June 22, 2014

Holy Lisa Frank, Tiger Claw is on the prowl

June 22, 2014/ Nicole McIntyre

Beauty subscription services are most certainly still a thing. More often than not, they bomb in my eyes -- same, same, not different and "hey, didn't I already get that in my box last month?"

Tiger Claw has taken a detour with its bimonthly subscription service - the contents give nail art newbies and aficionados a sense of direction, inspiration and kick @$$ nails for a night out on the town (a clear topcoat will lock down gems and glitter for a bit longer). I say that because even Kesha can only keep her glitter, unicorns and James Van Der Beek in tow for so long, amiright?

How does it work?

After signing up here, expect to receive a Tiger Claw box every two months.

What do I get?

Tools of the trade (this particular box contained an orange stick and a nail file), a feature coat, a base coat, nail accents and nail art tips and tricks. There's even a video demonstrating how to execute each of the suggested looks.

Here's a closer look at some of my favourite items..

Feature coat (left) in Indigo Purple and base coat (right) in My Darlin' Clementine

How much does it cost?

$19.95 AUS, call it $10/month. Erin and I both know full well that we get ripped off in Australia when it comes to purchasing anything really. Case in point: a bottle of nail polish from the likes of Essie, Butter London and OPI costs $20.00 on average.

The fact that you get so much for so little is nuts and Erin's removed a lot of the guesswork, too.

My thoughts.

Well, patience is not one of my greatest attributes, but Tiger Claw kept me entertained in between calling my Dad and dinner last Sunday. Looking back I probably should've watched Tiger Claw's video prior to attempting anything, because I sprinkled way too much glitter on the tips of my nails -- the fade looked more like a depressed disco ball. The glitter accoutrements are intended to last you a few manicure sessions, but I managed to waste a lot, oops.

Pretty Serious' My Darlin' Clementine was a boon, opaque after one coat and dried fast -- juicy, sweet! Kleancolor's Indigo Purple while playful was a slight miss for me. The brush was packed unevenly which caused a few strands to stick out from the rest, manicure scissors FTW!

Back to that whole patience is a virtue thing, let's just say my nails looked like a hot mess from rushing, so much that I can't bare to show what I did out of shame.

Oh, be sure to stay on the lookout for nail art competitions Tiger Claw will be hosting every now and then via Instagram and Twitter (I think).

The Bagful breakdown:

Total amount for Tiger Claw:

$19.95 AUS every two months, including shipping. Sorry, Tiger Claw is currently available in Australia.

Value for money spent (performance and quality):

8 out of 10 bags — Erin has made nail art accessible, attainable and fun. It really took me back to how I passed the time one summer.

Would another purchase be on the horizon?:

Being the control freak that I am, I would rather leave it up to the pros. Hello, OCD!

*PR sample provided – Thoughts and ramblings written here are completely my own.

November 23, 2013

Not my scene: Her Fashion Box

November 23, 2013/ Nicole McIntyre

At first I thought the contents inside were having a bit of an identity crisis, but when I did some reading about the concept/inspiration behind Her Fashion Box I now understand what the creators, Kath and Kerry, are going for.

I, however, am still not sold.

While I can (and sometimes do) appreciate snippets of fast fashion crammed into a petite box, I wish the execution was a bit more focused. Well known brands, namely Maybelline, Redken and Batiste might back this particular flashy September bundle -- however, the wonky clutch, chunky chain bracelet and adjustable ring leaves a lot to be desired.

From afar the accessories appear to be on trend, but on closer inspection things are far from good.

For Australian standards, subscribers are getting a good value for money. But, I'd rather spend the same amount of coin at Lovisa, Colette or Claire's (for the ladies in the States) on accessories to my liking.

The Bagful breakdown:

Total amount for Her Fashion Box:

$39.00 AUS per month

Value for money spent (performance and quality):

2 out of 10 bags — Her Fashion Box is not everything to me. Pass.

Would another purchase be on the horizon?:

Nope. Thanks for sharing.

*PR sample provided – Thoughts and ramblings written here are completely my own

August 11, 2013

Boxed up beauty: Violet Box

August 11, 2013/ Nicole McIntyre

Of the three beauty subscription boxes I've checked out in the past two years, Violet Box happens to be my favourite.

Violet Box launched two months ago in a market littered with too many options. How can you be guaranteed you're getting what you've paid for? Will you eventually grow tired of receiving mediocre samples you could easily pick up at your local department store? Violet Box has avoided those potential issues by giving you at least two full sized products within your sample cornucopia.

Now it's only two months in, but I have high hopes for this particular brand. By the second month Violet Box upgraded their packaging from cute, albeit flimsy, cardboard to a sturdy constructed box fit for re-use.

As for their subscription service, you can choose between four options -- it really depends on your personal appetite for sample consumption. Contextually, it helps to breakdown your monetary commitment -- I to want to know how much money I'll have left in my makeup budget :)

Monthly @ $22.95/box
3 Months @ $22.00/box
6 Months @ $21.66/box
12 Months @ $20.83/box

Violet Box is even kind enough to let you exit their subscription scheme at any time (keep in mind, you will be held financially accountable for the box(es) you've already received) and you're also given ample warning prior to renewal.

It will be interesting to see how Violet Box grows and which well-known brands will jump on board in the coming months.

So, are you game?

*PR sample provided – Thoughts and ramblings written here are completely my own.

June 29, 2013

Treat yo self: Lust Have It Beauty Box

June 29, 2013/ Nicole McIntyre

I love getting mail, especially packages. It's a psychological thing -- the wondering, who's it from, what's it for and is it for me?

I hope it is!

Bet your bottom dollar you can relive that excitement month after month by signing up for a beauty box subscription. Thing is, you need to sift through the sand and find what works for you, because one size doesn't fit all. Case in point: a few Christmases ago Scott signed me up for GlossyBox, but they've since gone the way of the dinosaur and opted to jump ship for the States, pfft. All hope was not lost as Lust Have It stepped in and grabbed the baton from GlossyBox.

Then tragedy struck (insert dramatisation here), my nifty boxes were traded down for shiny rayon bags filled with "goodies" one might pinch from say, the inside of a magazine at their local doctor's office. Wrestle with this for a moment and while you're at it, try to pull that glue from your palms you ol' sticky fingers ;)

To say I was disappointed was an understatement. Subscription services have a a way of putting their best foot forward by enticing the consumer -- "we'll give you everything, promise!" Or, "hey look, we do business with all these brands!" Do you really? Really?

After a couple of months of receiving my Lust Have It subscription, I asked Scott to cancel it. And I never looked back.

Ironically, Lust Have It were kind enough to send me a Lust Have It Beauty Box for the month of June to trial. It's been over a year, so I figured why not?

Lust Have It have since traded in their chintzy bags for sturdy cardboard boxes, off to a good start. And the contents? A major improvement. While I've only heard of a couple of the brands, namely Nude by Nature and TIGI Bed Head -- I managed to not get offended by this month's offering. I just might tuck that tube of Seacret Body Lotion in my gym bag.

So what do you think? If you like what you see, Lust Have It is giving Bagful readers an opportunity to sign up for their beauty box on the cheap(er). Simply click the banner below in order to subscribe and don't forget to enter BAGFUL when you checkout :)