Ruhi's Tumblelog

Graze Box # 1 - May 2013

Thu, 23 May 2013 17:28:16 -0500

I was able to get a free code to sign up for Graze Box through my coworker, who loves his! :D I am so happy! For now, Graze Box is invite only. It costs only $5/box and you get to choose how many times you want to receive one (once per week, once every two weeks, once a month). You can even choose to skip weeks or months! You get to rate the snacks into “Try”, “Like”, “Love”, “Trash” and based on your ratings, your snacks are selected. They even have a healthier version (Light box) that you can choose. I went with the Nibble box for now since it has more variations and I wanted to see just unhealthy these snacks are before switching over to the Light box.

Here’s what my first box looks like -

My box contents:

My Thai - LOVE! The sauce is a little too sweet though and the quantity doesn’t seem sufficient. Healthiest snack in this box.
Black Pepper Pistachios - Love my dry fruits!
Fruit & Seed Flapjack - Thought these would be crunchy, but no. These are the softer type of granola bars.
Super Berry Detox - These will probably be sweet…I might trash these so that I never receive them again!

I love that they’ve included nutritional info!

These are such cute fliers - The idea is to tear a small flier and gift it to someone along with a mini snack box. Hah, as if that’s gonna happen.

This box was free for me. If I stick around, my fifth box will also be free! So, it’s working out to be $3/box for the first five boxes :D

I might actually switch the address to my office address. I can eat one snack box every work day!

Eco-Emi - May 2013

Thu, 23 May 2013 17:16:48 -0500

I’m so glad to have received the EcoEmi within 2 days of the box being shipped - Yes, you read it right. The box shipped on a Saturday and I received it next Monday. A lot folks have had shipping issues (not receiving boxes, being charged twice without receiving a single box etc), but I haven’t had any such issues.

This month’s box is probably my personal favorite -

The Seaweed Bath Company Bath Powder - I am not a big bath fan (more of a shower person), but my husband will probably like these. I do love anything Lavender though.

Athena Gree Yoghurt Bar - This was delicious.

All Terrain Aqua Sport SPF 30 - It’s summer time. It’s the season of sunscreen. Every box is sending one! I am experimenting with a couple currently (Suntegrity, MyChelle, Josie Maran) and this will get gladly added to my sample pile.

All Terrain Insect Repellant - How cool! I usually just dab some lavender essential oil. I will give this a try next time we’re out in a park or something.

Suncoat Natural Mascara (full size!) - I gave this a try. Sadly, I didn’t like it a whole lot. It didn’t hold up my curls, felt too sticky and smudged onto my upper eye lids :( It gives you a very natural look. I’ll use it some more though before calling this one a fail.

Suncoat Nail polish (full size) - It’s supposed to be water based without any of the toxic fumes found in other brands. It’s because of the toxic fumes that I actually hardly ever put nail polish. I’m excited to give this a try.

Mongo Kiss Lip Balm by Eco Lips (full size) - I don’t really need another lip balm, but I’ll definitely use it some day! It’s a huge, jumbo size.

Lauren Brooks Eyeshadow (full size) in Pink shimmer - I am loving this shade, even though I’m yet to try it. Between all the eyeshadow samples that I receive in my Goodebox and Eco-Emi, I don’t think I ever need to buy another one!

Beauty Without Cruelty Rosemary Mint Tea Tree Hair Conditioner (2 oz) - I have always wanted to try this brand, but I just wish I’d received the body lotion or the shampoo!!! I don’t use a lot of conditioner since I have thin hair. So it takes me a while to get through my bottles.

Overall - I loved this box so much! I haven’t ordered a May box, since I’m still deciding between Eco-Emi, Petit Vour and Vitacost Be “Beauty” box…I am only allowed to order one of these. Decisions, decisions!

BarkBox - May 2013

Thu, 23 May 2013 16:58:52 -0500

This is going to be my last BarkBox, unless I find another fab.com deal. I had subscribed to a 3 month deal for small dogs at $49 through fab.com. I’ve (rather, Sasha), have really liked all their boxes so far. We had a slight issue with one of the toys that was sent in the last box, but the BarkBox team reached out to me and sent a lot of replacement toys and treats for Sasha as compensation. I almost feel bad for leaving them, but I would like to try something new for now. Luckily, I found a deal for Pawalla mini at Living social. For the next two months, Sasha will be receiving the Pawalla mini box in the mail!

This box has been declared a huge hit by none other than my beloved boy, Sasha! He enjoyed the Barkworthies chews for several hours and loves his Orbee-Tuff as long as I stuff it with some treats. He hasn’t received alot of the Grill-icious Beef Treats and the Green Smoothie treats yet, but he liked the small samplings so far.

Overall, I’m sad to bid BarkBox a goodbye for now - maybe we’ll give them another try if we come across a good deal.

Precious 💜 we found the bird struggling on some hot asphalt....

Thu, 23 May 2013 14:36:53 -0500

Precious 💜 we found the bird struggling on some hot asphalt. Poor thing probably fell of its nest. #birds #nature #kindness #beauty #innstamood #instapic #potd #followme #followback #iphone #iphoneonly

Ipsy - May 2013

Tue, 21 May 2013 22:46:00 -0500

Because of the subscription box addicts at MUT, I ended up resubscribing to Ipsy. Not just that, after seeing all the spoilers, I found myself subscribing to a second bag…only to learn a couple of days later that all new subscribers will be receiving a generic “crowd pleaser” bag. Technically, with both my accounts new, I now find myself stuck with two bags that are *almost identical.

Thankfully, I’ve traded a couple of these items already.

Discounts available through Ipsy for the month of May

Products received across TWO Ipsy May 2013 Bags

So, here’s what I received:

Bags # 1 & 2

Zoya Nail Polish in GeiGei 0.5 fl oz (full size) X 2 - I hardly ever use nail polishes…
Anastasia Clear Brow Gel (mini) X 2- I have never used a brow gel. I don’t see any reason to start using one anytime soon.
Mirabella Colour Sheer Lipstick in Posy (full size) X 2 - This is a pretty sheer red shade. Too bad I don’t wear such deep colors. I have a habit of coating my lips 2-3 times and by then, this lipstick will no longer remain sheer.
Yaby concealer in Honey X 2- Mehh. The shade doesn’t suit my skin tone.
Pacifica Roller ball in Island Vanilla - Yay!! I was really hoping to receive a roller ball perfume since I’ve been on such a Pacifica kick recently.
Pacifica Roller ball in Tahitian Gardenia - A lot of folks find this to be too strong and floral. I love it though :D Thankfully, the fragrances I received were different.

I spent a total of $20 and the only items that I am going to use are the Roller balls that cost $12 each. So, my personal ROI = 24/20 = 1.20. Very low. I ended up unsubscribing again even though this is supposed to be the best bag they’ve sent out in the longest time!

Tatcha - The Ritual for Normal/Combination Skin

Tue, 21 May 2013 22:33:05 -0500

Like many others, I was introduced to the world of Tatcha skincare through their Japanese Blotting Papers, aka. Aburatorigami. As most of you know, these are no ordinary blotting papers. These are made of 100% pure Abaca leaves and fine gold flakes that miraculously don’t transfer on to your face skin, don’t disturb your makeup, don’t dry up your skin like many other cheaper alternatives in the market. In fact, until the day I started using these, I didn’t even know I needed them! That to me, signifies sheer genius. How did I go through all these years with these and now that I’ve discovered them, I use them at least once every day?!

Soon enough, I found myself investing in full sizes of their main skincare line, called “The Ritual” set. Let me pause here to explain my skin. I have normal to dry skin, that’s acne prone. My T-Zone is normal, whereas my chin is oily. My cheeks and chin are acne prone. Simple enough? I bought the Ritual Set for Normal + Combination skin since it seemed to most closely match my skin type…just in time before they were declared sold out on the website. It seems like they’re still sold out. These products are made in Japan and take a while to be stocked up with. If I were the CEO, I would solve these inventory issues first and foremost.

The set contains the following -

- PURE Camellia One Step Cleansing Oil - 150ml | 5.1oz
- POLISHED Classic Rice Enzyme Powder - 60g | 2.1oz
- RADIANT Deep Brightening Serum - 30ml | 1oz
- SUPPLE Moisture Rich Silk Cream - 50ml | 1.7oz
- PETAL FRESH Original and Evening Beauty Papers - 1 pack each

In addition, I also bought Nonie Creme’s Favorites set.

This set contains the following -

- LUMINOUS Deep Hydration Lifting Mask (4 mask set)

- LUMINOUS Dewy Skin Mist (40mL / 1.35 fl oz)

- PETAL FRESH Original Original Aburatorigami - Japanese Blotting Papers (1 Pack | 30 Sheets)

I’ll only be reviewing The Ritual Set in this post.

PURE Camellia One Step Cleansing Oil - 150ml | 5.1oz: This cleansing oil can be effortlessly used to clean my face and ALL waterproof makeup at the end of the day. All I have to do is start with dry hands and a dry face, take about 6-7 drops of oil and massage it gently on my face. Once I’m done massaging, I run the tiniest amount of water on my face, which emulsifies the oil into a milky white paste. After this, you can just wash off the oil like any other face wash! Now, you’ll wonder, what’s different? Why should I pay top dollar for this oil when I can use jojoba, coconut or any other oil in the market that’s readily available and costs a fraction? I’ve used Grapeseed oil, coconut oil and jojoba oil in the past to clean my face and it was not convenient. I had to first massage the oil, then take a damp cloth or at least 2-3 pieces of dampened cotton wool to wipe off the oil. I cannot just splash water on my face and remove these other oils. For someone who is usually very tired (and lazy) at the end of the day, Tatcha’s Camellia Oil is really a one step cleanser. The fact that is removes the most stubborn eye makeup is a plus. I only use this oil at night time when I have some makeup on. I could possibly use this in the morning as a light cleanser, but I don’t think I need oil in the morning.

POLISHED Classic Rice Enzyme Powder - 60g | 2.1oz: The Polished Rice Enzyme Powder comes in three variations - Gentle (very fine rice particles), Classic (moderately fine rice particles) and Deep (Coarser rice particles) - and are designed to be used daily after the Cleansing Oil. My set came with the Classic type of powder. I primarily use this every night since my skin needs a deeper cleaning at night time. I have also tried samples of Deep and Gentle. I really like Deep for a one-off deep cleanser. Gentle is gentle enough to be used twice a day, both AM and PM. In fact, it would be great for me to invest in a separate full sized bottle of Gentle for my morning skincare ritual since I feel the Classic type of a little too much for my morning routine. Right now, I used a different cream based cleanser for AM and the cleansing oil and Classic Rice Powder at night.

To use the Rice Powder, you need to pour a small amount into your wet palm and gently rub both your hands together to make a foamy paste. To see this transformation from powder to foam is magical (almost like molecular gastronomy in food kitchens!). I rub the foam onto my wet face for 20 - 30 seconds and then wash off with lukewarm water. I am not hallucinating when I say that I skin simply glows after I use this powder. Nothing else that I’ve used so far even comes close to the way this rice powder makes my skin feel. You could leave the powder on for a longer time to use it as a face mask. The rice powder is much reasonably priced compared to the rest of the products and is a wonderful buy for all.

RADIANT Deep Brightening Serum - 30ml | 1oz: I really like the thin and light consistency of this serum. It’s neither sticky nor does it make your face feel unnecessarily tight. Having said that, I haven’t used this serum long enough to really tell a difference. I guess I need to get through at least more than half the bottle before I can expect to see any results. I am always scared that the serums will be too heavy or sticky or drying. Well good news - at least my skin feels very luxurious when I put this on. All it takes me is 1 pump per application.

SUPPLE Moisture Rich Silk Cream - 50ml | 1.7oz: This product provides just the right level of moisture for my skin. The jar itself comes with a very pretty gold colored spatula. All you’re supposed to use is 1 spatula per application. Anything less is too less, and anything more is too much, believe me. I usually like to use this at night time after using the cleanser, rice powder and the serum. The best thing about this cream is it hasn’t made me break out, which is quite an achievement! I would like to use this in the morning as well, but it has no sunscreen. Since I walk my dog in the Texas heat every morning, I don’t feel comfortable without SPF (even though I hate wearing SPF). If Tatcha were to come out with an SPF version for day time use, it would be awesome!

OVERALL - If you are hesitant to buy the complete Ritual set, I suggest that you definitely buy the Rice Enzyme Powder because there is nothing like it in the entire US market! I am still debating if the serum and moisturizer are worth the moolah, but haven’t reached any conclusion yet. I’ll write a separate post after a couple of months, once I’ve made some more headway into using these wonderful, luxurious products.

Green Grab Bag - May 2013

Sun, 19 May 2013 21:13:21 -0500

This is my second month with Green Grab Bag. Overall, it was a good month, even though I feel like the previous month was much better. One of the main reasons why I feel this way is because the big ticket item in the box “Hydra Soap Chill Pill” doesn’t really appeal to me.

Contents of the box

Info Card

Blum Naturals Daily Cleansing and Makeup remover toilettes for Combination & Oil Skin (10 pcs) - I really like these. These have a very strong smell of tea tree oil which I personally love, but if you’re sensitive to smell, you might not like these. The towels left my skin very clean. Haven’t tried these with makeup yet though.

Alaska Glacial Mud Co. “The Glacial Facial” in Lavender - Peppermint and Vanilla - Lavender (each 0.24 oz/7 gm) - I have been on a face mask kick recently. I can’t have enough of face masks ever. The sample size is big enough for 2 facials.

Alikay Naturals Lemongrass Leave in Conditioner (1 oz) - This smells amazing! Yet to try it though.

Hydro Soap Chill Pill (2 pcs) - This is the big ticket item. Unfortunately, I am not a bath person at all. Per the instructions, you just need to throw one piece in and “watch the fun” when the water is running.

Metropolis Soap Co. Lavender and Tangerine Vegan Artisan soap (0.7 oz) - This smells amazing. I love handmade soaps of all kinds! The sample size is very small though.

Sisters of the Black Moon Essential Oils blend in Moonshine and Ether - This is hands down my favorite pick from this month’s box. I have been using these as my perfume (small dabs behind my ears and my wrist). These are strong, very unique fragrances. I used Moonshine a couple of times as a sleep aid as well and it worked very well - I had the deepest sleep in a LONG time. I was struggling to wake up.

OVERALL - Even though not the best, I really liked a couple of items (face towels, face masks & essential oil blend). Three out of six items is not at all bad, especially since I’ll still be using every single thing!

Birchbox Account # 2 - May 2013

Sun, 19 May 2013 20:38:03 -0500

I signed up for a second Birchbox this month because I feel like this subscription service provides GREAT value every month (most of the months anyway). The Birchbox points system is amazing and after taking into account the points you earn, the box per month costs $5 or less. For $5, the samples I receive are great! Many times, you also get full sized products, even though this is not the norm. What is great about Birchbox for is the fact that unlike Ipsy, they almost always choose higher end samples, which I appreciate. I would rather have 5 small samples of higher quality, well known brands versus 5 full or deluxe size samples from brands I will not use. This the main reason I keep unsubscribing from Ipsy because I’ve hardly used up any of their samples (I did end up subscribing for TWO Ipsy bags this month because of the spoilers at MUT, but I’ve unsubscribed again…oh well).

Moving on to the actual box - This is the first box for my second account.

Info Card - Birchbox

Cargo Lip Gloss (full size) in Route 66 - I’m sure I’ll like it, but I already have one and don’t need anymore lip glosses…

Another Acroball pen in Purple Ink - It’s okay. Nothing great.

LA Fresh Eco-Beauty Oil-Free Facial Cleanser (2 wipes) - I really didn’t want this since I ordered quite a bit when LA Fresh was on HauteLook. Well at least I’ll use these…

Beauty Protector (1 oz?) - Already swapped one from a previous box. This will be swapped as well.

COTZ Face Natural SPF 40 Sunscreen (3 gm) - AARRRGGHH. This made me break out like crazy the last time I used it. It’s a good sunscreen that goes on very smooth, really helped me not get tanned, but if you have acne prone skin, you’ll need to be careful. It does go on with a tint and is supposed to match every skin tone. It matched mine perfectly even though initially I thought it would be too light. Too bad it broke me out!

I’m selling a bunch of my NARS blushes since I’m...

Wed, 15 May 2013 23:39:40 -0500

I’m selling a bunch of my NARS blushes since I’m moving to more Eco friendly and cruelty free brands. Will sell Casino/Sin duo for $32 shipped. Used a total of 3 times. Email me at ruhi223@gmail.com if interested. I’ll be listing more blushes shortly. #makeupsale #blushsale #makeup #beauty #nars #narscosmetics #instabeauty #followme #followback #makeupswap #makeupjunkie #beautyjunkie

Chasing squirrels #sasha #dogs #pets #daschund #chihuahua...

Wed, 15 May 2013 18:44:07 -0500

Chasing squirrels #sasha #dogs #pets #daschund #chihuahua #instadog #dogsofinstagram #iphone #iphoneonly #followme #followback

May Birchbox arrived! Very pleased with all my items. I always...

Tue, 14 May 2013 22:16:36 -0500

May Birchbox arrived! Very pleased with all my items. I always open near my mailbox! The first thing I do is jump around excitedly. The sample I am most excited about is Sumita eyeliner. I love the texture of the eyeliner. @birchbox #beautydiaries #birchbox #subscriptionbox #makeup #beauty #amika #sumita #pilot #marvis #coola #igers #igersdaily #iphone #iphoneonly #instapic #instamood #instabeauty

Daily Dose of Green - May 2013

Mon, 13 May 2013 20:29:00 -0500

Here are some pics from my Daily Dose of Green - May box. Overall, the box was very body and skin care heavy. Unfortunately, I didn’t find it very exciting. A lot of it has to do with the fact that I receive too many boxes. So unless a box has something extraordinary to provide, I will need to unsubscribe for the moment. I have sent customer care an email to unsubscribe me.

Contents of the box

Info card - Back

Info card - Front

7th Heaven Moroccan Clay Mask - This is the one of the few items in the box I was very excited to receive!

Pet Naturals Skin and Coat Dog Supplement (7 chews/trial size) - My puppy doesn’t like Vit. E/Fish Oil in his food, but gladly chewed on these treats. I’m also using the Pet Calming treats from this brand but they don’t seem to help at all.

Chia Bar - Received another one from Goodebox May box. These are yum.

Bee Organic Body Butter (two small samples) - Yet to open. These look like single use samples.

By Valenti Organics Dark Raw Chocolate soap bar ( 1 oz) - Smells like chocolate. I have to confess I took a very small bite of that raw chocolate.

B Natural Organics Aloe Leaf Body Lotion (1 oz) - Will come into use one day. Kinda weird to receive both body butters & body lotion in the same box.

Aletheia Green Tea + Papaya MicroExfoliant - One tiny sample.

Alatheia Grapefruit Face Wash for Normal to Dry Skin - I can see myself using this since it suits my skin type.

This is a paper doily will small seeds - Supposedly, they need to be planted out in the lawn or in a pot. I don’t know if these will render any wild flowers etc., but the concept is pretty cool. I’ll give it a try!

Goodies from @cautiouslyoptimistic 💌📦 Ah, my Sunday is made....

Sun, 12 May 2013 13:33:41 -0500

Goodies from @cautiouslyoptimistic 💌📦 Ah, my Sunday is made. This is better than any subscription box I’ve ever received. Random fact: my mom’s name is Karuna ❤ #makeupswap #makeup #beauty #makeuptalk #ilovemail #sunday #karuna #boscia #kong #happytails #stila #followme #followback #iphone #iphoneonly #igers #igersdaily

Goodebox Special Bonus Box - May 2013

Sun, 12 May 2013 12:12:28 -0500

I’m back with another Goodebox review! I am SO glad I was able to get my hands on my first ever “bonus” box of any kind. Goodebox was selling bonus boxes on their Facebook page a couple of weeks ago, as a way of getting rid of old samples. I was charged $19 for a box that promised to be full of 12-14 samples of all kinds and boy, did Goodebox deliver and how! I think I absolutely love every single item I received. They also included the Moom Hair Remover that I’d specially requested for during the order process.

The Jumbo box with all its contents - I think you’ll see slight variations of this box based on user profiles and wish list items.

Eve Organics Concealer Stick “Med Golden” - Perfect shade for my skin tone. I’m so impressed that Goodebox pays heed to the profile I filled out when I made my account. There’s nothing more annoying than receiving foundation/powder/concealer etc. that don’t match your skin tone. I hardly ever use concealers because I’m so lazy, but will give this one a try soon.

Eve Organics Vegan Lip Glaze “Flash Dance” - This smells kind of funny, like a weird, artificial bubble gum of some kind. The shade is very pretty, but I just can’t stand the smell.

Eve Organics Eyeshadow “Bling” - OMG So pretty! Amazing nude color for everyday look. The size of the sample is huge as well - I am guessing it’s at least half the full size, if actually not the full size. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to get through this jar in my entire lifetime.

Moom Organic & 100% Natural Hair Remover (1.6 oz) - $3.44 - SO stoked to have received a wish list item. I will be using this on my face shortly. I actually bought a full size from Marshall’s a couple of months ago, but returned it because I had another Indian wax that I was working on. Did I mention how amazing Indian hair removal waxes are?You need to head to your local Indian grocery store and buy one and they’re super cheap (about $3-5 for a huge tub).

Tilvee Acai & Pomegranate Rejuvinating Masque - Very interesting concept since it’s a powder mask that needs to be mixed with a fluid medium depending upon your skin type. I like powder masks because they don’t contain much of the nasties that are added to preserve liquid masks. However, I’m lazy and it takes a LOT out of me to make pastes etc. I’m determined to give this a try though. I could probably get 2-3 uses from the sample jar.

Bodhi Sugar ScrubBody Cleanser (4 oz) —- Yumm, smells amazing.

Pacifica Color Quench “Vanilla Hibiscus” (0.25 oz) - $9 - This is a jumbo lip balm tube, which means it’s twice the size of your regular lip balm. I am obsessed with all things Pacifica lately. I am sooo glad to have received this. It has a very light pink tint on my lips that’s hardly noticeable. Will last me ages, of course (probably till I die).

Benecos Natural Creamy Eyeshadow Pencil (0.05 oz) - $10.99. I’ve always wanted to try something from the brand Benecos. The eyeshadow is very creamy, even though the pencil will need sharpening as you go through the product. It’s a lovely lilac mauve shade!

Green People Shower/Bath Gel (1 oz) - $2.52 - I googled to learn more about this brand and it’s supposedly based on UK. While I don’t need more soaps or shower gels, I can add this to my already huge stash. Will come into use one day!

Green People Hand & Body Lotion (1 oz) - $4.36 - Always happy to receive more body lotions. Yay!

EO Everybody Body Lotion (1.5 oz) - $1.68 - This came in “lemon verbana” scent. I am not sure if I need two bottles of body lotions in the same box, but this is not a deal breaker since I’ll still use it!

Tatcha Aburatorigami Japanese Beauty Papers (30 sheets/full size) - $12 - Hahaha. I was laughing when I saw a Tatcha product because I just bought the entire Ritual Setup, the Dew Mist, the sheet masks from the Tatcha website a week ago. These blotting papers are the best! I didn’t even know I need these, until I started using them.

Zhena’s Gypsy Tea Acai Berry Caffeine - Free Red Tea (0.07 oz) - $0.45 - This will go in my husband’s tea stash! I don’t drink tea or coffee.

Suntegrity Face Tint - Dark SPF 30 - Full size 1.6 oz costs $45. I have been eyeing this sunscreen for a very long time. In fact, it’s on my makeup wish list at Makeuptalk.com. The skin tone is perfect as well. I will be using this the next time I step out in the sun! I used Face Cotz SPF 40 sample during my vacation and I hated it because it make my face break out so bad :(

Total value = much more than $44.44. I would guess somewhere in $60 range since there are 5 items I don’t know the sample size of and as such cannot estimate the value. I hope Goodebox puts out more bonus boxes soon =) I’ll be stalking their FB page fo sho.

Beautiful blue skies today in Old San Juan #sanjuan #puertorico...

Thu, 09 May 2013 14:34:18 -0500

Beautiful blue skies today in Old San Juan #sanjuan #puertorico #travel #oldsanjuan #instapic #instagood #instamood #instatravel #instaphotography #photography #igers #igersdaily #followme #followback

Goodebox - April 2013

Wed, 08 May 2013 22:23:00 -0500

Since Goodebox has changed its shipping cycle to the last week of every month, I received my April Goodebox in early May just when I was about to leave for my much anticipated Puerto Rico vacation. Luckily, I packed some products for my trip. I’m actually typing this review from my hotel room in Old San Juan, after a long day of sight seeing!

Contents of the box

Info card - Front

Info card - back

Full Size Lip Scrub from The Natural Lip Scrub (1 oz) - My lip scrub from LUSH dried up a long time ago and I was sadly scraping it even though I hate it every time I use it. It’s way too abrasive for my liking. So, I’m happy to receive a new lip scrub that I can replace the LUSH lip scrub with! This lip scrub tastes minty, is pretty gentle on your lips and still does the job.

Shea Terra Organics Moroccan Argan & African Wild Honey Hydrating Facial Cleansing Elixir (1 oz) - Wow that’s a LONG name. It will take me a while to remember it. I used it once as a cleanser and it did a decent job. I can see this being useful during my AM cleansing routine when I need a gentle cleanser. This product can be used as a mask as well - Just leave it on for 5-10 mins. I haven’t tried it as a mask yet, but will do so once I get back to Austin. Ever since I started using Tatcha skincare products, I’ve been pretty “meh” about all other skincare brands, but can you really blame me? There is no way a $20 cleanser is going to stand up to an exclusive Japanese skincare line that’s sold only at Barney’s and through the online website. Anyway, back to Shea Terra Organics - One of the reasons I really like Goodebox is because it’s introducing me to all these new companies I’d never even heard of! It’s okay if I don’t like the product too much, but that fact I’m learning about all these new, eco-friendly companies without having to do tons of research is great for me!

Pure Remedy Facial Serums (Vitamin C and Skin So Bright 0.125 fl oz each) - These are small samples. Each bottle will probably last you about 4-5 days if you use them twice a day. I have been using the Skin So Bright Brightening Serum during my vacation and I am not impressed. The serum has a jelly like consistency that makes my normal to dry acne prone skin even more dry. I haven’t noticed any brightening effects till yet, but the serum does make my skin feel more tight. The sample size is too small to tell if the serum is actually working or not. While I like the bottle and the small dropper that it comes with, after a couple of applications, it became a little difficult to get any serum out. Using up the rest of the contents is going to be a struggle because the dropper seems to be only catching air instead of the actual product. I’ll give the Vitamin C serum a go once I get back home.

The last two items are food items. Needless to say, the Chia Bar disappeared in absolutely no time. It tastes like figs which I love.

I’ve been using the Vitacare Whitening Gum on my vacation - I don’t know if it has any whitening effect or not. I am always amazed when companies make these silly claims. It works as a gum, sure.

OVERALL - For $16/mo, Goodebox tries very hard to deliver natural, eco-friendly beauty items to a large, diverse customer base. I know a lot of folks are unhappy because of the dearth of makeup items, but I’m not! I haven’t even made a dent in the eyeshadow and blush samples from Alima Pure that I received in last month’s Goodebox. Also, even though I have been crazy about makeup items in the past, I think I’m at the point where I’m kind of happy/overwhelmed with the number of makeup items I have. So, I’m perfectly okay with receiving more skincare items. At the end of the day, as long as I am going to use these products, I’m good with the service. I was one of the lucky ones who was able to order the bonus box they put out a week or two ago. I just received the shipping notice for it yesterday - I hope the box gets home before I do! :)

Ready to rock this town in his Pawz Boots and cooling jacket....

Tue, 07 May 2013 13:51:54 -0500

Ready to rock this town in his Pawz Boots and cooling jacket. Can’t begin to tell you the number of random strangers who stop by for a photo opportunity with Sasha. #sasha #pets #dogs #instapic #instadog #iphone #iphoneonly #photography #instatravel #instaphotography

It’s been raining all day here ☁☔ #oldsanjuan #puertorico...

Tue, 07 May 2013 12:42:59 -0500

It’s been raining all day here ☁☔ #oldsanjuan #puertorico #travel #iphone #iphoneonly #instapic #instagood #instamood #instabeauty #instatravel #instaphotography (at Plaza Colon)

Bacardi and beer, what else? #bacardi #beer #drinks #sanjuan...

Mon, 06 May 2013 19:19:53 -0500

Bacardi and beer, what else? #bacardi #beer #drinks #sanjuan #puertorico #travel #photography #iphone #iphoneonly #instapic #instagood #instamood #instabeauty #instaphotography (at Raices Restaurant)

#travel #ponce #puertorico #instapic #instagood #instamood...

Mon, 06 May 2013 16:30:24 -0500

#travel #ponce #puertorico #instapic #instagood #instamood #instatravel #beauty #carribean #history #spanish #chapel #cathedral (at cathedral of our lady of guadalupe)