Author: amy

New Glasses!

I came across a sitewide sale on ClearlyContacts.ca last Sunday and basically bit the bullet because it was so cheap.  When I found out new customers get one pair of free frames, I accidentally 😉 ended up with two pairs.  My second, free pair I affectionately dub them my “hipster” glasses and didn’t even bother getting any lens coatings on them.

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They’re on the bottom.  I don’t know if they suit me, but at home, I find myself reaching for them a lot?  I don’t know.

They came within 2 days, which is amazing considering where I live and how long packages usually take to get to me.

I don’t really need glasses for many things, and certainly not for full time wear so I was super concerned when I first tried them both on.  I thought I’d been scammed because unlike my old glasses,  they were so clear so I thought they were plastic.  Then I tried reading off a lotion bottle…fuzzy without glasses, perfect with them on.  I get it!  It’s like those cliche jokes about not realizing what is “off” with your vision until you get some prescription specs (or in my case, a current prescription.  Oop.  PSA: Don’t wait 7 years before you get your eyes checked again).

So far so good for a total of $74.05.  Plus the return policy is generous.  And thinking of my old glasses with their weirdly cloudy lenses and outdated prescription?  These are really great I have to say.

Topbox June 2012: First Impressions Review

So what’s in the box for this month?

You first notice the bonus card.  That’s pretty neat, we get a couple extra drugstore samples.  Sounds good to me.

Starting with the bonuses:

I’ve tried this already and used it.  For me an eye makeup remover has to be non-stingy!   Let’s just say…I’ve had a few bad experiences with some removers in my time.  I’m a big fan of these liquid eye makeup removers and this one did the job. (And didn’t sting!) I bought several Simple products when I lived in London and liked them a lot, hopefully I’ll see their products in my local drugstores soon.

I’ve tried a sample of this recently when it was included in my Elle magazine.  I like it well enough though I’m a bit picky when it comes to foundation-type products.  I’ll use these samples for sure but as for purchasing a full sized product?  Probably not.  We’ll see though, Topbox was generous enough to include 3 packets (I stretched 1 packet out to 2 or 3 uses), so I’ll be able to test it out more.

Full-size: 1.5 g

Retails for: $12

This is supposedly a personalized shade (mine was Bella).  I haven’t seen many other reviews this month yet but I’m curious as to what colour was included in others’ boxes!  I’ve tried this product and I really like it.  It looks dark in the swatch and on first application but it sheers out to a paler pink on my lips and it’s very pretty.  I like the applicator brush too.  I have read a few reviews on this gloss that say that this product is drying (it’s slightly minty, like a plumping gloss, which is why I think it’s drying for some) but I have to say I haven’t encountered this issue personally.

Swatch

Full-size: 10 ml

Retails for: $15

I love shimmer.  I love eyeshadow.  So a shimmery eye-shadow primer?  Awesome.  I wore this out today and over 8 hours later, my eyeshadow is in place and so is the sheen from the primer.  Nice!

Sample-size: 5 ml

Retails for: $49 (for 45 ml)

My little card that came with the package said this product was a replacement for another so I had to hunt down information on what this was.  Though pretty clearly from the name you can see it’s essentially a BB (Beauty Balm) cream.  Duh, Amy.  This morning I put it under makeup and was pretty impressed right away with how it evened out my complexion.  Though my makeup did eventually start to disappear after several hours, I have to say it was really hot here today so I might have that to blame!  I’ll keep trying this out, maybe wearing it on its own, to see more on what it’s like.

Sample-size: 3.5 ml

Retails for: $29 (for 7 ml)

Again, I tried this today already!  I really liked the formulation of this, a lot.  It’s definitely not clumpy or thick and I like the smaller wand (I wonder, does the big size have a wand like this or is it because it’s a sample?  Hmm).  While it applied nicely, it didn’t really curl much.  I want to try this after using an eyelash curler to see if the results are better.

Overall
Seeing as I’ve tried and liked many of the products already says a lot.  What I appreciate about Topbox is the emphasis on makeup.  For me, and a lot of others too I think, when you get skincare samples they might be really awesome but it’s tricky to incorporate into your routine – much harder than makeup.  It was no trouble for me to use a different eye makeup remover, or primer, or lipgloss or mascara today.  It was super easy to test out the new makeup products in this month’s Topbox.  My only complaint is how looooong it takes me to get the boxes (I know I’m in NL but still!) – I’m pretty sure I’m one of the last and frankly, that sucks.  But overall, I was pleased this month!  Looking forward to July’s. 🙂

[rating=5]

NOTD: OPI Just Spotted the Lizard

I wasn’t terribly enthused after seeing OPI’s new collection for Spiderman.  I thought that it was missing a true, classic blue and red (you know, it’s Spiderman after all).  Though I was really drawn to Just Spotted the Lizard.

I LOVE DUOCHROMES.  So much.

The colour is a really nice duochrome too, gold and green.  Apparently it’s a dupe for Chanel’s Peridot, so BONUS.

I really love this, and it applied well.  In most light it appears to be mostly gold with hints of green.  Pretty!

Topbox May 2012: First Impressions Review

If you’re unfamiliar with Topbox.ca, it is essentially one of the (increasingly many) beauty subscription boxes available.  Luckily, this one is geared toward Canadians only and from my research it seems to be one of the best (if not the best) of the ones available to us.

I discovered Topbox through the youtube beauty community when it was introduced before Christmas and finally signed up for myself weeks later.  I guess a lot of people had the same idea because I was put on the waiting list for May.  May?! At least the interim would let me see how others reviewed Topbox.  Was it worth it?  Like so many other box subscriptions, did the quality decrease over time? In my opinion, no.  But what about when I finally could try it for myself?

How Does it Work?

Pay $10 per month, plus taxes, and get a cute/pretty tube of samples delivered to your door each month.  Usually 4 samples are included and often at least 1 of the products are full-sized.

May’s Topbox was super impressive.  I wondered if it would be where I really loved one or two of the samples provided and was “meh” over the others.  But I was genuinely very pleased with each product.

This is the super pretty (and recyclable) packaging.

Inside

What about the products included?

 

Full-size: 15 ml

Retails for: $20

My personal favourite.  Anyone who knows me knows how much I love nail polish and I’ve been meaning to try out Deborah Lippmann for awhile.  The colour is Whatever Lola Wants, a nice pale, frosty pink.  I tend to be into more bold shades but this one is more universal I suppose!

Full-size

Retails for: $25

I’m also excited to try this product, I love brushes and this one feels nice and soft.  I plan on washing it before using it so we’ll see how it holds up.

Sample size: 2 ml

Retails for: $75 (for 15 ml)

I’m not familiar with this brand but I’ve been all about eye creams lately.  I’m trying out some Clinique but I’ll throw this in rotation too.  This product promises to help with dark circles too so we’ll see!

Sample size: 7 ml

Retails for: $39 (for 30 ml)

I like CoverFX but I haven’t tried this type of product from them before.  My current go to face primer is Hard Candy’s, which I do like, but CoverFX’s one promises anti shine and to help with acne which is interesting.  I have the exact opposite of shine so that won’t do much for me, but if it could help with evening skin tone, I’m curious to find out!

Also included was a coupon for a free Deborah Lippmann nail file if you bring it to a Holt Renfrew store before June 15.  Unfortunately there is no Holt’s in my province, oh well!

Overall

For a first box I was very impressed at what was included.  I highly recommend trying out Topbox  if you’re a Canadian and interested in trying out some cool beauty brands!

Rating: [rating=5]