Conscious Box :: May 2013 :: Gluten-Free

My second Conscious Box arrived this week, and… I still don’t know where I stand when it comes to this box. Most of the samples are tiny and some of them don’t make sense for my household, but… I like what the company stands for and a lot of the samples are the kinds of products that I want to be trying/researching. Staying subscribed? I don’t know, so… here are my first impressions of everything that came in my box this month.

So excited about the Little Soya soy sauce samples!! I like the stickers and the packaging is super cute. I love sushi and my boyfriend (the gluten avoider) frequently eats rice, so these will definitely be used. As a sample, this is also a good size. I’m really happy that they included two.

These ECOVER dishwasher tablets sound great! I don’t have a dishwasher, however, so… guess that I’ll be giving this one to a friend. Kind of a strange “gift,” but it’s a useful product, so… that’s good. I think this sample size is big enough to figure out if you like the product or not.

One of my friends will have a very happy puppy!! I’m loving what I see on this package and I like that it’s called “The Honest Kitchen.” I laughed when I found this in my box, though… I recently went to a Yelp party at Rover.com’s Seattle HQ and received some cat food from Klout.com, so… my friends have received (what feels like) a lot of “pet goodies” from me this year.

I learned about this company (suki) this week, and I’m really excited to try some of their products!! This sample is tiny, but… I’m kind of thankful about that. I’m getting overwhelmed by lotions and creams right now, and I’m thankful whenever I can empty a container. The only thing I don’t like is that the company name reminds me of a Russian word that’s not exactly positive…

VERIAID INNERDOSHA… okay… well, it’s shampoo and conditioner! I’m not sure I understand their approach/story, but it could be good. I’m super picky about shampoo/conditioner and have previously purchased products that I just couldn’t use, so I’m excited about these small samples.

BIJA Lemon Ginger Echinacea tea… I have never tried their teas, but I have soooo much tea at home. I’ll use this. Probably. Someday. I’m not super excited about it, but I guess it’s useful. Maybe I’ll just stay at home for a week next autumn and attempt to drink all of my tea or something. ;)

MRM Relax-All with Phenbit… I gotta admit that I’m a little bit weirded out by this product. I’ll have to learn more about it before I can try it.

Cough drop lollipops… great idea, LILAPOPS! I haven’t tried these, yet. I’m not sure why they were part of a May box, but… I guess people do get sick in the spring. I’m not exactly excited about sampling these because I don’t look forward to needing these. I’m not sure when my last cough was, though… I may just have to try these when I feel like a lollipop. ;)

Ultima Replenisher Lemonade… okay, I’ll try this. I like that this product makes sense for spring! I like that the sample is big enough to figure out if I think it’s delicious or disgusting.

Sea salt infused with organic veggies and herbs… okay, Herbamare/A.Vogel. I’ll try it. I don’t really cook much, but… this could be good. I like that they also included a coupon.

Love this postcard!! Will it go on my fridge or will I send it to someone? Not sure yet…

This nutritional shake is meant for kids, but… adults can drink it too, so it didn’t last an hour. My boyfriend says it reminded him of the “milk” they consumed in the army and I think it tasted a lot like the meal replacement shakes I drank when I got my tongue pierced years ago (it’s gone now). We emptied the container, but…. it wasn’t very good. I’m not sure if most kids would tolerate it.

ACTZ Cosmetics Nude Face Polish… The tube that the scrub is in amused me. I believe this is a sample, so I wonder what a full-size container looks like. Ummm. Looks like a good product, I guess. I look forward to trying this.

I’m not sure if the problem my boyfriend has with “normal” toothpaste stems from him being a chemical engineer or if it comes from him researching the topic, but… he was excited about this Earthpaste toothpaste. I’m not crazy about cinnamon, so I look forward to trying the wintergreen!

I was a little confused by this product and I don’t always like fennel. I’m glad the little paper suggested rubbing this stuff on some pork, because… well, it’s nice to have an answer to the “How do I use this?!” question.

I like making sure I get enough fruit, veggies, vitamins, etc every day… and I like products that make it super easy to get those things on super crazy days. Looking forward to trying this product! Hope it’s delicious.

So… that’s what came in my Conscious Box this month. Do I love everything? Guess I’ll have to find out and update this post.

Fabulous Birchbox! (May 2013)

Pretty sure that watching the Birchbox preview video last month was a mistake. It made me get my hopes up about certain products, and I was sad when I didn’t get those products in my box.

This month was a total surprise, and I’m soooo happy with my products!

May 2013 Box Contents:
1. Beauty Protector Protect & Detangle - Love the sample size, container, and the purpose of the product. This is something that I’d consider buying!! Hope I love how it works and feels.
2. Folle de Joie eau de parfum - Not normally crazy about perfume samples, but I’m liking the smell and spray bottle. I’ll use this.
3. Soleil Organique Environmental Defense Sunscreen Sticks SPF 30 - What a great idea. Love this sample size and am actually looking forward to using some sunscreen. I’m pretty sure that is a first!
4. Supergoop!® Daily Correct SPF 35 CC Cream - The product looks good and I’m kind of happy that it’s not a huge sample size. It seems like a good product, but I’m not crazy about the color of the cream.
5. Weleda Body Lotion - I love trying new products but own enough lotion to last me several years, so… I have probably never been this excited about foil packets! I like that the company appears to use good ingredients and that this product won’t take up much room in a purse or travel bag.

I love Birchbox and will probably stay subscribed for a long time. They’re definitely waaaay bigger than some of the other subscription box companies I love, so the boxes don’t have the same kind of personal touch… but the products are usually great and I really like their point system.

Can’t wait to try everything!

If you’d like to sign up for Birchbox, I hope you’ll consider using my referral link… https://www.birchbox.com?raf=k26f6 

Have a great day!

Birchbox & Ipsy – April 2013

April 2013 Birchbox – Tiny Tweaks, Big Results

Nice surprise – I’ve been subscribed to Ipsy and Birchbox since November, and this is probably the second time my Birchbox arrived first.

1. Oribe Shampoo for Beautiful Color & Oribe Conditioner for Beautiful Color – These two are barely in the picture because they’re foil packets (two shampoo & conditioner sets), and that’s just not super exciting. I haven’t used them yet because I’d like to get my hair color touched up first, but… I’m pretty happy with the sample size and what the product is promising. This is probably not big enough of a sample to notice a difference, but enough to figure out if the product makes my hair feel good or gross. I’m happy that they included two sets so I can at least try it 2-4 times.

2. Skin&Co Bagnodoccia Body Gel – Great sample size and a product that I’m excited about. Not sure if I’ll buy this product this year because I have a lot of soap and body washes right now, but I definitely liked it!

3. Supergoop!® Advanced SPF 37 Anti-Aging Eye Cream – Sample is a bit small, but I think it’s a good size for this product. I’m not likely to purchase the full size because I’m not really looking for eye creams, but definitely excited about trying this. I’ve used it a couple times already, and really like how it feels.

4. Mirenesse Glossy Kiss – Great sample size and it does feel good when applying, but I really don’t like the color. Gave this one to my cousin… hope she loves it!

5. Kusmi Tea Paris – Wellness Miniature Assortment – I wasn’t super excited about this sample because I have a lot of tea at home and drink tea maybe once a month, but I randomly decided to try it the other day and I LOVED IT! Definitely happy that they decided to partner with Birchbox. Not likely to purchase any time soon because I have way too much tea at home, but I’m very happy to recommend this company to tea lovers!

Final thoughts – I’m quite happy with this box. One item was given away (one of my goals for these boxes!) and I’ll definitely (eventually) try everything else. Love the quality of the eye cream and body gel!

Referral link: https://www.birchbox.com?raf=k26f6 

April 2013 Ipsy – Pretty in Pink

The Ipsy bag this month was very pink and that’s not really my style… but the products made great gifts!

1. Sation Nail Lacquer (Love At First Byte) – Not being good at carefully applying nail lacquer doesn’t stop me from trying every several months! This one looks light enough, so I might be able to put it on without making a huge mess of my nails. Good sample size. Not sure if I like the color yet, but I’ll give it a chance. Website looks… okay. A little “old school” but definitely not horrible.

2. Two Cosmetics Duo Eye Shadow – Looks like a good product and it’s a great size, but it’s not a color I’m really interested in. Gave this one to my cousin. I like that the website has some Facebook connections. The rest of it is… okay.

3. Sexy Hair Soy Renewal – SUPER HAPPY with this product. I loved the last Argan Oil product that Ipsy sent (Josie Maran) and I already love this one. Good sample size. Website looks fine.

4. Be a Bombshell Blush (Sweet Cheeks) – Great size and it looks like a great product…. but it’s not for me. Hope my cousin loves it! Website looks okay. I was amused to see that many Ipsy subscribers on YouTube kept comparing the package to a MAC (Cosmetics) product.

Final thoughts – I’m sure many subscribers loved the theme/products this month, but I only really loved the Sexy Hair product. I’m happy that my cousin loves pink things and seemed happy with the bag, blush, and eyeshadow. She’s been giving me great goodie bags for holidays/birthdays for many years, and I have never been able to return the favor because I don’t really enjoy shopping as much as she does. (This is why I love subscription boxes as much as I do!!) The quality seemed good this month, but… I should probably admit that I contemplated pausing my subscription after I opened this package. I’m not that crazy about make-up and I’m in my mid-twenties, so some of these products/brands… well, they seem to be for people who LOVE make-up and might be… oh, maybe 5-10 years younger than I am. I don’t know. Just… a thought/feeling I wanted to mention.

Referral link: http://www.ipsy.com/?refer=u-h9dgfbsyzyc5kqx

Gluten-Free Conscious Box (April)

I’ve been thinking about Conscious Box for a month or two, but couldn’t get myself to subscribe for a while because I was/am a little annoyed by their marketing on Instagram. I love researching subscription boxes on Instagram and love original content, so I was pretty unhappy when I saw the #consciousbox hashtag flooded with the same image (being used as an entry for a box giveaway). I’m still interested in the idea, however, so the 50% off promo code that I found on one of the subscription box blogs got me to spend $10 on a box.

First impression: I was a little surprised by the size of the box. I was definitely expecting it to be much bigger than a Birchbox. This box is a little bigger, but it still fit in my small(ish) mailbox.

Anyway… let’s talk about products!

The big stuff…

1. Caveman Fuel 100% Grass-Fed Beef Jerky – This is a little drier and spicier than I like, but… it’s pretty good. I’m happy with the sample size and glad I tried it. (Winner!)

2. Beaumont Products Veggie Wash – Nice sample size! I’ve been a tiny bit curious about this type of product but haven’t gotten around to buying it, so I’m glad this came in the box. (Winner!)

3. Kona Red Hawaiian Superfruit Antioxidant Shot – Pretty excited about this one! Good sample size because it lets me figure out if I think it’s tasty or not. (Winner!)

4. Essential Living Foods Palm Flower Nectar Coconut Sugar – I don’t really bake or use sugar in my tea. This does sound like a pretty cool product for someone, so… this product will be a gift. Kind of sad that the biggest item will be given away, but… maybe it’ll result in a friend baking something for me. ;)

Small stuff (part 1)…

1. NurturMe Dried Baby Food – Ummmmm. So I think my boyfriends’ sister is probably going to get this as a gift. I guess many people know someone who has a baby, but… this is kind of a strange product to get in a subscription box. This is a small sample as far as samples go, but I think it’s a good size for this kind of product.

2. Totlogic Gentle, Natural & Light Body Lotion – A bit sad about the size of this sample and that it is also for households with small children. It seems to also be fine for adults, but… it’s still a little weird to get.

3. Dapple Fragrance-Free Baby Bottle & Dish Liquid – Oh, joy. Another tiny sample that’s meant for a household with children. I guess I can still use this, but… I’m not really in the market for products that have babies on the package.

4. Seventh Generation Mandarin Refreshing Facial Cleansing Cloths – Tiny sample but exciting product! Looking forward to trying it.

5. splash citrus lovers artisan soap (by Amathias Soapworks) – SO EXCITED about this sample! It could have something to do with it being for adults, but it also smells good… and I like soap. ;) (Winner!)

Small stuff (part 2)

1. Gluten-Free Beauty Facial Moisture Serum – Sample size is pretty good. Definitely not something I’d normally pick up at a store or order online without trying it first, so I’m really looking forward to trying it. (Winner!)

2. Nuline Nutritionals QSpeed Supplement (See bottom left of first image) – I’ve tried a similar product at Costco and it does sound like a neat idea. Kind of disappointed by the size of this sample, though. I wonder if this sample size is enough to make me feel different/better.

Do I plan to stay a subscriber? I’m not sure yet… my first thought was to cancel because of all the kid products and tiny samples. The customer service rep that got back to me about my request to cancel is trying to encourage me to give them another chance, however, and I’m considering it. I’ll update this when I make up my mind…

Geocaching!

I recently discovered this wonderful thing called Geocaching. I haven’t been able to do it every day and I haven’t found every cache I’ve looked for, but I love it because it gives me a reason to explore my surroundings (besides just checking out businesses) and it’s fun to find hidden “treasures” around me. The other great thing is that most cell phones have GPS now and there’s at least one Geocaching app available, so you no longer need to purchase a GPS device to participate.

These are some of the caches I’ve found near Seattle…

My first find!

I believe this one was just outside a funky store that I grew up next to. Cool find because of the memories.

I think this one had a “taking the dog for a walk” theme, so it had some dog treats in it. I don’t live with a dog and wasn’t crazy about my hands smelling a little like treats, but it’s a great idea!

My phone died (low battery) moments after I found the cache, so… I grabbed my laptop and snapped a picture using the Photo Booth app. This was found in… Issaquah.

The container is hidden behind these rocks. Enjoyed this one because it’s next to a zoo.

My first “micro” find and my first find in a scenic spot! Loved this one because my boyfriend and I would never have found this tiny Mercer Island, WA park without Geocaching.

Second scenic find! I had no idea there was a little lake near my favorite coffee shop in the Issaquah Highlands.

I think this was found in a mini park in Sammamish, WA.

It took me a few visits to find this micro cache, so I was pretty happy when I spotted it. This was a fun/cool find for me because it’s hidden near the Redmond Library (aka my first employer).

I believe this one’s in Renton, WA. Enjoyed this one because I’ve never seen a tea container that’s been sitting outside for a long time.

So… how’s this for “I need to blog about something besides subscription boxes.”? Have you ever gone Geocaching? If yes, do you use a GPS device or an iPhone/Android app?

Ipsy & Birchbox – March!

Ipsy’s March GlamBag – The Great Escape

Ipsy’s latest GlamBag reached me first, so I decided to write about it first. This bag… I love this bag. I’m not exactly sure why. Maybe it’s because the first one I’ve gotten with a design. I’m guessing subscribers who have sweeties in the Navy are extra happy with it.

My favorite item in this bag – the La Fresh Travel Lite Makeup Remover. I used it to remove some green eyeshadow yesterday, and was very happy because it worked well and felt great. The website is… not my favorite, but looks fine.

Second favorite item is the Glam RX Mini Freestyle Palette. It doesn’t look especially well-made, but I love the little mirror and that it’s magnetic inside. The website looks a little too simple, but looks like they’ve invested some time in their social media. No tweets since February, though…

Juice Beauty’s Hydrating Mist – One of my friends is crazy about it, but I’m not yet sure I like how it feels. I’ll update this post if I decide that I’m a fan. I love the website!

yaby’s Eyeshadow Refills – I like the light one but not the green one… just because I’m not a fan of colorful shadows. Not sure how I feel about the website they’re advertising with this product, though. The design is hard for me to trust.

Do I like this bag? Hrmm… it’s worth $10 to me and I like most of the products, so I guess I do. I just hope they stay away from eyeshadows for a while, and maybe send more higher-end products.

March 2013 Birchbox – March Madness!

I’m so happy the box finally arrived!! My shipping email arrived on the 7th and the UPS page said it might arrive on the 13th. I even got the “oops, we sent you a repeat sample!” email on the 13th. I guess one awesome thing this month is that I got 100 points for the repeat sample mix-up!

The contents:

1. twistband Headband – I really like the color I got this month! The headbands are pretty nice, but I like the hair ties more.

2. Whish Shave Crave Shaving Cream (.75 fl oz) – I haven’t used shaving cream in many years, but I’m looking forward to trying this! This is my first scented shaving cream and I like the package. Good sample size, too. Update: Liked it!

3. Serge Normant Meta Revive Dry Shampoo (2.0 oz) – I like the sample size, the package, and that it’s dry shampoo. Looking forward to trying this brand! The “with cedar bark” bit seems a little odd, but… what do I know about hair products? Update: This did NOT work for me. It made my hair feel super greasy and I was almost late to whatever I was doing that morning because I was tempted to hop in the shower and wash my hair immediately. I didn’t do that, but when I got home that night, I walked straight to the shower and rinsed my hair for 5-10 minutes.

3. Madewell for Birchbox Nail Emery Board – Not a fan of the floral design, but I’ll be happy as long as it works!

4. Incoco® Design Nail Polish Appliques – I’ve never applied anything like this to my nails, and I’m not sure if I want to. The little flowers kind of look like the Yelp burst and my nails aren’t painted right now, so… I guess I’ll give these a try. Update: Could only make one of them look nice on my nails. I think it’s a great product for some people, but not for me.

Happy with my box? Yeah, guess so. Not the best month, but a good one… and I didn’t get any perfume samples! :)

February/Spring Subscription Boxes

Hi, friends and hopefully friendly strangers! Hope you’re all enjoying March. Seattle is warming up and the days are getting longer, so I’m a pretty happy human… a happy human who may have a bit of a subscription box “problem.” I don’t really spend much time shopping, however, so… I don’t really have the boxes PLUS the stuff I buy on my own.

The February Healthy Surprise box (and my sweetie)!
Cost: $66/box

I didn’t get any great pictures of the snacks this month, but I definitely enjoyed all the chocolate!! I’m looking forward to the March box, though… the chocolate wasn’t super filling and didn’t last as long as the other kinds of snacks do. Good thing we don’t celebrate Valentine’s Day every month. ;) (Still love this box.)

The February Ipsy GlamBag! Theme: Red Carpet Ready
Cost: $10/box

This bag was… okay. Still worth ten bucks to me, but… not as good as the others. The bag itself is not my style, but I hear that quite a few people really liked it. I don’t need the Lash Card, so it’ll be a gift. The POP Beauty mascara container looks like something I would have liked as a teenager, so… I’m trusting the people who say it’s a good product, and look forward to trying it out when I finish using my other mascara. The MICA Beauty gel liner looks great but I still don’t like eyeliner, so I gave it to a friend. The Coastal Scents eyeshadow quad is also likely to be given away. The one thing I really loved from this bag was the pixi face primer. Not a great bag, but… I learned about new brands, and I guess it’s a great deal for the friends who want the items I’m not interested in!

Loved this Birchbox! iPad 2 provided for scale.
Cost: $10/box
My invite link: https://www.birchbox.com?raf=k26f6

I’ve seen a lot of people complain about their Birchboxes on Instagram and while I’ve had a bad month or two, I’m generally very happy with what I’ve been getting in these $10 boxes. This month, my favorites are the Jouer Luminizing Moisture Tint (it sparkles! tiny sample, though…) and the TIGI Catwalk Sessions Series Styling Cream (great sample size). I’m usually not a fan of styling products because they make my hair feel gross, and I love that I can still touch my hair when this product is on it. The twistband hairband is good… and would have probably been a favorite if I had gotten a different color. I’m not sure if the WEI eye treatments work for me, but I like that they force me to close my eyes and chill out for ten minutes, and that the sample includes two sets (so I can try it twice). The Ghirardelli chocolate was fine… nothing special to me, but a nice treat.

Graze.com – one of my weekly boxes!
Cost: $5/box

One of my friends posted a picture of her first Graze box on Instagram about a month ago, and I decided to use her invite code to check it out. They’re still in beta, so you can only sign up if you have an invite code, and each person only gets one invite code. So far, I’m… definitely a fan! Each box has 4 different snack boxes, costs $5 (shipping included), and you can get them weekly or less frequently. On their website you can see all the snack options and vote (trash, try, like, love) in a way that influences whether you receive that snack in the future (and how frequently you do). I love this feature because they immediately know what to not send me, and I am able to “trash” anything I try and dislike. I also love that they’re the perfect size for my purse, and the perfect serving when I’m looking for a small snack. The only thing I dislike is that I always get them on Friday/Saturday and end up eating all the snacks before Monday. I’d rather get them on Monday and have snacks to enjoy during the week.

My first Yuzen box! They just switched to being seasonal instead of monthly, and this is their “Spring” box.
Cost: $26/box

I recently decided to search for more subscription boxes that include “home” products and focus on organic/natural products, and that led me to… Yuzen. I received my first box today, and… I have some mixed thoughts/feelings. I love their mission and it was obvious they put a lot of love into their box (including the product selection), but… I’m not sure if this is the right box for me, because I think they’re making this box for a slightly older customer. Also, it was more focused on “beauty” and less on products for my home, and… well, Birchbox and Ipsy do a pretty good job covering my “beauty” basics. Update 3/24: I have tried most of the products, and have fallen in love with this box!

Contents:

• Red Flower candle – The packaging and the candle are cute, and I love that it comes with a branded box of matches. Lovely product and a great gift idea.
• Spa Technologies Marine Repair Cream – This is one of those products that’ll probably be fun to try, but I have a feeling I’ll be more excited about this kind of product in 5+ years. Update: I love this product!
• Essence of Vali perfume – I’m fine with essential oils, but… this product is not for me. I was originally a little bit sad that the sample was so small, but I guess I’m not so sad now.
• Jane Iredale‘s lip treatments – Love that the tiny lip products came in a little see-through black bag! This brand seems to be a bit more… mature… and I guess that’s perfectly fine. I look forward to trying the Lip Drink, Lip Plumper, and Lip/Cheek Stain. Update: I love these!
• JUARA Avocado Banana Moisture Mask – I really don’t like how avocados taste or feel, but I guess I’m fine with putting an avocado product on my face. I have a mask that I purchased a few years ago and only used a few times, but… this should be fun. It’s good to relax and give my skin a treat, right? :) Update: More product love!!
• KNEIPP Deep Sleep Mineral Bath Salts – I do have a bathtub/shower combo so taking a bath is an option, but… it’s not something I normally do. I guess I’ll have to try it soon.
• Naturopathica Oat Facial Polish – I don’t have any products like this but am open to the idea, so I’m looking forward to trying this and seeing how I like it. Update: This product now lives in my shower and I use it almost every day.
• Nova Monda chocolate truffle hearts – Finally, real good chocolate! I’ve gotten a few “gourmet” chocolates in my Birchbox, and they just weren’t gourmet to me. These treats were vegan/gluten-free, and I enjoyed sharing them with my guy.

Will I stay a subscriber? I’m leaning toward “no,” but I haven’t really made up my mind yet. Update 3/24: I’m way too happy with the products in my first box to unsubscribe. Darn. ;)

I’d like to do an event post at some point. Perhaps I’ll write about my experience at Bainbridge Uncorked last year because it’s likely to happen again this year (and that’s a good thing). I really need to write about more than just subscription boxes.

That won’t happen today, though. I’d like to get some more work done. Hope you’re all having a great day!