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Subscription Sunday | My First NatureBox!

Posted on August 31, 2014August 30, 2014 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Subscription Sunday! Today I have a new-to-me subscription box to share with all of you. I’ve heard so many people talking about NatureBox lately, that I just decided to give it a try. NatureBox is a subscription service that sends you a box filled with anywhere from 3-20 snacks per month. I decided to go with 5 snacks at $19.95 per month. It sounds expensive, but each snack bag is multiple servings, and they are guaranteed to be super healthy! NatureBox also provides healthier options with no artificial flavors, colors, or sweeteners. I decided that with Back to School, these snacks would be perfect to take with me to munch on throughout the day. Let me show you what was inside my first box!

Look at all of the goodies inside my box! As you can see, these are over 4oz each, and contain a lot of food in each pouch. I love that these pouches are resealable, as I popped one in my locker at school and can take it out whenever I’m hungry. I’ll tell you about about each snack, too.

Chocolate Quinoa Granola

I love chocolate and quinoa, so the two together were pretty tasty! These almost looked like small cookies, but were of course very crunchy. I really enjoyed these in the morning with my coffee!

Cinnamon Spiced Almonds

These were so good! Plain almonds can be a bit boring to snack on, in my opinion, but these were delicious. I would have liked them to be cinnamon-sugar instead of spiced, but I still loved them and ate up the entire bag.

Harvest Nut Mix

This mix is a spin on your typical party mix, and I really like it. This snack is the one currently living in my locker at school. The protein from the nuts is filling and tasty!

Açai Berry Crunch

This is another type of granola that included some sweetness from the berries. You can put this on top of yogurt or eat it as cereal, but I just ate it dry as a snack. It tasted great!

Honey Dijon Pretzels

I’ve saved the best for last! I’m not typically a huge fan of mustard, but these pretzels were AMAZING. I ate them right up! I would definitely purchase these directly from the NatureBox shop (which is another great option this service has). I highly recommend these!

All in all, I’m so glad I tried NatureBox! I loved each and every one of my snacks, but especially those pretzels. I decided to go with the surprise option, but if you want you can pick out the snacks that NatureBox sends you each month to make sure you’ll like them. You can also mark off if you have a dietary restriction, such as a gluten-free or vegan lifestyle, on the site. Sign up now and you’ll get $10 off your first box when you use my referral link HERE. I can’t wait to taste more NatureBox goodies! Let me know in the comments if you’ve tried NatureBox and what you think of it!

Subscription Sunday | June Birchbox

Posted on June 22, 2014 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Subscription Sunday! Today I have my June Birchbox to share with all of you. When I received my box in the mail this month, I was super excited to open it because it was much heavier than it usually is. Let me go ahead and show you my June products!

This month, Birchbox’s theme is Away We Go! It seems like I’m not the only one with traveling on the brain this month – Birchbox does, too! In fact, the company teamed up with JetBlue to give away a round trip flight. I hope I win!

Here are the first set of products in my June Birchbox. I’ll tell you a bit about each one from left to right:

Coastal Scents Revealed Palette Sampler – $3.20 – This eyeshadow sampler contains four neutral shades from the new Coastal Scents palette. I really like this idea for a sampler, as it lets me test out more than one shadow from a brand, and will last me a long time.
Davines Love Shampoo – $7.50 – This is a great size shampoo sample, and it smells amazing! I can’t wait to try it, as it’s formulated for dry and frizzy hair like mine.
Gilchrist & Soames Body Lotion – $3.00 – I like the idea of this body lotion as it is eco-friendly and spa-worthy, but the fragrance is a bit strong for me. This is still a great size sample!
Vasanti BrightenUp! Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator – $5.67 – It seems like I get a new cleanser every month. I wish there was a bit more variety, but this is a great one for travel because it is an exfoliating cleanser and a good size!

Davines Love Conditioner – $1.41 – I also got a conditioner that matches the shampoo sample I got. Normally I don’t like foil packets, but I think it’s great that I can test this along with the shampoo at least once or twice.
Davines Ol All in One Milk – $0.83 – I also got a sample of the hair treatment from the Davines line! I can’t wait to try out the entire hair care system!
Catherine Malandrino CM Perfume – $0.88 – Finally, I got a perfume sample that actually smells amazing! I’m excited to test it out!

TOTAL RETAIL VALUE: $22.49

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

OVERALL OPINION: I love this month’s Birchbox! Not only did I get four amazing samples, but I got three smaller ones as well. Even though the retail value isn’t very high, it’s more than double what I paid for the box, and I’m sure to use every single one of these samples. I would definitely like more diversity in my Birchbox, but I can’t go wrong with anything here.

You can join Birchbox for just $10 per month HERE. I really love this subscription service, and highly recommend it! Do you subscribe already? Let me know what was inside your June box in the comments!

Subscription Sunday | June Julep Maven Box

Posted on June 15, 2014 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Subscription Sunday! I didn’t expect to be showing you a Julep box this month, but alas I forgot to skip this month’s box and have some new nail polishes to share with you. I still love Julep, but I’m on quite a tight budget these days, so I’ve been skipping the box the past few months. My Julep emails somehow found their way to my spam folder, so I’ll have to set a reminder for the 20th of each month so I don’t forget to skip or buy! Let me go ahead and show you what was inside my June box!

Since I got my box automatically, I got my regular style profile of Classic with a Twist. It came with two nail polishes, and the product this month was a Smoothing Base Coat. I have plenty of base coats open at the moment, so I left this in the box for now. I was also quite happy with the Pixy Stix – my sweet tooth is always craving some sugar!

The first polish in my box this month is Bergen, a silvery-blue polish with a hint of shimmer. Bergen’s formula was a bit tacky, but it is opaque in two coats and has a great finish. At first, I thought Bergen was quite a boring polish, but once I tried it out I liked the color much more. It’s a great alternative to a nude neutral shade.

The other polish in my box is Ariana, a deep purple polish with a chrome finish. Ariana has a good formula that is opaque in two coats. It’s not what I would normally call a summer shade, but the chrome finish is quite shiny and glittery in the sunlight. If you love dark polishes, I definitely recommend Ariana.

All in all, while I wasn’t expecting my Julep box this month, it was still fun to get it in the mail and share its contents with all of you! Do you subscribe to Julep? Let me know in the comments! If you’re not already a subscriber, you can get your first box HERE for just $4.99 in shipping charges with code FREEBOX.

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

Subscription Sunday | June Wantable Box

Posted on June 8, 2014June 6, 2014 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Sunday! It’s been a while since I’ve written a Subscription Sunday post, but the series is back, and I’m excited to share my June Wantable Box with all of you! I first tried out Wantable back in October (see that unboxing HERE). I was so excited when Wantable asked me to review another box, because I really do love this subscription service. Let me tell you more about Wantable and show you what was inside of my June box!

Wantable is a monthly subscription service that features beauty, intimates, and accessories boxes for $36 per month, or $40 for a one time purchase. I chose the beauty box, which comes with 4-5 full size products. I know many of us get aggravated by foil packets in sampling services, but with Wantable you never have to worry about that! Wantable always gives full size products that are customized to your own personal profile – just fill out a series of quick questions about your beauty preferences and Wantable makes a custom box just for you! Of course, you can always choose to be completely surprised if you’re feeling adventurous!

Here’s what I saw upon opening the box! Look at the goodies!

The first item in my box is the Real Techniques Retractable Kabuki Brush. I am so excited for this product! I’ve been wanting to try Real Techniques brushes for a while now, and this one is so cute! I absolutely love the pink color, and that it’s retractable. It’s so perfect for travel! The retail price of this brush is $10.

Next up is the Vincent Longo Pressed Face Powder in the shade Golden Banana. I love face powders, so this is always an excellent product to receive. I’ve never heard of Vincent Longo before, but this compact retails for $28! I’m wearing this today, and I like it so far.

I’ll be honest – I groaned when I saw a Cailyn product in my box. Cailyn works with every subscription service I’ve tried, or at least it seems that way because I own so many of their products! While I don’t love the formula of the Cailyn Tinted Lip Balms (I actually find them quite drying), I have to admit I do love the Coral shade. It’s very pretty! This product also retails for $19.00.

The last product in my box is the Ofra Cheeky Cheekbone Enhancer. I’ve been wanting to try highlighting products lately, so I updated my profile to say I “like” them. I’m so excited to try this one out! It retails for $14.50

TOTAL RETAIL VALUE: $71.50

RATING (1-5, 5 IS HIGHEST SCORE): 4

OVERALL OPINION: I was disappointed to see a Cailyn product in my box, and I would have liked to see a nail polish or another one of my “loves” from my style profile. However, I do really like everything I got in my box, and will use each and every product. I am absolutely thrilled about the Real Techniques brush, plus, the retail value is amazing! Even if you spent the full price of $40 for the box you would get way more than what you spent.

Do you subscribe to Wantable? If not, be sure to sign up HERE! I’ve discovered some amazing brands through this box. In fact, I’m 100% obsessed with the Manna Kadar mascara I discovered in October! If you’re looking to test out some high end brands, this box is for you. Let me know what product you’d be most excited about receiving in the comments!

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

Subscription Sunday | March Birchbox

Posted on March 23, 2014March 23, 2014 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Subscription Sunday! It’s officially been one year since I joined Birchbox, and I’m so excited to show you what is in my March 2014 box. This series first began as Ipsy v. Birchbox, but Birchbox is the only box I’ve stuck with this long. Let me go ahead and share my products with you, and if you’d like to see my first ever Birchbox, just click HERE.

This month’s theme is Spring Forward. Since we lost an hour of sleep this month, the products in our box are supposed to be time-savers and long-lasting. Anything to make up for the time change!

Here are all the products I got this month. I’ll talk about them a bit more from left to right, and share each sample’s retail value.

Beauty Protector Protect & Detangle Leave in Conditioner – $4.66 – I’ve been able to try a lot of Beauty Protector products through Birchbox, and I don’t mind collecting them since I’ll be traveling later this year. This stuff smells amazing, and I can’t wait to try it!
Coola Face Mineral Sunscreen – $3.60 – I am so sick of getting Coola products in subscription boxes! The main reason is because the samples are barely enough to use even one time. Don’t let the tube size deceive you – they are never filled completely!
Air Repair Rescue Balm – $2.17 – This is a 100% natural healing balm that can be used anywhere, such as lips and hands. It’s designed to lock in moisture, and while I wish the sample size was a bit bigger, I’m excited to try it!
Jergens BB Body Cream – $1.73 – I am most excited about this sample! This product has been getting a lot of buzz lately, so I can’t wait to see if this will improve the look of my skin. It’s a decent size sample, and I got the right shade for my skin tone.
theBalm How ‘Bout Them Apples? Cheek & Lip Cream in Pie – $5.33 – Last but not least is a red cheek and lip cream. I’m really excited about this! The shade blends out really nicely on my hand, so I bet it will look great on my face!

TOTAL RETAIL VALUE: $17.49

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

OVERALL OPINION: This box is just okay for me. I really like the Jergens BB Cream and the product from theBalm, but I really wish I didn’t get anything from Coola. I don’t mind when the retail value is low so long as I can see myself using all of the products. With the exception of the Coola product, I’ll get use out of everything so I can’t complain too much. I would love to see samples from different brands in the future.

Do you subscribe to Birchbox? Join HERE and for $10 per month get a box of samples delivered to your door. For a limited time you will get 100 points when you sign up using code bb100. That’s equal to $10 in the Birchbox shop! If you already subscribe, let me know what you got this month!

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

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 | 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!