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!!

September 2012 "Fall Forward" GLOSSYBOX Review

This is my review of the September 2012 Glossybox Box.  It's theme was "Fall Forward".

The "Stats" - 

Frequency:  Subscriptions are available at the following terms - Monthly, 3 Months, 6 Months, 12 Months (discounts are offered for signing up for the longer terms).  I personally am signed up for the Monthly Subscription.

Cost:  $21.00/month (shipping is free) for the Monthly subscription

Products:  5 travel-sized beauty products delivered monthly

Here's what my September 2012 Glossybox looked like:

It comes in a light pink box decorated with cute black and pink crown crests outside and within.  

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

First impression - "Wow!  Regal looking (box) with big samples inside!"  

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.  OC8 Professional Mattifying Gel - 1.6 oz (FULL SIZED) - RV $30.00
2.  Missha M Perfect Cover BB (Blemish Balm) Cream - 50ml (FULL SIZED) - RV $29.99
3.  Kryolan for Glossybox Lipstick in "Glossy Pink" - .14 oz (FULL SIZED) - RV $14.00
4.  GK Hair Balancing Shampoo - approx. 2 fl oz - RV $3.96
5.  GK Hair Balancing Conditioner - approx. 2 fl oz - RV $3.96 

TOTAL VALUE of the products I received:  $81.91
MY COST:  $21.00

A closer look at the Products:
1.  OC8 Professional Mattifying Gel - 1.6 oz (FULL SIZED)- Will update this blog once I test this product out.
2.  Missha M Perfect Cover BB (Blemish Balm) Cream - 50 mL (FULL SIZED) - (4 stars) - I was very excited to test this product out.  I had heard of BB creams before, but this is the first one I've had the chance to sample.  It is very creamy and went on smooth.  I received color #21 - Light Beige - which is perfect for my skin during fall/winter months when my skin tone is at it's lightest.  Unfortunately, this box came the day before I left for Jamaica.  I was able to use it before I left, but now after being in the sun for 6 days, my face is quite darker and the color is now too light for me.  I look forward to using it again though when my skin tone lightens back up.  LOVE the full-sized product size too!  

3.  Kryolan for Glossybox Lipstick in "Glossy Pink" - .14 oz (FULL SIZED) -(4 stars) - The color is a very pretty dusty rose color.  And again, I'm very appreciative of the full-sized sample.  Unfortunately, I have dozens of lipsticks, so I think I might put this one on Listia simply because I don't need anymore of them.  
4.  GK Hair Balancing Shampoo - approx. 2 fl oz - (5 stars) and 
5.  GK Hair Balancing Conditioner - approx. 2 fl oz - (5 stars) - I took this duo with me to Jamaica and used it daily the entire time I was there.  The size (I'm estimating each bottle is 2 fl oz since the bottles don't say how much is in there, but it could be more) was absolutely perfect for my trip!  The scent is jasmine/vanilla-ish and smells FANTASTIC!  For 6 days, my hair was submerged in salt water, chlorine, and ended up with sunblock in it, which is normally very drying and leaves my hair feeling like straw.  However, using this duo daily after being at the beach & pool left my hair feeling soft, shiny, and smelling great!  I will definitely be buying the full-sized versions of these products to use from now on.  LOVE, LOVE, LOVE these products!!

The final verdict: 4.5 stars!!  I am very happy with the quality of the products received in this box!  The sizes are very generous (3 of them being full-sized) and I found a new shampoo/conditioner duo out of this box to use from now on.  The value and price are nice too ($21 for $81.91 worth of products).  I know this is only my first box, but so far, I'm definitely a fan!!

My Review of the September 2012 BEAUTY ARMY Sample Box

This is my review of the Beauty Army September 2012 Box.

The "Stats" - 

Frequency:  Monthly (though you have the option to skip months if you don't like the available sample options).  

Cost:  $12.00/month (shipping is free)

Products:  Choose up to 6 of the 9 available samples offered based upon your completed profile.  All products are sample sized.

Here's what my September 2012 Beauty Army box looked like:

It comes in a white box decorated inside with cute army print.  Here's a look at all the products that were in the box:

First impression - "Hmmm!  These samples are pretty small!"  The website states the size of the samples, but admittedly, I'm not good at picturing the sizes until I actually see them.  I quickly double-checked to see how much I paid for this box ($12).

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.  Nailtiques Formula 2 Nail Protein - .25 fl oz - RV $9.50
2.  Fiafini Divine Hydration Moisturizer - .17 oz - RV $3.85
3.  Lipsi Cosmetics Aphrodite Powder - .17 fl oz - RV $4.59
4.  Egyptian Magic All Purpose Skin Cream - .1 fl oz - RV $.93
5.  Nume Hydro Punch Shampoo - .67 oz - RV $1.98
6.  Macadamia Hair Heating Oil Treatment - 1 fl oz - RV $9.51 

TOTAL VALUE of the products I received:  $30.36
MY COST:  $12.00

A closer look at the Products:
1.  Nailtiques Formula 2 Nail Protein - .25 fl oz - will update this blog once I have a chance to test out this product.
2.  Fiafini Divine Hydration Moisturizer - .17 oz - I didn't read the description well enough on this sample before selecting it.  It's a face/neck moisturizer for sensitive skin, but has Marula Oil in it.  I have combination skin, so putting a product with oil in it on my face would not be a good idea.  This is going straight to Listia.
3.  Lipsi Cosmetics Aphrodite Powder - .17 fl oz - Will update this blog once I have a chance to test out this product.
4.  Egyptian Magic All Purpose Skin Cream - .1 fl oz - (1 star) - This cream is made from olive oil, beeswax, honey, bee pollen, royal jelly, and Propolis extract and it is SOOO oily!  I've been pretty vocal about the fact I'm not really a cream/lotion fan.  (Generally, I don't like the heavy feeling of it on my skin).  I put this on my arms and nearly washed it off.  It is the color/texture of mucus (gross yellow color and slimy to the touch).  It seemed like something that might work well on my feet though, so I slathered some on my feet/heels and put socks on over it.  Will let you know how it works.
5.  Nume Hydro Punch Shampoo - .67 oz - (2.5 stars) - The bottle says it's moisturizing, but it didn't seem to have that effect on my hair.  In fact, after blow drying, my hair was full of static and looked really dry/straw-y.  It did smell good though - floral with musky hints.  I wanted to love this product, but unfortunately, it isn't something I'd buy/use.
6.  Macadamia Hair Heating Oil Treatment - 1 fl oz - This is a product I've been wanting to try for some time now.  I will update this blog once I've had a chance to test it out.

The final verdict:  2.5 stars!!  I debated on whether to get this box or not.  The only reason I really did was to try the Macadamia Oil Treatment on my hair.  Plus, the fact you can skip a month if you don't like the offered samples is nice.  However, the size of the samples and the value ($12 for $30.36 worth of product) is not very impressive.  Since I can skip a month, I'll keep this open for another month or two, but I have a feeling this is one I'll cancel soon thereafter.

My Review of the SEPTEMBER 2012 QVC NEW BEAUTY TEST TUBE

This is my review of the QVC New Beauty Test Tube September 2012 Box.  This test tube is different than the regular New Beauty Test Tube (which I also signed up for and reviewed previously), though some of the products will occasionally be duplicates.

The "Stats" - 

Frequency:  Quarterly Box (mails in September, December, March, and June).  The first box they send you will be the most recent one that came out.  When you sign up thru QVC, you can choose to do Auto Renew or to just have 1 box sent to you.  If you choose Auto Renew, you'll then be on the regular shipping cycle after that.

Cost:  $29.96 + $6.72 shipping per quarter + $2.48 tax = ($39.16 total).  

Products:  Deluxe and full-sized samples of beauty products from the hottest brands.  You also get the New Beauty Magazine in the box, which covers "all the latest breakthroughs in beauty, product innovations, celebrity beauty secrets, and more".

Here's what my September 2012 QVC New Beauty Test Tube looked like:

It comes in a cute, pink box with yes, a big tube inside (which holds all the products that will fit in there).  Here's a look at all the products that were in the box total:

First impression - "Bummer!  The regular NBTT had a lot more products in it!"  The QVC website showed I would get 7 products plus the magazine and that's exactly what came.  Since the regular NBTT had a bunch of extras in it, I was expecting that in this one too.  Not to be!  

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)

1-fl oz Philosophy "Love Sweet Love" shampoo, bath, and shower gel - RV $1.38

1.7-fl oz Bliss Lemon + Sage Body Butter - RV $4.19

0.12-oz Mally High Shine Liquid Lipstick in "Mally's Look" (FULL SIZE) - RV $20.00

0.074-fl oz Laura Geller Eye Spackle Eye Shadow Primer (FULL SIZE) - RV $23.00

0.5-fl oz Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer - RV $18.00

0.17-fl oz Josie Maran 100% Argan Oil - RV $4.08

2-fl oz Ojon Damage Reserve Restorative Conditioner - RV $5.88

0.5-fl oz Algenist Firming Cream - RV $23.50

NewBeauty magazine - Summer/Fall edition - RV $9.95

TOTAL VALUE of the products I received:  $109.98 (the regular NBTT Value was $219.77)
MY COST:  $39.16 (the regular NBTT cost was $38.90)

This test tube also came with an informational booklet that tells you all about each of the "regular" products in the tube.  The information includes a description of the product, the company that makes it, how to use the product, and benefits of using each product.  However, it does not list the price of the full-sized products.  I still love the booklet!  It's very helpful!!

The final verdict:  2 stars!!  I liked the fact there were 2 full-sized products in here, but was really disappointed with the QVC NBTT compared to the regular one.  I know they're 2 different products, so it may not be fair to compare the two, but they are both from the same company.  I will definitely use the "Love Sweet Love" sample (it smells really good), the Laura Geller Eye Spackle Shadow Primer (works great!!), the Josie Maran Argan Oil (which I've been wanting to try for some time now), and the Ojon Restorative Conditioner (smells like brown sugar and leaves your hair feeling really soft).  I'm not a big fan of body butter and already have the magazine from my other NBTT, so those 2 will definitely go straight to Listia.  If the next tube isn't better, I will be cancelling the QVC version of this since the retail value is only half that of the regular NBTT.