Tag: espionage cosmetics

This one arrived last week, but in the craziness that was husband’s last week home before heading out to sea for something like 4 months, it  waited patiently for its day in front of the lens!  BEHOLD the glory of the June BOOM!Box from Espionage Cosmetics!  This month’s theme was, “Naturally Awesome.”  Now I had to wonder what sort of things they’d fit into the theme.. Dinosaurs?  Carnivorous plants?  I’m pleased to say I was right on both accounts and was then was surprised by a few extra additions I hadn’t even considered!  On to the contents..

On the left is a candle from Boonzy Arts in honor of that famous man-eating plant.  The candle is a wicked green color, made from soy wax, and smells like fresh cut grass with just a wee twist of citrus.  It’s a lovely scent and just what I’d imagine to work perfectly with the theme.  They also included a card for 10% off a future purchase.  I KNOW I’m going to use that since I see a bunch of candles that would make great gifts.

On the right is a set of Treestar Hair Pins.  This is a fantastic way to include the dinosaur bit of the theme by a reference to  Land Before Time, a movie I know and love from my childhood.  In fact, I  live near a school district called the Great Valley School District, not on purpose though, honest!   A friend, whenever she comes to visit and we drive by the school, shouts out, “IT’S THE GREAT VALLEYYYYY!”  Endless source of amusement.  Back to the pins!  I have long curly hair and use pins like this ALL the time, so these are going straight into regular rotation for hair-wrangling purposes.

Next up are TWO nail wraps this month.  I honestly can’t pick a favorite – they’re both SO neat and perfect for the theme.  The left is the Turquoise nail wrap with silver and gold foil accents.  One half of the nail wrap set has silver foil and the other half has gold foil.  I’m torn between making one hand gold and one silver, or  mixing them together on both hands.  They’re just stunningly lovely.  The right nail wrap  is Pretty Poison and features foil accents on the leaves and a clear background with  poison ivy vines and a venus fly trap design.  Carnivorous plants are probably one of nature’s neatest creations, and I absolutely cannot wait to wear these.  Also included, as usual, is a EC branded nail file.

No box themed, “Naturally Awesome,” would be complete without a nod to CAPTAIN PLANET!  Oh man, this box is hitting all the nostalgia for me.  They included a sweet set of double-sided colored pencils and three coloring pages.  The pages are the Espionage Cosmetics Crest, a cute woodlands fairy scene, and that sweet Captain Planet logo that’s been Espionage-Cosmeticized.  All the coloring pages were designed by the ever talented Sam Skyler.  I really should work on one today since it’s a dreary rainy day and I could use a little coloring-therapy.

WHOA!  Okay, so this is really neat.  It’s a contouring set featuring three pigments.  There are two highlighters: Cryosphere is a cool toned highlighter and Thermosphere is a warm toned highlighter.  Terrafirma completes the set as the darker color to create depth.  Now, I’ll admit that I’ve never done any sort of contouring before, so this is all new to me, but thankfully there’s a fantastic tutorial in the package with the pigments that gives you an idea of how they work, what to highlight and what to darken and how it all comes together for a final look.  I haven’t yet had a chance to try these, but I’m amped to see how it works out!  This is a BOOM!Box debut exclusive, so subscribers get to try this set first before they’re released on the website.

I can’t even begin to calculate a value, but with just the two nail wraps and the contouring set, we’re already well over the cost of the box which is between $25 and $30 depending on the length of the subscription.  The box this month was SO full of fun things and well exceeded what I expected with the subtle nods to my childhood – clearly, these are my people, and they are awesome, naturally!  In case you’re thinking about subscribing and want to send me some love, hit up my  referral link!

Another month of awesome by the nerd misfits at Espionage Cosmetics!  The theme for the BOOM!Box this month was, “Fabled,” and yet again, another box full of items that fit the theme perfectly!  Dragons and unicorns and faeries, OH MY!  Sam Skyler makes another appearance this month, but this time she designed the amazing dragon nail wraps and the EC BOOM!Box logo sticker.  Then we have the completely all new lip serum and everything shadow, a sugar scrub, notecards, unicorn soap, and TEMPORARY TATTOOS!  So much awesomeness in one box, how do they even do it?!

I’m going to do this post a little differently than the others to show off more of the products, so here goes!  Click any photo to embiggen.

I totally got excited when I saw this in the mailbox this afternoon.  HERE COMES THE BOOM!


Two nail wraps!  Mystical Mane was featured in the very first round of the Nerd Makeup Box beta testing at the end of the kickstarter campaign and I’m glad to see it included again!  I was saving the first one for just the right occasion, but now that I have two, no excuses.  The second wrap is  Valknjöggr, Odin’s dragon.  It’s an absolutely gorgeous work of art (the design on the inside of the package is BEAUTIFUL) and I really can’t wait to wear these.  Also included, as usual, is a nail file.


Wow.  I mean, wow.  The Unicorn Soap comes from Digital Soaps and is a glittery Unicorn head.  The scent is, “Green Apple Explosion,” and it smells wonderful – fruity and sweet.  It’s a glycerin soap that’s both vegan and cruelty free.  AND!  April 9th is National Unicorn Day, so it’s also a time-appropriate item to include.  There’s even a coupon code included for 20% off your next order from Digital Soaps.  On the bottom  is a pinkish red pot of  Rosina Leckermaul’s House of Sweets Candy Cleanse, Strawberry and Basil sugar scrub.  It’s a nod to the witch from Hansel and Gretel, so it fits in perfectly with the theme.  The scrub smells positively divine and it’s going straight into the shower.  I’ll admit that I almost took a second shower today just to get a chance to use this!

Next up is the Espionage Cosmetics Crest sticker to show everyone your love of the BOOM!Box.  The logo shows off so many different facets of what Espionage Cosmetics is all about and I’m pretty amazed that Sam Skyler fit all that awesomeness into one logo!  I’m thinking this may end up getting put  on  my tablet case.  On the right are three stationery cards and envelopes.  Did you know April is National Letter Writing Month?  Now you do!  Perfect timing for including this.  Each card has a beautiful mermaid design and mermaid quote.

TEMPORARY TATTOOS!  I mirrored the image so you can see the tattoo the way it would look on your skin.  They’re a lovely metallic gold color with one side being a pretty, swirly design with fairies sprinkled throughout, and the other side has  quotes about fairies.  In case that’s hard to read, they say, “Think Happy Thoughts,” “No one is too old for fairy tales,” and, “All you need is faith, trust, and a little pixie dust.”  Too cute.  It’s like Tinkerbell herself designed these!  Two packets of the tattoos were included so I have one to play around with now and another to save for a special event or something.  I LOVE that there are two – sometimes I hoard stuff like this because it’s too precious to be used just because, so having two means I can save one and use the other right away!

OH BOY.  There was a teaser for this  on instagram and it far exceeded my expectations!  A BOOM!Box debut item is the  new Lip Serum on the right called, “Banshee.”  It’s blackberry and champagne scented and is this lovely violet color.  These Lip Serums are pretty sheer, so it doesn’t look like a super dark purple on, it looks like just a hint of a berry color on me at least.  On the left is another debut item, a new Everything Shadow color, “Rumpelstiltskin,” a stunningly perfect gold.  Both fit in with the theme perfectly.  Also included is a mixing pot – the shadow and serum can be mixed together to create a shimmery, mauve lip color.  Can you even imagine the possibilities though?  I’m dying to see how Banshee works with the purple glitter  BAMF! or the hot pink Clairvoyant  Everything Shadow.

And that’s it for this month!  Another stellar box by the Espionage Cosmetics team, and while I can’t quite figure out a value since some of the items are so new and different, I do know it’s well above and beyond the cost of the box which is $25-30 depending on the length of the subscription.  Between the nail wraps, serum, and shadow we’re already at $36.50, so that covers the cost of the box without even including the other goodies.  You can’t put a value on receiving exclusive and brand new items before they’re released to the public, and that’s part of the fun of this box – the surprises and special products that subscribers get to try first.  In case you’re thinking about subscribing and want to send me some love, hit up my  referral link!

I don’t even know what to say.  I thought hey, that first official BOOM!Box was incredible, there’s just no way to top that.  I WAS WRONG.  First off, I’m not Jane Austen’s biggest fan, so when they announced the theme was, “Most Ardently,” featuring a Jane Austen theme, I was pretty much indifferent.  I’ve read her books, seen some movies, it’s good stuff, but I’m a horror and dystopian fiction sort of gal.  Needless to say, when I opened this box and saw Zombie Jane Austen, I was BLOWN AWAY.  I didn’t even know this was a thing (hello, welcome to the rock I live under, it’s cozy here), but HOW PERFECT?!  I’m amazed at how well they work a theme out across so many  different products.

• Attic Journals Notepad – $7 –  As the product card states, the front and back covers are taken from a Jane Austen inspired deck of bridge cards.  I love little notebooks like this to keep stashed in my bag for taking on-the-spot genealogy notes when I don’t happen to have my tablet, so this is super handy and will fit perfectly in the front pocket of my everyday bag.  Attic Journals Link
• Geeky Hostess Darcy’s Delight Tea – .6 oz / $10 – TEA!  I received the flavor, Darcy’s Delight, which is a blend of Oolong, orange peel, osmanthus, and green sparkling sugar.  Of course I brewed a cup right away.  It’s a great black tea with hints of orange and sweetness which may be the perfect tea for a snowy day.  Geeky Hostess Link
• Optimystical Pendant – $25  – Normally something like this wouldn’t fall into my style range, but I actually really dig this and can’t wait for an opportunity to wear it!  The chain is gold tone with a gold fountain pen tip charm and a wee corked glass bottle  that contains a bit of moss, a teensy scroll containing a page of Pride & Prejudice, and a glittery glass pebble.  It’s basically the perfect Jane Austen necklace ever.  Optimystical Studios Link
• Kiru Pin – $2 – Okay, I’m not a big fan of pink and flowery things, but I like the quote, “Know Your Own Happiness.”  It’s another pin to add to the knitting bag, so I’ll take it!  Kiru Link
• Mystery Nail Wrap  – $10 – I was super thrilled to open the package and see an old favorite, Unicorn Blood (non glitter) inside.  Perfect!
• Gothique Lace Nail Wrap – $10 – DUDE.  Where has this been all my life?  A beautiful lace design with skulls grinning through, and it glows in the dark.  I’m super happy that I got these and not the Most Ardently nail wraps I’ve seen other people post because skulls and lace are totally my jam – pink and flowers not so much.  As usual, there’s a nail file included.
• Glitter & Shadow Duo – $15? – The colors included are Sensibility, a golden cosmetic glitter, and Tea & Crumpets, a chocolate sparkly eye shadow.  I’m still trying to embrace the glitter (lash glue tends to really irritate my eyes, so I’m not sure how else to use this), but the lovely brown shadow is absolutely spot on perfect for me.  It’s not so sparkly that it can’t be used every day which is great!
• Sam Skyler Art Print and Bookmark – ??? – GLORIOUS.  Sam Skyler knocks it out of the park again with a beautiful print done again using Espionage Cosmetics products.  I really need to find proper frames and get this print and the one from the last box up on the wall somewhere because I love her style.  The bonus bookmark is printed on some lovely pearlescent paper, and I know I’m going to put that to use right away with the next item.  Sam Skyler Art Link
• Pride and Prejudice and Zombies Book – 1 book / $14.95 – This is the item that  really set up the whole box.  When I grabbed the box out of the mailbox, I wondered why it was so heavy, and this is why!  A paperback copy of Pride  & Prejudice & Zombies courtesy of Quirk Books to go along perfectly with the release of the movie this month.  I’ll dig into this probably next week, although I’d have preferred a coupon for a digital copy rather than a physical paperback book.  The majority of my reading happens on a tablet or phone lately, but the idea of sitting down with the tea from above and this book on a chilly day is rather appealing.

Overall value this month is probably somewhere around or above $100 which is incredible!  The box costs between $25 and $30 per month depending on subscription length, and I’m happy to say that this is quickly becoming my favorite box of the three boxes I subscribe to.  Espionage Cosmetics has wowed me with both boxes so far, and I’m really digging the variety and the fact that they’re introducing us to new artists and products.  In case you’re thinking about subscribing and want to send me some love, hit up my  referral link!

(Edited 18 Feb 2016 to add missing product values)

Welcome to Espionage Cosmetics’ BOOM!Box, first of its name.  Earlier this year, they had a Kickstarter campaign and the rewards included beta testing for their new subscription box.  I originally had one month of beta testing but expanded to three additional months towards the end of summer (Check out the older posts under the Espionage Costmetics tag).  The beta testing boxes were mostly nail wraps, four per month, so I wasn’t sure what to expect for the first official EC BOOM Box, but I know they have a habit of going above and beyond, so I was hoping for something epic.  EPIC was definitely what they delivered here!  I couldn’t  even begin to expect that they’d add in items from other vendors, but am super pleased with the selection of products that go from glitter to art prints, nail wraps to perfume.  Below is the run down of the contents, but Espionage Cosmetics?  You rocked my world this month.

• Wyvern Scales Nail Wrap – 1 wrap / $10 – A take on their popular Mermaid Scales line in green and glitter to match the limited edition Bombsheller leggings released this winter!  The Mermaid Scales design was already a favorite, so this is a fun color to have in addition to the blue and orange.  Plus, this nail wrap set the theme for the whole box.  Also included with the wrap is a nail file because you can never have too many.
• Cosmetic Glitter in E.L.F.S. – 1 pot / $7.50 – ALL the holiday colors in one crazy pot of red, green, and gold glitter.  I’ve already seen this used on a nail polish base and LOVED how that looked, so I may have to try that sometime soon!
• Wyvern Headband w/ Self Rescuing Princess Pin – 1 set / $25 – HOW AWESOME IS THIS?!  Again on the Wyvern Scales theme, this is the same fabric used in the Bombsheller leggings, but made into a headband (I have SO MUCH HAIR so this is perfect!) and adorned with a Self Rescuing Princess pin.  The pin is probably going to go hang out on my knitting bag and the headband will be put to use right away.  The button is by Kiru and the headband was sewn up by the geniuses at the EC HQ.
• Wyvern Scale Pendant – 1 pendant / $15 – The pendant, from Optimystical Studios, reads, “Never laugh at live dragons, you fool.”  The background is the same Wyvern Scale pattern as the nail wraps and the quote is from The Hobbit.  Cute geeky pendant and a fun way to extend the theme into something beyond the nail wrap.
• Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab Imp’s Ear – 1 vial / $4 – I received the Edith Cushing scent which is  described as, “pearlescent vanilla musk with white sandalwood, grey amber, white patchouli, ambrette seed, and oudh.”  It’s a really wonderful earthy, musky scent which suits me perfectly.  Sandalwood is probably my favorite scent of all time, and I couldn’t quite pick it out of the blend at first because the scents all work together as a unique entity.  Edith Cushing is a character from the Crimson Peak movie, and while I didn’t get a chance to see the movie yet, it’s on my to-watch list should I get the chance!  Oh and BPAL is already on my list of favorite companies, so I was happy to see them involved in this box too.
• Sam Skyler Artwork & Coloring Page –  ??? – A, “We Are Not Things,” print of Furiosa from Mad Max Fury Road and coloring page both of which are awesome.  What’s more awesome is that Sam Skyler created the painting of Furiosa using a sharpie and Espionage Cosmetics products.  Brilliant!  I need to find a nice frame and appropriate spot on the wall for the print since I LOVED the movie.
• Cupcake Bath Bomb – 1 bath bomb / $7 – In the scent, “Peppermint Forest,” this bomb is 1/2 bath bomb and 1/2 sugar scrub.  I’m not a big bath person since we have a teeny tiny tub and it’s just not good for taking baths.  I’m going to save this for a future vacation that includes a big  jacuzzi tub since that’s the only way to do it justice.  Peppermint isn’t my favorite scent either, but this one isn’t overwhelmingly candy-cane scented, more sugary than anything else, so I’ll have to report back once I’ve had a chance to try it.  Oddly, this item wasn’t listed on the product card, but it’s a great inclusion in the box!

Overall value is somewhere around $90 if I count the print and coloring page as a $20 value.  Considering the box costs between $25 and $30 depending on the subscription length, that’s a HUGE value!  On top of the box, there are all kinds of coupon codes and offers plus possible “Golden Tickets” in random boxes worth $10-75 in shop credit.  You really can’t go wrong with this box – so much thought and time went into the whole thing and I’m positively blown away.  If you’re interested in signing up for February’s box, do it now!  And if you want to give a little love back to me, use my referral link   🙂