Category: Subscription Boxes

Macy’s Beauty Box April 2018 Subscription Box Review

nightmareb4

Macy’s Beauty Box

Cost: $15

Cycle: Every Month

What is it: So Macy’s has hopped on the subscription box bandwagon and this is their first box. Every month you will get a bag, a $5 off coupon, 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 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 (beauty ships free at Macy’s) also Macy’s does have sales and $5 dollar 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 that is still basically free.

This was actually a good month too bad I’m allergic to alot of what was included this month and I can’t use alot of it.

Schmidt’s Rose + Vanilla Natural Deodorant

Full Size: 75 g

Full Size Cost: $4.99

Sample Size: 19.8 g

Value: $1.32

So I can’t use this because of the roses but I have used Schmidt’s before and they are a decent natural deodorant brand. You can also always pick them up pretty cheap at like Marshalls and TJ Maxx type places. You can also get these little travel size ones to test them out there for a dollar or two.

Origins Ginzing Refreshing Eye Cream

Full Size: 15 ml

Full Size Cost: $31

Sample Size: 5 ml

Value: $10.33

I like the packaging on the sample better then the full size. I rather have a squeezey tube then a jar.  I like Orgins products so pretty happy about this one.

Coola Mineral BB Cream

Full Size: 50 ml

Full Size Cost: $36

Sample Size: 5 ml

Value: $3.60

So this isn’t really a BB Cream this is just a tinted sunscreen. I have heard a mixed reviews on Coola products so I don’t know when or if I will get around to this. I don’t do well with sunscreen so I don’t know.

Korres Wild Rose Advanced Brightening Sleeping Facial

Full Size: 40 ml

Full Size Cost: $48

Sample Size: 20 ml

Value: $24

Another product I can’t use due to roses. I will have to pass this on, but I like the idea of a brightening sleeping mask.

Tony Moly Skin Purifying I’m Real Sheet Mask

Full Size: 1 mask

Full Size Cost: $3.00

Sample Size: 1 mask

Value: $3.00

I love Tony Moly Masks They always feel like they are actually working something alot of sheet masks lack.  You can find these cheaper and on sale sometimes.

Bare Minerals Complexion Rescue

Full Size: 1.18 oz

Full Size Cost: $30

Sample Size: 4 shades

Value: $?

Instead of a perfume this month we have gotten a little foundation sampler. I actually appreciate these because I like to know if I like the formula of a foundation before I buy it because I am really picky with foundation. I don’t really know how to value this one since most of it won’t work for any one person.

This might be my favorite Macy’s month so far despite the fact that I can’t use 2 of the products in the bag.

Total Value: $42.25

Skincare: 4

Makeup: 1

Tools: 0

Hair Care: 0

Perfume: 0

Other: 1

And as far as sizes:

Full Size: 1

Deluxe Sample: 1

Sample: 4

<3 Nightmare Before Makeup

Sephora Play! April 2018 Subscription Box Review

nightmareb4

Sephora Play!

Cost: $10.00 monthly + tax

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.  The boxes are customized with a few different variations being sent out each month.

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.

So I updated my profile to include anti aging thinking I might get some cool eye creams and that was clearly a mistake. It threw me in way to deep lol. Definitely need to remember to change it back.

Elizabeth and James Bourbon

Full Size: 50 ml

Full Size Cost: $85

Sample Size: 2 ml

Value: $3.40

I didn’t like how this smelled so it got passed along. A little too deep and rich smelling for my tastes.

Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Perfector Blurring Skin Tint in Shade 08

Full Size: 30 ml

Full Size Cost: $36

Sample Size: 5 ml

Value: $6

This is not a terrible shade match definitely will work in the summer and sheering it out and some powder probably work now it is rather sheer. I may have gone a shade or two down it is hard to judge. I have had good luck with Make Up For Ever foundation so this is great.

Philosophy Purity Made Simple Moisturizer

Full Size: 141 ml

Full Size Cost: $25

Sample Size: 7 ml

Value: $1.24

This is certainly ultra light like it is describe it felt super nice on my had I am really worried to put it on my face though I have not had great experience with Philosophy products they don’t do well on my skin.

Kiehl’s Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate

Full Size: 50 ml

Full Size Cost: $62

Sample Size: 5 ml

Value: $6.20

I am super excited to use this as an eye cream I love Kiehl’s but they are so expensive.

Dr. Dennis Gross Ferulic + Retinol Wrinkle Recovery Peel

Full Size: 16 wipes

Full Size Cost: $88

Sample Size: 2 wipes

Value: $11

I like that we got 2 treatments making 7 items this month. I don’t know that these are right for me. So I don’t know if I’ll use them or pass them on.

Urban Decay Hi-Fi Shine Ultra Cushion Lip Gloss in SPL

Full Size: 7 ml

Full Size Cost: $20

Sample Size: 1 ml

Value: $2.86

Yay a lipgloss *sarcasm* this isn’t as sticky as other lipglosses but still not for me. These just launched this month so it is really cool that they sent it out in the box.

There is no color to this shade just iridescent shimmer.

Overall the sample sizes are very small this month and the value was really crappy this month. Overall not satisfied this month.

Total Value: $30.70

Skincare: 4

Makeup: 2

Tools: 0

Hair Care: 0

Perfume: 1

Other: 0

And as far as sizes:

Full Size: 0

Deluxe Sample: 0

Sample: 7

<3 Nightmare Before Makeup

Boxycharm April 2018 Subscription Box Review

nightmareb4

Boxycharm

Cost: $21

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.

Once again I always seem to get the box variation I want the least. They sent out 5 Colourpop palettes this month one I had and one I really didn’t want so of course I got the one I didn’t want instead of one of the three I really wanted.

Dr. Brandt Pores No More Vacuum Cleaner

Full Size: 30 g

Full Size Cost: $42

Sample Size: 30 g

Value: $42

So the card list this as $47 and it is not $42 supposedly the price change happened after these cards were printed but just a heads up. This isn’t my most favorite mask I have ever tried frankly this is really weird but it is my most favorite thing in the box. Thank god because it is also the most expensive.  so this had little blue and white beads in it that you have to rub and break up on your face which I do not like the process of that I feel like I can’t get an even layer on my face. This has a lightly cooling sensation but nothing terrible I hate cold face masks. I don’t think this cleaned out my pores but I feel like that is something I would only see after repeated uses. This did make my skin feel softer and my pores look smaller. My only gripe with Dr. Brandt is that you always need a ton of their product so I tend to go through it really fast and this is too expensive for all that.

Adesse New York Hi Definition Liquid Lipstick in Haute Cocoa?

Full Size: 6.5 g

Full Size Cost: $24

Sample Size: 6.5 g

Value: $24

So I think this is Haute Cocoa but I don’t know because it isn’t listed any where not on the tube or the box or the card. This is not a matte lipstick this is a full on melted cream gloss lipstick. It is god awfully sticky. I hate this and find it really sketchy that the name isn’t on the tube. Swatched Below.

Tarte Tarteist Pro Glow Liquid Highlighter in Sparkler

Full Size: 15.9 g

Full Size Cost: $29

Sample Size: 15.9 g

Value: $29

Now I love me a cream or liquid highlighter but this is so full of glitter by the end of the day it was just a mess of glitter on my cheeks not a good look. This is a pretty color I can see this being really fun in the summer when I want to be more glittery but this is more a special look highlighter and for $29 dollars and its huge I would have rather this be smaller and cheaper. Swatched below.

The Browgal The Instatint Tinted Brow Gel with Microfibers in Brown Hair 02

Full Size: 3.2 g

Full Size Cost: $22

Sample Size: 3.2 g

Value: $22

This has me so nervous to try my brows are already full and this is really light I think it will look really weird. I don’t do much to my brows in the first place so this is not up my alley. Swatched Below.

Lipstick, highlighter, brow tint. I tried sheering out the highlighter like you would wear it on your face but it is a little hard to see in the picture the arrow is trying to point it out.

Colourpop Golden State of Mind Palette

Full Size: 15 x 1 g (15 g)

Full Size Cost: $20

Sample Size: 15 x 1 g (15 g)

Value: $20

This was $26 originally like the card says but it has been $20 for months not because it was a limited edition thing and now they need to get rid of it so it is $20 dollars. This is the one that was supposed to be Sephora exclusive and what not but it clearly wasn’t. This is all shimmers and I’m pretty salty I really wanted the Elements of Surprise or the My Little Pony one. These are really chunky and pretty inconsistent in opacity. I can make them work in a very specific way which is fine because it is the way I like to do my oh shit I have legit 45 second to do my makeup but that is the only use I have for this palette. I will pick a color tap it on really quick onto the lid with my finger pick a darker shade and quickly tap blend it out on the edge of my eye and slightly into the crease and call it done.  Since these are creamy and finger blendable I can get a a decent soft pretty look really quick but there is glitter fall out on the more glittery shades this just isn’t my favorite.

No Flash

Flash

Total: $137

Update I am LOVING the mascara from last month so good. I said it last month and I’ll say it again it is a lot of cast off like things that companies are trying to get rid of rather then the new and best things. or skimping on quality items to make a cool collaboration with Boxycharm. The value is still there but the excitement and joy almost isn’t. And the way the boxes have been packed lately is abysmal like just thrown in the padding isn’t always wrapped around the products right like it’s really taken a downhill turn in quality. I’ll continue to buy them and recommend them because I always at least get my moneys worth but I don’t like how much things I’m getting that end up in a give away pile.

<3 Nightmare Before Makeup