Honest Review: May 2018 Ipsy Bag!

Ipsy is a monthly subscription specializing in personalized makeup and beauty products. They also have exclusive offers, and how-to video tutorials from our ipsy Stylists on their website and social media accounts. Each month subscribers receive a gorgeous Glam Bag with 5 deluxe samples or full-size goodies for only $10. 

Start your own subscription by clicking here!

This months theme is "Go There". The geniuses behind Ipsy traveled to Paris and were inspired to create this months bag. "Sometimes you need to get lost so you can find yourself." - Ipsy The bag is designed with passport stamps from all over the world.

Let's look at the products!

Tonymoly Painting Therapy Pack:  This is a sample of 10g. You can buy a full size 30g tube for $6.50. Their description: "Paint your way to perdection with out colorful Painting Therapy Masks! Choose from a selection of natural clay-basked masks to mix and match different formulas to address multiple skin concerns so you can tailor your own mask and have fun doing it. BLACK - Contains bamboo charcoal which helps extract impurities and break down dead skin cells so skin is cleansed from the inside out. Perfect for controlling sebum and oil"

This mask has a slight minty smell. It tingles when you first put it on. It doesn't get tight when it dries. It rinses off easily. I don't know why but I didn't really like this mask. 

Order yours here.

Tarte Smooth Operator Amazonian clay finishing powder: This is a 2.2 g sample. You can purchase the full 8.5 g size for $33. Their description: "This microfine loose, invisible clay powder blends effortlessly into any skin tone to set your foundation to a breathable matte finish without chalky residue or flashback. The secret’s in the clay – it naturally balances all skin types to absorb oil, minimize the appearance of pores & make your makeup last without flaking or clinging to dry patches. You can also use the oil free formula as an undereye baking or treatment powder – Amazonian clay will absorb shine to reveal a smooth, soft-focus finish."

When I first used this product I thought it made my face look a little too pale but then I went out and got compliments so I guess it is a win! I don't particularly like the container. It has 3 tiny holes and they just aren't big enough to get enough product out. 

Order yours here.

Slmissglam Sparkle Every Day Glam Beauty Sponge: This is a full size product that retails for $17.50. Their description: "Day or night, every glam girl should glow! The Beauty Blenderis the perfect way to get a flawless, professional-looking finish in seconds, Beauties, so you can glam it up with pretty pink confidence!! Use it to blend out foundation for an almost airbrushed finish!♥♥"

This blender is too small for my liking. I guess if I had a cream blush it would work well but for applying foundation it just takes too long. 

Order yours here.

NYX Soft Mate Lip Cream in Cairo: This is a full size product that retails for $6.50. Their description: "Velvety smooth Soft Matte Lip Cream delivers a burst of creamy color and sets to a stunning matte finish. Surprisingly durable, lightweight and delightfully creamy, it’s no wonder this sweetly scented formula is a fan favorite."

This lip cream is super soft. It almost feels like a mousse. It doesn't dry out like other mattes. I didn't particularly like it. If you touch your lips together it leaves like ridges in it. It also didn't last very long.

Order yours here.

Sugar Arch Arrival Brow Definer: This is a full size product that retails for $12.99. Their description: "Whether you like them naturally groomed or strikingly bold, perfecting your brow game is a fine art. With the new SUGAR Arch Arrival Brow Definer, You can now discover the artist in you and score your brow goals in no time. This retractable pencil boasts of a specially-designed triangular slant that gives you both - precise shaping with a pointed tip and generous filling with a flat edge. With a premium spoolie attached to the other end, No matter how soft or dramatic your arches look, They'll always be blended and natural. Your search for your brow weapon of choice ends here - give it a spin today!"

I really like this product! It has a retractable tip so no need to sharpen. It adds good color without being over the top. I love the spoolie. It helps make your brown even and natural looking. I hate using a brow pencil that flattens your brows to your forehead and the spoolie on this makes sure that doesn't happen!

Order yours here.

My thouhts overall: Sadly this was not a great month for Ipsy. It wasn't the worst I've seen but it wasn't the best either. Out of the 5 products I only really liked the brow definer and the finishing powder. 

The total value of this bag was $47.75!!

Honest Reviews: April 2018 Snack Crate!

Snack Crate is a monthly subscription that brings you snacks from a different country each month. The snacks are authentic straight from the months featured country.

There are three different size crates available. The Mini for $14 per month is a half pound crate that comes with 5 full size snacks and free shipping. The Original for $26 per month is a full pound crate that comes with 10-12 full size snacks, 1 entry to win an adventure ticket and free priority shipping. The Premium for $49 per month is a 3 pound crate that comes with 18-20+ full size snacks, 3 entries to win an adventure ticket and free priority shipping. You can add a drink to your crate for $6.

If you find the Adventure Ticket in your crate you'll be flown to that month's

This month's Snack Crate was from The Netherlands. The crate came with some cute stickers and a booklet with information about the country and each snack. Let's check out the snacks!


















Smoeltjes UFO's: You can order these for € 2.55 for a box of 6 packages that have 2 cookies each. Their description "Smoeltjes UFOs are delicious biscuit cookies with a chocolate layer on the top with some funny colored chocolate pieces on it. The cookies have a milk filling which makes them extra yummy! Perfect for kids, but we bet the grown-ups will love it too! A box with easy to share 6x 2 packages.

These are actually pretty yummy! The cookie was nice and buttery, the chocolate was creamy and the candy pieces were a nice touch. 

Try them for yourself here

Daelmans Stroopwafels with Caramel: You can order a box of 8 for $3.99. Their description: "Daelmans Stroopwafels with Caramel are soft, toasted waffles filled with caramel, cinnamon and real Bourbon vanilla. These wafer cookies are sized to fit on top of a hot cup of coffee or tea in order to warm them up. Perfect for snacking and entertaining."

These are soooooo good! Seriously! The waffle is sweet like a waffle cone. The caramel is soft, creamy, chewy and sweet. They are so tasty! I want to eat a whole box!

Order yours here

Rademaker Hopjes: You can order a bag of 47 of these candies for $7.41. Their description: "One of the oldest and most famous coffee candies. The hard and sweet candies have a wonderful coffee flavor that just won't quit. Contains coffee extract and concentrated dairy butter."

Unfortunately I hate hate hate coffee! I had my mother try these. She said they were like little espresso shots. They are very strongly flavored and pack a punch. She said she was wired for a long time! 

Try them for yourself here

Lay's Patatje Joppie Flavor: You can order a 7oz bag of these chips for $4.29. Their description: "These chips are flavored with mustard, onion, curry, and mayo. Also known as Joppiesaus."

These were surprisingly good. I am not a fan of curry but I couldn't even taste it. They had a sort of honey mustard taste.

Order yours here

Cote D'Or Reep Melk: You can order a 7oz bar for $7.99. Their description: "A creamy Belgian milk chocolate rich in cacao butter and overflowing with crunchy whole hazelnuts. The smooth chocolate treats the tongue to mellow sweetness and a warm nutty flavor. The texture of this bar is just right."

This chocolate bar was just ok to me. For being milk chocolate it wasn't very sweet. The texture was crumbly and not creamy but my bar was slightly melted so I'm not sure if that was the reason. I liked the whole hazelnuts. 

Order yours here

Zure Matjes: You can order a 9.7 oz bag of mixes flavors for 3,89 €. Their description: "The only real sour mats by Katja consist of 4 fantastic delicious fruit flavors and is one of the most sour candy . Made with natural colors and flavors and free from animal gelatin, so enjoy! Natural colors and flavors Vrij of animal gelatine Mix of 4 flavors: Strawberry, Apple, banana and cassis Oops! That is something else, original sour power! But if you insist, soon discovers how the acid makes way for fantastic delicious fruit flavors. This Acidic Mats we opted for strawberry, Apple, banana and cassis. We wonder what a topmix you know the best finds! Made using only natural colours and flavours and also free of animal gelatine, so  ( Katja zure matjes ) katja candy is gluten free candy"


These are sooooo good! Yummy! I love sour candy and this does not disapoint! It reminds me a lot of Trolli Sour strips or Air Head Xtremes. No unexpected flavors just yummy strawberry with sour powder. 

Order yours here


What I thought overall: I think this is an awesome crate! I have always loved learning about different countries. I love that Snack Crate not only gives you awesome snack from each country but they also give you a booklet with facts about the featured country. I think the this crate is a good value when you take into account how much time it probably takes to research all the different snacks and then procure them from the featured country. This is a monthly subscription that I will definitely be continuing!

Honest Review: April 2018 Ipsy Bag

Ipsy is a monthly subscription specializing in personalized makeup and beauty products. They also have exclusive offers, and how-to video tutorials from our ipsy Stylists on their website and social media accounts. Each month subscribers receive a gorgeous Glam Bag with 5 deluxe samples or full-size goodies for only $10. 

Start your own subscription by clicking here.

The theme of this months bag is "Social Butterfly" it's all about saying yes to new experiences. The bag is super cute! It is a faux leather material. It feels really nice! 9 times out of 10 i just put the bag in a drawer to use later but I think I am going to use this one asap!

Let's get on to the products!! 

Purlisse Coconut & Coffee Sugar BodyScrub This is a sample size which you can buy for $10. Their description: "Spring into fresh skin with our NEW body scrub! Introducing our COCONUT OIL + COFFEE Sugar Body Scrub, a luxurious body treatment that exfoliates, polishes and hydrates skin in one step. Perfect for your next vacation or an at home spa experience, we promise this scrub will reveal youthful, smooth and glowing skin."

Unfortunately I hate hate hate coffee!!! The smell was so overwhelming after just opening the tube that I couldn't even use it. I tried to get my husband to try it for a review but he couldn't get past the smell either (and he loves coffee).... 

Order yours here.

doucee Punk Volumizer Mascara This is a sample size. The full size mascara sells for $24. Their description: "Define lashes one by one, adding extreme volume and thickness. Instantly create dramatically full and seductive lashes for an audacious false-look effect. The jumbo brush fiber bristles are cut smaller and larger, in succession, to coat every lash, while distributing the formula evenly throughout. The lightweight and creamy formula pulls every lash upwards to create a long lasting curl without any clumping, flaking, or smudging." 

This mascara is pretty good. It did add volume and thickness but I don't think it is too much better than drugstore brands. I'll use the sample but probably won't buy it. 

Order yours here.

dirty little secret lip gloss in Nude Beach This is a full size product!!!! It is sold for $14. Their description: "NUDE BEACH... Clothing might be optional, but at least you've got your lips covered. Nude lip gloss with a light pink hue & a touch of glitter. Non sticky, High shine, Softens lips, Lightweight, No drip, Keeps lips hydrated and moisturized, Opaque with High color payoff"

This lip gloss smells AMAZING!!!!! Seriously! It smells like cake! I love it!!! It is very moisturizing! I've never found a lip gloss like this. It doesn't dry hard or sticky. It is smooth and soft and feels great!!!

Order yours here.

Tidal Sunday Riley Brightening Enzyme Water Cream This is a sample size that can be purchased for $22. Their description: "An advanced brightening and refining treatment, infused into a next-generation water cream. Tidal Brightening Enzyme Water Cream delivers an intense water drench with two forms of hyaluronic acid and tamarind extract so your skin looks youthfully hydrated and plumped. Papaya enzymes smooth and exfoliate while alpha-arbutin isibly brightens the appearance of hyperpigmentation and dark spots. Tidal increases hydration by up to 68 percent in as little as 15 minutes for up to 24 hours of continuous moisture."

This stuff smells awful! It's sorta like a rotten cucumber. I did try it on and it does feel nice. It drys quickly and doesn't leave a sticky feeling. I won't be using this again...I just can't get past the smell...

Order yours here.

Pretty Woman Nail Polish in Girl Boss This is a full size product that can be purchased for $7.99. Their Description: "A nude pantone nail polish. All of our nail polishes are: 10-Free, Cruelty-Free, Paraben-Free, Sulfate-Free, Phthalate-Free, Petrochemical-Free, GMO-Free, Triclosan-Free, Vegan."

This nail polish is AWESOME!!!!!  It seriously lasted 4 days with no chipping! I was thoroughly impressed! The color isn't really me, I prefer bold colors. I am definitely going to buy some other shades! 

Order yours here.


What I Think Overall:

This Ipsy bag was so so. The bag itself is super cute. I loved the full size nail polish and the lip gloss. Unfortunately 2 products smelled so bad I can't even use them and the mascara was sub par. 

The total value of this bag was: $63.99!!

Honest Review: March 2018 Glossybox

Glossybox is a monthly makeup subscription box. It is similar to Ipsy and Birchbox but slightly more expensive. It costs $21 per month. But you are guaranteed 3 full size products each month!!!!

I am just going to start by saying Glossybox made me really mad! I was not at all impressed with my first box and wanted to cancel my subscription. I knew that I needed to cancel by the 15th of the month. I contacted them and they pointed out that in the fine print it is stated that you have to cancel by the 15th of the previous month to not get the next months box. I did not even receive my first box till after the 15th so I would have had to cancel without ever seeing my first box in order to not get charged for the next month. Just based on that I am so over this company. But I am still going to show you what I got in my March box and let you decide if it is worth it.

The March box was dedicated to the "amazing ladies in our lives who lead by example". The products are all "hard-working, multi-benefit products that will keep you looking and feeling like the girl boss that you are". Let's dive right in.

Cover FX Perfect Pencil Corrector in N Light This is a full size product that retails for $20 but is on sale right now for $10. Their description: "A waterproof multi-purpose pencil with a precision tip that allows you to define the lip line and brow arches, brighten the waterline of the eye, and conceal imperfections."

This pencil is very creamy. It is very blendable. I really like the fine tip for easy application on those pesky blemishes! The applicator is a twist top so no worrying about needing to sharpen the top. It's also waterproof! 

Order yours here.

Form Multitask 3-in-1 leave in lotion This is a deluxe sample you can order this 1.7 oz bottle for $14 or get the full 12 oz bottle for $32. Their Description: "Your style is versatile because every day is a new day. That’s why we designed Multitask to work with you in three ways: as a leave-in conditioner, daily moisturizer and style refresher. No matter what your needs are, Multitask keeps your hair hydrated and looking fresh."

Order yours here.

Figs & Rouge Hydra-Pore Soft Focus PORE PERFECT HD + MATTE VEIL  This is a full size product but just like the problem I had with a couple items in the February box this item is not available for purchase right now. Oh and it is exclusive to www.feelunique.com/ which is a company based in the UK and the pricing is in pounds. 

Their description: "Figs & Rouge HD+ Matte Veil is a weightless, matte serum designed to help minimize the appearance of pores & create a sheer complexion. With a unique duo action this anti-blemish formulation, helps reduce skin impurities & combat breakouts."

If you want to check it out click here.

De Bruyere Beaute Jumbo Eye Pencil This is a full size product. This product is sold by a company based in France and retails for 15 euros. There is no description on their website, here is how Glossybox describes it: "Jumbo eye pencil, khaki-grey glamorous and shimmering shade, highly pigmented which, thanks to its generous size , can be used either as liner or eye shadow."

I do like the color, it is an almost metallic brown. It is very creamy and  blendable. I like the crayon tip which makes application pretty easy though if you want more control you can use a brush to apply it.

Order yours here.

Morgan Taylor Professional Nail Lacquer in I'm Charmed This is a full size product. You can not buy it from the retailer unless you are a salon owner. I was able to find it on jcpenney.com on sale for $7.13. Morgan Taylor's description: "Inspired by luminous pearls, raw gems, semi-precious stones, glimmering silvers and radiant gold all drawn from the earth. The exclusive Morgan Taylor Nail Lacquer is infused with rare and precious elements. All pigments are saturated, pure and finely milled for luminous metallics, never before seen shimmers, decadent crèmes, stunning sheers and more glistening glitters. The payoff—smooth, even, long-lasting color with a gorgeous professional finish. In our commitment to the professional and as a worldwide leader in the nail industry we recognize the importance of a globally compliant nail lacquer that is free of Formaldehyde, Toluene, and DBP."

This is a very nice lacquer that feels high end. The color is a very light pink color that's so pretty. If you are looking for an understated look this is the color for you. It is very feminine and perfect for spring. It took me 3 coats for even coverage.

Order yours here.

Unani il-luminate milk cleanser This is a full size product that originally retailed for $28. Unfortunately this is another product that you can not purchase online. The Unani website shows the product but does not have it for sale. I was able to find a listing on Amazon.com but it looks like it is just from a person selling their bottle not an actual company.

Unani's description: "A gentle cleansing milk based on nutritious natural oils which purifies and protects the skin by removing impurities as well as makeup, leaving it soft and restoring its elasticity."

This was an "add on" product, considered a "Glossy fave". The fact that it isn't for sale anywhere makes me feel like Glossybox was just cleaning out their overstock of products. 

What I think overall: This was yet again a disappointing box. There were products that aren't available for purchase and products that aren't sold in US dollars. None of the products were a huge hit for me. The best product to me is the nail lacquer. 

According to Glossybox  the retail value for this box is $142.50 but after converting the prices to US dollars and discounts available right now the actual retail value is $126.86. 

The value of this box is pretty good but with out being able to buy some of the products (if I happen to fall in love with any) really stinks! Since this is the second time I have had this problem I have canceled my membership with Glossybox....Oh well on to the next one!  

Honest Review: March 2018 Ipsy Bag

Ipsy is a monthly subscription specializing in personalized makeup and beauty products. They also have exclusive offers, and how-to video tutorials from our ipsy Stylists on their website and social media accounts. Each month subscribers receive a gorgeous Glam Bag with 5 deluxe samples or full-size goodies for only $10. 

Start your own subscription by clicking here.

The theme of this months bag was DIY (which I love)! The bag was super cute, printed with black and white women of all shapes and sizes. It came with 2 markers so you can color the bag in yourself! How awesome is that?? Let's see if the products were just as awesome!

City Color Glow Duo This is a full size product that retails for 5.99. Their description: "The Glow Duo is a shimmer cream highlight with a shimmer highlight powder that is highly pigmented and easy to blend! Perfect for creating a subtle or out of this world glow!"

I am really liking this duo the cream is super soft and the powder is soft and very blendable. Unfortunately I don't have the right makeup brush to apply this well but using my fingers still added a nice touch to my face. They give a nice soft glow that would look beautiful on any skin tone! 

Get yours here!

Goldfaden M.D. Facial Detox Mask This is a deluxe sample, the full size product is 1.7 Fl Oz and retails for $65. Their description: "Dr. Goldfaden's purifying mask works to draw out dirt and pore clogging debris to reveal skin that looks clear and appears flawless. Leaves skin looking even and appearing balanced. Cleans blemish prone skin and minimizes the appearance of pores, soothes and calms appearance."

This mask is almost the consistency of a mousse, it is very light and creamy. A small amount goes a long way. It is feels very soft and cool when applying. It dries nicely and does not feel tight at all. It left my skin feeling soft and smooth. I have very sensitive skin and I had no adverse reactions to this mask! The only drawback is that is has a very strong medicinal smell. 

You can order yours here.

 Hikari Cream Pigment Eyeshadow Envy (Green with shimmer) This is a deluxe sample, the full size retails for $13. Their description: "Our Cream Eye Pigments come in an assortment of colors and can be used to create definition as a base or use delicately to add highlights to the eye.  Apply to eye with fingertip or brush and blend in. These highly pigmented cream shadows are sure to add a statement to your look!"

I really like the color I received. It is a light green with a great shimmer. The green is subtle but the shimmer is gorgeous! It looks great by itself but also blends well with other colors. I used a brush to apply and it looked really pretty.

Order yours here.

Tarte Sex Kitten Eye Liner This is a deluxe sample the full size retails for $20 and comes with a built-in smudger on one end. Their description: ".Waterproof, smudgeproof gel eyeliner designed for the delicate lashline & inner rim. Formulated with natural waxes & none of the icky, bad stuff, the soft, comfort-glide tip applies with the ease of a pencil to tightline the lashline without pulling or skipping. Keep your look crisp or use the built-in smudger to create a sexy feline smolder before the formula sets to a 12-hour, run-resistant finish."

This is a very nice liner! It is very creamy and smooth. I love that the applicator is a twist top so you don't need to worry about sharpening the tip. I love that it is made out of natural ingredients that are safe for you. I swatched this eye liner on my hand and it lasted for 2 days! I'm not saying it's going to do that on your eyes but its still pretty impressive.

Order yours here!

Finding Ferdinand Mini Lip Stick in Rose Gold This is a deluxe sample. This formula and color comes in both the deluxe sample size for $6 and the full size for $30. Their Description: "A rosey red shade with a metallic-gold sheen. High-pigment for long lasting wear. Moisturizing blend of botanical oils that allow lip colors to apply smoothly."

I am actually in love with this shade! It is exactly what I have been looking for! It is a nice rosy color that is great for everyday wear. It is very creamy but like many lipsticks my lips did feel dry after a few minutes, a clear gloss would probably be a good addition.

Find your perfect shade here!  

What I think overall: This year has been amazing for Ipsy and this bag is no different. I really liked every product this month! I found the lipstick shade I have been looking for I got an awesome highlighter palate, and a really nice eye liner! This bag was such a win!!!

I love this company and I love their service. They find me products that I would never have been able to find myself. 

Total value of this bag was 48.50!!!!

Honest Review: DateBox (coupon code below)

"DateBox is a monthly subscription helping couples rediscover date night. Each month we create a fun, unique date night for you and your significant other, and send you everything needed to enjoy it!" This is the description from getdatebox.com find out below if this company is a hit or a miss.

DateBox subscriptions start at $7.99 for a digital date and go up to $39.95 for a month to month subscription. Get $10 off your first month by clicking here! Boxes are shipped out on the 10th of each month. 

Once you sign up you are given a survey to fill out. They ask about any dietary restrictions, your likes and dislikes, etc. 

We were so excited to get our first box! I have multiple chronic illnesses that make it hard for us to go out for a regular date night. Finding a company that would send the date to us sounded awesome!!! Our box was delivered exactly when they said it would be so that was a plus!

The theme of our date was Breakfast in Bed. It came with a cute newspaper containing all the info about our date, a crossword puzzle, an article about relationships, and some ads. I thought this was a nice touch to the theme. 

DateBox claims right in there tag line that "It’s...completely planned, & ready for you." Based on this we chose not to open the box until we were ready for our date so that it would be a complete surprise. Unfortunatly their definition of "completely ready for you" and mine are different. We expected the box to have everything we would need. This was not the case. 

We were excited to read that we were going to be making pancakes (my husbands favorite).  We expected to find pancake mix that was ready to use (the "just add water" kind) but nope we had to supply eggs, milk and oil. Fortunately we had these items on hand. 

When taking the survey after signing up the only thing I entered as a dietary restriction was no fish, unfortunately they sent us gluten free mix, normally this would be fine but these pancakes tasted terrible and for some reason we both ended up with stomach issues. They also sent us diet syrup that tasted awful. The whole meal was so bad that neither one of us could finish it. 

Here comes another disappointment....they included a citrus juicer and mini carafe so we could have fresh orange juice. Of course they didn't supply the oranges and we didn't have any so I had to substitute orange soda....lol seriously, check out the picture! 

Here comes the sorta good parts of the date. From reviews we read we were expecting some sort of creative activity to do together (painting, sculpting, etc) we received a card game  Thankfully we both did enjoy the game. It was a Monopoly card game. 

The best part of the date is the curated play list on Spotify. All the songs have to do with mornings or breakfast or something similar. They had new songs and old. It was a nice mix. 

I decided to contact customer support to discuss the disappointments of our date. Let me just warn you the customer service was terrible! The woman who responded to my email stated "As for the gluten free pancake mix and sugar-free syrup, we do create our dates with many different couples in mind. When we are able to use gluten free items, we do so that way everyone can enjoy our dates, regardless of dietary restrictions!" Personally I know more people who are not gluten free than that are. I would think they would cater to the majority and save the gluten free products for the people who need them. I replied that they should add that information when signing up. Her reply, " Most of the people in our office, including myself are able to eat gluten and still really enjoyed this pancake mix. I am sincerely sorry if you feel like this effected your enjoyment or experience with this date." The fact that she liked the pancakes makes no difference to me, instead of sympathizing with the customer she basically said "oh well". The apology is nice but the "if you feel" made me mad. I already told her that was how I feel. 

They did not offer to make the situation better in any way. No promotional credit or anything. I have never worked with a company that did not try to do at least something small to make the customer happy. 

Needless to say we canceled our subscription and are going to try another company. Hopefully we will have better results with them. Check back for that blog post.

If you decide to try DateBox for yourself leave me a comment and let me know if you had a better experience!