Category: Subscription Boxes

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.

< Nightmare Before Makeup

Ipsy July 2017 Subscription Box Review

nightmareb4

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.

We have a cute collaboration this month Ipsy x Gudetama

The lazy egg has really been gaining popularity lately, he is really cute.

This bag is so cute I mean look at his butt lol. This bag reeks of chemicals though like very heavily it is really gross and strong and gives me a headache even after letting it air out for 2 days it is still strong you can smell it from 2 feet away.

TonyMoly I’m Real Skin Purifying Green Tea Sheet Mask

Full Size: 1 mask

Full Size Cost: $3

Sample Size: 1 mask

Value: $3

This was very sticky and drippy It was dripping all over for the half hour I was wearing it. It did not have a strong smell which I appreciate. This left my face feeling tacky. This could maybe be nice before putting on foundation as it could help the foundation stick. This did make my skin look a little more even but the sticky shiny look it left behind was not flattering. I will probably buy one of these masks again.

TonyMoly I’m Real Luminating Lotus Sheet Mask

Full Size: 1 mask

Full Size Cost: $3

Sample Size: 1 mask

Value: $3

I have not tried this yet I don’t generally go for illuminating masks. If my skin is feeling dull I will try it.

Hempz Herbal Lip Balm

Full Size: 14 g

Full Size Cost: $2.99

Sample Size: 14 g

Value: $2.99

This also sells for $9 at Ulta I think that is insane for this product. I would not pay that much for this. This is a really thick balm that is fairly gloss like. It is not sticky though but just so thick this is definitely a night time balm for me. It has a sweet citrusy scent/flavor but it is off in some way that I can’t put my finger on.

Trèstique Mini Concealer Crayon in Bisque

Full Size: 1.8 g

Full Size Cost: $26

Sample Size: 0.6 g ?

Value: $8.67 ?

I’m guessing that this is about 1/3 of the size of the full product even if it is a little bigger, which I suspect, the full size comes with a blender sponge tip so I’m deducting a bit for that as well.  This is actually a fairly spot on match which is amazing seeing as they only have 3 colors. It is really creamy with good coverage I’m into it. Swatched Below.

Tarte Park Ave Princess Amazonian Clay Waterproof Bronzer

Full Size: 9 g

Full Size Cost: $30

Sample Size: 3 g

Value: $10

Park Ave Princess is always a hit or miss color for me in some verisons of the product Tarte comes out with this pulls so oompa loompa orange on me and other formulations its nice. This one is ok on me and I’m super interested in seeing if this is actually waterproof. This is too warm to contour though Tarte always claims this shade is a contour shade to me it never is. Swatched Below.

Ciaté London Wonderwand in Black

Full Size: 0.04 oz

Full Size Cost: $18

Sample Size: 0.028

Value: $12.60

I was shocked that this wasn’t full sized. So this is supposed to be a khol liner but it is not as soft as a khol liner should be it is also not as richly pigmented black as it should be. There is a brush on the end to smoke it out but the liner does not budge. The brush is actually super soft and nice. The nicest part of this product I will probably end up keeping this for the brush when it is user up. Swatched Below.

You can see where I tried to smudge out the liner and it wasn’t keen on budging. The concealer is the first swatch but it matches so well that it is hard to see.

Another low value for for Ipsy but I am happier with this month then last month’s I will use both sheet masks, the bronzer, concealer and lip balm. The only totally meh product for me was the liner.

Quick Summary:

Total Value: $40.26

Skincare: 2

Makeup: 3

Tools: 0

Hair Care: 0

Perfume: 0

Other: 1

And as far as sizes:

Full Size: 3

Deluxe Sample: 1

Sample: 2

<3 Nightmare Before Makeup

Sephora Play! July 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.

No bugs  this month! Yay too bad I got the shittiest version of this months box I didn’t get any of the product options I wanted. Most of these products won’t even work for me.

Fresh Rose Face Mask

Full Size: 30 ml

Full Size Cost: $25

Sample Size: 15 ml

Value: $12.50

I am not even going to open this. I am very allergic to roses so I can’t use this at all so this is a total waste to me. I really wanted the pore pudding from Boscia that many people received and that my beauty profile says would be appropriate at no point have I ever indicated that I need hydration on my skin.

Clinique  Pep-Start 2-in-1 Exfoliating Cleanser

Full Size: 4.2 oz

Full Size Cost: $19.50

Sample Size: 1 oz

Value: $4.64

I always love Clinique skincare so this is probably the most useful thing in the box to me but I don’t really enjoy the pep-start line. I find it to be a little weak in its effectiveness. The grit in this is a little rough but still good.

Madam CJ Walker Beauty Culture Dream Come True Wonderful Deep Conditioning Mask

Full Size: 6 oz

Full Size Cost: $32

Sample Size: 1.25 oz

Value: $6.67

The way this needs to be applied it will only be good for one use. It will get used but its kinda like ok cool another hair mask sample. I get so many of them. I have a feeling that even at my driest this mask will be way to heavy for my hair.

It Cosmetics Superhero Mascara

Full Size: 0.3 oz

Full Size Cost: $24

Sample Size: 0.1

Value: $8

Staple or not I think every one who subscribes to boxes is sick of black mascara. I never need to buy mascara again with how many samples I have. But really I haven’t had to purchase a mascara in over two years. They at least could have sent a new or interesting mascara this one has been out a while. I am guessing at the 1/3 size but that is fairly standard for a sample mascara from It Cosmetics.

Tarte Rainforest of the Sea Color Splash Lipstick in Set Sail

Full Size: 0.12 oz

Full Size Cost: $21

Sample Size: 0.035 oz

Value: $6.13

This is a nice mauvey nude color it is hydrating but it feels very thick and rick on the lips which I’m not personally a fan of. The color is nice though.

Guerlain Mon Guerlain Perfume

Full Size: 30 ml

Full Size Cost: $66

Sample Size: 0.7 ml

Value: $1.54

This is a very fancy perfume from a very fancy brand. It smells alright a little more floral and mature then I go for.

Another fail month from Sephora for me personally they sent out plenty of awesome products but not were sent to me this box was not suited to my tastes at all. I won/t get a lot of use or enjoyment out of this months box.

Quick Summary:

Total Value: $39.48

Skincare: 2

Makeup: 2

Tools: 0

Hair Care: 1

Perfume: 1

Other: 0

And as far as sizes:

Full Size: 0

Deluxe Sample: 1

Sample: 5

<3 Nightmare Before Makeup