POPSUGAR Must Have Box Review – January 2014

This was my first Must-Have box and, frankly, I was underwhelmed. The popcorn was okay and I really like the mask, but the rest of the box? Snore. By mid-January I’ve purchased my calendars so this one, while cute, was totally redundant. The nail files are pretty but…yeah, they’re just nail files. I gave the gloves to my BF who spends more time texting outdoors than I do. And the juice recipe book was really disappointing. I love cookbooks but don’t own a juicer or Vitamix, and the small number of smoothies and nut milks didn’t warrant a place on my shelf. Beyond that, though, the book is just poorly printed. On many pages, the text was illegible as it was printed against a background that obscured the writing. Surely there are better books out there? Or is the author a friend of someone involved in curating this box? Because this was just bad.

If February is anything like January I’m cancelling. $40 is too much to spend on giveaways like this.

After reading all the posts, I finally decided to pull the trigger and subscribe to this box. I hope it’s as great as I think it will be! Anyone know when they usually start shipping? I can’t wait to see what the February box has for us!

This was my first popsugar box & I absolutely LOVE THIS BOX!

Popcorn: tastes great but why would I want popcorn in my box?
Face mask: a reputable brand but again I’m hesitant to use too many different skin products as LUSH cosmetics facial products are working well for me but I appreciate the size and value and will one day give the mask a try or gift it.
Tech gloves: useful but not cute. Not useful for warm-weather subscribers
Calendar:chic but this and all notebooks and planners and calendars should be extras.
Juicing book: also nice to have as I love juices and smoothies but would be more excited if there was juice in my box.
Nail files: Why?!
Overall value? Don’t think I can justify it. Are these must-have items as the box is labeled? No. I need useful items I can be excited about. I did get the Holiday for Her 2013 box and loved a couple of items in that box but Popsugar really needs to pack more practical value and delight into their $40 monthly box. They could do a lot better with selection. 3 months, 3 strikes, canceled subscription.

I was happy with this box: I will be using all the items. I especially liked the cookbook and the popcorn. I am REALLY into making green smoothies so it’s something I will use. The popcorn was really yummy and friendly on the calories.

I actually really enjoyed this month’s box! It seems a lot of people were less-than-thrilled with it, but I’m pretty happy with all the products. I’m in love with the Malin + Goetz Cleansing Mask … it’s a really unique product and I actually had noticeable results in the look and feel of my skin after using it. ALSO the cleansing mask is a great product for those late late nights where you don’t feel like doing a whole wash routine — you apply the mask without having to rinse off your face first, wait and let it do its job, then just rinse off or dab off with a wet washcloth. I’m just so surprised that I found such an awesome amazing beauty product in my Pop Sugar box of all places. They send out a lot of great beauty products but this one has instantly become a favorite.

The Juice recipe book was eh at first, but I love any kind of recipe book so I’m going to make some smoothies and put it to use. This isn’t something I would buy for myself and I’m not into the whole juicing craze but I will definitely make some of the smoothie recipes in there.

The calendar is cute, again, not something I would buy for myself, but it looks cute on my desk. I can always use more nail files so those were a plus, and I could also always use another pair of gloves (I always end up losing mine) and these are the perfect gray/black that go with anything.

As for the popcorn, well I do usually like any of the “Must Have Food” items that Pop Sugar includes in their boxes — they have sent out some pretty yummy stuff, and this popcorn tastes pretty good but I’m not such a fan of the mini-size, I find they get stuck in my teeth way more than regular-sized popcorn … ha.

Well I guess I just wrote a mini-review myself right here but I was just kind of surprised that so many people didn’t like this month’s box. I thought it was great and included items I wouldn’t necessarily buy for myself, which is kind of the point for me — to discover new products and try to avoid duplicates of anything I might have already.

This box was a BIG ZERO just like December’s. I’ve unsubscribed. What a pitiful waste of money.

I didn’t realize everything would be so big! The bag of popcorn was huge, so was the face mask. Even the gloves were big (too big for my hands, but I’ll gift them). I was very pleased with this box! Super excited about the calendar; it’s perfect!

The popcorn was my favorite item in the box! I didn’t look at your picture or the bag closely before I started eating it and was very pleasantly surprised that it is truffle-flavored popcorn. I love love love anything doused with truffle oil. Plus, as advertised on the bag, it does not get stuck in your teeth. Love it!

My second favorite item are the tech gloves. Always wanted but never wanted to pony up money for them. So score!

I really loved this box. I also received the double box thing box of the coupon deal. I think I’m going to just divide and gift the second box.

I was less thrilled with the popcorn but my husband ate it all in a sitting. I loved the face mask and the gloves. I think I may try the juicing book thing…even if I don’t it is a nice book.

My absolute favorite was the calendar. I love to travel and seeing the cities either brought back fond memories or impetus to break out the passport! I loved it!

I think last month and this month I was underwhelmed after reading your reviews (you’ve gotten your boxes before I’ve gotten mine), and then I’ve ended up being pleasantly surprised when I get mine. I put the calendar up in my office immediately, and I’m surprised the face mask is full size! I didn’t much care for the pipcorn, but my coworkers will eat it, and I wanna try the coupon that came with the juice book, too.

Does anyone have experience with PopSugar’s Support system? I was shipped and billed for two boxes this month when I only wanted one and I am wondering approximately how long they take to reply and if they are helpful or not.

I managed to stay spoiler-free for this and was totally psyched with my box. I was just telling my husband that I wanted a Vitamix for Christmas 2014 so I may have to change it to Valentine’s Day 2014. I love my calendar, my popcorn, my gloves, it was so much fun.

Between this box and last January’s box, I preferred the contents from January 2013. Hot chocolate, marshmallows, stability ball, lip salve and a novelty watch.

I think this is absolutely a great box for their target audience, an organized, fit, healthy, and beautiful woman. embrace the change in a better direction. If you weren’t going to push yourself at least they will!

I was so excited to get my box today. I already tried the face mask and it is amazing! You can actually feel the bubbles working. I am also very much into juicing, so I really am happy with this book. ( I lost 30 lbs last year juicing!) I take walks everyday during my lunch at work while I listen to my iPod, so the gloves will come in handy. The calendar and nail files were cute too.

The only thing I am not sold on is the popcorn. I love trying new foods, but I am not sure how I feel about the taste. I do like the product and would definitely would try another flavor from this company.

Thank you for your blog Liz. I love it!

Everyone is entitled to their opinion. Good or bad. They help sub companies improve their products for everyone. No, I don’t need to stick to “non surprise” subs. I get 6 others, all but 1 of which are total surprises. And this is the only consistent flop. It used to cost less, have higher quality products and ship in half the time. Now the price went up and it takes 2 weeks to arrive? Some of us have been subscribers for a LONG time and have earned the right to share negative reactions when they feel let down after paying more to get less. I wish others could just respect and even appreciate the full range of opinions and take them for what they are – constructive feedback. The companies absolutely read these comments, just like on MUT.

I’m disappointed (again). Where did the boxes like last Nov go? Dec was “meh” and this is worse. I hate, and I mean hate juicing, and smoothies for that matter don’t rank really high either. I’ll be giving to a friend who’s a strict vegan to see if she can get some use out of it. But this box is starting to resemble the giant ripoff that was the Coco Rocha Fancy box from Nov (that I got in late Dec, so I don’t understand it being the Nov box as there was apparently no Dec box at all). A bag of popcorn, a paper calendar and some nail files by Revlon? For $40? The mask is nice but the gloves were poorly timed for most of the western and southern US. Should have gone out in Nov or even Dec. It was almost 80 every day this week in Vegas. Don’t see me getting any use out of them this year. I got way cuter ones at Target for $8 in Nov, with color and print, not drab gray. Isn’t winter blah enough without blah accessories?

So this is the end of my 6 month sub and I’m glad. At least I got some good ones early on. Half were great. I can find much better ways to spend my $40. And since they raised the price, the shipping has gotten absurdly slow. Mine won’t arrive until next Tues! It started shipping on Jan 9! That’s 2 full weeks. For heavens sake I could have it delivered media mail class faster! Wantables gets their boxes to subscribers in 2-4 days, not weeks. Ridiculous and the last straw for me.

Better than last time. I don’t use facials/masks so I’m starting at a disadvantage but I realize that’s my own idiosyncrasy, not PopSugars’ 🙂

LOVE the popcorn. Also the calendar – I have it on my counter where my mail goes – I didn’t buy any 2014 calendars yet, so it’s not to have one.

Don’t like the juicing book – it reads a little too obsessive like for me (like it’s trying to convert me away from my horrible unhealthy lifestyle) and I don’t own/plan to buy a juicer, so it’s a bit of a waste. A healthy cookbook – which used normal equipment found in most kitchens would have been a better idea. Appreciate the thought, but not the product.

Nail files are just boring and drugstore – again, I’m using PopSugar to learn about *new* products – anyone who goes to a drugstore knows Revlon.

This will be my first Popsugar box and I am excited to try the mask and popcorn.

The juicing book probably won’t stay in the house…we don’t own a juicer and already have a few smoothie books; however, I have a couple of super fit friends who might like it as a gift or I can take it to the used book store and get a credit for it. I’m pretty “meh” about the gloves as I see those EVERYWHERE (I live in Alaska for heaven’s sake) and I like the gloves I currently have, but they will either be put in the gift box or my hubby might wear them. Also, the nail files are pretty and I will use them…they are just sort of “blah” but still, the mask and the popcorn make the box for me. Also I don’t have a use for the desk calendar but I’ll probably still find a place for it.

I was still on the fence on whether or not I liked this box, but after seeing what was in LAST January’s box… I’m happier with this year’s January box! Can’t wait to receive my box this Saturday – super excited for the truffle popcorn!

So glad I waited to order after seeing December! We have a vitamix which came with a ton (5 books!?!) of juicing recipes. Thanks for your reviews! They’ve been so helpful!!!

I really loooove POPSUGAR boxes and there is always a least one thing in my monthly box that I adore. However, I live in South Florida so I won’t get much use out of the awesome tech gloves and I don’t have a juicer. Everything else in the box is great and I did know it was a mystery box when I ordered it. I just hope they stick to items that don’t require expensive kitchen appliances in the future, lol 🙂

I’m surprised that so many people are disappointed with the juicing book – smoothies are an important part of my week 😉 Haha!

This was my first box, and I for one am thrilled. The calendar went right on my desk, I’ll use the mask tonight, and I’m wearing the gloves when I leave in a few minutes. I’m excited to try out some new smoothie recipes (I don’t have a juicer, so juice becomes smoothies for me 😉 ), and the files are cute and fun. A big hit on my end!

disappointed about the juicing book (just seems like the latest fad, and just not interested) but everything else looks great! this is the last month of my 3 month sub and I’m not sure if I should continue or try that SocialBliss box!

xo.
jenn @ hello, rigby!