{Julep Maven} Right At Home, November 2013

Posted on November 4, 2013 by NinjaInTheCity

Right At Home ~ November Modern Beauty Box with add-ons

I admit, I get pretty darn excited when I see an email from Julep in my inbox. The email is always the same, it explains the current theme and informs me that the maven selection window is now open. I love the fact that you can see what all of the boxes contain. That way you can either skip the month or pick a different style profile box. Each box contains 2 polishes along with one full-sized beauty item, every box that is except for the modern beauty box which contains two (yes I said two) full-sized beauty products. Julep does have a polish only option where you will receive three pretty polishes each month.

The theme for November is “Right at home” a time to cozy up. The colors for this month capture the notes of fall perfectly. The sneak peek email got me really excited, I am a gloss kind of girl and Julep announced that they were coming out with a new gloss. A gloss that would be included in the November Maven box.

So What did I get in my November Modern Beauty Maven Box? That’s a great question! I am so glad you asked!

November Modern Beauty – Right At Home

Blank Canvas Plumping Lip Primer
A multi-tasking marvel that plumps, moisturizes, and preps lips for flawless color application. The tingle tells you it’s working. The ongoing hydration and smoothing tell you it’s still working. Color: Pale Pink.
What did I think? I gave this product a try on Friday night and it did exactly what they claimed.
My lips tingled, they appeared a little fuller, and they stayed hydrated all
night.

Julep Lip Gloss – In Timeless
Unstoppable shine, luscious hydration. Color: Sheer Nude
What did I think? I am a gloss girl and I have tried hundreds of glosses in my day. Julep did a
great job developing the gloss. The gloss is a little on the thick side, yet
shiny, and it covered nicely. The color stood up and kept my lips hydrated for
hours.

**Bonus Item: A packet of Luxe Repair Skin Serum
A rejuvenating serum delivers deep hydration and essential nutrients to help rebuild skin structure from the inside out—for a noticeable difference in the way your skin looks and feels. Designed for all skin types, Luxe Repair can be used as a daily treatment or moisturizer for face, hands, or body.
What did I think? I admit, I was so excited about the gloss that I forgot the packet was in the box.
I haven’t tried it yet, when do I will let you know my thoughts.

I fell in love with a few of the polish colors, but I really wanted the gloss and lip primer so I kept with my style profile and chose a few add-ons. With every purchase you make on julep.com you earn Jules which are points you can use towards your purchases. I used my Jules again this month and got one of my add-ons for free. I decided to add-on Brielle which is a deep autumn orange crème and Aisha a wildberry purple crème. I cracked open Brielle on Friday night and I have yet to decide if I am a fan of the color. It looked pretty on the website, however in person it seems more like a rust than an autumn orange. The quality and pigment of the polish is great, it goes on easy and covers like a dream.

Once again Julep has put together a beautiful box with great products and I cannot wait to see what the next box will hold.

Julep Maven is a $19.99/month monthly nail polish & Beauty box subscription service. Each box features over $40.00 worth of never before released polishes, cutting edge treatments, and a bonus sample sized product. PLUS when you are a Maven you get free shipping and 20% off of all of the products at http://www.julep.com.

Becoming a Maven is easy and each box is put together like a beautiful present. I love being a Julep Maven and I want you to get in on the fun too! Use code “FREEBOX” to get your first box for only $3.99 (Shipping charges).

** Opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this post**

{Love With Food} Scary Delicious October

Posted on October 20, 2013 by NinjaInTheCity

Late one night I was cruising the internet and reading box reviews. There are ladies who dedicate their entire blog to subscription boxes. I can only imagine that their mail boxes are bursting with fun. Their blogs have become a good resource and provide insight on which subscription programs are awesome and what I call “try worthy.” One particular blogger caught my eye with her Love With Food Box review. The products looked fun and interesting. I love trying new foods and ingredients, plus how could I say no to a practically free box. I used a promo code that allowed me to get my first box for only $2. So at 2am I signed myself up and waited for my box to arrive.

Love With Food is a discovery box that is chalked full of new organic, all-natural snacks for $12.00 per month.
The best part about Love With Food is that for every box sold they will donate a meal to several food banks such as the Feeding America Network and Share Our Strength – No Kid Hungry. Join us to help end childhood hunger one meal at a time! It is a total win win, you get tasty snacks for your belly and you get to help put food in a hungry child’s belly. That is what sold me on Love With Food, I knew I needed to sign up and get the box so I to could help feed a hungry child.

So what was in my Scary Delicious Love With Food Box? Why, that is an awesome question! Let’s find out!

Scary Delicious October

*Chocolate Pizzelle Chips from Silk City Snacks
***Light crispy Italian waffle cookies in a 100 calorie pack

*Glee Gum – Triple Berry from Verve Inc.

*New World Caveman Cookies by Caveman Bakery
*** Made with a mix of pumpkin seeds and maple syrup

*Organic Hard Candies from Torie and Howard

*Pixo Pearls from Vinaigerie Gingras

*Happy Squeeze from Happy Family
*** Blueberry, apple, and purple carrot flavor, this has Sophia’s name written all over it.

*Toasted Coconut Chips from Dang

*Kind bar from Kind snacks

All in all this was a great box and I am glad that I signed up. A lot of the brands are new to me and I am excited to try the products. If you know me well you know that I am very big on healthy organic and natural food products, and that I am always in the market for a new favorite. This box is going to be like Christmas on my doorstep every month, I cannot wait for November’s box!

I know you want a Love With Food Box of your very own. Helping feed America’s hungry children is a big job an together we have the power to end it. Every month you will get a box that includes 8 or more healthful snacks for as little as $10.00 per month. Each box or product bought on lovewithfood.com = one meal donated to a hungry child. To get your own box or to learn more please visit http://www.lovewithfood.com for more information.

{I was not compensated for this post. Opinions are my own}

{Birch Box} – Beauty Buzz October

Posted on October 20, 2013 by NinjaInTheCity

Well done Birch Box, you finally hit the nail on the head this month. Normally the box will contain one or two products that are what I consider “try worthy.” This month is a different story, I want to try every product in the box, well except maybe the chap stick and curl keeper. I am a Bert’s Bees kind of girl who does not tolerate other chap sticks well and I am pretty darn dedicated to my current for curly hair care products.

So what was inside my beauty buzz box? That’s a great question. Let’s find out!

October’s Beauty Buzz Box

*Avene – Cleanance Gel Soapless Cleanser – Full size $20.00
*** The pH-balanced wash whisks away impurities with calming French spring water

{What I thought of the product} – I have used the cleanser a few times this week and sadly I am not a fan. The cleanser made my face feel very dry and stiff after use. I give this product a thumbs down and will stick with my drug store brand cleanser.

*Curly Hair Solutions – Curl Keeper – Full size $10.00
*** A water-based, weightless serum that keeps curls shiny, defined, and frizz fee
I have very curly hair and I am very skeptical of products that promise to keep my curls frizz free. I have yet to try the sample and I don’t think I will. If you have curly hair like me, then you most likely have a brand that you stick to and worship, straying from that brand is frowned upon in at least 28 countries.

*DDF – Wrinkle Resist Plus Pore Minimizer Moisturizing Serum – Full size $85.00
*** This high-tech serum minimizes pores and softens fine lines with advanced amino peptides
{What I thought of the product} – First off, Birch Box why do you keep on sending my anti-aging products? Its getting a little old, I am only 30 years old and wrinkles are non-existent at the moment. Anyways I did try the serum and was very impressed by it. The serum is very light, goes on easy, is not heavy or greasy, and left my skin soft. I could see myself using this product on a regular basis, well that is if it weren’t for the $85.00 price tag. I am a girl on a budget and this product is definitely out of my price point.

*theBalm Cosmetics – Stainiac in Beauty Queen – Full size $17.00
*** A stain that gives cheeks and lip a sheer rosy tint.
{What I thought of the product} – I am not a blush kind of girl so I would never use this product on my cheeks. However my lips are a different story. The stain worked just like they claimed, it gave my lips a rosy hue and lasted for most of the day, even with multiple chap stick application. Again I am a girl on a budget so I can’t justify $17.00 for one lip product.

**Birch Box Find**
Chap Stick Hydration Lock in Vanilla Creme

All in all I was pretty happy with my Birch Box this month and I am actually looking forward to next months box.

Birch Box is a beauty and lifestyle subscription box program that costs $10.00 per month. For every box ordered or every $10 spent in their shop you can earn 10 points. 100 points will get you a free birch box or $10 towards a purchase in the shop at birchbox.com. I know you’ve got friends so why not refer those friends to Birch box and earn a few points for doing so. If you would like to learn more and get a Birch Box of your very own go to http://www.birchbox.com for more information.

***I was not compensated for this post. Opinions are my own***

{Julep} October Maven – The Rebel Set

Posted on October 13, 2013 by NinjaInTheCity

It’s always a great day when I come home to find a black box sitting in front of my door. For some reason Julep.com did not send a shipping notification email this month, so I had no idea when it was supposed to arrive or if my box had shipped.

The sneak peek email was all about Kajal Eye Glider & Sharpener, which I am not an eyeliner type of girl so I wasn’t to thrilled about October’s box. That is until I learned that the Modern Beauty box would contain a deep cleaning peel-off face mask. Now that is something I can get excited for. I love trying new cleansers and masks. Plus October had a really great theme “The Rebel Set,” the polish colors were edgy and dark. I like to think I am a bit of a rebel and couldn’t waited for the box to arrive.

This month I decided to select a few add-ons and to use some of my Jules which are points you earn from making purchases on julep.com. As I reviewed the add-on selections one particular polish caught my eye “Casper” claimed to be a glow in the dark polish. I am a sucker for all things glow in the dark so I had to have it. Plus by using my Jules it was absolutely free. One can’t turn down a glow in the dark polish when its free. In addition to Casper I added on “Stevie” which is a very pretty concrete gray frost. I am not one to choose a dark shade, but I love the hue of Stevie, its dark yet warm.

October Maven Box – The Rebel set

***Kajal Eye Glider & Sharpener:
Is a two ended pencil with two different shades, Ideal for inner rims, tightlining, and smoky eyes. It was a very nice touch that the included a sharpener with the eyeliner. I am not an eyeliner type of girl so I will be passing this one-off to a friend.

***Mask Noir:
Is a gentle peel-off mask of kaolin clay and black volcanic ash that is enriched with Julep’s proprietary Power Cell Complex™, a trio of skin-boosting superstars. I used the mask the day I got it and absolutely hands down loved the way it made my skin feel. The mask is black, as in as black as night black. Which was a little odd at fist. It took about 15 minutes for the mask to dry and it peeled off like a dream. Unlike some masks that stick to your face, this one just came right off. My skin was clean and visibly brighter after the first use. I will definitely be stocking up on the mask and recommending it to my girlfriends.

Bonus Item: Candy Corn.
I hands down love candy corn and it fit very nicely as Halloween is just around the corner.

Once again Julep has put together a beautiful box with great products and I cannot wait to see what the next box will hold.

** Opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this post**

{Birch Box} September’s Box

Posted on September 15, 2013 by NinjaInTheCity

My first Birch box was a bust. However when researching reviews other subscribers said it was one of the best boxes ever. I beg to differ, then again their boxes contained a different assortment of products than I received. Like I said before I believe in giving everyone and everything a fair chance.

Earlier this month I received an email telling me that Birch Box was turning three and the theme was Heritage. They said that the box was going to celebrate the subscribers. To me celebration and heritage are two separate things, their theme was lost on me. My box arrived on September 10th and I was excited yet skeptical to see what the pink box contained.

So what did I get in my September Birch Box? That’s a good question! Lets find out.

September Birch Box: Heritage

Beauty Protector Shampoo: this sulfate free formula adds volume and shine.

Beauty Protector Conditioner: is formulated with natural ingredients like shea butter and apple, lemon, and orange extracts. Together, they hydrate and nourish hair with vitamins and minerals.

Juice Beauty Green Apple Sensitive Peel: a gentle peel with fruit derived acids to dissolve dead skin.

Ruffian Nail Lacquer: in Fox Hunt, a vibrant orange hue.

Soak: a rinse-free formula that takes care of your delicates, safe enough to use on baby’s clothes too.

What did I try? What didn’t I try? Was the box a bust?

I am glad you asked! I was excited to see the Juice Beauty Green Apple peel, I have heard about it from girlfriends who love it. At $39.00 I didn’t want to invest in a full sized product that I might not love. Getting the sample size in my box was awesome. I used it on Friday night and hands down love it. My skin was smooth and bright after use. I will most likely invest in the full sized product.

My toes badly needed a new coat of polish and the vibrant orange tone of Fox Hunt was right up my color ally. The polish covers well and dries quickly. I like polishes that dry quickly, as I am a dog mom on the go and I do no have time to wait for polish to dry.

I have very curly hair. I am partial to my hair care brand, so I will not be trying the Beauty Protector shampoo an conditioner. The only good thing about it is, that the samples are under the 4oz rule so I can use them as travel sized items for my carry on. When that happens I will follow up and let you know my thoughts on Beauty Protector.

Soak’s rinse free formula sort of freaks me out. I am a germ phob at heart and not rinsing something out makes my skin crawl. They say its gentle, its just I need to rinse stuff out in order to quiet my phobia.

All in all Septembers box wasn’t a bust. I love the color of the nail lacquer I received and the Juice Beauty Green Apple peel. Two products out of five isn’t bad.

Birch Box is a $10 a month deluxe beauty sample subscription program. You earn 10 points for every $10 spent. When you’ve spent $100, you earn $10 to use in their shop or you can put that $10 towards your monthly box to make it free. To find out more go to http://www.birchbox.com.

{Reviews and Opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review}

{Birch Box} August’s Box

Posted on September 1, 2013 by NinjaInTheCity

I seem to be on a box kick this summer. A few of my girlfriends were getting the monthly Birch Box and they would tell me how much they loved it. The concept of the Birch Box is one gets a box full of deluxe beauty and skin care product samples once a month. The kicker is you have no idea what is inside said box, they claim that the surprise is part of the fun.

I like fun and decided to sign up for a Birch Box subscription of my very own. Bummer, I actually had to sign up for an invite. I waited about three weeks for an email that said I had a Birch Box subscription waiting for me. Once I accepted my subscription invite I had to fill out a profile. They ask questions about your lifestyle, skincare, hair, and makeup routine. They say this helps them customize a box just for you. It took me all of ten minutes to complete the survey, I paid my $10.00, and then waited for my first box to arrive.

Much like Julep, Birch Box has a monthly theme. The August Birch Box theme was “Finishing School.”

The August Birch Box included deluxe samples of:

*Avene – Thermal Spring water, a refreshing mist that nourishes all skin types
*Dr. Jart+ – premium BB Cream that evens out skin tone and as anti aging benefits
*Jasmine Seven – Fresh feet wipes
*Secret Agent Beauty – Secret Lip Affair lip gloss
*Glee Gum – Sugar free chewing gum

I hate to say it, but I was not impressed with my first box. However I do believe in giving everything a fair chance, so I have decided to give it a go for a few more months. If I don’t love Birch Box by January I will be canceling my subscription. Yet, I remain hopelessly optimistic that I too will fall in love with Birch Box.

***Opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this post.***

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She had to break, so I could shine

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