I just got an email that my February Popsugar box has shipped so it’s definitely time for me to review the January one. Popsugar is probably my favorite subscription, because even when I don’t love everything I always feel like I get am excellent value for my money (plus it’s helped me discover some really great gifts.)
Now January boxes usually bring a plethora of fitness and “health” stuff in our sub boxes which can be good or bad (see last January’’s “juicing book”) thing.
Jack + Lucy Pom Pom Hat (Suggested Retail: $32.00)
Category: Must Have Fashion
Description: “Stay warm and cozy during Winter with this slouchy heather-gray hat! The faux-fur pom-pom offers an unexpected element to your average beanie.”
Verdict: Like
This winter I’ve been collecting hats even though I usually just grab my tried and true slouchy knit hat from Urban Outfitters. This brand has been featured before, but it’s not available through any online store (unless you’re buying it from a reseller). The style of the hat is pretty neutral and it’s actually quite large. I’m not sure if I love or hate the pom-pom but I’ll keep this with my other knit hats when I want to mix things up a little.
First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream (Suggested Retail: $30.00)
Category: Must Have Beauty
Description: “Banish dry skin for good with this cream that delivers moisture from head to toe. Allergy tested and free of fragrance, harsh chemicals and parabens, it’s safe for even the most sensitive skin.”
Verdict: Love!
To start this is a giant size of cream so great value right there. I’ve heard amazing things about First Aid Beauty so I’m psyched to try out one of their products. This is rich without being greasy and there is no fragrance so this is perfect to share with that guy in your life. This was a fabulous choice by Popsugar because this winter has been pretty harsh and I think most subscribers could probably use this.
KeepCup Brew 12-Ounce Reusable Coffee Cup (Suggested Retail: $26.00)
Category: Must Have Home
Description: “This colorful coffee cup is the perfect replacement for disposable cups. KeepCup’s smart and consumer-friendly designs will keep your beverages warm time and time again!
Verdict: Hit!
This reusable coffee cup is attractive, practical and a nice change from the mugs and plastic travel cups we often see in boxes. I’m probably not going to use this for travel (because of the glass) but I will enjoy it with my next homemade Café Mocha.
Manduka eQua Hand Towel (Suggested Retail: $16.00)
Category: Must Have Fitness
Description: “Retire your old gym towel for this superabsorbent multipurpose Manduka towel instead. The lightweight yet durable microfibers are perfect on the yoga mat and beyond!
Verdict: Like!
We knew there’d be a fitness item in this box and I think this was a thoughtful pick. It’s a “yoga” hand towel but it can be used for any workouts and I think most folks will be able to use this no matter what their workout of choice. Bonus points for the cheerful turquoise shade.
ToGoSpa EYES (Retail: $12.50)
Category: Must Have Home
Description: “For a mini spa treatment, pamper yourself with these refreshing gel eye pads from ToGoSpa. It’s the convenient and cool way to reduce dark circles or unwanted puffiness.”
Verdict: Love!
I love face and eye treatments and these sound like they’ll be perfect after a long day at work with an even longer commute home through the snow.
Skin Jewel Tattoos EMPIRE (Suggested Retail: $18.00)
Category: Must Have Fashion
Description: “Add even more shine to the New Year with these Skin Jewel Tattoos, sponsored by the new hit drama Empire on Fox. The decorative mix of gold and silver can go anywhere on your body, and check out POPSUGAR Beauty to see how they can work as nail art.”
Verdict: All the single ladies…
I can’t decide if these are more Hoochie Mama or Spring Break. Thankfully they can work as nail art, but I do think I’m just going to set them aside for a gift to some college-aged relative. They’ll work great with that glow-in-the dark orange lipstick from my last Memebox.
Nature Valley Peanut Butter ‘n Dark Chocolate Protein Granola (Suggested Retail: $3.68)
Category: Must Have Food
Description: “Eating healthy and feeling satisfied just got easier with Nature Valley’s Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate Protein granola. It’s the delicious way to add protein to your day and stay on track.”
Verdict: Hit!
I always love it when I get free breakfasts from these boxes and this granola is generously sized. It definitely doesn’t skimp on the peanut butter which makes it quite filling. This would be great with some Greek yogurt, or my favorite healthy treat, ice cream. (Listen you can interpret “heart healthy” your way and I’ll interpret it mine).
OVERALL:
Verdict: Hit!
I was a bit worried this box would be full of stuff like raw food cookbooks and kickboxing DVDs but this box had a nice balance of healthy “new year” items and some practical things as well. I paid $42.75 for this box and received an estimated retail of $138.18. I will use everything but the skin tattoos so I’m quite happy with the box. I feel Popsugar’s curation on their monthly boxes has gotten a lot tighter over the last few months and I’m interested to see what February brings.
What did you think of the January Popsugar Box? Did you like the practical theme or were you looking for more excitement?
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
Lisa Preziosi 
January was my first box as a subscriber – I’d purchased November’s box via Rue La La for $20 and I’d swapped the MSA2 box for the December Popsugar box (I clearly won out on that deal!). I was okay with it at first but over time I’ve appreciated it more. My husband used up a good 1/3rd of that hand cream and ate the granola. My sister took the hat off my hands – my son said it looked like a dead squirrel on the hat and the cats seemed too fixated on it, and it is way bigger than something called a beanie ought to be, anyway sister loves it. I use the yoga towel to dry my hedgehogs after their baths because there aren’t any threads for them to snag their nails – it isn’t very absorbent but it works well enough. The cup is unopened in my cubicle – after hearing that their are similarly named products used for (cough cough) other purposes I just can’t bring myself to use it – plus 12 ounces is just too small. I loved the eye gels – my package sat on my doorstep for hours before I got to it (I live in Wisconsin) so they were perfectly chilled the first time I used them – now I must get more! I want to try the Green Tea variety. I might try out the skin tattoos for nail art or I might just send them to my sister. So in the end other than the cup (which my sister is wanting) nothing really will have gone to waste – good value just getting that cream really.
First of all, you have hedgehogs??? How adorable! The hand cream really does make the whole box. I feel like if you’ll use just that cream and any of the other items then it’s worth the cost of the box. The “beanie” is quite large, but I did read another blogger loving it because she had a big head and beanies are always too small for her. So far I haven’t quite figured out how to wear the thing myself. I haven’t tried the eye masks yet, but I’m looking forward to it. I hadn’t heard about the other cup product…i’m sorta scared to google it. 😉 Are you subbed for February?
Yes, Briar who just turned 4 and Zoe who is about to turn 2. Yeah I made the error – it is called a keeper cup instead of the keep cup – and it is a new type of feminine hygiene product that I have zero interest in ever sampling. They were discussing it over at MUT. I’ve got photos of my hedgies on my twitter @ChristineInWI
Your hedgies sound adorable! I have an obsession with little animals and the idea of dressing them in miniature hats. It’s probably the main reason I’m not allowed to have pets. 🙂
I resubscribed and I received this box, too! I’ve been using the cute hat all of this week lol So far, I loved everything in this box except the tattoos. That didn’t quite make the cut for me. I live in Portland, we don’t do fake tattoos lol On top of which, I agree with your gold tattoo comment… hoochie mama/Spring Break. eeek!
I think Popsugar as a sub skews a little bit older (more like mid-twenties+) so it’s a little weird to get a super young item.
I always convince myself that I don’t need the Popsugar Box, and then I read a great review and feel like I seriously missed out! The towel is what did it for me this time, not that I have any plans to go to the gym anytime soon… Hahaha!
Yeah I’m on exercise vacation until the winter is over, but I still liked the towel. 🙂