Category

Subscription boxes

Subscription boxes: Birchbox, Ipsy

October 8, 2012

Blue Lace Twistband review

As part of my September Birchbox I received a blue lace twistband. Out of the box it looked ok but when I put it on the first time, the underside (which did not have the lace pattern printed on it) flipped over enough that it didn’t look great.

A month later, I’ve worn it a few more times and it’s just not holding up well. It doesn’t flip over as much in my hair but it still doesn’t look great AND it’s starting to come apart.

 

$14/6pk = $2.33 per band which is far more expensive than the average hair band and I would hope they would hold up better. They ARE more comfortable in your hair so I’ve relegated this one to nighttime braid use. The neon twistband from the March Birchbox is holding up much better but I haven’t used it maybe only twice.

If you really like these and want them to last awhile, I would recommend investing in some Dritz Fray Check. It’s a sewing product that is like a glue to keep the ends of ribbon from unraveling.

I still really like the concept because it’s like a better looking scruncie and easier on your hair than most hairbands, but I’m thinking about buying some elastic at the fabric store or online to go the DIY route for less and in a wider variety of colors. Or so I can have a pile of brown ones to last awhile.

Hint Hint: There are also people on etsy selling similar hairbands for much less.

October 1, 2012

Signed up:
KlutchClub October 2012

So I signed back up for KlutchClub. And I’m really looking forward to getting this box. I’ll do a review when I get it in.

They’ve made a few changes since I gave them a try in April. When you sign up for one month, it’s auto-renewing like birchbox so you’ll be charged $18/month but you can cancel any time. 

But I saw what they plan on sending out in the October box and they had me at the Yurbuds, a brand I wanted to try and been hearing good things about. And the Devita Natural Eyeliner because I’m on the lookout for natural and organic cosmetics brands to try. The supplements don’t hurt either since I’ve really started focusing on doing protein shakes more. I’ve also been looking for a vegi protein that is NOT soy which is also part of this box.

  • You can check out my past reviews for the April box or the May & June boxes.
  • Sign up for KlutchClub and support this blog (referral link): http://bit.ly/QS7sXA
  • Or check out the list of items that come with the October box below:

Full disclosure: KlutchClub’s May & June boxes were sent to me by the company. These are my honest opinions however, not a paid sponsorship and I AM paying for my October box (and did pay for my April box.)

September 27, 2012

Birchbox + Goop for October!

If you’re a birchbox subscriber, be sure to be on the lookout for an email giving you a choice on your October box (check those spam folders if you don’t see it soon!)

You can choose to get a special Goop box
or the regular October box.

(More info below the screenshot of the email)

What is Goop? Goop is Gwyneth Paltrow’s “…weekly publication delivered straight to your inbox offering exclusive limited edition collaborations, recipes, travel notes, shopping ideas and wellness tips for you, your wardrobe and your home.”

Ok so it’s not only Gwyny’s deal, there’s a staff and writers and such. And yes, the products on the site are out of the average person’s price range. It’s been called a site for spoiled white rich girls actually.

That doesn’t keep this $515 cute heart cashmere sweater from being cute though. WAY out of my price range but still cute. $200 and I might start thinking about it as an investment piece … but it’s too casual for work so probably not still. But that’s besides the point. No wait, actually that IS the point.

 

This is exactly why I want to make sure I get the Goop Birchbox.

Who knows what kind of fabulous goodies it might hold!

So be sure to look for it in your email if you’re already a Birchbox subscriber. I think the only way to opt in for this box is to click on the link in your email. If you’re not seeing the email, check your spam folder.

If you’re not already subscribed to Birchbox I’m not sure if you will get the option on sign up but it’s worth a shot. Sign up for Birchbox! (referral link):
http://www.birchbox.com/?raf=3l3e7

Oh also to note … apparently supplies are limited so act soon. This is the email confirmation I got (grumble):

 

September 18, 2012

September 2012 Birchbox unboxing

 

What’s inside:

  • Birchbox and Color Club® Custom Collection in “Put a Pin In It” : love it, I’m thinking the other shades are enticing as well.
  • twistband™ Lace up for Fall
  • The Brush Guard Variety Pack
  • Fekkai Essential Shea Shampoo & Fekkai Essential Shea Conditioner : scary ingredients. Didn’t even bother running a custom report on this one after taking a closer look. Add in that it would cost $50 total for shampoo and conditioner and I’ll pass on buying a full size version any time soon.
  • Dr. Jart+ Water Fuse Beauty Balm SPF 25+ : This BB Cream is a 5 according to a custom report with the Cosmetics Database. The big problems are parabens. For me two additional problems (for breakouts) are talc and dimethicone. I tried it on anyway… it just was all wrong for me.
  • BVLGARI Mon Jasmin Noir : again with the synthetic fragrances

Bonuses:

So favorite things from this box: nail polish, hair tie, and brush covers.

Unboxing video:

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Sign up for Birchbox! (referral link): http://www.birchbox.com/?raf=3l3e7

September 6, 2012

Birchbox August 2012 unboxing

Unboxing video below descriptions:

  • Schick Hydro Silk Razor – I kinda wish I knew what was in the moisturizing strip BUT this is a problem I just have to ignore because it’s pretty much the same question I have with any good razor. This razor IS better than the Venus3 I was using before so I think I will be switching to it because it really is that much better. As long as I can find blades for it (first drugstore I was in didn’t have them but that could have just been the one.) First few uses it felt like it almost suctioned to my leg. The only problem with this is if you have a bug bite (be careful!) A much cleaner shave all around though.
  • WEI™ Pomegranate Buffing Beads ingredients: Polyethylene, punica granatum (pomegranate) peel, coco-glucoside, benzoic acid. EWGEWG Environmental Working Group - an organization focused on research to make informed choices and live a healthy life in a healthy environment. rates it on these ingredients as a 1 (custom report.) LOVE this. I always love a good exfoliator and this is gentle and very different from a lot of the other options out there. You use it with your own soap so you’re not stuck with a soap that doesn’t agree with your skin. 20 packets for $20 is … not too bad actually for what you’re getting. Yes, there are better deals to be had but I think I might actually buy these.
  • Yu-Be Moisturizing Skin Cream – I’ve received this before (on second look, I actually received this in my KlutchClub box as well.) Camphor is a really wonderful thing for sore muscles. Since I recently royally messed up my back, I did in fact go through almost all of the two samples I had stashed before trying a cheaper drugstore muscle cream (almost all of them have menthol so there was only one.)
    They say that the camphor smell in this product dissipates  but it doesn’t really seem too in my opinion. It’s less harsh than menthol but it still makes me smell a bit like a little old lady. Maybe it would dissipate more if just used as a lip balm. This isn’t specifically a sore muscle cream but HOWEVER this is WONDERFUL on sore muscles.
    Would I buy this? I’m really on the fence. I would love to use it as an occasional post workout muscle rub but it comes in such tiny quantity that I don’t think that’s practical. It’s also fairly expensive at $18/2oz.
  • WEI™ Golden Root Purifying Mud Mask – I can’t seem to find the ingredients list for this but I think it’s just clay and golden root: http://www.weibeauty.com/by-type/purify-chi/golden-root-purifying-mud-mask.html
    I liked what this did but the scent was a bit overwhelming for me. It’s not a bad scent, just one I felt irritated my sensitive allergy prone nose. Top that off with the cost … $5 per pod isn’t bad as a treat but since you have to come up with $40 and commit to more at once my brain kicks in and says “$40 for mud?” 🙂
  • Caldrea Hand Soap – this is a 4 according to EWG’s cosmetics database and part of that is for the essential oils being labeled “fragrance.” However the fragrance in this soap is derived from natural ingredients so it should have a better score. As a soap it’s still a little harsh, a little generic to some degree… I just wasn’t wowed. http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/product/206539/Caldrea_Liquid_Hand_Soap/
  • stila stay all day™ foundation, concealer, & brush kit – apparently the ingredient list isn’t posted online, I’ll write the company. http://answers.sephora.com/answers/8723/product/P374937/questions.htm?page=2
    I did go ahead and try it on the inner part of my arm and the color somehow came across as chalky to me. It seemed to match my skin tone but something was just off about it.
  • Juicy Couture Viva la Juicy La Fleur – again with the synthetic fragrances. Seriously, when are they going to stop sending me these? Moving on.

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** SPOILER ALERT **

I watched the September Birchbox preview for a change and here’s what I’m really hoping I get in my September box:

  • Color Club Put a Pin It – Rose gold nail polish
  • Brush guards – brush rolls are too space consuming unless you have a large sink counter to work with which makes them annoying for travel but my last trip I threw everything in a cosmetic bag and it wasn’t kind to my brushes so really hoping I get to try these
  • Vasanti Brighten Up! – Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator – this has good ingredients and is an exfoliator which is something I always like trying
  • LiQWd Professional Volumizing Catalyst – I’m on the fence about wanting this. I can’t find the ingredient list.

July 16, 2012

Birchbox Glamour Magazine July 2012 unboxing

 

  • Color Club nail polish in Blue-Ming – looks like Essie Turquoise & Caicos in the bottle but they are different enough on that I’m glad I have both. The Color Club is a little brighter and a little more in your face whereas the Essie is a little more demure.
  • Eyeko Skinny Liquid Eyeliner in Black (not waterproof)
  • Harvey Prince fragrance in Eau Flirt (you know the drill by now, synthetic fragrance is not my thing)
  • Supergoop! City Sunscreen Serum – this is ok. There are better but this is acceptable: http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/company/Supergoop%21/
    Here’s the 2012 Sunscreen Guide: http://breakingnews.ewg.org/2012sunscreen/
  • Tea Forté Minteas Reboot in Cocoa Mate – these are organic and have yerba mate as an ingredient. I thought I had these in some other flavors but it turned out that what I had were actually SenCha mints in different flavors. These taste VERY similar.
  • Neon Earbuds – cute but lacking in bass… tried them after the video and they’re a little too tin-y. I’ve actually bought $10 earbuds before that sound better than these. I was kinda excited to get these but they ended up in the trash they were bad enough.

Link to Glamour’s “getting pretty” playlist: http://www.glamour.com/spotify

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