Birchbox (January 2016)

My experience with subscription beauty boxes in the past has been fairly disappointing -- that is, until I received my first Birchbox. As the original beauty subscription box company, they obviously know what they're doing and they do it very well.

Many of us Canadian beauty lovers rejoiced when the company finally started shipping here (up until recently, it was a US-only service). Sadly, however, it seems some good things must come to an end. Birchbox announced yesterday that it will be putting its Canadian operations on hold with the March boxes being the last one to ship. Due to the current exchange rate and the high cost of shipping in Canada, I guess the company had to make a tough business decision. If only our dollar wasn't doing so poorly... not only has it made online shopping and trips to the States ridiculously expensive, now we're losing Birchbox too!

Since I've still got my subscription for the next few months, I figured I'd continue to share my thoughts. At the very least, we've gotten a taste of what a quality subscription beauty box would look like and can cross our fingers for its return one day.

I, for one, am really going to miss the actual boxes, which come in different designs each month. As a sucker for cute packaging this is a huge plus in my books. I've been keeping mine to reuse and store things in because they're so nice to look at. January's box says "2016: The Year of ________" on the lid and inside are some stickers to choose from (think words like "strength", "fearlessness", "risks", and "joy" to really get us thinking about how we want to theme this new year.) Speaking of which, how is January already over?

Here's what came in this month's box:

BioRepublic Cucumber Breeze Soothing Fibre Mask. I love sheet masks because they're so easy to use for a quick skin refresher. This one was nice and cooling when I put it on and the fibre mask is a really nice quality (it's thicker/puffier than other sheet masks I've used). Afterwards, my skin felt refreshed so I think it did its job!

Amika Bombshell Blowout Spray. Since my hair is so fine, adding texture is key. I currently use dry shampoo for that but this blowout spray is a good option if I've just washed my hair and am going to be blowdrying anyway.

Whish Three Whishes Lavender Body Butter. This body butter is really nice; the formula is creamy but not too thick and it absorbs quickly. The lavender scent is calming and the sample size comes in handy since I travel so often for work.

too cool for school Dinoplatz Pearl Bay Invasion. Ignoring the extremely weird name for a product, this is a cream glitter-based highlighter. I received it in #2 Baby Pink Clam, which is a super pretty gold-toned pink that reminds me a bit of NARS Orgasm Blush but in highlighter form (and of course, not nearly as pigmented).

TONYMOLY Tony Tint Delight in #2 Red. TONYMOLY is a Korean brand that I've heard a lot about but never tried before, so I'm glad tofinally get the chance thanks to Birchbox. Plus, how adorable is this tiny lip gloss tube? The actual product is a stain that dries matte and is great for getting that popular Korean gradient lip look.

Birchbox (December 2015)

We're only a few days away from Christmas and I know it's totally cliché to say it, but seriously, where has the year gone?! Craziness. I'll be taking a bit of a blogging break over the holidays, as I usually do, but before that I wanted to share my thoughts on this month's Birchbox (c/o).

To me, Birchbox has always been one of the original beauty subscription boxes. I remember hearing about it years ago when it was only available in the US and the company has come such a long way since then. For one thing, they now ship to Canada! But they have also expanded considerably, offering a men's box and a whole host of exclusive brands in their online shop (like Parlor by Jeff Chastain, a line of hair styling products that I got to test out a few months ago).

Here's what my December 2015 box contained:

Kate Spade Live Colorfully Perfume Sample. This is one of the good kinds of perfume samples that comes in a mini spray bottle (versus those little glass vials) so it makes for both easy portability and application. The fragrance is fresh with a tropical vibe thanks to the blend of white florals and coconut.

LOC x Tati Vibrant Matte Lipstick in Glam Life. I had never heard of this brand before but that's because it's a Birchbox exclusive curated by Youtuber Tati Westbrook (GlamLifeGuru). Glam Life is a dark berry shade that's perfect for Fall/Winter and the formula is really nice as well.

Sunday Riley Good Genes Treatment. Sunday Riley is a $$ brand that I've wanted to try for quite some time now... I'm always hearing/reading such good things about their products on Youtube and other beauty blogs. The Good Genes Treatment is one of their cult products, an all-in-one treatment and mask that's supposed to brighten and restore damaged skin.

JUARA Coconut Illipe Hand & Nail Balm. I love coconut so that was a huge plus for this product right off the bat. It's also moisturizing and not too greasy, and the sample size is great for throwing in my purse for on-the-go.

Amika Perk Up Dry Shampoo. I use a ton of dry shampoo and I like trying new ones, especially sample sizes when I'm travelling for work. Perk Up Dry Shampoo works well to get your hair feeling refreshed and the packaging is super cute, but there is not much volumization (for that, I always go back to my tried and true Batiste XXL).

Overall, I liked everything I received this month which is surprising since I'm usually underwhelmed by most beauty-only subscription boxes. I think it's because some of the brands are more expensive (Kate Spade and Sunday Riley, for example) and these are all products I would actually use.

P.S. If you need a last-minute gift, how good would a Birchbox subscription be? Just saying.

Vancity Box (November 2015)

Another month, another Vancity Box... and you guys, this one was amazing. I don't think I have been this excited about a subscription box ever.

As you may recall, I recently introduced you to this new subscription box service for those of us living in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia. The concept is simple: supporting local businesses by introducing us to new brands and companies. Last month, the theme was food and drink. This month, it was handcrafted artisan items.

To fuel my candle obsession (I burn them like crazy during the Fall/Winter months), I was super excited to receive a Fairview candle from Vancouver Candle Co. These hand poured premium soy candles are named after and inspired by neighbourhoods in the city, from Kitsilano to Strathcona and Gastown. I already have the Point Grey candle so was excited to add Fairview to my collection. It smells delicious with notes of grapefruit, peach, and red currant.

In further scented goodness, this month's box also contained a Dilettante & Debutantes Lavender Vanilla Sugar Scrub and a Here & Now Botanicals Sweet Sassafras Aromatherapy Spray. Both products are perfect for when you really want to focus on some relaxing "me" time.

And of course, for all us coffee lovers, a crochet coffee cup cozy from Hooked On Crochet. Mine was even personalized with my initial!

In addition to a calendar of events happening around the city each month, Vancity Box throws in a little branded swag with each box. Last month it was a reusable bag but this month it was an umbrella. You can't get more Vancouver than that! Plus, it's one of umbrellas that looks like a wine bottle with a cover so it doesn't drip everywhere. I was actually eyeing a similar style in a store a few months ago so it was kind of like the company read my mind here.

Vancity Box costs $34.99/month + shipping (with cheaper options for longer term subscriptions). However, use my code ALISONELLE for $5 off until November 19!

VanCity Box (October 2015)

First off, Happy (Canadian) Thanksgiving! I've had a nice, low-key weekend so far full of friends, family, and lots of food. Especially after all the non-stop work travel, it's been nice to power down for a few days.

A special c/o delivery also recently showed up on my doorstep to keep me entertained over the holiday weekend... a new subscription box called the Vancity Box. If you've ever visited my Instagram or this blog category before, you already know how much I love living in Vancouver, so it should be no surprise when I say that the idea of getting my "city in a box" is kind of a dream come true.

The box is tailored specifically for locals and features items from local brands and companies. Inside the October box were a ton of edibles (my fave), including cotton candy from Petite Puf, three types of beef jerky from Billy Bob's Jerky and vanilla macaroons from Living Lotus. I love the focus on organic and healthy with these choices, and I ate most of them within the first few days of receiving my Vancity Box. What can I say? I love snacks.

In addition to the food items, I received a Graveley & Sons Alcohol Infusion Kit to make my own Mortimer's Spiced Rum. Vancouver is home to numerous craft breweries, distilleries, and artisanal cocktail bars, so this kit could not be more relevant (especially because the company is based in East Vancouver where many of those places are located). I really like rum so I'm excited to try infusing my own!

The VanCity Box is only available for addresses in British Columbia and costs $34.99 CAD/month (with savings if you subscribe for 6 or 12 months). It's on the pricier side as far as subscription boxes go but it's a great way to support local businesses and would make a good gift for a fellow Vancouverite.

Scent Trunk

A few weeks ago I was contacted by Will, the CEO of a small Canadian start-up called Scent Trunk, to see if I'd like to try out their custom curated monthly fragrance box. I have been trying to make a habit of wearing perfume on a regular basis so I was excited to see what Will and his team have come up with.

For $18 USD/month, each subscriber will receive 3 fragrance samples that have been specially selected based on a personalized scent profile (when you sign up, you fill out a survey that helps determine your likes and dislikes). Scent Trunk specializes exclusively in niche and indie fragrances so what you receive will likely be something completely new and different that you've never heard of. I love this idea because it means the likelihood of someone else on the street wearing the same scent as me is very low.

In my box, I received the following three fragrances: Ballets Rouges by Olympic Orchids, Pink Peony by Note Fragrances, and Ciel Woman by Amouage. I have never heard of any of these perfume companies before but Scent Trunk includes some handy note cards to go along with each fragrance that set out full descriptions, including the various notes, what time of day is recommended for wearing, longevity, and sillage.

I really like all three of the fragrance samples I received, particulary Pink Peony and Ciel Woman. They are both light and floral with a bit of freshness. Ballets Rouges is not something I would normally go for since it's a vintage-style rose perfume with oakmoss elements, but I am glad I got to try it out because I never would have otherwise.

If you're a fragrance lover, Scent Trunk is a fun way to experiment and if you end up liking what you're sent, there's always the option of purchasing a full-size bottle from their online shop. Plus, once you subscribe, you'll also receive lots of interesting information on fragrance through the company's Scent School e-mails. I especially love the FAQs, which have taught me quite a few things I didn't know. For example, the "spray and walk through" method was created in 1971 by the Estée Lauder Company when they released the Super Perfume Aromatics Elixir by Clinique. That perfume had longevity and sillage ratings of 5 (out of 5), but most fragrances are much weaker. In order to avoid wasting product, it is therefore recommended to spray directly onto your "hotspots". The more you know, right?

Sneak Peek: Spring 2015 Luxe Box

A few weeks ago, I received an e-mail from the Loose Button Luxe Box team sharing a sneak peek at their upcoming Spring 2015 beauty boxes. When I saw the brands to be included (think Too Faced, BUXOM, and Soap & Glory, just to name a few), I just knew I had to share it with you!

For those who aren't familiar with Luxe Box, they are the leading subscription box service in Canada offering 7-8 personalized products every season (every 3 months). Once you sign up, you fill out a beauty profile so that products can be tailored to your liking and if you like the products in your box, you then have the option of purchasing your newly discovered favourites right from the Luxe Box website.

The Spring 2015 boxes will be shipping out soon so if you want to get your hands on one, be sure to sign up! There is also a referral program so you can offer a discount to friends and family, earning a free Luxe Box for every two successful referrals made.

Wantable Accessories Box

I recently had the opportunity to try out Wantable, a subscription box company offering a variety of themed boxes, that is unlike any other subscription box I've tried so far. If you're into beauty, choose the Makeup Box for premium, full-size products. If you're into jewelry, choose the Accessories Box. For something a little different, choose the Intimates Box and receive a selection of camis, panties, socks, and more. This month, there's even a limited edition Halloween Box full of dramatic, theatrical makeup.

The company also specializes in personalization and it really seems like they take this philosophy to heart. Each subscriber must fill out a rather lengthy, detailed survey of their likes and dislikes. I personally love surveys so I found this part kind of fun!

In my personalized Accessories Box, I received the following...

Raina Earrings (worth $24): gold-toned hoops with hanging wire-wrapped amethyst stones. These earrings are more delicate than I usually wear but are really pretty and will be great for dressy occasions.

Chana Earrings (worth $20): gold-toned studded mini hoop earrings. These were my least favourite item in the box because the hoops are rather small and I don't particularly like the stud details. However, I will probably wear them anyway!

Frankie Necklace (worth $24): a fun necklace combining triangles and mixed metals. This necklace is totally my style and I'm kind of obsessed with it. I adore mixed metals!

Belisma Ring (worth $22): silver-toned bow ring. This ring is super cute and will be the perfect accompaniment to more girly outfits.

All in all, I was pretty pleased with what I received. I specifically said I did not want sunglasses, headbands, or scarves so I only received jewelry. Plus, these are all pieces that I can see myself wearing even if I do like some more than others.

Wantable is on the pricey side at $36 a month but if you're a subscription box fan it's certainly worth a try since you can also purchase a single box for $40. The personalization process is fairly sophisticated and I understand they have excellent customer service (apparently if you don't like an item, they will send you something else).

Beauty Box 5

Beauty Box 5 is a fairly new subscription beauty box service (they celebrated their 1 year anniversary in February) which aims to deliver 4-5 beauty samples to your door every month. I've read some good reviews about this box on other blogs so when Beauty Box 5 offered to send me a sampler I decided to see if the hype was worth it.

Let's see what I received...

1. Model Co SHINE Ultra Lipgloss in "Strip Tease" (Full Size) - 0.14 fl. oz./$16.00
Model Co is an Australian cosmetics brand which seems to show up in various beauty boxes on a regular basis. This gloss is quite sheer but very reflective and is perfect for layering over a lipstick for some extra shine. It smells delicious and the tube also comes with a built-in mirror for easy application.

2. Bodyography Makeup Primer (0.53 oz.) - 1 oz./$30.00
This oil-free primer is formulated with anti-oxidants, vitamins A and E, green tea and Grape Seed extract to give skin a silky smooth base. I received this sample in Clear and am looking forward to seeing how it compares to my usual Smashbox Photo Finish Primer.

3. Demeter Roll On Perfume Oil in "Cherry Blossom" (Full Size) - 0.29 fl. oz./$10.00
Does anyone else remember how popular Demeter was like 10 years ago? Girls I know used to collect (or hoard) and trade bottles of their classic scents. This roll-on in "Cherry Blossom" doesn't smell like the typical sakura scents I'm used to... it's very fruity and playful. I like it a lot.

4. The Brush Guard Variety Pack (Sample Pack) - 4 pack/$5.50
This sample pack of brush guards contains 3 different sizes (extra small, small, and medium) and will be great for drying my makeup brushes when I wash them. You just slip them on and the guard will reshape the bristles while ensuring that water doesn't drip back into the ferrule.

5. Coolway Boost (1 oz.) - 8 oz./$39.95
The Coolway System is designed to allow you to heat style your hair at much lower temperatures and cut blow drying time in half because it infuses your locks with moisture. Unfortunately it seems a lot of product is required per use so this sample will probably only last me a week.


Having tried a few other subscription beauty boxes in the past, I was really impressed with Beauty Box 5. Unlike Glossybox Canada, which costs $21/month, Beauty Box 5 is a much more reasonable $12/month and seems to contain better samples. You can also sign up for a quarterly subscription of $30 (and save $6) or a yearly subscription of $100 (and get two months free).

GLOSSYBOX Canada: February 2013

In honour of GLOSSYBOX Canada's 1-year anniversary, the February 2013 GLOSSYBOX is their way of celebrating  the occasion and saying "thank you" to their subscribers.

Given the recent controversy surrounding GLOSSYBOX Canada (some subscribers received discontinued and expired products), I've been really curious to see whether the company would make any efforts to improve their boxes. It couldn't have been more timely that I recently had the opportunity to do so firsthand thanks to Vervegirl.

This month's GLOSSYBOX comes in a black box with a pink bow on the front and a repeating logo pattern on the inside. Once you remove all the products it makes a great box to store trinkets or other things in.

Now for the contents! 

1. Elite Models Intensity Eye Pencil (Full Size) - 1.1 g/$14.99

I received this in Secret Grey 02, which is a creamy black with subtle glitter. While black liners are a staple in my everyday makeup, some GLOSSIES received a Givenchy Lipgloss instead, which I would have preferred.

2. Essence Quattro Eyeshadow (Full Size) - 5g/$3.99

I haven't tried Essence before but I've seen it at Shoppers Drug Mart and it seems like a very affordable drugstore line. I was happy I received this quad in Chic-ify, which contains some wearable shades, as opposed to the purples and yellows others received in their boxes. While they apply smoothly, however, the are not very pigmented.

3. Bioré Deep Cleansing Pore Strips ULTRA (Full Size) - 6ct/$9.99
How funny, I recently mentioned Bioré strips in this previous post! These particular ones are enriched with tea tree oil and witch hazel.

4. Macadamia Natural Oil Healing Oil Treatment - 30 ml/$13.50
This hair treatment claims to add moisture and nutrients for shine and increased manageability, while providing UV protection. I've heard really good things about this line but unfortunately can't use it as I'm allergic to nuts.

5. Anatomicals You Need a Blooming Shower! (Full Size) - 150 ml/$3.00

This rose and jasmine body cleanser smells great and I think the packaging is really fun.

I also received sachets of Eucerin Hyal-Urea Anti-Wrinkle Day/Night Cream and Crabtree & Evelyn Tarocco Orange Eucalyptus & Sage Ultra-Moisturizing Hand Therapy, as well as a GLOSSYBOX Cupcake Kit which is super cute.


All in all, I thought there was a good variety of products in this GLOSSYBOX and most were full size. But at $21/month, these are among the more pricey subscription beauty boxes and with mostly drugstore brands I can't help but wonder: is it worth it? 

December 2012 Julep Maven American Beauty Box

As a Christmas treat, Julep sent me one of this month's Julep Maven American Beauty Boxes. Unlike June's IT Girl Box which was full of bright and summery shades, all the December boxes feature gorgeous glitters that are perfect for the holiday season.

The packaging was simple but festive, with snowflake tissue paper and white paper shavings acting as a bed of "snow."

In addition to two nail polishes, Julia and Patti, I received Julep's Instant Warming Foot Scrub which smells like cucumber mint. I love foot scrubs and this will be perfect for at-home pedicures. December's boxes also came with a peppermint candy and a "Create Your Own Cabachon Ring" kit. I've seen nail polish rings being sold on other sites before and I love that this was included. Basically, you can paint the cabachon your favourite nail polish colour and pop it into the ring base for a one-of-a-kind accessory.

I was most impressed, however, by the nail polishes. Patti is described as a full-coverage black multi-dimensional glitter. You need three coats to reach opacity but the silver glitters do add some extra pizazz. But the stand-out colour, in my opinion, is Julia. It's described as a purple orchid with golden micro-glitter metallic, but that doesn't even come close to how complex this colour really is. The duochrome is absolutely beautiful; in some lights it looks more purple while in others it looks more gold.

After finishing this mani, I seriously could not stop staring at my nails. So pretty!


In semi-related musings, can you believe that we're basically a week away from 2013? December is always insanely busy but this year has been especially so for me. My flight home from Calgary was delayed for over 4 hours on Wednesday due to a snowstorm in Vancouver that left the city in chaos. People trying to get to Vancouver were about ready to revolt. It's funny how things like that really bring out the worst in us. And with barely a few days home I'm now off to Singapore for Christmas (check out this post for pictures from last year's trip). Preparations for all this flying have been very stressful!

I hope all of you have a lovely winter break... HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!

GIVEAWAY: Julep Maven Nail Polish Box of Your Choice {CLOSED}

Some of you have probably heard about the Julep Maven Program; but for those of you that haven't, it's a monthly nail polish box subscription service (like the Birchbox/Glossybox/etc. but for nail polish). For $19.99 a month, you receive over $40 in on-trend nail polish and beauty treatments delivered straight to your door. Perfect for all us nail polish addicts!

I recently had the chance to test out last month's "IT GIRL" box, which came with this cute packaging and some toe separators for easy-to-do pedicures.

Inside were three bright and fun colours:

Lily - sizzling fuchsia creme
Daisy - bright lemon yellow creme
Sasha - fresh, canteloupe melon creme

Out of the three polishes, Sasha was my favourite because it was easy to work with and dried opaque with only two coats. Lily also only needed two coats but dried matte (a glossy top coat can solve this problem if you don't like it). Daisy was a little watery and needed more coats but is a nice colour for summer.

For this mani, I decided to use all three colours and freehand some interlocking tip shapes. Kind of reminds me of the 80s for some reason!

If you haven't tried Julep before, they are offering an amazing promo for first-time Mavens right now where you can get your first box, similar to the one I've reviewed, for only a penny (yes, $0.01!). Just enter the promo code MAVENINTRO on the Julep website.

And now for the extra fun part... one of my readers will win a Julep Maven introductory box of their choice (find out which box is perfect for you by taking this quiz). Simply complete and fill out the Rafflecopter form below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway ends JULY 16. Good luck!