Popsugar Must Have December 2013 Review

Popsugar Must Have December 2013

As always, I peeked this month!

December Popsugar!

 Popsugar suggested that the December box is, "the wish list you never knew you needed," and I'm not quite sure about that.  I wouldn't wish for wrapping paper, but I appreciate it in time to wrap gifts. 

Look at this stuff!

Mixt Studio Holiday Gifting Set

This recycled paper wrapping paper came with three small-ish sheets in different designs, twine, and tags.  I will definitely use this!  

Wrapping Paper

My favorite is the blue snowflake print, and I like that they include everything you need to wrap up some cute gifts.

Paper Prints

Three sheets (19-20 x 30 inches), twine, and gift tags, $9 on Mixt site.

Govino Go Anywhere Flutes

I'll take my champagne to go, please

This is a set of 4 sturdy plastic champagne flutes with a little finger notch in each.  I don't have champagne flutes, but I do have some mis-matched wine glasses because I keep breaking them.  For that reason, I like these plastic glasses!  I have some plastic wine glasses that came in a picnic set, but these look a little nicer.

Set of 4, $12.95 on Govino's website.

Modelco Fibre Lashxtend Black Mascara

Modelco will make me beautiful

I got this exact mascara in a birchbox about a year ago.  I liked it enough that I used up the whole tube, and that never happens.  I usually get bored and start alternating, and then throw out a handful of partially used tubes after a few months.  A nice feature of this mascara is that the tube has a mirror on the side of it!  

Reflectron of my ceiling.

The fibers add length and a little volume without looking like you have little spider legs above your eyelids.  It's not the best mascara I've ever used, but it's far from the worst.  I'll happily add it to my pile to use up.

The weird thing is, I couldn't find this mascara by itself on ModelCo's website!  They had normal Lashxtend (tubing) mascara, and an "unboxed" black mascara that didn't mention anything about fibers, and a fiber falsie mascara set thing that is definitely not this.  However, they are selling this as part of a set with an eyeliner for $10 on sale.  The same mascara is $24 in the Birchbox shop.

CC Made Caramel Corn in Pistachio Nut (3 oz)

Pistachio Caramel Corn!

This is really good popcorn! I was going to save it, but my willpower lasted all of one hour.  The pistachios are different in this caramel corn, but in a good way.  They add a nice salty/savory crunch that is different from the normal peanuts you see in products like this.  The popcorn was fluffy and the caramel was buttery and crunchy, and I'm glad I opened this!

3 oz bags sell for $4 on the CC Made site.

ncLA Peppermint Lane Nail Wraps.

Polka-dots and Candy Cane Stripes

I've used these nail wraps before, and they last a day or two before I peel them off.  I like this style because you put down clear nail polish before and after applying the strips.  They do not dry out if you open the package, and they give you 26- enough for at least 2 manicures.  These would also make nice accent nail designs!

ncLA nail wraps, $16.

Ghirardelli Squares Chocolate, Milk & Caramel (5.32 oz) and Holiday Assortment (7.18 oz)

Who doesn't like chocolate?... oh, right.  Me.

My willpower may not have extended to the caramel corn, but I have no problem keeping the bags of chocolate closed until Christmas.  These will stay safe until then, but when they hit the candy bowl, all bets are off!  The holiday assortment has Eggnog, Peppermint Bark, and Pumpkin Spice Caramel flavors.  The milk chocolate & caramel squares are my second favorites (I like the peppermint filled dark chocolate the best!).  I like that PS gave us two full bags of chocolate this season!  I know some people were a little disappointed that this wasn't a "higher end" brand, but it will do just fine.  These are individually wrapped and are a holiday stand-by.

You can frequently get these on sale at most mass-market supermarkets and pharmacies.  I went with the lowest price I could find (Walmart) and am estimating $3 and $5 for the two bags.

Last, but not least, (well, ok, maybe) is the "big ticket" item.

Lulu Frost for Popsugar Bracelet.

Lulu Frost Bracelet and fuzzy bag.

When looking at spoilers online, this bracelet looked chunkier than in real life.  That is a good thing.  I am not crazy about the brass chain and the silver charm with glass rhinestones... I feel like they clash.  The charm would look pretty on a silver necklace, and the bracelet chain would look better with... well, anything the same brassy color.

Bracelet being worn.  Check out my burn, too.  Ouch.

I like this more than I expected to, but that's not saying much.  I like the little fuzzy bag it came in more than the bracelet! HA!  I can't see myself paying that much for a brass chain and silver-plated zinc with little bits of cut glass.  I just can't.

Lulu Frost now has this bracelet on their site for $110.

All together, this box had a value of $169.95 (being conservative on the mascara).  I paid $33 for it with my multi-month discount.  The price per month has now increased to $39.95 plus tax.  If you would like to sign up for PSMH, please use my link here.  If I refer one more person, I get a free month!  You can use code REFER5 to save 5$ on your first box.  PSMH sends full (and sometimes deluxe) sized items from all across the board.  They send accessories, home items, makeup and beauty items, food, etc.  You never know, and that is what makes it so exciting every month.  I know that even if I don't like something, I will be able to find a home for it.

No special consideration or compensation was received for this post and all thoughts and opinions are my own. All items mentioned within were paid for by me.

Birchbox December 2013

Birchbox Review December 2013

Sparkle and Shine! December 2013

Birchbox had cute holiday boxes this month.  I liked the box itself, but the contents were just mediocre.

Birchbox December 2013

I'm not sure what all of this has to do with a holiday theme, but look at the pretty inside of the box!

emily's Milk Chocolate Covered Fortune Cookie

I'll start with my least favorite item and get it over with.  I don't like fortune cookies and I don't like chocolate.  I know, I'm weird.  Take it up with my mother.  I'm sure this is interesting and tasty, and I hope there is a cheerful fortune inside.

$5.99 for a box of 7.  Each cookie worth $0.86.

Benta Berry G-1 Exfoliating Facial Cleanser

I received a Benta Berry facial lotion sample a few months ago, and at least now I have a matching set.  I might give this away (as a set), I might not.  I have a number of exfoliating face samples that I need to use up, and I seem to get them faster than I can finish them!  This smells like the lotion does; it's not unpleasant, but it is pretty strongly scented if you are sensitive to that kind of thing.

Full size $16 for 30 mL.  Sample is 3 mL, worth $1.60.

Number 4 Non Aerosol Hair Spray

I don't use hairspray, and I always seem to get different variations on the theme in these boxes.  Honestly, I might just take a break, but then again, I'd probably regret that the following month.  I will be able to find a home for this.  It has decent reviews.  I like the brand, I got a clarifying sulfate-free shampoo that is really nice in a previous box.  The smell is weird, though.  I read a lot of reviews saying how great it smells, but this hairspray smells like a public women's room's air freshener.  You know, the generic floral chemically smell.

Full size $30 for 6.7 fl. oz.  Sample is 1 fl. oz., worth $4.48.

Camilla Beckham Glycerine Hand Therapy- Midnight Monarch Scent

I have almost used up the body butter from last month, and was excited to see a replacement.  This has a VERY strong scent.  There is a lot of patchouli and amber in this and it is quite overwhelming.  I really wish it smelled like something different, because it is a really nice lotion.  It is true to claims that it absorbs fast and doesn't leave your skin greasy.  

Full size $4.99 for 1 oz.  Sample is 1/4 oz, worth $1.25.

Secret Agent Beauty Nourishing and Plumping Lip Gloss
in Foreign Intelligence Flirt

This is a pink gloss that uses peppermint oil, menthol, and sacha inchi oil to increase bloodflow to the lips, giving them a fuller appearance.  I really, really like this gloss.  It is absolutely not sticky, and has a very tiny applicator so that you don't end up squeezing out too much.  There is a definite tingle when this is used, but I didn't get to look in a mirror to see if it worked or not.  The scent is interesting- it has a fruity touch to it.

Full size 0.15 oz, $18. There isn't a size listed on this sample or the package it came in, so I will estimate it at 1/5 the size (0.03 oz).  Worth $3.60.

December 2013- Birchbox

All together, the only thing I really liked in this box was the lip gloss.  The hand cream would be nice if it didn't have such a strong fragrance, and the exfoliating wash would be nice if I didn't already have a number of them.  The box is pretty, too.  That's about all the nice things I have to say.

The total value of this month's Birchbox is about $11.79.  That is low.  And it feels even lower because I really only am happy with 1 item.  I've had some really great boxes, but lately they seem to be underwhelming.

Birchbox is $10 per month, including shipping.  You can also get 10 points for each product you review, and every 100 points gets you $10 to spend in the Birchbox shop.  The points I get each month make up for lackluster samples.  If you are interested in trying out Birchbox for yourself, please use my link here.  I will get 50 bb points for referring you.

All products reviewed in this post were purchased by me, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.  No special compensation or consideration was received for this post.  This post contains a referral link, see above for details.

The Week in Nails, December 8

This was a boring week, as you have seen these colors recently in my Julep review.

Julep Cara with Andrea as an accent

Two coats each, with OPI Natural Nails base coat and Julep Freedom Polymer Top Coat.  I wore this for 4 days.

Julep Celia

Julep Celia.  No base, 2 coats, no top.  I wore this for 4 days as well (up until yesterday, Monday).

All 3 of these polishes wore really well with minimal tip wear and zero chipping.  I was impressed!