Unboxing the Cohorted Beauty Box for February 2023

I have been curious about this box for a while now so I thought it was time to give it a try. Cohorted is a UK based subscription box so there is an international shipping fee attached. The box cost $51 and the shipping fee is $16 for a total cost to me of $67. This is my first box and it was…interesting. First off, you pay for the box a month in advance. So I signed up January 21st and was charged immediately for February’s box. Then on February 1st I was charged for Marche’s box. I’ll admit I am not entirely thrilled with being charged twice before I get my first box, but as I planned to try this out for at least three months to get a feel for it, the complaint is minor. I will say that I do like their subscription account page. It has a button you can press so that you can skip a month, or certain months. With the cost I could easily see how someone might choose to skip a couple of months. They are good about letting you know the theme o the upcoming month in advance. For example I already know that the March box is a female Founders box and that there will be a Kate Somerville Goat Milk Cleanser in the box. I have no idea if the entire box is Kate Sommerville products, or if they are all products from female founded companies. It will be interesting to find that out.

This box was The Stylist X Cohorted Ready Set Glow box. Here is where it gets interesting. There is a card with the box. t has a QVC Scan code to get to the Cohorted App where there is information about all of the products. I am okay with that actually as I like the on-line booklet. The info however is part of the CULT magazine. And while it does give you many fabulous articles, finding information about the box isn’t the easiest as it is set up like a magazine page and less like a booklet for a subscription box. According to the info there were supposed to be fourteen items in this box. I have no idea how many items are usually in this box as it seems to vary. I received ten items. I didn’t think this subscription had variations so I was a bit confused. Also some of the items I received in my box weren’t listed as items on the site. Needless to say, I have put in an e-mail to customer service and hope for clarification when they get back to me. I’ll keep you posted on that.

For now, we are just going to see what actually came in this month’s box. We will start with the item that was the sneak peek for the February box. It is the Pixi Skin Treats Overnight Glow Serum (retail $24). It is an exfoliating Gel you wear over night, hence the name. I have seen this a couple of times as I passed it in the store and was planning to pick it up and test it out so I am thrilled it was in the box. I am currently testing out an exfoliating toner so I want to wait for that for a little while. A girl can have too much exfoliation. So I’ll finish one before i try the other.

There is a second exfoliator in the box as well this month. It is the Nip + Fab Exfoliate Fix Scrub Triple Action Face Scrub.(retail $17.90). It has Glycolic acid in it and I think there is a physical exfoliating element to it as well so it is a little different from the Pixi (which is 10% glycolic acid). I am leaving it sealed until ready to use so that will be a later surprise. I’ll never be upset about an exfoliator and this is one I haven’t tried. I’ve seen the brand before but I haven’t tried anything from them either so it will be a new product, new brand for me. which is sort of the point of getting a subscription box from a different country, trying products you might not normally stumble across. It is a glow themed box so both products make sense with the box. It is slightly strange to have two exfoliators in the box.

Keeping on the Glow theme, there are two full sized items from OFRA in this box. One is an All of the Lights highlighter (retail $35). I have this in and it is a fantastic product. Well, all of OFRA’s highlighters are fantastic. In the one I have the pink and bronze are worn down because those are the shades I use the most, the others less so. But I am more than happy to have a replacement for the well loved version I own. Mine is also still in the old packaging which tells you it is old enough that I really should think of decluttering it. I was just reluctant to let it go. Now I have a replacement and I can.

The second OFRA product is a shimmer body lotion called Dew the Dew in Moonstone (retail $39). I will admit, shimmer body lotion is not really my thing. I tried it on my hand though and the skimmer is minimal. There are still some sparkly bits but it is far more subtle than I anticipated. It is something I can wear without feeling like I have gone too over the top. And I have to admit the scent is divine. It has an almost peachy scent to it that I really like. It smells luxurious and we will now just have to see how it performs.

The last full sized item in the box is the West Barn Co Soap Brows. (retail $18). I find this in interesting product. I’m not entirely certain how to use it so an investigation will be launched and we shall see what it does and how it works. I received a brow gel product from West Barn Co. in an advent calendar and have not tried that out yet. When my bangs get long I tend to forget brow products in general. Although with my bangs long it might be a good time to try out some new brow products. Either way this looks like it could be something fun to play around with.

In this box there were three L’Occitane products, two 30 ml sized hand creams and a sample sized serum. The first hand cream I know well it is the L’Occitane Dry Skin Hand Cream with 20% Shea Butter30 ml (retail $12.50). This hand cream was a life saver when I first started using hand sanitizer like crazy. My hand became sandpaper dry and cracked and this was the hand cream I dove into. It is non-greasy and it was fantastic on overly dried skin. It is extremely hydrating.

The second Hand Cream is the L’Occitane Delicious Hands Amande 30 ml (retail $12.50). I had not tried this before but I do love the scent of almonds. I did open it and it is a very light hand cream with a delicate almond scent. It absorbed quickly and I am happy to have it. Here is the thing, two hand creams is a bit much for one subscription box. Especially as there is already the OFRA cream. I am willing to admit that it is a shimmer cream and put it into a different category. On the website though only the Delicious Hands cream is listed, the Dry Skin Hand Cream is not so I believe this might have been a mistake of some sort.

The L’Occitane serum is the Immortelle Reset. (5 mL sample so no retail value) The Full sized version retails for $65 but is currently on sale for $52 on the Look Fantastic Website if you are interested. It claims that results can be seen after only one night. As I might be able to get three to four nights out of this serum, I can at least test that theory. The bottle looks familiar, but i can’t say that I remember trying the serum before. In all fairness it does look like something I would see and think “Oh pretty” but I can’t remember the product so I might have just passed it by.

I did try out a sample of an item from the bareMinerals Skinlongevity line and really loved it. So I am happy to have a second one to try. This is the bareMinerals Long life Herb serum. This is an 8 mL sample and the full sized retails for $65. I really like bareMinerals and am happy to try out more of their skincare. For the most part I know them for their makeup so it is nice to see something else.

And finally the last sample in the box is the Laura Mercier Pure canvas primer. The full sized retails for $47. This is a hydrating primer. While I love primers, the hydrating ones aren’t usually the ones I go for. Mostly, I use my Empryolisse lait creme as a pre makeup burst of hydration so I can use a pore filling primer, but I am always happy to try out a new to me primer. At the moment I have several sample sized primers I have been meaning to try out so I should probably start shifting them to the front to use and see if full sizes need to be purchased. But I do like the Laura Mercier products I have tried and will happily try out the primer.

Without trying to figure out the value of the three samples sized products (Immortelle Reset by L’Occitane, Bareminerals Long Life Herb Serum, and Laura Mercier Primer), the retail value of this box comes to $159.90. So it was definitely worth the value. More importantly i will use every single item in the box. Knowing that makes me more comfortable continuing the trial. To be honest, I really do like this box. I find some of their choices a little strange. I can see where everything leaned into the glow theme. Although to be honest the themes of the box are less important than the usability of the products within. The only thing that really threw me was the number of products differing from the list, and receiving some items that weren’t on the list while I didn’t get some of the items that were listed.

As I said towards the top I did send my questions to their customer service and will hopefully get an answer soon. Perhaps I misread something. It is always possible. I have been wrong many times before. This might be one of those times. However it turns out, I did enjoy this box and look forward to using the items. I am also excited to see what the March box brings. Hopefully I will et an e-mail response well before I get my March Beauty Box from Cohorted. I’ll post an update when I know something, if not before, then with my March Review. So stay tuned my darlings.

The Daily: February 9th, 2023

Today my darlings is an interesting day. I know I usually talk about fitness, gardening and the general meyhem that is my life but today I am going to talk about Boxycharm.

My February box arrived. And while I decided to post the majority of my subscriptions on IG instead of here this year as i try to sort things out, I am going to talk about it here. Don’t worry it won’t be a product by p[product break down. So, yesterday my Boxycharm Premium came in. There were four fantastic , can’t wait to try items and two that hit my annoyance button. One of the products I was looking forward to trying is skincare and I will use it when I get to it, but the three makeup items in this month’s box I used today for my look. I actually really liked all three. However there are still the other two items.

Now I know subscriptions are always hit or miss. There are always going to be products you are more excited for and products you don’t particularly like. That is just the nature of subscription boxes. This particular box is listed at $39.99 on the site. When all is said and done with the taxes and fees I pay exactly $46.07 for each premium Boxycharm box.

Four of the items felt premium and the other two sent me through the roof. So let’s talk about those. The first of the annoyance items was a single shadow from Dose of Colors. I like Dose of Colors. They have great shadows. I however have this same single shadow from them already. Actually I have three of this single shadow. One came in a $13 IPSY bag, where a single shadow is an appropriate item to receive. The other came as an item in a previous boxy Charm Premium and annoyed me at the time as it felt like it shouldn’t be in a premium box. Perhaps I am wrong, but in the context of subscription boxes I tend to view single shadows as sample sized items. I know you can buy single shadows as single shadows but in a subscription box they feel like, ‘here is a sample shadow so you can get a feel for the formula and perhaps buy the full palette.’ So it felt out of place in the Boxycharm premium to me, and it was a repeat annoyance.

The second item in my box that just hit the annoyance button was the Refreshments Body Cream. It is certainly full sized. It is in fact quite large. IPSY started the refreshments line as a separate service. I tried the items when they were released and they are pretty basic formulas. They actually feel like something I would get my ten year old niece who is interested in beauty. She no longer wants the ‘little girl’ barbie and tinkerbell themed products beauty products, but she isn’t allowed to wear makeup yet and still has a few years before breakouts cause the need for skincare items. That is how that product line feels to me in general. Others seem to like it so more power to them, it isn’t for me.

In general you do get products that aren’t for you in subscription boxes so I would normally just have rolled my eyes, set it aside and given it to my niece. However for the past few months, Boxy has been sending me invitations to join Refreshments. It is usually a first month free thing and this same body cream was offered as a free incentive. And yet here it was counting as an item in my premium box. Somehow that just hit me as one annoyance too many.

And I realized how many little annoyances there had been.

One of the reasons that I stopped posting some of my long term subscriptions is that I wanted see which ones I would keep and which ones I would let go if I wasn’t posting about them. I also found several I want to try out and to do that I needed to let some go (both because they get expensive and because too many subscription boxes equals far more product than I need). I have had both Boxy and Ipsy for so long that to let either go was hard, but this box made it easier, so I have canceled my Boxycharm Box. Perhaps i will return, perhaps I won’t.

I do know that I felt really good when I did cancel it.

I know some of you aren’t into subscription boxes, personally I love them. And I know some of you do as well, so I just wanted to share my thoughts as to why I cancelled my Boxycharm. I will aslo start to post reviews of the newer subscriptions I am trying out. But for now we will move on to todays look, featuring three items from February’s box.

Today’s Look

Primer: Beauty Bakerie Butter Primer

Foundation: Bite Beauty Changemaker Foundation (discontinued – from the use up box)

Bronzer: Milk Makeup Bronzing Stick (sample from the use up box)

Blush: Axiology Multi Use Color Cream in True

Powder: By Terry Hydra Powder (sample from the Use up box)

Eyeshadow: Ciate London Royal Edition

Mascara: Anastasia Beverly Hills Lash Brag Mascara

Lip stick: Ace Beaute Pout perfect liquid lipstick in the shade Manifest

Lip liner: Huda Beauty Lip Contour in trophy wife

Okay, first the Use up box. At the beginning of the month i choose products that I want to use up and clear out of my makeup collection. They aren’t bad products they are just products that are either close to being used up and i want to do a final push to use them up or they need to go for other reason. There are three today, the Bite Beauty Foundation is fabulous, but it is discontinued. I think I have three more uses tops before the tube is empty so I want to clear it out this month. The Milk Makeup Bronzer and the By Terry Powder are both sample sizes. The Milk I want to use up so i can justify purchasing the full size. the By Terry is not my favorite setting powder as it tends to leave white marks that it takes a bit of work to blend in, which I find a little strange since I adore By Terry’s Pressed powder. So I will be using up the last of this and not repurchasing, hopefully this month.

The Axiology Multi Use color Stick is a product I am currently testing out and absolutely adore as a cream blush. As a stick it is really easy to work with. I dot it on my cheeks and then blend out. It belds really well, but do one cheek at a time. Dot it on the cheek blend, switch to the other cheek and blend, then see if you want to build it up more. if you dot it on both cheeks and then go back to blend it blends less well. It will still beldn but you can feel it start to set up. So one cheek at a time. also go slowly because it is quite pigmented. it is very buildable though, so start light and then add to get the pigment you want.

The Beauty Bakery Butter primer was in my Boxycharm It was a choice item actually. You know I love primers and I love balm style primers. I haven’t tried one in a stick format though. This one glides on smoothly with the stick and then I used my hands to massage it in. it is white streaks when you apply it but the whit goes away as it blends. I was very impressed with application and thus far it is doing really well for a first wear. And like all Beauty Bakerie products it is adorable. It looks like a stick of butter with the tablespoons measured out on the side. I know I will be reaching for this often.

The Eyeshadow was also from Boxy Charm as well and it is the Ciate London Royal Edition. I say it and thought, oh it is going to just be blues and purples. Then i opened it and I got really excited to play with it. Too excited actually as i think I layered on a few too many colors. i started nice and soft with the everyday neutral shades and then I saw the bronze. And then i wondered about the blue shimmer and I perhaps did not do the palette justice as I layered shimmers on top of an everyday look, but I couldn’t help myself. And in the end it just ended up looking vaguely silvery and shimmery. It has actually been a while since i have been this excited to play around with a palette. I was like a three year old not knowing which toy to play with first. I’ll temper the excitement and test it out properly, but I did go a little shimmer crazy today.

I opened a new tube of the ABH Lash brag today as well. I used up he older tube and let it go. I opened it because I wanted to compare it with the Uoma beauty mascara actually. they both have similar fluffy wands and fabulous results. But I didn’t remember the ABH clumping quite like the UOMA beauty so I wanted to have them going at the same time since I marked down when I opened the UOMA and can do a timed comparison.

and then we get to the lips. The Ace Beaute lipstick came in the BoxyCharm and the packaging is stunning. It is very black and gold art deco. The wand is really long which was surprising although i should have expected it to be the length of the bottle. the shade did wash me out a little so I blended it with the Huda beauty lip contour (very creamy) and together they made a really nice everyday wearable shade for me.

Over all I am really happy with todays look. I did go a little crazy with the shadows because I just kept seeing ones I wanted to try. Luckily it is just me working at my desk today so no one will really notice. I am going to have fun with this palette though. I do want to mention that the three products I tried from Boxy today I really loved. And that has been what has kept me signed up to the subscription for so long. It is also what kept me ignoring, or trying to ignore, the little annoyances. They are small so it feels petty to complain about them, but like little splinters they get under your skin and cause major irritations. And I think this year, I am less inclined to put up with some of those minor irritations than i have been in the past. I have noticed that applies to a lot of things in my life right now, not just Boxycharm. It is causing some interesting changes to my world and I have to say it feels really good when those minor annoyances are cleared away. I suppose that is my thought for the day, if there is something minor annoying you, regardless of what it is, maybe it is time to stop telling yourself that it is a small thing you should ignore because it is too petty to address. There is a disproportionate amount of relief in clearing it away. At least that has been my experience.

And with that thought I will leave you, it is back to work I go. Have a great afternoon my darlings.

Unboxing the IPSY Glam Bag X for November 2022

That’s right folks the big purple box from IPSY has arrived. This Glam Bag X is a quarterly upgrade to the IPSY Glam Bag Plus subscription. Inside you find eight full sized items. I believe it is officially listed at $60 for the box. With all of the taxes and shipping charges it ends up costing me $65.84 each month. For a while there every time I checked my e-mail there was some sort of increase so I am not entirely sure what it is officially listed for on the site and what is actually taxes, but that is my charge.

While recently IPSY and Boxycharm have had some issues with repeat items for me, there was only one repeat item in this box. I’m sure some of the items were featured in other boxes, but I never received them so getting them now doesn’t bother me. And truthfully the one repeat item I received I don’t mind getting because I know I’ll use.

So let’s start with that. It is the Anastasia Beverly Hills Translucent setting powder. It is a nice setting powder and one that I will definitely use. The ABH Powder is really good actually. However I use so little each time that the container lasts a really long time because it is so large. I will either keep it and know I will eventually get to use it, or pass it on to someone I knw will absolutely love it. Either way repeat or not, I am thrilled to have it.

The second item in my box is an interesting one. It is the FARAH Retreat Set. It is a set of three skincare brushes. They feel nice and look nice. I am happy to have them as my silicon masking brush has seen better days and is in need of a replacement. Two of the brushes I know how to use. The third I’m guessing you use in a similar fashion to a jade roller. The learn more about it section had this to say about the set…

“Use these tools to apply your favorite clay masks mess free, do a lymphatic drainage massage, cleanse your skin, and soothe tired under-eyes. Just be sure to wash them between each use.”

The paper insert where things are broken down had nothing more to add, nor did the Farah website and there was absolutely nothing that came with the set. No paper instructions or description of the tools. Nothing. Which means on the lymphatic draining tool I am flying blind. Since it isn’t a standard masking tool item, at least not that I’ve had before some instructions would have been nice. I’m going to play around with it like I would a jade roller, but some thought would have been nice. I actually really like the set but I do like instructions for things I have never seen r used before.

The third item I am sure has featured in a box before, either here or on Boxy, but I have never received it and am thrilled to have it now. It is the Herbivore Pink Cloud Moisturizer. I have heard such fantastic things about this that I am really looking forward to trying it out. The jar is glass, pink as one would expect. It feels nice and luxe in the hand. I know that isn’t important but as it is skin care I am not opening it until I am ready to use it so outside packaging is all I have to go on.

I am also excited to try out the Byroe Rose Tea Eye Cream. Byroe is an interesting brand for me. I absolutely adore their Bitter Greens Toning Essence. while the other items I’ve tried from the brand have all been good, none of them have reached that level of fantastic-ness for me. They are still good though. which means that I am pretty sure that even if this eye cream isn’t as super fantastic as the Bitter Greens it will probably still be really good. Ans as I am still working on an eye cream that is similar in price but only so-so in results it will be nice to compare the two so close together. But still, until I use it, this eye cream is staying sealed.

The last skincare item in the box this month was one I chose. It was the Beauty Bio Bright Eyes Depuffing eye Gels. I love under eye masks and can always use more in my collection. None last long. I remember trying something out from Beauty Bio but I can’t remember what. I do have a positive mental recollection though so hopefully these will do well for me. Either way, under eye masks are always a win for me.

The next item in my box this month is the Stila One Step Correct color correcting primer. You know I love primer. It is why my collection is a bit shameful. I also really like Stila products. I loved their souffle primer and in fact just decluttered a very old and almost completely empty jar of that a few weeks back (it was kept for looks I could no longer wear it but the jar was lovely)I have seen this product and I always thought it was interesting, but I never tried it. I am kind of looking forward to seeing how it performs.

The next item is not a new release wither. It is the Too Faced Sweet Peach Eyeshadow Palette. It smells like peach and has some interesting looking shades. It has been a while since I have used any Too Faced Shadows. I like the look of them and am happy to give the palette a go. I will say though it doesn’t really seem like a November palette though. There are light pinks and purples in it and it seems like a spring or summer mix from first glance. I would have thought they’d lean more into the fall shades. But I am pleased to give it a try,.

And finally this month, I received a perfume. The Pinrose Secret Genius Perfume to be exact. While always dicey picking out a perfume from a description, from the description I decided that it would either be something I enjoyed or something I could give to my mother. while I haven’t tried it yet, I will spray once. If the scent is something I like then i will give it a go. If the scent isn’t something I like then i will pas it on. with sample sizes I don’t mind using the sample for a week even if it isn’t my favorite because sometimes it will grow on me. Plus it uses most of the sample up. With the full size, if I don’t think it is for me then i like to pass it on without really using it. So time will tell.

Over all I was really please with my IPSY Glam Bag X this month. For me at least it was a really good selection of products that I am excited to see. Fir a while now there has been little excitement. And in fact I was skipping the months between the Glam Bag X months. I will be going back to reviewing them in December though. This month they sent out an e-mail where you could sign up for something called Beauty Boost. For an extra $15 you get one additional item in your box that is guaranteed to be worth more than $40. I did sign up because I am curious to see if this is indeed going to be a good thing or if they are trying to use this as a way to eliminate extra stock. It has the potential to be a good thing. It also has the potential to be a complete waste. Which one it will be has yet to be determined. Either way, I’ll let you know how it all plays out in next month’s box.

Unboxing the Look Fantastic Beauty Box for November 2022

This month’s Look Fantastic Box has the theme of Party Prep. Usually i don’t pay too much attention to the themes but this month it seems to relate. This Box is $19 a month if you are on a month to month plan, I get it for less with an annual subscription. So I pay $16 per month ($17.59 when all is said and done) and while some boxes are better than others, I have always felt the box is worth what I pay.

The first item out of the box this month was hard to photograph because it is metallic and just reflects light like crazy. It is the Color Wow Dream Coat in a travel size. It is a product i really enjoy using to smooth down my hair and make it glossy without flyaways. I will say though that i have thick hair and I spray very little. If you have fine or thin hair, it can weigh down your hair if you use too much so go cautiously. Because my hair is so thick it works fantastically well for me. I love that it is travel sized too because I tend to use this sot of thing when i am traveling more than I do at home.

I think that might be because I travel for holidays though. And holidays have lots of events. regardless, the travel size is fabulous.

The next item in my box, I can’t say i am all that excited by. In fact i will probably pass it along to someone else. It is the Bondi Sands Pure Sleep Tanning Mask. My skin picks up the sun well. Occasionally I will use a tanning product on my legs so they match the rest of my body but there is no point in me using a tanning product on my face. I simply don’t need it. I do like Bondi Sands though and when i use tanning products on my legs, they are the brand I go for. So good brand, just not something for me.

The third item in the box is a primer. And you know how much I love primers. This one is from Avant. I am not entirely sure how i feel about Avant to be honest. Their products are usually really nice but usually very over priced. And I never see them anywhere but in subscription boxes. Don’t get me wrong their lip balm was fantastic and I really enjoyed their moisturizer. I am also really looking forward to trying out the Avant Pro Perfecting Collagen Touch eclat Primer that is in this box. I am just not sure how i feel about the brand in general. I am pleased to have this in my box though. Especially since it is a makeup item and I have never tried anything but their skincare.

Next up we have a six pan Mini Reloaded Velvet Rose eyeshadow palette from Makeup Revolution. I really like the browns and golds in the palette and looking at it I can see several looks that would be quick and easy to create with it. (I opened the lid so the plastic wouldn’t glare). I also think this small palette would be good for travel as well so I am very happy to see it,.

The final two items in the box this month are tools. The first is an eyeshadow brush. There were options this month. I received the Luvia Cream Shader brush. I have used brushes from this brand before and find them quite nice. Plus I can always use another shader brush It is the final item that I am really happy to have in my box this month.

It sounds silly but I use (and tend to lose) these clips a lot. These are the Brushworks No Crease hair Clips. While I haven’t tried the Brushworks versions I have these creaseless style hair clips from about four other brands floating around my house. They are amazing for pulling back my bangs while I am doing my makeup. They are also an item that no matter how many times I purchase them, they always seem to disappear. I really like them and am thrilled to welcome two more into my collection.

And so that was my Look Fantastic Box for November 2022. Pretty much everything goes along with the theme of party prep, but to be honest it is less about the theme and more about the fact that besides the facial tanning mask every other item is one that I will definitely use. For me that is way more important than the actual theme. For me this was a great box this month. Was it worth the cost i paid for it? Definitely. Well done Look Fantastic.

Unboxing the BoxyCharm Premium for November 2022

My Boxycharm Premium for November 2022 just arrived and I have to say this was a bit of a strange one. The day before I received my tracking e-mail I received another e-mail stating that the Kate Somerville Moisturizer i chose would be sent separately and that an additional product would be in my box to make up for it. My guess is that either there were supply chain issues or the wrong box was packed and sent. However when it arrived there were the usual six items and I received a tracking e-mail that the moisturizer was on it’s way separately.

For those that are unfamiliar with the Boxycharm Premium Category, this is a subscription that includes six full sized items each month, two of which you get to choose during choice and while I believe it is advertised as $39.99 once all of the taxes and fees are paid I am charged $46.07 each month for this subscription.

Shall we see what was in this month’s box?

The first item I received it, I believe the makeup item for the missing moisturizer. It too is a Kate Somerville product and it is the EradiKate Daily Foaming Cleanser. (retail $44). Oddly enough I do have a sample of this cleanser in my foil packet collection at the moment. I think it came from a Sephora purchase. Some acne cleansers I can use and some I can’t. I will be trying out the sample and if it works well with my skin then i will keep this for times when i break out (and as we are heading into the season of richer foods, that won’t be long) If the sample dries out my skin too much i will send it along to someone who might make better use for it. It is a good sized tube though.

The second item which I did choose was the Iconic London Precision Duo Contour pot (retail $29). I chose this mostly because I didn’t want the other option. I can’t remember why. I just remember choice wasn’t that exciting. I am actually interested in this though. One of the contour pans is a powder and the other is a cream. The powder looks to be the right color for me. I’m not s sure about the cream but i am more than willing to give it a try. And I do like the little round pot. I think it looks kind of cute.

Next up we have a set of two lip liners from Saint Luxe (retail $30). I like lipliners and i am glad they came in a set of two. When i swatched them though one was a bit on the pink side and the other was really brown. They feel pretty smooth and creamy though. I might be able to use them to help alter lip products whose color needs a little help, but honestly neither color is that appealing to me. I also suspect that once i put them away I will end up looking at the brown lip liner and think it is an eyeliner. It is just a brown eyeliner sort of shade. I just find the shades to be an odd choice for a duo and while I am interested in testing out the formula I am not certain how much use i will actually get out of them.

Next up we have an item I am actually really excited by It is the Wander Beauty Wanderess Escape palette. (retail $42). The last Wander Beauty palette I had I used a lot and then a shadow broke (because I dropped the palette and it landed badly). I continued to use it until it was just unusable. I love that it has the bronzes and browns and golds. I also love that pink shimmer and that pop of blue. I am looking forward to giving this palette a go.

I am not exactly that excited by the Complex Culture Executive Level mascara (retail $28). Complex Culture is a sister brand to IPSY. And I have received many items from the brand. The packaging is always beautiful but the products tend to be so so. They are never bad. But they are also never good either. They are mostly forgettable. They tend to be the kind of product you use while it is there and then let it go without another thought. I’m sure this mascara will be fine as well. All their products are. Who knows, maybe this one will surprise me and it will be really great. We shall see.

The last item in my box this month is the Skin Inc Sculpt Lift Bar. (retail $125). It is one of those battery operated face sculpting tools. I think this makes the fifth one I’ve had in a subscription box this year. the shape of the end is a little different in each one and I have to say this curved end does look like it will be more comfortable than the bar ended one I have and might even be as comfortable as the rounded quartz ended one I have. Will it work? Yes. Will it be a good tool to sculpt the face like a battery operated gua sha? Yes. Am I somewhat annoyed that its $125 value makes up the bulk of the perceived value of this box especially when Boxy Charm sent me two nearly identical tools already this year? You betcha.

I know these tools are nice and I have one that I do like and use. I have also passed on four others. The people I passed them to like and use them. I just don’t need another one. I also think it is over priced and, while in general it does annoy me when things are over priced, it bothers me more knowing that this is the item they are going to use to inflate the value of the box when they say that for your subscription price you receive this mush worth of product.

And so i am not adding up the monetary value of the items in the box. I have listed the prices above for each item so if you want to add them up feel free. I will not do so in protest for this tool.

Having said that, I really like the eyeshadow palette. The palette is very much a daily wear set of colors for me. I am looking forward to trying out the bronzer/contour as well. I may be able to use the cleanser, or I may pass it on. I may love the mascara but I suspect I won’t. I know the lip liner colors aren’t for me but at least I get to try out a new formula. There is a little bit of excitement over the two items I like but i have to be honest for me, this month Boxycharm fell a little flat.

Unboxing the Beekman 1802 Quarterly Beauty Box Winter 2022

This Beekman 1802 Subscription box has to be one of the most beautiful subscription boxes I have ever unboxed. It actually feels more like a gift set than a subscription box. It is $65 per quarter. It is a brand box so all of the products are from the brand Beekman 1802. I signed up for this box because I wanted to try a range of their products. I heard really good things about them and thought that this would be a good way to try them out.

This is the second box I have had from them My First box was in August so I think it was the Autumn box and this is the Winter Box. The next box is in February. While I loved the first box and enjoyed using all of the items in it actually, I am not sure how long I will be keeping the box. I really enjoy it but I do get skincare from other subscription boxes as well, So I am not certain about getting this every quarter. I have found some products that I definitely want to reorder so I may just order those and occasionally try something new from the brand while I work on reducing my skin care supply.

Of course I say this and then might just end up keeping the subscription. We shall see.

Before any decisions can be made, let’s take a look at the box. I have to just show that as it is so neatly packed. This month there were five items in the box. Last month there were six items and an additional sized sample of their Bloom Cream Moisturizer.

I couldn’t find anywhere on their site where they said how many products were supposed to be in the box each month. I don’t think they have a set number actually. I also don;t think they have a set theme although last month did feature a lot of body/bath products where this one seems to be more facial skincare oriented.

The first item in the box is a bar of the Beekman 1802 soap. This one is the Ceramide soap. It is a big hunk-a-chunka soap. It is a goat milk soap and like the one they sent last quarter it has no scent to it. I actually don’t mind that they sent a second soap as the one that has been in the shower since this subscription arrived in August is now a sliver. It will not last the week. And this one will just go right in to replace it. I like the soaps and am happy to have another one. I like that they send unscented soaps but i have to admit most of their scented soaps call my name. I can see why they send unscented ones though, It makes sense for a subscription box with no variations (everyone gets the same box). I don’t know if they include a bar of soap every quarter but i can tell you that the soap will last from one box to the next. And my babydoll has sensitive skin so he will be happy to see the new bar arrive.

The second Item is the other body item and it is their Ceramide Goat Milk Body Cream. I don’t get too excited about body creams in subscription boxes. I use them, but i don’t find them all that exciting. I have several i am working my way through at the moment. However i like that this is the Ceramide body cream to pair with the soap. i also have never tried any of their body lotion. It is sealed and no scent can get past the seal, but I suspect it is unscented as well. While not terribly exciting, I am looking forward to trying out their formula. Mostly because they have several scents that i would like to try out. So I want to see if i like goat’s milk lotion before purchasing them. I also want to see if it works with my babydoll’s skin. The winter is the only time I can actually get him to use lotion of any kind, so I like to have products that he can use without issue on hand.

And testing out the products form the brand is also the point of me getting this box.

And now we move into products I find more exciting. Facial skincare. I know I love skincare. I just do. And I love trying out new products. I am currently really likening the Collagen Boost Serum (it is in my weekly line up this week if you want more details) so I have high hopes for more facial products. There is a Booster in this month’s box as well. It is the new Blotting Booster. It was released in either September or October I believe. Or at least that is when I saw the e-mail announcement. In truth September and October sort of blurred together for me this year. However I do remember seeing this was a new release and thinking I wanted to try it. I love that they have new release items in the subscription box and it isn’t about getting rid of older product. I am also really glad I get the chance to try this serum since it was on my list of products to try.

Also it is just a really nice looking bottle. I know that shouldn’t matter but all of their boosters just look so aesthetically appealing.

The next item up is another one I wanted to try. It is the Milk Wash. It is an Exfoliating Jelly Cleanser. I am really curious about the consistency of this product. And you know I love a good exfoliation. If it is mixed in with a cleanser I am hoping that it is gentle enough to use daily. I found this packaging interesting. For some reason inside the box, the Milk Wash bottle came in a canvas bag.

The only thing I can think is that the bag was there to protect the pump in transit without adding a lot of extra packaging. At least that is my theory anyway. I thought it a little strange since nothing else was packaged that way but I have no complaints, I think it is actually quite nice.

And then we have the final product. And I have to say my darlings this is the one I am very excited about. Can you guess what it is? Oh yes, it is a face mask. It is the Milk Glaze Deep pore purging Lactic Acid Clay mask to be precise. And you know how much I love masks. Especially clay masks. And so I will be testing it out. Hopefully this Friday if nothing happens.

For the past few weeks anytime I have gotten ready for Face Mask Friday something happens to derail it. And then i skip my masks. I don’t like skipping my masks and so hopefully this Friday, Face mask Friday can resume. And I’ll get to try this one. Or I’ll at last get to put it oin before something happens to derail me and then I can spook the neighbors with my clay face.

I know, I shouldn’t enjoy doing that as much as I actually do.

But that my darlings is the Winter Box from Beekman 1802 for 2022. I really like the selection of items and really find the box worth it. If I didn’t have so much skincare I need to work through it would be a no brainer to keep this subscription. And truthfully at the moment I am considering keeping the box because I am enjoying it. It is just one of those subscriptions that is so beautiful to open. It really is like getting a present. And yes I know it is a present that I gave myself, but with the frustrations of many subscriptions this year it is nice to have one that ships on time, delivers on time and is a true joy to unpack. Is it worth the price? Yes, it very much is. And even if I do have to cancel the subscription before next quarter I strongly suspect that I will be returning to the Beekman 1802 Subscription Box..

Unboxing the Boxycharm Premium Box for October 2022: The Tarte Takeover box

I have to say it has been a while since I thought of Tarte Cosmetics. For a while they were everywhere with the Shape Tape and then they seemed to fall off the radar. As there are several products that I do enjoy from the brand it is nice to see them get some notice again.

For those that don’t know Boxycharm is a beauty subscription. They have a regular base box and a premium box with a Luxe box coming out quarterly. I tried all of the levels and the one that consistently had the products I was most pleased to receive more often was the premium box and so that is the one i chose to keep while letting the other tiers go. With all of the taxes handling fees etcetera I pay $46.07 per month for this box. The box is listed as being $39.99 per month. I always find it nice to see actual costs when all the fees are added as well as the listed price. The listed price for the base box is $27.99. I don’t currently receive it but I imagine the fees are about the same as they are with the premium box.

So what was in my Boxy Premium X Tarte box?

First off there was only one skincare item. It is the Drink of H2O Hydrating Boost Moisturizer. (retail $39). I have tried one skincare item from Tarte’s Awake line. It was a serum and I remember it leaving my skin feeling nice but i don’t remember seeing any results. It was a while ago though so I don’t remember a lot about it. A moisturizer is always useful, especially as we go into the dry season for my skin. And I think it will be interesting to try something out from their skincare line. I just won’t open it until I am ready to use it.

The second item in the box I was very excited to see. It is the Tarte Lights Camera Lashes mascara. (retail $24). I love this mascara. It is actually my favorite Tarte product. It performs really well and makes my lashes look fabulous. While i don’t usually get that excited about mascaras in general, I am pretty pleased with this one.

The third Item I am not that excited to see but i think I will get some use out of. It is the Double Take Awake micro liquid liner and brightener. (retail $25). I don’t wear a lot of eyeliner these days, but i am looking forward to using the brightener. I had a white eyeliner I used for brightening my water line but it has gone MIA.I suspect I will get more use out of that end of the double sided product than I will the liner. I also think that if i take the pencil out to use the brightener i might actually be tempted to use the eyeliner more simply because it is out. We shall see. perhaps my makeup will change. only time will tell.

Next there is a Maracuja juicy lip balm (retail $21). You know i love lip products. This balm is a gloss. I suppose that is where the juicy bit comes in. I swatched it and while there is a little color, it is sheer. And very much like a lip gloss. I have heard very good things about this so I am looking forward to trying it on the lips.

I am also looking forward to trying out the breezy cream blush. (retail $24). I am really starting to enjoy crema blushes a lot and this looks like a really nice shade. If I recall this is one of the items i chose and this is the shade I will wear. Which sounds obvious but sometimes the swatches on the computer don’t look the same in real life.

And yes the pan looks swatched. I opened it and couldn’t resist seeing how the color swatched. Then I remembered i hadn’t taken the photo. It arrived new and pristine, I just couldn’t resist. It feels nice and creamy and it blended well on the hand there is also something about the oval shaped package that I like. I’m not entirely certain what, but I do like the look of it.

And this brings us to the final item in the box. It is the Sunrise Amazonian Clay Eyeshadow Palette (retail $30). This palette was designed for Boxycharm, although to be honest I think designed might be a bit strong a term. It is a pretty standard looking basic palette of neutrals.

a swatch from the bronze shade Icon (middle row, far right)

That is not actually a complaint as I do love a good neutrals palette and will probably give into the temptation to try it out today. I couldn’t resist swatching one of the bronze shimmers and it swatched beautifully actually.

Tarte palettes tend to be a bit hit or miss in formula. I have a couple of Tarte palettes that are just beautiful and fantastic to use. I have had others where the shadows weren’t so fabulous. I don’t know if they play around with their formulas a lot or what but i end up either loving or struggling with their formulas where eyeshadows are concerned. there doesn’t seem to be much in between. If this is one of their good formulas I will be excited for the neutral palette, especially with that bronze shade. We’ll have to see how that performs in use.

but that my darlings is the October Boxycharm Premium X Tarte box. Monetarily the value of the box is $163. This is more than the $46.07 I paid for it and in that respect I am happy. More than the cash value though are the products. While knowing the value is nice, a subscription is only with the cost if you are going to use the items inside. For me, this was a pretty good box. I received a favorite mascara and get to try out a new cream blush. I am curious about the moisturizer and interested in the lippie. I have my fingers crossed with the palette and while i know I will use the brightener I might be tempted into the eyeliner. For me, I will get use out of every item in this box. that makes it a very worthwhile box indeed.

Its the Replacement for the August 2022 Glossy Box

As I mentioned in an earlier post, my August Glossy box slipped through the cracks and a replacement was sent out. Since August was sold out, Glossy Box sent a replica of the February box. It arrived just as I finished posting about the September box actually. Which is fun timing.

To be honest, I’m not upset as it contained items that I liked the first time around and don’t mind using again.

Some of the items I find a bit amusing based on the September box. If you remember this morning I received the Natura Murumuru Hair mask and was thrilled about it because I really liked the shampoo and conditioner from the same line of Natura products? Well I received another set of the Murumuru Natura shampoo and conditioner in this box. I am actually quite tickled. They were good products, but it will be nice to use them in conjunction with the hair mask and to do a comparison. In many cases the hair mask is often an amped up version o0f the conditioner from the line and it would be interesting to see if that proves the case here. And even if there is no comparison, it is a really nice shampoo and conditioner and I loved the scent it left in my hair.

In September we also received the Spray tan from Vita Liberata. The replacement box has the cream version, Vita Liberata Self Tanning Gradual Lotion, that came back in February. I did try it once and then I set it aside and forgot about it. Maybe I will have better luck trying it again and comparing it to the spray version. As I tend to only show my legs while wearing skirts, but have my arms exposed all summer long, the different skin tones is an ongoing issue and it would be nice to find a product i could consistently reach for. Who knows, this might be it. And it is a full size as well. So there is plenty to try.

The third item in this box is the NCLA Nail Color in black. (Look Fantastic actually has several shades from NCLA nails on sale right now if you are interested. It is really good polish) I still have the bottle I received in February and it has proven more useful than I expected. While I like wearing black nail polish in general, I also like it for painting on designs. I have a small paint brush and the black is useful for drawing things on lighter nail colors or simply doing polka dots. I also like wearing it on it’s own or under a shimmery clear gloss. I did notice though that when I put it under a sheer gold gloss it looked a little greenish. Paired with everything else it looks black. It is just the gold tones that seem to bring out the green highlights.

The next item is one that I will always be happy to see. It is the Verso Nourishing Cream #3. At this point I have tried a variety of Verso products and each one has worked fantastically well for me. It is a clean and (I believe) vegan brand. Their eye cream (#5) is one that I will always reorder and is in fact my standard when I am not testing out other eye creams. I have never had a bad product from them and am always happy to see them in any subscription.

The next item is one that I have used repeatedly. It is the Rodial Dragon’s Blood Eye masks. I have used them before. and in general I like eye masks. Here is the thing though with Rodial. I really like all of their serums and creams and cleansers. Pretty much anything that can be bottled or jarred from the brand I am a fan of. I generally don’t care for their masks because of the paper. The paper tends to be a little on the stiff side and doesn’t adhere well. The last time I used these, I really liked the serum that came with the eye masks, but wasn’t fond of the paper. I had to keep pressing them against my face as I wore them. However the serum with them was good enough that I was willing to hold them on my face while i wore them. It is just something to remember. It is a good product with a poor delivery system.

The final item in this replacement box is a Kab Cosmetics lipstick. It is in the shade Sweetheart, as was the one I received in February. And as thematic as the name makes it, the lipstick is way too pink for me to wear. Since I had not tried out the formula last time I did wear the lipstick for a while. It is creamy and well worth looking into. I am just never going to wear this shade of pink. I do know someone who it is perfect for so I will be passing this on untouched. I do know I like the formula, I just don’t want the product wasted. And oddly enough it is going to the same person who I am sending the extra illuminating Dust, also from Kab Cosmetics, that came in my September box. As I know it will be loved, I don’t mind.

And that was my replacement box. Am I disappointed I didn’t get the true August box? Yes, it looked like it was going to be a good one. But accidents happen and it looks like whatever kink was in the system is now cleared up. Hopefully this won’t happen again and the subscription can go on as normal. It is generally a good and reliably fun subscription and I really enjoy receiving it each month. And honestly, with the exception of the lipstick, I will have no problem using all of the items in this box.

Ah Glossy Box…Unboxing the September 2022 Glossy Box

I have had a Glossy Box subscription for several years now and I have never regretted it. I switched to an annual subscription a while ago as I knew I wanted to keep it around. The box is $21 if you go month to month but only $18 (billed monthly) if you go annual. I have always found the box to be well worth the $18.

Until recently I have never really had any problems with them. The last three months though it seems as though I have gotten dropped off of their shipping list. I had a long conversation with them in August and while their August box has completely sold out, they are sending me a replacement. It is scheduled to arrive in today’s mail. So for now we review September and maybe later today, we will look at the August replacement.

So since September is here, let’s get into the Gold Hour Glossy Box for September 2022.

The First item I pulled out of the box is a full sized shower Gel from Kueshi Naturals. I have never heard of the brand before but when I opened the box it smelled absolutely delicious. It is a vanilla shower gel but it doesn’t seem to be overly sweet. It leans into the spicy and creamy notes that vanilla has. At least from my sniff of the bottle and I look forward to using it in the shower. Especially as my baby doll took the bar of soap I had in there and I have almost finished the sample sized shower gel I was testing out. It is always nice to have a shower gel waiting in the wings. After all, it is a product I will always need. I can’t wait to see how it performs.

Next we have a deluxe Mini of the Vita Liberata Tanning Mist. Normally I would not be thrilled about getting a tanning mist in September as I am beginning to look at fall clothing, but the weather has not broken yet, the fall clothing remains put away and when I tried on the dress from Drape fit I saw just how white my legs were in contrast to my arms, so I have to say, I am not mad at a tanning spray and will very quickly be using it on my legs. I don’t need them bronzed for the gods, i just need them to look like they belong on the same body with my arms. I dislike looking like I was assembled from spare parts.

Next up we have a hair mask, and you know how much I love hair masks. This one is the Natura Murumuru Restoring Hair mask. If you are thinking that sounds familiar then , good memory. earlier this year Glossy Box Sent a shampoo and conditioner set from the Murumuru Line of Natura products. I loved the shampoo and conditioner but was not a fan of the containers. They were stiff plastic shaped like actual bottles and getting all of the product out was a bit of a challenge. And it was so good that I wanted to use all of the product. This mini hair mask is in an easier to use tube and when opened had the same lovely scent as the shampoo and conditioner from the line. I am very mush looking forward to trying it out.

There is one sort of makeup item in this months box and it is the KAB Cosmetics Illuminating dust in the shade Golden Hour. It is a full size. I actually have this product as it came in the Glossy Box Limited Edition Easter Egg this year. I don’t wear illuminating dust often, mostly around the holidays if I am honest. however this Golden hour shade makes a really nice highlighter. The shade is just a subtle glow for my skin tone. I tend to apply it with my finger since it has the setting powder style holes, but it does work well with a loose bristled brush if you are looking for a bit of a glow. I don’t reach for it as often as I should, but I really like it when i do reach for it. the one I have will last me a long time, so I will be passing this on.

And finally we have the item I am most excited for. It is a full sized Alpha H Firming Eye Cream. I have the Liquid Gold exfoliating toner and absolutely adore it. I received the cleanser from Alpha H in a recent Boxy Charm but have not yet had a chance to try it. And now I have the eye cream from the same Liquid Gold Line. I don’t know why it always tickles me when I get to try different items from the same brand around the same time, but it does. It also helps that I really love the exfoliation toner and am hoping this eye cream lives up to that standard.

And that is my Glossy Box for September. There were three full sized items and two deluxe samples. The eye cream alone is valued at $82 so I definitely got my money’s worth. And while the Kab Cosmetics item I already have, it is a good item I like and am happy to pass along. And three of the items were full sized with the two deluxe sample sized both large enough for me to get an accurate feel for the products with more than one use.

All of the items are ones I will use which makes this a box that is valuable to me, beyond just the monetary considerations. I am also thrilled that I am now back in the good graces of whoever arranges the shipping for Glossy Box. Hopefully there will be no more issues going forward.

Unboxing the 2022 Fall Fab Fit Fun

I received the Summer Fab Fit Fun Box when it was highly discounted at the end of the season. I saw the lower price and thought it might be fun to try out. In the past I have been on the fence about this subscription. I also thought it a bit unfair to judge the box solely on the first box as it was both discounted and it was very late in the season so I figured my selection items were limited. So this is my first box purchased through the system. The Fall Box was listed for around $59 I believe. With all of the tax it came to $63.28 that I actually paid.

It is a substantial sum, but it is a quarterly box. I will pay for the Winter one in November and receive it at the beginning of December. Knowing that it is quarterly makes me feel the expense is a little bit less. But is it worth the price?

I will be honest, i wasn’t blown away by the selections this quarter. However part of that may be me. I love the idea that there are not only beauty items but fitness themed and cooking items as well in the subscription. However all of the cooking themed items were items i really already had in my kitchen and didn’t need replicas of. I think if I were just setting up my kitchen or just getting into cooking some of the items would have been really nice additions. For example there was a very nice silicone mat with matching spatulas that are very nice for baking. I have three mats that I use in rotation throughout the year and then at the holidays i end up putting into use together, they are fantastic, I simply didn’t need another one.

So I was a little disappointed in the kitchen section of the items because I didn’t need them. I was also a little disappointed that they seemed very basic. I have seen in the past where there were less basic items offered in the boxes. I think a nice mix would be good.

That aside, I did make my selections and I am pretty happy with them. so let’s see what I received. The first selection I made was the Living Proof Shampoo and Conditioner set. It was the only item in that selection category I wanted, however it is also a set that i really wanted. I love that it is a shampoo and conditioner set, both full sized and I have tried samples of this formula before and know I like it so I was very happy to see it. I used to use living Proof products a lot, for a while they were my go to, then i got away from them. I am happy to get a chance to return and find out if I still like them as much as I once did.

The second item I chose was the Fit Plan Resistance Bands set. This came with a link to the fit plan app for 90 days. I really like resistance band work outs and quite honestly now that I am working out at home instead of the gym I am looking for more arm based exercises to do. To be honest, it is the 90 day app sign in that sold me on this. I am always some what stymied on what to do with these bands beyond the basic stretching. It will be nice to have workouts to go through. Whether I keep it past the 9- days will be determined, But I like the thought of these and look forward to giving them a go. And actually Last time I did get the ab wheel. I liked it, then I got sick and got away from using it. I need to restart my thirty day trial with it, but I am waiting until after I come back home. I am tickled about this. I don’t plan to always choose the fitness option but this quarter it worked out for me.

The third item I chose was the Lele Sadoughi sunglasses. I have a weakness for big sunglasses. I always feel glamorous when I put them on. I am not sure why. However i do know that the more luxurious the glasses feel, the more fabulous I feel. These make me feel quite glamorous. I love the shape of them and the nice bag they came in to keep them from getting scratched in my purse. I like the tortoise shell look of the frame and the high quality of the materials. I also like that they don’t just make the world dark, but have a tint to them that both cuts the glare and oddly sharpens what I see in bright sunlight. I think I will very much enjoy wearing these.

The fourth item I chose this month was a four piece set of Luxie brushes. I adore Luxie brushes and as I am having to replace some brushes right now this was excellent timing. Luxie has fantastic brushes that are of great quality and last a long time. This set of four shadow brushes are the type of shadow brushes I use a lot and I like the green of the brush handles. I also like the small reusable carrying case which is perfect for slipping in an overnight bag. In truth Luxie is my go to brand for brushes so having them as an option in a subscription is fantastic for me. All in all I am very pleased with this selection.

The final two items Fab Fit Fun Chase for me. The first is the Balance Me Wonder Eye Cream. I like eye cream and UI am not mad about receiving skincare in this box, especially as nothing else was skincare. I have a love hate relationship with Balance me though. Their products always work fantastically well. they are a really good brand with excellent products. However every item I have tried from them has smelled like some kind of industrial cleaning product and I have had a hard time using them because of it. now a lot of the products have been serums so perhaps the eye cream will not have this issue. But it is one of those things that i generally have to fight my own nose to use products from this brand. They work fabulously well, so it is worth fighting my nose, but the scent makes me slowly want to avoid them. I have my fingers crossed that this will not be one of those scented products.

And finally we come to the last item in this months box. It too was chosen by Fab Fit Fun and it too is a skincare item. It is the Skin Chemists Pure Collagen 5% Biphase Serum. I have tried an item from Skin Chemists before and liked it. If I remember correctly. And I find collagen serums interesting. They seem to be cropping up a lot more lately so it is interesting to see if they do anything of note. I know there is a big debate about collagen supplements and whether your body actually absorbs the collagen that way or not, but I don’t know if thee is the same debate with topical application. It is certainly something to look into.

In general I like skincare and I love finding and trying new products and types of products, so I don’t mind that there are two skin care items in this fall box. It did make it feel a bit more like a Boxy Charm or an IPSY box though. The I really am looking forward to trying out all of the items in the box. And with the Fit Plan and the sunglasses It does feel a little less like Boxy Charm.

So was Fab Fit Fun worth the price? Yes I think it was. My issue is that it doesn’t really have a fall vibe to it. It doesn’t really have any seasonality to it. Perhaps that is just the items that I chose, but it really doesn’t feel seasonal specific. Is that a big issue? Not really. It’s just more of a side note. I am happy with the items I received and the quality of them. I look forward to using them and am looking forward to what may come in the Winter box. I think that with three boxes under my belt I will be able to evaluate the box and see if it is something that I want to keep moving forward.

At the moment I like the fact that it is a quarterly box. i wouldn’t want to pay this price every month and to be honest, I think I am likening the thought of quarterly as opposed to monthly boxes a little bit better. It still gives me new products to try out and play around with, but it doesn’t seem as overwhelming as many of the monthly boxes can be. So for now, I will be keeping the Fab Fit Fun Box and determining in December if it stays into 2023.