Cost: $5

Cycle: Every Quarter/Season

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.

So I was under the impression that all boxes in a category were the same I was apparently mistaken and definitely didn’t receive one of the more fun boxes. I basically got box of lotion.

For a free box from Walmart they really do a cute job with packaging.

How cute is that snowflake wrapping. I had to use it as a background for some of these pictures.

L’oréal Paris Advanced Haircare Smooth Intense Ultimate Straight

Full Size: 12.6 oz, 12.6 oz, 6.8 oz

Full Size Cost: $3, $3, $6.63

Sample Size: 3 x 0.34 oz

Value: $0.08, $0.08, $0.33

Total Value: $0.49

I have listed the products Shampoo, Conditioner, Pre-conditioner. And then totaled up the value I hope this makes sense.

I have used this in the past and have liked it. It leaves my hair soft and shiny and straighter then it would normally be.The only thing about this is that it smells really weird not necessarily bad but weird if you like a nice pleasant smelling shampoo this is not it but it does not linger on the hair so I can live with it.

nspa Body Butter in Exotically Creamy Coconut

Full Size: 200 ml

Full Size Cost: $17.99

Sample Size: 50 ml

Value: $4.50

This can no longer be purchased on the Walmart website. The other scents are only priced at around $5.21 but I was only able to find the coconut on Amazon. This is a decent feeling cream but it does not smell like coconut at all it almost smells like flowers or something I do not like it. Luckily they sent me plenty of other moisturizing things so I won’t have to fear for dry skin *heavy sarcasm*

TRESemmé Volumizing Dry Shampoo

Full Size: 4.3 oz

Full Size Cost: $4.99

Sample Size: 1.15 oz

Value: $1.33

This has the classic TRESemmé scent to it. It does not leave much white residue like many dry shampoos do. It is stickier then my new found live the Drybar dry shampoo but considerably cheaper.

Curél Hydratheraphy Wet Skin Moisturizer

Full Size: 12 oz

Full Size Cost: $9.89

Sample Size: 2 oz

Value: $1.65

I tried a little of this on dry skin and it felt a little greasy I imagine the water is supposed to break that down when you take a shower.

Dove Deep Moisture Body Wash

Full Size: 22 oz

Full Size Cost: $5.47

Sample Size: 1.8 oz

Value: $0.45

This absolutely smells like nothing. I’m not a huge fan of Dove products but I’ll use it just the same.

Also included were some coupons

Well Im excited about the shampoo and the dry shampoo but the rest is meh. Still this box is once again worth it. You can’t be getting samples in the mail for $5 packages are always fun.

Quick Summary:

Total Value: $8.42

Skincare: 3

Makeup: 0

Tools: 0

Hair Care: 2

Perfume: 0

Other: 0

And as far as sizes:

Full Size: 0

Deluxe Sample: 0

Sample: 5

<3 Nightmare Before Makeup

January 2017 Ipsy Subscription Review

January 17, 2017January 24, 2017 nightmareb4

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 in any way just one beauty junkie to another.

Spoiler Alert: I wasn’t overly thrilled with this months bag. Both the products and the bag itself.

The bag itself was some what weird this month. I applaud Ipsy for doinging something different and always trying to bring out new and interesting bags but this was weird.

Its a grey bag covered by a blue mesh. It looks so much like a shirt some cheesy 90s popstar would have worn back in the day. The material on this also feels cheap like it would tear easily and get snagged on things if you threw this in another bag.

Beauté Basics C405 Contouring Brush

Full Size: yes

Full Size Cost: $7.49

As I’m sure you guys know already I’m about to be really picky since this was a weird product in my opinion and here’s why. So Crown Brushes for those of you who don’t know do something that is called private labeling where they will make brushes for another company and put the company’s name on it. Now that’s all fine and well and I have no problem with that alot of companies do that for all sorts of products totally common technically you could do to crown and get brushes with your own damn name on the if you wanted to, which honestly would be super cool. My problem here is they lest this as a crown brush but its been private labeled for Beauté Basics so it many not necessarily be the same brush as the Crown one depending on the order they placed. Also while you can find this brush on crown’s website you cannot find it on Beauté Basic’s website and that is a little weird and sketchy to me. This also this brush is shedding like crazy and I haven’t eve used it yet I have little hairs all over my key board from just looking at it and taking pictures to review. This is all around bizarre for me ad not what I expect from Ipsy.

Temptu Base Smooth & Matte Primer

Full Size: 30 ml

Full Size Cost: $25

Sample Size: 7.5 ml

Value: $6.25

Who named this? this is literally the opposite of a matte primer. I found this very thin and very illuminating. It also smells like paint so I don’t know if I am going to use this or pass this along illuminating primers are not really my thing. There was also no smoothing, blurring, pore filling effects it really didn’t do much but brighten the skin a little.

Pūr~lisse Blue Lotus Seed Mud Mask + Exfoliant

Full Size: 70 ml

Full Size Cost: $52

Sample Size: 15 ml

Value: $11.14

Did not realize how expensive this was when I tried it $52 for a mud mask that is ridiculous. Any KathrineLights fans out there? I can hear her voice right now lol. Any way I do like this brand and I really enjoy the blue lotus and seaweed sheet masks but this not so much. I feel like this mask fails at both being a clay mask and being an exfoliator. It does not spread well and I feel like my pores actually looked bigger and more open after this mask. It did leave my skin feeling tight but not necessarily smoother. Honestly save your money and you can get all three Loreal clay masks for less and multi mask your little heart our they are like 10 dollars each you get more product and they are honestly wonderful better then alot of the high end masks I’ve used. Like run don’t walk and buy those instead.

It Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Illumination Concealer in Medium

Full Size: 8 ml

Full Size Cost: $24

Sample Size: 1.5 ml

Value: $4.5

I have such a love hate with this brand the products are nice but they are really expensive. They are generally super full coverage but on me they tend to crease or get cakey or just look like i have heavy stage make up on. I was worried this would be the wrong color but medium does look like it will be light enough on me. Swatched A tiny amount goes along way with this product. It is much brighter then the regular Bye Bye Under Eye that I also received in an Ipsy Bag. Also if youre interested it happens to be on sale right now on QVC and comes with one of their concealer brushes which is a great deal.

the Balm Bahama Mama Bronzer

Full Size: 0.25 oz

Full Size Cost: $10.99

Sample Size: 0.02 oz

Value: $0.88

I love the Balm they always have the cutest packaging. This is a bronzer/contour multipurpose powder type of deal. It is a neutral tone but looks a little muddy when applied. Swatched below. What I learned from this bag this is they sell the Balm at Walmart did any one else know that? Because that is really cool. this sample is so small though that it will be hard to use as bronzer.

Here are the concealer and the bronzer swatched.

I feel like the curation of this bag was not that great this month. Ipsy this was a shitty way to start the year. The value is lower then I typically see in an Ipsy bag. This bag felt very random and thrown together I usually notice a good bit more cohesion between the products in a bag like a whole look and maybe a tool or skin care item.

Quick Summary:

Total Value: $30.26

Skincare: 1

Makeup: 3

Tools: 1

Hair Care: 0

Perfume: 0

Other: 0

And as far as sizes:

Full Size: 1

Deluxe Sample: 0

Sample: 4

<3 Nightmare Before Makeup

What’s in my Trash? (A.K.A An Empties Post) December 2016

January 8, 2017 nightmareb4

I have not totally figured out how I should format these posts so bear with me this could be awkward. But let’s jump in and I’ll tell you all about my trash. I know I love to see what peoples thoughts are after they have used up all of a product. I have grouped these by random categories.

Lotions

Fortune Cookie Soap Company Whipped Cream

This one is in the scent Blood Transfusion. The thing with fortune cookie scents are that many of them are limited edition so they are rarely around for repurchase. Blood transfusion was created for a special Halloween box and it had a Zombie theme. I love the whipped cream formula and I go through these fairly regularly as you know if you follow me on Instagram. (link here) The formula is light and absorbs quickly into my hands. The only thing I do not like is that the formula from scent to scent does not always preform the same sometimes they are greasier or less whipped in texture from one scent to the next.

Eucerin Extra Protective Lotion

Hated this very greasy and sticky and heavy and somehow also not moisturizing ugh gross hate it you’re better off with one of the Vaseline brand lotions if you want a drugstore type option.

Ulta Beauty Ultra-Rich Body Butter in Coconut Cream

I went through this really fast, faster than any other lotion I have ever used. The smell was nice it was cream and coconut but not overly scented of each if you like a light scent that fades quickly you might prefer this to something like a Delectable by Cake Beauty cream that is strong and long lasting but delicious smelling. This was an overall alright lotion if they are on sale and I need lotion I may repurchase, not that I ever NEED more lotion I literally have a fucking giant basket full of lotions.

Scrubbies

Mask of Magnaminty from LUSH

This is a clay and peppermint mask/exfoliator for the face and body. I used it mostly on my face and on body parts that were having bad breakouts. This is a strong make your eyes water peppermint. I enjoy that you may not. This is a fairly aggressive scrub but also not irritating at the same time I really like this and even used it when I need to exfoliate a patch of skin that was breaking out due to an allergic reaction and if really helped without irritating my skin more it’s kinda magical. It is CRAZY messy if you aren’t into that you’ll hate this. It is a very polarizing mask you either hate it or love it. But LUSH does give free samples so If you have a LUSH near you I would definitely ask for a sample.

Ulta Beauty Exfoliating Sugar Scrub in Sweet Grapefruit

This smelled really nice and fresh in the shower but doesn’t stick my skin at all. It actually foams a little and is a gentle body scrub. It has a great consistency too not too oily not to dry not to thick or thin it really hit the mark for me. I really enjoyed this and will definitely be repurchasing they have a bunch of scents too.

Dr. Brandt Microdermabrasion Age Defying Exfoliator

This was pretty much like a onetime use sample but It was a nice gentle exfoliator but not worth the price for me personally. I will happily use the samples I get but I would not purchase these on my own.

Lips

Fortune Cookie Soap Company Kiss Lip Balm

I don’t think I have ever finished a lip balm so I am proud of this even if it is teeny tiny. It was from a Peter Pan themed collection and was a fruity super moisturizing lip balm. I loved it. Sadly I do not think they have any others.

Urban Decay Vice Lipstick sample in Seismic

Ugh this was in a sheer shimmer finish which was very sticky and glossy. It was very messy and ended up all over my face and anything I drank out of. I really wanted to like it it was a super pretty dark purple with shimmer but I hate hate hate sticky lip products.

Makeup Removing Products

Primark Men’s Facial Wipes

I have tried the actual makeup removing wipes and the suck they come in a light green package and are 50 cents more expensive for the same amount of wipes never buy those. The men’s wipes are thicker and softer actually remove my make up even eye makeup without irritating my eyes. The smell slightly manly but I don’t mind the scent and it doesn’t stick around on your face. These come in a double pack each with 25 wipes for like a $1.50 these are awesome buy these seriously go get them if you can.

Ulta Scented Face and Body Mini Wipes in Very Vanilla

These smell so yummy they come out with different scents for holiday each year. They are great for removing swatches and just wiping your face down when it feels dirty, not so great at makeup removing.

Target Cotton Rounds

Nothing to see here nothing that special we all need cotton rounds. These are a little fluffier then I like but who cares. I have been enjoying my Sephora brand ones more but those are more expensive.

Random Single Use Samples

Philosophy Amazing Grace Perfume

I don’t like this it smells like old fashion scent.

Juicy Couture La Fleur Perfume

I love all the Juicy Couture perfumes this is no exception they are a young nice fun floral some are spicy some are sweet this one is a strictly floral.

The Estée Edit Pink Peony Overnight Water Pack

Uh just a random face lotion I have next to nothing to say about it. It was thin didn’t make my face oilier.

Actual Random Crap

Crest Pro Health Toothpaste

Did not whiten or taste good. Pass.

Fortune Cookie Soap Company Perfume

I for the life of me can’t remember anything about this but I used it up and it’s a reusable atomizers. There perfumes tend to be thicker and oiler in consistency and strong so buyer be wear.

Fortune Cookie Soap Company Deodorant in Wendy

This is a natural glycerin deodorant. Smells great and functions surprisingly well. It is not an antiperspirant so you will still sweat this is not what you should reach for in a 100 degree weather day in July when you plan to go for a fun. For a chill day running errands or puttering about at home it’s perfect.

So that sums up what is in my makeup trash for last month. I used up 17 products I am setting a goal for 2017 to use up a minimum of 15 products a month for a total of 180 products in 2017 I need to be moving things out of my collection with how fast I add things in. For me this is a hard challenge I like to hoard my makeup and keep it around forever.

<3 Nightmare Before Makeup