GLOSSYBOX UK: NOVEMBER 2014 FIRST SNEAK PEEK!!!

And again irony reigns supreme on this lovely All Hallowed Eve. After receiving my October Glossybox this morning, they have now released their first official sneak peek of what I’m told is the UK November box…and it looks promising, my British lovelies!

Guaranteed in each November box is a full-sized Burt’s Bees lip shine, as well as a full-sized Lollipops Paris kohl eyeliner.

OoOoOoOoOo…I’m excited already for you UK subscribers. Nothing gets my little black heart pounding like the description “full size,” so I’ll definitely be looking forward to an equally spectacular USA November box!

If you’d like more information on Glossybox and maybe snag your own subscription, here are some links to get you started:

WEBSITE WITH REFERRAL: http://www.glossybox.com/referal?CI=MTIxNDg0
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/GlossyBox.com

As always, feel free to follow what I’m up to on the following social media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Beholding-Eye/683364698413511
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheBeholdingEye
Instagram: https://instagram.com/thebeholdingeye

Until next time, stay beautiful…

BOXYCHARM OCTOBER 2014 UNBOXING: BEWITCHED – TRICK OR TREAT?

Happy Halloween from Casa Beholding Eye. It’s our favorite holiday (which is why we chose today to be the drawing of our Big October Beauty Giveaway winners) and the mail carrier did not disappoint.

Trick or treat indeed…She came bearing both Boxycharm and Glossybox. Halloween is already starting out fantabulous.

Now, I believe in full disclosure with my blog and I should let everyone know that I’m extremely disappointed in Boxycharm this month. Not the products, but with the shipment and delivery dates. My card was charged on October 7th for the October box, and yet it wasn’t released for shipment out of Florida until October 23rd, and then didn’t hit my manicured greedy little fingertips until October 31st. Ummmm…really not cool, Boxycharm. The much-ballyhooed Halloween Bewitched box did manage to hit my hands precisely on Halloween but…well, considering I’ve been seeing other people receive their boxes for about 10 days now, I’m not a particularly happy “Charmer” this month. Hopefully that won’t color my opinion of the box but I’m really expecting Boxycharm to step it up in November, or we’ll be parting ways. My biggest pet peeve with these boxes are lackadaisical or flat-out poor customer service, and I call waiting over 2 weeks to ship a subscriber’s paid-for product pretty much unacceptable. So, get back on your toes, Boxycharm…It doesn’t matter how great your products are if I can’t get them in a timely manner.

Okay, now that I’ve vented, let’s try to objectively look at the box and its contents.

As always, there is it, in all of its glory…the Bewitched box.

The descriptor card and, on the flip side, the contents and their retail values. The goodies lie under that pesky piece of paper.

Let’s see what our caffeine-filled little brain is drawn to first…

Ahhhh, now this is a treat. From Palmetto Derma, it’s a full-sized bottle of their Collagen Booster & Restoration Serum. It says it “protects from premature aging and creates youthful, glowing and beautiful skin, all day and night!” Okay, I’ll take them up on that challenge. I’m still on my first cup of coffee and glowing is about the last thing I’d describe myself to be at the moment, so maybe this will do the trick.

Palmetto Derma also included a coupon for 20% off their entire website. I actually really appreciate it when companies do this, in case I fall in love with their product and want to order it again. Of course, sometimes scouting about the internet with a Google escort can help you locate the product at another source even cheaper than the cost with the coupon (yes, I’m notorious for being thrifty whenever possible when it comes to my beauty products).
(RETAIL VALUE: $48..00)

Moving right along…we’ve still got Glossybox sitting there taunting us as well as picking winners for the giveaway so there’s no time to waste…

From Cult/Commerce x Boxycharm is the “Shady” collection of nail lacquers, in beautiful shades of deep purple sheen and deep gray/black sheen. These colors are really lovely. That being said (here we go with that full disclosure nonsense again), apparently a lot of Charmers have had issues with the brushes in these being stiff and…well, not acceptable. Boxycharm assured us that if we soak the brushes in acetone or nail polish remover for a few seconds and wipe them off, they will work just fine. I’ll be putting that to the test later and hopefully that little tip does work, otherwise you’ll be hearing from me, Boxycharm!
(RETAIL VALUE: $21.00…seriously? For that price, these brushes better not have issues)

The next 2 items are both full-sized; the first is Be A Bombshell Eyeshadow in Risky Business (a gorgeous golden brown color) and a full-sized Starlooks eyeliner in Ultra Olive (a lovely deep shade of olive green flecked with gold). Loving both of these…Not sure how often I’ll actually wear the Ultra Olive eyeliner, but I’m sure I will at some point because it really is a lovely color.
(RETAIL VALUE: $28 combined – eyeshadow $14.00 and eyeliner 14.00)

Last up is the much-hyped piece de resistance of the Bewitched box, a full-sized Coastal Scents Eclipse concealer palette. With shades designed to camouflage undereye circles, neutralize redness, and cover just about any imperfection, major or minor, on one’s face, I’m looking forward to trying this one out. It’s also apparently buildable for sheer coverage up to full coverage.
(RETAIL VALUE: $19.95)

And there we have it, the Boxycharm October Bewitched box, finally in my hands and unboxed.

RETAIL VALUE OF BOX: $116.95.

Do I love it? Meh…but as I said earlier, I’m dissatisfied with Boxycharm and the extremely late shipment this month, so that might be dampening my enthusiasm. They are great products (I’d have liked a black or brown gem liner but what the hey…olive is neutral, too, right?). Other than that, I really have no complaints…Provided those brushes on the nail lacquers work properly after a brief dip into some acetone. I love the eyeshadow color, I love the description of the serum, and the palette hopefully lives up to its hype.

We’re going to give Boxycharm one more month to see if they can pull their act together with shipping boxes out in a timely fashion and then perhaps do a “kick it or keep it” evaluation of them. I truly do usually love Boxycharm, so I’m hoping they get their proverbial act together and step up their performance next month.

If you’d like to sign up for Boxycharm (I believe there might be a short wait list), here are some links to get you started:

WEBSITE WITH REFERRAL CODE: https://www.boxycharm.com/rewardsref/index/refer/id/9718/
FACEBOOK PAGE: https://www.facebook.com/Boxycharm

As always, feel free to follow what I’m up to on the following social media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Beholding-Eye/683364698413511
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheBeholdingEye
Instagram: https://instagram.com/thebeholdingeye

Until next time, stay beautiful…and stay tuned later today for the announcement of the Rafflecopter winners of the drawing…Good luck to all, and HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

BIG OCTOBER BEAUTY GIVEAWAY – GO BIG OR GO HOME – SECOND PLACE PRIZE!

Tomorrow is the big day, when a winner will be chosen and announced, so stay tuned…

Now, as promised, here is a picture of the second place prize, which includes a variety of items received in various boxes over the past couple of months and will be placed inside the Thursday Friday canvas makeup bag featured in the FabFitFun Summer box (RV $35).

And here are a couple of pictures of the contents that will be sent to the second place winner:

We aren’t going to put a retail value on each item in the contents as most are samples sizes (and the approximate retail value on many of these can be found in this blog, now that I think about it). Included are It Cosmetics Universal Brow (a very popular item!), 2 nail lacquers, deluxe travel sizes of Neil George shampoo and condition, deluxe travel size of suntan oil, a deluxe sample size of Be A Bombshell Smooth Criminal finishing powder, a 4-tray sampler of Coastal Scents Revealed neutral shadows, and more.

Our sincere thanks again to all who entered…and stay tuned tomorrow for the big announcement.

As always, feel free to follow what I’m up to on the following social media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Beholding-Eye/683364698413511
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheBeholdingEye
Instagram: https://instagram.com/thebeholdingeye

Until next time, stay beautiful!!!

ALLURE SAMPLE SOCIETY: NOVEMBER 2014 SPOILER #1, COUPON CODE, AND GIVEAWAY UPDATE!

For those of you subscribing to or thinking about subscribing to Allure Sample Society, here’s the first spoiler they’ve posted for the November box.

“Everything about this body wash is pleasing to the senses. There’s the scent, courtesy of actual bergamot oranges instead of synthetic fragrances. There’s the airy lather—just a small amount produces suds. It’s so great at making bubbles that you can toss a few capfuls into the tub for a bath. There’s glycerin in the formula, which means it doesn’t dry out skin the way many body gels do; it moisturizes instead. (It’s safe even on sensitive skin and eczema.) And finally, there’s the bottle: It’s both graphic and understated, a perfect combination.”

If you’d like to subscribe to Allure Sample Society, here are some links to get you started:

WEBSITE: http://www.beautybar.com
FACEBOOK PAGE: https://www.facebook.com/beautybar.com?fref=photo

WHEN SUBSCRIBING, FEEL FREE TO USE MY REFERRAL CODE (SAMO3924) AND ENTER 5FORYOU AT CHECKOUT TO SAVE $5 ON YOUR FIRST BOX.

The November box will be the determining box for the Keep It or Kick It here at Casa Beholding Eye. Hopefully the rest of the products are awesome!

Remember to enter the giveaway if you haven’t done so already. All of the items included have been posted and tomorrow night entries officially close, with the winner chosen October 31st – Halloween (our favorite holiday at The Beholding Eye).

As always, feel free to follow what I’m up to on the following social media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Beholding-Eye/683364698413511
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheBeholdingEye
Instagram: https://instagram.com/thebeholdingeye

Until next time, stay beautiful!!!

BIG OCTOBER BEAUTY GIVEAWAY – SNEAK PEEK #12 – GO BIG OR GO HOME!!!

Happy Sunday and, to fellow fans, Happy The Walking Dead Episode 3 Night! We’re all about The Walking Dead on Sunday nights here at Casa Beholding Eye. We like to think of it as quality family time gathered around the TV after work and having dinner…even though we rarely speak a word until the episode is over.

There are less than 2 days left to enter the giveaway and we’re up to Item #12 (one sneak peek featured 2 items).

This blog is lengthy but there may or may not be a little “twist” at the end, so I encourage you to read all the way through. *hint hint*

This one is probably going to rock your socks off so be prepared.

From the FabFitFun Fall Edition box is “the” big-ticket item. Renowned for skincare product extraordinaire, here it is:

From Dermalogica, one of the top names in the skincare industry, is a full-sized Skin Hydrating Booster. I love me some Dermalogica but, truth be told, my skin is sensitive and a bit combination but rarely, if ever, dry. I’m sure this is an exceptional product (as are all Dermalogica products), but it would just go into my Skincare Graveyard as I would likely never use it. My skin’s quirkiness is your gain, readers.

RETAIL VALUE: $56.00.

So let’s take a look at the other 10 items in the giveaway and do a quick recap, in no particular order:

RETAIL VALUE: $38.00

RETAIL VALUE: $25.00

RETAIL VALUE: Approximately $10

RETAIL VALUE: $29.00

RETAIL VALUE: $22.00

RETAIL VALUE: $19.00

RETAIL VALUE: Approximately $20.00

RETAIL VALUE: $35.00

RETAIL VALUE: $95.00

RETAIL VALUE: $55.00

ESTIMATED RETAIL VALUE: $404.00

With an estimated retail of over $400, not to mention most of these items are top-of-the-line, in-demand products featured in recent subscription boxes, this is a giveaway in which we at The Beholding Eye take great pride offering.

A few people have asked why do a giveaway as opposed to selling the items on Ebay and making a quick buck (or a lot of quick bucks, considering the retail value).

Well, that’s a very good question.

1. Because it’s better to give than to receive? Yeah, sometimes, but I’m usually pretty self-absorbed.
2. Because before I discovered subscription boxes, I would have crawled through broken glass on my hands and knees to get my bloody hands on a just a few of these products? Definitely.
3. I’d like to let someone who will be able to use and appreciate these amazing products have a shot at owning them? Yes indeedy.
4. Because I’m nice? (Nah, get that idea out of your head…I’m actually quite snarky — as one can tell reading my other blog entries, I’m sure — and straightforward, although with a hint of diplomacy…”nice” isn’t the first word that usually comes to mind when describing myself.

I don’t know, actually. I think it’s more a combination of #2 and #3. I’ve won a couple of very small giveaways and I know the euphoria that comes with winning. As ecstatic as I’ve been to win a few relatively minor things, I can’t even imagine being the winner of this haul. I’d probably be shouting from the rooftops and dancing in the streets…and THAT’S the reason I’m really doing this. I want to make a fellow beauty-holic happy (not to be confused with being “nice,” so banish that thought out of your mind). And while these products are UH-MAZING, realistically, they don’t do me a bit of good when they’re not right for my hair/skin type or if it’s a duplicate of a great product that I’d like for someone else to be able to try. Times are still tough for a lot of people…being able to make someone happy with a box full of fantabulous beauty products just seems like the right thing for this beauty-holic to do.

So, if you haven’t entered the drawing yet, I strongly encourage you to do so now. Entries end tomorrow at midnight. I may or may not put another product into the mix (if I can find it…I put it up for safekeeping for the drawing and have yet to unearth it) but as it stands right now these will be the contents of that glorious USPS box complete with tracking you’ll be receiving if Rafflecopter chooses you as the winner.*

From this point forward, I plan to do monthly or semi-monthly giveaways, albeit to a lesser degree. Two to three times a year, I plan on doing a blockbuster giveaway such as this one. Again, it will be products I simply cannot use or duplicates I have received. Sharing the wealth and all with my readers. I hope everyone who entered will continue to follow me on social media for updates, reviews, unboxings, etc. I’m planning on getting a laptop with a camera after the holidays so I can also do vlogging.

And Happy Sunday and Happy The Walking Dead Episode 3 night from Casa The Beholding Eye to you. See our bright and shining faces? That’s yours truly photo-bombing in the background.

As always, feel free to follow what I’m up to on the following social media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Beholding-Eye/683364698413511
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheBeholdingEye
Instagram: https://instagram.com/thebeholdingeye

Until next time, stay beautiful…

If you haven’t entered yet, click on the Rafflecopter link below and get your name into that proverbial hat…Remember, you can’t win if you don’t enter!

ENTER HERE: a Rafflecopter giveaway

*Due to the overwhelming response to this giveaway and our heartfelt appreciation at all of the kind words, new subscribers, new followers to our social media, etc., we were thinking….Perhaps we should add a second-place winner, who will receive a cosmetic bag full of various and sundry samples we’ve been receiving in our boxes for a few months now. While not nearly as grand and glorious as first place, we think it would be a nice little “thank you” gesture for one additional reader who took the time to enter the contest. Let me know in the comments what you think about this latest addition. Au Revoir for now, and stay beautiful!

(Please note that the giveaway will only be available for US and Canadian residents, otherwise postage would be cost-prohibitive…Thanks for understanding!)

BIG OCTOBER BEAUTY GIVEAWAY: SNEAK PEEK #10 – GO BIG OR GO HOME!!!

Okay, we’re winding down to the last couple of days of the giveaway and, since it’s Friday and I’m still on cloud 9 over my Wantable Intimates box from this morning, let’s grab another item and toss it into the giveaway. Who ever thought giving things away could be so much fun?

And here it is, Item #10 in the Big October Beauty Giveaway:

From the world-renowned Bulgari, this is an approximately 3-ounce bottle of their Bulgari Eau Parfumee Au The Blanc Conditioner. It smells wonderful (as do the Bulgari fragrances I’ve sampled). Assuming its hefty price tag means it not only smells good but actually works well, this should knock your proverbial socks off.
(RETAIL VALUE: Approx $20; full-size 6.76 oz bottle retails for $45)

And tomorrow will likely bring what is likely the final item in the giveaway. Off the top of my caffeine-deprived head (I’m only halfway through cup #2 this lovely Friday morning), I believe retail value on this giveaway is now up to $350 and contains some truly UH-MAZING products. It’s going to be like the Beauty Fairy came to visit the winner…Be sure to enter now so you don’t miss out on your chance to have a big box of awesomeness show up on your doorstep! Link at end of post for your convenience, my lovelies…

As always, feel free to follow me on the following social media and be sure to enter the big October Beauty Giveaway (link at end of this post!):

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Beholding-Eye/683364698413511
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheBeholdingEye
Instagram: https://instagram.com/thebeholdingeye

ENTER RAFFLE HERE: a Rafflecopter giveaway

Until next time, stay beautiful, and good luck to all who enter the giveaway!

(Please note that the giveaway will only be available for US and Canadian residents, otherwise postage would be cost-prohibitive…Thanks for understanding!)

BIRCHBOX OCTOBER 2014: KEEP IT OR KICK IT?

I’ll be up front about the October Birchbox. I wasn’t thrilled with my preview of what I would be receiving, but I remained optimistic and hoped that the products actually in my hand would be more exciting than the pictures on the website.

As the new year approaches, here at Casa Beholding Eye, we’re deciding which boxes are actually worth keeping and which need to be kicked…as in, kicked to the curb. Birchbox, which has an amazing points system (which can be accrued simply by reviewing the products received on the BB website) and spent as cash in the Birchbox store, and those points are what have keep me hanging on every month.

Let’s see if they can retain my subscription with the October box.

And there it is. It feels amazingly…light. Well, let’s dive in…maybe something Friday Fabulous awaits.

First up is a 4-shade sampler of Coastal Scents Revealed palette in the shades “Latte.” These colors are definitely right up my alley, lovely nude/neutral shades suitable for every day wear and totally able to be built up for more a more dramatic evening-out look. The size of these samples is decent as well, containing enough of each shade for several applications.

The only con? I love this Coastal Scents palette so much that I already own the full-sized version…unfortunately this sampler isn’t “purse-friendly” and can’t be taken for quick touch ups on the go. C’eset la vie.

Moving right along…

Next up is a sample size of Dr. Lipp Original Nipple Balm for Lips. This product was apparently originally made for nursing moms and apparently was found to make an amazing lip balm, as well as a good balm for dry cuticles, elbows, etc. I’ve actually heard good things about this product, so I’m looking forward to trying it.

And the next item to find its way into my hand is Dr. Brandt Pores No More Vacuum Cleaner. I normally love Dr. Brandt products, and this is apparently an award-winning gel that helps to degunk pores for fewer blackheads and smoother skin. I’ve gotten several Dr. Brandt samples over the past couple of months in various subscription boxes that I’ve loved, so I’ll definitely give this product a try.

I’ve already read high praises for this product. Beauty Protector is supposed to lock in color, protect from heat damage, and add silkiness. I’ve heard that not only does this product work well, but that the smell is UH-MAZING. After spraying a tiny bit onto my hand for the sniff test, I concur. It smells wonderful. Having thick, naturally wavy hair that’s been every color of the rainbow and beyond, I’m always on the prowl for products like this, so I’ll definitely be giving Beauty Protector the next time I wash my hair.

I’ve saved my favorite product in this month’s Birchbox for last. This caught my eye as soon as I pulled back the tissue paper. This jar is just gorgeous, so perfectly “me.” It contains Camille Beckman Tuscan Honey Glycerine Hand Therapy. I have no idea how good the product inside may or may not be…I was so immediately enamored of the packaging that it really doesn’t matter. I’m going to keep this gorgeous little gem on the desk in my office…and likely order a full-sized product as well. The black container with the red rose is the perfect combination. I’m in love with this product without even trying it. Brava, Camille Beckman!

And there we have it, the October Birchbox.

Birchbox is $10/month and offers the easy-to-accure points benefit that I described above.

I’ve had months where Birchbox knocks it out of the park for me. I’ve unfortunately had more months where the products fail to excite me and end up in the “graveyard” of products that maybe I’ll get around to using someday. Such as during a Zombie Apocalypse where I wouldn’t be able to go out and purchase anything else.

Having a couple of hundred of points accumulated, I browsed the Birchbox store and decided to cash out my points by purchasing a 2-pack of Beauty Blenders.

Keep it or kick it?

There are so many other subscription boxes out there to choose from (some truly amazing ones, such as BoxyCharm, The French Box, and Lip Factory) that I feel my $10 is much better put toward a more expensive box that will contain products that I’m more likely to love…and thus more likely to use.

Au revoir, Birchbox. I’ve enjoyed our time together for the most part, but it’s time to go our separate ways.

STATUS: KICKED TO THE CURB.

Just because Birchbox isn’t a good fit for me doesn’t mean that some of you readers won’t love it and find it perfect for your needs. It’s great for sampling new products that you might not have otherwise heard of and the points are a huge perk of a Birchbox subscription. If you’d like to check it out further for yourself, here are some links to get you started:

WEBSITE AND REFERRAL LINK: https://www.birchbox.com/invite/ngb9d
FACEBOOK PAGE: https://www.facebook.com/Birchbox

As always, feel free to follow what I’m up to on the following social media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Beholding-Eye/683364698413511
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheBeholdingEye
Instagram: https://instagram.com/thebeholdingeye

Until next time, stay beautiful…And keep your eyes open for the next Sneak Peek of the Big October Beauty Giveaway. There is one more item to be revealed before entries close and a winner is chosen.

Okay, maybe TWO items. We like to share the love here at The Beholding Eye.

If you haven’t entered yet, click on the Rafflecopter link below and get your name into that proverbial hat…Remember, you can’t win if you don’t enter!

ENTER HERE: a Rafflecopter giveaway

BIG OCTOBER BEAUTY GIVEAWAY – SNEAK PEEK #9 – GO BIG OR GO HOME!!!

And in celebration of nothing in particular other than it’s Hump Day and I’ve got some trashtastic reality TV shows awaiting me on the DVR tonight, let’s roll out the next to the last sneak peek into the Big October Beauty Giveaway.

Boscia B.B. Cream Bronze Broad Spectrum SPF 27 PA++

Even though the summer months are now behind us, this little skincare delight can be used mixed with your regular BB cream or foundation to give you a kiss of the sun wherever you would like. Boscia has a great reputation in the beauty industry for having superlative skin care products, and I’ve no doubt this BB cream will be amazing for your skin (and even in the winter, protection from the sun is still vital to our skin).
(RETAIL VALUE: $38 – Giveaway item is a full-sized product)

And, in no particular order whatsoever, let’s recap all of the items:

TOTAL RETAIL VALUE: Approximately $325.

Entries close on October 28th, with the winner chosen on October 31st (Happy Halloween!!!). If you haven’t entered yet, be sure to do so now!

As always, feel free to follow what I’m up to on the following social media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Beholding-Eye/683364698413511
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheBeholdingEye
Instagram: https://instagram.com/thebeholdingeye

ENTER DRAWING HERE: a Rafflecopter giveaway

Until next time, stay beautiful, and good luck to all who enter.

(Please note that the giveaway will only be available for US and Canadian residents, otherwise postage would be cost-prohibitive…Thanks for understanding!)

ALLURE SAMPLE SOCIETY OCTOBER 2014 UNBOXING: HIGH-END LUXURY? YOU BE THE JUDGE.

Well, the third box delivered today was my maiden voyage with the Allure Sample Society/Beauty Bar collaboration subscription box. I sat on the proverbial fence for awhile with this one. After a relaunch in July, the box seemed to have garnered a little more credibility and seemed to be moving right along.

And then October happened.

Well, let’s get to the unboxing and you’ll see what I mean.

First off, once I pried it from it’s extremely tight-fitting shipping box, this is what my eyes beheld:

The bright red box emblazoned with Allure. So far, so good.

The real test is yet to come.

Looks okay at a glance. Now let’s get a little more in depth and personal with the contents.

Hair ties. At the moment, I’m growing out a summer pixie cut and it’s now about Lisa Rinna-ish in length and appearance. Passing these straight off to my daughter. Admittedly, it could have been worse. It could have been scrunchies. At least this brand is “celebrity friendly” and is sold at Nordstrom.
(RETAIL VALUE: $6.50)

This is more along the lines of what I was expecting. Bobbi Brown Smokey Eye Mascara, in a nice sample size. As I pointed out earlier with the Model Co VolumEyes, I’m on mascara overload with subscription boxes, but this is one I did want to try, so it will go into Things I Need To Try basket (right after the Sothy’s mascara I received in the French Box).
(RETAIL VALUE: FULL-SIZE $28)

Next, wrapped up in a cute little candy-wrapper fashion and appropriately called a “bon bon sample,” is Bond No. 9 in High Line. This smells amazing. A full size of this perfume is anywhere from $99 to $165. Now, this is what I expect as a “high-end luxury sample.” Would I ever buy this? No way, not at that price (plus I’m more of a Pacifique Sud Vanille Abricot kinda gal). But the chance to dip into this luxury sample for special occasions? PRICELESS.
(RETAIL VALUE: $99 to $165)

Here is a 0.25 ounce sample of Estee Lauder Enlighten serum. At $62/ounce, I consider this nice-sized sample to definitely quality as high end…or at least, “higher end.” As much as I love trialing Estee Lauder serums, however, I can honestly say that I’ve never been sufficiently impressed to actually purchase one of them. I’ll happily use this sample up and then probably move on to the next serum that catches my eye (or arrives in a subscription box).
(RETAIL VALUE: Approximately $15)

Now for the kicker. I do wish someone at Allure/Beauty Bar could explain to me precisely how a L’Oreal shampoo and conditioner I can readily purchase at the local drugstore, pharmacy, Wal-Mart, Target, or KMart found itself into their purported “high-end luxury samples” box. No offense, L’Oreal, I do love many of your products, but you are most assuredly not what comes to my mind in the “high-end luxury” category.
(RETAIL VALUE: Didn’t bother)

Seriously, Allure? SERIOUSLY?

Okay, for the nitty gritty of the box. Since the hair ties (while definitely not for me) are indeed available in the high-end department store Nordstrom and appear to have some celebrity status, I’ll let these slide. I might even love them if I could actually wear them but these subscription boxes can only rationally do so much personalizing of boxes and so, much like a shade of eyeshadow or blush that isn’t for me, I’ll just pass it on to a loving home. No harm, no foul.

The Estee Lauder serum, the Bobbi Brown mascara, and most assuredly the Bond No. 9 perfume are all definitely high (or higher) end.

But L’Oreal? Not so much.

I’ll keep this subscription for one more month to see if it measures up to my expectations a little better than this October box did but if not…off with it’s head (in my best Red Queen voice).

If you’d like to check out Allure Sample Society/Beauty Bar, here are some links to get you started:

WEBSITE WITH REFERRAL LINK: http://www.beautybar.com USE CODE SAMO3924 IF YOU’D LIKE TO BLAME ME…OR USE ME AS A REFERRAL)
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/beautybar.com

As always, feel free to follow what I’m up to on the following social media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Beholding-Eye/683364698413511
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheBeholdingEye
Instagram: https://instagram.com/thebeholdingeye

Until next time, stay beautiful…and if you haven’t entered the Big October Beauty Giveaway, here is the link so you can jump in now…You definitely don’t want to miss out on a chance to win this amazing haul of makeup and beauty treasures!

ENTER RAFFLE HERE: a Rafflecopter giveaway

IPSY GLAM BAG UNBOXING OCTOBER 2014: TO KEEP OR NOT TO KEEP?

Well, today is a banner day for subscription boxes at Casa Beholding Eye. This morning saw the mail carrier delivering Lip Monthly and Ipsy, and UPS will be gracing me with their presence and my October Birchbox later today.

I’ve been on the fence about Ipsy for a couple of months. Some months they really knock it out of the park with great products that I’ve either heard about and wanted to try or new products that I’m interested in trying. After a couple of lackluster months, I debate on cancelling…But then they go and hit a home run and I decide to keep the subscription going.

Let’s see if this month’s Ipsy bag impresses or disappoints.

First off, this month’s bag is absolutely adorable. It’s quite a bit darker teal in person than in the photograph, and super cute…Cute enough where I’d consider carrying it as a clutch just to run to the store or to a casual event. Small enough to not be obnoxious, large enough to hold the necessities for a few hours.

Again, really cute bag…Not quite as cute as last month’s but super cute nonetheless.

And now for the REAL test…the contents.

There they are, all 5 products, at least one of which appears to be full sized. Let’s check things out further.

Here is a full-sized bottle of Nicole by OPI nail lacquer in the shade “Feeling Very Cherry.” Well, I’m “Feeling Very Cheery” just looking at this. An absolutely gorgeous shade by one of my favorite companies and PERFECT for fall. In fact, I sense a manicure in my near future…like tonight. As soon as I get off of work.
(RETAIL VALUE: $5.97 at Walmart)

And next up is a 1-ounce generous sample size of Epice Purifying Exfoliator. Now, this is a product I’m looking forward to trying. It’s going to have to be fantabulous to outdo my personal favorite exfoliator, Suki Face Foaming Exfoliator, but I’m definitely open minded about switching alliances if this product knocks my knitted little socks off.
(RETAIL VALUE: $1 FOR THE SAMPLE BASED ON EPICE’S WEBSITE)

With fall weather here (and what with the fear of the dreaded Ebola embedded in my brain and thus amped up application of drying hand sanitizer), I’m always appreciative of a good hand cream. This one, by Figs and Rouge out of the United Kingdom, is in the scent Rose Berry and touts itself as being pure and natural, nourishing and soothing. I’ll be using this tonight in conjunction with my “Feeling Very Cherry” manicure.
(RETAIL VALUE: $5 based on the price of $10 for a full-sized product on various beauty sites)

Woot! Here we have a small sample of Starlooks Lip Gloss in the color “Guilty Pleasure.” It’s a small sample but definitely large enough for me to decide whether it’s something I’d like to add to my repertoire.
(RETAIL VALUE: $3 based on the $12 price tag for a full size of this gloss).

The last item in this month’s bag is a full-sized mascara from Model Co, “VolumEyes.” I’ve got quite an assortment of mascaras from various subscription boxes the last few months, so I’ll put this one in its appropriate place in line and definitely try it at a future point (right now the Sothy’s Volume Care mascara from my amazing French Box is next up on my list to try).
(RETAIL VALUE: $20 from the Model Co website).

So there we have it. Another month of Ipsy, another super cute bag to add to my collection…but is it worth the $10/month or would I be better off cancelling and applying that $10 towards another subscription?

Well, approximate retail value of this month’s bag is $35, for which I paid $10. Both the mascara and the amazing nail lacquer are both full-sized products and account for most of the total retail value of the bag.

Okay, Ipsy…those 2 products have suckered me in to keep you going for another month.

But, being female, it’s my prerogative to change my mind at any given time.

If you’d like more information on Ipsy and would like to sign up for your own little monthly treat, here are some links to get you started:

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/ipsy
WEBSITE AND REFERRAL LINK: http://www.ipsy.com/r/jk7y?sid=ipsypoints&cid=general

As always, feel free to follow what I’m up to on the following social media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Beholding-Eye/683364698413511
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheBeholdingEye
Instagram: https://instagram.com/thebeholdingeye

Until next time, stay beautiful…and if you haven’t entered the Big October Beauty Giveaway, here is the link so you can jump in now…You definitely don’t want to miss out on a chance to win this amazing haul of makeup and beauty treasures!

ENTER RAFFLE HERE: a Rafflecopter giveaway