August 2015 Ipsy Unbagging

My last beauty subscription unbagging for the month will be the August 2015 Ipsy bag. Ipsy is a monthly beauty subscription that costs $10.00/month. Each month you get a makeup bag and at least 5 beauty samples (sometimes full sized products). You can also get beauty tools such as brushes in the bag (make sure you fill out your beauty profile when you sign up!). You can check them out at www.ipsy.com. 

Ipsy and I have a complicated relationship. The first few months I received it I was not happy at all. As time has gone on and since I have been filling out reviews (yeah I suggest you review your products) it has slowly been getting better. Lets see how this month goes. 

Now all the things!

My first product is the OZ Naturals Amino Herbal Hydration Mask sample-size (full-sized price $21.99). This mask contains rosehip oil, pro-vitamin B5, amino acid complex and an organic herbal blend that deeply nourishes and penetrates again skin (I guess my skin is aging). The brand is cruelty free and organic, does not contain alcohol, parabens, or sulfates. 

I did not open the product to smell it because it has a seal on it. I am going to try this mask because rosehip oil is supposed to be good for people who have rosacea. I will report back after using the mask to let you know if my face burned off or not – smile. 

Next we have the Batiste Dry Shampoo in the scent Blush sample-size (full-sized price $7.99). Everyone knows what dry shampoo is right? The Batiste is no different it’s there to make your dirty hair look good again. I was really worried about the smell but it’s not that bad. It does smell like perfume but it dissipates pretty fast. I don’t think I would purchase it because I am a huge fan of the Klorane Dry Shampoo. Overall if you’re looking for a different option this is something you should try. 

The Starlooks Luxe Longwear Eye Liner Pen (full-sized price $19.00( seemed to be the answer to my eyeliner prayers. I’ve been looking for a small pen applicator to travel with. Don’t get me wrong I love my Tarteist Clay Paint Liner but when I travel I lose things. I can just see myself losing my brush so the pen applicator seemed like a great option. 

As you can see I made a little doodle on my hand (because who wants a boring straight line am I right?). I looked good. However, the long lasting claim seems to be misplaced. I allowed it to dry and was able to wipe it off with a little water. Maybe I did not let it dry long enough but if it wiped off that easy with some water it will not stay on my eyes. I’ll see how it goes on a day I don’t mind the potential panda eyes. 

I was not excited to see a Hikari Cosmetics product in my bag. I did not like the Hikari eyeliner that Ipsy sent me in another bag so I didn’t have a good feeling about this lip gloss. The Hikari Cosmetics Lip Gloss in Salsa (full-sized price $13.00) is a high-shine lip matte gloss. I have to say that the color of this lip gloss is intense. Very opaque and the formula is not sticky. It did smell like plastic but it wasn’t an overpowering smell and wouldn’t stop me from wearing it. I am glad to say that my impression of the brand does not apply to all of the Hikari products. A great lip gloss! 

The last product in my bag is the City Color Cosmetics HD Powder sample-size (full-sized price $5.99). This translucent powder is a finely milled 100% silica powder that helps blur any imperfections. I don’t use powder because I have dry skin so I am going to be passing this sample along. I will say it’s a pretty small sample and I’m not sure that you would be able to get a good feel for the product with this size of a sample. 

Well, that is my August Ipsy Bag. I am not that happy with the bag. While I do use dry shampoo the perfume smell isn’t for me (but I’ll keep it for emergencies) the HD powder is something I wont use and while I did like the idea of the eye liner if it really is not waterproof it wont work for me. I’m also not sure if the mask will work since I have sensitive skin that has a tendency to get angry. So, that leaves the lip gloss. The lip gloss is worth the price of the bag but I would hope that I could use or try at least the majority of the products. This month was a bust for me. What do you guys think of your bags?

June 2015 Ipsy Unbagging and Review

Look at this – Two days and two unboxing's! Today I am unbagging the June 2015 Ipsy bag. Ipsy is a monthly beauty subscription service that sends 5 or so sample sized beauty products. The difference with this beauty subscription service is that they also send you a small makeup bag every month. The cost for Ipsy is $10.00 a month check them out here at www.ipsy.com. 

Now onto all the things! 

Jules and Esther Vitamin C Serum was the first product I took out of my bag. I was pretty excited to see this. I’ve been looking for a good vitamin C serum and have been sampling a few brands. The product has a very nice orange smell to it. I anticipated that it would be clear but the liquid is more milky white. This product is cruelty and paraben free (which is a plus) and I’ll report back after using this for a month to see how it goes!

I was pretty shocked to see these BioRepbulic SkinCare Sheet masks. I received their sheet mask trio in Cucumber Breeze, Aloe Rescue, and Green Tea Detox. I love sheet masks. Korean skincare, and Asian skincare in general, uses sheet masks regularly. Since I use a lot of Korean products sheet masks are already part of my beauty routine. I haven’t tried any of these masks yet but I will this weekend and will report back on if I think they’re effective. Great product!

The Smashbox Cosmetics Photo Finish Foundation Primer was the first primer I ever used. I’m still a huge fan of the product and already own a full sized bottle. I will be giving this one away to a friend so they can sample it. Overall if you haven’t tried the Smashbox primer and you’re looking for one you should give it a go.

I have wanted to try Sephora’s Formula X nail polish and I got my chance this month because of Ipsy. This hot coral pink color is a great summer color. The formula is thick and while I like two coats of nail polish you could do one coat and go. I can’t say much about how long the polish lasts (I haven’t worn it long enough) but so far so good. I’ll report back after week. 

I thought this tre'StiQue Mini Shadow Crayon had opened in bag but it was just the packaging that fooled me. I received the shadow crayon in Marimoto Pink Pearl. It’s a very subtle pink color but is very buildable. I like this shade for summer. I do have to say that I swatched this on my hand and it wouldn’t wipe off (laugh). I actually had to pull out my makeup remover so I’m going to say that this is a long staying product. 

I am very happy with my Ipsy bag this month. This months bag fit my personal tastes and I hope that this is an ongoing trend for the future. Most of the bags I’ve had from Ipsy have been misses so much so that I was thinking about canceling. They have remnewed my faith in them (smile). What did you guys think of your Ipsy bags?

Ipsy April 2015 Unbagging

Welcome to another Ipsy unbagging! I have to say I’ve really liked the recent Ipsy bags. I’m not sure if they’re reading my mind but I hope the trend continues. For those who don’t know Ipsy is a monthly beauty subscription box. It’s $10.00 a month and usually includes around 5 products that range from sample sized to full-sized (mostly sample). You also get a small makeup bag every month. If you want to check them out they’re located right here https://www.ipsy.com. 

Now on to all the things! 

I love the bag this month. It’s not plastic but a whicker type material and the bag is just different from the norm. 

First thing is the julieG Nail Color with a $1.00 of coupon at Rite Aid (we don’t have Rite Aids in my area). I received the color Damsel that is a cool pink color. It does not go on very opaque (think three coats) but it’s a nice spring color choice. My nails chip quickly so I can say that it stayed on for the normal amount of time colors last on my fingers, which is about two days. Overall this is a great drugstore nail polish. 

The next product is the Olive Natural Beauty The olive Lip Balm. This is your standard lip balm with the hook being that it’s made from Olive’s. It actually has a slight chocolate smell to it. Mine got a bit melted in my mailbox so it could be that or maybe my nose is still messed up from my cold. Either way that’s how it smells to me with a slight olive undertone. It does hydrate your lips and works well as a balm. 

Gallany Cosmetics Lipstick in Petal is my next Ipsy bag product. I love this color. It also goes on creamy and stays on average time. It’s a sample-sized lipstick that is a perfect size for my purse. The lipstick contains Hyaluronic acid and Lavender Wax. Not to sure what lavender wax does but woo hoo. 

Another brush! This is the Crown Brush oval Concealer C224. The brush is not as dense as my MAC 242 (which I use for concealer) but it’s a nice brush to add to my rotation. I have to say the fibers feel…odd. I’m not sure if it’s the materials used but they feel stiff. I don’t believe I’ve had a brush made of Japanese Torray Taklon Bristles. 

And finally we have theBalm Cosmetics Nude Dude eyeshadow single in Fit. I love the color, which is shimmery. The product is opaque and goes on very creamy with no fallout. Ipsy has sold me on theBalm and I think I’m going to buy a few of their full sized products. 

Well that was my Ipsy bag. I’m half and half with this bag. I can’t buy the nail polish locally and the lip balm melted. But seriously Ipsy- another lip balm? I like the brush, the lipstick, and theBalm sample but I don’t think it’s worth $10.00. What saved Ipsy for me this month was the makeup bag. I really like that it’s made from a wicker material and not plastic. So this one is a win but just barely. What did you get in your bag this month? What did you think?

Ipsy March 2015 Unbagging

I’m always unsure what to call my Ipsy subscription when I open it. Is it an unbagging or an unboxing? Unbagging is the title I’ve settled on. See, I can make decisions! Ipsy is one of my monthly beauty sample subscriptions. You usually get sample-sized products with Ipsy and a few deluxe samples. I have received full sized products but you shouldn’t expect it. Ipsy is $10.00 a month and usually contains 5 samples. You also receive a makeup bag every month, which contains the samples. Check them out here at www.ipsy.com. 

Now on to all the things!

The bag is…interesting this month. It looks like a pattern I saw on some furniture in the 1970’s. Not something I would choose for myself but I got it with the sub service so not a big deal. 

The first product I pulled out is the Coolway Glow Oil Treatment sample full-sized product 29.99. The Coolway Glow Oil Treatment does not contain alcohol, parabens, or other nasties. What the finishing oil does contain is Vitamin E and Porphyra Seaweed extract to maintain moisture and balance so your hair remains beautiful and shiny throughout the day. 

This is one of the products I have not used. I am about to get my hair styled and I want to give the oil an honest review. So I will wait until a few days after my salon trip to try it (because seriously your hair is perfect after a salon who knows if it’s the product or the stylist). 

Next we have the Chella Ivory Lace Highlighter full-sized product $18.00. The highlighter is in pencil form and smells like a color pencil you use when you draw. I felt like I should be coloring in a picture when I swatched this product. Needless to say I’m not a big fan of the smell. This pencil claims it can be used a few different ways. You can use it as eyeliner, a highlighter, or as a lip liner (not sure how that would work since it’s very light). 

Smell aside the product works very well. It goes on creamy and it blends well. I used it as a highlighter on my nose and to hide a red spot on my cheek and it worked perfectly. Overall I really like this pencil. Would I spend $18.00 on it? I don’t think I would. 

I was pretty happy to see this product in my bag because I’ve wanted to try it. The NYX Cosmetics Butter Lipstick (full-sized $6.00) is said to be hydrating with high color saturation that is longwearing. I received the color Pops and I really like it. I was pleasantly surprised to find that there was no smell to speak of. I find that most drug store lipsticks have a crazy smell so I was very excited about this. 

The product goes on smoothly and the formula is very creamy. The color is opaque and the claim that it lasts is true. I wore it for 6 hours and the color was still going strong. It’s also not drying to my lips, which is another concern I have with long lasting lipsticks. Overall this is a great product and I am going to try out some of their other colors. 

Next we have the pūr~lisse beauty pūr~delicate gentle soymilk cleanser & makeup remover full-sized product $36.00. The gentle soymilk cleanser is sulfate free and contains whole oat and white tea. I have not used this product yet because of my upcoming trip. I will as soon as I get back. 

The last product in my bag this month was the MARSK mineral eye shadow in Fifty Shades (full-sized price $22.50). This MARSK eyeshadow is 100% natural and is cruelty free. You can use this product wet or dry and it claims to be creamy and easily blendable. I don’t see where they get the creamy claim from maybe if you use it wet the texture changes but it felt very gritty to me. 

As you can see from the swatch it’s an interesting color choice. To me it looks like gunpowder. For me there was too much fallout when I placed it on my eye and I had to remove it. I plan to play with it a bit more to see if I can get it to work but I don’t have high hopes. 

That’s what I got in my bag! Overall this is an Eh bag for me. The lipstick and the highlighter were hits but are they worth the $10.00? I will say they’re getting better but they’re not quite there yet. What did you think about your bag?

Ipsy February 2015 Unbagging - Spoilers!

This week has been subscription box week! This is my unbagging (what is the right word here? Unbagging, unboxing?) of the February 2015 Ipsy bag. If you don’t know Ipsy is a monthly beauty subscription bag which provides 5 products which range in size from sample to full-sized. This subscription is $10.00 a month and always arrives with its own makeup bag (the samples are inside). 

Now onto All The Things!

When I opened the metallic pink envelope this fell out first. The Luxie Beauty Large Angled Face Brush number 504 (retail $16.00) is 100% Animal Cruelty Free synthetic brush. The brush is also coated with an antibacterial solution for minimal brush cleansing (nice but…I want a clean brush). I have to limit when I make purchases (because as stated before - I like to pay my mortgage) and this week is my week to buy myself things (brushes or other splurges). Not only did my 3b bag come with a product I was going to purchase but so did Ipsy. I was going to buy a large angled face brush for myself and while it was a different brand this one is very nice. 

The bristles are dense and hold the product well. It distributes powder evenly and easily and it works great with my cream contouring products (another upcoming review). The brush is good quality and made fairly well. It’s a light brush so if you enjoy the feel of a heavy brush you won’t like this one. Yes, the bristles are very soft which surprised me. Overall this is a great brush and I’m happy to have it.

Next is the Rob Scheppy for 'Tini Beauty Eyeshadow in pearl fizz. This is a very nice light pink color (the bag has a pink theme – Valentine’s day). The formula is pigmented but it’s a little chalky. Not a lot of fallout but you can feel that it might be a little too dry for those with dry eyelids (if you have dry eyelids moisturize people – I do now, things were getting’ crepey up there). This is a very spring color and I have not worn it (I’m really into the Nars Dolomite duo right now). 

I don’t think I’ll be using the Hey Honey Take It Off! Exfoliating Honey Peel Off Mask – full-sized $35.00. Well, I keep going back and forth on trying out the mask. I’m going to have to check out the ingredient list on CosDNA before I slather it on my face. 

I love CARGO cosmetics and I was excited to see this Cargo Lip Gloss in the shade Anguilla – full-sized $16.00. The color is pink and very pigmented. So pigmented in fact that I wasn’t sure it was a lip gloss when I saw it in the box. I am so very sad to say that it has an odd smell. I can’t put my finger on it but it’s a slightly sour smell. On the positive side the gloss is not sticky goes on very well and lasts. As well, the smell dissipated quickly. I enjoy it I’ll just have to get use to the smell. 

I really do like ModelCO BLUSH Cheek Powder in Cosmopolitan 01 full-sized product retail $22.00. I really like ModelCO products. The blush is a great girly pink color and it’s very pigmented. It’s a creamy blush with not much fallout. I used it today and it didn’t leave my face cakey a problem I have with my dry skin. 

Overall I really liked this Ipsy bag. I am surprised because this was going to be a make it or break it bag for me. Maybe the beauty subscription powers that be heard all of us talking about the quality of the products in the Ipsy bag? What did you think of your Ipsy bag?