Category: Subscription Boxes

Ipsy October 2019 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 can with a price increase.

This was the first month we I got to try out customization. I just went on when I got the email and chose the sample I wanted. I really like that because it guarantees you will be at least sorta happy with something in your bag.

This month Ipsy did a Betty Boop Collection. The bag is super cute but the products all seemed pretty meh.

Betty Boop x Ipsy Drawn to You Eyeliner

Full Size: ?

Full Size Cost: $3.99

Sample Size: ?

Value: $3.99

You can only get this if you buy the whole collection this is not great it comes out really smooth and black but it is is so liquidy and bleeds really terribly. I have potential plans to use this to make the dark/shadowy base you use under liquid latex for wounds so that I don’t waste a good eyeliner. But I doubt this will last long in my life if I don’t end up using it for that.

Beau Gachis Concealer Brush

Full Size: Yes

Full Size Cost: $11.95

This brush feels pretty cheap the bristles aren’t cut super even and feel really really plastic like.

It Cosmetics CC Cream in Medium

Full Size: 32 ml

Full Size Cost: $39

Sample Size: 4 ml

Value: $4.88

I hate this product it doesn’t work from my skin at all I find it to look really really heavy and sit on top of my skin in a really unflattering way. This is just not a good pick for me. Though I know it is really popular.

Private Doctor Define Minus Serum

Full Size: 40 ml

Full Size Cost: $49

Sample Size: 7 ml

Value: $8.58

This was my customization choice, I’m never going to pass up an expensive serum. I don’t know how this works yes but I should get about a week or two out of it and it is my next serum to try when I finish up my current one (that I hate its a random niacinamide one) tonight. This is supposed to help reduce lines and sagging.

Aphrodite Olive Oil Deep Cleansing Face Mask

Full Size: 75 ml

Full Size Cost: $10.99

Sample Size: 15 ml

Value: $2.20

This is supposed to draw out impurities and hydrate. I am leery about putting olive oil on my face but I’ll give it a go when my face feels like it needs a heavy does of nourishment.

This was not a great month for me at all. But you win some you lose some I don’t really love anything in this months bag and the only one that I am interested in trying is the serum I picked out. This month had a shockingly low value as well after the change and the promise of a higher value I am pretty displeased. I don’t feel like I got my moneys worth.

Quick Summary:

Total Value: $31.60

Skincare: 2

Makeup: 2

Tools: 1

Hair Care: 0

Perfume: 0

Other: 0

And as far as sizes:

Full Size: 2

Deluxe Sample: 0

Sample: 3

<3 Nightmare Before Makeup

Macy’s Beauty Box October 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.

Hurray another month of Macy’s I really do love this box I get really excited for it every month. Lately instead of a bag we have been getting like reusable beauty item like we got a brush roll, a brush, and this month a muslin washcloth. I am into it. I have plenty of bags.

Bare Minerals Original Mineral Veil

Full Size: 8.5 g

Full Size Cost: $24

Sample Size: 0.75 g

Value: $2.12

I hate this powder so I am of course not excited to see it. I find it to be weirdly too light and to pink. As well as really kinda gunky/cakey on my skin. This is also so tiny you would go through it really fast. I guess good for travel though since powder containers are so huge.

Muslin Facecloth

Full Size: 4

Full Size Cost: $12.99

Sample Size: 1

Value: $3.25

I have always wanted to try a muslin cloth but never wanted to buy one this is actually a bit rougher and thinner then I thought it would be. I don’t see this holding up long but it is so small and easy to fold I think I might keep this with my travel stuff and use it for a traveling wash cloth.

Fur Wash Cloth Cleansing & Softening

Full Size: 18 ct

Full Size Cost: $22

Sample Size: 1 Cloth

Value: $1.22

I love these single use body cleansing cloths for throwing in my car or in a bag if I am gona be out at like a festival or theme park all day to clean up when I feel gross. I know this brand is supposed to be very good for skin and taking care of your personal bits so that’s cool.

Origins Plantscriptions Ant-Aging Power Serum

Full Size: 48 ml

Full Size Cost: $80

Sample Size: 15 ml

Value: $25

It is nice to see something from Origins that is not the charcoal mask which I have gotten over and over in boxes. This claims to reduce signs of aging but doesn’t have alot of claims so eh I don’t have that much faith that this does anything except feel nice.

Pur No Filter Blurring Photography Primer

Full Size: 15 ml

Full Size Cost: $33

Sample Size: 7 ml

Value: $15.40

Despite how tiny this is it is about half the size of the full one which says how misleading the full size package is. This is blurring but it has shimmer in it that I don’t love so this is kinda a miss for me.

Elemis Superfood Facial Wash

Full Size: 150 ml

Full Size Cost: $25

Sample Size: 30 ml

Value: $5

I have still yet to try this because it takes me so long to get though cleansers. Gel cleansers aren’t usually my favorite but I have the mask from this line and I kinda want to try them together.

Koh Gen Do Pure Cotton

Full Size: 60 pads

Full Size Cost: $19

Sample Size: 10

Value: $3.17

I don’t like unfinished cotton pads I feel like they are messy and fall apart and these kinda do that too. These are very soft I will use them up and probably all this month but I would not buy these for myself ever. These are large enough to cut in half which is always great double the bang for your buck

Most of this months value, almost half, came from just the Origins Serum so this was a bit of a low value month in my opinion. I still am always happy with that they send and how unique some of the things they send out but I feel like the samples were just a bit on the small side this month I would have liked them to send maybe 2 or 3 of the Fur cloths to pump up the value and feel of the box this month.

Total Value: $55.16

Skincare: 1

Makeup: 2

Tools: 0

Hair Care: 0

Perfume: 0

Other: 3

And as far as sizes:

Full Size: 1

Deluxe Sample: 1

Sample: 4

<3 Nightmare Before Makeup

Macy’s Beauty Box September 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.

This is the first month in a long time that I am not wowed by my Macy’s box. It is good but feels a bit boring this month.

2 in 1 Blender Brush

This is not for sale on the website. This is one of those weird dual ended brushes that has the brush on one end and sponge on the other that always wears out really fast. This was actually nicer quality then I expected and even came with a brush guard. The brush is pretty soft and the sponge isn’t too hard. I don’t know even how to guess at the value of this.

Azzaro Wanted Girl Perfume

Full Size: 47 ml

Full Size Cost: $85

Sample Size: 1.5 ml

Value: $2.71

The bottle this comes in is super cool it looks like a grenade. This perfume is much to heavy and floral and overwhelming for my tastes.

Azzaro Wanted Cologne

Full Size: 50 ml

Full Size Cost: $69

Sample Size: 1.2 ml

Value: $1.66

This men’s cologne has been around forever I personally do like when they send us both the men’s and women’s version of the cologne.

Perricone MD Face Finishing & Firming Moisturizer

Full Size: 59 ml

Full Size Cost: $69

Sample Size: 7.5 ml

Value: $8.77

I am acquiring a lot of Perricone products lately I don’t know they just haven’t really sparked my interest in trying them though.

Clinique Take the Day Off Balm

Full Size: 125 ml

Full Size Cost: $30

Sample Size: 15 ml

Value: $3.60

This is my favorite product to remove eye makeup hands down Have used so many of these up happy to have another little tub. It takes everything off easily it doesn’t sting and you don’t need alot.

Strivectin Anti-Wrinkle Wrinkcle Recode Line Transforming Melting Serum

Full Size: 1 oz

Full Size Cost: $89

Sample Size: 0.25 oz

Value: $22.25

I am really excited to try this really expensive serum that is on the newer side. Anything called melting sounds like something I will like and I don’t know why.

NudeStix Intense Matte Lip and Cheek Pencil in Belle

Full Size: 2.49 g

Full Size Cost: $26

Sample Size: 2.5 g

Value: $26

It looks so mini but it is totally full size. I love NudeStix formula they are so smooth and comfortable. This is a pretty pink mauve color. Swatched Below.

Tarte Amazonian Clay 12 Hour Blush in Feisty

Full Size: 1.5 g (Travel size)

Full Size Cost: $15

Sample Size: 1.5 g

Value: $15

I don’t wear blush but this is a real travel size blush that you can buy and I was happy to pass it on it was a great size. It is a bit of a orangey peach tone. Swatched Below.

I was just a bit bored with this month’s box.

Total Value: $79.99

Skincare: 3

Makeup: 2

Tools: 1

Hair Care: 0

Perfume: 2

Other:

And as far as sizes:

Full Size: 2

Deluxe Sample: 0

Sample: 6

<3 Nightmare Before Makeup