Beauty Box Five: January 2015 Box Opening!

 Press  Sample Affiliate Link Blogger Ambassador

Beauty Box Five: August Box Opening!
Hey Beauty Box lovers and fellow Beauty Box Five subscribers! It is time for another Beauty Box Five box opening post! :) As a huge fan of beauty sample boxes, I literally can't wait to open my various box subscriptions every month! With the new year, I am all about trying out new products and discovering new brands!

What is Beauty Box 5?

Beauty Box 5 is a monthly subscription service that delivers 5 cosmetic samples to your door for $12 a month. The samples are all deluxe and sometimes the boxes include full-sized products, too! Shipping is free on every box. :) When you subscribe to Beauty Box 5, each month you get a beauty box delivered right to your door! The boxes contain a mix of makeup, beauty accessories, skincare, fragrance, bath& body items, and nail products. Beauty Box 5 is a great way to discover new products or get yourself out of a cosmetics rut!

So, do you want to find out what is in my December 2015 Beauty Box Five Box? Please click "read more" below to find out!

Gracefully Grounded: Beauty Box Five November 2014 Box Opening!

Press  Sample Affiliate Link Blogger Ambassador 

Hey Beauty Box lovers, it is that time again...time for my monthly Beauty Box Five Box Opening Post! As a huge fan of beauty sample boxes, I always eagerly await the arrival of my various box subscriptions. It is always interesting to see who has the "best box" each month. Not to mention, I love discovering all the new beauty products tucked inside! :)

What is Beauty Box 5?

Beauty Box 5 is a monthly subscription service that delivers 4-5 deluxe or full sized cosmetic samples to your door for $12 a month. When you subscribe to Beauty Box 5, each month you get a beauty box delivered right to your door! The boxes contain everything from makeup to beauty accessories to skincare, fragrance, bath & body items, and even nail products. Beauty Box 5 is a great way to discover new products or get yourself out of a cosmetics rut!

Want to find out what is in my Beauty Box Five box this month? Please click "read more" below!

Makeup Wars: Favorite Travel Products

I Bought It Affiliate Link/Referral Links Press Sample/Blogger Ambassador

It is time for another Makeup War!!!

This week the Makeup Wars bloggers are sharing their favorite items for travel! While I do have some favorite products that I always travel with which I will share with you...I do have a packing secret: I load up my travel toiletries bag with goodies from my various Beauty Sample Subscription boxes!!! As my loyal readers know, I have a bit of a healthy obcession with Beauty Sample subscriptions. So, I have no shortage of travel sized products in my home. Even those good ol foil packet samples of shampoos get used when my family goes on trips!

The Hold Me "Middle Sister" Bag:
Before we dive into my product recommendations for travel, lets talk about my newest travel makeup bag: The Hold Me "Middle Sister" bag!

From previous travel packing posts, ya'll know that I love the classic Hold Me bag (perfect for a long trip) and the Hold Me Mini (ideal for a weekend getaway or even your everyday purse makeup bag). Well, the Hold Me company now has a size in the "middle": the Middle Sister! It really is just the "right size" for a short trip (longer than a weekend). The Hold Me bags are great because you can tuck away your makeup flat in the zippered compartment and there is an area to keep your brushes organized, too! So, you don't have to pack an additional brush roll. The quality of these bags is just stellar. Plus, they really protect your makeup and keeps everything super organized and in its place. I adore these bags and think that this "Middle Sister" bag is a perfect addition to the Hold Me line.

To hear more about some of my travel makeup favorites, my travel makeup "secret" packing tip, and more about the Hold Me Bag, please click "read more" below! :) 

Best Year Ever! January 2013 Birchbox: Box Opening!

Can you believe that 2013 starts my 3rd year as a Birchbox subscriber! Wow! Time flies!!!

Birchbox wants 2013 to be your "Best Year Ever"! No, this doesn't mean you need to go changing yourself with unattainable resolutions. Just use this new calendar year to focus and accomplish those little things that always fall to the bottom of your to-do list! So, Birchbox wants you to make a simple goal: Just make 2013 your "Best Year Ever"!!! To help with this, Birchbox included a fold-out poster in this Birchbox with 25 simple tips and ideas to boost your happiness! Have more ideas? Then tweet them to Birchbox with the hashtag #mybestyear.
  
More about Birchbox: One of my Favorite Beauty Sample Subscriptions!
Have you not heard of Birchbox, or would you just like to find out more? Well then here is the scoop if you would like a subscription for yourself: For only $10.00 per month, you get deluxe high-end beauty and lifestyle product samples delivered right to your door. Each box contains about 4-5 samples plus a small lifestyle extra or two. The boxes are so cute and incredibly fun! It is like getting a little present in your mailbox each month. :) With a subscription, you get your fabulous Birchbox and full access to the Birchbox website (with tips, tutorials, articles, videos, product info, and shopping)! Review your Birchbox items and earn points on the Birchbox website! Plus, if you refer friends, you can earn points for that, too.

I have been a Birchbox subscriber for 2 years (OMG! Crazy!!!). I have reviewed each and every Birchbox that I have gotten! So, if you are curious to know the exact deets about what is inside. Please feel free to go through and read my previous Birchbox "Box Opening" post! Here they all are! Whew! Birchbox Introduction Post, Jan 2011 Birchbox, Feb 2011 Birchbox, March 2011 Birchbox, April 2011 Birchbox, May 2011 Birchbox, June 2011 Birchbox, July 2011 Birchbox, August 2011 Birchbox, Sept 2011 Birchbox,  Oct 2011 Birchbox,  Nov 2011 Birchbox, December 2011 Birchbox, January 2012 Birchbox, February 2012 Birchbox, and the March 2012 Teen Vogue Birchbox, April 2012 Birchbox Box Opening, May 2012 Gossip Girl Birchbox Box opening, June 2012 Birchbox, July 2012 Birchbox,  August 2012 Back to School Birchbox, September 2012 Birchbox,  October 2012 "Goop" Birchbox, November 2012 Birchbox, and December 2012 Birchbox.

What is inside the January 2013 Birchbox?

Holiday Shopping 2012: Give the Gift of Birchbox (Holiday box openings!)

My Holiday Shopping 2012 Series continues! Give the gift of Birchbox: It is the gift that keeps on giving! :)

As ya'll know, I am a huge fan of Birchbox. I consider it to be not only one of the best Beauty Sample Subscriptions out there, but also consider it to be an amazing value for $10.00 per month! If you are looking for a unique and thoughtful holiday gift this year, a Birchbox subscription for either yourself or for a friend might just be the the gift you are looking for!

What is the scoop on Birchbox?
For those of you that are not familiar with Birchbox, here is the scoop if you would like a subscription for yourself: For $10.00 per month, you get deluxe high-end beauty and lifestyle products delivered right to your door. Each box contains about 4-5 samples plus a small lifestyle extra or two. The boxes are packaged beautifully! Not only will you get your fabulous Birchbox, but also you will get full access to the Birchbox website which has tips, tutorials, articles, videos, product info, and shopping! Review your Birchbox items and earn points on the Birchbox website! Plus, if you refer friends, you can earn points for that too.

If you want to learn more about what is inside a Birchbox, be sure to check out some of the previous posts from my ongoing monthly Birchbox Box Opening Series. Every month I open my Birchbox and share about the contents! Birchbox Introduction Post, Jan 2011 Birchbox, Feb 2011 Birchbox, March 2011 Birchbox, April 2011 Birchbox, May 2011 Birchbox, June 2011 Birchbox, July 2011 Birchbox, August 2011 Birchbox, Sept 2011 Birchbox,  Oct 2011 Birchbox,  Nov 2011 Birchbox, December 2011 Birchbox, January 2012 Birchbox, February 2012 Birchbox, and the March 2012 Teen Vogue Birchbox, April 2012 Birchbox Box Opening, May 2012 Gossip Girl Birchbox Box opening, June 2012 Birchbox, July 2012 Birchbox,  August 2012 Back to School Birchbox, September 2012 Birchbox,  October 2012 "Goop" Birchbox, November 2012 Birchbox. 

Birchbox Gifting Guide:
Here are Birchbox's Options for Gifting:

For Him: Men's Gifts

• $60.00 for a 3 month subscription
• $110.00 for 6 months
• $195.00 for 12 months

For Her: Women's Gifts

• $30.00 for 3 months
• $60.00 for 6 months
• $110 for 1 year (save $10!)

For Either:

• Gift Cards: Giftcards for the Birchbox Shop

Curious as to what might be inside a Holiday Birchboxes for both Men and Women? Here is a preview and box opening!

October 2012 GLOSSYBOX: Box Opening!

It is GLOSSYBOX time again! Yes, it is time for another GLOSSYBOX box opening! October is flying by. It seems like I just reviewed last month's GLOSSYBOX. This month's box opening post is going to be a little bit different ya'll...

Sharing my thoughts: I might cancel my subscription: Here is why:
As usual, I am completely pleased with my GLOSSYBOX. However, I wanted to discuss my thoughts with you guys on if I should continue subscribing to GLOSSYBOX.

While I really do love my GLOSSYBOXes, I am considering canceling my subscription. I am just in a place where I have so many samples that I am using and need to use and just do not "need" to subscribe to so many sample box services. Since GLOSSYBOX is the most expensive one that I subscribe to, I might cancel it. I pay $21 per month for GLOSSYBOX. $21 a month is actually a really good deal considering how many great samples and full sized products I get in my GLOSSYBOXES. Usually the value of the items inside far exceeds the cost of the actual box by a landslide. However, when you look at the cost over time, it really adds up! We are talking $252 annually. When I look at that price I think that I would rather take that $252 and use that to pay for cosmetics that I pick out and choose myself. Sure there are plenty of items that I use and love from GLOSSYBOX...but, I am not sure if there are $252 worth of products that I love.

As a beauty blogger, I am constantly testing out skincare. GLOSSYBOX does a great job of packing a variety of items into a GLOSSBOX: hair, skincare, makeup, and body products. However, often the skincare items do not get used right away as I am already in the midst of skincare testing.

The other reason that I might cancel is that out of all of my beauty sample subscriptions, GLOSSYBOX seems to have the fewest rewards for membership. With Birchbox, you earn points for product feedback and membership referrals. You can use those points towards product discounts in the Birchbox online store. I love that system! The feedback for products surveys are super quick and easy. So, you feel like you are constantly earning points. I love Julep's system too! Granted they have re-vamped their Julep rewards with the "Jules" program. So, I am not sure how that will translate. But, so far, I have been very happy with Julep's boxes and use the Julep polishes and products all the time. So, I am totally getting my money's worth with each Julep Maven box that I get.

With GLOSSYBOX you can earn GLOSSYDOTS for surveys and the GLOSSYDOTS can accumulate over time to be applied towards a free GLOSSYBOX. What I am finding is that the surveys are quite long to complete and it takes forever for your points to add up! Plus, there is no GLOSSYBOX "store" on site. Also, while you can invite friends to GLOSSYBOX over email. There is no system in place to allow for referral credits through an web link.

My other thought is that if I cancel (and I am quite sure that I will), I want to take that $21 per month that I saved and use it to purchase makeup items that I pick out myself. Actually, I am considering an entire year-long blog series about building a basic core makeup collection with $20 per month. I am curious. Just for the sake of experiement to try this! I think it would be a much better use of my $21 per month!

My last reason that I might (and probably will) cancel is that I am on a tight budget! If I am going to spend $21 per month on something, I would rather pick the items out myself! Sure I pay $10 per month for Birchbox, that is an easy price to justify for samples. I pay $20 per month for Julep but the great thing with that is that I actually do choose which Julep box that I get...and if I don't like the box offerings (which has actually never happened), I could always choose to skip that month. So, my point again is that if I am going to spend that $20, I would rather spend it on something that I am picking out myself. I just made the transition to stay-at-home Mommy this year and I am still adjusting to the lack of a paycheck! ;)

So, in summary, I will likely cancel before the end of the month. However, if and when I do cancel, it might not be forever! If I find that I am really "missing" my GLOSSYBOXES or if my budget loosens up, I will likely subscribe again! 

If you are curious about beauty sample subscriptions: try GLOSSYBOX!
With all of that said, if you do have $21 extra dollars to spend a month, I think that GLOSSYBOX really is a fabulous deal! If I was still working and getting a paycheck, there is no question that I would continue my subscription! If you are looking for a high-end/luxury beauty box subscription, I think that GLOSSYBOX is really the way to go. You get a lovely box filled with amazing samples! Plus, you feel like you are getting such a nice present for yourself.

If you are a nail polish lover, I totally recommend the Julep Maven program. If you are looking to spend less, but still get a great beauty sample box, then I totally recommend going with Birchbox!

So, lets jump into this month's GLOSSYBOX shall we? To find out what I got this month, keep reading after the jump!

May 2012 GLOSSYBOX!!! Box Opening

Wow! Ya'll! What an amazing GLOSSYBOX! Ya'll may remember that I had the chance to review GLOSSYBOX's special Blogger Inaugural USA box a few weeks ago? That was a special one-time box sent to bloggers to celebrate the launch of GLOSSYBOX in the USA. That box was fabulous! So, of course I subscribed! The GLOSSYBOX featured in this post is my first of the monthly subscription boxes.


What is GLOSSYBOX?
GLOSSYBOX is the newest beauty sample subscription service to come to the USA. GLOSSYBOX is actually a world leader in the monthly beauty sample box market. GLOSSYBOX has been a phenomenal success across the globe and is available in 19 countries! Now it is finally in the USA! Like other beauty sample services, you pay a monthly fee and get a box of 5 deluxe beauty samples (one of which they promise will be full-sized). The difference? GLOSSYBOX is on the expensive side at $21.00 per month. Yes, that is more than double the price of Birchbox (which is still my favorite beauty sample subscription at $10 per month!). For the $21.00 price, I am expecting this box to really deliver!

I really can't compare the GLOSSYBOX directly to Birchbox since GLOSSYBOX is more than double the price. Lets just say that I have higher expectations for the quality and content of the box items in GLOSSYBOX with the high price. The Bottom Line: I need to get my money's worth. But, that is not why I subscribe to these services! I want the *experience* of opening a beautiful and luxurious box filled with unique, special, and high end beauty treats. Some beauty sample services deliver this spot-on, like Birchbox. Some do not (cough, MyGlam). I want the pretty packaging! I want the trill of opening a beautiful box filled with surprises. It is like getting a present; and, lol, I love presents! :)

What is inside the box? Is it worth the cost? Keep reading to find out!