Tag: Indie

Ipsy December 2019 Subscription Box Review

nightmareb4
Ipsy Bag

Cost: $12 monthly, $132 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 300 points and 1000 points. You can get around 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 I don’t make any money or anything it’s just one beauty junkie to another.

You can now customize your bag and pick out one sample per month that will get to be in your bag which is a pretty nice change even though it came with a price increase.

Last Ipsy of the year I can’t believe it. I am not a huge fan of this bag I think the dark green with the silver is supposed to be festive but I think it looks like tin foil.

Cake Beauty Milk Made Indulgent Body Milk Cream

Full Size: 60 ml

Full Size Cost: $5.99

Sample Size: 30 ml

Value: $3.00

Maybe I have been reviewing this brand too highly since I got cake hand lotion 2 months in a row lol. That said I really like their lotions and happy to have and use this one. I have never tried anything from the Milk Made line and it doesn’t smell as good as the Delectable line but this feels so nice on my hands like it is so balmy feeling with out being greasy.

Complex Culure All Over Highlight + Powder Brush

Full Size: Yes

Full Size Cost: $20

So this is now in like the top 5 of single most expensive brushes I own (like not from sets). And it really feels well made and looks well made. The grey handle is that soft touch matte it has a nice long ferule the bristles are soft and cut well and it is just so aesthetically pleasing. It is a multipurpose brush that could be used for so many things I see my self traveling with this one for sure. I wish it wasn’t so expensive because I would like more and a few of their eye brushes but I will content myself to loving on this one. They only sell a few brushes but hopefully this brand can expand and there can be other brushes from this brand I can lust over. This is the item I picked by the way very happy with my choice.

Aromatica Rose Absolute First Serum

Full Size: 130 ml

Full Size Cost: $19.56

Sample Size: 20 ml

Value: $3.01

This is supposed to be a toner and serum combines for hydration and illumination. I will never know because I am allergic to roses.

Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush in Kisses

Full Size: 5.6 g

Full Size Cost: $29

Sample Size: 1 g

Value: $5.18

So I can’t find this color any where but Tarte often makes sample sizes of colors they don’t sell for like kits and boxes and gift with purchases and what not so that isn’t weird. Tarte blushes are super smooth and long wearing but I don’t really ever wear blush and really wouldn’t wear such a baby pink color so I am leaving it unswatched so someone else can have it.

Coloured Raine Focal Point Glow Lighters in Selfie

Full Size: 8 g

Full Size Cost: $19.99

Sample Size: 3.5 g

Value: $8.75

I thought this was going to be too dark but it is actually really sheer and subtle. It is a very pretty subtle type of highlight and that is good for some days. I have wanted to try this brand but it is a bit pricey and harder to access so I have never gotten the chance. So pretty Excited to try something from them it is really smooth as well.

You can see how it is just a nice subtle glow.

So 3 of the 5 are items I’m keeping and I redeemed points to get a Luxie brush added to next months bag which is nice. The brush in this bag pretty much makes it even if the rest was less then impressive to me.

Quick Summary:

Total Value: $39.94

Skincare: 1

Makeup: 2

Tools: 1

Hair Care: 0

Perfume: 0

Other: 1

And as far as sizes:

Full Size: 1

Deluxe Sample: 2

Sample: 2

<3 Nightmare Before Makeup

Boxycharm October 2019 Subscription Box Review

nightmareb4

Boxycharm

Cost: $21

Cycle: Every Month

What is it:

Boxycharm sends out 4 to 5 full size items every month which makes it really unique among the  boxes I subscribe to.  It is a nice change to get all full size products especially for the reasonable price of $21 which is usually less then the cost of one item in the box.

If you would like to subscribe you can use my referral link HERE. I don’t get anything other then points but would really appreciate it but do as you feel comfortable you are also welcome to use the link in the header that leads to the regular homepage.

You can also review your products and get “charms” which are their versions of points that you can use as money off in their shop.

Boxycharm like Ipsy is raising its prices and allowing for one customized item and that starts next month so we’ll see how that all works out next month. I got a choice between 2 nice seeming skincare items which is cool.

Touch in Sol Pretty Filter Glassy Skin Balm

Full Size: 30 g

Full Size Cost: $32

This I was more excited for then I thought I would be. I expected this to be really sticky feeling but it is actually really nice it feels quite smooth on and looks dewy in a pretty way rather than a greasy way like alot of dewy primers do on me.

Steve Laurant Jelly Highlighter in Cotton Candy

Full Size: 7 g

Full Size Cost: $26

This is weird so in the pan it looks too dark for me and then it ends up being too light for me and mostly glitter. This has the same powder cream formula as Colourpop Supershock Highlighters and I don’t love that. This is kinda a no for me. Swatched Below.

Iconic London Lip Plumping Gloss in Lovestruck

Full Size: 5 ml

Full Size Cost: $26

This was quite sticky and thick. It also didn’t do much in the way of plumping it just did that minty tingling feeling and the color is very milky I don’t like this at all. Swatched Below.

Jonteblu Lip Liner in 935 Dark Natural

Full Size: 1.2 g

Full Size Cost: $5

This is very stiff for a lip liner and in a color I would never use it is a dark lip color like it is a very dark natural type of lip liner color it just isn’t for me. Swatched Below.

Dose of Colors Snow Angels Palette

Full Size: 1.7 g x 5 Shadows

Full Size Cost: $32

So I have this palette (so of course that would be the one I receive there were like 8 options and I own 2 of the options) that said I love this palette and don’t mind having a back up. These shades are so up my alley they blend and last well and are really pigmented I really love the does of colors formula. I would say of all the palettes this is the “worst” only because the bright blue and the pink need a bit of building just because of the type of shades they are not in like a negative way. I don’t really love the brush that comes with these palettes it is just a bit to tiny to be of much use for anything other then tiny little detail work.

I love a bruise colored shade Like the middle one so much.

This box was a bit of a miss for me since two products I won’t use one I really don’t love and one I own already. So kinda meh.

Total: $121

Total Value to Me: $64

<3 Nightmare Before Makeup

Ipsy October 2019 Subscription Box Review

nightmareb4
Ipsy Bag

Cost: $12 monthly, $132 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 300 points and 1000 points. You can get around 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 I don’t make any money or anything it’s just one beauty junkie to another.

You can now customize your bag and pick out one sample per month that will get to be in your bag which is a pretty nice change even though it can with a price increase.

This was the first month we I got to try out customization. I just went on when I got the email and chose the sample I wanted. I really like that because it guarantees you will be at least sorta happy with something in your bag.

This month Ipsy did a Betty Boop Collection. The bag is super cute but the products all seemed pretty meh.

Betty Boop x Ipsy Drawn to You Eyeliner

Full Size: ?

Full Size Cost: $3.99

Sample Size: ?

Value: $3.99

You can only get this if you buy the whole collection this is not great it comes out really smooth and black but it is is so liquidy and bleeds really terribly. I have potential plans to use this to make the dark/shadowy base you use under liquid latex for wounds so that I don’t waste a good eyeliner. But I doubt this will last long in my life if I don’t end up using it for that.

Beau Gachis Concealer Brush

Full Size: Yes

Full Size Cost: $11.95

This brush feels pretty cheap the bristles aren’t cut super even and feel really really plastic like.

It Cosmetics CC Cream in Medium

Full Size: 32 ml

Full Size Cost: $39

Sample Size: 4 ml

Value: $4.88

I hate this product it doesn’t work from my skin at all I find it to look really really heavy and sit on top of my skin in a really unflattering way. This is just not a good pick for me. Though I know it is really popular.

Private Doctor Define Minus Serum

Full Size: 40 ml

Full Size Cost: $49

Sample Size: 7 ml

Value: $8.58

This was my customization choice, I’m never going to pass up an expensive serum. I don’t know how this works yes but I should get about a week or two out of it and it is my next serum to try when I finish up my current one (that I hate its a random niacinamide one) tonight. This is supposed to help reduce lines and sagging.

Aphrodite Olive Oil Deep Cleansing Face Mask

Full Size: 75 ml

Full Size Cost: $10.99

Sample Size: 15 ml

Value: $2.20

This is supposed to draw out impurities and hydrate. I am leery about putting olive oil on my face but I’ll give it a go when my face feels like it needs a heavy does of nourishment.

This was not a great month for me at all. But you win some you lose some I don’t really love anything in this months bag and the only one that I am interested in trying is the serum I picked out. This month had a shockingly low value as well after the change and the promise of a higher value I am pretty displeased. I don’t feel like I got my moneys worth.

Quick Summary:

Total Value: $31.60

Skincare: 2

Makeup: 2

Tools: 1

Hair Care: 0

Perfume: 0

Other: 0

And as far as sizes:

Full Size: 2

Deluxe Sample: 0

Sample: 3

<3 Nightmare Before Makeup