Ipsy Roundup!! (May+June)

Hey guys! I hope you're all doing well. I missed last month's Ipsy bag, so I thought I would just throw it in with this month's. Better late than never, right? :) Lately, I've been really impressed with the quality of the Ipsy bags- I've started seeing more higher-end products and well-known brands being sampled in them, and that's been super exciting.

We'll go ahead and start with this month's first.

April Ipsy Review!!!

Hello everyone!! I'm back today with a review of my most recent Ipsy glambag. Ipsy is my all time favorite beauty subscription hands down. You get 5 customized products each month for an incredibly reasonable $10! It's an amazing way to boost your makeup collection and discover new brands you haven't heard of before. And you get a cute little makeup bag to boot! 

1) Klorane Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk ($19.50 for a full size)- Dry shampoo is one of those products that I don't use too regularly, but would probably die if I didn't have in my arsenal. I think it's really unique that this one contains oat milk, and with the drought going on in California, I think that this could be a really great product to use between hair washes!

2) theBalm Cosetics Nude Dude Eyeshadow Single in the Shade Flirty ($36 for full palette)- I think it's really awesome that all Ipsy subscribers received a single eyeshadow from the new theBalm palette! It's a really great way to try out a new brand without investing in the full palette, and theBalm is definitely a brand I've been wanting to check out. At first glance, I wasn't too excited about this color, as I thought it was just going to be another gold tone to add to my collection, but I was so wrong. Once swatched, I realized it's lowkey purple- it looks to be a purple/taupe with gold shimmer. It's gorgeous! Very similar to Urban Decay's Dark Horse, but a bit lighter. I think I'm going to get a lot of wear out of it.

3) JulieG Nails CORE Collection Nail Polish in the shade Damsel ($3.99)- Ipsy describes this shade as a "mid-tone pink creme" and that sounds about right. It's a very bright, rosy tone which will be perfect for spring! It reminds me of tulips and I love that.

4) MICA Beauty Eye Primer ($44.95 for a full size)- A full size is double the size that I was sent, which was already so large I will probably never finish it, which is insane. That gives this one product a value of $22. It's nice to have received a matte nude eye shadow primer, especially since I know in the summer I tend to like to stick to mattes and get away from the shimmery shadows!

Hikari Cosmetics blush in the shade Tango ($15)- This is such a pink blush!!! It's almost intimidating to look at it in the packaging, but that was also how I felt about my City Color blush and now it's one of my favorites. And this one isn't quite as scary as that one. Just from swatching it seems like you get a lot of pigmentation, so hopefully I like this one! I've received quite a few blushes from Ipsy recently and haven't been too wowed yet.

And that was it! I feel like this month I got really excellent value in my Ipsy bag- between the blush and the eyeshadow primer alone the bag value was almost 4x what I paid! I honestly just forgot to take a picture of my dry shampoo, and I apologize for that haha! Do you think beauty subscriptions are good value? Let me know in the comments!

Also, don't forget I'm giving away a Naked Basics Palette, a Maybelline Brow Drama, and a L'Oreal highlighter!! Original post is here, but you can enter below!  

Stay beautiful y'all!!

- Whitney

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Huge Ipsy Review!!! February + March!!!

Hey guys! As busy as I was last month, I didn't find a minute to sit down and do my February Ipsy bag post. So, seeing as we're coming up on the end of March, I definitely didn't want to miss out on another month's review! As a result, today I'll be reviewing both bags for you guys. But don't worry- I'll mostly be focusing on this month's products with just a bit about February, to keep this post from getting too long!

I also haven't really altered my beauty routine too much since February, so a lot of these products still have yet to be used. So in a second effort to conserve space, I'll try to keep things really concise and only really talk about the products I've tried :)

We've got a lot of ground to cover today, so let's get into it!

 

1) NYX Butter Lipstick in the shaded BLS05 Hunk ($6)- Looking at the tube, the bullet itself, and the description of this shade online (blue violet) you would assume this lipstick was going to be pretty damn purple. I could literally feel my heart pounding when I twisted up the bullet for the first application- I had been craving a good, vampy purple for the longest time. Imagine my surprise then, when it applied almost totally sheer- leaving me with a good, solid, berry-toned magenta. Not a bad color at all, it's gorgeous- just not what I was expecting. However, the lipstick itself is really creamy, smooth, and moisturizing, and I'm about 100% sure I'll be going into the store to pick up a couple more shades. Especially since magenta isn't really the shade I'm going for this time of year!

 2) Pūr~Lisse Beauty Pūr~Delicate Gentle Soymilk Cleanser & Makeup Remover ($36 for a full size)- I haven't had the chance to try this cleanser just yet (I'm really starting to stock up!!) but as some of you may remember, I received the Pur~Lisse Moisturizer some time last year and used up every last drop, and absolutely loved every second of it. If this cleanser is half as good, I'm in luck!

3) Boo- Boo Cover-up in the shade Medium ($20 for a full size)- Receiving this concealer this month was a literal God send. I have a few concealers, but almost all of them are either too dark for me, or double as highlighters. And while that's usually a good thing, every once in awhile I wake up with these horrendous dark circles the night before an exam, and all I want is a good, matte concealer. It's been a real pleasure using this one so far, it blends easily, is an awesome color match (just a hint too light, which makes me look like I'm alive), and doesn't look cakey or heavy. I love it!

4) Dr. Brandt Pores No More Anti-Aging Mattifying Lotion ($60 for a full size)- I've received one other Dr. Brandt product through Ipsy, and that was his microdermabrasion scrub, which I have yet to go through. However, a lotion is a much easier product to get on with then a scrub, so here's hoping I like it! It is also always nice to get a deluxe size of a high end product.

5) VINTAGE by Jessica Liebeskind Illuminating Face Highlighter (Ipsy Exclusive)- I guess this product was made exclusively for Ipsters and is now sold out! That's a nice thing they've done. It's a very pearlescent dusty pink- and according to the website can either be worn alone as a highlight or over a blush for added shimmer. I haven't tried it yet, but I love the idea! 

And now, just a quick peek into my February Ipsy bag-

1) eva nyc Up All Night Volumizing Spray ($24 for a full size)- Haven't tried it yet, but the reviews are really promising!!

2) Cargo Cosmetics Mini Lip Gloss ($16 for a full size)- This was the worst color match for me that I have ever seen in a lip product ever. I can't even remember anything about the formulation, I was too distracted by the sheer atrocity of baby pink on my normally fairly dark/rose toned lips.

3) Hey Honey- Take It Off! Exfoliating Honey Peel Mask ($29 for a full size)- I haven't given it a try yet, but it's a really interesting concept! I love honey and face masks!

4) Rob Scheppy for 'Tini Beauty Eyeshadow in the shade Pearl Fizz ($12)- This is the most pigmented, pearlescent, light catching inner corner highlight shadow I've ever used. I'm talking, 8 hours later, if I haven't touched my face it's still almost white in the best possible way.

5) ModelCo Blush Cheek Powder in the shade Peach Bellini ($22 for a full size)- Not sure if this shade is available online, or if mine is a full size or not. SUPER SUPER pigmented. A little goes a very long way, but it's absolutely gorgeous used sparingly!

And that is the end of this Ipsy bag Extravaganza! Ipsy is a monthly beauty subscription, and for $10 a month, you receive 5 products (varies from person to person) and they are typically full or deluxe sizes :) If you're interested in Ipsy, click here to check it out! If you are an Ipster or use a different beauty subscription, let me know what you got in the comments! Thank you guys so much for getting through this longer than usual review, I'll talk to you guys very soon :)

Stay beautiful!

- Whit

January Ipsy Bag!!!

Can you believe we're already midway through January? Feels like just yesterday was Christmas. On the bright side, mid-month is typically when my makeup subscriptions come in, and this month was no different! Ipsy is an awesome makeup subscription service, and for $10 a month you get 5 full/deluxe size makeup products in the mail. I'll have a link down below in case anyone is interested! The theme this month was "fresh start", so this month there were several skin care products mixed in as well. :)

1) Pacifica Eye Shadow in the shade Ethereal- This eye shadow is typically only sold as part of a larger palette, but Ipsy subscribers were lucky enough to receive a full size single shadow this month. Ethereal is a slightly shimmery nude color, almost like a very pale champagne. The color payoff is pretty awesome, it looks the same on as it does in the pan. I've tried Pacifica eye shadows before and have quite liked them, and this color is right up my alley, so I think I'm going to quite like it! 

I think the Pacifica packaging is so cute!

2) Elizabeth Mott All Over Shadow Brush ($9.99)- This is probably one of the cutest eye shadow brushes I've ever seen. Some people may be put off by the bright pink, but I adore it!!! I think it's so sweet and bright, and it brings a bit of joy back to my morning when I use it. As far as utility, it's not really anything new or extraordinary, and I do have better brushes in my collection; but it's bright pink and that makes me stupidly happy.

3) Hikari Eye Liner in the shade Storm ($13)- I quite like the design of this eye liner, it's mechanical, and it's really creamy and smooth. My only problem with it is that it's a gunmetal silver. In all honesty, if I had gotten a black shade, it would have been a home run product. And I'm sure there are a ton of people that are pleased to not have received black- but my problem with silver is that it's hard to wear. If you have a way to make silver work for everyday wear be sure to let me know down in the comments, I'd love to hear any ideas!

4) L.A. Fresh Eco-Beauty Good Day. Day Moisturizer ($40 for a full size)- Is it just me, or is L.A. Fresh the brand you can find in hotels? Like, the complimentary makeup wipes? Well, regardless, I was excited to receive a deluxe size of their moisturizer, especially as my Pur moisturizer is about to run out. I'll keep you guys posted on how I get on with it! I really enjoyed the fact they included a screw cap, I feel like so often when you receive these sample sizes in the squeeze tube, you can only get one use out of them because they get so gross so quickly.

5) Probelle Nail Lacquer in the shade Into the Blue ($6)- At first, when I saw I'd be receiving this I wasn't excited, because I felt like I wasn't going to get a lot of wear out of this color, but honestly? Let me tell you, when I saw it in real life, I was astonished at how stunning it was in the bottle. It is the prettiest, creamiest sky blue I've ever seen. I'm going to actually paint my nails with it when I wrap up this post, and if things go right, I'll hopefully be rocking it for a while!

And that was it! This month there was a lot of variety in the products and I quite liked that :) If you're interested in checking out Ipsy, you can check it out here! In all honesty, I love Ipsy, I recommend it to all my friends, just because I think it's an amazing way to try new products while also saving money you'd spend on makeup otherwise. I hope you guys enjoyed this post and I'll definitely be talking to you soon!

Stay beautiful!!!

- Whit

December Ipsy Review!

Hey guys! I've been slacking, my Ipsy bag arrived a few days ago, and I'm just now getting around to posting about it. Ipsy is a monthly beauty subscription, and for $10 a month, you receive 5 deluxe/ full size beauty products and a customized for Ipsy makeup bag :) I'll have a link down below if you're interested. So, without further ado, let's get into it!

Look at that Glossybox spoiler!

1) Cailyn Cosmetics Just Mineral Eye Polish in the shade Orchid ($15)- This eyeshadow is freaking gorgeous! I've worn it everyday since I've gotten it. It's the prettiest champagne color, and the staying power is awesome as well. Typically the problem with mineral makeup is that it gets everywhere, but the little sponge tip applicator that comes with the eyeshadow completely eliminates that problem. I like to just sponge a bit on, and then blend it out (and it blends out so nicely!). I'm definitely a fan. 

2) Beauty Without Cruelty A.H.A 3% Facial Cleanser ($2.99)-  I haven't had a chance to try this cleanser out yet, but cleanser is one of those products that I don't mind stocking up on!

3) NYX Butter Lip Balm in the shade Marshmallow ($4)- The lip balm version of the iconic butter glosses! Marshmallow is the pure nude shade, so I truly can't complain, and the formulation is awesome. I have seen the colored ones as well, and they are also lovely!

4) Style Sexy Hair 450 Blow Out Heat Defense Blow Dry Spray ($18.95 for a full size)- Normally I wouldn't be excited about a Blow Dry Spray, but because it is the one time of the year I tend to blow dry my hair, the timing can't couldn't be better! I'll keep you posted on how I get on with this, but I love the Healthy Sexy Hair line, so I have high hopes!

5) Deluxe Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes Mascara ($10)- A tried and trued fave! I love Tarte, and it's always nice to see high end products in these bags. I've tried the waterproof version of this mascara, so I'm sure I'll love the non-waterproof original!

 And that was it for this month! This bag marks my one year anniversary with Ipsy :) It's been an awesome year and I've gotten some really amazing products out of Ipsy, so if you're thinking about getting it, I'd definitely recommend it! Here is a link if you are interested :) 

I'll talk to you guys real soon, stay beautiful!!!

- Whit

November Ipsy Bag Review!!!

The thing that I probably love most about the Ipsy bag is that without fail, every month, I get new makeup in the mail. In the long run, it saves me so much time (and money!) because I don't end up going to the drugstore and hauling to curb my cravings. And with every bag you review the products you get, so they end up becoming more and more customized to your preferences; and let me tell you, this month's bag was phenomenal!!! Ipsy got it exactly right for me and I'm really excited to share with you guys what I got! If you are at all interested in checking out Ipsy, I'll have a link down below!

1) Be a Bombshell Cosmetics Eye Base in the Color Submissive ($14)- I was really stoked to receive this in my bag this month seeing as my Maybelline Bad to the Bronze cream shadow has been much loved in the last month and a half! This product is a base though- so although the website describes it as an "intense creamy bronze with gold shimmer" I definitely thought it wasn't intense, and it actually went on pretty sheer. But it makes for a beautiful base, and definitely an effective one as well- today I wore it with one of the colors from the Maybelline Nudes palette (which doesn't give the best color payoff) and was astonished at how vibrant and long wearing my eyeshadow was!!

2) Be Delectable by cake beauty Strawberries & Cream Mini Hand Cream ($5.50)- This is a good, thick hand cream, and I really like that. I love having mini hand creams that can fit right in my purse! This hand cream is very fragrant though, and has that classic strawberries and cream hard candy kind of scent, so it can to be a little too much for me after awhile. But I like having this by my bed side, because it's really nourishing and when I'm asleep the scent doesn't both me one bit!

3) GlamGlow PowerMud Dual Cleanse Treatment (deluze size~ $20.7, full size = $69)- Half of me doesn't even believe that math I just did, because that is one HELL of a value!! This product could not have come for me at a better time- I've been all kinds of stressed out and have started breaking out in these horrible, angry red splotches and bumps. Used this mask the day I got it, and I've got to say it really cleared up the bumps, and left my skin feeling very clean! It did only last a few days, but I think that has more to do with my personal life and less to do with the product. I'll keep you guys posted though on how I get on with this!

4) J. Cat Wonder Lip Paint in the color Mad Splatter ($4.99)- They didn't have this shade online for some reason, so I've linked to the other shade Ipsy offered. First of all, I LOVE the Alice in Wonderland names for the different shades, it's too cute!! I haven't tried this out yet but it looks very similar to the Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Lip Tar, so hopefully this turns out to be a great dupe! 

5) Starlooks Gem Eye Pencil in the shade Ultra Orchid ($17)- I had no idea I needed a deep purple eyeliner until this one showed up in my life. There's just something about the idea of rocking a royal purple on my waterline that gets me all kinds of fired up! I was slightly put off by the fact it is a pencil eyeliner (which was in the name Whitney, come on now), but I mean that in the sense that it's closer to a graphite than a kohl in consistency... does that make sense? Maybe I'm just spoiled by the Urban Decay glide-on-pencils. High hopes for this product, for sure!

 I really thought Ipsy knocked it out of the park this time! The value of this bag was also awesome, 3/5 products were full size, and two were deluxe. The estimated value of my bag this month was $62.19... which is INSANE since I paid $10 for it! It's always awesome when Ipsy features higher end brands like glamglow, it just drives up the value. Anyways, I really am impressed with my bag this month, and if any of you guys are ipsters, I'd love to know what you guys thought of your bags! Let me know!

And here's a link if you'd like to check out Ipsy!

Stay beautiful!!

- Whit

October Ipsy Bag Reveal!!

I've got my favorite candle of the moment burning (Gardenia Lily!) and I'm ready to do one of my favorite posts of the month... My Ipsy bag reveal!!

the bag: Ipsy

cost: $10/ month

contents: full size/ deluxe size makeup products

I'll have a referral link down below if you're interested in checking it out :)

First product- the Doll 10 H2Glo Highlighter in the color Champagne (Full Size $30, received just under a half size for a value of $13.50): I'm So excited to have a cream highlighter!!! Ever since I've fallen back in love with cream blush, I've felt it's about time to hop on that cream highlighter bandwagon, so imagine my joy at receiving this product in my bag this month! The packaging is so sleek and classy, and the product just looks gorgeous inside. Pray that I love this, because I was looking online and they have this product in a rose gold shade, and I'm not sure I can imagine something more gorgeous!!

Skyn Iceland Glacial Cleansing Cloths (Full size for $15, received 1/3 size for a value of ~$5): Face wipes are a basic necessity in life. I can tell these are going to have a really crisp, clean kind of scent to them, and the travel size is going to be perfect for when I head to Philly in November. Definitely no complaints here!!!

City Color Be Matte Lipstick in the shade Cappuccino ($5): When they say matte, they aren't kidding! No shimmer or sparkle to be found here. Still, the lipstick is a very pretty, dusty rose kind of color :) My mom's eyes practically bugged out when she saw it, it's so pretty. She (very cutely, I might add) asked if she could have it, and so, of course, I handed it over. This woman gave me life! My mom is the kind of person that really loves a product to death, too, like the Nars lipstick I gave her back in June is VERY well loved, so I know this lipstick is going to find a nice home in her makeup collection!

Figs & Rouge Mango & Mandarin Shea Butter Hand Cream ($6.56): This stuff smells absolutely amazing!!!! It literally smells like a mango popsicle or like a mango smoothie from Jack in the Box. SO GOOD. The packaging is so cute and bright, and it's the perfect size to throw in a purse or backpack for after washing your hands. And around this time of year, my hands are always dry, so I can tell this product is going to be a godsend for me!!

Volumeyes Extreme Black Mascara ($20): This may potentially be a full size product, I just can't be sure. But let me just say this: I. AM. A. MASCARA. JUNKIE!!!! If I received a new mascara in every Ipsy bag, I'd be a happy camper. I've yet to receive a bad one, so we'll see how I like this one :) The brush shape looks very promising, and I'm definitely here for that jet black.

NYX Bronze Smokey Look Kit ($12): I received this extra in my Ipsy bag this month as I had accumulated 1000 points. You get points for reviewing products and the such :) I think this is going to be the perfect little palette for traveling, it's got 9 gorgeous neutrals in (a mixture of matte and shimmery shadows) and then two lip glosses. I'm really not too crazy about the bronze lip gloss, but the consistency is creamy enough it could work well for a base while traveling, so in that case I'll still get a lot of use out of it! And really, can't get enough of that NYX packaging. 

And lastly, the bag itself this month was a very cute teal, quilted pattern, which I will also be giving to my mother so she can carry her makeup around in it :) Went along well with this month's theme of beautycandy. 

So this month's approximate value comes out to be $50.06, without the NYX kit. Can you believe that? I paid 1/5 of that price!!! Do you get ipsy? How'd you like your bag this month? :)

And here's a referral link if you're interested in checking out Ipsy!!