Bulu Box October 2015

As I continue my exploration of low-cost subscription boxes, I decided to try Bulu Box.  From their website:

Bulu Box is the first health, nutrition and weight loss discovery box designed to help you feel your best. Each month, you’ll get a custom box filled with a new mix of 4 to 5 premium samples from top brands to try. Every sample is sufficient enough to decide if the product is right for you. Of course, shipping is always free and you can cancel anytime.

I was interested in this box partially because I didn't know a lot about the products offered.   Here's what they sent:

Zamboost (3 capsules, $6)
"Protect your immune system with this body boosting formula that utilizes clinically proven ingredients.  Fortify your immune system with Vitamins C and D, Calcium, and a proprietary Immuno Blend that helps fight off sickness."  That 'proprietary Immuno blend' includes yeast and dairy milk extracts, fruit extracts, Echinacea, and ginseng.   I'm always suspicious of products that promise to strengthen your immune system with 'proprietary blends, but this one contains several things that I usually take to boost my immune system this time of year.  

Pocket Protein (1 pouch, $3)
"Take your protein anywhere with this convenient, on-the-go protein option that contains 15g of muscle-building protein without any fat, sugar, carbs, or gluten!  Pocket Protein comes in a portable pouch that is shelf stable and can be taken any time of day"   This is a convenient protein drink.  I'm not really a fan of protein drinks, but the convenience of it is great for my busy life.  I'm not a huge fan of the strawberry flavor, but I'd love to try this is chocolate or vanilla.  

Manitoba Harvest HempPro 70  (1/2 serving, $1.25)
"A complete plant-based protein.  HempPro 70 contains 20g of protein and all the essential amino acids to help fortify your body and build lean muscle.   HempPro 70 contains 3.4 grams of Omega 3 & 6 to promote total body health"   This dissolved quickly and had a decent flavor.  

Sport Beans (1 pack, $1.25)
"Clinically proven to maximize sports performance, each Sport Bean is loaded with carbs for fuel, electrolytes to help maintain fluid balance, and vitamins ot optimize energy release and protect cells against oxidative damage"  
I REALLY love this concept.  These are jelly beans (from Jelly Belly brand) for adults.   I've already put these in my purse to try this week when I'm on the go!

Tiger Balm Ultra Strength Pain Relieving Ointment (2 packets, 2 grams each, $3.50)
"This ointment contains the strongest concentration of herbal ingredients to provide penetrating heat to muscles.  One application gives you fast, warm, and comforting relief for joint and muscle pain."  I enjoy Tiger Balm.   I dislike the smell but I can't deny that it works like a charm on sore muscles!  

Lifestyle Bonus
Demis8 Exfoliating Soap (1 25g bar, $2)
"Moisturize and exfoliate with this carrot soap that contains eight natural ingredients that help make your skin tone even and bright.   Prevent clogged pores by removing dead skin and naturally hydrate skin cells for healthier, smoother skin."   I haven't tried this yet, but I Love the way it smells and I'm looking forward to using it!

There are information cards for several of the products also included, most with codes to use for discounts on the product websites.   There's also a code for a free month of the website Pilates Anytime.  However, the codes do not appear to be single-use and I suspect could be found with a google search, so I don't consider them an added value. 

The retail value of this box is $17.  I used a coupon code to get my first box for $5 (and according to retailmenot.com, coupon code BULUGAN967 will give you the subscription for only $5 a month, every month).   I received enough points to purchase another box from their shop for free, which I will review later.  But I have canceled my subscription.  The products just aren't that exciting to me.   I'm sure there are people who would LOVE this box, and I suspect once my boys are a bit older I'll try this one again for them.  But for now, this one just doesn't make me as happy as some of the other boxes out there.  

LipMonthly October 2015

I've been shopping around for subscription boxes and decided to give LipMonthly a try.   I was reluctant at first--my lipstick drawer is overflowing--but it's such a low pricepoint ( $5 for the first month!) and you receive full sized products.   I couldn't resist.  

Lipmonthly is a monthly subscription box that costs $12.95 month-to-month  ($5 for the first month, discount for purchasing six month or one year subscriptions).   They send 4-5 full sized products and a makeup bag each month with a focus on lip products (from what I can find online, there's frequently one non-lip item included).   There have been some reports of double billing in the past, but I haven't seen that particular complaint recently and (so far) have not experienced it myself.

In my October 2015 Lipmonthly bag, I received three full sized lip products, an eye pencil, and a bag:

 

 

 

 

 

 

They also included this card:

 

 

I compared their prices to the same/similar items on amazon.   I couldn't find the Hikari crayon, the Lord & Berry crayon was on sale for $9.90, and the other two items were both significantly more expensive on amazon, so I'm going to say their listed retail values are fair.

At first glance, I thought I had gotten three lip products that were all similar (non-wearable, for me) shades of red.   For someone who is embracing her inner goth this October, I was seriously disappointed.   I was hoping for purples or other interesting shades.

When I swatched the colors, I realized they weren't quite as similar as I had at first thought--still similar, but at least there was some variation.  

Left to Right--Hikari Crayon in Mandarin, Lord & Berry Crayon in Sensuel, Mica Lip Pot in Velvet Rose

 

The Hikari Crayon color is Mandarin.   I enjoy Hikari products and find them to be good quality.  I've also recently discovered that I really like lip crayons because they tend to be a little more matte--and have a bit more staying power--than traditional lipstick.   This product is well pigmented and you can wear it sheer or build up the color pretty easily.   The formula is a bit drier than most other crayons, but I think it's still moist enough to keep your lips hydrated.  I can't tell you for sure though, because this salmon pink-coral color got washed off almost as quickly as I put it on.   The formula is good, but the color is definitely not for me.  (it also arrived damaged--it looked like the lid had been pushed down too far, even though the lid came off when I removed the pencil from the box.   I actually swatched it from the product in the lid rather than the crayon itself).  

The second crayon is the Lord & Berry crayon lipstick in Sensuel.   I liked this formula even more than the Hikari--SO smooth, highly pigmented, and easy to build.   Again, though, this color--an almost crayon red with pink undertones-- is not for me.   I'm almost certain LipMonthly had me do a color survey, so I was surprised that the colors were so far from what I like.  

The third lip product was Mica Beauty Lip Pot in Velvet Rose.   Mica Beauty is not a brand I've tried before, and the deep burgundy color when I opened the lid made my heart skip a beat.  THIS was more like it--a more vampy red that would be perfect for the spookiest season of the year!!!   Swatched on my hand it was a little redder than I wanted, but I'm a ghost so I thought it would be more burgundy on my lips.  Nope--it's almost-but-not-quite a blood red, a quarter shade too light to be vampy and a tiny bit too pink to be Flapper.   The formula is smooth and a little goes a LONG way--I barely had to load the brush to get serious coverage.   I'll keep this one for sure, and I'll certainly look for more Mica products to try.   I'm just incredibly picky about reds for my lips, and this one was so close to perfect that it was almost infuriating :D.  

My final product was a Pencil Me eye pencil in Amethyst.  I can't help but wonder who chose to put a purple eye pencil in a box with three reds that didn't have even the tiniest drop of purple undertone, but here it is.   I like the color of this pencil, but I would be highly disappointed if I had paid $7 (or amazon's $11!) for it.  It reminds me of the Wet 'n Wild eyeliners that are $1 at the local pharmacy. 

The bag was ok.  It's a durable vinyl-pleather material.   It smells very chemically.  As long as the smell fades I'm sure to use it for something, but it will never be a favorite.  

Overall, the bag was a great value.  However, I really only got the one product (the Mica lip pot) that I consider 'worth it'.   I would have been highly disappointed if I had paid the full $12.95 price for this bag, but for $5 I'm satisfied.    I'll contact customer service about the damaged Hikari Crayon, but that will mostly be so that I can check out their CS--I expect to cancel this subscription before the next one.  

Verdict:   The trial bag at $5 is worth it, but at full price?  There are so many other great subscriptions out there in the $10-$15 range that I'd have to give this one a pass.

Update:   The chemical smell of the bags was consistent through every bag I received.   The smell seemed to go away after I left the bag in a sunny window for a day or two.   These will never be favorite bags of mine, but the heavy vinyl would make them good for carrying things that might get messy.  

I've had to contact customer service a few times, and every time they have been prompt, courteous, and fixed the problem quickly, usually with a replacement product.  I still canceled this subscription, though--I am super picky about lip colors, and this one kept missing the mark for me.   If you like a wider variety of lip colors than I do, you might love this subscription!

***All opinions are my own.  I did not receive any compensation for this review, nor did I receive free products or samples.   There are affiliate links contained in this review. 

Smiley 360 Purina One Smartblend 28 Day Challenge

This Smiley360 mission is a fun one.   It involves feeding a new food to your dog for 28 days and reporting back on the changes.  The Smiley Kit contains:

• One 6-ounce pouch of Purina ONE® SmartBlend® True Instinct Grain-Free Formula Dry Dog Food
• One coupon good for a FREE (up to $15.99) 8lb bag of Purina ONE® SmartBlend® True Instinct Grain-Free Formula Dry Dog Food (6 oz. sample & 8-lb. bag is about two weeks of food based on the average diet of a 50lb adult dog)
• Purina ONE brochure explaining the 28-Day Challenge, what visible difference you could see in your dog, where to register for the challenge and how to transition your dog food
• $3 off digital coupon* for Purina ONE® SmartBlend® Dry Dog Food once you successfully register for the 28-Day Challenge (so you can purchase more food to finish the challenge!)

The dog we chose to feed this too is a five year old Red Retriever.   He is a big, friendly guy who has lost some energy over the past couple of years, but we saw much of it return while using this food.  His coat is shinier, he is friendly and has more energy, and overall just a happier, healthier dog.  

I received samples of this product from Smiley360.   According to their website, "Smiley360 is an online community of influential consumers who try products and experiences for free and share their opinions with others. As a member, you will receive offers from the biggest brands and share your experience with that brand, as well as with friends, family, coworkers, neighbors and other consumers like you."  It takes about five minutes to fill out a survey and then if you meet the criteria, you'll be offered a mission and shipped a smiley kit.  All opinions are my own based on my own personal use of the product.  

Advil Sinus Congestion & Pain Smiley 360

When I signed up for the Advil Sinus Congestion & Pain Mission on Smiley 360, I wondered how I would review a product intended for illness when I can't control when I'm going to get sick and usually don't get sick until December-January.  And then like magic, three days after the package arrived I have the worst cold I've had in ages (Maybe they included germs in the package?   hrmmmm) 

Advil Sinus Congestion & Pain:
👍 Treats stuffy nose, sinus pressure, nasal swelling, headache, fever and body aches ONLY
👎 Does not treat allergies, cough, runny nose or any pain unrelated to sinus
👍 Is safe when used as directed

My Smiley kit contains:
• (1) 10 count of Advil® Sinus Congestion & Pain
• (5) sample pouches of Advil® Sinus Congestion & Pain to share with family and friends
• (1) nose shaped stress ball
• (1) pack of tissues
• (1) talk bubble
• A Pack of $3.00 off coupons for sharing
• Smiley360 Sharing Guide

My cold is just bad enough that I'm miserable.  I wasn't expecting much from the medication, but I have to admit I feel better just thirty minutes after taking it.   My body aches are gone, headache is diminished, and I feel like I could actually do something (but I won't.  In the name of healing, of course :D)   Advil Sinus will definitely be added to our medicine cabinet.  

I received samples of this product from Smiley360.   According to their website, "Smiley360 is an online community of influential consumers who try products and experiences for free and share their opinions with others. As a member, you will receive offers from the biggest brands and share your experience with that brand, as well as with friends, family, coworkers, neighbors and other consumers like you."  It takes about five minutes to fill out a survey and then if you meet the criteria, you'll be offered a mission and shipped a smiley kit.  All opinions are my own based on my own personal use of the product.  

Ipsy Review, September 2015

It is official--I am an Ipsy Addict (if you need proof check out my July and August Ipsy box reviews)  In case you don't know, Ipsy is a subscription box service.   For $10 a month you get '4-6 deluxe samples or full sized products' and one zippered makeup bag in a theme that changes monthly (the bag is the same for everyone, but the products change based on your style survey).   That is $10 including shipping!   It's so much fun to pick up the mail and have new products to try and a fun new bag.   

September's theme was 'Face Fashion', which they describe as "Face the Future.  Smokier, Deeper, richer.  This September, leave the past behind and take the leap into fall with a Glam Bag made to inspire the perfect transition from summertime casual to autumn elegance"  And for $10, here's what I received:

Crown Brush Oval Concealer Brush (full size,  $3)

The retail price for this brush is $7.45, but it's on sale for $2.98 on the crown brush website.  This seems to be a good quality brush.  The bristles are structured without being stiff, soft without being 'mushy', and they don't fall out.  But it's hard to get excited about a $3 brush when I got this $26 one with last month's bag :P

Tre'StiQue Mini Matte Lip Crayon in Nantucket Nude (0.02 oz, $11)

So, I was playing with lipsticks last week and I learned something--a shade called Plum Riche is so close to my natural lip color that I could barely tell I had put it on.  In other words, this light coral-orange-pink-beige-whatever color is never, ever going to look 'nude' on my lips, whether I'm in Nantucket or Anchorage.   The pigment is good and the formula is soft with a little bit of shine but no glitter.  The color itself, though, is simply not for me.  At least not for my lips--I'm considering trying it on my cheeks :P

The color on the far left is Nantucket Nude.  The one on the far right?  closest to my natural lip color.  :P 

Pixi by Petra Brow Powder Trio ($6? The six color one is $12 on their website)

This powder has a nice smooth finish and good pigmentation.  However, the pack didn't come with an applicator, and honestly, I don't know how to use brow powder.   This is one thing I think Birchbox does so much better than Ipsy--Birchbox almost always has short tutorial videos for their sampled products.  I'll look it up on youtube later, but it would certainly be easier if they had them in an easily-accessible form.  

 

This bag 

This bag is EVERYTHING.  For the second month in a row, Ipsy has sent a bag that I would have purchased on it's own.  It is a gorgeous coppery-gold color with a matching lining.  The back is smooth and the front has a raised pattern.   One thing that I could not photograph no matter how hard I tried (and I tried at least fifty times before giving up and using the stock photo)--It's not a rectangle, it's a trapezoid.   The top of the bag is an inch or so wider than the bottom, and it gives the bag a tiny bit more interest.   I absolutely adore it!

Le Parcel September 2015 TOM Box

I just subscribed to Le Parcel, and I hope to get the box in the next week.

Le Parcel is another TOM (time of the month) box that ships to you around the time of your monthly period.   It is similar to TomBoxes.com (formerly Swaag Box, which I reviewed here), with a few differences.  The most obvious one is that with this box, you can choose your own feminine hygiene products from a decent selection of brands and absorbencies.   With TomBoxes/Swaag Box, you get one unopened pack of your choice.  With Le Parcel, you get 25 items of your choosing (TB sends the smaller packs of 14-16 items, so Le Parcel gives you almost twice as many hygiene items).  Now, this means that the Le Parcel items have been removed from their outer packaging, which I know some people are uncomfortable with.  Since they still come individually wrapped, I'm ok with it, and I love that I can mix and match.  I use both pads and tampons, so having to choose one means I have to remember to update my subscription settings on a regular basis or risk having to make a store run anyway.

Le Parcel does charge shipping, which is a bummer.   Still though it's not a bad pricepoint--$15 +$5 shipping (Half price on your first box with my referral link!)    The hygiene items alone would cost $5-$8 depending on which you bought and where.

They also have different referral programs (this is a good time to mention that this blog contains referral links, which give me points or other rewards for referring people to the service.  I do not get paid for favorable reviews, all opinions expressed are my own, no children were harmed in the writing of this blog).  TomBoxes.com offers you one free box for every three referrals, and you don't have to do anything--the box is shipped to you automatically.

Another difference may have been a coincidence, but Le Parcel promises high-end chocolate in each box.  I didn't receive candy or food of any kind in my TomBoxes box.


UPDATE:   This has been the most annoying box I've ordered to date.   I originally bought the box on September  7 and was charged for it on September 10.   The same day, my account updated saying my package shipped on September 10 and would arrive by September 15.   I never received a tracking number.  September 15, I emailed because the package had not arrived.   Without any response to my email, my account updated on September 23 providing a tracking link.  The link didn't work, but if you copied and pasted the tracking number from the link into USPS.com, then it said the label was printed but not scanned again.  Five emails later, once I had finally given up, I was given a refund and a short 'there was some problems at the warehouse, sorry' email.  (That was September 30).   I love the idea of this box, but in practice I don't need the frustration. 


Update #2:   Today, October 2, my package arrived (I wasn't even expecting it at this point).   Here were the contents:

25 pads and tampons of my choosing, including brand.   ($7)

This is actually what drew me to this box to begin with--I love that I can choose which items I receive.   They carry name brand products (Always, Tampax, Kotex, Playtex)  and you can customize however you wish.  I chose a selection of absorbencies and products and estimated the value based on the per item prices on Amazon.  

Chocolates--3 Lindor Lindt truffles  ($1.50)

I enjoy Lindt truffles, though I have to admit I was a little disappointed.   My husband picks these up at the local drugstore fairly regularly, and I was hoping to receive something a little more 'exotic'.   Still though, they're good quality chocolates and just enough of a treat.  

Feral Watch--The Midas Rosegold ($80 ??)

I was really surprised to find this watch on amazon, and even more surprised to see the price.   Maybe I was expecting a lower price point because I knew how little I had paid for the box.   It's a nice watch, but doesn't fit my fat wrist :(   It will be a nice gift for someone.

The total estimated value of my box was $88.50, but that includes an $80 estimate for the watch.    I paid $12.50 for the box (1/2 price for my first box +$5 shipping) and future boxes would be $20.   I canceled the subscription--since I don't wear a lot of jewelry, this one just isn't worth the hassle for me.