glam bag

December Ipsy 2014

/ caitlinemccann / 1 Comment

The last ipsy bag of 2014 is here! Sorry for the delay in the review. With the holidays and all, reviews have gotten backlogged. But I’m in the midst of catching up, so let’s get into it!

December Ipsy Bag

December Ipsy Bag

The bag is OK, but I like the little detachable ipsy heart zipper pull. What I’m really happy with is the card. I was getting sick of seeing the ipsy stylists on every card. Especially because ipsy’s cards never have any product information on them. I’d love to get a frame for this and hang this ipsy card on my wall since it’s an inspiring sentiment.

At first I wasn’t all that excited for this bag, but as I used the products I realized this is actually a really great bag from ipsy. Maybe one of the better bags I’ve had in months.

Nourish Organic Renewing Eye Cream (*full size* $20+)

Before I get into the description I have some explaining to do on why this is a full-sized product. 1) This product won’t officially be released on the Nourish Organic website until some time later this month 2) Because of this I’m not 100% sure what the price will be, but everything in their facial line is $20 or over, so that’s where I’m pulling price from. Hopefully I can edit this post when the official price is revealed. 3) This sample is the exact size as what a full size will be (.5 fl oz) but does not have the cooling applicator tip, so the value of this sample will be slightly less than whatever the regular product is priced at.

As for the eye cream itself, it’s a nice moisturizing treatment for under-eyes. As with most eye creams, a little bit goes a long way. This sample will last me a good long while. Nourish Organic products are all USDA organic certified and cruelty free too, which is always nice to see in a product. The primary ingredients listed on this sample are avocado oil, argan oil, and shea butter. My only issue with this product is that I smell like a salad after one use; it’s just that faint avocado smell.

Would I buy it? Probably not because of the smell. But if that doesn’t bother you, go for it! It’s a great little eye cream otherwise.

NYX Butter Lip Balm in the shade Marshmallow (*full size* $4)

Always a fan of NYX products. I have one of these already in the shade Parfait, so I was grateful not to get an accidental duplicate. I would say these balms are not quite as moisturizing as the Butter Lip Glosses, but they are fun little balms to carry around in your bag. I’m particularly fond of this Marshmallow shade because it does not have much color payoff. I know, that’s not a typical response, but this shade is great for applying before any lipstick to give your lips a bit of a hydration boost.

Would I buy it? Maybe. Since I now have two I can’t see myself running out anytime soon, but I might if I ever did hit pan.

Pixi by Petra Fairy Dust in shade Brightening Bare (*full size* $15.39)

If you click the link on ipsy’s website, which takes you to the Pixi site, the cost of this product is £10.00. Using a currency converter this product would retail for $15.39 in USD. I quite enjoy this loose pigment though. The shade–Brightening Bare–is a perfect base color for a simple eye look or adds a bit of pop if you wanted to dab it in the center of your lid. The applicator is a small pointed sponge tip, but a much better quality sponge tip than your typical drugstore applicators; this one is more dense which makes it easier to pack the color onto your lids. There is a risk of fallout while you’re applying the pigment but nothing that cannot be lightly swept away by a fan brush or a pinky finger.

Would I buy it? Yes. It’s a nice pigment that doesn’t make my lids look crepey. Calling that a win-win.

450° Blow Out Heat Defense Blow Dry Spray Mini by Sexy Hair (sample size $7.67)

Normally, I am not a fan of receiving hair spray of any kind in subscription boxes because I do next to nothing with my stick straight blonde hair. This heat defense spray gets a pass. I don’t blow dry my hair often but when I do, I worry about heat damage. So far I’ve only used this spray once: lightly spritzing it over my hair, brushing through, and then blowing my hair dry. I’ve found that my hair has a nice shine to it with this spray and, at least with that one use, I did not experience any damage to my hair. A full size Blow Out spray costs $18.95.

Would I buy it? Possibly. Like I said, I don’t use these sorts of products often. But so far I like the results.

Tarte’s Lights, Camera, Lashes 4-in-1 Mascara (sample size $8.30)

Every ipster got a deluxe sample of Tarte’s famed mascara this month, which is really the most exciting part of this bag! Over the holidays, I traveled with this mascara and really enjoyed the formula. I love a good sample size mascara since these are the kinds of products that always dry out before you can properly use them up. The Lights, Camera, Lashes formula gives me fuller, longer looking lashes that enhance my natural curl. I’d say it’s a happy medium between natural looking lashes and falsies. Very impressed with this mascara.

Would I buy it? Yes. The full size is $20, but I could see myself saving up for this. One of the best high-end mascaras I’ve ever tried.

All in all, this is one of the better ipsy bags I have had since starting in April. Ipsy costs $10 a month and the value for December’s glambag is roughly $55.36. I say roughly this time since I’m not 100% sure on the eye cream price and the price of the Pixi product could shift with currency values.

In any event, that is a great value for a $10 a month subscription service! Three full size beauty products and quality brands to boot! If you’d like to give ipsy a shot you can click my referral link here or go investigate my referral links page.

Thanks for popping in!

November Ipsy Bag 2014

/ caitlinemccann / Leave a comment

When I opened my GlamRoom this month, I was a touch disappointed. I just wasn’t that excited about many of my products in my November ipsy bag.  Some of these products were able to change my mind a bit, but others were total failures. After trying these products for a few weeks, here are my first impressions.

Do all girls like glitter? Highly debatable.

Do all girls like glitter? Highly debatable.

Not that big of a fan of the bag this month. It looks like the kind of thing that I used to receive as a young girl that would be filled with lip smackers. Not that those were bad days, but it’s not my style anymore. Oddly enough this bag was designed by Forever 21, which makes the disappointment more intense since I generally enjoy Forever 21 as a brand.

Be a Bombshell Eye Base in Submissive (*full size* $14)

This is one of the products I wasn’t excited about, but was sort of able to change my mind. Ipsy seems to have a Be a Bombshell product in their bags every month. I don’t always get the featured item, but some brand variety would be nice, which is part of why I wasn’t excited.

The color of the eye base is pretty: a light shimmery brown that builds up slightly. Submissive is a good one-shade look or a nice base for a brown-toned eye look, but it is not necessarily doing its job as a base. The formula is similar to Maybelline’s Color Tattoos or elf’s smudge pots, but Submissive does not have the staying power of either of these products. You need primer for this product to stay put, otherwise it will crease or smear. So while I can make it work for me, I would not purchase this again based on my sample experience.

Wonder Lip Paint by J. Cat Beauty in the shade Red Potion (*full size* $4.99)

Each of these little lip paints has a Wonderland theme. And on the J Cat website there seem to be a wide variety of colors. They definitely look like the famed OCC Lip Tars, but this product does not come with a lip brush. I’m lukewarm about this product. I enjoy the minty smell of the lip paint, unfortunately it’s not a smell that stays around. Red Potion is a really dark shade in the tube and can be built up to a deep berry or can read lighter depending on your application: I found this out the hard way.

My first attempt at using this was a disaster. I put a stain on underneath thinking that if the lip paint faded poorly, at least I’d have the stain, which turned out to be very useful. I applied a thick coat Red Potion with a lip brush and the color looked like crusted blood caked onto my lips. On top of that it faded patchy and stuck to any rough spots on my lips. I decided to be brave and give it a second go and the results were a bit better.

Attempt number two.

Attempt number two.

First of all, I used Laura Gellar’s Lip Spackle as a base, which seemed to make a big difference. Then, more importantly I applied the product with my finger and only used a dot of product as big as a grain of rice. This fully covered my lips and the shade came off more like a deep pink. There was less slipping and sliding with less product too. After a few hours there was fading but it looked much less patchy. I’m still not enamoured with this product, but I’m less mad at it. If you’d like to give the lip paints a shot you can get 25% off with code 25JCAT at checkout on their website.

Oil of Morocco Argan Oil Volume Shine Hairspray by Marc Anthony (sample value $1.38)

If someone were to use hairspray regularly, this product would be very exciting to receive and would likely be an ideal travel size item. I, however, do not typically use hairspray and have not cracked this thing open. I’m sure it’s lovely, but this does nothing for me. My hair is very fine and I tend not to do much to it, so there’s no call to use a lot of hairspray in my life. There’s nothing wrong with this, it’s just not for me. So it’s a bit of a letdown. A full size of this product (9 fl oz.) should run you about $8.29 at Walgreens. There was also no discount code for this product.

Starlooks Gem Eye pencil in Ultra Orchid (*full size* $17.00)

This was honestly the worst product in my bag. Which is surprising because Starlooks is a well-respected brand in the beauty world. When I went to swatch this product on my hand, the tip crumbled and fell off. When I went to use this product on my lid, the eyeliner crumbled further. I appreciate creaminess in my beauty products but not the point where they become unusable.

When I got this product onto my lids I was further disappointed. The beautiful, sparkly purple is so freaking creamy that it fails completely as an eyeliner. It smudges and slips even with primed lids. So all its prettiness is wasted. This is easily one of the most maddening products I’ve ever received in a subscription service. I certainly won’t be using this code, but if you’d like 20% off Starlooks use the code IPSY at checkout on their website.

TEMPTU Highlighter in Pink Pearl (sample value $2.75)

Of all the products in my ipsy bag this month, I would say this is the single product that fully won me over. I had never heard of TEMPTU before, but apparently their highlighters are well rated by makeup artists. I don’t use highlighters overmuch, but I think they’re fun to play with now and again. The Pink Pearl shade has a mother of pearl quality to it–the shifting accents of yellow, blue, pink, etc. The formula is slightly watery, which translates to a very subtle look on the sheeks. It’s not shimmery in the usual sense, but it catches the light in a way that makes your skin seem like it glows natuarally. A full size highlighter would run you $27.50 for 1 fl oz, so I don’t think I’ll be purchasing this one. But since it doesn’t take much to give my cheeks a pearlescent glow, I’ll still enjoy this product for a while. If you’d like a TEMPTU highlighter of your very own, use code IPSY at checkout for 25%.

From the top down: TEMPTU highlighter in Pink Pearl, Starlooks Ultra Orchid, Be a Bombshell in Submissive, and J Cat Red Potion.

From the top down: TEMPTU highlighter in Pink Pearl, Starlooks Ultra Orchid, Be a Bombshell in Submissive, and J Cat Red Potion.

You can see with this picture how easily the Starlooks liner smears as well as what a difference it makes blending out Red Potion.

On paper, I should have adored this bag: three full size products from reliable brands with a total November bag value of $40.12. But the quality of the products and how they work for me was just not present in this month’s bag.

I’m really disappointed in this month’s ipsy, and am hoping for a better bag next month.

Thanks for popping in!

October Ipsy Bag 2014

/ caitlinemccann / Leave a comment

Ipsy time come-th! When I first saw the contents of my Glam-Room I was not all that excited. But after trying these products in the last week, I got excited. Here are my first impressions on all these ipsy goodies.

This month’s theme was Beauty Candy, which sounds amazing right? Except for the life of me I cannot connect candy to any of the sights, smells, or concepts behind any of these products. Which kind of drives me nuts. Usually ipsy’s themes are spot on and the products fit perfectly with the bag and theme. I know it’s a little thing when the products themselves are good, but Beauty Candy is a really cool concept that just got wasted on bag contents that didn’t match. Rant over!

IMG_2824

I really like the bag this month. After several meh bags, this teal vinyl bag will likely have a long run in my purse. It’s brightly colored and easy to see in the dark depths of my purse and so far has been rather durable.

On to the products!

Ayres Patagonia Body Butter (sample value $4.15)

The primary notes in this scented body butter are jasmine and rosemary. At first, I thought the rosemary would be too overpowering and might make me smell like a biscuit. But the jasmine-rosemary combo smells kind of alluring.  And the scent lasts for several hours, which for me is a good thing. Beyond the scent, this body butter is great. I’ve been using it primarily as a hand cream because the sample is only 1 fl oz, but my hands feel supple and silky to the touch. This body butter is also cruelty free and paraben free. Huzzah! A full size 6.75 oz jar of this body butter costs $28.00. For that price, I’m not sure if I’d purchase a full size (maybe one day if I’d like to splurge?) but I’m really enjoying this little sample. If you’d like 25% off your Ayres purchase, use the code AYRESIPSY at checkout on their website.

Indie Lee Brightening Cleanser (sample value $4.00)

This product has slowly won me over. Right as my ipsy bag arrived I ran out of my drugstore cleanser. Coincidentally, I have a full size of this stashed in my bathroom cabinet from a PopSugar box, but I hadn’t tried it yet because of the aforementioned cleanser. So I switched over to the Indie Lee Brightening Cleanser. I’m on my way to becoming a fan. This cleanser is so light and gets a little bit of a lather going when you rub it on your wet face, and leaves your skin feeling soft and smooth after. This product is also safe to use on your eyes as one of the recommended uses is for eye-makeup removal. You can supposedly leave this cleanser on for 5-15 minutes and use it as an exfoliating mask because of the strawberry extract acts as a natural exfoliant. There is a slight strawberry scent, which I’m not the biggest fan of, but it doesn’t linger so I think I can overcome it. Plus, a little bit goes a long way: a dime size droplet covers my face.  A full size cleanser is 4 oz. and is worth $32. I’m grateful I received a full size from another subscription box because I fear (or rather my wallet does) this may become a favorite. For 20% off the Indie Lee Brightening Cleanser use IPSYBC20 at checkout on their website.

Nicole by OPI in On a Gilt Trip (full size $5.00)

This is a full size product and my first Nicole by OPI product. Which is strange because you can get these just about anywhere. Price range depending on where you buy them and if there is a sale going on, so the price listed above is a median. I have this glitzy gold shade on my toes at the moment and I also used it in a floss manicure last week. The polish has held up rather well and dried incredibly fast. I like that it’s a more subtle gold: there’s still plenty of shimmer but it’s not as in your face with the glitter. I’d buy more from this brand in the future, for sure. Considering how easy it is to get a hold of, there isn’t a discount code for this product.

noyah’s Lipstick in Deeply in Mauve (sample value $3.00)

Jury is still out on this lippie. It’s a lovely shade that on my lips reads more like a light plum when built up, but you can also dab the lipstick on for a more truly mauve color. The staying power on this lipstick is fairly impressive: after a few hours the color is not as intense but it’s not patchy either. The formula is a semi-matte or more of a natural finish. The claim is that this should be a moisturizing lipstick, and that’s where I falter with this product. In no way did it dry my lips, but I didn’t feel they were hydrated either. My lips are going through a bit of a chapped phase at the moment, and I certainly don’t blame noyah for that. So that’s why the jury is still out. A full size noyah lipstick will cost you $18.00 and they only have five shades for now. For 15% off and a free lip balm enter FALLinLOVE at checkout on their website.

Skone Cosmetics TATTOOED Waterproof Eyeliner (full size $15.00)

I took this one for a test drive yesterday and this eyeliner is quite nice. It’s got a matte finish and the pigmentation is a true black. I was able to achieve a basic cat-eye rather quickly with this product. The tapered tip made it easy to draw both fine and thick lines depending on how you hold the pen. The one downside for me is that the felt-tip style applicator is inflexible. My Jesse’s Girl liner, which is of a similar quality and design, has a tip that’s more like a firm paintbrush so that it moves a little bit more, which makes it easier to manage the all-important flick of the cat-eye. So I wish the Skone applicator was more flexible, but that’s my only complaint. I got my brows waxed while my friend Marissa and I were out and I teared up a bit: my mascara ran but my eyeliner was locked in place. Waterproof: check. All-day wear: check. So for 10% off your purchase on Skone’s website, enter the code IPSY at checkout.

Though I wasn’t initially excited about these products, they all won me over to some degree. This is a solid bag from ipsy with absolutely no fails and some good finds. For the $10 price tag of the ipsy bag, this month’s value comes out to $31.15. Not a bad value.

I still think the Beauty Candy theme makes no sense with the bag’s contents, but those contents are pretty nice. Well done, ipsy!

If you’d like to give ipsy a shot, here is my referral link.

September Ipsy Bag 2014

/ caitlinemccann / 2 Comments

It’s ipsy time again! This month’s theme is Street Style in honor of the glamorous and edgy looks created by fashion week and ipsters everywhere.

IMG_2641

I like the square design and faux silver leather look with its little rivets. It’s a great piece for fall and winter. I could see myself using this as a clutch for an evening out. One of my favorite physical bags in several months.

Infinity Shadow/Crease Duet Brush by Crown Brushes (full size $6.99)

Synthetic fibers, so yay for cruelty-free brushes! Double ended brushes have always mystified me a bit because of the difficulty in storage. This one is much the same. Soft bristles and blends well though.  30 % off any purchase of $25 or more with code CROWNIPSY30.

NYX Hot Singles Eye Shadow in Velvet (full size $4.50)

One of my all time favorite drugstore brands. I will always be happy to see NYX in my ipsy bag. The warm brown shade I received is the ideal crease shade and blends beautifully. Perfect for fall and I think it brings out my blue eyes well too. The coupon for this one was for 30% off their waterproof shadow primer: FALLPROOF.

Don’t Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Mask from Briogeo (sample value $4.95)

I wasn’t very excited about this when I saw this in my bag, but the results have changed my mind. First of all, the smell is so light but creates a nice scent cloud. The top note is the sweet almond, which I love. But there’s also some great, nourishing ingredients in this mask like avocado, argon oil, aloe, and essential vitamins. Oh, and its cruelty and gluten-free.

It’s been three days since I last used this and my hair still feels soft and clean. A full size tub of this (5.25 oz) will set you back $26.00, but you don’t need much of it to get the full effects so it would be a good value. I’m considering purchasing but I also have a few other hair products that need to get used up first. So maybe in the future. Just a free shipping code with this one, I probably would have purchased if the code had been better.

Cailyn Art Touch Tinted Lip Gloss in Basic Instinct (full size $19.00)

I wanted to love this product. The name alone made me want to love this gloss. And I’d had luck with Cailyn lippies in past ipsy bags. But at best I find this lip gloss wearable. I won’t be reaching for it regularly. In the tube it looks like a pinky nude but on my lips it reads more like terra-cotta. I do like the applicator which is an oblong sponge instead of a traditional doe foot. This gloss has a very chemical smell to it which is off putting. And the wear-time is poor, maybe 40 minutes max. I’m not giving up on the brand but I’m disappointed with this Cailyn product.

Pacifica 7 Free Nail Polish in Red Red Wine (full size $9.00)

My favorite product this month. Holy cow! I put this on my nails a few days ago and can’t stop staring at them. There has been some chipping but I’m so in love with this color that I’m not even mad at needing to do touch ups. Gorgeous Merlot colored polish that was already quite glossy without a top-coat. I would love to check out more of the Pacifica polishes in the future. Really impressed. For 20% off of any Pacifica purchase use the code FallBeauty at checkout.

Even though I wasn’t happy with the Cailyn lip gloss, this ended up being one of my favorite ipsy bags in months. There were some quality products in here and four out of the five items were full-sized. This month’s $10 bag had a value of $44.44. Very nice!

Here’s my referral link if you’d like to try ipsy.

August Ipsy Bag 2014

/ caitlinemccann / Leave a comment

August has been such a big month for me. I moved to Los Angeles, and then flew back to Ohio to be in my best friend’s wedding. But in the midst of all that excitement came my ipsy bag. No matter what is going on in my life, bad or good, getting my  ipsy Glam Bag puts a smile on my face.

Ipsy is a $10 a month subscription service that sends you five sample to full size beauty products, which then comes in an adorable makeup bag. Each bag has a theme and this month it is Beauty Schooled! I’ve been trying out my ipsy products for the last few weeks and here’s how they all breakdown.

School Yourself in Beauty

School Yourself in Beauty

So the bag is about as attractive as it’s going to get in this picture. It’s a shiny vinyl reminiscent of my grade school pencil cases. The bag arrived crumpled beyond saving, so there is no way it would survive my purse. Extremely disappointed in the bag itself, but the contents were fun.

Dr. Brandt’s Pores No More (sample value $11.25)

I’ve seen a lot of Dr. Brandt products work the subscription box circuit but this is my first experience with the brand. The formula has a mousse-like texture and is a salmon color. It feels good to apply, and the slight color of the product blends out. The product claims are that this primer will minimize pores, blur fine lines, and mattifies skin. Additionally, it’s s supposed to be an antibacterial product that will act as a shield between your makeup so your pores don’t clog. These are some hefty claims that I think the primer only half completes. I’d say it does a good job of mattifying and keeping my foundation set. But I didn’t notice much blurring or a difference in clogged pores. Since a full size Pores No More is $45, I don’t think it’s worth the price tag for what the results you get. But I’m glad something like this was in my ipsy bag because it’s not something I would have purchased without trying it out.

Perversion Mascara by Urban Decay (sample value $5.50)

This was the most exciting thing in my ipsy bag this month. Urban Decay has been building up this product launch for months and now that Perversion is out bloggers are raving about this mascara. And here’s the thing…I haven’t opened it. I have too many mascaras open at the moment to justify popping open this sample. I don’t want it to dry out before I can use it to its fullest! So no review on this one yet. But UD promises bigger, badder, blacker lashes and I’m hoping that’s the case. Any one else a fan of this mascara? It retails for $22 for .4 fl. oz. so it had better be good!

Flying Solo Eye Shadow by J. Cat Beauty in Half Naked(Full Size $2.99)

I was intimidated by how orange this shadow looked in the pan. And it looked a little too chalky. But on the lid this color reads as a warm champagne with a hint of shimmer and feels smooth. If you’re looking for something bold, then the color payoff is not for you. Wearing Half Naked on its own is not an option. However, I think it’s a great shade to use as a base or to blend into your crease as a subtle transition shade. This shade could also be a nice neutral highlight. The packaging is rather charming too; it comes with a little mirror and a teeny tiny applicator. So very pleased with this wee eye shadow.

Jersey Shore Sun’s Mongongo Nutrient Dense Anti-Aging Lip Conditioner (Full Size $5.50)

I got the Lip Conditioner in Mandarin Green Orange Ginger. I’m not even sure that scent description makes sense. It actually smells kind of like lemon and feels so smooth on your lips. This product is 100% natural and USDA certified organic.  There are tons of supposed benefits to using this lip balm including UV protection, hydration, and skin regeneration (hence the anti-aging) for fuller softer lips. Apparently, Mongongo oil is derived from a fruit that is often considered a tree nut and it’s rich in antioxidants. I’ve been wearing this lip conditioner every day by itself or under lipstick, and I really like it. It feels so good on my lips and I’ve noticed a decrease in chapped lips in the past week and a half. So I would definitely repurchase this in the future!

Klorane’s Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk (sample value $6.50)

I’ve mentioned on this blog before my struggle to find a dry shampoo that actually works for me. Maybe my expectations are too high; I really want a product that can help me avoid the shower for another day if I’m in a rush. I won’t say that this Klorane dry shampoo saves me from a morning shower, but it does make me feel slightly more presentable. Slightly. The formula doesn’t leave any kind of residue or visible powder for me, which is nice. And the smell is light, which is also nice. But I won’t pretend I’m in love with this product either. I will happily use the sample but will not be purchasing the full size for $19.50.

Overall, I’d say this was a decent bag from ipsy. I really liked one of the products–the lip conditioner–and another one could really surprise me when I use it later (the mascara), so I’m not mad at this month’s bag. The total value of August’s Glam Bag is $31.74. Not crazy fabulous but not bad for a $10 beauty bag!

If you’d like to join ipsy, click on my referral link here.