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POPSUGAR Must Have Box May 2016 Review + $5 Coupon

Liz Cadman
ByLiz CadmanMar 24, 2018 | 86 comments

popsugar-must-have-may-2016-box

POPSUGAR Must Have
3.9 overall rating
530 Ratings | 71 Reviews

POPSUGAR Must Have is a monthly lifestyle subscription box for women. Each month they send a mix of items from categories like beauty, fashion, food, fitness, home, etc.

FYI – If you sign up now, your first box will be the May box.

This box was sent to us for review purposes. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes).

popsugar-must-have-may-2016-items

The Subscription Box: POPSUGAR Must Have

The Cost: 39.95 a month

ACTIVE DEAL: Get $20 off your first box!
CODE: MSA20

The Products: “Must Have” items for women selected by POPSUGAR editors. (Fitness, Home, Beauty, Food, and more)

Ships to: US via USPS

Check out all of my POPSUGAR Must Have reviews and the Women’s Subscription Box Directory!

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Each box comes with a fold out card detailing the items included.

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Spongelle Spongology Body Buffer – Value $20

This buffer is a little on the rough side (but it is called a buffer, so I'm not sure why that surprised me). The sponge is infused with body wash to last for 20 washes, and after using it only once I could tell a major difference in the softness of my skin! I think I may try their cellulite glove next!

popsugar-must-have-may-2016-foot-therapy

Kocostar Foot Therapy – Value $10

These are natural, paraben-free, and a perfect inclusion for sandal season in my opinion! Here are the booties out of the package:

popsugar-must-have-may-2016-booties

I'm a big fan of Baby Foot, so I was already familiar with the slightly weird feeling of putting these booties on at first! You have to wear them for 1.5 hours, so I think they are perfect for a little Netflix binge watching! (They are not easy to move around in, so plan ahead!)

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Bluma Project Capri Bracelets (Set of 2) – Value $44

Here is a better look at the bracelets:

popsugar-must-have-may-2016-tassles

They are super delicate, and I love the colors. POPSUGAR has declared this the year of the tassel, so I guess I better get on board! Here they are on:

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popsugar-must-have-may-2016-breathe-deeply

Happy Spritz Breathe Deeply Spray – Value $25

This spray is made with all natural essential oils and it has a super minty and eucalyptus scent. You can use it as a face or body mist, and I like it as a room freshener, too.

POPSUGAR also recommends spritzing it on your yoga mat:

popsugar-must-have-may-2016-yoga-mat

Gaiam Foldable Yoga Mat – Value $24.95

This yoga mat is designed for travel, so it's not as thick as a standard yoga mat (only 2 mm). You'll still want to use your regular yoga mat at home, but this is great for packing in a carry-on suitcase, tote bag, etc. Here it is out of the packaging:

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And in case what you are wondering what this mat looks like unfolded with Cairn Terrier/Poodle Mix on it:

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Hint Caffeine Kick Water - Value $1.69

My husband and I were both intrigued by this - we're always looking for new non-sweetened beverages to try. The cayenne definitely gives it a little kick (even though I think the Kick name is about the 60 mg of caffeine per bottle).

I'm glad we got this variation in the box because it's a flavor I never would have thought to try otherwise!

popsugar-must-have-may-2016-revlon

Revlon Volume Length Magnified Mascara – Value $9

I give this mascara a B+! I was happy with the length and volume, and I had no issues with clumping despite applying MANY layers!

popsugar-must-have-may-2016-jimmy-bar

JimmyBar! Peanut Butter Clutter Bar – Value $2.49

I love a bar with a simple ingredient list: dates, peanut butter, crisp brown rice, peanuts, almonds and honey.

popsugar-must-have-may-2016-bar

It was pretty good. Not good enough to order more, but good enough to finish!

popsugar-must-have-may-2016-gift-card

Half Hitch Goods $10 Gift Code

Not valid on previous purchases or shipping. Valid through 6/30/2016. There isn't anything on the site that is $10 or less, but they do have some nice items. Pretty pricey, though!

 

Verdict: This box has a retail value of about $137. I wasn't sure about this box when I first saw the spoilers, but it has grown on me considerably! I like the spa/health vibe of the box, and I'll use everything. And I appreciate that POPSUGAR still can mix it up after years of sending boxes!

What do you think of the May 2016 POPSUGAR Must Have box? What is your favorite item?

Starting at $75.00
Active Deal
Get $20 off your first box!
Use Coupon Code MSA20
Subscribe Now
POPSUGAR Must Have is a quartely lifestyle subscription box curated by the editors at POPSUGAR. Each box features their "must have" products for beauty, fashion, home, food, fitness and more. Every box has a value of $250 +!
Liz Cadman
Liz Cadman
Liz is the founder of My Subscription Addiction. She's been hooked on subscription boxes since 2011 thanks to Birchbox, and she now subscribes to over 100 boxes. Her favorites include POPSUGAR Must Have, FabFitFun, and any box that features natural beauty products!

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86 comments

Nikki G

After about 5 days, my feet started to shed like a snake. It was crazy! And I was totally unprepared so now I’m at work with sandals on and skin all around me.

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Okay so I’m not sure if this only happened to me but when I used the foot wraps (with socks) my ENTIRE foot peeled within a couple days. It didn’t burn or hurt but I’m not kidding my entire foot peeled (top, bottom, toes, and heel). I didn’t know why they were peeling and it freaked me out since this has never happened before and I almost went to the doctor but then my husband reminded me that I had used these foot wraps a couple days prior. The new skin looks fine and it’s not continuing to peel but it looked super weird for a couple days while my entire food shed. A little TMI but also a little FYI too. 🙂

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Jeein

oh poor you! you should have googled it before! if I didn’t know what it was, I would have been absolutely shocked too haha.

Check out amazon reviews for it (http://www.amazon.com/Kocostar-Foot-Therapy-1-35oz/dp/B00KVTZBHC#customerReviews) or reviews for “Baby Foot” which is a more popular brand with thousands of reviews on amazon.

It’s supposed to peel away your calluses and leave you with a baby soft feet at the end. Generally, peeling starts a week after the application, and all peeling should be done within another week. If done right, you should be shredding like a snake!

These are my must-haves for the summer when I get my feet ready for flip flops 🙂

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Judy

Did anyone else think the body wash smelled like an old lady’s perfume?? I normally love milk and honey scents, but this one didn’t smell like it to me and it was very potent straight out of the box! Reminded me of the Lolita body wash we got awhile back. Hated that one as well.

LOVED the lulah wash though. Had received the vanilla orchid. Loved it so much I purchased more!

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Orlee

Oh, yeah — I felt the same way!

It’s a shame, as I was really looking forward to using it for some good summer softening and exfoliation. I got my May box after the 6-box sale and they sent me TWO. Must have had some left over? Both are outside on my porch in a bag because the scent is so overpowering! It took two days with the fan on for the scent to clear out of my living room.

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Tonya

I was completely blown away by the kocostar foot exfoliant treatment. I wasn’t prepared for the skin that started coming off about 2 days later in the shower, but wow, my feet look absolutely amazing now. I would like to reorder this product – was there a discount code for the website for this? If there was, i think I may have thrown it away inadvertently. Thanks so much!

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TiaIngram17

OMG! I just posted a comment about this! My ENTIRE foot shed skin and it freaked me out! My new skin looks the same as before so it didn’t wow me but this product definitely exfoliates!

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Melissa B

The only item I like in this box is the mascara and that’s not worth $40. What happened to PopSugar?

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WK

Just got this in my email!

Use promotion code SPRING10 for $10 off a 1 month Must Have subscription. Use promotion code SPRING20 for $20 off a 3 month Must Have subscription. Use promotion code SPRING50 for $50 off a 6 month subscription. Promotion codes listed above (“Codes”) are valid from Monday, May 23, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. PST until Wednesday, May 25, 2016 at 11:59 p.m. PST or while supplies last.

This box isn’t worth $40 for me … but maybe $30! 🙂

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Danielle T

As of right now, the first box you’ll receive with that deal is May. Just a heads up.

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cheryl zaccone

You are right Danielle. I paid the end of May thinking I’d get June but got an email with my “May” box. I contacted Popsugar that I didn’t want May an was expecting June. They replied that the Promotion started with the May box and that could not offer a refund. This is the second time this happened with a coupon. I think the do this when they have extra boxes to get rid of. They should state this when they send a promotion. Unfortunately, it’s always a box I do not want. This one, to me, is just plain awful.

Cathy

Not super excited with this box. Caffeine water? Meh!
Foldable yoga made…great for travel…if I was into yoga. Should be item for FabFitFun box.
The bracelets, while very pretty are made for a small wrist. I wore them in the hope of stretching them out, but without success. Gave them to my neice.
Breath deeply spray is awesome! I keep it at work for a quick pick me up.
All in all, not worth my $40 this month.
Come on PopSugar! Let’s get back to your creative boxes!

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Allison

I might be in the minority here,but this is my favorite box from Popsugar in a long time! I was so excited about everything but the snack bar! I’m on WW so I gave the bar to my boyfriend, it had too many points.

I got the lemon cayenne water, and I didn’t like the flavor, but I loved trying something new.

I’m glad I didn’t peek at the spoilers this month. It was such a pleasant surprise. It’s funny because I was just thinking about canceling after this month, but now I think I’ll hold off. 😉

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Kat

I loved it too actually! It’s one of my favorites to date! I think I’v already used every item in the box!

That said – I do think there should have been a warning (or a bigger warning) that the foot mask was going to cause all of the skin on my feet to peel off in strips for 2 weeks. I thought i was dying for about an hour when it started happening. AND this probably didn’t belong in a May box – no one wants molting feet during sandal season.

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Carol

I know some people will wonder what’s with my head, but.. I love the yoga mat! I cut it up and put it under all the throw rugs on my hardwood floors that are always moving! It’s thin and way better than the stuff I bought that was supposed to keep my rugs from moving! Sometimes you’ve just gotta think outside the box!

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X

Smart!!!

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Kayla

I’m happy I didn’t peek at spoilers before I got my box – I opened it today and this is actually one my favorites from PSMH.
I have been thinking about getting a travel yoga mat and this is perfect. I love that is folds flat but have yet to try it in person.
Love the bracelets as well – they are very delicate in person and perfect for my taste. I don’t mind the tassels either.
I have only tried one other foot wrap (I think from FFF) so am excited to try this longer lasting one and just in time for summer & sandals /perfect!
Not sure about the body buffer but interested to try it – a product I wouldn’t buy on my own but happy to try now that I have it.
Snack bar was ok and energy drink was interesting – I would not have found the product on my own and happy I received the Apple Pear flavor – pretty good.
I wish the little sample pack on Half Hitch was still available – hopefully they will restock as I love the concept of their shop & was happy to be introduced to them.
Mascara – always good to have extras on hand

Also so happy there is no face products (Cleansing or makeup) in this box – I have enough from all of my other boxes to last for months.

Every month from PSMH is not a hit for me – last month’s cooking one was a bit of a miss but I still enjoy being exposed to new brands and products I would not have picked on my own. My 6-month deal also expired but I will probably re-new.

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Kayla

Also Liz your review is great – thanks so much for opening everything up and showing us the mat unfolded, booties out of the pack – snack bar, mascara.
It really helps to see more of the product than just the outside packaging – especially for boxes that I am considering subbing to so thank you for making it easy!

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Wendy

Start every review with a Buckles photobomb please! I laughed for about 30 seconds! His tail!!!!! Adorable!

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Jayne

I got my box out of the blue…no shipping notice. I haven’t opened it yet and am not that excited to….lol. I still have all the stuff from the last box in a pile on my desk.

This is the last month of my December deal and I just hit cancel. I may get a box here or there, but not really interested in another 6 months at this point.

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Leah

This is the last box of the six month deal. Does it automatically renew? Do I have to cancel?

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Chelsea

This box just isn’t meant for me…I don’t do yoga…I rarely use face sprays…

I am considering canceling…mostly because I have a feeling the next couple of months are going to be very fitness oriented and that’s not what I am looking for.

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X

I LOVE this box! I personally have loved the last 5 months of boxes! I have noticed that I feel really iffy about the box when I see spoilers, but when I get the items in hand, I love them! Also, I have noticed that they really are on-trend lately. For example, pom-poms and tassels are ALL over the runways, and all the top models are wearing reflective, colored sunglasses like in the CFDA box. The whole point of the box (in my opinion, maybe not for everyone) is on-trend, cool, new things that I wouldn’t think to buy! I’m very aware, however, that I’m probably their exact targeted demo, so maybe I’m just a chump for eating up everything they send! Lol

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kim

I cancelled my sub after the debacle of their winter LE box and so far I’ve not been sad. What is with tassels…ugh. and those bracelets would never fit my fat wrists

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Cheree

I performed a tasselectomy!!!!! Made mine look much better!!! My clothes have enough tassels! Bracelets looked much better afterwards!!

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Sue

I did a tasselectomy on the necklace with all the tassels – removed all but the middle one. I’m much more likely to wear it now. I also cut the pom poms of the bracelet from the Resort box (?).

Liz Cadman

OMG tasselectomy is my favorite new word! too funny!

A

My 6 month deal is up at this box. I don’t even care at this point. I’ve worked so hard to try to swap some of things I don’t like. The amount of things I didn’t like over the last couple months is much higher than what I did like…

I guess I’ll look at spoilers/themes and decide each month. If I get another awesome deal, I’d totally do that. The cost was so low per box!!

I don’t need the yoga mat (it’s super flat!). Even my 5 year old was like “this isn’t a yoga mat!!!” The bracelets I’ve already traded away. I’ve had the water, and it was ok. The bar was only ok. The mascara will be fine. The “$10” to that website is a joke. That place is totally overpriced, just like Bloom last month!

The best things of this box are the spray (lovely), the scrub sponge (super-moisturizing!) and the foot wrap (I don’t know how to sit still for 1.5 hours, though!!!!).

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cindycb

My sentiments EXACTLY!!

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Heather

Yay for Buckles practicing doga! 😉

I can’t wait to get my box. It’s my first from PSMH as part of a sub (got a Gilt City deal last November) and I haven’t gotten a shipping notification yet. Do they usually email tracking numbers?

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Helen Whaley

Yes, you should have received tracking by now. If you don’t see it under your account when you log into Popsugar, it’s definitely worth contacting them about it.

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KatyL

FWIW, that foot peel is AMAZING. If you haven’t used it, you put it on for 90 minutes, then wash it off. In a few days, the skin on your feet starts shedding like a reptile! What’s left is baby soft! If you haven’t used it, I highly recommend it (as for the rest of the box, it’ll be a good fire starter for your summer fire pit. 🙂 )

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Courtney

Best comment ever

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Kathy

Good line, agree the foot therapy is the only item I am happy about. Will use the mascara and sponge. If the tassells were the same color I could use it for my curtains. I guess I’m all tasselled out.
I canceled and will try the mini. I have liked everything in the mini and very little from the psmh over the last couple months. In My opinion is only there if you actually want the items

will see nothing in the

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Leah

Your last line made me LOL!

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dcmediagirl

Not a fan of this month’s box except for the yoga mat and body buffer. It’s shocking that anyone would have the nerve to charge $22 A PIECE for those bracelets. They look like an elementary school arts and crafts project.

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dcmediagirl

…and the mascara is crappy. I threw it away.

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Danielle

This box is pretty meh for me. I’ll use the body buffer and the foot exfoliator/treatment, but the other items are disappointing. The yoga mat is really thin and I already have a nicer one (which I bought at Wal-Mart – not where I typically buy higher quality items), the bracelets don’t seem to be worth their suggested RV at all, the spray just seems boring, and the mascara doesn’t get good reviews.

I’m hoping for another great box like February’s soon.

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Jenn

I love the bracelets! Following on swaps so I can possibly get two more! Pleasant surprise – super excited about wrapping my feet!

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Danielle T

I cancelled my subscription as soon as I got the box. I’ve been getting the box for almost a year now, and the items that initially prompted me to subscribe were substantially better than anything I’ve received during this time.
I’m unlikely to ever wear the bracelets, I’m not likely to use the foot peel, as I don’t often spend an hour and a half just sitting on the couch at home, I hate Revlon mascara, and really? A bottle of water? That’s the best they could do?

I thought the bar was tasty but it’s overpriced. I do enjoy having the body buff and think it smells good, and I figure I can use the yoga mat if I ever go to a concert where I’m sitting in grass, but that just doesn’t justify the cost.

I’ll be purchasing the boxes only after seeing spoilers and making sure I REALLY like at least 2-3 of the items, rather than just being able to find a use for them.

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Emily Ploch

The Hint Caffeine Kick Water was missing from my box. 🙁

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Rebecca

The bracelets were missing from my box. I emailed them more than a week ago but got no response. Did you have any luck getting your missing item or reimbursed?

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Yes, always. Even broken items. Sometimes if you tell them something you liked from the past as a reasonable substitution, they’ll even send that if they have it.

Kiales

I loved this box! The tassels were really easy to cut from the bracelets, and I like them a lot better without 🙂
I’ve been using the spray on a cold towel at the end of a yoga session, it’s a lovely, refreshing way to end a workout!
Foot peels are so lovely, so I’m excited to try this one, and I’m with you that the buffer leaves me feeling so soft and smooth! Win!

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Julie

Oh yay! That’s so funny you commented about cutting off the tassels, as that thought didn’t even cross my mind until I saw Liz’s photo of the bracelets up close. I had wondered if that would work and how it would look. Thanks for letting us know it looks cute! 🙂

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