Glossybox- February 2015

It is finally here!! My February Glossybox arrived today and I am so thankful for our post-lady who braved the snow and ice to come out and deliver to us today. I have been anxiously waiting following Glossy's IG account and all the teasers on what this month's box would include were making me quite curious! Let me be the first to say, it was worth the wait.

Loved the box and the packaging this month. It was so festive and this box is going to look great when I re-purpose it! I am trying to decide what to store in this and where to put it....

And here are the goods! I was so excited by them all that I literally used every single one of them as soon as I opened the box.

One of the full sized products is this big red can from RITUALS Cosmetics. It is  Foaming Shower Gel Sensation in "Yogi Flow" which is a rose and almond oil scent. So you shoot some of this gel out of the can into your hand and it foams a bit, then you rub it all over your body and it foams a lot!! I covered myself so I looked like a big, foamy monster and just enjoyed the soft, sensual scent. After my shower I could still smell this romantic scent. This actually left my skin feeling moisturized and not dry and tight like I was expecting. Loved it!

Before I used the foaming gel cleanser, I did use this Nourishing Beauty Bar  from TEADORA. I am not a huge bar soap fan and this one was just ok for me. I will say that it did get a good foamy lather going! That was a nice surprise. It didn't have much of any scent to it which is why I reached for the other cleanser. I will be using this bar up as I don't want it to go to waste and it certainly does its job. This was another full sized product included in this month's box

When I saw this tube of Bio- Cleansing Conditioner from UNWASH  it made me want to jump in the shower and try it right away! So I did. I was really intrigued by the one step process and that it cleanses with out stripping oils and compromising hair color. As some one that colors their hair regularly I am always looking for products to help me stretch my appointments to 8 weeks instead of 6! This product feels like a conditioner and doesn't foam or lather but it works its way through your hair and it feels amazing and detangled. I left it in for a few minutes (since that's what I normally do with my conditioner) before I rinsed it out. My hair felt wonderful! I applied some of my normal hair products and blew it out and it feels great! This product is definitely going on the "to buy" list as soon as I use up my current shampoo and conditioners!

I have a love/hate relationship with Julep after subbing to their Maven box, but this was an adorable inclusion to this month's box. This Color Treat polish in Heartleigh is festive and adorable. It has and adorable assortment of little glitters and of course some cute hearts. The polish looked great with and with out the hearts, but I applied one coat of polish with some hearts for a little fun. And by the way, this is another full sized product!!!

And I saved the most adorable for last!  Royal Apothic Tinties Lip Butter in Pink might have been the cutest lip product I have seen in awhile! The little glass container has a metal rose gold top that unscrews to unveil this perfect pink colored lip balm! I thought it was just going to be a great pink tint on the lips (and it is) but it ended up being super hydrating and made my lips feel amazing! I read the Glossy insert and found that this little gem is jam packed with oils and shea butter! I am in looooooooove. And of course this little darling is a full sized product!

So that's it for this month's Glossybox!! Four out of the five products were full sized this month and, let's be honest, they were all awesome!! If you have not yet subscribed, please click here and do so quickly. For $21 this month I got a box of products worth about $50 and they were all products that were new to me and that I wouldn't have stumbled on in my area. Have I convinced you yet?

<3 Jenn

Bark Box- January 2015

I really wish I had thought to take pictures and do a review of the December 2014 box. It was incredibly adorable! It was "naughty dog" themed and the treats were lumps of coal and there was a lump of coal dog toy and a very dapper handkerchief to tie around Bentley's neck.

And here is January's Box!

As you can see, Bentley couldn't keep his little nose out of the box because everything smelled so good.
He always loves the selection of treats and the Blizzard Bites were no exception! I poured the CARU Real Pork Stew over his dog food and he was in heaven. He licked his bowl until there wasn't a speck of stew left! He is always a fan of Etta Says treats as I give those to him when I have to put him in his kennel and of course he was all about the "tube"! He didn't take to the JW dental health toy but after a day or 2 he sat down and chewed the ends.

I know he is looking forward to his February box!

Jenn

Influenster Refresh Vox Box

The Influenster Vox Box is here! Eight products were sent to me, compliments of Influenster, to test and review and talk about. Keep reading for my thoughts on these products in the picture below.

Beanitos Chips- Now, I have been enjoying these for awhile, so I was super happy to get 2 bags in this box! The nacho cheese chips are delicious all by themselves (who am I kidding, they both are) but the restaurant style chips are fantastic with salsa and guac! The reason I love these chips so much is that the texture is awesome and it is not as hard or sharp in your mouth. The chips are light and have this really unique texture that doesn't leave you feeling carb-heavy. 

Cover Girl UltraSmooth Foundation- Well friends, I really wanted to love this and find a drugstore foundation that I could love and that would be easy on the funds. Sadly, this foundation was not the one. I was sent the shade "classic tan" which ended up being a tad too dark for my tanned complexion (when I say a tad, think like 2-3 shades) but in the name of testing I tried it on and tried to focus on the cool little plastic disk they include for application. It says to apply in the direction of your natural facial hair growth and it is supposed to smooth everything out and improve texture. Nope. It was a miss. Not only did the little plastic disk make it difficult to get in around my nose area but it definitely did not do anything to make my little peach fuzz hairs stay down (see the 2 pictures below taken immediately after application that I did not filter) nor did I feel like my skin looked particularly smooth. On to the next!!

L'Occitane Shea Butter Light Comforting Cream- Yes yes yes!! This product is exactly what it is advertising! I am a long time fan of L'Occitane and this cream did not let me down. I tried it as a hand cream and it absorbed quickly, smelled fresh, and left my hands feeling silky smooth and soft. I am keeping it by my bed and going to put it on at night. Not to mention the fact that this company has a fair-trade partnership with women in Burkina Faso, West Africa to obtain their shea butter for this is amazing.  

Montagne Jeunesse Face Masques- This was so much fun! The black seaweed has a very unique smell to it. Not unpleasant, but different and the fact that it is literally like black sludge coming out of the pouch was just as different. I smeared this stuff all over my face and let it do its magic (pic below). I patiently waited for the masque to dry and when it started to lift around my lips I started to pull it off. Just like the pouch says, it is easy to peel off!! And feels so good while it is coming off. These would be awesome for a pampering night or girls night in!

Skinnygirl Tasty Nutrition Bars- So I received the Chocolate Peanut Butter with Sea Salt bar and WOW! When you are craving something salty, sweet, crunchy AND chewy, this hits the spot! It was really really decadent and satisfying. Now I want to try the rest of the flavors!

Listerine PocketPaks- So these have been around forever so I was kind of surprised to see them in my box but very appreciative too! I am in the medical field and it's not always appropriate to have a mint or gum smacking around your mouth and that's when these come in. The small pack can easily fit in your pocket, the strips dissolve quickly in your mouth and are powerful enough to rid your breath of whatever smell was lingering and last! 

Dentek Comfort Clean Floss Picks and Fun Flossers-  Again, I was kind of surprised to see something that my family has been using for years but also appreciative for being sent them!! I tossed the fun flossers in my clinic bag just in case I get some stubborn stuff in my teeth and I think the grown up ones will go in there a few at a time as well. These are fantastic to use for people like me who have had braces and have a permanent retainer. The floss is thin enough that it slips through the teeth easily, the pick is great for dislodging things and I have never thought to use it as a tongue cleaner but I might start!

Orgain Certified Organic Nutritional Shakes- Sadly I will not be able to try this product as it is not sold in my area. I went to the website and put in my zipcode to find a store that sells it but came back with no results. I am going to hold on to the coupon just in case and keep an eye out for it. Hopefully I can try it in the future!

Well that's it folks! Thank you so much to Influenster for sending me out these products to try. I can't wait for the next Vox Box!

Jenn

NEW BOX ALERT- WOD Box January 2015

Admittedly this is not the first The WOD Box that I have received , but from here on out I will try to do better on reviewing what is coming in them!
Here are photos of the first 2 boxes I received:

My first box. I loved the leopard print headband and the AMRAP sticker! Those bean chips were yummy too....






















My second box. My favorite stuff was the RIPT kit (which is the friggen bomb) and the Driven Nutrition whey protein in Cinnamon Bun. I ended up ordering it because it was so delicious! Honorable mention to the dark chocolate covered coconut chips that were quite tasty!









                                         

                                  

Which brings me to January's box. This month had this awesome cold wrap thing for sore muscles and a delicious "the Complete Cookie" which is vegan. I am also looking forward to using the China Gel sample. This month felt more like a supplement subscription box. I hope next month has more crossfit related stuff like the first two!

All in all, it's not a bad sub box if you are looking for some healthy snacky things and like getting some gear stuff related to athletics.

Jenn

Ipsy Glam Bag- January 2015

I love getting this bright pink bubble wrap envelope in the mail. I even save the envelopes and reuse them to send things out to people!

And here are the goodies in the January 2015 Ipsy Glam Bag!!

(Malin+Goetz) Mojito Lip Balm- Ok, let me  just tell you how much I like mojitos and that I was stoked to get this in the glam bag! I was rationing out the first tube of this lip balm that I received in a different box a while back and now I don't have to be so stingy! This is a color free lip product that leaves your lips glossy, soft, hydrated, and tasting yummy. (Sidenote: I have the detox face mask from this brand that I love too! It oxygenates on your skin and tingles and feels awesome.)

Elizabeth  Mott All Over Shadow Brush- Yey! I got another brush this month and I am always appreciative of tools. Tried it, liked it, and love the pink color!

Pacifica Natural Mineral Coconut Eye Shadow- This is a great blending color. I have used this in my crease as a color to blend darker colors into. It is very complimentary to my tanned complexion and very natural looking with a touch of shimmer.

Bella Pierre Shimmer Powder- I have to be honest, I haven't had a chance to use this yet. It is a loose shimmer powder meant to be worn on the eyes. I think it would look nice with the Coconut eye shadow and maybe some black blended into the outer corner focusing more of the shimmer on the center of the lid....we shall see!

Probelle Into The Blue Laquer-  I have yet to use this polish as well. I am kind of waiting until Spring or Summer to put this color on my toes! It is DBP, Toluene, and Formaldehyde Free which is awesome!

And there it is, the first Ipsy Glam Bag of 2015! Not bad for just $10 a month.

Jenn

Glossybox- January 2015

Here it is! The first Glossybox of 2015 and I couldn't be more pleased!

Kueshi Revitalizing Toner- I fell in love with this toner after using it only a couple of times. Unlike other toners, it left my skin feeling soft and moisturized and it did not leave a residue on my skin. Might have something to do with the second ingredient being aloe vera!

Lollipops Eye Pencil in "Goodbye Moon"- Can we just take a second to appreciate the pink packaging with the adorable leopard print?!?!?! The eye pencil is a very pigmented black and it goes on very smoothly and can be smudged for smokey eyes. It also has vitamin E in it!

Teeez Trend Cosmetics Stiff Flat Brush- Let me just post a picture of this beauty up close and out of the box....

The picture does not do this brush justice. It is gorgeous! It also works like a charm. I love when Glossybox includes tools in their boxes, especially when they are as unique as this!

Skin & Co. Roma Truffle Therapy Serum- They have sent this in previous boxes, but I am not complaining! I love this stuff! Not only does it smell amazing but it makes my skin incredibly soft and bright. Maybe one day I will invest in a full sized bottle for myself.

Vichy Purete Thermale 3-in-1 Step Cleanser- I loved the other Vichy products in past boxes and this cleanser did not disappoint! My skin felt hydrated and fresh after cleansing and there was reduced redness.

Again this box proves its worth ($21 a month) by including a make up brush valued at $23 and a full sized product valued at $13 so if you haven't signed up yet and you are inspired to after seeing this, do so here.
I can't wait for next month's Valentine's themed box they have been showing pictures of on Instagram!

Jenn

2015- New Year, New Me, New Things

I have slacked soooooooooo badly with the blogging this year. I had gotten out of the habit of reviewing my sub boxes but I did do my paleo challenge blog! I hope to add more posts about my meal prepping and recipes I have found to try on maybe a separate blog.

Now that January is here I am going to attempt to get in my blogs at least for my sub boxes which are currently the Ipsy Glam Bag, The WOD Box, Glossybox, and Bentley's Bark Box.
I cancelled quite a few of my box subs because I felt I was getting too many repeats of the same types of items or just cheap filler products, especially from the Fancy Box and the Pop Sugar Must Have box. Sadly, those were my favorites at one point in time but they have really gotten a little chintzy as of late. Possibly, when I am out of school, I will sign up for them again to see if anything has changed.

I have changed the look of my page and I hope that it looks cleaner and fresher! My goal is to improve the look of the page and the layout so that reading my reviews can be quick and easy and straight to the point. Who knows, I may try a vlogg this year.......

So here is to a new year and a new outlook on things!!

Jenn