PopSugar Must Have Box March 2014 Review

PopSugar March 2014 Review

My PopSugar box arrived yesterday. I get the monthly subscription, and so does K. We pay $39.95 monthly. I was really happy to see my box, but K's did not get delivered. Not sure what is going on with that, but I'm fairly confident it will be here Monday or Tuesday. I wanted to wait for K so we can open together, but, uh, couldn't wait to open it.

K- *Update*- After billing issues my box FINALLY came!!!!

Harvest Snaps Snapea Crisps - $2
A- This month I was able to resist eating the snack. This is original Green Pea crisps. It's a healthy snack. Personally, I prefer non-healthy snacks from PopSugar. I like my sugary sweets. I've already given this away.

K-I am willing to try this but wasn't overly thrilled.

Baublebar Elephant Ring Tree - $12

A-This is tooo cute!! I love it. Your rings sit on the elephants nose, and it's bright and shiny. We also found it listed in the ShopSmart magazine.

K- I love this little guy. He will be put to good use!

Jurlique Herbal Recovery Advanced Serum - $27
A- I really love face serums. But this one, I am going to have to pass on. It smells really florally, and the ingredients list several different flowers. I didn't see lavender specifically, but the smell was already overwhelming. I will be gifting to someone who likes floral smells.

K- I was happy to see a quality product however I have collected a few serums over the last month and this one has an overwhelming smell, so I will most likely throw into the gift basket.

Activeforever Fusion Exercise Ball- $9.95
A-This is a mini exercise ball, 7.5". We are showing it next to a cell phone, so you can get a better idea. I'm excited to see this, because we can use this with Pilates exercises. I am happy to see something workout related. And I'll be using this for sure.

K-I was very excited about this when I saw it in the spoilers! I have been using the barre workout from FabFitFun's fall box, and a fan of pilates so this will be put to good use! I love it when they include workout stuff!

 Natures Bakery All Natural Strawberry Fig Bars -
A- The only price I found was $7.50 for a dozen. I didn't immediately eat this snack either, but I have to say that this is a little more like it. Still on the healthy side though. I like fig newtons, so I'll be trying this one.

K- I am excited to try this treat!

Dogeared Lucky Horseshoe Make a Wish Necklace - $26
A- This Horseshoe necklace is so cute. It's supposed to bring you good luck. You make a wish then put your necklace on. When the necklace falls apart, then your wish is ready to come true. I don't know that I can believe in luck being brought about by a necklace, but either way I think it's still super cute.

K-I love that they included a lucky charm in March's box!And I love horseshoes! But I will be disappointed when it wears off! But hopefully my wish comes true! ;)

Brokedown Blue Ikat Scarf - $72 

A- I LOVE this!! I have yet to get into wearing scarves, but I have already stated I will be starting this season. So, to get this in the box is truly inspirational.  I have checked out the website and it has some really cool things, it's a small collection, and spendy, but really cute. Anyway, I'm really happy to see this in the PopSugar box this month.

K-Wow! This scarf is so beautiful in person! The blue really pops! and it works well with my fair skin I love it!! 

A-If you are interested in PopSugar, you can click here on the PopSugar link they gave me. I feel like we got an excellent value this month. We also received some coupons, 15% off Jurlique, 20% off Dogeared, and 20% off BaubleBar.  

Lush Haul

Recently I went with a friend to Lush in Westlake Center in Seattle. This place is dangerous! Everything smells amazing and the sales people are very...well helpful to say the least. They are very pro Lush and can tell you about every product in the store. I have a love hate relationship with this company. There products are "home-made", smell great, and they place a huge emphasis on customer service. However, the products are not nearly as "eco friendly" as they perceive to be. They still use parabens. The one thing that really gave me a sour taste about the company is their online site and the "education" they give you about parabens by discrediting peer reviewed articles about the dangers of parabens from major institutions. As a scientist I really believe in being transparent about facts and they are not being that. However they do offer a large selection of products that are paraben free so I decided to give them another shot. And the sales associate we had was very patient, informative, and helpful.

Charity Pot lotion(1.7 oz) ($5.95) One of two items I gave into that have parabens. This lotion has a cocoa smell to it and all proceeds are donated to charities around the world. I really liked the smell and wanted to try a new lotion as I experiencing dry skin this winter. The sales associate talked me into it while ringing me up.

Lemony Flutter Cuticle Cream ($16.95) My favorite scent in the world is lemon and this product smells like a lemon wonderland. This product softened my skin in the store and it is suppose to be used on cracked cuticles and rough body parts. But this product also brightens tattoos! The sales associate showed us on her tattoo and it looked incredible after she applied it. So I gave in and threw it in the basket.

Cosmetic Warrior (6.95) I had a great experience with the Cupcake face mask last time. It smelled great and made my skin super soft. But cupcake is designed for oily skin and recently I have been experiencing breakouts but super dry flaky skin as well so the sales associate said she wouldn't recommend it this time. After explaining my skin condition and what I wanted out of a face mask she gave me three suggestions and let me try them each on my hands. I loved the ingredients in cosmetic warrior and it felt great in the store. This mask has moisturizing egg whites and honey, cleansing garlic, and tea tree oil to fight breakouts. on paper this seemed like the perfect mask but when I tried it it seemed to irritate my skin and left me red. I want to try this one more time though. 

Angels on Bare Skin ($13.95) I couldn't decide which skin care i wanted to try but I had read many raves about this product and after speaking with the sales associate I had to try it out. The associate explained that this helps balance the skin and calm redness which is what I need right now. I loved the smell as well. I tried this once and the results were great! my skin felt so smooth and the redness was calmed. The only thing i don't like is that I cant use with my clarisonic because of the grounds of almond and lavender in it, but I will work this into my skin care routine.

*UPDATE* This is my new favorite face cleanser! I was having a huge breakout this week. Like literally a patch of ten zits it was horrible. I used Dark Angels once, and then Angels on Bare Skin and my face cleared right up! and my skin is way more balanced. This stuff isn't drying out my skin either, which everything else seems to be doing!!. I have been using it with my MIA, as the brush head is at the end of its life. I haven't had any real issues but i think it is slightly wearing out the brush head. I think when I switch out the heads I am going to disinfect the current one and keep using it with just my Angels On Bare Skin so I don't wear out the new one too quickly.

Dark Angels Cleanser ($12.95) The sales associate who helped me choose between angels on bare skin and dark angels gave me a sample of dark angels to try as well so I can compare the two at home. I loved that this was described as a detoxify-er meant to draw out the impurities. Charcoal cleansers seem to be very in right now and I can't wait to try this one out. I will update once I do.

*UPDATE* my skin feels great after I use it! However I am not a fan of the charcoal/licorice scent, my friend doesn't mind it though. It's a great scrubber! But be warned it's super messy!! My sink and counter are a disaster after I use it!

25:43 Perfume (15.95) I am not a fan of perfume but my friend wanted to learn about them so the sales associate told us the stories of each of the gorilla perfumes. This one in particular was invented by the LUSH inventor and co-founder for his sons wedding. The bride wore a citrusy perfume and combined it with tonka and lime. The groom later added lemongrass, vanilla, and ylang ylang and listea . It was named 25:43 because it took 25 minutes and 43 seconds to create the perfume. I hate to review perfumes online because scent is such a personal preference. My friend really loved Lust but I wasn't a fan. When I smell this perfume I immediately smell the lemon mixed with a warm vanilla scent mixed with a woodsy note.

I really love the Lush products I have tested out. And I really like the recycle program they have. If you bring back 5 empty pots then you get a free face mask! Even after the review I still have a love hate relationship with Lush. I love the products, the charities they contribute to,  the sales associates helpfulness, but I wish they would phase out parabens and didn't provide falsifying data to the public. However if you live near a Lush I highly recommend smelling everything!

-K

Review of Tarte Pure Maracuja Oil face serum and Tarte Maracuja C-brighter Eye Treatment

I love Tarte a lot! I use their Amazonian Clay foundation which is amazing, blushes, primer, and a few other of their products. Tarte is self described as an eco-friendly and cruelty free company and I was drawn to them in particular because they are a prestige brand that is paraben free and is graded high on the green scale. I decided to keep with my skin care routine reviews and review two of my favorite face care products. 

Tarte Pure Maracuja Oil ($46)
Pure Maracuja Oil is 100% pure organic maracuja oil. Tarte promises firmer, brighter, smoother skin. Which I can happily say I see the next morning after using it. Every morning after I use this my skin is glowing, less red and makes my skin incredibly smooth. I love this serum but it is a bit pricey but you do get a large volume and its a great product. This is also formulated without Parabens, Sulfates, Synthetic Fragrances, Petrochemicals, Phthalates, GMOs, and Triclosan's. This is a product that I will definitely replace once I am out because it has been a miracle worker.
Tarte Maracuja C-Brighter Eye Treatment ($38)
This eye treatment is described as "an intense, maracuja fruit- and vitamin C-infused, multitasking eye-treatment that visibly hydrates, firms, and brightens the delicate eye-area" that promises to refresh, renew, and recharge tired eyes. This treatment does what it promises as well! In the morning my eyes are firmer and the dark circles are nearly gone! This product is also formulated without parabens, sulfates, and phthalates. I have tried a few other eye creams that I received in some of the subscription  boxes but nothing compares to this stuff!

-K

Clarisonic Mia Review

I wanted to do a review on my staple face cleansing tool my Clairisonic MIA. I have had this for a little over a year now and I cannot imagine my life without it! When I first heard about it I could not justify spending $125 on a face tool, so I sold my old textbooks to amazon.com and received a gift card and purchased it with that. Now that I have spent the money I would do it again if it broke! My skin has improved so much over the year and I don't feel clean without it. I have combination skin and very prone to breakouts and ever since using my Mia my skin has become more balanced, less red around my nose and chin, less black heads in my t-zone, my pores have gotten smaller, and I have less breakouts. This nifty device has been life changing. I also love that the charger is magnetic and that the device is completely water proof so if you want to use it in the shower you can.  

There are a few things that I wish were better with this device though. I wish the charge lasted longer. Typically it lasts a week for me; but the most annoying thing is that there is not any indication it is going dead until it dies, which just so happens to be right after I apply the face wash to my face and it wont start! I wish it would let you know when its running low on power so I didn't have those mornings. 

The next thing I really don't like is how expensive the replacement heads are. One head is $25 or you can buy a two pack for $40 and you need to replace them every 3-4 months. I wish they were more affordable! The price is way over priced! I tried to buy replacement heads off of Groupon, but they were horrible and felt like they scratched a layer of my skin off! 

The last thing is the hygienic of the device. I learned a few tricks over the year to help. First, I always make sure to take the head off after using now to let the head and the device dry separately. I didn't do this at first and when I went to replace the head, both the head and inside device had built up pink soap scum and it grossed me out. Since I have been drying them separately I haven't had this issue. I also started washing the head with antibacterial soap once a week and have also sprayed with rubbing alcohol from time to time and let it dry completely to kill any bacteria left. I only do this if I feel like its getting gross as I hear alcohol isn't the best to use on the synthetic brush material. Even with these draw backs I love this machine so much and would never go back to not having it in my life!

Recently I have heard of a new tool on the market called the Foreo Luna that seems interesting to try. This machine is described as "a silicone facial brush for sensitive to normal skin that channels both T-sonic pulsations for deep and gentle cleansing, and lower-frequency pulsations to reduce the signs of aging." The Luna is more expensive than the Mia ringing in at $199, but it doesn't require any replacement heads so its a one time expense. They claim it is more hygienic because the silicon doesn't allow bacteria to grow. But I am not sure I would be as happy with it because all it does is vibrate against your face and doesn't provide a deep cleanse. Maybe one day I will try it out though.

-K

GlossyBox Spoiler and Code

Glossy Box has revealed the first spoiler for the March Box! Every box will have a deluxed sized Sisley Black Rose Cream Mask! And subscribers can use the code "GBFRESH" to receive a Fresh Lotus Youth Preserve Face Cream in your next box! (Expires 3-31-14)

GlossyBox December 2013 Review

Again, Sorry with being late on this review but at least I tried the products now!

Michael Todd True Organics Pumpkin Mask ($10) I was excited when this was first revealed as a spoiler, however I am not as thrilled now that I've tried it. This mask stings a little at first. And the smell....O my! I thought it would be a pleasant sweet pumpkin smell, but I was wrong...Oh so wrong! It literally smells like a squash! I hate the scent. but happy it is certified vegan and natural.

Dr. Hunters Hand Cream (2.80)  I love getting travel size lotions. So this was a hit for me in winter. 

Nails Inc. Victoria Polish ($9.50) I love the seep blood red color! Excited to try it. 

Anatomicals you Need a Blooming Shower ($2.75) I usually hate floral scented stuff but I actually liked this shower gel, and it arrived just in time as i was running out of shower gel! It definitely smells like a bouquet of roses though. I love that is paraben free!

Naobay Oxgenating Cream Moisturizing ($25.88) I really love this moisturizer! I have been using it for almost two months and have had great results. I love the light scent and that its natural and organic! This was a win for me.

Overall the box had a total value of $67.13! Another great value from GlossyBox! Looking forward to the March box!


-K

GlossyBox January 2014 Review

I am finally posting the GlossyBox for January. I thought it already had been posted but it wasn't, so here it is.

The fist item was the Original Beauty Blender ($19.95) this was a released spoiler. I was very excited to see this in the box! Blending sponges seem to be all the rage right now. Personally, I love my Tarte Bamboo brush for blending in my foundation, but I am still very excited to try this. I loved that it came with a cleanser too! my mother managed to get the solid cleanser and I got the gel, I am very happy I got the gel. 

Toni & Guy Hair Meet Wardrobe Casual Sea Salt Texturizing Spray ($6.25) I have collected a few sea salt sprays in the past but never brought myself to actually use them. I have VERY thick wavy hair and I straighten it every single day. I couldn't imagine walking out of the house without it straightened, so I never just sprayed something in my hair and called it good, but I really want to break out of my comfort zone and try something new! The only thing I was not happy about with the product is that it has parabens in it. But I do look forward to trying it out.

BellaPierre Cosmetic Mineral Blush (color: Desert Rose) ($20) I loved that this is full sized and it's a great shade for my fair skin. I am looking forward to trying this out. this one is also paraben free. 

Balance Me Super Toning Body Wash ($5.67) I was really happy to see clear on the label "99% organic origin". I liked the smell,which on the website is a blend of juniper, bergamot, geranium, and lavender essential oils. 

Vichy Aqualia Thermal Rich Cream ($9.18) I have been having issues with really dry skin lately due to the weather so I have been experimenting with moisturizers. This one seemed to work really well and doesn't have any parabens listed in the ingredients. But the smell! It is way to fragrant and has an artificial floral-like smell to it, so it is making it hard to use. I am surprised no one else has complained about the scent!

Overall I really enjoyed this box. The total calculated value came to around $61.05 and I received this as part of the three month Groupon special, so I got a great value! I am very happy with my GlossyBox subscription and definitely wanting to renew it.

-K