Ipsy (MyGlam) May 2013 Review Bag No. 2

Hi Everyone!

Boy has this week gotten away from me! My very first blog contest ended this week (Congrats to Cindy R.!), my daughter went to a new doctor for the first time since...ever (insurance change.  boo.), and we had a TON of fun at our local zoo!
 
I also received my SECOND MAY 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 it's been an awesome Ipsy month in my home! I already reviewed my FIRST May bag; in this post I'm just going to go over the options that I received in THIS bag; and if I get REALLY ambitious, I'll update May no. 1 to include pictures of the other options that I received in THIS bag.

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 another Urban Decay shadow (or a bracelet, meh), my gift for having 2 referreals...Thank you!!

Love these pink envelopes

I think I will ALWAYS post a pic of the pretty pink envelopes.  i'm always SO happy to see these in my mailbox- any day that I DON'T get one is a little sad!

May bag

I really love this bag.  Since I have TWO of them now, I'll pass this one along to a friend.

Ipsy is going to really work to top this bag.  With all of the different options, I'm amazed at how right they got the bags for most people.  People who didn't get the right colors or what they wanted were invited to TRADE their products- on Ipsy's facebook trade forum, the Make Up Talk forum, or elsewhere.  I have NEVER participated in a trade online for makeup, and I'm not one to pretend to know about things that I don't- so trade at your own risk and let me know if you have had a good or bad trade experience!

Zoya nail polish in Gei Gei; 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 received Blu in my FIRST may bag.  The polish went on creamy and was fast drying.  My manicure lasted a little longer than my usual polish (drugstore or OPI), and that was a plus for me.  

swatch of Gei Gei 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. I will say, that the shimmery pink polish chipped a LOT faster than the creamy blue one did, but the color is really pretty.

GRADE: 4/5 (easy chipping!)

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.

I am seriously loving the Yaby concealer right now!  I received Buff in my FIRST bag, and it wasn't QUITE the right shade for me (a bit too dark), but it blended really well and I was able to make it work!  If you would like to see a swatch of the Buff color, it's in my first May '13 post.

Yaby concealer in my homemade Hello Kitty palette

I'm seriously hating that I am on a no-buy right now because I would love to get more of this.  I store these concealer pots in my Hello Kitty palette- this way they don't accidentally get powder shadow in them, like I am sure they would if I put them in my Glam Rx Plalette!

GRADE: 5/5

I am sure you all know this by now, but everyone who received the May 2013 bag had the above two items in their bags.  The remaining items varied from bag to bag, based on the individual's beauty profile. Anyone who registered after May 1 was said to receive the bag that is pictured in the promos- what is being called the default bag.  I read on MUT that they preferred to call it the "Crowd Pleaser Bag" and I LOVED that term.  I'm happy to get the Crowd Pleaser- almost all of my variation items are different- and the one that isn't I apparently wasn't supposed to get in my first bag (but more on that later!)!

Here is the variation that I prefer to call the Crowd Pleaser:

Mirabella Colour Sheer Lipstick in Bellarina; 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.

Mirabella's lipstick have such a creamy base, it is just heaven on the lips!  This is my ONE repeat item (with the exception of the Yaby concealer and the Zoya polish, of course), and it turns out that it shouldn't have been a repeat at all!  My Glam Room on account no. 1 has me listed as receiving a different item from Mirabella, so I messaged IpsyCare, and instead of changing my Glam Room, they are reshipping me the corrected item.  I was absolutely astounded at the level of customer service- it took a while to hear from them, but when I did, I received stellar service! I digress...back to Mirabella's lipstick!  I'm really picky about lipsticks, but I love to try new colors.  Just because something looks wonky on a bullet doesn't mean that it won't look good on the face- I try to keep an open mind.  

swatch of Bellarina

I gave this a try, and it was definitely more sheer than the Posy color I received last time.  I seriously love this color, and can layer it over anything.  So very pretty and shimmery!

GRADE: 4/5

Pacifica Roll On Perfume in Island Vanilla; full size is .33 oz; available HERE.  Retail value: $12.00. Coupon code Beauty20 will get you 20% off your purchase from Pacifica, until 5/31/13.  One time use only. 

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!  I am super excited to have received the Island Vanilla scent because I am really allergic to Gardenias.  This smells SO good, and it a great size to tuck into my purse.  The scent doesn't last overly long on me, but since it's a twist top roller ball, I can quickly reapply.  I tend to stick to vanilla scents, and this one has a HINT of floral, but it is well with my allergy tolerance level.  I seriously LOVE this stuff!

GRADE: 5/5

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.  No discount code from Anastasia right now- maybe later we will get one!

I have never used a brow gel before, so I was curious about this product, and really excited to get it!  My brows aren't too unruly, but I do occasionally want to shape them to a more distinct arch (one eye has a natural arch and the other does not), so I'm giving this a try.  I also read online somewhere that this can be used as a mascara base.  I want to try it with my PopBeauty Lash Kapow! to see if it can make it NOT give me raccoon eyes (the Ultimate test!).  I'll keep you posted!
GRADE: 3/5 (for now!)

May Ipsy Crowd Pleaser Bag 2013

I listed the value of everything in my first May post, but here is what the value of the "Crowd Pleaser" bag that I received this time around:

• Zoya Nail Polish (full size) $8.00
• Yaby Concealer (full size) $5.06
• Mirabella Color Sheer Lipstick (full size) $22.00
• Pacifica Roll On Perfume in Island Vanilla (full size) $12.00
• Anastasia Brow Gel (deluxe sample size) $6.68

The dollar amount of my Ipsy May bag 2: $53.74

Out of pocket: $10 (including shipping)
I am STOKED since I can use everything in this bag.  Super amazing deal!

So, tell me: what did YOU get in your bag this month?  Should I keep my second subscription?  Leave a comment and let me know what you think!

Stay average, all my lovely friends!

PS Here's an awesome shot of the peacock at the zoo.  He was so cool!

 

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 :)

DIY Magnetic Palette The Only Average Way

Hello my lovely friends!

A couple months ago, I received a mini magnetic palette from GlamRx, and I learned how to Depot makeup.  Since then, I've been depotting various things to put in my palette, and now I have more things depotted than I have room in my palette for!

I priced out buying a magnetic or sticky palette online, and they all look a little pricey for my cheapskate budgeting self.

So, I decided to try my hand at making one!  It looked to me that the basic supplies that I would need are a box (the palette shell), glue, and a magnet.

I did some research online, to see how others did it, added a few thoughts and ideas of my own, and came up with a game plan. I set out for my local Dollar Tree to see if they had what I was looking for.

Before I went to the store, I raided my collection of useless dustcatchers to see if I already had what I was looking for.  I sort of collect tins, but none fit the bill for what I wanted to do.  Off to Dollar Tree, I went!  I tried to find a little metal box, that wasn't to deep, but my DT wasn't going to make it easy for me.  I couldn't find a tin, but then I walked by a display of hardcase credit card wallets.



Hard case credit card wallet from Dollar Tree

 I pondered over this for a minute, and a thought came to me: I could make this into a TWO sided palette!

Paper inside the palette, and the straps I yanked off :)

Once I got home, I pulled the elastic straps off of both sides of the wallet, and then traced it onto a piece of paper.  I cut the paper down until it would fit exactly inside the box.

I then took an old promotional magnet (with a calendar from 2012 on the front), and traced my paper onto it, twice.  I cut out the magnet inside my cut line, and put them inside the former wallet.  Ok, so my plan didn't work out QUITE so well, and I needed to trim the magnet to fit- I had forgotten about the little bumps where the elastic attached.  Whoops!

Palette with both magnets in it.

Once my magnet pieces fit into the bottom of the former wallet-now palette, I glued one in place.  I tried regular school glue because I'm too lazy to bust out my glue gun.  Yeah, that didn't work so well- try super glue or a glue gun!!

The glue dried, and then I popped the other magnet into place, and glued that one as well.



See how great the magnet works?  These suckers aren't going anywhere!

I put some depotted eyeshadows into the palette, and it worked great!  I closed it up, and then pushed the button to open it, and it opened up, but the shadows on the top did not stay in place. So my two sided palette is now a one sided palette.  But that's ok.  
What did I spend on this project?  ONE DOLLAR.  I'm going to use this plain little palette to store depotted things that I don't want in my GlamRx palette, to keep them dust free and protected from the tiny fingers that plague my household and can destroy anything that they touch!

I DO want to mention that the magnet that I used is a thicker one- they seem to work better than the thinner ones.
Then, one day, while I was out shopping for Girl Scout supplies, I saw it. 

Hello Kitty, I Mustache you a question!

I saw the coolest little mint tin EVER: a Hello Kitty with a mustache! Oh, I HAD to have this.  I put it in my shopping card, and paid for it separately at the register ($3.99?!). Once in the car, I popped it open, and my BFF Missy SQUEED when we saw that the candies inside are tiny mustaches!  

Missy and I had a fantastic time playing with these little candies, and she asked me why I had to have this tin.  I told her that I want to convert it into a tiny palette for my purse!  She agreed that it would be super cute- as my enabler, that is her job :)

Once all the candies were eaten (I have two kids- it doesn't take long.  On a side note, my tiny love calls "mustaches" "Stick Beards".  That will NEVER EVER get old!!!), I rinsed the tin out and left it to dry.

All my supplies (except scissors.  You'll need those too!)

I repeated the same steps above: trace the tin bottom onto a piece of paper, cut the paper to fit, and then trace the paper onto a magnet.  I cut the magnet out and fit it into the bottom of the tin.  It fit very snugly, and I didn't even need to glue it!

Super cute palette with 3 Yaby eyeshadows in it!

I hope you enjoyed this OnlyAverage tutorial!  I thought that if you subscribe to Ipsy and don't want to mix powders and creams in your GlamRx (or other) palette, you might benefit from my experience!  Plus Stick Beard Hello Kitty is WAY too cute to NOT share!
Have you ever made a magnetic palette?  Are you a DIY Princess?  Leave a comment, and let me know!  If I were to do a giveaway for a Stick Beard Hello Kitty homemade palette, would you enter?


 
 
 Disclaimer:  The products listed above were purchased by me, with my own money my husband's money.  I was not asked nor required to write this review, and the thoughts above are my own.  The Ipsy link IS a referral link (I get a freebie if 2 friends subscribe, but any other link in this post just goes back to my own blog.  I was not compensated in any way for writing this review.