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Beauty Box 5 December 2014 review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: beauty, boxes, fragrances, lip balms, moisturizers, nail polish remover, nail polishes, perfumes, pictures, products, review, skincare, subscriptions

21 December 2014

This was a great box that covered the essential face and nail care needs. I’ll be keeping all the items and I even started using some already.

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.

Body Drench Lip Drench lip balm in Pomegranate: I just love the scent of this. It’s a bit tart and is sort of like a sweeter cherry. It’s super hydrating and a great lip balm to have in these cold months. My lips stay soft for hours it feels fantastic. While I enjoy the candy one we got awhile back, I’m liking this one even more.

Absolute! Nail Polish Remover Pads in Peach: These little pads are so small and thin, but they pack a punch. They’re great at getting nail polish off AND making my nails feel nourished afterwards. I’m a huge fan already. They sort of remind me La Fresh’s acetone-free nail polish wipes, which are pretty amazing. I just wish they were a little larger in diameter so it was easier to grab on and wipe.

Juice Beauty Stem Cellular Moisturizer: I like this brand, so I’m happy to get this moisturizer to try. I don’t want to open it just yet so I use some of the other ones I have, but for future travel I’d throw this in my bag to use on my trip.

Nanacoco nail polish in Sapphire: They must really like this brand, since they’ve included their polish before. I wasn’t sure if I needed another glitter, but then I gave it a try layering it over that polish from the previous box and I love the winter wonderland feel it gives me. So perfect for winter. The varied glitter sizes and colors offer extra dimension to spruce up any nail!

Lucky Brand Lucky Number 6 fragrance: Well, every now and then I might want to have a perfume handy, so I’ll keep this. I also happen to like the packaging, which reminds me of cherry blossoms. The scent itself is very warm and floral. Generally something more mature for a gala or something.

The “merry & bright” 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!]

Yuzen Spring 2014 edition review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: aromatherapy, bath fizz, bath melts, beauty, body balms, boxes, candles, chocolates, eco-friendly, food, green, hand creams, health, mists, pictures, products, review, skincare, snacks, subscriptions, yuzen

16 February 2014

Aww, it’s finally Yuzen time again! I actually got it over a week ago, but with the move and filming the video for them, I kept forgetting to get still pictures. This lovely box for the spring provides a wonderful assortment of products for treating yourself. They smell great and feel wonderful too. I’m ready for all this snow to finally end and feel like spring is on its way! The box I’m showing here came in a red organza bag and has white tissue paper for Valentine’s. If you get this later in the quarter, you’ll probably receive the spring one with a white organza bag and yellow/lime green tissue paper. That’s what you’ll see in the video I filmed for Yuzen’s YouTube channel, which will be up soon. 🙂

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 box with white flowers on aqua background and spring info card

Beautiful red coloring that works for spring AND Valentine’s.

Info about the products in the spring box.

And the last couple of brands included.

unboxed spring 2014 yuzen box with contents shown

I see myself taking an enriching bath and then nourishing myself afterward.

Click on the pictures for the full sizes so you can enjoy all the details of each product! You can even zoom in to read all the messaging.

Lotus Wei – Infinite Love Mist: So very suitable for the month of love. I actually have this mist already, from way back in the early days of Yuzen. It’s a sweet scent with a hint of tartness, which makes sense since it’s a blend of mandarin, rose, and honey. These are meant to be sprayed around to surround you with the type of scent that will enhance your experience of love for yourself and those around you. You can use it as a pillow mist, spray it as you enter a room, or just spray it around your body. Inhale, relax, and feel the love! Use code YUZEN by 4/30/14 for 20% off at Lotus Wei.

Acure – Radical Resurfacing Facial Treatment: I am pretty excited about this product, if it can help even out my skin! I have acne scars and some random dark spots that plague me, so I’m hoping this will help. I’ve never heard of lemon probiotic or chlorella growth factor, but I do believe plants have powerful abilities to heal and harnessing that certainly sounds good. I’ve heard of natural remedies using lemon to brighten skin, so this probably works similarly. At the very least it feels so hydrating and smells sort of tangy like ginger. I’m loving this as a moisturizer on its own, even though it goes on under one. Use code YUZENLOVE for 25% at Acure.

sumbody – sum fizzer: This large block of fizzing fun is in their Coconut Cream scent (though I don’t know if they were sending out other variations too). I tested a small piece and it fizzes very well! Can’t wait to incorporate this into a bath. My skin felt great after using the water with the fizz in it and I loved the light scent it left! It’s not too strong on the coconut, but definitely gives you a tropical feel. I think you’re supposed to use the whole one in the bath, but I’ll probably split it up between a few uses. I’m loving this! Use code Yuzen2 by 5/1/14 for 20% off at sumbody.

sumbody – bath melt: I broke off a quarter of this to use in my bath this weekend and I enjoyed the use of goat milk in their Milky Rich variation. It reminded me of a luxurious bar of chocolate and I was almost tempted to eat it! Inside the foil you’ll find a little piece of paper telling you more about the product and how to use it (they had one for the fizzer too). It took some swirling of the water to get this dissolved and then I could see the oils that were released. It was almost like taking a milk bath, which I’m sure my skin was happy about. Use code Yuzen2 by 5/1/14 for 20% off at sumbody.

Sranrom – Calm Down Hand Cream: Anything inspired by Thailand has got to be good. This lotion is thicker than most, but not quite a body butter. The lemongrass and lime scent is so refreshing and soothing all at once. I love it! It’s very enriching and perfect to combat the dryness that winter brought on. I got a good laugh when I saw the scent name of Calm Down, because I tell Panda to do that all the time. When I showed him, he had a chuckle too and I think I’m going to give him a tube to use. He worries too much and needs some calming! Use code YUZEN20 for 20% at Sranrom.

Sranrom – Compassion candle: I’m really enjoying all the refreshing scents in this box, like this lemongrass, lemon, and spearmint candle! It’s beautifully made and smells wonderful. I used it while soaking in a bath and it was a great calming prescence. It burns cleanly and comes in such a cute little glass container! What a lovely way to enhance the mood in any room. Use code YUZEN20 for 20% at Sranrom.

Balanced Guru – Balm Me Up Body Balm: I was surprised at how solid this body balm is when I first opened it. It’s actually quite soft though, and melts with your body heat. It’s a very strong tangy scented product that is super buttery. It’s absolutely wonderful for your elbows, knees, and other rough patches of skin. Just a thin layer took away all trace of dry skin for me. I can see this being perfect for getting through the cold months, though the scent can get overwhelming for me so I can only use a little bit at a time. Use code YUZEN by 4/30/14 for 20% off at Balanced Guru.

Chocolove – Cherries & Almonds in Dark Chocolate: I just got my first intro to Chocolove in my Escape Monthly box and what do you know, it’s showing up here too! This flavor is just what you’d want around Valentine’s and I enjoyed it, but I’ve got to admit I’m not a huge fan of anything other than fresh, ripe cherries. Nevertheless, the chocolate is delicious and they have plenty of amazing flavors to choose from! Definitely a brand that I’ll keep my eye out for when I’m out shopping.

essio – aromatherapy shower kit: Finally, there’s a discount code for Essio’s aromatherapy for the shower. It’s a little arm contraption that you put on your showerhead and then you swap in little pods with different essential oil aromatherapy scents. I met the founder at a LOHAS event that I was helping Yuzen out at and I liked the idea, but was not at a point in my life where I was treating myself to such luxuries. However, I’m thinking that now might be the time, since I’ve really gotten into skincare and taking care of my body. Thankfully, I have until June to decide on this! Use code YUZEN20 by 6/30/14 for 20% off at Essio.

So there you go, a lovely way to kick off spring by healing your skin from a tough winter’s beating. What did you like most in 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). 🙂

Yuzen Winter 2013 edition (November-January) review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: beauty, boxes, eco-friendly, food, green, health, pictures, products, review, skincare, snacks, subscriptions, yuzen

10 November 2013

Here’s the Yuzen winter box review that I meant to get out on Friday! I brought the box to work in the hopes of snapping some pictures during the day, but I got so swamped and distracted with other stuff that I didn’t find time until after sunset. I completely forgot to get individual product photos (and I didn’t want to take the time since I was trying to get that one project completed). Still, I think you can get a good sense of what it’s like and then you can tune in to the video when it’s up on Yuzen’s YouTube channel! I’ll try to get better pictures if I get a chance.

new yuzen interior box in rectangular shape with aqua flowers on white background

I like how the colors were inverted for this box – very fitting for winter!

yuzen winter 2013 box info card and matching chioyami paper

Greetings from founders Jen & Ted, plus that beautiful strip of yuzen paper.

unboxed winter 2013 yuzen box with contents shown

And the contents of the winter box! So many wonderful goodies.

Click on the pictures for the full sizes so you can enjoy all the details! You can even zoom in to read all the messaging.

sanitas – Moisture Mist: Like the serum that we got from this brand in fall box, this is from the Moisturize line. I’m a fan of mists and I’ve been using my two NYR ones pretty regularly. I’m going to save this one til my current ones run out but if it’s anything like the serum, I’m sure it’ll be rich and hydrating.

SpaRitual – nail lacquer in Golden Rule: This is a perfect polish for the holidays! You can layer it with all kinds of nail colors and it looks great. Put some on over bright red nails for a really fun party-ready look, or have some fun like I did and go with more crazy colors like orange. I’m loving my growing collection of SR nail lacquers – the bottles are adorable and a great size and of course the brand itself rocks a 5-free + vegan formula.

Pino – Facial Tissue Mask in Milk & Honey: I have a ton of masks, but none of them are milk and honey! This sounds sooo soothing that I just want to take a bath and then mask up. I’m saving this for when my skin needs a really calming influence. It seems like a lot and I wonder if I could even use it twice. From what I could feel through the packaging, it’s very thick so I think a little will go a long way with this one.

Level Naturals – Grapefruit Bergamot Soy Candle: I love this scent! It’s so wonderfully sweet and citrusy. The small tin makes it ideal for travel, though I doubt the hotel would be happy if I tried to light it in my room. Soy candles are amazing, burning ever so clean that I get all the fun of candles without worrying about getting a scratchy throat from the particles in the air. I wish that Level actually sold this size, because it is beyond adorable.

Jurlique – Rose Hand Cream: I’ve been using a lot more hand creams and lotions lately since every time I go to the restroom at work, I come back with slightly dry hands. My backlog is going down slowly and this will have to wait at the end of that line for now. I’m a bit surprised at their price point ($25 for a 40 mL tube) so unless it works miracles, I probably won’t be buying this anytime soon. I do enjoy being able to try it out though!

Sun Cups – Dark Chocolate Mint cups: I’m hesitant to try these because on the one hand I love dark chocolate but on the other hand I’m very sensitive to mint in chocolate and I’m very picky about what kind of peanut butter flavor I enjoy. I’ll take them with me to work this week and use them as a pick-me-up in the afternoon. They make a great little snack and I’m sure plenty of people love dark chocolate, mint, and peanut butter. I’m just a weirdo.

TARA Aromatherapy – Roll-On Lotion in Stress Relief: I’ve had some trouble getting this to roll out just yet, but I do like the cooling and refreshing sensation I get from the rolling of the ball and the scent. I expected it to be more like a liquid, so I wonder if there’s a strategy to getting it out. I figure if I just roll it around enough it’ll eventually start dispensing. I like doing this whenever I need a little extra oomph (or if my idle hands just want to do something).

Jane Iredale – 24-Karat Gold Dust in Gold: I never thought this would be the type of thing I’d use, but as I read all the suggestions, I find myself looking forward to trying them. A dash in my lotion, a sprinkle in my hair… I like the subtle shine I can get without getting too crazy, so I’ll be experimenting with this dust quite a bit. This is such a fun product to play around with and once again, having gold glittery things is so festive for the holidays.

Kerstin Florian – Fuß Balm: Don’t neglect your feet like I often do. Balms like these are just what we need in the cold months to protect our feet. It’s all too easy to get dry heels or achy soles. For this very reason, I’ve gotten a couple of foot products in the past few months and (I feel like I sing this song every time) I’ll test out this one once those are depleted! This brand is completely new to me and I can’t wait to see how it works for me.

And this rounds out 2013! I can hardly believe that the next Yuzen box will be arriving in 2014… it sounds so far away yet it’ll be upon us way too soon. I’ve definitely enjoyed the seasonal changes in products chosen and I look forward to what the spring box will bring. Jen and Ted did a great job once again and I am thrilled to have this growing supply of products that I may never have tried if it weren’t for subscription boxes.

What do you think of this box? Have you tried Yuzen yet? If not, what are you waiting for?!

Yuzen Fall 2013 edition (August-October) review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: beauty, body wash, candy, cleanser, creme, eco-friendly, face peel, foaming, food, green, health, pictures, products, review, sachet, serum, skincare, snacks, sugar scrub, sunscreen, sweets, tea bath, yuzen

11 September 2013

Yay it’s Yuzen fall time! I’m glad that the weather is still acting like it’s summer since I haven’t gotten enough of the warm days just yet. But hey if fall has to come then what better way than with a lovely Yuzen box? 🙂 I got this before my UK trip but didn’t have time to review it until now. As you can see, the lighting on my pictures got worse and worse as I lost sunlight. Ah, the new challenges of working away from home. So are you ready?! Here are the wonderful products from the August-October box (unboxing video coming).

Yuzen is now $33 per quarter (it was $26 before but now they started including more products with the seasonal frequency) and each comes with around 7 or 8 eco-friendly beauty, skincare, food/snacks, and home products. Boxes are sent quarterly (Feb, May, Aug, and Nov) 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.

*Disclosure: As a super fan, I was invited to be the Yuzen Ambassador to help them spread the word about their brand. Starting with the October box, I began to receive them 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).

This is the first time they’re using the new packaging, so I wanted to show you that first.

new yuzen box exterior box in rectangular shape with blue flowers on brown cardboard

The new box keeps the same coloring as the previous, but with larger flowers and a narrower shape.

new yuzen interior box fits perfectly into exterior box

Now there is an interior box, which fits just right into that exterior box.

new yuzen interior box in rectangular shape with white flowers on aqua background

The interior box is a nice cardboard perfect for reusing!

yuzen box fall 2013 warm red theme with red tissue paper and red and pink yuzen paper

The inside remains similarly packaged. No more ribbon tying the box together.

yuzen box fall 2013 contents in organza bag

The dimensions of the box now match the organza bag size quite well!

yuzen box fall 2013 with info cards and business cards on bottom

Each brand’s promotional material can be found underneath the products.

collage of unboxed fall 2013 yuzen boxes

Two of the variations for the fall box.

Click on the pictures for the full sizes so you can enjoy all the details of each product! You can even zoom in to read all the messaging.

Verve Organics – soul sister scrub: I love me a scrub! This is the first one I’ve gotten that is dry like this, so that was a change. They have large grains of sugar so you can rub and rub and rub. I wasn’t sure what to do with it – put some in my hand and get it wet or get the area I want to rub wet and start scrubbing. It was a new experience for me and I really enjoyed the nutty sweet scent. I do wish it was a little more held together by something liquid since it was hard to keep the grains from just falling away unused.

COOLA Suncare – face spf 20 unscented: I’ve used their cucumber facial sunscreen from one of the earlier Yuzen boxes and I have a similar sample of the rose scented sunscreen from Ipsy, so it’s nice to have the unscented as well. I’m keeping this sealed until I’ve worked through more of my current sunscreens (which I’m not very good at doing since I always forget to apply them). If it’s anything like the cucumber one, then I will like it because it absorbs really well for a light layer that doesn’t grease up my skin.

Ajara Ayurvedic Beauty – Tridoshic Bath Tea: This smells really healing! It’s such a pretty combination of flowers and plants that it’s a shame all of that is hidden in a muslin bag. I love that everything is organic and it’s all plants that I recognize. I just took a tea bath recently so I’m not quite ready to use this one, but if I ever have a long day where I need some healing, this will be my first choice.

Torie & Howard – blood orange & honey hard candy: Yes! How could you go wrong with blood orange and honey in a candy? Make it organic and it’s even better. I appreciate the individually-wrapped pieces since I was afraid I’d find one giant clump of hard candy (you know what I’m talking about). I love the packaging and the tin can is very well made. It’s not hard to open yet the lid doesn’t fall off. Great design right there. The candies have a cute little TH imprint on them and you can throw a few pieces anywhere you want them handy, or just take the whole tin along. 🙂

Juice Beauty – Green Apple Peel Sensitive: I have the Blemish Clearing version of the peel so I did a side by side comparison on my face. One half was covered with my original one and one half was covered with this one. At first the Sensitive one tingled more than the Blemish Clearing one, but then it soothed while the BC one continued to feel warm and tingle a bit. The formula for this one is milkier/creamier, which might be part of the soothing action. It smelled creamier to me too.

Acure – argan cell stimulating body wash: I really need to try a different scent from Acure! In the January Yuzen box we got the shampoo and conditioner in almond scent, which I found just didn’t suit my fragrance preference. This body wash also smells like that so I’m going to have to pass on it and have Panda try it for me. I do like the concept of argan stem cells, though I have no clue what that means. I’m also just a little obsessed with sea buckthorn after the Sibu product in the December Yuzen box, so I wish I liked this scent.

sanitas – Vita-Rich Serum: Part of their Moisturize line of products, this is a super rich serum. A single squirt was way too much for my face so it really packs a punch. I think two drops would have been more than enough for my entire face, so you can imagine that this would last a long time! Since I accidentally over-applied I had to rub it in for quite awhile. It still left my face a bit shiny since I couldn’t absorb all that, so definitely be careful when dispensing it. This is probably best used at night for your bedtime routine.

Sphatika – Rose Cleansing Foam: Ok, this already wins because it’s a foaming dispenser. I get such a kick out of these and I really enjoy washing my face with pre-foamed cleansers. Elixir of quartz crystal sounds super fancy but of course is something I know nothing about. Nonetheless, I liked this product and found it to be very soothing. It’s supposed to be gentle enough for babies so that makes sense! Apparently the Bulgarian Rose Oil they use is rare (and hey I’ve never heard of it, so it must not be that common).

Sphatika – Vitamin A Night Creme: If you didn’t get the foaming wash then you would have gotten this Sphatika product instead. It’s a rich night creme with a nice light scent I can’t quite place. I enjoyed the slightly flowery slightly herbal smell of it and found it to be very relaxing. It’s anti-aging too, which is a nice bonus. I’m so glad I got to try both Sphatika products! Being a Yuzen Ambassador rocks. 😀

What a lovely healing box we got this time around, perfect for the transition to fall. These products offer more protection for your skin as the seasons change and your skin adjusts to colder weather (unless of course you live in a tropical or desert region!). I really get a sense of warmth from this set of products that’s totally fitting for the change to autumn. I also love the new box design! The inner box is now going to house my nail polish collection and I’m sure I will find many uses as I accrue them.

Did you get this Yuzen box? Which version did you receive? What was your favorite product?

Yuzen Spring 2013 edition (February – April) review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: bath salts, beauty, body scrub, chocolate, eco-friendly, facial masks, food, green, health, lipstick, parfum, perfume, pictures, products, repair creme, review, skincare, snacks, truffles, yuzen

20 August 2013

The fall box is on its way and many people have received them, but I happen to be leaving before it gets delivered to me so I can’t open it until after my vacation. Sad times! Let’s cheer me up by reviewing the spring box!

Yuzen is $26 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.

collage of unboxed spring 2013 yuzen boxes

Two of the variations you could have received.

Click on the pictures for the full sizes so you can enjoy all the details of each product! You can even zoom in to read all the messaging.

red flower – italian blood orange little flower candle: Back in the October box, we were first introduced to red flower with their cream and wash. Then in December we got a super cute ocean candle. This time around I got the blood orange once, which is a scent I really enjoy. I lost track of how many hours it lasted me, but it definitely meets the 15 hour burn time that is advertised. That’s pretty awesome for such a small little candle. I really enjoyed using this and it was a nice little size to even bring on a trip.

Nova Monda – truffles: Nom! Truffles always feel like such a luxurious treat and the texture of these was divine. The heart-shaped one was cacao nib and the other one was sea salt flavored. Both were delicious in their own way and the cacao nibs and sea salt grains offered a nice little bit of crunch to the otherwise smooth and creamy treats. These were super cute and tasty!

Juara – Avocado Banana Moisture Mask: Avocado and banana in a face mask? Yes please! I mean if I wasn’t so lazy I’d try to make this myself, but hey since it’s already here… I enjoy using this mask – it gives me a warming sensation on my face that is really soothing and I feel great after rinsing it off. My skin is always soft and super hydrated afterwards. For some with more sensitive skin, you might not like the slight tingling but otherwise I think anyone would enjoy this mask.

Kneipp – Deep Sleep Mineral Bath Salt: I really enjoy the smell of these, which is quite relaxing. I don’t understand why they’re so blue though – is there a reason for that? I barely need a tablespoon of these salts to dye my bath water blue. I haven’t tried to see how well it helps me fall asleep, but I like it just because it’s a fun bath product. It’s interesting how I rarely take baths (maybe once every other year at best) but I love bath products. I mean, I almost never use them so what’s the fuss right? I guess I’m just weird like that. But hey, once we’re in the new condo I definitely want to take more baths.

Spa Technologies – Marine Repair Cream: This facial cream is lovely! It feels great, smells great, and makes my skin supple. It’s not greasy and absorbs well, which makes me feel refreshed and protected all in one. I really enjoy using this, though the price point is scary. I don’t know if I could ever spring for something so pricey, but maybe as a treat to myself one day… the good news is my current samples will last me awhile!

Jane Iredale – Lippies including Just Kissed Lip Plumper in Tokyo, Just Kissed Lip & Cheek Stain, and LipDrink: These are adorable!! They are an excellent size, perfect for traveling with and there’s plenty to see if you like them or not. I don’t wear lipstick so I only tried it once for a special occasion and it was nice. Can’t tell if my lips were plumped or not, but I wasn’t paying attention. I don’t really stain my lips or cheeks so I haven’t used the stain much either. Maybe I’ll start trying it since I want to look good at work. As for the LipDrink… I didn’t feel like it was very moisturizing. Granted, I only tried it once so maybe I just caught my lips on a bad day.

Naturopathica – Espresso Mud Body Scrub OR Oat Facial Polish: [don’t have closeup pictures, oops] I really enjoy Naturopathica! I won a set of facial products from them because I was introduced to their brand by Yuzen. That’s pretty awesome because I never would have known to enter otherwise. You would have gotten one of these items in your box, depending on how early or late you subscribed and got your box. The scrub is kind of hilarious to use because of the mess I make in the shower. As I scrub myself (particularly my back), bits and pieces of it go flying every which way. Next thing I know it looks like I am rinsing off the evidence of a mud wrestling competition! The oat polish is suuuper moisturizing and feels great on my face. The beads are large and I enjoy knowing they’re scrubbing away at my skin. My face is always soft after using that.

EOV – Eau de Parfum: [another product I forgot to get closeups for] I’m not a perfume person, so I haven’t tried this sample, but it’s a typical trial size vial. It’s a warm scent for those of you who like a bit more floral and citrus scent. This one will be added to my trade list for anyone who might be interested in trying it. I get plenty of scents from all the skincare products I use and I see no need to throw on even more smells. I don’t want to walk around oozing fragrance so I just skip perfumes altogether.

As always, an excellent box introducing me to so many new brands and amazing products. I can’t wait to see what the fall box has in store! This will have to tide me over until I am able to open up my boxes next week. Yuzen always puts a smile on my face. 🙂

Yuzen December 2012 edition

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: ambre blends, bath salts, beauty, candles, chocolate, eco-friendly, food, green, health, massage oil, missy j's, nail polish, pictures, products, red flower, review, sea buckthorn, sibu beauty, skincare, snacks, soap, spa technologies, sparitual, tara bath therapy, yuzen

03 July 2013

I’ve been putting off this post because I didn’t have adequate pictures, but I managed to get some of all but one product so I’ll go ahead now. I know it’s super late but sometimes you’ll get a different item from the same brand so if you subscribe to Yuzen, you can become more familiar with these brands. Even if you don’t subscribe, perhaps you’re curious about one of these products before you purchase!

Yuzen is $26 per month and comes with around 5 or 6 eco-friendly beauty, skincare, food/snacks, and home products. Boxes are sent monthly with no option to skip. Sometimes there’s a waitlist to get the subscription. They do not offer a referral program.

items in yuzen december 2012 box laid out

I got so carried away with the products that I didn’t even take proper unboxing photos!

Click on the pictures for the full sizes so you can enjoy all the details of each product! You can even zoom in to read all the messaging.

Sibu Beauty – Sea Buckthorn Cleansing Face and Body Bar: One of my absolute favorite products has been this Sibu cleansing face & body bar. It smells AMAZING and feels so good on your skin. It’s gentle enough for your face, but effective for use on your entire body. Sea buckthorn is an up-and-coming superfruit that has rare Omega-7s, which are apparently good for you. This brand in general is pretty great – their products are cruelty-free and contain no parabens, preservatives, etc. They also source their sea buckthorn through fair trade agreements. Love it!

red flower – ocean little flower candle: This is a cute little candle with unexpected burning power! You probably wouldn’t guess that it can burn for about 15 hours! When I first read that, I thought it was supposed to be 1.5 hours. But true to its word, I started burning one and it lasted hours upon hours. I didn’t track exactly how many hours it burned for, but I logged at least 12 before I lost track. I didn’t actually burn this scent yet so I don’t know how it fills the room, but it has a subtle scent that I think I’ll enjoy. One thing to note – due to the small size, the glass can get quite hot so be careful when handling.

TARA Bath Therapy – stress relieving bath salts: This pouch of bath salts is very fine-grained. It’s practically powder, which I imagine would dissolve well in water. It smells nice and relaxing – a sweet but not overpowering scent. I rarely take baths, so I’ve actually yet to try this, but I’m really looking forward to when I do. I’ve been bringing it with me on my travels just in case I happen to get an opportunity for a bath.

Spa Technologies – Hydrating Laminaria Oil: This oil has a lovely faint scent that I guess is the laminaria? I’ve never heard of that before and apparently it’s a type of brown algae. Actually, I don’t think algae really has a scent, so it must be the essential oils they used. There’s a hint of citrus that makes this oil refreshing. I’ve been massaging it in after my showers and it makes my skin feel great. I never really tried oil before this, but now I’m hooked.

Ambre Blends – essences sample pack: These are small samples that I wish came with little spritzers so I could mist them over myself. The names of the scents don’t tell me much – ambre, solace, invoke, and unmasque essences. They are very faint scents that I could barely pick out. Solace is my favorite because it has a fresh yet warm sort of scent. Invoke reminded me of the outdoors, like grass and water and other greenery. Unmasque was a warmer scent and I really couldn’t pick out a scent for ambre. They certainly meant it when they said their scents are delicate! I love that they’re vegan and I think you’d get a far better sense once you start rubbing it in your skin and letting your body heat bring out the scent more.

SpaRitual – nail lacquers in Hunk of Burnin’ Love and Multi-Tasker Base & Topcoat in One: These nail polishes are so cute and apply really well. I love the bright red color, which was fitting for the holiday months when I got it. SpaRitual makes vegan polishes that are at least 3-free, if not 5-free (aka they don’t use some of the harmful chemicals in older formulas). You can feel great about your nail polish and look great too!

Missy J’s – Mint, Lime, Sea Salt Truffley Treats: This is the one item I can’t photograph since the remaining pack I have is at my parents’ house. It’s crazy that these chocolates are vegan, with no dairy in addition to no caffeine, refined sugar, or wheat. It’s slightly more crumbly than chocolate I’m used to and perhaps it’s the mint+lime+sea salt combo, but I wasn’t a huge fan. For those who like that flavor combination and/or are looking for a vegan chocolate, this is a great alternative. I’ve seen plenty of other people who enjoy the taste and are very grateful for all the ingredients it manages to keep out. Perfect for those with dietary restrictions!

Blissmobox: Namaste box

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: argan oil, aura cacia, ayurvedic, beauty, blissmobox, digestif kit, digestion, eco-friendly, esutras, food, green, hair care, health, home, mat renew spray, mouth mist, peach apple chips, pictures, popped apple chips, products, puffed coriander, raw jaggery, review, skincare, snacks, star essences, yoga, yogavive

11 June 2013

Let’s go back to six months ago, when I got the December blissmo box – I had chosen the Namaste one because I enjoy yoga and was definitely interested in products related to that lifestyle.

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 december's blissmobox: namaste box, feel good snacks, or skin appeal

The three choices for the December blissmobox.

I opened the box at night because I couldn’t wait for daylight, so the lighting on these might not be so great.

YogaVive, Peach Apple popped chips – Let’s start with my favorite product! These apple chips with peach flavoring were amazing; the perfect amount of sweetness, crispiness, and not a bit of grease, thankfully. I once bought apple chips thinking they were baked only to find they were fried and greasy – totally gross. These are fat free as well! I was pretty excited when I saw them at Whole Foods not long after, so I bought a full-sized bag and devoured it. This is just about the only way I could ever eat more servings of fruit.

Manduka, Soothing Citrus Mat Renew spray – I’m really happy I got this! I had seen it being sold at YogaWorks and it was on my list of things to try, so this is perfect. I haven’t practiced yoga since then, unfortunately, but the moment I do you bet I’ll be spraying down my mat with this. I can’t wait to try it! I think their frog logo is super cute too, not that it means anything towards the performance of the product. Still, I’m liking this brand! Now I just need to get back into yoga…

Star Essence, Luminously Present Yoga Mind Mouth Mist – This is another item I’m holding on to until I get back into yoga. Apparently you spray it in your mouth and it helps balance you and hold in “vibrational frequencies.” Perhaps I can try meditating with it as well. It consists of various flower and gem essences, with some citrus essential oils so I’d imagine a sweet, fragrant scent/taste. Very interesting concept that I will have to test out.

eSutras, Ayurvedic Digestif kit with Raw Jaggery & Puffed Coriander – I should probably eat more of these to help with my digestion, but I don’t really know how to incorporate them! Eating them straight is a little odd and the flavors are strong for me. I could sprinkle it in my salads if I ate those (probably should add that to my diet as well). I thought it was really interesting that coriander is supposed to help with bad breath. I definitely felt these working through my system so if you have digestive issues, this kit would be great.

Aura Cacia, Rejuvenating Argan Oil – Argan oil is useful for skin and hair care, so I’m sure I will enjoy using this. I currently have another bottle I’m using so I haven’t tried this particular brand yet but it’s organic and sustainably sourced from Morocco, so I already like it! I mostly use it for my hair but I should probably start applying some to my skin as well.

This yoga-themed box definitely felt appropriate and included items that I can incorporate into my practice. I’m looking forward to when I can make it to yoga classes again!

Yuzen November 2012 edition

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: bath salts, beauty, eco-friendly, food, green, health, lip balm, lotion, media, pictures, products, review, shea butter, skincare, snacks, tv, yuzen

08 June 2013

Let’s go back in time to the fall, when I got this AMAZING smelling Yuzen box.

collage of unwrapping of november 2012 yuzen box

The conversion to organza bags instead of shredded paper is official. Looks great!

Click on the pictures for the full sizes so you can enjoy all the details of each product! You can even zoom in to read all the messaging.

Shea Radiance – Kalahari Melon Whipped Shea Butter: The first thing that I pulled out was this tub of very thick whipped shea butter. I liked the idea and the texture, but I am not a fan of the smell. For some reason the smell of shea butter doesn’t appeal to me, though I love the product. I can’t quick pick out the melon scent, or possibly I’m mistaking it for the shea’s natural scent. The butter is also not as soft as I expected – it’s actually pretty solid, though it is fluffy. I’m going to pass this on to someone else to use because I think it’s a good product.

Zents – Mandarin & Earth bath salts: As soon as I could get these out of the bag, I reached for them! They smell fabulous! I didn’t even want to use them at first because I loved getting a whiff of them just by putting them in the room. It was a great way to scent my room and promote a relaxing atmosphere. When I finally did get around to using them, I was enjoying the aroma so much I hardly even paid attention to how it made my skin feel. It was definitely a very pleasant experience to bathe with these salts and I actually liked the combination of their scents a lot so I mixed them. There’s a sweetness and earthiness that make a lovely blend.

Savane Organic Skincare – Protective Moisturizer: This is a brown-colored lotion that is more runny than most I’m used to. It comes come in an elegant stainless steel bottle and incorporates exotic ingredients I haven’t heard much of, like baobab, manketti, and yangu. It has a scent I can’t quite place that is very unique. It goes on smooth and doesn’t leave any greasy residue and the small bottle and pump are great for putting on your desk, keeping in the car, or even in your bag if you are careful the pump doesn’t get pushed.

Keeki Pure & Simple – Ooh La La Organic Lip Shimmer Stick: What a cute little lip shimmer! It’s a fun oval shape, which I’ve never seen before and I’m a sucker for unique packaging. It reminds me a lot of the Burt’s Bees lip shimmers – almost the same color and “shimmeriness” to it. There’s even a hint of minty freshness as well. It goes on well and is very smooth. I’ve been using it a lot whenever I need a lip balm or want to spruce up my lips.

Simple Squares – Cinnamon Clove Whole Food Snack Bar: I ate this up so fast I forgot to take pictures of the actual bar! That’s a good sign for its taste. It has a chunky sort of texture so when you bit in it wasn’t just some mushy bar. I liked that, as well as the flavor. Great little snack to have whenever you need a sweet boost that won’t leave you thirsty. I would get more if I ever ran into them.

Gaiam TV – Free Trial Offer & Info Card: Gaiam TV (.com) provides all kinds of streaming videos to promote wellness, whether it’s exercising, eating well, meditating, or taking supplements. It’s a great place to find videos to inspire, motivate, guide, and teach anyone who wants to live healthier. I actually haven’t tried this trial, but I had tried a different one previously and if I watched TV I might get it, but I just wouldn’t use this site fully.

Another great box that provided a diverse selection of products! I love how everything had a warm feeling and really set the mood for the fall.

Blissmobox: 4 PM Snacks

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: blissmobox, eco-friendly, food, green, health, home, pictures, products, review, snacks

28 May 2013

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.

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.

Somersault 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.

Nature’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.

Scharffen 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.

Numi Organic Tea, pu 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!

Honey 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.

Pamela’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.

Yuzen Summer 2013 edition (May – July)

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions，Tags: action wipes, acure, base coat, beauty, body lotion, body wipes, cocomels, coconut milk caramels, discount codes, eco-friendly, food, green, health, jj's sweets, juil, lait hydro nettoyant, level naturals, lip cream, marula oil, mineral cream makeup, moroccan argan oil, nail lacquer, nail polish, phyt's, pictures, pritte, products, review, sea salt, shoes, shower bombs, skincare, snacks, sparitual, suki skincare, sukicolor, summer box, top coat, yuzen

20 May 2013

Ok, changing it up a bit this time. All my previous posts have been way after the fact so in an effort to be more timely, I will first post up what came in the box and then update as I try the items. The summer box had the most items yet and was just as fantastic as you could imagine.

Click on the pictures for the full sizes so you can enjoy all the details of each product! You can even zoom in to read all the messaging.

SukiColor – Luscious Lips Berry Cream Trio Fresh Finish Mineral Cream Makeup: What a cute little palette! I’ve never had this kind of cream that you brush on your lips and cheeks so I’m pretty excited to try it. Might I add that there’s a nice citrus sort of scent coming from at least one of them (I can’t tell if it’s just one or all). I kind of want to lick them! Is that weird? Well, I’ll probably end up doing that once they’re on my lips anyway. 😉

JJ’s Sweets Cocomels – Sea Salt Coconut Milk Caramels: Yum! I love caramels and the concept of making them with coconut milk is pretty cool. I didn’t use to like coconut much but it’s definitely growing on me and these are quite the tasty treat. My taste buds didn’t know what to do with the sweet coconut flavor with a hint of saltiness. So unique!

PHYT’S – Lait Hydro Nettoyant: Wow, this must have come straight from France – they didn’t even translate the product name into English. I actually took French in middle & high school and I know lait is milk and nettoyant is cleanser/washer. So I could tell this would be a face wash. It cleans off makeup too! It looks super soothing and gentle. I have a lot of face washes/cleansers at the moment so I don’t want to open it just yet. I imagine it to be creamy, maybe even silky and either clear or white-ish. We’ll see if I’m right!

Level Naturals – Shower Bombs: I got these in a different box awhile back and I actually decided to sell them at that time, but this time around I’m going to try them out! The smell is so invigorating and clears up my sinuses in a snap so I’m sure it’ll be very refreshing in the shower. I might have to keep one intact just to sniff because it is super effective at invigorating and soothing me at the same time. When I get back into the workforce I could definitely use these to help wake me up in the mornings since I am not a morning person. In fact, I often doze off a little while showering and getting ready for work (oops).

Acure – Marula Oil & Moroccan Argan Oil: I’ve never heard of marula oil, so I’m totally curious about it. It’s supposed to be good for scars, redness, fine lines, and dry skin and if it lives up to all that I will be very impressed. I scar easily so anything to help prevent that would be amazing. I’m familiar with argan oil for your hair but I’ve never tried it on my face or cuticles so I’m going to use this bottle towards that.

SpaRitual – Emerald City Lacquer & Multitasker Base & Topcoat: Love this brand! We got a bold red in the December Yuzen box and now it’s a beautiful green for the summer. I love that they rolled the base coat and top coat into one so you don’t have to get both separately. These are super cute and I like smaller sizes since I never use much nail polish and I’d rather have small ones of a ton of colors so I can change it up all the time. They also apply really well/easily!

Pritte – Moisturizing Body Lotion: I like the slender tube and push dispenser they use. It makes their brand seem classier than most and it reminds me of some high-end product lines. I tried a bit and it’s a wonderful citrus sort of scent that I enjoy. It absorbs well and hydrates very effectively. I’m going to have to use this on my feet since they tend to get the worst beating. Got a chance to check out more of their products online and I am really loving their packaging! Maybe it’s the use of gold on the labels? I just want to try more of their products, haha.

Action Wipes – Full-Body Wet Wipes: I can see myself using these after a workout or after being outside in the sun. They seem very refreshing and a great way to rejuvenate your body without having to take a shower. I mean, sometimes it’s just not convenient to have to wash up so I’d totally wipe down instead! I can’t wait to try these out. I’d use them on myself and my yoga mat after a class and I’m sure Panda could make good use of these after his workouts. I’ve been trying to get him to cut down on his water usage and if he can save a rinse with these I think that’d be pretty great.

Juil – $40 off discount code: Ok, I have to admit I’m not a huge fan of their style of shoes but I love the concept! I had the same problem with Crocs until they started making more designs so I bet the same would happen with Juil. These shoes are pretty pricey so a $40 discount helps out a lot! (Most of the women’s shoes are $85 and the men’s are $95.) I’d be really curious to try these so I can see what grounding shoes feel like but at the moment this sort of thing is not within my budget.

What a fabulous box! Everything is very fitting for the summer months, helping you soothe, relax, refresh, cool down, calm down, and so much more. There is so much to try and I can’t wait to field test everything!

What do you think of the Summer Yuzen box? Did you receive it too? If this looks like something you (or someone you know) would love, but sure to sign up for the fall box! Currently there’s a waitlist so don’t delay any longer! Also, you can get in line for the summer favorites box, which will include items from previous boxes. Gift it to someone special or claim it for yourself, especially if you missed out on previous boxes.

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Posts Tagged ‘review’

Beauty Box 5 December 2014 review

Yuzen Spring 2014 edition review

Yuzen Winter 2013 edition (November-January) review

Yuzen Fall 2013 edition (August-October) review

Yuzen Spring 2013 edition (February – April) review

Yuzen December 2012 edition

Blissmobox: Namaste box

Yuzen November 2012 edition

Blissmobox: 4 PM Snacks

Yuzen Summer 2013 edition (May – July)

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