my [last] january ipsy review

bag | Once again, I am feeling "meh" about the bag. It isn't as awful as last month's, but surely didn't blow my socks off. One side is white, one side is a royal blue, which are two colors I like, however the size and the fabric make this something that I won't use often.

Liquid eyeliner by Coastal Scents | Aside from the fact that I can't do a winged liner look to save my life, this product seems it be a good one. It has a sturdy felt tip brush and is jet black [two things I would probably look for if I could maneuver liquid liner]. Plus, the full size is very affordable at a mere $2.95!

Take it off! exfoliating honey peel off mask by Hey Honey | Is it just me, or is there something weirdly satisfying about a peel off mask? I'm not exactly sure where the "exfoliating" part of this product comes in, due to it's gooey texture, but I know that it removed the grime from my skin. This may be TMI, but I could actually see the dirt on the mask pieces I pulled off.

Be Good. Good Day. Day Moisturizer. by La Fresh Eco-Beauty | First of all, the name of this product is questionable. "Be good. Good day. Day Moisturizer." They could have stopped at day moisturizer and gotten the point across. Anyway, I digress. I'm starting to love this day time moisturizer. It is definitely not heavy enough to use at night, but it sits well under makeup during the day due to its lightweight formula and fresh cucumber scent.

Natural mineral coconut eye shadow by Pacifica in Ethereal | I need another nude eye shadow like I need another pair of shoes [I don't], but this product is lovely! The formula is very buttery and smooth, and it doesn't hurt that it's 100% vegan. This brand is available at Target, and I've also heard wonderful things about their blood orange lotion.

Velvet rose lipgloss by Velvet 59 in noisette | I was pleasantly surprised when I tried this gloss and loved it, seeing as I'm not a huge lip gloss gal. Lately I am super into rosy mauve colors, and this product has just the right amount of tint to it. Did I mention that I adore the chic clear packaging, silver handle, and faint rose scent? I've been layering this gloss over Revlon's Sassy Mauve, and it works like a dream.

I'm sure you've noticed a trend of me not being super excited with my Ipsy bags the past few months, which is why I have decided to cancel my subscription and receive the Sample Society box by Allure [only $15 a month!]. For only $10 a month, I still think Ipsy is a good deal for beauty lovers, but, I felt like a lot of the products weren't useful to me. I think Ipsy tries to avoid this by making subscribers take a beauty quiz, allowing you to choose the items and brands that you use most, but I still wasn't receiving the type of items I requested.

After spending far too much time researching past Sample Society boxes with my best friend via phone, I concluded that the $5 extra a month is worth it to receive samples of higher end brands that I might not normally buy. According to the site, the Allure beauty editor's choose their favorite beauty products for the month, and each subscriber gets the same box [although the colors of items may differ]. Keep a look out for my February Sample Society review next month! I can't wait to share it with you.

xoxo,
G

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

november ipsy

It's mid-November, so you know what that means... Ipsy glam bag review time!

makeup bag | by Forever 21 for Ipsy. Not the best, not the worst. I think I had this same makeup bag when I was in my LTD2 days. I will probably give this away to someone.

SeaRx Birchsap Moisturizing Lotion | I'm all for a good face moisturizer, so I was excited to test this one out. The sample is pretty small, but I have enjoyed using it. The lotion has a strong citrus smell to it, almost like clementines, which I love. The formula is very lightweight, and absorbs quickly. Is it a life changer? No. Is it nice to use? Yes.

Marc Anthony Oil of Morocco Argan Oil Hairspray | This product was one of the items that made this bag totally worth it. Argan oil seems to be very popular in haircare lately, and I've been dying to try something containing it. This hairspray is not sticky at all, and provides great volume and shine to my flat and dull hair. It also smells great, and doesn't tangle my hair like other hairsprays do. Win-win-win.

J.Cat Wonder Lip Paint | To be honest, this product confuses me. It claims to be a "lip paint," which I assumed meant it would perform like a lip stain. However, the formula of this lip product is very runny, more so than a gloss (swatched below). The liquidity of the product makes it difficult to apply straight from the tube, so I would recommend using a q-tip. It is very pigmented and does stain your lips, but wears like a gloss. I'm not the biggest fan, but I know I won't love everything each month. It was still fun to try this!

Starlooks Eyeliner pencil in ultra olive | As I told you in my first Ipsy review, I'm not a huge eyeliner gal. I don't wear it on a day-to-day basis because I think it makes my eyes look way smaller than they already are. However, I might give this one a try on a special occasion. I think this product might be nice because I can blend it up from my lash line and use it like a cream eyeshadow, rather than simply drawing a straight line across my lid. The color is beautiful (swatched below), and I think will complement my green eyes.

IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Undereye Concealer | I saved the best for last! This under eye concealer is highly coveted in the beauty world, so I was quite happy to receive a sample. It really does what it says - conceals under eye bags, moisturizes, and even covers discoloration and acne. It is very thick, but I apply it with a Beauty Blender and it blends into my skin just fine. A little bit does go a long way. Also, this sample size will be nice to have in a bag for traveling.

[Top: Starlooks eyeliner.
Bottom: J.Cat lip paint]

This Ipsy glam bag was not too shabby! I loved that it had an array of different product types - hair, skin, and makeup. I have been using almost all of the products daily (except for the eyeliner and lip paint). Although some of the samples were smaller in November, I always feel like I get my money's worth each month. If you're interested in signing up for Ipsy, click here to get on the waitlist!

What beauty products have you been loving lately? I have a few more to report on in the upcoming weeks. Stay tuned!

xoxo,
G

october ipsy: first impressions

I received my Ipsy bag in the mail two days ago - so of course I want to give you the low down about the products I received. And yes, I was so excited that I tried them all within 24 hours of receiving them. Here goes nothing!

bag | Not bad! I like the color, and the quilted pattern is kinda cool.

Revlon Bold Lacquer mascara | I was pleasantly surprised to see that this product was full sized! I am very picky with mascara, but I thought this mascara was nice. It has little fibers in it to make your lashes longer and fuller. I didn't notice much volume, but I did notice more length in my lashes. The formula wasn't clumpy at all, which I definitely appreciate. However, the mascara did flake a little after all-day wear.

Doll 10 H2Glo highlighter in Champagne | I'm a fan of this highlighter! It is a nice size sample, and it is subtle enough that it's not overbearingly sparkly on your face. I put this on my cheekbones and under my brows. I think it could be used as a cream eyeshadow too! It reminds me of the Benefit Watt's Up highlighter.

Figs & Rouge hand cream | This is a "nice to have." The packaging is adorable, and the mango mandarin scent is nice - not too strong. I think I'll throw this in my bag, car, or leave it at my desk for when I need hand cream in a pinch.

Epice purifying exfoliant | I've been needing a new exfoliator since my LUSH Ocean Salt ran out, so I was happy to receive this. The exfoliants in this face wash are very fine, so it is gentle enough for sensitive skin. I tried it last night, and I found that my skin was feeling pretty smooth afterwards. Not sure if I would buy a full size of this item, but it worked well. I wasn't super overwhelmed by it, though.

The fifth product that I got a sneak peak of in my "glam room" (your online account featuring the monthly products you receive) was not in my bag. I emailed ipsycare, and luckily they were happy to send it to me. It's a red lipstick by Noyah, which might be nice to have for autumn and the holidays.

To be honest, I liked this bag, and it was of course exciting to receive it in the mail, but I was a little underwhelmed. The products were nice, but not rave-worthy.

Stay tuned for next month's review!

xoxo,
G

my first ipsy: first impressions

Recently, I've subscribed to Ipsy to receive a "glam bag" every month. Basically, you pay $10 a month, or one payment of $110 for a year's subscription, and Ipsy sends you five products per month based on a beauty quiz that you take when you sign up. This isn't my first time at the beauty subscription box rodeo, as my two best friends gifted me a Birchbox subscription a few years ago for my birthday!

I subscribed to Ipsy to try something new, and I have heard that the samples are bigger in size. However, I did love my Birchbox subscription. The samples were relatively small, some full sized, but they were all luxury brands that I probably wouldn't have tried had I not received them in my box! They were great for use while traveling, too. However, I love Birchbox's branding slightly more than Ipsy's. It is a lot cleaner and modern. (Sorry, it's the Comm major in me.)

How Ipsy compares to Birchbox

Cost | Both boxes $10 per month, shipping included.

Items | With both boxes, you receive 5 samples a month. Ipsy also gives you a makeup bag every month.

Trading | Ipsy has an open forum for subscribers to trade products that they don't want. To my knowledge, Birchbox does not offer that service.

Points system | Birchbox has a better points system - if you review the products you receive, you earn Birchbox points and can put those points towards your purchase in their online Birchbox store. Ipsy implements the same points system, but you must share your feedback on Facebook. Personally, I don't like to clutter up my friend's timelines, so I have skipped the sharing part.

Buying products | Ipsy allows you to receive discounts on the brand's website. Birchbox has their own online store and offers discounts along with your Birchbox points.

my september Ipsy glam bag

makeup bag | I'm not one for studs, but oh well. Beggars can't be choosers. This might be given to a friend who will like it.

pacifica natural waterproof eye pencil | I don't wear eyeliner, but the formula and the color on this one seems nice! It is a silver/gunmetal color, so I might save it for a special occasion.

be a bombshell smooth criminal powder | This sample is really nice, and not something I would typically purchase. It is definitely a premium sample that will last many uses. This powder helps smooth fine lines and imperfections while also keeping your your skin matte. I would liken it to the BareMinerals mineral veil.

briogeo don't despair, repair! deep conditioning mask | I really like this! I've been into deep conditioners lately, because I have been highlighting my hair for a few years, and I know I have some damage. This one smells lovely, and makes my hair feel stronger after one use. It didn't really help with detangling my hair, but otherwise it did its job!

cailyn art touch tinted lip gloss | I love the formula of this lipgloss because it is not sticky or tacky at all. The color is a bit orange for my skin tone, but if I layer it over chap stick the color becomes more muted. Also, the "sample" is a full size, so I feel like I'm getting my money's worth!

harvey prince hello fragrance | I saved the best for last. Just when I thought I found my signature scent... this sample came along. Let me point out that the sample is a very nice size, not like the small 3-4 use spray containers that you can get for free at department stores. This is a small rollerball that will last me many uses, and is the perfect size to slip in my purse. The fragrance is heavenly. Lightweight, sweet smelling, long lasting, and warm. I was hesitant to try this, as I received a sample of the Harvey Prince "Skinny Chic" fragrance in a Birchbox and did not like it. However, with "Hello," Harvey Prince has redeemed themselves! Love. I'm considering buying another rollerball once I'm done with the sample.

Overall, I was pleasantly surprised with my Ipsy glam bag this month! I will definitely keep you posted on future bags and fun beauty finds.