Ipsy October 2013 Review

Ipsy's theme this month was "The Art of Beauty" and once again, I'm a little disappointed by my bag.  I *might* cancel my subscription.  We will see how November and December go.

Ipsy, October 2013

In order from my least favorite to my most favorite this month:

Sexy Hair Spray Clay.

Spray Clay

I guess this is a hairspray that texturizes and mattifies.  I don't like the sound of that at all! I like smoothing things that add shine, and I don't ever use hair spray.

Sample size is 1.4 oz.  Full size (4.4 oz) $18.95 at Ulta, making this sample worth $6.03.


Next, LA Fresh Oil-Free Face Cleanser Wipes.

La Fresh Face Cleanser wipes

I really only use these when I travel, and I still have some left over from the LAST time Ipsy sent these to me.  Way to double up on samples! Oh, I'm sorry, La Fresh Make-Up Remover Wipes are *so* different from La Fresh Oil-Free Face Cleanser Wipes.  Ugh.

La Fresh sells 30 wipes for $9.99, making these 10 wipes worth $3.33.


Coastal Scents Medium Shadow Brush.

Coastal Scents Medium Shadow Brush

This seems ok.  I won't know until I really use it, but extra brushes are always ok by me.  Nothing to really complain about here!  I just wish they had said if this is natural or synthetic.  They sell both, but didn't specify on the packaging- my guess is natural, but I could be wrong.


$2.49 on Coastal Scents' website.


Bella Terra Mineral Cosmetics Mineral Shimmer in Navy.

Bella Terra Mineral Shimmer

I'm glad I got the navy instead of the color that was shown in my profile!  It is a decent mineral shadow, no complaints.  It did rub off pretty easily (at least, the pretty sparkly things rubbed off of my hand easily), so I will use a primer with it.

Bella Terra Mineral Shimmer in Navy, Swatched.

This shadow sells for $14.99 for 2.5g.  The sample is 2.0g, worth $11.99.


Last, but not least, is Zoya Mason.

Zoya Mason

This is a nice dark fuchsia, with a hint of glitter.  It's a really pretty color and I know I will get a lot of wear out of it.  I don't have anything quite like it in my collection!

Two Coats of Zoya Mason

$8, 15 mL.  FULL SIZED.  Not a sneaky 80% size (I'm looking at you, bella terra!).


I think the bag iteslf this month sucks.  It's white (again, when will they learn?!) with a pink interior and the words "Love of beauty is taste.  The creation of beauty is art."  Lame.  Patterns or solids, please! I don't need your silly words of "wisdom", but thanks.

Blurry picture (my iPhone is acting up) of this month's bag.

Overall, I'm disappointed.  The other options this month were Buxom Full-On Lip Polish in Dolly; Ole Henriksen Truth Serum Collagen Booster; Sexy Hair Blow Dry Gel; H2O Plus Face Oasis Hydrating Treatment, Nourish Organic Body Lotion; Ofra Sultry Lipgloss and Plumper; Ole Henriksen Truth Creme Advanced Hydration; be Delectable Hand Cream; Starlooks Lip Pencil, Wet n Wild Photo Op Eyeshadow.  So, there were some other crappy options, but also some really good products!

I've gotten all of the lame stuff for the past 2 months and none of the things I actually want! I did try changing my profile, but I don't think they are paying any attention to that.

Total Value: $31.84.

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 March 2013

Ipsy March 2013: Month 7; Red Carpet Ready

Ipsy Bag March 2013
Photo from Ipsy

This month's bag is so cute! It has a white interior and is navy and white stripes with little anchors all over it.  I'm from RI and I have lived here most of my life, so I have a thing for anchors.  It's on our state flag, along with our state motto: HOPE.  Nice and simple, right?

Mini Freestyle GlamRx Magnetic Palette with Mirror
Photo from Ipsy

This magnetic palette is the only good thing about the bag this month, besides the bag itself.  The whole bottom is magnetic so you can rearrange products as needed.  It also has a mirror and is small enough to fit in my makeup bag without taking up much room.  Too bad I am too lazy to depot the things I like, and all the magnetic singles I have suck! I did put my Mirabella eyeshadow pan in it (from Ipsy September 2012).

The "freestyle" palette on their website is $9.95 and looks to be the same as what I got in this bag. They also sell a double-decker for $16.50.

LA Fresh Makeup Remover Wipes
Photo from Ipsy

These are good for lazy people like me.  However, I am still too lazy to use them, as I shower at night and take all my makeup off then.  I bring these on vacations in case I need to touch up my face before going out at night.  I haven't been on vacation for more than 2 nights since I got this particular pack, though, so I have a number left.

There were 8 wipes in the sample size, which LA Fresh sells for $2.50.

Juice Beauty Hydrating Mist
Photo from Ipsy

UGH.

Cat pee scented.  Lovely.

Full size (WHY, PEOPLE) is $22 for 200 mL.  Sample is 30 mL of nasty with a value of $3.30.  

Yaby Eyeshadow in Sand Dune
Photo from Ipsy

Yaby Eyeshadow in Teal (So Vein? Maybe that is the color name)
Photo from Ipsy

See above link to my least favorite products.  I hate these. SO MUCH.

Yaby sells individual eyeshadow refill pans (3?!g) for $3.15.  I wonder if they are including the weight of the pan itself in that.  There is no way that tiny sub-dime-sized shadow is 3 full grams.

ASSUMING these are full-sized, the value for the two would be $6.30.

Total Value $22.35

Not only has this been the lowest valued Ipsy bag I have received, it is also my least favorite.  I liked the bag.  The palette is ok.  That's about it.  Oh well, you win some and you lose some.  All my other awesome months made up for this loser.


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.

Retrospective: Birchbox September 2012

See my first Retrospective for the answers to the quiz that I used.

September 2012: Month 7

Birchbox and Color Club Custom Collection in Tweet Me
Photo from Birchbox

Ugh.  Not only is this a gross chartreuse creme, it is another Color Club polish.  Like all the other polishes I have by this brand it is streaky, chips fast, and needs at least 3 coats.

Full size 0.5 oz for $8, this 0.25 oz sample is $4.

Jouer Matte Moisture Tint in Linen
Photo from Birchbox

Jouer makes a great product, and this is no exception.  I like the matte moisture tint even more than the Luminizing version I received in the March 2013 box.  It has great coverage and isn't too heavy.  This matte version keeps you shine-free all day.  Linen was a little warm for my skin tone, I think Porcelain would have been better.

Full size $38 for 50 mL.  Sample size of 2 mL valued at $1.52

kate spade new york Twirl
Photo from Birchbox

Perfume sample overload! This was before BB added more options into their profile, including the glorious "please don't send me perfume samples more than 6 times a year."  I don't like this one as much as some of the other samples I've gotten.  I did wear it about a week ago and it lasted all day and while it wasn't unpleasant, I did not like the whiffs of it I got throughout the day.  I'll stick to my kate spade handbags, thank you ;)

Full size $80 for 100 mL.  Sample (1.5 mL) value $1.20

LA FRESH Eco Beauty Acetone-Free Nail Polish Remover Wipes
Photo from Birchbox

I've written about my hatred for these before.  I'm not getting worked up about them again.

$9.99 for 20 packets.  Value of 1 worthless packet $0.50

Mighty Leaf Tea in Green Tea Tropical, Chamomile Citrus, and Vanilla Bean
Photo from Birchbox

Green Tea Tropical is seriously my very favorite tea of all time.  I am so glad BB sent these samples to me!  I am also glad that the little coffee shop at the top of campus stocks this brand, so I can have green tea tropical all winter long.  It tastes a lot like Panera's iced green tea, except hot. Delicious.

$9.95 for 15 pouches.  Value of 3 pouches $1.99.  I should just buy these and make my own damn tea.  That wouldn't give me the excuse to leave my office, though...

Vasanti Brighten Up! Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator
Photo from Birchbox

I liked this scrub.  It was not gentle, but not like I was rubbing my face in a sandbox.  It also has lasted me up until now, about a year, of using it 1-2 times per month, and I still have a couple uses left.  It doesn't take much!  Nice.  Now I have to hope I get sent another face scrub so I don't go out and buy the full size when I run out!  

$34 for 120 grams, making the 20 gram sample worth $5.67

Total Value $14.88.

This was a mixed bag.  What was good was very, very good, and what was bad was horrid.  Oh well.  I'll give the polish to a friend to paint his fishing lures.  Maybe they will like it more than I do!





Birchbox costs $10/month, including shipping and sends you a box of 4-6 samples and sometimes full-sized products.  You can review the products you receive for 10 Birchbox points each.  For every $1 you spend in the BB shop, you also receive 1 BB point.  For every 100 BB points you accumulate, you get $10 to spend in their shop.  If you would like to sign up, my link is here and I will earn 50 BB points at the end of your first month.

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.

Birchbox Limited Edition Boxes

Birchbox has just put out two new limited edition boxes in conjunction with the Cosmetic Executive Women (CEW) Beauty Insiders' Choice Awards.

The first box is the Prestige Headliners box for $18.

Photo from Birchbox

The contents are:
Julep Nail Polish (one of my favorite brands)
Julep Essential Cuticle Oil (smells like lavender)
Living Proof Prime Style Extender (this stuff is awesome)
IT Cosmetics Brow Power Universal Brow Pencil
LA Fresh Eco-Beauty Oil-Free Face Cleanser Wipes
Elizabeth Arden Prevage Anti-Aging Triple Defense Shield Broad Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 50


The other box is the Mass Appeal box for $12.

Photo from Birchbox

This is the box I bought.  It contains:

Burt's Bees Ultimate Care Hand Cream 

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain (I have 4 of these and can't get enough! Best drugstore lip product I've ever tried!)

Simple Revitalizing Eye Roll-On

L'Oreal Paris Infallible Eyeshadow

Nivea a Kiss of Olive Oil and Lemon Moisture Rich Lip Care

Olay Pro-X Spot Fading Treatment

I have enough Julep polishes and cuticle oil, and already have the living proof product, so I wasn't really interested in buying that box.  The one with the drugstore products, however, I was all about!

If you buy both, you get a $4 discount, bringing the total to $26 for all of the above products.


I had some BB points to spend, so I picked up theBalm's Mary Lou-Manizer since I've heard great things.


If you are not yet a member, you can use my referral code.  It won't get you anything extra, but here are some codes that will:
For free shipping use code BBSHOP
For 15% off a $35 order, use code 7TEEN15

You can only apply one code at a time, so I opted to save 15% (theBalm is shipping free this month) instead of applying it toward a bonus sample-sized product.

Are you getting either box?  I can never seem to resist ;)

Disclaimer: This post contains a referral link.  If you become a Birchbox subscriber using my link, I will receive 50 BB Points at the end of your first month.  All reviews and opinions in this post are my own and no compensation was received for it.

My All-Subscription Box Vacation, Part 1

I'm going on vacation! It's a "surprise," but I'm pretty sure we are heading to somewhere on Cape Cod for two nights and most of three days. Vacations are great. Not only do I get to stuff my face with delicious foods with the excuse that, "I'm on vacation," I get the chance to use up some of the sample products I've received from subscription boxes. Sub boxes are great; I haven't had to buy a travel size of anything in over a year! I killed so many foil packets in Europe last summer; it was fantastic. Here is what I am packing for my weekend away:

Hello, hair products!

 Number 4 Clarifying Shampoo (Birchbox December 2012). I love this stuff, it smells great and is sulfate free! I only plan on shampooing once while I am there, so it's fine that this is clarifying.

(MALIN + GOETZ) Cilantro Hair Conditioner (Birchbox October 2012). This is ok. It's not my favorite conditioner, it's not quite strong enough for my hair, but it's fine for travel. I'm almost out, I have 1 use left in the bottle.

Beauty Protector Protect and Detangle (Birchbox April 2013). I've already expressed my love for this product *um yeah, let me actually upload that entry*. The travel-sized bottle makes me happy. I might just sleep with it under my pillow in the hopes that some magical hair fairy grants all my wishes.

Curly Hair Solutions Curl Keeper (Birchbox November 2012/ July 2013). This will do just fine for the beach.

Davines Oi/Oil (Birchbox June 2013). This is part of their 3-step system. I already used the conditioner packet, and the shampoo contains sulfates so I try to use it only every now and then (it smells sooo good though!), so this is all I have left to try out of the three. I plan on straightening my hair if we go out to a fancy dinner and this will be my finishing product. There are also some twistbands hiding under there. I like them a lot and have a ton everywhere; my car, my desk at work, upstairs, downstairs, in the side table by the couch, in the bathroom...

All the face gunk I'm bringing

LA Fresh Makeup Remover Wipes (Ipsy March 2013) These are perfectly adequate for wiping the day off of my face at night. They will do just fine for this weekend away. \

(MALIN + GOETZ) Grapefruit Face Cleaner (Birchbox October 2012) I haven't tried this, but everything else by this company has been decent. I love the smell of grapefruit, so I'll probably like this. I'm assuming this will be enough for 1 night.

Suki Exfoliate Foaming Cleanser  (Birchbox June 2013) I'm bringing my last little bit of this with me for the second night. I loved this product! I think it's too expensive to buy the full price, but maybe if I save up my BB points for a while I will splurge on it. It smells delicious! I may or may not have tasted a little bit and we will just say that it smells better than it tastes.

Coola Mineral Sunscreen- Unscented (Ipsy July 2013) Sunscreen is a must-have. I'm also bringing SPF100000000000 for my body and face if we go to the beach or spend any amount of time outside. This is just for every-day anyway use under my makeup.

Embryolisse Lait-Creme Concentré (Birchbox January 2013) This is supposed to be good. We shall see. This is for at night, I didn't feel like packing my big full-sized Juice Beauty moisturizer that was in the June Popsugar.

Marvis Classic Strong Mint Toothpaste (Birchbox May 2013) I like this toothpaste, but not enough to buy it. The sample is nice and I don't have another travel size at the moment. I'm going to the dentist a few days after we get back and will get one then ;) All of this fits into the little silver makeup bag that Ipsy sent in December 2012. Excellent.

This post contains items that were received in Birchbox and Ipsy, both of which are purchased with my own funds.  All opinions are my own.

Least 5 Favorite Birchbox Items

My 5 Least Favorite Birchbox Products
Besides almost every fragrance sample ever sent to me, these are my five least favorite items received through Birchbox.

Photo from Birchbox

#5. Miss Jessie's Jelly Soft Curls  (May 2013)
This just did not work for my hair.  I have curly hair, yes, but I like my ringlets to be soft and touchable.  If that means a little frizz, fine.  This smelled like a laundromat and made my hair crunchy and my curls did not stay together, if you know what I'm trying to describe.  It made everything look very strand-y and 90's.  If I wanted to look like I had 90's hair, I'd spend $2.50 on some LA Looks. Not my HG curl product.

Photo from Birchbox

#4 Dropps Laundry Detergent Concentrated Pack (April 2012)
Um, bad choice of "Lifestyle Extra," BB.  Luckily, I'm not sensitive to scents in my detergents.  This smelled fine, and did its job well, but I don't subscribe to a beauty box in hopes of getting my clothes cleaner.  What's next? Tide dishwasher pods? I don't even have a dishwasher! I'm glad I at least have a washer/dryer!  Had this come in a different type of sub box, I wouldn't have had a problem with it.  It just looks out of place next to nail polish and perfume vials.

Photo from Birchbox

#3 LA FRESH Nail Polish Remover Pad (September 2012)
I like nail polish.  I'm also a chemist and I have an affinity for acetone.  I practically shower in the stuff at work, so I don't have a problem with using it to remove my polish.  I just make sure to keep my hands, cuticles, and nails hydrated.  This nail polish remover pad smelled great, and I do like the convenience of the individual packets for traveling- I buy the all acetone Rite Aid brand.  However, aside from the convenience factor, these sucked.  They left behind a very oily residue and did not even remove all of my polish.  I had to go back over everything with a cotton ball and acetone.  Waste of time.

Photo from Birchbox

#2 S.W. Basics Beeswax Lip Balm in Cocoa (October 2012)
Had BB sent me a different flavor, like cinnamon (mmm), I would have been over the moon with this sample.  However, this is representative of a larger theme within my BB products- terrible scents/colors.  This is the most offensive example.  I just don't like the smell of raw cocoa butter- to me it smells like a hamster cage that needs to be cleaned.  It's disgusting.  This lip balm is amazing and in terms of texture and hydration and staying-power, it's one of the best I have tried.  I just can only use it when I have a stuffy nose, and hope that other people aren't offended that I smell like a pet store.

Photo from Birchbox

#1 Juice Beauty Stem Cellular Repair CC Cream (April 2013)
Juice Beauty is a great brand and I love the moisturizer I received in the June Popsugar Must Have box.  That one smells like lemonade and has a handy pump to keep the rest of the product sanitary.  Fantastic.  So, I know that this brand can make a good face product, and I just don't know what happened with this CC cream. It has no coverage, is very thick, but at the same time, almost airy, like a mousse.  It's a confusing texture.  It also smells like butt.  Their products are made with organic ingredients and are mostly plant-based (juices and oils).  I really like that about this company.  Too bad I really hate this CC cream.  If it had good coverage, it would be one thing.  If the scent faded quickly, it would be another.  Neither is true.  I gave away the two additional samples of this that came with the moisturizer in the June PSMH.


If I somehow have convinced you to sign up for BB, it is $10/month and this is my referral link.

This post contains items that I purchased through Birchbox.  All opinions are my own. This post also contains a referral link.  For each person who signs up for BB using my link, I receive 50 BB points.