April 2013 Sample Society

The first thing that came to mind when I opened this month's Sample Society box was WOW! It seemed packed full of goodies.

I will begin with my favorite product from April's box. Stila Cosmetics Prime Pot Waterproof Eyeshadow Primer is an excellent product. I did learn after the first time I used it, though, that a "little dab'll do ya." I guess eyelids are smaller than I thought because I had what I thought was a small amount on my finger and it was way too much for my eyelids. So I have gone from a small amount on my finger to a tiny amount. This works very well with my eyeshadow and keeps it looking fresh all day. And at the rate that I am using it, this little pot of primer will last a very long time. It sells for $20 and I'm not sure what size the sample is because the little sticker on bottom is too minuscule to read.

This next product caught my eye immediately. It was in a larger foil-looking package that took up the entire area of the box. This turned out to be a Hanskin Hydro Sheet Mask. This is a cloth-like "mask" saturated with seaweed extract and hyaluronic acid. There are cut-outs for eyes, nose, and mouth. You just sort of lay the mask on your face and leave it for about 15 minutes. One drawback to this is that I just had to sit for 15 minutes because it didn't want to stay in place while walking around so don't use this if you are in a hurry! After I took it off, I rubbed in the leftover moisture and then patted my face with a towel. I do believe my face did feel smoother. These sell for $18 and come in a pack of 5. 

My 13 year old daughter is CONSTANTLY asking for bobby pins! AND she never returns them. She was very excited when I showed her the Jane Tran hair accessories that were included in this box. Hopefully she will keep up with these. These sell for $6 each and Sample Society included a pack of two.

There were two facial creams in this month's box: Cotz Face Natural Skin SPF 40 and Caudalie Premier CRU. The Cotz cream is skin tone and has a matte finish. It matched my skin quite nicely and did have a nice finish. At $20 for 3.5 oz, this may be something that I will purchase and it seems like it would be nice for summer. The Caudalie cream feels nice and smells great, but at $150 a pop (1.7 oz) I will not be purchasing any time soon!

Lastly, there was a nice size sample of Borghese Gel Delicato Makeup Remover. I don't really use makeup remover as I usually just wash my face with cleanser, so I will pass this on to my daughter (whom, I might add, has started to invade my subscription boxes here of late!;). It retails for around $30/8.4 oz. 

I have yet to be disappointed with any of my Sample Society boxes. I love getting to try new products, especially beauty products. I continue to be surprised every month with what I receive. Is this box worth $15 a month? Yes, to me it is well worth the money! If you would like to purchase any of these products or sign up for Sample Society, click here. If you visit the site, please use my referral code: REBE721088

Book and Beauty Cravebox

I just received Cravebox's latest goodie box, called the Book and Beauty Box. When I opened up the pleasantly familiar blue box, here is what I found:

Being a librarian, I'm always on the lookout for another great read. I do not think Cravebox has disapointed this time. While I have not yet started reading the hardover book Mistress of My Fate by Hallie Rubenhold, I'm sure I will enjoy it and share it with others. This book is the first in a trilogy about a character named Henrietta Lightfoot. The genre is historical fiction and it has rave reviews on amazon.com. 

Mistress of My Fate retails for $25.99 for the hardcover ($17.55 on amazon). I will begin reading it as soon as I finish my current book, Church of the Dog, by Kaya McLauren, another author Cravebox introduced to my library with How I Came to Sparkle Again. 

My hands have been SO dry this winter, so I was very excited to see Vaseline Total Moisture Lotion. I have found the products that actually moisturize my hands also leave them feeling greasy, but not this product. As soon as I rub it in, the lotion soaks into my skin leaving behind nothing but smooth soft skin.

Cravebox included a 3 oz. size, perfect for my purse or desk at school.

Apparently heat damages your hair, or at least it does mine so this next product will be very useful. Cravebox included a 4 oz tube of  John Frieda Full Repair Conditioner. This product promises to reverse the damage done to hair by heated styling tools with every use. The ingredient promoted is Inca Inchi Oil. I already use other John Frieda products and really love them, so I'm sure this product will be no different. I can't wait to try it!

I don't know if you have ever tried Biore products, but let me tell you, they are AWESOME. I am a loyal Pore Strip user; they are part of my weekly skin care routine. Biore's Pore Strips remove many impurities from my chin avoiding unsightly blemishes (yes, they DO work!). I don't care if what Cravebox included was a sample pack, I was still excited to receive anything from Biore. In this Cravebox we got a sample pack of Biore cleanser, scrub, and a pore strip. Let me tell you, if you have oily skin prone to breakouts, Biore products are for you!

Cravebox is a product discovery service that will send you boxes filled with goodies, ranging in price from $10-$15. I, for one, have never been disappointed with any box that I have received. The wonderful people at Cravebox are always very thoughtful about what they include in their boxes. Where else can you get all these products, mostly full-size, for just the price of shipping?

Do you want your own Cravebox?  Click HERE to sign up and I would appreciate you putting my email address in the referral box: rebeccamarietta@gmail.com

Zatarain's Big Game Cravebox

Someone once said, "You know you're Cajun if You start cooking your rice when you make your coffee in the morning, even though you don't have any idea what you're serving for dinner."  So Cravebox nailed it when they put together the Zatarain's Big Game box. Plenty of rice, plenty of Cajun seasoning, spicy mustard and even sweet tea! Everything one would need for a rockin' Cajun celebration.

What celebration would be complete without some steaming hot Jambalaya? Zatarain's Jambalaya is the best! I've been making it for years with glorious results. I was very pleased to see that Cravebox included not one, but TWO giant Family Size boxes! I was truly pleased to find these boxes when I opened my Cravebox.

For those nights when I don't fix the Jambalaya, Cravebox included two boxes of Zatarain's Red Beans and Rice. These are a  spicy, Cajun addition to any meal and with only 1 fat gram per serving, they will fit into even the strictest of diets (mine, mainly).

I have already used this next product several times, on sandwiches, hotdogs, hamburgers, and even with pretzels. I love the ZING I get when I put this Zatarain's Creole mustard into my mouth. It is very spicy, so it is not for the faint of heart. As my husband says, "It will put hair on your chest!" Love it!

OK, I'm guilty. Of what, you might ask. Of the fact that I put Creole seasoning on most everything I cook. We are a family that loves spicy, so the Zatarain's Creole seasoning is a lovely addition to my pantry. I have always used Tony Chechere's Cajun seasoning, so I am excited to try Zatarain's. If this seasoning is anything like their other products, we will all absolutely love it.

Iced tea? A Southern meal wouldn't be complete without it! Cravebox gave us True Lemon Iced Tea Mix. My kids love it and it is so much easier than brewing tea because you just mix it with water. Awesome!

The people at Cravebox have really outdone themselves with this box. I was pleased with everything, but mostly I was pleased that everything I got was doubled!

As the Cajuns say, Laisse les bons ton rouler. (Let the good times roll). We will all eat, drink, and be merry at my house, compliments of Cravebox!

Want your own Cravebox? Head on over to cravebox.com and sign up! Be sure to use my email as a referral (rebeccamarietta@gmail.com).

Teen Time Cravebox Giveaway!

Who wants to win a full size, unopened Teen Time Cravebox?

Now is your chance!

I am giving away one Teen Time Cravebox to a lucky winner.

Simply post a comment below for a chance to win.

To read more about the Teen Time Cravebox, read my review from earlier this year:

Teen Time Cravebox

For anyone who doesn't know what Cravebox is, it's a product discovery service. They offer different themed boxes for between $10 and $16. To sign up, click here and I'd appreciate you using me as a referral (rebeccamarietta@gmail.com)

Happy entering!

Contest begins on 02/10/2013 and ends on 02/17/2013. You must be at least 18 to win. One time entry only.

Popsugar Must Have Box January 2013

Popsugar is always my favorite thing to get each month, however, I was a little less than enthusiastic about this month's box. While the contents may be useful to some, there was not much in my box that I will use. Don't get me wrong, I am still one of Popsugar's biggest fans, I just wasn't crazy about the box this time. Although, there were some things that my kids found delightful.

I'll start with the positives:

Popbar Hot Chocolate on a Stick and Kraft Jet Puffed Mallow Bits

My kids were immediately drawn to the idea of putting a block of real chocolate into a cup of hot milk and stirring it until it melts away, then sprinkling little marshmallow bits on top. Needless to say, the Popbars didn't hang around very long!

One thing I can never have enough of is lip balm, which is why I did like this next product, Epicuren lip balm. I contains tea tree oil and is SPF 15. Not only does it make my lips feel soft and smooth, it also tingles a little when I put it on. I like the little gold container it's in, too! It retails for $8.

I guess the "biggie" in this month's box was the Remix Time Bomb watch. Although it is a trendy looking watch, it is just not my style. I couldn't find this exact watch online, maybe because it says that it is a "Popsugar exclusive", the nearest one I could find retails for $44.95.

Another item that I will not be able to use is the Merrithew  stability ball. It's not that I have anything against stability balls, in fact I already have one already blown up in my attic. It's for that fact alone that I will likely not use this product. I'm sure it's a fine ball, but do I really need two giant ball in the attic? This retails for $38.99.

I guess to compliment the exercise ball, Popsugar added in three Think Thin bars. These weight management bars are high in protein to help keep you feeling full. However, my son, who is into fitness and protein bars, tried one of them and didn't finish it because he couldn't take the taste or texture. I will try one of them to form my own opinion.

Popsugar included a card with a coupon for $15 off a phone case from Casetegram. You can make a custom case for your iPhone, iPod, iPad, or Samsung Galaxy. These are a little pricey to me, starting at $34.95, so I probably won't order one.

Overall, the box was just so-so. But, like I said earlier, I am still a huge fan of Popsugar. Not everyone likes everything and I've been so pleased with everything I've gotten from them up until now. I will look forward to my February box. This box was still a great deal at $35, and if I want to I can probably sell the watch and the stability ball to make the box pay for itself.

Want your own box? Sign up here!

Sample Society January 2013

It's time for Sample Society January 2013! I have been receiving boxes from Sample Society for several months now and I continue to be pleased. There are several products from this month's box that I really have enjoyed using.

My usually combination/oily face has been really dry for some reason this winter, which is why I love the Clark's Bontanical Moisture Mask. This moisturizer absorbs quickly and does not leave my skin feeling oily or greasy at all. The full size (1.7 oz) retails for $72.

To compliment the moisturizer, Sample Society sent Snowberry Instant Deep Cleanser. This cleanser is supposed to deep clean and instantly remove make-up, oil, and environmental pollutants. It retails for $51 (1.7 oz).

I always love to receive more fragrance. Although I'm not crazy about Nicole Richie herself, I do like her perfume, Nicole Richie Fragrance  eau de Parfum Spray. I like anything with notes of blackberry and I think this smells really good. If you order from Macy's, you will get the 3.4 oz Parfum Spray + free hat + free scarf + free  Dior mascara + free shipping for $69 ( I love Macys!).

I was a little disappointed with the next product, not because of the product itself, but because of the fact that it leaked out in the box. The product was Malin + Goetz Bergamot Body Wash. I do really like the scent and lather of the body wash, I just wish I could have gotten more use out of it as it was a nice size sample. It is supposed to be good for people with sensitive skin and does not have harsh detergents. It retails for $18 (8 oz)

I always need more eyeliner, so I was excited to find a full-size kohl pencil from Lord & Berry. This Lord & Berry Silk Kajal Eye Pencil has a very rich color and goes on smoothly. It sells for anywhere between $8.50 and $15.00.

The last product was a bonus, and I have been using it daily on my hair with great results. It is Pantene Age Defy Thickening Serum. As much as I hate to admit it, my 38 years of life is catching up with my hair. It is thinner than it was when I was in my 20's, so if I can find a product that will help it appear thicker and healthier, awesome! The full-size sells for $19.99 on Amazon (4.2 oz), and I do have to say that I have been using this sample daily for about 10 days and it is still half way full.

Overall, I loved the products I received in this month's box. I will probably definitely purchase the Pantene Age Defy Thickening Serum and possibly the Malin + Goetz body wash using my $15 off code. I would love to buy the facial moisturizer, but $72 is a bit out of my price range.

Want to sign up for Sample Society? Click here to get on their waiting list. Use my referral code: REBE721088 and you will get 20% off your first order on each of their sites (could total up to $160 for you!) and I will get a $5 credit to my account.

Red Hot Love Giveaway

Want to spice up your love life this Valentine's Day? What better way than with Durex products!

I am giving away 4 lucky winners a Durex Pleasure Prize Pack. 

Each winner will receive a Durex Play Vibrations Pleasure Pack paired with either a 3 pack of Durex Performance Intense Condoms or a 3 pack of Durex Extra Sensitive Condoms.

Enter a comment below to win!

I will notify winners on 2/3/2013 to get contact information.

Rules:

Contest begins on 1/25/2013 and ends on 2/2/2013. One entry per person.