A Preview to Ipsy’s April ‘SideShow’

As an Ipsy monthly subscriber, I get five sample or full sized cosmetic products for about ten bucks (pre-tax, pre-shipping). While some months, I am pleasantly surprised at the selection, other months I find myself glancing at the products in dismay, then tossing the Glam Bag somewhere (hence no recent reviews about the past couple of bags). That aside, I know that no brand is perfect and since they have wonderful customer service,  I continue to be a loyal customer.

Anyhow, when I got April’s Glambag, I was excited, although I found out what I was getting via the Ipsy App that allows you to pretty much view the products you should expect in your bag instead of waiting until the bag arrives. First, this month’s bag looks like a carnival ticket, which I adore, because novelty bags are so cute and fun! This one I will definitely use. They also allow us to stay in touch with our inner children. We should never lose them. After all, they pretty got us to where we are today!

Secondly, I like the selection of products, which are a variety that I can truly appreciate. I received a full-sized LipTone Care Stick by Tony Moly in Mint Light and Glamour Dolls x Lisa Frank Angle Brush. I also received sample-sizes of the following: Truffle Therapy Face Toner, Elizabeth Mott’s Show Me Your Glow Shimmer Shadow & Highlighter and Meg Twin Nail Colors in Lovey Dovey.

I am really excited about each product (especially the toner, angle brush and nail colors) and will post my reviews soon, so stay tuned!

Also, if you are also an Ipster, please feel free to share what goodies you got in your Glambag this month!

Ipsy Glambag Nov ’16 Review: Part 2

(for Part 1 of this lengthy review, click here). Let’s start with Tarte Maracuja Oil, because I have been eyeing this purple-bottled oil at Sephora for a long time, but the hefty $48 price tag was a repellent to my debit card. So, I was elated to see it in my Glambag! That first night I couldn’t wait to try it, a bit leery about using oil on my face during the day. It surprisingly left my face velvety smooth, and melted right onto my skin, since I was concerned that I would either break out or look greasy! I’ve tried a certain drugstore facial oil before, which ironically left my skin deprived of moisture, but Tarte was a pleasant surprise! I even apply some drops of this slightly nutty-smelling oil onto my beauty blender before I apply foundation, and it gives my face a fresh, dewy look. So, I definitely recommend this product and would buy a full-sized bottle.

The second item in my bag that I couldn’t wait to try was the Pur-lisse Balancing Moisturizer. Part of a facial care line created by former Power Rangers villain, actress Jennifer Yen, I was again concerned because I have sensitive skin and worried that this moisturizer would cause irritation.  Reading that it contains blue lotus, which is known for anti-inflammatory benefits, eased my mind. It also has white tea, known for anti-bacterial agents as well as Vitamin E which prevents premature aging. With that being said, it left my skin with a cool and lightly refreshed feeling, making my face supple and amazingly smooth, so much so, I utilized my Ipsy 30% discount towards a full-sized bottle. I will definitely continue to use this moisturizer, and intend on trying other Pur-lisse products.

Since I have tried a laundry list of mascaras before, with some, little, or no “wow factor”, so honestly I wasn’t really pressed to try  The Balm Black Mascara out. But, I was impressed with the wand, which had tiny bristles spaced apart perfectly so that each lash could get a fair share of mascara without clumping together. But…that’s it. This is the only item in my Glambag I could have honestly done without. Not a bad product, but not good enough to buy. I wouldn’t have known this have it not been in my bag. So, nothing lost nor gained.

I am normally a nude lip gal, so when I saw Color is Bae in Red Chili I was both thrilled and horrified! But then again, it is always good to try new things; after all, the things you are now comfortable with were once new to you too…So yeah. I tried it and loved it! First of all, I was delighted to find that this lippie was matte, which means it has staying power. It was also soft and didn’t sink into the lines of my lips, which is a plus, so I wouldn’t have that chapped look.

Finally…I tried Formula X Nail Color in Huntress, so if you cannot guess by the name, it is “huntress” green with flecks of gold, and with a hint of teal upon application. I adored how this color dried to a luster finish, although I added a top coat for extra shine, which wasn’t necessary. BUT….this nail color already chipped after less than 48 hours, so don’t expect your mani to last long. Mind you, I used a base coat, top coat, and two coats of nail color. So…this is a “no” for me. More like “Hell Naw, to the Naw Naw Naw”, but theres always that chance with nail polish, so overall I’d say my first Ipsy experience was overall pleasant. I appreciated the variety of products as I suggested in my questionnaire, so I know someone at Ipsy was attentive to my wants, and I look forward to my next Ipsy bag.

Ipsy Glambag Nov ’16 Review: Part 1

I love online shopping, and the highlight has been for me the anticipation that shopping  in a store cannot provide; it is more instant gratification, you grab, head to the register, then go. To me, there are some things that are just worth the ground shipping wait time, especially when it comes to beauty products. I obsess over them all, from hair to skin care and make up. I love them all equally! But just like most beauty lovers, I truly treasure cosmetics on a budget. So, I decided to gift myself a monthly subscription to Ipsy, which is an affordable $10.00/month (pre-sales tax). This way I could sample a combo of five luxury, mid-price, and/or drug store brands before I take the plunge to actually buy them.

So, I signed up, which was seemingly straight forward, but then I was asked to “share” my new status as an Ipsy subscriber via social media, in order to be removed from the waiting list! At first, I was a bit impatient with this step, but then quickly reminded myself that I usually share things I am passionate about with my relatives and friends, so I quickly got over it! Since I subscribed to Ipsy during the middle of October, I finally began receiving Ipsy emails: the first confirming that I would receive my first Glambag in November and what to expect on a monthly basis; the second was a “spoiler” email option to reveal which products I will receive by “sharing” my bag contents via Facebook or Twitter. I thought this was an excellent customer service strategy, since it did take the edge off of waiting.

I received my first Glambag, which was contained in this pink tin-foil packaging. Once opened, I see a palm-sized navy blue bag with gold cosmetic bottle and brush designs embossed on it. I was impressed with the bag’s unique design. Enclosed were my goodies, along with a card that had Ipsy’s monthly theme, Rockstarlet, along with suggestions on how to be interactive with social media while sampling the products. AT LAST, I took out my travel-friendly sized products, to my delight they were the following…drumroll, please…Tarte Maracuja Oil, Pur-Lisse Balancing Moisturizer, The Balm’s Mad Lash Black Mascara, Color is Bae Lip Lacquer in Red Chili, and Formula X’s Nail Color in Huntress. For part 2 of my experience with these products, click here.