Category: <span>Subscription Boxes</span>

Category: Subscription Boxes

Subscription Boxes

Beautycon Winter 2016

 

Another Beautycon Box has landed!  This is the Winter edition, curated by Dulce Candy, another curator I haven’t heard of before.  The theme was, “Winter Essentials,” and while I’d say it doesn’t all really fit in a theme, some of it does, but most of it seems pretty random.  I’m really rather sure at this point that I’m not their target audience at all (I’m probably double their target audience’s age) and this is going to be miss after miss, but I’m stuck with two more boxes.  Plus, I didn’t realize that they’d be charging $6.99 for shipping every month, so the cost for the yearly subscription is $24.75 per box plus $6.99 for shipping, making the box cost a total of $31.74.  I’m not even taking the freebie box into account here since it was a duplicate of a previous month I had already received.  Anyway, on to this month’s box contents!

  • Skinvolve Body Karate Cream – 8 oz / $39.99 – (Product is full size)  It’s a pretty huge tube of skin cream, and bonus points awarded here for being cruelty free as well!  The scent is a little heavy, and I honestly doubt the whole skin texture improving stuff, but if it keeps my dry winter skin hydrated, that  works for me!  The ingredient list is really rather nice, so outside of the scent which is a touch too strong for my linking, this is a really nice product.
  • Garnier SkinActive Micellar Cleansing Water – 13.5 oz / $8.99 – (Product is 3.4 oz, value of $2.64 by volume)  It’s a pretty simple makeup remover.  The directions say there’s no need to rinse, but knowing how sensitive my skin can be, especially my eyes, I’ll still follow-up with a face wash.  Nothing ground breaking here, not a product I’d buy for myself nor would I buy again, but it’s makeup remover, so I’ll still use it.
  • Kate Somerville ExfoliKate – .5 oz / $24 – (Product is full size)  I haven’t had a chance to use this yet, but I’m looking forward to it!  The brand itself is cruelty free, but is owned by Unilever, so when you consider that the money flows uphill eventually, they’re not really cruelty free anymore.  Anyway!  The product is basically an exfoliating mask, so I’m definitely jazzed to try it.
  • Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Bronzer – .35 oz / $30 – (Product is .08 oz, value of $6.86 by volume)  I received this in, “Medium/Deep,” which seemed way too dark for my skin since I’m definitely rather fair.  I think with a super light hand, I could make it work, mostly because it smells like chocolate and I really want to be able to use this.  Even if it’s too dark for a bronzer, it’ll be just fine as an eyeshadow!  This is another brand that’s cruelty free themselves but were bought up by a non cruelty free parent company.
  • ColourPop Lippie Stix  – 1 g / $5 – (Product is full size)  A Beautycon exclusive color, and just what I’ve been asking for all along!  This box has time to work up exclusive colors and products, and I’m glad to finally see one!  The brand is cruelty free as well, so double bonus points here.  The color?  I’m not so sure about.  It’s a pinky neutral, but it’s just a wee bit lighter than my natural lip color so it makes me look even more pale than I am.  The jury’s still out though.. I think this might work better in the summer with really light eye makeup for a sort of natural look.  I do like the formula though, creamy, but still mostly matte without being drying.
  • Biobelle #BeautyScoop Sheet Mask – 1 mask / $4.99 – (Product is full size)  Looking forward to using this!  It’s supposed to help fine lines (I’m slipping into my late 30’s, so there are lines, but I honestly don’t care about them – it’s a mark of the times I’ve smiled, tears I’ve shed, lessons learned, etc), but it sounds like even if it doesn’t, the mask will leave my skin hydrated which is just fine for helping dry winter skin.
  • Artist Couture Illuminati Diamond Glow Powder – 6 g / $26.99 – (Product is 2.35 g, value of $10.57)  It’s a pale champagne colored shimmering powder, meant to be a highlighter.  I’m not big on super sparkly highlighters, so I’ll repurpose this as an eyeshadow.  Interesting to note that this is from a company created by one of the curators for the Fall box, Angel Merino, so I have to imagine that maybe this missed the deadline for last cycle’s box and ended up in this one?  Weird.
  • Rimmel London The Only 1 Lipstick – .13 oz / $6.99 – (Product is full size)  I received the color, “Cheeky Coral,” but it basically looks like it’s neon pink on me.  I kind of like the formula, but the scent and color are pretty off-putting, plus this is an animal-testing drugstore brand that I have no interest in, to be honest.
  • Luxie Beauty Highlighting Brush – 1 brush / $24 – (Product is full size)  The brush is #522 and it comes in the rose gold color (see also: pink, ugh) and is synthetic, so cruelty free and vegan to boot.  I don’t use highlighters a lot, so I’m not quite sure how much I’ll use this, but hey, it’s a brush and you can never have too many of those, right?  Plus, it goes well with the included highlighter.
  • L’Oreal Voluminous Lash Primer – .24 oz / $7.99 – (Product is full size)  The second ingredient in both this and the mascara is Paraffin, so that’s a hard pass for me and my sensitive eyes.  Paraffin (I’m assuming wax) is derived from petroleum, and I just don’t trust the ingredient not to irritate my eyes.  This is going straight to the trade/give-away pile since I don’t want to take the chance (and I have enough mascara already, really).
  • L’Oreal Voluminous Feline Mascara – .27 oz / $8.99 – (Product is full size)  Just like the primer above, this is going to the trade/give-away pile because I don’t trust the ingredients.  Cheap mascara means eye irritation and it’s just not worth taking the risk and ending up with three days of red, itchy eyes.
  • Ali & Jay $50 Coupon  – This has a zero value for me because they don’t make clothes larger than a size Large and it’s only for orders over $100.  If anyone wants the code, holler.

I’m not counting the coupon in the box value, so the actual product value comes to $142.02 which is I think the highest value for this box that I’ve seen so far.  The big value items are the lotion and brush, and they make up almost half  of the box value and still well exceed the cost, so that works for me!  I’m happy to see a box-exclusive item this month in the lipstick and am also pleased to see the inclusion of more cruelty free brands.  Overall, this is a better box with better brands than the last box  and more of the direction I’d like to see it go!  I’d still not mind seeing less of the drugstore brands and more of the more prestige brands, even if it means fewer items in the box.  We’ll see what the Spring box brings us!

Subscription Boxes

Espionage Cosmetics BOOM!Box December 2016

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December’s Espionage Cosmetic’s BOOM!Box is here!  The theme this month was, “Candyland,” so the box is filled with all sorts of candy-themed goodies from a peppermint print scarf to sweet lip balm, a bath bomb, and even a fancy chocolate in addition to the nail wraps and art print, all courtesy of Princess Sparkle Hooves.  This month may make it into my top 3 favorite BOOM!Boxes so far, it’s just that good, and the theme is carried out so perfectly.  Plus, who doesn’t love a box full of candy-themed goodies?!

The nail wraps are up first!  On the left is, “Moar Dots!”  These have a pretty neat pearl finish (I think that’s a brand new thing for EC!) and are reminiscent of those candy buttons that come on a paper strip.  On the right is, “Oishii Treats,” which are pretty pastel nail wraps covered in all kinds of goodies.  Both wraps fit the theme perfectly and will be fun to wear.

Next up, from  Apothecary Noir come Frost Bitten Remedies, two lip balms in delectable flavors.  One is Chocolate Orange flavored and the other is Cotton Candy and both smell positively amazing.  I’m a total lip balm junkie, so these are going straight into my bag for a sweet treat for my lips this winter.

Another item from  Apothecary Noir  is this Jawbreakin’ Bath Bomb in, “Sweet Berry,” which is a sugary sweet, berry scented bath bomb.  It’s just too perfect, wrapped in cellophane and colored to look like a Jawbreaker, another completely on point item.  Our room for an upcoming vacation comes with one of those big, fancy jacuzzi tubs, so I get to use this in just a few weeks!

I received the green apple version of the ginger bread man chocolate truffle from The Truffle Cottage.  WOW is it amazing!  The outer shell is filled with a  sugary sweet green-apple flavored creamy filling (you know I had to try it.. for science), and  it is so, so good.  The company also makes all kinds of nerdy chocolates, so I have to keep them on my radar for future gift giving.

A BOOM!Box exclusive in this box is the, “Simply Mint to Be Scarf,” in a fun peppermint candy print.  I’m already dreaming up uses for this since I happen to have dyed the ends of my hair red and this will match perfectly.  The scarf is 28″ across and is square, so it’ll make a great headband if I fold it over a few times, or I can use it around my neck for a pop of color with a plain top.  I know I’ll get tons of use out of this!

And last (but not least!), this lovely print by Miss Mandible Designs.  I believe that’s Queen  Frostine from the Candyland game with her snowflake sceptre, standing in front of ice cream cones with peppermints in the corners, as if she’s taking a peaceful walk through her candy kingdom.  It’s a beautiful print, and I know I say it every month, but I do need to get my tush in gear and get frames for all these great prints!

It’s definitely a great value for the cost which is $30 per month.  The two nail wraps put us at $20 already, and  that’s not even half of the box’s contents, so the value far exceeds the cost.  The best part of this box, to me, is how perfectly the items line up with the theme – every last detail is just right every time, and I honestly love everything in every box.  This one may be the sweetest box yet!  (sorrynotsorry, it had to be done!)  In case you’re thinking about subscribing and want to send me some love, hit up my  referral link!

Subscription Boxes

Benevolent Beauty Box November 2016

 


Have I mentioned how behind I am on everything?  This is November’s Benevolent Beauty Box which did arrive on time as usual, I’m just late posting it.  There was a note in the box about excusing the appearance of the box, but it was just fine to me, but I appreciate the transparency!  Anyways, my mantra lately is Better Late Than Never, so here we go!

  • Ardency Inn Modster Long Play Lip Vinyl – .28 oz / $23 – (Full size product)  The color received is, “Studio Mix,” which is described as a melon base with orange reflect.  The applicator is an interesting shape, designed to fit the contour of your lips and delivers a crazy bright color payoff.  I’m definitely going to be using this next summer, but it’s a little bit too intense and bright for fall and winter I think.  It’s definitely leaps and bounds brighter than what I normally wear, but it’s such a fun color, I can’t resist.
  • Adamma 3D Mascara Kit – 1 kit / $50 – (Full size product)  I’ve never  used anything like this before, and I’ll admit to being pretty skeptical, especially with the high price tag for the set.  Basically, one tube is the mascara, and the other tube contains the fibers which consist of corn silk and cashmere (WHOA!).  The mascara goes on pretty thin and doesn’t plump or thicken really.  It’s meant more to be a glue for the fibers and allow you to look like you have longer lashes.  I’m happy to say, that even being the klutz I am with this kind of stuff, IT WORKED.  WOW DID IT WORK.  I have the teeniest little eyelashes ever, but one round of mascara/fibers/mascara was enough to make me look like I had put on false lashes.  The package says you can repeat the process as many times as desired, but really, once was enough for me (though I’m tempted to keep going till my eyelashes hit my glasses just because!).  So far, no irritation either since the ingredient list for the mascara is super simple.  I was worried about using the fibers near my eyes, but they didn’t seem to fall into my eyes at all.  Honestly really impressed with this!
  • Herbal Transdermal Mineral Toner – 8  oz / $15 – (Product is 2 oz, value of $3.75)  I love that this is an alcohol free toner, but the wintergreen scent is a huge turn-off since I don’t like mint outside of my toothpaste.  Fortunately, it’s not so strong that it lingers with the product on your face, and it does feel nice and refreshing.  The addition of tea tree oil makes it a great skin refresher after a long day or as a quick clean before makeup.  Also included was a coupon for a free bar of soap with any order over $40 on the Herbal Transdermal website.
  • Josie & Hue, The White – 2 oz / $20 – (Full size product)  I LOVE CLAY MASKS.  It’s such a great way to spend a little time on yourself and pamper your skin at the same time.  I haven’t gotten a chance to try this just yet, but on top of the regular clays, there’s coconut milk powder and cucumber peel extract, so this should be pretty refreshing!  They encourage the use of various carrier liquids to personalize the mask – everything from honey to oils, apple cider vinegar, milk, and witch hazel.
  • LaRitzy Matte Lipstick – .16 oz / $20 – (Full size product)  The color received is, “Karma,” which almost looks a little like a dusty rose, so I was a little bit worried about the color at first.  Happily, this goes on more like a warm toned cappuccino colored neutral and is super matte!  I’m definitely going to be wearing this color a lot this fall and winter since it’s so versatile.

The total value for the box comes to $116.75 which is phenomenal since the box costs $29.95 per month for a month-to-month subscription.  Hands down, my favorite item is the 3D Mascara Kit which I totally didn’t expect to love this much.  Really, the whole box is awesome and I’ll use everything, so this month is a big win in my book.  Looking foward to December’s box!

Subscription Boxes

Sephora Play! November 2016

 


Oh man am I behind, like, crazy behind.  Yes, this November edition of Sephora Play! arrived on time as usual, but it’s been sitting around until I had time to sit down and actually review it.  Things get pretty crazy this time of year and with all the other commitments, the first thing to go is keeping up with the blog.  But hey!  Better late than never, right?

  • The Estee Edit Dissolve The Drama – 6.7 oz / $32 – (Product is .5 oz, value of $2.39  by volume)  I’m a total ingredient-reader, but the only way I could find a printed list of ingredients for this product was in the Sephora Q&A section – Estee Lauder doesn’t even have a list on their website!  Anyway, the first oil is 9th out of 17 on the ingredient list, the first 7 being chemically derived thickening agents.  Really unimpressive.  The whole Estee Edit line is really unappealing to me since it feels like it’s trying too hard to be something young and hip but still using the same tired old ingredients and formulas in a new package.  This has a very light fragrance that I don’t find appealing (stinky floral) and the texture is odd – like rubbing alcohol and oil at the same time.  I won’t even dare bring this near my eyes to try it since they’re too sensitive and I love my plain jojoba oil for makeup removal MUCH better.
  • Cover FX Illuminating Primer – 1 oz / $38 – (Product is .16 oz, value of $6.08 by volume)  This is WAY too light for my skin.  I didn’t find that it illuminated so much as visibly lightened and I’m already a pretty fair shade of pale to begin with.  I probably couldn’t use this all over my face, just in areas where I needed a highlighting boost.  Honestly, I prefer a more matte look and this definitely leaves behind a dewy sort of look that I don’t like.
  • Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Color – 1.64 g / $29 – (Product is 1 g, value of $17.68 by volume)  The color I received is, “Rose Gold,” which is pretty much just plain gold (not like Apple’s new name for pink).  I’m not a huge fan of cream/stick eyeshadows like this since they tend to crease, but I haven’t had a chance to try it out just yet, so the verdict is out so far!  The color goes on nice and blends easily though so I’ll still use it, I’m just not huge on the formula.
  • Sephora Ultra Shine Lip Gel – .11 oz / $12 – (Product is .1 oz, value of $10.90 by volume)  The color I received is, “Pin-Up Pink,” a pretty bright, almost neon pink.  There’s really barely any  color payoff, so the color isn’t nearly as intense on as it looks in the tube.  For a gloss, it’s not that sticky and actually feels nicely moisturizing.  There’s a light bubblegum scent/flavor to it that’s actually surprisingly nice!
  • GlamGlow Supermud Clearing Treatment – 1.2 oz  / $69 – (Product is .3 oz, value of $17.25 by volume)  My first thought was, DAMN, that’s pretty expensive for what’s basically a mud mask.  The ingredient list has a decent concentration of an ingredient that contains AHA and BHA which my skin responds pretty well to, plus the usual clay and charcoal.  Unfortunately, it has a very heavy peppermint scent to it as well as including peppermint oil, so that’s a total deal breaker for me.  I did try it out since I had the sample.  The formula is a medium to thin consistency and a dark grey from the charcoal with little bits/chunks of what are apparently tea leaves in the formula.  You’re supposed to use it very thinly which may allow for about 3 applications in the sample tube.  The peppermint makes it feel cooling, but it also caused my eyes to water since the scent is rather strong and after a little while my skin felt like it was burning too (I seem to be a little sensitive to peppermint oil).  Did it work wonders on my skin?  Ehh.  Not $69 for just over an ounce of product miracles, but my skin did feel toned without feeling tight, so it was nice, but not quite worth the price tag.  Between the peppermint and the price, this was fun to try, but I’d never buy it.
  • Stella McCartney Pop Eau de Parfum – 1.6 oz / $72 – (Product is .05 oz, value of $2.25)  The musk doesn’t balance out the awful florals enough to make this wearable for me, so this is another in a long line of floral fails for me.  It’s not as terrible as some of the other samples, but it’s definitely not one I could wear and not want to wash off in under 10 minutes.  I still prefer the cedarwood, sandalwood, and musks by themselves without any of the violet or plumeria.

For a value, this box totals up to $56.55 which is a great value when you consider I only paid $10.60 for the box including tax!  This box was less of a hit than others since I really didn’t like half of the box, but the half I did like was where the big values were with the eye color and mud mask.  I mean, even if I didn’t necessarily like the mask, I’m glad I had a chance to try it, especially since it has such a high price tag for the full size.  And hey, the box is all about trying new things, so that works!  Looking forward to December’s box!

Subscription Boxes

Benevolent Beauty Box October 2016

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A very late post for the Benevolent Beauty Box for October.  This one arrived on time as usual, I’ve just had no time to get the blog post up!  Still a stellar box even if it’s not exactly one of my favorites.  Out of the two nail polish variants, I got the one I wasn’t interested in (I definitely liked the blue better) and the lipstick color was way too dark for my tastes, but the oil and eyeshadow are awesome!  I’m not quite sure how I’ll use the Punker shadow since it’s the darkest black and my eyes are too deep set to really look good with that whole smokey eye thing.  They’re still all awesome, full size products, just a little off the mark for me this time around, but the box has been so amazing overall that one slight miss isn’t a big deal for me.

  • Medusa’s Makeup Maracuja Oil – .34 oz / $12 – (Product is full size)  Also known as Passionfruit seed oil, this great oil is wonderful for dry skin.  It absorbs quickly and has a very faint nutty scent, almost a little like Cocoa butter.  My skin is alway dry, so this is great to see in the box, and I had never tried this oil before!
  • Modish Polish – .5 oz / $12 – (Product is full size)  I received the color, “No Time for Bullshit,” which is a nude-ish mauve.  I probably would’ve preferred the other color variant here since I definitely prefer blue over a pink toned color, but this goes on more like a warmer nude than a pink.  Surprisingly, it’s mostly opaque in one coat which is really awesome.  I gave it a quick try and it did dry quickly and seemed to be pretty durable!  I like a bunch of the other colors on the site so I may have to keep them on my radar.
  • Tat2U Lipstick – 4.5 g / $16 – (Product is full size)  The color received is, “New Generation,” and it’s described as a light plum, but it comes out more like a dark mauve  on me and is just a bit too dark for my comfort level.  I may have to try lightening this up a little with the Color Switch from the first box or going with a gold gloss over top to brighten it up a bit.. As it is, it just makes me look more pale than I already am!
  • Tat2U Lip Pencil – 1 g / $14 – (Product is full size)  The color received is, “Hyper,” and is described as a deep purple color.  It’s definitely a little darker than the lipstick but does go on nice and smooth.  Not sure again on the color since these dark, plummy purples just aren’t doing it for me, but again, I think with a sparkly gold gloss on top, it might work.
  • LaRitzy Eye Shadow – 1.48 g / $16 – (Product is full size)  The color received is, “Iced Malted,” and is a shimmery golden toned neutral tan color.  I’m really digging all the golden shimmer eyeshadows that have been popular this year, so this is a welcome addition!  It goes on velvety smooth and works nicely for a good pop of shimmer.
  • Ardency Inn Punker Eyes Like Fire Shadow – 2.2 mL / $21 – (Product is full size)  The product is a highly pigmented black eyeshadow with a brush attached to the applicator.  I really can’t pull off the smokey eye thing (or I feel like I can’t since my eyes are pretty deep set and it just makes them look even deeper and not in a good way!), so I’m not sure how to use this!  I think I might be able to make it work like a smudged eyeliner if I’m really careful with the applicator, but since the brush is attached, it makes that pretty difficult.  I think it might work as an eyeshadow base layer too since it does blend easily and seems to have great staying power.

The total value comes to $91 which is fantastic since the box costs $29.95 per month for a month-to-month subscription.  My personal cost is covered between the two products I really loved (the oil and eyeshadow), so I’m okay with that, even if the colors of the lip products weren’t quite a good match.  That may be on me though since my personal comfort zone for color goes more bright/vivid reds and pinks instead of dark/deep plums and mauves – someone else might think it looks fine on me, but to my eye it just looks off.  I’ll have to do some more playing with the color to see if I can get it to work though since I do like the formulas of both.  Looking forward to November’s box and December’s Special Edition box!

Subscription Boxes

Espionage Cosmetics Nexus – December 2016

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Another round of the Espionage Cosmetics Nexus has arrived!  They get here a little ahead of the month, so this is for December’s theme, “Twisted Holiday,” with two nail wraps to fit the theme!  I expected probably something with string lights based on the theme image, but like always, had no idea where they might take the theme!

  • Holiday Lights – A glossy nail wrap with a glow in the dark accent that is hinted at in the subtitle, “When Phoning Home Can’t Do The Job.”  It’s a pretty clever way to incorporate Stranger Things  into a holiday theme, and the nerd value here is subtle, but will no doubt be super popular.
  • Patron Spirit of Halloween – This is a glossy nail wrap with black and white stripes that are reminiscent of Jack Skellington’s tuxedo.  I honestly really dig the simplicity of these and  Nightmare Before Christmas is a favorite, so it’s going to make voting super difficult this month!

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I have to admit that I’m still undecided!  While I love Holiday Lights, I have a soft spot for Patron Spirit of Halloween and really love those classy but still spooky pinstripes.  Both nail wraps fit the theme perfectly!  The nail wraps each cost $10 on the Espionage Cosmetics website, so the value exceeds the $15 month-to-month subscription cost.  Voting has started, so if you’re a subscriber, go and vote now (if you can choose a favorite!).  Public voting usually opens in a week or two, so keep an eye on the Espionage Cosmetics Twitter for details!  The winner goes on to fame and glory for sale to the public once voting has ended, and the loser remains a Nexus exclusive.  In case you’re thinking about subscribing and want to send me some love, hit up my  referral link!

Subscription Boxes

Lip Monthly October 2016

 

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I’m a little late posting this, but October’s Lip Monthly arrived October 25th.  There was a snafu with their new system and it sent out blank tracking numbers at first which they later corrected, but this usually arrives earlier in the month and there was no communication about the delay.  On top of that, while they were transitioning websites, I knew my subscription was going to auto-renew in October, but I was unable to log into their website during the transition.  Luckily, my card couldn’t be charged since it had expired, but even when I was finally able to log in, the site wouldn’t let me cancel – it just kept coming up with “error” when I hit cancel.  I emailed customer service who was able to cancel the subscription, but I feel like it’s a little unsettling that the company went through and tried to renew my account when I couldn’t log in and their site wasn’t working, but couldn’t be bothered to contact me in advance to let me know to email customer service.  The whole subscription has been a comedy of errors and bad products and I couldn’t even imagine renewing at this point.  So, here’s my  last bag.

  • Laritzy Lip Pencil – 1 stick / $18 – (Product is Full Size)  The color received is, “Roseberry,” which is a pinkish nude.  I guess this can work either as a lip liner pencil or as an all-over stick since the formula is surprisingly creamy and smooth for a lip liner.  I actually like the color which I didn’t expect looking at the name – anything dusty rose never works for me, but this tips enough over to berry to actually be rather flattering!  Bonus, this product is cruelty free and paraben free.
  • Cargo Essential Lip Gloss – .08 oz / $16 – (Product is Full Size)  The color received is, “Sahara,” which is a gold glitter lip gloss.  The formula isn’t bad for a gloss – it’s on the thinner side and doesn’t feel that sticky.  There’s no discernible scent or flavor either, and the glitter is subtle enough so that I don’t look like I’m 12.  It actually goes really well over the lip pencil!
  • Be a Bombshell Lipstick – 3.8 g / $6 – (Product is Full Size)  The color received is, “Charmed,” which is a warm toned brown.  This arrived with a big fingerprint smear of the product on the outside of the tube.  As for the inside, the lipstick had separated from the base and was stuck inside the cap.  I eventually got it back out of the cap, but it’s basically a damaged product that looks like it was opened before which is pretty gross.  And, brown is apparently a pretty awful color on me, plus the product contains parabens, so this is an automatic nope for me.
  • Dirty Little Secret Baked Highlighter – 3 g / $14 – (Product is Full Size)  The color received is, “Sunkist,” which is a warm gold color.  I honestly thought this was an eyeshadow at first since the color is way too dark to be a highlighter and is probably more suited to be a bronzer on my skin tone.  Even if it doesn’t really work as a highlighter, it’ll be great as a gold eyeshadow, so that’s fine for me!

The total value comes to $54 which is great considering I paid just under $10 per month for this subscription.  It’s neat to see cruelty free brands included this time and I do like the Laritzy pencil, DLS highlighter, and Cargo gloss a lot which makes this a pretty decent bag.  My first shipment was still better, but this is a far cry better than the prior shipment.  I definitely won’t be renewing and while this was fun, the customer service and transparency just isn’t there with this company, and I’d rather spend my money with a company that communicates better and doesn’t try to renew my subscription when I can’t even log into their site to cancel.

Subscription Boxes

Medusa’s Makeup October 2016

 

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This is my second shipment for Medusa’s Makeup monthly subscription.  The shipment arrived in a metallic purple bubble mailer and everything inside is cruelty-free with most items being vegan as well.  The packaging is minimal which is great since it’s less waste/recycling to get rid of.  I’m all for keeping it simple when it comes to packaging/shipping.  This arrived on October 22nd, but I’m just getting around to posting about it today.  It looks like the shipment is processed on the anniversary date of your sign up, so if you signed up the 5th of the month, it’ll process and ship then, but if you were later in the month like me, you’re one of the last shipments going out.  I guess that makes it easier on them for shipping so there’s not one HUGE massive push to get everything out at once, but it is a little bit of a bummer since you see everyone else getting their shipments before you.  Not a big deal though since I’m a spoiler junkie and usually find out what I’m getting before it arrives anyway!

  • Deluxe False Eyelashes – 1 set / $8 – (Full Size Product)  I saw these I think in an email and was hoping they’d make it into this shipment, and they have!  It’s a fairly reasonable length for false lashes and I like that the length of the individual lashes is varied so they look a little bit more natural and blend into your own lashes.  I’m going to have to find a reason to give these a try!
  • Lipstick – 3.5 g / $12 – (Full Size Product)  The color is, “Red Square,” and is a bright fuchsia-strawberry red.  The product goes on velvety smooth and is a wonderful vegan formula.  The color comes out a bright fuchsia pink on me  and  might be a hair brighter than what I’d pick out for myself, but this gives me a chance to try something outside of my comfort zone.
  • Cosmetic Glitter – 3 g / $7 – (Full Size Product)  The color is, “Abracadabra,” and is a black glitter which makes it perfect for use as a glitter eyeliner!  It would probably go with the eyelashes really well for a little extra sparkle.
  • The Fix Glitter Adhesive – 2 g / $8 – (Full Size Product)  Well if you’re including glitter, you have to include an adhesive, right?  It’s a natural wax that makes the glitter stick to your skin and stay put.

The total value comes to $35 which well covers the cost of $15.95 per month.  I love that there’s a mix of makeup and practical stuff like the glitter adhesive, so it’s giving me more than just fun makeup to play with but also good base items to have on hand, plus they complement the other items included and work well as a shipment together.  Looking forward to November’s shipment!