SugarBash Review – September 2015

Disclosure: There are no referral links in this post and I bought it with my own money.

SugarBash is a lifestyle box from a company that promises a value of around $60 for $30 (or less if you get a longer subscription) a month. I decided to check this out because I found a coupon and it seemed sort of quirky. It was a risk but I figure it might be interesting to readers since it seems to be a smaller box company and not a lot of the huge review sites are giving it any play at the moment.

I went in for a 6 month subscription because I am just that way. Sub Bella always makes fun of me for getting serious fast with subscriptions but I can’t help it!

 

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It has arrived!

 

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The theme is: Healthy Glow

 

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The featured Brand Partner is Abundant Health.

 

Essie - All In One 3 Way Glaze Polish
Essie – All In One 3 Way Glaze Polish

 

Essie – All In One 3 Way Glaze Polish: I was stoked to get this because I really needed a base and top coat to get my manicure on. I own a few pounds of polish and they are so pretty. I need to do my nails more. The lazy is just so strong in me. Using a good base and topcoat should at least save me one day.

BUT upon looking up this product I see that it is supposed to come in a box. Mine arrived without anything, not even a label to say it what it was. I believe it probably is what is supposed to be. However I really side eye a product that does not come to me in the correct and proper packaging. I want to look the ingredients and directions from the company.

I don’t get how I chip my polish, it’s not like petting my cat or using an Ipad should chip nails…

 

Jumprope.com - SugarBash Limited Edition Fitness and Training Jump Rope
Jumprope.com – SugarBash Limited Edition Fitness and Training Jump Rope

 

Jumprope.com – SugarBash Limited Edition Fitness and Training Jump Rope: This is where it’s gonna get a bit dark. How are you going to tell me that a jump rope with pink handles is “limited edition?” That is pretty much crap. It is a plastic jump rope that you can cut to fit your size which is cool, but the handles have no padding or anything else to make this a “limited edition” item worth $15. Indeed when you go to the link they are using to sell this one of a kind pink handled jump rope (where shockingly colors may vary when you order) has them at $7.95 for one and if you order say 250 (like Sugarbash) you get them at $5.04. Let me remind you this is their link.

I seriously pulled this out, looked at the info card, and became a bit pissed off. I REALLY hate when companies trump up this crap. It might be nice to have a jump rope. This one is thicker so made for speed. Or so they tell me. But it’s ridiculous to act like this is a “$15 value!” (they put in the exclamation point even)

That’s not to say the whole “Fitness and Training Jump Rope” isn’t bombastic enough. It’s a damn jump rope.

 

Luster's You Be Natural - Define & Shine Serum and Moisture lock Lotion
Luster’s You Be Natural – Define & Shine Serum and Moisture lock Lotion

 

Luster's You Be Natural - Define & Shine Serum and Moisture lock Lotion
Luster’s You Be Natural – Define & Shine Serum and Moisture lock Lotion

 

Luster’s You Be Natural – Define & Shine Serum and Moisture lock Lotion: I have straight hair so these products aren’t really something I can use. I will pass them on to a friend. I have very unnatural hair. I am sure to those who this is useful for it is a really happy surprise. So often boxes send products that cater to me personally that I am always surprised when people don’t like the box because it does not fit their needs. For instance, once a beauty box sent out a fair skinned foundation. My score was another personal guilty regift or throw away. So I am not going to complain.

I can’t even imagine what I look like with my natural hair color. Seriously!

 

The Savvy Coconut - Fitness Headband:
The Savvy Coconut – Fitness Headband:

 

The Savvy Coconut – Fitness Headband: This is a bit shiny for my taste but I will wear it. I even wear the headband Popsugar sent out that makes me look like a sad Bret Michaels impersonator. In fact hold on, I am going to go put it on right now… back! Ok, so I look like a less made up Bret Michaels but that is not the headbands fault… no… it is mine.

Is it bad that I like that it is a little tight so I can sort of raise my facial skin up a bit when I wear it?  

 

Abundant Health - 25% Vitamin C Serum
Abundant Health – 25% Vitamin C Serum

 

Abundant Health – 25% Vitamin C Serum: What’s that? Clouds are coming in on this stormy review? Yeah it is getting dark again. First off Sugarbash provides a website to check out the product… the link doesn’t work. They say this is a “$40 value!” but when you look it up one bottle actually is $17.95 and THREE bottles are $48.47. This is from the Abundant Health website and so I am unsure how the value of this product became so inflated. This is after all their “Brand Partner” who was given a full page feature.

I wonder if we told box companies that each of our dollars we gave them had a value of $3. Would they be ok with that? 

 

Tat2u Makepp - U rave Blissed Out Shimmer Powder
Tat2u Makepp – U rave Blissed Out Shimmer Powder

 

Tat2u Makepp – U rave Blissed Out Shimmer Powder:  They featured this brand before by including a mascara. This brand is natural and I like the powder. It can be easily mixed and used for eye, lips, and cheeks. I will likely use this right up!

I can’t help but feel  super old when I wear a product called “U rave Blissed Out.” Maybe I should feel super young because my parents were “Blissed Out” in the 60s?

 

The Popcorn Factory - Sea Salt Slim Popcorn
The Popcorn Factory – Sea Salt Slim Popcorn

 

The Popcorn Factory – Sea Salt Slim Popcorn: A light snack for those who like to chomp chomp but don’t want to clomp clomp. I am not 100% sure what I mean but it sounded good at the time of writing so… Anyway I love popcorn. Usually mine is drenched in bad for me stuff. I can’t help it if i am gross. This is a simple treat that is supposed to let the popcorn’s flavor be the star.

Not to brag but I can throw up a kernel and catch it in my mouth… I should include that on my resume but then I don’t want to seem like a I brag too much. 

 

Hello - Fluoride Toothpaste (Pink Grapefruit Mint):
Hello – Fluoride Toothpaste (Pink Grapefruit Mint):

 

Hello – Fluoride Toothpaste (Pink Grapefruit Mint): I want to break this open right now but I have to finish what I have open already. This is a nice natural brand and it goes with the theme of glowing because you know you want those teeth bright!

The fact that this is labeled vegan makes me wonder why all toothpastes don’t have the same label…

 

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Verdict: I am obviously not a huge fan of SugarBash right now. I feel bad about it because there are going to be people who like the box and that is fine. Anyone who reads my reviews knows that I put value in utility and not stated values. However, it irks me when a subscription inflates prices and the jump rope was so grossly over done that I find it offensive. I have a couple more months of SugarBash and I really hope they right the ship. There seems to be a tenuous grasp on a theme each month, and products seem to be pulled from the sky.

To be fair, this might be what they are about. That’s cool. I know I felt bad when Sugarbash made a comment on an Instagram message that basically they were doing the best they could to make people happy. I can’t remember the exact comment, but it made me feel a little bad. I like earnest boxes, who while may not be to my personal taste are still doing their best to be upfront and true to themselves.

This month did not demonstrate that earnestness. I never fully noticed inflated values before now. I hope this won’t be the norm.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  42 comments for “SugarBash Review – September 2015

  1. Heat7918
    October 4, 2015 at 5:37 am

    You forgot to warn the villagers to get their pitchforks ready!
    It’s interesting that if I just looked at a picture of these products, I like the box. It has a nice variety, snacks are always a fun bonus and then they thoughtfully included a product to help clean your teeth after eating the snack. 🙂

    But over-inflated prices/values make me angry too! I hope it was an error rather than intentional… I mean, they gave you links so that would be stupid to do on purpose. Aside from all that, I enjoyed your review as always! Catching popcorn in your mouth on a resume? Priceless!

    • October 4, 2015 at 6:39 am

      OMG great commenting there Heat!

    • Artemis
      October 4, 2015 at 6:47 am

      Hmm, just looking at the picture of the products, I knew I would not like this box! Probably because it is soooo beauty heavy for a lifestyle box. Different strokes, and all that, I guess. But yeah, the inflated values are pretty ridiculous.

      • Subscriptionista
        October 4, 2015 at 10:02 am

        Yeah there was a lot of beauty! The beauty was also from a brand they had already used and the hair stuff was for a specific demographic so I couldn’t even try it. However the products were huge!

    • Subscriptionista
      October 4, 2015 at 10:01 am

      Great comment. I think some of the items were cool to get. I just side eye anything without its box and the jump rope was dumb. It is a useful item but they shouldn’t hype it up in such a manner.

  2. October 4, 2015 at 6:19 am

    Very creative review I am not sure whether any of my reviews can artfully include the weather.
    Hopefully they will learn from this as it appears that the angry villagers are villiaging angrily.
    I need to save you line “the lazy is so strong in me” for everyday use except today because we have to do a tons of laundry today. Seriously.
    I think I have a bottle of Essie all in one 3 way polish swarmed by a sea of ZOYA. I kept it because it can be used as a base and top coat. But then I wonder, can clear base coats be used as top coats?

    • Subscriptionista
      October 4, 2015 at 10:03 am

      lol, I am sure they can be. hahahaha Oh no if you had the Globein box you could use your dryer balls!

      • October 4, 2015 at 10:18 am

        My 3 pairs of balls are in use as we speak!

        • Subscriptionista
          October 4, 2015 at 11:32 am

          THAT’s what I need to get me though the toliet cleaning I am about to do. Sigh… it’s weird you can ignore dirt all you want and it STILL hangs around…

  3. Kelly
    October 4, 2015 at 6:55 am

    Sugar bash is a bust.
    So not sweet.

    • October 4, 2015 at 8:25 am

      Another great summation by Kelly!

      • Kelly
        October 4, 2015 at 10:33 am

        Thanks lovelies, Pnut i posted a picture on subscriptionista face book page for you.

        • October 4, 2015 at 3:21 pm

          <3 xoxoxoxoxoxoxo <3

          • Kelly
            October 4, 2015 at 4:14 pm

            xxxooo right back at you
            ; 0D

    • Subscriptionista
      October 4, 2015 at 10:03 am

      LOL I should have just said that

  4. October 4, 2015 at 8:12 am

    It’s difficult to write a negative review. May they take it as free market research to use in future curations. Most boxes that I have corresponded with plan their boxes 3 months out. My sister would look at this box and loved it. I would give the Vitamin C Serum the major side eye.

    I spoke with a MyChelle rep the other day! She reminded me the Perfect C Serum has 17% vitamin C. They sell theirs in a half ounce bottle for $44.00, A full ounce is around $88.00 compared to the serum in the review that is listed at $17.95. I know the box is not billing itself as a beauty box but the price difference is huge. I did look at the ingredients of both serums. I wouldn’t use the inexpensive one although it won’t hurt anyone. I prefer different ingredients.

    What makes the popcorn “slim”? The sea salt?

    I love the comment about how our dollars should be worth a value of $3.00!

    • October 4, 2015 at 8:14 am

      Also don’t use the vitamin C Serum if you have rosacea! It will make it worse. The MyChelle rep was shocked I could use their Perfect C Serum. I am too. Maybe because it is at 17% Vitamin C.

    • Subscriptionista
      October 4, 2015 at 10:05 am

      Like “Hey SugarBash, what do you mean a $10 bill isn’t covering the cost of the box? Umm you ARE aware that is a Limited Edition Subscriptionista Monetary Paper Credit (value $30!) right?”

  5. October 4, 2015 at 9:10 am

    Hey Ladies!

    Thanks for your review because you are totally right! We flubbed-up on the page insert for Abundant Health. 🙁 Every company has changes going on and Abundant Health moved into doing a really cool 3 bottles for $48.47 deal with their Vitamin C Serum and we messed up! Oops…we’re all human so I hope you will forgive us on that one. You are also correct in that the abundanthealth.com/sugarbash link does not work. That is just because right now, Abundant Health is preferring to take payments through their amazon site.
    link here: http://abundanthealthlabs.com/products/anti-aging/25-vitamin-c-serum/

    I also value your input on how items arrived versus what the product page shows. We did receive the nail polish from Essie without boxes and chose to use the wrong picture on product page. Sorry about that.

    I also hear your concern on the jump rope pricing listed. That price is the retail value as if you only wanted to purchase one versus 250 in bulk to demonstrate “retail value.” SugarBash will be posting some fun exercise challenge videos in the upcoming week about the different types of jump ropes, how to properly use a jump rope and the great benefits of it – even great benefits for your joints! (shocker I know! but a little sneak peak there). In addition, it is a limited edition rope for SugarBash because the company jumprope.com was willing to mix and match a few elements of different ropes for us to get our customers a high quality speed rope rubber that won’t snap with a light weight handle for beginners. JumpRope.com has also extended great pricing to SugarBash subscribers that are teachers who may want to purchase in bulk for their students or friends & family.

    I also have to say thank you for understanding that not each box containing beauty items will be full with items everyone can use – such as the curl lotion. I, myself have very fine curly hair and I won’t be able to use it because my hair usually gets too greasy looking with a lotion based product. Having said that, I will give it to my friend’s daughter who is all about getting her hands on new beauty items to try (middle school stage haha).
    I really appreciate your understanding there and know we are working on growing what we offer at SugarBash to include customization (down the road).

    Thanks for the review – we always love hearing your thoughts & concerns about what we offer so as we grow from a female start-up company, we grow in the best way for our ladies.

    -SugarBash

    • October 4, 2015 at 10:30 am

      Hi Sugarbash!

      Thank you for taking the time to clarify a few points that were confusing upon receipt of the box. We appreciate the time that you took in updating us with the new information.

      We also hope that you take our review in the spirit it was written! We are not the average unboxing subscription box blog. We provide a bit more depth for our readers. We hope our observations and comments are useful to you regardless of the delivery.

      Thank you again for stopping by and updating us!

      Best Wishes!

      -The Subscriptionista Blogging Team

  6. October 5, 2015 at 6:03 am

    Writing negative reviews is never easy… ever. I’ve got three I need to churn out but I am avoiding them because one will probably be negative on a ridiculous level (30$ box, sent literally 10$ worth of sample size items), but I’m avoiding it for now.

    I’ve had boxes comment on my post saying they were sorry that their box didn’t live up to my expectations, and I normally just brush those off because that’s generally part of doing business. The heart wrenching one though, was when I made a comment (wasn’t even negative!) about how many packing squigglies were in a box, and the owner e-mailed me apologizing SO MUCH over the squiggles. First time I ever felt terrible over packing material.

    You earn integrity and respect by being honest (SO MANY people brush off blogs if every review is overwhelmingly positive), so I’d say you did the right thing. If you don’t like something or feel its a good value, then your readers have a right to know that, so they don’t make a purchase and then feel that way themselves (some readers tend to outright blame the blogger when things go wrong too).

    You good. :3

    • Subscriptionista
      October 5, 2015 at 10:10 am

      Thanks Beeju, I mean I feel sad to post the review but I don’t mind actually writing the review itself. I’ve been told im a bit harsh but this is after all my review. I think your right it wouldn’t be honest otherwise. I’m not saying the box was the most awful thing either. I know it’s run by women and so on. However, it just wasn’t the value claimed and I get super hot over “exclusive limited edition” items being just a run of the mill rope. Oh well, they were nice upon reading the review and have said there side in a nice manner. I’d say that alone is enough for me to review the next box that comes in!

      • Heat7918
        October 5, 2015 at 10:20 am

        Yay! I loved your review and I thought their response was professional and gracious. From what I’ve seen, I actually quite enjoy their curation… I know you’d like more of a cohesiveness but I can tell you that if I ever created a sub box, it would be totally random items that I like or think are cool with even less theme than these. Unless “everything is purple” is a theme? 🙂

        Also, you have to give them credit because… now I’m really curious what will be in the next box! lol

  7. October 5, 2015 at 6:31 pm

    I have been a member of Sugarbash for a few months. I actually enjoy the curation as it is different and I do not get the same items I get in other boxes. I admit this month was not my favorite. I really enjoy reading how respectful Sugarbash response was regarding the review. I look forward to next month.

    • Subscriptionista
      October 5, 2015 at 6:36 pm

      Right?!? They were really good about it! i look forward to next month… It is at least always a surprise!

  8. October 5, 2015 at 10:00 pm

    Leaving real, honest reviews can be hard. I’ve had companies and other posters on Yelp send me private messages because they didn’t like something about my review. A couple restaurants tried to get me to come back at a discount, but I am not interested in being “paid off” for a good review!

    Also, I hope you wear your new sweatband with your new jump rope. Maybe wear a windbreaker too =) While this is not a box for me, it’s always nice seeing curly hair stuff in boxes! I stopped Birchbox because they were not sending me products for my thick curls and medium skin.

    • October 5, 2015 at 10:13 pm

      Are you an Yelp Elite?!? I get so excited when I meet one and also for Sephora Rouge members I am in awe of them.

      • Subscriptionista
        October 5, 2015 at 10:42 pm

        I’m yelp elite shhhh

        • October 5, 2015 at 11:32 pm

          I was for several years, but I got busy and stopped writing reviews so my status was not renewed this year. It was a lot of fun getting to go to cool events though! It was just frustrating when the organizer had to send emails and remind people at events that the food was just to taste and they should eat before. But then at events it was like a hoard of semi-drunk hipster hyenas ripping guppy pizza apart.

          Sephora Rogue sounds awesome. I want to be an Amazon Vine member! I need to start writing helpful reviews on Amazon… >>eschews homework for another hour<<

          • October 6, 2015 at 7:35 am

            *bows down in awe to Subista and Andrea for reaching Yelp Elite statuses*

            I have never saw a 1 star review from an Amazon Vine member :/ Also sometimes their stars skew the reviews on a questionable item (very specifically lightning deals). When I see Amazon Vine reviews I omit them for the most part and read verified purchases. Even though I do not give the love to Amazon Vine members they write really thorough reviews when they actually like the product.

          • Subscriptionista
            October 6, 2015 at 7:10 pm

            I don’t think I will hold Elite for another year. I need to write more reviews but now this site takes up all my writing time 😉

          • October 6, 2015 at 8:25 am

            I just found out Amazon Vine was a thing a couple weeks ago. I was looking at some products and was wondering why these random items had so many detailed reviews with pictures where the people got the things for free moneys.

            My phone accidentally Swyped in “Amazon Vibe” which would be a whollllle nuther service indeed.

          • Subscriptionista
            October 6, 2015 at 7:09 pm

            LOL “Amazon Vibe” makes me laugh with many giggles!

          • October 6, 2015 at 5:34 pm

            Oh I did not know they got money out of it I just thought they got items to review.

            Naughty cell lol

          • Subscriptionista
            October 6, 2015 at 7:09 pm

            I don’t think they get money. I think they get free products. They release the catalog of free stuff and then it is sort of a free for all. I think they don’t tell when they open the Vine up for the month, they do it a random time. All of it is interesting stuff!

          • Subscriptionista
            October 6, 2015 at 7:11 pm

            Amazon reviews for me are super tough. …

          • Lil Conure
            October 6, 2015 at 8:46 pm

            haha! I’m doing some major homework eschewing right now too. I was going to comment on what paper I’m working on but then I was like “whoa WHAT if my professor reads Subscriptionista too?!? I can’t let him know I’m eschewing his assignment!” Better to be safe.

            To test the theory I could always drop a comment in class about “Sub Bella’s succulent feet” and see how he responds. Either we’ll have a spiritual moment…or he’ll think I’m a huge weirdo creep.

          • Subscriptionista
            October 6, 2015 at 9:35 pm

            Your professor would always comment before about the reviews “making the grade” and “A+ in effort, C+ in execution” Which was weird at first but I got used to it…

          • October 6, 2015 at 9:19 pm

            Oh, Pnut I meant got things for free. I used to work with kids and instead of just saying free this one would always say “for free moneys”.

            Lil Conure, I have no doubt your professor reads box reviews on this site. He’s a long time reader, first time caller… er… responder… all he’s waiting for is one of his students to reveal their identity!

    • Subscriptionista
      October 5, 2015 at 10:43 pm

      I feel you on the help thing! It’s tough and I’m not hating on the beauty products. I just think for $30 a month they can do a ton better.

  9. April 10, 2017 at 7:32 am

    Wow this box has come a long way!! I’ve been eyeing it on MSA, then realized it used to have a tumultuous past of weird/cheap items.

    • April 12, 2017 at 8:48 pm

      I agre. Their revamp was amazing and the fact that they looked at criticism and took it to heart to be better is commendable!

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