A Glymmer of Hope!

Hey everyone!

Yesterday I was finally able to get to the post office to pick up my very first Glymm Box! Being an incredibly impatient person, I had already peeked around the blog world and found out what was in this months box (bad!) and I was really excited to get my hands on it!

This adorable light pink box came packaged in a matching coloured shipping box (what a cute touch!) so you know right away where its from! To be honest, I wanted to wait and take pictures while I was opening the box but I ended up opening it right in the parking lot in my car haha! Here is what I found:

These boxes are beautifully wrapped, it's like receiving a present in the mail! I always appreciate the small touches that companies include such as the embellished ribbon and lots of information about the included products.

Glymm includes a pamphlet describing all the products & their "full sized" price. I think this is a great touch because whenever I get a sample of something I want to know how much it will cost to get a full size and base my review and consideration of the product on that (there's nothing worse than falling in love with a product you can never afford the full size of!). 

My first Glymm box inluded:

Burt's Bees Milk & Honey body lotion (two sample sachets)

Vasanti Brighten Up! Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator (12g tube)

Kaia Facial Towlette (1 towelette)

Anastasia Brow Gel (Deluxe Sample size)

Cargo Eyeliner - Black (Full size)

I am super excited to try this Burt's Bees Milk & Honey Body Lotion! I've eyed this up a few times while shopping but never end up purchasing it. I've heard really good things about it and I love that it's all natural. I used to have another Milk & Honey body lotion that was discontinued so hopefully this can take its place.

Now I already know I love this product as I own the full size tube! This is Vasanti's Brighten Up! Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator. I'm happy to have this as a travel size/back up though and I'm very excited other Glymm girls will get a chance to try this amazing exfoliator!

I love makeup removing towelettes. These towelettes by Kaia are going to be great because I'm usually extremely tired or lazy by the time I go to bed so having a packaged of these on my bedside table is a must! I'm also always looking for natural alternatives so I'm thrilled to try these out! I really hope I like them and if I do will definitely purchase the full size!

It's funny that this was included in my Glymm box because the day before I was just thinking, "I'm out of brow gel, I need to buy some more," then there it was! I've never tried any of Anastasia products and I use brow gel everyday so I'm excited to be able to try this Brow Gel by Anastasia. And with the amount of brow gel you use on a daily basis, this should last a long time!

Last but certainly not least is a full sized Cargo Eye Pencil in black! When I first saw this in the box I expected it to be some crazy colour that I wouldn't get much wear out of but I was so happy when I saw it was black! Who doesn't need (or want to try) a new black eyeliner? Since I use one everyday I always welcome another one!

This is a pencil that needs sharpening (hopefully it won't be one that breaks every time you try) and has quite a lot of product. I've been happy with my other Cargo purchases in the past so hopefully this will live up to my expectations!

This pencil glides on super easily and keeps a sharp point which is great for thin lines. It isn't an intense black but it will be great for a softer black eye with light definition. 

Overall, I love my first Glymm box! I can't wait for the next one and it is definitely worth the money. The full sized Cargo Pencil alone is worth $16! Do you subscribe to any monthly sample boxes? If so which ones?

Summary

Glymm Box - January 2012

$10 + Tax (with free shipping)

Available at: Glymm.com

Disclaimer: The links in this post are my affiliate links. If you prefer to sign up without it just go to www.glymm.com.

Cocktail Hour! Anyone for a Mint Julep?

Morning all!

After what seemed like ages of waiting (it wasn't even that long, standard shipping time) I finally received my first Julep Maven box! If you love nail polish as much as I do, you know this is an extremely exciting event! 

What is Julep Maven?

If you haven't heard of Julep Maven, it is Julep Nail Polish's monthly subscription service that sends you $40 worth of product for only $19.99 per month. A pretty amazing deal considering you get two full sized polishes plus another gift each month! And if that deal isn't goo enough for you, they are also offering a $0.01 box and a $5.00 first timer box! Just click the links below to use the coupon codes and sign up! You can cancel anytime so there's no commitment - a no brainer if you ask me!

1¢ Coupon Code - SHAREON

1¢ Coupon Code - NEWYEAR2012

$5.00 Coupon Code - WELCOME5

What did I get?

Firstly, I am so happy with the adorable (and thoughtful) wrapping! Everything is wrapped in bubble wrap as well as having protective stuffing so there is no chance of anything becoming damaged! Plus, there is a cute little ribbon and a note inside.

When you sign up for the site you take a quiz to determine what types of polish colours would be right for you. Mine turned out to be "American Girl" which is a pretty accurate description of my nail polish style - fairly classic but sometimes out of the box!

The first item I pulled out of the box was this set of nail polish remover pads. What a great little thoughtful add-in! Who wouldn't want to immediately take off their existing nail polish to try their new shades? So these were a great find!

I'll be honest, I was skeptical of these colours when I saw them on the site. I'm not usually a purple sort of gal (unless it's a super dark purple) but I decided, "Hey, what the heck! Let's try something new!" and I'm so glad I did! These are gorgeous shades, and even more gorgeous when applied! (Of course I got this box yesterday and my nails are already painted the bright purple haha) 

Shades:

Anne - "Ultra Saturated, Tropical Violet Creme"

Maria - "Shimmering Platinum Rose"

I can't do a full review of the polishes yet because I've only had "Anne" on for one day but I can tell you that they are exceptionally true to the colour in the bottle!

The "extra" product in the December box was this Pomegranate Body Scrub. Not only does this smell amazing, it is super hydrating and contains tons of skin soothing oils! I'm going to keep this beside my skin and use it as a hand scrub to keep my hands soft and velvety!

It's much creamier than most scrubs I've seen. Great for winter and keeping in the hydration while you exfoliate.

As an added "Welcome" bonus I received Julep's Nail Therapy. I was so excited to find this in my box! I love nail treatments and this one can also be used as a base coat to keep your nails strong and hydrated while you're wearing nail colour!

Overall ladies, I couldn't be happier with my purchase! I got this box for only $0.01 and look at everything I got. Having seen this box, I won't mind paying the $19.99 per month because I honestly think it's completely worth it!

Summary

Julep Maven Box

$19.99 per month

Available at: Julep.com

Do you guys have a subscription to Julep Maven? Or have you tried their polishes? Will you sign up? Let me know in the comments below!

PS: My kitten's loved the stuffing...

Going Gadgety! - Zeno Acne Device

Good Morning - again! I really have been catching up on my blogging and doing two or even three posts a day! I really am trying to limit myself but once I get on a role, I'm on a role!

This isn't a very long post - more of an introduction to a new product I just picked up, and have yet to use yet! 

First off, I suffer from pretty mild, occasional breakouts (which is what the Zeno device is intended for). It is also only intended for the red, inflamed blemishes, not the tiny white ones. Thanks to my Shoppers Optimum points and bonus cards and coupons, I was able to pick this up for $4! haha It runs $44.95 CAD for 80 uses (which I think will be MORE than enough to last me a good year or longer!) There is also a larger version that features changeable tips so you never have to buy a new device, just new tips but it runs $155 CAD. (on sale at SDM for $99 right now though!)

Anyways, this is a really cute little (PINK!) device that (as pictured above) you place on your blemish for the treatment time - 2.5mins - until it beeps and you are done. It heats up to kill all the acne bacteria in your skin and get rid of the blemish. Depending on the severity of the blemish you can treat it up to three times 4-12 hours apart. I'm pretty excited to try this out (although I have no blemishes right now, figures lol) because I only get occasional ones and if it helps with those I will be more than happy!

This little gadget has a bunch of indicator lights as well as an on/off button. It has four lights that tell you how many treatments you have left (Example, 4 lights = 60-80 treatments) as well as a power indicator light. It automatically shuts off after the treatment time and beeps every 30 seconds to let you know it is working.

I have high hopes for this little guy and will keep you updated on my progress! Check back for another "Going Gadgety" post on my new Clarisonic Mia! 

Have you tried this? Will you try it? Let me know!

Hautelook & Urban Decay Haul

Smoke Out Kit - Juju (browns)

Hey ladies! I don't know if you guys have heard about Hautelook or not but its a great site that has daily deals on a lot of great fashion, beauty, home etc. Back in November they had an Urban Decay sale with lots of great deals and here is what I picked up!

Although this isn't a review quite yet, I wanted to show you guys what would be coming up on my blog!

So I've been eyeing this little palette, The Smoke Out Palette in JuJu,  for a long time, ever since it came out which I think was actually a year or more ago. At first I wanted the smokey (black/grey) version but after seeing the browns it was much more my style! I love a good subtle eye with enough definition to look defined! This set comes with 4 shadows (two matte, two shimmer) a 24/7 Mini Liner in Zero (black) a little eyeshadow brush and  a mini Skyscraper Multi-Benefit Mascara in black. I only paid about $8 for this! :)

Summer Love Nail Kit

I also picked up this great little Summer Love nail kit! I never knew Urban Decay made nail polish so I was excited to try them out! 

This kit comes with 7 mini polishes - some sheer shimmers and some opaque brights. I haven't tried any of these out yet so I can't comment on the wear, colour, etc. but I LOVE the colours! I also love the little cosmetic case it comes with - it will be coming in very handy for my purse! I only paid around $8 for this! :)

My only problem with this order is that Hautelook has extremely slow shipping and it took a month for me to receive my things! The shipping prices from Canada are also a little steep - but if you catch a great deal like these it is well worth it! 

Keep checking back for my reviews on these products! Have you ever gotten anything from Hautelook?

Fusion Beauty Foundation (Purchase)

Hey everyone! Sorry I've been MIA lately, I've had some major things due for school as well as exams! But now I'm back and super excited to get back to sharing some new stuff with all of you! My most recent purchases are from Fusion Beauty (my beloved brand), so here we go...

(I apologize for the quality of the photos ahead of time, these weren't cooperating I think because of all the silver writing on the packages - NOT flash friendly! haha Plus I need a new camera badly!)

Love Fusion's Packaging - So elegant and simple

Again, love the packaging - Feels super high end (which I consider it to be haha)

This is the first Fusion product I picked up. I got both of these items at Winners (amazing prices) so I'm not sure if they are offered anymore by the company (this particular item isn't on their website anymore). Anyways, this is Fusion Beauty's Skin Fusion Bio-Active Mineral Intuitive Soft Focus Fluid Foundation SPF 10. That s a mouth full haha! And if the name hasn't already explained it all, this is a liquid foundation that (like Revlon and Almay) has an "intuitive" white - skin toned formulation. I'm not really into those types of foundations, I fell like they are gimmicky and don't actually do anything but I did pick this up because of the other claims it makes. This foundation is said to have a:

"Proprietary Bio Active Mineral blend that combines pure Gold with 60 sourced essential minerals and anti-oxidants to activate and boost absorption of nutrients, fight free radicals and rev up cell metabolism." As well as, "Stimulating peptide blend with an anti-bacterial formula to purify, heal blemishes and speed cell renewal for balance and brightness."

I find these to be some pretty bold claims! This is not yet a review post as I just got this so look for a future post addressing all these claims (I hope some of those claims work!)

One measured pump (white with little beads)

Spread out but not blended in

By the way, the pump on this product is really great (twist the lid and it pops out) and amazing for travel because it will never spill! On first glance, I was mostly scared. This is white and was not changing colour! Once you actually work it into the skin it does give a slight tint but is much more akin to a tinted moisturizer than a liquid foundation. I see myself using this as a base for the skincare benefits, topped with my Annabelle Mineral Foundation for extra coverage.

I will be letting you all know how this goes, I'm really excited to try it out! Have you tried any of Fusion Beauty's foundations or Primers? I'm very curious to know what others thought! Let me know! :)

NEXT FUSION BEAUTY PRODUCT COMING UP LATER TODAY!

Lush Haul!

Hey everyone! Long time no Blog! Well here I am to make up for it with a nice big haul! I went to Lush today to return a shaving cream that I had bought for my boyfriend (he hated it!) and ended up walking out with a bag of goodies! So heres what I picked up today!

Avobomb

 First off I got one of my favorites, AVOBOMB! This bath bomb is actually a favourite of my boyfriends too because of its universal scent! It's super citrus-y with lemongrass and bergamot oils, along with avocado and olive oil to nourish the skin. Whenever I use this one I feel awake and refreshed and my skin is super soft and nicely scented.

Mask of Magnaminty

 Next up is Mask of Magnaminty. I actually have yet to try this mask but I usually use their other facial masks. What drew me to this one is the fact that it doesn't need to be refrigerated (which seriously makes me forget I have them because they get pushed to the back of the fridge) and it has a much longer shelf life which is awesome because I have a bunch of masks that I alternate between depending on my skin. I will let you know how I end up liking this one but it looks good and has great ingredients for oily skin!

Too Drunk...

 I love this one haha its so funny to look at! This is one of Lush's Emotibombs which are meant to be used in the shower instead of the bath! This one is called Too Drunk... and is supposed to wake you up and revive you after a long night of partying! It smells like peppermint, fennel, lemon and orange and really does have a great aroma therapy effect! All you do with these is put them in the bottom of your shower and let the water run over them for a aromatherapy/sauna effect!

Up You Gets

 This is another one of Lush's Emotibombs and its called Up You Gets. Most of the Emotibombs are meant to invigorate and refresh you in contrast to the bath bombs that are made for relaxation. This one is fantastic and smells like intense lemon, lime, grapefruit and orange!  A surefire way to wake up in the morning! With both of the Emotibombs, I cut them up into small pieces (my shower is small) so they last longer and aren't quite as intense!

Tea Tree Water

 This is another new find for me, the Tea Tree Water toner. I regularly use their toner tabs which I make a toner out of afterwards and store in the fridge but this is a great alternative and will last longer! (If you use the water from the toner tabs you are only supposed to keep it as a toner for a week). I love the feeling it gives (tried it in the store), it tightens, absorbs oil and keeps your skin feeling fresh. I also love that it comes with a spray top so you can carry it in your purse and use it throughout the day even over makeup. This contains tea tree oil and grapefruit extracts to fight oiliness and breakouts!

Big Blue

 My boyfriends all time favourite bath bomb that I'm sure he would use four at a time of! This is Big Blue and it has lemon and lavender oil that smell SO amazing! The best part about this bath bomb is that it actually makes your bath look like the ocean! It turns the water bright blue, has sea salt on top and pieces of sea weed through out! Its an amazing experience and one of my favourites too! (By the way, seaweed is great for your skin for softening and nutrients!)

Creamy Candy

 I love bubbles in my bath so bubble bars are one of my favourite things from Lush! This one is called Creamy Candy and smells just like that! It has vanilla, cocoa butter and almond oil to make an amazing scent and super rich and hydrating bubbles! (which is rare because usually bubble baths are kind of drying on my skin) I love these because they last a super long time you just crumble a little bit into the bath and you get a huge amount of bubbles! Highly recommend any of the bubble bars!

Dark Angels

 I really enjoy Lush's face washes because they are so different and effective! This one is new for me but I love Coalface and this one also has coal in it. If you are familiar with Lush this is a combination of Angels on Bare Skin and Coal face so it provides the scrubby effect of Angels as well as the poor tightening, oil zapping effects of Coal! I notice an insane difference in my skin after using the Coal face my pores honestly almost disappear and my skin stays matte for hours! I have never had that effect with any other cleanser (or cream or treatment or ANYTHING!) If your an oily skin girl, try this or Coal Face out!

Butter Ball

 Butterball! I got two of these because they are my favourite! They honestly provide as much hydration as body lotion without having to use anything after your bath! Once you plop this in you can actually see the oils forming on the surface from the cocoa butter chunks throughout the bomb! It also has a great light scent that isn't overpowering (vanilla and musk) and makes it good for male use too! (Another one of my boyfriends faves!)

Cinder

 LIMITED EDITION! Lush's holiday collection is already out which is awesome because it has some of my favorites! This one is Cinder and has pop rocks in it to provide the real effect of a crackling fire (hence the name Cinder!) This bomb is spicy and cinnamon-y to give you that real holiday warmth! I haven't used one of these yet but it also has almond oil in it to hydrate so I'm really looking forward to it!

Twilight

 I'm not sure if this one is limited edition or not but I really hope it isn't because it is probably the best smelling bath bomb Lush has by far! This one is called Twilight (I'm assuming for the movie or because it makes you go to sleep!) and is scented with lavender and Tonka bean! Tonka bean is sort of sweet and vanilla like. This bomb relaxes and soothes and is a fantastic one to use right before bed after a long day!

Last but not least I picked up a Honey I washed the Kids soap! This is one of their best sellers because it has a completely unisex scent and is super gentle so the whole family can use it! It hydrates and doesn't leave my skin feeling tight like most soaps can and lasts a long time if you keep it out of the water flow or in one of Lush's metal containers (if it fits)! 

Thats it! (actually I got another Limited Edition Bath Bomb but the picture didn't load, its So White and looks like Butter Ball but is scented with apple (very yummy!)) Let me know what you love from Lush, I'm obviously an addict! Enjoy!