Author: nightmareb4

Macy’s Beauty Box January 2018 Subscription Box Review

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Macy’s Beauty Box

Cost: $15

Cycle: Every Month

What is it: So Macy’s has hopped on the subscription box bandwagon and this is their first box. Every month you will get a bag, a $5 off coupon, 5 deluxe samples and 1 bonus sample. Why not just say 6? I don’t get it.

All the brands will be brands you can find in Macy’s which is cool they sell Mac and a lot of other brands that are never to rarely in subscription boxes.

The cool thing about the coupon is that it is good in stores and online (beauty ships free at Macy’s) also Macy’s does have sales and $5 dollar products so if you are strategic you can score a free product every month. Depending on your state you may still have to pay tax but that is still basically free.

 

Cute little Valentine’s Day themed bag but feels pretty cheapie compared to the other bags they have sent out, but the products are much better this month so that’s what really matters.

Philosophy Pure Grace Nude Rose Body Lotion

Full Size: 480 ml

Full Size Cost: $39

Sample Size: 30 ml

Value: $2.44

Oh good a rose scented lotion. I can’t do roses due to being allergic and pure grace smells so old and gives me a headache I am not even opening this. HARD PASS.

Origins Checks and Balances Frothy Face Wash

Full Size: 150 ml

Full Size Cost: $23

Sample Size: 30 ml

Value: $4.60

This was so creamy like I was shocked by how creamy it was. I wouldn’t use this to remove makeup or if my skin was really greasy but I used this to help wash of a clay mask you know how hard those can be some times and this was so creamy and helped take the mask of gently with out all the pulling and rubbing. So I am on board for this I like this.

Ahava Dead Sea Water Mineral Hand Cream

Full Size: 100 ml

Full Size Cost: $24

Sample Size: 40 ml

Value: $9.60

Great travel hand cream. Great size too. This has a light some what light salty smell but in a beach way not a salt shaker way. This isn’t greasy either.

Micheal Kors Sexy Ruby Perfume

Full Size: 60 ml

Full Size Cost: $92

Sample Size: 1.5 ml

Value: $2.30

This smells so sexy and bright I know that is a weird way to describe a perfume. I am rarely a fan of the perfume samples that are sent to me so it is nice to get one I can use.

Clinique + Johnathon Adler: Pop Lip Colour + Primer in Nude Pop

Full Size: 3.8 g

Full Size Cost: $15.40

Sample Size: 3.8 g

Value: $15.40

So this is weird I’m pretty sure this is full size but I cant find this anywhere for purchase the Johnathan Adler packaging looks different and doesn’t have this shade. I swear before Christmas I recall seeing this in a gift with purchase set you know the kinds that Clinique and Macy’s do all the time I have a feeling that is where this came from. I am still happy about a full size special collection lipstick it is just weird I can’t find it online. Swatched Below.

Smashbox Always On liquid Lipstick in Bawse

Full Size: 4 ml

Full Size Cost: $24

Sample Size: ?

Value: $8

No size listed I don’t get why smash box does that. This is a real red red I don’t wear alot of red but I always want to. Maybe I’ll work up the courage to try this out. rather then just have it look pretty in my vanity. Swatched Below.

Bawse on top, Nude Pop Below

Total: $42.34

The full size lipstick is a real score this month and makes the bag but this is the first month so far that I am genuinely happy and like my bag other then the one lotion I will use and enjoy everything in my bag. The only weird this I noticed is that it is super odd two lotions and two lip products so that half the bag is duplicate product types which is super damn odd.

<3 Nightmare Before Makeup

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

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I can’t believe it has been a whole year since I started this. I always get a little sappy sad and nostalgic in January. It really has been such a crazy intense roller coaster of a year this has been such a great outlet for me even though I have been so busy and can’t dedicate all the time I want to this blog just knowing it is here and some one is reading it is amazing. Ok enough with the sappiness I know that isn’t what anyone wants to hear about you want to read about all the crap I’ve hoarded for a month.

Declutter

Random Chapstick as I’ve said as I find these random ones around I am moving them out of my collection to make room and use up all the really nice ones I have.

Marc Jacobs Velvet Noir Major Volume Mascara I got this recently in my November Sephora Play Boxthis was not a mascara for me at all it was so wet and clumpy and no that is not a look I go for I prefer more dry mascaras. This also smudged on me terrible it never really dried down it was just sticky and wet.

Rebel Rouge Lab Blue Raspberry Lip Balm I hate when I don’t like an indie brand but this was not a good product for my personal tastes, BUT it is a fantastic product. I just don’t like thick lip balms that need to be applied with a finger they just aren’t my cup of tea.

Makeup

I actually used up a fair bit of makeup this month I am pretty impressed with myself.

Tarte Lights Camera Splashes Mascara this is a decent enough waterproof mascara but I just don’t have need for waterproof mascaras very often I like this one but it is a little drying on the lashes.

Repurchase: No

Touch in Sol Metallist Liquid Foil and Glitter in Talia I got this in my September Sephora Play box. I guessed this was a third of the full size and I hope I was very wrong this was only good for about 3 or 4 uses before I used it all up. It did look very nice but I have plenty of things that provide a similar effect and don’t require the two step process and waiting for all these liquid shadows to dry. The glitter also too alot of packing on to get it to be in your face the way I would want my glitter to be in a full glitter look. The Stila Glitter and Glows are so much easier to work with and much more impactful. My mother did love how this looked when I did her makeup with it.

Repurchase: No

Nyx Vivid Brights Eyeliner in Vivid Fire I flipped when I found this I had been looking for red eyeliner for ever and it lasted me about a year, I apparently use red eyeliner alot. I literally went out that day and bought a new on when I ran out. Highly recomend it is so easy to do a wing. I wish it was a bit more red this can go a little pinkish depending on what shadows you have under it but still it is a cheap and great red eyeliner is you are in the market for that.

Repurchase: Yes, already have

Stila Huge Extreme Lash Mascara this is great sometimes it will smudge though so don’t get it wet and definitely apply after your setting spray. This gives the look I love for my lashes the fluffy long look. I actually have several samples and a full size of this (all gotten for basically free) so I won’t be purchasing this but I do love it.

Repurchase: No, I have many backups

Touch in Sol No Poreblem Primer this is terrible I don’t know why this is raved about. This did not fill in my pores and made my skin super greasy as well as completely breaking up and foundation I put on top of it. This was terrible but I set a goal of specifically panning this primer so I am proud that I did.

Repurchase: No

Haircare

Verb Ghost Oil this is a light oil for taming hair I am so into hair oils and I do like this one I have gone through a tube of this before. I have so so many hair oils that I will not being purchasing any any time soon. This is a nice oil but it does not blow me away enough to need it in my life.

Repurchase: No

Lip Care + 1 Random

Knc Beauty Lip Mask I got this in the November Boxycharm and ended up loving them. Check there for my review of them.

Repurchase: Yes

Nad’s Cleansing Wipe I use these after waxing my brows to wipe off the wax it was ok as good as others I have tried nothing special I use what ever comes with the kit and that is fine for me.

Repurchase: No

Bite Beauty Agave Lip Mask in Smashed this one was not as bad as the other two but still to sticky and not at all moisturizing.

Repurchase: No

Lotion

True Blue Spa Super Rich Foot Cream this was awful it was super thick and didn’t absorb well. Smelled much better then the other foot product I tried  from True Blue.

Repurchase: No

Fortune Cookie Soap Company Come to the Darth Side Whipped Cream This tub was huge took forever to get through. I love them and go though at least once a month so this is a constant on here as you will see in every post.

Repurchase: Yes

Whish Body Butter in Pomegranate the smell on this was not quite right too fake maybe? I did not enjoy this.

Repurchase: No

Chanel Hand Cream this was terrible this sample was only good for one use and thank god this had such a strong floral perfume smell that lingered forever I hated this.

Repurchase: No

Random

Bath and Body Works Poof this fell apart it was ok.

Repurchase: No

Bath and Body Works Mini Candles I really enjoy these little candle and will pick up more when they are reasonably priced. I think I have one more left that I am saving. I will go over the scents individually. But I will repurchase the mini candles just not every scent.

Treat Yourself (Pumpkin Cupcake) this was very sweet scent I liked this one a lot.

Repurchase: Maybe

If You’ve Got it Haunt it (Autumn) this was ok but it didn’t quite hit it for me I like sweet candles or fruity candles and this was like fruity being overpowered with freshness so it was a no for me.

Repurchase: No

Better Have My Candy (Midnight Blue Citrus) this is a decent fruit and fresh candle but not one of my go to scents.

Repurchase: Maybe

Assured Q-tips pretty sure these came from the dollar store they are ok for a dollar but not fantastic.

Repurchase: No

Skincare

Sunday Riley Ceramic Slip Clay Cleanser this is a do nothing cleanser I legit felt like nothing happened when I washed my face this is a waste of month.

Repurchase: No

Olay Tone Perfecting Cream felt nice but with only one use can’t say much and am not inspired to purchase it.

Repurchase: No

Biore Deep Pore Charcoal Cleanser this I do love my skin feels so clean and bright after I use it.

Repurchase: Yes

Ulta Beauty Candied Plum Mini Wipes these I always like the scented wipes are great when I feel sweaty or gross and can only wipe up quick these work well and are cheap. I don’t recommend them for the face though.

Repurchase: Yes

So a whole year of empties down. I almost doubled my goal which is awesome I think I will aim high and set a goal of 300 for next year which is 25 a month. I also may calculate a rough value of the products I’ve used up and roughly what I paid maybe, big maybe.

Total: 25

YTD: 338

<3 Nightmare Before Makeup

Sephora Play! December 2017 Subscription Box Review

nightmareb4

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