Allure Beauty Box February 2026: My Thoughts

 

My Allure Beauty Box arrived somewhat battered. Everything was fine on the inside but the box had some damage. I took the time to assess everything and my thoughts are pretty mixed. Was I pleased? With some of it, but there was also one major dud. Anyway, as always, criteria.

DO I THINK I WILL USE THIS?

AM I EXCITED FOR THIS?

ARE MY FIRST IMPRESSIONS POSITIVE?

DO I FEEL CHEATED?

SIDIA Solid Perfume Braless (Customization product– $48 value)
The packaging is elegant and simple, a very weighty, solid black. I really like the look of it. The scent is delicate. The best way I could describe it is 'clean' and I like that. It seems pretty open to anyone in that regard. It doesn't feel greasy when applied.
DO I THINK I WILL USE THIS? I will use this. I have been using this consistently since I got it.

AM I EXCITED FOR THIS? I am. Honestly it was the element of the box I was most excited for.

ARE MY FIRST IMPRESSIONS POSITIVE? I was a little dismayed at how small it is, but the packaging is provocative in that it's metal and very heavy. It feels interesting in the hand.

DO I FEEL CHEATED? Not at all.

First Aid Beauty Bronze + Glow Dropswith Niacinimide ($28 value)

I've had trouble learning to control bronzers and make them work for me. When I read about this one and found out it was drops in a tube, I just really didn't know what to expect or how to handle it. It is tricky to apply and I'm going to have to practice a lot to get it right, but I do enjoy the way it looks on my skin. It blends well while still giving a nice bit of healthy color.
DO I THINK I WILL USE THIS? When I used it earlier today, I liked the subtlety of it. So many bronzing items are just too dark for me but this works quite well.

AM I EXCITED FOR THIS? I see a lot of potential here.

ARE MY FIRST IMPRESSIONS POSITIVE? They are, aside from the fact that there is a certain learning curve when it comes to application. This bottle wants to spit out a lot of product. You have to be careful when you open it.

DO I FEEL CHEATED? I really don't.

UZO Blaque Liquide Eyeliner ($24 value)

I love this product's look. It's a metal container and feels substantial. The liner is well-pigmented and glides on decently. It held up on me for about three hours before just fading out completely and that's unusual given how my body typically deals with liners. If this were black or gray or blue, I would have been a lot happier, but I can't fault it.
DO I THINK I WILL USE THIS? It's a black eyeliner. I have to be careful with such things because they can come off as harsh against my coloring. But we'll see. Maybe I can smoke it out in a way that works for me.

AM I EXCITED FOR THIS? It's a black eyeliner so when I found out it was part of the box, I wasn't that happy. Now that I have it, though, it does have good coverage and doesn't run when my eyes water. That's pretty astounding given my history with eyeliners.

ARE MY FIRST IMPRESSIONS POSITIVE? When I saw the liner and held it in my hand, my impression was quite positive. The container is heavy and feels very lux. Once I tested the liner out, I found it actually held up pretty well. So yeah, good first impression.

DO I FEEL CHEATED? Even though I did not want another black eyeliner, I'm not that upset with this one. It's a good product and I think I can somewhat make it work for me.

CNP Propolis Jelly Lipcerin™ Honey Lip Butter ($17.90 value)

This comes in a stout little bright yellow container. You remove the lid and then click on it until the product comes out of a hole in the middle. Unless you're using a brush, at this point things are going to get sticky and messy. However, it does hydrate well and the scent is nice.
DO I THINK I WILL USE THIS? As above, it's sticky and messy. And yet, I find myself reaching for it. I have no doubt I'll use this completely. It just hydrates that well.

AM I EXCITED FOR THIS? Not really. I'm not mad at it either though.

ARE MY FIRST IMPRESSIONS POSITIVE? No. My first impression was that this was a lot of steps to get to a lip product. I mean, it was just a few steps, but that still seems like too many. My second impression was that it's just everywhere when you try to apply it. It wasn't until a while later that I noticed how great my lips felt that I decided to come around on it.

DO I FEEL CHEATED? No. It's a pretty decent little product and does what it's supposed to do.

Cuccio Milk & Honey Cuticle Oil Roll-On ($5.69 value)

I didn't even know cuticle oil was a thing but I'm glad I do now. This bottle is a decent size and the roll-on works well. You never want roll-ons to be too large because there is always the risk of them gunking up. I don't think this one will, though.

DO I THINK I WILL USE THIS? I certainly do. My cuticles are a disaster and any help I can get with them is welcome.

AM I EXCITED FOR THIS? Yes. I have such high hopes for this product. I plan on being very diligent about using it so that I can actually get some kind of improvement happening on my nails.

ARE MY FIRST IMPRESSIONS POSITIVE? My main concern was over there being a faulty roll-on applicator but it seems to be fine. The oil feels nice. I'm sure it will take a while for me to actually get some kind of change going on.

DO I FEEL CHEATED? No. Even though this was a cheaper product, it still seems like an okay one to fill out a beauty box.

Sephora Collection Express WaterproofEye Makeup Remover($4 value)

I have so many questions. Why is a Sephora anything in an Allure box? Why would anything this cheap be in the box? Don't they realize we all have makeup remover wipes for this? I get that it's supposed to help remove more stubborn levels of eye makeup, but still. Could we not have thought of anything else to include? Maybe a nice hair product?
DO I THINK I WILL USE THIS? No.

AM I EXCITED FOR THIS? No.

ARE MY FIRST IMPRESSIONS POSITIVE? No.

DO I FEEL CHEATED? Yes.

I'm not going to rank them this time because I think my thoughts on the matter are fairly clear. A few hits, a few misses, a few kind of in the middle. It certainly didn't blow me away. Allure could have done a lot better than this.

IPSY Extra February 2026: My Thoughts

I wasn't expecting IPSY to send the Extra box this month, which somewhat saddened me as I really liked the selections. Imagine my surprise when it showed up before any other February subscription. I'm glad because it's giving me some time to explore everything before the other ones get here. So let's look at what I received. As usual, we have some criteria.

DO I THINK I WILL USE THIS?

AM I EXCITED FOR THIS?

ARE MY FIRST IMPRESSIONS POSITIVE?

DO I FEEL CHEATED?

ICONIC LONDONHandbag Glam Face Brush Set
I had no idea this was even in offering but wow do I love it. The brushes are soft and gather product very well. They're lightweight, which I enjoy in a brush, and have a good handfeel. As this is Iconic London, they have a good deal of quality to them. And the little case they came in is very nice as well. I'm quite pleased.
DO I THINK I WILL USE THIS? I will always use brushes. I'm very much a brush person when it comes to cosmetics and I know these will be utilized a good deal.

AM I EXCITED FOR THIS? I wasn't expecting brushes but yes, I'm very excited to have them and excited to explore what Iconic London can offer.

ARE MY FIRST IMPRESSIONS POSITIVE?
Yes. I used them to apply the face palette and they worked quite well. They even tickle a little. They hold a lot of product.

DO I FEEL CHEATED?
Not at all. I'm quite happy with the brushes.

LUCKY CHICK Mystic Halo FacePalette
This palette has pressed powders and has one highlighter in Aura, blushes in Rise and Soul, and a bronzer in Fate. The pans are a good size, which is important. I hate it when blushes are small because they're so hard to get out with the brushes.
DO I THINK I WILL USE THIS? I do. I use a lot of face color stuff and I certainly think I will use these.

AM I EXCITED FOR THIS? I really am. I'm still very much exploring the potential of blushes, highlighters, and bronzers so any that I have to experiment with are welcome.

ARE MY FIRST IMPRESSIONS POSITIVE? Very positive. I love the color story in this palette.

DO I FEEL CHEATED? I do not. This is a decent product size for Extra.

HAUS LABS Color Fuse Glassy Blush BalmStick

As I mentioned in a previous post, this is Lady Gaga's brand and I've been curious to see what she does with her cosmetics. When I opened it, I was very charmed by the packaging. I'm pleased with the size of this and while I wasn't sure about how the color would work on me at first, it's swatched out well.
DO I THINK I WILL USE THIS? I do. Even if I don't use it as a blush, I'll probably use it on my lips.

AM I EXCITED FOR THIS? Am I excited to own something from Haus Labs? I most certainly am.

ARE MY FIRST IMPRESSIONS POSITIVE? My first impression is even better than I thought it would be. I really find this color to be beautiful.

DO I FEEL CHEATED? Absolutely not.

ELEMIS Balancing Lavender Toner

I love Elemis as a brand but I wasn't sure how I would feel about this because of the lavender. I was still glad to receive it though because I needed a toner. One of the things I liked right away is that it has a spray top. That pleased me because it means I'm not trying to flip this down and try not to spill it everywhere.
DO I THINK I WILL USE THIS? I will use this until it's gone. I've already used it several times.

AM I EXCITED FOR THIS? I am excited both to explore what a toner can do for me and also to see how well Elemis can produce one.

ARE MY FIRST IMPRESSIONS POSITIVE? I am shocked at how well this is working for me. Clearly, I needed a toner because my pores are getting cleared of things I didn't even know were still on my face. Instead of being overwhelmed by the scent, I find it relaxing and refreshing.

DO I FEEL CHEATED? No this is a good-sized product and it will last for quite a while. I'm very happy with this.

DOMINIQUE COSMETICS Moisture Grip SerumPrimer

I'm still on the hunt for a primer that really works for me. So far they've just not done what I needed them to do, despite the fact that I leave them alone for decent amount of minutes. This one intrigues me because it's not just a primer, it's also a serum. The fact that this is supposed to help keep your face hydrated and plumped while you wear it would be quite a bonus for me.
DO I THINK I WILL USE THIS? I will. And if it does what it says it will do, I will use all of it.

AM I EXCITED FOR THIS? I am very hopeful for this. I hope it works.

ARE MY FIRST IMPRESSIONS POSITIVE? It's thick and it feels good on my skin. It pumps out well and gives me good coverage.

DO I FEEL CHEATED? No this is a good product that does double duty so I'm very happy to have it.

I find myself very pleased with this month's Extra box. It's actually my favorite-sized box of everything IPSY offers and I have a feeling it will tend to be the one I enjoy the most. Even though it has only one outright skincare item, the primer functions as a serum too. I also love that I received the brushes. This feels like a very balanced box.

Ipsy Feb 2026 Original Bag Reveals: My Thoughts

Yesterday was also reveal day for Ipsy Original. This is how my bag is going to look. These are the things picked for me. Thought I would do an assessment of each. This is my criteria. 

DO I THINK I WILL USE THIS?
AM I EXCITED FOR THIS?
WOULD I HAVE PICKED THIS?
DO I FEEL CHEATED?

BEAUTY CREATIONS COSMETICS Plump & Pout Lip Plumping Booster Gloss in Pink Lemonade
Okay. We're starting out well. I always enjoy lip products and I needed a new lip plumper. I'm wondering if the shade comes off as pink or if it's pink lemonade flavored.
DO I THINK I WILL USE THIS? Yeah I'll use it. I'll probably use it completely.
AM I EXCITED FOR THIS? I'm certainly not mad about it.
WOULD I HAVE PICKED THIS? No, probably not. But again, not upset.
DO I FEEL CHEATED? I do not.

ERBORIAN CC Red Correct

At first I was a little concerned about this because I have a problem with green color correctors (Quote my roommate: Why are you green?), however, this one starts out green but fades to beige so possibly this won't be a problem. It's also supposed to be calming on the skin and we all know how angry my skin tends to be.
DO I THINK I WILL USE THIS? It's going to depend on how well it actually beiges out.
AM I EXCITED FOR THIS? I'm curious about it, to be sure. If this works, it will be wonderful.
WOULD I HAVE PICKED THIS? Possibly so. Once I knew it was color-changing, I might have picked it to see how well that works for me.
DO I FEEL CHEATED? Nope.

PRADOS Start with the Slay Primer

Even though I'm getting another primer this month, I'm still okay with getting this mini because I'm still in the process of trying to find out what primers work best for me.
DO I THINK I WILL USE THIS? Yes. I plan to use all of this.
AM I EXCITED FOR THIS? I am. I'm still on the hunt for the perfect primer.
WOULD I HAVE PICKED THIS? I would have, yes.
DO I FEEL CHEATED? I certainly do not.

SEPHORA COLLECTION Size Up VolumizingMascara

. . .okay, Ipsy knew everyone was getting a mascara in their other box. Why would they put one (and a generic Sephora one) in the glam bag? That doesn't make a lot of sense to me.
DO I THINK I WILL USE THIS? I honestly don't. I'll probably find someone else to give this to.
AM I EXCITED FOR THIS? I'm not excited for a cheap mini mascara, no.
WOULD I HAVE PICKED THIS? Not at all.
DO I FEEL CHEATED? Yes, I actually do. This is the only one this month and the first time with Ipsy, but I'm really not happy about this at all.

This is the product I picked.

DO I THINK I WILL USE THIS?
AM I EXCITED FOR THIS?
WAS IT MY FIRST CHOICE?
DO I FEEL CHEATED?

ELEMIS Pro-Collagen Black Cherry CleansingBalm
I've written a lot about this already (and Elemis in general) but I still stand by the opinion that this was the best choice I could have made for myself this month.
DO I THINK I WILL USE THIS? I will use all of this.
AM I EXCITED FOR THIS? I am very excited about getting this.
WAS IT MY FIRST CHOICE? It was.
DO I FEEL CHEATED? No. I think this is a good-sized mini and it will not be wasted.  

Aside from the mascara, I'm pretty happy with the Original Bag for this month. The product of my choosing is one I really want to try out and if the CC color-correcting cream works for me that is such a bonus. Same with the primer. The lip product is just a mini so I'm sure I will use it completely and if it tastes like pink lemonade, all the better. I'll tell you more when I have the bag in my possession. 

Ipsy Feb 2026 Ultimate Choice Day Reveals: My Selections and Thoughts

It's choice day for Ipsy Ultimate! This is how my box is going to look.

These are the things picked for me. Thought I would do an assessment of each.


DO I THINK I WILL USE THIS?
AM I EXCITED FOR THIS?
WOULD I HAVE PICKED THIS?
DO I FEEL CHEATED?

KEVYN AUCOIN Indecent Mascara
I knew already I was getting this so I've already processed the fact that I'm getting another mascara. I love the name of it and as I said before, I'm willing to give this a try because it's supposed to curl the lashes.
DO I THINK I WILL USE THIS? I plan on it but we'll see how much I find that I like it.
AM I EXCITED FOR THIS? Marginally. I have one I love already.
WOULD I HAVE PICKED THIS? No because I have one already that I love and several more besides.
DO I FEEL CHEATED? No it's still a good product.

RODIAL Collagen Booster Drops

YAY!!!!! I love Rodial and I can't wait to get this product. My skin needs all the help it can get and this will be a great way to help make things better.
DO I THINK I WILL USE THIS? I will use this until I'm squeezing the last drops out of it.
AM I EXCITED FOR THIS? I am very excited for this. I'm elated in fact.
WOULD I HAVE PICKED THIS? Yes. I trust this brand and would have always picked this.
DO I FEEL CHEATED? Certainly not.

BISHA Essential Rice Water MakeupPrimer
While I wasn't happy with the Bisha products I got last time, that's probably more of a me problem than a them problem. It's just the way my eyes react to things. I'm looking forward to this and I really want to see what the rice water will do for me.
DO I THINK I WILL USE THIS? I do. I'm curious about it, certainly, and finding good primers is always needed.
AM I EXCITED FOR THIS? Yeah. Not elated like some of these, but still excited to get it.
WOULD I HAVE PICKED THIS? It would have depended on what the other choices were. Maybe?
DO I FEEL CHEATED? Not at all. This is a solid brand and a good size.

CHARLOTTE TILBURY Beauty WandDuo

YAY!!!!!!!!!!! I was worried these would be put in the choice groupings and they would get selected before I could get to them. But they came with my standard box so I'm really excited. Now I've not had the greatest luck with want-with-built-in-sponges in the past, but CT's are supposed to be very good. Hopefully, these will work for me.
DO I THINK I WILL USE THIS? I do, yes. The only issue may be the applicator. But overall, I do think I'll use these a lot.
AM I EXCITED FOR THIS? I'm so very stoked that I'm getting these! Two CT wands!!! In full size!!!! Yeah, you could say I'm excited.
WOULD I HAVE PICKED THIS? I would have picked this in a heartbeat. It was a very high choice for me.
DO I FEEL CHEATED? Absolutely not.

DR.JART+ Ceramidin™ Skin BarrierMoisturizing Eye Cream

I'm okay with this but I have an eye cream that I adore already. So right now it's not at the top of my list. I'll certainly use it when I run out of the eye cream that I adore.
DO I THINK I WILL USE THIS? I do. I have plans to use it.
AM I EXCITED FOR THIS? Excited? Nah. I'm not upset but I'm not just over the moon about it.
WOULD I HAVE PICKED THIS? No. I have an eye cream that I love already.
DO I FEEL CHEATED? No. It's still a very good product.


These are the products I picked.

DO I THINK I WILL USE THIS?
AM I EXCITED FOR THIS?
WAS IT MY FIRST CHOICE?
DO I FEEL CHEATED?


SAINT JANE BEAUTY RichRescue Phyto Mucin Cream
It was between this, a palette, and a eye concealer. I considered the eye concealer but I think I'm getting one from another box this month and the palette just wasn't to my taste. Plus, I've heard really good things about Saint Jane Beauty and I certainly support plant based products.
DO I THINK I WILL USE THIS? Oh yes. I will certainly use this.
AM I EXCITED FOR THIS? I am. I'm still trying to sort out the best creams for my face and I know this will get used up.
WAS IT MY FIRST CHOICE? It was. While I would have considered one of the others, I think in the end I would have always selected this.
DO I FEEL CHEATED? Not at all.

NARS COSMETICS Explicit Lipstick in 821 Liaison 
Okay there were three reasons for this choice. The first was the fact that I loved the color and thought it would look really good on me. The second was that I'm curious about how this feels on my lips because it's been nice to discover how glorious certain lipsticks can feel. Plus, I just really liked the idea of wearing Explicit lipstick with my Indecent mascara and my Pinkgasm blush.
DO I THINK I WILL USE THIS? I'm not sure. When it comes to lipsticks, you don't know until you know.
AM I EXCITED FOR THIS? I am. I love the color and do anticipate it will work on me.
WAS IT MY FIRST CHOICE? Yes. There really wasn't anything else in this list that appealed to me.
DO I FEEL CHEATED? I do not.

GROWNALCHEMIST Gentle Gel Facial Cleanser
It was, by far, the easiest choice for me. I'm always going to choose a cleanser over the other options because I know it will get used and I go through cleansers quickly. And, okay, also I just really loved the packaging. It's a bottle I'll probably keep and refill.
DO I THINK I WILL USE THIS? Oh yes. It was selected because I knew I would use it.
AM I EXCITED FOR THIS? I am. My nightly skin ritual is one of my favorite parts of the day and I know I will enjoy having this be part of it.
WAS IT MY FIRST CHOICE? Yes.
DO I FEEL CHEATED? Clearly I do not.

Overall, I'm very pleased with this box. I think I'll get a lot of use and wear out of everything. It feels like it's a good variety of products for me to try as well. When the box comes, of course, I'll tell you my reactions. Until then, it certainly gives me something to look forward to.

Ipsy Extra Choice February 2026 Spoilers: My Thoughts

I'm not getting the Ipsy Extra box this month, but I thought I'd go over the choices for those who do.

GLO GIRL Love Bomb Eyeshadow Palette
This seems like a pretty decent product. It's supposed to be highly pigmented and long-wearing. The shades are beautiful. They're very warm and range from neutrals to very sultry colors that suit its Valentine's Day theme. If you love romance and enjoy dramatic looks, this might be a great choice for you. I have a lot of palettes right now so this wouldn't be my first choice, but I certainly wouldn't mind if it ended up in my box.

HAUS LABS ColorFuse Glassy Blush Balm Stick in Glassy Hibiscus
This is Lady Gaga's makeup line and people really love it. This is supposed to leave a great glow to the skin, as it is formulated to both hydrate and plump. It's also reported to calm the skin and help deal with redness. Even though it's called a blush, it's usable for lips as well. The shade is rich, rosy mauve that would work on most skin types. It should last up to 8 hours and is buildable. Again, a selection I would be happy receiving.

BRIOGEO HAIR CARESuperfoods Passionfruit + Açaí Hydrating Mask
This would have been a tempting choice for me. I love hair masks and this one is supposed to be especially good for thin, fine hair. This is because it claims to be very lightweight and non-greasy. Now the scent seems to be somewhat polarizing. Described as something like fruity bubble gum, people either love this or hate it. It's something to really keep in mind about a product like this as you'll have it for quite a while and if you hate the scent, that could be a problem.

MAKE UP FOR EVER HD Skin Smooth & Blur Undetectable Under Eye Concealer
I'm on the lookout for a good liquid concealer. I love my stick one, but liquids are better for the V method of foundation. This might be a selection I would give heavy consideration because it's supposed to defuse imperfections while not highlighting pores and creases like many concealers do. It's supposed to last a full 24 hours which would also make me seriously consider it.

ELEMIS Balancing LavenderToner
I love Elemis and I'm need of a good toner. It contains no alcohol or other harsh ingredients. It's supposed to refresh, soften, and purify the skin, all the while calming it. I know very well that Elemis products are quite good at calming the skin and as I've mentioned before, if there is one thing my skin needs, it's to be calm. The only thing that gives me pause here is the lavender scent. Lavender can be very overwhelming to me and the idea of swabbing it on my face every night doesn't exactly appeal.

I'm actually somewhat happy I'm not getting this box next month because I would probably put way too much time into figuring out which of these I would select. There is a lot of really good product here and that is a positive thing. There seems to be something for every need. I mean, even if you don't want anything else, you can always choose the Haus Labs product just for Lady Gaga vibes.

What will you choose?  

 

Allure Beauty Box Sneak Peek Feb 2026 I Have Some Thoughts

 Allure put out a pic of the spoilers for the Beauty Box for Feb 2026. Along with the SIDIA Solid Perfume, these are the expected items.

• Uzo Blaque Liquide Eyeliner
Sigh. Another black eyeliner. I think they should ban these for a while. This will be the third one I've gotten in two months. I do not need another black liner, especially not one that will eventually dry out. I read a lot of reviews over this and people seem to love it. They say it is really waterproof and doesn't smudge, that the line is very precise and pigmented. We'll see, I guess.

• CNP Propolis Lipcerin Honey LipButter
I also have quite a few lip products right now. However, given that it's winter, I'm going through them fairly fast. Korean Beauty products are very popular right now and I've not really gotten a chance to explore very much of them. Reviews are positive for this. People like the scent and the taste. They say it absorbs into the skin very well. It's intriguing, but I think with lip products, how high could the bar be?

• FAB Bronze Glow Drops
First Aid Beauty is a very beloved brand. People really enjoy their skincare and certainly it's something I wanted to try. Would I ever purchase bronzing glow drops for myself? No. Should I? Hmm. I guess we get the chance to find out. Besides just adding a nice, healthy glow to the skin, it's also supposed to help the skin barrier and hydrate. I find myself pretty excited about this as it isn't something I have any real experience with and find myself curious.

• Cuccio Naturale RevitalizingRoll-On Cuticle Oil
Okay. This is the one I'm most looking forward to. I NEED this. My cuticles are always a mess and I need all the help I can get with them. I honestly didn't even know this existed and I'm happy it does. This product isn't very expensive, but in this case I'm not upset about that because if this works to improve my nails, I'll be able to repurchase.

ORDER OF EXCITEMENT:

1. Cuccio Naturale Revitalizing Roll-On Cuticle Oil I NEED THIS.
2. SIDIA Solid Perfume, in Braless I love scents.
3. FAB Bronze GlowDrops Very curious about this.
4. CNP Propolis Lipcerin Honey LipButter Always need more lipcare.
5. Uzo Blaque Liquide Eyeliner Sigh. We'll see.

We'll see how the list changes once I have the box. More on that next month.