This is obviously unsponsored, but just want to be up front about that. I have been using the products for about a month now, so I have some opinions.
I have a YouTube channel now! I posted an unboxing and first impressions video for this box (above). Feel free to drop by the channel and subscribe. I promise I'll get more comfortable and have fewer jump cuts as I get used to that sort of format.
So, I will post the contents below, just as a warning.
I am a quarterly/seasonal subscriber for FabFitFun. As a result, I can only customize 3 of the items in the box. The rest are a surprise. I pay $49.99 per season. If you're interested in trying out FabFitFun, you can feel free to use my link here. This is unsponsored. This is my personal link that FabFitFun gives every member to share. I believe I get a small reward for referring you.
For this box, I chose the following three items:
1) Pottery Barn Mason Ceramic Diffuser in Solstice ($59 value)
I chose this item because I love reed diffusers and this one will fit my decor in my apartment. I haven't used it yet, to review the scent, but I am impressed that this item seems like the actual quality of the same line of diffusers in store. I tried finding this on the Pottery Barn site, but I couldn't find this particular scent. However, it did NOT say it was a Pottery Barn x FabFitFun collaboration, which is something I really look for. I like to use subscription boxes to try new products and scents at a discount, but I would always like the option of purchasing the product if I like it afterwards (and not from a third party...I have trust issues about used products online).
The vase itself is quite thick and heavier, so I think I definitely under-valued it in my video. I think since everything is included, I would give this probably a $40 value since I can continue reusing the vase for years to come!
Buy reed diffusers on Amazon - I like the Nest Fragrances, but I usually buy them at a sample sale.
2) Botkier New York Bond Tote ($128 value)
I chose this item because I wanted a backup black tote that is the same general shape and size as my Longchamp bag. I recently went to the Longchamp store in Soho (fine, it wasn't so recent...I think it was at the end of 2019) and I think they no longer sell my style bag! I wanted to repurchase it, but right after I purchased it in 2012, they changed the zipper style. Instead of small teeth (which I prefer), they changed it to chunky plastic-y teeth (not my favorite). I check back periodically to try to see if they switched back, but I guess they didn't.
I used it like every day during grad school and for most days at work since then and it's definitely showing wear, but it's still good to use, especially on rainy days. It's the water-resistant one. I don't know how to describe it, but there's like a plastic coating on the inside. I actually just looked right now and the Longchamp website shows they now stitch their logo on the outside of the Le Pliage bags...no thank you.
Anyway, this bag was the perfect size. I wanted something more disposable to take with me to blog and food events (if those ever happen again) because you kind of just throw your bag on the floor or on a coat rack (MAYBE).
I definitely undervalued this bag! I gave it a $20 value in my video, but I think this bag is probably more like a $40 value.
The bag has a lining, which is a major plus! You can organize a little better than my La Pliage thanks to the pockets stitched in the lining.
If you're keeping track, these are 2 items I will for sure use and $80 "Meredith Value" so far.
3) Lumira x The Vow by Nicole Trufio Perfume Oil ($49 value)
So, I will 100% not use this item personally. I definitely wouldn't have chosen it if the description would have been more...descriptive. This has a deep scent that it's my style (I prefer a lighter scent). It says it is rose and tobacco scent. Had I read those descriptions (I should have done my research), I would not have chosen this.
I asked my mom and she did the sniff test and she thinks my sister might actually like it. So, I called her and said she'd test it out and see if she wants it.
As a result, $0 value for me. Which is fine, I definitely got my money's worth out of the first two items and we have 5 more to go!
All the remaining items were chosen for me by FabFitFun's "algorithm":
4) Touch in SOL No Poreblem Primer ($16 value)
Honestly, I would have been happy with half of the products in this option, so I was fine going ahead. I was honestly hoping for this product, so I was super happy to see it! I needed a new primer and I heard great things about this particular primer.
I have not yet used it because I am trying to use up my mistake purchase and my skin is drier now, which means the dewy version is fine now! It's the Wet n Wild PhotoFocus dewy primer and it's like $5.
Anyway, I am still quite excited to try out this primer next!
Considering what I usually pay for primers (not the Wet n Wild because it's an outlier), I would probably pay full price for this product.
Buy the No Poreblem Primer from Amazon
(Total Meredith value: $96)
5) Cuccio Somatology Calm + Clean Yogahhh! Hand and Body Wash ($39.95 value):
So, I was a little disappointed to see this in my box again. This is the same account as I used for my one and only other box and, in that box, I also received this same product.
However, I am happy to have another hand wash. I actually just opened this one and put it in my bathroom this morning because I used the last of the other hand wash I was using.
I have used my other one and it's fine. I'm just not the hugest fan of lavender scented products.
I would definitely not pay $40 for this hand wash, though. I will assign it a $6 value since that's the full price for the Bath and Body Works hand soaps.
(Total Meredith value: $102)
6) Skin & Co Roma Truffle Therapy Whipped Cleansing Cream ($28 value):
I have been using this for like 2+ weeks now. I was wrong about the scent when I opened it. I don't know what I was smelling, but the scent of this product is not like fresh laundry or anything like that.
It has a sweet somewhat creamy scent at first, but that changes as I wash my face. It kind of starts to smell like grass clippings (?). I don't know, but I'm not a huge fan of the scent. I try to hold my breath as I wash my face, but that's a long time to not breathe.
I tried this with my PMD Clean and, honestly, it's not doing as much as my previous cleanser was doing for my skin. I was previously using a cleansing foam I bought in Japan - it was a mud foaming cleanser.
I think that I, personally, need a foaming cleanser for my skin.
I put this in my shower and will be switching to the KORRES Greek Yoghurt Foaming Cream Cleanser (Amazon link) that I bought from CAUSEBOX's add-on market for my nightly cleansing routine.
Buy the Skin & Co Roma Truffle Therapy Whipped Cleansing Cream on Amazon
Meredith Value: $10 (that's what I usually pay if I purchase my foaming cleansers full price)
(Total Meredith value: $112)
7) WinkyLux Uni-Brow Eyebrow Pencil ($16 value):
I was actually running out of my eyebrow pencil when I received this in my box. It wasn't actually in the spoilers I saw, so this was a major surprise. Honestly, I'm super excited I got this because the two options I saw for this item were less than exciting for me. I'd be fine with the hand lotion, but I am semi-picky about hand lotion scents.
I have been using this for about 2 weeks now and it's fine. I think that it may be slightly light for my brows and complexion, but it's not crazy. I probably won't repurchase it and I'll hope for a new eyebrow pencil to show up eventually in my Allure Beauty Box.
They say this is a universal shade, but I can't imagine this being a great match for someone with darker or lighter brows than I have. Not to mention, I'm not sure this would be a great option if you have a darker complexion than me.
I've actually been noticing that, I mean I cannot speak for people who have darker skin tones, but I noticed in the spoilers (my full spoiler video is here) that I think the colors may not be great for people of darker complexion (I'm thinking specifically of that Laura Geller eyeshadow palette and the blush). Let me know if I'm way off base on this critique because I honestly want to know what it's like to be of darker complexion and buy subscription boxes.
Meredith value: $10 (Although, I am willing to pay full price for a product like this, but after trying this item, I will not be repurchasing this particular item.)
(Total Meredith value: $122)
8) Makeup Eraser ($20)
So, not only did I already receive the Cuccio in my one and only previous box, but I also received a Makeup Eraser in that box. So, this is 2 repeats. I'm happy to have backups of each and will definitely use them, I just am a little surprised that I got 2 repeats because I thought they'd realize I've had only one box in the past and I received 2 overlapping items.
Anyway, I use my Makeup Eraser every day and I am happy to have a backup. I use it with Micellar Water to remove my eye makeup easily.
Meredith value: $7 (I'd normally say I'd pay full price, but I saw a printed Makeup Eraser brand cloth at TJ Maxx for the reduced price. Since I use it only to remove my makeup, the print doesn't matter to me.)
Buy Makeup Eraser on Amazon here at their official storefront - There are so many colors available!
As I mentioned on my video, sometimes they have free samples available on their website. You might be able to contact their customer service to request a free sample!
(Total Meredith value: $129)
Affiliates: Trazy - Korean Travel Deals | Amazon | YesStyle - Asian Fashion and Beauty
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