Ipsy (MyGlam) December 2012 Review

Hello everyone!

I have recently decided to get back to basics and begin taking better care of myself; including taking care of my skin, nails, hair, and doing my makeup a bit more often.  To help me pamper myself more, one of the things I decided to do was try a monthly subscription to Ipsy (myGlam).  Ipsy is a mail order program, sending out 4-5 deluxe or full size samples of beauty products each month, for $10 (shipping included).
Going into things like this always make me skeptical, I spent way too many years in the 90's trying to get out of CD/VHS/DVD/Book clubs that ship monthly and bill you way too much money.  Ipsy is NOT like these other services, especially since you can cancel at time, and there is a whole community of other beauty fans to post looks or videos, and give reviews and tips on how to use the products sent out monthy.  As I scrolled through the past bags' contents; I got a bit upset that I had never heard of this program before! I was very excited to see what would be in my very first bag!
Mid-December rolled around (as Ipsy ships around the middle of each month), and I received an e-mail with my tracking number!  I was so excited; and couldn't wait for my first bag!  A couple days later, in my mailbox was a bright pink bubble mailer, full of awesome goodies for me to use!- Including coupon codes in case I wanted to order more from the manufacturers!

 

From left to right: Urban Decay 24/7 Eye pencil in Zero, Nyx Loose Pearl Eye Shadow in Walnut Pearl, Be A Bombshell Lip Gloss in Hot Mess, Mirabella face and eye primer, Grey Ipsy makeup bag on top.  (missing from this picture is the Mai Couture highlighting papiers)

 

 Mirabella Prime for Face and Eyes.  .45 US oz. $29 retail 

(available at Mirabella; coupon code ipsy will get you 30% off any purchase until 1/31/13)

The first item I will review is the Mirabella Prime for face and eyes.  This is a full size product, and retails for $29. When I first went to use this, it seemed really wet, but once I shook the tube up, it went on well.  I have only used this for my eyes and not my face (I have combination/oily skin), and it makes my lids silky smooth and ready to hold on to my eyeshadow all day! Grade: 4/5

 Be A Bombshell Lipgloss in Hot Mess  .11 US oz. $14 retail

(available at Be A Bombshell Cosmetics; coupon code ipsy30 will get you 30% off any purchase until 1/31/13)

Next up is the Be A Bombshell Lip gloss in Hot Mess.  This is another full size product, and one of my favorites in this bag.  I forgot to swatch the color, so my apologies, but what I love about this gloss is that it starts out a pretty pink, and then layers to a great red lip.  I don't normally do a bold lip, but I absolutely LOVE this color, and Hot Mess definitely is a great term to descrive the Only Average Mom! Grade: 5/5

 

Nyx Ultra Pearl Mania Loose Shadow in Walnut Pearl .06 US oz. $3

(available at Nyx Cosmetics; coupon code ipsydust will get you 30% off any loose pearl shadow until 2/1/13) 

Yet another full sized product:loose eyeshadow from Nyx!  I hated the container that this came in (I couldn't get my brush in it, so I felt like I was wasting product by dumping it out on a tissue or in the lid), so this is my own container, a stackable set of three I purchased from Harris Teeters.  I think I threw away the original container, sorry!! As you can see by the swatch on my arm, this color is a bit dark for me, but it blends out very well and goes on very smoothly.  You have to expect a bit of fallout with a loose shadow, and this shadow does leave a bit of fallout, but nothing more than you would expect.  I like to pair this with a bright color and kind of smoke it out.  Grade: 4.5/5.

 Urban Decay 24/7 Eye Pencil in Zero .03 US oz $14.25

(available at Urban Decay; coupon code ipsy will get you a deluxe travel bag filled with luxury samples with any $25 or more purchase)

 Swatch of the pencil; this is two swipes.

This was, by and large my favorite item in my bag. The pencil is ALMOST full size (.03 oz vs. .04 oz), and sharpens really well.  I LOVED this eyeliner- it went on smooth and creamy, and I was able to smudge it easily, and yet it stays on all day.  It is really pigmented, and I honestly did not need to reapply it at all during the day.  Grade: 5/5

NOT PICTURED:

Mai Couture Highlighter Papier 25 sheets in a pack. $14

(available at Mai Couture; coupon code ipsy1212 will get you 20% off any purchase until 1/15/13) 

The Mai Couture Highlighter Papiers were a half size packet (25 sheets vs. 50), so this was a HUGE sample in my opinion. I wouldn't call this product a fail, but the coloring just wasn't right for me, and it was for my mom.  So I gave it to her.  The papiers were a good size, and held lots of product to use, and went on very easily.  The color match just didn't work for me, as I am super pale, and shimmery highlighter with an orangey base color just doesn't work.  Quality product, and i would absolutely recommend this, just for someone with different coloring than me (milk white). Grade: 3/5  

The ipsy bag and it's lining.

The bag everything came in was super cute, too!  It would definitely hold a night's worth of must haves!

Overall, I was very please with everything I received in my bag, that I spent $10 on.  Including shipping. Definitely not average!  I'm glad that THIS Average Mom decided to try this service out, and I can't wait to see what January's bag will bring me.

Recap: $10 out of pocket, shipping included
Retail value: $74.25, makeup bag not included.  Plus a bunch of coupon codes to get further discounts.  I think my title of discount diva/coupon queen of Southern Sussex is secure :)
But then again, I AM Only Average.

If you would like to give Ipsy a try, head over to their site, Ipsy!  Leave a comment letting me know how you like my review, and if you would like to see more beauty reviews!
If you do subscribe to Ipsy, leave me a comment and let me know how you feel about this service.  Do you think it's worth it?  Anything you disagree with me on?  Let me know!
Are there any products you would like to see a review for, or service you would like reviewed?  Let me know, and I would be happy to do it for you!


Disclaimer: This review is solely my opinion, on a product I paid for out of my own pockets.  I have not been compensated for this opinion in any way, and is my honest thoughts on the products listed above.

Thanks for reading!    

Rock the Vote

This is just a reminder that it's election day today, and everyone needs to get out and vote!

Too many people have fought and died for your right to vote. 

Vote for you, vote for me, vote for Mickey Mouse, Obama, or Romney. I really don't care who you vote for, but exercise your right to do so today! 

Even if you live in a tiny little state like Delaware, where you think your vote doesn't count. Even if you live in a county where your candidate can have a strong win in your county, and still lose the state because of stupid rules; please vote today.

Please enjoy the video below, that reminds us all about the fight for women's suffrage.  

Again, sorry for the "no posts in forever"- instead of chronicling my life, I've been busy out living it!

Stop Bullying

I know I haven't posted in a very long time, and I apologize for all two of you who read this.  It isn't for lack of things to say, just lack of time.

But today, I am going to make time.

The world has lost another amazing girl this week, due to bullying.  Another young high school student was driven to a depression so deep that she felt the only way out was to kill herself.  She was made to feel this way by her peers.

I didn't know this girl, but I relate to her.

I suffer from depression and anxiety.  Because my problems didn't manifest fully until well after High School, I consider myself lucky.  There were bullies when I grew up.  There are bullies in my child's elementary school, even if the administration doesn't want to admit it.

I was bullied.

I wasn't bullied harshly or much more than other kids; the bottom line is I wasn't popular in High School to be a major target for bullying.  I was cyber bullied before people even had a name for it.  

I was one of the lucky ones who witnessed "the birth of the internet", and played on local bulletin boards was new and exciting.  There was a kid on one of these sites who made it their job to follow me around, game to game, chat room to chat room, and tried to make my life a living hell.  I didn't let it get to me though- I told others about it and eventually had the kid banned.  I had forgotten about this whole experience until recently, when the teenage suicide rate because of bullying began to blow through the roof.

I share my experience not because it traumatized me, but to remind people who are being bullied that they are not alone.  If you are being bullied, TELL SOMEONE!  Share with a parent, teacher, or trusted adult what you are going through.  It won't make other kids hate you.  It won't make you even less popular than you already feel that you are.  

It will make the bullying stop.

Don't spend your life trying to impress others.  Be yourself.  Be awesome.  Don't worry about what those popular skanks think- High School will be the high point in their lives and they will spend the rest of theirs trying to relive the short four years where they felt special.  You have the rest of your lives to be special, and you will be amazing.

I promise.

So today, my children and I have written LOVE on our arms, to remember a young girl who thought she had no way out.  

To remind others that they are NOT alone.

To remind everyone that they ARE loved, and that they have choices.

My hope for my daughters is that by the time they reach high school, cyberbullying will be put to an end. 

My two beautiful daughters, with Love on their arms.

My hope is that when someone notices that my daughter has the word "love" on her arm, that people will ask her why.  

And that she will tell them exactly why.

There are lots of websites out there who support the anti-bullying movement, I just wanted to write a post to mourn the loss of one young girl who might have changed the world, had others left her alone.  

She has changed me.

Check out To Write Love on Her Arms, which supports those suffering from depression for any reason.

  To Write Love On Her Arms

Join a local movement to stop bullying now.

Remember those who have been driven to desperate acts by their peers.

Write LOVE on your arm, to remind yourself and others.

Join this humble blogger in raising awareness.

Comments, thoughts? Leave them here.

Thanks for reading.

Couponing With A Vengance

Hello, My name is Jamie and I am a Coupon-o-holic.

No, seriously, I am.

Coupons aren't just for the crazy people on Extreme Coupons- anyone can be a Coupon Queen.

All you have to do is buy a Sunday paper. Or steal one from that neighbor you don't like. Either way, really. Personally, we but our papers, but hey, no judgement here!

We buy like 6 each Sunday- we like the Washington Post, Balitmore Sun, and Sunday News Journal (local-ish paper).  I try to get 2 of each.

You don't have to buy tons of papers to coupon, you can do it with just one.  To get the best deals, sometimes you need more than one of a coupon, but starting small is NOT a bad thing!

Then just start clipping, and sort them in any way you like- I prefer a binder, myself, but hey, shoebox and rubber bands?  Little Coupon File from the Dollar Tree? Paperclip and an envelope?  All also valid.

I choose to check out a couple of couponing websites each week to see what they feel are the best deals in my area.  These are free to use and are mostly accurate.

The one big thing to remember with coupons is that you can't expect to be like the people on Extreme Coupons overnight- you have to shop the deals, be patient, and remember that the huge hauls that these people do on the show aren't a weekly thing- they film the best possible deal at the store on the right week when the best sale is going on!  Shop for what you will use, or what the store will PAY you to take home (that really does happen, but only if your store will let you apply any coupon overages to your purchase), or what they will GIVE you for FREE, for the coupon.  Your stockpile stash will fill up before you know it, a little at a time.

Case in point:

This week's coupon haul:

Family Dollar (really.  I know you have one too!)

Coupons used:

$1 off any 1 Cover Girl Item

$2.50 off any 2 Cover Girl Items

Items purchased:
(All Cover Girl Queen Brand)
Toe Separators (for pedicures) 3 $1 each
5" Sapphire Nail File (the metal one) 2 $1 each
Pumice Stones 3 $1.50 each
Salon Style Emery Boards (the big ones), 2 pk, 2 $1.50 each
Slant tip tweezers 1 $1
Point tip tweezers 1 $1
Nail Clippers 1 $1
Reg. Emery Boards, 10 pk, 2 $1 each
Total before coupons for ALL of this...$17.50
Coupons- 4 of the $2.50 off 2- $10.00 off
Coupons- 7 of the $1 off 1- $7.00 off
Final Price: FIFTY CENTS for all that stuff.
Now here is where I made a rookie mistake- I kind of went crazy when I saw the full display of nail stuff, and I grabbed a $1.50 item (pumice stone) instead of a $1 item (more files maybe).  If I hadn't have grabbed the wrong one, my total price would have been FREE!!!

What, don't believe me?

Alright.  Here's a picture of my purchase :)

What will I do with it all, you ask?

Some I'll use.

Some I will give away.

Some things will go into my birthday party box, to make presents for the little girls who invite Katie to their party.- Just add some nail polish, and put it in a cute basket.

Not bad for fifty cents, huh? Hey, I could have done it for free.  But I'm not a Superior Mom, I'm an Only Average Mom.

I will try to put up weekly something cool I couponed for free or almost free.

So, do you coupon?  Get any good deals lately?

leave a comment, let me know!