Beauty Fix - Winter 2011 [Box #1]

So after reviewing my second box first, I now have my first Beauty Fix box!

Beauty Fix seems like a really nice subscription overall. It's a lot different from some of the others in that it's not so much a subscription as a super-product box, and you get to pick your samples. There have been some customer service problems -- and a lot of confusion over whether discount code-users were actually subscribed, but all of those were resolved thanks to some great higher-ups, so my experience has been positive. I honestly would have shelled out the $29.99 (with another discount) for the spring season if they had added more than a few new items.

I got a lot of nice products in my other box, but this one actually was my first round of choices. I picked out:

 

(Please excuse the bad photo. Between lighting and the flat-bottomed bottles hating my curvy couch, I was just unsuccessful in photographing...)

1. Bioelements Pumice Peel - 0.25oz - $3.20

2. LaLicious - Sugar Kiss Moisturizing Body Scrub - 2oz - $9.50

3. Global Goddess Beauty i Divine Eye Color in "Darjeeling" - Full Size - $5.99

4. Skindinavia Makeup Finishing Spray - 4oz - $7.99

5. DDF Brightening Cleanser - 2 oz - $8.94

6. Skyn Iceland Pure Cloud Cleanser - 1oz - $5.60

7. LaRocca Skincare - C-Gold Reparative Primer - 1oz - $28.00

8. iQ Derma Clear Remedy Hydrating Lotion - 3.4oz - $15.00

 = $84.22

Not bad, huh? :)

I selected my products both for price and off of reviews of the products. I admit that I tried a few more expensive things than I may have if I went solely off of "things I want to try", but I'd rather get more bang for my buck -- and I can always pick up cheaper items.

Quick Free Sample Update!

EgoTeas has a really nice offer for anyone with a blog or website out there!

They are offering a free tea sample to people who spread the word about their teas. Check it out here:
http://www.egotea.com/company/link_rewards.htm

What's your favorite kind of tea (or coffee, for you coffee-ONLY peeps)?

Sindulge - March 2012

I had another subscription box that I tried for a penny to share with you guys next. I subscribed to Sindulge, one of the newer monthly boxes out there.

Sindulge is a little bit different in that it has "tailored boxes" based off of a video or web-based consultation with one of Sindulge's consultants. Now, I have to admit that my box did not seem very tailored at all, especially compared with a lot of the other boxes I saw other subscribers had received. I had a long email conversation back and forth with my consultant, since only one of the products discussed actually was sent in my box. Long story short, I received a second month's subscription for free, though my consultant also said that products essentially are only sent out based on what supplies Sindulge has, and the consults may or may not therefore accurately guarantee what you receive... oh well. We'll see what I get next month, I guess.

So the box comes in a cute little envelope-box...

Inside, I received:

 

1. La Fresh - Waterproof Makeup Remover - 24 wipes - $5.98

2. Benefit - My Place or Yours Gina - 0.05oz - $1.80

3. Jouer - Lip Enhancer - Full size - $14.00

4. Youngblood - Eye Impact Quick Recovery Eye Cream - 0.01oz - $1.16

5. Youngblood - Hi-Definition Hydrating Mineral Perfecting Powder in Warmth - 0.02oz - $2.00

6. Youngblood - Mineral Primer - 0.17oz - $1.42

Total = $26.36

I guess this is a worthwhile subscription. I'm a little tired of the La Fresh wipes, since I think this is the third time I've received them. The other products are okay, but they're the sort of thing that I had specifically said I did not actually want, either because of their color or because they are skincare products. However, I will have another month to evaluate them, and perhaps next month will wow me like it did for some subscribers this month.

Birchbox - March 2012 [Teen Vogue Box]

Finally, I have my Teen Vogue Birchbox!

It came in a normal Birchbox, but with a special sleeve:

Inside were:

1. Essie - Luxeffects "As Gold as It Gets" - Full size - $5.00
2. Kate Spade New York - "Twirl"  - 0.05oz - $2.25
3. Kérastase - "Elixir Ultime" - 0.16oz - $1.80
4. Tarte - "LipSurgence Matte Lip Tint" in "Lucky" - Full size - $24.00
5. Twistband - Hair Tie - 1 tie - $2.00

Total = $35.05

This was a great Birchbox! I am really glad that I had opted in on the Teen Vogue offer. I do wish that there was a signature "Lifestyle Extra" like in the regular boxes, though I suppose the Twistband could count for that.

I do like that I received a matte Tarte gloss, though I am hoping to trade it for the nude or an orange/beige/red/gold toned one... I really can't get away with pinks. :\

What was in yours?

Conscious Box - March 2012

 

I have a lovely March Conscious Box for you tonight! I have to admit -- I was completely overwhelmed by the size of the items in this month's box!

In the box was:

1. MixtBag Yellow and Blue Corn Tortilla Chips - 1.5oz - $0.44

2. Morning Sunshine Breakfast Cookie - 1 cookie [Coupon Code with no shipping charge/not pictured] - $2.00

3. eBoost Pink Lemonade Packet - 1 packet - $0.98

4. Crunchmaster Multi-Grain Crackers -.5 oz - $0.33

5. Olbas Lozenges - 1 lozenge - $0.24

6. Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds - 1 packet - $1.50

7. Java Juice Original Coffee Extract - 1 packet - $0.98

8. Good Kind Coffee Creamer -  2oz - $1.80

9. Tea Forte Minteas - 1 tin -  $1.87

10. Olivella Body Lotion - 0.1oz - $0.10

11. Healthy to Go! Acai Energy Boost - 1 packet - $0.67

12. Tera's Whey Pomegranate Cranberry Goat Whey Protein - $2.17

Total = $13.08

Soooo... I feel really bad, because I was actually really impressed by this month's Conscious Box. I know I'm going to use almost every item in here, and they are exciting because they're things I'll actually enjoy using. Still, this was worth a lot less than the other boxes, and while it covered the "price" of the box at $12, usually I prefer subscriptions also to cover the cost of shipping in the value of the products (especially since most services "roll in" the price of shipping into the monthly cost, period). 

I really hope to see next month wow. I have a lot of friends that I know are giving Conscious Box a shot, and I hate to see that it might be losing its luster in any way! Still, everything in here is great, and I think a lot of people are going to really find this an appealing box. :)

EDIT: As one of my lovely readers pointed out, the box does also come with a $5 and a $15 "gift card" to some sustainable-sensitive companies. However, when I went on the sites to spend them, I noticed that all products (with shipping) came to a good amount higher than the gift cards' worth, forcing you to spend some money to use your cards.

As standard practice, I tend not to count discount codes or gift codes when they come in boxes, but in this case, it does really add to the value of the box if you find something on either website that you really like!

Product Review - Derma E "Very Clear Problem Skin Cleanser"

I have another Natural Grocers sample to share with you today! I had built up a good two week supply of the "Very Clear Problem Skin Cleanser" samples which they had available, so I finally decided to give them a try.

I really like this product! I have to admit -- I use it along with an acne-treatment exfoliant, but even so (and even without being really committed to using it regularly), I have noticed a definite improvement in my breakouts. I am rather surprised. For some reason, I have developed a weird mental hangup on cleansers -- if they do not exfoliate, for some reason I think they do nothing, as if they are blocked by dead skin. It only recently occurred to me that I could exfoliate first.

It washes off with no apparent residue, and I actually like the tea tree oil scent. It has not really cleared up the blackheads I battle, but it does seem to do a very good job controlling blemishes. I admit -- I am a little worried that they will come back before I buy a full-size!

As a side note, it does seem to be sold now under a new name -- "Clear Skin 1 Problem Skin Cleanser". It redirects now to this product on Amazon. If anyone knows for sure this is the case, please do comment below.

Product Review - Soothing Touch "Peppermint Rosemary Herbal Salt Scrub"

 

I'll have a few other posts this weekend, but to start, I had a short and quick product review for you guys.

Over Christmas, I found a sample of Soothing Touch's "Peppermint Rosemary Herbal Salt Scrub". I've been using my little sample since then. I have a mixed review, but I think my "issues" are really just my-skin peculiar, so I'm going to start by saying that I do like the product overall. :)

I like the smell and texture of the salt scrub, though it disappears very quickly when used on wet skin. I always use a apricot/walnut shell exfoliant, so I have become really accustomed to being able to achieve a substantial amount of scrubbing power. I think this still exfoliates pretty well.

I also think that this is supposed to be very moisturizing, and has the essential oils to accomplish this. However, I have fairly oily skin, and although I could be incorrect, it felt like it was hard to get the product off. Again, this could be intentionally left-over to moisturize, but without knowing that for a fact, I have to say that it felt like it clung to my skin after I'd "washed" it.

The smell is very nice, and I do think that it kept my skin smooth. People with dryer skin might really like this product; if you don't mind the "moisturizing" aftereffects, other skin types should, too.