Macy’s Beauty Box November 2019 Subscription Box Review

Macy’s Beauty Box

Cost: $15

Cycle: Every Month

What is it: Every month you will get a bag, a $5 off coupon (sometimes $10), 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 since 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 also Macy’s does have sales and $5 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 it is still basically free.


I was really excited about these items until I tried them and then I was a bit disappointed, alot of them just weren’t really my style.

Yves Saint Laurent Mon Paris Perfume

Full Size: 47 ml

Full Size Cost: $97

Sample Size: 1.2 ml

Value: $2.48

This smells old ladyish to me and not a scent I am a fan of.

Yves Saint Laurent Y Cologne

Full Size: 60 ml

Full Size Cost: $77

Sample Size: 1.2 ml

Value: $1.54

This has a sage note which I love. I consistently like when they send the men’s cologne to go with the women’s perfume. I love that touch.

Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara

Full Size: 8 g

Full Size Cost: $25

Sample Size: 3.9 g

Value: $12.19

Couldn’t spring for 0.1 more g? Any way I love this mascara and this is the perfect tiny size for a week long vacation. Thrilled to have this because this is a pricey mascara. This makes my lashes really full and bold. The only down side is it is hard to get off and a bit heavy on the lashes.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Liquid Lipstick in Crush

Full Size: 3.1 g

Full Size Cost: $20

Sample Size: 2.3 g

Value: $14.84

This is described as a soft beige but really it is a ballerina pink. Much to pink for my tastes but I really like this formula so I want to find a way to make this work. This lasts a long time while staying pretty comfortable while wearing.

My Clarins Re-Charge Relaxing Sleeping Mask

Full Size: 50 ml

Full Size Cost: $27

Sample Size: 5 ml

Value: $2.70

This is a bit of a weird choice the My Clarins line is meant more for teens and those starting in skincare not so much the demographic of the Macy’s bag. That aside I hated this it took alot to spread over the face there is probably only one more use in here. and it was a do nothing product it didn’t reel calming or hydrating or anything like that. I will throw this on tonight just to call it done and not have to put it away.

Kiehl’s Calendula Serum-Infused Water Cream

Full Size: 28 ml

Full Size Cost: $33

Sample Size: 7 ml

Value: $8.25

Kiehl’s products never work for my skin no matter how much I want them too. This cream smells really nice and bright. Water creams often gel up and sit sticky on top of my skin so I don’t have high hopes for this.

Peter Thomas Roth Instant Firmx Eye Temporary Eye Tightener

Full Size: 30 ml

Full Size Cost: $38

Sample Size: 15 ml

Value: $19

This is supposed to be like instant botox and instantly fill in lines and tighten skin. It is a pretty cool product and it does seem to work a bit. I doubt this would be worth the trouble or price for every day but for special occasions it makes sense. This is like a direct opposite age group product to the My Clarins.

#macysbeauty Compact Mirror

This is really heavy and quite nice quality. It has 3 mirrored surfaces all with different magnification. I don’t kow what people pay for compacts but Macy’s has some ranging fomr like $30 to $100 dollars which is mind blowing I couldn’t imagine. This is the kinda thing that will get fingerprints all over it instantly. Which would drive me nuts.


This bag was a bit all over the place in the curation and a lot just didn’t work out for me personally but it was still a great value with some really interesting and new product choices. Even when the items don’t work for me they are still interesting choices.

Total Value: $61

Skincare: 3

Makeup: 2

Tools: 0

Hair Care: 0

Perfume: 2

Other: 1

And as far as sizes:

Full Size: 1

Deluxe Sample: 3

Sample: 4

<3 Nightmare Before Makeup

Ipsy November 2019 Subscription Box Review

Ipsy Bag

Cost: $12 monthly, $132 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 300 points and 1000 points. You can get around 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.

You can now customize your bag and pick out one sample per month that will get to be in your bag which is a pretty nice change even though it came with a price increase.


I am so not into the leopard print this month at all. But on to the products which I am also not that into this month. You win some you lose some.

Delectable By Cake Beauty Butter Balm Hand Cream in Triple Citrus Blend

Full Size: 236 ml

Full Size Cost: $12

Sample Size: 30 ml

Value: $1.53

Best thing in the box for me I like Delectable creams they are super rich and moisturizing. This one has a light citrus scent and I will use this up quickly I think I have set it beside my computer.

Lock Color Lock It Good Boundation in 5 Medium Buff

Full Size: 30 g

Full Size Cost: $14

Sample Size: 10 g

Value: $4.67

This is much too dark for me and quite heavy feeling for a BB cream style foundation. I think I might try mixing this with some much too light foundations I have and seeing how that turns out for me.

First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Oat & Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil

Full Size: 30 ml

Full Size Cost: $30

Sample Size: 4.3 ml

Value: $4.30

I love the tiny little bottle I just wish they have given 5 ml instead of a weird 4.3 ml so odd. Cannabis and CBD in skincare is like the big new hot trend so I really wanted to try this since I have tried so few products. This is a very oily oil it was a bit much for my skin it did feel soothing on but it cause a bit of congestion in certain parts of my skin. I am going to have to be really careful using this just on irritated spots and not on my whole face. Or I may use it on my hands when I get little allergy patches I see being quite good for that and this is reasonably priced enough that it can be used for that purpose.

Dome Beauty Powder Blush in English Rose

Full Size: ?

Full Size Cost: $28

Sample Size: 2.5 g

Value: $?

I don’t know the full size amount of this but I pretty sure this is not full size. This is a very creamy feeling blush but very light in color and I am not a blush person. Swatched Below.

GiGi Gorgeous The Sick Sculpt Bronzer in Extra

Full Size: 3.1 g

Full Size Cost: $19.80

Sample Size: 3.1 g

Value: $19.80

This can only be bought through Ipsy. This has a good ton ad builds well which is good because this is a bit light for me as a bronzer. The tone of this has that bit of a grey cool tone that makes it good for contouring with which I like. Swatched Below.


I wasn’t happy last month and again not that happy this month. I hope Ipsy refinds their footing after this change soon. Because this low value is not really what I signed up for.

Quick Summary:

Total Value: $30.30?

Skincare: 1

Makeup: 3

Tools: 0

Hair Care: 0

Perfume: 0

Other: 1

And as far as sizes:

Full Size: 1

Deluxe Sample: 1

Sample: 3

<3 Nightmare Before Makeup

What’s In My Trash? October 2019

The month of spooky is over and now it is full on Christmas season there is already Christmas music and movies playing.

Skincare (9)

Medusa’s Makeup After Glow Facial Serum I loved this so so much and will probably have to repurchase. It is expensive for such a small amount but it did last me a very long time. I only need about three drops for my whole face. This is a grapefruit oil serum/moisturizer and it made my face look and feel so glowy and soft and it smelled so amazing I just really loved it and am missing it already but I have a few thing in reserve that I need to give a shot before I repurchase this.

Repurchase: Yes

Body Prescriptions  Micellar Foaming Cleanser I didn’t really like this cleanser it didn’t remove makeup and I found it pretty drying and stripping on my skin. My girlfriend on the other hand loved it and said it made her skin clearer so you know differing opinions.

Repurchase: No

Fortune Cookie Soap Company Facial Cleansing Oil in Totally Rad I love the cleansing oils from FCS they even remove eye makeup with out stinging or making a film on my contacts. They don’t emulsify at all which is the only down side but they really work perfectly all the same.

Repurchase: Absolutely

Wander Beauty Baggage Claim Gold Eye Masks these are the only eye masks I have ever use that actually work they hydrate and take away dark circles lines and puffiness they stay on really well so I can wear them while doing my eyeshadow and use them to make a crisp line as well as catch fall out these are great.

Repurchase: Yes

Double Dare OMG! 2 in 1 Detox Bubbling Microfiber Mask this was a two-step mask first is one of those bubbling sheet masks that is supposed to cleanse your skin and remove your makeup and exfoliate. I don’t know how it could do all those things I would not trust this to remove my makeup but my skin did feel clean and soft after it. The second step is a hydrating mask that I didn’t really like it was sticky and thick and didn’t seem to absorb well.

Repurchase: No, I do have another one.

Valjean Labs Restore Facial Serum I didn’t like this I don’t feel like it did anything for my skin and it was sticky.

Repurchase: No

Clinique Dramatically Different Hydrating Jelly this is a water gel moisturizer I don’t love it but I’ll use it when I have it which is  fairly often. It is very light and watery.

Repurchase: No

7th Heaven Green Tea Peel-Off Face Mask this did nothing the only good thing about it was that it didn’t hurt when I peeled it off.

Repurchase: No

Smartly Unscented Facial Cleansing Wipes these were pretty drying and not very effective.

Repurchase: No

Random (3)

Fortune Cookie Soap OCD Hand Sanitizer in Third Times a Charm this was super old it had lost its scent I had been using it so long. I love their hand sanitizers I find them less drying then other had sanitizers.

Repurchase: Yes

Secret Deodorant Ph Balance in Shower Fresh. I liked this a lot I forgot that I liked this line of deodorants I would repurchase.

Repurchase: Yes

Koh Gen Do Pure Cotton Pads these are super super soft which I really enjoyed but I don’t like cotton pads that have unfinished edges because I feel like they get fluff everywhere and I don’t like that. These are pretty big though so I cut them in half to get double the amount of use out of them.

Repurchase: No

Home Scents (2)

Bath and Body Works Summer Suntan Candle this is my all time favorite candle they make I smells like summer and suntan lotion and reminds me of the beach and I just love everything about it. This pretty glittery rainbow jar they did for pride month was really awesome too.

Repurchase: Yes

Bath and Body Works Vampire Blood Candle I really wanted to love this the jar is pretty the wax is this gorgeous bloody red color when it was melted. But there was no scent throw on this at all. I also lost the jar it grew legs and walked away.

Repurchase: No

Lip (2)

Fortune Cookie Soap Company Shine Bright Sheer Shimmer Lip Balm this was so good it tasted good and smelled good kinda fruity. It felt so nice and moisturizering and smooth on I loved it so much sad to see it go.

Repurchase: If this formula comes back yes

Platinum Endontics Lip Balm this is like a random giveaway item you get for free from a million different types of places this one happens to come from the dentist and it is an oddly nice lip balm it is really smooth and coating so it feels like and protecting on my lips and is a nice vanilla flavor.

Repurchase: No because it isn’t for sale but I will use them when I get them.

Makeup (4)

Bare Minerals Whipped Velvet Long Wear Eyecolor in Gilded Beige I didn’t really like this as a liquid eyeshadow it was boring and not super impactful. I used it up as a highlighter it was pretty but not over the top. I’m glad I got some use out of it but I didn’t really like it.

Repurchase: No

Medusa’s Makeup Witch Lash in Electric Blue I love this mascara so so much the witch lash mascara is in my top 5 mascaras and their blue mascaras are really pigmented and show up so well.  I also like how long and feathery it makes my lashes look.

Repurchase: Yes

Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray this is my favorite setting spray it really works and it isn’t sticky, doesn’t smell weird and sprays out really nice and even.

Repurchase: Yes

Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara this is a really great mascara it really is as great as all the reviews it makes my lashes look really bold and full. I don’t like how hard it is to get off but It is a great mascara.

Repurchase: Yes

Lotion (3)

Bath and Body Works Bourbon Strawberry & Vanilla Body Lotion This smelled nice really sweet and that fake strawberry scent but really no bourbon scent. The body lotions are fine but nothing special.

Repurchase: No

Fortune Cookie Soap Wendy Bird Aloe Me Whipped Cream I love all the scents from the Second Star to the Right Collection the aloe me whipped creams are really nice they aren’t as sticky as aloe but lighter than a regular whipped cream lotion.

Repurchase: Yes

Ahava Dead Sea Water Mineral Hand Cream I loved this it smells like the ocean which is so calming and lovely to me. It was also really creamy and hydrating.

Repurchase: No

Bodycare (4)

Lush Secret Arts Jelly Bomb this was so fun and cool. It was a bath bomb that fizzes and changes the water color but in the bath bomb was like seaweed jelly that made the water extra soft and really made my skin feel so amazing this was ten times better than any other bath bomb at that. There was like no scent from this but it turned my water perfectly black and I love not being able to see through the water at all so that was great. It totally stained my tub though which was not so great because the last thing I want to do after a bath is wash my tub but still really enjoyed this.

Repurchase: Maybe, I don’t take a lot of baths and this is $8 for one bath

Bath and Body Works Shower Gel in Waikiki Beach Coconut I loved the coconut scent of this it was great.

Repurchase: Yes

Cauldron Bath Bomb I don’t know where this came from. It turned my water a really fun green color and it was super fun wathing it all bubble out of the cauldron. I didn’t love the scent though but it was nice.

Repurchase: No, I don’t know what it is or where to get it.

Bath and Body Works Rainbow Body Oil in Marshmallow Magic I loved the Marshmallow Magic scent and would love for BBW to bring it back but this oil was a miss for it had way to much alcohol in it and would sting my skin after shaving. It was pretty and smelled nice though.

Repurchase: No

Perfume (1)

Cosmos by Zoella I only have 1 left from this four scent set I bought and I can’t wait to be done with that one. I didn’t like any of these perfumes they all smell really cheap and don’t last long. I got sucked in my cute bottles and my punishment to myself is that I need to use them up completely.

Repurchase: NO

Haircare (3)

Fortune Cookie Soap Company Greased Lightnin’ Hemp Seed Leave-In Conditioner  this I didn’t like it was messy it would like leak out of the bottom of the sprayer while I tried to use it. It was kinda thin and sticky because I think the heavier good part of the conditioner was leaking out and the scent was off-putting to me too musky. This was a fail. I am very picky with leave ins they have to be perfect or I hate them.

Repurchase: No

Moroccanoil Color Depositing Mask in Hibiscus I said this before this is just a really expensive packet of hair dye and there is better hair dye for cheaper.

Repurchase: No

Pantene Intense Rescue Shot Ampoule this made my hair feel so so soft I really liked this mask. I hated the packaging though I wish it came out of a bigger hole because once this really slippery mask was in my hands it was really hard to keep squeezing the tube without it falling out of my hands. There is also something so nice about those old school hair brand scents like Pantene.

Repurchase: Yes

Declutter (2)

Elf Mineral Infused Mascara this was so natural it felt and looked like nothing was on my lashes at all and that is not a look I go for. I don’t have time in my life for crappy mascara.

Vitamasques Face Food Strawberry Yoghurt Mask this has strawberry in it and since that time I had a bad reaction to strawberries in skincare I am too afraid to use strawberry products I can’t patch test first so I will add this to the declutter bin for someone else to try.


I am coming into the season where I will be adding so much stuff into my collection over they next 3 months so I really need to put using product up into high gear now this was a slower month after using alot in September so I really need to be at double this for November. Bit disappointed in myself this month.

Total This Month: 33

Total: 473

Approx Value This Month: $257.42

Approx Paid This Month: $73.76

Approx Total Value: $2,528.11

Approx Total Paid: $717.03

<3 Nightmare Before Makeup