Ipsy Review September 2013

Ipsy September 2013

Woo! Ipsy time!

This month's theme is "Classic Beauty" and the bags included products to help you create your favorite classic looks.

Ipsy September 2013

This month everyone received a shade of NYX powder eyeshadow single.  I got ES29: Deep Charcoal.

NYX Eyeshadow in Deep Charcoal

This is a shimmery darker gray color, but is very buildable.  I was able to get a sheer layer, but also a true-to-pan swatch with another swipe of color.  I used my finger and no primer in the pictures below.

Cailyn and NYX Swatches

Full size, value $4.50

The next item that everyone got was another mascara.  We just got one last month, but at least this is sealed and I can keep it until needed.  

It's So Big Mascara from Elizabeth Mott

It's So Big Volumizing Mascara from Elizabeth Mott.  Claims to lengthen and curl your lashes, and last all day.

The full size is 10 mL and sells for $20.  Sample size 4mL, worth $8.

We also each got three other items, chosen based on our Ipsy profiles by Ipsy Match. Uh.. ok.  I would have liked the mini Butter London polish WAY BETTER than anything I got.  Oh well, win some, lose some.  Could have been worse!

Cailyn Tinted Lip Balm in Big Apple

Cailyn Tinted Lip Balm in Big Apple

This is packaged just like the Cailyn gel eyeliner I got in a previous bag.  The cap unscrews from the pot and there is a built-in brush.  I used my finger to apply this and now my finger is stained... I probably should have used the brush!

Cailyn Balm and included brush

Everyone got the same color, a bright blue-toned red that should be flattering on most skin tones.  I don't know what I'm going to do with all these red lip products I'm getting! I suppose I'm going to have to learn to rock the red lip.  This balm is more like a stain- it is on the dry side, but not drying, if you know what I mean.  It didn't rub off on my boyfriends cheek (he HATES when things don't pass that test! ;) and still feels pretty smooth on my lips without being sticky or slimy or anything.

This was the tiniest amount of product I could manage to apply- and it's STILL super red.

This was full-sized (3g) and sells for $19.

Starlooks Kohl Eye Pencil in Obsidian

Starlooks Kohl Eyeliner in Obsidian

Snore.  Another black eyeliner that is not my beloved UD24/7.  It's going in the giveaway drawer.  I'm sure it's great, but I have at least 3 UD liners in Zero and one in Perversion.  Not to mention my various black gel eyeliners that I have gotten in sub boxes.  I don't think I'll use them up any time soon anyway, as I mostly wear bright colors and not black.

Again, I think it's interesting that a makeup company with its own subscription box would partner with Ipsy.  It's probably a good move on their part, and at least a black eyeliner is generally going to be flattering on everyone- not like the lip liners they sent out that were odd colors.

This is full sized (2.4g) and sells for $12.

The final product(s) I got in my bag were three of the Freeman Beauty Paper Masks.

Freeman Beauty Paper Trio

I got one each in Starfruit (purifying), Rose (brightening), and Blue Agave (hydrating).  You smooth the mask on your face, wait 5-10 minutes, and then peel off.  I've never used a paper mask before and am interested to try it out!

These sell for about $1.99 each.  $5.97 for the three.

The other either/or items were: Butter London mini polish, Chella Ivory Lace Highlighter Pencil, J.Cat Beauty Fantabulous Lipstick, Jesse's Girl Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner, John Frieda Full Repair Shampoo, John Frieda Full Repair Conditioner, Pop Beauty Pouty Pop Crayon, Skyn Iceland Firming Eye Gels, or Victoria Jackson Taupe Brow Pencil.  

This month there was also a promotional insert for em by Michelle Phan (the new makeup line by Ipsy's founder).  It showed an actual size picture of the Life Palette (Career Life) and included some samples pressed onto the cardboard.  These always weird me out.  Anyway, they included a blush and 3 eyeshadows from the "look 4: natural talent" quadrant of this particular palette.  It says that the sample "is for evaluation of texture and aesthetic properties only"... whatever that is supposed to mean.  So, not enough for an actual application of the product, just enough to see the colors and feel what it feels like stamped on paper?  Thanks...  The colors give are ok, but nothing special.  A bunch of neutrals.

em by Michelle Phan sample

Total Value $49.47

This bag was decent.  I like the actual bag's print more than I thought I would after seeing it online.  Black eyeliner, mascara, and red lips are definitely classic looks, and the grey shadow would make for a nice smokey eye.  I'll probably use the face masks for a girls' night, since Ipsy was nice enough to include 3!  BB would have only given us one, I'm sure...  All in all, it's an acceptable bag.  I'm not absolutely in love with anything, but there aren't any duds.

If you want to sign up for Ipsy, you can use my link here.  I'll get 250 points for referring you.  It costs $10 per month, including shipping, and you get deluxe and full sized products.  It is a mostly makeup subscription with a few other beauty things thrown in every now and then.

No special consideration or compensation was received for this post and all thoughts and opinions are my own. All items mentioned within were paid for by me.

Retrospective: Ipsy June 2013

Ipsy April 2013: Month 10; On the Wild Side

Ipsy bag June 2013
Photo from Ipsy

This month's bag was leopard print with a neon green zipper! Unlike the other bags, this one has a zipper across the front instead of across the top of the bag.  I'm not sure I care either way, it's just something new to note.

Cailyn Line-Fix Gel Eyeliner with Brush Built-In in 06 Purple
Photo from Ipsy

This is a very pretty-looking liner.  The brush pops out of the top of the case and can be flipped around and re-inserted so you have a longer handle.  However, this does make it unwieldy to carry around because it's an awkward size and shape.  I wish they had a separate flat top for the liner pot and I could just carry my own eyeliner brush separately.

The color is a rich, dark purple without any of the brightness that can sometimes make purple liners look unprofessional.  This is totally wearable for most occasions.  It goes on smoothly and stays put, which are two very important eyeliner qualities.  I have a few purple liners (both gel and my beloved UD 24/7s) but no color quite this deep.  Due to its uniqueness and quality, I'm keeping it, even if I don't wear gels too often.

Full size $21 for 4g plus brush.

NYX Powder Blush in Spice (Matte Mauve)
Photo from Ipsy

Honestly, I haven't opened this yet.  It's not particularly "summery" and I have so many blushes that I may never even get around to using it.  I'm just not a blush girl.  I wear it every day, and I have two or three I rotate throughout the year, but I don't care enough about it to have a spectrum of blush colors from bubblegum pink to deep red to peach and tangerine and all the colors in between.  I do have a powder blush from NYX that I use to contour and I like it.  It blends well, so I am assuming another shade of the same product will perform similarly.  It's not super-duper pigmented, which makes it very useable.  I hate blushes that are so bright that you can't even touch the bristles of your brush to them without picking up too much.

Full size $5 for 5.2g.

Starlooks Lip Pencil in Bare
Photo from Ipsy

Starlooks is a makeup company that also has their own branded makeup subscription box.  I find it interesting that they would pair with another beauty subscription box... maybe in the hopes of gaining some more subscribers?  If that is the case, they would have done better to provide a different product.  They sent out three colors of these lip liners and from what I can tell, they were the wrong three colors for pretty much everyone.  I haven't even opened the plastic seal around this one yet, because it looks dark and greyish and will almost certainly be the wrong color for me.  I've seen people say the quality is great, but that won't persuade me to try this.  I have 3 or 4 open lip liners already and they cover the colors I need.

Full size $12 (2.4g).

J.cat Sparkling Cream Palette in Volta
Photo from Ipsy

This is in my 5 least favorite Ipsy products post.  I don't feel like talking about it again.

Full size $4.49 for 0.1 oz of product.

Chella Ivory Lace Highlighter Pencil
Photo from Ipsy

This is in my Ipsy Top 5.  I've used this almost exclusively as my go-to highlighter since I got it, and I've only sharpened it once! Sorry to my Benefit High Brow that is sitting neglected at the bottom of my makeup bag.  This is the perfect color for me and the texture is awesome.  It blends so easily, and even can cover up some stray hairs that you have yet to pluck from under your brows ;).  This is the final polishing step to my minimal makeup.  Chella also sells other colors of this product.  It's a little pricey, but seems like it will last long enough to get your money's worth.

Full size $18 (1.4g).

There were some variations in the bags this month.  Everyone got a blush from NYX, but it could have been powder, cream, or mosaic.  The other two potential products were J.cat eyelashes with eyelash glue and Psssst! Dry shampoo.  This would be instead of the highlighter pencil or cailyn eyeliner, I believe.

Total Value $60.49

Wow! That is a great deal for only $10! Every item was full-sized, which is amazing. Even with the dud glitter palette, this was a great bag, and I'm totally happy with it.  Way to go, Ipsy.

Ipsy costs $10/month, including shipping, and sends you a box of 4-6 samples and sometimes full-sized products.  If you would like to sign up, my link is here and I will earn a free item if 2 people sign up with my link.

This post contains products I purchased with my own money.  No compensation was received for this post and all opinions are my own.  This post contains a referral link, see above for details.