Tag: Beauty

Medusa’s Makeup December 2016 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 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.

I was much more satisfied with this month’s box then last month’s.

The card his month is very festive, and came with a coupon code to use on their site.

Use code gold and get 15% off sitewide. It even works on sale items so you could pick up one of their pressed eye shadows that is on sale for $4 for only $3.40. Its a good deal. It also works on the bundles so you could save some decent money if you are looking to pick anything up.

Witch Lash in Black Noir

Full Size: 12 ml

Full Size Cost: $12

Sample Size: 12 ml

Value: $12

Nice rubber brush with short bristles.  The box is just too cute with the witch and the stars.  The tube also has a nice matte rubber feel that is nice to touch its packages very nicely and when I finally work through my mascara stash I can’t wait to try it.

Blush in Dangerous Liaison

Full Size: 10 g

Full Size Cost: $12

Sample Size: 10 g

Value: $12

Well goddamn this is a pink blush. Like Barbie pink. With Glitter! I never wear blush and this I could not imagine ever wearing without looking like a clown but it is super pigmented and soft with a nice stiffness and not a lot fall out that I think this will look amazing as eyeshadow. So I now have a new giant pan of eye shadow.

With Flash

No flash

Lipstick in Sugar Daddy

Full Size: 3.5 g

Full Size Cost: $12

Sample Size: 3.5 g

Value: $12

This is like a perfect nude, a your lips but better color. Their lipsticks are a super comfortable formula very smooth and not sticky. In the tube they have that awful like old school cosmetics smell but you can’t smell it when you are applying it to your lips so I can ignore that. There are 8 shades in total and I have received 3 shades maybe if I keep this subscription up I’ll get all the shades haha. Swatched Below with the glitter.

Glitter in Gold Digger

Full Size: 2 g

Full Size Cost: $7

Sample Size: 3 g

Value: $7

The website lists the glitters at 2 g but I do believe and the packaging says that the glitters are 3 grams. This glitter is gorgeous though and perfect for this time of year its very New Year’s Eve. I am not really into glitter but I love this glitter and think I will try to find some use for it.

With flash

No Flash

Total: $43

The value on this box was as usual fantastic and I was truly happy with all the products.  They are definitely sending the same kind of format every month so it is starting to get boring but they do have a limited range of products they make. I would love for them to send some of their eyeliner paints they come in some really awesome neon colors that would be so fun.

<3 Nightmare Before Makeup

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

 

ELF Haul with Beautifully Precise Brushes Mini Review

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e.l.f. Haul

e.l.f Cosmetics is an affordable makeup company with most of their products being under $5. Though recently they have branched out and have introduced some more expensive products. e.l.f. has free shipping when you spend $25 and there are always coupon codes floating around. At the end of this post there is a coupon code for a free gift.

So here is my little haul!

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I also received a free mystery gift bundle which was awesome.

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I got 5 full sized products valued at $12. Pretty good for a free gift.

e.l.f. Beautifully Precise Powder Brush – $12.00

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The Beautifully Precise Brushes are gorgeous. I am so in love and need to buy more.  They are gorgeous with clear acrylic handles and mirrored ferals. The brushes have a nice weight to them that make them feel expensive and the bristles are so soft. Below is a close up picture of the bristles.

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e.l.f. Beautifully Precise Multi Blender Brush – $12.00

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This brush was the brush that made me excited to try this new collection. The brush is cut to hug the curves of your face and has interesting bumps pictured below.  This brush is also gorgeous soft and has some weight behind it. This has a fully mirrored handle. I don’t entirely know how you are supposed to use this but I’m in love with it.

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e.l.f. Makeup Lock & Seal – $3.00

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This I am very excited to try and will update after I have.  This is a liquid that is supposed to set your makeup makeup, increase the wear time and enhance the color. That is a lot of claims for a three dollar product. The brush included in the set is soft but dense and they even include a little cup for pouring the product into I really appreciate the thought that went into the set.

e.l.f. Soothing Lip Balm – Strawberry Crème – $1.00

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This is definitely not strawberry cream scented which disappointed me, but it is a really nice balm for a dollar. There is a lot of product in the container it is smooth and hydrating and adds just a hint of light pink shine. Swatched below.

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e.l.f. Brush Shampoo – $3.00

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e.l.f. Foundation Brush – $2.00

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I actually bought this foundation brush to put my face masks on with as I can’t stand using my fingers.  This brush has a very plastic dense feel I wouldn’t want to use it for foundation but it is perfect for applying masks. I wish it was a tiny bit smaller but I can live with it.

e.l.f. Sculpting Face Brush – $6.00

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I picked this up specifically to see how it applies my rainbow highlighters but figured the curved shape will be nice for highlight in general.

e.l.f. Contouring Brush – $6.00

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Now I was not happy when I got this brush. I own one of these brushes and I love it for my patterned highlighters (yes I am obsessed with the rainbow highlighter trend and unique highlighters).  This one that I received was in horrible condition.

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The picture doesn’t do it justice but the brush was shedding like crazy and the bristles were all uneven.  I did contact customer service and they responded quickly and were able to give me a refund that took only about 3 days to get so I was pleased with the solution and the quick response. Mistakes happen but when customer service is good it keeps the mistake from leaving a bad taste in my mouth and ruining my opinion of the company.

e.l.f. Baked Highlighter – Moonlight Pearls – $4.00

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Well its pretty in the package and that’s about all the nice things I can say about this highlighter. How I hate this let me count the ways; It is not pigmented, its more chunky glitter then highlight, its rough and hard to pick up if you want a highlight that has a similar effect to this and don’t want to spend as much as say a Becca highlight I really enjoy Stila’s eye shadow in Kitten as a highlight of this style and color.

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I had to dip my finger in multiple times just to get a swatch that would even show up on camera.

Now onto the fun part the mystery bundle!

Mystery Bundle

e.l.f. Mineral Infused Mascara  – Black – $3.00

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This looks like its going to be a really nice mascara the formula doesn’t look to wet or dry and the brush its the plastic spiked wand.

e.l.f. Natural Lash Kit – 2.00

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I don’t wear fake lashes so I will be gifting these but cheers to a free gift to give. This will make a nice add on gift.

e.l.f Shimmer Eyeliner Pencil – Black Bandit – $1.00

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This I haven’t swatched as I will also be gifting this. I do not like wooden eyeliner pencils but this one promises to be smooth.

e.l.f. Long-Lasting Lustrous Eyeshadow – Party – $3.00

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I saw this and got so excited, but was totally let down.  I love cream eye shadows for an easy stay all day look but this did not deliver. It swatched nicely (see below) but on the eyes it took some work to get pigment and while it looked pretty it was a glittery mess. There was glitter every where and the shadow was completely gone after about 3 hours.  Also this color seems to not be sold any longer.

e.l.f. Gotta Glow Lip Tint – Perfect Pink – $6.00

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This is slightly darker in person. The packaging is super luxury there is a nice weight to this lipstick. The tube is mirrored and the  cap is clear acrylic like the beautifully precise brushes. This is one of those ph changing lipsticks and will look slightly different on every one. The color was a nice perfect pink for my skin tone and the formula was smooth abut not slick or sticky. I will probably pick up the berry one as well. There isn’t much staying power but it is easy to reapply.

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Well thanks all for reading my ramblings I hope this was interesting and helpful.  Also on e.l.f. right now until 10/15/16 you can use the code FLAWLESS to get a free bundle of setting spray, makeup removing wipes, and a facial massage.  This is no affiliated I don’t get any kind of points or anything for it just passing on the deal hunting love.

<3 Nightmare Before Makeup