Tag: subscription sunday

Subscription Sunday | January Birchbox

Posted on 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!

Subscription Sunday | January BirchboxEvery 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!

Birchbox Products January 2014Here 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!

Birchbox Products January 2014

 

  • 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!

Birchbox Postcards January 2014As 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 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!

December BirchboxFirst 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.

Birchbox productsMy 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!

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  • 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 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!

IMG_3897This 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!

IMG_3902 IMG_3906First 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!

IMG_3908 IMG_3912Next 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.

IMG_3913 IMG_3916Last 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!
Julep Beauty Inc.This post contains an affiliate link. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information. 

Subscription Sunday | November Birchbox

Posted on 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.

IMG_3604This 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.

IMG_3611Here 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!

IMG_3609Still 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 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.

IMG_3511As 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!

IMG_3512 IMG_3515The 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!

IMG_3518 IMG_3521The 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!

IMG_3539 IMG_3541Last 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!

Julep Beauty Inc.

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

Subscription Sunday | October Birchbox

Posted on 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!

IMG_3402This month Birchbox’s theme is Beauty Buzz. It’s designed to help explain the newest trends and buzzing products in the beauty world!

IMG_3403Moving 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!

IMG_3406My last two products came in this fancy, Tiffany blue box!

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. 

Subscription Sunday | October PopSugar MustHave Box

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Subscription Sunday! Today I have a somewhat sad post – it’s my last PopSugar MustHave Box. While PopSugar is definitely my favorite subscription service, it’s also the most expensive. I was willing to make room in my tight budget for $35 per month, but I got an email from the company saying they are raising its prices to $39.95 come November 4, and I just wasn’t willing to pay that much. Thankfully, the October box is a great way to honor my love for PopSugar. Let me show you the amazing products!

IMG_3301First up are three Must Have Beauty products! The first item is a nail polish duo from Julep that contained the Freedom Polymer Top Coat and Char, a beautiful blue polish. I personally think the Freedom Top Coat is horrible, but I’m so happy to have Char. The retail value for this duo is $32!

Next, I got two items from NYX Cosmetics. The first is the Smokey Fumé Palette complete with six eyeshadows, and the next is the Liquid Eyeliner in Black. These products retail for $7 and $6 respectively. I’ve been wanting to try out some NYX products, so I’m really glad to have these!

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The next Must Have Beauty product is The Wet Brush, which retails for $14. This is one of those products that seem really gimmicky, but it actually works! I am so impressed with this brush, and my hair is loving it. I highly recommend this product!

IMG_3306Now onto Must Have Fashion! First is the Gorjana Charity Bali Bead Bracelet. Not only do I love the hot pink color, but 100% of the proceeds for this $45 bracelet is donated to Breast Cancer research. Super cute, and a great cause! As a special extra this month, PopSugar threw in a $20 promo code to Stitch Fix, a website I’ll have to check out. Plus, I also got some cute bobby pins from Jane Tran that retail for $12.

IMG_3308My favorite item in my October Box is The Can’t Cook Book by Jessica Seinfeld. I feel like this book was made just for me! I struggle with cooking, and this book is so well-written and includes amazing graphics and directions. Plus, there are a lot of vegetarian recipes that fit my lifestyle. I can’t wait to try it out! This book retails for $27.99.

IMG_3309Last but not least is a Must Have Food item from The Crispery. This Halloween Crispycake is a huge treat! If you love marshmallows, this is for you. It retails for $3.95!

All in all, I’m glad my last PopSugar MustHave Box was a great one! The total retail value was $167.94, and I’m loving the items. If you have room for PopSugar in your budget, I highly recommend this box. It’s a great variety, and is so exciting to get in the mail. Plus, if you sign up before November 4th, you can lock in the $35 price by signing up for a 3-month subscription. You will pay in advance, but use code MUSTHAVE10 to get $10 off your purchase HERE. Let me know what you think of PopSugar MustHave in the comments!

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

Subscription Sunday | September PopSugar MustHave Box

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Subscription Sunday! It’s time for what has easily become my favorite subscription service, PopSugar MustHave! Yes, this box is a whopping $35 per month, but I honestly believe it is so worth it. This month I happily received some items that I’ve been wanting to purchase, but just hadn’t got around to it yet. It was so great to get those items in my box, plus some more goodies. Let me show you what was in my September PopSugar MustHave Box!

IMG_3039First up is a book entitled P.S. You’re Invited… by Erica Domesk that features over 40 do-it-yourself projects. I am so excited to receive this book! I love DIY projects, and this book has some really unique ideas. Plus, it is a smart book, which means there are corresponding videos to watch online. I can’t wait to try out some of the projects! This book retails for $26 (but try Amazon for $17!).

IMG_3043Next up is the Botanical Coaster Set from Rifle Paper Co. I was desperately on the hunt for a cute but affordable set of coasters, but I couldn’t find any that I liked. I’m absolutely loving this floral pattern, and now I can stop using napkins as coasters! This set of eight retails for $16.00.

IMG_3049I was also looking for a great diffuser for my room! Imagine my surprise when this amazing, $46 diffuser from Barr-Co was in my box! This scent is a mix of milk, oatmeal, vanilla, and velvetier, and is so amazing. It’s light enough that it’s not overpowering, yet strong enough that my room smells perfect. This diffuser is definitely a Must Have product for the home!

IMG_3046The next item is a set Kitsch Headbands. These are basically yoga-style hair ties in headband form! A set retails for about $11.99, and I think this is a great item for the box. I also got a $25 gift card to Shoptiques, an online store. I can’t wait to spend it!

IMG_3047Last but not least, we have the food items! Yum! First is a pack of Sharkies, organic energy sports chews. Basically, these are like fruit snacks that give you a burst of natural energy. They were delicious, but so sticky. Be careful when eating them! I also got a bar of That’s it. This was so good, and just an apple and pear bar. I would definitely buy more of these. The retail prices for these items are $1.48 and $1.67 respectively.

All in all, my September PopSugar MustHave box has a total retail value of $128.14! Not only did I get two items that I was looking to buy, but I got yummy snacks that I’ve already enjoyed, and some bonus goodies as well. This box is the best! I highly recommend it. If you’d like to join, simply click HERE and enter code REFERFRIEND at checkout to get $5 off your first month. You will love it just as much as I do!

 

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

Subscription Sunday | August Love With Food Box

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Subscription Sunday! Today I am reviewing the August Love With Food Box. While it is a bit late, I really wanted to tell all of you what happened with my August box. When I first received it at the beginning of the month, it unfortunately was a disaster! A cup of salsa had leaked everywhere, ruining some of the box. I snapped a photo and emailed customer service. Not only did they send me a replacement box, but they refunded my money for the month of August as well! It did take a while for the replacement to show up, which is why this post is so late. I think it’s really important that Love With Food’s amazing customer service was shared!

IMG_2984Here is a sneak peek of what the August Box looked like. It was Backyard BBQ themed!

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  • Sahale Snacks Fruit & Almond Crunchers – I actually haven’t tried these yet, but it’s a mix that you can pour in yogurt or enjoy on its own. Sounds like it will be yummy!
  • Project 7 Save Mints – I got mints from this brand in a PopSugar box and loved them! The packaging is so cute, and the mints taste really good. I was happy to get another tube.
  • Aunt Sally’s Creamy Original Pralines – Oh my! This is so delicious! I am thinking I need more of these because it was that good.

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  • Rip van Wafels Caramel Filled Amsterdam Wafel – Yum! These little wafels can be placed over a hot beverage like tea so it gets soft to eat. I loved this so much!
  • Dizzy Pig Dizzy Dust – Unfortunately this is the one product that is not for me since I don’t eat meat and this is a dry rub. It says you can use it as a spice packet in general, but it’s not really my thing.
  • Harvest Snaps Snapea Crips – I love these as well! I’ve tried them before, and I already repurchased two bags of these. I highly recommend them.

IMG_2985Last but least is a bag of BOPS Sea Salt Crisps. These were good, too, but I don’t think I would repurchase them. I prefer other chips better!

All in all, I did enjoy this box and the great customer service I received from Love With Food. I never got to try the salsa after all, because that wasn’t included in my replacement. While I do love this program, and think it’s fun to get these goodies every month, as of right now I did cancel my subscription for financial reasons. If you can afford the $10-12 per month, I do highly recommend the service. I will definitely consider joining again when I have the money! If you’d like to join, use code FBGIFT at checkout and your first month will be just $2! You can join Love With Food HERE.

 

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

 

 

Subscription Sunday | My September Julep Maven Box

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Subscription Sunday! As you may know, I love Julep nail polish. Julep was the first subscription service I ever joined, and it is still one of my favorites. One of the program’s best features is being able to skip any month without having to cancel your subscription. I ended up skipping both July and August to make more room in my budget, but I went for the September box, and I was so excited to get it in the mail! Let me show you everything that was inside.

IMG_2911As always, my Julep Maven Box was packaged quite nicely. I did notice there was no informational card like there usually is, but I still got the quote that matches up with this month’s theme, the Cityscape Collection. I went with my signature style, Classic with a Twist, which included two nail polishes and the Bare Face Cleansing Oil. As a little bonus, Julep added a nail polish remover pad.

IMG_2912Julep’s nail polishes also got a new look! I think the new packaging sure is cute, but a little unnecessary in the long run. I’ll be putting these in the recycling bin!

IMG_2914 IMG_2915Florence is the first nail polish from my September box, and is a nude creme. The formula was a bit streaky, but Florence is opaque in two coats. This is really the perfect neutral color, especially for my skin tone. If you want to simply look polished and professional, Florence is the way to go!

IMG_2919 IMG_2923The other polish I got is Padma, a deep purple creme. Padma is a dream polish! It has a one coat formula and the color is just stunning. This polish is super pigmented, and almost looks black. Padma is just perfect for when you want a dark color. I was surprised how much I loved it!

All in all, I’m really happy with my September Julep Maven Box! I can’t wait to try out the Bare Face Cleansing Oil as well. For $19.95 per month, Julep is a great bargain. Plus, Maven subscribers get special discounts and other goodies, and can skip or cancel at any time. If you’re not a member yet, be sure to join HERE and get your first month for free with code FREEBOX at checkout (you just pay shipping).  Be sure to let me know what you think of Julep in the comments below!

 

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

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