PopSugar Must Have Review September 2013

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.

Ipsy Review September 2013 ("Classic Beauty")

Before we get into individual items, I took a "group picture" for once! Everything looks so pretty together, but I usually don't have the patience.

This month's theme is "Classic Beauty." Over at Ipsy HQ, that apparently means "snoozefest."

This bag also came with an ad for Ipsy founder Michelle Phan's new makeup line, Em. The ad includes a "life size" representation of one of the palettes, plus small samples you can swatch.

Okay, onto the individual items!

"Classic Beauty" Bag (~$1) The colors this month are so pretty! The pattern is a little busy, but it's one of their better bags in my opinion.

Freeman Beauty Facial Paper Masks ($1.99 each, $5.97 total) These are such a cool idea! I tried the starfruit one, and I liked it, but man, the eye holes are close together! I don't have wide-spaced eyes either, and others had the same complaints, but it was still usable. I do love that they included three to try.

Elizabeth Mott It's So Big Mascara ($8) I have a LOT of mascara all of the sudden, so I'm not going to be trying this one for awhile. I've heard great things, though!

Starlooks Obsidian Kohl Eye Pencil ($12) Ditto for liners. I'm not opening a black liner for a long time, thanks to my Draw the Line set from Sephora!

Nyx Single Eye Shadow in Hot Crystal ($4.50) I was hoping for a neutral shade, and I got one! You can't tell, but there is some really chunky glitter in this stuff. Others that tried it said it got in their eyes and was really irritating, even with a primer. I'll try it out, but I'm a little worried.

Cailyn Tinted Lip Balm in Big Apple ($19) I love Cailyn's gel liner, but I just am not big on lip products. The ones I have will take me ages to get through, and this got so-so reviews. I think the color would wash me out, and I've heard it's drying (so much for a balm), so I don't think this is for me.

$50.47 in product, and I only paid $10 for the bag. Great value! Sadly, nothing in the bag this month really "wow-ed" me or excited me. I think it was the classic theme. I don't need another boring mascara/liner/shadow/lip product, give me something new and fun! Still, for all the fun the spoilers provide, $10 is nothing. Here's to hoping for awesome products next month. If you want to sign up with my referral link, click here!

Goodies.co Review September 2013

This is my third mediocre month with Goodies in a row, and I'm starting to think that even at $7, I should consider canceling. The items haven't been a good fit for me, and they recently changed their points system so that it takes way longer to get rewards. But the price point is so low, I just don't think I can do it! I think I'll be switching over to the kid's subscription to check that out for a bit first.

Onto the box contents:

Mario Pitted Snack Olives I don't eat olives (though I used to...I'm not sure why, but something about them really freaks me out now), so this item isn't very useful for me. I'm sure a friend will be happy to devour them for me.

Zone Perfect Bar in Greek Yogurt Chocolate I'll eat this. It doesn't "wow" me, but at least it's usable! And the Greek yogurt element is kind of unique.

Numi Organics Savory Tea in Fennel Spice There was savory tea in Love with Food this month as well (and Love with Food has already featured savory teas in the past). No more tea, guys! Please!!

BareFruit Crunchy Fuji Red Apple Chips These exact same chips were in Love with Food this month, except theirs were cinnamon flavor. They're okay tasting but they aren't amazing. It is a good item for lunches though so I won't complain too much about getting a duplicate.

Nestle Purelife Bottled Water in Acai Grape Well, first of all, Nestle is a terrible company so I'm not a huge fan of their products. Secondly, this water was really weird. It literally tastes like grape cough syrup plus water. Not tasty at all. I only drank a couple of sips before I had to toss it.

Attiki Honey Well, this is an interesting addition. I used to always have honey on my toast when I was little, so maybe I'll try that again. I don't really use honey much, but I'm sure I'll find a use for it.

Kashi Sundried Tomato, Basil, & Feta Hummus Crisps So...I don't like tomato flavored items much, I don't like feta, and I don't like hummus. Obviously this item was not meant for me, even though I love Kashi. I have a friend that will try these, I'm sure.

Plain and simple, I don't think this box is worth the $7 it cost me. I continue to be disappointed by Goodies, so I think it might be time for us to break up.

Love with Food Review September 2013

This month's Love with Food was a special gluten free theme. Since I love gluten, I wasn't super excited by the theme, but there are lots of awesome things that also don't include gluten, so I was open minded.

Licious Organics Cherry Berry Honey Cookies I fully expect these to be delicious, even if they are gluten, soy, and wheat free. I'm hopeful, at least. They sound like they might be good!

Cosmos Creations Cinnamon Crunch I got these fairly recently, I think in a Goodies box. They're not bad, kind of like dry cinnamon cereal. Not my favorite, but not bad, either!

Wild Garden Hummus Dip, Dip In Pepper & Artichoke Bruschetta Um, both of these items are just not my thing. I am just too darn picky for these boxes sometimes! I will give these to more worldly friends.

Millie's Savory Teas in Spicy Tortilla and Indian Spice Savory tea? No, no, no. Another item I'm totally not feeling. Yuck. I like my tea to be tea and my soup to be soup.

Yum Earth Organics Fruit Snacks I tried these, and they're interesting. Way less gummy than I was expecting, and they have kind of a weird flavor, probably from some of the juices that are included. Edible, but I probably wouldn't subject my kids to them.

BareFruit Cinnamon Apple Chips I don't love apple chips, and I don't hate them. These are a good item for a September box but I'm not particularly excited for them. I got a big bag in last month's PopSugar. One person can only eat so many apple chips!

Good Boy Organics Organicasaurus Cheddar Cheese Corn Snacks So on first glance, I thought these were like organic Goldfish crackers. Now I'm thinking they are more like Cheetos bites. I am hopeful that they will be tasty either way.

This month's box wasn't my favorite or my least favorite, just a middle of the road box. Not bad for being gluten free, either! If you want to take Love with Food for a spin, click here to use my referral link. I love that they donate a meal for every box they send out!

Birchbox Review September 2013 (Box 50)

I tell you how much I love Birchbox every single month, and September is no exception. It's just such a great deal! This month included a Ruffian polish in every box, and it was Birchbox's third anniversary, so the theme was "heritage." Their themes are almost always kind of a stretch, and with so many box variations it's kind of impossible for the items to fit the theme, but whatever. They try.

Davines This is a Sea Salt Spray ($10.80) This is a huge sample! Unfortunately some of it leaked out into the box, but it's almost completely full still. And they weren't kidding about the salt...there is definitely salty residue where it spilled! I'm excited to try this, though I haven't had much luck with salt sprays.

Dr. Lipp Nipple Balm for Lips ($2.90) I'm gonna be honest here. This sample really kind of freaks me out. It's 100% lanolin, which means it's oil from sheep wool. There's nothing wrong with it, and it's supposed to be super moisturizing, so I will try to give this a shot. But it just seems gross to me, and I'm not sure if I will be able to get over it even though I know it's silly.

Mally Beauty Volumizing Mascara ($20) This is full size!! I am so excited to try it out. Of course with the Lash Stash kit from Sephora I won't be opening new mascaras for awhile.

Malin + Goetz Vitamin E Face Moisturizer ($.90) I got two of those little packets, but my face is wayyy too oily for me to really appreciate moisturizer, so I'm glad I didn't get a larger sample.

Ruffian Nail Lacquer in Hedge Fund ($10) This is the color I wanted! It's definitely more like a duotone than I thought; there's a lot of gold-ness that you don't see in photos. Ruffian's Fox Hunt had a lot of staying power and was easy to apply, but I've heard Hedge Fund has kind of a different formula, so I'm excited to compare.

As usual, I am in LOVE with my box. I spent $9, got $5 back in points, and the box is worth $44.60. Insane value!! If you want to sign up via my referral link (and I highly suggest that you do, not just because I get points for it, but because it's an amazing subscription service), click here!

Golden Tote Review September 2013

I splurged big time this month and I got the $149 tote from Golden Tote. I tried out a $49 tote a few months ago, but $149 is crazy for me!! The $149 tote has 6-7 items, and you get to pick out two of them. My tote shipped via UPS and arrived fairly quickly.

By the way, I apologize for the photos in this review. They are not good, I know. Weird angles and shadows and clothes are not friends. Sorry!

All of your items come neatly packed like this in an actual tote. I love the new "Stay Golden" tote that they just released. It is just so cute! Their totes are very high quality.

Harringbone Shell Dress ($88 value) This is one of the items that I chose. I love it just as much in person, although it is a little too form-fitting for my tastes. I still think this will be a great dress for work!

Novelty Knit Dress ($88 Value) This was the second item that I chose. It fits beautifully. The way the waist comes in is extremely flattering.

This is an example of one of the information cards Golden Tote sends out. It's nice that they are so detailed! I got one for each of the items I chose. (This shows the black and white variation for the second dress.)

Sweet Claire Hoodie ($15? Value) This is such an awkward item to me! It's sheer, and it's short sleeved, but it's a hoodie. What? Maybe I can wear it on cool summer nights over sundresses? I don't know. Definitely my least favorite piece of the bunch.

Puella Dress ($88? Value) I was really worried about this one. The waist is pretty low on it so I was worried it would hug me in all the wrong places. But it's surprisingly flattering! The fabric is super soft, and if you can't tell, the neckline has this really cool twisted detail. Not to mention the charcoal color will go with absolutely everything and I like 3/4 sleeves.

Flying Tomato Aztec Sweater ($45? Value) I love this item! It's so cozy and perfect for fall. I am so obsessed with sweaters like this.

POL Black and Grey Cardigan ($35 Value) This is a great neutral piece, but it fits a little weird. Tight in the arms, bunchy and loose in the back. I will still totally wear it, though.

Most of my price estimates were just that--estimates--based on the other items the company has for sale. Still, though, it should be obvious that Golden Tote is an amazing value. What a good way to stock my wardrobe for fall! I highly recommend trying them out, since each purchase is individual and month-by-month (rather than a true subscription model). Certainly a good once or twice a year indulgence!

Birchbox September 2013 Review (Box 7)

This is the box that I share with my mom--I say "share with my mom," because she's really picky about her beauty products, so whatever she doesn't want is passed on to me. I just make sure to review her stuff for points, then hopefully she can buy something she really wants. Anyway, this month was no exception, and I will end up using more of the products than she will.

The Information Card

Sugarbomb Ultra Plush Lip Gloss ($6.93) I am not normally a fan of glosses, but this is supposed to be less sticky than most, so I'm excited to try it. The color is great too and the packaging is adorable. I love Benefit products!

Mereadesso All-In-One Moisturizer ($28) This sample retails for $28! Seriously! My mom will get a kick out of trying such an expensive product ($120 full sized), but I usually wouldn't find moisturizers very exciting.

Ruffian Nail Lacquer in Fox Hunt ($10) This is one of three colors Birchbox sent out this month, and in my opinion the least attractive. Luckily I got a different color (Hedgefund, a gorgeous green) in my other box!

Yes to Blueberries Cleansing Facial Towelettes ($2.13) I am always happy to get makeup remover wipes! I never buy them, but I love to use them when I get them.

Yes to Grapefruit CC Cream ($.25?) Not super thrilled with this sample. Single use? CC cream? Meh, boring. At least we can review it for points.

The value of this box--over $47--is amazing! It's definitely not my favorite Birchbox ever, but it's a great value and most of it will get used. If you want to sign up for a Birchbox of your own ($10/month, $9/month with an annual subscription), click here to use my referral code.

Little Black Bag Review September 2013

I haven't opened a Little Black Bag for awhile, but I found a classic bag I loved, and I just had to go for it. The premise of Little Black Bag is that you get to pick your "big item" and then be surprised by the other items. The good thing is that you get to trade your items. In my case, I got a couple of hideous jewelry items, which I was able to trade for other items of slightly lower retail value. I would rather have items I like than items with a high retail value.

This is the bag I picked out. I took a pretty terrible picture so I'm going to post Little Black Bag's photo as well.

London Fog Knightsbridge Tote ($150) I love all the pockets in this bag, and I needed a classic medium sized black bag. This will be great for winter!

First Aid Beauty Dual Repair Face Cream, Travel Size ($18) This was actually listed as First Aid Beauty Eye Cream in my account. I am so bummed I ended up with a face cream instead! I get so many moisturizers that I was excited for an eye cream for once!

XELA Aroma Linen Classic Candle ($30) This candle smells AMAZING. Hands down the nicest linen scent I have ever smelled. I can't wait to burn it!

Sebastian Shaper ($17) I needed a fancy hair spray, so I'm excited to have been able to trade some of my hideous jewelry for this. Thank goodness!

I paid $75.90 for all the items, including shipping charges and tax. I got $215 worth of stuff, so that's a pretty wonderful deal! If you want to buy your own Little Black Bag under my referral link, click here. You'll get 25% off your first bag!

My Second Sephora Order!

Less than a month after I placed my very first Sephora order ever...and I already have gotten my second. I am a little ashamed but not exactly shocked. It all started with a deal on Groupon--spend $5, get a $10 Sephora gift card. Of course I ended up using it immediately.

One of the things that I find most compelling about Sephora is the free samples, so let's start with those. They always have such good ones!! I'm glad I ordered when I did because now it looks like it's almost entirely foundation and perfume samples.

Sephora Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover ($1.90) I have a similar sample from Birchbox (Lancome's Bi-Facil) and I'm almost out, so this looked like the best deluxe sample for me. Certainly not as good a deal as the Murad cleanser I got last time, but I didn't want to get two of the exact same thing so close together. Besides, eye makeup remover is so boring to buy but so useful, so I'm happy that I got it for free!

Urban Decay Primer Potion Samples ($5, but only because I can't figure out the actual valuation) This doesn't have the ounces marked on it--so annoying! It makes calculating the value pretty much impossible. These are very generous samples of the Original, Eden, Sin, and Anti-Aging formulas. I can probably get 2-3 uses out of each one (the eyelid area isn't exactly huge), but these are foils so it may not be worth trying. A full size of this product is $20 and .37 oz, and honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if the four combined were .37 oz. However, like I said, they're foils, and I can't be sure they're really that much, so I'm just going to value the sample at what I would actually paid. Odds are it's worth quite a bit more. Awesome sample!

Algenist Firming & Lifting Cream ($2.35) I actually didn't order this sample at all, so it was great of them to toss it in! This stuff is pricey, though, so no way would I ever actually order it.

Bumble and Bumble Surf Foam Wash Shampoo ($.68) and Conditioner ($.71) I love shampoo and conditioner samples since they're so handy for travel. I've actually never tried Bumble and Bumble products, so I was intrigued, too. It sounds great for beachy waves!

Givenchy Mister Light Corrective Pen ($47.89) I was hoping this would come in a mini pen, since the full size comes that way. Alas, a foil sample, and it came in a pretty dark shade too, the third darkest. (I guess I was confused by the "light" in the name and there wasn't a shade listed.) Still worth trying, but I might be better off giving it to a friend. The crazy thing about this sample is that the full size is only 1.42 milliliters. The sample? TWO milliliters! Crazy! I assume it's just so pricey because a. it's a Givenchy product, and b. it's in a pen so it is distributed more slowly. I checked my calculations a bunch of times, so...hmm. Wow. I don't even feel like that's an okay valuation, since it's so crazy high. I guess I lowballed the primers, so it evens out, right?

Urban Decay Vintage 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencils (Paid $12, worth $38 retail) Moving onto the real goodies...these are what really pushed me to order. $6 for a $19 Urban Decay product is a steal! I decided to order in Gunmetal (a steely grey) and Binge (a midnight blue). Still neutral and wearable, but something a little different. And for what it's worth, these are the only eye pencils I actually have been able to use so far. They glide on so easily and are nice and pigmented, unlike most eyeliner pencils I've tried! As of right now, these are still on sale, but in less shades. Binge is still there, so if you're interested, jump on that deal ASAP!

Urban Decay Grindhouse ($10) Okay, so this is a little weird, but I actually don't have a sharpener for liners. Or at least I didn't before now. I've been using this sharpener that came as a cap to a pencil liner, but it's definitely not the real deal. This wasn't on sale at $10 full retail, but if it's the only sharpener I'll ever need, it's totally worth it. It's fancy, too! It comes with a tray to catch shavings and a pick (with its own little compartment) to clean out the sharpeners. Beautiful!

Sephora Favorites Draw the Line ($30, $79 retail value) I am pretty sure this is a freshly launched collection, and I was so excited when I saw it. This includes three full size liners and three deluxe samples. I strongly prefer liquid liners (see above), and my mom strongly prefers pencil liners, so I think we'll end up splitting this set. Otherwise I won't be able to get through these for forever! I love eyeliner; cat eye is a staple for me, so I'm excited to try a bunch I've never gotten to try before. I haven't tried any except the Urban Decay and Eyeko ones which I loved.

This order was really liner heavy: who needs EIGHT liners at once? However, eyeliner is one of my favorite makeup items, and these are mostly new for me to try. Besides, like I said, I'll be giving a couple away, so I feel like my purchase was justified. I spent $56.21 with tax and shipping, but I got $5 with my Groupon voucher, and another $1.60 with Ebates, so I actually spent $49.61 out of pocket. Then of course I got Beauty Insider points for the purchase as well.

Final price breakdown? $49.61 paid, ~$185.53 retail value. Amazing deal! I think my addiction has truly begun!