Glossybox gold holiday box and la prairie box

Loved both. Would jump on any and every limited edition glossybox in the future. The la prairie box was especially noteworthy at only $40 for a travel size set. Total for these full sizes is $905! The new cellular swiss ice crystal cream was rich and very long lasting. The dry oil was also very moisturizing but for me oils dont absorb as quickly as i would like before applying my makeup so it is less useful to me. Still unbelievable value!

March alex and ani glossybox US

This glossybox was a great one. This is the last month in my first yearly subscription and I know I have to renew now! It included one of Alex and Ani's new Scent 7 products. I got the soap bar which would have not been my choice since I don't use bars so it might get given away. The scent is not described well on their site but on the packaging it is described as warm spice with sweet floral overtones. To me, it is a pretty strong patchouli/incense scent like Tom Ford's Black Orchid but more hippie-ish. An Alex and Ani bangle was an added bonus with the swan charm.

There was also Alterna Bamboo plumping strand expand which I found to give some slight volume with some shine which by the end of the day looked a little greasy. I prefer messy textured volume like that from Bumble and bumble surf spray but others might like that this doesn't make hair appear dry and smooths flyaways.

The Sisley Black Rose Cream Mask which boasts instant youth smoothing plumping and brightening was very luxurious and pretty effective. It says to wipe off excess after 15 min but my skin had soaked all of it up by then. I guess that means my skin is in need of some heavy moisturizer. It has a slight tightening feeling and fills up very fine lines but doesn't have a super dramatic effect.

The Etre Belle liplift peel was a surprise hit from a German company I've never heard of before. It comes in a lip gloss-like tube which is convenient when most lip scrubs come in little jars. It claims to use hyaluronic spheres to smooth, volumize and reduce fine lines on lips. It definitely adds volume. After rubbing in a small amount on lips they feel much fatter. The effect doesn't last for more than an hour or so but I think regular use could really make a difference. It doesn't have the stinging tingle of plumping glosses either. I would really consider keeping this as a staple item in my skincare routine.

The Nails Inc polish is a pretty poppy coraly pink called brook st. It's not super opaque so 3 thick coats were needed. Still, its a happy spring color and Nails Inc has a pretty long wearing formula. Overall A+

Dec and Jan glossybox

Loved the Ardency Inn punker liner and would definitely recommend. The nails inc polish is lovely too. The beauty blender leaves a nice airbrushed finish but im too lazy to use it for daily use because of the effort cleaning it. Everything else was fun to try but fairly average.

November 2013 glossybox

Black Emite eyeshadow
Mastey color protecting leave-in oil treatment
Nicka K eyeshadow brush
The Aloe Source jojoba radiance cleansing polish
Vincent Longo duo eye pencil

This glossybox was probably the least inspired of my year subscription. I have ton of black eyeshadow, they are in half the palettes I own. The makeup brush was ok. The Vincent Longo eyeliner was stiff and didn't draw very smoothly. The aloe source cleansing polish is the best of the bunch because it is a great exfoliator and not irritating. The Mastey oil treatment is not useful to me, I prefer not to weigh my hair down with oils.

October 2013 glossybox and Byrdie recap and review

 

This month glossybox teamed up with Byrdie, WhoWhatWear's sister site dedicated to beauty! This is probably the earliest in the month one of my glossyboxes has arrived, such a fun surprise since I didn't have a shipping notification, I had no idea they had gone out yet! Sorry for the terrible photos, I was too excited to open up and play with everything inside this one.

Brands include Tarte, Fresh, Sesha, Bulgari, and balance Me (a UK brand). The Tarte lights camera flashes mascara is full size, worth $23. Judging by the other goodies in the box, it could easily be worth $60+ total this month.

First, the Balance Me limited edition Shine On Tinted Lip Salve in super soft beige: it's 100% natural,very oily in consistency (feels like vaseline on lips) which is no surprise because the first ingredient is sweet almond oil. It has a nice minty flavor and very pale brownish color. I like that it is natural and I like that it isn't super sticky. This is a great one for cold and windy days when the last thing you want is your hair stuck to your mouth and you need to prevent chapped lips.

Bulgari Au thé Vert eau de cologne is a lovely green fresh but sort of sweet and modern scent. I think this is a great mellow scent for everyday. It's not what I would usually go for but I think I really like it. When I don't want a heavier warm patchouli based scent (Tom Ford WHite Patchouli, and Flowerbomb are my usual fav's), this will be my go-to for sure. I keep noticing it throughout the day even with 2 dabs so clearly the cologne is making it last much better than the eau de toilette version which reviews say doesn't have great staying power. Notes: Italian Bergamot, Tunisian Bitter Orange, Spanish Orange Blossom, Ceylon Cardamom, Jamaican Pepper, Russian Coriander, Bulgarian Rose, Egyptian Jasmine, Green Tea, Smoked Wood.

Tarte Lights, Camera, Flashes mascara is definitely up there with the best. I actually prefer this brush to the Benefit They're Real mascara brush I use during the week. Inside it contained an extra real brush head with directions on what sides to use and how which is a brilliant idea. There can be a learning curve with new advanced mascaras for sure. Start with swipes of the shorter side brush to build up the volume and then switch to the longer side to comb them out and lengthen. I found that this was also super curling, I tried it without curling my lashes first to test it and it definitely curled and stayed that way. I like that this formula somehow stays soft and flexible whereas the Benefit They're Real tends to get stiff once dry.

Fresh Lotus Youth Preserve face cream is one of Allure magazine's Best of Beauty for 2013. It has a nice consistency and natural scent. According to Sephora, Lotus Youth Preserve Face Cream is clinically proven to*:
- Moisturize skin for 24 hours after use
- Immediately improve skin radiance
- Enhance skin brightness and clarity
- Improve elasticity

After an independent consumer testing panel used Lotus Youth Preserve Face Cream*:
- 97% felt their skin was immediately hydrated
- 91% felt their skin was revitalized
- 91% felt this cream gave them healthier-looking skin
- 81% felt their complexion was luminous
- 84% felt their skin’s elasticity was improved
*In vivo.I think I would have to try it longer to really give an honest opinion on whether it holds up to these claims, I don't have dry skin so moisture isn't really a concern for me. It feels luxurious when applied and sinks in fast, I tried it after work before a shower and was surprised that it didn't just wash off. My skin still felt very silky even after washing so it clearly had absorbed very well.

Sesha Renew Exfoliating Gel is know for great results, you put it on dry skin rub in circles and it beads up on the surface of your skin collecting dirt and dead skin cells with it.  It takes some getting used to, and needs to be done over the sink or the beaded up gel will rub off on you. Matching it up against my favorite exfoliator, Exfolikate, it is probably not as effective but is probably better for sensitive skin. My skin felt cleaner after use and smoother.

Overall one of my favorites so far, along with the Dallas Shaw collab box. Glossybox definitely knows who to collaborate with! Now if only I could get my hands on the Man Repeller box from months and months ago before I signed up.

August 2013 glossybox US recap

Anatomical face mist- this stuff smells awesome. I can't wait to use it as a cool refresher on my face and neck after walking the dogs tomorrow.
Novex Brazilian kerarin hair treatment- very excited to try this.
Jelly pong pong lip blush- tons of color, nice texture. The plastic feels a little cheap for something that is 18$ fullsize but the product inside seems worth it.
Modelco eyeshadow duo- I'm not sure how this is supposed to be 25$ full size. As far as I'm concerned the quality is very underwelming. The lighter shade is like coarsely crushed pearls, gritty and much to glittery for my taste. The upside is the built in mirror. I love those.
Sue devitt triple c-weed pressed powder- this is very pale but a nice texture and well made packaging.
Denim makeup bag and coupon from guess jeans