Walmart Beauty Box - Fall 2014 Unboxing & Review

Today was a good day, my Walmart beauty box arrived in the mail!! This box is FREE but costs $5 shipping per quarter (that means you get 4 boxes a year, one per season). As far as I could tell there were two variations of this box, you can check them out out at NouveauCheap. I read from multiple sources that which box was received would depend on the age of the subscribers - I received the < 35 years old box, if this is true.

Contents of Walmart Beauty Box for Fall 2014

I received quite a slew of products, varying from small foil packets (yuck) to deluxe sized samples and even 3 full sized items! So far it's looking like a pretty good deal for just $5.

Contents of Walmart Beauty Box for Fall 2014

You can see I received the following products:

1. L'Oreal - Glossy Balm in Lovely Mocha (Full size)
2. CoverGirl - Glosstini Glowing Nights Nail Polish in #AfterDark (Full size)
3. Secret - Clinical Strength Invisible Solid Deodorant in Completely Clean (Full size)
4. Dove - Pure Care Dry Oil (Deluxe sample)
5. Dove - Advanced Hair Series - Shampoo (Deluxe sample)
6. Dove - Advanced Hair Series - Conditioner (Deluxe sample)
7. Nicki Minaj - Pink Friday Perfume (Sample)
8. L'Oreal - Youth Code Pore Vanisher (Sample)
9. Neutrogena - Nourishing Long Wear Makeup (Sample card & $2 off Coupon)

L'Oreal Glossy Balm in Lovely Mocha

Before and After L'Oreal Glossy Balm in Lovely Mocha

I'm so happy I received this item, it retails for $6.97 at Wal-Mart and I didn't want to shell out the almost-$10 it retails at my local drugstores. This chubby stick L'Oreal Glossy Balm in Lovely Mocha turns out to be a "my lips but better" shade for me. It evens out the color of my lips and adds a nice shine to them, it's very comfortable to wear and you don't need a mirror to apply. This is going into my purse immediately. This product already paid for the shipping of the box in my case.

CoverGirl Glowing Nights in #AfterDark, Swatches from The Polished Spoon

The next most interesting product in the box is the CoverGirl Glowing Nights nail polish in #AfterDark (retails for $2.97 at Wal-Mart). This is a really beautiful turquoise color that is probably most suitable for spring/summer for me.

Secret Clinical Strength Invisble Solid Deodorant

The Secret Clinical Strength Invisible Solid Deodorant in Completely Clean is a full sized item which retails for a whopping $11.97 at Wal-Mart (I guess Clinical Strength means it's more expensive?). I don't use these types of deodorants so I will probably pass this on, I prefer to use natural deodorants without Aluminum, parabens, and as few hormone-disrupting ingredients as possible. 

Dove Deluxe Sample Products

The Dove Advanced Hair Series Shampoo and Conditioner (Value: $0.42) and Pure Care Dry Oil (Value: $1.42) were nice additions to the box, I like receiving travel-sized minis of hair-care products because it's just enough for a few uses and gives me a good idea of whether or not I would re-purchase them.

Foil Packets and Small Sample Products

I'm not even going to bother trying to calculate a value for these small samples because I'm sure you can get them for free in magazines or any store. I do like that Neutrogena included a $2 Off Manufacturer's Coupon with their sample card for the Nourishing Long Wear Makeup, so you can use this to stack with your store-rewards and sales. The perfume vial is a standard size of the Nicki Minaj Pink Friday, the smell is of some fruity candy so probably best suited for a younger person (or someone who likes cloyingly sweet scents). 

The L'Oreal YouthCode Pore Vanisher is basically a copy of any other Dimethicone-based primer, so you can expect that same slick feeling on your face when using it - these products always work well to "fill up" any large pores you may have (the cheapest alternative is always to use Anti-Chafing Gel as your primer, it's made up of the same ingredients and sells for a much lower price than cosmetically-branded primers).

Was this box worth it? Heck yes! For $5, I received stuff I'll use, stuff I'll give away, and a bunch of new things to try! The total value of my box was $24.17 (not including the 3 smaller samples) in Wal-Mart prices - this means that at my local drugstore, the price would probably have been closer to $35. The Wal-Mart Beauty Box is a wonderful program and I hope that it continues to have success so they keep it around in the future and more brands want to participate for the great exposure. 

Ipsy September 2014 Glam Bag Unboxing

Ipsy bag - September 2014

At first glance, it seems like Ipsy was really trying to make up this month for their blunders of last month so we got a good selection of products in decent sizes.

Hikari Lipstick in Cabernet - Value: $13 (Full size)

I was excited to see a lipstick, not that I don't own a million already, but because this is a full-sized makeup item that I'm likely to use since the color is a nice deep muted red (at least compared to some of my other reds). It's very moisturizing and somewhat sheer so you can dab it on to your lips for just a "stained" effect if you're not a full blown red lipstick kind of gal. I've never heard of this brand, but hey, that's why I'm signed up to Ipsy so I can try out new makeup.

Pacifica Waterproof Eye Pencil (Fringe) - Value: $5.50 (Deluxe sample)

Let me preface this by saying that there is no makeup that I love more than eye makeup, so if you're going to send me multiple items in a bag with an "eye" theme, I'm the happiest girl. This waterproof eyeliner from Pacifica is a maroon-brown shade (Fringe) and I really have been enjoying using it on my waterline (the waterproof claims are true!)

Crown Brush Crease and Shadow Brush - Value: $6.99 (Full size)

This brush is impressive, the bristles are soft and remind me of my Real Techniques eyeshadow brushes. There is a big difference in quality with this compared to my ELF and Costal Scents brushes. I'm very thrilled to have received this full size item.

Briogeo Don't Despair, Repair Deep Conditioning Mask - Value $5.00 (Deluxe sample)

I love receiving hair masks to try out, it's for dry and damaged hair (that's me!) and has no parabens or phthalate so I'm hoping it works!

LeeAnni  Eco 3-in-1 Revolution Light - Value $3.75 (sample)

This may be a deluxe sample but it's only 0.5oz so I'm going to call it just a regular sample. Supposedly this is a magical toner, serum and moisturizer in one. I can't make any assessment as to whether these claims are true or not since I have yet to use it but it does have a pleasant, fresh lemon verbena scent to it. This is probably the only sample I was pretty "meh" about this month.

This month's bag didn't smell like any weird chemicals, in fact it had no smell at all, and it had a cute faux leather feel and studs (yay!). I think this bag is much more fashion-forward than the 6 year old's pencil case we received last month, so that's a bonus!

Total Value of Ipsy for September 2014: $34.24

While this isn't the highest value I have received for my $10/month subscription, I do thoroughly enjoy 3 of the products in the bag so I consider it a great month.  I love trying out new hair masks and face potions as well so I'll give the other products a whirl during a pamper night in!

If you're interested in joining Ipsy, you can do so by clicking here

Ipsy August 2014 Glam Bag Unboxing

This is the August Ipsy Glambag I received - I wasn't particularly impressed with anything but all of the items were definitely usable. I received a Urban Decay Perversion Mascara, Klorane Dry Shampoo, Lord & Berry Eye Pencil, Jersey Shore Mongongo Lip Conditioner, and Coastal Scents Forever Blush Sample Duo. 

I like that this month they switched up the shape of the bag, as this one is definitely more spacious and great as a pencil case compared to the usual flat rectangular bags. It's constructed of a fairly stiff plastic material, however, so I could see this breaking after some extended usage.

The Coastal Scents Forever Blush Samples are extremely small but the pigmentation really packs a huge punch. A little of this blush probably goes a very long way and it seems like a worthwhile purchase from Coastal Scents.Value: $1.99

I am a huge fan of Dry Shampoo so this one from Klorane really hits the spot with me since I often cannot carry my full-sized ones in a travel bag (since they are too big for the TSA). This one is the perfect size for traveling.Value: $6.49

I was a little bummed I didn't receive the purple eyeliner from Urban Decay but this new Perversion  Mascara is worth a try. I like the natural brush fibers and the sleek packaging.Value: $5.50

This is a very tiny Lord & Berry Silk Kajal Kohl Eye Pencil in Black - This is great for throwing into a small purse when you're on the go and you may need to touch up your waterline. However, I've tried it out and the lasting power isn't great, it's fairly easy to smudge out and rub off.Value: $7.83

I love this Jersey Shore Sun Mongongo Anti-aging Lip Conditioner. I can never get enough lip balm and this is the only full sized item in my bag this month. Value: $5.50

Total Value of Ipsy Bag: $27.31 - this is actually on the lower end of the value of bags I have ever received from Ipsy in the past year and a half.

Glossybox April 2014 Unboxing & Review

Hi everyone,

I'm sorry to report that my April Glossybox just arrived today, May 9th, so I was unable to review it for your pleasure during the month it should have arrived. Lately, Glossybox has been having worse and worse shipping delays, so I cannot easily recommend this company anymore. If you're happy enough waiting 1-1.5 months for your box, then go ahead and take the $21/month splurge, but I have opted out of next month's box after dealing with it, especially since your money leaves your bank account promptly at the beginning of the month (NOT when the box has shipped, which is really what should be happening instead).

I'll take you through my opinions and thoughts on the products I received this month - this month was unique in that everyone received the same products, there was no variation except for the color of the Ciate paint pot and the scent of the Caldrea body wash.

Ciate Paint Pot - Color: Skinny Dip (Bottled Sunshine Collection) - Retail: $15 (Full Size)

I'm happy I received this color! I really didn't want a nude or white, I have plenty of those and this will be a fun color for the summer. It's an orange with shimmery gold flecks, it's quite a stunning shade and the packaging is absolutely adorable.

Bellapierre Cosmetics Super Lipgloss - Color: Vanilla Pink - Retail: $24

The lip gloss is a beautiful shimmery peachy pink color and it is not sparkly when applied or sticky, this is definitely a wearable shade for many different skin tones. I definitely don't think it's worth the insane $24 price tag, you could use a Maybelline Color Elixir drugstore dupe for much cheaper!

Aqua Spa Relax Body Creme - 2 oz Retail Value $1.75

This is a fairly large sized body cream, it'll definitely last me awhile, considering I like to apply it on my arms, hands and neck. This is a good travel size, even if you're doing a full body application. The scent is a pleasant lavender but nothing I would repurchase.

Caldrea Body Wash in Tea Olive Lime - 1 oz Retail Value $1.50

I love receiving body wash in my boxes because that just means I don't have to spend money outside of them to purchase for myself! The scent of this body wash is actually more of a lemon verbena scent rather than anything olive-related, in my opinion. This is a very clean, refreshing smell and I look forward to using it!

LA Splash Splashproof Eyeshadow Sealer/Base - Retail Value: $9

I can never have too many eyeshadow bases, this will be put to good use. It's a little bit gooey and sticky but I can make it work. It's not ideal for a beginner as I do think it's harder to work with than a good, thick concealer substitute or a silicone-based eyeshadow primer. The packaging is a little clunky, weird and large (it kind of resembles a strange mascara shape) but has a doe foot applicator. It's also important to note that it has glitter and is NOT paraben-free.

Glossybox Blush in Glossy Rosewood (exclusive product by Kryolan) - eBay Value: $15

It's hard to say what  the value of this blush is because it is an exclusive product and it was provided for free with the bonus code "PINK" with a new GB subscription. I do really love the creamy powder consistency, it reminds me of Essence blushes and the color is a flattering color for almost any skin tone. If you don't own this, I would definitely try to pick it up off eBay or anywhere you see it. Absolutely stunning for every day wear.

The overall value of my Glossybox this month was $66.25, which is a lower value for the average Glossybox and I did use a bonus coupon code to bump that up by $15.

Glossybox March 2014 Unboxing

This month's Glossybox had 7 items for me and arrived very late (today, March 28th) which is not unusual for this subscription service. This subscription service costs $21/month (sometimes you can get various deals on it, however) and I used the promo code GBFRESH to get a bonus fresh Lotus Youth Preserve face cream (full size!).

My box contained the following 7 items:

Alterna Haircare Bamboo Luminous Shine Mist - value $5

Jelly Pong Pong Lip Blush - value $18 (Full size!)

Alex and Ani Scent 7 Soap Bar - value $14 (Full size!)

Nails Inc. Polish (color Baker Street) - value $4 

Sisley Paris Black Rose Cream Mask  - value $28 for deluxe sample

Fresh Lotus Youth Preserve Face Cream (new subscription code for March) - value $14.82

Alex and Ani Swan Charm Bangle (bonus item) - value $28 (Full size!)

TOTAL VALUE: $111.82

The Fresh Lotus Youth Preserve Face Cream was a bonus item I received with the code GBFRESH. I've received this in a box before and I really loved the way it made my skin feel as well as the scent so I was excited to get another one. The value of this is $14.82 but it really does feel more luxurious than that!

Alex and Ani was a featured brand this month for Glossybox. The brand was nice enough to include a Swan bangle (you could have received either gold or silver, mine was silver - $28 value) as a bonus item for all subscribers. We also received either a hand lotion, body mist or bar soap from them. I received the soap bar ($14 value) which I'm okay with but I would have preferred the body mist! I love the scent, it's sort of woodsy and spicy and manly (that's great considering my husband will probably use it all). 

Here's a picture of what the bangle looks like on:

The most disappointing part of this box for me was the Jelly Pong Pong Lip Blush (value $18) and the Nails Inc. nail polish in Baker Street (value $4) - now while these products are fine products, I have received them before in August and July of 2013 from Glossybox and I'm not loving the repeats :(. I have emailed their customer service to see if they could send replacements for these items. I took a photo of what the lip blush looks like on.

Another issue with my box was that the Alterna Haircare Bamboo Luminous Hair mist (value $5) leaked all over the box since the top pump was loose... this has happened to me quite a few times over the past 6 months so I think I'm just having bad luck with my subscriptions lately! The last item is the Sisley Black Rose Cream Mask which I'm excited to try, I'm loving the rose scent, though! This is a very luxurious and expensive product, with the full size retailing for a whopping $158/2.1oz (the sample is valued at $28)!!!

Glossybox February 2014 Unboxing

Hot right out of the postman's hands - here is the newest Glossybox for February and the theme this month is "the month of LOVE". I've been looking for spoilers online relentlessly and I could only find out information about 2 of the 5 products so I squealed in excitement when I got to open this box! I'll let you know the good, the bad and the ugly when it comes to this box. If you'd like to sign up for this $21.00/month beauty subscription click here.

Anatomicals - Puffy the eye bag slayer wake-up under eye patches - Retail value $11.00 for 3 patches (full size received) - I was actually just praising this company to some friends a few days ago and I mentioned that Glossybox introduced me to Anatomicals and I will always be thankful for that and they surprised me yet again by sending me another delightful product. I'm so glad they sent a full sized item rather than just one set of under eye patches! Through the package they feel wet and gel-like, I'm definitely expecting a cooling sensation.

Pureology Serious Colour Care Colour Fanatic - Multi-Tasking Hair Beautifier for Color-Treated Hair - Full size retail value: $24.00; deluxe sample size value: $3.58. This product seems to be a leave-in hair treatment for use either before or after you wash your hair (or I guess when it's feeling particularly dry as well). I think this is the product I was least excited for in the bag but it does smell soothing and it reminds me of the smell in a beauty salon. 

Skin and Co Roma Truffle Therapy Serum - Full size retail value: $75, deluxe sample size value: $12.75. Although this product is a small sample size, the value is very high considering the actual product retails for an absolute fortune. I definitely wouldn't purchase this on my own but getting to try a nice luxury brand from Italy is a great perk Glossybox has to offer. I was excited when I saw the word "truffle" and I hope that this serum is very hydrating as it says that it reduces fine lines and wrinkles.

Lauren B. Beauty Nail Polish - City of Angels - Retail value: $18.00. I like this baby pink colored nail polish, it's definitely an expected item to receive in a Valentine's Day themed beauty box and I would be more excited if I hadn't received the same color in my IPSY Glam Bag this month. This nail polish is natural and 5-free just like Zoya so I'm excited to try it out and see how it glides on my nails, the consistency seems smooth and not too runny or too clumpy.

Sumita Beauty Kala Color Intense Pencil - Retail value: $15.00. This is a gel pencil that is meant to be easy to work with until it sets and then will set to a completely dry budge-free finish that can be used on the outer corner of the eye as well as the waterline. A girl can never have too many black eyeliners so I always welcome these even though it's not the most exciting of products - it just means I won't have to go out and re-purchase one anytime soon.

Glossybox February Box Value: $60.33
What I paid for Glossybox: $21.00

You can see that you definitely get your money's worth, especially when they send beauty staples such as black eyeliner, pink nail polish, serum and under-eye masks. These are all things I use on a regular basis so I'm happy with this box.

Let me know what you thought about this month and to sign up, click here.

Glossybox January 2014 Unboxing

It's that time again! Glossybox unboxing time! I love getting these boxes and it's no secret that it's probably my favorite box, I'm never let down by what is sent or the value that I receive of the products. Ever since I saw the previews for the beautyblender on the website, I knew I had to have it!

If you haven't tried this subscription service yet, give it a try, even if it's just for a month. It's $21 a month and you can sign up here.

The first thing in the box is a deluxed-sized moisturizer by Vichy, Aqualia Thermal Rich Cream . This is for dry skin and claims to lock in moisture for 48 hours. The full sized product is $31.00 for 1.7 fl OZ and we were sent a generous 0.5 fl OZ - the value of this sample is $9.12








As for the belle of the ball, this is The Original Beautyblenderand Blendercleanser. The beautyblender is full sized, this normally retails for $19.95 and you also get a bonus of the cleanser.

So we've already easily made back the money we spent on this box, but they decided to also throw in a $20 Bella Pierre Mineral Blush in a very wearable color, MB001 Desert Rose. I know that mineral blushes are difficult for some to work with unless you use a light hand to avoid spilling it all over your vanity, but you can easily press this into a pan and use it as a normal blush.  This color is truly universal with a slight tinge of coral, but it definitely shows up as a more bronzed blush.

I've never tried anything from balance Me so I'm happy they also included the Super Toning Body Wash. The full size retails for $14/3.4 fl OZ and the sample is half of that size at 1.7 fl OZ giving it a value of $7. WOW this is a pricey body wash for such a small quantity but that probably has something to do with its natural and organic ingredients. Thankfully it is very scented with floral and pomegranate tones so you will only have to use it sparingly (it reminds me of a product from LUSH). The company is from the UK so I'm not sure where you can get your hands on it in the US but you can definitely order from their website.

And finally, an item that I was not thrilled about but only because I received it in my November Birchbox - Toni&Guy Casual Sea Salt Texturising Spray. However, I did try it out and found that it really did leave my hair feeling beachy and it tamed my waves - but I do not recommend putting it on in sub-zero temperatures since some strands of my hair froze solid!! The value of this deluxe sized sample is $5.51

Overall, the value of this bag was $61.58, about 3x what you pay for it! It had a well-rounded gamut of face cream, body wash, hair spray, mineral blush, and a beauty blender! I'm very happy with my box, it's a great way to start the new year and I know Glossybox will continue to step up their game.