Now that the holidays have finally calmed down, I can get to the gifts I got for myself! Just kidding, I’m finally digging into my POPSUGAR Must Have Box from December 2016. It’s appropriately winter-themed, so it will fit into January just as well as it would have fit into December – maybe even better because that means January’s box is right around the corner! Double the POPSUGAR Must Have Boxes, double the fun!
This box was predictably winter-themed, and focused on the major desire to nest. You know, nesting: the compulsive desire to rearrange, adorn, and organize everything in your house. Staying inside all the time sometimes results in the discovery that you are, indeed, a total slob. Or maybe you’re just disorganized. Or, what might be worse, you realize your house doesn’t look like you at all! That definitely results in an uncontrollable urge to tear it all down and start from fresh, especially around the New Year.
Instead of taking the traditional approach to home nesting, with wintry staples like warm fabrics and cocoa (see last month’s Must Have Box for that), this month’s POPSUGAR Must Have Box went the artsy route, filling the box with minimalist, graphic products with high end design look. This month’s box is all about form-meets-function and simplicity.
As usual, you can get $5 off of your first POPSUGAR Must Have Box with the code SHOP5. Remember that as you look through the bounty that $39.99 per month would bring to you.
POPSUGAR sent me this box to review, and if you’ve seen any of the previous ones, you know I don’t hold my tongue when there’s something lame inside. Though, I’m humbled to say that I’ve been using The Sarong, famous for such Twitter rants as the “This Sarong is $40?!” of 2016, as a big, layered scarf… pretty much all winter, and I kind of love it. So, humbled. Yeah.
Anyway, here’s what was inside the December 2016 POPSUGAR Must Have Box!
Odeme Porcelain Catch-All and Ring Dish
I did six double takes – so I guess that’s a 12 take – when I opened the box and saw these two matching, art deco-inspired packages from Odeme.
First of all, brands and companies, if you want to instantly put me on a positive bias about your product, incorporate a design element from the 1920s-1940s. That is truly my kryptonite. That anachronistic feeling didn’t stop at the packaging, either, because these beautiful, porcelain dishes were inside:
Odeme Porcelain Catchall, $44, and Ring Dish, $23
Guh. These dishes from Odeme are so simple and stunning and versatile. Of course I want to run to the nearest thrift store and buy a dresser with a waterfall wood top and immediately put these on it. The simplicity of these dishes is what makes them so exciting, as ironic as that might seem.
Odeme sells all kinds of glorious and feminine decor with a graphic feel.
Dessange Color Restoring Top Coat Serum
Oooh… Some of this! This looks… spray. And also hair!
Dessange Color Restorative Top Coat Serum, $7.19 at Target
It’s no secret that I’m a complete novice when it comes to hair. I mean, I have hair and know what it is, but as far as what to do with it and how to style it, I have no idea. Totally clueless. This Dessange bottle says something about protecting color-treated hair, or something, which doesn’t apply to me.. But I like the idea of a protective serum! UV filters and vitamins are always welcome on my hair.
In addition to that, POPSUGAR says that this stuff will add a healthy shine to your hair whether it’s color-treated or not. Sweet!
Baublebar Snowfall Pendant Necklace
Daaaang, POPSUGAR! That’s two months in a row that they’ve served up a very trendy piece of jewelry in the box. I love how unique this Baublebar necklace is, though! It goes with the other items in the box perfectly.
Baublebar Snowfall Pendant Necklace (Exclusive to POPSUGAR Must Have!), $28
It’s a silver pendant with a rotating circle, half with white, half silver. To be honest, I have no clue how the rotating, mechanical portion of this necklace is supposed to work. It’s cool that it’s hinged, but it doesn’t allow the pendant to flip over or anything, so that’s kind of strange. But! It’s very pretty, very neutral, very simple, and I love it a lot. I’ve always wanted something from Baublebar!
The chain is also silver, though it looks kind of rainbow-colored in these photos for some reason. I’m really excited to wear this, and if I end up liking it as much as I think I will, I’ll probably upgrade the chain.
Sisters’ Gourmet Classic Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix
Cookie mix! Ever since I first saw one, I’ve been a total sucker for the baking-mix-in-a-jar gimmick. No regrets. This is a classic chocolate chip cookie mix from Sisters’ Gourmet, and I think it makes exactly one dozen, or a baker’s dozen. Perfect amount for me! (And just me.)
Sisters’ Gourmet Classic Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix, $6.99
The sad part of this is that I always look forward to snacking on something immediately after opening up a POPSUGAR Must Have Box. Remember Oogie’s Toffee Butter Popcorn?* Yeah. I want more of that. So having to make my own shameful snacks is kind of a bummer, but I’ll get over it. With a dozen cookies to myself.
(* I bought that stuff as Christmas gifts for my entire family, and they actually sold out on the website! POPSUGAR definitely wins on the food items.)
Winky Lux Lip Pill Lipstick in Bunny
My favorite part is finally here: the beauty item. This time, it’s from Winky Lux, and it’s a mini lipstick in the shade “Bunny” in a gorgeous pill-shaped tube.
Winky Lux Matte Lip Velour Lipstick Pill, $14
Winky Lux started out as an indie brand, but was then acquired by Glow Concepts, a beauty incubator. Both the Winky Lux brand and the Glow Concepts organization prioritize sustainability and ethical sourcing, so all of Winky Lux’s beauty products are cruelty-free. They do a ton of their sales through their website, and pride themselves on delivering luxury beauty products at drugstore prices.
The packaging is obviously the best. The gold and silver pill-shaped tube with the brand name and shade name on one end and a pattern on the other makes this one of the most special lipstick tubes I’ve ever seen. Even the box is totally keep-able. It’s pink and bright with a vintage-inspired floral pattern that I am so weak for.
The color, Bunny (which is named after a kitten), is a really pretty, bright red that definitely leans towards pink. The formula is really, really, really nice. It goes on the lips really smoothly, and the claims are that it’s long-lasting but isn’t drying. I applied it just to test it out for this post, and was kind of flummoxed at how pigmented it was! There is tons of color in just one swipe, and the shape of the lipstick makes it really easy to get a nice, clean edge. I ended up blotting to get an even more matte look, but even before I took a tissue to it, it felt extremely lightweight. Not at all drying, and totally comfortable. I can’t wait to wear this some more!
Mane Message Date Night Bobby Pins
I may not have any clue how to style hair, but I do know how to use a damn bobby pin. These blinged out bobby pin barettes from Mane Message are going to be perfect to add more glitter to my hair game.
Mane Message Date Night Bobby Pins, $10
These are definitely stronger than your average bobby pins, and lack the identifying “squiggly ridges” that bobby pins have. These, however, probably won’t slip and slide around in your hair after a few hours. They’re really strong! This pack came with a pink enamel pin, a grey glitter pin, and a gold glitter pin. On the Mane Message website, they show a really cool, Triforce-esque arrangement that you can do with your hair half up, but these are also going to be adorable on their own.
Okay, conclusion: I’m happy. At first, I was kind of disappointed – but that could have been low blood sugar due to my not having an immediately-consumable food product in this month’s box.
Overall, $39.99 would be a good price for the Odeme porcelain dishes alone, much less a dozen cookies, a Baublebar necklace, and some seriously beautiful lipstick. I’m totally happy with this Must Have box! Redemption is POPSUGAR’s!