Tag: toms sunglasses

The 10 Best Items I Received From FabFitFun Last Year!

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Hey y’all!

I hope you’ve all been doing well! This week definitely has me feeling a little unmotivated, but I was pretty excited to write and share this post with you all, so I managed to pull it together and get it all ready to go for you guys! I hope you all enjoy it — it was a really fun one to plan out and write.

As many of you know, I’ve been a MAJOR fan of FabFitFun since well before I ever started my blog. For the uninitiated — FabFitFun is a lifestyle subscription box that sends out four boxes per year (which equals one box per season). In their own words, “the FabFitFun box includes a selection of full-size products across beauty, fashion, fitness, wellness, home, and tech – delivered each season. In addition to the Box, FabFitFun members receive access to year-round perks including FabFitFunTV, a streaming video service that offers on-demand wellness content, the FabFitFun online Community, members-only shopping experiences, and more.” Between the sales, being introduced to new products and brands, as well as receiving little surprises in each box that have become absolute staples in my life — FabFitFun is all-around one of my fave brands and the only subscription box I receive (and need).

Each box contains about 8-10 products, and without an annual membership, each individual box costs $50USD — however, the value per each box is usually around $200USD, making it well worth your money. I’ve been a subscriber since 2018, and I’ve honestly never let a single product go to waste — everything I’ve received has been so fantastic, and I’ve discovered MANY of my favourite products and brands through their boxes.

Today, I wanted to share with you all my ranked top 10 products I received in my 2020 boxes! All of these items I’m sharing with you are things I use frequently and absolutely adore. Everything I’ve listed is a personal 11/10 for me — but enough about that, let’s get into each individual product!

1. NATURELAB. TOKYO PERFECT HAIR TREATMENT MASQUE

Received In: Fall 2020 Box

This product ranks #1 on my list because frankly, not only was it one of the best products I received — it took me completely by surprise, too. I’m really picky when it comes to hair products (perhaps even more so than I am with skincare) after years of bleaching my hair blonde damaged it to the point that it needed constant care and attention to maintain any semblance of health. Even though my blonde hair has long since grown out and been chopped off, I still have a strong need to maintain a completely regular hair routine, complete with the same shampoo, conditioner, hair masks and a wide array of protective products to keep it looking and feeling it’s healthiest. Essentially, I have a bit of an aversion to trying new products as I’m (somewhat unnecessarily) worried they’ll end up damaging my hair. However, I was running out of my usual Ouai hair mask when I received this product and I certainly wasn’t going to let it go to waste, so I decided to give it a try. You guys — this may be the best hair mask I’ve ever tried. I love Ouai, but I’m seriously contemplating switching over (the only problem being shipping from the US). This mask leaves my hair feeling SO soft, it’s actually insane. My hair is usually pretty soft — after all, I put a whole lot of effort and care into it — but this mask has taken my hair to another level. I’m legitimately in love.

2. TOMS SYDNEY SUNGLASSES

Received In: Summer 2020 Box

Okay, I absolutely LOVE these sunglasses. FabFitFun has always been pretty on the nose with great sunglasses in their boxes, but these are the best pair I’ve ever owned. They’re so flattering and oh-so cool — as soon as I put these on, no matter what I look like, my confidence increases about 150%. They go with any outfit, and would honestly look good on absolutely anyone. I love sunglasses — they’re probably my favourite accessory — so these being my favourite pair says a lot. (Plus, who knew TOM’s made sunglasses? I sure didn’t, but they should keep on doing it).

3. SUMMER & ROSE COZY ROBE

Received In: Winter 2020 Box

This robe makes me absolutely never want to get off my couch. It is SO COZY. I actually don’t think I’ve ever owned something so warm and comfortable. If you’re looking for a good, soft robe for lazy days, check this one out. I’ve owned plenty of silk robes for wearing when I’m getting ready, but this one serves a totally different purpose and I’m so glad I received it in my last box — I’ve already gotten so much use out of it since then that I’d absolutely be willing to pay full price for it.

4. WEI TWO-IN-ONE PURIFY AND GLOW MASK COLLECTION

Received In: Spring 2020 Box

These face masks were some of the best masks I’ve ever owned. The mud masks in particular made me feel like I had a whole new face after each use. They acted as a sort of charcoal mask, but instead of being harsh or drying (as many charcoal masks often do) they cleared out my pores WHILE hydrating my skin and leaving it soft and fresh after each use. And while I’m not a fan of physical exfoliators, the exfoliating masks were gentle enough I didn’t worry about them causing damage and left my skin feeling SO SOFT and brand new after each use. Plus, I’ve gotten so much use out of the little mask-applicator brush ever since I received this mask set — making it an all-around win and one of my fave FabFitFun gifts of all time.

5. SUMMER & ROSE SNAKESKIN TOTE

Received In: Summer 2020 Box

This wasn’t actually something I received in a box per se, but an add-on I chose to receive alongside my summer box. For those of you who don’t know, FabFitFun offers add-on sales with each box that offer hundreds of different products at massive discounts. This year I decided to give add-ons a try, and I started off with this tote bag. Honestly, after looking through the options for add-ons offered I felt kind of silly for not checking it out before. I got this purse for only $30, and it’s become an absolute staple for me. I use this bag eery day — it’s so high quality, cute, and holds everything I need easily. Considering how long I’ve had it, I had kind of forgotten how cheap it was — when I went back to check for this post just now, it really blew my mind because of how well-made this bag is. (Moral of the story: if you have a FabFitFun subscription and you AREN’T already checking out the add-ons each season, you’re missing out!!!).

6. CHIC & TONIC SILICONE STRAWS

Received In: Spring 2020 Box

These straws, while not the most exciting thing I received at the time, have really proved their worth over the last year. These were an option I received randomly in my gifted items, and at the time I didn’t pay much attention to them — I already had some reusable straws, after all. However, all the reusable straws I owned were metal — making them bulky, tricky to transport and clean, and honestly kind of unpleasant to use. These silicone straws, on the other hand, are SO easy to carry around since they squish down pretty small AND came with a carrying case, are more pleasant to use than metal straws — and the fact that they’re super cute is just a bonus. I’ve been trying to add more reusable products into my daily life over the past few years, and especially in COVID when I don’t really want to be drinking out of glasses that may be contaminated, these straws have been a real lifesaver.

7. FLIGHT MODE SKINCARE HIGH-ALTITUDE HYDRATION MASK

Received In: Winter 2020 Box

This was another item I was honestly a little unsure about that I ended up loving (which really seems to be a trend with a lot of my favourite items!). I’m really picky about skincare, so I didn’t really know how to feel about receiving a mask from a brand I’d never heard of — especially since I already own some hydrating masks that I use pretty frequently. However, this mask is more so an extra moisturizer than a face mask — it isn’t meant to be washed off, so you simply leave it on overnight as you would with any normal moisturizer. It’s super-lightweight and is made of a gel-like formula, which is always my favourite way to go for moisturizing products as I have super dry skin but also hate products that are too heavy. Whenever I have days that my skin is still feeling a little dry after I’ve completed my routine, I just throw on a little of this mask and wake up feeling good as new the next day — it’s really been a new favourite in my skincare lineup.

8. SILKED SATIN PILLOWCASE

Received In: Summer 2020 Box

I’m sure I’ve made a post about the benefits of silk pillowcases before, but if you don’t already have one — you probably should. Silk and satin pillowcases are extra-gentle on your skin and hair, reducing overnight damage from tugging on them while you sleep. I’ve been using silk pillowcases for years, and I really noticed the difference immediately — especially for my hair, which used to be pretty damaged from frequent bleaching, as I mentioned above. I used to have 4 silk pillowcases that I rotated through between washes, but when I moved and redecorated my pink pillowcases no longer matched, so I stored them away for the time being and limited myself to one silk pillowcase a week up until I received this one in my summer box. As well, this pillowcase is specifically meant for travelling, meaning it’ll be extra convenient in a post-COVID world where I’ll finally be able to travel again.

9. L*SPACE TIE-DYE TOWEL

Received In: Summer 2020 Box

Living in Vancouver, one of my fave summer pastimes is hanging out at the beach. This summer, especially, going and hanging out at the waterfront with friends became one of my fave summer activities, since it allowed me to meet up with others in a safe, COVID restriction-friendly fashion, enjoy the summer weather, and stay within walking distance of my home. For someone who loves the beach so much, however, I’ve never owned a cute beach towel (or, a lot of the times, I don’t even have a beach towel at all), so I was obsessed with this one from the moment I received it. Not only is it so pretty (and very on-brand with my personal aesthetic), but it ensured I always had something on hand for sitting outside to hang out with friends — and I cannot stress how much better that made my life last summer.

10. FOXYBAE 25MM CURLING WAND

Received In: Fall 2020 Box

As someone who’s really no good at styling their hair, but really wants to learn — I’ve been loving this hair curler. It’s high quality, easy to use, and creates great curls and waves that hold — even in Vancouver’s humid winter weather. While I don’t style my hair often (but always wish I did), buying a high-quality hair curler always seemed like a really expensive undertaking — I want to learn how to curl my hair well and style it frequently, but it seems like a lot to unload $100+ dollars on something I may not end up using that often. Receiving this hair curler in a FabFitFun box was a total game changer for me, since it’s IRL price is about $100 — making it something I likely wouldn’t buy for myself. I’ve been loving it, though, and I can’t wait to get more use out of it in 2021!

If FabFitFun sounds like something you’d like to try (which I honestly couldn’t recommend more), you can check out their website and upcoming Spring 2021 box over here — with box customizations coming up soon, it’s the perfect time to sign up and give their boxes a try! I’m personally VERY fired up to customize my spring box — it’s always something to look forward to at the start of each season, and receiving surprises every three months always feels like a little gift to myself.

If you’ve tried FabFitFun before, drop some of your fave products that you received in 2020 below! I’d love to hear why you love their boxes and what products you got the most use out of.

Happy Sunday, everyone, and I hope you’re all gearing up to have a happy February! We’re so close to spring now — just hold on a liiiiittle longer, and winter will be over before we even know it!

Much love,

Meredith

My Summer 2020 FabFitFun Unboxing!

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Hey y’all!

So, I wanted to start of my saying I’m sorry for just kind of disappearing off the face of the earth for the last few weeks. June has been a pretty rough month for me overall — I’ve had a lot going on in my life, plus I’ve had two rounds of wisdom teeth extractions to recover from. So this is my little apology for not sharing a post last weekend with no explanation. I had something 95% ready but it wasn’t quite there yet, and I just needed to take some time off to recover. I’d rather hold off on posting than post something that feels unfinished, but I never really got around to explaining WHY I just disappeared there for a bit — so know you all know. But good news — all my wisdom teeth are FINALLY gone and we are back in business!

And it couldn’t be more perfect timing either, since it’s officially my favourite time of the season — FabFitFun time! Sadly, FabFitFun cancelled their affiliate program at the end of the spring season, but since I love these boxes so much I still wanted to share what I received anyway! These boxes really are like the best little gift to myself, and I always get so excited to receive them at the start of each season.

FabFitFun always is the best at anticipating exactly what people are needing in their lives, and I always find that my box has a great mix of things I’ve been needing, things I want but wouldn’t buy myself normally, and some unexpected items I never even knew I wanted or needed at all! Furthermore, they’ve introduced me to SO many of my favourite products and brands — such as Ouai, Tula, Murad, and so many more. However, they really seem to have outdone themselves this time around — this box really does seem to have some of the best, most interesting, and high quality products they’ve shared in a while. Not only that, but the value for your money with this box is insane, as it ranges from $225 to $477 USD in value depending on the items you receive, which is fantastic value considering each box is only $50 USD.

But enough about all that — let’s get into what I received in this season’s box!

L*Space Tie-Dye Towel

Okay, I am OBSESSED with this towel!!! For someone who lives right by the beach and literally goes all the time, I’ve actually never had a cute beach towel before. Not only is this clearly high quality, but it’s just adorable to look at, too! It’s so on-trend with the whole 2020 tie-dye aesthetic, plus it’s blue, which is my favourite colour. I can’t wait to hit the beach and local parks with this cute towel for some quality social-distancing outdoor time!

Michael Kors Bedford Travel Passport Wallet

As soon as I saw that this was an option to receive in my summer box, I knew I had to have it. As someone who flies a lot, being able to stay organized in the airport is a must — I can be a bit of a scatterbrain, so it’s important to me to have everything in one place while in the airport so I don’t lose track of items. I’ve wanted a passport wallet for this exact reason for a while now — and having an uber-stylish and super cute Michael Kors wallet just makes it so much better! Unfortunately, I don’t really have any plans to fly soon — but this just gets me even more excited for my next trip, wherever it may be!

Toms Sydney Sunglasses

I won’t lie, I had no idea Toms made sunglasses until I picked out this item for my box. I actually had to google it to double check that it was the same Toms as the shoe company, which was definitely a bit of a surprise. However, these sunglasses are actually crazy high-quality, you can really tell they’re sturdy and well made. Plus, the cute cat-eye shape is so bold and perfect for my face shape. Sunglasses are one of my favourite accessories, so I can’t wait to give these ones a go!

Silked Satin Pillowcase

I’m all for silk and satin pillowcases — they’re fantastic, and it’s kind of hard to go back once you’ve tried them. They’re so much better for both your face and hair, since they’re super gentle don’t tug as much overnight. I have one set of satin pillowcases from Amazon that have held up pretty well over the years, but I still have to switch between them and my cotton ones in between washes. This little pillow cover is fantastic, since not only will it mean I never have to sleep directly on my cotton pillowcases again — but also, this satin sleeve will be perfect for travelling, so I can take it with me everywhere I go. I’ve already been using it the last few nights, and it feels absolutely heavenly — I’m obsessed.

The Lyfestyle Co. Beach Mist

I was super curious about this product when I received it, as I’ve never seen a spritz-on after-sun product before. However, I’ve already gotten a chance to give this stuff a go as I, unfortunately, burn super easily (yes, even living as far North as I do.). It feels fantastic, and unlike a lot of after-sun care items, isn’t the slightest bit greasy or sticky. As soon as you spray it on and rub it in, it was like it was never there (except for the cooling effect and the scent). So far, I’m loving this stuff — and I know that I’m going to get good use of it this summer since I’m as prone to sunburns as I am (sigh).

Makeup Drop Hybrid Makeup Applicator

This product could not have come at a more perfect time, as I was just about to go out and buy a new Beauty Blender. I’m so curious to test out the silicone applicator pad, as I’ve basically never used anything to apply foundation except for a sponge or a brush. I’ve heard great things though, so I’m really excited to give this a go! Who knows, it may just become my new fave way to apply my makeup.

Spongelle Coconut Verbena Hand Cream

I feel like hand cream would usually be a bit of an odd choice for a summer box, but in the times of Coronavirus — super necessary. I’ve been going through hand cream like never before with all the hand-washing I’ve been doing, since there’s absolutely nothing I hate more than the feeling of dry hands (except for chapped lips — THOSE really are the worst). This stuff smells fantastic, too — it’s coconut scented, but it’s super light and creamy (instead of heavy or super-sweet). Hand cream is never a bad idea — but especially not now, with constant hand-washing and sanitizing to keep ourselves and others safe.

Winky Lux Uni-Brow Universal Brow Pencil

I haven’t gotten the chance to try this one out yet — but I’m certainly very intrigued by it. A friend of mine also received this in her box and loved it, so I’m hopeful it’ll work well. The idea of a universal brow pencil seems a little weird to me, since makeup isn’t often one size fits all. However, I will say that it does have a pretty good, neutral brown colour that would probably work for most people — so I’m super interested to try it out for myself and see how it goes!

Add-On: Summer & Rose Snakeskin Tote

When I saw this, I knew I had to grab it for myself. I don’t really have a lot of good, large bags to carry things around in — all of my purses are tiny and hardly hold more than my phone and a small wallet. This purse is super cute, but also large enough to fit just about anything I need — plus, it has a magnet at the top to help keep it shut, which is great because one of my biggest pet peeves are large purses that have no way to fasten them shut. I know I’m going to be getting a lot of use out of this purse, and it’s super cute — so basically, it was the perfect little extra gift to myself.

If any of you received this season’s box, I’d love to hear all about what items you got this time around and what you’ve been loving most! I’m personally already so in love with the products I’ve received. Everything I’ve used so far I’ve absolutely loved, and I can’t wait to try the rest of it out once I’m done recovering from my wisdom tooth surgery. One of my favourite things about FabFitFun is how it always feels like a little gift to yourself, with all the items it offers and the little surprises. It really was the perfect pick-me-up in the middle of a rough month.

Sooooo, once again, I really do want to apologize for disappearing — I feel like I’ve been having to do it a lot this year, since 2020’s definitely been a bit of a roller coaster. This time though, I’m really hoping it’ll be the last — I’ve finished up getting my wisdom teeth out, and now, barring any surprises, all I have to do is find a job and return my life to feeling a little more normal. I don’t want to jinx it, because with how this year has been, who knows what’s coming next — but with any luck, I should be able to keep sharing new content with you all regularly! I love sharing my thoughts with you guys — without my little blogging community, I don’t even know what I’d do with my time, so fingers crossed things are able to run a little more smoothly from here on out!

Much love,

Meredith