Allure Beauty Box (April 2016)

Allure Beauty Box is one of my favorite subscription services. A little background:

"Allure editors uncover the most noteworthy beauty products on the market, from hair and makeup to skin care, fragrance, and more. Then, they personally try and review each product, hand-selecting the ones they love — and know you'll love, too. And finally, here comes the fun: a glossy red box is delivered directly to your doorstep filled with the expert-approved products that are sure to become your new favorites."

Here's what's included:

• Five to seven deluxe-size beauty samples—so you can use each one more than once
• Curated mix of skin, hair, and makeup products, as well as fragrance
• Allure mini-mag, packed with in-depth beauty sample product reviews written by Allure editors

I really dig the mini-mag. Very professional and so much information on the products! Definitely the best, most descriptive tool I've seen in any box. Each page has a "What It Is," "How It Looks/Feels," "Why We Like It" and the retail price of the full-sized item. Some products have a "What It Does," as well as a "Key Ingredients" list. A lot of people have allergies or find certain ingredients affect their skin in negative ways, so I think this bonus information is great.

Here's what I received:

FEKKAI Brilliant Glossing Styling Creme (2oz, $10) - A frizz-fighting, shine-enhancing cream that gives dull hair a sleek, healthy-looking sheen and protects from heat damage. The key ingredient is olive oil which conditions. The silky, lightweight cream smells green and fresh.

DDF Wrinkle Resist Plus Pore Minimizer Moisturizing Serum(0.5oz, $25) - A line and pore minimizing serum that instantly fills in pores to make skin smoother and diminishes fine lines over time. Key ingredients include Vitamin B5, Vitamin E and glycerin (moisturizes); silicone (smooths); Vitamin C and retinol (stimulates cell turnover). The clear gel has a double helix of peach gel running through it. The color disappears into a soft sheen on the skin.

I agree about the scent of the styling creme. I'm passing on this product because I have several big hair care projects coming up. The serum is also going to be passed on as tempting as it is. I primarily use k-beauty products for my face and have a huge stock, but another reason I'm passing on this is that it contains silicone which is something I try to stay away from.

BVLGARI Goldea EDP (017oz - $11.20) - A "floriental" fragrance that's a little earthy and a lot sexy with notes of orange blossom, ylang-ylang, jasmine and patchouli.

L'OCCITANE Almond Shower Oil 2.5oz, ~$7.44) - A cleansing and moisturizing body oil which washes and softens skins. This golden oil slips easily over skin with just a subtle lather. It's deliciously nutty scent leaves your shower (and skin) smelling like an almond tart.

I'll definitely be keeping the eau de parfum. First, I collect deluxe samples of fragrances whether I like them or not. They make for a beautiful display. But I also like the smell. It's mature without being old-ladyish, and seductive. I'm very excited about the shower oil. First of all, L'Occitane. Enough said. But I'll say more anyway. When I first smelled it, I was like, wow! Too strong. However, it faded to a lovely almond scent that reminded me of passing a bottle of amaretto back and forth with my best friend.

L'OREAL PARIS Voluminous Original Mascara in Black Noir (0.28oz FULL-SIZE, $8.99) - Uniquely formulated to resist clumping, softens lashes to 5X their natural thickness. Quickly thickens and builds lashes evenly for a full and dramatic look. Formulated with Panthenol and Ceramide-R to protect and condition lashes, leaving them supple and soft to the touch, resisting clumping and flaking.

MALLY Evercolor Shaping Lip Pencil in Neutral Red (0.01oz FULL-SIZE, ~$8.67) - A creamy, long-wearing pencil available in eight shades of pink and red. The formula glides on smoothly and deposits opaque pigment that sets instantly. Despite its matte texture, it's not overly drying and won't feather.

The mascara was not in the mini mag, so I don't know if it was a bonus or what. I probably won't be using the it as I have a massive stock already, including this one. I will certainly use the lip liner. I have very few, if any... I'm not sure because I recently threw out some older cosmetics, and I also have some gorgeous red lipsticks to use it with.

I calculate this April 2016 box to have a value of $71.30. That's incredible value for a box that only costs $15. There was also a LOT of diversity in the product selection. Although I'll pass on three and keep three, everything is great. Can't wait to see what's next!

Glossybox (April 2016)

Glossybox is a monthly subscription that delivers beauty products - hair care, skin care, makeup, perfumes, tools, etc. to your door for $21 per month if you buy the monthly plan, but that price goes down if you buy a 3-, 6- or 12-month subscription.

Glossybox carries some of the best brands in beauty. Each box contains five or more items from full-sized to deluxe samples. Following are the contents of my April box:

NOT YOUR MOTHER'S HAIRCARE Beach Babe Texturizing Sea Salt Spray (2oz, $3.00 FULL-SIZE) - Effortless beach waves are always in style and this hard-working spray not only creates texture and volume, but also helps hold updos with nourishing Dead Sea salt and sea kelp. Whether you use this on damp hair to bring out natural texture or before blow drying for added volume, the uses are endless!

TIDBIT: Kelp, a large seaweed plant, is known to contain many of the nutrients that promote and sustain hair growth. It has a variety of vitamins including A, B1, B2 and C which serve to strengthen the hair shaft.

LEIGHTON DENNY EXPERT NAILS Nail Polish in Pillow Talk (0.4oz, $19.00 FULL-SIZE) - The perfect nail color for winter's transition into spring, this berry-hued polish is everything your accessories closet has been asking for.


STUDIO | 10 Brow Lift Perfecting Liner ($20.00 FULL-SIZE) - Brows have made a major comeback and to help you sift through endless products, we've brought you STUDIO | 10's double-sided brow liner to naturally define and highlight.

WOW: For every pencil sold, STUDIO | 10 donates 100% of its profits to Look Good Feel Better, a charity which supports women with cancer, making a difference one brow at a time.

UNANI Dermo Defense Face Mask (3.4oz, $18.00) - Hydrating and protecting the skin is exactly what the Dermo Defense Face Mask promises to do! Combining Aloe and Ayurvedic herbs, your face will thank you with a glowing visage.

TIDBIT: Did you know masking 1-2 times a week can actually help your skin to fully absorb your daily products more efficiently?

BIOSSANCE The Nourisher, Precious Rose Face Oil (0.14oz, ~$10.08) - Blended with an elixir of roses, this luxurious face oil adds a shot of powerful vitamin C and plant-derived squalane into your skincare routine. Simultaneously repairing as it locks in the moisture, The Nourisher is a must-have! Enjoy $20 off the full-size face oil ($72 value) using code 'GLOSSYBOX20' at biossance.com (if the code still works). 😕

This box's value is $70.08. Not too shabby when it only cost $21. Unfortunately for me, I believe I will be giving away all of these products. I have face masks and face oils of all sorts... enough to last me ten years (and I prefer k-beauty for skin care). My nail polish collection is turning into a really good start for a hoarding situation. I'm still not into the eyebrow trends. I just assume get a good wax. And last, but not least, I've got some really great beach texturizing spray from Bumble & Bumble. Don't get me wrong. This is a fantastic box and I'm positive one of my friends or family members will be ecstatic to take it off my hands! Plus there was one little extra that sounds very appealing.

DOORSTEP DESSERTS (50% off with code 'GLOSSY'... if it still works) - WHAT IS IT? A box containing all the pre-portioned ingredients you need to make chef-inspired desserts at home. HOW DOES IT WORK? Pick the subscription that's right for you. No matter how often you crave dessert, they've got something to fit your needs! Don't worry, they'll never lock you in to one of those wordy contracts. Pause or cancel at any time, no questions asked. They will ship FREE to your door. No extra shopping or wasted ingredients. You easily create awesome gourmet desserts in your own kitchen!

Now this sounds like true love. I am addicted to the pre-packed meal delivery services so this is right up my alley. I very much like to cook and bake. Having everything brought to me and pre-portioned... excellent! I'm excited to try this service.

Memebox Haul & Review

I'm a k-beauty-aholic. I would previously have called myself a Memebox-aholic, but when they streamlined their operations in the United States, there actually were no more Memeboxes. I loved those boxes. Different products by different brands focusing on a particular theme. And you never knew what was included in the boxes! It was Christmas every time I received an order. Spent thousands on hundreds of products (shhh... don't tell my husband). Ultimately though, everything was extremely cheap. Each box was worth three or more times what I paid for them. And the k-beauty products were always amazing. More natural, less chemicals, better results than any expensive Western product.

Back then I also accumulated points for every purchase so I got quite a bit of free stuff. I received a notice back in early 2017 saying my points would be no good after May, so I used what I had left for one last haul. Something that Memebox turned me on to way before they were popular in the U.S. was sheet masks. And new ones were coming out of Korea all the time. So of course when I saw the animal sheet masks, I knew that's what I wanted for my "final" order. Surprisingly, I was offered some free item choices as well so I got a pug sheet mask and some primer samples. The masks cost $12 + $8 shipping and handling. I used my 340 points ($17) along with a 10% off code (101SMILES... probably no longer works) and in the end only paid $1.80. Pretty sweet deal, huh?!?!?!

Here are the products I received, in greater detail, and what I thought of them:

7-Piece Animal Mask Set by BERRISOM - Each animal sheet mask boasts different magical ingredients and special powers to help revitalize and moisturize skin. Some of the benefits included in each mask are arbutin, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, licorice root extract, allantoin and adenosine. Look 'em up. All good stuff. They're all made without triclosan, silicones, sulfates, formaldehyde, talc, dye, propylene glycol, parabens and mineral oil. Look 'em up. All bad stuff. Each mask stars a different main ingredient with special effects:

I'm wearing the baby pug mask from below (I'm on
the left) and my beautiful fellow k-beauty
enthusiast is wearing the cat mask from the left
(she's on the right). We probably should have
applied one another's... we were a little sloppy!

• Cat Mask - Purr-fect for dry, rough, and dull skin, this cat mask boasts Marine Collagen, a highly revitalizing ingredient that firms up skin and boosts elasticity. 
• Dog Mask - Ruff skin? This dog mask features Hyaluronic Acid, which means major moisture for your skin. 
• Monkey Mask - We're bananas for this monkey mask dripping with premium Snail Slime Filtrate! Snail Slime, as you may know, is popular for its repairing, moisturizing, and rejuvenating properties. 
• Panda Mask - When your skin's in a panda-monium, this Blackberry Extract-infused mask will come to the rescue. It's packed with antioxidants to whip skin back into its healthiest state. You can also kiss dark circles goodbye. They're cute on pandas, but not really on us. 
• Raccoon Mask - Raccoon eyes have no place on your face! This raccoon mask helps prevent such early signs of aging, including premature wrinkles and fine lines, thanks to its concentration of Placenta and Adenosine. 
• Sheep Mask - There's no need to be sheepish about your skin. This sheep mask contains Vitamin C and Arbutin, which enhance the complexion by brightening the skin. 
• Tiger Mask - Infused with Red Korean Ginseng, this tiger mask is rich with nutrients and antioxidants to strengthen the skin's immunity against harsh environmental elements. It eliminates dead skin and increases skin's water retention.

Baby Pet Magic Sheet Mask (Anti-Wrinkle Pug) by HOLIKA HOLIKA - This cute character mask not only improves your skin health, but also features a fun high-tech design that magically transforms the animal's face too! Both you and your pet will be looking more youthful in no time. This adorable pug sheet mask hydrates and firms up skin with Collagen, lessening the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. It also brightens the complexion with Niacinamide and soothes skin with Allaintoin, leaving your texture smooth and skin radiant. Also includes Adenosine and Hyaluronic Acid. It's free from triclosan, talc, alcohol, parabens, propylene glycol, coal tar, dye, sulfates, formaldehyde, mineral oil and silicones.

I love sheet masks. You just can't go wrong. I already have a practically flawless complexion (don't hate... I've been diligently taking care of my skin since I was 20... 20 years later, the results speak for themselves), so adding this kind of mask (as opposed to sleeping packs) to my skincare routine once a week is not only beneficial but also fun.

                                                                                                                                                               

After years of pushing other manufacturers' products, Memebox created their own brand that include skin care and makeup of all sorts. The name of their line is PONY and everything is very high quality. I have loads of PONY products and love all of them.

Ultimate Prep Primers by PONY EFFECTS - The result of these primers is more matte and porcelain-like skin with a soft, even surface that allows makeup to apply seamlessly and stay flawless longer. From left to right:

Hydrate (for dry skin) - Ideal for dry skin, this hydrating gel type primer moisturizes skin to calm dry, flaky skin and provides a smooth canvas.

Moisture & Sebum Control - Ideal for oily or combination skin, this milky lotion-type primer moisturizes skin to even it out and to control excess oil without drying out skin.

Original (for oily skin) - Ideal for uneven or oily skin with large pores, this silky and balmy primer fills in large pores so your skin looks smooth like porcelain.

Ultimate Prep Primers from left to right: Hydrate (for dry skin),
Moisture & Sebum Control, Original (for oily skin)

The primer for dry skin was very moisturizing and left a dewy, almost shimmery look to my skin. The primer for moisture and sebum control was a little thinner consistency-wise and left a nice matte canvas for makeup application. The primer for oily skin was really thick and cakey. There were no moisturizing effects to it, but it did leave the most dry matte surface. I most appreciated the dry skin primer although I don't have dry skin (on my face). I liked the youthfulness of this pretty pink gel.

Another great haul from Memebox, but you can't really go wrong with k-beauty. I direct my friends who inquire about the lack of wrinkles and dark spots on my nearly 40 year old face to Memebox or the other brands they no longer sell but that you can find on either Sephora's or Ulta's websites. Once they try k-beauty, they rarely go back to the chemical-filled products they find in drugstores and retailers here in the U.S.