Category: Subscription Boxes

October 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 been introducing box variations.

I would normally be annoyed if I got a little sample size of perfume as an item in a subscription box but because it is sort of a bonus item it is actually nice to help me test out new perfumes since I tend to be a perfume loyalist to my Juicy Couture Perfumes.

The box variations I have been having a love/hate feeling towards.  It is nice to have a sort of customized box and a little bit of a surprise but it does lead to box envy when you don’t get the product you wanted that you saw was an option.

This month’s theme is the cool cut. Which i really didn’t understand but there  were alot of very “cool” interesting products. The box came very late this month usually I get it early in the middle of the month and this came only a few days before the end of the month.

So there is the box in its entirety with the cute little bag that says “Lipstix and Chill”.

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Madam C.J. Walker Beauty Culture Scent & Shine Coconut Oil

Full Size: 1.7 oz

Full Size Cost: $26

Sample Size: 0.15 oz

Value: $2.29

Omg I love how they packaged this with the little dropper separate from the bottle so cute why I think this is cute who the hell knows but I found it adorable.

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I have never heard of this brand but it smells amazing I love coconut scents and I love hair oils so as soon as I use up my current hair oils I’ll be using this one up.  It is also a great size for travel so I may end up using it for that I don’t know yet. But this is a serious win product for me.

The Estée Edit Flash Photo Gloss in 01 White Flash

Full Size: 0.27 oz

Full Size Cost: $20

Sample Size: 0.1 oz

Value: $7.41

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There is nothing to swatch here it is literally a clear gloss. Meh I don’t like gloss this one is particularly sticky which make me hate it I didn’t notice any teeth whitening effects and it is supposed to be vanilla scented and it really isn’t this is just not my cup of tea I’m gona keep it around for any off random chance I need a clear gloss because it is nice packaging and looks pretty in the tube. *cough* pack rat *cough* Weird that I got two lip products in one box, but it is worth almost the cost of the box so that’s a plus.

Smash Box Always On Matte Liquid Lipstick in Drivers Seat

Full Size: 0.13 oz

Full Size Cost: $24

Sample Size: Not listed but I am guessing about 0.05 oz

Value: $9.23

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This was so hard to get a good picture of the color so sorry about that. The size isn’t listed on the sample but I have seen the full size and this appears to be about half that so I am going with that. Normally I would not guess but it really appears so close to half to my eyes.

I love matte liquid lipsticks so this is great to try a new one but I’m not a huge fan of  the color. Drivers Seat is described as a Warm Pink but on me it pulls a very almost a light orange tinted nude.

No Flash:

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With Flash:

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Farmacy Skin Dew Hydrating Essence Mist & Setting Spray

Full Size: 3.3 oz

Full Size Cost: $44

Sample Size: 0.68 oz

Value: $9.07

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This smells really nice and herbal and I’m into it.  It does feel moisturizing and refreshing on the skin. As a setting spray I do not know I’ll be able to test that claim because it isn’t really a mist so must as a thick blotchy spray probably because it is a sample  size and the pump is different as a full size maybe the mister is better.  It smells good so that good I like facial water mist type moisturizers since they aren’t as heavy and don’t make my face feel oilier and over moisturized.

Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Framboos™ Glycolic Night Serum

Full Size: 30 ml

Full Size Cost: $90

Sample Size: 5 ml

Value: $15

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We have come to the product I am the most excited about. I have heard tons about how amazing this brand is but Drunk Elephant products are so fucking expensive. $90 dollars for 1 ounce of product it better be god damn magic. So I am thrilled to try it out. It is a clear gel a little seems to go a long way to rub into the face and it sinks in well where I have oily skin and its just a tab bit tacky where my skin is on the more normal side.

Derek Lam 10 Crosby Silent Street

Full Size: 1.7 oz

Full Size Cost: $95

Sample Size: 2 ml

Value: $3.8

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This was a heavy musky scent not for me.

Overall

The total value of this box came out to $46.80 which is the highest value I have ever had from the Sephora Play! box.  Can’t wait to see what they do now that were coming into the holidays.  I had two really big hits with the drunk elephant product and the hair oil which makes up for the misses in the lip products and the perfume.

If you are not subscriber keep trying the wait list never seems to work properly so I would just keep trying every so often until you get on. It really lets you try expensive brands at an inexpensive price.

<3 Nightmare Before Makeup

 

October 2016 Medusa’s Makeup Subscription Review

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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 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.

So far I have received 4 products each month and they have all been full-sized.  They also send out products that they have newly launched which is really cool that you get to try their brand new stuff.

Medusa’s Make up is also a vegan and cruelty free company and made in the USA.

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This months products:

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They have upgraded the info card this month I hope they continue with that. Previous months it was a little slip of printed paper.

Lipstick in Red Square

Full Size: 3.5 g

Full Size Cost: $12

Sample Size: 3.5 g

Value: $12

Close up of the packaging:

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The packaging is both  light (cheap) feeling plastic but well designed and the cap stays on well.

Here is the lipstick with and without flash:

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It’s a very nice creamy lipstick and the shade is a very true bright red with no orange or blue undertones. It is a little sheer for my tastes but does build up. Swatched below.

Cosmetic Glitter in Abracadabra

Full Size: 2 g

Full Size Cost: $7

Sample Size: 3 g

Value: $7

I don’t know if this is like old packaging or something but the pot I received says that it contains 3 g while full size on the website is advertised as 2 g.  I am going to go with the full size price of $7 for 2 grams since that is what you can buy from Medusa’s

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This is a cosmetics grade glitter that can be used on the eyes, lips or any where on the face or body.  Abracadabra is a black glitter that is not super reflective but I could see this looking really nice topping some of my Tattoo Junkee liquid lipsticks. Swatched below.

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Glitter Adhesive in The Fix

Full Size: 2 g

Full Size Cost: $8

Sample Size: 0.2 oz

Value: $8

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Again with the weird sizing differences the product received is marked at 0.2 oz which is almost 3 times what the website says full size is.

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I am interested in seeing how this wax type of product will hold the glitter but i am not holding my breath that this is going to work.

Deluxe False Eyelashes

Full Size: Yes

Full Size Cost: $8

Sample Size: Yes

Value: $8

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This seems to be a brand new product so that is cool that they include their new launches.  I am not a false lash person but this little kit is so cute that I may have to give it a try.

Overall:

The total of this months bag was $35.  Which is damn good for a 16 dollar bag. I have been happy with the variety of products they send out even if they aren’t always the type of make up I use. Messy pigments and glitters are not my thing but having this glue may help me branch out a little. The weird discrepancies in sizes has me a little confused but overall I was happy. Let me know what you guys thought about this box or if you guys get this same box!

<3 Nightmare Before Makeup

 

 

October 2016 Ipsy Subscription Box Review

nightmareb4

Ipsy

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.

I have been getting Ipsy bags for over a year now. I look forward to them every month even when I get a month with all meh products I still always love getting  it. The value is also awesome for what you spend I have never had a bag that was worth less then $20 dollars and usually they are worth $50+.

Here’s what I got this month:

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I do have an added point reward in my bag this month which I will get to at the end.

This bag is so adorable honestly Ipsy could have just sent the bag and I would have been thrilled it is so damn cute with all the creepy cute Halloween things that I love.

Here is a close up:

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I just can’t get over how cute it is. And the little ghost zipper pull.

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I think he needs a name any suggestions? Comment below! lol

So on to the products.

Lovely Sarah Jessica Parker Fragrance Rollerball

Full Size: 10 ml

Full Size Cost: $8.84

Sample Size: 10 ml

Value: $8.84

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Did not love the scent on this but I do like that it is a full size rollerball and not a little tester. This will probably go into my emergency gift stash (am i the only one that has one of those?).

NYX Vivid Brights Eyeliner in Gunmetal

Full Size: 2 ml

Full Size Cost: $6.99

Sample Size: 2 ml

Value: $6.99

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I actually own a few of these but didn’t have this color it is a a really nice metallic glittery silver. I wouldn’t call it a gunmetal shade but I like it, swatched below. These have really nice staying power and come in a ton of fun colors and are very user friendly for getting a wing highly recommend them plus they are always on sale at Ulta or the drugstore.

Make Up Forever Ultra HD Invisible Cover Foundation in Dark Sand

Full Size: 30 ml

Full Size Cost: $43

Sample Size: 5 ml

Value: $7.17

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This photographed a little  lighter then it is. I swatched  it below. This was a perfect match for me the foundation is a little dewier then I tend to like but I really like it. I don’t know if I $43 dollars like it but we will see. The sample size is also really great you definitely can get a bunch of use out of this and it would be great for traveling.

They also have a generous amount of shade from light to dark obviously every branded could always do better but this is up there in the amount of shades. They gave 40 shades and a lot of undertone options which I appreciate.

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Trust Fund Beauty Gimme Good Face Primer

Full Size:  ?

Full Size Cost: ?

Sample Size: 10 ml

Value: ?

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This is a clear primer and I hate it. It is very greasy and it never set or dried it made my foundation feel slimy and I did not like this. Cute packaging but huge let down it made my face feel so fucking disgusting. I also could not find this for sale I don’t know if maybe its a product that hasn’t launched yet or what.

Adesse New York Liquid Chrome Nail Polish in Grand Central

Full Size: 11  ml

Full Size Cost: $20

Sample Size: 11 ml

Value: $20

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This by itself is double the cost of the bag so that is cool. I could not get a good photo of this. It is a purple oil slick like chrome nail polish. But I can not count the ways how much I hate nail polish so you should all feel loved that I painted one nail (horribly) for you.

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And I got a 500 point reward this month and I picked this out:

Trust Fund Beauty That Glo Tho Highlighter

Full Size:  0.15 oz

Full Size Cost: $24.99

Sample Size: 0.15 oz

Value: $24.99

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That is tiny for a full size product but I do love it. It is a nice warm pinky gold with gold micro glitter cream highlighter. The tiny stick makes it really easy to apply exactly where you want it and it is easy to blend out and it definitely lasted all day long so I am really happy to have this. The cap also snaps on so you never have to worry about losing it. So Trust Fund Beauty you are 1 for 2 here.

Swatches:

With flash

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With out flash

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Overall

So this month was products I loved and some I hated the value with out the primer or highlighter was $43, more then four times the cost of the bag and that is with a product excluded.  I am very satisfied with this month I received 3 full size products and and only 2 sample sizes. And I need to repeat the bag is just too damn cute.

<3 Nightmare Before Makeup