Birchbox vs. Ipsy Glam Bag, March 2015, Battle of the $10 Beauty Boxes, Pt. 2

This is Part 2 of my Birchbox vs. Ipsy smackdown for March!  Click here to catch up on Part 1 which focused on Ipsy's Glam Bag.  In this post, we'll see what arrived from Birchbox.  Both of these subscriptions cost $10 per month but that can effectively be reduced by participating in their respective points programs.  Both companies are very good at sourcing mid to high end beauty brands so the quality and value of the samples they send is usually quite good.

In the past few months, Birchbox has added an interesting new option.  They send subscribers an e-mail prior to shipping that month's box.  You can customize your box by choosing one of three samples offered in the e-mail. The rest of the box is still unknown but will probably reflect the results of the beauty profile you completed when signing up.  In addition, they have added another option to choose a "featured box" for the month.  This is a guest curated or themed box where all five products are revealed.  I'm sure this option was added to retain customers who were getting too many samples they didn't like or couldn't use.

For March, I chose the featured box with a "Beauty Solutions" theme.  I chose it largely because of two of the products, a blush (my weakness) and an eye cream. One nice thing about the featured boxes is they are usually more aesthetically pleasing to look at than the standard raw cardboard Birchbox.  (If you are a long time subscriber with dozens of those stashed somewhere, I know you get it!)  This one has a mint green top and a black and white patterned bottom.

Inside are the five products promised in the selection e-mail along with an information card.

The Laura Geller "Blush-n-Brighten" baked blush in "Pink Grapefruit" is the reason I ordered this box. This is a multi-toned pinkish mauve blush with highlighter and the most subtle gold shimmer; just gorgeous! This is a generously sized sample with a mirror in the lid. (Note to beauty sub boxes....if you want me to buy your box, just add a decent blush!)  

Whish products have arrived in a lot of sub boxes.  Their logo has a very retro look so these always look somewhat dated to me.  But their products are nice.  This "Three Whishes Body Butter" is in the "Almond" scent.  It is very light antioxidant-rich cream with a faint clean scent to it.  

Because of my continual quest for THE perfect eye cream, this Supergoop Advanced Anti-Aging Eye Cream was the other product that initially caught my attention.  I have received lots of Supergoop products in previous boxes but this is the first eye cream.  It contains SPF 37 sunscreen and is full of peptides to brighten and protect the undereye area.   

The one thing my hair does not need is volume!  So this volumizing hair tonic from Dear Clark is a miss for me.  It is intended for thin or flat hair and adds bounce and shine when spritzed into the roots.  My hair would fight back so I'll be gifting this to someone whose hair has better manners.

This little pot contains Evenly Radiant Brightening Day Creme by "derma e".  This anti-oxidant rich cream contains SPF 15 and addresses a dull complexion and/or uneven skin tone.  This is a nice sized sample that I bet would benefit anyone over the age of 30.

Birchbox probably has the most generous points program of any beauty box. You get one point for every dollar you spend in their on-line store, 50 points for every person you refer and 10 points for every review.  Just reviewing the five samples in your box each month earns 50 points, which is worth $5 in the Birchbox shop...making your box essentially $5.  Those points add up fast and really are part of the value of this subscription.

Who won for March...Birchbox or Ipsy?  For me, the Birchbox winners were the blush and the eye cream.  Ipsy's stars were the highlighter and concealer.  In terms of perceived value, these two are pretty much dead even this month.  But the inclusion of the Laura Geller blush tips my decision towards Birchbox, so I am officially declaring them the winner!

With a judge and jury of ONE, this may not have been the most democratic contest ever but since I typically favor Ipsy, the results surprised even me.  That just goes to show how hard these two are competing for the $10 beauty bag subscriber.

So congratulations Birchbox!  Keep up the great work and we'll see who comes out ahead next month.

Cheryl

P.S.  Birchbox has just added the option of upgrading your subscription for $20 a month.  For this, you get two full size makeup or luxury nail products added to your box each month. You don't get to choose the products but I'm guessing they will be worth considerably more than the $20.

Disclosure:  Views and opinions expressed in this blog are strictly my own.  Product discussed in this post was purchased by Lone Star Shopper. Post may contain referral or affiliate links.     

Ipsy Glam Bag vs. Birchbox, March 2015, Battle of the $10 Beauty Boxes, Pt. 1

The on-going rivalry between Ipsy and Birchbox leads to constant speculation as to who is providing the better $10 monthly beauty box experience.  For the past two years, I have been solidly in the Ipsy camp but Birchbox has obviously been paying attention. Their boxes have been improving as Ipsy has slipped a bit, making the race a dead heat at the moment. For March, I thought I'd review them back to back so you can draw your own conclusions.  Ipsy will be reviewed in this post (Pt. 1) and Birchbox will be reviewed in the next post (Pt. 2).

Do you know what "Ipsy" means?  Unless you were a subscriber at the time My Glam changed its name to Ipsy, you probably don't.  Here's the definition provided on the site:  "Ipsy" comes from the Latin word Ipse, meaning "sense of self".  Google's translator couldn't help at all so I'll take their word for it.

Ipsy has adopted a no-fuss approach to their glam bags.  You don't get a box, information card, flyers or discount codes.  What you do get every month is a cute new cosmetic bag and around five samples or full sizes of what I would call "middle level" brand name cosmetics.  There is NO chance of overlooking that hot pink metallic bubble mailer in your mailbox each month!

Ipsy's theme for March is "Floral Fantasy".  There is a pretty new cosmetic bag and five products.   

The card is colorful and introduces the theme for the month on one side.  On the other side is just the standard social media call to action.  No information about the products is provided.

The bright aqua bag has a water color type floral print on one side and is solid aqua on the other.  The inside is waterproof and the bag has a cute Ipsy logo zipper pull. As an Ipsy subscriber for over three years now, I have so many of these bags (over 40!) that I constantly gift and re-purpose them.  They make great coin purses and interior bags that can be quickly shifted from purse to purse.

   
Since you take a beauty quiz to get started on Ipsy, the products received vary widely among subscribers. For March, I think everybody received one of the new NYX Butter Lipsticks.  Several shades were distributed; the one I got is called "Hunk" which NYX describes as a "blue violet".  I thought this shade would be much too dark for my complexion but it melts into the lips so smoothly that it ended up just intensifying my natural lip color. The cool blue undertones add a shade element I've never tried on myself before. This product is considered a lipstick but it applies and feels like a gloss.

  
Now don't laugh...here's the obligatory Pur-lisse product.  There must be a law that says almost every beauty bag is required to include one of these.  Either that or the Pur-lisse sales people are working major overtime!  At least this one is a facial cleanser and not yet another moisturizer.  Pur-lisse products are good quality but the beauty boxes have been absolutely saturated with them.

This looked like a boring eyeshadow single to me.  When I took a closer look, I realized it is actually an "Illuminating Face Highlighter" from a brand I've never heard of called Vintage by Jessica Liebeskind.  The shade is called "Crystal Pink" which is a lovely muted pink with very subtle shimmer particles.  (The photo absolutely does not do it justice.)  I'm intrigued with this product and can't wait to give it a try.

There's no question about the purpose of this next item which is called "Boo-Boo Cover-Up"....that is even the brand name!  This is quite an innovative product; it comes in several different shades and contains natural ingredients that promote healing (aloe, chamomile, green tea, tea tree oil and Vitamin E).  It provides thorough coverage for any skin blemish and promotes healing at the same time.  I thought this was a sample but it's actually sold in this size and called "Baby Boo-Boo Cover-Up" on their site.  I don't see a shade name but this looks like light or medium.

The last and final item is a luxury sample of Dr. Brandt's Pores No More Anti-Aging Mattifying Lotion.  This contains retinol to stimulate cell turnover and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.  Dr. Brandt is not a cheap brand; the full size of this sells for $60. I'm happy to have an opportunity to try this product...that is the REAL beauty in a beauty bag!

So those are Ipsy's five entrants to the March smackdown!  I have not tried all of these but my initial impression is that this bag was light on full size products.  But it did include samples of a couple of expensive products, a completely new item and a new lipstick line.  All five of these pretty well fit the profile from my initial Ipsy Beauty Quiz.  It's nice to know I can actually use everything here.  (We all know that is often NOT the case!)  In terms of value, the NYX lipstick alone retails for $6, so when you add in the other items, the retail value is far above the $10 paid. Click here if you're interested in checking out Ipsy's Glam Bag. 

For those who don't know, I want to mention the major difference between the Ipsy and Birchbox point systems.  If you keep up with them, points are important because they effectively reduce the price you pay for your monthly subscription. Both companies make it easy to accrue points by reviewing the items in their monthly bags, buying individual products, participating in surveys, etc.  Birchbox points can be redeemed like dollars for any product on their site. Ipsy points can only be redeemed for products that they specify.  At the moment, there are only four products available, none of which are terribly interesting. It's easy to accumulate Ipsy points but not so easy to redeem them. The Birchbox points system is by far the better incentive program.

That's Ipsy's Glam Bag for March; stay tuned for Pt. 2 which will be Birchbox's March review.  I'll tell you who I think won and you can weigh in with your verdict!

Thanks for reading,

Cheryl

Disclosure:  Views and opinions expressed in this blog are strictly my own.  Product discussed in this post was purchased by Lone Star Shopper. Post may contain referral or affiliate links.

Walmart Beauty Box Subscription Spring 2015 Review, FREE + $5 S&H!!

If all the beauty subscription boxes were ranked in terms of quality, Walmart's would come in dead last by a mile.  That sounds like the prelude to a terrible review but it really isn't. Walmart's quarterly beauty box is intended to showcase samples from a few of their vendors who choose to participate. For the most part, these are small and regular sized samples (not the luxury sizes normally featured in beauty boxes) from drugstore brands.  Since the samples are donated, the price you pay ($5) basically just covers the shipping cost. 

Walmart's Spring Beauty Box is just now arriving in mailboxes.  Their box is good sized and brightly colored.  It looks like a lot more than a $5 box!

This box is packed with samples and coupons.  Many of these could be obtained for free by hanging around the beauty section of a drug store long enough.  You could also pull some of them right out of a beauty magazine.  The value is not much and the products, although useful, are not exciting.  But you get what you pay for and there is a small fun factor in receiving a box full of beauty samples from well known brands.

For the Spring box, L'Oreal has gifted us with samples of their Total Repair 5 Restoring Shampoo and Conditioner for damaged and overworked hair.  At 1.7 oz. each, these are the most generous samples in the box.  Interesting how they've designed the shampoo to sit upright and the conditioner to sit upside down on its cap.  Wonder why?

"Real" beauty boxes generally avoid foil pack samples (subscribers squawk loudly when they get them) but they are pretty much a given in a $5 box. This is a sample of Nivea's In-Shower Body Lotion.  The idea here is to apply this to wet skin, then quickly rinse it off. Interesting idea if it works..

This is a half ounce sample of Dial's 7 Day Moisturizing Lotion.  I could not find this product at all on Walmart's website so I guess you have to go elsewhere if you want to buy it.  I'm sure other retailers will appreciate the free boost from Walmart!

Here are several more coupons and promotional flyers.  There's a $5 discount for women's Rogaine Foam and a $2 discount on any L'Oreal cosmetic product.  The Maybelline card doesn't contain any discount for its "Dare to Go Nude" Eyeshadow Palette.  Great nude palettes are always in high demand so I'm sure a low cost one will fly off the shelves.  I suspect this one will generate a lot of YouTube video reviews.  The orange and white card is Walmart's standard "Welcome" and plea for social media sharing card.

There is a little spray sample of Lady Gaga Fame "Black Fluid" Eau de Parfum.  The card says it's "black like the soul of fame"....ha!  Not sure how to describe this scent; it's a floral with a hint of apricot to it.  Just a tiny bit went a long way on my skin and I really like it so far.  And yes, of course, you could probably get this for free at any perfume counter.

There is a very small foil pack sample of Olay Regenerist Luminous, a moisturizing cream and another sample of Renewal Intensive Firming Serum from Burt's Bees. The sample pack for this one includes a $3.00 discount coupon.  Facial serums are seriously in vogue right now for their anti-aging properties.  Again, I could not find this on Walmart's website but as Burt's Bees has an astonishing array of products, it's possible I overlooked it.

I had to get out my jeweler's loupe to figure out what this sample from Caress contains.  It's obviously a cream.  The front says "Adore Forever" and describes the product as "a long lasting irresistible fragrance released on touch".  In tiny letters at the very bottom, it says "body wash".  It's almost like they are trying to hide what the product actually is!  I don't know why because it does smell good and I look forward to trying it out.

  

Last and maybe least are these two very small foil pack samples attached to cards. The first one is Age Perfect Glow Renewal, a facial oil from L'Oreal and the other one is Ultra-Lift Miracle Sleeping Cream, an anti-age and anti-fatigue night cream that comes with a $2 discount card.  Both seem like good products to try but there's just not enough here to conduct any real test. 

There isn't much of substance in this box unless you make the effort to get into the store and use the coupons.  You can't complain about the value because it costs so little.  You can't complain about the curation because the intent of this box is pure advertising.  They aren't trying to charm us.

Oh Walmart, what are we going to do with you?  As with all things Walmart, this box begs a love/hate relationship.  It has been estimated that the economies of scale made possible by Walmart reduce the cost of living for every person in this country by approximately $3,000 per year.  (Whether you shop there or not, their negotiating strength puts downward pressure on prices for all retailers.)  That is an undeniable benefit as are the tax revenues and employment provided by Walmart. On the other hand, many people think the ubiquitous nature of their stores and their predatory business practices contribute to a cultural wasteland.  Love it or hate it, I doubt Walmart is going anywhere any time soon.

If you want to try out a few of the newer products offered by mainstream brands and if you actually go in the store often enough to make use of the fairly generous coupons, get a cheap thrill and check out Walmart's Beauty Box!

If you enjoy this type of review, please subscribe to this blog so that you'll receive regular e-mail updates.  Thanks for reading,

Cheryl

Disclosure:  Views and opinions expressed in this blog are strictly my own.  Product discussed in this post was purchased by Lone Star Shopper. Post does not contain referral or affiliate links.  

Blind Surprise Gift Box Review, March 2015 + 25% Discount Code!

Although I've done Blind Surprise reviews for the past couple of months, I thought I'd go ahead and do a quick review of March's box since it does signal a strategy shift.
My two months of experience with Blind Surprise have been pretty much hit or miss with one "good" month and one "not so good".  The Blind Surprise folks have recently expressed their intention to move towards handmade artisan items with a focus on Etsy vendors. That is welcome news, especially after receiving a box that contained three mass produced items last month, two of which were silicone and "Made in China".

You may remember that Blind Surprise sends a monthly box of random items based on interest categories that you choose.  Currently, those are cooking, technology, fashion, traveling, Surprise Me!, humor, working out and alcohol.

So, let's see some of that positive change.  Here's a group photo of the items in my March box which arrived packaged in red tissue paper.

The box contained two cards, two bead bracelets, a bar of soap and a package of hair ties.

There were two cards, the standard "Surprise!" card that comes in every box and a card telling about the roll-on bracelets from Nepal in this box.

These are traditional Nepalese bracelets that are hand crocheted with different colored seed beads.  I usually don't care for beaded bracelets but these are very well made and the colors are attractive.  I think they would also layer well with other simple bracelets.

Next is a package of five handmade hair ties in various animal prints.  I'm not sure how this fits in any of the interest categories I initially selected (which I think were cooking, traveling and maybe fashion).  They might be considered a fashion item but since I have short hair, I have no use for them.  So these will be gifted to a niece who has beautiful long hair.

There is a fine line between acceptable and just plain cheap eco-friendly packaging.  A handmade bar of soap wrapped in Dilbert comics?  Surely, the price I paid could have bought something a bit more original!  It's a good thing there's a nice artisan soap inside. Fortunately, it is wrapped in plastic so the newsprint didn't rub off on it.  This soap is a pale mint green color and it has a subtle peppermint scent.  The label calls it a shampoo bar; seems like it would be awkward to use in your hair but I might give it a try.

Whether or not this box is worth the price paid depends a lot on which pricing plan was chosen and what discounts were used.  But perception is reality in the subscription box world and for me, it's pretty hard to justify the full monthly cost ($25.00 + $6.50) for what I received.  Using full blown retail prices, the value may be there but the bottom line is that I'm once again underwhelmed.

For those who want to take the gamble, I strongly recommend that you choose your interest categories carefully when signing up.  (I wouldn't choose "Surprise Me" until their track record improves!)  Also, do your due diligence and look for discounts when you sign up for the first time.  A couple that seem to be working right now are THANKFUL for 25% off or GREEN for a $3.00 discount.     

In case you can't tell, I'm very much on the fence about this one.  I'm happy with the bracelets and the soap but I consider them a bare minimum.  Blind Surprise has a great concept but they will need to provide better box value and consistently good product sourcing if they are to survive.  

If you're a risk taker who likes surprises, check them out!

Cheryl

Disclosure:  Views and opinions expressed in this blog are strictly my own.  Product discussed in this post was purchased by Lone Star Shopper. Post may contain referral or affiliate links.  

JewelMint Surprise Jewelry Candles Review, Nos. 2, 3 and 4

JewelMint was definitely not the company that originated the idea of hiding jewelry inside candles.  I believe that honor goes to Diamond Candles who still has the most amazing assortment of beautiful rings inside candles of all different scents and colors.  Their concept was so innovative that it was quickly emulated by a lot of other candle companies. JewelMint may be the first actual jewelry company to start putting their own jewelry in candles.  Hey, a good idea works both ways!  

JewelMint's line of surprise jewelry candles is quite limited.  There are only four versions, simply named No. 1, No. 2, No. 3 and No. 4.  At 8 oz., these candles are much smaller than the big 21 oz. Diamond Candles.  At $29.99, they are also much more expensive per ounce than Diamond Candles, which are $24.99 plus shipping. However, JewelMint's candles are elegantly packaged, you can get other types of jewelry besides rings and you can customize ring size.

When JewelMint ran a recent promotion that brought their candles down to about $14 apiece, I took the bait.  That seems like a lot to pay for a candle but as a long time Jewelmint customer, I trusted them to deliver a quality product.  When you order, you have the opportunity to indicate your ring size.  At the time I ordered, No. 1 was not available in my ring size so I ordered one each of the other three.

Each candle was packaged in a black presentation box with Jewelmint's name on top.  The boxes are custom fit so the candles are securely seated and cushioned during their journey.

These are the three soy wax candles I received.  They are small (compared to DC, anyway) and there is absolutely no sign of the jewelry inside, no matter how hard you look.  And I did look!

No. 2 is called "Fleur de Fig"; it has a subtle, slightly fruity scent with green moss notes and smooth sandlewood accents.  This is the only one I've burned so far and I'll show you the results below.  This is not my favorite scent but the throw is limited, so it's not overwhelming.

No. 3 is "Grapefruit Rouge" which is a tart citrus and grapefruit with floral undertones. I love all grapefruit scented candles and this is definitely my favorite of the three.  By the way, these candles have an approximate burn time of 45-50 hours.  

   

No. 4 is called "Red Currant Tarte", with top notes of citrus and berry, middle notes of green leaves and wood and a vanilla bottom note.  Very interesting and complex scent combination.  

The instructions say to burn the candle for 30 minutes until you see the "aluminum hook" appear.  It actually took about an hour of burning before I could see anything; for a while there, I was almost convinced that I had received a dud!  But appear it finally did.  The jewelry is packaged in a tiny zip lock bag, which is wrapped in aluminum foil.  The little packet has a long tail which is curved into a hook shape.  That aluminum hook is the first thing that's revealed when the candle burns down far enough.  Impatiently (like everyone who has ever done this, I'm sure), I blew out the candle and fished the foil packet out with a plastic fork. The soy wax washes off easily and my prize was quickly revealed.

I was not expecting to get earrings but I received this beautiful pair of very dainty double triangles...just my style!  They are gold tone and small as they are, have lots of movement.  I love that they have easy-to-slide-in fish hook backs since my ears don't tolerate posts too well these days.  

Each earring has JewelMint's name stamped on the back...THAT is why these candles cost so much more than Diamond Candles.  It's not an exaggeration to say these are my new favorite earrings.  They go with everything, are well made, easy to put on and the tiny rubber backs hold them securely in place. They are exactly the kind of earrings I would have chosen for myself.  I could not be more pleased with what my candle revealed!

If I had known how perfectly suited the jewelry would be for me, I wouldn't have hesitated to pay the full $29.99 price.  At $14, this was an absolute steal.  As much as I have enjoyed the rings retrieved from various Diamond Candles, these earrings are much better quality and something that will actually get daily wear.  There is also no gamble with regard to ring size in case you do get a ring.  

Change seems to be in the air at JewelMint.  I don't know what is going on but their old "flare" has been missing for a while.  They have not been introducing new products as regularly as in the past. They've also been liquidating much of their inventory at very deep discounts via various promotions which makes you wonder if they are clearing out their warehouse.  Some sort of transition involving Lucky Shops is occurring; I sense the energy and creativity there that launched JewelMint a few years ago.  It will be interesting to see if JewelMint (and its sister sites) remain or if they are somehow merged into Lucky Shops.  

Whatever happens, be sure you're on JewelMint's mailing list so you'll receive e-mail notices when their candles or jewelry go on sale. Deep discount promotions are frequent and the savings can be considerable.

I'm just trying to pace myself before burning down the other two candles to see what treasures they hold!

Cheryl

Disclosure:  Views and opinions expressed in this blog are strictly my own.  Product discussed in this post was purchased by Lone Star Shopper. Post does not contain referral or affiliate links. 

Fair Ivy Handmade Gift Subscription Review, March 2015

The premise of Fair Ivy's subscription service is to connect subscribers and artists by sending a handmade gift directly from the artist each month.  The gifts are also hand wrapped so may reflect different wrapping styles.  Their service is generally geared towards women and may include products in various categories such as jewelry, scarves, stationery, fashion, kitchen or bath products. 

The cost of Fair Ivy is $30 per month plus shipping, which for me, was $6.95.  You can get a monthly subscription, six months or twelve months but the cost is the same, regardless of term.  Fair Ivy charges around the middle of the month and their service is only available in the U.S.A.

Because Fair Ivy's products are handmade, there is a limited number available to send each month.  That means you generally need to get on their wait list so they can contact you when they have open subscription spots.  When slots are available, they will send you an e-mail.  Such an e-mail was sent out a few days ago for the April box followed by another e-mail three hours later saying that subscriptions were closed.  Moral:  If you're on the waiting list and want the next month's box, you need to respond very quickly when you hear from them. 

My first Fair Ivy package arrived directly from Amanda Deer Jewelry in Austin, TX.  As you can see, it was a bubble envelope and weighed just 1 oz.  (For the record, the USPS site says the cost of a 1 oz. from Austin to my home is $.98.  Insurance through a third party can easily be obtained for less than a dollar.  The packaging here is no more than $.50.)

Inside was a small plain jewelry box tied with green and white string.

The card on the left is from Fair Ivy and introduces the artist of the month, Amanda Deer, who is known for her dainty and classic jewelry.  A quick look at her site was a surprise because I realized I already own a couple of her pieces.  I think these were received through other subscription boxes and maybe even Little Black Box, before its demise.  There is also a logo tag and a note from Amanda telling about her business and the piece of jewelry enclosed.

The featured item for March is a very dainty 14K gold filled necklace with three tiny rings handmade by Amanda in her studio.  This is an extremely delicate piece which, for me, is actually a relief from the gaudy statement jewelry that has been so trendy for the past couple of years.  This beautifully versatile necklace would look good with almost anything and would also make a nice layering piece.  

Here's a close-up showing the three ring detail:

The card mentions that this necklace was made exclusively for Fair Ivy subscribers.  I have a feeling that some ladies will think it's too minimal but there's no doubt it's a classic style and will make a great jewelry wardrobe staple for anyone.  I particularly appreciate that it's not geared exclusively towards young women and should have broad appeal. 

So, thank you Fair Ivy and Amanda Deer Jewelry for this month's lovely necklace!  I am hoping that the over-charge on shipping is averaged over several months to cover the cost of shipping heavier items.  Aside from that one minor complaint, I am enjoying this unique opportunity to discover new artists without having to do the legwork myself!

April's subscription spots are full at the moment but if you're interested in Fair Ivy, get your name on their wait list ASAP.  If I remember right, I didn't have to wait long before getting an e-mail telling me I could sign up.

Thank you for reading,

Cheryl

P.S.  If you're considering giving Fair Ivy as a gift, take a look at their Past Surprises page to get a feel for the types of items they have sent over the past year or two.

Disclosure:  Views and opinions expressed in this blog are strictly my own.  Product discussed in this post was purchased by Lone Star Shopper. Post does not contain referral or affiliate links.

Bath Time Box, First Box Review, February 2015 + 20% Discount Code!

For bath connoisseurs, there is a brand new subscription box from Canada called Bath Time Box.  In case you haven't noticed, there are more and more subscription boxes originating from our neighbor to the north.  Of course, shipping cost is the main obstacle with any international purchase but I have noticed that some of the Canadian companies are finding ways to make it work. (Hopefully, the reverse is also true!)

If February's launch box is an indication of what we can expect in the future, Bath Time Box is off to a fantastic start.  Their mission is to "take your bath time to the next level" by sending five full or deluxe sized bath products each month.  These can include milk baths, scrubs, lotions, bubble baths, bath bombs, bath salts, i.e., all sorts of bathtub luxuries.  The cost (in U.S. dollars) is:

Monthly - $29
Three Month Prepay - $85 ($28.33 per month)
Twelve Month Prepay - $335($27.92 per month)

I don't like to say that shipping is free because shipping is NEVER free, but it's built into the cost of the box so you won't see any additional charge.

My first box took slightly less than one month from the order date to arrive.  It came in this long rectangular box with a purple lace print.  

Judging from the dates on the customs form, it looks like my box was in transit for about two weeks.  When I opened it, the contents had clearly shifted a bit but nothing was damaged. The items were wrapped in purple tissue with some pink crinkle shreds inside.  (It looks like the box stood on one end at some point in its journey.)

As promised, there were five bath products inside.  I would say they are all full size although a couple of them are probably single use items.

The information card is simple and to the point; it names each product, tells a little about it and gives the retail price.  I'm not sure if the prices are given in U.S. or Canadian dollars but this company seems to have its act together.  Since I'm a U.S. customer, I'm guessing the prices on this card are in U.S. dollars.

The first item seems a little incongruous coming from a Canadian company but it is certainly nice!  It's a paper bag filled with Hawaiian Gardenia Bath Salts.  Looks like this was specially packaged for Bath Time Box.  That seems like a good indication of sourcing strength, especially in a launch box.  This smells wonderful and there's enough in the bag for 4 or 5 baths.

The second item is Mango Madness Sugar Scrub which you massage into your skin for gentle exfoliation.  I love mango scented anything and this has the distinct smell of fresh mangoes! (Mr. Webster says the plural can be either "mangos" or "mangoes".)

Although I own a lot of soaps from various subscription boxes, I've never seen one like this "Pamper Me Clay Soap", a 100% natural bar made from two different types of clay.  The top layer looks like milk chocolate, then there is a very thin dark brown middle layer, then the bottom layer is white.  Interesting!

The flower-shaped Va Va Voom Vanilla Bath Bomb has a delicious vanilla scent and includes Dead Sea salts.  I know this is intended for one bath but I can usually make a bath bomb last for two.  

The fifth and final item is a Tub Love Bath Truffle which you crumble under running water.  It says there is probably enough here for two uses, depending on the size of your tub.  This includes a lot of emollients (cocoa and shea butters, etc.) and warns that you and your tub will be quite slippery.  Because of that, this may not be my favorite product, although I'm willing to try anything when it comes to bath time decadence.

Some subscribers will probably think this box is too expensive.  However, when you compare it to quality bath product purveyors like Lush (quite overpriced if you ask me), it is well within reason...even more so when you consider the cost of shipping from Canada. This is one of the best thought out and executed launch boxes that I've seen and judging from a lot of other first box reviews, many of their initial subscribers are excitedly awaiting the March box...a very good sign!

The Bath Time Box site shows an exact shipping schedule so you can get a pretty good idea of which month's box you'll receive. March boxes will be shipped on March 22nd.  If you order by March 21st, you'll get March's box.  That probably means that U.S. customers will get each box in the first week of the following month.

Here are some discount codes to try, depending on which plan you choose:

MARCH20 - gets 20% off first month
LAUNCH10 - gets 10% off any subscription
THREEFORFREE on a new three month subscription - gets an All Natural Lip Lovers Gift Set which includes an extra large strawberry lip scrub and a lip balm in assorted flavors.  (good during March only)

If none of those codes work at the time you read this, click on the "Menu" button on the right side of the screen on Bath Time Box's home page, then click on "Promotions" to see currently available discounts or offers.

It goes without saying that Bath Time Box would make a wonderful gift for any bath enthusiast!  

Cheryl

Disclosure:  Views and opinions expressed in this blog are strictly my own.  Product discussed in this post was purchased by Lone Star Shopper. Post does not contain referral or affiliate links.