Birchbox - March 2013

I'm still on the fence about Birchbox. There are so many great subscription boxes around these days, this one may not make the cut. In its favor is the fact that they offer some great skin care items and they have a great points system. Against it has been some rather small samples as of late and more makeup than I need. But on to the samples!

 Three different scents of Caldrea lotion. I really liked all three of these. All were nice light scents and made my skin feel great. The other item is a nail file with a floral pattern. It's an ok nail file.

 The Make makeup remover works really well. It doesn't have a heavy oily feel like some makeup removers do. I hate lipstick samples like this. They always seem to break off after two or three uses. It's a shame because I really like the color and the way it feels. I've only used it once so it's still in one piece.

This dry shampoo might be one of the worst I've tried. My hair actually felt more dirty after using it. Most but not all of the white powder shook out of my hair the way it was supposed to. It left an odd residue on my hair that just felt weird and icky.

Conscious Box - February 2013

I scored a deal for 3 months of Conscious Box. (Normally $19.95 a month.) Since I'd been wanting to try this one out I figured this was a great way to try it out. My only regret so far is that now I want to figure out a way to keep getting this one.
This was the first box I received. I waited to do this review because some of my items were damaged in shipping (or more accurately bathed in laundry soap.) I have to say Conscious Box customer service was amazing about this. It took a few days for them to get back to me but the promised to replace the items that were unusable. Instead I got a whole new box! If you are looking to put more eco-friendly items into use, this is a great discovery box. Most of the items are the larger "deluxe" sample sizes.

 1 package of Country Choice Organics Instant Oatmeal in Cranberry apple. I didn't get to try this flavor as this was one of the items that got soaped. The Maple I did try was delicious! The Pride Green garbage bags are awesome. I put this in with our regular bags and then asked my husband after he took out the garbage what he thought of it. He was surprised that it was biodegradable. It actually held up better than our "regular" bags. The Amazing Grass Kidz SuperFood Wild Berry was another item that was soaped. I haven't had a chance to try the replacement.

 Two amazing products. The Safonique Laundry soap is a great product and my husband has had no allergic reaction to it. (Unlike many other laundry detergents - natural and otherwise.) It has a light lavender scent but the clothes do not. I had been wanting to try something from the Honest Company but just can't afford another subscription right now. This company was founded by actress (and mother of two) Jessica Alba. If the hand soap is any indicator they have great quality stuff. My only criticism is the sample only had the twist cap and no cover over the bottle. For shipping that can be a problem as this box proved. Perhaps the full size items are sealed better.

 The chocolate gets its own picture! This is really yummy. At 85% it is my max cacao preference but this is good because I won't eat the whole bar. One square satisfies the chocolate craving.

The coconut oil is interesting. It's a single serving package that feels almost solid. You have to massage the package before use to soften it. I've actually tried the Sahale snacks thanks to my mom who buys them every time she is in Chicago. These are as delicious as the others I've tried. The Swipes are basically a wet wipe but for more intimate areas. Honestly they remind me of the diaper wipes we have for my daughter. They are unscented. I haven't had a chance to try the Natural Vitality Natural Calm yet. It is a magnesium supplement. Recently I learned that some who have heart palpitations (PVCs in my case) are low in magnesium, now I'm really interested in this product.

Birchbox February 2013

This post is pretty late, especially since I just received the March box. I'm just not that excited about Birchbox anymore. Part of that might have to do with the fact that two of the last three months I have had to contact customer service. In January I was sent the wrong item. Not a big deal except that I couldn't review for points the item I did receive. Birchbox sent me the correct item and I got to keep the other sample. This month an item was just missing. I received an email that they would send it to me but it will take at least ten days. Oh well. On to the February box!

Just about every subscription box had chocolate in it in February. No complaints here! Birchbox opted for the delicious Ghiradelli caramel square. If these were a little darker chocolate I'd be even happier. The other item pictured is a Wei Golden Root Purifying Mud Mask. Eight of these go for $42 so I doubt I'll be trying them again anytime soon. The full size comes with a brush for application. The sample does not. I wish I could figure out what kind of brush it comes with to give this a fair and full trial. Either way, hopefully I'll have time to try this out this coming weekend. Maybe.

Sorry for the poor quality of this photo. My camera was being uncooperative that day. The spray bottle is Beauty Protector Protect & Detangle. I love leave in conditioners in a spray bottle. It makes it so much easier to make sure I get it through all of my hair (it's long and there's a lot of it.) I'm not so excited about another nail polish. I don't use polish very often and the last time I used one this red was at the request of a community theater director for a show I was in. Well I can save this for fun time with D I suppose since the Color Club colors are free of formaldehyde, toluene, and DBP.

I can't think of the last time I got a Birchbox without a perfume sample. This months was Juicy Couture Couture La La. It's a nice light scent. Unfortunately my sample leaks on my hand every time I spray it. But it is a nice scent. I'm actually wearing it today! But at $90 I remember why I don't buy much perfume. The Wei Pomegranate Buffing Beads are almost a thing of genius. You sprinkle these in to your hand after adding your regular face cleanser and it turns it into an exfoliant with a great texture. My face felt great after using this.

Overall not a bad Birchbox. I've enjoyed trying things I doubt I would buy on my own. And isn't that the point of these subscription boxes. The only reason I might cancel this one is because I just don't get excited when I know it's on the way any more. It's not you Birchbox, it's me.

Pop Sugar Must Have Box - February 2013

Pop Sugars Must Have Box is like getting a present from a friend each month. They are usually things I wouldn't purchase for myself but things I enjoy once I have them. And isn't that the point of a subscription box?

I just couldn't get a good picture of the first item. This was the "big" item this month and also the big controversy on the boards. It's a spa cover up. Reminiscent of those towels with velcro at the top but a much nicer and softer material. Apparently the problem was that a percentage of PopSugar subscribers didn't fit into Brokedown's image of "one size fits all." Fortunately it fits me ok. I'm not going to wear it in public but it covers the essentials. And actually around my waste will make a great swim suite cover! 

 The Sweethearts were meant to be cute. But I hate these things but I was able to give them away. I've never photographed underwear before. But that's what the Hanky Panky label is covering. This was also an issue for some because they are sized as One Size but we all know that doesn't really mean fits all. I don't think I would have bought these on their own but I like these. Still debating if I'll use the coupon to get more.

This stuff is awesome! And whoever thought up the design to fit the little toothbrush like thing on the bottle is a genius. I cleaned a ring for my sis that she claimed was never cleaned :-) It actually shined with very little effort.

 I've been saying I should read a Nicholas Sparks book. I guess this one is the one I'll read.

 The hit of the box in my house was these chocolate covered cacao nibs. Yum! My daughter loves the pretty box and all three of us (yes she is already a dark chocolate lover) love the little chocolate pieces inside. A nice little burst of chocolate and you only need to eat a couple to satisfy a craving for chocolate.

I for one was happy with this box. And can't wait for March!