TOPBOX June 2013 - Open Box Time!

Time for June Topbox! I'm so happy that Topbox has been shipping out of Vancouver lately, such that I receive mine right the next day the shipment notification email is sent from Topbox :)

This month I've opted for the regular box (AGAIN) as I was not intrigued by any of the Prive Box choices (AGAIN). Well, if there are a good number of subscribers out there like me, then at least those who opted for any of the Prive Boxes will probably be guaranteed their choice. Anyway, this month I quite enjoyed the contents of my regular box, so lets jump in to everything!

Wrapped within the typical purple tissue paper I found 4 products that were all makeup related so I am very happy about that. It also looks like everything was a pretty decent size!

BENEFIT Ultra Plush Gloss in Sugarbomb

BENEFIT Ultra Plush Gloss in Sugarbomb - 6.5mL: "Silky & luxurious shimmering pinky nude lip gloss. Full Size: $19 (15mL)". I can never say no to a Benefit product, especially when it's one that I already know I love. I know it kind of defeats the purpose of Topbox's original intentions of letting me try new products and broaden my experience, but hey, I'd prefer a product I know I like rather than an unknown one that I end up not enjoying. I've previously received a similar lipgloss sample, but in the shade "Dandelion", from February's Benefit Prive Box (my first and ONLY prive box to date). The texture of these glosses are really smooth and non-sticky, however, due to the lack of slick they don't tend to be the longest lasting product out there. The colour is on the sheer sid eof the spectrum but still enough colour that it can be used on its own for my lips, given them a great "my lips but better and shinier" appearance :) $19 for the full size sounds a little steep, but don't forget to look at the SIZE of the tube...15mL is quite hefty for a lipgloss, considering most brands offer only half or less of that! The size of the sample here already beats a lot of lip glosses in my collection haha. Value: $8.23.

Belvada Mini Eyelash Curler

Belvada Mini Eyelash Curler: "Compact and easy to use, this curler will create a natural looking curl. Full-size: $5.99" So this eyelash curler does not have any metal parts to it, so on top of it being very compact, it is also very lightweight. I have never used an eyelash curler apart from the typical metal ones (my current one is from Shu Uemura). I find that because I have a rather typical Asian eye shape, which means my lash line does not have much curve to them, many eyelash curlers actually don't fit my eye and cannot get to all of the lashes. So far just looking at this eyelash curler, it seems flatter than the usual metal ones so perhaps I will be able to use this. There is a small flap in the back that pulls down to become the lever for the curler and folds back up and locks when it's not being used. I think I will give this a shot tomorrow when I do my makeup hehe. Value: $5.99

Jelly Pong Pong Fairy Lashes Mascara - 8 mL: "A mascara specially formulated to make eyelashes flutter and flap. Full Size: $24(8mL)" Well well! A full size makeup product that is NOT a nail polish, how exciting! Honestly, I have not heard of this brand previously, so I went to take a look at their online site and found that this brand sold a lot of cute makeup items! It seems that it is an Europe-based company that produces its products in Italy, and the top selling-point of this brand is that it infuses botanical (plant) essence into its products that are good for your skin at the same time as making you pretty. The price point seems to be mid-high end, so I'm hoping this is going to be good stuff. But again, I am aware that of all makeup items, mascaras are the most common culprit in the emotional roller-coaster of rants and raves, especially when you have Asian eyelashes like me hahaha. I'm interested to try this mascara out soon, but first I must finish the one I am currently using (Maybelline The Rocket non-waterproof, I like this stuff!) as I like to keep only one open and used mascara at any given time. Value: $24

PARI Beauty Colour Cubes - 1.3g each x 2: "Multi-purpose mineral prigments in convenient stakcs. Use as eyeshadows or mix for versatile use. Full Size: $30 (5 stack, 7g), $35 (8 stack, 11g)" I was so super excited when I saw this in the box this month! I personally LOVE eyeshadow pigments and the remind me so much of the stacks I have from the brand Naked Cosmetics and I love those so much! I'm pretty surprised that this sample contained 2 colours as I think giving just 1 colour would be more typical of what TopBox tends to do. (Not complaining here! Thank you TopBox for the pleasant surprise!) The top colour appears quite yellow in the pot but when applied to skin it is more of a pearly white colour with gold reflects in the light. It is a very pretty colour and it makes a great highlight in the inner corners and the browbone. The second colour is a reddish pink with a sheen to the finish. I don't think I would choose this colour as a first choice for everyday eyeshadow, but for special occasions that may call for a more dramatic eye look I think this would be good. Also I think this colour, applied with a very light hand, will actually pass for a pretty blush colour! Because of the sheen, it may even double as a cheek highlight. The texture to these are great, very smooth and very pigmented! The info card mentioned that this brand can be purchased at Sears, which I have not seen before in Vancouver. If I come across it I'd be interested in trying out more of these mineral pigments for sure! Value: $8.75

Total value of box: $46.97

I'd say this is a very impressive month for TopBox from what I have received so far, and I am actually very happy with it! And I will use everything in it!! My experiences with the previous regular boxes haven't been too shabby either; at this rate I may never have to choose a Prive Box! Of course if there is one that is really really enticing I will go for it, but the regular boxes don't seem to be too big a disappointment :) Good job TopBox! Absolutely looking forward to the July one!

If you are interested in joining TopBox for $12+tax per month and receiving your own monthly subscription, check out their website at www.topbox.ca (this is NOT an affilated link).

Disclaimer: Monthly subscription paid for with personal funds. This post and its contents are not sponsored in anyway, and all opinions are honest and personal.

TOPBOX May 2013 - Open Box Time!

It's time to talk about the May 2013 Topbox! This month I actually had no time to check out any sneak peaks of products other people have received because the shipping time for this box was insanely fast.

The email from Topbox with the tracking number for my box was received at 7:30am, which I did not read until 10am, and at 12:25pm I received the delivery notice from Canada Post! I was pretty shocked at the speed!

And then of course I procrastinate about preparing this post until after the weekend... :( I am trying my best to be regular with these posts! I opted (once again!) for the Regular TopBox, because similarly to the previous months, the Prive Boxes just did not appeal to me. Besides, I enjoy being surprised by the products as opposed to knowing exactly what will come 2 weeks beforehand.

Here are what I received this month:

Cuccio Colour Nail Lacquer in Tel-Aviv About It!

Cuccio Colour Nail Lacquer - 13ml (0.43 Fl. Oz): "Triple pigmented colour, DBP, Toluene and Formaldehyde FREE, High Shine Professional Nail Colours. Full Size: $10". I am very pleased with the colour that I received, as this is a work-appropriate nude colour, with a hint of tan undertones, that I can definitely wear everyday! I haven't tried it out on my nails just yet, but the swatch on my nail wheel proved this to really be a pigmented polish. The colour applied very smooth, without streaks, and has excellent self-levelling abilities, indeed providing a very shiny finish. The fact that this is a 3-free company makes it even more appealing! Value: $10.00

Lise Watier Haute Couleur High Coverage Liq Lacquer in Stylelista

Lise Watier HAUTE COULEUR High Coverage Lip Lacquer - 1.5mL: "INtense Colour, Extreme Shine, Long Lasting. Full Size: $23 (6mL)". A nice sample from a local Canadian Company based in Quebec, well-repected for quality products. I am pleased with the size and presentation of this sample. Lise Watier is not one to capture attention with highly innovative products or outrageous packaging, but I personally do enjoy several of their colour cosmetics. This lip gloss is a nice berry colour, that is nicely pigmented. While I do not find this to be a particularly spring-y/summer-y shade, I do enjoy having colour selections like these in my collection for night-outs, or when the colder season rolls around. This sample comes with a doe foot applicator, which I enjoy for precise application. The texture of this lipgloss is more on the sticky side, and is not esepcially long lasting, but I enjoy the overall effect and will continue to use this. However, I doubt I will purchase a full size since it is pretty much a standard lip gloss, and I can get similar effect from a drugstore selection. Value: $5.75.

Yaby Eyeshadow in ES135 Green Delicious

Yaby Eyeshadow Refill - "Highly pigmented eyeshadow with super smooth texture that blends effortlessly. Professional eyeshadow palettes from $127." I had a bit of a dejavu moment when I took this item out of the box, and then I remembered...I received 2 eyeshadows samples just like this one from Yaby in my March 2013 Ipsy Bag! Well...it does seem like Ipsy is perhaps a bit more generous? Anyway, this green colour would not be something that I would reach for on a day-to-day basis, but it is definitely fun for adding a pop of colour every now and then for a day out in the sun with friends, relaxing from work! The Texture of this eyeshadow is smooth and pigmented, but doesn't $127 for a palette sound quite steep?? I think I will stick to shopping at Sephora, The Bay, and drugstores for my eyeshadows hehe :) Value: unknown.

Deborah Lippmann Smooth Operator Buffer File

Deborah Lippmann Smooth Operator Buffer File: "An ultra-modern 4 way nail buffer. Simply follow the 4 steps to give nails a clean, polished look in minutes. Retail Price: $12". I was pretty surprised to receive a nail buffer as a "sample", and to be quite honest, I didn't know what to think when I saw this. I wasn't excited by it, but I did not dislike it either, as I know that it is definitely something useful that I will make use out of. I believe this is simply a nail buffing block in the shape of a regular nail file. I like the idea, but practically it is hard to apply pressure on the nail for the buffing motion when I'm holding a flat popsicle stick. Being able to apply pressure is really important to getting that shiny buffed appearance. On the other hand, I am an absolute nail polish addict that I don't often go without polish on my fingertips, so I don't buff often at all (plus, buffing too much thins and weakens your nails). Not something I would readily dish out $12 for, but again, I am happy that this was included in my TopBox this month. Value: $12.00

Total Value of Box: $27.75 + unknown value of Yaby Eyeshadow

I think I enjoyed this month's TopBox a bit more than a couple of the previous ones. For one, I know that I will make good use of pretty much all of the products in this box! The value is not exceptional, but I don't think the money I've put into this monthly subscription has totally gone to waste. Overall, not bad! I look forward using these products and for next month's TopBox :)

If you are interested in joining TopBox for $12+tax per month and receiving your own monthly subscription, check out their website at www.topbox.ca (this is NOT an affilated link).

Disclaimer: Monthly subscription paid for with personal funds. This post and its contents are not sponsored in anyway, and all opinions are honest and personal.

TOPBOX April 2013 - Open Box Time!

Hey everyone! Another month, another TopBox has arrived at my doorstep :) I know I haven't posted about a TopBox since January, and quite frankly I was being a lazy about it..hehe Anyway, let's jump right in!

In honour of April, Earth Month, TopBox has delivered everybody's box in the EcoFriendly packaging. Actually, I think it's actually quite cute in terms of the design because it is all silhouettes of makeup items!  

I opted for the regular TopBox this month, as with my March one, because none of the Prive Box options appealed to me. If you don't know about the Prive Box option by TopBox, it is basically a chance for you to receive a TopBox that has products from just one company, and you have the option of submitting your wishlist before the TopBox ships. It is not guaranteed that you will receive what you wish for, but there is actually a pretty good chance. For April, there was an option for Elizabeth Arden, and Aveda (repeat from March).

Here is what I received in my April Regular TopBox:

Michael Todd True Organics Face Scrub

Michael Todd True Oraganics Tropical Fruit Enzyme Exfoliant Scrub - 30mL: "Unique facial scrub that refine texture and encourages skin renewal, leaving skin smooth and refreshed. Full Size: $18 (100ml)". Lately there has been so many rave reviews from blogs and YouTube videos about various Michael Todd products. Although I have not yet been convinced to purchase any products from Michael Todd to try, I am actually quite excited about trying this sample!  This is quite an impressive "sample" seeing as it is nearly 1/3 of the full size product. Thank you TopBox for being generous! Value: $5.40.

Elizabeth Arden All Gone Eye and Lip Makeup Remover

Elizabeth Arden All Gone Eye and Lip Makeup Remover - 50mL: "This two-phase formulation easily, gently removes even transfer resistant waterproof makeup. Full Size: $24 (100mL)". So an Elizabeth Arden product showed up in the regular box! This product was also given in the Elizabeth Arden Prive Box option. Another generous sample here, it is half of the full size product! In general, I'm not too overly fussy about eye makeup removers, most get the job done for me, especially because I don't use any waterproof makeup on a regular basis. As long as the eye makeup comes off in less than 3 swipes and doesn't sting my eye, I will finish it up. This sample will be a great travelling companion for me :) Value: $12.00.

KMS California Freeshape Quick Blow Dry

KMS California Freeshape Quick Blow Dry - 30mL: "For anyone who wants faster drying and heat protection. Reduce drying time by up to 50%. Full Size: $18.75 (200mL)". Sounds like the product for me! Having long hair and preferring to shower before bed, if this product performs as it claims, it would be like a dream come true for me! However, the alcohol smell in the product is quite strong and alcohol actually shows up pretty high on the ingredient list, I'm more or less concerned that this will strip my hair of moisture, and in turn damaging it. I suppose the principle of using alcohol to evaporate moisture is common across all "fast-drying" products, though. I'm not sure if I would like to give this a whirl yet. Value: $2.81.

BOXX Cosmetics Travel Size Powder Brush

BOXX Cosmetics Travel Size Powder Brush: "Brush hairs are made of the best quality European sable, super-soft goat and 3 toned synthetic Konex fibres to ensure that each application provides perfect results!" Now, if the actual full-size brushes are anything like this travel size one, then no thank you, I will not be considering your brushes, BOXX Cosmetics. This brush is pretty obviously machine made, and the hairs are not the softest stuff around. The handle is quite sturdy and I do enjoy the reflective silver colouring, but the quality of the brush is seriously lacking here. The brush head is so small, I guess it would make a so-so blush/highlight brush, or to touch-up powder on-the-go. Value: unknown.

TOTAL VALUE OF BOX: $20.21 + travel powder brush

Overall, I am quite pleased with this month's TopBox, the products included were all very reasonably sized. I am for sure much more happy about this regular box than if I were to have chosen either of the Prive Box options. I look forward to working with most (if not all **ahem-dryingspray-ahem**) of these products in the next few days. Perhaps there will some exciting options for May in terms of Prive Boxes, otherwise I'll just stick to my regular boxes :)

If you are interested in subscribing to TopBox and receive one for yourself every month, their website can be found here: www.topbox.ca

Thanks for reading! :)

Joanne

This post contains no affiliated links and all funds are personal. All opinions honest. 

 

TOPBOX December 2012 - Open Box Time!

The December Topbox has arrived today! For those of you who don't know, Topbox is a monthly subscription service that offers to deliver samples from top-rated brands once a month to your door step for a subscription fee of $12, shipping included. You have the option of cancelling at anytime before they charge you for the next month.

This month I did not choose the enviro-friendly version..and this is what my box looks like, unwrapped:

Such festive packaging!

Both the box's exterior and tissue paper is a beautiful red colour that is just oh-so-fitting for the holiday season :) Now what goodies are hiding underneath the paper?

1) Goldwell Sleek Perfection - 20mL - "Waterless spray-on serum for silky-straight looks that lasts. Full-size 100mL $20.95". I am, honestly, not much of a hair product junkie, yet products that promise to de-fizz always capture my curiosity, so I'm eager to try this one out.

2) Ferro Cosmetics - Ultimate HD 3-in-1 Foundation | Concealer | Powder - "A brand founded by Celebrity Makeup Artist Krissy Ferro, that makes 100% natural mineral makeup. Cruelty Free." I am not a big fan of powder foundations and mineral makeup. I don't have overly sensitive skin that reacts to cream/liquid foundations, in fact, my favorite foundation type is liquid! That could likely be due to the fact that I lean more towards dry skin, especially in the winter time, therefore anything that is powdery will tend to accentuate the dry parts of my skin. Furthermore, this product is so messy! :( Oh well, perhaps I can still give this a try, once I figure out how to get a decent-sized brush into the tiny container. If you can't tell already, I'm not too thrilled about this particular sample.

3) Kellett Skincare - Clarifying Acne Treatment (benzoyl peroxide gel USP 5%) - "Developed by Dr. Lisa Kellett, one of Canada's top dermatologists. Combines technologically advanced peptides." I don't know about the peptide part (theoretically, peptides may promote the regeneration of healthy skin cells which increases the rate of skin renewal and results in healthier, more radiant looking skin), but by looking at the main active medicinal ingredient listed right on the package, I know this is no miracle product for acne. Now for a bit of pharmacist ramble...benzoyl peroxide is a type of antiseptic that is able to breakdown bacteria's cell wall and promote bacterial death. It is, overall, quite mild, making it ideal for topical use on the skin to kill off the bacterial that most commonly causes acne. The same ingredient is found in drugstore products that costs as little as under $10 for a 60g tube. As far as I'm concerned, this is not a high-end product in my books, but I will use it up, since my go-to product PanOxyl is currently on manufacturer back-order haha

My favourite fragrance of all time :)

4) Chloe Eau de Parfum - 5mL - "Chloe's signature scent captures the creative, confident individuality of the Chloe woman. Full size $90 (50mL), $115 (75mL)" This is my all-time favourite fragrance, its notes are very unique and very feminine. It is on the rather strong side of frangrance but personally I still find it both day-time (work) and night-time appropriate. I currently have a 50mL bottle on my dresser, a rollerball in my purse, and a 75mL bottle unopened in my closet. If you can't tell already, I don't plan to go a day without Chloe EDP hahaha. The sample bottle from Topbox is really cute, and tiny as it is, it is still made of glass, giving it a minature luxury feel. However, I don't think that I will actually use this bottle because it has a little stopper top that tends to be a bit more difficult to open, plus I already have the full size item in use. I think I will keep it more as a small decoration piece. 

Here is the sample bottle next to the 50mL bottle, it is just so adorable I couldn't help but put one more picture in here!

Overall, I wasn't too impressed with this month's Topbox, especially considering the fact that they recently increased the price from $10/month to $12/month. If only its contents were as appealing as the change in colour of the box itself and the tissue paper. However, this is only my second month receiving it since I came off the waitlist for November, and last month's box wasn't too shabby. I'll continue with the subscription for a little while and hopefully there will be some more surprises in the months to come! 

If you are interested in subscribing to topbox, you can visit them here: www.topbox.ca

Disclaimer: The topbox subscription was paid for with my own money and the above post was my honest, unbiased opinion :)

Thanks for reading!

Joanne