GLOSSYBOX Partners with Artist Antonio Soares for “The Fashion Edition”

Announced earlier this month and just in time for fashion’s biggest month of the year, GLOSSYBOX, the leading luxury beauty box subscription service, has collaborated with Portuguese artist Antonio Soares for “The Fashion Edition.” Starting September 1st, during international fashion month where the Spring collections will be showcased, GLOSSYBOX will launch this special box.

This stunning box will feature a variety of the prestige products fashion insiders have been keeping in their beauty bags for last minute touch-ups between runway shows at Fashion Week, including KORRES Modern Greek Apothecary’s Volcanic Minerals Twist Eyeshadow and Twist Lipstick, MODELLAUNCHER’s Brow Duo Pencil, Vince Camuto’s Capri Eau De Parfum, Sally Hershberger’s 24K Supreme Stylist Dry Shampoo and Borghese’s Superiore State-of-the-Art Mascara. Subscribers will receive an assortment of these offerings, among other products. 

The September box will feature designs by internationally acclaimed illustrator Antonio Soares. Soares’ unique, fashion-inspired art has captured the eye of tastemakers around the world and landed him collaborations with prestigious fashion purveyors, including Chanel and Dolce & Gabbana. On this collaboration in particular, Soares has made his foray into the beauty space to design a box that embodies the undeniable connection between both the beauty and fashion worlds. 

GLOSSYBOX “The Fashion Edition” ($21) will be available on September 1^st and this Special Edition is the best way to treat yourself this season! To find more information about the September GLOSSYBOX, please visit GLOSSYBOX online!

Yuzen Box Autumn 2015 Review

We’ve previously written about the reasons that Team TME chose Yuzen Box as the “Best Subscription Box of 2014” and Yuzen Box Autumn 2015 solidifies our opinion. We can tell you what’s in the box, and we will, but first we need to share the experience of receiving Yuzen’s Fall 2015 edition.

On the day that the Yuzen Autumn 2015 Box arrived, we’d been having a particularly horrid day. We grabbed the box with a bit of disinterest, but curiosity got the best of us and we opened it. Stunningly wrapped in (reusable) pink tissue paper with Yuzen’s signature piece of (reusable) Japanese Yuzen paper across the front, we began to smile. And in spite of ourselves, a feeling of calm began to wash over. This is the feeling that you get when you receive a Yuzen Box! 

Yuzen Box Autumn 2015:

• Lavender Organza Drawstring Bag (Reusable)
• Description Card With “Why We Chose It” and Discount Codes
• Africa Organics Marula Conditioner
• COWGIRL Extreme Antioxidant Serum
• ECO LIPS Organic Lip Scrub
• GLEE Natural Sugar-Free Chewing Gum in Refresh-Mint
• Nubian Heritage Indian Hemp & Haitian Vetiver Body Wash
• Red Flower Lymphatic Phytopower Sea Cleaner and Masque
• Red Flower Artic Berry Cloud Milk Cream

It’s fairly often for those that receive subscription boxes to dislike, or feel ambivalent about, at least one item in the box. In our experience, it’s never happened with a Yuzen Box. Each item with the Yuzen Autumn Box was simply delightful! Yuzen Boxes are available quarterly ($33/quarter) and the brand also offers anytime gifting.

As you can see each box includes luxury eco-conscious beauty, snack, and lifestyle items that are carefully curated directly by the owners - Jen and Ted. Along the lines of eco-conscious, Yuzen began using less packaging this summer … Thank You Yuzen. As for Yuzen’s quarterly subscription service that can be just for you, but if you’re looking for something lovely and unique as a gift you’ll need not look any further then Yuzen’s Gift Box ($36).

Yuzen Summer 2015 Subscription Box and Gift Box Review

There’s a reason why TME chose Yuzen as the “Best Subscription Box of 2014” and receiving the brand’s latest offerings confirms that status. At this point, Team TME has lost count of the amount of boxes that we’ve received from Yuzen, but what we haven’t lost is our memory for the wonderfulness of each one.

Yuzen is a quarterly subscription box ($33/quarter), that also offers anytime gifting. Each box includes luxury eco-conscious beauty, snack, and lifestyle items that are carefully curated directly by the owners - Jen and Ted. Along the lines of eco-conscious, Yuzen has recently changed up its packaging for the Summer 2015 Yuzen Box.

All Yuzen boxes contain a beautiful organza bag, which houses the products, and for previous boxes Yuzen would place the organza bag inside a small box and then that box inside a shipping box. The brand has 86’d the smaller box in order to help reduce its carbon footprint! No quality lost here … just a better way to operate! As usual, the Yuzen Summer 2015 Subscription Box was beautifully packaged and contained items that we couldn’t wait to try.

Yuzen Summer 2015 Subscription Box:

• Description Card With “Why We Chose It” and Discount Codes
• Aromaflage Botanical Fragrance & Insect Repellant
• Aromafloria Muscle Soak Ocean Mineral Bath Salts
• Hugo Naturals Vanilla and Sweet Orange Shower Gel
• Jurlique Purely Age-Defying Firming and Tightening Serum
• Lasting Smiles Organic Peppermint Creme Lip Balm
• Shea Moisture Zanzibar Marine Complex Replenish & Rejuvenate Hand Cream
• Spa Ritual Nail Lacquer
• Suntegrity 5-in-1 Natural Moisturizing Face Sunscreen
• Torie & Howard Meyer Lemon & Raspberry Organic Hard Candy

Yuzen Gifting Box:

Yuzen’s quarterly box can be just for you – you deserves it, but if you’re looking for something lovely and unique as a gift you’ll need not look any further then Yuzen’s Gift Box ($36). The quality is just as outstanding as Yuzen’s Subscription Box and just a lovely with an organza bag and Japanese Yuzen paper.

Yuzen Gifting Box 2015 Includes:

• Description Card With “Why We Chose It”
• Acure Organics Brightening Facial Scrub
• Cowgirl Extreme C Serum
• Jurlique Herbal Recovery Eye Cream
• Salus Shower Bomb
• Shecha Naturals Pink Dragonfruit Mints
• Sparitual Cuti-Cocktail Pen & Pusher
• Sranrom Urban Wellness Calm Down Hand Cream
• Zents Mandarin Soap

For more information about Yuzen gifting or subscription options, please visit the brand’s website.

Handmade Beauty Box Review

The Handmade Beauty Box is definitely a new concept in beauty subscription boxes! When we were approached to review the newest beauty subscription box, we were rather skeptical. Honestly, we like our beauty boxes filled with pre-made goodies. But, never ones to shy away from a challenge we met the new concept head on.

We received the Handmade Beauty Box March 2015: Cuticle Balms and Lip Balms box, which happened to be perfect timing as we were in need of some serious cuticle rescue.

In The Box:

• Shea Butter
• White Beeswax
• Avocado Oil
• Passion Fruit Rose Fragrance & Flavor Oil
• 15 Mini Tins
• 2 Droppers
• 1 Cuticle Pusher and Mini Nail File
• Finished Labels
• Instructions

Everything that we needed to make cuticle cream and lip balm was included! All we needed to do was grab a saucepan and measuring cup in the kitchen. Creating the balm was very simple. We mixed the shea butter, beeswax, and avocado oil together in the saucepan over a low heat (the directions instruct to use the microwave – but we like to color outside the lines!) until the ingredients were melted. We then added Passion Fruit Rose Fragrance & Flavor Oil and mixed. We carefully filled the provided tins and after allowing the balm to cool for a few hours, viola … cuticle and lip balm! We applied the provided labels after, and we actually should have done so before adding the balm to the tins, but live and learn. The finished product was good and this was a fun DIY project.

Handmade Beauty Box is $29.99 a month (shipping included), and you can order just one month or sign up for 1-, 3- or 12 months. The Handmade Beauty Box was conceived by Anne-Marie Faiola of Bramble Berry Soap Supplies and all recipes are tested before they go out to customers. Overall, the Handmade Beauty Box is an interesting experience and easily worth the price. Plus, there is an entire “Handmade” community that shares their tips. Not bad for the DIY crew. To learn more visit Handmade Beauty Box and visit them on Facebook.

Rejuvenate Your Skin With January 2015 GLOSSYBOX Spoiler Alert

A new year brings feelings of new beginnings and rejuvenation. To echo that sentiment --on skin -- GLOSSYBOX January 2015 is delivering three detoxifying products that dissolve impurities and revitalize complexions. All subscribers will receive the multifunctional Vichy Pureté Thermale 3-in-1 One Step Cleanser, which removes makeup, balances skin and infuses nutrients in one.

To further purify pores, all boxes will feature a full-sized version of the deeply clarifying Spanish beauty secret, Kueshi Revitalizing Face Toner. Each January GLOSSYBOX will also contain either a Truffle Therapy Serum or Sicilian Light Brightening Face Serum from Skin&Co Roma to a perfect and protect a newly renewed face.

“We are looking to help set the tone for our subscribers’ upcoming years with a truly global, skin reviving trio of products from France, Spain and Italy,” shared GLOSSYBOX beauty expert Belisa Silva.

January 2015 “Detox In A Box” includes:

• Vichy Pureté Thermale 3-in-1 One Step Cleanser 6.7 FL OZ
• Kueshi Revitalizing Face Toner 6.76 FL OZ
• Skin&Co Roma (Truffle Therapy Serum or Sicilian Light Brightening Face Serum) 1 Fl OZ
• Treez Trendy Cosmetics Beautiful Flat Brush Stiff
• Lollipops Eye Pencil in “Goodbye Moon” .02 OZ
• $40 Coupon for HelloFresh

We are of the opinion that GLOSSYBOX simply keeps getting better and better. After all, GLOSSYBOX was named “Best Beauty Subscription Box 2014” by the beauty experts here at TME. We can certainly understand the reasons behind the coveted status, considering that a GLOSSYBOX subscription is a mere $21 per month and offers a rather decent selection of products.

Fun facts about GLOSSYBOX: Founded in 2011 by Global CEO Charles von Abercron, GLOSSYBOX has its headquarters in Berlin, Germany. GLOSSYBOX has shipped more than 6 million boxes -- globally. The beauty boxes reach more than 200,000 monthly subscribers, over 3 continents and 10 different countries, including USA, UK and France.

Best Subscription Box of 2014

In January 2013, TME published “Battle of The Beauty Boxes: Round One,” with the aim of informing our readers about which beauty/lifestyle subscription box offered what. The market of monthly subscription box services exploded and this led us to publish “Battleof The Beauty Boxes: Round Two” -- a mere six months later. Since our initial “Battle,” the market of subscription box services continues to grow and we’ve seen our fair share of the good, the bad, and the “What were they thinking”?

Sure we could have done “Round 3,” but with all that we’ve witnessed it was time to give a huge shout out to the subscription services that continuously offer superiorly curated boxes. While there can only be one “Best Subscription Box,” we present the beauty and lifestyle boxes that are superior and deserving of acknowledgment. So, just who are the brands and which one took the Best Subscription Box of 2014? There were a total of 24 subscription services that threw their hat into the ring, but we’ve chosen the best of the best and here they are!

Most Improved Beauty Box - Beauty Army ($12/month – Shipping Included). In 2013, Beauty Army was a less then thrilling experience. With a revamped website (launched in January 2014), navigating the site to fill out your personal beauty profile and choose your own samples is a fun experience. Included in our Beauty Army box were seven real-sized samples that easily exceeded the $12 subscription price. Good Job Beauty Army!

Best Lifestyle Box – PopSugar Must Have ($35/month – Shipping Included) Many of you may be familiar with PopSugar.com, a leading online source of women’s lifestyle information and a favorite site here at TME. Every Must Have box is expertly, and lovingly, curated by the PopSugar editors, which guarantees that you are going to be presented with top-notch lifestyle products. Proving that PopSugar Must Have truly is a superior lifestyle box with their fingers on the pulse of lifestyle -- the brand has launched Must Have boxes for specific life milestones such as bridal and baby!

Best Specialty Box - Escape Monthly ($49.95/month - Shipping Included) is an essential for anyone who, like us, loves to travel and learn about other places. Gigi, an extensive world traveler, was blown away by the accuracy of information and the stellar curation of the Escape Monthly box. Items included in each box range from informative travel books to cuisine and well exceed the monthly subscription price. Escape Monthly is perfect for the adventure bound … even if the adventure is from your living room.

Best Beauty Box – GLOSSYBOX ($21/month - Shipping Included) We have watched this brand for over three years and had the pleasure of interviewing GLOSSYBOX CEO, Charles von Abercron. From the industry insider perspective, we have witnessed many changes within this company … some left us believing that all hope was lost for this brand … but, with a major rebound GLOSSYBOX is back on top delivering beautifully and thoughtfully curated beauty boxes that leave us doing the “happy dance” upon the box’s monthly arrival!

Drum roll … please … Yuzen is THE Best Subscription Box 2014! With boxes arriving quarterly, Yuzen's tagline of "Sending you a little Zen" reminds us to stop and take time for ourselves. Yuzen Boxes ($33/qurter – Shipping Included) arrive each season -- winter, spring, summer, and fall -- and include high-end luxurious beauty, grooming, and lifestyle products that are carefully selected by Jen and Ted Ning, the owners of Yuzen.

The Ning's shared, "When making selections for each Yuzen box, we always look to quality, mission, and integrity before we put it to our Yuzen test -- evaluating its performance, experiencing the benefits first hand, and then sharing our favorites with others".

So what can you expect when receiving one of these boxes? To start, Yuzen is artfully packaged, making a perfect gift for any person -- especially the "hard-to-buy-for" in your life. As part of the packaging, the brand encloses a strip of authentic Japanese Yuzen paper, which can be used as a bookmark, for origami making, or for any paper crafts.

Inside the box, one will find a card with detailed information about each product and an explanation as to why it was chosen, a mix of nine full-sized and sample size products, and discount codes for each product. Plus the products are encased in a lovely reusable mesh drawstring bag. There isn't an aspect of Yuzen that hasn't impressed us -- from the Ning's philosophy of "pampering oneself," to the brilliantly executed packaging and, of course, the high quality, natural, organic products that are contained within. The $33 price includes shipping and product value is approximately $100, unless you count the needful pampering encouraged by Yuzen … priceless in our book!

For your convenience, all products have been hyperlinked. Please note that The Makeup Examiner is NOT affiliated with any brand, representative or public relations firm.

GLOSSYBOX Goes ‘Bazaar’

Global beauty subscription service, GLOSSYBOX, has joined forces with Harper’s BAZAAR for a covetable co-branded box, launching alongside the iconic magazine’s fashion-filled September issue.

This carefully edited beauty box ($21) will feature top-selling products like Benefit They’re Real! Mascara, which has become a fast favorite of beauty junkies around the globe, as well as full-size offerings from cult brand Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics.

“Fashion worships beauty, and so does Harper's BAZAAR and in 2014, we're offering more beauty content, on every platform,” said Wendy Lauria, Associate Publisher of Marketing at Harper’s BAZAAR, who adds that the box will be sold on the magazine’s e-commerce platform, ShopBAZAAR. “Our editors always deliver the very best of what’s new and wearable in beauty, making our partnership with GLOSSYBOX a perfect fit.”

Boasting prestigious collaborations over the past year, including La Prairie and Bergdorf Goodman, GLOSSYBOX will continue exploring inventive partnerships in the luxury market into the future, according to the company’s U.S. President and Managing Director, Elian Pres-Gurwits.

“With the paradigm change in media and retail, this partnership reflects a unique vehicle for transporting editorial content into a three-dimensional customer experience,” said Pres-Gurwits. “Our vision for GLOSSYBOX is to continue innovating the way consumers discover, discuss and patronize the beauty industry.”

GLOSSYBOX For Harper’s BAZAAR is will be available for pre-order September 12, online at ShopBAZAAR!

Birchbox and CEW Launches Mass and Prestige Limited Edition Boxes

Birchbox announced Tuesday, August 12 that the brand has again partnered with CEW to launch two limited edition boxes featuring the finalists and winners chosen from the 2014 Insiders' Beauty Choice Awards. This is the second year that Birchbox and CEW have partnered to provide these special limited edition boxes to beauty consumers.

Launching exclusively on Birchbox the Limited Edition: Mass Appeal box contains a selection of finalists and winners from the mass market, while the Limited Edition: Prestige Headliners features product finalists and winners from the prestige category. Chosen by more than 6,000 industry professionals, these represent the years best and brightest in beauty innovation.

Limited Edition: Mass Appeal Box ($15) contains:

• Burt’s Bees 100% Natural Lip Gloss in Spring Splendor
• Dove Go Fresh Restore Body Wash
• L'Oréal Paris Voluminous Butterfly Mascara
• Simple Protecting Light Moisturizer with SPF15
• TRESemmé Keratin Smooth Keratin Infusing Serum
• Vaseline Lip Therapy Rosy Lips

Limited Edition: Prestige Headliners Box ($18) contains:

• 100% Pure Creamy Nail Polish
• Coola Environmental Repair Plus Radical Recovery After-Sun Lotion
• Fekkai Brilliant Glossing Crème
• Josie Maran Cosmetics 100% Pure Argan Oil Light
• philosophy Miracle Worker Overnight
• Lifestyle extras:
• Pocket Mirror
• Toe Separators

Both Limited Edition Birchbox for CEW Boxes are now available in the Birchbox Shop and customers can save by purchasing both together for $28.

TME is a proud member of CEW. Cosmetic Executive Women, Inc. (CEW) is a nonprofit, professional organization with more than 6,000 members, both men and women, from over 1,700 companies in the beauty and related industries. The CEW Foundation supports Cancer and Careers, which is a comprehensive program for people balancing work and cancer. 

Birchbox and Women’s Health Magazine Partner Again For Wellness Themed Box

Birchbox announced Monday, July 7 that the brand has again partnered Women’s Health Magazine to create a special edition Birchbox. This limited edition box will focus on wellness, featuring products hand-picked by the editors at Women’s Health.

In 2013, Birchbox and Women’s Health both saw a significant increase in engagement around their brands as a result of the partnership, with over 24 million impressions garnered across social media channels and a massive increase in subscribers for both brands. All Birchbox subscribers will receive the box containing the season’s top beauty, lifestyle and wellness items selected specially by the editors at Women’s Health.

The “Power Up!” themed box will feature products to take your beauty routine up a notch, including brands such as Supergoop!, Benefit, Cynthia Rowley and Vasanti, as well as a 1-year subscription to the Women’s Health magazine. In connection with the curated box, a feature in the Women’s Health July issue explains how these advanced products work and why they were selected.

In addition to the new “Power Up!” theme, the Women’s Health special edition Birchbox will also flaunt a co-branded inner box—an element of the Birchbox experience that has never before been “taken over” by a partner. Birchbox and Women’s Health will also offer one lucky subscriber the chance to win a beauty and wellness experience with the two brands in New York City. The experience will be photographed and published in a future issue of Women’s Health magazine!

Existing Birchbox subscribers will receive this as their July Birchbox. New customers can sign up for their special edition Women’s Health Birchbox until July 30th online at Birchbox!

Birchbox Launches Limited Edition ‘Modern Mermaid’ For Summer 2014

Taking beauty cues from mythical mermaids, Birchbox announced today, June 3 the launch of a very special summer-themed limited edition box … Modern Mermaid. Modern Mermaid is stocked with products inspired by the beauty of these mythical creatures from folklore.

From salt spray to waterproof liner, this collection features everything you need to channel your inner sea goddess -- guaranteed to make your summer routine more effortless, spirited, and fun.

Modern Mermaid includes the following:

• RUFFIAN Endless Summer Collection
• Vasanti Kajal Eye Pencil
• Anastasia Beverly Hills Mascara Topcoat
• Coola SPF Lip Lux
• Captain Blankenship Mermaid Sea Salt Spray
• Atelier Cedrat Enivrant
• Stephanie Johnson Mermaid Mirror

To purchase the limited edition Modern Mermaid ($44) for Summer 2014, visit Birchbox! 

MonthlyExpress Subscription Box Review

Hello lovelies! TME has discovered a brand new subscription box. MonthlyExpress, having launched a mere four months ago, places them as the new kid on the block. So, let’s dive in to see what the new kid has to offer.

The first thing to note, regarding MonthlyExpress (ME), is that the brand differentiates itself from other box services with reference to being a membership-based service versus a “subscription” box. This distinction should be the first tell that MonthlyExpress is an elitist brand that considers itself above others and is attempting grand exclusivity or “status symbol” if you will.

We received the March 2014 MonthlyExpress edition, which is themed “Spring Into Action”. Starting with a “hand-written” note, signed by Tara and Travis Loring, which read “It’s Spring!!! Smile, you deserve this!,” and with this, the ridiculousness began. Enclosed within were an array of hand-selected items for home and body … five to be exact.

 March 2014 MonthlyExpress edition included:

• Limited-Edition Storm Fragrance Beads by Calvin Klein
• Sense & Sensitivity Mineral Mist by Between You & The Moon
• Nourish & Replenish Oil by Between You & The Moon
• Cucumber Under Eye Gel by Key West Aloe
• Travel Bottle by Porcelain Company

Although each item was full-sized, in no way do the items quantify the $129 per month “exclusive” membership price. Our conclusion of the MonthlyExpress “membership” service? Delusional, elitist, sorority girls attempting to make a beauty box THE thing to have. If you want a decent subscription box that mixes lifestyle and beauty products, sign up for POPSUGAR!

Yuzen Lifestyle Subscription Box: Product Review

The market for monthly subscription boxes has exploded, to say the least, and with a plethora of beauty/lifestyle boxes to choose from, consumers can easily become overwhelmed. I have personally experienced and reviewed many subscription box services, and have concluded that there exists a box for every person. With that said, I wanted to share my personal favorite -- Yuzen.

With boxes arriving quarterly, Yuzen's tagline of "Sending you a little Zen" reminds us to stop and take time for ourselves. Yuzen Boxes ($33) arrive each season -- winter, spring, summer, and fall -- and include high-end luxurious beauty, grooming, and lifestyle products that are carefully selected by Jen and Ted Ning, the owners of Yuzen. In conjunction with a quarterly subscription, Yuzen offers limited-edition holiday boxes, such as one for upcoming Mother's Day, that you can gift.

The Ning's shared, "When making selections for each Yuzen box, we always look to quality, mission, and integrity before we put it to our Yuzen test -- evaluating its performance, experiencing the benefits first hand, and then sharing our favorites with others".

Yuzen Boxes are available for both men and women, each appropriately curated by gender. So what can you expect when receiving one of these boxes? To start, Yuzen is artfully packaged, making a perfect gift for any person -- especially the "hard-to-buy-for" in your life. As part of the packaging, the brand encloses a strip of authentic Japanese Yuzen paper, which can be used as a bookmark, for origami making, or for any paper crafts.

Inside the box, one will find a card with detailed information about each product and an explanation as to why it was chosen, a mix of nine full-sized and sample size products, and discount codes for each product. Plus the products are encased in a lovely reusable mesh drawstring bag. There isn't an aspect of Yuzen that hasn't impressed me. From the Ning's philosophy of "pampering oneself," to the brilliantly executed packaging and, of course, the high quality, natural, organic products that are contained within. The $33 price includes shipping and product value is approximately $100, unless you count the needful pampering encouraged by Yuzen … that is priceless in my book.

Birchbox Us Weekly Review

Birchbox and Us Weekly teamed up to curate an amazing beauty box with a Red Carpet inspired theme. 

Items:

• Juicy Couture Couture La La Malibu Perfume
• Ruby Wing Color Changing Polish in Kitten Heels (Fun)
• Dr. Brandt Pores No More Pore Refiner
• Beauty Protector Protect & Oil
• 32 Oral Care Effervescent Breath Crystals (TME Favorite!)

 The Cost: $10 and the value $22

32 Oral Care Effervescent Breath Crystals (TME Favorite!)

The Verdict: This beauty box has everything you need to feel like a Red Carpet beauty and is well worth money! Birchbox has extended the availability of this particular box until February 23^rd, which you can order at Birchbox online!  

This complimentary box was received for review purposes. All opinions are my own and no compensation was received.

Birchbox Collaborates With Us Weekly For Red Carpet Inspired Beauty Box

Birchbox, the emerging leader in e-commerce beauty products, and top celebrity gossip source Us weekly, announced today, Jan. 8 a partnership to curate a special edition Birchbox just in time for awards season. The limited-edition “Step and Repeat” box will feature products that have been hand picked by Us Weekly beauty director Gwen Flamberg, and inspired by the most iconic red carpet looks of the season.

Immediately following the March 2 airing of the 86th Academy Awards, Us Weekly and Birchbox will give customers the chance to shop the night’s hottest red-carpet looks first with a “Get the Look” shop featuring a selection of products straight from Gwen and the celeb insiders at Us Weekly. The Oscars-inspired products and tips will also be featured in the March 12 issue of Us Weekly.

Birchbox subscribers will receive the “Step and Repeat” themed box as their February box; with will feature red-carpet essentials from brands such as Smashbox, OPI, dr.brandt and Beauty Protector. Customers, who sign up at Birchbox by Feb. 15, will receive the special edition Us WeeklyBirchbox as their first monthly box and a special bonus 12-issue subscription to Us Weekly. The 86th Academy Awards airs live at 7 p.m. on March 2 on ABC.

Boxycharm Beauty Box Subscription Box Review

Boxycharm is the latest beauty box subscription company to hit the market, launching in June 2013, and today, The Makeup Examiner is going to share her thoughts about the “new kid” on the beauty box block. The Makeup Examiner received Boxycharm’s October “Raise Awareness, Give Hope” Beauty Box, which was geared toward the “celebration” of women for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and the November “Fall Glam” box.

Let’s just dive right in to the contents. October’s Beauty Box included:

• Lash Cards 10-pack
• It’s So Big Mascara (Sample)
• NYX Single in Princess Pink (Discontinued Color)
• NYX Single in Gunmetal (Discontinued Color)
• Maybelline Nail Stickers (Discontinued Item)
• CG Intense Shadow Blast #815 (Discontinued Color)
• SpaRitual Nail Lacquer in Tickled Pink (Discontinued Color)
• Lavilin Deodorant (2 Samples)
• Also include in the October box was a pamphlet from Susan G. Komen for the Cure, and a highly inaccurate description card that referred to CoverGirl’s Intense Shadow Blast as Covergirl ShadowBlast Primer!

Moving on to November’s “Fall Glam” Box:

• Organix Ever Firm: Cherry Blossom Moringa Oil (Discontinued Item)
• YU-BE Moisturizing Skin Cream (Sample)
• Material Girl Lip Gloss in Sweet Baby Mint (Discontinued Item)
• Be A Bombshell Eyeliner in Espresso
• Be A Bombshell Blush in Blind Date
• SpaRitual Nail Lacquer in Down To Earth (Discontinued Color)

Also included in the “Fall Glam” box was a description card that stated: “Rosy cheeks, glossy lips, and heavier eyeliner will create a classic autumn look. Oh and don’t forget to polish your nails with one of autumn’s hottest shades”. Uh … if Boxycharm was referring to the discounted SpaRitual Nail Lacquer shade in Down To Earth, TME is confused as to how that translates to “one of autumn’s hottest shades”.

You’ll note that beside many items is the word “discontinued”. That’s because Boxycharm ($21/month) is a beauty box subscription company that offers drug store beauty items, purchased from a third party, or more simply stated, Boxycharm often purchases clearance items that drug store brands no longer care to carry. If you’re a person who simply wants to acquire beauty products, regardless of shelf life or ability to repurchase, then Boxycharm is probably an appropriate choice.

Although difficult to precisely calculate the value of each box, due to many items being discontinued, The Makeup Examiner can comfortable state that this beauty box subscription company will indeed send you plenty of drug store brand product for your money. But if you’re looking to be introduced to new brands or products with the ability to repurchase, that most likely isn’t going to happen often with this service. You can find more information about this subscription company at Boxycharm.

Yuzen Launches Yuzen Men’s Box

The Makeup Examiner introduced readers to the Yuzen box in June when Yuzen entered “Battle of the BeautyBoxes: Round 2”. Since then, Yuzen has become a TME favorite and today, Nov. 26, The Makeup Examiner is happy to announce that this quarterly beauty and wellness box has expanded its offerings to include something just for the guys … the Yuzen Men’s Box!

With boxes arriving quarterly, Yuzen’s tagline of “Sending you a little Zen” reminds us to stop and take time for ourselves. Yuzen Boxes ($33) arrive each season -- winter, spring, summer, and fall -- and include high-end luxurious beauty, grooming, and lifestyle products that are carefully selected by Jen and Ted, the owners of Yuzen.

Before The Makeup Examiner dives into the Yuzen Men’s Box, let’s talk about the ladies Yuzen Winter Box, which includes:

• Jane Iredale 24-Karat Gold Dust
• Jurlique Rose Hand Cream
• Kerstin Florian FuB Balm
• Level Naturals Travel Candle
• Pino Facial Mask
• Sanitas Moisture Mist
• SpaRitual Golden Rule Lacquer.
• Sun Cup Dark Chocolate Mint Cups
• Tara Spa Therapy Stress Relief Roll-On Remedy

The box is beautifully packaged, making a perfect gift for any woman -- especially the “hard-to-buy-for” woman if your life. It contains a card with detailed information about each product and an explanation as to why it was chosen, a mix of nine full-sized and sample size products, and discount codes for each product. Plus the products are encased in a lovely reusable mesh drawstring bag.

Jen and Ted state, “When making selections for each Yuzen box, we always look to quality, mission, and integrity before we put it to our Yuzen test -- evaluating its performance, experiencing the benefits first hand, and then sharing our favorites with you”. Yuzen Men’s Box doesn’t wavier in the brand’s philosophy.

The Yuzen Men’s Box Winter Box includes:

• Two (2) Action Wipes 9x10 Body Wipes
• Honey Stinger Energy Chews – Cherry Cola
• Coola liplux SPF15 Peppermint & Vanilla Lip Balm
• Acure Hair Care Moroccan Argan oil + Argan stem cell Shampoo
• Acure Hair Care Moroccan Argan oil + Argan stem cell Conditioner
• PHYT’s Men Gel Nettoyant Desincrustant Exfoliating Cleansing Gel
• Level Naturals Active Charcoal Soap Body Bar

The Yuzen Men’s Box is smartly packaged and immediately gives the beneficiary the feeling of receiving something special that is just for them. Quite a few products for men find their way onto The Makeup Examiner’s radar and the first thing that she does with products geared toward the guys is to enlist the gentlemen in her life. The guys, ages 21 to 52, each said that they would enjoy getting a quarterly men’s lifestyle box and each was impressed with the quality of products inside. A hefty endorsement from a group of gentlemen whose interests run the gamut!

If you’re seeking something for that guy who is hard to shop for, look no further. Yuzen offers a men’s gift box filled with natural and organic soaps, snacks and unique items that are perfect for today’s man. For more information about Yuzen gifting or subscription options, please visit the brand’s website.

PopSugar Neiman Marcus Box Big Reveal *Spoiler Alert

PopSugar gave the green light today, Nov. 21 for the “Big Reveal” of PopSugar’s Neiman Marcus Must-Have Box. While there has is been much speculation as to what’s inside this holiday season’s luxury subscription box, readers need not speculate any further!

   

Although PopSugar is known for several “firsts,” such as the launch of their Men’s Lifestyle Box in December 2012, the Neiman Marcus collaboration was quite the coup and a brilliant move for consumers. Curated by Neiman Marcus Fashion Director Ken Downing and PopSugar Editor in Chief and Founder Lisa Sugar, each item inside makes the perfect gift, but you may want to keep them all for yourself. Are you ready to see what’s inside this limited-edition holiday offering? Have a look through the list!

Le Metier de Beaute Le Metier Custom Palette (Retail Value $95) - Le Metier de Beaute, in collaboration with Ken Downing and Lisa Sugar, designed an exclusive kaleidoscope for the Neiman Marcus Must Have box. Ken and Lisa loved the combination of black and pink and developed an assortment of colors that can be blended together or used separately.

Oribe Texturizing Spray (Retail Value $39) - Bigger, better, full-on glamorous hair. This invisible dry hair spay builds in incredible volume and sexy texture. Patented polymers absorb oil at the roots, leaving you with just-styled hair for days (and nights). Shake. Spray where you want volume and style. A brilliant alternative to dry shampoo!

Sanford Design Chevron Throw (Retail Value $226) - Throws are a great way to add color and pattern to a solid-color chair or sofa, but we also like the element of cozy comfort they bring to the mix. Consider adding one to a reading chair in the guest room to make it especially welcoming. Colors featured: Navy/Natural, Lunar/Natural, Midori/White, Persimmon/Natural, Hemisphere/White

Slim & Sage (Retail Value $99) offers stunning design with scientifically based portion control to make eating healthy feel effortless, discreet and casually luxurious. Crafted with a gentle curve and gorgeous interlaced lines, these plates are ideal for everyday use or casual entertaining. Slim & Sage is a fusion of credible science and fabulous design to make portion control and healthy eating safe, simple and casually chic. Colors featured: Ruby and Pacific

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Shy by Sydney Evan Love Necklace (Retail Value $125) - Since it’s inception in 2001, Sydney Evan has become one of the leading trend-setting jewelry designers. Rosanne Karmes, the creator of Sydney Evan, celebrates the uniqueness of our lives, from spiritual protection, to luck and good fortune. The Neiman Marcus Must Have box features Shy by Sydney Evan Love Necklace. A 14k yellow-gold plated over sterling silver necklace with a single bezel-set diamond.

Jonathan Adler Zebra Ring Dish (Retail Value $32) - Made from porcelain with a bold zebra print, the perfect pop of graphic glamour for any bedside, bathroom or table setting. Jonathan Adler pottery begins its life in our Soho studio, where Jonathan and his team design and sculpt every prototype. Colors featured: Navy, Light Blue, Green, Yellow

NEST Birchwood Pine Candle (Retail Value $35) - The aroma of a majestic winter forest is created by blending white pine, fir balsam and birchwood over a base of rich musk and amber. NEST Fragrances candles are made with a premium, soft, highly refined, cosmetic-grade wax that was developed over many years to optimize burn and fragrance diffusion. The ingredients used are the highest grade of wax materials and the finest fragrance oils available.

Bedre Neiman Marcus Corn Snack (Retail Value $19) - This exclusive Neiman Marcus snack is perfect for any holiday gathering. Enjoy a delicious white fudge covered corn snack with a light milk chocolate drizzle and let the parties begin!

As for the exclusive PopSugar Neiman Marcus Box ($250with a $639 retail value), the limited-edition box is available exclusively at PopSugar.