Ipsy | June 2015

This month's Ipsy theme is "Swim Into Beauty" and where better to talk about it than sitting at the side of my pool (I've been doing a lot of that lately...sorrynotsorry).  This month had some hits and misses for me, so keep reading to see what I got and what I thought!

Contents: Pretty Important Stuff (IPSY May 2015)

With the understanding that subscription boxes are always a bit hit & miss, I must say that IPSY has been constantly impressing me over the last few months.  Not only have the contents of the bag been great, but the bags themselves have been enjoyable to use.  While this month's contents were good...the bag?  The bag was great.  

February IPSY Spoilers & My Wish List

NYX Eyeliners (Assorted shades)

Purple Eyeliner

Blush Brush

Elizabeth Mott Eyeshadow
Blue Nail Polish

Eyelash Curler

January 2015 | IPSY Fresh Start

My relationship with IPSY is a bit of a roller coaster.  Some months I love it, some months I hate it and want to cancel, and some months...meh.  Coming in at about $18 a month, IPSY is moderately priced. I've decided at least for now to switch with my subscription because I have a job, and hey, why not.  

I wasn't excited to get this bag in the slightest, but then it arrived in the hot pink wrapper and slowly but surely I fell in love.  This month wasn't full of snazzy one off items, but rather some under loved, simply not as sexy staples that I have been slowly falling for.  This month's theme is "Fresh Start" to coincide with the start of the new year!

LA Fresh Eco Beauty Moisturizer

Probelle Into the Blue Nail Lacquer 

bellápierre Shimmer Powder
Elizabeth Mott All Over Shadow Brush
Pacifica Natural Mineral Coconut Eyeshadow

Ipsy | December 2014 Has Finally Arrived

I'm back!  I had an amazing amazing week in beautiful, sunny, warm Cuba!  And after spending some time unpacking and doing laundry I am back to the blog.  While I was away I received more boxes than I care to admit to.  My Ipsy bag was very late this month and actually only arrived in the week after Christmas.

As a Canadian I was pretty frustrated that despite advertising Bumble and Bumble products, no Canadians could receive them.  When I inquired as to why, I was told that this was because Bumble and Bumble's website does not ship to Canada and thus they didn't want to disappoint Canadians when we would be unable to order them.  Ummm....thanks?  Not like Sephora sells it here or anything... anywaysssssss I ended up with a Sexy Hair product that my cousin swears by, so all is not entirely lost.  

Girl Meets Glitter | Ipsy November 2014 Review

Dear Santa,

I would rather a lump of cole in my stocking this Christmas than another Be a Bombshell product.

Love,

Ipsy and Topbox and Luxebox Subscribers everywhere

xoxo

Blerghhhhhhh on one hand I am sorry that my Ipsy review is so late, and on the other hand I'm not because this bag was a big pile of meh.

So let's start with the bag its self.  Silvery glitter with hot pink trim.  One of the prettier bags I have seen as of late, but still quite childish.  On one hand I want to keep it and on the other hand I want ti give it to my 5 year old cousin for Christmas with her brand new Disney store Elsa crown.  Decisions, decisions...

Look at the little zipper heart I made!

Ipsy - Beauty Candy | October 2014

Yawn.

My relationship with Ipsy is always on again off again.  I want so badly to love it.  But with the product and brand repeats it can get difficult.  Add to it that the spoilers went from confusing, to cute, to painfully obvious....The bag itself has gotten cheaper, the products smaller, and of lower quality.  

The bag is teal plastic with squares quilted on.  Not exactly "Beauty Candy".  It feels cheap and honestly, it will be finding a new home.

On the bright side I was able to add on a Bare Minerals BB Cream Eyeshadow in Elegant Taupe for 1000 points.  Pretty pumped about this.  I love the product and the formula!  Really great for a "no make-up make-up day".

I appreciated that my nail polish came wrapped in extra bubble wrap.  

Nicole by OPI "Feeling Very Cherry"

Over all a higher end drugstore brand in a colour on point for late fall.  This dark oxblood shade will look cozy and vampy come November.  I will probably maybe almost sort of get some use out of it if I don't love my Juleps more.  But hey, decent value!  

Épicé Purifying Exfoliant

My skin care regime is already right where I like it, and I don't want to mess with a good thing.  This will more than likely find a home in my gym bag.  The product is lacklustre, but gets the job done.

Figs & Rouge "Rose Berry" Hand Cream

Smells like roses and berries.  Makes my hands softer.  It works, not that I need any more hand creams that come in oil paint tubes.  As it gets colder I am sure I will be reaching for this in my purse!

VolumEYES Mascara

When will it end?  So.  Much.  Mascara.  I have 42.  Count it.  Forty-two unused mini mascaras in my drawer. All of them top off on my list to use well before this one.  I haven't even touched it, but will end up gifting it to someone, somewhere.  This is a weird "bigger than a deluxe sample but smaller than full sized" product.

Starlooks Lip Gloss "Guilty Pleasure"

This is a really pretty little gloss that tastes like cupcakes.  Too bad it is sooooo sososososo tiny. It makes Julep look full sized!

Look at the products spill out of my bag artistically onto a scarf!

My first 1000 point perk!

So yeah not much to love about this bag.  I didn't even want to test half of the products because they looked just so...bleh.  Here's to hoping that next month is better!  I will be sticking around for Christmas, but after that will likely take a break for a few months.  In more exciting news, I picked up some stunning brushes to share with you next!

<3

Ipsy | September 2014

So I've given it a lot of thought, and I use to research the value of each item I received in my ipsy bag.  But if I'm unhappy with a bag it doesn't matter if its worth $40.  This month has been so crazy for me and I didn't have time to do the research.  So I'm just going to tell you what I like and dislike and overall how happy I am with this bag.

I received the Caviar CC Cream, the Hikari lipstick, Pacifica eyeliner, brush, and the Nourish Organics face cleanser.  

This month's bag was a huge step up from last month's plastic mess.  But still...not my style.  I'll probably add it to the pile or pass it off to a friend.  

I am so in love with the Hikari lipstick.  At first I was skeptical of the colour, but I simple adore it for fall.  I paired it with a simple eye and a warm scarf and I just felt good.  When a lipstick makes you feel good, you know you found something special.  The colour is called "Cabaret" and I would describe it as a plum-berry or logan-berry.

As for the Caviar CC Cream, it is one of my favourite hair products.  I picked up two of them when they were 100 point gifts at Sephora and was just running low when this graced my mail box.  With this product a little goes a long way.  I apply a small amount through my hair after I shower and style it into a low, loose pony tail.  When I wake up my hair is wavy like usual, but less frizzy and softer.  When I run out of this sample I will be purchasing it in full size.  Also-- this sample size is pretty generous.

The brown Pacifica Eyeliner is...fine?  I'm pretty unenthused about it, but I will either put it in my travel bag or gift it to my mom.

Now, that Eyeshadow Brush... super soft and fluffy.  I love it.  And I love that my mom got one in her bag and gave it to me.  So I have two. Tehehehe.  The smaller end is okay.  But the big fluffy end is fantastic for a quick simple look.

Annnd Nourish Organics Face Cleanser is...bleh. I mean its fine, but I already have my skin care down to an art and I don't want to mess with it.  And I didn't like the hand cream I got from them from tipsy a few months back.

So overall I al actually really happy with this bag,  I love the CC Cream, the brush, and the lipstick.  Good job ipsy! The bag its self if ugly, but oh well.

Side Note: MY mom got this Cailyn lipgloss in her bag and it was literally 1/3 empty and not sealed.  I heard other girls had this issue too.  Not cool ipsy.

My Ipsy Glamroom | September 2014

Ipsy has redeemed its self! I completely love the Alterna CC Cream (I have two deluxe minis that I need to use up before buying the full size.  But I won't complain about pushing that off a little longer).  I'm always happy to get more eyeshadow brushes and lipstick.  I'm not as excited about the eyeliner or the face cleanser.  But the first 3 products more than make up for it.  I think Ipsy is really starting to get me.

Not a fan of this month's bag though.  To the gift pile it goes!

Ipsy Spoilers | September 2014

Back to school...unpacking...getting back in to the swing of post vacation life, and swatching my finds from the States has kept me pretty busy over the last few days and I ended up missing most of the Ipsy spoilers.  And now my glam room is open!  

Wish list:

1. Pacifica Eyeliner

2. Hikari Lipstick

3. Sally Hansen Gel Nail Polish OR the NYX Eyeshadow

4. Eyeshadow brush

Anti-Wishlist:

1. Cailyn Lipgloss

2. Avon Mascara

3. Hello Fragrance 

4. Be a Bombshell Finishing Powder

1) Either a Pacifica nail polish (Red red Wine) or eyeliner (Gunmetal or Fringe)

2) One of : a Hikari lipstick, a Cailyn lip gloss, or a Maybelline Master Glaze Blush Stick.

3) 1 of: Harvey Prince Hello fragrance, Avon mascara (Big & Daring Volume in Blackest Black), Harvé Benard Precious Gold for Her, Sally Hansen Miracle Gel duo-pack, Nourish Organic Cream Face Cleanser, Lee Anni Eco3-i1 Revolution Light, NYX Hot Singles Eyeshadow

4) A double ended eyeshadow brush or a Be a Bombshell finishing powder.

Ipsy | August 2014

I'm back from my vacation!  Over the next few weeks I will be sharing photos of my hauls and reviews of the goodies I bought.

When I came home I had a huge pile of mail to go through.  One of the first packages I opened was my Ipsy bag!  How could I not?  It came in a hot pink bubble package (as usual!)

This month I received a blush, lip gloss, primer, eyeliner, mascara, and a crappy plastic bag.  The bag will be given as a gift to my cousin because, thankfully, she likes polka dots. Everything in this month's bag was tiny!  Super tiny.  Almost useless its so tiny.

Lord & Berry Black Silk Mini Kajal Kohl-liner

This eyeliner is literally the size of my pinky finger.  I would almost argue it is too small to effectively use.  Can you imagine sharpening it? There's nothing special about this eyeliner.  It works just like every other average black eyeliner pencil.  Which is nice, but I hardly use eyeliner in pencil form.  I'm more of a liquid/cream type of girl.  This eyeliner will probably end up going to my mom.

Urban Decay Perversion Mascara

I am really excited about this mascara.  Its brand new, with a nice big fluffy brush and a wet formula.  I really like that Ipsy has such a new, high profile product for us to test.  I hope they keep this up!  I haven't given the mascara a try yet as I am already working on getting through a few more.  I might toss this in my travel bag.

Costal Scents Forever Blush

The formula may be nice, but the size is awful.  Its nearly impossible to swirl a proper blush brush around in this tiny awkward pan.  At least it is really easy to depot and put in my Z-Palette.  I'm really not sure what to do with this...

Dr. Brandt Pores No More Pore Refiner Primer

I was really excited to receive this!  It is a pretty generous size, especially compared to the rest of the bag.  I was surprised that it was a nude coloured primer, but found that it did a good job at keeping my foundation on.  I will be using this up!

You're The Balm "Grape"

While I was in the States I saw these in packs of two at Marshalls for $3.99. This product is a bit of a dud to me.  I really don't like how it smells.  It smells like plastic grapes.  I might just scoop out the whole product and use the tin for jewellery when I travel.  If not, I will likely pass it on to my little cousin.  Its age appropriate for her!  Over all really not impressed by this.

Conclusions

Over all I am disappointed by this bag, especially compared to last months!  The bag its self it pretty crappy, and all of the products are tiny.  I am really happy that I got the Urban Decay mascara, and the Dr. Brandt primer.  Everything else was just too tiny to be useful, or too junky to feel nice.  I am happy with the mascara though-- great to be able to try out a new product before committing to the full size.  Especially considering it is a mascara with a unique brush.  Here's hoping that next month goes better!

Face Of The Day: IPSY July Bag

Today I decided to test out my new makeup that came in my most recent IPSY bag (read my review here) this weekend.  As I have mentioned, I gave the moisturizer to my mom.  I will be saving the split end mender until I go on my vacation at the end of the summer -- perfect travel size.

With that in mind, I tested out the mascara, eyeshadow, and tint.

Items Used:

bareMinerals READY Eyeshadow 2.0 in Muse/Passion

Pür Minerals Big Look Waterproof Mascara (0.12 oz) 

Elizabeth Mott Tints & Sass in Cherry (0.35 oz) *Full Size* 

My Face of the Day:

I did my usual routine for my eyebrows/foundation/blush etc and used the featured products for my lips and eyes.  I really dislike using tints on my cheeks and prefer it for my lips.

bareMinerals READY Eyeshadow 2.0 in Muse/Passion

5 Stars

I first applied Urban Decay's Sin primer all over my eyelids.  Then I applied the lighter shimmery pink shade all over my eyelids.  Using a fluffy dome brush I applied the darker purple shade in my crease.  This set was the real winner for me!  I love how creamy and pigmented these shadows are.  When I run out of this (which I know I will!) I will be picking the full sized shadow up.  This product is a real winner in my books!

Pür Minerals Big Look Waterproof Mascara (0.12 oz)

2 Stars 

When they say this mascara is waterproof, they mean it.  While it applies nicely, and builds up the way I like it too (big and bold!) it is a real hassle to remove!  By hassle I mean I used my usual Quo wipes...and it stayed put.  So then I used another eye make up remover...and it stayed put.  And then I used my Julep Bare Face oil cleanser and that sort of got some off.  I went to sleep and then washed it off in the morning.  Incase you lost track, I used sleep and four different makeup removers to get it off. Closer to drugstore quality as opposed to high end quality, this mascara has a medium or so brush and a formula that errs on the side of wet.   While I like the look of the mascara, I just can't use a mascara that I have to fight to remove.  I will probably keep it around incase I ever need a truly waterproof formula but I really just don't want to use again.

Elizabeth Mott Tints & Sass in Cherry (0.35 oz) *Full Size* 

4 Stars

I love this as a lip product, but am not a fan of it as a cheek product.  I find it hard to blend.  That being said, the cherry scent is delightful.  I find the first few minutes this product it on my lips that it feels strange.  However, two coats creates a matte cherry red lip that no matter how many drinks you have, snacks you eat, or kisses you steal your lips stay flawless.  This product has crazy staying power that no matter how hard I tried I couldn't take it off.  It just took time for it to fade.  Over all nothing special about this product.  Its just like any other red lip stain.

Over all I loved the makeup that came in my IPSY bag.  I am really glad I got the powder eyeshadow rather than the cream shadow that I originally wanted.  The formula of the power shadow was super creamy and blendable.  The lip stain was also wonderful.  However, the mascara was way too tough to remove.

Given how little this bag costs I am not complaining about the duds.  There was enough in this bag to merit another month.

Have you tried out for makeup from your IPSY bag yet?

IPSY August 2014: What's In My Bag

This month IPSY let me have a sneak peak of what was in my bag if I agreed to share it on Facebook.  So I did...and then promptly deleted it.  

This month I am getting 2 items off my wish list: The Dr. Brant primer and the Urban Decay Mascara, and one item off my "anti" wish list, the Coral Scents blush/bronzer.  However in their defence, I love blush and bronzer.  It was only on my anti-wishlist because I have so much of it.  I am 100% indifferent to the Lord and Berry eyeliner.  Its a black eyeliner.  I have 1000 of them,  And finally the lip balm. IPSY gets points for getting me the one I wanted the least.  In all honesty, this will be going to one of my little cousins who is actually going back to school in the fall.  I'm not a huge fan of the orange and white bag, so that will also be going in the gift bin.

Here are all the items I didn't get:

I am so so so so so so happy not to be getting the J Cat product.  I wish I could get the Glamglow mask, however they gave it to me in a previous box and kind of got me hooked.  They don't give repeat items.

I find it odd that I got 3 things off one spoiler, and nothing off the other.  

**The X over the Paula's choice should be all red.  Oops?

Weighing out the options of what was available, and what I got I am satisfied with my bag.  Not the best.  Not the worst.  I am delighted to be getting the mascara as I wanted to try it, but have put myself on a no-buy for mascara until I use up my backlog of minis.  As for the primer, I love having mini primers to travel with and I have heard good things about this one.  The blush/bronzer will be deputed and put in my Z-Palette, and the eyeliner will probably go to my mom.  I do think IPSY is doing a better job of customizing bags.

I will be posting a review of this bag when it arrives.  My review of my July bag will be posted this weekend!

What are you getting in your IPSY bag this month?  Thoughts?

Ipsy: August 2014 Spoilers

I haven't even been home to open my July bag, and August spoilers are already on the way? Crazy!  I will be back home next Thursday and have been told that I literally have a pile of boxes waiting for me.  Can't wait to open them, enjoy them, and share them with you!

For my August bag I am hoping for some fun stuff.  In a dream world, the bag would be navy canvass with a rustic looking anchor or ship wheel, and the bag would be full of end of summer goodies that just border on the fall.

Wish List:

1. Perversion Mascara
2. Dr. Brandt Pore No More Pore Refiner
3. None.  But the Absolute New York You're the Balm in Grape looks like it is the least awful?
4. Glamglow
5. Maana Kadar Sheer Glow

My Anti-Wish List:

1. J Cat Flying Solo Eyeshadow (oh please no.  I have hated every J Cat product Ipsy has sent me)

2. Costa Scents Blush/Bronzer (Meh.  I already have more than enough of this stuff to keep me happy).

3. I don't want literally any of the lip balms.  

Interesting to Note:  The Dr. Brandt primer is found in both spoilers 2 and 4.

Spolier #1 - Urban Decay

I found this spoiler floating around the internet.  Ipsy subscribers will receive either Perversion Mascara or the 24/7 Glide on Velvet Eyeliner in a deep purple shade, Plushie.  My fingers are crossed for the mascara, but honestly, I would be happy with either.

Spoiler #2 Back To School

Best news ever.  This September is my very last "Back To School".  Graduation here I come!

Everybody will be getting one of these.

Dr. Brant Pore No More Pore Refiner (primer)

Lord and Black Black Eyeliner

Costal Scents Eyeshadow Quad (from Wineberry set)

Maana Kadar Sheer Glow

J Cat Flying Solo Eyeshadow (oh please no.)

Costa Scents Blush/Bronzer

I'm hoping for either the Dr. Brandt or the Manna Kadar product.

Spoiler #3 - Lipbalm

Everybody will be getting 1 of these 4 lip balms.

Jersey Shore Sun Monogongo Lip Balm
Bee All Natural Organic Grapefruit Lipbalm
Absolute New York You're the Balm in Green Apple or Grape

Ugh.  I wish IPSY would remember that most of their subscribers aren't 12.  I'm totally not pumped for any of these. BusyI guess the grape balm would be the least awful?  In all honesty this will either be included in my cousin's Christmas gift or donated to a shelter.

Spoiler #4 Beauty History

1. Dr Brandt Pore No More (also in spoiler 2)
2. Paula's Choice Skincare Clear Ultra-Light Daily Mattifying Fluid SPF 30+
3. GLAMGLOW Youthmud
4. Free Your Mane Reviving Spray
5. StriVectin Present Perfect Antioxidant Defence Lotion
6. Klorane Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk
7. Cali Cosmetics Evulacano Body Lotion

Fingers crossed for Glamglow!

What's on your August Ipsy wish list?

My Ipsy Glam Room!

I am really excited to get my ipsy bag this month!  I unsubscribed for about 6 months, and I can't wait for that hot pink bubble wrap package to arrive!

From my tracking number I was able to deduce yesterday that I am getting bag 97.  Today, finally, my Glam Room posted!

Your Glam Room shows you what will be arriving in your ipsy bag.

To check out the spoilers and my wish list, click here!

My Wish List

1. Bare Minerals BB Cream Eyeshadow in Soft Shell or Divine Wine.

2. Hang 10 Dark Tanning Oil

3. Benefit They're Real Mascara

4. Pixi Tinted Brilliance Balm

5. Marrakesh Endz Split End Mender or Sexy Hair Healthy Sexy Hair Soy Renewal Beach Spray (I have the full sized and I like it!)

My Anti-Wish List

1. Pop Beauty pressed powder, looks like it could be a shimmery bronzer

2. Models Own Splash Collection Nail Polish (possibly in Red Sea)

3. Nailtini Nail Polish (based on their website it looks like Mango Rita)

What I am Getting

1. bareMinerals Ready Eyeshadow 2.0 in The Inspiration

2. Elizabeth Mott Tints & Sass

3. Pur~lisse Pur~protect Essential Daily Moisturizer SPF 30

4. Marrakesh Endz Split End Mender

5. Pür Minerals Big Look Waterproof Mascara

And a pretty pink scalloped bag!

So the good news is that I did not get anything off of my "anti-wishlist".  While I will only be getting one thing off my wish list (Marrakesh Endz Split End Mender), I love the eyeshadow colour and brand, and am excited about the tint.  The moisturizer is useful, though not terribly exciting.  I have a few Pur~lisse products obtained through subscription services.  I don't have much of an opinion about the mascara.  But mascara is useful, I use it every day.  Sure, I would have preferred the Benefit mascara.  However I already have a sample of it, and I know I love it.

All in all I am excited about the contents of my bag.  Sure, there are a few changes I would make, but I really do feel like they took my quiz and previous answers into account when deciding what bag I would be getting.  I can't wait to try the hair treatment!

What are you getting in your ipsy bag this month?  What are you most excited about?

And if you want to sign up for your own ipsy bag, I would really appreciate it if you could use my referral link!  Just click the pink "tipsy" box on the right.

July Ipsy Spoilers and Wish List

I will be updating this post as spoilers are released so check back!

I was an Ipsy subscriber last year and while I enjoyed being a member, near the end I found brands repeated and repeated, and low quality items creeping in.  One of the reasons that I left was that I had received Be a Bombshell products for a few months in a row and was not impressed by their quality.  I was also a bit overwhelmed by the sheer quantity of samples I was receiving and felt that I did not have the time to enjoy what was coming my way.  I have since cancelled Top Box, and now an subscribed to Ipsy, Julep, and Luxebox.  Ipsy has 3 months to impress me-- if not, I'll cancel again.

To judge IPSY it must earn an overall score of 12/18 with each sample and bag being worth 1 point.  Its simple.  If I like the bag, it gets 1 point.  Each sample that I like, or will use will get 1 point.  Each sample I dislike, or will re-gift gets no points.  Each month is worth 6 points (1 bag + 5 products).  In essence, it needs to earn a score of 4/6 per month.  Foil samples will automatically get 0 points because they have no place in a bag I am paying for.

Wish List

Bag -  Something nautical, or turquoise

1. Bare Minerals BB Cream Eyeshadow in Soft Shell or Divine Wine.
2. Hang 10 Dark Tanning Oil
3. Benefit They're Real Mascara
4. Pixi Tinted Brilliance Balm
5. Marrakesh Endz Split End Mender or Sexy Hair Healthy Sexy Hair Soy Renewal Beach Spray (I have the full sized and I like it!)

My Anti-Wish List

Things I really don't want

1. Pop Beauty pressed powder, looks like it could be a shimmery bronzer
2. Models Own Splash Collection Nail Polish (possibly in Red Sea)
3. Nailtini Nail Polish (based on their website it looks like Mango Rita)


Let's do this!

Spoiler #1 - Bare Minerals

I would be happy with either one of these (assuming not a hideous colour).  The purple shadows are a safe bet for me, but I would be really interested in trying the BB Cream Eyeshadow.  It seems that there will be one colour of eyeshadow, and 2 colours of the BB Cream Eyeshadow.

Spoiler #2 - Sun Care

Option 1 - Hang 10 Dark Tanning Oil
Option 2 - Pur-lisse Sunscreen

There is nothing fun or exciting about getting sun care products.  Useful?  Yes.  But fun?  Not really.  I have tried Pur-lisse samples before and I wasn't really swayed one way or the other.  I've never tried Hang 10.  This looks quite similar to samples I saw last month, but since I haven't been subscribed for a while either would be new to me.  I'm interested to see if, as a pale person, I get sunscreen to keep me pale and not burnt, or if I get the tanning oil because I am pale and need a tan.  Not too excited about either, but the tanning oil would be fun!

Spoiler #3 - 2 of these Assorted Goodies

Top Left: Pixi Tinted Brilliance Balm, Benefit They're Real Mascara

Top Right:  Elizabeth Mott Tints & Sass Lip Tint, Pür Minerals Big Look Waterproof Mascara 

Bottom Left:  Lord and Berry Smudgeproof Eyeliner, and a nail polish.  Not sure on the brand.

Bottom Right: Pop Beauty pressed powder, looks like it could be a shimmery bronzer, Models Own Splash Collection Nail Polish (possibly in Red Sea) and a Nailtini Nail Polish (based on their website it looks like Mango Rita)

Spoiler #4 - 1 of These Assorted Goodies

From Left to Right:

Dermae BB Crème, Befine Daily Moisturizer, faith Aromatherapy Citrus/Ginger lotion, Marrakesh Endz Split End Mender, Sexy Hair Healthy Sexy Hair Soy Renewal Beach Spray, unknown nail polish, Lavilin Jojoba Skin Soothers Gel Creme, and maaaaaaaybe an additional unknown spray at the far back right.

Spoiler #5 - The Bag

Ahh this is adorable!  It reminds me of a pink, scalloped postage stamp.  Not the nautical look I had in mind, and not as classy as last month, but this little bag is cute!  

Ipsy December 2013 "Celebration"

After spending a few days away from home, I came home to my Ipsy bag, Topbox, and Julep Cyber Monday purchases.  Talk about sample overload!  It was fun to sit and open them all at once, but then it was done, and all I was left with was packaging that had to be thrown out, and a general sense of disappointment.

When I first saw this month's Ipsy bag I was pretty disappointed.  So disappointed in fact that I promptly canceled my subscription.  Last month I really had nothing to say, so I didn't bother post.  In short-- I am pretty sick of Be a Bombshell, Pop, J. Cat, and false eyelashes.  And look!  All four at once.  I enjoy Ipsy, and maybe in 6 months I will come back once they get their brand quality up a bit.  Once upon a time Ipsy gave me Smashbox AND Urban Decay in the same bag... those were the days.  Alas, those days are gone.  Perhaps they will come back?  And maybe when that day comes they will also actually personalize the bags?

This month I received Bright Up Your Life Eyeshadow Trio in "Smokin Hot" (Black/Grey/White), The One Stick by Be a Bombshell in "Girl Crush" (Pearly baby pink), Signature Fragrances by English Laundry, Big Lip Pencil by J. Cat in " Caramel Mocha" and Strip Lashes (fake eyelashes) by Andrea.

 

It is a sad day for Ipsy when my favourite thing about the bag is, well, the bag.  This is sleek, black, and  useful.  

A close up of the products.  The J. Cat pencil isn't as awful as the last J. Cat product (awful awful body glitter), and the Be a Bombshell is about as lacklustre as the rest of their products.  At first I was pretty disappointed that I was getting sample sized perfumes in my bag (those come for free at the Sephora or Shoppers counter and don't belong in a service I pay for).  However I was pleasantly surprised that these were much larger than expected.  Sadly, I won't get the apparent use of them because they arrived like this:

Signature Fragrances by English Laundry

Value $1? (Value taken away for the spilled product)

The men's fragrance on the left was 3/4 gone, and about 1/4 was missing from the female version.  Given that my bag had a strong smell, and some of my packaging was stained it was evident that through out my bag a whole sample of perfume was floating around.  The mix of the two scents isn't pretty, and has even ruined the pretty black bag that I love so much.  Le sigh.

See the yellow-orange? That was my perfume...

Additional note, am I supposed to just automatically hand over half of this gift to my boyfriend?  Do couples actually do matching fragrances?  I guess I will never know what it is like to have a matching couples perfume, because the men's one is all over my bag.  My boyfriend will probably be okay with that, so at least there is one positive note.

The One Stick by Be a Bombshell in "Girl Crush" (Pearly baby pink)

Value $16

This product is thicker than expected.  I thought it would be more of a lipstick.  So that's nice.  Its too pale to be a proper blush, and too pink to be an eyeshadow for me, but this will probably be an okay highlighter?  One swipe uses a whole lot of product so I don't expect this to last all too long. Also, too much glitter.  I applied it this morning with a brush and it took a lot of product for it to show up.

Big Lip Pencil by J. Cat in "Caramel Mocha"

Value $3.99

This is a waxy stick.  The colour pay off is nice, and it is sort of pretty.  My lips but better?  Alas, I have about 15 lipstick-glosses that I would pick before this one.  

Swatches!

Strip Lashes (fake eyelashes) by Andrea

Value $3.49

Major flash lashes.  Save them for next halloween?

 Bright Up Your Life Eyeshadow Trio in "Smokin Hot" (Black/Grey/White)

Value $6

These grey scale eyeshadows resemble this set by Smashbox that I already own.  I love Smashbox shadows because they are creamy, blendable, and long-lasting.  I haven't loved any of the Pop products that Ipsy has sent me before, so I won't even bother to take off the plastic.  In the re-gifting pile it goes!  Overall I am not terribly pleased with this bag.  Heres to hoping Topbox can keep me happy for a few months.  Nothing much to "Celebrate" here.

Total Value $30.48

What I paid $18

What I will actually use $3.99

Update-- IpsyCare got back to me.  They will be sending me a new bag as a result of the perfume spilling and ruining a few things.  I was told that they can't guarantee that I get the exact same items the 2nd time around.  That's fine given how little I liked this bag.  Here's hoping for the eyeshadow brush!  I requested it, so I would be pumped if I received it.