Black Friday Deal: 15% Off Bestowed Gift Memberships!

Bestowed is offering a great Black Friday deal: now through Monday, December 2nd, you can get 15% off of 3-, 6-, and 12-month gift memberships.  No coupon code is needed, just head over to this page.

If you're not familiar with Bestowed, they send a curated box of healthy snacks for $19 a month.  I've loved all of the boxes they've sent me, and I think anyone who loves food as much as I do would enjoy this box!  To read all of my Bestowed reviews, click here.

*Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post.

Birchbox Home "Snow Day" Review

I had $40 worth of Birchbox points to use and I didn't want to use them on one overpriced product, so I decided to use them to buy the Snow Day Home Box.  I've never purchased a specialty box from Birchbox before, but this one was really cute.

This box costs $39 and contains a great variety of items.  I think the selections fit the "Snow Day" theme really well, and I liked most of them a lot.  My only gripe is that I wish the skincare/beauty products were larger sizes, but overall this box made me happy.

• Mox Botanicals Body Soak in Matcha & Clementine ($4.45) - I'm not sure when I'll be able to use this because I don't take baths often (my tub just isn't big enough for it to be a relaxing experience), but I've heard good things about this soak and this brand.
• L'Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream ($1.78) - L'Occitane is an iffy brand for me, because while their products are not tested on animals, they sell in China, so their products will eventually be tested on animals due to Chinese governmental regulations.  I prefer to steer clear of any testing, so I won't use this--but it makes a great stocking stuffer, so I'll regift it to someone else.
• S.W. Basics Organic Lip Balm in Cinnamon ($4) - Now here is a brand that is entirely cruelty-free, and amazing!  I have the lip balm flight (set of four) from this company back when they were named Sprout Skincare.  The cinnamon balm is still just as wonderful, and it's definitely my favorite item in the box.  It's incredibly smooth and smells amazing and I just love it!
• Chantecaille Flower Infused Cleansing Milk ($5.08) - I've never used any Chantecaille products before, and this sample is so tiny (.27 oz) that I doubt I'll really get a feel for how it works with my skin.  I definitely wish the sample size was bigger for this one.
• Chantecaille Jasmine and Lily Healing Mask ($7.90) - This sample is even smaller than the cleansing milk at .17 oz, and that's really disappointing to me.  I know these are both expensive products, but my issue with tiny skincare samples is that they don't last long enough to see whether or not the product is really a good fit for your skin.

• Happy Socks Combed Cotton Crew Socks ($10) - I love tall socks for the wintertime.  These are a fun pattern and really soft.  I've worn them a few times under my boots and they keep my toes nice and warm.
• (MALIN+GOETZ) Votive in Cannabis ($13.58) - I was really excited to get this candle, the scent options were either dark rum or cannabis, and I was actually hoping for the cannabis one.  I think most people who also received this box (at least, the ones who blogged about it) wanted the dark rum scent, but I was really intrigued by the "cannabis" name.  It smells nothing like marijuana (I only know because I was an RA in college and had to call university police often because people smoked in the res halls!); it's a masculine scent with a mixture of lemon, orange, fig, pepper, oakmoss, sandlewood, and amber-patchouli.  I actually have it burning right now as I type this!

• Scrabble Birchbox Edition Mini Game Set ($36) - I think the $36 retail for this is a little bit ridiculous, but this travel-sized Scrabble board is really cute!  I've never played real Scrabble before, only Words With Friends on my phone, so I'm excited to use this with my friends and family.
• Askinosie Chocolate Single Origin Cocoa Powder ($3.20) - I'm glad that Birchbox included some food items in this box, and hot chocolate is the obvious choice for a "Snow Day" theme.  This is what I consider "fancy chocolate:" it doesn't have that overly-saccharine taste that the average store-bought kind has.  I actually think this would be better for baking, but I'm too lazy to bake so I've been mixing this in with my coffee and it's delicious.
• Three Tarts Gourmet Marshmallows in Cinnamon ($2.20) - These marshmallows were really delicious, too.  I (of course) added one in with my Askinosie cocoa, but I soon realized that it was so big that it wouldn't fully melt.  I divided the next one into two pieces and it was the perfect size.
• Jonathan Adler Fireplace Matches in Purple Flame ($10) - This was my least favorite item in the box.  I don't have a fireplace, but I do burn a lot of candles.  I'll find a use for them, but I was mostly disappointed that this was included because I think it's a stupid product.  $10 for matches?  No thanks.  I understand that it fit with the theme, but I would have rather received something else.

Bottom Line: If my math is correct, and there's a good chance that it might not be, this box is worth approximately $98.  The value is greatly inflated due to the $36 retail price of the Scrabble board, but even if this box was worth only the $39 price tag I would be happy because I got it for free.  I still think it's a really fun box even if you pay full price for it, and it makes a great gift for the holidays, too.

*Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post.

STEAMCREAM Review: Perfect for the Holidays!

Tomorrow is the first night of Hanukkah, and Christmas is also quickly approaching.  It's that time of year to start stocking up on gifts, and that's where STEAMCREAM comes in.  This cruelty-free, natural cream for the face and body is the perfect gift for the conscious consumer!

STEAMCREAM was fairly new to me prior to this review, as it was not readily available in the US. until recently.  It's an all-in-one vegan moisturizer that's handmade in the UK and Japan.  It's called "STEAMCREAM" because they use a unique steaming process that creates an effective, lightweight emulsion that is instantly absorbed by the skin.  This process fuses the ingredients together instantly, meaning longer-lasting hydration than standard creams.

Those ingredients include an oatmeal infusion, lavender essential oil, orange flower water, chamomile blue essential oil, organic jojoba oil, and a few more natural additions (you can view the entire list here).  They all combine to make a beautifully-scented product: to me it's light and herbal, and very soothing.

Another fun thing about STEAMCREAM, aside from its wonderful ingredients, is that its packaged in all kinds of beautiful, eco-friendly tins!  I chose to review the "Noir" tin because it reminded me of a snowflake.  They're currently stocked with plenty of holiday-themed tins, and have many more to suit a bevy of interests.  Some of my favorites from their design gallery are the Chiyoneko and Hibou (both of which are unfortunately sold out).

I've been using my STEAMCREAM on my face and body, and I'm absolutely in love with it!  My favorite thing about its performance is that it's so incredibly light: it goes on silky-smooth and feels like nothing at all on my face, but it definitely moisturizes very well.  A little bit goes a long way, so I think this tin will last me at least a few months.  When I run out, though, I will definitely be purchasing more in the future.  It ships from the UK, but they offer free worldwide shipping.  My cream arrived within a week, so I consider that pretty quick for international shipping.

Bottom Line: I am so impressed with STEAMCREAM!  It hydrates phenomenally well, it smells great, it's cruelty-free and vegan, and it's gentle on my sensitive skin.  Pick some up for you or your loved ones for the holidays, I'm sure you'll all love it!

*Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by STEAMCREAM.  I received no monetary compensation.

New Deux Lux Goodies!

Back in October Deux Lux held a "What's in your Deux Lux bag?" contest and I won!  I have been completely obsessed with the brand since I found out about them on Little Black Bag, so to win three brand new pieces was really exciting!

Above is the photo I entered into the contest.  It shows the Mojito Small Tote I was taking to work at the time, along with my Daiquiri PDA, Maldives ID holder (that I kept my work badge in), Skipper Wristlet (that I kept miscellaneous makeup in), and my Gigi iPad Case.

And here's what I won!  These three items were a Deux Lux staffer's favorites from the fall collection: the Essex Tote, Foiled Cosmetic Case, and Double Cross Wallet.  I was eyeing the Essex Tote but decided I probably wouldn't buy it because it retails for $105 and I already have three or four Deux Lux totes, so when I found out that it was one of the prizes I knew I had to enter the giveaway.  It's a gorgeous tote and I love the faux python detailing.  I was also really happy that I got the Plum color, because that one was my favorite of the four it comes in!

The Double Cross Wallet is a great size and could easily double as a clutch.  It's 9" x 5" and can hold up to 12 cards, and it also has a zip pouch for coins and two bill dividers.  I love the color and the gold hardware, and the turn-lock closure is one I've never seen on a wallet before.  I'm not currently carrying this wallet because I prefer my Aurora (also by Deux Lux) with the zip closure, but I would definitely use this as a clutch the next time I go out.

The Foiled Cosmetic Case is also beautiful.  It's just so shiny!  It's a lot bigger than I imagined it would be (6" x 5" x 2.5"), but that's not a complaint.  I'm currently using this for when I go to my boyfriend's house (we're long distance) and I keep my travel-sized hair care products in it.  I received the gold color, and it also comes in silver and navy.

Bottom Line: I'm so thankful that I won this giveaway!  All of the prizes exceeded my expectations, like every other Deux Lux product I've ever owned.  If you've never heard of the brand before, I highly encourage you to check them out.  Every DL item I have is high quality and well worth the money.  If you're on a more limited budget, check out Little Black Bag or Marshall's/TJ Maxx; sometimes they have items from past seasons available.

*Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post.

Check out more two more photos of my items after the "read more."

October and November Birchbox Reviews

I never got around to posting my October Birchbox review, so I'm going to include it in with this review of my November box.  Birchbox has been so much better since I resubscribed this year that I'm even considering cancelling my monthly subscription and opting for the yearly one (you get one box free that way)!  I subscribed for three boxes in 2011 and tried four more in 2012, but I cancelled after receiving only a few because they were not so impressive.  But ever since Birchbox added more options to the user profile this year I've loved every box I've gotten!

October's theme was "Beauty Buzz," and it featured, well, products that were generating a lot of interest.

• 12 Benefits Instant Healthy Hair Treatment (~$4.76) - I've said before that I heat style every day, so I'm always looking for hair products that will protect and nourish my dry ends.  This spray works to reverse the damage caused by heat styling, hair dye, and environmental aggressors.  I really liked the scent and I did notice that it made my hair feel softer and smoother.
• POP Beauty Aqua Lacquer ($14) - At first I wasn't too excited about this lip gloss because I already have a ton of lip products that I don't use, but after trying it I ended up loving it.  I received the shade "Flowering Fucshia," and although it looks intense in the tube it actually gives the perfect amount of color--nothing too overwhelming.  It is very thick, though, so people who don't like sticky glosses will probably want to steer clear of this one.  Oh, and my favorite thing about it was that it gives a slightly tingly feeling when you apply it.
• Supergoop! City Sunscreen Serum (~$.44) - I was glad that I finally got to try a Supergoop! product because I've been really curious about them since their products started popping up on Little Black Bag over the summer.  I had heard of the brand before, but I was never able to get anyone to trade with me on LBB so I remained Supergoop!-less.  I liked this sunscreen; it was very light and didn't leave my skin feeling sticky as some sunscreens have in the past.  I probably wouldn't purchase a full-sized version, though, since it costs $42 for 1.6 oz.
• Karuna Hydrating Treatment Mask ($7) - Normally I stay away from cloth masks because I don't like slopping them onto my face, but I was willing to give this one a try.  I'm so glad I did, because it smelled amazing!  It was vanilla scented and I really, really enjoyed using it.  It was incredibly hydrating and my skin felt super soft after using it.  I may or may not purchase a full-sized pack of these (4 for $28).
• Chapstick Hydration Lock ($2.99) - I didn't include this in the photo above, but it was the "Birchbox Find" for October.  I gave it to my mom because Chapstick is a brand I don't use.

November's box may be the best one I've gotten this year.  The theme was "More Good," e.g. giving thanks, giving back, and generally paying it forward during the holiday season.  I'm not really sure how that ties into the products, but I'm not complaining because Birchbox did an awesome job of sending me things I loved this month!

• Chuao Chocolatier Chocopod (~$1.24) - I LOVE Chuao, and I actually discovered the brand through Birchbox last year.  I didn't receive a Chocopod in my box until now, but I have bought many a bar from my grocery store in the past.  I got the "Honeycomb" flavor and it was delicious.  There wasn't a very strong honey flavor, but overall I enjoyed it.  My favorite bar they make is the "Firecracker" one.
• Chella Highlighter Pencil ($18) - I was really interested in trying this out because I've never used a pencil highlighter before, but I don't think the shade is quite right for my skin tone; it kind of just disappears after I blend it in.  I got the "Ivory Lace" shade, but I the other option ("Latte") might be too dark for my skin.  Even though it doesn't work so well as a highlighter for my face, since it applies so smoothly I'm going to use it to line my waterline to brighten up my eyes.
• TOCCA Crema de Mano Luxe ($5) - I got the "Cleopatra" scent, which is a mixture of grapefruit and cucumber.  It (obviously) smells fresh and citrus-y and I really like it.  It's also paraben-free, which I like, but it does have a few other synthetics that I don't entirely enjoy.
• Vasanti BrightenUp! Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator (~$5.67) - My skin gets so flaky during the winter, but it's also sensitive so I can't really exfoliate more than once a week.  The label for this states that it's appropriate to use 3-5 times a week and mimics the effects of microdermabrasion.  I enjoyed using it and it's definitely effective, but I think I'll stick to using it maybe twice a week.
• Color Club Cocktail Hour Collection ($4) - This is the third or fourth Color Club polish I've gotten from Birchbox, and I say: keep 'em coming!  Color Club is one of my top favorite nail polish brands because their formula is fantastic.  I received the shade "Top Shelf," which is a beautiful champagne/gold shimmer that's perfect for the holidays.

Bottom Line: October and November brought another set of great Birchboxes for me!  Have you noticed an improvement in your boxes since they changed the user profile?

*Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post.