Glam Sense: Unilever "You Glow Girl"

I was excited to have received another Glam Sense Campaign! The box is so pretty, I couldn't wait to see what was inside!

3 FULL SIZE PRODUCTS!

Here are my thoughts!

Simple Oil Balancing Cleansing Wipes:

I was happy to receive these as I really like the regular Simple cleansing wipes. These are great for the summer when my skin is oilier and I need a bit of help to control it. They did a good job at removing my minimal summer make up and left my face feeling fresh and clean. They are so convenient for summer road trips or camping trips and feel refreshing after a hot day!

Vaseline Aloe Lip Therapy:

I was very interested by this product. I have never seen it before and was excited to try it out! To be honest, the packaging isn't my favourite, I would have preferred a chap stick style tube, however, I do enjoy the product! The scent is AMAZING! It is very fresh and fruity. It doesn't leave a greasy feeling on my lips, but leaves them feeling nourished and moisturized. It is a great product!

Vaseline Intensive Care Advanced Repair Lightly Scented:
This lotion has a nice, mild, fresh scent. It absorbs quickly into the skin and leaves it feeling hydrated and moisturized. It is a lighter cream, so I like to use it on my arms and body during the day. I prefer my thicker body butters for my legs and for overnight. I like this, but I don't find it to be a game changer.

I am so happy to have been able to test out these products! The lip therapy & cleansing wipes were the two stand out products!

Makeup & Face Empties Jan-June

Lots of empties!

Make-up

1. It Cosmetics Hello Lashes Extensions Mascara:
I liked this mascara. It gave my lashes a lot of length and went on easily. The wand has a ball on the end, which made it easy to get into my tiny inner lashes. I would buy this again.

2. Marc Jacobs Mascara in Blacquer:
I did not like this mascara. Maybe mine had a defect, but I found it to be extremely thick and difficult to apply. I would not buy it again.

3. Benefit Gimme Brow:
I quite like the Gimme Brow and have since purchased another. I find it super easy to use and a great shade!

4. W3ll People Expressionist Mascara:
I found this mascara to be quite dry and difficult to apply. I would not buy it again.

5. Josie Maran Argan Black Oil Mascara:
This mascara was so-so. It didn't do much for my lashes in terms of volume, but did make them appear a bit longer. I found this formula dried out quite quickly. I probably wouldn't buy it again.

6. Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara:
I LOVED this mascara! It added length and volume to my lashes and didn't dry out or flake. I would like to purchase a full size when my stash depletes.

7. Laura Mercier Universal Invisible Loose Setting Powder:
I loved this setting powder! It went on so easily and didn't alter the shade of my foundation or make my skin look dry. My only gripe is that a little doesn't go a long way with this product.

8. Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer:
This s not my favourite primer, it is okay, but I don't find that it does much in terms of filling my pores or making my make-up wear longer. I would not repurchase it.

9. Eyeko Black Magic Mascara:
I didn't care much for this mascara. I found the packaging was odd and the formula was very wet and difficult to apply. It smudged and flaked very easily. I will not buy this again.

Face Products:

1. 100% Pure Coffee Bean Caffeine Eye Cream:

I received this in a BirchBox and really liked it! It kept my under-eyes very moisturized and smelled amazing! (If you are from Eastern Canada, it smelled like when you walk into the Cows ice cream shop!) I would buy this again if I saw it!

2. Vichy Idealia Skin Sleep Gel Cream:

I was sent this and really enjoyed it! It had a nice gel-like texture that absorbed into my skin quickly. The scent was mild, and certainly not offensive. I enjoyed this and may go back to it in the future.

3. Peter Thomas Roth Cucumber Gel Mask:

I received this n the Sephora birthday gift last year. It was very cooling on the face (I liked to keep it in the fridge). I enjoyed this as a pampering mask, but didn't see anything overly noticeable in terms of results. It was nice to use, but nothing that I couldn't live without!

4. Benefit Total Moisture Facial Cream:

I received this in a TopBox and enjoyed trying out Benefit's skincare. It is a very light weight moisturizer that absorbed quickly into my skin. It has a mild, pleasant scent. I enjoyed it, but wouldn't buy the full size.

5. Ole Henriksen Truth Serum Collagen Booster:

I have used many of these and love them! This is my favourite serum. It smells like oranges and absorbs quickly into my skin. I LOVE it!

6. Origins Ginzing Eye Cream:

Another product that I keep going back to! I love this stuff! It absorb well into my skin, makes my skin more radiant and smells nice. One of my favs!

7. Bobbi Brown Hydrating Eye Cream:

I got this as part of a 500 point perk at Sephora. This was my first time trying Bobbi Brown skin care and I am very impressed! It too absorbed well and left my under eyes very hydrated. I would love try get my hands on it again!

8. Bioderma Make-up Removing Micelle Solution:

This is my favourite make-up remover! It does such a good job at getting everything! I already have more!

9. Bioderma Purifying Foaming Gel:

This was fun to try, but nothing special for me. It didn't irritate my skin, and left my skin feeling clean, it just wasn't anything amazing.

10. Elizabeth Arden Prevage Anti-Aging Antioxidant Infusion Essence:

I received this in a TopBox, and at first I had no idea what to do with it haha. I enjoyed the spa-like scent and it was very refreshing on my skin. I really enjoyed it, but it isn't a necessity. it;s a luxury item.

11. Caudalie Gentle Buffing Cream:

This was a nice, gentle exfoliator. It was gentle on my skin and did the job. I have used cheaper options that are comparable, so I wouldn't repurchase.

12. Josie Maran Pure Argan Milk Intensive Hydrating Treatment:

I love this stuff during the winter! It is seriously a game changer and has help my dry skin soooo much! Love it and already have another!

13. Simple Cleansing Facial Wipes:

These are some of my favourite make-up removing wipes! They are very effective and gentle. They are quite pricey, but worth it!

14. Real Chemistry Luminous 3-Minute Peel:

I received this in my BirchBox and it was interesting and gross all at the same time! It removed dead skin and as you rubbed it, the skin would ball up. It did leave my face feeling smooth and soft. Again, I think this is a luxury item, not a necessity. It was fun to use though!

15. RICH Moisturizing Eye Mask (x2):
I bought a pack of these at Winners. They are something fun to use and do leave my undereyes feeling hydrated. I'm not sure that I would repurchase, but I have been enjoying them.

16. NUDE Perfect Cleanse Omega Cleansing Jelly:
This has a really interesting consistency. It was very effective at removing my make-up and left my skin feeling so clean. I would look into this if it weren't so expensive.

17. First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Hydra-Firm Sleeping Cream:
My skin has always like First Aid Beauty products, and this was no exception. It left my skin very hydrated and soft!

18. Lancome The Light Lotion-in-Gel:
I really liked this sample! I liked the texture of it. It smelled nice and made my skin feel so soft! I am thinking about buying a full size!

BzzzAgent: CoverGirl Katy Kat Matte & Eyes

I was so excited to have been chosen or this BzzzAgent campaign!

 I haven't been buying much make-up lately (except for my TopBox) and have always liked the Cover Girl Brand. When I found out that I would be receiving a lipstick and a mascara from this new line, I was thrilled! I even got to select my shades! I chose Kitty Purry & Very Black.

The lipstick is actually a demi-matte. It isn't flat or dry. It actually feels quite creamy on the lips (probably because it is infused with butters!). I REALLY like this shade, it is easy to apply and so flattering. There are 11 different shades in total. Big thumbs up for this lippie! I saw it for $9.99 today at the Atlantic Super Store. Very affordable!

The mascara has a very different brush that I am not that big of a fan of. I find it is easy to get clumps with this brush and that it doesn't apply easily. I didn't get any flaking or smudging, but I didn't get a lot of volume or length either. It basically just defined my blond lashes. The Very Black shade is just that, there is also an electric blue option (Perry Blue) which could be fun. There are definitely other varieties of Cover Girl mascaras that I prefer. I also saw this for $9.99 today at the Atlantic Super Store. I think that I would pass on this one.

• There is $1 off coupon here if you want to try these out for yourself!

 #KatyKatMatte #KatyKatEye #GotItFree

Chick Advisor: Vichy Hydration (Dry Skin) Routine.

First peek!

My box included the following products:

• A 150mL (FULL SIZE) Vichy Pureté Thermale Cleansing Foam Radiance Revealer - $19.95
• A 150mL (FULL SIZE) Vichy Mineralizing Thermal Water - $13.00
• A 50mL (FULL SIZE) Vichy Aqualia Thermal Rich Cream - $ 39.95

TOTAL VALUE: $72.90!

Very generous of Vichy! They all seem to suit my skin type. I have tried the Eau Thermal Water and it is so refreshing! The cream seems to be rich and gel-like, which I like in a night cream. When it comes to face cleansers, I prefer foaming cleansers, so I am excited to try this one out!

I am super excited to use all of these! Thanks Vichy!

I received 3 full size products from Vichy last year as well, you can see that here.

Body & Hair Empties Jan-June

Lots of empties!

Hair

1. L'Oreal Color Radiance Shampoo:

I received this from Influenster, you can read about that here. I quite enjoyed this shampoo, it lathered well, smelled great and seemed to last quite a while. It did a fine job of protecting my colour, but there are other shampoos that work just as well or better. I'm still working through the conditioner & the color treatment.

2. Herbal Essences Naked Moisture Shampoo & Conditioner:

I received these from BzzzAgent, you can read more about that here. These claim to be more natural. I liked the shampoo okay, the scent doesn't thrill me, but the shampoo worked okay. The conditioner didn't do much for my long, tangled hair.

3. Batiste Dry Shampoo:

I use up about one of these a month and enjoy them so much! Before these, I washed my hair every day, now I can wash it every second or third day without feeling dirty or greasy. They are lifesavers!

4. Body Shop Banana Shampoo:

I LOVE this shampoo! It smells so good and does a wonderful job of cleaning my hair, without leaving any build-up. I can't wait to use this again!

5. Chi Helmet Head Extra Firm Hair Spray:

This is my new favourite hair spray. I don't mind the scent of it, and it leaves my hair in place, but not crunchy. It adds volume and holds all day. I have already purchased a larger size!

6. RUSK Heatshift Re-styling Cream:

I enjoyed using this. I smelled so good and help keep the frizz away and hold my hairstyle in place.

7. OBLIPHICA Professionals Seaberry Hair Serum:

This is so nice! It smells heavenly (vanilla) and reduced the frizz in my hair. I would buy a larger size, if I ever see it.

8. Briogeo Blossom & Bloom Ginseng & Biotin Volumizer:

This smells like citrus and definitely added volume to my hair. For me, it's not a necessary step in my hair routine, but it was nice to have.

9. AVEDA Volumizing Tonic:

Again, this added volume to my hair. A nice step, but not necessary for me. It smelled more herbal, which I didn't mind.

10. NEXXUS Rejuvenating Elixir:

This was okay, I honestly didn't notice a difference in my hair while using this. I didn't like the dropper style packaging. Nothing special for me.

Body Products

1. Dove Pistachio Cream with Magnolia Nourishing Body Wash:
This is an all time favourite of mine. It moisturizes my skin and smells so so so good! Will be buying more when I run out of other body products!

2. Dial Coconut Water Hydrating Body Wash: 
This has a nice, fresh, tropical scent. It is supposed to be moisturizing, but I actually found it quite drying. Not a fan.

3. Body Shop Mini Shower Gels in Mango, Satsuma & Glazed Apple (x2):
I like these minis for travel. I really like the glazed apple & mango scents. the satsuma is okay, but a bit strong for my liking. They are not really anything special, but convenient for travel.

4. Prevailing Organic Essentials Apple Bath & Shower Gel:
I didn't like this. The scent was nice, but it was really thick and hard to get out of the packaging. I wouldn't invest in a larger size.

5. Body Shop Body Butters in Glazed Apple & Vineyard Peach:

These are my favourite creams. They are so rich and moisturizing. I like to apply them at night, as it does take some time for my skin to absorb them. The peach scent wasn't my favourite.

6. St. Ives Fresh Hydration Continuous Spray Lotion in Coconut Milk & Orchid Extract:

This was a mess. It had a nice sweet coconut scent, but the nozzle on it sprayed everywhere. It is a light moisturizer and didn't do a whole lot for my skin.

7.Soap & Glory Hand Food Hydrating Hand Cream:

I really like this product! It is so moisturizing and helped heal my poor dry hands. I would purchase this again, but it is s expensive in Canada compares to USA. :(

8. Juara Candlenut Body Creme:

The scent of this was a bit too perfume-like for me. It was also a very small size sample of a body cream, so it was hard to really get a feel for if I liked it or not.

9.Gilette Venus with Olay Vanilla Cashmere Shave Gel:

To me, shaving gel is shaving gel. I buy whatever is on sale, usually. This worked well, smelled nice and left my skin feeling soft.

10. Body Shop Wild Argan Oil Bubbling Bath : 

I have just recently begun enjoying baths. This foamed up really well and smelled nice. Very relaxing! I already have another!

11.Gilette Satin Care with Olay Sensitive Shave Gel:

Again, nice!

12. Secret Clinical Clear Gel Antiperspirant/Deodorant:

This left me feeling a bit wet under my arms, it didn't absorb quickly and had a bit of a strong scent for my liking. I won't be buying the full size.

13. St. Ives Fresh Skin Apricot Scrub:

This was very abrasive and didn't smell as fruity as I had anticipated. It was so-so for me.

14: B. Kamins Bio Maple, Maple Sugar Body Scrub:

This was a very course, harsh scrub. It was a very small sample size for a body scrub, so again hard to judge if I truly liked it or not.

June TopBox 2016

June has been super busy for me, so here, finally is my June Topbox!

• A 5mL sample of O.R.G. Skincare Mineral Peel with Face Brightening Agents - $6.95
• A FULL SIZE Barefoot Venue Lip Bliss in Maple Blondie - $7.50
• A Pur-Lisse Blue Locus & White Tea Treatment Sheet Mask - $8.00
• A FULL SIZE China Glaze Nail Lacquer in Pinking our the Window - $10.00

TOTAL VALUE: $32.45

This box was iffy for me. I am disappointed to receive ANOTHER nail polish, but this is a band that I actually like and a colour that I will probably wear (though I haven't yet...) I like the brand Barefoot Venus and am excited to try out this lip balm! The face mask and peel will be good to try, although I am disappointed in the lack of variety within this box. Overall, not bad, but not great.

May 2016 Topbox

Here is my May TopBox!

This box included:

• A 100g sample of Novex Brazilian Keratin Deep Conditioning Hair Mask - $2.17
• A 30ml sample of The FaceShop Collagen Pomegranate Pack - $4.05
• A FULL SIZE (10ml) Pur-Lisse BB Tinted Moist Cream with SPF 30 - $12.55
• A FULL SIZE Morgan Taylor Professional Nail Lacquer in  Hot Hot Tamale - $15.83

TOTAL VALUE: $34.60

I was very underwhelmed by this month's box. The hair mask is what I am most excited about. I will also use the mask and possibly the BB cream. I am kind of surprised that the BB cream is supposed to be full size, but is only 10ml....odd. I am the most disappointed with the nail polish. I received this a few months ago in another shade and have still not used it....

Not the best month for me!

RachhLoves Topbox

When YouTuber RachhLoves collaborated with TopBox to create this, I had to have it! I had a $5 off code, so this only cost me $14.00 and it claims to have a $68+ value!!

This box included:

• A FULL SIZE NYX Butter Gloss, I chose the shade Sugar Cookie 
• A 2.5ml sample of Elizabeth Arden Grand Entrance Mascara 
• A 15g sample of GlamGlow FlashMud
• A 7ml sample of Delictable Everything Balm 
• 2 5ml minis of Essie's Summer Collection, I chose the shades Loot the Booty & Viva Antigua 

I love the Nyx Butter Glosses and was happy to get another! I have tried many of the GlamGlow masks and have loved them all, I have not tried this one yet though and am very excited! The nail polish colours are beautiful and the mini sizes are perfect! - I never go through full size nail polishes! The Everything Balm smells so good ad is very moisturizing - I know it will come in handy! The mascara is a good size, so it will be nice to try too. Overall, I think this is a great value and I will actually use all of these products! I am so happy to have gotten this!

Sephora 500 point perk: Nars

I had been collecting points for a while and have been waiting for a 500 point perk to spend them on. When I saw this NARS perk, I had to get it!

This perk included:

• A 4ml Lip Gloss in Chelsea Girls - $21.33
• A 2.8g Pro-Prime Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base - $11.42
• A 3ml Audacious Mascara in Black Moon - $12.75
• A 3.5g Blush in Orgasm- $28.50

TOTAL VALUE: $74.00!!!

This is a great value, that I couldn't pass up! I haven't tried many products from Nars, but I have liked what I have tried. These are all new products for me and I am o excited to start using with them! I have heard such great things about the blush and eyeshadow base, in particular.  I also love the colour of this lip gloss! Great value!

April 2016 TopBox

It's TopBox time again!

Here's what was inside this month:

• A FULL SIZE OFRA Lipliner in Wine - $17.25
• A 7mL sample of Pure-Lisse Blue Lotus 4-in-1 Eye Adore Serum - $30.33
• A FULL SIZE Ciaté Nail Lacquer in roller coaster - $15.00
• A FULL SIZE POP Beauty Pure Pigment in Matte Bark - $11.42
• A FULL SIZE Schick Hydro Silk Razor - $9.97
• A $5.00 Coupon for Razor Refills - $5.00 Value

TOTAL VALUE: $88.97

This month, I received a Schick Razor as a bonus item. It's always nice to get a bonus item - Thanks TopBox! I now that the value of this box is really good and that I have a lot of full size items, so I'm happy with that. I think that TopBox is really trying to up their game - although it did fall short for me this month. I really don't use loose pigments, the lipliner is quite dark - I probably will get some wear out of it, but little- and the nail polish isn't really my thing. I prefer non glitter polishes. I am most excited about the eye serum, and, well, I guess the razor? Boring, I know. All in all, I appreciate the effort, just not quite to my taste - maybe I should update my profile? Is there a profile for TopBox?

Glam Sense : Lise Watier HydraForce

When I saw that I was being sent a Lise Watier product to try, I was very excited! I haven't tried much from this line, but what I have tried, I have loved. I was sent a 45ml jar of the HydraForce Hydra-Protective Comforting Cream ($45 value) and a skin hydration measuring tool, which plugs into my phone and works with an app developed by Lise Watier Cosmetics. This cream claims to be a weatherproof moisturizer that keeps skin 3x more hydrated and the app in conjunction with the hydration tool are supposed to help proof just how hydrating this cream actually is.

I think that the hydration tool and the app are a great idea! It is a new, fresh take on product testing that I was not expecting. It was also really easy to use and fun. On the more scientific side of things, I found the tool to be quite inconsistent, though the hydration levels were always higher when they were on skin that had just been moisturized. Often I would place it on the same patch of skin and would get very different readings - maybe it was my error. Overall, my skin's hydration usually doubled after applying this cream (usually it would go from 30-35% before to 60-70% after) , which is pretty impressive!

When it comes to the cream, I like that it is in a glass jar - creams just feel more fancy when their jars are glass instead of plastic! The scent is a bit strong for my liking, but not too off-putting and it doesn't linger long. It has a light consistency that absorbs quickly into the skin. It leaves my skin feeling more supple and hydrated. I have only tried this at night so far, so I can't speak to how make-up applies over it. 

Overall? I really liked it! Do I think that it is the best cream that I have ever used? No. But it was fun to test out and I definitely enjoy it and will use every last drop!

To promote this product, there is a HYDRAFORCE SQUAD event being held on April 16th at the MicMac Mall, in Dartmouth, NS, from 12-5pm. You can test out your skin's hydration level and leave with a free sample! #getinthebubble

Glam Sense: Dove Campaign

For this campaign, I was sent 5 full size products to review - yes 5! Wow! I have tried and really liked Dove products - If you have been reading my blog you know my love for the Dove Nourishing Body Wash in Pistachio with Magnolia - IT JUST SMELLS SO GOOD!

Anyways! As soon as I opened this box, I was hit with a very intense baby powder scent. I'm not really into that, but it didn't stop me from trying the products. After smelling each individual product, I', not sure where the strong scent came from - maybe just all of them condensed inside a small box? I was sent: the Daily Moisture Shampoo & Conditioner, the Deep Moisture Body Wash, the White Beauty Bar and the Go Sleeveless Antiperspirant. After trying these out, here are my thoughts!

(I priced these items on Walmart.ca)

Daily Moisture Shampoo & Conditioner ($4.96 each):
Of all the products that I was sent, I like the scent of these the most! The shampoo lathers well and the conditioner left my hair feeling moisturized. It was easy to run my tangle teaser through my hair after using these products - I have very fine tangled hair usually. I really enjoy these!

Deep Moisture Body Wash ($4.97):
I love this product - not as much as the Pistachio Magnolia - but still! It leaves my skin feeling smooth and hydrated. It lathers very well and has a light, fresh scent.  Very gentle on my dry, sensitive skin.

White Beauty Bar ($3.27 for 2 bars):
This is my go to bar of soap. I have very sensitive skin and this has always been good to me and has never caused me to break out. It is very gentle and lathers well. It leaves my skin feeling moisturized and soft. This is also great for cleaning make-up brushes!

Go Sleeveless Antiperspirant ($2.97):
This too smells great! It's a very mild, warm scent. It goes in smoothly and leaves me feeling fresh all day. It doesn't seem to ball up under my arms, like other brands.

March 2016 TopBox

This month's box included:

• A 4g sample of Givenchy Phenomen' Eyes Mascara - $20.00
• A set of MaskerAide All Eyes on Me Hydrating Eye Gel Patches - $6.25
• A FULL SIZE N.S. Fisherman Extreme Lip Care Fisher-Mint Lip Balm - $4.95
• A 3mL sample of Benefit Porefessional - $5.05

TOTAL VALUE: $36.25

This month's box is a good variety of products, but nothing that really wows me. The Givenchy mascara will be great to try! The packaging seems very luxurious, so I am most excited about it. I will use the eye patches, but they're not something that I would normally buy or get excited about. Also, they are a one shot deal. The lip balm is kind of boring. Honestly, I'm getting sick of receiving products from this brand. I really like the porefessional, but have gotten this sample in several previous boxes sooooooo yeah. All in all,not bad, but nothing spectacular either. You can get a FREE sample lip balm with your order from from novascotiafisherman.com with the code TOPBOXFREELB.

Influsenter: L'Oreal Hair Expertise

I  was selected by Influenster to review 3 hair products from the L'Oreal Paris Hair Expertise Color Radiance Line! Yay!

I received 3 FULL SIZE products to put to the test!

A bottle of shampoo, a bottle of conditioner and a tube of instant miracle : complete protective care.

I had just gotten my hair dyed before receiving these goodies, so it was perfect timing! These products can all be easily found and are very cost effective.

The shampoo is great! It smells amazing & lathers up really well! I found that a little goes a long way. 

I didn't find the conditioner to be anything too special, it worked well, but I didn't find it to be different than most of the other conditioners that I have used.

The Instant Miracle - WOW! It is the BEST! It brightened my colour and made my hair super shiny and silky - AMAZING for a drugstore product! The cherry on top? It smells SOOOO good!

Thanks Influenster!

#hairexpertise

Feb. 2016 TopBox

Another month, another TopBox...

Here what was inside this month.

• A 5mL sample of Bliss Fabulous Drench 'n' Quench cream-to-water lock-in moisturizer - $4.80
• A 7.1mL sample of Smashbox Photo Finish Primer - $10.41
• A 28g sample of Nova Scotia Fisherman eXtreme Skin Care Sea Salt Soap - $1.44
• A FULL SIZE Morgan Taylor Nail Lacquer in Later Alligator - $ 15.83

TOTAL VALUE: $32.48

This is the second month in a row that I am disappointed. The variety is decent, but all of the products (minus the nail polish) are small. I know a lot of people would be happy to receive the Smashbox Primer, but  I'm not a fan of it. The soap is nice, but living in NS, it's not something new to me. The nail polish colour isn't something that I would wear - besides maybe St. Paddy's Day and the Bliss product is so tiny! If this keeps up, I may have to end what we have going, TopBox.

Use the promo code FEBTOPBOX at novascotiafisherman.com for 20% off!

Feb. 2016 BirchBox Canada - Last BirchBox Canada

Since my last BirchBox post, lots has happened! BirchBox decided to stop shipping to Canada. This news was leaked and BirchBox ended up with a lot of explaining to do. So, this is my last BirchBox. Now, I must say that their customer service has been bending over backwards to accommodate Canadians. I purchased an annual subscription on Black Friday and was reimbursed all of my money. Anyways, I cashed out my points in the BirchBox store and am now awaiting my shipment.

Here's what I got in my final BirchBox. 

• A 45mL sample of 12 Benefits Instant Healthy Hair Treatment
• A 1.5mL sample of Cartier La Panthere Eau de Parfum
• A Color Club Nail Lacquer in That's My Jam
• A 30mL sample of Naobay HydraPlus Cream
• A 2.5mL sample of OCC Lip Tar in Black Metal Dahlia

For the sample selection this month, I chose the Lip Tar. I don't have many deep lippies and thought this would be unique. I like the colour, but I'm not sure about the metallic finish. I think that it's pretty, but definitely not an everyday color! I like the nail polish - but it's nothing special. I love the hair product, it smells and works great! I can always use cream, so that's a nice addition. I am disappointed to get a perfume sample. It's small and old lady smelling - not for me!

All in all, a pretty decent box, but sad that it'll be my last. It's been fun BirchBox, let's do this again sometime...

Chick Advisor: Garnier Skinactive

I was so happy to be selected for the Garnier Skinactive Campaign by Chick Advisor!

Included were the following:

• A FULL SIZE Miracle Anti-Fatigue Hydra-Gel Moisturizer ($24.99 Value)
• A FULL SIZE Micellar Water ($9.99 Value)
• A Mug + 50g of David's Blueberry Jam Looseleaf  Tea ($8.98 Value + Mug)

I'm assuming that the mug and the tea were additions made,to compensate for the delay in shipping. I LOVE both additions! I am a hug David's Tea fan and think that this mug is so cute! I also love that the moisturizer contains berry extract and they matched that with the Blueberry Jam Tea - so cute!

Let's start with the Miscellar water. I have tried several of these in the past and always go back to Bioderma (which is quite pricey, but worth it!). Actually, most micellar waters tend to be on the pricey side, but for $10 you get a lot of product here - 400ml! I love how simple this product is to use: just dampen a cotton pad and apply it to your face, it does't get any easier! This is also gentle and doesn't irritate my skin or my eyes and I have very irritable skin & eyes! This doesn't quite remove all of my eye make-up, I find myself having to use additional products to get my eye area totally clean. Also, I definitely have to use more of this product than my Bioderma, I don't find it to be as effective at removing my make-up. I like to use a damp, warm cloth to follow up after using this product, which I didn't have to do with Bioderma. Bottom Line: This is good for days you don't wear much make-up, but might not get all of your eye make-up off. This is good if you are on a budget but isn't quite as effective as other products.

On to the Moisturizer! Firstly, I like that the packaging has a pump & I love the claims : deep hydration, plumps out fine lines, works well under make-up. Yes, yes, yes! I feel like the pump dispenses too much product for me, also the scent is a bit strong for my liking- it isn't a bad scent, it's very clean smelling, just strong. I find that it does absorb well into my skin and it does hydrate well. Bottom Line: This moisturizer hasn't been anything amazing for me yet, but with moisturizers I feel like you see results over time and I can't judge that yet. I think that it is quite hydrating, but the smell is quite off-putting for me.

All in all I am super happy to try these products and enjoy them all. Are they my absolute favorites? No. But are they are good drugstore products! I also love the add-ons! So sweet! Thanks Chick Advisor!

January BirchBox 2016

My January BirchBox came! Let's look inside!

This month's box included:

• A FULL SIZE Cucumber Breeze Fiber Mask from BioRepublic
• A 5ml sample of Dr. Jart+ Pore Medic Pore Minish Primer
• A 75ml sample of Fave 4 Texture Takeover 
• A 10ml sample of Juara Candlenut Body Creme
• A sample of Tony Moly Delight Tony Tint in #2 Red

It also contained some stickers (which are supposed to be for the box, but I  like them for my planner)

I like this box, I think that is a nice variety of products and brands. I always love a sheet mask - can't go wrong! I have never tried a product from Dr. Jart before and have heard good things, so I'm looking forward to trying the primer. The texture spray is a nice size and is something that I currently don't have anything else like. The body cream sounds nice and the tint is a nice colour. Overall, a great box! I think that I am actually going to use everything in this box! Yay! Well done BirchBox!

January TopBox 2016

My TopBox came today! It was a nice treat at the end of the week! I actually just received my shipping information today and t arrived in the same day! This month, I received Box 7.

Here's a peek at what was inside:

This month's box included:

• A 50g sample of Hask Macadamia Oil Hydrating Deep Conditioning Hair Treatment - $1.77
• A FULL SIZE Teeez rend Cosmetics Read My Lips Lipstick in Roulette Red - $28.94
• 2 samples of SeaRX Birch Sap Moisturizing Lotion - (unsure exact amount)
• A 10ml sample of Elizabeth Arden Prevage Anti-Aging Antioxidant Hydrating Essence - $8.57

TOTAL VALUE: $39.28+

Is it just me or are the names of products getting longer and longer? haha! Overall, I found this to be quite an underwhelming box. I am probably most interested in the Elizabeth Arden Hydrating Essence. I can always use extra hydration - especially in the winter, so this product intrigues me! The full size lipstick is nice, but I already got this exact shade from Glam Sense. I did like i, but I don't wear read all that often, you can read my review of it here. The hair mask is something that I will definitely use. I think that I will be able to get 2 uses out of it, so I am looking forward to using it. I'm not sure what to think about the Birch Sap Moisturizer....the samples are quite tiny and have very little information on them.

I'm definitely not wowed by this month's box, but maybe next month will blow me away! One can always hope, right?

Empties!

I have accumulated a lot of empties over the past few months!

Hand & Body Care

1. Faith Aromatherapy Lemongrass Fennel Hand Soap:

I received this in a TopBox and I actually liked it. It has a light, fresh scent and made my hand feel clean. Nothing special, but it was nice.

2. Gillette Venus with Olay Shaving Gel - Violet Swirl  & Vanilla Cashmere:

I bought these from Costco and really like them. I prefer the vanilla scent to the violet. I am not fussy about shaving gels and will probably repurchase.

3. Dove Nourishing Body Wash in Pistachio with Magnolia:

I LOVE this body wash! It smells sooo good and leaves my skin feeling moisturized. I ave already started a new one!

4. Bioderma Gentle Shower Gel:

I received this in a TopBox as well. It left my skin feeling clean, but it was nothing special. No scent.

5. Jergens Moisturizer for Wet Skin:

I received this as a free sample. I found the scent to be a bit strong for my liking. It is supposed to be applied while your skin is still wet after a shower. I didn't find it moisturizing enough and had to follow up wit my body butter.

6. Barefoot Venus Vanilla Shake Mango Butter Bath Bliss:

This was a powder that when in a bath. It was so moisturizing and smelled so good! A nice treat!

7. Body Shop Body Butter in Almond:

I love body butters! This was my first time trying the almond scent and I quite enjoyed it! I would definitely repurchase!

8. Secret Deodorant in Paris Romantic Rose:

I really enjoyed the scent of this and I found that it kept me feeling fresh all day. I have already repurchased.

9. Body Shop Body Scrub in Brazil Nut:

This was a nice, abrasive scrub. It left my legs feeling soooo soft! I didn't enjoy the scent that much, but it worked really well!

10. Harvey Prince Hello! Shampoo:

This got placed in the wrong photo...oopsies! I received this in a BirchBox. The scent of this was very strong and for the price tag, I didn't notice anything special. I would not buy the full size.

11. Barefoot Venus Dry Body Oil in Pink Pepper:

I received this in a TopBox. I really enjoyed this body oil! It has a nice scent and was the perfect size for travel!

12. The Body Shop Almond Hand & Nail Cream:
This was a good hand cream. The size is generous and it left my hand feeling moisturized. I didn't like the packaging on this. It cracked and the cream leaked out. I would not repurchase unless the change the packaging.

13. L'Occitane Dry Skin Hand Cream:
I received this in a LuxeBox. I have always wondered about this brand and was happy to try it. It was comparable to the Body Shop hand cream - pretty moisturizing. I found this scent a bit strong, and have repurchased in the Amande scent.

14. Josie Maran Whipped Argon Oil Intensive Hand Cream in Sweet Citrus:
This hand cream is AMAZING! I LOVE the scent and it is so nourishing for my dry, cracked hands. It is a bit pricey, but worth it! I have purchased a Josie Maran value pack with another mini of this!

Face Products

1. Simple Exfoliating Facial Wipes:

I did not like these! They were way to rough on my skin and didn't take off my make-up well. I would not repurchase these. I actually bought another pack when I purchased this one and I am giving it away.

2. Balea 3 in 1 Cleansing Cloths:

 These are my favorite cleansing wipes! They are gentle and do a good job of removing make-up. I will definitely buy these again!

3. Marcelle Essentials Purity Soothing Cleaning Water:

This was okay - not as good as Bioderma though. It was gentle on my skin, but left make-up on my skin. I probably wouldn't buy this again.

4. Bioderma Micelle Solution:

This is the best! I love it for removing make-up, or just freshening up! I already have another!

5. Michael Todd Tropical Fruit Enzyme Exfoliant Scrub:

I was introduced to this when I received a sample in my TopBox years ago. I then repurchased. I love this scrub! It is gentle, but rough enough to get off any dry skin and it smells AMAZING! Plus 96% organic! I would love to buy another!

6. Vasanti Brighten Up! Enymatic Face Rejuvenator:

I received this in my BirchBox. This is another nice scrub, it was a bit more abrasive than the Michael Todd scrub, but still didn't irritate my skin. 

7. Vasanti Detox Nutrient-Rich Purifying Facial Cleanser:

I also received this in my BirchBox. I found this gentle on my skin, and it left my face feeling very clean. I didn't think that it did anythng special fr my skin though.

8. Paula's Choice Skin Perfectin 2% BHA Liquid Salicylic Acid:

I received this in my TopBox. I liked it. It was gentle on my skin, but I didn't find that it did anything special that my cheaper Nivea toner doesn't do.

9. Michael Todd Honey & Oat Gentle Deep Pore Cleanser:

 I LOVE this cleanser. It smells to good! It leaves my skin feeling so clean, yet hydrated. This is my favorite cleanser of all time!

10. Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex:

This smells like old lady. I enjoy using serums at night, so it was nice to use, but not something that I would purchase.

11. Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Synchronized Complex II:

I received this in a TopBox. It also smells like old lady. It has kind of a Vaseline type of texture and took a while to absorb into my skin. I still have another sample size to use up, but I would not purchase the full size.

12. Ole Henriksen Truth Serum Collagen Booster:

This has a fresh, orange scent and absorbs quickly into my skin. It is probably my favorite serum! I find that it brightens my complexion. I am currently using another.

13. Glam Glow PowerMud DualCleanse Treatment:

I really like this! It is a mask, that turns into an oil wen you rinse it off. I found that it brought my blackheads to my skin's surface and that it left my skin feeling moisturized! I think that it's worth the splurge!

14. Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask to Clear Pores:

I like this! I would apply to it any breakouts and it seemed to calm them down and keep my oils under control.

15. Benefit Total Moisture Facial Cream:

I have a few samples of this to use up, mostly from TopBox. I find it a good day cream, but i prefer a more hydrating cream at night. It absorbs into my skin quickly and leaves it feeling ready for the day!

16. Pur-lisse Gentle Soy Milk Cleanser and Make-up Remover:

I received this in a TopBox. I found it to be very gentle on my skin. I really enjoyed it! It did a great job taking off any make-up. It left my skin feeling clean and moisturized.

Hair Products

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1. Amika Perk Up Dry Shampoo in Sea Buckthorn Berry:

I received this in a Topbox. I really liked the scent of this. I found that it absorbed oils well and left my hair feeling fresh and looking clean. It has a high price tag compared to my Batiste though.

2. Batiste Dry Shampoo in Clean & Classic Original:

This is my favorite dry shampoo. It is so affordable! It soaks up any oils and adds volume to my hair The scent is a bit overpowering at first, but I don't find that I can smell it all day. I have already purchased another!

3. Matrix Smooth Setter Smoothing Cream:

I received this in a TopBox. I LOVE the scent. It seriously reminds me of a hair salon. It kept my hair smooth and frizz free! I would definitely repurchase this!

4. Moroccan Oil Treatment in Light:

This bottle lasted me just over two years and I used it every time after washing my hair - a little goes a long way - Amazing! I like the light version better than the original as I find the original can weigh my hair down. This scent is amazing too! If they made a perfume of this scent I would so buy it!

5. Sebastian Liquid Gloss Defrizz Polishing Drops:

I bought this from Winners as an impulse buy and I actually quite enjoyed it. I found that it did help with "defrizzing" my hair and that it left it soft and manageable. 

6. Uniq One All in One Hair Treatment:

I received this in a TopBox. It was okay. It was a very small sample to get a real feel for it in my long hair. I wouldn't buy it based on this sample.

7. Body Shop Banana Shampoo & Conditioner:

I love these! They smell like banana and last a long time. The shampoo suds up well and the conditioner does a pretty good job at detangling my hair. Again. a little goes a long way with these. They last my husband and I just over 2 months. I have already bought more!

8. N4 Clarifying Shampoo:

I received this in a BirchBox. It did a good job at clarifying my hair. I got about 3 uses out of it. It takes A LOT of product to lather up my hair. I would probably use a drug store alternative instead of buying this.

9. John Freida FrizzEase Hair Serum & John Freida Thermal Protection Hair Serum:

These both absorbed quickly into my hair and left it feeling nourished. They are nothing that I am running out to buy, but a good products.

Make-up Products

1. B. Kamins BB Cream:

I received this in a LuxeBox. I really don't like it and finally decided to toss it. It oxidized big time on my skin and was very orange. I would never buy this.

2. L'Oreal Miss Manga Voluminous Mascara in Black:

I liked this enough. The wand is odd. Flexible at the end and it has quite a large brush. I found that it gave me volume, but easily got clumpy. I like layering this over a mascara tat separated and lengthened my lashes.

3. Kat Von D Tattoo Liner in Trooper:

This is my favorite liner! It is so easy to apply compared to other liquid liners. It is a deep black shade. The brush applicator makes it easy to draw a thin line or go bolder. I finished my full size and my travel size (which I used on the go). I wear this everyday and have already bought another!

4. Stila Stay all Day Liner in Black & Dark Brown

This used to be my favorite liner, but after using the Kat Von D liner, it is so hard to go back! It is a bit of a glossier black, but still very dark. It is quite easy to apply, but not as easy as the Kat Von D. I really enjoyed the brown colour for a more natural look. It is a deep brown and softened my look compared to the black.

Masks & Foil Packets

1. Fruits & Passion Cucumber Face Mask:
I received this in a TopBox. I found it very soothing on my skin. It seemed to de-puff my face and hydrate my skin. I already have another to use!

2.  Rich Moisturizing Eye Mask:
I bought a box of these at Winner's. They sooth and moisturize my under eye area. I like them, but I don't think that they are any different from most eye masks.

3. Biore Deep Cleansing Charcoal Pore Strip:
This was sent to me as a sample to try. I like using these strips, but didn't notice a difference in the charcoal version.

4. BioreDeep Cleansing Pore Strip:
These are seriously amazing! I use these one every couple of months and they remove so many of my blackheads! I really like them!

5. Glam Glow SuperMud Clearing Treatment:
I really dislike the smell of this - but it works! I love the foil packet size of this! I use it to spot treat any breakouts and it seems to dry it up quite well.

6. Nivea Q10 Plus Serum Pearls:
I enjoy serums, but I found this one weird. These "pearls" didn't seems to burst and sink into my skin. I didn't really care for it.

7. Kate Sommerville ExfoliKate:
This smells like cinnamon and is green in colour, if you can get beyond that it is a good exfoliator. I think there are comparable ones for cheaper though.

8. Jurlique Purely Bright Radiance Serum:
I enjoyed this, but I prefer the Ole Henriksen Serum. I think the smell is a bit off putting and I found it took longer to sink into my skin.

9. Josie Maran Pure Argan Milk:
 I really like this! It hydrates my skin without leaving it oily feeling - great for winter skin! I have already purchased the full size.