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Blissmobox: 4 PM Snacks

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Still playing catch-up with my reviews… this is the Nov box and I chose the 4 PM Snacks one because I’d gotten plenty of beauty products through Yuzen and I wanted more snacks.

blissmobox is just under $25 per month with shipping (or as discounted as just under $120 for 6 months) and comes with eco-friendly products in themes like beauty, snacks, home, pets, and more. Each month you choose from two or three themes, or skip if none of them appeal to you. They do not offer a referral program.

the choices for november's blissmobox: body bliss, 4pm snacks, or pantry picks

The three choices for the November blissmobox.

I opened it at night so forgive me for any weird lighting.

opened blissmobox november 2012 with information card

collage of cinnamon crunch somersaultsSomersault Snack Co.Cinnamon Crunch Somersaults – I’ve tried a bunch of these ever since I was first introduced to them by my friend’s mom a few years back. I don’t know what it is, but I’m just not a fan. Maybe it’s because they are so dense and crunchy that I barely get two bites before I swallow. Maybe it’s just because I’m not that into nuts. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but part of it is definitely because the taste is not quite what I like. I’ve tried sweet ones and salty ones and they’re just not my thing.

collage of nature's bakery whole wheat raspberry fig barNature’s Bakery, Whole Wheat Raspberry Fig Bar – These would make a great snack in the afternoon. They are just packed with goodness and they taste quite good. A very healthy alternative to whatever snack you might have picked up instead. I don’t think you could eat the entire pack of two in one sitting – I found that just half was enough to tide me over for quite awhile. Since I don’t eat energy bars, I think this would be the perfect product to eat to get a similar effect.

collage of scharffen berger bittersweet fine artisan dark chocolate barScharffen Berger, 70% Cacao Bittersweet Fine Artisan Dark Chocolate bar – I love dark chocolate and this bar was no exception. It was very… sturdy? Haha basically it took a little extra to break it, but I think that’s exactly why it was so smooth and delicious. I have a feeling this is less likely to melt than a lot of other chocolate bars out there, but I have no idea why. Another great treat to have lying around.

collage of numi pu erh mini sampler teasNumi Organic Teapu erh mini sampler – Pu erh tea is something of an acquired taste and while I didn’t find these too strong, they were a bit too fermented for me. This sampler set includes Chocolate, Emperor’s, Jasmine, Basil Mint, Cardamom and Ginger Pu·erhs. I haven’t tried all the flavors (I’m a bit hesitant about chocolate and tea in one drink) but the ones I did try are decent. I wouldn’t go running out to buy them, but I will definitely drink them. Who knows, maybe I’ll develop a taste for pu erh!

collage of honey republic raw wildflower organic honey jarHoney Republic, Organic Raw Wildflower Honey – Wow! What a large jar of honey. The consistency of this brand is less gooey than others I’ve tried, which can be nice when you don’t want to wait ages for the honey to crawl out of the top. The taste is subtly flowery or herby or… something. I can’t quite place it, but it definitely has a little extra beyond regular honey and it’s quite nice. I had no idea Honey Republic made so many other flavors too and I’d love to try the Green Tea with Honey and Lemon flavor! For now I’m working on using up this jar, which will last me a very long time.

collage of pamela's products chocolate brownie mix bag pouchPamela’s Products, Chocolate Brownie Mix – These are gluten-free and non-dairy! I must admit I actually haven’t tried them yet, but I swear I will. I wonder if the flavor would be less rich because there is no dairy. I’ve never tried making microwave brownies before so this would be a great thing to try since I’ve been curious about those “brownie in a mug” things.

If you’d like more info on these brands, you can click below to enlarge the photo and read more.

blissmobox 4pm snacks info sheet

 

Blissmobox: Harvest Snacks

laelene Post in reviews, subscriptions,Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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Another belated review, but Blissmo sometimes offers old boxes up so hopefully this will come in useful!

blissmobox is just under $25 per month with shipping (or as discounted as just under $120 for 6 months) and comes with eco-friendly products in themes like beauty, snacks, home, pets, and more. Each month you choose from two or three themes, or skip if none of them appeal to you. They do not offer a referral program.

the choices for october's blissmobox: harvest snacks or skin appeal

The two choices for the October blissmobox.

I had gotten a good amount of skincare type products from previous months, so I was in the mood for some food again! This is the October box and I went with Harvest Snacks to fill my belly.

collage of october harvest snacks blissmobox contents including alive & radiant kale chips, kur delights coconut cream, brothers-all-natural crisps in asian pear and fuji apple, two clif kit's organic fruit & nut bars, and lush nuts in three flavors

collage of alive & radiant foods kale krunch in quite cheezyAlive & Radiant Foods Kale Krunch, Quite Cheezy – These are really nice! I love the light texture and the crispiness. It crumbles easily so you don’t have to worry about having to bite hard and the “cheese” is actually made from veggies! It still tastes good and rather cheesy though, so that’s awesome. I really enjoyed these and actually went out to get some more. This turned out to be my favorite flavor after trying some others. Kale is really good for you and some people don’t like it when wet, so this dried version can be a perfect alternative.

collage of kur delights coconut creamKur Delights, Coconut Cream – For a coconut fanatic, these would probably be great. One little square is quite filling, but I don’t like when my snacks are so “heavy” and these are really dense. Their packaging is so cute and I love that the product is raw – you probably get more nutrition that way. Of course, if you’re allergic to nuts you’d want to avoid this since it contains cashews & coconuts.

collage of brothers all-natural asian pear crispsBrothers-All-Natural Crisps, Asian Pear – The freeze-dried texture is pretty unique – rather fluffy in its crispness, if that makes sense. They’re quite good and have a nice light pear flavor. I mean how can you go wrong with taking real pears, slicing them up, and making a snack from that? You get all the benefits of the fruit without the messiness, plus these keep for much longer. If you like Asian Pears, these are a perfect way to enjoy them on the go.

collage of brothers all-natural fuji apple crispsBrothers-All-Natural Crisps, Fuji Apple – Same deal with these fuji apple slices. These were a bit sweeter and had a stronger flavor to them. The apple wants to make sure you know its there! I love that a single bag contains 2 servings of fruit. What a quick and easy way to get in more of your fruit servings each day. The natural taste of the apple shines through and it makes for a yummy crunchy snack.

collage of lush nuts in salt & pepper, original, and dark cocoa chiliLush NutsSalt & Pepper, Original, & Dark Cocoa Chili – I’m not much into nuts, but these were decent. The Chili ones had quite a kick to them! I’m pretty sensitive to spicy things so I couldn’t quite eat them all. I liked the original the best and the seal & pepper next. The salt & pepper ones were a bit more salty than I would have liked, but the sweetness helped even it out a bit. Couldn’t tell there was any pepper.

collage of clif kit's organic fruit & nut bar in peanut butterCLIF KIT’s Organic Fruit & Nut bar, Peanut Butter – I don’t really like peanut butter, so I don’t know if I’m a fair judge for this bar. Personally, I found it a bit too dense, much like the coconut delights from above. It wasn’t too peanut buttery and more just peanuty – I didn’t get that creamy sort of taste. I think this would be a great bar for sustained energy if you’re working out or can’t grab a proper lunch (and assuming you like peanut/peanut butter flavored stuff).

If you’d like more info on these brands, you can click below to enlarge the photo and read more.

blissmobox harvest snacks info sheet

Blissmobox: Fair Trade Favorites II

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Another belated review, but Blissmo sometimes offers old boxes up so hopefully this will come in useful! The options were Pantry Picks, Fair Trade Favorites II, or Skin ‘n’ Hair Care (which I had gotten in a previous month).

blissmobox is just under $25 per month with shipping (or as discounted as just under $120 for 6 months) and comes with eco-friendly products in themes like beauty, snacks, home, pets, and more. Each month you choose from two or three themes, or skip if none of them appeal to you. They do not offer a referral program.

the choices for september's blissmobox: pantry picks, fair trade favorites ii, or skin 'n' hair care

The three choices for the September blissmobox.

This was my September 2012 box and I chose the Fair Trade Favorites option since their original Fair Trade box seemed to have been well-received, plus I totally wanted to discover more Fair Trade products!

collage of september fair trade favorites ii blissmobox contents including green mountain coffee, eli's earth bar, hand in hand soap, two larabars, ecolips lip balm, and akoma shea butter

collage of hand in hand soap orange blossom soap barHand in Hand shea butter soap, Orange Blossom – I thought this was totally adorable and amazing! The packaging is really nice and I’d never heard of shea butter soap before, so that was intriguing. These are made in Vermont from vegetable-based ingredients – they’re biodegradable and cruelty-free! This is one of those brands that gives a product each time one is sold (like Tom’s shoes or other similar buy a soap give a soap brands). The orange blossom scent sounded amazing, but I found that it was too light for my liking. It almost felt like a scentless soap, so this is being used in the kitchen since I like fresher smells when washing my hands there.

collage of eli's earth bars dream big barEli’s Earth bars, Dream Big – This lovely bar was just fasntastic. Yummy, yummy! I gobbled it right up and wanted more, which is funny because I’m not really a fan of peanuts or peanut butter. Yet, the way they made this was very tasty without being overly “peanuty” so it’s an excellent treat to have in lieu of Snickers/Milky Way/Mars Bars sort of junk food. Plus, they support children in need and who doesn’t want to help children?

collage of akoma skincare shea million soft shea butterAkoma Skincare raw shea butter, Shea Million – I was pretty excited when I saw this. I hear shea butter and I think all kinds of wonderful things. However, since this is a raw shea butter with no scent, I got to really smell shea and I found I don’t really like it. I love how it melts with your body heat, which is pretty fun. I’m saving this to either gift to someone or use for when my hands need some extra loving.

collage of green mountain coffee signature vermont country blendGreen Mountain Coffee grinds, Signature Vermont Country Blend – I personally do not drink coffee, but I was still glad to see this because my future brother-in-law is pretty obsessed and I knew he could appreciate a nice blend. I gave it to him for his birthday and heard back not long after that it was very tasty! If his discerning taste buds give the stamp of approval, I’m sure most coffee-lovers out there would enjoy it too.

collage of ecolips hemp lip balm vanillaEcoLips Organic Hemp lip balm, Vanilla – I’ve gotta say, I’m not sure how I feel about hemp. In middle school it was like a buzz word for drugs or something, but then by college I saw getting those hemp bracelets without qualms. Why is there a bit of a negative connotation around that word? I mean hemp itself isn’t anything bad, right? I was a little hesitant to try this since I didn’t want to numb my lips or something (no idea why I would think that). It’s really just like any other lip balm though, with a nice sweet vanilla scent and it glides on quite well.

collage of larabar chocolate chip brownie & chocolate chip cookie dough barsLÄRABAR fruit & nut bar, Chocolate Chip Brownie & Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough – Oh my, these are dense! I thought the small size would not be enough, but just one piece and I was feeling full. They sure to pack it in there! Both flavors were quite good and if I worked out, I’d totally be stocking up on these to eat after a workout. For now my life is too sedentary to need a “power bar” sort of thing like this.

If you’d like more info on these brands, you can click below to enlarge the photo and read more.
blissmobox fair trade favorites info sheet

Blissmobox: Anniversary special

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Ah, the anniversary box.  This is what got me into this whole subscription box thing – a fateful email that I received telling me that if I subscribed for a year, I’d get free shipping on the boxes AND a bonus 13th special edition box.

blissmobox is just under $25 per month with shipping (or as discounted as just under $120 for 6 months – as you can see, they used to offer an annual subscription but that is gone) and comes with eco-friendly products in themes like beauty, snacks, home, pets, and more. Each month you choose from two or three themes, or skip if none of them appeal to you. They do not offer a referral program.

email from blissmo announcing blissmobox anniversary offer

I just couldn’t resist so I decided to sign up for a subscription.  Here’s what ultimately came in that anniversary box:

contents of blissmobox anniversary edition including eco logical sunscreen, peeled snacks apple-2-the-core, bates water filtration bottle with blissmo logo, all terrain insect repellent, and neutrogena naturals night cream

Not pictured: ecover dishwasher tablets

collage of peeled snacks apple-2-the-core dried fruit snackPeeled Snacks gently dried fruit, Apple-2-the-core – I’m not usually a huge fan of apples, but I ate these up pretty fast!  I love that they’re just apples, plain and simple.  They’re slightly sweet and so light that they’re really the perfect snack when you want a little something but don’t want too much sugar.

collage of all terrain herbal armor insect repellentAll Terrain insect repellent, Herbal Armor spray – As you can see, it comes out a rich milky white, but rubs on clear.  There’s a strong herbal, almost medicinal scent that’s sure to keep bugs away.  Maybe I just haven’t used it enough to loosen up the nozzle, but it always comes out more liquidy than misty for me.

collage of bates water filtration bottle with blissmo brandingBayes water filtration bottle, blissmo branded – This is a fun water bottle with filter built into the cap.  The nice thing is when you’re on the go, you just put tap water in and by the time it reaches your lips, the water has been filtered for you.  That way you can bring an empty bottle wherever you go and just get water from any restroom sink.  Or if you’re particularly impatient, you don’t have to wait and watch as the water trickles through your normal filter – just start gulping!

eco logical skin care sunscreen, for body – I didn’t realize it at first, but this product was actually on my “to try someday” list after I learned about it through Daily Grommet.  I’m looking forward to using it on my day out or vacation since I don’t really get much sun otherwise.  I haven’t opened it yet since I want to preserve it until I’m ready to use it, but I’d imagine its consistency to be something like toothpaste.

collage of neutrogena naturals multi-vitamin night creamNeutrogena Naturals skincare, multi-vitamin nourishing night cream – I’ve been using this every night after I shower.  It’s definitely a thick, creamy face cream that hydrates my skin.  I also love the light, slightly sweet smell it has, which is soothing and relaxing.  I had no idea that Neutrogena had a new line of natural products, so it was cool to be introduced to that and hopefully they’ll expand the line to take over the original products eventually.

collage of ecover dishwasher tablets sampleecover natural cleaning products, automatic dishwasher tablets – I don’t actually use the dishwasher to wash dishes, so I’m still trying to figure out what to do with these samples.  I guess I could use the dishwasher just to try them out, but I’m not sure I even know how to operate the thing.  Maybe I’ll just try dissolving them into the water I use to wash the dishes.

 

Overall this was a random box with no real theme, but it provided a nice introduction to more eco-friendly products in many categories.

 

Blissmobox: Skin ‘n’ Hair Care

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Ready for the belated August blissmobox low-down?  Here goes!  The options for that month were Skin ‘n’ Hair Care, Lunchbox Snacks, or Pristine & Clean.

blissmobox is just under $25 per month with shipping (or as discounted as just under $120 for 6 months) and comes with eco-friendly products in themes like beauty, snacks, home, pets, and more. Each month you choose from two or three themes, or skip if none of them appeal to you. They do not offer a referral program.

the choices for august's blissmobox: skin'n'hair care, lunchbox snacks, or pristine & clean

The three choices for the August blissmobox.

Since I had just gotten a box of snacks and I wasn’t particularly interested in excuses for cleaning, the beauty box was perfect!  When I opened the box, I was greeted by a sampling of items for just about any skincare need, ranging from practical to pampering.

collage of august skin 'n' hair care blissmobox contents

 

collage of wellinhand action remedies therapy oilWellinhand Action Remedies, Therapy Oil – The most practical of them all, this little oil is great for all kinds of skin conditions ranging from cuts and burns to soreness and pain.  I haven’t really had any skin conditions that I can test it out on, but the soothing herbal scent with a slight hint of sweetness already indicates to me it has some of the healing properties of herbs.  I almost didn’t see the sample when I was looking at the info sheet, so it would have been nice if there had been a more decent size included.

collage of mychelle pumpkin renewal face and neck cream unscentedMyChelle Dermaceuticals Pumpkin Renew Cream, Unscented – This is a rich and creamy face and neck cream that is gentle and soothing.  It has a thicker consistency than a lot of other moisturizers and even feels a a bit elastic.  It’s really nice!  I also love that the pumpkins they use come from their very own garden (or so it says).

collage of hugo naturals all over lotion in comforting vanilla & sweet orange scentHugo Naturals All Over Lotion, Comforting Vanilla & Sweet Orange – Can you say YUMMY?!  The combination of the sweet and citrus elements in this lotion remind me of a delicious orange cupcake!  It gives me a warm, fuzzy feeling whenever I put it on and it’s almost like getting a dose of comfort food.

collage of giovanni brazilian keratin & argan oil ultra-sleek shampooGiovanni Eco Chic Hair Care, Brazilian Keratin & Argan Oil Ultra-Sleek Shampoo – This shampoo has a really nice smell that I think is something like macadamia nut?  I can’t quite pinpoint it, but it’s familiar and nutty.  The shampoo is pretty runny as you can see, but it’s also creamy and rich.  I love the subtle sweet scent that lingers and makes using this shampoo feel like a luxurious experience!

collage of la fresh eco-beauty instant body soother towelettes in natural peppermint scentLa Fresh eco-beauty, Instant Body Soother – I wasn’t too sure what to do with a “body soother” at first, but then I discovered that it is PERFECT for after a workout.  The minty smell gets deep in your lungs to really refresh while it cools and soothes your skin!  It’s downright pampering.  😉  These moist towelettes are just moist enough to gently clean away some of the grime on your skin, yet aren’t so wet that you have to wait for the residue to evaporate.  La Fresh is really water-conscious in how they produce their products, which I totally love!

 

If you’d like more info on these brands, you can click below to enlarge the photo and read more.

collage of blissmobox skin 'n' hair care info sheet

 

Blissmobox: Blissful Bites

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After much anticipation, I’ve finally gotten to enjoy my very first blissmobox!  This is the July box and I chose the Blissful Bites option to get my snack on.

blissmobox is just under $25 per month with shipping (or as discounted as just under $120 for 6 months) and comes with eco-friendly products in themes like beauty, snacks, home, pets, and more. Each month you choose from two or three themes, or skip if none of them appeal to you. They do not offer a referral program.

the choices for july's blissmobox: naturally hers, naturally his, or blissful bites

The three choices for the July blissmobox.

Inside, I found seven great items: 479° Popcorn, Beanitos chips, Crunchmaster crackers, Betty Lou’s cereal bar, Braga Farms pistachios, Giddy Up granola, and Panda licorice.  It’s a nice mix of sweet and salty, crunchy and chewy, all with plenty of flavor and goodness to boot.

collage of july blissful bites blissmobox with contents slowly unveiled

collage of 479 popcorn in black truffle and white cheddar flavor479° Popcorn, Black Truffle & White Cheddar – I’m actually not a huge fan of popcorn, so it’s a feat that I actually liked this one. The flavor hits you after you eat some and inhale… it’s very rich and a bit overwhelming, but strangely addicting. I’ve never really cared for truffles but this gives me just enough of the flavor without making me queasy.

collage of beanitos black bean chips in chipotle bbq flavorBeanitos black bean chips, Chipotle BBQ – These are so much like corn chips I’d never miss the old stuff. Great taste and crunch factor, though the chipotle BBQ flavor was a bit spicy for my sensitive taste. Still, I enjoyed them and would eat them despite the stomachache.

collage of crunchmaster multi-seed crackers in original flavorCrunchmaster multi-seed crackers, Original – Talk about extremely crunchy! These rice crackers offer a satisfying crackle as you eat them. They are tasty on their own, and probably awesome with dip.

collage of betty lou's justgreatstuff cereal bar in superberry acai flavorBetty Lou’s JustGreatStuff cereal bar, Superberry Açaí – Moist and luscious, with bits of fruit to chew on and a gentle sweetness. These are so much better than other cereal or energy bars! If I needed an on-the-go snack I’d totally have to get these.

collage of braga farms pistachios in salted flavorBraga Farms organic pistachios, roast & salted – I’ve never been particular to pistachios so I don’t lean either way with these. They taste much like other pistachios I’ve had and they’re organic, so that gives them bonus points!

collage of giddy up and go granola in notoriously nutty flavorGiddy Up & GO granola, Notoriously Nutty – Wow! I have never actually been excited to eat granola, but one bite of this and I was shocked into a smile. I think it’s the cinnamon that gives it a delicious sweetness, coupled with the slightly soft chewiness that makes this so good. This isn’t the dried-out, washed-up granola you may be used to.

collage of panda licorice in blueberry flavorPanda licorice, Blueberry – I took a bite and was surprised that this was a rather dry treat. I despise normal black licorice so I was reluctant to try this, but then I love blueberry-flavored things, so I gave it a shot. It has a nice mild flavor and kind of reminds me of a blueberry fruit strip or soft granola bar. There is a slight lingering taste of licorice but nothing too strong.

If you’d like more info on these brands, you can click below to enlarge the photo and read more.

information on brands included in blissmobox's july edition blissful bites

Yogi Surprise December 2014 review

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Yay, my very first Yogi Surprise box arrived today! It looks like this company is run by the same folks as Escape Monthly so they offer a similar photo contest to win a trip (in this case a yoga retreat as opposed to a general vacation getaway with Escape Monthly). I got a deal for their “Purple Friday” so I decided to go for it. The original price of $44.95 is just too much for me. I think $40 is my general subscription box limit and my preferred range is $15-20. I’m pretty excited about what came, so I’ll keep this subscription going.

Yogi Surprise is just under $36 per box (with code for 20% off your subscription – use my referral links from this post) and comes with yoga gear, skincare, food, and other lifestyle products. Boxes are sent monthly with no option to skip. They offer a referral program that earns you free boxes.

front of yogi surprise purple box back of yogi surprise purple boxcontents of yogi surprise december 2014 box

Urban Moonshine Energy Tonic – I’m still trying to understand this product, but it’s certainly intriguing. I think I’m supposed to spray it in my mouth to get a boost of energy? It feels so very strange, but I can see how it can quickly deliver energy. This one tastes a little bitter, as I imagine all of them do (they are tonics, after all). I don’t think I could do more than a few sprays at a time. I could mix it with water to dilute the flavor though. We’ll see if this actually helps with energy!

essential living foods chocolate-covered cacao nibs – I like chocolate and cacao, so this is a nice treat. It’s certainly not the sweet kind of chocolate kids may want, but if you like dark chocolate and the crunch of nibs, it’s kind of like munching on seeds. I think this is supposed to help with both energy, being a superfood, and mood, what with the chocolate and whatnot. I’ll nibble on a few throughout the day whenever I need a little boost.

booda butter daily moisturizer – Yes!! I’ve wanted to try booda butter ever since I saw them on Beautiful Basics. This is fantastic and I’m so excited. It’s a generous size tin and it starts melting right as you put your body heat on it. Then it just melts into your skin like it can’t wait to moisturize you. This is wonderful and I’m so happy to see it included. Totally fits the yoga lifestyle and it’s exactly what I wanted.

Star Essence Angel Rejuvenation Spray – Funny enough, back when I chose a yoga-themed box from blissmobox, I received another product from this brand. That was a mouth mist and this is a face/pillow/air mist, so I’m glad to try something else of theirs. I love it as a relaxing pillow spray and calming facial mist. I might spray myself with this before I start my yoga practice next time. I’ll also want to use it on my pillow at night!

Metolius Tea & Apothecary Cardamom Rose Mate tea – So this was in my box instead of the Indian Tiger Eye mala beads. I’m not sure how I feel about that knowing I didn’t get the original intended product, but I do like this one. Still, I wonder if those beads would have come in useful for meditation. In all reality, I probably wouldn’t even have used them so this is probably far more practical. The tea is just gorgeous – rose petals, peppercorn, and green leaves mix in a beautiful blend. I look forward to drinking it – it’s probably very soothing! This is another brand I’m familiar with because I received it in an Escape Monthly box. I think I’m going to like this flavor more.

skout pacific sea salt raw pumpkin seeds – Seeds are pretty good for us, so I’ll eat these. They’re quite salty at first taste, but then as I chew the seeds, it mellows out. I think this would be great mixed with other items. I could eat a handful here and there too. The brand looked familiar, and lo and behold, it came in a Conscious Box once. I don’t like bars, so I never did try that…

Yogi Surprise yoga strap – How cool that they made their own branded yoga straps! All I have are mats and a carrying bag, so I’m glad to be adding to my yoga toolkit with this strap. I think I’ll try to use it at home to stretch better. If I remember to bring it to class, I may use it too (but I hardly ever use straps in class). I think I’d make more use of it if we ever get an instructor to come to work. For some reason that type of class would make me want to bring more of my own stuff.

yogi surprise dec 2014 info card with gift of giving theme yogi surprise december 2014 info card with product details booda butter offer card in yogi surprise box with 20% off orders code

So there you go, Yogi Surprise for December! So far I am impressed and I look forward to the next box. I think I’m going to have to cancel one of my other subscriptions though, if I’m picking this one up long-term.

[This post contains affiliate links. Signing up through them helps support my subscription and I’d be ever so grateful. 🙂 All opinions are my own and I received no compensation for this review. I just purchased this box and wanted to share what I got!]

Empties: Tree Hut, Physician’s Formula, Joyful Bath Co, NYC New York Color, Juice Beauty

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I’ve been meaning to put together some empties posts for a long time, but somehow it hasn’t happened yet. Here we go with the very first one! I’ll share five items that I’ve completely used up and what I thought of each. This is a really varied batch, with everything from skincare to beauty to bath. Each happens to have been a hit with me, though I promise I won’t only share what I liked in future posts.

empty tree hut shea body butter in coconut lime containerTree Hut Shea Body Butter in Coconut Lime

This little tub came in a blissmobox and my opinion of it is still as great as the first impression. The scent is just fantastic and tropical without being crazy sweet like some scents. It lasted me a long time since it doesn’t take much to get great results. I’m a huge fan of this body butter and I was pleased to receive it also in one of my Beauty Box 5 boxes! The tub is also a really nice size for repurposing. I’ve since put some homemade body scrub in it. I would absolutely buy this and try the other scents too.

empty physician's formula bb powder container with used brushPhysician’s Formula BB Powder in Medium/Deep

I got a free sample of this and I’m so glad I did because it’s now my must-have powder. In fact, I didn’t use much on my face before but now that I’ve used this, I can’t stop. I get great results with nice coverage for my face, especially paired with my BB cream. I’ve already bought another one and am nearly done with that one too. When they had the buy one get one sale at Target, I really should have jumped on that. Here’s to hoping they offer something similar for the upcoming holiday sales. I wish it had better staying power though. I always forget to not touch my face, so midway through the day a lot of this has been rubbed off, especially on my giant breakouts. I use my own brush instead of the one that it comes with, since the flat line was making strange patterns on my face.

joyful bath co oatsy floatsie tagJoyful Bath Co soap in Oatsy Floatsie

I bought this back at Green Festival DC 2012 and I’m really glad I did. This lavender and oatmeal soap is so soothing and relaxing. I love how much it foams when I use it, yet it doesn’t dry out my skin. There are also chunks in it that make it kind of like a massaging bar too. I will definitely look for this at Whole Foods if I ever run low on soap (which might take awhile). This is my favorite of the soaps that Joyful Bath makes, so I’ll probably get the same rather than try a different formula.

empty nyc new york color applelicious lip balm tubeNYC New York Color Applelicious Lip Balm in Big Apple Red

This came in a VoxBox and it quickly became my go-to lip balm. It’s so moisturizing and smells amazing, plus it gives my lips an extra boost of red that isn’t overwhelming. I like a more subtle look. The added detail of the apple shape in the center is brilliant and made me smile every time. What a fun product! If I didn’t have a plethora of other lip items to use, I would have already gotten more of this in the other shades and flavors.

empty juice beauty blemish clearing cleanser bottleJuice Beauty Blemish Clearing Cleanser

I purchased this as part of a set and it’s the only product I consistently used so far. Not that I don’t like what came in the kit, but there are plenty more serums and lotions I like to use. Finding a cleanser I like is much harder, so this was great to have. I liked how it was a bit slippery (slimy, even) and had a nice scent. Some cleansers are so gentle I wonder if they’re working whereas some are harsher and can’t be used regularly. This one was nicely in the middle, which made me go for it most times I washed my face. That’s a great sign. I just wish it clearly got rid of my acne. It certainly helped at first, but then I didn’t see any improvement in my breakouts. Still, it beats out most others I’ve tried for my acne.

Have you tried any of these items? What did you think? And what empties do you have to share?

Petit Vour September 2014 review

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Looks like they teamed up with Logical Harmony again (see last time) for this month’s selections. They also updated the look of their box! Not only is the color different, but the box is slightly taller and less wide than before.

Petit Vour is $15 per box (or as much as $30 for international subscribers) and comes with vegan beauty, skincare, and other personal care products. Boxes are sent monthly with no option to skip. They offer a referral program that earns you points towards free boxes (email contact@petitvour.com to say I referred you if you sign up!).

new petit vour box with darker pink color

The box looks a little different now, with a darker shade of pink.

contents of petit vour september 2014 box with root science moisturizer, lily lolo mineral eye shadow, ellovi tinted lip butter, yarok leave-in conditioner, and info card with beauty & the box theme petit vour september 2014 box info card with item details collage of front and back of root science products info card

Root Science Skincare Facial Moisturizer – Whoa, I did not expect this to be an oil. Is that a new thing? Seems to be pretty popular nowadays. I don’t think I’d go out in the day with a moisturizer like this, but at night it’s a wonderfully healing option. This one has a somewhat nutty, lightly herbal smell. I love how rubbing in oil warms up my face.

Lily Lolo Mineral Eye Shadow in Mudpie – I wish I was into eye shadows, because I’m getting quite the collection of them. This will be going up for trade soon. I don’t think I would have used a color like this even if I did apply eye shadow. It’s so dark! I do like the branding though and I’d love to try something of theirs eventually. I really wish they would have chosen some other type of product since they already included eye shadows from this brand before.

ellovi tinted lip butter – I would have been more excited about this if I hadn’t received the lip butter from this brand in another box. Not counting that, this is a great product that I’m glad to have. I’m glad that I got the tinted version from them, so now I have both the plain and tinted ones to use! I’m a fan of tinted lip balms since it helps add a bit of color to my lips without being obvious and they’re very hydrating too.

Yarok Leave-In Conditioner – Looove this! My hair has never stayed silky for so long and had so much smoother ends. I sprayed some on after showering and let my hair air dry as I always do. It had great results and it smells good too, kind of lemongrassy I think.

Another great box with some really quality products that I look forward to using. I’ll be trading one item, but definitely using the others. Which products did you like best?

[This post mentions a referral program. Signing up and emailing contact@petitvour.com to say I referred you helps support my subscription and I’d be ever so grateful. 🙂 All opinions are my own and I received no compensation for this review. I just purchased this box and wanted to share what I got!]

Yuzen Summer 2014 edition review

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It always seems like I sit on my Yuzen boxes for a long time before I finally get the review out. Don’t know why that keeps happening, so I’m finally getting this done before summer is truly upon us! I filmed the video for this a week and a half ago and it should be showing up on Yuzen’s YouTube channel in a few days. But hey, you get to see what comes in the box here!

Yuzen is $33 per quarter (with boxes sent Feb, May, Aug, and Nov) and comes with around 7 or 8 eco-friendly beauty, skincare, food/snacks, and home products. Boxes are sent quarterly with no option to skip, but you can get one-time gift boxes too. Sometimes there’s a waitlist to get the subscription. They do not offer a referral program.

unboxed summer 2014 yuzen box with contents shown

ShamanutiSeaweed Toner: I’m a huge fan of sprays and mists, so this toner is just fantastic. It has a light scent that is wonderfully relaxing and has a very soothing effect. I like how it’s ocean-inspired with the kelp they use. Some great skincare comes from the ocean! I did accidentally overspray myself at first because one push of this sends out a lot of product. I learned to hold it at a much further distance to get better coverage. Use code yuzenlove by 8/31/14 for 20% off at Shamanuti.

Kerstin FlorianLavender Body Spray: Wow, this was a major surprise when I tried it. I thought it’d just be a normal spray, but what I got was a sheen of ultra-moisturizing amazingness. A gentle rub into the skin and felt soft and smooth. This is fabulous! I love how the spray head allows me to quickly moisturize my skin with a spray and swipe. That’s all it takes to absorb and heal my skin. I’m very impressed. Use code ZEN20 by 9/30/14 for 20% at Kerstin Florian (restrictions apply).

KneippHerbal Bath in Lavender: What a relaxing bath additive. Lavender is the perfect choice for a bath and this bottle of concentrated goodness promises a most excellent bathing experience. Of course I still need to get around to drawing a bath in the first place… I’ll probably end up doing that within the week, since I’ve been so drained and I could use a good soak. Just smelling it in the bottle is helping ease my mind already. Use code Yuzen14 by 12/31/14 for 10% off the full size product at Kneipp.

MyChelle  Ultimate Lash and Brow Serum: I like this brand and I certainly like the idea of increasing my lash length. This is a small tube, but I’m sure it will last quite some time since you barely need any each time. I’ve applied it to my lashes and I hope it works! It doesn’t smell or feel like anything, though it did tingle a bit when it was drying. The consistency is liquidy enough to come on easily and we’ll just have to wait and see for results. Use code YUZEN25 by 2/1/15 for 25% off at MyChelle.

Aromaflagefragrance & insect repellent: Ok, this has got to be the most unique thing I’ve seen! Taking a fragrance (aka perfume) and making it an insect repellent too? What a brilliant way to make something I’d never care for (perfume) into something I’d actually consider! The scent is very special, with a warmth and citrusy notes. When the bugs start coming, I’m totally using this as my insect repellent. I mean, who wants to go out smelling like bug spray, right? Might as well disguise myself as a fine lady with this scent. It smells more down-to-earth than your typical perfume fluff too. 🙂 Use code Yuzen2014 by 7/31/14 for 15% at Aromaflage.

Hugo NaturalsVanilla & Sweet Orange soap: This is a brand and scent I’ve tried, not as a soap, but as a lotion. Funny enough, that was the same box I got my first taste of MyChelle from too. This is a generous full size bar that will last me ages! I’m saving it until my current soap is done so it doesn’t lose any of its scent or go through too many cycles of drying out and getting wet. I like the sweet scent of this bar that’s perfect for cleaning my body and giving me a fresh smell. Use code VSO20 by 8/31/14 for 20% at Hugo Naturals.

Sencha NaturalsPink Dragonfruit mints: How random that just after receiving these, I was in a store and saw them being sold! Was it just that I had never paid attention before? Granted, it was a completely new store I was in at the time. Whatever the case, funny timing. I love the leaf shapes they use and that they incorporate green tea to help with bacteria (and of course give you some antioxidants). This flavor is sweet with a mint that comes later and lingers nicely. Use code YUZEN15 by 7/31/14 for 15% off at Sencha Naturals.

I definitely feel more prepared for the warmer months, what with insect repellent and super healing products for my skin. And hey, I might just get some longer lashes too! What items are you most interested in from this box?

*Disclosure: As a super fan, I was invited to be the Yuzen Ambassador to help them spread the word about their brand. I now receive the boxes for free. I was not compensated otherwise and all opinions are my own, irregardless of my relation to Yuzen. I just happen to think they’re awesome (as does everyone else I’ve heard from). 🙂

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