Macarons and Mischief

June 2012’s Luxe Box is more like Lost Box Now

As some of you may or may not know, Luxe Box has changed their subscription services. Instead of delivering monthly boxes, they are delivering 4 seasonal boxes- Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer.It would cost $26 per season = 1 Luxe Box, $50 for 2 seasons = 2 Luxe Boxes, or a full year (aka 4 seasons) would cost $96. Each box is supposed to contain 7-8 beauty and lifestyle products to help stay on trend. When I read that between the lines, it pretty much screams no to me. The math doesn’t add up right, and what if I don’t like the products on trend? What happened to tailoring products to our needs?

Members can opt to have the last June box, or upgrade to the new membership for free. I had a $12 credit (apparently I skipped the January box) so I opted to have the June box, since I didn’t want to spend my money on these things anymore. Luckily, I made the right choice, since the Luxe in Luxe Box is long gone to me.

So I got my (last) June box and it seems they have resorted to drugstore brands, rather than going on the high end, as they had advertised oh so long ago. I have seen some reviews online on people’s boxes, and I was hoping, hoping I would have something different, but Loose Button enjoys to disappoint.

Disappointment in a box

Yes, they did give out 3 full sized products, but they’re not something I would use. Plus, everyone got the same thing, as if they didn’t care what people had on their profile- just cleaning the extra stock they had! I got:

L’Oreal Mythic Oil:

Mythic Oil

I received 3mL. This is the only product I am excited for, since I like using hair oils.

OPI Top coat:

OPI Topcoat

I don’t really like the OPI top coat, Seche Vite all  the way. Will find some way to give/sell this away.

Olay Professional Pro-X Eye Restoration Complex

Olay Professional Pro-X Eye Restoration Complex

Eh, not a fan. This product seems to be catered to more older woman. Why is a drugstore product so expensive?

Sally Hansen Nail Polish Strips

Sally Hansen Nail Stickers

The nail strips are actually bright pink, but my camera couldn’t capture it well. Full size- but I would never, ever wear this on my nails in a billion years.

The box also came with a bonus mirror:

Mirror

I did get 3 full sized products that paid for the box itself, but it wasn’t the box for me. I do not regret my decision of cancelling, and I’ll be reading what other people get in their seasonal Luxe Box.

May 2012 Luxe Box?

I deactivated my Luxe Box subscription on May 1st, but for some reason a box (actually two…) arrived in my mail box today! Puzzling indeed..and the stuff I received… I am oh so tempted to reactivate my subscription, but I must not, to curb my online beauty shopping. Nevertheless, I will share what I got today! I’m pretty sure this is my last box for sure. I went on the Luxe Box site, and it says that my status expired May 15. Hmmm….

My May Luxebox

My face was :O when I opened it. I received

  1. Full size CARGO lip gloss quad(worth $25 for 5.5 g). I’ve never tried CARGO lip gloss before, nor do I ever even buy CARGO products. They’re supposed to be non sticky so I hope they turn out great!
    CARGO tin

    Four gorgeous colors! Can’t wait to try out these summery shades!

    CARGO lip gloss quad
  2. China Glaze Cuticle Oil($10 for 14 mL, received 9.6 mL= $6.86) I pretty much received a full sized product of this and I cannot wait to try this. I’ve been tempted to get ESSIE’s cuticle oil, because my cuticles are pretty unpretty- and to get this in my sample box is a definite bonus for me! It’s supposed to have a blend of jojoba oil, rice bran, and Vitamin A, C and E!

    China Glaze Cuticle Oil
  3. Philosophy Purity Made Simple one-step facial cleanser(Full size 237 mL= $28, received 30mL=$3.54) I’ve only tried Philosophy products through sample tubes Sephora has given me, so this is another one to add to my mini stash. I’ve heard good things about Philosophy, so this looks quite promising! Great to bring along for travelling too!

    Philosophy Purity Made Simple One Step facial cleaner
  4. Kerastase Masque Chroma Riche (full sized 200mL=$57, received 30mL = $8.55) This is the second Kerastase masque I received in a Luxe Box- and the first one has been okay, so I’m ready to give this one a try too, since I have pretty bad heat damage in the ends of my hair. I need some radiance in my hair
    Kerastase Masque Chroma Riche

    Because May is “Thank you, Mom Month”- a complimentary Bath and Body Box was given in addition to the Luxe Box. Inside was an Olay razor and a sample of OlayRegenerist wrinkle revolutionary complex.

Bath and Body Box

It also came with a card- $20 off pantybypost subscription (for one I think) if you use their code loosebutton20. I’m quite happy with the May Luxe box- but I am still not planning to reactivate my membership. I honestly don’t remember the transaction for May’s box, so someone must have used my referral code?!

Anyway- I am done with online shopping, subscription boxes, and I am curbing buying beauty products (at least for the next 2-3 months!)

Arrival of March LuxeBox!

My Luxebox for March arrived today! I was surprised it came so fast, because when I checked its tracking, it was supposed to arrive on March 23.

If you missed out, or don’t know what it is, check out my review for February’s Luxe Box here.

What could be inside??
My March Luxe Box

Firstly- they had their “First in Line” program where you can choose one of three items to be in your box. By signing up for this program, it guarantees one thing to be in my box. I chose the Cargo Glitter Top Coat to be my item.

Cargo Glimmer Top Coat

“Let your eyes steal the spotlight! The ultimate transformer, CARGO’s Glitter Top Coat takes your daytime eye makeup straight into the evening with one sweep of the brush.Infused with colored iridescent glitter in a transparent base, Glitter Top Coat can be worn alone or on top of any waterproof eyeliner or eye shadow.The super long-wear formula is both waterproof and smudge-proof, and the magic tip applicator allows for perfect results” – Cargo website

I love this! This is my first Cargo cosmetics. Perfect it came today so I could wear it to the opening of Hunger Games! I tried this over my black liner, and it didn’t smudge or anything. I added one layer for subtle glimmer and it was great It did not irritate my eyes. I wore it from 10:30 am- 11:30 pm and nothing went astray.

This top coat can also be worn alone OR over eyeliner OR on top of eye shadow.

Trying the Cargo Glimmer Top Coat

(Sorry I need to wear my glasses to see the focus!)

I received a full sized version of this, and it’s value is $18.00.

I pretty much already got more than the box’s value!

Next- I received was the Kerastase Masque Age Recharge.

Kerastase Masque Age Recharge

This is the second time I received a hair product in my Luxe Box. Guess I put hair concern in my profile, don’t really remember. However, I don’t mind because I love anything that can make my hair softer, since it’s still pretty brittle.

This product is supposed to be applied after washing hair, then wrap hair in a warm towel, leave for 5 minutes, and rinse. It smells wonderful, and I can’t wait for it to “transform” my hair as it says.

The full size (200mL) costs $60.  I received 30mL. (This sample should cost approximately $9.) Glad I got a sample because I would never spend that much on a product!

Third product that I’m going to talk about is the DDF Advanced Firming Cream.

DDF Advanced Firming Cream

This is a moisturizer, with glycerin, zinc, and copper that hydrates, firms, and tightens skin. It looks like an interesting product, but I’m still young, and I still look like I’m in elementary school, so something like this wouldn’t be in my normal part of my routine. Perhaps I’ll try it on extra dry patches of skin?

The full size (48g) costs $140, and I received a sample of 14 g. My sample costs approximately $40.83!!

Lastly- I got a mini pouch of perfume samples.

Perfume Sample

Negatives

  • I’m not a perfume person, and I have no idea why I’m sent perfume AGAIN, since my last Luxe Box had perfume
  • These are tiny samples that any counter would give if you asked. I can pretty much get them for free.

Positives

  • To look on the bright side, I’m glad I got Love Struck by Vera Wang, because I was going to buy the roller ball for it, so having this tiny sample is actually quite handy. I like the smell of this. Also, Leighton Meester is the face of Vera Wang and she’s one of my favourite actresses. So I was quite happy with Love Struck.
  • Oh Lola! by Marc Jacobs: I also have the roller ball of Daisy by Marc Jacobs, so I guess getting Oh Lola! isn’t too bad because it is a popular scent and I like Marc Jacob’s perfume.

Nothing to say about the Calvin Klein Shock for Her– smells ordinary and can totally live without it.

I also got a bonus “CK ONE Shock for Him” man’s fragrance as an “exclusive opportunity” to share with someone. I gave it to my brother since he doesn’t have cologne and he’s been smelling kind of sweaty (for real.) He was fine with it, so I am too!

CK One Shock for Him

I actually got a small bottle of it, not a tiny sample spray! The bottle contained 15 mL.

Bottle of CK ONE Shock for Him

Another mini surprise is this card that contains wildflower seeds. They wrote a post on how to plant these here. This looks fun and exciting and I’m sure my grandma would love it because she loves gardening!

Card with seeds

All in all, I’m fairly happy with my Luxe Box due to my Cargo Glimmer Top Coat. I hope the sending of excessive perfume will stop soon.

Approximate value: $68
Rating: 3.5/5

Hopefully my April Box will be awesome!

February 2012 Luxebox Arrival + Review

My Luxe Box has arrived! This is my first time getting a Luxe Box by Loose Button! I think i was being depressed one gloomy day in January and impulse ordered this online. For all of you who don’t know what it is, you pay $12 + tax/month for a box of surprise deluxe-sized sample items. The company also gives you a tracking number so you know where your package is and when you can expect to get it!  I got a beautiful red box and when I slid it open, there’s tissue paper with a sticker that says “Made for Whitney.” How personalized!

Luxebox February 2012 Limited Edition
Made for me!

I opened up the tissue paper and this is what I received:

Luxebox samples

They give a little card that has a description of each item plus the price of the full size, which was very useful.

The first product is the daily microfoliant by Dermalogica. It’s a “rice-based enzyme powder” to exfoliate the skin. I never tried anything of this sort for so I’m quite excited. I have been using St. Ive’s Apricot Exfoliant for the past many months now, so I’m glad to have a new item in my routine! The price is $72 for a full size of 75g. I received 13g, so my sample would worth approximately $12.48. I checked makeupalley reviews and it scored 4.2/5.

Dermalogica daily microfoliant

The next item was a full sized China Glaze nail polish. I don’t own any red nail polish so this was a good color to add to my collection. I received “Go Crazy Red” – the color is a red-shimmery shade.It is worth $8.

"Go Crazy Red" China Glaze

The next item is a tiny cute bottle of Silk Infusion by Chi. It’s a hair treatment. I straighten my hair often and just found some threatening split ends in my hair couple days ago, so I’m excited to try this. Since it’s so tiny, I’ll savour it and only use it when I go out. The full size is 50mL- $15, 150 mL-$25, 300 mL-$42. I received 15mL.

CHI Silk Infusion

Lastly, I received a deluxe perfume sample- L’AIR by Nina Ricci.  I was worried it would be those tiny pumps you can get from any department store, but it came in a cute bottle. I don’t wear perfume, but the packaging was really cute.The perfume is a blend of “magnolia, freesia, and Bulgarian rose,” and it does smell quite nice! I’ll probably where it for special occasions. The full size of 50mL costs $80, and 100mL costs $110. (Why is perfume so expensive?!) The bottle makes a nice display on my desk.

L'AIR Nina Ricci
Description of L'AIR

Overall, I do think I did get my money’s worth, and it felt like receiving a birthday present in Febraury. However, I went online to see what other people got, and some people got 5-6 items, whereas I only had 4. Some also received Benefit’s Sun Beam which I would’ve loved to try.  I only bought a monthly subscription to see what the hype was about, and I can see why people love it. I probably will get a March luxe box to please myself.

Luxebox February 2012

If you got one too, share what you got! For all those who want to sign up, click here for my referral link!

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