Unboxing: Beauty Box 5 January 2015: Hello!

What it is: Beauty Box 5
Where to get it: beautybox5.com
How much is it?: $12 monthly with 3 month and annual subscriptions available
Types of Products: Each box contains 5 luxury deluxe or full sized beauty products.
What are the Perks?!: Beauty Box 5 is relatively new, they are working on rolling out a referral program shortly!

I am THOROUGHLY bemused by this box. You can totally see why in my Youtube unboxing: **Coming Soon**


Let's jump right in!

Beauty Box 5 January 2015: Hello! Unboxing and Review!



Upon Opening:

Our Menu:

The Haul!:

1. Hard Candy Kal-Eye-Descope Baked Eyeshadow Duo in Make Believe:

Full Sized listed at $6.00!

Holy blast from the past batman!! This was such a nostalgia item for me. I haven't even THOUGHT about Hard Candy in a thousand years. I actually really like this item and these colors. Starting out strong Beauty Box 5!

2. Sally Hansen Salon Effects Nail Polish Strips in French Mani Golden Caberet:

Full Sized listed at $9.99

I seriously love these things! Although I did just get a whole bunch from Glossybox, I still really like getting this! Another win!

3. Ultraflesh The Gold Standard in Mascara in Blackout:

Sample sized at .08 oz (Approx $6.00). Full sized listed at .27 oz for $21.00

Let's completely disregard that the name of this company reminds me of a horror film. This mascara actually looks pretty promising. I'm willing to give it a shot.

4. Softsoap Nutri Serums Vitamin E Body Wash:

Sample sized at 1.7 oz (Approx $1.00). Full sized listed at 15 oz for $8.00

At first, I was going to bitch about this. Then, I thought about it for a second. One, I always complain when subscription boxes send those stupid foil packets. Second, my fiance always fails to let me know when he is running low on body wash. This is a refreshing change. I appreciate it.

5. Hard Candy Take Me Out Liner in Sushi:

Full Sized listed at .036 oz for $5.00

Another Hard Candy! I totally dig this eyeliner. First, it's shaped like a chop stick- which is kind of adorable. It is also this awesome iridescent pink. I LOVE pink eyeliner. Awesomeness.

The Final Verdict!

Box Value: Approx $28.00

 Box Score: 9/10

Final Thoughts: Consider me easily amused. But, I thought this box was so much fun! It was really cool to get some Hard Candy items- that company hasn't been on my radar for years. I will legitimately use every item in this box. It was just such a feel good buy. Good start to the year Beauty Box 5!

December Top 10- My Favorite Haul Items!

With a total of 11 Boxes this month and 59 ITEMS (!!) there was a LOT of hauling going on around my apartment this December. And with so many great items, I really wanted to do a Top 10 of my favorite items from December.


They're all such different items and I love them all for so many different reasons. So in no particular order, here are my Top 10 Beauty Haul items from December 2014!

1.  Kneipp Herbal Bath Oil in Balancing Lavender:

Sample Size at .67 oz (Approx $4). Full Sized listed at 3.38 oz for $20

Although technically from Glossybox's November 2014 box, I didn't receive it until December 9th. And my love for this product deserves it's own spot on the list. I have mentioned over and over again that Lavender is one of my favorite scents and is playing a big part in my upcoming wedding. This has a fabulous and strong French Lavender scent. A little goes a LONG way. Now, I don't have the biggest bathtub in the world. But, I used some very sparingly at first (definitely not half the sample bottle as the instructions suggest) and my bath tub was suddenly transformed into a gorgeous luxury spa getaway. I'm already stocking up on more on my trade boards!

2. Vasanti Cosmetics Kajal Extreme Intense Eye Pencil in Rose Gold:

Sample Size at .03 oz (Approx $13.50). Full Sized listed at .04 oz for $18

Although losing my first liner in the huge fail that was my original Birchbox Decked Out! box, I was SO happy I was able to get a replacement in my follow up, AMAZING Birchbox Decked Out! 2.0 Box. The liner is GORGEOUS. It is super smooth, highly pigmented, and overall a beautiful product. I absolutely adore it!

3. Burberry Beauty Fresh Glow Luminous Fluid Base in Nude Radiance:

Sample Size: 0.17 oz (Approx. $8). Full Sized Listed at 1 oz for $48

From my December Sample Society Party Prep box. I really like this! A little goes a long way with this extremely shimmery lotion. I swatched maybe a drop on the back of my hand and the fluid spread evenly and significantly- but still felt light. The champagne color is gorgeous. This is truly a great product that I will definitely use to highlight for holiday parties! 

4. L'Occitane Almond Supple Skin Oil:
Sample Sized at .5 oz (Approx $6). Full Price listed at 3.4 oz for $42

I got to try this out in my L'Occitane L'Occibox that I snagged for $15! The price tag on this item leaves me to consider the fact that I would never have bought this on my own accord. However, the sample has sold me! It smells absolutely wonderful and acts like a dry oil.

5. Nuxe Masque Creme Fraiche De Beaute:

FULL SIZED! Listed at 1.7 oz for $32!!!

This is a FABULOUS, Full Sized item from Glossbox's December 2014 Holiday Box. Though I haven't tried it yet, I am really excited to give this mask a shot and love the opportunity to try a full sized Nuxe product!

6. Cailyn Cosmetics Just Mineral Eye Polish in Orchid:

FULL SIZED! 2.5 g listed at $15.00!

This was one of the items I was most looking forward to in receiving in my Ipsy Thinking Of You Glambag. And it totally lived up to expectations! The shadow is easily applicable, stays in place, is a beautiful color, and is highly pigmented. I also think it's extremely complimentary to Birchbox's Vasanti Rose-Gold liner. And it has sealed the deal on my Holiday look!

7. Davines Repluming Trio! 

Replumping Shampoo, Repluming Conditioner, and Replumping Hair Filler Superactive (!!!)

Shampoo Sample Sized at 12 ml (Approx $1.25), Full Sized listed at 250 ml for $25.50

Conditioner Sample Sized at 12 ml (Approx $2.05), Full Sized listed at 150 ml for $25.50

Hair Filler Sample Sized at 50 ml (Approx $19.75!!), Full Sized listed at 100 ml for $39.50

From my awesome Birchbox Decked Out 2.0 box! I feel that one of the consistent themes I have running through this blog is that I forever bitch and moan that perfume vials and foil hair product packets should NEVER be considered a deluxe sample in a subscription box. It's borderline insulting considering most of these items you can get for free. That being said, Birchbox did this right. First, the trio contained 1 large and gorgeous looking "centerpiece" sample worth nearly $20. The shampoo and conditioners were extra, additional items. AND you still got 20 extra Birchbox points for rating them. That's foil packet samples done right!

8. RGB Nail Polish in Oxblood:

FULL SIZED! Listed at $18

Another item from my Sample Society December box to grace the list! Although a tad bit more watery than I prefer- this polish is AWESOME! Besides the fact that it is yet another full sized item, the color is AWESOME and it looks great on me. My fiance even complimented how much he liked it!

9. Pixi Endless Silky Eye Pen in Black:

Sample Sized at .8g (Approx $8). Full Size listed at 1.2 g for $12

An awesome little surprise that kind of caught me off guard in my Target Beauty Box For Her box. This is a game changer for how I viewed Pixi. My 110% beauty need that I don't think I've left the house without wearing in over 15 years is black eyeliner. Black eyeliner is my litmus test. And if your company can't master the fine art of black eyeliner, I can't hang.

And this liner is FABULOUS. Seriously. It's like a gel pencil. It's supposedly waterproof and pretty natural. It has a nice, even smooth feel, goes on softly. But, still manages to stay fairly intense after I tried to rub off the swatch. For $12 a stick full sized? Pixi, you officially have my attention now...

10. Absolute! New York Nail Polish Remover Pads in Lavender:

FULL SIZED! Listed at 32 Pads for $2.99

And, finally! I am sort of fascinated with this little addition to my Beauty Box 5 Merry and Bright box! This TINY little canister contains 32 nail polish remover pads. And doesn't smell too terrible either. I haven't had the opportunity to use them yet. But, asking around, I've gotten some awesome feedback on them. Plus, I won't spill this!

Overall, there were so many products that I loved from all my boxes this month. But, some items really stood out among the masses. 

It was an awesome December and now I can't wait for 2015 and all the awesome Unboxings in my future.

Do you have a Top 10 list of favorite beauty items this month? I'd love to see if you felt the same way about some of the items you received. What was your favorite?

Unboxing! Beauty Box 5 December 2014: Merry and Bright!

What it is: Beauty Box 5
Where to get it: beautybox5.com
How much is it?: $12 monthly with 3 month and annual subscriptions available
Types of Products: Each box contains 5 luxury deluxe or full sized beauty products.
What are the Perks?!: Beauty Box 5 is relatively new, they are working on rolling out a referral program shortly!

My very first, real subbed Beauty Box 5 is FINALLY here! And I'm ready to unbox for you!

Beauty Box 5 December 2014: Merry and Bright!

Unboxing and Review!

Always excited for Holiday boxes! And really excited about my first real BB5 box! They're so cute and tiny...

Upon Opening:

Our Menu:

The Haul!!

1. Jaqua Hand Cream in Pink Champagne:

FULL SIZED! Listed at 2 oz for $12.50

HOLY CRAP I am SUCH a MASSIVE Jaqua fan. I have been for years and it makes me SO incredibly happy to see a product of theirs in one of my beauty boxes. I am in LOVE with their Pink Buttercream Frosting, Cocoa Buttercream Frosting and SERIOUSLY miss their Mint Chocolate line... I am a wee bit disappointed to have gotten the Pink Champagne hand cream being that it's not my favorite. But, totally dig getting this. I want more Jaqua for the future and hope for their beauty box invasion!

2. Absolute! New York Nail Polish Remover Pads in Lavender:

FULL SIZED! Listed at 32 Pads for $2.99

These things are really freaking cool! I haven't tried them yet. And, I figured there was 10 pads in there. No!! It's like super tiny and portable and is full sized at 32 pads. WTF Absolute! New York- what is this sorcery?! AND LAVENDER. I'm in love, you win, it's over. I am totally amazed by this little container. And so inexpensive too. Once I use them, I'll update. But, for right now, Absolute! you have a new fan!!

 

3. Juice Beauty Stem Cellular Moisturizer:

Sample Sized at .26 ounce (Approx $10). Full Sized at 1.7 oz for $65.00

Ok Juice Beauty. You need to slow your roll a little bit. I wrote a couple days ago about how I was unfamiliar with Juice Beauty but have seen many samples from them. But, now I'm getting tired of your stuff. You keep sending me the SAME SAMPLE over and over again. In EVERY SINGLE box I am subscribed too. It's getting old. Switch it up. This is just a loss to me at this point BECAUSE I BASICALLY OWN A DRUMS WORTH OF THE STUFF.

4. Nanacoco Nail Polish in Diamond:

FULL SIZED! Listed at .5 oz for $3.95

This is another personal preference thing. I'm not a huge fan of the chunky sparkle nail polish- which is a shame. Though this one is interesting and I would be intrigued to try it over my RGB Oxblood I received in my December Sample Society box that I'm itching to get on my fingers. We'll see...

5. Lucky Brand Lucky Number 6 Perfume Sample:

Sample Sized at .05 oz (Approx $.99). Full Sized listed starting at $50.00

Oh Beauty Box 5. You were sooooooooo close. Almost there this month with making me fall all over myself in love with you. What a let down for a final item!! GAH!!! I must have said this 8000 times since starting this blog- perfume sample vials and foil packets should NEVER, EVER be considered a sample from a deluxe box! They are given for free everywhere! You don't even have to purchase them most places. Stop. Please. Just stop with them.

The Final Verdict!

Box Value: Approx $30.00

 Box Score: 7/10

Final Thoughts: I started off really liking this box. The Jaqua and Absolute! products were awesome. I can dig into the nail polish and give it a try. But, I was kind of let down with receiving yet another Juice Beauty moisturizer- I'm not faulting BB5 for that though. And, I really feel like the perfume sample brings the whole value of what would have been a GLORIOUS box down. Almost there! 

PSA: Beauty Box 5 December 2014 Boxes are being shipped!

Just got an email that my Beauty Box 5 December 2014 Box has shipped!

Another unboxing will soon be upon us!

Check your emails!