April 2015 Lip Monthly Review (and Rant)

Lip Monthly is an inexpensive beauty box subscription focusing on lip products. It costs $10 a month + $3 shipping to Canada.

Lip Monthly describes their boxes as: 

For only $10/month, Lip Monthly helps you discover the best lip products on the market. Every month we’ll send you a unique box straight to your door and help you discover the best of Lip Glosses, Lip Sticks, Lip Balms, Lip Stains and much more.

*I have to start this post with a rant - bear with me!

There has been quite a few complaints with Lip Monthly double-billing customers and not sending bags. Up until this point, I have had no issues with Lip Monthly - I have read the comments and took this information in to account. 

Now this month I did experience terrible customer service and wrongful billing. I cancelled my account on April 23. A couple of days later I checked my credit card bill and was charged for May's bag on April 24. I went and checked the website and they had re-activated my account without telling me and charged me! I contacted the Customer Service department and instead of being polite and explaining what had happened, they were rude and advised me that I had to cancel 48 before my payment date - in their Terms of Service it advises I can cancel anytime and they sent me a link for something stating 24 hours before. I would have met both of those time-frames and they were really terrible to deal with. Based on how they treat their customers, I will not be recommending this bag to anyone - I have disputed the charges and refused to be lied to by a company (I know it is only $15 or so but it more about the principle to me!)

Additionally, Lip Monthly has been sending review bags out to bloggers with an additional item in it - most people agree that this is completely false advertising as it appears you get 5 items instead of 4! Just one more reason that I will not be supporting Lip Monthly any longer. 

This company has also stopped allowing Facebook posts which means those of us with bad experiences cannot share this on social media! 

*End of rant - sorry! 

Here is a look at the April 2015 Lip Monthly bag:

It came in a mailer - when you opened it, it had such a strong smell of burning plastic and smelled terrible! It was so strong, and the make-up bag inside smelled just as bad!

Wine + Mask Wednesday (Covert Farms Organic Wine and My Beauty Diary Red Vine Sheet Mask)

The theme for this week's Wine + Mask Wednesday is: Red Wine!

Yes! A red wine mask - so awesome! 

April 2015 Beauteque Mask Maven Subscription Review

Beauteque is an American company that focuses on creating a beauty bag subscription feauturing Asian Beauty products. Beauteque launched their original "BB Bag" Subscription in January and their "Mask Maven" was just launched in March - this is the second one! 

The Mask Maven subscription is described as:

"The Mask Maven is a luxurious subscription service offering a lovely assortment of masks each month to keep your skin smooth, soft, and spectacular. 

You will receive all kinds of masks including face sheet masks, hand and feet masks, hair masks, wash off masks, and more."

Beauteque Mask Maven is $15 monthly - if you sign up for a longer subscription, you can save a little money: $14 per month if you sign up for 6 months, or $13 per month if you sign up for 12 months. Shipping per month is $3.95 for the U.S., $5.95 to Canada, and $8.95 to Europe. Each month you can expect to receive 9-11 masks of all varieties

Here is a look at the April 2015 Mask Maven:

This month's bag came with 10 masks (unfortunately I forgot to take a photo of all 10 together - whoops!). 

Manicure Monday (Incoco Nail Wraps)

The weather has been so beautiful here lately and it has been making me want my nails nice and Spring-y too! It seemed perfect when Beauty Box 5 sent me Cherry Blossom nail wraps and I had to try them out right away! 

Here are the products I used for this week's manicure:

April 2015 Beauty Box Comparison - Ipsy vs. Beauty Box 5 vs. Topbox vs. Birchbox Canada

It's so nice to do my April Beauty Box comparison in April! Usually Beauty Box 5 comes pretty late in the month so these don't get done until I receive all 4!

Here is my chart breakdown of the 4 inexpensive beauty boxes:

I was fairly impressed by the value of all of the boxes, here is a closer look at each of the boxes:

April 2015 Birchbox Canada - Subscription Box Review

Birchbox is the original sample beauty box and has been in the U.S.A. since 2010 - and this is only the 5th month it has been available in Canada. It is $10 a month + $4.95 shipping to Canada (you can save money by signing up for a year for $100 + shipping costs). Each month you receive 5 sample (or full size) products based on a beauty profile you complete.

Birchbox Canada describes itself as:
"Five personalized beauty samples delivered right to your door each month. It’s the best way to find the products you’ll love."

(It should be noted that if you see the U.S. Birchbox - Canadian's receive different products. I hope this expands and we get access to all the products available to out American counterparts soon! I like that some boxes (such as Ipsy and Glossybox) offer the exact boxes to Canadians - I am hoping Birchbox does the same at some point!)

Here is the April 2015 Birchbox Canada:

This month Birchbox partnered with Rifle Paper Co. to make this beautiful box! I love it and need to find something to use it for - what did you guys use your box for?

Five on Friday - April 24, 2015

I'm linking up today for another Five on Friday! I hope everyone has been having a great week - my week has been a fair bit quieter than last week which has been nice!
Here is what has been on my mind this week:

ONE

found on pinterest - source here and photographer website here

So I FINALLY went to see a florist this week for the wedding in August and this bouquet above was inspiration for wedding flowers - it is so beautiful! I'm so excited to see how she makes this slightly more affordable - man, the clock is really starting to tick!! 

Wine + Mask Wednesday (Portada Estremadura Wine + Lassie'el Raspberry Age Defying Yogurt Massage Mask)

Time for another Wine and Mask Wednesday - my theme this week is Berries! (I know this is generally a common theme but there is so many berry wines and berry masks, I feel like I have to do it quite a bit to try everything!)

This smells so good! But first, here is my Wine of the Week:

April 2015 Beauty Box 5 - Subscription Box Review

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). 

Beauty Box 5 has been referred to as the"starter beauty box" - it does not send many high end products and the value tends to be lower than other boxes, but they have sent out really good products! 

*As of late, Beauty Box 5's boxes have been very up and down - they have had some great products; however, there have been very low box values and not so good products. I would suggest that you read reviews and see if it is products you like!*

Here is my April 2015 Beauty Box 5:

Beauty Box 5 always comes with a detailed product card and a theme. This month's theme is "Bloom": Sure, April Showers bring May flowers – but why should those petals have all the fun? Break out of your winter dry spell early with a blossoming attitude and flourish all month long! Whether it’s scheduling a much-needed mani date with a bestie, helping someone less fortunate than yourself, or just committing to washing off your makeup every single night, baby steps towards blooming into a better you are always beautiful.

April 2015 - Adore Me Intimates Subscription Review

This post contains referral links

Adore Me is a Lingerie/Intimates subscription box. Each month for $39.95 + $5.95 shipping to Canada you receive a lingerie/sleepwear set! 

Adore Me has plenty of options for you to choose from:

• Bra & Panty sets 
• Swimwear
• Sleepwear
• Corsets
• Lingerie 
• Panties

Adore Me offers your first set for $24.95 - no code required! They also offer every 6th set you order free! 

*Note - Adore Me is similar to Fabletics - you must sign in to your account by the 5th of the month and choose what you would like or skip the month. If you do not select or skip by the 5th you will be charged and a credit granted on your account*

Here is a look at my April Adore Me:

Chrissy Push-up ~ $49.95 retail. The Chrissy Push-up is a matching bikini top & bottom set with a push-up bandeau bikini. The top has adjustable cleavage and a string tie closure. 

Manicure Monday (Water Marbling Attempt #2)

Ahh, another Manicure Monday! This week I thought I would give Water Marbling another try - my last attempt was all the way in August and it wasn't the best - if you want a refresher, you can view it here.

Here are the products I used for this week's Manicure:

April 2015 Ipsy Glam Bag - Beauty Subscription Review

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). 

Ipsy is generally make-up products with a mix of skincare, nail polish, 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. You also receive a make-up bag each month with your products.

Here is a look at my April Ipsy Bag:

The theme of the April Glam Bag is "Beautifully Bohemian"

Skincare Sunday Product Review - Dal Tokki Facial Scrub

For this Skincare Sunday, I thought I would do another product review! Here goes:

Dal Tokki Facial Scrub ~ around $25 - this scary bunny/human is hilarious! 

April 2015 Topbox - Canadian Beauty Subscription Review

TopBox is a Canadian Beauty Box Subscription - for $12 CDN a month with free shipping, you will receive 4 deluxe sample size or full size products. You fill out a beauty profile and generally receive products based on what you have identified in the profile. 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.

TopBox is a Canadian company and only ships to Canada. The only downside to subscribing to TopBox is that there is a wait-list that can take a month or two to get off of.
 
Since I have received quite a few Prive boxes in the last few months, for April I decided to stick with the regular Topbox. Here's a look:

As an added bonus this month, Topbox included a sample size Hawaiian Tropic sunscreen - I have tried this kind last year and really like it! It smells awesome!

Five on Friday - April 17, 2015

I'm linking up for another Five on Friday! I feel like this week was super busy, plus my son was sick on top of everything! Hope everyone had a great week!

ONE

Soup of the week - homemade tomato soup! This soup is actually so easy to make - literally about as long as it takes to heat up a can of tomato soup on the stove and it tastes so good! The recipe can be found here, from The Pinning Mama! Yum - and sadly, that is not a homemade cheese bun (I let the store do the majority of the work this week!)

Spring 2015 LuxeBox by Loose Button - Canadian Quarterly Beauty Box Review

LuxeBox by Loose Button is a quarterly beauty subscription. It is a Canadian Company and they send out their beauty box at the start of each season. The cost is $26.00 CDN per quarter ($27.30 with tax). Shipping is included in the price and they currently only ship to Canada! 

You will receive 7-8 sample size and full size products beauty product and tools. 
You can save a little if you sign up for a longer subscription - $25 a box if you sign up for 2 boxes and $24 a box if you sign up for a year (4 boxes). 

LuxeBox offers Box upgrades to different boxes for the season and I never selected an upgrade before! I decided to upgrade to the Bene-Boutique for the Spring box (this box was available for no extra charge, some upgrades cost a few extra dollars):

Looks like 5 products and a free brow-wax. I love Benefit cosmetics, so I'm looking forward to this!

Here is a look at the Spring 2015 LuxeBox Bene-Boutique Box:

The little house is set up like an advent calendar - very cute! 

Spring 2015 FabFitFun Lifestyle Box Review and Unboxing + Coupon Code

FabFitFun is an awesome quarterly lifestyle box! For $57.99 Canadian ($49.99 in the U.S.A.)  at the start of each season, they guarantee you will receive at least $100 worth of items. It is usually way more - the last few boxes have had over $200 worth of goodies! 

This is only the 3rd box that FabFitFun has shipped to Canada! They started shipping to Canada in the Summer 2014! I have been very happy with the FabFitFun boxes - this is one of my favorite subscriptions!

Here is a look at the Spring 2015 Box:

Looks like a lot of goodies - let's take a closer look:

Manicure Monday (Scratch Lazy Pandas Nail Wraps week 2)

Hi all, this is going to be a short Manicure Monday post! I'm sure you all know by now how in love I am with the Lazy Pandas wraps by Scratch! Seriously, these could possibly be the cutest nails I have seen in a while! 

So, I thought since they are super cute, I am going to leave them on!

But I wanted this Manicure Monday to show what week 2 of the wraps look like and review them first! If you want to head over to last week's post to see how to apply the wraps, you go here.

Here is what these wraps looked like after a full week of wear and tear - a bazillion dishes, laundry, housecleaning, etc.

I actually think they look great for the end of one week! There is only a little minor chipping on my thumb nail and I think I can touch that up with a little black polish and they will look as good as new! 

Five on Friday - April 10, 2015

I'm linking up for another Five on Friday! Hope you guys have had a good week - I loved having Monday off work! 4 day work weeks always go by so quickly! 

ONE

GAME OF THRONES!!! Yay! Season 5 is starting on Sunday (April 12) and I am so excited! By far one of my favorite shows! I'm worried I won't know everything that is going to happen this season because it has been so long since I have read the books! Either way, it is going to be good! Are you a fan?

Wine + Mask Wednesday (Wine O'Clock Lively Moscato Spritzer + Pure Smile Pure Bubble "Royal Jelly" Wash Off Bubble Mask)

I love having long weekends - I can hardly believe that it is Wednesday already! Not that I am complaining (..oh no, not a glass of wine - I have to do it for my blog..)! Hope everyone else is enjoying their short week!

The theme for this week's Wine and Mask Wednesday is - fizzy! I'm thinking a "fizzy" wine and a "fizzy" mask for a fun night!

This pairing sounds like so much fun! 

March 2015 Beauty Box Comparison - Ipsy vs. Birchbox Canada vs. Beauty Box 5 vs. TopBox

Sorry this post is a little late! 

Here is the basic comparison between the March 2015 Inexpensive Beauty Boxes - Ipsy, Birchbox Canada, Beauty Box 5 and TopBox:

Most of March's boxes had a very good value - here is a closer look at what I liked and disliked about each bag:

Manicure Monday (Scratch Panda Nail Wraps) + Monthly Pedicure (Chevron Toes)

I love the first Monday of the month where I get to do my nails and toes! 

My Manicure Monday is all about Pandas!!! If you saw my last Five on Friday post, then you know I just got a bunch of adorable panda goodies!! Scratch panda nail wraps were in the pile of goodies and I could not wait to use them!!! 

Here are the products I used for this week's Manicure:

March 2015 Beauty Box 5 Review

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). 

Beauty Box 5 has been referred to as the"starter beauty box" - it does not send many high end products and the value tends to be lower than other boxes, but they have sent out really good products! 

*As of late, Beauty Box 5's boxes have been very up and down - they have had some great products; however, there have been very low box values and not so good products. I would suggest that you read reviews and see if it is products you like!*

Here is my March 2015 Beauty Box 5:

The theme for this month's box is "Hustle" - Forget taking a spring break - spring into high gear through your lazy days this season! Bold liner and lashes mean that even in your downtime, you still look like a million bucks. Getting ready doesn't have to add stress - just prep your skin and gloss on, because even if you're still working hard to get exactly where you want to be, you're always the boss of your makeup bag." 

Five on Friday - April 3, 2015

I'm linking up again for Five on Friday:

I am so happy that it is a long weekend!! I am looking forward to 4 days off of work! I also have some family coming in to town, so I am going to take a blogging break this weekend! (That means no Skincare Sunday post this week, and I will be back up and running on Monday!).

ONE 

Mmmm... soup of the week! This Broccoli Cheese Soup recipe is actually called "Copy Cat Panera Bread Broccoli Cheese Soup" (which actually means nothing to me because I have never had Panera Bread anything!) - but this soup is delicious! As is the biscuit (which is so easy to make) - called the "Best Damn Vegan Biscuits" (they are really easy to make non-vegan as well, just normal milk and butter!) 

Wine + Mask Wednesday (Rigamarole Rosé Wine + Deary Rose Idebenone Whitening Invisible Elastic Sheet Mask)

Time for another Wine and Mask Wednesday! This week's theme is going to be "Rose" - we will try a Rosé wine and a Rose sheet mask! 

I'm excited for this pairing!