I always look forward to getting my subscription boxes, but I have to admit, Boxycharm is my favorite box. Every time I receive a box it has been worth every penny and then some. If you want, this is my referral link. When you refer a friend you receive 500 points. You also receive points just for getting a box delivered!
For $21.00 a month you get four to five full size products. The points earned take off money in the store. The store isn't as extensive as Birchbox, but it's still pretty good. 1000 points will take off $10.00, 2000 takes off $20.00, and so on. It also contains a card that lists the prices and information on the products you receive.
The theme for this month was Boho Glow. I love the card and how it has a little dream catcher on it.
Pur
I really like beauty sponges and I have to admit, I don't often voyage past my Beauty Blender. When I saw that we were getting the Pur Blend Squad, I pretty excited. This definitely gives me a chance to try something new! Maybe I don't have to spend $20.00 on a BB. Maybe I can love these. They are $36.00 for the set, which boils down to $12.00 each. I think it's cute that they're in spring colors! I really like the pale blue one. If these don't end up being my fav, maybe they'll be great for travel since I wouldn't want to take the BB. These are latex free, which is great, because people sometimes have allergies to that. I don't know how often latex is in these sorts of sponges.
Hairgurt
I enjoyed the mask from this brand that we received previously. Or I did until my roommate claimed it for his. I'm hiding this one. The is Project Beauty's Hairgurt in Strawberry Banana Smoothing Shampoo. It smells like a strawberry banana smoothie, but light on the banana. At 4 oz this is technically the full size for $10.00. However, they have 8 oz sizes for $12.00 and I don't think you need me to do the math for you on that to figure out the better value. There is also a coconut açai one for curly hair that is making me even more jealous than I already am for curly haired people. This has bio-keratin, quinoa, prebiotics, and doesn't have sulfates or parabens. It also doesn't test on animals that aren't people shaped.
Cargo
After years of matte lips, my lips are putting up a fight and I've been wearing more glosses lately. So, I wasn't sad that we got a gloss. The Cargo Cosmetics Essential Lip Gloss in Umbria is a golden color that will look pretty with a tan. It has a decent scent but the flavor is pure oil. The bottle feels cheap, but I don't care too much about that. The applicator is flexible but it felt almost flimsy, rather than being something special. It does feel quite comfortable on the lips and didn't feel too sticky. It does contain castor oil, which isn't good for pets and I'd imagine keeping it away from small children would be a good idea as well. It is gluten and paraben free. It is $16.00 for 2.5 ml and the full size was in the box.
Ofra
This will definitely help you get your glow on. I like getting Ofra products and I've heard good things about the Ofra Highlighter in Rodeo Drive. I was kinda surprised at the color of the one I saw on the website. It looked more white toned and I think I would have really loved that! This may be a little dark on me, it's a pale gold with some pink to it. But I'm hoping it'll work. This was a full size 10 oz product that sells for $35.00 (best to find a YouTuber you like with a 30% off code). The packaging on this is also fairly cheap, but I try to think that Ofra just spends the money on the product? Or the YouTubers that make me want to buy the products lol. It is quite buttery and would be so pretty on someone who tans.
The last item was Measurable Difference's Diamond Collection 16 Shade Concealer Palette. It is a fairly decent range of shades. I'm not sure it will work for the very dark or very fair though. It is on the drier side, which will work well for blemishes. Although, I would have put in a green toned shade to mix if that that were the purpose. As it is a little dry, it may work best to mix with and oil or moisturizer to loosen it up to use for cream contouring. I'm not sure I would put this under my eyes, but I may try it when I don't have to leave the house to see how it goes. It is full size and each shade is 2 grams of product. It's $20.00 on the website.
I think this box was pretty solid. There isn't anything I don't want to try. It wasn't a box that made me go gaga, but I liked it. It had a value of $117.00. * I pay for my own boxes. All of my links go straight to the company and do not have a pay site stop over.
This is my first Sephora Play box. I have been on the waiting list for months, but I keep seeming to get invited to join in their reindeer games when I'm broke. I finally got off the list and I thought they were going to send me my first box when the highlighters were out. Not so much. They finally sent me this box.
The theme for April 2017 was Step it Up and it had this bag inside.
From what I can gather, with this box, you generally receive five samples and a perfume sample. That's really great for the people who don't like perfume samples so they don't count as one of your samples. None of the items were full size.
Dr Dennis Gross
The first item I received was two treatments of Dr Dennis Gross' Ferulic + Retinol Wrinkle Recovery Peel. I'm not wrinkling yet but I am 35, so I'm getting to the point where I'm starting to see fine lines around my eyes. I am looking forward to this because it helps with collagen reproduction and helps your skin retain moisture. It's also supposed to help with texture, which isn't a problem I have, but it doesn't hurt. I hope I don't love this because the full size is 16 treatments for $88.00. I guess if you look at it that each treatment is $5.50, it doesn't sound so bad.
Smashbox
I love getting primers and even though we just got this in our Boxycharm box a few months ago (the travel size), this is great to get again. It's the Smashbox Photo Finish Primer. It says that it is oil free and it feels like a silicone slip type primer. It does help with pores and help your makeup last longer. It is $36.00 for the 1 oz standard size of this.
Sephora
I don't use eye makeup remover a lot. I usually use it if I screw up a wing eye liner look. I do that often though. The Sephora Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover is one of the ones that is layered until you shake well. It helps remove water proof makeup and even has stuff in it that is supposed to be good for your eyelashes. Maybe I should give this more of a go! The smallest full size is 50 ml for $7.50.
Ole Henricksen
I know, I've mentioned many times that I love getting serums and this is a yay for this item. I have tried it befor and I didn't love it, but I also had it in a packet, which I don't feel I can really make a good decision on. I need weeks of use. This bottle may not have been full size, but the Ole Henricksen Truth Serum is still a good sized bottle and will really give me an opportunity to see if I like it. It is supposed to be good for all skin types and is supposed to brighten, help with collagen, and help retain moisture. All good things in my book! It is $48.00 for the 1 oz full size though!
Make Up For Ever
The last item was the item they gave a sneak peak at. I knew I would receive a Make Up For Ever product in my box. Granted, the Aqua XL Eye Pencil isn't my favorite eye liner. I did love the story that it started being used for water ballet. I'm excited to give this another shot, because tastes change. I may find I love this eye liner now! The full size is .04 oz and is $21.00. It is made in Germany, which all the best liners seem to be.
Juliette has a Gun
The perfume sample was a monthly bonus. This one was Juliette has a Gun Not a Perfume. It's note is Cetalox, which is a synthetic ambergris. Ambergris, very simplified, is very expensive sperm whale vomit. It's actually more of a waxy intestinal secretion. But I'm sticking with whale vomit. Which makes me happy this is a synthetic lol. It's still better than Civet Musk. It just smells woodsy clean. Not like fresh laundry clean, but clean and simple. The full size 1.7 oz is $100.00.
This wasn't a bad first box. It didn't blow my mind but everything is useful and I will like trying it. I will try at least another month of this.
* I pay for my own boxes. My codes are the general points codes everyone has. All of my links go straight to the products website, without a stop over to give me money click link site.
This is my April 2017 Ipsy bag. Ipsy is a $10.00 per month subscription bag. You do earn points be reviewing the products and getting your friends to join, this is my referral code if you ever want to use it. The Ipsy points have been doing better lately. There have been lots of things under 1k points. However, they are nearly always sold out, so you really have to be on it to get them. I am not usually on it.
The theme for April was Sideshow. Hmmm.... Yeah I really have no comment on that theme. The bag was plastic and shaped like a ticket. It wasn't nearly as pretty as last month.
Mint Pear
When I first saw the sneak peak I saw that I received Mint Pear again and I was shocked. I thought Ipsy had sent me the same product twice. Not just twice. Two months in a row. I decided to reign in my indignation and have faith that Ipsy would do no such thing. My faith was justified. It was indeed Mint Pear, but this was the C Your Youth Serum, rather than the Collagen Serum of last month. I love serums, so I was cool with receiving them back to back. This is supposed to "lighten, tighten, and brighten." This is Leaping Bunny certified. It doesn't have parabens, phthalates, mineral oil and a bunch of other stuff. So far, sounds great, right? Wait for it. The size in the bag was 8 ml. The full size is 15 ml and sells for $79.00. Yup.
I have responded to the survey so many times saying this color is not for me. Yet, here we go again with another bronze/copper shade. Oh, Ipsy. You're breaking my heart here! 😢 Oh well, I can give it to someone else. Like I do every time. This is the Naked Cosmetics Heavy Metal #04. The full size sells for $14.99. On the plus side, this does seem to allow for a lighter or more dramatic application. I can imagine it would be quite dramatic if applied wet. It seems to be a good formula, even if I'm not into the color.
Meg
I love nail polishes, so getting a new brand, especially when they are cruelty free makes me happy. The first thing I did was check to see if this is Formaldehyde free (my sister is allergic) and it is. It is also Toluene, DBP, and camphor free. This brand is supposed to use a formula that is high shine. This is the Meg Twin Nail in Lovey Dovey. It's an Ipsy limited edition and has a ashy purple and a warm sand nude. This is the full size 5 ml for $10.00.
GlamourDolls
I totally went nuts for this GlamourDolls with Lisa Frank Unicorn Angled Blush Brush. It has rainbow unicorns and brought my childhood in hard with Lisa Frank.You couldn't show up to school back in the day with out Lisa Frank. GlamourDolls is the brand of makeup artist Jessica Romano who is going for cruelty free and vegan makeup with quality. They have a Kickstarter going for this and this brush is on pre-order for $5.00. I think this is just about the cutest thing. AmagadrainbowunicornsI'mtotallydyinginagoodway
Mr. Bing on the right
I'm a fan of ColourPop and especially Kathleen Lights. I was sooooooooooo excited when I saw that we'd be getting an eyeliner in the box. I was hoping for Best O. I got ColourPop's Crème Gel Liner in Mr. Bing. It was created with Kathleen Lights. She definitely named it for Chandler from Friends. It's a lovely warm brown and of course I already have it. I have seen reviews that people found it to be dry and didn't work in their water line. I didn't have that problem at all with this product. I actually really liked it, but maybe I got a good one. It is a roll up liner.
Over all, this was fairly decent. The Naked shadow totally disappointed me, but only because I've said 03495309674958y64967 times that I don't like this shade and I STILL get it. I was fairly happy with everything else. The brush makes me forget my dislike for the pigment.
* I pay for my own boxes. My codes are the general points codes everyone has. All of my links go straight to the products website, without a stop over to give me money click link site.
I know I'm slacking on writing lately. I do apologize, I will try to do better. Glossybox is a $21.00 a month subscription box. This is my referral link, you don't have to use it. They have a "Glossydots" point system. You do surveys on your box for 20 points each and referring a friend is 1000 points. You can get a free box for 1k points.
The theme for the month of April was, "Spring Awakening." If they popped a Loco Moca Monster in here, I would feel the awakening for sure. Sadly, that was not to be. 😟
The box was beautifully packaged, as usual. I used these boxes in my Christmas gifts and received much love on that front.
Mystery Brand
The first item we received was a mystery shampoo and conditioner. There is a brand that has reformulated and they want us to try us out and then complete some surveys on how we liked the new formula. It is made by Proctor and Gamble. It does appear to contain silicones. Rumor on the street has it that it is Head and Shoulders, but we'll see, won't we?
Aromafloria
Seeing that sandal season is upon us, I was very excited to receive the For Feet's Sake Intense Repair Spa Foot Butter by Aromafloria. Aromafloria is a wind powered company that uses 100% certified organic products. This one contains vitamin E, shea butter, tea tree, and mint. It absorbs fast and the tea tree and mint scent is strong here. I suppose that is good to banish the stanky feet smell. The mint felt quite refreshing. It is $4.00 for the 1 oz full size. The size in the box was full size.
Jafra
The scent in this box was quite springy. It was from Jafra International and Philippine Courtière and called Paris et Moi. It has a sweet and floral scent. The full size is 1.7 fl oz and sells for $52.00. The size in the box was .23 fl oz. Although it was an eau de parfum it wasn't heady or strong. It was spring appropriate and lighter.
Doucce
I have lost count of how many mascaras I have received from Doucce. They're not a bad brand but after 05479767697275979846 Maxlash Volumizer Mascaras from Doucce, you start to hope for more brands. This was black. It's a decent mascara, but I wouldn't buy it for the $22.00 price tag.
Vasanti
Oh boy. Another item we have received 3964879676562356 of from various boxes. I love cleansers. I sometimes like scrubby cleansers. But again, I have received the Vasanti Brighten Up! Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator a lot. The full size is 4.2 oz and sells for $34.00. I don't mean to bah hum bug anyone who is newer to boxes and hasn't received a parade of these, it is a physical exfoliator that has papaya to help break down dead skin. It's not bad and I'm sure I'll use it, just as I used the other 8768968658655.
ColourPop
The last thing was a pair of Ultra Matte Lips from ColourPop. The first color was Wednesday, a bright summer pink that would look pretty with a tan I won't have. I still plan on wearing it. I have been gravitating to their satin formula but I have lip toppers and I might feel a matte mood strike, so I'm not sad about receiving this. I think more people, that aren't cool toned ghosts like me, will love the second color I got. Speed Dial is a lovely Terracotta color that will look very pretty on warm skin tones. These were both full size, 3.2 g, and sell for $6.00 each.
This wasn't a bad box. It had lots of fun things to try and I think I really would have liked it if I were new to boxes. I like the foot stuff , I love ColourPop, and the perfume is something different to try, so I'm not mad at this box. Plus, I get to feel like a guinea pig, sadly without the giant wheel of fun, and try a new formula of a random shampoo!
* I pay for my own boxes. My codes are the general points codes everyone has. All of my links go straight to the products website, without a stop over to give me money click link site.