Glossybox September 2012 Review

I was able to try out the Glossybox September 2012 which has products aimed to welcome fall.  The cooler weather is upon us and we have to change our skin and hair care regimen that we became used to last summer.  There were 4 substantially-sized samples in the box, meaning they were not miniscule ones but I believe some were even full-size, like the Missha Perfect Cover BB Cream and the OC8 Professional Mattifying gel.  I did not see another sample that was supposed to be in the box, namely the Kryolan For Glossybox Moisture Rich lipstick in Glossy Pink, but I will update it if I find it.  But I didn't see it in my box. :( EDITED: See review of the Kryolan lipstick below.

Here are my thoughts on the other products in this collection.

Wearing Missha Perfect Cover BB Cream

I have been using BB creams since 2009, and Missha was one of the first that I've tried.  Missha is one of those pioneer asian BB cream brands that a lot of people know and have tried.  I was able to try the Missha BB cream such as this one, and the Missha Watery BB cream that I was able to review on this blog as well.

I am very particular about sunscreen and I need to make sure that I have at least SPF30 on my face every day, whether it is cloudy or sunny outside.  I am glad that this particular Missha has SPF42 in it.  I remember Missha retailing for only $20 or so 3 years ago, so I was surprised that according to the info that came in with the Glossybox, this retails for $29.99 for a 1.69 oz tube.  I was a little disappointed that it is now quite pricey.

Nonetheless, the Missha BB cream is aimed to soothe, protect and moisturize the skin, and at the same time, even skintone with minimal coverage of blemishes. This is nice for the cooler weather when the skin gets scaly, itchy, and dry due to the cold climate. I didn't particularly care for the smell- it has this strong floral scent that is a bit too strong for my nose. Anyways, the smell dissipates after a few hours of wearing the product.

As you can see in the photos, they look too light on my skin, which is the main gripe of people as to asian BB creams. The shades are too light and there are usually only 2 or 3 shades in the asian BB cream range. However, surprisingly, when I applied this on my skin, it evened out my skintone and it looked natural. I was quite impressed. I am an NC30 in MAC, by the way. I topped it with a light application of my mineral foundation to set the product.

I wore it all day yesterday and it held up nicely. It lasted 7-8 hours without retouching, which was great.

I've tried Missha in the past, so coupled with this Missha roadtest, below are my observations:

Upside:

1. Comes in a nice packaging with the sanitary pump.

2. Gives a beautiful, ethereal finish.

3. I love the radiance and youthful glow it gives.

Downside:

1. Oil control is not that good. You can help by using a primer and oil mattifier (I used the mattifying gel that came in this Glossybox, the OC8 professional mattifying gel).

2. If you have sensitive skin, you might break out using this product. I broke out using Missha in the past, but for this particular test run, I have yet to see break-outs.

3. Comes in very limited shades, I think these only come in one or two shades at the most.

All in all, if you don't have very sensitive or acne-prone skin, you might benefit from BB creams. Missha is one of the better ones I've tried out of maybe 8-10 brands.

I like the fact that Glossybox included a good-sized sample of OC8 Professional Mattifying Gel.  I liked this product because I used this in tandem with my Missha BB cream and it helped keep the shiny t-zone at bay, since the Missha BB cream never really had enough oil control for me.  This little tube is a keeper, and I will use it because it does work without interfering with my makeup look.  Best thing of all, it didn't break me out.

I didn't know if I should try the GKHair Moisturizing Shampoo and Conditioner because it didn't say that it was safe for color-treated hair, so I only used a small bit to mix with my regular shampoo for colored hair. I like that it has a pleasant, subtle scent and it made my hair look and feel clean and shiny, but I am not sure if I will continue to use them as I prefer sulfate-free shampoos and conditioners for my color-treated hair. I am not sure if these contain sulfates.

All in all, I like the products in this box, particularly the Missha BB cream and the OC8 professional mattifying gel. As I said, I did not receive the Kryolan lipstick, but I will re-check the package again to make sure that it's not tucked in there somewhere.

EDITED: I found my Kryolan lipstick!

I actually love the Kryolan lipstick!  It's a pretty neutral pink.  It's very creamy so it arrived dented, but it is nice on the lips and really gives a soft shine with lots of pigment.  Love these kinds of lipsticks and the shade is right up my alley as well.

Note: Media sample was provided by a representative of the brand for consideration. All opinions are completely mine.