Top Box Beauty Samples

A peek into my latest Top Box.

Top Box is a beauty sample box that is delivered every month for about $13.56 with taxes. It is one of the few Canadian only programs out there. In each box there is usually about four samples, sometimes full size and sometimes just a taste to whet your appetite (or not). At the moment you have to sign up via email to be on a waiting list. I was on for about three to four months before I received an email inviting me to officially join. I was so excited. I filled out their survey which is supposed to help them choose the right products to send to me.

A quick view of my first Top Box

As it stands I have received two Top Box parcels, February and March. The first box contained a full size Shu Uemura lip gloss (not a fan of lip gloss), full size Cuccio Color Nail Lacquer (never tried this brand and I loved it), a sample B. Kamins Nutrient Replacement Cream Kx (hate, leaves my face feeling greasy in morning, very expensive at $135 per 45g), full size Estee Lauder Double Ended Kajal Pencil in blackened black and blackened cocoa (it’s almost like they didn’t read my profile–way too dark for me). Overall I thought it was pretty lackluster for a first box to send out. But for $12 I didn’t feel jipped.

Within minutes I was trying the Cuccio top coat on my new mani.

I wouldn’t say box two was any better, just “Meh.” It contained a sample size Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair (I was disappointed by the size but loved this stuff and may even consider the $72 for 35ml full size when I am done. I don’t wake up greasy and I noticed a definitely change to fine lines and skintone. Directions say to apply moisturizer afterwards but I haven’t yet), two packets of Belvada Blackhead Facial Mask (this 30 minute peel off mud mask is super sticky, takes too long, and removed a lot of peach fuzz facial hair with it — ouch!), Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey (when I saw the dark color, I thought again “Didn’t they read my profile?” but it’s not bad and generally I like Clinique lipsticks), a full size tube of Epic Blend hemp lip balm (gave it to my husband as he is the lip balm user, haven’t heard back). Again, I don’t feel jipped by the $12 I paid for this box and it was fun to try the new beauty products. Here’s quick video I posted of the box on Instagram:

I realize I am not raving about this beauty box (which is actually a tube) but I am looking forward to this month’s to see what I get. I would love to try an eye cream, another brand of polish, a mascara perhaps… but I’ll have to wait and hopefully be pleasantly surprised.

Have you tried any beauty boxes?

***
Topic Links
* Sign up for your Top Box beauty samples

Sally Hansen Vox Box

My nails with three coats of Jaded nail polish.

Influenster sent me a Sally Hansen Vox Box in early January featuring three polishes from their Complete Salon Manicure (CSM) line. If you follow me on Instagram or Twitter you know for the past year I’ve been kind of obsessed with nail polish and painting my nails. I even started a blog about it. So when the box of nail polish showed up on my door I was quite excited (although I was surprised to find it ill-packaged — one of the bottle caps had come undone and leaked).

My Sally Hansen Vox Box from Influenster.

The main tagline for this promotion is “7 benefits. 1 bottle. 0 Competition. The benefits? Base coat, strengthener, growth treatment, color, top coat, chip resistant, and gel shine finish.

The three colors I received were: “Pat on the Black” #510 (purple/black), “Jaded” #540 (robin’s egg blue), and “Red My Lips” #470 (true red). And I tried them in that order. My first instinct was to go for the red but I had recently worn red and fought the urge.

I find two coats are necessary with a possibility of a third depending on how well the first coats go on. In this case POTB needed two coats to get a complete opaque look while Jaded needed three and RML was pretty whether it was a sheer one or an opaque two coats. Let’s have a look at my nail polish swatches!

Pat on the Black

With Pat on the Black I had a very tiny chip the next day but I dabbed on some fresh polish, let it dry, then applied another thin coat and I couldn’t tell it was chipped. The mani was pretty good for four days (around day 3 I gave it a top coat of glitter) and by day five, because of my habits I took it off. I honestly don’t think I can leave the same polish on for ten days to test this out. I get too antsy with the color and want to change it. Even though there is a base coat in the CSM I applied one anyway because I am paranoid about color transference with dark colors but I didn’t apply a top coat.

Sally Hansen's Pat on the Black nail polish from their Complete Salon Manicure collection.

Jaded

This color is up my alley. It is impossible to have too many blues in one’s nail polish cache as far as I am concerned. This polish looks like it would be opaque in the bottle but it is actually a sheer psuedo-jelly. I found it needed at least three coats to get a suitable color but the third coat did not apply as good as the first two. This polish was on for four days before I noticed some nail wear along the nail edge but no chipping. Like the Pat on the Black I used my own base coat but no top coat.

My nails with three coats of Jaded nail polish.

Red My Lips

Oh, I was so itching to try this red. It went on amazing. It has a similar jelly-like quality that jaded has but didn’t require as many coats. The nail edge was transparent with one coat but it still looked amazing. Love, love, the color. I decided to live on the edge and not use a base coat and did not notice any staining when I removed it (bare in mind that I am a regular user of nail conditioner so my nails are not dry). Like the other two polishes I did not use a top coat at least for the first few days until I started noticing red marks on things and realized it was the red nail polish whenever my nails scuffed something like the inside of my new fridge when I was cleaning it. I put on a top coat and it quickly solved the problem.

My nails with Sally Hansen's bright red Red My Lips nail polish.

Overall Impressions

I have a few bottles of Complete Salon Manicure in my collection already and I would call it one of my favorites. My favorite feature besides the colors, is the large brush. I can almost paint my whole nail with one stroke. I also like how the polish does not get tacky as I am brushing them on but still manage to dry quickly once I am finished my manicure. I like the large bottle sizes and a past favorite of mine was the rubber neck on the cap but they have since replaced it with just plastic which is unfortunately because the rubber was really great for gripping if the lid was stuck but this new plastic band is not.

Overall I can get about four days of great color before I start noticing wear along the nail edge but on the bright side this was super easy to touch up with a thin coat, unlike an actual chip which tends to leave a bumpy edge. Sally Hansen’s Complete Salon Manicure is still one of my favorites.

Update: This weekend I decided to play with all three colors with a nail art that has become my favorite go to:

I did a quick and easy nail art with all three colors.

***
Topic Links
* Check out Sally Hansen’s Complete Salon Manicure colors
* Learn more about Influenster

“I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes.”

True Blue

Bright blue nail polish with two thin white stripes on tips.

Bess, I love you.

I know I have been going crazy with nail polish for the last few months and I apologize for this addiction but honestly I cannot help it. Ok, I can but I don’t want to. Especially after wearing this new color from Julep.

Bright blue nail polish by Julep.

About a week ago I put on two coats of this thick creme nail polish with no top coat — it had such a nice sheen on its own I didn’t bother.

A fresh coat of bright blue nail polish.

I probably could have put on a third coat as my nail tips are still visible but I really don’t mind the look. This robin’s egg blue is called Bess — like a good friend. I know I am obsessed with blue tones but this one is so pretty.

Robin egg blue nail polish from Julep.

After a few days I was a wee bit bored with myself and changed the look into a make-shift French manicure by putting slate sparkle polish (Jordan) on the tips. I am pretty sure it was two coats. It just looks black in the photo but trust me, it is glitter.

Silver grey glitter manicure with bright blue polish.

I enjoyed it for a few days and was itching to do something else. The polish was still looking hot so I could not justify taking it off. Soooo… I put on another coat of Bess, yes, right over the sparkles and everything. Then I took out my L.A. Colors white nail art lacquer brush and painted diagonal stripes on the tips (left hand first).

Diagonal white stripes on nail tips.

It turned out way better than I could have imagined.

Bright blue nail polish with two thin white stripes on tips.

This last nail art was super easy and I highly recommend trying it. It was fun to do and looks so sharp.

***
Topic Links
* Become a Julep Maven or shop at Julep
* My first Maven experience
* My second Maven experience

I Love Some Bunny

Two coats of Julep's Bunny white nail polish.

Ok, I was at a loss for a title to use with last week’s nail polish pick, it happens. The white polish you see before you is called Bunny and it is by Julep.

Bright white nail polish from Julep Maven add on.

This polish is thick and creamy white with a very fine gold fleck you can see in the bottle if you look real close but not really on the nail.

Gold flecks in white creme polish.

I used two coats to get a completely opaque finish. I do not think I particularly like white nail polish in and of itself — perhaps if I had a tan or if the sparkle had shown up it would have been perfect.

Two coats of Julep's Bunny white nail polish.

As it is, it will make a great base for some nail art when I get the nerve to try this water marbling:

I so want to try this but it looks labor intensive so have been putting it off. I had every intention of doing it but then my white chipped three days later and I was ready to try a new color. I know, excuses excuses. But I am definitely going to try it. Problem is, these nail artists make it look so easy that I get discouraged when it is not — I love the simplicity and satisfaction of a straight coat of color.

Have you tried white nail polish, or water marbling?

***
Topic Links
* Get your white Bunny nail polish from Julep
* My first Maven experience
* My second Maven experience
* Check out the first marble look nail art I tried!

L’Oreal Gold Nail Polish

Gold nail polish by L'Oreal Paris.

I finally had the opportunity last week to try the L’Oreal gold sparkle nail polish (#580 “because you’re worth it”) I picked up on sale at Shopper’s.

Nails polished with gold polish by L'Oreal.

It is a sheer-ish polish. I used two coats but should have used three as I noticed sheer spots the next day (should have done it under better lighting too). I am not a fan of the color (although my Instagram friends liked it). I do not think it looks nice with my skin tone — it would probably look better on someone with a tan or at least more color than my white little hands — I might be more of a silver sparkle kind of person.

This gold sparkle nail polish is by L'Oreal.

I am not impressed with the quality of this polish either. Within two days the pinkies were chipped and I do not even use those fingers for much. It is also very surprising since I had a base and top coat on. I probably could have touched them up but I am not a touch up kind of nail polish wearer.

Gold nail polish by L'Oreal Paris.

I will probably save it to use as decor for nail art, or perhaps an accent nail but I do not see myself doing a full set of nails with this polish but who knows, as it gets closer to the holidays I may change my mind.

***
Topic Links
* See what is new at L’Oreal Paris
* Purchase L’Oreal on Amazon.ca

Blue Iris Jin Soon

Two coats of JinSoon's Blue Iris nail polish.

Every since Sarah Conley from Style It posted in her Instagram and blog post about Jin Soon’s Blue Iris nail polish I have been coveting it from afar. After a few weeks I went to the Jin Soon website with every intention of buying the polish, I had it in the cart and it was going to be mine. Then the Canadian shipping came up. My options were UPS Standard $20.32 or UPS Worldwide Expedited $78.74. I kid you not!

The polish costs $18 already, and $20 to ship seemed a little outrageous so I did not get it. I sulked on Twitter for a few weeks and then Sarah tweeted me that Sephora also carried it. I surfed over there to find that they had a Canadian site and broke down and ordered it. The bottle was four bucks more at $22 (which kind of annoyed me because we are practically at par) but shipping was $7.95 (totally reasonable) and then almost three dollars for tax (no biggy). In total, I paid almost $33 for Jin Soon’s Blue Iris. This is the most expensive polish I will ever buy, EVER (never again, never, I tell you). I just wanted it so bad — therapy please.

When the Sephora box arrived I of course had to share it on Instagram. Here is the box the little bottle of polish came in:

My blue iris Jin Soon nail polish arrived from Sephora in a big box.

I could not wait to put it on. It is so pretty! It is actually deeper than it appears here:

Two coats of JinSoon's Blue Iris nail polish.

These shiny nails have two coats of nail polish on. There is not even a top coat on these beauty. They are all shiny on its own.

Two coats of dark blue nail polish from JinSoon.

I loved this polish on my fingernails but I am looking forward to having it on my toes.

***
Topic Links
* Get your Jin Soon from Sephora
* Visit Sarah Conley’s blog

Being a Julep Maven: Take Two

April Brights from Julep's April Maven box.

In March I mentioned I became a Boho Glam Julep Maven. I am following up with news about my second box. The April Brights box contained two Julep colors, Kaylen (neon orange crème) and Lena (teal with gold shimmer), a tube of Julep’s Mighty Nail and Cuticle Serum, and some blue rock candy on a stick (FYI: if you are going to send candy, make it chocolate).

To back things up a bit. Even though last month was my first box, this month was my first pre-notification that my maven box would soon be on its way. On the March 20th I approved my Maven April Brights box and ordered a few discounted add-ons: the Electric blueberry frost polish and the Freedom Polymer Top Coat both for $4.99. I was told I would have until the 24th to change my mind or my selections. On the 29th I received two separate emails, the first telling me my April Maven box was on its way, and the second telling me my add-ons were on their way (they are always shipped separately from Maven boxes).

I was very excited when my Julep Maven box arrived and tweeted/insta it immediately on opening.

April Brights from Julep's April Maven box.

Here is a closer look at the colors. Lena turned out to be greener than I thought it was going to, it looked more turquoise on the site.

Here are the Lena and Kaylen nail polishes from Julep's April Brights Maven box.

I had a plan in my head for my nails before the polished arrived. I wanted to paint my nails all blue except for the ring fingers which would be orange — a popular and simple nail trend at the moment. When I opened up my polishes and started painting I was so excited and before I knew it all my nails were painted teal. I remembered another simple nail art video I had seen where a simple brush stroke of another color is painted down the middle. When the teal dried I did just that. Unfortunately, the orange polish is a bit transparent and turned out to be brown on the nail. I posted it to Instagram and friends said they liked it — one said it reminded her of peacock eyes (this image is from iPod).

Nail art with the April brights polish.

But I still felt I needed to “fix” it. I put a white strip down the middle, added another coat of orange, then a few teal dots. Way more busy than I originally intended for the April Brights and to my eye, kind of muddy.

Orange and teal nail art with Julep polish.

I wore it for a couple days until I finally got what I wanted. I have been tickled orange ever since.

Orange and teal manicure with Julep nail polish.

There is one coat of the teal and two coats of the orange. I probably could have done three. I am happy with the colors this month.

***
Topic Links
* Become a Julep Maven

Being a Julep Maven

Lisa and Petra shades of Julep nail polish from Julep Maven mail order.

While Living in Canada

One of the things I love about nail polish is that I can feel glamorous without forking out a ton of money for clothes. The color palettes are endless and can be easily changed to my mood. And with the increased popularity of “nail art” it is even more fun.

A few weeks ago a fashionista I follow on Instagram used the hashtag #julepmaven and implied we all new what that meant. I did not. All I knew was that Julep was a brand of nail polish. I did a quick Google search and found out that the company had a monthly mail order program that allowed fans to sign up for $19.99 (free shipping) and get two “new” nail polishes and a beauty product (all worth over $40) once a month.

The process starts off with filling out a mini survey to give them an idea of your fashion and beauty tastes and they put you into a category (the category can be changed at any time if you think your personality suits another one). The three new products are then based on the category. The great thing about this is it is not blind, the week before they send out the product info in an email letting you know what it will be. If you like it you do nothing, if you do not you can say no and receive nothing or pick something else.

I thought, “Cool, bet they don’t ship to Canada or if they do the shipping is ridiculous.” NOT! I was shocked to find out they do ship to Canada and like in the U.S. the shipping is free. Yes, I was and still am shocked. How awesome is that? I could not help myself. I signed up.

According to their survey I fall into the Boho Glam sense of style: “A dynamic free spirit with a creative eye, your effortlessly chic look pairs earthy neutral tones with fun, vibrant colors.” Well ok, then I can live with that.

The welcome package for Julep Maven.

On February 26, I placed my first Julep Maven order and was told my Boho Glam order, which consisted of one Petra (sparkly purple), and one Lisa (grey) polish, and an essential cuticle oil would be on its way soon. While going through the process I also had the option to purchase additional items at an amazing price. I think there were at least three polish options for $4.99 but I could not pass up the one called, “O Canada”.

I was expecting my first order to take at least three weeks to pass through customs etc. but on March 5th (seven days), my parcel was here. I excitedly opened the 6″ x 6″ black box to find a welcome card, a style card with list of what I get as a style maven: 3 full-size products, monthly treats, a little surprise, 20% off online store products, free shipping on every order. In the center wrapped in pink paper were this month’s products and a little sample of “pedi creme”.

Lisa and Petra shades of Julep nail polish from Julep Maven mail order.

I was so excited, I took a picture for Instagram. Then it hit me. Where’s O Canada? Does it come in a separate parcel? There was no mention of it. That’s weird.

I sent off an email to Julep to let them know that the bottle of O Canada was missing from my shipment. I waited not so patiently for a reply. On March 7, a Maven Customer Service member sent me the following message:

Thank you for reaching out to us. We apologize for the confusion or concern. Add-ons and Maven boxes are typically shipped out separately. We understand that the gap between receiving each items can be frustrating. But we ship these items out separately in order to get some product, if not all out to our Mavens as soon as possible It does take a bit longer to ship to Canada. We sincerely apologize for the delay. All of our packages are shipped via USPS and unfortunately we typically are unable to track packages any further after they have left the US border. We can’t wait for you to get your hands on O Canada!, we think you will find her well worth the wait. We appreciate your patience. If you have any other questions or concerns please don’t hesitate to ask. Until then, have a great day!

As of March 11 I have not received the add-on but it has only been two weeks since my initial order (and one week since my first package arrived) and as I previously mentioned I was expecting at least three weeks for delivery. I will add an update when the add-on arrives and I will also do an update when my second parcel arrives. In the meantime I am going to enjoy a little bit of Petra and Lisa.

Update: March 12 — The O Canada nail polish add-on arrived today. So that was one week for the Julep Maven order to come and two weeks for the add-on order to come — that is some pretty amazing delivery times from Julep. Here’s what O Canada looks like:

The add-on parcel arrives from Julep.

It’s so sparkly:

Sparkle nail polish add-on from Julep.

With this polish came a card to join Julep Maven and offering 2 free polishes. Since I am already a maven I am assuming I cannot use it so if you want to sign up you might as well try the code: “introtwo”. Let me know if it works or not (if it doesn’t I will remove it from this post).

***
Topic Links
* Become a Julep Maven.
* How the polishes tested.
* See what happened with my second box.

Shrek Forever After O.P.I

O.P.I. Nail Polish

One of my favorite nail polish brands is O.P.I. One of my favorite animated movies… Shrek. Put them both together and you have O.P.I.’s color take on the latest installment in the Shrek animation — Shrek Forever After. He’s a sneak peak if you haven’t seen it yet (best part is near the end):

Back to the nail polish. This year’s Shrek collection consists of six shades.

O.P.I. Nail PolishThe colors in this image from Spa Boutique look a little different strength wise from the ad that initially sparked my interest. My favorites are the Funky Dunkey and Ogre the Top Blue (no surprise on the blue). I also like Cattitued and Rumple. I’m kind of disappointed there is no orange since it is such a wickedly hot color this season and when I think of Fiona I think of her flaming orange hair.

Spa Boutique has the Shrek Forever After O.P.I colors for $12 each. Check your local spa or Shoppers too. I noticed Spa Boutique has “Free Canadian Shipping” with this coupon FREE24 for this week only.

***
Topic Links
* O.P.I official website
* Get your own Shrek nail polish at Spa Boutique