Category: Subscription Boxes

Macy’s Beauty Box March 2020 Subscription Box Review

nightmareb4

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. Lately we have been getting between 6 and 8 items per month you never really know how many things you are going to get.

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 seen 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.

So I wasn’t charged and didn’t get a box last month no real idea why but back to getting them I suppose not really sure what happened there. Boy is there an interesting assortment of items this month. Also unlike normal there is barely any skincare. What an odd thing for Macy’s.

Beauty by Popsugar Be Racy Liquid Velvet Lip in Berry Nice

Full Size: 0.12 oz

Full Size Cost: $24

Sample Size: 0.085 oz

Value: $17

I have a lot of moral issues with this brand and I want to start off with that because I feel it is really important and I don’t feel like this brand is above board. Starting with the smaller issue first their packaging is so deceptive. This is more than half the amount in the full size and this tube is about 1 inch tall. Their packaging for their products is big and makes it look like you are getting alot of product when you really aren’t. Granted that can be a personal problem because as consumers we should be reading the listed amounts so we know what we are paying for. The larger issue here is and i have seen this first hand because of where I work. Their products with SPF obviously expire, and they would have vendors come in and put labels over the expired expiration dates with new non expired dates. What the actual fuck. Now my managers at least are good people and we would take those products off the shelf because they are expired but what about all the places where they didn’t? I would never suggest anyone buy anything from this brand because that is shady as hell and potential dangerous to some one who thinks they are getting an SPF protection but it is actually expired and not giving them protection.

This is a very red toned berry and it is patchy. Swatched Below.

Tarte Amazonian Clay Waterproof Bronzer in Park Ave Princess

Full Size: 9 g

Full Size Cost: $30

Sample Size: 1 g

Value: $3.33

I don’t love this bronzer. It is very shimmery and very light. I will probably just use this up when I do other peoples makeup and need a bronzer for more fair toned people. This really is nothing that impressive or special. Swatched Below.

Urban Decay Stay Naked Vice Lip Chemistry in 21

Full Size: 4 ml

Full Size Cost: $22

Sample Size: 0.4 ml

Value: $2.20

I have a full size of this in a different shade and I don’t love them. I hate how finger prints get all over the packaging. It is also really uneven when you apply it it stains different parts of your lips different colors and it tastes weirdly chemically. This shade is a much prettier red shade then the shade I have I will give it that. Swatched Below.

Lancome Monsieur Big Mascara

Full Size: 10 ml

Full Size Cost: $25

Sample Size: 2 ml

Value: $5

I don’t love Lancome mascara they sorta feel heavy and make my eyes a bit itchy but this is a really big volumizing mascara.

Tony Moly Peach Punch Cleansing Tissue

Full Size: 30 wipes

Full Size Cost: $7

Sample Size: 8 Wipes

Value: $1.87

I am always happy to have a new travel pack of wipes. I don’t love the cleanser from this range it is a bit stripping but it smells nice. I anticipate these wipes to be the same.

Dolce & Gabbana Dolce Garden

Full Size: 75 ml

Full Size Cost: $122

Sample Size: 1.5 ml

Value: $2.44

Way to heavy of a floral scent for me. If you like florals this one is for you.

Calvin Klein CK Everyone

Full Size: 97.6

Full Size Cost: $67

Sample Size: 1.2 ml

Value: $0.82

This is a unisex cologne but it reminds me just a bit to much of Aqua di Gio to want to wear it myself. It smells really nice though.

Twelvenyc Makeup Must Have Set

Eyelash Curler

Full Size: Yes

Full Size Cost: $1

Reusable Makeup Remover Cloths

Full Size: 6 rounds

Full Size Cost: $8.29

Sample Size: 3 Cloths

Value: $4.15

So this little set is was made for this box by TwelveNYC which private labels alot of beauty tools and promo items for all sorts of brands like Macy’s, Urban Outfitters, Make Up For Ever, etc. So this doesn’t have a listed value, it wasn’t even included on the card so I just estimated.

The eyelash curler feels exactly the same as the one I bought at the Dollar Tree so there’s that. The cloths feel exactly like my Makeup Eraser, they are super soft and I will happily use them to take off eye makeup.

Total Value: $37.81

Skincare: 1

Makeup: 4

Tools: 2

Hair Care: 0

Perfume: 2

Other: 0

And as far as sizes:

Full Size: 1

Deluxe Sample: 3

Sample: 5

<3 Nightmare Before Makeup

Ipsy March 2020 Subscription Box Review

nightmareb4
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.

This was a big “celebration” month in honor of the 100th Ipsy bag. So everyone got 6 items as well as a deal on Add-Ons. Add-ons usually start at $3 dollars but we got a 42 off discount on add-ons so for the first time ever I did get an add-on for an additional $1.07 which I’ll talk about later in this post. Other then that which pretty much saved the month for me it was a pretty meh bag.

Caolion Blackhead O2 Bubble Pore Pack

Full Size: 50 g

Full Size Cost: $14.49

Sample Size: 15 g

Value: $4.35

I don’t love these bubbling masks I feel like they are alot of gimmick, but they are super fun so I will use it.

Girlactik Precise Eyeliner Marker

Full Size: 1.2 ml

Full Size Cost: $20

Sample Size: 1.2 ml

Value: $20

I have gotten this before I can’t remember if it was from Ipsy or from Macy’s it is a fine liner nothing that amazing nothing that terrible. I have alot of open liners so I am not opening this just to swatch it we all know what a black liquid liner looks like.

Honey Jarret Clean Whip Cleanser

Full Size: 100 g

Full Size Cost: $18

Sample Size: 30 g

Value: $5.40

I have never heard of this brand but it seems pretty affordable. This is supposed to be really cleansing and get all the dirt and makeup out of your pores so I am wondering if it is going to also be really stripping.

Grace & Stella Lavender Lotion

Full Size: 473 ml

Full Size Cost: $15

Sample Size: 30 ml

Value: $0.95

I don’t love this it isn’t the sweet lavender scent that I prefer. It is also really greasy I am not the biggest fan.

Wander Beauty Wandress Eyeshadow in Blossom

Full Size: 6 shades x 1.6 g Each

Full Size Cost: $25

Sample Size: 1.4 g

Value: $3.65

This to me looks like and feels like a highlighter it is a pretty pink shifting gold shade very shimmery but not a ton of base color. The whole palette it comes in also sorta looks like a highlighter palette to me and that is how I plan to use this up. It is really pretty and smooth though I don’t hate it.

Complex Culture All Over Shadow Brush

Full Size: Yes

Full Size Cost: $18

I love these brushes they are so high quality so soft they blend beautifully. I just love them this is the third I think I have gotten from Ipsy. One was also part of the add-ons so I got the precision eyelid as an add-on for a dollar and am super happy to have these two brushes. They are so so nice. I love them.

Not my favorite month but the two brushes have me super super happy.

Quick Summary:

Total Value: $52.35

Skincare: 2

Makeup: 2

Tools: 1

Hair Care: 0

Perfume: 0

Other: 1

And as far as sizes:

Full Size: 2

Deluxe Sample: 0

Sample: 4

<3 Nightmare Before Makeup

Boxycharm February 2020 Subscription Box Review

nightmareb4

Boxycharm

Cost: $25

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 $25 which is usually less then the cost of one item in the box. Boxycharm also joined the customization train and you can choose between 2 items to have one in your box for the month. I really like that because Boxycharm was getting to the point where I was only liking one thing in my box and even though the value was there the fun wasn’t anymore.

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.

Winter came back with a vengeance and I am so cold that even the short while I need to be out from under the blanket to write this is physically painful.

Ciate London Everyday Vacay Coconut Setting Powder

Full Size: 15 g

Full Size Cost: $22

So this is the stiffest powder I have ever felt. Like I didn’t know a powder could feel so stiff and dry it is weird. It also says it is coconut scented but it isn’t. Pretty packaging though and this is a brand new just launched product so that makes it a bit cooler to see in here.

Alamar Cosmetics Complexion Brush Trio

Full Size: 3 brushes

Full Size Cost: $36

This is a very interesting set of brushes. First I don’t like that they are all labeled with what they are “supposed” to be used for because it seems misleading. The littlest brush is labeled a brightening brush which is just an odd thing to call a brush it is either a highlighting brush or an under eye setting brush but it is a bit dense for either of those uses. Then the brush that is labeled bronzer is more of a foundation brush. It has all the bumps on it that make it uneven so it would make bronzer super patchy. It is super weird.

Kate Somerville Kx Active Concentrates Bio-Mimicking Peptides Serum

Full Size: 30 ml

Full Size Cost: $98

This was the item I chose and I am definitely getting my moneys worth with these picks. This was pretty sticky on but I am hoping it will help make my skin appear smoother and refreshed like it claims. Kate Somerville products have a good reputation but I have never had the chance to try any of their more expensive more interesting products.

First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads

Full Size: 28 pads

Full Size Cost: $17

These I have tried before and they are pretty unimpressive they are like grown up Oxypads. I find them to be pretty drying so I will hold off using these till the summer. I have never used them longer then a week or two but I can’t say I saw any brightening other then just removing dirt and oil from my face.

Evioskin x Aurora Refreshing Cleansing Hemp Wipes

Full Size: 30 Wipes

Full Size Cost: $14

Travel Size: 15 Wipes

Cost: $10

These are currently totally sold out but we don’t get wipes in boxes often so even though these are the travel size I am pretty thrilled to get some new ones to try. Everything has hemp or cbd in it these days since it is the hot new trend but still a win.

Another month of a very skincare heavy box but I am not going to complain about that. Though I am hoping for some fun makeup next month. I love getting brushes because who wants to pay for them.

Total: $183

Total Value to Me: $161

<3 Nightmare Before Makeup