Category: Subscription Boxes

Boxycharm April 2017 Subscription Box Review

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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 can also use the link in the header.

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.

This box was actually really small compared to what I imagined would show up in my mail box. Finally subscribing to Boxycharm makes me feel some how grow up and more legit in this blogging even though it totally doesn’t mean that.

This month’s theme is Boho Glam. and came with a cute little card with all the details and prices for the items in the box.

They really stuffed this little box full of goodies.

PÜR Cosmetics 3 Piece Blending Sponges

Full Size: 3 sponges

Full Size Cost: $36

Sample Size: 3 sponges

Value: $36

This was the whole reason I decided to subscribe this month. These are my favorite blending sponges I find them to work so much better then the Beauty Blender. I had the original pink one that came packaged with their contour stick. These feel a tad bit firmer then the original one that I had as well as these having PÜR stamped into the side of it. But at $12 each this pack of 3 seemed like a score for $21 dollars to replace mine that I recently had to part with last month.

Hairgurt Smoothing Yogurt Shampoo

Full Size: 4 oz

Full Size Cost: $10

Sample Size: 4 oz

Value: $10

I hate getting shampoos with out matching conditioners. I also absolutely hate bananas so this is a fail for me but I’m sure I can find it a happy home.

Ofra Highlighter in Rodeo Drive

Full Size: 10 g

Full Size Cost: $35

Sample Size: 1o g

Value: $35

This is a gorgeous highlighter it is so golden and blinding but also easy to blend. The pictures on their website don’t even do this justice. I am so happy to own this but I would never spend $35 on a single highlighter. That being said this is truly the most gorgeous and best quality highlighter I own it is so soft and pigmented. It is buttery smooth when you touch it and just stunning to look at. Swatched below.

Allegory Story Lipgloss in Plato’s Cave

Full Size:  3.8 g

Full Size Cost: $15

Sample Size: 3.8 g

Value: $15

This is legit the cutest packaging and I love how on their website you can pick different packaging options. This is a really opaque brown lip gloss. It is not overly sticky but I’m not a lip gloss fan or a brown lip fan so this is a really hoarder’s choice moment keep it because its  adorable or pass it on to some on who would actually use it.

Highlighter swatched on top love that wet metallic look to it and the lipgloss swatched underneath that is one swipe which is quite opaque for a lipgloss.

Measurable Difference Concealer Collection

Full Size:  2 g x 16 = 32 g

Full Size Cost: $20

Sample Size: 2 g x 16 = 32 g

Value: $20

I really like the inclusion of something that every skin tone can make work and that there are some very unique concealer tones in here. This is going to be very fun to play around with. The concealers are a little thick for my tastes but Boxycharm suggests mixing in some oil to make them spread a little easier if you need to. These are very tiny sizes so if you fall in love with a shade you’ll have to rebuy the whole palette which would be annoying.

Total Value: $116

Well crap that was a lot more then I expected for a $21 dollar box I am really thrilled with this month’s box despite there being two products that I will never use the rest of the box more then makes up for that in value and wow factor. I was considering canceling after one month. As I initially only subscribed to get the sponges but I do think I am going to keep this around for a little while. Even though the spoilers for next month do not look that appealing to me.

<3 Nightmare Before Makeup

 

Sephora Play! April 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.

We are back to our usual Sephora style bag. This one says the “Best things in life are me”. Not my particular cup of tea.

Here’s our 6 products this was not the box variation I was hoping to receive.

Make Up For Ever Aqua XL Eye Pencil M-10

Full Size: 1.2 g

Full Size Cost: $21

Sample Size: 0.5 g

Value: $8.75

This is almost half the size of the full one and this is pretty tiny so $21 dollars this better be a pretty fantastic eyeliner. When I swatched this it held up through rubbing pretty good. I like how intensely black and matte it is that is hard to find a really black as my soul eyeliner pencil.

Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Intensive Exfoliator

Full Size: 0.5 oz

Full Size Cost: $24

Sample Size: 0.25 oz

Value: $12

I didn’t like this. It is supposed to be an intensive exfoliator and I didn’t find it to be intense. What I did find was that it made my skin feel awful. It made my skin feel really dry and tight and stripped. Then about an hour or two later my skin felt really greasy. This did not work for me at all.

Marc Jacobs Daisy Perfume

Full Size: 50 ml

Full Size Cost: $90

Sample Size: 1.2 ml

Value: $2.16

This is a very floral perfume. Which is a pass for me. If you like florals you will love this is is a very heavy floral but some how light and summery as well.

Sephora Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover

Full Size: 200 ml

Full Size Cost: $15

Sample Size: 25 ml

Value: $1.88

Well a nice little bottle of makeup remover this will be good for traveling. I have to much open makeup remover to really try this out right now.

Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Cream

Full Size: 48 ml

Full Size Cost: $52

Sample Size: 7.5 ml

Value: $8.12

This is a pretty nice moisturizer and there are very few moisturizers I can or will put on my oily skin. This absorbs quickly but does leave a little slip to your skin. I actually and this is terrible really like it as a hand lotion but it would be way to expensive to use it that way oh well.

Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer

Full Size: 1 oz

Full Size Cost: $16

Sample Size: 0.25 oz

Value: $4

This is one of my very favorite primers it is a great silicon primer that adds a lot of glide and smoothness to your face when you apply your foundations. Smashbox makes great face primers. Pro Tip if you buy this always buy the travel size which is $16 for 1 oz the full size is $36 for 2 oz which is so stupid. you can get two travel sizes for $32 and get 2 oz and save yourself $4. Smashbox must think we can’t do math.

The value is good with this month and we got 3 decently valued samples two that are almost the cost of the box (eyeliner and moisturizer) and one that is more then the value of the box (exfoliator). I am really excited for the primer and the eyeliner. The cloud dream will get used up and the other two are just meh.  This is always a great box and I highly recommend it if you like high end products.

Quick Summary:

Total Value: $36.91

Skincare: 2

Makeup: 2

Tools: 0

Hair Care: 0

Perfume: 1

Other: 1

And as far as sizes:

Full Size: 0

Deluxe Sample: 2

Sample: 4

<3 Nightmare Before Makeup

Medusa’s Makeup April 2017 Subscription Box Review and Coupon Code

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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 from their first month.  Every month the products arrive in a different colored bubble mailer.

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.

We got some different packaging this month. We also received a coupon code and mini catalog.

If you want 15% off your purchase for the month of May you can use code PINK.

It is a cute colorful brochure detailing some of their products.

Now on to the goods for this month.

Eyeliner Sealer

Full Size: 0.67 oz

Full Size Cost: $8

Sample Size: 0.67 oz

Value: $8

This is Medusa’s Makeup version of a mixing media it is a liquid you can use with your pigments or really any powder product to foil it or turn it into a liquid eyeliner. It is really cool and something fun that I would never have bought on my ow but is really fun makeup item to play with.

Eye Dust in Helter Skelter

Full Size: 1.5 g

Full Size Cost: $7

Sample Size: 1.5 g

Value: $7

When I first saw this I thought it was a black pigment but it is actually more of a blue that is so dark that it looks back it is very pretty and dimensional especially when paired with the eyeliner sealer. I also love the name, that is one of my top 5 favorite Beatles songs. I was really hoping for one of their new pressed pigments. Swatched below.

Blush in Jezebel

Full Size: 10 g

Full Size Cost: $12

Sample Size: 10 g

Value: $12

Their compacts are super cute and well made with a nice big mirror, and that is where all the positives about this product end. I will say I hate blush I don’t use blush. This blush is not the same formula as the Dangerous Liaison blush we were sent back in December.

The one we received in December was soft and pigmented. This is stiff, scratchy and not very pigmented. Total fail. It is also just a weird baby pepto bismal pink color. Swatched below.

From left to right; Helter Skelter mixed with the eye liner sealer, Helter Skelter alone, Jezebel blush. As you can kinda see in the picture but can really see in person the mixing medium really brings out all the different blues and greens that are present in this pigment. The swatch with out is much more grey and smokey less bold and intense. The blush you can barely see and that is after quite a few passes with my finger and the fallout was crazy.

Eyeliner Brush

Full Size: 4 brush set

Full Size Cost: $18

Sample Size: 1 brush

Value: $4.50

I do believe the brushes when they first came out were sold individually and priced pretty high. They are now a set. I have gotten two brushes from them and both are not great and really not great for the prices they charge Wet and Wild brushes are 1/4 the price and have fantastic quality. these brushes fall apart after only a few washes they just are not constructed well. They are soft and aesthetically pleasing but what matters is the quality and that just isn’t there with these brushes.

Total: $31.50

The state value of this box is $36, they valued the brush at $9. That is half of what the set cost and the set has 4  brushes they are just trying to artificially inflate the value of the box since the total value has been on a decline the past three months. I can’t decide if this box was worth it for me this month or not I was not impressed.

 

<3 Nightmare Before Makeup