LipMonthly October 2015

I've been shopping around for subscription boxes and decided to give LipMonthly a try.   I was reluctant at first--my lipstick drawer is overflowing--but it's such a low pricepoint ( $5 for the first month!) and you receive full sized products.   I couldn't resist.  

Lipmonthly is a monthly subscription box that costs $12.95 month-to-month  ($5 for the first month, discount for purchasing six month or one year subscriptions).   They send 4-5 full sized products and a makeup bag each month with a focus on lip products (from what I can find online, there's frequently one non-lip item included).   There have been some reports of double billing in the past, but I haven't seen that particular complaint recently and (so far) have not experienced it myself.

In my October 2015 Lipmonthly bag, I received three full sized lip products, an eye pencil, and a bag:

 

 

 

 

 

 

They also included this card:

 

 

I compared their prices to the same/similar items on amazon.   I couldn't find the Hikari crayon, the Lord & Berry crayon was on sale for $9.90, and the other two items were both significantly more expensive on amazon, so I'm going to say their listed retail values are fair.

At first glance, I thought I had gotten three lip products that were all similar (non-wearable, for me) shades of red.   For someone who is embracing her inner goth this October, I was seriously disappointed.   I was hoping for purples or other interesting shades.

When I swatched the colors, I realized they weren't quite as similar as I had at first thought--still similar, but at least there was some variation.  

Left to Right--Hikari Crayon in Mandarin, Lord & Berry Crayon in Sensuel, Mica Lip Pot in Velvet Rose

 

The Hikari Crayon color is Mandarin.   I enjoy Hikari products and find them to be good quality.  I've also recently discovered that I really like lip crayons because they tend to be a little more matte--and have a bit more staying power--than traditional lipstick.   This product is well pigmented and you can wear it sheer or build up the color pretty easily.   The formula is a bit drier than most other crayons, but I think it's still moist enough to keep your lips hydrated.  I can't tell you for sure though, because this salmon pink-coral color got washed off almost as quickly as I put it on.   The formula is good, but the color is definitely not for me.  (it also arrived damaged--it looked like the lid had been pushed down too far, even though the lid came off when I removed the pencil from the box.   I actually swatched it from the product in the lid rather than the crayon itself).  

The second crayon is the Lord & Berry crayon lipstick in Sensuel.   I liked this formula even more than the Hikari--SO smooth, highly pigmented, and easy to build.   Again, though, this color--an almost crayon red with pink undertones-- is not for me.   I'm almost certain LipMonthly had me do a color survey, so I was surprised that the colors were so far from what I like.  

The third lip product was Mica Beauty Lip Pot in Velvet Rose.   Mica Beauty is not a brand I've tried before, and the deep burgundy color when I opened the lid made my heart skip a beat.  THIS was more like it--a more vampy red that would be perfect for the spookiest season of the year!!!   Swatched on my hand it was a little redder than I wanted, but I'm a ghost so I thought it would be more burgundy on my lips.  Nope--it's almost-but-not-quite a blood red, a quarter shade too light to be vampy and a tiny bit too pink to be Flapper.   The formula is smooth and a little goes a LONG way--I barely had to load the brush to get serious coverage.   I'll keep this one for sure, and I'll certainly look for more Mica products to try.   I'm just incredibly picky about reds for my lips, and this one was so close to perfect that it was almost infuriating :D.  

My final product was a Pencil Me eye pencil in Amethyst.  I can't help but wonder who chose to put a purple eye pencil in a box with three reds that didn't have even the tiniest drop of purple undertone, but here it is.   I like the color of this pencil, but I would be highly disappointed if I had paid $7 (or amazon's $11!) for it.  It reminds me of the Wet 'n Wild eyeliners that are $1 at the local pharmacy. 

The bag was ok.  It's a durable vinyl-pleather material.   It smells very chemically.  As long as the smell fades I'm sure to use it for something, but it will never be a favorite.  

Overall, the bag was a great value.  However, I really only got the one product (the Mica lip pot) that I consider 'worth it'.   I would have been highly disappointed if I had paid the full $12.95 price for this bag, but for $5 I'm satisfied.    I'll contact customer service about the damaged Hikari Crayon, but that will mostly be so that I can check out their CS--I expect to cancel this subscription before the next one.  

Verdict:   The trial bag at $5 is worth it, but at full price?  There are so many other great subscriptions out there in the $10-$15 range that I'd have to give this one a pass.

Update:   The chemical smell of the bags was consistent through every bag I received.   The smell seemed to go away after I left the bag in a sunny window for a day or two.   These will never be favorite bags of mine, but the heavy vinyl would make them good for carrying things that might get messy.  

I've had to contact customer service a few times, and every time they have been prompt, courteous, and fixed the problem quickly, usually with a replacement product.  I still canceled this subscription, though--I am super picky about lip colors, and this one kept missing the mark for me.   If you like a wider variety of lip colors than I do, you might love this subscription!

***All opinions are my own.  I did not receive any compensation for this review, nor did I receive free products or samples.   There are affiliate links contained in this review. 

Ipsy Review, September 2015

It is official--I am an Ipsy Addict (if you need proof check out my July and August Ipsy box reviews)  In case you don't know, Ipsy is a subscription box service.   For $10 a month you get '4-6 deluxe samples or full sized products' and one zippered makeup bag in a theme that changes monthly (the bag is the same for everyone, but the products change based on your style survey).   That is $10 including shipping!   It's so much fun to pick up the mail and have new products to try and a fun new bag.   

September's theme was 'Face Fashion', which they describe as "Face the Future.  Smokier, Deeper, richer.  This September, leave the past behind and take the leap into fall with a Glam Bag made to inspire the perfect transition from summertime casual to autumn elegance"  And for $10, here's what I received:

Crown Brush Oval Concealer Brush (full size,  $3)

The retail price for this brush is $7.45, but it's on sale for $2.98 on the crown brush website.  This seems to be a good quality brush.  The bristles are structured without being stiff, soft without being 'mushy', and they don't fall out.  But it's hard to get excited about a $3 brush when I got this $26 one with last month's bag :P

Tre'StiQue Mini Matte Lip Crayon in Nantucket Nude (0.02 oz, $11)

So, I was playing with lipsticks last week and I learned something--a shade called Plum Riche is so close to my natural lip color that I could barely tell I had put it on.  In other words, this light coral-orange-pink-beige-whatever color is never, ever going to look 'nude' on my lips, whether I'm in Nantucket or Anchorage.   The pigment is good and the formula is soft with a little bit of shine but no glitter.  The color itself, though, is simply not for me.  At least not for my lips--I'm considering trying it on my cheeks :P

The color on the far left is Nantucket Nude.  The one on the far right?  closest to my natural lip color.  :P 

Pixi by Petra Brow Powder Trio ($6? The six color one is $12 on their website)

This powder has a nice smooth finish and good pigmentation.  However, the pack didn't come with an applicator, and honestly, I don't know how to use brow powder.   This is one thing I think Birchbox does so much better than Ipsy--Birchbox almost always has short tutorial videos for their sampled products.  I'll look it up on youtube later, but it would certainly be easier if they had them in an easily-accessible form.  

 

This bag 

This bag is EVERYTHING.  For the second month in a row, Ipsy has sent a bag that I would have purchased on it's own.  It is a gorgeous coppery-gold color with a matching lining.  The back is smooth and the front has a raised pattern.   One thing that I could not photograph no matter how hard I tried (and I tried at least fifty times before giving up and using the stock photo)--It's not a rectangle, it's a trapezoid.   The top of the bag is an inch or so wider than the bottom, and it gives the bag a tiny bit more interest.   I absolutely adore it!

Le Parcel September 2015 TOM Box

I just subscribed to Le Parcel, and I hope to get the box in the next week.

Le Parcel is another TOM (time of the month) box that ships to you around the time of your monthly period.   It is similar to TomBoxes.com (formerly Swaag Box, which I reviewed here), with a few differences.  The most obvious one is that with this box, you can choose your own feminine hygiene products from a decent selection of brands and absorbencies.   With TomBoxes/Swaag Box, you get one unopened pack of your choice.  With Le Parcel, you get 25 items of your choosing (TB sends the smaller packs of 14-16 items, so Le Parcel gives you almost twice as many hygiene items).  Now, this means that the Le Parcel items have been removed from their outer packaging, which I know some people are uncomfortable with.  Since they still come individually wrapped, I'm ok with it, and I love that I can mix and match.  I use both pads and tampons, so having to choose one means I have to remember to update my subscription settings on a regular basis or risk having to make a store run anyway.

Le Parcel does charge shipping, which is a bummer.   Still though it's not a bad pricepoint--$15 +$5 shipping (Half price on your first box with my referral link!)    The hygiene items alone would cost $5-$8 depending on which you bought and where.

They also have different referral programs (this is a good time to mention that this blog contains referral links, which give me points or other rewards for referring people to the service.  I do not get paid for favorable reviews, all opinions expressed are my own, no children were harmed in the writing of this blog).  TomBoxes.com offers you one free box for every three referrals, and you don't have to do anything--the box is shipped to you automatically.

Another difference may have been a coincidence, but Le Parcel promises high-end chocolate in each box.  I didn't receive candy or food of any kind in my TomBoxes box.


UPDATE:   This has been the most annoying box I've ordered to date.   I originally bought the box on September  7 and was charged for it on September 10.   The same day, my account updated saying my package shipped on September 10 and would arrive by September 15.   I never received a tracking number.  September 15, I emailed because the package had not arrived.   Without any response to my email, my account updated on September 23 providing a tracking link.  The link didn't work, but if you copied and pasted the tracking number from the link into USPS.com, then it said the label was printed but not scanned again.  Five emails later, once I had finally given up, I was given a refund and a short 'there was some problems at the warehouse, sorry' email.  (That was September 30).   I love the idea of this box, but in practice I don't need the frustration. 


Update #2:   Today, October 2, my package arrived (I wasn't even expecting it at this point).   Here were the contents:

25 pads and tampons of my choosing, including brand.   ($7)

This is actually what drew me to this box to begin with--I love that I can choose which items I receive.   They carry name brand products (Always, Tampax, Kotex, Playtex)  and you can customize however you wish.  I chose a selection of absorbencies and products and estimated the value based on the per item prices on Amazon.  

Chocolates--3 Lindor Lindt truffles  ($1.50)

I enjoy Lindt truffles, though I have to admit I was a little disappointed.   My husband picks these up at the local drugstore fairly regularly, and I was hoping to receive something a little more 'exotic'.   Still though, they're good quality chocolates and just enough of a treat.  

Feral Watch--The Midas Rosegold ($80 ??)

I was really surprised to find this watch on amazon, and even more surprised to see the price.   Maybe I was expecting a lower price point because I knew how little I had paid for the box.   It's a nice watch, but doesn't fit my fat wrist :(   It will be a nice gift for someone.

The total estimated value of my box was $88.50, but that includes an $80 estimate for the watch.    I paid $12.50 for the box (1/2 price for my first box +$5 shipping) and future boxes would be $20.   I canceled the subscription--since I don't wear a lot of jewelry, this one just isn't worth the hassle for me.

Birchbox Review August 2015

Since I was so in love with Ipsy I decided I wanted to try other subscription services.  Birchbox is the same price as Ipsy ($10 a month).  I was disappointed to find out that while Ipsy frequently sends out full-sized products, Birchbox only sends samples.  However, Birchbox has an incredibe rewards program:  you earn points the same way you do with Ipsy, by referring others or reviewing products.  But with Ipsy it takes several months or referrals to earn enough points for a reward, and the rewards are a handful of products selected by Ipsy, Birchbox points translate directly into credit in their online store, for any product they sell.   If you share your $10 box each month and review all five products sampled, that gives you $6 store credit (you can only use it in $10 increments, but still).  

Without further ado, here's my first box:

Yes, that's the actual box (Note:  other photos in this blog are from the Birchbox website, mostly because I'm not that great at photography).  And that's my actual hand, which would be waving hello to you if it weren't holding the large-index-card-sized box of minuscule samples.   To say I was disappointed is a bit of an understatement--maybe Ipsy has spoiled me, but I expected deluxe samples or full sized products, but three of these are teeny-tiny!  It was a real let down, I put away my disappointment to review the products.   You're welcome.

Dr. Brandt Pores No More Cleanser  (0.25 fl oz)  $3

This is a small sample, good for no more than 2-3 very sparing uses.  Still, I was excited by the idea of a pore-shrinking cleanser.   I feel like my pores are huge, so I had high hopes.   They were dashed the minute I started massaging the product into my skin--the smell is SO medicinal.   I did not notice any pore shrinkage after using, but I did notice that my skin felt uncomfortably tight and dry.  I'll keep this around for a bit and try it again if my skin feels particularly oily, but my first impression of this product is No.




Coola Mineral Sunscreen Matte Tint, Unscented (.17 fl oz)  $2.40

I actually liked this product.   I have tried a few 'tinted' sunscreens lately and they all left my face so shiny that I had to powder over it.  Since my reason for using a tinted sunscreen was so that I didn't have to put on foundation and powder, it defeated the purpose.   This sunscreen went on easily and did not leave my face shiny.  However, it did feel a little gritty putting it on.   I may pick up a full-sized version of this one--I don't feel like the sample is really large enough to let me get a good sense of the product, though the two times I used it (before running out :( ) I liked the results.  I think this product is a Yes, but due to the small sample size I'm going to have to keep it at Maybe for now.


Benefit Watts Up! Cream-to-Powder Highlighter (0.08 oz)   $8

I wasn't sure about this one but a friend (Hi Barbie!) says it's one of her favorite products.   I have to admit it's a great product--good coverage, good pigmentation, lasts well.  And a highlighter is one of those things that I always stole from my theatre makeup kit because the closest you could find to it on the retail market was a concealer.   The tiny packaging makes this hard to use in my opinion (it's a twist-up tube with the product smaller than a lip balm) but I can use a brush or my fingers to apply.   The product itself is a high quality one, and I'll probably purchase a full size when this one runs out.  This is a Yes.


Marcelle Mini Waterproof Eyeliner in Mulberry ('travel' size)  $4

The first time I tried this, I hated it.  The color just added to my already-dark eyes to make them even darker.   After a few weeks of using my new favorite eye creme (more on that here), it's one of my go-to liners.   The purple hue looks like a faded black on my eyes, which is great for day time.   If I put on a few layers, it builds up and really pops.   The formula itself glides on smoothly, almost like a liquid, and it has great staying power.  The 'sample' is a single travel sized pencil, but to be honest I tend to throw out eye pencils before they're half-used so travel size is probably a good size for me.  This is a Yes.

Klorane Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk--Natural Tint (50 mL) $9

I have never used a dry shampoo before, always afraid of residue.  The first time I used this one, I made my son my guinea pig :D   He has super thick hair that he is determined to keep just below his ears, but he's not yet great at rinsing his hair after washing, often leaving his hair looking oily.   A quick spritz of this made his hair look great.   Seeing his results gave me the courage to try it myself, and it really was an easy way to pick up a flat hairstyle.   I expect this product to become a staple at our house.  This is a resounding YES.


The total value of my $10 box was about $26.40.   It's not terrible, but I do feel like Ipsy is the better value.  However, I gained $6 in points for reviewing/sharing my box, plus I got some bonus points when I signed up.   I traded them in on a Prestige Headliners Beauty Collection box.  I also bought (2) Mass Appeal Boxes.   Those reviews will be coming soon!!! 

Ipsy Review, August 2015

My love affair with Ipsy deepened this month with their Prep School themed box.   Here's what I got:

This bag:

This AWESOME, incredible bag.  When I saw it in the preview I had hoped it was a tweed-like fabric material.  It's so much better--it's a wipable vinyl bag with an Escher-like texture to enhance the hounds-tooth pattern.  I can not tell you how much I love this bag, except to say that even with my cheap ways, I would have paid real money for this bag.  In fact, if I find a bigger version in a store at some point, it will be mine.   Even the hot pink zipper (and I am not a fan of pink) gives me the warm fuzzies, because it gives a classic pattern a modern touch.  



Marc Anthony Nourishing Argan Oil of Morocco (0.7 oz)  $3.50

I don't use oils on my fine hair (it weighs it down too much) but my hubby has been using Argan oils for a while, so I asked him to try this one out.  He liked it a lot, and was especially pleased with the small size so he could take it with him.  


Trust Fund Beauty Nail Polish in Elegantly Wasted (full size) $15

I'm a nail polish addict.  I have hundreds of bottles,and I'm always searching for a fun new color in a formula that will stand up to my lifestyle (which destroys your average drug-store-polish manicure in about a day).   I was pleasantly surprised by how well this one did--even without a base or topcoat, it still held up without chipping for three days.  That's just short of a miracle for me.   The color is a fun purple that perfectly suits my personality.   It's a bit pricier than I usually spend on nail polish, but then again it held up better than 99% of the polishes in my collection.  Plus, it’s 7-free, non-toxic, vegan, and cruelty-free. This one joins my short list of nail polish favorites.  

Hikari Lip Gloss in Merlot (full size)  $13

I hated this product the first time I wore it.   It was SO sticky!   Or at least, I thought I hated it.  Then I found myself putting it on again the next day . . . and the next . . . and then I added it to my purse, so I had to admit I kind of liked it.  It is sticky.  VERY sticky.   Don't-do-anything-dusty-right-after-applying sticky.   But it also hangs around like a dream--I went through my entire day and my lips were still merlot-colored at the end of it.   That's an entire day of eating, drinking, kissing foreheads (no transfer after it finally set.  Which took a WHILE :P)   This product is not for everyone, but if you like sticky lipgloss with good pigmentation and shockingly great staying power, then this is for you.  

Doucce Ultra Precision Eye Liner in Black (full size)  $22

This eyeliner promised to be waterproof, long lasting, and 'a soft application'.   It's a soft application.   It does require eye makeup remover to get it off completely, but it smudges and fades pretty easily.   It's a meh for me--I added it to my makeup bag because it fades so well that I can use it day or night, but I will keep looking for the 'perfect' waterproof liner.  


Marsk Pro Line Eye Shadow Brush  $26

This brush is everything I never knew I wanted in an eyeshadow brush.   I have a good set of makeup brushes already, so I considered adding this one to the donate pile without trying it.  I'm so glad I didn't.   This brush is really great.  The bristles are soft but hold their shape very well.   The brush doesn't seem to hold much color in itself--it all gets transferred to my eyelid.   And the shape is perfect--I use one side to smooth color on my lid, the other side to put a highlight under my brow, and the tip is perfectly sized and shaped to put a deeper color on the crease.   This was a great addition to my makeup bag!


The value of this month's bag was $79.50 plus the bag itself--for only $10!!!Now to be fair, I didn't like some of the products and I seriously doubt I could have brought myself to pay $26 for that eyeshadow brush no matter how much I liked it, but I still consider this month's bag a great value.   I don't know how Ipsy will top this bag next month, but I look forward to finding out!

Ipsy is a subscription box service.   For $10 a month you get '4-6 deluxe samples or full sized products' and one zippered makeup bag in a theme that changes monthly (the bag is the same for everyone, but the products change based on your style survey).   That is $10 including shipping!   And when they say deluxe samples they mean it--no foil packets or 'is there any product in that?' tubes.  

If you'd like to sign up for Ipsy, go ahead and use my referral link!  I'll get points that I can use for free products.

Ipsy review, July 2015

Ipsy, where have you been all my life?   My friend Tabitha over at Happy Cake Crafts has been blogging about Ipsy for a while, and I finally decided to take the plunge.  I am SO glad that I did!!  This box not only kickstarted my new dedication to taking a little better care of myself, but also introduced me to products I never would have tried otherwise.   I am truly infatuated with Ipsy, and it is quickly turning into a deep love.

In case you aren't aware, Ipsy is a subscription box service.   For $10 a month you get '4-6 deluxe samples or full sized products' and one zippered makeup bag in a theme that changes monthly (the bag is the same for everyone, but the products change based on your style survey).   That is $10 including shipping!   And when they say deluxe samples they mean it--no foil packets or 'is there any product in that?' tubes.   Did I mention I'm in love?   I promise, if you try it you will be too!

July's theme was 'Summer Lovin''  And for $10, here's what I received:


This bag.


Honestly, I didn't love it.  The color combo is not to my taste and the stitching had some raveling when it arrived.   However, I still use this everyday over a month later (some essentials for the kids live in it) and it is holding up very well.  It's a thick-muslin type material, and seems to be both durable and washable.

Eau Thermale Avene Cleanance Gel Soapless Cleanser (25 ml)  $2.50

I was a little disappointed in this sample.   It's small, but not terribly so.   I was mostly disappointed because I couldn't find instructions on the packaging to make sure I was using it correctly (it either wasn't there or was so tiny I couldn't read it)   It seems like a good cleanser though and it didn't irritate my skin, so I put it in my 'travel' basket--I'll grab it when we're going on a trip.

Coolway Beachy Salt Spray (0.5 oz) $2


I did not even know this was a thing, and honestly can't imagine WHY I would want my hair to feel like it had ocean salt in it (sometimes, I'm just not cool enough).   It smells great, but it's not really a product I would use regularly.

City Color Cosmetics HD Powder (4 grams) $4

This is a good go-to powder for a quick makeup set.  It's a translucent 100% silica powder that is finely milled.   I like that it sets my makeup without adding an extra layer of color, so it feels and looks like I'm wearing less makeup.  The sample is very generously sized at 4 grams, and will last me a good while.

Jelly Pong Pong 2-in-1 shadow liner (full size) $5

This is a really fun product in a shade I never would have guessed I'd like.   It's a beautiful coppery color.  The product goes on so smoothly, almost like a lipstick rather than an eyeliner.   It sets well and is a 100% cruelty free product.

Be a Bombshell lip balm in French Kiss (full size)  $14

Ok, this is the product that convinced me to keep Ipsy past the first month.   Let me start out by saying that I never, ever in a million years would have paid $14 for a lip balm before I tried this one.  In fact, I don't even like to pay $2 for a lip balm--it's just a tube of palatable grease you'll slick on twenty times a day in the fall and winter, right?  WRONG.   This lip balm is everything I never knew a lip balm could or should be.   The color itself is little more than a glossy tinge of pink, which is fine--I've never been a fan of tinted lip balms.  But the texture--it's not even a little bit greasy going on.   Even better, I realized at the end of a long day that I had never reapplied it, not even once, and my lips still felt hydrated!!!   Did you get that?  Not remotely greasy but hydrated lips.  I have since used it alone and under lipstick.  I simply love it, and will be forever grateful to Ipsy for introducing me to a product that I'll happily pay full price for in the future.

So the total value of my first ipsy bag was $27.50 plus the value of the bag.   I received two full sized products in this bag and three deluxe samples (one of which, the powder, I didn't even realize wasn't full size until I looked it up on the website).

If you'd like to sign up for Ipsy, go ahead and use my referral link!  I'll get points that I can use for free products.

TOM Box -- September 2015

So, after years (literally) of focusing on my children and neglecting myself, I've started to begin some self-care routines.   I've found that I LOVE subscription boxes.  For a low price I get to try things I may not have picked up on my own, and I've already discovered brands that I love.

TOM boxes (Time Of the Month) are a genre of subscription boxes, with tomboxes.com (formerly swaagbox) being one of the first.   Some reviews I had read said this box contained tampons or pads (your choice of type and brand), some jewelry, makeup, candy, or other pampering products.    I found a half price link on http://hellosubscription.com so I decided to try it. Their regular price is $16, shipping included.

For $8, I received:

14 Count Always Ultra Thin Overnight (I use a variety of feminine products, and just happened to be running low on these when I ordered)   $4

This goldtone Y necklace.   It's a very light piece of costume jewelry that is not to my taste.   I would guess the retail price is around $10, but again it is not something I personally would buy.

This four-foil-pack sample of eslor--two packs of 'soothing refiner & cleanser' and two of 'chorophyll lifting mask' (each packet 5 ml)    I don't really love foil packets, but these appear to be generously sized and reviews of the products on amazon and birchbox seem promising.   $10



And then there was this box of three products.  

Suds! Bath and Body Lavender Chamomile foaming bath salts (0.5 oz)  I'm excited by the bath salts.   We're a bath salts/natural products/aromatherapy loving family, and this product hits all three.   I am not a bath lover, but I will still sometimes put some salts in the tub while I shower  (and soak my feet simultaneously :D).  I'm  really pleased that this product is handmade by an etsy seller, which is not something I expected.  It was a great surprise.  $0.50

EVOLV(H) Smart Start Leave-In Conditioner (2 oz)
Evolv(h) is another brand I had never heard of, but I have been in need of a new leave in conditioner as we move into fall.  I have very long hair and while I have a bajillion strands they're pretty fine, making product choice important.  I look forward to finding out if this conditioner is strong enough to condition my hair without weighing it down.  It's paraben free, gluten free, and vegan, and it smells REALLY good.   $10

Hakari mascara in Jet, full size
For a bunch of reasons, I have recently started wearing makeup again after ten years of wearing it no more than a couple of times a year.    That means I last wore makeup regularly when I was a student/employee/theatre person in my mid twenties and I am currently trying to figure out how to apply makeup to a mid-thirties face.  It's a whole new world :D  I've found that products I loved a decade ago just don't cut it now that my face--and lifestyle--have changed.   I've tried a few other Hikari products recently and I feel like they're high quality, and this mascara is no different.   It has become my go-to mascara for day.   The color is great and really brings out my lashes without being too heavy.  I do have to be careful when I'm applying it because it tends to flake, but once it's set I'm good to go.  Hikari does not test on animals.   $15

So for the math whizzes in the audience, the total value of this box is approximately $49.   Not too bad for a box that cost $8.   I've paused my subscription until I determine how much I like the products that were sent to me--and with this shipment I'm stocked up on feminine hygiene products.  I'll probably restart the subscription in a month or two though, or try another service.   The convenience of having my feminine hygiene products delivered combined with the cool gifts make for a great value.