Subscription Sunday – Page 2 – Adventures in Polishland

Category: Subscription Sunday

Subscription Sunday | February Birchbox

Posted on March 9, 2014February 22, 2014 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Subscription Sunday! March may have just begun, but unfortunately due to winter storms here in NYC my February Birchbox was a bit delayed. I was so happy when it finally arrived! Let me go ahead and show you what I got this month.

Birchbox teamed up with Us Weekly in February to prep us for awards season. Our items this month are inspired from celebrity makeup artists who have great tips for their clients.

Now onto the products! You know the drill by now!

Dr. Brandt Pores No More Pore Refiner – $11.25 – This product reminds me of the Too Faced Primed & Poreless that I love so much! I think I’m going to save this perfect travel size for one of my next adventures.
Beauty Protector Protect & Oil – $2.00 – I had to estimate this price a bit because there is no size on this sample. Nonetheless, this is a great sample size for a hair oil, since a few drops will do the trick. It smells divine!
Ruby Wing in Mini Kitten Heels – $4.67 – While I’m always excited to get a nail polish in a beauty box, I’m hesitant with this one since the last Ruby Wing Color Changing polish I tried didn’t work (read about it HERE). I’ll see what happens, though!
Juicy Couture Couture La La in Malibu – $1.44 – Perfume samples can be a bit disappointing, but I love everything I’ve tried from the Couture La La line, so I’m sure I’ll like this one, too. I’ll be sure to use this up!

Last but not least, I got two packets of the 32 Oral Care Effervescent Breath Crystals retailing for $0.98. These are pretty interesting. They remind me of pop rocks! I wonder what these will be like.

TOTAL RETAIL VALUE: $20.34

RATING 1-5 (1 BEING WORST AND 5 BEING BEST): 4

OVERALL OPINION: While this month’s retail value isn’t as high as I’d like it to be, I’m still really happy with all of the products I got. I’ll be using everything in my box for sure. Plus, I know that the Pore Refiner, hair oil, and nail polish can each be used multiple times.

You can subscribe to Birchbox for just $10 per month HERE. If you’re already a member, let me know what you got in your February box!

This post contains affiliate links. Birchbox purchased by me. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Subscription Sunday | February Beauty Army Kit!

Posted on March 2, 2014February 22, 2014 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Subscription Sunday! Today I have another new-to-me subscription service to share with all of you. Beauty Army is a $12 per month kit of up to six beauty samples. Unlike other services where your goodies are a complete surprise, Beauty Army permits each user to take a survey, and then curates samples that match your own individual profile. Once you get your results, you can choose up to six samples that are then mailed to you. Let me show you the samples I got in my first kit!

Here is the box when it arrived in the mail! I love the pink camouflage print box, and the packaging is really nice. Because of the crazy winter storms we’ve been getting in NYC, it actually took so long to get to me that I forgot what samples I had picked out.

Let me tell you more about these samples from left to right, and let you know the retail value of each one.

Menza Daily Face Wash – $11.76 – Wow, this 1oz sample is sure worth a lot! This face wash is supposed to be great for sensitive skin, so I can’t wait to try it.
Every Beauty Makeup Remover Pads – $0.70 – I’m really excited to try these makeup remover pads! They are super affordable – a pack of 50 costs just $6.99! If I like them, I might buy a big pack since they are more affordable than the makeup remover wipes I’m currently using.
Phyto 5 Jojoba and Shea Butter Nourishing Cream – $7.99 – This stuff must be good – the full size is nearly $80! I can’t wait to test out this high end cream. So fancy!

Amala Hydrating Cream Cleanser, Face Cream, and Yogurt Mask – $4.49 – Onto the foil packets! I’ve never tried Amala before, and it’s definitely a luxury line. It will be interesting to give these a try.
Miracle Skin Transformer Tinted Acne Treatment Lotion – $0.64 – This looks like a primer that is specifically made for acne prone skin. I hope I can get at least one use out of this packet!
Michael Todd samples – $3.99 – I love the Michael Todd products that I’ve tried, so I’m glad to test out even more. I wish that I got one, deluxe sample instead of a variety of foil packets.

TOTAL RETAIL VALUE: $29.57

RATING 1-5 (1 BEING WORST AND 5 BEING BEST): 3

OVERALL OPINION: While I am disappointed that half of my samples are foil packets, the deluxe samples are awesome! I am especially excited to try the Makeup Remover Pads. I also really like that I can pick out my samples each month, so I won’t get anything that I really don’t want. If my Beauty Army kit had more deluxe samples, I would love it!

You can join Beauty Army for $12 per month HERE. Are you already a member? Let me know what you think of this subscription in the comments!

The products in this post were provided for my unbiased review. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Subscription Sunday | My First Beauty Box 5!

Posted on February 23, 2014February 22, 2014 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Subscription Sunday! Today I am super excited to bring you my first unboxing of Beauty Box 5. It’s been a while since I’ve opened up a new-to-me subscription box, so I was really curious to see what would be inside. Similar to some other beauty boxes, Beauty Box 5 is a subscription service that sends you five cosmetic samples per month. Let me show you what is inside my box!

Beauty Box 5 comes in a Tiffany blue box, which I just love! Inside I found an informational card on top. On the back it explains more about how the service works, and I’m guessing they put this in every welcome box since I didn’t get the exact products pictured. Now onto the goodies!

I’ll tell you a bit more about each product from left to right, and mention the retail value of each sample.

La Fresh Travel-Lite Facial Cleansing Wipes – $2.49 – I love these wipes! This is an 8-pack that is perfect for your purse. I’ll be saving this pack for my next trip!
H2O+ Face Oasis Hydrating Treatment – $5.76 – I’ve never tried anything from this brand before, but I’m excited to use this oil-free moisturizer. This is a decent size skincare sample as well!
Ofra Lipgloss Plumper in Sultry – $12.95 – This is a full size lip gloss! The shade looks nice, and I’m interested to test it out. I’ve never tried a lip plumper before, so we’ll see what happens!
Nubar Nail Polish in Kristal – $4.00 – Believe it or not, I’ve never tried a Nubar polish before! Kristal looks gorgeous, and I’ll have a full review of it on my blog very soon.
Bellápierre Cosmetics Eyeshadow in Celebration – $14.99 – This is a full size Mica powder eyeshadow in a beautiful gold shade. It’s not something I would typically use, but it’s fun to give it a try.

TOTAL RETAIL VALUE: $40.19

RATING 1-5 (1 BEING WORST, 5 BEING BEST): 4

OVERALL OPINION: I’m really impressed with my first Beauty Box 5! I got a great variety of items, including three full size products. Plus, the retail value is over three times the cost of the box. The only item that I’m not too excited about is the Bellápierre eyeshadow, but otherwise I’ll be using everything else!

You can subscribe to Beauty Box 5 for $12 per month HERE. Already a member? Let me know why you love Beauty Box 5, and if you think I should subscribe!

The products in this post were provided for my unbiased review. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Subscription Sunday | February Julep Maven Box

Posted on February 2, 2014February 1, 2014 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Subscription Sunday! When I saw the Julep Maven February selections, I just knew I had to grab my box this month. Let me show you what was inside!

This month, Julep is releasing the Dramatic Collection. Every box came with a special bonus polish called Love, in addition to the box’s regular contents. I decided to go with my style profile, and grabbed the Classic with a Twist box with two polishes and a beauty product.

The first polish I got is Greta, a berry toned shimmer polish. Greta is opaque in two coats, and has a great formula. The color is stunning, and I’m loving the holographic sparkle. It’s a great transitional color from winter to spring.

The other polish is Octavia, a bright indigo creme. Octavia has a great formula as well, and is opaque in two coats. I love how pigmented this polish is! It is definitely unlike other blue-toned polishes in my collection.

The beauty product this month was a brand new Julep Eye Sheen in the shade Dusty Taupe. I was expecting this to be a cream eyeshadow, but it’s more of a mousse. The formula is nice, and easy to apply with your fingers. I like the shade, but it has a lot of glitter in it, so it’s more of a special occasion product for me. I was also disappointed with the product’s size – it’s much smaller than the standard cream shadow.

Finally, the bonus polish each Maven got this month is Love, a rose gold glitter polish with hints of red glitter. I was happy to discover that Love is opaque on its own in two coats. It also has a formula that applies with ease. Love is such a great bonus product, and I’m loving it!

All in all, I’m so glad I got my February Julep Maven Box! It truly was a bargain at $19.99. If you’re not a Julep Maven member yet, I highly recommend this monthly program. I’ve been a member since July 2012! My favorite part of the program is the ability to skip any month that you don’t want to purchase. Try the program for just $3.99 shipping today by entering code FREEBOX at checkout HERE. Are you a Maven? Let me know in the comments!

This post contains an affiliate link. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Subscription Sunday | January Birchbox

Posted on January 19, 2014January 18, 2014 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Subscription Sunday! Today I’m excited to share with all of you my January Birchbox. It was quite heavy when it arrived in the mail, so I couldn’t wait to see what was inside. If you’re new to Birchbox, it’s a $10 per month subscription service that sends out around five deluxe samples to you every month. The box mainly contains beauty and skincare items, but other goodies show up every once in a while as well. I am a huge Birchbox fan, and continue to receive it every month after canceling a lot of other subscription services. Let me show you what I got this month!

Every month, Birchbox focuses on a new theme. In January, it’s Go Time! Birchbox is encouraging all of us to try new things this year, and really dive into some adventures. Sounds like a motiving way to begin 2014!

Here are the first three products in my box. I’ll describe them from left to right, and let you know the retail value of each sample.

Fekkai Brilliant Glossing Créme – $8.00 – I’m excited for this sample! Not only is it a great size and value, but I need something like this for my hair. This glossing créme tames frizz and adds moisture into the hair. I can’t wait to test it out!
Nail Rock Sequin Kit in Green – $7.00 – Birchbox always excites me with nail polish products! This kit comes with a nail sequin pot and a special base coat. This is a full size product, and I can’t wait to see how it works. Stay tuned for a full review!
Resist Ultra-Light Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum – $4.58 – This serum really intrigues me! It’s designed to tighten pores, and also has anti-aging qualities. I’ll definitely be sure to give it a try and see what happens!

Ahmad Teas Assorted Teas – $0.53 – As a lifestyle extra this month, Birchbox included three tea bags from Ahmad Tea. I seem to get a lot of tea from Birchbox, and I like it, especially in the winter. The three flavors I received are Mint Mystique, Apricot Sunrise, and English Tea No. 1. I hope they’re tasty!
100% Pure French Lavender Hand Buttercream – $1.01 – The last product in my box was actually three foil packets of this hand cream. I thought that was pretty interesting, but I do appreciate getting three packets instead of just one. Even though it’s a low retail value, I can pop these in my purse for when I need moisture on the go!

As a final bonus, Birchbox included a set of five, inspirational postcards. Each contains a cute quote on the front, plus tips on achieving your New Year’s Resolutions on the back. These are great to hang up, include in your journal, or send to friends. I love them!

TOTAL RETAIL VALUE: $21.12

RATING 1-5 (1 BEING WORST AND 5 BEING BEST): 4

OVERALL OPINION: While the retail value of this box may not be very high, I can and will use each and every product in this box. I would prefer to not receive foil packets, but I will give Birchbox props for at least providing multiples instead of just one. I am very excited about the Fekkai Brilliant Glossing Créme and the Nail Rock kit. Plus, any time Birchbox includes a little bonus I am a satisfied customer!

Are you a Birchbox subscriber? If not, join HERE for just $10 per month. If you are, let me know what you got this month in the comments. I hope your 2014 is off to a fantastic start!

This post contains affiliate links. Birchbox purchased by me. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Subscription Sunday | December Birchbox

Posted on December 15, 2013December 12, 2013 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Subscription Sunday! It’s time for one of my personal favorite parts of each month – sharing my Birchbox with all of you! I really love this $10 box of goodies, and this month is definitely a good one. I haven’t added up the retail value of all the products yet, so I can’t wait to discover that total as I write this post. Let’s take a look at what was inside my December box!

First off, how cute is this month’s box?! December’s theme is Holiday 2013, and everything was packaged even cuter than it usually is. I reuse all of my Birchbox boxes, and I’m really loving this one.

My box was pretty heavy when it arrived this month! I think you can see why! I’ll describe these products from left to right.

Manna Kadar Cosmetics Sheer Glo Lotion – $7.83 – This illuminating lotion will make your skin look glowy and gorgeous! I’ve used this as a highlighter on my cheekbones a few times, and I like it. Stay tuned for a full review later this week!
Hair Rules Curly Whip – $2.63 – I’m a bit disappointed here. I’m not sure why Birchbox keeps sending me products for curly hair when in my profile I clearly have it marked that I have fine and frizzy hair. Oh well, I can always give this to a friend.
BeeKind Body Lotion – $1.88 – Now this is a great product for me! I love using body lotion, especially in the winter. This one smells divine, and a portion goes to support honey bee and sustainable pollination research. How cool is that?!
Grand Central Beauty S.M.A.R.T. Skin Perfecting Polisher – $10.13 – This product really intrigues me! It’s supposed to exfoliate, peel, tone, and hydrate the skin all at once! You don’t even have to rinse this off. I can’t wait to give this a try!

Birchbox Digimate – Bonus! – This month Birchbox included a complete bonus product – a digimate! This cute little patch sticks to the back of your phone, and you can remove it to wipe off your screen. It’s so handy! I love it!
Chuao Chocolatier Mini Bar in Honeycomb – $0.85 – Yum! This chocolate bar was just what I needed! So delicious that I want to get some more. There are tons of flavors to choose from as well (including Bacon and Potato Chip!).

TOTAL RETAIL VALUE: $23.05

RATING 1-5 (1 BEING WORST AND 5 BEING BEST): 4

OVERALL OPINION: Despite the retail value being low and receiving one product that I cannot use, I’m really liking my Birchbox this month. I can use all of the other products, and I’m rather impressed with the sample sizes. Plus, the Digimate was a great bonus, and I’ve already used it a ton! Birchbox also gets a high score this month for the wonderful packaging.

There you have it! My December Birchbox! As always, you can join Birchbox for just $10 per month HERE. I really do love getting this subscription service, and it’s one that I’ve kept despite canceling a bunch of others. If you get Birchbox, let me know what you received this month in the comments!

Subscription Sunday | December Julep Maven Box

Posted on December 8, 2013December 8, 2013 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Subscription Sunday! Now that I am down to just two subscription boxes, my Subscription Sunday posts will be less frequent, but I still look forward to them! This month I was really excited to get my Julep Maven box – the polishes looked so pretty! I opted for the It Girl style this month. Let me show you my December box!

This month’s theme is The Glitterati Collection, and I’m loving it! As a special bonus, Mavens received two yoga hair ties, and a 40% off discount code (not shown). Of course, my three polishes look absolutely stunning, even in the bottle!

First up is Celia, what Julep describes as an “icy green metallic”. Celia has a wonderful formula that is opaque in two coats. A few streaks are visible, as in most metallic polishes. As for the color, I’m loving it! It’s very unique and quite perfect for the holidays. Celia definitely gets a thumbs up from me!

Next up is Shoshanna, a yellow-gold holographic glitter. Shoshanna’s formula is a bit on the thick side, but easily maneuverable. It’s also opaque in two coats. I am blown away by this polish! It is stunning , and I truly own nothing else like it. I bet this would look great layered as well.

Last but not least is Evelyn, a deep purple creme polish that leans towards a berry shade. Evelyn had a good formula, and is opaque in two coats. I like that this more subdued polish came in my box this month. After two very unique shades, it’s nice to have a classic creme as well. Evelyn is quite beautiful!

All in all, I’m loving my December Julep Maven Box! It’s one of my favorite Julep boxes of all time, and I can’t wait to use these polishes over and over. If you’re not yet a Julep Maven member, you can join HERE. Use code FREEBOX to get your first box for free (you just pay shipping). Let me know what you got in your Julep box this month in the comments!
This post contains an affiliate link. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Subscription Sunday | November Birchbox

Posted on November 17, 2013 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Subscription Sunday! I am excited to be showing you what was inside my November Birchbox today! I haven’t added up what the retail value is yet, but I’m guessing it is one of the best I’ve ever received! Let me go ahead and show you what was inside my box, and we can discover the retail value together.

This month, Birchbox’s theme is More Good. Going hand in hand with the Thanksgiving season, Birchbox is donating a portion of its proceeds to No Kid Hungry, an organization that works to end childhood hunger. I think that is a great cause! You can also use hashtag #MoreGood all month to share how you are doing good for others this season.

Here is the first set of products in my November Birchbox! I’ll tell you a bit more about each product from left to right, including the retail value of each sample.

theBalm Cosmetics Stainiac in Beauty Queen – $2.27 – This is a lip and cheek stain that has a unique gel formula. Unlike other stains, it feels a bit glossy, and not as drying. I really like that the color is not a bright red, but a more wearable berry shade. I may give it a go!
DDF Amplifying Elixir – $20.59 – Wow! Talk about a deluxe sample! This skin serum is designed to help strengthen the skin’s moisture barrier. With the full size product at $70, I love that I can try this product with Birchbox. Plus, the sample size will last me a long time!
Folle de Joie Eau de Parfum – $1.73 – I’m not quite sure why I’m receiving a perfume sample, since I opted out with my Birchbox profile. Nonetheless, this one smells amazing and is so long-lasting! I love it!
Color Club in Baldwin Blues – $2.00 – I love receiving polishes in subscription boxes! This mini is from the Harlem Lights collection, and I’m loving the color. Stay tuned for a full review on Adventures in Polishland very soon!

Still two more items to go! Wow!

Mighty Leaf Tea – $1.99 – Birchbox included three bags of Mighty Leaf tea this month! I love trying out new teas, so I’m quite excited about these. I got the flavors Vanilla Bean, Green Tea Tropical, and Organic African Nectar. This is perfect for the winter months!
Mox Botanicals Bath Milk in Jasmine Petal – $1.68 – Last but not least is a single-used packet of bath milk. I’ve never tried this kind of product before, but it’s supposed to make your bath smell wonderful. Interesting!

TOTAL RETAIL VALUE: $30.26

RATING 1-5 (1 BEING WORST, 5 BEING BEST): 4

OVERALL OPINION: While the retail value wasn’t as high as I expected, I am still very happy with my Birchbox this month! I got six sample products, and a great variety at that. I got skincare, makeup, nail polish, perfume, and even tea! I’m very excited to use all of these samples!

As always, you can join Birchbox for just $10 per month HERE. I highly recommend this program, especially if you love getting a good mix of products. Stay tuned for more Subscription Sunday posts in the future!

This post contains affiliate links. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Subscription Sunday | November Julep Maven Box

Posted on November 3, 2013 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Subscription Sunday! It’s been a couple months since I shared my Julep Maven Box with all of you, and I’m excited to show what was inside my November box. I decided to go with the Boho Glam style this time around, and I’m pretty happy with what I got. Here’s a sneak peek of everything inside my November box.

As you can see, I got two nail polishes, a lip gloss, and a sample of Julep’s Luxe Repair Skin Serum. I will say, I am disappointed that the serum sample is the extra this month. Julep used to include really great extras, but the past few months they just haven’t been as good. I hope that turns around!

The first nail polish in my box this month is Alexandra, an off-white creme polish. Alexandra’s formula was a bit thick, and prone to streaks. WIth carefully application, I got a smooth finish in two coats. Alexandra is not my personal favorite polish, but if you love neutrals I think it is a good choice!

The other polish in my box is Aisha, a deep, berry creme polish. Aisha has a perfect formula that applies well and is opaque in two coats. The color is just stunning, and right on trend for this fall. Aisha is definitely one of my new go-to colors this season! I highly recommend it!

Last but not least, Julep included a lip gloss this month in the color Charming. I wasn’t too excited to receive this, but I was so surprised to discover how much I love it! First, the gloss smells amazing – just like vanilla cupcakes! But that’s not all! The color is a gorgeous “my lips but better” shade, and it feels so nice and creamy. I can’t get enough of it!

All in all, I really like my November Julep Maven Box! While I’m not too excited about Alexandra, I’m loving the other products, and plan to use them again and again! Not only do I recommend this Julep Maven subscription program (which is just $19.95 per month), but if you shop right now you can get everything on the Julep website for 50% off during the company’s Friends & Family sale! Use code GOCRAZY through tomorrow, November 4, 2013, and you will save 50% off your order! If you shop the sale, be sure to let me know what you get!

This post contains affiliate links. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Subscription Sunday | October Birchbox

Posted on October 27, 2013October 26, 2013 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Subscription Sunday! It’s my first time reviewing just Birchbox, but as you know I cancelled my subscription to Ipsy last month (for more on why, see THAT post). While I did miss receiving some extra goodies in the mail, I think sticking with Birchbox is the best choice for me. Let me show you what I got in my October box!

This month Birchbox’s theme is Beauty Buzz. It’s designed to help explain the newest trends and buzzing products in the beauty world!

Moving on to the goodies inside! Here are my first three items.

POP Beauty Aqua Lacquer in Flowering Fuchsia – $14.00 – This lip gloss is a surprisingly wearable pink shade that gives your lips just a hint of color. It has a minty smell, and a bit of lip plumper in it. Overall, a great product!
ChapStick Hydration Lock – $3.29 – With winter on the way, you can never go wrong with some lip balm! Plus, Birchbox threw in a $1 off coupon for my next Chapstick purchase. I’m sure this will get lots of use!
Alison Raffaele Reality Base Foundation – $0.38 – Okay, so my retail value for this foundation sample is approximate since there was no indication of how much product is in there. But this tiny tester will be enough for just one or two uses. I will say that this is a perfect match for my skin, though. I will keep you updated!

My last two products came in this fancy, Tiffany blue box!

Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser – $6.52 – I love trying new cleansers, and this is a great sample size. I might save it for travel!
Liz Earle Pure Muslin Cloth – $3 – This cloth, of course, goes with the cleanser! I’m very interested to try this duo out together. I do wish Birchbox didn’t count this set as two separate products.

TOTAL RETAIL VALUE: $27.19

RATING 1-5 (1 BEING WORST, 5 BEING BEST): 3

OVERALL OPINION: This definitely wasn’t my favorite Birchbox, but the good news is I got five products that I know I will use. I would have liked a larger foundation sample, and another product to make up for the Liz Earle duo counting as two. Otherwise, I’m happy with the samples, and will use them up!

What did you get in your October Birchbox?! Let me know in the comments! If you’re not a Birchbox member, sign up HERE. It costs just $10 per month, and has an amazing rewards program. I highly recommend it!

This post contains some affiliate links. Box purchased by me. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.