Category: Subscription Boxes

February 2017 Sephora Play! Subscription Box Review

nightmareb4

Sephora Play!

Cost: $10.70 monthly

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.

This month Sephora has sent us this satin pink bag that says smitten on it. I like the silky feeling and that they are sending different types of bags now.

Admittedly this is not my favorite bag I have received from them so far but lets see how the value breaks down.

Too Faced Lip Injection Glossy in Milkshake

Full Size: 0.14 oz

Full Size Cost: $22

Sample Size: 0.03 oz

Value: $4.71

This is a typical lip plumping gloss it stings when you put it on and stings for awhile. I cant say I saw much plumping and I don’t like the sting. It isn’t irritating like old school lip plumpers so If you like that stinging kind of lip plumper you will probably like this. This is a really like nude glossy shade it does have some color so I found this very true nude to be way to light for me but it does some in other colors nad has a very nice sparkle and shine. It just isn’t for me. Swatched below.

Bite Beauty Multistick in Cashew

Full Size: 0.17 oz

Full Size Cost: $24

Sample Size: 0.07 oz

Value: $9.88

I love Bite Beauty’s packaging they use that soft touch plastic that’s almost fuzzy feeling. I was not sure of what to make of this product at first but its grown on me. It will work great for like a quick make up look throw a little on the eyes and blend out and an little on the lips. Can be used as blush too. it blends out well with your fingers but Sephora suggests you can use a brush too. It has a nice matte but not dry finish on the skin and is a really pretty mauve rose color it is darker then it looks in the tube.

Sephora Lashcraft Mascara in Black

Full Size: 0.33 oz

Full Size Cost: $12

Sample Size: 0.094 oz

Value: $3.42

This is the tiniest little mascara! I tend to enjoy non high end mascaras more then high end mascaras so I will see how this one works out for me. This is even smaller then a traditional travel size mascara. No where neat the $12 dollar value listed on the packaging, that is the price for a full sized mascara.

Tom For Neroli Portofino Perfume

Full Size: 30 ml

Full Size Cost: $145

Sample Size: 1.5 ml

Value: $7.25

Expensive perfume! In theory I should like this it has notes of citrus and bergamont but it gave me a headache and made my nose itchy which is a shame.

Clinique Pep-start Hydroblur Moisturizer

Full Size: 1.7 oz

Full Size Cost: $29.50

Sample Size: 0.24 oz

Value: $4.16

This moisturizer is supposed to work as a primer as well. I really hope this works out for me as a primer because it is a really good price for a blurring primer. On the back of my hand it was very blurring so I am excited to try this out over the next few days.

Origins GinZing Refreshing Eye Cream

Full Size: 15 ml

Full Size Cost: $30

Sample Size: 5 ml

Value: $10

Can always use another eye cream lol and this is a really good sample size. Origins makes some really great products so I am happy to have this and it will get used up eventually. I am currently alternating between my Tarte Eye Brightener and I believe its a Neutragena eye cream its in a blue tube.

Well the value was higher then last month but still not that great. Still for the ten dollars I spend on the box it is totally worth it to be guaranteed high end samples to try like that perfume. The samples especially of the make up are always big enough to last awhile for me. Only that Clinique sample will be something that gets used up fairly quickly. As always I am happy with Sephora and the variety of products they send out with make up, hair care, skincare and perfume.

Quick Summary:

Total Value: $39.42

Skincare: 2

Makeup: 2

Tools: 0

Hair Care: 0

Perfume: 1

Other: 0

And as far as sizes:

Full Size: 0

Deluxe Sample: 2

Sample: 3

<3 Nightmare Before Makeup

February 2017 Ipsy Subscription 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 in any way just one beauty junkie to another.

So this month we got a denim and orange bag. Not really my taste and it s a very fake cheap denim feel but I appreciate the attempts at being unique, and Ipsy branching out with the bag styles and materials.

This month I even got a bonus product I got 6 items instead of the usual 5, I love when that happens it usually only happens like once or twice a year and usually only with sheet masks

Absolute New York Nano Liner in Black

Full Size: 1 ml

Full Size Cost: $8.49

Sample Size: 1 ml

Value: $8.49

I really like this liner. It is a very fine tip liner. It doesn’t dry down completely matte it still has a little gloss to it but is water resistant and doesn’t crumble or bleed on me. Swatched below.

Luna by Luna Cosmetics Highlighter in Calypso

Full Size: 3 g

Full Size Cost: $23

Sample Size: 3 g

Value: $23

This is very pretty but damn this is expensive for not a lot of product this $23 for 3 g or $7.67 a gram compare that to say a Becca highlighter that will run you $38 for 8 g or $4.75 a gram this highlighter is a little under double that cost that is ridiculous. That being said it is gorgeous I could see this also doubling as an amazing eyeshadow. This is a nice cool toned almost taupe shimmer highlight. There is some glitter in it but much less them most of the other highlighters I own. It catches the light really well. Swatched Below.

NYX Butter Lipstick in BLS24 Ripe Berry

Full Size: 4.5 g

Full Size Cost: $5.99

Sample Size: 4.5 g

Value: $5.99

This is picking up very pink on camera but it is a very red berry tone in person.  People love NYX butter lipsticks. I prefer their matte lipsticks because I prefer mattes in general but these are a lovely formula and I probably will keep this. I find the deeper shades of these to leave a little stain on the lips so there is something left behind when they wear off but the stain isn’t always even so that can be good or bad depending on how it wears that day.

Swatches with Flash:

Like look at that highlight! (Still $23 fucking dollars I would never but hey for the $10 I spent on the bag great deal)

Swatches without Flash:

SOO AE Purifying Black Charcoal Mask

Full Size: 1 Mask

Full Size Cost: $2.5

Sample Size: 1 Mask

Value: $2.5

Hey charcoal one of my favorite skincare items! Always happy for some more sheet masks though I have a giant stockpile to work through. I use sheet masks more in the summer because I hate being cold and they always feel too cold on my face in the winter.

SOO AE Nature Green Tea Sheet Mask

Full Size: 1 Mask

Full Size Cost: $1.24

Sample Size: 1 Mask

Value: $1.24

I don’t actually like green tea masks but again who is really gona complain about a sheet mask. Especially when it is sort of a bonus.

Luxie Brush 514 Blush

Full Size: Yes

Value: $18

I love Luxie Brushes but not enough to actually spend money on them. Thanks to Ipsy though I am slowly growing a pretty decent collection of Luxie brushes. They are so super soft with synthetic bristles. The only thing is with their face brushes I feel like they are not quite densely packed enough or maybe the bristles are two long I don’t know but they always feel just a tad to flimsy and light on my face when I am using them.

I am much happier with this months bag then lasts months bag. I feel like the products actually go together. Also I got ALL FULL SIZE products you really can’t beat that.  I will actually use all of the products. I always think Ipsy is worth it even when you get a dud month because usually the bags are really good. They do get better the more you review but the old reviewing system was definitely better and let you express how you felt in more detail with the longer survey about each product.

Quick Summary:

Total Value: $59.22

Skincare: 2

Makeup: 3

Tools: 1

Hair Care: 0

Perfume: 0

Other: 0

And as far as sizes:

Full Size: 6

Deluxe Sample: 0

Sample: 0

<3 Nightmare Before Makeup

 

 

Medusa’s Makeup January 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 from their line.  This is the third month that this subscription is around and I have been subscribing since the beginning.  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 send out their newest products and almost always full size.

So here’s all I got in the January Box. Sorry this post is so late. I was not impressed with this months box. It was very lackluster and boring for me. Again we have an Eye Dust, a Glitter, and a Lip gloss. They really need to switch things up and add some of their more unique products or I may cancel soon.

Glitter in Star Struck

Full Size: 2 g

Full Size Cost: $7

Sample Size: 3 g

Value: $7

The glitters are still mislisted on the website as being 2 g when in reality full size is 3 g. This is a white glitter with a violet iridescence but I don’t see the violet I only see a pure white glitter. It is actually less glittery then the rest of the glitters I have received this is almost a glitter eyeshadow but not quite.  Swatched at the end.

Eye Dust in Purple Rain

Full Size: 1.5 g

Full Size Cost: $7

Sample Size: 1.5 g

Value: $7

I do like their eye dusts the pigment sticks together well so they are less messy then other pigments I have tried. This is a pretty purple deep purple with out being dark. Swatched at end.

Lip Gloss in Space Kitten

Full Size: 6 ml

Full Size Cost: $9

Sample Size: 6 ml

Value: $9

Their lip glosses are very sticky and fairly sheer. They look bright in the tube but do not go on that way. I hate lip gloss so this will get passed on.

Swatches with Flash:

Swatches no Flash:

Maracuja Oil

Full Size: 10 ml

Full Size Cost: $9

Sample Size: 10 ml

Value: $9

This is a tiny little bottle for a full full size $9 item. I have this and the Tarte one now and still no idea what to do with them.

Total Value: $32

Was not impressed with this box at all it was boring and the value was really low. I have been using the mascara I received in the my last box and I have been loving that. I may repurchase that in the future when I use it up. This month did not wow me at all I do not feel like the value was there at all.

<3 Nightmare Before Makeup