March 2014 Ipsy Review: Destination Beauty

What do you get when you sign up with Ipsy?

For $10 a month (plus shipping for some; $4.95 for me), subscribers receive a Glam Bag with samples and full-sized beauty products which are unique to them and the profile they filled out when they signed up! You don't know what you're getting ahead of time. The only thing you know is that it follows a theme. This month's theme was Destination Beauty.

What I got:

Nicole by OPI
Roughless

Cost: $10.99

Thoughts: I love this shade and I'm fine with the rough texture of it.

Be a Bombshell
Bora Bora Eyeshadow Quad

Cost: $14.99


Thoughts: I love receiving makeup pallets in my Ipsy bags but I'm not sure about this shade. My eyes are blue/green so eyeshadow colours in that shade don't go so well with my eyes.

bareMinerals
Marvelous Moxie Lipstick in Get Ready

Cost: $5.00


Thoughts: I've heard that bareMinerals is a good brand so I was happy to try this. The colour was really nice and it actually lasted for a while. I liked this product.

Klorane
Smoothing and relaxing patches

Cost: $6.00


Thoughts: I know it's hard to see what this is from the picture; sorry about that. Basically, they're under-eye patches. "Dark circles and puffiness are visibly reduced and the eye contour looks fresh and bright. Cool patches in refrigerator before use to increase effectiveness and enhance its refreshing effect."

I was disappointed that we only received two packs. You can't really see a difference with just two patches.

The whole Glam Bag, with the bag!

I didn't like the look of this bag but at least the contents were pretty decent. I was really disappointed that we only received four products in this bag when normally we receive five. Hopefully we'll get five next month!

Total cost of contents of bag: $36.98

How much I paid: $14.95

Savings: $22.03

Interested in getting your own Ipsy bag? Use my refferal code here!

L'Oreal Canada Mystery VoxBox: Revealed! (Garnier Fructis Damage Eraser)

A couple weeks ago, I wrote a post about The L'Oreal Canada Mystery VoxBox. In the post, I shared my thoughts on the mystery product and took a guess at what the product could be (you can read the post here).

Now it's time to reveal what the mystery product actually is....

Garnier Fructis Damage Eraser

That's right, guys. I was wrong! I was so shocked to find out that the mystery product wasn't part of the L'Oreal Paris line and, instead, was actually a Garnier Fructis product! I'm thrilled that I got to participate in this campaign because I had no idea that Garnier was actually related to L'Oreal. That's comforting to know since I've been using the Garnier Fructis Triple Nutrition Double Care Detangler Treatment for years!

Now that I know Garnier is related to L'Oreal, I'll be using more Garnier products in the future.

The Garnier Fructis Damage Eraser made my hair shiny to look at, soft to touch, great to smell and, most of all, free of damaged and dry ends.

I only wish that the Garnier Fructis Damage Eraser Serum was also a heat protector so that I could use it before blow drying and flat ironing my hair. Other than that, I'll definitely be using this product again!

 

I received this product complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes. 

The L'Oreal Canada Mystery VoxBox

I was super stocked to find this in my mail last week. I didn't think I had qualified for this program but I guess I must have!

Before I even opened the box, I knew whatever was inside had to be good. It smelled ah-mazing! When I opened the box to discover sample bottles of a mystery L'Oreal Canada shampoo, I was even more excited! I've been using L'Oreal Everstrong for the past few years. It's my go-to shampoo and conditioner.

So when this came in the mail, I didn't hesitate to try it! Let me just say, in all honesty, it made my hair feel so nice! It felt light and soft. Most of all? It smelled so good!

Selfie after using the L'Oreal Canada Mystery shampoo!

You all already know how damaged my hair is. I admitted to using extensions for a while just to add length to my hair; since it's so damaged that it just won't grow!

My hair looked and felt so great after using this that, if it really does correct damaged hair, when I discover what the brand is, I'll switch for sure!

So, what's my guess?

After smelling all the bottles of L'Oreal shampoo and conditioner at my local Shoppers Drug Mart, L'Oreal Paris Total Repair Shampoo was the one that smelled the closest to the mystery shampoo.

I can't wait to find out if I'm right or not!

 I received this product complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes.

January 2014 Ipsy Review: 19 Reasons

What do you get when you sign up with Ipsy?

For $10 a month (plus shipping for some; $4.95 for me), subscribers receive a Glam Bag with samples and full-sized beauty products which are unique to them and the profile they filled out when they signed up! You don't know what you're getting ahead of time. The only thing you know is that it follows a theme. This month's theme was Art of Beauty.

What I got:

Balanced Guru
Balm Me Up Organic Sweet Cocoa & Tangy Body Balm

Cost: $1.50

Thoughts: This is definitely too small of sample to use on my entire body more than once. I use it to moisturize my cuticles. You can also find this size really cheap on ebay.

Absolute!
Makeup Cleansing Tissue

Cost: $2.00


Thoughts: I've never heard of Absolute! before but I'm always a fan of makeup tissues. This one was pretty good.

(Malin+Goetz)
mojito lip balm

Cost: $16.00


Thoughts: I'm always a fan of lip balm. Always. Especially in this weather. But, I think my Blistex is still better than this brand. Especially considering the cost.

Yaby
Natural Finish Liquid Foundation

Cost: $6.79


Thoughts: I actually don't use foundation. At all. I live by my BB cream. So, this wasn't a product that was for me. I might use it on days where my skin has really broken out though.

Benefit
the POREfessional

Cost: $3.00

Thoughts: I don't really see the purpose of this. It covers my pores, great. But, so does my BB cream. It doesn't do anything to eliminate my pores. It just covers them. Too bad I didn't like this product because I really like Benefit.

The whole Glam Bag, with the bag!

Ipsy, you're starting to disappoint me. I'm really hoping next month's bag will be much better!

Total cost of contents of bag: $29.29

How much I paid: $14.95

Savings: $14.34

Interested in getting your own Ipsy bag? Use my refferal code here!

December 2013 Ipsy Review: Celebration

*I'm pretty late posting this but I also received this pretty late. It should be noted that I did not like this months Ipsy bag and I traded most of my products with my coworker (who also signs up for Ipsy). I will note with each product if it was traded or not.

What do you get when you sign up with Ipsy?

For $10 a month (plus shipping for some; $4.95 for me), subscribers receive a Glam Bag with samples and full-sized beauty products which are unique to them and the profile they filled out when they signed up! You don't know what you're getting ahead of time. The only thing you know is that it follows a theme. This month's theme was Art of Beauty.

What I got:

Mirabella
Eye Blender Brush

Cost: $27.00

Thoughts: Probably my favourite thing in this bag. I can always go for more brushes and this one is really nice.

Be a Bombshell
The One Stick

Cost: $16.00

Colour: Girl Crush

Thoughts: I recieved this in the colour Flustered which was way too dark for me. I traded it for Girl Crush which is a light pink. I do not like how this looks on my lips. I usually love this brand but this product was not for me.

POP Beauty
Beauty Bright Up Your Life Eye Shadow Trio

Cost: $5.00

Colour: Smokin' Hot

Thoughts: I received this in Naturally Bare (which is a brown eyeshadow trio) but traded it for this. I love these colours but trying to get this open is such a pain in the ass. I don't know why it's so hard to open, but it is. Not impressed.

J.Cat Beauty
Big Lip Pencil

Cost: $3.99

Colour: Caramel Mocha

Thoughts: I received this in Red Rose and traded it for Caramel Mocha. I don't know why Ipsy thinks I like dark shades for my lips. I don't and I've indicated that on my portfolio. Anyway. This new colour was much better and I really liked this.

Jesse's Girl
Julie G Holiday Frosted Gum Drops
Textured nail polish

Colour: Sugar Plum Fairy

Cost: $3.99

Thoughts: I actually received Nail Color by Nicka K New York in Ripe Apple. It was a really bright red which I would never wear. I was really happy that I was able to trade with my co-worker for this colour. I liked this colour and the texture. It takes a little extra nail polish remover to get it off though.

The whole Glam Bag, with the bag!

If I hadn't had the opportunity to trade the contents of my bag, I would have been really, really disappointed. I was definitely a bit let down by this bag but after trading, I was pretty happy.

Total cost of contents of bag: $55.98

How much I paid: $14.95

Savings: $41.03

Interested in getting your own Ipsy bag? Use my refferal code here!

Julep Maven Box: December 2013: Boho Glam

What is Julep?

Julep is a monthly glam box subscription, with a focus on nail polish.

Each month you receive at least two full sized bottles of nail polish, one full-size product of something else (or a third polish) and an extra "gift" (usually a sample of something).

What makes Julep stand out?

Julep gives you choices. You know ahead of time which box you're receiving. If you don't like the box, you can choose a different one or opt of that month altogether.

How much is it?

$19.99 with free shipping to Canada and the US. You receive at least $40 worth of products.

(You can sign up with my referral code here.)

What did I get this month?

In my Boho Glam December 2013 box I received two full size nail polishes, Julep Sweep Eyeshadow Palet and two Twistband Hair Ties.

Show me the polish!

 Colour: Joelle

Colour: Misti

I need to work on my photography. Or get an actual camera. This colour is actually much darker; as seen below.

What else did I get?

What it is: Julep Sweep Eyeshadow Palette in Neutrals

Thoughts: I love neutral eyeshadow colours, which is one reason I went for this box. I'll definitely make good use of this.

What it is: Twistband Hair Ties

Thoughts: These hair ties won't damage your hair or leave dents in it. Exactly what I need!

I was really happy with this month. I love the colour of the polishes and the eyeshadow is perfect!

Want your own?

Click here to sign up!

November 2013 Ipsy Review: Glam It Up

What do you get when you sign up with Ipsy?

For $10 a month (plus shipping for some; $4.95 for me), subscribers receive a Glam Bag with samples and full-sized beauty products which are unique to them and the profile they filled out when they signed up! You don't know what you're getting ahead of time. The only thing you know is that it follows a theme. This month's theme was Glam It Up.

What I got:

EM Michelle Phan
Lip Gallery Creamy Lipstick

Colour: Don't Tell Mom

Cost: $16.50

Thoughts: I'm making an effort to wear lipstick so I was excited to get this. I really like this colour. So much so that I wear it on a daily basis. It goes on smooth and stays on for a while.

be a... Bombshell
Lip Crayon

Colour: Hot Damn

Cost: $14.00

Thoughts: I received a Lip Crayon in the past that I really liked. This one? Not so much. The colour does not go well with my pasty skin. Maybe I need to try it with different make up combinations.  

BH Cosmetics
Galaxy Chic Baked Eyeshadow Sample

Colour: Aphrodite

Cost: $3.00

Thoughts: I'm a big fan of this eyeshadow. It goes on well and it stays on almost the entire day (from morning to night). An entire palette is only about $15 which is a great deal!

Nailtini
Nail Polish

Colour: Champagne

Cost: $13.00

Thoughts:I was really happy to get this colour! Thanks to a gel manicure I got a week ago, I haven't had a chance to try it yet. But I will soon!

Pixi Beauty
Bronzer

Colour: Summertime

Cost: $9.00

Thoughts: I was thrilled to get bronzer. I really liked how light the colour of this one was and was happy with how it looked on me. A day after opening it, the powder broke apart into little cubes. Now, when I open it, it makes a big, powdery mess. Which is a huge shame because I really liked this product.

Starlooks

Eye Pencil

Colour: Topaz

Cost: $14.00

Thoughts: I love how creamy this eyeliner is despite the fact that it's a pencil. It looks great over black eyeliner!

The whole Glam Bag, with the bag! (Minus the bronzer.)

At the end of last month's review, I said, "I hope November's will be better!" Ipsy must have listened because it certainly was! This might actually be the best glam bag I've ever gotten! Even though I'm not a fan of the Bombshell Lip Crayon, I plan to try to make it work. These colours are perfect for the New Year!

Total cost of contents of bag: $69.50

How much I paid: $14.95

Savings: $54.55

Interested in getting your own Ipsy bag? Use my referral code here!

October 2013 Ipsy Review: Art of Beauty

*Apologies for being a little late with posting this and for skipping September's review. We'll blame it on the fact that I didn't have Internet for a month.

What do you get when you sign up with Ipsy?

For $10 a month (plus shipping for some; $4.95 for me), subscribers receive a Glam Bag with samples and full-sized beauty products which are unique to them and the profile they filled out when they signed up! You don't know what you're getting ahead of time. The only thing you know is that it follows a theme. This month's theme was Art of Beauty.

What I got:

La Fresh
Oil-Free Face Cleanser

Cost: 30 wipes is $9.99. There were only 10 in this which makes this only worth about $3.50

Thoughts: I actually really liked these wipes. They worked well and didn't make me break out. They smelled nice too!

Sexy Hair
Blow Dry Gel
60ml

Cost:$7.95

Thoughts: I felt like this actually did make my hair thicker. My only problem is that I'm really lazy and I hate trying to blow dry my hair straight. I always end up having to using a flat iron after because I did such a poor job. Because of that, I wouldn't buy this. But, I love the brand!

Nourish Organic
Deeply Nourishing Coconut & Argan Body Lotion
30 ml

Cost: $3.00

Thoughts: I hated this. Actually hated. The smell was way too strong! I had to wash it off my hands right away. I tried to pawn the lotion off to someone else but no one else I could find wanted it because of the scent.

Buxom
Full-On Lip Polish in Dolly

Cost: $7.00

Thoughts: Loved this! It stayed on my lips for a long time and it felt great! I don't think the packaging is necessary though. It's a useless manufacturing cost and it just gets thrown out.

Zoya
Nail polish

Colour: Giovanna

Cost: $8.00

Thoughts: I really like Zoya but I was not a fan of this colour. I received green polish in a previous Ipsy bag and I almost never use it. This went on well and didn't chip easily but taking it off was another story. I don't know if this was a function of my nail polish remover or a function of the polish but when I went to take it off, the polish stained my fingers! For the life of me, I couldn't get it off. I ended up having to soak my hands in bleach! I'm definitely not touching this polish again. 

The whole Glam Bag, with the bag!

Overall, I'm a bit disappointed with this Ipsy bag. Although I really liked the brands, there are few things in here I just won't use again (the Sexy Hair and the Zoya nail polish). It's also disappointing that I had to throw something out (the hand cream). At least I loved the lip gloss!

Hopefully November's will be better!

Total cost of contents of bag: $29.45

How much I paid: $14.95

Savings: $14.50

Interested in getting your own Ipsy bag? Use my refferal code here!

August 2013 Topbox Review: GlamGlow

What do you get when you sign up with Topbox?

For $12 a month (with free shipping*), subscribers receive a Glam Bag with four beauty samples. Topbox is customized; your samples are based on the Beauty Profile you filled out when you signed up. Unlike most Monthly Glam Bags, not only do you not know what you're getting ahead of time, but you can't find any spoilers from Topbox's website. Every month is a complete surprise!

With one exception: Each month, Topbox sends you a wishlist of other boxes that you could receive. You "wish" for the box you want and you may get it (instead of the regular monthly box). This month, I decided to "wish" on a box; and I got it!


*available to Canadian residences only

What I got:

What it contained:

GlamGlow
Tingling & Exfoliating Mud Mask

GlamGlow
Super-Mud Clearing Treatment

Thoughts: I was excited that I actually got what I "wished" for on my first try.

The Tingling and Exfoliating Mud Mask worked really well! It definitely started to tingle right away (it almost burned, but the feeling went away pretty quickly) and I could feel it hardening on my face.

The jar says it has pieces of "volcanic minerals" in it which left me somewhat confused. What the heck is volcanic mineral?

It also contained large chunks of, something (I'll assume the volcanic mineral) in it which was a bit weird.

Other than that, it smelled great and it left my face feeling very soft.

When I washed it off, it made a bit of a mess in the sink but I guess the results were worth it.

I'd give this a 3 out of 5.

For your comedic pleasure.
The mask drying on my face.
The white is the part that's dry; the green is the part that's still wet.

Interested in getting your own Topbox bag? Send me an email to use my refferal code (here)!

Julep Maven Box: July 2013 Classic with a Twist

What is Julep?

Julep is a monthly glam box subscription, with a focus on nail polish.

Each month you receive at least two full sized bottles of nail polish, one full-size product of something else (or a third polish) and an extra "gift" (usually a sample of something).

What makes Julep stand out?

Julep gives you choices. You know ahead of time which box you're receiving. If you don't like the box, you can choose a different one or opt of that month altogether.

How much is it?

$19.99 with free shipping to Canada and the US. You receive at least $40 worth of products.

(You can sign up with my referral code here.)

What did I get this month?

In my Classic with a Twist July box I received two full size nail polishes, a dry body oil and a sample of facial blotting papers.

Show me the polish!

 Colour: Cassie

Thoughts: This colour is perfect for me! I love it!

Colour: Alaina

Thoughts: I apologise for the picture quality.
It's a grey colour. Very neutral.

What else did I get?

What it is: Beach Tonic Dry Body Oil

Thoughts: Essentially this replaces the need for body lotion. Since I often forget to apply lotion, this works well for me. It's easy to apply (just use a couple sprays and rub it in) and it smells good too!

What it is: Green Tea Facial Blotting Papers

Thoughts: I love that this is small enough to fit in my purse. Great for when you're on the go!

Although I liked this box, I plan to skip next months. It's a bit pricey for my budget, at the moment, and their preview didn't really spark my interest. Maybe I'll try again in September!

Want your own?

Click here to sign up!