A New Day in K-Beauty (or One Last Meme-Disappointment)

Alright, so those of you who have been following me (are there any of you out there? hello?) have seen my many (mostly) enthusiastic reviews about Memebox.  My introduction to k-beauty has been fun and I have seen a drastic improvement in my skin since incorporating some of their products into a skincare routine.  Before this, my "routine" involved finding better makeup to cover up a multitude of sins.  For that, I am grateful.

That said, you may also have noticed a little snark in my description of the way Memebox does things - do they do bundles? sometimes. do they offer reasonable shipping? rarely. do they sell items for a reasonable price? hardly. are there boxes available? depends on how they're feeling.

And I guess how they're feeling today is really really fond of Korea, China and the USA. . . since that's where they will be doing business from now on.  Yes, Memebox has decided to end all international shipping effective February 10th.  Those of us who do not live in one of the above-mentioned countries are not welcome to spend our money with their company any longer. . . well, after February 10.  Because, you see, Memebox would love for us to fall all over each other picking at scraps before they get rid of us.

I say, purchase if you like.  I won't be.  Any company who has made it clear that my hard-earned dollars, which have been helping them build themselves up, are not welcome will not be gaining any of my business.  I could order a few more items.  I could reasonably set up an American PO box and continue to purchase from Memebox (and other companies that don't like to ship to Canada. . . or like to charge us astronomical fees above and beyond shipping) - I do live under an hour from the border after all.  But I won't.  Because I think that would be supporting a company which I no longer feel I can support.

Having said that, here are a few online locations to find KBeauty products.  Most do not offer theme boxes like Memebox did (Beauteque does bags as well as a monthly sub) but they do sell products for reasonable prices and some have excellent sales and / or free shipping.  Instead of posting reviews of the Memeboxes I will no longer be purchasing, I will be posting about and reviewing these services and the products I find there.  I hope that will be satisfactory to all of you :)

Here is my list.  I will update it as I discover new and exciting places to shop:

RoseRoseShop - I just made my first purchase from this site today! While shipping can be expensive, I was really impressed with the pricing and especially with the sales (I picked up, among other things, 23 sheet masks for under $5 US!!).  I'll keep you posted on how this turns out.

BeautyNetKorea - This one is highly recommended by some other beauty bloggers.  They also have great pricing but the best part is free shipping! This was almost my first purchase but there were a few things that were cheaper elsewhere.  Great selection though!

TesterKorea - Also some great pricing and lots of smaller-size products.  Apparently they take requests for stocking new items (just not at the moment).

Beauteque - This one ships out of the States and tends to be a little pricier but they do themed bags which seem pretty nice and decent value.  They have also just started a monthly sub as well.

Wishtrend - Another pricier option but they do offer themed boxes as well.

Apparently there are also some products available reasonably on e-bay but I'm not much of an e-bay-er.

Any other options out there? Any recommendations or warnings?

Memebox Christmas Collection #3 Winter Essential Masks

**FYI - Memebox no longer ships to Canada.  I'll leave these reviews for posterity but any links or recommendations are sadly no longer for us :( Many of the products can be found elsewhere - check out my post on where else to shop for k-beauty products!

Memebox is a Korean Beauty Box company with a different model than most beauty boxes.  Instead of subscribing to a monthly box, they periodically release new boxes and you can purchase as many or as few as you like.  Boxes usually range from $23 - $29 plus $6.99 for shipping to Canada (shipping can take 10-20 business days so be prepared) although at the moment, they've been on the higher end of that scale and even above it.  Whether this is the new standard pricing remains to be seen.  If it is, I don't know how many boxes I'll continue to purchase since they have also been decreasing the number of items included in each box (most seem to include 5 these days while they used to have 7 or even 8 sometimes).  Express shipping is available for an extra cost or with bundles (more than one box purchased and shipping at the same time).  Memebox also offers many of the items from their boxes in their shop - a warning to Canadian shoppers, some of the shop items are for US customers only so don't get your heart set on anything until you check the tag under it!

This box is not currently available for sale, although restocks do happen from time to time.  Current boxes can be found here.

Although my current stock of Asian beauty products is pretty healthy thanks to Memebox, masks are one thing that I could always use more of.  Masks were never really something that I used much in the past but since discovering we're expecting, I've swapped out my luxury glass of wine in the tub with a luxury face mask in the tub.  It makes me feel a little special and definitely helps me to relax.  Plus, I've found some great masks that actually do good things for my skin which is novel.  Of course, as soon as I saw a special mask box, I had to pick this up! This box was priced at $23 plus $6.99 shipping and handling.

This box contains 6 full-size items (although a few of those items include multiples - hooray!), some of which are one-time use.  Thankfully, a few of those one-time use items include more than one (ie. 3 sheet masks count as one item).

Memebox usually includes product cards which indicate what each item is, what it is valued at (sometimes these are a little inflated but since I can't get most of these products where I live, I'll cope with that) and how to use it.  I can't stress how valuable the "how to use it" aspect is since I haven't heard of many of these items before and would have no idea what to do with them!  Plus sometimes the packaging is not in English :)  Since this was a special box that shipped almost immediately upon ordering it, they did not do a traditional product card instead offering that information through their website - not my favourite as I like to keep my cards for future reference.

Velieve Girlish Mask (3 masks, $7 value)

These sheet masks were randomly selected from 4 types.  I got the shining (lemon extracts), soothing (aloe) and moisture (honey extracts) versions and missed out on the lifting one (marine collagen).  I am okay with that.  For those who haven't used sheet masks, inside each envelope is a cottony mask soaked in essence.  You unfold it and spread it over clean skin and let sit for 15-20 minutes then remove the mask and pat in the remaining essence.  This is my favourite way to mask - perfect for a lazy soak in the tub and not too messy.  The soothing was my favourite of the 3 but they were all solid and pleasant to use.

Inoface Real Natural Pulp Essence Sheet Mask ($2 value)

This was selected from 4 types.  I got the collagen (not my favourite) and missed out on the snail, Q10 and aloe versions.  I think I would have preferred the snail as snail mucin is one of my new favourite things to put on my face (I know it sounds gross. . . it doesn't smell gross and it does really good things for my skin!).  That said, I really liked this sheet mask and found it to be a bit higher quality than the other three - the fit was better and it felt a little thicker and stronger.

Esthetic House Collagen Jelly Mask Pack ($13 value)

This is a mask pack intended for use on a clean face.  It does not need to be washed off after use, just massage it in.  I haven't tried this yet for a few reasons.  Mostly, I am not sure about rubbing pig collagen on my face - I don't eat them so I don't feel great about using them in this manner either.  Additionally, collagen is supposed to be great on mature skin which is not my main skin concern.  I haven't decided what to do with this yet but am leaning towards re-homing it in the near future.

Rire Patting Water Pack ($42 value)

This is an interesting product - to use it, you combine 1-2 capfuls with water in a basin (I'll try a bowl in my sink when I get around to trying this out) and then splash and pat the mixture over a clean face 15-20 times.  No rinsing required.  I received the Brightening version which includes violet extracts to balance and brighten my skin tone.  Given that the other options were Lifting and Moisturizing, I am happy with that.  While some people reported issues with leaking during shipping, mine arrived full and in good condition.  I haven't tried this yet but am a little staggered at that price!

Lassie'el Raspberry Age Defying Yogurt Mask ( $6 value)

This is a wash-off mask to be used on clean skin and massaged in until the microbeads disappear then washed off after 5-10 minutes.  It really does look and smell like yogurt and that's awesome.  This apparently removes dead skin cells and impurities as well as diminishing the appearance of wrinkles and sagging skin.  My favourite part is that there were 4 packages included, plus a lid! I could never use an entire package at once (maybe 2-3 uses) so the lid keeps it tidy and neat for next time.

Pure Smile Jewelry Bubble Ruby and Pure Bubble Royal Jelly ($2 value)

Two more wash-off packs, these are intended for use on clean, dry skin and are rubbed into skin until they stop foaming then washed off.  The Bubble Ruby version is skin soothing and replenishing while they Royal Jelly is good for acne-prone skin (so I used that one immediately!).  These are neat and I enjoyed them although I wish they also came with a lid.

Overall Verdict:

According to Memebox pricing, this box had a value of $72 which is not the highest value Memebox I've ever purchased.  Over half of that value comes from the astronomically-priced patting water - which I admittedly have not tried yet but for that price. . . yikes, it better be awesome! That said, while this type of valuation would ordinarily bother me, I did love this box.  Some of my favourite items happened to be those with lower values but, for me, they were exactly what I was hoping for in this box so I'm a happy camper!

Memebox Princess Edition #4 The Little Mermaid Review

**FYI - Memebox no longer ships to Canada.  I'll leave these reviews for posterity but any links or recommendations are sadly no longer for us :( Many of the products can be found elsewhere - check out my post on where else to shop for k-beauty products!

Memebox is a Korean Beauty Box company with a different model than most beauty boxes.  Instead of subscribing to a monthly box, they periodically release new boxes and you can purchase as many or as few as you like.  Boxes usually range from $23 - $29 plus $6.99 for shipping to Canada (shipping can take 10-20 business days so be prepared) although at the moment, they've been on the higher end of that scale and even above it.  Whether this is the new standard pricing remains to be seen.  If it is, I don't know how many boxes I'll continue to purchase since they have also been decreasing the number of items included in each box (most seem to include 5 these days while they used to have 7 or even 8 sometimes).  Express shipping is available for an extra cost or with bundles (more than one box purchased and shipping at the same time).  Again, at the moment, the future of bundles is unclear.  There haven't been as many box releases in the last month and a half which means they have not been releasing bundles.  Whether this is a permanent change, I don't know.   Memebox also offers many of the items from their boxes in their shop - a warning to Canadian shoppers, some of the shop items are for US customers only so don't get your heart set on anything until you check the tag under it!

This box is not currently available for sale, although restocks do happen from time to time (and apparently there will be many during next week's "Customer Appreciation Week"!! My wallet is not as excited as I am!).  Current boxes can be found here.

This was purchased through a previous restock event and was originally released as part of a series of Princess Editions (including a brightening box - Snow White, a night care box - Sleeping Beauty, a hair care box - Rapunzel, a glittery box - Tinkerbell and the Cinderella box which seems to have focused on make-up products).  The Little Mermaid box was billed as including items from the sea which sounded exciting to me - as did the positive reviews I had read before picking it up during the restock! Seriously, the best thing about restocks is that you read reviews so you know what to expect and which boxes are worth your money.  This box was priced at $29.

This special edition box contains 6 full size items (one of which is one-time-use) and looked nice and full when I first opened it up.

Memebox includes these product cards which indicate what each item is, what it is valued at (sometimes these are a little inflated but since I can't get most of these products where I live, I'll cope with that) and how to use it.  I can't stress how valuable the "how to use it" aspect is since I haven't heard of many of these items before and would have no idea what to do with them!  Plus sometimes the packaging is not in English :)

Pureplus+ Bentonite Cleansing Soap ($12 value)

This is a deep cleansing bar for your face which includes Bentonite clay and cocoon silk.  It claims to clean deeply and leave skin soft.  I have not used a bar soap on my face, um, ever I guess, but this sounds pretty nice.  If it doesn't work for me, my husband can use it to wash his face when he's in the shower.  I will try this out, but I have a lot of cleansers on the go or waiting in the wings at the moment.

DD'ell Extra Vitalizing Serum 30ml ($42 value)

This is a serum, a new type of skincare product for me! It is used after an essence but before your moisturizer (or instead of essence if you so choose).  This one contains algae and galactomyces (see my review of the Memebox Empties Box for info on those) and promises to deliver moisture and nutrition.  The packaging includes an eye dropper that is filled by pressing the silver button on top.  When put on the face, the serum is smooth, not sticky, with a light scent.  A little goes a long way.  I have added this to my routine since I don't have anything similar and so far am enjoying it.

Grinif Collagen Aqua Peeling Gel 120ml ($20 value)

This one I'm not so sure about.  A peeling gel is used on clean dry skin to remove impurities - I use one, or an exfoliator, twice a week.  The idea is that you spread the gel on your skin and then massage it, rub it, etc. until the product balls up and peels off then you rinse it off thoroughly.  This helps remove dead skin cells and clear out clogged pores.  This particular peeling gel comes in a spray bottle which is where my hesitation comes from - I'm just not sure this is something that needs to be sprayed on.  I don't need it on my eyes or lips and I don't see how using my hands for more controlled application could be a bad thing.  I have a peeling gel and an exfoliator on the go right now so I'm going to wait on this one and I think when I do use it, I will put it on with my hands.  It just makes me more comfortable.

dearberry Pure & Popular White Clay Pack 100g ($12 value)

This is a clay mask.  Seems pretty standard to me.  Spread over clean, dry skin, let sit for 10 minutes as it begins to dry, then wash off.  I actually have a clay mask that I enjoy and use in the tub to make for less mess.  When that one is finished, I'm in on this one.  Clay does good things for my skin when it's getting a little overly oily so this is right up my alley.

Mizon Hyaluronic Ultra Suboon Cream 45ml ($19 value)

While I am happy to read that this cream is free of parabens and artificial colouring and fragrances, I am less excited to get a cream that is billed as a "moisture magnet".  If I had dry skin or if my combination skin was currently in a dry mode, I'd be all over this but, since I started following an actual skin care regimen, my face has been much more cooperative.  That said the first ingredient is water so I will give this a try when my current creams run out.  Either it will be too heavy for day but get used as a night cream or it will work for day (fingers crossed).

Pure Smile Original Mask Sheet ($1 value)

Ridiculous, I know, but I just love getting sheet masks.  They are never particularly valuable but they are one of my favourite things to receive in a Memebox! I just wish they would send more than one! This mask came in either Seaweed or Pearl and I received the Seaweed version.  For those who have never encountered a sheet mask, they are the easy way to do a face mask - no spreading all over your face! Instead, the package contains a cotton face mask soaked in the essence and you put it over your face.  It has eye holes and a mouth hole (so it looks a little creepy) and the essence helps it stick to your face.  Again, I like to do my masks while taking a soothing bath to minimize the risk of any mess but with these, I find it's less likely.  You put it on a clean face, wear it for 15-20 minutes, remove the mask and pat / massage in the remaining essence then continue your routine with essence / serum if you feel it's necessary (I don't usually) and your regular cream.  A good sheet mask (heck, even a middling one) makes my face feel smoother and moisturized.  

Overall Verdict:

Since I knew what I was getting, I also knew that I would love this box.  The only thing that I find a little disappointing is the weird application method for the peeling gel but I will just do it my own way and make it work.  I am most happy to see two types of masks in here! I love masks so much, I also picked up Christmas Collection #3 Winter Essentials Masks so stay tuned for that review later this week / early next week.  I am also thrilled to receive a serum.  I have received multiple cleansers, essences and creams but this is my first serum so that's exciting.  The soap sounds like an interesting try and we'll see how the cream works for me.  I do like how gentle it sounds.  All told, this box would have cost me $35.99 but I did use an affiliate code to save $5.  It is valued at $116, according to Memebox.  However accurate that price may be (or may not), it is definitely a high value box for me as I am very happy with the contents!

December 2014 Wantable Intimates Review

I know, I know - no time like mid-January for a December box review! I'm almost caught up, I promise!  November was my first month for a Wantable Intimates box and December will be my last.  Don't get me wrong - I like the box, I like the model, I'm not even all that put-out by the price as it usually still works out to be decent for what I have gotten - even though they have recently reduced the number of items from 4-5 to 3-4.  I would even recommend it to others.  My problem is simple:  it is a lot of money for a monthly sub and I can't justify spending that much on pjs and socks - especially with a new baby on the way.  I may resub from time to time when I can but it's just not a priority right now.

For those of you unfamiliar with Wantable, it is a box company which offers four different types of boxes at the same price point ($36 monthly or $40 for a one-time purchase):  Intimates, Makeup, Accessories and Fitness (although I'm unsure if the Fitness box currently ships to Canada because it is a slightly different model).  They also have a relatively in-depth survey that you complete to help them customize your box to you and, if your box doesn't suit you, apparently they have an excellent return policy (but again, I'm not sure if it is the same when you're shipping to / from Canada).

Each intimates box includes 3-4 items selected for you based on your quiz.  You can also add personal comments and your stylist can write a personal response to you as well.  I couldn't really get a clear pic of my preferences (since my camera sucks) so I'll list them here for you:

Loves (you are most likely to get those items you say you love):

• loungewear
• panties

Likes:

• lingerie (this was a "love" for November but once I got something I liked, I switched it to "like" since I don't really need that much lingerie - I love that you can change up your choices whenever you like)
• leggings (I specified that I like footless leggings instead of tights. . . am I the only one who can't stand having my feet feel constricted, even in winter?)
• socks (I specified ankle socks, see above re:  constriction)
• bras (I included a note that I was not interested in sleep bras - I just don't understand them - and that I need support!)

Dislikes (you will never get items you dislike):

• tights / hosiery
• shapewear (I guess it's not just my feet that can't handle feeling constricted!)

Here's what I got (I will include my own comparison pricing since Wantable has a bit of a reputation for overvaluing items - but mostly since I have no idea what happened to the product card between the unboxing and this post - sorry!):

Rene Rofe Cami Set (Amazon has a similar set, although not the same colour, on sale for $17.99 with a regular price of $39.99)

Verdict:  I really like this.  The fit in the shorts is very comfy and the fabric is very soft and flowy, which is a good look for anyone who isn't a supermodel.  I love the colour - I did put a note on my order for this month that I prefer cool shades and blacks / greys since my last box included some brown items.  I also changed up my preferences regarding colour / style and I guess that better reflected me as well.  My one complaint upon initially receiving this item was with the way the top fit - the straps, the length and the width were all good but the part that actually covers your boobs? Not good.  If I put the band under my breasts, they constantly pop out.  If I don't, it a) looks weird and b) is not comfortable.  As I said, initially this bothered me since this is the second month in a row I had issues with items fitting my breasts - and the quiz includes bra size so it's not like they didn't know.  However, given that I have actually been pregnant the entire time, unbeknownst to me, I have amended my opinion.  I'm going to guess that it's probably at least partially my own fault for having pregnancy hormones and swelling breasts - my own bras are getting a little spilly too these days.  So, not a dealbreaker.

Sutton Notch PJ Set (I can't find these for sale anywhere or find any info on this brand. . . that said, some other reviews list Wantable value for these at $28 which sounds about right to me).

Verdict:  Love! It's hard to tell in the picture (especially atop my black chaise - sorry!) but these pjs consist of a long-sleeve button up top and drawstring pants.  They are warm and soft, totally comfy and fit great.  I also love the colour (I know, I got a whole box of black and white items - but that's what I like!), especially the pink accents.  While I'm not super happy that I can't find anything about this company, I do really like these and will wear them happily.

Overall Verdict:

I guess Wantable considers a pj set to be 2 items which would mean this box holds 4 "items" instead of the 2 I really feel it does.  I'm not likely to wear these items separately, ever.  That said, I'm not mad about it since these are two great sets which I like and will wear.

November's box was half-price (plus shipping and exchange) because I had a code so part of what I really wanted to know this month, was what the actual costs would be for a Canadian.  This box cost me $57.99 Canadian once shipping and exchange were factored in.  That's a pretty steep jump from the $36 sticker price and one I'm betting would only cost more given what's happened with our dollar in the meantime.  While I would have been very happy getting these pj sets for $18 or even $20 a piece, almost $30 each (while still not bad) makes me less excited.  I could go to Target (especially with the closing sales surely happening soon) or even La Senza or Winners and pick out my own pjs for a comparable price.  Part of the fun of this subscription is having someone else do the picking and deliver it right to your door though so I guess that's worth something.

That said, this box is approximately a $46 value (or $68 disregarding sale prices) which means that what I paid for it doesn't cover the cost of the box (or barely covers it).  That doesn't make me feel good about the purchase and is another reason why I am saying farewell to Wantable for the moment.  I do have a 50% off coupon in my inbox that is saying "try the Accessories!" so we'll see how long I can hold out!

If you are interested in trying this, or any, Wantable box, please consider using my link.  I would appreciate it!

The Other Side

Okay. . . out of limbo. . . and wildly happy / freaked right out.

The loss of our child that kept me down and out for the last month and a half. . . never freakin' happened.

I was 6 weeks pregnant in November.  I had some spotting and went for an ultrasound in which there was a baby with a heartbeat but a low gestational sac.  Two days later, my world fell apart - I woke up in the middle of the night and started losing all the blood, ever, and passing giant clots (like the size of a plum. . . and not like 1 or 2 but maybe 15-20??).  I only include these gory details so maybe you can all understand why I was absolutely positive that we had lost the baby.  When I called my midwife, she concurred and told me at what point a trip to the ER might become necessary (it didn't) and that she would send along a package for dealing with loss.

That's it.  No advice for a follow-up.  No appointment for bloodwork or another ultrasound the following week.  I don't know if that's standard.  Maybe.  But for me, I was content to let things go and stay at home, licking my wounds.  That's how I am I guess.  I didn't want to cry in an ultrasound office.  And I hate getting bloodwork done on a regular day let alone the saddest time ever.

Maybe you find my reaction melodramatic.  I would point out that even if I had suffered a complete loss, the pregnancy hormones can take some time to leave your system.  And we all know (or should know) what crazy things those hormones can do to your mood and mental well-being!

So I cried.  A lot.  I did things I shouldn't have because I could (wine with dinner over the Christmas break, too many drinks on New Years').  And then I started to wonder why things weren't getting back to normal.  The 4-6 week window for getting my period according to all the books, websites, pamphlets. . . yeah, that passed.  So I took a test.  Positive.  Like blazing positive, the positive came up before the little comparison window.

Off to the doctor, and she's pretty sure that the positive test means I'm pregnant.  Why didn't I think of that? After running through every other possibility I could think of, she sent me off for bloodwork and an ultrasound to determine whether this was the original pregnancy or a new one subsequent to the loss.

At the ultrasound, the second the tech put the wand down, there s/he was, moving around, looking much larger than a 5-6 pregnancy.  The original baby!  We're still not 100% sure what happened.  Maybe I'll get some answers when I follow up with my doctor.  But I am absolutely sure that this baby is like a superhero or something, a fighter.  And I can't wait to meet him or her!

As for my posts on loss.  I could delete them.  I could erase them from this blog, from my record.  But those 7 weeks happened.  And I felt the way I felt.  Even if what precipitated them didn't.  Those feelings and thoughts are still part of my experience.  So I'll leave them.  Thank you for listening!

Limbo

I was going to write a post about Christmas.  About the joy on my toddler's face during the whole holiday season.  About how he memorized "The Night Before Christmas" because he insisted we read it daily.  About how our house looks like a toy store.  And about how we still (yes, two weeks into January) have our Christmas decorations up both because we are still wiped out from all the festivities and because every time we mention putting them away, the devastation on his face is heart-breaking. . . so we save it for another day.

I was going to write about all of that.  And then I didn't.

I didn't do a lot of things this year.  I didn't do any Christmas baking.  Heck, an illness in the family meant that I didn't even go to our family's Christmas dinner - instead, sending my husband to find the one pizza place open anywhere in the vicinity of our home.  I didn't have as much fun.

It wasn't one of my finest holiday seasons.  It just wasn't.  And I know that it was because I was still struggling.  Loss is hard, my friends.  It hits you where it hurts and even when you think you might be doing better, something happens when you least expect it and you are reminded like a shot to the gut.  It sucks the wind out of your lungs and brings stinging tears to your eyes.

I can't think of anything worse than that.

That said, where I find myself now is an interesting place - a place of limbo, of in-betweens and not-sures.  And that kind of sucks too - it sucks less for sure, but it still sucks.  I don't want to get ahead of myself.  I don't want to share what might not be real until I know, for sure, that it is.  I don't even want to think about the possibilities, the "what-ifs" lest crippling disappointment rear its ugly head.

And not sharing is hard.  After all of this, I want to shout the possibility of good fortune from the hilltops.  But I don't want to have to issue a retraction just in case.  So I wait. . . impatiently. . . this is not one of my strong suits.  Hence, this super-cryptic post.  I can share something, some of my feelings and struggles - even if no one is reading, it's out - without revealing too much.

If you are reading, and you've made it through all this rambling, incoherent mess, thank you.  In a few days, I will find myself out of limbo, on one side or the other.  Then I can share.  Then all of these cryptic words may be given some context.  Until then, thanks for listening.  Sometimes you just have to say something.  Anything.