Glossybox - October 2013 - Byrdie Collaboration box

Glossybox has never been known for their punctuality. Boxes are often received the month after the one for which they were intended, shipping notices are often sent out after boxes are received if they are sent out at all. I've grown used to this! So I was beyond surprised when my shipping notice showed up on the 20th, and my box showed up the next day! Good job, Glossybox!

For October, Glossybox teamed up with Byrdie for a collaboration. I had never heard of Byrdie, so when I heard about this collaboration, I checked them out - they're an online magazine about all things beauty. So basically, right up my alley. Glossybox tends to really knock it out of the park when they do a collaboration box, so I was especially excited to see what they'd send!

Instead of the usual light pink box, this month we got a chic dark box with pink writing! I'll admit that when I was unsubbed to Glossybox for a while, one of the things I found myself really missing was the amazing boxes! They're cute and sturdy. This one is no exception.

This month brought 5 items, which are all nice sizes. 

tarte lights, camera, FLASHES statement mascara - This is the star of the box (at least for me). First of all, how cute is that packaging? Instead of a regular tube, it's wrapped in a shiny gold leathery material. The brush is really cool - it has softer bristles on one side and stiffer on the other. I am really impressed with this mascara - it made my lashes look super long and thick, performing possibly a bit better than my favorite, They're Real. This may be on my to-buy list after I work through my giant mascara stash...which might take me 50 years, at this rate...

balance Me shine on tinted lip salve in super soft beige - This is what it sounds like - a soft, glossy lip salve with just a bit of tint. It feels good on (very slick and will be perfect for winter, for me). It has a bit of a medicinal smell, which is expected with the word "salve", in my opinion. I really like this salve, and that the ingredients are all from natural origins. I was a little concerned about the color, as brown shades just aren't "me" and every time I try to use them, I end up looking like I don't know how to neatly eat chocolate, or something.

Happily, it's actually a nice soft sheer beige, with just a hint of color on the lips. I'm happy with it! I actually prefer glossy, thinner products like this to be only slightly tinted, because I find more pigmented ones to be messy.

sesha Renu Exfoliating Gel - This is an enzyme based exfoliator. It's a really cool product! You apply it to your cleansed face, let it sit a minute, then massage it off. It binds with your dead skin and balls up! Sounds gross, but it's kind of addictive. I had a product like this before, and I wish I could remember what it was because I loved it! I'm a sucker for exfoliation and I need to get my hands on more of this.

bvlgari eau parfumée au the vert eau de cologne - This is a unisex fragrance in the citrus family. As well as being citrussy, it also smells a bit green, and I get the green tea notes.  It smells fresh and crisp, but a bit too masculine for me (I just prefer feminine scents). I think it's the musk that in the end, makes it a bit too manly for me. The little bottle is adorable, though, and I always like getting perfume samples. While i don't like this one to wear, I think I will use it as a room freshener!

fresh Lotus Youth Preserve Face Cream - This is an age defying moisturizer that promises to boost radiance. I love the fresh scent of this! It feels great going on - my skin feels hydrated, but it is not too heavy at all. The sample size is great, and I've been using it all week and my face looks great. This is the other star of the box for me. I've been wanting to try more products by fresh!

Overall, this box is a winner for me! I've discovered a few new favorites, and everything will be used up happily. The mascara alone would have made the box worth it!

What did you think of this month's Glossybox?

FabFitFun - Fall 2013 box

It's been the kind of week when you just wish you could hibernate. Cold, gloomy, and things at work have been extremely frustrating. I was just thinking on Wednesday that I needed something to cheer me up...and I checked my mail and found my FabFitFun box! Addict as I am, few things can give me a cheerfulness boost like getting a sub box in the mail. It's sad, I know.,.

FabFitFun is a quarterly sub that just started last spring, making this their third box. I have gotten all three boxes. They have definitely had their fair share of growing pains (which is not at all unusual for a new sub company), but based on the fact that they have really tried to make their hiccups right and provide good service, I have stuck around! Boxes are $49.99 per quarter and they are a lifestyle box, including beauty, fashion, fitness, and food items.

The fall box, in my opinion, is by far the best one yet. The shipping was slow, but it arrived intact. I will say right off the bat that there is an item missing from the box. They contacted us about this before the boxes were received and stated that they will be sending out the missing item asap. I have already gotten tracking for this item, so I'm pleased with how it has been handled!

The packaging has gotten more sturdy since the first box! It's a decent sized box, well taped and secured. Here's what was inside:

Orville Redenbacher's Gourmet Naturals popcorn in classic butter & sea salt: This is, obviously, microwave popcorn. It's guilt free with half the fat of regular butter flavored corn,  Yeah, this isn't the most exciting inclusion, but I love popcorn and am always looking for healthier, tastier, and more natural alternatives to convenience/snack foods. I haven't tried this yet, but I think I'll pop a bag tonight and demolish it while I catch up on this season of Supernatural.

Starlooks 5 Shade Shadow Palette in Ibiza - This is a neutral palette with shades of white, silver, beige, brown, and black. It did come with a slight dent in the black, which made a bit of a mess, but it was easy enough to clean up. As you know, I am no stranger to Starlooks. I subscribed for several months and have quite a few items. The spoiler pictures I saw contained the St. Tropez palette, which I already own...as such, I was a bit disappointed. It's a beautiful palette, but you don't need two! So I was really happy to get Ibiza. I never ever buy neutrals, so I love getting them in subs...a change of pace for me. I've already worn these shadows and they are nice...the quality is good, and they are pretty pigmented and blendable.

Drinkwel Multivitamins - These are designed to be taken before and after you drink to help prevent a hangover. I do drink, but only occasionally, and rarely to drunkenness...but I do love a good vitamin, and these have lots of important vitamins and minerals. I might save them for a "I need a strong drink or ten right now" kind of night.

Family and Party Games Pack -o-Fun - This is a really cute idea...it's just 8 cards with little games to be played in a group setting. I love things like this, and I will keep them in my bag for the next time break time at work needs a little boost. This was a really unique thing to get in a box!

Sparitual Nail Polish in Can You Dig It?  - This is a shimmery purple based brown with gold shimmer. I am not usually one for browns, but this is really pretty and unique for me. I have been very interested in this brand - not only are they vegan, they do not use synthetic dyes. The plants they use for their colors are grown without synthetic fertilizers or pesticides, and they are harvested in their natural habitat! I'm super excited about all of this. I can't wait to try this polish and see how it wears. 

Orly - Rockets Red Glare - This was a free bonus. One of the hiccups I previously mentioned involved a portion of their subscribers being double charged. They refunded the money/cancelled the double charge, but they included an extra gift to make up for it. This is large and small red hex glitter in a clear base. It's super shiny and I love glitter!

barre3 Standing Slim workout video - This is a 30 minute standing workout.  These workouts are described as "where ballet barre meets yoga and pilates". The only required item is a counter or other waist height surface. I badly need a workout routine, and I am excited to try this one...I like yoga and pilates, and lord knows my balance needs some help.

Surface Trinity Protein Cream - This is a protein cream that strengthens, smooths, and protects. It is supposed to be great for heat styling. I am working on getting my hair back to its natural color, so it has been stripped, bleached, colored, and it is blow-dried or flat ironed at least several times a week. Needless to say, my hair NEEDS pampering, and I am really excited to try this.

Gorjana & Griffin Canary Scarf - This is what it looks like: a gray scarf with pink birds on it! This is the spoiler that inspired me to stick around for this box - I love scarves, and pink and gray and two of my favorite colors. I am beyond pleased with this scarf! It's light and airy but still keeps the neck warm on chilly days, it's a great size, and it's just beautiful.

Here it is being worn! It's versatile and the print isn't overwhelming. I love it!

Health Warrior Chia Bar in Acai Berry - A bar made of chia seeds with acai berry. I generally dislike protein/similar bars...but I tried this and it is actually very good! The chia seeds give it a nice texture, and the fruit is sweet and chewy and plentiful. I honestly would not mind getting more of these!

Bliss Triple Oxygen Instant Energizing Cleansing Foam - This is obviously the missing item, so the card is standing in for it. It is a foaming face wash designed to brighten and rejuvenate the skin with oxygen and vitamin C! I have heard so much about this cleanser and I am beyond excited to try it. 

Overall, I am really happy with this box! I received nearly 4 times what I paid for it, value-wise, and everything will be used and enjoyed. I hope that FabFitFun can continue to smooth out their hiccups and that their next box comes out smoothly and trouble-free. I think I'll be sticking around to see what they come up with for winter.

What do you think of this box? Have you tried FabFitFun yet? If you're interested in trying them out, feel free to leave me your email and I can send you an invitation.

Wantable Accessories Box - October 2013

After my last Wantable Makeup box, I mentioned that I was interested in trying the Accessories box, too. Well, the next day, I found myself bored with my jewelry and ended up signing up to try a box!

Wantable Accessories is just like the makeup box, in that you fill out a profile and choose your likes and dislikes. You receive 3 - 4 items a month,  including necklaces, bracelets, rings, earrings, scarves.

The style quiz is pretty specific! I personally fit a wide range of styles. so I'll just list some of the likes and dislikes I chose for this box!

Loves:
Rock n Roll
Mix n Match
Watches
Scarves
Silver Tone
Skulls
Evil Eye

Likes:
Boho
Urban
Necklaces
Sunglasses
Headbands
Multi Tone
Leatherware
 Seed Beads
Buddhist

Dislike:
Classic
Glam
Earrings
Bracelets
Rings
Gold Tone
Wood
Acrylic
Inspirational Text
Christian
Jewish
Muslim
Guns.

Now, keep in mind I don't necessarily dislike those things, I was just trying to shape the things I'm most interested in receiving right now.

My box came very quickly, as always, and it was well packed! I received three pieces.

Everything was very well padded, and nothing was damaged!

This is the Verity necklace, and it is a simple geometric cube on a silver chain. This is very much something I'd have chosen for myself! I love cute and interesting pendant-style necklaces. This is dainty enough to not be overwhelming, but unique enough to bring interest. I'm excited to wear it!

This is the Titania Necklace. It has emerald and onyx toned stones on an edgy thick chain. I have never had or bought a bib-type necklace before, but I think this is super pretty! It will be a great statement piece with a simple dress or top. It feels nice and substantial, but not too heavy. I like the edgy rocker vibe mixed with the feminine!

And this is the Alana watch. It is a large faced watch on a thick chain band with alternating silver toned and tortoiseshell links. I wasn't sure about it at first, because the band is so different...but I've decided that I love it. I love getting things I'd never have bought for myself - isn't that the point, anyway?

Here is a crappy shot of each item being worn. Forgive the lack of makeup and the pajama top...but that totally wasn't the point of these!

Overall, I'm pretty impressed with the quality of these pieces! They are all unique and interesting and I may be skipping a few makeup boxes to buy more accessories ones!

What do you think of Wantable? Have you tried any of their boxes yet? If interested, feel free to sign up using my referral link!

Popsugar Must Have box - October 2013

I have lusted over Popsugar Must Have since it launched, over a year ago. Every month, I thought "I need to sign up" and then every month there was a waiting list and I didn't bother, or I was broke...I finally took the plunge and subbed. October was my first box!

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Popsugar donated $1 for every box sold. They also teamed up with brands and products that support breast cancer charities while curating the contents! I was really excited to learn this, as it is an important cause for me. My box showed up and I've had a chance to go through everything!

The shipping was fairly slow, but the vast majority of subs are, so I won't hold that against PS.

I love boxes that feel like opening a present! Everything was well packed, and nothing was damaged or broken or missing!

I was really happy to see lots of pink in the box!

This is the Gorjana Charity Bali Bead Bracelet. This bracelet is special because, if you buy it, 100 percent of the proceeds go to a breast cancer centric charity. I think it's cute, simple, and delicate and I will wear it often.

Julep Duo - This is one polish and one top coat! The polish I got is a pretty blue - I think it's called Millie? And I have nothing like it. I've also never tried the top coat, so I'm happy to do so. I only have one Julep polish, so this was a nice inclusion for me.

These are Jane Tran Bobby Pins, and they are perfect. I love the pretty sparkly colors, and they hold hair wonderfully. I love cute hair pins...as I cut my hair short a few months ago, I use them often. These are one of my favorite items in the box!

This is The Wet Brush. I didn't think much of this when I heard people talk about it, but I tried it and I'm sold! It really does glide through wet hair and demolish tangles without pulling or tugging. I always have to brush my hair while wet, so this is really exciting for me! The company is also making a donation to breast cancer for every brush they put in a box this month~

These are a smokey eye palette and a brown liquid liner by Nyx. Nyx is a brand I don't have much from - it isn't sold anywhere near me, and it's not one I care to buy online until I've tried more, so I am okay with getting this in my box, even though it's an inexpensive brand. I actually don't have a brown liquid liner, so that will definitely be used! The palette will be put aside for a gift, as I have many similar shades and too many shadows right now, anyway.

This is a Halloween Crispycake by the Crispery! It is basically a giant rice crispy treat...but it is the best one I've ever had! It is super gooey and marshmallowy, with no weird flavor like many prepackaged ones have! I am craving another one of these, and I'm not normally a huge fan of these kinds of things.

This is The Can't Cook Book by Jessica Seinfeld, and it is a really cute and super thorough cookbook designed to be easy for beginners while still providing recipes that are yummy enough for non beginners, too. I am an okay cook, but I don't do it often, so I am really happy to have this. I love the pictures and layout, as well as the little extras like conversion charts and etc.

And finally, a gift card to Stitch Fix, which is a styling service! Stitch Fix actually doesn't carry my size, so I am unable to use this, but I passed it along to someone else. It does sound like a fun service!

Overall, I am super happy with my first Must Have box...I will use almost everything, and the shadow will make a great gift. I'm definitely glad to have finally taken the plunge!

What did you think of this month's box?

Ipsy - October 2013

My Ipsy showed up pretty late this month.But, I don't mind much, because I already knew what was coming, and it isn't my favorite month, either!

October's theme is The Art of Beauty. The bag itself is plain white with an uncredited Emerson quote on it...which I find a bit annoying. But, I use these bags to organize samples and little things, so it'll do.

This is Spray Clay by stylesexyhair. Honestly, I'm just tired of getting Sexy Hair products, as this is the 4th or 5th one we've gotten. I do like the brand, but the only things I use in my hair are shampoo, conditioner, leave-in conditioner/heat protectant, or oil/serum. This is a texturizing spray with strong hold and a matte finish. The last thing I want in my hair is hold with a matte finish. So, this is added to the gift pile.

This is coconut and argan body lotion by Nourish Organic. I do like body lotion, but I am underwhelmed by this one. I don't care for the smell much (slightly tropical with a bit of black pepper??) and it's not terribly moisturizing. I'll use it, but it's a very forgettable product for me. Extra sad because an alternative in the bags this month was a cake beauty hand cream, which would have been right up my alley! 

This is Ole Henrikson Truth Serum, and it's a big win for me. I already use and love this serum, so a little extra is appreciated. It's a light vitamin C serum that brightens and fights aging.

This is another for the gift pile - Ofra lip plumper in sultry. It's a pretty color and everything, but I have roughly a billion glosses I barely use, as is. So, it looks like a good product but just not an exciting one for me. That's okay, though!

And finally, Zoya nail polish in Mason. Now, this is a pretty color and all - it's a pinkish purple with shimmer. But they sent out 3 different colors, and honestly this is the one I was hoping NOT to get - only because I have so many similar shades, and the other two were a more unique blue and green for my collection. No matter, I do love Zoya and will use this...I was just really hoping for that green!

Overall, I do think this is a pretty forgettable Ipsy month, overall. I normally get things that suit me pretty well, but I feel like this month I kind of got the opposite of the options I'd have chosen with every item but the serum. It's still a great value, though, and I'm excited to see what shows up in November.

If you haven't tried Ipsy yet, feel free to sign up using my referral link. What do you think of this month's bag?

Wantable Makeup Box - October 2013

I was sent an October makeup box by Wantable, and I was super excited about it! Wantable is a subscription service that is a little bit different. First, they have a few different types of boxes you can choose from - Makeup, which promises 4 to 5 premium/boutique brand items (all are full sized, though they sometimes include bonus samples), Accessories, which promises 3 to 4 trendy pieces, or Intimates, which promises 4 to 5 premium essentials. Each one is $36 if you subscribe, or you can buy a single box for a few dollars more.

The thing that makes Wantable so unique is their level of customization. Many subs have you fill out a profile, but Wantable is the only one I can think of that uses it completely. You can specify what types of items you want, and even the finish, format, or shade family. You can also specify what you hate, and you will never get those things!

I made my profile pretty simple, disliking only bronzer and brows, and liking most other things, with loved items being eyeliner (especially liquid and color) and tools.

Here's what I received!

Wantable ships very quickly, and their packaging is a cute simple box. I love that they use egg crate foam inside, it really cushions the makeup and protects it.

My box contained four full sized items and one bonus sample! When I saw a couple of the things in here, I was ecstatic!

This is a COLOREYEDEFINE pencil by Susan Posnick. I received the shade Sapphire/Ametrine. This is a double ended pencil with an angled liner on one side and an eyeshadow on the other. I love this! The liner is Sapphire, a pretty blue, and the shadow is Ametrine, a really pretty shimmery purple. These colors are right up my alley and this is one of my favorite items in the box...I can't wait to use it! This retails for $28.

This is Beauty for Real Miracle Mascara in Very Black! It's a longwearing formula that promises to be resistant to sweat, tears, and water, but still wash off easily. It also promises to strengthen and give length and thickness. Now, I love mascara and I have wanted to try this brand, but it will be a while before I get to try it because I am swimming in mascaras! I probably should have disliked them on my profile until I use up some of what I have, but I will enjoy this sooner or later! It retails for $23.

This is a Cheek Flash by Whip Hand in the shade Wanting. It's a very pigmented and shimmery loose blush. The shade is a pretty orangey shade that is different than anything I have! I have a couple of eyeshadows by this brand and love them, so I'm really excited to try this.

This is my favorite item in the box! A pink Kabuki brush by Cailyn. It is super soft sythetic and just adorable! I have a Bobbi Brown kabuki I have loved, but it is larger than this one (I find it too large for my needs sometimes) and honestly, not even close to being this soft. This brush is great and retails for $15.

Here are swatches of the liner (done with the angle sideways and then vertical) and the shadow on the top. The bottom is the blush. All super pretty colors.

And finally, a sample of Instant Skin Tightener and Line Filler by Skin, which promises to do exactly what the name states! I love skincare so I am happy to try this!

Overall, I am super thrilled with this box. It will all be used, the value is just amazing. If I had paid $36 for this box, I'd have been ridiculously happy, as it is an $82 value! I want to try out one of their accessory boxes next. I'm terrible at shopping for jewelry and accessories, but I love to wear them. I'm also curious to see how the profile works for that service, and if it is similar to the makeup one!

If you haven't tried Wantable yet, feel free to use my referral link to sign up. Have you gotten any boxes from them? If so, how did you like it?

Disclaimer: I received a box for free to review. I was not compensated for my review and all opinions are my own.