Menstrual Matters

I've decided to take a look at some of the new, for lack of a better word, menstruation based sub boxes (getting tampons in the mail? hmmmm) but since I haven't subbed, I'll be trying to find out some info from their websites.

I'm going to go on a bit of hunt but so far, I only know of these:

Le Parcel

My Cotton Bunny (holy shit, cutest name ever. I wish the sub actually came with tiny wittle bunnies because I think we all know that bunnies just make life better, amirite??)

Whoever started this branch of sub boxes has a money maker on his/her respective hands. These products are likely to be an obligatory monthly purchase for say girls and women from their early teens to their forties. That market certainly has potential especially with the growth of niche boxes (ahhh, my college econ minor comes out in the weirdest places) and, of course, you have to strike while the iron is hot. I don't expect most of the current crop of companies to last longer than the wave of the trend but let's enjoy it while we can.

I might email them for a press release of something similar to see more about their companies. Will update this post with any relevant info.

mega super anger rant

I usually love MUT ( a forum site about makeup, etc) but a particular post got me really riled up tonight and I'm legitimately angry. Ugh I wish I could punch that bitch.

EDITED OUT

*rant over*

I need to relax. There's a great article with mascara tips in this month's Allure Magazine, I love the ideas since I have like 20 mascaras.


Ok, now I'm back to the rant. I shall take a break and post refreshed tomorrow. Goodnight blog universe!

I let my emotions get the best of me and went totally crazy. This isn't the place for such a thing so I've decided to edit out most of my rant. I left the punching part because I still feel that :D

February Julep Box Selections

Well, hello!!!!

While I reviewed the basics of Julep, I realized I hadn't really described the colors or what I was getting this month. As it's just so very interesting (to me basically, no one else). I've decided to do a little post on it. 

February's Selections

The selections differ for each profile and I enjoy the fact that you can choose a different profile from your designated profile for the month. I'm a designated 'it girl' but this month I chose 'bombshell' because I love the 'Ginger' (sand holographic0 and I want the oxygen nail treatment. 'Laura' (Olive khaki green) is not my style at all but that color shall be gifted. I also had to get some ADD-ONs because I love ADD-ONs and this is a screenshot of all of my selections:

My personal Feb Selections

 
Had to add 'Jane', 'Oscar' and 'Rebel'. Especially 'Rebel' because it's named for Rebel Wilson, a very funny actress that was the best part of the movie 'Pitch Perfect'. I like the color and I like the namesake so what can I do! Gotta show love for my chunky girls! ;D 

I guess my theme for this month was warm neutrals but with a lot of sparkle. I've picked rose gold glitter, GOLD gold glitter and holographic sand. 

Also, I'm super excited for the Freedom Polymer Top Coat, a shiny fast drying top coat? Sign me up! I currently use Julep's older fast drying top coat and it's the only one I use now because it works great but I'm running out and I was considering buying one at full price. Fortunately, now I don't have to!! 

I seriously urge and polish addicts to sign up for Julep Maven. It will be an awesome present every month. 

The following codes give you the intro box for one cent!! You'll probably end up buying more boxes in the same month like I did but it's like getting free polish and an extra gift. The best part was that I really only got charged a penny and that made me trust them enough to become a happy subscriber for the last six months. 

Discount Codes: COLOR2012 ,  PENNY

ps I know that last part sounded like a sales spiel but I actually really like Julep right now. This might change if I hate the box or get bad CS but so far everything has been awesome so, for now, I completely recommend them. 

pps. No one is paying me for this review and I'm not getting anything from anyone for giving a positive review. Not my style and never will be. 

January Birchbox Review

Bonjour bitch(es)!!! 

As previously noted, I received my dip dye, my Popsugar Must Have Box, and finally (seriously finally because it is the 23rd. THE 23rd. I got my January Birchbox!!

My January box very almost became a february box [which are bound to be a huge headache because of my moving] and I can't even think about glossybox because there's no sign of shipping or if it'll ever be sent…. Ok, off tangent! This is a birchbox review and I must carry on and REVIEW!

Well, first of all, I sent birchbox an irate email because of my missing box. They were super nice but nothing really happened besides my box being miraculously shipped the same day. This shipping being used by all of the sub companies (smartpost or mail innovations) is the worst!! I know that shipping is only getting more expensive but I think that shipping is an essential part of getting me to part with my money. I'd like to get my boxes earlier and in a reasonable time frame. I know these start-ups are exponentially growing but they're growing thanks to thousands or even millions of people like me. Try to do things right, guys!! 

Note: Since birchbox sample sizes tend to be tiny (it is just $10/month), approximating a price is moot. I think all together these samples are worth the $10/month although some may dispute that and I'll maybe post about that later. 

So, apparently, I got box 1. In terms of variations, I think it was one of the good ones so here we go:

Ojon damage reverse (™) Instant Restorative Hair Serum 

This sample came in a vial inside a little folded card. I'm very interested in trying this out especially because I just dip dyed my hair and thus fried it to a crisp. I'm not sure whether I've sampled Ojon before but since I adore anything for hair, especially anything with restorative in the title. So this is on the f-yeah side of the birchbox tally. 

alessandro Nail Polish

This polish isn't full size even though the full size is about $8.00 but it is always cool to get nail polish in one of my subs. Unfortunately, the color, a grayish blue, isn't a color I particularly love and I already have a couple of similar samples. I do like trying new samples formula-wise so I'll give it a chance (maybe on an accent nail). This sample isn't an f-yeah but it's not f-this either. It's solidly good. 

theBalm ® cosmetics Put a Lid On It (™) 

This is a little mini (very mini) size of theBalm's eyeshadow primer. I'm excited to try this one because I love testing primers. My favorite so far has been Stay Don't Stray by Benefit but I'm always ready to try another because my eyelids tend to be super oily. This sample is firmly in the f-yeah tally. 

Harvery Prince Skinny Chic Perfume Sample

A small spritzer inside a little folded card. I'm super particular about perfume and have used Prada's 'Infusion d' Iris' for YEARS because it is one of the few that doesn't make me want to puke or give me a horrible migraine or both! 

Unfortunately, I also have a bone to pick with the message that being chic, young, and happy is equal to being skinny. I have nothing against those who are skinny but I've never been skinny and I hate that these companies are pushing the idea that only skinny people are happy or chic. I'm pretty sure there are sad skinny people too! 

Furthermore, the smell does stop appetite for me because it makes me dry heave!! As I said, I'm super sensitive to smells and this one is one of those that I never ever want to smell again. I gave the sample to my mom (yes, my mom! I'm in my 20's but I'm solidly a family girl and so I'll be mentioning them often) and this one is firmly in the hell f-no column. 

Fresh Lotus Youth Preserve Face Cream 

In my box, there were two cards with a small foil packet attached. I've heard good things about this cream from other beauty addicts so I'll be trying it very soon. I've already started to use eye cream because I'm scared of wrinkles and I recently had to start using moisturizer!! I have a lot of Fresh branded stuff so I already have a positive opinion about this company. This is another f-yeah sample for me. 

So, although birchbox isn't on point for everyone, this month it did the job nicely for me. I like 4 out of the 5 samples a lot and despise just 1. So. I'll be loving birchbox for another month. I know birchbox 's fb has a lot of people threatening to defect to ipsy and I find that laughable. A lot of them just want to bitch to try to get free boxes or points, others are trying to drum up business for ipsy, and others just want to create some drama. 

It's not obligatory to to subscribe to either of these companies and comparing them is useless. Personally, I like the types of brands that birchbox sends out precisely because they tend to be high end. Ipsy's products are decidedly not. Maybe people that like any sort of makeup are ok with that but I could just go down to the drugstore and get full sizes of that crap. I'm a makeup snob and I tend to very very scarcely purchase stuff at the drugstore, if at all. I'll stick to birchbox, thank you very much ;)

 (omfg I sound like such a dick or being a girl, a dickette??)

Popsugar Must Have January Box Review

Popsugar Must Have January Box review time!!

My box finally got to me today after being shipped out sometime between the 18th-19th of this month from NorCal. You would think that a box traveling in the same state wouldn't take to long but omg this month every box has made me so angry by being so late. I'm having a bad month personally and these are my fun stuff. When they start giving me hassles, then what do I have left, right?

Anyway, on to the review:

January's Box (horrible pic bc of aforementioned lost digital camera, won't happen again)

I know I bitched about December's box because of the 'Rent the Runway' coupon code that added nothing to the value of the box and I'm super glad that didn't happen again this month but I do have to say that I'm not super awesomely in love with the box.

Exercise stuff isn't my favorite since I try to avoid exercise like I do the plague. However, I been doing GAIAM yogalosophy (a dvd included in a previous box) and it's kicking my ass so I am definitely going to use the stability ball. It's like Popsugar is forcing me to start regularly exercising!


I'm going to list all of the items in the box and give a brief review (there were also some little cards included with discount codes and I might review them as well):

MERRITHEW STABILITY BALL 65cm

The previously discussed stability ball. I didn't expect to get it but now that I have, it'll make a good addition to my budding exercise routine.

Approx. Market Value: $38.99 

THE REMIX TIMEBOMB watch

A plastic watch with interchangeable faces. Includes LED light up numbers and a plastic band. Colors sent out included: black, white, pink, baby blue. It is tagged as a popsugar exclusive. Not my favorite (I'm already planning to gift it) and the fact that reps for the company target certain nightclubs in my city and 'party' while wearing these makes me go DO. NOT. WANT.

Approx. Market Value: $44.95

EPICUREN DISCOVERY LIP BALM

Nice little lip balm. No color just balm that helps with winter chapped lips. I love the gold little pot it comes in and it includes SPF 15 and tea tree oil/ aloe vera. The only think I would've liked more would be a little color!! I'm addicted to Sugar Lip tints ;)

Approx. Market Value: $8.00

POPBAR HOT CHOCOLATE ON A STICK 

It's chocolate!!! I love chocolate and there were 2 included. Unfortunately, one was immediately stolen from the box by a random robber (my brother!) and I haven't tasted the other. According to him and his drooling, it was pretty good.

Approx. Market Value: $2.99 ea. (they're sold on amazon and they have gelato. I'm done for)

KRAFT JET-PUFFED VANILLA MALLOW BITS

This is a pretty big jar of tiny crunchy marshmallow bits. I'm not a marshmallow fan at all but I have given them to someone who is and they'll report back when they have a chance to taste it. It's weird to have what really looks like a supermarket item in a $35 box but I can see some consumers (maybe women with kids?) might really like them.

Approx. Market Value: $6.49 

SPECIAL EXTRAS: 

THINK THIN BARS

There were 3 included in my box with the following flavors: dark chocolate w/ coconut (marginally tasty), honey nut/fruit (given to my mom), and Peanut Butter (tasted by dad and declared to taste exactly like LIQUID NAILS and immediately spat out, we gave it to my brother and he also immediately spat it into the trash so those were a huge FLOP). Also included was a $1.00 off coupon that had a picture of a guy/girl kissing and words implying that thinking/being thin is equated with happiness and having a SO. Screw that marketing BS. I wouldn't buy this shit ever. 

A pack of 10 is $21.53 

Approx. Market Value: $6.45

CASETAGRAM: 

$15 Gift Certificate (aka coupon) for "the first social design platform to make cases for your phone or tablet" (January Must Have fold-out). I guess you can pick images from intstagram or fb to make a case for your iphone/ipad. As I already have cases for my electronics (my ipad currently has housing from: Proenza Schouler, Marc Jacobs, and Rebecca Minkoff), this is not my sort of coupon and it adds no value for me.

Approx Market Value: $0.00 ($15.00 if you make a purchase and use your code).

In conclusion (as if this were a high school essay!), there are a couple of big ticket items and all/most of it is useful but there's nothing in the box that gets me really excited. I want girlier stuff!!! Makeup!! Earrings!!! Other accessories!! Books!!! House stuff!!!

The total value of the box is about $110.00 (without the case code) and that is above the $100 minimum that popsugar lists and is a great deal for $35. I'm still on the love train but with reservations.

I'm hoping very much that the February box is girlier and more interesting to me personally. I'll use the Jan stuff and won't bitch too much but I'm not over the moon :(

To anyone that wants to join in:

Link: Popsugar Must Have Box

$5.00 off 1st month discount code: REFERFRIEND

Updates Done

I've made so cosmetic changes because I wanted a more springtime sort of look and my original page looked sort of goth for some reason (plus the color palette was ewwww). I wanted a fresh and kind of girly look so I went with blues and pinks and a mainly white background. I like it better already ;)

Ch ch ch chaaaanges, turn and face the....

I've decided to make some changes to the looks of this baby blog/ so the reviews might take a bit longer to post :( sadface for the 0 people that have ever read this thing. Haha!!