Nina Garcia Quarterly Subscription Box Review #NGQ02
I know there have only been two boxes so far in the Nina Garcia Quarterly subscription, but I think it is safe to say this is the most fabulous subscription ever!
My first thoughts – this box is heavy, smells wonderful and I love that Nina even gets her own tissue paper!
The Subscription Box: Nina Garcia for Quarterly
The Cost: $100 a box every 3 months
The Products: Items hand selected by Nina Garcia!
Ships to: Free to the US. (Canada +$30; rest of world +$40)
Check out all of my Quarterly reviews and the Women’s Subscription Box Directory!
Each Quarterly box comes with a letter from the curator describing the theme for that quarter, and background on every item they selected.
This box is celebrating Nina’s 5 year anniversary as the Creative Director at Marie Claire, and includes a ton of her favorite items!
Muy Cool T-Shirt by Spenglish – Value $55
This shirt was made exclusively for the Nina Garcia box and even has her signature on the tag! I was surprised to see a shirt in this box since Quarterly doesn’t customize boxes based on size, so I guess everyone got a size large. It’s a pretty roomy shirt for me and I usually wear a large, but according to Nina’s letter it is supposed to be oversized. I like the cut of this shirt a lot too – it flares out at the waist!
Sara Beltran Sterling Silver Shark Tooth Necklace – Value $100
(I threw a quarter in the picture to show scale). This necklace is something I normally would have never come across or bought myself, but now that I have it in my hands I love it! It has a nice summer vibe, and I like that I can wrap it a few times and wear it as a bracelet too!
O.P.I. Nail Polish in GREEDNADE By #NG – Value $7
C Wonder Delicate Pave Spike Bangle – Value $34
This nail polish is another exclusive made just for subscribers – Nina gets so many exclusive products – I love it!
At first I thought this C Wonder bracelet was way too tiny, but you can bend the metal to open it up really easily.
Tom Ford Jasmin Rouge Perfume Sample – Value $2
Revive Moisturizing Renewal Serum – 6 ml Value $47
Is it bad that I always complain about any perfume sample I get from Birchbox, but when Nina sends one I think it’s special? (It’s her favorite new floral perfume).
Also, I’m excited to try one of her favorite serums, and I hope this sample lasts me at least a week or two. (The full size version is $235!
Charming Charlie Floral Wallet – Value $15
I may start using this as my new wallet – I love that it opens flat, has plenty of room for cards and also has a coin purse area!
LAFCO Fresh Cut Gardenia Soap – Value $17
I love that Nina included another luxury soap in this box! This one is made with natural ingredients and is the reason the whole box smells so good!
Philosophy Time in a Bottle Daily Age-Defying Serum – Value $74
Nina uses this serum on a daily basis, and now I get to as well!
Laura Mercier Bonne Mine Compact – Value $48
I love getting makeup palettes in subscription boxes, and this one looks fantastic. Plus, all the proceeds go to the Laura Mercier Ovarian Cancer Fund.
Donkey Co. Special Edition Nina Garcia Pret-A-Porter Tea Bags
What a fun addition to the box – and the tea was good too!
X-Pen Ballpoint Pen – Value $5?
Graphic Image Pocket Notes Notebook – Value $36
I love that even the pen has Nina’s signature on it! I’m also happy with the color of Notebook I received. (I believe these varied in color box to box).
Marie Claire March Magazine – Value $5
Happy Chic By Jonathan Adler Picture Frame – Value $15
I can’t believe I didn’t know Jonathan Adler has a much cheaper line at JCP! This gold chevron frame is totally my style, and now I want to buy more Happy Chic pieces!
Fausto Puglisi Collage
This was created in celebration of Nina’s 5 Year Anniversary!
Verdict: I paid $100 for this box and received about $460 worth of items hand selected by Nina Garcia – amazing! I think this is the absolute best celebrity curated box, and I love all the exclusive pieces Nina includes. I also love knowing that Nina gets to sample all the best products out there, so the ones she includes as her personal favorites must be amazing – I can’t wait to try out all my new beauty products!
What do you think of the #NGQ02 box?
Written by Liz Cadman
My summer box arrived and it’s AWFUL! I am livid that I paid $100 for a box of dollar store junk. Seriously, some of the ugliest, cheapest crap I’ve ever seen in any sub box, ever! Including a men’s baseball cap proclaiming “coolness.” Like a $5 tourist souvenir from Brazil. Just. Awful. Even my husband, who watched me unbox, said “you got the ‘let’s make a deal’ zonk box!” I’m seriously appalled. No jewelry, no legit fashion accessories (I refuse to count the hideous item they likely considered to be a fashion item), just some drugstore/souvenir stand junk!
Has anyone heard anything about the next box? It’s coming out soon and I haven’t heard anything.
Only thing I read she posted on her twitter saying one item will have a value of $100
The next box will come out a month late. It will be July. One of the items that they are getting is taking longer than normal. 🙁 It’s ok.. I’m a big girl. I can wait. WAHHHHH!!! I don’t mind so much because I get my FFF next month and then in July this box.
Just got my invoice email and charged for box 3. Nina’s hints are that this box is inspired by Brazil and the beach!
OH OH OH OH!!!! Just checking my mail and right above your response Liz was my email from them!!! Woohoo!!!! I cant wait. tap…. tap… think it’s here yet? Tap… This is going to be like waiting for your box!!!! arggggg 🙂
Any idea how long it will take to ship from this point? I also got the charge notification last week but can’t find anything on the site for tracking, etc. Can you tell I’m anxious for this one? I really hope it’s here by the 4th if it’s summer/beach themed!
I signed up for this box based on your reviews and then got distracted by all the other Quarterly curators. Turns out I had to get the Bill Nye box too!
I still have not got mine and I ordered it a long time ago…not to happy with this box so far.
Best $100 I have spent in a long time. I’m currently pregnant with my fifth baby and I usually like to wear vintage band tees so this T-shirt is a nice alternative. It is going to be in heavy rotation this summer. I loved everything and don’t see myself as cancelling this sub any time soon.
First with the variations:
I am so happy I got the delicate skull bangle from C Wonder!! I was afraid I would get the heart bangle. I wouldn’t have minded the spike or elephant bangles but the skull bangle is what I knew I would be happiest with!! =)
Charming Charlie Wallet: LOVE, chic and feminine. Lovely spring clutch wallet, very happy with this item.
Not so sure about the tshirt…sleep shirt? I wouldn’t wear it out, it’s a size large and I’m a small, and this shirt and print is neither fashionable nor flattering?
Sterling Silver Shark Tooth Necklace..I’m all for edgy or unique pieces and statement jewelry to spruce up a simple outfit… but this Sara Beltran piece may be a bit too funky for me, and I don’t exactly know how to wear it.
LAFCO soap- I’m all for luxurious body items but I’m not in love with the scent I received (Fleurs de Baies), very strong, reminiscent of bathroom cleaners, not a scent I find attractive. I much preferred the pearl/charcoal soap from #NGQ01, smelled lovely.
Tom Ford Jasmine Rouge – wow Tom Ford. I’m very into fragrances. Hate jasmine scents though. I love fruity florals. I like both feminine and unisex scents but just can’t like this one.
I’ll get around to using the tea as I’m a tea lover.
Greenade OPI nail polish- I don’t wear funky colors (not work-appropriate) but this looks like a fun green other ppl I know may like.
I really have no use for the skin products so I will swap them. (Revive, and philosophy time in a bottle.) Again, like the #NGQ01 box I really wish she would do away with skincare products that are geared toward a certain age bracket.
The laura mercier compact is large and beautiful, but I am more low maintenance on the makeup and would probably just use the blush, though I know others would enjoy this more.
Happy Chic by Jonathan Adler picture frame: I got the chevron design and I hate chevron so hoping to swap for a different design I’ve seen.
Notebooks and pens are never that exciting but I think because of its size, the notebook (I received a pretty golden yellow) can easily be put to use and thrown into my purse! And the leather smell is awesome!!
As this is a fashion box, I always hope for mostly fashion items but it is a mix of fashion, beauty, and lifestyle to please its subscribers’ variety of tastes. I do love my skull bangle and floral clutch wallet, clearly 2 different styles but I have an affinity for both. The value of this box is great, and is one the boxes I look forward to most =)
GREAT review. This review makes me want to subscribe! I love everything about it. Every single thing!!!
This was my first box, and I loved it!! There were so many exclusive and full-sized items! I do wish they would customize sizes for clothing, but I will just gift the shirt since it is too big. I also love that Quarterly doesn’t charge when you subscribe, instead they charge when they ship. I also signed up for the Q-Tip (I love A Tribe Called Quest) and the Pharrell box, as well.
LOVED this box!! IT is definitely one I would keep even if I got rid of others. I’m wearing the shirt & necklace today (I pulled the knot out & retied it at the ends). I used the night serum before bed & I’ll be using the Philosophy serum once my products from other boxes run out.
So well done & a great value.
I don’t subscribe and this box isn’t enough to make me want to for $100. I guess my biggest surprise was she put a philosophy product in. I have 2nd thoughts about them since they sold to Johnson & Johnson. I was so surprised by her taste in last months box I didn’t like it at all. imo this month is much better even though I wouldn’t like half of the things…..now if she included that mug……that might be a different story!
I love it! Heading right over to subscribe now…
At the last minute I decided to not buy this one but now I wish I would have. Looks like a great box. I’m already in for the next one. 🙂
I love Nina Garcia, but I don’t think her subscription is for me. I didn’t care for her first box at all and the only thing that interests me in this box is the laura mercier compact and philosophy time in a bottle. I think Popsugar and FabFitFun are geared more toward my style. Glad those who did get this box enjoyed it though!
I feel exactly the same way. I want to love her subdcription , but neither box she’s sent out appeals to me. I order every single Popsugar box (even the men’s LE’s for my bf), fabfitfun, Yuzen, saffron rouge, and fancy. I just cannot get into her style tho. It’s weird. The only thing I’d like is the shark tooth necklace and soap.
I love this box so much, such an amazing value for $100! I think the wallet is adorable (even if it’s not a designer brand) and pretty much everything else in the box is luxury/high end. I love that she included a full size Philosophy Serum (vs. just a sample) and I was shocked and excited to see the gorgeous Laura Mercier palette. Nina really does have major pull with designers and I can’t wait to see what future boxes will bring. Oh, and I have to add that I enjoyed unwrapping every item in the box. . .what a treat!
I really liked this box. Last summer, I went hog wild with the subscription boxes. I am going to cancel quite a few. The Nina Garcia is by far the best box. The first box was unbelievable as this one was. I do not care that the value added up to over $400.-I care about the products and they were all awesome. If this box was offered monthly, I would so subscribe to it. Love it, love it, love it.
I got my box on Friday. Unwrapping all those items was the most wonderful part of my week. This was the first box that I received from her and I’m so happy that I decided to take the plunge. To me it was well worth the $100. I’ll definitely keep this subscription going.
I got a different soap scent, green notebook, and gold skull bracelet. The necklace is weird – I think my cord is stuck as only one side will pull out. If I try to put it on it will break it. Ugh. I actually cancelled my sub for this box. Everything was nice but for $100 I would have rather had less things at a higher quality. The wallet is a bore, the nail polish is hideous, and the poster is just silly. I was hoping for something from PR – I don’t see how much of this stiff is “inspiring” for an anniversary. I heart Nina Garcia but I’ll save my money for a trip to NYC instead.
Seeing the spoilers I thought this box was going to be mostly traded. I really only liked certain variations of the things. But I got SUPER lucky and got ALL my choices. (except the color of the notebook)
I got…
The yellow note book ( would love to trade for Blue, Purple, or green, Anyone?)
The trefoil frame ( didn’t like the color of the chevron)
The elephant bangle ( hate gold jewelry, but elephants are my FAV!)
Gardenia soap ( LOVE gardenia, cant wait for my FFF to get here with Kai!)
Also I was sure I would trade the time in a bottle, as I tend to stay away from philosophy since their line includes a lot of parabens, but was pleasantly surprised this did not. I was sure I would trade the palette since I am new to makeup and never know what to do with bronzers and highlighters, but with the instruction cards included this palette is fool-proof.
I LOVE THIS BOX!!!
I do have to say though the price on the necklace is just silly. Don’t get me wrong I like the necklace, but $100 for that? I mean it has a cord for goodness sake!
I totally agree, $100 is ridiculous for this. I wonder if they actually sell any.
I received mine yesterday. I got the Fleurs de Baies soap, turquoise notebook, gold zig-zag frame, and spear/arrow bracelet. I love the details of this box. Did you all see the #NG002 tissue paper? That’s personalization. Sometimes with these “celeb” curated boxes, I feel that the company picks the stuff and shows it to the celeb and they ok it.
I received both of the golden tote and nina’s box on Thursday at work, I was ecstatic! I got a green fashionnotes.
I was excited when I read her letter and it said it was a special box for her 5th anniversary. As I was unwrapping everything today I thought, WOW, she really hit it out of the park with this box!
I received my box yesterday and it felt like Xmas all over again! I pretty much got the same box except my wallet has pretty teal flowers, my little notebook was also teal, and my gold cuff had cute little elephants instead of a spear design. And I love all of it! This box is the best of my subscriptions. I’m not really a floral scent fan, but the soap and the Tom Ford sample both smell so good! I’m definitely looking more into Tom Ford’s scents. These floral scents get me happy for spring and summer. I’m a huge fan of philosophy so a full size anti-aging product from them is amazing! I’m going to use everything in this box and will most definitely continue my subscription. Now I’m looking forward to Nina’s summer box in June with some amazing summer products!
Mine is ‘out for delivery’. I think it is going to be one of my favorites. And the fact that it’s quarterly makes it much more budget friendly.
My C.Wonder bracelet had two gold hearts on it and I received a different frame & my notebook was silver. I think those are the only items that differ in the boxes. I am so very impressed with this box and you will have to pry this subscription out of my cold dead hands – lol!
I think the pen might actually be worth more! http://www.x-penpal.com/collections/lord.html
I’m so happy that I subscribed to this box! I got a blue notebook (my favorite color!) but the rest of my variations are the same as yours. 🙂 Others have gotten different bangles (hearts, skulls, or elephants) and a different kind of frame (trefoil). Also the floral pattern of the wallet differs slightly from wallet to wallet, which makes it pretty awesome! 🙂
Lord X-pen lists for $24.20 on thier site.
one day I hope to subscribe to this box! Looks like so much fun. Thank you for your reviews- If I can’t subscribe to a box, I live through you! 😀
Recieved mine today and I am so thrilled that I decided to make this fit in my budget. This subscription is amazing! I recieved the orange notebook and my soap was a different scent, Fleurs de Baies. It says on the website a fruity floral but to me smelled more like a green floral. I loved everything I recieved. There are a couple things that I feel will suit my daughter a bit more and since her birthday is Monday, she is going to recieve some great gifts. Super excited about the Time in a Bottle. I have many higher end skin care products and this was on my wish list. And a Laura Mercier palette, how amazing is that! If you are on the fence about spending this much on a subscription box but can pencil it in….do it! I also subscribe to Popsugar, Blush Beauty and Ipsy. I love them all but this box is fantastic.