My Review of the October 2012 IPSY (formerly MY GLAM) Glam Bag

This is my review of the October 2012 IPSY (formerly My Glam) Glam bag.  This is my first Ipsy/My Glam bag, so I was excited to see what it contained.

The "Stats" -    

Frequency:  Monthly (automatic renewing)

Cost:  $10.00/month (shipping is free)

Products: From their website - "Each month, subscribers will receive a beautiful Glam Bag, with deluxe samples and full-sized beauty products."  (Based off the beauty quiz you complete).

Here's what my October 2012 IPSY Glam Bag looked like:

The Outside - My new favorite packaging :)  

First impression:  "Wow!  Much better than I anticipated!!"

Here's a look at all the products that were in the box:

This box included:  (Retail Values are listed for the size actually received in the box, not the full-sized product unless that's what they sent in the box).

The Products: 
1.  The Balm Cosmetics - "What's Your Type?" - "The Body Builder" Mascara - .11 fl oz - RV $ 5.23
2.  IPSY Make-Up Bag - estimated RV $5.00
3.  Pequi Oil Treatment - .5 fl oz - RV $12.00
4.  Mirenesse Lip Bomb Glossy Lacquer Stain in "Mirror Me" - .11 oz (FULL SIZE) - RV $39.00
5.  Be A.... Bombshell Eye Liner in "Onyx" - .1 fl oz (FULL SIZE) - $14.00
6.  Coastal Scents Eye Shadow Set - .07 oz - RV $2.31 (estimated)

TOTAL VALUE of the products I received:  $77.54 (estimated)
MY COST:  $10.00

A closer look at the products:

1.  The Balm Cosmetics - "What's Your Type?" - "The Body Builder" Mascara - (5 stars) - I don't know about you, but personally, I am always needing more mascara due to it's short shelf-life!  The brush is great - lots of medium-length bristles, which catch your lashes wonderfully!  Would definitely recommend this mascara!
2.  Make-Up Bag - (5 stars) - I LOVE this little bag!  It measures approx. 7 1/2" x 4 3/4" and is perfect to throw in my purse or gym bag!  This month's theme is "Hello, Bombshell!" and this fits right in with that!  Definitely a keeper! 

3.  Pequi Oil Treatment - (Not Yet Tested) - I will update this blog once I do (test it).  I'm very excited to do so though!  This is perfect for the colder weather we're experiencing here in the Midwest!  
4.  Coastal Scents Eye Shadow Set - (5 stars) - These colors are PERFECT for my hazel eyes!  Will try these out tomorrow and update my blog once I do.  

5.  Mirenesse Lip Bomb Glossy Lacquer Stain in "Mirror Me" - (4.5 stars) - This is a great, full-sized gloss.  It goes on creamy and feels nice on.  This color is a bit light for my fair complexion, so I will probably put it on Listia.  However, there are a lot of other colors on their website (specifically the red one) that I would like to try.  And, the packaging is just cool!  
6.  Be A.... Bombshell Eye Liner in "Onyx" - (5 stars) - This goes on like a pen/marker.  It is perfect for drawing your liner out into the "cat eye" look.  Very happy with this product!

The final verdict:  5 stars!!  This is my favorite of all the subscription boxes I've received so far!  I loved everything in it (including the lip stain that isn't quite the right color for me)!  The value is fantastic!!  I received 6 products (including 2 FULL SIZED products) valued at approx. $77.54 for the great price of only $10.  (It was an even better value than this month's Birchbox).  I can't wait to receive my next Glam Bag!!  

My Review of the October 2012 JULEP MAVEN "It Girl" Box

This is my first regular Julep Maven that I've received.  (Last month, I received their Introductory box and reviewed it).  This month's box had a Halloween theme to it.

The stats:  
~  Their polishes are "4-free” and do not contain formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin, toluene, or DBP (a plasticizer that's used in adhesives and printing inks). 
~  For $19.99/mo (shipping is free), Julep Maven sends you $40+ worth of product.  You do have the option to skip a month if you don't want/need any polish for the following month.  This month, Julep also offered Mavens a free add-on as well.  I selected an additional polish as my free add-on.
~  Once you subscribe, you will complete a profile.  However, Julep allows you to change your polish selection style if you don't like what they've selected for you (which is nice).  This month, I changed mine from "Classic with a Twist" to "It Girl" because I liked the "It Girl" polishes that were offered better.
~  You can check the Julep Maven website out by clicking on the following link:   http://www.julep.com/?r=23718117.

Here's what my October 2012 "It Girl" box looked like:

First Impression:  "Oooh!  There's extra goodies in here this month!"

This box included:  (Retail Values are listed for the size actually received in the box, not the full-sized product unless that's what they sent in the box).

The Products: 

1.  Julep "Glenda" Crackle Polish - .27 fl oz - RV $14

2.  Julep "Leslie" Polish - .27 fl oz - RV $14

3.  Julep "Caroline" Polish - .27 fl oz - RV $14

4.  Orange Glitter Pot - RV $3 (estimated)

5.  Black Glitter Pot - RV $3 (estimated)

6.  Candy Corn - RV $1 (estimated)

7.  FREE ADD ON - Julep "Boris & Nicole" Polish - .27 fl oz - RV $14

TOTAL VALUE of the products I received:  $63.00 (estimated)
MY COST:  $19.99

Now a closer look at what you really want to see - the polishes!!

Once again - something that's VERY important to me - everything was SEALED!! 

Left to Right:  

1.  Julep "Boris & Nicole" Polish - (5 stars) - This was my free add-on for the month.  I must admit, I love it!  It's a rich, shimmery dark copper color - unlike anything else I own.  I'm typically not into wearing brown polishes, but this is one I think I'll wear this fall.  The polish went on smoothly and was so beautiful (see photo below).  

2.  Julep "Glenda" Crackle Polish - (5 stars) - I have purchased several OPI crackle polishes in the past and haven't liked them.  So, I almost didn't even try this one.  I'm glad I did though.  This polish also went on smoothly and then separated into a nice design that let just enough of the darker "Caroline" polish thru.  I can't wait to put a vivid red under it for the Holidays (see photo below).

3.  Julep "Leslie" Polish - (Not yet tested) - This is a lovely black polish with silver shimmery particles within.  I've heard it's absolutely lovely on, but I have a similar polish I recently purchased in another brand.  Not sure if I'll keep this one or put it onto Listia. 

4.  Julep "Caroline" Polish - (4 stars) -  I am a HUGE fan of red nail polish of all shades.  When looking at the bottle, this polish looked to me like it would be a deep, fire-y red color.  However, when you apply it, it is a very, very dark mahogany color.  It's so dark, you barely see the red in it (and it looks more brownish).  I will still wear this color for fall (probably on my toes), but it's not what I was expecting. 

5. & 6.  The glitter pots - (3 stars) - I had to log onto the Julep blog to figure out how to use them.  Per the blog:  

1. Prep your nails and apply two coats of your favorite Julep nail color

2. Sprinkle glitter over wet nail

3. Let dry completely and apply clear top coat.

It's a cute concept, I just don't know if at 35 years old, I need to be wearing glitter on my nails.  Plus, glitter gets everywhere.  Not sure if I'm in the mood for that.  I may try this out on Halloween, but I doubt I'll use it for anything more than a craft project someday.

7.  The bag of Candy Corn - (5 stars) - LOVE candy corn and it was a nice way to tie in this month's theme!  Gobbled it up in 2 seconds :).

My overall impression of Julep Maven so far - I like it.  This month's box was a really great value ($19.99 for approx. $63 worth of products - AND I got 4 new nail polishes).  This brings their average price to less than $5 each.  GREAT DEAL!!  I will definitely continue this program for the foreseeable future (until I decide I have enough polishes). 

Review of the October 2012 BIRCHBOX

This is my review of the October 2012 Birchbox.  This is my first Birchbox I've gotten (after being on a wait list for about a month).  This month, Birchbox partnered with GOOP, so I was excited to see what they came up with.

The "Stats" -  There were apparently 39 different versions of the Birchbox this month.  I received Box #6.  

Frequency:  Monthly (automatic renewing)

Cost:  $10.00/month (shipping is free)

Products: From their website - "Monthly deliveries of high-end beauty and lifestyle samples from top brands. It's the best way to discover new products and buy with confidence".  This month, my box had 4 regular products and 1 bonus product in it.

Here's what my October 2012 Birchbox looked like:

First impression:  "Yay!  You're finally here!"

Here's a look at all the products that were in the box:

This box included:  (Retail Values are listed for the size actually received in the box, not the full-sized product unless that's what they sent in the box).

The Products: 
1.  Beautyblender - 1 pink sponge - RV $12.98
2.  Chantecaille Brilliant Gloss - approx .1 fl oz - RV $3.30
3.  DDF Wrinkle Resist Plus Pore Minimizer - .23 fl oz - RV $11.50
4.  Marie Veronique Organics Anti-Aging Oil - approx. .1 oz - RV $8.00
5.  LUNA Lemon Zest - 1 bar - RV $1.25

TOTAL VALUE of the products I received:  $37.03 (estimated)
MY COST:  $10.00

A closer look at the Products:
1.  Beautyblender - (5 stars) - I LOVE this little pink sponge!  It's soft and when dampened just a bit, makes my liquid foundation go on smoothly.  Though it's a bit pricey, it's still something I'd buy in the future!  
2.  Chantecaille Brilliant Gloss - (5 stars) - This is a great gloss!  It's so silky and creamy.  It says it delivers a subtle plumping effect.  I didn't really notice that part, but still, the gloss is great.  The color I received is called "Charm".  It's a lovely salmon pink color that shimmers.  Looks great to wear casually or with a smokey eye.
3.  DDF Wrinkle Resist Plus Pore Minimizer - (3 stars) - I've used this once so far.  I'll be honest, I didn't notice a huge difference after one try.  I will use it for the next week or so though daily to see if it does after a few uses.  I will update this blog once I do.
4.  Marie Veronique Organics Anti-Aging Oil - (Not Sampled) - I have combination skin, so I'm not sure that I want to apply oil to my face even if it's for anti-aging.  I'll ponder and update this blog accordingly.
5.  LUNA Lemon Zest - 1 bar - (2 stars) - I appreciate that it's healthy, but there just wasn't a lot of flavor there.  I am a fan of lemon bars and all things lemon-flavored, so I would've liked some more flavor to this bar.  Not something I'll buy in the future.

The final verdict:  4 stars!!  Overall, this was a nice sample box.  I received 5 products valued at approx. $37.03 for the great price of only $10.  I LOVED the sponge and the lip gloss.  The sponge alone paid for the box.  When I found out there were so many different versions of the box, I signed up for a 2nd subscription as well.  I will post again when the 2nd box comes (and hopefully it's a different version).

My Review of the September 2012 BIG PINK BOX

This is my review of the September 2012 Big Pink Box.  This is a new subscription box that just began this month.  I was excited to try it out because BPB features products from companies owned by women.  Plus, the feature company, Spectrum Cosmetics, donates a portion of the proceeds (30%) from sales to Autism Research and Education.

The "Stats" - 

Frequency:  100 boxes are available each month on a first-come, first-serve basis.  Subscriptions are available at the following terms - 1 month (non-renewing) or 3 months (non-renewing after the 3rd month).  I personally am signed up for one month just to test it out.  

Cost:  $25.00/month (shipping is free) for both subscription types

Products:  5+ sample and/or full-size products from each of the companies selected to participate monthly.  The website does have a tab that says "Our Companies" which will take you directly to the participating company's website so you can get an idea of what type of products you may receive.  In addition, subscribers will receive products from Spectrum Cosmetics each month as well.

Here's what my September 2012 Big Pink Box looked like:

First impression:  "Wow!  This box looks stuffed full of goodies!"

Here's a look at all the products that were in the box:

This box included:  (Retail Values are listed for the size actually received in the box, not the full-sized product unless that's what they sent in the box).

The Products: 
1.  Only for You Boutique Shirt - RV $31.99 (estimated)
2.  Bubble Babez - 1 Heart-Shaped Bath Truffle - RV $3.00
3.  A Rose Closet - Leopard/Dark Red Hair Bow - RV $10.00
4.  The Vanity Company - 1 Key Chain - RV $1.00 (estimated)
5.  "Body" by Brown Roque Breast Cancer Soap - RV $5.00 (estimated)
6.  I Love Nails - I package of Nail Glitter - RV $3.00 (estimated)
7. & 8.  Spectrum - 2 Loose Eye Shadow Pigments - RV $10.66 (estimated) for both pigments

TOTAL VALUE of the products I received:  $64.65 (estimated)
MY COST:  $25.00

A closer look at the Products:

1.  Only for You Boutique Shirt - (3 stars) - This shirt is really cute!  It's wrinkly from being in the box, but it's actually something I'd wear pretty frequently IF the size was right.  BPB doesn't ask for your size and I received a Size Medium.  Unfortunately, I wear an XL in shirts.  So, I can't wear this shirt right now.  (Which makes it's value to me $0).  If I received a size that fit, I would've given it 5 stars, but since I can't wear it, it gets a neutral 3 stars. 

2.  Bubble Babez - 1 Heart-Shaped Bath Truffle - (NYR - Not Yet Rated) - I will update this blog once I have the chance to test this out.
3.  A Rose Closet - Leopard/Dark Red Hair Bow - (4 stars) - This bow is really cute and if I had a little girl, I would LOVE it!  It's well-made and very on-trend.  However, I don't have kids.  I'm still debating if this is something a 35-year old can put with a pony tale, but I'm doubting it.  

4.  The Vanity Company - Clear Key Chain (far right of the photo above) - (1 star) - I wasn't impressed with this at all!  And the company doesn't even sell key chains.  I expected things these companies actually sell.  I was really disappointed with this one!

5.  "Body" by Brown Roque Breast Cancer Soap - (1 star) - I have to be honest, when I saw this I spent a good minute or so just trying to figure out what it was.  I didn't know if it was dyed white chocolate or soap or what it was.  Turns out, it was soap.  It also wasn't labeled at all.  Only by process of elimination did I figure out what company it was from.  I ended up giving this away for free as part of a Listia auction.
6.  I Love Nails - I package of Nail Glitter - (1 star) - This product says it has to be combined with acrylic nail powder.  Unfortunately, I don't wear acrylic nails and I'm not going to buy the powder just to use this glitter.  Another product I can't use.  This ended up going straight to Listia.

7. & 8.  Spectrum - 2 Loose Eye Shadow Pigments in "Milk Punch" (the white) and "Spending Pink Coin" (the pink) - (5 stars) - I am completely in love with these shadows!  When I first saw the colors, I was nervous that they might be too bright.  However, they go on soft and light.  You can layer them on darker to get more pigment, but I found just a few swipes were perfect to wear for work.  I would definitely recommend these to everyone!  

The final verdict:  2 stars!!  I loved the 2 Spectrum eye shadow pigments, but other than that, these were not products I would buy/use.  If the shirt had fit, I would've probably given the box 4 stars because that would've at least gotten me my $25 worth that I paid for it, but it didn't.  I basically paid $25 for $10 worth of eye shadow pigment.  In BPB's defense, this was their first box and they are still accepting applications for participating companies.  I am not going to get the November box, but will check back in December to see what new companies have become part of their program.  If I like the companies, I may consider getting this box again in the future.  After all, I do love supporting women-owned companies and I love that a portion of Spectrum's proceeds go to Autism Research.  As of right now though, I will spend my $25/mo elsewhere.

My Review of the ECO-EMI September 2012 Box

This is my review of the September 2012 Eco-Emi Box.  This is my first month trying out this box and I was really excited for it to come.

The stats:  $15/mo with free shipping

• You get (per their website):  Chic, eco-friendly products delivered to your door once a month. 
• An array of products - everything from animal friendly makeup to organic brown rice, all natural perfumes, to herbal teas and vegan chocolates. 
• We want you to try a little bit of everything (not just beauty) so that you will be able to shop completely green in all areas food, beauty, household and more. 
• We strive to feature either organic, all natural, vegetarian, fair trade or vegan products

Here's what the September 2012 Eco-Emi Box looked like:

1st impression - "Love the packaging and the description card!  Can't wait to see what's inside!!" 

This box included:

Safonique Lavendar Sea Laundry Detergent - 4 fl oz (enough for 2 loads) - RV $ .78

Yogi Skin Detox and Green Tea Blueberry Slim Life Tea Bags - 2 of them - RV $ .62

Sen Cha Original Green Tea Leaf Mints - 1.3g/3 count - RV $.01

Sparklehearts Bubbling Blooms Body Wash & Conditioner - two .07 oz packets - RV $.07 each = $.14

Biao Beauty Rejuvenating Night Creme - .07 oz - RV $ .43

Burt's Bees Facial Cleansing Towelettes - 10 count (FULL SIZE) - RV $3.00

Crum Creek Mills Organic Soy Nut Trail Mix - 1 packet - RV $.55

Angell Crisp Organic Milk Chocolate Bar - 1 bar/1.23 oz - RV $1.79

Aubrey Organics Silken Earth Powder Blush in "Honey Bronze" -  approx .03 oz - RV $3.98

Good Fortune Creamy Coconut Lip Balm - .15 oz (FULL SIZE) - RV $4.00

TOTAL ESTIMATED VALUE:  $15.30

MY COST: $15.00

A closer look at these items.....

1.  Safonique Lavendar Sea Laundry Detergent - (4 stars) - I like the size of this sample.  It says it's enough for 2 loads.  It does smell quite strongly of Lavendar, which I'm not particularly fond of.  (I will update this blog as to how strong the smell is after use).  Product says it has "pure essential oils" in it and is "eco-friendly", which it goes on to explain means "Phosphate free, biodegradable, septic system safe, free of synthetic dyes & perfumes, fragranced only with pure essential oils, all-natural deep cleaning Borax, and no animal testing".  Though I'm not a huge fan of lavendar, I am a fan of not putting all the chemicals against my body that are in your typical detergents.  Therefore, I'm excited to try this.

2.  Yogi Skin Detox and Green Tea Blueberry Slim Life Tea Bags - (Did not Try) - I'm not a fan of tea and therefore, did not try these tea samples.  I did gift them to my parents to try though since they are tea drinkers.  

3.  Sen Cha Original Green Tea Leaf Mints - 1.3g/3 count - (2 stars) - These mints taste OK.  They're very minty at first, but then leave a strange after-taste.  I wouldn't say they left my breath feeling really fresh.  I was more perplexed by the flavor.  Not something I'd buy.

4. and 5. - Sparklehearts Bubbling Blooms Body Wash & Conditioner - two .07 oz packets - (3 stars) - Each packet was the perfect size to sample.  The smell was very faint.  It specifically noted that it was "bubbling".  There were some bubbles, but not enough to brag about.  I felt the same way about the conditioner.  It had a VERY faint cotton-candy smell to it, but left my hair dry (and it ended up full of static).  I like that they're both 100% natural and both were nice to try, but I wouldn't recommend buying either of them.

6.  Biao Beauty Rejuvenating Night Creme - .07 oz - (Did not Try) - I've said it umpteen times on here - cremes are not really my thing.  This one is headed straight to Listia.

7.  Burt's Bees Facial Cleansing Towelettes - 10 count - (4 stars) - I love that this is a full-sized product and I am a fan of Burt's Bees in general.  This towelette was soft and did leave my face feeling refreshed.  This is something I'd use after workouts or when I'm traveling.

8.  Crum Creek Mills Organic Soy Nut Trail Mix - 1 packet - (2 stars) - I will be the first to admit that I am a picky eater.  However, I was excited to try something new that's healthy for me.  Sadly, I discovered I am not a fan of soy nuts!  I wanted to like them, but I hated them!  I chewed up one handful and then picked the organic chocolate chips out of the rest of the package.  

9.  Angell Crisp Organic Milk Chocolate Bar - 1 bar - (4 stars) - This is a chocolate bar and I've admittedly met few in life I didn't like.  It is chewy, though the crisps aren't very crispy (if that makes sense).  The flavor is good (very rich).  This is something I'd buy in the future!

10.  Aubrey Organics Silken Earth Powder Blush in "Honey Bronze" -  (approx. .03 oz) - (DNT) - will test this out tomorrow and update this blog once I do.

11.  Good Fortune Creamy Coconut Lip Balm - .15 oz (FULL SIZE) - (5 stars) - This balm smells great (like fresh coconuts) and is very creamy.  It goes on clear and is long-lasting. This is something I would buy.

The final verdict:  3 stars!!   I really like that this is an eco-friendly product box and I love trying out new products!  I liked the wide variety of products, but sadly, most were ones I wouldn't normally purchase except for the lip balm and chocolate bar.  The price is reasonable, but the value of the box is rather poor compared to the other subscription boxes I'm signed up for ($15 for 11 products, valued at approx. $15.30).  This is the first Eco-Emi box I've received though, so I'll give it another chance for the next month or two before deciding whether to keep subscribing to it or not.  

My Review of the September 2012 GOODEBOX

This is my review of the September 2012 Goodebox.

The stats:  $16/mo with free shipping
You get (per their website):  Healthy, sustainable beauty products delivered monthly

Here's what the September Goodebox looked like:

1st impression - "Hmm!  What is that poker-chip looking thing?"  

This box included:

Erbvia Lemon Sage Organic Deodorant - 1 fl oz - RV $5.40

Bamford Body Geranium Body Lotion - 1.7 fl oz - RV $6.45

Juice Beauty Green Apple SPF 15 Moisturizer - .5 fl oz - RV $11.18

La Bella Figura Bohemia Verde Hair Oil - .05 fl oz - RV $1.25

Zosimos Botanicals Lip Gloss - Lip Stick in "Cinnamon" - .14 oz - RV $6.22

Go! Towel - 1 poker-chip sized 100% Bamboo "Pop-Up" towel - 1 towel - RV $1.49

Hess Natur $25 Eco-Fashion Gift Certificate to Hess Natur - RV $25.00

TOTAL ESTIMATED VALUE:  $56.99

MY COST: $16.00

A closer look at these items.....

1.  Erbvia Lemon Sage Organic Deodorant - (2 stars) - I wanted to like this!  I've tried organic deodorants in the past, and have yet to find one I really like.  This one is described as "an effective, woodsy deodorant with over 99% organic ingredients".  Woodsy is the key word here.  I normally wear deodorants that smell like baby powder.  This one smells like lemons in the woods.  The smell does eventually wear off, but it's very strong at first.  I have very sensitive skin and when I sprayed it on, my skin instantly began to burn and it lasted for several minutes.  The main ingredient in this product is alcohol.  The concentration was likely just too high for my skin.  For that reason though, it gets 2 stars.  

2.  Bamford Body Geranium Body Lotion - (3.5 stars) - This product goes on nicely.  It's not too greasy and smells like lavender and peppermint.  It absorbs nicely and is a nice product size.  However, as I've noted multiple times in this blog, I'm just not much of a lotion person.  Off to Listia goes.

3.  Juice Beauty Green Apple SPF 15 Moisturizer - (3 stars) - This product is very thick!  I literally had to RUB it into my skin several times to get it to absorb.  Once it absorbed though, it did work nicely.  The scent isn't overpowering and a little bit goes a long way.  I appreciate this is an organic moisturizer, but I don't love it enough to give up my Oil of Olay.  Off to Listia this goes too!

4.  La Bella Figura Bohemia Verde Hair Oil - (Did not sample) - I just received a larger sample of another hair oil in my QVC NBTT, so I've decided not to sample this one.  It's going straight to Listia.

5.  Zosimos Botanicals Lip Gloss - Lip Stick in "Cinnamon" - (3.5 stars) - I like this lip gloss/stick overall.  It went on nicely and had staying power.  There was a matte shimmer to the gloss too, which was unique.  However, the color is bronze-y.  I have light blonde hair and hazel-blue eyes.  It just didn't look quite right on me.  I wish they would've sent a more neutral color to sample.  I will check out their website though to see what other colors Zosimos has and perhaps order one of those (even though I definitely don't need any more lipsticks/glosses).  

6.  Go! Towel - 1 poker-chip sized 100% Bamboo "pop-up" towel - (3.5 stars) - I was instantly intrigued by this product.  I promptly walked it over to the sink, unwrapped it, and got it wet.  This 12" x 20" heavy paper-towel looking thing emerged.  It absorbed quite well and wrung out nicely.  I like the product, but am not willing to pay $1.49 for a reusable paper towel in my daily life.  If I was going hiking/camping I may purchase some of these, but other than that, this isn't something I'd buy.  Still, it was fun to try.

7.  Hessnatur $25 Eco-Fashion Gift Certificate to Hess Natur - (5 stars) - I normally don't assess values to gift certificates/include them as a box benefit.  However, I'm making an exception for this one.  I logged onto their website and found some nice, reasonably priced items (ranging in price from $8 to $300+).  I looked in their "Sale" section, and was able to find a nice, organic cotton top for $20, plus tax and S/H.  The gift certificate applies to the tax and S/H too, so after I applied it (value $25), I ended up paying $2.95 for a new shirt.  That made me quite happy!  Can't beat getting a new shirt for less than $3.  That alone made this box worth it!

The final verdict:  3.5 stars!!  I really like that this is an organic box!  However, as you can see from my reviews, most of the products weren't ones I'll use or would purchase.  (In fact, all but the Go! Towel and gift certificate are going up on Listia today).  The gift certificate to Hess Natur is what saved this box for me and made it worth the money.  The price is reasonable and the value is good ($16 for 7 products, valued at $56.99).  This is the first Goodebox I've received.  I will definitely try this box out for another month or two before I decide whether it's a keeper!

My Review of the September 2012 POPSUGAR MUST HAVE Box

I'll be honest - I have two other subscription boxes that arrived before this one that I still need to review, but I'm so excited about this PopSugar box, I wanted to share it with you now!  This is my review of the September 2012 POPSUGAR Must Have Box.

The stats:  $35 + tax/mo with free shipping
You get (per their website):  
• Hand-selected items in beauty, fashion, home, fitness, and food

• Full-size products and premium items worth over $100

Here's what the September POPSUGAR Box looked like:

1st impression - "The box is smaller than last month".  Then I opened it and was THRILLED with what I found inside!!

Ooooh!  What's in the black bag?

This box included:

Brokedown Scarf - RV $84

The Perks of Being A Wallflower - 2 Movie Tickets & Paperback Book - RV $38

Rifle Paper Co's Lined Notepad - RV $8

Benefit Cabana Glama Combination Set - RV $36

Becky's Blissful Bakery Caramels - 3 count - estimated at RV $3.99 (their 2 piece boxes sell for $2.99 and their 4 piece boxes cost $4.99).

Pop-Up Pantry Dinners - 1 cinnamon sugar cookie and a flyer for 1 free dinner ($32 value)

Yes to Cucumbers Hypoallergenic Towelettes - 10 count - RV $1.99

Kitsch Hair Ties - 4 count - RV $7.99

Tracie Martyn Skin Care Line - $25 gift certificate (considering the items on the website range in price from $38 to $435, I'm not assessing a value to this certificate because I don't plan on using it)

Food Should Taste Good Sweet Potato Chips - 1.5 oz bag - RV $ .86

POPSUGAR Must Have Pouch - RV unk. ($1 million dollars, just like last month's coasters) :]

TOTAL ESTIMATED VALUE:  $212.83 (plus the million dollar pouch & not including the Tracie Martyn Gift Certificate)

MY COST: $37.36

A closer look at these items.....

Fashion:

1.  PopSugar Pouch - (3 stars) - I'm neutral on this one.  It's a cute bag and it's really soft/well made.  However, I have about 15 make-up bags in my closet, so I really don't need this one.  Plus, there's no graphics on it - just a logo.  Not sure if I'll keep this or not.

2.  Kitsch Hair Ties - 4 pack - (5 stars) - I LOVE these things!  I have similar ones from another brand and I wear them all the time.  They're great because they don't leave band lines in your hair!  The 2 neutral-colored ones will match the scarf well too!

3.  The Brokedown Scarf - (5 glowing, flashing, fabulous stars!!) - I am IN LOVE with this scarf!!  It's very Jennifer Aniston-ish and EXACTLY what I've been seeking for years now and haven't been able to find.  It's a lovely taupe color (which is so versatile) and retails for $84.  It's sooo soft and is long and wide enough to use as a wrap, a scarf, to tie your hair back, as a swimsuit cover-up, etc.  It's perfect! This alone made the box worth it!!  It deserves it's own picture, so here you go:

Beauty Items:

4.  Tracie Martyn Skin Care Salon - (1 star) - As I mentioned above, the items on her site retail for $38-$435 (for a 5-piece gift set), which is insane to me.  I'm all about trying out new products, but even with the $25 gift certificate, I'd still be spending a pretty penny.  PASS!!

5.  Yes to Cucumber Soothing Hypoallergenic Facial Towelettes - 10 ct - (4 stars) - The towelettes are very soft and refreshing.  I love the cucumber smell too!  They leave my face feeling clean and not gummy.

6.  Benefit CABANA GLAMA make-up set - (5 stars) - I was going to buy this set after I saw it on Listia and it went for gobs of points.  I am SO HAPPY it is in this month's box!  I will definitely use this!

Home/Misc. Items:

7.  Rifle Paper Co Notepad - 85 Sheets - (4 stars) - This is cute and I'll use it, but honestly, who needs more paper?  It is a full-sized product though and something different than what's been in the other subscription boxes.

8. & 9.  The Perks of Being a Wallflower Paperback book and 2 Movie Tickets - (3 stars) - This is a great product and value.  However, the target audience for this is adolescents and I don't have any kids.  Off to Listia this goes!

Food Items:

10.  Becky's Blissful Bakery Organic Sea Salt Caramels - 3 ct. - (4.5 stars) - These are so yummy! They're big, creamy, individually wrapped caramels.  The sea salt had already dissolved into the caramel, but it didn't matter.  They're the perfect blend of sweet and salty!  They're good, but I don't eat caramels enough to buy them.  Still, a nice treat though!

11.  Food Should Taste Good Sweet Potato Chips - 1.5 oz - (3 stars) - This is a nice sample size.  However, I'm not a fan of sweet potatoes.  Still, I'll try them since they're in the box.

12.  Pop Up Pantry - 1 Sugar Cookie and a promo code card for 1 free meal - (3 stars) - The cookie is OK.  It's a cinnamon-flavored sugar cookie.  It's kind of dry, but it's been packaged for who knows how long, and, well, it is a cookie.  I haven't met too many cookies I haven't liked.  I'm neutral on the promo code too.  I logged on to their website and did find a meal for two people that looked pretty good (a 3-course meal featuring grilled Cuban spiced chicken).  I entered the promo code on the card and voila, it was free (a $32 value).  The only thing I don't like is that it's a subscription service and even though you get the meal free, it still asks you to enter your credit card information.  I'm subscribed to so many subscription boxes already that I really don't feel like adding one more to the list.  

The final verdict:  4.75 stars!!  I really love this month's box!  The scarf is definitely my favorite item from the box.  It is something I will wear frequently.  I also love the hair ties and the Benefit make-up kit.  The caramels were yummy too!   The rest of the items were nice too, but I consider them fun "perks" of the box compared to the first 3 I mentioned.  Again, I LOVED trying all these products (12 items/products in all) and it was worth the money - $212.83 worth of products for $37.36!  This has quickly become my favorite subscription box!  I would definitely recommend it to everyone!!