PopSugar Must Have June AND July 2014 Reviews
You may have noticed (or not, I don't know how much time you spend randomly refreshing the page here) that I missed reviewing the June PopSugar Must Have box. I did get the box! I just have been very overwhelmed by the real world as of late.
This review, then, is going to be a twofer: both June and July side-by-side.
June 2014
One Potato Two Potato Kettle Potato Chips in Hawaiian BBQ (2 oz bag), approximate retail value $0.99
Every time I get a PopSugar Must Have box, I have to photograph it immediately, or I'll eat the food item before I get in my pictures.
These potato chips were pretty yummy. They were definitely more spicy than a typical barbecue potato chip. Unfortunately, I can't find anywhere to buy them that doesn't require buying them in bulk, and I don't need 24 bags of chips.
You Smell Lemon Verbena Aloe Wet Wipes (12 wipes), retail value $5
I'm a big fan of wipe-type products for really quick cleaning. I feel that they are very convenient. I've mostly been using these after cleaning my guinea pig cage so that I don't stink like my adorable-but-not-necessarily-the-best-smelling pets for the rest of the day. I think these would also be nice if you expected to sweat a lot during the day. Since they are individually wrapped, they're easy to carry in your purse.
The other scent available, in my opinion, would have been vastly preferable: Honeydew Mint. That scent sounds fan-fucking-tastic. I'm not a big lemon person in general, but the lemon scent was a little too "you could clean your floor with this" for me.
I also feel that the wipes are a little overpriced for what they are. At $5 for 12 wipes, I'd have to consider just using a damn washcloth. I think I would purchase the other scent if it was Prime-eligible on Amazon, but it's not. These feel way fancier than baby wipes, but baby wipes aren't $5 for 12 plus shipping.
The One & Only: A Novel by Emily Giffin, retail value $16.52
I was going to read a chapter or two of this so I could give you some actual information about it, but I kept being distracted by books that are actually appealing. Reviews are not positive, and I'm not much a "chick lit" person, even if they were. Do you think PopSugar would ever consider sending out a scifi novel? I'd love to have someone send me some Margaret Atwood...
Turkish T Mykonos Breeze Towel, retail value $32
This towel was definitely my favorite thing in the June box. It's super lightweight, which is really appealing for those of us who are getting temperatures upwards of 110 degrees right now. I've actually been using it not only as a towel but as a blanket. As a result, I can blast the air conditioner on my body without getting chilly.
I'm not in love with the print, but it's definitely been really helpful to have.
Lollies Hair Ties Basics Three Pack, retail value $8.00
These are cute, but they're not very successful as hair ties. I could only get them around my hair twice, but they didn't stay in place, so they really need to go over other, more effective hair ties.
Sachajuan Body Lotion in Shiny Citrus (full size at 300 ml), retail value $24
I've said it before, but I think most body lotion is pretty much interchangeable to me. This has a light citrus scent and a so-boring-they-must-have-tried packaging.
Native Union Coupon Code, retail value $15 (if you are generous and count it)
I had not heard of Native Union, but they're basically a tech accessories company, with things like speakers and phone handsets. The price point is significantly higher than $15 and I genuinely just don't particularly want anything on the site, so I have not used this.
Total Box Value: $86.51 (or $101.51 if you count the coupon)
Overall, I found the June box to be pretty lackluster.
July 2014
I was actually really excited about this jump rope because, although I haven't jump roped since I was a child, jump roping is a really awesome cardio workout and I don't have a jump rope! The design is also pretty snazzy.
Unfortunately, I really don't think that this is the best design of jump rope out there. One of the big issues is that it is much too long for me (I'm 5'6") and it's not adjustable. You just kind of have to be the right height. I've been wrapping it around my wrist a couple of times, but that's neither elegant nor convenient. I'm also having a really difficult time getting it fully untwisted. I've been hanging it from the center and it's still twisting under my body as I jump. I might try weights, or I might just buy a fancy-ass leather jump rope that's adjustable in size.
Dang Foods Toasted Coconut Chips (1.43 oz), retail value $2.49
I have seen these at Safeway a gazillion times but I'd never picked them up because I'm not a huge coconut fan. I was kind of expecting them to be like crunchier shaved coconut.
Happily, they turned out to be a million times better than expected. They're crunchy and nutty, without overwhelming you on the coconut flavor.
I actually purchased the other available flavor recently. For the record, the Caramel Sea Salt flavor is near-identical.
Sun Bum SPF 30 Moisturizing Sunscreen Lotion (3 oz), retail value $11.99
Sun Bum ‘Cool Down’ Hydrating After Sun Lotion (3 oz), retail value $7.99
I am not one to turn down sunscreen. Minis are always helpful because I can carry it around in my purse. The Sun Bum sunscreen has a very distinct piña colada scent (apparently it was a coconut-y month).
I was expecting the "Cool Down" lotion to have menthol or peppermint or something in it, but it's just a regular, coconut-scented lotion.
ACME Party Box Company Pastel Chevron Straws (24 straws), retail value $7
These straws are adorable and they just scream that they need to be placed in a fancy little mocktail. One day, if I ever have a dinner party, they may just get used.
Michael Stars Sea Grass Crusher Hat, retail value $48
I love wide brim hats, but I hate this wide brim hat. I don't think it's fashionable; it looks like something an older lady would wear gardening.
If the brim was substantially wider, I think it would be more forgivable.
French Bull Ziggy Salad Servers, retail value $12
The only problem is that they are sort of "aspirational" salad spinners. I don't have a salad bowl cute enough to pair with them! Perhaps I will have to buy one for that hypothetical dinner party?
Revlon Bold Lacquer Length & Volume Mascara in Blackest Black, retail value $7.99
Revlon has been doing their darndest to make their new mascara release exciting. Unfortunately, there is really nothing about it that feels new or exciting. If aliens invaded Earth and were, for some reason, really interested in cosmetics, this mascara could be used as a prototype to represent all mascaras.
It's fine, but very bland. It's the potato of mascaras.
The formula is neither wet nor dry and the brush is regular, straight shape.
I found that, despite the product's name, it wasn't a very intense mascara. It gives some nice length, but it gives almost no volume. Building it up too much results in clumps, but I think it might work better with just one or two coats, giving a nice, natural appearance.
Here's my no-mascara eye:
It's a perfectly nice mascara… it just doesn't come anywhere close to the claims it makes.
Total Box Value: $110.49
I definitely preferred this box to June's iteration, but I'm still waiting on a PopSugar Must Have box that really wows me. I think this is an especially difficult subscription to do well. The price, at $39.99 a month, is pretty high, meaning misses are bigger financial bummers. The topic is general (e.g. PopSugar doesn't know if people like makeup or books or salad spinners or none of the above. At least if one subscribes to Ipsy, the company can assume people probably like makeup.) There is no personalization. I think the box does well for what it is, but it's not surprising, given the format, that you occasionally get things that make you go, "Uh… who even wants this?"
If my review has magically convinced you to try PopSugar Must Have, you are always free to use my referral link by clicking here. You can use the code REFER5 to get $5 off your box.
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