Category: Subscription Boxes

Ipsy February 2018 Subscription Box Review

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Ipsy Bag

Cost: $10 monthly, $110 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 100 points and 1000 points. You can get up to 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.

So we have a pale pink and lace cheap feeling bag this month but definitely some full size products.

But really exciting looking products.

Naked Cosmetics Lip Scrub in Vanilla Cream

Full Size: 6.5 g

Full Size Cost: $4.99

Sample Size: 6.5 g

Value: $4.99

So this doesn’t smell or taste like anything….. but it has a nice consistency so that’s great. It is scrubby and oily with out being to oily or scrubby. I think this is full size I can’t really find the size online.

Marc Anthony Grow Long Leave In Conditioner

Full Size: 250 ml

Full Size Cost: $5.99

Sample Size: 50 ml

Value: $1.20

This is a very full tube. I love Marc Anthony haircare stuff and have been seeing this around so I’m so excited to have gotten it. It has caffeine and ginseng which I don’t know if I have ever seen in a hair thing before. I have never used a leave in so this is great. These samples are never high value but I get a ton of use out of them and they are some of my favorite samples.

Luxie 249 Brush

Full Size: Yes

Full Size Cost: $24

 

So this brush doesn’t exist on their site something that has happened with IpsyxLuxie before so I linked to the nose contouring brush which is the only comparable double ended brush that they have. This is an odd eyeshadow brush dense but flimsy blending brush that I would only use as a clean blending brush and then like a really big kinda fluffy packing brush that I feel like would be hard to use. I’m still thrilled to get a Luxie brush I’m just mystified by the use of this one.

Mellow Precision Pen Eyeliner

Full Size: 1.8 g

Full Size Cost: $14

Sample Size: 1.8 g

Value: $14

So positive this doesn’t smudge. Negatives it isn’t smooth or super black you have to build it up and I don’t love these marker style of liquid liners the packaging is pretty though. When I swatched it I tried to show that you can make a thick and thin line but I did have to build it up to make it a solid black color. Swatched Below.

Ofra Liquid Lipstick in Unzipped

Full Size: 6 g

Full Size Cost: $20

Sample Size: 6 g

Value: $20

This is a pretty shade but I think my spoiled in shipping there is like oil leaking out of it Idk. Its weird I emailed Ipsy but they haven’t gotten back to me yet so I will update you next month on what their solution is. Swatched Below.

I can’t believe I got so many full sized product this month I am really please with the brush and the conditioner. The lipstick would be great if it wasn’t mysteriously leaking.

Quick Summary:

Total Value: $

Skincare: 0

Makeup: 2

Tools: 1

Hair Care: 1

Perfume: 0

Other: 1

And as far as sizes:

Full Size: 4

Deluxe Sample:

Sample: 1

<3 Nightmare Before Makeup

Ipsy 2017 Year in Review

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Ipsy Bag

Cost: $10 monthly, $110 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 100 points and 1000 points. You can get up to 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.

Hey so something a little different I decided to to a year end review. Mostly to see what kind of value I am really getting out of my subscription. I have been feeling a bit over Ipsy. I am excited to get it every month but that is more the excitement of getting a package.

Let’s start with the hard facts and then some more subjective evaluations. Always have to nerd out first.

Here is the total value of each month and the amount of products.

Month Value Product
January $30.26 5
February $59.22 6
March $43.65 5
April $38.07 5
May $66.79 5
June $43.18 6
July $40.26 6
August $52.71 6
September $39.20 6
October $57.12 5
November $43.83 5
December $53.43 6

Total: $567.72

Products: 66

As you can see I got 6 items half the time and 5 half the time.

So I paid $1.67 per item I received from Ipsy not so so bad there were definitely plenty I would not have paid that much for and some I would have been thrilled to pay that little.

The average value works out to be $47.31. Not to shabby for a ten dollar bag.

Top 5 Favorite Items:

  1. November – Skyn Iceland Berry Lip Fix – $5.83
  2. September – Luxie 207 Brush – $12
  3. March – Beau Gauche Tapered Blending Brush – $12
  4. May – Luxie 660 Brush – $23
  5. October – Blacq Mask – $7.25

So that is Top 5, $60.08. My top five definitely make me feel like I got actual value out of the bag.

So that about sums it up. Really short post for a change.

<3 Nightmare Before Makeup

Fortune Cookie Soap of the Month Club January 2018 Subscription Box Review

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Fortune Cookie Soap of the Month Club

Cost: $28 monthly + $6.95 shipping ($34.95)

Cycle: Every Month

What is it: Well anyone that has been here for any amount of time knows I love this company and use their products all the time (#notsponsered lol but for real no I’m way to small time for that shit).  Fortune Cookie Soap Company (FCS) makes bath and body products with all different themes and scents. Usually inspired by movies, or tv shows or other pop culture things. It is seriously really fun they stuff. I could go on and on about it but I’ll save my gushing the products are always great quality and have that homemade, made with love touch with out feeling DIY. Also for a bonus alot of their products are vegan.

The FCS of the Month Club every month will send a mix of full sized and deluxe sized products, saving you 50% off retail.  Every month is a different theme and you can skip a month if you aren’t feeling that month’s theme as long as you skip it before the 10th of the month. You will also earn points for what you spend on the box and purchases each month that you can redeem for reward certificates basically to shop on the cite which is a great plus.

Everyone ready for a little bit of a story time?

I don’t even remember how I found this company but I found it about 4 years ago maybe a little bit more and until just recently they had a quarterly subscription box that I subscribed to it was my first subscription box ever It was wizard of oz themed and it made me so happy.  Getting packaged from them every season or when I placed orders really brought a bright spot into a less then positive time in my life so I really have a soft spot for them.

I never reviewed the boxes I don’t know why but you always saw the products in my empties because I always use them up.When they canceled the quarterly box I was really sad this box is quite a bit more expensive then the quarterly and that I am not particularly fond of but I can’t not have their products constantly in my life so I am ponying up and we will see together if it is worth the cost. (I’ll keep buying it regardless just FYI).

So the theme is Princesses and Villains, all themed after Disney Princesses and Villains is that not so adorable. I am a total Disney Freak. The only problem is that alot of the stuff sells out and you can’t get it and once a collection is gone it could be gone forever.

Sea Witch Bath Bomb

Full Size: Yes

Full Size Cost: $4.99

 

Ursula themed bath bomb! The scents are always so awesome this is strawberries, salt, driftwood, and pink sugar. I don’t take alot of baths so I actually haven’t used their bath bombs personally I usually gift them to friends when I make up gift baskets and they have all given them thumbs up.

Part of Your World Sea Salt Hair Spritz

Full Size: 4 oz

Full Size Cost: $9.99

Sample Size: 4 oz

Value: $9.99

Water Lilies, sandalwood and marine notes? not quite sure what that means this pretty much just smells like water lilies to me. But you can’t have Ursula and not Ariel. Their hair products usually work well for me but my hair is so so dehydrated right now I can’t even attempt salt in my hair but I love their tip for using this when you braiding your hair and I completely plan on doing that when I use this. I know I will never use this up completely because I don’t use sea salt sprays on my dry hair but I’m down to try it at least.

Shadow Man Charcoal Whipped Soap

Full Size: 3.2 oz

Full Size Cost: $8.99

Sample Size: 3.2 oz

Value: $8.99

Who doesn’t want a silver grey whipped soap? I love charcoal anything I cheated and only used it on my hands but it felt nice and soft I can’t wait to use it on my blemish prone skin on my chest and shoulders charcoal always helps me out there. This is red velvet scented but I don’t smell it but that’s ok you had me at charcoal.

Briar Rose Pillow Spray

Full Size: 2.1 oz

Full Size Cost: $12.99

Sample Size: 2.1 oz

Value: $12.99

Of course Aurora a.k.a. sleeping beauty has a pillow spray. This is bergamont and orange two of my favorite scents with roses. Now I’m really allergic to roses but I couldn’t smell them at all and haven’t had a bad reaction to it so fingers crossed I’m same. This smells so gooits like a lighter sweeter version of happiness from Bath and Body Works if you have ever smelled that. I love their linen sprays and have used up two or three bottles of them. Having them to spray on my sheets before bed really helps me sleep a little better.

Glass Slipper Exfoliating Foot Stick

Full Size: Yes

Full Size Cost: $14.99

 

This is vanilla hazelnut and I was not expecting this to work at all. My feet are rough they are bad my callous are so bad they hurt and get really dry some times. This didn’t get rid of them or scrape them as much as a pumice stone or blade would but it did really soften them I could see this helping if I use it every day but it is going to go really fast which is a big down side to this product.

Sorcery & Seduction Walnut Body Scrub

Full Size: 2.2 oz

Full Size Cost: $8.99

Sample Size: 2.2 oz

Value: $8.99

So is this Jafar themed? Jasmine themed? Just Aladdin in general themed? Not really sure, but it smells like I think the movie would.  Jasmine, nectarines, amber, and walnuts. There was once a walnut face scrub and it was magical I wish it would come back. I am hoping this will have the same kind of effect

Mistress of All Evil Body Frosting

Full Size: 1.2 oz

Full Size Cost: $9.99

Sample Size: 1.2 oz

Value: $9.99

Woah this is costly $10 bucks for an ounce that’s a bit much.  This is supposed to be antioxidant rich and make your skin moisturized soft and smooth so lets see but I’m reserving judgement for now but that is a lot for lotion. This is pomegranate, marshmallow, maple wood, and amber scented. Very Maleficent. It is also the coolest looking thing look at those swirls.

Total: $70.93

We received all full sized products this month which is awesome.  At $70.93 you are paying just under half that half is $35.47, which means you pay only 49% of the cost of these items. That is a good value for an indie company and receiving these products to try but granted not the best subscription box value around. You have to want these types of products, and want to only get from one brand.  I will say you won’t be disappointed if you give them a shot even if you just shop instead of subscribing. I really recommend them time and time again. Plus the themes are just so cute.

<3 Nightmare Before Makeup