FabFitFun - Winter 2013

The Winter 2013 box is FabFitFun's 4th box. The VIP box is a quarterly subscription that costs $49.99 a quarter. It is curated by Giuliana Rancic and contains a mix of beauty, fashion, food, and fitness products.

I have been around since the first box. They have had issues with shipping, billing, etc (which seem to be improving with each box) but the contents and value are always great! In fact, this box consistently has the best value of any of my subs!

The winter box has a retail value of $271 (including cards) and this is definitely my favorite box from them so far.

They had some sort of glitch and my box didn't get shipped out when most of the others did. I finally contacted them. They were very apologetic and sent my box out priority mail, and also gave me a $10 discount off of the spring box. I received it 2 days later! I'm happy with their customer service.

I love the info card they use - it's large and easy to red and explains why each item was chosen. The winter box has 8 physical items, a gift card, and a "bonus" discount/freebie!

Skyn Iceland Icelandic Relief Eye Cream - This is an eye cream that battles wrinkles, dark circles, and puffiness! It has peptides and Vitamin K, as well as other unique ingredients. I love this brand, but it is pricey so I am super happy to receive this eye cream! This alone retails for $45. I tried it this morning and it feels really nice. I'm excited to see how it performs!

Nyx Love in Florence eyeshadow palette - This is a five shade palette from Nyx. They sent out several variations of this...I got pretty pinks, grey, and taupe. The shades are really pretty and I do like the Nyx brand, so I am happy with this! They consider this and one other product to be "bonus" items because they are drugstore finds. I use drugstore products all the time, so no problem here! This retails for $8.

TruEnergy Inspired Earbuds - These are cute earbuds with a built in SoundShare splitter, so you can listen with a friend! They have decent sound quality, enhanced bass, and noise reduction, as well. They sent out 3 different color varieties. Admittedly, I was hoping for something besides the orange and yellow I received, but they are still cute and really sound pretty decent! I'm happy to have these to keep in my bag. These retail for $39.99.

Beauty For Real Lip Gloss - This is a plumping lipgloss with a built in mirror and light - cool! I received Don't Stop Red, a pretty sparkly red color. It has a nice minty feel and scent and I really love the built in light and mirror. It isn't too sticky, and the red is pretty but can be applied sheerly. This retails for $22.

The light is in the base of the cap, so you can see while applying. Cool!

Simple Foaming Facial Cleanser - This is the other "bonus" drugstore item...a foaming face wash with chamomile. I love this brand, and am really happy to try this cleanser. I still haven't opened my cleanser from the fall box, because I'm trying to use up all my open bottles before I open a new one! So this is being added to my stash. This retails for $7.49.

Lorna Jane bracelet - This is a symbol of sisterhood and a daily reminder to "move, nourish, and believe". It's stretchy and pink and I actually think it's pretty cute. It's great for me to wear to work because I can get it wet without worries. It retails for $29.99.

Bioxidea Miracle 24 - I have removed the image of this mask because I have been repeatedly harrassed by the company because it is an "outdated image", despite the fact that this review is a year old and it is an image that I took myself of a product I received. As such, I do not recommend this brand to anyone. It was nothing special anyway.

The Giving Keys Never Ending Necklace - Ahhh, how cute is this? It's a necklace made from repurposed keys. Each one is engraved with a word/message and is unique. The idea is that you wear the necklace until you meet someone who needs that necklace's message more than you at the time, and then give it to them. The company employs those who are transitioning out of homelessness. All in all, just a great company and concept.

I received a silver key with the word "strength". I love it!

We also received a $20 credit to meUndies. This is a true credit, not a discount code masquerading as a gift card! It can be spent on anything and no additional purchase is necessary. For this $20, you can get a pair of undies or 2 pair of socks. I used it to order some socks.

And finally, 5 free Physique 57 classes. These are online classes that combine cardio, strength training, and stretching.  I can definitely use these!

Overall, I am super impressed with this box. I love that everything is well suited for me and I will use and love it all. I am so impressed with the value they manage to put into their boxes. I am definitely sticking around to see what spring brings!

Have you tried out FabFitFun yet?

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.

FabFitFun: Spring (Inaugural box)

FabFitFun is a brand new seasonal subscription program! Giuliana Rancic is its spokesperson, and it is a quarterly sub.

It costs about $50 per season, and each box contains hand-selected items in beauty, fashion, fitness, and wellness. They promise a value of $100 or more with full sized items. They will also be doing bonus gifts in between seasons, but it remains unclear how those will be done.

Now, I will preface this unboxing by saying there has been some controversy over this first box. FFF had sent out early boxes to some bloggers for review/promotion. Those boxes contained some amazing items, and garnered lots of subscribers. Then, when the boxes started rolling in, people found that in some box variations, some of the most exciting products were missing or replaced with a second of a different item (with less value). There had not been any indication that there would be box variations, and many people felt duped. I did receive one of the affected boxes!

I received my first box a few days ago!

The packaging is cute and simple. It came in a sturdy mailer and everything arrived unscathed.

Upon opening, I found that everything was very neatly packaged. However, in the boxes they sent out for promotion, those boxes contained a Butter LONDON polish and a GoSmile tooth whitening pen, as well as the Josie Maran lip stain and color stick. Many of us found 2 or all 3 of those items missing, and replaced with a 2nd or even 3rd piece of JewelMint jewelry. As you can see, I did get a second piece of JewelMint.

I did receive the Josie Maran lip stain and color stick, in Waltz. It's a beautiful berry pink, with the marker-like stain on one end and a moisturizing balm on the other. It is full sized, and the thing I was most excited about from the previews. 

This was the big selling point for the first box - a full sized bottle of Morrocanoil. I have never tried this product before, but so far, it seems nice! I love hair oils. The bottle is big and will last forever!

We also received a Zoya nail polish in FabFitFun pink. This is a beautiful shimmery pink and I love it. Zoya is my favorite polish brand, and I am excited to have this. Great for summer.

This is a sample sized brow perfection gel by Perfekt. The color is much too dark for me and I don't really do much with my brows, so this is just a "whatever" product for me. I might try it as a natural lash tint.

A sample sized lip gloss from Jouer in Glisten. I really like Jouer glosses! They aren't sticky. This one is nice and sheer with a pretty sparkle, and it is a welcome addition for me.

Now, instead of the Butter LONDON polish and the GoSmile pen, I received an extra JewelMint item. I have to say I am really disappointed with this. This first item, the earrings, are just hideous. NOt only that, they are defective. As you can see, the dangly part of one of them was attached backwards. Not that I'd wear them even if it wasn't...I don't mind JewelMint, but I can't think of a single person who would wear these ugly things.

The second piece is a little better. Still not my thing, but it is kind of cute and I might find reason to wear it someday. A summer/beach/London themed charm bracelet? Odd, but not too bad.

This is a thinkThin bar in creamy peanut butter. I dislike getting bars like this in boxes, but I did try this one. Unfortunately, it was gross. I just don't care for bars like these, if I'm going to eat a bar, I prefer the kind made mostly of nuts and fruit.

Here is the Josie Maran being worn - this is the tint with the balm over it. I love the color, and it feels nice and lasts!

Overall, I like most of the items I received. I am, however, really disappointed to not receive the Butter LONDON, which I really wanted to try, and the GoSmile pen. I do not feel that the ugly jewelmint earrings were any sort of a good substitution. Luckily, FFF has good customer service and are taking care of me. I will be sticking around for another season to see how they do.

What do you think of this box?