Ipsy Glam Bag: Destination Beauty

So now I that I have officially cancelled my Birchbox subscription gasp! I now only have one little piece of mail that I look forward to receiving each month and that is my Ipsy glam bag.

The products are totally worth the $10 monthly fee! The difference between Birchbox and Ipsy for me was the type of products I began to receive. I am more of a makeup girl not an all around product girl. I don't need hundreds of BB creams, hand creams and small foil packets full of a product that I only get to use once.

With Ipsy, the product is at a larger size so I am able to sample the product throughly and give a better opinion in regards to the item. It also helps me to decide if I will be ordering the sample in full size.

With that being said, I highly suggest Ipsy. Their shipping is quick and easy, their products have great quality and are affordable for any budget.

So let's see what Ipsy sent out this month...

Marvelous Moxie Lipstick in Get Ready-$18
This lipstick is creamy and has a great pigment of color. This shade is great for any occasion. Subtle enough for work but would match perfectly to a more glamoured look maybe for a date night. I'm not a huge lipstick wearer but paired with a nude gloss I quickly became a fan.

Pixie Flawless Beauty Primer-$9
The older I get the more obsessed I have become with keeping my skin healthy. I want the glowing, no wrinkle and smooth looking face. With the help of this product my skin looks better and my makeup stays put all day. In the past, I would have never used a face primer but since I started receiving the Ipsy glam bag I have been able to try a few different brands and I must say that a face primer does wonders!

NYX Love In Rio-$6
Brown shades of eye shadow, boom! I LOVE brown eye shadow. All brands, any shade, brown is my go to color. I did the I'm so excited clap my hands four times kinda thing when I pulled this little trio out of the bag. The pigmentation of the product is great and it doesn't crease on my lids after a entire day goes by.

Chella Indigo Blue Eyeliner-$24
I really wish this would have been in black. Blue is not my color and to be honest we had more fun drawing decor on our nails! This fine point eyeliner pen works great when it comes to achieving a perfect line but it is the shade that threw everything off for me.

Ipsy also sent out other products in their glam bags which also included OPI nail polish, body butter and a temporary tanning lotion. I have been subscribed with Ipsy for over a year now and have never been disappointed!

The Look Of Love: Ipsy Feb 2014

Last week I received my monthly self-given present, also known as my Ipsy glam bag. With it being Valentines week it couldn't have arrived at a better time. 

This month's theme is "The Look Of Love", probably my favorite so far. Of course the color pink had to be used more than once and I am completely okay with that! I heart pink!

See what I mean? What's not to love??

1. City Color Be Matte Blush in Fresh Melon-$2.99

Although at first glance this blush looks orange it is not. The color is a flattering shade of pink and perfect for any occasion. Whether you are trying to pull off a casual or formal look this blush will work great. I love affordable products that also include great quality!

2. POP Beauty Plump Pout in Peony Petal-$7.53



Lip gloss!! As one of my obsessions I LOVE lip gloss! This mauve colored shade is the perfect color for me. Although the scent of the gloss is not the best it didn't leave my lips feeling sticky like some glosses.

3. Zoya Nail Polish in Dot-$9.00

One of the reasons why I like Ipsy so much is because they send their subscribers full sized nail polishes. They recently sent out one in October and now this one. Each shade coincides with the season so it doesn't get much better than that! Loving this color!

4. Tini Beauty Cordial Cream Shadow + Base In One in Spiced Rum-$18.00

My go to eyeshadow color is brown. I own a ton of shades from golden light brown to dark cocoa brown. I feel it is the best shade to accent my features. When I received this creamy eyeshadow I was delighted. The shimmery bronze shade definitely made my eyes pop.

5. IPKN New York Moist and Firm-$35.00

I'm not really a fan of this cream. The shade was perfect because I have started tanning so my skin is a bit darker but it felt cakey and had a shine to it which I do not need on my face. I think I'll pass on this one. 

The total bag value was approximately $72.52 which is good being that the bag only costs $10. Once again I'm highly impressed with Ipsy and the products offered. I look forward to each bag and each product! Happy present to self!!

Ipsy Glam Bag: December

Compared to my Birchbox that I received the day before my Ipsy bag I have to say Ipsy won the month of December. I have debated whether or not to cancel my Birchbox subscription all together but they seem to
be stepping up their game. I am just a huge fan of the Ipsy bag because I find it more affordable, the products match my taste and I seem to use more of the products regularly. I have yet to make my final decision but until then let’s see what’s in the bag!

Natural Lash by Ardell: $3.99
I know quite a few people who are in love with false eyelashes but this is something I have never gotten into. I wear glasses most of the time and I feel like my eyelashes have a good length to them. I have enough problems with my eyes that I cannot imagine putting any type of glue or anything sticky near my eyes.

Starrily Nail Polish in Bzzz Bzzz: $12.00
I love nail polishes in my beauty bags! I painted my nails with a coat of black and then topped my nails with this glitter polish. It is my new favorite combo and a perfect match for New Years!

J. Cat Beauty Big Lip Pencil: $3.99
Paired with my color stick by Be A Bombshell this lip pencil added a hint of color and filled in my lips nicely. I can't remember the last time I used a lip pencil. That is what is great about these beauty subscriptions, you get to step outside of the box and try something at a discounted rate!

Pop Beauty Bright Up Your Life Shadow Trio: $24
This little trio hit my love for eye makeup dead on. These three colors match what I pretty much wear every single day. A hint of shimmer, a medium to dark shade and a darker shade of brown to make my eyes pop. I’m in love.

The One Stick By Be A Bombshell: $16
I have never used a product where you can apply it to anywhere on your face before to add color. I stuck with my ways and used the shade on my lips before applying my lip gloss. It added a subtle hint of color
without feeling cakey like a lipstick might feel.

The value of this bag turned out to be $59.98 and I only spent $10! Also, every product was a full size sample! You can’t beat that!

Are you an Ipsy Glam Bag subscriber?

Shining and Sparkling Beauty

My Ipsy Glam Bag has finally arrived and I can say I was completely shocked at how heavy the package was when I took it out of the mailbox.

The question that seems to be asked the most is “what’s the difference between Ipsy and Birchbox?”

In my experience Ipsy sends full sized products and sticks with the lower end and more affordable brands like NYX. In comparison, Birchbox’s samples are of higher end products and come in smaller sized samples. The price of full size Birchbox products are also a little higher. All around I love both companies and enjoy all of the products. I like the variety and choices that I receive each month and that’s why I am subscribed to both.

In this month’s bag each item took on a festive and more glamorous look along with the bag itself in all of its shining golden glory, let’s see what’s inside!!

em michelle phan pillow plush cushiony lip balm in Berries-Retail $15.00
As much as I love lip balm I thought $15 for the size of this product was a little extreme. The lip balm does leave your lips silky smooth and shiny but not worth the price. As dark as the lip balm may look the color was a subtle and nice shade once I applied it on. 
                                              

Be a bombshell Lip Crayon-Retail $14.00
The last Bombshell lip crayon I received was a bright pink so it comes at no surprise that this sample would be any different. Only now in a red shade! It is definitely a bright red. I have actually kept these lip crayons for when Madison needs bright lip shades for her dance recitals. I even in the best shade of light can never pull off these colors!

Nailtini Straight Up Color Nail Lacquer-Retail $13.00
I love my nail polishes so I am a very happy camper when I receive Nailtini products! This shade is perfect for winter and for the upcoming holidays! It took about two coats to retrieve a nice smooth covered look, not bad. 

Pixi Beauty Bronzer-Retail $5.00
I love how subtle this bronzer is! I have purchased bronzers in the past that leave my skin orange and three shades darker than my neck. Yuck! This product leaves your skin with a light glowing layer of color.

Starlooks Gem Eye Pencil-Retail $14.00
All of my eye pencils are black and I have never worn anything else. I feel a little washed out if I am not using a black eye pencil. Although this item is a fun product to play around with I don’t see myself using it unless I blend it into an eye shadow or wear it to an event for the holidays.

TRESemme TRES Two Extra Hold Holdspray Travel Size-Retail $0.50 1.5 oz.
I love mini hairsprays! Especially in the winter when I find my hair experiencing static. I throw a can in my purse and I am on my way! I also use TRESemme’s Dry Shampoo spray as well! I haven’t had a bad experience with TRESemme products!

The value of this bag came to $61.50 which is amazing! If you haven’t subscribed to receive Ipsy’s monthly glam bag I suggest you do! Look at what all was received for just $10! A hair product, 2 lip products, 1 eye product, 1 face product, 1 nail product and the monthly “glam bag” which happens to be one of the best things about this subscription! I love all things beauty and I love Ipsy!

Ipsy: Art Of Beauty Oct 2013

Ipsy, since day one of subscribing has stolen my heart and seems to be going strong!
The products I receive are quality products yet still affordable!
I find myself buying the items once I have ran out of the product as well.
Similar to Birchbox in many ways yet Ipsy seems to win me over every month.

This month was no different. With this month about beauty tricks and treats, Ipsy delivered products to perfect any look!

Let's take a looksee inside shall we?

1. Photo Op Eyeshadow by Wet n Wild-$4.99
I have fallen in love with the Wet n Wild beauty product line. Each item is affordable, of great quality and seems to last a very long time! The bottom right corner shade I was very glad to see in this pack because I am almost out of my current shade and this matches perfectly! The pigment of the eyeshadow is great and with a little primer lasts even longer!

2. Zoya Nail Polish in Neve-$8
With the Colts football season in full effect I was oober excited to see this royal blue shade of polish in my bag! I cannot wait to give myself a mani/pedi!

3. La Fresh Oil Free Face Cleanser Wipes-$9.99
I have raved on this little blog before how much I love these wipes! I cannot get enough of them. I wouldn't mind receiving a pack of these every month! With the amount of makeup I use on my face and eyes daily I need something that will remove every speck and these little wipes do just that! Since using the wipes I have had less breakouts as well! They also smell great and leave your face feeling fresh as ever! (hint the name)

4. Sexy Hair Blow Dry Gel-$16.95
I am always stoked after I receive a new hair product that I haven't tried! Especially one that I will use daily. I scrunch my hair almost every day during the week so this volumizing gel does wonders! I own the Big Sexy mousse but have never used the gel. It made my hair look great, smell great and added a lot of volume.

5. Coastal Scents Medium Shadow Brush-$2.49
I already own an eyeshadow from E.L.F but I still find myself not using it. I use the tiny sponge makeup brush and my finger. Is that bad? Maybe I haven't gotten into using all of my brushes. I wish I would have but for now this little routine works for me.

 

 

6. Is this bag not the cutest thing? With Ipsy, you don't just receive a box that gets tossed in the trash you receive a cute travel bag each month. Yes, I have a collection now if you were wondering. Who wouldn't?

How great are these products? And the bag! Come on, is it not the cutest?!!?
What did you receive in your bag?

Ipsy Classic Beauty: September

Although the Ipsy Facebook page provides spoilers each month on the products they will be including in their glam bag I choose to surprise myself each month and wait to see what I am receiving. I love the feeling that I am receiving a present each month!

So this month I received a bag full of goodies and as usual Ipsy didn't disappoint! With a bag full of 6 items I absolutely love and 1 item I do not, I can say it is totally worth the $10 monthly subscription!

Now for the unveiling!

First we have this adorable bag! Ipsy never gives us the value of these little bags but I know that each month they get more and more cute! I am a bag hoarder so this subscription feeds my addiction!


The first thing I saw when I opened up my bag were these three Freeman facial masks valued at $6 total! Anyone who knows Madison and I, know that we love our facials! This couldn't be more fitting for our typical spa nights! There is a brightening, hydrating and purifying one! I am saving each one of these for the next three weekends! I use these facial masks regularly and they are amazing! They smell great and leave your skin silky smooth and clean!

"Yay!" I said to myself when I saw the full sized NYX Cosmetics eye shadow valued at $4.50! I use this color a lot from my Victoria's Secret palette so I was excited to find this color in another product line. I received the shade Cryptonite which is a dark glittery charcoal gray. It is very pigmented but a little less on the glittery side. Still a favorite shade of mine though!

Next I received a matte black eyeliner pencil by Starlooks valued at $12 in the color Obsidian. It is nicely pigmented but not as creamy as the pencils I am use to. For an eyeliner it does work well and I will be using all of it!



The one product that I don't like, J Cat Beauty's lipstick in Honeycrisp valued at $2.49. I know it is getting ready to be fall season but come on man! This shade blends into my blonde hair and fair skin making me look washed out and gross. No thanks.

Someone must have sound the alarm when I said I wanted to try new mascaras. In almost every Birchbox or Ipsy bag I have received a mascara. As usual, this tube by Elizabeth Mott valued at $19.99 came in a smaller size. The brush is small also. The mascara does work better than I thought it would and you can throw the compact sized tube in your purse!

If you aren't already a subscriber to Ipsy I highly recommend it. $10 a month and you receive all of these great products. There hasn't been one month that I haven't loved almost every product sent to me.
Are you an Ipsy subscriber?

August 2013: Ipsy Glam Bag

It's time for the Ipsy Glam Bag reveal!
Everyone has heard of Birchbox but not many people have heard of Ipsy.
If you are one of those people it basically is a beauty box subscription for $10 a month.
Ipsy sends you different makeup bags filled with 4-5 beauty samples and voila you add beauty items to your collection!

I am not one to splurge and buy a lot of products I am not familiar with. Especially since so many of them cost a pretty penny. So this little bag allows the trial and error part of the equation to not hurt your pocketbook! Ipsy provides popular brands and products that you may have been wanting to try but have not picked up yet!

So let's see what Ipsy sent this month!

Noya Lip Balm in Cherry: $3.99
I have had the worst cold lately. We all know what that's like, breathing out of our mouth inside of our nose. Well this in my case causes chapped lips. Ipsy delivered the right product for me. This little lip balm stick provides great moisture and smells awesome too!

Michael Todd Pumpkin Facial Mask: $34.00
Ipsy really welcomed the upcoming season of fall with this product! Pumpkin is my go to scent in the fall and exfoliation is a requirement at the end of a crazy work week. I feel the need to remove any and all dull dead skin cells from my face. Plus, Madison and I usually love a good girls spa night on Fridays. This product smelled awesome and left my skin clean and smooth!

Pacifica Alight Multi-Mineral BB Cream: $16.00
I haven't been totally sold on the BB Creams. I don't see the use for them or the difference they make. I am satisfied with my primer, concealer, foundation and powder. The cream was very light weight and did cover up some aging spots but nothing a little concealer hasn't taken care of. Maybe some of you beauty experts can explain to me why a BB cream is recommended?

MicaBeautyEyeshadow in Bronze: $14.95
Yay a color I could actually wear on a daily basis! This bronze eye shadow had great pigmentation and enhanced my every day brown eyes hadow. I will be using this daily.

Pixi Beauty Lash Booster Mascara in Blackest Black: $17.00
Another mascara sample! Whoo hoo! I LOVE using different mascaras. It is very hard for me to find a mascara that I can use daily. There is always a problem. Maybe I'm a mascara snob. Who knows. This sample seems to be decent but with only using it a few times I haven't made my mind up yet.

Again Ipsy delivered! I received all of the products that I would love to try and they all came out with a great review! I highly recommend if you haven't subscribed to visit Ipsy now and do so!