For me, fashion has always been somewhat love/hate. I love the artistic parts: colors, shapes, texture, seeing how things fit together, how they transform a body. But I hate shopping.
Urmm. Let me elaborate. It's fun trying on clothes, putting together outfits, experimenting. But I hate dealing with crowds and changing booths, not being able to find my size, going through piles of crap to find good pieces, plus I simply don't have time for leisurely shopping anymore. Over the years, my casual clothes haven't changed much from jeans & t-shirts. My work clothes....well, let's just say I'm wearing the same pair of Express trousers from 8 years ago.
But there are some new services in the market which I think can help change that. I'm trying out two different companies which work from a similar model:
* CakeStyle: They ship you a box of clothes, especially selected to match your preferences. On average, there are 6 complete outfits with combined cost in the $2500~$3000 range. You have 10 days to try everything on. You only pay for items you keep. The rest, you ship back for free.
* StitchFix: For $20, they ship you a box of clothes selected per your tastes. There are 5 individual items, each one priced within a range you request. You have until the Monday after receipt of shipment to decide what you want. You pay for those items, with the $20 fee applied as a credit towards the purchase. The rest you ship back for free.
I don't know yet which will serve me better. I've signed up for both services and hopefully will be getting boxes of clothes delivered soon!
May 25, 2012
May 17, 2012
April 2012 Eco-Emi Box
Review of the April 2012 Eco Emi box!
All products listed below are linked on their site.
Mr. Ellie Pooh: Elephant Poo Paper - A sheet of paper printed with a beautiful elephant graphic. According to the company, it's "made up of 50% fiber from elephant dung and 50% post consumer paper" and I have to admit, the first thing I did was hold the sheet to my nose and try to detect poo scent. Instead, the paper smells faintly of cinnamon and grass! It's thick, with the lovely rag quality that artisan papers have. My only complaint is that the paper was folded to fit in the shipping box, thus adding a bad crease and making it unusable for me. However, I want to buy more of this stuff - they have cards & journals available!
Shea Radiance: Whipped Shea Butter with Kalahari Melon Seed Oil - Lovely bright smell. Thick, waxy consistency. On my hands, this felt greasy and added a weird shiny coating. But when applied to rougher skin on my elbows and feet, it seemed to absorb better. The sample contained a generous amount, I will continue to use on dry spots.
Maté Factor: Tropical Lime Yerba Mate Tea - Tart & grassy, with a pleasant smokey bite. Not bad, but probably not something I would drink more of.
Dr. Collins: Natural Toothpaste - Oddly sweet flavor. My mouth felt clean without the sting that some toothpastes have. But the sweetness is unsettling and I think it did more for my breath than for the health of my teeth.
Catalyst Gourmet: Enchanting Chai - Three different samples:
Burt's Bees: Lip Shimmer in Plum - Full size tube, with the typical Burt's Bees high quality. Soft on lips, color is not too dense, has a nice sheer & moisturizing feel.
Alabu Skin Care: Baby Me Ultra-Moisturizing Goat Milk Soap - Bar soap sample. Sadly, this dried my skin and made it feel rubbery.
Wholesome Sweeteners: Organic Raw Fair Trade Honey - Haven't had a chance to try this, as we don't normally consume honey. It's a wonderful dark amber and smells like sweet grass. A booklet of recipes was included, hoping to try some soon.
Lauren Brooke Cosmetiques: Bronzer in Golden - This shade is too dark for me, but the powder goes on smoothly and blends well. Nothing amazing, a competent product which does what it should.
The Seaweed Bath Company: Seaweed Body Wash in Eucalyptus & Peppermint - Overwhelming mint odor in the shower, but the scent fades after rinsing. Silky smooth body wash, luxurious and just the right amount of foam. Left my skin soft and freshly clean. One of the better body washes I've tried!
Mr. Ellie Pooh: Elephant Poo Paper - A sheet of paper printed with a beautiful elephant graphic. According to the company, it's "made up of 50% fiber from elephant dung and 50% post consumer paper" and I have to admit, the first thing I did was hold the sheet to my nose and try to detect poo scent. Instead, the paper smells faintly of cinnamon and grass! It's thick, with the lovely rag quality that artisan papers have. My only complaint is that the paper was folded to fit in the shipping box, thus adding a bad crease and making it unusable for me. However, I want to buy more of this stuff - they have cards & journals available!
Shea Radiance: Whipped Shea Butter with Kalahari Melon Seed Oil - Lovely bright smell. Thick, waxy consistency. On my hands, this felt greasy and added a weird shiny coating. But when applied to rougher skin on my elbows and feet, it seemed to absorb better. The sample contained a generous amount, I will continue to use on dry spots.
Maté Factor: Tropical Lime Yerba Mate Tea - Tart & grassy, with a pleasant smokey bite. Not bad, but probably not something I would drink more of.
Dr. Collins: Natural Toothpaste - Oddly sweet flavor. My mouth felt clean without the sting that some toothpastes have. But the sweetness is unsettling and I think it did more for my breath than for the health of my teeth.
Catalyst Gourmet: Enchanting Chai - Three different samples:
- Gourmet Enhancer: Small packet of ground spices (cardamom, cinnamon, star anise, ginger, fennel, black pepper, cloves & nutmeg). Added this to my breakfast tea and it was delicious! So many potential culinary uses!
- Finishing Sugar: Mixture of above spices plus sugar. Too sweet for coffee or tea, but would be wonderful on pancakes or french toast or yogurt.
- Spiced Dark Chocolate Bark: Spices + Dark Chocolate = Yum!
Burt's Bees: Lip Shimmer in Plum - Full size tube, with the typical Burt's Bees high quality. Soft on lips, color is not too dense, has a nice sheer & moisturizing feel.
Alabu Skin Care: Baby Me Ultra-Moisturizing Goat Milk Soap - Bar soap sample. Sadly, this dried my skin and made it feel rubbery.
Wholesome Sweeteners: Organic Raw Fair Trade Honey - Haven't had a chance to try this, as we don't normally consume honey. It's a wonderful dark amber and smells like sweet grass. A booklet of recipes was included, hoping to try some soon.
Lauren Brooke Cosmetiques: Bronzer in Golden - This shade is too dark for me, but the powder goes on smoothly and blends well. Nothing amazing, a competent product which does what it should.
The Seaweed Bath Company: Seaweed Body Wash in Eucalyptus & Peppermint - Overwhelming mint odor in the shower, but the scent fades after rinsing. Silky smooth body wash, luxurious and just the right amount of foam. Left my skin soft and freshly clean. One of the better body washes I've tried!
May 4, 2012
March 2012 Eco-Emi Box
Review of the March 2012 Eco Emi box!
All products listed below are linked on their site.
Bella Bars: Cinnamon Nut Raw Bar - Delicious flavor, but the gooey raw texture just did not work for me.
Vitacare: Pomegranate Gum - Had barely any taste, and in just a few seconds, it was like chewing chalk paste. Definitely not something I would buy.
Vitacare: Toothbrush - It's...a toothbrush. I haven't used it yet, but looks like your typical manual toothbrush. I do like that it's made from biodegradable & recycled materials.
Old Post Road Oils: Pear Tree Specialty Soap - Liquid soap sample. Has a light refreshing scent. Pleasantly astringent. Seems too mild for body washing, but I love it as a facial cleanser. My skin is combination dry/oily and this soap left my face feeling fresh & clean.
Auromere Ayurvedic: Patchouli Incense - Strong! The sample contained just three mini sticks, but the scent of patchouli was pervasive. I'm a big fan of patchouli, the dirtier & earthier, the better, and these fit the bill nicely. However, I don't burn incense sticks, so I ended up gifting these. The company looks really interesting though, and I might buy some of their other products.
Badger Balm: Lip Tint - No color indicator on the sample, but I think I got "Rose Tourmaline." A bit waxy and hard until it warms up on your lips. The shimmer is soft & subtle. I don't normally wear lip tint, but I'm keeping this around for those rare occasions.
Green Body Green Planet: Revitalize Shampoo & Conditioner - I actually like their product from last month better (the "Energy" version). This one smells kind of weird and left my hair feeling a bit more dry.
The All Natural Face: Vegan Eye Shadow - Such pretty powders! I got 'Rose Gold' and 'Warm Honey', both lovely shades. Easy to apply, feels smooth and light.
The All Natural Face: Vegan Eye Liner - A black gel which came in a pot with a cute little brush applicator. It was creamy and gentle, but difficult for me to control. Had a tendency to clump and I kept having to wipe excess off the applicator. Once on, it was nice. But I prefer a pencil form factor.
Bella Bars: Cinnamon Nut Raw Bar - Delicious flavor, but the gooey raw texture just did not work for me.
Vitacare: Pomegranate Gum - Had barely any taste, and in just a few seconds, it was like chewing chalk paste. Definitely not something I would buy.
Vitacare: Toothbrush - It's...a toothbrush. I haven't used it yet, but looks like your typical manual toothbrush. I do like that it's made from biodegradable & recycled materials.
Old Post Road Oils: Pear Tree Specialty Soap - Liquid soap sample. Has a light refreshing scent. Pleasantly astringent. Seems too mild for body washing, but I love it as a facial cleanser. My skin is combination dry/oily and this soap left my face feeling fresh & clean.
Auromere Ayurvedic: Patchouli Incense - Strong! The sample contained just three mini sticks, but the scent of patchouli was pervasive. I'm a big fan of patchouli, the dirtier & earthier, the better, and these fit the bill nicely. However, I don't burn incense sticks, so I ended up gifting these. The company looks really interesting though, and I might buy some of their other products.
Badger Balm: Lip Tint - No color indicator on the sample, but I think I got "Rose Tourmaline." A bit waxy and hard until it warms up on your lips. The shimmer is soft & subtle. I don't normally wear lip tint, but I'm keeping this around for those rare occasions.
Green Body Green Planet: Revitalize Shampoo & Conditioner - I actually like their product from last month better (the "Energy" version). This one smells kind of weird and left my hair feeling a bit more dry.
The All Natural Face: Vegan Eye Shadow - Such pretty powders! I got 'Rose Gold' and 'Warm Honey', both lovely shades. Easy to apply, feels smooth and light.
The All Natural Face: Vegan Eye Liner - A black gel which came in a pot with a cute little brush applicator. It was creamy and gentle, but difficult for me to control. Had a tendency to clump and I kept having to wipe excess off the applicator. Once on, it was nice. But I prefer a pencil form factor.
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