August 2014 Ipsy Bag

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Its Finally Here!!! I feel like Ipsy comes later every month, but maybe I’m crazy… No I’m not because I used to get this before my Birchbox and this came almost 2 weeks after my Birchbox… Anywho lets see what this pink package of amazingness holds for me!

 

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The bag is cute as this months theme is “Beauty Schooled” and its a pencil bag!  I like the design with the orange polka dots but it does have that strong weird plastic smell….

First up we have….

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Dr. Brandt’s Pores No More, I’ve heard great things about this so I’m interested to try it.

Ipsy Says:: A cult favorite, Pores No More Pore Refiner Primer is Dr. Brandt’s quick fix for flawless, photo-ready skin. It is the miracle base to create the perfect skin canvas for long-lasting makeup and well-preserved skin. This velvety formula absorbs excess oil, minimizes pores, blurs fine lines and is resistant to sweat and humidity. Prime, touch-up and treat while perfecting your makeup.

Key Benefits:
    – Minimizes the appearance of pores by diffusing light
    – Blurs imperfections & lines
    – Erases shine & mattifies skin
    – Absorbs oil, reduces shine and helps regulate sebum production
    – Antibacterial action for a healthy skin
    – Acts as a shield to prevent make-up from clogging pores

Lara Says:: The texture of this reminds me of Too Faced Primed and Poreless Skim Smoothing Face Primer which I like.  But this has a definite strange smell, like an earthy, grass like smell… I don’t know it just smells funny, but I didn’t notice it too much after I rubbed in into my hand.

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Ipsy Says:: Treat your lips with this ultra-moisturizing lip balm from Absolute New York. This lightly tinted, creamy, conditioning formula softens, smooths, and protects lips for a seriously kissable pout. Discover this must-have balm for sensationally soft and luscious lips!

Lara Says:: :I cannot tell you how disappointed I am that this is not Green!  How can you have a lip balm in the flavor Green Apple and it not be Green!!  In other news, this seems like a good formula and I’m almost out of my Rose Salve that I keep at my desk at work so this shall be the new desk lip balm.

 

Somehow this didn’t make it in the group picture… Hmm kinda like school yearbook pictures!

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 Ipsy Says:: Bigger. Blacker. Badder. Urban Decay’s ultra-creamy, lengthening and volumizing mascara features triple-black pigments and a deeply nourishing ingredient blend. Perversion Mascara gets you sexy in one stroke, yet it won’t quit until you say when.

Lara Says:: I’ve heard a lot about this product because it was WAY hyped up.  From what I’ve heard from people who have tried it, its a good mascara but its not phenomenal so we shall see…  and for real what is up with makeup brands making everything sexual?!  Not a fan, but that’s a post for another day…

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Ipsy Says:: Coastal Scents Forever Blush boasts 18 perfectly pigmented, powder blushes with a long-lasting rush of color. Complete with a mirror, these color-packed compacts go a long way.

Lara Says:: I have not tried any Coastal Scents make up products but I do have an eye shadow brush that I like that I received in a past Ipsy Bag. From first swatch theses are soft and seem blendable.  According to the website I received the colors ‘Elegant’ and ‘Fresh’ , they are not marked on the packaging but according to a quick web search the shimmer pink is ‘Elegant’ and the matte peachy brown is ‘Fresh’.

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Ipsy Says:: Sensual and exotic, that’s the effect that Silk Kajal Kohl Eye Pencil delivers. Just like the traditional Kohl, but with the modern ease and control of a pencil. Giving a semi-matte finish that is also smudgeable, Silk Kajal Kohl’s soft tip is ophthalmologically-tested and gentle enough to be used on the inner eye.

Lara Says:: New brand so I’m excited to try this out! The last picture is after I left the liner for about a minute and then ran my finger down it.  So it looks like its smudge-able but also has staying power if you just want a dark line.  There will definitely be a review to come on this product.

 

Products Mentioned::

Dr. Brandt Pores No More Pore Refiner:: $45.00 (8% Cash back at Sephora this week with Ebates!) 

Absolute Lip Balm:: $5.99 (30% off your purchase with the code Ipsy)

Too Faced Primed and Poreless Skin Smoothing Face Primer:: $30.00 (8% Cash back at Sephora this week with Ebates!)

C.O. Bigelow Rose Salve:: $5.50  (1.5% Cash Back at Bath and Body Works this week with Ebates!)

Urban Decay Perversion Mascara:: $22.00 (8% Cash back at Sephora this week with Ebates!)

Coastal Scents Forever Blush in ‘Fresh’::  $7.95 (20% off with the code blush25off)

Coastal Scents Forever Blush in ‘Elegant’ :: $7.95  (20% off with the code blush25off)

 

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Join me on ipsy and subscribe to the Glam Bag! You get 4-5 beauty products every month delivered to your door, for just $10. Michelle Phan curates the bags! 

February 2014 Ipsy Bag

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It’s that time again… Ipsy bag time!

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First off, this bag smells a lot better than the last one!  I don’t think I mentioned that in my post but the bag had a very strong smell of plastic.  Like stinky plastic, just yuck. Anywho, this bag smells better so that’s a plus.  On to what is inside the non-smelly bag…

First I see the City Color Be Matte Blush in Fresh Melon.  What a pretty color, but wait what’s this, its wrapped in bubble wrap but arrived broken L Whomp Whomp…. I contacted Ipsy and they said I should be getting a new one shortly. J  This is a huge blush and according to the City Color website retails for $2.99, so not a high end item.  But hey if it works, I am totally down with paying $2.99!!

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Next is a Zoya nail polish in the color Odette (reminds me of Swan Lake ).  I like Zoya nail polish and this is a very pretty light spring color. But look at the box!  Not impressed with damages Ipsy….

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Next is a pop beauty Plump Pout lip gloss in Peony Petal.  No swatch for this one as I have a couple dozen (no joke) lip glosses and this is not an usual color I don’t have.  Someone will be receiving this as a gift…. But I have used other Pop Beauty Lip glosses and I like them a lot so I’m sure this one is pretty awesome.

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Next is a  two in one product (yeah for multi-tasking!). ‘tini Beauty Eyetini Eye Cordial Shadow+Base in  Spiced Rum.  This is a bright color that I am excited to try out.  When first applied it is very bright and metallic.  After I blended it out it toned down in color and when it dries (which took a little longer then I liked) it is super silky.

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Lastly is a sample of the NuMe Intense Renewal Mask.  I love love love NuMe products.  I swear by their hot tools, they are the only tools I have used that give me a lasting curl on my fine hair.  I have used a sample of this mask before and love it, it’s A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!

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Overall minus the broken and damaged packaging, this is a good Ipsy bag.

City Color Be Matte Blush in ‘Fresh Melon’ :: $2.99

Zoya Nail Polish in ‘Odette’ :: $9.00

Pop Beauty Plump Pout Lip Gloss in ‘Peony Petal’ ::$ 16.00

‘tini Beauty Eyetini Eye Cordial Shadow+Base in  ‘Spiced Rum’ :: $18.00

NuMe Intense Renewal Mask:: $29.99

 If you are interested you can join me on ipsy and subscribe to the Glam Bag! You get 4-5 beauty products every month  for just $10.  Check it out here:http://www.ipsy.com/r/2o2y

Drug Store Wins!!

I have become a bit of makeup snob after trying some high end products.  Now more expensive does not always equal better but I have found in regards to makeup it can.  So onward to some products I picked up at Wally that I really like.

 

NYC Cheekglow in “Riverside Rose”

This blush on my fair skin gives me a nice healthy natural color.  It is not super pigmented but at around the $3 mark I can afford  to layer it up.

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Flower Nail’d It Nail Lacquer in  “NP10 What’s the Daffodilly-O”

This polish looked like a pretty coral color to me in the bottle. The formula is good consistency neither to thick or thin. It is also free of   DBP, toluene & camphor.  Best of all it is around $5!  I am excited to try more from this line, I love Drew  Barrymore’s style and the packaging on all the products is super cute.

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L’Oreal Voluminous Carbon Black Mascara 

I am a mascara whore, Yes I said whore. I cannot be faithful to one mascara, I am constantly on the search for the newest and best.  How difficult can it be to make a volumizing, lengthening and thickening mascara?!  Apparently impossible, but I still search for the holy grail of mascara. Until this day of miracles come around I will be content with trying every mascara under the sun.  That said, I may purchase this one again!  It does give me some volume and then I can put a layer of a lengthening mascara on top. And you can’t beat a mascara that cost around $6.

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