Birchbox January "Go Time" Box Review

So excited to see what Birchbox included in their January box! I love a new year and a new start! 

Birchbox is a subscription service that costs $10/month for the women's box or $20/month for the men's box (which includes a lifestyle item). Prices get lower with longer commitment and subscribers accumulate points to spend in the Birchbox shop by reviewing items ($1 per item).

January box us themed "Go Time" and is focused on providing inspiration for beauty trends and beyond.  I loved the little positivity messages from the Birchbox that were included! Let's get to the box! 

Here's first looks:

And the breakdown:

OmniPotent Duosity Hair Treatment, $1.70 - This treatment was fun to try. There are two separate elements that you squeeze together to activate the ingredients. It was a bit of a science experiment, watching it foam up really big! I'm not sure that it made any dramatic difference in my hair, but I would love to try a few more times just for fun value alone!

Liz Earle Hot Cloth Cleanser, $9.50 - This is one of those products that has a bit of a cult following. I'm excited to try it!

Ahmad Tea Bags, $1 - Eh, it's tea. I don't drink it but the hubs will.

Midnight Monarch Glycerine Hand Therapy, $.50 - I've seen mixed reviews on this fragrance but it was fine for me. I like strong fragrance in my products! This was a fine, basic hand cream. 

INIKA Mineral Eye Shadow, $20 - Full size! Woot! Always happy to have organic products to use!

Fun inspirational cards to get started on 2014! :)

I came up with a total value of about $32 for this box. After doing the reviews ($1 credit in Birchbox store per item), the box only cost me $3.25 (I got an amazing deal on a year subscription a while back!). I continue to be happy with the box and am getting excited about my Birchbox points that are piling up!! What fun splurge should I use them on??? :)

Ipsy January Glam Bag 2014 Review

Ah, Ipsy.... How do I love thee? Let me count the ways again.... Only $10 a month? Check. Products that are often FULL-size? Check. Tons of value for my money? Check. Super fun products? Check. On and on and on.... If you are thinking of trying a subscription service but you don't know where to start, start HERE!! Enough of the love letters, let's get to what is in the first bag of 2014!

Here's first looks: 

And the breakdown:

Healthy Sexy Hair Soy Tri-Wheat Leave-In Conditioner,  $3.60 - I love leave in protective hair products and I insist that my girls use them, too. This one is reviewed really well online and sounds unique. It repairs with cocoa and moisturizes with soy and wheat.

Malin + Goetz Mojito Lip Balm, $12 - This brand was new to me until we received a travel set in the PopSugar Limited Edition Holiday Men's Box. I've liked the products I've tried so far and am thrilled that I got this one! Obsessive about lip balm all year round!! 

Proactiv Mark Fading Pads, $8 - This is a total guess on the price, I am only seeing these sold separately on Amazon, it looks like they are one of the 5 items in the $40/month Proactiv service. I've never used Proactiv but have always felt convinced by their advertising! haha! These are supposed to do several things, including fading fine lines and diminishing pores, so I'll give them a try!

Skiin Soothing and Smoothing Eye Cream,  $15 - I'm kind of concerned that all of the products on the Skiin website are on "clearance." This is a new brand to me, is anyone familiar with it?? I'm super serious about eye creams and will give this one a shot when I finish my current Lancome. I hope it does all of the wonderful things it promises!

Elizabeth Mott Smooth Shadow, $6 - This is such a pretty, rich copper color and I love the texture. It reminds me of the creamy Pixi eyeliner pencils that I love so much!!  

This month's bag had a value of about $45, just craziness for only $10. I'm excited about this bag, these are all products I am excited to have and try! If you would like to try Ipsy (and really, it's $10! Who wouldn't??), please use my referral link and GO FOR IT! It's a little present to myself that I look SO forward to each month! Can't wait to see what next month brings! :D

January Birchbox Man "Go Time" Box Review

Birchbox Man is a men's subscription service that costs $20/month. Each month includes men's grooming items and a fun lifestyle item. A year subscription is $195, which provides a savings of $45, if you decide to go that way! This has been such a fun subscription! It would be an awesome gift for that hard to buy for man in your life!! And a great way to up your/his style game for the new year! ;)

The January box is themed Go Time and is supposed to focus on simply putting one foot in front of the other for a fresh start in 2014. No vague resolutions or get-fit-quick schemes, just starting simple to set the tone for a healthy game plan that will actually last all year. Sounds good to me! 

Here's first looks:

And the breakdown:

Tommy John 360 Sport Trunk, $31 - These look great but sadly they sent us a Large this time? We've gotten Mediums in other styles, so not sure why the size change. Hopefully I can find someone to swap or these will find their way to eBay :( 

Reviver Dry Deodorant Wipes, $2.70 - These are a great idea! A wipe to run over your clothes to remove all smells. I'm kind of psycho about bad smells... I don't even like food cooked in the house for the most part. So these are great for me! LOL! And one of our favorite Louisville restaurants, Hammerheads, leaves you smelling like a smoked pig, so these would be prefect for after dinner there! ;)

Ernest Supplies Soap Free Gel Face Wash, $1.85 - How cute is this container? I love the camping vibe of it! Hubs has already been using it. It gets great reviews online!

English Laundry Notting Hill Cologne, $2 - Love the gold package! Hubs has so many fun new fragrances to try!

Proraso Shave Cream, $.70 - The little barber shop package of this one is cute! 

I came up with a total value of about $38 for this box, which as usual is higher than the cost. Not the highest value box we've received and a bit of a miss for us based solely on sizing of the lifestyle item.

You get $1 in Birchbox points for each item you review so, after the reviews, the box actually only cost me about $7.40 (I purchased a year subscription with a special deal a few months back). This wasn't my favorite box from Birchbox Man but I overall love this subscription and can't wait to see what they send next!! 

FabFitFun VIP Winter 2013 Box Review + COUPON

FabFitFun is a quarterly subscription box curated by Giuliana Rancic. Each box costs $49.99 with shipping included and will include the hottest seasonal items in beauty, fashion, fitness and wellness with a retail value of over $120. 

The inaugural box launched in the spring and had tons of issues (out of date items, missing items, wide range of values). I had a few issues with the Summer box but was totally happy with how customer service handled everything. The Fall box was a hit for me and I've been looking forward to the winter box! 

Here's first looks:

And the breakdown:

The info cards keep getting better and better! Love that all of the prices are included! 

$20 gift certificate to Me Undies. Excited to try this one!
$25 credit at Physique 57 online workouts.

Skyn Iceland Relief Eye Cream, $45 - Seriously, there aren't many beauty products I'm more excited to see than eye cream! This one is next when the Lancome I'm currently using is gone!

NYX Eye Shadow Palette, $8 - Pretty, pretty colors. I have soooo much eye shadow and so many palettes right now! This one might get passed along.

Beauty For Real Lip Gloss, $22 - A little bright for me but I'm thinking that's one of my goals for 2014, embracing the bold lip! One genius aspect of this one, it includes a little mirror and built in light! Brilliant!

Bioxidea Miracle 24 Mask, $19 - Second only to eye creams? I LOVE getting masks to try! And I'll use anything with "miracle" in the name! Haha!

The Giving Keys Necklace, $55 - This was a spoiler for this box and I was super pumped about it. I purchased a Giving Keys necklace on a trip to California and have loved it. Love the concept behind these - you wear the key and pass it along to someone who needs the message on it more than you. The company employs people looking to transition out of homelessness to help California communities at grassroots level. Love.

Lorna Jane Bracelet, $30 - This is a new one for me. A "symbol of sisterhood and a daily reminder to move, nourish and believe." Love the bright pink! Would have bought it for that alone! ;)

Simple Foaming Facial Cleanser, $8 - Love Simple products, I'm sure I'll love this basic cleanser!

TruEnergy Inspired Earbuds, $40 - I'm pretty partial to my Bose earbuds, so these will probably be passed along. Love the bright color, though, and the built in splitter to let people listen together! 

This box had a value of $271. A great deal for $49.99!! I was really happy with the assortment of items. Let's be honest, I was going to be happy with the necklace alone, so everything else was really just bonus! Haha! 

If you love this box, I think you can sign up now and still get this exact one! Use code EARLY5 to save $5 and please use one of my referral links! Thank you!! :)

Birchbox Holiday Deccember 2013 Review

I was so happy to finally get a December Birchbox! My first one was "delivered," but not to me, and Birchbox was fantastic about quickly sending me out a replacement!

Birchbox is a subscription service that costs $10/month for the women's box or $20/month for the men's box (which includes a lifestyle item). Prices get lower with longer commitment and subscribers accumulate points to spend in the Birchbox shop by reviewing items ($1 per item).

December's box doesn't have much of a theme other than a message from the Birchbox team with warm wishes for the holiday season!

Here's first looks:

Got a little wet when crammed in the mailbox... 

And the breakdown:

Number 4 Non Aerosol Hairspray, $4.40 - I really don't use much hairspray, so this will be passed along to the hubs or the girls!
The Honest Company Organic Healing Balm, $3.25 - It looks like this is maybe intended as a diaper rash cream? Um, no babies around here, so this goes to me and my dry hands. It feels sort of looks and feels like Aquaphor and I love that it's organic! Always a big bonus!

Supergoop CC Cream, $2 - this tube is tiny, tiny, tiny. I've loved the Supergoop city sunscreen serum that I received in my July PopSugar box and I'm expecting to love this product, too!Fatty Sundays Gourmet Chocolate Covered Pretzel, $.50 - this is a tiny little version of these pretzel sticks. The box I received in my PopSugar Holiday box was almost instantly devoured and I'm interested to see which family member is quick enough to grab this one! LOL!
 

Eslor Skincare System, $15.40 - at first I was a little disappointed in the size of the foil packets and surprised at how high they priced out. I used the four step system and was happy to see that there's enough product to use more than once (except for the mask, which was one use). The cleanser was nice. The scrub was weird, dry and clay-like and had to be mixed with water. I didn't like the consistency of it, kind of thin with occasional huge chunks. The mask was creamy and nice going on, felt a little drying as it set. The moisturizer was a little light for me and my dry winter skin. Overall I felt like these products seemed luxurious and high end and I really enjoyed trying them! 

I came up with a total value of about $25 for this box. After doing the reviews ($5 credit), the box only cost me $3.25 (I got an amazing deal on a year subscription a while back!). I continue to be happy with the box and am getting excited about my Birchbox points that are piling up!! Can't wait to use them on a fun splurge!! :)

Sample Society by Allure and Beauty Bar December 2013 Box Review

I was excited to be contacted by Sample Society to try their December box for free! The Sample Society program is affiliated with Allure and BeautyBar.com and sends out a monthly box of 5 deluxe sized samples from prestige and indie brands. Each box costs $15 and you get a $15 code to redeem on a $50 purchase that includes one of the sampled brands. 

The December box is themed "Hair for the Party" and is supposed to help you "stand out from the crowd with the season's biggest statement piece: lush, totally covetable locks." Also included are products to take care of the rest of you and "keep you in the spotlight all night long." Sounds great to me! ;)

Here's first looks:

Packed up so pretty! <3

And the breakdown:

Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant, $8.65 - This is a nice, large sized sample. I love being able to really get a feel for a product!

Jane Iredale Lash Conditioner, $5 (?) - That's a guess on the price, based on how much I think is in this tube! This is an interesting concept. You apply this to your lashes before mascara to strengthen and lengthen them. I'm all over this!
 

Philosophy Hope in a Jar Night Intensive Moisturizer, $10 - I was surprised that this little tube priced out as high as it did. I have used and loved Philosophy products for years and am excited to try this one!

Alterna Caviar Dry Shampoo, $1 - I've sampled this dry shampoo before and it's not for me. It's going into a giveaway I'm planning for this month! :)

IPKN Moist & Firm BB SPF 45, $5.20 - Does anybody else have a problem with the word "moist"?? OMG, I can't handle it. I am excited that this cream has SPF 45 in it but it's going to need to be pretty darn fabulous to get me past the name! LOL! 

I came up with a total value of about $30 for this box. And that's not including the $15 credit to apply towards a $50 purchase! Pretty good deal! I enjoyed this box and am definitely interested to see what they have planned for 2014!

If you would like to try Sample Society, you can enter my referral code STLX5687 to save 20%! 

Fancy Pants Food November 2013 Box Review

I was starting to wonder about my first Fancy Pants Food box! I ordered on October 30th and my first finally box arrived on November 20. I was excited to see what was inside!

This is a relatively new food subscription service that delivers a monthly box of 5-8 trial size products. The products are "amazing food that you've probably never heard about" for a cost of $10/month. I've kind of been lukewarm about these types of boxes in the past (Goodies, Love With Food) mostly because, even if it's only $10 (or $7 or $12), I expect the value to be at least what I paid. Thats reasonable, right??


Anyways, on to Fancy Pants Food! Here's first looks:

And the breakdown:

Snapz Zucchini Chips, $1.50

Hint Mint chocolate mints, $2.50 - reviews on Amazon say that these basically taste just like Thin Mint cookies! I'm not much for sweets but my kid will love them!

Lord Levington Nuts, $2 - we've gotten these in lots of boxes and hubs will be happy to have some more!

Cocomels, $1.50 - We've gotten these before but I made myself try them this time. Um... They taste like salt water taffy/caramel/coconut. I'm not a fan but, seriously, I'm not much for sweets so I'm the wrong person to ask! LOL

Oats Granola Dark Chocolate, $1 - this stuff looks awesome! Hubs will be all over this!

Kelapo Coconut Oil, $.50 - we've used coconut oil for years and will happily use this up!

So I came up with a total value of $9 for this box. There wasn't really anything surprising or new but the items are all things we will eat and enjoy (well, maybe not the zucchini... Haha). I try to give a subscription a few months before I really make a judgement on it and that's the plan with this one! Interested to see what the next couple of months bring!