Happy Monday! It's the start of a new week, and the start of my holidays, so let's make this post short & quick! This week I have something completely different to share with you - one of which I'm sure many of us ladies are familiar with: the hair straightener.

Two months ago, Misikko contacted me and offered to send me one of their best flat irons to try out and review. Misikko carries a wide range of salon grade flat irons and hair dryers, and I'm actually amazed with the fact that there are so many different ones available out there!

The one that I received is the Hana Professional 1" Ceramic Flat Iron with Tourmaline. The tourmaline component is incorporated into the ceramic plates that should hold up and never peel or split with use. Tourmaline itself is a mineral, and when used in the plates it generates a negative ion boost to give hair shine by neutralizing the positive ions in our hair to give healthy, smooth results. The flat iron promises to provide maximum frizz-free shine, and has "floating plates" so that it can glide over any amount of hair of any texture to straighten it. With the ability to flash heat between 140-450 degrees Fahrenheit, it seems to promise quite a bit.

After 2 months of testing out the Hana Pro flat iron, I have to say I quite enjoy it. Once the iron is turned on, it heats up almost instantly to the temperature I need. The plates guide very smoothly against my hair, without feeling like its pulling or gripping tightly onto my hair strands. It straightens my hair faster than any other iron I've purchased in the past, and the results are long lasting. My hair just feels so straight and smooth after use, and I would definitely recommend this iron!

Now this iron can be used with wet or dry hair, and it works equally as well for curling hair. I actually love using this for curling as it gets the job done so fast! This particular flat iron retails for $205, but is currently on sale at Misikko for $130! So take a look if you're interested - all flat irons from Hana come with a silicone heat proof mat and a heat resistant storage bag for safety and portability.

*Disclaimer: this post contains a sample provided by PR for consideration of a review

As Target is set to open soon across Canada, I figured it was about time I threw this review up for you guys! Pixi is a makeup brand carried exclusively at target, created by the makeup artist Petra Strand, and it's likely that it will now be available in Canada.

I picked up the Flawless Beauty Powder in No.3 (warm) on my last trip to the US and just had the chance to use it for the past month. This particular powder actually claims to do a lot: even out skintone, keep skin shine-free for hours, and provide UV protection to enhance and protect the skin. After application, skin should look youthful and hydrated - there's lots of promises there!

But lets talk about the packaging. The product is housed inside a sturdy plastic case, with a mirror and a pull out drawer containing a makeup sponge for application. The drawer itself is a little difficult to open, but after a few tries it will loosen and makes getting to the sponge easier. It's small and compact, making it quite easy to travel with or keep in a makeup bag.

I purchased the powder in Warm, which is the darkest in the series of shades they offer. I myself am a MAC NC30, and seeing that the darkest shade works with my skintone, this product is only suitable for people with lighter skintones. The powder is silky to the touch and applies matte, lasting about 4-5 hours before I see any shine on my skin. The powder has a medium coverage, so if you're looking for full coverage powders, this one unfortunately isn't for you.

While I have continued to use this product, I definitely wouldn't be repurchasing it - mostly due to the price for functionality. It's medium coverage and doesn't control my shine for a full day (6-8 hours is what I typically look for), and there's no indication of the type of UV coverage and strength. I do enjoy the matte finish, but unfortunately it doesn't live up to full expectations for me - I'm very busy throughout the day and don't have time for touchups, so I need to rely on something heavy duty to keep me looking presentable all day long.

Have any of you tried this product or others from the Pixi line? I'm looking forward to checking out more products once the line becomes available at Target in Canada!

IT'S MONDAY! And today we're doing something different.. Makeup Monday! Because I am really excited about this product and have lots of makeup reviews to go through, so nails will have to wait til next week :)

The Revlon Colorstay Whipped Creme Makeup has been available in the US for quite some time now, and I had picked it up when I made my trip down to Seattle back in August. I believe it is slowly making its way onto shelves right now in Canada, so what better a time for this review?

I'm not usually a foundation person.. as I wear BB Cream or even forego the makeup and just use concealer on a daily basis, because I don't like to have too much product on my face. That being said, I was curious about this product as there were so many rave reviews about it - and this one definitely has been living up to my expectations

First off, I'd have to say the packaging is very sturdy - heavier than what I think it needs to be, as it can probably serve as a paperweight with all the product inside. I wish it was a little more economically friendly, but the packaging is simple and clean, making it feel like a luxe product. When you open up the jar, there is an extra plastic piece to keep the contents clean, but it can be a little bit annoying to have to remove everytime. I would really prefer a pump dispenser for my products, as having to dip something into the jar for every application is not very hygienic.

Packaging aside, I've been wearing this foundation product on and off for the past month (about 3x per week) just to test it out through the different temperatures and different day to day activities, and I'm really loving it. I picked up Nude 220 as my shade, and it's perfect for me right now. My skin is slowly losing it's tan and I'm getting pale - for reference I'm usually an NC35 in the summer and NC30 in the winter.. so this shade is leaning more towards NC30. My favourite thing about this product is the mousse consistency - it feels very smooth and silky upon application on the skin, spreads flawlessly and sets with a matte finish. I use my fingertips for application, and have no issues at all - a brush would likely work just as well, but I like to warm up the product with my fingertips.

Although it is marketed to last 24 hours - I never would wear any product on my face for that duration of time. The longest I've gone is 14 hours with this foundation, and it still looks great after that amount of time, with minimal shininess - the oil control is fantastic. The application allows the product to sink into the skin, and is quite moisturizing for my face, and looks more natural after it sets. This product is medium coverage, but definitely buildable to give a completely flawless canvas on your face! It is so light once applied on skin and I can't even feel it there.

The whipped makeup is definitely best for normal or combination skin, as it will accentuate any patches of dry skin on the face. It definitely wouldn't be moisturizing enough for dry skin, unless you apply moisturizer beneath it first. This is almost the perfect product - the only thing missing is SPF protection, but I'm thinking that would likely change the light mousse consistency of the product. Luckily, I wear sunscreen under all my makeup.

I purchased this product at Target in the US for $11 - it will likely be a little bit more expensive here in Canada at any drugsstore. Have you tried this product out? Let me know what you think!

After falling head over heels obsessed with the Revlon Lip Butters, I picked up the new Maybelline Baby Lips SPF 20 Lip Moisturizing Balm just to see how they compared.

I forgot about it for a little while, then opened up the package one day just to test it out.. and at first I wasn't really impressed. I had purchased the shade Cherry Me as it seemed like the only colour I would even attempt (what is with the pastel pink and purple shades??). The packaging just looked too juvenile with the bubble letters, and I really am not a fan of the orange tube. I guess you could say the packaging was a little too loud for my taste, but it's the product that counts and I gave it a shot.


Upon application, Cherry Me tasted like Cherry which doesn't taste too bad. The colour payoff was nice, and not too bold and felt both silky and relatively moisturizing. I was expecting a deep red colour payoff from the balm, but it turned out to have more pink in it, making it easier to wear on lips. This product promises 8 hour hydration for visibly renewed lips in 4 weeks.. but I use a ton of different products and really just can't comment on the changes after 4 weeks as I would never solely use this product.


First application was at 11:45 AM, and by the time 1:30 PM rolled around, my lips started to feel a little dry, but it was manageable. When 3:30 PM struck, I couldn't stand it and needed another application. All in all, one application definitely did not satisfy me for 8 hours. At that point, I decided I didn't like the product and didn't touch it again.


But here I am, months later, and I use it ALL. THE. TIME. What? I actually use this product fairly often now, as I like the sheer layer of colour and shine it gives to my lips. While it does require more applications than promised, it does keep my lips hydrated and soft throughout the day. The product is quite inexpensive (retails for about $5), but as it is a drugstore product, you can probably find it on sale for around $3 once in a while (which is the price I picked it up at).


In comparison to the Revlon Lip Butters, I find there really is no real comparison that can be done. Not because one product is much better than the other, but because they are so different from one another. The Baby Lips balm is sheer and gives colour, but a thinner product when applied. The lip butters apply much thicker, and give more colour payoff true to the shade of the product in the tube. For me, they are more like lipsticks with amped up hydration. So there you have it. We all know how different lipsticks are from lip balms.. so you can make the choice as to which you would prefer! However, I must note that I love that Maybelline included that SPF factor :).

My apologies for this super late review! Due to midterms, and the delay in shipment of January boxes, I finally have put together this post for you.

After receiving my first Glymm box back in December, I was interested in checking out other companies within Canada that offer the same type of cosmetic and skincare sampling services. Aside from Glymm (First box review here), Loose Button offers their Luxe Box program to Canadians, offering 4-5 deluxe samples each month for the price of $12, compared to the $10 subscription fee to Glymm. For the month of January, Loose Button was kind enough to send me the box for review.

What should be noted, however, is that Loose Button did have a set back in the shipping of boxes for the month of January, due to a delay in shipment from one of their partner brands. As a result, their shipment was delayed, so they sent an extra goodie box this month as an apology, in addition to upgrading to expedited shipping free of charge.

Now, let's get on with the review!

PACKAGING



As per usual, the Glymm box arrived in its sturdy pink box with a removable lid. The items on the interior were wrapped nicely with a ribbon, and cards describing the contents of the box. All the items inside arrived safely, sitting snug atop of shopping confetti.





The package sent out by Loose Button was a pleasant surprise to open! The box was personalized with my name printed on a card, and all items were wrapped with tissue, secured with a personalized sticker. The box also came with cards describing the products and where to purchase them. The opening of the box was lackluster for me when compared with the elegant ribbon packaging of the Glymm box, but the personalization was definitely a nice touch! All the items also arrived safely, sitting atop packaging confetti. What's different about the box though, is that it is a pull out style versus the removable top of the Glymm box. After you use up the samples inside, both boxes are great to her around the house to store things!



PRODUCTS



For this month, the products in the Glymm box were: Kaia Bamboo Facial Cleansing Cloths, Anastasia Brow Gel, a Cargo Eye Pencil, Burt's Bees lotion, and Vasanti BrightenUp! Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator. Of the products, one was full size (Eye Pencil), which has a normal value of $16, making this month's box worth the $10 subscription price.



In the Luxe Box, I was sent: a sample of Seattle's Best Coffee, Moroccan Oil, Benefit Moisture Prep, Donna Karan Cashmere Mist Body Cleansing Lotion, and Purminerals Powder. For $12, I would say the samples this month were quite worthwhile, as I can see myself using them often. There's nothing that bothers me more, than receiving tons of perfume samples that I know I will never use!

In the extra box was a sample of the new Schick Hydro Silk Razor & Fekkai Advanced shampoo & conditioner. Yes, definitely worth the $12.

SHIPPING

For as long as I've been subscribed to the Glymm box service, each box has been sent out via Canada Post expedited shipping. I usually receive my box within 2-3 days from Quebec, which is within the delivery standards. I am currently unsure of the shipping method utilized by Loose Button, but I'm assuming it is not expedited, as they automatically upgraded shipping for all boxes this month since they were behind schedule. Either way, shipping for each service is "free" and included within the quoted subscription price.

PRODUCT AVAILABILITY

For Glymm, each month they try their best to send out the same products to each and every customer, so as to maintain constancy in all their boxes. Loose Button, on the other hand, tends to send out different products to each individual, catering to their beauty profile created when signing up for their services. Thus far, I have not received any repeat products, but I have read that some Loose Button subscribers have received the same samples more than once. Personally, I would want to receive different products each month, so as to have the chance to try out a variety of brands. But when you think about it, each company can only collaborate with so many brands, and convince those brands to bring about different products for their customers to sample. It may be quite difficult to secure different products every month, and not have something repeated once within a year.

All the products sent out in Glymm boxes are available for purchase on their website - an easy one stop shop for all your needs. In comparison, Loose Button does not currently have an online store, but each box sent out contains the information about where to get the full size versions of the samples if you so desire!

PRICING & REWARDS

As stated above, Glymm boxes are $10/month, while Luxe Boxes are $12/month. Both are very affordable options, and each subscription is renewed automatically until you request to cancel. Members of each service can also be rewarded! Glymm features a points system, in which points collected can be used towards the purchase of products. Points can be earned through product purchases, referrals, product reviews and subscriptions. The program at Loose Button is a little different, where the referral of three friends gets you a free box.

CUSTOMER SERVICE

From experience, I can say that that customer experience at both companies is excellent. Their representatives work hard to reply to each email, and answer any concerns that customers may have. Each company can be found via email, or through Facebook and Twitter, giving customers access to representatives through a variety of methods.

OVERALL

All in all, I would have to say that both companies are excellent choices for sampling different products in the makeup and skincare field. However, in order to choose and stick with one subscription service, you should definitely take into account the aspect of personalization. For me, I find that the $2 price difference can be accounted for in the way that Loose Button caters to their clients. It takes a significant amount of manpower to personalize each box (lots of printing and organization of the cards & stickers!), and put together products that target the needs expressed in the beauty profile.

If you like to purchase items and be rewarded for doing so (like me, being a hoarder of points!), I would recommend Glymm. They try to provide a wide range of products to test out each month, for anyone looking to just try something different. Loose Button, on the other hand, would be a better option for anyone looking for products to target a specific concern. But of course, it would be good to check out their featured brands ahead of time, to see if they even interest you at all.

TO JOIN

Both services are easy to join! Here's my personal invite link to Glymm. For Loose Button, they currently are sold out of subscriptions, so you can sign up for the waitlist here.

Are any of you subscribed to these services right now? Let me know!

*this post contains a sample provided by PR for consideration of a review

PS - if you haven't done so yet, enter my appreciation giveaway!