Beauty Fix - May 2015

I received my second BeautyFix box yesterday and I am amazed at the value of the items they included!  There are several items I am looking forward to trying.  Here's what was included in this month's box:

Product Information Card:

Peter Thomas Roth Anti-Aging Defense Sunscreen Stick SPF 50  0.5 oz ($26)

Blowout Beauty Anti-Frizz Volume Boost Treatment Oil  2 oz ($45)

Harry Josh Carbon Tail Comb ($12)

Smart Brow Eyebrow Filler & Cleanser Duo in Blonde and Brunette
Fillers: 2.4 ml each   Cleansers: 15 ml each ($61 each set) 

Dr. Brandt Skincare Needles No More  0.085 oz ($15.13 value)

Citrix Vit C Collagen Brightening Serum  0.06 oz  ($5.07 value)

Foil Samples:

Neostrata Skin Perfecting Peel  ($6.30 value)

Yon-Ka Excellence Code Cream  0.07 oz  ($7.40 value)

Yon-Ka Age Exception Cellular Code Serum  0.05 oz  ($6.68 value)

Cost of Box:  $24.95 (plus tax if applicable, includes free shipping)
Total Box Value:  approx. $245.58 including foil samples
Impressions: The retail value of this box is about 10 times the cost of the subscription which is amazing!  I am in need of some new sunscreen so I was glad to receive that.  The hair oil is the item I am most excited to try.  I don't really need it for the volumizing aspect but I always appreciate anything that prevents frizz!  And I know it probably sounds weird but I am actually quite happy to receive the Harry Josh comb.  Not because I'm a big Harry Josh fan (actually never heard of this brand) but because I really needed to replace the comb like this that I have.  Mine is an inexpensive plastic one that got partially melted when left near my flat iron one day so I am happy to have a nice carbon one to replace my old cheap one!  This type of comb works well for sectioning my hair, lightly separating curls, and smoothing straight styles.  Since this isn’t a customized box, I’m pleased to see BeautyFix actually included both shades (blonde & brunette) of the brow filler allowing more subscribers to be able to try the product.  Most beauty boxes include one shade/color of something and it’s too bad if it isn’t the correct shade/color for you.  I don't plan to use either color because I don't use brow gels so I will be trading these.  I will also trade the Wrinkles No More because I am fortunate that I don't have any wrinkles yet (and hopefully not for a long time!).  I will try the Citrix brightening serum because I love serums and this one brightens which may help with a couple of hyper-pigmented spots on my face from old acne scars.  I will probably give the foil samples a try as well.

Even if I use nothing else but the hair oil and brightening serum from this box, the value would still be twice what I paid which is great for a beauty box for me!  When compared to something like Birchbox, BeautyFix is an awesome deal even if some foil samples are included because they also include multiple full size products.  I have yet to see another beauty only box that offers the variety, quantity, and volume of product that BeautyFix offers at this price point.  And the products they feature are far greater in quality and retail value than what I ever receive in Birchbox.  BeautyFix products are also more relevant to what I need and want in beauty items which is why I'm cancelling my Birchbox.  I'd much rather pay an extra $15 to get some full size items that I'll actually use from BeautyFix than continue paying $10 for nothing but a pretty box from Birchbox.  Plus, BeautyFix ships extremely fast.  I receive my box in about 2 to 3 days after they ship.  It can take nearly 2 weeks to receive my Birchbox. 

Even though I will not use everything in this box, I still feel like the value of the products I will use are far greater than what I paid to subscribe to this box so I'm pleased with this month's box.  I'm looking forward to next month's box!

Burke Home Decor Box - April 2015

Burke Home Décor is a new home subscription box.  Home décor/styling boxes are not common so I was really excited to try this one.  Burke Home has a flexible subscription plan that allows you to select how often you want to  receive a box.  The home décor boxes were advertised as having at least 3 to 4 items with a retail value of $120.  The subscription cost is $55 per box and I initially signed up for one box per month.  This is a brand new box service so Burke Home is still figuring how to run their sub and there were definitely some kinks with their first shipment.  I actually received 2 boxes from them because the curation of the first box did not live up to the subscribers' expectations or the sub owner's standards and promises.  They issued an email apology for the incomplete first box and shipped out a second box to everyone as an apology and to better project the vision they originally had for the Burke Home Decor box.  The second box delivered the rest of the retail value that they advertised when the boxes went on sale.

Here is what I received in the original box:

Roost Platinum Holly Berry Motif Wine Glasses 

(similar glasses approx. $28 value for 2)

Trina Turk Mojave Embroidered Cocktail Napkins 

(approx. $27 value for 2)

Small Bowl from Canvas Dauville Aqua Nesting Bowl Set 

(similar small bowls approx. $7 value)

Here is what I received in the second box:

Apology Note:



Chilewich Black Vinyl Table Runner 

14" x 72" (approx. $45 value)

Tereforma Whiskey for Two Whiskey Glass and Stones Set ($40 value)

Izola Happy Hour Coasters  Set of 6  ($15)

Simpatico No. 45 Candle  8 oz  ($27)

Cost of Box:  $55 per box
Approximate Value of First box: $62
Approximate Value of Second box: $127
Impressions:   I was really excited to try this box because home related boxes are quite rare in the world of subscription boxes.  As I mentioned earlier, this is a new subscription box and they are still trying to develop their system and work out the kinks so I will give them a little slack for that.  They did ship the boxes quickly, the items were wrapped and protected nicely for shipping (although nothing in the first box came in it's original packaging), the items are from quality brands, and even their black boxes are nice sturdy material that can be re-purposed. 

The First Box
I, like many other subscribers, was not overly impressed with the curation of the first box.  The items seemed completely unrelated in their colors and style.  I thought it was also odd that they did not include a information card or letter about the items they included or their values.  (I will note that it seems like everyone received a different mix of items so I guess that is why they did not bother to go through the trouble of including information cards/letters for each person.)  Although they included the minimum number of items they said they would, the total value of the items was clearly not the $120 advertised.  The prices I listed above are guestimates based on prices I found online for similar items.  At first, I was not sure if the glasses were tumblers for drinking or decorative candle votive holders.  Through some online searching, I found that they are etched and hand-painted wine glasses but I will probably use them as candle votive holders.  However, they are clearly intended for Christmas because of the holly berry designs.  I think it would be a good idea for them to not send out items that are not in season.  It's almost summer; no one decorates with holly berry motifs outside of the Christmas holidays.  I later discovered from someone else's review that the green embroidered squares were cocktail napkins.  I thought the small bowl was a dipping bowl for eating at first but it says it is not for food on the bottom.  I suppose you could use it for holding loose change, jewelry, etc.  I also noticed a partially ripped off price sticker on the bottom, which I thought was not a good presentation. 

The Second Box
I had high hope for the second box but I wasn't much more impressed with it than the first one.  The table cloth is like plastic and it's black.  It's too long and doesn't look good on my cherry stained dining table.  Perhaps I can cut it and use it to line some of my kitchen drawers or cabinets.  I do not drink whiskey or any other alcohol and would never use the stones in my drinks.  Perhaps I can use the glasses for water glasses, low vases, or more candle votive holders (with some stones or sand & seashells on the bottom).  The coasters are made of paper, which I hate because they warp easily.  I will probably just throw these away.  The candle smells nice so I will be using it. 

Overall
The value of the second box was twice what the first box was, bringing the total value of both boxes to approximately $189.  I did eventually receive the retail value that was advertised but the only item I like is the candle, so essentially I paid $55 for a $27 candle!   I will make the best of the other items because it wouldn't be worth the cost and trouble to trade the items.  So this box was not a good value for me personally. 

I really want the Burke Home Décor subscription service to succeed because I really like the concept of a home decor related box but I'm putting my subscription on hold or cancelling until they get the kinks worked out and start doing a better job curating the boxes.  This first go round I think they promised a box that they obviously were not prepared to deliver on yet.  At least now they know that subscribers expect better curation for a $55 box and will hold them to delivering on the retail value that they advertised.  I can live with the box not having a really high retail value as long as the items are at least valued at the same cost of the box, but I do expect the items of a home decor box to be coordinated pieces.  I think in the future, they should allow themselves more time to put together well thought out, coordinated boxes.  The original box was shipped in a matter of days of announcing the release of this new subscription box.  I can't imagine that their staff had adequate time to put some real thought into what they were putting into each box.  And I assume that these boxes are made up of clearance and remainder items from the Burke Home online store.  I think that if they want to send out misfit clearance items, parts of incomplete sets, etc., they should consider reducing the cost of the box.  There isn't much entertaining you can do with only 2 napkins or 2 glasses.  And it's difficult to decorate with and make good use of pieces that are this random in style and color.  In the future, I think they should consider focusing on themes for the boxes so there will be some cohesion to the pieces.  For example:  fireplace mantel theme, dining theme, living room theme, bookshelf styling theme, desk/office theme, vanity theme, color themes, etc.

I am really glad that they acknowledged that the original box was less than stellar, apologized, and made an effort to make things right with subscribers who were willing to go out on a limb and trust their new subscription service.  I am looking forward to seeing how their service develops over the coming months.  Hopefully they have learned a lot from the subscriber feedback of this first shipment and succeed in the long run because I would like to continue my subscription with them in the future.

Goodebox - May 2015

I received my May Goodebox today and I am quite pleased with it!  Here is a look at the samples I received:

Product Information Cards:

 Meraki Botanicals Rose Grapefruit Cleansing Face Oil  1 oz  ($10 value)

  Lotus Moon Hydro-Therapy Roll-On Eye Serum  10 ml ($27.95)

 Piperwai Natural Deodorant  1 oz ($6)

 Mullein & Sparrow Cheek and Lip Tint  (size & value unknown)

 Mahalo Body Balm  0.5 oz ($21.18 value)

Cost of Box:  $19 (free shipping)
Total Box Value:  over $65.13
Impressions:  The Meraki Etsy website states that the Grapefruit cleansing oil can be used as a cleanser or moisturizer that helps to heal acne, fade scars, brighten, soothe and moisturize the skin!  It includes ingredients such as almond and grape seed oils, grapefruit, lavender, tea tree essential oils, etc.  I plan to use it as a moisturizer rather than an oil cleanser.  It seems to me that oil cleansing works best if you wear makeup, which I don't.  A little goes a long way so this 1 oz bottle should last me a long time as a moisturizer.  The eye serum is full size and should also last a long time!  It contains ingredients such as rose water, jojoba oil, caffeine, lecithin, hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, etc.  Lately I have become a big fan of eye serums and creams that help with moisturizing and de-puffing my eyes when I don't get enough sleep so I am really excited to try this serum.  I'm not in love with the smell of the Piperwai natural deodorant but it is the smoothest natural deodorant sample I have ever received.  The label states that it will not stain clothes which was one my initial concerns when I saw the grey color.  It also goes on more sheer and matte than I expected.  I rubbed a thin layer on the back of my hand and it didn't flake or turn ashy. I can't quite describe the scent but I think I would be more excited about this deodorant if it was unscented or had a more sweet/floral scent.   Although the lip and cheek tint looks dark, it actually goes on quite sheer.  I applied some to my hand and my lips and I couldn't notice any reddish tint.  Perhaps the more you apply, the more noticeable the color is.  Or maybe it shows up better the more fair your skin is.  I'm not complaining, I like that the color isn't that noticeable.  I'm not sure of the value of the tint because it was listed with a sample size.  It looks like it could be almost the equivalent of a regular tube of lip balm.   It's not the most moisturizing lip balm I've ever tried but I still plan to use it.  The Mahalo body balm is my least favorite idea in this box.  I like trying balms of any kind but the fragrance of this one is overwhelming to me!  And it melts so easily that you have to be careful when opening or else you run the risk of spilling it and getting the scent everywhere.  The ingredients and benefits sound wonderful, and it does moisturize well but the scent is too much.  I'm not so sure I can get past the intense scent to use it regularly.

Overall, I thought this was a great box.  The value of the box is more than 3 times what I paid and I will definitely use the Grapefruit oil, eye serum and lip balm, and at least give the natural deodorant a try for a few days so I feel that I got my money's worth this month.  And the samples are sizeable enough that they will last a long time which is really nice.  Goodebox impressed me this month and I am looking forward to next month's box!

Subscription Box Trades - April 2015

Time for a monthly round-up of trades I've made with the unwanted items from the subscription boxes I subscribe to.  I trade or "swap" my unwanted items on the My Subscription Addiction swap page.

Here are the swaps I made in April:

• Juice Beauty Cellular CC Cream in Warm Glow and One Love Organics Healthy Locks Dry Shampoo Powder - swapped for ->  Malin + Goetz Lip Mojito Moisturizer and 100 % Pure Mint White Tea Tonique
• Knock Knock "What to Pack" Travel Packing List Pad - swapped for -> Derma E Evenly Radiant Brightening Day Creme SPF 15 (0.5 oz)
• Laura Geller Baked Liquid Radiance Foundation in Golden Medium (2 tubes) - swapped for -> Mitchell & Peach Fine Radiance Face Oil
• Lauren B Nail Polish in I'm So LA - swapped for -> Aerin Waterlily Sun Perfume

The White Tea Tonique is a 100% natural, light moisturizing spray which is great when I don't want to have a lot of product on my face.  I checked out the 100% Pure website and there is so much stuff I want to try from them!  I need to come up a with a good reason to treat myself to a mini shopping spree on their website.  The Malin and Goetz lip moisturizer felt greasier than I would like but it works okay.  I'm happy to be rid of more items from the March PopSugar box.  I finally found someone, a 4 year old girl, who wanted the hot pink zip pouch from that box so I gave it to her.  I was able to trade the travel packing checklist for another container of the Derma E brightening crème that I received in the April Goodebox.  Since one of my current skin goals is to lighten a couple of hyper-pigmented spots on my face, I'm hoping crèmes like this one will help.  I love serums and oils for skin, so I'm always looking for new ones to try.  The Mitchell and Peach oil contains some of my favorite natural oils such as jojoba, grape seed, and coconut oil.  It also contains apricot and sunflower seed oils.  My only concern is that it contains perfume.  Perfumed oils are hit or miss when it comes to a negative reaction on the skin on my face.  I may just use this one as a hand and body oil.  My nose is usually pretty sensitive to perfumes, but I really like the scent of the Aerin Waterlily Sun perfume.  I tried a little on my wrist and it lingered for several hours but it was not too overwhelming for me.  I thought it was the perfect balance of sweet, floral and musk for me.  I think it will be perfect for spring and summer.  The 0.3 oz travel size that I have can be purchased from Nordstrom for $15.  I like the small bottle and the convenience of being able to carry it in my purse anywhere.  And since I wear very little perfume, even this small bottle should last me a long time.  I will probably purchase another small bottle to have an extra one for my bathroom vanity.  Overall, I was quite pleased with the trades I made this month!

Adore Me - April 2015

Adore Me is an intimates subscription service similar to Fabletics that offers lingerie/underwear, corsets, sleep wear, and bathing suits.   As a VIP member you do have to deal with indicating that you want to order or skip ordering at the beginning of each month.  The benefit of being a VIP member is that the price per set is $10 cheaper ($39.95) than the non-member pricing ($49.95).  VIP Members also get free shipping and can earn a free set for every five sets you buy.  New members can sign up to receive their first set for $24.95 but I was given a special deal to get my first set for only $19.95.  Here is what I purchased:

Kaylee Push Up Balconette Bra & Hipster Panty Set in Mauve

New VIP Member Price:  $19.95 (included free shipping)
Regular Member Price:  $39.95
Non Member Price:  $49.95
Impressions:  I love the soft mauve color, lacy details, and the overall quality for the price.  Both pieces I received fit well.  The bra in this set can be worn strapless as well.  The website had a lot of cute pieces, in many different color options, but I noticed that most of the bras were balconette style which is not my favorite style.  I do like that they offer different bottom styles so you can pick which one you prefer (thong, brief, or hipster).  I wish they offered more full coverage, t-shirt friendly bra styles.  Overall, I'm pleased with my first set from Adore Me.  In the future I plan to buy a sleepwear/pajama set.

Graze - Free Trial Box

I recently took advantage of a free trial box of snacks from Graze, a mail order subscription snack service.  The free trial comes with 4 snacks but you can choose between 4 snack ($6.99) or 8 snack ($11.99) boxes when you subscribe.  You also have to option to schedule how often you want to receive a box.  I signed up for the 8 snack box subscription to start after my free trial because I snack a lot and it is a better deal.  When you try the snacks, you can go online to note if you liked them or not, or note if you really want to try something or exclude certain snacks from being shipped to you.  My box shipped via USPS and was small enough to fit in a standard mailbox.  Here are the snacks from my free trial box:

Welcome letter explaining how Graze works:

Nutrition and ingredient information for each snack included:

 

The Cheese Board

Lemon Almond Cookie Dippers with Oat & Spelt and Wild Blueberry Compote

Southern BBQ Pistachios

Deconstructed Carrot Cake

Cost of Box:  Free Trial
Impressions:  I like that the snacks come individually wrapped in portion controlled, individually wrapped snacks.  If you are mindless snacker like me, individually portioned snacks are really helpful!  But when you first see the size of the snack containers, you will probably be disappointed because it doesn't look like much.  They average around 1 oz each.  I also like that the snacks are healthier options than reaching for potato chips and candy bars.  I subscribed to the variety snack box so I will get a mix of sweet and savory snacks but there is a box option to only get sweets.  I liked everything in my trial box except the lemon almond cookie dippers.  I love almonds and blueberries but both the cookies and the blueberry compote were terrible in my opinion.  The BBQ Pistachios were my favorite out of this box.  I would not say that the volume of snacks justifies the $7 cost of the the 4 snack box ($1.75 per snack).  The cost per snack for the 8 snack box is $1.50 each.  So these boxes are not the greatest value from a cost per volume perspective.  With Graze, you are paying for the interesting flavored snacks that you may not be able to find at your local market, as well as portion controlled, healthier snack options.  I would not make this my sole source of snacks because the value per volume is not there for me.  I signed up to receive an 8-snack box every 2 weeks just as a treat to something different than what I may usually snack on.  I am looking forward to trying what comes in my next box!

Bare Bliss Box - April 2015

I received my first Bare Bliss Box this week.  Bare Bliss box features natural, organic, vegan, and toxin free makeup and skincare products each month.  Since it is a natural box, I decided to give them a try.  Here are the brands featured in this month's box:

 Au Naturale Cream Eye Shadow in Addiction (value unknown)

 Sally B's Skin Yummies Tamanu Luxury Organic Facial Cleanser  1oz ($6.50 value)

 Sapothecary Lavender with Flowers Handmade Botanical Soap ($5)

 Smart Ash All Natural Teeth Whitener & Detoxifier Powder (value unknown)

 Weleda Pomegranate Regenerating Body Lotion  0.68 oz ($1.65 value)

Cost of Box:  $19.99 per month (free shipping)
Impressions:   I like the variety of products included in this box but I can't say that I was wowed by the samples.  I'm not crazy about the scent of the lavender soap or the facial cleanser but I will try them to see how they work.  I do like pomegranate products so I plan to use the body lotion as well, but most likely just as a hand lotion to keep in my purse.  I'm quite intrigued by the teeth whitening powder which is black like ash or charcoal.  It is a small sample so I will probably just sprinkle a little bit on to my regular toothpaste to make it last a little longer.  I plan to trade the cream eye shadow or give it away.  Overall, I like that all the products are natural and I plan to try everything but the eyeshadow.  I do not know the full value of the box because the eyeshadow and teeth whitener samples were not listed with a size.  However, I do think the box value is at least the cost of the box.  The cleanser, soap, and lotion samples alone have a value of $13.15. 

I was a little underwhelmed by this box and I think it's because I don't really like the scents of the products and the teeth whitener sample is a bit small.  This doesn't appear to be a very high retail value box but I plan to continue my subscription for at least another month just in case this was an off month for Bare Bliss.  As far as natural care boxes go, Kloverbox has become the standard by which I hold all other natural boxes.  So if next month's Bare Bliss box isn't better, I will most likely cancel.
 
Shipping:  This box shipped to me via USPS.  I did not receive any tracking number or email notification when the box shipped.