Category: Subscription Boxes

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

 

 

Walmart Spring 2017 Beauty Box Subscription Review

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Walmart Beauty Box

Cost: $5

Cycle: Every Quarter/Season

What is it: Every season Walmart sends out a box of samples and sometimes coupons in their “free” subscription box. The box is a flat shipping rate of $5 and the box is considered free.  There are two categories of boxes “Trendsetter” which you receive if you provide a birth date that has you aged at under 35 and “Classic” if you provide a birth date that has you aged above 35.

Once again Walmart really scores with some of the cutest packaging that I receive in my subscription boxes and it is definitely my most inexpensive box.

We have a nice pink, white and gold box with a lid that will make a great box to repurpose.

We have some nice floral paper that is actually really nice quality and will also be great for repurposing either as wrapping paper or a decoration.

Got alot of stuff in this box so lets break it all down.

Jergens Natural Glow Wet Skin Moisturizer

Full Size: 7.5 oz

Full Size Cost: $7.99

Sample Size: 2 oz

Total Value: $2.13

I don’t like wet skin moisturizers I find that they do not absorb into my skin when it is wet but I do like gradual tanning lotions for evening out tan lines in the summer so this will get used up but will take me awhile even for such a small sample.

Bioré Baking Soda Acne Scrub

Full Size: 4.5 oz

Full Size Cost: $6.47

Sample Size: 1 oz

Total Value: $1.44

I love baking soda cleansers. I have used a small sample of this before and really really enjoyed it. So I am am happy to have a large sample now. It gently exfoliates with and feels effective at the same time. and really eats up excess oil on my face.

John Frieda Frizz Ease Daily Nourishment Moisturizing Conditioner

Full Size: 8.45 oz

Full Size Cost: $5.47

Sample Size: 1.5 oz

Total Value: $0.97

Eh a conditioner not that exciting and I’m not a huge fan of the Frizz Ease Line.

Schwarzkopf Gliss Hair Repair Ultra Moisture Shampoo

Full Size: 13.6 oz

Full Size Cost: $5.47

Sample Size: 1.7 oz

Total Value: $0.68

More shampoo there’s always shampoo in these boxes. This would have been a good travel product if the tops weren’t so weird they pop off rather then twisting off. This looks creamy and smells nice as well as having keratin in it so it should be a nice shampoo good for at least 2 uses for me.

Schwarzkopf Gliss Hair Repair Ultra Moisture Conditioner

Full Size: 13.6 oz

Full Size Cost: $5.47

Sample Size: 1.7 oz

Total Value: $0.68

And more conditioner but this one matches the shampoo. It is always nice to get a matching set but it is pretty boring.

Palmer’s Coconut Oil Luminous Hydration Facial Oil

Full Size: 1 oz

Full Size Cost: $9.88

Sample Size: 0.03 oz

Total Value: $0.30

This is a very thick oil that I will definitely not be putting on my face. But it smells nicely of coconut and is hydrating and will get used probably mixed in with some body lotion. This claims to be made of 10 oils (Extra virgins coconut, Tahitian monoi, sweet almond, macadamia, argan, grapeseed, maracuja, sunflower, apricot, sesame) this would be great for really dry skin.

Palmer’s Coconut Oil Facial Moisturizer

Full Size:  1.7 oz

Full Size Cost: $8.98

Sample Size: 0.17 oz

Total Value: $0.90

Again not something I’ll Use on my face but I’ll definitely use it as a regular lotion.

Rimmel London Stay Matte Foundation in 200 Soft Beige

Full Size:   30 ml

Full Size Cost: $3.29

Sample Size: 1.5 ml

Total Value: $0.16

This also came with a coupon. I’m pretty excited for this sample I have wanted to try this foundation for awhile but I kept not buying it. I don’t know that this is going to be a good shade match at all but I can at least see the formula.

I am most excited about the foundation sample and the Bioré cleanser. They alone make me excited for the box.

Quick Summary:

Total Value: $7.26

Skincare: 4

Makeup: 1

Tools: 0

Hair Care: 3

Perfume: 0

Other: 0

And as far as sizes:

Full Size: 0

Deluxe Sample: 0

Sample: 8

<3 Nightmare Before Makeup

 

Ipsy April 2017 Subscription 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 for the huge gap in posts lately and the now massive amount of post spamming you are about to get. I got all my boxes really early this month but I’ve had alot of shit going on and just gotten to overwhelmed and could work up the energy to give these post the attention they deserved.

Anyway, this month’s theme was side show and I think they nailed the bag absolutely perfectly. It is so fucking adorable.

Its a cute little almost foam like material clutch. But I love how it is a little carnival ticket.

And here is the all 5 of my products together.

touch in SOL No Poreblem! Primer

Full Size: 30 ml

Full Size Cost: $11.53

Sample Size: 5 ml

Value: $1.92

I do love a good primer but this is just an alright primer. It feels awesome on the skin it is really smooth doesn’t smell bad or weird or anything and has that nice silicone slip to it. It did make my make up last longer but it did not fill in my pores or make my face a smoother better canvas for foundation so in that regard it wasn’t a great primer. It did make my skin feel hydrated though so if you are into that this could be nice. Also because I was being lazy I used it as an eye shadow primer don’t do that it made my eyeshadow blend weird and not last as long. So don’t be lazy on this one.

Hanalei Aloe Soothing Gel

Full Size: 30 g

Full Size Cost: $30

Sample Size: 10 g

Value: $10

I can’t believe how expensive this thing is. I also kinda don’t get what it is supposed to be for it kinda sells itself as fancy aloe vera gel like I could buy at the drug store by the huge tub. It smells really strong of aloe I’ll probably just use this as lotion or something.

Color Pop Crème Gel Pencil in Show Me

Full Size: 0.2 g

Full Size Cost: $5

Sample Size: 0.2 g

Value: $5

I love the formula on the Colorpop liners they last on me all day even if its hot or I rub my eyes. I was not excited about this color at first but after pairing it with some purple eyeshadow I feel like the copper really popped and looked cool. Swatched below.

Ciaté London Bamboo Bronzer in Palm Island

Full Size: 0.35 oz

Full Size Cost: $28

Sample Size: 0.077 oz

Value: $6.16

First off adorable packaging I love the bow with the little stars I am keeping it purely for hte packaging terrible I know. This is the darkest bronzer in this line and it barely shows up on my skin and is not super pigmented either. So this is a total fail for me I don’t even this I can make this work in the dead of winter, I’m gona have to try it as a setting powder and see how that works. Swatched below.

Naked Cosmetics Heavy Metal in #HE-04

Full Size: 1.5 g

Full Size Cost: $14.99

Sample Size: 1.5  g

Value: $14.99

This is a gorgeous pigment much prettier in person then it appears on camera. It is eye and lip safe so that is pretty cool too. It is a really intense new shiny penny type of copper color. Swatched below.

Anyone else seeing a serious copper theme from Ipsy this month or was it just me?

Despite having 2 full size products it was a really low value this month. I am please though because I love the Colorpop liner and everything will get used some how even if I don’t love the rest of the items.

Quick Summary:

Total Value: $38.07

Skincare: 1

Makeup: 4

Tools: 0

Hair Care: 0

Perfume: 0

Other: 0

And as far as sizes:

Full Size: 2

Deluxe Sample: 0

Sample: 3

<3 Nightmare Before Makeup