I was very lucky this month. Glymm August came in a beautiful, black cosmetic bag with two full sized products - a skincare item, and a lip gloss. Unfortunately, many other subscribers were extremely disappointed - as many have not received anything in full size. I must confess, the reason why I have received that extra gift was the fact that I have contacted Glymm to cancel my subscription - they in turn offered a free gift. Nevertheless, it was a 'good' box. And I only wish Glymm would step up and invite more manufacturers to include their samples - let's face it...samples are cheap! and may not be worth much to many of the manufacturers. Despite that this month was almost excellent, next month may be awful again. I am going to cancel. Let's hope the cancellation process will go well. Fingers crossed.

I have so many Everyday Minerals pigments that I decided to play with them just for fun - I was home and did not get to wear it out - but still enjoyed my time creating this look.

1. I cleaned and moisturized my face - with Clean & Clear Morning Burst Skin Brightening Facial Cleanser and Aveeno Positively Radiant Daily Moisturizer.

2. Used a silicone based Lise Watier Base Miracle primer for the face, and Spectrum Cosmetics primer for the eye lids.

The Green Beaver Apres-Ski Winter Face Cream is not only 100% natural, but also vegan, gluten-free, and biodegradable. It's perfect for 'green' girls! As well as perfect for relieving damaged and dry skin. It's also Canadian and can be purchased online. When I found it at Winners (TJ MAXX) the cost was only $5.99. A really good deal, considering it lasts for a very long time - because of its richness you don't have to apply too much - a little goes a long way!

PROS:

• Affordable
• 100% Natural
• Pleasant minty/vanilla/cinnamon scent
• Nourishing, moisturizing without a greasy feeling
• Excellent for preventing dry patches
• Soft, buttery texture

CONS: Hard to find in stores, and must order online

Value: 4/5
Quality: 5/5
Performance: 5/5
Packaging: 5/5
Price: $$

Overall: 4.5/5 

Would I use it again? YES!

A few weeks ago I was in need of a warm, bright red lipstick, and Lancome Rouge in Love came to mind. I strolled through the department store, looked at the brands in Sephora, but came back to Lancome. The youthful advertising featuring Emma Watson sure had an influence on me. And the best part was that there was a special offer, a gift with purchase. I ended up picking up Lancome Rouge Lipstick as well as the infamous, high quality, under eye concealer - it's amazing and I've used it before.

Lancome is definitely one of my favourite brands and never disappoints.

The July GlossyBox Canada was disappointing. The products did not seem high end at all - in fact, most of the brands can be found in Superstore, London Drugs or Shoppers Drug Mart at a discounted/sale price. So, in a way, this wasn't much of a deal nor was it exciting. The approximate value of this box is $25. This must've been the weakest month yet. I really hope to see a better selection next month.

It's only August, but September is creeping up on us. Spring/Summer clothing is on clearance, while New Arrivals are in-stock and ready to be worn. So what should you invest in this upcoming season? Well, there's definitely leather, reds and blues, as well as some minimalism and layers.

 Here's a preview from ELLE Canada August 2012 issue: