Birchbox "Step and Repeat" February 2014 Review

This week I received my third Birchbox in this subscription. So far, I have yet to be disappointed! As compared to the December and January boxes, I did feel like this one filled a few more "needs" than "wants". However, after 2 or 3 boxes, how many random niche beauty products will you use repeatedly? So, I think having a box full of completely practical items is a good way to round out my growing Birchbox sample collection. I've taken a look at a few other bloggers' reviews and so far - yet again - it seems that the contents of my box were pretty unique!



This month's box was a collaboration with Us Weekly. While I didn't see too much influence in the product selection, I think they definitely contributed a lot to the great content on the Birchbox website and YouTube accounts this month.

My box contained: 100% Pure Fruit Pigmented Mascara (Full-size, $18), Bain de Terre Passion Flower Color Preserving Shampoo (Full-size, $12), Bain de Terre Passion Flower Color Preserving Conditioner (Full-size, $13.50), Harvey Prince Hello (Full-size, $55), and Juara Candlenut Body Creme (Full-size, $35)

The 100% Pure mascara is a great size to bring along for quick touch-ups. Because of the brush shape, it's great as a lengthening mascara but does not curl your lashes too much on its own. The first thing I noticed was the scent. Who's ever heard of scented mascara? I think most smell a bit like paint actually...This one has a sweet, fruity smell. That's probably because of the natural ingredients, which are great for those with sensitive skin too!

I have to admit, I wasn't overly excited to receive two "hotel shampoo" bottles in my box, counting as 2 of the 5 products. However, on my last business trip I was thinking about how badly I needed color-safe shampoo and conditioner. The hotels never have them and it's nearly impossible to find them in a TSA-approved size. So, I was actually delighted to see that these were color preserving products made especially for color-treated hair -- with one of my favorite ingredients, argan oil! I will definitely use up both of these bottles pretty quickly.

I've head of Juara before and I know it's a brand with a great reputation. I haven't tried anything from them before. Of all the products I received, I think I was initially the least excited about this one because I already have so many body lotions. However, since the package is realistically designed for just a single use, I know I'll give it a quick try one day in this dry, cold weather.

The last sample I received was a vial of the "Hello" fragrance by Harvey Prince. I'd seen a lot of bloggers receive this scent in past Birchboxes. It does seem like there are a few products like this that come in cycles and eventually everyone will receive them. That being said, I was really impressed with scent! So, I can understand why they'd include it. My initial thoughts were that it was a perfect cross between citrus fruits and a powdery floral scent. Sure enough, I was right! It smells exactly as described on the packaging - a mix of meyer lemon, mandarin, grapefruit, forsythia, and plumeria. It's a really feminine scent that's perfect for spring (or to help beat those winter blues!).

This month was the first month I didn't receive a Lifestyle Extra. That made me kind of sad since I love getting a little gourmet treat, home product, or accessory. Those are often my favorites. I'll just have to keep my fingers crossed for next time because I am definitely continuing this subscription!

Diptyque is on HauteLook Today for Up to 50% OFF!

Famed French candle, soap, and fragrance maker Diptyque is on HauteLook today at amazing discount prices! You can get one of their simply luxurious candles at up to 50% OFF. They also have a good selection of soaps and perfumes. Hurry - these items are sure to sell out fast! 

Shop the sale HERE.

Popsugar Must Have Box February 2014 Review

I have been insanely excited to try the Popsugar Must Have Box for months now. From everything I've seen, it looked like the subscription box that included the coolest products! I love how it's usually a mix of home, beauty, and gourmet food products. I've even been keeping a Pinterest board of all my favorite products I've seen bloggers post from Must Have Boxes! 

Despite my enthusiasm, I had a lot of difficulty justifying the $40 + tax to buy a mystery box of items. So, when I saw a discount code for 50% off on MySubscriptionAddiction, I decided to finally give it a try.

Sugarwish Mini Red Cinnamon Hearts + Voucher

I found this product to be a severe disappointment. What is so special about a bag of heart shaped red hots? They are not gourmet or unique in any way. They're basically what some people would call "penny candy" or "pic n' mix". The smallest order you can place on Sugarwish is for a box that contains 4 bags of candy (1/4 lb each) for $25. So, this sample was 1/4 of a box. I suppose the start-up is a nice idea. However, I think it would be much nicer if they offered something more unique to send to your friends or loved ones. They also included a 20% off voucher for a future purchase. Personally, I don't think I will use it. Value: $6.25

Nourish Organic Pure Hydrating Argan Face Serum

I had never heard of this brand before and do not typically shop for face serums. So, I was not overly excited about this product. I looked up the brand and it is not available anywhere except on Nourish Organic's website. I tried it on part of my face and the texture felt extremely oily. The apricot + rosehip fragrance sounded like it would be nice but it actually smells more like an artificial citrus + vanilla sort of scent. Not at all what I expected. It may have some great effects on my skin, but I do not think I would ever purchase it at the retail value. Value: $23.99.

Gorjana Brooks Jewelry Roll + Voucher

At the highest value, it is pretty clear that this jewelry roll is meant to be the highlight of the box. I love Gorjana, so I was pretty excited to see the brand included in my box. Unfortunately, I did not find this jewelry roll to be of the same quality as their jewelry. It is made of a very cheap feeling polyurethane with a plain cotton lining. There are not any special hooks or snaps to hold jewelry in place inside the roll. It just consists of 3 zipper pockets sort of like a pencil case might have. The pockets are each pretty flat so I think they could only hold 1 necklace each or a couple pairs of earrings. I don't know who would purchase this at the full price, as I don't think I could get $20 for it on Ebay. Regardless, I'll probably use it for some short trips. Value: $45. 

There was also a Gorjana Griffin Voucher for $25 off any purchase included in the box. The offer cannot be combined with any discount codes, applied to shipping/tax, or used on sale merchandise. Since Gorjana has sales all the time, this voucher might actually encourage you to spend more money than you would if you just purchased something in a regular sale. I see it works on some of the $35 rings though, so I might use it for something like that.

ModelCo Lip Pops Duo Lip Gloss and Lipstick

This exact product is not currently available at any online retailer, even at ModelCo's own shop. There is just a trio set with a mascara priced at $49. I typically like subscription boxes because they introduce me to a new product I can then order/buy somewhere if I really love it. So, I was pretty disappointed to see that they included a product that isn't available for purchase anywhere, unless I pay $49 for the whole set. It really is just a sample.

I have received a ModelCo Lip Gloss (without the lipstick) before in a similar color in a Birchbox. Although I don't know much about the brand and it is virtually impossible to find anywhere except the brand's site and Amazon, I actually really like the lip gloss I already have. It's one of the best I've tried. It adds a lot of moisture and shine to my lips. So, I think I'll really like this product too. The lipstick part does look a little dark / brownish though. Value: Unknown - $17?

NCLA Rodeo Drive Royalty Nail Polish

I have never heard much about NCLA. So, I was not overly excited about this nail polish. I have purchased cheaper boxes like Sample Society and Glossybox and received nail polishes by better known brands like Butter London and Zoya. However, it looks like it will be a high quality polish too. In my opinion the color I received is quite off-putting. It is a very deep blood red that looks kind of goth to be honest. I think when I put it on my nails it will look almost black. It's really not for me and I think I will probably give it to someone else who would actually wear it. Value: $16.

K Hall Designs Peony Travel Candle

This candle smells absolutely lovely. I adore the Peony scent. It is so feminine and smells like a solid perfume. However, the travel candle is quite small at 2 oz. You can tell by the comparison to the nail polish bottle in the above photo. For a brand that isn't as well known as something like Illume, and that is only available on the brand's own site and Amazon, I would have thought that Popsugar would send us a full size candle. Value: $11.

Dial Vitamin Boost Body Wash

This product was described as a "Special Extra". So, I understand that it is supposed to be viewed as sort of a freebie add-on. However, I think the Dial product is a total miss for the Popsugar audience. I think most subscribers would agree that they purchase these boxes to treat themselves with luxurious products from well established or hip new brands. I don't think this audience would expect or particularly appreciate a drugstore brand product in this box. I also hadn't seen any drugstore brand featured in a Popsugar Must Have Box before so this was really unprecedented and unexpected. Value: estimated at $2.97.

The Verdict: Having seen the amazing brands and products included in previous Must Have Boxes, I'm not going to lie to you...I was severely disappointed with this box. I thought it would be a special way to treat myself for Valentine's Day. Previous boxes had included some of my favorite brands like: May Designs, Lulu Frost, Rifle Paper Co, Fatty Sundays, Land's End, Illume, Baublebar, and House of Harlow. Many have even included books that I would have loved to receive.
I've already seen several reviews from others who were equally disappointed with this box. In the end, I definitely got my $20 + tax worth. The items in the box had a retail value equating close to $122.25 + the vouchers. However, I'm not sure that's $20 I would have spent on these items. Definitely not $40. I certainly wasn't convinced to keep my subscription going for next month at the full price. I think I will continue to discover new and creative gift ideas through Must Have Box reviews; however, it would take a lot of work to convince me to spend $40+tax on another one. I'd rather save the money by not subscribing and purchase the products I like from the reviews on my own - at full price. In the end, I think I would save money by doing that. This was also much more of a beauty focused box than a home/gift focused box - 4 out of the 7 products were beauty products. Since I already subscribe to Birchbox, I was not looking for another beauty box this month and was really looking forward to something different. 

50% OFF Everything at The Balm - 1 Hour Only!

Tomorrow, Friday, February 7th for one hour only, The Balm will be offering everything on their website at 50% OFF! The sale will take place from 12-1pm for each US time zone. There will be  standard shipping fee of $4.95 for each order. Half of the proceeds will benefit Indexed Tuition, helping Bay Area children in grades K-8!

As you may know from my Birchbox Local review, I have become quite the huge fan of The Balm cosmetics. Many of the products can be used for multiple purposes AND they are available in so many different types of stores. You can find them anywhere from Duane Reade Pharmacy to Nordstrom! My favorite products are Mary-Lou Manizer (reg. $24) for eyes, The Balm Girls in Foxxy Pout (reg. $17) & Pump Your Pucker in Water My Melon (reg. $15) for lips, and Time Balm Primer for face (reg. $30).

Update: Because of high traffic to the website and server issues, The Balm has announced on their Facebook page that the sale will be for 24 hours rather than just 1 hour! Enjoy!

Baublebar Sample Sale ~ Next Week in NYC!

Baublebar, one of my fave sites for affordable jewels that make a statement, is having its Winter Sample Sale next week in NYC.

They'll have jewelry at amazing prices - starting at just $10! To check out my gorgeous finds from their last sample sale (including photos & pricing), click here.

Here are all the details:

Tuesday, February 11th | 10am-8pm

Wednesday, February 12th | 10am-8pm

230 Fifth Avenue at 27th Street, 12th Floor

Happy Bargain {Bauble} Hunting!

Super Bowl XLVIII Style

Who's ready for SUPERBOWL SUNDAY? What'll it be, the Broncos or the Seahawks? Whether you're sporting blue/green/silver or blue/orange, you're sure to be looking for the best outfit to watch the big game. I'm so psyched that NY/NJ are hosting it this year! So close to home. 

Shirt: Touch by Alyssa Milano c/o NFL | Faux Leather Leggings: Target [SIMILAR] 

Tote: c/o NFL | Necklace: Crown + Glitter | Shoes: Sam Edelman

Vogue and the NFL kindly invited me to their amazing star-studded "Fashion Meets Football" event last September. Ever since they gave me some new NFL Super Bowl gear, I just couldn't wait to sport it on the big day. I think that, with the addition of Alyssa Milano's new line "Touch" and women's fitted jerseys, there are so many flattering and feminine finds available now for all the football gals out there! Show your support in style.

Haute on the Spot Turns 2!

Haute on the Spot turns 2 today!

Stay tuned throughout the month for some fantastic birthday surprises. Thanks so much for your support over the last couple years...here's to many more!