Shop My Stash October 2019 Results and Monthly Empties

Hi All!  I’m back with my October Shop My Stash results!  I enjoy dipping into my collection and using products I haven’t used in a long time, or just haven’t given much of a chance.

My rule with this is if I don’t like the item after the month, I will move it out of my collection to make some room and let someone else enjoy it! You can check out my first Shop My Stash post for October.

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Unfortunately, I was sick for the last two weeks or so, so I didn’t wear makeup all month,

My most used products were the eyeshadow palettes and the essence highlighter. I used each palette a few times, the same with the highlighter.

The essence highlighter is so gorgeous! It can be worn sheer for a soft glow or built up to really shine!

I already let go of the Laura Geller blush.  It was too dark for my skin tone, and it’s too old. And I have to say that I’m not really a fan of the Colourpop lipsticks, especially the Blur formula.  It is pretty drying on my lips and the Creme formula isn’t much better.

Here’s photos with the eye shadow palettes open:

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I really do love this Natasha Denona palette.  I created a pretty pumpkin spice look with the orange and yellow shades a few times and also really love the red and purple shades.  I am definitely keeping this beauty!

IMG-1845  I love this Huda Beauty Smoky Obsessions palette, too! I create really pretty everyday looks with the brown mattes and the lighter shimmers.  And the black and silver made a fun Halloween smoky eye!  I love the quality of these shades and will be keeping it!

I think this is the first month this year that I’m getting rid of more than one item! I guess that’s good because my collection has really grown this year!

Now on to my empties:

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As usual, my empties are mostly skincare, but  I do have two makeup items.  I’ve had my Tarte Shape Tape for over a year, and it’s finally empty. I might purchase it again in the future.  It’s a nice concealer, but I have a few I’m using now and probably won’t need to purchase a new concealer well into next year!  The Flower Beauty Seal the Deal matte spray is okay, but smells like perfume, so I won’t purchase it again.

I used up two cleansers. Skin & Co Whipped Cleansing Cream and Dr. Brandt Yogurt Cleanser.  The Skin & Co cleanser is amazing at removing makeup and it so hydrating.  I would purchase it again.  The Dr. Brandt one was okay.  I got it in a BoxyCharm.  It’s expensive so I wouldn’t purchase again.

For the rest of the skin care, The Skin & Co Truffle Toner is amazing — so cleansing and hydrating.  I would purchase again (and if you want to purchase from https://skinandcoroma.com/ and use code LORENA20, you’ll get 20% off your order!).

The StriVectin Neck Cream is lovely and so is the Mamonde eye cream!


October was quite a month.  Since I was sick for over half of the month, I’m glad it’s over and I’m looking forward to November.  Bring it on!

October 2019 Beauty Favorites

Hi all, Happy Halloween! Can you believe the first of November is tomorrow?  The year is almost over!

Below are my beauty faves for October. As usual, If I have reviewed them before, I will include the link, if not, I will link to where you can purchase:

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I was loving a fun mix of makeup and skincare this month!

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This is the NARS Makeup Your Mind Eye & Cheek Palette.  I reviewed it here.

I use this every day for my bronzer and blush.  I love the blendability and shades. I haven’t used the eye shadows as much because I have so many new palettes I’m trying out. They are very pretty, though!

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I have really been enjoying the essence Pure Nude Highlighter again.  I haven’t used it in a while, and I brought it out for my October Shop My Stash.  It can be subtle on, or built up to really shine! And it’s affordable, too.

IMG-1827 Revlon PhotoReady Candid Antioxidant Concealer in 015 Light is so nice!  I haven’t reviewed it yet because I’ve just started using it month.  I purchased it a few months ago, but the shade was too light for me in the summer. It’s very easy to blend and covers really well.  This really makes me want to purchase more Revlon makeup products!

I got the Kopari Lip Glossy in the Fall Ulta 21 Days of Beauty sale, and it’s already almost gone!  It’s so smooth and hydrating.  I like to use it in the day and evening.  Definitely one I would repurchase again.

I wear my Thrive Causemetics Liquid Lash Extensions Mascara over my Urban Decay Subversion Lash Primer and my lashes look very long and don’t smudge!   The Thrive mascara is my favorite mascara discovery this year.  It’s so amazing!

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One of the skincare products this month I’ve been enjoying is the Origins Ginzing Refreshing Eye Cream.  I purchased this in the Ulta 21 Days of Beauty sale.  I use it as my day eye cream.  It instantly reduces dark circles.  It does have a bit of an orange tint to it, and maybe that’s why my eyes look so refreshed when I use it.

I am almost out of the Purlisse Blus Lotus Daily Moisturizer.  I got it in my August Ipsy Glam Bag Plus.  I’ve been using it every morning and really like how hydrating it is.  Plus, it has SPF 30!

I was sent Primera products for review, and have been using the Miracle Seed Essence after cleansing and toning.  It is a light hydrator and preps the skin for serum and other moisturizers.


That’s it for my October favorites.  Bring on November!  What have you been loving lately?

Anastasia Beverly Hills x Carli Bybel Palette Review

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Hi all!  I hope everyone had a great Monday!  I’m here with a review of the new Anastasia Beverly Hills x Carli Bybel palette ($45 USD).  I picked this up in my recent Ulta points haul.  I saved up my Ulta points and raked in some free makeup — it was amazing!

I thought this palette looked so pretty, so I picked it up!

Here’s the palette open:

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Isn’t it pretty!  Such a lovely, feminine color story. I think these colors are soft, but with all of the metallics, you can make a really bold look.

The shades are:

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  • Boli (metallic champagne)
  • Bybel (matte reddish-purple brown)
  • Mandala (metallic/duo chrome light purple)
  • Libra (metallic goldish)
  • Jode (shimmer teal)
  • OA (duo chrome blue + purple)
  • Boie (matte ash brown)
  • Bear (Matte beige)
  • Moo (metallic light gold)
  • Chai (matte light brown)
  • *Cindy (matte bright orange pressed pigment)*
  • Stev (matte dark red)
  • Aura (metallic red pink shimmer)
  • My Angels (metallic gold)

Swatches:

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From left to right — Boli, Bybel, Mandala, Libra, Jode, OA and Boie.

Bali and Mandala are very sheer and glittery.  The are nice eyeshadow toppers, but I wish they weren’t so glittery, because there is so much fallout.  And another issue I have is that Jode and OA are so similar, I don’t know why Carli chose to do that.  It’s hard to tell in the photo, But Jode is more gray-blue and OA has more purple in it and a bunch of glitter –but  I don’t think you need both.

From this row, I do really like the mattes and the shade Libra.

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From left to right — Bear, Moo, Chai, Cindy, Stev, Aura and My Angels.

I am a fan of all of these shades.  The metallics are all gorgeous!  I’ve worn all three and love them.  And the mattes blend very well and are so pretty.


I am glad I have this palette.  The shades are good quality and look very nice on the eyes. And they are fun, but still neutral enough for every day wear.

Did you pick up this palette?  What do you think?

Giant Ulta Points Haul!

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Hi all!  I recently turned in my Ulta points and did an amazing haul! I got the items above and this advent calendar:

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The Body Shop Online Only Essential Advent Calendar ($70 USD) — I can’t find this on the website anymore!  So sad!  It’s really cute and smells amazing! They still have the more expensive one.  The Online Only Deluxe Vegan Advent Calendar.  It’s $110.  You can purchase it here.

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Here’s the calendar open.  I’m excited to open this in December!

Here are close up pics of the other items:

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The pink bag was a gift with purchase.  It’s full of a bunch of deluxe samples.

And I’ve been wanting the recent Anastasia Beverly Hills collabs.  The top palette is the Carli Bybel palette and the bottom one is the Jackie Aina palette.  I will be doing full reviews of both (and the Tati Beauty palette which I just ordered today)!

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From the top is the Tarte Travel Size Timeless Smoothing Primer ($19 USD).  Tati Westbrook talks about this all of the time, and I’ve decided to try it out.  And I love that it’s in a mini. I always use a pore filling primer over a hydrating one.  I’m using up a couple now, but I will try this out once they are used up.

I have also heard a lot about the new Benefit Boi-ing Cakeless Concealer ($22 USD).  I purchased it in the shade 2, which may be too light for me.  I probably should have got shade 4.  But that’s okay, I’ll give it a go.

I picked up two items from Catrice — the Lip Treatment ($7.99 USD) and the HD Liquid Coverage Foundation ($10.99 USD).  I love a good lip treatment and I have heard amazing things about the foundation. I picked it up in 020 Rose Beige.  I haven’t tried it yet, but I’m hoping it’s an okay match to try.  Of course, since I got it all with my points, it’s FREE MAKEUP! It’s not the end of the world if the match for that and the concealer isn’t perfect.  I can always mix them with other products.

The other products I got are the Morphe X Jeffree Star JS4 Fly High Brush ($10 USD), Morphe Highlight & Contour Beauty Sponge ($8 USD),  The Ordinary ”Buffet” ($14.80 USD) and the Peter Thomas Roth Mask MashUp ($25 USD) which is unfortunately no longer on the website.

I’ve been sick, so I haven’t really tried anything out yet, but I might wear makeup tomorrow to try somethings out.  This is my largest points haul yet, and I’m so excited about it!

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Have you used any Ulta points for free makeup?  What did you get?

 

Fall Fragrance and Beauty Reviews

Hi all!  Today I’m reviewing products I’ve been testing out this fall.  I was recently sent these products for my honest review.

They include fragrances, skincare and more that are perfect for this time of year:

 

Molton Brown Geranium Nefertum Eau de Toilette ($120 for 3.3 oz and $80 for 1.7 oz).  There is a new bottle online, but the one above is the one I have. Discover the empowering allure of this unconventional eau de toilette. Fig leaf accord and bergamot is crowned with geranium and jasmine, while oakmoss accord in the base gives an androgynous scent profile. Housed in a collectible and refillable glass flacon.

Molton Brown Geranium Nefertum Body Lotion ($42 for 10 fl oz) — Discover the empowering allure of this full-size body lotion, in a fragrance comprising fig leaf and oakmoss accord, geranium and labdanum.

This is a part of Molton Brown’s chypre fragrance family.  It is describes as beautiful and sophisticated – warm and dry, with fruity floral notes. I think it’s very nice for this time of year.  I love the warmth of the fragrance!

Goutal Paris Etoile D’Une Nuit
Goutal Paris Etoile D’Une Nuit

Goutal Paris Etoile D’Une Nuit ($211 for this 3.4 oz, $133 for 1.7 oz and $92 for 1 oz) — soft & comfortable with notes of face powders and sweet, sensual, seductive notes of lipstick, iris, rose & raspberry. Just a few minutes before heading out to embrace the night. She throws a silk scarf over her shoulder, her bare skin imbued with the scent of makeup. A powdery cloud as elegant as her lipstick with a soft and creamy cosmetic scent that highlights her colorful personality. In just a few moments, all eyes will be on her.

This is a beautiful evening scent!  It’s really glamorous.  It’s a sultry floral.  I will definitely be wearing this all fall and winter long!

 

 

More amazing fragrances are these Perfume Oils form C.O. Bigelow!  The are $15 each. The scents I have are:

Cinnamon Orange — A juicy, spicy, zesty scent. Our perfume oils are concentrated fragrances that have a longer lasting scent compared to EDT’s and EDP’s. May be worn alone or combined to create a unique signature fragrance.

Lily of the Valley — A romantic, white floral scent. Our perfume oils are concentrated fragrances that have a longer lasting scent compared to EDT’s and EDP’s. May be worn alone or combined to create a unique signature fragrance.

Patchouli — A seductively warm, earthy scent. Our perfume oils are concentrated fragrances that have a longer lasting scent compared to EDT’s and EDP’s. May be worn alone or combined to create a unique signature fragrance.

IOPE Plant Stem Cell Creme
IOPE Plant Stem Cell Cream

IOPE Plant Stem Cell Cream ($60 USD) Visibly revitalize and nourish skin with the power of Rock Samphire Plant Stem Cells. Multi-functional anti-aging cream is infused with Plant Stem Cells to deeply nourish, moisturize and brighten the look of skin and address the appearance of early signs of aging. Peptides help replenish for plumper and more radiant complexion, while the soft, creamy texture envelopes skin with vital nutrients.

This is a very hydrating cream, which is what I like to use when the weather get’s colder. It isn’t greasy at all and it sinks right into the skin. Plus, when I use it at night, my skin is so soft in the morning.

Pause Well Aging Hot Flash Cooling Mist

Pause Well Aging Hot Flash Cooling Mist ($39 USD) — Hot flashes are the most common symptom of hormonal changes during menopause. While they can’t be prevented, our Cooling Mist provides instant relief from the discomfort of hot flashes by creating the sensation of lowering your body’s surface temperature, cooling and calming skin, reducing redness and evaporating sweat. Formulated with our proprietary Pause Complex, it also helps support collagen production to lift, firm and tone skin, minimizing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. And not to worry: It won’t disrupt makeup or stain clothes.

I’m really liking this spray. It’s so refreshing and minty.  When I do get a hot flash, I spray it on the back of my neck and wrists first, then on my face and neck.  It instantly cools and makes me feel much better! Even though it’s getting cooler, I still need relief from hot flashes!


What products have you been loving lately?  Let me know!

 

 

Brand Review — Cloud 10 CBD-Infused Hair Care

Hi all! I hope you are having a great weekend! I have ear infections so I am staying home and resting this weekend.

I have recently been sent nourishing products from Cloud 10 CBD-Infused Hair Care for my honest review.

Cloud 10’s innovative CBD-Infused Hair Care line is rich in CBD thanks to Broad Spectrum Hemp Extract, also known as Broad Spectrum Hemp Oil, from organically grown hemp that provides nourishing Cannabinoids, Protein, Omega 3, 6 and 9 fatty acids and essential nutrients that work in synergy to enhance hair and scalp health.

Plant-based PhytoKeratin Plus promotes the hair’s strength, body and elasticity and is made from hemp and rice through a patented extraction process. The powerful, first-of-its-kind combination of Organic CBD and PhytoKeratin Plus within the Cloud 10 line delivers nutrient-rich formulas that help to revitalize hair, soothe and tone the scalp, while providing better manageability, moisture and super shine.

 

Here are the products I received:

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  • Cloud 10 CBD-Infused Shampoo ($27 for 8.4 oz) revitalizes hair by combining hydrolyzed proteins and plant extracts to provide volume, shine and softness, especially for chemically and physically damaged hair.
  • Cloud 10 CBD-Infused Conditioner ($27 for 8.4 oz) with the nourishing, protective and moisturizing properties of Shea Butter, Avocado Oil and Baobab to revitalize, fight frizz and detangle hair.
  • Cloud 10 CBD-Infused Leave-in Scalp Toner ($31 for 5 oz) strengthens hair, soothes and hydrates the scalp, and helps protect hair and skin from damaging free radicals.
  • Cloud 10 CBD-Infused All-in-One Hair Lotion ($30 for 5 oz) is a leave-in formula that protects hair from heat styling while helping to detangle, nourish, and reduce frizz, leaving hair feeling smooth, silky, revitalized, and more manageable.
  • Cloud 10 CBD-Infused Glossing Mist ($29 for 5 oz) is an ultra-hydrating, lightweight conditioning mist formulated to provide a gloss finish while leaving hair feeling soft and silky.

Each formula is delicately scented with a hint of jasmine, and  all are sulfate free, paraben free, cruelty free, and safe for color-treated hair.

I have used all 5 products.  First of all the scent is amazing!  It’s a soft, exotic floral and it leaves a light fragrance in my hair.  I feel that these products work so well with my color treated hair.  They don’t fade my color at all.

The shampoo is light and cleansing, but doesn’t strip my hair.  I do get lots of volume from it.  The conditioner is very creamy — a little goes a long way.  I love how hydrating it is.

My favorite product is the Leave-in Scalp Toner.  When the air gets dryer in the fall and winter, my scalp gets itchy. This instantly soothes my itchy scalp. And the more times I’ve used it, the better my scalp feels.  Amazing!  Plus, I love how it protects hair and the skin on my scalp from free radicals.

After the scalp treatment, I use the Hair Lotion while my hair is still damp and concentrated towards the ends of my hair.  I use the Glossing Spray when my hair is dry as a finishing spray.  Both hydrate and tame my frizzies!

I am so happy I got to try these Cloud 10 CBD-Infused Hair Care products!  I feel I’ve discovered a brand that is so good for my hair!

These products can be purchased here.

Ulta Fall Haul Mini Haul!

Hi All!  I shopped the Ulta Fall Haul sale a couple of weeks ago.  I usually go crazy on these, but I was extremely restrained this fall!  I did do a large Ulta Fall 21 Days Of Beauty Haul — so I need to not go crazy on this sale!

Ulta has these haul sales twice a year — a Spring Haul and a Fall Haul.  They follow the 21 Days of Beauty and focus on the drugstore or affordable half of the store.  I usually love to stock up on my favorites and try new things!

Here’s what I got this fall:

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Yes to Cucumbers Facial Wipes — I got this half off. I love these wipes.  They are really nice for those with sensitive skin. 

Skinfood Peach Sake Toner – I needed a new toner, and this one was 30% off.  This smells amazing!  Just like peaches and sake. This is a refreshing toner made with rice sake and peach extracts, rich in vitamins A and C, which minimize shine and the appearance of pores. The bottle is gorgeous frosted glass!

Milani Conceal + Perfect 2-in-1 Foundation + Concealer — I’ve heard such great things about this foundation.  I have tried it and like it.  I chose a shade called Nude, which is a bit warm for me.  But I mix it with a cooler foundation and it seems to work.  I like the natural finish it gives!

The Body Shop Limited Edition Vanilla Pumpkin Body Butter — This luxe body butter is in special edition seasonal packaging inspired by the traditions of Central and South America’s Dia de los Muertos. The indulgently rich formula provides 24hr moisture, infused with Madagascan vanilla and the aroma of roasted pumpkins. This smells amazing! This was half off!


I’m really happy with my purchases.  Did you pick up anything from the sale?

Right now until October 26th, Ulta has a 20% off everything coupon.  So of course, I used my points that I’ve saved up.  That haul is coming Monday and I will show you what I got!  I will be doing separate reviews of some of the products I got as well, so stay tuned!

 

 

 

NARS Makeup Your Mind Eye & Cheek Palette Review

Hi All!  I’m here with a palette review – The NARS Makeup Your Mind Eye & Cheek Palette.  I’ve had this for over a month now and really love it!

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I purchased this at Ulta for $35 a few weeks ago, the original price was $49. Here’s a photo of the inside of the palette:

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The palette includes three blushes, one bronzer and 8 shadows.  The blushes from clockwise are Luster, Orgasm and Dolce Vita.  The bronzer is Laguna.  These are all classic shades, but the only one I own is a sample of Orgasm blush.

The eyeshadows going in rows of two from the top are Hammamet I and Nepal, Pattaya and Fuse, Fex and Tropical Express I, and Sophia and Mekong.

Unfortunately, this is no longer for sale on Ulta.com, and it was an Ulta Exclusive.  But, maybe they’ll restock it at Ulta.

Here’s swatches of the blushes and bronzer:

IMG_1572 From Left to Right — Luster, Laguna, Orgasm a Dulce Vita. I love all of these products! Laguna is such a gorgeous blusher and all three blushes are so pretty! The powders are very easy to blend.

Here are the shadows:

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The shimmers and glitters obviously swatch better than the darker mattes.  But the mattes do work nicely on the eyes.  You can build them up nicely.


I use this palette everyday! I at least use the bronzer and blushes and I use the eye shadows often.  LOVE!  And it was such a good deal at $35.

Did you pick this up?  What did you think?

 

 

Ipsy Glam Bag Ultimate Review — October 2019

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Hey all!  It’s time for my October Ipsy Glam Bag Ultimate review! Here’s some info on the new subscription:

  • Glam Bag Ultimate is a new subscription with 8 full-sized & 4 deluxe samples, personalized for you, for $50/month. You’ll get to choose one of your full-size products with the new choice feature!
  • There will be a makeup bag, every month.
  • You can now add up to 5 Add-Ons for your bag. Previously you were limited to 3.

This subscription is $50 a month.

I have pretty much enjoyed Ipsy Glam Bag Plus, so I wanted to get this new subscription a try.

Here’s what I received for September:

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Here’s close up looks at the products:

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I chose the Green Clean this month.  I haven’t used it before, but I am looking forward to trying it out.

The Biorace serum looks interesting.  I can always use hydration.  I will be trying this out when I’m out of my current hydrating serums.

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The Cela creme contains “A potent blend of Canadian botanicals—blueberry, elderberry, evening primrose, juniper berry, rosemary, and lavender—team up to deeply hydrate your skin.”  I will be keeping this and trying it out in the winter, when my skin needs more hydration.  It’s supposed to work well before makeup.

I’m not really interested in the Eggplant mask or Unicorn Glow primer, so I’ll save those to give as holiday gifts.

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The Saem is a Korean skincare brand.  I will probably save these to give as stocking stuffers. I may try one out.  Not too exciting.

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These F.A.R.A.H brushes look nice, but I don’t really need face brushes right now.  I will probably give them away.

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Neither of these are very exciting to me (the theme of the box, LOL.  These will probably be stocking stuffers.

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I haven’t tried anything from Makeup Geek before, so I am going to test this out. It has a pink duochrome flip, so it’s probably not an everyday highlight for me. It might be nice for Halloween or just dressing up.

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This is a pretty blush trio.  I don’t really need it and think this will make a nice gift for someone.

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Besides the Farmacy Green Clean, this is the other product I was excited about.  It’s very pretty and perfect for fall.  I have a few of these Huda Obsessions palettes and really enjoy them! It will go well with my Smoky Obsessions palette that’s in my October Shop My Stash.


So, I was very excited to try the Ipsy Glam Bag Ultimate out, but I’ll only use a few of the 12 products I received.  For $50, I don’t think it was a great deal.  I’m not sure I will continue this subscription.  You would think that for their first box, it would be amazing.

Did you try Ipsy Glam Bag Ultimate this month?  What do you think?  Did you get different products than I did?

BoxyCharm Subscription Box Review — October 2019

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Hey all! I recently received my October BoxyCharm! This month there were so many different variations.

I’ve been subscribed to BoxyCharm for over two years now and really enjoy it. BoxyCharm is now $21 a month for 4-5 beauty items, most of them full-sized. Next month, in November, it increases to $25 a month. The value is supposed to be a little more, though.  There is also a new BoxyCharm Premium starting in November.  It’s $35 a month for 6-7 products. I haven’t decided if I want to try that one yet.  I might cancel my Ipsy Ultimate (review to come), and get that instead.

My version is 39. This month I received:

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Total — $140 — great for paying $21!

I am in love with this box!  Probably one of the best ones I’ve gotten in a long time.  The Touch in Sol balm was the item I chose this month, so I’m excited to use it.  I’m already using the lip gloss and it’s beautiful — not sticky at all.  I don’t think I’ve noticed plumping, but it’s minty and nice.

I’m really looking forward to trying the Illuminati sponge.  I’ve never heard of the brand before, but it’s soft and I wonder how it will feel once wet.  I’m going to hold on to it for when I need a fresh sponge.

The only product I may give away is the Tarte highlighter.  I don’t really wear liquid highlighter.

My favorite item of the box is definitely the Dose of Colors palette.  I’ve been wanting to try one of their 5-pan palettes.  Here is a close up of the palette:

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So pretty!  And the shades are so smooth.  Here’s swatches:

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All of these shades swatched really nicely.  I’m excited to use it!

I’m very happy with my box this month.  Next month will be a more expensive box and it’s also supposed to be worth more.  I’ve seen a couple of spoilers and it looks like it will be a great box!


Do you get BoxyCharm?  What did you get this month?