I've seen some curiosity on various forums as to whether or not GlossyBox uses people's Beauty Profile answers to determine which box they get. I'm doing a survey so I can do some statistical analysis. If you received a GlossyBox for June and want to help out, please fill out the survey here:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dEN3UlVhLW02alFLVENLVHNQUVpFR2c6MQ
I will do a statistical analysis on it after I have enough answers (the more the better) and post the results.
Friday, July 6, 2012
Product Review: Marbella Permanent Eyeliner Pen
I received this felt-tip liquid eyeliner pen in the June 2012 MyGlam sample bag.
I have tried it several times since then, but will not be using it as a permanent product. Here's why:
I swatched this product on my hand several times to see how easily it would come off. It took a while, and would fade to a pale streak of dark blue, but it would come off with time or makeup remover. I looked for a list of ingredients online, as I generally do for products bearing the symbol that says their ingredients list is available elsewhere, but I could not find a list ANYWHERE. I, like an idiot, figured it would probably be just fine and I was being paranoid, and I tried wearing it.
I got it in my eyes and it stung like the blazes, which made me decide that a) I probably shouldn't persist in wearing this product and b) I really, really wanted to know what was in it. I contacted Marbella through their customer service form on their website, and never received a response. After a while I contacted MyGlam through their own customer service form. Here is the email they sent me:
As you can see, there are a number of products listed on this that many makeup consumers would be concerned about, the most hot-button being the four (four!) different parabens. Paraben compounds are a concern to many people because of a tentative link with development of Alzheimer's. I personally don't exclude them from products I use, but I recognize that many people do. If you have further questions about parabens, there is much more information available on the web that is accessible with a quick search.
Also listed are two formaldehyde-releasing compounds (imidazolidinyl urea and DMDM hydantoin). These compounds release formaldehyde slowly over time, and are used as antimicrobial agents in a wide variety of products. Formaldehyde is considered to be toxic and carcinogenic in humans, although it is considered acceptable use in very very small quantities. However, people can have certain allergies (to formaldehyde or to imidazolidinyl urea itself) which may be triggered by this product. This SHOULD be stated on the packaging, but is not.
What concerns me most about this is the statement at the top of the email claiming that it is illegal to duplicate this list. I asked MyGlam about this statement, and here is their reply:
It seems here as though Marbella is trying to claim that their ingredient list is confidential and should not be distributed, which is in direct violation of FDA regulations concerning cosmetics packaging. A product MUST either list the ingredients on its packaging, or in cases where that is not possible, clear directions must be included for where to access a list elsewhere or for how to obtain a list from the manufacturer. By their very nature, the ingredients in a cosmetic product CANNOT be confidential. The fact that Marbella does not list their ingredients online anywhere, did not respond to my queries about the ingredients, and apparently thinks that their ingredients list can be confidential are all things that concern me greatly. This concern is made worse by my suspicion that they're so reluctant to release the list because they are aware that many of these chemicals are shunned by the makeup consuming community.
I respect MyGlam for responding to my queries as openly as they could, although it still concerns me that they sent out this product in the first place. I am not making any accusations of illegal behavior, merely stating the facts, but according to the FDA:
This information is available on the FDA website here: http://www.fda.gov/Cosmetics/CosmeticLabelingLabelClaims/default.htm
Marbella liners clearly do not bear on their packaging the required labeling information, i.e. a list of their ingredients or directions for locating or requesting a list of their ingredients.
I have tried it several times since then, but will not be using it as a permanent product. Here's why:
I swatched this product on my hand several times to see how easily it would come off. It took a while, and would fade to a pale streak of dark blue, but it would come off with time or makeup remover. I looked for a list of ingredients online, as I generally do for products bearing the symbol that says their ingredients list is available elsewhere, but I could not find a list ANYWHERE. I, like an idiot, figured it would probably be just fine and I was being paranoid, and I tried wearing it.
I got it in my eyes and it stung like the blazes, which made me decide that a) I probably shouldn't persist in wearing this product and b) I really, really wanted to know what was in it. I contacted Marbella through their customer service form on their website, and never received a response. After a while I contacted MyGlam through their own customer service form. Here is the email they sent me:
Hi Jo,
Thanks for contacting myglam. Please find the below ingredients for Marbella's Eyeliner Pens
CONFIDENTIAL: Property of Marbella Cosmetics. Any duplication is strictly forbidden & illegal.
WATER - AQUA
OLETH-20
ACRYLATES COPOLYMER
TRI (C12-C13 ALKYL) CITRATE
PVP
BUTYLENE GLYCOL
OLEIC ACID
PALMITIC ACID
STEARIC ACID
PHENOXYETHANOL
IMIDAZOLIDINYL UREA
ETHYLPARABEN
PROPYLPARABEN
BUTYLPARABEN
DMDM HYDANTOIN
ISOBUTYLPARABENxoxo,
[redacted] with myglam
As you can see, there are a number of products listed on this that many makeup consumers would be concerned about, the most hot-button being the four (four!) different parabens. Paraben compounds are a concern to many people because of a tentative link with development of Alzheimer's. I personally don't exclude them from products I use, but I recognize that many people do. If you have further questions about parabens, there is much more information available on the web that is accessible with a quick search.
Also listed are two formaldehyde-releasing compounds (imidazolidinyl urea and DMDM hydantoin). These compounds release formaldehyde slowly over time, and are used as antimicrobial agents in a wide variety of products. Formaldehyde is considered to be toxic and carcinogenic in humans, although it is considered acceptable use in very very small quantities. However, people can have certain allergies (to formaldehyde or to imidazolidinyl urea itself) which may be triggered by this product. This SHOULD be stated on the packaging, but is not.
What concerns me most about this is the statement at the top of the email claiming that it is illegal to duplicate this list. I asked MyGlam about this statement, and here is their reply:
Hi Jo,I tried contacting their customer service number, but it rang and rang and went to someone's personal voicemail, so I am redacting it from this post because I do not want to accidentally give out someone's personal number.
Sorry for the confusion. It's definitely not illegal to share the ingredients. The Marbella brand included that language and I'm not sure exactly what they mean by it. We can ask them for you you can contact Marbella's customer service at [redacted] if you'd prefer. Please let me know if you have any additional questions we can answer for you.
Best,
[redacted]
It seems here as though Marbella is trying to claim that their ingredient list is confidential and should not be distributed, which is in direct violation of FDA regulations concerning cosmetics packaging. A product MUST either list the ingredients on its packaging, or in cases where that is not possible, clear directions must be included for where to access a list elsewhere or for how to obtain a list from the manufacturer. By their very nature, the ingredients in a cosmetic product CANNOT be confidential. The fact that Marbella does not list their ingredients online anywhere, did not respond to my queries about the ingredients, and apparently thinks that their ingredients list can be confidential are all things that concern me greatly. This concern is made worse by my suspicion that they're so reluctant to release the list because they are aware that many of these chemicals are shunned by the makeup consuming community.
I respect MyGlam for responding to my queries as openly as they could, although it still concerns me that they sent out this product in the first place. I am not making any accusations of illegal behavior, merely stating the facts, but according to the FDA:
It is illegal to introduce a misbranded cosmetic into interstate commerce, and such products are subject to regulatory action. Some of the ways a cosmetic can become misbranded are
- its labeling is false or misleading
- its label fails to provide required information
- its required label information is not properly displayed
- its labeling violates requirements of the Poison Prevention Packaging Act of 1970 [FD&C Act, sec. 602; 21 U.S.C. 362]
This information is available on the FDA website here: http://www.fda.gov/Cosmetics/CosmeticLabelingLabelClaims/default.htm
Marbella liners clearly do not bear on their packaging the required labeling information, i.e. a list of their ingredients or directions for locating or requesting a list of their ingredients.
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Product Review: Philosophy take a deep breath oil-free energizing oxygen gel cream
I received this product in my June MyGlam bag and have been using it daily since then. I actually haven't been using moisturizer for a while because I ran out of my favorite brand and it's no longer manufactured, so I think I've had a pretty good test of this product. I'd heard of philosophy before but neither I nor my roommate had ever tried them, so I was unsure what to expect.
I wasn't that big on this product when I first received it, but I am determined to give everything I receive in my sample subscription boxes a good try, and this moisturizer definitely grew on me. I'm still scornful of philosophy's pseudoscience claim of "This cream diffuses energizing oxygen to detoxify skin and support cell respiration," but I can set that aside in the face of my actual enjoyment of the product. My skin feels much softer than it did at the start of the summer despite the ridiculously drying heat here and the fact that I've been taking many, many shifts at the telescope, where the air is much drier. I've also noticed a slight improvement in breakouts on my cheeks, which I was very surprised by! I may consider repurchasing this product if I run out of the other (very very nice but ridiculously expensive) moisturizer I got in my GlossyBox and don't receive any others to try in the near future.
This product is still rather expensive for my tastes, but I'm enjoying it much more than I expected. It might be a splurge item in the future. We'll see.
I wasn't that big on this product when I first received it, but I am determined to give everything I receive in my sample subscription boxes a good try, and this moisturizer definitely grew on me. I'm still scornful of philosophy's pseudoscience claim of "This cream diffuses energizing oxygen to detoxify skin and support cell respiration," but I can set that aside in the face of my actual enjoyment of the product. My skin feels much softer than it did at the start of the summer despite the ridiculously drying heat here and the fact that I've been taking many, many shifts at the telescope, where the air is much drier. I've also noticed a slight improvement in breakouts on my cheeks, which I was very surprised by! I may consider repurchasing this product if I run out of the other (very very nice but ridiculously expensive) moisturizer I got in my GlossyBox and don't receive any others to try in the near future.
This product is still rather expensive for my tastes, but I'm enjoying it much more than I expected. It might be a splurge item in the future. We'll see.
Friday, June 15, 2012
Product Review: Zoya Nail Polish
I have heard amazing things about this product and was really excited to try it when I got it in my GlossyBox. I love nail polish and am pretty picky about what brands I will buy and use, because my nails go through a lot of wear and tear working with pure acetone and lots of fiddly vials and jars in a chemistry lab and with lots of big heavy machinery at my telescope job. I hate having nail polish that chips easily, and so OPI is usually my go-to polish since I've had great luck with it not chipping and with the top coat protecting my polish pretty well even when I'm working directly with pure acetone.
Unfortunately, I was less than pleased with the results I got from the Zoya polish. I'm not even working in labs or at the telescope right now, just taking an easy summer class, and this polish started chipping the first day I was wearing it. It also took forever to dry. I liked the color, a sort of shimmery teal, but I was so disappointed with the quality of the polish. The final straw for me was when a chunk flaked off for no reason into the soup I was eating. I want to wear my nail polish, not eat it.
I'll definitely be giving this to my roommate or otherwise trading it for something. This polish is not worth my time.
Unfortunately, I was less than pleased with the results I got from the Zoya polish. I'm not even working in labs or at the telescope right now, just taking an easy summer class, and this polish started chipping the first day I was wearing it. It also took forever to dry. I liked the color, a sort of shimmery teal, but I was so disappointed with the quality of the polish. The final straw for me was when a chunk flaked off for no reason into the soup I was eating. I want to wear my nail polish, not eat it.
I'll definitely be giving this to my roommate or otherwise trading it for something. This polish is not worth my time.
Thursday, June 14, 2012
June 2012 MyGlam Bag
Today I received my first MyGlam bag in the mail with much enthusiasm. The forums I read have been saying that this is one of the best bags yet from the service. I'm not sure how I feel about that, as this is my first bag from them and only my second overall, and I wasn't nearly as enthused with this as I was with my first GlossyBox. However, this is half the price, so I will try to take that into account.
Inside the pink bubble mailer was a little sparkly golden clutch-style bag, which smells a little like squid and sheds a little but which my roommate found incredibly cute, so I think I will be passing that on to her. She can take just about any item and make it fashionable, a gift I do not understand and clearly do not have.
There were four items in this bag, as listed on the glossy card that came inside the package.
1. PHILOSOPHY take a deep breath oil-free energizing oxygen gel cream moisturizer
Amount: .4 fl. oz. (sample size)
Rating: 2/5
PROS: As it says on the package, this moisturizer is oil-free, which is definitely an attractive feature as I have combination skin that tends more toward oily. It dried pretty quickly and didn't leave my face feeling oily.
CONS: This product doesn't smell that great and felt kind of weird on my skin. It wasn't overall a pleasant experience to use. Furthermore, I am extremely wary of any product or brand which uses pseudoscience statements like "This cream diffuses energizing oxygen to detoxify skin and support cell respiration." Furthermore, reading the ingredient list inspired no confidence that they know anything about how the chemicals used supposedly perform any of the tasks they say this product performs. At $34 for 2 oz., there is absolutely no way I would buy this product even if I had all the money to spare. It's not a bad or harmful product, it's just not particularly good.
2. NYX Round Lipstick
Amount: .14 oz. (full size)
Color: Georgia (medium to light shimmery sheer pink)
Rating: 4/5
PROS: I really liked the color of this lipstick, which was random, so I got lucky there. I love pinks and this one looks pretty nice on me, unlike some of the color possibilities for this batch (like Orange Soda, which would have made me look washed out). This lipstick stayed on a lot longer than I was expecting, and while it didn't smell or taste terribly great (unlike my favorite MAC lip product, which smells and tastes delicious), it didn't taste gross like some lipsticks do. At $4 per tube in a wide range of interesting colors, I will definitely be picking up one or two more of these next time I see them.
CONS: As I said, it's not the most fantastic lipstick in the world and does wear off sooner than I'd like and not smell as great as I'd like, so it's not perfect. Also, this lipstick was melted to one side when I received it like the lipstick in my GlossyBox was :(
3. LIVING PROOF. frizz Nourishing Styling Cream
Amount: 2 fl. oz. (sample size)
Rating: 4/5
PROS: I actually really liked the way my hair looked after I used this. I'm pretty picky about what I'll put in my hair because so so many products make my hair look greasy and oily at the roots or on the crown of my head and then I feel like a slob. This product definitely did not do that, and it actually did give some nice definition to my usually frizzy waves, which I was very surprised and pleased about. It also smells pretty nice, in a vague lotion-y way.
CONS: It's $26 per 4 fl. oz. bottle and I'm just as happy with using argan oil, which I can get a huge bottle of for cheaper. There was a coupon included in the box for a "kit" of the full size of this along with their shampoo and conditioner, which I am considering taking advantage of in the near future if I end up finding myself particularly attached to the waves I get from using this.
4. MARBELLA Permanent Eyeliner Pen
Amount: unknown (one pen, full size)
Rating: 2/5
PROS: I've used felt tip liquid eyeliners in the past and not been pleased with them, but this one was a different story. It went on very smoothly and was very, very easy to use. It also stayed on really well . . . perhaps too well. I had some difficulty removing this product.
CONS: I couldn't find a listing of the ingredients of this product or even a quantity of product inside the pen. The website for this company looks a bit like a rejected home business from 2002. Not terribly confidence-inspiring. Also, at $19 per pen, I don't think I would purchase this unless I found I had a very specific use for it as part of a specific look. I can get Urban Decay liners, which I far prefer, for a dollar cheaper even if I were to buy them full price (which I never do).
EDIT 15 JUNE: Okay, so I was wearing this product while crying and holy cow does it run, and when it got into my eyes it STUNG so bad. Don't think I'll be wearing this again since I can't find an ingredient list.
OVERALL BOX RATING: 3/5
ESTIMATED COST OF CONTENTS: $42.80 (not including bag)
I'm going to stay on with MyGlam for at least next month and see what I think. I found one new product I will definitely buy and use regularly out of this, and I can't say the same for my GlossyBox. The cost of the products in this was also nearly equal to the cost of the products in the May GlossyBox. However, I overall enjoyed the products in the GlossyBox more.
Inside the pink bubble mailer was a little sparkly golden clutch-style bag, which smells a little like squid and sheds a little but which my roommate found incredibly cute, so I think I will be passing that on to her. She can take just about any item and make it fashionable, a gift I do not understand and clearly do not have.
There were four items in this bag, as listed on the glossy card that came inside the package.
1. PHILOSOPHY take a deep breath oil-free energizing oxygen gel cream moisturizerAmount: .4 fl. oz. (sample size)
Rating: 2/5
PROS: As it says on the package, this moisturizer is oil-free, which is definitely an attractive feature as I have combination skin that tends more toward oily. It dried pretty quickly and didn't leave my face feeling oily.
CONS: This product doesn't smell that great and felt kind of weird on my skin. It wasn't overall a pleasant experience to use. Furthermore, I am extremely wary of any product or brand which uses pseudoscience statements like "This cream diffuses energizing oxygen to detoxify skin and support cell respiration." Furthermore, reading the ingredient list inspired no confidence that they know anything about how the chemicals used supposedly perform any of the tasks they say this product performs. At $34 for 2 oz., there is absolutely no way I would buy this product even if I had all the money to spare. It's not a bad or harmful product, it's just not particularly good.
2. NYX Round LipstickAmount: .14 oz. (full size)
Color: Georgia (medium to light shimmery sheer pink)
Rating: 4/5
PROS: I really liked the color of this lipstick, which was random, so I got lucky there. I love pinks and this one looks pretty nice on me, unlike some of the color possibilities for this batch (like Orange Soda, which would have made me look washed out). This lipstick stayed on a lot longer than I was expecting, and while it didn't smell or taste terribly great (unlike my favorite MAC lip product, which smells and tastes delicious), it didn't taste gross like some lipsticks do. At $4 per tube in a wide range of interesting colors, I will definitely be picking up one or two more of these next time I see them.
CONS: As I said, it's not the most fantastic lipstick in the world and does wear off sooner than I'd like and not smell as great as I'd like, so it's not perfect. Also, this lipstick was melted to one side when I received it like the lipstick in my GlossyBox was :(
3. LIVING PROOF. Amount: 2 fl. oz. (sample size)
Rating: 4/5
PROS: I actually really liked the way my hair looked after I used this. I'm pretty picky about what I'll put in my hair because so so many products make my hair look greasy and oily at the roots or on the crown of my head and then I feel like a slob. This product definitely did not do that, and it actually did give some nice definition to my usually frizzy waves, which I was very surprised and pleased about. It also smells pretty nice, in a vague lotion-y way.
CONS: It's $26 per 4 fl. oz. bottle and I'm just as happy with using argan oil, which I can get a huge bottle of for cheaper. There was a coupon included in the box for a "kit" of the full size of this along with their shampoo and conditioner, which I am considering taking advantage of in the near future if I end up finding myself particularly attached to the waves I get from using this.
4. MARBELLA Permanent Eyeliner PenAmount: unknown (one pen, full size)
Rating: 2/5
PROS: I've used felt tip liquid eyeliners in the past and not been pleased with them, but this one was a different story. It went on very smoothly and was very, very easy to use. It also stayed on really well . . . perhaps too well. I had some difficulty removing this product.
CONS: I couldn't find a listing of the ingredients of this product or even a quantity of product inside the pen. The website for this company looks a bit like a rejected home business from 2002. Not terribly confidence-inspiring. Also, at $19 per pen, I don't think I would purchase this unless I found I had a very specific use for it as part of a specific look. I can get Urban Decay liners, which I far prefer, for a dollar cheaper even if I were to buy them full price (which I never do).
EDIT 15 JUNE: Okay, so I was wearing this product while crying and holy cow does it run, and when it got into my eyes it STUNG so bad. Don't think I'll be wearing this again since I can't find an ingredient list.
OVERALL BOX RATING: 3/5
ESTIMATED COST OF CONTENTS: $42.80 (not including bag)
I'm going to stay on with MyGlam for at least next month and see what I think. I found one new product I will definitely buy and use regularly out of this, and I can't say the same for my GlossyBox. The cost of the products in this was also nearly equal to the cost of the products in the May GlossyBox. However, I overall enjoyed the products in the GlossyBox more.
Sunday, June 10, 2012
Your Makeup Routine
The first and most important thing about applying makeup is learning to be comfortable and healthy about applying makeup. This means that you need to have an area where all your makeup items are stored and all your brushes are stored and an area where you can sit down and apply your makeup comfortably using a mirror.
Saturday, June 9, 2012
May 2012 GlossyBox
GlossyBox has just started running their service in the United States, and I received my first box from them a couple days ago. I've never tried one of these services before, and I wasn't sure what to expect. At $21 per month, this service seems a little pricey, and I'm still not sure it's worth it. However, I was pretty pleased with this month's samples.
The GlossyBox contents were shipped in a cute and sturdy pink box and wrapped in tissue and a bow. I appreciated the sturdy packaging (and the sturdy cardboard box the whole thing was shipped in). I don't live in a major city, and sometimes my USPS packages arrive a little beat up.
The theme of this month's box was "Around the World" and the box came with a nice card detailing each product and its origin (each from a different country).
1. AMORE PACIFIC Moisture Bound Refreshing Hydra-Gel
Amount: .27 fl. oz. (sample size)
Rating: 4/5
PROS: I really enjoy this moisturizer, and it's one of my favorites from this box. It smells amazing, a sort of lotion-y not-quite-floral smell that reminds me of my childhood summers spent with my best friend and all the products her mom used. The packaging is cute and sturdy, with a little mirror on top, and I think once it's empty it will make a nice travel container for earrings. The texture of this product is very silky and it really does feel like it's providing a lot of moisture to my skin.
CONS: The price! At $100 for 1.7 oz (the sample was .27 oz), this moisturizer isn't quite amazing enough to be worth the price to me. I'd probably get 20 full-face uses out of this sample, and at almost a dollar per day of application, it would be quite expensive to use regularly.
2. BURBERRY BEAUTY Lip Mist Natural Sheer Lipstick Copper No.202 (UK)
Amount: .028 oz (sample size)
Rating: 4/5
PROS: Okay, the packaging and design are the best part of this product. Everybody loves the traditional Burberry check, and this tiny square lipstick has that pattern embossed on its case. Using this lipstick makes me feel far more sophisticated than I actually am. :) The color was nice, though not terribly amazing with my skin tone. It went on very smooth and stayed on for quite a while. It didn't taste disgusting like a lot of lipsticks do, although it was still not my favorite. At $30 for a full size (.12 oz) lipstick, I might consider buying this product if I found a shade I really loved.
CONS: The only real dislike I have for this product is the smell. It smells like really expensive, high-end play-doh and tastes a little bit of the same. However, I know there are people out there who love the way this product smells, so to each their own! Also, the lipstick was kind of melted by the time it got to my house. :(
3. MARVIS Marvis Whitening
Amount: 1.23 oz (full size)
Rating: 3/5
PROS: This product supposedly has a whitening effect, which is something I appreciate as a heavy tea drinker. The mint is mild and quite pleasant, which I enjoyed, and my teeth felt nice afterward. Bottom line, it's toothpaste.
CONS: I wasn't really expecting toothpaste in one of these boxes and I'm not sure what to think of that! Also, this is very very expensive toothpaste at $7.50 for a tube not much bigger than a travel size tube of any common toothpaste. I might pay that much if this had some miraculous whitening effect, but this seems unlikely given that the whitening ingredient is .8% sodium monofluorophosphate, which is found at similar levels in other widely-available brands. I'll have to keep using it and see. Another possible con for those of you who are particularly ingredient-conscious is that the primary ingredient in this toothpaste is aluminum hydroxide. This compound is suspected to possibly contribute to neurological disorders, though no rigorous scientific studies have ever concluded anything other than that this is unlikely. I'd feel safe eating a tube of it.
4. PHYTO Phytojoba Intense Hydrating Mask for Dry Hair
Amount: 1.7 fl. oz. (sample size)
Rating: 5/5
PROS: This is my favorite product out of this box. I have hair that is very fine but thick and I have some serious problems with frizz. I have been using this product as directed (it's a mask that you leave on for several minutes) after shampooing and my hair looks absolutely fantastic. It lies flat, there's minimal frizz, and it's soft and shiny. I also love the feel of the packaging of this product.
CONS: At $38 for 6.7 oz, this product is a bit pricier than I would usually buy, but given how many washes it looks like I'm going to get out of it and how pleased I am with the results, I think it may be worth it.
5. ZOYA Summer 2012 - Beach and Surf Collection
Color: Zuza
Amount: .5 fl. oz. (full size)
Rating: 1.5/5
PROS: The color (a sparkly medium teal) was nice enough, and I'm glad it was a full size product. The brushes on mini bottles of nail polish are often very hard to deal with.
CONS: I'll be straight - this nail polish seemed cheap. At $8 per .5 oz bottle, this polish costs about the same as the brands I usually buy, but I was much much less satisfied with it.
BONUS: GlossyBox blush brush
Rating: 1/5
This goat hair brush was a thoughtful little extra, but not really worth much. The handle is very sturdy and attractive-looking, but the bristles are rough and frayed and just plain not very good.
OVERALL BOX RATING: 3.5/5
ESTIMATED COST OF CONTENTS: $48 (not including brush)
For now, I'll be continuing to order GlossyBoxes. It was fun to try out new products and I'm really enjoying the Phyto hydrating mask.
ETA 15 JUNE: I called GlossyBox customer service about the melted lipstick and they told me they were going to send out a replacement right away. I'm very pleased with the way they handled that and with the promptness and courtesy of their customer service representative, Nicole.
The GlossyBox contents were shipped in a cute and sturdy pink box and wrapped in tissue and a bow. I appreciated the sturdy packaging (and the sturdy cardboard box the whole thing was shipped in). I don't live in a major city, and sometimes my USPS packages arrive a little beat up.
The theme of this month's box was "Around the World" and the box came with a nice card detailing each product and its origin (each from a different country).
1. AMORE PACIFIC Moisture Bound Refreshing Hydra-Gel
Amount: .27 fl. oz. (sample size)
Rating: 4/5
PROS: I really enjoy this moisturizer, and it's one of my favorites from this box. It smells amazing, a sort of lotion-y not-quite-floral smell that reminds me of my childhood summers spent with my best friend and all the products her mom used. The packaging is cute and sturdy, with a little mirror on top, and I think once it's empty it will make a nice travel container for earrings. The texture of this product is very silky and it really does feel like it's providing a lot of moisture to my skin.
CONS: The price! At $100 for 1.7 oz (the sample was .27 oz), this moisturizer isn't quite amazing enough to be worth the price to me. I'd probably get 20 full-face uses out of this sample, and at almost a dollar per day of application, it would be quite expensive to use regularly.
2. BURBERRY BEAUTY Lip Mist Natural Sheer Lipstick Copper No.202 (UK)
Amount: .028 oz (sample size)
Rating: 4/5
PROS: Okay, the packaging and design are the best part of this product. Everybody loves the traditional Burberry check, and this tiny square lipstick has that pattern embossed on its case. Using this lipstick makes me feel far more sophisticated than I actually am. :) The color was nice, though not terribly amazing with my skin tone. It went on very smooth and stayed on for quite a while. It didn't taste disgusting like a lot of lipsticks do, although it was still not my favorite. At $30 for a full size (.12 oz) lipstick, I might consider buying this product if I found a shade I really loved.
CONS: The only real dislike I have for this product is the smell. It smells like really expensive, high-end play-doh and tastes a little bit of the same. However, I know there are people out there who love the way this product smells, so to each their own! Also, the lipstick was kind of melted by the time it got to my house. :(
3. MARVIS Marvis Whitening
Amount: 1.23 oz (full size)
Rating: 3/5
PROS: This product supposedly has a whitening effect, which is something I appreciate as a heavy tea drinker. The mint is mild and quite pleasant, which I enjoyed, and my teeth felt nice afterward. Bottom line, it's toothpaste.
CONS: I wasn't really expecting toothpaste in one of these boxes and I'm not sure what to think of that! Also, this is very very expensive toothpaste at $7.50 for a tube not much bigger than a travel size tube of any common toothpaste. I might pay that much if this had some miraculous whitening effect, but this seems unlikely given that the whitening ingredient is .8% sodium monofluorophosphate, which is found at similar levels in other widely-available brands. I'll have to keep using it and see. Another possible con for those of you who are particularly ingredient-conscious is that the primary ingredient in this toothpaste is aluminum hydroxide. This compound is suspected to possibly contribute to neurological disorders, though no rigorous scientific studies have ever concluded anything other than that this is unlikely. I'd feel safe eating a tube of it.
4. PHYTO Phytojoba Intense Hydrating Mask for Dry HairAmount: 1.7 fl. oz. (sample size)
Rating: 5/5
PROS: This is my favorite product out of this box. I have hair that is very fine but thick and I have some serious problems with frizz. I have been using this product as directed (it's a mask that you leave on for several minutes) after shampooing and my hair looks absolutely fantastic. It lies flat, there's minimal frizz, and it's soft and shiny. I also love the feel of the packaging of this product.
CONS: At $38 for 6.7 oz, this product is a bit pricier than I would usually buy, but given how many washes it looks like I'm going to get out of it and how pleased I am with the results, I think it may be worth it.
5. ZOYA Summer 2012 - Beach and Surf Collection
Color: Zuza
Amount: .5 fl. oz. (full size)
Rating: 1.5/5
PROS: The color (a sparkly medium teal) was nice enough, and I'm glad it was a full size product. The brushes on mini bottles of nail polish are often very hard to deal with.
CONS: I'll be straight - this nail polish seemed cheap. At $8 per .5 oz bottle, this polish costs about the same as the brands I usually buy, but I was much much less satisfied with it.
BONUS: GlossyBox blush brushRating: 1/5
This goat hair brush was a thoughtful little extra, but not really worth much. The handle is very sturdy and attractive-looking, but the bristles are rough and frayed and just plain not very good.
OVERALL BOX RATING: 3.5/5
ESTIMATED COST OF CONTENTS: $48 (not including brush)
For now, I'll be continuing to order GlossyBoxes. It was fun to try out new products and I'm really enjoying the Phyto hydrating mask.
ETA 15 JUNE: I called GlossyBox customer service about the melted lipstick and they told me they were going to send out a replacement right away. I'm very pleased with the way they handled that and with the promptness and courtesy of their customer service representative, Nicole.
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