Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Manicure Monday Baby Pink + Glitter!

Whoops - I have been so busy getting my whole trip together this, that I actually forgot Manicure Monday! Crazy!

So, sadly this week I did not do a Halloween themed Mani - only because I am leaving on Saturday and don't want a weird chipped Mani on my holidays! 

I decided to go super girly this week - ballet pink + glitter!



I love the shade of this polish - it's gorgeous! 

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Memebox Princess Edition #2 Sleeping Beauty Review and Unboxing

Memebox is a Korean Beauty Box company. Memebox is not a monthly subscription box - they instead have a ton you can choose from ranging in price from $15 and up. The boxes have different themes and their are limited quantities and they sell out quickly! The boxes come with 4-8 full size and deluxe sample size items & they usually show you 1 spoiler from the box and the rest are all surprises! Shipping to Canada is $6.99 (shipping does take any where from 10-20 business days) and they ship worldwide!

When they came out with the "Princess" edition boxes clearly I had to jump on the Sleeping Beauty one! It was $29 + $6.99 for shipping to Canada

"When you need more than a kiss from a prince to break your beauty spell… use our Sleeping Beauty Box!
Break out of your beauty rut and pamper yourself in the PM for an instant beauty transformation! Revitalize dull and tired-looking skin with ultra-moisturizing, and super nutritious formulas to lock in hydration and essential vitamins and minerals! Give yourself the ultimate skin care therapy with beauty goodies that retexturize, repair, and renew skin for petal-soft, radiant skin the next morning!"

Generally, when you order a Memebox usually the shipping date is about a month in advance so make sure you check!!

I have been super excited for this box to arrive! Here is the first look:
And here is a closer look at the goodies:

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Topbox LouLou Limited Edition 10th Anniversary Collection Review and Unboxing

In addition to their regular box this month, I also decided to sign up for the LouLou Limited Edition box. This box was $35 ($36.75 with tax) and comes with your choice of a 4 month print copy or an 8 month digital copy of LouLou Magazine. I have actually been subscribed to LouLou for the past couple of years, so I chose to try it out digitally. 

Here is the 10th Anniversary LouLou Box:
And here is a closer look at the products:

October 2014 TopBox Beauty Box - Review and Unboxing

TopBox is a Canadian Beauty Box Subscription - for $12 CDN a month with free shipping (I pay $12.60 each month with tax), you will receive 4 deluxe sample size or full size products. You fill out a beauty profile and get items based on what you have identified. Also, every month you have the option to "wish" for a prive box. A prive box is a box that focuses on one brand or product for the whole box. (The only downside is that they do have a wait list - it took me about a month to get off of it).

This month I selected the "Elizabeth Arden" box that should come with 4 sample products from the brand. You are not always guaranteed a Prive box if you have wished for it; however, I have received the one I have wished for all each time I have selected one.

Here is a look at my October Topbox:
Woo hoo - got the Elizabeth Arden Prive Box. (TopBox used to ship out in cardboard tubes, now they give you the option to select a little bag instead - i like these because they can be re-used!)

Monday, October 20, 2014

Manicure Monday (Julep Texture Polish) + Monthly Pedicure (Tribal Design Pedicure)!

Time for another Manicure Monday (and - yay! a Monthly Pedicure too!).

Textured polish seems to be all over the place right now, and I really like it - it is simple and looks just a little more fun than a plain color!



Here is a look at the products I used:

Saturday, October 18, 2014

October 2014 Beauty Box 5 - Review and Unboxing

Beauty Box 5 is a monthly subscription box that costs $12 US per month + $3 shipping to Canada. If you sign up for a longer subscription, you get a lower price per box: $30 quarterly, and $99 a year ( plus $3 shipping per month). 

I signed up for Beauty Box 5 when they had a promotional code for $12 off a year (and before they started charging for shipping!) - so I got a full year for $87. This worked out to $97.60 Canadian with the exchange rate so I only pay $8.14 a month for this subscription.

Shipping was much improved since last month - this shipped on October 7 & arrived on October 16!

Here is a look at my October 2014 Beauty Box 5:


And here is a closer look at the products I received:

Friday, October 17, 2014

100th post: Renee's Beauty Bag Surprise!

Yay! I have finally made it too 100 posts! I am happy with the blog so far - I am starting to get some followers and regular readers! I am always looking for feedback and would love to hear what you love and what you think can be improved! 

There are still some features I would like to add to the blog, such as more beauty and makeup product reviews, and a few other things. 

I am happy I am getting some regular readers back to the blog and hope everyone is enjoying what they are reading!! I am enjoying writing it!

Now, for my 100th post I am going to do something as a big thank you to my readers: A GIVEAWAY!!! Yay! I have created my own "Beauty Bag" - I have included some really awesome products and a little jewellery treat!

Here is a look at Renee's Beauty Bag:

Wednesday, October 15, 2014

October 2014 Ipsy Glam Bag - Review and Unboxing

Ipsy is one of the inexpensive beauty bag sample subscriptions. You receive 4-5 deluxe sample size or full size products each month. The cost is $10 US (+ $4.95 shipping to Canada) - with the exchange rate, I paid $17.19 this month. 

Ipsy is generally makeup products with a mix of skin, nail, and hair products based on a beauty profile you complete. There is usually 12-18 products that are selected from each month! You can view your "glam room" online that tells you all the products you will receive each month (I really like to keep it a surprise so I don't check ahead of time!)

Ipsy shipped really fast again this month again for me. The summer was very slow but I have been impressed with the last couple of months!

Here is a look at my October 2014 Ipsy Glambag:
This month's theme is "Beauty Candy"!

Tuesday, October 14, 2014

Fall 2014 FabFitFun VIP Box Review and Unboxing + $10 off Coupon Code

FabFitFun is an awesome quarterly lifestyle box - Summer 2014 was the first box that shipped to Canada.  The box is $57.99 Canadian ($49.99 in the U.S.A.) They guarantee at least $100 worth of items, but it is usually much more - the Summer 2014 had $245 worth of items! 

This box was a little slower to ship - I noticed that my box shipped after a few other bloggers were already receiving their items (once it shipped, it did come very quickly!)

Here is a look at the box:


I love this box - there is always so many goodies inside!! 

Monday, October 13, 2014

Manicure Monday (julep oxygen treatment)

Okay, I know last week I promised a good Manicure Monday today! But 2 things happened:
1) I forgot it was Thanksgiving and I cooked my butt of yesterday and today - my hands and nails did not enjoy it!
2) Those stickers I used last week destroyed my nails - peeling and lifting a bunch of layers off - wah! 


My nails are not in good shape! They are super uneven and a few have pieces that have peeled but not all the way off so they are really uneven! There is no way any polish will look good on my nails this week!

Friday, October 10, 2014

September 2014 My Subscription Addiction Quarterly Co Box #MSA01 - Review and Unboxing

Quarterly Co. features quarterly subscription boxes curated by celebrities and personalities you love. The subscriptions range from fashion to food to books and include packages curated by people from Bill Nye to Pharrel Williams to Rosario Dawson, etc. Most packages are $50 but a couple are $100 plus shipping (shipping to Canada is a little hefty on this site - $10-$20 per package so make sure you are signing up for one you really want!).

I was so excited when Liz from My Subscription Addiction announced that she was a new curator for Quarterly Co - I signed up immediately. I thought she would make a great box - this is what she does all the time, so she knows that a box should have value and good products inside! She also is very ingredient conscious so everything will be natural! 

This Box was $50 (plus $20 shipping to Canada) - so with the exchange rate I paid $73.37. Quarterly uses USPS to ship and I find they were super slow (especially last month) so this box shipped on September 19 and I received it yesterday (October 9). The wait is fine except I had to see everyone else posting pictures and I really tried to keep this box a surprise!! 

Here is the first look at My Subscription Addiction #MSA01 Box:
Looks like a good mix of products - here is a closer look at everything inside!

Tuesday, October 7, 2014

September 2014 Beauty Box 5 - Review and Unboxing

Beauty Box 5 is a monthly subscription box that costs $12 US per month + $3 shipping to Canada. If you sign up for a longer subscription, you get a lower price per box: $30 quarterly, and $99 a year ( plus $3 shipping per month). 

I signed up for Beauty Box 5 when they had a promotional code for $12 off a year (and before they started charging for shipping!) - so I got a full year for $87. This worked out to $97.60 Canadian with the exchange rate so I only pay $8.14 a month for this subscription.

Shipping was very slow this month - this box shipped on September 8th and didn't arrive until yesterday (October 6)!. I think with quite a few companies shipping was slow so it's not really Beauty Box 5's fault. Here is a look at my September 2014 Beauty Box 5:
This month's theme is "Balancing Act" and is going to be products that balance between trying new trends and taking care of yourself. 

Monday, October 6, 2014

Manicure Monday (quick + easy stickers!)

Happy Manicure Monday! My Manicure Monday is a little sad this week - I started playing volleyball again and coaching Damian's basketball which led to 3 broken nails (I had to cut them all off!). On top of that, I'm still sick this week! So, my manicure this week is a quick and easy nail sticker application!



Here are the products I used: