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POPSUGAR Must Have Box
Cost: POPSUGAR + CFDA Must Have Box: $225 (one-time purchase). Monthly Box: $39.95/month.
Ships To: United States
Coupon Code: Use coupon code “MUSTHAVE5” to save $5 off your first monthly PopSugar Must Have Box.

My POPSUGAR  + CFDA Must Have Box is here is here! If you aren’t familiar with them, POPSUGAR Must Have Box is an exciting box full of fun, must-have picks across fashion, beauty, home decor, fitness, and more, which is delivered to your door on a monthly basis. Monthly boxes feature full-size products and premium items including tried-and-true classics, celebrity favorites, and brands consumers have yet to discover worth over $100!

They also offer special edition boxes on a seasonal (sometimes more) basis. This review is on the 2016 POPSUGAR + CFDA Must Have Box which POPSUGAR described as follows: “For the second year in a row, we’re proud to launch our limited-edition Must Have box with the Council of Fashion Designers of America. This fashion collaboration has little luxuries perfect for a relaxing day by the pool or a weekend filled with sun and music. Fifty percent of POPSUGAR’s profits from each box will be donated to the CFDA, in support of the CFDA mission to strengthen American fashion in the global economy.”

The POPSUGAR Must Have + CFDA Box shipped via FedEx Smart Post and took about a week to get to my house.  They promised to ship boxes by the 16th of May and I think mine shipped exactly on the 16th.

All of the items in this box were individually wrapped.  I knew what was coming in this one (I always look at spoilers), but it’s always fun to unwrap it all.

The POPSUGAR Must Have + CFDA Box included the following items:

~lemlem Split Cover Up ($198): I can’t find this exact color cover up online, but similar ones are on sale at lemlem for $115.  It’s hand-woven by Ethiopian artists and is 85% cotton, 15% acrylic.  It’s not soft like I was expecting.  It’s actually kind of rough.  I do think it’s cute (even though the fact that it doesn’t – and isn’t supposed to – line up at the bottom drives me nuts), but it’s dry-clean or hand-wash only.  For a beach cover up that’s going to have sweat and sunscreen on it just isn’t super practical for me personally.  Note: This is one size fits most.  According to their FAQ, POPSUGAR, does have a limited quantity of these in a larger size, so if yours doesn’t fit, e-mail them and see about swapping it out.

~3.1 Philip Lim 10th Anniversary Limited Edition 31 Nano Second Pouch ($195): This pouch is a POPSUGAR exclusive and was made in celebration of 3.1 Phillip Lim’s 10th Anniversary. It’s a gorgeous leather and is small enough to fit into my purse, but large enough to fit a lot of “stuff”.  You could easily fit your makeup (well not a big palette) in here for traveling along with a few travel-sized hair products.

~S’WELL Shadow Water Bottle ($32): This bottle was designed by up-and-coming accessories designer Lizzie Forunato and is another POPSUGAR exclusive.  S’WELL bottles keep your drinks cold for 24 hours or hot for 12. They are made from 18/8 double-walled stainless steel, non-toxic, non-leaching and are also BPA free.  POPSUGAR sent out S’WELL bottles in their Summer 2013 Limited Edition Box and they are very durable.  This is a smaller one – 9oz and will fit easily in my bag.

~Derek Lam 10 Crosby Fragrance Collection Gift Set ($95): This is easily the coolest perfume sampler ever.  I expected the vials to be smaller, but they are an amazing size at 0.25oz each.  The set includes: Silent St. White Musks), Looking Glass (Chinese Magnolia, Tonka Bean Madagascar), Hi-Fi (Pink Peony, French Narcisse), Drunk On Youth (Crisp Apple, Honeysuckle), Afloat (White Mimosa, Orris), Rain Day (Neroli Tunisia, Vetiver Haiti), Something Wild (Cedarwood, Vanilla Bean Madagascar), Ellipsis (Australian Sandalwood, Jasmine), Blackout (Osmanthus, Chai Tea Essence) and 2am Kiss (Salty Wood, Crystalized Amber).  My favorites (so far) are the Drunk on Youth and Rainy Day.  There aren’t any that I dislike though and am thrilled with this fun set!

~Elizabeth & James Nirvana Dry Shampoo (4.4oz) ($28): I know some people are thinking, uhh, more dry shampoo?  But I am like YAY, more dry shampoo!  Ha. I love it!  Not only does this stuff work, but it smells amazing.  It has notes of Violet, Sandalwood and Vanilla and smells a bit “manly” at first, but it I totally love it.  It doesn’t leave any white residue, takes away oil and gives you great volume.

~illesteva Leonard Sunglasses ($177): A variety of sunglass colors were sent out, but everyone will receive the Leonard Style.  Mine are the Leonard Woodstock with Gold Flat Lenses. They aren’t something I would select for myself, but I feel like part of the point of subscription boxes is to mix things up a little, so I will give them a try.

All totaled the POPSUGAR Must Have + CFDA Box had a retail value of $725.  That’s a huge value (even with the $225 price tag) and I am basically happy with this box.  Are they things I would have selected?  Probably not.  But I appreciate the quality and will use them all.  Broken down it works out to $37.50 per item ($225 divided by six items) and that seems beyond fair for these items.

What do you think of the 2016 POPSUGAR Must Have + CFDA Box?  If you are interested in ordering they still have some boxes available here!