Ipsy (MyGlam) Review- January 2014- Plus YouTube Giveaway!

Hello, my lovelies!  I'm sorry it's taken me a bit to write this, but with weather, youth rally, illness, cookies and a home from school holiday, it's been difficult for me to find quiet time to get my thoughts out through the keyboard.  It's very hard for me to write with everyone home- the general noisiness of the family is louder than the voice in my head, and I apologize.  

My Ipsy bag arrived last week, and I would love to share my thoughts and review with you all!  

Ipsy is a beauty subscription service, where you are sent 4-5 deluxe sample or full sized items each month, for $10 (US subscribers), or $14.95 (Canadian subscribers).  If you would like to subscribe, and want to send some love my way, please consider using my referral link- and thank you to all who have used it- I get Ipsy points to redeem for extras, and you get some good karma along with my love and devotion. 

The Mailer

I always look forward to getting that pink mailer in my mailbox each month- and was so surprised when I DIDN'T get one this month!  It took me a moment to realize that this was my Ipsy bag- and my thoughts were along the lines of Holy Cow- what could be in there that's SO big, it needed this huge of an envelope?!

First Peek

Ooh- I spy some neat things...and no spillage, so that's always a plus!

The Bag

The bag this month is a pretty aqua color, with shadows of cleansers and other products on it.  Not my favorite bag, but this would make a great travel skin care bag as I would instantly know the contents just by looking at it!  I will say, my bag STINKS. Not in the figurative sense, but the literal.  It smells like a plastic pool toy.  I've given it a few days to air out, and the scent has faded, but it gave me a massive headache when I had just opened it up. "Plastic pool toy" is not a scent that screams "luxury", to be sure.

Insert Card

This month's theme is "19 Reasons 2014 will be Amazing". It's a cute theme, and I love that there is a space for me to write in my reason.  The card also lists 19 of the 20 brands that were included in the bags this month.

Ipsy's Contest

On the back of the insert card, is the description of the contest that Ipsy is running on Facebook and Instagram.  It looks like anyone who has this card can enter, so good luck!

Coastal Scents Small Foundation Brush, full size, retails for $4.95; available HERE. Discount code 25off will get you 25% off any purchase, until 2/28/14, no rain checks, cannot be combined with other offers.

Oh. My. Gosh.  Ipsy FINALLY figured out that I want brushes!  I crave brushes.  I have a TON of brushes.  And yet I want MORE.  I have lots of friends who need brushes, along with makeup hand me downs (what?  It's a real thing, I swear.), so it's always great to try out a new brand or style.  For a brush called the "small foundation brush", it is actually quite sizeable.  The Coastal Scents foundation brush is very sturdy, with soft yet firm bristles and works well to apply my foundation.  I'm pretty happy with it, and it is on par with my BH Cosmetics foundation brush.  I look forward to trying more of this line!

GRADE: 5/5 (yay brush! brushy brush brush!!!)

Apothederm Bright Skin Serum, deluxe sample size (0.14 oz/4.1 ml), retail value approx. $9.23; full size is 1 oz/30 ml, and retails for $67.50, available HERE.  Discount code 30IPSY will get you 30% off any purchase plus a free purse mirror, until 2/28/14, one time use only, US only, can’t be combined with other offers, mirror is automatically added.

I was intrigued when I saw that I was getting the Bright Skin serum in my bag, as it is from Apothederm's acne line.  I don't get massive breakouts, but I am prone to hormonal acne and allergy-induced breakouts.  This serum is in a pump tube with cap, and is milky white in color. I gave this a try, and had a difficult time getting the product out of the packaging.  Once I did get the serum onto the back of my hand and then applied to my face, I found my skin to be slightly sticky, even after the serum dried.  All of these things would be worth it if it helped prevent a breakout, right?  I have to tell you, that I did have a slight breakout forming, and that this serum stopped it in its tracks.  I wasn't expecting this to work as well as it did, and was pleasantly surprised.  I am not fond of the packaging (a squeeze tube might work better), but I am very happy with the results (if not the slightly sticky skin).  

GRADE: 4/5 (worked well, not the easiest product to use)

MicaBeauty Tinted Lip Balm, deluxe sample size (0.88 oz/2.5 g), retails value approx. $18.75; full size is 0/14 oz/4 g and retails for $30.00; includes brush.  Sent in Natural and Fiesta; I received Fiesta; available HERE.  Discount code IPSY45 will get you 45% off any purchase until 2/28/14, unlimited uses, US only.

I have loved the MicaBeauty products that I have received in the past, and had high hopes for the lip balm.  When I first swatched this, I was amazed at how highly pigmented the balm was.  I've never tried a tinted lip balm and was thinking that this would be somewhere in the range of a slightly tinted chapstick style product.  Boy, was I wrong!  This sucker is super pigmented! 

Swatch of MicaBeauty Tinted Lip Balm in Fiesta.  Sorry it's blurry, but the color is pretty accurate.

 This pretty pink balm goes on smoothly, and will definitely tint your lips a pretty matte pink!  Unfortunately, I found this balm to be a shade drying, and it didn't give my lips an even color- the inside area of my lips was a different shade than the outside of my lips.  I will say that the balm was long lasting for me, so that's definitely a plus.  I might use this as a base for an ombre style lip, but this was a slight miss for me.

GRADE: 3/5 (super pigmented, but drying)

Absolute! Makeup Cleansing Tissue, travel size (10 tissues), retails for $2.49.  I received these in Pomegranate Extract, also sent in Cucumber, available HERE.  Discount code IPSY will get you 30% off any purchase until 2/10/14, cannot be combined with other offers, US only, free shipping on orders over $50.

I was excited to be getting these wipes in my bag, mostly because I haven't really found my "go to" makeup remover wipe.  At first, I really liked the scent of these, but after I used them, I thought they were too sweet smelling.  I think the wipes smell like a girly alcoholic drink, which is a shame, because I really like pomegranate.  The wipes did a good job of removing my makeup, though, so I'll definitely keep an eye out for them in a different scent.  My skin felt clean and fresh, as opposed to oily or greasy, as other wipes have tended to do for me.  I love that these wipes have low levels of parabens- only one ingredient was in the paraben family, and it was the second to last ingredient.  Parabens are a double edged sword- they prevent bacterial growth, but are suspected of being a carcinogen.
GRADE: 4/5 (work well, but don't care for the scent)  

Yaby Liquid Foundation, full size (0.272 fl oz/8 ml) retails for $13.99; sent in the shade Buff.  Available HERE.  Discount code 201401IPSY20 will get you 20% off of any Yaby purchase, until 1/31/14, Canadian customers are asked to visit blurmakeuproom.com and use the same code for the same discount.

Yaby is a brand that Ipsy has worked with before, and I've received both eye shadow and concealer from Yaby before.  I gave the foundation a try and was pretty pleased with it.  The bottle has a removable tip on it, so you can add a different shade to mix the perfect color for you.  This is an awesome feature, and one that other foundation companies should consider doing.  The foundation has a medium/light coverage, and is an acceptable match for my skin.  It's a tad darker, so once summer hits and I actually venture outside once again into the sun, and it will likely match my skin then.

Swatch of Yaby concealer in Buff (out of the tube on the left, blended in on the right)

I tried this foundation for 3 days in a row, and it did not break me out, which is a rare thing.  If you have sensitive skin and are looking for a new foundation, this one is definitely worth a try.  The shade buff is a neutral light beige, leaning just a shade yellow.  Yaby offers their concealer in a multitude of shades, including color correcting shades and a white base (to lighten up a darker foundation).
GRADE 5/5 (nice product, and I don't break out!)

KISS Salon Secrets Nail Art Starter Kit, full size, retails for $9.99, available HERE.  No discount code available, sorry!

I love me some nail art, and yet have less than no artistic ability.  It's a curse, really.  When I saw that I could redeem my Ipsy points for this set, I jumped at the chance.  The Nail Art starter kit includes 3 brushes, a dotting tool, gems, nail stickers, striping tape, and glitter. 

Contents of the Salon Secrets Nail Art Starter Kit

I've tried out the brushes and dotting tool, and they aren't the highest quality, but they do get the job done.  I added the other pieces to my nail art box, and will definitely get my use out of them.  This is one of my favorite referral gifts, and thank you to all who have used me as a referral!

Ipsy sent out items from 20 different brands this month, and as I only received 5 items in my bag (plus my referral gift), I thought I would list the other items that were sent, along with their corresponding discount codes.  Here is what I didn't receive, but you might have.  Sizes are taken from Ipsy's website, and if they are incorrect, I apologize.  I've included pictures of what I've been able to photograph.  If you aren't interested in the other items, just scroll on down to the picture of my bag, for my final thoughts.

Benefit Cosmetics The Porefessional, deluxe sample size (3.0 ml), retail value $4.09; full size is 0.75 US fl oz/22.0 ml, and retails for $30.00; available HERE; discount code JANGLAM will get you a free Coral My World deluxe mini set with any order until 2/15/14, cannot be combined with other offers, not valid on Nice Package custom sets, online only, while supplies last.

Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair deep conditioning mask, deluxe sample size (1.0 oz), retail value $4.95; full size is 5.25 oz, and retails for $26; available HERE.  Discount code IPSYJAN14 will get you 20% off any purchase, until 2/15/14, one time use only, cannot be combined with other offers, US only.

Elizabeth Mott Smooth Shadow, deluxe sample size (0.7g), retail value approx. $7.00; full size is 1.5 g/0.05 oz, and retails for $14.99; sent in the shades Penny and Pearl; available HERE; discount code IPSYSMOOTH will get you a free Raven pencil with every item purchased, until 2/30/14, pencils automatically added, limit 3 free pencils per customer, free shipping on orders over $25, valid in US and Canada only,

MALIN + GOETZ Mojito Lip Balm, full size (0.35 oz/10g), retails for $12.00; available HERE; no discount code available, sorry!

Nourish Organic Lightweight Moisturizing Face Lotion, deluxe sample size (0.5 oz), retail value $6.47; full size is 1.7 oz/50 ml, and retails for $21.99, available HERE.  Discount code IPSY30 will get you 30% off facial products, until 2/15/14, cannot be combined with other offers, valid in US and Canada only, Free shipping on orders over $50 (US) and $100 (Canada).

Alterna Caviar Anti-Aging Dry Shampoo, deluxe sample size (0.10 oz/3 g), retail value $0.88; full size is 2.65 oz/75 g, and retails for $22.00; available HERE.  Discount code IPSY20 will get you 20% off any purchase and free shipping until 2/28/14, cannot be combined with other offers, valid in US only, subject to change.

Balanced Guru Balm Me Up Organic Sweet Cocoa & Tangy Body Balm, deluxe sample size (1 oz/30 ml), retail value $11.24; full size is 4 oz/114 g, and retails for $45.00; available HERE.  Discount code ipsy20 will get you 20% off of any purchase, until 2/28/14, cannot be combined with other offers, free shipping on orders over $75 after discount, valid in US only.

Epice Purifying Exfoliant deluxe sample size (1 oz/28 g), retail value $9.70; full size is 3.3 oz/100 ml, and retails for $32.00; available HERE.  Receive a free Epice Hydrating Facial Cleanser  with any Purifying Exfoliant purchase, until 2/15/14, one time use only, cannot be combined, valid only in US and Canada, $5.95 shipping cost.

Faith Aromatherapy Tahitian Monoi Anti-Aging Sugar Scrub, deluxe sample size (1 oz/29.5 ml), retail value $1.50; full size is 12 oz/350 ml, and retails for $17.99; available HERE.   Discount code ipsy will get you 50% off any purchase and free shipping, until 4/10/14, cannot be combined with other offers, valid only in the US and Canada.

LeeAnni Eco 3 in 1 Revolution deluxe sample size (0.35 oz), retail value $0.87; full size is 4.0 fl oz, and retails for $29.98; available HERE.   Discount code ipsy will get you 15% off of any purchase, until 2/15/14, valid only in the US, $5 flat shipping rate.

Marula Pure Marula Facial Oil, deluxe sample size (2 ml), retail value $3.12; full size is 50 ml/1.69 fl oz, and retails for $78.00; available HERE.  Discount code IPSYlovesMARULA will get you 20% off  the 50 ml Pure Marula Facial Oil, until 2/15/14, valid only in the US.

Proactiv+ Mark Fading Pads, deluxe sample size (4 pads), retail value $13.30; full size is 15 pads, and retails for $49.99; available HERE.  No discount code this month, sorry!

Healthy Sexy Hair Soy Tri-Wheat Leave In Conditioner, travel size (1.7 fl oz/50 ml), retails for $6.00; full size is 8.5 fl oz/250 ml, and retails for $17.95; available HERE.  Discount code 108723 will get you $5 off a $25 or more purchase of Sexy Hair products, until 2/15/14, cannot be combined with other offers, one per customer, some exclusions may apply.

Skiin Soothing and Smoothing Eye Cream, deluxe sample size (0.25 oz/7.5 g), retail value $14.98; full size is 0.5 oz/15 g, and retails for $29.95, available HERE.  Discount code IPSY30 will get you 30% off any purchase until 2/25/14, valid only in the US, shipping cost is $5.95.

Willa On the Go Face Towelettes in lavender, full size (10 wipes), retail value $4.50.

Available HERE; discount code IPSY will get you 30% off any purchase, until 2/15/14, cannot be combined with other offers, shipping is $7.50 for US orders under $50 and $15 on Canadian orders.

My Ipsy January 2014 Glam Bag

Here is the financial recap for the January bag:

First, I'll list the items available and their approximate retail value.

Coastal Scents Small Foundation Brush (full size)  $4.95

Apothederm Bright Skin Serum (deluxe sample) $9.23

MicaBeauty Tinted Lip Balm (deluxe sample) $18.75

Absolute! Makeup Cleansing Tissue (travel size) $2.49

Yaby Liquid Foundation (full size) $13.99

Benefit Cosmetics The Porefessional (deluxe sample) $4.09

Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair deep conditioning mask (deluxe sample) $4.95

Elizabeth Mott Smooth Shadow (deluxe sample) $7.00

MALIN + GOETZ Mojito Lip Balm (full size) $12.00

Nourish Organic Lightweight Moisturizing Face Lotion (deluxe sample) $6.47

Alterna Caviar Anti-Aging Dry Shampoo (deluxe sample) $0.88

Balanced Guru Balm Me Up Body Balm (deluxe sample) $11.24

Epice Exfoliant (deluxe sample size)  $9.70

Faith Aromatherapy Sugar Scrub (deluxe sample size) $1.50

LeeAnni Eco 3 in 1 Revolution (deluxe sample size) $0.87

Marula Pure Marula Facial Oil (deluxe sample size $3.12

Proactiv+ Mark Fading Pads (deluxe sample size) $13.30

Healthy Sexy Hair Leave In Conditioner(travel size) $6.00

Skiin Soothing and Smoothing Eye Cream (deluxe sample size) $14.98

Willa On the Go Face Towelettes (full size) $4.50

 (Referral Gift) KISS Salon Secrets Nail Art Starter Kit (full size) $9.99

Here's what MY bag was worth, in regards to retail dollars.  Actual value is dependent on how much you like the things you received, and if you would actually use them.

Total retail value of my bag (approx.): $59.40  (without referral gift, $49.41)

All in all, this bag was okay for me.  I liked trying new products, but there was no real stand out awesome find for me, in my bag.  I will definitely be keeping Ipsy around, have no fear- and I’m happy to have gotten to try everything that I received (and yay for a brush!!!). 

As promised, I’m giving away a full size Benefit Cosmetics Benetint on my YouTube channel.  The giveaway is open until January 30, 2014, and can be seen on my Ipsy January unboxing video here:

Good luck my friends- the entry rules are in the description box :)

 

Until next time, my lovelies- stay Average!

Disclaimer: I purchased these items with my own money my husband's money.  I was neither requested nor required to review these items, and all links in this post are NOT referral links (except the Ipsy link.  I totally want the Ipsy points.  I strive for honesty.

Ipsy (MyGlam) August 2013 Review

Hello, my bloggy friends!  It's that time again- Ipsy Time!  Ipsy is my favorite monthly subscription, and I was super excited to receive my package this month- I am constantly checking on the tracking, and watching my mail carrier like a hawk to see what I'm going to get!

Just in case you DON'T know what Ipsy is, let me first tell you that you are seriously missing out!  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 jhas a referral program, and I REALLY want to keep receiving an extra gift for having 2 referrals...Thank you!!

Ok, enough of the boring stuff about HOW to subscribe- on to the goodies!

Love those pink envelopes!

Seeing a pink envelope in my mailbox always puts a smile on my face, no matter how my day is going.  I always know that whatever is inside is going to be fun to try out!

First peek

I always love that first peek into the pink packet and all I see here is PURPLE- my favorite!!

Glamour Academy Insert Card

Ipsy's theme for August is Glamour Academy- perfect for this back to school season!

The discounts and brands

I love that Ipsy lists all of the brands offered in all of this month's bags in one convenient place.  I just wish they listed the discount codes and all of the details on here too!

Lash Bash

Please, Ipsy, pick me!!!

Ipsy also invited me to apply to host a Lash Bash, sponsored by Benefit and Ipsy.  I applied the first day that it was open for applications, and I really hope I win one.  You all know that I love me some Benefit, and I want to share that love with my friends and family.  Plus I love freebies.  I won't even lie about that.  If you are an ipsy subscriber and want to apply to host a lash bash (they are choosing 1000 people), head on over to lashbash.ipsy.com to apply!

August's Glambag

I love purple, and the academy-inspired print on this bag is super cute.  I'm not sure what I will use this bag for, but I am sure I will get some use out of it.  Purple is one of my favorite colors, and it's a super-popular color in the area I live- Raven's Country!

Ipsy had recently introduced IpsyMatch- a program designed to personalize bags to each subscriber.  IpsyMatch has been kind of hit-or-miss for me in the past.  Let's see how they did this month!  Since Ipsy has begun providing multiple items in bags, it's become a bit more difficult to review my bag, and give all of the information on everything else that others may have received.  I'll do my best this month to properly cover everything.

The first item in my bag is an either/or item.  Subscribers received either a deluxe sample of Urban Decay's new Revolution lipstick in Shame or 69; or a full size Noya Lip balm in cherry or vanilla.  

Urban Decay Revolution lipstick in Anarchy; deluxe sample size (0.03); retail value $7.33.  Available HERE: discount code IPSY will earn you free shipping on any order that includes lipstick.  Full size (0.09) retails for $22.

Such a cute little lippie!

I seriously love Urban Decay cosmetics.  When I heard that some subscribers were going to receive a sample of their new lipstick, I hoped I would be able to try it (although I would have liked to try the lip balm too!), and my wish came true!  

Swatch of Revolution lipstick in 69

One of my older Girl Scouts just became a subscriber after being on the waiting list, and she received this lipstick in Anarchy, and she let me swatch it for you.

Swatch of Revolution lipstick in Anarchy

I gave the lipstick a try, and was very impressed by the formula.  I had great coverage in one swipe, and it lasts a long, long time.  The shade 69 is REALLY red- a true red, and really popped on my lips.  I tried it out WITHOUT a lip liner, and that was a mistake: the lipstick stained my lips a bit.  Won't do that again.

Revolution lipstick in 69, on my lips

GRADE:4.5/5 (stained my lips, but I also didn't use a liner)

Pixie Lash Booster Mascara in Blackest Black, deluxe sample size (0.105 oz); retail value $7.14. Available HERE: discount code PIXI+IPSY will earn you.  Full size (0.25 oz) retails for $17.

This item is the only one in this month's bag that everyone received.  I have SO many mascaras, and haven't yet found THE perfect one for my body chemistry.  I was happy to receive this mascara, as it is one that I haven't tried yet.  The Pixie poreless primer I received a few months ago wasn't for me, but I am willing to give Pixie another shot.  

I gave the mascara a try, and was pleasantly surprised.  This mascara did a great job coating my lashes, and I had no traces of the dreaded raccoon eye, nor any flakes.  I gave it a real workout too- while school shopping with my tween, we went to Aeropostale and it was H O T in that store- I was sweating like crazy, and this mascara DID NOT BUDGE!

GRADE: 5/5 (LOVED it!)

The next item is an either/or item also- all subscribers received a Michael Todd product: either the Pumpkin Nutrient-Rich Facial Mask OR the Jojoba Charcoal Gentle Exfoliating Facial Scrub. 

Michael Todd Pumpkin Nutrient-Rich Facial Mask, deluxe sample size (1 oz); retail value $10.00.  Available HERE: discount code AUGIPSY will earn you 30% off any purchase, one time use, open worldwide, until 9/30/13.  Can't be combined with any other offers.  Full size (3.4 fl oz) retails for $34.00.

I have never really done a lot of face masks, and because of that I was excited to try this product out.  I love that the Michael Todd line is organic, and this mask is gluten free and certified vegan.  

Swatch of Pumpkin Nutrient-Rich Facial Mask

According to the website, this mask is for all skin types except sensitive, and I have sensitive skin.  I wanted to give it a try anyway, to see how it worked (the things I do for you readers!!), so first I tested it on the back of my hand. I didn't have a reaction to it so I decided I would give it a go on my face.  First, let me try to effectively explain the smell to you.  I think it smells like pumpkins with a slight floral twist.  The floral isn't enough to trigger my allergies. so this was a good thing!  I put it on my face, and OMG it really, really burned- for about a minute.  Then the burning sensation went away, and I waited out my five minutes.  I washed it off, and while it didn't make my break out or turn my face red, I didn't notice anything special, either.  I'll try it again in a couple weeks, but this is likely something that I won't repurchase.
GRADE: 3/5

The last two items in each glam bag are two from the following list- Chella Dazzling Dark Brown Eyebrow color pencil (full size), City Color Cheek Stain (full size), Nyx blush (full size), Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer (deluxe sample size), MicaBeauty eye shadow in bronze (full size), Pacifica Alight Multi-Mineral BB Cream (deluxe sample size), and Nailtini Straight Up nail lacquer in Mai Tai (full size).

Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer, deluxe sample size (0.25 fl oz), retail value $9.00.  Available HERE: discount code IPSY will earn you a free full size Full Exposure mascara with any full size Photo Finish Foundation Primer purchase, until 9/25/13, one time offer only and can't be combined with other offers.  Full size (1 oz) has a retail value of $36.00.

I love primers, and my current favorite is one by BareMinerals.  I have very sensitive skin, and primers, even high end ones, can send me into weeks of nasty breakouts.  I've heard both good and bad things about this primer, and this is my first time to try Smashbox products.

Swatch of Photo Finish Foundation Primer

I tried out this primer, and it has a super silky feeling when applying, much like my BareMinerals Primetime primer.  I tested this out, and it felt great on my skin.  I didn't notice pilling or peeling, as others have mentioned, but I tend to use only a very small amount- maybe that is the difference.  I really liked this one!
GRADE:4.5/5

MicaBeauty Mineral Eye Shadow in Bronze, full size (0.1 oz), retail value $14.95.  Available HERE: discount code will earn you 25% off any purchase, until 8/31/13, US only.  

This is the second time Ipsy has sent out MicaBeauty mineral shadows, and the first time that I received one.  I was super excited to give this a try! 

Swatch of Bronze by MicaBeauty

I am on the fence on whether I like loose shadows.  I seem to have really bad luck with fallout, and application.  Nonetheless, I gave this a try and experienced NO fallout, and beautiful color application.  I really love this stuff!  I will definitely be using this for a pop of bronzy shimmer.
GRADE: 5/5

I also received a bonus item in by bag, as a thank you for having referrals during the month of July.

Lime Crime Nail Polish in Crema de Limon, full size (0.3 oz), retail value $8.00.  Available HERE: no discount code available.

Seriously, I less than 3 all of you who have used my referral code to try out Ipsy- thank you so much!  This month, I received another nail polish, a yellow hue from a brand I have never tried before, Lime Crime.  As always, when I try out any new brand, I google them.  I was amazed at all that popped up for Lime Crime- and not much of it was good.  I will say that it looks like this company has finally worked through some issues, and now has many vegan items, and all items are cruelty free.  This polish is vegan and 3-free (yay!), and came packed in a cute box, that was lime green inside.  The bottle is a rectangle shape, and the unicorn logo is super cute.  I don't like that the color isn't marked on the bottle- if I were to like it and want to reorder, there is the possibility that I might not be able to find the correct color, but that is a small issue.

Swatch of Crema de Limon by Lime Crime, bad lighting.  it's much lighter in person, I swear!

First let me say, that I'm not a fan of yellow anything.  Yellow isn't a color I wear often, and when doing my nails, I have only ever used it as an accent color.  That being said, I was excited to try out a product from Lime Crime, and yellow-be-damned, I wanted to see what the formula was like.  I needed 3 coats to get full coverage, but I have found that pastels tend to need more coats than other polishes.  The polish took a bit longer than I am used to for it to dry, even with my top coat (that usually speeds up the process, at least in my opinion).  I also noticed that most full size polishes are .5 fl oz, this one is .3 fl oz, so a bit on the small size for a full size polish.  I don't care for the color on me alone- but I think I will jazz it up with some black polka dots, or use it for nail art.  

Swatch of Crema de Limon, with pink and purple splatter effect, plus the yellow is much more accurately shown :)

That's MUCH better, in my opinion.  A pretty yellow sun would be lovely on a sky blue background.  The color is really a nice butter yellow, but it's just not a color I will use frequently.  I tend to gravitate to blues, greens, pinks and purples.  I WILL say that this polish resisted chipping better than most polishes that I have worn- the formula is great, and I'll keep an eye out for a sale to pick up a different shade.  
GRADE:3/5 (great formula, 3-free, vegan, cruelty-free, it's just so...yellow)

Items I did NOT receive, and Ipsy's discount codes and offers (pictures of what my friends received and allowed me to photograph):

Noya Lip balm, full size (0.15 oz), retail value $3.99.  Available HERE; discount code IPSTER will get you 20% off any purchase, until 9/15/13, US only.

Michael Todd Jojoba Charcoal Gentle Exfoliating Facial Scrub, deluxe sample size (1 oz), retail value $5.29.  Available HERE; discount code AUGIPSY will get you 30% off any purchase, until 9/30/13, one time use, can't be combined with other offers, available worldwide.  Full size (3.4 fl oz) retails for $18.00.

Chella Eyebrow Color Pencil in Dazzling Dark Brown, full size (0.09g), retail value $18.00. Available HERE; discount code BROWPENCIL will get you 20% off your purchase, until 9/15/13, US and Canada only (some conditions on Canada orders).  

City Color Cheek Stain, full size (size not listed online, nor on the packaging), retail value $2.99.  Available HERE, discount code IPSY0813 will get you 20% off any purchase, until 9/15/13, US only.

Swatch of cheek stain in Pink, by City Color

Nyx Blush, full size (size varies), retail value $5-7 (powder blush- $5, cream blush $6, mosaic powder blush $7).  Available HERE; discount code IPSYCHEEKS will get you 40% off Tango with blushing powder, until 9/13/13, cannot be combined with other offers.

Pacifica Multi-Mineral BB Cream, deluxe sample size (0.34 oz), retail value $5.44. Available HERE; discount code IPSY20 will get you 20% off any purchase, until 9/15/13, US and Canada only, cannot be combined with other offers.  Full size (1 fl oz) retails for $16.

Nailtini Straight Up nail lacquer in Mai Tai, full size (0.5 fl oz), retail value $16.00.  Available HERE; discount code HOT4IPSY will get you 30% off your purchase plus $5 shipping, until 9/15/13, continental US only, cannot be combined with other offers. 

August 2013 Ipsy Bag

That about sums up my Ipsy experience for August!  Here's the financial breakdown- I'll list every option available so you can see the true monetary value (not to be confused with actual value- receiving a product you've never tried is definitely a value to me, even if I hate it!) of your bag, too!

Urban Decay Revolution lipstick (deluxe sample): $7.33
Noya Lip balm (full size): $3.99
Pixi Lash Booster Mascara (deluxe sample size): $7.14
Michael Todd Pumpkin mask (deluxe sample size): $10.00
Michael Todd Jojoba and Charcoal scrub (deluxe sample size): $5.29
Chella eyebrow pencil (full size): $18.00
City Color Cheek Stain (full size): $2.99
Nyx blush (full size): $5.00-7.00
Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer (deluxe sample size): $9.00
MicaBeauty eye shadow in bronze (full size): $14.95
Pacifica Alight Multi-Mineral BB Cream (deluxe sample size): $5.44
Nailtini Straight Up nail lacquer (full size): $16.00
Lime Crime nail polish (full size): $8.00

Retail value of MY bag: $56.42
Price I paid: $10,00, shipping included

Holy cow, y'all- my bag is awesome this month!  I am really surprised and super happy.  The only thing that could have made it better is if I had received the eyebrow pencil instead of maybe the primer, but there is always next month (unless someone out there wants to send me theirs that they won't use....pretty please???)!

Now, tell me, my only average friends- what did YOU receive this month?  Love it? Hate it?  Any suggestions on what I should try next??

I'll leave you with a picture of me in my Ipsy August look:

Wearing UD tinted moisturizer, Benefit Hoola bronzer, UD 24/7 eyeliner in Zero, Pixi lash booster mascara, Glamour Doll Eyes Sherbert and MicaBeauty Bronze eye shadows, and UD's Revolutions lipstick in 69...and Good God, my nose looks HUGE at this angle!!!

 

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 :)