Showing posts with label Subscription. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Subscription. Show all posts

Monday, August 20, 2018

Allure Beauty Box July 2018


Allure Beauty Box

What is it? Allure Beauty Box is a monthly beauty subscription from Allure Magazine. Every month they send approximately 5 or more deluxe and full sized samples, mainly from high-end brands.

Why you'll love it: Allure Beauty Box offers an opportunity to try top-trending products that have already been tested by their editors, ranging from makeup, hair care to skincare. Every box is worth well over the price of $15; it can range anywhere from $50-$100+ in value. Every box comes with an Allure mini booklet that describes each product and often gives special codes and discounts!

How to Subscribe: Click here to get your 1st box for only $10
Price: $15/month



I know, I know I am a little behind on this one, but don't blame me. I'm just enjoying the short-lived summer we get up here in Michigan. Plus, my schedule has been hectic and it's about to get even more so!

So, let's get into all the goodies I received in July's box:

1. Sunday Riley Luna Sleeping Night Oil
2. Feel Harmony Rose Petal Facial Mask
3. Derma-E Essentials Mineral Powder
4. Doucce Ultra Precision Eyeliner in Blue
5. Ouai Haircare Leave In Conditioner
6. Make Up For Ever Artist Color Pencil
7. The Organic Pharmacy Antioxidant Lip Balm
8. Olay Regenerist Whip Face Moisturizer
9. Baublebar

1. Sunday Riley Luna Sleeping Night Oil

Lately I have been looking for new night creams and solutions to combat my dry skin without the clogging during these hot summer nights. Therefore, I was excited to give Sunday Riley’s Luna Sleeping Night Oil a go.



It's an innovative skincare product that combines retinol and essential oils such as blue tansy, azulene and German chamomile. It has an invigorating natural scent combined with the notes of licorice, and softly fades away once applied.



Just like the smell, the beautiful and fun turquoise color fades once gently rubbed into skin. Surprisingly, it's not greasy at all and my skin quickly soaks it up, only leaving a soft texture behind while I catch some Zs.


The benefits include luminous, even skin tone, while reducing redness and fine lines. Overall, I was able to move past the scent and take in the benefits, noticing after a week of use that my dark spots were lighter and my skin felt supple. Luna Sleeping Night Oil is definitely a high-end skin care product that is worth the pricey tag of $105, making it a good investment in your skincare regimen.

Price $105
Sample Size
Purchase here



2. Feel Harmony Rose Petal Facial Mask

Feel Harmony Rose Petal Facial Mask is as soft and dewy as rose petals in morning, but works hard to alleviate and tone tired, dried-out skin. This mask contains rose petals, rose essential oils and rose flower extracts. It’s almost as though they throw in a dozen roses to every mask to get such deep hydrating properties!


As to be expected it smells like a freshly picked rose, which is subtle enough to not confuse it with your grandmothers’ perfume. It’s light-weight gel texture goes on clear and smooth, almost as if you are applying a serum.


Beauty tip: place this mask in the fridge before use to give it that extra cooling sensation when applied, which is perfect for these hot summer days.


When using it, you might have to set your alarm to notify you after the 10 minutes are up because you may forget about the mask completely due to the barely-there feeling. After gently rinsing away the product, my skin felt awakened with hydration and I noticed irritation and red spots were calmed down quite a bit. Overall, I would recommend this to people who may not be into masking since it is so effortless, but also to those who also suffer from redness and dry skin.

Price $55
Sample Size
Purchase here



3. Derma-E Essentials Mineral Powder

I don’t know if words can express how much I love Derma E Sun Protection Mineral Powder SPF 30. Although the samples size was extremely small and it didn’t come in the depositing brush applicator, I still absolutely love the formula and idea behind it.


From time to time I forget to apply sunscreen, so using this in place of my non-sun-protecting powder, I don’t have to worry. The goodness doesn’t stop there: it’s made with beneficial ingredients like green tea extract, Vitamin E and German chamomile to help soothe and protect one’s skin.


This is usually to be reapplied after every two hours, but is also excellent for blotting excess oils. The brush applicator is perfect for traveling and touch ups, too, making this mineral powder a top priority on my beauty wish list.

Price $21.95
Sample Size
Purchase here



4. Doucce Ultra Precision Eyeliner in Blue

Doucce was able to capture the essence of a clear blue sky (my favorite color) in their Blue shade Ultra Precision Eyeliner. The formula is ultra-smooth and creamy, effortlessly gliding along your lid. The vibrancy is out of this world and will for sure brighten anyone’s day.


Although I love this shade, I find it hard to work with my pale complexion, but I think this color looks fabulous on tan and darker skin tones.


However, I found that I am able to make this work by lining my black eyeliner for a more graphic look. The creativity doesn’t have to stop there: you can also line your bottom eyelid or blend it out with a brush to get a softer hue.


It’s even waterproof and holds up well even after fussing over my contacts. When my eyes became watery, the lower lid liner didn’t budge at all.


All considered, Doucce has managed to create a bold eyeliner with an excellent semi-matte formula that lasts forever.

Price $22
Full Size
Purchase here



5. Ouai Haircare Leave In Conditioner

I’m always willing to try out a new hair product, so I was optimistic about Ouai Leave-In Conditioner spray. It’s a multitasking leave-in that protects against heat, detangles, reduces frizz and hydrates, all in one!


A good leave-in is a must in my haircare routine, since my fine hairs love to tangle out of the shower. The product is dense, so if you are going to just use it as a mist, be sure to keep it 6-8” away, otherwise you can get a lot of concentrated product in one area.


I personally like to take a couple of sprays directly into my hands, rub it around and then pull through from mid-length to ends, that way I'm avoiding my oily root zone and making sure that the product is evenly delivered to each strand.


It has an invigorating floral scent and easily smooths out my hair without any filmy or oily feeling. After blowing out my hair, my ends noticeably felt softer and more manageable. Hands down, Ouai has become a new favorite of mine.

Price $26
Sample Size
Purchase here



6. Make Up For Ever Artist Color Pencil

Art has no limits, and neither should your makeup! Make Up For Ever Artist Color Pencil may look like a traditional eyeliner, but its possibilities are endless. Coming from an art background, I can really appreciate the color pencil design. Now that I switched to my face being the canvas, I still love the nostalgic wooden-handled design of the pencil.


Without restrictions, this pencil is designed to be used wherever on your face, including lining your eyes, coloring in your brows or drawing the shape of your lips. I received the shade Full Red (714) and it is powerfully pigmented, but not the same intensity as typical eye/lip liner.


The sheerness allows for versatility, while still being able to build up the color when need be. In order to truly test it, I made my very own freckles, lined both lips and eyes and even used it as an eyeshadow, which blended nicely.


I also filled in my brows (yes, with the vibrant red!) to see how they fared, and I could definitely see using this alongside KVD 24 Hour Super Brow Pomade in the shade Scarlet. In my opinion, The Artist Color Pencil is an exceptional product available in a full spectrum of 39 colors.

Price $18
Deluxe Sample Size
Purchase here



7. The Organic Pharmacy Antioxidant Lip Balm

What’s nourishing, healthy and has me constantly reapplying? The Organic Pharmacy Antioxidant Lip Balm from this month’s box! Don’t let appearances fool you, this simply designed tube of lip balm has amazing ingredients and makes your lips feel heavenly.


Made with beneficial ingredients like Shea Butter, Rose Hip, Beeswax, Honey, and Caster Oil, it’s no wonder I can’t put it down. While I try to remember to get all my water intake for the day, my lips are often dry and cracked, so a good lip balm is always needed, no matter the season.


It has a lovely scent and goes on a little thicker than other balms. It also leaves a little bit of sheen like a clear gloss, but in no way is it sticky or uncomfortable.


Instantly soothing and nourishing, this is one of my favorite lip balms now, but unfortunately this little tube comes with big price tag at $21.50.

Price $21.50
Deluxe Sample Size
Purchase here




Olay Regenerist Whip Face Moisturizer may be considered just a mid-grade moisturizer, but its whipped formula is anything but. Having purchased this prior and used it on a regular basis, this moisturizer is already my favorite go-to for moisturizing.


Once applied, the lightweight and playful whipped texture goes from cream to liquid with a soothing cooling sensation. There's no heavy feeling whatsoever and the it leaves your skin feeling nourished and hydrated.


I love using this in the morning before my makeup most of all, since it dries down matte with no oily finish.


The whip has a refreshing clean scent that is almost unnoticeable. Overall, Regenerist Whip is a great lightweight moisturizer that tackles fine lines and is perfect for oily skin types.

Price $30
Sample Size
Purchase here


9. Baublebar

"YAY!" doesn't begin to describe my reaction when I was notified I would be receiving yet another gift from Allure Beauty Box for being a loyal member! I still believe ABB is under-rated when it comes to subscription boxes, since no other service I am subscribed to sends me extra full-sized goodies.


Not only do you get surprises, but each box contains more than one full-sized item that more than covers the cost of $15. For example, in January I received full sized Sunday Riley C.E.O. Rapid Flash Serum, which is an $85 value!


Let’s get into the beautiful double hooped studs from BaubleBar. Surprisingly these are a two for one earring as the larger hoop is removable, leaving the small hoops to be worn alone if you prefer.


I couldn’t find the exact pair online, but I would assume the price point to be around $30 based on similar products. Baublebar takes its inspiration from trends and turns them into fun and fashionable accessories, ranging from earrings to bracelets.

Snagged these beauties for $9 with coupon and vault points!
Also included was an enticing $20 Baublebar coupon, and combined with my previous purchase vault points, I was able to snag a pair of earrings for under $10. What a deal!

Use my referral link or code (79662506) to get 15% off your first purchase at Baublebar here.



As always you can find individual links to the products by clicking the headings! 


This post is not sponsored by Allure. All products were given as part of a paid subscription to Allure Beauty Box. Just wanted to share my experience.



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Monday, July 23, 2018

Ipsy Glam Bag July 2018 Dive Into Summer


They say the third time is a charm and no doubt about it, this is my third Ipsy Glam Bag and I am very pleased with the mix of full and sample sized products! When compared to Birchbox at the same price, I'd say the amount of deluxe and full-sized products has been more rewarding with Ipsy. I'm ready to dive in and share with you everything I received this month with an in-depth review of the July Ipsy Glam Bag!

What's inside /
1. MELLOW COSMETICS Creamy Matte Lipstick / Candy Floss
2. SUNDAYS / No. 45
3. SUGAR COSMETICS Stroke of Genius Heavy-Duty Kohl 
/ 03 Green Light
4. OFRA COSMETICS Eyeshadow / Exquisite
5. Z SKIN COSMETICS Acne Spot Treatment


1. MELLOW COSMETICS
Creamy Matte Lipstick / Candy Floss
I was excited to try out Mellow Cosmetics Creamy Matte Lipstick since I’ve also had sample of their liquid lipstick before in a different subscription box. The shade provided in this month’s Ipsy Glam Bag is Candy Floss, a vibrant, Barbie-style hot pink.



This shade is pretty far outside my usual comfort zone, to the point that I wasn’t sure if I could pull it off. However, I found it best complimented a full face of neutral makeup with this pop of color as the focal point.



The formula goes on very creamy while moisturizing and I was convinced this wasn’t a total matte, yet when it started to set on my lips it became less satin looking and turned into a soft matte. There was no streakiness or cracking, and the lipstick was highly pigmented. It’s not a transfer-proof lipstick as to be expected with a creamy formula, but it feels weightless on the lips without any dryness.



It also doubles down as a lip stain if you remove the top coat with a wipe or cloth, which is a great way to avoid stains on cups and get a softer pink look on your lips. As I mentioned with the staining, it does take a good makeup wipe to fully remove the color at the end of the day.


Overall, I love trying new shades rather than the typical nudes sent in subscription boxes, because you never know how it will look on you until you try. Plus, this is a full-sized product, worth $15, which easily covers the price of the $10 Ipsy Glam Bag. If you are unhappy with the shade, just pass it along.


Price $15
Full Size
Purchase here



2. SUNDAYS / No. 45
Sundays nail polish is made with the goal of being non-toxic, cruelty-free and vegan. The shade No. 45 is a soft powdery sky-blue hue that is absolutely dreamy.




Oddly enough, when I opened my Ipsy bag, it had a strong scent of nail polish, so my fear was that the polish had somehow spilled everywhere. Thankfully that wasn’t the case and the smell wasn’t even emitting from the bottle, but instead just the box it was housed in. Nothing had spilled from what I could see, but it was certainly odd.



I love the look of the overlapping, simple design on the bottle. It’s very sleek and the color truly matches from bottle to nail. Just like the box, the nail polish has a strong scent as most polishes do, and the formula was a little bit thick and streaky when applied.


I took my time though, making it a mindful self-care activity and applied three layers to cover the streaks and get full coverage. Each layer dried fairly quickly and wasn’t left tacky like other polishes, so I was able to build it up quickly. By the third and final layer, I was satisfied with the coverage and let it set.



Let me tell you though, just a little bit more effort pays off significantly! The color is beyond beautiful and the polish is thick and sturdy enough that I can work with my hands and not worry! I saw other reviews with people complaining, but adding a few extra layers gives me the longevity and durability I am looking for in a polish. I’ve used many other polishes that go on beautifully in one swipe, but by the next day half of it is chipped and gone, rendering it useless, so I appreciate Sundays polish!

Price $18
Full Size
Purchase here



3. SUGAR COSMETICS
Stroke of Genius Heavy-Duty Kohl / 03 Green Light
The next item I received is Sugar Cosmetics Stroke of Genius Heavy-Duty Kohl (now that’s a mouthful of a name!) eyeliner. There was a 50/50 chance that I would get the shade 02 Purple Rain or 03 Green Light, the latter of which arrived in my bag.



The formula is velvety soft and no pressure is needed to easily apply the product with just one swipe. The liner is waterproof and is claimed to last up to 8 hours, and the only budging I saw if I accidentally touched it, even with water. Even during hot days and sweating the liner barley moved, leaving no rings in undereye area.


Since I have mastered and prefer liquid liners, I have strayed away from crayon eyeliners. However, these are fun to use on the waterline, especially with a great color like this. The shade is like a metallic forest green that compliments my blue eyes nicely.


It’s a super blendable, high quality liner made with safe ingredients, and cruelty-free. When looking to purchase more, I was unable to successfully find where to get either this shade (03 Green Light) and 02 Purple Rain, and even their staple Back to Black is sold out on their website and Ispy alike. My guess is that these are brand new shades, so we’ll just have to wait and see if they become available at a later date.

Price $13.99 (based on Back To Black)
Full Size
Find All Eye Products here



4. OFRA COSMETICS Eyeshadow / Exquisite
Next on the list is the Ofra Cosmetics single pot eyeshadow in the shade Exquisite. The eye shadow arrived ready to be placed in a magnetic palette, which I unfortunately do not own. I wish it would have just arrived in the little plastic casing as sold on their website since they are giving you the full-sized eyeshadow.



I’ve seen this brand before, mainly on Instagram, so I am happy to give it a go. The shade Exquisite is a metallic, glimmering black, that has a significant amount of sliver glitter.



I was expecting it to be a lot bolder and pigmented than it initially turned out when swatched. I don’t mind that it’s a more muted black; in fact, it’s perfect for building a more natural smokey eye and pair wonderfully with dark browns.



The shadow is buildable, but you are not going to get blackest of blacks with it. Ofra even carries other black shades such as Triple Black that might be more saturated. The formula is amazing though, and I found it easy to build the shade with no fall out, while smoothing and blending easily over the lids.



It’s like an everyday sheer smokey black with a nice glimmer. The lack of saturated black isn’t enough for me to throw out the brand and I would love to try other shades since the formula is amazing.

Price $15 here
Refill $9 here
Full Size



5. Z SKIN COSMETICS Acne Spot Treatment
I love getting acne treatments! Since even over 30 my skin continues to break out like crazy, I was happy to see this Acne Spot Treatment from Z Skin Cosmetics. It’s made with a perfect blend of exotic herbs and oils to heal and effectively treat acne allowing for an even complexion.



Z Skin uses all-natural ingredients like Apple Cider Vinegar to deep clean pores and prevent acne, Tea Tree Oil to disinfect pores and remove all dirt, debris and sebum along with extra absorbent Almond Oil that easily gets right down to base of the pores to prevent future breakouts. The formula smells mainly of tea tree oil and goes on smoothly with a very brief and slight tingle before it settles matte without any notice of product on your face. There’s no greasy texture or residue left behind whatsoever.



Go ahead and use this anywhere you get breakouts, including the face, neck, chest. I’d advise to always apply to clean skin, typically before bed and after your skin care regimen dab a little cream to problem areas and let it do its magic. I’ve also used Z Skin in the AM before makeup, so you can always do whatever works for you and still get results. So far I’ve noticed less irritation, redness and reduction of pore size after using for a couple of nights and will with continued use know it’s full potential. 

Price $17
Sample Size
Purchase here




Overall, July's Ipsy Glam Bag included 4/5 full-sized items! Sign up here to join the fun for only $10! Plus, earn rewards, cashback's and discounts at their store.


Thank you for reading!

This post is NOT sponsored by Ipsy. All products were given as part of a paid subscription to Allure Beauty Box. Just wanted to share my experience. This post contains affiliate links. Please read the disclosure + thank you for supporting Cuppy Cakes!

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