Category: <span>Subscription Boxes</span>

Category: Subscription Boxes

Subscription Boxes

Sephora Play! January 2017

 

Hey a (kinda) timely post for once!  This edition of Sephora Play! came in a few weeks ago with a theme, “Beauty, Set, Go,” which they say is a selection of, “super effective, ultra-hydrating skin care, makeup, and hair care to detox and refuel your beauty routine.”  Ehh, I’d say it’s a big miss on the theme here outside of maybe two items.  If you’re looking to “detox” (which IMHO is one of those goofy buzzwords – you detox every time you breathe or sweat, products can’t do it for you), why would you use products that are tested on animals  or hair products that contain loads of chemicals instead of natural ingredients?  I had hoped for a more cruelty free and vegan/natural set of products, but no such luck.  The bag this time is white nylon with mesh on the back and reads, “Sweat is Just Another Way to Glow.”  Cute!  I like that they’re switching up the bags now.

  • AmorePacific Color Control Cushion Compact – 1.05 oz / $60 – (Product is .1 oz, value of $5.71 by volume)  I don’t use foundation a whole lot, but I have tried this product before.  It’s.. okay.  Neither color really works well on my skin, and I have no need for SPF 50 in my foundation since I tend to only use foundation in the evenings for special occasions and not as an everyday thing.  It bothers me A LOT that a chemical blocker is added to most foundations and creams anymore since I’d rather it be a choice than a mandate.  I don’t need SPF at night!  The sample size here is also a matter of a gripe – once the pouch is opened, there’s no way to give it a quick test and then use it later since it doesn’t re-seal.
  • Ouai Treatment Masque – 2.4 oz / $32 – (Product is .5 oz, value of $6.67 by volume)  Another super heavily perfumed product from OUAI that I can’t use on my hair since I don’t use silicones on my hair.  There are some really quality ingredients in there, but they’re ruined by the silicones and a really curious ingredient, “Chlorphenesin,” which Wikipedia lists as a muscle relaxant that can cause allergic contact sensitivity.  Not putting that anywhere near my dry scalp, no thanks.  It does beg the question though, is Ouai the new Harvey Prince of Sephora boxes?  There have been two products from this company that I haven’t been able to use on my hair and found to be overly perfumed.  Not a fan, Sephora, not a fan.
  • Clinique Almost Lipstick – .07 oz / $17 – (Product is .04 oz, value of $9.71)  It’s supposed to be a universally flattering color and does go on rather sheer so that you can build a deeper color if you want.  I found it to be way too dark for my tastes (I prefer berry and red colors) and it tipped a little too far into an icky black/brown on my lips, even with just one swipe.  The formula is nice though, moisturizing yet still light, I’m just not into the color.
  • Tarte  FRXXXTION Stick Exfoliating Cleanser – 1 oz / $22 – (Product is .22 oz, value of $4.84 by volume)  This is a neat way to apply an exfoliating cleanser!  I like the idea that it’s in a tube as a solid gel, but you still have to work it into your skin with your fingers, so it’s not like it keeps your hands from getting messy.  The exfoliation is like a very fine dust instead of a coarse sugar scrub, so it’s gentle, but not too gentle.  You can still feel the grit working away at your skin as you work it around your skin.  I’m not sure I’d buy it since I prefer scrubs that are more coarse (dry skin, so it needs a heavy exfoliation), but it’s a neat idea, and I’m glad I got to try this!
  • Farmacy Honey Potion – 4.1 oz / $56 – (Product is .32 oz, value of $4.37 by volume)  I have to admit that this is the product I’m most interested in out of the box.  I’m a beekeeper, so a honey potion mask?  YES PLEASE.  The ingredient list shows they use a whole bunch of bee products from Honey to Propolis and even Royal Jelly in addition to herbs and vitamins.  I haven’t yet tried this, but I use honey as the carrier for powdered clay masks all the time, so I know this is going to be right up my alley.
  • Tory Burch Love Relentlessly – 1.7 oz / $86 – (Product is .05 oz, value of $2.53 by volume)  It’s.. okay.  It’s not something I’d buy for myself, but it’s not a mess of florals, so I’ll at least end up using this sample.  It comes out just a little bit too cotton candy sweet for my liking – I’d have preferred the sandalwood to deepen it and make it a little richer, but it’s just not happening for me.

Overall the value of the box comes out to $33.83 which is a great value when you consider it only costs me $10.60 including tax per month.  I guess this one was a bit of a disappointment this time around since the hair masque and lipstick are huge misses for me and the two items I do like, the Tarte exfoliator and Farmacy mask just barely squeak out to cover the cost.  I know, I’m more of a cruelty free makeup maven, so this isn’t quite a good fit, but for only $10 a month, I really enjoy getting the samples, even if they’re sometimes misses.  I still get to try things I wouldn’t normally try, so that’s a win for me!

Subscription Boxes

Benevolent Beauty Box December 2016

In yet another catch-up post, here is the December shipment for the Benevolent Beauty Box!  Yet another stellar box, this is a great mix of items that I was super happy to try, including some new indie brands I hadn’t heard of before.

  • Beautiful Birdie Cosmetics Full Lash Mascara – 7.5 g / $22 – (Product is full size)  The mascara came in this pretty organza bag that had a sparkly, multicolored tree print on it.  Such a nice touch!  The formula is terrific – just the right consistency, and it goes on nice and smooth with no clumps.  One coat goes on thickly, but two coats does turn up the volume for a bolder look.  This is definitely going right into regular rotation, I really like it that much!
  • Girlactic Beauty Sparkle Eye Liner – 1 set / $20 – (Product is full size)  The set includes one pot of the Black Star Base (4.5 g) and one pot of the sparkle color (2.19 g) which was the “Champagne” color.  Tucked inside the box was one of those sponge tip applicators, but this definitely works best with a proper angled brush.  The black base goes on first like an eyeliner, then the sparkle on top.  The sparkle is a pretty fine cosmetic glitter, so I wasn’t sure it would stick all that well without glitter glue, but it seemed to stay put just fine!  I really rather like the combination together and the glitter is honestly so teeny tiny and fine that this is something I’d conceivably wear any day of the week.
  • Bunny Bath and Body Morning Jolt – 10 mL / $7 – (Product is full size)  Three simple ingredients make for a great serum!  It’s meant to be used as a wake-up for tired eyes since caffeine can help reduce puffiness.  It smells delightfully like coffee and my skin drank it right down.  I think this will work really nice as a little bonus moisture serum for those dry corners around my nose too.
  • Manna Kadar Paradise Pearlized Blush – 3 g / $19 – (Product is full size)  A pretty cherry pink with a very subtle pearlescent shimmer.  I don’t generally use a lot of blush since I’m a pretty rosy-cheeked to begin with, but I do love this color.
  • Dirty Lamb Coffee Scrub – 8 oz / $15 – (Product is 4 oz, value of $7.50)  My container was only about half full and seemed to have dried up though it didn’t look like it leaked in the box.  From reading the description on the product card, it looks like it was water based, so I added a little distilled water to bring it back to life.  The smell is lovely – I LOVE coffee, so this is right up my alley, though I could’ve done without the mint scent.  Just the coffee please!
  • Shea Terra Rose Hips Black Soap – 4 oz / $18 – (Product is 1 oz, value of $4.5 by volume)  It pours out slowly like a thick, dark molasses.  Unlike regular soap, this is meant to be left on the face like a mask for 5-10 minutes and then rubbed and rinsed off with the palms of your hands to help rub away dead skin.  I didn’t feel like it did anything particularly amazing or that it even cleansed very well – it didn’t foam, but it didn’t feel like an oil cleanse either.  My skin felt a little rubbery and sticky after washing it off thoroughly.  My only gripe is that the bottle is far too rigid for the product, so it doesn’t squeeze at all to help the product dispense – you have to sit and wait for gravity to work (or go grab a popsicle stick and scrape some out).  Either way, this was fun to try, but I’m not sure this is quite the soap I’m looking for.

The total value of this box comes to $80 which, while on the lower end, is still a great value  since the box costs $29.95 per month for a month-to-month subscription.  I’m in love with both the mascara and the eye liner set and will definitely use those like crazy.  I’ll still use the other items too, but the mascara and eye liner are definitely the stand out products from December’s box.  January’s has already arrived as well, so that one should be posting soon!

Subscription Boxes

Medusa’s Makeup December 2016

 

This is me, still behind.  I feel like the entire month of January just slipped right past me between vacation and gatherings with friends, and I just haven’t quite had time for continuing to catch up with these posts, but hey, here I am now with Medusa’s Makeup from December 2016.

  • With Lash Mascara – 12 mL / $12 – (Full size product)  This was a new item as of this shipment, so it was neat yet again to try something new!  I love the applicator wand and the consistency is just right – not too thick or thin.  It did seem to flake a little too easily and I noticed that the ingredient list contains parabens, so while this isn’t going to replace any of my favorites, it’s fun to get a chance to try it out.
  • Lipstick – 3.5 g / $12 – (Full size product)  The color included was, “Sugar Daddy,” a warm, beigey neutral.  The color doesn’t work with my skin – in fact, it nearly identically matches my skin color, so when I wear it, it blends my lips right into my face.  Not an attractive look, IMHO.  I would’ve loved to see a more wintery rich plum sort of color in here.
  • Glitter – 2 g / $7 – (Full size product)  The color included was, “Gold Digger,” which is a sparkly gold, perfect for New Year’s!  I love using glitter like this as eyeliner, so it was already put to use for New Year’s Eve festivities.
  • Blush – 10 g / $12 – (Full size product)  The color included was, “Dangerous Liaison,” a bright pink, and a color that works well on me since I’m pretty naturally bright rosy pink in my cheeks anyway.  I don’t tend to wear a lot of blush, but will brush some on if I’m using foundation just to brighten me back up, so this will get some use.  Also doubles as a great eyeshadow color.

That’s all!  The total value this month comes to $43 which is great for a shipment that only costs $15.95 including shipping every month.  I’ve been thinking about cancelling this one in the near future since I’m on product overload and while I love Medusa’s Makeup products, I have plenty now!  This box is a great way to work vegan products into your routine, though the only caveat is that a good deal of their products do contain parabens.  January’s shipment just arrived too, so that will be getting posted soon!

Subscription Boxes

Medusa’s Makeup November 2016

 

This is November’s shipment that honestly did arrive on time, I’m still doing a little bit of catch up on posts!  Every month is a great shipment of cruelty free products from this great company, and I’ve been super excited to see what comes next from this company in each shipment.

  • Setting Spray – 1 oz / $8 – (Product is full size)  The base is pretty heavily alcohol based, but it does help the product dry faster, and I didn’t feel like it dried out my skin on the quick test I did.  I haven’t had a chance to see if this really holds makeup for a whole day, so I’ll have to report  back once I’ve done thorough testing!
  • Lip Gloss – 6 mL / $9 – (Product is full size)  I received the color, “Loud Mouth,” which is an orangey color.  The formula is really surprisingly nice for a gloss – not sticky at all – and the color doesn’t look that wildly orange when on, it just kind of gently turns up the volume on your natural lip color with a subtle tint.  This makes for a great everyday gloss when I’m not going full-on makeup.
  • Eye Dust – 1.5 g / $7 – (Product is full size)  The color I received is, “Green Velvet,” which is a shimmery deep hunter green color.  I LOVE love love mineral shadows, and this one is super pigmented and has such a nice shimmer to it.
  • Lip and Cheek Stain – 3.5 g / $8 – (Product is full size)  The color received is, “Moody,” which is a deeper red color.  I like this best as a lip color since the oils really won’t work well over a foundation, but it’s the scent I like the best about this.  It smells amazing and works into a nice, natural looking color.

Overall, the value of the bag is $32 which is just about double the cost which is $15.95 per month including shipping.  What’s best about this is that subscribers generally get to try out new things first and I get four vegan and cruelty free beauty products from a company I know and love every month.

Subscription Boxes

Sephora Play! December 2016

 

December’s Sephora Play! arrived before the holidays, but you know how crazy things get with travel and such, so this is just going up on the blog now.  The theme was, “The Partygoers,” and featured items that were must haves for the party season.  I was expecting a little more glitz and glam, maybe a glittery eye shadow or something like that, so this one didn’t really live up to my expectations.  The black bag with gold lettering was a nice change of pace though!

  • Bobbi Brown Smokey Eye Mascara – .2 oz / $30 – (Product is .1 oz, value of $15 by volume)  So, it’s black mascara.  Really basic, not so much party themed.  I’m.. just not excited.  I would’ve liked something different like a glitter eyeliner or I don’t know, something else.  We did just get a black mascara in the August box as well, so.. meh?  I feel like I have SO much black mascara at this point, unless it’s some new brand that’s cruelty free, I really am just neutral on this.  I’ll use it, but.. eh.
  • Make Up For Ever Step 1 Smoothing Primer – 1 oz / $37 – (Product is .16 oz, value of $5.92 by volume)  This is in the Natural finish, “Base Lissante,” and is basically a lightly tinted silicone based primer.  Again, nothing really earth shattering here, it goes on matte, but I didn’t feel like it did anything spectacular or fill in lines or improve texture like it says it’s supposed to.
  • Sephora Cream Lip Stain – 5 mL / $14 – (Product is 1.3 mL, value of $3.64 by volume)  I received the color, “01 Always Red,” which is labelled as a matte bold classic red.  It’s definitely as advertised!  The red is stunningly perfect and goes on like a matte lip cream and stays put.  So far, I’m pretty impressed with this and love that it’s matte without feeling too drying.
  • Urban Decay All Nighter Makeup Setting Spray – 4 oz / $31 – (Product is .5 oz, value of $3.88 by volume)  This is a product I already know and love and actually fits the theme pretty well since it keeps your makeup right where you put it, easily keeping your makeup perfect all night.  It’s nice to have this as a sample size to tote along with me!
  • Drybar Bay Breeze Hydrating Shot – 4 x .5 oz – $38 – (Product is .5 oz, value of $9.50)  This is a nope for my curly hair.  It contains silicones – in fact, the 3rd ingredient is a silicone – so for a low to no shampoo regimen, this is a nope.  This specific silicone, amodimethicone, builds up on hair and won’t wash out without using a harsh sulfated shampoo that I won’t use, so this is going to the trade/share pile.
  • Elizabeth James Nirvana Bourbon  – 1.7 oz / $85 – (Product is .07 oz, value of $3.50)  I’ve gotten a couple of samples of this, but I do really like it.  It’s a warm, woody scent that’s right up my alley with a blend of vanilla bourbon, oakwood and a nearly unnoticeable hint of tuberose.  It’s not overwhelming or too sticky sweet, but it makes for a nice twist on plain old vanilla that’s got a great warmth and richness to it.

The total value comes to $41.44 for a box that only cost me $10.60 including tax.  I’m super disappointed with the hair product, but I generally will be disappointed with hair products since I’m so picky about what I put in my hair.  The winner out of the box for me was the cream lip stain with the setting spray a close second, but the two together really don’t quite cover the cost of the box.  This one just kind of fell flat for me – I really did expect more glitz and glam for a party themed box.  Oh well, looking forward to the next one!

Subscription Boxes

Espionage Cosmetics Nexus – January 2017

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In first before the New Year is Espionage Cosmetics Nexus!  January’s theme is, “Serenity Skies,” touted as being, “the NEXUS all Browncoats have been waiting for,” so you’ know it’s going to be Serenity and Firefly themed!  They just recently  discontinued the Cunning Hat nail wraps, so it’s great to see that there will be a new nail wrap for the  Browncoats once the epic nail wrap battle voting has concluded.  I couldn’t pass up the chance to photograph these on the hat I knitted, so here they are in all their glory!

  • ATMO – Showing a planet on a backdrop of stars, these glossy wraps have a foil finish to the stars, creating a beautiful wrap.  I love how this is a subtle inside thing – you may never know there’s a Serenity reference in the wraps unless you’re part of the secret nerd nail wrap club which I think makes it all the more special.
  • Fireflies – Featuring little fireflies  on a night sky behind some tall grasses, this is a really pretty glossy wrap.  I’m pretty sure you can figure out which parts are the glow in the dark bits!  Of course, this is a reference to the class of the ship from the series and movie, and  again the subtlety makes this all the more fun – it’s either aww cute fireflies, or GORRAM, Fireflies!

I’m finding it hard yet again to choose a favorite!  I really love both of these for different reasons, and I think maybe ATMO is edging out just a little bit, but there’s still time to think it over and get my vote in.  Both wraps fit the theme perfectly and would cost $10 each on the Espionage Cosmetics website, so the value definitely exceeds the $15 month-to-month subscription cost.  I’m eager to see what they’ll come up with for next month!!  In case you’re thinking about subscribing and want to send me some love, hit up my  referral link!

Subscription Boxes

Benevolent Beauty Box Special Edition – December 2016

 

This is Benevolent Beauty Box’s first ever Special Edition box that shipped on December 10th.  Yep, I’m still behind on the blog posts, but I’m catching up, I swear!  Anyway, I knew the second they announced this that I’d need to have it since this subscription has been knocking my socks off.  It did not disappoint!  A makeup palette, BB Cream, lipstick, and three face products from some of my already-favorite brands plus a few new-to-me brands make for a pretty amazing luxury box that’s also 100% cruelty free.

  • Manna Kadar Day-Dream Palette – 1 palette / $39 – (Product is full size)  A WHOLE PALETTE!  This palette contains 6 eyeshadows, 1 blush, 2 highlighters, and a contour shade all in one rather portable package which makes this perfect for travel since everything you need is right there.  The company is cruelty free and this product is vegan to boot.  The eyeshadow colors are right in my range (but really, what isn’t?), two neutrals, two rosy pinks, two violets to make for a great balance.  The colors are nicely pigmented and blend well too.
  • Mommy Makeup Stay Put Matte Lip Cream– .12 oz / $22 – (Product is full size)  The color is, “Heather,” described as a dusty pink mauve and goes on a little darker than I expected, so I’m not 100% sold on the color, but I think I can still pull it off.  Dusty pink or rose colors generally wash me out but I think the darker shade actually makes it okay for fall and winter.  The formula is great – it goes on like a thin liquid but then once it’s dry, it’s matte and sticks and doesn’t move!  I like the formula, but as far as the color, I’m probably more interested in the “Marilyn” or “Harlow” which I may have to pick up since there’s a 15% off discount code included in the box for Mommy Makeup.
  • Bellapierre Derma Renew BB Cream – 1.5 oz / $75 – (Product is full size)  I received the “Fair” shade which matches with the information in my beauty profile with Benevolent Beauty Box.  This is just a wee bit too light for my skin tone, but I found I like the formula enough that I can make it work by dusting bronzer over top with a really light hand to bring up the color just enough.  I found on my dry skin, it did clump up on the dry patches at the corners of my nose, so I just need to remember to moisturize well before using this.
  • Baiser Beauty Formula N º2 Lumineux – 1 oz / $35 – (Product is full size)  This is meant to be applied just like a highlighter,  either under or over makeup.  It’s a pink, pearlescent liquid, and the teensiest drop goes a very long way.  It smells mostly like lavender and leaves behind a subtle brightness without any sparkle or glitter.  It’s oil based, so I’d imagine this would dissolve makeup if applied over foundation or powder, so this may work better without foundation for a natural glow.  I do like how subtle this is and may be using it on the regular because the oil base also works as an awesome moisturizer.  Also included is a code for 15% off at Baiser Beauty.
  • Franklin & Whitman Walnut Hill Face Serum – 1 oz / $39.99 – (Product is full size)  HOORAY for local (to me) companies!  I’ve become a serum junkie as I’ve gotten older and my skin has gotten drier, so serums that are blends of oils I know and love with no parabens or silicones are on point for me.  This is a blend of grape seed oil, argan oil, rosehip oil, pomegranate oil, and Vitamin E and is completely unscented (yessss!).  These are all oils I use already, and they combine here to create a viscous oil that surprisingly goes on lightly and absorbs quickly to make my skin feel amazingly soft.  I know I sound like an advertisement, but these are all things I look for in a good serum, and I’m loving this one.  Plus!  5% of the purchase of this product goes to help dog rescue organizations in addition to the company being cruelty free, so they’ve won me over.
  • Mullein & Sparrow Lemon Rose Face Wash – 2 oz / $32 – (Product is full size)  It’s like a castile soap, so it’s fairly gentle and works into a rich lather to wash away makeup without being too drying.  The scent is pleasant as well – the rose balances out the lemon perfectly so it’s not too floral or too citrusy and lands in that perfect goldilocks zone.  It works rather well if followed with a good serum just like the one above!

In total, the value of the box is $242.99 which is incredible since the full retail price of the box is $62!  There are some truly incredible products in here, and I’m finding it difficult to pick a favorite – between the face wash and serum together, the palette by itself, or the BB Cream (when dusted with bronzer, I have to say it does look great), I just can’t decide.  There are a total of 6 full-sized products in here that are all cruelty free.  I believe there are still a few Special Edition boxes available, and just with the BB cream alone, this box pays for itself, so it’s definitely worth it for a gift for yourself or your favorite cruelty free beauty maven.

Subscription Boxes

Kloverbox December 2016

 

Kloverbox is BACK!  It was taken over by new ownership a few months ago and has been producing some great boxes, so I decided to sign up again.  My first box is the December box and I’m happy to say it’s a good one!  I love the bracelet the most because it’s a great way to wear a fragrance without putting it directly on your skin, and the cheek stain smells amazing.  On to the contents!

  • Timeless Organics Muscle Soak – 3 oz / $6.99 – (Product is full size)  I’m not really big on baths, but I like to save stuff like this for vacations, especially ones with those big jacuzzi tubs, so this is coming along with me next month.  The soak is basically a salt soak along with lavender, so it’s great for sore, tired muscles.  This is showing on sale on the company’s website for $4.99, not full price right now, and there’s also a coupon included for 20% off purchases on the website.
  • Drops of Joy Diffuser Bracelent – 1 bracelet / $32.27 – (Product is full size)  This is such a neat idea!  The beads are lava stone with Amazonite and thanks to the porous nature of lavastone, it makes for a perfect medium to carry your favorite oil and act as a diffuser.  The colors are pretty and the idea is so neat, I absolutely love this!  Also included is a code for 20% off an order through the Drops of Joy website.
  • Yoganics Essential Oil Blend – 5 mL / $15 – (Product is full size)  The blend is their, “Holiday Cheer Blend,” and smells like pine and cinnamon.  It’s really strong, so a teeny little swipe is enough to  give the bracelet a good scent charge.  It’s not exactly my favorite sort of scent – I find the cinnamon to be crazy overpowering with not much of the other oils working to balance it out – but they also included a coupon for 15% off a purchase, so I’ll have to check out some of the other oils.
  • ra goods Toner – 2 oz / $9.95 – (Product is full size)  An alcohol free toner!  I love the scent of this.  The lemongrass comes out on top, but it’s not overwhelming, just light and fresh.  The toner dries matte and doesn’t feel sticky or heavy, and I honestly like it.  Also included is a coupon code for 20% off at their website.
  • Wild Plants Love You Rosy Cheek Stain – .5 oz / $8 – (Product is full size)  This smells SO GOOD.  It’s earthy, but then the elderberries and lavender come out and it makes for this sweet herbal scent.  I’m not big on blush since my cheeks are always pretty rosy to begin with, but this works just fine on lips too, plus with the jojoba oil, it makes for a great moisturizing balm.  The color payoff isn’t huge, it’s pretty subtle, but does build to a pretty rosy glow.  Also included is a code for 10% off at their Etsy shop.

The total value of the box comes to $72.21 which is great for a box that costs $25 on a month-to-month basis!  The bracelet alone covers the cost, but I do like everything in the box and will use it all.  It’s so nice to see this great box revitalized and carrying on with great cruelty free products.  Looking forward to next month already!