GLOSSYBOX November 2012 - Refinery29's The Hit Kit

The November 2012 GLOSSYBOX is the Refinery29 - Limited Edition - The Hit Kit; monthly subscription: $21; www.glossybox.com.  The insert card reads, "The Refinery29 curated "Hit Kit has arrived!  This collection of elite skincare products, hand-picked by R29's Senior Beauty Editor Megan McIntyre, is stocked with her fabulous favorites.  Now you can get your hands on her must-have items in this ultimate "Hit Kit,"; including everything you need for radiant glowing skin.  Plus, it also includes a surprise product exclusive to GLOSSYBOX - the new OPI GoldenEye nail lacquer from the limited edition James Bond collection in honor of the new 007 Skyfall film."

The contents of my November shipment were as follows:

Lierac - Lierac Creme Mesolift Moisturizer - Sample size: 0.54 oz./15 ml; Full size: 1.8 oz/$54 - Rich and hydrating, this cream has a high concentration of AHAs, Vitamins B5, B6, A, C, and E, helping tone and energize your skin.  Use daily to bring an immediate boost of radiance and vibrance to your complexion.

MISSHA - M Perfect Cover BB Cream SPF 42 - No. 23 Natural Beige - Sample size: 20 ml; Full size: 50 ml/$29.99 - Hailing from Korea, this Blemish Balm, also known as BB Cream, is a multi-tasking powerhouse for the face.  This amazing cream provides light coverage, soothes, protects, and moisturizes.  Suitable for all skin types.

O.P.I. Nail Lacquer - GoldenEye - Full size: 15 ml/0.5 fl oz/$8 - Release your inner Bond Girl with one of twelve limited-edition lacquers celebrating 50 years of Bond 007.  Two to three coats are recommended.

PHYTO - Phytonectar Oil - Sample size: 10 ml/0.33 fl oz; Full size: 1.7 oz/$30 - A pre-shampoo hair nourishing treatment that penetrates each strand of hair - bringing damaged, dehydrated hair back to its original softness and shine.  After application, wash out before shampooing.

Rosebud - Mocha Rose Lip Balm with Vanilla - Full size: 0.5 fl oz/$6 - Mocha Rose Lip Balm is a blend of essential oils, shea butter, vitamin E and natural beeswax infused with mocha, chocolate, and vanilla coffee shop flavors.  Perfect for parched chapped lips.

vbeauté - Rub Off Gentle Facial Exfoliator -  Infused with rosemary and coconut, this gentle exfoliator uses super fine particles to remove dead skin, minimize pore size and help control shine.  The Alpine Rose Botanical Technology (ARBT) helps preserve, protect and reinforce the skin barrier to bring new life to the face.

GLOSSYBOX Mag - Winter Edition - A mini-magazine with brief articles on Trends, Talk, Who's Who in Beauty, What's New, Star Style, Editor's Picks, and International Beauty.

Overall rating:  Booyah!  This was a great box jam-packed with great items.  I am still working on the BB Cream from an earlier box but I love this smaller tube.  It's great for my gym bag.  The polish shade was very festive and timely with the new Bond movie racking up at the box office.

Have you tried GLOSSYBOX?  What do you think of this subscription service?

Tarte - The Miracle of Maracuja - Winter Collection

Earlier this year, Tarte and QVC followed up their Glow Your Way to Gorgeous sets with The Miracle of Maracuja.  The first set launched in March of this year; the second in July, and this is the third and last installment. For details on the first set, please click here.  For details on the second set, please click here.   I recently received the third and last installment of The Miracle of Maracuja Collection, an 8-piece set exclusive to QVC (www.qvc.com; Retail $59.96). 

• Beauty & the Box Amazonian Clay Eye Shadow Quad in Through the Grapevine (6.8 g) - Includes Valley, Rosé, Berry Blend, and Grape shadows in a lovely floral-patterned box.  Shadows apply very smoothly and have good color payoff and work nicely together.  This box offers more gold, berry shades while the first installment offered more pink, plum smokey shades and the second installment was more neutral.

• Cashmere Waterproof Gliding Liner (0.28 g) - In Black Bark - Similar to the SmolderEyes liners, this pencil has some staying power once you give it some time to set.  I wore it layered under the Grape shadow and I liked the effect.

• Airblush Maracuja Blush (5.3 g) - In Shimmering Pink - This is a lovely smooth blush with very nice pigmentation that is easy to blend!  I just love this formulation.  Again, I would have liked the ability to pop the pan out of the compact like their Amazonian Clay blushes but this purple, mirrored compact is sleek enough to throw in my purse.  Also, unlike the Amazonian Clay blushes, it's easy to tell which shade is which.  With these blushes, all are packaged in the same compact so I have to be sure I am selecting the correct shade when pulling it from my vanity and dropping it in my purse.

• Foundation Brush - This brush is not named in the pamphlet.  I presume it is a foundation brush as it is very similar to the MAC 190 foundation brush.  I have used it to apply my foundation but as the foundation did not come with this collection, I find it strange that it was included.  As for blush application, I love the Airbrush Finish Bamboo Blush Brush that came with the first Miracle of Maracuja set.

• Maracuja Divine Shine Lip Gloss (3.6 ml) - Pouty - A nice, rich, rosy pink shade, I just love the floral packaging.  It took a while for the product to "click up" through the bristles but I love the formula.  The mint-scented gloss includes maracuja oil for hydrating your pucker while glistening your lips with a nice gloss.

• Lights, Camera, Lashes! Mascara (7 ml) - Black - The same tube offered in the Glow Your Way to Gorgeous Sets.  Would love to try the Waterproof formula one of these days.  (Tarte!  hint!  hint! - Any chance you will include in one of your future collections?)

• Maracuja Creaseless Concealer (8 g) - Medium - The collection can be ordered with any one of 4 shades of concealers.  A little of this concealer goes a long way so don't fret the fact that not a lot of product comes out when you squeeze the tube.  Personally, I like that the product doesn't easily ooze out of the tube so there's no waste and I can build the coverage as I need to.

• Pure Maracuja Oil (50 ml) - This oil is absolutely awesome!  I have used it as my night-time moisturizer since I first received my first Glow Your Way to Gorgeous Set.  It has definitely improved the condition of my skin.  This versatile oil can be used on cuticles, hands, and face.  I have have been known to smooth a drop or two in my palms for a nice shiny, lustre to my hair.  I have also added a few drops to my body lotion whenever my skin needs a moisture boost as maracuja oil has vitamin C and essential fatty acids which promote radiant skin.  This same size retails for $46 on QVC.

As in previous sets, there is a "Get The Look" guide:

Unlike the first set, there were no sneak-peek bonus items but I am pleased with this set, nonetheless.

Overall rating:  Booyah!

This set is well worth the $59.96 price tag.  I am looking forward to the next collection that is set to launch on November 28, 2012.

Have you tried any of these items?  What are your thoughts?

POPSUGAR Must Have Box - November 2012

Thanksgiving has come and gone and we are gearing up for the holidays and entertaining.  In my house, Christmas and Hanukkah are observed.  I couldn't wait to tear into my POPSUGAR Must Have November Box to see what was the POPSUGAR team put together for the holidays.  POPSUGAR'S Must Have Box costs $35 plus tax (free shipping) and it includes a variety of must have products from the worlds of beauty, fashion, fitness, food, and home.

My November Box contained the following items:

Fashion - Gorjana Parker Bracelet - www.gorjana-griffin.com; $55 - This leather bracelet is perfect for this season as it is burgundy and is accented in gold. I love the trendy wrap-around look and it can easily be appropriate for work, a party, or casual outings.

Beauty - MOR Lip Macaron - French Vanilla - www.morcosmetics.com; 10g/.35oz/$10 - Who doesn't love lip balm, especially during the cold weather.  With the wind picking up here in the Northeast, I am just loving this lip balm!  MOR Lip Macarons are inspired by french pastries and this one is just yummy!  I can't wait to try other scents.

Home - Snow & Graham Thank You Notes - Dogwood - www.snowandgraham.com; Box of 6/$15 - Technology, in my humble opinion, has added more value to receiving a "snail mail" card.  Something about someone taking the time to write out a card, stamp it, and mail it, makes it invaluable. These are just lovely and I look forward to purchasing more of these babies as my stationery needs grow.  The selection from this Chicago-based store is wonderful!

Food - La Boîte Spice Mixes - Sweet & Savory Spice Collection - www.laboiteny.com; 3 .5 oz jars: Cancale, Yemen, Reims; 7.5 oz collection/$28.99 on ingredientfinder.com - I just love trying new recipes and I look forward to trying the recipes included in this month's Must Have Box and put these spices to use.  Chef Lior Lev Sercarz is a master spice mixer and his NYC store is just a wonder for those of us that appreciate the culinary arts.

Food - Stonewall Kitchen Cinnamon Sugar Doughnut Mix; 18 oz. - www.stonewallkitchen.com; $9.99 - I just love fresh doughnuts, but I have never tried to make my own.  This package yields 10-12 baked doughnuts, not fried ones.  Of course, this means I need to run out and get a doughnut pan, not just to make these but because Stonewall Kitchen offers a whole host of other types of doughnut mixes.  Nom, nom.

Fitness - Mandy Ingber's Yogalosophy DVD; $14.98; www.gaiam.com - Yoga Instructor Mandy Ingber is a yoga instructor to the stars and for those of us planning to incorporate yoga into our fitness routine, this is a wonderful introduction to the basics of Mandy's practice.

Special Extras:

Fashion - Stylemint Credit; Good for one tee; www.stylemint.com;  - Who doesn't love supersoft t-shirts?  There are tons to choose from on Stylemint thanks to Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen.  Can't wait to grab one of these babies!!!!

Home - CanvasPop - www.canvaspop.com; $30 gift certificate - CanvasPop converts any photo in a canvas print all with just the click of a mouse.  Trouble is, I can't figure out which photo I'd like to convert first.

Overall rating: Booyah!!!  If you have not yet tried POPSUGAR Must Have Boxes/Bags, you're truly missing out.  The value and selection of items are not to be believed!!!

If you're interested in trying POPSUGAR, please click here and enter the code REFERFRIENDS for $5 off your first order.  This code is only good for new subscribers and is valid until 2/28/2013.