Sunday, October 30, 2016

NAKED WARDROBE | Honest Review

Click here to watch my review & try-on haul on YouTube!

Naked Wardrobe is an online clothing site (some items are also sold in DASH stores) and it's a pretty popular clothing brand on Instagram. I see most of the outfits promo'd by the Kardashian's/Jenner's but other celebrities and social media famous people like Chrissy Teigen, Carli Bybel, and Jhene Aiko wear it also. 

I've ordered from them over five times now so wanted to give an honest review of their quality, customer service, sales techniques, sizing etc...

ORDERING/SHIPPING PROCESS 
Ordering online was easy. You can create an account and a wishlist (although I did have problems with their wishlist). For some reason my wishlist section would only show the one, most recent item I'd added to my list and nothing I'd previously added... so creating a wishlist was basically pointless. While I was browsing I'd have to put stuff that I was interested in, in my cart then delete things from there. 

Shipping is through USPS and costs $7. Each time I ordered I got my stuff in about a week, although they do say that during big sales processing and shipping times will take longer then normal. Each order I got came in a poly mailer (the mailers that look like plastic bags) but I had no issues with anything getting damaged during shipment. 

QUALITY
I would give their clothing quality a 7/10. I love their trench and duster jackets but found that the material used for their sets and NW collection separates snags very easily. It's because the outer material is a thicker woven fabric (leggings I got were 95% Viscose, 5% Spandex) and can catch on stuff easily. I hadn't even worn my new leggings for 10 minutes before they got snagged on a chair and ripped a hole in the outer layer. 
Hole in legging, material snags easily
The good thing about a lot of their clothing is that it's double lined, to help prevent it from being see through, but again the snagging is still an issue. I actually preferred whatever fabric they're using on the inner lining of their clothing because I found it to be softer and not as likely to snag as whatever they're using on the outer layer. 

Also, I've read reviews from others who have said that a lot of white items are see through even when double lined. I have one white long sleeve top and skirt from them and don't have any issues with the top being see through while the skirt is slightly see through. I've also gotten a white halter from them which was a lot more see through then the long sleeve top (I resold this halter). 

I've also read A LOT of complaints about their swimsuits being super see through when wet. From looking at pictures online and on their website their swimwear looks pretty thin to me, so I've personally never bought it for this reason. If I did buy it I would definitely stick to black and not get a white or nude suit.  

SIZING 
The sizing for their website was pretty confusing when I first ordered because they mainly only have size S, M, and L. Every model I looked at on their site was listed as wearing a size small and my measurements (specifically bust and waist) are a lot different then the models so I was worried about items fitting too loosely. Luckily, mostly everything I got fit (in a size small) but I did have major issues with the sizing for their leggings and bodysuits. 

In jackets and dresses I always got a small and they fit perfectly. For tops, most of the time the small fit, however there was one halter I got where the chest section was WAY to large. I've learned that you really have to look closely at the cut of their clothing before purchasing, because if it looks like it's cut for someone with a large chest then the top part will most likely be too loose. Although the problem with this is that every model on their website has a huge chest (compared to me) so if the cut of a top or bodysuit looks like you need to have a large chest I avoid purchasing it. There was one bodysuit I got where the top part was so loose I couldn't wear it. I had to cut the neck loop and sew it smaller to help hoist the top portion up more and get rid of the saggy fabric. 

Also I feel like there's no way some of the models are wearing a small. One of the long sleeve tops I got in a small barely covers the end of my bra when I move my arms and like I said, I'm a good 2 cup sizes smaller then the models they use. That's what made it so confusing for me when I was trying to figure out what size to get. 

They do have a sizing chart, but my problem was that for tops my measurements said I'm a small but for bottoms I was right in between a small and medium. The leggings I got in a small were kind of tight (I feel like they needed to be longer in the legs and maybe an inch looser in the waist) but I feel like a medium would have definitely been too large in the waist/hip area (I have a tiny bottom and wouldn't have filled out a larger size). Skirts were also a tad tight in the waist but fit nicely down my legs so I've strayed away from ordering leggings and tight fitting skirts from them. 

SALES (the best but most irritating part about NW)
The thing that irritates me the most about Naked Wardrobe is how they do their sales. First off they are always having some kind of deal (free shipping, 15% off, 25% off, $25 Tuesday, etc)... so if you're about to order and there's no deal just wait a day and more then likely there will be one. Just be following them on Instagram and you'll see it. 

It's great that they do so many sells but some deals will literally only last a few hours (they'll put up a free shipping post at like 9 pm at night and the next morning it'll be over with no warning on when it'll end) so don't think you can just order it tomorrow because the deal could be gone. 

Another thing that I see them do ALL THE TIME is have a sale that'll be named a "Blow Out Sale" where items are say 50% off, then a week later will advertise a "new" sale but call it a "FIFTY sale" where they post on Instagram that new sale items are marked down 50%, so of course I go look and what do you know it's THE SAME items that were in the blow out sale... All they did was literally change the name and try to advertise it again to attract new people or get you to look again thinking they added new items. Sometimes they'll change the name 3 or 4 times but never change the items, or will add a couple new things but mainly have it be the clothing that never sold under the original sale name... 

Also, anything purchased using any kind of coupon code or from the sale (free shipping, percentage off, sale section) is FINAL SALE. No returns or exchanges allowed is the policy they advertise. 

CUSTOMER SERVICE
Customer service on their Instagram is basically nonexistent. I have personally NEVER seen them respond to a question or comment. I've seen many people comment, wanting customer service to respond to them, saying they've tried emailing but haven't gotten any email response. I've also sent their Instagram a direct message with a question and got no response, but I did get a response when I sent an email, so if you have a problem send a few emails to their address. They only respond M-F so when I emailed with a question on a Friday I didn't get a response until Tuesday. 

Another thing to be wary of are the color descriptions they have listed for their clothing (this also relates to their customer service). I ordered two items from their NW collection section (which says you are supposed to be able to mix & match). I ordered a taupe top and taupe leggings yet when I got my package the top and leggings were two completely different colors! (see the image below) 
Ordered these from the mix & match section, both labeled "taupe" but are clearly different colors
Now why would you label two things as being taupe (in the mix & match section where you're supposed to buy separates to wear together) when they aren't even the same shade? In the images used online they clearly were the same color, but the leggings I got could only be described as a light nude... I swear they accidentally sent me the nude leggings instead of taupe. I didn't want leggings that make me look like I'm naked... I wanted a darker taupe color that the website showed. The color of the top was definitely taupe, so I sent an email to their customer service (with pictures of the two different shades!) and they said I could return my final sale items (I had bought using a coupon code) but I would have to pay to ship it back myself! Now every other clothing site I have every used that sent a wrong color or size would either give a prepaid return shipping label or reimburse for shipping costs. Naked Wardrobe offered NOTHING, which was really disappointing. 

OVERALL 
I really love their tank dresses (I own four, that's my favorite item by them) as well as their tank bodysuits. I would recommend sticking to their basic items because they seem to be made of a better quality and sell out quickly. 

Other items on their site, like stuff with large bows and some of their items made out of 100% polyester, do not sell well and I feel like they don't fit in with the style the site is promoting. It's weird because they promote a lot of trendy basic items, but other items I can't even believe they're selling due to how tacky/cheap they look, which is why you'll see these items in the sale section for MONTHS. 

Overall I really like the look of most of the clothing they offer (basics, monochromatic outfits), but was disappointed in their customer services and annoying sales techniques. 

Everything purchased by me.

Wednesday, October 19, 2016

BLOOMINGDALES BONUS BEAUTY BOX | Review

I was lucky enough to get selected to receive the Bloomingdale's bonus box through the Rakuten Affiliate Network. It came with 5 beauty related products from brands carried at Bloomingdale's

The first product I pulled out was the Clinique City Block Purifying Charcoal Clay Mask + Scrub ($28). I was excited to see something from Clinique because when I first started wearing makeup Clinique was the first higher end brand I bought products from. 

I've also been pretty into clay masks lately, since I feel like they really clean out my pores, so I was excited to give this a try. What I liked most about this mask was that the instructions said I only needed to leave it on for 5 minutes, so doing it doesn't take up a lot of time. Most other clay masks I've done had to be left on for 20 minutes. 

The Clinique City Block Purifying Charcoal Clay Mask + Scrub is supposed to deep clean to purify and polish the skin. It's made from natural bamboo charcoal, kaolin clay, and silica beads.  The charcoal and clay help remove impurities, while the silica beads exfoliate. It's been allergy tested and as someone with pretty sensitive skin I also liked seeing that it's 100% fragrance free and dermatologist tested. 

Next was a MISSONI perfume ($94). This perfume is described as having "a citrus, floral and woody fragrance." I'm not normally a fan of floral scents (I prefer more citrus/masculine ones) but didn't find this too overwhelming. It lasted all day with some slight fading and I loved the bottle it comes in. 

The box also came with a cleanser by Eve Lom ($50 for 1.7 oz). This cleanser is award winning and Vogue said "probably the best cleanser in the world." The instructions say to use once a night to melt away your makeup (even waterproof makeup!) while exfoliating, brightening, and toning your skin. The cleanser also came with a muslin cloth which is said to improve skin circulation while cleansing and exfoliating. 

I found the scent of this cleanser to be a very strong herbal smell, and if that's not something you like don't worry because it doesn't linger for long. What I love about this product is that it removes my makeup, while toning and exfoliating, so I can cut back on the amount of products I'm using on my face. 

Next was an eyelash curler by Kevyn Aucoin ($21). On their website it says this was a 2013 Allure best of beauty award winner! The curler comes with an extra rubber pad and has a slim, stainless steel design. It also says that you can turn the curler upside down to curl your bottom lashes, which is something I've never even heard of doing before! 

Lastly the Bloomingdale's box came with a Sparkle Eye Shadow by Bobbi Brown ($33). It came in the color Silver Moon and it'll be perfect for the holiday season! I found that when applied it had a similar finish to my Midnight Cowboy shimmer shadow by Urban Decay. It's definitely a light weight eye shadow and I had no problems with it creasing. Also, I recommend applying it with your finger because I wasn't able to get the finish I wanted when using a brush. It's not a super glittery finish, but when you turn your head all the shimmer and glitter reflects light easily. 

Overall I LOVED this Bloomingdale's Bonus Beauty Box! 

(This box was sent to me. All opinions are my own. Affiliate links used).

Tuesday, September 13, 2016

KYLIE COSMETICS | Metal Matte Liquid Lipsticks Review

Watch My YouTube Review Here!

I've already done a review on the Kylie Cosmetics Lip Kits and Glosses, so I wanted to share my thoughts on her Metal Matte Liquid Lipsticks. I bought three of her four colors (Reign, King K, and Heir) but didn't get KyMajesty because I wasn't sure how much I'd really wear it (currently the darkest lipstick I own is her lip kit in Kourt K). 

Ordering Process
To read about my past experience ordering from her site check out my previous reviews (Lip Kit & Glosses). 
Ordering the Metal Mattes was pretty easy. I feel like the demand for her products is going down and now they stay in stock for hours, when they used to sell out within the hour. Not sure if she's making more or if they are staying in stock longer because now they're being released more frequently and those who have wanted them have already gotten them. Whatever the reason, I had no issue getting mine and they were still in stock when I checked an hour after I placed my order. 
King K

Packaging/Formula
The packaging is the exact same as the lipsticks that come in the lip kits. The tubes have the same design and it comes with a doe foot applicator. 
The formula of the Metal Mattes is different then the Lip Kit Mattes. They don't dry completely and have a more mousse-like consistency (as described by Kylie Cosmetics). They will transfer, however they are really comfortable to wear and stay on for hours! In my opinion more comfortable and less drying then the lip kits. 

Customer Service
One thing about the Metal Mattes is that sometimes you can get ones that don't look like they are filled up all the way... (see pic below). I stood up my lipsticks for a day (so that the liquid inside would have time to fall down towards the bottom) and you can clearly see one has more product inside. 

I emailed customer service asking why some were filled up and some had empty space near the top and was told that this is because the formula of the Metal Mattes is more mousse like... I didn't believe this reason though, because regardless of the formula consistency if I had stood them up all day to let the product drain down and they still weren't filled up the same amount obviously it's an issue with them not filling up their product completely. The pic above shows two that weren't filled up completely, the other one I got that's not pictured (King K) didn't have any empty space after being stood up all day. I've seen others also post about their products not coming filled up and all I'm saying is that if I'm buying the exact same product and one is obviously filled up more then the other something is going on... 

Wearability
I like the Metal Mattes and they are a lot more wearable then I first thought. They are easy to wear day to day due to the colors being nude, gold, and burgundy toned (not bright, crazy colors), and I was actually surprised how much I liked them. I felt Heir was too light for me, but is good for layering. My favorites were King K and Reign. I think Reign looks really good with True Brown K liner underneath! (See pic below). 
True Brown K Liner + Reign Metal Matte

Price
The Metal Mattes cost $18 each. They don't come with a lip liner (like the lip kits that cost $29) but if you have a lot of kits it's easy to find a liner that pairs well. I feel that the price is right on target with other high end liquid lipstick rates. 

Worth It?
I like the Metal Mattes and I actually wear them more then I thought I would! I like how they feel, especially since I have super dry lips, and I like how they're more unique then normal matte lipsticks. They are also perfect for layering, special occasions, and photos since the metallic feature makes them reflect light and your makeup really stands out! If you're into the whole highlight obsession that is currently going on I feel like you'll really love Metal Matte lipsticks!

Related Reviews:
~Kylie Cosmetics Lip Kits
~Kylie Cosmetics Glosses

TRY-ON SWATCHES
Dolce K + King K




True Brown K + Reign 
Koko K + Heir
Not sponsored. Everything was purchased by me! 

Tuesday, September 6, 2016

IPSY | Beauty Box Subscription Review

About IPSY
IPSY is a beauty box subscription created by Michelle Phan. I've had a subscription to IPSY for over three years and for $10 a month you get a mini bag (which are a hit or miss design wise) and 5 samples sent to you. All of the samples are deluxe/full sizes and come from brands like OFRA, Mellow, Too Faced, Crown Brush, The Balm, Bare Minerals, etc... It's a similar concept to other beauty box subscriptions (like Sephora Play, Boxycharm, BirchBox, etc). The only other beauty box subscription that I recently subscribed to is Sephora Play. 
September IPSY bag 2016

Signing Up

When I first signed up for IPSY I was on a waitlist. Now I've seen them do certain days where they have "no waitlist" and anyone can sign up and other times you have to submit your email and get notified when there's a spot. 

It's available in the US and Canada and my bag is usually shipped towards the middle of the month. You get a tracking number so you can see when your bag will be arriving and my bag has only ever not tracked once (said undelivered after I waited a couple weeks) and IPSY replaced it when I let them know. 


When you initially sign up you take a short beauty quiz and that's supposed to help them match you to products you might like. Personally I've found the quiz isn't that helpful because sometimes I'll retake it and put I don't like any nail polish only to get nail polish in my next bag.. but for the most part I think it helps them to match makeup to your shade. 

Ipsy Bag May 2016

PROS and CONS

IPSY only works with certain brands and I feel like I kept getting products from the same brands over and over (like NYX, Formula X, Starlooks, Elizabeth Mott, Mellow, TreStiQue). 

At first trying out a brand I've never heard of is fine but when I keep getting that same brand over and over again AFTER I've given a review that I don't like it gets annoying. That's something IPSY needs to fix. 


One thing that I do like about IPSY is that you can leave reviews and earn points to redeem for extra products. However, these points expire and their website used to not tell you what/when points will expire, so I've lost a lot of points that way. Now their website will tell you "5 points will expire 11/1/2016" but I still find it difficult to manage my points and see exactly how long I have points for... You can save up points for larger items but with points expiring (and the site not being super clear on points) means it's kind of a gamble saving for larger items and I usually just end up getting smaller samples as my reward.  

Ipsy Bag June 2016

Worth It?

Honestly when I first started IPSY I loved it. Now I feel like a lot of the bags I've been getting only have a couple things in it I'm actually excited for. I'm going to keep my subscription for now and hope it gets better. 

I've also been noticing that IPSY often promotes one high-end deluxe sample that you'll get (such as a UD shadow, The Balm shadow, Bare Minerals lip product, Smashbox primer, etc) but you only get one of these and the rest of products in your bag are kind of bummer items. My other box has been giving me a lot better samples and from brands that I've actually heard of. The only item that I really love each time is when IPSY gives brushes. 


Here's a list of items I've gotten in my past two IPSY boxes:



Click here to watch my July IPSY unboxing 

July 2016

  • OFRA Lipliner (full size)
  • Delectable by Cake Beauty Lotion (deluxe sample)
  • Mellow Cosmetics Baked Eyeshadow (full size)
  • Too Faced Hangover Primer (deluxe sample)
  • Luxie Beauty Brush (full size)
Click here to watch my August IPSY unboxing

August 2016

  • Dermelect Nail Polish (full size)
  • It Hair Care 12-in-One (deluxe sample I think)
  • Lord & Berry Matte Lip Crayon (deluxe sample)
  • Jose Maran Whipped Mud Mask (sample)
  • It Cosmetics No Tug Waterproof Gel Liner (deluxe sample)


I subscribe to IPSY with my own money. 

Wednesday, August 31, 2016

SEPHORA PLAY REVIEW | Beauty Box Subscription


I recently got a subscription to Sephora Play (Sephora's monthly beauty box). For $10 a month you get a box with a mini bag, 5 samples (plus a fragrance sample) sent to you. All samples are from brands that Sephora carries and are deluxe/full sizes. It's a similar concept to other beauty box subscriptions (like IPSY, Boxycharm, BirchBox, etc). The only other beauty box subscription that I have is IPSY, and I've had IPSY for over 3 years. 

At first Sephora Play was only available in certain areas. Now I think it's available throughout most of the US. To sign up you have to join a waitlist and they will email you when a spot opens up. When I was reading information online I saw that it said Sephora takes people off the waitlist depending on when spots open up in your area. So not necessarily in the order that you're put onto the list but when they have openings in your region. I was on the waitlist for about 2 weeks before getting an email that a spot was open and the email said you had to hurry because I think they only give you a certain amount of time to "claim" your spot. 


So far I've gotten two boxes and I like the products in the Sephora box more then the ones I get in my IPSY. I feel like the Sephora box is better because you get samples from any of the brands they carry in their store (which is a lot). IPSY only works with certain brands and I feel like I kept getting products from the same brands over and over (like NYX, Formula X, Starlooks, Elizabeth Mott, Mellow, TreStiQue). At first trying out a brand I've never heard of is fine but when I keep getting the same brand over and over again after I've given a review that I don't like it gets annoying. That's something IPSY needs to fix. 


One thing that I do like about IPSY is that you can leave reviews and earn points to redeem for extra products. Sephora Play doesn't have this feature and I'm hoping they add it in the future. However, something similar that Sephora Play offers is that they give you a card inside each box that can be redeemed with any purchase inside a Sephora store for 50 extra bonus points. I bought a $3 nose strip and was able to redeem my card. I like that they do this because then it helps you get samples faster. For example if you redeem two cards you'll have 100 points and they have a lot of 100 point samples to choose from either in store or with an online purchase. And unlike IPSY, the Sephora points in your account won't expire. 


All the boxes for Sephora Play are pretty similar (sometimes they'll do two different boxes depending on your skin type) but they aren't as customized as the IPSY ones. However I don't mind because I feel like IPSY only ever gives me 2-3 products I really like.  


I like that Sephora Play gives a lot of high-end deluxe samples, so far all are from brands that I recognize. IPSY tends to give like one high-end sample from a brand I recognize and the rest are either drug store samples or brands I've never heard of. 



Here's a list of items I've gotten in my past two Sephora Play Boxes:

Click here to watch my July Sephora Play Unboxing

July 2016

  • Ouai Wave Spray (deluxe sample)
  • Smash Box Pore Minimizing Primer (deluze sample)
  • Nest Fragrance Sample (mini fragrance sample)
  • Beauty Blender Blotterazzi (1 full size) cleansing soap (sample packet)
  • Too Faced Soleil Matte Bronzer (deluxe sample)
  • First Aid Beauty Red Clay Cleanser (deluxe sample)
Click here to watch my August Sephora Play Unboxing 

August 2016

  • Makeup Forever Artist Shadow (deluxe sample)
  • Algenist Eye Renewal Balm (deluxe sample)
  • Lancome Glow Boosting Liquid Moisturizer (deluxe sample)
  • Sephora Collection Waterproof Liner (deluxe sample)
  • Urban Decay Perversion Mascara (deluxe sample)
  • Clean Reserve Warm Cotton perfume sample

I subscribe to Sephora Play with my own money. 

Monday, August 29, 2016

How I SAVE MONEY While Shopping! (Online & In Stores)!

If you watch my YouTube you'll notice that I do a ton of haul videos. Usually makeup hauls, clothing hauls, and home hauls. Something that I get asked a lot is how I save money when shopping, so I thought I'd share all the different things I do to make sure I'm getting the best deal!

Online Shopping:
Always go to sites like Ebates or TopCashback and check to see if the store you want to buy something at has a cashback percentage offered. 

Basically how it works is these sites get paid and then they give you a percentage of it back when you click through to the store you want from their website. If you have a Discover card it's similar to using Discover Deals (where you get 5% back by clicking through to certain stores from the Discover Deals web page). 

Ebates and TopCashback have tons of different stores listed that offer cashback. The ones I visit the most are Sephora, Nordstrom, Ulta, Overstock, and Amazon. There's also a lot of department stores that offer cashback like Macy's, Kohls, JCPenny, Neiman Marcus, etc... 

A lot of makeup stores have cash back percentages too, like Tarte, Too Faced, Smashbox and Bareminerals to name a few.

The clothing stores that I earn cashback at the most are Missguided, Boohoo, Nastygal, Nordstrom Rack, Pacsun, and Express. If one site doesn't have the store I want listed I'll check the other site to see if it's there. I'll also check to see which site is offering the most cashback at that time, because the cashback percentage offered can change daily! 

There's also promos when you sign up for these sites (such as getting extra cashback after your first purchase) and coupon codes listed. 

Ebates sends you a check in the mail every 3 months on cash back you earn while TopCashback lets you choose when you want to be paid. You can get a free payout through ACH, PayPal, or an Amazon gift card. 

Sign up for Ebates here
Sign up for TopCashback here 

Another thing that I do when I'm shopping online is to google for coupon codes. Sometimes sites don't list all their promos, so if you google sometimes you can find discount codes for free shipping, free gifts, or an extra percentage off. 

In Store Shopping
Besides using coupons there's a couple things I do to save money when shopping in store. One thing I use is the Ibotta app. It's mainly for grocery items but there are a few deals for clothing and specialty stores. If an item you buy meets the criteria listed (and has a rebate available), you scan the barcode on the product (if there's one) and snap a picture of your receipt. Then the rebate will be put in your account and once you reach $20 you can cash out. You can have the money deposited to a PayPal or Venmo account, or you can chose a giftcard to places like Sephora or Amazon. 

If you sign up using my referral code you get an extra $10 after you verify your first rebate! Referral code: lavveto
Sign up for Ibotta here

There are also other store apps you can put onto your phone that have additional coupons or discounts offered. Target's Cartwheel app has a lot of deals listed and all you have to do is add the deals you want to use to your barcode then scan the barcode at checkout. Other stores with apps that I use a lot are Pacsun, Starbucks, and Coffeebean. While not every app has extra discounts a lot of them do tell you about upcoming deals or let you check on your reward point status. 

Saving Money In Store & Online!
If there are certain stores that you really like to shop at make sure that you are signed up to receive their mailers, promotional emails and follow them on social media. I know it's annoying to get a lot of junk mail so I make sure I only subscribe to stores that I shop at the most. Express, Macy's, Kohls, and Bed, Bath & Beyond always mail out tons of coupons. 

Also by subscribing/following all the store's social media platforms you're more likely to hear about sales and promotions they're having. Sometimes I'll see a store post a promo code on Instagram or Snapchat, but not on any other platform. So it's good to follow all the stores you love so you don't miss out on a secret sale or discount.

Sign up for reward programs. I'm not taking about the in-store credit card programs that Macy's and Victoria's Secret are always trying to get you to sign up for. I'm talking about the programs that are FREE to join (aren't credit cards) and give you points for your purchases (usually a point for every dollar spent or something similar). Some reward programs that I use the most are Sephora's Beauty Insider program, Starbucks' Star Rewards, Ulta's Ultamate Rewards, Overstock My Club O Rewards, and PacSun's myGSMO Rewards. These points can then be redeemed for products or give you money off a future purchase. 

Finally, always check sale sections, in-store and online. I almost never buy anything full price. My makeup is normally bought using coupons or when a site is having a sale, and my clothing is almost all from sale racks or is bought when a store has a promo going on. 

If you like certain stores but they don't have a lot of sales check out Hautelook, Gilt, or GiltCity. These sites offer daily deals on brands and goods that are often better discounts then stores would have. Hautelook has clothing for women, men, and children, household items, furniture, and accessories. It's also associated with Nordstrom Rack so if something doesn't workout and is returnable you can return it to any Nordstrom Rack store.

Gilt has similar items and GiltCity has deals depending on where you're located. There's also usually a discount when you first sign up that gives you some money off of your first purchase (if you use my referral link for GiltCity you get $20 off your first purchase)!

Sign up for GiltCity here ($20 0ff 1st purchase)
Sign up for Gilt here
Sign up for Hautelook here

If you love to shop (like me) I hope this helped you save some extra money and find more deals! 


NOT SPONSORED. Referral links were used. 

Wednesday, August 17, 2016

BARE MINERALS 13-PIECE BEAUTY SURPRISE COLLECTION REVIEW

Watch my YouTube review here!
Every once in a while Bare Minerals has a Beauty Surprise Box available where you get sent a box filled with surprise products. This was my first time ordering the surprise box and the email for it said that you would get $235 worth of products for $40. There would be 13 pieces total. 

I'd read reviews on their previous surprise boxes and a lot of people said the products in these boxes are often being discontinued and this is how Bare Minerals helps to get rid of excess product they are trying to faze out. I agree with this since a lot of the products were no longer on their website when I went to look them up.

I got a pretty good mix of products in the box. It included one makeup bag, 3 brushes, foundation primer, blush, all over face color, 3 lip products, eyeliner, and 2 loose eye shadows. 

The makeup bag is on the smaller side but is good quality. It's completely silver with a black inside, which I like because then if it gets dirty it's not as noticeable. 
The 3 brushes I got were the Flawless Radiance Brush, Tapered Blush Brush, and Double-Ended Liner Shadow Brush. All the bristles are super soft and I haven't had any issues with bristles falling out. I've never owned a Bare Minerals brush before (so I don't know if this is on all of them) but each brush is also labeled with the type of brush it is which I find helpful! 

One of the products that I was most excited for is the Prime Time Foundation Primer (full size). I get super oily so I love trying out new primers and this was one that I had been eyeing in the store.
Left to Right: Rule Breaker Gloss, Pop of Passion Balm, Brooklyn Lipstick

The 3 lip products I received were a Buxom lipstick in Brooklyn (deluxe sample), a Marvelous Moxie lipgloss in Rule Breaker (deluxe sample), and a Pop of Passion Lip Oil Balm (deluxe sample). I've always loved Bare Minerals Marvelous moxie glosses because I like the minty scent. I've only tried their Buxom lipsticks in the store but have always wanted to buy one! They apply easily and feel super moisturizing. The lip oil color looks intensely bright at first but applies pretty sheer and feels moisturizing as well. The only thing I didn't really like was that it didn't smell that great. Kind of had a cheaper makeup scent.

The eyeliner included is the Big and Bright Eyeliner in the color Chocolate (full size). Usually I only wear black eyeliner but my second most worn liner shade is brown tones, so I didn't mind getting a brown one since I already own a ton of blacks. This one applied easily and also has a built in smudger at the end. Click here for a similar one. 

The full size blush balm included was a cream/balm, which I don't really like to use because I prefer more powders since I get pretty oily. Also I feel like creams/balms are harder for me to spread out on my skin. The color is Petal Passion and is hot pink, so you need to make sure you use a small amount and build up to your desired shade or it would be too clown-like. However, if you're someone who doesn't live in a really humid climate and likes the dewy skin look this is a blush for you. 
Left to Right: All Over Face Color, Eyeliner, Gloss, Balm, Lipstick

The All Over Face Color came in the color Enchanted Beauty (full size). It's a complexion booster, but at first glance I thought it was a powder blush. It was more of a deep bronze/pink tone (see image above) and I feel like if I used it all over my face I would end up looking sunburned, but I will use it as a blush. They do offer other colors on their site, I saw more brown toned ones which I would prefer. 

Lastly I got 2 eyecolors (full size). These were my favorite thing in the whole box! They are really shimmery and great for packing onto the eyelid. The colors I received were Nude Beach and True Gold. I no longer saw these on their website but linked similar tones. 

FINAL THOUGHTS
This is a great box, especially if you're looking to try out different products and aren't looking for anything specific. There was a broad range of products included, and even though some are now discontinued it was a nice way to try out more of Bare Minerals products that I haven't used before. I wouldn't put the full value at $235, just because a lot of products are discontinued (they would have been on sale) and the value is based off of the price they were when they were full price, but I still think it is worth well over $40 so you do get your money's worth. Over all I would repurchase a surprise box again! 




FTC: Some affiliate links used. Everything purchased by me!