Julep Jewel Heist Mystery Box

I can't seem to help myself when it comes to Julep mystery boxes... This one was the Jewel Heist Mystery Box, and I know there was some reason for that name...It's been so long since I ordered this I can't remember why...

According to the packing slip included in the box, this was invoiced on September 10th, so it's been here for awhile (I've just sucked at blogging lately).

Cost: $24.99 (one time purchase)

Not all of this was part of the mystery box, I had ordered a few add-ons - a $4 mystery polish, along with two sale polishes and the two polishes that are bound together as a set.

Moisture Mask Trio

Value: $20 ($16 for Mavens)

This pack contains three hydrating masks - one for your feet, one for your hands and one for your nails. You put them on and leave them for half an hour to help smooth, soften and nourish. These remind me a lot of the nail therapy masks I received in my Thumbs Up Memebox, which I did like. These will be used.

Blank Canvas Plumping Lip Primer

Value: $22 (currently on sale for $4.99 for Black Friday)

For the longest time, I thought I had received a faulty one of these. There's a little button on the bottom that you press and then the primer comes out the tip. I probably pushed the button at least 100 times before anything happened, but there hasn't been any issues with it since. I don't find this plumps my lips, but I do find it makes a difference when I wear lipstick. It only makes sense, I won't wear foundation without a primer now, why wear lipstick without a primer? From the few times I've used this so far I find that my lipstick stays longer without cracking/flaking so this does it's job. It's the first lip primer I've ever tried, so I can't compare it any other products.

Julep Vanish Cuticle Softener and Remover

Value: $18 ($14.40 for Mavens)

I haven't tried this yet, but I used to love products like this (back when I actually took care of my hands/nails and went for manis/pedis every 6-8 weeks).

Nail polish colours included in Mystery Box:

Nadia, Lynn, Alfie and Kendra 

Value: $14/each ($11.20 for Mavens)

I love mystery boxes, but I think I'm done with buying them for awhile. I couldn't even find Lynn and Alfie on their website, so clearly they had discontinued the colour and just wanted to clear out the leftovers from their warehouse. It makes me wonder how old the rest of these products are... The value of the box was great at $116 though!

xoxo,

Fallon

Lip Factory October 2014

Lip Factory always shows up around the end of the month, but the October box was delayed. There was a message provided by the company stating that there was a dispute with one of the vendors (Frost Cosmetics - it wasn't hard to figure that one out). According to the product information card, this box was supposed to include a Frost Cosmetics lipgloss, but they never shipped them to Lip Factory (although the message says that as soon as they are received, Lip Factory will mail it out to their subscribers). They did include an extra lipstick as a bonus product to make up for the late shipment (and it ended up being my favourite item from the box - so I guess win?). My November box has not showed up yet, but I'm sure that could be blamed on the lovely snow we've received this week...

Cost: $26/month USD 

I'm a fan of the black tissue paper/lip sticker packaging. It's consistent every month, which is nice :)

First look - oh goodness, what is that atrocity?

Product information card - the Frost Cosmetics Lip Gloss was not included (as mentioned earlier)

Frost Cosmetics Makeup Bag

Value: $10.99

Ugh. I would never pay $11 for something this ugly. I wouldn't even pick this up if I saw it at the Dollarstore. This is tacky and ugly and I didn't even need to consider keeping this - it went straight into the give-away pile (although I did consider placing it directly into the garbage...)

Michael Marcus Lipstick

Value: $24

This is a gorgeous colour! When I first opened it, I was a little worried - it looked a little funny. But, I quickly realized that it was because the box had sat outside for a few hours (in Canada, in November) so it was just frozen!). I've worn this a few times already, it's a light pink that I can get away with wearing without looking like I painted on my lips (I love bright reds/pinks, don't get me wrong, but they're not always practical for everyday wear)

Ofra Eyeliner in Grapeful

Value: $13

I really like this colour, but when I tried to apply it I realized how long it's been since I've worn pencil eyeliner. Oh man I sucked at it. If I wear eyeliner these days, its always a gel type applied with a brush, which seems to give me so much more control. I guess I just need to keep trying until I can get this to work haha.

deVine Lip Shimmers in Rose/Merlot

Value: $8.95

Lip glosses! L will be so excited to see more of these in the house haha... I haven't opened these yet, but they have been placed in my box of unopened lip glosses which I plan on keeping and using at a later date.

29 Cosmetics Lipstick in Smokin Cab

Value: $25

My bonus product (due to Frost not sending their lipgloss) ended up being my favourite item in the October box. This is one of those colours I couldn't pull off on a daily basis, but it is beautiful. It's a dark, vampy, cranberry red which goes on so full of colour. This is a perfect colour for a fancy Christmas party. This also has SPF 20, which is a nice little added bonus I love to see in lipsticks/lip glosses :)

The October box contained 5 products valued at $81.94. If Lip Factory does end up sending me the Frost lipgloss this box was supposed to contain, the value will jump up to $97.93. Either way, it's well above what I paid, and the only truly awful product was the makeup bag.

I believe the November box is supposed to be all about the lips, so I can't wait to see what it contains!

xoxo,

Fallon

Meowbox October 2014

I'm so far behind on posting this! The cats love their Meowbox, and it's very consistent with shipping times (it almost always shows up around the 17th or 18th of the month). The October box was the fifth month on a 6 month subscription, so I need to give this company more money and keep it going. I'm so far behind on posting this I've already lost/thrown out the product information card, so I have no idea who made some of the toys (sorry!)

Cost: varies depending on length of subscription

          $32.95/month

          $27.95/month on a 3 month subscription

          $22.95/month on a 6 month subscription

Pita waiting for me to use my opposable thumbs and open the box...

Please just open it already!

As always, the inside of the box is personalized with their names :)

Something in here was intriguing them...

First look - an entire bag of catnip?! No wonder they were going crazy!

Pita tripping on the nip...

Halloween catnip toy - This also had catnip in it. Hero immediately scooped this out of the box and rubbed it all over his face (hence all the cat hair covering it...) This is clearly handmade, more than likely from Etsy (although I lost/threw out the information card so I can't even give the creator credit for it...)

Value: $5? That's a complete guess...

Friskies Party Mix - This is welcome at this house! Pita loves these (and Hero will eat just about anything...). Since it has been over a month since this box arrived, this bag of treats is long gone....

Value: $1.72 at Walmart

Kookomunga Krazee Kitty Catnip - Hero and Pita love their nip (what cat doesn't?!). It was actually really hard to take a picture of this (you can see Hero's face sniffing it...)

Value: $4.39

Hero loves rubbing nip all over his face...what a weirdo...

The Paw Project DVD - I haven't watched this yet, but it's a documentary against declawing cats (which I've always thought seems like a cruel thing to do).

Value: $15 

Nala Cat Stickers - These are cute! I'll probably end up sending them to my sponsor child

Value: $5

Rubie's Pet Shop Boutique - Devil Horns. There is no chance our cats will ever be ok with wearing these.

Value: $3.99

Pom-pom Balls - Again, I lost the information card and have no idea where these are from. Both cats enjoyed these though, I think they might now be lost in the abyss under the couch?

Value: $2? Again, another complete guess....

The overall value of the October Meowbox was $37.10 (but don't forget I completely guessed at the value of two of the products). This is one of the higher value boxes from them, and was the fifth month in a row Hero and Pita were spoiled kitties. 

xoxo,

Fallon

Glossybox is back!

The first subscription box I ever signed up for was Glossybox, back in April 2011 or 2012 I think? I was signed up with them for about a year before they closed their doors in Canada. Since then, I've been jealously eyeing up the goodies the customers in the States have been receiving every month. However, I received a very exciting email earlier this week! They were going to begin shipping to Canada again! You could begin ordering yesterday, and they sent out a promo code to all previous subscribers. I of course signed up for a 6 month subscription (Pretend you didn't read that L haha). I loved the boxes I used to receive (I'm actually talking about the pink box the products arrive in - I still have all of the old ones). They are so nice and sturdy, I used them to organize the ridiculous amount of makeup I own. I can't wait to have more of them!

If you're interested in signing up, check out the Glossybox website. The cost is $21/month plus $5/month shipping to Canada (both prices in USD). The longer you sign up for, the cheaper it gets ($26/month drops to $24.16/month with a 6 month subscription, plus I had a promo code for an additional 10% off). My promo code was a one-time use, but try out promo code ALEXANI to receive a free bracelet in your first box!

I'm not sure if I'll be receiving the November box, or if December will be my first, but either way I can't wait!

xoxo,
Fallon

*This post contains referral links*

Ipsy October 2014

This was my third month of my Ipsy subscription, and for me it was the most disappointing one so far. Don't get me wrong though, it'll take much much worse before I cancel this one.

Cost: $10US/month + $4.95US shipping to Canada

Figs & Rouge Mango Mandarin Hand Cream

Value: 3.95euros = $5.60CAD

I actually really enjoy the smell of this cream. It doesn't leave my hands greasy, but it still feels moisturizing. This was the biggest win of the month for me.

Skone Cosmetics Tattooed Waterproof Eyeliner

Value: $15

This actually seems like a great eyeliner, but I haven't taken it out of the plastic since I will be placing it into the gift/swap pile (I have soooo many eyeliners!)

Epice Purifying Exfoliant

Value: $32 for 3.3oz ($9.69 for a 1oz sample)

This will eventually be used, and it's not a terrible thing to receive at all, it's just not very exciting...

Cirque Colors Nail Lacquer in XX

Value: $13

I'm not a fan of large glitter like this, so another thing for the gift/swap pile...

Noyah All-Natural Lipstick - Deeply in Mauve

Value: $18 for 4.5g ($6 for this 1.5g sample)

This colour is too dark for my fair skin :( Anyone want a once-used lipstick?

I loved the bag for October. The bags are tiny, but this quilted teal one was soooo cute, I will find some use for it.

The value of this bag was great at $49.29, but two of the products will end up in the re-gifting pile and the lipstick will probably be thrown out. Oh well, there's always next month!

xoxo,

Fallon

October Empties

I started this last month (you can see my September empties here). I've placed a basket in our bathroom, and as we finish off products we place the empty bottles inside. 

October was a decent month for finishing things off!

You might recognize these from my Thumbs-Up Memebox. I tried one of them out one day. You're supposed to leave them on for 30 minutes, so an entire period of a hockey game worked out perfectly! My nails and fingers felt so moisturized afterwards, I really liked this! I have one more from my Memebox, which I'm saving for a cold winter day :)

Funny looking things!

Makeup Wipes will always have a place in my house! I've already opened up a new package, I can't live without these.

Olay Body Wash - this is ok, if it goes on sale super cheap I'd buy it again

Dove Shampoo - I wasn't a fan of this, it was crazy cheap (and for good reason...) 

Head & Shoulders

Herbal Essences Conditioner - meh. This is something we have lots of (thank you Shoppers Drug Mart coupons!) It's not terrible, but it's nothing spectacular either...

The old faithful of toothpaste!

L'oreal Youth Code Serum - I think I originally received this product from a subscription box quite awhile ago? I really like it - I can't actually tell you what it does, but I like the way it feels on my face. I already have another one of these open...

This post just keeps getting more and more exciting! Scope?! Haha, we have so much of this stuff stockpiled (again, thank you Shoppers Drug Mart coupons!)

I finished off my Lush New! shampoo bar this month as well. I've decided to try out a new one, and now have the Godiva shampoo bar in the shower.

Well, there are my super awesome empties for the month haha. I actually enjoy doing this, it keeps me honest with how many things I have open at once haha.

xoxo,

Fallon