Tag: Subscription Box

May Julep Maven Box – Sun Crush
Oooohhh, matte shimmers!
That’s right, the May Collection – “Sun Crush” – is completely matte shimmers…and I could only pick two, because I had to finally get my hands on No Excuses Invisible Sunscreen Gel. I was supposed to get it in my August 2016 box, but there was an issue with the formula…but it’s available now – and just in time for my summer fun.
For polishes, I chose It Girl “Channon” – water lily white matte shimmer – and Classic with a Twist “Marina” – royal raspberry matte shimmer. I wanted them all and I might just switch them into future boxes.
The candy is back…and it was a tiny pouch of Sixlets. Boo.
Not a Julep Maven? Click HERE to join – I’ll get a $15 credit and you’ll get your first box free!

Sephora Play! April 2017 – Step it Up
Catching up this month…gonna finish all my subscription boxes in the right month!
“Step it Up” is April’s Sephora Play theme and includes products to take your beauty game to the next level. I’m excited to try the Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Intensive Exfoliator – I figure it will alternate well with the EradiKate I received a few weeks ago.
Also in this month’s smashing box: Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Cream; Sephora Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover (it separated in the bottle and my husband has been playing with it); Make Up For Ever Aqua XL Eye Pencil in “M-10” (why can’t they just say “black”); Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer; and Marc Jacobs Daisy.
What a bangin’ box!
If you haven’t signed up yet, get to it. This is by far the best subscription box I get every month. Sephora Play is only $10/month. You can sign up at sephora.com/play.

April Birchbox – Magic Inside
Just one item led me to pick this month’s curated box. It was that new lipstick – Benefit Cosmetics They’re Real! Double the Lip in “Lusty Rose”. Mostly because I was skeptical – it’s just a two tone lipstick. It took some maneuvering to get it on my lips, while keeping the dark portion to the lip line. I repeatedly kept asking my husband if my lips looked bigger, fuller, plumper. Apparently, they looked the same. The lipstick is just plain old lipstick and didn’t make them look any different – just pink. I was correct to be skeptical. Boo.
Also in this month’s “Magic Inside” curated box: TOCCA Emelia Eau de Parfum (strong geranium scent, but not geriatric); Vasanti BrightenUp! New Skin Amplifying Moisturizer; Bumble and bumble. Don’t Blow It (gives volume to air dried hair – genius!); and derma e Purifying 2-in-1 Charcoal Mask (I love me some charcoal masks).
Great box this month, even if the lipstick doesn’t live up to the hype.
If you would like to try Birchbox, click on my referral link – https://www.birchbox.com/invite/5453f – I’ll get 50 points if you join.

April Ipsy Bag – Sideshow
I literally SQUEALED when I opened this month’s ipsy bag and saw the Glamour Dolls x Lisa Frank Angle Blush Brush. Who didn’t have EVERYTHING Lisa Frank back in the 80s? So psyched to get a pre-release from this new collection!
Also in this month’s “Sideshow” bag”: H2O+ Beauty Keep It Fresh Cleanser (I am loving getting to try so many new cleansers); Luseta Beauty Volume Reviving Dry Shampoo in “Potpourri”; defy & Inspire Wear Resistant Nail Lacquer in “Paradise Island”; and ColourPop Cosmetics Crème Gel Pencil in “Show Me” – vivid true copper (I was assuming this would be blue based on the color of the box, but I was wrong).
Is it me, or are ipsy bags getting WAY better?
If you’d like to try Ipsy – click here. I’ll earn 250 points if you sign up through my link.

April Julep Maven Box – Relax & Remix
So, I wasn’t feeling all of the Spring-like polishes available in this month’s “Relax & Remix” Collection. So I picked just one polish – Julep Bombshell “Eliza”, infinite ocean holographic. No idea why Julep It Girl “Ming” – wild orchid jelly – is in my box. Thanks, I guess?
I decided to enlarge my makeup collection. I picked a new shade of Feels Like Velvet Full Coverage Eye Shadow Duo – “cinnamon & spice”. I LOVE these colors on me. They’re very warm and light up my face. I’m also impressed with the creamy formula – they stayed put all day without primer. I also picked a matching lippie – It’s Whipped Matte Lip Mousse in “Say Hello”, rich marsala matte. It’s Whipped doesn’t last through meal, well…not tablitas and fajitas, anyway. I’m not sure ANY lippie would last through the juicy smoked ribs I ate yesterday.
Not a Julep Maven? Click HERE to join – I’ll get a $15 credit and you’ll get your first box free!

March Ipsy Bag – Tres Jolie
March’s ipsy bag is beautifully color-coordinated – from the pale pink bag with a rose gold zipper to that snail thingy (more on that later) to the nude lippie. And the bag is super-sized – perfect for liners or brushes.
So about that cute little snail…it’s Ladykin Affinitic Snail Cream. It’s literally 80% snail secretions. And I am supposed to put this on my face. For wrinkles. For what it’s worth, I looked it up on Amazon and it had some legit good reviews…so I’ll give it a shot. But…snail slime…on my face.
Also in this month’s “Tres Jolie” bag: Cake Desserted Island Supreme Body Mousse; Elizabeth Mott Blending Brush (the Elizabeth Mott All Over Shadow Brush I received a few years ago is still my favorite lid brush); tarte cosmetics tarteist quick dry matte lip paint in “rosé”; and Doucce Freematic Eyeshadow in “Marisa” (for the record, I HATE the name “Marisa” – my college boyfriend cheated on me with a homely (and possible homeless) skag named Marisa).
Great bag this month! I’ll let you know if the snail trail kills me.
If you’d like to try Ipsy – click here. I’ll earn 250 points if you sign up through my link.

March Birchbox – Pretty Mighty
Leave it to Tracy Flick to deliver a perfectly color-coordinated Birchbox. March’s “Pretty Mighty” box was curated by Reese Witherspoon and her “lifestyle brand” Draper James. I have no idea what a “lifestyle brand” is – maybe it’s her “goop”?
In any case, she did a great job on this month’s box. For my sample choice, I chose Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream – I got it in last March’s Birchbox and used it right up. Also in the box: Cargo Swimmables Water Resistant Bronzer (why???); Coastal Scents Revealed Smoky Eye Shadow Quad (2 tiny eyeshadow samples from the palette, but love the rose gold and taupe); Dr. Jart+ Dermaclear Micro Water (I am so confused about all this “special water” I’ve been getting – how does “hydrogen mineral water” remove makeup when regular water doesn’t?); and Davines Oi All in One Milk, plus samples of Davines Oi Shampoo and Conditioner (man, I wish I could afford full sizes of Davines).
Thanks, Reese!
If you would like to try Birchbox, click on my referral link – https://www.birchbox.com/invite/5453f – I’ll get 50 points if you join.

Sephora Play! March 2017 – The Gleam Team
Strangely enough, I received my Sephora Play before my ipsy and Birchbox this month…so I won’t be lagging a month behind for once.
We’re back to a white cotton bag this month. I still haven’t figured out what to do with all these pouches. Maybe use them for panties and socks when I travel?
I was drawn to try Chloe Fleur de Parfum immediately – I love Rose de Chloe so much. It’s not bad – there are rose notes, but they’re buried under the lemon verbena. Unfortunately, it gave me a headache within 90 seconds of a light spray on my arm. Boo!
Also in this month’s “The Gleam Team” box: GlamGlow GLOWSTARTER Mega Illuminating Moisturizer (I can’t get enough GlamGlow); Bobbi Brown Long Wear Cream Shadow Stick in “Golden Pink” (weird product); Benefit Cosmetics Watt’s Up! Cream-to-Powder Highlighter (another weird one); Living proof Full Dry Volume Blast (I think I’ve gotten every single Living Proof product available over the past several months); and Josie Maran Surreal Skin Argan Finishing Balm (another confusing product – instructions say it can be used as a primer or a finishing balm – wot?).
Very weird products this month – and NO lip products. Boo!
If you haven’t signed up yet, JUST DO IT. This is by far the best subscription box I get every month. Sephora Play is only $10/month. You can sign up at sephora.com/play.

March Julep Maven Box – Spring To It
I was a little bit heartbroken when I open this month’s Julep box and found that there was no insert describing this month’s box – “Spring to It”. I don’t really do anything with it after I read it, but I like having it. No candy either, although there were a few bonus Julep One-Step Nail Polish Remover Pads. That’s something I guess.
I got over my heartbreak as soon as I remembered what was in my box – Bombshell “Lara”, shell pink with gold shimmer. Yes, I finally got my very own Julep polish. I’m so happy I could shit! I also picked Boho Glam “Rosemary”, modern brick creme (dried blood, if you ask me). I also got Mighty Nail & Cuticle Serum. I was expecting it to have a scent, but it doesn’t smell like anything. It’s much lighter than cuticle oil, and it doesn’t get all over everything.
I can’t wait to try my namesake polish!
Not a Julep Maven? Click HERE to join – I’ll get a $15 credit and you’ll get your first box free!

Sephora Play! February 2017 – The Soft Side
The first thing I noticed about February’s Sephora Play…that blush pink bag. It’s so soft and silky, I just wanted to rub it all over my face. I guess that’s why this month’s theme is “The Soft Side”?
Right off the bat, I am NOT excited about Too Faced Lip Injection Glossy in “Milkshake”. If I wanted to have my lips burnt off my face, I’d use Taco Bell Hot Sauce – it’s free. I won’t let that ruin my excitement about the rest of the box: Tom Ford Neroli Portofino (not a fan of Neroli – it gives me a headache); Clinique Pep-Start Hydroblur Moisturizer; Origins GinZing Refreshing Eye Cream; Sephora Lashcraft Length + Volume Mascara; and Bite Beauty Multistick in “Cashew” (I’m supposed to use this on my eyes, cheeks AND lips – won’t I end up monotone?).
Although I am not happy with everything in this month’s box, there’s still lots to love!
If you haven’t signed up yet, I suggest you sign up TODAY? This is by far the best subscription box I get every month. Sephora Play is only $10/month. You can sign up at sephora.com/play.