Wednesday, January 7, 2015

Beauty Box Review

For the last several months I have been receiving a few different beauty boxes and here are a few of my thoughts on them.

Julep
The first box I got was from Julep and came with 2 nail polishes and a nail strengthening gel pen. The nail polishes were a very light cream color and a reddish orange which I have never found any reason so far to wear. The nail pen I gave to my sister (because my nails are already strong) which she said kind of work when she remembered to use it on a regular basis. This subscription is on a automatic monthly charge that you have to call in to cancel. The customer service rep was very pleasant and did not hassle me about staying with them. I think that if this beauty box was a bit customizable I might have gotten it a second time, but since you get what they send I decided not to spend money on it.

Q Box
The next beauty box I have tried it Q box which is a monthly box filled with beauty products and items from Korean and Japan. This is not on a monthly rotation and you have to go to the site and purchase it each month. These boxes tend to sale out rapidly and will need to need to be purchased at least a month and a half early. I ordered the regular monthly box and was not very impressed with what I got for the price. It contained a pair of dangly horse rainbow earrings, perfume shaped stickers, and headband you twist to close because it has a metal cord through the center (not comfortable). The tote that came in it was cute and can with a coin purse. I did not have a problem with the seaweed snack that was included except that I could have gotten it at the Asian market just as easy. Luckily I have a super cute niece to gift most of the items to and I'm sure she will be super excited. I have ordered there new dessert themed box and will post on that when it comes in. 

Ipsy
For the last 2 months I have been receiving the beauty box from Ipsy which again is a monthly subscription box that will need to be cancelled, but you can do this from your online profile. Also to start receiving the box you have to jump through some hoops to "get off the waitlist". This is not really that hard, you only have to subscribe to 3 of their YouTube people, Facebook, and maybe a Twitter account (don't remember exactly). This box is mildly customizable because of the survey you take on your likes, concerns, and physical appearance (hair color, eye color), also you can choose what you are most interested in. Your box always comes with a makeup bag filled with the beauty products. I have had mixed feelings about this one so far. I was disappointed with what came in the first one I received instant glow powder exfoliate, hairspray, and sunscreen, neither of which I was overly excited about. There was an eyeliner and glitter nail polish which again was not all that exciting.  At this point I was debating whether or not to continue to receive this box, but ultimately decided to stick it out for another month. It turned out to not be a totally bad decision because the next bag came with quite a few items that I actually am interested in.  I did not really care about the blow drying gel because I do not blow dry my hair (takes time that the 1 year old does not allot me) and I am not too keen on the red lip balm (probably because I like a more natural look compared to a bold lip), but I was pleased to see that there was a makeup brush in the bag which for me is useful because it has been so long since I have worn real makeup that I have no clue where my brushes are. The organic eye cream seemed at least a bit interesting and the cute mini size 4-in1 mascara would be perfect for your travel makeup bag maybe even the little black makeup bag that came with this month’s products. Overall I am glad I stuck it out and I am looking forward to next month’s bag.

Beauty Box 5
Finally we reach the box that I have been getting the longest. This box is a monthly recurring subscription in which you receive 5 beauty related product. Most of the products will be sample size with one being a full sized product. Again this box claims to be tailor towards each person individually through the beauty survey that is available to take. I personally believe that this survey is not really consulted when they send you out product for the simple fact that some of the colors of products that they have sent me would not should never be sent to a person with red hair as my survey states. Since I have ordered this one the longest it has allowed me to have had several are “you’re kidding me” moments. In the four boxes that I have gotten so far, there has been two different chap sticks (um I can buy those at the store myself), an empty travel bottle (come on now), several eye creams (don’t really care to use them) and hair masks, floss picks (yes those floss pick you can pick up anywhere), and a travel size Dove body wash (*sigh*). I have liked the nail polishes that I have received all have been nice quality polishes. This last box has been my favorite so far, it came with red glitter nail polish, a travel size Lucky perfume, little nail polish remover pads, some kind of wrinkle cream, and a wonderful lotion (I’m excited because it had a nice smell to it and I wasn’t allergic to it).
Over all thought
From the different boxes that I have tried so far I have like the Beauty box 5 the best because I usually receive items that I like, where as it has been sketchy with the other boxes.






Disclaimer, I have not been paid in any way to review these and have been doing this for my own curiosity. I hope that some of my experiences have been helpful in some way.