bombshell is about as lacklustre as the rest of their products.  At first I was pretty disappointed that I was getting sample sized perfumes in my bag (those come for free at the Sephora or Shoppers counter and don't belong in a service I pay for).  However I was pleasantly surprised that these were much larger than expected.  Sadly, I won't get the apparent use of them because they arrived like this:

Signature Fragrances by English Laundry

Value $1? (Value taken away for the spilled product)

The men's fragrance on the left was 3/4 gone, and about 1/4 was missing from the female version.  Given that my bag had a strong smell, and some of my packaging was stained it was evident that through out my bag a whole sample of perfume was floating around.  The mix of the two scents isn't pretty, and has even ruined the pretty black bag that I love so much.  Le sigh.

See the yellow-orange? That was my perfume...

Additional note, am I supposed to just automatically hand over half of this gift to my boyfriend?  Do couples actually do matching fragrances?  I guess I will never know what it is like to have a matching couples perfume, because the men's one is all over my bag.  My boyfriend will probably be okay with that, so at least there is one positive note.

The One Stick by Be a Bombshell in "Girl Crush" (Pearly baby pink)

Value $16

This product is thicker than expected.  I thought it would be more of a lipstick.  So that's nice.  Its too pale to be a proper blush, and too pink to be an eyeshadow for me, but this will probably be an okay highlighter?  One swipe uses a whole lot of product so I don't expect this to last all too long. Also, too much glitter.  I applied it this morning with a brush and it took a lot of product for it to show up.

Big Lip Pencil by J. Cat in "Caramel Mocha"

Value $3.99

This is a waxy stick.  The colour pay off is nice, and it is sort of pretty.  My lips but better?  Alas, I have about 15 lipstick-glosses that I would pick before this one.  

Swatches!

Strip Lashes (fake eyelashes) by Andrea

Value $3.49

Major flash lashes.  Save them for next halloween?

 Bright Up Your Life Eyeshadow Trio in "Smokin Hot" (Black/Grey/White)

Value $6

These grey scale eyeshadows resemble this set by Smashbox that I already own.  I love Smashbox shadows because they are creamy, blendable, and long-lasting.  I haven't loved any of the Pop products that Ipsy has sent me before, so I won't even bother to take off the plastic.  In the re-gifting pile it goes!  Overall I am not terribly pleased with this bag.  Heres to hoping Topbox can keep me happy for a few months.  Nothing much to "Celebrate" here.

Total Value $30.48

What I paid $18

What I will actually use $3.99

Update-- IpsyCare got back to me.  They will be sending me a new bag as a result of the perfume spilling and ruining a few things.  I was told that they can't guarantee that I get the exact same items the 2nd time around.  That's fine given how little I liked this bag.  Here's hoping for the eyeshadow brush!  I requested it, so I would be pumped if I received it.

Fall 2013 Luxebox: LouLou Edition

Yay!  It arrived!  I have been especially looking forward to receiving this box.  It only ships 4 times per year, but given the quality that I received I am really not complaining!  Upon opening the standard brown shipping box I was created by this lovely little surprise.  Feeling the "Luxe" already.  So let us begin!

This box ships for $26, and the LouLou upgrade was $7, so $33.

Pretty!  I didn't want to open it it looked so perfect.

This fancy little list tells me everything in the box.  When I opened it I was hit with a beautiful mix of sweet smells.  Mmmm...

All of the products came in this little bag inside the box.

Ah!  Its like Christmas!

Look at all of it!

Products: CoverGirl Outlast (Full Size Nail Polish), Barefoot Venus Bath Bliss (Full Size), Eyeshadow Brush (Full Size), Michael Kors Fragrances (1.5 mL x 3), Be a Bombshell Eyeliner (Full Size), Klorane Dry Shampoo (50 mL), L'Occitane IMM Precious Night Cream (15 mL), L'Occitane Supple Skin Oil (15 mL).

Michael Kors Fragrances (1.5 mL x 3)

These fragrances are standard perfume sample sized.   However they came in a pretty little gold and cream match box styles box.  No detail to small!  I'm not huge on the Sporty scent, but Sexy and Glam small rich and deep.  I like it, but I don't know if I will end up buying them.  I have handfuls of mini perfume samples, a dozen deluxe samples, and a few full sized ones.  But if I ran out of perfumes, I would consider Sexy or Glam.  Just not Sporty. 

This is the Be a Bombshell eyeliner.  The eyeliner its self is a bit chubby (like a marker).  Currently I use the black Stila pen in Jet Black, which is skinnier.I have used thicker pens before, and will get a good use out of this one (I hardy leave the house with out a cat's eye, mascara, and lipstick).  The line is thicker than I am use to, but I'm not worried.

Not too sure how I feel about this colour.  Not quite my favourite.  It has a nice shimmer in the bottle- a gold hue with a pink-purple base.  I'm not going to test it out, incase I want to give it to a friend.  

Vintage package!

This.  Smells.  Delicious.  Coconut... Mango...Almond...so so sweet.  Inside is a plastic bag filled with powder to be put in a bath.  Tomorrow night?  Yeap.  I also adore the vintage package.  The back says "Being naked never felt so good."  The only thing that makes me feel better about this is that it was made in Canada in Kelowna B.C.

Inside!

Next up: L'Occitane products

The "Supple Skin Oil" smells divine.  I'll have to apply some after my next bath.  As for the "Precious Night Cream", I think I will set that aside for my mom for Christmas.  

The brush is tiny, but soft.  I'm looking forward to giving this a try this weekend.

There was also a dry shampoo in the box that has a clean smell to it.  That will be joining me in Calgary where its sole purpose will be to extend the life of my blow out.

This box also comes with 4 issues of LouLou magazine which I will receive over the next few months.  I actually got my first copy before my box arrived!

It claims to be worth $105.  I really don't have the time right now to do a full tally.  But I know I am impressed with what I received, and that I can't wait for my Winter 2013 box!  So many full sized items...this box just smells so good.

Bonus: The white box it arrived in is perfect to organize makeup, or to wrap up a Christmas gift in.

5 stars!

Topbox November 2013, Wishlist

This will be my first top box, and I am pretty excited!

I got an email today from Topbox asking my to fill out my wish list.

The way this works is that you can select how ever many boxes you would like.  Topbox randomly selects who receives the special boxes, and if you receive a special box it will be in place of the standard box.

I would not be opposed to receiving the regular box given that they tend to be pretty good.  But I figured, what the heck, and made a wish list anyways.

Here are the boxes you can opt into.  Please note that for some you have to pay an upgrade charge.

...Eh?

This is a bit "mature" for my needs.  And Julep sent me a similar eyeliner last month.

How cool is this?

Getting one full sized product, while a great value, defeats the purpose for me.

Not really my thing.  Good value though.
All photos are from www.topbox.ca

I was not terribly excited about most of the upgrades.  Although I am starting to warm up to Estee Lauder, I found their selection to be a bit more mature.  Maybe if I was looking for a gift for my mom?

However I did opt into the Givenchy box, because why not!  The mascara and lip stick look good.  Plus, its a free upgrade for a very high end brand.  I don't own any Givenchy makeup, so it would be a nice way to test out the brand.

If I don't get the Givenchy box, I will get the normal box, which I am sure will be lovely as well.  I'll find out when I open the box in November!  Fingers crossed!

An additional little surprise, they included a code ("TOPBOX") that can be used for 10,000 Shoppers Optimum Points if you spend $75 at www.mural.ca (Shopper's higher end cosmetics focused store.  Side note:  I have only ever seen one retail location which I believe was in Edmonton?)  I think the code expires at the end of this month.

Additional note x2: Murale.ca has free shipping on orders of $75 or more until October 23.  Perhaps they can be used together?  I don't really like buying things online and having to pay for shipping when I could get them for the same price in store.