Tag: Subscription Box

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

Sephora Play! September 2017 Subscription Box Review

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Sephora Play!

Cost: $10.00 monthly + tax

Cycle: Every Month

What is it: Every month our favorite money sucking store Sephora sends out a curated box of higher end samples to try out.  Every month you receive 5 samples and a perfume sample.  The boxes are customized with a few different variations being sent out each month.

There is a small survey that Sephora has you take that helps Sephora curate a box to your needs. There is also a card included in the box for a complimentary mini makeover (which are complimentary any way so I don’t really get that) and 50 extra points if you purchase something in store.

I actually got the box variation I wanted for a change what are the odds lol.

Herbivore Blue Tansy Resurfacing Clarity Mask

Full Size: 70 ml

Full Size Cost: $48

Sample Size: 14 ml

Value: $9.60

This was the one item I wanted so bad so I am so excited I got this. I have been dying to try it. This is an AHA and BHA resurfacing mask and I have really wanted to start trying them. This smells really awful it is like a floral mixed with a fruit leather it really gave me a headache. This is supposed to tingle when you put it on but I didn’t feel anythig and after one use I haven’t seen any results but I will keep using it. The only thing I notices was that by my nose where it is super oily it actually really dried out my skin to the point that it was kind of itchy and I needed to put lotion on it. The rest of my skin was fine.

Belif The True Cream Moisturizing Bomb

Full Size: 50 ml

Full Size Cost: $38

Sample Size: 10 ml

Value: $7.60

So I tried this on my dryness from the mask and it was ok but didn’t last that long. I actually weirdly think this might be a great primer or moisturizer before primer it slightly blurred my skin a little I liked it. It is also light almost gel like which is how I like my moisturizers.

Ouai Shampoo Repair

Full Size: 10 oz

Full Size Cost: $28

Sample Size: 0.24 oz

Value: $0.67

Ouai Conditioner Repair

Full Size: 8.45 oz

Full Size Cost: $26

Sample Size: 0.24 oz

Value: $0.74

Well it is weird that these two samples are totally different prices. I don’t love Quai products they just tend to do nothing for my hair. This will get thrown in my travel sample bin and collect dust for awhile.

Ciaté London Liquid Velvet in Pin Up

Full Size: 6.5 ml

Full Size Cost: $19

Sample Size: 2 ml

Value: $5.85

I actually have this exact sample and can’t remember where I got it from. But I love this it is a very neutral berry shade and a nice comfortable mousse matter formula. It is definitely not transfer proof you will be touching up with this. Swatched Below.

Touch in Sol Metallist Liquid Foil & Glitter in #3 Talia

Full Size: Liquid 0.123 oz/ Glitter 0.07 oz

Full Size Cost: $25

Sample Size: 0.041 oz / 0.023 oz?

Value: $8.33

The size of this sample is not listed so I am guessing about a third. This is pretty neat product I like the super foiled cream shadow and the glitter is a liquid that holds together pretty well this is a nice alternative to the the Stila Glitter and Glows this way you get 2 products for the same money. These are very shiny and glittery and I like it there are limited color options but they all look nice. Talia is a nice champagne toned silver. Swatched Below.

Sephora Contour Eye Pencil 12hr Wear Waterproof in Black Lace

Full Size: 1.2 g

Full Size Cost: $10

Sample Size: 0.48 g

Value: $4

This is a nice creamy black liner it only lasts in my waterline for a few hours though not much does last in my waterline though. There isn’t much to say about a black liner this is a good dupe for the Makeup Forever Aqua XL those last loger but they have the same feel. Swatched Below.

Pin up, Liquid eyeshadow, Glitter eyeshadow, Eyeliner.

I am so happy with this month’s bow it is rare that I will use every product in a box. ad no perfume this month which was a change. Also because of the shampoo/ conditioner set I ended up with 7 items which is one more then usual so hell yeah.

Quick Summary:

Total Value: $36.79

Skincare: 2

Makeup: 3

Tools: 0

Hair Care: 2

Perfume: 0

Other: 0

And as far as sizes:

Full Size: 0

Deluxe Sample: 1

Sample: 6

<3 Nightmare Before Makeup