First Impressions: ispy Glam Bag August 2015

**If you are receiving this post via email, you may want to check out my actual site as the email throws off the formatting**

ipsy is a monthly subscription box company created by Michelle Phan and is $10 a month. You get a mix of makeup, skincare and hair care items, usually 4-5 full- or deluxe sample size products in a makeup bag. When you sign up for ipsy, you take a quiz in order for the bag to be customized to your skin type/tone and your general preferences. You can retake the quiz as many times as you like. You can also review each product in your bag to help ipsy further customize future bags and earn points to purchase products. You also receive points when people sign up for ipsy through your referral link.

This month’s theme is “prep school” and the bag reflects that theme. The bag this month has a black and white houndstooth pattern with fuschia detailing on the zipper. The vinyl lining inside is also fuschia.

Product #1: noyah All-Natural Lipstick in Desert Rose (sample; 1.4 g)

This lipstick is a bubblegum pink color which was surprising given the name a look of the product in the tube, I thought it would be a rosey color. This is not a color I would ever buy for myself so it’s nice to get a sample in a subscription bag to add to my collection. Now I have a bubblegum pink if I’m ever in the mood for that color. This lipstick applies a bit patchy and settled into the lines of my lips so I would recommend exfoliating your lips first. I also think there are performance issues because the finish is matte. This lipstick claims to be all-natural, synthetics free and never tested on animals. The ingredient list looks pretty good, but then again I’m not an ingredients expert. A full-size (4.5 g) is $18 on the noyah website.

Value: $5.60

Product #2: Doll 10 HydraGel Cream Blush in Flirt (deluxe sample; 0.11 oz.)

This is almost a full-size product! The full-size on the Doll 10 website is 0.14 oz for $16. Warning - alittle bit of this cream blush goes a loooong way. I applied it with the e.l.f. small stipple brush. It is a pretty rose color, just apply with caution since it is very pigmented. It claims to be lightweight, blendable, buildable and natural looking. I would agree with these claims with the exception of natural looking. This claim I cannot speak to because I definitely applied too much so we shall have see the next time I try it. I can’t find information on whether this brand is cruelty-free or not.

Value: $12.57

Product #3: Lord & Berry Ultimate Lipliner in #3035 Nude (deluxe sample; 0.03 oz.)

This lipliner is a browny nude with a hint of pink. It could double as an eyeliner, I think. It has a creamy texture and is easy to apply. Lord & Berry is a Europe-based brand so I’m excited for the opportunity to try them out. I can’t find how big the full-size of this product is so I’m estimating the value based on the sizes of my other lipliners. The blogs I use for reference say that Lord & Berry have a questionable cruelty-free status, which is a little concerning…

Value: $13.50

Product #4: Albertini International Divine Skin Hydrator In Shower Body Moisturizer in Unscented (deluxe sample; 1 oz.)

In-shower lotions are popping up more and more lately so I’m glad to get to try one through ipsy. I haven’t tried this yet, but it claims to hold moisture/rehydrate your skin. It is made with women over 40 in mind so I wonder why ipsy sent it to me as I am nowhere near 40…maybe because I have dry skin. You can use this product two ways: either as an after shower moisturizer or you can apply it in the shower, lightly rinse it off and then towel pat dry. A full-size is $16 for 9 oz. This is a cruelty-free product (yay!).

Value: $1.78

Product #5: eco-beauty by La Fresh Group good night. night cream (deluxe sample, 0.5 oz.)

I was so, so, SO EXCITED to see this in my ipsy bag. I received the day cream version of this moisturizer in my January 2015 ipsy bag and absolutely loved it. I will be using this night cream once I get through the sample I’m using right now (review to come). This moisturizer claims to hydrate, smooth and plump skin and reduce the appearance of wrinkles and crow’s feet. It is free of parabens, sulfates, artificial fragrance, animal byproducts, etc.. It contains a lot of anti-aging ingredients, including the super popular hyaluronic acid. A full-size is $40 for 1.7 oz. This is a cruelty-free brand.

Value: $11.76 

Swatches (left to right): noyah lipstick, Doll 10 blush sheered, Doll 10 blush, Lord & Berry lipliner

Overall Value: $45.21! I will use all of these products and am especially excited for the eco-beauty night cream. I will use the three makeup products (lipstick, blush and lipliner) and they are good compliments to what I have in my makeup collection. I’m interested to see how the in-shower body moisturizer works. I have tried a few different subscription boxes but none have consistently hit the mark like this one. ipsy delivers again!

If you subscribe to ipsy, what did you get in your bag?

If you’re interested in signing up for ipsy, feel free to use my referral link J

Disclaimer: All products are purchased by me or my lovely husband unless otherwise noted in the post. All opinions are 100% honest and my own. I do not provide positive reviews for payment. Products that work for me may not necessarily work for you. This post is not sponsored.

Referral Links:

ipsy: https://www.ipsy.com/r/ts6i8
Starlooks: https://subscriptions.starlooks.com/?refer=REF5869 / Subscriptions.Starlooks.com

POPSUGAR:  http://popsu.gr/uXzQ  Save $5 off your first box with the code REFER5

Ebates: http://www.ebates.com/rf.do?referrerid=hbpGf26lDsl%2F2zOsOOaIRw%3D%3D&eeid=26471

Ibotta: https://ibotta.com/r/bthara

Birchbox: https://www.birchbox.com/invite/dqphm

Boxycharm: https://www.boxycharm.com/rewardsref/index/refer/id/41854/

                    at checkout enter the following code: M3d2Q1dTT21MR1RTNWJ0KzhRWUo0Z0lWWWtoRnVrZmk0NGNOVWY0MVBHRT0=

First Impressions: ipsy Glam Bag July 2015

**If you are receiving this post via email, you may want to check out the actual site as the email throws off the formatting**

ipsy is a monthly subscription box company created by Michelle Phan and is $10 a month. You get a mix of makeup, skincare and hair care items, usually 4-5 full- or deluxe sample size products in a makeup bag. When you sign up for ipsy, you take a quiz in order for the bag to be customized to your skin type/tone and your general preferences. You can retake the quiz as many times as you like. You can also review each product in your bag to help ipsy further customize future bags and earn points to purchase products. You also receive points when people sign up for ipsy through your referral link.

This month’s theme is “Summer Lovin’” and I think the products definitely reflect that theme. The bag this month is an abstract colorful chevron pattern, with the usual vinyl lining inside.

Product #1: City Color HD Powder (0.141 oz.)

This is a loose finishing powder and is a little over half of the normal product size. The powder is white but goes on colorless (on me). The powder doesn’t seem super finely milled so that could cause issues with blending/caking. I used this once to try it out and it was okay. I feel like my foundation actually broke down faster where I had the powder, but I will give it a few more tries. City Color is PETA-certified cruelty-free.

Value: $3.50

Product #2: be a…bombshell Lip Balm in French Kiss (0.16 oz.; Full-Size)

This is definitely a lip balm and not a tinted lip balm. The color is a very, very light pink with some shimmer, but nothing that is really noticeable. If you put it on top of a darker lipstick you can notice the color/shimmer. The texture is nice and isn’t drying. The blog Kitty Approved Beauty wrote be a bombshell to ascertain if they are cruelty-free and they are. You can read her post here.

Value: $14

Product #3: Octavio La Playa Sea Salt Spray Infused with Algae Extract (2 oz.)

This product is supposed to create texture in damp or dry hair, I’m assuming to give you a beachy wave look. Ironically, is smells slightly of sunscreen. This is a really good size sample for not being full-size (full-size is 4 oz.). The bottle is labeled “No Animal Testing” and the ipsy website says that this is a 100% cruelty-free product.

Value: $7.75

Product #4: Vasanti Brighten Up! Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator (20 g)

I received this product in my April 2015 Birchbox so I was not excited to see it again. I haven’t tried it yet. It is supposed to exfoliate your skin to smooth and brighten all skin types. This post by blogger Hotashi outlines the response received when Vasanti was emailed about their cruelty-free policy. The Vasanti website also says that they do not test on animals and that they test products on human volunteers.

Value: $5.67

Product #5:. Essie Nail Lacquer in Fashion Playground (Full-Size)

This is the only product in my ipsy that isn’t cruelty-free. I’m bummed because this nail color looks gorgeous! It is a mint green with heavy iridescent glitter throughout. I think this might be a discontinued color because I couldn’t find it online anywhere (the links to this color died).

Value: $8.50

Overall Value: $39.42. I’m excited that 4/5 products are cruelty-free in some form. This isn’t my favorite ipsy because I don’t think I will use these products much. I won’t use the nail polish, and probably won’t use the hair product (I never do). The lip balm and setting powder seem okay. I’m yet to form an opinion on the exfoliator since I haven’t used it.

If you subscribe to ipsy, what did you get in your bag?

If you’re interested in signing up for ipsy, feel free to use my referral link J

Disclaimer: All products are purchased by me or my lovely husband unless otherwise noted in the post. All opinions are 100% honest and my own. I do not provide positive reviews for payment. Products that work for me may not necessarily work for you. This post is not sponsored.

Referral Links:

Starlooks: https://subscriptions.starlooks.com/?refer=REF5869

ipsy: https://www.ipsy.com/r/ts6i8

POPSUGAR:  http://popsu.gr/uXzQ  Save $5 off your first box with the code REFER5

Ebates: http://www.ebates.com/rf.do?referrerid=hbpGf26lDsl%2F2zOsOOaIRw%3D%3D&eeid=26471

Ibotta: https://ibotta.com/r/bthara

Birchbox: https://www.birchbox.com/invite/dqphm

Boxycharm: https://www.boxycharm.com/rewardsref/index/refer/id/41854/

                   at checkout enter the following code: M3d2Q1dTT21MR1RTNWJ0KzhRWUo0Z0lWWWtoRnVrZmk0NGNOVWY0MVBHRT0=

First Impressions of May 2015 ispy Glam Bag

**If you are receiving this post via email, you may want to check out the actual site as the email throws off the formatting**

ipsy is a monthly subscription box company created by Michelle Phan and is $10 a month. You get a mix of makeup, skincare and hair care items, usually 4-5 full- or deluxe sample size products in a makeup bag. When you sign up for ipsy, you take a quiz in order for the bag to be customized to your skin type/tone and your general preferences. You can retake the quiz as many times as you like. You can also review each product in your bag to help ipsy further customize future bags and earn points to purchase products. You also receive points when people sign up for ipsy through your referral link.

This month’s theme is “Jetsetter,” but I’m not sure how that really relates to the products in the bag… If you see any common link, let me know in the comments.

Bag:  This month’s bag is canvas. It has a mascara/nailpolish/ lipstick print with the words “VIP: Very Important Products.” The bag is made by Breakups to Makeup. They have a very popular makeup bags out right now that say cheeky things like “I would cry but my mascara is designer” and “Life is short, wear more makeup.” As always, the inside is of the bag is vinyl, which is a plus—if any makeup spills it won’t ruin the outside of the bag.

Product #1: Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Lip Pencil in Ozone (0.03 oz.) and Revolution High-Color Lipgloss in Failbait and Bittersweet

Subscribers will receive 1 of 3 high-end deluxe size samples this month: Urban Decay lipliner, It! Cosmetics CC cream or GlamGlow ThirstyMud mask. I have tried all three of these products and the GlamGlow mask is by far my favorite. Let me know if you want a review of the Urban Decay Ozone lipliner—I received it for Christmas so I have been using it for awhile. It is a clear lipliner that you can use with any lip color without changing the appearance of the lipcolor and worrying about whether your lipliner should match your lips or lipstick. I do like the two lipgloss colors. Failbait is a sheer pink that gives a hint of color. Bittersweet is as purple as it appears in the swatch, but you can use less to sheer it out so that it is not as bold as the swatch. They are a bit sticky, but nothing obnoxious.

Value: $15 (?; the lip liner appears to be almost full-size)

Product #2: Alterna Cavier CC Cream 10-in-1 Complete Correction Leave-In Hair Perfector (0.85 oz.)

This is a cream that is supposed to provide the following 10 things for your hair: Moisture, shine, smoothness, softness, UV protection, manageability, strength, anti-breakage, heat protection and light hold. And breathe!  That’s a lot! You can apply this to damp or dry hair. It has a very light, pleasant smell…sort-of spa like or melony? If you’ve ever smelled the Citrus Cilantro candle from Pier 1 Imports it’s very similar to that. I’ll give this a try, but if you’ve been reading my blog you know it’s hard for me to get excited about hair products.

Value: $8.50

Product #3: Pixi by Petra Beauty Bronzer in Summertime (0.16 oz)

This is a very glowy bronzer. It has a lot of gold shimmer in it. I would use this as a highlight or over my blush, but not as a bronzer by itself, it is too shimmery for that (for me, anyway…). I did use it as an eyeshadow instead and I thought it looked beautiful so I still find value in it even if not for the intended purpose.

Value: $4 (?; I could only find this as a set with a kabuki brush)

Product #4: Luxie 205 Tapered Blending Brush (Full-size)

I was so excited when I saw this! I have been looking for a tapered blending brush but not wanting to spend a lot of money on one. This is a synthetic, cruelty-free brush. The handle is baby pink with rose gold (rose gold is very “in” right now). I used this brush to blend the Pixi bronzer into my crease and it worked beautifully. It was exactly what I was looking for. I would definitely recommend this brush. You can use it to apply eyeshadow; but also to blend your look together if you are using multiple eyeshadow colors on your lid.

Value: $12

Product #5: Bellápierre Cosmetics Gel Eye Liner in No. 02 Ebony (0.06 oz; full-size)

It’s a black eyeliner, nothing too exciting—there are so many black eyeliners in subscription boxes. HOWEVER, I have almost used up my Cynthia Rowley eyeliner I received in my FebruaryBirchbox so I’m looking to replace it. I use the Cynthia Rowley eyeliner to tightline my eyes; I tried the Bellápierre one and it seems like it will be a good replacement. Though it’s not exciting to see another black eyeliner, it is at least useful.

P.S., if you don’t know what things like “tightline” or “de-pot” mean, stay tuned! 

Value: $14.99

Overall Value: $54.49!!! Some of my values are estimates, but I think they are close so this bag is an amazing value. I will use all of these products (well, I’ll at least try to try the hair product). ipsy continues to impress me and is my favorite beauty subscription service.

If you subscribe to ipsy, what did you get in your bag? I’m curious to see if we received the same items or not!

If you’re interested in signing up for ipsy, feel free to use my referral link J

Disclaimer: This bag was purchased with my own money and all opinions are 100% honest and my own. I do not provide positive reviews for payment. Products that work for me may not necessarily work for you. I do receive points if you sign-up for a subscription using my referral link; however, I am not affiliated with ipsy.

Referral Links:

ipsy: https://www.ipsy.com/r/ts6i8

POPSUGAR:  http://popsu.gr/uXzQ  Save $5 off your first box with the code REFER5

Birchbox: https://www.birchbox.com/invite/dqphm

Ebates: http://www.ebates.com/rf.do?referrerid=hbpGf26lDsl%2F2zOsOOaIRw%3D%3D&eeid=26471

Ibotta: https://ibotta.com/r/bthara

Boxycharm: https://www.boxycharm.com/rewardsref/index/refer/id/41854/

                      at checkout enter the following code: M3d2Q1dTT21MR1RTNWJ0KzhRWUo0Z0lWWWtoRnVrZmk0NGNOVWY0MVBHRT0=

First Impressions of April 2015 ispy Glam Bag

**If you are receiving this post via email, you may want to check out the actual site as the email throws off the formatting**

ipsy is a monthly subscription box company created by Michelle Phan and is $10 a month. You get a mix of makeup, skincare and hair care items, usually 4-5 full- or deluxe sample size products in a makeup bag. When you sign up for ipsy, you take a quiz in order for bags to be customized to your skin type/tone, and your general preferences. You can retake the quiz as many times as you like. You can also review each product in your bag to help ipsy further customize your future bags and earn points to purchase products. You also receive points when people sign up for ipsy through your referral link.

Below are the items I received:

Bag: This bag isn’t my favorite, but it is in line with this month’s theme, “Beautifully Bohemian” (Coachella, anyone?). The bag is made of woven jute, with a colorful pattern woven in. The inside is vinyl, which is a plus—if any makeup spills it won’t ruin the outside of the bag.

Product #1: the Balm Nude Dude Volume 2 Mini Nude Eyeshadow in Flirty (0.035 oz.)

I was very excited to receive a the Balm product. I love this brand. I have been eyeing the Nude Dude palettes for a while too. Flirty is a taupey-purple color with a gold duo chrome. It’s really pretty and unique. I’m excited to play around with this color. It is very pigmented and smooth. the Balm always has the most clever packaging too (in the palette the eyeshadow pans cover up the naughty bits of the naked dudes).

Value: $3

 

Product #2: Lather Ultra Light Face Lotion (1 oz.)

The full-size of this moisturizer is 2 oz., so it’s nice to see that ipsy included such a big sample. The moisturizer says it is non-greasy and paraben-free. I used this once; a little goes a long way and it absorbs nicely. It has a nice light scent.

Value: $10.50

Product #3: Starlooks Lip Gloss in LG24 Cuddle

Starlooks has its own subscription box, so I’m glad to see that they still pop up in other subscription boxes. This lip gloss has a slight vanilla smell and isn’t sticky. The color is a very sheer nudey-brown color—good on its own or over a lipstick. There is a very finely-milled shimmer to the gloss too. I don’t typically buy lip glosses so I’m very happy with this.

Value: $3.50 (?)

Product #4: Julie G Nail Color in Damsel (0.35 oz.)

The color I received is Damsel, a fuchsia/mid-tone pink color. It looks like it will be highly pigmented too. This is one of my favorite summer nail colors to wear so I will definitely use this. It also came with a Rite Aid coupon for $1 off any Jesse’s Girl or Julie G product.

Value: $4

Product #5: Aromachology Eau de Parfum in Sosphisticated & Sensual (0.17 oz.)

I don’t typically wear perfume so I do like receiving it in subscription boxes. However, this is an eau de parfum (the expensive kind of fragrance) and a rollerball (much easier to apply than typically open top perfume samples). It smells heavily of grapefruit, but has other floral notes as well as sandalwood. I actually like it. I may wear it occasionally.

Value: $5

Overall Value: $25

I really like this bag and it is definitely worth $10. I love both the eyeshadow and lip gloss, and I believe I will like the moisturizer and nailpolish. The only thing I’m on the fence about is the perfume, just because I don’t normally wear perfume, I prefer something lighter.

If you subscribe to ipsy, what did you get in your bag? I’m curious to see if we received the same items or not!

If you’re interested in signing up for ipsy, feel free to use my referral link J

Disclaimer: This bag was purchased with my own money and all opinions are 100% honest and my own. I do not provide positive reviews for payment. Products that work for me may not necessarily work for you. I do receive points if you sign-up for a subscription using my referral link; however, I am not affiliated with ipsy.

Referral Links:

ipsy: https://www.ipsy.com/r/ts6i8

Birchbox: https://www.birchbox.com/invite/dqphm

Ebates: http://www.ebates.com/rf.do?referrerid=hbpGf26lDsl%2F2zOsOOaIRw%3D%3D&eeid=26471

Ibotta: https://ibotta.com/r/bthara

Boxycharm: https://www.boxycharm.com/rewardsref/index/refer/id/41854/

                    at checkout enter the following code: M3d2Q1dTT21MR1RTNWJ0KzhRWUo0Z0lWWWtoRnVrZmk0NGNOVWY0MVBHRT0=

First Impressions of March 2015 ipsy Bag

**If you are receiving this post via email, you may want to check out the actual site as the email throws off the formatting**

ipsy is a monthly subscription box company created by Michelle Phan and is $10 a month. You get a mix of makeup, skincare and hair care items, usually 4-5 full- or deluxe sample size products in a makeup bag. When you sign up for ipsy, you take a quiz in order for bags to be customized to your skin type/tone, and your general preferences. You can retake the quiz as many times as you like. You can also review each product in your bag to help ipsy further customize your future bags and earn points to purchase products. You also receive points when people sign up for ipsy through your referral link.

Below are the items I received:

Bag: I like the bag. It is a mid-tone sky blue on one side and has a graphic floral pattern on the other. It’s vinyl like all the other bags I’ve gotten. It goes with ipsy’s “Floral Fantasy” theme for this month.

Product #1: NYX Butter Lipstick in BLS12 Little Susie (Full-Size)

I’ve wanted to pick up a NYX butter lipstick to compare it to the Revlon and Almay butter lipsticks. I, of course, finally picked some up at Ulta just to get this in the mail the following day! This is a great bright magenta shade; it will be perfect for Spring/Summer. The formula is smooth and it applies easily. The color payoff is good, but reapplication will be needed throughout the day.

Value: $6

Product #2: Crown Brush AC012 Shadow/Crease Duet Brush (Full-Size)

I’ve heard mixed reviews about Crown Brush brushes, but I do enjoy getting brushes in subscription boxes. The bigger end is stiff and didn’t blend really well. I think I would only use this to put shadow all over my lid. The smaller end is too stiff to be able to blend into the crease; I would only use this to exaggerate the outer corner of my eye. I’m not impressed with this brush. The bristles aren’t soft either.

Value: $7

Product #3: pur~lisse Pur-Delicate Gentle Soy Milk Cleanser and Makeup Remover (1 oz.)

pur~lisse is a high end brand so I am excited to finally get to try it. This face cleanser claims to be good for all skin types and to remove all makeup without stripping skin. It has White Tea to calm skin and Blue Lotus to leave skin soft. It left my skin still moisturized and removed makeup well. It has a watery consistency.

Value: $6.50

Product #4: LeeAnni Eco 3 in 1 Revolution Light Toner Serum and Moisturizer in One (0.5 oz.)

I’ve never heard of this brand, but they claim this product is natural, gluten free, vegan and never tested on animals which is always a plus for me. This 3 in 1 product is for normal to oily skin so I’ll have to see how my dry to normal skin reacts. It has a very slight scent that is pleasant and I think comes from the rose flower in the product           

Value: $3.75

Product #5: Pixi by Petra Mesmerizing Mineral Duo in Apricot Glow

I don’t see these duos for sale online, but Pixi does have a mesmerizing mineral palette that includes six shades for $12, so I’m guessing on the value here. I’m not sure if this means that the duos are no longer sold or if this is a sampler pack based on the palettes. I’ve been wanting to try Pixi products (available at Target) but it’s pricey and never has coupon/sales so I’m excited to get this eyeshadow duo in ipsy. I love both of the colors. The lighter one is a peach champagne and the darker is a coppery peach. They both had good staying power, there was only minimal fading by the end of the day (I always use eyeshadow primer).

Value: $4

Overall Value: $27.25

I really like this bag (literally too, since I also liked the bag it came in) and it is definitely worth the $10 price tag. I love both the lipstick and eyeshadow duo. The face wash and the moisturizer will be used, and I needed a new face wash since the boscia one I’m trying is not working out. The brush is a miss for me, but I’ll take 4/5 any day.

If you subscribe to ipsy, what did you get in your bag? I’m curious to see if we received the same items or not!

If you’re interested in signing up for ipsy, feel free to use my referral link :)

Disclaimer: This bag was purchased with my own money and all opinions are 100% honest and my own. I do not provide positive reviews for payment. Products that work for me may not necessarily work for you.

Referral Links:

ipsy: https://www.ipsy.com/r/ts6i8
Birchbox: https://www.birchbox.com/invite/dqphm

Ebates: http://www.ebates.com/rf.do?referrerid=hbpGf26lDsl%2F2zOsOOaIRw%3D%3D&eeid=26471

Ibotta:

Boxycharm: https://www.boxycharm.com/rewardsref/index/refer/id/41854/

                   at checkout enter the following code: M3d2Q1dTT21MR1RTNWJ0KzhRWUo0Z0lWWWtoRnVrZmk0NGNOVWY0MVBHRT0=

Review of February 2015 ipsy Bag

ipsy is a monthly subscription box company created by Michelle Phan and is $10 a month. You get a mix of makeup, skincare and hair care items, usually 4-5 full- or deluxe sample size products in a makeup bag. When you sign up for ipsy, you take a quiz in order for bags to be customized to your skin type/tone, and your general preferences. You can retake the quiz as many times as you like. You can also review each product in your bag to help ipsy further customize your future bags.

Below are the items I received, along with mini-reviews.

Bag: I think the bag is cute. I like the graphic detail. And like last month, it’s vinyl with a lining on the inside, making it easy to clean if any makeup spills occur.

Product #1: eva-nyc Up All Night Volumizing Spray (1 oz.)

            This is a volumizing and texturizing spray for all hair types that you can use with wet or dry hair. I don’t own any other hairspray so I don’t have anything to compare it to. I applied it to dry hair today. It smells really nice and didn’t make my hair crunchy or sticky. I didn’t really notice any added volume or texture, but maybe if I apply it on wet hair or apply more it may have better results.

Value: $3

Product #2: Emite Make Up Professional Eye Lash Curler

            I was excited to see an eyelash curler, they tend to be on the expensive side. I just started using a new eyelash curler so I didn’t want to try this one out and get makeup on it, etc. I like that it came with 3 replacement pads, which will make the product last longer.

Value: $25!

Product #3: Mitchell and Peach Flora No. 1 Fine Radiance Face Oil (0.34 oz)

            Face oils are so popular right now. And despite what you may think, a lot of face oils are good for dry, normal and oily skin. Putting oil on your skin actually helps your skin regulate its own oil production. This face oil is fragranced with Mitchell & Peach’s Flora No. 1 perfume, and I am not a fan of the scent. I also don’t want to put fragrance on my face (I have very sensitive skin) so I am hesitant to use this. I will put this in line to use, but I’ve been using a new moisturizer (from my ipsy bag last month) and a new face cleanser so I don’t want to add a third new product to my face right now. I did apply it to the back of my hand and it left my skin very soft, but I couldn’t get past the fragrance L Too bad, as this seems to be a high-end European brand.

Value: $23

Product #4: City Color Cream Lip Stain in Flirtini (0.078 oz)

            This is a really good size lip stain. It isn’t sticky at all, is definitely creamy and leaves a lip gloss-like shine. It left a slight tint to the lips, but I didn’t have it on for long because…unfortunately, the color isn’t the best on me and it smells absolutely horrible. It has a very chemically smell that is very off-putting so I did not want to keep in on for long. I’ll likely be passing this on if one of my friends can deal with the smell.

Value: $5 (full size)

Product #5: Model Co Blush Cheek Powder in 01 Cosmopolitan

            I like to end on a high note so I saved the best for last. This blush is gorgeous! It is a nice soft, but bright, pinky coral on me (if that makes sense). It is very smooth and finely milled. It is highly pigmented so a little goes a long way, definitely use a light hand when applying. I’ve been digging blush lately so I was very happy to have a new one to try out along with the Tarte blush I got in my February POPSUGAR Must Have Box. It wore well throughout the day and didn’t lose its pigmentation. Overall, I’m happy with this product so far.

Value: $11? (I’m guessing it is half a full-size)

Overall Value: around $67

            For the $10 price tag this is an awesome value. I just don’t see myself getting much use out of some of the products so that’s really disappointing. I will definitely use the blush and the eye lash curler, but I don’t see myself using the face oil and I won’t be using the lip stain. The hairspray is a tossup. Last month’s bag was so great so I was a little disappointed this month. Hopefully next month will be better.

If you subscribe to ipsy, what did you get in your bag? I’m curious to see if we received the same items!

If you’re interested in signing up for ipsy, feel free to use my referral link J

Disclaimer: This bag was purchased with my own money and all opinions are 100% honest and my own. I do not provide positive reviews for payment.

Review of January 2015 ipsy Bag

ipsy is a monthly subscription box company created by famous YouTuber Michelle Phan and is $10 a month. You get a mix of makeup and skincare items, usually 4-5 full- or deluxe sample size products. When you sign up for ipsy, you take a quiz in order for bags to be customized to your skin type/tone, and your general preferences. You can retake the quiz as many times as you like. You can also review each product in your bag to help ipsy further customize your future bags. You get points by reviewing items in your bag and by referring people to ipsy. You can use these points to purchase products on the ipsy webpage.

The January 2015 bag is the first bag I received. Below are the items I received, along with mini-reviews.

Bag: I like the bag, mainly because it’s Knicks colors (blue on one side, white on the other with an orange zipper; unfortunately, right now, they are not doing so well). It’s vinyl with a lining on the inside, making it easy to clean if any makeup spills occur. 

  

Product #1: Pacifica Natural Mineral Coconut Eye Shadow in Ethereal.

            I was really excited to receive a product from Pacifica. I’ve heard a lot about them and am interested in trying more natural make-up (e.g., paraben free). This color is fantastic. It’s a light champagne color and is good for highlight, base or all over lid color. It has a slight shimmer. I’ve been popping this all over my lid and up to my brow bone and using a matte brown shadow in my crease for a natural “no make-up” look. The formula is a bit crumbly in the pan, but it applies smoothly.

Value: $4? (they don’t sell singles, a set of 4 is $14)

Product #2: BelláPierre Shimmer Powder in Celebration.

This is a loose eye shadow in a coppery-brown color. I’m usually not a huge fan of loose eye shadow (it’s messy and harder for me to apply), but this color is great. You can sheer it out for a no-fuss look (sweep it over the lid and up into the crease) or pack it on for a smokier look. It is rather shimmery.

Value: $14.99

Product #3: Elizabeth Mott All Over Shadow Brush.

The bristles are so soft! I used this brush to apply the BelláPierre shadow. I’m not a fan of pink, but this is a good brush. Did I mention the bristles are soft? You can use this brush to apply color all over your lid, or into the crease.

Value: $9.99

Product #4: La Fresh Eco-Beauty Be Good. Good Day. Day Moisturizer.

            I've used this moisturizer a few times and it did not break me out. I like that it is in a re-sealable tube, much better than a normal foil packet. 0.5 oz is nothing to shake a stick either! A lot of high end moisturizers come in 1 oz containers so 0.5 oz really lets you know if you like the product or not. This is supposed to be good for dry and sensitive skin (I have both). It definitely has kept my skin hydrated. I've used it at night and during the day under my makeup. Also, it doesn’t have parabens, artificial fragrance, etc. I just wish it had an SPF.

Value: $13.99

Product #5: Probelle Into The Blue Nail Lacquer.

            I was least excited about this item. I usually do not like blue makeup products. Blue isn’t a color I would normally wear even on my nails. On the applicator brush it looked rather thin, but the coverage was great with two coats (which is typical of most nail polishes). I’ve worn the polish for a couple days (with no top coat) and there has only been minor wear/chipping.

Value: $6

Overall Value: $48.97

            Definitely worth the $10 I paid. I will use all of these products, except maybe the nail polish. Who knows, maybe the blue will grow on me. I am sooo looking forward to my next ipsy bag!

If you’re interested in signing up for ipsy, feel free to use my referral link below:

https://www.ipsy.com/r/ts6i8

Disclaimer: This bag was purchased with my own money and all opinions are 100% honest and my own. I do not provide positive reviews for payment.