Bonjour Jolie - October 2015

           Bonjour Jolie is a period subscription box that sends you a customizable combination of pads, tampons, liners and/or menstrual cups along with snacks, teas, pampering items and a gift. 

          I am not sure what is going on with this subscription, last month it arrived at the end of the month but this month it came mid-month. Also I do not always get the Midol and heating pads I added to my subscription. Maybe since I added them when I bought a three month recurring subscription I only get them in the first box of the renewed three month subscription. I do not know but what I do know is that I love this box all the same. I never have to think about if I have enough period supplies and get some fun little treats and gifts as well.

           This is my October box and I love the Halloween feel. The Theme is "At last, Chocolate" Can't argue with that. 

   

     The least exciting part but the point of the box is period supplies. I have way too many tampons and pads now so I think I am going to switch to full boxes so they are easier to store. 

          I love the cute Halloween snacks! We have some Russel Stover Chocolate Pumpkins, Das Foods Caramel Lollipops, Flips Chocolate Covered Pretzels, Goetz Chocolate Creams, and a mini Rice Crispy Treat and strawberry waffers that are not listed on the card. You can't go wrong with Russel Stover and these pumpkins were amazing, especially the salted Caramel. The suckers were just perfect sea salt caramel flavour. 

          I am all about tea now that it is chilly enough for hot liquids. At home I use loose tea but the tea bags I get from this subscription go right to my desk at work and make for great mid-afternoon pick me ups. This company has a cute story on the card. Apparently in 1942 New York Ruth Bigelow was a housewife that made tea so delicious that her friends soon began buying it from her. The same family owns the company and operated the only tea plantation still open in the USA.

          The gift: We got a makeup item for the second month in a row and that works for me. We received Tat2Lash Mascara ($16) It is a decent mascara, lengthening without clumping and does not smudge as the day goes on. Nothing life changing but I will certainly use it.

         

           Pampering: As usual we have super handy Advil packets and some cleansing cloths to keep your business fresh. We also received two items from the Gilchrist and Soames BeeKind Collection ($4) At first I was not thrilled with the packaging but after I picked them I realized that the cardboard containers were quite thick and on the back it says that the packaging is a 92% reduction in waste compared to plastic. I have yet to use the shower gel but the body lotion is lovely. The lotion absorbs almost immediately without any stickiness, leaves a very light scent. I really like this lotion but I have so many subscription boxes I will never need to purchase lotion for as long as I live. A portion of the proceeds from sales of those products go to support honey bee and sustainable pollination research. 

         
          The value of this box without the period supplies is about $28 and with a three month subscription I pay about $22 a month. Well worth it in my opinion.

Thanks for reading!

A.

@dirty_cupcake

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Birchbox Canada July 2015

          This month Birchbox partnered with Best Health and along with the usual product card we got a subscription offer for a discounted price. If nothing else the box is pretty and will make nice storage for something or other.

          I am very happy with my box this month and there isn't anything I wont use. I enjoy getting a mix of items, I have a couple hair items, a couple skin care and a makeup item.

Gilchrist & Soames Spa Therapy Body Lotion    Full size $18   Sample value $3

Rich in marine extracts, this paraben-free moisturizer leaves skin smooth, soft and calm.

          I so love getting moisturizers and this one is no different. I have received lotion from this brand before and loved that one as well. Apparently it contains "relaxing sea fennel" That does not mean much to me but it does smell fresh and light. 

Vasanti Cosmetics BrightenUp! Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator   Full size $34  Sample value $5.67

This customer fave mimics the effects of microdermabrasion for glowing smooth skin.

          The best products I have ever discovered from beauty subscription boxes are microdernabrasion scrubs. That is until I received this little guy. I massage a small amount in a circular motion to get the microdermabrasion effects and then when I add water it lathers up like a face wash. I will be using Birchbox points to get this in a few months, if I can wait that long. Love this.

Bain de Terre Argan Oil Passion Flower Color Therapy Styling Oil   Full size $14.65  Sample value $2.25

A lightweight blend of essential oils that nourishes hair and adds megawatt shine.

          This is a hair oil meant for colour treated hair, apparently you can also add 10-15 drops to your hair dye to make it extra brilliant. I typically use foam hair dye but if it is interesting that you could add this to a liquid mix. 

Benefit Cosmetics They're Real! Mascara  Full size $29  Sample value $9.67

Formula with all-day wear for lashes so long and thick, you may be accused of fakery.

          Of course I have heard people rave about this mascara but never tried it. I love it, it really does give me amazing length and volume. The brush really grabs all your lashes and the little spikes on the end help to get all the lashes in the corner as long as you do not poke your eye out. Certainly in my top five mascaras, my only complaint is that it is a bitch to get off at the end of the day.

Fekkai Technician Color Care Shampoo  Full size $28  Sample value $7

Hydrating cleanser that uses plant proteins to keep color-treated hair looking true-to-hue. 

          I have heard people complain that Canadians always get shampoo but that really works for me. It gives me a chance to try new shampoos without buying full sized ones and filling my shower. This brand however is not my favorite, I have tried other products from Fekkai and have never been impressed. This shampoo is alright, it did not amaze me but I am always willing to use shampoo specifically made for colour treated hair.

          Like I said I am happy with my box this month, not a huge value but it is all products I will get lots of use out of.

Total value: $27.59

Thanks for reading!

A.

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