December 2020 Ipsy Glam Bag Review

I think everyone knows about Ipsy by now. I used to subscribe years ago when they first launched and were still called MyGlam. I decided to subscribe again because they've become one of the best affordable beauty subscriptions, in my opinion.

*Disclaimer: This box was purchased by See, Shop, Love! Post contains referral links.

Ipsy costs $12 per month for their basic Glam Bag. They also have a Glam Bag Plus for $25 per month, and a Glam Bag X that replaces your bag once a quarter for $43 per bag.

The standard Glam Bag comes with five samples worth $50+ every month. Glam Bag Plus sends five full-sized products, and the Glam Bag X sends seven full-sized products and you get to choose three of them. Shipping is free to the U.S. and $2.95 to Canada.

I was drawn back to Ipsy because I liked the quality of brands and product types that they've been sending out. I think it's a good deal for only $12 and I was running low on my beauty sample supply (finally).

My December bag had a good representation of products that fit my needs very well. I also liked the design of the December bag itself, though I could do without a monthly bag. I don't know what to do with them -- they're nice enough that I feel guilty throwing them out, but I also don't need all these little pouches (I usually end up donating them).

 

Here's what was in my bag:

• IT Cosmetics Confidence in a Cream: This moisturizer is clinically tested to give skin a healthier, more radiant appearance with Vitamin E, hyaluronic acid, colloidal oatmeal, shea butter, ceramides, and more. It's a thicker cream that's great for winter but it still felt light on my skin and absorbed quickly.
• Caudalie Vinoperfect Radiance Serum: I've tried this serum a few times before and it's fine, but nothing special to me. It probably works well, but the sample size is too small to really be able to tell how well it works with my skin. It has green grape extract and patented viniferine to help lighten hyperpigmentation and even skin tone.
  

•  Violet Voss Single Eyeshadow in Nude Sparks: I love this eyeshadow shade. It's a gorgeous golden brown with shimmer flecks. I like wearing it on my lids as a single shade for extra dimension, but it's also great as a base for other colors.
• Glam Up Moisturizing Avocado and Nourishing Acai Berry Sheet Mask Set: I love sheet masks so I'll take as many as Ipsy wants to send. The avocado mask is great for moisturizing and the acai berry works to tighten pores and smooth fine lines.
• Beauty for Real Lip Cream + Color in Really Red: This is a gorgeous red lipstick. I prefer liquids and usually go for mattes, but this cream stayed put on my lips and looked very glam.
  

The December bag had a faux shearling design and was really cute! The bags are much better made than when I used to subscribe.

• Visit Ipsy to subscribe
  

Winter 2020 FabFitFun Review and $10 Off Coupon

I've always liked FabFitFun but I've subscribed intermittently. I started up again with the Winter 2020 box and am pretty happy with my item selection.

*Disclaimer: This box was purchased by See, Shop, Love! Post contains referral links.

FabFitFun is a women's lifestyle box that ships quarterly. You can sign up for a seasonal or annual subscription and are able to choose specific items each box, depending on your subscription type (annual members get to choose more items than seasonal).

I signed up for a monthly membership for now, but may upgrade to annual if the next few boxes are good. Here are their pricing options:

• Seasonal: $49.99 per quarter
• Annual: $179.99 per year (four boxes) 

Annual members have access to the item selection period sooner than seasonal members and their boxes ship first. You'll also be able to choose items from five or so categories per month, as opposed to seasonal, who get to choose from around three.

I received eight items in my Winter box, plus a bonus item and an add-on that I paid extra for. The first item is the eparé Cutting Boards ($19.99). They're thin cutting boards that are 11" x 14" and dishwasher safe. I cook often and had two separate cutting boards (one for veggies, one for meats), but I like having more options now for poultry, beef, and seafood.

• Dr. Brandt Pores No More Pore Purifying Cleanser ($36): I have a lot of cleaners already, but Dr. Brandt is a great brand and I know I'll use this eventually. It has salicylic acid, which is a must-have ingredient for my oily skin, plus tea tree oil and white willow bark.
• Kate Spade New York Workout Socks ($24): These are listed as for barre workouts but the textured bottoms are also great for yoga. I like the top opening, too, for keeping feet from getting overheated.
• Paradox Lucky Stars Blemish Patches ($18): These were chosen for me by FFF, and they're a good fit. I've been using blemish patches recently and they work surprisingly well. This brand is new to me and I'm interested to see if they work as well as others I've tried. These are black stars though, so definitely for wearing overnight or when I'm staying home all day.
  

• Mobile White Advanced Teeth Whitening Kit ($89.99): This was my hero item of the quarter. I've been wanting to whiten my teeth, so this option came around at the perfect time. The unit hooks up to your phone and emits a blue light along with a gel whitening solution. The box came with enough for nine days, and refills are $14.99. I did notice a difference in the whiteness of my teeth, but I'll definitely have to purchase refills to achieve the whiteness level that I want.
• Daily Concepts Daily Facial Dry Brush ($20): This was picked for me by FFF. I've never used a dry brush before and I didn't really know what to do with it. It's called a dry brush for a reason and is not meant to get wet. It provides lymphatic massage to your skin and helps stimulate circulation and reduce puffiness. I haven't tried it yet because I keep forgetting to use it!
  

• Huangjisoo Pure Perfect Cleansing Oil ($32): This was an add-on item. The way add-ons work is you'll have a few days to shop extra items from the FFF shop at discounted prices. You can add as many to your box as you'd like. I believe this cost me $11. I double cleanse, and this cleansing oil is a great and gentle first cleanse.
  

• Lucky Brand Solid Brushed Scarf ($69.50): I chose this item but it wasn't my first choice. There were skincare items in the category that I wanted more but they were sold out by the time seasonal subscribers got to choose. It's a very nice and warm scarf, I just don't feel that it's worth $69.50. I could find something similar for $20 or less.
  

• Phase Zero Makeup Making Moves Blusher ($28.50): This item was chosen by FFF. This blush is so beautiful! It's a nice peachy-pink and has the perfect amount of shimmer. I think this would be universally flattering for all skin tones.

The total retail value of my Winter 2020 FabFitFun box was $305.98, not including the Huangjisoo cleanser add-on. Although I know I could find less-expensive duplicates for some of these items, I still think the overall value I got for only $49.99 was worth it.

• Visit FabFitFun to subscribe
• Use this link to get $10 off your first box
  

November 2020 Spiffy Socks Review

Spiffy Socks is a fun and affordable way to add some color to your wardrobe. They send high quality socks in a variety of designs, and their November package was so cute!

*Disclaimer: This box was sent to See, Shop, Love! in exchange for an honest review.

You can get men's and women's socks from Spiffy Socks for $11 per month. Here are their subscription options:

• Monthly: $11 per month
• Three Months: $31 every three months
• Six Months: $61 every six months
• Yearly: $119 every 12 months

Shipping is free to the U.S. and extra to other countries; the exact shipping price will vary based on where you live.

You can also buy individual pairs as a one-time purchase for $20 per pair.

Spiffy Socks are different from your average pair because they're made with bamboo fibers, which are twice as soft as cotton. These socks feel so good on my feet! They're thin but still keep your feet nice and cozy. The bamboo is also great at regulating temperature, so they'll keep you warm when it's cold out and won't overheat your feet in warmer weather.

I love the November pattern! The socks are blue with little black sharks, or I suppose they could be another fish? But they look like sharks to me.

• Visit Spiffy Socks to subscribe

Bottom Line: Spiffy Socks is a really fun subscription. I love their fun designs and high quality socks. They'd make a great gift for yourself or someone else!

December 2020 Gramma in a Box Review

The holiday season means lots of cookies and treats for many families, and Gramma in a Box makes it easy to share candy and cookie creations with your loved ones!

*Disclaimer: This box was sent to See, Shop, Love! in exchange for an honest review.

Gramma in a Box is a monthly subscription that sends everything you need to create candy and cookie crafts. Each box has three crafts with enough supplies to create 15 to 20 individual treats.

Here are their pricing options:

• Monthly: $20 per month
  
• Three Months: $60 every three months
• Six Months: $120 every six months
• Baker's Dozen (13 Months): $245 every 13 months

You can also purchase a single box for $22 with no subscription. You can save 10% off the monthly, 3- and 6-month options by signing up for auto-debit, and 15% off the Baker's Dozen.

Shipping is included in all price options. Boxes ship on the first of the month and cancellations must be submitted by the 25th of the month to avoid the next month's charges. 

The December box featured holiday treats. All of the ingredients are individually sealed in plastic packaging. The only items you'll need to supply are basics like a bowl and spoon for mixing.

The first craft was my favorite this month, the California Snowman Pops. Gramma in a Box always has the most creative crafts, and this one is no exception!

I melted the included white chocolate discs and then spread them out on the (included) wax paper to form melted snowmen, then added the Reese's Cup, cut in half, as the hat. The eyes, carrot nose, M&Ms, and pretzel stick arms were all added in random spots to enhance the melting look.

The second craft, Holiday Wreaths, used the rest of the melting chocolate. I added in the green discs to the already melted white chocolate, then mixed in the cornflake cereal. The mixture was then spooned onto a pretzel ring base and decorated with green sprinkles and red hot candies.

The third craft is always cookies. The cookies are pre-baked and vacuum sealed, but it's still best to do your crafts within a week of receiving the box so that they're at their freshest. The December cookies were a Winter Cookies theme and had ornament, snowflake, snowman, and tree shapes. Red, white, and green frosting and various sprinkles were included for decoration.

• Visit Gramma in a Box to subscribe
• Connect with them on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube

Bottom Line: The creativity of the crafts from Gramma in a Box always impresses me! I loved making these December treats and am excited to share them with my family for Christmas.

Perfect Hydration Alkaline Water Review

One thing I've always been good about when it comes to healthier living is drinking water. When I get thirsty, a cold glass of water is the only thing that will adequately quench my thirst. Perfect Hydration is committed to creating the finest water possible, and I tried them out.

*Disclaimer: This product was sent to See, Shop, Love! in exchange for an honest review.

Perfect Hydration: What is it? It's a bottle of water, but it's far from your basic tap water. The water is clean, purified, and goes through a proprietary filtration and alkalizing process. Staying hydrated is so good for you in a number of ways: it helps keep your skin pump, your mood up, and your body functioning properly. 

The alkaline level of Perfect Hydration water is 9.5+ pH. This means it is high alkaline, creating a fresh, crisp taste. Alkaline foods are known to counteract acidity, so this is a great way to balance out your diet. Perfect Hydration also adds a unique blend of electrolyte minerals after purification, without sodium or chlorine that is often used by most water brands.

But how does it taste? I drank this during my hapkido (Korean martial art) class and I have to say, I truly did taste a difference from standard filtered water. I know the word was already used in the description of the product, but the best way I can describe it is "crisp." It felt so much sharper, but in a good way, and refreshing to drink, especially during a high-intensity workout.

Perfect Hydration is available at conventional grocery and convenience stores and online at Amazon. The prices are affordable, with a 16.9 oz can at $1.49, a 20 oz bottle at $1.49, one liter at $1.99, 1.5 liters at $2.49, and one gallon at $5.99.

• Visit Perfect Hydration to learn more and purchase 
• Connect with them on Facebook and Instagram
  

Bottom Line: I was impressed by the quality of Perfect Hydration and would definitely add this water to my hydration routine. Drinking enough water is so good for your health, and it's an easy way to help keep you feeling your best.