Subscription Boxes: Who I Subscribe to & Why

Subscription Boxes. They are everywhere. Seems like everyone's subscribed to at least one curated box of goodies. From skincare to yoga outfits. And vitamins to pet food. Boxed and shipped to my front door sounds like a good idea to me!

Depending on who and what you're subscribed to, typically these boxes are seasonal. Which makes them ever more enticing (considering you're only getting charged every so often). 

So, here's a quick rundown of WHO I'm currently subscribed to and WHY I subscribe.

CARE/OF VITAMIN PACKS

If you follow me via Instagram then you've definitely seen me touting these conveniently personalized little vitamin packs from Care/Of - short for, 'Take Care Of Yourself!'

How it all works is you go to the www.TakeCareOf.com website and take a short quiz. The quiz asks you information on everything from your current body weight and diet, to your lifestyle and health goals. This is ALL vital info for Care/Of to be able to base their recommendations for your daily vitamin/supplement packs.

You take the quiz. They give you recommendations. But ultimately, you can choose your own vitamins, supplements and protein powders to curate your monthly delivery as you see fit.

30 packs are delivered monthly. However, if you fall behind or need to skip a month for whatever reason, you can easily log into your account and opt to delay your delivery. No fees. No problems. They make this very convenient. 

Expensive? Heck no. Not when you consider how much you'd ACTUALLY end up paying if you bought individual bottles of everything you opt to take. Chris and I are both signed up and we both pay, individually, less than $40/month for our vitamins and supplements.

Have they made a difference? Absolutely. I take the prenatals which keep my skin clear and my nails and hair growing like weeds! Not to mention, prenatal vitamins are jam-packed with like everything you need and then some. I also take the Digestive Enzyme and Probiotic Blend capsules, which have helped enormously keep my weight, bloat and gut in check!

WANT $40 OFF YOUR FIRST ORDER?

USE CODE: VG7Y84 on www.TakeCareOf.com at checkout.

C O R A

Non-toxic AND contributes to an important cause. CORA pads, liners and tampons are my choice subscription when it comes to feminine hygiene product delivery services.

For every month's supply of CORA that you purchase, CORA helps provide a month's supply of pads and health education to a girl in need....in need you wonder?

Yes. In need.

Millions of girls and women around the world STAY HOME FROM SCHOOL OR WORK DURING THEIR PERIODS! Because they cannot afford menstrual supplies. 

"300 million girls and women use rags, plastics, sand and ash to manage their periods."

I've been finding that this fact blows peoples minds....if you can't afford shoes or notebooks, how can you afford a basic need like pads? It's a real problem and CORA is aiming to fix it. And I LOVE being part of a solution to a major problem.

Seen CORA at Target? You betcha. And for every month's supply of CORA you purchase from Target, CORA gives a percentage of profits to support the ZanaAfrica Foundation - which helps young girls in Kenya stay in school by delivering reproductive health education and sanitary pads.

CORA pads are made with 100% certified organic cotton. They are free of more than 20 different toxic chemicals typically found in menstrual pads.

With CORA there are different plans with different products. All to suit you and your specific needs. You subscription can be altered or canceled with ease at any time. I currently get a box from CORA every 3 months with a supply of liners and an assortment of Regular + Overnight pads. I add tampons to my plan as I need them and remove them when I'm stocked. 

Pads or tampons come with a discreet black box which I keep easily on hand in my bathroom. And aesthetically speaking? LOVE that CORA doesn't feel the need to proliferate pink on their products solely because they're for girls. I like pink. But definitely appreciate CORA's neutral color palette. 

Ready to have your pads/tampons delivered at your convenience?

www.CORAlife.com

FABFITFUN EDITOR'S BOX - SPRING 2018

FabFitFun

I mean, is there a soul in the universe that isn't subscribed to FabFitFun? After being a member for a full year now, I can honestly say this is one subscription that is hard to go wrong with.

It took me a minute to grasp their whole marketplace system...i.e. if you put something in your cart, you'll be charged for it! So, if you're not ready to seal the deal, DO NOT ADD TO CART. 

After I figured that whole thang out, ALL was well. And I like shopping FabFitFun's DEEPLY discounted array of products. Up to 70% OFF of brands like Coola, Kopari, Way of Will, Private Party, Whish, Elemis, Foreo, Pottery Barn, Grown Alchemist, GlamGlow, Bite Beauty, Oribe and SO. MANY. MORE.

FABFITFUN SUMMER BOX - 2018

FABFITFUN FALL BOX - 2018

FABFITFUN WINTER BOX - 2018

As you can see in the photos, each seasonal box from FabFitFun is filled to the brim with so many goodies that it's hard to figure out what to open first. The excitement is palpable. I exaggerate NOT. I have yet to be disappointed by FabFitFun, so what are you waiting for?

Sign up here: www.FabFitFun.com

CAUSEBOX EDITOR'S EDITION - SPRING 2018

CAUSEBOX

VERY similar to FabFitFun, BUT with a twist! CAUSEbox - root word CAUSE - because the whole point of your Causebox subscription is to learn about different brands and companies whose products aim to support an important CAUSE.

Causebox is relatively new to the subscription box game and I have an admittedly love/hate relationship with them. But if they've made it to my exclusive list here, then they're doing something right.

First of all, I love learning about different foundations and causes that I can contribute to, just by making better, more informed purchases. Buying products that will make a difference. Some kind of impact. And that's a good feeling! 

Causebox items are therefore going to be a tad more unique. Probably brands that will be new to you and some you're already familiar with. But I've found almost all products are useful and ALMOST never have an issue....Almost.

If you follow me on Instagram, then you've heard my gripes about Causebox. I've threatened on multiple occasions to cancel...lol...but I haven't. Because I have found that products I'm not interested in make great gifts to pass along...not everything in every box is going to knock it out of the ballpark for you, so remember, sharing is caring!

Buuuut, what about those gripes?

The very first box I got from Causebox was a dream. See the photo above. I mean there isn't one product in that box I don't love. I was obsessed and eager for the next box to come. Well, the next box had a major glitch when the highly-anticipated wooden cheeseboards had to be scrapped from everyone's boxes due to "water damage". I was annoyed. Mainly because the cheeseboard was swapped out for a Swell water bottle. Meh.

Another Causebox contained a set of earphones that initially excited everyone...but then we all quickly realized the earphones worked for about 2 hours before they died. Never coming back to life again. Total waste for an item purported to retail at $99.

More recently, Causebox encountered yet another snafu, this time with the way they decided to advertise a lovely, vegan leather portfolio. Their advertising showed the portfolio able to carry a laptop...unfortunately for the masses of people who signed up for Causebox, SOLELY for the portfolio, they found that the majority of laptops DID NOT actually fit into the portfolio. An item that retails for $100. The backlash for this was swift and understandable.

I contacted the designer of the portfolios and found out that the ones included in the Causebox subscription were NEVER meant to accommodate laptops. They were meant for iPads! And if you happened to have a tiny-ass laptop that fit in there, well, lucky you! Causebox made a whoops advertising the portfolio with a laptop, confusing everyone on the portfolio's actual dimensions and capability. Annoying to say the least. And so I digress.

I still subscribe to Causebox because I do like most of the products I receive. And whatever doesn't fit my lifestyle gets passed along...however, I did go into detail above because I felt details on my reasoning were a must. So, if you still feel like giving Causebox a whirl, here's the link:

Sign up for CAUSEBOX here: www.Causebox.com

* UPDATE: I have since CANCELED my CauseBox subscription because their Fall 2019 charging/shipping schedule was just all sorts of crazy. When you get charged in August, but well into October, you still don't have a tracking number...it's time to rip the band-aid off this one. A lot of customers canceled CauseBox this season. Mainly due to the monotonously and strange cheery disposition of the responses from the CauseBox customer service/social media reps.

You could've told them to fuck off and shove their box where the sun don't shine...and they'd politely respond with a Bless your little impatient heart! Not to fear sweetheart. Just keep an eye on your email & you'll get a tracking number any day now. Ta Ta for now! Love Always, Natalie! XO

Well, Ta-Ta for now, CauseBox!
Xo, Vanessa

So, there's my list of WHO and WHY I subscribe. Feel free to shoot me any questions about any of these subscriptions. OR to ask why I don't subscribe to other boxes like ipsy or Rachel Zoe's Box Of Style. 

I'm full of opinions, naturally, lol, so ask away!