I decided to do my November 2016 Boxycharm review  a little differently. Instead of just reviewing each item, I thought I’d show you how they looked in a mini tutorial. I did my Thanksgiving makeup using all of the products from the box, and I must say, this might just be the best Boxycharm ever. How often do you see sneak peeks of the items that might come in your box, mentally decide which products you hope to receive, and actually get all of those items in your box? I mean, that is so rare. Now to be fair, I would have been happy with any item Boxycharm showed on Instagram, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have a wish list among them. And I am thrilled with every single thing.

So what was in this box to end all boxes? I received an eye cream, a highlighter, an eyeshadow palette, a pencil brush, and a liquid lipstick. Here is the complete look:

On the the reviews and mini-tutorial:

First, I used the Skyn Icelandic Relief Eye Cream. I wanted this eye cream pen more than just about anything else I saw in the box previews (well, except the palette, of course). I have been searching for a good eye cream–something that moisturizes, decreases puffiness, and helps with dark circles. And I gave this product a serious test. I’d been out of town all weekend for a wedding, so I was up really late every night, eating tons of rich food, not drinking enough water, not getting a lot of exercise, and then topping it off with a long evening flight home and late night fast food hamburgers and fries (Whataburger FTW!). So my eyes were pretty much at their worst when I tried out this eye cream, and it did not disappoint. It was a nice thin (but not sheer or slippery) cream that sank in almost immediately and my puffiness was visibly reduced on contact. It had a light cooling sensation, but nothing so dramatic that it was irritating, which I’d been a bit concerned about. It didn’t feel tacky or sticky, and eye makeup went on beautifully on top. My only complaint is that when you twist the bottom to dispense the product, it takes awhile for the product to come out, so you end up twisting more than you need to and dispensing too much product. So be sure to give it a few clicks, then wait about 15 seconds before applying to let the product come out. It retails for $20, which is not bad for a good eye cream. I will absolutely repurchase this product when I run out. It is just amazing.

Next, I used the Vintage Illuminating Face Highlighter in Rose Gold. The package says to use it as a blush topper, which is what I did. I like that it is subtle but pigmented–a mid-toned rose with gold shimmer, so it could possibly be used on its own for a light blush/highlight combo. (It reminds me a lot of a sheer version of theBalm’s Hot Mama! blush.) It’s tough to see in the photos, but the effect is really nice, and the formula is so soft, but a little powdery, so definitely tap off your brush. I love the matte cream packaging, and the box with the gold design is so pretty I’m keeping the highlight in it for now! And I love that the compact has a nice mirror.

Now, on to the star of the show: the Studio Makeup On-The-Go Palette in Cool Down (not yet on their website). I’ve done a full review on this palette already, so I’ll just walk you through the eye look below. I tried out my first halo eye, and I think it turned out pretty well!

I used the matte pinky cream shade (top row, center) to set my primer from the browbone to the crease. I used the center shade, a cool taupe, as my transition shade, then I used the shade to its  right, a sort of purple-mauve satin, in my crease. I also used that shade in my inner and outer corners.

Then I used the Crown Pencil Brush, also in this month’s Boxycharm, to concentrate the matte berry shade (bottom row, left) in the outer and inner corners. I love this pencil brush. I’d been needing one, but I honestly hate shopping for makeup brushes–I think I get overwhelmed by all the options. This one is great–it is soft but still makes it easy to apply color precisely. I also used it to smudge some of that berry shade in the outer corners of my lower lashline, then I used a small smudge brush to line the rest of the lower lashline with the cool brown satin shade (bottom row, center). I used a fluffy blending brush to smooth out the edges. I used my finger to apply the foiled rosy-lilac shade to the center of each lid, then went over the crease again with the mauve shade to define it. Finally, I patted some of cool pink shimmer (top row, left) in my inner corners. I finished the look with my Kat Von D Tattoo Liner in Trooper and a few coats of Essence Lash Princess False Lash Effect mascara.

A quick shorthand for this look:

Finally I received a Bellapierre Kiss Proof Lip Creme in Antique Pink.

(I must apologize–I am not wearing it in this look. I had it on before lunch, then wiped it off to try my Elf Matte Lip Crayon in Tea Rose, a gray-toned pink has looked horrible on me since I bought it  but I thought it might go with this look, and I was right!) The shade of the Bellapierre lipstick is very similar to this tea rose, though it is a bit deeper. I love it–it really does look like a vintage-y rose color. When I tried it immediately after opening it, I hated the formula–it was so sticky, and never totally dried down. But when I pulled it out again today, a few days later, it was perfect–dried down completely, no stickiness in sight. If you received this product I really recommend giving it a few days to dry out, like you would a new mascara, to really get a sense of the formula. I am so happy–this is a perfect fall cool nude pink, and the matte finish is gorgeous.

So this box was a home run for me. It helped me create what I think turned out to be a beautiful holiday look, and I cannot wait to keep using all of these products! I wish you all the best as we enter this holiday season!