Goodebox - August 2015

I received my August Goodebox today!  Here is a look at the samples I received in this month's box:

Product Information Cards

LOVEFRESH 100% Natural Deodorant in Lemon Verbena  2 oz  ($15)

Zoe Organics Everything Balm  0.6 oz ($14)

 Kahina Giving Beauty Facial Cleanser  16 mL ($4.20 value)

Au Naturale Cosmetics Powder Eye Shadow in Gold Dust  1 g ($15)

 

W3ll People Bio Brightener Invisible Powder  3 g ($12 value)

 

Cost of Box:  $21 (free shipping)
Total Box Value:  $60.20
Impressions:   The monthly price for the Goodebox recently increased slightly for a variety of reasons, one being the inclusion of more full size products and deluxe size samples.   I am happy to see that 3 of the 5 samples I received are full size.  However, I am disappointed that this box included 2 makeup items.  My beauty profile questionnaire clearly expresses my lack of interest in makeup products and Goodebox has been very good about honoring my preferences in the past.  So, I feel like this month's box wasn't as customized as my previous boxes from them.  The total value of this box is good but the value of the 3 samples I plan to use only make up a little over half of the total value.  I wish I had received the orange or rose scented versions of the LoveFresh deodorants.  I'm not crazy about the Lemon Verbena scent but I will give this product a try because it has all 5 star ratings on the LoveFresh website.  It does include baking soda which can cause skin irritation for some people so I will have to test it on only a small area of my underarm first.  I applied a thin layer to the back of my hand and it went on smoothly, clearly, and didn't turn ashy or flaky after it dried.  I wiped my hand on a dark t-shirt and I didn't notice any white marks, which is a plus.  The scent did linger on my hand until I washed it really well.  And the shea butter and coconut oil it contains is moisturizing.  My favorite item out of this box is the Zoe Organics Everything Balm.  I have dry skin, especially on my hands, so heavier moisturizing products like oils and balms are best for me.  I applied this on my hands and it worked well but, as the name implies, this balm can be used for more than just a moisturizer.  I love multi-purpose products!  I see this tube getting used up quickly!  I recently became a fan of Argan oil as a result of some Argan Oil Acure products I tried so I am happy that the Kahina facial cleanser contains Argan oil.  The eyeshadow and brightener powders look pretty and of good quality but I will be gifting those. 

This month's Goodebox was okay for me but not as good as my July box but I'm looking forward to seeing the continued improvements at Goodebox.

Goodebox - July 2015

I received my July Goodebox today and I really like what I got!  Here is a look at the samples I received in this month's box:

Product Information Cards

 

Acure Brightening Facial Scrub  4 oz ($9.99)

 

100% Pure Purity Spot Treatment  1 oz ($19)

 

All Good Elemental Herb Coconut Sunstick SPF 30  0.6 oz ($7.99)

 

Yarok Feed Your Shine Hair Serum  10ml ($8.93 value)

 

Oneself Hawaiian Flower Lei Perfume Oil  2 ml ($9.80 value)

 

Cost of Box:  $19 (free shipping)
Total Box Value:  $55.71
Impressions:   I'm excited to try the Acure facial scrub because I've been trying many different skin brightening products over the past few months.  I'm so happy to have another product from 100% Pure!  And I have been in need of another blemish treatment so this came right on time!  I have received several sunscreens in beauty boxes over the past few months.  I prefer spray sunscreens over lotions and sticks but I do appreciate having more natural sunscreens.  I like trying serums of all kind, including hair serums.  I haven't tried the Yarok serum yet to know how well it works on my hair but I do know that I don't like the scent.  I think it's the strong mix of cedar and sage that I don't like.  I will give it a try but I wish the scent was more subtle.  The Oneself perfume is wonderful!  I normally dislike getting these little perfume vials but I love this Hawaiian flower lei scent which reminds me a lot of honeysuckle.  It's sweet but not overwhelming.  I wish the sample was bigger!  I may have to invest in the full size. 

Overall, I am quite pleased with the variety and size of the samples I received this month.  I'm most excited about the scrub, spot treatment, and perfume but I plan to try everything so this was a great box for me.  The retail value of this box is nearly three times what paid which makes this box an even better deal.  I've really been impressed with Goodebox lately and I'm already looking forward to next month's box!

Goodebox - June 2015

I received my June Goodebox today!  Here is a look at the samples I received in this month's box:

Product Information Cards

MyChelle Dermaceuticals Remarkable Retinal Eye Cream  0.5 fl oz ($35)

 Suntegrity Natural Self Tanner  (size and value unknown)

Odacite Intensive Hand & Heel Therapy  0.5 oz ($4.88 value)

 Lillian Eve Nail Polish in Ballet Slipper  0.5 oz ($12)

 Red Flower Wanderlust Hand & Face Towelettes  Set of 7 ($5)

 

Cost of Box:  $19 (free shipping)
Total Box Value:  over $56.88
Impressions:  I've heard of the MyChelle brand before but have never received any of their products in any of the beauty boxes I subscribe to so I am happy to finally get to try something from them.  I've been trying to be more consistent in using an eye treatment in my skincare regimen so it's good to have another product to try out.  I normally prefer oils over creams because they glide on and absorb easily whereas creams have to be patted on to prevent pulling on the delicate eye skin.  This half ounce tube should last me a very long time.  I will not be using the self tanner because I'm African American and don't have a need for it.  I would imagine that the fact that it is concentrate would make it difficult to get an even and natural look.  The Odacite hand and heel cream is very rich and creamy and did a great job of moisturizing my dry hands.  I wish it was a bigger sample!  I like that the nail polish is a nice, sheer to opaque, neutral color that anyone could use.  If I painted my nails, I would use it.  I'm always happy to get towelettes because I find them to be quite handy to have on hand in my purse for situations when I need to clean off my hands more thoroughly than with hand sanitizer alone.

I think the value of this box is great!  I plan to use everything but the nail polish and the self tanner.  Even though I'm not using everything, the value of the eye cream alone still makes this box worth it for me!  I'm quite happy with my subscription of Goodebox so far.  Their customer service is one of the best I've encountered in the subscription box world.  Last month I noticed on my online account that two of the items listed to be included in my May box were different from what was actually shipped to me.  I simply emailed to ask if substitutes were common since I have not been subscribed for very long.  Customer service emailed back quickly and said that substitutes should not have been made and that they must have put the wrong selection of items in my box by mistake.  They said they would ship the items I was supposed to get and told me I could keep the items they shipped by mistake as a bonus!  I wasn't expecting that but I was so happy they offered!  Here are the two items I was supposed to get in my May box instead of the natural deodorant and lip tint that I received:

MSC Skincare & Home Scent 002 Parfum  (size and value known)

 Mullien & Sparrow French Lavender Body Oil  1 fl oz ($15 value)

I don't normally like getting perfume samples because they are often to intense for my sense of smell but I really like this one from MSC.  I think it may be because it is alcohol-free so the scents are more subtle.  I like that I can actually smell the vanilla notes.  Lavender scented items usually tend to be a bit too strongly scented for me but the lavender scent in the body oil from Mullein & Sparrow isn't overwhelming to me.  And I love beauty and body oils because they work well on moisturizing my dry skin so I'm always happy to get more oil items to try!

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!

Goodebox - Spring 2015 Bonus Box

Goodebox recently offered a mystery bonus box with samples from the brands that have been featured in their past monthly subscription boxes.  They promised 15 items with a value of $25 or more.  I was a little hesitant about purchasing this box at first because it was a truly random box, meaning it was not going to be assembled or customized with regard to beauty profile preferences like the regular monthly box is.  I knew there was a risk of getting makeup items but I figured if I got a few good skincare items, it would be worth it.  Here's what I got in my bonus box:

Tatcha Polished Classic Rice Enzyme Powder  (10 g)

Zosimos Botanicals Raspberry and Honey Facial Mask (size unknown)

Juice Beauty Stem Cellular Repair CC Cream SPF 30 - Warm Glow (two 0.17 oz tubes)

Unik Age-Defying Night Cream with Hyaluronic Acid (two 0.34 fl oz tubes)

Josh Rosebrook Deep Nourishing Shampoo & Conditioner (size unknown)

Jillian Wright Gentle Peptide Cleanser & Cranberry Pomegranate Congested Skin Cleanser with Salicylic Acid (size unknown)

Everyone Bubble Bath Yoga (1.5 fl oz)

Hue Nail Polish in Ka'ahumanu (0.5 fl oz)

Blissoma Scentless Solid Natural Deodorant (0.15 oz)

Seventh Generation Hydrating with Jojoba Natural Skin Serum (size unknown)

Vapour Organic Beauty Eye Color

MSC Soy Candle Scent 003 (size unknown)

Cost of Box:  $25 (free shipping)
Impressions:  I liked the variety of the products in this bonus box.  And they did include at least 15 samples as promised, however I didn't like that there were exact duplicates of 2 of the samples.   I plan to try everything except the Juice Beauty CC cream, eye shadow, nail polish, and natural deodorant.  I don't use makeup or nail polish.  The natural deodorant does not smell good and is dry/crumbly so I can't imagine trying to use it.  I will most likely toss it and the eye shadow in the trash.  I will try to trade the nail polish.  I'm not in love with the smell of the yoga bubble bath but I may try to use it anyway.  The item I'm most excited about is the Tatcha rice enzyme powder.  I've been wanting to try this for a long time so I'm really excited to get this.  I'm also really looking forward to trying the raspberry and honey facial mask, night cream, and serum.  I am not sure of the exact value of this box because many of the samples were not listed with a size for me to calculate value but it does not look like a high value sample box.  I'm guessing that the value is no more than the $25 I paid.  I like to get boxes with a retail value higher than what I paid, especially when I don't use all the samples, so I'm not overjoyed with this box.  But I am glad that I finally get to try the Tatcha rice powder without having to shell out $65 for the full size container.  I'm interested to see what other's got in their mystery box. 

Since they called this the Spring Bonus Box, I'm assuming they release one every season.  At $25 for 15 samples, a bonus box is a pretty good cost per sample deal compared to paying the $19 monthly subscription for 5 samples.  And since you don't have to be a monthly subscriber to buy the bonus box, it's a good way to try Goodebox out without committing to a subscription.  The advantage of the monthly box, however, is that there is some customization based on your beauty profile.  Although this box included some useful/practical items for me, I wasn't really excited with the box overall.  But this is no big surprise since it was a bonus box made up of left-over samples that they are essentially just trying to get rid of.  I doubt I will buy a mystery bonus box from Goodebox in the future but I am still looking forward to their next regular monthly subscription box.