Showing posts with label Glymm. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Glymm. Show all posts

Glymm: April Box

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Friday, April 20, 2012
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I received my April Glymm box a couple days ago. After receiving the most disappointing boxlast month, you don't even know how wary I was of opening this month's box. For those who haven't heard of Glymm, it's a beauty subscription program very similar to Luxe Box. It's $10 a month, and you get a box of four to five deluxe beauty samples sent right to your door. This program is good for those who want to try a different assortment of beauty products without having to actually buy the products. However, the products in each box are a complete surprise every month, so I would not recommend joining if you have certain expectations, because there are bound to be some products that you'll be disappointed in. As far as I know, Glymm is a Canadian-only beauty subscription program, but there are many similar programs offered by different companies all around the world.

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This month, I received:
Lucia No. 1 Goat Milk & Linseed Soap (mini size, 25 g): I've used tons of Lucia's soy candles, and actually bought a Pomegranate & Redcurrant Organic Shea Butter Soap for the guest bathroom a couple years ago, so I'm familiar with this product. I'm not generally a huge fan of bar soaps for the body, but I don't mind them for washing my hands (though I still prefer liquid soap, either way). These mini ones are actually really nice as gifts and for use in guest bathrooms, and the packaging is gorgeous. Each bar is triple-milled and handmade with 100% Organic Shea Butter, so it leaves skin feeling soft but still clean. I didn't really like the scent of the one I bought previously (though the candle smells amazing), but the Goat Milk & Linseed one is actually really nice: soft, clean, slightly powdery, slightly sweet. I probably wouldn't buy these for myself, but they are lovely to receive.

Atelier Cologne Orange Sanguine Cologne Absolue (sample size, 1 ml): I've read about Atelier Cologne in many fashion and beauty magazines, but it's not really widely available in Canada, so I haven't really been able to smell any of the scents until now. Orange Sanguine has notes of blood orange, bitter orange, jasmine, geranium, amber woods, tonka bean, and sandalwood. I actually really like this scent: it's citrusy without being too sweet, and it settles down into a soft floral. It is somehow fresh and warm at the same time, almost like peeling an orange while lying in the sun with a cool breeze. It has 15% concentration, so its lasting power lies somewhere between an eau de parfum and a perfume extract. It's definitely one of the longest-lasting citrus fragrances I've ever worn. If I don't get sick of this scent after a few wears, I would really consider buying a bottle.

Free Your Mane Sulfate Free Hydrating Shampoo & Conditioner (sample size, 7.4 ml each): There is something about getting packet samples that really, really infuriates me. It is so cheap, so one-use-only, so drugstore, that it just turns me off completely from trying it. As snobby as that may sound, packets are just ridiculously annoying to use. Could they not put the same amount of product into small squeeze tubes? I know that these sample packets have at two to three uses' worth of product in them, and yet I know that even if my interest is piqued enough to try them, they will be used precisely once and then thrown out because I cannot stand keeping opened, oozing packets in my shower. And then I would promptly forget about them because one use is not enough convince me that a hair product is good.

Mai Couture Social Gloss in G'Vinity (full size, 5 ml): Mai Couture claims that this "luxurious treatment lip gloss fills in unwanted lines and restores moisture for healthier, fuller lips." It is made with "a complex mix of plant extracts that enhance lip volume effortlessly without the allergen." Okay, it has to be said that I didn't find my lips to be any healthier or fuller from the use of this gloss — to use this as a "treatment," you'd have to keep it on and re-apply it on an ongoing basis. But it feels great on the lips: non-sticky, smooth, slick, and hydrated. It kind of reminds me of MAC Plushglass without the tingly, "plumping" effect. I find that all glosses, because of their reflective nature, will always make lips look more voluminous or "juicy" so I didn't find that this one "enhanced" my lip volume any more than any other gloss. The colour itself is a semi-sheer creamy beige with white micro-shimmer. When it's on, it looks similar to MAC Lustrewhite Lustreglass or MAC Pretty Plush Plushglass. That is to say, it doesn't add a lot of colour, but mutes the lips and adds shine and shimmer. It's not a colour I would ever pick for myself, but it's versatile. This gloss has a good, solid formula that feels comfortable on the lips, but for $28 a pop, there are way more easily accessible brands with more colour options or better formulas (or at least better prices) than Mai Couture.

NuMe $100 Gift Certificate: A really nice bonus but, of course, it's only redeemable towards styling tools and hair extensions. Seeing as getting hair extensions is out of the question, I started browsing their styling tools. I already have a great heat styler, but I was tempted in getting a new hair dryer... until I realized that even with $100 deducted, it would still be $125 before tax. And for that amount of money, I would rather invest in a brand that is well-known and renowned in the industry. (Whereas I had never heard of NuMe until those hideous feather hair extensions I received last month that completely freaked me out.)

Overall, this month's box was much better than the last box I received — my only major complaint was the packet-style shampoo and conditioner samples (packets are the lowest of the low in sample packaging), which should be given for free all the time rather than in a beauty subscription box that costs me $10 a month. That having been said, I love the soap and the perfume, and the gloss was surprisingly nice as well, even if the colour is kind of boring. The NuMe gift certificate was a nice touch, but it's not going to be of much use to me since I'm not really looking to spend that much money on hair tools right now. If anyone is interested, however, I would be more than willing to give them the certificate code!

Glymm: March Box

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Thursday, March 15, 2012
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I received my March Glymm box yesterday and decided to post about it before I forgot, like I did with my February box... Whoops. For those who haven't heard of Glymm, it's a beauty subscription program very similar to Luxe Box. It's $10 a month, and you get a box of four to five deluxe beauty samples sent right to your door. This program is good for those who want to try a different assortment of beauty products without having to actually buy the products. However, the products in each box are a complete surprise every month, so I would not recommend joining if you have certain expectations, because there are bound to be some products that you'll be disappointed in. As far as I know, Glymm is a Canadian-only beauty subscription program, but there are many similar programs offered by different companies all around the world.

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This month, I received:
NuMe Feather Hair Extensions (full size, one piece): NuMe hair extensions are "100% cruelty-free, synthetically crafted from real human hair and ready for heat styling." I, for one, have never gotten into the "wearing feathers in your hair" trend. And I don't think I ever will. That being said, this is not a feather. Feathers, I can deal with. This is actual hair that has been crafted to look like a feather. That's all fine and dandy, but hair extensions, wigs, and any synthetically crafted hair completely freak me out. I can't even touch them. (It's a weird phobia, I know, but I think it stems from my phobia of clowns.) Needless to say, I won't be opening this package and will be giving them to someone, anyone, else. Ack!

M. Asam Vino Gold Perfect Teint (sample size, 5 ml): This is essentially a primer for the face that "fills in fine lines and evens out the complexion of the skin for a flawless, satiny smooth, matte finish." It has a silicone-based texture that "settles into lines and wrinkles making them appear invisible." For what it's worth, this is actually a pretty decent primer, and I think those with more mature skin would appreciate this product. When you put it on skin, it really does look smoother, like it's been airbrushed. However, I personally don't like the texture of this primer — it's rather thick and filmy, almost grainy, and feels like I have a layer of silicone on my skin. I also don't like the fact that it comes in a jar, which is really unhygienic. But you do get enough of product in this sample container to really test out the effects of it. In the end, though, if you like more of a silicone-based texture in your primers, I think you're better off getting Smashbox's version, which is similar in effect, comes in a pump bottle, and is more widely available.

M. Asam Vino Gold Magic Fini (sample size, 5 ml): This is a foundation with a silicone-like texture that "blends beautifully into your skin to conceal uneven skintone for a light, matte, natural-looking finish." It also promises to "smooth away the appearance of wrinkles, enlarged pores, and imperfections to reveal a sun-kissed, healthy-looking skintone." It reminded me a lot of Benefit's Some Kind-a Gorgeous foundation in the sense that it seemed to really even out my complexion, in both tone and texture, though it gave me medium coverage at most. It is meant to give a "sun-kissed" look, so it does make skin a tint darker, though I did find that it made my skin look quite ashy over time. Like the primer, it gives that smooth, airbrushed quality to the skin, but it also felt like there was a filmy layer on my face, which I don't like. The biggest flaw here is that they don't make different shades of this product, which is a huge turn-off to me. This would be ideal for those who have medium to medium-dark skintones and enjoy multi-tasking products, 'cause this is like a foundation and a bronzer in one. Unfortunately, this will never replace my foundation or bronzer, 'cause it ultimately doesn't give me the coverage, texture, or colour I want.

Ocean Fast Drying Long Lasting Nail Lacquer in Pink Illusion (full size, 15 ml): I'd never heard of the Ocean brand, but the formula on this particular shade goes on really smooth and even, with excellent pigmentation. It goes opaque in two coats, with no problems with streaking, pulling, or bubbling. However, this shade is not something I would ever wear. Pink Illusion is a medium warm pink with micro-shimmer that gives it a pearlized effect. It sounds pretty, but it just reminds me of something a 75-year-old woman would wear. Or a shade you might find at the dollar store. I might be interested in some of their other shades, especially if the formula in those is as good as it is in this one. But I will definitely be giving this shade to someone else. Like, a grandma.

Guys, this box was such a bust for me. There is not a one of these products that I would use, aside from testing purposes. I just feel like Glymm is getting worse and worse over time. There is absolutely nothing personalized with these products; it seems like they are just giving me random shitty samples, regardless of my age, skintone, skin type, and preferences in general. I am so, so disappointed. At this point, I honestly can't wait until my subscription is over.

Glymm: January Box

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Thursday, January 19, 2012
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I received my December Glymm box last week. For those who haven't heard of Glymm, it's a beauty subscription program very similar to Luxe Box. It's $10 a month, and you get a box of four to five deluxe beauty samples sent right to your door.

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This month, I received:
Burt's Bees Nourishing Milk & Honey Body Lotion (sample size, 7 ml x 2): This is a nice, simple body lotion that's not too heavy but hydrates quite well. It fast-absorbing and non-greasy. I'm sort of indifferent to the scent, which smells like honey and beeswax. I probably wouldn't buy a full size tube because there's so many other body lotions that I want to try or like better, but this is a good option if you like natural beauty products. The two sample sizes in this box might not be enough for the whole body (I would probably need both samples for one use on my body), but is more than enough for multiple uses on the hands and will most likely be enough for you to judge whether you'd want to buy the full size.

Kaia Naturals 100% Natural Bamboo Facial Cleansing Cloth (one cloth): I'm not a huge fan of make-up removing wipes because I just don't find them as effective as good ol' cleanser and water, but as far as make-up removing wipes go, these ones does an effective job. I tested this with lipsticks and lip liners (bright, dark, and long-wearing), eyeliners (pencil and liquid, waterproof and non-waterproof), as well as foundation, and it took off all of it. It also leaves skin feeling clean, with no oily residue afterward. I would still recommend using an actual eye make-up remover with a cotton pad to take off mascara because there's just not enough product in the wipes to take it off, but otherwise, it's a decent product. I personally don't like the scent of these, though, which has sort of a synthetic plasticky beeswax smell to it. If you like natural products and are looking for make-up removing wipes, this might be something to look into. Otherwise, MAC Wipes (the same price at $18 for 30 cloths) do just as good a job (though they leave a slight residue) and are much more widely available.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Clear Brow Gel (sample size, 2.5 ml): I don't normally use brow gels, but I gave this a try and actually really quite liked it. I use an eyebrow pencil regularly without anything else on top, but this gel does make my brows look neater and more groomed and keeps hairs in place. My brows felt slightly stiff with it applied, but not uncomfortably so. However, at $21 for the full size, I am positive that you can find a cheaper alternative that does exactly the same thing with the same results. I feel that this brow gel, which is essentially clear mascara, just isn't worth $21.

Vasanti Cosmetics Brighten Up! Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator (sample size, 12 g): This is a facial exfoliator with a "triple action formula" that has "powerful papaya enzymes and microderm exfoliating crystals to help smooth your skin's surface to uncover a bright, youthful glow." I have used this once and it did make my skin feel nice and smooth, but it's not enough product to test any long-term results. That having been said, it's a really nice scrub with micro-crystals, so if you like face scrubs with very small beads/grains, you might want to look into this.

Cargo Cosmetics Eye Pencil in Black (full size, 1.1 g): This is "an incredibly high pigment pencil that delivers intense colour combined with a smudge-resistant formula for immediate and long-wearing results." I will agree that it has good pigmentation with opaque colour pay-off. It goes on smoothly and evenly, but I wouldn't say that it's smudge-resistant. There are definitely pencils out there that have the same colour pay-off, go on smoothly and evenly, and are smudge-resistant and water-resistant (MAC's Powerpoint Eye Pencil is one example). I personally wouldn't re-buy it because I don't really wear pencil eye liners (I am a liquid eye liner girl, through and through), but I reckon there are tons and tons of brands that offer black pencil eye liners in better formulas or are cheaper.

Overall, this month's box was decent. I wouldn't say it's phenomenal, but there were lots of products that are worth trying. They're all products that I probably wouldn't buy the full size version of, but I'm glad I got to try them. As far as the purpose of all of these products, they all did a pretty good job in terms of efficacy. And I like that all the skincare products were not age-specific or skin-specific, and the make-up products were all basic (clear brow gel, black eye liner). I have yet to get a box as good as last October's box, but this month's wasn't bad. I am, however, glad that they didn't send more jelly beans!

Glymm: December Box

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Wednesday, December 21, 2011
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I received my December Glymm box last week. For those who haven't heard of Glymm, it's a beauty subscription program very similar to Luxe Box. It's $10 a month, and you get a box of four to five deluxe beauty samples sent right to your door.

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This month, I received:
Ahava Deadsea Water Mineral Hand Cream (sample size, 20 ml): Ahava is a brand that is known for incorporating Dead Sea minerals into their skincare and bodycare, which hydrate and restore moisture to even the driest skin. This hand cream is actually quite lovely; it's lightweight but very, very hydrating. My super-chapped hands feel super-smooth and silky after using this, and it leaves a light, clean, slightly floral scent. This sample size is perfect to put in my handbag, and there is definitely enough product for multiple uses. I would definitely considering buying this when it's done.

Caudalie Vinoperfect Enzymatic Peel Mask (sample size, 3 ml): This mask is made with revitalizing grape acid and antioxidant-rich grape seed oil, which "work together to gently dissolve dead skin cells and reveal a perfectly nourished, balanced, and luminous skin complexion." Caudalie is a great skincare brand, and this mask does seem promising. This sample size will be enough for two uses at most, but it should be enough to see the benefits, as masks are generally more of a short-term fix. The only problem here is that I don't use face masks. I just don't have the patience for them. I wish that I received Caudalie's hand cream instead (I've seen it in other December Glymm boxes).

Sula Natural Lip Gloss in Come Find Me (full size, 2.69 g): I've always wanted to try Sula's products, so I was quite excited when I saw this full-sized lip gloss in this month's box. Sula's gloss has a thinner texture (no thick, gloppy mess here), and has sheer colour pay-off. It has minimal stickiness and goes on smooth. Come Find Me is a peachy nude in the tube, but it goes on clear, perhaps a little milky. It initially reminded me of MAC Cremesheen Glass in Boy Bait, but Come Find Me is actually more sheer. I was kind of disappointed with the shade, because as pretty as it looks in the tube, it really is colourless on the lips. It's ideal for adding shine more than anything else. Overall, I really like the formula, but the smell? Oh, god, the smell is horrible. Like... plastic, with an herbal twist. It's something I would never want to put on my lips. I don't know if I got a bad batch or what, but the smell of this lip gloss alone would make me not want to buy it. So disappointing!

YSL Parisienne Eau de Parfum (sample size, 7.5 ml): Love, love, love. I actually own the full-size bottle of this, so this little one will be more for putting in my purse. Parisienne has notes of blackberry, damask rose, and sandalwood, and is a very feminine, sophisticated, sweet floral scent. Of course, perfume is a really personal preference, but I'm so glad they chose to include Parisienne in this box, and a very generous size, too! None of those cheap little tubes you get at the drugstore; this is the deluxe sample you get as a bonus in the gift sets.

Jelly Belly Candy: Cherry and chocolate pudding flavours for this month. Honestly, these are cute, but I rarely eat candy, and these just end up piling up on my desk.

Overall, I like the items in this month's box, but the lip gloss was just so disappointing because I really wanted to love it. It just smells completely rancid. I wish they had sent a bottle of Sula's Paint & Peel nail polish instead, because I do really want to try those...

Glymm: November Box

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Monday, November 21, 2011
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I received my November Glymm box last week. For those who haven't heard of Glymm, it's a beauty subscription program very similar to Luxe Box. It's $10 a month, and you get a box of four to five deluxe beauty samples sent right to your door.

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This month, I received:
Orlane B21 Oligo Vit-A-Min Light Smoothing Cream (sample size, 3.5 ml): Having worked with this brand for so long at Shoppers when I was a cosmetician, I can honestly say that Orlane is a quality luxury brand that churns out some beautiful products. This is a light cream that helps protect, soothe, and relax sensitive, fragile, and allergic skin types. Most people will be able to use this; it's not really an age-specific product. That having been said, you can probably find a face cream that does the same thing for much, much cheaper, seeing as the full-size version (50 ml) is a whopping $80. And a 3.5 ml size sample (which you can get for free at Orlane counters) will be good for maybe three or four uses, which is great for seeing if you like the feel of the cream, but not enough to see the benefits of it.

Lise Watier Flash Lift Radiance Vial (sample size, 1 ml): You can read about what I thought of this here.

Rahua Shampoo and Conditioner (sample sizes, 10 ml and 8 ml, respectively): When it comes to haircare samples, I would rather receive shampoo and conditioner than styling products, because I know I will use them. These two products are "for longer, stronger hair" and "adds bounce, body, and shine." It's "the Amazon's natural secret to luminous tresses" and the products are made with 100% natural, organic, rainforest grown ingredients. I've actually never seen Amazonian hair before, so I'll just have to take their word for it. However, I doubt that a shampoo and conditioner can actually make hair longer... The sample sizes are enough for two to three uses so these will only be enough to see the short-term effects rather than long-term. Moreover, I wish these had been in actual bottles instead of these cheap packages, because they seem more like drugstore samples rather than a luxury salon brand.

Annabelle Studio Smudge Paint Creamy Gel Shadow + Liner in Plummed (full size, 2 g): This is a long lasting, water-resistant, crease-resistant, cream gel eyeliner and shadow that is very similar to MAC's Fluidline. It goes on smooth and pigmented with good colour pay-off. Plummed is a deep violet with purple shimmer, and is similar to MAC's Ash Violet Fluidline (from Fall Colour Collection). It's a great drugstore cream-gel eyeliner, and is great for those who want to try this type of eyeliner but don't want to spend that much money on it. I personally don't like the brush that it comes with, though, and would recommend using it with MAC's 209 or 266 for use as a liner and the 242 for use as a cream shadow.

RGB Nail Color in Oxblood (full size, 12 ml): RGB is a nail colour and care brand that is 3-free and cruelty-free. Oxblood is a dark crimson red in a cream finish. It is similar to Chanel's Rouge Noir. The formula is beautiful: smooth and even application, not too thick and not too watery, and nearly opaque in one coat. I definitely want to check out some of their other shades (it's free shipping to Canada!).

Jelly Belly Candy: Strawberry jam and cappuccino flavours for this month!

Overall, I was pretty pleased with this month's Glymm box. The two full-size products are already worth $29, making this month's box quite a value. The skincare and haircare samples seemed a little cheap, though, as I mentioned before, and can be easily attained at a participating drugstore or cosmetic counter. Overall, it's not as impressive as last month's box, but definitely still worth subscribing for.

Glymm: October Box

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Friday, October 14, 2011
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I finally got my first Glymm box in the mail today! For those who haven't heard of Glymm, it's a beauty subscription program very similar to Luxe Box. I had originally read about this through Mary's blog and got tempted to join. It's $10 a month (or $110 for a year), and you get a box of four to five deluxe beauty samples sent right to your door.

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This month, I received:
Vasanti Silky Eyeshadow in Tokyo (full size, 3.2 g): I've never tried Vasanti's products, but I was pleasantly surprised at the Silky Eyeshadow I received. Tokyo is a lovely warm rose pink with gold micro-shimmer, and it goes on smooth and silky with great colour pay-off and is easily blendable. It should look great on all skintones and undertones, and I can see it working beautifully as a blush as well.

PrincipessaBacio Me Lip Balm (full size, 14 g): I have always wanted to try Principessa's products, and I am frequently tempted to purchase something when I see their stuff, all in pretty pink packaging, lining the shelves at Murale. But I never end up buying anything because I always end up getting distracted by other brands. This lip balm, in a handy slant-tipped squeeze tube (like my favourite Jack Black lip balm!), is packed with shea butter and vitamin E, and goes on lightweight and super smooth, and feels amazing on the lips. It's a creamy lip balm (rather than waxy) without feeling sticky or goopy, and has a light vanilla marshmallow scent but is taste-free. Love it!

Lise Watier Kiss Lip Crayon Gloss in Rouge Flamenco (full size, 2.8 g): A great product if you want the hydration and feel of a lip balm, the colour of a lipstick, and the look of a gloss. It actually gives a really good amount of colour while providing hydration and shine. Rouge Flamenco is a fabulous cherry red shade that goes on opaque and has great colour pay-off. The crayon-style applicator makes it fool-proof to put on and super-easy to get precision, very similar to Clinique's Chubby Sticks. I'm not sure if it's the same with all of their shades, but Rouge Flamenco smells and tastes like cherry slushies. My only qualm about this product is you have to sharpen it yourself, and it has to be through a jumbo sharpener. It's kind of a pain in the ass if you don't already have one.

Caudalie Premier Cru The Cream (sample size, 2 g): I have used a few of Caudalie's body products (I whole-heartedly recommend the hand cream), but not the skincare. Premier Cru The Cream "regenerates and re-densifies skin, filling wrinkles, firming and lifting, and minimizing dark spots for an evenly luminous look." It sounds promising, but it's not really my cup of tea. It sounds like it's for a more mature skin, firstly, and the texture of the cream is a bit too rich for my combination/oily skin. I will pass on this, but those with more mature skin or those who want to try anti-aging moisturizers may be interested.

Jelly Belly beans: A little jar of orange and black liquorice jelly beans to celebrate Halloween! A really nice touch to an already fantastic box. I love that they sprung for the Jelly Belly brand, too, rather than a generic brand (which, let's be honest, is a huge difference).

Can I just say I am super impressed with this box? A whopping three full-sized products, worth $43 on their own! And not only are they full-sized, but they're actually products I've wanted to try and will absolutely use! I know it's a little too soon to judge having only received one box so far, but I think Glymm might just be better than Luxe Box.

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