unboxing

October 21, 2012

October 2012 KlutchClub unboxing

Posted in Beauty & Skin, Fitness / Active, Makeup / Cosmetics, Subscription boxes

Ok so this might be stretching it a bit for a clothing and makeup blog but it IS focused on health and fitness and I do plan on writing some workout gear posts that I haven’t gotten to yet. It seemed to fit here better as a result of that.

If you’re not interested in the supplements, just check out the Yurbuds and the Devita Natural Eyeliner reviews below.

Unboxing video:

via YouTube

Coromega Omega3+D Squeeze Supplement:

This is just ok. I don’t like the Stevia aftertaste or the tropical punch flavor it sorta has as a result of the pineapple. I also think that my Barlean’s orange swirl is better and a healthier fit for me. That said, if you’re not taking any kind of fish oil and maybe you’re on the go or traveling, this would be a good fit. They sell these from their site for $45.99/90 packets = $0.51 per packet. But I also quickly found a box of 90 on Walgreen’s site for $25.19 so you can find these for less.

http://www.coromega.com/products/omega3d-squeeze/

Yurbuds:

LOVE these. They stay in your ears really well. I can’t find the purple color (or the other colors people were getting in their boxes) but I also couldn’t find a pair for less than $29.99. They do hurt after a longer period of time (I think I wore them for 2 hours before they started to really bug me) but the fact that they lock in makes them an excellent pair of earbuds to have for exercise. Sound quality is above average but not the best I’ve ever had and I would probably buy these again if they last long enough.

http://www.yurbuds.com/

Good Greens (Chocolate Raspberry):

Pretty darn tasty but I didn’t feel any kind of kick of healthyness to it. Didn’t taste bad for you and would be a great chocolate treat but at $29.95/12 bars ($2.50 per bar) I just don’t think I can warrant buying these. It is high quality and a great list of ingredients but I kinda mentally max out around $1.80 a bar and sometimes that’s even pushing it.

Ingredients (for the Chocolate Raspberry version): Dairy Free Dark Chocolate* (Evaporated Cane Juice, Liquor, Soy Lecithin, Natural Vanilla), Fruitrim® (Fruit Juices, Natural Grain Dextrins), Sunflower Butter, Z52 Superfood Powder, Brown Rice Protein, Coconut, Agave Syrup, Wild Blueberries (with White Grape Juice & Canola Oil), Freeze Dried Raspberries, Inulin, Soy Protein Crisps, Organic Natural Flavors, Brown Rice Syrup, Peanut Paste. Z52 Ingredients: [Proprietary Blend of WholeFood: Spirulina*, Barley Grass*, Chlorella, Wheatgrass Juice*, Wheat Sprout Powder*, Hydrilla Verticillata, Nori (Seaweed)*, Acai Berry, Omega 3 derived from “Plant Based” LifeDHA®, Bioperine® (Natural Black Pepper), Green Tea Standardized Extract (95%), Grape Seed Extract (95%), Natural Resveratrol Extract (95%), White Tea Extract, Rose Hips, Camu Powder*, Pine Bark Extract, Lucuma Powder*, Maca Powder*, Spinach, Nova Scotia Dulse, Parsley*, Beet Juice Powder*, Carrot Juice Powder*, Rice Bran, Broccoli Sprout Powder*, Alfalfa Sprout Powder*, Hemp Powder*, Probiotics (Fructooligosaccharides, Lactobacillus, Streptococcus Salivarius, Bifidobacterium), Digestive Enzymes (Protease, Lipase, Amylase), Raspberry Powder*, Pomegranate*, Blueberry Juice Powder*, Whole Apple Powder*, Goji Berry*, Strawberry Leaves, Concord Grape*, Mulberry*, Goldenberries, Mangosteen*, Acerola Berry*, Bilberry (25% Anthocyanadins), Soy Lecithin Powder (Non-GMO), Aloe Vera (Freeze Dried)*, Milk Thistle Extract (80%), Ginger Root Powder*, Chia Seed Extract (95%), Mesquite Powder*, Ground Flax (Non-GMO), Cha de Burge, Siberian Eleuthero Root Extract]

Good Greens website: Chocolate Raspberry • Chocolate Coconut • Chocolate Peanut Butter

Pure matters chocolate pea protein powder:

I don’t like the stevia aftertaste on this one but I would definitely give another pea powder protein a try. It’s not bad while you drink it but that stevia taste just lingers too long. Feels super healthy though so if you eat something afterwards to get that lingering taste out of your mouth it’s actually fine. I am going to try some other brands I’ve found to compare. $39.95 for 30 servings = $1.33 serving which is reasonable. Ingredients: Pea Protein Isolate, Sugar Alcohol, Natural Flavor, Cocoa (Processed with Alkali), Natural Cocoa, Steviol Glycosides, Salt.

http://www.purematters.com/chocolate-pea-protein/p/816116011454/

King Arthur Flour Whole Flax Meal

Added a scoop to a shake last night which worked well. Didn’t make it weird textured or anything. Looking forward to using it in cooking but I don’t bake much so I’m not sure yet if I’m going to try anything along those lines where it says it can be used for partial egg or oil replacement. How could it be better? It would be better if it were organic and non-gmo. INGREDIENTS: Whole Ground Golden Flax Seed

http://www.kingarthurflour.com/shop/items/whole-flax-meal-16-oz

Devita Natural Eyeliner

This is one of the items I was really looking forward to. I was sent the gray color and was hoping for black. I gave it a shot anyway but I wasn’t wowed. It was ok but it didn’t wow me in any way and it wasn’t just because of the color.

I was just really underwhelmed by this one. It just seemed like I couldn’t get a nice consistency no matter how many times I went back and forth over the line on my eye. I think the only interesting thing was that the sharpener was part of the lid which I haven’t seen before. Ingredients: Copernicia Cerifera (carnauba) wax, Euphorbia cerifera (candelilla) wax, Ricinus communis (castor) seed oil, Simmondsia chinensis (organic jojoba) seed oil, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl palmitate, Hectorite, Lecithin, Iron Oxides.

http://www.devitaskincare.com/store/absdotsosdotlute-minerals8482-absolute-softlines-c-260_273.html

Hungershield

Haven’t tried it yet. Will update here when I have. HungerShield box / 28 stick packets for $42.99 = $1.54 each Ingredients: http://www.hungershield.com/nutritionfacts/

http://www.hungershield.com/

To Go Brands Acai Natural Energy Boost Chews

These kinda remind me of a fruit rollup mingled with a jolly rancher chew … except with a sudden odd bitterness after a few seconds. If I were obsessed with acai I would probably still buy these but I’m not blown away by them.
30 chews per package for $14.95 = $0.50 each Ingredients: http://togobrands.com/shop/images/1598//ac_chew_30ct_SuppFacts.jpg

http://togobrands.com/shop/acai-natural-energy-boost-chews/

YumUniverse

Plant-based and gluten-free holiday recipe guide and $100 membership discount. The 4 recipes in this included guide look delicious so I’ll probably make one of those then check this out a bit further.

http://www.yumuniverse.com/

Value breakdown for the KlutchClub Box (an $18 box):

Coromega Omega3+D Squeeze Supplement
30 squeeze packets included = value of $15.33

Yurbuds = value $29.99

Good Greens 3 bars included at $2.50/bar = value of $7.50

Pure matters chocolate pea protein powder
$1.33 serving and 2 packets included = value of $2.66

King Arthur Whole Flax Meal whole box= value $4.95

Devita absolute softLines Eyeliner Pencil in color “iron” = value $14.95

HungerShield one packet = value $1.54

To Go Brands Acai Natural Energy Boost Chews one chew = value $0.50

YumUniverse discount code and recipes not included in calculations

TOTAL VALUE = ~$77.42

Favorites from the box: Yurbuds, Pure Matters chocolate pea protein powder

October 16, 2012

October 2012 Birchbox Goop edition

Posted by By Hilary Baumann

Posted in Beauty & Skin, Hair, Makeup / Cosmetics, Skin Care, Subscription boxes

What was in the box:

DDF® Wrinkle Resist Plus Pore Minimizer Moisturizing Serum – Ingredients: Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Dimethicone, Crosspolymer, Polymethylsilsesquiioxane, Tocopheryl Acetate, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Sodium Hayaluronate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Butylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Triethanolamine, Panthenol, PEG-100 Stearate, Carbomer, C30-45 Alkyl Cetearyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Benzyl Alcohol, Triethoxycaprylysilane, Titanium Diozide, PPG-15 Stearyl Ether, Polyhydrozystearic Acid, Mica, Methicone, Dimethicone, PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone, Alumina, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, DMDM Hydantoin, Disodium EDTA, Phenozyethanol, Fragrance, Iron Oxides.
As I’ve said before, cones break me out so I won’t even be trying this product. There are however many other ingredients here that make this a non-natural product.
OROFLUIDO Elixir – Ingredients: Cyclopentasiloxane, Cyclotetrasiloxane, Dimethiconol, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Cyperus Esculentus Root Oil, Parfum (Fragrance), Isopropyl Palmitate, Linum Usitatissimum (Linseed)Seed Oil, Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde, CI 47000 (Yellow 11), CI 26100 (Red 17)
Another I won’t be trying: It says “fragrance” but in this case based on the rest of the ingredients I’m inclined to think it might be from oils. The “Dimethiconol” is a cone however. Probably does amazing things for your hair though.
LUNA Bar – unfermented soy. If you’re fine with soy, go for it. They’re tasty (I’ve had them before) but soy and I are not best buds.
Chantecaille Brilliant Gloss – the ingredients were not readily available but I did find them on another blog, “Truth In Aging” here. I’m not wowed. A $32-$34 lip gloss that touts natural ingredients that’s full of bad for you ingredients. I’m inclined to believe the post since Chantecaille’s own website avoids listing the full ingredient list as well.
So I probably won’t be trying this one on. The other problem here is that even if I liked it, I’m not sure what color it is. It’s not labeled on the product or the card. I think it might be “Folly” but it’s hard to tell when you’re looking online. Could be “Charm”?
Miracle Skin Transformer SPF20 Face – They say “Free of synthetic fragrances, dyes, wax, mineral oils, and talc. Developed with selected natural ingredients.” Notice the “selected” in that statement. That doesn’t mean it’s natural either.
Active Ingredients: Octinoxate 7.5%, Octisalate 5.0%, Oxybenzone 2.0%, Zinc Oxide 1.5%.
Ingredients: Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Caprylyl Methicone, Cyclohexasiloxane, Water/Eau, Dicaprylyl Ether, Boron Nitride, Octyldodecanol, Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil, Glycerin, Dimethiconol, Ubiquinone, Tapioca Starch, Mica, Physalis Angulata Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Peg-10 Dimethicone, Caprylyl Glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Polysorbate 80, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Potassium Sorbate, Hydrated Silica, Serenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract, Hexylene Glycol, Silica, Isoceteth-10, Retinyl Palmitate, Benzyl Alcohol, Phytonadione, Cholecalciferol, Tocopherol, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides.
Again: cones.

So while I had high hopes for at least two products initially, the hair elixer and the lip gloss, we struck out across the board on all products. 3 of which included dimethicone. :/

What’s funny is that at the end of my video I said that none of my boxes have been a complete bust and this one ended up having nothing in it that I’m going to try.

via YouTube

Still not signed up for Birchbox?

http://birchbox.com?raf=3l3e7
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September 18, 2012

September 2012 Birchbox unboxing

Posted by By Hilary Baumann

Posted in Beauty & Skin, Makeup / Cosmetics, Subscription boxes

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:

Madewell Coupon for $25 off a purchase of $75 or more (sorry, this one is not sharable.)
Digital Download: Tristan Prettyman http://www.tristanprettyman.com/bb

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

Unboxing video:

via YouTube

September 6, 2012

Birchbox August 2012 unboxing

Posted by By Hilary Baumann

Posted in Beauty & Skin, Subscription boxes

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.

via YouTube

** 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

Posted by By Hilary Baumann

Posted in Beauty & Skin, Subscription boxes

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.