October 2013 Ipsy (MyGlam) Review

Hello my beautiful friends!  My Ipsy bag arrived last week, and I can't wait to share my thoughts with you!

Not familiar with Ipsy?  Ipsy is a beauty subscription service that sends out 4-5 full size or deluxe size items each month, for just $10, shipping included, or $14.95 if you are in Canada.  If you would like to try Ipsy out, won't you consider using my referral link?  I get points for free goodies, and you get good karma.  Everyone wins!

 The envelope.

These pink envelopes seriously make my day.  Seeing this in my mailbox is definitely a happy moment!

First look

The first peek inside the envelope is always the best.  I spy a white bag and an insert card!

The Insert Card

This month's theme is The Art of Beauty.  I really like the concept of this theme.

 The discounts

Ipsy is always awesome, because they work with brands to get us subscribers awesome deals.  This month looks like it's got lots of great codes available to us!

October's bag

This month's bag is white, with a quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson written on it in pink, swirly letters.  While this bag isn't to my particular liking, Tween Angel loves it, so I will likely gift it to her.

Inside the bag

The liner of the bag is plain pink, and very nice.  This month's bag feels thicker than the usual bag, and a bit more durable.

Zoya Nail Polish in Mason, 0.5 fl oz (full size), retail $8.00, available HERE.  Discount code IPSYZ3 gets you a buy 2 get 1 free deal and a free Remove+, until 11/10/13, continental US only, can't be combined with other offers.

The first item I found in my bag is one that everyone received,  a Zoya nail polish.  There were three shades that were sent out this month; I received Mason, a pretty purple.  

 Swatch of Mason- two coats

I really love this color- I wear a LOT of purple, and dark shades don't scare me. I will say that this stained my nails a bit, and I did have some problems with chipping.  However, I had a blast creating my new favorite nail look- ombre nails- with it.  This shade is just so pretty, it suits me to a T.
GRADE: 4.5/5

H2O Plus Hydrating Treatment, 10mL (deluxe sample size), retail value $7.20 (full size is 50mL, $36.00), available HERE.  Discount code IPSY13 will get you 25% off any purchase, until 11/15/13, US only, not valid on gift certs or prior purchases, can't be combined with any other offer.

I really love face treatments, and I was excited to receive the H2O Plus hydrating treatment.  This moisturizer goes on pretty sticky, but does a nice job.  I have a couple of dry patches on my face, and after using this, they were not noticeable.  I will say that because it is sticky, I would only use this at night. The vibrant blue color is a bit daunting, but it goes on clear.  I probably won't repurchase this, but it will definitely get used.
GRADE: 3.5/5

Nourish Organic Deeply Nourishing Coconut & Argan Body Lotion, 30mL (deluxe sample size), retail value $1.25 (full size is 8 oz, $9.99), available HERE.  Discount code Nourish20 will get you 20% off your Nourish Organic purchase until 11/10/13, one time use only, not valid in Canada (boo!), cannot be combined with other offers.

I love lotion, and I love coconuts. While another lotion was sent to some other subscribers, I was interested to try this.  I opened up my tube, and put some on.  I was immediately puzzled by the scent- this does NOT smell like coconuts.  It took me a while to pinpoint the scent, but I think it smells like black pepper.  It is definitely a weird smell for a lotion, and while it is definitely NOT greasy, it also didn't leave my hands feeling moisturized.  At all.  Also, my tube wasn't properly sealed at the top- I have to be careful when I squeeze it so that I don't have lotion coming out of both ends!  I won't be repurchasing this, but I will use it up.
GRADE 2/5

Ofra Lipgloss Plumper in Sultry, 10mL (full size), retail $12.95, available HERE.  Discount code ipsy30 will get you 30% off any purchase from Ofra, until 11/14/13, can't be combined, only valid in the US.

I only received ONE makeup item this month, and it was this lip gloss.  I love me some makeup, so I was sad that I didn't receive enough products to create a look, but that's the way subscription lotteries go!  

Swatch of Ofra Lip gloss in Sultry

This plumping gloss went on a bit thick, and after a few moments, I could feel the tingle of the plumping agent. I don't think this worked really well as a plumping gloss, but the color is beautiful for fall.  The packaging seemed a little on the "lower end" side- squeeze tubes don't go a long way to impress me.  The shade definitely makes up for the packaging, and it stayed on for a good long while. If you are sensitive to peppermint, the plumping agent, or don't like the tingle sensation that plumping glosses sometimes have, I would avoid this gloss, but if those things aren't a concern for you, I think it's worth a try.
GRADE: 4/5

Style Sexy Hair Spray Clay texturizing spray, 1.4oz (travel size), retail $8.00 (full size is 44 oz, $18.95), available HERE.  Discount code 105339 will get you $5 off $25 purchase or more of Sexy Hair products, until 11/15/13, cannot be combined, one time use only.

This item was a real puzzler to me.  Spray clay?  What exactly am I do to with this? I tried this in my hair wet to add volume and texture, and it didn't do anything at all, really. I tried this on dry hair, and it did add a bit of texture and volume, but it didn't do anywhere near as well as my Sea Salt Spray (from Not Your Mother's).  I will see if the hubster can use it.
GRADE: 3/5 (probably great for some, just not for me!)

Ipsy has really begun to randomize their bags, based on their IpsyMatch program, to match items better to subscribers.  I'm not 100% convinced that this works, but for the most part, I have received items that I enjoyed testing out.  This month, however, I was really sad not to receive some of the other items that were sent out.  I changed up my beauty quiz, and hopefully this will change what I receive in the future.

Items that I did NOT receive, but other subscribers DID (with pics when available to me to photograph):

Bella Terra Mineral Cosmetics Mineral Shimmers in either Emotion (a purple) or Nave (a blue); full size (2.5 g), retail $14.99, available HERE.  Discount code IPSY will get you 50% off any purchase plus free shipping until 11/15/13, can't be combined with other offers.

Buxom Full-On Lip Polish in Dolly, deluxe sample size (2ml), retail value $9.00, (full size is 0.15 oz , retails for $19), available HERE.  No discount code this time!

Ole Henriksen Truth Serum Collagen Booster, deluxe sample size (0.25 fl oz), retail value $12.00 (small full size is 1 fl oz, retails for $48.00), available HERE. Discount code LOVEIPSY will get you 20% off your purchase of $50 or more, plus free shipping, until 11/15/13, US only, not valid on sale items or gift certificates.
  Ole Henriksen Truth Creme, deluxe sample size (0.25 fl oz), retail value $6.62, (full size is 1.7 oz, retails for $45.00), available HERE.  Discount code LOVEIPSY will get you 20% off your purchase of $50 or more, plus free shipping, until 11/15/13, US only, not valid on sale items or gift certificates.

Sexy Hair Blow Dry Volumizing Gel, travel size (1.4 oz), retail $5.00 (full size is 8.5 fl oz, retails for $16.95), available HERE.  Discount code 105339 will get you $5 off $25 purchase or more of Sexy Hair products, until 11/15/13, cannot be combined, one time use only.

Coastal Scents Medium Shadow brush, full size, retail $2.49, available HERE.  Discount code CS25 will get you 25% off any purchase, until 11/7/13, cannot be combined, available internationally.

La Fresh Oil-Free Face Cleanser wipes, deluxe sample size (10 pack), retail value $3.33 (full size is 30 wipes, retail $9.99), available HERE.  Discount code IPSYLOVE30 will get you 30% off any purchase, until 11/15/13, one time use only, available only in the US.

Be Delectable Hand Creme, deluxe size (2 fl oz), retail value $3.00 (full size 8 fl oz, retail $12.00) available HERE.  No discount code this time!

 Starlooks Lip Pencil in either Tipsy, Tickle Me Pink or Bare, full size (2.4g), retail $12.00, available HERE.  Discount code IPSY will get you 20% off a purchase of $35 or more, unlimited usage, valid worldwide.

Wet 'n' Wild Fergie Eyeshadow Palette in Desert Festival, full size (0.19 oz), retail $4.99, available HERE (or at your local Walgreens or other drugstore).  No discount code this time! (Swatches coming soon- I HAD to buy this :))

Well, that's EVERYTHING that was sent out this month- here's a pretty picture of what I received:


October 2013 Ipsy My Glam Bag

All in all, this month was just "okay" for me.  I've had better bags, and there WERE some things that I would have NOT liked to receive, and I DIDN'T get those items.  I'll definitely keep Ipsy another month, and hope that changing my quiz will create me an awesome bag, as both September and October were just "meh".  November is my BIRTHDAY month, so I'm hoping for a fabulous birthday month from Ipsy!

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Here's the part of this post where I break down the monetary value of my bag (and list the other items I didn't get so you can figure out your bag a little easier):
What I received-
Zoya polish (full size) $8.00
H2O Plus hydrating treatment (deluxe sample) $7.20
Nourish Organic Coconut & Argan Body Lotion (deluxe size) $1.25
Ofra Lipgloss Plumper in Sultry (full size) $12.95
Style Sexy Hair Spray Clay texturizing spray (travel size) $8.00

What I did NOT receive, but you might have-
Bella Terra Mineral Cosmetics Mineral Shimmers (full size) $14.99
Buxom Full-On Lip Polish in Dolly (deluxe size) $9, 
Ole Henriksen Truth Serum Collagen Booster (deluxe size) $12
Ole Henriksen Truth Creme (deluxe size) $6.62,
 Sexy Hair Blow Dry Volumizing Gel (travel size) $5.00
Coastal Scents Medium Shadow brush (full size) $2.49
La Fresh Oil-Free Face Cleanser wipes (deluxe size) $3.33
Be Delectable Hand Creme (deluxe size) $3.00
Starlooks Lip Pencil (full size) $12.00
Wet 'n' Wild Fergie Eyeshadow Palette (full size) $4.99

Total Out of Pocket: $10, shipping included
Retail value of MY bag: $37.40
Not the HIGHEST value bag that I've received, but also not the worst!

If you would like to see the Unboxing video I made, I've added it here below:

So tell me- what did YOU receive from Ipsy this month?
Until next time, my lovelies- stay Average!

Disclaimer: I paid for these items with my own my husband's money.  The opinions in this post are my true and honest reviews of these items.  No company requested nor required this review.  The links are NOT referral links, except the Ipsy link.  That's totally a referral link because I like free things.