TOPBOX JANUARY 2014 REVIEW!

Just received my January 2014 Topbox! My first box of the year!
Here is a pic for now......review coming soon!
A "virtual unboxing" will be coming up!!

The Topbox packaging.

Overall, I like what was sent for my January Topbox.

The tweezers look expensive with the silicone coating and I hope they are decent (even though I already have a couple expensive German tweezers).Aveda products are always liked, skincare is always useful and lip gloss fun!

Thoughts on my Topbox items:

*Belvada Cosmetics: Colored Tweezers. Value $5
This was one of the first items I tried and when I received them thought it was a great idea to have silicone on the tweezers as it makes them much easier to use. The tweezers are slanted and fairly sharp and are a decent quality. For tweezing they work as well as most of the cheaper tweezers I've tried.
Usually the tweezers I like best are my Mavala Switzerland tweezers, then Italian made ones I picked up.
I will most likely use these tweezers for nail art and since the silicone part can be removed I will use it on my other tweezers. So far for me this item is only ok.

*Miracle 10 Skincare: Solution II Extra Strength Clarifying Solution: sample size 30ml, sold on Miracle 10's website as a deluxe size for $27/ full size product 120ml, $44.
I really like the packaging for this solution- it has a pump bottle instead of being a top you take off that could spill. Also a great size for travel or to take with you!
The clarifying solution left my face feeling very clean and smooth, but not dry. I really like this product but will have to use it for a while to see if it is any different from my current Toning Solution by Neostrata.
The Miracle 10 definitely felt less harsh than my current product, but that is because the percentage of acids is much less being at 5% compared to my usual 8 or 10%.
Also, I've done quite a few Exuviance skin peels lately and those are 20%+ so for myself I am not expecting any extreme results from this product.
If you were not already using much for exfoliating and wanted to help with blemishes, dark spots and skin tone this product would be very good. I do like this product and plan to take it with me on vacation!

Contents of the Topbox tube.

*Aveda: stress-fix body lotion: sample size 25ml, value $4.70/ full size 200ml, $32.50

I like Aveda products, but am more familiar with their hair products and colour cosmetics. I have never tried any of the body products until now!

The body lotion was tried on my hands and arms and absorbed right away. I do not think this would be rich enough for very dry skin during wintertime. But on my hands it absorbed right away and left them smelling nicely scented. I am not sure quite how to describe the scent of the lotion as it is made with a bunch of different essential oils that smell like when you walk into the Aveda store. I can make out lavender   The Topbox description card states that there is" lavender, lavandin and clary sage from organic farms".

The lotion is a good size to try and there was also a card redeemable at an Aveda store for a travel size hand relief cream.

I went to the Aveda store to pick this up and the cream was a 40ml tube with a value of $13!

While I was browsing the Aveda store I actually forgot to buy the item I came for too- their breath drops are nice and have no alcohol....

The Boxx Lipshine was hiding in the envelope...almost missed it!

*BOXX COSMETICS: Lipshine- braith 1.5g! Full size item! Value $16.

This would be my second Boxx Cosmetics item! I got one of their concealers last year and do like it and use that once in a while...

I like the colour of the lipshine that I received- braith is a sheer shimmery natural pink and is a bit more like a tinted balm than lipgloss. It applies well with a lip brush- you could use your finger to apply as the lipshine is more solid in the pan (but fingers are never as clean).

The gloss has some good ingredients like peptides , mango butter, beeswax and vitamin e. There is no scent or taste to the lipshine and I prefer that over perfumey things on my lips. The lipshine also went on smoothly and is not sticky.

Another plus is the ingredients are listed right on the back of the package! I always like to know what I am using on my skin as I do not like some ingredients I avoid.

I also like that BOXX COSMETICS  is a Canadian company and this product is made in Canada!

Swatch of BOXX COSMETICS Lipshine- braith

Above is a swatch of the Boxx Cosmetics lipshine- you can see how sheer this is, even with a thicker lipbrush application on my hand. I think this shade would be suitable for pretty much everyone who likes a more natural, but polished look.

Topbox December 2013 box review!

Better late than never!
I've been quite busy with out of town visitors taking up most of my time and finally now just getting around to posting my Topbox reviews.
My January review will be coming soon as well as an additional box that I purchased and just got here.
That leaves me quite a few items to try and that will be a lot of fun (hopefully).

Here is what was in my December 2013 Topbox:

December 2013 Topbox contents!

The December Topbox had a good variety of cosmetics for the holiday season!

From sparkly nail laquer (mine was more like a topcoat), coconut lip balm that reminds you of the topics (or summer), a new perfume and also some line filler (useful for those holiday pics).

My thoughts on the products I received:

*Belvada Cosmetics: Coconut Lip Butter. Full size product 10ml, value $10.00

The full size of the lip butter was sent out. This is such a new product that it was sent in a more plain package. The tub reminds me of the Body Shop body butter container I have here on my desk beside me.

The coconut lip butter smells very coconutty and tropical. The lip butter also goes on very easily and did moisturize right away- there was no waxy feel to this product and that is a plus.

There is also a coconut taste to the product The lip butter also goes on clear and has no shimmer or colour in it. Overall I do like the lip butter and will use it at home- for outside the home I only use lip items that are in sticks or tubes and with sunscreen in them.

The only thing I did not like about this lip butter is that there is no ingredient info included and I did not find any online yet. I usually like to know what is in the products I use.

*Cuccio Colour: Nail Laquer in REMIX. Full size product 13ml, value $10.00

Nail polish is always fun to receive! This would be my second Cuccio Colour polish from Topbox. The one I received a while ago was a sheer light pink. Remix is more of a topcoat product as it is made of different sizes of glitter that is in a clear polish base. There are large silver bits and some more fine turqoise and pink glitter.

I did try the polish by itself and did not like that look as much. Over some "greige" (grey/beige) polish I did like the look better, but ended up applying too much glitter and not liking the effect.

My plan is to take some pictures the next time I do my nails.....

*Estee Lauder: Modern Muse edp. Sample size 2.9ml/value $6.50, full size 30ml $65.00

When I first saw this was an Estee Lauder perfume my first thoughts were "oh no!...not another strong floral". So far I had sampled all the Lauder scents at the dept store and always found them too strong and floral to my liking. Most perfumes I buy are green and fresh (green tea, verbena) or fruity (lemon, berry,vanilla).

I was actually really surprised that this edp was a very light floral and described as being mixed with "sleek, sensual woods".

To me the edp has a very soft and light scent that is a bit hard to describe- it is kind of fresh smelling and nice. Something you could wear to work and not bother too many people.

Not too sure I would buy this, but I will use it up!

*Skiin: Instant Skin Tightener and Line Filler: Sample size 3ml/value $10.00, full size 15ml $49.95

I like trying these kinds of products as I'm always curious if they will really work. Thankfully I do not really need too much of this kind of product yet- I only have a tiny bit of frown lines to hide.
I had seen some Skiin brand products in other sample boxes before, but never had the chance to try and yet until now!

I really like how the sample is packaged with a tube you can reclose and a best before date on it too!

To open the sample you twist off the top and to reclose you put the cap upside down-kind of like a bottle stopper.

The line filler is like a gel or serum and did absorb right away and made my frown lines look smoother and filled on. There is also no scent to the product and that is a big plus.

But again, I hate that there is no ingredient info and when I went to look on Skiinshop.com did not see any ingredient listings either. I would at least expect a company to list ingredients online, esp since so many people can have ingredients they are allergic to or do not want in a product.

Still I do like this sample and am going to use it up!

Product description card Dec 2013!

My overall thoughts on the Dec 2013 Topbox:

I thought the Dec 2013 version of the Topbox had a good mix of items for winter and the holiday season.

The value of the items received was $36.50 and that is pretty good considering the box costs $12.

There was also one item that was Canadian (the lip butter) and three of the four items received were labeled as being new!

I can't wait to see what the new year will being for my Topbox subscription!

SEASONSBOX JAN 2014 WHAT HAPPENED?? ARE THEY STILL IN BUSINESS OR WHAT??

Maybe you are asking yourself why I have not updated my blog with Seasonsbox reviews?
I was waiting to see if I was pleased with their customer service lately, before posting anything overly negative (or possibly positive).
So far I had purchased a yearly membership in Feb 2013 and skipped 2 of the months that did not catch my interest. That means I am supposed to get my boxes until April 2014....

The last box I skipped was the November 2013 one that contained patchouli hair products.
I've always hated anything patchouli so.....great a whole box full of those items?? PASS

Now I was supposed to receive the December box and as of January 8th it still is not here.
Not too sure of my box was lost or sent out as there has been so much restructuring with Seasonsbox that it is hard to tell if they are still in business.
I did receive my Dec 2013 Seasonsbox and am quite pleased.
The vegan chocolates were delicious, my hot chocolate tin was dented and some spilled all over my other items, the Moksa body butter smells very nice- but no one seems to be able to answer my question about the packaging changes.

I'm still having a few issues with Seasonsbox at the moment.
If you go to their website they still have the December 2013 products up and no word about the January boxes. Same thing if you go to their Facebook site that has not been updated either since December.
A few weeks ago Seasonsbox was advertising that you could renew at a special rate of $250 for the next year (that is for 12 boxes). That is a great price but........ Why do I want to renew or buy a new subscription if their website is still showing the Dec items in January and that no one from their customer "service" (or lack of service) dept can not be bothered to update?
If you are too busy, find someone else to write the update for you.

So this pretty much sums up why I have not done any Seasonsbox reviews lately.
Does anyone know if Seasonsbox has gone the way of glymm and taken off with the money?
Or have they gone out of business?
When (seasonsbox) does not bother to update their site and no Facebook update one can only guess the company has gone out of business.
I did ask on their Facebook to know what was going on and was wondering if I should contact my credit card provider for a chargeback as I can not reach the vendor.
Also that I received a damaged item and doubt they will do anything about that.
Usually with your credit card if you are not sent items, item not as described, damaged items and the vendor is difficult to deal with- you can do a chargeback by calling the credit card company.

I do know some of the terms for Seasonsbox state that there are no refunds on pre-paid sunscriptions- but when the company does not even honour their own contract, I'm not too sure if that applies?

Has anyone been able to obtain any info on the January 2014 Seasonsbox?
Has the company gone out of business?
I will update this post with any new info I obtain and what my credit card provider will suggest!