November Topbox

Another Topbox!

As I mentioned last month, I am not longer subscribed to Glymm. I used to be subscribed to Loosebutton's Luxebox too, but alas they didn't make the cut.

It seems that every single subscription company is raising their prices... Glymm is now $12 a month, Luxebox is something like $26 a quarter? Now there's Glossybox which is somewhere in the mid 20s too, so it seems there aren't any $10 boxes left.

However, Topbox is the only box still with a waitlist... so knowing I'm in, I'm going to stay in.

Let's hop into what I got!

Yay for:
Roberto Cavalli Perfume                                                 5ml

This is the cutest packaging. The top feels a little flimsy... if I'm impatient and trying to open this in a hurry I could just snap the opening right off. However, it is a pleasant scent. Actually both my mom and I both like this, which is unusual. It is musky, but not overly so. It isn't a grandma old-person floral-shop type scent. I think this is perfect for wintertime.

China Glaze Nail Polish in I Herd That                           Full Size (14ml)

Yes! I love nail polish. I have about 70+ bottles, but I can't seem to stop collecting them. Granted, I do actually use them, so they're not going to waste. This is a glittery gold with some green and red flecks in it, absolutely wonderful for Christmas.This comes from the Safari collection... as you can tell from the awful pun.

Make up for Ever Aqua Eyes Eyeliner                            Size not on pencil

This glides on very smoothly and has great staying power. I hate to fall in love with this since the full size is so expensive...

Meh for:
Cuccio Naturale Pomegranate and Fig Body Butter        9.24g

This seems delicious, but this is a cream. Nothing overly spectacular about it. Plus it has an annoying little cap that seems to snap off at the most inopportune times. More of a packaging issue than anything else.

Overall Impression of November's Box:
Another good box. Good variety of skincare and makeup. People have been demanding more makeup, and they've got it! At least one makeup item per box. And I'll never deny or reject nail polish!

July Topbox

I got my Topbox nice and early this month, as usual. Unlike other subscription boxes, it never seems like I’m waiting forever for my box.

I got a few items I am very stoked about!

Yay for:

China Glaze in Purple Panic (Neon)                                                           Full size

I am so glad I didn’t get Innocence (I saw some other people got it), because I already have it. The card that accompanies the Topbox claims this colour is a personalized shade… and I’m inclined to believe them. The only thing about this colour is that it dries nearly matte. I do like my polishes shiny, so I just finish it with a nice topcoat.

NuMe Hydropunch Shampoo                                                                      20ml

I got the Conditioner version of this sample in my May Glymm Box, so I will say I am very happy that I got the Shampoo equivalent of this too. I tried the conditioner a few times, and I really liked it. At first I thought it was kind of runny, but it is definitely moisturizing. Plus it smells amazing and the scent lasts throughout the day.

Sampar Essentials Ultra Hydrating Fluid                                               2 Pouches

These came in two little plastic pouch thingys. I’ve only tried one, but I did generally enjoy it. It did leave a film-like layer over my skin. I’m not a huge fan of that, but since this product is marketed toward preventing polluting damage and so on, I’ll go on and suspend my cynicism. Sure, that’s the point of the film.

Nay for:

Nothing! I liked everything in this month’s box!

Meh for:

Pure + Simple Calming Cucumber Mask                                               20ml

I like the idea of this. I like the packaging (so cute!) and the scent is decent. However, it doesn’t seem to do anything! It kind of absorbs instantly into my skin and disappears! At first I thought it was because my skin was dry and needed more moisture… but then when I washed my face later a thin layer of residue came with it. I like masks where I can tell I’ve put a mask on. I just wanted to like this more than I did.

NuMe Gift Certificate                                                                                  For $100

I’ve gotten a gift certificate for NuMe from Glymm before, and I didn’t use it. I won’t be using it now either. Many people have mentioned how you can find NuMe products at Winners or other discount stores for about $30… No matter how you calculate it, that’s a good deal. Plus if you order online, the cheapest item is about $100, and you have to pay about $15 for shipping. I don’t like that too much.

Overall Impression of July's Box:
Enjoyed! Delighted! Can't wait for more!

Haul: Nail Polish

It was my birthday a couple weeks ago, and I got a few things I had been drooling over. Some of my other birthday goodies have been digested and returned to the earth already, so these are a few of the tangible things I received!

I asked for nail polish… because who could go wrong with more nail polish!

Two of these my mom and I share from her February Julep Maven box, so I’ve included those as well.

Rimmel London in Crushed Pearl (a semi-sheer purple-pink-grey)

Wet N Wild in Gray’s Anatomy (a semi-sheer grey-purple-pink)

Sally Hansen in Mint Sorbet (a lovely mint green)

Revlon in Charismatic (an orange coral colour)

Revlon in Fashionista (a dark teal blue)

Art Deco nail brush in Forest Green

Art Deco nail brush in Tangerine

Art Deco nail brush in Red

Julep Maven in Rachel (a coppery, chocolate… red colour)

Julep Maven in Meryl (a very chic medium gray, on my nails now!)

China glazes from left to right:

China Glaze in Concrete Catwalk (a dark gray)

China Glaze in Ruby Pumps (a densely packed glittery ruby red)

China Glaze in Gaga for Green (a medium apple green)

China Glaze for Kinetic Candy (a very nice sky blue)

I’ve been really debating whether I want to get a Sally Beauty Supply membership. The problem is there are only two Sally’s stores in BC… one in Surrey and the other in Abbotsford, both very far from me. I don’t buy nail polish too often, but it seems like when I do I tend to get a lot. There’s apparently another beauty supply store on Kingsway that I have yet to check out… but their membership is $10 a year instead of the $5 at Sally’s… much to consider!