Pink and Undecided: sleek

Unboxing : 2nd Customized Vanity Trove

Heyllow world!!!

And hellow weekend! How's yours so far? Mine's pretty fun! Will blog about it soon, but in the meantime...

Yes, i did it again, another Beauty Box for me-i guess my infatuation with them has really come back on zzz. And yes, i did say i wasn't really about to subscribe to Vanity Trove again after that last disaster except if they have really good stuffs to offer... Guess what? That GOOD stuffs appeared faster than i expected *sigh*. Yep, just about a month later *sigh*. I wasn't even spying on their website or whatever, i just saw Phanie posted a photo of her newest customized box full of deluxe Avene samples and i just got super curious. And when i saw what they had to offer, well... I automatically clicked them FTL into my shopping cart *double sigh*. Here's a peek into the goodies that i couldn't passed on :

I guess that first glance doesn't seem very appealing if you're a pastel and bright color, super cute packaging fan like me-but read on why i think this is probably my favorite Vanity Trove to date!

This is a first! VT came with a brown paper bag outer

I should tell you that i love their brown paper bag's design, looks very exclusive and luxe! I love the square sticker they used to seal the bag with, i actually just realized that i snapped the back of the paper bag instead of the front after i tore into it hehe

Here it is again, the pretty sticker! LOL. I like how carefully they wrapped their box now, complete with the bubble wrap and all! I guess they're really learning from past mistakes, kudos for them!

They also came up with a new, more luxurious designed box! I was getting bored of their old white and hot pink box anyway, but even if i didn't-i'd still like this new super luxe box better!

And yes, the box' still the pull out drawer type. I admit my heart skipped a beat (not in a good way) when i see the wrapping paper all crumpled up like that. Can't blame me for being worried!

Thankfully everything was in a perfect condition!

Luxola voucher worth IDR 100.000 (with minimum purchase of IDR 400.000) and Ishine booklet

I'm not gonna use that Luxola voucher, i told you before that i won't shop there unless i get the same deal as the last one that expired before i even used them (IDR 200.000 off with minimum purchase of IDR 400.000). Since i do not (and probably never would) NEED anything from them just yet, i guess i can wait!

And for the Ishine (i can't really find too much information about them yet, i think it's a local brand? They are sold exclusively in C&F Perfumery) booklet, i thought it was just a regular booklet at first but turned out it was full of vouchers for many of Ishine's products! The deals are so tempting (Buy 1 Get 1 for lipsticks, IDR 75.000 off for powder foundie, IDR 50.000 off for blush on and eye shadow and 20% off for eye liner and eye brow pencils) i probably would pick up a few things in C&F >.< (stocking up for gifts, i swear!).

Now, the Ishine products itself were actually the sole reason why i freaked and ordered right away, i mean... a full size eye shadow and lipstick in one box? I'm SOLD!

Picked three full sized make up!

Ishine Moisturizing Lipstick (Full size 4.2g)

I find the little heart on the box super cute *dork* hehe

I kinda love their sleek packaging as well! The only complain would the super hard to open box, i totally tore the flap trying to open it :p

Ishine Moisturizing Lipstick in 07 Brun Cinnamon

It was a little hard to photograph because the bullet's quite shiny. It's creamy browniesh pink in real life (quite gorgeous but nothing spectacular for me, i don't think i have this kind of color much in my collection so it's all good. Oh, and it smells really good!)

Ishine Eye Shadow (Full size 6g)

Again, attracted to the little hearts on the box hehe

Ishine Eyeshadow in Smokey Diamond

It's darker in real life and the white one's actually a shimmery silver. Not exactly the kind of color i'd pick for myself, but i'll use it (i love the silver, would def use it a lot)

You should know by now if i like something i'd take a lot of (detailed) pictures of them, and very little one for the contrary, i think i haven't took so much pictures of products inside a beauty box in quite a while!

I know i also said that i already have two full size Sleek Makeup Eye Dust Eyeshadow Pot from previous beauty boxes and was afraid of getting the same color, but i dunno... Choosing between this and sample sized skin cares... It obviously won! hehe

Sleek Makeup Eye Dust Eyeshadow Pot in 679 Vintage

I am quite lucky that i got all different colors, three times! This one's gotta be my favorite so far! Golden, shimmery eyeshadow? Must have!

Then i chose all Avene samples for the rest of the items. Always heard great things about this brand, but i never tried them because i never had a reason to (i didn't really experiment with my skin care before i started subscribing to beauty boxes, i stuck to my dermatologist's creams but i always meant to mix them with non-prescribed products so my skin won't get used or addicted to the doctor's creams. Now i can try different brands and see what works for my skin since i receive a lot of different skin care brands from beauty boxes) so i was quite happy to see them on the list of products i could sampled for my VT.

Other brands featured were Lioele (sachets. Errrghhh) and Clarins (got too much of them in my stash by now), also Issey Miyake Pleats Please EDP sample. Always one who seek for something that's the best value for money, i chose the biggest sized one *LOL*.

Avene products

Avene Skin Recovery Cream (5ml)

Avene Cleanance Gel Soapless Cleanser (25ml), it's a travel size and would be perfect for my travels!

Avene Extremely Gentle Cleanser For Intolerant Skin (25ml)-idem! Plus anything with the words "extremely gentle" on them are always good for me because they would be kind to my skin!

VT also featured Swanky Society's accessories again in their box, wonder if it's like a permanent thing for now?

Personally i like the accessories they featured in this box a lot more than the previous one, it's more suitable for my taste

I love large cuffs and am fascinated with animal prints/patterns so this huge-ass snakeskin cuff's right up my alley. I know some people (like my sis or even #Undecided *LOL*) might tell me i look like Wonder Woman or something, but i love it! It'd cool with some rock insipired outfit or something more androgynous

Love these unique orange tribal earrings as well! So striking!

As you probably can tell by now, i am in love with this box! Everything seems to please me, from the packaging, the new designed box, the products (well, i did chose them all myself so i should be satisfied or i don't have anyone else to blame but myself) to the extra accessories! Hands down my fave beauty box this month! I hope VT would feature awesome products (make ups!!! Love it! And nail polish pleaseee!!!) and brands (i really love how they featured Avene this time! Wonderful brand with wonderful resume!) like these for their next lists as well and i guarantee i cannot say no to them!

Are you interested in trying out VT's customized trove as well? Do you think this box was worth (or even exceed) the price i paid (IDR 180.000) for it? Let me know what you think on the comment box below!

Airport Outfit for my recent Bali trip, i am preparing a blogpost dedicated for my OOTDs during the trip :D

#Pink

11:44:00 PM
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Unboxing : September Beauty Treats Little Black Box

bath and body cares

Heylooowww everybody!

I just told my friends that i'm having a stressful September *sigh*... it's stressful already, then i probably got a "turning-30-blues" syndrome, if there is such a thing hahaha. But i reminded myself that i don't actually have all that much problems, the ones that i do have are minor and nothing compared to what lots of other people face daily, so yeah... I'm dusting myself off *yes, i figuratively had been sulking on the dusty floor, feeling sorry for myself for a few days* and moving on! (if you're a busybody like me and wondered why i was so stressed out, worry not-it's really not that serious, it's really superficial and it resulted in a wordy blog entry that i will publish not very long from now hahaha)

Anyway! I saw Shasha twitpic-ing her September BTI and i was like, OMG where's mine??? And then LL also BBM-ed me telling me that her errr...weird sis in law again send her BTI box (es) to her because she didn't want them (why bother signing up then???), and the lucky B actually got two boxes even though the sis in law only subscribed to one!!! Wow. Logistic problem? Well, that's not LL's problem, that's just her luck! Lucky lucky her! I remember some other member received a double package as well in the past (dunno what beauty box service though), now i'm wondering if that kind of fortune would ever befall me? LOL. Unlikely.

So, i was very anxiously waiting for my own BTI, and first thing i did in the morning was BBM-ing my employee asking if my BTI had arrived in the office and she said, YES! YAYYY!!! Here's a peek into the very first (yes, another new concept) Little Black Box :

I did had a peek into others' BTI the night before, and i must admit i was really concerned because... looked kinda bare, wasn't it? LOL. Read on to know if i am disappointed by this box (no, i'm not haha)!

That's the little booklet containing the list of products featured in this little black box

When i took out the little black box i was pretty shocked at how light the box was! It was the lightest beauty box i've ever received so far hahaha...

Underneath the box, i found Optik Seis' catalog and a free Cita Cinta magazine

I do not read magazine anymore *i got over that stage when i was much younger, i hoarded magazine like crazy since i was very little up until a few years ago, now i don't read magazine more than ever since i prefer to read blogs and added almost a hundred blogs on my reading list!* and this magazine was some... July issues? LOL. I'll take a look *maybe next year LOL* when i feel like it and re-use it for... wrapping my feminine napkins? HAHAHAHA sorry sorry*.

Anyway, my eyes popped out when i scanned through the list of product *hint, the Optik Seis' flyer*, read on to know why!

First thing that popped into my head : wah, why the obsession with purple this month? (because this month's Lola Box also came with purple nuance)

I was like "Oh, they've done this box before", and one beauty blogger pointed out that it was reminiscence of their first box ever. I guess they're going to stick to this kind of box from now on, judging from what they are calling their beauty box now? Good, i can start using it to wrap gifts for other people *i feel obliged to hoard at least one box in every design...*

Funny thing : The ribbon wasn't actually tied around the wrapping paper (like how it's normally done) but it's just glued to the sides of the box! So when i pulled it, it just broke off from the box LOLOLOL WTF

First glance

First glance : after being re-arranged hahaha

So, here's the first my favorite item in this box :

This piece of paper

No laaaa, it's actually a voucher to exchange with a pair of FresKon Mosaic contact lenses! I know it might be inconvenient for some (especially if you live in a smaller cities with no Optik Seis branch nearby, i hope nobody's that unlucky since this IS the best item in this box IMO) since you have to bring the voucher to any Optik Seis branch, but for me... Well, Optik Seis branches are everywhere in Surabaya, we always go to GM (almost) every weekend, plus if they actually featured the contact lenses physically in this box it'd be horrible for people with myopia like me! We need specific prescription ones right-so i think it's a great move, putting the voucher in so we can get them ourselves and choose the right size and even the color!

I will be exchanging the voucher tomorrow (today, as when i am posting this entry) and will let you know if there's any problem (i always worry about this kind of things when i have to get the stuffs using vouchers. I am often faced with non-cooperative BAs. I was worried if they might go "Oh, you can't get the one with prescription". So i anticipated by tweeting Optik Seis beforehand and asked right out, they replied immediately with "No problem at all" so i have the proof if the BA's pulling some sh** when i exchange them) with the exchange or whatever.

The contact lenses are said to be priced IDR 185.000, which is whoppingly more expensive than how much the box itself actually costs (IDR 125.000 for a month subscription, i paid a lot less because i subscribed for 6 months for their no longer exist Gold box that was around IDR 110.000?) and immediately made this box totally worth it (NOT worthed please, there's no such word as worthed, trust me)! And as an avid contact lens user (i am practically blind without my contacts/glasses), this is a fantastic product to be found in a beauty box!

But yeah, the rest of the stuffs were pretty meh for me... See the other stuffs below and you'll know why the box was as light as feathers haha.

Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum (3ml) and Essential Firming Cream (3ml) both came in sachets

I HATE SACHET SAMPLES!!!! Okay, now that i got that out of the way. I've always wanted to try Sulwhasoo, which is one of the high end brands in Korea, BUT HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO KNOW IF IT WORKS OR NOT WITH ONE TIME USAGE???? Okay okay, calming down now. No, i really do want to try out Sulwhasoo, so much that i am contemplating on getting the travel size kit available on online shops. But i do still have plenty of skin care samples from beauty boxes to finish out *currently using Clarins', review will be available sometime in the future*, so maybe later. Still not very happy with this sad looking sachet samples. Gimmie at least five each and i'd say it's almost okay. This is not okay.

Koji Konjac Sponge

My second favorite item in this box! We've (hunny and i) began using konjac sponge (without added facial cleansers) since July (we tried out the brand Nicole's Natural we found in Bandung. Too bad he tore off the package and all before i took pictures so i didn't feel like reviewing it hahaha), and we're both super hooked ever since. I LOVE using konjac sponge on my face, so much i almost didn't want to stop rubbing it on my face every time. But since i still have a lot of facial cleansers and since hunny's skin's been loving Nicole's Natural's konjac sponge so much (it softens and made his skin less dry and more supple!)-i stopped using it and let him use it (so it'll last longer since Nicole's Natural's isn't available in Surabaya or Jakarta and we very rarely go to Bandung) by himself.

Then when we went to Taiwan we hunted down for more konjac sponges (and took home three, yes you know the drill, they'll appear in my Taiwan haul post!), now that i think about it-all three seems to be the same brand as this one haha. But still, this is a very welcome addition to our stash! Konjac sponges lives seems to not go past three months so, it's great to have back ups! (it stated to priced IDR 39.900-49.900, i think it was cheaper in Taiwan).

Crabtree & Evelyn samples

Crabtree & Evelyn is another brand that i'd love to try out, they seems to be very nice as well (and prestigious), but... again... the sample size it definitely not DELUXE (even though until now i also dunno what deluxe means, but i'm hoping it's something like at least travel size stuffs) in any way pfffftttt. It's just so so so... tiny.

(PS : I found this definition of deluxe sample in Ipsy website : In general, a "deluxe-sized" sample is one that delivers multiple uses of the same high-quality product. I wasn't wrong then!)

Crabtree & Evelyn Wisteria Body Lotion (5ml)

Yep, it'll be finished in one application. One application will never be enough to prompt me to buy the full sized product, no matter how nice it is on the first touch. Period. I think companies really should re-think of their purposes to join forces with beauty boxes, i believe they do so that customers can get familiarized with their products and hopefully, will be interested in getting a full sized one. This i don't think will ever be achieved with sachet samples..

Crabtree & Evelyn Rosewater Eau de Toilette (0.5 ml)

Yes, 0.5 ml. Probably less than half the usual vial samples. You know i love perfumes and i always enjoy getting perfume samples, but 0.5 is quite.... pointless. LOL. The normal vial samples, i always finish within two usage (yes, i like to douse myself in fragrances, i hate not being able to always smell it on myself. If i can't smell it, other people definitely not going to either), and this... i hope this will be at least enough to use once.

I love getting Crabtree & Evelyn stuffs in my beauty boxes, i just hope they'd be a little bit more generous.

Last item :

Sleek Kohl Pencil Eyeliner in #127 Glitter Dark Blue

I love love love getting make up stuffs in my beauty boxes, but i've been receiving way too many eyeliners lately! I mean... When it comes to more color decorative make up stuffs (eyeshadow, blush on, lippie) at least they come in lots of varieties, but pencil eyeliner.... I have way too much of them than i am comfortable with right now (one rare thing that i didn't usually stock up are eyeliners because it takes me AGES to finish one).

Well, at least it's a kohl eyeliner-something that i don't think i have yet, and it's in glitter dark blue and not the usual black/brown. And it's Sleek (priced at IDR 75.000 according to BTI's list), i always wanted to try out Sleek stuffs and within three months i got three full sized Sleek items, all thanks to beauty boxes (can you give us more eyeshadow/blush on/lipstick/lipbalm/liptint/lipgloss or even liquid eyeliner please, beauty boxes? I have enough pencil liner for now. Thank you). So this is my third fave item in the box. The sachet samples didn't even make the cut. As far as i'm concerned there are three full sized items in this box and nothing else *LOL*.

But as i stated before, i do love this box if purely because of the contact lenses and the konjac sponge! Especially the contact lenses lah, that's really a first in beauty boxes and totally a nice surprise for me! Wouldn't mind receiving more in the future *til i do not need to buy lenses no more like fake lashes*! How did BTI fare compared to Lola Box this month? For me it's a tie! Lola came up with more varieties of samples and full sized items (only one brand came with two tiny sachet samples) while BTI, well i'm gonna be a broken record and say BTI gave me free freakin FresKon contacts! LOL. I am very happy with the contacts as you can see, a very easy customer!

In short, both beauty boxes delivered for me this month, now i am waiting anxiously for my last beauty box, (and first ever) First Blush! I hope their first public edition would be as nice as the exclusive ones i've been seeing a lot popping up in the beauty bloggers community! Especially considering their pricing to be more on the more expensive side! (if not i'm totally going back to VT).

How about you, did you like your BTI? Or if you haven't join in the fun and compelled to do so after reading this post, please join via my referral, just click on the link below! :

http://beautytreats.co.id/?id=62

That's all for now, have a great weekend!

#Pink

PS : I will remind you this everyday lah hahaha... Since it's weekend already and most of you should have free time right, do come and join my birthday giveaway and win yourself all of these below!