Inside my Ipsy Bag: October

Here we go again!

This bag is so pretty!  The colour is a gorgeous red with an embossed mask on the front of the bag.  Again, it's a great shape so it's easy to use for multiple tasks.

Let's take a look inside:

 

 

Contents Include:

• Eyeshadow by Nomad
• Nail Polish by Sundays
• Lip Polish from Buxom
• Face Mask by Aphrodite
• Face Cleanser by Murad

 

 

 

Let's take a closer look:

 

What: Nordic Lights Intense Eyeshadow by Nomad
Shade: Norrsken No4
Size: Trial Size
Full Size Price: 12 USD

 

 

My Thoughts: This eyeshadow is gorgeous.  Personally, I think I'm going to have a hard time working it into my looks because it's quite bold (for me) but I'm excited to try out some looks with it.  The formula is quite nice and the shadow is highly pigmented.  The only negative thing I have to say is that the packaging leaves a little to be desired because they all look the same!  I have eyeshadows and highlighters from Nomad and you can't tell them apart without opening up the package.

My Rating: 5/5

 

 

 

 

What: Nail Polish by Sundays
Shade: No 18
Size: Full Size
Full Size Price: 18 USD

 

 

My Thoughts: This colour surprised me. I thought it would be similar to others that I have but it really is quite distinct.  Like other Sunday's polishes, it wears well and is clearly a good formula.  This particular colour actually reminded me of gel polishes with regards to the pigmentation and shine.

My Rating: 5/5

What: Full-on Lip Polish from Buxom
Shade: Dolly
Size: Trial Size
Full Size Price: 21 USD

 

 

My Thoughts:  This is a great product.  I generally do not like plumping lip products because the tingling sensation is usually more like a burning sensation on my sensitive skin but this one is not too bad.  The first time I tried it, it was a little distracting but the more I use it, the more I'm getting accustomed to it.  The colour is bang on a shade that I like to use though so I'm inclined to keep using this.

My Rating: 5/5

 

 

 

 

What: Olive Oil Deep Cleansing Face Mask by Aphrodite
Size: Trial Size
Full Size Price: 16.99 USD

 

 

My Thoughts:  I am IN LOVE with Aphrodite products!  I also have the face scrub and it's so incredibly good.  This product is no different. It doesn't smell like a whole lot and it's great on my sensitive skin.  I've used it a few times and I feel like my skin is softer, clearer and brighter.  I would highly recommend this product and will be purchasing the full size after I run out of this one.

My Rating: 5/5

 

 

 

What:  Face Cleanser by Murad
Size: Trial Size
Full Size Price: 40 CND

 

 

My Thoughts: This is a really nice face cleanser.  After use, my skin feels soft and not dry at all.  This is the first product I've used from this brand and I have to say that I am impressed with the formula.  The price tag is a bit of a deterrent for me though honestly, I think you can find a drug store brand that is just as good for half (or less) of the price.

My Rating: 4/5

 

 

 

Overall thoughts: Wow! I'm impressed with this bag.  I really liked all of the products that were in the bag - I probably would only repurchase the face mask but I may look into purchasing one of the Nomad eyeshadow pallets because I really do like their formuals.

 

I do want to mention that I was really unimpressed with my last couple bags so I actually went into Ipsy and retook my preferences quiz as well as rated some items.  I think that may have contributed to why my bag is much better this month.  We'll see if it holds up for next month!

 

Also, if anyone is interested, I am planning to purchase the glam bag plus once it's available to me and I will review those here as well.

 

Until next time!

-Morgan

Inside my Ipsy bag: September

Well, another month, another Ipsy Bag!

This thing is so stinkin' cute!  It's a canvas material with a gold pleather band on the bottom.  This bag is a great size and I will be using this one for sure :)

Now, onto what's inside:

Contents Include:

• Nail Polish by Trust Fund Beauty
• Triple Moisture Herbal Whipped Body Crème by Hempz
• Organic Lip Balm by noyah
• Eyeshadow duo by Manna Kadar
• Hourglass Extreme Lash Mascara by Caution

Let's take a closer look:

What: Nail Polish by Trust Fund Beauty
Shade: Mermaid Vibes
Size: Full Size
Full Size Price: 15 USD

My Thoughts: This is a nice nail polish.  I have other shades of theirs but they are crème polishes and the formula is different.  But the durability on this one is pretty good.  The colour is super fun - it's blue/purple most of the time, sometime more blue/green and then in certain lights you can see pink.  So I think they've captured the "mermaid" trend pretty well.  The only downside for this one is that it takes 3 coats to even attempt to be wearable.  And even 3 coats does not end up being opaque.
My Rating: 4/5

What: Triple Moisture Herbal Whipped Body Crème by Hempz
Size: Trial
Full Size Price: 29 USD

My Thoughts: This is excellent, I can see what the hype is about.  I've obviously seen Hempz around a lot but I've never tried it.  And honestly, I've been missing out.  The formula is really light and not at all tacky or oily.  The scent is outrageously good and super addicting. I will be buying more of this, or at least asking for it for Christmas - it is a tad pricy but the regular sized bottle is quite large.  Try this. Now.
My Rating: 5/5

What: Organic Lip Balm by noyah
Scent: Peppermint
Size: Full Size
Full Size Price: 4 USD

My Thoughts: So...I hate peppermint.  Sorry, but I do.  I can't stand the smell of it anywhere near me so this is a super no for me.  The formula seems alright, it's a bit different than normal balms due to the short ingredient list but I doubt I would reach for this, even in another scent. I'm also really surprized to see such an inexpensive item in my Ipsy bag but I guess if the users like it, it makes repurchasing more realistic.
My Rating: 3/5

What: Eyeshadow duo by Manna Kadar
Shade: Nemesis & Medusa
Size: Trial
Full Size Price: 24 USD

My Thoughts: This really just underwhelms me.  The colours are alright but in this day where beauty companies are offering killer eyeshadows for reasonable prices, I just see no need for this overpriced, mediocre item.
My Rating: 3/5

What: Hourglass Extreme Lash Mascara by Caution
Size: Trial
Full Size Price: 29 USD

My Thoughts: This isn't too bad.  I like the brush but the formula of the mascara is a bit clumpy.  It's very dark though so if you need help in that department, this would work for you.  Just be careful applying.  I would not choose this over my current mascara (The False Lashes by Essence).
My Rating: 3/5

Overall Thoughts: What a disappointment this bag is :( This bag had 2 full sized items but I'm getting tired of my full sized item being nail polish.  I mean sure, I like nail polish but I didn't sign up for Ipsy to grow my nail polish collection (it's already over 300 bottles).  Full size retail of this bag is $101.  I haven't been this underwhelmed with a bag in a long time.  I am pretty good at reviewing items honestly so it perplexes me a bit that the last two bags I've had have been so far off of what I like.  After I got this bag, I went into my profile and re-took my personal preference quiz and did end up changing a few things so I'm hoping that my bag next month will be better. 

I also do want to mention that the websites for both Manna Kadar and Trust Fund Beauty annoy the hell out of me.  The sites seem to not really be maintained, products appear and disappear and there is very little description/information about the products.  It weirds me out.

Inside my Ipsy Bag: August

Hey Everyone,

So my Ipsy bag took super long to get to me this month, I was starting to wonder if it was coming at all.

Let's get right into it:

The bag is a cute coral colour with yellow piping and a fun tassel on the zipper.  I like the shape of this one, it's very easy to use.

Now onto the contents:

Contents include:

• Take Away the Drama Peel off Mask by Hey Honey
• Watermelon Energizing Aqua Balm by Purlisse
• Nail Polish by Adesse New York
• Lipgasm Lipgloss by Trust Fund Beauty
• False Lashes Mascara by M.A.C.

 

Let's take a closer look:

What: Take Away the Drama Peel off Mask by Hey Honey
Size: Trial Size
Full Size Price: 49 USD

My Thoughts: I really wanted to be impressed with this mask - it's so beautiful!  Overall though, I just didn't really like how it applied as it was quite blotchy.  It took closer to the 10 minutes to dry and it didn't really peel off very well.  I had to rub at it a lot to get it off.  And anyone that uses masks knows that the best part is the feeling of peeling the mask off!  My skin felt fine afterwards but not especially exfoliated.  For the price, the novelty of the look of this mask just isn't worth it.
My Rating: 3/5

What: Watermelon Energizing Aqua Balm by Purlisse
Size: Trial Size
Full Size Price: 45 USD

My Thoughts: This product is really nice.  I love the scent (fresh watermelon).  The texture is kind of odd as it is quite thin but I think that's on purpose as evidenced by the name "Aqua Balm".  I've tried this on some dry patches of skin and it works quite well.  It's not oily but it does leave a kind of 'slick' residue but it's not bothersome.  It is on the pricy side though so I'm not sure if I'd purchase this with my own money.  I'll have to see if I'm addicted by the end of this trial size :)
My Rating: 4/5

What: Nail Polish by Adesse New York
Shade: Parasol
Size: Full Size
Full Size Price: 18 USD

My Thoughts: This is a nice polish.  I have other colours from this line and they are all pretty consistent which I love.  The formula is good - it covers pretty well in one coat and doesn't chip super easy.  The colour is great as well - it's hard to describe but I think it's sort of a red-coral.  I do think it's kind of strange though that this is marketed online as a "Gel effect" polish but that claim is nowhere to be seen on the actual bottle or packaging. 
My Rating: 5/5

What: Lipgasm Lipgloss by Trust Fund Beauty
Shade: Evil Genius
Size: Trial Size
Full Size Price: 18 USD

My Thoughts: I have this lip gloss in a different colour and I LOVE it.  I carry it in my purse always so that I can use it on the go.  This one, I'm not as much of a fan.  The colour is fine but a lot darker than I normally wear.  Colour wise, I could get away with just a small coat but I find that a light coat looks patchy so I need to put more on and then it's too dark.  The formula seems different than the other colour I have too and I don't particularly like it as it's on the dry side.  Also, this really isn't something you can apply on the go since you need to work a bit to achieve your colour.
My Rating: 2/5

What: False Lashes Mascara by M.A.C.
Shade: Extreme Black
Size: Trial Size
Full Size Price: 24 USD

My Thoughts:  This is a very nice mascara, it's not clumpy, it's a 'wet' formula and the brush is nice (albeit short in the trial size).  I honestly can't say anything negative about this mascara except that while the price is not too bad, there are much cheaper, comparable mascaras out there.  Try "The Flash Lashes" by Essence - you won't be disappointed.
My Rating: 5/5

Final Thoughts: This bag kind of makes me sad.  There is only 1 full sized item (I guess I was spoiled last month) and the trial sizes are very small.  The full sized item price tag is quite large ($154) but I can't help but feel cheated by the amount of product I received this month.  Also, I think they got the colour of the Trust Fund Beauty lipgloss waaaaay off for me.  I'm careful about my reviews and I just feel like they should have known this one would be a miss for me.

Well, that's it :)  Until next time!

-Morgan

Inside my Ipsy bag: July

Hi Everyone,

I'm kind of late with this post but better late than never, right? Right?

Here is the first of a new series I am going to do called "What's in my Ipsy bag?".  Each month I will show you the products that I received in my bag.  I will also test out the products and give you my first impression.  Let's get into it.

Let's start with the bag:

I have a ton of these by now but I really like the look of this one.  Firstly, it's holographic, which is awesome.  It's also a great size so it can be used for many different purposes. 

Now onto what's inside:

Included in the bag:

• Creamy Matte Lipstick by Mellow Cosmetics
• The Water Balm by BKR
• Stroke of Genius Heavy-Duty Kohl Eyeliner by Sugar Cosmetics
• Studio Skin 24 Hour Waterproof Concealer by Smashbox
• Nail Polish by Sundays

 

Let's take a closer look:

What: Creamy Matte Lipstick by Mellow Cosmetics
Shade: Candy Floss
Size: Full Size
Full Size Price: $15 USD

My Thoughts: I'm not sure this can really be called matte.  It's not glossy but it does have some sheen too it, certainly more than any other matte lipstick I've ever used.  However, I really like this formula - it's smooth and not dry at all.  That was also a little weird - this never dried.  I was testing to see if it was transfer proof (it wasn't) so I actually tried to remove it. I managed to remove some of it but I essentially just ended up removing a thin top layer.  The part that was left over was not going anywhere - I tried, pretty hard in fact.  It actually even outlasted a lip scrub so I understand why they say this product is long lasting.  That being said, this shade is super not for me.  It is beyond bold - more like blinding.  I might wear it on Halloween or an 80s party.  I would for sure try another shade though.
My Rating: 5/5

What: The Water Balm by BKR
Size: Trial Size
Full Size Price: $22 USD

My Thoughts: This one is a no from me for several reasons.  First off, I hate pot lip glosses.  Now I know that that is personal preference, but I just won't use a pot lip gloss no matter how great it is. The scent isn't 'bad' but I don't like it.  The 'peppery rose' scent just isn't for me.  As for the formula, I'm really surprised at how thick it is - with the name "Water Balm" I expected it to be a thinner formula.  Don't get me wrong, I like a thick lip gloss just like the next girl but this one is just sticky and not hydrating. 
My Rating: 0/5

What: Stroke of Genius Heavy-Duty Kohl Eyeliner by Sugar Cosmetics
Shade: Green Light
Size: Full Size
Full Size Price: $ 13.99 USD

My Thoughts:  So I'm not sure I can give this one a fair shot since the shade that I got is absolutely horrendous.  Who wears this colour? Why would you want to wear it?  I think the formula is okay, nothing special but this will never be worn by me, ever.
My Rating: 3/5

What: Studio Skin 24 Hour Waterproof Concealer by Smashbox
Shade: Fair
Size: Full Size
Full Size Price: $ 25 USD

My Thoughts: This shade is the lightest shade and matches my skin tone pretty well.  It is the summer but I don't really have much colour going on right now so it should probably still be a good match in the winter.  The formula threw me off since it's so liquid.  It took a bit of getting used to since any other concealer I've ever used has been much thicker but it's not that hard to figure out.  The coverage is pretty good, better for under eyes than blemishes but I feel like that's kind of the norm.  I didn't wear this for 24 hours but I did wear it for the full day and we are currently having a heat wave so I think it was tested pretty well.  It stayed on all day and didn't crease so overall, I'm pretty happy with it.
My Rating: 4/5

What: Nail Polish by Sundays
Shade: No. 45
Size: Full Size
Full Size Price: $ 18 USD

My Thoughts:  There's not to much to say abut this one. It's nice.  The formula is nice and smooth and the colour is very nice.  I must says that they do have a very wide range of colours if you are looking for something in particular.  This particular colour requires 2 coats but that's pretty standard.  I have other shades from this brand and they cover very nicely in one coat.
My Rating: 5/5

I also received an item in this bag by redeeming some of my Ipsy points:

What: Holographic Lip Gloss by Laritzy Cosmetics
Shade: Aura
Size: Full Size
Full Size Price: $ 16 USD

My Thoughts: So...this is fake news.  No holo here.  It is a pretty iridescent colour but sadly no holo.  I actually figured based on the picture that it would not be holo but I had to try.  It is a nice colour and formula though and I will absolutely be using it. The price point isn't terrible either so I could see me buying more of this lip gloss in the future.
My Rating: 5/5

Final Thoughts:  What a bag!  Four out of five items were full size which is great (Retail Value = $93.99).  I really liked the nail polish, the concealer and the matte lipstick (in a different colour).  I was not fussy about the eyeliner and I did not like the water balm.  But I find if you actually review the items (honestly), your picks get much better.  Can't wait to see what's in my August bag.

Thanks for reading!

-Morgan