October "What's In-die Box" - Little Box of Horrors

The "What's In-Die Box" is Australia's first indie nail polish subscription box. Each box is centered around a theme (this month the theme is "Little Box of Horrors") and contains 5 exclusive polishes from Aussie indie brands. The great thing, for me at least, is that they ship internationally! It's a little more expensive because it's sent with tracking but, for the quality and the access to hard-to-get polish, I think it's a great deal. The cost each month is $47.99 and shipping to Canada was $20. The last several months it has been curated by Peita's Polish and the November box is currently for sale on her Big Cartel store.

Let's move on to the contents.

 

Queen of Halloween from Lilypad Lacquer - a lovely berry/burgundy holo. Looks similar to Enchanted Polish Mr. Burgundy but I'd have to swatch them side by side to check. Swatch is two coats.

 

 Corpse Bride by Glam Polish is an off-white/light grey creme that has blue, black and silver hex glitter as well as pink skull glitter. Swatch is two coats.

 

Allhallows Eve from Arcane Lacquer has a sheer black jelly base silver, purple, and pink hex glitter, chartreuse small square glitter, and pink, silver and teal micro-glitter. The swatch is three coats but might be best worn over black.

 Where My Witches At? by Miss Ashleigh has a sheer purple jelly base with purple hex glitter in different sizes, small teal square glitter, tiny teal and purple hexes, red shards and holo micro-glitter. Swatch is three coats.

 Last but not least, Monster Mash by Peita's Polish is a clear glitter topper that contains orange and purple hexes, black squares and shards, a tiny amount of small black bars and holo micro-glitter. Swatch is one coat.

All in all, I'm super happy with my first "What's In-die Box" and while I won't be purchasing one every month, if the theme catches my interest I will certainly be ordering in the future. Keep in mind that these are all exclusive polishes and won't be sold anywhere else!

 

You can order November's What's In-die Box, the theme of which is Rock and Roll, here.

Favourite products of 2012

2012 marked the year that I started getting back in to make-up. It's not that I was going out bare-faced before - quite the opposite - but I had been using the same MAC eyeshadow colours and Maybelline mascara for years. I also only ever wore Burt's Bees lip balm, occasionally lip gloss, and was positive that I hated lipstick.

I started drifting away from design blogs and became more interested in beauty blogs and You Tube channels; after all, I can't afford an Eames chair but I can afford Nars blush! On that note, here are some of my favourite products from 2012.

- Moroccanoil Luminous Hairspray - It keeps my hair in place without being sticky, flaky, or stiff. Plus, it smells nice!
- bumble and bumble tonic lotion - I spray this on damp hair after a shower and I've really noticed a difference. It especially helps with keeping static to a minimum.
- Curel Hand & Cuticle Therapy - I received both this and the foot therapy in past Glossyboxes and I love them both! They are moisturizing and non-greasy and they both smell nice. Plus, they are super affordable at approx. $3.99!

 - The Body Shop Camomile Gentle Eye Make-Up Remover - I've tried different eye make-up removers but always come back to this one. It's non-greasy and doesn't sting my eyes which even a lot of the other "gentle" removers do. Plus, it takes off most stubborn mascaras. At $15.00 CDN it's a little pricier than drugstore products, but worth it in my mind.
- Farmhouse Fresh Splendid Dirt Nutrient Mud Mask with Organic Pumpkin - My sister's best-friend manages a spa in Calgary and I discovered this product there. This stuff is seriously amazing! It smells good enough to eat and makes my skin feel so soft and clean.
- Rocky Mountain Soap Company Aloe Hydrating Toner - I am obsessed with Rocky Mountain Soap Company! In our house we use their bar soaps and liquid hand soaps every day and all other products I've tried have been fantastic. I love that they are a local company (Canmore, AB) and their products are all natural. This toner does a great job of hydrating my skin without making it oily.

 

- Benefit They're Real mascara - This stuff is incredible! I've reviewed it previously, here.

- Buxom Stay-There eyeshadow in Mutt - I love the feel of these eyeshadows. They are super soft and silky and glide on easily. They are also easy to build up and the shimmer is gorgeous!

- Wet & Wild eyeshadow trio in Sweet As Candy - I must say, Wet & Wild has come a long way from the company I knew as a teenager and, seeing how popular they are with the beauty blogger community, I'm obviously not the only one. These shadows are smooth and silky and the colour payoff is great. Amazing value!

- NYX jumbo eye pencil in cottage cheese - Honestly, the name kind of grosses me out but this eye pencil is amazing! Glides on smoothly and is perfectly for the inner corner of the eye.

- Eyeko Skinny Liquid Eyeliner - I received this eyeliner in the Fall Luxe Box and it got me over my fear of liquid liner. It has a marker-type tip so you don't have to worry about it drying out and once it sets, it doesn't smudge.

- Stila Smudge Crayon in pink violet - I first saw this and the Buxom eyeshadow mentioned in a tutorial video from NikkiRothBeauty. The combination of the taupe/bronze and the violet is beautiful! It glides on easily and blends well.

Top to bottom: Eyeko Skinny Liquid Eyeliner, NYX jumbo eye pencil in cottage cheese, Stila Smudge Crayon in pink violet, Buxom Stay-There eyeshadow in Mutt.

- Tarina Tarantino Dollskin Cheek blush in Feather - I'm so sad that I only discovered this brand towards the end of the year and now it's discontinued at Sephora. This blush is seriously amazing - it feels like silk and the colour is beautiful.
- Benefit Cha Cha Tint - Benefit is famous for their cheek and lip tints, specifically Benetint, but Cha Cha Tint is the first one I've tried. It looks scary when first applying it - it's a really bright orange/coral colour - but once it's either blended or blotted, the colour is truly beautiful. I mainly wear it as a lip tint, because I haven't gotten the hang of blending it on my cheeks, and I love it.

Top to bottom: Tarina Tarantino Dollskin Cheek blush in Feather, Benefit Cha Cha Tint and Cha Cha Tint blended

 - Lancome Rouge in Love lipsticks in 381B Violette Coquette and 379N Rose Sulfureuse - I fell in love with lipstick this year, specifically these two from Lancome. The colours look amazing on the lip and the formula is incredible. So pigmented and smooth to apply.

 Top: 379N Rose Sulfureuse Bottom: 381B Violette Coquette

 - Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Smitten and Adore - This is another product that I think deserves the hype it received. These balm stains are amazing - smooth to apply, easy to build colour from sheer to deep and are decently hydrating. They have a nice peppermint tingle when applied.

Top: Smitten Bottom: Adore (excuse the messy swatches - it was tough for this lefty to do these with my right hand.)

What were your favourite products this year? Did you discover anything new?

Julep Maven program

As I mentioned in my "what the nail" post, I recently signed up for Julep's Maven program. Julep is a subscription beauty box service with a twist. Instead of 4 or 5 deluxe samples from various brands, Julep sends only their own products; always two nail lacquers, a nail/hand related product (eg. grapefruit body lotion, warming foot scrub, cuticle oil, etc.) and an extra treat (eg. polish remover pads, DIY cabochon ring, etc.). When you first sign up there is a short quiz which will determine your style and then every month, your box will be tailored to your individual style. (I'm an American Beauty and so far, I've loved all of the polishes I've received.)

There are several things that are a little different about the Maven program that I really like and that I think set them apart from other subscription services. 1) You are never stuck with a style you don't like. When you receive your monthly email with the various options, you can either stay with your own style or switch to a different one that you like better. 2) You aren't locked in every month. If you happen not to like anything on offer that month, you can skip! 3) You can send your monthly box to someone else as a gift! Have a friend with a birthday coming up? A Maven box would be a fantastic gift. 4) If you purchase a monthly Maven box, you can add-on 3 additional products at drastically reduced prices. eg. A $14 bottle of polish will only be $4 if you add it on to your Maven box.

Aside from these great options, Mavens also get access to a monthly secret store that offers great deals and, occasionally, Julep sends out mystery boxes to lucky recipients (would include extra items on top of your Maven box).

All in all, I have really enjoyed receiving my Maven box each month and appreciate a company that tries to make their customers feel special. The cost of the monthly box is $19.99 USD and includes free shipping!

Below are some photos of the polishes I have received over the last few months. They are all lovely.

 | Glitter pots - one of the special extras I received |

Interested in becoming a Maven? I'd love if you used my referral link - click here! AND until the end of December you can receive your first box for a PENNY! Use the code COLOR2012.

NOTD: Essie

I'm loving this combo - it's perfect for the holiday season!

For this manicure I used Essie's Mademoiselle and Set In Stones. Mademoiselle is almost my exact nail colour so I used three coats to get a more opaque effect. Then, on top, I used one coat of Set In Stones.

So pretty.

TAG: What the Nail?!

I was at home with M. on Friday and, while she was napping, had the time to make a fun video. I decided to do the "what the nail?!" tag since I love to change up my nail colour on a weekly basis. I recently signed up for the Julep Maven program (separate post to come) so my polish collection is rapidly expanding. Could be a problem...

GlossyBox Canada November 2012 Unboxing

I was at home with M. today (she's sick) so I finally had time to do an unboxing video for the November edition of GlossyBox. (And I could even shoot it in daylight!!)

Were you happy with this month's GlossyBox? What was your favourite product?

Benefit They're Real! mascara review

In November's TopBox I received a sample of Benefit's They're Real! mascara. I'd never tried it before but had heard a lot of raves from beauty bloggers that loved it. Needless to say, I was pretty excited to try it out.

The brush is plastic with well-spaced bristles and a mace looking ball on the tip of the brush. I like that it doesn't get overloaded and goopy.

Here are my natural lashes pre-mascara. They are an okay length but pretty light so I definitely need mascara.

And here are my lashes post-mascara. Can I just say, wow?! These aren't curled - I don't even own an eyelash curler - and this is only one coat! Even after only one use, I am sold.

The only thing I'm not sure I like (but may just take getting used to) is that application is a touch uncomfortable. I'm sure it's just the way the wand is engineered and how the bristles grip my lashes, but it's definitely a different feeling than the average mascara. All in all, I'm impressed and would re-purchase.

TopBox November 2012 Unboxing

So, apparently I've gone insane and have decided to expose myself to the craziness that is YouTube. That's right, I've uploaded my very first video - an unboxing video for TopBox to be exact. Enjoy and please let me know if you have any feedback.

August GlossyBox and Fall Luxe Box

Today was a good mail day. I have been obsessively tracking both my GlossyBox and Luxe Box and, as fate would have it, they both arrived in my mail box today! I thought since I was able to open them both at once, I would post the comparison here. Keep in mind that they are different price points so, naturally, the products will be of differing quality.

Let's start with GlossyBox. I have been received this box for about 4 months now and have generally been pleased with the samples I receive. GlossyBox does tend to be more drug store brands, which some people don't like, but I don't mind it because I'm more likely to buy a Biore facial wash than a $100 cleanser. Call me cheap. I love the high end samples simply for the chance to try them but, for me, GlossyBox is a more practical option.

 This month's samples arrived in the standard GlossyBox packaging - a good quality light pink box with black tissue paper and a pink ribbon. I've been saving these boxes for use come Christmas.

 Befine Fine Food Skin Care - 5 single size samples that will invigorate, protect and detoxify your skin. I especially love clay masks so I'm looking forward to trying that.
UPDATE: I've been using the cleanser and the night cream for the past couple of days and LOVE the night cream. It's a nice texture, not too heavy, doesn't leave my skin oily, and smells amazing!

 Biore Make-Up Removing Towelettes - 10 pack. I liked the cleanser I received last month and I like towelettes for their convenience factor so I will definitely be using these.

 Sebastian Potion 9 Lite. A good addition to the shampoo I received in a past box.
UPDATE: Like all other Sebastian products I've tried this one has a nice scent and really does seem to leave my hair feeling softer.

 Layla Smalto "Bijou" nail polish. I've never heard of this brand before and I LOVE the purple colour. Can't wait to try it on my toes.

 Elastoplast SOS Blister. Can never have too many band-aids. The card says this is a full size travel pack but it would have been nice to receive more than one.

 Trend Trunk Mystery gift card. This card could be worth anywhere from $5 - $250 at Trend Trunk which is described as being a "social marketplace which allows you to buy, sell and donate your amazing new and pre-loved fashion!" Interesting concept but not sure if I will use it. Adds no value to the box in my opinion.

 Kryolan for GlossyBox lipstick in Glossy Pink. My one gripe with the boxes I've been receiving is too much lipstick! I generally don't wear it and would much prefer a lip gloss or balm. Most of the tubes I've received have been pink (as is this one) and 50% have been frosty which looks TERRIBLE on me. If I have to receive a lipstick I'd rather get something like a universally flattering red. Lipstick colours are so subjective to the wearer. That said, this is actually a decent colour (seems most people got this same one - not sure if there were alternate colours) so I might wear it.
UPDATE: I've been wearing this every day and am quite impressed with it's staying power. Even after eating and drinking, my lips have a nice colour to them.

All in all, I continue to be satisfied that I'm getting my money's worth from GlossyBox.

Next up is Luxe Box. In the spring, Loose Button decided to change the format of their beauty box from a monthly offering to a seasonal box. The price increased to $26/quarter and was to include 7-8 high end samples. There was a lot of negative reaction to this change but I was looking forward to something a little different from the rest of the boxes. After months of waiting, my first seasonal box finally arrived.

 First, the packaging. What an improvement over the old, flimsy black boxes. This box is a lovely cream colour with the Loose Button logo embossed in gold. Feels luxe!

 Inside the products are wrapped in a silky piece of fabric and Luxe Box is embossed in gold on the inside of the lid.

 The product card envelope is sealed with a monogrammed sticker and I must say, I loved this personalized touch. The simple addition of a sticker made it seem like this box was packed specially for me.

 Moroccanoil Luminous Hairspray. I really like Moroccanoil products but tend not to purchase them for myself so I'm excited about this sample. Especially since I just ran out of hairspray.

 Eyeko Skinny Liquid Eyeliner. I have never used liquid eyeliner in my life and I'm sure it will take some practice. Reviews have said this eyeliner is great for staying put so I look forward to trying it.

 Loose Button Exfoliating Pad. That about says it all. Might toss in the shower.

 China Glaze "On Safari" nail lacquer in Adventure Red-y. Another awesome addition to my polish collection. I've actually never tried China Glaze (I'm normally a Revlon girl) but I've heard great things about it.

 Vichy Proeven Daily Dark Spot Corrector. I like Vichy so I'm willing to give this a try. Not sure that I have "dark spots" per se but I'm up for anything that will even out my skin tone.

 Benefit Stay Don't Stray primer. This may be the product I'm most excited about. I've never used primer before but I generally end up with raccoon eyes by the end of the day so I'm hoping this will help.

Madonna Truth or Dare Eau de Parfum. Probably the sample I'm least excited about. I'm pretty picky about perfumes because I'm sensitive to scent so I tend not to wear them a lot. (That, and my work is a scent-free environment.) Also, I HATE the packaging. The box is fine but the sample itself is in a glass tube with a stopper (hard to get out) and a rounded bottom! It doesn't even stand up on its own. Will be going into my give away pile.

So, this being the first seasonal box, I am fairly pleased. There was a good variety of brands and products but I actually thought there would be another full-sized item. I'm looking forward to seeing what Loose Button comes up with for Winter.

Were you pleased with the samples you received this month? Which beauty box is your favourite?

May 2012 GLOSSYBOX Review

The second beauty box to arrive in the mail was from GLOSSYBOX. I was excited to try this one because I had read excellent reviews of their product selection as well as the sizes of their samples. It is the most expensive of all the boxes - $15/month & free shipping - but, as you'll see below, I think this is definitely a good value. (By the way, please excuse the horrible camera photos - it was night and my good camera is dead.)

 First, the packaging. The products come tucked into a cute pink box that only has one tiny GLOSSYBOX logo on the outside. Perfect for reusing!

Simple eye make-up remover for sensitive eyes and refreshing facial wash gel. These are decent sized travel samples that I will definitely toss in my bag for weekend trips. The eye make-up remover did a good job removing shadow & mascara although it did sting a little bit. The facial wash gel rinsed off nicely and didn't leave a film or my skin feeling dry.

Curel Foot Therapy cream. I have been using this product every night since the box arrived on Friday and, while I haven't seen a noticeable difference, I like the texture of the product and the light floral smell. I have a pretty sensitive nose so I'm happy it's not overly fragranced - kind of reminds me of my grandma. I will continue to use this product nightly and will probably buy more once I run out since I don't have a regular foot cream.

Pandora's Lips lipstick (can't remember the colour and don't have it here). I wasn't overly thrilled to receive this since I don't ever wear lipstick (the insert card did say lipstick OR gloss so I was hoping for the latter) but I'm always willing to give a new product a try. I really like the packaging of this product and it's the first time I've seen a paper lipstick tube. The lipstick itself went on smoothly and didn't smell funny or have a funky "lipstick" taste but the colour was too frosty for me. Will probably stay in the sample pile.

 

Sebastian Volupt volumizing shampoo. This is a full-size bottle of shampoo from a brand I recognize and have used in the past. This is the only product I haven't tried yet but when my current bottles run out I'll be adding it to the rotation. I'm always on the look-out for a good volumizing shampoo so hopefully this will work for me. I like to use products from the same brand so I will most likely purchase the conditioner as well.

All in all, I am quite pleased with my May GLOSSYBOX and, if the quality over the next few months stays consistent, this beauty box is a good contender to be the one I keep.

May 2012 Loose Button Luxe Box

Apparently I've been living under a rock for the last year and hadn't heard of the new trend in mail-out beauty boxes. There are several different companies you can sign up with in Canada and it looks like they all deal with different brands. So far I have signed up for Luxe Box, Glymm, and Glossy Box and I'm on the waiting list (which apparently is MONTHS long!) for Top Box. I intend to try them all out for several months and keep one or two that I like best. The subscription cost is relatively inexpensive ($10-$15/month & free shipping). I imagine this monthly fee essentially covers the cost of shipping since brands provide the samples free.

Yesterday I received my very first Luxe Box and I must say, I was quite pleased. Keep in mind that this is the only one I'll be receiving this month so I don't have anything to compare it to.

I liked the packaging - sleek and simple.

The personalized sticker is a nice touch.

Inside the May edition was a card describing each of the products as well as a coupon code for $20 off a subscription for Panty by Post. There was also a postcard explaining that May is their "Thanks to Mom" month. In my "personalized" box I found 3 perfume samples - ck Shock, Calvin Klein Sheer Beauty (which I tried last night and is quite nice), and Oh, Lola! by Marc Jacobs. I like trying new fragrances but my office is a scent-free environment so I can't wear perfume to work. There was also a sample tub of Kérastase Masque Chroma Riche for colour-treated hair (which I don't have, but will still try) and a sample tube of Olay Regenerist. The thing I was really excited about thought was the full-sized! tube of Cargo Glitter Top Coat eyeliner. This item alone is worth $18 which more than made up for the cost of the service. I tried it out last night and it adds a nice, visible sparkle to the eye line. Super pretty!

These two items came in an additional "Bath and Body" box - a Gillette Venus & Olay razor and another sample of Olay Regenerist. Apparently I'm getting old. ;)

So, that's May. I know each month will be different (and sometimes disappointing), but I'm looking forward to what June brings!

Have you subscribed to any of the beauty box services? Love? Hate?