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 I wasn’t charged and didn’t get a box last month no real idea why but back to getting them I suppose not really sure what happened there. Boy is there an interesting assortment of items this month. Also unlike normal there is barely any skincare. What an odd thing for Macy’s.
I have a lot of moral issues with this brand and I want to start off with that because I feel it is really important and I don’t feel like this brand is above board. Starting with the smaller issue first their packaging is so deceptive. This is more than half the amount in the full size and this tube is about 1 inch tall. Their packaging for their products is big and makes it look like you are getting alot of product when you really aren’t. Granted that can be a personal problem because as consumers we should be reading the listed amounts so we know what we are paying for. The larger issue here is and i have seen this first hand because of where I work. Their products with SPF obviously expire, and they would have vendors come in and put labels over the expired expiration dates with new non expired dates. What the actual fuck. Now my managers at least are good people and we would take those products off the shelf because they are expired but what about all the places where they didn’t? I would never suggest anyone buy anything from this brand because that is shady as hell and potential dangerous to some one who thinks they are getting an SPF protection but it is actually expired and not giving them protection.
This is a very red toned berry and it is patchy. Swatched Below.
I don’t love this bronzer. It is very shimmery and very light. I will probably just use this up when I do other peoples makeup and need a bronzer for more fair toned people. This really is nothing that impressive or special. Swatched Below.
I have a full size of this in a different shade and I don’t love them. I hate how finger prints get all over the packaging. It is also really uneven when you apply it it stains different parts of your lips different colors and it tastes weirdly chemically. This shade is a much prettier red shade then the shade I have I will give it that. Swatched Below.
I am always happy to have a new travel pack of wipes. I don’t love the cleanser from this range it is a bit stripping but it smells nice. I anticipate these wipes to be the same.
So this little set is was made for this box by TwelveNYC which private labels alot of beauty tools and promo items for all sorts of brands like Macy’s, Urban Outfitters, Make Up For Ever, etc. So this doesn’t have a listed value, it wasn’t even included on the card so I just estimated.
The eyelash curler feels exactly the same as the one I bought at the Dollar Tree so there’s that. The cloths feel exactly like my Makeup Eraser, they are super soft and I will happily use them to take off eye makeup.
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.
What is it: Every season Walmart sends out a box of samples and sometimes coupons in their “free” subscription box. The box is a flat shipping rate of $5 and the box is considered free. There are two categories of boxes “Trendsetter” which you receive if you provide a birth date that has you aged at under 35 and “Classic” if you provide a birth date that has you aged above 35.
I always enjoy my Walmart box can’t beat a $5 box where you really have no idea what is coming. This came really late for a fall box it came on Christmas Eve.
I really loved this it was super soothing and moisturizing I love honey in skincare it works well for my skin. There was also almost a full ounce of serum stuff in this mask packet that I was able to put in a little jar and will be able to use as a moisturizer/sleeping mask for probably a week. Which is a great bonus A+.
I have heard good reviews of this line but the colors have never really spoke to me. This one is really ballerina pink and I am not fond of it. I will probably give it a go because I am curious about the formula but I doubt I will like it because of the pink color.
I recently saw these body butters in store and was really interested in the citrus one from the collection because I love citrus scents lavender scents not as much. This is a really soft lavender so I can tolerate it and it will give me a feel for if I like the lotion enough to try the citrus one. Not that I need anymore lotion.
Last season I got this with a pink handle and this season with a green. My feelings are that same. I don’t mind a repeat of a razor since this a disposable tool that I go through pretty frequently and I like having it individually wrapped making it super convenient to pack which is what i save these cheaper fewer bladed razors for.
I like this antiperspirant in the stick form but I have never tried it in a spray form. I love having all these travel size toiletries that I need but aren’t the most fun to buy and Walmart always keeps me stocked with them. I am pretty hyper to try this since I am so used to regular stick deodorants.
I like the fun and the price of Walmart’s boxes. Only a few items this month but three of them were full size so it is really hard to complain about that.
