Tag: Review

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

What’s In My Trash (A.K.A. An Empties Post) September 2017

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Better late then never I hope. Grad school has been so so busy and work has been busy and I have just not had time to do anything. But I am back now. with a bunch of empties and then a bunch of box reviews coming at you all this week.

Here’s all the items together

Declutter

I beat up a bit on poor Medusa’s Makeup here this month.

Medusa’s Makeup Blush in Dangerous Liaison I don’t do blush and it didn’t work out as an eyeshadow so off it goes.

Medusa’s Makeup Body Shimmer in Healthy this was chunky powdery flakey city it looked terrible on my skin.

Medusa’s Makeup Baked Eyeshadow in Bitchin this was flakey and powdery as well. The other shades of the baked eyeshadow preform much better.

Coloupop supershock shadow I didn’t like the formula the it was no pigment and patches of glitter.

Urban Decay Vice Lipstick in Psycho this is a sheer red with purple glitter it was cool for a one time look but the glitter came off on everything so I didn’t want to wear it again.

IT Cosmetics Your Lips But Better Lip Liner I just don’t really use lip liner and this just was not a flattering tone on my lips.

Skin Care

elf Mineral Mist I really really enjoyed this it had witch hazel and then a bunch of other things in it and really made my skin just feel nice and refreshed.

Repurchase: Yes

Herbivore Lapis facial oil this is supposed to be good for clearing skin but this left my face a greasy oily gross mess. The Sunday Riley UFO oil I have been trying and that seems to be working much better.

Repurchase: No

Sephora Green Tea Sleeping Mask I love this it really mattifies the skin nicely and is great to wear to bed before before you are going to wear a full face of make up or have to be out running around and getting sweat and oily. I have already bought another pack and others to try.

Repurchase: Yes

Biore Baking Soda Pore Cleanser this was nice it did an ok job of scrubbing out my pores but I still like the orange one more.

Repurchase: No

IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Lines Serum eh didn’t impress me and was sticky.

Repurchase: No

Sunday Riley Tidal Brightening Enzyme Water Cream also did not impress me but I have a few samples left of it.

Repurchase: No

Clinique Cleanser its an ok cleanser it works but it isn’t special.

Repurchase: No

Clinique Exfloliator this was cool it was in a wipe I’ve never seen it that way from Clinique before but it was very harsh.

Repurchase: No

Clinique Moisturizer it does work for my oily skin but I get enough samples that I won’t purchase.

Repurchase: No

Face Wipes

Pixi Glow Tonic To Go Glycolic Acid Toner pads these smelled so floral and I don’t think they agreed with my skin.

Repurchase: No

Oxy pads these were my ride or die forever but I am trying to avoid alcohol in my skin care for awhile and see if that helps my skin so I wont be opening my new jar for awhile it is a little bitter sweet.

Repurchase: Maybe

Ole Hendrickson Grease Relief Cleansing Cloths these are really awesome scrubbing face wipes and they really absorb all the oil off your face. I really enjoyed them a little too much I was using them so much that I actually started irritating and stripping my skin. So word of caution.

Repurchase: Yes

Accure Coconut and Argan Oil wipes these were ok nothing special.

Repurchase: No

Hair Care

Briogeo Don’t Despair Repair hair mask this made my hair really soft but gave it way more volume then I like in my hair.

Repurchase: No

Drybar Detox Dry Shampoo my favorite dry shampoo of all time the scent is great it leave my hair clean and soft and I love it.

Repurchase: Yes

Makeup

Dr. Jart+ BB Cream this had a weird consistency and was way to light for me.

Repurchase: No

Sephora Lashcraft Mascara this was really clumpy and dry I did not like.

Repurchase: No

Lip Balm

The Organic Pharmacy Antioxidant Lip Balm this was the most amazing lip balm I have ever used in my life. It was this amazing fruit scent/flavor was so rich and smooth and moisturizing. It was a clear gel so it made my lips really glossy for a long time. It is also $22 so I can’t bring myself to buy it, because that it clinically insane for a lip balm.

Repurchase: No 🙁

Blistex Complete Moisture lip balm this was great but really idk how to explain the texture it almost mushed when you put it on so it got used up very fast.

Repurchase: Yes

Perfume

Burberry My Burberry Blush perfume I like this it was fruity but I don’t often buy perfume because they are expensive even though I love them I pretty much wait until I get them as gifts.

Repurchase: No

Vince Camuto Ciao I like his shoes his perfumes not so much.

Repurchase: No

Random

Bath Pouf

Bath and Body Works Hand Sanitizer in Noir

Well I know its so late that no one cares but for my records at least I have it posted only 3 months left to the year and so close to doubling my original goal. I am really impressed with myself though it is getting harder to use things up.

Total: 30

YTD: 268

 

<3 Nightmare Before Makeup