It has been so long since I've done an unboxing... my last Julep box was in May 2014! I recently received my Julep birthday points, which put me over the 2,000 point threshold required for a free box. I waited until there was something that caught my eye and that happened with the August offering. I chose the Bombshell box. The Skip the Brush Creme to Powder Blush Stick is in Moonlit Sand. It's actually 0.21 oz so still much smaller than the NARS Multiple at 0.5 oz!
Showing posts with label beauty boxes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label beauty boxes. Show all posts
Monday, August 17, 2015
Sunday, July 27, 2014
Q2 Dior Unboxings - Polished Diva and Secret Diva
Every year, Dior holds an online auction with 100% of the proceeds going to charity. I am not sure if the charitable organization changes every year, but the proceeds from the 2013 auction went to Look Good Feel Better, an organization "dedicated to improving the self esteem and quality of life for people undergoing treatment for cancer." The Dior auction is held once a year and it ran from October 1 to October 10 in 2013. I purchased 2 fixed price auctions - (1) the Polished Diva box, which provides you with one nail polish a month and (2) the Secret Diva box, which provides you with one beauty product (skincare, makeup, or fragrance) a month. I've been a little behind with my unboxings, so in this post, I will be sharing my April, May, and June boxes for both the Polished Diva and the Secret Diva subscriptions.
Let's start with the nail polishes!
In April, I received Pandore, which is part of Dior's new Couture Colour Gel Shine and Long Wear Nail Lacquer collection. These polishes are supposed to give you the long wearing quality and shine of a gel manicure but I found that the polish did not last any longer than a regular nail polish. Pandore is a beautiful red with just a tiny hint of an orange undertone - the orange lean is barely noticeable so I think this polish would suit a lot of skin tones. This is a cream polish with no shimmer. For a drug store dupe, try OPI Big Apple Red or Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in Red My Lips (these are a teensy tiny bit darker and more blue based).
May brought me this beautiful purple polish - it's reminiscent of Pantone's colour of the year - Radiant Orchid. I love this polish. Again, it doesn't last any longer than my regular polishes but the colour is stunning. This is also a cream polish with no shimmer. For a less expensive alternative, try OPI Pamplona Purple (the OPI is a little darker though).
I was surprised in June because the box containing the nail polish was much larger than normal. This was because the nail polish came in a little manicure set, with a tiny nail file and some nail stickers. To be honest, I wasn't crazy about the little extras - the nail file was a cheap throwaway mini file and the nail stickers aren't really my style. The blue nail polish in Sailor was lovely though. At first I thought this was a cream polish but upon closer inspection, there is a barely there hint of shimmer. Essie Butler Please or Julep Monaco are pretty close dupes; however, both of these are a bit lighter and have a little more of a cornflower blue lean than Dior Sailor.
Overall, while I loved all three polishes, I didn't feel any of them were unique in terms of the colours. I think you could easily find drug store dupes for these polishes so I don't think they are worth the hefty price tag. For more information about the Polished Diva subscription, please click here!
Next up, here is my video on the Secret Diva boxes... also known as watch me poke myself in my ear.
In April, I received a 100mL bottle of the Miss Dior Blooming Bouquet. This is a very feminine fragrance that is perfect for the spring. It's primarily a floral scent but it's got a hint of fruitiness to it that makes it a light fragrance. I've read reviews that it doesn't last very long but I found it did last on my clothing even though it was very faint by the end of the day. It definitely doesn't last as long as my Jo Malone Nectarine & Honey Blossom fragrance but I like Blooming Bouquet for work because it's not overpowering for the office.
I was super happy in May because I finally got a colour cosmetic... I think I may have whooped for joy. This month, I received the new Diorskin Nude Shimmer Instant Illuminating Powder in Amber. I will be posting a full review of this soon but suffice it to say that I love this product as a bronzer. It give my skin a beautiful glow from within look and I've been reaching for it a lot this summer. This product comes with a mini kabuki brush (which I don't like to use with this product because it's a little too small) and a velvety protective case. I don't have a lot of photos for the blog post but I show this product in a lot more detail in the video.
June wasn't too exciting of a month - I received the new Dior Addict It-Lash Mascara in black. It's a very thin and natural looking mascara - it does a little bit in lengthening and volumizing but doesn't add much drama at all. I've been using this as a base and applying another mascara on top. One thing I do like about this mascara is the brush - it works great to separate my lashes and prevent clumps.
Overall, I was really pleased with Q2 of the Secret Diva boxes. I've been getting a lot of use out of all three products. For more information about the Secret Diva subscription, please click here!
Let's start with the nail polishes!
In April, I received Pandore, which is part of Dior's new Couture Colour Gel Shine and Long Wear Nail Lacquer collection. These polishes are supposed to give you the long wearing quality and shine of a gel manicure but I found that the polish did not last any longer than a regular nail polish. Pandore is a beautiful red with just a tiny hint of an orange undertone - the orange lean is barely noticeable so I think this polish would suit a lot of skin tones. This is a cream polish with no shimmer. For a drug store dupe, try OPI Big Apple Red or Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in Red My Lips (these are a teensy tiny bit darker and more blue based).
May brought me this beautiful purple polish - it's reminiscent of Pantone's colour of the year - Radiant Orchid. I love this polish. Again, it doesn't last any longer than my regular polishes but the colour is stunning. This is also a cream polish with no shimmer. For a less expensive alternative, try OPI Pamplona Purple (the OPI is a little darker though).
I was surprised in June because the box containing the nail polish was much larger than normal. This was because the nail polish came in a little manicure set, with a tiny nail file and some nail stickers. To be honest, I wasn't crazy about the little extras - the nail file was a cheap throwaway mini file and the nail stickers aren't really my style. The blue nail polish in Sailor was lovely though. At first I thought this was a cream polish but upon closer inspection, there is a barely there hint of shimmer. Essie Butler Please or Julep Monaco are pretty close dupes; however, both of these are a bit lighter and have a little more of a cornflower blue lean than Dior Sailor.
Overall, while I loved all three polishes, I didn't feel any of them were unique in terms of the colours. I think you could easily find drug store dupes for these polishes so I don't think they are worth the hefty price tag. For more information about the Polished Diva subscription, please click here!
Next up, here is my video on the Secret Diva boxes... also known as watch me poke myself in my ear.
In April, I received a 100mL bottle of the Miss Dior Blooming Bouquet. This is a very feminine fragrance that is perfect for the spring. It's primarily a floral scent but it's got a hint of fruitiness to it that makes it a light fragrance. I've read reviews that it doesn't last very long but I found it did last on my clothing even though it was very faint by the end of the day. It definitely doesn't last as long as my Jo Malone Nectarine & Honey Blossom fragrance but I like Blooming Bouquet for work because it's not overpowering for the office.
I was super happy in May because I finally got a colour cosmetic... I think I may have whooped for joy. This month, I received the new Diorskin Nude Shimmer Instant Illuminating Powder in Amber. I will be posting a full review of this soon but suffice it to say that I love this product as a bronzer. It give my skin a beautiful glow from within look and I've been reaching for it a lot this summer. This product comes with a mini kabuki brush (which I don't like to use with this product because it's a little too small) and a velvety protective case. I don't have a lot of photos for the blog post but I show this product in a lot more detail in the video.
June wasn't too exciting of a month - I received the new Dior Addict It-Lash Mascara in black. It's a very thin and natural looking mascara - it does a little bit in lengthening and volumizing but doesn't add much drama at all. I've been using this as a base and applying another mascara on top. One thing I do like about this mascara is the brush - it works great to separate my lashes and prevent clumps.
Overall, I was really pleased with Q2 of the Secret Diva boxes. I've been getting a lot of use out of all three products. For more information about the Secret Diva subscription, please click here!
Thursday, April 24, 2014
March 2014 Dior Secret Diva Unboxing
The Secret Diva subscription service provides you with 12 Secret Admirer boxes, one for each month of the year in 2014. This service is intended to be gifted to a loved one (hence, Secret Admirer), but I just bought it for myself. Products can range from skin care to cosmetics to fragrances. Dior is expensive and this subscription is no exception. The auction priced the 2014 Secret Diva subscription at $600. You are not guaranteed a value in each box, but judging from some of the 2013 unboxings from likesthelook, there are a number of months where the value of the product exceeds the monthly "price" - in any event, 100% of the proceeds go to charity so I view the price tag as a donation and I am not too concerned about the value in each box.
The Dior Secret Diva box is supposed to arrive on (or before) the eighth of every month, since 8 was Christian Dior's favourite number. Once again, this month's box arrived a few days ahead of schedule... although I was a bad blogger and didn't write the post until now. :) This box was shipped via UPS and it contained a letter informing me that I have a secret admirer, hehe. There was one full size product included in this month's box. It was packaged beautifully in a "luxe couture gift box" and tied with a ribbon. The box is really thick and heavy duty... photos don't do it justice. I am definitely going to re-use the boxes for storage or gift giving. I received a very big box this month so I was excited.
My third Dior Secret Diva box contained the Capture Totale One Essential Skin Boosting Super Serum. This serum got great reviews on Sephora and it is very expensive so I am happy I got a chance to try it! The letter I received in the box reads as follows:
This month, Dior is pleased to offer you Dior's revolutionary detoxifying booster, One Essential. Every day, 7 billion toxins build up in your skin and without detoxification, no treatment can work optimally. One Essential boosts the effectiveness of any skincare used afterwards by up to 4x. Use it as an additional step day and night on clean skin before the rest of your treatment. In addition to increasing the benefits of your regular skincare, your skin will appear luminous and radiant.
The description and good reviews got me even more excited about this product! Unfortunately, when I looked the product up on Paula's Choice, I was a little disappointed to see that it got a poor rating. Apparently, this product just doesn't do what it claims to do... plus it includes not-so-good for your skin ingredients like alcohol and fragrance. I decided to try it anyway and used it consistently for a few weeks (in the evening only).
The serum is very light with a milky colour and it has a strong perfume scent. I need 3 pumps to cover my entire face and neck. Much to my surprise, the first couple of days of using this product, I thought I noticed an improvement in the way my skin looked and felt. However, with continued use, I have to say that it didn't really change my skin much at all... not sure what it was during the first couple of days of use. I stopped using it while I was on vacation but now that I'm back, I will continue to use the product until it's done. I will not be repurchasing it but I'm still happy I received this product in the Secret Diva box because it's not something I would ever purchase for myself... although, technically, I did purchase it for myself. Hmm...
Have you ever invested (or would you ever invest) in a high end serum?
For more information about this and the Polished Diva subscription, please click here!
Click here to see all my Polished Diva boxes
Click here to see all my Secret Diva boxes
The Dior Secret Diva box is supposed to arrive on (or before) the eighth of every month, since 8 was Christian Dior's favourite number. Once again, this month's box arrived a few days ahead of schedule... although I was a bad blogger and didn't write the post until now. :) This box was shipped via UPS and it contained a letter informing me that I have a secret admirer, hehe. There was one full size product included in this month's box. It was packaged beautifully in a "luxe couture gift box" and tied with a ribbon. The box is really thick and heavy duty... photos don't do it justice. I am definitely going to re-use the boxes for storage or gift giving. I received a very big box this month so I was excited.
My third Dior Secret Diva box contained the Capture Totale One Essential Skin Boosting Super Serum. This serum got great reviews on Sephora and it is very expensive so I am happy I got a chance to try it! The letter I received in the box reads as follows:
This month, Dior is pleased to offer you Dior's revolutionary detoxifying booster, One Essential. Every day, 7 billion toxins build up in your skin and without detoxification, no treatment can work optimally. One Essential boosts the effectiveness of any skincare used afterwards by up to 4x. Use it as an additional step day and night on clean skin before the rest of your treatment. In addition to increasing the benefits of your regular skincare, your skin will appear luminous and radiant.
The description and good reviews got me even more excited about this product! Unfortunately, when I looked the product up on Paula's Choice, I was a little disappointed to see that it got a poor rating. Apparently, this product just doesn't do what it claims to do... plus it includes not-so-good for your skin ingredients like alcohol and fragrance. I decided to try it anyway and used it consistently for a few weeks (in the evening only).
The serum is very light with a milky colour and it has a strong perfume scent. I need 3 pumps to cover my entire face and neck. Much to my surprise, the first couple of days of using this product, I thought I noticed an improvement in the way my skin looked and felt. However, with continued use, I have to say that it didn't really change my skin much at all... not sure what it was during the first couple of days of use. I stopped using it while I was on vacation but now that I'm back, I will continue to use the product until it's done. I will not be repurchasing it but I'm still happy I received this product in the Secret Diva box because it's not something I would ever purchase for myself... although, technically, I did purchase it for myself. Hmm...
Have you ever invested (or would you ever invest) in a high end serum?
For more information about this and the Polished Diva subscription, please click here!
Click here to see all my Polished Diva boxes
Click here to see all my Secret Diva boxes
Saturday, March 29, 2014
March 2014 Dior Polished Diva Unboxing
I've been a bad, bad blogger. I don't know why I can't seem to stick to a regular schedule when it comes to blogging. I've tried writing posts in advance and scheduling them, I've tried setting aside time to blog, I've tried marking my calendar with posts I want to do on specific days... still, I fall behind. How do you amazingly consistent bloggers manage to post so frequently? Please share your secrets!
Here is my long overdue Dior Polished Diva March unboxing. I received a beautiful shade called Bouquet, which is also from the Spring 2014 Trianon collection. It's a gorgeous bright coral-pink with a cream finish. The application is lovely - the big brush and highly pigmented polish allowed for opacity in 2 coats. While I love this shade, I think it would be quite easy to find a dupe for it. Once I finish swatching my nail polish collection, I will see if I can indeed find one.
In case you'd like to see my thoughts on the first 3 Dior Polished Diva polishes in video format, here is my Q1 unboxing! :)
For more information about this and the Secret Diva subscription, please click here!
Click here to see all my Polished Diva boxes
Click here to see all my Secret Diva boxes
Here is my long overdue Dior Polished Diva March unboxing. I received a beautiful shade called Bouquet, which is also from the Spring 2014 Trianon collection. It's a gorgeous bright coral-pink with a cream finish. The application is lovely - the big brush and highly pigmented polish allowed for opacity in 2 coats. While I love this shade, I think it would be quite easy to find a dupe for it. Once I finish swatching my nail polish collection, I will see if I can indeed find one.
In case you'd like to see my thoughts on the first 3 Dior Polished Diva polishes in video format, here is my Q1 unboxing! :)
For more information about this and the Secret Diva subscription, please click here!
Click here to see all my Polished Diva boxes
Click here to see all my Secret Diva boxes
Sunday, March 16, 2014
January 2014 SeasonsBox - Last One!
I am so glad this is my last SeasonsBox! If you have been following the saga, you'll know that this used to be my favourite subscription service, but it is literally now at the bottom of the barrel. Over the past year, the quality has declined, the price has increased, the owners have changed 3 times, and the value of the boxes is inconsistent... and quite frankly highway robbery in certain months. For example, the January box. The value of the January box was approximately $21, compared to a price of between $39.95 to $49.95 depending on where you live.
Note: Many subscribers (including myself) found unauthorized charges from this company on our credit card statements. Even though I cancelled via e-mail and changed my credit card information online, I was charged $250 USD for another 1 year subscription. SeasonsBox has since refunded me but do check to make sure you do not have any unauthorized charges on your credit card statements.
Oddly enough, the January box included the old-school inner craft boxes, which was something I loved about the first few SeasonsBoxes. This has since changed as the February box (which was sent to me in error) did not have the inner gift box.
While I do not recommend this subscription service, the products contained inside this box were actually quite nice.
1. Unearth Malee Jasmine Sticky Rice Mango Handmade Soap
4.5 oz // $6.95
We've received a product from Unearth Malee before and I really like the brand. I am excited to try this soap. It smells like jasmine, which is a scent I really like.
2. Puur Lemonade Natural Lip Scrub
1.25 fl oz // $5
This product is made in Boise, Idaho and is sold online via Etsy. It smells like lemon candy! It looks a little dry but I haven't tried it yet. Temptalia has done a review of this product in case you want to read more about it.
3. Fabulous Frannie Lavender Essential Oil
10 ml // $3.95
I love the scent of lavender so I was happy to receive this product. A few of my viewers suggested I put a few drops in my bath water so I am going to try that tonight!
4. Chocolita Pine Pollen and Lemon White Chocolate
35 g // $5
This is a raw and vegan chocolate bar that is handmade in Sedona, Arizona. While this is a "white chocolate" bar, the colour is a light brown, just like milk chocolate. Since it doesn't have any milk or cream in it, the texture is a little crumbly but the flavour made up for it! This chocolate bar is very fragrant and it has a very interesting yet pleasant flavour. My hubby enjoyed it as well!
Bottom line: If this had been a $10 box, I would have been very happy with it. However, if I had paid $40 to $50, I would have been furious.
That is it for my SeasonsBox reviews!! I'm sure you're as happy about that as I am, hehe. :) Hope you're having a relaxing Sunday evening!
Note: Many subscribers (including myself) found unauthorized charges from this company on our credit card statements. Even though I cancelled via e-mail and changed my credit card information online, I was charged $250 USD for another 1 year subscription. SeasonsBox has since refunded me but do check to make sure you do not have any unauthorized charges on your credit card statements.
Oddly enough, the January box included the old-school inner craft boxes, which was something I loved about the first few SeasonsBoxes. This has since changed as the February box (which was sent to me in error) did not have the inner gift box.
While I do not recommend this subscription service, the products contained inside this box were actually quite nice.
1. Unearth Malee Jasmine Sticky Rice Mango Handmade Soap
4.5 oz // $6.95
We've received a product from Unearth Malee before and I really like the brand. I am excited to try this soap. It smells like jasmine, which is a scent I really like.
2. Puur Lemonade Natural Lip Scrub
1.25 fl oz // $5
This product is made in Boise, Idaho and is sold online via Etsy. It smells like lemon candy! It looks a little dry but I haven't tried it yet. Temptalia has done a review of this product in case you want to read more about it.
3. Fabulous Frannie Lavender Essential Oil
10 ml // $3.95
I love the scent of lavender so I was happy to receive this product. A few of my viewers suggested I put a few drops in my bath water so I am going to try that tonight!
4. Chocolita Pine Pollen and Lemon White Chocolate
35 g // $5
This is a raw and vegan chocolate bar that is handmade in Sedona, Arizona. While this is a "white chocolate" bar, the colour is a light brown, just like milk chocolate. Since it doesn't have any milk or cream in it, the texture is a little crumbly but the flavour made up for it! This chocolate bar is very fragrant and it has a very interesting yet pleasant flavour. My hubby enjoyed it as well!
Bottom line: If this had been a $10 box, I would have been very happy with it. However, if I had paid $40 to $50, I would have been furious.
That is it for my SeasonsBox reviews!! I'm sure you're as happy about that as I am, hehe. :) Hope you're having a relaxing Sunday evening!
Friday, February 28, 2014
February 2014 Dior Secret Diva Unboxing
The Secret Diva subscription service provides you with 12 Secret Admirer boxes, one for each month of the year in 2014. This service is intended to be gifted to a loved one (hence, Secret Admirer), but I just bought it for myself. Products can range from skin care to cosmetics to fragrances. Dior is expensive and this subscription is no exception. The auction priced the 2014 Secret Diva subscription at $600. You are not guaranteed a value in each box, but judging from some of the 2013 unboxings from likesthelook, there are a number of months where the value of the product exceeds the monthly "price" - in any event, 100% of the proceeds go to charity so I view the price tag as a donation and I am not too concerned about the value in each box.
The Dior Secret Diva box is supposed to arrive on (or before) the eighth of every month, since 8 was Christian Dior's favourite number. Once again, it arrived a few days ahead of schedule! This box was shipped via UPS and it contained a letter informing me that I have a secret admirer, hehe. There was one full size product included in this month's box. It was packaged beautifully in a "luxe couture gift box" and tied with a ribbon. The box is really thick and heavy duty... photos don't do it justice. I am definitely going to re-use the boxes for storage or gift giving.
My second Dior Secret Diva box contained the Backstage Eye Prime, which is a "Long-Wear & Smoothing Eye Primer." I haven't tried this product yet, but if it's anywhere near as good as the Pore Refiner I received last month, I will be in love!
The letter I received in the box notes the following:
This new eye primer has a weightless, creamy texture that glides onto the skin creating the perfect base for the eyelid. It instantly helps to smooth the eyelid and prep the lid by evening the complexion. This universal shade not only extends the wear of your eyeshadow, it also keeps the color even, prevents creasing and helps eyeshadow colors to appear more intense and true.
All of the products I've received so far (including the nail polishes from my Polished Diva subscription) are from the 2014 Spring Trianon collection. I love that I am getting current products, some being limited edition. This is a really fun way to try out new products I wouldn't typically think to purchase for myself.
For more information about this and the Polished Diva subscription, please click here!
Click here to see all my Polished Diva boxes
Click here to see all my Secret Diva boxes
The Dior Secret Diva box is supposed to arrive on (or before) the eighth of every month, since 8 was Christian Dior's favourite number. Once again, it arrived a few days ahead of schedule! This box was shipped via UPS and it contained a letter informing me that I have a secret admirer, hehe. There was one full size product included in this month's box. It was packaged beautifully in a "luxe couture gift box" and tied with a ribbon. The box is really thick and heavy duty... photos don't do it justice. I am definitely going to re-use the boxes for storage or gift giving.
My second Dior Secret Diva box contained the Backstage Eye Prime, which is a "Long-Wear & Smoothing Eye Primer." I haven't tried this product yet, but if it's anywhere near as good as the Pore Refiner I received last month, I will be in love!
The letter I received in the box notes the following:
This new eye primer has a weightless, creamy texture that glides onto the skin creating the perfect base for the eyelid. It instantly helps to smooth the eyelid and prep the lid by evening the complexion. This universal shade not only extends the wear of your eyeshadow, it also keeps the color even, prevents creasing and helps eyeshadow colors to appear more intense and true.
All of the products I've received so far (including the nail polishes from my Polished Diva subscription) are from the 2014 Spring Trianon collection. I love that I am getting current products, some being limited edition. This is a really fun way to try out new products I wouldn't typically think to purchase for myself.
For more information about this and the Polished Diva subscription, please click here!
Click here to see all my Polished Diva boxes
Click here to see all my Secret Diva boxes
February 2014 Dior Polished Diva Unboxing
Polished Diva is a Dior nail polish of the month club that runs for a full calendar year. The auction priced the 2014 Polished Diva subscription at $250 and there were 15 subscriptions available for purchase. The box must ship well in advance of the first of each month... I received the February box on January 29! It shipped via FedEx and the box is rather large considering there was only a letter, a small gift bag, and a nail polish inside.
Similar to January, this month's nail polish is part of the 2014 Spring Look Collection: Trianon. I received 187 Perlé, which is another limited edition shade. I was surprised to find this is a matte topcoat with iridescent shimmer that becomes a gorgeous lavender in certain lighting - it's beautiful and unique. I was very happy with this month's Polished Diva box! :)
Here is a not-so-good swatch photo. The polish is much more stunning in real life.
(I'm wearing Julep Alaina & Dior Perlé)
For more information about this and the Secret Diva subscription, please click here!
Click here to see all my Polished Diva boxes
Click here to see all my Secret Diva boxes
Similar to January, this month's nail polish is part of the 2014 Spring Look Collection: Trianon. I received 187 Perlé, which is another limited edition shade. I was surprised to find this is a matte topcoat with iridescent shimmer that becomes a gorgeous lavender in certain lighting - it's beautiful and unique. I was very happy with this month's Polished Diva box! :)
Here is a not-so-good swatch photo. The polish is much more stunning in real life.
(I'm wearing Julep Alaina & Dior Perlé)
For more information about this and the Secret Diva subscription, please click here!
Click here to see all my Polished Diva boxes
Click here to see all my Secret Diva boxes
Monday, January 20, 2014
December 2013 SeasonsBox
This post is a long time coming. I wanted to wait until I had tried some of the products, but I likely won't get to them for a while. The value of the December box was approximately $42, compared to a price of between $34.90 to $49.95 depending on where you live. I do not recommend this subscription service.
The December box contained 4 products; however, the wrapping was so shoddy that the contents of my parcel were damaged.
1. Nicobella Organics Organic Vegan Truffles in Pure Cocoa Bliss
4 Truffles // $8
Three of the four truffles included in my SeasonsBox had fallen out of their little box and were rolling around with all the shredded paper and other products. All the truffles went in the trash.
2. Flying Bird Botanicals Organic Hot Chocolate Fine Cacao Drinking Chocolate
3.5 oz // $10
I'm excited to try this and I'm happy mine did not come damaged (besides a couple of dents in the tin).
3. Moksa Body Butter in Organic Rosemary, Mint & Sage
8 oz // $16
We've received a Moksa product in the past and I enjoyed trying it so I was happy to see this brand again in the SeasonsBox. This body butter looked so light and fluffy (like whipped cream), but it had a really hard texture to the touch. One of my YT viewers mentioned it might have been because the body butter froze in transit. I will still use this. It smells heavenly.
4. Premium Soy Mason Jar Candle in Sugar Cookie
8 oz // $8
I was excited about this candle but the wax looks funny so I suspect it probably froze during transit too. The lid also somehow unscrewed itself and became loose in the box. I love the jar so I am excited to reuse that once I'm done the candle.
My one-year subscription will be complete after the January 2014 box, and I'm happy it's finally coming to an end. SeasonsBox is charging customers with credit cards on file so I e-mailed support@seasonsbox.com to cancel and I changed my credit card expiry date by logging onto the website (since it wouldn't allow me to delete the information outright). I was on the SeasonsBox website to check out the January preview and noticed they are using one of my old photos from the January 2013 SeasonsBox! How infuriating! I had authorized Agnes to use my photos when she was the owner, but it's misleading to show the pretty box and ribbon when the packaging looks nothing like that. I will be e-mailing SeasonsBox to remove my image from the website.
The December box contained 4 products; however, the wrapping was so shoddy that the contents of my parcel were damaged.
1. Nicobella Organics Organic Vegan Truffles in Pure Cocoa Bliss
4 Truffles // $8
Three of the four truffles included in my SeasonsBox had fallen out of their little box and were rolling around with all the shredded paper and other products. All the truffles went in the trash.
2. Flying Bird Botanicals Organic Hot Chocolate Fine Cacao Drinking Chocolate
3.5 oz // $10
I'm excited to try this and I'm happy mine did not come damaged (besides a couple of dents in the tin).
3. Moksa Body Butter in Organic Rosemary, Mint & Sage
8 oz // $16
We've received a Moksa product in the past and I enjoyed trying it so I was happy to see this brand again in the SeasonsBox. This body butter looked so light and fluffy (like whipped cream), but it had a really hard texture to the touch. One of my YT viewers mentioned it might have been because the body butter froze in transit. I will still use this. It smells heavenly.
4. Premium Soy Mason Jar Candle in Sugar Cookie
8 oz // $8
I was excited about this candle but the wax looks funny so I suspect it probably froze during transit too. The lid also somehow unscrewed itself and became loose in the box. I love the jar so I am excited to reuse that once I'm done the candle.
My one-year subscription will be complete after the January 2014 box, and I'm happy it's finally coming to an end. SeasonsBox is charging customers with credit cards on file so I e-mailed support@seasonsbox.com to cancel and I changed my credit card expiry date by logging onto the website (since it wouldn't allow me to delete the information outright). I was on the SeasonsBox website to check out the January preview and noticed they are using one of my old photos from the January 2013 SeasonsBox! How infuriating! I had authorized Agnes to use my photos when she was the owner, but it's misleading to show the pretty box and ribbon when the packaging looks nothing like that. I will be e-mailing SeasonsBox to remove my image from the website.
Wednesday, January 8, 2014
January 2014 Secret Diva - Pore Minimizer
Here is my first Secret Diva box! The box is supposed to arrive on the eighth of every month, since 8 was Christian Dior's favourite number. I was very impressed that it arrived a few days ahead of schedule! This box was shipped via UPS and it contained a letter informing me that I have a secret admirer, hehe. There was one full size product included in this month's box. It was packaged beautifully in a "luxe couture gift box" and tied with a ribbon. The box is really thick and heavy duty. I am definitely going to re-use it for storage or gift giving.
(I tried to re-tie the ribbon, but it looks... erg... different.)
Inside is a new product - the Pore Minimizer Skin Refining Matte Primer. I am really excited to try this as I have never tried any of Dior's face products (last year, I purchased a blush and the two shimmer powders, but I haven't even swatched them yet). The letter I received in the box notes the following:
This advanced primer instantly corrects imperfections by filling, refining, and mattifying skin for a high-definition flawless complexion. The weightless, ultra-fine texture visibly reduces pores, smoothes skin, refines skin's texture and optimizes foundation hold. In one universal shade, this product adapts to all skin tones. Pore Minimizer can even be used throughout the day. Touch up your makeup by patting it gently over makeup.
Similar to the nail polish featured in the January Polished Diva, this product is part of the 2014 Spring Trianon collection. I was taking a look at the rest of the items in that collection and oh how my heart aches for the new Lip Glow in Coral!
The Secret Diva subscription service provides you with 12 Secret Admirer boxes, one for each month of the year in 2014. This service is intended to be gifted to a loved one (hence, Secret Admirer), but I just bought it for myself. Products can range from skin care to cosmetics to fragrances. Dior is expensive and this subscription is no exception. The auction priced the 2014 Secret Diva subscription at $600. You are not guaranteed a value in each box, but judging from some of the 2013 unboxings from likesthelook, there are a number of months where the value of the product exceeds the monthly "price" - in any event, 100% of the proceeds go to charity so I view the price tag as a donation and I am not too concerned about the value in each box. For more information about this and the Polished Diva subscription, please click here!
(I tried to re-tie the ribbon, but it looks... erg... different.)
Inside is a new product - the Pore Minimizer Skin Refining Matte Primer. I am really excited to try this as I have never tried any of Dior's face products (last year, I purchased a blush and the two shimmer powders, but I haven't even swatched them yet). The letter I received in the box notes the following:
This advanced primer instantly corrects imperfections by filling, refining, and mattifying skin for a high-definition flawless complexion. The weightless, ultra-fine texture visibly reduces pores, smoothes skin, refines skin's texture and optimizes foundation hold. In one universal shade, this product adapts to all skin tones. Pore Minimizer can even be used throughout the day. Touch up your makeup by patting it gently over makeup.
Similar to the nail polish featured in the January Polished Diva, this product is part of the 2014 Spring Trianon collection. I was taking a look at the rest of the items in that collection and oh how my heart aches for the new Lip Glow in Coral!
The Secret Diva subscription service provides you with 12 Secret Admirer boxes, one for each month of the year in 2014. This service is intended to be gifted to a loved one (hence, Secret Admirer), but I just bought it for myself. Products can range from skin care to cosmetics to fragrances. Dior is expensive and this subscription is no exception. The auction priced the 2014 Secret Diva subscription at $600. You are not guaranteed a value in each box, but judging from some of the 2013 unboxings from likesthelook, there are a number of months where the value of the product exceeds the monthly "price" - in any event, 100% of the proceeds go to charity so I view the price tag as a donation and I am not too concerned about the value in each box. For more information about this and the Polished Diva subscription, please click here!
Wednesday, January 1, 2014
Dior Annual Subscriptions and January Polished Diva
Every year, Dior holds an online auction with 100% of the proceeds going to charity. I am not sure if the charitable organization changes every year, but the proceeds from the 2013 auction went to Look Good Feel Better, an organization "dedicated to improving the self esteem and quality of life for people undergoing treatment for cancer." The Dior auction is held once a year and it ran from October 1 to October 10 in 2013. I learned about the auction from a fellow YouTuber, likesthelook, who purchased the 2013 Secret Admirer subscription in 2012. She did several unboxings on her YouTube channel if you want to get an idea of the types of products included in the subscription.
The auction was mainly for one-of-a-kind luxury experience packages (like a trip to New York during fashion week), which go to the highest bidder. In addition to this, there were also several fixed price auctions available in limited quantities, and I purchased two of these:
1) Secret Diva Subscription. This service provides you with 12 Secret Admirer boxes, one for each month of the year in 2014. This service is intended to be gifted to a loved one (hence, Secret Admirer), but I just bought it for myself. Products can range from skin care to cosmetics to fragrances. Dior is expensive and this subscription is no exception. The auction priced the 2014 Secret Diva subscription at $600. You are not guaranteed a value in each box, but judging from some of likesthelook's unboxings, there are a number of months where the value of the product exceeds the monthly "price" - in any event, 100% of the proceeds go to charity so I view the price tag as a donation and I am not too concerned about the value in each box. There were a limited number of subscriptions available but I don't recall how many (I made my purchase on October 5 so they don't seem to sell out too quickly).
(Source: www.diorauction.com - website not currently available)
2) Polished Diva Subscription. This is a nail polish of the month club that runs for the 2014 calendar year. The auction priced the 2014 Polished Diva subscription at $250 and there were 15 subscriptions available for purchase.
(Source: www.diorauction.com - website not currently available)
I was pleasantly surprised when I received my first 2014 Polished Diva box on December 30! It was shipped via FedEx and the box was rather large considering there was only a letter, a small gift bag, and a nail polish inside. The January polish is part of the 2014 Spring Look Collection: Trianon. I received 204 Porcelaine, which is a limited edition shade. It's a lovely baby blue. This is my first Dior nail polish so I am very excited to try it!
As you can see, these Dior subscriptions were very expensive, but I felt alright about the price since all the proceeds went to charity. Plus, I was below budget on my charitable donations in 2013... so I used this fact to further justify the purchases. :) I will be doing video unboxings for all the Dior boxes, but I am going to do them quarterly. In the meantime, if you are interested in what I receive on a monthly basis, I will be posting the contents on this blog, on Instagram, and on Tumblr.
Overall, the 2013 Dior auction raised $124,000 for Look Good Feel Better.
The auction was mainly for one-of-a-kind luxury experience packages (like a trip to New York during fashion week), which go to the highest bidder. In addition to this, there were also several fixed price auctions available in limited quantities, and I purchased two of these:
1) Secret Diva Subscription. This service provides you with 12 Secret Admirer boxes, one for each month of the year in 2014. This service is intended to be gifted to a loved one (hence, Secret Admirer), but I just bought it for myself. Products can range from skin care to cosmetics to fragrances. Dior is expensive and this subscription is no exception. The auction priced the 2014 Secret Diva subscription at $600. You are not guaranteed a value in each box, but judging from some of likesthelook's unboxings, there are a number of months where the value of the product exceeds the monthly "price" - in any event, 100% of the proceeds go to charity so I view the price tag as a donation and I am not too concerned about the value in each box. There were a limited number of subscriptions available but I don't recall how many (I made my purchase on October 5 so they don't seem to sell out too quickly).
(Source: www.diorauction.com - website not currently available)
2) Polished Diva Subscription. This is a nail polish of the month club that runs for the 2014 calendar year. The auction priced the 2014 Polished Diva subscription at $250 and there were 15 subscriptions available for purchase.
(Source: www.diorauction.com - website not currently available)
I was pleasantly surprised when I received my first 2014 Polished Diva box on December 30! It was shipped via FedEx and the box was rather large considering there was only a letter, a small gift bag, and a nail polish inside. The January polish is part of the 2014 Spring Look Collection: Trianon. I received 204 Porcelaine, which is a limited edition shade. It's a lovely baby blue. This is my first Dior nail polish so I am very excited to try it!
As you can see, these Dior subscriptions were very expensive, but I felt alright about the price since all the proceeds went to charity. Plus, I was below budget on my charitable donations in 2013... so I used this fact to further justify the purchases. :) I will be doing video unboxings for all the Dior boxes, but I am going to do them quarterly. In the meantime, if you are interested in what I receive on a monthly basis, I will be posting the contents on this blog, on Instagram, and on Tumblr.
Overall, the 2013 Dior auction raised $124,000 for Look Good Feel Better.
Sunday, December 22, 2013
November 2013 SeasonsBox - Unboxing and Review
Just a quick post today on the November SeasonsBox. This month's box was better than October; however, the value was only $32 compared to a price of between $34.90 to $44.95 depending on where you live.
Here are the products in the November SeasonsBox - we received 5 full size products this month:
1. Earth Therapeutics Loofah Body Scrubber
1 Scrubber // $1.99
Nothing too exciting here... just a standard loofah scrubber.
2. Organic Apothecary Sinus Blend Shower Tablets
2 Tablets // $2
I haven't tried these yet but I am excited to see if they work.
3. Green Bubbles Tired Pigs Foot Soak in Lavender Peppermint
8 oz // $8
I haven't tired this product yet either but I am happy to receive this foot soak. My feet are really needing some TLC.
4. Green Bubbles Shampoo in Honey Patchouli
8 oz // $10
This shampoo was great at cleaning my hair - very gentle yet effective. However, the patchouli scent is waaaay too strong - it ended up giving me a headache the next day. I've since used this shampoo to clean my makeup brushes and the scent is still really strong but at least I won't be exposed to it all day.
5. Green Bubbles Conditioner in Honey Patchouli
8 oz // $10
The conditioner made my hair feel nice and soft... super sleek and shiny as well. Unfortunately, the scent was too strong (see comment for shampoo above).
Overall, I did not find this to be an exciting box. I miss the scarves, bracelets, candles, and other "lifestyle" items of previous boxes.
Here are the products in the November SeasonsBox - we received 5 full size products this month:
1. Earth Therapeutics Loofah Body Scrubber
1 Scrubber // $1.99
Nothing too exciting here... just a standard loofah scrubber.
2. Organic Apothecary Sinus Blend Shower Tablets
2 Tablets // $2
I haven't tried these yet but I am excited to see if they work.
3. Green Bubbles Tired Pigs Foot Soak in Lavender Peppermint
8 oz // $8
I haven't tired this product yet either but I am happy to receive this foot soak. My feet are really needing some TLC.
4. Green Bubbles Shampoo in Honey Patchouli
8 oz // $10
This shampoo was great at cleaning my hair - very gentle yet effective. However, the patchouli scent is waaaay too strong - it ended up giving me a headache the next day. I've since used this shampoo to clean my makeup brushes and the scent is still really strong but at least I won't be exposed to it all day.
5. Green Bubbles Conditioner in Honey Patchouli
8 oz // $10
The conditioner made my hair feel nice and soft... super sleek and shiny as well. Unfortunately, the scent was too strong (see comment for shampoo above).
Overall, I did not find this to be an exciting box. I miss the scarves, bracelets, candles, and other "lifestyle" items of previous boxes.
Friday, November 22, 2013
Rose Secret Box - Korean Beauty Products
A little while ago, I saw on Beauty Box Spoilers that a limited number of Rose Secret Boxes were available on the Rose Rose Shop website. There were a few price points available, ranging from $25 to $100 USD (if I remember correctly), which included free shipping. Since my experience with Korean beauty products was pretty much zilch, I decided to go ahead and jump on the bandwagon. I picked up a $25 box with 2 full size products, 1 pair of earrings, and a bunch of samples. The box arrived relatively quickly, considering it was shipped from Korea, and I was really impressed with the number of different items included in the box. I've only tried a couple of products so far as it took me a while to photograph everything. Plus I needed to do some research as I didn't know how to use a number of the products. Here are all the goodies that came in the secret box!
One of the products I've tried is the Cedia BB Cream - this was one of the full size products included in the box. It's supposed to be an "intense whitening" product, which is not something I really want for my skin. I received a universal shade, which is too light for my skin tone and I feel it does not blend well when worn on its own. It's also a drier formulation and I feel it looks a little cakey and unnatural. I've been mixing it with my darker Marcelle BB Cream and I've been enjoying wearing it that way, but it's not something I would purchase. I like that it comes in a pump tube and there's no discernible scent.
I'm not 100% sure what the other full size product is... perhaps it is the Tony Moly Goddess Style BerryBerry Lovely Stick. I received the shade PKLS05 - Blossom Pink. In the tube, the lipstick looks very bright, but it is quite a soft pink on the lips. It contains a tremendous amount of shimmer in it and, as a result, it feels gritty on the lips. The lipstick has a nice scent and no flavour. I don't see myself wearing it a whole lot though due to the grittiness.
This Cedia Mineral Powder could also be considered a full size product. Either that or it is a very very generous sample size. This is in the shade Skin Beige and comes with a small foam powder puff. I haven't tried this product yet as I'm using a whole bunch of different powders right now.
I received 2 of these 13 ml La'dor Eco Professional Perfect Filler Special Hair Clinic tubes. Oddly enough, I received 2 of the exact same tubes, but one came packaged in a box and the other one did not. This is one of the products I had no idea how to use. It says you are supposed to mix it in a 1:1 ratio with the perfect filler and water. It smells perfume-y and the texture is similar to water. The Rose Rose Shop website includes the following description about this product: "powerful solution to repair damaged hair for perfect nutrition and multifaceted!" The main ingredients are micro ceramide, keratin LPP, collagen PPT, and silk amino acids.
Here is how you use it:
(Source: Rose Rose Shop website)
A bunch of products from Etude House! I've heard a lot about this brand/store, but I've never tried any of the products. I received the following (left to right): Connect & Care CC Cream foil packet, Collagen Moistfull First Essence, Wonder Pore Special Trial Kit (White Clay Clear, Freshner, Corrector), Mag Play Nails Magnetic Nail Polish in #1 Red N (I don't think this includes a magnet), and Precious Mineral BB Cream foil packet.
I also received a couple of sheet masks! One is the Etude House Pearl Extract Natural Mask and the other is the Bio Remedies Therapeutic Cosmetics (BRTC) Green Tea Stem Cell Mask. I love sheet masks so I can't wait to try these!!
Here are the foil packets I received... lots of samples to add to my stockpile! I've listed the samples in a snail shell shape, starting from the top left corner: Skin79 BB Cleanser, Too Cool For School Pink Girl Jelly Base (this can be used as a makeup base or mixed with a BB cream or foundation - so intrigued by this!), Missha Time Revolution Aqua Youth Cream, Missha Signature Complexion Coordinating BB Cream, Tony Moly Intense Care Syn-Ake Wrinkle Filler Serum, Ja Saeng Essence, Too Cool For School Dinoplatz Pearl Bay Invasion in #1 Mother of Pearl (this is a makeup base... I love the packaging!), and Missha Super Aqua Marine Stem Cell Intensive Serum.
Finally, here are the earrings I received. I haven't worn these yet, but they are essentially oversized studs so I really like them!
I was so impressed by the service and shipping of Rose Rose Shop that I have since placed another order (not a secret box though... I picked out a bunch of products). Look for a haul post coming soon! :)
One of the products I've tried is the Cedia BB Cream - this was one of the full size products included in the box. It's supposed to be an "intense whitening" product, which is not something I really want for my skin. I received a universal shade, which is too light for my skin tone and I feel it does not blend well when worn on its own. It's also a drier formulation and I feel it looks a little cakey and unnatural. I've been mixing it with my darker Marcelle BB Cream and I've been enjoying wearing it that way, but it's not something I would purchase. I like that it comes in a pump tube and there's no discernible scent.
I'm not 100% sure what the other full size product is... perhaps it is the Tony Moly Goddess Style BerryBerry Lovely Stick. I received the shade PKLS05 - Blossom Pink. In the tube, the lipstick looks very bright, but it is quite a soft pink on the lips. It contains a tremendous amount of shimmer in it and, as a result, it feels gritty on the lips. The lipstick has a nice scent and no flavour. I don't see myself wearing it a whole lot though due to the grittiness.
This Cedia Mineral Powder could also be considered a full size product. Either that or it is a very very generous sample size. This is in the shade Skin Beige and comes with a small foam powder puff. I haven't tried this product yet as I'm using a whole bunch of different powders right now.
I received 2 of these 13 ml La'dor Eco Professional Perfect Filler Special Hair Clinic tubes. Oddly enough, I received 2 of the exact same tubes, but one came packaged in a box and the other one did not. This is one of the products I had no idea how to use. It says you are supposed to mix it in a 1:1 ratio with the perfect filler and water. It smells perfume-y and the texture is similar to water. The Rose Rose Shop website includes the following description about this product: "powerful solution to repair damaged hair for perfect nutrition and multifaceted!" The main ingredients are micro ceramide, keratin LPP, collagen PPT, and silk amino acids.
Here is how you use it:
(Source: Rose Rose Shop website)
A bunch of products from Etude House! I've heard a lot about this brand/store, but I've never tried any of the products. I received the following (left to right): Connect & Care CC Cream foil packet, Collagen Moistfull First Essence, Wonder Pore Special Trial Kit (White Clay Clear, Freshner, Corrector), Mag Play Nails Magnetic Nail Polish in #1 Red N (I don't think this includes a magnet), and Precious Mineral BB Cream foil packet.
I also received a couple of sheet masks! One is the Etude House Pearl Extract Natural Mask and the other is the Bio Remedies Therapeutic Cosmetics (BRTC) Green Tea Stem Cell Mask. I love sheet masks so I can't wait to try these!!
Here are the foil packets I received... lots of samples to add to my stockpile! I've listed the samples in a snail shell shape, starting from the top left corner: Skin79 BB Cleanser, Too Cool For School Pink Girl Jelly Base (this can be used as a makeup base or mixed with a BB cream or foundation - so intrigued by this!), Missha Time Revolution Aqua Youth Cream, Missha Signature Complexion Coordinating BB Cream, Tony Moly Intense Care Syn-Ake Wrinkle Filler Serum, Ja Saeng Essence, Too Cool For School Dinoplatz Pearl Bay Invasion in #1 Mother of Pearl (this is a makeup base... I love the packaging!), and Missha Super Aqua Marine Stem Cell Intensive Serum.
Finally, here are the earrings I received. I haven't worn these yet, but they are essentially oversized studs so I really like them!
I was so impressed by the service and shipping of Rose Rose Shop that I have since placed another order (not a secret box though... I picked out a bunch of products). Look for a haul post coming soon! :)
Monday, November 18, 2013
September and October 2013 Starlooks Starbox
September 2013 Starlooks Starbox
The September Starbox was not too exciting. I liked the products, but everything was very colourless. The theme was "Behind the Scenes" and I guess the idea behind these products is to achieve a dramatic and glowy look? The bonus this month was a coupon code for OOBERLUXE, which is basically an online concierge service. I wasn't too interested, but I was going to give it a try... until I saw that you have to provide your credit card information to sign up for the trial account. I decided to pass because I didn't want to go through the hassle of cancelling the service. As always, we received a quartz crysal in this box (not pictured).
1. Fashion Lashes in FL13 // 1 pair // $13
I don't wear false lashes often at all, maybe once a year? Perhaps I'll give these a try on New Year's Eve.
2. Infinity Eyeliner Pot in Milky Way // 3.8 g // $13
I really like the Starlooks Infinity liners, but wish we received a dark shade so I could use it to line my eyes for a dramatic smokey eye look. Instead, I'll probably just use this as an eyeshadow base or cream eyeshadow. This has a shimmery satin finish - it's a milky metallic.
3. Lip Gloss in Pearl Necklace // 4 ml // $12
I love the Starlooks lip glosses, but again I wish we received one with more pigmentation. This one is basically a colourless gloss with shimmer.
Overall, I thought the September box was fine, but it just didn't wow me.
// Approximate value of the products in the September 2013 Starbox: $38 //
October 2013 Starlooks Starbox
The October box was my very last Starbox. I decided not to renew my 6 month subscription because I have way too much makeup and I need to try to stop adding to my collection. My subscription ended on a high note - I thought the October Starbox was amazing! I got a decent size crystal and I don't recall there being a bonus (unless it was the discount code for Rivet & Sway).
1. Gem Eye Pencil in Mirage // 2.4 g // $14
This is a very metallic and light reflecting silver eye pencil! I think it would be stunning on the lower lash line and in the inner corner. Starlooks eye pencils are not the creamiest, but the gem eye pencil formulation is better than the regular line of eye pencils if you prefer creamy liners.
2. Tendergloss Lipstick in Puzzi // 3.8 g // $13
The Tendergloss is my favourite lipstick formulation from Starlooks... very comfortable on the lips and quite moisturizing. I'm always happy to see one included in the Starbox! This one is in a nearly colourless shade - it's a baby baby pink with lots of iridescent shimmer. It's pretty, but I wish we received a non-shimmery and more pigmented shade.
3. 3 Shade Blush Compact // 18 g (estimated) // $46
This blush palette is amazing!! There are 3 beautiful shades included: a dusty rose, a light peachy pink, and a cool toned pink. All shades are nicely pigmented. They are a little powdery but they still apply really well and show up on my skin. This was the highlight of the October Starbox for me.
Overall, I thought the October Starbox was fantastic. :)
// Approximate value of the products in the October 2013 Starbox: $73 //
I can't believe I have been subscribed to the Starbox since August 2012. In that time, I've added a lot of nice Starlooks products to my collection and I very much enjoyed this subscription service.
Note: I paid for the September and October Starboxes with my own money.
The September Starbox was not too exciting. I liked the products, but everything was very colourless. The theme was "Behind the Scenes" and I guess the idea behind these products is to achieve a dramatic and glowy look? The bonus this month was a coupon code for OOBERLUXE, which is basically an online concierge service. I wasn't too interested, but I was going to give it a try... until I saw that you have to provide your credit card information to sign up for the trial account. I decided to pass because I didn't want to go through the hassle of cancelling the service. As always, we received a quartz crysal in this box (not pictured).
1. Fashion Lashes in FL13 // 1 pair // $13
I don't wear false lashes often at all, maybe once a year? Perhaps I'll give these a try on New Year's Eve.
2. Infinity Eyeliner Pot in Milky Way // 3.8 g // $13
I really like the Starlooks Infinity liners, but wish we received a dark shade so I could use it to line my eyes for a dramatic smokey eye look. Instead, I'll probably just use this as an eyeshadow base or cream eyeshadow. This has a shimmery satin finish - it's a milky metallic.
3. Lip Gloss in Pearl Necklace // 4 ml // $12
I love the Starlooks lip glosses, but again I wish we received one with more pigmentation. This one is basically a colourless gloss with shimmer.
Overall, I thought the September box was fine, but it just didn't wow me.
// Approximate value of the products in the September 2013 Starbox: $38 //
October 2013 Starlooks Starbox
The October box was my very last Starbox. I decided not to renew my 6 month subscription because I have way too much makeup and I need to try to stop adding to my collection. My subscription ended on a high note - I thought the October Starbox was amazing! I got a decent size crystal and I don't recall there being a bonus (unless it was the discount code for Rivet & Sway).
1. Gem Eye Pencil in Mirage // 2.4 g // $14
This is a very metallic and light reflecting silver eye pencil! I think it would be stunning on the lower lash line and in the inner corner. Starlooks eye pencils are not the creamiest, but the gem eye pencil formulation is better than the regular line of eye pencils if you prefer creamy liners.
2. Tendergloss Lipstick in Puzzi // 3.8 g // $13
The Tendergloss is my favourite lipstick formulation from Starlooks... very comfortable on the lips and quite moisturizing. I'm always happy to see one included in the Starbox! This one is in a nearly colourless shade - it's a baby baby pink with lots of iridescent shimmer. It's pretty, but I wish we received a non-shimmery and more pigmented shade.
3. 3 Shade Blush Compact // 18 g (estimated) // $46
This blush palette is amazing!! There are 3 beautiful shades included: a dusty rose, a light peachy pink, and a cool toned pink. All shades are nicely pigmented. They are a little powdery but they still apply really well and show up on my skin. This was the highlight of the October Starbox for me.
Overall, I thought the October Starbox was fantastic. :)
// Approximate value of the products in the October 2013 Starbox: $73 //
I can't believe I have been subscribed to the Starbox since August 2012. In that time, I've added a lot of nice Starlooks products to my collection and I very much enjoyed this subscription service.
Note: I paid for the September and October Starboxes with my own money.
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