Tuesday, January 22, 2013

GLYMM DECEMBER 2012 review!

My Glymm bag did show up on time in December,but being busy with the holiday season got in the way of posting. Before you know it the end of the month is almost here.
Better late than never and at least I am reviewing the whole contents of the bag .

Now seeing that this is the December edition of the Glymm bag I expected something much more "festive" for the contents.
Here is what I received in my Glymm bag:

* Lashem: Eyelash+ Brow Enhancing Serum.  
   Sample size unknown, but I'm going to guess 1ml, value $15.00. Full size 4.2ml, $70.00
I do not use eyelash serums as my lashes are already very long. This sample will be passed along to someone who uses these things.

* Lashem: False Lashes.
   Full size product, value $5.00
Looks like a lot of the beauty boxes are sending out lashes lately. These ones look very nice and wearable.
A neat feature is you do not need glue for the first use. I do not use false lashes often and was hoping to use these during the holidays,but did not really go anywhere that was very dressed up.
But seeing these lashes in person they look to be much more high quality that the Glossybox ones from their December box. The Glossybox branded lashes look too costumey and some people said they look like "something Nicky Minaj would wear". The Lashem false lashes still look somewhat dramatic, but also very tasteful at the same time.



* Suncoat: Natural nail polish remover. Full size 30ml, value $9.99.
   This product looks quite interesting. It is a nail polish remover that is all natural and made from a corn and soy base! Suncoat is also a Canadian made product.I do my nails quite often, so this is a welcome sample.
I actually had my eye on this item on the Well.ca website- they carry the whole line there.
The nail polish remover worked quite well and I like that there is no strong scent to this. I do not think it works well at all to remove glitter nail polish- you need something much stronger for that.
 Also another plus is it did not burn my fingers to use. Since Suncoat polish remover comes in a 30ml bottle, it would be great for travel.

* Glamorous Cosmetics: eyeshadow palette in 2? Full size product, value $9.50
   The colours in the palette look nice, but I have so many eyeshadows already that I will pass this along to a friend and have her report back.

BONUS: nail polish with 1 year subscription: RGB #103 TOAST. Full size 12ml, value $16.00.
This nail polish was a very nice surprise! I was not expecting to see such an expensive polish in my bag this year. The color Toast that was sent to everyone is a nice, neutral beige/brown shade that has a cream finish.
Seeing as this is in the Dec bag I expected something more festive and glittery like what every other box sent out. But I really do like the color Glymm sent out, it is one I will use year round.
I have never tried a RGB polish before and the finish is quite nice too. I'm going to check out other polish from this line.


Tuesday, January 1, 2013

GLOSSYBOX CANADA DEC 2012 DISCONTINUEDe AVON?? Someone needs to explain this.....

My Glossybox showed up on New Year's eve....what a fun way to cap off the year!
Glossybox is supposed to be one of the more "premium" beauty subscription services in Canada- with a cost of $21 per month (plus tax.....).
This month was slightly different as the usual pink box was replaced by a nice glossy silver box!!
The December 2012 box was also a LOULOU magazine branded edition. I will evaluate my whole Glossybox in another post- as one or two major issues have stuck with my and are the focus of this blog post.
Overall I did like the December box, but found one product was very confusing, strange and not labeled in French or English- also a silver colour....so is it for eyes or lips???

AVON COLOR TREND PRODUCT FROM GLOSSYBOX CANADA


PRODUCT NAME AND CODES


UNDER THE LABEL STUCK ON THE BOX.....

Here are some photos (above) that show what was received and what was under the stuck on label of my item. From what is written here on the product it was hard to decipher if this was a eye or lip item.
Thesedays you can get silver colored items for eyes and lip area and just the name "London" does not tell me anything yet.

So off I go to do some research online- I do not like just using a product without knowing anything about it.
The Glossybox card does not have any specific info about this product and states: "Avon's extensive makeup collection pairs beauty and scientific innovation! FULL SIZE!......assorted see www.avon.ca".

My product is not on the Avon Canada site and has no labeling for the Canadian market.
I know in Canada products must have at least English and French labeling when sold here. This info was told to me by a company that imports European products to sell in Canada (a company I speak on the phone with often).

After my Google sleuthing I come up with this link on ebay's UK site:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AVON-COLORTREND-MINI-LIP-GLOSS-LONDON-DISCONTINUED-/221055928543

Looking at the Avon Canada site,I do not see any product listing for Color Trend.
This is somewhat concerning as it seems this product is not sold here and is from a discontinued line apparently?
To me it seems like a bad marketing idea to send a discontinued product- it makes the manufacturer of that item look bad. And why send an item that was not even available on Avon.ca or in Canada?
This also makes the beauty box company look cheap or like it was a big oversight as I read on Facebook that the same item has gone to quite a few other Glossybox Canada customers.

I am going to email Glossybox Canada, Avon and not too sure who else.
I would really like an explanation for this.
Also from reading comments on the Facebook Glossybox.ca webpage some people have written that the Revlon nail polish that was sent is also discontinued and has recently shown up in some dollar-type stores for $2?
I generally do not buy Revlon nail products (usually use Mavala,OPI,Essie and Dior) and will have to look into this also.

This will be updated once I get more info.
But is this the kind of thing you would expect from a company that charges $21 for a monthly beauty box?
I have several beauty box subscriptions and have not had this happen yet.

*if anyone has info on the discontinued polish or Avon I will add that to my post if you message me. Did anyone else receive discontinued items for Dec 2012???

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Update: Jan 3, 2013

No "real" additional info to add.
Glossybox did post this little note on a Facebook post. This does not address anything yet...

"GlossyBox.ca Hi ladies, we just wanted to let you know that we are currently looking into this issue. We appreciate your patience through this and we apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused."

*So far I did send a link to my blog and posted om LOU LOU magazine's English Facebook page.
LOU LOU  magazine replied right away that they will look into this matter.
That's it for now.......

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Update: Jan 4, 2013

Looking at the Glossybox Canada Facebook page they just put down that they are sorry some people do not like the colors and that it is a full size item.

aaaaargh!&&&**^%, Glossybox Canada must have "selective hearing".
I also feel I should add a FACEPALM!!! to this...can't find the pic though.....


Here is what Glossybox Canada posted on their Facebook page:

"GLOSSIES, we are sorry that some of you were disappointed with your full-size Revlon nail polish. We were careful to send you colours that would be universally acceptable and all-in-all great additions to any nail polish collection. We hope that you can enjoy your nail polish and if you have any further questions, we are happy to have you email our customer service department. We are currently waiting on information about the Avon product as it came from Europe, but we will let you know as soon as we have more details. Thank you for your patience!"

If I do not get an answer from Glossybox I am going to have to contact my credit card provider to get my money back!

*I think Glossybox missed the point that people were writing about- it is not the colour of the makeup,but that it is discontinued a few years ago.

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Update: Jan 10, 2012

Glossybox Canada sent the same message to all their Facebook readers and the same response to my email.

Pretty much that they are "glossing" over this issue and dodging all my questions and comments.
And apparently the items everyone received are not old and discontinued and if I send them my pictures they will to us where to buy them??

I'm grabbing my popcorn and waiting for their next entertaining response.....

Here is what I received as a response:

JAN 7 GLOSSYBOX RESPONSE:

Thank you for being so patient and understanding while waiting for an answer regarding the Avon products included in

December’s GLOSSYBOX. Because we’re an international company, we strive to bring you products from around the globe,

which is actually why it has taken longer than usual to update you on this issue. We’ve communicated with our

supplier in Europe, who has been a reliable GLOSSYBOX provider in the past, and they have reassured us that the

product is in date, new and unopened
, but we are devastated if our GLOSSIES are upset. Our investigation is not over

and we have learned a lot from this situation. We will be reevaluating how we approach quality assurances going

forward, since our number one priority will always be making (and keeping) you, our subscribers, surprised and 

delighted with your GLOSSYBOX. If you have any questions at all about the Avon product you received, or about your

GLOSSYBOX in general, please feel free to email our customer service department at contact@glossybox.ca.

They will 
be getting up to date information on this issue and will be best equipped to answer any questions or concerns that 
you may have. Once again, thank you for your patience and understanding through this. We cannot even begin to 
express how extremely appreciative we are to have your perspective, loyalty and support!

The Revlon nail polish I received. Also the bottle seems to be 1/3 empty.....maybe it evaporated??

Have not tried the polish yet...

Revlon nail polish from Glossybox.

Revlon 115 PEACH PETAL

BOTTOM OF NAIL POLISH/UPC