Subscription Sunday – Page 4 – Adventures in Polishland

Category: Subscription Sunday

Subscription Sunday | July PopSugar MustHave Box

Posted on July 22, 2013 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! Today I have my Subscription Sunday post that was due to go up yesterday — better late than never, right?! I also want to start this post by giving a big thank you to my new blog followers. I am already up to 72 new followers! Don’t forget, if I get to 500 by the end of July, I will have a huge giveaway. The first prizes are listed on my Facebook page HERE if you’d like a sneak peek. Be sure to enter your email on the right to follow, and encourage your friends to do the same! Now, onto my July PopSugar MustHave Box!

PopSugar MustHave is a monthly subscription service that sends a box of goodies to your door for $35 each month. While this is the most expensive subscription service I receive, it is also my favorite! PopSugar is a lifestyle box, meaning you can get all sorts of items. July’s box is Summer themed, and has everything you need to enjoy the warm months.

First up are my Must Have Food and Must Have Home items! Let me tell you a bit more about these items. I’ll link to where you can purchase them, and list the retail price as well!

All Natural Crunchy Cookie Chips in Dark Chocolate Chocolate Chip – $5.99 – These cookie chips were oh so yummy! While I typically love chewy cookies, these cookie chips were a delicious new treat. I love that they are all natural, taking the guilt out of a sweet snack. I would definitely repurchase these!
Tovolo King Cube Ice Tray – $8.50 – This unique ice cube tray makes six, two-inch cubes. While it is geared towards classic cocktails, this can be used for all kinds of frozen treats in the summer. Whether you make popsicles, ice coffee cubes, or even regular ice for your to-go cups, this tray is sure to come in handy. I can’t wait to give it a try! Bonus points: it is dishwasher safe and BPA free!
Mighty Leaf Iced Tea in Calypso Mango – $25.00 – Iced tea is one of my favorite drinks, so I was thrilled to get some. This box is home to four giant tea bags, each making a half gallon of iced tea. I haven’t tried the tea yet, but the bags smell amazing. I’m sure this will be sweet and refreshing!

Up next are my Must Have Beauty and Must Have Fashion items!

ncLA Nail Polish in As If! – $16.00 – I always love receiving nail polish in my subscription boxes, especially high end brands that I can’t usually afford to buy. ncLA polish is great quality, and this light purple shade is gorgeous. I’ll be sure to have a review on the blog soon!
Supergoop! SPF 30 Anti-Aging City Sunscreen Serum – $42.00 – Sunscreen is definitely needed in the summer! I never know which one to grab at the drugstore, so this one from Supergoop sounds great to me. It has that typical sunscreen scent, but absorbs quickly into the skin. No grease here! I’m loving it!
BaubleBar Rose Double Curb Chain – $28.00 – I love BaubleBar jewelry, and rose gold is my favorite metal. This necklace is stunning, and amazing quality. It is sold out right now online, but I highly recommend BaubleBar. The jewelry is gorgeous, and I’m so happy to have received this piece in my box.

TOTAL RETAIL VALUE: $125.49

Wow! What an amazing retail value for this month’s box! The best part is, I plan on using each and every item in this box. The necklace is my favorite, but it’s always great to get practical items like the sunscreen. In the five months that I’ve been a PopSugar MustHave member, I was only disappointed once, and that was back in April. Ever since then, my boxes have been unbelievable! I highly recommend this box. You can join HERE. Get $5 off your first box with code REFER5 at checkout!

Let me know what you think of PopSugar MustHave in the comments, and let me know what your favorite subscription programs are.

Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. Subscription box purchased by me. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Subscription Sunday | Top 10 Julep Polishes for Summer

Posted on July 7, 2013July 10, 2013 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Subscription Sunday! Today I thought it would be fun to share with you my favorite Julep nail polishes for summer. Julep was the first monthly subscription service that I ever signed up for, and I’ve been a member for over a year now. I currently have forty Julep nail polishes in my collection, so I went through and picked ten polishes that are perfect for the summer sun. Some of these polishes have been reviewed on my blog in the past, but I hope you enjoy and discover a new shade that you love!

First up is Blake, a pastel yellow creme. Blake does not have the perfect formula — as with many yellow nail polishes it can be a bit streaky. Luckily I usually get it even in two to three coats, and the result is gorgeous! I love yellow nails in the summer, and Blake is a beautiful shade. While I love neon yellow, a pastel creme is very dainty and works well with many skin tones.

Next is Charlotte, a dusty light purple creme. Charlotte is a one coat formula, which I absolutely love. It applies perfectly, and the finish is very glossy. I think Charlotte is the perfect choice for those who don’t like ultra-bright nails, and it is also a great transitional polish from summer to fall. If you love purple nails, Charlotte is a must for your collection!

Harper is the next polish on my Top 10 list! It is an aquamarine glitter with hints of blue and an opalescent shine. Harper reminds me of a mermaid, and thus it is a must for summer! It is opaque in three coats, or you can layer it over a blue polish for an oceanic look. Harper is great for laying by the pool, and it surely sparkles in the sunlight. Be sure to let each coat dry completely between layers so you don’t smudge the glitter!

Up next is Lynn, a peachy nude polish with a hint of peach and silver shimmer. Lynn is one of the first Julep polishes I ever got, and I still love it! It is opaque in two coats and has a great formula. Some brushstrokes are visible with Lynn since it is a shimmer, but I personally like the finished look. If you’re stuck in the office all summer, Lynn is definitely work appropriate!

If you’re looking for a classic pink polish, Niecy is for you! It is the perfect bright pink, and has an amazing formula that is opaque in two coats. Niecy goes well with any outfit, and will look great no matter what the occasion. I love pink nail polish, and Niecy is one of my all-time favorites!

Up next is Nina, a bright orange polish with a satin finish. Nina is a bit on the thick side, so be sure to limit the amount of polish you have on the brush when applying it. Nina is also opaque in two coats, and dries to look just like orange sherbet! Summer is the perfect time for orange nails, and Nina is a fun option from Julep. While the formula may not be perfect, the color payoff is worth it!

Next on the countdown is Payton, a bright green creme. Payton has a great formula that is opaque in two coats. Make sure you use a healthy layer of base coat with this one, as it can be staining to your nails. I just love green nails, and Payton is the perfect option for summer. I wore it for about a week in June!

Keeping with the green theme is Susie, a mint green creme. Susie has just a hint of mint pigmentation, and looks almost white in direct sunlight. It has an amazing formula that is opaque in two coats, and dries very quickly. Susie is wearable any time of the year, but mint is right on trend for this summer. Everyone needs at least one mint in her collection, and Susie is a great option!

Following Susie is Teri, a bright coral creme polish. Teri has a good formula that is a bit on the thick side. It is opaque in two coats, and has a high-gloss finish. I find that Teri is very flattering for my skin tone, and I think it would look nice on everyone! Teri also isn’t too bright, so if you are looking to step into the bright nail polish world, this is a great option for you.

Last but not least is my holy grail of the Julep world, Yumi. Yumi is a pink, silver, and holographic glitter polish. It can be worn alone in three coats, but I layered one coat over Teri in the photo above. I love Yumi so much that I will need a second bottle soon! It is perfect for nail art, and can be combined with many different shades for a beautiful look. Yumi is just stunning!

All in all, you can see how much I love Julep nail polish! I love getting a box in the mail every month, and the variety of colors is fantastic. You can join the Julep Maven program and get your first month for free using code FREEBOX at checkout HERE. What I love about the program is the ability to skip any month you don’t want to purchase, and the special discounts that Maven members get. Let me know if you join Julep, and what your favorite Julep polish for summer is!

Some of the above links are affiliate links. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Subscription Sunday | June Love With Food Box & Giveaway

Posted on June 30, 2013July 10, 2013 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Subscription Sunday! Today I have a new subscription box to share with all of you, and it is called the Love With Food Box! This box ranges from $10-12 per month depending on the subscription you purchase, and is filled with gourmet snack foods. I am always looking to try out some healthy snacks, and Love With Food describes its program as “health-full” so I new it would be perfect for me. They also provide many snacks that are all natural and vegetarian, which fit into my lifestyle as well. Love With Food also donates a meal to a hungry child for every box that is purchased, so that is a special, feel-good bonus with every box. Let me show you what I got in my first Love With Food box, and stay tuned for a surprise at the end!

Here is what the Love With Food Box looks like when it arrives! While it looks tiny from the outside, I was really impressed with how many goodies were actually packed in there. June’s theme was Summer Bash, as you can see from the informational card. My one criticism of the box is that the card was very difficult to read when I flipped it over — I wish it was more “user friendly” or at least designed better. Moving right along, it’s time to show the food!

Onto the first batch of treats! I’ll tell you more about each one from left to right.

Do More Bar in Pineapple Coconut – This gluten-free cereal bar is basically a healthy rice krispie treat! While the pineapple flavor was not my personal favorite, this bar was delicious. I had it with my coffee in the morning, and I would certainly consider purchasing more.
SoyJoy Bar in Mango Coconut – This bar is all-natural and gluten-free, but it is definitely not my favorite! I disliked the taste and gritty texture, and would not buy more of these. I’m glad I got to try it, though, because I see these in the grocery store, and have always wondered if they were any good.
Turbana Sweet Plantain Chips – Yum! I love banana chips, and these plantain ones were just as delicious. I love how thinly they were sliced, and the touch of sweet flavor made these all-natural chips perfect for my sweet tooth. I would definitely purchase a full size bag of these!
Seaweed Love Roasted Seaweed in Olive Oil – I was nervous to try this seaweed, which basically looks like kale chips, but boy was it yummy! The aftertaste was horrible, but I would definitely buy these again so long as I could brush my teeth directly afterwards. This was the biggest surprise of the box!

Still some more goodies to go! This box sure holds a lot!

Flavrz Drink Mix in Citrus Hibiscus – This organic drink mix turns your water into a refreshing fruit juice! I was not a big fan of the citrus flavor, but I like the concept behind this mix.
Smooze Fruit Ice in Coconut Mango – It seems Love With Food was really into mango and coconut flavors this month! I absolutely love this fruit ice from Smooze! It was perfect to come home to after a hot summer day. Plus, it’s nice to have a frozen treat that is all natural and not filled with nasty preservatives.
Surf Sweets Organic Fruity Bears – These are the best gummy bears I’ve ever had in my life! Not only are they organic, all-natural, and vegan (no gelatin here!), but they were so soft and juicy. I didn’t feel as if they were going to take out all my fillings like some other gummy treats. I would purchase these in a heartbeat!
GoOrganic Hard Candies in Apple and Blood Orange – I loved these organic hard candies! They tasted just like fruit juice! Very yummy, and all natural!
Pür Gum in Pomegranate Mint – I was happy to receive a pack of gum in my Love With Food box, especially one that is made with natural ingredients! I’m loving the pomegranate mint flavor, and I would definitely consider purchasing more.

Overall, my Love With Food box was filled with lots of goodies! It’s difficult to determine the retail value of this box, but I’m guessing it was somewhere around $10 based on the prices for the full size foods. I was lucky enough to score my first box for just $2 using the promo code FBGIFT, so if you are going to join make sure to try that first! You can join HERE!

Love With Food also included a $50 gift card to nakedwines.com in my box. I decided to pass this gift card along to one of my followers! This giveaway does have some restrictions, so please read through the following very carefully:

Who can enter: US residents who are 21 years of age or older, and live in one of the states accepted by nakedwines.com. Click HERE for the full list of states.
What you win: a $50 gift card to be used on any purchase of at least $51. There is a separate $9.99 shipping charge on orders of $100 or less.
Other details: this giveaway is open until next Subscription Sunday, July 7, 2013. I will verify every entry, and any false entries will result in disqualification.

To enter the giveaway, please enter on Rafflecopter by using the following link: a Rafflecopter giveaway

Let me know what you think of the Love With Food Box, and good luck to all entering the giveaway!

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

Ipsy v. Birchbox: Round Four | June 2013

Posted on June 23, 2013July 12, 2013 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Subscription Sunday! Today I have the first post in my new series, where I feature a subscription service every Sunday. As June comes to a close, it is time for Round Four of my Ipsy v. Birchbox comparison posts. In Round One and Round Two, Birchbox was champion, but last month for Round Three, Ipsy was the clear winner. Let’s see how these two $10 beauty boxes stack up against one another this month!

First up, as always, is Ipsy! This month’s theme is “On the Wild Side,” and it comes with the cutest makeup bag ever! I am loving the leopard print pouch with a neon accent, and I’m impressed with it’s nice quality. This is definitely going into my school bag! On the bottom left, you can see a bonus item I got for referring two new Ipsy members. It is the O-Ring Stud Wrap bracelet from BaubleBar, and probably retails for around $20. It was a great bonus! Let me talk about the items inside in more detail, working from left to right.

NYX Rouge Cream Blush in Natural – $6.00 – I’ve never tried a cream blush before, but this one from NYX seems to be a great shade for my skin tone, and is quite blendable. I don’t wear blush often, but this is a nice product to have in my makeup collection for a day I want to dress up a little more.
J.Cat Beauty Sparkling Cream Palette in Volta – $4.49 – This is my least favorite item in the bag, and something that I won’t ever use! It is a palette of five glitter eyeshadows, and is basically loose glitter on top of a cream shadow. I feel like these shadows only work for the daring ladies who love to stand out, and don’t work for an everyday look at all. I guess maybe I’ll hold onto this for Halloween!
Starlooks Lip Pencil in Bare – $12.00 – This Starlooks lip liner is actually a very nice quality and applies really nicely. The problem is the color is not for me at all! Bare is a muddy mauve that makes my lips look brown. Even layered it just did not work for me at all. I would have loved a different shade of this product, as this one I can’t use unfortunately.
Cailyn Line-Fix Gel Eyeliner in Purple – $21.00 – This gel eyeliner is a gorgeous plum shade and comes with the perfect size brush. I was very surprised on how easy it is to apply, and the purple shade is great for a more subdued look. I don’t wear eyeliner very often, but this is a nice alternative to a harsh black color. I’m glad to have this product, even though I won’t be using it often.
Chella Ivory Lace Highlighter – $18.00 – Last but not least is my favorite item this month, an eye highlighter pencil! I was actually about to buy one at the drugstore, but am so happy I got this high end one instead. It helps brighten up my eyes and make me look more awake. Best of all, it is so natural looking, and extremely blendable. It is the only eye makeup in addition to mascara that I wear daily!

TOTAL RETAIL VALUE: $61.49

OVERALL OPINION: While I’m very happy with the Chella Highlighter, that is the only product in this month’s bag that I will be using on a regular basis. The Cailyn Eyeliner and NYX Blush are great to have, but the J.Cat Palette and Starlooks lipliner are virtually worthless to me. Even though the retail value of my June Ipsy was amazing, it really comes down to how I will use the products. I would have liked some more skincare items instead of all makeup to be honest!

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

Now onto my June Birchbox! This month’s theme is Wanderlust, and is all about summer traveling. This month Birchbox also revamped its website and program to include a profile that really understands what products you are looking to receive. Be sure to edit yours! Let me show you the goodies I got this month.

Sukí Face Exfoliate Foaming Cleanser – $2.05 – This tub is filled with an exfoliating cleanser that smells like delicious lemons! I’m excited to try it out, and I will probably get a week’s worth of uses out of this sample. The full size product is $32.95, so this is definitely a high end sample. I’m happy to try it out, but will not be repurchasing!
Klorane Gentle Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk – $5.96 – I was a bit disappointed to get another dry shampoo from Birchbox, as I am still using the one I got back in March. I’m happy to have this for when the other runs out, but upon a first test it isn’t as nice. I am not enjoying the scent one bit! I’m a bit neutral on this sample.
Color Club nail polish in Mod in Manhattan – $2.00 – I love getting a nail polish sample! This mini size is a great value, and I absolutely love it. You can see my full review of this nail polish HERE.
Laqa & Co Lil’ Lip Color in Lambchop – $8.00 – This fat lip pencil is a super bright pink that is very daring! I love the formula and application, but the shade is quite “out there” to wear on a regular basis. I would love to try this product in a more wearable shade, but I do love having Lambchop on hand. I’ve been wanting to try this brand for a long time!
Twistband Hair Tie – $2.33 – I love yoga hair ties, and this one is so cute! The nautical design is great for summer. These hair ties are definitely on the expensive side, so I am glad to get one in my Birchbox. For girls with thin hair like mine, these hair ties are a necessity!

TOTAL RETAIL VALUE: $20.34

OVERALL OPINION: Even though the retail value of this box isn’t very high, I will definitely use all of these products. I wish the Laqa & Co lip color was more wearable, but everything else fits in to my daily makeup and skincare routine. This is definitely a huge improvement over last month! I hope things continue to get better!

RATING: 4

There you have it! My winner for the month of June is Birchbox! Overall, I am disappointed that Ipsy sent me only makeup products this month. If I had received skincare in addition to the highlighter, blush, and eyeliner, that would have made Ipsy the winner. For now, I will continue on with both programs, but if Ipsy doesn’t step it up in terms of products that fit my lifestyle, I will have to let it go. Let me know which program you liked better this month. You can join Ipsy HERE and Birchbox HERE. Stay tuned for more Subscription Sunday posts every week!

Some of the above links are affiliate links. Subscription boxes purchased with my own money. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Ipsy v. Birchbox: Round Three! May 2013

Posted on May 19, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Sunday! It is round three of Ipsy v. Birchbox here at Adventures in Polishland. Even though Birchbox won the first two rounds (see Round One HERE and Round Two HERE), I felt that I needed at least three months of each subscription service to really test the waters for good. At $10 each, I am getting some great new products for an affordable price. I’ve already used up quite a few of the samples! This month I got some really nice products as well. Let me show you what was inside!

First up is my Ipsy Glam Bag! This month’s theme is Spring Fling, and I am just adoring the cosmetic bag we got this month. I love the bright chevron pattern, and it is a waterproof material that will be perfect for the summer months. I’m quite impressed with the quality of the bag as well — it feels nice and sturdy! Let me describe the products I got from left to right!

Juice Beauty Reflecting Lip Gloss in Champagne – $7.50 – Juice Beauty is a very popular brand in these subscriptions! This month I got a really pretty lip gloss in a nude color. I tried this out a few times, and I do like it. It is very sheer, and although it looks very glittery in the tube it doesn’t make my lips look like a disco ball. Instead, it has a nice shine. What I don’t like is the smell! It smells strange, but I think it is because it’s organic and has natural fragrances only. Also, though this is packaged like a full size lip gloss, it is exactly one half of the full size that Juice Beauty sells online. Nonetheless, this is a great sample with a great value!
Macadamia Healing Oil Treatment – $13.50 – I have been wanting to try some of the hair cair products from Macadamia, so I am beyond excited for this product! It smells divine, and I already see a big difference in my hair since I started using it. I apply the tiniest amount from my ears down after I get out of the shower, and my hair is much softer and less frizzy than usual. This sample size retails for $13.50, and will last me a while since a little bit goes a long way. I am so happy with this sample!
Zoya in Julie – $8 – This month each Ipsy subscriber got a full size nail polish from the Zoya Lovely collection. I got Julie, but unfortunately I already own the entire Lovely collection. While I do think it is great to get a full size polish in these subscription services, the Lovely collection came out back in December, and many nail polish aficionados already own the colors they want. Similarly, my bottle came a bit damaged, and I noticed that many other subscribers received damaged bottles as well. Part of my thinks Zoya sent Ipsy all of the bottles they didn’t want to sell themselves! I love the idea behind this polish, but I wish we got something from a newer collection that wasn’t damaged.
St. Tropez Instant Glow Body Lotion – $6.27 – Next up is a self-tanner body lotion. I’ve tried the one from Jergens before, and loved the results yet hated the smell. This one is just the opposite! There is no smell, yet the color is way too dark for my pale skin, and I wasn’t able to achieve a natural look. I think this is a great sample size, but unfortunately it didn’t work for me. I’m going to try it again once I have more of a natural tan.
Yaby Concealer Refill in Buff – $4.85 – I am also very excited for this concealer from Yaby, another brand that Ipsy seems to like a lot as well! I’ve been needing a new concealer, and I’m glad Ipsy sent me one that seems like the perfect shade for me! I know some subscribers received incorrect colors in their glam bag, but make sure you go to the Ipsy website to edit your profile. I can’t wait to use this concealer, and it will fit in the Glam RX palette I got back in March.

TOTAL RETAIL VALUE: $40.12

OVERALL OPINION: I’m very happy with my Ipsy glam bag this month! The value is great, and I got three products I will definitely use. Unfortunately I already had the nail polish, and the St. Tropez lotion isn’t really my thing. Other than that, I will get a lot of use out of the other products. I am most excited about the Macadamia hair treatment!

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

Now onto my May Birchbox! This month there wasn’t really a theme, but each box came with a fun Mad Libs type activity. Fill in the Beauty Diaries phrase and tweet it to Birchbox, and you could win a full size product of everything in your box! See my Tweet HERE! Now I will tell you more about the products I got this month.

Amika Nourishing Mask – $1.60 – First up is a foil packet of a deep conditioner for hair. This mask is supposed to repair damaged hair with its special sea buckthorn berry ingredient. I will probably get 2-3 uses out of this packet, although it will be difficult to use in the shower. I would have liked different packaging to make this sample more user friendly. I also appreciate being able to try a high end hair product, but this packet just doesn’t excite me!
Runa Tea Bag Sample Box – $1.75 – My favorite product this month is a sampler box of four teas from Runa. I got four tea bags in these flavors: traditional, ginger-citrus, mint, and cinnamon-lemongrass. The tea bags smell amazing, and are supposed to have twice the antioxidants as green tea! It’s nice to get a little snack item in a beauty box. Even though the retail value isn’t high, I know I will be able to afford a box of the tea if I decide I like it and want more!
Sumita Color Contrast Eye Pencil in Suman – $5.25 – Each Birchbox subscriber got a mini Sumita eyeliner this month, and I luckily got it in a black color! I rarely wear eyeliner, but this one seems very nice. It is a very creamy consistency, and glides on easily. It is definitely smudge-proof as well. Even though I won’t use it often, this is a nice product to get in a box like this!
Coola Classic Sunscreen for Face – $4.32 – This tiny sunscreen sample from Coola was mostly empty when I got it, and exploded a bit when I opened it. Unfortunately there is not much for me to try! I admit it smells great, but I’m very disappointed with this sample. I cannot fathom spending $32 on the full size product. I understand that it is organic and high end, but that is quite a lot for sunscreen. I hope to get at least once use out of this tube.
Marvis Classic Mint Toothpaste – $1.40 – I’m not sure how I feel about getting a “luxury” toothpaste in my Birchbox. I will definitely use it up, of course, but I typically spend $1.40 or less on my regular toothpaste when it is on sale! I do love that this is an Italian import, since I am part Italian, but this is another product that I won’t be buying the full size of. The tube is great for travel, though, and it smells minty fresh!

TOTAL RETAIL VALUE: $14.32

OVERALL OPINION: I am so disappointed this month! This is the first time Birchbox provided me with samples that can really only be used 1-2 times each with the exception of the eyeliner, and perhaps the toothpaste. My box was considerably lighter this month, and the retail value of these items really stinks. It’s always nice to try high end products that I can’t afford to buy regularly, but I wish I could get more out of them. These products won’t even last until next month’s Birchbox.

RATING: 2

There you have it! My winner for the month of May is Ipsy by a landslide! After being beat out by Birchbox for two months, Ipsy finally provided me with some great products. At this point I am going to give each subscription another go. I sure hope that this was just a fluke with Birchbox, since my last two months were amazing. I am still an undecided girl when it comes to which program is better! Which one do you like more?! If you have yet to join, you can sign up for Ipsy HERE and Birchbox HERE.

Some of the above links are affiliate links. Subscription boxes purchased with my own money. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Ipsy v. Birchbox: Round Two! April 2013

Posted on April 20, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Saturday! I am back with round two of my battle of the beauty subscriptions now that I finally received my Birchbox in the mail! Unfortunately the post office held onto my box without delivering it for almost a week. Luckily it arrived safe and sound, and I am so excited to share this comparison post with you! Last month I reviewed both Ipsy and Birchbox for the first time, and Birchbox won the first round (all details HERE). Let me share with you what I got for April for each of these $10 subscription programs. Which one do you think will win this matchup?!

First up is Ipsy! This month’s theme was Pretty in Pink, and came in a cute white and pink cosmetics bag. My bag had a few small stains on it, so I emailed the company and they are going to send me a replacement. I’m definitely happy about that great customer service! I really do like this cosmetics bag, and I think this will be going in my school bag since it won’t take up a lot of room and can hold some lip balm, hand lotion, etc.

Now onto the products in my Ipsy Glam Bag! Last month I got five products, but this month I got four. I’ll describe everything in detail for you from left to right!

Be a Bombshell Blush in Sweet Cheeks – $16.00 – This blush is a beautiful and very pigmented pink! I think it will work well with many skin tones, but it does pack a lot of color so a little bit will do the trick. The packaging is adorable, but feels a bit flimsy. I am definitely excited to use this for a more polished look!
Healthy Sexy Hair Soy Renewal Nourishing Styling Treatment – $4.44 – At first I was excited to try what is marked a “healthy” hair treatment, and is even called soy renewal. However, after reviewing the ingredients on this product it seems to be full of chemicals, and has hardly any soy extract at all. I am definitely going to give it a try, and see if it manages my frizzy hair, but I wish it was actually as healthy as the packaging makes it sound!
Sation Nail Lacquer in Love At First Byte – $5.00 – I was thrilled to find a full size nail polish in my Ipsy bag! I’ve never tried Sation polishes before, so I can’t wait to use this gorgeous peach color. It does appear to be a sheer finish, but I won’t know for sure until I try it. Let me know if you’d like to see a review of this polish on my blog!
Mica Shimmer Powder in Earth – $11.96 – This is the only product in my bag that I don’t plan on using this month. While this is a gorgeous and shimmery eyeshadow, it is just not for me. I don’t wear eyeshadow very often, and the glitter in this is just too much for me. If you love eye makeup this would be perfect for you, though!

TOTAL RETAIL VALUE: $37.40

OVERALL OPINION: I am definitely loving this month over last month! I plan on using everything but the Mica Shimmer Powder, and I love having full size products. I do wish that the Healthy Sexy Hair lived up to its name, but that’s not really an Ipsy problem. This month’s cosmetics pouch is quite cute as well!

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

Now onto my April Birchbox! This month they teamed up with Women’s Health for the theme of Tiny Tweaks, Big Results. I had a feeling when I saw this cute packaging that there would be lots of good things inside. I cannot wait to share the contents!

Look at all of these goodies! I will get right into describing all of the contents from left to right.

One-Year Subscription to Women’s Health Magazine – $9.99 – This card was hiding at the bottom of my box, but I almost fell on the floor when I read it closely. Not only does this give me a one-year subscription to Women’s Health, but there is also an option to decline the subscription and get a $9.99 refund. That’s right — if I don’t want the magazine I can send this card in and get back $9.99! That is the price of my entire box! I haven’t decided if I want the magazine or the money yet, but this is an amazing value right off the bat!
Atelier Cologne in Ambre Nue – $2.80 – I love perfume samples, so even though they are not high in value, I like getting one in my monthly box! I like to change up my perfume, so samples are the perfect way to do that. This will be used up for sure!
Lierac Paris Concentré Mésolift Serum – $10 – I am excited to try this serum that is supposed to help hydrate skin, shrink pores, and fight off wrinkles. I just finished using a deluxe sample of another skin serum, so I’m happy to replace it with this one in my skin care routine! These serum samples last for weeks, and allow me to use luxury products that I would never be able to afford otherwise.
Number 4 Blow Dry Lotion – $10.67 – While I don’t blow dry my hair that often, this lotion is supposed to protect my hair from the heat and make sure it is smooth. I haven’t tried this yet, but it smells amazing and it looks like I can get a lot of use out of this sample. I will have to give this a try!
Ruby Wing Color Changing Nail Polish in Peony – $4.67 – I love that I have another nail polish! This time it is a mini size, but still a great value. I’ve never tried color changing nail polish before, but I cannot wait to use this one! I love the pink color. I think this will be great for summer!
Simple Revitalizing Eye Roll-On – $10.99 – This month I got this product as a Birchbox Find! As someone who has trouble getting up in the morning, and has very puffy eyes, this product is amazing! I already gave it a try and I am loving it so far. It feels amazing and is made for someone who has sensitive skin like me. As an added bonus, Birchbox added in a coupon for $1 off any Simple product. I love coupons and I will definitely use this one!

TOTAL RETAIL VALUE: $49.12 + $1 Simple coupon

OVERALL OPINION: I could not be more thrilled with this month’s Birchbox. Not only is the value just under $50 for a box I paid $10 for, but I love all of the products and will make sure to use them all. Even though it arrived a bit late this month, I am so happy to have this Birchbox! Plus, I love that this website has a fabulous rewards system. For each product you review you get 10 points! Every 100 points is $10 to spend in their shop.

RATING: 5

There you have it! My winner for the month of April is Birchbox! Not only was the retail value for my Birchbox significantly higher than Ipsy, but I enjoy the Birchbox products more. Ipsy is definitely more focused on makeup, while Birchbox has a focus on skincare. Since I don’t wear too much makeup, Birchbox is more tailored to my lifestyle. I am going to give both of these subscriptions one more battle round, and if I am not impressed with Ipsy I will cancel. At this time, Birchbox is an amazing value! You can join Ipsy HERE and Birchbox HERE.

Let me know what you think of these subscription programs in the comments!

My March Julep Maven Box!

Posted on March 27, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday! Today I finally have a review of my March Julep Maven Box, just making it in before the month is over! This month Julep had some technical difficulties, and for some reason my box got missed during the original shipment. Luckily Julep emailed me to let me know of their mistake, and I got my box in the middle of the month. I decided to go for the It Girl box this month, and received three beautiful spring shades. Let me show you what was inside my box!

This month the theme was pastels, and each maven got a bonus strawberry mint lip balm in her box. I love lip balms, and was happy to get that as a bonus! I’m also loving all of the polishes this month!

First up is Teri, a gorgeous peach creme that leans towards coral. Teri is opaque in two coats and has a good formula that is a bit on the thick side. This polish is a little streaky, but the color is so gorgeous that I don’t mind. Teri is perfect for spring! I put this on as soon as I opened my box this month and got a few compliments on it at school!

Next up is Simone, a pastel lilac that leans towards pink. Simone is also opaque in two coats, and has an amazing formula! My one disappointment is that the blue shimmer effect that is prominent in the bottle is very subtle on the nail. Nonetheless, Simone is beautiful and a great color for all skin tones.

Last but not least is Shenae, a shimmery mint green polish. Shenae is opaque in two coats and the formula is great! I had no problems whatsoever with application. As you know, I love mint greens, and this is the first I’ve tried with shimmer. This is an all-around great polish, and the color is just stunning! Shenae is definitely on trend for spring.

All in all, I’m very pleased with my March Julep Maven Box! Each polish is beautiful, and the formulas are amazing for the most part. If you would like to join the Julep Maven program and get a box of polish and other goodies each month, you can sign up HERE! Your first box is free with code FREEBOX at checkout, you just pay shipping. The best part is you can skip your box each month if you don’t like the colors, or if you don’t have room in your budget. You can also cancel at any time. Let me know what you think of my March box!

My March PopSugar Must Have Box!

Posted on March 9, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Saturday! Today I will be sharing with you a new monthly subscription program that I joined. The PopSugar Must Have Box is a lifestyle box filled with goodies from all different areas – beauty, home, fashion, and more! It is $35 each month, but the box is to have at least a $100 value. After doing some research, I decided to go for it and sign up! My goal was to use this box as an alternative to buying new products myself. I am loving my first box! Let me show you what was inside.

First I’ll show you what the box looks like when you get it. I love the bright pink tissue paper and the “Enjoy” sticker! It’s adds a personal touch. You can also see the little booklet that explains all of the items in the box. Look at all those goodies! So much to see here!

In your box you will also have items from different “Must Have” categories. Here are my two Must Have Fashion items. On the left is a Sweater Saverfrom Hollywood Fashion Secrets. It’s a small brick that your rub over sweaters and blankets to remove pills without damaging the items. I definitely have a couple sweaters that could use this! The Sweater Saver retails for $5.99. I also got a beautiful necklace from Heather Belle. It is a long gold chain with an octagon and tassel designs near the bottom. I’ve been wanting to buy more jewelry, so this is perfect! I was unable to find out the exact retail value of this necklace, but others on the Heather Belle website are selling for $75!

For the Must Have Home category, I got two more items. On the left is the Corkatoo Corkscrewfrom True Fabrications. This is such a cute corkscrew, and while I don’t drink wine, this will make a great gift item! It retails for $15.99. I also got this Denim Washfrom The Laundress. I am quite excited about this item! It not only retails at $19, but it is non-toxic, biodegradable, and allergen free. I can use this in my washing machine to make sure my denim isn’t fading! I will definitely use this entire bottle, and it will make my current bottle of laundry detergent last longer.

Now onto Must Have Beauty! I am so excited about these next two items. First is the Buxom Sculpted Lash Mascara. This is a $19 mascara and I am so excited! I love buying mascaras because it is one of the few makeup items I wear every day. This one is a high end brand that I wouldn’t have bought otherwise, but now I get to try it. I can’t wait to see how it works! I am also super excited about the nail polish I got! This is a set from The New Black called Pardon My French. I got the color set called Havoc. I’ve been dying to try these nail polishes, but couldn’t bring myself to spend the money on them. This mini set retails for $10! I will admit that I squealed a little when I saw this in the box.

Last but not least are my Special Extras for the month! Holly Fashion Secrets also provided a Fashion Tape Assortment Pack. This is great for holding accessories in place or hemming pants quickly. Also included were some Peeps! I don’t like Peeps, so these will be getting sent out in some nail mail. These are special bonuses, so I didn’t find out how much they retailed for.

All in all, my items add up to about $70 not including the necklace and the Special Extras. If the necklace is worth around $75, my box is definitely over the $100 mark! I’m really happy with everything in my box. They are either items I will use myself or give as gifts. I am going to continue on in this program for sure!

If you would like to join, please click HERE! Enter code REFER5 at checkout to get $5 your first box.

My February Julep Maven Box!

Posted on February 20, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

After a disappointing January box, Julep more than made up for it this month! With a few added bonuses, I was so happy that I didn’t end up skipping my box. While I do have a few gripes with the extra products, I loved the two nail polishes I got. I’m sure you will agree that I got my money’s worth this month! Let me show you my February Julep Maven Box.

Look at all of those goodies in one box! This month I got my style profile box — Classic With a Twist. Inside were two nail polishes, the Oxygen Nail Treatment, the Freedom Polymer Top Coat, an eyelash curler, and two chocolate hearts. For all of these products, minus the curler and candy, the total retail value is $64! As a Maven, I only paid $19.95. How awesome is that?! I even love the two polishes I got!

Up first is Helen, what Julep calls a smokey pastel lavender. Helen has that fabulous Julep formula that is opaque in two coats. Helen has a beautiful creme finish, and leans toward a feminine dusty rose color. It is perfect for a professional and chic look! I love Helen — it’s different than any other polish in my collection!

Julep Claudette is the other polish in my February box. This red brick color is a one coat polish! That’s right — what you see in the photos is opacity with just one coat. I was blown away with the quality of Claudette’s formula. I love that the red tone is not as bright as a true red polish, but it’s still perfect for awards season. If you aren’t a red girl like me, this is the one you want to actually keep in your collection! As a one-coater there is no reason to not own it! It’s perfect for when you need a red.

The next item in this month’s box is the Oxygen Nail Treatment. This product baffles me a bit. Why? Well, it is supposed to be worn 1-2 times per week, but without any other nail polish. Since most nail polish aficionados have polish on every day, it’s difficult to find the time to put on this treatment up to twice per week. The directions also don’t say how long you’re supposed to wear the treatment. I wore mine overnight and into the next day for about thirteen hours. Above you can see my nail before (left), during (middle), and after (right). I think the treatment did help to whiten my nails, but I’m not sure that I saw much of a difference. Maybe if I did wear this treatment for an extended period of time I will see more results.

Last but not least, the Freedom Polymer Top Coat was one of this month’s extra items in the box. This top coat is advertised to dry in five minutes in natural light, and in two minutes under a 60-watt light bulb. The finish is supposed to look like a gel manicure, and it to be long-lasting. I included a photo above of Shimmer Polish Karina layered over Claudette. I used the Freedom top coat for that manicure, and as you can see, the finish is great! Plus, the top coat did dry extremely quickly. However, this top coat chips off in a day! I almost never see chipping on my nails, but I used this top coat 3-4 times and my polish chipped like crazy! You also have to make sure your nails are completely dry before you apply this top coat, or your nail art will smudge. I only plan on using Freedom when I am in a rush.

All in all, February was a great month as a Julep Maven! I loved both of the polishes I got, and it was fun trying the nail treatment and top coat. While I am a bit disappointed with the top coat, I still see myself using it in some occasions. I will even try the nail treatment a bit more, too! If you would like to become a Julep Maven, sign up HERE and use code FREEBOX at checkout! Your first month will be free — just pay for shipping! Julep is a fabulous program for just $19.95 per month, and you can skip any month you don’t want or cancel at any time.

Tell me what you love about Julep in the comments, and don’t forget to enter my Baby Lips Giveaway HERE!

New Subscription Service: Nail Art Society!

Posted on February 14, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Valentine’s Day! Today I have an exciting post reviewing the new monthly subscription service Nail Art Society! Similar to Julep, Nail Art Society will send you a package each month for $19.95. Inside you will find nail polish and other nail art tools that you need to create a complete manicure. If you are just getting into nail art, this is definitely the program for you. Stick around because at the end of this post I’ll let you know how to lock in your membership for just $9.95 each month!

Here is everything that came in my first Nail Art Society bag. In the first photo, from left to right, is a Cherimoya Nailed It Nail Art Pen in Black, Layla Magneffect in Turquoise Wave, a container of Swarovski crystals, and tweezers from Stella Beauty Products. There is also a card that gives you step by step instructions on how to use all of the products for the month. The second picture just highlights the other literature in the bag. On the left is detailed instructions from Layla about applying the magnetic nail polish, and on the right is a card showcasing the current nail art trends. Let me show you the manicure I created with all of these goodies!

I decided to follow the manicure idea that Nail Art Society provided subscribers with this month. First, I started off with the magnetic polish from Layla in Turquoise Wave. I was very impressed with this polish. I’ve tried one other magnetic from this line, but Turquoise Wave was much more user friendly! It is a gorgeous light, metallic blue when you first apply it, but with the magnetic effect it adds a dark dimension. The easiest way to apply this polish to to first paint one coat on all of your nails like you would normally do. Then, add a thick coat of polish to one nail and quickly turn around the brush to hold the magnet right above the nail for a few seconds. If you work quickly you will get a great result!

To complete my manicure, I used the Cherimoya Nail Art Pen to create a tiger pattern on my ring finger. Then I used the tweezers to place some of the crystals on my pointer finger in a vertical stripe. To do so, layer a think coat of top coat on your nail, and then carefully press the crystals down firmly. Follow up with another layer of top coat to finish the look!

What do you think of my manicure? It is definitely funky! I’m not sure that I would wear this every day, but it was fun to try out the look and learn some new nail art techniques. Plus, I think it is great that Nail Art Society shows you how to create a complete manicure using all of the tools they give you in the bag each month. I do wish they had included the value of everything in the bag, because when I tried to research the price of some of the products I didn’t have much luck. I do know that Layla Magneffects sell for around $15, so that’s a great value on its own!

If you like what you see, make sure to sign up for the Nail Art Society program! You can lock in your membership for $9.95 each month by using the promo code PUREICE when you sign up. I am not aware of the coupon’s expiration date, so be sure to use it before it’s too late! Simply click HERE to join!

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