Popsugar Must Have: July 2014

So rounding out the couple of stragglers from the July boxes is my Popsugar Must Have. This is one of my favorite boxes and my most consistent in terms of items I enjoy and will use. Let’s dive in and see what’s inside.

Michael Stars Beach Hat (Suggested Retail: $34.00)
Category: Must Have Fashion
Description: “Hats are a stylish and practical necessity when it comes to long,leisurely days outside in the heat of Summer, but can be a pain to pack for vacation. That’s why we love this hat—it’s bendable and flexible, making it ideal for travel.”
Verdict: Like
Being a ginger, I have built myself a nice collection of silly beach hats so I have no problem adding another to it. The coloring on this one makes it go with pretty much anything you wear and the bendable rim helps it keep it’s shape when you smush it into a bag. I have to say I was so relieved not to see another baseball hat or pair of sunglasses, so this hat won some extra points with me.

Sun Bum Sunscreen and Lotion (Suggested Retail: $20.00)
Category: Must Have Beauty
Description: “While under the sun, use the moisturizing sunscreen for protection , and afterward, apply the cooling aloe lotion for hydration.”
Verdict: Miss/Gift
I know I’m a broken record, but so long as boxes keep sending me sunblock that’s only SPF 30, I’ll be complaining that it’s too low for me and passing it along. Dear sub boxes, mayhap we could start thinking outside the box with the sun protection? Kbyethanks.

ACME Party Box Company Chevron Straws (Suggested Retail: $7.00)
Category: Must Have Home
Description: “Sip on Summer’s most refreshing drinks with these old-fashioned paper straws. The graphic chevron pattern will make any occasion feel exra special.”
Verdict: Hit!
I always see these straws in shops, but never want to spend so much on them. (I find $7.00 on a box of straws a bit much). But I think they’ll look adorable in some summer drinks during my next BBQ.

French Bull Ziggy Salad Servers (Suggested Retail: $12.00)
Category: Must Have Home
Description: “Your Summer BBQ won’t be complete without a colorful salad and these equally vibrant salad servers! They are scratch and shatter resistant and dishwasher safe, making them a long-lasting household staple.”
Verdict: Love!
These Salad servers are so cheerful and I think it was a nice touch that they coordinate back to the Chevron straws in this box. These will brighten up your simple white dishes or coordinate back to a ton of different colors. They are nice quality and really a steal at the retail price. I would totally grab these in a store if I saw them and I highly recommend them as a hostess gift or a cheerful addition to your BBQ buffet.

TKO Jump Rope with Soft Grip Handles (Retail: $13.00)
Category: Must Have Fitness
Description: “For a fast yet efficient workout, TKO’s Jump Rope With Soft Grip Handles is just what you need. Built for speed, this jump rope will help you burn up to 170 calories in just 15 minutes! Check out POPSUGAR Fitness for tons of ideas on how to squeeze in a quick session to stay healthy and fit for Summer and beyond..”
Verdict: Like!
I couldn’t find this exact jump rope on TKO’s website so I’m using Popsugar’s estimate on price. Normally I’m sort of meh about fitness items, but this is compact and easy to use (no instructions required). I’m sure I’ll be dragging it outside on some not too hot days.

Dang Foods Toasted Coconut Chips (Suggested Retail: $4.65)
Category: Must Have Food
Description: “Satisfy your Summer cravings the healthy way with these Dang Toasted Coconut Chips. Non-GMO, gluten-free, and vegan, these chips can be eaten straight out of the bag or sprinkled onto just about anything for a delicious treat..”
Verdict: Like.
These were tasty but a little awkward to eat. I think they would actually be awesome as a dessert topper on cakes or cupcakes. They have a nice sweetness and a great crunch.

Revlon Bold Lacquer Length & Volume Mascara (Suggested Retail: $7.99)
Category: Special Extra
Description: “Take your lashes to new heights with Revlon’s Bold Lacquer Length & Volume Mascara. This ultrablack mascara will give your lashes the definition you’ve been dreaming of”
Verdict: On the Fence
This is billed as their “special extra” so it’s not really supposed to be considered part of the box. I don’t mind trying out drugstore mascara, but this one just didn’t do much for my eyes. I typically prefer a bit higher end mascaras, but if you’re looking in the drugstore category this one just doesn’t compare to the drama and “boldness” I get with Covergirl Lashblash.

OVERALL:
Hit!

Including the mascara, this box had a value of $98.64. I had referral credits so I got this one for free, but I would have been happy to receive it at the regular price. Even with a couple misses, the remaining items more than made up for it.  I also found this box to have a nice cohesive summer theme and the items to be high quality. I can’t wait to see what comes in for August.

So what did you think of the July Popsugar box? What were your favorite and least favorite items?

THE BACKSTORY

Popsugar is a women’s lifestyle subscription that delivers a monthly box of fun, full-size products hand-selected by Popsugar editors.

In addition to Popsugar’s monthly must have boxes, they have some seasonal special edition boxes that contain uber luxe items.  The price tag on these boxes is higher, but the products you receive are high end.

Popsugar Pricing:
Monthly – $39.95
3 Months – $109.85
6 Months – $214.70
12 Months – $404.40

Coupon Codes:  REFER5 = $5 off site wide
POPSUGAR10 = $10 off a 3 month subscription

Author: Writer Preziosi

Once upon a time, long, long ago, Lisa attended Syracuse University where she studied singing in a giant castle surrounded by ice and snow. After she earned her music degree, she headed to the island of Manhattan, down to the West Village, to a place called the New School. There, she earned another degree in the great art of writing stories for children. She currently works on that same island trying to help real people, while making up stories about imaginary ones. Her first book, “The Ice Maiden’s Tale,” a fairy tale adventure, was released on May 30, 2017 and is up for sale on Amazon. View all posts by Writer Preziosi