Category: Subscription Boxes

November 2016 Beauteque BB Bag Subscription Review and Coupon Code

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Beauteque BB Bag

Cost: $24 monthly

Cycle: Every Month

What is it: A Korean beauty subscription service that sends beauty and skin care items monthly.  Along with English instructions for products that do not have them.  Each month you get a makeup bag and they promise all full size products.  The claim the value is triple the cost of the box and that you will receive at least six products.  They also have a sheet mask subscription called Mask Maven that sends only sheet masks every month.

So Beauteque provides a nice detailed information card, that also lists the price of each item. Later on you’ll see that I found these to be less then accurate.

They also included a code for 10% and the code is BBREFER10.

So lets jump on into this review its gona be a bumpy ride. Spoiler Alert I wasn’t that happy.

Premium Deoproce Strawberry Yogurt Massage Cream

Full Size: 300 g

Full Size Cost: $13.99

Sample Size: 300 g

Value: $13.99

So this is a huge tub with a ton of product unfortunately it is worth significantly less than the listed value.  I also found it here for a shocking $4.22 rather than the $22 that Beauteque listed.  The product smells really nice and I patch tested it left my skin with a decent amount of glow but it is a lot more moisturizing then I would like to put on my face.  Also the last time I used a strawberry product on my face I broke out horribly with itchy red painful pimples it was very weird and I have shied away from Strawberry products since but I may give this a try since the patch test seems to have gone ok.

Tsaio Traveler’s Herb Diary Herbal Blend Body Care Kit

Full Size: 90 ml

Full Size Cost: $12.99

Sample Size: 90 ml

Value: $12.99

So this has super cute packaging and I love the convenience of a little travel set all in its own bag.  This again was not worth the listed price and it is a little odd that it doesn’t come with conditioner.  I was also really put off by the fact that each little bottle has the same spiel about making your skin look good including the shampoo feel like something got lost in translation.

 

VOV Lip Care Balm

Full Size: 10 g

Full Size Cost: $2.67

Sample Size: 10 g

Value: $2.67

This came with the cutest fruit basket design but it was just on the wrapper.  This reminds me of something you would pick up at the dollar store and way under the listed value. It seems to have been either sold out or removed both from Beauteque and from Amazon. I do not like pot style lip product that I have to dip my fingers into I feel like they are just dirty and germy and do not prefer them.  This balm is very moisturizing and has a really nice fruit/strawberry candy smell and a sheer pink tint that did not swatch well.

Yadah Claude Monet Hand Cream in Quai du Louvre

Full Size: 40 ml

Full Size Cost: $7.99

Sample Size: 40 ml

Value: $7.99

Very light hand cream and I do love the art packaging.  I wish I had either received two different ones or a totally different product rather than having two of the exact same thing which seems like a waste of a space in the box.  It is worth almost double the listed value which is nice considering the other products.

VOV Nail Polish in Orange

Full Size: Yes, amount unknown

Full Size Cost: $7.50

Value: $7.50

So I as anyone who reads this or knows me knows I HATE nail polish and never use it so I gave this away and forgot to take a picture oops, sorry.  It was in a really hideous orange color, I also am not fond of the color orange.  This was sent separately which I appreciate that way if it broke it would not ruin everything.  I could not find this for sale anywhere so I will use the listed value it was definitely full size though.

Cuticle Cutter

Full Size: Yes

Full Size Cost: $7.50

Value: $3.99

These have a nice sturdy feeling to them and very sharp blades.  There is even a little attachment to push back your cuticles which is a nice bonus.  There is even a cover for the blades these are pretty great I have little use for them but I have no complaints about this product.  They are currently on sale so I am going to use that price in my value calculation.

Box Total: $57.12

Listed Total: $65

I am not really happy with either the curation or the value of this box.  I have yet to receive my December box and Beauteque is going to have to do a lot to impress me.  I do not recommend this box as of right now.

<3 Nightmare Before Makeup

 

December 2016 Sephora Play! Subscription Box Review

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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.  Even one used to receive the same samples but they have now it seems officially switched into using box variations.

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.

So this month we got a black bag instead of the standard white bag. HOpe they keep this up it would be nice to get different colored bags. The black with the rose gold was very pretty.

Elizabeth and James Perfume in Nirvana Rose

Full Size: 0.34 oz

Full Size Cost: $25

Sample Size: 0.07 oz

Value: $5.15

As usual I hate the perfume. I am allergic to roses and don’t like the rose scent any way so this was passed along to my mom.

Sephora Cream Lip Stain in 01 Always Red

Full Size: 5 ml

Full Size Cost: $14

Sample Size: 1.3 ml

Value: $3.64

OMG this is awesome its super lightweight matte liquid lip and it isn’t drying it doesn’t transfer a ton like it gets off a little if you eat or like touch your mouth but if your drink it does not come off. It is fantastic I am absolutely going to pick up more they come in 40 different colors including unique ones like blue and purple. The only con is that it is not very log wearing it does need to be reapplied roughly every four hours but that is due to how comfortable it is these are definitely in my top favorite liquid lipsticks.

They are also super opaque and not patchy. This one was a touch streaky on the first layer but the second pass of the applicator fixes all the streakiness and it is gorgeous.

No Flash

Flash

Urban Decay All-Nighter Long Lasting Makeup Setting Spray

Full Size: 4 oz

Full Size Cost: $31

Sample Size: 0.5 oz

Value: $3.88

I am so excited I’ve wanted to try this forever! But its so expensive for a setting spray that I never would buy it.

Lancôme Hypnôse Drama Mascara in Excessive Black

Full Size: 0.22 oz

Full Size Cost: $27.50

Sample Size: 0.135 oz

Value: $16.88

Now Lancôme mascara is always weird to me it has a nice fluffy brush which I like but the formula is always to wet and clumpy and smears all over on me it just isn’t worth the price drug store mascara always preforms better for me.

Make Up For Ever Step 1 Skin Equalizer Primer

Full Size: 1 oz

Full Size Cost: $37

Sample Size: 0.16 oz

Value: $5.92

Damn that is expensive for a primer. I have a few of these that I have never gotten around to trying these little sample primers I usually save for traveling.

Drybar Detox Dry Shampoo

Full Size: 3.5 oz

Full Size Cost: $23

Sample Size: 0.8 oz

Value: $5.26

And last but not least dry shampoo. I so did not want to like this because I rarely use dry shampoo and this is a lot of money for dry shampoo. But I love it it works well makes my hair look clean and shiny and it smells so so so good. This can will probably be gone in no time.

Total: $40.73

Definitely not the highest value of products in a Sephora box but I found two products I loved and something I really wanted to try so it was a good box. Sephora Play! is always a good box I totally recommend it.

And for a quick summary of product types and sizes in case that’s interesting for anyone:

Skincare: 0

Makeup: 3

Tools: 0

Hair Care: 1

Perfume: 1

Other: 1

And as far as sizes:

Full Size: 0

Deluxe Sample: 2

Sample: 4

<3 Nightmare Before Makeup

 

 

 

December 2016 Ipsy Subscription Review

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December 2016 Ipsy Review

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’s bag most importantly i loved the products but the bag, just no. I am not liking this fuzzy pink thing. Though the little wristlet strap is cool maybe that can appear again in the the future.

It looks like a muppet.

Nice collection of products so lets dig in.

Mintpear Blending Sponge

Full Size: Yes

Full Size Cost: $20

Value: $20

First up a blending sponge that came packaged in a plastic bag.  I really doubt this sponge is worth $20 dollars The Stila sponge that is the exact same shape is only $12 so I can not get on board with that price. Either way I’m always happy to have more blending sponges less I need to wash my brushes the happier I am.

And here it is out of the bag.

Its pretty large and very dense/stiff which I actually like in a blending sponge so this works for me.

Ciate Liquid Velvet Matte Liquid Lipstick in Pin-up

Full Size: 0.22 oz

Full Size Cost: $19

Sample Size: 0.067 oz

Value: $5.79

I’ve been excited to try these for awhile. This is described as a berry shade but to me it is a much more nude maybe a hint of mauve type shade. It’s very pretty and flattering though. It is a soft smooth application but doesn’t totally dry down and become totally transfer resistant/transfer proof like I like. Swatches Below.

Close up of applicator.

I really like the thinner point on the applicator makes for an easy application and clean lines.

Privai Aqua Gel Masque

Full Size: 1.7 oz

Full Size Cost: $34

Sample Size:  0.7 oz

Value: $14

 

This is not for me I have oily skin and a super hydrating gel masque is the last thing I need. The little bit I tried on my hand was very sticky total fail.

Tarte Maracuja Oil

Full Size: 50 ml

Full Size Cost: $48

Sample Size: 7 ml

Value: $6.72

This is the product I am most excited about I have always wanted to try this it is supposed to be good for everything hair skin everything. And it has the coolest dropper its like a regular eye dropper but instead of squeezing a little rubber ball you push the gold button. Very lux feeling.

NYX Prismatic Eyeshadow in Jaded

Full Size: 0.043 oz

Full Size Cost: $5.99

Sample Size: 0.043 oz

Value: $5.99

This is a very creamy pigmented shadow it reminds me alot of Urban Decay’s Lounge expect instead of Lounge’s red/purple shift this has a more grey/silver shift which I like better. Lounge tends to get very  muddy looking on the eyes.

And the little bow is to cute.

Swatches with flash

And without flash

Now who’s ready for story time? When I took this out of the box it was rattling. I had to know why so I popped the container open and inside I found a big piece of plastic in their.

Pretty random it wasn’t broken off of anything and the container went right back together so not sure how that ended up happening but well.

 

I was very happy with this month’s bag. I love liquid lipsticks and I got that oil which I’ve wanted to try for a long time. Ipsy is usually a hit so this is the quality I expect from them.

Quick Summary:

Total Value: $52.50

Skincare: 2

Makeup: 2

Tools: 1

Hair Care: 0

Perfume: 0

Other: 0

And as far as sizes:

Full Size: 2

Deluxe Sample: 2

Sample: 1

<3 Nightmare Before Makeup