Author: nightmareb4

January 2017 Sephora Play! Subscription Box Review

nightmareb4

Sephora Play!

Cost: $10.70 monthly

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.  Even one used to receive the same samples but they have now it seems officially switched into using box variations.

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.

Once again we have a different style bag. Its like a weird plasticy canvas type fabric with a mesh back.

The mess is see thru and there is a cute message on the front as usual. This would be cute in a gym bag and intend to give this to my friend who actually goes to the gym unlike my lazy ass.

There was a really good assortment of products this month so let’s get into it.

It Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream in Medium

Full Size: 32 ml

Full Size Cost: $38

Sample Size: 4 ml

Value: $4.75

This is a tiny tube about a third of the size of the travel size that they sell but should still be good for at least 5 uses if not more. This is a very full coverage CC cream I do own this in a full size it is very nice and natural looking but does feel very heavy on the skin. Swatched below.

Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey

Full Size: 2 g

Full Size Cost: $17

Sample Size: Not listed About 1/3

Value: $5.70

So this actually arrived broken. I contacted Sephora and they got back to me within a few hours. Their customer service is always really good, they credited my account with 100 points. I was able to get the lipstick out of the cap and use a lighter to melt it back together. It actually seems to be just fine it just looks pretty beat up not.

After I melted it back together.

This is a ok color but not my favorite. It is very sheer and not very long lasting. It does feel nice and moisturizing on the lips and is not sticky

Swatches of lipstick and foundation.

Ouai Treatment Mask

Full Size: 72 ml

Full Size Cost: $32

Sample Size: 15 ml

Value: $6.67

So the full size of this actually comes in foil packets, a set of 8 at 9 ml each. I would never buy something so expensive in a foil packet. For that price they should at least be putting them in small tubes like this one or one giant tube. This tube should be good for 1-2 uses depending on hair type and length. Idk when I’m gona get around to using this so check my future empties posts for an update.

Drunk Elephant LaLa Retro Whipped Cream

Full Size: 49.98 ml

Full Size Cost: $60

Sample Size: 5 ml

Value: $6.00

Another Drunk Elephant product. They are so ridiculously expensive that I get super excited to try them. The Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Framboos™ Glycolic Night Serum I received back in my Oct 2016 box did not really do anything for my skin but I was excited for a new product. This has a really warm comforting scent like oatmeal or something but not oatmeal, I don’t know how to describe it but it is really comforting and nice. This is a really thick moisturizer that does not absorb super quickly. Normally I would not put something like this on my oily face but i gave it a go and it did not leave my face feeling greasy just soft and hydrated. Time will tell if this clogs my pores like most moisturizers do.

Tarte Frxxxtion Stick Exfoliating Cleanser

Full Size: 1 oz

Full Size Cost: $22

Sample Size: 0.22 oz

Value: $4.84

This thing is so fucking cool. It is really easy to apply just kinda swipe it all over your face and then add water and scrub. It has a fine grain but powerful exfoliator and really made my skin feel clean and exfoliated and even a little dry which is rare for me. If you have dry or sensitive skin you may not like this but if you have normal to oily skin I think you will really enjoy this and it is so convenient. And it isn’t even that expensive I was expecting a much higher price and was pleasantly surprised I will definitely be buying this in a full size. And it is black which makes me love it more. Have I raved about this enough? Everyone needs this in their life. I’m in love.

Tory Burch Perfume in Love Relentlessly

Full Size: 1 oz

Full Size Cost: $68

Sample Size: 0.05 oz

Value: $3.40

This is actually a nice scent very fresh but warm almost floral it is very adult with out being stuffy.

So this was a pretty low value this month but these are all products I will use and enjoy, except for maybe the lipstick. I also discovered a new life need in that Frxxxtion stick.

Quick Summary:

Total Value: $31.36

Skincare: 2

Makeup: 2

Tools: 0

Hair Care: 1

Perfume: 1

Other: 0

And as far as sizes:

Full Size: 0

Deluxe Sample: 0

Sample: 6

<3 Nightmare Before Makeup

 

 

 

Walmart Winter 2016/2017 Trendsetter Box Review

nightmareb4

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.

So I was under the impression that all boxes in a category were the same I was apparently mistaken and definitely didn’t receive one of the more fun boxes. I basically got box of lotion.

For a free box from Walmart they really do a cute job with packaging.

How cute is that snowflake wrapping. I had to use it as a background for some of these pictures.

L’oréal Paris Advanced Haircare Smooth Intense Ultimate Straight

Full Size: 12.6 oz, 12.6 oz, 6.8 oz

Full Size Cost: $3, $3, $6.63

Sample Size: 3 x 0.34 oz

Value: $0.08, $0.08, $0.33

Total Value: $0.49

I have listed the products Shampoo, Conditioner, Pre-conditioner. And then totaled up the value I hope this makes sense.

I have used this in the past and have liked it. It leaves my hair soft and shiny and straighter then it would normally be.The only thing about this is that it smells really weird not necessarily bad but weird if you like a nice pleasant smelling shampoo this is not it but it does not linger on the hair so I can live with it.

nspa Body Butter in Exotically Creamy Coconut

Full Size: 200 ml

Full Size Cost: $17.99

Sample Size: 50 ml

Value: $4.50

This can no longer be purchased on the Walmart website. The other scents are only priced at around $5.21 but I was only able to find the coconut on Amazon.  This is a decent feeling cream but it does not smell like coconut at all it almost smells like flowers or something I do not like it. Luckily they sent me plenty of other moisturizing things so I won’t have to fear for dry skin *heavy sarcasm*

TRESemmé Volumizing Dry Shampoo

Full Size: 4.3 oz

Full Size Cost: $4.99

Sample Size: 1.15 oz

Value: $1.33

This has the classic TRESemmé scent to it. It does not leave much white residue like many dry shampoos do. It is stickier then my new found live the Drybar dry shampoo but considerably cheaper.

Curél Hydratheraphy Wet Skin Moisturizer

Full Size: 12 oz

Full Size Cost: $9.89

Sample Size: 2 oz

Value: $1.65

I tried a little of this on dry skin and it felt a little greasy I imagine the water is supposed to break that down when you take a shower.

Dove Deep Moisture Body Wash

Full Size: 22 oz

Full Size Cost: $5.47

Sample Size: 1.8 oz

Value: $0.45

 

This absolutely smells like nothing. I’m not a huge fan of Dove products but I’ll use it just the same.

Also included were some coupons

Well Im excited about the shampoo and the dry shampoo but the rest is meh. Still this box is once again worth it. You can’t be getting samples in the mail for $5 packages are always fun.

Quick Summary:

Total Value: $8.42

Skincare: 3

Makeup: 0

Tools: 0

Hair Care: 2

Perfume: 0

Other: 0

And as far as sizes:

Full Size: 0

Deluxe Sample: 0

Sample: 5

<3 Nightmare Before Makeup

January 2017 Ipsy Subscription Review

nightmareb4

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 in any way just one beauty junkie to another.

Spoiler Alert: I wasn’t overly thrilled with this months bag. Both the products and the bag itself.

The bag itself was some what weird this month. I applaud Ipsy for doinging something different and always trying to bring out new and interesting bags but this was weird.

Its a grey bag covered by a blue mesh. It looks so much like a shirt some cheesy 90s popstar would have worn back in the day. The material on this also feels cheap like it would tear easily and get snagged on things if you threw this in another bag.

Beauté Basics C405 Contouring Brush

Full Size: yes

Full Size Cost: $7.49

As I’m sure you guys know already I’m about to be really picky since this was a weird product in my opinion and here’s why.  So Crown Brushes for those of you who don’t know do something that is called private labeling where they will make brushes for another company and put the company’s name on it. Now that’s all fine and well and I have no problem with that alot of companies do that for all sorts of products totally common technically you could do to crown and get brushes with your own damn name on the if you wanted to, which honestly would be super cool. My problem here is they lest this as a crown brush but its been private labeled for Beauté Basics so it many not necessarily be the same brush as the Crown one depending on the order they placed. Also while you can find this brush on crown’s website you cannot find it on Beauté Basic’s website and that is a little weird and sketchy to me.  This also this brush is shedding like crazy and I haven’t eve used it yet I have little hairs all over my key board from just looking at it and taking pictures to review. This is all around bizarre for me ad not what I expect from Ipsy.

Temptu Base Smooth & Matte Primer

Full Size: 30 ml

Full Size Cost: $25

Sample Size: 7.5 ml

Value: $6.25

Who named this? this is literally the opposite of a matte primer. I found this very thin and very illuminating. It also smells like paint so I don’t know if I am going to use this or pass this along illuminating primers are not really my thing. There was also no smoothing, blurring, pore filling effects it really didn’t do much but brighten the skin a little.

Pūr~lisse Blue Lotus Seed Mud Mask + Exfoliant

Full Size: 70 ml

Full Size Cost: $52

Sample Size: 15 ml

Value: $11.14

Did not realize how expensive this was when I tried it $52 for a mud mask that is ridiculous. Any KathrineLights fans out there? I can hear her voice right now lol. Any way I do like this brand and I really enjoy the blue lotus and seaweed sheet masks but this not so much. I feel like this mask fails at both being a clay mask and being an exfoliator.  It does not spread well and I feel like my pores actually looked bigger and more open after this mask. It did leave my skin feeling tight but not necessarily smoother. Honestly save your money and you can get all three Loreal clay masks for less and multi mask your little heart our they are like 10 dollars each you get more product and they are honestly wonderful better then alot of the high end masks I’ve used. Like run don’t walk and buy those instead.

It Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Illumination Concealer in Medium

Full Size: 8 ml

Full Size Cost: $24

Sample Size: 1.5 ml

Value: $4.5

I have such a love hate with this brand the products are nice but they are really expensive. They are generally super full coverage but on me they tend to crease or get cakey or just look like i have heavy stage make up on. I was worried this would be the wrong color but medium does look like it will be light enough on me. Swatched  A tiny amount goes along way with this product. It is much brighter then the regular Bye Bye Under Eye that I also received in an Ipsy Bag. Also if youre interested it happens to be on sale right now on QVC and comes with one of their concealer brushes which is a great deal.

the Balm Bahama Mama Bronzer

Full Size: 0.25 oz

Full Size Cost: $10.99

Sample Size: 0.02 oz

Value: $0.88

I love the Balm they always have the cutest packaging. This is a bronzer/contour multipurpose powder type of deal. It is a neutral tone but looks a little muddy when applied. Swatched below. What I learned from this bag this  is they sell the Balm at Walmart did any one else know that? Because that is really cool. this sample is so small though that it will be hard to use as bronzer.

Here are the concealer and the bronzer swatched.

I feel like the curation of this bag was not that great this month. Ipsy this was a shitty way to start the year. The value is lower then I typically see in an Ipsy bag. This bag felt very random and thrown together I usually notice a good bit more cohesion between the products in a bag like a whole look and maybe a tool or skin care item.

Quick Summary:

Total Value: $30.26

Skincare: 1

Makeup: 3

Tools: 1

Hair Care: 0

Perfume: 0

Other: 0

And as far as sizes:

Full Size: 1

Deluxe Sample: 0

Sample: 4

<3 Nightmare Before Makeup