Don't get too excited by the title - no, IPSY is not Canadian or advertising pricing in Loonies now, I'm just giving you a Canadian take on ordering from the US subscription service. Sorry. I've been out of the cosmetics and skincare subscription game for a few years now (the last review I could find in my archives is from 2014!) and decided to dip my toes back into the ocean. I spent a week or so looking at the options available and although there are some great sub boxes on offer in this category, there are precious few at a price point that I appreciate. I don't spend a lot of money on cosmetics and skincare, just the basics for me, but I am adventurous, and I miss the surprise of new things to try out. In the end, I settled on the IPSY Glam Bag for a few reasons; I thought past offerings were decent, I liked the fact that your products come in a cute little clutch, it has mostly positive reviews, and it was at a price point that I thought was acceptable for someone like me. I wasn't too crazy about the fact that it ships from the US, but there isn't a whole lot of choice here north of the border. I remembered that I used to get boxes from Julep, but they have since discontinued their sub program, and I completely forgot about Topbox. I guess I should have read my own reviews to refresh my memory! Lesson learned. The IPSY Glam Bag (for those of you like myself who live under a rock) is $12USD per month plus $2.95USD shipping to Canada for a small clutch containing 5 items which could be skincare or cosmetics, and the size could be anywhere from sample to full size. More often than not, you'll find the skincare items sample sized and things like eyeliner full. I was charged in the vicinity of $21CAD for my September Glam Bag, that's the bag and shipping combined. In this instance, although the product value is double, I'm going to say that you get what you pay for. IPSY is a decent enough package for those of us who aren't really serious about these things. If you really love cosmetics and skincare, enjoy having the most up-to-date stuff on your face, or if you're an influencer, you're probably not going to be subscribing to IPSY - and you're probably not reading my little blog anyway, so that's okay. With all of that out of the way, let's get to the products. That is, after all why you're here. Info snippets are taken directly from each company's website. I'm looking forward to trying this serum. It smells amazing! I rubbed a dab into my face, and it does have a soothing and cooling feel. I like it already. Does it do all the other stuff it promises? I don't know yet, but I'm happy to try it. Item #2: BENEFIT COSMETICS The POREfessional Hydrate Primer, 3ml 22ml Full sized version MSRP $32 benefitcosmetics.com Ugh. Another primer. These things are either super abundant or don't sell, because I feel like at least 85% of sub boxes I have received in my lifetime have contained a primer of some sort, and it's usually from Benefit. Don't get me wrong, Benefit is a good company, and I'm sure there are many women who use primer, I just don't understand why it has to be in every package. I don't use primer because I don't wear foundation, but by rubbing a little dab between my fingers I can tell you that I has a light, pleasant scent, it doesn't feel greasy, and it absorbed well. Good thing it's in a tiny little tube and I won't feel bad when I have to throw it away during my yearly expired products sweep. I don't wear blush, but I will say that Daydream is a lovely colour. This seems to be a full sized product sent out, since this exact size is listed on Doucce's website for the price listed. If you actually want to buy this particular colour, you'll have to look elsewhere - it's sold out on their site. Maybe they just sent out all of their inventory to sub box companies... Anyhow, I don't wear blush and asked on my profile that it is sent sparingly, but this colour is nice enough that I'm not angry about it. It's brown enough that it would actually make a nice eyeshadow. Item #4: PIXI BY PETRA Endless Silky Eye Pen in BronzeBeam 1.2g Full sized version MSRP $12 pixibeauty.co.uk We made it to something I'm excited about! I have a real difficulty finding liners that I'm happy with. I've tried so many different brands and styles that it's bordering on crazy. My eyelids shake when I'm trying to apply liner, which makes smoothness and accuracy difficult. This Silky Eye Pen is FANTASTIC! I can tell you it actually did glide on super easy, went where I wanted it to go, didn't smudge all over the place, and I didn't have to fight with it to get an even line. I love it. The colour is gorgeous, too. That picture does it no justice, it is a shimmering bronze that is perfect for Fall. I would absolutely buy more shades from PIXI. Item #5: MAELLE BEAUTY Clearly Brilliant Tinted Lips in Berry, 1.6g 2.94g Full sized version MSRP $9 maellebeauty.com As with the eyeliner, I was happy to see a lip product in my bag. I wasn't over the moon about the colour (it looks mauve-y and reminiscent of standard issue senior citizen colour, no offense to any who may read this), and liked it even less when I tried it on. It looks more like pink lip gloss when applied. It feels like kind of a weird cross between that and expired lipstick. Yuck. It almost smells like that, too. Well, okay Sonja, get over the colour, how is the lipstick? Even worse. I applied it, then took a sip of my coffee (lip marks, another yuck), had a smoke (more lip marks), accepted my grocery delivery (a small one), put it away, and came back to the laptop to finish this post. I did sneak a peek at my lips before I got back to this though. Do you know what I saw? Lips that have barely any colour on them, just that weird, pale outline to let the world know you did make an effort at some point earlier in the day. This lip-whatever is an absolute no in my book. I would have been royally ticked off if I paid full price for this. Lastly, the clutch it all came in. Another disappointment. It's poorly sewn together and the colours (although perfect for Fall) are hideous. This is something I will never take with me out in public. maybe I can keep all of the disappointing beauty products in here and toss the whole thing out in a year. I tried to do a comparison search for pricing but came up short on some of the items sent to me since it seems that they're just not sold in Canada. Also, I think that maybe the algorithm gods at IPSY may have been on vacation for this month, since I received 2 items out of the 5 that I don't use. When you sign up for IPSY, you fill out a (very long) profile of things you want to get and things you don't, and how often. Blushes and serums were definitely on my "send sparingly" list. I wanted to take a snapshot of that on my IPSY page, but I would have had to take the whole bloody quiz again, and I'm just not willing to take the time. You'll just have to take my word for it. I paid about $21 Canadian for this assortment of products, the combined value in US dollars is about $50. On it's face it is worth it, but it's really hard to get excited about a good deal on stuff you just can't bring yourself to like. September's Glam Bag from IPSY is a definite loser in my humble opinion. I'm going to give it another chance, though. No one ever called me a quitter and I never judge based on first impressions. October's bag is already paid for, and I'm hoping it will be a little more exciting. The sneak peek on IPSY's site brings me hope! All opinions expressed in this blog are my own, unbiased after testing the product. The product was fully paid for by myself. The subject of this blog entry has no expectation of a review, favorable or otherwise. Thanks for dropping by! Feel free to follow me on social media by clicking one of the icons to the right.
Shameless Promo: If you're into herbs, crystals, incense and other witchy things, take a look at my online shop at mysteriousdragonfyre.com (shipping within Canada only).
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I had the opportunity to test and review OZ Naturals Vitamin C Professional Anti Aging Serum and I was not disappointed!
First off, let me tell you a little about the serum itself. According to their website, this product:
Our Vitamin C Serum combines the highest quality Vitamin C, and Hyaluronic acid to create this pure, transparent, non-GMO serum that goes on smooth and works deep down below the skin's surface to aid your skin in naturally producing more collagen, something we lose as we get older. In addition, hydration is improved thereby plumping up skin cells to minimize the look of fine lines and wrinkles. Antioxidant formula protects skin from environmental stressors Naturally stimulates collagen creation Hydrates and moisturizes skin Helps nourish cells allowing skin to heal naturally Naturally lifts and firms Made in the USA in our FDA certified facility No Parabens, No Alcohol Behind The Science: Science has shown that the molecular structure of our serum can penetrate further into the skin's layers as opposed to a moisturizer that sits on top of the skin or penetrates just below the surface. OZ Naturals Vitamin C Serum is specifically designed to stimulate new collagen production while also hydrating your skin to make it softer, smoother and younger-looking. 100% vegan, cruelty-free, paraben-free, sulfate-free, mineral oil-free, lanolin-free, gluten-free, and GMO-free. We take pride in making every single one of our products using natural and organic materials. We do not and will never use alcohol or parabens in our formulas. All of our products are created in a state of the art, FDA certified facility located in the USA.
So what did I think?
Well, I always wonder if I'll see any results when I'm given a beauty or health product to review and I have only a week to try it out before I tell you my verdict. I'm actually a day overdue with this review because I had the flu for 3 days and just couldn't look at my laptop. However, I have been using the serum in place of my toner each morning and have definitely seen results. In less than a week my skin feels softer, smoother and looks brighter!
Aside from the positive results I've personally seen, I am really impressed with the natural ingredients such as aloe, vitamin C and jojoba in the ingredients list. And paraben free! The more companies realize that we get better results with fewer chemicals, the better our health and planet will fare. So I definitely give them props for turning to the power of natural ingredients.
Go to amazon.com or amazon.ca today & get your own healthier, more radiant skin today!
Product Rating: 5 smiles out of 5
Product Website: oznaturals.com Product Type: Anti Aging Serum Would I purchase?: yes Would I recommend?: yes
All opinions expressed in this blog are my own, unbiased after testing the product. The product was offered free of charge from the good people at OZ Naturals with the expectation of an honest review within this blog, favorable or otherwise .
Got my newest Bzz Campaign going - Secret Clear Gel Deodorant in Ooh-La-La Lavender scent. So let me start off by telling you that I was not really that excited about this one. I have tried gel deodorants before and was always sorely disappointed. The messy application, the sticky feel, poor odor and wetness protection and my absolute favorite - flapping my arms for twenty minutes trying to get it to dry. Let's just say that 100% of the gel deodorants I have tried in the past went into the trash after only a few uses. I'm a solid kinda girl, and since they've been coming out with better deodorants that will not leave white marks, I surely thought that a solid girl I would stay. I was wrong. The first thing I did was smell it. It's always the first thing I do with everything, because scent is very important to me and if it's the least bit overpowering or 'perfumey' back on the shelf it goes. I do generally pick out the powder or lavender scents, so this one is right up my alley. The scent is soft and dreamy, like you were walking by an open window with lavender drying on the sill and a light breeze just happened to blow the right way. I would stop to inhale and enjoy. That is how I felt when I smelled this deodorant. The scent lingers, too. All day long I get a nice little hit of lavender when I move around. I can't really smell most deodorants after a few hours of wear, and for this one to be consistent really blew me away. It wasn't really strong in the morning, okay in the afternoon and practically gone in the evening - it stayed the same all through the day well past bedtime! Just a click or two is definitely enough to get you through the day. And it dries fast! The first time I applied it I resigned myself to the flapping and the waiting, but then I realized that while I had switched over to the other underarm, the first was already dry! Not even sticky or tacky, dry and ready to go. Impressive. The other thing I was really taken aback by was the fact that it actually works! I really felt drier and fresher all day, and as I mentioned before, it really outdoes itself on the whole longevity thing. I still felt fresh while I was crawling into bed, a full 15 hours after I put it on. Product Rating: 5 smiles out of 5 Product Website: www.secret.com Product Type: deodorant Would I purchase?: yes Would I recommend?: yes Clear Gel deodorant was sent free by the good people at BzzAgent and Secret. All opinions expressed in this blog are my own, unbiased after testing the product. The product was offered free of charge with the expectation of an honest review within this blog, favorable or otherwise
Back in late October I received my Clairol Nice 'N Easy BzzKit. Since I wanted to enjoy my pink hair for a little while longer, I decided to wait until there were about three weeks left in the campaign before I used the colour. I did actually colour my hair Natural Mahogany Black quite some time ago, but since the battery in my notebook died, I haven't gotten around to reviewing it here. Now that I am up and running again, I present my thoughts and observations while I shifted a shade... or three! Let's start at the beginning. According to their website: I received the #2BG/126 Natural Mahogany Black shade (we did have a choice, they didn't just send whatever they felt like) and I prefer to go bold when I colour. Here are my package contents: Colour blend formula Colour blend activator Instructions One pair of gloves CC Colorseal conditioner I do have to gripe about the gloves. I would gladly pay a few extra cents for a decent pair of gloves in the box. Unfortunately, this is far from unusual. I usually just use my own latex gloves - they fit better, don't tear and offer better use of my fingers. Seriously, how much would it actually cost a huge company to put better gloves in the box? I bought a box of 50 pairs of latex for $5. I understand that some people are allergic to latex and can't use them, but maybe rubber or something? Look into it, Clairol, please. The colour was surprisingly easy to mix and use. I had no issues with waste, mess or spills. The odor is not unpleasant at first, but does get progressively worse. However, it is not as bad as some, quite manageable in a well-ventilated room. I have to say that the formula itself is a little too watery. I had some serious issues with it dripping down my face. The last thing you want to see when you're applying black hair dye is drips on your face! It did come off easily with a wet towel, so that disaster was averted. When I was ready to rinse it out, there was a lot along the hairline that I did not see, but even after being on my skin for 45 minutes, it easily washed off while I was rinsing the product out of my hair in the shower. That is a definite plus. As you can see, there is not a whole lot of mess to clean up when you're done. Excellent. I did get a little splash on my counter and actually did not notice it until about a half hour later. Good news, though, it did come off. I would not recommend tempting the gods because I did not catch all of it at that time, and the splatter that I found an hour later kinda came off, but not really. I stink at selfies, but here are some 'before' pictures, so you can see what kind of a mountain Clairol Nice 'N Easy had to scale with my hair. First, lots of grey. I told everyone who would listen that I was going for the Bride of Frankenstein look. Then there was the pink and the blonde. Plus the length. I have pretty long hair. So did this one box of hair colour solve all my hair woes? Well, picture number one shows you that the grey coverage was pretty darn good. I have a few stragglers, but since I am no expert, I'm going to guess that I missed those. Photo number two shows just how pretty those mahogany tones really are. The third one shows the length - and coverage. I'd also like to point out that this shade really is very natural looking, not at all stark and shocking the way black dye usually is. Overall, I'd like to point out that this one box did ALL my hair, which is quite impressive. It also covered all the different colours in my hair and now looks like one consistent shade. I have to admit that I was not expecting that. I was pleasantly surprised. Finally, just to let you know, the colour rinsed out easily and hair loss was normal - not too crazy. The CC colourseal conditioner smells amazing, a little like almonds, and they give you a really generous amount. I used it three times before I ran out. My hair feels soft and looks shiny and healthy and natural. Product Rating: 4.5 smiles out of 5 Product Website: www.clairol.com Product Type: hair care Would I purchase?: yes Would I recommend?: yes Nice 'N Easy hair colour with Colorblend Technology were sent free by the good people at BzzAgent and Clairol. All opinions expressed in this blog are my own, unbiased after testing the product. The product was offered free of charge with the expectation of an honest review within this blog, favorable or otherwise
Can you say fun? This is one of the coolest products I've had the opportunity to review. One Direction's Limited Edition Rock Me Nail Varnish Kit is so versatile you can really show your fun side and let your creativity flow! Make sure you head on over to Facebook and 'like' the Makeup by One Direction page! They also have Liquilights Lip Gloss available - make sure you click here for my recent review, along with a mini One Direction bio! Read all the way to the bottom! Hint: we're giving away some! Don't worry - no quiz, just a link. I wasn't expecting the results I achieved with this nail polish. The colours and possible combinations when combined with the glitter alone makes it well worth the price! The kit comes with three polish colours: Happily – UV iced blue glitter, Moments - UV neon pink and Diana - UV 3D holographic; and three glitter colours: Kicks - UV snow cone blue, Not Afraid - UV electrified pink glitter and Star - UV holo glitter. The polish goes on smooth and doesn't smell too harsh. The silver glitter polish is fine with one or two coats, but the pink and blue need three for a truer colour. The glitter is fun and easy to use and mats down perfectly. Topcoat is actually unnecessary with this particular glitter, you can use it if you want for a shinier nail, but if you run out, you're still good. Once my nails were dry, the glitter stayed put and was not sandpapery on my nails and doesn't snag on clothing or hair. The polish itself is really hard-wearing and long-lasting. I put it on in the evening and the next day spent about four hours opening boxes, pulling apart plastic and folding sweaters. When I looked at my nails when they got home I was impressed to see that there was very little (less than a millimeter) rubbed off of the tips of my nails and the glitter was intact. Overall, I am very impressed with this polish by One Direction. I was blown away by the quality, variety and value received in this one little package. I would definitely recommend this to anyone, regardless of age! Want more good news, my Canadian friends? Right now these are on sale at sears.ca for $11.55! Regular price is $16.50, which is still a great deal for three different shades of fantastic polish and glitter pots. If you're in the States, you can purchase your own One Direction Liquilights Lip Gloss at any of these stores: Macy's, Dillards, Boscov's, Stage Stores, Beauty Brands and Lord & Taylor. Take a minute and tweet and share this post so your friends and followers can find out about 1D's great new line of Limited Edition Rock Me Nail Varnish and enter to win! Here's what you've been looking for - I know you have! You can win your very own set of One Direction Limited Edition makeup, either the Liquilights Lipgloss (read my review here), a Rock Me Nail Kit (as seen above) or ElectroGlam Mascara, one of fifty that are being given away (sponsored by GoMakeIt Labs) randomly. Fill out your ballot for a chance to win! Click Here for contest entry. Contest is open to legal residents over the age of 18 in the United States and Canada (void in Quebec where prohibited) - so what are you waiting for? Enter now! Contest ends December 4th, 2014. All opinions expressed in this blog are my own, unbiased after testing the product. The product was offered free of charge with the expectation of an honest review and promotion of contest within this blog, favorable or otherwise . Powered by:
One of the biggest boy bands on the planet right now is the English/Irish One Direction, consisting of Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne, Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson. Not only are these guys talented singers and dancers, but they've been releasing lines of limited edition makeup which are not only a must have for any fan, but are fun, fashionable and come in a great range of funky colours and styles for women of all ages.
Make sure you head on over to Facebook and 'like' the Makeup by One Direction page!
Make sure you read all the way to the bottom! Hint: we're giving away some! Don't worry - no quiz, just a link.
Okay, enough of the sales talk - what do I think about the line? The colours are gorgeous, they just pop and I love the range we get, you can definitely play around with them to get the look that suits your mood. First up, I'm going to review the Limited Edition One Direction Liquilights Glow Gloss, so called because if you shine a UV light on your lips while you're wearing this product - it glows! Great idea and will definitely help you stand out from the crowd. Although I do believe these colours can suit any age group, I decided to enlist the help of two lovely British Ex-Pats who happen to be HUGE One Direction fans.
Gracie is wearing Through the Dark, an electric glitter poppy lip gloss that glows to neon red-orange under UV light. It smells and tastes amazing, Gracie says it reminds her of cherry bubble gum.
Lilly is wearing Taken, a powerhouse glitter pink lip gloss that glows to neon orange under UV light. Lilly's favorite, it feels light and comfy and tastes and smells like vanilla.
The third and final colour in the set is Kiss You - Gracie seems to be doing just that! This orange glitter rush lip gloss that glows to neon yellow under UV light is also light, comfortable, not at all sticky and smells and tastes like an orange.
Before I sent off the gloss for the girls to try out I put a little on the back of my hand and I can definitely agree that they smell amazing! They didn't feel gross and sticky the way some gloss can, and they came off easily and cleanly. I would absolutely recommend this lipgloss to people of all ages!
Want more good news, my Canadian friends? Right now these are on sale at sears.ca for $11.55! Regular price is $16.50, which is still a great deal for three different shades of fantastic gloss. If you're in the States, you can purchase your own One Direction Liquilights Lip Gloss at any of these stores: Macy's, Dillards, Boscov's, Stage Stores, Beauty Brands and Lord & Taylor.
Make sure you tweet and share this post so your friends and followers can find out about 1D's great new line of Limited Edition Liquilights Lip Gloss and enter to win!
Here's what you've been looking for - I know you have! You can win your very own set of One Direction Limited Edition makeup, either the Liquilights lipgloss shown above, a Rock Me Nail Kit (which I will review tomorrow) or ElectroGlam Mascara, one of fifty that are being given away (sponsored by GoMakeIt Labs) randomly. Fill out your ballot for a chance to win! Click Here for contest entry. Contest is open to legal residents over the age of 18 in the United States and Canada (void in Quebec where prohibited) - so what are you waiting for? Enter now! Contest ends December 4th, 2014.
All opinions expressed in this blog are my own, unbiased after testing the product. The product was offered free of charge with the expectation of an honest review and promotion of contest within this blog, favorable or otherwise .
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Yesterday I posted pictures and descriptions of the items I received in my November Topbox and promised the same for the Flare Beauty Box $5 Add On. Well, here it is! The unveiling of the box. My treats are wrapped in pretty pink tissue with a note from Flare's beauty editors. Next is a little info sheet with a brief description and tip for each item included in the box. I absolutely love getting these - especially when one or more samples come in an unmarked jar, it definitely helps. Pantene Pro-V Ultimate 10 BB Creme, 151ml Actual value of product received: $6.94 According to The Pantene website, this product: Let's start with the reason I got this box. Yes, $5 is an excellent deal for what I received (it was no mystery box, they let us know before ordering what would be shipped) but this product is my number 1 pick for best product of the year (see my Bzz campaign product review here), and to get it again was a no-brainer. Olay Ultra Moisture Body Wash with Shea Butter, 50ml Actual value of product received: $0.84 According to the Olay website, this product: I'm always up for trying a new bodywash. I've used Olay before and find them to be pretty hydrating and non-irritating. CoverGirl LashBlast Clump Crusher Mascara in #800 Very Black, 13.1ml Actual value of product received: $6.99 According to the CoverGirl website, this product: I absolutely LOVE mascara - it's my favorite makeup. Unfortunately it can also be one of the most difficult to get right. Not enough length, clumping, stink, racoon eyes, not waterproof, too waterproof, won't come off even with a chisel - the list is lengthy. I have tried some really great mascaras and although CoverGirl Exact EyeLights is among my favorites, most others I've tried by this brand have been disappointing. Let's see which way this one goes. Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream, 5g Actual value of product received: $2.50 According to the Olay website, this product: The obligatory facial cream included in every beauty box. Unfortunately, these sample sizes are usually too small to get a real idea of what the product can do. Pantene Pro-V Blowout Extend Dry Shampoo, 140g Actual value of product received: $4.96 According to the Pantene website, this product: My sister in law first recommended using a dry shampoo, as she has the same issue I do - I can't wash my hair every day because I lose so much that I'd probably be bald by the end of the year, but my hair looks gross and greasy the next day - like I haven't washed it in a week. I'm happy to try this out and see if it is as good as it's supposed to be. Any Clairol Hair Colour Product, 1 kit Actual value of product received: $6.92 According to the Clairol website, this product: I'm going to use this to get a box of the Clairol Nice 'n Easy #126 Natural Black Mahogany because I received a box to test out as a part of my most recent Bzz campaign and one box is usually not enough because my hair is so long. I was going to use just the one, but since I can get a second one free, why not? The actual value of my $5.00 CDN Flare Beauty Box Add On is (drumroll, please): $29.15. I got way more than my money's worth on a box with many items I am excited to try out.
Topbox is available as a monthly subscription for $12.00CDN per month - by invitation only. If you would like an invitation, drop me an email, I'd be happy to send you one. Add on boxes are only available to subscribers. Nothing puts a smile on my face quite like a package full of goodies in my mailbox! November's Topbox arrived today, complete with the Flare Beauty Box add on, which I paid an extra $5.00 for. Let us begin with the November subscription box. This month I received: Revlon UniqOne All in One Hair Treatment, 9ml Actual value of product received: $0.90 According to The UniqOne website, this product: This product seems to be along the same lines as the Pantene BB Creme, which is my absolute favorite product of the year. I will definitely try this out to see how it stacks up against it's stiff competition. Elizabeth Arden Flawless Future Caplet Serum, 5ml Actual value of product received: $12 According to the Elizabeth Arden website: I'm always game when it comes to trying out the fountain of youth in a bottle. So far, none of them have erased any years. Maybe Elizabeth will be the one. Benefit Cosmetics Stay Flawless 8-Hour Primer, 1.2g Actual value of product received: $2.94 According to Benefit Cosmetics website, this product: I was going to stick this on my 'For Sale' page, but then I had second thoughts. I think I'll try this out and see if it gives a smoother appearance to my foundation. It has excellent online reviews, but so did their mascara, and I was less than impressed with it. Eyeko London Black Magic Mascara, 4ml Actual value of product received: $12 According to the Eyeko London website: Oh, I'm a sucker for mascara! Lately I have been sorely disappointed by everything that has been showing up at my door. But I am ready and willing to love again! Eyeko London, show me some love. I'll definitely be posting a review on this one once I get it on my lashes. The actual value of my $12.00 CDN box is (drumroll, please): $27.84. Just a meh month. I'm not really excited about any of these products, but none are terrible. Although I got my money's worth, it was not a fireworks in the sky kinda box. Topbox is available as a monthly subscription for $12.00CDN per month - by invitation only. If you would like an invitation, drop me an email, I'd be happy to send you one. As I spent way too much time dealing with some other issues earlier and my children are clamoring for dinner, I'm going to break this into two parts and give you a post on the Flare Beauty Box add on tomorrow - stay tuned!
Everyone loves free! I love going to my mailbox and finding a box of goodies waiting for me. Last week, I received my sample box sent to me by the good people at SampleSource. Twice a year they send out a box of goodies and then follow up with a questionnaire via email a few weeks later to get your opinions. I don't mind answering a few questions in order to get to try out some new products, or to re-visit some familiar ones. Without further ado, here is what I received in my fall sampler: Seven samples in all, three edibles, three beauty related and one for the home. Needless to say, the edibles disappeared pronto! Hubby was working from home the day these arrived, so we shared a bite before the kids made it home from school! We'll start with the Brookside Dark Chocolate Acai with Blueberry candies. I was a little apprehensive to try these. I am not a big fan of 'jellies', and covered in chocolate kinda made me even more put off. However, these were delicious! David and I had to fight over the last few. Not too sweet, with a thin coating of dark chocolate that adds just the right hint of cocoa. These are definitely a buy! A 2 lb bag goes for $15.50 on Amazon.ca Brookside's website is found here. Kelloggs sent a sample of their Special K Cookies & Creme Pastry crisps along with a coupon. Coupons are great to find in these sample kits, because if you enjoy your sample, it's really nice to also get a discount when you go out to buy the product. I was not too fond of this. The flavor was okay, it tries to mimic an Oreo cookie, but something in the texture is off. It's soft and crispy at the same time, which seems just wrong. Although it was chocolatey and sweet, I just couldn't get over the mouthfeel, and so this item is a pass for me. A box of 10 pouches (2 per pouch) sells for under $3 at Walmart. Kelloggs' website is found here. Hershey's contribution was a full size milk chocolate with almonds bar. Can you say yum? This is a chocolate bar that has been on the market for quite some time, but I'm guessing they're sending these samples out because they're trying to promote their new 'Bar & a Half' size. Whatever the reason, I was happy to get this, and it was as delicious as ever! Smooth and creamy, with just the right amount of whole roasted almonds in the bar, this is a classic that never gets old. I have purchased this item in the past and I will continue to do so in the future. A regular sized bar will cost you about $2.00. Hershey's website can be found here. Next item is the Finish Power and Free with Hydrogen Peroxide dishtab sample. I received one tab (good for one load of dishes) along with a $2.00 coupon. I have received Finish samples before, and they do give you a good clean on your dishes. However, I recently tried out Cascade Platinum and so far, nothing else comes close to the clean I get from them. So thank you for the sample, but it's not good enough to switch. A 60 count box will run you about $20.00. Visit the Finish site here. No sample box is complete without some shampoo and conditioner samples. Usually it's Pantene or Dove, so it's nice to see something I haven't actually tried yet. John Frieda Luxurious Volume Touchably Full. I swear, the names for these products get longer and longer every year! This is something I need! I'll be trying this out and see how it stacks up against the others - I've tried out a lot of hair products! Each bottle will run you about $9, so you're looking at just under $20 for the shampoo (250ml) and conditioner (250ml). Visit the John Frieda site here. Also received a Biore Nose strip. Although I do really enjoy the mystery of trying out a new product, it is nice when you get a box of samples and there are old favorites mixed in with the new. This is one of those products. I have been using Biore strips for my chin and nose for years, and will continue to do so. Although a little painful when it comes time to peel them off, they're easy to use and I feel good about my weekly 'deep clean' with Biore. I have purchased this product, and I will continue to do so. They're not cheap, though. A box of 8 costs around $8. Visit Biore's site to learn more. And last, but definitely not least, Jergens Ultra Care Moisturizer, or hand cream to us laypeople. They also sent a $1 off coupon, which is really nice. I am always on the lookout for good cream, especially withe the winter looming - we Canadians know just how dry our skin gets during the long winter here. I'll try this one out and let you know in a future post whether it's worth your money. Cost is about $4.50 for 100ml bottle. See Jergens' website here. All told - a great sample box! I received a really good mix of old and new, food, beauty and home. SampleSource is a great site to sign up at if you enjoy getting samples. All opinions expressed in this blog are my own, unbiased after testing the product(s). All product was offered free of charge with an expectation of a review within this blog, favorable or otherwise.
Another item I received as part of my October Topbox. Mascara is my favorite kind of makeup and is often the only thing I'll wear. Some are really great, some average and others just suck. I am always excited to try out a new mascara, looking for the one that will give my eyes the pop they deserve and making my lashes look fake. I read a whole load of really great reviews online about this particular mascara and was psyched to try it out. It better be fantastic at $29 a tube. My lashes did look fuller and they did curl without the need for a curler. There was no foul odour (like some mascaras) and it was definitely waterproof. I put eyedrops in to see what would happen (after I got home from work, just in case!), and there were no streaks or streams running down my face. However, I am only giving this mascara 3 stars because I got some serious racoon eyes by the afternoon. That's a big problem for me - I want to put my mascara on in the morning and still have it on my lashes by the time I get home, not migrating down my face. So, although this mascara did nice things for my lashes, racoon eyes are a dealbreaker. Product Rating: 3 smiles out of 5 Product Website: www.benefitcosmetics.com Product Type: makeup Would I purchase again?: no Would I recommend?: no All opinions expressed in this blog are my own, unbiased after testing the product. The product was fully paid for by myself. The subject of this blog entry has no expectation of a review, favorable or otherwise. I received this product as part of my October Topbox (see what else it contained here) - if you'd like an invite to be a part of Topbox, send me an email.
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AuthorHi! I'm Sonja and I'm glad you're here! I'm happy to share some recipes and gardening tips with you while I let you know about great (or not so great) products, services, and media I encounter. Visit my online shop at MysteriousDragonfyre.com
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