June 2014 Boxy Charm

I've had a few weeks to try out some items from my June Boxy Charm subscription beauty box.  I received the May box by mistake and liked it so much that I re-subscribed for June.

June's theme was Bridal Beauty.  

I've been wanting to try a cream blush stick for a while so I was happy to see this, the nail polish came in shades I will definitely wear, and all items are full size!

The Tarte Cheek Stain is now my go-to blush.  Although it is a bit more challenging to apply than powder blush, I like the natural glow it gives me.  I'm not sure about the Tarantino products--I don't usually use highlighter or concealer and I won't wear blue eyeliner as an everyday product.  I'll have to make some time to play with them a little.  I have tried the blue shade of the StrangeBeautiful nail polish.  It is a great summer shade and is long-wearing.  As for the Revlon Bold Lacquer Mascara, I have issues with eye make-up migrating under my eyes and since I have discovered tubing mascara, I won't wear anything else.  I will give this one away.

Once again I love my Boxy Charm beauty box.  I love that quality of products and the fact that they are full size.  I will definitely be continuing this subscription!

June 2014 Sample Society Beauty Subscription Box

I received my June Sample Society beauty box a few weeks ago and have had time to try out a few of the products.  I have to say that I was a bit disappointed at the lack of variety in this box--four skincare products (moisturizers/treatments) and 2 perfume samples, all of which were fairly small.

The Malin and Goetz Vitamin E moisturizer is a great, basic moisturizer.  I've used it on my hands and face and it has absorbed quickly and done it's job-no fancy claims, no strong scent.  The Pur-lisse Pur-moist moisturizer is also a great basic moisturizer that I used on my face.  Maybe a bit heavier than the Malin and Goetz but still absorbed quickly.  I've used the H2O+ Oxygenating Rejuvenator as an overnight treatment a few times.  It left my skin feeling somewhat sticky after application but my skin did seem to look pretty healthy and plump in the morning.  The Karin Herzog Vita-A-Kombi-2 is a pretty expensive anti-aging product so I was happy to see it in my box but the sample size is so small that I will only get a few applications out of it.

May 2014 Boxy Charm

I received this beauty subscription box by mistake and boy am I glad!
I had ordered last months box as a gift for a friend and somehow this box was sent to me.  I love it so much that I will continue my subscription.

Doesn't it look promising?

I love subscription boxes that contain full-size items.  The scent of the hand lotion was quite strong but I like it enough that I use it as a moisturizer on days that I want to wear a scent.  The argan oil and olive oil hair treatments are not something I will use but I'm sure I can find a friend who will love them.

The lipstick is not a shade I wear, but I appreciate another full size item in my box.  The make-up brush however is something I've used nearly every day since receiving it.  The nail polish wipes are also something I'm glad to have.

When I contacted Boxy Charm about receiving this box unexpectedly, I received a prompt and friendly reply.  I enjoyed this box so much and was so impressed by the customer service that I am very happy to continue my subscription.

Stitch Fix #5 , May 2014

I'm just catching up on my subscription boxes and am finally getting around to my May Stitch Fix.  If you are not familiar with this clothing subscription box, you can scroll to the bottom of this post for more information.

Last month's Stitch Fix was pretty disappointing and left me wondering who it was my stylist was styling for.  Did she even look at my profile?  This month things looked pretty promising on opening the box.  I loved the summer colors!

Not quite my style, but fun to try out.

First up, this knit shirt.  The print was kind of zany for me and I'm not a fan of 3/4 sleeves, but I thought it looked really sharp with the white jeans.  I really didn't like the gold buttons on the front and sleeves, though.  It just made it look a bit too uptown for my taste so this went back.

I've had pretty good luck with fit in the pants I've received from Stitch Fix, but not in this Fix.  The wide-leg jeans above were too long and baggy and the white jeans I have on in the rest of these photos were too tight, even though they were my regular size.  I loved how the white jeans worked with these tops and realized that I really need a pair to round out my summer wardrobe.  This pair had a wide elastic waistband like maternity pants.  It gave me a major muffin-top but I think in the right size would be comfortable and flattering.  I emailed Stitch Fix about sizing up but unfortunately they aren't available.  Bummer!  Both pants went back.

I just don't get this style of shirt with the tail hanging out.  Big thumbs down.

This t-shirt is the one item I kept from my May Fix.  The ruching does a nice job hiding my belly (when worn with pants that fit :) and I love the color.  Hurray, a keeper!!

If you are unfamiliar with Stitch Fix, it is a personal styling service for women. I signed up because although I love to shop, I just don't seem to have the time.  When you sign up, you provide your size, your budget preferences, and answer a lot of questions regarding your style.  You can also choose whether you want to receive accessories, jewelry and/or outerwear. There is a $20 styling fee that is applied to your order should you decide to keep any of the pieces.  If you don’t keep anything, you don’t receive a refund of the fee. And if you keep all of the pieces, you get a 25% discount on everything!  You have three days to try everything on and you send what you don't want back in the provided bag with a prepaid return label.  Easy peasy! 

Your style profile also includes a place for you to request certain items and to provide feedback on your most recent box so your stylist can learn why certain items may not have worked for you.  They aim to please!

Ready to sign up? Here is my referral link

I receive a $25 credit with each referral, so thank you!!!

Yuzen Eco Subscription Box, Spring and Summer 2014

For Mother's Day this year my family gave me a three-box subscription to Yuzen which is an eco-friendly subscription box.  Because my subscription started in April, I immediately received the Spring Box and few weeks later received the Summer Box.  I waited until Mother's Day to open them both and look at this bounty!!

Both Spring and Summer Yuzen boxes

 These boxes are packaged beautifully with some gorgeous paper in a Japanese print--it makes a lovely gift box.  My boxes were full of natural bath items, cleansers, moisturizers, aromatherapy and more!  After receiving these boxes, I now think that Yuzen is one of my favorite beauty-type subscription boxes and I can't wait for my next box!

There was a food item in each box.

Some bath goodies and a candle.

May 2014 Sample Society Review

Sample Society is a monthly beauty subscription box.  I've found that my boxes contain deluxe sample sizes of mostly skin care items. 

Here is what I saw when I opened my box:

The Juice Beauty CC Cream is one of the few items I've received in a beauty subscription box that I've liked enough to buy a full-size product.  I loved how smoothly the product applied.  I've never used a BB or CC cream before so I can't comment on that. I use is because it has SPF 30 but no chemical sunscreen.  This is my new moisturizing base-layer under my mineral make-up powder.

I haven't been brave enough to use the Sonya Dakar Flash Facial exfoliating treatment yet.  I use retinol products so my skin doesn't really need exfoliating.  I will probably give this to a friend.  I also haven't used the Freeze 24-7 Anti-Aging Eye serum.  Special eye serums and moisturizers are skincare step I prefer to skip.  I do like the Dermalogica Dynamic Skin Recovery spf 30.  On days when I don't use my Juice Beauty CC cream (above) I reach for this.  It is a nice non-greasy moisturizer that goes on smoothly.  Its almost gone and I like it enough that I will buy more.

Usually in the summer I let my hair air-dry but I've used this product a few times in the past month when I've blow-dried my hair straight.  It was fine and probably helped keep my hair from frizzing but it wasn't so great that I'd buy more. 

I plan to continue my Sample Society subscription since I'm happy with both the variety and quality of the products included.  

April Glossy Box Review

April 30 was a big day because in addition to my disappointing Stitch Fix, I also received a fun Glossy Box. 

It looks like a gorgeous gift, no?

Glossy Box is a beautifully packaged subscription beauty box.  Here is what my box contained:

My thoughts on the products?  The waterproof eyeshadow sealer went in my to-trade box as did the lip gloss, which is not my shade.  The nail polish will probably get some use next year during the winter holidays.  I used the Caldrea body wash--I liked it but probably wouldn't buy it again.  I am currently using the Aqua Spa body creme.  The scent is natural and not too strong but I don't find it particularly pleasant so I probably won't buy again.

I've been trying out different beauty subscription boxes.  Glossy Box is nice and I think is good quality and good value.   The packaging is lovely and it would make a great gift.   I'm not sure it's the right fit for me, though so I'm going to suspend my subscription for a while.

Stitch Fix Review #4, April 2014

I've gotten so behind in posting about subscription boxes!

This is the Stitch Fix I received on April 30th.  If you are new to the idea of the clothing subscription box Stitch Fix and want more info, scroll down to the bottom of this post. 

My late-April Stitch Fix box.

So, the truth is that I almost didn't post about this Stitch Fix.  As a matter of fact, I was so disappointed in this Fix that I was ready to give up the subscription.  The photo above looks nice enough, but most of these items are totally not my style.  One of the lovely things about Stitch Fix is that when you fill out your style profile, you list things you don't like.  I don't like blouses or 3/4 sleeves and I said so in my profile.  Also, if you receive items in a Fix that don't work for you and you are sending them back, you can provide feedback on why you are sending them back, like the black pants and maxi skirt I received last time.

Here is a lovely 3/4 sleeve blouse I received in my Fix.  It is beautiful silk and is sure to make someone with a big budget very happy--alas, not me.  The black skinny pants fit fine but 1) I requested no skinny pants as I already own several pairs and 2) last time received black pants that I sent back and said that I don't want black pants.

 Next up, a maxi dress and matching necklace.

The maxi with the cardi I kept from my last Fix.

 So, I didn't like the maxi skirt last time (and said so) and I don't like this maxi dress.  Like the skirt, I just find the cut unflattering on me.  The neckline on this one is way too low to wear day to day and I don't need any evening wear.  The necklace matches nicely, but I don't like gold jewelry.  It was clear that my stylist didn't review my profile when she put together this outfit.

The last item was this cute shirt that was just too blousey on me.  The neckline was quite wide and kept slipping to my shoulder.  And again with the 3/4 sleeves!

So I emailed Stitch Fix about my disappointment.  I received a prompt and friendly reply with an offer for a credit on the styling fee on my next Fix.
I sighed a big sigh and decided to try again.  I ended up just getting a refund of my styling fee instead of a credit, but it ended up being fun to get my next Fix so I'm glad I kept my scheduled Fix.

If you are unfamiliar with Stitch Fix, it is a personal styling service for women. I signed up because although I love to shop, I just don't seem to have the time.  When you sign up, you provide your size, your budget preferences, and answer a lot of questions regarding your style.  You can also choose whether you want to receive accessories, jewelry and/or outerwear. There is a $20 styling fee that is applied to your order should you decide to keep any of the pieces.  If you don’t keep anything, you don’t receive a refund of the fee. And if you keep all of the pieces, you get a 25% discount on everything!  You have three days to try everything on and you send what you don't want back in the provided bag with a prepaid return label.  Easy peasy! 

Your style profile also includes a place for you to request certain items and to provide feedback on your most recent box so your stylist can learn why certain items may not have worked for you.  They aim to please!

Ready to sign up? Here is my referral link.

Thank you!!

Kid Craft Subscription Boxes-- Kiwi Crate and Happy Trunk

In my subscription box fervor, I signed the kids up for craft kits.  J and C (both age 7) are receiving Kiwi Crate and E (age 10) gets Happy Trunk.  

I'll start with Kiwi Crate….

Kiwi Crate is a craft kit for kids ages 3-8 that contains instructions and supplies for several themed crafts.  You can order it as a subscription or just one box.  One thing I really like about Kiwi Crate is that there is a sibling option where you pay a bit more and receive enough supplies for two kids.  I signed up for the sibling add-on so in the photos below you will see double most of the supplies.

We received this box in April and the theme, appropriately, was Caring for the Earth.  There was a paper making kit, leaf stamped bags, and a few other smaller coloring-type activities that were a bit young for my  kids.

The supplies for paper making (x2)

The supplies for stamped bags (x2)

The paper-making in action.

These projects were somewhat simple for J and C since they are on the older side for this kit, but I really liked the fact that they could do these projects fairly independently.  They had fun and really looked forward to receiving their next Crate.

On to E's Happy Trunk...

Not as cutesy as Kiwi Crate, but nice instruction cards and secure packaging.

Happy Trunk is a subscription box for kids of two different age groups--3-7 and 8-11.  I ordered E, who is 10, the kit for older kids.  This box contained a memo board craft and a DNA science project.  From what I read, the older kid boxes usually contain a science project and a craft.

E did the memo board on her own.  She mixed up the chalkboard paint and added the stencils to the cork board portion.  I love when kids can do these projects independently!

For the science part of the kit, we started making a DNA model out of pipe cleaners and beads.  This was a frustrating endeavor for both E and me.  The instructions weren't very clear and there weren't enough of certain colored beads so we couldn't make a long enough "ladder" to get it the helix to twist.    Neither of us felt bad about abandoning this.

E extracted DNA from a strawberry with a babysitter, so I don't have photos or feedback of this part of the kit, but I can tell you that she ended up with a tube of what looked like DNA to me :)   She says this was pretty fun and she doesn't want to throw the tube away so I would call that a success.

 We have since received two more Kiwi Crates that we are slowly working our way through.  Although the crafts are simple for J and C, they really enjoy them so we will keep this subscription going for a while.  If you are thinking of ordering a Crate, let me know because I have code where you get $10 off and so do I!
As for Happy Trunk…well, we didn't receive our May box so I emailed them and they said they'd send one right out.  The May Happy Trunk we received contained several simple crafts that E really enjoyed.  However, when we didn't get our June box I emailed again and received a reply stating that the May crate they sent us was for younger kids but they would get everything straightened out.  I hope they do because I really like the idea of Happy Trunk!