Round 'em up!

It's round up time!

 

I've now received all of my August boxes and, of the makeup-centered boxes, ipsy is the clear winner. I am loving the Michael Todd Jojoba Charcoal Facial Scrub, and my hubby loves the Urban Decay "Anarchy" lipstick on me (definite plus :). Those products plus the adorable purple cosmetics case = me loving ipsy right now :) I'm 100% looking forward to next month!

 

Birchbox comes in second this month. I really love the Jouer Eye Definer, and the fact that it was full-size is wonderful. Starbox comes in third. I like the lipsticks I received, but I didn't care for them enough to consider the box worthwhile.

For me, Birchbox and Starlooks have quite a bit of catching up to do in September :)

I'm excited to see what awesome makeup, etc. September's boxes bring.

How about you? How did your August subscriptions stack up?

Later gators,
M

This Starbox seems less Star and more basic Box

My first Starlooks Starbox was delivered along with my Birchbox. It was a happy mail day. Two boxes and no bills :)

Starbox is a monthly subscription service from Starlooks in which they feature their own line of products. For $15 a month (plus shipping), you're sent 3-4 full size products plus a "bonus gift".



This month's special edition box was curated by Natalie Corona, a makeup guru who's big on YouTube and loves Starlooks products. She picked the colors to coincide with the month's mermaid theme.

 

Along with the insert card, and a few other papers (including a Natalie Corona "bio"), the box contained two Infinity Lipsticks, Glitter Glam in the color "Emerald", a red prism and a small crystal.

This lipstick (in the forefront of the pic) is in the color "Endless", and it's a bronzy shade with a frosty shine. I like it. Per the insert, Starlooks' Infinity Lipsticks stay "moisturizing and smooth all day...[and are] completely waterproof!"

The color "Eons" (in the rear of the pic) is a matte lipstick with a more pink tone. I like both shades (with Endless slightly edging out Eons), but don't love them.

The Glitter Glam is basically just a vial of loose glitter. I don't really get how to wear it, and frankly I feel that it would be a pain to work with. Just taking it out of the box, there's already glitter everywhere. I'll check out a few videos to see if I get any ideas for how I can use it in a way that would be comfortable for me; but it may end up being gifted to a friend or used in a craft project somewhere.

The "prism" is a joke. I love red, but looking at it doesn't inspire the mermaid feel.

The crystal I received was actually broken at one end resulting in a jagged shard that scraped my hand as I reached into the box. I'll be calling Starlooks soon to discuss.

Overall, I'm disappointed with the box. Hopefully next month's is better, or that may be the end of my relationship with Starlooks.

Later gators,
M

P.S. (9/2/13 edit): One of the inserts in the box included a 20% off promo code! Head to www.starlooks.com and use the code "LOVEMYSTARLOOKSLIPS" at checkout to save 20% on all Starlooks lip products. The code is valid until 9/10/13 :)

P.P.S. (9/3/13 edit): So far, Starlooks customer service has been amazing. It's always nice to deal with a company that truly cares about the customer's shopping experience. I sent them an email on 8/31 regarding the broken prism, etc. and they responded with a detailed email on 9/2. The email stated, in part:

"I am so very sorry about this. We try to take as much care as we can to pack the boxes accordingly. ...We will ship you a new box right away and be sure to add some extra padding to the items. We will also include a free gift as a consolation for your first box arriving the way it did."

 

I am looking forward to this replacement box, and my next scheduled monthly box, even more now. Way to go Starlooks! :)

So this is Birchbox...

My first Birchbox finally came!

The theme for this month is Finishing School, and the Company actually collaborated with Ann Taylor to provide subscribers with a guide to some of fall's best accessory trends.

That's pretty cool.

The box, however,...I'm honestly a bit underwhelmed.

The box is pretty sturdy, so I'll probably end up re-using it somehow.

From their site, Birchbox states that it provides subscribers with "high-end beauty, grooming, and lifestyle samples that have been customized for [them]." All this for $10 a month.

The month's insert

"Once upon a time, finishing school meant an elegant Swiss academy where a young lady went to learn the intricacies of high society. While the concept may feel a bit outdated (truth be told, we’re more likely to sign up for a night class in Photoshop), we love the idea of zeroing in on the details: from the elegance of a handwritten invitation, to the confidence-boosting power of bright red lipstick."

The reverse of the insert card, which lists the products contained in my box and how each is to be used.

I received the following products:

Amika Obliphica Blow Up Spray: I'm excited to try this. The card describes this as having a berry scent, but I think it has a strong floral fragrance. It's not particularly unpleasant, but might be a bit too strong for me;

Jouer Eye Definer (in the color noir): Full size product, and I love the color I received! Noir is a nice black with a bit-o-sparkle. Fancy! In addition, it's a creamy consistency that went on smooth, and definitely has staying power. The tip broke off instantly, but I'll deal;

Coola SPF 45 Sport sunscreen in Mango: I've heard good things about Coola, and I loooooove all things mango. I wish I could use this; but my skin is so sensitive that I'm not about to switch things up from my Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Body Mist Sunscreen :) I just love it too much. Lol! That being said, the sample is so tiny that I don't think I would be able to get an accurate idea of how well the product works were I to use it. I'll probably pass this on to a friend; and

Jasmine Seven Fresh Feet Wipes: Cute idea, but I don't see myself buying a full-size of this product. I'll keep these in my travel case as a just in case item.

I received this as a Beauty Extra. It's the Benefit Cosmetics Triple Performing Facial Emulsion + Total Moisture Facial Cream + It's Potent! Eye Cream. The insert describes this as a "three-step system for scoring an ultraradiant, youthful, and deeply hydrated complexion". Not much to say about these as I haven't tried them yet, but I have been looking for a decent moisturizer. We'll see.

Well, as I said, overall I'm underwhelmed by what I received. I did the profile quiz...but who knows. I hope next month's is better. That being said, the products were definitely worth more than the subscription price of $10, so I can't be too disappointed.

If you're thinking of giving Birchbox a whirl, I'd appreciate it if you used my referral link @ http://birch.ly/16gHmcu :)

Later gators,
M

I got my 1st ipsy bag, and it's a good one :)

"Glamour Academy" is the theme of the August ipsy bag; and that leads to a lovely, Harry Potter/Hogwarts-esque, purple cosmetics bag holding this month's goodies. 

The view inside that distinct pink ipsy mailer.

Unlike some other monthly subscription companies, the included card did not provide detailed descriptions of the products. Rather, the back of the card lists product discount info.

The bag.

I love this bag. Purple is my favorite color, and the pattern is fun and stylish at the same time. I'm glad I got off the waitlist in time to get this one.

I received the Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick in the color Anarchy. It's a very small sample, but it is incredibly pigmented and has a wonderful texture. It's far too pink for my everyday wear, but I'll find some occasion for it.

Next up, are the Michael Todd True Organics Jojoba Charcoal Facial Scrub and the Pacifica Alight Multi-Mineral BB Cream. The facial scrub I've been using just finished, so I was excited to see that I received this one (in a generous 1 fl. oz sample size, I might add) instead of the pumpkin face mask option others received. I've never tried a BB Cream; but I've heard positive things about Pacifica products, and I'm sure I'll try this somewhere down the line.

Lastly, I received a sample of the Lash Booster Mascara from Pixi, in No. 2 Blackest Black, and a full-size NYX Mosaic Powder in the color Dare. I've never used any products from Pixi, so we'll see how this mascara works out. I like the color of the mosaic powder that I received, and have been consistently impressed NYX products so I was happy to see this in my bag.

Overall, I am very impressed with this bag! The cosmetics bag itself is gorgeous, and contained a nice mix of products that are more than worth the $10. I'm excited to see what next month's pink mailer brings :)

If you're interested in trying ipsy out for yourself, I'd appreciate it if you used my referral link. Click here :)

Later gators,
M

Summertime with Love with Food

I got my first Love with Food box on Friday :) I had it delivered to work so a couple of my coworkers were with me when I initially opened it. They jokingly said that it looked like something you'd get on an airplane; but as I pulled each item out, I saw each of them struggling not to take something they wanted to try. Sorry, but not this time. First box dibs have to go to my hubby :)

Packaged well and plastic wrapped for shipping.

Each month's box has a theme, and the one for this month is Backyard BBQ. Nice.

This month's box included 8 treats that, per the description card, will "help you chill while you grill" and I can"also wear a big smile since [I] donated a meal to a hungry child in America."

Snapea Crisps from Harvest Snaps: The smooth, mild flavor of fresh peas is simply baked into this natural snack. Hubby and I found these to be...interesting. They are very light, airy and crispy. They are also not too salty, which is appreciated. It was a neat product to try, but this little snack pack was enough for us.

Sea Salt Potato Crisps from Good Boy Organics: Full of crunchy flavor, these baked organic potato snacks [BOPS] are GMO-free. We weren't that thrilled with these either. They are crunchy, but the sunflower oil overshadowed the whole chip, and left us with an overpowering sunflower seed aftertaste in our mouths.

Crunchers from Sahale Snacks: Naturally dried cranberries, rotated sliced almonds, and sesame seeds are lightly glazed with orange blossom honey. This was positively delicious! Hubby only got a small taste before I polished of the bag. It had a perfect blend of sweet, salty and tart; and I will definitely be purchasing more.

Original Creamy Praline from Aunt Sally's: New Orleans' most famous praline is studded with Louisiana pecans smothered in a fudgy coating. I have a huge sweet tooth and thought I would like this more, but it was too sweet even for me. One praline is probably sweet enough for three people to share. Maybe four. Tasty, but holy cavities Batman.

Amsterdam Waffle Cookie from Rip van Wafels: Luscious caramel is sandwiched between thin waffle cookies in this classic Dutch treat. Delicious caramel goodness. I expected a more crunchy cookie, but it was still wonderful. I agree with the packaging - try it dipped in a hot beverage :)

All Natural Salsa from El Pinto: Made in New Mexico with roasted green chiles and jalapenos for a touch of heat. I'm not big on salsa, but hubby will probably enjoy this.

Sugar-Free Fresh Mints from Project7: For each adorable tube enjoyed, Project7 will plant a fruit tree. These taste like almost any other mint, but it's good too know that something environmentally positive comes from their purchase.

All Natural Spice Rub from The Dizzy Pig BBQ Co.: This flavorful rub pairs well with BBQ classics like ribs, burgers, and chicken. Go to DizzyPigBBQ.com to save 15% with code 'Love 15'. To the spice rack this goes. I'll use it one day.

Coupons and referral info.

This was an interesting mix of snacks. Hubby and I are excited to see what next month brings.

If you're interested in trying Love with Food, I'd appreciate it if you used my personalized link to sign up so I can get a few referral points: click here. But, as always you can sign up at the Company's main page as well. For anyone who already subscribes, what did you think of this month's box?

Later gators,
M

Come on Barbie, let's go party!

I received my replacement sunglasses from Stunner of the Month yesterday and...I LOVE them. They are still not something that I would have picked out for myself, but they are much more my style than the initial pair.

So here they are... The Barbies!

The Barbies

Come on Barbie let's go party! You're the Barbie

girl in the Barbie wooooorrrllldd! Must get

annoying to always be mistaken as Barbie wearing

these. At least you look good. 

Collection:Diva

Level: Mezzanine

They also came with this sticker.

If you tag it and tweet a pic you can get a 30% discount.

The Barbies' frames look more like regular glasses, and the lenses have a nice tint to them.

The replacements arrived in good time, well packaged (just like the first pair), and free of charge! I am loving this Company :)

Later gators,
M

Surprise, surprise...

I signed up for Birchbox too :)

I watched a few (ok, more than a few) unboxing videos on YouTube and decided to try it out. Why not?! And since I signed up by the 14th, I won't even have to wait a month for my first box. An August box (with a "Finishing School" theme) will be shipped out to me on the 23rd, and from what I've seen I should be extremely pleased.

According to their site and my welcome email:

 

"Birchbox is designed to help you discover the best beauty, grooming, and lifestyle products. We are committed to providing you with an easy and fun shopping experience that gets you out of your regular routine and stretches your boundaries. Through sampling, personalization, and high-quality editorial we provide everything you need to try, learn, and buy."

Bring. It. On.

Birchbox has a pretty rewarding loyalty program too. You earn 1 point for every dollar you spend in the Birchbox shop; and can also earn points for gifting subscriptions, leaving feedback on products and referring others to get subscriptions of their own. All those points can add up to a sizable amount you're free to spend in the Birchbox shop. Very nice!

So, if you're interested in Birchbox, it would be greatly appreciated if you used my personalized link @ http://birch.ly/16gHmcu. Share the love...and the point earning opportunities :)

In ipsy news, my tracking code finally updated. Hopefully, it will arrive by the end of the week. I'm anxious too see my shiny pink bag.

According to their site, ipsy will soon have their own out a rewards points program called ipsyPoints; but for now subscribers can get a free bonus item in their next bag if they get 2 people to subscribe to the service in a month using a personalized link. ipsy limits the gift to 1 per month, but free is free (and wonderful). Just like with Birchbox, I'd love it if you used my link to sign up with ipsy if you're interested (http://www.ipsy.com/?refer=u-hiyyeheb4pzjpe7) and helped me on my way to a free gift.

Of course, you can always just head over either company's main site, and sign up there too :)

Later gators,
M

Starting the day off with good customer service is a plus

I received two lovely emails last night :)

The first is from Stunner of the Month. The short, sweet, and to the point message stated:

"A new pair of stunners is on the way should be in NY by the end of the week.  Hope you dig em.

time2stunt"

Love it! I logged into my account and, while the picture won't show for whatever reason, I'm apparently going to receive the "Barbies". Sounds fun :)

The second email was from...Birchbox! Apparently that whole approx. 4 week waitlist thing is more fiction than fact because I only had to wait 3 or 4 days. Sweet! In part, the email says:

"Thank you for your patience. The wait is over - so claim your Birchbox subscription today! Simply click the link below and choose your subscription."

I have 72 hours to decide if I'm going to subscribe before they release the subscription to someone else, so it looks like I have some more written and YouTube reviews to check out. I'll probably try it for at least a month to see what the fuss is about, and see how it compares to ipsy.

Speaking of ipsy, where is my bag? [said as I shake my fist in frustration] So many people have received theirs already, yet my tracking number still has absolutely no information. I hope this doesn't set the pace for the months to come.

Anywho...

Later gators,
M

I've got a case of the ipsy's...

I have to say, I am really liking this whole monthly subscription business :)

Having samples of goodies sent to you in the mail...it's a bit like Christmas, and I'm all for that. Two of my co-workers subscribe to BeautyBar.com Sample Society's box. You should see the giddy little looks they get on their faces when their boxes arrive - it's hilarious. I've seen two months of Beauty Bar boxes and wasn't in love with the products they contained, but my co-workers love the service so good for them.

After looking around a bit, I decided to take ipsy.com for a spin. I liked the products I was seeing, and $10/month with a cute cosmetics bag, instead of a boring box, sounded just about right. I'm seeing a lot of comparisons between ipsy and Birchbox (also $10/month for the women's box); most of which pointed out that ipsy concentrates mostly on cosmetics, while Birchbox can include various other items including skincare items, hair accessories and other miscellaneous treasures. I may try Birchbox out at some point; but for now I'll give ipsy a go.

The thing with both companies is that they are so popular that the waitlists are pretty crazy. Birchbox's website actually has you request an invite via email, and the wait time is about 4 weeks. I requested an invite code a couple of days ago, so we'll see how long it takes me to get one and if I choose to actually subscribe when I do. As for ipsy, I was on their waitlist for about 3 weeks before receiving email confirmation that my subscription was accepted; and I am so glad that it was. August's bag looks adorable (purple is my favorite color, after all) and this month's products look like a great way to start out with the company :)

One thing that I already love about ipsy is the 'Glam Room' on their website that shows you exactly what you'll be getting in your bag.

Supposedly through 'ipsymatch' (a combination of your initial survey answers, who you like/follow on the site and your reviews) they achieve more effective tailoring of the bag contents to your needs, etc. Pretty sweet if it actually works :)

Based on my Glam Room, I'm particularly excited to receive the Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick and the Michael Todd Jojoba Charcoal Facial Scrub. I'm always on the lookout for new lipstick shades to try and UD is great. Hopefully, the one I receive is complimentary to my skin tone. As for the scrub, I recently finished the one I was using, and can't wait to see how this one stacks up. It has some pretty stellar reviews.

My handy-dandy tracking email states that my bag is already on its way, and I can't wait to see if the reality measures up to the pics. We shall see :)

So, Birchbox or ipsy? Which do you prefer?

Later gators,
M

Stuntin'? Not so much...at least not just yet.

I received my first pair of sunglasses from Stunner of the Month! Yea :)

I was impressed with the shipping, and it really is funny how just receiving something in the mail, that's not a bill, can make you feel just that much better.



The glasses were packaged well in a protective pouch sporting the Company logo; and came with a logo card and a card detailing the style, collection and level of the specs. Since these where my first pair from my subscription, I was also sent a cute and sturdy mini screwdriver keychain to address any loose screw emergencies, which I immediately put on my main keychain.

These glasses are called The Horizons; and I think they are pretty aptly named.

"Optimum quality of life is achieved at sunset

when the horizon line turns that magic shade

of pinkish purple. It may not be the same hue, but

these stunners draw out that effect for all day

enjoyment.

Collection: Enhancer

Level: Super"

I do like the sides

but the front...not so much.

You never know when you'll need a mini screwdriver, right?

These are definitely not shades that I would have picked out for myself. They are a good quality, and are nice enough, but I'm just not feeling them.

My hubby likes how they look on me, however, so I was all set to keep them. I even sent the Company a tweet about it. They responded (very quickly, btw) stating that I should email customer service stating that I was not happy, and a free replacement pair would be sent my way! Customer service win! We'll see what happens when I send my email.

Have any of you had any experience with Stunner of the Month? If so, how was the service? If not, would you ever consider joining a sunglasses of the month service?

Later gators,
M

Who loves getting a new pair of sunglasses every month?

I do! I do!

I love sunglasses, and the subscription service Stunner of the Month allows people to feed their eyewear addiction for an affordable price. 

The price to get your own subscription is $9/month (includes shipping people!), and you can use the promo code 'trystunner' to get a month free. They also have gift subscriptions for those who would rather be charged once instead of waiting for a monthly charge:

3 months for $27;

6 months for $45; or

12 months for $90.

I was lucky, and received a year-long gift subscription, which will make it all the sweeter when I see my Stunners in the mail :).

From their site - www.stunnerofthemonth.com - the Company says: 

"As a member of Stunner of the Month, you will receive a new style of hand selected sunglasses every month from our Collection. Using a top-secret technology given to us by a faction of former KGB lieutenants, we employ an algorithm that chooses the perfect pair for you—ah huh, that’s right, the KGB. Your pair will be a one-of-a-kind look with its own story and own unique flavor of style."

And now I wait for my first pair :)

Later gators,
M