Disclosure: If you make a purchase through the links posted below, I may receive a small compensation. Read the full disclosure.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.
Yay! My February 2014 PopSugar Must Have Box has arrived! So much discussion about this box this month and I was excited to finally get my hands on mine!
PopSugar ships via FedEx Smart Post and took the standard week to arrive. It actually wasn’t scheduled to arrive until tomorrow, so I got pretty lucky that it came today.
Of course I knew what was in the box (I just cannot pass up PopSugar spoilers), but I still enjoy opening up boxes and checking things up for myself.
PopSugar is much braver than I am as I would not even consider sending giant bottles of liquid across the country. I was pleased that mine hadn’t broken / opened in transit since that would have been quite a mess!
The February 2014 PopSugar Must Have Box and included a variety of products to let you sit back and treat yourself well. Here is what was inside:
Must Have Fashion
~Gorjana Brooks Jewelry Roll ($45): You can’t tell from the picture, but this is actually more pink than red. The official color is “Poppy”. I have a jewelry roll, so I am working on an alternative use for this one. Any ideas? Travel paperwork? Pens? Makeup?
Must Have Beauty
~Nourish Organic Argan Face Serum ($23.99): I tested this out once and it felt nice, but there’s not much else I can tell you about it after just one use. My skin still looks the same. What’s the average time you can start to tell a difference after using a new product? 2-3 weeks?
Must Have Home
~k. hall Designs Peony Candle Tin ($11): Love this little candle. It smells fabulous and it from a brand I have never heard of before. I really like the packaging on it. I tend to buy more foodie scents so when I get a floral scent it’s extra fun because I don’t have as many of them.
Must Have Beauty
~Model Co. Lip Pops Duo Lip Gloss and LipStick ($16): Love that this is a neutral color and think the gloss is beautiful. One end of this is a gloss and the other is more of a lip crayon than a lipstick (it’s slightly different than the picture), but still totally useable.
Must Have Food
~Sugarwish Candy (Cinnamon Hearts) ($6.25): I really like candy, but cinnamon hearts just don’t do it for me. B’s not a huge fan either, but I am sure I can find someone to gift these to.
Must Have Beauty
~NCLA Nail Polish (Rodeo Drive Royalty) ($16): Gorgeous color and I do love the NCLA brand. I didn’t have time today, but I think I am going to paint my nails with this before Valentine’s Day. With some glitter on top of course.
Special Extra
~Dial Vitamin Boost Body Wash (~$3): Dialgate. I think this was the most discussed product ever to appear in a PopSugar box! I personally don’t mind the Dial because I have a 5 year-old who uses way too much body wash per shower and we are always running out. Plus, it’s a “special extra” and only makes up like $3 of the box, so I’m not totally sure what other $3 item I would have have liked to replace it? Sure I would have loved some fancy body wash, but that wasn’t in the cards.
All totaled I came up with a value of about $121.24 for the February 2014 PopSugar Box! Not my favorite PopSugar Must Have Box to date, however, I am excited about the serum, the candle, the nail polish and the gloss, so I think it was worth it. I am certain I have spent similar amounts on the same items at Target ;).
I will say, I’m not a big fan of cinnamon, but I braved the hearts and they’re pretty good! the cinnamon taste goes away after about 20 seconds. If you didn’t see on MUT, some suggested using them to decorate baked goods. I know it’s already Tuesday, but you could always grab some sugar cookie mix & add these for your son’s V-Day gifts!
L might like them, but I’ve never liked cinnamon hearts. He’d have fun decorating with them though!
I LOVE the cinnamon hearts! I’m usually kinda eh about red hits, etc. but I’ve been indulging in these yummy little candies all day!
I managed to destroy the lipstick while being too dumb to figure out how to open the gloss. It screwed all the way up and got stuck in lid. Oops!!!
I have done this same thing many many times!!!
I am so disappointed because I really like the understated colors, but this morning I used it and went to use it again during the day, and apparently if you don’t screw the lipstick all the way back down it sticks in the lid. I had even read your comment, Laura, before this happened. So sad.
Dial gate……..you are hilarious…..I don’t have that much of a problem with it because like you said it was only 3.00…it’s better than the wrapping paper they had in the December box that I got AFTER Christmas 🙂
You are super prepared for next year now!
Honestly, I didn’t think the box was that bad. Worst case the Dial goes in the donation box at my daughter’s daycare. And love the lip gloss! I think my aunt may was trying to swipe it out of my box today. She was a little miffed about the Dial too!
Ha! I should have asked my husband about the Dial. He would have had an opinion!
I think all the talk about the Dial is funny, but I kind of get it. It does seem to be a weirdish item for a Popsugar box, but I personally wouldn’t mind getting it either – who doesn’t go through body wash? I love the jewelry roll…
It does seem a little off, but it was only $3 of the value, so I am okay with it.
I was kind of meh on most of the box, but, apart from the cinnamon hearts, I’ll use everything here. I like the idea of adding glitter on the red polish! I’m actually super excited as this is now the third bottle of polish that I own! Unfortunately they are all shades of red, so here’s the hoping one of my boxes brings me some variety one of these days!
Please come over and take some of my polish!
Haha for sure, next time I’m in Michigan! 🙂
This month was an excellent reminder as to why I need to trim my subscription boxes down to a useful minimum and also why I’m letting his baby expire next month.
Jewelry roll–already have one that doesn’t weigh nearly as much. Nail polish–not a shade I’d ever wear. Gloss/lip color–trashed. Candy–trashed with box recycled. Candle–oh dear God are my sinuses aching. Donate. Serum–nail oil I suppose. Dial–yeah, something I can actally use. My rule is that I have to like at least 50% of the boxes, and so far PS is batting a big honkin’ zero.
Kind of funny how so many of us sign up for various boxes based on past boxes, and then it all falls apart. Maybe it’s best to look at the reviews and then try to find the item you love so much online without paying for all of the extras.
C’est la vie.
That’s a good rule!! If you add up everything you like and wouldn’t get to the cost of the box, it’s not worth it!
That’s what I do! To me it’s not about the value of the box, but the value you will get out of it. I think, “What would I pay for this,”and then double it because I am cheap (!) or “would I be happy to get this as a gift even though I would not buy it for myself ” (that face mask/cleanser from last month’s box) and then decide if it was worth it or not. For example, I would not pay more than a dollar for cinnamon hearts. I haven’t tried them yet, but I don’t expect them to taste any better then the ones I can get in the grocery store. So no matter if the retail price was six dollars, none of me gonna pay that! I was not wowed by this box, but to me the value of the things I will actually use still made the box worth it. That’s of course a very subjective decision.
Agreed on the hearts. I am not paying $6 for those. The packaging is cute, but I sony like the candy!
The jewelry wrap can kind of double as a clutch because its pockets/compartments are big enough to fit a phone! I tried it out with my iPhone 5S (which has a case on it) and it fit perfectly. 🙂
I was thinking that or even a pen holder. Is that weird? LOL!
Dialgate – lol. Here’s my theory – they put the box together, realized it looked empty. Low and behold the good people of Dial called with a new product and they said “perfect, it’ll make the box look full” never realizing the scandal it would cause. Mine will go in the guest bath and if I don’t get more good stuff in a box soon, who knows, I may use it. Is it what I’d expect, no. Do I mind it, no. My theory is the same as your’s – it’s $3. If they hadn’t put it in, it’s not like they would have put something else in – it just would have been filled with tissue paper.
I think I’m one of the few people without a jewelry roll and I’ve been wanting one – just never got around to actually buying one – so that was a hit. I just realized and got up and compared and was right (I’ve had the box days – just never hit me) – the nail color is the EXACT color that we got in the Nina Garcia box. Gift pile. I never get through one bottle of polish – let alone two. Love the idea of the lip stick/polish in one since I always layer. We’ll see about the color. The candle will get used. Of all things, the cinnamon hearts nip my “I want to eat just because” feeling right in the bud. No idea why – but they do, and with just 3 or 4 – so they are a win! I’ll always use Aragon oil. I use it already as a moisturizer on my face. This one has other stuff so I may just use it as a nail oil – but I need that too. The candle, well, it’s a candle. It’ll get used. I hate coupon codes that make you spend more money and I realized with the last G&G card since you can’t use on sale AND they charge shipping, that if you can get something for $20 you are lucky. I’ll keep the card in case I see they offer free shipping at some point without having to spend a minimum amount.
All-in-all, not my favorite, but I’d spend $40 for the items at Target. Just nothing that wow’d me. I’m starting to lean toward what others have suggested though and when my 6 months is up – I may just cancel (unless they pull me in with a deal) and go fo the LE boxes.
Probably a good theory!
I really wish that the gift card combined. Because it’s really just a code, bit a certificate since you have to spend money to use it!
I was actually pretty happy with the box. It may be dial but it smells right and does make your skin pretty soft (I still use lotion with it though). But the jewelry roll I definitely thought was a clutch before I looked at the card and unrolled it so maybe use it as that if you are dressing up and only need a few things?
That’s a good idea!
I was actually a lot happier with my box once it was in my hand. The lipstick/gloss is really pretty, the serum seems to already be making my face softer, I did like the cinnamon hearts, and I’ll use a full size nail polish. So I’m calling this one a win.
Another plus from “Dialgate” – Dial is only $4 at my grocery store, and Dove (which I usually use) is $7. So I liked discovering that there was a good, cheaper option that smells good.
That is good!
I’ve been using the Dial body wash and the serum every day, and I love them both! I always like when subscription boxes have a lot of items, even if some of them aren’t huge values. I’ve been subscribing to Popsugar from the beginning, and while there have been some highs and lows, I think I will subscribe to it forever.
I do too. There’s a better change of liking more things that way!
I didn’t get this box, but I was thinking I could use some body wash. The body wash I normally use I have to order online, and I never think ahead. So I usually end up using my husbands. So sadly if I did get this box I would be most excited about the $3 item.
LOL!!!
I’m painting my nails with the nail polish for Valentine’s day, too lol. I found some OPI pink glitter nail polish that has heart shaped glitter for over top!
As for the jewelry roll, I have other stuff I usually use for the same purpose, so right now I’m using mine as a wallet because I was in need of a roomier one. I saw some people saying they were thinking about using it as a clutch (which is what I thought it was when I first opened my box) so I’ll probably keep it in my purse as a wallet and just grab it and use it as a clutch whenever I don’t want to carry my huge purse around.
Oh that polish sounds so cute!!!!
The Beauty Box 5 box came with glass nail beads – Rockstar I think, that will go with the Popsugar polish. I think that’s going to be my Valentine’s day experiment.
Neat idea for downsizing from a purse with the jewelry roll.
My I am chatty today. I have posted about four times!
I know I am the minority but I loved the Dial. It smelled so good and I always need body wash to use with my body exfoliator sponge thingy. Plus I know my hubby will use it if I don’t. This box was my last for a while but for sure my favorite in the last couple of months. The argon oil also smells delicious and I have been using it religiously. I hope it helps my little dry patches.
I don’t mind the Dial at all! It will be gone in a week or two I know!
Laura, don’t feel bad, I did figure how to use the gloss correctly the first time and a few days later my crayon is stuck up in the lid too!
Even with spoilers, you never know -I thought I would love the jewelry roll and hated it but that’s okay, I have something in mind for the $25 gift card instead.
Yeah you never really know until you get it!
And here I am posting to another one, but mari, the same thing happened to the lipstick to me today. Let’s call this a design flaw on their part!
Actually, that jewelry roll— I saw somewhere online where someone used it as a clutch!!! It will fit an iPhone and of course credit cards, ID, cash, lipstick, etc. I’m totally using it as a clutch for Valentine’s day!!!!!
That’s a cute idea!
Oh, and I don’t love cinnamon hearts either so will gift that to a co-worker’s daughter as part of her V Day gift. Gifting the Peony candle to another co-worker for V Day (not really my type of scent). Putting the Dial soap in the guest bath.
My lipstick was broken actually. I opened it and the lipstick itself stayed in the lid!!! I’ll be contacting them about that shortly.
Love the jewelry roll (again, gonna use as a cute clutch) and the nail polish! I am gonna give the serum a try as well.
Hopefully they send you a new one!
Seriously, people are upset because of a thrown in bottle of body wash? Sigh. Personally I love the Dial Body Wash. I’m going to put it in the shower so my husband can use it and stop using up all my expensive body wash!
Yes, I already own a jewelry roll. But I like this one. I’m actually going to store some of my “nice” jewelry in it instead of hanging them or putting them in the jewelry box. It will make it easier to throw the roll in the safe (or at least a safe place) when we leave the house to travel. And speaking of travel, the little candle is perfect to travel with (I always carry a travel candle like that so if I get a room that stinks I can at least have something to help). I’ll use the nail polish, will put the little hearts out on my desk at work (where I will probably end up sneaking most of them) and am very interested in the lip gloss and serum. Is it my favorite box? No, but one of the few where I will pretty much use everything and not “gift” an item or two.
I’ll never cancel PS! No way!
I’m actually going to be cutting back on some of my subscriptions…I’m finding that some just sit there not getting used (I know, the horror!), but the one I’m going to keep is PopSugar. It was my first LOL so not letting it go!
The lid of my Dial soap arrived broken! I’m just glad it didn’t spill everywhere! Otherwise I’m happy with everything. My cinnamon hearts are almost gone. Lol
That’s almost a miracle that it didn’t break!
I’m totally a food candle person as well. I need to broaden my horizons it may also diminish the feeling of being hungry every time one is going. 🙂
LOL! Same!
I was thinking about putting first aid stuff in the jewelry roll and just have a really trendy first aid kit. It’d be perfect for traveling or stashing in the car – way cuter than those typical first aid kits
Super cute idea!
Cute!
I love this idea! I might do something like that as well!
I love the box this month!! Also… amused because I just noticed the subject line says 2104… 🙂
Ooops. Sorry!
I think they sent the Dial as it is a new product. So I see how it fits in the box.
Also if you have guests, do you want them using up your expensive body wash???
Also, if you do not like dial as a body wash you can always use it as hand soap in a pump.
I had run out of all my hand soap a few weeks ago and could not get to the store, so then went to my stash and ended up using the body wash I disliked the most as hand soap.
With family who visits, hand soap sometimes only lasts a couple days in my bathroom!
Thanks for this review. What’s your experience with the company been like? I tried to order a box and the customer service is so bad that I won’t even consider going back to them. It’s a shame that they don’t care about customers more. Any suggestions for similar subscriptions?
I have not really dealt with their customer service. I have never had any real issues with damaged products or any of that. What happened?
There is FabFitFun that is similar, but they are quarterly. Nina Garcia’s Quarterly Box is also quarterly and a little more expensive. And there is the SocialBliss Style Box which is monthly! Hope that helps!!