Ipsy (My Glam) Review- March 2014

Hello my lovelies!  I’m so happy you stopped by to visit today, because I have lots of fun things to share with you!  I received my March Ipsy bag, and I can’t wait to tell you all about it!

Not familiar with Ipsy?  Ipsy is a monthly beauty subscription service, and for $10 a month (plus tax in a couple of states, $14.95 in Canada) they send out 4-5 full sized items or deluxe samples in a cute makeup bag.  If you would like to subscribe, and want to send some love my way, HERE is my referral link.

pink envelope

While pink isn’t my favorite color, this IS my favorite site to see in my post box each month.  Seriously, these shiny pink envelopes invoke an excitement rarely seen in my boring, grown up life!

first peek

Here’s the first peek inside the pink envelope of goodness.  I spy something fabulous!

the bag

This month, Ipsy has enlisted an artist in San Francisco to design the bag.  I love the texture of this bag- plastic waterproof feeling- and the pattern is fun.  It’s a representation of a street map of San Fran- a place I very much would love to visit!  Artist Klari Reis did an amazing job and I’m loving how Ipsy is branching out and giving a talented artist some exposure!  

bag interior

The inside liner is a pretty blue- and has Klari’s name above the Ipsy label.  Love it!

insert card

This month’s theme is Destination Beauty.  I love the resort scene on the card- many of you know that in the summer I’m a beach bum- living 10 minutes from a premier beach resort has it’s perks! 

reverse of card

The back of the card has the monthly facebook/instagram contest, and lists all the awesome brands that Ipsy has partnered with this month.

bareMinerals Marvelous Moxie Lipstick in Get Ready, deluxe sample size (1.5 g/0.05 oz), retail value $7.50.  Full size is 3.5 ml/0.12 fl oz and retails for $18.00; available HERE.  Discount code included is a unique code so I can’t share; it gives a free Lash Domination volumizing mascara sample and free shipping on a purchase, until 4/30/14.

I love lipstick, and bareMinerals.  This pint size sample packs a big punch!  The shade Get Ready isn’t red (like you would gather by the name) but a pretty dusty rose that is quite flattering on me.

swatch of Get Ready lipstick from bareMinerals

I gave this lipstick a try, and it applies smoothly and is long lasting.  While I have tried bareMinerals’ lip gloss, this is my first experience with the lipstick, and I’ll definitely be checking them out very soon!
GRADE: 5/5

Pixi Beauty Flawless Beauty Primer, deluxe sample size (12 ml/0.4 fl oz), retail value $8.80; full size is 30 ml/1.01 fl oz, and retails for $22.00; available HERE.   Discount code FlawlessPixi gets you 25% off any purchase, until 4/15/14, free shipping on orders over $50.

I occasionally use face primers under my foundation, and like the results I tend to get from them.  Pixi’s Poreless and Flawless primer caused me to break out a bit, so I’ve been very cautious about using this Flawless Beauty primer.  This primer has a darkish hugh when first squeezed out of the tube, but blends to a lighter shade, with a dewy finish.

swatch of Pixi Beauty Flawless Beauty Primer- left is blended, right is unblended

I tried this under my Urban Decay foundation, and didn’t really see a big difference in my skin tone, or longevity of my makeup application. Perhaps when the weather warms up, I might try this on its own, without foundation, but as of right now, I’m not overly impressed.  I currently am experiencing a small breakout, and I'm pretty sure it's from this primer.  

GRADE: 2/5

Be A Bombshell Eyeshadow Quad in Bora Bora, full size (4.8 g/0.17 oz), retails for $16.00, available HERE.  Discount code IPSY40 will get you 40% off any purchase and a FREE Fuchsia Lip Crayon, until 4/15/14, can’t be combined with other offers, free item automatically added to shipment, US only, $2 flat shipping fee.

I have a serious eye shadow addiction.  I’m always excited to receive new eye shadows and see how well they work for me.  Be A Bombshell’s eye shadow quads have four cutely divided sections, and the Bora Bora set contains the shades Starlet (a rich, chocolate brown), Bora Bora (gorgeous teal), Risky Business (sandy golden brown) and Rock Bottom (metallic copper).

swatches of Bora Bora eyeshadow quad from Be A Bombshell

I have never had the chance to try out Be A Bombshell’s eye shadows before, and I am pleasantly surprised with my experience.  The pigmentation is acceptable, they blended easily, and lasted all day, on top of my eyeshadow primer (Urban Decay Primer Potion in Greed).  I love teal (and color!), and this quad is a perfect match for me.

GRADE: 4/5

Nicole by OPI Roughles polish in On What Grounds?, full size (15 ml/0.5 fl oz), will retail for approx. $7.99; store list HERE (not sure it’s in stores yet!).  No discount code available this time, sorry!  This photo isn't best for color correctness- the swatch picture below is much better.

I used to be a total nail polish addict, and kicked the habit.  Ipsy has helped re-enable my former addiction, and my polish collection has grown by leaps and bounds in the last year!  I have tried (and love!) several shades of Nicole by OPI, and was excited to received this turquoise textured polish this month.  I’m a huge fan of Zoya’s Pixie Dust polishes, and thought that this would be similar.  Roughles (pronounced “ruffles”) polish has a sand-like texture, with flecks of color mixed in.

Swatch of On What Grounds?, Nicole by OPI Roughles collection; 2 coats, no top or base coat.

Turquoise is a favorite color of mine, and this polish is the perfect shade  Textured polish doesn’t require a top coat, and it makes for a fast and easy manicure.  I really love how the textured polish makes it harder to flub up your nails when you paint them (it is quite forgiving), and the texture and shade of the polish.  I used a base coat and the polish chipped very quickly.  I tried this again with no base, and it stayed for several days.  I’m going to add some specks of pastel colors to create Easter Egg nails for my Easter look. 

GRADE: 4/5

That’s all of the items that I received in my March Ipsy bag- 4 nice sized items this month.  BUT- because of lovely readers like you (thank you!), I was able to cash in some ipsyPoints for a referral gift! 

Benefit Cosmetics High Beam, full size (13.0 ml/0.45 fl oz), retails for $26.00, available HERE.  No discount code available this time, sorry!

Benefit is one of my very favorite makeup brands.  I’ve tried Benefit’s High Beam before, and absolutely loved it, so I was excited that I could cash my points in for a full sized bottle!

swatch of Benefit Cosmetics High Beam

High Beam is a beautiful liquid highlighter that bathes your cheekbones in moonlight.  Ok, not really, but it’s pretty amazing.  I love the formula- just dot a bit on, and blend it in.  Benefit has highlighters down to a T- between this and their Watt’s Up!, I’ll never shop for highlighters again!

GRADE: 5/5

And that, my friends is everything that I received this month from Ipsy.  Ipsy sent out a large variety of items this month, though, so here are the items that I didn’t receive but YOU might have:

NYX Cosmetics Love In Rio Eye Shadow palette (variety of shades), full size (0.105 oz/3 g), retails for $6.00 (currently on sale for $4.20), available HERE.  Discount code IPSYBB will get you 25% off NYX Butter Lip Balm, until 4/15/14, cannot be combined with other offers, valid in US only, free shipping on orders over $25.

Pacifica Body Butter in Indian Coconut Nectar, travel size (2.5 fl oz/73 ml), retails for $7.00, available HERE.  Discount code ipsygirl will get you 20% off any purchase, until 4/16/14, one time use only, can’t be combined with other offers, valid only in continental US and Canada, free shipping on orders over $50.

BareMinerals Marvelous Moxie Lipgloss in Rebel, deluxe sample size (2.25 mL/0.7 fl oz), retail value $9.00.  Full size is 4.5 mL/0.15 fl oz, and retails for $18.00, available HERE.  Discount code included is a unique code so I can’t share; it gives a free Lash Domination volumizing mascara sample and free shipping on a purchase, until 4/30/14.

Chella Eyeliner in Indigo Blue, full size (1 ml), retails for $24.00, available HERE.  Discount code EYELINER will get you 25% off any purchase, until 4/15/14, free shipping on orders over $50, valid in US and Canada only.

Klorane smoothing and relaxing patches with soothing cornflower, deluxe sample size (2 pairs), retail value $5.14.  Full size is 7 pairs, retails for $18.00, and is available HERE.  Discount code IPSY will get you 15% off any Klorane purchase until 4/30/15, US only.

Missha M Perfect Cover BB Cream with SPF 42, deluxe sample size (10 ml), retail value $4.40.  Full size is 50 ml/1.69 oz., retails for $22.00, and is available HERE.  Discount code IPSY will get you a free gift with purchase until 4/15/14, one time use only, valid only in US, gift is a free M Boomer 10 mL with any purchase, subject to change without notice.

Vita Liberata pHenomenal 2-3 Week Tan Lotion, deluxe sample size (20 ml/0.67 fl oz), retail value $7.20.  Full size is 150 ml/5.07 fl oz, retails for $54.00, and is available HERE.  Discount code IPSY gets you 3 free gifts and free shipping when you purchase the pHenominal 2-3 Week Tan lotion, until 4/30/14, free gifts include travel size pHenominal 2-3 Week Tan mousse, travel size tanning mitt, and full size tanning mitt, gifts automatically added to order, valid in US only.

March 2014 Ipsy Bag

Here is my awesome March Ipsy bag- Destination Beauty.  I’m seriously loving the theme this month, and the fun pops of color!


If you would like to see my real time, first impressions of my March Ipsy bag, here is my Unboxing video. I always post these to my youTube channel first (since I have to test the products before I write a post!), so if you are dying to see what I think of my Ipsy bag right away, feel free to subscribe to my channel :)

 

My March 2014 Ipsy Look

And here is the look that I created with my March Ipsy bag.  I’m loving the eyeshadow quad- these are perfect colors for me!  The lipstick and highlighter are amazing too- the only thing I’m not crazy about is the primer.  Guess you can’t win them all!

Here’s the part of the post where I list the financial breakdown. We all know that cost and value are two different things- if you love something it has much more value than something you hate, no matter how much it costs.  First, I’ll recap the retail values of everything that Ipsy sent this month:

bareMinerals Marvelous Moxie Lipstick in Get Ready (deluxe sample), $7.50

bareMinerals Marvelous Moxie Lipgloss in Rebel (deluxe sample), $9.00

Pixi Beauty Flawless Beauty Primer (deluxe sample) $8.80

Pacifica Body Butter in Indian Coconut Nectar (travel size) $7.00

Missha Perfect Cover BB Cream with SPF 42 (deluxe sample size), $4.40

Vita Liberata pHenomenal 2-3 Week Tan Lotion (deluxe sample size), $7.20

Be A Bombshell Eyeshadow Quad in Bora Bora (full size), $16.00

NYX Cosmetics Love in Rio Eyeshadow Trio (full size), $6.00 (on sale for $4.50)

Nicole by OPI Roughles polish in On What Grounds?, (full size), $7.99

Chella Eyeliner in Indigo Blue (full size), $24.00

Klorane Smoothing and Relaxing patches (deluxe sample size), $5.14

Benefit Cosmetics High Beam (full size) $26.00 (referral gift)

Total retail value of my bag (approx.): $66.29  (without referral gift, $40.29) All in all, I think this was a great month for Ipsy, even if they only sent out 4 items.  I think we have all been spoiled with bigger 5 item bags for so long, it was a shock to only receive 4 (well, I received 5 because of my referral gift-thanks again- but you know what I mean).  I can’t wait to see what NEXT month holds for Ipsy!
So, tell me- what did YOU receive in your March Ipsy bag?

Until next time, my lovelies- stay Average!

DISCLAIMER: This post contains products that I purchased with my own my husband’s money.  I was not asked nor requested by any company to review/unbox these items, and all opinions are true and my own.  No links are referral or paid links, except the Ipsy link.  I totally want the Ipsy points. 

Ipsy (MyGlam) July 2013 Review

I am so excited to share with you, my July Ipsy bag arrived early!  I can't wait to share with you all all the awesome things I received this month!!

The envelope.

I won't even lie- seeing the pretty pink envelope in my mailbox is my favorite mail moment each month.  Even if I peek in my glam room, I still love ripping into my pink packet to see if what Ipsy sent is what I was actually supposed to receive!

July first peek

The first peek into the pink envelope is awesome- I love the suspension! 

July Insert Card: Beach Beauty

This month's theme is Beach Beauty.  As I live at the beach, I have to say, that this theme is right up my alley!  Hot summer nights, sitting in the sun, walks on the boardwalk, and cruising down coastal highway with music blaring...this is MY idea of an awesome time, and beach beauty.  The mermaid on the card is cute too!

The promotions

I love how Ipsy includes the promotions on the card, it's a great way to see at a glance what awesome deals we can get!

July Ipsy bag

I love the bag this month- it definitely says beach to me.  I can put my cell phone, ipod, camera, and whatnot in this, and they will stay dry!  Plus, it's pink, too- what a bonus! It's been fun finding new uses for my bags each month, but I will say, I have found a purpose for each and every one of them.

This month, Ipsy included FIVE awesome items.  Four of them were the same (with minor variations), and the last item was based on the IpsyMatch profile.  I'll begin with the items that everyone received.

Pouty Pop Crayon from Pop Beauty in Coral Crush, 0.1 oz (full size), retail value $4.17; available HERE as a set of six; retail for the set is $25.  Discount code POPLUVSIPSY will get you 20% off your purchase, until 8/6/13, US only, one time only use.  

I love lippies, and this Pouty Pop Crayon is a cute addition to my collection!  I love that it is a twist-up crayon, and not a "sharpen me" crayon.  I always feel like I'm wasting product when I sharpen them! This crayon goes on smoothly, and is super pigmented.  

Swatch of Coral Crush

I have a couple tubes of coral lipstick, but none in this shade.  On me, this has a pinkish coral hue.  I like this shade okay, but I like some of the other shades in this collection better.  Ipsy sent these out in this shade, Coral Crush, as well as Fuchsia Flirt, and Rose Romance.  Out of these three, the Coral Crush is my personal favorite.  My only regret on this crayon is it's staying power- if you rock these crayons, be sure to take them with you for touch ups.
GRADE: 4/5 (great design, poor staying power)

BH Cosmetics California Collection Eyeshadow 3 pan Sampler, no weight indicated, Retail value $1.50 (approx); available HERE in eyeshadow and blush palettes retailing at $9.95 (includes 4 blushes and 16 shadows). Discount code IPSY will get you 10% off the California Collection, until 8/31/13.

I love eyeshadow palettes, and have tried BH's eyeshadows before.  The new California collection palettes are adorable, and a great price!  This sample palette is super cute, and even has a magnetic closure.  The California Collection sampler palette contains three (I'm assuming full size) shades, one from each of the palettes: Hollywood (shimmery deep purple), San Francisco (shimmery taupe), and Mailbu (metallic gold).

Swatches of the California Collection Sampler Palette from BH Cosmetics

Hollywood swatched kind of light for me, unfortunatiely, but San Francisco and Malibu swatched very nicely pigmented.  I love these colors, and have been rocking this look for a couple days.  I use the purple on my lids and outer corner, the taupe in my crease, and use the gold as an accent.
GRADE: 4/5 (cute palette, not happy with the pigmentation)

Coola Face SPF 20 Mineral Sunscreen Unscented Moisturizer, .23 fl oz (deluxe sample), retail value $4.87.  Full size is available HERE, $36.00 for 1.7 fl oz. Discount code IPSY will earn you 30% off any purchase, until 7/31/13, US and Canada residents only.

I have fair skin that burns easily, so sunscreen is a must for me.  Coola is a new brand for me, and I was happy to see the unscented and untinted version of this product in my bag.  My tube was sealed when it arrived, but it felt squishy and lightly filled.  I'm not sure if they used larger tubes than necessary or mine was a one-off, but I was sad to see that my tube wasn't full.  I tried this out on the beach today, and it felt great on my face, and I didn't burn.  I love that this is organic and cruelty free!  Ipsy also sent out samples of Coola's Rose Essence Tinted Moisturizer, so that may have been in your bag, instead of this untinted, unscented version.
GRADE: 4/5 (tube wasn't very full but works well)

Big Sexy Hair Weather Proof Humidity Resistant Spray, 1.4 oz (deluxe sample), retail value $7.80.  Full size available HERE, $18.95 for 3.4 oz. Discount code 108723 will earn you $5 off of a purchase of $25 or more of Sexy Hair products, until 8/15/13, one time use only.

This was another item in my bag that was an "either/or".  I would have loved to try the Healthy Sexy Hair Soy Renewal Beach Conditioning & Texturizing Spray that some members received, but as I live on the east coast (translation: humidity season), humidity-resistant hair products are something that I should really have more of.  I gave this hair spray a try and it did a pretty good job of holding my beachy waves in place, even in this high humidity area.  I don't use a lot of hair spray on the regular, but when I do, I think that this is what I will turn to!
GRADE: 4/5

Derma e Microdermabrasion Scrub, 1 oz (deluxe sample size), retail value $16.25.  Full size available HERE; $32.50 for 2 oz.  Discount code IPSY0713 will earn you 20% off of any purchase, until 9/31/13, US residents only.

I've tried out microdermabrasion before, and I loved how it made my skin feel.  Although this isn't the item I would have selected to complete my Ipsy bag, if given the choice, I do know that this is a highly coveted item, and a great one to add to my collection.  Microdermabrasion can improve the appearance of your skin, leaving it fresh and younger looking.  This scrub is cruelty free, paraben free, and 100% vegan, and is made with sea salt and volcanic sand.  Because I have sensitive skin, I have to be careful with products like this, and not use too much pressure, but I love this sample, and want more!
GRADE: 5/5

Ipsy sent out several different items to subscribers as the fifth item in the bags. The other items sent out were a deluxe sample of Benefit's Benetint (2.5mL, retail value $8; available HERE; discount code GLAMBAG gets you a free Hello Gorgeous Trio with any purchase of $35 or more,  until 8/15/13), full size of Demeter's Salt Air Perfume Oil Roll On (.29 fl oz, retail value $10.00; available HERE; discount code IPSYDFL20 earns you 20% off your purchase, until 8/31/13), and a full size Nailtini Straight Up Color Nail Lacquer in Mai Tai (.5 fl oz, retail value $13; available HERE; discount code hot4ipsy gets you 30% off of any purchase, until 8/15/13, continental US only).

Because I had some referrals this past month, I was surprised to see that I had an extra in my July glam bag!

Nicole by OPI, Selena Gomez collection nail lacquer, in the shade Pretty in Plum, 15 mL (full size), available HERE.  Retail value is $6.67.

My tween is a serious Selena Gomez fan, and she was super excited to see this nail polish in my bag, as an extra!  I have to admit, the cute shaped bottle (my husband says it resembles a golf club), and the pretty purple (almost Raven's purple!) made me smile too!

Swatch of Pretty in Plum from Nicole by OPI

OPI polishes usually last a good while for me, but this formula was just ok: my daughter painted her nails in the morning, and by early afternoon she had chipping.  That being said, she had used only one coat, no base and no top coat.  I tried this out, and had chipping the following morning- after painting them at night.
GRADE: 4/5 (great color, nice extra, chipping)

Well, that about sums it up for my July Glam Bag!

My July 2013 Ipsy Glam Bag

It's time for my financial recap, where I review the out of pocket cost, versus the retail value of the items inside.  Are you ready?  I'll include the retail value of the products I DIDN'T receive, too, just in case you are looking to see what the value of your bag is, and received different items than mine.

POP Beauty Pouty Pop Crayon, full size: $4.17
BH Cosmetics California Collection eyeshadow, deluxe sample: $1.50 (approx.)
Coola Mineral Sunscreen and Moisturizer, deluxe sample, both varieties: $4.87
Big Sexy Hair Weather Proof spray, deluxe sample: $7.80
Healthy Sexy Hair Soy Renewal Beach Spray, deluxe sample: $6.84
Derma E Microdermabrasion scrub, deluxe sample: $16.25
Benefit Benetin, deluxe sample: $8
Demeter's Salt Air Perfume Oil Roll On, full size: $10.00
Nailtini Straight Up Color Nail Lacquer in Mai Tai, full size: $13
Nicole by OPI Nail Lacquer in Pretty in Plum, full size: $6.67

Total retail value of *MY* bag: $41.26
Total spent out of pocket: $10.00, shipping included
This month, my bag has one of the highest value, and I am really happy with it! Even if my bag was one of the lower values this month, I would still be really happy because I received items that I really liked and will use.

So, tell me- what was in YOUR glam bag this month?  Did you like what you received?  Leave a comment, and let me know!

Until next time, my friends, stay average!  Oh- and if you haven't already, enter the contest on my blog to win a THREE month sub to a NEW subscription box!

 

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 :)