June 2019 Sephora Play Review

Play! by Sephora is a $10 monthly subscription that provides members with 5 beauty samples and 1 bonus item. The samples are never full sized and the bonus is usually a perfume but can sometimes be a foil packet. Wow, I’m doing a terrible job of selling this, guys. The only one benefit of the Sephora box over other similar boxes is all items can be found inside Sephora or available online at www.sephora.com. That is, until the chain discontinues something but that’s not too common.

·         Tarte Foundcealer SPF20 in 42N

·         Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask in Vanilla

·         Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner

·         Biossance Squalane + Tea Tree Detox Mask

·         Belif The True Cream Aqua Bomb

·         Hum Nutrition Hair Sweet Hair Gummies

Tarte Foundcealer SPF20 in 42N

Once again, Sephora tries to match my skin tone and once again, Sephora fails. This time, they failed in the other direction. Tarte’s Foundsealer in 42N is about 2 shades too light for me, which I suppose can be worked with either in a dark room or the deep recesses of winter with some bronzer. The coverage is not my favorite. Like the name suggests, it is supposed to double as a foundation or a concealer. I’m not into high coverage foundations so this was an immediate miss, though I appreciate the opportunity to try it out. It’s too light for me to try to spot conceal with it over my normal foundation shades, but the coverage is definitely there. I will continue to play around with this around the house when I can guarantee nobody will see me out in the wild.

Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask in Vanilla

This was somewhat of a repeat item. I’ve tried (and loved) the original Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask in Strawberry. With its sweet scent, hydrating power, and generic petroleum jelly flavor that discourages me from eating it off of my lips, I intend to blast through my jar this winter.

Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner

Yet another product I’ve tried in the past. I should start off with the negatives first, and keep in mind, this is just all personal preference. I have hooded eyes that are difficult to work with and a pretty low-key preference for eye looks. I do not enjoy wearing eyeliner outside of my waterline and I like liquid liners even less.

That said, this is a fine eyeliner. It’s felt tip, which is more difficult for me to use than a brush tip liner (see Kat Von D’s Trooper Eyeliner) but it’s the finest felt tip I’ve ever encountered. It’s also the blackest liquid eyeliner I’ve ever tried, but I’ve never actually tested its waterproof claim. If I had to have a felt tip liner, this would be my choice.

Biossance Squalane + Tea Tree Detox Mask

I really enjoyed this face mask. It’s interesting in that it never dried down fully like a typical clay mask. It did a great job of moisturizing my skin and brightening my complexion a bit. It didn’t have any lasting effects over time but the immediate brightening was lovely.

Belif The True Cream Aqua Bomb

I’ve tried this moisturizer before and I really like it. The gel formula is moisturizing but not greasy so it’s great for daytime use, especially in the summer.

Hum Nutrition Hair Sweet Hair Gummies

This is generally a wasted sample in a subscription box because one dose isn’t enough to get an idea of how well a vitamin works. The flavor was rich; these were a pleasant gummy flavor. The texture was odd though. They were hearty and I even noticed a little extra texture to them. Now, this is a terrible analogy, but imagine eating rice pudding and noticing a heartier texture to it. IT was something like that, or perhaps a real fruit leather, where it’s heartier than an over-processed Fruit Roll-Up or Gushers snack. I can’t ever see myself paying what this product is asking. I might instead go for Nature Made Pre-Natal vitamins or something to that effect, If I’m looking for a hair/skin/nail multivitamin.

L to R in indirect natural light: Stila Eyeliner, Tarte Foundcealer in 42N

I’m no longer finding joy in subscription boxes like I once did, as evidenced by my posting once every 3 or 4 months now. Maybe it’s the stress of the move and fixing up a house, maybe it’s just an overabundance of items and I’ve found what actually works for me. Unfortunately, FOMO (cook kids’ translation: fear of missing out) is preventing me from quitting anytime soon. I’m slowly trying to whittle things down but damn this compulsive buying!

June 2019 Birchbox Review

Birchbox is a $15 monthly beauty subscription box that offers 5-6 sample and full-sized makeup, skincare, and hair care products from brands both high end and only known within the beauty box community. The idea of tackling June’s box is a little daunting. Typically, this would be the first indication that it was a lackluster box. Being more realistic, I’m probably suffering from product overload. I received:

• Jouer Cosmetics Sheer Pigment Lip Gloss in St. Germain – $17.00, Full Sized
• Wander Beauty Baggage Claim Gold Eye Masks – $4.17
• Luxie Beauty 239 Precision Shader Rose Gold Brush – $14.00, Full Sized
• Qhmet Biologics Alma & Olive Heavy Cream – $2.36
• Winky Lux Latte Kitten Eyeshadow in Frothy – $2.78
• Coola Classic Body Lotion SPF 30 in Tropical Coconut – $2.18

 

May 2019 Birchbox

That's more diversity than the contents of any of my boxes has ever seen. -_-

Birchbox is a $15 monthly subscription that provides subscribers with 5-6 beauty samples and the occasional full-sized product. Birchbox is great for people who favor skin care or hair care over makeup items. Earlier this year Birchbox started various offerings including picking one of the items in your box, a choice of curated boxes, swapping out that month’s box for a select full sized item, swapping out that month’s box for store credit, or leaving it all up to fate and letting the algorithm surprise you. I find myself opting for curated boxes lately; even if not every item is a perfect fit, I’ve generally given up on trusting the algorithm to select even a fraction of my items. May’s theme was “Get Insipired.”

I forgot all about the included sticker, oops.

May 2019 Ipsy Review

(As of this posting) Ipsy is a $10 monthly subscription that provides members with 5 beauty items and a cute makeup bag. Items can vary from sample to full size and brands range from private label to mid-range and even the occasional high-end product. Prices will increase to $12 a month starting with the September glam bag. Details about the price increase and other Ipsy subscription levels can be found here.

May’s bag was actually pretty cute. I love the rose gold detail even if the glitter can be a bit much when hit with direct light. This was also the first time I was really excited for a big in months. Sorry about the garbage picture quality. I was trying to outmaneuver the kids while taking advantage of the last of the day's sunlight.

May 2019 Sephora Review

Play! by Sephora is a $10 monthly subscription that delivers 5 beauty products and one bonus item right to your doorstep. I’ve been a subscriber for too many months to count but I do like this box as it’s one of the least disappointing subscription boxes I receive. A contributing factor to the lack of disappointment is the fact that I can find all of the items offered in store or online. There are a couple of exceptions to this rule but that’s due mostly in part to my tardiness posting my unboxings. Case in point: 

April 2019 Sephora Review

Play! by Sephora is a $10 subscription that ships out 5 beauty items and one bonus item every month. Items are always either sample or deluxe sized so if you are wanting to receive the occasional full sized item, Ipsy would be a better subscription box choice. Sephora is wonderful because items shipped are from the store’s inventory meaning everything sampled can be purchased in store or online. Another great thing about this subscription is they give out 50 bonus beauty points to be redeemed with purchase in store or online. It doesn’t sound like much but 100 points can be turned into one small rewards item, which is typically the size of one of the Play! by Sephora items sampled each month. This box is worth it for me (so far) because I like to treat it as a discovery box. 

April’s box incluced:

·         Sephora Collection Triple Action Cleansing Water

·         Make Up For Ever Step 1 Skin Equalizing Smoothing Primer

·         Clinique High Impact Mascara

·         GlamGlow Good in Bed Passionfruit Softening Night Cream

·         Fresh Sugar Advanced Therapy Lip Treatment in Dream

·         Alterna Haircare Caviar Anti-Aging Bond Repair Shampoo and Conditioner 

April 2019 Ipsy Review

Ipsy is a $10 subscription that delivers 5 beauty items (sometimes deluxe or sample sized, sometimes full sized) to your doorstep in a makeup bag. Ipsy was my first subscription box ever and it was an amazing way to build up not only a daunting makeup collection but an almost crippling makeup and subscription box addiction. Alright, that might be a bit of hyperbole but if you saw my closet you would agree that my relationship with makeup and subscription boxes isn’t the healthiest. The bag was far from my favorite with its zipper position being half an inch from the top, which I consider a waste of space, and the overall design being a complete miss for me. Inside the bag, April’s products included:

·         Buxom Lash Volumizing Mascara in Black

·         TonyMoly Peach Punch Sweat Foam Cleanser

·         Laura Sanchez Moods Eyeshadow in Alien Turquoise

·         Jelly Pong Pong Lip Oil in Watermelon

·         Vasanti Contour Eyeshadow Blend it Out Blush

·         Billion Dollar Brows Fan Brush (add on)

 

April 2019 Birchbox Review

Alas, It’s August and I’m reviewing April’s clutter still. There is shame. Birchbox is a $15 a month subscription that offers 5 to 6 beauty related items. Of all of my subscriptions, Birchbox is my least favorite. The good news is they’ve been trying to turn it around since they announced the price increasing the number and quality of the monthly curated boxes and they now offer at least 6 samples a month.

March 2019 Birchbox Review

Birchbox is a $15 a month subscription that offers 5 to 6 beauty related items. Birchbox is historically my least favorite subscription box of the ones I’m subscribed to but they’ve been trying to turn it around since they announced the price increase with more curated box options, additional samples, and new brand offerings. I believe my March 2019 box was before they announced the price increase and so it still features only 5 items. I also feel that I must defend my subscription by stating that I locked in my price at $10 a month for an annual subscription prior to the price increase. 

March 2019 Ipsy Review

Ipsy is a $10 monthly subscription that delivers 5 beauty samples and full-sized items in a cute makeup bag. March’s bag was particularly cute. I also happen to be a sucker for anything rose gold. The bag also includes the text “and off she went to change the world” which honestly, I’m not opposed to. Inside the bag I found:

·         Lord & Berry Velluto Eye Pencil in Supreme Green

·         Ciaté London Mini Lustre Lip Gloss in Call Me

·         Ahava Purifying Mud Mask

·         Morphe Mini Bronzer in Blogger

·         Farmacy Green Clean Makeup Meltaway Cleansing Balm

February 2019 Sephora Review

Play! by Sephora is a $10 subscription that delivers 5 beauty items, a bonus sample, and 50 extra Beauty Insider points that can be redeemed with purchase every month. What I love about Sephora is all of the items offered can be found in store or online at sephora.com. The only disappointing aspects about the box are the fact that I have never received anything full sized in a box (I don't believe it  is even an option) and the boxes aren't nearly as customizable as subscriptions like Ipsy. Every month Sephora offers anywhere between 4 and maybe 11 box variations. People are assigned to box groups based on their profile, but rarely will a box address all of the concerns I have listed in my profile. (Apologies, I accidentally deleted individual item photos before I was able to upload them.)

January 2019 Ipsy Review

Ipsy is a $10 a month subscription that offers a makeup bag and 5 makeup, beauty, skincare or hair care items. Items vary from sample to full sized and the brands can be drug store, indie label or masstige. What I love about Ipsy is it's a great way to build up a beginner makeup collection without investing too much money, the bags are perhaps the most personalized of any subscription service I've seen, and the sample sizes are great: I've never received a foil packet in the 3 years that I've been subscribed!

I got some serious Judy Garland vibes from January's bag. It's made of a very folksy blue pinstripe patterned fabric-yeah, I know Dorothy wore gingham, not pinstripes. It is far from my favorite with it's down home country feel but somebody out there has to love it, right?

December 2018 Birchbox Review

Birchbox is a $10 monthly subscription that offers 5 (sometimes more) skincare, hair care and beauty samples in a cute little box that will contribute to further clutter and hoarding in your home. Birchbox likes to focus on mid-range and prestige brands so their samples are often on the smaller side. If an increased fire hazard sounds like a great idea to you, here’s a referral link. December’s box was one of the better boxes I’ve had in a while:

November 2018 Play! by Sephora

Play! by Sephora is a $10 monthly subscription that delivers sample sized skincare, hair care and makeup right to your doorstep. The best part about Sephora’s subscription box is that all items can be found either in store or online. Sephora also sends out 50 bonus Beauty Insider points to be redeemed with purchase either in store or online with each box. These points typically expire by the end of the following month.

November’s box contained:

November 2018 Birchbox Review

Birchbox is a $10 monthly beauty subscription that tends to provide (mostly skincare and hair care) samples of brands ranging from mid-range to prestige. I’ve been a subscriber for 2 years now and while there are better subs out there, I just cannot quit you, Birchbox. Call it fear of missing out, maybe.

November’s box contained:

November 2018 Ipsy

Ipsy is a $10 monthly subscription that promises subscribers 5 sample or full sized items and a makeup bag personalized to their profile (referral link here). Each month is curated around a theme but for the past year or so the themes have been more vague and thin. Personally, I prefer the camp from days of old but that’s just me.

November’s bag was not the cutest bag I’ve ever seen. I appreciate the pleather material for easy cleaning but I didn’t care for the black hearts on a dark field. It did not scream autumn to me in the slightest and it was difficult to see the hearts. The contents fared better though:

October 2018 Sephora Play Review

Play! By Sephora is a monthly subscription box that delivers skincare, hair care and makeup items that can range from the house brand to high end right to your front door. Sample sizes are always on the small size, sometimes deluxe size, but the value is usually there (for me). The boxes aren’t anywhere near as personalized as Ipsy bags. In fact, I would say its level of personalization is about on par with Birchbox for me. There are a ton of repeats within a calendar year but if you like the brands and items Sephora ships then this box would be a good call. If you are a frequent Sephora shopper, each box has 50 bonus reward points that can be redeemed and put toward a future mini not unlike the items found in each box).

October 2018 Birchbox Review

Birchbox is one of the OG subscription boxes and arguably one of the most popular. Birchbox is known for providing members with high end brands and focusing on skincare and hair care but the sample sizes are typically smaller than what you would find in Ipsy, Allure and Target and items aren’t always as accessible for purchase like Play! by Sephora. October’s box featured:

October 2018 Ipsy Review

Ipsy is a $10 monthly service that sends out 5 skincare, hair care and occasionally the odd fragrance sample to subscribers. Usually items are sample sized but occasionally they send out  full sized items as well. Sometimes it’s pretty hit or miss for me though; I saw the contents of my October Ipsy bag and all I could think was “Don’t threaten me.”

September 2018 Birchbox Review

Birchbox is a subscription that delivers 5 sample sized makeup, hair care and skincare items to your mailbox for $10 a month. The sample sizes might not be the largest but Birchbox is a great get if you care about trying luxury brands you might otherwise not feel comfortable dropping cash on. Not to mention the cute gift boxes that can be repurposed if you have more creative ability than I do.