What is it: Every month you will get a bag, a $5 off coupon (sometimes $10), 5 deluxe samples and 1 bonus sample. Why not just say 6? I don’t get it. Lately we have been getting between 6 and 8 items per month you never really know how many things you are going to get.
All the brands will be brands you can find in Macy’s which is cool since they sell Mac and a lot of other brands that are never to rarely seen in subscription boxes.
The cool thing about the coupon is that it is good in stores and online also Macy’s does have sales and $5 products so if you are strategic you can score a free product every month. Depending on your state you may still have to pay tax but it is still basically free.
So this was a hair themed box and it really good. Like way more then I would ever expect from a $15 dollar box.
I have wanted to try this dry shampoo but I have so many that there was never any reason to buy it so now I have a travel size can to try. This has been very effectively marketed to me and in my brain it is going to be so good but not make my hair feel dry. So we will see.
Typically I love Drybar products but I have never used anything like this before so that should be a learning curve. But more volume in my roots could be nice sometimes. And I know it is going to smell great since all their products smell great.
I have not had good luck with plant derived shampoos and conditioners in the past. But this is just a small travel size so I will use these up on some trip at some point.
I linked to a similar scrunchie set since this was made specifically for the box. While I hate the color this weird baby blush pink it is a good scrunchie it isn’t too wide or two big so it holds well with out needing to be twisted a bunch and making a giant lump.
So I can’t find it in Lavender so I linked to the Purple one. How amazing is it to get a travel flat iron in a $15 dollar box and an expensive one at that. it feels like good quality it is light and small so perfect for slipping into a bag like even a small suitcase or large toiletry bag would fit this. I love the points on it because that makes it so easy to slip your hair around and not have it pull or get stuck.
What a really great box to start the year off with. I sorta really loved the themed box and I hope they do more of them through out the year.
So my goal was $3,500 in products so I would be encouraged to use my more expensive products as well as my full size products and I am happy to say that I did reach my goal and I used up $3,621.72!
Final Totals:
So I used significantly less items this year. I don’t know if that is because I focused more on full size items of it was because of lockdown and generally just using less stuff because I was doing less stuff. But Compared to last years stats I used up nearly $600 more stuff and decreased my percent paid ratio by 8% so I was getting much better value out of my products this year. My cost per item was 6 cents higher but that seems pretty negligible considering the massive amount of items difference this year 394 vs last years 568 items. I also increase my Avg Month Value and decreased my Avg Paid Per Month.
Overall I can say that this year was a pretty big success. Woot Woot.
Final Totals By Category:
I decluttered so much less this year. I don’t know if that is good of bad but it is the stand out difference in item totals between 2020 and 2019. And I used 50% less perfume which makes senses considering the year and a decent amount more in candles and such which also makes sense. Other then decluttering the average of each category used up each month is with margin of error the same so that’s pretty interesting to see that even when the number of products involved changed the ratios pretty much stay the same. That really helps pinpoint what I can buy extras of vs what I really shouldn’t.
Now for some fun nerdy pie charts:
So Skincare came in at the exact same percentage as last year, a whole third of my used up products. I am really glad to once again see that Makeup doesn’t come in last place even though half of my categories all tied at 3rd least used. It just find this mostly equally spread out break down this year so interesting and not what I was thinking it was going to be.
I leave declutters out of this because I don’t want the values of items I am not using up to taint my data.
As we can see here I pay the most for HomeScents, Skincare, and Haircare in that order; But I get the most value out of Skincare, HomeScents, and Makeup.
I know Last year I really wanted to spend less on candles and use up alot of what I had and reduce my collection. While I wasn’t really successful in accumulating less candles ands and things I did seriously reduce my collection of items. They fully fit in my storage for them again with space and this time last year I had totally outgrown the storage area I have for them. That is a win for sure. And I have gotten better and only buying as many or less than a used so it is an improvement.
I also wanted to work on using up full size perfumes but that seriously got derailed this year so I am not going to beat myself up about it. I was not motivated to use my expensive perfumes to sit around the house so I was mostly using up less expensive body sprays because I still like to have a scent even if I am not going out.
So 2021 goals. After the year we have had it feels hard to commit to anything in the future because who knows what is going to happen but I want to use up 400 products and have a value of $3,000. I really neglected my non full size products this year and they have certainly started to pile up and need to be moved out but I also want to stay motivated to use my expensive full sizes so by having both goals I feel like I have two things to work towards and will be forced to switch things up more because having the same routines for things for such long stretches was kinda boring for me.
This breaks down to about $250 and 33 products per month which feels more then doable. The more subjective goal is to just get more use and try more things in my collection rather then committing to full size products this year.
Oh boy 2021 is starting off as just 2020 season 2 huh? I know I have been gone for a bit. My computer and my car both decided to die just a few days apart during the holidays so that was super fun and not at all expensive to replace the former and repair the latter. So that is where I have been. and things have just really piled up from that so I know its been a minute and there were some missed posts but your friendly useless subscription box reviewer will now resume normal service. I am truly losing my mind lol.
Surprise surprise though I didn’t just meet my goal I exceeded it. Go me!
Just look at all that stuff isn’t it neat?
Skincare (10)
GlamGlow Gentle Bubble Daily Cleanser I really loved this it was really effective at getting off dirt and lingering makeup particles but it was also really gentle and a little went a long way. This was so good. Next time I need a full-size cleanser I am hoping to pick up this one. It lasted a really long time so I don’t even mind the higher price tag.
Repurchase: Yes
Oh K! Bright Eyes Gold Dust Under Eye Mask these were really nice. They stayed on really really well and they made my eyes feel really nice.
Repurchase: Yes
Derma-E Advanced Peptides & Collagen Serum I don’t think this did anything at all.
Repurchase: No
The Estee Edit Dissolve the Drama 2 in 1 Makeup Remover and Cleanser hated this and I must not have been the only one because the Estee Edit brand was not around for a very long time. This was really bad at taking off mascara for whatever reason and it left like a crazy oily film on my lashes and in my eyes and on my skin that was super hard to get off.
Repurchase: No
Acure Resurfacing Inter-Gly-Lactic Flash Mask I really like glycolic and lactic acid masks but this was full of glitter like why. It was so hard to get the glitter off my face and I hate that ruined an otherwise good product.
Repurchase: No
Biore Charcoal Cleansing Micellar Water this was fine my skins been really oily and I had been using this remove a little of that oil when I would get up in the morning so I look less greasy. I am not super into Micellar Waters so I wouldn’t repurchase:
Repurchase: No
Supergoop Defense Refresh Setting Mist SPF 50 This is one of my favorite face sunscreens because I can spray it on over makeup it is light and not sticky. Does sting my eyes if it gets in them though. When I got this the sprayer was broken but I really needed it for a vacation and couldn’t exchange it in time so I just put it in another spray bottle and that worked out fine for me.
Repurchase: Yes
QMS Intensive Eye Care Day & Night Eye Cream this was meh it was moisturizing but it was hard to blend in and sorta sat on top of my skin and didn’t really do anything special. This is also one of those weird brands that has wildly inflated prices for very basic items.
Repurchase: No
Leaders Pore-Scaling Black Aqua these are fine they are a basic sheet mask they are fine. I don’t go out of my way to repurchase any sheet masks though I have so many and they tend to just float in and out of my life.
Repurchase: No
Strivectin Skin Reset 4-Week Intensive Rejuvenation System Set well this was the stupid sample with the stupid high value I got in my November Macy’s box. I can say that I really liked the texture of 1,2, and 4; 3 was really sticky. Can’t tell you if they did anything because one day is not enough time to see results with this kind of product.
Repurchase: No
Random (5)
Fortune Cookie Soap Company Plantfusion Oil in Magical Tears this is an odd product it is just almost like an aromatherapy rollerball. I used it on my palms before bed as a scent trigger for sleep and it was nice and calming but not a necessity in my life, I have a few other like this from them.
Repurchase: No
MegRhythm Gentle Steam Eye Mask in Citrus these were not what I wanted them to be they did heat up and feel nice but I had to like press them into my eyes to feel that warmth so they were not nearly as soothing as I would have wanted.
Repurchase: No
Sephora Soft Touch Cotton Pads these are my favorite cotton rounds. They are soft they don’t shed cotton or fall apart.
Repurchase: Yes
Grande Lash Serum I kinda didn’t want to like this because it is so pricey but it really does work this make my lashes so long and each strand thicker, It did also make them stiffer and less soft though. SO having not used it for a bit now I haven’t seen anything but the normal natural shedding of my lashes but because they are longer and thick I have noticed it a bit more but it hasn’t damaged my lashes and I am not seeing more lose than normal which is good. I will repurchase this next year for sure.
Repurchase: Yes
Sweet & Shimmer Face and Body Mini Wipes in Vanilla Bean these are the cheapie wipes I just use for swatches and all sorts of miscellaneous things. I love them.
Repurchase: Yes
Home Scents (7)
Bath and Body Works Red Velvet Candle this was a nice sweet candle. It burned really unevenly though. The scent through could have been better but I didn’t hate it.
Repurchase: No
Fortune Cookie Soap Company Linen Spray in Flannel Sheets this was great I like linen sprays they make my sheets and pillow cases smell nice and I enjoy it.
Repurchase: Maybe
Fortune Cookie Soap Company Scent Diffuser in Jellyman I must be using these wrong because this seems super pointless it did nothing. I have so many of these too I need to figure out how to use these in an effective way.
Repurchase: No
Bath and Body Works Wallflower in Lemon Mint Leaf this smelled more like lemon cleaner then Lemon Mint anything not my favorite.
Repurchase: No
Bath and Body Works White Mint Latte Candle this one was nice. Not one of the special candles that I would go out of my way to buy though. The scent throw was good and the scent was nice.
Repurchase: Maybe
Fandoms and Fairytales Hand Poured Wax Tart in That’s No Moon (Darkside Dark Chocolate Fudge Brownie) this smelled so freaking good in the bag like it smelled edible. The scent throw and burn time was not that great though. This is just a sample so I am not judging it too harshly I have some candle from them that I bought as gifts so I will see how they go because I want to like this company.
Repurchase: Pending lol
Victoria Secret Vanilla Bean & Winter Muguet (Apparently that is a Lily of the Valley who knew not me) Candle this was a cute little candle had an interesting scent. If I saw these again I would totally pick them up.
Repurchase: Yes
Makeup (3)
Colourpop Volumizing Mascara in Left on Red I wanted a red mascara forever and then one existed and I am so happy about it. It is a very dry mascara which I like but it is a warning it also got redder as it dried out the first week or two of use which was good because at first it was not as red as I would have wanted.
Repurchase: Yes
Nyx Vivid Brights Colored Liquid Liner in Vivid Fire I used to love these but formulas have moved on and there are much better red eyeliners on the market now. This also turns pink through the day which isn’t great either.
Repurchase: No
Laura Mercier Caviar Volume Panoramic Mascara omg this mascara was so good it made my eyelashes touch my eyebrows. I really have been loving expensive mascaras lately but this one is really good. It is really heavy and goopy though so it will clump and if your lashes have trouble holding a curl I would not try this one. When I would really pile it on it almost felt like I was wearing false lashes.
Repurchase: Yes
Lotion (2)
Bath and Body Works Body Lotion in Beach Nights (Summer Marshmallow) these lotions are basic but get the job done and this smelled nice and sweet and yummy.
Repurchase: Maybe
Bath and Body Works Body Lotion in Bright Lemon Snowdrop this smelled so good like lemon cookies I loved it so much and tried to get every last bit of use out of it that I could. I which I had bought more than one of them. I hope this comes back at some point I loved it so much.
Repurchase: Yes
Bodycare (8)
Spicey Scrubs Whipped Body Scrub in Prom Queen this was fine the fig scent was very heavy but it was a nice scrub it was creamy and scrubby. I won’t go out of my way to purchase this though. Sorry, I hate saying that about small business made products but it wasn’t compelling enough for me to go out of my way.
Repurchase: No
Delectable Body Wash in Coconut Cream this was meh it didn’t really smell like coconut cream and as a body wash it was just fine.
Repurchase: No
Fortune Cookie Soap Gold Egg Bath Bomb? Maybe this was a tiny bath bomb maybe not I also don’t know what it was called I used it as a shower steamer and I really liked it for that.
Repurchase: Couldn’t I have not idea what this is lol
Philosophy Shampoo, Shower Gel & Bubble Bath in Pink Frosted Animal Cracker this was so meh it barely had a scent. It was really bubbly and it did last a long long time but this brand just always fails to wow me.
Repurchase: No
Trader Joe’s Body Scrub in Green Tea this was fine for a body scrub I liked the consistency a lot.
Repurchase: Yes
Fortune Cookie Soap Company Bubble Scoop in Forbidden Fruit I don’t feel like the bubble bars from FCS are as good as the ones from lush.
Repurchase: No
Fortune Cookie Soap Company Bath Fizzer can’t remember what this was from but it was fine. I don’t go out of my way to buy bath bombs and probably never will they just sorta randomly come into my life.
Repurchase: No
Fortune Cookie Soap Company Jack Bath Fizzer I liked this. I liked it extra because it was Nightmare Before Christmas Themed.
Repurchase: No
Perfume (3)
Pinrose Gilded Fox Perfume I loved this it smells like warm chocolate but in a perfume sexy way this was so so good.
Repurchase: Probably
Juicy Couture Viva La Juicy Le Bubbly this was nice bright and sweet my favorite kind of scents.
Repurchase: Yes-ish I know I am getting a full size for Christmas and won’t need to but will be “buying” one
Coach Dreams Perfume I didn’t like this it was more floral then I was expected and not for me.
Repurchase: No
Haircare (2)
Eva Nyc Mane Magic 10-in-1 Primer there were only a few uses in this bottle so its hard to say really I guess it was ok I don’t have much in the way of thoughts on this. I have more little bottles to try though.
Repurchase: No
Wella Invigo Brilliance Vibrant Color Mask this was not that impressive it did not add vibrancy to my hair color and it wasn’t as moisturizing as I would want from a mask.
Repurchase: No
Declutter (4)
Fresh Sugar Strawberry Exfoliating Face Wash so I reorganized all my face washes (it is that cabinet reorganization time of year) and decided I don’t want to try this. I have used a strawberry product in the past and has a bad reaction and then I have tried one and it was fine but I just always want to pass on this in case I have a bad reaction so I might as well pass it along to some one else.
Maybelline Colorsensational Lipstick in 750 Wickedly White I don’t love the formula of this it takes a lot of layers to get opacity but it is such a creamy slidey formula that it slides all over the place and I can feel lit moving around on my lips. Not great.
The Creme Shop Clean Canvas Primer in Purple I am just never going to use it and its too bulky and takes up too much space to keep around to not use. I don’t really like purple primes or color correctors. I may throw it in with my sfx stuff to base people greyer for a look but it is leaving my real collection.
QMS Medicosmetics Active Glow Tinted Day Cream this was just gross it really has zero coverage of any kind and it is really greasy and oily and felt nasty on my face. Hated this.
I can’t believe I actually made it!!!!! I will have a full year stats post up in a few days, but i made it and was able to use more then 1 item a day which is great. Though I still am ending the year with more things than I started with but that is always bound to be the case. At least I have made a dent.
