Tag: Review

Ipsy October 2017 Subscription Box Review

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Ipsy Bag

Cost: $10 monthly, $110 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 100 points and 1000 points. You can get up to 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.

Ipsy always pulls out a cute bag for Halloween I look forward to it. Last years was adorable and this years is like perfect classy gothic horror I’m all about it.

Red bag with a lace pattern printed on it.

And this fucking back I can’t he perfectly matches the bat tattoo i have on my wrist so I am extra in love with him.

So let’s see what Ipsy sent me this month.

Marc Anthony Hydrating Coconut Oil & Shea Butter

Full Size: 50 ml

Full Size Cost: $7.99

Sample Size: 20.7 ml

Value: $3.31

I do not like how this smells because I really really dislike the scent of shea butter and yes I know that is a really weird thing to dislike. But I really love hair oils they work so well for my hair to get rid of frizz and make my hair smooth and shiny. I also really love this brand so I will give it a shot.

Blaq Mask

Full Size: 60 ml

Full Size Cost: $29

Sample Size: 15 ml

Value: $7.25

This is everything I want in a mask. Its charcoal its peel off its supposed to get rid of blackheads and I really love the black packaging. I can’t believe how pricey it is.

Tarte Lights Camera Lashes Mascara

Full Size: 7 ml

Full Size Cost: $23

Sample Size: 3 ml

Value: $9.86

So I own the full size of this so I have alot to say:

  1.  How is this almost half the full size packaging is giant I mean it is this biggest tube of mascara I own.
  2. This is not the same have they reformulated?
  3. The brush doesn’t look the same and the consistency of this sample is thinner.

I’m confused. I do like tiny little mascaras though they are great for travel.

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Perversion

Full Size:  1.2 g

Full Size Cost: $20

Sample Size: 0.8 g

Value: $13.33

I really love the glide on liners from UD I have a bunch. Unfortunately perversion is the one I like the least (I’m actually almost done with my last one thank god). This on me fades in about to seconds it smudges it transfers it goes gray the smudges are impossible to get off it just turns my eyes into a messy raccoon the other colors don’t do that to me this color just does not agree with me for some reason. Swatched Below.

MDMflow Liquid Matte Lipstick in Retro

Full Size: 6 ml

Full Size Cost: $23.37

Sample Size: 6 ml

Value: $23.37

When I saw this online I was like ugh I do not like that color but on it is a nice light pinky berry that I can live with. I also really love this packaging it is rounded and really like chunky feeling in your hand but in a good way. I keep reading MDM as something else ;P I’m pretty sure that was their intention but it keeps making me laugh. I’m way more into this then I thought I would be. Not that I needed ANOTHER liquid lipstick. Swatched Below.

Good value this month from Ipsy and really decent sizes. Overall no complaints whatsoever with this month’s Ipsy and me having no complaints is a seriously rare thing. I’m picky.

Quick Summary:

Total Value: $57.12

Skincare: 1

Makeup: 3

Tools: 0

Hair Care: 1

Perfume: 0

Other: 0

And as far as sizes:

Full Size: 1

Deluxe Sample: 2

Sample: 2

<3 Nightmare Before Makeup

Macy’s Beauty Box October 2017 Subscription Box Review

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Macy’s Beauty Box

Cost: $15

Cycle: Every Month

What is it: So Macy’s has hopped on the subscription box bandwagon and this is their first box. Every month you will get a bag, a $5 off coupon, 5 deluxe samples and 1 bonus sample. Why not just say 6? I don’t get it.

All the brands will be brands you can find in Macy’s which is cool they sell Mac and a lot of other brands that are never to rarely in subscription boxes.

The cool thing about the coupon is that it is good in stores and online (beauty ships free at Macy’s) also Macy’s does have sales and $5 dollar 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 that is still basically free.

Another disappointing month from Macy’s. :/ and a missing product.

The bag is cute and will be great to throw in my gift stash pile.

One again there is nothing to swatch in this month’s bag.

Lancôme Énergie De Vie The Water-Infused Cream

Full Size: 1.7 oz

Full Size Cost: $55

Sample Size: 0.5 oz

Value: $16.18

Thank goodness this one thing is worth the price of the box and it is something I know I like because we have learned this box is pretty terrible on average. This is a super pricey moisturizer I have used it before and I do like it it has a nice fresh scent and works well to moisturize my skin with out being overly moisturizing or clogging my pores. I think the anti aging properties are lost on me though.

Strivectin Multi-Action Stress Defense Hydrating Water Gel

Full Size: 50 ml

Full Size Cost: $59

Sample Size: 10 ml

Value: $11.80

Oh look another moisturizer we always need two in a bag right? That’s what every one wants. This is supposed to help repair the damage from stress and not getting enough sleep since I am always stressed and never sleep I’ll Let you know soon how well that really works. But to start it is a nice light fast absorbing moisturizer.

Elizabeth Arden Superstart Skin Renewal Booster

Full Size: 30 ml

Full Size Cost: $67

Sample Size: 5 ml

Value: $11.17

To round things out a motherfucking THIRD moisturizer. Really Macy’s wtf?! Any way this is a moisturizer booster that you put on before skincare to help it absorb better I have really no use for this so this will get passed along. Also super tiny sample.

Origins Clear Improvement Mask

Full Size: 100 ml

Full Size Cost: $27

Sample Size: 15 ml

Value: $4.05

More skincare! Macy’s you really couldn’t be more boring right now. This is a great mask and I like that it is a bigger size then those annoying little pods that you can’t reseal and this is in a tube so props on the packaging. This is a good mask but I do find it a little harsh this is a once in a while mask it is also very messy.

Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Finish

Full Size: 0.5 oz

Full Size Cost: $16

Sample Size: 0.25 oz

Value: $8

It’s a good primer I’ve already reviewed this multiple times since starting this blog if it keeps getting sent to me I will never need to buy a full size what more is there to say it is the OG primer.

Total: $51.20

The value is money wise but it really isn’t in terms of products. Three moisturizers and one of the first primers and first charcoal masks like yes its all great brands but its all old school products and boring as hell. I was also missing the perfume sample that we were supposed to receive but I don’t even care. This really just doesn’t do it for me. I really can’t think who this subscription is meant for.

<3 Nightmare Before Makeup

Boxycharm October 2017 Subscription Box Review

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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.

Spellbound seems to be a popular theme this month, it is Ipsy’s theme too.

Dr. Brandt PoreDermabrasion

Full Size: 2 oz

Full Size Cost: $58

Sample Size: 2 oz

Value: $58

I have had samples of this before and I love it so I am stoked to have a full sized now. Dr. Brandt has in my opinion some of the best high end exfoliators I have tried my only gripe with them is I tend to go through them very very fast. They are also really gentle but powerful so if you have very clogged sensitive skin these may really be something you’d want to try.

ncla Nail Kit

Full Size: Yes

Full Size Cost: $16

 

This was such a cute little 5 piece kit, I love the Nailed it on the front and it all zips up into a sleek little case. I took out the little cuticle pusher thing and it promptly disappeared so it decided it didn’t want to be in the picture. This is obviously a Boxycharm exclusive, and I actually like it better then the ones they sell because I like everything in black lol.

Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed in Prosecco Pop

Full Size: 8 g

Full Size Cost: $38

Sample Size: 8 g

Value: $38

Ahh I was so so excited for this I have wanted a Becca Highlighter but there was no way in Hell I was going to spend $38 dollars on it. This is such a pretty gold highlight with not glitter. The packaging is just stunning too and it is huge here’s a picture of me holding it so you can see that it is bigger than my palm.

I am so like in love with this packaging though I really can’t the metal with the soft rubber matte, perfection. Swatched Below.

Jontéblu Lip Liner Pencil in 943 Brown Sugar

Full Size: 1.2 g

Full Size Cost: $5

Sample Size: 1.2 g

Value: $5

This is a brown lip liner with a brick under tone I do believe different shades were sent out to coordinate with the shade of the Tarte lippie you were sent. This isn’t to hard or too creamy its dead in the middle. I don’t use lip liners often but it does match well with the shade of liquid lip I got and the Tarte formula does benefit from a lip liner so this was a really thoughtful well chose addition to the box. Also a great price even it it is sorta cheap in comparison to what they usually send out. Swatched Below.

Tarte Tarteist Lip Paint in Delish

Full Size: 6 ml

Full Size Cost: $20

Sample Size: 6 ml

Value: $20

This is a browny mauve color I don’t know that I am feeling it. I also don’t love the formula on these Tarteist Lip Paints they are too moussey and don’t dry down enough for my liking. They are super comfortable though but they are in no way long wearing or transfer proof. Swatched Below.

Highlighter, Lip pencil, Lip Paint.

The liner and lip paint are really good matched for each other I am impressed.

 

Total: $137

As usual fantastic value for a $21 box. Really the highlight and the scrub were the stars for me the rest really didn’t matter but I will get use out of everything even if I am not in love with the lip  products. I am so thrilled to get to own a Becca highlight it is probably the best thing I have ever gotten in a subscription box. As usual I really recommend Boxycharm they do not disappoint and the value is always there.

<3 Nightmare Before Makeup