Hi Everyone!
I just received my Ipsy bag in the mail, and I can't wait to share it with you! My husband had a moment of weakness, and he agreed that I could order a SECOND bag this month: so I will have lots of Ipsy awesomeness in my home this May! Ipsy had LOTS of different options this month, and I can't wait to tell you about them all (and I'll let you know what I got, and how it all measures up)!
Haven't heard of Ipsy? Ipsy is a beauty subscription service that sends out 4-5 deluxe samples or full size items each month for only $10 (plus $5 shipping if you are in Canada). If you would like to sign up for Ipsy, may I be bold enough to ask you to use my referral link? Ipsy just began a referral program, and I REALLY want an Urban Decay shadow, my gift for having 2 referreals...Thank you!!
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| Love these pink envelopes! |
By far, the best thing I see in my mailbox is one of these pretty pink envelopes.
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| A peek into the envelope! |
As always, here's a teaser shot: a first look into the envelope after it's been opened. I love these first peeks: I get to see how full the bag looks, and a peek at the pattern! An added bonus is that I get to make sure that the bag arrived safely.
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| Sweet deals! |
This month's theme is Spring Fling! Here's the insert card, with all the awesome deals listed on the back.
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| Voucher for styling tools? Awesome! |
I also receive a voucher for NuMe's website, for $110 off of hair styling tools and extensions, and a free thermal pouch. I may or may not put this to use- it all depends on how much I have to spend to receive this discount!
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| Pretty patterns! |
I'm really a girly-girl, and kind of always have been. When I heard that this month's bag would be bold printed colors, I was a bit skeptical. Once I saw it in person, I really loved it!
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| Pretty teal lining. |
I love how Ipsy bags are always pretty on the inside, as well as on the outside. Gorgeous! Teal is my favorite color!
Ipsy has put together an awesome bag this month! Each subscriber received a color variation of 2 items, and 3 out of 13 other awesome items. I'll begin with the items everyone received in their bag.
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| Zoya nail polish in Blu; full size (0.5 oz); available HERE. Retail value: $8. Coupon code IPSYZ will get you $5 shipping, buy 2 get 1 free (unlimited), and a free 1 oz polish remover, valid until 5/31/13. Continental US only. |
I have never used Zoya polish before. I know, what a horrible thing to say! Zoya polishes are toxin free (yay!) and come in a ton of gorgeous colors. Ipsy sent out the 6 colors from Zoya's Spring 2013 Lovely collection: Julie (metallic wysteria purple), GeiGei (cherry blossom metallic pink), Piaf (light metallic yellow), Blu (baby blue), Jacqueline (pale beige), and Neely (pale spring green).
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| Swatch of Blu by Zoya |
I gave this polish a try, and I'm pretty happy with it. I needed two coats to cover my nails, but they went on smoothly and dried really fast.
GRADE: 4/5
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| Yaby concealer in buff; full size (3.5 g); available HERE. Retail value: $5.06 ($4.85 at Yaby's site. Canadian dollars, maybe? Coupon code does not work on Yaby's main site, only at Camera Ready Cosmetics). Coupon code ipsyluvsyabycc20 will get you 20% off Yaby cosmetics only, valid until 6/10/13. |
We received Yaby eye shadows in a previous Ipsy bag (March 2013), and I was a bit under-impressed with the pigmentation and wear time. That being said, I am excited to receive the concealer pot from Yaby. I haven't found the "perfect" concealer for me yet, and I have high hopes for Yaby. Ipsy send this out in four different shades: buff, vanilla, honey and pecan. Yaby carries 24 different concealer shades, including lavenders and greens (to neutralize colors), so even if the color isn't a PERFECT match, Yaby might just have one for you that IS!
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Yaby concealer in Buff (CC008).
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I swatched the concealer and I was surprised to really, really love it! The formula is really pigmented and creamy. It goes on smoothly, and blends well, and has awesome staying power. If my husband hadn't put me on a no-buy, I would totally order more of this!
Here we come to the variety items. Ipsy used our beauty profiles for the first time (at least that I'm aware of) to choose 3 out of 13 items to complete our bags. I thought that this was amazing of them to do, and at the same time, was sad that everyone wouldn't be getting the same items. Here is what I received:
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| One Night Only Instant Glow Body Lotion; 1.69 fl oz (deluxe sample size), full size is 5 oz and is available HERE for $18. This deluxe sample has a retail value of $6.08. If you would like to try this lotion out, coupon code Ipsy20 will earn you 20% off your purchase, until 6/30/13. US orders only (sorry, my international friends!), one time only use. |
St. Tropez One Night Only Instant Glow Body Lotion is a self tanner/bronzing lotion. I'm not much of a fake tan person. I live at the beach and love to lay out in the sun. I was surprised to see this the Instant Glow Body Lotion from St. Tropez in my bag because I definitely don't have tanning products checked on my beauty profile, but I'll try anything once! I opened up the lotion and it was super dark. Like, scary dark brown.
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Swatch of Instant Glow Body Lotion, blended in (it's in the center of my hand)
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I put a tiny amount on my hand, and blended it in with my fingers. This lotion gives my skin a healthy glow, and doesn't look orange or fake. I'm going to try this out and see how it looks on a large scale. I'll likely mix this lotion with a regular lotion (at least the first time) just so I don't get overwhelmed. What I like about this tanning lotion is that it washes off with soap and water. No residual tanning after-effects!
Because it's not something that I would have bought myself, I'm happy to have received it. I will probably not repurchase it, but I'm glad for the chance to try it out!
GRADE: 3/5
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| Colour Sheer Lipstick in Posy; Full size (.11 US oz); available HERE. Retail value: $22.00. Coupon code IPSY50 will get you 50% off Colour Sheers OR coupon code IPSY30 will get you 30 % off all other products; cannot be combined; valid until 5/31/13. |
I'm just beginning to love lipstick. I'm a confirmed gloss addict, but I'm trying to branch out and try lipstick. Mirabella's colour sheer lipstick is smooth and creamy, and the posy color is pretty opaque, considering it's called colour SHEER lipstick.
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| Swatch of Posey from Mirabella |
I gave this a try, and was pleasantly surprised. This color is a bit dark for my taste, but I had no feathering, and left my lips feeling soft and smooth. Very nice.
GRADE: 4/5
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| Juice Beauty Reflecting Lip Gloss pink. Deluxe sample size (.14 oz); available HERE. Retail value: $9. This gloss is NOT full size (no matter what anyone says: I am looking at the weights!): full size tubes are .28 oz and retail for $15. If you would like to give this a try, discount code IPSY20 will get you 20% off any purchase of $30 or more, valid until 6/15/13 (US and Canada only. Sorry, my international friends!). |
I was super surprised to see a SECOND lip product in my bag- my profile doesn't have both gloss and 'stick checked, (just gloss), so I didn't think I would be classified as a "huge lippie fan", but hey, it's all good! The last Juice Beauty product had a scent that made me have an allergic reaction, so I'm glad to try another product and check it out for real! Juice Beauty's reflecting gloss was sent out in three different shades: fig, pink or champagne. I received pink (yay!).
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| Swatch of Pink by Juice Beauty |
I gave this gloss a try, and first I want to say, that it smells really, really good- fruity and sweet! The gloss is NOT sticky at ALL (yay!!) My only concern with this gloss is that the picture on JB's website is really different from the tube I have here, and there was no box with a date. I'm not sure if this is an old design or a new one (or one special for ipsy!), but the product seemed to have separated in the tube a bit. I mixed it up with the wand, but I'm not sure if it was new or old. EDIT: I just read ipsy's description of the product, and it seems that this is the NEW Product design: This exclusive, pre-launch of the Juice Beauty Reflecting Gloss will give your lips brilliant shine while keeping them healthy and nourished. A combination of antioxidant-rich acai and goji berries, natural minerals and sweet agave nectar that will give your lips radiant color! Made with certified organic ingredients.
GRADE: 4/5
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| What's this- A free UD shadow? Score! |
I also had a special extra in my bag; a "thank you" gift from Ipsy for being an active member of their community (read: I write a blog about their bags, "love" the products I do, and comment on the products I have received)!
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| Moondust Eyeshadow from Urban Decay in Space Cowboy; 0.05 oz (full size), retails for $20.00; available HERE. |
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| Some people call me Space Cowboy, some people call me the Gangster of Love....Ridiculously happy right now!!! |
In my bag, I received a FULL SIZE Urban Decay Moondust Eyeshadow in the shade ! I am SUPER stoked to receive this- I have been eying this up since I received the email from UD, announcing this new product. UD is my absolute favorite makeup brand, and I know anything that they make, I will instantly love.
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| Swatch of Urban Decay Moondust Eyeshadow in Space Cowboy |
This shadow goes on super creamy and has a crazy amount of sparkle! I think I am in love, and will definitely try this out in another shade the next chance I get! I am SO thrilled to have received this, and the fact that I received the exact shade I wanted, is just the icing on the cake!
GRADE:5/5 (can I give this a 10 our of 5???)
I try really hard to cover all the items in the bags, so that if you received a different variation from me (or want one!), the information is available to you all in one place. Here are the items that I did NOT receive in this this bag, and the coupon codes to go with them. Kudos to the lovely ladies over at MakeUpTalk- the majority of the information I have on the products NOT in my bag (since my glam room is acting funky) is due to their awesome sleuthing. If you don't care about all the other items, keep on scrolling until you see the picture of my complete bag- you'll know you are at the financial breakdown!
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Mirabella:
Discount code IPSY50 will earn you 50% off Colour Sheer lipsticks OR coupon code IPSY30 will earn you 30% off all other products. Coupons cannot be combined, and are valid until 5/31/13.
Glimmer Gloss in Shimmerati, Full size; available HERE. Retail value $16 (sale price).
From Mirabella's website:
Brilliant ruby red gloss in stunningly sleek package. Can easily be tucked into a clutch or pocket and taken to all of the parties of the season. Paraben-free.
The packaging on this gloss is SUPER cute! This product is listed under "forgotten favorites" on their website.
Lip Luster Liner in either Charming or Hypnotic; Full size (1.81 g); available HERE. Retail value $18.
From Mirabella's website:
Sheer, brilliant lip liner is easy to blend and layer. Aloe Vera keeps lips soft and application comfortable. Long-wearing shiny finish creates the perfect base for lip gloss formulas. Available in six shades. Lead-free; Paraben-free.
Perfecting Powder; deluxe sample size (0.045 oz); available HERE. Retail value $9.64. Full size (.14 oz) retails for $30.00.
From Mirabella's website:
Translucent silica loose powder increases foundation wear while perfecting skin appearance • Applies smoothly to set makeup without adding any weight • Ideal for all skin types • Luminous finish blends into the skin • Fabulous for high definition technology • Longwearing • Features 90% natural ingredients • Vitamins A, C & E as antioxidants • Antiaging peptide • Talc-free, paraben-free, gluten-free, FD&C dye-free • Available in one universal shade • Replaced Pure Shade mineral powder
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Juice Beauty:
Discount code IPSY20 will earn you 20% off any purchase of $30 or more, valid until 6/15/13(US and Canada only. Sorry, my international friends!) .
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Pacifica:
Coupon code Beauty20 will get you 20% off your purchase from Pacifica, until 5/31/13. One time use only.
Pacifica Coconut Crushed Pearl Luminizing Body Butter; small full size (2 oz tube); available HERE. Retail value: $7.00. Large full size (8 oz) retails for $24.00.
From Pacifica's website:
Shimmer and glow from the inside out with our Luminizing Body Butter. A little goes a long way with this generously sized, multi-tasking product that brings you healthy moisture and instantly illuminates skin with just-right shimmer. Ultra-nourishing phytonutrients and natural powerhouse ingredients like coconut, argan oil and tamanu, hydrate and make skin healthier and younger-acting long term. Perfect for bare, sexy legs and arms – your skin will look beautifully radiant and youthful while the coconut scent of summer is yours all year long.
Pacifica Coconut Crushed Pearl Bronzing Body Butter; small full size (2 oz tube); available HERE. Retail value: $7.00. Large full size (8 oz) retails for $24.00.
From Pacifica's website:
Get sun-kissed, healthy skin and radiate from the inside out with the body-loving brilliance of our Bronzing Body Butter. A little goes a long way with this generously sized, multi-tasking product that brings you healthy moisture and instantly adds a sun-kissed glow to skin with just-right shimmer. Ultra-nourishing phytonutrients and natural powerhouse ingredients like coconut, argan oil and tamanu, hydrate and make skin healthier and younger-acting long term. Plus, the coconut scent of summer is yours all year long. Perfect for bare, sexy legs and arms!
Pacifica Roll On Perfume in Island Vanilla; full size is .33 oz; available HERE. Retail value: $12.00.
Inspired by the unique magic of Tahitian vanilla, this sensual blend sets sweet and sultry vanilla absolute, with honey-jasmine notes and a touch of fruitiness, against a deep and beautiful base of tea. A Portion of proceeds from all Island Vanilla sales goes to the Ocean Futures Society, a nonprofit marine conservation organization. 100% vegan.
I absolutely love the packaging of this roll-on perfume! I'm not a perfume person because I have horrible allergies, but I am a sucker for a pretty package!
Pacifica Roll On Perfume in Tahitian Gardenia; full size is .33 oz; available HERE. Retail value: $12.00.
From Pacifica's website:
This heady, vintage-inspired blend showcases the sacred Gardenia bloom, a symbol of love, unity, grace and strength. It's sweet, smooth and slightly citrusy aroma is reminiscent of Jasmine, Sweet Orange and Tea Leaves. 100% vegan.
This rollerball perfume is super cute too! I love the little green flowers. This is NOT a good scent for me, because Gardenias is one of my major floral allergy triggers, but this would definitely be an awesome gift (or a great trade) in my book. Love it!
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Macadamia Hair:
Coupon code IPSY30 will take 30% off a 4.2 healing oil treatment, until 7/31/13. US customers only (sorry again, my international friends!).
Natural Oil Healing Oil Treatment; 1 oz; available HERE. Retail value: $13.50.
From Macadamia Hair's website:
Our Healing Oil Treatment is a therapeutic hair oil perfect for all hair types and is especially beneficial to dry, damaged hair.
Benefits include:
Intense nourishment for tangle & frizz free hair
Hair that is ultra-smooth, manageable & shiny
Natural UV protection extends the life of color treatments
Reduced drying time by an amazing 40-50%
Sounds fantastic to me! I've heard a lot of awesome things about this oil, but I haven't yet run across a good-sized sample. My hair is on the long size, so a regular foil pack (yuck!) won't cut it. The bottles are super cute- I LOVE the The smallest full size of this product (.34 oz) retails for $6.50; the largest (10) for $75.
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NuMe:
Code ipsy60 will earn you 60% off of any one single item until 10/31/13. One time use only, and can't be combined with any other discount or promotion.
NuMe Finishing Serum, .3 oz. Full size bottle (2 fl oz) retails for $29.00, available HERE. This gives this little sample a retail value of $4.35.
From NuMe's website:
You've put all that work into crafting your hairdo, so why not top it off with the finest finishing touch? Light as a feather, NuMe’s Finishing Serum jives with your unique hair type to produce that polished shine and healthy glow that your hair craves.
This light, greaseless, and humidity resistant formula delivers a straight-up glossy finish. NuMe Finishing Serum protects your hair from environmental and physical stress, treating split ends and sealing hair with added, brilliant shine. Our advanced formula is made with lightweight silicones, a vitamin, and an antioxidant designed to tame fly-aways and frizz.
Say no to static styles and frizzy ‘fros! Hello smooth and shiny styles!
My hair is so difficult to handle; it's crazy. One day, it's soft and silky; the next, frizzy; the next; dry and limp. I think that this stuff would work wonders on my crazy, mufti-personality hair.
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Anastasia Beverly Hills:
No discount code from Anastasia right now! Maybe in another bag!
Anastasia Brow Gel in clear; 0.085 oz deluxe sample size; available HERE. The full size (.28 oz) retails for $22.00; giving this a retail value of $6.68.
From Anastasia Beverly Hills website:
This Best-Selling Formula tames unruly brows without leaving them stiff, flaky or sticky. Fortified with rich botanical conditioners and essential oils, this luxurious formula can be worn alone or layered over Anastasia’s Brow Powder Duo or Brow Pencils to set your perfect application all day.
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| May 2013 Ipsy Bag (bag no, 1) |
Normally, at this point I would tell you all about the financial breakdown of my bag, but since there are SO many options, I will list all of the values first- that way you can figure out your own bag's value.
- Zoya Nail Polish (full size) $8.00
- Yaby Concealer (full size) $5.06
- Mirabella Color Sheer Lipstick (full size) $22.00
- Mirabella Glimmer Gloss (full size) $16.00
- Mirabella Lip Luster Liner (full size) $18.00
- Mirabella Perfection Powder (deluxe sample size) $9.64
- Juice Beauty Reflecting Lip Gloss (deluxe sample size) $9
- Pacifica Coconut Crushed Pearl Body Butter in Bronzing or Luminating (small full size) $7.00
- Pacifica Roll On Perfume in Tahitian Gardenia or Island Vanilla (full size) $12.00
- St. Tropez One Night Only Instant Glow Body Lotion (deluxe sample size) $6.08
- Macadamia Natural Oil Healing Oil Treatment (small full size) $13.50
- NuMe Finishing Serum (deluxe sample size?) $4.35
- Anastasia Brow Gel (deluxe sample size) $6.68
- Urban Decay Moondust Eyeshadow (full size) $20
In all seriousness, I think that this is the highest value Ipsy bag, ever! Now monetary value and actual value are NOT the same thing- if you would never use the products, then the value is honestly ZERO. I always love to see high dollar items in my bag, and as I will try anything out, I think I get a great value for my $10 investment!
Ok, now the moment you have been waiting for: the dollar amount of MY bag.
Bag 1 (Zoya, Yaby, Mirabella Lipstick, Juice Beauty, UD, St. Tropez,) $70.14. Holy cow!!!!
Out of pocket: $10 (including shipping)
Since I can use or gift everything I received, I am SO happy, and LOVE this bag! I seriously can't wait for my SECOND MAY BAG to arrive! I'm not sure if I will keep the second subscription- I think I'll wait to see a spoiler for June before I decide!
So, tell me, what was in YOUR bag? Did you get the same things as me? Love them? Hate them? Leave me a comment, and let me know- I want to see all your awesome things! Also, if you have taken a photo of one of the items I did NOT receive, and would be happy to let me post it here (with credit!), that would be really fantastic!
One last thing before I post all my little disclaimers: if you have stuck around until the end, THANK YOU! I know this is a crazy long post, but honestly- I didn't know how else to write about all the great stuff in this month's bags! I wanted to talk about all the awesomeness, and give you all the codes and weblinks all in one place! (let me know if you like posts this way, or if you would rather I just say what I received, and just stick with that!)
Stay average, all my lovely friends!
Disclaimer: This review is solely my opinion, on a product I paid for with my own money my husband's money. I have not been compensated for this opinion in any way, and it is my honest thoughts on the products listed above. The referral link in this post is one where I would receive credit for a referral, and be compensated with free product for referring 2 people. Here is a link that just goes to Ipsy, without my referral code. Links to vendor's sites are not referral or compensated links. I strive for honesty :)
