subscription box Archives - Twenty Something Plus

September 29, 2016

September 2016 Must Have Box

You know that feeling when you’re expecting a package and it finally comes? Well surprise packages are like a thousand times better! POPSUGAR sent me the September 2016 Must Have Box to try and while I probably should have been expecting it’s arrival, I totally wasn’t and an otherwise pointless walk to the mailbox was made worthwhile.

I don’t know why I didn’t already have a POPSUGAR Must Have Box subscription, but I’m very seriously considering it now! The contents include something I had just said I needed and a few products I already love.

A lot of times my clothes get cover in all kinds of lint. But I hate how lint removers don’t have some sort of cover. The Flint Retractable Lint Roller makes that a non-issue. It’s exactly what I needed!

While I didn’t need a manicure set, I like that this NCLA one comes in a cute small case and has everything I need to keep my nails properly trimmed on the go. I can now stop wasting my business cards (which I’m starting to run a low on…) to clean my nails.

I also didn’t need another black hat. This Jack + Lucy one reminds me of a rose though, so I love it!

Snacks are always good to have on deck. Especially good tasting, gluten-free ones. I don’t like dark chocolate, but I’m sure I know someone who will devour these delicacies.

Briogeo and Smith & Cult are two brands that I’ve tried and loved before. I’ve already almost gone through the Briogeo deep conditioning mask! And have found myself wear the Smith & Cult gloss in The Warning over matte reds to really make my lips pop.

Overall, the September 2016 Must Have Box is amazing and definitely worth at least trying. And I’m super excited to share a special coupon code with you so that you can. Use SHOP5 and get $5 off your first Must Have Box!

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September 19, 2016

My August 2016 Birchbox

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links.

You guys, I honestly can not even remember if my August 2016 Birchbox was the feature box for the month or if I picked a sample. Given my past Birchbox selections, I’d say it’s safe to assume it’s the feature box, but I could be wrong.

What I am sure about is that my love for Living proof. has grown exponentially, that stila is the bomb dot com.

I will always love Beauty Protector Protect & Detangle and I need to make these Acure cleansing towelettes a reoccurring purchase.

Ok. I have some news. I have officially decided not to renew my Birchbox subscription for 2017.

Partly, because I am trying to minimize the excess crap I have in my life and samples have taken over my vanity. It’s making me feel like a hoarder and I just can’t.

Finish up the year won’t be an issue. I really do enjoy getting my Birchbox every month.

Make sure to let me know in the comments, if you want to hear more about any of these samples!

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August 23, 2016

My August 2016 Play! by Sephora

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links.

I’m going to be extremely blunt about my August 2016 Play! by Sephora box. If this month’s Play! by Sephora had been my first, I would have canceled.

I have heard so many complaints about Birchbox and people saying they’ve been disappointed with their box. While I can’t say that I have never been underwhelmed with a monthly box, overall my experience has been really good.

I never even dreamed I’d consider switching it out for another box until Sephora’s.

And I definitely didn’t understand why anyone would complain about their subscription box samples, until getting my August 2016 Play! by Sephora box.

Not that I’m complaining exactly.

Will I use the samples? Yes. But I’ve had better. Like, much better.

The value of the samples is probably well worth it, I just wasn’t nearly as impressed as I was with my first two boxes.

Lancôme Énergie de Vie The Smoothing & Glow Boosting Liquid Moisturizer| $55

Algenist Complete Eye Renewal Balm | $68

CLEAN Reserve Blonde Rose | $90

MAKE UP FOR EVER Artist Shadow Eyeshadow and Powder Blush | $21

SEPHORA COLLECTION Contour Eye Pencil 12hr Wear Waterproof (in Love Affair) | $10

Urban Decay Perversion Mascara | $22

I haven’t tried the Lancôme or Alegenist samples yet, but I’ll get to them, love them, and then never buy them.

I maybe had one CLEAN sample that I liked before (once upon a time, in a Birchbox), but I find most of their scents too strong. This one would make a nice home scent (if it wasn’t so strong), but I doubt I’ll use it.

As always, the makeup samples are amazing. However, I already have four or five tubes in varying sizes of the Perversion Mascara.

The Sephora Contour Eye Pencil sounds interesting, but also like a scam. Either way, I like the color. I know because I have a very similar shade liner by another brand.

You never realize how much eyeshadow you have and don’t use until you hit pan in one you use a lot. I really need to stop buying expensive palettes and only get the pots of the colors I use. Anyways, most powders can be used as whatever you want (I’ve used eyeshadow to contour before), but I do like that this MAKE UP FOR EVER one doubles as a blush. My makeup bag just got a little lighter.

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August 15, 2016

My July 2016 Birchbox

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links.

I’m not going to lie to you. I missed the sample choice window for the July 2016 Birchbox.

And, it may come as no surprise that I really wanted that month’s feature box. So, honestly, no matter what I got, I expected to be at least somewhat disappointed.

Really, the only let down was the box. It wasn’t the pretty patterned box for the month, but a plainer one. The samples were actually pretty decent.

I haven’t used them yet. But, I’m pretty confident that I will.

Let me know in the comments, if you’re interested in hearing about any of these samples!

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August 8, 2016

My June 2016 Birchbox

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links.

For the June 2016 Birchbox the sample choice was between the different shades of the new and improved Benefit Cosmetics Gimme Brow. I knew I loved the original, so naturally I wanted to get my hand on this updated one. It was basically a no-brainer.

I don’t know if it’s just me, but I didn’t like the Gimme Brow nearly as much as I remembered. I’ve used it from time to time, but my current favorite is actually NYX brow mascara.

After posting about my top highlighters and getting to try a priming one from Becca Cosmetics, I was happy to add another one to my list. Laura Geller Baked Gelato Swirl is the kind pigment-packed glow any goddess would kill for!

My hair can always use as much moisture as it can get, so this Oribe cream is a very much appreciated sample.

Evologie has worked to help with my pimples in the past. I may have to seriously consider switching from Proactiv…

Anything moisturizing is great, like I said, but I was not as impressed with the PARLOR shampoo as I was with their blowout spray.

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July 25, 2016

My July 2016 Play! by Sephora Box

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links.

This may only be my second ever Play! by Sephora box, but I am SUPER impressed! I liked my first box a lot, but I really really love the July 2016 Play! by Sephora box, you guys.

I honestly thought I would just be testing it out for a couple of boxes or so. I don’t think I have ever been SO wrong!

I am so close to running out of my current favorite primer (which is the Smashbox Photo Finish Oil Free Foundation Primer Hydrating) that it hurts a little. It’s almost to the point where I need to cut the top off. I need to buy more, but now I’m thinking that maybe next time I’ll have to get the pore minimizing one. I was once told that I didn’t have big pores. But, in the summer, my face begs to differ.

After getting a NEST candle that was more on the strong side than I care for, I was hesitant to spray this perfume. I, however, took one for the team, and it’s still strong, but in a nice way. That being said, if you like lighter, less musky smells, I wouldn’t recommend.

Ouai is a brand that I’m only starting to see around, and I really want to try their hair oil. Settling for the wave spray, isn’t so bad. I have no idea if I’m using it right, or rather, what the outcome on my hair texture is supposed to be, but I LOVE the way it smells, so frankly, I don’t even care!

Bronzer is one of the reasons I have trust issues. More specifically, Too Faced’s bronzers. I have it and never use it as a bronzer, because it’s too light. Then, they finally come out with a “dark chocolate” shade. Prayers answered, right? Nope. It looks darker online, but in person it’s basically the same. The shade I got as a sample wasn’t even the dark chocolate one…

Spending $20 on a makeup sponge sounded absurd to me. My $5 e.l.f. Cosmetics one works just fine. The idea of a sponge for blotting was even more preposterous. But I now see the error of my ways. Mostly because blotting paper feels kind of wasteful. I’m also glad the blotterazzi came with a liquid cleanser sample, although almost everyone I know who is into makeup (including myself) uses Dr. Bronner’s.

I’ve been using a different face mask each week, but next week I’m going to take a break to give the First Aid Beauty cleanser a try. I haven’t used anything with red clay in it yet. Should be interesting!

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July 19, 2016

My June 2016 Play! By Sephora Box

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links.

Even though I am still crazy about Birchbox, I thought it was time to give another beauty subscription box a try. Due to my love affair with Sephora, Play! by Sephora seemed like the only valid option. Plus, I had just got the email to claim my spot after being waitlisted.

I’ve used They’re Real! mascara well over a dozen times. It may be the unpopular opinion, but it’s not my favorite. But, I also don’t hate it. I like it for when I’m just going to run out real quick for a bit. Buying a full size version isn’t in my plans, but the sample size is just the right amount.

Tocca makes some of the best fragrances. I would wear this for an anniversary or a summer wedding, but it’s a little heavier than what I’m used to.

After sharing my top three highlighters, I admitted that there were still some brands that I wanted to try. One such brand being BECCA. While this is a primer and not an illuminator per se, I am still pumped (pun very much so intended, because the sample is in a container that you pump) to try something by them. And a little dab after apply your foundation, helps creates a dewey look.

Very similarly, I’m happy to try another bronzer. I haven’t shared about my favorite bronzers yet, because finding bronzers that compliment darker skin tones isn’t as easy as one would think. I really like how this bareMineral serum bronzer blends in.

Perfect for the days when I don’t want to heat style my hair, which has been a lot lately. I haven’t tried using Don’t Blow It after washing my hair yet, but as a general hair styling product it’s not bad!

Never have I ever wanted to try a sunscreen as badly as Tarteguard. Aside from the social posts promoting it, I couldn’t even tell you why.

I don’t think Sephora’s is that much better than Birchbox’s, but it did have six samples instead of five and two products that I don’t think I’d ever have found waiting for me inside my Birchbox.

There’s no need to write off Birchbox just yet, but I’m not sure that if I had to pick one, that I could wholeheartedly say that I wouldn’t go with Sephora.

Have you tried both boxes? Which would you choose?

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May 17, 2016

My May 2016 Birchbox

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links.

For my May 2016 Birchbox, I don’t even remember what the sample choices were. One glance at this month’s Naturally Radiant featured box and I was sold!

I am a little bit of a bronzer junkie. Probably because I associate it with summer. A matte bronzer is the best for contouring, but I have yet to find a stand alone bronzer for me to use that way. When there’s a shimmer to it, I use it all over, otherwise I use it like a setting powder. I knew Benefit Hoola Matte Bronzer wouldn’t be dark enough, but because of the hype I wanted it anyways.

COOLA is a brand I like for sunscreen in general, I’ve sampled their products through Birchbox a couple of times, but never a makeup setting spray. I’ve been looking for a natural alternative to Urban Decay’s All Nighter and I’m really happy to have found this, even if the full size does cost a little bit more.

Honestly, I’m not a huge fan of the color, but the ModelCo Lip Lacquer feels like a pretty good gloss. I would love to try it in a shade like Morocco instead. Birchbox carries their sample sized trio for $16, it includes both Crème Brulee and Morocco, in addition to Viva.

Perfumes, shampoos and conditioners are not my favorite samples to get, but I don’t mind so much when I get all three for a total of six samples this month. Sure the conditioner is a small packet, but I really wanted to try the Davines LOVE set. It’s for course or frizzy hair. I have both. (Apparently, Davines changed the formula, and the new didn’t exactly get rave reviews. I still have yet to use it, but am choosing to remain optimistic since I didn’t see any reviews from anyone with course hair.)

The perfume is a heavy floral. Which I did not love and made the mistake of spraying in on myself rather than in the air or on a piece of paper to smell it for the first time. And it’s strong.

Despite my feelings towards the fragrance sample, this month’s box was still one of my faves.

May 11, 2016

My April 2016 Birchbox

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links.

It seems like whenever I tell myself that I’m not going to select the featured box the next month, I end up doing the opposite. Maybe it’s me, maybe it’s that I was that unimpressed with the sample choices. Either way, I went with the April 2016 Birchbox featured box.

I don’t want to pretend that I loved or even wanted everything in my box this month. However, I was very pleased with the Laura Geller Baked Blush-n-Brighten. I can use it as blush with a highlighter or as a highlighter with a blush, or alone.

TOCCA Hand Cream is one of my favorites and it is my goal to eventually try them all, I really like the scent I got, it’s fruity and floral, which to me is perfection!

Surprisingly, I liked the Marcelle Micellar Solution, but not nearly as much as I’d expected to. Especially since it costs as much as it does, but the drugstore versions work just as well.

Liftra Contour Cream kind of confuses me. Since I don’t 100% get how it works or what exactly it’s supposed to do, I have yet to touch it.

As for the PALOR, I raved about the blowout spray, but the volumizing spray isn’t a product I cared all that much for. Not because it doesn’t work, but volume isn’t really something my hair lacks.

Which product would make this box worth it for you? If you’re interested in signing up for Birchbox, you can use my refer a friend link here!

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March 9, 2016

My March 2016 Birchbox

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links.

It’s been a little bit since I’ve gone with the featured box for my Birchbox sample choice selection. But, for me, the March 2016 Birchbox, Ready for Anything themed box was the obvious option.

Parlor is a brand that I have heard a lot about through Birchbox, but didn’t think I’ve get in as a sample in my Birchbox. Just another reason to have selected this month’s feature box. I’ll be attending a conference soon and really hope this blowout spray will hold up throughout the weekend.

I’ve gone a little face mask crazy lately, and even managed to get the manfriend kind of, sort of into them a little too. Surprisingly, I haven’t tried any eye pads, so these Wilma Schumann ones will not go to waste! Maybe multi masking will be my next beauty endeavor…

Something a bit more familiar, is Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream. Having tried it before, I knew I liked it, but I’m happy to have some again. Plus, the container is great for travel!

Smashbox is one of the first beauty brands I ever tried and loved. A sample with not one, not two, but THREE colors is practically unheard of! I really want to order the full size version in Vignette.

Milk Makeup is a brand spanking new and I am excited to have gotten it through Birchbox. I wish the sample was a bigger (and another color), but I’m happy I get to try it out.

Curious to know if Birchbox is for you? Give it a try, sign up here!