Popsugar August 2013 Box Announcement

Yay!!! I actually have some really cool news about the August popsugar must have even though my July box is still in transit (estimated delivery date is the 12th so a review will appear relatively soon!).

It seems that Popsugar are celebrating their 1st anniversary with the August box and we are getting an extra little gift!! I can't believe that I've been with them for a whole year but as they're probably my #1 favorite sub (like the one I can't live without), I'm quite happy to know they're still going strong.

Now what is this mysterious gift?

A necklace!!

I know it doesn't seem like a huge deal but Gorjana & Griffin jewelry have become staples in my accessory wardrobe thanks to Popsugar. I love the idea and look of this necklace and a previous necklace sent out by ps (also gold!) might be the necklace I wear most often. What's crazy is that I usually go for edgier stuff but necklaces like the one above are great to build on. Also, I used to hate gold toned jewelry but in the last couple of seasons, I've seriously come around. It's pretty cool that popsugar is giving us a preview of one of the items and I'm super glad because I actually like it. I've been trying to stay spoiler free (I still don't know what's in the July box) but this spoiler is thankfully a good one. I'm looking forward to the august edition of this sub and if you haven't tried it out yet, this might be the time to do it. A cute necklace plus sure to be cute stuff (anniversaries tend to mean even better items) might be just the draw to finally get those on the fence on board. I've been there since the beginning and I'm pretty happy because most months have been awesome (except January's box, the less said the better ugh) and the next one promises to be so, if only for the necklace.

Box:

Popsugar Must Have Box

Frequency:

Monthly

Price:

$35 (plus tax in CA, I pay $37.80)

Perks:

Ability to earn free boxes! 

Recommend? 

Hell YES! I love this sub and the CS is very good about issues (a broken item, etc) and even comments (they actually asked me to elaborate my comments when I said one of the boxes was below par in comparison to their other better ones) and I legit think this box has currently taken the #1 spot in my heart (and unseated Julep). I hope they continue to send out great stuff because every month is like a bit of my birthday or christmas with all these subs. Especially if you avoid spoilers!! 

Overall, I think that (if you're really interested), August might be a great month to give it a try. If you get a month to month subscription, you should be able cancel before having to pay for another box if you don't love it (which you should because you should LOVE anything you buy for fun). 

After a whole year, I'm still in love ;) which is crazy considering my fickle nature! 

As always, don't spend your hard earned cash on anything you don't love!!!

Glossybox June '13 Box Review

Yep, you read right, this is the JUNE Glossybox box review. Why? Well, there was a huge disruption in sending the boxes after gb's association with Bondi Nails and Dallas Shaw (they were supposed to include a special edition 'Dallas Shaw' collection bottle in every box) went inexplicably tits up. I've read a couple of rumors but rumors and allegations aren't really the type of thing I want to discuss on here so we'll go ahead and skip to the actual box involved. Although I do have to say that it does suck to get a June box on the 10th of July!! Ok, ok back to the actual reviewing.

First impression? Cute box! 

Oooh the excitement builds

Hmmmm 

Hmmmmmm part 2 

Ok, so the contents don't look too shabby to start with and that makes me very happy. I spy a Tarte lip product and that makes the $21 price tag completely worth it.


C. Booth Honey Almond Nourishing Dry Oil Mist

Clearly, oils are a big trend and have been for the last year or so. I've gotten many a hair oil sample but very few body oils. I counted myself lucky because I really don't like them! I can't handle my skin feeling oily to the point that it drives me completely distracted! Therefore, this product is pretty much a no-go for me. The positive factors include the smell which is completely yummers and the size which is quite generous (travel size more than deluxe sample) and good enough for more than a couple of applications. Unfortunately, I don't think I'll even be trying this one out but for the body oil connoisseurs, this one might be a winner if only for the scent. 7/10


Spa Ritual Nail Lacquer in 'Kiss the Cook'

According to the quite new-agey Spa Ritual website, 'Kiss the Cook' is an 'earthy low note' type of color (the colors collections are divided by 'harmonies').  The 'earthy low notes' are deep maroons and brows. 'Kiss the Cook' is a full size creme finish deep reddish maroon. It isn't my typical style but it can definitely work for fall. Spa Ritual colors are apparently sold mainly at actual spas so that's kind of interesting. It's vegan and free of DBP, Formaldehyde, Resin and Toluene. I love the fact that the bottle has the little bunny label printed on it which means it is definitely not tested on animals (super important when you're an animal lover like me). Overall, it's an interesting replacement for the Bondi bottles (though those looked much more aesthetically pleasing) but the color isn't very summery. 8/10


Philip B. Light Weight Deep Conditioning Creme Rinse

Now this is a product I'm really interested in. I'm a complete hair product fiend (as anyone who has read any of my previous posts will quickly realize) and deep conditioning is my jam lolll The 2 fl oz size (the one included in the box) retails for $10.00. According to the bottle, this formula is paraben free (good) and includes african Shea butter (also good). I'm adding this one to my deep conditioning rotation immediately. Even the packaging is cute. 10/10


Oscar de la Renta Essential Luxuries Perfume Sample Set

This completely adorably navy blue satiny bag (with charms on the string handles) includes 6 samples of OdlR's scents. The scents included are: Granada ( touted as "romantic citrus floral accord with a radiant, feminine air inspired by the memory of the majestic Alhambra patios"), Mi Corazon ("...white floral bouquet... embodied in a lush, creamy accord of tuberose and ylang-ylang that mingle with peach for a warm tropical twist..."), Santo Domingo ("...smooth, smoky tabac fragrance ... Fresh, citrusy notes of mandarin and coriander embrace the rich warmth of tobacco, patchouli and spices..."), Coralina ("floral bouquet... blend of mimosa, violet and orris, softened with luxurious woody green notes..."), Sargasso ("crisp, green, invigorating accord is the essence of “sea spray”... Fresh citrus notes, watery cucumber..."), and Oriental Lace ("dark oriental... blend of the unique hoya carnosa flower with hints of honey and bitter almond surrounded by dark cacao and patchouli..."). So six scents that will take a while to all try out. A couple already stand out as potentials (Coralina and Granada) and I'm actually excited to try them out. The full sizes all retail at $150.00 per bottle so a scent decision is not to be lightly taken. I usually hate scent samples but I very much like this bagged selection. 11/10


Tarte Complexion Brightening Lipstick

This is very much the item I was most looking forward to! We were emailed a 'hint' that these would be included and that is why I semi-patiently waited for this box for a long while. QVC retails them at $29.00 but there are a LOT of ebay sales of the color (ugh I hate that kind of stuff, to be honest) and describes them as "...creamy lipsticks have a glossy, tinted core..." and "...complexion-enhancing pigments and emollient waxes..." that make lips look plump and youthful. The color is quite natural and the application is soft like a balm. Honestly, I love it. Love. 11/10



Overall, a respectable box but not the best ever (I think that honor still goes to the "man repeller" special edition earlier this year). Glossybox tends to send out great and sizable products but their shipping schedule is pretty much fuck-all and many have been disenchanted by this failing. I'm still on-board because I'm weak for the surprise products and the fact that every month has included at least 2 products that I've used on the regular. So, great products but horrible scheduling. It really is a bit of a gamble.

Box: 

Glossybox

Frequency:

Monthly

Price:

$21.00

Perks:

Ability to earn glossydots by doing product surveys. 1000 glossydots= 1 free box. 

Recommend? 

With a lot of reservations. If you do choose to get on the Glossybox roller coaster, you should expect for shipping to be kind of fucked up (even though this delay was caused by a specific event and other boxes have actually been delivered within their respective months) but the products tend to be a good mix of high-end samples with large sizes. I'm still a glossybox fan but you must (!) weigh the pros and cons before making a decision. Also, you can always try a month and cancel later. There are a few codes out there pretty frequently for at least a 15% discount or a gift on your first box. 

WINK might get you a free eyeliner so feel free to try it ;) 

As always, don't spend your hard earned cash on something you don't love!! 

Julep Maven July '13 Box Review

Hello peeps!

I just got my Julep Maven  July box and that means review time! One thing I'm not very happy about is that my 4th of July themed add on is rendered useless by the fact that I got my julep box on the 6th! On the other hand, they've now streamlined the shipping system and instead of shipping the box and add ons separately, they're now altogether in one box! What a roller coaster ride of emotions! 

This month I had to go with the 'it girl' set because I avoided the 'beach tonic' oil like the plague! I have enough oils for my hair and I can't stand oily skin at all, especially when the weather is so unbearably hot! I decided to get two nail color add ons and I just had to (HAD TO!) get the sea spray ( even though I have 3 others). Fortunately, I love the spray but the colors are a mixed bag. I think I may be experiencing a bit of nail color fatigue even though I previously thought it impossible (sniff sniff) or maybe it's because this month's summery selection and theme (California coast which I happen to live at so the novelty has worn off, so to speak) aren't really my style. I can't wait for fall! Nevertheless, if August's theme is super summery as well, I might finally be able to skip the month! Which is something I've be unable to do in the entire year I've been subscribed!

A first look at July's box

Another look with the sea salt spray unpackaged

Now for the very exciting item by item review: 

First of all, here are pics of just the colors with flash and without. I've found that the pictures of the colors look kind of terrible when I leave them plastic wrapped so I had to take it off in order to show them more accurately. 

With flash: Tracy, Nadia, Angela, Fireworks, Something Blue

W/o flash and a bit blurry: Tracy, Nadia, Angela, Fireworks, Something Blue 

Nail Colors: 

Angela

Angela is a "deep sea blue molten" so it's a dark blue/green and a bit shimmery. I decided to use it as a pedi color but you really can't see how the color shines on the toes (it just looks like a dark blue) so I'm definitely doing a mani in this color next time. It's not a groundbreaking color but solid enough to stay in my collection. 7/10

Tracy

Tracy is actually the only color I was really excited about in the 'it girl' set. It's a sparkly ocean blue sea salt textured color and it is definitely my favorite color this month. I actually decided to do my current manicure with this color (used essie base coat and nails inc.'s new top coat) and it looks fantastically shimmery blue and I love it. However, the texture does it make it hard to work with and I recommend doing a base coat and just one coat of 'Tracy' because it could get too thick or gloppy with two coats and then be impossible to try. It actually took pretty long to dry with one coat and I still managed to squish up the topcoat on a couple of nails because of the texture. Nevertheless, the final product is beautiful enough that you know you've got to take your time but the end result is damn near magical ;) 11/10

Nadia

This color I wasn't too excited about and it basically came as a default because I kept the 'it girl' profile. It's a "sun kissed golden frost" but it doesn't really excite me because it just seems like nothing I haven't seen before and I feel like I have about 3 dupes that look almost exactly the same. I might trade or gift it but it isn't an ugly or bad color at all, it's just not something I personally like right now. 6/10

Fireworks

A glitter topcoat. Red, blue, and silver glitter in different sizes with a clear base. I got it too late to wear on the Fourth of July (though I was able to do a pretty good and festive mani with Ellen, Gunta, Bunny, Sienna, and America the Beautiful) so I think I might have to save this one until the next relevant holiday. I did swatch it and the texture isn't lumpy which is great. Overall, a cute purchase but if I'd known that I wouldn't get it in time, I would've skipped it. 8/10

Something Blue

Soooo I might have a couple of 'something blue' dupes (or 3/4) but the name and the fact that it kind of reminds me of a Tiffany box made me just have to have it. I like the color and I feel like it can transition into fall with the right outfit even though it is quite bright. The texture isnt streaky and the color is saturated enough that one coat has pretty good coverage. So, overall, I'm quite happy with the color, texture, and even the name. 10/10

Non-Nail Items:

Julep Green Tea Blotting Papers

These were a nice surprise included as a little bonus and they're very well suited to the season. Since I hate how hot it has been for the last couple of weeks (my makeup is freakishly melty and my skin is getting oilier than ever!!!!) and I'm running out of my old blotting papers, this is akin to a tiny miracle. According to the packaging, they're made with natural linen and green tea. I'm quite comfortable putting them on my face and wiping away the disgusting sweat and oil that typify this horrible weather!!! 10/10

Sea Salt Texture Spray

I've been into sea salt texturizing sprays for years now (way back when basically only Fekkai and Bumble+ Bumble had popular versions). Nowadays, almost everyone sells this type of spray in the summer and I've collected a mix of high and low-end brands that all tend to give different results. Plus I've discovered that adding a bit of this spray to your roots when hair is still damp really does help with volume (super important because my hair is super fine and either frizzes out or lies terribly flat without the help of various styling products). As a result, I couldn't help myself and got the spray as an add on. The size is respectable ( pretty much a full size bottle at 3.9 fl oz) and the scent is awesome. I'm glad I got this  because I just know I would've been obsessed with getting it otherwise. Also, even the packaging is cute what with its very ocean-y theme ;) 11/10 

Overall, I'm satisfied with this month's lot but I'm sincerely not as in love as other months. It might be due to the aforementioned fact that the theme just doesn't really 'grab' me (unlike the 20s theme that made me go all the way to the complete upgrade) and that I just don't favor summer colors. Hopefully, next month's theme is less summer-y and if not, I just might finally post an "I Skipped!!!" post. 

Box:

Julep Maven

Frequency:

Monthly

Price:

$19.99 (add-on prices vary and are added on to the $19.99 base price) 

Perks: 

Ability to earn free boxes, ability to use earned jules to pay for add-ons, etc.

Recommend? 

Yep. While I'm not the biggest lover of summer themed boxes, Julep does regularly keep me a very happy customer. Their CS is fantastic (especially if you call in because emails may take a while to get a response) and their variety of offered items gets better every month. This used to be a nail polish only sub but now with the advent of the 'modern beauty' profile, you can get other types of beauty items every month. I'd say try a month (maybe wait until the 20th of this month so you know the August theme even though I think you'd get the intro box and would have to add on the themed box but those are assumptions so check with julep first) if you're really interested. You can always (and should!) cancel if you're not in love

As always, don't spend your hard earned cash on something you're not 100% in love with! 

FabFitFun VIP Summer 13 Box Review

Good news everyone!! (in best professor Farnsworth voice obviously) I'm back! I was a bit ill and doctor visits were involved aaaaand it took me a while to figure out I was sick so my posts had already been a bit erratic but NO MORE!!! I'm back, baby!!!

Today I received my second FabfitFun VIP box! The first one (spring, as it is a seasonal not monthly box) was a bit of a disappointment because of address mixups and a huge deal about getting overstock jewelmint jewelry (which is just disappointing in itself) so my expectations were quite low. However, I was freaking shocked when I opened the box and saw this:

Fabfitfun Summer Box

Just about everything is full sized and I was very surprised to see so many items included. To be honest, I'm damn excited to try most of them (except for the tanner because I just don't do tans) but I'm very happy after expecting a lot less. Again, I decided to avoid spoilers and just wait to be surprised and surprised I am. So, here's the item by item review (I'm super glad that fabfitfun stepped it up because popsugar can always do with some healthy competition even though I LOVE them lol):


Brace yourselves peeps because this review might be a long one due to the amount of items included:


Ivory + Mason Sunglasses

Soooo these are some interesting sunglasses. They're actually pretty cute and look very nineties plus I love the fact that they're grey (one of my favorite colors) but they very much run small so beware. According to my peeps at makeuptalk, the sunglasses are pretty easy to exchange for another style directly through Ivory + Mason (I read the fee was about $10) but I'm planning on keeping them. They came in a little black sunglass bag and with a light blue lens cleaning towel (a great perk because I lost the towel that came with my Dior shades whilst on holiday). Overall, I'm pretty happy about these but I very well know that one style won't suit everyone's tastes so the fact that they can be exchanged is pretty damn cool. 9/10



Catalina Su Lipgloss

First of all, the lip gloss is full sized! I adore lip products so this, to me, is fabulous. I've never heard of Catalina Su (seriously, this lip gloss is my introduction) so I decided to google the brand and they (well, she as Catalina Su is a makeup artist/blogger)  seem pretty small. The lip gloss retails for $14 which isn't very expensive but not too cheap either. The color seems similar to a Nars 'Orgasm' lipgloss dupe and since I love shimmery gold pinks for the summer, this lip product is another score. 10/10



Purlisse-Pur-Delicate Gentle Soy Milk Cleanser

According to the insert, this cleanser was named as one of Vogue's favorite products (nothing to sneeze at even though it really comes down to advertising cash). Since it has delicate and gentle in its name, I'm super down to try it out. My skin suffers from almost every darn problem that it can. The cleanser (it can apparently be used as makeup remover as well) is soap free, and has the following ingredients: soy milk, whole oats, and white tea. Plus it's full size! This is yet another score. I'm telling you guys, I'm soooo glad that fabfitfun improved their stuff because this box made me very happy in an otherwise so/so day. 10/10



Evian Brumisateur Facial Spray

This is something that I've always wanted to buy but have been basically discouraged from buying since it's a 'waste of money'. However, now it's mine!!!!! It is a freaking godsend right now because my skin is suffering thanks to the horrible summer weather (yep, I hate the heat) that is roasting me like a pig on a spit. This item is also full size (hell yes!) and is gonna become a handbag essential for the next couple of months (assuming it lasts that long). 11/10



Infinity Sun Glow on the Go

No box can be perfect and this is the item that I don't care for at all. This is a full sized can of sunless tanning aerosol spray. Since I've never tanned and don't plan to start anytime soon, this one is a bit of a loss for me. I'm guessing I'll either trade it, gift it, or sell it but for the tanning girls among us, this is a much better option than roasting in direct sunlight (it can and will cause wrinkles!) so go for this instead. 7/10



It Hair Care Surf Spray

I love surf spray but I may be suffering from having waaaay too many bottles of it (I currently have: bumble+bumble, not your mother's, and julep's new offering) On the other hand, there's no reason why I can have another bottle since they all have distinct smells and, for some reason, leave my hair different depending on the spray I use. This full size spray includes natural sea salt (omg a typo on the insert says it's natural SEAL salt or at least I hope it's a typo because I love seals!), marine sea kelp, and It Hair Care's exclusive 'Algae Triage Complex'. The 'fresh marine scent' is actually pretty fresh and smells good enough that I'll be able to actually stand it through a day of wear so yeah, I have to admit I love this too. 10/10


KIND Dark Chocolate Chili Almond Bar

I have to be honest, I've already gotten these as samples in other boxes (I think popsugar and birchbox) and I didn't really love them before so I have little interest in trying this one. I'll still end up gobbling it up as a snack when I can't find anything else but I'm not salivating at the prospect of eating one. There are some good things about these bars: they're protein rich, low sodium, and gluten free. Buuut, I'm not overly excited about them anyway. Such is life. 7/10


Orly Nail Polish in Sparkling Garbage

I'm not even kidding about the name!!! This glittery holo color is really named 'sparkling garbage'!!! I can't deny I was put off by that but after really looking at the color, I'm actually really excited to try it out! It looks like a greyish blue and first sight but it's really sparkly and movement gives it a rainbow spectrum of color that looks fucking magical! So, yes, the name is off putting but the color itself is weirdly cool. Plus I found it stashed in the crinkle paper below the other items so it was a really nice surprise! I seriously had just just done my nails when I opened the box so I haven't been able to try out the formula but based on the color, I might be in love. 11/10


Yes to Cucumbers Facial Towlettes (10 ct.) Travel Size

So this is one of the few small things included in the box. I've already purchased these face towlettes before (I'm actually currently using 'yes to grapefruit' facial towlettes right now) and I do like how they work. They don't leave the face feeling overly sticky or overly dry and they're hypoallergenic so they're no likely to make you break out. However, the smell isn't for everyone. Some people don't like the smell (it smells like soapy cucumber not natural cucumbers) but since they're so good for sensitive skin and I can bear the smell, I'm pretty happy to have a travel sized extra that'll be perfect for my next trip. 10/10

Another look at the fabfitfun summer box

Overall, I'm quite happy with this box and since it was such a step up from the inaugural box, I'll definitely be staying on board for the fall (aka my favorite season!!!!!!) box. I think that the amount and variety of items is just right for a girl like me. I know that tastes differ but I'm pretty happy to have almost every item included (with the exception of the tanner that just isn't my style) now in my arsenal so I'm overall pretty satisfied with the summer box. I'd say it's a solid A- and I'm very happy to see that fabfitfun took our concerns into account for this box. Also, I logged into my account and saw that the sign up quiz has been modified to include even more questions about size, coloring, style preferences, etc. which is heartening since I hear that future boxes will be even more tailored to our individual tastes (of course that doesn't mean that we'll automatically love what's included but I'm always excited to try new things) and that is another reason that I'm staying on board.

Box:

FabfitFun VIP Box

Frequency:

Seasonal (next box is Fall '13)

Price:

$49.99 per season (so every ~3 mos.) but you can get a $10 discount with code: 874390 at fabfitfun

Perks: 

Tailored boxes, ability to earn free boxes.

CODES: 

Enter Prom Code 874390 at FabfitFun to get the fall box for 39.99 ($10 discount) (code expires 8/11/13)

If I find any other codes, I'll paste/update here. 

Recommend? 

Currently, yes! I really like the summer box and am very much looking forward to the fall box. This sub is very new, this is their second box so I'm giving them a couple of seasons to get in the swing of things but I'm honestly pretty happy with this summer's offering. It exceeded my expectations and I hope that fall's box will do that too. If it doesn't, then we'll see ;) I'd suggest trying it out for maybe fall and going from there. The good thing is that you can cancel your sub online instead of having to call like some other subs force you to. So, give 'em a try if you're really interested! 

As always, don't buy anything you don't love!!!!! 

Target Beauty Box Review

About six weeks ago, I was surprised to find out that target (which is also known as the store I go to most often) is apparently starting a beauty box program. According to the insert included in the inaugural box, this is going to be a monthly thing. It seems that there were sporadic free beauty bags from tar-jay available some time ago but these are a thing of the past. As of now, the first box was $5 (including shipping) and has long since sold out. Honestly, I jumped on that train so fast. For $5, I didn't expect much and there was no actual ship date so I didn't expect to get it anytime soon. However, there it was on my doorstep. Now, I'm going to review all of it's target-y glory. It is worth mentioning, that while they have mentioned that this might/will be a monthly deal in the future, they haven't given a specific date or price for an actual subscription. For now, all I know is what was printed in the insert that came with the box.

A welcome surprise. 

This is the monthly program announcement as well as a coupon that was kind of useless since I never had time to use it before the expiration date. ETA: It seems that the coupon was extended to 7/13 due to widespread angry posts of target's facebook page lol

Finally, here are the contents of said box. All this for $5.00? Hell yeassssss. 

On to the item by item review:


La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo Foil Packet Sample

According to the insert this product was previously only available through a dermatologist and is a 'breakthrough' acne treatment. Since I've been having some issues on that front, this sample is welcome. However, I don't think it's quite enough to really make a difference. However, my plan is to give it a try once or twice and then look at my skin's reaction and go from there. 9/10


Fekkai Glossing Cream

I've already used this and I love it. I ran out a while ago and completely forgot to get some more because I'm always trying out the newest stuff but I was super excited to see this in the box. Seriously, freaking elated especially since we've been getting some horrible humid weather and my hair is not reacting favorably, to say the least. This cream is going on my ends asap. Plus the size of the sample is definitely deluxe or even travel sized. No foil packets for this one. 11/10


Gillette Venus and Olay Razor Pack

So, I actually tend to use this brand quite often. Right now, I think I'm using the same brand but not the exact same razor. I saw this one at the store and mentally added it to my shopping list for the next week and weirdly enough, I got this the next day. This item is full sized so that's a plus but the "sugarberry" razor is pink as hell and that might be a deterrent for some. I got it for next to nothing so I'll be using this baby as soon as I need it. 10/10


L'Oreal Magic Skin Beautifier BB Cream in 'Fair' foil packet

Touted as a magic all-in-one bb cream, this mass market sample is pretty small and doesn't have enough actual BB creme to try more than once (or once if you're lucky) so I'm not loving it. Also, it is something I could purchase full sized for something like $10 so it isn't something I really care to sample in the first place. Nevertheless, I'll try it out. 5/10


Sally Hansen Salon Effects Real Nail Polish Strips

I've gotten different brand samples of nail polish strips and I do actually like them. I tend to do one hand perfectly and the other is total shite when I use normal nail polish. Why? Because my dominant hand does an awesome job of painting my nails while my other hand sucks! The strips came in 'cosmic' (black base with large opal/gold glitter) and honestly, I love them but not for summer. I'm going to save these for the fall and rock them in October (I love love LOVE halloween as y'all will see) when dark nails don't feel so out of place. Overall though, I'm happy with this item because I never would've tried these otherwise. I'm a horrible snob about mass market stuff and tend to bypass Sally Hansen but after trying these strips, I might be buying some more. 10/10




Overall, I'm pretty happy with what I got for the price I paid. I didn't expect much for $5.00 and really, I expected less. I'm very lucky to have liked almost every item included and I'm definitely onboard for a monthly sub if it happens. Especially if it's $5/month! There hasn't been a cheaper sub out there that I know of besides birchbox (at $10/month) and I know that tar-jay has the power to be even cheaper because they're absolutely freaking huge (not that that's really a good thing). I do like me some healthy competition and more options out there plus I LOVE legit options (none of that only through fb bs or a shitty website full of grammatical/spelling errors that looks like it was made with windows '95) so I'm into the idea of this box for now. Hopefully, they'll announce a date/price for the possible monthly program and if/when they do, I'll be sure to post it asap in case anyone reading this is interested in joining in.

Box:

Target Beauty Box

Frequency:

One-off/monthly program tba (?)

Price:

$5.00

Perks:

N/A

Recommend? 

For $5, I'd say give it a whirl. I could just as easily spend $5 on a coffee at Starbucks so I'm down to get samples for that price. As of now, they're all sold out so we have to wait for the next box/announcement to see what the future holds.  

Whimseybox June '13 Review

Good news everyone!!!

Guess what I got in the mail today? Well, judging from the title of this post, you already know but I'm still excited so here goes:

my June Whimseybox !!!!!!!!


So without further ado, here is the review (preview: this month's project is cray cray at first sight but I'm totes doing it):


First of all, this box was really heavy when I got it and that made me wonder what was inside. I never everrrr thought it was cement mix. But yep, cement mix is involved. As are apparently live plants and more washi tape (!!!!!!)

OOOOHH EXCITEMENT!!!

Even more excitement!!!!!!! 

Omg Omg Omg!!!!!

Wut? 

Those captions truly capture my train of thought whilst opening the box. To be honest, I went wtf a couple of times before actually looking at the instructions and what I was supposed to make which is:

Yep, a cement planter or candle holder, a tealight is included. 

This month's Whimseybox theme is 'Cement All The Things' so, yes, cement plays a big part in it. The box includes the following:

1 (big ass) Bag of cement mix (to be mixed with water so easy peasy)

3 Rolls of Washi Tape in: pink geo pattern, teal geo pattern, black/grey geo pattern (aka score!!!)

3 Plants? They seem to be live plants and I'm not huge on botany so I'm confoooosed to say the least.

1 Tea Light (for the candle holder option)

1 2-Sided pattern page for the cement molding (Pattern One- Icosahedron and Pattern Two- Octahedron) and possible geometry related nightmares ;)

1 Nice postcard/instruction insert

1 Stick-On Label for the craft box.

And it all comes packed in a craft box and tied up with a ribbon (blue this month).


So, how hard does this month's project seem?

Not very. Honestly, the only work you have to put in is mixing the cement. After that's set you basically stick something in the hole (whooo! double entendre!) and decorate the holder with washi tape. It isn't the most exciting project that I've seen but I'm actually interested in doing it because I've never worked with cement before.

Plus, this self-contained project with straightforward instructions is what I'm all about. Whimseybox does a good job of sending unexpected projects and I'm liking that. If all we got was yarn and glue, I'd be out right quick. However, I like the fact that they're exposing me to new mediums that I would never think to try by myself. Actually, I love that. I came back to whimseybox for the crafty fun and the washi tape (omg I'm in loooooove with washi tape) and now I think I might be in love! Plus the shipping was super fast aka a wonder in the time of fedex slowpost and UPS 'why make it easy to get something when we could send it to 18 regional hubs before getting to you' sub box deliveries. What else can I say? Not much besides saying that crafts are awesome and not for grandmas or whatever the stereotype used to be!

Box:

Whimseybox

Frequency:

Monthly

Price:

$15/month but $10 for 1st month here

Perks: 

Ability to earn free boxes! 

Recommend? 

As of now, yes! I'm on a crafting binge and I'm currently in love with this box. However, please remember that you should only sub if you actually love crafting or really want to try a project or two to get started. Another pro worth mentioning is that this sub is accesible for beginners and has uncomplicated projects so if you're new to the crafting craze, you can definitely start here. 

 As I always say, don't spend your money on anything you don't love! 

Ipsy June '13 Glam Bag Review

Lots of updates for my peeps today as I finally got my June Ipsy glam bag and my inaugural Target Beauty Box so I many a sample for you guys to peruse! First, I'll start with my ipsy because there is drama (!) up ahead in the review so let's do this!


I finally (FINALLY) got my Ipsy June Glam Bag today and was freaking elated because I knew it included a starlooks lip pencil (I was lucky enough to get one for free a few months ago thanks to a contest on makeuptalk) so I know what great quality these pencils have. Alas, my happiness was short lived. Why? Because my pencil was broken!!!! Broken!!! Like my heart after I discovered said breakage. Not only that but the shade was horrifying. A purplish brown nude color made for (now I'm just guessing here) the stylish zombie! I used a shard of the pencil to swatch it on my hand and it looked even worse! I quickly emailed ipsy and hope to get a swift response but the pencil will still be included in the review. Although, I think I've pretty much elaborated my travails with said pencil of sadness.

These are the other items included and all full size which is great. 

A better pic w/ no flash. You might note the NYX blush which looks way lighter than it actually is. 

NYX Blush in 'PB 22 Pecan'

So, I'm not a huge NYX fan because it seems pretty downmarket in comparison to the stuff I usually use (yes, I'm a bit of a makeup snob and yes, I know it sucks) but I was actually excited to try something from NYX because I've decided to chill and give everything a chance. Unfortunately, the color I got (pecan) is a bit too brown for me to work with. I like a pink blush because it resembles the natural blush I have. I've tried darker blushes but they just look like really horrible stains of my cheeks. Therefore, this blush is going into the 'to gift/trade/trash' bag. 5/10


Starlooks Lip Pencil in 'Bare'

It is a terrible color but the color payoff and the texture is magnificent! I wholeheartedly recommend Starlooks because their lip pencils are magnificent. They're non-drying and almost buttery when applied. I also have 'tipsy' (a very bright coral color) and I love that one. Unfortunately (or fortunately due to the shade), this bag's pencil was broken. Well, I guess I'll just have to use the discount to buy a shade I like from starlooks ;) 8/10


Chella Ivory Lace Highlighter

Now this item, I like! It is apparently meant for highlighting around eyes but can also be used to cover up any spots or dark areas. The texture is soft and glides on the skin. Chella is another brand I've actually never heard of before but this is a great introduction. This pencil is going directly into my daily use make-up bag. Love it. 10/10


Cailyn Gel Eyeliner in 'Iron'

As I've said before, I'm not huge on eyeliner. I usually leave it for special occasions and typically do a super light eye for my daily makeup. Why? Well, it isn't a dearth of eyeliners (I have so many and keep getting the goddamn things every month!) but I'm not the best at applying the eyeliner and I always tend to muss it up because I always end up rubbing my eyes. So I tend to keep away from eyeliners for the aforementioned reasons. However, I'm interested in this eyeliner because it is applied with a brush and it is a gel liner. The best part? It's not basic black! It's 'Iron' a dark metallic which will look great for day or night looks depending on blending. This one is a score too. 9/10


J.Cat Sparkling Cream Palette in 'Volta'

It's weird because it looks like an eye palette and comes with eyeshadow sponge applicators but it isn't! It's apparently not meant to be used near the eyes at all! This cream glitter set is actually meant for the body. Many people might not like it as body glitter is usually associated with younger girls and ....well.... strippers buuuut I like it. I'm sorry, I do! I have an extreme weakness for sparkly things and this glitter comes in 5 sparkly shades of glittery, sparkly awesomeness. This set, called 'Volta', has gold glitter, what seems like a blue/teal glitter, bronze/iron-y glitter, black/silver glitter, and metallic blue glitter. I love all of the shades and I'm just trying to figure out how I can wear them without looking like a complete wanker. I'm guessing I'll have to try them on at night because going to the supermarket with a face full of glitter like a Kesha (I refuse to spell it with a dollar sign) wannabe might (just might) look out of place ;) 10/10


Overall, I really do like this month's Ipsy Glam Bag. I was already in love with the products when I saw the sneak peeks online but I was very disappointed with the shades I got for the blush and the lipliner. Brown blush and purple-brown lipliner makes me think they mixed up my bag with one for a chola from 1994 (no disrespect to any cholas today, do your thang, ladies!). Not my style. Due to the shade problems and the broken pencil, I can't rate this month's bag as a total score but I really did like it. Plus the leopard bag with neon zipper accents actually looks cute and trendy even though I fucking hate leopard anything. I'll give this month a B. If everything was right (better colors and no broken pencil), I would've most definitely been an A.

Box:

Ipsy Glam Bag

Frequency:

Monthly (billed on the 1st, ships around mid-month)

Price:

$10.00 (plus tax in CA, I pay $10.80)

Perks: 

Website lets you create looks, compete in contests, and earn extras through social network participation. 

Recommend? 

Yep. I might've not gotten the luck of the draw this month with the lip pencil and blush but I really did like everything else. Plus, I haven't gotten any bag that I'd rate a total disappointment since I subscribed. I told myself I'd sub a couple of months and then make a decision and so far, it's a keeper. Especially since everything this month was full-sized. 

As always, if you're really interested, give it a try but never spend your money on something you don't love!