SKINCARE | 5 Sunscreens (Love & Hate)

Sunscreen, sunscreen and more SUNSCREEN! This part of my skincare routine is just a given, but I recently had a conversation with two colleagues around my age who looked at me like I was batshit crazy when I said "You need to use sunscreen!" They said that because they work "indoors" they don't need it, but we all know that you encounter UV even while working indoors (unless you live in solitary confinement within cement walls). The condition of your skin can be preserved to a large extent just by including this very simple product in your routine and though it might feel like we are just layering product after product, many brands have perfected sunscreen formulations to the point where some feel light as air and don't pill or interfere with your underlying skincare or makeup application. I didn't realize that almost every year I have done some sort of sunscreen roundup and looking back, I've noticed that I've discovered new favourites every year that I hope you will enjoy as well!

PR gifted (except for Biore)

February 2013 One Year Anniversary Glossybox

One year of Glossybox has arrived and this is truly a box worthy of a one year anniversary. I still remember being on the email list and finding out that FINALLY, Glossybox was coming to Canada! There have been some ups and downs this past year with Glossybox, but I still consider myself loyal and will continue our beauty box romance for the time being.

January 2013 Empties

I will be so glad to get rid of these! Some of the things I’ve managed to finish in January have been haunting me for years!  

Bath and Body

Sample Sundays–Third Edition

This segment of Sample Sundays is coming to you a little bit late because as I suspected, I was a quite optimistic in the last edition of Sample Sundays and it took more than two weeks to get through even half of what I had chosen! Let’s see what’s on the sample menu this week!

November 2012 Empties!

With November favourites come November empties, so let’s get this empties party started shall we?! I wasn’t too good about the full sized products, but I did get through my samples which always gives me a nice boost of “you can do it!”

Bath and Body

It’s Time for Sample Sundays!

I am procrastinating making an insurance claim for my car until Monday morning  by sharing with you a routine that I have been doing since May of this year. Every other Sunday, I take the time to go through my samples and pick out a few that I want to try out for the next two weeks. It’s actually such a fun process because it feels so much like shopping! Seeing all of those lovely beauty samples together gets me so giddy! This little ritual is also how I produce a lot of my empties. It’s almost like Project 10 Pan, but for samples and with a higher product turnover which makes it MUCH more interesting. So, what’s on the Sample Sunday menu today?

1. MaskerAide Hydrating Sheet Mask (1 mask)

2. Befine Single Serve Warming Clay Mask (14g)

3. Nesura Pore Deep Charcoal Strip for Nose Care (1 strip)

4. Etude House Black Charcoal Chin Pack (1 strip)

5. Biore Nose Strip (1 strip)

6. Nume Hydro Punch Shampoo (20mL)

7. Nume Hydro Punch Conditioner (20mL)

8. Aveda Invati Exfoliating Shampoo (10mL)

9. Aveda Invati Thickening Conditioner (10mL)

10. Vitamine & Sea Perfect Skin Solution

12. Lancome High Resolution Triple Action Anti-Wrinkly Cream (15g)

13. Dior Capture Totale Multi-Perfection Concentrated Serum (1.5mL)

14. B. Kamins Maple Body Lotion (12mL)

15. B.Kamins Lip Balm (4mL)

16. Lift & Firm Rejeuvenating Day Cream (5mL)

17. Lift &Firm Deep Remodeling Night Cream (5mL)

18. Vasanti BrightenUp! Enzyme Face Rejeuvenator (12g)

19. CK Shock Eau de Toilette Spray (1.2mL)

Wish me luck!

August 2012 Glossybox

I was very excited to get my hands on the August Glossybox after peeking at what other people had received. Is it just me, or was it seeing that colourful Befine box that really made me that much more excited?!  August’s Glossybox was also a special one as it marked the 6 month anniversary of Glossybox in Canada! For those of us who have been with Glossybox since the beginning, we received a little bonus in our boxes!

Glossybox June 2012

This month’s Glossybox has a bit of a summer theme to it which I thought was nice, but I was a little surprised to see mainly drugstore items in our selection of samples though…I feel like Glossyboxes in other countries are more “luxe” than ours…or is it just me? Anyway, here is my June Glossybox!

In June’s Glossybox, I received:

Biore 4 in 1 Revitalizing Cleanser

Purify, cleanse, tone and refresh skin in mere minutes. This unique self-foaming cleanser wipes out over 93% of impurities.

Thoughts: I love products with pumps so I was happy to receive this. The only thing I’ve ever tried from Biore are their infamous pore strips so I’m happy to try something else from them. 

Full size: 200mL/$9.99

I received: *FULL SIZE*

Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry Touch Sunscreen Lotion SPF 55

Ultra light, fast-absorbing and voted #1 best feeling sunscreen by Canadian Dermatologists. Contains helioplex which provides photostable UVA/UVB protection.

Thoughts: I was bummed that I didn’t receive this in the Neutrogena anniversary gift so I’m happy that I received this in my Glossybox! Although, if I were to use this sample on my body and face, I think the whole tube would be finished! Maybe I’ll just use it on my face…

Full size: 88mL/$15.99

I received: 14mL/$2.54

Wella Professionals Ocean Spritz

Free your hair with irresistible chunky texture achieving that matte, carefree beachy hair look.

Thoughts: This is my favourite product in the whole box! I’ve always wanted to have “beach waves” in my hair! I cannot wait to try this out! Just spray on dry hair, scrunch and shape and let dry! It also smells pretty good too!

Full size: 150mL/$16.99

I received: *FULL SIZE*

Olay Regenerist Wrinkle Revolution Complex

Advanced microfillers instantly smooth the look of fine lines. The anti-aging formula with Biopeptide and B3 complex hydrates and improves the appearance of deep lines in just 14 days!

Thoughts: This is my third sample of this so I’m not too excited to be seeing this again. I haven’t even tried it out yet, so I have no idea if it’s any good. I don’t have any really deep lines so I doubt I would see any results. I should probably just give this to my mom…

Full size: 50mL/$30.99

I received: 7mL/$4.34

Cover Girl Flipstick – Blendable Duo in Minx

This double-ended lip colour stick has a side for shimmer and a side for colour. Blend shades together to create endless lip looks.

Thoughts: I feel like a lot of people received this colour and it’s pretty dark…the idea is that you first apply the dark brown shade followed by the copper finish to give your lips a splash of shimmer. The colour is a little dark for me and I’m not that fair so I wonder how all you lighter –skinned girls are finding this colour?

Full size: 3.8g/$12.50

I received: *FULL SIZE*

Gillette Venus Embrace Razor

Get ready for the shave fit for a goddess. Our first women’s razor created with 5 blades hugs every curve to get virtually every hair. An ultra close shave and incredible Venus smoothness.

Thoughts: Just in time because my old Venus blade is getting dull! I know I should just buy the blades, but they’re so expensive!

Full size: $13.43

I received: *FULL SIZE*

Biore Deep Cleansing Pore Strips

Pore strips are the deepest way to clean your pores. In just one use remove a week’s worth of built up dirt – and it only takes 10 minutes. Isn’t that great?!

Thoughts: These are always fun because it’s so satisfying to see all that icky stuff that’s in your pores showcased on a strip!

Full size: 8 strips/$9.99

I received: 1 strip/$1.25

Total Value of June Glossybox: $61.04

The value was definitely there as always with Glossybox, but out of seven items, only one was a non-drugstore brand. Albeit, it was a good one, but I feel like the Canadian Glossybox is “lacking in luxe”. I feel so badly saying something negative! I still liked most of the products in this month’s box, but if you are going to brand yourself as a more luxurious sample box, I guess my expectations are somewhat higher.

Did anyone get something different than the box I got? I’m just curious…