Ipsy Glambag April Review

5 / 6 / 156 / 15 / 15

I received the April Glambag this past month and I was super disappointed. Even before getting it in the mail, I received an email that said that the MICA Beauty eye primer had some discoloration in it. Nonetheless, I held out, hoping the bag would still deliver.

Spoiler Alert: It didn’t.

I’ve always heard other beauty lovers complain about their subscription purchases and I thought it was absurd. It’s cheap makeup and risk is involved…so don’t complain. Just cancel. Well, after this month I was a little more understanding. Here’s what I received in my bag, and why I can’t be too happy with it this month.

Mullein & Sparrow All Natural Tinted Lip and Cheek Balm, Sample Size, Valued at $8

This product had me really excited for this bag. I really like anything from Etsy sellers and love supporting small businesses. Unfortunately this product didn’t have any pigment. As you can see in the swatches, there wasn’t any color. The smell was delicious. It reminded me of citrus. Some members of Ipsy said they were going to use it as a perfume. I think this was an OK idea. Unfortunately I haven’t even reached for it since I reviewed it. The design on the front is beautiful and the concept is cool but it just didn’t work.

Wind Blown 05 Dry Finishing Spray by Redken, Sample Size, Valued at $10

This sample was probably my favorite item in the bag. I like Redken products and I’ve used this a few times since receiving it. The finishing spray is supposed to hold your hair and also help it look more polished. Overall it wasn’t something I’d purchase myself, but I’m glad to have it.

theBalm Cosmetics Eye Shadow in Flirty, Sample valued at $1.50-$2

I was bummed about the size of this sample. I like theBalm, which is sold at Ulta and other stores, but this sample was so tiny. The color was ok but I have other shades similar. The individual eye shadow comes in a magnetic little package. Of course I think the packaging is cute though.

MicaBeauty Eye Primer, Sample Size, Value $12

Oh, this was a big oopsidaisi from Ipsy. Right before I was mailed out my bag I received a message saying that the MicaBeauty Primer was discolored. I’m a member of an online makeup forum and many members were saying they found mold in their product. Now, Ipsy swears that it’s just discoloration but I wasn’t too confident. Once I received it I looked it over. Even though it looked alright to use, I was weary. I emailed the help desk and was responded to quickly. They told me that they understood my concern and offered another sample with its own shipping tracking code. I threw the primer away and within a week had another item in the mail. I was shocked that they sent me a full sized Oscar Blandi Pronto Texture and Volume Spray. I plan on offering a full review on this product later. I was really pleased with the quick response and customer service. This has made me more confident with my subscription and I’m super glad I haven’t cancelled.

JulieG Nail Color in Damsel, Full-size $3.99

The color is pretty for spring but I’m not a fan of the formula. It has formaldehyde in it, which is pretty bad for you. Now, I do use a lot of different nail polishes, some of which may not be 100% natural, but this worried me. It’s a cheaper brand from Wallgreens and I’m picky about what I put on my nails. Overall, I decided not to use this. I’ll probably give it to someone. The color is pretty though, too bad I don’t know what it looks like on.

Overall: It Was the Worst Bag I’ve Ever Received

I was shocked when I received this. It was the worst bag I’ve ever received from Ipsy. The bag itself was cute but the items just didn’t seem worth the price. Some people loved this bag and I think it might be a matter of preference. I won’t really use the eyeshadow, the primer, the tint, or the nail polish. I’ve used the hair product and liked it and I also used the bag when I went to the beach. It’s been a few months since I’ve taken the pictures and I still think this is a pretty bad bag…but I’m happy with the full-sized product they sent me.

This made me keep subscribing and of course I’ve been super happy with the products ever since.

Ipsy Glambag March Review

3 / 23 / 155 / 6 / 15

March’s Ipsy bag was themed Floral Fantasy. I loved the bag and the fun floral print for spring. For me, it seems each month keeps getting better and better through Ipsy. So proud to be a member for over two years and sending much love to Michelle Phan!

A mix of lipstick, lotion, eyeshadow, and more? I’m in love with the variety and usefulness of these items.

Eyeshadow Duo in Apricot Glow from Pixi by Petra, $4

Pixi by Petra is a brand offered at Target. I’ve tried a few items from them in my Ipsy bag and in my Allure Beauty Box. They’ve rebranded and gone from simply Pixi to Pixi by Petra. Petra is the creator of Pixi. She is from Sweden and loves all things to do with folklore and fairies. The brand originally opened a flagship store in Soho, London. Since then, it’s expanded and you can now purchase the bright products at Target and other retailers. This eyeshadow sample is a smaller version of their full size Mesmerizing Mineral Palette. This palette is $12 for a full size and comes in five different color sets. The shadow is mineral formula that’s made with vitamin E which is supposed to be good for your skin near the eyes. The sets are:

Rich Gold – gold, khaki, and moss green shades

Silver Sky – cream, silver, and smokey blue shades

Emerald Gold – emerald, copper, and cream shades

Plum Quartz – plum, cocoa, and pinky-nude shades

Copper Peach – peach, bronze, and russet shades

I really loved the eye shadows. I used them for a summer look and applied the lighter gold on my lid and the darker shade above it. The color stayed on almost all day. Of course, it wasn’t up to par with my Urban Decay shadows but lasted a long time. Not too bad for only $12 for six shades.

ACURE Day Cream, Sample Size 1 oz valued at about $10

I’m always down for trying a new lotion or moisturizer. I’m even more down if that lotion or moisturizer is organic! ACURE Day Cream transported me to sunny Florida where I tend to eat more oranges than physically advised in a given day. The citrus smell was strong but not too overpowering. I’ll admit, I didn’t read up on the product before slathering on my hands and feet. Only later, ~~when I was writing this review~~, did I realize that the product is supposed to be for your face. Either way, the formula helped my skin feel extra soft and I received compliments on the smell. According to ACURE, Day Cream has Gotu Kola Stem Cells which helps to firm you skin and fight environmental damage and free radicals. I can’t really review the use on my face, but my hands sure felt great!

skyn ICELAND Hydro Cool Firming Eye Gels, 2 Packs Valued at $7.50

These firming eye gels were really neat to try. This is one of the reasons I love Ipsy; I wouldn’t purchase these on my own. I don’t have trouble with under eye bags or dark circles, but tried these out one night in the bath. As soon as I placed them under my eyes, they felt nice and cool. I left them on for about ten minutes and when I took them off my skin felt firmer and my eyes looked bright. It kind of reminded me of someone adding air under my eyes so that they’d poof up! Although the results were nice, I passed the other set to my grandma, who I feel will get better use out of them. For those with under eye bags, these rock. I think if I ever have kids and need to look wide awake, these will come in handy. I’m much more open to trying other products from skyn ICELAND now.

Boo-Boo Cover-Up in Medium Shade, Baby Size $10

When I saw ahead of time that I was receiving a concealer, I was nervous. My skin is hard to match and if the color isn’t right, this product is a waste. I received the Boo-Boo Coverup in the color Medium. I tried it right away and it seemed to match OK. I would much rather like the Light shade but this may work for the Summer months when I have more color from the sun. What I really like about Boo-Boo Cover-Up is that it is made to help heal blemishes while it conceals. It has ale, chamomile, green tea, tea tree oil, and vitamin E. It also came in a great size which regularly retails at $10!

Butter Lipstick in Pops from NYX Cosmetics, Full Size $6

NYX Cosmetics is my jam. Ever since I began following Charis Lincoln, or Charisma Star, on Youtube, I fell in love with their products. I was excited to see I would get one of their lipsticks in my bag. Unfortunately, the color wasn’t one I would wear a lot. I still gave it a try. The color Pops is a nudey pink. It is a few shades darker than my skin tone and matches my lips pretty well. NYX’s Butter Lipsticks are supposed to be very moisturizing and they are. I liked how it went on smooth. I didn’t like that the color seemed to come off regularly and I had to reapply it. This formula reminded me more of a colored lip balm than a lipstick. Nonetheless, I really liked it and would try other shades.

Overall: This Month’s Bag Was Pretty Good

I was sad that the concealer didn’t really match my skin tone but I really liked the lipstick. The eye gels were something I wouldn’t buy myself so that was a nice thing to try. The Pixi shadows worked really well and I used up the ACURE Day Cream. I don’t think I’ll re-buy anything except the Butter Lipstick from NYX. I still felt that for $10, it was a good deal. The entire bag was worth about $37.50. That’s over three times as much as I paid. For $10, I’ve been happy with Ipsy every time. I just began subscribing to Birch Box, so we’ll see if I can say the same for that. Also, the bag this month is adorable!

*I purchase Ipsy and Birch Box on my own. However, I have included my affiliate link so if you use it I’ll get a few points to use toward bonus items.

Ipsy Glam Bag February Review

2 / 24 / 155 / 6 / 15

There’s just something about getting a little gift in the mail every month. When I was a little girl, I would run out to the mail to check if I had received letters or packages. One of my fondest mail memories was opening a package sent from Santa Claus that had a bunch of stationary and coloring pages. Years later, I’m still fascinated by snail mail and the new movement of “happy mail.” A way I indulge this little desire to receive a doorstep package every month is by subscribing to different subscription services.

Ipsy is an online beauty community created by Youtube star and makeup artist Michelle Phan. In addition to offering videos and creative beauty content, the site’s main attraction is the monthly Glam Bag. For $10, you can receive a curated makeup bag filled with goodies that are put together especially for you! Now, I know $10 can be a stretch for something a little extra, but I’ve noticed I purchase much less makeup and beauty products since receiving this monthly goodie (ask my husband)! Also, the products are great quality and add up to much more than $10.

Here’s what I received for the month of February!

Up All Night Volumizing Spray by Eva NYC, about $6 for sample size

I tried the Up All Night Volumizing Spray on damp hair and allowed it to air-dry. The product is designed for blow-outs but I noticed it gave me more volume even though I didn’t hit my hair with my blow dryer! The smell is deliciously fresh. I really appreciate the fact you can use it to protect your hair from heating tools.

Large Angled Face Brush 504 by Luxie Beauty, $16

This face brush by Luxie Beauty has the same quality as (gasp) my Sephora brushes! The bristles are extra soft and create the perfect blush application. I really like the wide handle and have used it for both bronzer and the blush which was included in the bag. I’m glad the product is cruelty-free and would purchase more brushes from Luxie Beauty. I think this is the very first blush/face brush I’ve received in the two years I’ve been a subscriber. I really like that they included a blush and brush to go together for this look.

Mini Lip Gloss by CARGO Cosmetics in shade Anguilla, about $6 for sample size

As much as I love the color pink, I don’t do light pink lipglosses. I tried this sample and liked the color payoff but not the color. It went on smooth and stayed on, but wasn’t for me. I’d love to try another shade!

BLUSH Cheek Powder by ModelCo in shade Peach Bellini, $22

When I saw this blush, I thought it looked too pigmented to create a more natural look. I was wrong! I used the included Luxie brush and lightly tapped it on my cheeks. After blending it out, I had created a natural looking pink flush! I have NARS Organism and love it but it has a lot of shimmer. This is a more peachy color and doesn’t have much shimmer. For my sister’s wedding makeup, I added some and then used NARS Laguna bronzer underneath. It looked beautiful! Note to self: don’t write a product off just because the packaging or by first impression!

Natural Eye Liner Pencil by “Pencil Me In” Cosmetics in shade Amethyst, $6.99

I’m glancing down at my hand and can still see a trace from the eyeliner that I used when doing my sister’s makeup yesterday. The liner that was included in February’s Ipsy bag has been my jam! I’m not a huge fan of purple liners and usually wear my go-to Kat Von D Tattoo black liner but this stuff is great. The product glides on smooth and stays put. The color is a deep purple that looks really great with cool shadow colors. I had never heard of Pencil Me In Cosmetics and wasn’t sure about them until I tried the liner. On further inspection, I learned the brand has been featured in some notable magazines like Women’s Day and Seventeen and it’s made without harmful petroleum and parabens (win-win)! Pencil Me In Cosmetics offers thirty different colors in their liners and they’re about $7 each. This is one of main reasons why I adore Ipsy – I love trying new products and learning about new brands! I would’ve never even thought to try this kind of liner and am surprised at the quality and color payoff.

Overall: I loved this months bag!

The total products were totaled at about $57 and it included a cute pink cosmetics bag. For $10, I was really impressed and will use the majority of the items. My favorite was the liner and Luxie brush! If you’d like to sign up for Ipsy, visit them online here.

*Ipsy is purchased by yours truly. I’ve included my affiliate link to Ipsy so that I can receive points if you chose to sign up.