May 2014 Beauty Box 5

I signed up last month for a free month of the Beauty Box 5 subscription box. I just cannot say no to free. (And then I didn't unsubscribe in time so... I bought an extra month. Surprise.)

I've actually been meaning to review this box since last week since it arrived the same day as my Ipsy Bag! I know, what an awesome mail day!

Here's the loot:

What's inside:

3 packets of "Just Being Sexy" Body Bronzer - $9.00

BH Cosmetics California Collection Sampler - $1 (?)

Montagne Jeunesse Glacial Clay Spa Mask - $2

Aveeno Positively Nourishing Calming Body Wash (Lavender, Chamomile, and Ylang-Ylang) - $1

La Fresh Travel-lite Facial Cleansing Wipes - $2.50

Total: $15.50

Total Paid: $12.00

All right, this was my first month getting this box and I think it's... okay... I'm going to wait until next month to really give a good judgement of what I think about the box but I just don't think I'm getting the most bang for my buck here. 

I'm excited to try the bronzers because I've been on a self-tanner kick this summer as I'm trying to be good about sun exposure and the Clay Spa Mask should be fun to try. I've used sme of the La Fresh wipes before, but a different type that came in my Ipsy bag and found they were a bit irritating to my skin. These are slightly different so perhaps they'll work out better for me. Will report back with findings. 

I'd actually received the exact same sampler of BH Cosmetics in my July 2013 Ipsy bag so my sister adopted this duplicate. I went ahead and swatched mine though, just for shits and grins. 

These colors are a lot more pigmented than the Pacifica colors I received in my Ipsy bag this month. I use Malibu quite often since I'm a sucker for a goldenrod colored eye shadow.

Overall, this box is okay... It's definitely nothing special but I don't regret getting it. We'll see what next month brings.

May 2014 Ipsy Bag

As promised, I'm FINALLY reviewing my Ipsy bag from this month. I'm so bad about not blogging about these things; I've got to get into a better habit of it!

Alas, here is this month's booty!

Contents: 

EVA NYC - Therapy Session Hair Mask - $4.00

Pacifica - Mineral Eye Shadow Duo - $5.00 (?)

Calvin Klein - Endless Euphoria - $3.50

Jersey Shore Sun - San Tan Anti-Aging Sunscreen - $5.00 

Avène - Thermal Spring Water - $3.00

Total Value: $20.50

Pretty sweet. 

I've got to admit though, I was a little underwhelmed this month. Granted, every month it's going to be the best but this month was a little... lackluster. I really loved the hair mask and the perfume smells pretty good (though I have yet to wear it, which will be the ultimate test), but the rest really leaved something to be desired. There's something about a can of water that really turned me off this month. 

Oh well. Here's hoping for June to make up for it!

I also swatched the Pacifica shadows below:

As you can see, they are shimmery and pretty in the palette.

Here is my arm with ELF eye shadow primer at the top. This photo was taken with not flash:

And with the flash:

As you can see, they are not very pigmented. I tried pretty hard to build up the color but it just wasn't happening. I think the white will be good for a base for a shimmery look but I just don't see myself getting much use from the purple. I really was hoping for this eye shadow to be great... it just wasn't.

That's not to say all of Pacifica's products aren't great; I'm in LOVE with their Alight BB Cream for the summertime because it has a VERY SLIGHT shimmer that just makes me look dewy and pretty.

Anyway, if you're not an Ipsy subscriber, you should definitely consider joining! While this month wasn't the best, I've been really happy with this subscription box for nearly a year and a half.

April 2014 Ipsy Bag

Living true to my motto: Better late than never right? Totally.

Anyway,

I'm LOVING my Ipsy Glam Bag this month. Actually, I always love it, but this month was pretty great.

Here's what I got:

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On Velvet Travel Pencil in Velvet Black (OMGOMGOMG!!!!) - $6.33

Cailyn Tinted Lip Balm in 12. Apple Pink - $19.00

Demeter Jasmine Perfume Oil Roll On - $10.00

Dr. Brant Microdermabrasion - $7.00

Elizabeth Mott Pop! Goes the Shadow in Champagne - $12.00

Total: $54.33

First impressions are the most important so here's what I got. 

I'm already an Urban Decay lover so I'm totally happy to have another black pencil. My current pencil in Zero is literally an inch long so this is a welcome addition to my makeup collection. 

I like the Cailyn lip balm color a lot. It's a coral that I can work with and I'm really stoked to wear it with some olive green eye shadow for some reason. 

The perfume oil is a no go. It smells like my grandma's gardenia bush and kind of makes me die inside. I am not a floral person. I will at least attempt to wear it once then probably find a friend who wants it (or give it away here... ahem.)

Haven't tried the microdermabrasion but I'm hoping it's not too rough. 

The eye shadow is on point. Not a glitter bomb but a nice shimmer and in a color that I will use the shit out of. I will totally buy this when I run out. Way to go, Ipsy.

Another month of awesomeness. My $10 was well spent and I got way more than my money's worth. 

Thinking about signing up for Ipsy? Do it!

Whoops! I Bought A Maven Box This Month

Well. I missed the "Skip This Month" email this month and well... I accidentally got a Julep Maven Box. This was definitely not a planned purchase and I was really upset when I got the "Your Maven Box Has Shipped" email because that's $20 I had not really budgeted for this month so... this might be my only "haul" this month. Oh well. I've got it now. Might as well enjoy it.

My box contained two polishes: A beautiful blue called "Monaco" and a pale yellow called "Lilou." I'm really on the fence about the yellow but the blue is amazing. My box also contained a nude lip gloss with glitter called "awestruck." The lipgloss is very sheer and very shiny. I'm not 100% sure how much I'll use it but it's a nice color. It's not something I'd usually pick out but I'll still wear. I guess that's the beauty of beauty boxes: I always get something I'd never buy myself normally. 

 Here's a quick look of a nail look I did with "Monaco" from this month's box and "Jacqueline" by Zoya. I took these photos with my potato phone and it's been a few days since I did the manicure so forgive the chips and general shittiness of the photos. My bad.

August 2013 Ipsy Glam Bag

At about 10pm last night, Pete reminded me to check the mail. How could I forget at such an important time of the month? I mean, I knew my Ipsy bag had shipped; I had been tracking it until late on Friday! How could I forget?

But there it was, waiting for me in its pink shiny envelope.

I was so excited for this month because My Glam Room hasn't been put up yet and I didn't know what I was going to be getting! The only preview I'd seen on Facebook was for the Urban Decay lipstick so I was unbelievably excited. This was the first bag I'd gotten without going onto My Glam Room first and spoiling the surprise.

And the surprise was pleasant!

Here's what was included in my Glam Bag this month:

Contents: 

Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick sample in Anarchy

Mica Beauty eye shadow in Bronze (full size!)

Pacifica BB Cream sample

Pixi Lash Booster Mascara in Blackest Black

Micheal Todd Jojoba Charcoal Facial Scrub sample

So far, I'm loving this bag. I used the scrub this morning, which left my face soft and smooth. It was gentler than last month's Dermae scrub but I really enjoyed it. I'm waiting to use the mascara sample until I start running low on my Clump Crusher and I plan on trying the BB Cream sometime this week (my only complaint so far on the BB Cream is that it does not have an SPF in it.)

Have you received your Ipsy bag yet? What did you get in yours?

(Not signed up for Ispy? You should totally subscribe!)

July 2013 Ipsy Glam Bag

All right. Let's get this straight. I love Ipsy. My monthly Ipsy Glam Bag is something I really look forward to and cannot wait to open each month. I lust over the sneak peaks on Facebook and I obsessively track it once I get the always exciting "Your Ipsy Bag Has Shipped" email. 

It's cool. I'm a freak. No big deal. I already know. I have a problem.

I was particularly excited about this bag because 1. The cosmetic bag this month is freaking awesome and I'll actually use it. 2. LIP CRAYON. I love lip crayons and always have the intention of getting more. (Then I buy eye shadow instead.)

I actually received my bag on Friday so I had all weekend to play with my new products. (Of course I only got to play with a couple since I was kind of busy goofing off and visiting my family but still...)

Here's what I got: 

1. Healthy Sexy Hair Soy Renewal Beach Spray (love this so far)

2. Derma e Microdermabrasion Scrub (have not tried yet but really looking forward to this one... working on my skincare routine)

3. BH Cosmetics California Collection eyeshadow sample palette (YESYESYES!!!)

4. Cool Mineral Sunscreen (going to be great for whenever I make it down to the beach)

5. Pop Beauty Pouty Pop Crayon in Coral Crush (such a fun color but a bit bright)

 

I'm pretty excited to try all of these products and to play more with my new lip crayon and eye shadows (my favorites!) I'm also really curious to try out the Microdermabrasion scrub.

Bonus photo of me wearing my new lip crayon. I applied an Instagram filter so it's a little off in color (look what it did to my hair color!) but I'm a horribly vain person that has to include selfies in my blogs posts.

My First (And Probably Only) Julep Maven Box

If you follow me on Twitter (which you should because I'm weird), you probably know the amount of excitement I felt in purchasing my very first Julep Maven Box (use code FREEBOX to get your first box free + s&h). And oh, when it arrived, it made me the happiest lady in the apartment building.

It was like opening my Fluffy My Come Here Puppy on Christmas morning when I was seven. Oh yes. It was a glorious moment.  You know that feeling... that...  new makeup feeling.

Unfortunately the excitement can only last but so long. I will have to unsubscribe for next month because I just can't afford the actual box price at this point (my real job is very low paying and I have bills to pay, being a grown up blows.) But I will enjoy these polishes and the cuticle oil to their fullest potential, I assure you.

Ipsy Glam Bag May 2013

Pete thinks it's a bit ridiculous how excited I get about halfway through the month when My Glam Bag arrives in the mail but coming home to that shiny pink envelope last week after a bad day of work really made my day. After getting screamed at over customer service phones and being asked over Live Chat for work "if I speak English," this little bag of beauty products what just what I needed.

I might have a problem.

Here's what I got:

But seriously, I have no idea what I'm going to do with all these cosmetic bags.

So far, I love these products. The Zoya nail polish in Jacqueline is a beautiful creamy white (I've been in hot pursuit of white nail polish so i'm satisfied) and is just beautiful. The polish goes on like butter it's so smooth.

I'm also in LOVE with the Juicy beauty lip gloss in pink. It is so shiny is beautiful with minimal stickiness, which is GREAT. I feel like it's a bit drying so I'm trying to use a good lip balm at night but the effect of the lip gloss is really great and it's got a nice light scent to it as well, which is a plus.

The last product I've tried so far is the Macadamia Healing Oil treatment for hair. My hair has been REALLY dry lately so getting this was a blessing. I usually stay away from hair oils because my hair is so fine and thin that any kind of product makes me look like I don't shower. (I DO!) I've been using this (and even keeping it in my hair during the day) and it doesn't seem to weight my hair down very much at all and my hair feels so soft and silky. Loving it so far.

I have yet to try the St. Tropez self tanner or the Yaby concealer yet (need to buy a brush/palette for it) but I'll post when I finally get around to it. :)

Do you subscribe to Ipsy or another beauty box? I'm considering subscribing to another box so leave your recommendations in the comments below!