Category: Subscription Boxes

Ipsy August 2017 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.

6 products this month I love when I get 6  products.

I got lucky there were 3 bag options this month and I got the one I was hoping for. It is a nice soft scrunchable fake leather pouch with a god tassel for the zipped and its really one of the nicer Ipsy bag.

Seraphine Botanicals Liquid Coal 

Full Size: 2 ml

Full Size Cost: $22

Sample Size: 2 ml

Value: $22

Well Fuck I thought this was nice but I don’t know that it is worth $22. It was a nice matte black liner it didn’t skip it was nice and smooth but the packaging feels cheap with the pink butterflies for such an expensive product. It says waterproof but it didn’t kill me to remove it. This is also cruelty free. Swatched Below.

the Balm Voyage Vol. II Eyeshadow in Willkommen

Full Size: 21.1 g

Full Size Cost: $39.50

Sample Size: 0.57 g

Value: $1.07

This is a little hard to value since it is a full face palette with 8 eyeshadows, lip products, bronzer, blushes, and a highlight. This pan is about half the size of the eyeshadows that come in the palette. I really like the formula on the Balm shadows but this color doesn’t wow me it is a neural brown with shimmer pretty but meh. Swatched Below.

Willkommen and Liquid Coal.

Crown Brush SS035 – Medium Face Contour Brush

Full Size: Yes

Full Size Cost: $6.99

Sample Size: Yes

Value: $6.99

This is a super soft dense synthetic brush. This will be great for a really intense contour or really precise powder application. I bet this would be great for a strong blush look if I liked blush.

Naked Cosmetics HD Finishing Translucent Powder

Full Size: 0.35 oz

Full Size Cost: $14.99

Sample Size: 0.35 oz

Value: $14.99

I am literally overloaded with translucent powders so I wont be opening this for awhile.

Vitamasques Face Food Strawberry Yoghurt Mask

Full Size: 1 mask

Full Size Cost: $3.83

Sample Size: 1 mask

Value: $3.83

Vitamasques Face Food Kiwiw Fruit Yoghurt Mask

Full Size: 1 mask

Full Size Cost: $3.83

Sample Size: 1 mask

Value: $3.83

I haven’t tried either of these yet but when my skin next needs some soothing these creamy masks will be the first ones I reach for.

High valued Ipsy this month and 5 out of 6 items were full sized you really can’t beat that. I am not wowed but anything this month but it is all stuff I will use and enjoy and the value was great this month. My favorite was definitely they brush this month.

Quick Summary:

Total Value: $52.71

Skincare: 2

Makeup: 3

Tools: 1

Hair Care: 0

Perfume: 0

Other: 0

And as far as sizes:

Full Size: 5

Deluxe Sample: 0

Sample: 1

<3 Nightmare Before Makeup

 

Macy’s Beauty Box August 2017 Subscription Box Review

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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

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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