Posts Tagged ‘products’

Empties: Jane’s Pick, Sranrom, Spa Technologies, Yes To, Acure

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Here comes round two of empties, with five more items that I’ve completely used up (and what I thought of each product). It just happens that most of these came from Yuzen boxes, which might be saying something about how much I love the stuff I get from that subscription box.

empty jane's pick bar soap sample bagJane’s Pick all natural handmade bar soap sample in Kind

I received this sample from a Beauty Box 5 and since I liked the sweet orange scent, I started using it pretty quickly. I went through it in about a week and kept using it, even as the orange part was separating from the black part. I loved the super foamy formula of it and how it didn’t leave my skin feeling squeaky and dry afterwards. I would definitely consider getting this for future soap needs, if I ever make it through the tons of soap I already have.

empty sranrom compassion candle glass containerSranrom candle in Compassion

This lovely candle came in the spring Yuzen box and it wasn’t long before I’d burned through the whole thing. The scent is very calming and relaxing, with lemongrass and other refreshing yet soothing scents. It makes me think of a spa experience in Thailand and it’s great for when I want to chill out in a bath. It burns really well and doesn’t create black smoke, plus the container has such a lovely pattern! I’d definitely try their other scents too, like Contentment and Consideration.

empty spa technologies hydrating laminaria oil bottleSpa Technologies Hydrating Laminaria Oil

I finished this ages ago and it was my first foray into body oils for lotioning purposes. I had never really tried it before, but this one got me hooked. Now for the wintertime, I definitely look to body butters and oils to help keep my skin from drying out. This came in a Yuzen box nearly two years ago! Hard to believe. I loved the subtle scent of this and how non-greasy it is. As with other products, I have a supply of other brands I need to try, so looking to replace this will take a back-burner until I’m low in stock.

empty yes to grapefuit correct & repair brightening facial wipes pouchYes To Grapefruit Correct & Repair Brightening Facial Wipes

I bought this one during a sale CVS was having for Yes To products. I’d wanted to try their wipes for ages, so I got this and another pack (which I’m nearly done with, so I’m sure they’ll make an empties post appearance too). I enjoyed the extra moistness of these wipes, which sort of foamed when I used them for all the juicy product they had in there. I always felt like I’d washed my face after one of these, so it was perfect to use at the end of the day when I’m cleansing my face and then applying the serums and lotions for the night. I think it’s a bit acidic, so I always felt like it was good for helping with any bacteria on my face.

empty acure radical resurfacing facial treatment box and bottleAcure Radical Resurfacing Facial Treatment

This also came in the spring Yuzen box with the Sranrom candle. It quickly became my go-to cream/lotion after cleansing my face. It’s so light and refreshing, yet I feel like it’s helping with my skin texture, hydration, and acne. It smells wonderful too, which always helps. I like the citrusy, tangy type scents. I’m already well into my second one of these and I love it. I almost always find myself reaching for it.

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

Beauty Box 5 November 2014 review

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I was a bit amused that some of these items would have been handy for my trip last week. Too bad I didn’t get them before leaving! Oh well, now I have some goodies for my next travel destination. I like that they did a little more for the skincare, hair care, and “tools” stuff, with no make-up item. For someone like me who doesn’t use much make-up, I’m good with getting them less frequently and receiving more products I’ll happily use.

Beauty Box 5 is $12 per box (or as discounted as $99 for an entire year, with an option in between) and comes with 5 cosmetic products. Boxes are sent monthly with no option to skip. You also have the option of buying it as a gift your box to a friend. They offer a referral program that earns you points towards products or boxes.

november 2014 beauty box 5 contents beauty box 5 november 2014 information card

Afterfeather Refillable Travel Bottle: I was considering getting a travel bottle when I wanted to transport my Hawaiian red shrimp back home. I had bought them as a travel set packed for plane trips, but would have to put them in checked luggage, which I was worried about. Going forth I might just bring the empty bottle on trips for unforeseen uses. Or maybe I’ll put some shampoo in there. I like that this brand is eco-conscious and this item is a great reusable one.

DenTek Floss Picks + Case: This little case is adorable and an easy way to bring floss picks on trips. I think that will be particularly useful for Panda, since he actually flosses, but I’m hoping it’ll motivate me to floss a bit too. I’m totally throwing this in my toiletry bag for future travel.

HASK Macadamia Oil Revitalizing Shine Hair Treatment: This is perfect for the dryness of winter. It smells nice, a subtle sweetness with a bit of nuttiness, and is a thick-ish oil formula. I always forget to do hair masks in the shower, so I much prefer a treatment like this that I can quickly apply before heading out for the day.

Laura Ashley Body Butter in Coconut Lime: I first got into this scent with the  shea butters I received. This one smells great too, though it’s lighter. The formula is also more lightweight – there’s like more wetness to it as I apply it. I might save this for the spring and trips where I need to have a smaller tub of body butter for my carry-on.

Dove Deep Moisture Nourishing Body Wash: This little body wash is also perfectly travel-sized. I can certainly bring that along for a trip or offer it in the guest bathroom whenever we have people over (like my parents, who are coming for Thanksgiving week!). I like having small bottles so I can use just what I need and not have to carry all this extra with me. If I use it for guests, it’s great for them to not have to bring their own items and also not feel like they are using some of our partially-used products.

The “gracefully grounded” theme is month is all about more practical items to take care of yourself. I’m all about that! This will set us off on a great start for healthy skin, hair, and teeth. Which items do you want from this box?

[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!]

Homegrown Collective October 2014 review

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This mysterious package seemed to have gotten lost along the way, but it finally made it to me when we were out in Hawaii. I was really excited to get it and finally see what it had in store. I’m loving how useful all of this is.

The Homegrown Collective GREENBOX is $39 per box + $9 shipping (or as discounted as $429 for an entire year, with options in between) and comes with fun and easy projects to live a more sustainable lifestyle. Boxes are sent monthly with no option to skip. They offer a referral program you can apply to join.

inside of carbon & clay homegrown collective box with the info sheets on the inner lid contents of the homegrown collective october 2014 box with carbon & clay theme

Project #1, activated charcoal: It seems quite strange to brush teeth with charcoal powder, but I’ll trust them on this one… as soon as I work up the nerves to not freak out that my mouth is black and foaming. I wonder what it will taste like. I’ll have to take a picture of my teeth now (certainly a lot more yellow than they used to be back in my teenage years) and compare after however many number of brushes with this craziness. As for the face mask, I’m far more comfortable with putting charcoal on my face. I love using soaps with it and I’m pretty sure some of the face masks I’ve tried have contained it, so I hope this one is a good formula for me!

the homegrown collective october 2014 project activated charcoal info card the homegrown collective october 2014 products for activated charcoal

Project #2, pacific sea salt: How cool! Smoking my own sea salt?! Where do they come up with these fascinating ideas? I do not have a grill, but Panda does have a set of grilling tools he got as a reward from work, so perhaps these should be compelling reasons for us to get a grill. I’ll have to see what (if any) are allowed in our community, or perhaps there’s a public one somewhere that I can use for a  few hours. That could be a fun thing to do come spring – picnic & grilling! I love how this is an edible project, which is pretty unique so far.

the homegrown collective october 2014 project pacific sea salt info card the homegrown collective october 2014 products for pacific sea salt

Project #3, bentonite clay: While we’ve received bentonite clay beforeqqqqqqqqqq`qqq`, I’m happy that they included new ways of using it for very different purposes. I’ll definitely try it in the bath (I hate those bath soaks that stain the tub, so since this isn’t supposed to stain, that would be awesome) and on my hair and skin too! The recipe for hair is perfect for the coming cold, as hair will dry out more and probably get brittle without intense treatment.

the homegrown collective october 2014 project bentonite clay info card the homegrown collective october 2014 products for bentonite clay

I’m always impressed with the themes that they come up and the creativity they have to offer all types of projects, from personal care to home care and more. I’ve yet to be disappointed by anything from this company, which is just fantastic. It’s totally up my alley both as an environmentally-conscious person and a new homeowner! Now I just need to actually get off my lazy weekend butt and start doing these projects. I even put together a list of what I need to do (and it is plentiful). I should set a goal of doing one each week…

the homegrown collective october 2014 carbon & clay info card

If you want in on this cool stuff, subscribe to the Homegrown Collective now! Your home, your family, and your health will thank you for it.

[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!]

Yuzen Winter 2014 edition review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions,Tags: , , , , , , ,
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I somehow totally missed posting up the fall box (maybe I’ll still do it for posterity). I received the winter box about two weeks ago, got the videos filmed, and you can watch it on Yuzen’s YouTube channel! Here for the blog version of the unboxing is my post. 🙂

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.

yuzen november-january 2014 winter box open with brown lid, card with welcome message, and teal tissue paper yuzen november-january 2014 winter box open with teal tissue paper and piece of yuzen paper yuzen november-january 2014 winter box contents laid out

AcureBrightening Facial Scrub: This has become a brand I know and love. The facial treatment I got in the Spring box is one of my favorite products. I’m not ready to open the seal on this one just yet, but I’m excited since I can’t get enough of scrubs. Use code YUZENSCRUB for 20% off at Acure.

JJ’s Sweets CocomelsDark Chocolate Covered Cocomels with Sea Salt: These are totally luxurious. One is enough to satisfy me, which almost never happens. There’s so much intensity going on with these that I like savoring a single piece. Yum! Use code YUZEN14 by 12/31/14 for 15% off at Cocomels.

Cowgirl Skincareextreme c serum: This brand knows how to take care of skin that’s been exposed to the elements. This serum will be perfect for the winter. I look forward to protecting my face and keeping it from roughing out. Use code YUZEN14 by 1/31/15 for 20% off at Cowgirl.

Salus – Shower Bombs in Eucalyptus and Lemongrass: These made the box smell fabulous! I get overzealous using shower bombs so I’ll likely burn through one in a single shower. If they’re not meant for a single shower, I should would like sizes that are one-time use. Then I don’t have to worry about saving part of it. Use code yuzen20 by 1/31/15 for 20% off at Salus.

Essence of ValiSleep essential oil concentrate: You know, I haven’t tried this yet even though I’ve had a sample for nearly two years! Granted, it’s been sitting thousands of miles away most of the time… Well now I get a chance to actually try it. I’ve been having moderate sleep problems lately, so it’d be great to get some help. Use code yuzen by 3/15/15 for 20% off at Essence of Vali.

Zents – Mandarin ultra rich shea butter soap: Another brand I’m totally happy to receive. I’ve tried their bath salts in the Mandarin scent and they were nice. I’d probably love anything mandarin-scented (or even flavored!). I’m currently working through a giant bar of soap, so this will have to wait. Use code YUZEN by 12/31/14 for 20% at Zents.

Jurlique – Herbal Recovery Eye Cream: So fancy with the eye cream. I’m trying to build the habit of using eye cream, but I always forget. I’m excited to have this to soothe my eye area, if I ever get around to actually using it as part of my regimen.

The high quality and curation keeps on coming! I always appreciate the variety of products included too – it’s a little bit of everything wrapped into a gorgeous box. Which products do you want to try most?

yuzen november-january 2014 winter box info card inside listing brands in boxyuzen november-january 2014 winter box info card back side listing brands in box yuzen november-january 2014 winter box offer cards frontyuzen november-january 2014 winter box offer cards back

*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). 🙂

Escape Monthly October: London Box review

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Alright, London time! I can hardly believe it’s been a year since we went there, so I’m certainly happy to get products from there. I hope to learn some good spots to hit up next time we go there. In the mean time, products from across the pond are a welcome sight and I look forward to try them all.

Escape Monthly is just under $40 per box (with code for 20% off your subscription – see end of post) and comes with a variety of food, home, skincare items themed around a city/region. Each box comes with a guide for that area. Boxes are sent monthly with no option to skip. They offer a referral commission program.

escape monthly october london box products showingescape monthly october london box info card escape monthly october london box info card opened with details of products included(click to enlarge and read full messaging)

Everything here was new to me, so that was great for introducing me to different items. I like that some of them went full out with the British look while others are just products you might go for any day as you shop around.

Here’s what came in the box:

Rick Steves’ Pocket London – I’m sure Panda and I can make good use of this guide next time we venture to London. I’ve never looked at a guide for London, so it should be fun to read about some hidden gems and go find those. I wonder if they chose this brand because Moon Handbooks doesn’t offer a general guide to London (instead they appear to have the guide to living abroad there).

Walkers’ Nonsuch English Creamy Toffees – I love candy like this and the flavor of this was yummy. Nice and chewy without being so soft it gets stuck all over your teeth. It’s basically like eating a caramel candy and I’m a huge fan of those. I wonder if this is related to Walkers the brand that’s the British version of Lays.

Hill Biscuits Custard Creams – I’m saving these for a rainy day, when I want a sweet snack to go with my tea. It just seems like it’d be a good companion for that sort of thing. I did bring them with my on my travels in case I want to eat them on the plane. They’d make a nice snack in flight when I get hungry.

Orico Rush Hour Vibrant Dry Body Oil – Good thing they put these in plastic baggies, because one of them leaked in transit. Luckily, it was all contained in the pouch and was just enough to permeate the label, but not create much of a mess. This is excellent timing as the weather gets cold and my skin dries more quickly. I’ve switched my lotioning to body butters and oils, so this fits right in to my routine.

Soapsmith soap samples – I always enjoy a little bit of soap and I look forward to using these. For some reason it feels really satisfying to finish a bar of soap, so these will certainly offer me that satisfaction faster. The scents are pretty strong and I like how refreshing it is to get a whiff of them. I expect they’ll foam well, which is always entertaining.

English Tea Gifts London English Breakfast tea caddy – What a cute container! I’ll have to think of how to reuse it when I drink up the tea. I generally prefer green teas rather than the darker teas the Brits like. I never really learned to add milk and sugar to my tea, so these are rather bitter. I might just try to lightly brew them (or this would make an excellent gift for someone).

London Taxi diecast – Panda got all excited when he saw this. It’s right up his alley along with toys, trinkets, and random collectibles. I think we should get him a bookshelf to showcase his little collections and we can add this mini taxi! I remember my first impression of a taxi just like this when I arrived in Scotland. I marveled at how much space we had in there, luggage and all.

Corkers Pork Sausage and English Mustard crisps  – These made a good snack, though I’d definitely opt for another flavor. The meat flavor thing seems popular in the UK, but it’s a bit strong and salty for me. Or maybe it’s overwhelming with intense umami sensation. I did like the texture of these a lot so the whole sunflower oil thing works for me. I also happen to love Hula Hoops, which are snacks they cook with sunflower oil too. It gives a crisper, crunchier finish.

I’m a fan of all the food items provided as well as the body products. The miniature diecast is cool for display, but I don’t know what to do with it. I would have been interested in something like that that also can serve a purpose. Perhaps as a little container or pencil sharpener or something. What’s your favorite from this London Escape Monthly box? If you want to sign up, try one of these codes (not sure which ones are still active): RICOESCAPE, CARIBBEAN, or LONDON for 20% off the lifetime of your subscription or GIFTESCAPE for 25% off.

Next up is Hawaii (again). Funny since I’ll actually be in Hawaii right before this box is shipped. It’s been just over a year since they previously did a Hawaii box and this is the first repeat theme, so I expect a new set of items to show me even more of what the islands have to offer. Either way, I do believe I’ll enjoy the products. There’s all sorts of goodness in the middle of the Pacific!

escape monthly october london box info card back with preview of next month's box theme of hawaii

[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 October 2014 review

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Just in time for Halloween came some thrilling items for the October box! I was amused that the order I pulled out the items in happened to match exactly to the order the items are listed on the info card. Spooky coincidence? 😉

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!).

contents of petit vour october 2014 box with pacificia devocean natural lipstick, forager botanicals natural eau de perfume, flo + theo body butter, sw basics makeup remover, and info card with beauty thrillers theme petit vour october 2014 box info card with item details

Pacifica Devocean Natural Lipstick in tenderness – This was exciting because I’d seen the emails from Pacifica about them and was definitely curious to try. What a great discovery when I found one lurking in my box this month! It’s creamy and hydrating, but I’ve learned I can’t apply them when my lips are chapping or they amplify that look. I like this neutral shade, but was surprised to find it’s actually more pigmented than I thought (based on the shade rubbing off on my mug). On my lips, it blends in well, so this must be similar to what my natural shade is.

Flo + Theo Body Butter in Lemon Orchard – First of all, I love that this tub is filled to the brim. I applaud them for including as much product as the container would allow. Second, I just love the scent. It’s refreshing and soothing – just what I want when I’m applying this to my skin. The consistency is super thick and it’s firmly packed in there, so just a little bit of rubbing melts enough on my fingers to really get into my dry skin. I can definitely use this to keep my elbows nice and soft all winter long.

Forager Botanicals Natural Eau de Perfume in Woodland – Maybe I don’t understand perfume, but this is a tiny vial and it was only about half full! They could have gone for 2/3 full to make me happy. I don’t wear perfume, so I guess ultimately it doesn’t matter how much there is, but still. The scent is pretty light when I tried a little bit. It’s a nice warm, subtle woody scent that reminds me of a fragrant Chinese wood that you’d find in an antique shop or something. This is what I think of when I’m reminded of my grandma, Buddhist temples, and other sacred/important Asian things. It’s pretty calming for me, so I might just use it for aromatherapy.

S.W. Basics Makeup Remover – I haven’t tried this as a makeup remover yet since I haven’t been wearing makeup, I can see it being great at dissolving away whatever you might have on. I did rub a drop or two on my face, since it can also be a light moisturizer after removing makeup. It feels good and my face is certainly not going to dry out! It makes my skin super soft too, which is awesome. This bottle will last me for awhile and I’m glad that so little can give me plenty of coverage.

While I wasn’t sure about the perfume at first, now I think I’ll keep all these items for my own use. Most of them were immediate hits! I’m really enjoying this subscription and it’s so awesome that all these brands offer such eco-friendly items. What do you think of this box?

[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!]

Love With Food Monster Mash October 2014 review

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This box was better than the last, though it still didn’t blow me away. The graphics for the card were cute as always, but I found many of the snacks to be ho-hum.

Love With Food is $12 per box (or as discounted as $120 for an entire year, with an option in between) and comes with 8 or more snack products. Boxes are sent monthly with no option to skip. They offer a referral program that earns you points towards products or boxes.

contents of october 2014 love with food box including eight snacks info card with details for october 2014 love with food snacks back of october 2014 love with food box info card(click to enlarge and read messaging)

I didn’t feel like the treats were particularly monstery or fallish, but whatever. I don’t need them to have a theme. My favorite so far has been the Calbee Snapea Crisps that were surprisingly easy to power through way too quickly. Before I knew it, the whole bag was empty and then I saw them at Costco and decided to get a bag. I might get sick of green peas after that, but I liked the light crunch and saltiness of this snack. The Surf Sweets jelly beans were very sweet. Veeeery sweet. I can probably eat only 3-4 at a time. The flavors were nice, but I could have done with a less concentrated sugar taste. I’ve also tried the Flamous Falafel Chips, which are strangely salty – just a hint – and then not. My taste buds were confused. The J&M Cheese Straws were not the sort of taste or texture I like. They reminded me of shortbread, yet were strongly cheesy. I couldn’t finish the bag.

I’m very hesitant about the rest. Justin’s Honey Almond Nut Butter and Chocolate Almond Nut Butter hit a bunch of things I’m not usually a fan of: almond anything, nuts, and [insert nut] butter. Sooo I’m not even sure if I should try them. Perhaps I should give them to a coworker and have a taste, since I at least like honey and chocolate. The Clairesquares Buttery Shortbread Square looks super dense and heavy. I feel like it’d be great for when I’m starving, but boy does it look rich. I’ll have to tread carefully. Finally, the NutryVitta Bananinha bar combines two other things I don’t generally eat: bars and bananas. I might try it for breakfast one of these days when I’m really hungry, or for an afternoon snack. I doubt I can eat more than one or two bites at a time though.

I’m glad there were no repeats of products again. I definitely discovered at least one treat I’d eat again, but the rest have proven to be a bit of an adventure for me. What’s your favorite from this box?

[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 at the special offer price and wanted to share what I got!]

Beauty Box 5 October 2014 review

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A much better box for me! I never thought I was a fall girl, but I’m starting to find I like fall clothes, skincare, and other trends and habits. Maybe I like colder weather more than I realize? This tool is a great new item to have and I look forward to using it on my next product that’s nearly used up.

Beauty Box 5 is $12 per box (or as discounted as $99 for an entire year, with an option in between) and comes with 5 cosmetic products. Boxes are sent monthly with no option to skip. You also have the option of buying it as a gift your box to a friend. They offer a referral program that earns you points towards products or boxes.

october 2014 beauty box 5 contents beauty box 5 october 2014 information card beauty box 5 october 2014 ad inserts

Chapstick Hydration Lock: This is great! I like the dual head and the formulas offer lip protection much like a standard chapstick. The day side is the type of lip product I’m used to from them and the night side offers a lovely tangy scent that I just love. I like to layer them both just for fun and this is a cool new take on a familiar product that I appreciate getting to try.

Bellapierre Cosmetics cheek and lip stain in Pink: I’m still debating if I’d use this often enough to justify opening it or if I should just trade it. It’s a pretty deep pink and could work well to offer that flushed look without looking like there’s all this makeup going on. I have so many other products I might not get around to that would achieve similar results, so I don’t know if I’ll try this or swap it.

Extend Your Beauty cosmetic tool: Again, it’s the tools that I love most about these boxes. This handy tool will help get every last drop from the bottle, which will help a lot since I try turning my nearly-empty products upside down, but it doesn’t always work out so well. This will be a lot faster and more effective for sure.

Nanacoco Nail Polish in Romantic Cruise: This is a nice polish and a shade I’d use, but not super often. I do have similar shades, so I’ll have to compare and see if they’re too similar. I do like blues, especially the pastel ones. I like the thick formula so it doesn’t drip much.

Lashem Picture Perfect instant wrinkle reducer: I can’t say I have wrinkles to worry about yet, but the tip about using this a primer is helpful so I might give that a try. I don’t mind helping keep wrinkles at bay either, if this can help with that. It won’t be an issue for me for quite some time, but better safe right?

This box’s theme was “effortless allure” which works for me. While I would have looked for a more sultry nail color, the products sure work towards a simple look that isn’t too overstated. What do you think of the items in this box?

[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!]

Julep October 2014: The Black Magic Collection review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions,Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,
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I got this box before my vacation, but it was missing an item. I reached out and requested they send me an extra product too since this isn’t the first time this has happened. I received those while away, so now I have the review ready! I knew right away I wanted the night mask, so that narrowed down my choices. I happened to like both shades offered in the Classic With A Twist box, so I opted for that. For the first time, I also loved a ton of their add-ons, so I got an extra polish, nail decals, and the lip crayon.

Julep ranges from just under $20 to $40 per box and comes with combinations of nail polish colors, skincare products, and beauty products (depending on your style profile choice). They offer plenty of upgrade and add-on options too. Boxes are sent monthly unless you choose to skip (skips are earned every six months for subscribers Dec 18th, 2013 and later). You also have the option of gifting your box to a friend. They offer a referral program that earns you $15 store credit per referral.

julep maven october 2014 black magic collection box contents

October’s Classic With A Twist Black Magic Collection box with add-ons

set of julep polishes in casper, logan, deann, catrina, and karmen

Polish colors in Casper, Logan, DeAnn, Catrina, and Karmen.

I had to get Casper because it’ll glow in the dark! Logan and DeAnn came with the box and the last two were bonuses for ordering three add-ons. I already have Catrina from another box, so I’ll trade that.

julep plush pout lip crayon in aurora pink

Plush Pout Lip Crayon in Aurora Pink
I wanted this back when they first offered it, but didn’t like the box selections. Now I have one and it feels good (smells great), but that shade is way bright for me!

julep night shift sleeping mask

Night Shift Sleeping Mask
I’m a fan of this one for sure. It’s super hydrating and soothing.

julep black cat nail decals and bag of candy corn

black cat nail decals and candy corn
The decals were missing originally, so I had them send me two sets. So cute, though I wish some cats faced the other way too.

julep black magic collection card, discount offer card, quote card, candy corn info slip, and bonus card

The Black Magic Collection cards.

julep new mascaras sneak peek card

A sneak peek at their new mascaras.

julep night shift sleeping mask info card

Info card for the Night Shift mask.

This was a fun box that I liked putting together. I paid just over $40 for it and got a ton of stuff! I’m excited to do some glow-in-the-dark nails with cats. Those decals will work great in other situations too, especially for this cat lover. 🙂

Join as a Julep Maven to get polishes and/or beauty products sent to you monthly! Use code FREEBOX or FREEMAVEN to get the first box free (you pay shipping).

[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!]

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