Ipsy - June 2013

Honestly, this was by far the most disappointing Ipsy bag I've ever received. There was not one item I can I loved, and majority of these items I'll be tossing because even my little sister (who receives all of my rejects) won't get any use of them. On the bright side, this was my favourite bag (the actual bag, not the products..) to date, the leopard print and neon green were super cute!

This months contents:

1. J.Cat Beauty Eyelash + Eyelash Glue - I won't get much use of these as I seldom wear false eyelashes, but they're made with real human hair and feel amazing, so I'm looking forward to trying them out next time I need false eyelashes. Another perk is that the glue is latex free!
2. J.Cat Beauty Sparkling Cream Palette - Really unimpressed with this one.. it's glitter with a cream base that's meant for everywhere except your eyes, however my eyes are the only place I'd think to consider using this. That being said I won't use this. I did a little swatch and the formulation is just terrible. I can't find a single positive thing about this one. As you can see by the swatch below it goes on extremely streaky and overall just didn't appear nice. Not impressed.
3. Nyx Cream Blush in Bronze - This blush swatches very nicely, but is tricky to apply. I don't use much cream blush, which could definitely be a factor, but I found it to apply very streaky and inconsistently. The colour is gorgeous, so I'm hoping to play around with it a little more and hopefully get the swing of things!
4. Chella Ivory Lace Highlighting Pencil - I'm kind of iffy on this product.. it's supposedly like a concealer. It says to use it for under eye circles, blemishes and redness, but I can't imagine using a stick on those and find it awkward and it doesn't work nearly as well as other products for that purpose. I do quite like it for under brows.
5. Starlooks Lip Pencil - This lip liner is of great formulation. It goes on smoothly and seems to be fairly long lasting. My main concern - I received the shade 'bare' which is a super pale pink. Aka a colour I would never wear in a million years! I wish I would have gotten the red or pink shades as I would have been able to use them.

Price Breakdown:

1. J.Cat Beauty Eyelash + Eyelash Glue - retails 3.99$ (3.99$)
2. J.Cat Beauty Sparkling Cream Palette - retails 4.49$ (4.49$)
3. Nyx Cream Blush in Bronze - retails 6.00$ (6.00$)
4. Chella Ivory Lace Highlighting Pencil - retails 18.00$ (18.00$)
5. Starlooks Lip Pencil - retails 12.00$ (12.00$)

For a total of 44.48$/15$

I guess the only perks of this were obviously the super cute bag, but also the fact that the products were all full size, so if there were a few you liked, you scored big! Anyway, I'm not going to unsubscribe, but I hope the next bag improves.

xLB

Ipsy Bag -- May 2013

Ipsy is wonderful with shipping, before I even had received my tracking information my bag was in my hands being played with! I have to say this is quite possibly my favourite Ipsy bag to date - the products were amazing and the chevron bag was too cute!

This month's theme was 'Spring Fling' - adorable!

This months contents: 

1. Yaby Concealer - I quite liked the formula of this concealer, it goes on smooth and has great coverage, but the colour I received was a bit too orange toned for me to wear to conceal blemishes, but it works great for under eyes I've found! Ps, I have the shade 'honey'!
2. Zoya Nail Polish - Zoya is a great brand for nail polish, great range, great prices, great staying power. I love when Ipsy includes it, but unfortunately this shade makes me hands look a little sickly.. So I graciously passed this one along to my sister who loves all of my beauty rejects :~) I love that the brand is vegan and 5free, and also while being a pastel shade it goes on very opaque which is rare! Love Zoya. Shade is Blue.
3. Nume Finishing Serum - Immediately after receiving my bag I decided to pair this serum with my trusty Josie Maran Argan Oil (received initially from a prior Ipsy bag, ps!) and WOW, the results were amazing! My hair was so soft and shiny, I've never received so many compliments on my hair! Not sure if its just due to the two of them together, but I'll definitely have to try it solo to see if I get the same results. So far, in love! Very lightweight and non-greasy, and effective. 
4. Mirabella Colour Sheers Lipstick - I haven't gotten too much wear out of the lipstick yet as I've really just been working a lot and haven't had the chance yet to swap out work-friendly lipsticks . but that doesn't mean I love it any less! The colour appears exactly as it says - sheer. Which I quite like. The formula is very light and balm like, with a bit of gloss to it. I received the darkest colour, Posy, so I'm not sure how the lighter colours work out but I love the effect this one has. Colour appears almost like a 'your lips but better' shade as the lipstick is a sheer. So far, love! I couldn't help but notice online that they offer a shade called Peony.. *grabs credit card*
5. Pacifica Roll-On Perfume - I wish I had gotten the other scent, Tahitian Gardenia, instead of Island Vanilla as I'm not a fan of the scent of vanilla for perfumes (I'm a floral kinda girl) but I do love the Pacifica brand and if I did like vanilla I'd love this perfume. The scent has great staying power and rolls on with ease. 
6. BONUS: Urban Decay Moondust Eyeshadow - I also received a bonus for being me (if you're an active member of the Ipsy community they'll occassionally throw in a little somethin' somethin' extra as a thank you) so I was quite pleased! While I'm not much a fun of anything cool toned this is still a gorgeous shadow that I'll definitely use for inner corners or a dramatic look, or accents.. I'll figure it out! I would have preferred one of the more bronze-y shades, but I received Moonspoon and feel like I will like it once I find more a use for it since it's not an everyday shadow for my complexion. Very happy to have received this however!

And a little price breakdown:

1. Yaby Concealer - retails 5.23$ (5.23$)
2. Zoya Nail Polish - retails 8$ (8$)
3. Nume Finishing Serum - retails 29$ (5$)
4. Mirabella Colour Sheer Lipstick - retails 22$ (22$) 
5. Pacifica Roll-On Perfume - retails 12$ (12$)
6. Urban Decay Moondust Eyeshadow - retails 20$ (20$)

Bringing the grand total to 53.23$ + 20$ bonus = 72.23$/10$ as always, a great value :~)

xLB

Ipsy Bag -- April 2013

I've said it once, and I'll say it again - the best day brightener is always a bright pink Ipsy package in the post! That being said.. today my April Ipsy package arrived, hurray!

This months theme is 'Pretty in Pink' - first impression, I LOVED the bag! So simple, so cute!

This months contents:

1. Be A Bombshell Blush in Sweet Cheeks - this blush swatched so nicely, it's such a great velvety texture. It seems like a great quality blush, buuuut the colour just didn't suit me too well. Its a fairly bright pink with blue and silver undertones which are a no-no for me. I have olive toned skin with yellow undertones, so gold is my thing. 
2. MicaBeauty Mineral Eyeshadow in Earth - this was one of the either/or products for this month and let me tell you I was so pleased to have gotten this one! The other option was an eyeshadow duo by Two Cosmetics which I probably would never touch.. so I'm happy! It's a gorgeous shimmery barely there pink shade, and the texture is really lovely!
3. BigSexyHair Powder Play - I've yet to try this but I've heard wonderful things, and love the brand so I'm so excited to have gotten this one! The other option was a soy renewal which is equally fab, but I'm more excited to try this baby out!
4. Sation Nail Lacquer in Of Corset I'll Call You - I was hoping for the other colour since I literally just purchased a new pastel pink polish, so I'll likely be giving this to my sister (she gets all my makeup rejects) but the colour is super pretty!

A quick swatch of the blush - super pretty and velvety, but not for my skin tone :( 

And the Mineral Eyeshadow - a barely there shimmery pink!

And a little price breakdown:

1. Be A Bombshell Blush in Sweet Cheeks - retails 16$ (16$)
2. MicaBeauty Mineral Eyeshadow in Earth - retails 14.95$ for 2.5 gm, sample was 2gm (11.96$)
3. BigSexyHair Powder Play - retails at 15.95$ for 0.53 ounces, sample was 0.07 ounces (2.20$)
4. Sation Nail Lacquer in Of Corset I'll Call You - retails 5$ (5$)

Giving an overall 35.16$/10$ so a great value indeed, as always :~)

xLB

Ipsy Bag - March 2013

Before I even knew it, or got my tracking code, my Ipsy bag was delivered! It's always super exciting to come home to that bright pink package in the post :) Unfortunately, I was not a fan at all of this Ipsy bag.

My first impression was obviously the bag - I thought it was cute, but not my style nor anything I'd ever use. Then I felt the fabric of it - it feels super cheap. Not impressed. 

This months bag was called 'The Great Escape' - very nautical! 

The contents of this months bag..

1. GlamRX Mini Freestyle Palette - This is one of those things that is cute, but I'd never actually buy. Basically it's a palette with a magnetic bottom to attach whatever shadow pans you'd like, so long as they have magnetic bottoms. Definitely not something I'll be using. Mainly because nothing is ever going to fit perfectly in it, which will definitely make my OCD flare up! 
2. Juice Beauty Hydrating Mist - This for me was the star of the bag. This is the kind of stuff I love getting from Ipsy. I stick to a lot of the same makeup, so for me it's super cool trying more stuff like this. I'm not sure yet if this is something I'd repurchase but so far I'm really liking it! I find it really freshens up my face if I use it in the morning, or at night after washing my face.
3. Yaby Eyeshadow Refill - The purpose of these shadows is to go into the GlamRX palette. However, I won't be using neither of them. I think Ipsy really needs to come up with some type of colour system, because no one is ever content with the colours they receive. The blue is something I will never wear, and the sand colour blends right into my skin! Probably something I'll end up giving to my little sister. 
4. LA Fresh Travel Lite Makeup Remover - I already have a makeup removal system and do not need to switch it up at all, so this is definitely something else I won't be using. Mind you, I'll keep them as they might be something I could use in the future. I found them to be very large, so when I used one I only used 1/4 of the wipe and ripped it into pieces. I've read lots of reviews from the other girls saying these stung their eyes, so I was very cautious.  

The eyeshadows swatched

Overall, I'm not sure if this bag got my worth, but I'll definitely still stay subscribed. Really not impressed with this bag however. But what can you do! You have your ups and your downs with these things. Looking forward to the April bag already! 

xLB

Ipsy Bag -- February 2013

For me, one of the most thrilling things every month is looking into my mailbox and seeing that gorgeous little pink package! Then of course running back to my room to try out all my new goodies!

This months theme was Red Carpet Ready!

First thing is first - the bag. Ipsy needs to step it's game up with the bags! Although the black patent is super cute and chic, I'm in the midst of the winter blues and need some bright, cheery colours instead of the monochromatic bags we've been receiving. 

The contents of this months bag..

1. Pixi Flawless & Poreless Primer - To be honest, I feel like I'm awful at reviewing primers.. how does one review a primer? Okay, well, it's oil-free and hypoallergenic which I LOVE, great for sensitive skin. It is a coloured primer which I'm not used to at all! I've only ever used clear primers on my face, but it blends very well and I'm excited to keep using it!
2. POP Smoky Lash Kapow Mascara - So far, this to me seems like any mascara. I'm not impressed with it, but I'm not disappointed with it. Not something I'd repurchase, but definitely something I'll continue using, especially for travel. 
3. Lash Card - When I heard this was in the bag I was kind of like um.. really? I just don't see the necessity of this. I get Ipsy is good for trying new products, but after years of makeup application I definitely do not feel the need for lash cards.. probably something I'll wind up giving to my little sister.
4. MicaBeauty Gel Eyeliner - For me, this one was the star of this bag. I've been wanting to try gel liner for the longest time, but as I'm awful with eyeliner (I use powder, sooo much easier) I haven't looked into it much or purchased any, so this was great! It goes on very fluidly and thick which I love and with the right brush you get so much control. Stay tuned on longwear.
5. Coastal Scents Shadow Palette Sample in Glitz & Glamour - When they said sample they weren't kidding.. each of the shadows is roughly the size of a dime. Probably smaller. But when I think about it, I highly doubt I'll end up using them all up anyway. I've heard mixed reviews about Coastal Scents so I'm excited to try it out a little more. Upon first impression, I really liked the colours I got. There is a taupe-y colour that I can't wait to incorporate into my daily makeup routine, and I'll definitely get use of the others for nights out. They are fairly pigmented and really soft and creamy, which I like.

The Lash Cards.. um.. 

Swatches; Gel Liner on the left, Shadows (Clockwise) Gunmetal, Candlelight, Ashen, Incognito

For a grand total of 14.95$ paid (10$+ shipping) and ~50$ in products this one was definitely worth it. I  would say for the gel liner alone I got my money's worth. I'l definitely continue with Ipsy - probably one of my favourite subscriptions! 

Breakdown:

1. Pixi Flawless & Poreless Primer - 15$ for 15mL (Half of full size)
2. POP Smoky Lash Kapow Mascara - 11.10$ for 0.17oz
3. Lash Card - 2.80$ for 4
4. MicaBeauty Gel Eyeliner - We weren't given size specs for this one, but the fullsize retails for 30$ and is 5g.. so super close if not that size.
5. Coastal Scents Shadow Palette Sample - a 1.3g pan retails for 1.99$, so this quad is worth ~3$ or 2g

xLB

Ipsy Bag -- January 2013

Just hours ago I received my much anticipated January Ipsy bag, and I have to say, this is one of Ipsy's best yet!

Nothing beats seeing the gorgeous hot pink packaging in the post!

This month's bag's theme - Super Stars

A peak at the inside

I was a little disappointed in the bag until I saw the super cute interior!

The contents of this month's bag..

1. Pacifica Tuscan Blood Orange Body Butter -- this has to be the star of this bag for me, believe it or not. I just can't get over the scent. It smells delicious! And I much prefer the thickness of body butters to body lotions, especially in the winter, so this is wonderful. In love! This size retails on the Pacifica website for 7$ 
2. BigSexyHair Volumizing Hair Spray -- I've been wanting to try this for the longest time, but haven't been able to justify spending that much money on hair spray since I seldom use it, so I was beyond excited to see this guy in my bag! It's a travel size, which is awesome, just enough for me! The full size retails for ~20$ depending on where you go.
3. Nailtini Nail Laquer in Bloody Mary -- This is the one item in this bag I was unsatisfied. It's probably just because I'm a total Nail Varnish snob, but I don't like being given nail polish in the slightest. Think about it.. how many reds can one person own? I really didn't need another.. I don't mind when they give more unique polishes, like the nailtini glitter from Novembers bag. This one for me was a no-no and I'll likely be giving it away. On the plus side, it was again a full size, which retails for 13$ on the Nailtini website.
4. Josie Maran 100% Pure Argan Oil -- Another product I was absolutely thrilled about! I've been looking to try Argan Oil for the longest time, but again, being on a student budget I haven't quite been ready to splurge on it, so this was perfect! I've used it so far on my hair and I love it! My hair absorbed it really well and now feels so much more hydrated, and the shine is noticeable. The full size retails for 48$ on the Josie Maran website.
5. SOHO Concealer Brush -- This one you either got an eyeliner, crease or concealer brush. I'm content with mine since I have plenty of eyeliner and crease brushes already, so this was lovely. I like how dense the brush is, it's super full and also has an ergonomic handle, to make application the best possible. This brush retails for 7.99$ on the SOHO website.

A closer (but low quality oops!) picture of the brush

For a grand total of 14.95$ paid and 38.99$ worth in products, this months Ipsy bag was definitely worth it! I'm so excited to continue with my Ipsy bags, they've definitely become my favourite beauty subscription. Below is an approximate breakdown of pricing on each product..

1. Pacifica Tuscan Blood Orange Body Butter - 7$
2. BigSexyHair Volumizing Hair Spray - 5$
3. Nailtini Nail Laquer in Bloody Mary - 13$
4. Josie Maran 100% Pure Argan Oil - 6$
5. SOHO Concealer Brush - 7.99$

xLB