Popsugar Must Have: August 2014

So it’s time for one of my favorite boxes – the Popsugar Must Have. I really loved the July box so I was excited to see what would show up in my box for August.
BoxUnbox Unbox2

EarringsEarrings 2
Kendra Scott Elle Earrings in Slate
(Suggested Retail: $52.00)
Category: Must Have Fashion
Description: “With a slate-gray stone and delicate shape, these drop earrings will go with anything!
Verdict: Hit!
I couldn’t find this exact shade on the Kendra Scott site, but there are tons of beautiful colors that you can grab these earrings in as well. I’ve been in the market for some dangling earrings so these will be a perfect addition to my jewelry collection. This also came with a coupon for the Kendra Scott site, so I may end up grabbing something else for my Fall wardrobe.

Candle
Paddywax Ocean tide + Sea Salt Mini Jar Candle (Suggested Retail: $10.00)
Category: Must Have Home
Description: “With fragrance notes of sea salt and the ocean tide, this soy-wax candle brings the beach to you.”
Verdict:
Love!
I swear Popsugar has singlehandedly redecorated my bathroom this year. I have two Turkish bath towels from past boxes and now this adorable candle. I love ocean scented things and the color is perfect for my mint, white & blue bathroom. I would have totally grabbed this if I saw it in a store.

Container
Goodbyn Purple Meal and Dipper Set (Suggested Retail: $8.00)
Category: Must Have Home
Description: “Keeping track of meal portions in a portable way has never been easier, thanks to Goodbyn’s container set. Dishwasher safe and versatile, this set is ideal for packing food on the go.”
Verdict: Hit!
I bring my breakfast and lunch to work every day so I this is perfect for me. I don’t own a ton of plasticware (most of my Tupperware is glass) so this will be perfect for packing snacks and lunches.   I’d love to see Popsugar include more items for those of us who brown bag it. I didn’t find this exact configuration on the Goodbyn website but they have some similar sets with a few extra pieces.

Mix
The Mason Jar Cookie Company (Suggested Retail: $12.00)
Category: Must Have Food
Description: “Make any celebration even more festive with your mason jar cookie mix. Just add butter and an egg to this premeasured baking mix for a delicious treat.”
Verdict: Gift
Sadly, I am on a low carb diet, so there are no cookies (are there any phrases sadder than “no cookies?”) In any case, I’ll either bake these for guests, pass them along to someone who’ll bake them and love every delicious bite, or hoard them until my 35th birthday (at the end of October) where I will to drown my sorrows carbs and excessive shopping. Subscribers received our cookie mix in a packet, but it looks like most of the ones on the site are available in actual mason jars and you can even customize your own mix.

Gel
Lollia At Last Perfumed Shower Gel (Retail: $22.00)
Category: Must Have Beauty
Description: “Infused with shea butter and jojoba oil, this shower gel will keep your skin refreshed and smelling divine.
Verdict: Miss/Gift
So thankfully this tube was packaged in its own little bubble wrap baggie, because it was leaking when it came. It wasn’t broken, but the lid was loose. I managed to clean it all off and not get it on any of the other items. Unfortunately this scent is hardcore floral—as in your grandmother’s friend Philomena whose perfume is so damn strong it gives you a headache every time you have to spend just one minute making small talk with her. I usually welcome shower gel since it’s something I use constantly and always need, but this one is too much for me. I’ll have to pass it along to someone who enjoys heavy floral scents. I really wanted to like this because of the pretty packaging, but it’s a miss.

GlossSwatch
Bite Beauty Lush Fruit Lip (Suggested Retail: $22.00)
Category: Must Have Beauty
Description: “To celebrate Popsugar Must Have’s second birthday, Bite Beauty created this new shade just for the occasion. With nourishing strawberry, coconut and avocado oils, this gloss is a superferuit smoothie for your lips”
Verdict: Love!
In a sub box, nothing is more fun than an exclusive item. I love lip glosses and this one is a pretty sheer pink. I’m currently working my way through a giant stockpile of lip products (a horde second only to my polish stash) so I’m setting this one aside to use for Fall. There are other great shades from Bite Beauty on the Sephora site.

Bar
Brownie Crunch High Protein Bar (Suggested Retail: $1.99)
Category: Special Extra
Description: “Packed with 20 grams of protein and zero grams of sugar, they’re a delicious and healthy way to fuel your day.
Verdict: Gift
I appreciate the inclusion of this item, but once again my low carb diet keeps me from even the healthy sounding protein bar. Putting aside my own personal dietary habits, I think this makes sense as a freebie and I’ll just pass it along to someone who’ll enjoy a free breakfast.

OVERALL:
Full Box
Hit!

Including the protein bar, this box had a value of $127.99. I had referral credits so I got this one for free, but I would have gladly paid the regular price for it. The earrings are lovely, the candle is perfect for my home and I’ll get plenty of use out of the lunch box and the lip gloss. Despite the items that were misses I felt that this box was nicely curated and would appeal to a lot of ladies.

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

POPSUGAR NEWS!

A spoiler for the September Must Have Box has been released!
Spoiler
Each September POPSUGAR Must Have box will include the Fall essential scarf by Tilo Scarves, valued at $125! This is a great deal, so if you’re ready to take the plunge and subscribe be sure to use one of my coupon codes below.

Because Popsugar limited edition boxes are like kryptonite for my wallet, they have of course released their Fall Style Box, and I, (of course), have purchased it.   It’s still available for any of you peeps that are interested. It is a one time box, priced at $100, but the value is typically well above that. If you’re on the fence, I’ve got lots of great reviews on past Limited Edition boxes including the Fall 2013 Box.

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

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.

Box

 

Open Box #1 Open Box 2

HatDetail
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.

Sunblock
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.

Straws
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.

Salad Servers
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.

Jump Rope
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.

Coconut
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.

Mascara
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.

Full Box
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

Popsugar Must Have Box: June 2014

So as I mentioned in my earlier  this month, July is going to be chock full of posts since I was out of town for a chunk of June and playing catch up with boxes.  So I’ll be interspersing all my July box reviews with June ones.   So today we’re going to dive into the June 2014 Popsugar box. Popsugar is usually one of my favorite subscriptions, but the May box was a bit of a miss. Let’s see if the June one is an improvement.

Box Open Box 1 Open Box 2

Book
Emily Giffin’s The One & Only (Suggested Retail: $16.52)
Category: Must Have Entertainment
Description: “New York Times bestselling author Emily Giffin returns with this highly anticipated novel of an unlikely romance and lifelong friends set against the backdrop of Texas football.”
Verdict: Like
Romance novels are one of my guilty pleasures and while the “backdrop of Texas football” doesn’t exactly thrill me, it will be fun to explore an author I haven’t read before.

Lotion
Sachajuan Shiny Citrus Body Lotion (Suggested Retail: $24.00)
Category: Must Have Beauty
Description:“Using Swedish oats, this lotion reduces the appearance of wrinkles and calms irritation – keeping your skin replenished all summer long.”
Verdict:
Love!
I don’t know about the healing properties of Swedish oats, but I love the scent and feel of this lotion. It goes on smoothly and absorbs quickly. This is the same brand that I got in my Popsugar Summer box and I’m so happy to have them both as a nice  set.

Towel
Turkish-T Beach Towel (Suggested Retail: $32.00)
Category: Must Have Home
Description: “This Turkish-T towel acts as a lightweight beach towel by day and as a glam wrap by night. It’s loomed from the world’s finest cotton, so trade in your overused beach towel for this chic alternative..”
Verdict: Love!
This matches perfectly with the towel that came in the Popsugar Resort Box. Instead of using this for the beach, I’m pairing it with the other towel and using them in my newly updated bathroom. The colors are blue, white and mint and these two towels look great in the space.

Wipes
You Smell Lemon Wet Wipes (Retail: $5.00)
Category: Must Have Beauty
Description: “These naturally antibacterial wipes are not only durable, but also gentle.”
Verdict: Hit!
You can always find a use for antibacterial wipes and I love that these are lemon scented and gentle. A very useful addition.

Ties
Lollies Basics Hair Ties (Suggested Retail: $8.00)
Category: Must Have Fashion
Description: “Made from swimwear fabric, they’ll look cute on your wrist and we love that these braided ties don’t’ stretch over time like your average hair bands”
Verdict: Love!
This is my year for accumulating hair products and I’m always looking for more hair ties and barrettes. I love the circle design on these and how cute they look on my wrist. I wish they made more of this style in solid colors.

Chips
One Potato Two Potato Hawaiian BBQ (Suggested Retail: $2.00)
Category: Must Have Food
Description. “Cooked with all-natural ingredients and packed with flavor, these chips serve as an amazing party snack.”
Verdict: Like
I passed these along to my boyfriend and so this verdict comes from him. He said they were “good, nothing spectacular, but good.”

Giftcard
Native Union $15.00 Gift Card (Suggested Retail: $15.00)
Category: Special Extra
Description. “Native Union creates unique and simple designs in the digital age. With this $15 gift card, peruse the site full of geek gadgetry to find something that fulfills your techie dream”
Verdict: Miss
Unfortunately most of the items at Native Union are priced so high you’d need to spend a substantial amount to use this gift card. I got the oh so hyped Native Union monocle speaker in a long ago Fancy box and gifted that to my boyfriend. It’s pretty terrible. We can’t figure out what to use it for and the sound quality is poor, so I’m not too impressed with them in general.

Full Box
Overall:
Love!

Once again I am back to enjoying my Popsugar boxes. I found this one to have a lot of items that worked for me and the only real disappointment was in the gift card (which was technically just an extra). I had referral credits for this box so I didn’t pay anything and received $87.52 worth of items (not including the extra gift card) but I would have been happy with this box even if I’d paid the full price.

So what did you think of the June Popsugar box? Would you use the Native Union giftcard?

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

Popsugar Limited Edition Summer Box 2014

While it’s always fun to unbox surprises, opening up the Popsugar Limited Edition Boxes is always extra awesome.

My Summer 2014 Popsugar Box arrived in this unassuming (yet substantially heavy) cardboard box.

Cardboard

Once opened it reveals the lovely Popsugar box that is a great size and shape for storing all kinds of odds and ends in your house. I hoard these boxes (along with the Birchbox ones). They are uber useful.
Box

Okay now that my toddler-like interest in the actual box is past, let’s dive into the items. They are all individually wrapped up and packed so nicely that they really do make you feel like someone sent you a present.

Open Box 1Open Box 2

And what’s inside the box? Another box (very meta) – and it’s pretty heavy….
SOLA Box

Glasses Open Glasses
Sisters of Los Angeles City Rocks Glasses (Suggested Retail: $45.00)
Description: “…Sisters of Los Angeles City Rocks Glasses made just for Popsugar. In honor of four of our office locations, we featured SF, LA, NY and London..”
Verdict: Love!/Gift
These glasses are really high quality and so fun. I love the colorful designs and the weight of them is quite hefty. Unfortunately I have a lot of classes in this size, but I know a ton of folks who would love these for a gift. (Although I may break down and find some room in my cabinet for them since they are so cute). This company makes products emblazoned with cool graphics of various cities, so check them out if you want a fun gift for that chic urbanite in your life. Since this set was put together exclusively for Popsugar it’s unavailable on their website so I used a similar set for pricing.

Pouch 1 Pouch 2
Samudra Blue Tropics Pouch (Retail: $60.00)
Description:“Keep all your essentials in your statement bag for an easy transition from beach day to evening soiree.”
Verdict:
Love!
I’m not sure if you know this about me but I’m slightly obsessed with organization and this giant pouch is perfect for travel. It’s even big enough to hold  a tablet. The tropical prints really give that summer vibe and I love that there are different ones on either side. I’ll be using it asap for my upcoming work trip to Baltimore. After that I think it will be making daily appearances in my work bag to corral notebooks, my kindle, pens and other odds and ends.

Hair Mist
Sachajuan Ocean Mist (Retail: $28.00)
Description. “Cult favorite Sachajuan’s Oceamn Mist will give you perfect waves without your ever stepping foor in the water. Spray on dry or damp hair for an effortless yet voluminous Summer look.”
Verdict: Love!
This is my year of experimenting with hair products and I love all the ocean and sea salt sprays where you can just spray on damp hair and boom, your styling is done. My hair is naturally wavy and I think this product will work perfectly with its texture and my propensity for being lazy with hair styling.

NecklaceNecklace Closeup
Soixante Nefu Jewels by Joie Jager Horn Necklace (Suggested Retail: $155.00)
Description: “…This vintage-inspired accessory is sure to be a Summer staple in your collection..”
Verdict: On the fence
I really like the idea of this necklace, the long length and the combination of colors. It’s pretty pricey and according to the description its 14K gold plated, but somehow it just feels a little cheap to me and I can’t imagine paying $155 for it. Apparently lots of celebrities wear this design so maybe it’s just overpriced.  I don’t love it, but it’s not terrible either. It may look cool layered with some other chains I have, I’ll just have to see how it works out. At the moment, I’m not sold.

Olive Oil
The Ingredient Finder Eliunt Extra Virgin Olive Oil (Suggested Retail: $16.65)
Description: “…The Ingredient Finder handpicked the best olive oils to transport you and your food around the world. Each Eliunt Extra Virgin Olive Oil comes with its own custom taste and cultural background to make your dish unique.”
Verdict: Hit!
Being that I am Italian, it is a requirement that I always have an ample supply of olive oil in my pantry. My bottle came from Australia and I don’t think I’ve ever tried an Australian olive oil so this will be something new. It’s a pretty small bottle so I’m going to save this for dipping with bread or drizzling over something special. I couldn’t find individually priced bottles (it looks like the smallest is in a set of 3, so I’m going to estimate the value based on that). I wasn’t familiar with the Ingredient Finder website before but it seems like a really fun foodie site for finding high end international cooking ingredients. It even lets you search by cuisine. If you like cooking you should check it out.

Tarte
Tarte Cheek Stain (Suggested Retail: $30.00)
Description: “…Let your skin glow this Summer with Tarte’s restorative Cheek Stain…”
Verdict: Love!
I love Tarte’s products and I already own one of their cheek stains in a different shade. I love the natural flush and the easy application. I can’t wait to try out this new color.

Tarte Lipsurgence Power Pigment (Suggested Retail: $24.00)
Description: “….This peppermint-infused tint will nourish your lips for a naturally fuller and healthier pout!…”
Verdict: Love!
As I mentioned before I really love Tarte’s products, so I’m very excited to try out this lip tint. The shade seems like a lovely neutral for summer and should work well with my albino skin tone.


Full Box
OVERALL:
Love!

This was an amazing box that totally made up for the lackluster Limited Edition Resort Box and the disappointing May Must Have. I love nearly everything in this box and all the choices feel theme appropriate and cohesive as a collection.

I paid $107.00 for this box and received $358.65 worth of products. Even discounting the overpriced necklace that is an amazing value. After this box, Popsugar has set the bar really high for their limited editions. I can’t wait to see what the next one brings.

So what did you think of the Popsugar Limited Edition Summer Box? Did you like it more or less than the Resort one?


LIMITED TIME COUPON!
Use code XL25K3Z to save $15 off your first POPSUGAR Must Have box

 

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

Popsugar Must Have: May 2014

So now is my frantic push to review all the May boxes that came late in the month or I forgot about when I got super busy. Cue my review for the May 2014 Popsugar box. The April box was chock full of awesome products so I was psyched to see what would show up this month.

Box Open Box
Open Box #2

DVD
Tone it Up One Day Fat Blast (Suggested Retail: $15.00)
Category: Must Have Fitness
Description: “Give your metabolism a boost, and get fit with the ladies from Bravo’s Toned Up.”
Verdict: Miss
I don’t mind fitness items necessarily, but from what I saw on youtube this is one of those DVDs that kind of needs you to be able to jump around and have a decent amount of space around you. Unfortunately I have a small apartment and not much room for this type of workout. It also requires you to have your workout space in front of something that can play a DVD, which is not always common in this age of tablets, smartphones and streaming media players. Unless it’s something super interesting or universal, I’d really like to see less random “fitness” stuff, and maybe it’s just me but the DVD feels super dated as a workout medium. A code/gift card for a fitness workout download or app would have been more on trend.

Water Bottle
Zing Anything Citrus Zinger (Retail: $16.99)
Category: Must Have Home
Description:“Press lemons, limes, or any other citrus directly into your water for a energizing drink.”
Verdict:
Hit!
While I have a glass infusion water bottle from a long ago Jennifer Love Hewitt box, I don’t own one in plastic so this is the perfect option for me to bring to work. I love citrus in my water and I’m sure I’ll get a lot of use out of this.

Perfume
Smell Bent St. Tropez Dispenser (Retail: $45.00)
Category: Must Have Beauty
Description: “Escape to your favorite tropical island with this intoxicating blend of jasmine absolute and fresh coconut aromas. It’s a relaxing beach day in a bottle.”
Verdict: Miss
I can’t say how disappointed I am that one of the big ticket items is a perfume and in a scent like coconut that is not particularly universal. I’m sensitive to scents so I really can’t use this.  I don’t mind including a perfume, I just think a better option would have been to feature a smaller size and allow for something more accessible to be the “big” item.

Polish
Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Nail Lacquer in Pool Boy (Retail: $10.00)
Category: Must Have Beauty
Description: “This polish is densely pigmented and delivers super-long-lasting results. Better yet, this quick drying nail lacquer is 100 percent vegan and cruelty free.”
Verdict: Like
I usually swatch polishes, but I didn’t with this one since I’m on the fence about keeping it. I have a fairly large polish collection and limited space so I have to be a lot pickier about which polishes I keep. It’s a nice color and a brand I haven’t tried before, so I’ll probably end up finding space for it.

Mask
Kerry Cassill Eyemask (Suggested Retail: $24.00)
Category: Must Have Home
Description: “…with your printed Kerry Cassill eye mask designed exclusively for Popsugar Must Have, you can sleep peacefully. It is made with soft voile cotton…”
Verdict: Miss
I’m shocked at the cost of this. It honestly feels super cheap to me—like something you’d pick up at Walmart for $5.00 or thrown in as a freebie in a cheap bath set. I tried to use it but the fabric and print are so lightweight that it lets too much light in. I thought the point of a sleep mask was to make it nice and dark so you could sleep better. I’d have loved a sleep mask that actually kept out the light.

Snacks
Hi, I’m Skinny Sticks in Multi-Grain Sweet Onion (Suggested Retail: $2.99)
Category: Must Have Food
Description. “…are a supertasty and healthy alternative to chips and cookies. With 40% less fat than potato chips, 15g of whole grains per serving and under four calories per stick, you can satisfy your munchies guilt-free.”
Verdict: Hit!
If you like onion flavor, you’ll probably love these. My boyfriend enjoyed them as well. I think they are a nice alternative to chips, but your healthiest snack bet is probably still to grab an apple or banana.

Because the Resort boxes had delayed shipping, Popsugar included a bonus product for those of us who purchased it.

Lip Gloss
Vbeauté Lip Spread® Original – Anti Aging Tinting Lip Gloss
(Retail: $19.00)
Description. “The clear gloss reacts with your pH balance to create your own unique shade of light pink to berry red. Our silky formula gives you the right amount of shine without your hair getting stuck to your lips. Cherry and Pomegranate fruit extract hydrate and BioCellular Peptide’s antiaging properties reduce fine lines and wrinkles.”
Verdict: Love!
I have this fabulous vbeauté travel kit (from my first Nina Garcia Quarterly box) that I’ve been hoarding and plan to use for a work trip at the end of the month. This will go perfectly with it. It was nice of Popsugar to send us a bonus because of their mishap, and I do appreciate the extra effort they went to.

 Full Box
Overall:
Trés Disappointed.

After last month’s box of awesomesauce, it was inevitable that May would be a let own, but I just feel like there wasn’t much thought put into these items. Opting for a perfume to be the big ticket item and throwing in a random cardio fitness DVD (which feels very dated and just not on trend) along with an eyemask that isn’t functional, just made this box super lackluster for me. I’m sure if these items just happen to be your taste you’ll enjoy this box, but I think the odds were stacked that a fairly large group of people were not going to enjoy or use a chunk of these items. The only item I really loved was actually not a part of this box and was an “I’m sorry/thank you for your patience” gift after shipping snafus with the Popsugar Limited Edition Resort Box.

Luckily I got this box free with referrals so I’m not out any money for this particular set of items. The suggested value was $113.98, which I do think is a bit inflated. I’m crossing my fingers the June box will be better.

Now I know I’m slow with posting the last of my May boxes (I’ll catch up, I will, damn it!) but Popsugar also introduced their Limited Edition Summer 2014 box which sold out pretty quickly.  And while the May Must Have box made me a sad panda, and I was meh about the Resort Limited Edition, I still picked up the Summer box, because I obviously have a shopping problem. The Summer Box is now sold out, but if you want to find out what’s inside be sure to come back soon.

So what did you think of the May Popsugar box? Did you use most of the items or gift them?

Do you regularly use fitness DVDs or do you head outdoors or to the gym for your workouts?

LIMITED TIME COUPON! Use code XL25K3Z to save $15 off your first POPSUGAR Must Have box

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

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