Month: April 2017

Sephora Play! April 2017 Subscription Box Review

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Sephora Play!

Cost: $10.00 monthly + tax

Cycle: Every Month

What is it: Every month our favorite money sucking store Sephora sends out a curated box of higher end samples to try out.  Every month you receive 5 samples and a perfume sample.  The boxes are customized with a few different variations being sent out each month.

There is a small survey that Sephora has you take that helps Sephora curate a box to your needs. There is also a card included in the box for a complimentary mini makeover (which are complimentary any way so I don’t really get that) and 50 extra points if you purchase something in store.

We are back to our usual Sephora style bag. This one says the “Best things in life are me”. Not my particular cup of tea.

Here’s our 6 products this was not the box variation I was hoping to receive.

Make Up For Ever Aqua XL Eye Pencil M-10

Full Size: 1.2 g

Full Size Cost: $21

Sample Size: 0.5 g

Value: $8.75

This is almost half the size of the full one and this is pretty tiny so $21 dollars this better be a pretty fantastic eyeliner. When I swatched this it held up through rubbing pretty good. I like how intensely black and matte it is that is hard to find a really black as my soul eyeliner pencil.

Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Intensive Exfoliator

Full Size: 0.5 oz

Full Size Cost: $24

Sample Size: 0.25 oz

Value: $12

I didn’t like this. It is supposed to be an intensive exfoliator and I didn’t find it to be intense. What I did find was that it made my skin feel awful. It made my skin feel really dry and tight and stripped. Then about an hour or two later my skin felt really greasy. This did not work for me at all.

Marc Jacobs Daisy Perfume

Full Size: 50 ml

Full Size Cost: $90

Sample Size: 1.2 ml

Value: $2.16

This is a very floral perfume. Which is a pass for me. If you like florals you will love this is is a very heavy floral but some how light and summery as well.

Sephora Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover

Full Size: 200 ml

Full Size Cost: $15

Sample Size: 25 ml

Value: $1.88

Well a nice little bottle of makeup remover this will be good for traveling. I have to much open makeup remover to really try this out right now.

Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Cream

Full Size: 48 ml

Full Size Cost: $52

Sample Size: 7.5 ml

Value: $8.12

This is a pretty nice moisturizer and there are very few moisturizers I can or will put on my oily skin. This absorbs quickly but does leave a little slip to your skin. I actually and this is terrible really like it as a hand lotion but it would be way to expensive to use it that way oh well.

Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer

Full Size: 1 oz

Full Size Cost: $16

Sample Size: 0.25 oz

Value: $4

This is one of my very favorite primers it is a great silicon primer that adds a lot of glide and smoothness to your face when you apply your foundations. Smashbox makes great face primers. Pro Tip if you buy this always buy the travel size which is $16 for 1 oz the full size is $36 for 2 oz which is so stupid. you can get two travel sizes for $32 and get 2 oz and save yourself $4. Smashbox must think we can’t do math.

The value is good with this month and we got 3 decently valued samples two that are almost the cost of the box (eyeliner and moisturizer) and one that is more then the value of the box (exfoliator). I am really excited for the primer and the eyeliner. The cloud dream will get used up and the other two are just meh.  This is always a great box and I highly recommend it if you like high end products.

Quick Summary:

Total Value: $36.91

Skincare: 2

Makeup: 2

Tools: 0

Hair Care: 0

Perfume: 1

Other: 1

And as far as sizes:

Full Size: 0

Deluxe Sample: 2

Sample: 4

<3 Nightmare Before Makeup

Medusa’s Makeup April 2017 Subscription Box Review and Coupon Code

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Medusa’s Makeup

Cost: $15.95 monthly

Cycle: Every Month

What is it: Every month Medusa’s Makeup sends 3-5 full size products, with a value of $40 from their line.  I have been subscribing from their first month.  Every month the products arrive in a different colored bubble mailer.

Medusa’s Make up is a vegan and cruelty free company and made in the USA.

They usually send out their newest products and always full size.

We got some different packaging this month. We also received a coupon code and mini catalog.

If you want 15% off your purchase for the month of May you can use code PINK.

It is a cute colorful brochure detailing some of their products.

Now on to the goods for this month.

Eyeliner Sealer

Full Size: 0.67 oz

Full Size Cost: $8

Sample Size: 0.67 oz

Value: $8

This is Medusa’s Makeup version of a mixing media it is a liquid you can use with your pigments or really any powder product to foil it or turn it into a liquid eyeliner. It is really cool and something fun that I would never have bought on my ow but is really fun makeup item to play with.

Eye Dust in Helter Skelter

Full Size: 1.5 g

Full Size Cost: $7

Sample Size: 1.5 g

Value: $7

When I first saw this I thought it was a black pigment but it is actually more of a blue that is so dark that it looks back it is very pretty and dimensional especially when paired with the eyeliner sealer. I also love the name, that is one of my top 5 favorite Beatles songs. I was really hoping for one of their new pressed pigments. Swatched below.

Blush in Jezebel

Full Size: 10 g

Full Size Cost: $12

Sample Size: 10 g

Value: $12

Their compacts are super cute and well made with a nice big mirror, and that is where all the positives about this product end. I will say I hate blush I don’t use blush. This blush is not the same formula as the Dangerous Liaison blush we were sent back in December.

The one we received in December was soft and pigmented. This is stiff, scratchy and not very pigmented. Total fail. It is also just a weird baby pepto bismal pink color. Swatched below.

From left to right; Helter Skelter mixed with the eye liner sealer, Helter Skelter alone, Jezebel blush. As you can kinda see in the picture but can really see in person the mixing medium really brings out all the different blues and greens that are present in this pigment. The swatch with out is much more grey and smokey less bold and intense. The blush you can barely see and that is after quite a few passes with my finger and the fallout was crazy.

Eyeliner Brush

Full Size: 4 brush set

Full Size Cost: $18

Sample Size: 1 brush

Value: $4.50

I do believe the brushes when they first came out were sold individually and priced pretty high. They are now a set. I have gotten two brushes from them and both are not great and really not great for the prices they charge Wet and Wild brushes are 1/4 the price and have fantastic quality. these brushes fall apart after only a few washes they just are not constructed well. They are soft and aesthetically pleasing but what matters is the quality and that just isn’t there with these brushes.

Total: $31.50

The state value of this box is $36, they valued the brush at $9. That is half of what the set cost and the set has 4  brushes they are just trying to artificially inflate the value of the box since the total value has been on a decline the past three months. I can’t decide if this box was worth it for me this month or not I was not impressed.

 

<3 Nightmare Before Makeup

 

 

Walmart Spring 2017 Beauty Box Subscription Review

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Walmart Beauty Box

Cost: $5

Cycle: Every Quarter/Season

What is it: Every season Walmart sends out a box of samples and sometimes coupons in their “free” subscription box. The box is a flat shipping rate of $5 and the box is considered free.  There are two categories of boxes “Trendsetter” which you receive if you provide a birth date that has you aged at under 35 and “Classic” if you provide a birth date that has you aged above 35.

Once again Walmart really scores with some of the cutest packaging that I receive in my subscription boxes and it is definitely my most inexpensive box.

We have a nice pink, white and gold box with a lid that will make a great box to repurpose.

We have some nice floral paper that is actually really nice quality and will also be great for repurposing either as wrapping paper or a decoration.

Got alot of stuff in this box so lets break it all down.

Jergens Natural Glow Wet Skin Moisturizer

Full Size: 7.5 oz

Full Size Cost: $7.99

Sample Size: 2 oz

Total Value: $2.13

I don’t like wet skin moisturizers I find that they do not absorb into my skin when it is wet but I do like gradual tanning lotions for evening out tan lines in the summer so this will get used up but will take me awhile even for such a small sample.

Bioré Baking Soda Acne Scrub

Full Size: 4.5 oz

Full Size Cost: $6.47

Sample Size: 1 oz

Total Value: $1.44

I love baking soda cleansers. I have used a small sample of this before and really really enjoyed it. So I am am happy to have a large sample now. It gently exfoliates with and feels effective at the same time. and really eats up excess oil on my face.

John Frieda Frizz Ease Daily Nourishment Moisturizing Conditioner

Full Size: 8.45 oz

Full Size Cost: $5.47

Sample Size: 1.5 oz

Total Value: $0.97

Eh a conditioner not that exciting and I’m not a huge fan of the Frizz Ease Line.

Schwarzkopf Gliss Hair Repair Ultra Moisture Shampoo

Full Size: 13.6 oz

Full Size Cost: $5.47

Sample Size: 1.7 oz

Total Value: $0.68

More shampoo there’s always shampoo in these boxes. This would have been a good travel product if the tops weren’t so weird they pop off rather then twisting off. This looks creamy and smells nice as well as having keratin in it so it should be a nice shampoo good for at least 2 uses for me.

Schwarzkopf Gliss Hair Repair Ultra Moisture Conditioner

Full Size: 13.6 oz

Full Size Cost: $5.47

Sample Size: 1.7 oz

Total Value: $0.68

And more conditioner but this one matches the shampoo. It is always nice to get a matching set but it is pretty boring.

Palmer’s Coconut Oil Luminous Hydration Facial Oil

Full Size: 1 oz

Full Size Cost: $9.88

Sample Size: 0.03 oz

Total Value: $0.30

This is a very thick oil that I will definitely not be putting on my face. But it smells nicely of coconut and is hydrating and will get used probably mixed in with some body lotion. This claims to be made of 10 oils (Extra virgins coconut, Tahitian monoi, sweet almond, macadamia, argan, grapeseed, maracuja, sunflower, apricot, sesame) this would be great for really dry skin.

Palmer’s Coconut Oil Facial Moisturizer

Full Size:  1.7 oz

Full Size Cost: $8.98

Sample Size: 0.17 oz

Total Value: $0.90

Again not something I’ll Use on my face but I’ll definitely use it as a regular lotion.

Rimmel London Stay Matte Foundation in 200 Soft Beige

Full Size:   30 ml

Full Size Cost: $3.29

Sample Size: 1.5 ml

Total Value: $0.16

This also came with a coupon. I’m pretty excited for this sample I have wanted to try this foundation for awhile but I kept not buying it. I don’t know that this is going to be a good shade match at all but I can at least see the formula.

I am most excited about the foundation sample and the Bioré cleanser. They alone make me excited for the box.

Quick Summary:

Total Value: $7.26

Skincare: 4

Makeup: 1

Tools: 0

Hair Care: 3

Perfume: 0

Other: 0

And as far as sizes:

Full Size: 0

Deluxe Sample: 0

Sample: 8

<3 Nightmare Before Makeup