Starlooks: March 2014

Technically, I got this box like three days ago, but I've been busy OBSESSING over Diablo III, and that seemed much more important then opening this box. So, apologies for the delayed review :P

This month featured products chosen by Ashley Hackman, I have no idea who that is, but she has very pretty cursive.

I will say, that out of all my boxes, Starlooks is my cat's favorite. As soon as he sees the string that's holding the box closed, he tries to steal it so he can play with it.

Anyhow, Starbox is the subscription box from Starlooks. It contains 3-4 full-size Starlooks makeup products that you receive every month. It's $15.99, which puts it on the lower end of full-size product boxes.  Their makeup is very high quality.

The inside of my box. My little quartz crystal broke, in transit, so I had to throw it out because I didn't want one of my cats thinking it was a cat treat.

Lipstick in Boss, retails for $12.00

I hate lipstick. I especially hate this color. It's like neon red. It's the type of lipstick that I would wear, in college, if I was going to the bar, and wanted to get laid. IT'S SO BRIGHT!

No offense to anyone, who likes red lipstick. 

Here's a swatch of it, on my hand. This is going into the... I HATE THIS, SOMEONE ELSE CAN HAVE IT, GIVE AWAY PILE, that keeps getting bigger because I'm too lazy to get my ass to the post-office. 

Lip Liner in cherry cedar, also worth $12.00.

I don't even understand the point of lip liner. And even if I did, I'd hate the fact that it's very red, even though it does have a pretty name.

This will also be going into my give-away pile.

Eyeliner in black hole, worth $13.00. 

Finally, a product I like.

I love me some black eyeliner. It has great staying quality too because I made this swatch on my hand, and then tried to wash it off, and it wouldn't come off, so now my entire hand looks like it's bruised. 

I really do like their eye-liner and eye products though. I think they're awesome quality.

Their lipstick and stuff is great quality too, I'm sure, they're just not my cup of tea.

So the total value:  $37.00, which is well over what I paid for the box, but this box just seems lower quality than all the other boxes I've gotten.  And with this being a special edition box, I would think their would be special edition colors or products that came with it. 

A very meh box. 

Hopefully April will be better?

I loved my February box, but I don't think this box is anything special.

But if you're so inclined, check out Starlooks, they are a good company, especially if you like lip makeup, which a lot of people do.

Nerd Block Jr, Girls: March 2014

I may be an adult, but I still love toys and stuffed animals. That's why when Nerd Block announced Nerd Block Jr, I was intrigued.

Nerd Block Jr comes from the makers of Nerd Block, and is designed to appeal to children ages 6-11. There's a boy's version and a girl's version. It's $13.99 a month, although, with shipping, I think it averages to around  $16.00 to the United States, it's still cheaper than regular Nerd Block though.

I chose the girl's box.

First peak inside.

Unlike regular Nerd Block, Nerd Block Jr does not come with a tee-shirt. It comes with a collection of stuffed animals, toys, figurines, and things like that to appeal to a younger generation.

A My Little Pony Pencil Case, I've found a similar item, featuring Rainbow Dash, for about $8.00.

It comes with two little pencils, two pretty awesome erasers, and a sheet of stickers. It's pretty nifty, and there are lots of items I can use in there to bribe my pre-k students with. And who doesn't like stickers?

A Bear Plushie from Brave, worth about $11.00. While Brave certainly isn't my favorite Disney movie, I have to admit, the bear is really cute :)

A Hello Kitty Mega-Block figurine, worth $1.50.  This will be another welcome prize into my pre-k prize box. My pre-k students love Hello Kitty. Or maybe it can be a D&D figurine. 

A My Little Pony Pinkie Pie Slap Bracelet, worth $1.50ish. I remember, in the 80s, where slap bracelets were cool, guess that's coming back in style. My students would love picking this out of the prize box.

A Mega Blocks Moshi Monster Build-A-Monster set. worth $11.00. My fiance has already stolen this because he loves himself some legos.

So the overall value was: $33.00, which is double what I paid for it.

I think Nerd Block Jr is a fun subscription, and I think it's something that kids [and adults] would really enjoy. I like all the little toys. As a teacher, they're all things that are great to use in a classroom, as a reward. Now, if only they'd throw some Pokemon, into the mix, I'd be very happy :)

March: Nerd Block

I really have mixed feelings about Nerd Block. Sometimes I really like, other times it's a complete miss with me. Sometimes, I want to give it up, but as soon as I do, I know the next box will be amazing and I'll regret it. 

Nerd Block is a subscription box from Canada that is a box full of nerdy memorabilia. It's $20.00 USD per month, but with shipping, comes to about $23 or so.

This was the inside of March's box.

The highlight of Nerd Block is that it always comes with a tee-shirt. Every single month, you get another tee-shirt. I actually like this month's shirt. This is the first shirt I've gotten that I'm going to wear. Worth approximately $10.00 based on custom shirt sites like teefury, woot, etc.

An Assassin's Creed figurine of Edward Kenway, worth about $13.50 if I average the prices from various google searches. It also comes with a game code that you can use to get this guy's sword. 

I'm not a big Assassin's Creed fan, at all, but I have two ex-boyfriends, who absolutely loved the game. My fiance doesn't play this game, at all. I may find someone, who does play it, and hand this over to them.

A Zelda Figure Collection Figurine worth about $4.00. My cats were very into the green container that the figure came in, and kept trying to steal it from the box. After I opened it, I gave them the green container, and they played with for hours.

I got a mini-Link, which makes me happy. I'm pretty sure Link was my first video-game crush. I also used to have a Link Choose Your Own Adventure book that was amazing, and I used to love the bad 80's Link Cartoon, and totally own it on DVD. 

Wacky Packages Stickers, worth $3.00.

They sort of remind me of Garbage Pail Kid cards. But nothing special. 

Star-Trek Skele-Treks worth about $4.00.

I got Gorn. He'll make a great D&D character figurine.

Top 25 Greatest Guest Stars on Simpsons figure worth about $4.00, as well.

I got Kid Rock, he's also be an excellent addition to our D&D figurines. 

Overall value: $38.50

Still more than I paid, and overall, I don't think it was a bad box. I just wish I'd see more of my fandoms in the boxes.  But, after all, you can never have too many D&D figurines.  I did love my mini Link figure and I like the shirt this month, so overall, it was a good box for me, and it was a good value.

So check out Nerd Block, if you're so inclined.

March: Wantable

 It's Wantable time again.

FYI Wantable is a highly customizable makeup subscription box.  It's a little more pricey than say Ipsy, at $36.00, per month, but it's always valued way more than you initially spend on the box. It's also personable.

They don't just have a makeup box. They also have an intimates box that sends you things like underwear, bras, and lounge clothes, as well as an Accessory box that sends you things like jewelry or scarves.

All the boxes that they send to you, are based on your very specific answers to their quiz that you take, when you become a member. Then they use your profile based on the quiz to send you a box.

This is mine. I apparently need to tweak it because I don't love medium and I'm not sure why it says I do. But other than that, it's pretty accurate, I love eye shadow, eyeliner, lash product, nail polish, and tools.  I like warm and cool colors as well as complexion products. Also, something I need to tweak, I don't like complexion products. And I dislike brows, highlighter, blush, bronzer, and lip color.

You're more likely to get products you love, you sometimes get products you like, and you never get products you dislike.

Their products are also ALWAYS full-size. 

They recently changed their style quiz, and I haven't retaken it since. I'll redo it after I write this entry, which is probably why mine isn't that accurate, at the moment.

The nice thing is, you can always tweak your answers, so if one month, you only want nailpolish and eyeliner. You can do that. Your profile isn't set in stone.

This was a first glance at my box.

Liberty Republic Spellbound Nail-polish in Lovespell and Enchanted. Both woth $14.00, so these two are worth $28.00 total.

Jordan Liberty was this month's featured stylist, so these nail polishes are exclusively for Wantable, made by him, it's the debut of them, which is probably why I go two.

Lovespell is a bright fuchsia color.

Enchanted is a bright teal color.

They're both colors I like, but other than being colors I like, I don't see what's really that special about them, to be honest, not that there's anything wrong with more nailpolish to add to my collection.

PI_ with a wink! eyeshadow in Perfection, worth $18.00.

It's a creamy nude eye-shadow. It'll make a good base for every-day makeup. It has a subtle shimmer that you can't really see in my picture. But again, nothing special.

MiA BelleZZa Ooh La La Eyeliner Duo in Spellbound, worth $24.50.

This is the one product I really like. It's a dual eyeliner that comes with a brush. The two colors are dark black pigment, and a shimmery glitter charcoal color. I love black eyeliner and I love glitter eyeliner, so all in all, this is a perfect product for me.

The total value is: $70.50, which is much more than I've paid, but I've had much better value boxes in the past. This also had only 4 items, instead of the usual 5-6 items, and it didn't have any sort of sample.

It wasn't a bad box, by any means, I've just had better boxes.

But seriously. Wantable is the best make-up box for your money because you do really get products, for the most part, that you'll use, and they also have a great return policy, if you don't like what you got. 

I've been subscribed to them for about four months, and I don't see myself giving them up, anytime soon. I do recommend them.

Now off to re-take my quiz.

Julep: Shamrock Mystery Box

Just for the record, I actually have no idea what this mystery box is called. Shamrock Mystery box seemed appropriate... or we could go for St. Patrick's mystery box... Or maybe the lean green mystery box?

And why is it, whenever I have chocolate milk, I have to fight my kitten for it?

Anyhow, onward to the mystery box I had forgotten I had gotten, most likely because I like retail therapy when I'm stressed.

What is Julep?  Julep is a monthly nailpolish/makeup subscription box that sends you nailpolish and makeup based on your profile. Different profiles get different things, and your result is based on a quiz you take. However, you're not forced to stay the same profile for the entire time you belong. You can change up your style every month during the monthly selection window. Or you can upgrade and add different stuff onto your initial order. It's $19.99 a month [more if you upgrade], and they have super speedy shipping. Most likely you will get your month's box before the previous month ends.

Occasionally, almost every month, Julep has special mystery boxes. They usually have a special color or two that you can ONLY get with that mystery box, and the rest of the products are surprises. Usually old colors being recycled.

Personally I love Julep because it's made my nailpolish collection huge, and their nailpolish doesn't stain my nails like the cheap stuff does.

I like box boxes... Last box I got, was so tiny, and had NOTHING in it, that I swore I was going to swear off mystery boxes... It's was the Cupid Mystery Box back in February. But apparently, I don't listen to myself.

And... TWO BOXES ARE WAY BETTER THAN ONE.

Inside glance at Box 1, the smaller box, which I think was my 10 dollar mystery add on.

Forget Me Not Seeds, recycled from last year, worth about $1.50. I've been buying a lot of seeds lately. I'm determined to attempt to garden, even I didn't inherit my dad's green thumb, I have more like a brown thumb. So, honestly, I was happy to see more seeds that I can experiment with in my box. 

from L to R: Rose, Grace, & Sienna, each worth $7.99 based on "Maven Pricing", rounding it up to 8... Multiply 8 x 3, you get 24. So these three polishes are worth $24.00. way more then the ten bucks I paid for the add-on, and more expensive than the initial mystery box itself which was $19.99. 

I was really hoping Rose would be "Evie", which is a color that I am obsessed with, and may just buy it, on my own. They're similar enough. Rose is basically neon pink with a red tinge, and totally something I can see Rose from Doctor Who, wearing, although I know that's just coincidence.  It's a very bright color. I would wear it. It's very much a summer toenail color to me. 

Grace is probably the perfect base color for a french manicure... if I ever gave myself a french manicure, which I'm sure I won't. It's an extremely pale pink whitish color. A little too nude and boring for me. 

Sienna is a bright silver color that's like the color of tinfoil. 

Inside the bigger box.

From L to R: Tatiana & Aislinn

These would've been the PERFECT St. Patty's Day combo, had they actually gotten here by St. Patty's Day. Now that I really go out and celebrate that holiday... Green beer gets rather old after so many years.

Tatiana is an orange gold color. It's a very pretty autumn color. It reminds me of the leaves changing on the East Coast. I miss the East Coast. Damn you Texas and your lack of fall.

Aislinn was the exclusive color to the box I ordered. It's black with bright green glitter. It's very Elphaba and Wicked to me, which is why I chose it over the other choices.

Together, those two colors are worth $16.00 with Maven Prices.

Mint Condition Pedi Creme, worth $16.00

I was bored. My feet are barefoot. I have carpet, who needs shoes or socks, when you have carpet? I put some on. It made my feet nice and smooth. It wasn't really refreshing, which is what I'd think a mint creme would do, but it did make my feet nice and smooth. It'd probably be great for a foot massage.

Julep Neon Dips are a product I have never seen before. I can't even find it on their website, which makes me think, it was just lying in a corner somewhere, gathering dust, and then they decided to mail it to me.

I can't even find it anywhere on the internet. Let's assume it's worth $10.00, which may be over or under estimating the price. 

Basically, you paint your nails with the clear stuff, dip it into the neon stuff, which are different shades of neon pink and neon orange, and use the little brush to clean up your nails. 

It's totally NOT my thing. It may wind up in a mystery package to somebody.

from L to R: Tracy, Kennedy, & Jennifer.

I have Tracy, I got her in a Halloween box. I love that color. It's like stars in a midnight sky. I didn't really need a double, but at least it's a color I like.

Kennedy is fucking ugly. It reminds me of old lady khaki pants, ugh.

Jennifer looks exactly like Grace, except maybe a slight bit creamier, when I put them side by side. 

All three worth $24.00 together.

Not a fan of any of them really, except for Tracy.

Total Value: $91.50, which is WELL over what I initially paid. I'm mostly happy with this box. There are some colors I can do without. But there was only one double, out of all the polishes I got, which is pretty good. 

Anyhow, I am a Julep fan, and they're one of the boxes that I've had the longest subscription to, and I don't see myself giving them up anytime soon. 

If you're a nailpolish junkie like me, check them out. 

March Birchbox

My birchbox had a lot of issues this month. First, they sent me a shipping notice, only to recall it the next day, and tell me that they had mistaken and it was the wrong box. Then I got another email telling me they gave me a repeat of an item, which they didn't, and I was credited 10 birchbox points, and it took a really long time to get here. Unfortunately, it wasn't worth the wait either.

Birchbox is a subscription box. It's a only ten dollars a month, and sends you a selection of 5-6 sample size items per month, although occasionally you can get a full-size. They claim that the box you get is based on your profile and preferences, but I think that's bullshit, especially after this month's box, where I strongly dislike most of the items... But for ten dollars a month, I can't really complain.

March's theme is spring forward, which irks me because it reminds me of the time change and the fact that I lost an hour of sleep. 

First gaze into my box.

Gilchrist & Soames London Collection Body Lotion, I'd estimate it to be worth about $2.25. I don't like how it smells. It's very flowery, and I just don't do flowery. It is a decent sized sample, at least, if I choose to use it, I'll get more than one use out of it, but I just don't really have a need for body lotion, I have tons already, thanks.

Jurlique Herbal Recovery Eye Cream, worth maybe .25, it's a tiny sample. I do have horrible under-eye circles... The downside of being a teacher and having to wake up at 5:30 am [really 4:30 am, thanks time change] and teaching four year olds all day... But this sample is barely big enough for one use. How can you evaluate a product like this with only one, if that, use?

Jurlique Herbal Recovery Night Cream, worth maybe $3.00. I'm curious about this. I need a good night moisturizer because my skin gets so oily and red and dry, so I'll try this out, and see if I see a difference. 

Curl Keeper, worth maybe $1.50. I have really annoying curly frizzy hair and it doesn't help that I moved to Texas, where it's like 115 degrees with humidity, in the summer, so I am always looking for good frizz-control products, so once it gets humid enough, and believe me,I am in no rush for that, I'll try this and see if it can contain my mane. 

How about Them Apples cheek and lip cream, worth maybe $1.50

I like the sexy cowboy... very Texan... But I don't wear cheek or lip makeup, so really this is just a wasted product that will never be used.

A Ghiradelli Cherry Tango piece that went to fiance... because I can't eat nuts, I'm allergic. Oh well. It would've been amazing without the nuts.

So total value: $8.50

Not even worth the ten dollars I paid. March sucked. I just don't like my birchbox at all. There are some okay products. But there's nothing special. I'm disappointed. I hope April is loads better.