PopSugar Must Have April 2014 Review + $10 Discount Code!

PopSugar Must Have is one of my favorite monthly boxes.  Since their products don't fit neatly into any of the standard categories for subscription services, the term "lifestyle" seems most appropriate.  So far, the boxes I've received have generally included an interesting fun mix with products representing the beauty, fashion, home, fitness and food categories.  

If you missed my first PopSugar Must Have review in March, which contained the subscription details, you can check it out here.

April's big (nearly 3.25 lbs.!) box arrived last week.  I was not disappointed with this month's haul which contained six full size products.  PopSugar does not try your patience with absurdly small samples, "filler" items or boring advertisements.

They do provide one color folder that gives a nice description of each  item and its Suggested MSRP, which I do find helpful.  This month they also sent a coupon for 50% off your first Nature Box, which is worth about $10.  

If you read my blog regularly, you probably know that I'm a big fan of Nature Box.  So I was thrilled to see that PopSugar teamed up with them to provide a custom snack mix for the PopSugar April box.  This mix contains almonds, soybeans, corn and cranberries.  Co-marketing at its best!

Next is an "eco shopper", a collapsible tote, cleverly designed to fold into it's own zippered carrying case. When the tote is stowed, the dimensions are about 9"x6".

When opened up, you have a large shopper bag that measures about 18"x14.5"x6.75". This is a lightweight bag that would be great for carrying your purchases or for taking along on a vacation.  The information card mentions that this bag is made of "upcycled plastic bottles"!

Probably the most coveted item in this month's box is the Too Faced Natural Eyes palette which contains nine gorgeous neutral shades with names like "Heaven", "Cashmere Bunny" and "Chocolate Martini".  This comes in a unique metal tin compact that also includes a guide that shows you how to create three different looks.  This palette retails for $36.

This elegant little notebook by Graphic Image is just the right size (5.25"x3.25") to take with you everywhere. It has silver edges, acid-free paper and a flexible cover. Nice neat little organizer!

An unexpected item this month is a set of "Totally Awesome" graphic tea towels by Fresh Pastry Stand. These are handmade with a water-based ink and are completely lint free. One says "TOTALLY" in blue and the other says "AWESOME" in green.

  
And finally, there is a hefty 10.8 oz. bottle of Rosewater Driftwood Hand Soap by Caldrea. This has a lovely scent combination of floral and cedar notes and there is enough to last for a long time.  It's going in my bathroom right now!  

PopSugar Must Have boxes truly have the feel of a really nice gift chosen for you by a friend.  I think we'd all like to have friends with such taste and creativity!

If you would like to try PopSugar Must Have, use the code "MAY10" to get $10.00 off any length of subscription.

You can bet I'll be stalking PopSugar's Facebook page for May spoilers!

Thank you so much for reading,

Cheryl 

Happy Dog Box, April 2014 Review + 50% Off Your First Box!

4/30/14 Update:  I heard from Happy Dog today that they are not accepting new subscribers at the moment.  Keep an eye on their Facebook page!  

There is SO much joy in my house when our Happy Dog Box arrives each month! Tucker, Chief of Security and Head Product Tester can't wait for me to open the box, then sniffs through it ecstatically.  We go through the box together, then after much excited deliberation, he chooses what he'd like to sample first.

Normally, Tucker's tail participates enthusiastically in the selection process. However, due to a minor conflict with some barbed wire this week, his tail is slightly impaired.  Not to worry though, he's a total professional and fully capable of fulfilling his duties!

Our Happy Dog Box for April contained five items.  There was one toy, three full size packages of treats and a big bone.  

The enclosed information card tells about each product, its ingredients and the company behind it.  It is nice to see that all the snacks are labeled "Made in the U.S.A."

First out of the box is a good size package of All-Natural Beef Lung Dog Treats by Pet 'n Shape.  Tucker didn't quite know what to make of these but dedicated product tester that he is, he sampled one.  Then requested another.  He is a chewer with a small mouth, so these little treats make him happy and keep him busy.

The toy this month is a cute sock monkey.  Unfortunately, this is a fail for Tucker. He doesn't play with soft toys, preferring to chew on rawhide snacks or bones. This monkey is quite durable and has a squeaker inside, but Tucker made it clear he's way too mature for that. So, we'll have to re-home this little monkey.

The next package of snacks is Chicken Jerky with Kelp & Pumpkin by Pet Kelp.  These contain chicken, kelp, pumpkin, flax, rice starch and sea salt.  These are quite chewy and gave Tucker's teeth a workout, which he liked.

When signing up for Happy Dog Box, you complete a short profile telling them about your dog.  One of the details you provide is your dog's size.  Because Tucker is a dachshund and weighs only 24 lbs., I was surprised that they sent a foot long lamb leg bone!  I was going to donate this to a home with a bigger dog but since Tucker is extremely interested in it, I may just let him have a go at it.  Even packaged, this thing is somewhat of a greasy mess, so it will be strictly for outdoor consumption/entertainment.

The last item in this month's box is a package of Turkey with Cranberry Dog Treats by Plato.  These contain 90% turkey and support healthy digestion.  Tucker's response was a little lukewarm to these but, consummate professional that he is, he ate a sample and agreed to try some more.

That's everything for this month.  Tucker is happy and so am I.  That's what counts, right? 

Would you and your pup like to try Happy Dog Box?  If so, click here to get 50% off your first shipment. Your dog will LOVE you for it!  

Tucker says "Now about that leg bone......."

Sorry, gotta run!

Cheryl

P.S.  If you can't get the discount link to work, please send me your e-mail address at thelonestarshopper@gmail.com and I'll submit it to them directly.

P.S.S.  If you missed my Happy Dog Box review for March and want to catch up, click here.

Birchbox vs. Ipsy, April 2014 Smackdown! You Pick the Winner!

Birchbox and Ipsy are high profile rivals in the beauty subscription box business. At just $10 a month, they are both low cost leaders. Lots of bloggers and YouTubers have done side by side monthly comparisons with one of these companies usually winning hands down.  However, I think the quality of the April boxes shows that the other company has stepped up its game.

What do you think?  Please cast your vote for this month's winner in the "Comments" box below!

First, let's see what Birchbox sent for April.  There are three full size products (in their opinion), one luxury sample and one "lifestyle extra".

The first item is a 1.69 fl. oz. bottle of "Oi All in One Milk" by Davines which retails for $28.  This is a leave-in spray for your hair that delivers volume, shine, detangling and heat production.  The packaging is not very attractive and there really isn't much product here but it definitely has hair benefits that most of us need.

Next is something kind of strange...a little card case labeled "52 Bright Ideas for a Rainy Day".  I pulled out a card with "Tip 42 of 52" which says "Unroll your yoga mat and cue up an at-home routine with one of Tara Stiles' videos" plus a website URL for those videos. This makes me wonder if the other 51 "tips" are really just advertisements?  I'll never know since I just got #42!  The card is a promotion for the new Birchbox Aces, a new VIP program for those who rack up points on their site. Birchbox does have a generous points program so this might be worth checking out.

My favorite product in this box is actually the sample, which is a .25 fl. oz bottle of nail polish in the shade "Aquamarine Azulino" by Color Club. This is a shimmery aqua blue designed exclusively for Birchbox.

Then there is a so-called "full size" tube of Daily Body Serum by BijaBody, which retails for $34.  This is meant to protect against free radicals and give you luminous skin.  No matter how good this stuff is, I can't imagine spending that much for so little product...just .17 oz....literally the size of a lip gloss. For that price, it should also rotate my tires!

A nice creamy black eyeliner by Cynthia Rowley Beauty rounds off the beauty products in April's box.  This gives a smudge-proof all-day application but again, I have a problem with the retail price of $16.  This may be considered "full size" but at just 4-1/8" in length, it's half the size of typical drug store eyeliners.  It really needs to provide superb performance to justify that price.

The unexpected item in this month's Birchbox is a KIND Healthy Grains Bar, this one in the flavor "Maple Pumpkin Seeds with Sea Salt".  I like these as they are both chewy and crunchy.  Haven't tried this flavor yet.

So, there you have Birchbox for April.  Now on to Ipsy's famous hot pink metallic bubble envelope that absolutely nobody can overlook in their mailbox!  This month's shipment included three full size products and two samples.  That's my estimation; Ipsy doesn't mess around with information cards which I kind of like.

Ipsy always includes a small cosmetic bag in their monthly collections.  This month the bag is more or less square in shape.  It's navy blue with an artsy retro print of a 45 RPM record on the front.  As always, the Ipsy logo is printed on the cute zipper pull.  The social media promotion card asks subscribers to take a photo of what they received and share it on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.  Despite Ipsy's cool reputation, this constant plea every month is getting a little old.

The first item is a black creamy eyeliner by Urban Decay in a cardboard sleeve that I thought was going to contain a perfume sample!  At 4-1/2" in length, this is almost identical to the eyeliner provided in my Birchbox this month.  It's always nice to get anything from Urban Decay though!

There is a 1.5 oz. sample size of Root Pump Volumizing Spray Mousse by BigSexyHair. This brand is frequently featured in beauty subscription boxes so this one may be a repeat for some customers.

Next is a jelly lip gloss by Mary Kay at Play in the shade "Teddy Bare", which is a nude pink shade.  This gloss gives intense shine with a sheer wash of color.

Then there is a quarter ounce sample of Dr. Brandt Microdermabrasion Skin Exfoliant. This is a facial cream with anti-aging properties that is marketed as an effective at-home alternative to professional clinical treatments.

Last is an eye shadow called "Pop! Goes the Shadow" from Elizabeth Mott, a brand I am not familiar with. This is a single shadow in a beautiful shade called "Champagne".

So, that's my Birchbox vs. Ipsy smackdown for the month of April!  I would love to know which company you think provided the better product mix and value for $10? Please comment below with your verdict.  I'll update this post with the winner at the end of the month.

Because these two subscriptions are so inexpensive, it's pretty difficult to find any promotion or coupon codes for them.  If you do run across one and don't mind sharing, please let me know and I'll include it here.

In the meantime, use this invite link to sign up for Birchbox.  Or click here if you'd like to check out Ipsy.

As always, thanks so much for reading!

Cheryl

Conscious Box March & April 2014 Reviews + 50% off first box!

This review will be for both the March and April 2014 Conscious Boxes.  This subscription service features natural GMO-free snacks, health and beauty and home goods products. You can choose to receive a "Gluten Free", "Vegan" or "Classic" curated box.  In reading various reviews, I notice that the products in the different categories of boxes are quite different.

Starting in May, Conscious Box will be undergoing a change.  Instead of one size, they will have two sizes of boxes available. The longer the term of the subscription, the less you pay per month. Shipping is free for all subscriptions.  The two sizes and pricing tiers are:  

Conscious Box Taster - will feature 5-8 items each month

• $9.95 monthly
• $8.95 for three months
• $7.95 for six months
• $6.95 for twelve months

Conscious Box Plus - will feature 8-12 items each month with more full size and premium products.

• $19.95 monthly
• $18.95 for three months
• $17.95 for six months
• $16.95 for twelve months

I've decided to review two consecutive months of Conscious Boxes for a couple of reasons. First, I never got around to reviewing the March box.  Second, the duplication between months and preponderance of tiny samples will be apparent.  I believe these issues may have generated customer complaints which are resulting in some much needed change starting in May. 

March's box contained two full size products and a bunch of little samples, coupons and information cards.

First is an 8.4 oz. can of Scheckter's Lite Organic Energy "Powered by Nature" drink. This sounds good as it has agave nectar, pomegranate, lemon and elderberry juice along with ginseng, guarana, green tee and green coffee bean.  Interesting!  

Next is a big tube of "Pyrenees Lavender with Cardamom" lip balm by Pangea Organics. Not sure I love this flavor combination but lip balm is lip balm.

There is a 2 oz. sample package of HalfPops "Curiously Crunchy" Aged White Cheddar popcorn. This is an interesting little snack which I've never seen before. They look a lot like corn nuts but taste like popcorn with a light cheese flavor.  Really good and something I might re-purchase! 

Then, of course, we have all the information cards and coupons:

There are two foil pack samples of eye cream and balancing oil by Pangea Organics, just barely enough to try each product one time.

There is a sample pack (2 pieces!) of "Kramp Krusher Vegetarian Electrolyte Chewz" by Natural Dynamix and ONE tension and stress relieving tea bag by Traditional Medicinals.

Lastly are two more foil pack samples by Via Nature, one Hydrating Skin Lotion in "Swiss Apple" and one Sensitive Care Skin Lotion that is fragrance free.

Let's speed on ahead to April's Conscious Box!

   

Once again, the box contained two or two and a half full size samples and a whole slew of tiny/small samples, coupons and information cards.

One of the coupons is for $20.00 off a purchase off a makeup "Starter Kit" from the Mineral Hygienics website.  I thought this a little odd since there is no sample from this company in the box.  

This should look familiar...another can of Scheckter's Organic Energy drink.  The only difference I can see is that this is the regular version, whereas March's can was the "Lite" version.

And yet another package of Kramp Krushers, this time containing a whopping THREE lozenges!  Then there is a small sample (thank heaven!) of "Field Greens Raw Green Food" by Vibrant Health which contains 100% organic greens and freeze dried grass juices.  I'm trying to be open-minded here but this just looks awful.

A more welcome sample is a package of "Rockin Green" dishwasher soap.  Looks like there may be enough to do two loads of dishes in this packet.

One of the full size items in April's box is a package of Egg White Chips in Barbeque flavor. These are made of corn and egg white and are "pressure puffed" rather than fried. They look o.k.

There is a little brochure that tells about Eco-Dent oral care products.  Attached to the flyer are three very small samples of wintergreen flavored dental gum, a mint flavored daily rinse and a baking soda toothpowder.  

Then we have two more foil pack samples by Via Nature (sound familiar?)...one is a Soothing Skin Lotion in "Lavender Eucalyptus" and the other is a Moisturizing Skin Lotion in "Vanilla Coconut".  There's barely one small application in each of these.

There are two tiny organic milk chocolate samples.  These have 41% cacao content and a hint of hazelnut flavor.  (Each of these bars is 1.5 inches in length!)  

The last item is called "Super Toddler Bar" by HappyTot.  This is a gluten free snack for a small child made with organic ingredients.  Of course, I had to try it.  The taste and texture are similar to a chocolate Rice Krispy bar but probably much better for you!  Not really sure why these are marketed to toddlers; I think a lot of older kids and adults would like them too.

So there you have a side by side comparison of the March and April Conscious boxes. There were several product duplications which is a problem I have not found in any other subscription service.  It's not that these products are bad, just that most of us subscribe to these services to try out different things and get a nice surprise every month.  The good news is that Conscious Box seems to be listening to their customers and it does sound like positive change will be coming in May!

By the way, Conscious Box has a pretty generous points system.  If you rate the products you receive, you can quickly earn enough points to get significant discounts on full size products in their on-line store.

Click here and use the code TAKEHALF to get 50% off your first box.  Or use the code FREENOW to get your first Taster box for free...just pay $4.95 shipping.

I know this was an unusually long review.  If you stuck with me this far, I really appreciate it!

Cheryl