Walmart Beauty Box (Trendsetter): Summer 2018.

Walmart Beauty Box is a subscription box which ships automatically four times a year once you have signed up for it. Containing a selection of full-sized products, samples, minis and money off coupons, the box itself is free but you must pay $5.00 for shipping and processing. There are two versions of the box intended to appeal to different age groups. I receive the 'Trendsetter' box aimed at younger customers, there is also a 'Classic' box for older customers. Let's take a look inside the Summer Trendsetter box.

Full Sized Items.

Lala Fox Honey Nourishing Sheet Mask.

I'm not sure if a single sheet mask counts as a full sized item but you usually buy them individually so I'll be generous and count it as such! I'm not a fan of sheet masks but I will give this moisturising honey one a go.

Unicorn Bath Bomb.

Like the single sheet mask I'm not sure if a single bath bomb should be classified as a full-sized product but once again I am being generous! I'm not a bather so I usually pass bath items onto Mr C&C but this Unicorn bomb smells like an explosion in a candy store, it's very sweet and sickly so I think that I will be giving this a pass - I can't have the husband walking around smelling like a thirteen-year-old girl. I guess this serves me right for signing up for the 'young person's box'! 

Mini Items.

Pantene Foam Conditioner - Sheer Volume.

I like Pantene products as a rule and I have seen these foaming conditioners in the shops and thought that they looked interesting. I'm sure these conditioners are a little gimmicky but I enjoy a foaming shower gel and find them fun so I'm keen to try this out although I'm not sure how effective a conditioner it will be.

Samples.

Garnier Fructus Damage Repairing Treat 1 Minute Hair Mask.

This is quite a skimpy feeling sample, there's enough product in the sachet for me, but if you had long thick hair there wouldn't be enough. I always have plenty of hair masks hanging around from goody bags etc for which I am grateful as I never have to buy them. Garnier isn't my favourite brand of haircare but I will use this at some point.

Garnier Skinactive Soothing 3-in-1 Moisturiser.

I had one of these samples from CVS recently. There's quite a lot of product in this sachet of multi-use cream that you can use as a day or night cream or as a mask. I used the other one I had as an overnight mask, it smelled pleasantly of rose,s but I found that it did absolutely nothing to my skin. This is another pass for me, I will give it away as I have so many other good creams and masks that I prefer.

Kleenex Wet Wipes.

Some people got a packet of these but my box only contained a single wet wipe. I don't mind as these aren't a product that I use really. I am thinking that I can pop this in my bag next time I fly and use it as a hand wipe. In reality, it will probably end up at the back of my bathroom cabinet and forgotten about. Another miss I'm afraid.

Overall.

After a couple of disappointing Walmart Boxes, last season's Spring Box was a good one. This month it seems we are back to disappointing. The only thing I am interested in is the Pantene Foam Conditioner. Half of the box was single-use samples and there weren't even any coupons. This is a pretty terrible box all in all, bad enough to make me want to cancel my subscription. Walmart you've got one last chance! If my next box is as crappy as this one I'm out of here...

If in spite of my dreadful review, you would like to subscribe to Walmart Beauty Boxes you can do so by going to walmart.com Details and sign up can be found under 'special offers' in the online beauty section and you can sign up for both versions of the box 'Trendsetter' and 'Classic' if you wish.

Walmart Beauty Box (Trendsetter): Spring 2018.

Walmart Beauty Box is a subscription box that ships automatically four times a year once you have signed up for it. Containing a selection of full-sized products, samples, minis, and money off coupons the box itself is free, but you must pay $5.00 for shipping and processing. There are two versions of the box intended to appeal to different age groups. I receive the 'Trendsetter' box aimed at younger customers, there is also a 'Classic' box for older customers.

There has been some problem with the shipping and distribution of these boxes of late but my Spring box arrived in a timely manner. Let's have a look inside...

Mini and Travel Sized Items.

Rembrandt 3 Day Whitening Boost Kit.

This is a set of six tooth whitening strips. It isn't an item that I ever use but I will pass them along to someone who does. I've received Crest White Strips in my Walmart box before but Rembrandt is a  slightly more upmarket brand.

Hello Toothpaste - Activated Charcoal (.85oz).

Hello Toothpastes are a fluoride-free formula, that contains no SLS and keeps the inclusion of 'unnatural' ingredients to a minimum. They are also cruelty-free and bear the Leaping Bunny insignia. I have had quite a few of these toothpastes in previous Walmart boxes and while they may not be the most exciting product, they always come in handy. I've read good and bad things about charcoal toothpaste but I am expecting this to be quite gentle and will at least try it out. 

Soft Soap Earth Blend Shower Gel 'Coconut and Fig' (2oz).

I love SoftSoap Shower Gels, they are one of my favourite drugstore brands. This Coconut and Fig scented one smells delicious, it's very summery and I look forward to using it immensely.

Aveeno Daily Moisturising Body Lotion 'Sheer Hydration' (1oz).

Aveeno is another great drugstore brand and their body lotions not only hydrate skin very well they leave skin calmed and soothed. 

Samples.

Dove Exfoliating Body Polish 'Macadamia and Rice Milk' (1oz).

I tried a couple of samples of this quite recently. I loved the scent and how it felt when I used it but I found that it didn't do a great job of softening my skin. My skin felt a little irritated afterwards and I needed to use a lot of lotion to relieve it. I may give this another try, but I may also pass it along to someone else.

Garnier Whole Blends Gentle Shampoo & Conditioner 'Oat Delicacy' (2x.34fl oz).

I'm not super excited about these two samples but sachets of shampoo and conditioner are always useful to take on trips and I will certainly use these two up over the coming months.

SOO AE Acai Berry Revitalizing Sleeping Mask (.35oz).

I must confess that I've still not used the Donkey Milk Mask by SOO AE that was in my last Walmart Box. This sleeping mask promises to brighten and renew and I will put both of these masks next to my sink and endeavour to use them up sometime this month.

Coupons.

There is a free hairband from Clairol attached to a coupon for a free box of Nice 'n Easy Hair Color. Unlike some coupons that Walmart includes this one is redeemable anywhere and although I don't currently use Nice 'n Easy I will use this token to pick up a box and try it.

There's also a coupon for $2.00 off a Rembrandt Tooth Whitening Kit and a chance to win a $100.00 gift card if you complete a Brand Share survey about our box.

Overall.

My last Walmart box was pretty uninspiring but I'm quite pleased with this box. At least the contents feel seasonally appropriate and the contents are Spring-like in feel and very Instagrammable! There are a few repeat items but I will use everything apart from the tooth strips. The inclusion of the coupon for a hair dye means that the value is here in this quarter's box and the Soft Soap mini is super cute! All in all, it is a definite improvement over my last box. Let's hope they keep up the good work and that the Summer box is as good as this one! 

You can sign up and subscribe to Walmart Beauty Boxes at walmart.com Details and sign up link can be found under 'special offers' in the online beauty section and you can sign up for both versions of the box 'Trendsetter" and 'Classic' if you wish.

Walmart Beauty Box (Trendsetter): Autumn 2017.

Walmart Beauty Box is a subscription box that automatically ships to you four times a year once you have signed up for it. Containing an assortment of full sized products, samples and money off coupons the box itself is free but you pay $5.00 for shipping. There are two versions of the box intended to appeal to different age groups. I receive the 'Trendsetter' box which is aimed at younger shoppers, there is also a 'Classic' box for older customers.

There has been a whole bunch of problems with the shipping of the Autumn Walmart Beauty Box. My box finally arrived on December 15th, a little less than a week before it is officially Winter (December 21st). Was it worth the wait? Here's a look inside...

Mini and Travel Sized Items

Tresemme Hair Spray # 4 Extra Firm Hold (1.5oz).

This is the closest thing to a full size in this season's box and it is a repeat item that I have had in a previous Walmart box. It is a firm hold basic hairspray, there's nothing exciting about this and I'm not a huge lover of the fragrance - it has a typical old fashioned hairspray scent - but it's a practical product that I will use.

Gold Bond Ultimate Radiance Renewal Body Cream (.75oz).

Gold Bond resonates with me as a deeply unsexy yet functional brand and I can't recall ever having tried anything from them before. This rich body cream contains coconut oil, cocoa and Shea butters and it smells like a warm delicious mix of these ingredients. This is quite a rich thick cream that feels very hydrating and I'm actually quite surprised that I like this cream as much as I do!

Hello Extra Whitening Toothpaste (.85oz).

It's a good job that I find mini tubes of toothpaste handy to have around for traveling with because I feel as if I get a tube of Hello Toothpaste in almost every Walmart box! I'm quite happy to receive this as I will use it but a little variety would be nice now and again lol.

Plackers Dental Flossers (12 pieces).

Another practical item, I can't get too excited about a few flossers but these aren't a total dud as I will use them.

Body Fantasies Eau de Toilette Sprays (2x 15ml).

These sprays are designed to be layered and worn together, one smells very fruity and the other like a powdery floral. These are not my kind of thing at all, I only wear niche perfumes and these smell like cheap drugstore fragrances. I hate to be a perfume snob but I won't be using these as perfume and I dislike their smell enough that I won't even be re purposing them as room sprays.

Samples

Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl and Shine Shampoo (15ml).

Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie (30ml).

I like Shea Moisture hair products as a rule so I'm disappointed that these samples are for curly hair and won't be suitable for my fine straight hair. I may give the shampoo a try but I will have to skip the leave in curl enhancing conditioner. As a side note I do appreciate how Shea Moisture sample duos always give you twice the amount of conditioner to shampoo, personally I find this ratio of product to be just right.

Nivea In Shower Body Lotion (.31oz).

This multi tasking in shower lotion exfoliates with 'micro pearls' as well as being a moisturiser. I love Nivea body products as a rule but I've yet to try an in shower body lotion that I like. I will use this but I'm not expecting to love it.

Nivea Oil Infused Body Lotion 'Cherry Blossom and Jojoba Oil (.14 oz).

This is a tiny sample for a body product but I will use it as I really do like Nivea body lotions. (I actually have a full size bottle of this in my cupboard that I bought recently and have yet to open.)

SOO AE Donkey Milk Sleeping Mask (.35oz).

At first I thought this was a sheet mask but it appears to be a large sachet of overnight cream. I confess to knowing very little about Korean Beauty (and also donkey milk!) but I'm quite curious to give this a go.

Olay Luminous Tone Perfecting Cream (.02 oz).

This is a teeny tiny sachet of cream such as you would find in a magazine. I'm sure I will try this out but I can't help but feel that the inclusion of such a small sample feels a bit cheap.

Coupons

There are four money off coupons in this box: $3.00 off Olay Luminous products, $2.00 off Hello toothpaste, $1.00 off Body Fantasies Fragrance Sprays and 35 cents off Plackers flossers.  The only one of these that I may use is the one for the flossers.

Overall

I'm feeling a little 'meh' about this box TBH. I'm not strictly disappointed in this box, more like underwhelmed. There are a few things here that I will use but the only thing that feels like a new discovery is the SOO AE Sleeping Mask. This box feels very random, it's really a bunch of samples that have been thrown together, I was expecting something a little better especially considering that the distribution of these boxes has taken so long. However having said that it's technically a 'free' box and I still have a few new samples to add to my travel stash.

I noticed that there is a card included in this month's box saying that you can customise future boxes so I'm going to do that and fingers crossed the next box will hopefully be more to my taste. 

You can sign up and subscribe to Walmart Beauty Boxes at walmart.com

Details and sign up link can be found under 'special offers' in the online beauty section and you can sign up for both variations of the box, 'Trendsetter' and 'Classic' if you wish.

Walmart Beauty Box (Trendsetter) Summer 2017.

Walmart Beauty Box is a subscription box that ships to you four times a year once you have signed up for it. Containing an assortment of full sized products, samples and money off coupons the box itself is free and you pay just $5.00 a box for shipping. There are two variations of the box intended to appeal to different age groups, I receive the Trendsetter box which is aimed at younger shoppers, there is also a Classic box for older shoppers.

Simple Cleansing Face Wipes (7 wipes).

I very rarely use wipes myself but Mr C&C likes to use them to freshen up so I'm always okay with receiving them in boxes as I can pass them on to him.

Pantene Dream Care Shampoo (1.7 fl oz).

Pantene Dream Care Conditioner (1.7 fl oz).

 For some reason I don't often purchase Pantene but I usually like their products whenever I do. I'm always happy to get minis of shampoo and conditioner as they are so handy to take on short trips. These samples are a decent size, they have a fresh, clean scent that I like and they both claim to hydrate and moisurise hair. 

Real Techniques Brush Cleansing Gel (.25 fl oz).

Strangely, I'm rather excited to try this brush cleanser, 

I love Real Technique brushes so I have high expectations for it! 

I'm kind of slack when it comes to cleaning make up brushes so I enjoy getting samples of brush cleansers for the simple reason that it forces me into doing it.

Eco Tools Mask Remover Sponges (2 sponges).

These two sponges are made of wood pulp (cellulose) and as well as removing masks can be used for daily cleansing, apparently they also gently exfoliate while removing excess product.TBH I'm not sure about them purely because I'm so devoted to using flannels/washcloths and I hate the feel of certain cottons and tissues on my face but I will willingly try these next time I use a mask. 

Got2B Ultra Glued Styling Gel (1.25 fl oz).

I never use hair gel so this is going in my giveaway pile. The fact that the packaging contains the words 'invincible' and 'ultra glued' scare me into thinking that this will result in hard crispy hair! 

Impress Press On Manicure (30 nails).

These are very summery. The pack I received contains a mix of anchor designs, nautical stripes, and a coral-y red. They are very cute, but not my style at all, so it's another one for the giveaway pile.

Smile Direct Coupon.

The box also contained a coupon for Smile Direct Club which was worth $155.00 towards online cosmetic dentistry (basically teeth straightening). I won't use this as cut price medical procedures scare the hell out of me and it seem to be too good to true so there has to be a catch somewhere right?. 

Overall.

I've said this before but I really don't think that you can go wrong with the Walmart box. It is so inexpensive and the fact that it only ships quarterly means that you don't get bogged down with repeat products. 

Sure, I didn't love everything in this month's box - the press on nails and hair gel hold no appeal whatsoever for me - but the face wipes, shampoo and conditioner are all practical and useful and I look forward to testing out the mask sponges and brush cleaner. I don't know the value for all the items in the box but the value of the ones that I will use add up to more than $5.00 so I'm happy.  

You can sign up for Walmart Beauty Boxes at walmart.com. 

Details and sign up link can be found under 'special offers' in the online beauty section and you can sign up for both variations of the box, 'Trendsetter' and 'Classic' if you wish.

Pop Sugar Must Have: Limited Edition Summer Box 2017.

I'm not really one for subscription boxes but this year's PSMH Limited Edition Summer Box had me signing up as soon as the first spoiler was released!

The item in question was a Mar Y Sol basket that was almost identical to a basket I had owned previously which I had loved and used so much that the handles had finally broken. I had been looking at Mar Y Sol bags in Bloomingdale's recently so I knew that they were not only attractive but also well made, they were a tad pricey though, so I had been hesitant to buy one. And then there was one in a $100.00 box (which was almost $40.00 less than the bag alone would have cost me with NYC taxes). 

Honestly it was a win win situation if ever I saw one - even if I hated everything else in the box I would have still have saved money and have items to give away or donate.

Mar Y Sol Collins Tote Basket (Retail Price $129.00).

I'm not a beach goer but I love having a basket for running errands or when I go to the greenmarket or grocery store. I find that the rigid structure and shape means that they are the best way to carry produce without it getting squashed and ruined and it is practical for carrying parcels to the post office, library books etc.

The shape and size of this basket is identical to my old one. It's not too big and bulky and the colour and design are something that I would have chosen. It looks great with jeans and a tee shirt or a casual summer frock. 

The basket has a small inner pocket and leather covered handles that make it comfortable to carry and more resistant to wear and tear. The pom pom detail is very on trend for this summer but you can easily remove them (I have).

Polaroid 6003 Sunglasses (Retail Price $65.00).

These are perfectly fine sunglasses but they are a little too big for my face and, I'll admit it, I'm a sunglasses snob who only wears high end glasses, so I will be giving these away. They are very lightweight with mirrored lenses and they come with both a high quality solid case and a soft draw string bag to carry them in. However, they simply aren't something that I would ever buy and I can't see myself wearing them so I will be passing them along.

Hampton Sun Bronze Shimmer Spray (Retail Price $32.00).

This refreshing spritz contains aloe and chamomile to soothe sun kissed skin. It looks incredibly shimmery in the bottle but when sprayed onto skin it appears as a barely there shimmer rather than leaving the disco ball effect I had feared. It has a light green floral scent that is quite subtle. I probably wouldn't have picked out a shimmery spritz for myself but I will definitely use this on my arms and legs in the warmer weather as I have used Hampton Sun products before and enjoyed them a lot. 

Hint Sunscreen Spray (Retail Price $24.00).

These sunscreens are made by the folks who make Hint flavoured water and they aren't something that I have seen before. This SPF30 broad spectrum spray is paraben free, the spray is very fine and the formula is very light. The sunscreens have various fruit fragrances. I received a pineapple scented one that smells exactly like a freshly cut pineapple - very beachy and tropical! The fragrance is quite strong when first sprayed but it quickly dissipates. 

It is always good to have extra sunscreens around in the summer and although I wouldn't use this on my face, I will use it for my body on hot days when I am out and about. $24.00 seems quite a lot for a spray on sunscreen and it isn't something that I would have bought for myself but it is something that I am happy to get in a box.

Jane Iredale Lip Fixation Lip Stain/Gloss (Retail Price $32.00).

This is a two part lip product with a lip stain at one end and a clear lip gloss to apply over the stain at the other. The shade is called 'Craving', a barely there nude which is very easy for me to wear. I haven't used anything from the Jane Iredale range before. The products are designed to work as both make up and skincare so I am expecting this to be non drying and very comfortable to wear. It is another product that I wouldn't have purchased for myself, especially as $32.00 is at the higher end of what I would pay for a lip product, but it is one that I will certainly use. 

Sunnylife Reversible Coasters. (Retail Price $18.00.

These are laminated cardboard coasters with a lobster design on one side and an anchor design on the other. They are bright and jolly and I like the fact that the two sides have different colour schemes. I use cardboard coasters around the house all the time so I'm happy to have some extra ones. I think that these would be perfect for a casual seafood dinner table.

Big Picture Farm Milk and Chai Caramels (Retail Price $10.00).

These soft caramels remind me of fudge. They are made from goat's milk and are very creamy and quite delicious. I must admit that I consider Chai to be more of a winter flavour and think that a fruity snack would have been more appropriate for a summer box but that won't stop me from eating them! I rarely buy candies so these are a bit of a treat for me.

Overall.

I think that this is a very good box and it is very summer appropriate (apart from the caramels lol). The box cost $100.00 and has a retail value of $290.00 which, as I will use all the items except one, means that it was a good deal for me. The only thing I don't love are the sunnies but I'm sure that I will find somebody who will be happy to have them. 

I was expecting that the box may have had a sunhat or beach towel but I'm pleased to get beauty items instead. Perhaps if I bought more sub boxes I would be less excited by this, but as it is I'm very happy. I have a basket that I love which I paid less than retail for and all the other things were 'free' and so they are simply a bonus.

Walmart Beauty Box Spring 2017

Walmart Beauty Box is a subscription box that ships to you four times a year once you have signed up for it. Containing an assortment of full sized products, samples and money off coupons the box itself is free and you pay just $5.00 for shipping. There are two variations of the box intended to appeal to different age groups. I receive the 'Trendsetter Box' which is aimed at younger shoppers.

My Spring box arrived yesterday! 

I'm not sure that it's contents were particularly Spring like but I must say that it has a pretty nice selection of useful products. This time I was sent seven mini/deluxe samples, one sample sachet and one money off coupon.

Colgate Optic White Toothpaste (1oz).

I haven't used this particular Colgate toothpaste before. Mini toothpastes always come in handy for travel and I am sure that I will use this either at home or on a trip.

Dove Advanced Care Deodorant (.5oz).

These mini deodorants are great to pop in your bag to use after the gym. I have had this deodorant as a sample before and liked it enough to purchase it so I am pleased to find this in the box.

Biore Baking Soda Acne Scrub (1oz).

This facial scrub also contains salicylic acid to cleanse and exfoliate blemish prone skin. Although I don't suffer from acne I may try this out as the scrubby bits in it feel quite gentle which I like.

John Frieda Frizz Ease Conditioner (1.5oz).

Not only do I like John Frieda hair care products in general I also have hair that frizzes in humid weather so I will save this to use in the summer months.

Schwarzkopf Gliss Ultra Moisture Shampoo and Conditioner (2x 1.7oz).

I'm always happy to get mini shampoos and conditioners! These contain liquid Keratin so I am sure that these too will be great at helping to keep frizz at bay once summer is here.

Neutrogena Hydro Boost Lip Shine (.17oz).

Containing Hyaluronic Acid this lip product hydrates lips so that they look fuller and feel comfortable. It gives a fairly sheer wash of natural looking colour (I was sent the shade 'Radiant Rose') which is easy to wear so I will definitely be throwing this in my bag to use as both a colour and a balm.

Rimmel Stay Matte.

Finally there is a sachet of Rimmel Stay Matte, which is a light mousse foundation, and a coupon for $1.00 off a full sized tube. I'm not a fan of matte finish face products (why wouldn't you want to glow?) but I will try this out when I am having a day at home sometime.

Overall.

I think that this is a very good box from Walmart. There are seven generously sized samples and most of them are practical products that anyone can use. 

Although I said that I didn't think the box was particularly springlike I guess that a lot of people are beginning to think about summer holidays and trips and the items here are all perfect for taking on vacation. I also like that the lip product they sent is a neutral colour - I am a little shy of bright lips - but this is a lip product that I will certainly use. 

I often see people complaining about their Walmart boxes on social media but the nature of any beauty box means that you won't like all the items all the time and it only costs $5.00 which makes it the cheapest box out there. Even though I tend to use higher end products as a rule I always look forward to my box and I always end up using the majority of the products in it and, let's face it, it's always nice to come home to a package of goodies!

If you would like to sign up for Walmart Beauty Boxes you can do so at walmart.com. Details and sign up link can be found under 'special offers' in the online beauty department and you can sign up for both variations of the box, 'Trendsetter' and the 'Classic' if you wish to do so.

Amazon Prime Luxury Beauty Box.

I recently signed myself up for Amazon Prime after finding out that it offers so much more than merely free shipping. (There are various levels of Prime membership available. Visit amazon.com for details of plans and how to sign up).

One of the things available to Prime members are sample boxes of various sorts - toiletries, cleaning products, health supplements, confectionery and (ta-da!) beauty boxes. 

Different boxes cost different amounts and some come as a GWP while others are a one time purchase, the cost of which will be reimbursed to you as a credit to use on a wide range of items within a specific category. Tax is included in the price and as the boxes are only available to Prime members shipping is free.

The first box that I have purchased is The Amazon Luxury Beauty Box which initially costs $19.99. This amount will then be applied to my account as a credit, seven days after shipping, so the box is essentially free! The box shipped promptly and I received it four days after ordering. 

I was pleased to find it jam packed with a variety of useful samples - twenty items in all. 

There is a full sized Julep Nail Varnish in the shade 'Lee' which is a bright coral toned red along with a handbag sized Ahava Mineral Hand Cream. The other items are mostly regular sample sizes with just two foil sachets. 

There are six samples of skincare along with a primer, a CC cream and a sunscreen, three haircare items and a mini Marvis toothpaste. There are also three perfume vials, and for Mr C+C an aftershave sample and a sample of shaving cream.

There's a good selection of products from a good variety of brands here and whilst they aren't SpaceNK style luxury brands they are all ones that you would find in Sephora, department stores or a fancy independent drug store. 

I think that this box is a great introduction to Amazon's beauty department and as it is free after credit I honestly don't think that you can go wrong. 

Now which sample box should I try next I wonder...

Blue Apron.

Have you heard of Blue Apron? It is a subscription recipe delivery service and when you enroll you are delivered a weekly box containing all the ingredients you need to make three meals. 

Ingredients are packed in a chilled box so that you don't have to worry about them spoiling and there are detailed recipe cards provided for each meal. Various formats of the box are available (for two or four people etc) and whilst you cannot select the meals that you receive you can specify dietary preferences and opt to skip a delivery if three meals at home doesn't fit in with your plans one week.

Recently I tried out a box that contained the ingredients for three meals for two people. 

The cost of this box including taxes and delivery would normally have been $59.95 however I had a coupon for $30.00 off and I ordered my box through Ebates which gave me $7.50 cash back so I ended up paying only $22.45.

Above you can see the ingredients that I received in my box. Now lets take a look at the meals and my verdict on them...

Meal #1: Fresh Pimento Cheeseburger with Collard Green and Carrot Slaw.

This was an easy meal to start off with: form the burger and cook it, toast the buns, chop and mix some ingredients together for the pimento cheese condiment, and chop and fry the slaw ingredients.

I made the burgers for this meal but served them with traditional condiments that I had in stock and used the pimento cheese as part of a toasted sandwich at lunchtime the next day.

 The burger was very tasty with a good meat to bun ratio but I wish it had been larger. Mr C&C and myself are hearty eater and could have eaten two of them!

I decided to use the Collard and Carrot Slaw with another meal later in the week and instead served a Cabbage and Carrot Coleslaw which was from another Blue Apron meal from this box - I wasn't a huge fan of the slaw as I found it a little too acidic.I also served a Greek Salad that I made from my own ingredients.

Verdict:

I really enjoyed the burger, but wished it was bigger. The pimento cheese was just okay.

Meal#2: Crispy Chicken Milanese with Warm Brussels Sprout and Potato Salad.

For this recipe you needed to coat chicken breasts with panko breadcrumbs and fry them, make a vinaigrette and chop and cook vegetables for a warm salad.

This is the kind of meal that we would prepare for ourselves normally so we were looking forward to this one! However once again the portions were somewhat scant, although the chicken breasts weren't a bad size the vegetable part of the meal consisted of two celery stalks, five Brussels Sprouts and a one medium sized potato (for both of us not each!).

I cooked a little extra chicken that I had in already and rather than coating it in crumbs and frying it I  simply marinaded and grilled it.

 After cooking the potato I sauteed it to add colour and texture to the salad, I also made the Collard Green and Carrot Slaw and served it warm so that we had two vegetable sides.

Verdict:

I love grilled chicken breasts so this was always going to be a hit. The Collard Slaw was good but the best part of the meal was the Warm Brussels Sprout Salad which I will add to my recipe collection.

Meal#3: Avocado Tempura Tortas with Spicy Turnip and Cabbage-Carrot Slaw.

This meal required that you chop vegetables for slaw and mix them with a simple dressing, cut turnips into 'fries' and cook them, make a tempura batter and use it to fry avocado wedges that you have cut and finally assemble and toast sandwiches.

This whole meal was a fail for us I'm afraid... I don't consider a sandwich such as this to constitute dinner, it is a lunch or brunch dish as far as I'm concerned. There were a lot of steps to take to make the sandwich and the slaw which we had with the burgers really wasn't that great. And finally, I have an avocado allergy so I wouldn't have been able to eat this meal anyway. 

We used the bread from this meal to make toasted sandwiches for our lunches and Mr C&C had the avocado as a snack.

And the turnip? That's  still in the fridge...

Overall.

I am the last person that I expected to try out one of these recipe boxes! TBH if I hadn't managed to get it for such a bargain I wouldn't have as I think that the true price is way too high for the amount of ingredients that you receive. (Having said that I have to admit that the ingredients in the box were all of a very high quality and arrived in perfect condition.)

I enjoyed cooking the recipes and thought that they were a fun way to cook. There was a little more chopping required than I expected so you need to have a few basic skills under your belt as well as a certain amount of kitchen equipment at your disposal. It took me just under an hour to do the prep for all three meals - you can see the prepped food in the photo above - but I do cook professionally.

Personally, I didn't think that inclusion of two sandwich type meals was a good idea - as I presume these kits are geared towards families who rely on take out and/or ready prepared foods and would maybe like to take a break from burgers/sandwiches. There was also a high ratio of fried food items which are always going to be tasty but may not be the best in terms of healthy eating. It would have been much preferable if you could pick all three meals yourself (there is a shortlist as it were of six so you sort of have an idea of what you will get but you can't fine tune your selection). 

 For us the portions were too small but perhaps for families who eat their main meal at work or who have small children who don't eat their share of the meal this isn't an issue.

My final gripe is with the amount of packaging that these boxes contained. I know this is inevitable because of the nature of the box and it's contents but it still felt very wasteful.

On a positive note, if you are a novice cook the boxes could be a good way to broaden your horizons and increase your repertoire and knowledge of ingredients.

Overall it was a fun experience but one that I don't think I will repeat mainly because of the cost and the fact that you can't select every meal.

Are you interested?

 Have a look at www.blueapron.com

Walmart Beauty Box Fall 2016.

Walmart Beauty Box is a subscription box that automatically ships four times a year once you have signed up for it. Containing an assortment of full sized products, samples and money saving coupons the box is 'free' but you pay $5.00 for shipping.

This time the Fall 2016 box didn't contain any full sized products but there was a good selection of minis and samples. Let's take a look inside:

Minis.

Batiste Dry Shampoo (1.6 fl oz). I have quite a few dry shampoos already from various GWP's and boxes - they seem to be a staple giveaway.
I wash my hair everyday but even so they are something that I use either to make my hair feel fresh or to boost volume. Batiste Dry Shampoo is an English drugstore brand that has been around for years. I received the 'Original Clean and Classic' version. There are definitely better smelling dry shampoos out there - this smells very chemically to me but it is something that I will use. 

Dove Nourishing Body Wash (1.8 fl oz in the fragrance ' Sweet Cream and Peony'). Mini body washes always come in handy for travel. This creamy formula has a light floral scent and promises to soften skin. Although I don't tend to buy them I have used samples of Dove bath products in the past and enjoyed them.

Hello Toothpaste (.85 oz 'Pure Mint flavour'). I'm not thrilled to get toothpaste samples in boxes but I do use up these mini tubes. Hello make dental products out of  'natural' ingredients which sounds an interesting concept.

Clean&Clear Deep Action 60 Second Shower Mask (1 oz). This oil free mask works with the steam in your shower to deeply clean and exfoliate your skin. It contains glycolic acid and micro crystalline wax beads for exfoliation.
I thought that this would be too harsh and drying for me to use initially but after a quick read of the ingredients the only thing that gives me pause for thought is the inclusion of menthol, however it's a long way down the list so I will try this out after patch testing. 

Samples.

Village Naturals Therapy Concentrated Mineral Bath Soak (2oz). Formulated to ease aches and pains this sachet of bath salts contains enough for one bath or two foot baths. Scented with eucalyptus, spearmint and menthol they certainly sound as if they will be very relaxing. I'm not much of a one for baths but Mr C&C will really enjoy these I think.

Cetaphil Moisturising Body Cream (.5oz). I'm not fussy when it comes to body creams and lotions. This is a basic formula containing petroleum that I will use.

Biore Charcoal Pore Strip (1 x strip). I used one of these once and found that it was so difficult to remove that I was worried about breaking my skin. I guess a lot of people like these, I don't, so I will pass this along to someone.

Nature's Bounty Hair, Skin and Nail Gummies (2 x gummies). These strawberry flavoured gummies contain Biotin for healthier hair, skin and nails along with Vitamins C and E which are beneficial to skin.
I have bought these gummies before and they are delicious! I have to say that I didn't notice any real difference in my hair skin or nails when I took them before so I won't be tempted to purchase these but I will eat this sample. 

Ecotools Make Up Brush Cleansing Cloths (1 x cloth). I've not seen these before but think they are really clever, they are like a face wipe but for your brushes! I think these are a great idea for easily cleaning your brushes when traveling and the single sachet packaging of them make them perfect for carrying in your make up bag.

Coupons.

There is only one coupon in this box. It is for $1.00 off Hello Toothpaste. I won't use this as I only buy Colgate as a rule.

Overall.

I think this is a very nice box with a good selection of practical products. I know that some people will be disappointed that there isn't a full sized item but I'm always happy to have a useful selection of samples and minis. I will use everything in this box with the exception of the pore strip and I'm excited to try out the mask and the brush cleaner. I think this is a great value box for only $5.00.
I'm a happy customer this season!

If you would like to sign up for Walmart Beauty Boxes you can do so at walmart.com The details and sign up link can be found under 'special offers' in the online beauty department.

Target Beauty Box August 2016.

I'm a little late in discovering Target Beauty Boxes, a monthly selection of full and sample sized beauty products that come at a deeply discounted price and ship for free. It may look like a subscription box but it isn't: the boxes are released on the first of the month and are available online only, sold on a first come first served basis. The boxes normally retail for $10.00 or less, shipping is free and although they sell out fast they are often rereleased later on in the month and they usually contain a coupon for $3.00 off $15.00 worth of beauty products either in store or online.

The latest box (August) contains practical, useable items that add up to far more than it's $7.00 cost. The theme was 'Back to School' and while I'm not sure how well the box fits that theme, it is a great selection of products. If you added a toothbrush, toothpaste and some soap you would be pretty much set for a short trip! Let's take a look inside...

Crest 3D Whitestrips. There is a sample set of teeth whitening strips and while these aren't a product that I will use I won't have a problem with passing them along to some one who will.

Juice Organics Repairing Shampoo and Conditioner. These generous 1 oz minis contain coconut and soy to repair and strengthen hair. They are made with organic ingredients and don't contain parabens, sulphates, phthalates, silicones etc etc so are suitable for coloured hair.

Secret Clinical Strength Smooth Solid Deodorant. I'm guessing this is a half sized product (it is 1/2 oz). I have used Secret solid deodorants before. They are very effective, long lasting and they don't leave white marks on your clothing.

Olay Make Up Remover Face Wipes. Apparently these remove even waterproof mascaras. Although I'm keeping to my resolution to not use wipes to remove make up at night, this handy pack of seven wipes will be great to use for a quick refresh on the go.

up&up Women's 5 Blade Razor. These Target own brand razors are touted as being the equivalent to Gillette Venus Embrace and have an oil based moisturising strip. Razors aren't terribly exciting products but I am always happy to receive them in boxes as they are quite expensive items to buy.

Laneige Water Sleeping Mask. I have sampled Laneige products, and this mask in particular, before and I like them. I know from previous experience that this mask (which isn't so much a mask as an overnight gel/cream) is cooling and very hydrating.

It seems that Laneige samples often crop up in Target boxes but that's fine by me!

NYC Get It All Lip Colour. This is a lipstick with a creamy long lasting formula. I received shade 202 FabFuschia which is, indeed, a bright fuschia. The lipstick is very highly pigmented, it's fun and I like the formula but the colour maybe a little too much for me.

Covergirl Katy Kat Eye Mascara in 'Black'. I've seen mixed reviews about this and have yet to try it myself. I'm not overly excited about getting mascaras in beauty boxes as I have so many but on the plus side I can't remember when I last bought a mascara so I am happy to try this one out. 

I think that Target put together an excellent selection of products for only $7.00 especially as I will use everything in this box with the exception of the white strips and possibly the lipstick. I just may have to keep an eye out for September's box...

Walmart Beauty Box Summer 2016.

Walmart Beauty Box is a subscription box that automatically ships four times a year once you have signed up for it. Containing an assortment of full sized products, samples and money saving coupons the box is 'free' but you pay $5.00 for shipping. 

Let's take a look inside...

Full Sized.

Incoco Coconut Nail Art Strips (set of 12) in the pattern 'Desert Rose'. Nail art strips aren't something that I use and in addition I'm not keen on the design of these ones. I will pass these onto someone.

Minis.

Arm and Hammer Truly Radiant Toothpaste (.9fl oz). Hmmm, I'm not thrilled at getting a mini tube of toothpaste like the ones that the hygienist gives you after a dental visit... I had toothpaste in my last box as well... Arm and Hammer isn't a brand that I like so this will also be passed onto someone else. 

St Ives Apricot Scrub (1oz) This is also going into my giveaway box. I know a lot of peeps use this but it is way too harsh and scrubby and can tear your skin. This is a repeat item from a previous box for me.

Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs (.75 fl oz) in the shade 'Medium'. And yet another giveaway item! (I'm not doing well with this box am I?) Not only do I not use leg make up and self tanners this is also another repeat item for me, grrrr....

Schwarzkopf Ultime Color & Radiance Shampoo (1.7fl oz) Finally a product I will use - hurrah! I had a sample of Ultime Repair & Moisture Shampoo in my Spring 2015 Walmart box and although it didn't impress me greatly it was OK. Mini products are good to pop in my travel bag so I will use this over the summer.

Vaseline Intensive Care Advanced Repair Body Lotion (2fl oz) Fragrance free. Another item that I will use. Fragrance free body lotion isn't the most exciting thing out there but this travel sized tube will come in handy.

Samples.

Lady Gaga Fame EDP (.04 fl oz). Another repeat item from Spring 2015. I haven't used the previous sample so I'm not overly excited to get another one. I find it to be one of those 'head-ache-y'

fragrances...

Overall.

This box felt rather slapdash to me - there's not usually a theme to Walmart boxes and their contents aren't even always seasonally appropriate - but this felt as if someone had grabbed a bunch of products, thrown them in a box and mailed it out. I don't think that the box introduced me to any new products especially as I received several repeat items. 

There are only two items this time that I will use and they are both rather basic and the box didn't contain any money off coupons or make up items.

Walmart boxes tend to be a bit hit and miss and this one was pretty grim for me. (I feel bad complaining as the box is 'free'  but the $10.00 Target box that I received last week was simply so much better.) I will continue with my subscription however and have my fingers crossed that the next box will be more enticing.  

If you would like to sign up for Walmart Beauty Boxes you can do so at walmart.com (The details and sign up link can be found under 'special offers' in the online beauty department. 

Subscription Box or GWP?

If you are someone like me who loves discovering new beauty products and also has something of an obsession for minis there is a good chance that you stalk the beauty counters for good GWP's or subscribe to a beauty boxes (or two) but which option is the best? 

Here's a few thoughts...

Subscription boxes allow you to spread the cost of your purchases over the course of a  year while GWP's mean that you pay all at once (which could be an issue - the most expensive gift bags such as those from SpaceNK and Barney's come with purchases above $200 or $250).

Having said that, the cost of a year's worth of sub boxes often adds up to the cost of a retail beauty splurge and large retailers tend to run their promotions at the same time every year so with a little online research and forward planning you can budget for GWP's and arrange your beauty shopping around them.

 Which leads me to the fact that with a sub box you are essentially paying for a box of random products and samples. The contents aren't always revealed ahead of time so often they contain 'dud' items that won't be used at all.     

With a GWP you can purchase your favourite products (that you would be buying anyway) and the items in the gift bag are really free. You know ahead of time what the gift will be and in addition I find the items in GWPs are more usable (and generally from higher end brands).

Almost every time I dip my toe into the pool of sub boxes I seem to have an issue with billing/late shipping/missing boxes/duplicate boxes etc etc. Maybe I have been unlucky but it's a hassle I can do without... 

While I find that GWP events are fun days to shop. Many times they feature add on gifts or free mini treatments and they allow you to foster a relationship with SA's.

(But I have to admit that coming home to a boxful of goodies after a hard day at work is a great pick me up!)

And then there is the packaging, sub boxes aren't the most environmentally friendly things are they? There's a limit to how many empty Glossyboxes you can re purpose whereas GWP's almost always come within a toiletry or make up bag. I have a ton of these bags but every so often I clear them out and donate unused ones to charity shops.

Overall: 

Although repeat items seem to feature in both sub boxes and GWP'S (for example dry shampoos, eye liner pencils)  I think you can see which way I'm leaning... While the occasional sub box is fun I'm all about the GWP, I have discovered so many great products from them and receiving one seems like a real treat. 

Which do you prefer?  

The Honest Company Essentials Sample Pack.

The Honest Company (honest.com) produces 'non toxic', sustainable, green products for the home and family. Their main focus is on cleaning products and basic toiletries that can be used by the whole family but they also produce nappies (diapers) and a small range of vitamins and supplements. (There is also a sister company that produces make up and skincare HonestBeauty.com). The company and their products appear to be aimed at young families.

The products can be found in many stores or can be ordered direct from The Honest Company. If you order on line you can choose to make a one off order or enroll in a subscription program where they ship you five products of your choice each month for $35.00.

Free packages of trial sized products are available to would be new customers. There are various trial packs to choose from and you pay just $5.95 for shipping, the products themselves are free. Once you have received the trial pack if you are not interested in joining their subscription program you need to call them so that they can deactivate your account to avoid future shipments and charges. (When I called I was on hold for a few minutes. The customer service rep was helpful but did pressures me to lock myself into a subscription which I declined).

I chose to try out the Essentials Sample Pack - a mix of personal care and cleaning items. Included in the pack are: Honest Lavender Liquid Hand Soap (2oz),  Honest White Grapefruit Multi Surface Cleaner (1oz),  Honest Organic Healing Balm (this is a Vaseline type ointment that is made from fruit and flower oils), Honest Shampoo+ Body Wash in Sweet Orange Vanilla fragrance and Honest Face+ Body Lotion (all .75oz).

I found that the products were all good but nothing was outstanding. 

The scented products all smell great, I especially liked the fragrance of the white grapefruit spray cleaner, it was clean and fresh without being astringent. The product packaging was attractive and functional. 

Whilst I can see the appeal of this sort of subscription if you are a busy Mum with a large house to clean I'm not sure that a couple or a single person in an apartment would use enough cleaning products to warrant it. The cost per item in the monthly bundle works out at $7.00 an item and although they are good quality products I think that this is on the high side. I can find similar items on my high street or in the supermarket or Target for much less.

 I won't be committing to a subscription but I may consider purchasing individual products if I see them in my local stores (especially if they are on offer) now that I have tried them out, but having said that I'm a huge fan of Mrs Myers products and we use Dr Bronner's Soap for a lot of our cleaning needs. 

Whilst I admire the company's charitable side - you can read about it on line - I would rather that they donated and helped non profits without being so vocal about it, I find that a much more gracious approach. Also of course it's preferable to use green/sustainable/organic products but there's a lot of  wasteful packaging used when products are shipped directly to consumers and if you want to lead a truly green lifestyle there's always soap, water and vinegars to clean with...

Walmart Beauty Box Spring 2016.

The Walmart Beauty Box is a subscription box that automatically ships to you four times a year once you have signed up for it. Containing an assortment of full sized products, samples and money saving coupons you pay just $5.00 for shipping.

I always feel that I receive my box rather late and whilst last season's box wasn't worth shouting about this time around it was definitely worth the wait. My first thought was that it was somewhat heavier than previous boxes and therefore that it would contain more products than the winter box. 

Let's take a look inside...

Coupons. 

Last month's box was heavy on the coupons and short on product. This month I only had three coupons. One was for a dollar off L'Oreal True Match Make Up which came on a card of color swatches. There was a dollar off Neutrogena Pink Grapefruit Acne Correct and Cover Moisturizer which came with two small samples and finally a coupon for $3.00 off Burt's Bees BB Cream which also came with a sample. 

I won't use any of the coupons but I may try out the Burt's Bees sample.

Samples.

There are samples of L'Oreal Age Perfect Glow Renewal Oil, CeraVe Healing Ointment and Vera Wang Embrace EDT (Embrace smells of Violet, Periwinkle and Iris. I love the smell of violets and this is a lovely feminine scent, it isn't too sweet or sickly as violet can sometimes be). I will use all of these.

Minis.

Colgate Optic White Toothpaste. A generously sized tube. I won't use this myself as it isn't recommended for sensitive teeth.

John Frieda Brilliant Brunette Shampoo. Unfortunately as I'm blond I won't use this but it's a good sized sample of a quality product that I will pass onto someone... Maybe they will send out samples for blonds in a future box?

Jergens Natural Glow Moisturizer. I will use this as it is for fair to medium skin tones. I have used it before and like it as it gives a very subtle color build up.

Biore Baking Soda Cleanser. I used to use Biore products but haven't since I stopped using SLS and foaming products on my face. This looks intriguing but I will use it as a body wash.

Curel Itch Defense Body Wash. This is a repeat product from a previous box but I don't mind as I like Curel Products and small shower gels are always great to have on hand for travel.

Full sized.

Neutrogena Moisture Smooth Colour Stick in the shade 'Pink Grapefruit'. This is Neutrogena's version of a Chubby Stick. It is a pale mauve/pink that feels moisturizing but at the same time manages to pack quite a punch of color and it smells and tastes, not unpleasantly, of grapefruit. 

Overall, I think that Walmart have really stepped up their game with this box. There's a bundle of great products in here and the value far exceeds $5.00! Sure, there are a couple of things in here that I won't use but that's because of my personal preferences rather than them being bad products and I will pass them along to people who can make use of them. 

If you would like to sign up for Walmart Beauty Boxes you can do so at walmart.com (The details and sign up link are to be found under 'special offers' in the beauty department).

Walmart Beauty Box Summer 2015

Empties posts seem to roll around very rapidly and even more scarily so do these quarterly posts about the Walmart Beauty Box. It's hard for me to believe that this is the fourth Walmart box that I have received and as always I had pretty much forgotten about it until I received the shipping notice.

(The box itself is free, you pay $5.00 for it's shipping and each box contains a selection of make up, hair care and body care items in a mix of full sizes, minis and samples along with a selection of money off coupons.)

Now guaranteed it's not the most exciting beauty box in the world but it's super cheap (well, technically it's free) and there's always something useful in it. Plus who doesn't like to come home to a little box of goodies waiting to be opened? 

I'd seen a some reviews of this months box online and people were generally disappointed as they were somewhat smaller than usual, many didn't have any make up items and a lot were made up almost exclusively of repeat products from previous boxes so I didn't get too excited for this... However, I think I must have got lucky as I received a pretty good selection of stuff in mine.

The 'big ticket' item in this box was a full sized NYC Liquid Lipshine Lip Gloss. I received shade 579 -  'Fashion Avenue Fuchsia'. Now the packaging and the doe foot aren't luxe, for sure, but although the colour in the package looks very bright, it's actually a very wearable blue toned pink that's flattering by itself or over a nude lip base. In fact it's not a million miles away in color from Chantecaille Luminous Gloss in 'Framboise'. It feels a little greasy on but it's not sticky and has a pleasant fruity scent to it that's not too strong.

My 'repeat product' was Dove Go Fresh Body Wash in 'Mandarin and Fiore Flower' - but I'm perfectly happy to get another of these as small body washes always come in handy and this is a zingy fruity floral number that's perfect for Summer

.

Another handy item is the small pot of Nivea Cream - how old school is that? Obviously, I'm not going to use it on my face but it's a great cream for knees, elbows etc and personally I love it's classic old lady scent!

I'm pretty fussy when it comes to sunscreen but Neutrogena is one of my favored brands so this mini CoolDry Sport Sunscreen SPF 70 is another hit for me. I really like these mini sun lotions that you can slip in your bag and use for top ups when you are out and about all day.

Although, thankfully, I don't have dandruff I will use the Clear Complete Care Shampoo as I have been impressed with the other Clear shampoos that I have used. They generally leave my hair soft and shiny and this one will be good for giving my scalp a really good clean and getting rid of any product build up there.

The big bust for me in this box was the St Ives Apricot Scrub. I won't use this as it can tear the delicate skin on your face. I could repurpose this as a body or foot scrub but I know there are plenty of people who love this so I will pass it along.

Sample wise this month there's One Direction You & I EDT. It's way too sweet, fruity and generic for me to wear but I'm sure my fourteen year old self would have loved it!

There's also a three day sample of  Jergens Natural Glow that I will use. Although I'm not a 'fake tanner' I don't mind the Jergens ones as they are natural looking with a gradual build up, really, who doesn't love Jergens?

My box wasn't rich in coupons this month... I was excited when I saw there was a coupon for $2.00 off Real Techniques but unfortunately you have to use it in Walmart and we don't have them in NYC.

Overall, I think my Walmart Summer Box is a hit, with a nice range of products. For me it's $5.00 well spent!