Category: Subscription Boxes

Macy’s Beauty Box August 2017 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.

So they included a super nice bag it feels like the quality of a makeup bag you would purchase rather then the gift with purchase quality Sephora Play and Ipsy bags have. The theme this month is The In Crowd and a cute bag with makeup on it very on trend.

Tarte Maracuja Oil

Full Size: 15 ml

Full Size Cost: $16

Sample Size: 7 ml

Value: $7.47

I have gotten so many samples of this and legit have no idea what to do with them I just have a stock pile. I might start using them on my hair I heard that is a way to use them.

Benefit Gimme Brow in 3

Full Size: 1.5 g

Full Size Cost: $12

Sample Size: 1 g

Value: $8

Really Macy’s you couldn’t have sprung for the full-sized travel size? I don’t know why but that is really annoying me. This is another ubiquitous product. Very classic.

Smashbox Covershot Duo From Golden Hour (Turned on, Psyched)

Full Size: 7.65 g

Full Size Cost: $29

Sample Size: 1.7 g

Value: $6.44

Omg I was so excited for this item. I love the Covershot Palettes even though I only own one. These are about the size of the full size pans so you really are getting about 2 full sized shades and the formula on these are really creamy ad blendable. this is a nice warm brown and a nice rosy neutral that are an easy quick look this would be great for travel or throwing in an emergency bag for quick makeup looks.

Carolina Herrera Good Girl

Full Size: 30 ml

Full Size Cost: $65

Sample Size: 1.5 ml

Value: $3.25

This is the only brand new product that was included in this bag. I didn’t like the scent it is a very heavy floral. Cool as hell stiletto bottle though.

Philosophy Purity One Step Facial Cleanser

Full Size: 236.6 ml

Full Size Cost: $24

Sample Size: 60 ml

Value: $6.09

This is a well loved cleanser just not by me. I don’t like how this makes my skin feel it almost strips it which makes no sense. I can’t decide if I am going to give this another shot or add it to the giveaway pile.

MAC False Lashes Extreme Black

Full Size: 8 g

Full Size Cost: $23

Sample Size: 2g ?

Value: $5.75 ?

These is no size listed on this tiny mascara. Full size is 8 g and their travel sizes are 4g so I am guessing that this is half od the travel size. I actually love itty bitty mascaras for travel because I can use them up in a week and not have to feel like I am wasting them or that they will dry out.

So Macy’s started their inaugural box with all well loved classics that everyone knows. Now considering the Macy’s general clientele I can really see why they would do that but to me it isn’t exactly that exciting but it is a solid start and I am excited to see what they do going forward. The bag is also super nice which is a huge plus. For a $15 box I would really want a little bit of a higher value then $37 but it is still more then double your money. Also they claim 5 deluxe samples and a bonus but it really isn’t I generously gave them three deluxe samples and that was using travel sizes so hopefully in that aspect next month is better.

Quick Summary:

Total Value: $37

Skincare: 2

Makeup: 3

Tools: 0

Hair Care:

Perfume: 1

Other: 0

And as far as sizes:

Full Size: 0

Deluxe Sample: 3

Sample: 3

<3 Nightmare Before Makeup

Sephora Play! August 2017 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.

Someone alert the media I got a great Sephora Play box this month after not being that thrilled for so long.

The science, makeup geek theme is legit made for me I couldn’t be happier everything was so adorable about the theme and packaging this month.

I’m loving the little cutesy makeup themed periodic table.

And the science themed bag. Not all girls are into frills and pink but still love make up (you know nerds like me).

Clinique Dual-Ended High Impact Mascara & Primer Duo

Full Size: 0.53 oz

Full Size Cost: $8

Sample Size: 0.16 oz

Value: $2.42

So these sizes I find a little weird. I think each side has 0.08 oz but it doesn’t specify so this is an educated guess. Each side having only 0.04 oz seems a little ridiculous and impossible. And about 0.26 oz per side for the travel seems reasonable.

This is such a cool concept I love having them together like this because it means I will actually use a primer because usually I just don’t bother to pull out another product.

Hourglass Vanish Seamless Finish Foundation Stick in Shell

Full Size: 0.25 oz

Full Size Cost: $46

Sample Size: 0.04 oz

Value: $7.36

This is super tiny so I didn’t want to waste it by swatching it. This would be a decent color for me if I wasn’t so tanned from just coming back from Florida. I have been super dying to try this so I am beyond that this is in my box. Being so tiny I doubt it will take long to use up so once I’m back to my normal shade I’ll be testing this out.

My Burberry Black Perfume

Full Size: 30 ml

Full Size Cost: $72

Sample Size: 2 ml

Value: $4.80

Wow expensive little perfume sample. This was way to heavy and mature for my tastes but my mom loved it. It also felt like a really off choice for August this is much more of a fall/winter scent.

Alterna Caviar Anti-Aging Miracle Multiplying Volume Mist

Full Size: 141 ml

Full Size Cost: $30

Sample Size: 41 ml

Value: $8.72

I have tried this in the past and it made my hair really sticky. I don’t personally care for it so this will go off into the giveaway pile. I am not a huge Alterna fan.

Korres Golden Krocus Ageless Saffron Elixir Serum

Full Size: 30 ml

Full Size Cost: $98

Sample Size: 4 ml

Value: $13.07

I really hope I don’t fall head over heals in love with this because it is fucking expensive. But it is really really nice it looks so pretty and fancy I feel like a princess using it. it made my skin look really pretty and healthy and wasn’t sticky. So it is safe to say I love it and really don’t want to lol. It also has a great dropper that is angled so you can get every drop.

Beauty Blender micro.mini

Full Size: 2 blenders

Full Size Cost: $18

Sample Size: 1 blender

Value: $9

Hey this is a super cool thing to throw in. It is so super soft and squishy but feels flimsy I wonder how it will hold up to some of my cheap mini blenders.

Really a great value for a ten dollar box. I am so excited for the foundation and the serum as well as the beauty blender. This was a really great box I love that there was a good variety of products and some higher priced samples to try.

Quick Summary:

Total Value: $45.37

Skincare: 1

Makeup: 2

Tools: 1

Hair Care: 1

Perfume: 1

Other: 0

And as far as sizes:

Full Size: 0

Deluxe Sample: 1

Sample: 5

<3 Nightmare Before Makeup

Medusa’s Makeup July 2017 Subscription Box Review

nightmareb4

Medusa’s Makeup

Cost: $15.95 monthly

Cycle: Every Month

What is it: Every month Medusa’s Makeup sends 3-5 full size products, with a value of $40 from their line.  I have been subscribing since their inaugural bag. They have changed things up a bit from 3-5 products to 3-4 products each month.

Medusa’s Make up is a vegan and cruelty free company and made in the USA.

They usually send out their newest products and always full size.

Every month I have been more and more disappointed with this subscription and this should be the last month I attempted to cancel so let’s see if it worked.

The mailer was so cute this month I had to show it off.

Lip Paint in Cowgirl

Full Size: 1.5 g

Full Size Cost: $12

Sample Size: 1.5 g

Value: $12

This is the only thing In the bag that I am keeping this month. Everything else is being gifted to new homes. This is a weird color very early 2000s foundation lips. But I have nothing like it so I am keeping it. Swatched Below.

Brow Wow Wow

Full Size: 2 g

Full Size Cost: $12

Sample Size: 2 g

Value: $12

The pop art packaging is cool but I have no interest is filling in my eyebrows let alone filling them in with powder so this has been passed along to my mom. With the brush but we will get to that later on. The brow side is definitely an eyebrow powder it is stiffer and more of a buildable formula. The highlight on the other hand is super powdery and pick up in chucks and is fairly glittery/metallic for an eyebrow highlight and after swatching I am  99% sure it is the exact same as one of their new baked eye shadows Bitchin’ that we received in May. It isn’t a good brow highlight they would have been better off with a matte highlight or just not even including one. Swatched Below

Glitter in Mystique

Full Size: 2

Full Size Cost: $8

Sample Size: 2

Value: $8

This is a gorgeous light blue mermaidy glitter I am not going to swatch it so that I can leave the seal on and give it away I just never use loose glitters I am just not into it. They do have very pretty soft glitters if that is your  thing you should really check them out.

Angle Eyeliner Brush

Full Size: 4 brushes

Full Size Cost: $18

Sample Size: 1 brush

Value: $4.50

The Medusa’s Makeup brushes really are not that great quality they break they don’t blend or pick up product well I have 1 dollar brushes from Shop Miss A and Amazon that are so much better for so much cheaper. Also the card claims that this is an $8 brush. First of all you can only buy this is a set of 4 for $18 dollars so that is $4.5 by my calculation and second of all this is not worth $8. This brush actually was soft and dense as you would want in an angled liner brush but I gifted this to my mom to go with the eyebrow powder I gave her.

They also included a bonus Beach Bag this month it is about 18in x 16 in so not exactly beach bag size but it is super cute and probably the nicest most useful thing in the bag for me.

Total Value: $36.50

Definitely not the $45 value they claim. The “beach bag” was a cute touch and probably my favorite thing in the bag. I unfortunately didn’t love anything in this month’s bag so this month was a total waste of money for me and with that I will officially be canceling.

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