Category: Subscription Boxes

Ipsy December 2019 Subscription Box Review

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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.

Last Ipsy of the year I can’t believe it. I am not a huge fan of this bag I think the dark green with the silver is supposed to be festive but I think it looks like tin foil.

Cake Beauty Milk Made Indulgent Body Milk Cream

Full Size: 60 ml

Full Size Cost: $5.99

Sample Size: 30 ml

Value: $3.00

Maybe I have been reviewing this brand too highly since I got cake hand lotion 2 months in a row lol. That said I really like their lotions and happy to have and use this one. I have never tried anything from the Milk Made line and it doesn’t smell as good as the Delectable line but this feels so nice on my hands like it is so balmy feeling with out being greasy.

Complex Culure All Over Highlight + Powder Brush

Full Size: Yes

Full Size Cost: $20

So this is now in like the top 5 of single most expensive brushes I own (like not from sets). And it really feels well made and looks well made. The grey handle is that soft touch matte it has a nice long ferule the bristles are soft and cut well and it is just so aesthetically pleasing. It is a multipurpose brush that could be used for so many things I see my self traveling with this one for sure. I wish it wasn’t so expensive because I would like more and a few of their eye brushes but I will content myself to loving on this one. They only sell a few brushes but hopefully this brand can expand and there can be other brushes from this brand I can lust over. This is the item I picked by the way very happy with my choice.

Aromatica Rose Absolute First Serum

Full Size: 130 ml

Full Size Cost: $19.56

Sample Size: 20 ml

Value: $3.01

This is supposed to be a toner and serum combines for hydration and illumination. I will never know because I am allergic to roses.

Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush in Kisses

Full Size: 5.6 g

Full Size Cost: $29

Sample Size: 1 g

Value: $5.18

So I can’t find this color any where but Tarte often makes sample sizes of colors they don’t sell for like kits and boxes and gift with purchases and what not so that isn’t weird. Tarte blushes are super smooth and long wearing but I don’t really ever wear blush and really wouldn’t wear such a baby pink color so I am leaving it unswatched so someone else can have it.

Coloured Raine Focal Point Glow Lighters in Selfie

Full Size: 8 g

Full Size Cost: $19.99

Sample Size: 3.5 g

Value: $8.75

I thought this was going to be too dark but it is actually really sheer and subtle. It is a very pretty subtle type of highlight and that is good for some days. I have wanted to try this brand but it is a bit pricey and harder to access so I have never gotten the chance. So pretty Excited to try something from them it is really smooth as well.

You can see how it is just a nice subtle glow.

So 3 of the 5 are items I’m keeping and I redeemed points to get a Luxie brush added to next months bag which is nice. The brush in this bag pretty much makes it even if the rest was less then impressive to me.

Quick Summary:

Total Value: $39.94

Skincare: 1

Makeup: 2

Tools: 1

Hair Care: 0

Perfume: 0

Other: 1

And as far as sizes:

Full Size: 1

Deluxe Sample: 2

Sample: 2

<3 Nightmare Before Makeup

Macy’s Beauty Box December 2019 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.

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.

Who’s not ready for it to be 2020? Me!!! So Macy’s sent a really gross feeling glittery bag this month. Its that kind where you can feel the glitter and it is all hard and scratchy. I don’t like.

Makeup Drop Original Silicone Beauty Applicator in Glitz

Full Size: 1 Blender

Full Size Cost: $20

Sample Size: 1 Blender

Value: $20

This is one of those weird silicone gel blenders. I don’t like these I think they just smear makeup around rather then blending anything in. This one is cute with some glitter in side it. But I will be passing it on because this is just not a great way to apply makeup.

Paco Rabanne Invictus Legend Cologne

Full Size: 100 ml

Full Size Cost: $96

Sample Size: 1.5 ml

Value: $1.44

I love that they send men’s cologne and this is a nice smelling one. My gf really likes it and I like having little bits to share from boxes.

Carolina Herrera Good Girl Perfume

Full Size: 50 ml

Full Size Cost: $79.90

Sample Size: 1.5 ml

Value: $2.40

I don;t like this perfume I find it to be quite heavy and not my cup of tea.

Pur Highlighter in Afterglow

Full Size: 8 g

Full Size Cost: $26

Sample Size: 2.13 g

Value: $6.92

This is a really smooth gold highlighter with alot of shimmer in it. This is alot more intense than I would have expected from Pur which I usally think of as a pretty plain tame brand. Swatched below.

Grande Cosmetics Grande Lips Hydrating Lip Plumper Gloss in Midnight Shimmer

Full Size: 2.4 g

Full Size Cost: $27

Sample Size: 2.4 g

Value: $27

This color really photographs badly it looks pretty and rich and sparkely in person but the pictures make it look like a weird brown. This is not a sticky gloss which I appreciate but it is also not the kind of product I use but I plan to keep this because it is so different then anything else I have. The listed color was different than the one I received so I guess I got a substitution. This is also a pain in the ass because you have to click it up so many times. There is a definite tingle when I applied it but I don’t think it plumped. It was just shiny and thick. Swatched Below.

Girlactick 3-in-1 Lip Sparkle Balm in Twinkle

Full Size: 2.8 g

Full Size Cost: $17

Sample Size: 2.8 g

Value: $17

Always seems to me such a cheap brand gimicky brand and then every time I see the prices I am shocked at how expensive they are. This is such a weird product that seems more fitted for a kid then an adult. This is a glittery lip balm that is super glittery and frosty on the lips. It is comfortable and you can’t feel the glitter but it is just such a weird product I thought it was like an eye gloss at first. I don’t know really what to make of this. Swatched Below.

Elizabeth Arden Vitamin C Radiance Renewal Serum Capsules

Full Size: 30 Capsules

Full Size Cost: $48

Sample Size: 7 Capsules

Value: $11.20

I love this because I will be able to bring a vitamin c serum with me next time I travel. I use a vitamin c almost every night and if I miss it to many days I can see a difference in my skin but it never makes the cute in the skincare bag for travel because I have no travel size ones. I like the idea of these little capsules too because they wont spill.

Weird for Macy’s to send 2 glittery lip products but I applaud them on sending stuff that no one else is sending. High value with 3 full size products this month it is hard to be disappointed.

Total Value: $85.96

Skincare: 1

Makeup: 3

Tools: 1

Hair Care: 0

Perfume: 2

Other: 0

And as far as sizes:

Full Size: 3

Deluxe Sample: 0

Sample: 4

<3 Nightmare Before Makeup

Boxycharm November 2019 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 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.

This is the first month where you get to pick an item and the price increase is in effect. I pick an interesting looking serum. The choice for December was also skincare choices. While I like that because we all have different skincare needs I would like to see other categories as well.

Kypris Antioxidant Dew Quench & Glow Serum

Full Size: 47 ml

Full Size Cost: $90

Good on me for choosing a $90 item that’s more then I pay for Boxycharm each quarter. This i believe is supposed to be a day serum I think. It is supposed to be really glowy and have lots of antioxidants in it. It is quite tacky and a bit smoothing so I could see it being good under makeup but it takes so long to sink in that I don’t think I will ever have that kind of patience.

Dose of Colors Liquid Lipstick in Nude Mood

Full Size: 0.16 oz

Full Size Cost: $18

I do love the packaging on these they feel so nice and lux. This is a very pink nude almost as pink as Crush from ABH but a little darker and it darkens on the lips as it dries so I can get away with wearing this. This is not my favorite formula it stays pretty sticky which I don’t prefer but it isn’t as drying as other liquid lipsticks.

Boxycharm 2 Piece Brush Set

Full Size: 2 brushes

Full Size Cost: $35

These brush handles look so medieval or something I love them so much. They are also shaped in such a way that you can pinch them up near the heads or hold them far back for totally different looks. I like very dense oval shaped brushes so I really like these they are great for costume highlights or intense contouring these are very up my alley. And they are very soft.

But as you can see here there were quite a few uneven bristles that needed to be trimmed and there were some wonky hairs I think these are going to shed massively the first time I wash them. I would not pay $35 for these two brushes I don’t think they have the quality of brushes of that price but I do really like them for the roughly $4 per box item I spent on them.

The pouch them came in is a pretty good bonus too because I can pack travel brushes in that and keep them safe and not taking up room in my toiletries case.

Dominique Cosmetics Celestial Thunder Eyeshadow Palette

Full Size: 12 Shades x 1.2 2

Full Size Cost: $44

Sample Size: 8 Shades x 1.2 g

Value: $29.33

This is a condensed version of the Celestial Storm palette you can’t buy this Celestial Thunder palette. The full size palette is a but more cohesive then this one this palette won’t be for everyone with the really intensely dark shimmer shades that are in it and the more bright mattes. I like the colors though. I found this formula pretty hard to work with the shades don’t blend well into each other so I had to put alot of work and layering in to get a good look but it still came out looking a but muddy.

Vitamasques Duo Pack: Morning and Evening Eye Goggle Masks

Full Size: 2 Masks

Full Size Cost: $12

I love eye masks so I am excited to give these ones a try. I usually save all my eye masks for day time so it’ll be cool to have a night time version to try.

I am super happy with this months box. The first in a while where I genuinely will use everything even if the lipstick wasn’t perfect for me.

Total: $184.33

Total Value to Me: $184.33

<3 Nightmare Before Makeup