Spoilers were leaked early on this box, so I've known what was in it for a very long time. Now I can actually use the things I've been drooling over for so long!
First Look
Nature Box PopSugar Must Have Mix ($4) I think it's super cool that Nature Box custom made a mix for PopSugar subscribers. But the contents? Bleh. The almonds and cranberries are okay; corn and soybeans not so much. This is just not my kind of snack mix.
Why couldn't they have sent some of their banana bread granola, pistachio clusters, or sourdough cheddar pretzels? Lots of Nature Box snacks sound good, and you can get 50% off your first box with the code POPSUGAR. I don't think I'll be subscribing because Nature Box doesn't allow you to cancel or skip the month unless you call in. It's my belief that if I can sign up quickly and easily online, I should be able to cancel just as easily. I might get one of those prepaid Visa cards to test this subscription out without the commitment.
Fresh Pastry Stand Tea Towels in Totally Awesome ($18) This is super cool. These tea towels are from an Etsy store. Etsy! I have no idea how they produced so many towels, but I hope we get more of this sort of stuff in the future. I'm not a huge fan of the "Totally Awesome" print, especially considering all the other cute vintage patterns in their shop, but I'm happy to see a home item being featured. Totally useful (and awesome). I am very tempted to get some of their nautical and/or cat print towels.
Graphic Image Run the World Pocket Notes ($20) I don't think I've ever owned such a fancy notebook, and I'm loving it! This is a gorgeous purpley blue shade, and the cover is leather. The sides are embossed with silver. I'm in grad school, so anything for note-taking is great, and I love that this will easily fit in my purse.
Caldrea Hand Soap in Rosewater Driftwood ($10.50) I wanted to open this up right away, but I made myself wait since I have plenty of hand soap in use right now. The scent sounds amazing though. I'm usually not big on florals, but I think the driftwood (it's supposed to be a cedar-like smell) will really balance it out nicely. I'm moving this right to the front of my hand soap line. The fact that I have a "hand soap line" means I probably buy too much hand soap, but I use soap all the time so I like to stock up on quality products!
Too Faced Natural Eyes Palette ($36) This is easily the centerpiece of the box. Look at these amazing shades! I have Naked 2 but I'm still very excited to try this out. I've never gotten to try any Too Faced products and this is the perfect start. Love this, especially since the main shades are in much bigger pans! I'm going to have this palette for a very long time.
Blue Avocado Collapsible Tote Bag ($24.99) Okay, so I thought I would never be able to fit this back in the tiny little pouch once I opened it up, but it actually was super easy! The pouch itself is also the (sturdy) bottom of the bag, so I won't have to worry about losing it. I LOVE the print and the color scheme is great too. I don't use reusable bags when I go shopping much since I like to re-use bags for my bathroom trash can, but I can totally see this as an overnight bag.
There you have it, folks! Aside from that snack mix (that's going to my roommate), everything is going to be well loved. This is definitely one of my favorite PopSugar boxes to date. I really hope PopSugar continues in this direction. If you want to use my referral link, click here. Don't forget to use the code REFER5 to get $5 off your first box.
I just got my box today, and I have to say, I love it. It's one of their lighter ones, but in my opinion one of the better boxes we've gotten overall.
The Full Box
Blue Ikat Brokedown Scarf ($72) This scarf was revealed before boxes shipped. This is pretty much unheard of for PopSugar. They are usually very good about keeping box contents under wraps. We got a scarf from Brokedown in September 2012 (my very first box) and this one is just as gorgeous. Brokedown scarves are super soft, and nice and light so they are good for spring and fall. I love the pattern too! Not only is it a gorgeous high-quality scarf, it's an exclusive for PopSugar subscribers. This alone makes the box worthwhile!
Baublebar Elephant Ring Tree ($12) Oh my gosh, isn't this adorable? I have been accumulating rings lately and I have nowhere to store them. This is cute and definitely something I need.
Jurlique Advanced Serum ($27) I haven't tried this yet. Frankly, skin care is not my thing, especially moisturizing skin care, but I can see why this would be an awesome thing for most subscribers.
Dogeared Lucky Horseshoe Necklace ($26) I have wanted one of these necklaces forever. Basically, the premise is that you make a wish as you put the necklace on. Once the string wears enough for the necklace to fall off, your wish will come true. Cheesy concept but I think these are so delicate and cute. I just can't justify paying so much for something that is designed to break. I wish this was silver instead of gold, but I can't exactly expect anything else from PopSugar. They almost never send out silver jewelry.
ActiveForever Mini Fitness Fusion Ball ($9.95) I'm really not sure how to use this, but the information card directs subscribers to the PopSugar blog. I would rather get something like resistance bands, but I don't have one of these yet so it might be a fun addition to my fitness routine.
Snapea Crisps ($2) I've had these before and just...nope. Don't like them. I don't like vegetables with strange textures for the most part. Luckily I have a more adventurous roommate who was happy to snap these up (no pun intended).
Nature's Bakery Strawberry Fig Bar ($1) I have had these before too. They're okay. The bready coating on them is a little thick for my tastes. I think I prefer Fig Newtons but I would guess that they aren't as healthy.
This month's box was amazing! I highly recommend a PopSugar subscription if you're looking for a monthly pick-me-up. It's definitely my favorite non-beauty box. Click here to sign up and check it out for yourself!
I got this PopSugar box in the mail a couple of weeks ago, but I had to wait until Christmas to open it, so now I'm finally ready to share what I got! Each item comes individually wrapped which makes it extra fun to open.
Fatty Sundays Dark Chocolate Peppermint Crunch Pretzels ($6.95) I got a toffee pretzel sample from this company last month in my Birchbox, but it was obliterated since that box also included a can of hairspray. I was happy to get to actually try this brand this time around. I like the product, but the "peppermint crunch" part was actually not my favorite. I like peppermint bark on its own, but with the salty pretzel it was just a weird kind of toothpastey combination. Not great, but I really would love to try their banana cream or orange cookie (or just plain old chocolate) flavors.
Graphic Image 2014 Metallic Datebook ($70) I love the idea of this, and the silver color is gorgeous. Unfortunately, I use my computer/phone/tablet to keep track of my schedule, so this isn't a very useful item for me. I will be passing this along to a friend that prefers good old fashioned paper.
Winks by Georgie No. 3 'La Starlette' Compact ($28) I have never even heard of these, but they are so fancy!! They come in their own special compact so that you have someplace to store the glue and lashes since they are reusable. I try falsies every once in awhile and have never been able to make them work very well, but I am going to watch a bunch of Youtube tutorials and really try to do it right this time around. I think I might try to wear them for New Years Eve since I got the most dramatic variation (others got No. 1 and No. 2).
Erickson Beamon Rocks Hinge Bracelet (~$70) This isn't for sale anywhere, so this is a best guess based on the price of similar pieces from this brand. You put it on with a hinge instead of as a more traditional cuff or chain. I love the hinge since it makes it super easy to take on and off, but it's not at all adjustable. Since I have a pretty small wrist, this makes it pretty big and clunky. It is also way too formal for every day, which I like because I would never buy something like this for myself, but I dislike because I don't know where I will be able to use it.
Lunares Cheese Paddle with Knife ($69) I am using the picture from the Lunares site, because I think it does a better job than I could. I'm not sure how I would take a decent picture of it given that the surface is so reflective. Anyway, the handle on mine is a bright navy blue color. This is cute, but I would have preferred pretty much any other home item. I don't do a lot of entertaining, and neither do any of my friends, so this is just going to sit around collecting dust. This is the only item in this box that really disappoints me.
TokyoMilk Body Souffle in Chance ($40) This is amazing! You can't tell from the picture, but this has the coolest twist off top, and the packaging itself is just gorgeous. It smells great but isn't too strong; it is a blend of orange, apricot, and ginger scents. It is a nice thick whipped texture and soaks into my skin quickly and easily. I love it! I would never have spent $40 on this sight unseen so this was a great discovery.
Cuyana Alpaca Infinity Scarf ($65) I swiped this picture from the Cuyana scarf (so image credit goes to them) because, again, my photos couldn't do it justice. I love the color, and I love infinity scarves. The only problem is that this is made of alpaca, which means it's dry clean only. And there's no way I'm taking this to the dry cleaner, so I really don't know how I am supposed to wear it and keep it clean. So disappointing, since I love infinity scarves so much. I would have preferred a less fancy but washable scarf with another small food item. (Maybe some of that ChipZelPop stuff that the men's holiday box got this year?)
Overall, a couple of items were duds, but I loved this box! It is so much better than last year's luxury edition box. Keep it up, PopSugar! This box was $100, and is long sold out, but you can still subscribe to PopSugar's monthly box. Click here and use the code 3FOR2 to get a three month subscription for just $79.85! This code just came out today, but I'm not sure how long it will stay valid, so don't wait if you have been thinking about a subscription. It's one of the best codes they have had!
PopSugar is always one of my favorite subscriptions every month. It costs $40/month, but I got this one for about $31 before their recent price increase.
NCLA Nail Wraps in Peppermint Lane ($16) I think these are adorable! I probably won't have a chance to use them before Christmas, but luckily they will be great year-round. I am thinking they would work well for Valentine's Day or the 4th of July too. I never buy nail wraps because they are a little pricey and I have tons of polish, so I like getting them in boxes.
ModelCo Fibre LashXtend Mascara ($20) I got this product in my Birchbox a long time ago and it really didn't work well for me. It tinted my lashes black after a few coats, but the formula was extremely dry and it didn't lengthen or volumize much. I might try it out a second time in case the one I got was dried out.
Govino Champagne Flutes ($12.95) These are plastic, and while they are technically reusable, they are hand wash only. Which...can't you hand wash any plastic cup? I'm not sure what makes these special, except that they are prettier. I do think this was a nice seasonal item since New Years is coming up.
Mixt Studio Holiday Gifting Set ($9) This set comes with three wrapping paper sheets, twine, and gift tags. I won't use the twine or the tags (my cat likes the twine), but I used the paper last night and it was great! It is more of a newspaper-like material than most wrapping papers, which gave the gifts I wrapped a really cute, rustic look. Love it! The snowflake pattern was especially pretty.
Lulu Frost for PopSugar Bracelet ($110) I am not a fan of this bracelet for a variety of reasons. I dislike the two tone effect. The charm is heavy and clunky and looks weird on the wrist. The other side of the charm has a PopSugar insignia on it, and given the way the charm dangles it is pretty visible. I might have to take the charm off and make a necklace with it by adding it to a chain. I do like the charm itself and if it were a necklace it would lie flat and hide the logo on the back. I definitely do not think this item is worth the inflated $110 price tag.
Overall, this is a decent box from PopSugar. It has a whopping $180 value, but that's mostly due to the inflated cost of the Lulu Frost bracelet that I likely won't wear. I appreciate the festive feeling, and I will be able to use most of the items, but I don't think any of the items were really a "must have." I am still happy with the value for what I paid, though. If you want to subscribe using my referral code (and I highly recommend it!), click here.
Finally, the snuggly box I have been waiting for has arrived!
BareFruit Sea Salt Caramel Apple Chips ($2.34) This is the third time I have gotten this brand of apple chips in my subscriptions, and PopSugar just sent out apple chips a couple months back. Send me baking mixes or chocolate, please! That being said, I'll eat these. I'm just not excited by them.
Maison de Monaco Strawberry & Blackcurrant Cream Preserves ($6) I am kind of scared of this. I am not sure what blackcurrant tastes like, and the "cream" aspect worries me as well. I am not even much of a jam person, but I will try this since it was sent. Definitely not something I am thrilled by but maybe it will end up being my new favorite product ever?
Illume Candle in "Nice" ($15.75) I was hoping to get this in the "Naughty" variation, but I like the scent of "Nice." It is supposed to smell kind of coconutty but I just smell a fairly generic vanilla. The coconut may come out more when it's lit.
Lands End Canvas Wine Tote ($14.50) The purpose of a wine tote is to use it to carry bottles of wine into restaurants, as a hostess gift to other people's homes, on a picnic, etc. I am not classy enough for any of these uses, so I'm going to use it to store extra plastic grocery bags for my bathroom garbage can. Hey, at least I can use it for something!
Michael Stars Folk Art Wrap ($42) I love this, except the print is only on one side. It looks extremely awkward tied around your neck. You can even see what I'm talking about if you look at the site images. Disappointing! This is also supposedly dry clean only. I'm not going to abide by that, though...I will try putting it in a lingerie bag on a delicate cycle to wash then hanging it to dry.
Absolute Nail Polish Remover Pads in Spring Fresh ($2) I tried these out, and they only sort of worked. I think that was more due to the fact that I was wearing an OPI Liquid Sand polish though; I will try them out again on a "normal" polish and hopefully they will work better.
The Soap & Paper Factory Shea Butter Soap in Roland Pine ($8) This smells like a Christmas tree, and I love it! I am totally curious about the shea butter in this too. I will definitely put this to good use!
The box also included a $30 CanvasPop "gift card," but the card requires users to spend money and is the same value as other coupons already out there, so I'm not going to count it as an item.
This box is about a $90 value. I'm happy with it, particularly since I have been wanting a candle/soap/scarf box for a long time, but it is on the lower side of the value spectrum for them, particularly with the price increase that just went into effect. I think one more item (or a more expensive food item/scarf) would have really knocked this out of the park for me. Still, I can't wait till next month! To sign up for your own subscription, click here.
Hooray, my PopSugar arrived bright and early this month!
I don't usually do full box photos, but here's my attempt!
Julep Freedom Topcoat ($18) and Julep Nail Color in Char ($14) Since Julep is another subscription service, I already have plenty of products from them. I have never tried their top coat though, and I can always use more of those. Char is a gorgeous color, kind of a deep cobalt, and I definitely have nothing like it. I am happy with these!
The Can't Cook Book ($16.78) This is clever in premise, though in flipping through it I didn't see a ton that caught my eye. There was a lot of meat and fish and a lot of stuff I would call "weird hippie food" too (i.e. quinoa salad). I do like that it has a lot of pictures and the recipes are fairly simple, but it bothered me that the table of contents didn't list recipe categories. The coolest thing about this is that it just came out this week. Not a great item, but not a terrible one either. Not something I could exactly gift, though...unless I feel like insulting the recipient.
Jane Tran Bobby Pins ($12) Okay, so I don't know what on earth happened with these. I swear I took a picture with these and the brush, and it totally disappeared! I already gave these away, but they were pretty. Two navy, two grey, and two green. I just can't use bobby pins for some reason. Every time I put them in my hair they end up looking crazy and I get hair ripped out even when I try to be careful. So, these went to a friend. They were nice but I wish they were barrettes. By the way, these are pictured in the full box photo, along with the hair brush.
The Wet Brush ($7.19) This is the other item in the photo that mysteriously vanished. Sorry, guys. I really missed the boat on that one! This brush is supposed to detangle wet hair easier. I tried it tonight, and it did indeed glide smoothly over my hair, but it wasn't that much different. For some reason it seemed like the bristles were more flexible than most? I still think this is a fun and interesting item to include, even if it's not exactly revolutionary. Next, send me a rapid ramen cooker! (I just got one after I saw it on Shark Tank...totally a Must Have to me!)
Stitch Fix "Gift Card" ($20) I don't think I can even really count this as an item. Stitch Fix is a service that sends you a bunch of clothing items, then you send back the ones you don't want (and keep whatever you do, which you are then charged for). Great, except the gift card is only $20 and items average $60. I'm not sure if it's worth trying out in the hopes I might get a lower priced item.
NYX Smokey Eye Shadow Palette ($7) this really doesn't excite me. I hardly ever use eyeshadows, and most of these shades are too dark for regular use. NYX is fine in an Ipsy bag, but not my PopSugar!
NYX Liquid Brown Liner ($6) This doesn't thrill me either, but I don't have any brown liner right now, so at least I can use it. I'm going to be a deer for Halloween so maybe this will help with that, too!
Halloween CrispyCake from The Crispery ($3.95) Yum! I love rice krispie treats! This one was extra marshmallow-ey. I love this item for Halloween.
Bali Bead Bracelet This is another Gorjana item, and honestly? I don't think the $45 value is anywhere near accurate. $15, maybe, but this is literally just thread and beads. I think I would like this much, much more if it wasn't the atrocious highlighter pink color. The pink is supposed to be for breast cancer awareness month, but something softer would have been appreciated.
All in all, not my favorite box, but not the worst one either. I am a little miffed at where all the seasonal items are...and no, I don't consider breast cancer awareness "seasonal." I want hats and scarves and candles and novels and movies and cider! Where are all these things? In the November box, I hope!
PSA: PopSugar boxes are INCREASING IN PRICE. They will be $39.99 starting in November, but you can get them for much cheaper now. So if you were thinking about investing in a long term subscription, do it!! Use REFER5 to save $5 off your first subscription. Click here to use my referral link (pretty please)!
I am finally getting around to this month's review. I got my box way later than usual this month for some reason and only just got it a few days ago. At least that means October's box is right around the corner! Onto the items.
P.S. You're Invited DIY Book ($17.59) I am so not a DIY-er. I live in an apartment, not a house, and I am just too busy a person to be so crafty! I am bummed that this wasn't a different kind of non-fiction book. Even a cookbook would have been better. Not to mention, some of the projects in here are just plain tacky. One of them is using stickers to decorate a coffee table. Really? Stickers??
Rifle Paper Co. Coaster Set ($16) These coasters are downright adorable! Unfortunately they are made of pulp board, which is a fancy word for cardboard, and those don't stand up to condensation too well over time. I would have liked something sturdier but I love the designs.
Sharkies Energy Chews ($1.48)These are kind of a weird food item. I will try them out for my next workout though, and I'm happy to get watermelon flavor.
That's It Bar ($1.67) I am curious to see how this tastes with so few ingredients. Very few nutrition bars are exciting enough to really thrill me, though.
Shoptiques Gift Card ($25) You still have to spend money to use this gift card (almost no items cost less than $25 on the site) and shipping is pretty expensive, so I am pretty bummed to see this item. Items that require you to spend more money don't count in my opinion.
Kitsch Headband Set ($11.99) These are super cute, but I just do not look good in headbands. I'd say I could use these to wash my face, but, really, I already have about a dozen headbands for just that purpose. I can see where someone would love them...I am just not that someone.
Barr-Co. Reed Diffuser ($45) I love, love, love the scent of this and it currently resides in my bathroom. It's a great warm vanilla scent that is perfect for fall. It isn't as fragrant as I would like but I will overlook that because it smells so good. I would never pay so much for a diffuser, but that's kinda part of the fun.
All in all, not a very good box for me, especially since I was expecting something great for fall. I still love the surprises PopSugar gives me every month, though, and the diffuser was an unexpected favorite. To get your own subscription using my referral code, click here. Save $5 off your first box by using the code REFER5.
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!
