Ipsy October 2013

And the month of spooktacular subscription boxes continues with Ipsy's October glam bag.  The bag is a bit boring and plain but it is what's on the inside that counts, right?  The intent is to art it up as the theme is the Art of Beauty.  Which is why such an amazingly beautiful product card was included this month.

I was really excited to receive a Coastal Scents eyeshadow brush.  It isn't an expensive brush, but it's surprisingly nice.  I would never guess it only has a $2.50 price tag - I am getting a lot of great use out of it.

Speaking of great use, my bag included a beautiful mineral shimmer eyeshadow pigment powder by Bella Terra in emotion.  It is a deep, shimmery purple with a lot of depth.  It is just amazingly pigmented and I love it.

Also included is another full size Zoya polish.  I received a shimmery blue called Neve.  I am not generally a blue polish kind of girl, but it is really rich and interesting, and I love Zoya polishes.

The Nourish Organic coconut and argon body lotion isn't bad.  It is definitely non greasy but I find the smell a bit odd.  There just seems to be a bit of an undertone that I find medicinal, like hand sanitizer.

The last item Sexy Hair's texturizing spray clay.  This actually did an amazing job adding texture and hold to my hair.  I am not used to aerosol cans, and I could taste it rather excessively.  I need practice to keep from breathing/inhaling this stuff.  It's unpleasant and probably unhealthy.  Worth trying though, it really seems to work.

Ipsy is only $10/mo and it is currently my favorite subscription.  It's great if you are looking to build a supply of a variety of beauty products with a focus on cosmetics.  If you would like to learn more about Ipsy, you can check them out here: 

http://www.ipsy.com/?refer=u-h7wnv8b3vz9fy3 (referral alert)

www.ipsy.com (if you prefer over referral links)

 

 

Birchbox October 2013

I love October.  Sure, it's cold and nature keeps hucking its tree garbage on my lawn.  But there are scary movies, candy holidays, silly decorations and pumpkin spice flavored everything.  I kind of expected my October subscription boxes to be unusually good due to my fondness for fall colors and flavors, and so far I have not been disappointed.  I liked my Birchbox so much in fact, that although it was missing the most fancy pants sample (a Dr Brant Microdermabrasion thingy) I am still ranking it one of my favorites.  I would also like to mention Birchbox has really, really great customer service.  They gave me 100 points to make up for the missing sample.  100 points.  That is $10 in their online store.  The entire box only costs $10.  Crazy - I love them!

Where to even start?  The theme was beauty buzz.  I confess I never read the card so I don't know why.  Cute card though.

I received a Costal Scents eyeshadow quad in Rock Legend.  I wasn't expecting much, I had received a quad from Ipsy a while back in neutral colors and it was just ok.  These colors were rich and bold, a bit powdery but amazingly pigmented and perfectly seasonal.  I love it and am using it frequently.

Pop Beauty's lipgloss is nice.  I really like fuchsia lip colors, and it is pretty opaque for a gloss.  It has a nice minty tingle too.  The applicator confused me, I thought the doe foot popped off into the tube until I watched someones YouTube review and they mentioned it was intentional.  I do think I prefer the old fashioned way, but you can really get a lot on at once with a stick like that.

Miss Jessie's Original Pillow Soft Curls - Wow I can't tell you how excited I am to try this.  Yes I know I don't have any hair.  I have been with Birchbox for a year now, and every month the other curly haired girls all get to try Miss Jessies while I pine away.  No longer!  Ok, well, I haven't tried it yet (I want a container to put it in, it's a good size sample but I am no good with foils).  I am really looking forward to it though, and I have heard nothing but good things.

The Birchbox find this month is a full size ChapStick 'hydration lock' with CoQ10.  It feels funny but good?  Soft but action packed.  It confuses me, but I like it.

So.  Loved it.  Got $10 for a missing sample.  I also received my 13 month anniversary code, and I combined the two for a nice online order.  I really like the Birchbox point system, it gives me an opportunity to buy things I would never otherwise consider.  If you are interested in checking them out you can find them at:

http://birch.ly/1a0bbzg (referral!)

www.birchbox.com

 

 

Influenster Sargento Cheese VoxBox

I was very surprised to qualify for a VoxBox from Influenster.  And excited that it was for Cheese.  Influenster is a kind of social media market research company thing, and they sent me this complimentary (completely, totally free) for testing purposes.  The box included a voucher for a free bag, a coupon for a dollar off another bag, and an insulated cheese stick holder.

I had never tried a cheese stick style snack before aside from string cheese, but I do try to get some dairy in every day, usually in the form of yogurt.  My yogurt is also 80 calories, so this is a great way for me to change up my routine without getting my caloric intake all out of whack.  

These are really good.  I expected more of a mozzarella cheese stick taste, a bit rubbery and bland, but they taste more like legit cheese - a bit melty with a nice edge to the sharp cheddar.  I have only tried the Sharp Cheddar-Jack version but I really like it and have repurchased a few bags already.  They seem a bit on the pricey side at over $4 per bag of 12, however it does work out a bit cheaper than the yogurt I buy (.50/ea) and about on par with my 80 calorie granola squares (about $3-4 for 10) so it is really cost competitive.  They just happen to have more per package than the others.

The only drawback that I have found so far is that occasionally the easy peel opening is hard to open.  I can't find where the plastic separates.  That is fairly rare however and pretty easy to deal with. Also, I tend to go a little overboard so they vanish on me quickly, but I can't exactly blame the cheese for tasting good. 

I definitely recommend these, and they seem to be pretty easy to find at grocery stores.  Right over by the string cheese and whatnot, I honestly don't know how I didn't notice them before. If you are looking for more info, recipe ideas and other fun stuff, check out their website at http://www.sargento.com/.

Here is my unboxing for a closer look:

Starlooks Starbox September 2013

The September Starlooks was actually a bit of a let down.  They haven't really been wowing me lately.  Bland colors and a lack of variety are becoming somewhat of the norm.  This box is a touch over $17/mo when shipping is factored in.  For that I would like to see more 4 product boxes with at least one colorful item per box, however that is just me.  I know a lot of people prefer neutrals. Starlooks was my favorite subscription service early this year, but now I greatly prefer Ipsy.

The eyeliner pot in Milky way is a very light silver.  It doesn't do much on it's own really - as an eyeshadow it is sticky and uncomfortable (but pretty).  It is a bit hard to see on my skintone as just an eyeliner.  As a base it doesn't seem as good as an actual primer (and I just use cheap NYX primer). 

The lipgloss in Pearl Necklace is a wonderful formula but the color just isn't there.  Also, the packaging they use for their glosses is terrible.  I had a problem with the stopper thing popping up into the lid, although re-tightening the cap and waiting a couple days seemed to reseal it.  Unfortunately this is the second time I have had this problem.  I also have a gloss from them with a cracked lid.  I know they had the stopper problem over a year ago with their last August box, and it bothers me that they have not worked to improve their packaging by now.  These glosses are not cheap at $12 and their customers deserve better.

The lashes retail for $13.  The look pretty?  I don't really use lashes.

There was also a 1 month free trial membership for a company called Ooberluxe, an online 'personal assistant' that makes reservations and such for you.  It seems like something wealthy business women could use, but I think most people are not so terribly inconvenienced by making their own occasional online arrangements that they would pay monthly for assistance.

You can learn more (and purchase some past Starboxes for $25, I doubt this one will be sold out for a while) by visiting them at:

www.starlooks.com

Popsugar Must Have Box September 2013

September's Popsugar Must Have Box was quite nice - nothing spectacular but everything is surprisingly useful.  Popsugar is currently $35/mo, however they are planning to increase the price in November to about $40, and I don't know that it is really worth that, particularly as a lot of the value is tied up in 'gift cards' for stores.  This months box included:

The Barr-Co diffuser seems to have a weak scent, however the bottle is so clean and simple and classy looking that it is a perfect fit in any room.

P.S. - You're Invited by Erica Domesek is a DIY project book with easy to moderate projects.  None of them seem to really jump out at me and many seem to involve altering items that already seem pretty cool on their own (if I had the scratch for a silk skirt, I don't think I would want to risk ruining it).  It is filled with a lot of great inspiration and tips though and I do plan to find something I can try out.

The Kitsch headbands are pretty awesome.  The colors are great, and I use headbands.  I love getting these instead of the hair ties that I cant use with my short style.

Sharkies!  Ok, I haven't tried them yet.  The name is adorable though, and I like that they included a sport treat.

Rifle Paper Co. Coaster set.  These are paper coasters, but they are holding up well for me and they are really pretty.  They match my living room decor well.

The apple flavored That's It bar included in the box was so tart I couldn't eat it.  I tried...  The texture was nice?

The Shoptiques gift card has been the biggest disappointment for me.  I ordered two items, which shipped from two different boutiques, jacking up the shipping like crazy.  My total after using the $25 card was ~$50.  The most expensive item was about $45 plus shipping on its own and didn't fit.  When I returned it, they only credited my bank account $23.  I don't know if they credited the gift card, if it can be 'reused' or what, but I am hugely disappointed that my actual money wasn't refunded.  The cheaper necklace I ordered took forever to ship and was packaged terribly.  This is likely the last time I use a gift card received in a subscription box.

http://popsu.gr/gOps (referral link)

http://musthave.popsugar.com/ (weirdly unguessable regular link)

Julep Galaxy Mystery Box

I am such a gigantic sucker for Juleps wonderful marketing strategy that I had to cancel my Maven account to get rid of all that beautiful temptation.  Shortly thereafter, I received an email from them about a new galaxy themed mystery box.  @#*%$ Julep, I thought I was free!

Anyway, I love space.  There was no way I could resist, and holy wow am I glad I didn't.  I ordered the middle sized, cosmic mystery box with a value of at least $70 for $25, and added on the $9.99 'mystery item'.  I had to pay through the nose for shipping now that I am no longer a member, however the box they sent me has a value close to $120, so I can't exactly complain.

How did this even happen?  It's amazing.  Far more than the standard mystery boxes.  The 'mystery item' was just random stuff, the hand and cuticle stick and a polish in the color Carrie.  The colors I received in the actual mystery box are: 

Lexie (yellow)

Charlotte (purple)

Francis (green)

Blakely (molten)

Reiko (copper?)

Estelle (black with multi color holo glitter) 

The tiny travel size kit has the Rock Star hand creme and the Glycolic hand scrub, both of which I have been wanting to try out.  It also has another Oxygen Nail Treatment.  I am not sure how well that works as it can't be used as a base coat.  If I can see my nails, I destroy them.

I got a bit adventurous and decided to try my first nail art.  Julep posted a galaxy nail tutorial on their facebook.  My 'celestial bodies' are too big and just look like polka dots, but I do like how the coloring turned out.

I love and recommend Julep to anyone with self control, as they have a constant flood of irresistible deals.  I joined almost a year ago, and the condition of my nails have improved immensely.  Having such an interesting and good quality polish selection helps me keep them painted, which stops me from picking at them.  The polishes are small, and if you are not a member they are overpriced.  They do have a subscription service that gets you a discount and free shipping as well as your choice of a selection of monthly boxes at $19.99/mo.  You can always skip the boxes, but if you do you miss out on the Secret Store sale.  After that's over they start sending out the mystery box teasers...  Seriously, Julep is a non stop polish sale extravaganza.  If you want to check them out, their site is www.julep.com.

Wantable Intimates Box, September 2013

Wantable has launched a new line of subscriptions box for intimate apparel.  They already have a make up and a jewelry line that seem to be growing in popularity.  They all work the same way - you take a very detailed preference quiz and they offer a very customized box at either a $36 monthly subscription fee or a flat $40 one time fee.  This is a wonderfully versatile system.  When I found out they were offering a new intimates box I decided to try a one time purchase.  I could use some new undies and socks, which is what I assumed would be the primary items.

Let me start by saying that I love this box.  Even more now, a week later, than the day I unboxed it. I wear the socks at every possible moment, and when they finally fall prey to wear or to a hungry dryer they will be mourned.

The Pink Poodle Socks from Sock It to Me have a value of $11.00.  They actually have a ton of cool patterns.  The socks are very soft, but stretchy.  I wear a size 11, so I normally tear through regular socks quickly.  These feel like they will hold up for quite a while.

The Coobie Essential Thin Strap Cami in Seafoam has a value of $20 and is my least favorite item.  It will work for layering, but it is a "one size" item and of course fits weirdly.  It is a tight but slick material that I am worried will ride up if not tucked in tightly.  Useful but not particularly enjoyable.

The Izabella Herringbone Tights in Dark Grey are valued at $19 and the fit is impressive.  I am 6' tall and didn't expected them to send me tights due to the sizing limitations caused by my legs.  Unbelievably, these fit great and are extremely cozy.  It almost makes me happy for the impending doom of fall weather.

And then there is the crown jewel of the box, the Essence Tank in Red from Pheel (size large), worth $48.  The fit is amazing.  And it isn't lounge wear, as I was expecting.  It's active wear, baby!

I have already tried it out at the gym and I am trying to determine how many times I can wear it in a row before other members start to wonder if it's ever clean (it is I swear!).

So yeah, hugely impressed with this box.  It is out of my price range to buy on the regular, but I would very much like to purchase this again as an occasional treat.  Total value is $98, and the cost of the box was only $40.  If you got one of these, let me know what you think!

 

For more info:

 www.wantable.com

Unboxing video if you would like a closer look:

Starlooks Starbox August 2013

And more lipstick from the last of my August beauty boxes.  Luckiest. Month. Ever.

The infinity lipsticks in Endless, a very sheer shimmery peach and Eons, a rose matte pink are part of the Natalie Corona Special Edition box for August.  These are nice wearable colors, but much safer than I would like.  Part of Starlooks success means appealing to a wider audience and they seem to be moving away from the bold looks of last year.  The formula is creamy to start and lasts about 5 hours.  I actually prefer their regular lipstick formula, which I find creamier, better pigmented and lasts about 4 hours anyway.

Also included is their eye glitter in Emerald.  I am surprised this is ok for eyes.  The glitter migrated a bit and annoyed my contacts.  It also got all over everything.  The color is fantastic, but the product isn't really for me.

The prism doesn't actually look very nice.  It's better than the button from June, but I don't think I will be using it.

Starlooks is $15/mo and they send 3-4 full size items.  I like them and use their products far more than items that I have gotten in other subscriptions.  I do hope they do something a little bolder for fall though, maybe a burgendy or deep plum lip color.  I would also like to see more balanced boxes.  With 2 of the same type of item in a box they are bound to disappoint anyone not a fan of the one product type.  The same with the June box that had two eyeliners. No one type of cosmetic is beloved by all.

www.starlooks.com

Unboxing video, and a closer look at the items:

Ipsy August 2013

Squeeeeeeee they sent me an Urban Decay lipstick!  My favorite brand and favorite type of item.

Urban Decay lipstick in Anarchy - blatantly my favorite thing.  I like the formula, it starts creamy but gets a little dry after an hour.  It lasts 5+ hours and is amazingly pigmented.  The color is blindingly awesome.  Love it.

Chella brow pencil - this one surprised me, I like it more than I expected.  It's dark so a light hand is needed, but it is easy to use and does a great job filling in sparse spots.

Mica loose eye shadown in Bronze - this is ok, nice and shimmery.  I like the color and feel of last months penny wise from Starlooks a touch better though.

Pixi Mascara - Ug, I hate the brush part.  It is really wide at one end and the widest part is all that touches my lashes.  It takes forever to apply.

Michael Todd Jojoba Charcoal facial scrub - I haven't tried it yet as I am a bit gun shy of facial skin care however this is formulated for sensitive skin so I am hopeful.  I have heard nothing but great things about the Michael Todd line.

So yes, overall AMAZING.  Ipsy has eclipsed my other beauty subs for my absolute favorite.  It is only $10 and while their shipping has gotten kind of slow/sucky the products do not dissapoint.

http://www.ipsy.com/?refer=u-h7wnv8b3vz9fy3 (referral alert)

www.ipsy.com (if you prefer over referral links)

Birchbox August 2013

Birchbox not only sent me another lipstick this month, they accidentally sent me two.  Sweeettttt!!!!!!

Stila Liquid Stay All Day lipstick in Beso is an amazing, deep, velvety red that I adore.  The formula is very drying and sort of... Chips off when lips are not well exfoliated and cared for.  I do like it though, it just has such a sensual texture/look.  Perfect with a simple black dress or shirt.

It's a 10 leave in 'miracle' product - Ok, I am not a fan of miracle claims.  This doesn't seem to do much except burn my scalp.  The second ingrediant is Cetearyl Alcohol and I am guessing that is the culprate.

Whish exfoliating body wash in coconut milk is a good size and smells nice. I haven't yet tried this one out.

Whish deodorant swipe with hair inhibitor.  It's one swipe.  And it's not even an anti-perspriant, just a deoderant with an inhibitor that can not be judged from one use.  I am not thrilled with this and have no use for it.

And two tiny foil packets of Malin Goetz vitamin e face moisturizer.  I used one packet on my hand and it was hardly enough to cover.  There isn't enough product for me to allergy test and safely put on my face.  Not impressed with the product size or performance, as my hand didn't even feel well moisturized.

So, I loved getting a new lipstick but overall not an impressive box.  The Birchbox point system is still really nice though, and I was able to get 50 points ($5) for feedback on these items.

http://birch.ly/1a0bbzg (referral!)

www.birchbox.com

Popsugar Must Have August 2013

I received my August Popsugar box and I am far more impressed than I was with the July edition.  At $35 plus tax it is still a bit on the high side for my budget, but this months box is a great value for the money.

The Gorgana Circle Necklace is my favorite item, and it a special anniversary 'extra'.  I actually wear this almost daily.  It is dainty but mature and lays high enough not to interfere with a lot of necklines.

I have also been using the Bentgo box for my work lunches.  It is a convient size, and you can use just the top or bottom part if you didn't bring enough food to fill the entire thing.  Plastic flatware is included.

I received the Lulah in Vanilla Orchid, which smells amazing.  It is full sized and huge.

The May Designs Weekly Agenda is very pretty to look at.  The inside fonts are really nice.  This is a small (narrow) planner but it is handy.

Dermalogica Precleanse and Special Cleansing Gel were deluxe sized instead of full, but the actual products are pricey and it is nice to try them out without losing an arm and a leg.  I found the precleanse amazing at removing my makeup and making my face seem extra clean.  The cleansing gel did not irritate my skin either, however I broke out a bit and have gone back to using the precleanse in combination with either Simple Moisturizing cleanser or Nutrogena Acne Stress Control wash, depending on how big of a jerk my face is being.

The Lunares Apple Bowl is not something I would have brought myself but it is lovely.  I have been dropping the necklace into it at night and I can safely say it is a good jewelry loss prevention device.

The Nature Box Apple Rings tasted like dried fruit.  A nice, low calorie snack for people who hate chocolate.   And by extension, themselves.

Overall this was a spectacular box, however the necklace did carry most of the weight of the awesome.  Being that it was considered an extra, I don't know that September will be quite as impressive.  I know I should cancel for my budgets sake, but I have a feeling I will be hanging on for another month.  Last Septembers box is what originally drew my interest in the subscription.

 http://popsu.gr/gOps (referral link)

http://musthave.popsugar.com/ (weirdly unguessable regular link)

Turntable Kitchen Pairings Box July 2013

I am really excited about this subscription service.  They send a limited edition 7" vinyl record, a digital mix 'tape' (indie music), 3 interesting recipes, and a sample of a unique ingredient every month.  The mixed tape included 20 songs!  I was expecting around 8 or 9.  As I usually pay $1 - $1.30 a song from iTunes, this really adds a lot of value for me.  This subscription doesn't come with a ton of physical stuff, so it isn't for everyone.  It is basically a box of things that can be easily put together to create wonderful experiences.  This really appeals to me.  My cooking skills are pretty abysmal, and I don't really listen to music much.  That makes me a rather dull host at get togethers, but this subscription is turning that around nicely.  I had previously ordered a gift set from them that had me cooking soup from scratch and inviting over family.  It was an amazing experience, and I have already learned a lot about cooking basics.  I have fallen in love with a couple new bands as well.

July was my first formal subscription box, and the founders included a handwritten note and some amazing extra recipes to get me started off.  This lead to an exciting 'spice hunt', as I needed a special thing or two to go along with the extra cards.  I found some great local stores I didn't know existed and had a blast finding things I needed.  My favorite/most awkward moment was having to ask the lady at the spice store if toasted cumin was a thing that you buy or a thing that you do.

I haven't tried the main dish from July yet, as it is a bit 'fishy' (shrimpy? That's not a fish, lol), and I know too many people with aversions to things from the briney deep to figure out who to invite for it.  I will likely make it and hog it all to myself.  I have tried out a few other fun things from the box though, including the iced coffee with maple sugar, which is AMAZING.  I am having technical difficulties measuring coffee grounds into ounces, and I think I am overdoing it.  Which is a delicious mistake, but wow do I get hyper.

The iced coffee I made is pictured here in the background.  The delightful food pictured is a recipe Turntable Kitchen posted on their Facebook.  I guess this is their most 'pinned' recipe on pinterest.  For good reason too, it tastes and looks amazing.  Egg poaching was another first for me, and a great skill to pick up.  And now I have a cheap, easy brunch option to offer anyone stopping by.

So yeah, I freaking love this sub.  Even if you are not interested in the subscription service, their blog is full of great recipes and music suggestions.  I follow them on Facebook and they even just shared an entire mixed tape with a summer wine theme.  Really, check them out - they rock:

http://www.turntablekitchen.com/

Starlooks Starbox July 2013

Starbox swept in with a much more enjoyable box this month.  Nothing particularly edgy, but definitely more fun.

The three lightest colors in the palette are the best.  A light shimmery champagne, a bold pure gold and a creamy orange.  Great summer colors with excellent pigment and a long wearing formula.  The shimmery plumb is less pigmented, but still nice.  The black is stinky.  It just doesn't apply evenly and isn't a true black.  This eyeshadow palette is overall quite nice.  As far as product goes.  The packaging is on my nerves though.  When opened, it just looks like a cheap children's watercolor palette.  I have a growing collection of cracked and broken (but still functional) Starlooks products due to the crappy packaging they use.  I am a bit wary this will be joining the ranks.

The contour brush is a great touch though, and a perfect match for last months bronzer.  I am not a contour girl in general, but I have used this with great success to bring out my cheekbones.  It is a very nice addition.

As a special extra, Starlooks included a half size of their pigment luster in Penny Wise and a sample of Quince Body Butter.  The intent is to mix and create a body bronzer.  Skipping due to allergies, but the pigment is AMAZING.  I like this packaging better than the normal vials and the color lasted me all day today even without a primer.  No creasing!

So overall this month was alright and better than the last.  I have to say I do not recommend buying their eyeshadow palettes from their site unless they dramatically reduce the pricing (from 40 something to say, 12 bucks).  Or if they improve the packaging drastically without upping the price.  Their eyeshadow just does not compare to other brands out there that you can get a far better deal on.  Urban Decay is still the best I have tried, and a 12 color palette from them at $50 is around $4.17 a color, vs Starlooks poorly packaged 5 pan version around $8.20/ea.  That's huge.

If you want to learn more about Starlooks, as always you can check them out at www.starlooks.com

Unboxing goodness:

Birchbox July 2013

I feel like all my subscriptions knew I had the week off and sent everything all at once.  I received my Birchbox quite early this month, and it is box number 5.

Oh my, is that another lipstick in my Birchbox?  Why yes.  Yes it is.  I think they love me.

ModleCo's Party Proof Lipstick in Get Naked: isn't my favorite as far as quality and pales in comparison to last months LAQA&CO.  While the coverage isn't very smooth, opaque, or even very matte (as advertised), the color is actually quite nice on me.  It is also light enough that I can get away with the uneven coverage.  I don't plan to repurchase this, but I am using it happily.

The Curl Keeper by Jonathan Torch: is a great sample size at 1 oz.  I do have curly hair, but I just got it chopped into my beloved standard pixie, so I am not seeing much difference with it at the moment.  When it gets a bit of length to it I think it will be easier to tell.

Benta Berry G-1 Moisturizing Face Cream:  is not going on my face, as it is quite heavily scented and my skin is very sensitive.  It is a French item and while I usually trust their take on beauty items completely, I will stick with their unscented Embryolisse.

Juicy Couture, Couture La La:  I don't wear perfume out side of very special occasions, however this is a very nice, clean, and feminine scent.

Birchbox Bobby Pins:  These are so cute!  I don't have enough hair for them right now, but I will hang on to them for a bit.  They grip the packaging quite fiercely, so I expect they would need to be worn with some care.

Overall these were great items, although they really weren't all up my alley.  Birchbox is only $10/mo, and for every item reviewed you get 10 points to save up and use in their online shop.  If you would like to learn more you can visit them at:

http://birch.ly/1a0bbzg (referral link)

www.birchbox.com (regular link if preferred)

For a closer look at these items, here is my unboxing video:

Popsugar Must Have Box July 2013

This is my first Popsugar Must have box.  It is a subscription I have been following for a long time, drooling over the contents and reviews on the MakeUp Talk forum (www.makeuptalk.com).  It is a lifestyle box with a mix of beauty, fashion, food and other lifestyle items such as books and work out gear.  I was under the apparently false impression that this would be some sort of special anniversary box.  Moments after my unboxing, I received an email about next months special anniversary gift...  I do need to learn to adjust my expectations with 'special boxes' a bit, lol!  At $35/mo, this is a bit too pricey for me (although well worth it for anyone with the right budget).  I will likely stick around for the special anniversary necklace in August and move on.

I received the following:

Baublebar Rose Double Curb Chain necklace - Very, very heavy.  Clunky and a bit masculine.  It doesn't seem to lay quite right either.  The quality seems decent though, and I have seen some people absolutely rocking it online.  I am trying to find the 'right' outfit for it and keeping an open mind.

Supergoop SPF30 Anti-Aging City Sunscreen Serum - My first beauty serum!  So far it does not seem to be irritating my skin, although I am building up slowly to play it safe.  It seems a touch greasy but it feels nice.  I am a little baffled as to how it should be reapplied as often as directed.  Over makeup?  Under?  Without?  Combined?  No clue.  I am enjoying it though, and this is a perfect time of year for a sunscreen.

Mighty Leaf Iced Tea in Ginger Peach - I am way over excited for this.  It smells amazing!  I don't have a glass pitcher large enough to make it (lol!), so I may have to end up wasting a bit in a smaller container and steeping it for a bit less time.  This is also perfect for summer and a great choice to include in the box.

Tovolo King Cube Ice Tray - And speaking of summer perfect, yowza.  These ice cubes are monstrous and highly amusing.  The size is perfect for a million pinteresty things.  I am just gonna make ice in it though.

NCLA As If! Polish - Such a pretty color!  I have it on my toes now and it is holding up beautifully.  Opaque in one coat as well.  As soon as my current color chips it is going right on my fingernails as well.

Hannahmax Dark Chocolate Chocolate Chip all natural Crunchy Cookie Chips - Jeez, is the name long enough?  Anyway my package was defective.  Shortly after opening they all vanished.  I am going to have to find more to research this phenomenon...

My Cat Nikita was also quite pleased with the box...

And for a closer look at the products from this box, here is my video:

 And here are links to their site for more info:
http://popsu.gr/gOps (referral link)

http://musthave.popsugar.com/ (weirdly unguessable regular link)

Starlooks Starbox June 2013

Starlooks June anniversary edition is in and it is ok.  Useful, quality items.  They kind of made a flashy deal out of this months box (please note the spiffy box design) and I can't figure out why.  With two eyeliners and a bronzer, it seems unbalanced and underwhelming.

Not that it is bad - it isn't at all.  I have used the bronzer in Montego Bay quite a bit, and their precision eye pen is perfect for the winged liner look.  The tip is so narrow it is perfect for getting into tight spaces.  The white eyeliner is in their fabulous creamy formula, although I don't personally have much use for it.  I really have nothing to say about the peace sign button.  It's just a cheap children's style button. 

I really think the box would have been more balanced and possibly more sixties if they had switched out the eye pen for maybe a pink lip color.  Or traded in the button for a braided head band.  Just something.  I am satisfied with this box, just bummed that it doesn't seem very special after the build up.  Oh well.  

Starlooks is $15/mo plus shipping (about $3).  If you would like to learn more you can check them out at www.starlooks.com.  

If you would like a closer look, check out my unboxing video here:

Turntable Kitchen...

I just signed up for a rather awesome sounding sub box.  Turntable Kitchen is a curated music & food pairing subscription that sends a 7" vinyl record, a digital mixed 'tape', 3 fancy pants recipe cards and a sample of a special ingredient to use for the food.  It's only $25/mo, which is kind of amazing to me considering the amount of effort I assume would go into matching food to music.

This one is very interesting to me because a.) I mostly just eat macaroni and cheese, and should probably knock that off and b.) I have a record player and hardly any records.  I can see how if someone kind of knows how to cook and already has a set taste in music this may not work out for them.  I really want to expand my horizons in both categories, so this is perfect.

I didn't see much on line in the way of reviews, so I went ahead and ordered a gift bundle from their shop for $30 to try out before committing.  I ordered it Sunday night, and it was processed and shipped across the country and delivered today (Wednesday).  I am already hugely impressed by that.

It came with a T shirt (American Apparel - super soft), a record by Ghost Loft, who I had never heard of and now madly love and a set of 3 perfectly matched recipe cards that share ingredients and range from easy peasy to 'oh God a whole chicken? where do I buy that? do I pluck it first?'.  I really like that it includes things I feel confident about and offers up a challenge to improve my skill level without being too frustrating.  I also love that it provides an experience that can be shared with others.  Hopefully this will also increase my lacking entertaining skills.

Needles to say I have signed up and I am really looking forward to the regular subscription boxes, as well as trying out the recipes included in the gift bundle.  If you want to learn more you can check them out at www.turntablekitchen.com.  

Also, assuming I don't burn my house down I will try to post pictures of the finished food in a week or two =)

ETA update:  The chicken soup recipe went amazingly well!  The ingredients were affordable and the steps easy to follow.  I still can't believe I made soup from scratch with an actual chicken.  I invited family over for dinner.  They were impressed with the meal, and even quite interested in the record.  I can't wait to see what new recipes and music the July Turntable Kitchen box will bring!

Ipsy June 2013

Cutest bag ever...

No doubt I am biased, as I am convinced it looks like my allegedly part Bengal (but probably just patch tabby) cat Nikita.  She rudely scratched me in my unbagging video when I tried to hold her up for a comparison.   

This adorable bag contained the following:

NYX Blush in Angle $5
Starlooks lip liner in Tipsy $12
J. Cat eyelashes EL66 $3.99 - Someone on MUT was awesome enough to point out that they have weird (and mean/ridiculous) shipping policies listed on their site for anyone outside the continental US, so heads up.
J. Cat cream palette in Suzie $4.49
Cailyn eyeliner in purple $21

I already own a couple of lip liners in Tipsy, and used an open one for the swatch below.  It is a beautiful summer coral.  The NYX blush in Angle is also a new favorite.  It is close to my skin tone, and I feel it gives a very light, natural hint of color on me.  It is also swatched below, but hard to see just beneath the tipsy liner:

I am not too sure about the glitter palette, as it may not be suitable for use around the eyes, but an awesome person from YouTube suggested working it into some nail art, so there is still hope.  I have not used the lashes yet either, but as it is my first ever pair, I am very happy to have received them.

The Cailyn eyeliner is nice, really nice.  It stays put very well.  I find it a bit pricey though, and the brush is a bit on the scratchy side.

So yeah, not everything was awesome, but the stuff that worked did so wonderfully, and everything was full sized!  Ipsy is only $10/mo, and while I find them historically hit or miss, they have been amazing for the last few months consistently.  You can check them out at ipsy.com, or you can use my referral link http://www.ipsy.com/?refer=u-h7wnv8b3vz9fy3.

Unbagging, plus minor mauling by my spoiled little fuzzbutt:

Birchbox June 2013

Birchbox.  I love you.

The LAQA&CO is obviously going to be my favorite right off the bat, being a lip product.  I am thrilled to have gotten it, and I may buy the mini duo set for $16.  I love the travel friendly size, and while the color is quite bright, it can be applied more lightly for a less delightfully blinding effect:

Case in point, one layer on the left and a mountain on the right.  This also feels fantastic and the coverage is smooth, even and long lasting.  After a couple beers and a greasy burger last night, I headed off to touch up and was very surprised that it wasn't necessary.  I did anyway, and after a few more hours, more drinks and snacks the coverage was still very lovely and consistent.  I am absolutely thrilled with this brand.  It may be my favorite thing ever received in a Birchbox.

Moving right along, the Suki exfoliating cleanser is also completely amazeballs.  It smells like a citrusy sugar smoothie and leaves my skin very soft without drying.  I have and love Vasanti, but it is quite drying and I have not been able to use during colder months.  The full size of the Suki is a bit off putting at $33, but with the Birchbox point system I can see it as worth saving for.

I am grateful to have received the Coola Sunscreen in my box, as I need a lot of sunscreen and it is hard for me to find something that doesn't irritate my skin.  Sadly, this didn't pass my itch test.  Smells wonderful though, like the freshest cucumber.

Wow, the Color Club in London Calling is bright.  Like, really bright.  I am less adventurous with my nails than my lips, as I can wear a bold lip color for a hour then take it off, but I am stuck with a loud nail for days.  I do like getting polishes,  but this particular neon pastel line isn't a fit for me personally.

And then there are a couple of tiny, tiny foil packets.  100% Pure Body Cream.  Meh, there isn't even enough to determine if it will irritate my skin, and the one I bothered to open smells vaguely plasticy.  No dice.

I am overall super happy with this months BB!  It also came with the most adorable postcards to match its travel theme.  Birchbox is only $10/month, and you get about half of that back in points for leaving feedback on the items received.  You can check them out at http://birch.ly/1a0bbzg (that is a referral link, you can just use birchbox.com if you prefer =)