Tag: fabfitfun unboxing

Summer 2022 fabfitfun Unboxing

.Reading time 10 minutes.

Hey hey, it’s MJ,

            Okay, so here’s the deal…it’s fine. I didn’t get an email about personalization this time so the thing I really wanted was already sold out. Which is annoying, but maybe it’s just my mental state at the moment that is impeding my joy of these boxes. I don’t know. 

            This one just didn’t provide the joy that I am used to with these boxes. I don’t know, maybe my tastes are changing as I get older, who knows. I also understand that trying to get things right now is super difficult because you know the world is going to heck in a hand basket. 

            So, what did I get this time around though? I am going to go through all of it as to what I got, the options are no longer in the magazine so I can’t tell you the things that I didn’t pick unless I go on the app. In truth I didn’t even really look into the magazine. These are also not going to be in any particular order because I’m just running through it, note my enthusiasm! Seriously, I am only marginally excited for this one, and that means that I am leaning toward apathy, sorry. 

Samara Should Bag in Peony:

            It’s cute, it’s vegan leather and it’s a nice color. I like the closure on it so that’s exciting. I know that I chose this one, that I remember. It’s a basic bag and the thing that hit me when I opened it was the smell, it didn’t smell great but it’s vegan leather and it was in a hot box for a while so I cannot fault them for that. I can’t say that in real life I would pay the price tag on this one after seeing it in person, I wouldn’t and that is 100% a personal choice. 

Z Gallerie Multi-Use Storage Duo:

            The look like candle holders, I can for sure make stickers for them on my Circuit now and use them in my bathroom or somewhere else. They are basic and cute so I will find a use for them somewhere in my place. I think I chose these two because it was the only option that looked like something that I would want or use. I know I shouldn’t be saying it like that because there is a lot of time and thought that goes into these items and no shade. No shade at all, fff is just getting predictable and a little…kitschy. 

New Balance Ab Wheel:

            This is the first like workout item that I have seen in a while and I think I chose this one as well, I was actually really excited to get this one and I will be giving it a try when I get home from dogsitting. I love trying out new workout gear and this one looked like something that I wouldn’t accidently injure myself using. That is a fear y’all, a fear that is very real. 

Lasting Smiles Soy Candle in Sea Salt and Citrus:

            I have been reading the ACOTAR series and that’s described as one of the scents and I actually a huge fan of this candle and they provide money to charities with their candles so here we are. The packaging and glass is really simple which is great and I can’t wait to be able to burn it, I still live in an apartment so it’s going to be a while before I can. It’s got a 50 hour burn time which is also great because sometimes candles burn down so quickly it’s pathetic. 

TF Publishing Co. Brain Teasers+ Activity Book Bundle:

            They will be fun for road trips. Honestly this feels super juvenile to me, I know that people of all ages use activity books, but this is like the cactus cup and that jewelry holder for me, it’s really an odd choice to put in this box. I don’t think I chose this one, I honestly can’t remember at this point what I chose for this box. It’s fun, I have done a few of the puzzles, it’s just an odd choice for this type of box for me. 

Alterna Caviar Anti-Aging Replenishing Moisturizing CC Cream: 

            It’s for your hair? I think? I am honestly not sure and the container is at home so I can’t go look at it right now. It says 10 in 1 for your hair on the app so that’s that I’m going with, when I see CC I think about makeup not hair so here we are. I mean I will for sure try it, I was just confused about it until about five minutes ago when I looked it up on the app. Well, that’s fun, here we are and me being an idiot, it should shock no one. 

Kayo Body Scrubber: 

            This was a random mystery item, I have seen fidgets like this, it’s interesting. I do not like how the back feels but I will give it a try in the shower, no matter how confused I am about it. I like how it feels with the little bristles though, that’s really nice. I will give it a try. I promise, this one just feels very random to put in the box.

            I feel some feelings about this box, most of them are neutral, some are favorable, and some are negative. I don’t want to share them right now though because I feel like I have been complaining about fff for almost a year and I still continue to get it. I might stop, I honestly at this moment have no idea. If the fall box spoilers blow me out of the water I’ll keep it, if not I think I am going to say goodbye to this box for a little while, maybe circle back to it in a year or so. I don’t know. I really don’t at the moment and I know that with supply chain issues, with inflation, and with everything else that’s going on this is expected. I just don’t feel like I am getting the bang for my buck that I used to get with this box.

            So, if you want to see what was in my spring box, you totally can because that post has been up since March. I will see everyone later in the week with another post, so until then I hope that everyone stays safe, happy, and healthy!

            -MJ

Spring 2022 fabfitfun Unboxing

.Reading time 14 minutes.

Hey hey, it’s MJ,

            At the exact moment I am writing this I am sitting at my cousin’s house in Western Pennsylvania, we have been traveling on and off for days now. By the time this goes out I will have stopped in Ohio and I am in Indiana for a few days. My body does not like traveling but here we are. Now as I post this I have been home for almost a week and I wrote that almost two weeks ago, oops. 

            So, I got my fabfitfun box well over a week ago with the full intention to write this post a week ago, I didn’t though because my last week of school before spring break was a lot and I just needed some time off from trying to write blog posts. I wrote other things, but I didn’t work on my Bullet Journal or blog posts. 

            This box was fine, it wasn’t the best and it wasn’t the worst. Most of the items were nice and I really like there, there are a few though that are strange and fine, but not something I ever would have picked out for myself. They were surprise items, that is such a weird option and it wasn’t like there was a bundle this month, I am just a little confused about their choices and things. Also, the problem with the surprise items is they just show up in the list on the app as “surprise me” I don’t have all the packaging so if I want to know exactly where they are from or what they are I don’t have that information. 

            There is no particular order to this because I don’t remember all the choices or the products that I chose so I am just going to toll through it. 

L*Space Coastal Cooler:

            Chose this one, it is nice and I am excited to actually have a chance to use it because I needed a smaller cooler that I can take to the store with me. I got an email saying that my box might be delayed, it wasn’t but that might be because I bought an add-on. I love the color and how summery it looks; I am looking so forward to getting home and being able to take this to the store with me. 

Summer & Rose Celine Crossbody:

            This was my add-on, I couldn’t choose between this and the L*Space Cooler, I really like Summer & Rose, I have a few of their products at home and this crossbody is super cute. I like that it’s a flap cover instead of a zipper or open. It’s really cute and I cannot wait to have a reason to use it. It will make a good date night bag and let’s be real, I have a few really cute date night bags, I just don’t have a date. I love the metallic shade of this bag, the strap needs to straighten out and I like that it can be a clutch or a crossbody with the removable strap. 

Ban.do Stemless Wine Glasses: 

            I probably won’t use these as wine glasses, they are just glasses for me and I know that pretty well, they can come out if I have people over who drink. I think these are super cute as well and I think that I chose these as well. I honestly don’t remember at this point. I feel like I should, but it’s been a long time since I made the choices. They are cute and a confetti theme so I am excited to use them, just not for alcohol as I am not a person who makes the choice to drink wine, I drink so rarely I basically don’t drink at all. 

London Town Cuticle Cream:

            This was one of the surprise things, it’s fine. I don’t really used cuticle cream, I should but I don’t. I haven’t gotten a chance to try it, I will give it a chance when I get home, but that is not at this current moment. I understand the want and necessity of a cuticle cream. I spend a lot of time picking at my cuticles, it’s an anxiety thing, so maybe using this will help with that issue. 

Winky Lux Lip Oil:

            I think it’s called In The Stars, I am not 100% sure because I had to look it up on the Target website, I only brought pictures of the products with me, not the packaging or I wouldn’t be getting this post out until I got home and at this point I haven’t posted in like two weeks and that’s always a mess. I don’t really use lip oil, I use lip balm, lip stick and lip scrub, and sometimes even lip masks and lip gloss but lip oils I don’t use almost at all if ever. I cannot tell you the last time I used one. Maybe this one will be the one that gets me to change mt tune on that but I don’t know. I like the packaging and the gold flakes in the tube, but I didn’t get a chance to try it before I left home. 

MantraBand Cuff Bracelet:

            I love my Zox bracelets, and this to me feels very much like that, but fancier. The band says ‘she believed she could, so she did’ and I love that phrase. I have already tried it on and it fits which is a lot of fun. I cannot wait to wear this like everywhere I go because it means a lot to me as a phrase. I think I picked this one, I really do and I was so glad that I did. It’s slightly adjustable so I can bend it a little so it fits a little better, but I don’t want to bend it too much because that wears out the metal faster. 

Kate Spade Mini Square Earrings in Opal Glitter:

            I love Kate Spade, I really love Kate Spade, her designs were so classic but also really fun and I am in love with these earrings. They are a super fun color and I love opal as a gemstone. I also usually only wear one pair of earrings and they were like my second pair, so I have had them since my freshman or sophomore year of high school; they are small and have a ruby in the center, very understated. I need to diversify again, though I wear these because I never take them out. I have let my holes almost close enough times to know that I need to keep earrings in at all times or I will forget to put them in for six months and then I have to shove an earring through my ear and that doesn’t seem like it’s a really safe option. 

Hair Clips:

            I don’t have the packaging and again, this was an item that wasn’t shown to me in my box on the app. I don’t know what brand they are and I don’t feel great about that. I could scroll back through fff’s Instagram and try to find them but I think I would be searching for a while. I love them, I have been wearing the tortoise shell one for almost a week now on and off and it’s so comfortable and it keeps my hair where I want it to be kept. I have problems with clips more frequently than I would like to admit, but I really like these ones. 

            Overall, I liked my box, fff has been really hit or miss for about the last year and a half and like the rest of my posts I will say I am going to wait for the spoilers for the summer box to see if that is something that I want to get. I probably will because I like being loyal to companies. I liked most of the items in the box and I know that the pandemic has caused issues, I just feel like I used to get more bang for my buck with fff and they raised prices this year so who knows. 

            Well, I am sitting in my uncle’s house in Ohio finishing this post off in the dark because no one else is awake and it’s not like I can wander the house, I would alert my furry cousin and he likes to bark and whine, so I’m just quietly hanging out in a bedroom waiting for signs of life so I can get up.  Below is the furry cousin in question

            I am going to start writing Sunday’s post here at some point on our drive to Indiana today. By now we have driven something like 1,400 miles in 5 days. My spring break has not been very much of a break if we are being honest and that’s no one’s fault but mine because I said yes to coming on this trip during my break. Should have asked to postpone it until after school was over. Like the week back was conference week so I have been tired since March 17th, it’s April 1st.

            I hope that everyone has a great rest of the week and I will be back later in it with a new post and until then I hope that everyone stays safe, happy, and healthy.

            -MJ

Winter 2021 fabfitfun Unboxing

.Reading time 15 minutes.

Hey hey, it’s MJ,

            Normally my fff box doesn’t show up this early, but I ordered an add on and an extra so it showed up super early. This post doesn’t even come out for a few weeks after I am actually physically writing it, I am getting it done though because I need to. I am going to preface this entire post with: most of it was good, some of it was not so good. I feel like the boxes have been such a mixed bag and this one was for sure better than a few I have gotten this year, but one thing was a repeat from my summer box and that’s disappointing. 

            Like I said I bought an add-on this time and that was a new Makeup Eraser in Chill Blue because I love my Makeup Eraser so I figured having a backup that wasn’t the normal $20 was a good thing. I also had a $15 credit on this box so I didn’t feel too bad buying something or rather two somethings extra.

            The other thing that I got as an extra was another Unhide Marshmallow Blanket in Rose, I live underneath my one from last year when I am reading and it is so soft and I love it. I wanted one for my classroom so I could be warm while I’m hanging out at my desk and that was 95% the reason that I purchased another one. Like eventually I want to get one the big blankets but they are on the expensive side so I am just going to have to wait. 

            So, moving right along I am going to talk about what I got in my box but take a brief pause here to say one thing, I don’t really like that they don’t have all the options in the magazine anymore. I liked being able to check off the things that I got; I can see it in the app but that’s just not the same. I know that companies are always trying to change and innovate, I just personally miss seeing all the products that maybe I might want to look into in case I didn’t choose them or didn’t have the choice. I will have another thing at the end to say that I’m not the biggest fan of, but I feel like a lot of my fff posts this year have been very Debby Downer and I don’t like that, but I am violently myself so my opinion is my own and that’s okay. We can all feel different about things and still get along. 

            What did I get though? 

Herschel Supply Co. Mica Tote:

            I love this, I saw this in the spoilers and I had to have it. It’s so much bigger than I thought it would be. Like I will be able to carry so much in this! Like it fits my laptop with no problem and I could probably put a protector over my laptop and still have room from side to side. I love the color and this for sure was my top choice in this category. (This was also the category that the Unhide blanket was in, so I got two in this one.) It has a zipper which is really great was a tote because that means that it’s not as accessible to anyone that isn’t you. I don’t remember the other customization options, that is for sure a huge reason I miss it in the magazine, I used to be able to list what I chose over what I missed. 

Sur La Table 4 Piece Silicone Utensil Set in Grey:

            I have been in a Sur La Table store once; it was in Illinois and that store was overwhelming. All of my kitchen utensils are all hand-me-downs from my mom and grandma so now I have my own set and I really like them. They seem really well made; the only problem is because they have a wooden handle that means that I have to hand wash them. I am going to leave them in the box because eventually when I move into a house, they will make their debut there. It’s a spatula, a turner (which I also call a spatula), and two spoons one slotted and one solid. I am super happy with this choice as well because this was another customization option that I got to choose. 

Michael Kors Beanie with Pom: 

            I love Michael Kors, it’s all so classic and just really refined. I love a good hat and this one fit so I’m good. Sometimes beanies don’t fit me, it’s super weird. I love the color and the pom is a lot of fun, it got a little squished in the bag so I will have to fluff it up later. It’s also a nice neutral color which means that it will go with everything and that makes me so happy. Michael Kors is one of those designers where if I am given the option that is usually what I pick. The only real pair of wedges I own are Michael Kors and they are, for heels, super comfortable. 

Briogeo Curl Charism leave in defining cream: 

            I am one of those people who has wavy hair and would like nothing more than to have curly hair. I curl my hair and it falls out in literal minutes. I have heard about this product line for years though and I am excited to actually give it a try. Maybe keep the waves in my hair a little longer without a lot of product because I am not a huge hair product person. This was my last category to have a choice in and this was the only one that I really wanted. 

Vahdam Teas Recovery Sampler:

            I love tea, that is not a secret. I like the idea of a tea sampler and I had to make sure that there were some ingredients that aren’t in it because I cannot have them. I get a little sick from some of the ingredients in tea so I have to be super careful. Licorice Root upsets my tummy, so I avoid it. I love a good chai tea, most of these have black pepper in them and I don’t know how many times in my life I have had black pepper in tea so this is going to be interesting. 

            The next three were the bundle. I mentioned last time that I didn’t like the bundle, I still don’t and there was a straight up repeat in this that I got in my last box so that I am not too happy about. 

Barefoot Scientist Pedicure File: 

            I got this in my summer box, I have used it once and I’m not a huge fane so now I have to figure out what to do with a second one. If you want to know my first impressions of this product, check out my summer 2021 Unboxing. It’s fine, it’s just getting a second one is annoying.

Bennkai Chocolate Bomb Maker:

            If they were bigger, it would be fun to make tiny chocolate covered cakes, they are small though and I know they are for hot chocolate bombs which are super trendy right now. I have never wanted to make one, I’ll find a use for them I guess but I feel like these uber trendy products don’t have much lasting power and that’s just my opinion, maybe hot chocolate bombs will be here to stay. 

Aesthetica Liquid Eyeliner: 

            I don’t use liquid eyeliner. I don’t use much eyeliner at all. I was part of that emo scene when I was in middle and high school so I wore a lot of eyeliner, I have grown out of that phase of my life and because I wear glasses doing a wing is pretty pointless for me.  

            Here’s the other thing that I am going to say, the bundle, it’s not good. I feel like it’s just a bunch of random products that they cobble together and none of them have overwhelmed me. That’s a personal opinion and again, that’s fine if you disagree with me, that is totally cool. I just don’t think that the bundle is a great option. 

            This box was probably the best one that I have gotten this year and I feel like that is saying a lot because I have done a lot of complaining about them throughout the year. I am hoping that this box is the upward trend where the boxes go back to being super cool and fun. 

            I feel like I need to stop because I loved most of my box, there was some misses in this one. (The bundle is going to be the surge of my existence, isn’t it?) Overall though, this box was amazing and all of the rest of the things that I got in my box fit into the Herschel tote so that’s fun! 

            If you want to see what else I’ve gotten this year, you can brave those posts if you want to, Spring, Summer, and Fall.

            I will be back on the day after Christmas with another post, (that’s also already written because I have a problem and try to front load writing a lot of my posts when I can.) so until then I hope that everyone has a great holiday if you celebrate and stays safe, happy, and healthy. 

            -MJ 

Fall 2021 fabfitfun Unboxing

.Reading time 14 minutes.

Hey hey, it’s MJ,

This was supposed to be last Wednesday’s post, but if you read my September BotM review you know that my internet at home is completely out and at the moment of scheduling this (Sunday) it’s still out. So hopefully it’ll get fixed this week because not having Wi-Fi is difficult. So y’all get a bonus post this week because last week was DIFFICULT.

            Well here we are again with another fabfitfun unboxing. I want to preface this with the fact that I was super excited for this box; like I was excited for the summer box. I want to make that preface before I actually get into the meat of the post because I was not as excited when I received the box as I was when I placed my order. 

            So things have changed over at FFF, a lot has changed in the last two years. I know that supply chains are having trouble keeping up and transporting goods from place to place as well as their production and manufacturing. I get that with my entire heart, things are hard right now and there is not a lot that anyone can do about it at the moment. No matter how much we probably wish we all could. 

            This box though, it left me disappointed. I know that one of the items that I had chosen was late so I chose to get money off on my next box, which was fine. I am going to go over what I thought of the box as a whole though. I don’t know what the future of this box is, I will for sure be getting the winter box, but after that; I am just not sure. 

So, what did I get? I am going to start out with what I remember choosing and then move into the bundle. I don’t like the bundling; I really really don’t like the bundling that they have been doing lately. As well as the weird item I got in my box. 

            I also miss when they would list all of the options in the magazine, I liked seeing everything on paper and allowing myself to be able to see all of the other options. They didn’t have it in the magazine this time so I had to go on the app and see everything, please put it back in the magazine. 

Golden Rabbit Enamel Swirl Mini Dutch Oven:

            I was really excited for this one, it does not really feel like what I expected it to. I expected it to be heavier. It’s small which is nice just because I am one person but I am kind of afraid to use it on the stove. I have to do some research on it before I feel safe using it. My mom suggested using it as a planter, I don’t think I want to use it as a planter. I think that would be a waste. 

Coach Open Circle Necklace and Tea Rose Stud Set:

            I chose this one too, I actually am really excited about these ones. I have had Coach things since like high school because it’s just one of those classic brands that never really goes out of style. It’s timeless. I am really excited to switch out my earrings for these ones. I just really need a better variety of timeless jewelry that I can wear with whatever. I actually really enjoy a cute little jewelry moment. One of the backs of the earrings is super loose so I am going to have to use another back or try and get it fixed because that’s how you lose earrings and i don’t like losing earrings.

Dose & Co. Pure Collagen:

            This was the only option in this choice that I actually liked; I don’t even remember the other choices. I feel like I should remember other things, but I don’t. I like collagen in my coffee because it is good for your joints and stuff. I use it not as often as I should. I should use it more than I do. I want to try out some different collagen brands and then actually pick which one that I like. 

Purlisse Pumpkin + Ginger Mud Mask: 

            While I love Purlisse, I use it all the time, I am not a huge fan of mud masks. The last one I used straight up burned my face. So while I am willing to give it a try, my hopes are not set very high for this one. I want to like it, I really do, but masks like this can be harsh on sensitive skin and if you are going to have a product like this in a box. Make sure that it can be used by everyone. I haven’t tried it yet so I can’t make a value judgement on it but here I am, hoping that when I do get around to using it, it doesn’t make my face hurt.

The Bundle: 

            I am going to say this again here, I don’t like the bundle. I liked when it was just a list of options or everyone got three or four of the same items. It just made more sense to me that way. The bundle concept has really missed the mark for me personally. 

            Babe Lash Pro Lash Lifter:

            I do not use eyelash curlers; I never have and I probably never will because they terrify me. I have heard the horror stories of people losing lashes over an eye lash curler. I tried to use it to see if I could figure it out and something poked me instead. I don’t like them. I can’t say much else, they are just not something for me, they might be for others; but they are not for me. 

            Doctor Rogers Restore Lip Balm:

            It’s a lip balm, like a straight up could buy at the drug store lip balm. That just feels super weird to me. I subscribe to IPSY and this is something I would expect from them. Not FFF. While I love lip balm, I just expect a different quality out of FFF that this let’s down. 

            Zoe Ayla Eco-Friendly Comb Set: 

            Interesting choice, I like the idea of a comb. I just don’t really use combs in practice, I should. I like the colors and they feel really interesting so here’s hoping that I like them when I actually get them out of the box and use them. 

            Now onto the weird thing, there was a plastic wrapped box in my box and I was a little concerned on what it could be. I pulled the plastic off to find an alcohol-free mini can of Heineken, I have so many questions as to why there was a mini can of alcohol-free beer in my box this season. It just seems like an odd choice for a stylized company like FFF, there was also no information on why it was in the box in the magazine (if there was, I didn’t find it) so it was just an odd thing to find in my box. That left me absolutely baffled as to why that was included, but maybe I am not supposed to know. 

            FFF is one of those companies that I love and have for over three years, but the last several boxes have been, underwhelming. I know that the pandemic has put a strain on things as well as interruptions in supply lines and I understand that. I do, I really do get it, but I feel like they have changed and not for the better. There are some amazing items that are thrown in it feels like but there are so many that just don’t interest me. I hate that feeling, I miss the variety that we used to get in boxes, that excitement that I would feel when I would come home to this amazing box of goodies and I feel like my last several FFF posts have had this vibe to them. I don’t like to complain because I cannot imagine how hard everyone at the company is working, I can’t, I have no clue. I just miss the joy that I felt opening up my boxes. The pandemic has changed so much, COVID has changed so much, everything in the last year and a half has shifted and changed. So, I understand that businesses have to shift and change with it to stay afloat. I just miss the joy and excitement for getting one of these boxes left at my door. 

            Hopefully soon enough things with get back to normal, I am looking forward to the winter box spoilers, I hope they can win me over again. 

            If you want to check out what else I have gotten this year, you totally can: Spring and Summer. 

            I will see everyone later in the week with another post, so until then, I hope that everyone stays safe, happy, and healthy. 

            -MJ

Summer 2021 fabfitfun Unboxing

.Reading time 11 minutes.

Hey hey, it’s MJ,

            I am writing this post directly after I have written Sunday’s post so the energy might be the same, still at my current moment at the Ford dealership. I am going to preface this post with good news about the box. After the last few that have been extremely underwhelming I can say that this one was great! I loved most everything that I got so I am really happy to still be on the fff train. 

            I am probably going to get right into it, but this post is going to be a little different than posts in the past. Because of all the customization options I am not going to list them at the end of each paragraph because it’s just a lot. That is one things that I would like to see changed, don’t overwhelm with a billion customization options. Giver three or four that are mind-blowing and cut it off there. 

So what did I get though? 

Virginia Wolf Multi Wear Warp:

            I am going to use it as a tapestry to hang above my bed, but I absolutely love it. The pattern on it is amazing and it doesn’t feel strange which was one of my concerns when ordering a wrap in my box. I might wear it as a wrap when I get a chance because it is super cute and this was the product in this category that I was most excited about. I love monstera leaves and big tropical patterns. I just have to get this ironed and get it hung up, I have to figure out how to actually achieve that goal, I’ll figure it out and maybe I’ll have an update picture someday.

Rae Dunn by Magenta Guac/Salsa Bowls:

            Rae Dunn is one of those grands that you see everywhere now. I don’t have any, I think it’s cute but it’s also become such a cult decorative want. These are really cute, I don’t really see the full appeal though to having a bunch of it in my apartment. They will be cute for entertaining, which is what I feel like they are really for. Of all of the products that were offered this was my favorite. I would have gotten the obé resistance bands but I didn’t want the six month subscription, I would have wanted the trigger point ball but that was only available in the UK version. 

Corkcicle 12ox Wine Tumbler and Silicone Straw:

            I didn’t know that this one was a blue holographic! It’s really cute! This was the only one I really wanted in this customization option but seeing it in person made it so much better. I like stainless steel tumblers, I don’t drink a lot of wine so I will probably use this for other drinks. I am really excited to actually get to use it though, and it’s dishwasher safe (on the top rack). I have heard really good things about the brand of corkcicle, so I am hopeful that it is as good as people say it it. 

Ciaté London Watermelon Burst Setting Spray:

            I was just writing about another Ciaté setting spray that I got in my Glam Bag Plus and so now I have two Ciaté setting sprays and I am excited to use them both. I love a good setting spray and I really like the Watermelon Burst line that Ciaté has out. I have several items from the range and I have never been disappointed in any of them. So I am hoping that this one is just as good as setting sprays that I have used in the past. 

MineTan Body Skin Recovery After Sun Gel:

            I don’t go out in the sun much, I am very pale so being outside for even fifteen minutes can give me a nice not so healthy sunburn. I do use an aloe lotion after I am out in the sun but as a kid I spent lots od night’s during the summer soaking in vinegar like I was a salad marinating so the sting would go away. I also have gotten burns so bad I blistered because I was young and stupid and I didn’t want sunscreen. I am looking forward to giving this a try though at some point soon because inevitably I will be out in the sun at some point this summer and like an idiot not have any sunscreen on so I will need it afterward.

So with the last category in the magazine it was several items thrown into a bundle, I’ll talk about the three that I got.

Eyeko Double Act Shadow Stick: 

            It came with a sharpener and everything, I am used to eyeliner and lipliner pencils coming like this where you physically have to sharpen it when it gets dull. I am not used to having that in a eyeshadow, do I have other eyeshadows like this? I think so. I love the shades though so I am looking forward to figuring out exactly how to use this product. 

Barefoot Scientist Pedicure File:

            I use a pumice stone on my feet when I want to smooth everything out but I think that this is going to make that process easier. I know you have to be really careful with them because they are files and I don’t want to cheese grate my feet. We all want smooth feet during the summer with sandal season.

Aria Beauty Reusable Makeup Swabs: 

            I don’t feel like I have much to say about this one, I am going to have to figure out exactly how to use these, I thought they were just straight up cotton swabs like Q-Tips. I like the little case they came in but I am going to just have to figure out exactly what they are for and how to use them.

            Overall this box has been the best one that I have gotten in a while and I am really excited about that. I feel like the brand as a whole listened to some of the complaints that people were giving them over the last several boxes. I am looking forward to seeing all the spoilers for the fall box which should start in August? I actually don’t know, it might be sooner than that but that’s okay. If you want to see what I got in my Spring box, you can just click on the hyperlink. 

            I will be back later in the week with another post, I know what it’s going to be and I am looking forward to getting it posted. So until then I hope that everyone has a great rest of the week and a safe and happy Fourth of July weekend for my American friends, I have no plans except to avoid all the fireworks. (I don’t like loud noises, I never have.) 

            -MJ

Spring 2021 fabfitfun Unboxing

.Reading time 17 minutes.

Hey hey, it’s MJ,

            Alright so let’s get this started. I have some things that I need to say but I will wait those until the end of the post because I want to get through what I got before I have my words. Some of them are not so great. 

            This season they didn’t give a price range which is the first time in I think the history of my subscription that they haven’t had the price points on the inside of the magazine with all of the options, maybe I am just not reading closely enough but I can’t find it. So I will tell you that my box is worth over the $250 mark. I could do the math for the upper and lower limits of the box but I don’t want to do that much math today, I’m on spring break and I don’t want to. 

            As usual all opinions are my own and I doubt any of my opinions will ever be influenced by anyone else so I’m not too concerned but really, it’s just me sitting in my apartment writing this post.

            I want to say one thing before I start with what I got, I miss when there were like four options for things, like for this one; the first customization for all members had 9 items to choose from. I also am not a huge fan of the bringing back old choices from pervious boxes but that is just me. There were forty potential items in this box and that is just a lot, I feel like I have been complaining a lot about this box but 2020 made me a little more cynical so it is what it is.

Tech Candy UV Sanitizer: 

            This was the only thing that I really wanted, it was either this or an indoor planter and I don’t have the room for that in my apartment. My kitchen is very small so having an indoor herb garden, while super cool, is not something that I can feasible swing right now. I know that your phone is like the dirtiest thing you touch during the day and I figured that this would be a good thing to have because I live on my phone, I know that is such a cliché millennial thing but I do. I take my phone everywhere with me and I work in a school so you never know what’s floating around there. I have used it and I like it so far. Just set your phone in it and forget it because it turns itself off after five minutes. Usually here is where I would tell you the other options but there are eight and I don’t want to. 

Gaiam Ultimate Core Toning Kit:

            This was the second choice that was given to all members and this category unlike the last one only had seven options which was still too many for me. This has really been the only fitness item I have seen in the box in a long time. I am trying to get better with my fitness and adding more equipment to my home workout area is never a bad thing. Also if someone comes over and ticks me off I can throw the tiny exercise ball at them. I am excited to give them a try in the coming weeks as I swing myself back into the workout groove because it’s finally nice enough outside to actually do things again. 

Joy Dravecky Chloe Ring:

            It says “adjustable” it’s not, not really (ring size 6-8), it’s just cute out in the back but if you try to move it, it makes a noise like it’s going to crack so I have a cool pinky ring. It’s a really cute ring I will for sure say that and I really like how it looks as I sit here writing this post with it on my pinky. I don’t know, I chose this one because all of the other choices weren’t things that I actually wanted. I like it and that’s really all that matters. I’m just confused on how it’s “adjustable”? There were only five in this category but I am still not going to list them.

Sorbus Makeup Organizer: 

            This was the first thing that was picked for me because I am not an annual member. I prefer to choose my own makeup storage options and for some reason this gave me like 2008 Delia’s vibes. I just don’t know how the product buyers over at fff are choosing products right now because this one feels really juvenile. In the magazine it says that they “choose the best option for you” and I am trying to figure out how that fits in but fine, it is what it is. I’m going to use it for organizing sewing stuff. There were six items in this category and none of them actually got me excited at all. 

Pur Cosmetics Iconic Glow Illuminating Face and Body Dry Oil:

            I was on the phone with a friend when I was opening my box and my first thought was “2005 called and they want their body glitter back”. I feel like I am just complaining and I don’t like that feeling but again, like the last one I am trying to piece together what the method is for their choices of products. I am not a product buyer, I am nowhere close but I am confused at how they are making the choices on what is actually going in their boxes. This whole section of the box confuses me in general. I like Pur Cosmetics, it’s a good brand but a face a body oil is just not for me, I was a teenager when Twilight came out and I think that we should have left sparkly skin back there. 

Human + Kind Hand Scrub Elderflower + Raspberry: 

            We are coming out of winter so a hand scrub is never a bad thing and I like Human + Kind, their body lotion is great and I love the one I have. This only had three options and I don’t really know what else to say about it. It’s a scrub, their packaging is fun and cool which is nice so this product is fine and I am looking forward to giving it a try. 

Pink Sky Cactus Sipper Cup: 

            I have some concerns about this cup and one of those is the fact that arms are hollow so cleaning the inside of them is not going to be fun, also the lines on the lid don’t watch up with the rest of the cup and that’s annoying. I am going to use it as a vase, I just have to get some fake flowers first because the less water I can get anywhere near it, the better. 

Saie Reusable Beauty Rounds: 

            I love my Makeup Eraser that I got in Winter 2019. I use it pretty much every day so I am trying to figure out how to use these and all that stuff. I will work on it and I will be throwing them in the washing machine this weekend to see how they hold up. I will let you know. I am so hopeful because I love reusable beauty products that help me cut down on waste so here’s hoping. Of the two options this was the better for me because the other was nail polish and I haven’t worn nail polish in almost a decade so it is what it is. 

            So here it is, you got to see what I got. This is the second box in a row that has overall underwhelmed me. I don’t like to be negative, I really don’t enjoy finding faults in things but no matter the price point of this box, do I feel like I got my money’s worth? Not really, if we are being brutally honest. This box missed the mark for me with the quality of boxes in the past. I know that we are still in the throes of a pandemic and sourcing things is difficult but I would rather see a paired down box with fewer better quality options than a large potential catalogue with items that I feel have lesser quality. 

I know that this is not the first time I have expressed concerns with my box, the shipping time, and even the quality of the items. I have never had a problem with the company and I doubt that I will, and if you got this box you may have loved it and I hope that you do. I know that I shouldn’t compare this box to boxes past but I will because I have been subscribed since like March of 2018 and I loved it when I felt there was more diversity in the types of products we received. Now it is a lot of similar products and that has been a problem for the last year or so. 

So what does that mean for the future of my fff unboxing posts? I don’t know at the moment, I am going to wait to see what the choice spoilers are for the summer box and hope that they are amazing or at least worthwhile for me to keep my subscription or I may be finding an alternative. I used to look forward to receiving my fff boxes each season but now I just wonder what sort of “stuff” I will get to find alternate uses for or just find a place to store it. 

I am glad that they are getting rid of products that have 12 different harmful or not so savory chemicals in them, that is such a step in the right direction but I would also love to see more lifestyle, fitness, and just general quality décor items instead of just beauty and skin care. I subscribe to IPSY so I get enough in those. I want to see more fun in my fff box.

This is such a stupid problem to have, I don’t like the things that I get in a box that is a luxury to even be able to have and I know that. I know how whiny I sound but I still pay for this box four times a year and I want to feel like I am getting really cool things because we used to in these boxes. I don’t want to complain, but I want to give my honest opinion; no sugar coating because if you are considering getting this box I want you to be informed no matter how I feel about it. I want people to make informed decisions on what they spend their money on, especially now in the times we are living in at the moment. 

I think I need to be done because the more I say the more annoying I sound. So I will be back mid-week with another post that promises to be a lot more fun, who knows I haven’t written it yet but if everything shows up like it’s supposed to it’s going to be a fun spring DIY, if not it’ll be my first Bullet Journal post of the year so either way I’ll be back Wednesday with another post. 

So until then be happy, stay safe and stay healthy,

-MJ

Winter 2020 fabfitfun Unboxing

.Reading time 18 minutes.

Hey hey, it’s MJ, 

            So I feel like first of all I need to address the elephant in the room, I don’t know when this post was going up, it might be going up just after Christmas or closer to New Year who knows at this point with the shipping of this box.

            Okay so this season is for sure absolutely insane with shipping and believe me I completely and totally understand because this usually is the largest shipping season of the year and this year I can imagine it has increased tenfold because of people wanting to send gifts to family members they can’t see and just all of the COVID restrictions that are in place and to that end I am going to say everyone is doing what they can to help everyone get their things shipped and delivered. So let me say my piece and that will be that from me on the issue.

            I got an email on December 1st saying that my box had shipped, well at least the label was created, it did not leave the shipping facility in California, (from a company I have never heard of until this instance) until the 15th. It went to Texas and that was on the 19th, I got no updates until the 22nd and it was still in Texas just finally accepted by the USPS. As of this moment of my writing this section of my post I have no idea when it will actually make it here because Christmas is in just a few days. 

            Normally I don’t complain but when it is something that I pay for an have never had a problem with in the past, including two other boxes that have shipped during the lockdown, it does get a little frustrating when there are few to no updates on something that I look forward to getting. 

            I have seen a lot of others in this same boat because of a variety of reasons all with similar and some more heightened frustrations, I didn’t order anything for anyone else for Christmas with this box, I wanted it to do my unboxing but I don’t have it yet. I look forward to getting these boxes every season and this year has made me want these treat myself instances because they make me feel like things are normal even though we are so far from normal and we are learning a new normal so I’m just a little frustrated by this situation. That however is all I am going to say about it, there isn’t anything I can do besides wait and that’s just what I am going to have to do.

            Well we are on the Monday after Christmas and my box has finally arrived and I have some thoughts before I talk about what I got which there are for sure some hits and misses with this box and for the most part I am not too jazzed about the box as a whole which makes me sad. The choices this time felt limited and while some of them were really nice some of them just felt cheap. My box only contained two large items and both of those were customizations, there was no packaging in the box like the little paper stuffing so things were moving around and I know that is in an effort to reduce their carbon footprint which I applaud them for but to that end I was afraid things would be broken when I opened the box. 

            All of these opinions are my own because I need to get this out because or me this box missed the mark and quality that I have come to expect from fabfitfun since I subscribed in 2018. I know there is a pandemic on and getting products is difficult so I cannot fault them for that but this box felt thrown together and not in a good way.

            Normally at the end of each section I would say what the other options were but in the last few boxes the choices have gone up so much that it just becomes an annoyingly long list at the end of each paragraph. I know I am sounding bitter about this but the box has changed over the last year and I’m not sure if it’s for the better, especially with this box. 

UnHide Lil’ Marshmallow Blanket

            So this was something that I chose because I didn’t want anything else from the first category and it’s my favorite thing in the box, I am already wrapped up in it as I am writing this post. It’s really soft and just a little heavy which I am not upset about. I like the fact that it is faux fur and that it’s a really nice neutral grey that will go well on my couch or the chair in my office or somewhere in my apartment. It’s a nice lap blanket size so curling up in it will cover your legs but it is not a full sized blanket. There were six other options in this category ranging from Vera Bradley to Summer & Rose, to Mobile White. 

Impressions Vanity Company LED Vanity Mirror

            I wanted this one, this is something that I need in my life, a vanity mirror because I am a glasses human and using a regular mirror means that I am far away from my face and I can’t see anything. I do have some issues with this product however, the arm on the back that allows the mirror to be adjustable is loose and that means that the mirror doesn’t stay in place where you put it unless it as at the very top or the very bottom of its swing. The batteries that were sent with the box don’t work, that might be because they got so cold but I put them in the mirror and got nothing, I plugged it into the USB on my computer and it finally lit up but why send batteries that don’t work? Other than that I like it, I will make it work but it should work out of the box. There were five other options in this ranging from Tula to Lilly Pulitzer, and Murad.

Dr. brandt skincare pores no more Pore Purifying Cleanser

            I love Dr. Brandt skincare and I have the pore no more primer and it’s pretty great, this was the other choice that I made because the other options didn’t fit my normal preferences. It’s a cleanser and I will be starting to use it soon because I am almost out of my regular cleanser so this came at a good time. I like the ingredients including tea tree, white willow, and salicylic acid which is pretty potent when it comes to skin care. I also just really enjoy the packaging, blue to white ombre is always cool. Other options in this category ranged from more dr. brandt and Laura Geller with five other options in total.

            From here on out the products were picked for me.

Kate Spade New York Workout Socks

            I love a good no show sock, these are barre socks and I have never owned barre socks, they are pretty comfortable, I put one on to see the fit. I will probably use these for yoga socks but I can’t imagine wearing them in shoes because they have grippy dots on the bottom of all of the choices these would have been my choice if I was an annual member. You get two pairs which is nice and they have a nice embroidered spade on each sock. There were four other options in this category and they ranged from Tula to Muk Luks.

Beautaniq Beauty Guardian Angel Revitalizing Eye Gels (set of four)

            They look like angel wings according to the magazine picture. Who doesn’t like a good under eye mask, I have many of them though and through no fault of the companies that are featured in this box this is where is starts to go downhill for me. I will be able to throw these in with my travel stuff when I eventually get to leave my house again but for now they will sit in the fridge with the rest of my skin care that’s waiting to be moved into rotation. 

Paradox Lucky Stars Blemish Patches

            It’s a sheet of star stickers that help with blemishes? I think? I honestly don’t know. They are cute and apparently help with break outs but I am not going to Coachella or a music festival and I am an adult so I can’t just walk around with star stickers on my face and that feels weird to put stickers on the face because knowing my luck I would end up being allergic to it and having a star irritated into my cheek. 

Daily Concepts Daily Facial Dry Brush

            Another facial care product that’s three in a row now. I do not dry brush my skin because I think that it would be too harsh for me. I will give it a shot when I have a chance but this product felt unmatched to a lot of the other product in this category which was a set of scrunchies, this whole category felt really thrown in at the last minute. Again not at fault of the company that produced it. 

Londontown Get Well Nail Recovery

            I don’t use a lot of nail products anymore and the outer plastic top came cracked so I had to be really careful when I opened it to not crack it further. It’s a nail strengthener which is great for people who do a lot more with their nails, I worked in a nail salon in high school and during that time this would have been great but now as an adult who takes hair, skin, and nail vitamins it’s different. Also anymore the smell of nail polish gives me a headache and this stuff really smells. 

            So overall, did it feel worth the price tag? Not really. Did it feel worth the almost month wait I had to get it? Not really. I won’t be unsubscribing, I am not that kind of person unless a number of boxes disappoint me, this year has been hard for a lot of companies and subscription services I have seen such an uptick in angry comments on social media and that’s what 2020 has been though, a dumpster fire and as I am writing my last post of 2020 I am allowed to say that. 

            I am hoping that the spring box not only comes in a more timely manner, the shipping timeframe on this one was crazy but also has more quality instead of the thrown together feeling I have right now with this box.

            This post is super long because I had some things that I needed to get out and say, I try really hard to not complain on the internet, I just complain on the phone to my mom but this was one of those things that did bother me because there was like 15 days where the box sat in a warehouse and I know I’m not the only one who’s been dealing with that. There is no reason for so many people to have products and packages lost through however they were shipped but here we are. 

            If you want to see what else I got this year you can! Spring, Summer, and Fall. 

            Well I will be back in 2021 with new posts and I hope everyone has a happy, safe, and socially distanced New Year’s Eve and Day! 

            -MJ

Fall 2020 FabFitFun Unboxing

.Reading time 15 minutes.

Hey hey, it’s MJ, 

            It’s that time of year again FabFitFun time and it’s a great time. I am pre-writing a lot of posts just because I have the time on my hands and maybe I still have some creative spark left in me because y’all the world is tiring. 

            I loved everything I got in this box, hands down one of my favorite boxes so far! I will say this first and foremost just to get it out of the way because it was on my mind, so in total you get 8 items and there were a potential of 38 items and that is a lot, there used to be a few items that everyone got and I kind of liked that, there was less choice and it was kind of nice to know that everyone got a few really cool things that were picked for everyone and there wasn’t a choice that you could have gotten instead, but things change and companies change so I cannot begrudge them changing and evolving to suit the needs of their fan base and customers. 

            Seriously though, that is my only complaint and the rest of it is amazing. They are moving to be more environmentally friendly with different box sizes and less paper and confetti that used to come in the box so again good for you triple F looking out for the planet. Also I love the box, the design and the fact that they are changing them to again be more environmentally conscious. 

My one complaint, the shipping label on the top so I don’t get the full nice box top, also I didn’t want to dox my own address so I blacked it out because, duh.

            This box was worth anywhere between $214-$544 and like usual I am not going to tell you the exact value of my personal box but it was up there so I was happy about that because who doesn’t love more bang for their buck?

            So what did I get? I will list all the choices at the end of the potential other items and let you know all sorts of things as I go because as always these are all my opinions and that’s how it always will be, so here we go. 

Botkier New York Trigger Backpack:

            I chose this one and I didn’t think about choosing anything else in this category, I love backpacks; I usually carry a backpack but sometimes it’s just too big. So having a mini-backpack to just carry around was right up my street. It’s a leather flap and an I think nylon bottom with cute little front zip pockets. I cannot wait to get around to using it for all of my daily travels (you know when we get to travel again) so this was the choice that fit my style the most. What were the other options that I could have chosen, Botkier New York Bond Tote, Foxybae 25mm Black Curling Wand, Stila Stay All Day Eyeliner and Huge Extreme Lash Mascara, Uncommon James Set of 2 Copper Canisters, Sachajuan Styling and Finishing Cream, Mila Mélange Foldable Cotton Basket. 

Soia & Kyo Woven Scarfigan with Fringe

            I chose this one too, scarfigan is just a really fun word to say and it’s so cozy and soft. I was wearing it around my apartment last night and I am already obsessed with it. I hope unlike the last cardigan that I got from one of these boxes it doesn’t shed to high heaven. It’s super cute and right now it’s sitting very dramatically on the edge of the chair in my office, I love it so much already because there was some pause about what to choose with this selection and this was the choice that just felt more right to me and I am so glad that I did. The other choices were the Beyond Yoga Hidden Pocket Infinity Scarf, Glossmetics Hair Removal Device, Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta Rose Perfecting and Refining Serum, Volition Beauty Celery Green Cream, or the Erno Laszlo Pore Cleansing Clay Mask.

Jenny Bird Leana Pendant:

            This is was last thing that I chose and I was happy with this one as well, I like necklaces and this one is simple and I love it, it’s a double chain with a single silver pendant and it’s so up my street. I like jewelry but when you work with elementary aged kids their first instinct is to grab things that hang so I don’t wear jewelry very frequently and that’s okay because when I get to wear it some of the pieces I have gotten from FabFitFun are my go-to’s. Probably because they are simple and fun but also most of them I have chosen which is always a plus in my book. The pendant actually has a good weight to it and that is always good with jewelry; for it to not feel cheap and flimsy. The other options were the Jenny Bird Austin Cuff, Vitamasques Multivitamin Mask Set, Nectar Sunglasses Blue Light Blocking Glasses in Brown Tortiose, Beauty Bakerie Proof is in the Puddin’ Palette. (which I got in my winter box last year and love!)

Masontops Glass Water Bottle with Neoprene in Turquoise:

            I was hoping to get this one because I love reusable water bottles, I try really hard to not use single use plastic if I can, recycle if I cannot, and this water bottle is actually really cool. It’s also a two cup mason jar if you take the sleeve off and I love a multitasking item. There is of course a lot of sustainable drinkware out there but this one is super cool in my book. I feel like there isn’t much to say about it though, it’s a water bottle but also a mason jar and it’s as simple as that. The other options were the Anastasia Beverly Hills Clear Brow Gel, Skin&Co Roma Truffle Therapy Whipped Cleansing Cream, Feel Beauty Renewed Pumpkin Walnut Facial Cleaners, or the frank body Original Coffee Scrub.

NCLA So Rich Cuticle Oil in Horchata: 

            In high school I worked in a nail salon and I for sure took better care of my nails, they are a mess now and it’s fine for me, but we are getting to the time of year where my hands will dry out and my cuticles will shred themselves so having this is actually really good for my cuticles moving forward into the fall and winter. I don’t know why it’s horchata scented, it’s not a bad smell but when I think of nail products I think of essential oils, lavender and things like that, soft spa scents. I like it though and it makes my cuticles feel nice and moisturized. The other options for this were the HIP cutlery Set, Likwid Rx Stress Reliever 100% Natural Ayurvedic Hair Oil, 8 Other Reasons Runway Clip Trio, Harper+Ari Exfoliating Sugar Cubes in Juice Cleanse. (I have this one I got it in my fall 2019 box and I like them) (In brief side note, I had to look up what post that was in and man my posts have become a lot different since then and I’m not mad about it, not one little bit.)

Voesh New York Pedicure in a Box Duo-Pumpkin Spice:

            I mean, I guess Pumpkin Spice everything really is a thing, now don’t get me wrong I love pumpkin spice but for a pedicure; sure why not? Again worked in a nail salon I used to get pedicures, I haven’t had a professional pedicure since the end of 2011 or the beginning of 2012, it’s been a while y’all but having something where I can do a pretty good job at home is not a bad thing in my book. Like it sounds like it has a lot of boog vitamins and stuff in it so I am excited to give it a try. The other options were either The Laundress New York Crease Release or the Spongellé Boxed Flower in Sweet Cedarwood.

Stone Candles Room Spray in Santal Noir:

            I love room spray’s, there is no secret with that I have a bunch of them but let’s be real they are Glade and Febreeze so having a more boujee one is not a bad thing and it smells good with notes of sandalwood and cardamom. It’s beautifully simple packaging makes it something you could put in plain sight and unless someone was really looking at it they wouldn’t know it was room spray. The other options were the Stone Candle Room Spray in Pumpkin Spice (which would have been cool too), NatureLab. Tokyo Perfect Repair Treatment Masque, or the Hythe Tranquility Sleep Mist. 

The Beauty Crop Glow Milk in Blind Date:

            The packaging is a little milk carton with cow spots and I love it! Also the shade is beautiful a rose gold champagne and a little really goes a long way, I know I got a little more than planned when I was swatching it and it covered most of the back of my palm and three of my finger tips on the other hand so be careful with it. Seriously though, the packaging is next level and it’s some of my favorite packaging in a while with any products so congrats, I love it. The other options were either the Beauty Papier Golden Superfood Shower Gel or the ZiGi &MARAiS Pouch with Stripe. 

            Overall this box per usual blew me out of the water and I loved it, keep doing what you do FabFitFun because whatever it is, it’s working.

Wanna check out my other FabFitFun posts from this year, you can! They are pretty fun if i do say so myself, spring and summer for 2020.

            Do you subscribe? Did you like everything you got? Any products that you were over the moon excited to receive?

            I will see everyone later in the week with another post so until then, have a great week!

            -MJ

Summer 2020 fabfitfun Unboxing

.Reading time 12 minutes.

Hey hey, it’s MJ,

            Back at it with another unboxing, every four months that becomes half of my posts and I am not super mad about it. I got my box a few days ago and I was so excited to get it, I watched it through the tracker for a week and a half and I was so anxious to just get in my hands on it. 

            I cannot believe that it’s almost July, I feel like it was March like a week ago but also a decade ago with quarantine and all of the crazy going on right now.

            All views and opinions in this are all my own, like they always are and always will be no matter what. 

            So what did I get? As usual I am not going to tell you the value of my box (it was between $225.50-$477 dependent on what you got in your box) also I am going to start with the items that I chose or had a choice for in my box.

Dapper James Straw Bag with Floral Scarf:

            It’s a real cute summery bag and I really like Dapper James because Reese Witherspoon is amazing. I chose this one because of all of the options this one fit my desires best for the moment, I like bags and this one is open at the top with a snap so it’s good to take around during the summer and maybe when the world opens back up (safely) I will actually get to use it but it may be a next summer thing and I’m not too mad about it because it is neutral enough to cross years not just be in style for one season and then it doesn’t match the times anymore. The other options were the Pottery Barn Mason Ceramic Diffuser in Solstice, the Do Not Age with dr. brandt Triple Peptide Eye Cream, the L*Space Tie Dye Towel, the Yumi Kim Wireless Charging Pad (which is super cute!), or the LashesMD Eyelash Conditioner. 

Business & Pleasure Co. Cooler Bag:

            Again a really fun summer thing, this season the seasonal feel was really evident and I really liked the idea of a larger cooler bag in my life but not one that is a full sized cooler, my dad got me a Yeti cooler bag for Christmas and it’s huge and bulky so having something nice and small is nice when you don’t need the giant cooler to accompany you somewhere. It is a really cute thing, my only problem with it is there is separation in the fabric on the top but I can sew it back in at some point. In the picture I stuffed it with stuffing so it would actually stand up and not collapse back down on itself. The other options were the Michael Kors Bedford Travel Passport Wallet (If it had been in black I would have gotten that), the HydroPeptide Moisture Reset Face Oil, the Isaac Mizrahi Blue and White Kimono, or the R+Co Television Perfect Hair Shampoo+Conditioner.

The Giving Keys Mini Key Necklace:

            It’s very small and delicate but according to the packaging the company supports a good cause, ending homelessness and I am completely behind that message. The key says believe on it and I cannot wait to wear it because it’s just a little thing that has a strong message behind it. I prefer silver jewelry to gold so this one was a pretty good choice on my part. The other options were two Coola products the Mineral Face Organic Matte Finish Sunscreen Lotion SPF 30 or the Mineral Face Matte Finish Cucumber Sunscreen Lotion SPF 30, the TOMS Sydney Sunglasses (if I wasn’t a prescription glasses wearing human I would have gotten these), Blaq Peel off Mask+ HydroGel Eye Mask with Hyaluronic Acid (Set of 5) (I have these and they are amazing but I don’t do peel off masks), the Kate Somerville Goat Milk Moisturizing Cream (this was a throwback and I got this one in my Winter 2019 box), or the Drybar Prep Rally Prime & Prep Detangler (got this on in my Winter 2019 box too).

Terre Mère Aloe and Tea Tree Toner:

            Toner is pretty new in my life and this was the first product on this list that I didn’t have a choice in and I am totally fine with the option I got. It’s a glass bottle y’all, a glass bottle. I really like toners now and I am glad that they have come back into my life since the toners of the mid-2000s that my skin absolutely hated. I am about halfway done with Sunday Riley one so having one in the wings is going to be great. The other options were the Zoë Ayla Ice Roller, or the Silked Satin Pillow Case.

The Lifestyle Co. Beach Mist: 

            It’s aloe, mint, and lavender. It’s supposed to be an after sun spray I think but let’s be honest, my skin sees the sun so rarely that I will use it as a facial refresh spray like I do rose water. I love the packaging and I am excited to have it in my beauty arsenal. The other options were the Isaac Mizrahi Loves xo, Sienna Vase, the amika Brooklyn Bombshell Blowout Spray, or the Grace & Stella Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Serum.

The next three were picked by fabfitfun out of seven potentials as their picks so I will list the four I didn’t receive first, the Winky Lux Uni-Brow Universal Eyebrow Pencil, Wander Beauty Baggage Claim Gold Eye Mask, 6 pack (which I think I have already), the Murad Essential-C Cleanser, and the Spongella Coconut Verbena Hand Cream (which I am glad about because I am not a huge fan of the smell of verbena.)

Riddle Oil Original Roll On:

            This is one of those perfumes that matches your body chemistry to produce a scent and mine is lightly floral, I tried it on the day I got the box and it lasted for hours! I even took a shower and I could still faintly smell it even afterward. I am a huge fan of this product because I don’t wear a lot of perfume but this one is really nice. 

Cali Cosmetics Foot Cream with Menthol in Tarocco:

            To be honest I thought the brand name was Tarocco, just an FYI to start this out with. It summer so foot cream is an essential because sandals and things. I am excited to give it a try because I try to moisturize my feet after every shower, I sometimes don’t succeed but I still try. 

MakeupDrop Hybrid Makeup Applicator:

            It’s a sponge and a silicon applicator that’s like the best of both worlds and I really like MakeupDrop, I have one of their silicon applicators and it’s really nice so having another product from them is pretty cool and I love the concept of having a multipurpose tool like this in my makeup bag.

            Overall, per usual, I loved my box there was a lot better balance of products than in boxes past though I still miss the fitness items but as a company grows and changes it makes sense to source a more diverse selection of items that your members want.

            Want to know that I got in my Spring box this year, you can, just click on it!

            Do you subscribe? Did you get an item you really loved or not so much? Let me know in the comments! 

            See everyone later in the week with another post, 

            -MJ

Spring 2020 FabFitFun unboxing

.Reading time 11 minutes.

Hey Hey, it’s MJ,

Welcome to the first fabfitfun box of 2020 and it feels like I should be on my third box of the year because March has taken a good six months to get through and February felt just as long for different reasons. This box was a bright shiny spot in my life right now, so I am going to go through it. This box was a little different than boxes in the past because it had the option for “throwback” items which was interesting but a little strange. I don’t disagree with bringing back fan favorites after a few years so people can rediscover past favorites. It was also different because almost all if not all of the items had multiple choices instead of there being items that were in every box. 

So what did I get? The first three items I chose so we are going to go through those first. 

Revive Light Therapy Glo Wrinkle and Anti-Aging Light Device

            Infrared light therapy is a really interesting thing, granted I don’t have a lot of wrinkles yet, I am only in my late 20’s (it’s so weird to say that). Preventative measures are always a good thing because I do try really hard to take better care of my skin and if reducing fine lines and wrinkles from laughing and smiling that is not a bad thing to look out for. It’s a three minute treatment and it shuts off after the three minutes so that’s nice that it gives you that time frame and understanding on how long you need to have it on your skin in a stationary position so you don’t do damage to your skin. The other options were the Donni: Ribbed Sweater Coat, the Caravan Diamond Woven Rug, Summer & Rose Navy Diamond Tote, the West Elm Indigo Tie-Dye Bowls, or the Elemis Peptide4 Night Recovery Cream.

Calpak Set of 3 Packing Cubes in Sorbet (or Tutti Fruity, I don’t remember) 

            I don’t travel much but I want to, I have always liked to travel and I love to keep things organized so having something to pack into my suitcase so I don’t actually just shove everything I’m taking with me just haphazardly into the bag and hope for the best. That is my normal trick, stuff everything in to the suitcase and hope for the best. They are mesh fronted so they have a little give to them and I am really excited to eventually have a chance to use them. The other options for choices were the Murad Rapid Collagen Infusion, Shoshanna Umbrella, Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Drink of H2O Hydrating Boost Moisturizer, Tarte Tartist Pro Glow Highlight & Contour Palette (which I got in one of my first fabfitfun boxes), or the 111Skin Rose Gold Radiance Booster.

Wei Two in One Purify and Glow Mask Collection

            Do I need any more masks, probably not but I chose this one anyway because I liked the look of it. I like that you get four treatments out of it with an exfoliating brown sugar exfoliating mask and then a golden root purifying mud mask. I like the brush too it feels really nice. I am excited to give it a try because I don’t have a lot of mud masks, I am much more of a sheet mask kind of human but with skin care and beauty I am willing to give like I’ve said most things a try at least once. The other options for this was the Amber Sceats Double Coin Necklace, Gravity Weighted Sleep Mask, Cosmedix Pure C, Green Goo Hibiscus Plant based Body Scrub.

Next are the set of items that are only choices for select members, one day I will do that but that day is still not today.

Stone Cole Fox Tea Towels

You can’t ever have too many tea towels, right? Well these ones are super simple in the best way, a nice clean design and a nice material that I can’t wait to wash an put in my kitchen. I really like versatile household items and having a non-beauty or skin care item is really great and something that I have missed in past boxes. The other options were the Aria Beauty Luxe Detangling Electroplated Brush, Jaboneira Marianella, Imperial Jade Body Oil, or the Aveda Damage Remedy Daily Hair Repair. (which I have and I love!)

The Better Skin Co. Better Skin Epik C Serum Power Trio Complex

            This was a surprise item in my box and it was a mystery so I was totally cool with getting a mystery item. I don’t use a lot of serums and many that I have used just aren’t compatible with my skin so I am excited to give this one a try. I love the packaging on The Better Skin Co.’s items and it looks like a pretty thick serum. It smells really good and a little really does go a long way. I used it on my hand first to test it out and it melts into the skin so I am hopeful that maybe this will be a serum that I can use and not have the same adverse effects that I have had with some in the past. The options in the magazine were the AG Hair Fast Food Leave-on Conditioner, Smith French Dublin Aromatic Hand Wash in Fresh Green Leaves, Lovescript Body wash, Speaqua Cruiser Bluetooth Wireless Speaker, Ciaté London Fierce Flicks Precision Tip Liquid Liner, or the Eparé Dual Salt and Pepper Mill.

This Works Deep Sleep Body Cocoon 

            I don’t want to break the seal on it because I don’t want it to go bad but I really hope that it smells like lavender or something to that end, some nice relaxing calming scent so I’m just going to have to Google it and find out, it does and I am excited it smells like lavender, chamomile, and vetiver and those are all nice calming scents and my regular night time body lotion from Bath and Body Works, which they have now discontinued is lavender based so this is still exciting to have a new lotion to try with my nighttime routine. The other option was the Whish Beauty Blue Matcha Restoring Mask.

Chic & Tonic Silicone Straws

            I actually really like reusable straws, I have tried really hard to cut down on my use of single use plastics that aren’t recyclable. It’s four straws and a small pill shaped silicone carrying case. These are foldable so they are easier to take into public and use instead of a standard metal straw. The other options were the Wander Beauty Mile High Club Volume and Length Mascara, or the Spongellé Body Wash Infused Buffer in “Black Orchid”. 

Pūrlisse Watermelon Energizing 2 Minute Polishing Peel

            I love watermelon scented things and Pūrlisse has some great watermelon smelling things in their product lineup. I will have to spot test this one because it is a polishing peel but I am hopeful that it doesn’t irritate my skin. I don’t know what else to say about it until I actually get a chance to try it out. The other options were the Winky Lux Rainbow Lip Balm or the Avéne Thermal Spring Water. 

            I really liked my box this season even with all of the options, in this time of uncertainty having something like this in my life brings a smile to my face. 

I’ll see you guys later in the week so have a good few days!

            -MJ