Klutch Club Best of Box

I love sub boxes. If I had a ton of disposable income this is how I would shop for everything. Makeup, fitness clothes, skin care, healthy snacks - sure there is the risk of getting something you don't like but these boxes are still like mini Christmas every month.

Klutch Club promises to deliver health and wellness products with a focus on organic, low sugar, and gluten free snacks. When a Gilt deal popped up for a "best of" box for $13 shipped I could not say no (retail price of this box is $25 and it promised over $100 in goodies). I got my box today and was really pleased!

The theme of this box was New Year's resolution and there was a nice little insert that broke down product categories and explained why it was chosen. Here is the list:

Get Supermodel Sexy
C. Booth Honey Almond Body Butter
Giovanni Cosmetics Argan Oil and Keratin Shampoo and Conditioner

Eliminate Household Toxins
Berry Plus Natural Laundry Detergent (10 loads)

Eat Right & Maintain a Healthy Weight
Funky Monkey Snacks Freeze Dried Pineapples
Jaali Bean Coconut Lentil Rice
Lush Gourmet Food Chocoloate Covered Nuts
Zevia Natural Soda with Stevia
Soyjoy Bars (chocolate cherry, cranberry)

Give Back 
$10 Seer Outfitter gift card

Keep Your Body in Shape
KTape Fitness and Injury Tape
Streamfit - 2 month subscription to online fitness videos

If I was in a store I would have bought the soyjoys, funky monkey snacks, and lentil rice meal - these are right up my alley and I'm excited to try them out. The hair stuff and body cream will most definitely be put to good use. The laundry detergent should be interesting to try out (the packaging is adorable). The streamfit subscription is also an awesome fit because I do a lot of strength training at home and am always looking for new routines.

All in all this was a total score for $13. Would I still have loved it for $25? Probably, but paying half price gave me the awesome feeling you get when you score a major sale and are really happy with your loot.

Birchbox January 2013

I love when my box comes early, otherwise I almost always give in to the temptation of checking my box contents online. Here is what I got:

theBalm Hot Mama blush
I squealed when I saw this. I've been dying to try it and was hoping it would turn up in my box someday. Dreams come true.

No4 Clarifying Shampoo
Very nice size and something I can always use.

Embryolisse 24 hour miracle cream
I am something of a skincare junkie so I'll always welcome a sample like this. The best part about this is the full size is only $14, very affordable should it be as good as BB says it is.

Aerie Shimmer Fragrance
Cute packaging but I'm allergic to perfume, will Birchbox ever care?

Beauty Extra: Deborah Lippmann Stripper to go
Lavender scented nail polish remover does sound nice, but I really have no use for this. Oh well.

Overall a pretty decent box. I find it's always hard to judge these boxes without actually trying all the products. I've gotten full sized things that I wound up hating, and random samples that turned into must haves, so it's hard to say whether there's a hidden gem in here or a bunch of stuff I'll never use again.

Essie Sleek Sticks - So Haute

Essie has a new line of nail stickers out in tons of cool designs. I tried out this amazing red and gold pattern for Christmas.

Unlike Sally Hansen Salon Effects, these do not dry out so you can save your leftovers for touchups or a second mani. While Salon Effects are made with real polish, these are more like thick stickers for your nails. The positive is that they come in some really cool textured designs, plus removal is a breeze (just peel them off). Application is also a bit easier since you just peel them off the cardboard, stick them to your nails, and file away the excess. The major negative is that they can start peeling up off your nails after a day or two (see tipwear on my pointer finger - that happened within 24 hours of application).

These created an absolutely gorgeous mani for Christmas. Doesn't get more festive than this!

December Birchbox 2012

Modelco Lip Gloss - Strip Tease

Juicy Couture Perfume

Benefit It's Potent Eye Cream 

Kerastase Nectar Thermique

Emily's Chocolate Covered Peppermint Fortune Cookie

Pretty decent haul! The fortune cookie was amazing. The eye cream is just what I needed for my travel kit. The gloss is very sheer, but a nude gloss will always get use from me. Have not tried the Kerastase stuff yet but people rave about this brand. Birchbox, I am pleased. 

American Apparel - Hunter with Color Club - Holiday Splendor

Merry Christmas !!

Essie - Good as Gold with Gold Glitter Gradient

Sally Hansen Salon Effects - Sweet Tartan

Essie - Nothing Else Metals

Essie's Mirror Metallics collection = pure love. Here is Nothing Else Metals, a super shiny silvery lilac. I love this color! Proof? After wearing it for 10 days I took it off and then redid my nails with it. Any polish that gets twice in a row treatment from me goes straight to the favorites shelf.

Birchbox - November 2012

Whomp Whomp. I always knew my BB luck could not last forever, and this month the jig was up as I received what the girls over at makeuptalk have dubbed the "punishment box."

Let's take a look:

Khiel's Creme De  Corps
Decent size sample of luxury ($70!) body cream. Great for travel

Stila All Over Shimmer Liquid Luminizer - Light Pink
Deluxe sample of a highlighter from a popular brand.

MCMC Perfume in Phoenix
Vanilla, honeysuckle, peach. I'm allergic to perfume, but even I loved how this stuff smelled. It manages to be both gentle and rich, lacking the chemical odor of most perfumes (but still giving me a headache after squirting it on). I am gifting this sample to my mom, who will most likely be buying a full size bottle.

Masqueology Eye Mask
This one mask retails for $8. I'm very interested in giving it a try, but cannot see myself ever spending money on these (unless it truly works miracles in which case I might stock up for special occasions).

Masqueology Masque Cleanse (face wash)
I totally fell for the marketing on this package and was excited to experience the "bubble technology" it advertised until I realized that it simply made bubbles on my face much like every other soap that ever existed. Next.

Masqueology 7D Moisture Cream
I have not used this yet but I do not expect much. These packets were lifestyle extras, so I can't really hate too hard. Still wish I got a Chuao bar.

In the end, while this box was crappy compared to every other box this month, it really was *that* terrible. If this is the worst Birchbox ever puts out, I dare say they are on their way up. Yes, the value is low compared to those who scored $24 mascaras and $18 lipglosses, but these boxes were never about value to me - they are about trying new things. Given that criteria this box still managed to succeed.

Essie - No More Film

This color really changes depending on the lighting. While coming across as black or navy indoors, bright sunlight brings out deep violet tones. Very unique and pretty. The formula is excellent, can probably get away with one coat if you are careful. 

Essie - Fair Game

Fair Game is a slate blue/gray with a nice shimmer finish (but not too shiny for all you creme fans). The formula is smooth and you get great coverage in two coats. I love this on my toes, though it definitely makes an appearance on my nails from time to time.

Color Club - Put a Pin in It

The last of the Birchbox Social Media Collection that I own. Was really delighted to see this in my box. I have Orly Rage, which is a close dupe, but the finish on the Color Club is more smooth and reflective.

This is a great neutral color that has some pop to it. Metallics may not be for everyone, but if you are a fan this is a great one to own.

Birchbox October 2012 - Goop Box

I am the first to admit, I have some amazing Birchbox karma. While the internet rages over dime size lip gel and oodles of foil packets, I score a full sized Essie and lip balm. Even the Luna Bar can't bring this box down.

Essie - No More Film
Love this color ! Totally lucked out with a very wearable Essie that I do not already own. It can come across as black, but really is an awesome navy blue/deep violet depending on how much light is hitting it.

Sprout Lip Balm - Cocoa
I've been using this product for a month and I'm obsessed with it. The smell is odd, but once you put it on it basically smells like a mounds bar. The condition of my lips have drastically improved since I've gotten this - probably because I've been applying it pretty religiously since I broke the seal. It is not at all waxy and manages to hydrate without being sticky. Will definitely be buying more once I run out.

Luna Bar
It's a Luna bar! I'm glad to finally get this over with, as everyone with a BB sub gets one sooner or later.

Joanna Vargas Face Serum
This is a really nice serum, and despite the small size I've been able to use it nightly for almost 2 weeks. Have not really seen any major impact from it, so I'm not about to splurge $88 on the full size. That said, it does smell really delicious and soaks into my skin very nicely.

Marie Veronique Body Oil
While this smells delicious and is a decent size, I feel like I have no real use for it and will probably try to trade it for something more practical - like another lip balm!

Color Club - Insta This

Insta This is another color from Birchbox's exclusive social media collection with Color Club. I own a few creamy blues, but this is definitely a new favorite. The formula is amazing, practically a one coater  that dries to a nice shiny finish. I'm in love.

Birchbox - September 2012

Birchbox day! My favorite day. I totally spoiled myself this month because shipping took forever and I couldn't resist clicking on my page to see what I was getting. Still fun to open a package of goodies and play around with new things.

Color Club Polish - Put a Pin in It 
I'm totally obsessed with this entire mini collection, and seeing as I already grabbed Insta This and Tweet Me at the SampleStop, getting this color was a total score. Swatches coming soon.

Lace Twistband
The color and design is so much cuter than regular twistbands (which I was not a fan of). Cute!

LA Fresh Instant Body Soother
I thought these were post gym type body wipes, but the package tells you to wipe them on your body to "soothe away stress and fatigue." Apparently there is some aromatherapy going on here. I'm interested.

Boscia Purifying Cleansing Gel
This is a really large sample! I love all natural products and people rave about Boscia so I'm looking forward to using this. I'm building a high end travel kit, this is a perfect addition.

Dr. Jart+ BB Cream
My first BB cream!! This sample is tiny, but I've been itching to try a good BB cream. Out of all the products this month, this is one I really wanted.

Lifestyle Extra: Brush Guards
These brush covers protect your makeup brushes and help them dry back to their natural shape after washing. Awesome, but I'm totally trading this for the LiQWD Volume Catalyst hair spray cause I like big hair more than I like taking proper care of my makeup tools.

All in all I love my box ! Since there was no perfume, this is the first time I would actually use each and every thing in here. Birchbox has had a few ups and downs, but my box luck continues and I remain a major fan.