Topbox – October 2014

It’s Topbox time! I was actually expecting my box this October since I remembered it was after Thanksgiving!

What I didn’t remember was that I ordered the LouLou box and I completely forgot what was supposed to be in it. More on that in a separate post, though.

Anyway, I got the original tube packaging but this month’s box looks pretty good again!

What is it?

Topbox is a Canadian monthly beauty box subscription that features 4 deluxe samples for $12 per month, shipped right to your door via Canada Post. Some months even include full sized products! Keep in mind that they do have a waitlist of about 2-3 months from initial sign-up before you start your subscription!

Bioderma’s Sensibio H2O Micelle Solution ($8.78 for 100mL) – $21.95 for 250mL

I’m starting to really like Bioderma’s products. The sample of face cleanser I got from an earlier Topbox is now hiding at the Monsieur’s place and it works really well alternating with my usual face wash!

Their micelle solution is absolutely legendary and I know so many people who swear by it as a makeup remover, mild cleanser and toner at the same time, so I’m super excited to try this!

MeMeMe Cosmetics’ Eye Inspire Mono Collection in Mirage – £4.99/$9 for about 5g (Full size)

Mirage is actually a burnt bronze colour that’s deep enough for some light definition on a natural look or as a base colour to layer on a smokey eye.

It feels pretty good and light, but I already have a colour very similar to this, so this might go into my swap pile…

Prestige Cosmetics’ Back to Black Makeup Eraser Pen – Unknown price (Full size)

At first, I wasn’t sure what the product card was talking about and I actually thought that it was a misprint of some sort! The summary on the card was so vague that I wasn’t sure if I got the right product or not. To me, Back to Black is an eyeliner or a mascara of some sort.

It turns out that Back to Black is Prestige Cosmetics’ product line, like how Maybelline has their Eye Studio collection and Expertwear collection. The makeup eraser pen takes care of minor mistakes really, really well, which comes in VERY handy when it comes to liquid eyeliner! This may be a life-changer for me…

Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Serum Synchronized Complex II ($20 for 4mL) – $75 for 15mL

I’m not too sure if I’ll use this one since I’m trying not to use anything like serums or chemicals near my eyes. I might give it to my mom if she wants to use it since she likes to try things like this. However, I think that the sample size is very generous compared to the amount you’d get in a full size!

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Verdict: 3.75/5 – I’m not going to use a couple of the items in the box but I do like how there’s full sized products from brands I’ve never heard of before! Plus, the Bioderma micelle solution and makeup eraser pen are GENIUS.

xoxo,

B.elle

Topbox – August 2014

It’s Topbox time! Wheee!

What is it?

Topbox is a Canadian monthly beauty box subscription that features 4 deluxe samples for $12 per month, shipped right to your door via Canada Post. Some months even include full sized products! Keep in mind that they do have a waitlist of about 2-3 months from initial sign-up before you start your subscription!

Let’s see what’s in the August Topbox!

I totally forgot that they offered the organza option again this month, so I was pretty surprised when I picked up my Topbox and there wasn’t a box inside! When I saw pics of other people’s Topboxes with organza bags, I hoped that I picked it because I’ve been needing a separate bag for small storage.

On first glance, this month’s contents look pretty good. I’m pretty happy that I didn’t get another nail polish, to be honest! Although I find it pretty hilarious that there’s a nail polish REMOVER this time around.

Barefoot Venus’ Macadamia Oil Hand Cream in Hunny Mango – $5.99 for 60mL, full sized

I love this hand cream! It’s so soft and light, so it’s perfect for summer use after washing a ton of dishes or when my callouses start flaking off a bit too much. The fruity, honey scent is absolutely heavenly, too.

LAQA & Co.’s Bees Knees Sheer Lip Lube Pencil – $20 for 2g, full sized

I laughed out loud when I saw this product because I had have this thing about the ’20s, its glitz and glam, and especially the funky sayings they had like “bee’s knees”!

The colour is really quite sheer but it turns out to be a more delicate, lighter pink than it looks in the tube. It feels really smooth and buttery, with a slight hint of mint in it, too.

Here’s a swatch of it on the left compared to Tarte’s Amazon Butter in Coral Blossom!

It might be a bit too light against my particular complexion, but it might work for me in late fall or winter. If not, I’ll put it up for swap!

Clinique’s All About Eyes (5mL sample = $10.33) – 30mL for $62CAD

According to the product card, it’s supposed to reduce the appearance of eye puffs, darkness and fine lines. Considering how I’ve been sleeping lately, I’m hoping that this will show some kind of result if I try using it.

I’m not a huge fan of Clinique’s products, but I do appreciate the larger deluxe samples they provide compared to their full sized things. It’ll give me time to see if there’s any effect on me rather than just a single serving sample.

Belvada Cosmetic’s Nail Polish Remover

It’s been a while since I’ve thought about Belvada! In fact, I think the last time was when Topbox had sent out a round of their blackhead masks that turned out to be pretty painful. Like last time, Belvada doesn’t provide a lot of information online about their new products, so it makes me wonder what they do with these things after they’re sampled in Topbox.

I actually like the concept of having some portable nail polish remover wipes on hand! I did my nails on Saturday before Edgefest, but I noticed that my nails needed a desperate clean up halfway to the monsieur’s place.

Luckily, I didn’t face any fashion faux pas since it was just Edgefest and it was getting pretty dark anyway. But, this little container would’ve been perfect to keep in my bag!

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Verdict: 4/5 – I got one of the best variants I’ve seen so far and I really like it! There’s a good variety and top quality in my box that I really can’t complain. The colour of the Lip Lube would have been a lot better in a different colour for me, but that’s just the way it is!

Did you get the August Topbox? What did you think of it?

xoxo,

B.elle