Tag: Skincare

Boxycharm November 2019 Subscription Box Review

nightmareb4

Boxycharm

Cost: $25

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.

This is the first month where you get to pick an item and the price increase is in effect. I pick an interesting looking serum. The choice for December was also skincare choices. While I like that because we all have different skincare needs I would like to see other categories as well.

Kypris Antioxidant Dew Quench & Glow Serum

Full Size: 47 ml

Full Size Cost: $90

Good on me for choosing a $90 item that’s more then I pay for Boxycharm each quarter. This i believe is supposed to be a day serum I think. It is supposed to be really glowy and have lots of antioxidants in it. It is quite tacky and a bit smoothing so I could see it being good under makeup but it takes so long to sink in that I don’t think I will ever have that kind of patience.

Dose of Colors Liquid Lipstick in Nude Mood

Full Size: 0.16 oz

Full Size Cost: $18

I do love the packaging on these they feel so nice and lux. This is a very pink nude almost as pink as Crush from ABH but a little darker and it darkens on the lips as it dries so I can get away with wearing this. This is not my favorite formula it stays pretty sticky which I don’t prefer but it isn’t as drying as other liquid lipsticks.

Boxycharm 2 Piece Brush Set

Full Size: 2 brushes

Full Size Cost: $35

These brush handles look so medieval or something I love them so much. They are also shaped in such a way that you can pinch them up near the heads or hold them far back for totally different looks. I like very dense oval shaped brushes so I really like these they are great for costume highlights or intense contouring these are very up my alley. And they are very soft.

But as you can see here there were quite a few uneven bristles that needed to be trimmed and there were some wonky hairs I think these are going to shed massively the first time I wash them. I would not pay $35 for these two brushes I don’t think they have the quality of brushes of that price but I do really like them for the roughly $4 per box item I spent on them.

The pouch them came in is a pretty good bonus too because I can pack travel brushes in that and keep them safe and not taking up room in my toiletries case.

Dominique Cosmetics Celestial Thunder Eyeshadow Palette

Full Size: 12 Shades x 1.2 2

Full Size Cost: $44

Sample Size: 8 Shades x 1.2 g

Value: $29.33

This is a condensed version of the Celestial Storm palette you can’t buy this Celestial Thunder palette. The full size palette is a but more cohesive then this one this palette won’t be for everyone with the really intensely dark shimmer shades that are in it and the more bright mattes. I like the colors though. I found this formula pretty hard to work with the shades don’t blend well into each other so I had to put alot of work and layering in to get a good look but it still came out looking a but muddy.

Vitamasques Duo Pack: Morning and Evening Eye Goggle Masks

Full Size: 2 Masks

Full Size Cost: $12

I love eye masks so I am excited to give these ones a try. I usually save all my eye masks for day time so it’ll be cool to have a night time version to try.

I am super happy with this months box. The first in a while where I genuinely will use everything even if the lipstick wasn’t perfect for me.

Total: $184.33

Total Value to Me: $184.33

<3 Nightmare Before Makeup

Macy’s Beauty Box November 2019 Subscription Box Review

nightmareb4

Macy’s Beauty Box

Cost: $15

Cycle: Every Month

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.

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 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.

I was really excited about these items until I tried them and then I was a bit disappointed, alot of them just weren’t really my style.

Yves Saint Laurent Mon Paris Perfume

Full Size: 47 ml

Full Size Cost: $97

Sample Size: 1.2 ml

Value: $2.48

This smells old ladyish to me and not a scent I am a fan of.

Yves Saint Laurent Y Cologne

Full Size: 60 ml

Full Size Cost: $77

Sample Size: 1.2 ml

Value: $1.54

This has a sage note which I love. I consistently like when they send the men’s cologne to go with the women’s perfume. I love that touch.

Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara

Full Size: 8 g

Full Size Cost: $25

Sample Size: 3.9 g

Value: $12.19

Couldn’t spring for 0.1 more g? Any way I love this mascara and this is the perfect tiny size for a week long vacation. Thrilled to have this because this is a pricey mascara. This makes my lashes really full and bold. The only down side is it is hard to get off and a bit heavy on the lashes.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Liquid Lipstick in Crush

Full Size: 3.1 g

Full Size Cost: $20

Sample Size: 2.3 g

Value: $14.84

This is described as a soft beige but really it is a ballerina pink. Much to pink for my tastes but I really like this formula so I want to find a way to make this work. This lasts a long time while staying pretty comfortable while wearing.

My Clarins Re-Charge Relaxing Sleeping Mask

Full Size: 50 ml

Full Size Cost: $27

Sample Size: 5 ml

Value: $2.70

This is a bit of a weird choice the My Clarins line is meant more for teens and those starting in skincare not so much the demographic of the Macy’s bag. That aside I hated this it took alot to spread over the face there is probably only one more use in here. and it was a do nothing product it didn’t reel calming or hydrating or anything like that. I will throw this on tonight just to call it done and not have to put it away.

Kiehl’s Calendula Serum-Infused Water Cream

Full Size: 28 ml

Full Size Cost: $33

Sample Size: 7 ml

Value: $8.25

Kiehl’s products never work for my skin no matter how much I want them too. This cream smells really nice and bright. Water creams often gel up and sit sticky on top of my skin so I don’t have high hopes for this.

Peter Thomas Roth Instant Firmx Eye Temporary Eye Tightener

Full Size: 30 ml

Full Size Cost: $38

Sample Size: 15 ml

Value: $19

This is supposed to be like instant botox and instantly fill in lines and tighten skin. It is a pretty cool product and it does seem to work a bit. I doubt this would be worth the trouble or price for every day but for special occasions it makes sense. This is like a direct opposite age group product to the My Clarins.

#macysbeauty Compact Mirror

This is really heavy and quite nice quality. It has 3 mirrored surfaces all with different magnification. I don’t kow what people pay for compacts but Macy’s has some ranging fomr like $30 to $100 dollars which is mind blowing I couldn’t imagine. This is the kinda thing that will get fingerprints all over it instantly. Which would drive me nuts.

This bag was a bit all over the place in the curation and a lot just didn’t work out for me personally but it was still a great value with some really interesting and new product choices. Even when the items don’t work for me they are still interesting choices.

Total Value: $61

Skincare: 3

Makeup: 2

Tools: 0

Hair Care: 0

Perfume: 2

Other: 1

And as far as sizes:

Full Size: 1

Deluxe Sample: 3

Sample: 4

<3 Nightmare Before Makeup

Ipsy November 2019 Subscription Box Review

nightmareb4
Ipsy Bag

Cost: $12 monthly, $132 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 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.

I am so not into the leopard print this month at all. But on to the products which I am also not that into this month. You win some you lose some.

Delectable By Cake Beauty Butter Balm Hand Cream in Triple Citrus Blend

Full Size: 236 ml

Full Size Cost: $12

Sample Size: 30 ml

Value: $1.53

Best thing in the box for me I like Delectable creams they are super rich and moisturizing. This one has a light citrus scent and I will use this up quickly I think I have set it beside my computer.

Lock Color Lock It Good Boundation in 5 Medium Buff

Full Size: 30 g

Full Size Cost: $14

Sample Size: 10 g

Value: $4.67

This is much too dark for me and quite heavy feeling for a BB cream style foundation. I think I might try mixing this with some much too light foundations I have and seeing how that turns out for me.

First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Oat & Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil

Full Size: 30 ml

Full Size Cost: $30

Sample Size: 4.3 ml

Value: $4.30

I love the tiny little bottle I just wish they have given 5 ml instead of a weird 4.3 ml so odd. Cannabis and CBD in skincare is like the big new hot trend so I really wanted to try this since I have tried so few products. This is a very oily oil it was a bit much for my skin it did feel soothing on but it cause a bit of congestion in certain parts of my skin. I am going to have to be really careful using this just on irritated spots and not on my whole face. Or I may use it on my hands when I get little allergy patches I see being quite good for that and this is reasonably priced enough that it can be used for that purpose.

Dome Beauty Powder Blush in English Rose

Full Size: ?

Full Size Cost: $28

Sample Size: 2.5 g

Value: $?

I don’t know the full size amount of this but I pretty sure this is not full size. This is a very creamy feeling blush but very light in color and I am not a blush person. Swatched Below.

GiGi Gorgeous The Sick Sculpt Bronzer in Extra

Full Size: 3.1 g

Full Size Cost: $19.80

Sample Size: 3.1 g

Value: $19.80

This can only be bought through Ipsy. This has a good ton ad builds well which is good because this is a bit light for me as a bronzer. The tone of this has that bit of a grey cool tone that makes it good for contouring with which I like. Swatched Below.

I wasn’t happy last month and again not that happy this month. I hope Ipsy refinds their footing after this change soon. Because this low value is not really what I signed up for.

Quick Summary:

Total Value: $30.30?

Skincare: 1

Makeup: 3

Tools: 0

Hair Care: 0

Perfume: 0

Other: 1

And as far as sizes:

Full Size: 1

Deluxe Sample: 1

Sample: 3

<3 Nightmare Before Makeup