Ipsy | December Unbagging

After last month, I was less than excited to get my December Ipsy bag. Even though Jessica cancelled, I decided to keep my subscription because I didn't have Ipsy as long as she did. Well, I was actually thrilled with my bag this month! It even beat out Birchbox, which I definitely wasn't impressed with this time around.

Nourish Organic Renewing Eye Cream: I think I've made it clear that I'm mildly obsessed with skin care products, so I like getting new ones to try out. I'm a little on the fence about this one because it takes a lot of smoothing this out to get your skin to absorb it. 

NYX Butter Lip Balm in Parfait: This is one of my favorite things that I've gotten in one of these subscriptions. I'm pretty sure this is only $3, but I know I wouldn't have purchased this on my own. I really like the color and the moisture. I've worn this to bed and I don't even need or want a tint then.

Bumble and Bumble BB Repair Blow Dry: I actually needed something like this for the rare ocassions that I blow dry my hair now that I'm in constant pony tail mode. It's winter, so I don't want to go out or to bed with wet or damp hair. I'll try this out soon.

Cailyn Cosmetics Just Mineral Eye Polish: I actually really like this. I already tried this out and wore it to work once. The color is pretty nice and I like the formulation.

Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes Mascara: I have a larger trial version of this mascara, but I definitely appreciate getting another one! I'm going to add this to my mascara stash because I've accumulated quite a few mascaras lately. Props to Ipsy for actually giving out a higher end brand that I know.

Ipsy | November Unbagging

I haven't really been impressed with Ipsy, but I haven't had enough bags to really axe it just yet. Jessica cancelled her subscription after three bags, so I figured I'd give it one more month and see if there are any redeeming products.

The one thing I hate about Ipsy is that there isn't a card to tell you what the products are and how much they cost like Birchbox does. In order to do these posts I have to look online and see what items where in my bag. I did look at the other samples and saw things I would have liked instead of these items, such as: Laura Mercier powder and fan brush, GlamGlow Powermud, IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Undereye, and the Tarte Maracujua Oil.

Marc Anthony Oil of Morocco Argan Oil Volume Shine Hairspray: I haven't used hairspray in I can't tell you how long. However, I already had a hairspray that worked just fine. I don't understand their brands. Marc Anthony? Like Jennifer Lopez's husband Marc Anthony? The singer? He makes hairspray? Sure. Maybe I'll try it after my hair grows out past the ponytail only stage.

Be A Bombshell Cosmetics Eye Base in Submissive: This is actually the only thing I've used from my Ipsy bag. This is sort of like a paint pot, but it isn't as good. The color is nice, but it's sheer. All I do is rub my finger in the product and smooth it over my eyelid. It has so so staying power and isn't something I would purchase for myself.

Starlooks Gem Eye Pencil in Ultra Orchid: Can I just say thank GOD I didn't get this in the olive color that Jessica received in two different boxes? Thank God. I haven't even unwrapped this because I wasn't feeling like using a second eyeliner, but I'm sure this will be just okay. If it does suck, I'm sure I'll mention it again.

TEMPTU S/B Highlighter in Pink Pearl: I've only heard of Temptu through YouTube back when xSparkage used an airbrush machine. I think Jessica also received one of these a couple months ago, but I don't know if she used it. I'm not a huge liquid highlighter fan. I even have a Benefit Highbeam that I always consider using but just don't. The color looks exactly like my MAC Strobe Cream, so I will consider actually using it at some point.

Love & Beauty by Forever 21 Crème Lipstick in Berry: Sure. At least it isn't a sample size lipstick? The color is actually something I would actually wear, but I haven't done more than open it to see what it looks like. Maybe it's the fact that it's a Forever 21 lipstick? I don't know.

Anyway, this month was okay and the most irritating this was the fact that the goddamn hairspray was sticking out of my bag! Jesus Christ, Ipsy. How does something like this even happen? The bag wasn't even half sealed. I'm surprised this even made it to my mailbox with the hairspray intact.

Subscription Addiction | October Ipsy

Yes, that is a stock photo. No, I didn't feel like going to find my October ipsy bag to take a picture of it. I will say that the bag is really cute and functional. It's like this plastic-y quilted bag, but it's not icky feeling. If that makes any sense whatsoever. ONWARD.

Product #1: Ayres Patagonia Body Butter
It smells good. I haven't tried it yet, but it smells really good! I'm excited to start using it. My boyfriend almost stole it from me because it said "Patagonia" on it. No, it is not a coat in a tiny jar. I'll probably use this on my rough patches on my elbows from doing my planks when I work out. Ridiculous.

Product #2: Epice International Purifying Exfoliant
This is a pretty good product. I use it when I stay at my boyfriend's place, since I got two cleansers in a month between my subscription boxes. It is a really good exfoliator; it doesn't leave me feeling dry or anything like that. And it doesn't smell gross, either.

Product #3: ModelCo VolumEYES mascara
Again with the ModelCo mascara. It will sit in my makeup kit until I'm finished with the other one I'm working on. I don't know why two subscription boxes decided to go with the magical MODELCO mascara, but I am mascara-ed out. So. Time to move on, boxes!


Product #4: Nicole By OPI Nail Polish
This was a pretty gold color for the holidays. I'll probably use it at some point now that CHRISTMAS is closer. Christmas is my jam, you guys. I love it. I haven't tried it yet, but it's really pretty and doesn't seem too glitter-dense.

Product #5: Noyah liptstick
I was a little disappointed with the size of this. It's so TINY. Like... is it even useful if it's that tiny? The actual lipstick was smaller than my pinky nail, and the tube was smaller than my pinky finger (about half the size). Really really disappointed in that. But the color is pretty, it's kind of a mauve-y purple. I'll give it a shot. Well, more like I'll use it once and include it in an empties, because it's so small.

I'm glad I canceled Ipsy. Honestly, it seems like something I could get in Birchbox if I really wanted to. I like Birchbox a ton better, so it makes sense to stick with just one.

Subscription Addiction | My Last Ipsy

I know I'm incredibly behind on blogging. Reggie has made it known! I do have an excuse, with the semester winding down and work being insane, and my boyfriend starting his own business... I've had a lot less "me" time. And I don't like having to explain why I'm taking pictures of my stuff. So, I don't do it. And then it all piles up. And it's disastrous.

Okay! So, thus far, I've been 'meh' about Ipsy. I need to go back and look into what I got for October (although I was fairly certain it was 'meh' too), and post that, but this bag sent me from 'meh' to 'ugh, what a waste'. Here's what I got:

Product #1: J.Cat beauty Wonder Lip Paint in Mad Splatter
I'm not a lip stain gal. I can do glosses, and lipsticks, but lip stains are just way too much for me. Maybe if this were a less intense color, I'd give it a shot. But I'm not a fan. Reggie, it goes without saying that if you want any of this stuff, you let me know. It seemed like a "you" color, but I know you prefer lipstick as well. I've seen YouTube videos where people aren't able to wipe this off after swatching. I get that it's a "stain" concept, and that makes SENSE, but I'd rather it come off when I want it to.

Product #2: Starlooks Ultra Olive Eyeliner Pencil
First and foremost, I received this in my October Boxycharm, if I'm not mistaken, so this is kind of a dud. Plus, it's ultra OLIVE. Which means, green. I learned in middle school that green doesn't always look good on a redhead. Green in moderation, gingers. This was just disappointing. I'll be giving it away for sure.

Product #3: Marc Anthony Oil of Morocco Argan Oil Hairspray
I... don't wear hairspray that often. The last time I wore hairspray was when I dressed up like Rosie the Riveter for #TBT. And even then I hadn't worn it since... ugh, probably the US Marine Corps Birthday ball with my ex boyfriend in 2012. That was awhile ago. I just don't wear hairspray!

Product #4: it Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Anti Aging Concealer
This I will definitely try. I don't normally do concealer, but I'll give it a fair and honest try. It looks to me like it could actually be in my skin tone so we will give it a fair shake before tearing it apart like the rest of the products I won't use here.

Product #5: SeaRx Birchsap Moisturizing Lotion
This is THE TINIEST sample of my existence in the universe. It will last me maybe 2-3 uses? I'll try it, though, because I don't have a moisturizer in my bag at the moment and it does deserve a shot. I don't know what it smells like, because I haven't smelled it... excuse me, allow me to do that right now. Okay, it does have a scent, but I can't identify what that scent actually is.


So, I canceled Ipsy. The products in it made it feel kind of cheap. I'm not always amazed by every subscription box, but Ipsy has been consistently frustratingly missing the mark. They're never full sized, they never seem to be things I want (minus the one Briogeo hair mask which I live by), or need. I also didn't love the bags, for the most part. Three months of 'meh' isn't worth the $10. I gave BB5 that amount of time, too, so I think it's a fair shot. That's a quarter of a year, so if it's consistently that underwhelming, I can't justify spending that $10 for crap.

Should I spend that $10 elsewhere? Another subscription? Or should I save it and stop with the addiction and move on?

My First Ipsy Bag! October Ipsy Unbagging

After what seemed like forever since signing up, I finally got my first Ipsy bag in the mail on Friday! I think it's too early to tell if I'm a huge fan of the subscription, but I did like what I received in this month's bag. 

The bag itself is so-so. It doesn't feel cheap, but it definitely isn't something I'll use. I do like the added touch of having a bag, unlike a box like Birchbox. I didn't see a card that told me what anything was, which is what I like about getting Birchbox. Birchbox lists everything you get on a card and how much a full size costs. 

Starlooks Lip Gloss - I'm not a fan of pigmented lip glosses only because I don't wear them. If I'm wearing a gloss I tend to not really wear a color because the gloss is in place of lipstick. So if I'm going to wear color, I'm wearing a lipstick.

Albertini Warm Love Exfoliating Pumpkin Mask - I've tried this already and I do like it. This smells like pumpkin and the exfoliate isn't over the top. This might be my stand out product and I wish it were just a bit bigger.

Indie Lee Brightening Cleanser - I have a problem with cleansers, meaning I have too many. I like that it's a gel because sometimes thick foaming cleansers are drying. I also like that this is small because I've used up most of my travel sized cleansers. I'll probably use this to try it out and then save it for my next trip to NH for the holidays.

Figs & Rouge Rose Berry Hand Cream - I also have a problem with hand creams and I need to use some up. This is a little watery in consistency so it might just get saved for my purse or the summer when I don't need much moisture. I was bummed that I didn't get the mango scent when I was watching Coffee Break With Dani, until she described hers as smelling like an ugly mango. Mine smells quite nice.

Skone Tattooed Waterproof Eyeliner - I'm not jazzed about this only because I can't even remember the last time I even used eyeliner on my top lid. I've been strictly a waterliner for quite some time now. Maybe that means I need to try it. It's a felt tip pen and I'm not used to those anymore so I might just wear it around the house to test the wear.

All in all, the bag was okay. I don't really have anything to compare it to since it was my first one, but I guess I'll see how I feel about it next month!

Subscription Addiction: September Ipsy Excitement!

This month was my first Ipsy bag! The bag itself is honestly something I couldn't care less about. It is a great organizational tool for my makeup, which I will eventually talk about in a future blog post, but... whatever. Everyone seemed to think the gunmetal bag with the studs on it was the greatest thing this month. Again, I was "meh" about the bag itself. But it does hold a lot.

Subscription Box: Ipsy

Description: With infinite beauty product combinations in the marketplace, choosing the best items for your needs can be a challenge! That was why Michelle created ipsy. Michelle and her team of stylists have selected products they love, for you to try. 

Each month, subscribers will receive a beautiful Glam Bag with deluxe samples and full-sized beauty products. Members can watch and play along with the stylists with the same products that they are using. All for only $10 a month. 

Pricing: $10/month.

Referral Link: Here

Product #1: Briogeo "Don't Despair, Repair" Deep Conditioning Hair Mask
I loved this so freakin' much. I've already used it three times, and traded on eDivv for a backup. It made my hair feel incredibly soft. You get a lot of use for the sample size, too, which is great. Definitely pleased with this.

Product #2: Cailyn Art Touch Tinted Lip Gloss
The shade on this is beautiful. It's a nude-y, peachy, pink color. And I love it. It's not too sticky, and it lasts a decent amount of time. It's one of my go-to glosses lately, and it's fun, and I love it.

Product #3: Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Nail Polish
I like the idea of this, a lot. I'm not so sure I'll use it, though. The problem is that the bright-ass red color is not one I normally go to when I'm painting my nails. Maybe a pretty pink color, or something? I don't know. But, I'm considering trying it to see if the gel manicure stays as long as a salon manicure. I still haven't actually had a gel manicure, which is the problem. I got myself a manicure recently as a "congrats on your last day in retail" present, and it lasted a good week and a half with products that were supposed to be similar to a gel manicure. So, I don't know. Will I use this? Maybe. I just don't like the bright, fire engine red.

Product #4: Pacifica Natural Waterproof Eye Pencil
I like this a lot! Apparently it can be used for brows or as an eyeliner, but I use it as an eyeliner. It's a pretty brown color, and it goes on smoothly. I use this and my noir eyeliner interchangeably depending on what kind of look I'm going for that day. They're both my go-to lately. And I love the Pacifica brand as well. I've received an eyeshadow from that brand and it works great. I also love that they're cruelty-free, which is a major plus.

Product #5: Be a Bombshell Smooth Criminal Powder
I just don't have a use for this? I use powder foundation... perhaps I don't understand its purpose at all, and maybe someday I could work something like this into my beauty routine, but for now, at my very basic level, it doesn't seem like something I need in my collection. I'm intrigued by the Be a Bombshell brand, though, and I'm not sure if that's because of YouTube or Ulta, but either way, it makes me want to try a few more things.


So, that was my ipsy bag for September. It's definitely worth the $10, unlike my BB5 disappointment. I'm not blown away by this month's bag, but I am excited and I do enjoy 3/5 of the products in it. I'll keep this one going for a few more months and see if it's truly worth my $10.

Subscription Addiction: Subscription Boxes are my Beauty Gateway Drug

I've always wanted to educate myself on makeup. I've just really been lazy about it for years. When I was in middle school, we weren't allowed to wear makeup to school (Catholic school, for the win!). In high school, I went to an all-girls school (again, Catholic school, for the win!). In college, I was never an early riser, and just did some quick lipgloss and mascara, if that.

More recently, throughout graduate school, I've been a tiny bit better. I'm a teacher's assistant three days a week to help me pay for school, so now I have to be an early riser. And my body clock usually wakes me up about 20 minutes before my alarm: just enough time to put on some makeup.

I wanted to learn more. My mom has been getting me BareEscentuals every holiday for years, but I wanted to learn more about other brands as well. About a month ago, I subscribed to Ipsy and Birchbox. Both services are $10 a month and they are beauty subscription services. Once a month, they send you a box or a bag with an average-ish of 5 deluxe beauty samples (hair care, skin care, makeup, etc) or, in Birchbox's case, lifestyle stuff as well (tea, snacks, etc).

I was obsessed with my Ipsy and Birchbox, so I started googling. The more I googled, the more I learned. I came across My Subscription Addiction, the worst/best thing ever. I could figure out which boxes were free for your first month with a code, which gave you money off, and which were expensive as crap. I started watching YouTube unboxings, and that was where I ended up getting sucked in. My cat and my dog both have subscription boxes. My boyfriend doesn't yet, but he hasn't finished the one month Mistobox gift I gave him last year. But he will.

So, this post is going to kind of be an introduction to the subscription boxes I have tried or want to try. I will make a new post for each unboxing (including pricing, contents, etc), but this will be an overview.

Boxes I have tried (and received a box):
Birchbox
Julep Maven
BeautyBox5
KitNipBox (this one's for my cat, haters gonna hate)
Nadine West (technically not makeup, but it's fashion. I'll make a new post on that later.)
RocksBox (jewelry subscription box)
Toothbrush Subscriptions (um, I forget to change my toothbrush, okay?)

Boxes I Am Expecting Any Day Now (but have not yet tried):
BarkBox
Ipsy
Boxycharm
Love With Food

Boxes I Would Love to Try (but am too broke, let's be real):
Glossybox
Scratch
Sample Society
Loot Crate
Wantable
Beauty Army
Beauty Test Tube
Whimseybox
LipFactory
Total Beauty Collection
Bonjour Jolie
Beauty DNA
BezelBox

Obviously there's a box for almost everything. In my next post, I'm going to answer the obviously looming question: What the hell am I going to do if I hate what's in the box?