Tag: subscription box

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

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 

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

What Was in My May 2021 IPSY Glam Bag?

.Reading time 10 minutes.

Hey hey, it’s MJ,

            Well I didn’t mean to take a month off, I really didn’t, but here we are either way. I had a weird May with the end of school and waiting for jobs to be posted, I am really hoping to get into the building I was in this year as a full time teacher. I really loved teaching middle school, who knew? Seriously, when I was getting my Master’s I thought that I wanted to work with little kids; I even student taught in 3rd grade, but this long term sub posting fell into my lap and I don’t want to be anywhere else. I found a family and I would really like to keep it. 

            So on to this since it’s kind of June, oops, my bad. It’s been a time y’all, a time. Here is May, June will be up when I get it in the mail.

The Bag:

            I loved the bags this time with the two tone pink flowers, this is for sure one of my top ten favorite bags and I have probably said that a good dozen times but that list does change more frequently than I would like to admit. My parents are actually on vacation and some of the bags I didn’t want any more are going to my cousin’s kids and I hope they like them. 

On to the most important part, what did I get?

The Products: 

Skin&Co Roma Citrus Amaro Hand Cream: 

            I love Skin&Co, I have a few of their products, or I have received them in the past and I have never been unhappy with them. This will probably be the hand cream that I stick in my purse and use on the go because I am a hand cream hoarder and I have to have one pretty much within arm’s reach wherever I am. I also love citrus scents in the summer so I am excited to give this one a try. I actually put some on and I have to say this, it smells amazing (not super overpowering), it goes on and it doesn’t make your hands feel sticky, and it’s not super greasy. So I am even more excited now than I was a few minutes ago. 

Looks&Meii Cosmetic Infinity Sleeping Lip Mask:

            I’m going to confess something, I have never used a lip mask; lip scrub is a more frequent fall and winter favorite so I am excited to see how it goes when I actually try this out, it might be tonight but who knows with me at this point. I hope it’s not sticky or anything like that. I do hope it’s more like a balm because I sometimes wear lip balm to bed but it’s not a frequent occurrence in my beauty routine. It’s made in Korea so I do hope that it is K-Beauty because there is so much great K-Beauty products out there. 

Context Skin Nail Lacquer in Body Talk:

            I was a secretary at a nail salon when I was in high school and so I was around a lot of nail polish like all the time. I don’t wear nail polish anymore, only on special occasions and to be honest; I didn’t really like this product. The color is fine and I did put it on to check it out but I didn’t like the application or the coverage. I love that it is free of some of the ingredients that you see in a lot of nail polishes but it’s just not for me because I don’t wear nail polish. 

Tula Skincare The Instant Facial Dual-Phase Skin Reviving Treatment Pads:

            I chose this one and I love Tula, I used their face wash for a significant part of last year and I loved it so much. I saw this one on IPSY’s Instagram and I knew immediately that I wanted it, if it was offered to me. Tula makes some really great skin care items and they don’t aggravate my skin (one of the products I’m using at the moment is really messing with my skin and I don’t know which one it is. Or it’s just bringing all the crap out of my pores and it’s going to look better soon, who knows.) I am really excited to give these a try when I get home next week. 

Item Beauty Lip Quip in Come Thru:

            I love the packaging, I kept it just because I wanted to take a picture of it for this post. I just read the card and it said it was from a TikTok star, I have recently downloaded the dreaded clock app and I have been losing hours to it. So this is fitting. I like a lot of the ingredients that are listed on the card because they are super moisturizing and there is a slight tint to it. Here’s hoping that I like it. It’s made without parabens and it’s vegan and you all by now know how much I like those buzz words on packaging. 

            For the most part the bag was good, I didn’t like the nail polish but everything else was cool. I am looking forward to my bag this month and I know that there are going to be four IPSY posts this month but let’s be real, June of 2018 was the same way because I took most of May off then too. I just haven’t felt creatively driven and for me, that’s super difficult to deal with because creativity on some days is the only thing that keeps me going. It’s been a challenge, but I’m walking out the other side stronger than before, so we good.

If you want to check out what else I have gotten this year, you can! Just click on the month, January, February, March, or April.

            I hope everyone has a great start to the week and I will be back on Wednesday with a post I wrote a good month ago because that was supposed to be my next post in May but then I never posted it. Stay happy and healthy!

            -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

What was in My December 2020 IPSY Glam Bag

.Reading time 9 minutes.

Hey hey, it’ MJ, 

How is it already December, my Christmas break started on Friday afternoon so I am off for a few weeks and I was ready for a break. So here we are with the last Glam Bag unbagging of this year. I am looking forward to see what happens next year with IPSY’s offerings. I know they now have the Glam Bag X which is quarterly which will be interesting, I will not be getting it and I think it replaced the Glam Bag Ultimate which is fine, I didn’t get that one either.

            I feel like I don’t have so much to say at the beginning of this post just because I don’t have many thoughts in my head at this moment, it’s been a trying year y’all a trying year. I never thought that when I talk about a mask collection it would be anything besides sheet masks but here we are. 

The Bag: 

            It’s really cute and feels very different than the Glam Bag Plus this month, it feels more like I would expect it to feel by the pictures, honestly it feels like a dog toy that we had for our dog Duke, it was an elephant with almost a sheep like texture, I like the fact that it’s a blush pink almost crème but I am not sure how I feel about it being fuzzy. 

The Products: 

The Crème Shop Mask Duo:

            I chose this one because I like the Crème Shop when it comes to sheet masks and it came as a set of two one called A Snowman Story with a bunch of really good things that really help with skin hydration and lets be real this time of year with the cold and the wind you need all the hydration you can get. The second is called Deer Diary which is collagen and berry which is good for moisturizing and again at this time of year you need that. I love sheet masks and I need to get back into using them because I have several and I like using them but just finding 20 minutes to turn my brain off at this moment just isn’t something I can seem to do. 

Murad Environmental Shield Essential-C Cleanser:

            I really enjoy Murad but I have never had one of their cleansers and I am really excited to try this one, I like trying new cleaners and moisturizers because it helps me find items that really work for my skin and I am hoping that this one works for my skin concerns and sensitivity level. I really don’t have much else to say about it because until I try a cleanser I don’t really know what it’s going to be like. 

It Cosmetics Superhero Mascara:

            I got a mascara last month from Eyeko and I hated when I actually got to try it. I am working through all my mascara samples at the moment and I am using one from MAC and I would honestly buy a full size of it if it wasn’t $24 because that’s so much for mascara and I have like a billion sample sized products. I am excited to give this one a try because it has a long brush and according to the websites description it is volumizing which is really cool because that tends to be the mascara that I am drawn to. Also according to the description it has some really good ingredients in it that protect and nourish your lashes so I am for sure going to give this one a try but I have some other ones to try first. Some of the reviews say it clumps but let’s be honest I feel like most do or I’m just really bad at mascara. 

Beauty For Real Lip Gloss + Shine in Nudist

            I don’t like lip gloss, I wore a lot of lip gloss in the mid-2000’s because that was the style before liquid lipstick was really a thing to pre-teen and teenage me. This has some sort of mint in it because it tingles a little bit and that’s a little strange. I put it on just to see what it looked and felt like and it’s sticky and honestly for me it’s not as shiny as they claim it to be, it looks like I am wearing lip balm and not much else. There are a few makeup items that I rarely or never use and lip gloss is one of them. Some people love lip gloss on over a lipstick but I don’t like the feeling of it and that’s totally fine, if you like it we can agree to disagree. 

Lasting Smiles Peppermint Crème Lip Balm:

            I have like a thousand lip balms around my apartment but I am never mad about getting another one because I inevitably lose them and then get more and then find the one I lost. I like the fact that it’s organic and cruelty free, I am not going to open it yet because I already have several open but I am looking forward to using this one because tis the season for the need for lip balm not only because of the weather but also having to wear a mask all day at work. 

            So that’s the last Glam Bag for the year, this year has had so many great products that I have absolutely loved and some that have missed the mark but if you get 60 samples in a year it’s going to be almost impossible to get every single one be amazing. Overall I like this bag, except for the lip gloss but that happens. I am excited for next year and new products so here’s to 12 more posts next year.

            If you want to know everything I have gotten this year, except February because that was a lost month you can: January, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, and November. 

            I hope everyone has a great start to the week and I will be back mid-week with another post. 

            -MJ

December 2020 IPSY Glam Bag Plus Unboxing

.Reading time 9 minutes.

Hey hey, it’s MJ,

            So I cannot believe that this is the last Glam Bag Plus post of the year, how has this year slipped by so fast but also felt like 350 years of history all in about 366 days and we aren’t even at the end of the year yet. 

            There are going to be six items in this because I redeemed points and got a really nice eye shadow palette, I have another form the same brand and I love it so much. So there will be more items in this one that usual, though there are half and half skin care and cosmetics in this. I chose most of the skin care and the value of my box was insane for a $25 plus tax price tag. 

The Bag:

            I expected it to be shearling feeling by the pictures on the website but it’s finer than that, I really don’t know how to explain it but it’s not fuzzy but it’s still really nice. I do like the Glam Bag Plus bags lately now that they are different than the regular Glam Bag bags. 

The Products: 

            So what did I get? I will say this first though, the choices this month were better than months prior and I think they are finally starting to find their groove with this new choice system. 

Doucce Freematic Limited Edition Smokey Pro Palette:

            Doucce makes some amazing products, their mascara’s are some of my favorites ever and having another palette from them is always a great addition to the collection, I like their palette’s because the single pans come out so if you run out of one or want to switch up some colors you can with no problem, it also comes with a highlighter and I am a sucker for highlighters so having another one is pretty great over all. I also like that the matte shades and the shimmer/metallic shades are balanced four and four usually in a palette the balance shifts one or the other and that can make day looks more difficult. 

QMS Medicosmetics ACE Vitamin Day & Night Cream:

            I chose this one, I love a good day and night cream and I have been going though moisturizer a lot this year because well this year hasn’t been too nice to my skin between makeup and face masks and face masks while wearing makeup all day at work I have had more skin issues this fall than in months past so I chose this one in hope that I can get some really good moisture in my skin. Also this is one of those products that is luxury skin care that I would never buy at full price because of the price so being able to get it in a bag like this is amazing to me.

111Skin 3 Phase Anti-Blemish Booster

            I got two acne products in this bag, this one and the next one, I chose this one because I love 111Skin but it’s just out of my price range on a normal day but their products are amazing, I have a few of them stashed away in my fridge to keep them fresh and I am looking forward to being able to have another serum to try out.

Shaina B Miami Mini Miami Blush and Highlight Palette:

            I will never stop loving the flamingo logo’s in this brands pans, I chose this one as well and this was the last one that I chose this go round. I like the shades, the blush in shade Rosa is actually the right color for my skin tone Brickell is a little dark but I could almost use that as a contour shade so I’m not upset about it. Maybe it’ll look different on the skin than in the pan so who knows. 

Tula Skincare Go Away Acne Spot Treatment:

            I really like Tula as well, I have their cleanser and it’s one of my favorites so getting another Tula product is always nice. It’s another spot treatment and I think that I need to get back into using spot treatments again because again my skin is suffering from everything that’s been going on this year so I am really looking forward to adding this into my skincare routine to help combat my skin issues that have been cropping up a lot more recently. Like seriously I got my skin under control late last year and into this year and then well the world blew up and my skin has been suffering with the stress, masks, hormonal, and environmental stuff this year.

IL Makiage Color Boss Multi-Dimensional Eye Color in Eyes on the Prize:

            I am going to start off and say holy crap this is pigmented and so gold, I really like the shade and a little goes a long way. I love the packaging when I opened it I kept opening and closing the uni-carton because it was hinged and the packaging itself on the product is beautiful. The shade and pigmentation are great and I will find a use for this in looks in the future because it’s a great shade. 

            Overall my December Glam Bag Plus was a great way to end off the year with this service, I can’t wait to see what next year brings with the Glam Bag’s both the regular and the Plus but we will have to wait and see for what January will bring. 

            If you want to know what else I have gotten this year you can, January, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, and November.

            I will see all of you later in the week with another post so until then I hope everyone has a great rest of the week!

            -MJ

July 2020 IPSY Glam Bag Plus Unboxing

.Reading time 9 minutes.

Hey, hey it’s MJ,

            Well so July is pretty much over which is still crazy to me because I feel like it was just February but let’s be honest with ourselves time isn’t real anymore and I just don’t think the concept of time is something that defines us right now. 

            So the Glam Bag Plus is changing next month with three customizations, three of the five products rather and that’s insanity to me, I know it’s to give more customization to the members. I like the idea of more customization but I don’t know what next month will bring because the customization doesn’t open until the beginning of August so I will have more information and insights next month on what I personally think of the new service. 

            The bag like the regular Glam Bag this month was plasticky which is fine and I know the bag will be changing next month, again I will let you know. The bag is cool though it’s purple and teal with wanderlust written on it, again, very 80’s to me and I still love it. I like this one more than the regular glam bag this month but purple is my favorite color so that makes sense. 

Products: 

Ciaté London Watermelon Burst Hydrating Primer: 

            I got a Ciaté watermelon product in my regular glam bag though, it was a lip oil and I wore it the whole time I was writing that blog post (which for me was yesterday but several days ago for you guys) and I actually really liked it. So this is a primer and I have so many primers now because of IPSY, like I like primers but let’s be honest you only need like two I have a good dozen and I have a lot of primers. I wish I used primers more but I don’t know how I feel about a watermelon primer but it says it’s really hydrating and that is something I for sure always need no matter what because I live in the south and it’s hot during the summer. It’s also silicone free and pore refining so I am going to give it a try.

Awake Glow Pill Super Serum:

            Two of my favorite things to see on packaging is cruelty free and vegan which is always great but I am for sure getting more and more into serums, I am currently loving the Better Skin Co. Epik C Serum and it has done so many good things for my skin. I remember a time when I just had to like rinse my face and it was fine now I have like an eight step skin care routine, you can check that out if you want. Back to the serum though it has B vitamins in it and it helps hydrate so it sounds like all good things and the packaging both on the cardboard outer sleeve and the component itself so I can’t wait to try this out (for now it’s going to go in fridge so it stays fresher longer) I really do need a skin car fridge and at this point with the amount of skin care I have now I really need like a dorm fridge for all of it. I mean really. 

Complex Culture Contour • Blush Brush:

            I have one other Complex Culture brush and I kind of love it but this brush looks so cool! I can for sure say that I do not have any brushes that are shaped like this so it will for sure go into my main brush holder. I like how it feels and I actually redeemed my IPSY points to get another brush from this same company because I like their brushes. It is a brush and a good brush is a good brush.

Tarte SEA Surfer Curl Volumizing Mascara:

            I love Tarte and that is no secret but I have never actually had a full size of their mascara, sample sizes sure but never a full sized so I am intrigued to use their mascara and this is a pretty new formula, I think. The packaging is nice and simple and it also has some of my favorite words, cruelty free and vegan. I am looking forward to getting to try it because again right now since no one is doing anything why am I going to use it and waste it so you know I will use it eventually. 

Pūrlisse Beauty Matcha Green Tea Antioxidant Priming Moisturizer: 

            I really like Pūrlisse and I have been using it a lot recently and I am a huge fan of a lot of the products I have gotten to use from them and I know that I will more than likely like this one as well because it’s green tea and green tea is a great moisturizer and a lot of their products have white tea in them which is great for sensitive skin so I’m excited about it. Their blue lotus eye cream is my current favorite so I am excited to have the opportunity to try more products.

            Overall it was a great bag, lots of skin care like mostly skin care but next month seems to present an interesting challenge and opportunity so I will report back on that next month. 

            Wanna see what else I’ve gotten this year? January, March, April, May, and June!

            Hope you have a good week and I’ll see y’all with another post soon!

                        -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

What was in my May 2020 IPSY Glam Bag?

.Reading time 7 minutes.

Hey, hey it’s MJ, 

            I am trying to keep a schedule on blogging, as we can all see from my posts this month it’s not going well. I am trying, I really am but let’s be real life is crazy at the moment. 

The Bag:

            Like the Glam Bag Plus this was also an ombre, this one however was a pink to yellow and much larger than the one in the Glam Bag Plus (it would have made more sense in my head if they switched them but I’m not in charge of things). I do like the bag though, it’s pretty basic with a top zip but I like it. 

The products:

Yensa Skin on Skin BC Concealer in Fair Cool:

            When I opened this it almost pressurized on the inside so a bunch of product just kind of leaked out so I got to try it without really having a choice to do so. It’s about the right shade though it is just a little dark for me, so hopefully during the summer it might be close to the right shade because even though it’s a cool tone it is still a little too yellow for me. I love the packaging though so that is one upside to it, I like concealers but they are hard to match in a subscription service like this. 

F.A.R.AH Brushes Long Blender (25EL) Brush: 

            I like how the brush looks but I am at this point of, do I need any more brushes? The answer to that is no, I know that it’s easy to throw a brush in and call it done. It’s an IPSY exclusive which is cool but it’s a basic eyeshadow brush. Cruelty free and vegan so I can’t be mad and it’s a nice brush to shove in a makeup bag to go because it’s decently packed but not too fluffy and not too dense. 

First Aid Beauty FAB Pharma Arnica Relief & Rescue Mask:

            I like First Aid Beauty it’s a great brand that I don’t use very often but probably should use it more. It is an anti-inflammatory mask so that is exciting for me. It’s a leave on mask so that is also exciting because at this point the only masks that I really want to take the time to remove are sheet masks. It has a lot of benefits that I am all for in a facial product so I am excited to give it a try. 

TheBalm Cosmetics AutoBalm Pic Perf in St. Charles Ave: 

            I have an AutoBalm palette and I really like it, this is not a shade I already have so that was exciting and it’s a nice neutral brown so I was excited about that. I have a problem with single shadows though for the sheer reason that I have to remove them from their packaging to put them in something else if I don’t want to carry around a bunch of tiny shadow containers. I wish that companies would put them in containers that are easier to remove the product from because with this one I will have to do some major excavation and hope not to break the shadow pan if I ever want to take it out. I like the shade though and that’s really all that matters. 

Tarte SEA Jelly Glaze Anytime Lip Mask in Strawberry Jelly:

            It smells like strawberries and it is very small. I like the packaging but I rarely ever use lip treatments, some sugar scrub here and some lip balm there but pretty much nothing else. I also don’t like the feeling of jelly like items on my lips I avoid lip gloss (I did not before college but I do now) I don’t like when my lips stick together or feel sticky, it’s not a feeling that I like. I will give it a chance because I love Tarte but this was kind of the odd outlier in my bag this month. Maybe I’ll like it, who knows.

            Overall I liked the bag this month, it wasn’t the best and it wasn’t the worst so I don’t have much to complain about. If you want to see what else I have gotten this year check out January, March, and April. 

            Do you subscribe? Did you get any favorite new products this month?

            I’ll see everyone in a few days with a new post!

            -MJ