it+a Alchemist's Subscription April 2015

I am like a week late in reviewing this month's Innocent and Twisted Alchemy's subscription box, but I am going to review it anyway. Besides, I figure most people who read this are considering buying the subscription anyway so as long as it is before the date new slots go on sale I should be good, right?

This month the subscription came with two eye shadows and a highlighter. I adore the products we got this month, but I feel like I say that every month.

 I still have not mastered how to properly photograph these cards. I tried, but I think it's going to be hard to read the top portion of the card. Essentially, Linda got into anime as a kid because of Sailor Moon and so this month's theme is "I Want To Be A Magical Girl". The art is by April Hurtado.

 Here is the artwork. This is kind of difficult to see again because I suck at photographing these cards but April has the image up on her DeviantArt in all its digital glory!

Here are the samples for this month. We ended up getting one of Blackbird Cosmetics' infamous matte shadows, a sample from AFK cosmetics, a sample form Notoriously Morbid, and a sample from Eccentric Cosmetics.

 I don't know how well you can see it, but this is the highlighter. It is a white highlighter with just a touch of pink. I did both a heavy and blended out swatch. It doesn't have a ton of shimmer, mostly it is meant for glow. This particular product is perfect for spring, when glow is in but tanning has not blown up yet. It reminds me a lot of Becca's opal highlight, just for people who are after glow and not an intense sheen.

This is Berry Bomb. It is the same swatch just at different angles. It is the most gorgeous berry color (as usual swatched over elf eyelid primer). This is by far my favorite product in my bag this month.







This is Green Grenade. It is a pretty pale green with a silver shimmer. This might be good as a wash of color over the lid.

Here are all four of the bonus samples swatched on one hand. Upper left: No More a Witch from Notoriously Morbid. When I first saw this shadow I thought this was going to be just your usual brown/green duochrome (don't get me wrong, I adore that color, but it isn't unique). However, I was terribly wrong. This is a deep black brown with an intense green shift, not for people who are afraid of commitment.

 Upper right: Dog Days from Blackbird Cosmetics.This didn't really need a primer so when I applied the shadow over a primer that was a little too wet it caked up and was difficult to blend. It is a unique taupe/purpley color, but it is also a very wearable color. I am impressed.  I have heard so much about Blackbird's mattes in the indie world, and I was not dissapointed. Based on this shadow alone, these mattes easily rival my mainstream pressed mattes.

Bottom left: Sea Spirit from Eccentric Cosmetics. I had never heard of this brand before recieving it in this subscription, but I am super pleased with the product that I received. Sea Spirit is a wearable taupey-warm brown with an aqua shift.

Bottom right: The Earnest Elf from AFK Cosmetics. I have been wanting to get something from them for a long while. This was the only shadow that I thought really could have benefited from an upgraded primer. The green didn't feel nearly as opaque as it was supposed to be.

Price and Final Thoughts

This subscription costs 12$ per month, that includes shipping. The actual value of the box (by my math) is determined by how much the product costs (if a sample from a company is usually 1.50$ I am counting the value as 1.50$ even if it is an exclusive shade), this does not take into account the coupon codes received, the custom label art, or the shipping it would have cost to get all of these items.

Petit Jar of Eyeshadow from i+ta- 3$
Petit Jar of Eyeshadow from i+ta- 3$
Angelic Powder from i+ta (1)- 8$
Sample from Notoriously Morbid (2) - 1.25$
Dog Days from Blackbird Cosmetics Sample- 1$
Sample from AFK Cosmetics (The Earnest Elf full size is only 3.50 as of right now though)- 1.50$
Approximate Sample Cost from Eccentric Cosmetics (3)- 1.20$

Total Value- 17.95$

Personal Value-  Berry Bomb + Highlighter+ Blackbird+ Sea Spirit= 13.20$

I don't know if I would have bought the highlighter because I am drowning in it currently. Well, I don't know if I would have paid 8$ for it, 4$ for half the product is much more up my alley. Basically that means if I had my way the box value/personal value would be a little under but I am still completely pleased. I was a Mew Mew Power kind of girl as a child, so I am in love with the theme this month, not to mention the new product in this box and that the brands she includes always have me stoked.

1. This is a new product, it isn't even up on the website yet. It looks to be a packed full 10g jar with a sifter, so I'm pricing it based off of a 10g subscription box blush. I could be totally wrong.

2. they are undergoing website updates so they don't have the exact color up yet

3. They only sell sample packs, so this is based on the 5 sample pack that costs 6$