December 2013 Ipsy (My Glam) Unboxing and Review

Hello my lovelies!

My favorite mail day has arrived- Ipsy Day!

Pink Envelope of Goodness

I seriously LOVE receiving this pretty pink envelope each month in the mail.  It really makes my day.

First Peek

The first peek inside the bag is always the best- especially if nothing is broken or crushed :)

Celebration!

December's Theme is "Celebration!" I love this- not only is it Ipsy's second anniversary, it's also the time of year that is filled with parties, family and gatherings.  Ipsy is also having a contest this month, if you post a picture of your Glam Bag on Instagram with the proper tags, you could win a year's subscription to this fabulous service.

The brands

I always love the little insert cards in each package; it is a fast introduction to the brands that are featured each month, and have cute little pictures on them.  December's bag is no exception.

December 2013's bag

I absolutely, positively LOVE this month's bag!  It's the same style as June's bag, and the shiny black diamond-pattered outside is perfectly paired with a deep red liner.  This bag has instantly become my purse cosmetic bag, and will remain so for quite a while, I think.

Each month, Ipsy sends out 4-5 items, either deluxe samples or full sized items.  This month, Ipsy send 2 items to all subscribers, and the remaining 3 items varied from bag to bag.  I'll start with the items everyone received.

Be A…Bombshell The One Stick in Girl Crush, full size (7.3g/0.26 oz), $16 retail, available HERE.  Discount code IPSY40 will get you a 40% discount, and a free full-sized raspberry tart blush, until 1/15/14, US only, can’t be combined with other offers, free item is automatically added when order ships.

I've enjoyed trying out the Be A...Bombshell line.  The One Stick is a product that is for use on the eyes, cheeks and lips (hence the name), and this pretty pink is a beautiful blush shade on me.  I tried it on my lips, and it applied kind of thickly, and it was too frosty to look good with my skin tone.  I have yet to try it on my eyes (I have lots of pink shadow), but I think this would work well as a cream shadow (maybe as a base).  When I heard that we were getting this product, I looked for a picture of it, and was surprised when it arrived at just how big it is.  I guess I was expecting a product the size of a lipstick tube, and this is MUCH bigger than that, and will last a long time.  I am pretty happy with this- it's the first cream blush product that I actually like.
GRADE: 4/5

POP Beauty Bright Up Your Life Eyeshadow Trio in Smokin’ Hot, deluxe sample size (4.35g/0.15 oz, 3 pans of shadow), $7.20 retail value, available HERE. Full size retails for $24 and includes 10 pans of shadow.  Discount code EyeLuvPOP gets you 25% off of any purchase, until 1/15/14, one time use only, can’t be combined with other offers, US only, excluding territories, free shipping on orders $75 or more.

I've had good and bad luck with POP Beauty before- I really disliked the mascara I received earlier this year, but the lip crayon was a flattering shade for me, and a decent formula.  My first impression of the eyeshadow trio was that the palette was hard to open.  Like really REALLY hard.  As in I wound up breaking two nails, and using a butter knife hard. I swatched the shadows and they seemed to be lightly pigmented, but when I went to use them on my eyes, I was very impressed with the consistency. I gave this shadow trio a try, and while I would have preferred the neutral palette, these went on nicely, blended well, and created a long lasting smoky eye look that I rocked for a full day.  I did put these on over primer, and I think that it made all the difference.  I don't currently have a palette specifically for smoky eye looks, so this is a welcome addition to my collection.  I will try to branch out more into this look for evenings out, but I don't think I will ever give up on my love for color!

GRADE: 4/5

 Ipsy also sent each subscriber a lip product: each bag had either a J.Cat lip pencil or a NYX lipstick.  I received...

 Nyx Extra Creamy Round Lipstick in Celene, full size (4g/0.14oz), $4.00 retail, available HERE. Discount code IPSYSLIM gets you 35% off of the slim lip pencil until 1/15/14, one time use, can’t be combined with other offers.

Once I found out that I was going to receive the NYX Lipstick, I was really excited. I've wanted to try out their formula, but don't currently have any in my collection (how did THAT happen?).  When I opened up my bag, and saw the color that I received, I actually sad the words, "You've got to be kidding me!"
Ipsy, please- I don't wear pale shades.  I don't wear much gold.  Please send me pretty pinks, corals, and blue-based reds.  Please don't send me any more zombie-inspired lipstick shades.  Please??  I did give this a try, and it was worse on my lips than on my hand.  I'll try layering this over a darker lip shade; hopefully I can find some use of this tube.  It's really a shame, because I really like the formula.
GRADE 3/5 (Great formula, horrific shade)

The remaining two items in each bag were from an assortment of items.  Here is what I received:

Nicka K New York polish in NY112, full size (0.5 fl oz/15ml), $4.99 retail, available HERE.  Discount code IPSY gets you 30% off until 1/10/14, cannot be combined with other offers, US only, free shipping on orders $50 or more.

I love me some nailpolish, and I have never heard of the brand Nicka K.  I received a pretty taupe shade, with purple undertones in some lighting.  I gave this a try and I really love the formula.  This polish is long lasting, and applied smooth and creamy.  I had total opacity in two coats.  

Swatch of Nicka K Polish in NY112 (gold sparkle top coat on all of them except the ring finger)

This color isn't my favorite shade, but after I added a gold sparkle topcoat, I think it is fantstic!  I don't have any like this at all in my collection, so this will most definitely get used.  I think this is my favorite product in my bag this month.  Love it!
GRADE: 5/5

Ardell Natural Lashes in 120 DEMI, full size (1 pair), $3.99 retail, available HERE.  No discount coded this month, sorry!

I have a love/hate relationship with lashes.  I love them, but I hate applying them.  I finally have a method that works fairly well, and these applied nicely.  I don't think that the lashes looked particularly natural on my face, but they were light and easy to wear.  The glue included did a nice job of holding them in place, which for me, is unusual for the little samples in the lash packs, so this was a big plus.
GRADE: 4/5

In my bag this month, I also received a referral bonus- so a HUGE thank you to anyone and everyone who used my link to sign up for Ipsy!!

Beauty blender and blender cleanser, deluxe sample (blender alone is $19.95), available HERE.  Full size retails for $23.95 (1 blender and 3 oz of cleanser).  No discount code currently available.

I have never tried the original Beauty Blender before, and I have to say, that I was pleasantly surprised.  I expected the foam to be more dense (like the one I purchased from the Ulta brand), and was happy with how it applied the foundation.  The cleanser was great, and did a fabulous job of cleaning my sponge.  I was amazed at how much the blender "grew" once it was dampened!  This is seriously my new go-to for applying foundation.  Love it!  This is a fabulous extra, and I am super happy with it!
GRADE: 5/5

I took one swatch photo this month, of everything on my hand.  Here 'tis:

Top: Nyx lipstick in Celene
Middle: Be A Bombshell The One Stick in Girl Crush, Nicka K polish in NY112 (Classic Taupe)
Bottom: POP Beauty Smokin' Hot Trio

Items YOU might have received in your Ipsy bag, but I did not:

J.Cat Beauty Big Lip Pencil, full size (0.3 oz), retails for $3.99, available HERE.  Discount code jcatlips will get you 30% off of any purchase, until 1/15/14, can't be combined, US only.

Mirabella Eye Blender brush, full size, retails for $27, available HERE.  Discount code IPSTER will get you 30% off of any purchase, until 1/7/14, can't be combined with other offers, valid in the US only.

English Laundry Signature Fragrances set (Signature Pour Femme and Signature), 2 vials, each 5mL, retail value $8.70, available HERE.  Full size is 3.4 oz/100mL and retails for $84 (men's) and $90 (women's).  If you purchase this fragrance, you will receive a free bag with any purchase of $75 or more, and free shipping, until 2/23/14, free shipping is US only and excludes Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico.

Andrea Strip Lashes in style #33, full size, retails for $3.99, available HERE.  No discount code this time, sorry! 

Salon Perfect Perfectly Natural lashes in #53, full size, retails for $2.98, available HERE.  No discount code this time, sorry! 

Demeter Snow Perfume Oil Roll on, full size (0.29 fl oz/8.8mL), retails for $10, available HERE.  Discount code ipsy20dfl will get you 20% off of any purchase, until 1/13/14, one time use only, valid only in US and Canada.

Jesse's Girl Julie G Holiday Frosted Gum Drops Nail lacquer in Sugar Plum Fairy, full size (0.35 fl oz), available HERE, retails for $3.99.  Discount code IPSYDEC2013 will get you 20% off your purchase until 1/15/14, free US shipping, international shipping available.

Starilly Nail Polish in Bzzz Buzz, mini size (0.17oz), retails for $5, available HERE.  Discount code IPSY will get you 20% off of your purchase, can't be combined with other offers, US and Canada only, shipping based on weight, no end date listed.

December 2013 December Glam Bag

Here's my beautiful December 2013 Ipsy Glam bag, in all it's glory!  I am really happy with what I received this month, and while I might have wanted to try some different items, aside from the god-awful lipstick color, everything I did get will most definitely be used.  To me, that spells SUCCESS! 

Here's a rundown of everything that was sent out by Ipsy this month, just to help you calculate your bag's monetary value.  As always, an item could be worth a fortune, and you hate it, so it has no true value, but the almighty dollar seems to be the way most people judge their bags, so, here we go! 

Be A...Bombshell The One Stick (full size): $16.00
POP Beauty eyeshadow trio (deluxe sample): $7.20
Nyx Extra Creamy Round lipstick (full size): $4.00
J.Cat Beauty Big Lip Pencil (full size): $3.99
Ardell Natural Lashes (full size): $3.99
Andrea Strip Lashes (full size): $3.99
Salon Perfect Perfectly Natural lashes (full size): $2.98
Nicka K New York polish (full size): $4.99
Jesse's Girl Julie G Nail lacquer in Sugar Plum Fairy (full size): $3.99
Starilly Nail Polish in Bzzz Buzz (mini size): $5.00
English Laundry Signature Fragrances set (Signature Pour Femme and Signature), (2 vials, each 5mL):$8.70
Demeter Snow Perfume Oil Roll on (full size): $10.00
Mirabella Eye Blender brush (full size): $27.00
Referral Gift:
Beauty blender and blender cleanser (deluxe sample):blender alone is $19.95

Total retail value of MY bag (approx.): $56.13 (without referral gift, $36.14)

My December 2013 Ipsy Look

Sorry about the shadow on my shadow, but here's a closeup of the eyelook, with Starlook's Topaz gem pencil as liner.

Closeup of the lashes

 Here's my unboxing video, for those who like to watch these things, and want to see my Christmas tree :)  If you want to see more of my family and me, a new vlog is uploaded every day on this channel, so subscribe away :)


What's this- you don't subscribe to Ipsy yet?  Well, crawl out from underneath the rock you are living under and head on over there and check them out!  Ipsy is $10 a month (plus $5 if you are in Canada), and gets you 4-5 full size or deluxe sample beauty products in the mail each month, all in a cosmetic bag.   If you would like to sign up, would you consider using my referral link?  I get points towards goodies, and you get good karma, plus a referral code of your very own to share.  Everyone wins!

Until next time, my lovelies- stay Average!

Disclaimer: This video contains products that I purchased with my own 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. 

Nyx Cosmetics HAUL!

Hi everyone!

I've been to my "local" Ulta twice in the last few weeks, and I've had an awesome time picking out some items from one of my new favorite lines (and currently my favorite Drugstore brand), Nyx Cosmetics.  

Nyx is affordably priced, and offers great products.  An added bonus is that because it's in the "drugstore" category, I can use my Ulta coupons on the products- yay!

Our collective Nyx Cosmetics Haul

I purchased Nyx items on both of my shopping trips; and wanted to share them with YOU, my lovely readers.  Some items I purchased for myself, and others were ones that Tween Angel wanted.  I'll link the items to Nyx's website, but everything came from Ulta.  When I purchased these items, Nyx was on sale at Ulta- buy 1 get 1 50% off, and then 40% off everything.  Ulta runs sales on Nyx Cosmetics frequently, so feel free to check out some of these awesome finds!

Jumbo Eye Pencils in Yogurt (611) and Milk (604), each 15g, retail $4.50.

I have heard SO many awesome things about these eye pencils, that I HAD to pick them up.  Milk is an internet favorite, and Yogurt is a shimmery nude pink.  

 Swatch of Nyx Jumbo Eye Pencils in Yogurt (left), and Milk (right)

The hype behind the Jumbo Eye Pencils is real- these suckers go on smooth, last all day, and are awesome bases for shadows.  What I'm not sure I like about them, is that the casing is plastic. I haven't had to sharpen them yet, and I assume they can be sharpened like any other eye pencil, but I would rather they have a casing that is wood, or be twist up, as I think the plastic may dull my sharpener.  All in all, I give this one five stars.  LOVE it, and will definitely repurchase in other shades!

Liquid Crystal Liners in Crystal Onyx (102) and Crystal Hip (106), each 5mL, retail $4.50.

I first picked this up in Crystal Hip, because I had been lusting over Urban Decay's Heavy Metal Glitter Liner in Distortion, but couldn't justify the high price tag.  I thought that this looked similar, and I was right!  I seriously love this liner- I can layer it over any other color for INSTANT sparkle.  The Crystal Onyx was a no brainer when I returned to Ulta- This is such a pretty, dark black, with sparkles in it.  

Swatches of Nyx Crystal Liners, Crystal Hip on the left, Crystal Onyx on the right, top is Crystal Hip layered over UD's 24/7 liner in Flipside.

These liners go on smooth, and stay put.  I have a hard time removing this at the end of the night, but I think maybe that's a good thing- it's not going anywhere!  I'm not crazy about the brush, though- it's kind of long and I found that it made it difficult to get a skinny line.  It's possible it was user error, though.

Studio Liquid Liner in Extreme Plum Purple (112), 5.5 mL, retail $4.50

I love me some purple liner.  I loaned out my favorite purple liner pen to a friend, to do some face painting for a party, and they accidentally lost it.  It's not a BIG deal, but I had a hard time finding another liner to replace it with.  Guess what, y'all- I found the replacement!  

Swatch of Nyx Studio Liquid Liner in Extreme Plum Purple

I love this pretty purple, and it goes on smoothly and stays forever. The brush is the same as the Crystal liners, so I'm not crazy about it, but the more I use these brushes, the better I get at ketting a thin line.  For the price, you just can't beat the quality of this liner!  I'll be looking for more shades as I use up what I already have.

AUTO Eyebrow Pencil in Medium Brown (03), 0.25g, retail $4.50

My brows are pretty thick and look nice if I just gently groom them, but I am trying to make them look even better.  I picked this up because it kind of matched my current hair color, but it doesn't match it perfectly.  

Swatch of Nyx Auto Eyebrow Pencil in Medium Brown

I'm still on the search for the right color, but this formula was ok.  I love how the pencil has a mini brush on the end- it does a nice job of shaping my brows.

Tea Tree Blotting Paper, 100 pack, retail $6.00

I love blotting paper. My face gets oily and sweaty, especially in the summer, and blotting sheets help me get rid of the shine while keeping my makeup in place.  The Tea Tree papers are made specifically for oily T-zones and worked great.

KTween Angel wanted a few things, and at the prices I was paying, I was happy to oblige!

Cream Shadow in Razzle Dazzle (03), 2.5g, retail $5.00

KTween LOVES blue eyeshadow.  Actually, she loves shimmery, pretty colors.  She loved this shadow, and was excited to try it out.

Swatch of Nyx Cream Shadow in Razzle Dazzle: top is right out of the tube, bottom is blended

This is such a pretty, shimmery blue.  It's a little bright for what I would wear, but it's perfect for KTween.

Ultra Pearl Mania loose pigments in Jade Pearl (30) and Yellow Gold (17), each 5 ml, retail $3.00

  I received one of these loose pigments in my first Ipsy bag, but the shade was a little dark for me.  KTween really wanted to pick these up because they are her school colors.  

Swatches of Nyx Ultra Pearl Mania in Jade Pearl and Yellow Gold

These little bottles are seriously packed to the top.  They apply nicely, and blend well.  My only complaint is that it will be hard to get the pigments out once they are used a bit, and that there is fallout.

That sums up my awesome Nyx haul!  I really love Nyx Cosmetics, they have great products at very reasonable prices.

So tell me, have YOU tried anything new from Nyx lately?  


Until next time, my lovelies- stay Average!

Disclaimer: I paid for these items with my own my husband's money.  No links in this post are referral links, and all go direct to the company's website.  All opinions are true and my own.  I was not asked nor required to review these items by any manufacturer.

Ipsy (MyGlam) September 2013 Review

It feels weird to not have a Beauty Army post this month, but I didn't have a great selection in my window, so I skipped August.  Now here we are again at Ipsy time! I know I usually post a little more about my life, but honestly, I've been so busy living it, and preparing for my Lash Bash this past week, I haven't had time to write about it!  Here's an update for anyone who is interested (feel free to skip to the next paragraph if you have ZERO interest, it won't hurt my feelings, I promise!): my tween-angel loves middle school, has band every day, joined TWO youth groups and plays volleyball on Tuesdays.  Tiny love is upset that she doesn't go to school, and it finally dawned on her that when she DOES go, I won't be there with her; yes, there was a major freakout.  The weather has taken a cold snap, but is still in the 70's after noon.  Scouts has started again, and of course, it's Fund Raising season (why must school and Scouts have a fund raiser at the EXACT same time, with the EXACT same stuff??!!).  The Hubster is working, as usual, and we all love relaxing at night in the hot tub.  Last night for dinner, we had homemade chicken noodle soup, courtesy of the Hubster (I don't cook.  I bake.  The difference is huge.).

Ok, enough about me and my craziness.  You came here to read all about Ipsy's September bag, right!  Don't know what Ipsy is?  Ipsy is a beauty subscription service that sends you 4-5 full size or deluxe sample sized items for only $10 a month (plus tax in CA, NC and NY, plus $4.95 shipping in Canada).  It's a great deal, and it's so much fun to receive a cute bag of goodies each month.  Upside of Ipsy: you get something new each month, and it's usually a decent variety of items, mostly makeup.  They have contests and a way to review products, to hopefully get more of what you want and less of what you don't want.  Downside of Ipsy: shipping takes forever and it's basically a gamble: they now send so many items, it's the luck of the draw if you get a "good" bag or a "meh" bag.  Even with a "meh" bag, I think Ipsy is worth the $10, and if you want to try them out, please consider using my referral link: I receive points, and you receive my eternal thanks and some good karma.

I love seeing these in my mailbox!

It seemed like shipping took forever this month, and my bag was one of the later ones shipped.  I KNOW I have NO right to complain because I received a Lash Bash this month, but darnit, I really wanted my bag to be timely. Finally, it arrived in my mailbox.

First Look

I love getting that first peek into the pink envelopes.  I want to see what's on top!  

Classic Beauty

The insert card is styled a bit different this month.  It took me a moment to read "Classic Beauty" as the theme.  I love this theme, and was hoping for things to give me a real "Bombshell" look.

The deals

The first thought I had when I flipped over the card was, "Holy cow, that's a LOT of discounts!"  And then I saw brands like Butter London, Jesse's Girl, and Cailyn, and got super excited- I want THESE in my bag!!!

em Michelle Phan

Michelle Phan, the mastermind behind Ipsy, has launched her own cosmetics line.  In this month bag, I received a card promoting her "Life" palette, that retails for $75.  This palette looks to be pretty huge, I don't think it would fit in my train case!  I do like that the pans are removeable and refillable, though, and when you purchase a life palette, you receive an empty travel size palette so that you can take one of the looks with you on the go.  One thing that I DON'T like about this, is that it has cream products (lipstick/gloss) and powder products (eyeshadow/blush) in the same palette, where the powder can get into the cream and make yuckiness.  I'm probably NOT going to buy it at this price, but I will check out the single use sample:

sample of Look 3 from the Career Life palette

This is called "Out to Lunch", and features neutral shadows and a peach cheek color.  If you want to check out this for yourself, you can find it HERE.

September's bag

I seriously LOVE the bag this month, it's a beautiful TARDIS blue, with a butterfly pattern on it.  SO gorgeous!  I couldn't get the color correct in the photos I took, but I am telling you- it's the perfect blue.  The pattern is reminiscent of Sherlock Holmes' walls at 221B Baker Street from Sherlock.  Yes, I'm a geek girl.  What?! I have no idea what use I will put this bag to, but it WILL be used, you can count on that!

Freeman Beauty Feeling Beautiful Facial Paper Masks, set of 3 (Hydrating, Purifying and Brightening), each 15g (single packs), $1.99 each, available HERE.  Discount code IPSYFB will get you a free Dead Sea Minerals Anti-Stress Foaming Bath, with the purchase of the Sweet 16 Sachet Set, until 11/30/13 (US and Canada only).

Skincare for me is either hit or miss. I have weirdly sensitive skin, and it's oily in some areas and uber dry in others.  I was interested to try these masks and see how they worked for me.  I cracked open the Hydrating mask, with blue agave, and gave it a try:

Late night beauty pampering session- does anyone NOT look silly in these things?

It felt really nice on my skin, and smelled appealing.  The eye holes didn't match up perfectly with my eyes, but I could still see.  I was a little worried about getting the serum in my eyes, but it was ok.  The masks are single packs, and once you remove them from the packaging, there is a white liner that is peeled off and discarded.  After wearing the mask for about ten minutes, I peeled it off and massaged the serum into my skin.  I was sticky for a few minutes, but the morning after, my skin felt clean and hydrated (except for one dry patch.  I don't think anything can help that).  The brightening mask has slightly different directions: leave on for 3-5 minutes, and rinse after use.  While this isn't a product I would have requested to try, I am happy to have received it, and would probably repurchase, especially since these are sold at mass market stores.
Grade 4/5

Nyx Eyeshadow single in Cryptonite, full size (2.5g), retail value $4.50, available HERE.  Discount code IPSYPRIME will get you 30% off eyeshadow bases and high definition eye shadow bases, until 10/15/13.  US only (sorry, my international friends!).

I love me some eye shadow.  I think I have a shadow addiction problem, honestly.  I was happy to try out Nyx eyeshadow this month, and was excited to see what shade I would receive.  When I popped this little gem out of my bag, I was a little sad to see the shade, Cryptonite, despite it's awesome name. 

Swatch of Nyx eyeshadow single in Cryptonite

Despite being sceptical when I first saw this, I gave it a try- and LOVED it!  It isn't super pigmented, but is easy to layer, so I was able to get a pretty wash of color in the corner of my eye, to help create a smoky eye effect. Honestly, I thought I would HATE this shade, but after I tried it out, I really liked it! I am still super jealous of the ladies who received a purple or white shadow, as those are what I was hoping to receive; but on the other hand, I'm really glad I didn't get a bright yellow or orange.  I love how Cryptonite is sparkly and shimmery.
Grade: 4/5  

J.Cat Beauty Fantabulous Lipstick in Honeycrisp (FL107), full size (3g), retail value $2.49, available HERE.  Discount code fabipsy will get you 25% off of any purchase, until 10/15/13, US and Canada only.

In my opinion, nude lipsticks don't match the "Classic Beauty" theme that Ipsy has going this month. I would consider a red lip to be part of the "Classic Beauty" that lives in my head.  That being said, I was intrigued to give J. Cat Beauty another try, and for lipsticks at $2.49 each, I wanted to give them a try.  When I saw the shade in person, I was very sceptical:

Swatch of Fantabulous Lipstick in Honeycrisp (FL107)

At first glance, this is just too close to my skintone to be flattering.  The formula itself is super creamy, and not at all drying, but this color does absolutely nothing for me.  I tried it on my lips, and my husband came home for lunch, and immediately asked me what was wrong with my lips!  Honestly, it looks like I put concealer a couple shades too dark on my lips.  I will however, give this a go, and use it to tone down some bright shades of 'stick for a more wearable look.  I also want to say that the first time I used this, my lipstick bullet broke right off of the tube- I didn't have it twisted all the way up, and wasn't pressing overly hard.  I emailed Ipsycare, and they are sending me a replacement.  I was impressed at how fast I heard back from Ipsy, and am happy that they are replacing my defective item (hopefully with a different item?  Ipsy? Do you hear me?).
Grade: 3/5 (great formula, the color is just a miss for me)

Starlooks Kohl Eye Pencil in Obsidian, full size (2.4), retail value $12.00, available HERE.  Discount code IPSY will get you 20% off of a purchase of $35 or more, until 10/15/13, valid worldwide, unlimited uses.

The next item in my beautiful blue bag is the Starlooks Kohl Eye Pencil in the shade Obsidian, a dark black.  Side note: the word Obsidian brings back memories of my dad and me, reading The Far Side comic strips.  One of them was of cavemen, making a promise to each other: Cross my heart, hope to die, stick a sharp piece of obsidian in my eye (because they hadn't invented needles back then.  get it?).  Ah, good times.  Ok, back to the makeup.  I have a TON on eyeliner pencils, but I don't think I have ANY kohl pencils.  My favorite eyeliner is the Urban Decay 24/7 line, and I honestly don't think anything will ever come close to UD's level of awesomeness.  I also don't wear a lot of black eyeliner, but it is definitely a Classic Beauty staple.  

Swatch of Starlooks Kohl eye pencil in Obsidian

This swatched really nice for me, and was very blendable.  Because I have hooded eyes, eye pencils have to have a good sense of permanence, or I get major transfer.  I tried this out for a day, and was surprised by how well it did- no creasing or transfer!  I'll definitely add this to my rotation, to when I feel like using a pencil, and not liquid or gel.  While I was hoping for the liquid liner, this is a nice liner with a good formula, and I am not disappointed.
Grade: 4/5

It's So Big volumizing mascara by Elizabeth Mott, deluxe sample size (4 ml), retail value approx. $7.99, available HERE.  Full size (10 ml) retails for $19.99.  Discount code IPSYBIG will earn you 50% off of your purchase, until 10/30/13.

Mascaras.  We all have a TON.  I currently have THREE open tubes that I try to rotate, although I've been using Benefit's They're Real! the most (my Lash Bash is Saturday- do you blame me??!!)  As THIS mascara has been launched exclusively with Ipsy, I cracked this tube open and give it a try.  The first thing that I noticed is that the brush is different. I don't think I've ever seen a brush with a shape like this- sort of like an hour glass.  I gave this a try, and really, really liked it!  The formula and brush did amazing things to my lashes.  This mascara is super buildable, and I had NO spider eyes, and only minimal raccooning late in the day (SO normal for me).  I will definitely be using this on the regular!
Grade: 5/5

That's all the items in my Ipsy bag, but I DO have one more item to talk about: my REFERRAL BONUS for September!

Ipsy recently revamped their referral program, and instead of getting a gift automatically for every two referrals, now you receive 250 points for each referral, and can redeem gifts for 1000 points.  Instead of getting a gift for each 2 referrals, now you need 4 referrals to earn points to get a free gift.  I saw this gem as a referral bonus option, and snapped it right up, redeeming my points like a champ!

Nyx Bronze Smoky Look Kit, full size (9.4g), retail value $12.00, available HERE.

This super cute little kit comes with 9 brown and bronze eye shadows and 2 lip colors, all in one palette with a mirror, foam applicator (ew!), and dual ended lip brush.  The lip shades and brushes pop out from the bottom and are separated from the powdery shadows- love this design!

Swatches of the Bronze Smoky Look Kit eye shadows

Swatches of the lip colors in the Kit

I love to wear colors on my eyes, but as they are blue, I am trying to do more with neutrals so that my color pops.  I gave this a try, and really liked the look that I created with it.  The shadows blended well, and looked really nice on my face.
Grade: 4.5/5

This sums up what *I* received, but we all know that it doesn't end there.  Ipsy now sends out a HUGE variety of items, and here's what I didn't receive, but other did- with pictures when available (my friends are glammies and we all get different bags!)

Butter London nail lacquer in La Moss, deluxe sample size (0.2 fl oz), retail value $7.50, available HERE.  Full size (0.4 fl oz) retails for $15.  Discount code IPSYbl will get you 30% off any purchase, until 10/31/13, one time use only, US only, and only on full size items.  

Cailyn Cosmetics Tinted Lip Balm in Candy Apple, full size (0.14 oz), retail value $19.00, available HERE.  Discount code IPSY30 will get you 30% off any purchase, until 10/15/13.

Ivory Lace Highlighter Pencil by Cella, full size (1.4g), retail value $18.00, available HERE.  Discount code Chella will earn you 20% off of any order, until 10/16/13, US and Canada only.

Jesse's Girl Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner in black, full size (5 ml), retail value $6.99, available HERE.  Discount code IPSYSEPT2013 will get you 20% off your order, and US orders over $20 free shipping, until 10/15/13.

John Frieda Full Repair Full Body Shampoo, deluxe sample size (44 mL), retail value $1.16, available HERE.  Full size (250 mL) retails for $6.59.  Discount code ISPY will earn you a buy 1, get 1 50% off deal on the Full Repair items, until 10/15/13, US only, full size only.

John Frieda Full Repair Full Body Conditioner, deluxe sample size (44mL), retail value $1.16, available HERE.  Full size (250 mL) retails for $6.59.  Discount code ISPY will earn you a buy 1, get 1 50% off deal on the Full Repair items, until 10/15/13, US only, full size only.

POP Beauty Pouty Pop Crayon in either Rose Romance, Coral Crush or Fuchsia Flirt, full size (0.1 oz), retail value $4.17, available HERE in a set of 6 for $25. Discount code POPpout will get you 20% off any purchase until 10/15/13, US only. (shown here in Coral Crush)

Skyn Iceland Hydro Cool Firming Eye Gels, 2 pairs, retail value $7.50, available HERE.  Full size (8 pairs) retails for $30.00.  Discount code IPSY will get you 20% off any purchase, until 10/15/13, US and Canada only.

Victoria Jackson Brow Pencil in Taupe, full size (0.1 oz), retail value $14.95, available HERE.  Discount code IPSY13 will get you 20% off any purchase OR discount code VJFREE will get you a free foundation duo (just pay shipping), until 10/15/13, US and Canada only, not available in territories.

Ipsy September 2013 Glam Bag

Here's my bag this month- in it's entirety.  Although I still have SERIOUS bag envy, after trying everything in my bag, I really do LIKE the items I was sent.  Pretty much everything will be used- I just really wanted to try other items that I wasn't sent.  Plus the super cute blue bag has the pattern printed is a very attractive way!  

Here's the financial breakdown of this month's Ipsy items:

Items I didn't get:
Butter London nail lacquer (deluxe sample): $7.50
Cailyn Cosmetics Tinted Lip Balm (full size): $19.00
Highlighter Pencil by Cella (full size): $18.00
Jesse's Girl Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner (full size): $6.99
John Frieda Full Body Shampoo (deluxe sample): $1.16
John Frieda Full Body Conditioner (deluxe sample): $1.16
POP Beauty Pouty Pop Crayon (full size): $4.17
Skyn Iceland Hydro Cool Firming Eye Gels, 2 pairs: $7.50
Victoria Jackson Brow Pencil (full size): $14.95

Items I DID receive:
Freeman masks (set of 3): $5.97
Nyx Eyeshadow single (full size): $4.50
J. Cat Beauty Lipstick (full size): $2.49
Starlooks Kohl Eye Pencil (full size): $12.00
Elizabeth Mott mascara (deluxe sample size): $7.99
Nyx Bronze Smoky Look Kit (full size): $12.00
Total value of my Ipsy bag this month: $44.95
Out of pocket, shipping included: $10.00

Ipsy is like the lottery- you can't win every time you play, but it sure is fun!  I'm hoping for a dream bag next month.  This month wasn't a home run, but it was definitely a base hit, or a triple score.  Don't subscribe to Ipsy?  What are you waiting for?  Give them a try- it's the best $10 gamble around!

Tell me, did YOU like your Ipsy bag this month?  What would YOU have liked to receive?

 

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 :)