Topbox January

This month was such a let down I almost emailed topbox to cancel or request anything that doesn't suck as much as this box. Topbox is Canadian (yay!) and for $12 per month plus taxes 4 samples are delivered to your door. 

This month I received duplicates of the last two years. Ugh. Duplicates I don't like. 

SeaRx lotion that cannot be used by breastfeeding mom. So this was gifted. 

la Roche-Posy Sustiane serum. I still can not tell what part of the body this is supposed to be used for - hair? face? skin? All the above? $59 for full size, $5 for this sample. Gah, I much rather have a latte. 

Cuccio nail lacquer in baby puke brown. $4.21. I'm never going to use this, and I feel awful it was sent to me to be wasted. 

Teeez Trend Cosmetics Read My Lips Lipstick. This I thought would be awesome! And the packaging is nice. Then you put it on and try to suffer the overwhelmingly strong crayon smell. I'm not keen on this formula at all. $28.94. 

It is really nice they include the information sheet. So that's a plus. I opted for the environmentally friendly bag this month, so I don't even have the tube to repurpose. 

So disappointing. I hope next month is better. 

I paid $13ish with taxes, and this box was valued around $35. But most of that is the awful smelling lipstick. 

I would go back in time and not buy this month if that was an option. 

Topbox June 2015

Topbox is a Canadian Beauty Subscription box for $12 plus tax per month. I'm located close to the shipping center, so it took one day past the shipping date to get my box.  

Here is it!

Topbox includes a handy card to tell you what is in your box, and where to find it. 

Each month, Topbox sents 4 items to try out. I'm excited to see the Vasanti BrightenUp! as I love this facial cleanser. Estimated value $5.66 

I received this product in my spring Luxebox and it provides about enough foundation to swatch and find your shade. As such, I wont assign a value to this.

Teeez Nail Polis in Jealously Jade. This is pretty, but I have yet to use. Value $15.

So Susan dual brow powder. Full size. This is a super duper tiny brush. I tried to test it, and it started to hurt my hand. Value $18.

That's my complete box. I had two full size items, one trial/travel size that I love and one foil sample size. The total estimated value is $38.66 for this month. As long as I'm sent something I really like, I'm happy to get my Topbox. One of the reasons I subbed was to expand and refresh my beauty routine and I think this box fits that portfolio.  

I was able to get one full face out of the Buxon Weightless Foundation (but it's really too small to decide if I truly like this product) and I thought I'd share my look. The gloss? Shiro's Femme Fatale Last Chance Exclusive Smelt of Elderberries over Hello Waffle's First Born Child. I think I found love. 

What did you get in your Topbox this month?

Topbox May 2015

Yup, nailed the fast shipping again. About five hours after my email indicating the box had shipped it was at my door.

Topbox is a Canadian beauty subscription box where for $12 plus taxes, 4 samples or deluxe samples are sent to your door. 

I had the option to add-on a mystery gift for $10 plus taxes and I couldn't resist. I just know that I am going to get something amazing one day. This time I got MeMeMe Seventh Heaven moisturizing primer. This doesn't have SPF and has a strong scent so I'm not over the moon about it. But I was considering buying a full size of one of my matte-efying primers so maybe it's at the right time? It looks to be about 17 pounds, so about $23 Canadian? .. SPF would have been amazing.

Oh no, more Eslor samples? 

Yup, more Elsor. I like their products, but I feel like these foil packets have been everywhere. The first set I received complete, I loved all four products. This is my third with this set and I have other masks that I like. I'll use it, grumbling. $15 ish.

Perk up dry shampoo (also a repeat, $9ish), LA Splash in a grey ($7.99) and Prevage, a facial serium (5 mL sample, about $21). 

Here's my May Topbox. I estimate the value to be about $42, most of that in face products.

What did you get this month?

TopBox Review April

Earth month is based around Earth Day of April 22. As such, all Topbox subscribers received an earthy friendly reusable bag. Topbox is $12 per month plus taxes.

It's very pretty. 

It looks like everyone received a bonus product!! This is the first time it has happened to me, and I'm very okay with it. Plus it's something I can use, and it's the classiest Hawaiian Tropic packaging.

Two products I recieved last year. They're real push-up liner, and Clinque super face primer. I think I liked the liner, but the sample is much smaller than the full version. The super primer I only used as an eye-shadow primer so I think I will try it for the actual purpose and see if my power foundation samples work with it. $1.92 and $3.00.

These look really nice. Lise Watier dou serum. If my sample sizes match the full sizes, the night serum was used up significantly faster than they day serum. I do see the tightening affect but I suspect the full price tag is more that I am willing to pay as often as I would need. I have other moisturizes I like. Estimated value $11.70.

LA Splash glittery lip gloss. This was gifted to a pre-teen who loved it. It's listed at $9.99, and I just don't see it being worth that. 

The monthly product break down and where to buy. 

The month I received about $26.61 or $30 with the sunscreen. Of all the boxes I've seen this month, I don't think two were the same. Overall, I liked this one and I will be looking forward to next month.  

Topbox March 2015 review

Topbox is a Canadian beauty subscription box that sends 4 samples monthly for $12.00 plus taxes. Shipping this month was incredibly fast again!

Upon first inspection, everything looks nice.

 Shu Uemura POREfinist Fresh Cleaning Oil, 20 mL, est. $3.60 (full size is 82!).

Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair, 5 mL, $25. I'm glad to see this so I can toss the one I got earlier last year. It's nice to get sample sizes so that I happily stick to the recommended usage dates once opened. I'm a bit cheap/not-wanting-to-be-wasteful and I don't like throwing out full sizes.

Essie sneek-e sleek stick nail pretties, $8
Medusa's Make-up Lip Gloss (I assume full size), $11.25. I'm excited to try this, I've read good things about Medusa, and they are carried on Femme Fatale (a place I am loving to shop!).

Total Value this month: $47.85
I spent: $12.60

This month, I'm pretty happy. Check out Topbox here.

Topbox February Review

Topbox is a Canadian beauty subscription box that sends 4 samples monthly for $12.00 plus taxes. Shipping this month was incredibly fast again! I also suspect the shipping date has changed from the 15th. I received the box and confirmation of delivery on the same day, with another email updating my card information, and the next day received my Topbox shipping notice. I love it. I paid $12.60 for this box, and added on a surprise for $10.50.

This polish, I love the nightlife, was my surprise. Valued at ~$20, I'm not thrilled with it. I have better glitters in my collection. 

An angled Teeez brush! I can't wait to try this out. This is about ~$20 from what I can tell, and it is beautiful. Some bristles look loose, but I'll see how it handles wet for foiling.

Eyeko Hydrogel Eye Patch. $12g for $18, sample size 3g, ~$4.50. I don't mind trying these out. I've lot lots of under eye circles from the baby.

DERMAdoctor KP duty lotion. 30 ml. This was the product that was mislabeled. I was suposed to be sent a pore minimizer from DERMAdoctor instead. I'm happy with the hand lotion.

L'Occitane almond shower oil. I've heard really good things about almond oil and headaches - as in reducing them. 250 mL for $24, value of 35 mL sample ~$3.36



I'd say this was a pretty good month for Topbx. I come up with a total of over $27,68 for the regular box, and $20 for my add-on surprise meaning I am getting about double what I paid plus I'm excited to try all the items.

What did you get in your Topbox? Did you opt-in for the surprise?

Topbox January 2015

Topbox is a Canadian beauty subscription box that sends 4 samples monthly for $12.00 plus taxes. Shipping this month was incredibly fast! I receive this box on the 13th, 2 days ahead of the normal shipping date of the 15th of the month. I actually received my shipping notice today! I currently have a gift subscription that started this month, so I wasn't able to select a prive box. I don't know if this will be an option for the duration of the gift subscription. 

The products arrived in the standard tube mailer. I've been asking the husband equivalent to cut more of these in half so I can use them to store my brushes/mascaras.

First were two products I received last year. 

Benefit Cosmetics stay flawless 15-hour primer, sample 1.2 g, $6. I have tried this once, and I wasn't wowed by it. However, as the package is so darn cute, it gets to stay in my medicine cabinet in case I have a need for it. 

Bioderma Sensibio H20 Micelle Solutionn, sample 100 mL, $8.75. I've used my first one with cotton pads to remove my make-up. It works nice, and like promised, hasn't interfered with my contact lens.

Miracle 10 Skincare AHA Cream, 10 ml, $12.80. Anything that warns about the need to wear sunscreen makes me nervous. This has a nice smell if I'm willing to risk the consequences You can read the top google results here and here. It is suggested that Alpha Hydoxy Acid irritates the skin (which causes the cells to grow and "smooth out" the area where it was applied) which results in sensitivity. My most favorite foot lotion contains AHA - but assuming the product doesn't enter the blood stream, my feet are less likely to see sunlight in winter than my beautiful face. 

Elizabeth Arden Beautiful Color moisturizing lipstick. There is definitely enough of each color to test a few times. I think the pretty pink may work best with my skin tones. I like that they also include a mini brush to help you access the sample without making a very large mess. 

The total of this month is about $27.55. I did get two repeat products (one of which I will use) but this was accidentally under a new profile. Overall, I'm happy with this month's Topbox.http://www.topbox.ca/

TopBox December Review

Fast shipping Batman! I received my shipping notice yesterday and my Topbox arrived today! Topbox is a Canadian beauty subscription box at $12 per month plus taxes for 4 (deluxe) samples. There are also options to upgrade to prive boxes or get the regular Topbox.

Here it is! Sorry for the quick pics. My newborn needs some love after her vaccines, and I want to get this up before Christmas duties arrive.

Kinetics nail polish, $12. This had leaked in transport. Luckily it was wrapped seperately, so nothing in the box was affected. It went straight in the trash. I couldn't open it and some of the polish was sticky. 

UPDATE: Topbox has offered to resent the polish free of charge.

Marsk Mineral Eyeshadow, $22.50 The eyeshadow is a very bright yellow. I don't have one in my collection yet.

Faith Gingerbread shower gel, $15.99. If Gingerbread smells like poop (seriously, I thought my toddler required a new diaper) they nailed it! I'll be trying to off-load this at Christmas. 

Eslor foil packets. I can't remember the cost on these (I've also gotten them in beauty box 5, and maybe topbox?). These are new. I tried the gel mask just now and because I thought the foil pack would only be good for one use, I piled it on. It didn't dry, so I don't suggest it ;) 

Total value: $50.00 plus foil packets.

After this box, I actually cancelled my subscription - but in name only. You can currently buy gift subscriptions, so in theory, I replaced my monthly subscription with a gift subscription. Mostly because there are things I like about Topbox, but this month was disappointing for me - even though the value was great at $50.00 plus.

November Top Box Review

Top Box is a Canadian Beauty Box that sends 4 beauty samples to subscripbors each month. There is a short waiting list to get one but as it's christmas one could bypass the wait by purchasing a present for themselves. $12 per month plus taxes.

First, I do feel duped by an email sent out to Top Box customers indicating if 1000, or 10,000 liked Benefit's instagram account, a benefit sample would be in the November Top Box. It was phrased to sound like an extra sample would be included, NOT one of the samples would be benefit. I fell for it, liked benefit, and now feel foolish. 

Benefit Cosmetics, stay flawless. 16 mL full size, $38. Haven't tried as I'm being stubborn. 

Elizabeth Arden Flawless Future Caplet Serum. 30 mL full size, $72. Sample $5. It's neat how the beads combine with the serum, but like all serum I need to combine it with moisturizer and my face looks good, but maybe it's just because I'm so tired I can't see the wrinkles.

Eyeko Black Magic Mascara, full size $24. Sample $12. I like this and I like the inventive packaging.

UniqOne All in One Hair Treatment. 150 mL full size, $20. Sample $1. I haven't seen anything special using this. I prefer the Argan Oil and the Fortune Cookie Soap Hair Oil but I'll use this sample up. Mostly I just think about all the poor kids named "Uniq".

The total value I arrived at for this box was $18. I've been using the face serum, and the mascara. I'm undecided if I should cut TopBox from my list of boxes or keep it as a Canadian Treat for the months were I get something amazing that I love. 

Did you get a TopBox this month? Are you annoyed at the Benefit Bait-and-Switch too?

September Topbox. Review

This is my last month of double topboxes. 

TopBox is a monthly Canadian beauty subscription box containing 4 samples for $12.00 plus tax a month. One of the features is a distinct mailing tube. I might use mine to wrap some Christmas presents this year.

My two boxes were very similar. 

My first box contained: 

Bioderma Sebium foaming gel. 15 mL sample, $19.95/20 mL. Value of sample $1.50

Amina perk-up dry shampoo. This seems very nice. Sample size 21.3 g, guessing value at $1.50

Illumalift brightening cream sample. Sample size. 

Teeez nail polish in raging ruby. Full size, $15. 

My second box contained:

Bioderma Sebium foaming gel. 15 mL sample, $19.95/20 mL. Value of sample $1.50

Amina perk-up dry shampoo. This seems very nice. Sample size 21.3 g, guessing value at $1.50

Lancôme genifique light-pearl. Sample size 5 mL, estimated value $22.

Essie nail polish in sand tropez. Full size, $9.99.

The value is good ($18 for box 1 and $35 for box 2) but the items I know I will use are the two lower end samples leaving me wondering if I should continue with the box or focus $12 on debt and introduce a few less things into my house. 

I didn't update my August topbox. I received a special box (x2) of three ombrelle SPF 60 samples. A great size to pack around, and I hope I'll be able to use them up this fall. 

Top Box - July 2014

I feel so lucky to have received the Prive Top Box for Benefit!

I requested this box because I really want to try the push-up liner (I'm trying to learn how to do a winged cat eye) and I felt like I would love the mascara. Which I do! My eyes look so lovely today :)

I'm too lazy to do the math which I suspect might be lacking compared to what Canadian Subscription Box Addict was able to come up with, so I'll just steal her numbers. Hopefully, she doesn't mind as I'm willingly giving her the credit.

From Left to right:
They're Real make up remover: $3.30
Stay, Don't Stray Primer: $7.50
They're Real Push-up liner: $2.18
They're Real Mascara: $10.25

All are in super cute, super tiny versions. I tested the primer on my hand, and it seems to blend out that I don't think it will show even on my super pasty white skin. I'll test the eye liner this weekend *excited!* and I used the mascara today with yesterday's Bare Minerals from Ipsy. I feel like my eyes look pretty :)

Total Value: $23.25, my cost $12 plus tax.

Oh, I also added on a bonus mystery beauty product! I was kind of annoyed at the name "Amazing Grace"  because it could be interpreted as religious but the reviews are pretty good, and the cost at Sephora is $31. I'm still likely to gift it, but at least I feel like I did receive well over my $10 plus tax add-on total.