Ipsy Glam Bag Review - January 2013

It's almost February - whoops! But not quite yet. Still time to review my January glam bag from Ipsy. I enjoy writing about these almost as much as I enjoy getting them in the mail, so hopefully you like reading about them, too.

Pacifica Tuscan Blood Orange Body Butter - $6 value
I've seen this lotion around, but I'd never tried it before. Apparently the company who makes it is based in Portland. Who knew? The scent is nice (my boyfriend approves), but a teensy bit strong.

Big Sexy Hair Spray & Play Hairspray - $2 value
I don't think we've gotten a hair product in our glam bag before, so I was happy to see them mix it up a little. It's a too heavy for me--I prefer hairspray with a light, flexible hold--but it's always nice to have a travel-size hairspray on hand.

Josie Maran Argan Oil - $5 value
I can't tell a difference between brands of argan oil, but this sample is perfect for my purse. I use it to moisturize my cuticles throughout the day.

Nailtini Nail Lacquer in Bloody Mary - Full Size - $13 value
This is a classic red nail polish with cool undertones. Full size - woohoo!

Soho Pro Concealer Brush - $8 value
I usually apply concealer with my fingers, but I was pleasantly surprised with this brush. It works particularly well for applying eye shadow primer (random, but useful).

I was a little bummed that this month's box didn't have more makeup in it, but Ipsy is still my favorite subscription box. The total value of the box adds up to about $34. Not too shabby for a $10 investment. If you haven't already, check out my reviews of the November and December boxes.

Ipsy Glam Bag Review - December 2012

Last month, I posted a review of my first glam bag from Ipsy just for fun. It ended up being one of my most popular posts, so here are my thoughts on what they sent me for December.

Mai Couture Highlighter Paper - $14 value
At first glance, I thought these were oil blotting sheets. Then I realized they were highlighter papers. Cool idea, in theory, but they turned my face orange. The color of the powder on these papers is more of a blush than a highlighter for my light skin tone. I wish these came in more than one shade. Bummer.

Be a Bombshell Lip Gloss in Hot Mess - Full Size - $14 value
I had never heard of this brand before, but I love red lip glosses, so I was excited to give this product a try. Turns out, it's fantastic. You can apply a thin layer for a sheer pop of color or apply more heavily for a high-shine red finish. It wears longer and more evenly than other red lip glosses I've tried. I've worn this several times already - both at work and for play.

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-on Eye Pencil in Zero - $14 value
I've purchased this eye liner before. It glides on super smoothly and stays on forever. Pretty sure it made my day when I found out this liner was coming in my December box.

Mirabella Prime for Face and Eyes - Full size - $29 value
I don't typically wear liquid foundation, so this has been fun to try, but not something I'd use on a daily basis. Feels similar to the Smashbox Photo Finish primer. I've used it a few times on my eyelids, but I can't tell if it helps my shadow wear longer or not.

Nyx Loose Pearl Shimmer - Full size - $3 value
On Ipsy's website, they showed this in gold. I would have much rather gotten a gold powder than this charcoal. It's messy, so I don't love it. Again, I think I may have liked it better if I tried it in a lighter color.

Here's a look at what some of the colors look like on my skin. From left: highlighter (eh hem, bronzer), eye liner, lip gloss, and loose power eye shadow. Even though I didn't love all the products, the lip gloss and the eye liner are a total hit. For $10, I received about $74 worth of product. Ahhh-mazing.

Ipsy Glam Bag Review - November 2012

I recently subscribed to a few different monthly subscription boxes. It's been super helpful looking at other blogs to see which boxes offer the best products (and best deals!), so I wanted to share with you! For $10 per month, Ipsy sends you a makeup bag with five sample and/or full size beauty products. Caution: These subscription boxes are addicting, so proceed with caution. Here is what I got in my November box:

Nailtini Speakeasy Nail Lacquer in Millionaire - Full Size - $13 value
This is a fun nail polish for the holidays. It's really similar to an OPI nail polish I have, but it has some multi-color glitter in addition to the gold flecks.

Benefit They're Real Mascara - Sample Size - $8 value
I love Benefit products (they always have the cutest packaging), so I'm excited to try this mascara. I've been using a Bobbi Brown mascara that I love, so I'll wait to try this until I run out. (Update: This mascara is REALLY hard to remove. I tried waterproof eye makeup remover. No dice. Very frustrated. May toss it.)

Bare Minerals Moxie Lip Gloss in Dare Devil - Sample Size - $9 value
When I first saw this, I worried that it would show up too dark on my lips (dark lipstick doesn't look so hot with my fair skin), but it's actually pretty sheer. It has a minty taste that I LOVE. Of all the products I received in my November bag, this is hands down my favorite. I would probably actually buy a full-size version of this product when I run out.

The Balm Meet Matt(e) Eye Shadow - Sample Size - $4 value
I've been using this eye shadow in my crease and to create a "smokey" eye look. It goes on really smoothly. I'm much more impressed with this shadow than I expected. Not a color for daytime wear, but good for evenings and weekends.

Starlet Cosmetics Eyeliner in Chocolate - Full Size - $11 value
This eyeliner isn't my favorite. I don't love the brown color. It has a reddish undertone--usually I buy liners that are more black/brown. It's also not as creamy as I'd like, but it might be an OK liner to use for work, etc.

Here's a look at how the different colors look on my skin. From left: Eyeliner, eye shadow, and lip gloss. Overall, I'm really impressed with my first Ipsy bag. For $10, I received about $45 worth of makeup. Yay! I'm already getting anxious to see what they send me in December.

Do you subscribe to any of these monthly beauty boxes?