August 2014 Ipsy -- Urban Decay, Dr. Brandt, Klorane, & more!

I'm so excited to share what came in this month's Ipsy bag!

The bag...

Last summer they did a very similar bag to this one. It was the same shape and material but was a clear neon pink. I'm absolutely in love with this white and orange polka dot pattern!

Klorane extra-gentle dry shampoo with oat milk! 

Retail value of travel size: $9.00

Received the full travel size bottle in bag!

I was so excited to see that they included a dry shampoo in this month's bag. I love using dry shampoo and I love trying different kinds. This is the perfect size for travel or keeping in my purse for touch ups throughout the day.

Dr. Brandt Pores No More pore refiner primer!

Retail value of full size: $45.00

Retail value of this sample:  $11.25

I have always been intrigued by this brand. I've gotten samples from Sephora and loved every one. I'm especially excited for this primer because it says it is for oily/combination skin and that's what I am! I am always on the lookout for something that is going to help with the big ol' pores on nose, cheeks, and chin! I can't wait to start using this!

Urban Decay Perversion mascara! 

Retail value of full size: $22.00

Retail value of this sample: $5.50

How could I not be excited to see Urban Decay in this month's bag?! And a mascara no less! I love trying new mascaras and they are the perfect product in sample form because you get to try the brush and the product and there is enough for several uses! Then you can figure out if you like it before buying a full size.

Jersey Shore Sun Mongongo Nutrient Dense anti-aging lip conditioner!

Retail value of full size: $5.50

Received full size in bag! 

I was excited to see a lip balm in my bag but as soon as I smelled it my opinion quickly changed. It is described as "Mandarin green orange and ginger" My sister and I describe it as bug spray! lol I just think it is really stinky. My mom really liked the scent though so I am going to give it to her!

J. Cat Beauty Single eyeshadow in Half Naked

Retail value of full size: $2.99

Received full size in bag!

I haven't had the best of luck with eyeshadows from Ipsy over the past year. Mostly because I got really odd shades. I was so happy to see that this month I got a nice neutral champagne shade. It has a slight shimmer to it but no glitter. I'm really excited about it. I've never tried anything from J. Cat Beauty before so I look forward to trying their brand for the first time!

That's everything in my bag this month!

Retail Value of the bag: $34.24

Amount I paid: $10.00

I'm telling you, I just love Ipsy. I love getting new products to try every month and I love all the cute bags!

If you are interested in trying out Ipsy you can check them out here.

Thanks for stopping by!

xoxo

July 2014 Ipsy bag! Pixi, bareMinerals, Pur-lisse, Model's Own & more!

This month marks one year for my Ipsy subscription! I can happily say I'm still as excited about it today as I was with my first bag and I think the products are getting better each month!

Here's what came this month...

I was so excited to see this bright pink bag! It is very soft, like leather. The scalloped detail on the edges is totally cute and feminine. And I love the large square size as it will allow for greater storage when re-purposing the bag!

Ipsy is a $10/month subscription service (with free shipping)! You take a quiz upon joining to determine your beauty profile which is a factor in the products you receive each month! Then after receiving each bag you can go on and review the items (and receive points towards free stuff) which continues to shape what you'll receive in your future bags. I have found it to be a great way to try products that are often new to the market but almost always new to me that I wouldn't have otherwise purchased or had the chance to try!

This month was no exception...

Pur~lisse pur~protect essential daily moisturizer spf 30

(full size retails for $55.00 // value of this sample is $16.17)

This seems like a lightweight moisturizer with a very light sunscreen scent to it. I have used it a few times and have been pleased with the results. It says it is for normal to dry skin. I have oily acne prone skin so I'm going to watch carefully for new breakouts. I will discontinue use if I find it to be too oily for my skin.

Models Own Nail Polish in Red Sea

(full size retails for $8.00 // this bottle is full size)

I painted my nails with this color the day after receiving the bag. I've always been intrigued by this U.K. brand and was ecstatic to finally try it. I don't know if all of their polishes are of such poor quality but this one was terrible! It was thick, goopy, and very hard to work with. I couldn't stand to have it on my nails for longer than a day or two.

Clear Clinic Laboratories Vanished Clear Spot Treatment

(full size retails for $35.00 // value of this sample is $9.45)

I was pretty excited to see this in my bag. I'd never heard of it before but since it is just a spot treatment and you only have to use the tiniest amount I think it will actually last long enough for me to get a good idea of whether or not it is working. Skincare samples, like washes or serums, are frequently too small to get enough uses to the point of knowing if it really works so I always appreciate when the samples are large enough to really form an opinion about it! I have used this a few times already and am already thrilled that it isn't one of those acne treatments that dries out your skin leaving it cracked and flaky. Something I found interesting about it is that it is a liquid, not a gel or cream which is most common in spot treatments. I'm going to continue using it to see if it can really help with my breakouts!

bareMinerals 5-in-1 BB Advanced Performance Cream Eyeshadow Broad Spectrum SPF 15 in shade Soft Shell

(full size retails for $18.00 // don't have exact size of sample but full size is only 0.10 fl oz. I'd guess this sample is at least $3.00)

I've been using this product almost everyday since getting my ipsy bag. I just apply mine like a primer and put eyeshadow over it. They make other shades that can be worn on their own but this just blends into my skin so it would just look like I wasn't wearing eyeshadow. I'm really excited about this product. It blends nicely almost into a light powdery feeling. It holds my shadows on well too! It also has spf in it! I never think about my eyelids needing sunscreen but as long as I'm using this they will! I would love to buy a full size some day but I can't imagine I ever would because of the price.

Pixi Beauty Mini Tinted Brilliance Balm in Unique Pink

(full size retails for $14.00 // this value of this sample is $8.40)

I was more excited about this when I first opened the bag than I am now. Although it has a nice minty smell and is a smooth balm the shade I received is hardly tinted. I don't see any color on my lips or swatched on my hand. Maybe I'll keep it in my purse if I don't have any other lip balm but I would have preferred to get a darker pink shade that would actually show up when applied.

Overall, I'm really excited about this month's bag. The actual bag is totally adorable. I like the moisturizer, cream eyeshadow, and spot treatment. I don't mind the balm though I'd have preferred a different color. The only one I didn't like was the nail polish!

The retail value of the products in the bag (not counting the value of the bag itself) is $45.02!

And need I remind you I only paid $10 :) Monthly subscriptions are so fun.

I love ipsy.

xoxo

June 2014 Ipsy bag -- Pretty In Paradise

I just received my Ipsy subscription bag for June and can't wait to show you what came in my bag. It was definitely a great month to be an Ipsy subscriber!

Take a look...

Full size Ofra Universal Eyebrow pencil -- Retail $13.00

"Water resistant pencil suitable for the most sensitive eye area. It is the perfect solution for your eyebrows and is called Universal Eyebrow Pencil for a reason as it is one color to suit all skin tones."

I don't know if this is going to match my brows. It seems a little too dark but I am willing to give it a try. The retail price of this alone costs more than the whole bag!

Realtree for her perfume -- Retail $24.99 for 3.4 oz

"Realtree for Her opens up with the sweet taste of pomegranate, a hint of persimmon and an exotic scent of orchids. It blends with lotus blossom and champaca flower and it’s followed by the rich scent of amber, the transient scent of violets and the depth of mahogany wood."

This smells very nice. I was disappointed to find that mine had started leaking but was grateful it shipped in a plastic bag to keep it from leaking onto everything else in the bag. I'm impressed that the full size price is so affordable. I might actually consider purchasing a full size!

full size NYX Butter Gloss in Creme Brulee -- Retail $5.00

"Buttery soft and silky smooth, our scrumptious new Butter Lip Gloss tastes as sweet as a sugar cookie—and makes your lips look downright luscious. Swipe it on alone or over your favorite lipstick for creamy sheer to medium coverage that melts onto your lips and is never sticky."

I was thrilled to find this in my bag this month! The color is so pretty and they aren't kidding when they say it melts on your lips and is never sticky. It really does feel amazing on my lips!

1.5 oz Marc Anthony Dream Waves Beach Spray -- Retail $8.99 (full size 4.2 oz)

"Strictly Curls Beach Spray texturizes, boosts waves, adds body and volume, protects hair from the sun and creates a tousled finish. Hydrolyzed Silk and Provitamin B5 protects hair as it hydrates and leaves a shine."

I'm always excited to try a new beach spray and this is one I have heard of but never used. I love the travel friendly size and that it smells like sweet coconut!

full size Be A... Bombshell Lash Out black mascara -- Retail $15.00

"A rich pigmented mascara with a lengthening formula that offers a multidimensional look."

I have been quite pleased with the various products from this brand that I have received in my Ipsy bags every few months and I hope this mascara will be no different. I was happy to see that it looks like a wetter formula and the brush has fiber bristles (as opposed to the plastic bristled wands).

Here is a swatch of the lip gloss and the eyebrow pencil...

As always I am loving my Ipsy subscription. The bag this month is so fun (and apparently designed by Rebecca Minkoff!?). I only paid $10.00 for this bag and think it was well worth the month! I don't know how much the sample size of perfume was but the other 4 products alone are worth $36.00! Plus I got the cute bag!

I hope you enjoyed seeing what came in my bag this month.

Thanks for stopping by!

xoxo

April 2014 Ipsy Bag

I'm so excited to show you what I got in this month's Ipsy bag! March's bag was disappointing (and only had 4 products instead of the usual 5) so I was very pleased after opening this one.

ipsy is a monthly subscription service that costs $10 a month and comes in a unique makeup bag and 5 full or deluxe sample size makeup, beauty, and hair products

I don't always love the bag but this months isn't too bad. it is a nice size and the material seems like good quality. The navy color is really pretty.

Here's an overview of everything from the bag...

Probably the most exciting item was 

Urban Decay 24/7 Velvet glide-on eye pencil in Black Velvet

I was also thrilled to see this next product

Cover FX mattifying primer with anti-acne treatment 

I've never tried this brand before but I've heard of it and only good things! This product is perfect for me because I have oily acne prone skin. I can't wait to give this a try!

Next up is a lip gloss...

MaryKayAtPlay jelly lip gloss in Teddy Bare

I really like the color of this gloss. It's a nice sheer/natural nude that make it very versatile. But I noticed from the swatch that it is very sticky. This likely means it will be very long lasting but at the same time it isn't very comfortable on the lips... we'll see though. I'm still exciting to try it, just not on a windy day with my hair down...

I saw this product in other people's bags a few months ago and wanted it so bad! I couldn't believe it when I opened my bag and there it was!

Demeter roll on perfume oil in Jasmine

This stuff smells amazing and is quite long lasting. I used it for the first time today and could smell it through almost the whole word day.

And finally....

City Color Mousse Eyeshadow in White Gold  

This is a really interesting product that I think I'm going to like. It is a mousse texture like the name says but once it sets it is slightly tacky which I imagine will make it a great eyeshadow base. Plus, it stayed on my hand even after I washed them so I know it will be long lasting.

Here's the swatch before blending...

And here I've blended it out as I would on my eyelid

I hope you enjoyed seeing what I got in my bag this month. Definitely $10 well spent!

xoxo