Project Candy Box Holiday Box Unboxing

Hey Guys!

I hope that you had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Years. Now that it's a new year here I am finally back and we can discuss boxes and product reviews. So the first thing I want to talk about is the Project Candy Box Holiday box because I am super disappointed with it. This is the second box I have received from them and the Launch Box was 10x better than this one. I will insert my Unboxing video first and then I will go over the breakdown of the products from what they have posted on their website. (What I think will be in black font).

Mission Statement: Project Candy Box delivers a different assortment of candy and chocolate to your house every month! Every month you will receive a different assortment of candy tied together with a different theme. You can share it with your friends or eat it all by yourself. We won't judge you!

How it Works: Do you love candy and chocolate? Do you ever get the munchies and notice that your selection is just not where it should be? This is a huge problem and the solution is simple... Get Project Candy Box delivered to your door once a month.
Here at PCB, we are delivering an incredible candy and chocolate experience to Canadians every month. In your monthly box, you will receive an assortment of items that are tied together with a fun theme. New products are created everyday and we aim to seek them out for you and put it in your hands.
A great party favour, gift and personal monthly subscription box, Project Candy Box is fun for kids and adults. There is no age limit on fun. Here is your chance to avoid the awkward stares from the grocery store lineup and just feast on the colours and flavours inside your box.

What Can You Expect: Every month you will receive our perfectly branded candy boxes with a surprise assortment of at least 10 different items. Our items include:
- Local favourites
- New products that haven't hit your market yet
- Old products that you may have forgotten about
- Candy and chocolate from other countries and continents

Cool! What else? As part of the and experience, we include a fun product walkthrough page every month inside your box so that you can learn about new items, fun facts, jokes, riddles, games, etc... Candy and chocolate is meant to be fun and this is what is delivered by Project Candy Box.

How much: There are two options for this subscription but they both cost the same amount. You can get a monthly subscription for $20 a month or a gift box for $20. This includes shipping.

Shipping: Canada Only (free shipping).

THE HOLIDAY BOX

Right off the bat when I opened the box I noticed that it had less products than the launch box. This picture is from their website.

Thank you for purchasing The Holiday Box from Project Candy Box. We are excited to offer you a holiday experience with candy and chocolate and we think you will love this box!

We hope you are enjoying a holiday and a winter filled with family, friends, good food and snow. We are proud to end off the 2014 year on a high note delivering candy boxes to over 250 households across Canada.

As always, you can find descriptions of all the items in your box below along with games, contests and a survey so that you can give feedback on your candy experience. As we continue to grow, feedback will play a huge role in our development and we hope to hear from you.

There were two games that were also linked. One was a Christmas song quiz which I sucked at and the next one was some snowball fight, which I did click on the link but then you had to do something else so I just closed the page.

Lets start with your holiday candy canes!

Included this month, we wanted to gather some of the best candy canes on the market. Included in your box you will find the following flavors:

Gobstopper Cane:  You know this brand but Willy Wonka has now put together a candy cane with layers of fun. Lick through the different colors much like you would enjoy a classic gobstopper. The task has always been to get to the middle without chomping through. I received a red candy cane so we will see how it tastes. Once I bit into this there was only a tiny ring of orange inside. It doesn't taste like a Gobstopper, just like candy, no particular flavour.
Spree Cane:  The spree cane gives you the taste of spree in cane form. Another Willy Wonka creation unique to the holidays. I have no idea what spree is so that makes me nervous to eat this lol. I can't really describe what this tastes like. It's kind of sour, and tastes like rainbow candy cane haha.
Jelly Belly Cane: Lastly, enjoy the powerful taste of Jelly Belly in cane form. Our box will include one of the following flavors: Very Cherry, Green Apple and Orange. I received an orange candy cane, so I'm assuming it's orange flavoured. Yes, it's orange and a tad bit tangy.
Fluffy Stuff Snow Balls Cotton Candy: Yes you can find cotton candy outside of your local carnival! It is included in the holiday box. Do not mistake this big ball of candy for a snowball and throw it at your parents... it is way too valuable for that. It takes up lots of space for a reason. Your cotton candy is flavored with a hint of strawberry. If you have forgotten how to eat cotton candy.... its NOT like this: http://i.imgur.com/QbRqqf1.gif I was excited to see this cotton candy because I love cotton candy with a passion. It was rather weird to just eat white cotton candy. I didn't even see that it was strawberry flavoured but that is why I had tasted it before lol. This was the highlight of the box for me.
Toblerone: A holiday favorite for sure, who doesn't enjoy milk chocolate and creamy nougat... and in TRIANGLE FORM! Did I mention you should brush your teeth before, during and after this box? Fun fact: Did you know that there is a furry animal on the Toblerone mountain? Try to find out what it is. #youcannotunseethis #mindblowing This was a "meh" product for me. I have had Toblerone before and can buy it anywhere so pretty disappointing.
Jelly Belly Holiday Candy Corn: This is usually enjoyed as a Halloween treat but seeing as how we are candy trend setters, we will continue to push the envelope and offer candy corn in green, red and white. This makes a great stocking stuffer! I hate candy corn and if I would have known this would taste like it I wouldn't have eaten it. I just thought it was candy corn shaped. Not impressed with this product either.
Lindt Lindor Chocolates: A classy addition to any holiday box. PURE, MILK, CHOCOLATE! If you are not yet sick of all the chocolate from your advent calendar then slowly pop these milk chocolate wonders into your mouth around the fire. We love Lindor so much that we actually shrunk ourselves down to enjoy larger portions of chocolate... this is what happened: http://i.imgur.com/6x2Zq.jpg Where did Lindt chocolate originate? If you guessed Switzerland, you would be right. Again, not impressed. I can go to any store  at any time of the year and buy these chocolates. Did I mention I don't really even like chocolate? So this was not a win for me.
Ferrero Raffaello: ALLERGY ALERT - Product contains almonds and coconut. Where are my coconut lovers?! Raffaello is brought to you by  the good people who bring you Ferrero Rocher. There are a few great flavors in here including coconut, almonds and pralines. This is not one of the regular items you would pick out of your local grocery store lineup but this is Project Candy Box so give it a try or share it with a friend. Yuck! I hate coconut. And mine still had to price tag on them. ( $0.83 if you were wondering). These will probably go to my dad.
Wham bars: WHAM! These appropriately named candy bars hit you with intense flavor. They are decorated with fizzy flavor crystals that add some punch. These items are from England so if you are interested in grabbing some more. Shoot us an email and we can get you a big order! These were the only other item that I was excited about besides the cotton candy because we can't actually get it here at any store that you walk into. My only issue was that it expires this month, or mine does anyways.
Russell Stovers Chocolate Marshmallow Treats: Our box would not be complete without chocolate covered marshmallows and Russell Stovers is a brand that never leaves us disappointed. And again another product that I can get anywhere at Christmas time.

So this months box was a real let down. I won't let it deter me from another box, but if they keep going this way I won't be continuing with the subscription. I want to know where all the "weird" candy is from other countries like in the launch box. I don't want things that I can got to the store and buy, I want weird and new candies. Also I want less chocolate. I prefer candy to chocolate. 
If this is a subscription that interests you Click Here to sign up.

Bonjour Jolie September 2014 Unboxing

I was introduced to this box on YouTube by a fellow Canadian, Ashley Elizabeth (check her out if you don't, she's great). Anyways, she does these boxes monthly and I wanted to give it a try. I just got the one box.

Here is the product card, and look how cute and fallish it is.

First I pulled out this bag which is part of the gift bag. Apparently I forgot to take a pic of what was inside haha. But it has the hand lotion, soap shaped like leaves, two leaf shaped candles and two packets of advil. 

Next I pulled out the food bag!! Yum.. it was pretty packed full. My only issue is I wish there had been some chocolate included. 

My favourites from this bag were the Ginger People Spicy Apple Gin- Gins chews and the Go Naturally Organic apple ones in the green wrappers.

I only got a bite out of this cookie and it was delicious. Then I set it on the table and my cat knocked it off for my dog to eat :/

Yay! I see a full size product!

OMG! This smells so good. I have been using this scrub that last couple of days and it's okay. I find that when I rinse it off I am covered in like a greasy film so not sure how I feel about that. Also the smell doesn't last very long on my skin so that's sad because I love the scent.

This was also in the bag with the scrub. It's pretty cute and I will probably wear it ion a casual day.

Then you get to pick out the actually period products that you want and they come in an envelope inside the box. I picked Kotex tampons in Ultra size just to try. I've never seen then in ultra haha so we will see.

Ipsy vs. Topbox October 2014 Unboxing

 First off we will start with Ipsy. This month's theme is Beauty Candy, and I love me some candy.

I think this month's bag is so cute! It reminds me off swimming pool tiles but in a good way.

ECRU New York Acacia Protein BB Cream Beauty Balm for hair:

A first in haircare. Finally, an ultra-light, incredibly versatile, all-in-one multifunctional beauty balm that harnesses the moisturizing and protective power of the patented Acacia Collagen™ for ultimate repair, conditioning, manageability, smoothness, body and shine. Perfect for all hair types. Color safe. Paraben free.

How to Use: Emulsify a dime size amount into the palm of the hands and work through towel dried hair starting at the ends and moving up. For optimum results, comb through hair for even distribution, then press into ends and style as desired. Acacia Protein BB Cream can also be used on dry hair for added hydration, reducing frizziness and taming flyaways.

Weight: 30 ml / 1 fl. oz.

I was excited to see this product in the bag, well actually it didn't fit in the bag so in the envelope. I've never heard of this brand but I'm always excited to try hair products in hopes of taming my crazy mane. 

It smells okay, nothing too amazing and I think the smell would fade quickly.

Fig & Rouge Hand Cream in the scent Mango Mandarin:

Figs & Rouge Shea Butter Enriched Limited Edition Hand Creams are deliciously fragrant & indulgent. These delectable creams soften, nourish & thoroughly pamper hands throughout the day, quickly absorbing to provide super-soft skin. Apply Figs & Rouge Hand Cream onto your hands and massage into skin throughout the day as needed.

Ipsters who sample Figs & Rouge will receive either Mango Mandarin or Rose Berry scent.

Weight: 20 ml / 0.67 oz

This is another product that I am excited for, one can never have enough hand creams. Plus this packaging is to die for. This scent is very mild, I didn't smell any mango but I did smell the mandarin. I liked this so much that I went on the website and bought a few more things. The only issue is it comes from the UK so shipping was a bit expensive.

15% off at http://mygl.am/gr_1014_figsandrouge with the code IPSY.

US and Canada only. Promo ends 11/30/14.

Indie Lee Brightening Cleanser:

Indie Lee’s bestselling Brightening Cleanser naturally washes away impurities to leave skin soft, refreshed, and luminous.

Key ingredients strawberry fruit extract and hydrolyzed wheat protein make it a must-have for cleansing, hydrating, tightening, firming, and blemish control. The skin-softener exudes a light and refreshing strawberry aroma that brightens the skin and appeals to the senses.

This antioxidant rich cleanser gently removes eye makeup (without stripping skin) and can be used with and electronic cleansing brush and to clean makeup brushes.

To use: Apply a small amount of cleanser to wet face. Use with a wet cotton pad to remove eye makeup. Rinse completely with water. Follow with toner and moisturizer.

Tip: When the cleanser is applied to face and left to sit for 5-10 minutes (before rinsing), this complexion clearer acts as an exfoliating mask. The properties of the strawberry extract provide gentle exfoliation without drying, scratching, or stripping skin.

Weight: 15 ml

This is another product that I am excited to have. I love using cleansers and this one smells pretty good, like bubble bath. 

Jessie's Girl Mineralized Baked Shadow Powder in the colour Graphite Frost (I think, it didn't say):

Get out-of-this-world eyes with Jesse’s Girl Mineralized Baked Powder Eyeshadows.

Ipsters who sample Jesse’s Girl will receive one of the following shades: Plum Frost, Rosemary Frost, Ocean Breeze, Graphite Frost, Kiwi Shine, Esmeralda.

Weight: 2 g / .07 oz

This is the product that I am least excited for. I have put on my preferences and reviews every time that I don't use eyeshadow and every month I get an eyeshadow. This one looks cool but when I swatched it, it was so dry and barely had any colour. So not really impressed. 

Noyah Lipstick in the colour Deeply in Mauve:

Fall Deeply in Mauve this season! noyah's newest lipstick addition, Deeply in Mauve, has a semi-matte, cream finish that leaves your lips hydrated and nourished. With this luxuriously rich shade of mauve, you can apply a light coat to work as a day-time neutral or build on for a lip statement that will turn heads. Did we already mention this do-it-all lipstick is all-natural? An ingredient list you can actually read, now there’s a concept!

There’s more! For every photo of a noyah product you post online and tag with #livedivinely, noyah will donate a lip balm to the homeless through the National Health Care Coalition for the Homeless Council. And of course, they think your furry friends are cute enough without makeup, so they leave them out of their testing. So go ahead and indulge in one of noyah’s all-natural lipstick shades and say bye-bye to yawn-inducing colors, all while feeling amazing inside and out!

Weight: 1.4 g 

And lastly I got this dark shade of plume lipstick. It's kind of scary for me, but since it's fall I might try it out just to see. The colour swatched smoothly but the product has a nasty smell to it. 

Overall, I'm pretty happy with this bag. I love 3/5 of the products, 1 is okay and the other I have no use for. But I loved the bag and I even used one of the promo codes to order more of one product (which I have never done). 

Onto Topbox! This is the first time I actually received the box, I had opted out of using the box in exchange for recyclable bags, but I wanted the box. Look how cute it is.

Every month you get 4 products, but there was a special on before that you could buy mystery products which I mistook for saying mystery boxes but oh well. 

Philosophy Spray Fragrance in Pure Grace scent:

A lighter, softer, crisper interpretation of the original Amazing Grace fragrance, Pure Grace is a clean, transparent blend of fresh blossoms and cool greens, laced with sensual, frosty musk.

Notes:
Bergamot, Water Lily, Lavender, Jasmine, Cool Greens, Musk.
Style:
Clean. Crisp. Sensual.

Retails for $55.00

At first I thought this was a bar of soap lol. But when I saw it was perfume I was less than stoked. I don't wear perfume because I have a sensitivity to strong scents. Perfume gives me an instant headache. But i did smell it just incase lol. It smells like fresh laundry, but this will be an item to gift. 

Teeez Soft as Sin Cream Blush in the colour Beach Glow Brown:

Containing nourishing Vitamin E, this on-trend cream blush has a velvety finish that feels super soft against your skin. It can be applied with your fingertips or a blusher brush, enabling you to shape your face and adapt the intensity of the shade to suit your look and mood with ease. Simply apply a thin layer for a more natural sheen, or add more if you want to inject some color to your cheeks! 

*I could not find a retail price for this product

When I swatched this product it didn't really show up on my hand at all so I'm not sure about it as a blush. I'll try and use more and see but since it is a brown instead of a pink it might be a little scary lol. 

Bioderma Sensibio H2O Micelle Solution:

At the cutting edge of innovation, Bioderma has pioneered micellar solutions. Specially formulated for sensitive, normal to dry skins, the Sensibio H20 Micelle solution gently cleanses face and eyes. It removes water resistant- make-up. 250 ml $21.95

I'm excited for this product because I have used another product similar but by Lise Watier and love it but I'm almost out. Hopefully this will be a good replacement. 

Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Serum Synchronized Complex II

Now re-ignite the youthful light of your eyes with our most comprehensive anti-aging eye serum ever. Proven to reduce the look of every key visible sign of eye aging: fine lines, wrinkles, puffiness, dark circles, dryness and uneven skintone. 15ml $75.00 (this sample costs $25.00).

I loved this little cute package. I don't really need any eye cream but I guess it's never too early to start fighting wrinkles. I din't find this product to really have any smell, so thats good lol. I can't wait to use my most expensive sample I own. 

Curly Hair Solutions Curl Keeper:

A water- based formula that controls frizz due to humidity. This enables you to become the master of any curly hairstyle for several days. It is effective in all weather conditions, and is great for scrunch drying, styling with brushes, defuse-drying, or just drying naturally. (No price included, $3.00 per my calculations). Retail 100ml $9.99 

I'm extremely excited for these samples!! I have crazy, somewhat wavy, thick, frizzy hair that I can't tame lol. Hopefully these will be the miracle product that do something about it. I love the look of these samples too, they are really cute. 

The Balm Cosmetics How 'Bout Them Apples? Lip and Cheek Cream Palette in the colour Pie:

A multi-functioning lip and cheek palette. Each freshly picked colour is formulated to have a smooth finish that won't streak or fade, so there are no bad apples in this bunch! 20g $32.00

OMG!! Another totally cute package. I love it! The only sad part is it doesn't smell like apples lol. But I'm very excited to use this and hopefully I'll love it and buy more of their products because they all look super cute.

Bowzer Box September 2014 Unboxing

I thought since I had been treating myself to things I would get my dog a box as well. I decided on the Bowzer Box because it is a Canadian box.

Bowzer Box is a monthly subscription ($29) (also available is 3 ($26) and 6 ($23) month subscriptions) where you will receive 5-6 dog related items. 

*Plus $4.50 a month flat shipping rate

*Canada only shipping

This months theme was down on the farm.

September is a time to celebrate all things farm, from farmers markets to fall fairs. 

Each box comes with a card that tells you about the month and whatnot, but of course I couldn't find where I put mine when I needed it lol. But what I do remember from it is you can save 10% if you use the code REFERFRIEND at the checkout.

This was the first item I pulled out of the box. At first Steve wasn't sure about this, I feel like it was the weird spongy texture. But after a few more sniffs he gobbled it up.

Then I pulled out these biscuits. Again it took Steve a bit to warm up to these but when he did he enjoyed it.

Well isn't this a cute little bag..... until I opened it and it was cow horns haha. Steve refused to eat these but I took them to my parents house for their bigger dog and he seemed to enjoy them. Although my dad wasn't impressed since they live on a farm and have numerous cow horns laying around lol.

This was a twisted treat but I forgot to take a pic of it before Steve scarfed it down. This was his favourite treat of the bag. 

These were also a favourite of Steve's. He really enjoy the soft treats because he likes when we throw them in the air for him to catch. 

Also we received some poop bags which I will be gifting since we live on an acreage and have no use for them.

And lastly we have little piggy, who I knew would be demolished right away. Steve loves to eat material and cotton (I know this has no stuffing but it has hair and "fur"). So little piggy now has no hair and is missing his corners. They stated that it was durable, but I disagree. 

Overall, this box was a win and I have continued the subscription because I think Steve likes getting a box a treats.... well he likes getting any treats regardless of where they come from lol. 

Luxebox Fall Edition 2014

What is it: Luxebox is a quarterly subscription where you receive 7-8 trial sized beauty and lifestyle discoveries.
Cost: $26+ tax every 3 months
$50 every 6 months
$96 annually
Shipping: Canada only

Here's what it looks like inside the box.

Here is the first product that I pulled out of the bag.

Nexxus Color Assure

which contains a primer, shampoo and conditioner. I think this packaging is cute but I have long, thick hair so this will probably only last me one wash. I somewhat found a guess of a price for this sample pack $5.38.

 Here is another tiny sample pack.

Eslor Sample Pack

I'm not sure on the price since these are smaples. But the full sized products are fairly expensive. I am excited to try these but I think again it will only last one or two trys, which isn't enough to see if you like the product.

Burt's Bee's Lip Gloss 

Rich, pearlized colour combines with natural oils rich in nutrients to leave your lips soft, shiny and 100% naturally beautiful. 

Colours:
Neutrals: Autumn Haze, Fall Foliage, Sweet Sunset, Sunny Day
Pinks: Ocean Sunrise, Rosy Dawn, Spring Splendor, Summer Twilight
Reds/Plums: Evening Glow, Ruby Moon, Nearly Dusk, Starry Night

• Delivers rich pearlized color with high impact shine
• Enriches with nourishing oils
• Promotes healthy looking and beautiful lips

• Available in 12 gorgeous shades

 

This lip gloss sucks. It smells disgusting and it is super sticky.

I would not recommend it or buy it. I received the colour 

Autumn Haze

Retail Value $12.99

So Susan Universal Blush:

A micronized, jet-milled blush that works with your skin's natural chemistry to create a universal healthy flush that is flattering on all skintones. Made with Buriti Fruit Oil to repair the epidermis and improve skin elasticity.

This blush is a really pretty colour. It has just the right amount of 

pigment so it will blend easily. The packaging is a bit on the cheap 

side but otherwise it's good.

Retail Value $17.46

This is a Loose Button brand brush. I'm not sure what it's for or what it's even called. 

Also i couldn't find a price for this product.

Jelly Pong Fairy Lashes Curl Mascara

Fairy Lashes CURL is a sculpting, curling mascara that continually curls lashes throughout the day with a unique synthesis of Moringa Seed resin that dries down and holds the curl of lashes for long-lasting results. The unique brush instantly creates dramatic volume and intense definition, while allowing eyelashes to remain spectacularly soft and light at the same time. This is a truly fabulous effect for the woman who wants to emphasize a deep, intense, seductive look. Apply first coat and sweep the heavy wand upwards for thick, luscious lashes. Apply a second coat to seal the curl in.

Bonus : No Mineral Oils • No Phthalates • Fragrance-Free • With Moringa Seed Resin • Hypoallergenic • Non-comedogenic • Suitable for contact lens wearers • Water-Resistant

This is the one product that I was really excited for. It's weird because 

it smells really good, like sweet almost. I haven't used it yet but I plan to soon.

Retail Value $18GBP $32.34CAD

Lila Grace Peach Mango Body Lotion

I'm not too big on using lotions that are scented, but this one smells good and during winter my hands get super dry so I will give it a go.

Retail Value: $4

The value of this box is good, totalling $72.17 without the Eslor sample or the loosebutton brush. But the over all quality of the products is questionable. I have a year subscription so hopefully the other boxes will impress me a bit better than this one.

Her;s my unboxing video :)