I was enticed to try to FabFitFun box from an acquaintance on Facebook who was showing off her summer box. “Look at this great stuff!” was her basic message, and I said to myself “I agree, but I’m not yet sold.” Since Facebook knows everything now, about an hour later I scrolled past an ad for $10 off my first box plus a mystery eyeshadow palette. I can be bought with eyeshadow. I signed up and my friend signed up using my referral code that evening, deciding to compare boxes when we received them. Yay girl stuff!
While it’s more expensive than your monthly Birchbox, the items in the FabFitFun box are also full size. After a year or so of subscribing, I was drowning in tiny samples from my Ipsy and Birchboxes. Before we moved I ended up giving most of it away, trashing the rest, and canceling my subscriptions. What a massive waste of money. Luckily, FabFitFun is also seasonal, so you get a box every quarter instead of every month. It makes the cost a little easier to swallow for me.
So anyway, approximately 10 business days later, my friend got a note that her box had shipped. But… I got no such note. Shucks. Maybe mine will go out tomorrow? No? Next day? No. Day after? No. Week after? Sorry, still no. A week later, I was offered a $10 credit as consolation when I asked about it, which I felt okay about. But when Monday came and nothing happened? I felt less consoled. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday… nothing. Friday I reached out on Twitter. FabFitFun responded quickly with message that my box had shipped that day, providing tracking info and all. What a happy coincidence! I settled in and waited for my box to arrived the following week.
Only it didn’t, guys. It didn’t. It sat there for almost an additional week before I finally reached out again and said “Guys, it still hasn’t shipped.” At which point, it finally did AND I did receive credit for my fall box on the house because of the wait. I received my box a full 5 weeks after ordering. I know that things happen and sometimes you get the short end of the stick, but it was a bummer that instead of feeling excited when I got my box, I sort of just felt like “Oh, finally.” I do totally appreciate them giving me a free fall box, and I can’t wait to see what kind of fun stuff it has. Thumbs up, FabFitFun. Way to turn that frown upside down!
Anyway, my battle with shipment isn’t why you’re here. You’re here because you want to know what the eff was actually in the box. Well, here it is (including my extras on the bottom).
Regular Stuff:
1. Michael Stars Ruana – Retail $54
I didn’t know what a ruana was until I got this box. It’s a not a scarf, it’s not a sarong, it’s not a shawl – it’s all of those things plus whatever the heck else you want. I got the black and white print, but I think there were a couple of nicer colors. It’s nice and big and soft, but I wouldn’t pay $54 for it and frankly, neither would you. But I’m sure I’ll use it on my next beach vacation. Insert wishful thinking right about here: ________
2. BKR Little (500 ml) – Retail $35
This is a cute water bottle. It’s glass, which is both scary and nice, and it has a silicone sleeve to keep it from ending up as tiny shards at the bottom of my sink. I like the pretty blue color. I might pay like $14.99 for it at TJ Maxx.
3. Cargo Cosmetics Picture Perfect Highlighter in Bronze – Retail $30
I’m just not really on board with this highlighter thing. I spent a lot of years trying not to look shiny in every photo of me, ever. I don’t think the lizard people among us understand the struggle. It’s pretty, for sure, and I sometimes wear a really light color under my eyes to brighten them up. This is a darker color, right around a sparkly version of my own skin. I might one day use it for a janky Twilight Halloween costume, but I can’t see using it regularly.
4. Juice Beauty Smoothing Eye Concentrate – Retail $29
When I told my friend I probably wouldn’t use this, she was like “What! We’re 33! You’re not going to use it?!” And I was like, shrug. To be fair, she’s an aesthetician and I’m tired. She’s probably right.
5. Kris Nations Mystic Bar Necklace – Retail $58
$58 gets a hard NOPE from me on this one. It’s cute and gold (my preference) and came in an adorable little glass jar that I will 100% repurpose. It’s 18k gold overlay which I guess explains the high price tag. I kind of wish I’d gotten a different color. I’ll wear it, but it’s not something I would have picked out for myself.
6. Eau Thermale Avene Ulta-Light Hydrating Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50+ – Retail $24
Yes, this is something I can get behind. You need sunscreen, people. And while I normally hate getting skincare items in subscription boxes, I was happy about this one. You can’t pin me down, folks. I’ve used this once so far with no negative effects and plan to continue using it.
7. Klorane Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk – Retail $20
This is one of my favorite dry shampoos and I was excited to see it come in my box. It’s a bit pricey, but works really well. The only downside is that I feel it runs out super fast. I purchased it once from Sephora after getting a sample and wasn’t planning to purchase it again (for the running out reason), but this was like a happy little accident surprise. Huzzah!
8. Ready, Set, Create Art Kit! – Retail $22
OK, so… what? This is fun but I have absolutely no idea what buyer gave this the green light to send to adult women. As someone who purchases many craft supplies, I find that $22 price tag tough to believe. Cute stencil though, and I guess I’ll keep it in my closet for when my niece comes over.
Extra Stuff:
My Box had a couple of extras, including the mystery eyeshadow palette.
1. Spongelle Cleanse Buff Glow Shimmer Buffer with Built-In Body Wash – Retail $20 (according to their website)
This is really something. I’m not sure why I received this, since there’s no mention of it in my little summer box newsletter thing. It’s very sparkly and smells interesting. It will make a festive stocking stuffer at Christmas. Or possibly a white elephant gift. No shade – some women really like being sparkly. OHH, maybe for my off-brand Twilight costume? Now I’m using my noodle.
2. RealHer Play Book Shadow Palette Do Your Squats – Retail $28
“Do Your Squats” is an interesting name for this warm, rather brown-themed eyeshadow palette. It’s not bad, really. The shimmers are nice and aside from “Terrific”, which is a gaudy glitter bomb, this palette is totally wearable. It’s also paraben free, vegan, cruelty free, and sulfate free. I used it once over the weekend and it blended well. I’ll definitely keep it in the rotation, but I wouldn’t have purchased this on my own for $28.
So that’s all, folks! Overall I was pleased with my summer box from FabFitFun and looking forward to seeing whats in my fall box. Until then, enjoy!