Glossybox - February 2014

Man, I'm glad February is over. I love the month for the chocolate, but the weather...gah. It's no surprise that my Glossybox was the last of my subs to show up...some girls STILL haven't received their February box! Mine did show up about a week ago, but I've been behind on everything this month.

But, since I am home sick with the plague today, I figured I'd at least get something done.

February's box has a theme of "The Month of Love". They state that they aim to deliver a box filled with love and happiness every month, and that they hope each box serves as a reminder to take some time to primp and pamper yourself.

There were some variations this month! Here's what I received.

Anatomicals - Puffy the Eye Bag Slayer Wake Up Under Eye Patches - Okay, how cute is this name? This is the same brand that sent out a really great shower gel a couple of months ago, and they have such cute clever names. These are eye patches intended to reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and eye bags as well as moisturize, nourish, and rejuvenate. I have issues with dark circles, puffiness, and natural fine lines, so I was super excited to get these. There are 3 sets of the patches. I tried one, and they were really nice - my eyes really did look and feel better, and they felt super cooling and soothing while on. Really happy with these!

Lauren B Beauty Nail Couture in City of Angels - This is a brand new line of quick drying nail enamel that promises a high shine and chip resistant finish. The shade is a very sheer light pink. I do love trying new polish brands, but I am less than thrilled with this color - pale pinks like this always go on so streaky for me, and I don't care much for the look of the shade while worn, either. The formula does seem nice, but a different color would have made me much happier.

Sumita Beauty Kala Color Intense Pencil - This is a deep black long wearing liner. I actually have a travel size of this already, and it is a great liner - super dark and creamy and it really does last. I'd have been more excited for a fun color, but as far as black eye pencils go, this is a really great one!

Skin&Co Roma Truffle Therapy Serum Plus - This is a hydrating serum that promises to increase hydration and reduce fine lines and wrinkles. I love this serum...it really does make my skin look and feel nice and soft and hydrated. It's too expensive for me to purchase, but I will use the sample and be happy to try any of this brand's products.

Pureology Serious Colour Care Colour Fanatic Multi-Tasking Hair Beautifier for Color Treated Hair - Okay, could they come up with a longer name for this stuff? Seeeeriously. Anyway, this is a hair treatment that promises 21 benefits and to prime and protect hair. Well, frankly it sounds like a lot of words that basically mean "leave-in conditioner and protectant" to me, but yeah...marketing. This stuff is okay. It feels a bit heavy on my hair, but it's not bad. I won't purchase it, but I will use the sample.

Overall, this was an okay month for me. I love the eye pads and the serum. I like and will use the liner and spray. The polish is getting passed along to someone who will use it, because I dislike the color. This was my last month of my 6 month sub, and I haven't decided if I'm going to resub for March or not.

What do you think of February's box?

Glossybox - January 2014

I run so hot and cold with most of my subs. Some, I have consistently been with since I first tried them (Ipsy, Popsugar). Others, I break up with and then come crawling back (Birchbox, Glossybox, Sample Society). Glossybox especially always leaves me debating, not because of the products, but because of a combination of price and various other issues, like customer service.

Glossybox ships late. Sometimes REALLY late...and this month, they have had even more shipping delays than usual (weather, waiting for products to be delivered, etc). The good news is, I actually don't mind that. Most of my subs come in at roughly the same time...it's kind of nice to get one spread out like this, when the fun of my others has passed! As long as my box shows up, I am generally happy. More important is what is inside!

January's box has a theme of, simply, "Welcome to 2014"! The card says that they want to make sure we have the best skincare and makeup to start the year off right. 2013 was a rough one, so a fresh start sounds good to me!

beautyblender pure and blender cleanser - This is the "star" of the box, and the item they used to draw in subscribers. beautyblender is a sponge that allows for flawless application of not only foundation, but skin care as well! It's a little different from other sponges. You get it wet before using, and it nearly doubles in size! Then you stipple/pat on your face products. I have tried cheap knockoffs of this, but people always said they don't really compare, and just by feel, I think they're probably right. I'm so excited to try this! pure is just like the original, only it has no dye, which is good for sensitive skin. My skin can handle a dyed sponge, but it's a nice thought. The blender cleanser is a lavender scented wash for the cleanser and also brushes. I've actually tried it before - Birchbox sent it to me a while back. I didn't have a beautyblender to try it on, but it did a really great job of cleaning my brushes, so I'm happy to have another sample! These items alone make the cost nearly worth it!

Balance Me Super Toning Body Wash - This is an invigorating and toning body wash with lots of essential oils in it. It smells very herbal and refreshing. I'm always happy to get a new body wash, and i love ones with natural fragrances. It's not the most exciting sample, but it is a good one. It seems this is one of the products that delayed the box, and some subscribers won't be getting it as planned, and instead they'll be getting a perfume. I would have been okay with that, too.

Toni&Guy Hair Meet Wardrobe Casual Sea Salt Texturizing Spray - This is just what it sounds like - a sea salt spray to give the "beachy" look. I have to try to be objective about this. It is a great brand, and the sample size is wonderful! However, I just absolutely hate sea salt sprays. I've been sent so many by so many different brands, and all of them just make my hair look and feel dirty and dry. I guess I just don't have the hair type for it. I've never been able to pull off the "messy on purpose" look...on me, it just looks like an unfortunate accident. No matter, this will be added to my "trade or gift" pile, which already contains a similar spray (not to mention the 4 others I just got rid of a few weeks ago...sigh).

Bellapierre Cosmetics Mineral Blush in Desert Rose - This is a natural toned mineral blush. I love blushes, and this one is very pretty! However, my blush box is a little bit out of control. As it is, I'll probably never be able to even make a dent in most of them. While this is a pretty color, it is not unique in my collection, so I will probably add it to the trade/gift pile, as well. I have a shadow by this same brand and it is gorgeous and good quality! I'm just trying to waste less!

Vichy Aqualia Thermal Rich Cream - This is a soothing moisturizer with mineral-rich thermal water and hyaluronic acid. I have actually tried this before, (I believe I have 2 pots of it right now, in fact) and it is very nice! Super moisturizing, but not too heavy or greasy, and it smells light and fresh. It feels really nice on my winter skin! I love the .5 oz pots, too, and use them to put foil samples in to make them last longer. I won't be purchasing, only because I have enough samples of moisturizers to live on for a while, and when I DO purchase, I have vowed to buy only natural items. But it is a very good product!

Overall, this is a pretty good box! All of the items are high quality, even the two I will not be using. It's not my favorite box, but it is definitely not the worst. The beauty blender and the body wash alone make it worth it for me!

What do you think about January's box?

Glossybox US, December 2013

Man, the USPS is a mess this month. I know it is pretty normal for things to ship slower during the holiday season, but it really seems like this year, it's much worse than usual!

For example, I shipped my secret santa gift to the recipient 11 days ago...and I chose Priority 2 day shipping. It is finally just now at her post office today. I have had 50 mini heart attacks about it.

Because of that, I was beyond surprised to find my Glossybox in my mail this morning! They aren't known for their fast shipping in the best of circumstances!

I ripped that sucker open so fast!

I'm building up quite the collection of these boxes! I need to use them to assemble a little makeup storage set of drawers.

This month's card is pretty and holiday themed! So cute.

Naobay Oxygenating Cream Moisturizing - This is a moisturizer designed to keep your skin balanced and moisturized. It's natural and organic, and contains essential oils, which I love! I'm excited to try this.

Michael Todd True Organics Pumpkin Mask - This is an enzyme mask that exfoliates, smoothes, and helps clear clogged pores. I have used it before and I love it! It looks and feels a lot like slathering pumpkin puree on your face, but the results are great. So happy to get another one of these!

Ardency Inn PUNKER world's baddest eyeliner - This is a black liquid liner intended to help you draw a great cat-eye (or any other type of liner you like). It is nice and smooth and dark! I generally get tired of getting black liners, but I was actually needing a good liquid one soon and I am so happy to try this!

nails inc. nail polish in Victoria - This is a super glossy polish in a very dark cherry red. So pretty and unlike anything I own! So great for winter!

Anatomicals You Need a Blooming Shower body cleanser - This is a relaxing shower gel with witch hazel and aloe in it...awesome. It smells like roses (also has jasmine in there, but I primarily smell the rose). I have just discovered that I really like rose scents, and I am so excited to try this out. It smells AMAZING.

Overall, I am super happy with this box. The sizes are great, and I love the variety. There is not a single thing that disappointed me this month! 

Here's a single swipe of the liner, with light pressure. Pretty great!

What do you think of this month's Glossybox?

Glossybox, September 2013

My September Glossybox finally showed up yesterday. Yes, it is October, but I am excusing it because I resubbed a bit later in the month.

This month's theme is "All You Need For Fall", which is basically the theme my soul would create if souls were in the business of creating sub box themes. The only way they could make a more "me" theme would be to fill the box with apple cider, dip it in caramel, and package it inside of a pumpkin. So, yeah. Good box month for me.

The box contains 5 products, 4 of which are full sized (and the fifth could be considered to be full sized, to some.

As you can see, this box is really full! And I am so happy to have the pretty pink boxes again. When I cancelled my sub a while back, I found myself really missing the pretty packaging, and I do love the boxes for storage and organization.

Here are the items I got this month. This month, there were no variations, and everyone got the same items, which to me is a nice break from the box envy and disappointment that tends to happen when you don't get what you were hoping for.

Oceane Makeup Remover Pen - This is a marker-style pen filled with makeup remover. I absolutely love this idea, it will be great for correcting eyeliner mistakes and touching up runs, smears, and fallout. It comes with extra tips, which is really nice! I love getting unique items like this in boxes.

Nioxin Diamax Treatment - This is the big item this month. It's a full sized bottle of this treatment, which is designed to give volume and fullness, as well as manageability. It also promises to help strengthen the hair. I have quite a bit of hair, but it is fine, and cut into an angled bob, so extra volume is always welcome! I actually resubbed due to this spoiler, because I've heard great things about this product.

Be A Bombshell Eyeliner Pen (Onyx)- I have actually had this item before. It is a marker-style eyeliner pen in black. The good news is I just threw out my other one, because it was getting old and dry. It's a nice liner. It is great for a thicker line, in my opinion. I do wish they had sent out other colors, as I'm really into colored liners lately! But I can always use another black pen liner. 

BCBGMaxAzria - Bon Genre Eau De Parfum - This is a rollerball-sized perfume spray. It's supposed to be a mix of feminine and edgy, which kind of suits me perfectly. Before I tried it, I heard people say it smelled "mature", which worried me because that is not my cup of tea... but I am happy to say that I really love this fragrance! On me, it is sweet and fruity with just a bit of an edge, with just slight muskiness and a backbone of vanilla. I am seriously considering saving up for a larger bottle of this...it's perfect for fall and winter for me.

Emite Makeup Eyelash Curler - So, a few months ago, my eyelash curler fell on the floor and was stepped on. It was bent, but still useable (just annoying). So I hoped for MONTHS that a sub would send out an eyelash curler, but no one did. So, a few weeks ago, I bought one. And the NEXT DAY, someone got their Glossybox and posted these contents. Go figure! But, this curler is really great. It looks cool, came with extra pads, and it fits my eyes wonderfully without pinching! This and the perfume are my favorite items in the box!

Overall, this is actually one of my favorite Glossyboxes to date. I really love every item and it was a really fantastic value. This made me glad that I signed back up for Glossybox!

What do you think of September's box?

Glossybox - May 2013 - Celebration Box

May marks Glossybox's first anniversary in the US! As such, they have themed this month's box "Celebration Box", a box that includes treats that embrace their past and future (?), and a nod to NYC.

Here's what I got this month!

Sebastian Professional Volupt Spray - This is a volume- building spray gel. It is supposed to add volume while remaining soft. It can be used while blowdrying or air drying. I don't usually use products like this, but I will give it a try!

My Prime Multi-Purpose Mattifying Moisturizer - This is a moisturizer that has moisturizing and anti-aging benefits as well as acting as a primer. It has a matte finish. I find that it has a thicker consistency than I look for in a moisturizer, but it will be great as a primer!

European Wax Center The Exfoliate and Slow It Body Lotion - These are little sample packets. The exfoliate refines skin without abrasives, and the slow it lotion is designed to soften  hair  and decrease its growth. These are pretty blah to me, but I will use them.

etre belle Collagen & Aloe Vera Hydra Mask- This is a sheet mask with collagen and aloe vera! It promises to boost moisture and improve elasticity. I already tried this out last night and I love the way it made my skin feel! Though, as with all sheet masks, you look pretty creepy when you wear it!

Nicka K New York Absolute! Perfume Stick - This is a solid perfume stick in a line of fragrances that are inspired by New York City. I received Parc de 59, inspired by Central Park! It's a fresh green scent with notes of green tea and florals. It isn't my usual type of scent, but it actually smells really nice. I'm impressed with the level of fragrance for a solid perfume, too.

AmorePacific Color Control Cushion Compact - This is a really cool product - it moisturizes and has high SPF as well as having coverage. This is something I would have been really excited about, had it been in a wearable shade! Unfortunately, I received a shade far too dark and yellow for my pale skin.

As you can see, it's just not a match. However, I applied it and it feels nice! So while I won't be wearing this sample, there is a chance I'd buy it in an appropriate shade.

In all, I don't think this box is terrible by any means, but I just don't think it's very exciting. I would have expected a more exciting box for their anniversary! But the good news is, next month's box is a collaboration with Dallas Shaw, and it looks amazing.

What was in your Glossybox this month?

Glossybox: April 2013

April's Glossybox has a theme of "Work That Beauty".  It is all about feel-good products to help you work your natural beauty for spring and summer.  I do think a lot of the time, Glossybox's themes are kind of arbitrary, and the products don't have much to do with them. But, it sounds good, anyway!

I got my box yesterday...and I am pretty happy with it!

I always love Glossybox's packaging. Always so cute and feels like opening a present.

The first thing I noticed when opening my box was the strong minty coffee smell. Sadly, my Wash With Joe bodywash had leaked out all over the box. I was able to clean everything up, but unfortunately, there was not enough left in the bottle to try. They are supposed to be sending me a replacement, so I'm excited to try that. I love the scent of this! It seems like it would be great at waking you up in the morning...and the first ingredient is real coffee! Awesome.

This is a bath tea bag by Bvlgari. Honestly, I'm not that enthused about this, because I rarely take baths in my tiny apartment bath tub. However, I will save it to use after a particularly stressful day. This is the same scent as the Bvlgari soap they sent out a while back, and I actually enjoyed the scent, so maybe I'll love it!

This is a little bonus - and we got it in the January box as well. I loved it, so I am happy to get another packet. It's the Replenishing Daily Solution by Le Metier De Beaute. It's an amazing moisturizer, basically. But, it costs $225, so frankly these little samples are the closest I will be getting to it!

This is a texture spray by Alterna. It is meant to give you beachy waves. I have never had luck with these products before, as they just tend to make my thick, mostly straight hair look messy and kind of dirty, but I am certainly willing to try this one out! 

This is Tigi Glow blush in the shade Awaken. It is hard to photograph! It is actually a tangerine-ish color! Definitely on the orange side of pink. It is super pretty, and different than any blushes I currently have. They sent out 4 different colors this month, and while I initially wanted one of the others, I am now happy with having gotten this one!

Here it is swatched. Again, it is a bit more orangey in real life! 

This is an organic lip balm by The Honest Company. I got the sweet orange vanilla flavor and it's great! It smells just like a dreamsicle, and it feels nice and light. A great basic balm.

I used a code to get a bonus item, as well - a Zoya polish. This shade is Tracie, an avocado green with a pearly finish! I love it...so pretty!

In all, I think this is a pretty good box, especially with the Zoya bonus! 

Here is 2 quick coats of Tracie. Seriously pretty and perfect for spring! I love Zoya so much.

Have you tried any of these items? What do you think of them?

Glossybox USA: February 2013

This month, Glossybox decided to do an International Style theme! I love discovering new products form other places, so I was pretty excited about the theme itself. But after last month's awesome box, I knew that this month would be a bit of a letdown. It finally arrived a few days ago!

This month, we received five items!

Bvlgari Eau Parfumee Au The Blanc soap: This is a beauty soap from Italy. This smells pretty nice and is a good size! However, I think it's a pretty boring sample to put in an international beauty box! That said, I will give it a shot. It's a very good sized sample.

Nail Rock Nail Wraps: These are nail stickers, and I believe they are from the UK. I received black and white striped ones. I have used similar products, and for me, they are kind of a pain - They are usually too wide for my nails, and I find it difficult to get them trimmed to size! However, they look very nice when applied. I wash my hands a thousand times a day at work, and things like this don't last long enough to be worth it. However, I'll try them out as well!

Missha - Super Aqua Cell Renew Snail Hydro Gel Mask - This is the thing in the box I was most excited about! I love Missha BB cream and I have heard of snail masks and creams for a while. This is a sheet mask from Korea. I already tried this one out! I have to admit, I didn't care for the sheet mask aspect - it was difficult for me to keep it on my face that long! But it left my skin feeling absolutely amazing. I've included a pretty terrifying picture for you below. 

Lisi Sheer Sparkle Gloss - This is a lip gloss from a boutique in New York. In the photo above, it looks red, but it is actually pink in the tube, and nearly colorless when worn. I wasn't very excited to get this, as I have more lipglosses than I will ever be able to wear, but I gave it a shot. Sadly, I don't think it's worth it. It is very, very sticky and has no color and very little sparkle. It felt terrible on the lips! This is a big disappointment.

Da Vinci Cosmetics - Shimmer Powder: This is another US product. It is a shimmering mineral powder! They state that they can be used to highlight or as eyeshadows, but the color they sent me (Lava) is definitely too dark to be a highlight! It's pretty though - a dark brown with a light green duochrome sheen! I am excited to wear this as a shadow.

Here is the Da Vinci powder (top) and the Lisi gloss (bottom). As you can see, the Lisi is basically clear, and the Da Vinci is quite pigmented!

And here is evidence of how terrifying I looked while wearing the snail mask! Yikes! I think I would like this better if it were just in a tube and applied that way!

Overall, I think this was a very disappointing month for Glossybox. For one, 2 of the 5 products are from the US...and this is supposed to be an international box! It just seems odd to me...and the UK product has a ton of dupes in the US. To me, an international themed box should contain unique products from different countries! In my opinion, the snail mask is the ONLY product in this box that is truly that.

And, theme issues aside, I just don't think the products are up to the usual Glossybox standard. I enjoyed the mask, and I will use the shimmer powder. Other than that, I just see myself tossing the other things aside and forgetting about them. I mean, a bar of soap, a sticky lipgloss, and some nail stickers...? Luckily, I had cashed in my Glossydots and got this box for free, but if I paid for this box, I'd feel cheated.

What do you think of this month's Glossybox?

Glossybox: January. The Man Repeller.

This month, Glossybox teamed up with the man repeller, a popular fashion blogger, to send out some of her favorite low maintenance products. They took forever to ship this month, so I was starting to doubt that I'd even get my box in the month of January, but it showed up this morning!

The box is super cute this month...shiny silver, and feels more durable than normal.

The included card has a little note from man repeller herself and the list of products received in the back. There are a total of 7 products this month, two being small sample sized and two full sized.

Le Metier De Beaute Replenishing Daily Solution. This is the first of the two small samples. This is a rich, detoxifying, rejuvenating moisturizer. I can tell you that I won't be buying this even if I love it, because the full size is $225! But I am excited to try it out.

Narciso Rodriguez for her EDT spray. This is a floral scent with some muskiness to it. It isn't really my usual kind of scent, but it does smell nice. I will be using up the sample.

fresh Umbrian Clay Mattifying Serum - This is a serum that promises to purify and clarify the complexion, as well as control shine and minimize pores. I love fresh products, hopefully I like this one!

Vincent Longo Lipstain Lipstick in Americana - This is a pretty red lip color that boasts SPF 15.

It's a nice red, not too warm or cool. It goes on glossy but dries to a more matte finish. I don't wear red or bright lips often because I make a mess of them, but I'm willing to try!

Estee Lauder Sumptuous Extreme Lash Multiplying Volume Mascara - This is a fiber mascara that promises false lash effects. I love trying new mascaras, so I'm excited about this one!

Living Proof Prime Style Extender - this is a hair primer! It promises to extend hairstyles and let you go longer between shampoos and style touchups. As I don't like to shampoo every day, this intrigues me. I am excited to see what it does for me.

OPI Liquid Sand Nail Lacquer in Can't Let Go - This is a matte sparkly purple with their new liquid sand texture. It's a pretty purple color and I am super interested to see how the texture works for me! Never used a textured polish before.

In all, I think this is a pretty great box. It includes some great products...I love man repeller and I think she chose some interesting things for us. If you haven't tried out Glossybox yet, feel free to sign up using my referral link!

I think it's undeniable that Glossybox US has done a great job of sending out good brands and products. However, I feel that their service and shipping needs a LOT of work, so after my free box I redeemed for next month, I'll be taking a break.