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 $25 which is usually less then the cost of one item in the box. Boxycharm also joined the customization train and you can choose between 2 items to have one in your box for the month. I really like that because Boxycharm was getting to the point where I was only liking one thing in my box and even though the value was there the fun wasn’t anymore.
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.
Winter came back with a vengeance and I am so cold that even the short while I need to be out from under the blanket to write this is physically painful.
So this is the stiffest powder I have ever felt. Like I didn’t know a powder could feel so stiff and dry it is weird. It also says it is coconut scented but it isn’t. Pretty packaging though and this is a brand new just launched product so that makes it a bit cooler to see in here.
This is a very interesting set of brushes. First I don’t like that they are all labeled with what they are “supposed” to be used for because it seems misleading. The littlest brush is labeled a brightening brush which is just an odd thing to call a brush it is either a highlighting brush or an under eye setting brush but it is a bit dense for either of those uses. Then the brush that is labeled bronzer is more of a foundation brush. It has all the bumps on it that make it uneven so it would make bronzer super patchy. It is super weird.
This was the item I chose and I am definitely getting my moneys worth with these picks. This was pretty sticky on but I am hoping it will help make my skin appear smoother and refreshed like it claims. Kate Somerville products have a good reputation but I have never had the chance to try any of their more expensive more interesting products.
These I have tried before and they are pretty unimpressive they are like grown up Oxypads. I find them to be pretty drying so I will hold off using these till the summer. I have never used them longer then a week or two but I can’t say I saw any brightening other then just removing dirt and oil from my face.
These are currently totally sold out but we don’t get wipes in boxes often so even though these are the travel size I am pretty thrilled to get some new ones to try. Everything has hemp or cbd in it these days since it is the hot new trend but still a win.
Another month of a very skincare heavy box but I am not going to complain about that. Though I am hoping for some fun makeup next month. I love getting brushes because who wants to pay for them.
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.
This bag is so so soft and touchable. That dusty pink quilted look is not my thing it really reminds me of a pillow my grandma had on her couch (that was also wrapped in plastic, anyone else’s grandmother do that? Raise your hands) but i just want to pet it.
This looks so different on than it does in the tube. Which for me is a good thing I hate the color in the tube but on it is quite pretty. I really liked this it is comfortable it stayed on really well. It was a little messy to apply but nothing too terrible. I picked this and I am super happy with my choice. Swatched below.
I have a complicated relationship with The Balm I love the aesthetic and the packaging but the actual products are either 100% great or please get that item away from me I never want to see it again. This is a bad one this is a cream shadow which I already don’t like and it comes off on the eye as all glitter sparkle and no base color. For a shade name Turbo it should have a whole lot more going on. The fact that this comes in a palette of cream shades makes this look and feel like kids make up. Swatched Below.
So I don’t like the pencil version of this liner and I don’t like this liquid one much either. It is really smudgey and it bleeds alot it is hard to draw a nice line with too. The packaging is really cute ant it is really black so I’ll probably leave it at my Gf’s house for emergency eyeliner needs. Swatched below.
You can see the eyeliner bleeding and the difference in the lip color’s color here. You can’t really see the hot mess of the cream eye shadow since it swatched fine but trust me it isn’t great.
I love a good hair mask and I love not having to pay for them. This has argan oil and keratin in it so I expect good things. Happy to see it in my bag.
Well this is the cutest brush ever with the pink and blue ombre and the pineapple on it. The quality is not there for a $13 brush though. the bristles are cheap feeling and not that soft and the brush itself is super light.
A real mix of hits and misses here this month that seems to be the case with Ipsy alot despite the fact that you review your products and it is supposed to get better the longer you have it and I have had this for years. Supposedly next month we will be getting 6 items, I am excited for that.
First month down. The challenge I set for my self of using up $3,500 dollars mean that I need to use up $292 dollars of product every month and I smashed it this month which hurray because it take a little pressure off next month. So lets get into it there’s alot here to talk about.
Skincare (17)
111 Skin Space Defense Bright Eye Lift Gel this isn’t even a full
size and was worth almost a hundred dollars. I don’t think it was worth it. It
took a long time of use to see any kind of lifting and it wasn’t dramatic. I
have tried much cheaper eye creams that looked and felt like they were doing
something. It was also not very hydrating. I liked that it was a gel and was
really smooth and easy to put on but like no this was so not worth the price. I
got this in Ipsy so I paid like $2 for it so it was worth that but I would
never suggest anyone buy this it isn’t worth it.
Repurchase: No
Soo Ae Donkey Milk Skin Gel Mask these masks are nice they are
hydrating and comfortable.
Repurchase: Maybe
SK-II Facial Treatment Mask I didn’t really like this at all. It
was a very thick sturdy mask which was nice and everything fully absorbed into
my skin but it left my skin feeling really dry and I didn’t like that. Also
this is $17 dollars wtf.
Repurchase: No
Lumene Pure Arctic Miracle 3-in-1
Micellar Cleansing Water this was awful it burned my eyes and was awful
feeling on my face. Terrible.
Repurchase: Never, I would never use this again
Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask not my favorite
mask it is drying and hard to remove but it help clear up my skin under the
right circumstances. For a clearing mask I much prefer the Body Shop tea tree
one so I would get that not this.
Repurchase: No
Garnier Skinactive Micellar Cleansing Water All-in-1 Cleanser
& Waterproof Makeup Remover I hated this I felt like it left my skin greasy
and stung my eyes. I used if up mostly for cleaning thing off and getting
makeup spots out.
Repurchase: No
NuFace Prep-n-Glow Dual Sided Cloth these are great I love them
they are exfoliating one side and the just softer on the other side. They feel
nice my skin likes them but they are expensive so I don’t use them often. I
also think that if I used them all the time they would be a bit rough on my skin
over time.
Repurchase: Yes
Aphrodite Olive Oil Deep Cleansing Face Mask I didn’t love this it
left my face feeling fine but I don’t really think it did much deep cleaning
but it wasn’t drying like most purifying masks are.
Repurchase: No
L’oreal Pure-Sugar Scrub Purify & Unclog I hated this so much.
I love the masks from this line so I thought I would love the face scrub but it
was awful. It had like kiwi seeds in it that served no purpose other than
aesthetics and making a messy. It did not scrub well and left my face just
feeling weird. I just ended up using it up as a body scrub to be done with it
because it did not favors for my face.
Repurchase: No
Garnier Skinactive Refreshing Remover Face Wipes these are my
favorite wipes I like them for cleaning up fall out or just wiping my face if
it feels grimey. Stuff like that. I don’t ever use them to actually remove my
makeup. They are soft and they don’t irritate my skin at all they don’t smell
like alcohol or a ton of perfume I like them.
Repurchase: Yes
The Inkey List Vitamin C Cream this wasn’t that good it was really
thick and almost gritty on my skin and it did not play well with a lot of my
other skincare it would pill up under most things. It was ok as a vitamin c but
I have used much more effective ones I tried this because it was new and
affordable at Sephora but I wasn’t impressed.
Repurchase: No
Deoproce Strawberry Yogurt Clean & Moisture Massage Cream this
I hated an tried so many ways to use it up before I just down graded it to a
shitty body moisturizer to use it up. I wanted to use it up before the end of
2019 and I failed so I have to settle for using it up now in the beginning of
Jan. This was supposed to be like a cross between a cold cream makeup removed
and a cream yogurt moisturizing face mask. It worked as neither for me it
wouldn’t take makeup off or even make my face clean. If I tried it as a face
mask it left my face feeling coasted and gross. I used it up as like a body lotion
before bed and it kinda left me feeling slimey while moisturizing. Hated it.
Repurchase: No
Leaders Pore-Scaling Black Aqua my skin has been really dull and
breaking out a lot with all the weather changes holiday makeup the heat
breaking in my house and putting my skin through hell so I thought this would
be a good mask to try it is supposed to clean pores and make skin brighter. The
mask was black and I like black sheet masks they speak to my aesthetic this
didn’t have a lot of extra serum in the pack just enough to rub onto my chest
and it was a but sticky. It fairly well on my face. Left me feeling type but
also hydrated.
Repurchase: Maybe
BioBelle #prime Facial Mask this made my face a bit itchy and it
didn’t really do anything to help prime my skin for makeup.
Repurchase: No
Biossance Squalane + Phyto-Retinol Serum this sample was really
too tiny to see if there were any results it only lasted about a week. I got an
entire skincare routine sample set from Sephora with points and am testing out
how I feel about using a entire range and so far I don’t like. I had no adverse
reactions to this and it felt nice and absorbed well but I don’t think it was
doing much I can’t say for certain.
Repurchase: No
Biossance Squalane + Omega Repair Cream keeping with the using one
whole line of skincare I have two of these repair creams so I have used one up
and subbed in the next one I had. I didn’t really like this it is like a thick
barrier cream it almost reminds me of the cream you put on fresh tattoos. I
like that it layers well with the other products in this line but it doesn’t
really work for my skin. It feels so heavy on my skin that I feel like I am not
getting any moisture.
Repurchase: No
L’oreal Revitalift Triple Power Serum + Moiturizer with 2% Vitamin C and 6% Pro-Xylane this was one time use and it is a discontinued product but I came in late after drinking and I needed to be up early so I just used this since it was serum vitamin c and moisturizer all in one. I did really like it too bad it is discontinued. I actually felt like I had done a whole skincare routine.
Repurchase: Can’t
Random (5)
Fortune Cookie Soap Company I Am Iron Man Veggie Protein Deodorant
I love the natural deodorants from FCS for when I am just hanging out at home.
They are really smooth and feel kinda gel like on I like them. The scent really
didn’t come through on this one.
Repurchase: Yes
Cutex Corrector Pen this is a nail polish remover pen I got it for
a dollar at the dollar store but it’s a big fail. I use it up but I constantly
had to change the tips and then wait for the tip to resoak. I never paint my
nails and I suck at it when I do. So I think Q-tips are just easier.
Repurchase: No
Dove Go Fresh Deodorant in Revive Pomegranate & Lemon Verbena
this smelled really nice I love both those scents. I liked this.
Repurchase: Yes
Degree Motion Sense Deodorant in Tropical Rush I love the motion
sense deodorants they work well. This was a new scent I liked it but it is very
strong and very tropical summery. It competed with my perfume a bit so I don’t
know. I liked the scent but it was strong for a deodorant I will revisit this
in the summer probably.
Repurchase: Maybe
Fortune Cookie Soap Company OCD Hand Sanitizer in Tink! My favorite hand sanitizer and one of my favorite scents this is like an almondy slightly tropically scent that it just yummy and delicious. I have to check my stash but I think this is the last Tink! Scented product I have which is so sad.
Repurchase: Yes
Home Scents (6)
Bath and Body Works Peppermint Brownie Candle this was ok not my
favorite it had an ok scent throw but it was like almost confused on who it
wanted to be. It wasn’t very chocolatey or very pepperminty.
Repurchase: No
Bath and Body Works Cannoli & Chocolate Candle I wish I had
bought more of these this was such a nice candle it smelled like chocolate and
cannoli cream had a great throw. Loved it so so much so sweet and yummy.
Repurchase: Please come back so I can buy you!
Bath and Body Works Caramel Drizzle Candle this was ok generically
sweet but fine.
Repurchase: Eh I don’t know
Bath and Body Works Sugared Snickerdoodle Candle another cookie
sweet candle it was fine. Nothing to write home about.
Repurchase: Maybe
Swan Creek Candle Co Drizzle Melts in Vanilla Pound Cake smells
like cake I love these. They have great scent throw and a long melt time.
Repurchase: Yes
Bath and Body Works Wallflower in Chocolate Lava Cake loved this
so much it made my bathroom smell so chocolatey and warm.
Repurchase: Yes
Lip (2)
Soap & Glory Pout About it Hydrogel Lip Mask (*) this was
pretty good for a lip mask it wasn’t drippy but it did hydrate and soothe my
lips a lot. It stayed on well and didn’t taste bad. I wish it was a little bit
bigger it was like just a tiny bit to small where I felt like the edges of my
lips weren’t getting a good seal and the same benefits as the rest of my lips.
Repurchase: Maybe
Fortune Cookie Soap Company Lip Scrub in Everything is Eatable I like their lip scrubs because they are just the gritty bit and I like to use them in the shower. They taste super good too and are effective.
Repurchase: Yes
Makeup (4)
Wet n Wild Megawear Mascara
this wasn’t that great I don’t remember where this came from but I know they
sell it at the dollar tree. This was lengthening but it kinda gives really
clumpy spider lashes if I wasn’t careful. Not that great.
Repurchase: No
Nyx Vivid Brights in Vivid Envy I used to really like these
because they were the only affordable and easily accessible colored liquid
liners but times have moved on and I can get colored liners in tons of shades
affordably and easily now. I liked the brush it was easy to use the problem
with these were that they faded on my eyes so quickly and ended up being muddy
or dull and changing color. So I would not recommend. This ended up being a
dirty green color rather than a bright neon green.
Repurchase: No
Tarte Big Ego Mascara I loved this mascara it was comfortable and
really made my lashes looked curled and fluffy. I liked the brush a lot it is a
natural bristle in an hourglass shape. Really loved this.
Repurchase: Yes
Physicians Formula #InstaReady Setting Spray this was fine. Nothing really special but it was fine I prefer All nighter though.
Repurchase: No
Lotion (2)
Delectable By Cake Beauty Butter Balm Hand Cream in Triple Citrus
Blend I loved the lemony cake scent of this and it was super rich and moisturizing
but not too greasy slippy.
Repurchase: Yes
Mickey Mouse Hand Cream in Blackberry I bought this because it had Mickey on it and it was ok it was a nice blackberry scent and it looked adorable on my counter but it was just a generic nothing special not super hydrating hand lotion.
Repurchase: No
Bodycare (3)
Lush Creamy Candy Bath Bomb I like really fragrant bath bombs that
really dye the water and this was just not it. The water turned pink but it
wasn’t in a fun or impressive way.
Repurchase: No
Lush Body Conditioner in Snow Fairy I used this sample up because
I love Snow Fairy scent but I am not super into the body conditioners wet skin
moisturizers just aren’t my thing I find them just weird to use it is a
personal preference thing. The scent of this lasts on your skin for hours
though and I love that.
Repurchase: No
Nature’s Whimsey Sugar Body Scrub in Sugar Cookie this is the kinda scrub I really like where it is almost like a moldable scrubby paste. It also smelled like sugar cookies and was a perfectly pleasant experience. Unfortunately this is from an Etsy seller and it is a little too pricey for a full size 4 oz jars when there are others that I like even more that I can get for less per ounce.
Repurchase: No
Perfume (1)
FCS Perfume Oil I don’t remember what this scent was called but it
smelled like raspberries but muskier it was fine. I have so many perfume oils
that you have to wow me because they last so damn long I tend to get sick of
them before they are all used up.
Repurchase: No
Haircare (3)
Amika Soulfood Nourishing Mask I like this hair mask I have used
it before. It leaves my hair feeling soft and healthy. It is pricey for what I
would want to spend on a hair mask at $28 but I do really like it and I don’t
need a ton of it like I do with other masks. As my stock of hair masks has been
diminishing it is time to start thinking about what full size ones I might like
to buy and this has potential.
Repurchase: Maybe
Garnier Fructis Smoothing Treat Coconut 1 Min Hair Mask I like these
hair masks they are quick and good this coconut one was pretty nice. It does
take a lot to cover my hair with this though.
Repurchase: Maybe
Hask Charcoal with Citrus Purifying Dry Shampoo this was a meh dry shampoo it was nice that it did leave any white cast and it smelled nice but it really wasn’t the best as soaking up oils or giving texture. It was just an ok dry shampoo. It is pretty cheap for a lot so in a pinch I could see myself buying this again but it is not going to be my first choice.
Repurchase: Maybe
Declutter (8)
Physicians Formula The Healthy Lip Velvet Liquid Lipstick in
Magentile Treatment now I don’t mind this formula it is pretty comfortable even
if it isn’t super long lasting. This bright pink is just a shade I’ll never
wear. With coupons I was able to grab a 13 shade set with a lip topper of all
the shades from this range for $2.22 so even though there was bound to be at
least 2 or 3 shades that were not for me it was totally worth it. The liquid
lips were also almost full size and the lip topper is full size and exclusive
to the set so it was an awesome deal. Hot pink just is not for me.
Physicians Formula The Healthy Lip Velvet Liquid Lipstick in Coral
Minerals I don’t like pinky coral colors.
Nyx Lip Lingerie in Silk Indulgent another baby pink kind of color
that I will not wear.
Chirality Nail Polish in The Night Runner this is a really pretty
multidimensional sparkly polish but it doesn’t look great on my toes and I
haven’t had painted fingernails in probably 8 years. So this needs to go.
Sephora Cream Lip Stain in 40 this is like light concealer colored
lipstick and it is not for me I don’t like that look. I love this formula
though these are some of my favorite liquid lips that I own.
Fortune Cookie Soap Company Solid Perfume in Flash this smells
really nice and warm and cinnamony but this is a scent I think I will prefer on
my gf so I am going to give this to her and let her wear it for me. She can
also get through colognes so much faster than I get through my perfumes and I
don’t want this going bad.
Wet n Wild Mega Cushion Foundation in 106a Light Ivory this is just too light for me I was able to get two of these free so I tried two shades and this one is just too light for me. It is an of foundation it is really light which I like but it isn’t the most flattering you really have to work with it so it isn’t something I would repurchase anyway.
Colourpop Ultra Satin Lip in Lock Diary I like the satin formula but this color is just too pink to much too loud for me.
I did really good this month I am really pleased with my empties and it help takes pressure off February which I know won’t be nearly as good.
