iPsy February 2014

Hello all!!!

I am SO extremely happy with this month's iPsy bag! It absolutely blew my mind. My initial reason for switching to iPsy was because I wanted more make-up items as opposed to skin care. I was not disappointed this month!

To give a brief review of the items from last month...

Face lotion - I didn't really find it all that moisturizing. The smell was nice but it made my skin feel "tight" after applying it on. I didn't finish using it, but I will be using it when I go to the gym since I hate bringing my larger cream with me. PURCHASE? No.

Leave-in conditioner - OMG LOVE. My new fave. I will absolutely be getting a full size after this!!! It detangles my hair like crazy and makes it oh so soft!! love love love. definitely a new favourite hair product! PURCHASE? YES YES YES

Cleansing wipes - I used it all. It felt a little bit rough on my skin to be honest =\ however, I did like the convenience of the small pack because  I was able to bring it with me to school for a post-workout face wipe. It got rid of regular make-up okay but not the waterproof. PURCHASE? Probably not. Also because my friend bought me some Biore wipes from Asia which I am excited to use!

Eye-liner - I really really liked this! The staying power was amazing and the colour pay-off was great. You can definitely sharpen it so YEAH. It's awesome!! PURCHASE? Possibly. I have no need for new eyeliner but this is definitely something I will check out.

Lip balm - I didn't even touch this all month lol. I guess that says it all! The colour was nice but the lip balm was SO drying... they shouldn't even call it a lip balm. I know I said I would use it over my regular lip balm but I forgot and I don't even want to bother anymore. PURCHASE? No.

ONTO THIS MONTH NOW!!! 

Here is the bag it came in this time.

These are all the items together :)

Pop Beauty - Plump Pout Mini in Fuchsia Freesia

0.14 oz - value: $19.02 (after conversion 10.50 pounds)

I really LOVE bright colours for lip. I generally keep a more simple eye look and then pair it with something bright. This will fit perfectly into my make up bag. It looks kind of dull in the picture but it's extremely bright in real life haha.  I'm sorry, I suck at picture taking. I really like the packaging of it. The black part has a matte finish which is really nice. It smells kinda gross... like plastic.. lol It feels very moisturizing though and the colour is very nice. My make-up is not made right now, otherwise I would take a picture. I don't know about the lip plumping power but I really quite like this. My hair barely sticks to it which is a bonus!

Tini Beauty - Eyetini Cordial Cream Shadow + Base in One in Violette

0.14 oz - value: $18.00

I'm so happy I got a colour that matches my eyes!! I have brown eyes, so obviously purple is the best for me. It's a little bit lighter than it looks in the picture. I seriously need to get into photoshop or something. Anyways... I've swatched it on my hand and it's super creamy. The colour pay-off is quite nice. I can definitely see myself wearing this a lot. A bonus is that it's so easy to bring around with you since it has a wand! It also has a slight shimmer to it. Very pretty. 

Zoya - Professional Lacquer in Dot

0.5 fl oz. - value: $9.00

This. Is. Awesome. I've always wanted to try Zoya nail polish but it's not in Canada as far as I know, and they don't ship to Canada. The polish is 3-Free which is always a plus in my books. I'm a little bummed I didn't get the purple one (Odette) because I have so many pinks already! It's a cute pink nude on my skin tone.

J. Cat Beauty - Eyelashes + Glue in EL 13

2 lashes and glue - value: $3.99

I was excited for this and not. I didn't get one of the more "fuller" lashes which I would have preferred. I already have sparse lashes! Nonetheless, I am excited to try this out. It's 100% human hair, which may freak some people out, but I think that it's really cool. I usually use fake ones that are made with plastic so maybe these ones will look extremely natural! I also love that there is eyelash glue included. I usually use the Duo ones but I like to try new things! 

Skyn Iceland - Fresh Start Mask with Ice Age Mud

0.28 oz. - value: $6.50

This is the only non-make-up item in my bag and I am a-okay with it! If I receive things that are "skin-care" related, I prefer it to be things like face masks... things that I would not use every day. I'm super excited about this because it's supposed to detox and brighten your skin. There are 2 packs because it's a 2 step mask. The first step is blue clay. You put this all over your face post-cleansing. Step 2 is an activating gel that you apply on top of the clay and it's supposed to start to effervesce, which means gives off bubbles, and start to foam. Leave it on for 5-10 minutes and then wipe it off with a damp cloth! 

Total value of iPsy glam bag: $56.51

Overall, (if you can't tell) I am super happy with this bag! I can't wait to see what else iPsy has to offer. I also love the fact that a lot of the products are from the UK and they are NOT items that are marked as "sample. not for resale".  Thank you iPsy for a fabulous bag this month.

If you'd like to sign up, use my link :)

What did you get this month? Leave a comment!

iPsy January 2014 - First one!

Hello all :) Like I've said, I decided to cancel my TopBox subscription (however, I guess I didn't cancel in time because I still got the January box, which I will post about next...) and have moved onto iPsy!

I got an email to skip the line (I forget what it was... something to do with Facebook though) and so I got my iPsy bag this month!

Onto the items...

cute bag it came in!

here are all the items in one picture

Nourish Organic - Lightweight Moisturizing Face Lotion Argan + Rosewater

0.5 oz - value: $6.47

I haven't used it on my face yet but I did test it out on my dry hands. The smell is very faint and I like that the product is organic. The lotion is definitely a lightweight and I liked the way it made my hand feel after putting it on. I'm hoping it'll be the same on my face because it's been so dry lately!

Healthy Sexy Hair - Soy Tri-Wheat Leave-In Conditioner 

1.7 fl oz - value: $3.59

I've also not used this yet but I will later tonight when I shower. I'm super excited about this because I've always wanted to use a leave-in conditioner for my hair, but I never know which ones to try! The smell (straight from the bottle) smells pleasant and there is a lot in this bottle so I hope I get good uses out of it!

Willa - On The Go - Gentle Cleansing Lavender Face Towelettes

10 wipes - value: $4.50

I also haven't used this yet (it's only been a week since I got these items!!) but I LOVE using face wipes. Call me lazy but when I come home from work, I think it's such a hassle to grab cotton pads and soak it in make-up remover/cleanser/toner etc when I can just open a package and grab a wipe lol. With that said, I think these wipes are not make-up removing wipes, but just face cleansing wipes. I wonder how well they will remove make-up? I love the scent of lavender, especially before sleep because it has a calming effect on the body. I can't wait to start using these.

Elizabeth Mott - Smooth Shadow Creamy Eye Pencil in Penny

0.02 oz - value: $7.13

I really really like this!! The colour is a nice bronzey-rose-gold! I used this to line my bottom waterline as well as the inner corners of my eye one day and it lasted all day. I'm not sure if this is supposed to be used as an eye shadow or liner, but I've used it as a liner :) The staying power is seriously amazing and does NOT smudge. I also really like how easily the colour transferred and how pigmented it is. I would definitely buy it when I'm done. The only problem is that I think the packaging is plastic so... I'm not sure how to sharpen it?Can I only use it until I finish the tip?

Mica - Tinted Lip Balm in #5 Natural

2.5 g- value: $18.75

DAMN! This is a pricey lip balm! I typically don't like lip balms in jars because they are more unsanitary than tubes. For a lip balm, I did not find this moisturizing at all. Although the colour looks like a more brownish colour in the picture, it is more of a dusty pink. I really like the colour on me. The only thing I dislike is that it freakin' stained my finger... lol my fingertip is a deep pink/purple right now. if only the sample came with a brush like the full size does ;) I will probably use this but over my Burt's Bees lip balm. I also took a picture of the bottom of container... does that look cracked to you or is that just the packaging? I think I would consider other Mica products but not this lip balm in particular because it's not really a lip balm to me, I do like the colour and how pigmented it is!

Total value of iPsy glam bag: $40.44

I'm really enjoying the things I've gotten so far from iPsy so I can't wait to see what my future bags will have for me!!

What did you get this month?

June Topbox

Hello!

This is my first post for my Topbox!!! Yay!! I was seriously so lucky to get the subscription for this. I got my subscription in Feb. I recall I was in my IMIN200 class frantically trying to get it while the site was going crazily slow since everyone was trying to get on and buy it! Very glad I got it because this first Topbox really blew me away!

Here is my Topbox with the eco friendly box!

Simple eye makeup remover. Sample size: 56 mL; Full size: 125 mL for $9.99

So I've actually tried using this already and I don't really like it. I used it after putting on the below sample mascara and honestly, I don't think it works that well. It is very non-irritating and doesn't burn/sting your eye at all. However, it didn't seem to take off that mascara very well. I still had smudges underneath my eyes and such. I haven't tried it with other make-up products yet. But for what I've tried, I would pass on buying it again. My Lancome Bi-Facil does a much better job.

Stila Forever Your Curl Mascara. Sample size: 3.5 mL; Full size: 7 mL for $29

I've used this a handful of times now so I can safely say my review is quite reputable. I don't like this!!! For an asian girl, I need my mascaras to dry pretty quickly (or be dry) because if it doesn't, the curl on my lashes will not hold. At the moment, I am using the Maybelline One-By-One Volumizing mascara and the MUFE smoky lash mascara and they're both very good. They're both a dry formula so I can sneeze right after and have no problems with it. A few times I tried it with JUST the Stila mascara and at least a minute or 2 after it still wasn't dry enough and still smudged onto my lids/lowerlash area. I will definitely not be purchasing this. Perhaps my current combo mascaras give me a high expectation of what I want from mascaras!

Deborah Lippmann Whatever Lola Wants. Full size: 15 mL for $20

HEHEHE! That is all. I'm going to point out that one of the forces that was telling me to get a Topbox was the fact that they had DL polishes to give away. I've always wanted one but I'm too cheap to pay for one for such a high price. I really like the formula and brush size, however it is a sheer shade so I'm assuming it should be used over a base colour. I will definitely be purchasing some DL polishes in the near future when I have enough spending money to part with. LOVE!! <3

Garnier BB Cream in Light.

This was a bonus product (as was the make up remover). There was a total of 3 in the box but I only took a pic of one because I actually used one package that day. I guess I have a small face but one package was WAY too much BB cream for me. I could use one package twice. It has a slight smell to it but it's not very off-putting. I really liked the coverage on it and the colour matched my skin tone very nicely. The only con for me is that it seems to act more like a tinted moisturizer as opposed to an actual BB cream. I *may* buy it in the future when I run out of my MissHa one.

Cover FX Clear Prep Matte Foundation Primer & Anti Acne Treament Gel. Sample size: 7 mL; Full size: 30 mL for $39

I haven't used this yet because I rarely use a primer for my makeup. My make up usually stays on pretty well without it. I just realized it says anti-acne on it so maybe I will have to try it tomorrow! I've been breaking out lately so maybe this will help combat that.

Mark. Gloss Gorgeous Stay on Lip Stain in Bella. Full size: 1.5 grams for $12

I haven't used this yet but the colour seems kind of dark. Not that I mind because it's quite a natural looking colour on me. I just haven't had the chance to try it out yet. I will probably try it tomorrow for work as well. Hopefully it can last me through the day and keep my lips looking coloured!

Sorry everything seems so jumbly but I am hastily writing this because I received my July Topbox the other day and I'm leaving for vacation in 6 days. I also lost the sheet that tells you what is in the box so I've been googling different blogs that wrote about their June Topbox and going off from the information there.

Anyways, thank you for reading!!

June Glymm Box

Okay as promised, I will try to keep everything up to date now. This is the June Glymm box.

For the month of June, I got a blue bag from Glymm!

La Fresh Acetone-Free Nail Polish Remover in Fresh Tuscan Orange Scent. Sample size: 2 packets = 20 nails; Full size: 18 packets for $9.99

I haven't used this yet because I have fake nails on. It looks really interesting though. I've never used wipes for nail polish removal and I usually use at least 3 cotton balls when I remove my polish. It'll be interesting to see if it really takes only one pad to remove it all.

Clark's Botanicals Intense Radiance Mask. Sample size: ?? doesn't say on the jar, mayeb 8oz? 10-14 uses; Full size: 50 mL for $72.00

Have not tried it yet. Smells great though, it's supposed to make your skin smoother and brighter. Can't wait to try it out! Sounds so pricey for what you get though..

Salvadore Dali ItIsDream Eau De Toilette. Sample size: the typical size lol 35 sprays; Full size: 60 mL for %54.00

UM. no. It's such a strong smell. I just sprayed it and I have a headache from it. I can't even explain the smell. It's like musky but a little fruity. Just super strong and gross. Will not buy and will probably throw out the sample..

Vitamin & Sea Perfect Skin Solution. Sample size: typical size of perfume samples, up to 5 uses; Full size: 45 mL for $68.00

Haven't used this yet.. it's supposed to smooth and soften your skin and repair it as well. I'll give it a try in the next couple of weeks and post a review.


Belvada Duo Lipstick Harmony. up to 16 months usage. Full size: 3.4 grams for $20.00

I've only used this a little bit and it's not bad! I love the packaging of it. As you can see, I had to upload 2 separate photos, I can't get the lipstick part out without putting the balm part in. All you do is push the end in and the opposite lip product will pop off the other side. Pretty cool stuff! Unfortuately, I recall putting on my Glymm subscription that I didn't want any neutral colours and that's exactly what I got with this lip stick. It's absolutely a nude colour... the name was "Natural Earth", seriously. C'mon Glymm :( I changed it from neutral so I would stop receiving those colours.
I like the balm part for sure, the colour side isn't really noticeable on my lips though. Would I buy this again? MAYBE. Depending on the other colours available and if they're a bit more pigmented.

That is all for my June Glymm !! I also got a Topbox for the month of June. I will post it tomorrow. Thanks for reading!

May Glymm Box

Omg I'm such a horrible blogger!! Gahhh, school absolutely took me by the storm and I had no time to do any blogging and I also took spring courses and with a new part-time job I've been SO behind.
I was going to post up a YT vid for April but it wasn't loading onto my computer from my memory card so I didn't do it. I thought I would be able to type up a post but I wasn't and I can't even remember where I put the items. If I can find it I'll post up the delayed post of it. And for May, I will do it right now. I guess in a sense, I don't really have followers so it makes me feel a bit better. As in, I'm not letting anyone down :P HAHA Okay here's my May Glymm!

These are the goodies I got for the month of May

Starting in the May Glymm, they actually decided to be more environmental friendly and instead of sending us our sample in a box in a box (yes this was intended), it was a bag in a box! So now I have more little cases for me to put my make up items in! This month my bag was a bright pink.

CK Shock For Her Eau De Toilette. Sample size: 35 sprays; Full size: 50 mL for $45.00
I also received the male version which I was planning to give to my boyfriend, but my brother took it LOL. I actually quite like this scent. It's a sweet smell (which I don't mind for the summer time) and it really makes me feel like summer is here! I would buy this in full size if I am looking for a new perfume!

Coola Mineral Matte Cucumber Face Sunscreen. Sample size: up to 4 uses; Full size: 50 mL for $36.00
Okay so THIS is actually what prompted me to blog again. I used it today because it's SO hot outside (22 degrees celcius which for my city is pretty darn hot) and I've never used a sunscreen that is specific for my face before. I thought I'd try it out. I don't know about the whole cucumber thing and what it should do but.... it comes out white and when I rubbed it on my face it was PURPLE.

I took a picture of my face which can be seen here: CLICK HERE TO SEE A PURPLEY FACE I don't want to post it up as an image cause I don't want to scare people. haha I must have rubbed it in for a good minute or two and it was still pretty purple and then I saw that it said "perfect primer" so I put my makeup on and it was A-okay again. My question is this..... what if I'm not a make-up person? Then my face would be a tinge of purple.. It sort of reminds me of the purple sunscreen I had as a kid but it turned into a white and blended into your skin. Anyways... that's what it is.
The consistency was like a normal sunscreen, it did NOT have a smell which is a bonus point. However, as I was massaging it into my skin it really felt like a primer, where it feels like you're putting a layer on top of your skin as opposed to having it sink in. Is it a buy? I'm not sure, but man the purple-ness scared me into blogging.

NuMe HydroPunch Hydrating Conditioner. Sample size: up to 4 uses; Full size: 250 mL for $24.99
I haven't used this yet because I hate using separate shampoos and conditioners. (there's a tidbit about me :P) Only thing I can say about it is that it smells decent and it's supposed to help with dry/damaged hair. C'mon Glymm, send sample of shampoo and conditioner like last time!

Mèreadesso Lip Treats. Sample size: up to 3 months; Full size: package of 2 for $28.00
I love how it tells me it's a sample size but really it's because it's 1 instead of 2. The shade I got was the burgundy one. It was either that or a lighter pink colour (as seen on the pamphlet) or a sheer one that is just moisturizing.
I actually really liked this one. I used it quite a bit, goes on SUPER smooth, colour is sheer (so not like a lipstick). Wears really well in my experience, and has a fruity smell to it. I would definitely buy this again !! Maybe I'll try out the pink colour...

Caudalie Crushed Cabernet Scrub. Sample size(60 grams): up to 3 uses; Full size: 150 grams for $29.00
Unfortunately, I have not used this yet. I've been dying to try Caudalie stuff cause I've heard it's amazing but I honestly haven't had the time to exfoliate my face. I generally like to do that at night but I've been so tired when I get home from work I just don't. I hopefully will in the next few weeks. I do love the packaging it comes in, which creates an airtight seal. The smell of it (just from the jar) is not very appealing to me. It looks like a super harsh scrub so I hope it won't irritate my face.
ETA: FAIL. I just googled how to use this and it turns out it's a body scrub. Will definitely use it today when I shower!

Caudalie Vinosource SOS Thirst-Quenching Serum. Sample size(1ml): up to 3 uses; Full size: 30 mL for $48.00 and Caudalie Vinosource Moisturizing Sorbet. Sample size(1 ml): up to 3 uses; full size: 40 mL for $38.00
Again I have not used this yet. I honestly don't see how this little package would last me 3 uses.. You are supposed to use them together. The SOS first then the sorbet. I'll probably try it out this weekend. The SOS is supposed to give "your skin a surge of hydration" and then the sorbet is the moisturizer. So it's a double whammy for moisture for your face! Perhaps I'll be able to blog about it once I use it!

Ok that is all for my May Glymm. I realize this is a super long post, and I feel like all my posts will be like this. I will be posting the June Glymm box AND the TopBox hopefully sometime this week so that I can be all caught up!

Thanks for reading!!

Glymm Box

Hey ya'll! So I just received my Glymm box on Feb 23, and I thought I'd share it with you! If you don't know what a Glymm box is, it's basically a box that gets sent to you monthly with a bunch of samples inside. It's $10 for a box and you create a beauty profile, so that they can pick out samples to suit your needs (or at least the correct colours to your liking). This is my first box, so I'm not sure if the company is consistent in picking out good samples for you. I've also signed up for Topbox, which is the same idea, however, the demand for this box is higher than supply, so there's actually a waiting list. I got lucky a couple weeks ago, when they opened up another chance to purchase their subscriptions. It took forever (I was sitting in my IMIN200 class, not even paying attention while trying to get it) but in the end, I ended up scoring one ...... FOR JUNE. Long wait, but I think it'll be worth it! I'm just really happy that I ended up getting one. Anyways... onto the Glymm !

Cute pink mailing box!

Cute packaging - very sturdy

4 items in this box!

card that tells you what's in the Glymm box

Sula natural eyeshadow - Purple Haze ($8.00)

Burts Bees Tinted Lip Balm - Hibiscus ($7.99)

GlamGlow Tingling & Exfoliating Mask *sample size* Full size $78.00

Mai Couture 2-1 Blotting/Bronzing Paper *2 sheets* Full size (100 sheets) $24.00

I haven't tried out the eyeshadow yet, but I will today before I go to work. I have tried to take swatch pictures of it but it's really hard without the camera I usually use... (NTS: must find it). Here's my best attempt:

Sula Natural EyeShadow - Purple Haze

CLICK HERE TO SEE PICTURE OF IT ON MY EYES

It's the lighter purple on top, I used Virgin&Naked (from my UD naked palette), as well as a dark purple from a Lancome quad and lined it with UD 24/7 eyeliner in Ransom

I like it! It held really well and it went on smoothly. It doesn't have much pigmentation but I guess since it's a lilac-y colour, I can't expect it to be too bold anyway. 

I really like the Burt's Bees lip balm! The colour is absolutely perfect for my lips & makes them look extremely natural. 

face picture! my lips are usually more dull looking :P

The other two I have not used yet. I will use the mask tonight though! 

Okay that's it for now. Phew, this was really hard to do since I haven't used some of the products..

Thanks for reading ! :)