Hello to all of my beautiful nerds and welcome back from traveling the vast universe. I’m back with another post!

January & February Subscription Round Up!

I know I was going to do my review on a book but have been running a little behind with posts so bear with me! I decided to do this first since this is the end of the month after all! I did say I was going to start doing this with telling you guys what are my thoughts on each box for every two months!

BoxyCharm: First starting off with BoxyCharm and I have to say that the first month of the year it came off strong with the makeup items. I was able to create a full face with the Ace pallet, the Wonder Beauty Blush and Bronzer Duo, and the Too Faced Highlighter, and the Mana Kadar lip gloss, even though that ran out pretty quickly since it felt like there was not enough product in the tube. I felt it dried a bit too much and that I felt it was not that great and threw it out. The sleeping mask from Advent was okay, I felt like I didn’t get too much moisture and it kind of stung while I put it on. I am not sure if it’s due to the amount of skin care I use or my skin is not ready for a product like it but it did make my skin sting a lot while putting it on every night and was okay for the rest of the night. I think skin care that costs over a hundred dollars is not as cracked up to be when people keep on saying the most money you should be spending is on skin care alone. I’m sorry but I spend drugstore prices and $25 for one moisturizer and I’m good all around! Plus, all the sheet mask packs I get from Ipsy are around $15 so I don’t have to spend so much. I did enjoy the other three items though, people did like the look I create with the Vintage Dawn pallet from Ace since I was doing a pretty neutral look with it alongside the Trip for Two Duo from Wonder and the Too Faced Highlighter. I hope that they keep doing the same idea for more boxes like this because it works!
February, on the other hand, I got more skin care products than makeup which I’m not too mad but the only thing that sucked were the hemp wipes I got in the box. Those did not clean off my makeup like they were supposed to since I notice my mascara, even my Lash Princess Waterproof, stay behind and yes I do go in with the First Aid Beauty Pads but I needed more cleansing when it came to my makeup afterwards. The brand Evio should make these better as in make them moister or make the hemp stronger to make them able to clean off makeup. So, I have used them to wipe my brushes while using them. The First Aid Facial Pads are pretty good in case if you’re wondering. I do use them after cleaning my makeup off and then shower. I may have to start buying these! I did start using the Ciate London powder since I finished up another and man it smells good and it does set the face really well! I feel great after blending my powder and it does stay well all day even after spraying it with the setting spray. I haven’t used the Becca foundation yet but will eventually! I do have to talk about the Alomar brushes because I have found that people on what’s up in Makeup group had issues using these actually. According to some people they aren’t able to blend their makeup very well but I’ve been having really good luck with mine. I’m not sure if it’s due to products other people have been using or it’s what they’re using them for but I had no issue controlling my makeup application. I guess I have to keep on using these!

Next up is Ipsy since it would be easier to talk about the base bag. I didn’t use the nail polish I got in January’s bag yet because I didn’t have any time to do my nails. January and February have been busy months for me so it was hard to find a night to do my nails. I did use the other items though! I used up the Hempz Moisturizer but what I found off about it is that it’s so thick it’s hard to squeeze out even towards the end of the bottle. I have the Sensitive Skin one since Ulta does sell their products and still had the dry patches and wanted to try that formula it was hard to pump out at first since it came with a pump. I don’t think I will re-purchase because they make it so thick that it’s hard to get out of any container they put it in even with a pump so not spending my money again on their stuff even if it’s travel size. I did enjoy the Nomad shadow and the Ofra highlighter and of course I do use the Finding Ferdinand lipstick sample since it’s always in my makeup bag whenever I wear it at work and need to touch up.
February had it strong though with the Colored Rain lipstick! This is a great lipstick and now see why people liked this one because all I have to do is dab it on and go on with my day! I just put a little sometimes and just go with it because it just goes on smoothly. I did find it annoying is that it was seen as a Chinese dupe. If you’re not in the know but recently Not So Evil Stepmother talked about how BoxyCharm had a Chinese dupe of the Fairy Tale Cosmetics pallet in their December box and it had “Made in the PRC” which means the People’s Republic of China. She went on to say that these items were made in BoxyCharm’s labs in China to make the surplus of product they need but wrong! Sometimes a brand has their products made in China to meet demand even if made in the U. S. She mentioned how this lipstick was one of those and she mentioned how these products did not perform as their original counterparts. This product stayed on my lips and did have to apply again after eating something but that’s normal with any lipstick out there. I will buy another tube of this product and see what happens when I do since these aren’t really expensive. I haven’t used the hand cream though since I’ve still have some tubes of it being used, I have used the powder brush though and enjoying it. While the shadow, I felt it was a little dry but it did go on well pretty well since I did use it in my inner corners. While the face primer from IT Cosmetics, it was nice but I feel that it needed to be a bigger product because it was so tiny that I was done in two uses! I had more uses with the Tarte Shape Tape Primer when I had that sample though. I think I gave it a lower score than usual.

Glam Bag Plus: Now finally Glam Bag Plus! January’s bag was really good since I’ve enjoyed using every single product! I was surprised with the sheet masks from Duft & Doft because I thought I got two but they were two packs of three in each so I got six! Man Ipsy you spoiled me with these! I did use two so far and they have been working out with my face and not too harsh of an ingredient mix either. I have also been enjoying the Brow Kit from Billion Dollar Brows and no it’s not as bad as the Brow Bar Pallet I got in my December BoxyCharm. My brows feel like my brows with this one. It’s an easy to use kit and the brush is even really soft once I get the gel in to set everything. I did notice more items to choose from from this in March’s box but I didn’t select the pomades because I want to see if they give me one anyways. Let’s see how that goes. The eyeliner from Sugar was really good as well. I’ve been using it for work and I’ve had an easy time applying the liner when I use it. And the Huda pallet in Ruby is pigmented as the others I’ve used from her shadow pallets. I hope they keep giving these out since they are a great product and it’s a great brand!
Like with January, I did get more sheet masks in my February GB Plus. This time it’s from Avette and I felt like it did sting a little when I wore one of the masks since I got four of them. I notice some of my masks do sting a little because they’re working into my skin as the timer is running but I do leave these on a bit longer than expected since my skin’s so dry and needs that extra hydration. I do use sheet masks twice a week where I do it on Tuesday and at the end of the week to heal my skin after a long work week. I will have to keep using these and hoping to get more masks in this bag or my regular one. I did put the Inkliner from Il Makiage in my rotation to see how well it works on my eyes while I got to use my Sweater Weather pallet yesterday and those were really good shadows. The Laruce brushes have been working out pretty well with what I’ve been using them with. And with the Murad moisturizer I have to say it’s been working out for me very well. How so? Well, after my GB Plus post I decided to try it out without makeup and then with it on top to see how my skin reacts. Without makeup it didn’t get irritated at all which was a good sign. It didn’t get irritated either when I put makeup on and set it with my setting spray and even went outside to get the sun which worked out really well. So far so good my skin is liking this product but the price point is not making me want to buy it but I will try others if they’re meant for my skin type. And oh right, forgot about the Jules Smith lip glosses from January! So far I have finished one and enjoyed it but wishing there was more product in the tube since I’ve been liking it.

Well guys that is my round up on the boxes for January and February! So far so good the first two months for all three have been going great. I feel like with Ipsy in the choices for March though were kind of lacking so had to choose something that I would like. I will see what they picked for the rest of my bag since GB Plus was a quick one for me. I am looking at the BoxyCharm website for now on because since I don’t get the emails but I do watch it like a hawk so I won’t miss choosing something. I did get something since one item was a curling iron but I only go for flat irons since my hair is already curly. If I have to give it to one box for these two months I would say GB Plus because I felt their products were really good with what they’ve given me and I was almost skeptical with the Murad Moisturizer but it did work out in the end. I will have to see what March and April bring for these three! I will have the book review next! Sorry for being behind but things did happen over time. Until next time!