Goodies.co Review August 2013

This box arrived just a couple of days after I left for vacation, so I am way behind on reviewing it, but I wanted to make sure I did eventually. This is kind of a quick and dirty review, but I don't think this box warrants anything too in-depth anyway.

The Daily Crave Veggie Chips Hmm...veggie chips? You're really testing my limits, Goodies. The only veggies I want in my chips are potatoes and corn. I will pass these along to a hippie friend of mine.

Poplets I tried these..any they are exactly what they seem like. They are slightly more popped versions of the old maids at the bottom of your popcorn. They are break-your-teeth level crunchy, and not in a good way. I ate a few and threw them out. Yuck.

Cosomi Cookie Crackers I actually loved these. They had a light, crispy texture and were coconutty and salty and sesame flavored all at the same time. I don't know if I would buy them but I definitely would eat them again. The highlight of the box (but that's not saying much).

Barnie's Coffee Kitchen Liquid Coffee Brewstick I'm not a coffee drinker, so this is a bust. This will go to one of my coffee loving friends.

Tangy Zangy Twisties These were good! Kind of like sour straws. The package of them was teeny though. Maybe half a serving worth.

Refresh Alo Drink So...this is a beverage with aloe vera, cucumber, and cantelope. Chunks of all of them apparently. I'm a little worried. I will try this on the off chance it's good but I totally expect it to be disgusting.

I am pretty disappointed with this month's Goodies box, and I haven't been particularly impressed with them lately. I'm thinking it might be time to cancel, or at least switch to the kid's sub. Sad, because they used to be so great!

Ellie Fit Fashionista Review August 2013

I've always drooled over the Ellie Fit Fashionista workout clothes, but their subscription is $49.95/month and requires calling in to cancel or skip a month. I hate companies that make you call to discontinue your subscription, so I'm always wary about subscribing. However, they have adorable workout clothes that I've heard are really high quality in a variety of colors and styles.

Lucky for me, Ellie recently had a Back to School sale, meaning that all their regularly priced items were on sale for $25, and I didn't even have to commit to a subscription! I had an extra coupon, so, when all was said and done (shipping and tax) I ended up paying $47.15 for two items. Not only that, but Ellie is on Ebates, meaning I got another $6 cash back! I just couldn't pass that kind of deal up, especially since I've been meaning to try Ellie out forever. By the way, each month of the subscription comes with two items that you get to pick out yourself.

Oliver was VERY excited about this package. Every time I tried to drag him away to take pictures, he would come right back! So, sorry, but he's in a couple of photos this time instead of just one. He is definitely a fan of Ellie! Anyway, I took this photo to show you the packaging it comes in. It's basically a mega-sized Ipsy mailer. I like that, though. The less boxes I have to deal with, the better!

The Ellie envelope next to a normal Ipsy one. They're exactly the same, except for the size of course. They must get their bubble mailers from the same manufacturer.

Sail Away Tank ($69.95 Value) This is a great color, kind of somewhere between purple and cobalt blue. I really like the angled black and grey pieces too. The back is a racerback and has a cutout. This was tight, but it's a workout outfit, so it fit like it was supposed to, and I would say that both pieces were true to size. The top has a built in bra, though I think I still will need to wear another bra underneath unless I'm feeling particularly daring some day.

Nightfall Leggings ($74.95 Value) These are awesome leggings. I love the charcoal color, and the blue/purple seams give a nice nod to the top without being too matchy. I could totally see myself wearing these with a t-shirt to run errands on lazy days too. (I could see wearing the top with black exercise shorts as well for working out or sleep.)

I swiped this image from the Ellie site in case anyone was interested in how the pieces look together.

Both items seem to be extremely high quality and perfect for working out. The material reminds me of a high quality swimsuit, and I imagine it will be moisture-wicking during exercise. Love it! I got $144.90 worth of clothing for about $45, so I definitely can see the value aspect of this subscription. Click here to use my referral link to sign up for a subscription.

KlutchClub Review August 2013

August marks my third (and final) month with KlutchClub. Subscriptions are $18/month, and KlutchClub offer boxes specifically curated for women, men, and moms.

Penta Ultra-Purified Water ($1.46) Penta water is "ultra purified," and it goes through an 11 hour, 13 step filtration process. While I appreciate purified water, I don't think I need my water to be quite that pure. I'm a little miffed that they'd include water in this box (really? just water?), but after the nasty tea drink they included in my June box, I won't complain. At least this will be appreciated!

Organic Meets Good Antioxidant Powder ($1.46) At first I thought this was tea, since it says "green tea" right on the label. Upon further inspection, though, this is actually antioxidant powder that you can add to yogurt or smoothies to up your intake. I think this will go to one of my health nut friends. And yes, this product is valued at $1.46 as well as the water bottle--I triple checked!

Annie Chun's Roasted Seaweed Snacks in Sesame ($2.24) Seaweed? Again? No!! I am haunted by seaweed in all my subscription boxes. It's just not my thing. Luckily I have some friends that like it, but they are probably getting overwhelmed with all the seaweed I've been foisting on them recently.

Fig Bar in Whole Wheat Blueberry ($.75) I tried this in my July Love with Food box, except in the strawberry flavor. It wasn't terrible, but it wasn't my favorite either. It was basically a thicker, healthier version of a Fig Newton. Fig Newtons are hearty enough as is, so I didn't really appreciate the denseness, but if I was really famished I would probably appreciate it. At least I'll eat it, though! (I'm looking at you, seaweed...)

Juice Beauty Oil-Free Moisturizer ($7) I still have teenager-like skin--oily, especially in my t-zone, and acne prone. So, really, the last thing I need is a moisturizer. I got this in a full size in a PopSugar box a few months back, and I passed it along to my mom since I almost never use moisturizers and that's one of the few items she does use. I decided to try this smaller sized sample out, though.

This was relatively well-received in the PopSugar box, though everyone commented on the scent. It smells like lemon cleaning products. Not lemon, not citrus, but very specifically like cleaning products. Sort of like Pledge or Mr. Clean I guess. I can't say I hate the smell, but I literally felt like I smeared some furniture polish all over my face. My skin didn't seem to absorb it very well either. I didn't apply much, but what I did apply stuck around on the surface in a pastey sort of way, and I had to wipe most of it off. Not to mention, this little half full tube has a $7 valuation. Expensive! It was okay after it soaked in, though not something I would seek out.

PopChips Nacho Cheese Tortilla Chips ($.40) If you can't tell from the photo, this is a tiny bag--less than half the size of the normal PopChip single serve bags. Usable, and healthier than Doritos, but nothing exciting.

Puracyn Wound Spray ($4.94) This is kind of a nifty product. From the sounds of it, you clean wounds with it before bandaging them to prevent infection. Not something I'd normally buy, but in this case that's a good thing. I don't anticipate lots of wounds in my future (this would be better if I had kids that got regular cuts and scrapes), but the next time I get a cut I'll be prepared!

This box ended up being valued at $18.25. So, basically, breaking even. I'm okay with breaking even if I like and will use everything I receive, but in this case I only will use about half the products, and even of those, there are none I'm super pumped about. With this box you're essentially paying for the curation, but I don't think I'm granola enough for KlutchClub. I really wish I was, but I think Bulu Box might be more my speed in terms of healthy subscriptions. I don't quite hate it, but I'm very happy to let my subscription run out. This is not one I'll be missing.

Birchbox Review August 2013 (Box 41)

I already reviewed my own box, but I get a second one too. Well, kind of. Technically, it's my mom's, but she's picky about what products she uses, so a lot of the stuff she won't use goes to me. So it's "our" box. This is her first regular month, and I was shocked that she got two of the same items I got this month and one of the ones I got last month. With dozens of variations I was not expecting that!

As usual, Oliver was a little over-eager to offer his modeling services...

Miss Jessie's Super Slip Sudsy Shampoo ($.81) This is probably a great product, but a foil packet? No conditioner packet to go with it? Meh. I could get this for free from the website.

No. 4 Super Comb Prep & Protect (~$7.10) I got this back in July but I've been saving it for my trip to Vegas next month. I love hair protector products though since I flat iron my hair almost every day.

Jasmine Seven Fresh Feet Wipes ($.66) These are kind of weird, since normal wet wipes are great for cleaning feet too, and way cheaper. But these will definitely get used, I just probably wouldn't purchase them.

Dr. Jart BB+ Cream ($4.42) This is definitely a product that is well suited to my mom, so she'll totally be keeping it. I don't have clear enough skin to really appreciate BB cream, but she'll love it.

ModelCo Party Proof Matte Lipstick in Kitty ($8) I got this exact same lipstick in my Birchbox, so I gave the extra to my roommate. My mom doesn't wear lipstick, so I definitely didn't need two of the same shade.

This box was worth about $21. Not bad, but not as good as Birchbox usually is. Still, the items this month were pretty usable. If you'd like to sign up for Birchbox using my referral link, click here!

Love with Food Review August 2013

This month's theme was Backyard BBQ. Sounds good to me!

Lightly Salted Snapea Crisps These are a little on the weird side for me, and they don't really fit the theme, but I guess they're pretty summery. My roommate will eat these.

Bops Potato Crisps in Sea Salt These were just okay. Definitely edible, but nothing special. I would rather have Lay's or Pringles, but the packaging is cute!

El Pinto All Natural Medium Salsa This cup is perfect for a single serving of chips and salsa. Can't wait to try it!

Aunt Sally's Creamy Pralines I wanted to like these, I really did. And they were pretty good, just not as amazing as I hoped. That being said, I'm not opposed to trying more flavors. You hear that, Love with Food?? Especially the chocolate kind!

Sahale Crunchers, Fruit and Almond Snack This was okay, good for a fairly healthy snack. I probably wouldn't buy them on my own, though. I'm just not as into almonds as I am into walnuts, pecans, cashews, etc.

Rap van Wafels Amsterdam Wafel I got one of these in my Goodies box, and I liked it, but I regretted not putting it on top of a mug with a hot beverage to melt the caramel. I'm so happy to get a do-over! I think hot apple cider would be a good compliment.

Dizzy Pig Dizzy Dust I'm always happy to try seasoning, although I don't prepare meats much. I will find something to use this for, though. I love the name!

Project 7 Mints I got these in a PopSugar box and I love them. They're not very minty for being mints, but sometimes that's a good thing. They're nice and sweet and perfect for freshening breath. The test tube type package is really fun, too. I'm a big fan. Oh, and they fund food and water projects for underdeveloped countries. This one is a winner!

This was probably one of my favorite Love with Food boxes so far. If there's only one 'loser' in the box, I'm definitely happy! If you want to subscribe to Love with Food, click here to use my referral link.

Birchbox Review August 2013 (Box 9)

This month's theme was "Finishing School"--not so different from Ipsy's "Glamour Academy," but I guess it's back to school time so it's kind of appropriate. Oddly enough, Birchbox sampled Cailyn liner and Coastal Scents eyeshadow this month, which have previously appeared in Ipsy bags. Interesting.

Ahmad Tea ($.35) Um...Birchbox, really? Tea? And tea in August nevertheless?? Super unhappy to get tea. Oh, well, this will go directly to my roommate.

Juice Beauty Green Apple Peel ($4.88) I'm really excited to try this mask. It seems like a decent size too, definitely enough for more than one use.

Dreams Nail Lacquer Calcium Base Coat ($5.25) This didn't have the size printed anywhere, but I'm guessing it's about half the regular size. I actually don't have any base coats, and probably don't go through them fast enough to justify purchasing a full size, so this is something I'm really happy to have.

JasmineSeven Fresh Feet Wipes ($.66) I'm glad this included two since I was kind of expecting just one. I will totally use them, since I wet wipe my feet regularly, but foot specific wipes is kind of silly to me.

 ModelCo Party Proof Matte Lipstick in Kitty ($8) This is a nice mauvy pink. Unfortunately I have so many lipsticks right now. I only wear it once a week or so, and it seems I collect it way faster than I use it. My mom got this exact same color this month, and she always gives me her extra lipsticks, so this will probably go to a friend. 

$19.14 value this month...not bad, since I only paid $9 for the box (and got $5 back in points), but still, not their brightest month. The tea is really the most offensive of the samples, then the duplicate lipstick is a huge bummer/waste, but neither of those are really the fault of Birchbox. It's still one of my favorite subs around! Click here to sign up via my referral link.

Ipsy Review August 2013

My Ipsy bag for this month arrived today, and I have to say...this is easily the worst bag I've gotten from them. Not entirely unusable, but...definitely not up to their usual standards.

This is the bag this month. I love the colors, but all the text makes it a little too gaudy for me. As you can probably tell, the theme this month is "Glamour Academy."

Noya Lip Balm in Vanilla ($3.99) I can always use lip balms. I have quite the stash, but I seem to lose them pretty frequently, and I like having one in each purse, in the car, by my bed, in my bathroom, etc. So, while this will be used, it's nothing special. Especially because others got Urban Decay lipstick instead. Really? You give me $4 chapstick instead of a brand new Urban Decay product? I usually don't get box envy, but, Ipsy, this is bad! If they had offered another variation product in which the people that got the chapstick got something else higher end I'd be totally happy with it, but...nope. Boo.

Pacifica Alight BB Cream ($5.44) This is another variation item--I could have gotten a Smashbox primer or an eyeshadow, but instead I get this. First of all, I don't use BB creams because they don't provide enough coverage for me. Secondly, this is dark! It's not a matter of color preference (like with lip products), I literally cannot wear this. I indicate being "fair" on my profile, so I'm not sure why I got this since it only comes in a deep medium shade. Useless.

Pixi Lash Booster Mascara in Blackest Black ($7.29) I always love to try new mascaras, though this one has pretty bad reviews. I'll give it a shot, though.

City Color Cheek Stain in Pink ($2.99) I'm not a fan of cream blushes, and this is from a no-name company. I will try it now that I have it, but I'm not exactly excited.

Michael Todd Charcoal Facial Scrub ($5.29) I am definitely excited to try this and the sample size is pretty great.

Even though this month with Ipsy was probably my least favorite ever, I still got $25 worth of product, so Ipsy and I are not going to be breaking up anytime soon. If you are interested in starting a subscription, I still strongly encourage it, and you can click here (warning: referral link) to do so.

My First Sephora Order!

Despite loving beauty products, I really have never shopped much at Sephora. I bought a couple clearance pairs of false eyelashes from them about six months ago in-store, but that's about it. I did finally sign up to be a Beauty Insider, and when I got an email about a "free gift" for my birthday, I just had to go for it. I could have gone into the store and gotten just the birthday gift, but I would have felt really uncomfortable and cheap doing that.

Lash Stash To Go Kit ($25, valued at $51) So this is the "meat and potatoes" of my order. It's $25, and includes 5 deluxe sized mascara samples. But, here's the cool part...you get to try out all the samples, then turn in a voucher to a Sephora store for a full size of the mascara you select. These are super high end, too.

Here's the "Real Birthday Turn-Ons" set. You can get one of these 14 days before or after your birthday. They also have Jack Black shave cream for men.

I couldn't find sizes a price breakdown of the Sephora "free gift" anywhere, so here it is if you're curious like I was.
They're Real! Deluxe Sample; .1 oz (full size is .3 oz) $7.67 value
Watt's Up! Deluxe Sample; .08 oz (full size is .33 oz) $7.27 value

You get three free samples with every order, and I was a little curious about this one. I like how it has cleanser, exfoliator, and moisturizer all in one sample.

I always use shampoo and conditioner samples when I travel (better than hotel shampoo and way easier to pack), so I figured this should be my second sample.

For my last sample I decided to be sort of boring and go for a Tocca perfume sample. Of course, right after I placed my order, the samples changed and they're much more desirable now. But I had been waiting for a long time to order already, hoping they would get better, and they just kept getting worse. Boo! Either way, I actually love this perfume, though it isn't exactly what I'd call long lasting.

This was the star of the show for me...it was HUGE. I used a coupon code (YOURGIFT, I think it's still active) for a deluxe sample of Murad cleanser, but I had no idea it would be so deluxe! I did a price check and the sample itself is worth $7.70! I never have small enough cleansers to travel on a plane, so I'm thrilled about this.

Anyway, if you're thinking of placing an order at Sephora, now is the time! They're offering 2x rewards points on all orders, plus you can get 8% cash back through Ebates, plus three free samples (and they have really great ones right now too), plus an additional deluxe sample if you spend $25. If you've been hesitating, go for it! I didn't spend much but I felt like the freebies made it well worth it.

PopSugar Must Have Review August 2013

I got my PopSugar box in today, and I must say, it's one of my favorites! I love fall, and I was happy to see that PopSugar is embracing it as well.

First Look

Bentgo All-In-One Stackable Lunch Box ($14.99) I love this! I have a lunch box, but I don't have much tupperware, so this will be perfect for packing things for work, class, and travel. I could even see myself using the bowl portion for snacks around the house. I like the purple color too; I was hoping I wouldn't get green, and my wish was granted!

NatureBox Dried Granny Smith Apples ($4) There have been mixed reviews on these, so I'm a little scared to try them. I'll give them a shot, though!

Lulah Body Wash in Tamarind Ginger ($11.25) I acquired a huge amount of body wash a few months ago (I got a couple huge bottles to review right after I bought a couple large bottles, and I'm still trying to get through my stash of soap), so I will have to save this for when I can whittle down my stash a little bit. I'm not sure what "Tamarind Ginger" smells like, but I hope I like it! I've never heard of Lulah before, so I'm excited to try something new.

May Designs Planner in "Weekly Agenda" ($15) This is so adorable. Planners are the sort of thing I never buy for myself because it seems like such a wasteful purchase, but I love feeling organized!

This is the view inside the planner. I love the way it's laid out: just enough room to write what you need to. And you write in the week, so if you slack on your planning for a little while, you don't have to waste any pages! In a way, though, I don't like that it doesn't include the dates. I want to know that I have a doctor's appointment on Monday the 17th (or whatever it is), not just "Monday."

Dermalogica Precleanse ($9.50) & Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel ($10) I'm intrigued by the concept of a "precleanse." Dermalogica says that it "melts impurities and make-up from skin." I don't ever have a travel sized cleanser to take with me for travel, so I think I'm going to save this for my trip to Vegas in September. With all the make-up I'm bound to be wearing, the precleanse will come in handy!

Gorjana-Griffin Open Circle Necklace ($65) I love this piece! It's so delicate and neutral, I'll be able to wear it absolutely everywhere. Honestly, to me it doesn't look like it's a $65 necklace, but Gorjana pieces are really high quality, so I have a feeling it won't tarnish or wear like some other jewelry pieces I've owned. The chain is fairly short too (only 17"), so it can be worn with almost any neckline.

Lunares Apple Bowl ($29?) It's hard to put a value on this bowl since it's part of a 7-piece set. But this bowl was on sale for $29 on the same site, so let's go with that! This really doesn't go with my color scheme right now, but maybe I'll pass it on to my mom. If not, I'll save it for when I move into a new apartment in January. It would be a great catch-all for keys/loose change/hair ties/jewelry by the door.

Here's a view from the side. I like that it's silver on the outside!

I love how this box took on a back to school theme, and I'll be able to use every single item. PopSugar has won me over yet again! The September box has already sold out, so apparently a lot of other people feel the same way. If you'd like to sign up for a subscription, click here. They're only $35/month (less if you commit to three months or more). Well worth it!