Dapper Box Men's Accessories Review, August 2015

With its debut earlier this year, Dapper Box is one of the newer men's accessories boxes. Each month, they send a box containing four or five hand selected items with a retail value up to $96.  The Dapper Box designers scour the world to find unique quality accessories that well dressed men will actually wear.  If you need a little mood music for this post, well, here ya go"!  (Never gets old, does it?)  

There are four available subscription options for Dapper Box:

Monthly - $29 per month
Three Months - $27 per month
Six Months - $25 per month
Annual - $23 per month

Shipping is free within the U.S. and international shipping is $8.  Boxes for new members will ship the same week ordered.  After that, boxes are generally shipped on the fifth of the month.  (If you sign up after the 20th, your first box will ship on the fifth.)  They give a 100% money back guarantee and you can cancel at any time. 

My Dapper Box arrived in a medium sized white cardboard box without branding.

The packaging is very basic; the items were wrapped in white tissue.  (Boxes geared towards women usually feature packaging that ranges from very nice to exquisite; I'm guessing the plainer wrap is more common in men's boxes.)

There was no information card in the box but the handsome blue and aqua theme was immediately apparent.  When I checked the Previous Boxes link on the website, I discovered that the theme for August is "Frozen Tundra".  It is in the high 90's as I write this, so I'll take all the cool inspiration I can get!

First out are these fun polka dotted socks in shades of blue, pale yellow and aqua. These might be a little loud for the gentleman I have in mind; if so, I will be swiping them!

This 100% silk blue tie has a small print in pale yellow and light blue.  It's extremely versatile and will pair well with a lot of different dress shirt colors.

There is a pair of silver metal collar stays.  These help stiffen the collar points and give the shirt that pristine professional appearance.  These are about 2-1/2" long, a length that will probably fit most collars.

There is a white pocket square, actually a pocket "round" trimmed in a blue that matches the tie...a very dapper touch!

The last item is a small bottle of aftershave splash in a scent called "Frozen Tundra". It has a very clean minty fresh scent.

What I liked most about this box was the color coordination of the accessories and the obvious quality of the tie.  I really like the socks and the collar stays and aftershave are a nice way of rounding out the contents.  At any of the subscription levels, this box provides very good value, particularly at the discounted six and twelve month rates.  An information card would have helped pull the theme together; hopefully, that's in the works for future boxes.

With all the cool blues and the "Frozen Tundra" theme, this box reminds me of a certain extremely popular Disney movie starring a young lady named Elsa! Dapper Box is definitely a great way to sharpen up a gentleman's wardrobe with some handsome accessory options.  A subscription to this box would make a terrific gift for any guy who wants to (or needs to) up his wardrobe game!

Thanks for reading,     

Cheryl

Disclosure:  Views and opinions expressed in this blog are strictly my own.  Product discussed in this post was received complimentary for review purposes. Post does not contain referral or affiliate links.  

Flicker & Flame Candle Subscription Review, August 2015

Did you know that the candle industry in the U.S. is a $2 billion business? According to the National Candle Association (yes, there is such a thing), 90% of all candles are purchased by women and candles are used in 70% of U.S. households.  I am a woman.  I live in a house.  I love candles.  The numbers don't lie!

One of the newer entrants to the candle subscription business is Flicker & Flame which sends a limited edition scented candle to your door each month.  Their 10 oz. candles are a soy-blend with a burn time of more than 40 hours.  When signing up, there is a short scent profile that helps them customize your candle.  The general scent categories are floral, oriental, woody and fresh.  For eight sub categories, you can indicate a preference of "Dislike", "Indifferent" or "Like", which helps them create a detailed scent profile for each customer. To add a mood element, you're also asked whether you primarily use candles to relax, for romance, excitement or cleanliness.

The candle I received for August arrived in a small branded cardboard box.  Inside the lid, the scent notes were marked in gold ink. Subscribers will get printed information cards.  This candle has a floral blend which includes notes of lilac, rose, bergamot and ylang ylang.

The candle was beautifully packaged in an elegant black presentation box...the kind you definitely keep and use for re-gifting!

It is in a frosted glass container with a coppery gold flame logo on one side.  I really like the complex scent blend; the scents are intense and work well together. When burning, the aroma (or "scent throw") is subtle, not over-powering at all.  To my undisciplined nose, it smells like a lovely combination of jasmine and honeysuckle, although neither of those words appear in the description!  The expensive looking container is nice enough to keep and re-purpose once the candle is gone.

An added bonus is a box of matches with the Flicker & Flame logo on top....nice to have around, since I can never find matches when I need them.

The monthly subscription cost for Flicker & Flame is $25.00 and shipping is free. Candles are shipped around the 26th of each month.  If you order before the 16th of the month, you'll get your candle the following month. Order after the 16th and get your candle the following month.  

Flicker & Flame candle scents also reflect the seasons.  I'm guessing that means that the more spicy, woodsy and holiday-oriented scents will soon be arriving....a very good reason to sign up now!

Thanks for reading,

Cheryl

Disclosure:  Views and opinions expressed in this blog are strictly my own.  Product discussed in this post was received complimentary for review purposes. Post does not contain referral or affiliate links.

Nature Box Review, August 2015, Get Your First Box FREE!

Sometimes my job here is SO hard.  I have selflessly snacked my way through the August Nature Box for the sole purpose of bringing you this review.  If you're one of the five or six people in North America who have never heard of Nature Box...boy, am I gonna sound smart.  For everybody else, just bear with me through this snack fest, then go get your own box! 

Nature Box was one of the first subscription snack services.  They have evolved in several ways over the last couple of years, from better snack mixes to more customization and sleeker packaging. The result is the most tastebud-friendly assortment of reasonably healthy snacks available. They can accommodate all sorts of dietary needs from gluten, soy, milk or nut free to vegan and non-GMO. You will not find artificial sweeteners, colors, flavors or high fructose corn syrup in these snacks.  They contain no trans fats or partially hydrogenated oils.  In spite of all that, there are some really good snacks on the Nature Box menu!

Nature Boxes come in two sizes, a three snack box or a five snack box.  The smaller box is $13.95 and the larger box is $19.95.  You can pick your delivery frequency; once a week, once every two weeks or once a month.  The snacks are arranged in about a dozen categories and you can pick and choose which ones to put in your "Pantry".  The three or five snacks at the top of your list will be the next ones shipped out; it works very much like Netflix!
  

So, let's see what's left of my August Nature Box.  Trust me, this pristine array of untouched snack bags did not last long.

I chose several new (to me) snacks this time.  One of them was White Cheddar Caramel Popcorn which is exactly what it sounds like.  I consumed about 2/3 of this bag in one sitting.  This one will be staying high in my Pantry queue.

Another one was this bag of Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Cookies Bites.  Let's face it; chocolate chip cookies under any healthy guise are usually not to be trusted.  To say they are generally awful is not an overstatement.  These, on the other hand, are actually quite good. The whole wheat flour gives them more substance than "healthy" cookies usually have. There is a tiny bit of bitterness to the taste which is probably a result of the low amount of sugar in these cookies. Of course, they do not compare to the real thing (and it would be foolish to expect them to), but these are not bad at all. Because of their considerable density, they are also quite filling.

The Harvest Nut Mix contains all things good; peanuts, wild rice sticks, almonds, edamame, toasted corn and sesame sticks.  This has to be one of my top two or three favorite Nature Box snacks.  Definitely not low fat or low calorie but also not to be missed!

I usually request at least one dried fruit in my Nature Box.  This time, I had asked for Dried California Peaches and those are listed on the packing slip.  But someone crossed them out by hand and wrote in Granny Smith Apples, a snack that was a little further down in my queue.  This bag is packed full and these will probably last the longest of all the snacks this month.  They don't have a big taste but they also have no fat.  These are satisfyingly chewy and crunchy and you can pretty much eat them until your jaws are tired.

Last, we have Sticks 'n Stones, something I've ordered several times before.  With almonds, cashews and sesame sticks, this is similar to the Harvest Nut Mix but a little less virtuous (i.e., no edamame).  I'll be ordering this one as long as Nature Box stocks it.

Seriously, there's not a whole lot left in my August Nature Box. That may be the downside to getting exactly what you want in every box. If you're interested in trying Nature Box, click here and they'll send your first box for FREE!  I'm not sure how long Nature Box will be running the free box promotion so if it is not available when you see this, try code share10off for $10 off your first box.

I don't know of any other snack service that sends the same quality and variety of delicious snacks that you'll get from Nature Box.  They are also the only snack company that offers the level of customization that lets you choose exactly what you want to receive in each box.  Snackisfaction guaranteed!

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.

Square Hue Nail Polish Subscription Review, August 2015 + FREE Surprise Box Code!

The Decades Collection from Square Hue continues in August with a tribute to the 1970's.  In case you've missed the last few reviews, Square Hue sends three of the trendiest seasonal polishes in limited edition shades each month.  This year, they are interpreting each decade by color.  So far, we've received a stunning array of shades and finishes, starting with the 1900's.  

If you were alive in the 70's, I bet you know where this is going.  Yep, lots of disco inspired sparkle arrived in July's box!  I saw my fair share of a few discos in their heyday and let me just tell you...."Saturday Night Fever" was NO exaggeration. Neither are the shades in this box.

For some reason, Square Hue's bottles are branded with a big white square on the front which makes it difficult to see the colors at a glance.  So, here's a shot of the same three bottles from the back.

Square Hue has thoughtfully provided a swatch card for the truly obsessed; you can swatch each new color received and file the cards for future reference.  (This wouldn't seem so silly if you could see my nail polish collection!)

The first shade in the 70's trio is "Watergate 1973"; it's an almost electric teal blue color loaded with micro glitter. (How this color relates to Watergate escapes me.) This is an ultra cool shade that reminds me of the ocean.

Next is "iPolish 1976", which is a white high gloss creme.  This is pure white nail polish...I mean PURE white!  Some women love white nails but aside from French manicures, this one doesn't seem terribly practical to me.  Plus, I just don't get the name.

Third, we have "Night Fever 1977" which is a holographic silver micro glitter.  This is pure disco ball and probably the finest silver glitter nail polish I've ever seen. With several coats, you can wear this alone or it can just be swiped over any other shade for a more festive look.

Here are swatches of the three 70's shades.  I darkened the photo just enough that the white polish in the center can be seen.

So, here's my take.  The blue and silver polishes are absolutely stunning. The formulas are spectacular. Are they wearable? That depends.  If you're looking to draw attention to your nails, yes.  If subdued is more your style, no.  I'm not enough of a nail polish maven to know exactly what to do with the white polish but I suppose it could always be used on an accent nail or to alter other shades.

Overall, this isn't my favorite "Decades" collection.  It does reflect the era beautifully but it just isn't that wearable.  I suppose these polishes will round out my collection but they aren't ones that I will use on a regular basis.  These are night time or special occasion lacquers and that's what I'll save them for.

Square Hue has recently introduced a subscription option that will be welcomed by many customers.  You can opt to receive just two bottles per month, rather than three. The 2-polish boxes are $10.99 per month and the 3-polish boxes are $14.99 per month. Shipping is $5 per box to the U.S. or $10 to Canada.

For a free surprise box with your first order, sign up for Nail Mail and they'll send you a coupon code.  The code surprise14 should also get you the free box. The 70's collection is fun to look at and play with but I'm really hoping for more wearable (i.e., less sparkly!) shades in the 80's collection which we'll get in September.

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.

bareMinerals (bareEscentuals) Beauty Surprise Collection Review, July 2015

Single brand beauty boxes are usually a very good subscription box buy. That is certainly the case with the bareMinerals Beauty Surprise box. We were told that the Beauty Surprise Collection for July would contain 11 pieces with a total retail value of $188. Two items were revealed (the Bronzing Mineral Veil and the Lip Gloss) but the other nine items were a surprise.  As I mentioned in my last review, bareMinerals cosmetics are not cheap. Getting so many of them for just $45 is a not-to-be-missed opportunity.

The collection arrived in a plain cardboard box with only a packing slip inside; no information card. There were actually twelve items but since one is a small sample, it's more like eleven items.

There is a triangular shaped black patent leather cosmetic bag.  The design makes this quite roomy inside but it's only 6-3/4" in length, so would be great for travel.

Some of the bareMinerals products are hard to distinguish from one another. Such is the case with this Mineral Veil finishing powder which, except for the packaging, closely resembles the mineral veil powder included in the May box.  This one is in the original shade which is very light.  It is a finely milled weightless powder that provides a flawless translucent finish. The Mineral Veil cosmetics are signature bareMinerals products so it's not surprising to see them frequently included. 

Next we have a small Lash Domination Volumizing Mascara sample in the shade...wait for it....Black!  If you're a regular reader of this blog, you know how I feel about that. However, this one does have an interesting twisted wand shape that I haven't seen before.

The last Beauty Surprise collection included a "Big & Bright" eyeliner and this one includes two of them.  Fortunately, they are quite versatile and usable shades and are not duplicates.  One is "Plum" and the other is "Charcoal", basic shades that will work for almost anyone.

This foundation primer is called Prime Time.  It prepares your skin for seamless coverage and smooths away all sorts of complexion problems, effectively creating an evenly textured canvas on which to apply foundation.  If you've ever wondered how the makeup pros achieve a flawless finish, well....it starts with a good foundation primer.

While we're on the subject of primers, there is also a little tube of Prime Time Brightening Eyelid Primer which achieves the same results for eyes. There's not a lot here (just .05 oz.) but then the "canvas" is much smaller too!

I have received this 5 in 1 BB Advanced Performance Cream Eyeshadow before but it wasn't in a bareMinerals Beauty Surprise box so I can't accuse them of duplication.  This one is in a good neutral shade called "Blushing Apricot" and it has the added benefit of SPF 15.

This is a small foil sample of Active Cell Renewal Night Serum which is said to dramatically accelerate cell turnover and boost moisture levels while you sleep. (for firm, radiant, younger-looking skin...yada, yada, yada) This is the product I would most like to have received in a full size....oh well, maybe next time!

This little pot contains Multi-Tasking Concealer with broad spectrum SPF 20 in "Summer Bisque", the second to lightest shade. Not sure I've ever seen a powder concealer before. I'm a little skeptical but like many bareMinerals products, this is a very finely milled powder so it couldn't hurt to try.

There is usually a really nice brush in Beauty Surprise boxes.  This one is their "Soft Focus Face Brush" with ultra soft two-tone bristles.  It retails for $30 and can be used for buffing and blending foundations, blushes, bronzers and finishing powders.  

The lip gloss that was revealed in the original ad for this box was in the shade "Apricot Nectar"; however, the one I received is actually "Dare Devil", a sparkly deep wine shade.  It's a little intense for me (darker than the photo), but pretty and fall appropriate.

The label on this last little pot doesn't tell you what it contains, just the shade, which is "Nightfall".  I had a sneaking suspicion it was an eyeshadow and a bit of sleuthing confirmed that it is, or an "eyecolor" as they call it.  Not really my thing but it is a shimmery dark brown....a good smoky eye basic.

That's everything in the July bareMinerals Beauty Surprise box.  I didn't take time to add up the retail total but there is clearly WAY more than $45 worth here. I will take their word that the value of this box is about $188....a very good value!  

There doesn't seem to be a consistent schedule for these boxes but it looks like they are being made available roughly every other month. Since one came out in May and the current one was delivered in July, it's reasonable to assume there may be another in September.  The Beauty Surprise boxes sell out within hours so sign up for their mailing list (or "like" my Facebook page) if you want the earliest possible notice of availability.

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. 

Bath Time Box Review, July 2015 + 15% Discount Code!

Just when you think there can't possibly be another bath or body product you haven't tried, along comes a Bath Time Box! The sheer variety of items as well as their quality make this box an absolute delight to receive.  Every box feels like the gift you WISH you'd get for special occasions.

Bath Time Boxes come from Canada and cost $29 if you pay on a monthly basis. For a three month subscription, it's $85 and for an annual plan, it is $335.  Shipping is free.  Each box includes about five bath products that can be anything from soap to bath salts and bubble bath or lotions and accessories.  

For July, I think they made a needed change in down-sizing the box.  The quantity of products is the same but since the box is smaller, the items didn't have a chance to roll around as much and so were in better condition when I received them.  

This more compact box contained a great-smelling mix of five items. 

The information sheet is basic but names each product, tells about it and gives the size and retail price.

First out is a 4 oz. tube of Oats, Milk & Honey Lotion.  My Mom and I tried a bit of this on our hands.  It's a light lotion that works into the skin quickly and leaves a lovely scent that smells faintly of sweet almond.  I don't see almond mentioned on the ingredient label but that's what it smells like to us!  

I photographed this bath bomb from the back side to show its pretty pale green color but unfortunately, the picture is over-exposed.  This is in "Margarita" which has a lime-y scent.  It's about 30% disintegrated in the package but who cares when you're just going to dump the whole package under running water anyway! The information sheet says this will provide 15 minutes of foaming action.

Oil cleansers have received a lot of good press in the beauty world lately.  I don't have much experience with them myself but this Exfoliating Oil Cleanser is certainly a timely addition to the box.  The information sheet says it is a combination of coconut and olive oil mixed with kaolin clay and lavender and lemon essential oils.  It exfoliates gently and calms skin.

This Rose & Aloe Toner is a good follow-up to the oil cleanser; it tightens and soothes.  I thought this would have a rose scent but it's actually unscented...better for your face!  It also contains skin-friendly aloe and Vitamin E.

I liked this Coconut Lime bar of soap as soon as I saw it; how could you not with the green and orange citrus looking swirl?  It's made with coconut water and mango butter among other things.  I've really enjoyed previous soaps from Bath Time Box (especially the Lemon Poppyseed soap from the April box) so am looking forward to trying this one.

With a total retail price of $38.50, I am very happy with the July box in terms of value. I love the summery mix of items (a couple of which look good enough to eat) and the opportunity to try a few things that are new to me.    

There aren't too many bath sub boxes around and of those that do exist, I think Bath Time Box is the only one that provides mostly full sizes.  If you're interested in checking them out, they have a summer promotion right now where you can use code SUN15 to get 15% off a three month subscription. If you appreciate great bath products, you'll enjoy this box!

Cheryl

P.S.  I think a Bath Time Box subscription would make an excellent gift.  You can pre-pay for whatever term length you want.  The cost is the same as the subscription rates mentioned above.

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.

Candy Club Review, July 2015 + $20 First Box Discount!

A Candy Club subscription is about as close as you can get in your own home to being a kid in a candy store.  Just take a look at their home page; the riot of color and all things sweet is pretty much a childhood fantasy!  For $27.99, $22.99 or $19.99 a month (1, 6 or 12 months respectively), Candy Club sends a hefty box containing generous portions of three of their candies plus a big handful of something extra.

July's heat necessitated this insulated custom packaging, a pretty ingenious pop-up design to protect the contents.  This box weighed almost four pounds!  Since Candy Club sends only fruity, gummy, sour and chewy type candies, melting chocolate is not an issue.  

Opening a Candy Club box really is like having a miniature candy store arrive on your door step! Inside are three of their signature plastic containers that weigh nearly a pound apiece. These are fitted into a custom tray covered in lavender tissue.  The final touch is a bunch of colorful toffees tossed into the box.  

I forgot to take a picture of the product card but it tells about the three featured candies, what they are and where they come from.  That's important because the containers are generic and are not labeled for their specific contents.

As with my two previous boxes, two of the candies I received are sour and the third is soft fruity chews.  The first candy is Sour Cherry Slices from Allan Candy Company. These are big, round and chewy soft candies that are both tart and sweet.  

The second sour candy is a colorful assortment of Albanese Sour Gummi Poppers. The flavors here are blue raspberry, lemon, orange, strawberry and green apple. They are small little bites with a fine sugary coating.

Gimbal's Orange 'n Creme Soft Chews are in the third container.  These have the flavor of orange and cream, very much like an orange Creamsicle.  These are mild tasting and a relief from all the sour candy. They are not addictive and not something I really need in my life but they are tasty. (They are more orange than they look in the photo; my camera washed out the color a bit.)

To me, the Primrose Assorted Toffees are the best part about this box.  They are soft and creamy and come in several flavors; chocolate, vanilla, butter rum, maple and raspberry. There might be a few missing in this picture.  (ahem)

So, that's it for July's box.  I like being introduced to all these new and/or hard-to-find candies but really wish the emphasis wasn't on all the sour sweets. I do not care for sour candy and am running out of friends and neighbors who like it. Candy Club needs to add the ability to opt in or out of certain candy categories. That seems like an obvious improvement for this subscription.

To see all the possible candies you might receive from Candy Club arranged by color, click here.  You'll also see what you won't get.  I think of their products as brightly colored simple sugar candies. If you're looking for chocolate, high end artisan confections or more complex sweets, well, there are other subscriptions!

There are a lot of discount codes floating around for Candy Club. Many are good for $20 off your first order, making it as low as $7.99. To find available codes, check their Facebook page or join their mailing list (scroll down to the bottom of the page). Here are a few $20 discount codes; keep trying until you find one that works:  weird-o, fbdream20 (until 8/4/15), twitter20 or 20wonder.  If none of those work, try Awesome15 for $15 off or 10offwelcome or 20crush for $10 off.  You get the point; there are a lot of Candy Club discount codes out there.  Go get 'em!

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.