Monday, August 10, 2015

bareMinerals (bareEscentuals) Beauty Surprise Collection Review, July 2015

Single brand beauty boxes are usually a very good subscription box buy. That is certainly the case with the bareMinerals Beauty Surprise box. We were told that the Beauty Surprise Collection for July would contain 11 pieces with a total retail value of $188. Two items were revealed (the Bronzing Mineral Veil and the Lip Gloss) but the other nine items were a surprise.  As I mentioned in my last review, bareMinerals cosmetics are not cheap. Getting so many of them for just $45 is a not-to-be-missed opportunity.

The collection arrived in a plain cardboard box with only a packing slip inside; no information card. There were actually twelve items but since one is a small sample, it's more like eleven items.



There is a triangular shaped black patent leather cosmetic bag.  The design makes this quite roomy inside but it's only 6-3/4" in length, so would be great for travel.


Some of the bareMinerals products are hard to distinguish from one another. Such is the case with this Mineral Veil finishing powder which, except for the packaging, closely resembles the mineral veil powder included in the May box.  This one is in the original shade which is very light.  It is a finely milled weightless powder that provides a flawless translucent finish. The Mineral Veil cosmetics are signature bareMinerals products so it's not surprising to see them frequently included. 


Next we have a small Lash Domination Volumizing Mascara sample in the shade...wait for it....Black!  If you're a regular reader of this blog, you know how I feel about that. However, this one does have an interesting twisted wand shape that I haven't seen before.


The last Beauty Surprise collection included a "Big & Bright" eyeliner and this one includes two of them.  Fortunately, they are quite versatile and usable shades and are not duplicates.  One is "Plum" and the other is "Charcoal", basic shades that will work for almost anyone.




This foundation primer is called Prime Time.  It prepares your skin for seamless coverage and smooths away all sorts of complexion problems, effectively creating an evenly textured canvas on which to apply foundation.  If you've ever wondered how the makeup pros achieve a flawless finish, well....it starts with a good foundation primer.


While we're on the subject of primers, there is also a little tube of Prime Time Brightening Eyelid Primer which achieves the same results for eyes. There's not a lot here (just .05 oz.) but then the "canvas" is much smaller too!


I have received this 5 in 1 BB Advanced Performance Cream Eyeshadow before but it wasn't in a bareMinerals Beauty Surprise box so I can't accuse them of duplication.  This one is in a good neutral shade called "Blushing Apricot" and it has the added benefit of SPF 15.


This is a small foil sample of Active Cell Renewal Night Serum which is said to dramatically accelerate cell turnover and boost moisture levels while you sleep. (for firm, radiant, younger-looking skin...yada, yada, yada) This is the product I would most like to have received in a full size....oh well, maybe next time!


This little pot contains Multi-Tasking Concealer with broad spectrum SPF 20 in "Summer Bisque", the second to lightest shade. Not sure I've ever seen a powder concealer before. I'm a little skeptical but like many bareMinerals products, this is a very finely milled powder so it couldn't hurt to try.




There is usually a really nice brush in Beauty Surprise boxes.  This one is their "Soft Focus Face Brush" with ultra soft two-tone bristles.  It retails for $30 and can be used for buffing and blending foundations, blushes, bronzers and finishing powders.  


The lip gloss that was revealed in the original ad for this box was in the shade "Apricot Nectar"; however, the one I received is actually "Dare Devil", a sparkly deep wine shade.  It's a little intense for me (darker than the photo), but pretty and fall appropriate.


The label on this last little pot doesn't tell you what it contains, just the shade, which is "Nightfall".  I had a sneaking suspicion it was an eyeshadow and a bit of sleuthing confirmed that it is, or an "eyecolor" as they call it.  Not really my thing but it is a shimmery dark brown....a good smoky eye basic.


That's everything in the July bareMinerals Beauty Surprise box.  I didn't take time to add up the retail total but there is clearly WAY more than $45 worth here. I will take their word that the value of this box is about $188....a very good value!  

There doesn't seem to be a consistent schedule for these boxes but it looks like they are being made available roughly every other month. Since one came out in May and the current one was delivered in July, it's reasonable to assume there may be another in September.  The Beauty Surprise boxes sell out within hours so sign up for their mailing list (or "like" my Facebook page) if you want the earliest possible notice of availability.

Thanks for reading,

Cheryl

Disclosure:  Views and opinions expressed in this blog are strictly my own.  Product discussed in this post was purchased by Lone Star Shopper. Post does not contain referral or affiliate links. 

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