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Subscription Boxes

Benevolent Beauty Box April 2017

 

The Benevolent Beauty Box for April 2017 arrived today!  They’ve moved up their shipping schedule so that it ships mid-month which explains the earlier arrival this month.  That’s absolutely fine with me since this box is always a treat!  This also marks the one year anniversary of the box – I jumped on for their second box in May of 2016, so this is my 12th monthly box from them.  In honor of their anniversary, they sent out a special loyalty bonus which was the Bellapierre lip creme.  Even without the bonus, this box is pretty amazing!  It’s also the first that’s completely vegan.

  • Scrub Supply Co. Coffee Scrub – 100 g / $16.98 – (Product is full size)  HOLY COFFEE BATMAN.  This smells amazing.  I LOVE my morning cup of coffee, so naturally anything coffee scented is right up my alley, and this is a great, coarse sugar scrub that only has four ingredients.  Did I mention how amazing it smells?  We received a Turmeric scrub from the same company a few months ago and I’m loving that one too, so it’s great to see another product from this company.
  • Orglamix Cream Luminizer – 1.5 g / $18 – (Product is full size)  The color received is, “Illume.”  I’m just not into highlighters, and I received a similar version of this in another box last year.  The product is pretty greasy and the solid turns into an oil with the heat of your fingers in the pot.  Mine also released from the pot when I went to try it out.  I probably wouldn’t use this under or over any kind of powder since the oils  would probably just eat up any  powder, but I think I might actually like this better than the one from last year, so I’m not sure if maybe they tweaked the formula a little?  I could see this working out okay on summer days when you want a bit of a boost without wearing a full face of makeup.  It’s not quite as glittery or sparkly as the other one I have – it’s more of a subtle, rosy, pearlescent glow than a glittery sparkle.  And, of course, my dry skin would love the base of natural oils.  I may have to use this a few days to see how I feel about it.
  • Clarria Pure Primer – 1 oz / $50 – (Product is full size)  A primer with no silicones!  It’s unscented and dispenses with  a thick, sticky cream/gel consistency.  A teeny little bit goes a crazy long way, so this is going to last me forever.  The ingredient list is a bunch of oils (jojoba, rosehip, avocado), so my dry skin is going to love this as a dual purpose moisturizer and primer.  It dries to a soft, matte, silky finish, and I REALLY REALLY like this.  I like it enough that I’d probably use it even if I’m not putting makeup on top of it since it feels so incredibly moisturizing too.  I’ve always been kinda meh on primers since I don’t usually do the whole foundation thing, but this is ridiculously amazing.
  • Modish Polish – 15 mL / $12 – (Product is full size)  The color received is, “Where’s my mojito?”  It’s a super pretty, minty, spring green and it’s just perfect!  The other variant was a pink color, so I’m super pleased to see this color in my box.  I already know and love this brand, and it’s nice to get such a fun color.  This is definitely going to be my next manicure!
  • OFRA Liquid Lipstick – 6 g / $19.90 – (Product is full size)  The color received is, “Mocha.”  I had actually gotten this same color in another box  last year, but it’s become a fast favorite, so I’m happy to see it again!  The product has this light vanilla scent and goes on smooth, drying to a creamy, matte finish.  It’s a pretty, reddish nude and from past use, it really does last a good long while without drying out completely like some long-lasting lipsticks do.
  • Bellapierre Kiss Proof Lip Creme – 3.8 g / $20 – (Product is full size)  This was my loyalty bonus product.  The color received is, “Hibiscus.”  This is my favorite of all the lip colors ever, a really pretty red raspberry color.  The formula smells a little fruity and goes on as a light liquid cream.  It sets pretty quickly and it feels like it’ll last for hours and hours.  But the color!  I mean, it’s like they know me over there at Benevolent Beauty.  If I had to pick a single color out of the Bellapierre lineup, this would 100% be it.

Overall, the box value comes to $116.88!  Including the loyalty bonus, the box contains a total value of $136.88 in products which is INCREDIBLE for a box that costs $29.95 per month for a month-to-month subscription.  The big winner for me this month is the Clarria primer because it’s something I wouldn’t have searched for on my own, but it’s definitely a product I can see myself purchasing again because it’s just that amazing.  Both lipsticks are perfect, the nail polish is an OH YES, the coffee scrub is amazing, and I’m going to have to give the Orglamix Luminizer an honest try since it seems  different than the one I tried before.  There was also a coupon code in the box for 33% off your first month at SerenaFit, and a note on the product card about this being Prevention to Animal Cruelty Month.  I really love the commitment this box has to being cruelty free that extends beyond the products!

Subscription Boxes

Sephora Play! April 2017

 

The Sephora Play! for April has finally arrived today!  It’s a little later than usual, but it seems that my box variant, #575, was in the last batch to ship.  The theme for this month was, “Step it up,” so I expected something with intense colors, prestige brands, etc.  That didn’t really happen here.  The themes just never seem to be actual themes, just catchy slogans they trot out and then ignore when it comes to product selection.  I know I keep saying it, but for $10.60/mo including tax and shipping, I suppose I shouldn’t be complaining, but if you’re going to have a theme, stick to it.  The bag this month says, “The Best Things in Life Are Me,” and features a cartoonish girl in a tiara on the front with a pink ribbon.  Not my favorite bag, to be honest.  The design just isn’t to my tastes at all, and I think I prefer the more plain words-only designs.

  • Sephora Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover – 4.2 oz / $11 – (Product is .84 oz, value of $2.20)  This says it’s suitable for people with sensitive eyes, but it contains dyes and salt (sodium chloride).  There’s no reason for this to contain dyes other than to make it look pretty, and salt?!  Near your eyes?!  ARE YOU KIDDING ME WITH THIS?!  I don’t need a waterproof eye makeup remover since I don’t really use waterproof makeup, plus, I use natural oils to remove my makeup and it does a far better job with zero irritation (and only one ingredient!).
  • Smashbox Photo Finish Primer – 1 oz / $36 – (Product is .25 oz, value of $9)  I would honestly almost count this as a zero value item since I know I’ve received this multiple times as a free sample on Sephora.com orders.  I have about five of these exact same size lying around already, and there’s nothing stepped-up about a primer that everyone’s already gotten a sample of a few times.  It’s okay – it’s a basic, silicone-based primer – but it’s nothing new or special.
  • Kate Somerville Exfolikate – .5 oz / $24 – (Product is .25 oz, value of $12)  The third ingredient is polyethylene, so the little exfoliator bits are plastic.  There is actually a ban on plastic microbeads passed in 2015 that goes into effect on July 1, 2017, and I’m not sure why Kate Somerville hasn’t gotten on board yet since these little plastic exfoliator beads are huge pollutants.  I did give this a try – the exfoliation action is much more of a fine sand than a coarse scrub.  It has a fresh, green and cinnamony sort of scent that isn’t overpowering.  Unfortunately, the use of plastic exfoliator beads is a huge problem for me, and I’m really surprised that they haven’t bothered to change their formula since the law is due to go into effect in a few months.
  • Marc Jacobs Daisy Eau de Toilette – 1.7 oz / $80 – (Product is .04 oz, value of $1.88)  Stinky floral mess.  I really can’t handle floral perfumes and this contains both violet and jasmine, so it’s a huge nope for me.  As usual though, I enjoy getting these samples since it helps me figure out what perfumes I do and don’t like.
  • Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Cream – 48 mL / $52 – (Product is 7.5 mL, value of $8.13)  This is a perfect fit for my dry skin profile.  The first bunch of ingredients are silicones, so I feel like this could double as a primer too.  It dispenses as a completely unscented gel, but goes on like water, and it makes my skin feel super soft.  It’s a shame this company tests on animals, or I’d be first in line to buy the full size!
  • Make Up For Ever Aqua XL Waterproof Eyeliner – .04 oz / $21 – (Product is .01 oz, value of $5.25)  It’s a basic black eyeliner.  The formula does go on nice and velvety matte and richly pigmented, but again, it’s not what I’d call stepped-up  – it’s a pretty basic sort of item.  I guess the brand is maybe the stepped-up part?  Unfortunately, the company tests on animals, so this isn’t something I’d buy again since there are plenty of cruelty-free eyeliners out there.

Overall, the value of the box comes to $38.46 which is pretty much average, and a great value for the cost of only $10.60 per month including tax and shipping.  This is a far better box than last month’s, and I appreciate the diversity in products this time around!  Unfortunately, only one product this month is from a completely cruelty free company, Marc Jacobs.  Smashbox is owned by Estée Lauder, and Kate Somerville by Unilever, so even if they individually are cruelty free, their parent companies are not.  It also marks yet another box with an Estée Lauder brand.  I’m still waiting on that 100% cruelty free box, Sephora.  With Earth Day this month, they  totally had a chance too!

Subscription Boxes

Kloverbox April 2017

 

April’s Kloverbox is here, and for the second month in a row, I’m underwhelmed.  This is supposed to be a big box from them since it’s the month with Earth Day, so I expected some neat, Earth Day related sort of products that focused on natural, sustainable ingredients, or replacing disposable items with something reusable.  That really didn’t happen here.  It feels like a random hodgepodge of items, one of which is a repeat (the bracelet).  I’ve already cancelled my subscription since two boxes that are a poor fit are kind of my rule of thumb for cancelling.  There’s one more left on my pre-paid subscription, but I can’t say I have high hopes.

  • Zabana Essentials Dry Shampoo – 2 oz / $12.95 – (Product is full size)  The scent is Lavender Citrus Mint, and it  smells completely unappealing.  The three really just don’t go together in my world, and they’re just fighting each other instead of blending together.  (Have you had orange juice after you brushed your teeth?  Yeah, like that.)  Beyond that, it’s dry shampoo.  The product says you have to distribute it by brushing it in, and you DO NOT EVER EVER BRUSH CURLY HAIR.  EVER.  So, this is useless for me.  Nevermind the fact that dry shampoos are meant to soak up oil and extend time between washing, but if you don’t have enough oil on your scalp and hair to soak up, it just makes your hair look dull and lifeless (I don’t – I add oil to my scalp to keep it from peeling apart, so dry shampoos are a huge nope in my world).
  • Elements of Aliel No. 2 Peace Cleanser – 2.5 oz / $15 – (Product is full size)  This was the only item in the box that I was interested in.  When I peeled back the inner foam seal, the scent was extremely disappointing.  It smells… wrong.  I can’t quite describe it other than that it doesn’t smell like something you would ever want to put on your face.  Almost like the compost bin or the damp, decaying leaves in the woods?  It’s a dark brown liquid, and just a little bit produces a rich lather that cleans nicely.  Just.. hold your breath while it’s on your face I guess.
  • MudLove Bracelet – 1 bracelet / $8 – (Product is full size)  We received the version of this that said, “Thankful,” in the November 2015 box, and I didn’t want it then either.  Yes, the charity is great and provides clean water for a week to someone in need, but I’m just not the type of person who wears stuff like this.  Inspirational slogans are just not me, the bracelet design isn’t my style, and I prefer to give my money to charities without receiving something I don’t need or won’t use in return.
  • AvoSeedo – 1 item / $12.99 – (Product is full size)  Well, I don’t have kids and don’t live in a climate where we can grow avocado trees outdoors, so this is useless to me.  They sprout up fast enough without using a special plastic growing tray, and I just don’t see the point to this.  Sprout an avocado pit, put it in a pot where it’ll never grow avocados where I live?  I’m just not into it.

Overall, the box value comes to $48.94 which is just shy of double the cost of $25 for a month-to-month subscription.  My personal value is only $15 for the cleanser which, even though it smells awful, it still works well enough, so I’ll still use it.  There’s a note on the product card that a vendor, Naturally Clean, pulled out of the box due to a health issue, and the product will end up in the July box instead.  I won’t be subscribing for the July box, so I’m feeling a little bit cheated out of a product here.  Maybe ignorance would’ve been bliss?   The rest of the box was a complete miss for me – I know people love dry shampoos and bracelets and there are probably subscribers who will love the AvoSeedo, but I’m not that person, and this box was a huge bummer for me.  I was pretty psyched about this box being bought out and given a makeover by new management, but between this and the last box, I’m finding it’s just not a good fit for me.  Oh well, this gives me an opportunity to move on and try new things!

One Local Summer

One Local Summer 2017 – Meal 1

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This is going to be my NINTH year of One Local Summer which is pretty incredible.  Last year, I ended kind of abruptly at week 13 after we found out that my dearest girl-dog, Mattie, had a fast-growing, incurable cancer and was given two weeks to live.  She made it 5 more weeks post-diagnosis, but it’s safe to say that she became my top priority at that point in time, and One Local Summer just didn’t seem that important when pitted against the pup’s health situation.  After she passed, my heart was broken, and really, still is.  I spent more time with her than I have with my  husband who is out to sea for work more often than he’s home, so it’s been incredibly difficult to deal with the loss of a beloved pet, confidant, and the best, most earnest listener ever.  Her brother is still around, but he’s always been a more aloof sort of dog whereas Mattie would take every opportunity to weasel her way onto your lap (yes, all 50 lbs of her) to beg for head rubs or just to curl up and snore her happy  little face off.  She was my little peanut and I miss her tremendously.

That’s a long way of saying we had a loss in the family, and I couldn’t focus on much else since I was grieving.

(and now that I’ve probably made you cry… moving on…)

In case you’re not familiar with One Local Summer, the idea is that you make one meal a week using only ingredients found locally which serves to reduce your “food miles” by using food grown and raised near home  instead of across the country.  It means that your food uses less fuel to get to your home, reducing your overall carbon footprint.  It also means that you get to know your local farmers, purchase from local small businesses, and support local agriculture.  Getting to know the people who grow/make/raise the food I eat has been such an incredible experience over the past nine years – I joke that our local weekly farmers market is my farmers market family, and they’re a wonderful group of people that I enjoy seeing every week!  I’m going back to the meal-by-meal format instead of doing set weeks.  Let’s face it, some weeks get away from me, and rather than feel stressed to cook and blog about it when I’m just out of time and energy, this gives me the option to double up some weeks, and give myself a break other weeks if I need it.

I kind of can’t believe it’s been nine whole years of this already.

Our market went to regular summer hours at the beginning of April, so I figured I might as well start this thing off at the same time, even though it’s a month earlier than the usual start of our market summer season.  The market is still on in the winter on an every-other-week schedule since a lot of producers grow in hot houses.  There’s not all that much available at the beginning of the season in terms of vegetables – lots of leafy greens, but not too much else – so the earlier meals end up being a little simpler.  Well, not this one!  I found a recipe for baked empanadas that had a great, easy recipe for the dough that was basically just lard and flour, so I knew I could do that locally.  For the filling, I deviated from the recipe and decided on veal, spinach, scallions, and cheese curds and it was PERFECT.  Really, you could fill the dough with just about any combination of veggies/meat/cheese/etc and get creative with these, so I may re-visit this recipe later.  I made the filling and dough the night before so they had enough time to chill and then assembled them the next evening.  It’s a bit more work than I usually put into a One Local Summer dinner since I don’t necessarily enjoy cooking (a girl’s gotta eat though), but the result was well worth the extra time!  I added some mushrooms and cheese curds to round out the plate since hey, mushrooms and cheese curds, who could say no?!  The wine glass features mead I made from honey from our hives, so that was an extra special treat.

Ingredients:
Flour –  Mill at Anselma
Mushrooms –  Oley Valley Mushrooms
Lard –  M&M Creek Valley Farm
Cheese Curds –  Birchrun Hills
Veal –  Birchrun Hills
Spinach –  Charlestown Farm
Scallions –  Jack’s Farm
Mead – Our Beehives
Non Local – Salt, olive oil

Subscription Boxes

Stitch Fix April 2017

 

Stitch Fix recently started offering plus sizes, and since I had been wanting to try Stitch Fix for a while, I jumped at the chance to give it a go since they finally carry my size range!  My first month was not great, and while I posted it on Instagram, I didn’t want to blog about it.  I don’t quite have the confidence (or fashion sense) of all the gorgeous plus size ladies who blog about plus size clothing, and, let’s be honest, I haven’t had that confidence at any size, whether it was a 10 or an 18.  But hey, sometimes if we do things that seem scary, after a while they feel  a little less scary, so, here goes nothing.

My second Stitch Fix arrived today and I was eager to see what was in the box.  My first box was styled by Angie, and this one was by Lana.  The styling fee was waived for this box since the last one was a disappointment, and  I thought was a nice gesture by Stitch Fix!  I did keep the jeans from the first box, and I’m finding that even though they’re a little outside of my comfort zone in terms of fit (they’re more fitted through the thigh), they are so damn comfortable and look pretty stellar on.  For this month’s Fix, Lana added a note on the styling card:

Welcome back for your 2nd Fix.  I loved looking on your Instagram and your Sheetar website for inspiration!  I’m sorry to see you were disappointed in your last Fix.  I was sure not to include any pink this time.  Since you are looking for more figure flattering tops, I thought you would love the fitted style of the Ink Love & Peace mesh detail knit top.  Pair it with jeans and your favorite boots or black flats and add the Bay to Baubles fan necklace for a night out.  The Gilli Rinna dress will give you that 50’s retro style you’re looking for and will look amazing with some heels and red lipstick for your next special event or wedding.  The Skies are Blue split neck top is an easy style you can pair with jeans on your more casual days.  The Loveappella mesh detail knit top will also look chic paired with a fuller skirt.  Enjoy!

Well, Lana nailed it.  She clearly got a good sense of what I like by browsing around my social media accounts, and NO PINK!  (a friend likes to joke that I’m allergic to pink, I dislike the color that much)  So, let’s go piece by piece..

Item: Loveappella Normen Mesh Detail Top
Cost: $44.00
Paired With: Yellow crochet flats (mine), Jeans (last month’s Stitch Fix), necklace (this month’s stitch fix)
I LOVE this top.  It’s a great navy blue color, and the mesh detail on the sleeves is just on the top of the sleeve, so the mesh won’t irritate under your arms.  Super smart.  It’s also a piece I can wear without a cardigan which I almost never do because I like to hide my arms and tush, but I honestly would feel comfortable wearing this without a cardigan.  The fabric is a mid to light weight rayon/spandex knit – it’s not so light that it feels like tissue weight, but it’s just right for spring and fall and feels like a decent quality.  I even have a yellow fuller skirt that may go really well with this – I tend not to wear a lot of skirts since I have a short torso and I feel like they look weird since my waist is so high, but it’s worth trying it out!

Item: Bay to Baubles Zaria Fan Necklace
Cost: $38
Paired With: Loveappella Normen Mesh Detail Top
At first, I thought, eh, more jewelery, but it’s a really substantial, heavy piece, and I like that it’s silver and is more of a larger, statement piece.  It does go nicely to dress up the other two tops, and it’s not something I have anything similiar to already.  I’m kind of a little take-it-or-leave-it on this since it’s more than I’d spend on a similar necklace, but again, it is heavier than your average $12 clearance fashion jewelery.

Item: Ink Love & Peace Welden Mesh Detail Knit Top
Cost: $48
Paired With:  Jeans (last month’s Stitch Fix), black rosette flats (mine)
The top is plain black, but has a neat mesh detail that runs pretty much from armpit to armpit and down  the sleeves a little ways.  This is yet another top that I’d actually feel comfortable wearing without a cardigan (MIRACLE OF MIRACLES, TWO IN ONE BOX!).  It’s a nylon/spandex blend and is just a little heavier than the other top.  The fit is great!  The only thing I’m not sure I entirely like is the shoulder/sleeve construction and how there’s a seam running around the sleeve halfway between my elbow and shoulder, but it’s not enough to make me send back the top.  It’s just a weird design feature.

Item: Skies Are Blue Avena Split Neck Top
Cost: $54
Paired With:  Jeans (last month’s Stitch Fix), yellow crochet flats  (mine)
I’m not entirely thrilled with this one.  It’s a floaty, polyester fabric, and the fit isn’t great.  You can see how long the sleeves are (note that only my fingers are sticking out of the sleeve) and how far the shoulder seams hang down my arms.  The bust is way too big, but the fit is right around the hips, so if I went down a size, I’d be risking it not fitting in the hips.  I tend to have this same fit problem with most clothes since most plus size clothing is cut for  a gal with a larger chest.  I am definitely not that gal, so it means a bunch of excess fabric where my, uh, huge tracts of land ought to be.  I think it’s fixable  by taking up the sleeves a little and pulling in the darts around the bust, but it’s a lot of work for something I’m not terribly thrilled with.  It also still falls into that shapeless-sack category that a lot of plus size clothing ends up being with no structure to the body – I tend to prefer tops with a bit more structure and definition to them, and a good fit means they look better than something that shapelessly hangs.  I’d have liked  this a lot more if it was a cotton blend or a flannel, or a more structured fabric instead of a breezy, light polyester georgette.  This is also the only clothing piece in my Fix that wasn’t made in the USA.

Item: Gilli Rinna Dress
Cost: $58
Paired With:  Cardigan (mine), red heels (mine)
HEYO!  Spot on perfect!  This little number  is a dark navy blue with ivory polka dots and doesn’t it just look great with the red?!  The fabric is I think what they call a “scuba” fabric – it’s a textured polyester/spandex blend.  The wind caught the dress a little for the photo, so you can see it has a nice drape, but it’s still a heavier fabric.  The back is a wide crossed back with a little keyhole opening around the waist.  Again (AGAIN), this is a little too big in the chest.  Fortunately, the raglan sleeves are a perfect spot to nip in the excess fabric.  I do happen to have an anniversary and birthday coming up in about a month, so, hey, nice timing!  I think this could also be dressed down a little with a denim jacket and flats as shown in the styling suggestions, or even go a little less retro paired with nude heels and an ivory cardigan.

The total bill for the box comes to $242.00.  You get a 25% discount if you keep everything, bringing the total down by $60.50 to $181.50.  I was contemplating returning the Skies Are Blue Avena Split Neck Top since there are a lot of fit issues and I’m not too keen on the fabric, but considering that the discount takes care of the cost of that top and then some, I’m probably just going to keep the whole Fix and see what I can do about alterations.   I’m no stranger to altering clothes since I’ve never been an off-the-rack body type, it’s just a bummer that precious little ever fits right without some work.

Final thoughts:  This was a MUCH MUCH better fix than the first by miles, and I feel like Lana definitely paid attention to my notes and preferences.  My favorite piece is probably the dress, but I do like the first two tops as well.  The prices are much higher than what I’d usually spend on clothes, but I also feel like they’re better quality, definitely not things I can find elsewhere, plus most of them are made in the USA which is pretty awesome.  In case you’re thinking about trying Stitch Fix and want to give me a little love, here’s my referral link!

Subscription Boxes

Espionage Cosmetics Nexus – April 2017

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Another edition of the Espionage Cosmetics Nexus has arrived!  This is April’s shipment that arrived yesterday, so it’s right on time.  The theme this month was, “Birds of a Feather,” and from a spoiler, I knew there would be a Edgar Allan Poe themed wrap, but had no idea what the other one would be!

Nevermore – This glossy nail wrap features ravens and black feathers against a cloudy sky background, with a reference to  that famous poem, “The Raven.”  You could almost double purpose this for a little Hitchcockian birds, so it’s got a little bonus content, I think.  Even better is that I love both Poe and Hitchcock, so this one is right up my alley.

Flight of the Moonfallen – This is a nail wrap with a pearl finish and bonus glow in the dark content.  I didn’t recognize this one at all, but thankfully someone on Instagram mentioned that it was a reference to the  Saga comic book series.  It’s a really lovely design, taken from the wings of one of the characters, and now that I’ve read up about it, the series sounds like something right up my alley, so I’m going to have to put it on my reading list.

This is an easy month for me since I have a soft spot for Poe, so my vote is definitely going to Nevermore in the epic nail wrap battle.  I’m still pretty fond of Flight of the Moonfallen since it’s a beautiful design, but.. POE!  Either way, I still received both of these and get to wear them, but only one will go on to victory and end up on the website for sale to the public.  The month-to-month subscription cost is $15, and since each wrap goes for $10 on the website, the value definitely exceeds the cost, plus, subscribers get first crack at new designs.  Next month’s theme has already been announced, and it’s, “Keeping Track.”  In case you’re thinking about subscribing and want to send me some love, hit up my  referral link!

Subscription Boxes

Medusa’s Makeup March 2017

 

March’s edition of the Medusa’s Makeup monthly box is here.  The shipment arrived in a pink padded mailer with minimal packaging as usual which I really appreciate.  Less waste!  Two lip products, an eyeshadow and an eye makeup primer made for four products this month.

  • Stick It Eye Primer – 2 oz / $8 – (Product is full size)  Made with natural oils and waxes, this eye primer is a bit stickier than the more velvety finish type primers I generally use.  However, I’d imagine that makes it a fantastic base for shimmery colors that tend not to stay put very well.
  • Eye Dust – 1.5 g / $7 – (Product is full size)  The color this month is, “Wasabe,” a shimmery green that’s perfect for the month that contains St. Patrick’s Day.  I really love getting a new eye color from them every month and this one is the prettiest spring green.
  • Lipstick – 3.5 g / $12 – (Product is full size)  The color received is, “Lydia,” though my container was labelled as “YOLO.”  It’s definitely the purple Lydia, and really not a color I have any use for.  It goes on as a pastel purple and looks a little bit like I’ve transformed into Violet Beauregarde.  It might work as a base under a bolder red color to bring the red into a cool/berry zone, but alone?  I’m just not the kind of person who wears purple lipstick.  It also contains parabens.
  • Lip Paint – 1.5 g / $12 – (Product is full size)  The color here is, “Get Lucky,” which is a bright, bubblegum pink.  It applies on me as a bright, flourescent pink, and I can’t see myself wearing this in public except maybe for Halloween or cosplaying Jem.  The formula isn’t my favorite – even after it’s dried and set, it’s still a little sticky, but it stays put (and is nearly impossible to remove).  This also contains parabens.

The total value this month comes to $39 which is good for a box that only costs $15.95 per month.  Unfortunately, the only products I’m going to keep and use are the eye primer and eye dust, so the value doesn’t quite make up for the cost this month for me.  I know Medusa’s Makeup is a little bit beyond my threshold in terms of bold, unusual colors, but this shipment was particularly bold, I think.  I decided to unsubscribe for the meantime since I’m honestly on makeup overload, and getting two lip colors that are pretty outlandish in this shipment put me over the edge.  I still love the company and their eye dusts are some of my favorites, so I may come back at a later date – I just need a break for now!

Subscription Boxes

Goodbeing Spring Bonus Box 2017

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Every time I see emails for these bonus boxes from Goodbeing, I jump on the chance to pick one up.  I had been a regular Goodbeing/Goodebox subscriber until May of 2016, but I still like grabbing these bonus boxes since they tend to be a good value.  This one sold for $30 including shipping and was advertised as being between a $75 and $90 value with 10 products, at least two full size items.  I usually don’t do reviews on these bonus boxes since there are a lot of products to go through and try, but I’ll at least do a list of the products plus values.  My box contained 12 products with 2 of those being full size, one of which was another one of those Rafiki bracelets like the one from  February of  last year  but in a different color.  These were the bracelets  that led me to cancel my subscription since they came in two boxes in a row and were not something I was interested in (I can’t believe they STILL have these around).  As someone who isn’t a regular monthly subscriber, I did get a few neat, new products that I haven’t tried before, so this is a great way to dip your toe into what Goodbeing offers before jumping in to a monthly subscription.

  • New Chapter Every Woman’s One Daily Multi – 24 ct / $14.99 – (Sample size is 10 tablets, value of $6.25)
  • Gia Minerals Mineral Blush – 4 g / $24 – (Product is 3 g, value of $18 by volume)  Color is “Splendid Rose”
  • Suntegrity Lip C.P.R. – 2.8 g / $28 – (Product is .5 g, value of $5 by volume)  Color is “Sunny Blush”
  • Moody Sisters Lip Scrub – 1 oz / $9 – (Product is full size)
  • Folium Medica Athlete Potion – 1 oz / $42 – (Product .5 oz, value of $21 by volume)
  • Noctua Diem Cucumber & Seaweed Cooling Mask – 4 oz / $30 – (Product is 2 oz, value of $15 by volume)
  • Odacite CaR Vital Glow Serum – 5 mL / $55 – (Product is .7 mL, value of $1.10 by volume)
  • The Seaweed Bath Co. Restoring Marine Serum – 1 oz / $45 – (Product is .16 oz, value of $7.20 by volume)
  • Derma E Hydrating Night Creme – 2 oz / $29.50 – (Product is .5 oz, value of $7.38 by volume)
  • Osea Ocean Cleanser – 5 oz / $44 – (Product is 1 oz, value of $8.80 by volume)
  • Kahina Brightening Serum –  30 mL / $72 (1 packet at about 3  mL each, approx value of $7.20)
  • Me to We Rafiki Bracelet – 1 bracelet / $10 – (Product is full size)

The total value comes to $115.93 which is well above the advertised value!  I’m pretty happy with mostly everything that came in this bonus box.  The only things I’m not terribly thrilled with are the bracelet and vitamins, but I’ll end up using everything else which makes the box a pretty fantastic value for $30.  It’s hard to pick a single item that I’m really thrilled about, but it’s probably the a tie between the Osea cleanser and Folium Medica potion that smells SO good.  Honestly, this was a great value for what’s included, and I always like getting these bonus boxes.  Looking forward to the next one!