Allure Beauty Box September 2015

I wanted to try the Allure Beauty Box again as I am slowly getting tired of IPSY and may be canceling that out soon as I was highly impressed with this Allure box. It is $15 a month and includes five ore more deluxe sized samples put together by the editors at Allure Magazine. A tiny little magazine is included with each box which highlights the products and gives the editors reviews on it. 

The September box included:

*Tangle Teezer ($15) This is a fun size to throw in your purse but I think it will be a staple in our bathroom. All of us girls here have hair very prone to tangles and this actually works to get them out without pain. Amy sat on the bed and let me brush her hair for several minutes, something she never lets me do!

*Soap and Glory Pillow Plump XXL Lip Gloss in Pinkwell ($14). A bit sticky, but it does tingle which I think means it's working and it smells like chocolate! What's not to love?

*Jane Iredale Smooth Affair Facial Primer & Brightener ($48 for 1.7 oz. and this sample is .24 oz). I've fallen in love with primers. They just make your makeup look so much better. This one smells like a fresh orange and has a light-pink tint to it.

*Alterna Replenishing Moisture Milk ($30 for 5.1 oz and sample is 0.85 oz.). This is a leave-in deep conditioning spray made without parabens, sulfates, or phthalates.

*Pixi by Petra Glow Tonic ($15 for 3.4 oz. sample is 0.5 oz.) This alcohol-free toner is supposed to exfoliate and brighten skin.

*Kaplan MD Cellular Rejuvenating Concentrate ($170 for 1 oz. sample is .10 oz.). Goodness...this stuff better be good at that price! An anti-aging serum that fights wrinkles and increases collagen. With a yummy faint apple scent! Looking forward to looking younger, maybe?!

*Erno Laszlo Firmarine Bar Soap ($45 for full size, sample is 17g). Wow, quite expensive soap! This made the whole box smell divine. Can't wait to try it on my face!

This box had a very high value with all new to me brands (except for Pixi which I have used before and love). I shall pretend I'm at a spa whilst using my fancy products. :)
 

April IPSY Bag Review

My April IPSY bag is here! 

The theme this month is "Beautifully Bohemian"and the bag reflects that! My bag includes:

*Mullein & Sparrow tinted lip and cheek stain. All natural and handmade. This is my favorite out of the bunch!

*MICA Beauty Eye Primer 

*The Balm Nude Dude eyeshadow

*Lather ultra light face lotion

*Hikari blush (Tango)...enough with the blush already, IPSY!

The bag itself is adorable and my favorite yet (I know I say this every time but it's true). 

I'll be using everything but the blush, as I have so much of that already. IPSY is just $10 a month and you get a makeup bag and 4-5 sample (and sometimes full-size products!).
 

For the Faithful

What better day to review a new religious subscription box but Good Friday? For the Faithful is a new-to-me box that will encourage you monthly with a wide range of products for any believer. 

The theme for the March box is a reminder of God's love for us! 

Footprints by Margaret Fishback Powers is a nice hardcover book filled with scripture with reflections inspired by the best-loved poem. Beautiful pictures inside and this would make a perfect coffee table or end table book.

The Creation DVD told by Amy Grant. Ages 6 and up.

An adorable bracelet with Rejoice in the LORD always (Phil. 4:4). I would wear this myself but think I will stick it in Becca's Easter basket instead.

An adorable little pink notebook with "You are precious to God and He loves you (Isa. 43:4)" on the front. I like to carry a notebook with me to write anything and everything inside so I will stick this in my purse.

FAITH is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see (Heb. 11:1) magnet.

A heavy "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16) cross.

This fit the theme wonderfully and was a great variation of useful items. While this would be a great box for myself, I also see gifting this for a few months (prices start at $13.99 a box if you opt for the longer subscription). This would be great for someone newly confirmed or baptized, a Christian you know who is going through a difficult time, or just a monthly surprise for someone you love! Use the code $SAVENOW for $4 off your first box! 

This box was sent to me by For the Faithful in exchange for my honest review.
 

March IPSY Bag

IPSY is $10 a month, which will get you a makeup bag as well as 4-5 sample (sometimes full size!) products.What you receive is based on the survey you take when you sign up as well as how you review the products you receive each month.

The March theme is Floral Fantasy. My bag included:

*NYX Cosmetics Butter Lipstick

*Evelyn Iona Concealer

*Marsk Mineral Eye Shadow

*A very pretty floral bag (one of my favorites so far!)

*Equitance  brightening serum and spot corrector (*sigh*, I'm in my 30's...I need this now!)

*pur-lisse cleanser and makeup remover 

This was not my favorite mixture to date but all will be useful to me. Sign up here to start getting your IPSY bags!

Referral links included in post.
 

Little Lace Box February Box

Remember the Little Lace Box that I loved in January? I was so excited to receive the February box.

*Sigh* I had high hopes for this box, especially with the theme of "the lovers, the dreamers, and me". All their past boxes have been fantastic; this one? Not so much.

Yet, I think they know it. The information letter stated that the dockworkers' strike in California kept the wonderful artisans and designers from finishing their products. This box turned out to not be an exact match for what they originally had in mind for the February theme. Judging from this mismatched box, which is so unusual from their spot-on themes, I'd agree.

It didn't scream rainbows, lovers, dreamers or ME at first glance.

*Stud Earrings by Whitley Designs (retail $54.99) If I wore earrings I would be thrilled with these. They are dainty and cute and just like something I would wear. But I haven't worn earrings in over 15 years and the holes have closed. Besides re-gifting these, they are useless to me. Seeing as how they were the priciest item in the box, I am not happy. There are variations, such as bracelets being sent. I feel earrings are not a one size fits all item, I would have loved the bracelet.

*Pink Arrow Stationary by P. Press Papers ($12.99) Very simple note cards, but cute. I look forward to using them. LLB founders believe that writing letters to those you love should be a habit for life. 

*Bonus item was Hulu Bliss Goat Milk Lotion by Dancin' Goat Skin Care. It's been a long winter and time to get our skin ready for spring. Love this scent, wish the item was bigger.

*Tub Truffles by CeeCee&Bee ($18.99) These look just like fancy chocolates and smell divine. I can wait to soak in a tub scented with lavender! 

*Original Goat Milk Hot Fudge by Beekman 1802 ($12.99)  Some boxes held the orange flavor, mine is plain fudge which I think I will like better. I haven't tried it yet but hear it is worth eating straight from the jar. :)

Had I received the bracelet instead or if I wore earrings I would be satisfied with this box, though it doesn't have the wow factor that past boxes have had. 

I'm giving them a chance to redeem themselves and was thrilled to see the theme for March is "Here Comes the Sun". You can read the end of my blog post here to see why I can't not get this box! They say "in March, you can expect special items for the mind, body, & soul...and we're sure that, even if it's cloudy when your box arrives, the lovelies inside will be just the thing to brighten your day!"

Due to their recent growth, and item issues this month, Little Lace Box has decided not to open new subscription sales for the month of March. With that said, once they do open up for April subscription sales you can use the code LLB10 for $10 off your first box. I'm hoping that they knock the March box out of the water! 

February IPSY Bag

IPSY is $10 a month and each month you will receive a makeup bag as well as 4-5 trial and full size items, based on your beauty profile as well as the review you submit on their site.

The theme this month was LOVE and you could tell with all the pink! 

My bag included:

*Luxie Beauty Face Brush

*ModelCo Blush

*Cargo lip gloss

*Tini Beauty Eye Shadow

*JOYA Composition No. 1 Parfum Oil (this smells amazing! but I was still a bit bummed that I didn't get the Demeter Fragrance this month)

The bag this month is cute as well! IPSY is always a fun mixture of items to try out and it's been a favorite subscription company for years.

Disclaimer: Referral links included in post. 
 

Little Lace Box January Review

I've gone from subscribing to several subscription boxes to just two absolute favorites (yes, I even dropped PopSugar Must Have in exchange for Little Lace Box! and kept Ipsy as well).

Little Lace Box is a newer subscription and became wildly popular immediately. There is a wait list and boxes sell out quickly, so I'm glad I have a monthly subscription and don't have to worry about stalking their page when the boxes go on sale each month!You can join their wait list if you can't purchase a subscription now. It is $39.99 a month (same as PopSugar but so much more original and better!) but you can use code LLB10 for $10 off your first box of a monthly subscription.   

The theme for the January box is "The Dining Car" and was selected to commemorate the beginning of the fifth season of Downton Abbey. I was so excited about this month!

It arrived in a large brown box and everything was packaged well. Digging in was such fun.

I pulled out the regular red Little Lace Box and a tea pot!

*Siena Tea Collection - Tea for One ($29.99) This is such a lovely set, I can't wait to use it (it would make an excellent gift as well).

Unfortunately, the saucer in the bottom arrived broken. I'm not sure how, as the box was protected to the max. I contacted Little Lace Box and they responded immediately and will be sending a replacement. Excellent customer service.

*Royal Apothic Bubble Cream ($18.99) This is bath gel but lathers up so nicely. And the vintage packaging is amazing. Can you say pampering?!

*Beekman 1802 Authentic Hand-forged Britannia Fruit Spoon ($19.99) This was hand-forged by a master blacksmith with Britannia metal. This mold is an actual late 18th-century spoon mold that was found in the back of an abandoned shop on the grounds of the Beekman Mansion. 

While I didn't think I could get excited about a spoon the detail is just amazing. Imagine serving a bowl of fresh strawberries in the summer with this spoon! It will be something to pass down to the children as well. I actually love it!

*Lucy Bs Roll-on Perfume Oil ($16.99) This smells delicious and quite sophisticated! 

*Classic Edwardian Hair Jewelry Bobby Pin Set ($21) Who knew there was a Downton Abbey Collection?! Each silver fastner features white diamond Czech jewels that decorate Edwardian era filigree. It can't help but scream vintage!

*Capital Bee Raw Hand Cut Holly Honeycomb - Yum!!!

*How to Be a Lady ($16.99) Manners are timeless. I can't wait to dive into this book.

The information card alone is worth a read. I love the detailed descriptions of the box contents (on the other side). The sneak peek for the February Little Lace Box is "The Lovers, The Dreamers and Me". Based on the song by Paul Williams'. This will be a box for those of us who are still searching. And a box for those who've found it. It will include hidden gems for you AND your home!

I'm thinking this subscription box is the best of what I've ever received. I can't wait to see what the February box includes!

Disclaimer: Referral Links included in post. 
 

January IPSY Bag

My January IPSY bag is here!The theme this month is "Fresh Start".

Each bag will contain 4-5 sample (sometime full size) items, based upon your beauty profile. So my bag contents wouldn't necessarily be your bag contents. My bag included: 

*Manna Sheer Glo Shimmer Lotion
*Pacifica Coconut Eye Shadow
*Nourish Renewing Eye Cream

*J.Cat Gel Eye Liner
*Real Techniques Fine Liner Brush 

The cute bag (blue on one side and white on the other with a cute orange zipper)...adorable! The Benefit Fake Up was a bonus item that I had traded 500 Ipsy points for.

I loved everything except the gel liner and liner brush as those are two things I don't use. I especially like the bag itself this month so that is a big bonus. 
Disclaimer: Referral links included in post.
 

Little Lace Box December Review

After hearing about the Little Lace Box and their awesome November box, I had to subscribe! 

I haven't been feeling PopSugar Must Have anymore. While some of their boxes this year were great, most items seem more general now and not extra special. So I decided to switch over to the Little Lace Box, which is the same price ($39.99 a month) to see how I liked them. I also was able to use a discount code so got this box for $29.99. 

My box arrived later than other bloggers so I had already seen spoilers before opening the box today. I wasn't too impressed from the spoilers but still thought it looked worth the $29.99 I had spent. Included in the December box was:

*Three Sisters Apothecary soap ($3.99). Different scents were in different boxes and I received the Lemongrass, which smells amazing!!!! It's a tiny bar of soap, probably something I wouldn't buy on my own, but certainly a little special item that I'm loving!

*Fresh Water Pearl Bracelet by Stia Couture ($34.99) This bracelet is made of 14-carat, 18-gauge, gold-filled wire and fresh water pearls. 

*Fresh Water Pearl Necklace by Susan Meier Jewelry ($48.99). It features freshwater pearls in a classic, simple oval shape with two single gold plated pyrite stones. the chain is 14-carat gold-filled. I honestly wasn't too stoked to get two pearl jewelry pieces in my box, which is why the spoilers didn't excite me. They seemed too delicate to be the type of jewelry I wear.

After receiving the box today I changed my tune. They are delicate pieces, but holding them I realized they can be heirlooms for my girls. I plan to wear them on special occasions and then pass one to each of my daughters either when they turn 16 or get married (whichever comes first...haha...I kid!!). Because every girl should have some pearls.   

*Whitney English Mini Day Designer ($48.99). I'm not sure why this is considered mini as it is a good size (think large cookbook sized). I've been wanting an Erin Condren planner for the past year but did not want to pay $60+ for a planner! This Day Designer seems to be almost the exact same, yet scores bonus points for not being dated (unlike the EC ones that are for 365 days in a particular year). I like it undated much better...I can either use a page a day, or a week, depending on how much I have planned. 

I'm actually quite excited about this planner and love the sturdiness, the envelope in the front cover to store important papers, and the way the pages/notes are laid out, along with an encouraging quote on each page. I would have been happy with just this for $29.99!!

So after receiving my box today I am much happier than I was when seeing the spoilers. I love this box! I love how this box is curated by three sisters and seems to put that special touch in their selections. These are not items that I have ever seen in another subscription box! Total value of this box (including the Priority shipping), was $148.76!! Total score for the $29.99 I paid.

The January Little Lace Box theme is out and it is....drum roll..."The Dining Car", to commemorate the beginning of the fifth season of Downton Abbey. It's all about vintage and beauty and you. Be still my heart, this sounds like my type of theme! I can't wait to see what it includes! I hear that it's sold out on the monthly program (though those signing up for a yearly plan can still receive it) but if you subscribe soon you can ask to be put on the waiting list for this box and keep your fingers crossed that you get one of the Dining Car boxes. And if you go here and use the code LLB10 you can get $10.00 off your first box, making it just $29.99. That's an incredible value for the type of items this box has been sending out!

Disclaimer: Referral links included in this post. 

October IPSY Review

I always get excited when I see the pink IPSY mailer in my mailbox each month!

The theme this month is "Beauty Candy" and the colors are just brillant!

Each month there are about 20 variations of products and your bag will contain 4-5 of those.

This month my bag contained:

*Ecru acacia Protein BB Cream for hair (Can't wait to try this out!)

*Jesse's Girl Mineralized Baked Powder Eye Shower (what a beautiful color!)

*Figs & Rouge Hand Cream (love this!)

*City Color Be Matte Lipstick in Cappuccino

*Skyn Iceland Cleansing Cloths (love having these on hand!)

*An awesome makeup bag

I was so happy with this month. At just $10 a month it's an amazing way to experience different types of beauty products on a budget. And a fun little surprise each month! 

Disclaimer: Referral link included in post.