Review: BeautyFix Monthly Subscription Box (through Dermstore.com)

Well, it’s been a loooooong time since I’ve posted.  I got a full-time job a little over a year ago and my brutal work schedule didn’t leave me a lot of free time or energy for posting – or much of anything else.  A recent family emergency caused me to seriously re-assess my priorities and (long story short) I’m working less now, so I have more time for other things. Onto the review…

So, I’ve been dying to do a monthly subscription box for a while, but I wasn’t really very intrigued by any of them.  I mean, if I dedicated $10 or $20 a month to trying new beauty products, I’d rather just go buy things I know I might like, instead of relying on “luck of the draw”.  So far, my only foray into the subscription box arena was the Julep Maven box, which I didn’t love.  The BeautyFix box seemed like a better deal to me, since it contains some full-sized items.  The “previous months” offerings looked pretty good to me, too.  Seems that I might have missed out on some of the better selections…

Price:   The first box is discounted to $12.48.  The monthly subscription is $24.95.  You can also buy a one-time box for $34.95, if you like.

Pros: 

  • Contains some full-size products.  (Others are tiny samples and travel size.)
  • Good overall value.
  • Comes in nice packaging with a card that has information about the products.
  • Has a large variety of product types (hair, skin, makeup, body care).

Cons:

  • A little more expensive than some others.
  • Contains products you might never use – or want/need.
  • Have to call a hard-to-find customer service number to cancel.
  • Website is a little hard-to-find, too.
  • They advertise what’s coming in the box when they’re about to go out, so it’s not a surprise when it shows up.
September 2015 BeautyFix Box

September 2015 BeautyFix Box

October 2015 BeautyFix Box

October 2015 BeautyFix Box

 

Who This Would Be Great For: 

  • People who want to try new products and are open to pretty much anything.
  • Anyone who doesn’t have specific skincare/hair care/beauty needs.
  • Those who don’t like shopping around to try new things.

In Summary: The idea of this beauty box subscription is great – if you have very diverse tastes and skin/hair/beauty needs.  However, I have oily skin, so I can’t use any of the anti-aging products that have been included.  I have thick hair, so I really don’t need all the hair re-growth and “thickening” products that have come in the last 2 boxes.  You get the idea.  Additionally, I’m a little picky about the products I use (don’t use stuff made in China, anything with parabens, etc.) so some of the stuff that has come in the boxes aren’t things I would normally spend money on.  I knew this was going to be an issue for me, but I thought there would be enough products to offset the things I won’t use.  Yeah, not so much.

FYI:  After wandering Dermstore.com a bit, I found that many of the products in these boxes are on sale or clearance.  I think this beauty box subscription is their way of getting rid of products they overstocked or can’t sell.

Rating:  3.5 out of 5 stars  3.5-stars

Random Suggestion:  If you want to try some products and don’t want the commitment of a subscription, try BeautifiedYou.com  They have sample bags for $5 – $15 (free shipping is usually available for these items) and you can choose based on your skin type, or a variety of others that are sometimes available.  As of this post, there are 6 different bags available.  I ordered 3 different ones when I ordered mine several months ago and was very impressed by the products that were included.  And they even came with a cute, re-useable gift bag!

 

 

 

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by Bridgett on October 17, 2015  •  Permalink
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Posted by Bridgett on October 17, 2015

https://bridgettsbeautyblog.wordpress.com/2015/10/17/review-beautyfix-monthly-subscription-box-through-dermstore-com/

Love This! Sephora Makeup Sponge (“The Sculptor”)

I know lots of people love the BeautyBlender makeup sponge, but since I don’t want to spend $20 on a sponge, I keep looking for affordable alternatives so I can have several makeup sponges on hand without spending a fortune.  I only have time to clean my makeup sponges/brushes once a week, so I need to have enough to get through the week.   Since this one was on sale, I thought I’d give it a try…

Pros:  Comes with a holder (with a suction cup on the back).  Durable.  Good texture.  Easier to clean than others.  Variety of angles allows you to reach all parts of your face.

Cons:  Limited availability.  Lacks an angle that would allow you to get the innermost part of your nose (bottom/side).  Holder is a little tricky to use. ( You have to be careful not to damage the sponge while putting it away.)  Heavily dyed. (First washing of it resulted in a pool of blue dye in my sink – ewww.)

In Summary:  I love this makeup sponge.  It’s WAY better than the too-hard Ulta brand one and is easier to clean than the Earth Therapeutics one.  (In fact, I bought another Earth Therapeutics one and it’s completely different than the first one I got.  It’s more of a “memory foam” type of material, which is harder to clean.)  The shape looks odd, but it’s great for getting around your nose/eye area and quickly adjusting/applying makeup to the bigger parts of your face.  The fact that it’s easier to clean and has a holder is what I love about it most.  I hated using the other sponges I’ve bought because I didn’t have a good place to set them after use or cleaning.  Seriously, if you have a Sephora store nearby, stop by and see if they have any of these available.  (or just order one online!)

Rating:  5 out of 5 stars  5-stars

 Price:  originally $13, on sale for $7 (USD)

Available at:  Sephora

sephora sculptor sponge

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by Bridgett on July 12, 2014  •  Permalink
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Posted by Bridgett on July 12, 2014

https://bridgettsbeautyblog.wordpress.com/2014/07/12/love-this-sephora-makeup-sponge-the-sculptor/

Review: Lancome Hypnose Drama (Waterproof) Mascara

I love Benefit “They’re Real” mascara.  But it doesn’t come in a waterproof formula.  I have allergies.  I live in a hot, humid climate.  I need waterproof mascara.  Since I was able to find this at a slightly discounted price (I love outlet stores!), I thought I’d give it a go…

Pros:  Really waterproof.  Makes lashes look fuller/thicker.

Cons:  Weird brush. Can get clumpy if not applied carefully.  Contains parabens.

In Summary:  While I think this is a pretty good mascara, I’m not thrilled with the too-much-contour brush.  It’s a decent product, but not worth the price tag, especially since it contains parabens.

Rating:  3.5 out of 5 stars  3.5-stars

Price:  $27.50 (USD)

Available at: Lancôme-USA.com, Ulta (stores only), Sephora, department stores

lancome drama waterproof

 

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by Bridgett on June 15, 2014  •  Permalink
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Posted by Bridgett on June 15, 2014

https://bridgettsbeautyblog.wordpress.com/2014/06/15/review-lancome-hypnose-drama-waterproof-mascara/

Review: Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Lip Pencil

I happened to get this item on a recent binge-purchase of multiple items from the Urban Decay sale section.  It was only available in one color.  Unfortunately, it’s almost exactly the same color as the Make Up For Ever lip pencilI recently bought…

Pros:  Long-lasting.  Paraben-free.

Cons: Expensive (if not on sale).  A little drying to lips.

In Summary:  I put a little lip balm on before lip liner, anyway, so that helps with the dryness.  I suggest applying this to your entire lip, because it will last longer than the rest of your lip product.  If you only use it on the outside, you’ll end up wearing ONLY lip liner – and that’s just a weird look.  I actually thought this color was a little “orange” when I saw it online, but it was more of a nude/neutral “in real life”.  It’s actually a great color and a great product, so I think I got an amazing deal.

Rating:  4 out of 5 stars  4-stars

Price:  Originally $20 (USD) – On sale for $3 (USD) Yes, THREE DOLLARS!

Available at: UrbanDecay.com,   Sephora,Ulta,Beauty.com

Note:  I think the one I bought is an older “version”, but the name hasn’t changed, so I just think they changed the color offerings.

Made in:  Germany

Urban Decay 24-7 Lip Pencil

 

 

 

 

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by Bridgett on May 29, 2014  •  Permalink
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Posted by Bridgett on May 29, 2014

https://bridgettsbeautyblog.wordpress.com/2014/05/29/review-urban-decay-247-glide-on-lip-pencil/

Love This! Urban Decay Razor Sharp Ultra Definition Finishing Powder

I got this item on sale at the Urban Decay website.  I’ve been in desperate need of a new finishing powder (I’ve been using barely-any-left containers for about a month now!), and I’m willing to try just about anything Urban Decay makes, so it seemed like a good idea.  Unfortunately, I only bought two…

Pros:  Very fine, smooth texture.  Paraben-free.  Neutral color.  Matte finish.

Cons:  Expensive (originally).  Probably discontinued.  Very strange/inconvenient packaging.

In Summary:  Seriously, this is the weirdest packaging I’ve ever seen for a face powder product.  I apply my powder with a brush, so the best way I’ve found to make this work was to rip out the sponge-y thing and dispense the product into the lid to use with a brush.  (I’m on the lookout for a container I can put this into to make it more user-friendly.)  Other than the weird package, the powder is AMAZING.  It’s super-fine, not too light colored – like some products, including UD “De-Slick” powder – and looks great.  I’m kind of sad I got this from the sale section, because it’s probably discontinued.  Even more sad:  they’re sold out online.  Because I would totally go and order more.

Rating:  4.5 out of 5 stars 4.5-stars

Price:  Originally $31 USD  (I got it for $10 USD)

Available at:  ???

Made in:  USA

urban decay razor sharp ultra definition finishing powder

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by Bridgett on May 26, 2014  •  Permalink
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Posted by Bridgett on May 26, 2014

https://bridgettsbeautyblog.wordpress.com/2014/05/26/love-this-urban-decay-razor-sharp-ultra-definition-finishing-powder/

Review: Smashbox High Definition Concealer

I’ve pretty much felt “meh” about most of the Smashbox stuff I’ve tried.  The things I have liked seemed too expensive for what it was, but I’m not anti-Smashbox by any means.  This particular product ended up getting purchased because I did the thing at Sephora where you book a “custom makeover” appointment.  My daughter was going to Prom and it seemed like a good way to get her makeup done.  Her makeup did turn out beautifully and this was one of the products her stylist suggested, so I spent almost half of the $50 gift card on it…

Pros: Oil-free. Paraben-free. Lightweight (good for under-eye area).

Cons:  Expensive.  Small container.  Not very thick.  Not waterproof or full-coverage like my favorite concealer.  Not available in a great selection of shades.  The contents of the one I bought were very “separated” and when I first tried to use it, I got a mix of watery residue and actual product.

In Summary:  This is a good concealer for “average” use, but isn’t a great choice if you have very dark spots or blemishes to hide.  It is good for brightening/toning down dark areas like under-eye circles, and it doesn’t look “cakey” when you use it.  Overall, it’s a good product.  But I still think it’s overpriced. I’d much rather buy Amazing Cosmetics concealer and thin it out with under-eye cream when I want to use it for my dark circles.

Rating:  3.5 out of 5 stars  3.5-stars

Price: $22 (USD) for .27 fl oz. tube

Available at:  Sephora, Ulta, Smashbox.com, beauty.com

Made in:  USA

smashbox high definition concealer

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by Bridgett on May 22, 2014  •  Permalink
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Posted by Bridgett on May 22, 2014

https://bridgettsbeautyblog.wordpress.com/2014/05/22/review-smashbox-high-definition-concealer/

Review: Boots No. 7 Stay Perfect Eye Shadow Duo

This is one of the items I bought a while back at beauty.com  I had been curious about the Boots No. 7 products, but hadn’t really had a good reason to buy them.  In this case, I needed to add a couple inexpensive things to my cart to get free shipping (since I’d rather pay for stuff than shipping), so this was one of the things I added…

Pros:  Inexpensive.  Not made in China. Hypo-allergenic. Nice container.  Paraben-free.

Cons:  Packaging doesn’t have any sort of “safety seal”.  I’m a little germaphobic and this kind of bothers me.  Inconsistent texture – the “sparkly” shadow was much grittier and “chalky” feeling than the more matte shadow. No applicator included (if you care – I use brushes, so I don’t, but it would be nice to have one for travel/purse/emergency use…)

In Summary:  This is decent eye shadow, but could be best described as far-from-amazing.  It’s better than CoverGirl eye shadow (what isn’t?), but it’s not quite as good as Revlon – and nowhere near the quality of prestige brands like Urban Decay.

Rating:  3 out of 5 stars  3-stars

Price:  approx. $6.50 (USD)

Available at: beauty.com, Target.com, Walgreens.com

Made in:  Germany

boots no 7 stay perfect eye shadow duo

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by Bridgett on May 18, 2014  •  Permalink
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Posted by Bridgett on May 18, 2014

https://bridgettsbeautyblog.wordpress.com/2014/05/18/review-boots-no-7-stay-perfect-eye-shadow-duo/

Thumbs-Down: Ulta Super Blender Sponge

I’ve been wanting to buy this item for a while.  I don’t want to spend what a Beauty Blender costs, but I want something more eco-friendly than the (often disappointing) cosmetic “wedge” sponges I generally use.  I’m really glad I didn’t buy this in every variety (they’re in my Ulta.com wishlist!) because WOW this is a disappointment…

Pros:  Inexpensive.  Nice contours that fit various face parts.

Cons:  Smells very chemical/plastic-y.  Made in China.  Doesn’t say latex-free, so I’m not sure if it is. (???)  Too hard/inflexible to do the job right.  Absorbs as much makeup as competitors (maybe even more).

In Summary:  The Earth Therapeutics makeup blending sponge is SOOOO much better than this one!  And it’s about the same price.  Seriously, buy that one instead.  I honestly feel like this was a waste of $5.  I don’t even want to bother cleaning it.  Maybe I can use it for craft projects…

Rating:  1 out of 5 stars  1-star

Price:  $4.99 (USD)

Available at: Ulta

Made in: China

ulta sponge

 

 

 

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by Bridgett on April 26, 2014  •  Permalink
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Posted by Bridgett on April 26, 2014

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Love This! Make Up For Ever Aqua Lip Waterproof Lipliner

I know I haven’t posted in a looooong time.  I’ve been so busy lately I’ve barely had time to sleep (5 hours is enough, right?), let alone attend to my blog.  Anyway, I’ve gotten one of my major time-consuming “to do” items taken care of (shopping for a car), so I can take care of some of these posts that have been kicking around inside my head.

I almost always wear lipliner, and have quite a collection.  While my favorites (and pretty much the only ones I use) are NYX Slim Lip pencil and Sephora Collection “Nano”, I was willing to try the Make Up For Ever Aqua Lip, partially because it said “waterproof”.  Now, I don’t NEED waterproof stuff, but I often buy it because I know it will stay in place better in the hot, humid climate of South Texas.  Although I would normally not spend this much for a lipliner, I realized they last longer than lots of other things I use, so it didn’t seem like a ridiculous amount to spend, and this one certainly impressed me…

Pros:  Smooth texture.  Stays in place.  Doesn’t “bleed”.  Long-lasting.

Cons:  Can dry out a bit as the day goes on. Expensive.

Interesting information:  From the Sephora.com product description:  “…the Aqua collection of long-lasting lip and eye colors was created for the Parisian Aquatic Ballet. Tested under water for five hours…”

In Summary:  Honestly, this is the best lipliner I’ve ever used.  While I’m never going to be a Parisian Aquatic Ballet performer, I love that this product stays on all day.  As I do with all lipliners, I apply it to my entire lip, so that as my lipstick/gloss wears off, I have a “backup” color.  This one is absolutely perfect for my needs, even though the price prevents me from buying it in every color. (Yes, I’m tempted!)

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars 5-stars

Price: $19 (USD)

Available at: Sephora (exclusively)

Made in:  Germany

make up for ever lipliner

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by Bridgett on April 20, 2014  •  Permalink
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Posted by Bridgett on April 20, 2014

https://bridgettsbeautyblog.wordpress.com/2014/04/20/love-this-make-up-for-ever-aqua-lip-waterproof-lipliner/

Love This! Earth Therapeutics “Precisso” Blending Sponge

I had been wanting to try a blending sponge for a while. The Beauty Blender brand one is popular, but I can’t justify the expense.  Generally, I use cosmetic wedges to apply/touch up my foundation. I feel guilty about throwing them away every time (well, I use both sides, so I get 2 uses per sponge) and haven’t had much luck with trying to clean them while getting them to keep their shape.  (And I haven’t gotten the hang of using a foundation brush, yet!)  I had a $5 Kohl’s gift card, so I picked this one up…

Pros:  Greatly improves the application of makeup.  Inexpensive. Non-latex/hypoallergenic.

Cons:  Hard to clean, especially if you don’t do it right after using it.  Have to find a way to store it that keeps it clean and allows it to dry.  (I’ve been using the container it comes in, turned upside-down as a sort of “stand” for the sponge.)  Soaks up some of your foundation.

In Summary:  This is definitely a great alternative to disposable cosmetic wedges.  I’ve used and washed this several times and it shows no signs of falling apart.  The only real issue is cleaning and sanitizing it.  For everyday cleaning, I’ve been using a foaming multi-purpose cleanser I got during my hospital stay last year.  It’s worked better than the makeup remover/cleanser I was trying to use. (Not sure what I’m going to use when I run out of the hospital-supplied stuff…)   Sanitizing is more of a concern for me.  I have acne-prone skin, so I worry about bacteria being trapped in the sponge.  To solve this, I’ve been using peroxide to get it extra clean.  This is probably not good for the long-term survival of the sponge, but I want to make sure it’s really clean.  Cleaning and sanitizing aside, I think this is an amazing product.  I’m not sure how much better the Beauty Blender one can be, but – for me – it’s not going to be “better” enough to spend almost five times as much on it.

Note:  Other blending sponges on the market:  Stila ($12), Studio Basics ($5), Real Techniques ($6), Ulta ($5), It Cosmetics ($24!!!), Sephora Brand ($13, three varieties available) and of course Beauty Blender ($20)

Rating:  4.5 out of 5 stars  4.5-stars

Price:  $6 (USD)

Available at:  Kohl’s, Earth Therapeutics

Made in:  Korea

Shown in green. Also available in pink.

Shown in green. Also available in pink.

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by Bridgett on March 17, 2014  •  Permalink
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Posted by Bridgett on March 17, 2014

https://bridgettsbeautyblog.wordpress.com/2014/03/17/love-this-earth-therapeutics-precisso-blending-sponge/

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