december ipsy review

Hi all! I hope you all had a wonderful and restful holiday. It's that time again... December Ipsy glam bag review!

bag | When I signed up for Ipsy, I thought I would love getting a small little makeup bag every month. Now, I am 4 months in and haven't really loved any of the actual bags! The only word to describe this bag is chintzy. Into the trash it will go soon! Sorry Ipsy.

Beauty Without Cruelty alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) facial cleanser | At first I thought this product would be a mediocre, run of the mill facial cleanser. I was wrong. Beauty Without Cruelty is a very misleading brand name -- because this facial cleanser did a cruel little number on my face. I'm not exactly sure if it was the AHAs in this wash that made my skin red, tight, and broken out for a solid 4 days, but I know it was not pleasant. This product will be going in the trash soon. I would not recommend it to anyone! (I swear, some of the products were actually good this month.)

Crown shadow/crease duet brush | This brush is just okay. It does the job, but I wasn't blown away by it. It is weird that it's double-ended, which doesn't allow you to stand it upright in a brush holder.

NYX Butter lip balm in red velvet | I've been wanting to try any NYX product, so I was pleased to see this in my Ipsy bag. It truly has a buttery formula, and the color tint is beautiful and easy to apply. It's lighter than a lipstick but still provides noticeable color. Did I mention that it smells like strawberry candy? I am a huge fan of it and will likely try other colors.

Pixi Fairy Dust in brightening bare | I've seen the Pixi line in Target before, but never tried any of their products. This loose powder eye shadow is a pretty nude color with a light shimmer. Would I repurchase it for $10? Probably not. But, it's a nice neutral shadow that can be used for a low-key look.

Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes mascara | This product made this month's bag worth it! I've heard great things about Tarte mascaras... and let me tell you, the hype is real. I love the length this gives to my lashes. I would definitely consider purchasing a full-sized version of this product. My one qualm is that the mascara adds so much length to the lashes that they touch my eyelids and therefore the product sometimes transfers onto my lids. Because of this, I think I would probably purchase the waterproof version called Lights, Camera, Splashes. Side note: How cute are the names of their mascaras?!

Bare Minerals Flawless Definition Volumizing mascara | I know what you're thinking. Each bag usually only contains five items, why six this month?! Well, Ipsy forgot to send the Pixi Fairy Dust in my bag, so I emailed IpsyCare to make them aware. This was the second time in 4 months that they had forgotten to put an item in my bag. So, they sent me an extra item to make up for it. It was a nice gesture... But the mascara was dried out. I gave it a try anyway, and found that the brush/formula provides more volume than length. If volume is your thing, this product might be the one for you.

Overall, I only really liked the NYX balm and the Tarte mascara from December. I'm going to see how January's bag pans out, then re-evaluate my Ipsy subscription.

Do you have any other subscription services that you love? Let me know in the comments!

xoxo,
G

confessions of a lushie: part III

Surprise, surprise... I'm reviewing two more Lush products, perfect for holiday gift-giving!

Sparkler bath bomb | This rose-jam scented bath bomb is a nice little treat at the end of a busy week, with a smell that is so comforting and relaxing. In an effort to preserve this goody for more than one use, I broke the "stick" in half. The bomb has a sparkly center, which adds a bit of glimmer to your bath (that also sticks to your tub once the water is drained - which I personally don't mind). I felt quite relaxed, moisturized, and sweet smelling after soaking in the tub with this bomb. Even if you don't take baths often, I would recommend buying this product simply for the scent. I honestly steal a whiff of it a couple times a week.

Right now it's sold out online, but you may be able to find it at your local Lush store. It's also included in this luxurious gift set! I think Lush's bath bombs make the perfect holiday gift for a friend, for under $10.

BB Seawood fresh face mask | Once you get past the odd texture of this mask, you might just love it. This product was recommended to me after I found out the Catastrophe Cosmetic mask was sold out. The scent of the BB Seaweed mask reminds me of the beach - fresh and slightly salty. With calming and exfoliating properties, my skin feels smooth and refreshed after one use. The only downside is that the seaweed is slightly weird - there are substantial pieces that are sometimes difficult to wash off once the mask dries. But, I can get past the seaweed because this product truly lives up to its claims.

xoxo,
G

3 little luxuries under $3

Does any one else make impulse buys with the attitude of "treat yourself"? Me too. I love a good excuse to unwind and indulge sometimes. However, I am a believer that pampering yourself doesn't mean breaking the bank. I want to share with you three items that feel luxurious, but don't cost very much at all.

1] Sinnling vanilla pleasure candle from IKEA. $1.79
Lately, I've been lighting candles almost every night. No matter what I'm doing, there is most likely a candle or two burning in the background. These ones from IKEA smell great and are so inexpensive, you can stock up and feel no guilt. I must admit, the vanilla scent isn't incredibly strong, but the sweet berries scent is noticeably sweet and scented. Plus, they make a great housewarming gift!

2] Aussie 3-minute Miracle Color Conditioning Treatment, available at most drug stores. $2.97
I bought this after Kate from The Small Things Blog recommended it via Instagram. I thought, if a hairdresser recommends this treatment it must be good. And for $3, I didn't have much to lose. This product definitely proved its worth after the first use! Normally after I shampoo my hair, I put this on my ends while I wash my body, exfoliate, shave, etc. After about 3 minutes and a quick rinse, my hair feels silky smooth and stronger. This is a product I use about once or twice a week, when my hair is really feeling dry or damaged from heat styling. Try it, you will not regret it! Bonus: it smells light and feminine, with hints of camomile.

3] Vitamin C Microdermabrasion from The Body Shop. $2.50.
I'm all about a good face mask lately, but I must admit, I probably don't exfoliate my face as much as I should. With that in mind, I decided to try this microdermabrasion scrub after my best friend gifted it to me. It. is. good. The beads are not too coarse, but it really does get rid of any rough patches or dead skin on your face. I felt like it even cleared up my complexion a little bit. It has a pleasant smell, and the packet will last me two uses. If you're really feeling like giving yourself a complete spa treatment, exfoliate, then put on a mask for 10 minutes. Your skin will feel rejuvenated!

I hope you take at least 3 minutes out of your busy day and try some of these $3-and-less luxuries, or give them to a friend who needs some relaxation. What are your favorite ways to indulge on a budget?

xoxo,
G