What Do You Want to See in Future MSA Quarterly Boxes?

Liz – Congrats on being the third most popular curated on the Quarterly website!

Like: candles, makeup, accessories, jewelry, perfume, body scrubs, face masks, lotion, sunglasses, clutches, socks, useful items, luxurious items

Dislike: nail polish, most food items (unless it’s a sauce, I probably won’t use it), lip scrubs

Hand crafted, 100% natural Artisan Soaps!

A luxurious hand creme in a gentle, warm scent to keep in your purse would be nice, especially during the winter when your skin can get so dry.

A to-go thermos/insulated cup (leakproof!) with a nice design would be great too, for carrying hot beverages.

Some kind of ethically-sourced product (a la Fair Treasure?) where you get two similar/identical items would be wonderful to keep one and give one as a holiday gift (I think someone posted an earlier comment about this idea).

A few fancy cards with envelopes would be nice, since we should all send cards during the holidays but maybe don’t do that as often as we should! Getting a beautiful card would be a good reminder.

Just wondering whether or not you have already selected the items for the Winter box.

A high-end kitchen tool would be great. That way people can use it to make delicious-smelling foods for holiday parties, but you wouldn’t run into food allergy problems.

A coupon for either an e-book or movie online would be fun for cozy winter nights and I think people would appreciate having the option.

An adjustable cross-body bag would be great too, to use when you’re out and about in the cold and want it to fit over a puffy coat.

I found a great company called Raven + Lily that sources beautiful handbags, candles, jewelry, etc. Their motto is “Empowering Women Through Design” and they work with women here in the U.S. as well as abroad to make beautiful items. Maybe it doesn’t have to be from them, but I’d love for you to include items that empowered craftspeople, particularly women!

An ideal box for me would include an on trend must have accessory, 1 makeup product, 1 hair or skincare product, and 1 home or lifestyle product. Then maybe a cool, totally random and different snack to try. I know this isn’t very specific!

The thing with makeup items is the color choices are always so blasé. I need another black liner/mascara or nude to peachy-pink lipgloss like I need a third nipple, a la Chandler.

Clothing is too iffy, IMO because of varying sizes.

A gift card to your favorite online shopping site could be really awesome.

If you were doing a box in December you could do a special keep-one-give-one item 🙂 And a sheet or two of super luxe wrapping paper.

Hmmm…if I think of more I’ll come back!

I have been thinking of this for a while and here are my thoughts.

I would not like to get leg warmers, food (unless it was a really nice, high end dark chocolate!), nail polish/nail wraps, mascara, black eyeliner, eye shadow or any make up that is skin-tone dependent unless it was a card that we used to order it ourselves, no drugstore brands, day planner or any jewelry. I feel jewelry is very taste oriented, and I have never seen one piece in any of your reviews that I would want or wear. I think tea and coffee is a slippery slope. Personally, I detest coffee and love tea; however, I can only drink decaffeinated tea for medical reasons. I am probably not alone and I do know many who vastly prefer coffee to tea. I would prefer not to get hair products that are for a specific type of hair. Have gotten mostly stuff for frizz and curls in the boxes so far and my hair is fine, straight, colored and not frizzy. I do like dry shampoo, though. The only hairspray I think really works is Aveeda’s Controlforce which actually does come in a travel size. Now that I’ve tried the lip gloss in the first box, I don’t ever need another brand. Somewhere down the line, a replacement of this current one would be fine, though.

Ideas to include: slippers or gripper socks, a beauty blender, Miss Oops Rescue Sponge, a nice make up applicator tool barring a lash curler, high-end skin care, possibly something to coordinate with the Tatcha item (which I am now addicted to) such as their Dewy Skin Mist which is reputedly fantastic and seems appropriate for winter. Not to mention it is cheaper than this box’s Tatcha item so perhaps the price point is correct for a box. Living in a cold climate, I would like mittens or gloves but have plenty of outer scarves and hats are usually a ‘hair fail’. I would much prefer a reed diffuser to a candle. I think that shows up less in subscription boxes also. Would love to be able to pick my own book or even a kindle version of a book. I read a lot so chances are high that any book selected would be one that is new to me. Also, reading material is very subjective. For Winter, a luxurious body cream/lotion with not too strong a scent or possibly unscented would be great as wood a body exfoliator/scrub or a nice hand cream (like L’Occitane, Crabtree & Evelyn or Tatcha). A very nice lip balm (Fresh?) would be very appropriate for Winter. A face mask (like those sheets), foot mask or hand mask or luxurious face/body oil would also be nice for the cold weather. Someone mentioned an umbrella which is a great idea particularly a travel-sized one. Can never have too many as they do seem to lose their way home. Would prefer not to get perfumes as I have allergies to some flowers and that presents problems. I bet I am not the only person with this issue; and, actually, isn’t perfume something we mostly prefer to choose ourselves? I have a wallet obsession so a wallet is good for me, but I am well-stocked on make up bag sized cases. A pashmina might be a nice alternative to a regular scarf, especially if it was silver or cream colored as I have noticed a dearth of those colors in boxes. Another person suggested a pillow spray: one that facilitates sleep would be great!

Wow, that was long, sorry! But, as I said, I’ve been mulling it over for a week!

I would love a high end foundation brush!

Yes to: Candles, Body butters, hand creme, socks, gloves, bath bomb, scrubs, aromatherapy.

No: Makeup (have enough)

After reading some of the comments I had an idea- cuticle oil. It’s something that is very nice, especially in the winter, but even in nail sub boxes it doesn’t show up very often.

When I lived up north my hands got so dry I had to buy cotton gloves and wear them at night over lotioned hands. Maybe something like that?

I think everyone likes makeup palettes, and I rarely see natural makeup ones. Just please be conscientious of irritating ingredients!

I can agree and disagree with some things so far.

I personally don’t want nail polish, eyeliner or jewelry as all jewelry but gold turns me green why bother plus it is very personal. Like perfume I like niche samples but don’t like samples that sephora carries so I could see leaving fragrance out for being too personal. Same with clothes too personal and too many size possibilities.

As far as beauty anything luxury body(the scrub was a good idea I don’t buy those but use them when I get them), face skincare maybe tailored to the season, hair stuff depends I think we all get enough shampoo etc but a really cool new product might be ok. I wouldn’t want hair accessories as I don’t use them. I agree with a throw, a light one could roll up and squish in there, candles are always nice I never buy them but would use it, I also could see home stuff related to upcoming season, or kitchen stuff like a cool kitchen gadget, I personally wouldn’t mind a food item as long as it’s good and not a spillable or stale item(like some food boxes I hear about). I could do a makeup item, lipstick, blush, eyeshadow just no eyeliner or nail polish. Beauty tools could be good too. I have too many mugs so I’d skip that for me. But just thought of this a $5 Starbucks card would be a good idea, go get yourself a holiday beverage maybe.

I would love a fall/winter candle holder (for votives/tea lights), something for my hands to combat awful winter dryness, hair accessories (barrettes, bobby pins), stand-up/pop-up desk calendar (like one we got in PS last year), Advent calendar, Christmas ornament craft, gift tags, a silk pillowcase (helps with your hair and wrinkles), a wrap you can put over your wet hair until you are ready to comb it out/blow dry, fingertip-less gloves or ones with a “flap” over the fingers, picture frame, a lip treatment that works overnight, cookbook, current and new fiction/non-fiction book, cuticle butter, delicate necklace, jewelry cleaner.

No more: lipgloss/stick, eyeliners, mascara, nail polish, facial cleansers/lotions.

I love that you’re asking! Some of my favorite things I’ve gotten in boxes were things I can use around the house. I get excited over candles, soap, coffee, chocolate, and lotions. I am so tired of lipgloss, mascara, eyeliner, and for goodness sakes, scarves!!!! I agree with the others that a “cozy” themed winter box would be nice. A throw, a winter scented candle, some cozy socks, some moisturizing hand soap, lip balm, maybe even something along the lines of winter scene decor item. Lots of us throw holiday parties, so a serving dish would be fun.

For Spring: I think spring cleaning and gardening. Some lavender sachets for your dryer would be fun. A pretty floral pillowcase, gardening gloves (make sure there not just for small hands), seeds, floral/spring decor item, floral scented candles, soaps or perfumes. I see that a lot of people are against perfume, so maybe provide a smaller bottle/sample of perfume and not make it one of the main expensive items. Non-toxic cleaning supplies, laundry detergent etc.

Summer: I really liked the Popsugar summer boxes. I think they nailed it with the hat, the Turk towel, the sunscreen and after sun lotion, and the fun straws and salad utensils. Those were some of my most favorite things I’ve gotten from them! Lots are outdoors in the summer so sun protection is important but I only like the natural sunblocks etc. Got a little too much of that in my other boxes and really liked the Sun Bum from Popsugar. I think oceans, family gatherings, picnics outdoors (again a serving piece would be nice). Maybe a cruet to make homemade salad dressing with recipes? Pretty table clothes. A cd of fun folk music or island beats would be a cool addition.

Fall: Can’t go wrong with fall colors and scents. Pumpkin spice scented anything: candles, soaps, room sprays, hand soap. Fall decor: a leaf wreath for your door, dish towels. Pumpkin carving kit!

But in general, things I really enjoy getting in my lifestyle sub boxes: candles, hair bands, jewelry, hand soap, bar soap, coffee, serving items, anything for the kitchen, novel things (loved the Thank You wax stamp kit from FunFitFab!), things that are pampering (ex. cozy socks), BOOKS!! and anything for my home. Would love to see movies on DVD or music collections on cd’s as well in a box.

What I groan about getting: more makeup. Some high end skin care is cool, but I’m literally getting overrun with mascaras and lip glosses. I would limit that to like one item a box (skin care). Scarves. I know they’re light and easy to pack….but really I think we’re all well stocked now!!! Enough is enough.

No planners! Would not want to waste a full luxe item on something that would be a doodle pad. If you can get a code of a stationer that would be awesome … Someone on MUT posted a 50% code off a site that had its planners in a box.
No cross body bags it’s such a personal choice choosing a bag and most are not luxe.
The throw sounds awesome if you can curate a luxe one!
You mentioned the repeat of a gloss in MSA01 … Perhaps you can’t repeat what is in NGQ04? Can you confirm this lol that way we can guess what won’t be in MSA02 bc of Nina!!!
Love your full size luxe items that can be nice gifts if not needed keep it up:)

Oh ya and an Erin Condren planner would be so awesome!!!!! Ahhhhhh !

i would like a bosu ball or a gift card for one and or and a gift card for a bra. I need a nice new luxurious bra. Maybe a gift card to a lux bra sub? yoga mat, skincare, def a nice large candle! Oh i know Toner. We never get any toners in the sub boxes. I’d like a nice toner. I’d also love some hints, spoilers for MSA02!!! HAha! Thanks Liz!!!!!

For me, a perfect winter box consists of a wrap/scarf (I know one was already included in the previous MSA box), a good book (fiction or cookbook, maybe Mimi Thorrison’s new cookbook), a notebook to write thoughts and make Christmas presents lists, something to munch on, a bath bomb or something to soak in bath, cozy thick socks

I would love some cozy gripper socks; I can never have enough, and you would be able to pick out something super cute. I think a cool, small over-the-shoulder bag would be really nice…and handy, too…maybe in different styles that would be swappable. 🙂 Delicate jewelry in both silver and gold tone would be nice, but it should be hypoallergenic — for people (like me!) who can’t wear most sub jewelry because of the base metals they’re made of. A neck pillow would be cool and definitely different — something you can use while traveling or leaning back on the couch! Basically, anything that is useful yet special. You have such great taste and sincere thoughtfulness for your “fans”; I’m sure we would like most of whatever you choose!

A classy pen, with refillable ink.

AMBER OIL would be great to get in your box. Bath bombs, purse, or some cute kitchen or baking tool.

My sense after reading your many posts, Liz, is that you value items that you will actually use (thus the body scrub, facial cleanser), and I wholeheartedly agree with this. Like many of the women who subscribe to the box, most of us have enough mascara, lotions, lip glosses, etc to last us a lifetime because they last forever! I trust your curatorial instincts, but have to say I’m not a fan of the many “cocoa, marshmallow, and mug” suggestions. I have plenty of mugs crowding my kitchen, and with two kids, cocoa to supply the entire neighborhood. But at the end of the day, everyone has different ideas of what makes a great box and what they would like, but they signed up because they trust YOU! And your lovely swap site makes it easy to trade for what doesn’t suit. As long as the items are fairly high-end or unique, you can’t go wrong….

Also, Liz, would it be possible to create some sort of information page/FAQ about swapping, where users can also post comments and questions? Really, just a post like this in the swap area, where we can comment, and others (or you) could respond, would be really helpful. Thanks!

I am not sure where to ask this so I decide to post here.
I would like to know how most people determine the value of their items at the swap site. Everyone I have swapped with has used the retail value to determine if it’s a fair swap. Of course, the items don’t need to have exactly the same value, but I thought it’s a good guide to follow. I dont think anyone would want to swap a $100 item for a $10 item.

There’s this swapper declined my counteroffer and told me that no one uses the retail value in swap in a very rude way. I am not here to start anything. I just want to know if I had the wrong impression that most people use retail value to justify. Would love to hear anyone’s thought. Thanks in advance. =)