Oxblood Lips & A Feline Flick

What I received:

Price: $12 cdn a month plus tax ($13.56). 

Value: The value was really good this much. Around $40 in value altogether.

Opinion: This month was much better than recent ones. The only item I won't be using is the fake tan since I don't tan and it was for people will medium to dark skin. I'm always happy to get a mascara samples even if I have enough to last me the next year or so. Brow products are also a favourite of mine so hopefully the colour works with my hair colour. The Fast dry top coat is already being put to good us.

*Every month TopBox sends out an e-mail where you can choose to receive a special themed box or a regular TopBox. It's not guaranteed that you'll get then specially curated box you chose as it's first come, first serve.

For Canadians: Topbox is still a good Canadian subscription to try. No extra hidden fees when it comes to shipping and exchange rates.

Grade: B+

You can subscribe to TopBox HERE .

What I received:

Price: $21 usd a month (plus $5 shipping to Canada)

Value: The value was around $75 this month with 3 of the products being full size. It's more than double what you pay even with the extra shipping and exchange rates.

Opinion: This was an okay month for me. The only products I'm certain I'll use are the eyeliner and the lip balm. I was lucky and received a white eyeliner which I prefer since most boxes send black (and you can only use so many). The lip balm feels very nice and is a handy item.

I'm curious about the honey peel and will give it a try. I will also try the water mask though as usual I'm always cautious about skincare brands that I'm not familiar with.

The anticelluite booster seems very gimmicky to me and I may pass it on to someone who has more interest in trying it out. I do like that it's a full size item.

For Canadians: The extra $5 definitely a pricier subscription option but the pay off seems to be way better than others. This is a much better option than Luxe Box/Loose Button which is a similar price and you get far less value and less appealing brands.

Grade: B

You can check out Glossybox HERE or go to glossybox.com.

Ipsy has no waitlist for the next 48 hours so if you've been wanting to try now might be the time. Go HERE to subscribe.

What I received:

Value: The value this month was over $80 USD which is fantastic. Since Canadians have to pay more shipping and factor in exchange rates I'm always much happier when bags are worth a bit more even if I don't like all the items. It makes you feel like you are getting a deal closer to the U.S Subscribers.

Opinion: I really liked this month's bag including the actual bag. I've been curious about trying out something from Nudestix so receiving a full size item to try out is well over the value of the bag with that one item alone.

I'm always happy to receive rollerball perfume samples because you actually get to try to scent for more than a day or two and they are great to toss in your purse. I also like receiving beauty tools especially brushes but I was actually about to buy new tweezers so getting some in this bag worked out great.

I'm never a big fan of getting skincare but I like Pur-lisse and they are an expensive brand so getting a decent size sample is great.

The only one I'm not super excited about is the HD powder because I personally find "cheaper" powders just don't work as well as something that costs a bit more but I'll give it a shot.

For Canadians: Ipsy is usually my first subscription to arrive each month so shipping has never been much of an issue with Ipsy. However, the extra shipping fees combined with the current exchange rate make Ipsy close to $18.50 cdn a month which doesn't always seem worth it.

Grade: A

You can subscribe to Ipsy HERE.

What I received:

Price: $21 usd a month (plus $5 shipping to Canada)

Value: The value was around $75 this month. Again, 3 of the products were sample sized but the two full size were valued at over $20.

Opinion: This box is one of my least favourite boxes we received so far but I can't say it's bad. I will get use out of 3 of the items and pass along the others.

I think the biggest disappointment is the nail polish. The colour is not one I care for but I know that they are randomized so other people may receive better colours. I also feel like receiving a mini nail polish in a $21 a month box is kind of cheap, especially a brand that is easy to find on sale.

I may or may not use both the aloe mask and moisturizing gel depending on how my skin reacts. They sound like they could be potentially promising especially the masque but I'll have to test it out.

The blush brush is handy since I don't have many and it seems pretty soft. The only downside is the short handle because it will be more difficult to store.

I was very happy to received a Too Faced mascara. They make great mascaras so it will definitely come in handy.

For Canadians: The extra $5 definitely a pricier subscription option but the pay off seems to be way better than others. This is a much better option than Luxe Box/Loose Button which is a similar price and you get far less value and less appealing brands.

Grade: B

You can check out Glossybox HERE or go to glossybox.com.

What I received:

Price: $12 cdn a month plus tax ($13.56). I also got the $10 mystery add on for this month.

Value: The value was good this month, about twice the amount I paid for the box. I usually hope for a bit more but I will use both these items.

Opinion: This month was okay for me. I don't recall actually checking off the Eyeko box on my  wishlist* but I can't remember for sure. Either way both items are useful for me.

I've received the makeup remover wipes before in a previous TopBox but they were nice and makeup wipes are always handy. I do think they're overpriced but they are still good quality.

I've been wanting to try Eyeko's mascara for quite awhile now so I'm looking forward to trying it.

*Every month TopBox sends out an e-mail where you can choose to receive a special themed box or a regular TopBox. It's not guaranteed that you'll get then specially curated box you chose as it's first come, first serve.

For Canadians: Topbox is still a good Canadian subscription to try. No extra hidden fees when it comes to shipping and exchange rates.

Grade: B+

You can subscribe to TopBox HERE .

What I received:

Value: The value this month was around $45 USD which is one of the better value bags I've received recently. Since Canadians have to pay more shipping and factor in exchange rates I'm always much happier when bags are worth a bit more even if I don't like all the items. It makes you feel like you are getting a deal closer to the U.S Subscribers.

Opinion: First of all I was very happy to receive both the Smashbox primer and It Cosmetics eyebrow pencil. They were the two items in previews I wanted the most. The Smashbox sample is a good size since you need so little it should last awhile. I'm always happy to get an eyebrow pencil, they are handy and the colour does look like it would flatter most people with light or medium coloured brows.

The Tre'stique shadow crayon seems surprisingly nice and will come in handy for days when you just want a wash of colour.

I do plan to pass along the Lavanila Body Butter because I don't have much use for it but it has a very nice, light vanilla scent. As well as the J.Cat lip stain since the colour doesn't work for me but for the most part I was happy with the items in my bag.

For Canadians: Ipsy is usually my first subscription to arrive each month so shipping has never been much of an issue with Ipsy. However, the extra shipping fees combined with the current exchange rate make Ipsy close to $18.50 cdn a month which doesn't always seem worth it.

Grade: B+

You can subscribe to Ipsy HERE.

 *I received these products complimentary from bzzagent for testing purposes.

Back again with a product review, this time I was given the Herbal Essences Wild Naturals Rejuvenating Collection. First of all about the products:

Via Herbal Essences "Having a fierce head of hair is good, but knowing what goes into your shampoo, conditioner and hair treatment is even better. Fortunately, with the NEW Herbal Essences Wild Naturals Rejuvenating Collection, you don’t have to choose between pure ingredients and powerful performance.

Mother Nature knows best — especially when it comes to hair care. That’s why this collection combines Turkish fig with the naturally restorative properties of Indian cassia to return dull, dry hair to its natural radiance. Here at the Central Hive, we love the 60% reduction in hair breakage and the 90% increase in protection from future damage, but we’re starting to feel a little weird about how often we’re sniffing each other’s hair now."

There are three products in the line that all work together (via Herbal Essences).

My Experience:

The first thing I should mention is that these products are not sulfate and silicon free which is something I now look for in haircare products. I was constantly dealing with an irritated scalp and since I switched to more natural shampoo and conditioner I have had much less trouble with irritation and healthier feeling hair.

The scent for all the products is similar is a very nice, it's described as "turkish figs paired with cassia flower". It does smell slightly chemical but it's much better than some scented products out there.

Unfortunately, I was only able to use the shampoo once because my scalp was already irritated after one use. My hair did feel pretty clean but there was a filmy feeling left after use. I decided to stop using it to avoid my scalp becoming too sore since it's been extra sensitive lately.

I had a bit more luck with the conditioner. I used it three times over a week and didn't seem to have any irritation issues. My hair did feel softer the days that I used it but it also left a filmy feeling and my hair had no body and it wouldn't hold any styling those days.

I decided not to try the oil elixir. I'm not a big fan of products like that in general and already had a sore scalp so I decided to go back to my regular routine.

These products didn't work for me but may work better for someone with thicker hair or who does not have colour treated hair.

You can find the products in Canada at your local Loblaws or Real Canadian Superstore. Suggested prices for the shampoos, conditioners, treatments and starter kits range from $5.99–$13.99.

Grade: D

What I received:

Price: $21 usd a month (plus $5 shipping to Canada)

Value: The value was around $70 this month. 3 of the products were sample sized but they were larger samples of more expensive items.

Opinion: This box definitely feels less fun compared to last month's. I always prefer something a bit different and enjoy special themed boxes. However most of the products will get some use from me.

I am constantly doing my nails and changing my polish so a top coat is always handy. This one from Teeez promises a high gloss finish which I love on a manicure so hopefully it delivers.

The Doucce lipstick looks very nice and is in a very wearable, trendy colour. I don't wear many nudes and this looks similar to the few that I do own so I may pass it on but I haven't decided yet.

I'm always happy to get deluxe size samples of Glam Glow products. I like there line but find it hard to justify the price so receiving one I can get a few uses out of is ideal.

The Clearista gel sounds promising and the reviews seem to say that it even works well with sensitive skin so I will be trying it. Unfortunately, even if I do like the $80 price tag is too much to make me actually purchase it.

The Sebastian hair spray will probably be passed along. Products like that just do nothing to hold my hair in place and I'd rather it go to someone who could get some use from it.

For Canadians: The extra $5 definitely a pricier subscription option but the pay off seems to be way better than others. This is a much better option than Luxe Box/Loose Button which is a similar price and you get far less value and less appealing brands.

Grade: B

You can check out Glossybox HERE or go to glossybox.com.

What I received:

Value: The value this month was around $30. Unfortunately it was hard to calculate the true value for some of the samples so this could be a bit off. On the other hand this month's bag was by far the nicest actual bag we've received and was made by From Breakups to Makeup whose bags sell at Sephora for $20+.

Opinion: This bag was weird for me because I like the bag just because of the bag it came in. I immediately put it in my purse as my new makeup bag. That may be making me bias because it's less exciting as I go through each item.

I will definitely be using the Urban Decay pencil. I'm a big fan of lip primers and am happy to try their version of it. However I'm not a gloss fan so have no urge to try the small samples. I'll pass them along but since they are awkward to use they may go un-used.

The BellaPierre eyeliner is fine. It's hard to get excited over a black pencil liner.They are always handy to have on hand but I'd like to receive a colour that's more fun in a bag one day.

I do like the Bronzer by Pixi but bronzer is a product I rarely use and this one is too orange for me anyways so I will pass it along.

The Peter Lamas cleanser and Caviar CC hair cream will both also be passed along. I have too many random cleansers to use and nothing about this one excites me. As for hair products I'm trying to use as few as possible as I've been having issues with my scalp.

For Canadians: Ipsy is usually my first subscription to arrive each month so shipping has never been much of an issue with Ipsy. However, the extra shipping fees combined with the current exchange rate make Ipsy close to $20 cdn a month which doesn't always seem worth it.

Grade: B

You can subscribe to Ipsy HERE.

Sorry for the late reviews but I was out of town. Anyways...

What I received:

Price: $12 cdn a month plus tax ($13.56). I also got the $10 mystery add on for this month.

Value: I didn't find the value very good this month. The 4 regular items add up to under $20 and so if you decide not to use 1 or 2 of the items you aren't getting your money's worth. Topbox is usually a bit better with the value so this may just be an off month. The $10 bonus items was nearly $30 so based on that it was a good deal (if you use the item).

Opinion: This month is a miss for me once again. It wasn't terrible and I will get some use out of the items but they don't feel like anything special or have very low value.

I'm most excited about the eyeshadow from Medusa's Makeup. I've been curious about the brand and like their more interesting colours.

I've never used any items from TheFaceShop but I appreciate one of the items being full sized. The foaming cleanser will be useful though I have a few cleansers I already like so I'm not sure this will beat them. The moisturizing pack will be passed along to a friend.

I am extremely picky about hairsprays because not many actually keep any hold in my hair. Even sprays that claim to hold all day tend to stop working quickly with my hair so a spray that is "reshapeable" doesn't sound like it will work well with my hair. I may try it around home and see if it works, if not I will pass it along.

Topbox will sometimes offer a "mystery bonus item" for $10. You don't know what you will receive but the value could be anywhere from 20 - 80% more than what you pay. I opted for it this month and received the MeMeMe moisturizing Facebase.

I was a pretty disappointed to receive a face product from a lesser known line since I have sensitive skin. It is supposed to work as a primer that moisturizes and evens out skin before applying makeup. The product itself has a very strong orangey scent which doesn't seem like a good idea for a face product but I will try it.

For Canadians: Topbox is still a good Canadian subscription to try. No extra hidden fees when it comes to shipping and exchange rates.

Grade: B-

You can subscribe to TopBox HERE .

 *I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes.

And now for something a little different... I was given the chance to try the new Fibrology product line by L'oreal. I have very fine, flat hair that requires a lot of backcombing just to get a bit of volume so I was definitely curious.

According to L'oreal "A new science for hair fibre is born. L’Oreal Paris Fibralogy haircare thickens hair wash after wash, and expands the diameter of the hair fibre for voluptuous-looking hair! Our breakthrough thickening haircare contains filloxane, an innovative molecule that penetrates the fibre and helps increase its diameter from within. Hair is thicker and feels fuller."

There are three products in the line that all work together (via L'oreal).

My Experience:

The first thing I should mention is that these products are not sulfate and silicon free which is something I now look for in haircare products. I was constantly dealing with an irritated scalp and since I switched to more natural shampoo and conditioner I have had much less trouble with irritation and healthier feeling hair. But I was curious about whether I could get thicker feeling hair so I tested these products for 4 days before I personally couldn't take it anymore.

The first day wasn't so bad. The shampoo smelled nice and my hair felt clean and conditioned after but it didn't feel or look any fuller. The second day was when my scalp started feeling itchy but I thought it may just be from switching shampoo. So I decided to keep trying it. By day four, my scalp was so irritated it began to hurt. I never noticed any change in the fullness of my hair and my hair started to feel like my hair was drying out even though I was conditioning it daily. It also felt weighed down and was more difficult to get any styling I did to hold.

I have a sensitive scalp and very fine hair so it could be that this product is just not something that work for me but most people with fine hair look for products that add volume so it seems odd to me to not cater the product to people with thinner hair and the problems they may have.

I can't say I recommend these products especially since buying all 3 items works out to around $25 (a bit less at some stores) when you can spend a bit more for salon products that have better ingredients.

Grade: F

What I received:

Price: $12 cdn a month plus tax ($13.56). I also got the $10 mystery add on for this month.

Value: The value is pretty good. You get about 3 and a half times what you pay worth of product and a chance to try items I wouldn’t usually put out money for without trying them IF you are interested in trying those items.

Opinion: This month is another miss for me but I don't really blame Topbox. I know that as we move into summer most boxes will send out more summery items. Glosses and lighter colours and sunscreen products will be popular right now but personally they don't appeal to me. I'm not a big gloss or pink fan at anytime of year so those kind of products go unused by me. I also personally have a hard time using products with SPF in them because it irritates my skin. Also after looking up the Neostrata I'm not sure it will work well with my sensitive skin.

I don't think this was a bad box this month it just wasn't a box that worked well for me. I'm sure friends and family will get some use out of the items I pass along.

For Canadians: Topbox is still a good Canadian subscription to try. No extra hidden fees when it comes to shipping and exchange rates.

Grade: B-

You can subscribe to TopBox HERE .

What I received:

Price: $21 usd a month (plus $5 shipping to Canada)

Value: The value was around $75 this month which is great especially since you receive 3 full sized products.

Opinion: This was probably the best Glossybox I've received. It was an overall gorgeous box. The special design of the box and the bonus make-up bag was fantastic. Even the make-up bag was good quality compared to the types of bags Ipsy sends out. I hope they do more specially designed boxes in the future because this one is gorgeous and very handy to store items.

I was really happy to receive an OCC lip tar even if it was a gloss and not a matte. The formula and pigmentation of OCC products is fantastic and I'm sure it will come in handy.

This is the second Julep liner I've received and have been impressed which how well then go on as well as their lasting power. I'm also glad it isn't a black liner which is what you usually receive in boxes.

The Aerin perfume is actually very nice. It comes in a glass bottle with a spray top and is much larger than a typical perfume sample. It should last awhile or be good to put in your bag to use throughout the day.

The Marrakesh split end mender and Estee Lauder serum are the two items I'm less excited about. I've used similar hair products before and never noticed a difference in my hair. Even though the serum is a nice, more expensive product I don't usually use or even need an item like that. I will probably pass these along to friends and family who might get more use out of them.

For Canadians: The extra $5 definitely a pricier subscription option but the pay off seems to be way better than others. This is a much better option than Luxe Box/Loose Button which is a similar price and you get far less value and less appealing brands.

Grade: A-

You can check out Glossybox HERE or go to glossybox.com.

What I received:

Price: $21 usd a month (plus $5 shipping to Canada)

Value: The value was around $75 this month which is great especially since you receive 3 full sized products.

Opinion: This was probably the best Glossybox I've received. It was an overall gorgeous box. The special design of the box and the bonus make-up bag was fantastic. Even the make-up bag was good quality compared to the types of bags Ipsy sends out. I hope they do more specially designed boxes in the future because this one is gorgeous and very handy to store items.

I was really happy to receive an OCC lip tar even if it was a gloss and not a matte. The formula and pigmentation of OCC products is fantastic and I'm sure it will come in handy.

This is the second Julep liner I've received and have been impressed which how well then go on as well as their lasting power. I'm also glad it isn't a black liner which is what you usually receive in boxes.

The Aerin perfume is actually very nice. It comes in a glass bottle with a spray top and is much larger than a typical perfume sample. It should last awhile or be good to put in your bag to use throughout the day.

The Marrakesh split end mender and Estee Lauder serum are the two items I'm less excited about. I've used similar hair products before and never noticed a difference in my hair. Even though the serum is a nice, more expensive product I don't usually use or even need an item like that. I will probably pass these along to friends and family who might get more use out of them.

For Canadians: The extra $5 definitely a pricier subscription option but the pay off seems to be way better than others. This is a much better option than Luxe Box/Loose Button which is a similar price and you get far less value and less appealing brands.

Grade: A-

You can check out Glossybox HERE or go to glossybox.com.

What I received:

Value: The value this month was around $30. There wasn’t many "high value" items in this bag but 3 were full size.

Opinion: This isn't my favourite bag not because of the type of items I received but the shades. I don't mind that the bags value was a bit lower than usual because I will get some use out of most of the items.

I'm already a huge fan of The Balm and have debated getting the Nude Dude palette on my own so getting to try it out is great. I always been a big fan of receiving brushes in subscription boxes/bags so I'm glad to get this one. I only own a few brushes from Crown but I have always been very happy with them. Lip balms are always handy and I like that it's an all natural product even though they aren't particularly exciting.

The lipstick seems nice though I'm not a fan of the colour personally. The same goes with the nail polish. I will pass them along to friends though the quality seems fine.

For Canadians: My bag arrived pretty quick again this month. Some boxes seem to come a bit late when they are sent from the states to Canada but other then December my bag arrives just a few days after it ships. The current exchange rate makes the bag seem like less and less of good deal though.

Grade: B+

You can subscribe to Ipsy HERE.

What I received: I got 3 nail polishes.

Price: The Welcome Box was free if you pay the $2.99 shipping. After that it is $24.99 a month. It can be as low as $19.99 a month if you pay for multiple months at once.

Value: The value v.s the suggested retail price is great. I don’t think I would pay $14.00 for an individual nail polish but they have so many deals on their online store that if you decided to purchase an individual colour you could easily get it for less. But the value of the box is well worth the $24.00 for 3 full size products. Even at the drugs store purchasing 3 items for that price is difficult.

Opinion: I'm a big fan of Julep. I really like their nail polish though I do find individual bottles overpriced at $14 each each. The make-up that I have tried has always been nice but my primary use for Julep is nail polish.

I don't get Julep on a monthly basis because I don't need that much nail polish but because you can skip I don't have to continually cancel and re-subscribe.

But, if you do have the money to spend and like nail polish (or nail art or trying their make-up and skin care) then you should try them them. The boxes are so customizable. Every months from the 20-24th you can go through dozens of options to build your box exactly how you like. Or you can take a chance and just wait to get your box based on the quiz you take when you join.

Julep is different in that it’s less of sample subscription service featuring various companies providing samples to get their name out there and more of a company who you’re buying full size items directly from each month. Everything is by Julep so as long as you are happy with the brand then you should be happy with what you receive.

You can also skip with Julep after your first paid month which is a feature I love and wish more services would have. Maybe you’re short money that month but know next month will be better? Most services you’d have to quit then re-subscribe and possibly be on a waiting list… again. Plus any points or bonuses you have earned may be lost .

I’m sure I’ll get Julep again in the next few months but I’m happy that I won’t have to pay this month just to stay subscribed and get polishes I don’t need.

For Canadians: Finally a service that doesn’t overcharge Canadians! Shipping is $2.99 for the first box for both the U.S and Canada and all other orders ship for free to Canada. The shipping has been great so far. I usually receive my box mid month and you are kept up to date with the status of your box via email.

Grade: A

You can check out Julep.com. Or use this referral link to get your first welcome box for free (they will e-mail you a code).

This box arrived extremely late due to another weather issue at their warehouse. Hopefully the April box arrives on time.

What I received:

Price: $21 usd a month (plus $5 shipping to Canada)

Value: This month's value was really okay. The value of the Orogold moisturizer was very high even for a sample but the value of two other products that were under $10 which is rare for Glossybox. The great thing about Glossybox is that even their sample sizes are generous and other than my first box the majority of the products I've received from GlossyBox in general, have been full sized.

Opinion: This is not my favourite Glossybox unfortunately. Right of the bat there are two items that have a low value which is rare for them. Usually the items are a little pricier and are products you may not want to pay for without trying first.

I personally never like getting body lotion or body butters. I have sensitive skin and most lotions irritate my skin. I don't mind getting them every so often because I can pass them along to friends or family so hopefully they can make use of it.

The Rich shampoo sounds good but after reading about it, it is not sulfate free. I have started to avoid products that contain sulfates and parabens especially for hair and have noticed a difference so I won't be trying this. I will pass it along as well.

I did a double take when I read the price of the Orogold moisturizer. It retails for $178 for 1.7 oz!!! It claims to contain actual 24 carat gold which explains the high price. I've not read much about this product or how well it works for sensitive skin but I have to admit that I like the idea of rubbing gold on my face.

I'm excited to try the Model Co More Brow which appears to be a dupe for Benefit's Gimme Brow which I am a big fan of even though I don't like the price which is close to $30 in Canada. Hopefully this product is a good dupe.

The last item is a So Susan concealer palette which I'm on the fence about. It could be very handy but it will also depend on the quality of the product. I have received So Susan products in boxes before and have never been too impressed but maybe this one will work out better for me.

This definitely is not my favourite Glossybox and none of the products were very exciting to me when I found out what was in it but there are a few potentially useful products. Can't win them all.

For Canadians: The extra $5 definitely a pricier subscription option but the pay off seems to be way better than others. This is a much better option than Luxe Box/Loose Button which is a similar price and you get far less value and less appealing brands.

Grade: B

You can check out Glossybox HERE or go to glossybox.com. The code "OPRAH" may work to get 20% off an annual subscription.

What I received:

Price: $12 cdn a month plus tax ($13.56).

Value: The value is pretty good. You get about 3 times what you pay worth of product and a chance to try items I wouldn't usually put out money for without trying them IF you are interested in trying those items.

Opinion: This is my third disappointing TopBox in a row. I am personally really tired of receiving Elizabeth Arden samples and so many skincare samples in general. It's getting very repetitive even if the samples are from good brands. I've tried to get the Benefit Prive* box twice but haven't had any luck in receiving one. I still think TopBox is worth it and is the most affordable beauty subscription available to Canadians.

I do wish they were set up more like Ipsy, GlossyBox or Birchbox and offered points to put towards items or future boxes.

*I will say one cool thing Top Box does is let you make a "wishlist". Each month you get an e-mail listing what "Prive" boxes are being sent out. You select the ones you'd like to potentially receive or choose to receive a regular box if none appeal to you. "Prive" boxes usually contain 1-2 full size items from a specific brand. You won't know whether you get one until you open your box but if one catches your eye it's worth a shot.

For Canadians: Topbox is still a good Canadian subscription to try. No extra hidden fees when it comes to shipping and exchange rates.

Grade: B-