Month: October 2017

Boxycharm October 2017 Subscription Box Review

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Boxycharm

Cost: $21

Cycle: Every Month

What is it:

Boxycharm sends out 4 to 5 full size  items every month which makes it really unique among the  boxes I subscribe to.  It is a nice change to get all full size products especially for the reasonable price of $21 which is usually less then the cost of one item in the box.

If you would like to subscribe you can use my referral link HERE. I don’t get anything other then points but would really appreciate it but do as you feel comfortable you are also welcome to use the link in the header that leads to the regular homepage.

You can also review your products and get “charms” which are their versions of points that you can use as money off in their shop.

Spellbound seems to be a popular theme this month, it is Ipsy’s theme too.

Dr. Brandt PoreDermabrasion

Full Size: 2 oz

Full Size Cost: $58

Sample Size: 2 oz

Value: $58

I have had samples of this before and I love it so I am stoked to have a full sized now. Dr. Brandt has in my opinion some of the best high end exfoliators I have tried my only gripe with them is I tend to go through them very very fast. They are also really gentle but powerful so if you have very clogged sensitive skin these may really be something you’d want to try.

ncla Nail Kit

Full Size: Yes

Full Size Cost: $16

 

This was such a cute little 5 piece kit, I love the Nailed it on the front and it all zips up into a sleek little case. I took out the little cuticle pusher thing and it promptly disappeared so it decided it didn’t want to be in the picture. This is obviously a Boxycharm exclusive, and I actually like it better then the ones they sell because I like everything in black lol.

Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed in Prosecco Pop

Full Size: 8 g

Full Size Cost: $38

Sample Size: 8 g

Value: $38

Ahh I was so so excited for this I have wanted a Becca Highlighter but there was no way in Hell I was going to spend $38 dollars on it. This is such a pretty gold highlight with not glitter. The packaging is just stunning too and it is huge here’s a picture of me holding it so you can see that it is bigger than my palm.

I am so like in love with this packaging though I really can’t the metal with the soft rubber matte, perfection. Swatched Below.

Jontéblu Lip Liner Pencil in 943 Brown Sugar

Full Size: 1.2 g

Full Size Cost: $5

Sample Size: 1.2 g

Value: $5

This is a brown lip liner with a brick under tone I do believe different shades were sent out to coordinate with the shade of the Tarte lippie you were sent. This isn’t to hard or too creamy its dead in the middle. I don’t use lip liners often but it does match well with the shade of liquid lip I got and the Tarte formula does benefit from a lip liner so this was a really thoughtful well chose addition to the box. Also a great price even it it is sorta cheap in comparison to what they usually send out. Swatched Below.

Tarte Tarteist Lip Paint in Delish

Full Size: 6 ml

Full Size Cost: $20

Sample Size: 6 ml

Value: $20

This is a browny mauve color I don’t know that I am feeling it. I also don’t love the formula on these Tarteist Lip Paints they are too moussey and don’t dry down enough for my liking. They are super comfortable though but they are in no way long wearing or transfer proof. Swatched Below.

Highlighter, Lip pencil, Lip Paint.

The liner and lip paint are really good matched for each other I am impressed.

 

Total: $137

As usual fantastic value for a $21 box. Really the highlight and the scrub were the stars for me the rest really didn’t matter but I will get use out of everything even if I am not in love with the lip  products. I am so thrilled to get to own a Becca highlight it is probably the best thing I have ever gotten in a subscription box. As usual I really recommend Boxycharm they do not disappoint and the value is always there.

<3 Nightmare Before Makeup

What’s In My Trash (A.K.A. An Empties Post) September 2017

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Better late then never I hope. Grad school has been so so busy and work has been busy and I have just not had time to do anything. But I am back now. with a bunch of empties and then a bunch of box reviews coming at you all this week.

Here’s all the items together

Declutter

I beat up a bit on poor Medusa’s Makeup here this month.

Medusa’s Makeup Blush in Dangerous Liaison I don’t do blush and it didn’t work out as an eyeshadow so off it goes.

Medusa’s Makeup Body Shimmer in Healthy this was chunky powdery flakey city it looked terrible on my skin.

Medusa’s Makeup Baked Eyeshadow in Bitchin this was flakey and powdery as well. The other shades of the baked eyeshadow preform much better.

Coloupop supershock shadow I didn’t like the formula the it was no pigment and patches of glitter.

Urban Decay Vice Lipstick in Psycho this is a sheer red with purple glitter it was cool for a one time look but the glitter came off on everything so I didn’t want to wear it again.

IT Cosmetics Your Lips But Better Lip Liner I just don’t really use lip liner and this just was not a flattering tone on my lips.

Skin Care

elf Mineral Mist I really really enjoyed this it had witch hazel and then a bunch of other things in it and really made my skin just feel nice and refreshed.

Repurchase: Yes

Herbivore Lapis facial oil this is supposed to be good for clearing skin but this left my face a greasy oily gross mess. The Sunday Riley UFO oil I have been trying and that seems to be working much better.

Repurchase: No

Sephora Green Tea Sleeping Mask I love this it really mattifies the skin nicely and is great to wear to bed before before you are going to wear a full face of make up or have to be out running around and getting sweat and oily. I have already bought another pack and others to try.

Repurchase: Yes

Biore Baking Soda Pore Cleanser this was nice it did an ok job of scrubbing out my pores but I still like the orange one more.

Repurchase: No

IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Lines Serum eh didn’t impress me and was sticky.

Repurchase: No

Sunday Riley Tidal Brightening Enzyme Water Cream also did not impress me but I have a few samples left of it.

Repurchase: No

Clinique Cleanser its an ok cleanser it works but it isn’t special.

Repurchase: No

Clinique Exfloliator this was cool it was in a wipe I’ve never seen it that way from Clinique before but it was very harsh.

Repurchase: No

Clinique Moisturizer it does work for my oily skin but I get enough samples that I won’t purchase.

Repurchase: No

Face Wipes

Pixi Glow Tonic To Go Glycolic Acid Toner pads these smelled so floral and I don’t think they agreed with my skin.

Repurchase: No

Oxy pads these were my ride or die forever but I am trying to avoid alcohol in my skin care for awhile and see if that helps my skin so I wont be opening my new jar for awhile it is a little bitter sweet.

Repurchase: Maybe

Ole Hendrickson Grease Relief Cleansing Cloths these are really awesome scrubbing face wipes and they really absorb all the oil off your face. I really enjoyed them a little too much I was using them so much that I actually started irritating and stripping my skin. So word of caution.

Repurchase: Yes

Accure Coconut and Argan Oil wipes these were ok nothing special.

Repurchase: No

Hair Care

Briogeo Don’t Despair Repair hair mask this made my hair really soft but gave it way more volume then I like in my hair.

Repurchase: No

Drybar Detox Dry Shampoo my favorite dry shampoo of all time the scent is great it leave my hair clean and soft and I love it.

Repurchase: Yes

Makeup

Dr. Jart+ BB Cream this had a weird consistency and was way to light for me.

Repurchase: No

Sephora Lashcraft Mascara this was really clumpy and dry I did not like.

Repurchase: No

Lip Balm

The Organic Pharmacy Antioxidant Lip Balm this was the most amazing lip balm I have ever used in my life. It was this amazing fruit scent/flavor was so rich and smooth and moisturizing. It was a clear gel so it made my lips really glossy for a long time. It is also $22 so I can’t bring myself to buy it, because that it clinically insane for a lip balm.

Repurchase: No 🙁

Blistex Complete Moisture lip balm this was great but really idk how to explain the texture it almost mushed when you put it on so it got used up very fast.

Repurchase: Yes

Perfume

Burberry My Burberry Blush perfume I like this it was fruity but I don’t often buy perfume because they are expensive even though I love them I pretty much wait until I get them as gifts.

Repurchase: No

Vince Camuto Ciao I like his shoes his perfumes not so much.

Repurchase: No

Random

Bath Pouf

Bath and Body Works Hand Sanitizer in Noir

Well I know its so late that no one cares but for my records at least I have it posted only 3 months left to the year and so close to doubling my original goal. I am really impressed with myself though it is getting harder to use things up.

Total: 30

YTD: 268

 

<3 Nightmare Before Makeup

Yay or Nay? Nyx In Your Element Palettes

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So Nyx came out with these awesome element themed palettes. The teasers blew up online and like every one else I was super excited.

There are 6 palettes:

Earth

Wind

Fire

Water

Air

Metal

Initial Impressions:

When I first saw the spoilers for these I was so hooked and knew that I needed them. Gorgeous packaging great color selections I was so excited. I always loved elemental stuff especially when I was a kid so these like really maybe my inner kid excited. I figured these palettes would be $20 or $25 I mean it is Nyx they are a great brand but still it is a drug store brand. I was so pissed when they released ad were thirty fucking dollars what the hell was Nyx thinking. That would be $180 for the whole collection. I knew I wouldn’t be buying them unless they went on sale. Which they did at Ulta. They are currently exclusive to Ulta, the Nyx website and I would imagine Nyx stores. I picked up Earth, Air, and Metal those were the ones that spoke to me the most and from swatching in the store seemed the best. I will start by saying the formulas on these all seem very different.

Breakdown:

Full Price: $30

Sale: 30% off Nyx

Coupon: $3.50 off $15

Price: $17.50

 

12 shades

1.41 g per shade

Total Size: 16.92 g

 

Full Price per gram: $1.77

Sale Price per gram: $1.03

 

Full Price per Shade: $2.50

Sale Price per Shade: $1.46

Sephora PRO Editorial Palette

Price: $68

Shades: 28

Total Size: 33.6 g

Eyeshadow Size: 1.2 g per shade

Value per Shade: $2.43

Value per Gram: $2.02

Morphe 35B Color Glam Eyeshadow Palette

Price: $19.99

Shades: 35

Total Size: 56.2 g

Eyeshadow Size: 1.6 g per shade

Value per Shade: $0.57

Value per Gram: $0.36

Metal Palette

These have the most interesting texture. These are almost like a cream they are so smooth and soft. They have almost a thick feel to them in a nice way like you can feel it if you rub it between your fingers I really like it. Some of these are just high shiny and some of these are glitter packed. But they all pretty much have that same thick creamy feel. Of the palettes I chose this has the most consistent formula, but the other five palettes do not contain this formula. I really like this palette it is different than any palette I own.

With Flash

Without Flash

Earth Palette

I normally do not go for a warm toned palette but something about the undertones of these warm shades really called my name. They have almost a true to the color undertone so they feel less muddy than a normal warmed toned palette with its typical brown undertones would. This is my second favorite of the three in terms of formula. The satins and shimmers are great and smooth. The mattes are where things get weird. Some are great and some are patchy and skip. They are all buttery creamy soft that is across the board with all these shadows in all the palettes, I could spend all day just swatching them. Ok off that tangent. Some of the mattes 1,2,3,10,12 (numbered starting in the top left) are pigmented and apply smoothly. 4,7,8 are a bit patchy but more than workable just takes some building.

With Flash

Without Flash

Air Palette

This one you have to go into it with realistic expectations this is a palate of pastels and neon pastels (I know oxymoron) because those colors are based in white pigment no matter how great a shadow is they will be harder to work with. They will be a little patchy and powdery you can’t expect a pastel pink powder shadow to perform the same as say a matte black cream shadow you have to be realistic.

Once your expectations are set this is a great pastel palette in the affordable range. Yes it is a little patchy you have to build these but I’m comparing it to that Lorac Brunch palette that is all pastels and this can completely hang with that palette. Nyx needs slightly more building but Lorac is so so powdery so they can both totally be friends if you want a pastel you should get this really it is a good pastel palette. They are all the same buttery feel and a unique color selection.

With Flash

Without Flash

Look:

So here is the look I created with the Earth palette I was feeling very fall.

Don’t mind how terrible my eyebrows look I really need to get them waxed.

And a terrible shot of me pretending to be an Instagram makeup guru ;p

These blended out really well and were pigmented. I hate when shadows just blend away to nothing or muddy together and these didn’t do that even though I used three very similar shades. The gold was a little hard to make show up I had to make a few layers but if I had placed a white eyeliner base down like I usually do that would not have been a problem. I really liked using this palette.

 

Final thoughts:

I swatched Fire, Water, and Wind in store. Water and Wind in person really read as almost Identical palettes they are both blue toned Water with green undertones and Wind with blue undertones. They also swatched eh still buttery but I expected more creaminess and less patchiness from them. Fire swatched well from what I could tell the color palette just didn’t intrigue me too much yellow.

Yay or Nay:

So for $30 I would say Nay unless there is one that just really calls to you then you won’t be disappointed but you will still feel like you spent too much.

For the sale price (any sale price this one just happened to be a good sale) I’d say Yay pick up two or three that really call to you they are worth $20 they are not worth $30.  These are fun and if you want a cool drug store palette these won’t disappoint as long as you buy them on sale and there are always sales on Nyx at Ulta.

 

<3 Nightmare Before Makeup