Month: December 2017

Sephora Play! December 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.

I really like the art deco Great Gatsby style of the bag. But the satin feels cheap this month usually it feels very soft and nice this month not so much.

Drybar Triple Sec

Full Size: 118 g

Full Size Cost: $26

Sample Size: 10 g

Value: $2.20

I love Drybar products they smell so so good and my hair just loves them. I have a few little cans of this and it really does add texture to my hair when it is being limp and blah. Bonus makes you’re hair smell and look clean a little like dry shampoo would.

Make Up For Ever Artist Rouge Cream in C207

Full Size: 3.5 g

Full Size Cost: $22

Sample Size: 1.4 g

Value: $8.80

Why do I keep getting pink lipsticks? Anyway if you like bold cream lipsticks this is for you the formula is creamy and opaque and applies with no patchiness at all but it is Barbie pink and bright. Swatched Below.

Laura Mercier Caviar Eye Stick in Au Natural

Full Size: 1.64 g

Full Size Cost: $29

Sample Size: 1 g

Value: $17.68

I love the caviar sticks they are so quick and easy when you just want one color so you don’t look dead on the way out the door lol. This is a nude color very similar to my skin tone. Being slightly tacky I think it will make a good base for eye shadow. Swatched Below.

Clinique Pretty Easy Liquid Eyelining Pen in Black

Full Size: 0.07 oz

Full Size Cost: $21

Sample Size: 0.01 oz

Value: $3

This was pretty terrible. It isn’t super black and and it smudges and fades immediately I do not recommend this at all. Swatched Below.

Caudalíe Vine[activ] Energizing and Smoothing Eye Cream

Full Size: 15 ml

Full Size Cost: $39

Sample Size: 5 ml

Value: $13

I love little eye creams they last forever and then I never have to buy them. I never see a huge difference between eye creams though only small differences. Caudalíe is such an expensive brand that it is cool to get to try it.

Stella Perfume

Full Size: 50 ml

Full Size Cost: $72

Sample Size: 1.5 ml

Value: $2.16

I don’t do roses so this is a no go for me I passed this off to my mom and she enjoyed it pretty good. So it has the mom stamp of approval.

This month was a little thrown together for me but overall I am happy I got an eyeshadow, eye serum and hair product that I love and then 3 things that don’t work for me I just wish it had been a little more adventurous and interesting.

Quick Summary:

Total Value: $46.84

Skincare: 1

Makeup: 3

Tools: 0

Hair Care: 1

Perfume: 1

Other: 0

And as far as sizes:

Full Size: 0

Deluxe Sample: 2

Sample: 4

<3 Nightmare Before Makeup

 

 

 

 

Ipsy December 2017 Subscription Box Review

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Ipsy Bag

Cost: $10 monthly, $110 annual

Cycle: Every Month

What is it: Every month Ipsy sends out a cute makeup bag of samples and full size items. you can review your bag for points that you can trade in for reward items. The rewards change often and the range between 100 points and 1000 points. You can get up to 95 points every month.

If you want to subscribe you can subscribe HERE and skip the waitlist. That is my referral link so I do get points to spend but I’m not an affiliate I don’t make any money or anything it’s just one beauty junkie to another.

I’m a bit meh about this month’s bag nothing really stands out as that special to me. It doesn’t really scream holiday to me.

Smashbox Be Legendary Lipstick in Legendary

Full Size: 0.1 oz

Full Size Cost: $21

Sample Size: 0.08 oz

Value: $16.80

This is a great little mini lipstick. I just really don’t like the be legendary formula they are just way to creamy for my tastes and just not my thing. I find them really hard to apply and wear because of how creamy they are I feel like I really have fuss with them too much.  Swatched Below.

Trèstique Mini Brow Pencil in Espresso

Full Size: 0.13 g

Full Size Cost: $10

Sample Size: 0.13 g

Value: $10

This is the full mini size that they make the full size comes with a spoolie so it doesn’t seem fair to compare those when this does exist for sale. I wanted to like this it was the right color and size but its a now go. Just swatching it was impossible it was so hard and sharp it left a welt on my skin just from how hard I had to press to swatch it. Swatched (Painfully) Below.

Son & Park Beauty Water

Full Size: 11.49 oz

Full Size Cost: $30

Sample Size: 1.01 oz

Value: $2.64

This is like a micellar water that  can be used for prep or makeup removal which sounds like exact opposite uses to me but it is little enough that I can use it up quickly.

Nyx Faux Blacks Eyeliner in Blackberry

Full Size: 1.3 g

Full Size Cost: $7.99

Sample Size: 1.3 g

Value: $7.99

This is my favorite thing in the bag I love these gel like pencil eyeliners and I always love a fun color and this blackened purple is very me. I love Nyx eyeliners. Swatched Below.

Lipstick, Eyebrow Pencil, Eyeliner.

Pūrlisse Green Tea + Ginger Sheet Mask

Full Size: 1 mask

Full Size Cost: $8

Sample Size: 1 mask

Value: $8

Pūrlisse Coconut + Rice Sheet Mask

Full Size: 1 mask

Full Size Cost: $8

Sample Size: 1 mask

Value: $8

The pictures of these got corrupted so I am sorry but they are sheet masks they aren’t that special to look at. I have tried Pūrlisse sheet masks before but they are ok they have tons of essence and are soothing but I find them very cold they feel extra cold on my skin and I don’t like that. I would never spend $8 on one sheet mask but people must be.

Well my favorite thing in the box was the drugstore eyeliner. Idk this box was a little bit of a mishmash of things that almost were right but just didn’t quite work for me.

Quick Summary:

Total Value: $53.43

Skincare: 3

Makeup: 3

Tools: 0

Hair Care: 0

Perfume: 0

Other: 0

And as far as sizes:

Full Size: 4

Deluxe Sample: 1

Sample: 1

<3 Nightmare Before Makeup

 

Boxycharm December 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.

As you can see there are only 4 products pictured here because for the first time ever I had something get destroyed in my box :/. So I am going to talk about that first.

 

Beaute Basics Bronze Essentials

This is how my bronzer arrived to me and it was all over everything in the box it was a total mess. It looks really pretty but since I don’t have it I am not adding it to the value of my box. I don’t know if I am completely satisfied they took a few days to answer and then told me they would send a replacement next month. So next month we will find out if they solved my problem or not.

Crown Brush Deluxe Blush Brush

Full Size: Yes

Full Size Cost: $12

 

This is a very dense brush but I think it will be great for a really strong but blended contour look. It is very soft but feels very well constructed.

Tarte Tarteist Lash Paint Mascara

Full Size: 0.23 oz

Full Size Cost: $23

Sample Size: 0.23 oz

Value: $23

I now have like 3 or 4 of these and I still haven’t tried it I really need to get on with that. I don’t know why but I just don’t get excited to see this mascara? Idk I am weird like that.

Real Her Blush Kit

Full Size: 12 g

Full Size Cost: $32

Sample Size: 12 g

Value: $32

This is I’m sure lovely swatched but this came so nicely packaged and wrapped in plastic that I can’t bear to open it just to swatch it. I want this to be enjoyed in its pristine state by some one who will use it.

Pretty Vulgar My Lips Are Sealed Lightweight Liquid Lipstick in Particularly Sophisticated

Full Size: 3 ml

Full Size Cost: $24

Sample Size: 3 ml

Value: $24

Oh god this is so sticky but so pretty. I hate sticky but this is gorgeous the color the shine the fucking packaging. The packaging alone is stunning. This is definitely a lipgloss and not a liquid lipstick at all I don’t get why they would market it as a lipstick.

Such a pretty rosy pink with shimmer.

Total: $91 with out the bronzer ($39.95)

Even with out the bronzer palette it was a great value this month. I was really sad that the bronzer broke. The blush has no value to me personally but I know some one will love it. The value was great on this box but I won’t get much use out of the products but that is my personal taste.

 

<3 Nightmare Before Makeup