Wantable October Makeup Box

Hellloo new Wantable October Makeup box. Stuart from Wantable was nice enough to send me out a complimentary box for review and oh my god, my mouth is watering. But, before I get ahead of myself, if you haven't seen my previous post on Wantable, basically they are a high-end subscription box, where you can choose to receive a Makeup box, an Intimates box or an Accessories box (and if you're quick enough, you may be able to snag the special Halloween box for October, before the month is up!) for either US$36 per month, or US$40 for a one off. In the Makeup box, you receive 4 - 5 full-size, high-end makeup products, and generally a freebie sample is included in the box too. The great thing about Wantable, besides their return policy (if you happen to get some items that you don't like you can send the box back for a refund) is they have a really in-depth quiz about what your preferences are so you are more likely to get products that you selected as "love" or "like" and never to get products you marked in the quiz as "dislike". 

Ah, humble and sleek logo

Oh ho ho ho, they called me beautiful!

Okay. Contain yourself. Try.

I received my box about 17 days after placing my order, a little longer than last time, but I think the wait is worth it (plus it still made the October cut-off line to be called an "October box"). In this month's box is four full size products and a cute sample too; the packaging for the box itself is simple (no box within a box like other subscriptions), but really chockas with the foam so your products are much less likely to be damaged. Either way, as I slowly started unboxing, my excitement was increasing, good lord, I even had to call my boyfriend into the room to show off what I had received . 

The line up.

The line up of the actual products.

Cailyn Cosmetics Red Tint

First in the line up, we have a nifty red tint - how cute is the packaging? It looks like a vial of blood (and, strangely enough, the brand name is not anywhere on the actual product itself). This retails for US$13 according to the invoice sheet and, my, would this ever be intriguing to carry around in your handbag. Pretty simple to figure out what it is - a red tint, as the name implies. It has a doe-foot applicator to it, smells a tad like beetroot (or could be my imagination), and is quite plummy and muted in tone, although the vial is of course darker than the actual tint, as like many other stains. I would like to wear this for everyday makeup, good for going to work because I do like that muted feel to it.

Red Tint

Lise Watier Ombre Souffle Supreme in Tartan Magique

Well, we have a fancy name here. I received a sample of two shades of this Ombre Souffle Supreme in the previous box, but haven't gotten around to testing them out for myself (have to find a way for the colour to work), so I didn't really know what to expect of the full size I received this month. It comes with a double-ended sponge tip applicator, one side being pointed and the other is more of a paddle shape; the product itself is housed in a sturdy glass packaging, similar to that of the old Benefit Creaseless Cream Eyeshadows. The colour is a nice shimmery cold blue, and appears to have a bit of green reflect, ridiculous pretty is what I'm trying to get at; and the texture is absolutely fantastic! It really is like a souffle, it bounces and it feels lighter than a mousse when applying. Retails for US$24.

Tartan Magique

Besame Cosmetics Classic Color Lipstick in Cherry Red

Damn, oh damn, this is the brand I was hoping to get a product from! I saw some Besame products in other people's boxes, and are they not the most luxurious looking products ever? Firstly, the secondary packaging is a super pretty red box with a slight vintage-feel yellow flower design. The lipstick itself, which is inside a red velvet bag, is a gorgeous gold with red flower decal, in a rounded lipstick tube which opens and closes with a click. Ugh, can't get enough of the packaging, but besides that, the lipstick is to die for too. The "cherry red" colour seems a bit deeper than I would expect, but I guess we're talking real cherries here, not the stain you get from eating cherries. The texture is so ridiculously creamy when applying, and it dries down to a semi-matte finish, but beware, it packs quite a punch with pigment, and might stain wherever else this applies. Retails for US$22, which is not too bad at all, if only I could get my hands on some more Besame.

Cherry Red

Be a Bombshell Blush in Blind Date

To top off this month's box, I got a nice bright blush by Be a Bombshell. Housed in packaging that is similar to MAC with the circularity and the large clear window to display the colour, I was quite pleased to receive this (yes, Wantable really do listen to your preferences!), even said "ooh a bright blush" when I saw it. I'm lame, I know. It is quite a soft blush, but it swatches really evenly, no chalkiness that I noticed either. A bright corally pink, it'll be goo to use for the current spring season, it's a lot less brighter than in the pan though. It looks really like you're blushing too, with a tad bit of shimmer for a bit of glow. Retails for US$16.

Blind Date

I quite liked 4/4 of what I received, so damn, this was a good month. I can see myself getting some use out of all the products, although the Lise Watier one maybe a bit less at the moment, due my complexion gradually getting tanner as it's starting to heat up. Definitely love the Besame lipstick though, super creamy, the Cailyn Red Tint is pretty nifty for a "no-makeup makeup" look too. The blush is quite nice too, could always use more blushes, considering the portion of my collection that is blush could do with a revamp, and I do loved that flushed look that this one gives.

left to right, without flash: red tint, tartan magique, cherry red, blind date

With Flash

For my (what would have been) US$49 (the box plus the shipping), I received US$75 worth of product, and really, much more worth it than most other subscription boxes, because, again, Wantable  sends out full-size products. I mean, I could even see that I would like the sample of the Instant Skin Tightener and Line Filler by Skiin that they included, so that's another bonus. I know that there are some people that have had trouble with their boxes (say, receiving an item that they had marked as "dislike" on their preferences), but the customer service is fantastic. Just shoot them off an email and you're sure to get it sorted (at least from what I've heard, no personal experience here to relate, second box here and all). 

Overall, I am really quite pleased with the box. Very pleased. The Wantable subscription box gives you a nice introduction to some brands too, and I have to comment again on how well the quiz is made. It's really quite in-depth so you can manipulate your preferences a bit better. I should note that for those ladies in Aussie, like I am, this is a pretty good deal considering how mark-up is over here, too. I'm really lucky that they sent me a complimentary box, I personally have no bad words to say at all at this point, and it doesn't look like there would be any in the future. In fact, it may be a bit early to say (I like to not get my hopes too high up), but they may have easily made a subscriber out of me right here. Either way, I'll definitely be purchasing another box in the future, but, for now, I think I've pretty much said all that there is to say. 

Stay tuned for my FoTD/Tutorial post using these products, up by the end of the week!

The Wantable makeup box is available here for US$36 for a subscription, or US$40 for a one-off, shipping to Australia is US$9, or to Canada for US$5.

I was sent this box complimentary for review purposes. 

Wantable September Makeup Box

My first ever subscription box! Subscription boxes have really been popping up everywhere since Birchbox, now with even indie companies like Fortune Cookie Soap and Madd Style Cosmetics jumping on the bandwagon and putting out their own unique subscription box too. Wantable is also tad bit different, in that it is a high-end subscription box; you can select the makeup box, or subscribe for accessories or for lingerie too (and at the moment, they offer a halloween box!). You can choose to subscribe for US$36 dollars a month, or a one-off purchase (which is what I did) for US$40 and you receive 4 - 6 full-size products based on a pretty dang in-depth quiz. Seriously, the quiz was not just "oh hey, answer like two questions". No, you select what you like, dislike and what you love: you're more likely to receive what you love and never receive what you dislike and then the preferences continue. It gives you a bit of control and removes a bit of the daunting unknowing feeling that you might not like what you're going to get.

For my US$40 (+ a hefty US$9 for international shipping), about 12 days after I placed my order this beauty arrived at my door with 5 full-sized products and one sample, with an apparent total value of US$92, so I got almost double the value of the box back. While most beauty boxes have a box within the outside packaging, Wantable keeps it simple with just the one box and then bundles of foam inside to protect the products. I've never owned any of these brands before, and the only ones I've heard of is Cailyn and Lise Watier, but never been able to try any of them. Another benefit of subscription boxes allow you to test out products you normally wouldn't get or have access to.

Cailyn Cosmetics Gel Luxe (gelux) Eyebrow in Nutmeg - US$22

God, do I ever have an affinity for brow products. In my last post I purchased the brow color pen by ARTDECO and used it for the first time yesterday (first time using a brow pen) aaand the results were a bit iffy. The colour wasn't quite right and the tip of the pen was not quite thin enough either, but I made it work for the day. So I'm always glad to have a new brow product to try, searching for the perfect brow helper. This product seems a bit of a closer match in colour and the built in brush is really handy too. I thought this was going to be a lot softer applying, due to my only experience with brow gel products is really a Maybelline Colour Tattoo, but darn it if it wasn't more appropriate to be a hard formula. This is also meant to be waterproof and long-lasting, so here's hoping. 

Cailyn Cosmetics Liquid Eyeliner in Silver Shimmer (3) - US$15

Wasn't actually too excited by this product when I first saw it in the box at all. The silver just looks like a colour I wouldn't reach for, despite the packaging being damn cute. And then I swatched it. And holy hell, did I change my tune quickly. This looks like granite, sort of a brown base with a fine silver reflect to it that makes you say "oh, hello". There's not really much else to say about this, as there really isn't anymore info on the box, but I'm glad I ended up pleased with this product too. 

Lise Watier Hydra Shine Lip Stain in Rose Classique - US$20

I originally thought this would apply like a balm or gloss with a doe foot applicator, but after trying to figure out how to twist the cap off and then going "oh screw it, let me just pull it". I was surprised to see a texta. I don't know how this will fare with me, it doesn't really look like a colour I'd be super into. The smell is hard to place, it's not unpleasant, but fruity and sweet and just a tad odd. We'll just have to see how this one goes.

Manna Kadar Blush in The Big "O" (332) - US$19

This blush looks super pretty and I was glad to see it in my subscription box. It's a peachy pink colour with gold shimmer, akin to that of NARS Orgasm, and wouldn't you know it. I flip over the packaging to see the name of the blush is "The Big "O"". Well, they're clearly going for a dupe. It looks a bit more pink in the heavier swatch, though, but it really is more peachy than it appears. I love the rounded packaging too, it feels sturdy, although maybe a tad bulky for travelling with.

MiA BelleZZa Matte Shadow in Coffee Bean - US$16

I love me some matte eyeshadows and this one did not disappoint either. The packaging is very minimal, with just a clear top with the brand name to show the pigment of the shadow contained. But it is really pigmented, pretty much the colour of a coffee bean, as the name implies. This shadow isn't chalky at all and applies really smooth, despite feeling quite dry when I swatched. Will definitely be using this to tightline. 

left to right: nutmeg, silver shimmer, rose classique, the big "o" heavy swatch, the big "o" blended swatch, coffee bean heavy swatch, coffee bean blended swatch

Really fond of 4/5 products? I'd say that's not bad at all. I maybe might make another purchase from Wantable, but, as it is, I don't know whether to plunge in and make a subscription. I was quite impressed though, considering this is my first beauty box, and knowing the disappointment some people receive, I think Wantable is good at alleviating any disappointment, what with their personalised selection and full-sizing of the products. Overall, quite pleased. Quite pleased indeed. Please no more addiction.