Ipsy May 2015 Glam Bag Review and Unbagging/Unboxing

Ipsy May 2015 Glam Bag Review and Unbagging/Unboxing

Jetsetter

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This months Ipsy Glam Bag theme was Jetsetter!  I have to say I was much happier with this months Glam Bag than last months.  Each product I received is something I will use often and is something I did not have already in my makeup kit! Ipsy Glam Bags are a subscription service that sends you 5 deluxe samples(sometimes full size items!) in a cute little makeup bag that fits whatever that month's theme is for $10.00.  A fun surprise this month was that there were multiple makeup bag options.  I actually got the one that is different than the one pictured above and LOVE it. Now, to the samples!

1. Urban Decay 24/7 Glide on Lip Pencil + Bonus Revolution High-Color Lipgloss

One of my favorite items this month, this lip pencil is an amazing primer.  It really helps make your lip product last a long time!  I have not tried out the lip gloss yet, but I love the colors and love Urban Decay so I am sure it will be something that I instantly become addicted too. :P  The pencil itself is a nice size and I should get quite a few uses out of it.

2. Chella Eyebrow Color Pencil(Possibly Full SIze)

Initially, I was not thrilled about this item as I have bold, thick eyebrows already, however, after I tried it I actually think it will be something I use!  The color is taupe, so it was not to dark and did not make my eyebrows look like big caterpillars so I am happy. Though it may not be a regular step in my makeup routine, anytime I want a bolder look I will be sure to use this!  I think this may also be a full size item!

3. Nuxe Reve de Miel Facial Cleanser and Makeup Removing Gel

One of my favorite items in this months bag, this cleanser works well, and completely removes all of my makeup.  After cleansing, my skin is left feeling soft and smooth and my complexion is significantly brighter and evenly toned. The smell is something you will either love or hate, but personally I love it. This is something I will definitely be purchasing!

4. Luxie Beauty Tapered Blending Eye Brush 205(Full Size - Value: $12.00)

I ordered a set of these from an Ipsy deal a few weeks ago and love it.  Getting this eye brush in my Glam Bag was an awesome surprise and a wonderful addition to my brush collection.  This brand of brushes is coated in a revolutionary anti-bacterial material, making care for these brushes a lot easier.  This item on its own cost more than my Glam Bag, and this item itself makes the Glam Bag worth it!

5. Bare Republic Naturals SPF 30 Mineral Face Sunscreen Lotion

Normally I despise sunscreen on my face, as it is too thick and often makes me break out.  This sunscreen, so far, has worked well on my sensitive skin.  Though this item was one of my less loved, I do like it overall.  I also love how light the cream feels and goes on easy, so I am sure I will be using this as we go into summer!

I would say that this bag was extremely successful, and one of my favorites.  All of these items are great for summer, and I am sure I will get lots of use out of them!

Ipsy Glam Bag May 2015 Unbagging/Unboxing Video

 

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Awesome IPSY Offers: Ziaja Goat's Milk Collection

Awesome IPSY Offers: Ziaja Goat's Milk Collection

Want premium samples sent to your door for only $10 a month?  Check out IPSY's Glam Bag!

One of my favorite sites, IPSY, has weekly offers for Glam Bag subscribers where you can get a varying degree of discounts on different products from brands that IPSY has featured in their Glam Bags.  I love trying new products, so I am always on the lookout for interesting products and amazing deals.  One of those offers was Ziaja's Goat's Milk Collection!  This collection has a day cream, night cream, and eye cream and as I was in need of a moisturizer, and it was a good deal, I thought I would try it out.

I have to say I really have loved the day cream, and use it every day.  It has acne fighting ingredients as well as anti-aging properties.  Since I started using the day cream, my face has been soft, smooth, and toned.  I have many different medical conditions, so my skin is extremely sensitive and making me a little picky with products, but this day cream is gentle, rich, and nourishing.

As for the night cream, I have not used it quite as much, but I do like it.  My main complaint is that it is quite a heavy cream, so I don't think it's something that should be used more than a few times a week for people with sensitive or combination skin.

Lasty, the eye cream is AMAZING!  It greatly reduced my dark circles and left my skin soft and smooth.  As I have used it more and more, my dark circles are the lightest they have ever been, and for someone with many chronic illnesses who pretty much lives with permanent dark circles under their eyes, this is a godsend.  I have another cream that I use in the morning. Between the two of them, my eyes are looking that best they ever have.

Overall I really have enjoyed this collection and for those looking for an inexpensive, effective, anti-aging, nourishing, acne fighting face care regimen, this is for you!

Want to check out this line? - Click Here!

March 2015 Ipsy Glam Bag Review

March Ipsy Glam Bag Review

March's 2015 Ipsy Glam Bag's theme was Floral Fantasy!  I loved the theme as well as the little pouch all of my lovely samples came in.  All Ipsy subscribers received one of three different full size NYX Cosmetics Butter Lipstick.  Though I did love this month's theme, for whatever reason this months Glam Bag was not in the top tier of my overall favorite Glam Bags.  Though I was excited a little at first, it was actually when I received my Glam Bag and tried out all of the samples that I became really excited.  I was pleasantly surprised by most of this months products and actually found quite a few new favorites from some of this months Ipsy Glam Bag's brands.

1. Pixi by Petra Mesmerizing Mineral Duo

   Starting out, I was not super excited by this as I have gotten quite a few neutral tones from Ipsy. Though I have loved all the previous ones I have gotten, I would like to mix it up a little.  However, once I tried this out I found that the darker of the two is perfect for the crease above my eyes.  The lighter of the two makes an OK highlighter, but I have other highlighters I like better. This shadow goes on super smooth and has a good amount of pigmentation. Overall I am happy with this product and the brand, but would have enjoyed something a little bolder too. 

Check it out on Ipsy here!

2. NYX Cosmetics Butter Lipstick(Full Size)

   Every Ipsy Glam Bag subscriber received one of these lipsticks in either Hunk, Little Susie, or Pops.  The one pictured above, and the one I received is in the shade Pops. I love, love, love these lipsticks!  They slide on super smooth and really have a nice pigmentation.  My only complaint is that, again, I received this in the most neutral of all the colors, and would have loved to try either of the other two, bolder colors. 

Click here to check it out on Ipsy!

3. Acura Day Cream

   This day cream uses plant stem cells that firm your skin and fight free radicals.  I love this day cream and the smell is simply divine.  It is a great anti-aging cream and I think would be perfect for women in the "first signs of aging" category, from 25-35 or so.  I have been using this every day since I received this in my March Ipsy Glam Bag, and my skin much looks firmer and much more radiant.  This is one product I am sure I will be buying in the future, and will continue to use this in the future.

Click here to see this on Ipsy!

4. Chella Ivory Lace Highlighter(Full Size)

   This is another product I was only mildly excited about, but, again, once I used it I fell in love.  It also is a full size item that normally cost around $18.00.  This highlighter pencil is perfect for highlighting areas around your eyes and really brightens up and eye makeup. This product also glides on smooth and easy, and I have to say it is now a must have in my makeup routine.

Click here to see this on Ipsy!

5. skyn Iceland Hydro Cool Firming Eye Gels(two pair)

   By far my favorite item in this months Glam Bag, these firming eye gels are amazing.  They left me feeling refreshed and visibly reduced puffiness and dark circles around my eyes.  I have used the skyn Iceland brand before, and have loved every product I have gotten from them.  After trying these out, I actually ordered their eye cream which also works extremely well.  I did notice some people complaining that is did not work as much as they liked, but with any skincare product it usually takes 8 weeks to see the full effect.  A lot about good skin care is simply keeping up with a routine and using products over time.  That is the best way to get the full effect of your skincare products.  These are great for a spa day, and I will definitely be purchasing more of these from sister/mother spa days and general under eye care.  On another note you can get skyn Iceland product on Amazon.com at a discount!

Click here to check this out on Ipsy!

Overall I enjoyed my bag, and actually ended up pleasantly surprised!

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January Ipsy Glam Bag Review

January Ipsy Glam Bag Review

This months Glam Bag was one of my favorites so far.  For me, it was all about the eyes.  Every Ipsy Glam Bag subscriber received a Pacifica Eyeshadow in either Ethereal or Treasure.  The items in this bag seemed to be great quality and I really was surprised that I liked every single item I received.

1. Bellapierre Shimmer Powder in Excite(Sort of Full Size)

   Probably my favorite items from this month, those who received one of these in their bag were given one of three colors, Excite, Celebration, and Whesek.  This shimmer powder has a lot of pigment and of course sparkles!  In my bag I was given Excite(a white powder) and fell in love right away.  This powder is very pigmented, so you only need a small amount.  Since I received the white shimmer powder I can use it as a highlighter for my eyes or as an overall shadow.  Though it makes a beautiful highlighter, I prefer to use it as an overall shadow.  Combined with a glitter eyeliner, my eyelids look like they have little diamonds all over them. The most common complaint on the Shimmer Powder page was that this powder was TOO pigmented, so if you are worried about that it is best to apply a tiny amount.  Also, to prevent fallout, wet your shadow brush before you apply the shimmer powder. The size I received has the same amount as the full size, but the container was not in the same type you would get if you went and bought it.  So it is sort of full size, which is nice as the full size is around $15.00.

2. Elizabeth Mott All Over Shadow Brush(Full Size)

   I always love getting makeup tools, and this brush was a wonderful addition to my Glam Bag.  The bristles are so soft and really provide a good brush for a lot of different eyeshadow ideas.  It is small enough that you can get more precise as well as all over coverage.  Also, it's pink and thats always an added bonus.  This brush was perfect for the Bellapierre Shimmer powder I received.  A few Ipsters on the Elizabeth Mott Eye Brush page were not thrilled about getting another brush, as they got a different one last month.  Personally, I think you can never have enough brushes so this was no problem for me.

3. Malin + Goetz Mojito Lip Balm(Full Size)

This lip balm has an amazing smell and really left my lips feeling soft and smooth.  I have been using it daily since I got it and will be very sad when I run out.  Many people on the Mojito Lip Balm page really loved the smell as well.  For anyone with really dry or chapped lips I would recommend this!

4. Nourish Organic Renewing Eye Cream

   Last month this was also a possible sample you could receive from your Glam Bag, but sadly I missed out on it.  Luckily, this month it was available again and I was fortunate enough to be sent one in my Glam Bag. I am ill a lot of the time, so my eyes often look tired and have dark circles under them and this cream seems to help reduce both.  Some people on the Renewing Eye Cream page, and seemed to see more results than others, and I have personally used other, better eye creams.  Though this does help, it may not be my first choice of an eye cream.  

5. Pacifica Natural Mineral Coconut Eyeshadow(full size)

   Every Ipsy subscriber received a Pacifica eyeshadow in either treasure(above) or Ethereal.  I was given the shade treasure and LOVE it.  This eyeshadow has a lot of pigment, and stays on all day when applied with a wet eyeshadow brush.  The shade, treasure, comes out as a metallic tone and even has a little bit of shimmer!  This is a really good get up and go eyeshadow when you don't feel like spending a lot of time on your makeup.  Some subscribers on the Pacifica Ipsy page were not fond of the other shade, Ethereal. While some were able to use it as a highlighter, others said it was almost too pale and was more of an off white than white.  As I received the shadow in treasure, I can not give much of an opinion on the shade Ethereal. Personally, I was thrilled when I saw I had received Treasure, as I was a little concerned that Ethereal would be a little too neutral. I loved this brand of eyeshadow and would recommend it to anyone needing a nicely pigmented eye shadow.

One of my favorite Ipsy bags so far, I look forward to what is to come in the new year.  High quality product, sparkles, and full size samples?  What more do you need?

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December Ipsy Glam Bag Review

December Ipsy Glam Bag

Decembers glam bag was a 7 out of 10 for me.  The products I got that I like I REALLY loved, but there were two items I was not as fond of.  All Ipsy subscribers received a NYX Cosmetics Butter Lip Balm in one of four colors and a Tarte Deluxe lights, camera, lashes™ 4-in-1 Mascara. Overall I am very happy with the items I got, and the 3 products I LOVED I use all the time.

1. Beauty Without Cruelty A.H.A. 3% Facial Cleanser

   Probably my least favorite item from this months Glam Bag, this cleanser did not work for me.  It smelled nice, but irritated my skin. I have relatively sensitive skin, so many products that work for others don't work for me.  Reading through the comments on the cleansers Ipsy page others with sensitive skin had similar problems, while others had a positive experience using this product.  My advice, if you have sensitive skin it may be best to avoid this, but if your skin is normal in sensitivity you may very well like this product and it does have a pleasant and refreshing smell. 

2. Cailyn Cosmetics Just Mineral Eye Polish in Orchid(Full Size Item)

   By far one of my favorite items I received from an Ipsy Glam Bag, this eye polish is beautiful and adds a stunning shimmer to your eyelids.  Because it is a mineral polish, I find that using an eyeshadow primer OR cream eyeshadow before you put on the polish is a good idea and prevents a lot of fallout. This seemed to be one of the chief complaints on the mineral eye polish Ipsy page.  People also seemed to dislike the applicator, and I have to agree it is not the easiest to work with.  Additionally, on the Cailyn Cosmetics Website there are some really interesting examples of how this eye polish can be used for things from eyeliner and nail polish!

3. NYX Cosmetics Butter Lip Balm in Marshmallow - Pure Nude(Full Size Item)

   Every Ipsy Glam Bag subscriber received one of 4 colors of this lip balm(Marshmallow, Red Velvet, Parfait, and Lady Fingers).  I received the shade Marshmallow(pure nude) and was not fond of the color from the beginning.  The balm itself made my lips super soft and it pigmented nicely but the color itself I did not like.  Not being a big fan of nudes and tones like that, I doubt I would have liked it unless it was a different color.  Others with the similar tone seemed to not be fond of it on the Butter Lip Balm Ipsy page, but those who received the a lip balm in one of the other shades seemed to really like this product.  In my opinion the balm in the shade Lady Fingers seemed to be the favorite of the four.

4. Sexy Hair 450° Blow out Heat Defense Blow Dry Spray Mini

   I love, love, love this product!  It has an amazing smell and my hair is super shiny and sleek after blow drying it.  This spray really protects against heated styling tools and I use it every time I blow dry or curl my hair.  The sample size is good, and I think it will last me for awhile.  It is a product I will definitely be buying when I run out of this sample.  On the Sexy Hair Ipsy page there were mixed feelings about this product. Some seemed to get great results while others felt it did not make much of a difference.  Personally, I noticed it is good to use a liberal amount when spraying in you hair as that gets the best results.  The scent bothers some, while others, including me, LOVE the scent.  It comes out smelling clean and fresh and I had no problems with it.

5. Tarte Deluxe lights, camera, lashes™

 4-in-1 Mascara

   This Mascara is amazing and every Ipsy Glam Bag subscriber was lucky to get one in there December Glam Bag.  I don't think I have ever used a Mascara that made my lashes so long a full.  It takes a couple coats and it is good to watch the video in the description on the Tarte website to get some hints on how to maximize this product effectiveness.  The size of the sample is the same size as the Tarte mascara in the Best in Faux lash extending fibers set.  The set is $19.00 for both the Deluxe mascara and the Faux lash extending fibers, but I found that the mascara worked very well on its own!  The general consensus on the Tarte Deluxe Mascara Ipsy page is one of extreme satisfaction and delight at receiving such a high quality product that works so amazingly well.

  Overall this Ipsy bag was great and all my criticisms are minor in relation to the value of the products and the use, overall, that is gained from them. 

November Ipsy Glam Bag Review

November Ipsy Glam Bag Review:

This months glam bag was glitter themed, though not many of the items were that sparkly.  All in all I found this months bag a success.  The makeup bag was cute, though not my favorite. 

1. Be a Bombshell Cosmetics Eye Base in Submissive

By far my favorite product this month, this eye base looks amazing, even on its own!  This was one of the few sparkly items from the glam bag this month.  It also is a good size and will last me for awhile.

2. Elizabeth Mott You're so Fine Eyeliner in Glitterati

My second favorite item from this months glam bag!  I have very sensitive eyes, so eyeliners can be a little difficult for me to use.  This liquid one is great for your eyelid and makes a stunning cat eye.  The size is nice and I am sure I will be buying this brand when I run out.

3. J. Cat Beauty Wonder Lip Paint in Red Potion

I liked this though it was a little hard apply.  The color lasted a long time and the size is a good amount.

4. Laura Mercier Invisible Loose Setting Powder + Mini Fan Brush

Probably my least favorite item from this month.  I don't wear a lot of foundation so though this is nice to have when I do wear it, I doubt I will use this a lot.  It did its job well, though the size of the sample is small and the brush does not really work very well when trying to apply the powder.

5. Marc Anthony Oil of Morocco Argan Oil Volume Shine Hairspray

I was really excited to get this to use with the Beach spray I got a few glam bags back.  The smell is amazing and the size is perfect to throw in your purse for use on the go.  It also made my hair look very shiny and healthy.

November Ipsy BAG! (Review coming SOON!)

Just got this months Ipsy Glam Bag!  This month is all about sparkles, and I am so excited to try everything out!!  Review coming soon!

This month I got eyeliner, eye base, finishing powder, hair spray, and lip paint!  Sadly I forgot to take a picture with the hair spray. :P

July Ipsy Glam Bag Review!

Ipsy July Glam Bag Review

Today I received my first ipsy glam bag!  These are bags you subscribe to receive in the mail for $10.00 a month and you receive $35.00+ value in samples.  There are a variety of items you can receive, 21 this month I believe, and you receive items that are picked out based on a profile you fill out earlier.  My Glam Bag contained:

• Sexy Hair Soy Renewal Beach Spray
• Hang Ten Dark Tanning Oil SPF 08
• Pop Beauty Sunkissed Bronzer
• Pixi Mini Tinted Brilliance Balm
• Bareminerals 5-in-1 BB Advance Performance Cream Eyeshadow 
• Pink Ipsy Pouch

The tanning oil I won't use, so won't be reviewing that.  I have to say my favorite item this month is the beach spray!  Now here is the review!

Soy Renewal Beach Spray

This stuff is amazing.  I decided to try it after getting out of the shower.  I blew dry my hair until it was just damp, and sprayed this all over.  I continued drying with a diffuser attached to my hair dryer, as that was what was recommended, until it was mostly dry.  The end result was wavy, beachy hair that truly looks like you just went to the beach.  It gives a sexy look, and smells very good.  If you are looking to get that beachy look this is the product for you!

Sunkissed Bronzer

Though I don't use a ton of bronzer, this one was nice and subtle. It gives your face a healthy glow and goes on nice and smooth.  Though not my favorite bronzer, this one will definitely be used.  If you are looking for a nice bronzer I would recommend this.

Brilliance Balm

This balm adds a nice pink hue to your lips, and is subtle.  It glides on smooth and is very easy to put on because of the pointed tip.  A pretty balm that great for summer occasions.

5-in-1 Cream Eyeshadow

This was a little dark at first, so if you have fair skin only use a little bit.  It adds a nice hue to your eyes and can be worn with eyeshadow over it.  It also brightens your eyes and has an SPF.  I personally would have gone a little lighter, but still a fun item.

And as for the bag, it is adorable!  I love the texture of it, and of course I love that it's pink! 

My glam bag!