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November Adore Box

November 23, 2017

This post contains affiliate links. Clicking on these links or purchasing items through them may provide me with a small commission. Products in this post were provided to me for reviewing purposes.

Another month, another fun new subscription box to try out!
I recently received the November Adore Box and have had fun playing around with all of the goodies inside. To be completely honest, the knit headband isn’t totally my style but I know it will make a fantastic gift for one of my friends. That’s one of the things I’ve always loved about these subscription boxes… If there’s ever something in it that isn’t totally my style or I know that I won’t ever use it, I can store it aside for when someone’s birthday is almost forgotten, or I need a hostess gift on the fly.

I received in my box two skincare samples from Hippie Skin, and although they look small, the product is quite concentrated, so you really don’t need a whole lot. I’m always looking to try out innovative new skincare brands, and I’m excited to see what else this one has to offer. The little jars are also perfect for traveling!
I have not tried out the blister balm yet, because I tweaked my ankle and haven’t been able to wear heels recently, but I will definitely be utilizing it during these upcoming holiday months.

I would say that the most impressive item, and the one I will use the most often, is the cuticle oil pen from OPI. I have been doing the powder dip technique on my nails for the past couple months, and find that my cuticles do need a little extra love. This one is in a super convenient click-pen, with a brush that lets you disperse as much product as you want, where you want it. I can’t tell you how annoyed I get trying to squeeze out oil from a tube only to have it squirt out everywhere. Definitely a repurchase when I run out.

All in all, this box was worth the $15 it sells for and more, especially since I got to try out a new skincare brand, and have a gift for a friend in a pinch. If you’re interested in signing up for Adore Box, you can take 50% off your first month with code HALFOFF.

Clean Head to Toe with Soapbox

August 17, 2017

Hello, loves!
Today, I’m happy to be reviewing the newly redesigned Soapbox line of products, including their hand soap, body wash, shampoo and conditioner. The old packaging, I must say, was quite lackluster and nothing that I would reach for in the store. They’ve completely redone it, to have a chicer and more inviting vibe, while still being offered at very budget-friendly prices, which I’m never mad at. One thing that definitely stood out to me about that brand, before I even cracked open one of the bottles, was that Soapbox is truly a company that gives back. To date, they’ve provided more than 2.6 million bars of soap to people in need, both in and outside of the U.S.! You can even type in the code found on each bottle to find which project your purchase is contributing to! Such a phenomenal idea. Now.. On to the good stuff!
I’ll start with my favorites. The Citrus & Peach Rose hand soap is seriously one of the best smelling things I’ve ever used. It’s the perfect blend of fruity and floral and the ideal soap to display proudly in my guest bathroom. I love that the scent lingers for a little while on hands, not overwhelmingly so, but mildly present.
When I saw that the body wash was coconut and sandalwood, I was a little iffy, because I’m kind of over the sunscreen-scented bath products that have been inundating the market lately. This one, thankfully, has a great balance of the sweetness and nuttiness of coconut, along with the subtle musk of sandalwood, making it the perfect unisex wash. It also leaves my skin nice and smooth and has a lovely lather.
Moving on to the shampoo and conditioner, I didn’t find the conditioner quite as favorably. I think that my long, color-treated (re: damaged), hair requires a bit more moisture than the conditioner provides. I didn’t feel the softness and lushness that I do with some other brands. The shampoo did it’s job of making my hair feel clean, like I was actually ridding it of all of the dry shampoo and various products I throw in my ‘do, but without stripping it of the natural oils, so that I will give positive marks for. The scents of the hair products are also on the more neutral side, and would be great for leaving in the guest bath as well, because everyone could use them. I’m actually planning on cutting my hair very soon, so I’m going to try out the conditioner again and see if maybe the condition of my locks had something to do with my less-than-stellar experience with it.
All in all, the standouts are the hand soap and body wash. I would absolutely purchase these again, and am already thinking of next ordering the Pomegranate & Plum hand soap for fall. Soapbox is offering my followers 20% off with code Kristinsoapbox and all of these products are available as of today! I hope you enjoyed reading my “honest-as-always” review on how to get clean head to toe with Soapbox!
😀

All products from Soapbox.

Shot by Holli Z Photography.

This post was sponsored by Soapbox. Items in this post were sent to me for reviewing purposes. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

PS by Just Fab Review & Crochet Bomber Look

May 6, 2017

Hello, my dears!
Today I wanted to share with you my experience with a new styling service called PS by JustFab. I’ve been a member of JustFab for some time now, and love 95% of the shoes I’ve purchased from them. I’d been looking into their clothing selections for a bit, but noticed the reviews for clothing are much harder to come by than for shoes and bags. I didn’t want to take a chance on something, not knowing how their sizing runs, the quality, etc. When I saw that JustFab was now offering a styling service, I got super excited! I do love my ongoing subscription to StitchFix, but it can get a bit pricey. With JustFab’s more moderate price points, I took a chance and signed up for a box!
I filled out a detailed survey, paid a $20 styling fee, and within a couple weeks, a shipment arrived at my door. Inside was a statement necklace, a crochet bomber (pictured), an embroidered jacket, distressed jeans, and an off-the-shoulder tunic. Everything comes wrapped up, with a price list and return mailer. Starting from the top, the statement necklace definitely caught my eye. It’s three layers, and definitely eye-catching and unlike anything I currently owned. The crochet bomber seemed a touch baggy but I loved the color and the texture. The embroidered jacket was OK, but other than with a white or black top and jeans, I couldn’t think of anything else to pair it with. The jeans were WAY too tight, didn’t have any stretch, and I couldn’t get them up past the middle of my thighs. Lastly, the tunic was very baggy around the hips but super snug around the chest, which rarely happens to me, so the sizing on this one was very off.
I decided to keep just the necklace, because nothing else I was completely over the moon about. I sent the other items back a couple days later, and was actually looking forward to my next shipment. I checked out online, but when I looked at my receipt, it said my total was $41.50, odd, because the necklace was only $19.95 plus tax.
I reached out to the customer service department at PS by JustFab to voice my concern about the mis-charge on my account. She informed me that because the item I kept wasn’t over $20, that I was also being charged a $20 styling fee. We went back and forth about the fine print not saying $20 pre-tax, but she was not helpful at all and refused to get a manager for me to speak with. Basically, my only option was to keep another item from my box, to not be charged a separate styling fee. I guess this was sort of a blessing in disguise, because I realized how much I loved this crochet bomber jacket!
To wrap it up, due to the lack of stellar customer service, I probably won’t be using the PS by JustFab styling service again, but I’m open to purchasing solo pieces from the website. And I can’t seem to get enough of their shoes!
I’d love to know.. What are your subscription services? Do they end up sending you just the things you never knew you needed or do they not get your sense of style at all? Which ones have you tried?

Crochet jacket / JustFab // Top / Daniel Rainn at Nordstrom Rack // Jeans / Old Navy // Bucket bag / Forever 21 (similar) // Sandals / JustFab // Necklace / LA find (similar)

Shot by Holli Z Photography.

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

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.