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Spring Box of Style Review

April 12, 2017

Hello, loves!
Let me first say how excited I was to finally receive the Spring Box of Style from the Zoe Report! It’s almost worse when you get teasers of which items will be in a subscription box; I’m starting to think I’d rather just be surprised haha! I definitely was looking forward to the “hero” item, which did not let me down.

Before I get ahead of myself, I wanted to share that this exact box is currently $20 off when you use my link here and code “FRIENDS20” at checkout until midnight on Friday, April 14th! Now, without further ado, so you can know if it’s even worth it haha, here is my Spring Box of Style Review!

First up, the “hero” item, this versatile bag from Tribe Alive. Retail is $238, which I personally wouldn’t have paid for it, just because I wouldn’t spend that much on a bag right now. It is very well made, the leather and woven material look very high-end, and I love that it has some structure to it, and is quite roomy. It did take a while to relax and had the “folded” look for the first week I had it, so don’t expect to wear this one straight out of the box. The second time I wore it out, I had a woman try to find it online right then and there so she could buy it, she loved it so much! Thumbs up to this item!
Next up is the multi-way earrings from Adornmonde (retail $62). Subscribers were given the choice between gold and silver, but I didn’t really care because my ears aren’t pierced! I reached out to Team Zoe and was informed that there wasn’t another option to choose from, so these will be re-gifted. No value in these guys for me.
The Symbology scarf (retail $50) was also an item I wasn’t quite sure about… The color (a true red), doesn’t immediately speak to me as a spring item, and the shape isn’t something I reach for in my current scarf collection. I honestly haven’t worn it yet, and might wait until summer, when I’m breaking out my brighter colors. I love the idea of it artfully tied over the strap of a bag, but I’m not one to wrap a scarf around my arm or as a necktie. Others may find this item more worthwhile.
I’d been wanting to try the Tatcha skincare brand for some time, and am happy to have received the Polished Gentle Rice Enzyme Powder (retail $65). Again, a little pricier than I normally spend for an exfoliating product, but this one is pretty cool. The packaging is gorgeous, and this very gently foamed up and scrubbed away dead skin, leaving my skin feeling pretty fresh and clean. I didn’t notice any discernable scent, but I’m completely fine with that. Perhaps not a product I’d purchase again, but glad that I’m getting to test it out.
Another item I was stoked about was the glass water bottle from BKR. After seeing these babies all over the internet, I knew that I wanted one but didn’t want to invest the $35 they go for. It is, of course, heavier than regular plastic bottles, but you also aren’t going to risk anything leaching into your water. Plus, the color is SO pretty.
Lastly, as part of the box, the Butter London nail polish in Piece of Cake (retail $18). This one I was a bit disappointed in. I did three layers, because you could still see my nail with only two coats. It chipped very easily and looked uneven and slightly chalky. I haven’t used many polishes from this line before, but it doesn’t have me wanting to search out more shades.
I did also receive, as an annual subscription member, this adorable tassel keychain, which I adore. It’s been on my keychain since the day I got it, and I love the little bit of flair it gives to something usually pretty mundane.

One thing that was pretty cool about this season’s box is that everything in it came from female-founded brands. The only thing that didn’t was the item not pictured here, the Stella Artois chalice. I still have no idea why this was included, as it seemed so out of place. It does have a really pretty etched pattern on it, just not sure it’s relation to the other products.

All in all, I’m loving the bag, the water bottle and the keychain. I value the box at about $160, in terms of the use I will get out of the items, which is not a bad deal at all! If you’re interested in subscribing, for one season, or an annual membership, use my link here to sign up!

This post contains affiliate links. Purchasing items through these links may provide me with a small commission. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this post are my own.

Nourish Organic Skincare Review

March 23, 2017

Hello, loves!
You may or may not have already heard of the skincare brand Nourish Organic, but I’m here to tell you all about them! Well, as much as I know from using the products on and off for the past year or so. I’ve previously featured their eye cream in my “Top Natural Skincare Picks” post, which I used until I literally could not squeeze another drop out of it. I initially found the brand at the Natural Products West Expo, a major event where pretty much everyone in the natural products realm shows off their newest goods.
I first fell in love with their packaging; a mix of clean, feminine and old-school apothecary. I adore the botanical-like drawings of things like avocado and watercress, highlighting the star ingredients in each product. As I said, my first introduction to the brand was through the eye cream (called the Renewing + Cooling Eye Treatment), which has since been upgraded! My apologies for not taking a picture of this, but the new version has a smooth metal tip, to cool and help reduce puffiness when you apply it. You still have to use your fingers to tap it in, but the coolness of the metal definitely helps me perk up in the morning! The formula has nothing major to help ward off wrinkles, alleviate dark circles, etc., but it provides just the right amount of moisture around the delicate eye area. I alternate it with a more mission-based cream that I use at night. I recommend this cream for anyone who has dry, tired eyes.
Next up, is the Restorative Night Cream! Again, this is not a problem-solving cream, other than for providing a lovely layer of moisture on the skin, after cleansing and before bed. It makes my skin SO soft, and I really like that it doesn’t feel super heavy. Some night creams I’ve used feel like a mask, and make me feel quite uncomfortable when I’m trying to get to sleep! This has a nice slightly herbal scent that’s not overpowering, but is actually fragrance-free. At first, I was a little put off by the small size, but then I realized it was only $25, and I’ve paid double that for a product double the size, so it’s quite on par with what I’m used to.
Lastly, is the Moisturizing Cream Face Cleanser. This is a product I absolutely turn to when I can tell that my makeup remover wipe did not do a thorough enough job. It’s a very modest product, but it feels luxurious to use at the same time. It gets my face really clean, but not that tight, obnoxious kind of clean. A comfortable, fresh clean. I think this one also smells really good!
Overall, I would definitely purchase all three of these products again and am excited to try more from this brand. The prices can not be beat, and are on par with the “fancier” drugstore brands. Considering the quality of the ingredients, the fact that the products are organic, good for sensitive skin, and really cute, I don’t see how you can go wrong with this brand!
Side note, this post was not sponsored, I just wanted to share some things are really working for me right now. I hope you enjoyed!

Shot by Holli Zenko Photography.

This post contains affiliate links. Clicking on these links or purchasing items through them may provide me with a small commission.

Bite Beauty Lip Products Review

February 28, 2017

Hello, loves!
I wanted to share a new beauty product from one of my favorite makeup brands, Bite Beauty! They recently launched The Lip Pencil, and Influenster was kind enough to send me gratis two shades, as well as two of the brand’s lipsticks, to test out and review.

I’ve previously tried out a couple of Bite Beauty’s lipsticks from the Amuse Bouche line, and I really enjoyed them. This time around, the brand sent to me two mini lipsticks to pair with the lip pencils; one slightly pinky nude, and a brown so dark, it may as well be black! The darker shade (Whiskey) was not my thing at all. I’ve recently been getting in to deep, bold lip colors, but this one seemed to bring out every little imperfection in my lips and I didn’t find it flattering on my skintone. The nude shade (Honeycomb), however, has become one of my faves, and I plan on purchasing the full-size soon. It goes on super creamy and stays a long time. It’s the perfect neutral for pairing with a smoky eye and goes wonderfully with the pencil.
Speaking of pencils, let’s move on! Again, I found the lighter shade (color 20, a beige nude) to be more my speed. It glides on and doesn’t skip and looks pretty authentic if I want to venture a bit outside my natural lip line for fullness. The darker shade (color 044, advertised as a rich mahogany, flashing me back to a Ron Burgundy speech) definitely did flake and feather a bit upon applicaton, making for a very uneven line. Although it goes well with the lipstick provided, it’s too dark to wear with any of my other lipsticks that I reach for.
Now, let’s talk packaging. They have a sleek matte finish, which is actually really fun to touch. The pencils show the exact shade on the end, which I think is so important so you’re not digging through your stash to find the one you’re looking for. The only negative I have is that the lids DO NOT FIT. They move around a lot, and if you don’t very forcefully shove the pencil in to the lid, it will come off in your purse or makeup bag. I wish they would had done more testing first before releasing the product, so they could have found a lid that fit.

Overall, I’d recommend trying these pencils out in the store first to check the consistency before purchasing. It’s odd to me that the two shades were so different in how they went on. I adore the nude shade, and would buy it again, same goes for the lipstick.
I hope you enjoyed my Bite Beauty lip products review! Have you tried anything from Bite Beauty before? What are your thoughts on the line?

Shot by Holli Zenko Photography.

Products in this post were sent to me for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions are my own. This post also contains affiliate links. Clicking on these links or purchasing products through them may provide me with a small commission, which is part of what keeps Dressed for Time going.

Beauty Subscription Round-Up

January 29, 2017

Hello, loves!
Welcome to my Beauty Subscription Round-Up! One of my favorite things to see when I get home, other than my lovely fur babies, is a package at my front door! It’s a dangerous habit, I know, but there’s something that feels like Christmas, opening up a little gift just for me. This is one of the many reasons I started receiving the beauty subscriptions Julep, Ipsy and Birchbox.
For all services, you fill out a survey, providing them with your coloring, skintone, product preferences, etc. I usually say that I’m open to any kind of products, like perfume, highlighters, whatever they want to throw at me! Overall, I would say that Ipsy is more makeup-focused, and occasionally lower-end brands (NYX), while Birchbox offers an even mix of hair, skin, and color and is focused on more higher-end brands (the ones that they sell in their shop). Julep is a completely different animal, as all of the items in their sets are Julep brand. Their bread and butter is nail polish, and most of their recommended sets include at least one polish.
What really distinguishes these services is your level of involvement in what you’ll receive. Ipsy is a complete mystery each month. You can take a sneak peak at the preview email, highlighting what’s already been sent out, chosen for you based on your preferences, but at that point I just wait to see what arrives. With Birchbox, you can either choose a pre-selected themed box, one standout item (a lipstick, or hair serum, for instance), to add to 4 random samples, or let them pick out everything for you. I usually go with one of the curated boxes if it appeals to me, because I’m more comfortable knowing what I’ll be getting. Julep, on the other hand, shows you a few products in a collection that they’ve picked out based on your coloring, but let’s you swap out anything you don’t like, and choose from polishes, eyeliners, cream blush sticks and more to create your ideal set.
Now, let’s talk pricing!
Ipsy is $10 plus tax (free shipping) a month. Something to note about Ipsy is that they also include a themed makeup bag to house all of your samples. They’re usually really cute, although a little small to use as my everyday pouch. I’ll frequently use them for travel and have one for feminine products, hair styling aids, and lipgloss. Here’s what I’ve received over the last 6 months from Ipsy:

A lot of makeup, some drugstore brands, mid-level brands, and those cute bags! Just a couple of skin and haircare products, but all told, definitely worth $65 for all of that loot!

Next up is Birchbox! I pay for BB yearly, to save a bit of money. Monthly, it’s $10; yearly, it’s $110, but they’re currently running a special for $99 with code “BESTYEAR99” If you use my link, you’ll get 50% off your first single box, making it only $5! I also keep the boxes from my sets if they have a pretty pattern on them, because I use them for storage. I love the collabs they do with brands like Rifle Paper, because they make the boxes seem collectable and they’re actually pretty sturdy. Here’s my past 6 months with Birchbox:

A delightfully balanced mix of skincare, hair care and styling products, and cosmetics. I’ve found some of my holy grail skincare items through these boxes, and love having the travel-size approved hair items for whenever I fly. Another thing I love about Birchbox, is that they give you 10 Birchbox points (equal to one dollar to spend in their store), for every sample you review. That’s $5 each month that can go towards buying a full-sized product!

Last, but not least, is Julep! A single-month is $24.99 or you can prepay 3 months for $19.99 a month (my choice). You can use code “WITHLOVE” for your first box free, when signing up for a subscription. I’ve been a subscriber of Julep only for about 9 months, but in that time have amassed roughly 60 polishes. One of the downfalls of Julep is that they offer up extra items with every box, and I’m just a sucker for them! I wish I had more willpower in that respect, because I often end up adding on a bunch more items that I honestly could have done without. The quality of the polishes, lipsticks, and skincare items that I’ve tried has all been very good. That being said, I’m not one to spend $14 on nail polish (their estimated retail price), to begin with, so I sometimes feel that their values are a bit off, compared to what you get. Three polishes for $20 seems like a break-even for me, not a steal, so I will always swap out for a lip product or skincare item, if those options are available. No cute bags or boxes to be had with this choice. To see a roundup of my recent Julep boxes, check out my post here.

All in all, I’d rate the services 1) Birchbox, 2) Ipsy and 3) Julep. I may actually consider cancelling Julep soon, because a girl can only have so many nail polishes! I love the variety I get from Birchbox and the fun makeup I get to try out from Ipsy.

I’ve also tried the Allure Beauty Box, which was sent to me complimentary to try out and I thought it was a great value for the normal price. Jouer also had a seasonal offering of beauty and skincare items that I tried for two boxes, but half of the products were either broken or rancid and their customer service was SO lacking at getting to any kind of a solution. Not sure if they offer this anymore, which I’m not mad at, because it was awful.

I hope this comprehensive review has been helpful, if you were considering any of these plans! If you have any that you’ve tried and think I would enjoy, I’d love to hear about them!

This post contains affiliate links. Clicking on or purchasing items through these links may provide me with a small commission. This is part of what helps keep Dressed for Time going 😀