Ipsy Bag - September - Review

Hey there!

Let’s start this Ipsy bag review with the gray, studded bag that everything came in, shall we? I thought it was very cute! I think it’s one of the best one’s I’ve gotten so far. I have been using it quite a bit.

In my Ipsy bag got the NYX Hot Singles Eye Shadow in Chandelier ($4.50). I wasn't able to really test the performance. I do know there was a lot of glitter and very little color. I’d like to say that the Eyeshadow was just a bad color but I’m not sure about that. I’ve had bad NYX eyeshadows and I’ve had good ones. This one was supposed to be intense (according to the website) and I don’t think that was the case with this color. Let's leave it at that. 

The Cailyn Art Touch Tinted Lipgloss ($19) was a pretty color. The formula left a bit to be desired. My lips felt very dry with this gloss, not moisturized at all. I would have liked it to be a bit more wearable. After 3 hours of wear I had to wipe it off. My lips were not a fan. I saw that others really like the formula, so perhaps I got a bad batch but I’m not betting so.

I love my new Crown Infinity Shadow/Crease Duet Brush ($6.99). But, we all know that Crown Cosmetics does a great brush. I used both ends several times and I have to give it two thumbs up.  The Ipsy special offer was 30% off of a $25 or more purchase. That’s not a bad deal because Crown Cosmetics has quite a bit of stuff that I like.

The Pacifica Natural Water-Proof Eye pencil ($11) was just so-so. It is soft and buttery smooth but it wasn’t highly pigmented. I tried it in my waterline and with a winged eye. It stayed in my waterline for about two seconds before transferring to the lash line. Because it was brown it was ok. And my wing lasted about 5 hours. For $11, I need you to do more than that. I have $4.99 eyeliners that last longer. This was not good for me.

I'll have to get back with you on the Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair hair conditioner ($26).  I didn't get a chance to try it. I wanted to get this post posted but, I’m sure that it’s probably a good product. I’ll report back. I can tell you that unless it is a standout product, the price tag leaves me with a scrunched up face. My favorite hair conditioner (OGX Conditioner) is $7.49 if you pay full price (and I don’t).

All-in-all, my $67.49 bag was worth about $10 to me (plus the bag), so if it weren’t for the Crown eye brush, Ipsy would be on probation. But, I know that the eye brush is good, my co-worker likes the lip gloss, the hair mask is probably going to be good and the gray studded bag is pretty durn cute. As of now, Ipsy is on notice. If the October bag isn’t better, we might have a problem. I’m just saying.

Does anyone else get the Ipsy bag? How are you feeling about it right now?

Ipsy Link  <--- I've put my link right here in case you are interested in checking this out for yourself. I personally think it's a great deal for $10 BUT that is completely my opinion and if you don't want to use my link, that's okay too! If you are interested and would like to try them out, I'd be super stoked if you did use my Link. If you do decide to, come back and tell me how you like your first bag!!

September Faves

Hey there!

When you are product testing, you don't get to use your go-to faves very much. You are trying new things and your tried and trues go to the wayside. I tried not to do that (alot) this month, but of course, it happens. But, I did have some favorites this month! I didn’t have any last month. Sorry about that. Hopefully some of these goodies will make up for that!

I have been using the heck out of my Caress Aqua Sparkle Shower Gel ($2.99 @ Target). It is bubbly (sudsy) and smells so good. It’s like a fresh, clean scent and makes the bathroom smell really good. Isn’t that what bubble bath should do? Make the whole bathroom smell good? No? Oh, sorry. Anyway, I have several of the Caress shower gels and I prefer the creamy ones over the non-creamy. This one is an exception.

I also have been enjoying my Neutrogena Oil-Free Moisturizer for Sensitive Skin ($9.97 @ Wal-Mart). You know that I’ve been testing out as many as I could find that didn't have SPF or had a low SPF count. I know, I know, but SPF over about 18 breaks me out something terrible. I'm talking red face, itchy, swollen breakout. I have stuff from the dermatologist that I can use but it's not a daily moisturizer. Enter Neutrogena. This stuff has saved me. It's light and irritant free and feels so good on my skin. I think I'm in love...again.

Rimmel London lip liners (between $2.79 - $3.79 @ CVS, Rite-Aid or Walgreens) are some of the best liners in town. They are so creamy and highly pigmented that they can make even the worst lipstick/gloss work. I have been working these three colors all summer. Tiramisu, Rich & Wild Clover - They go so well with nude (for brown skin girls) lipsticks. They stay in my makeup bag at all times.

I have been using the heck out of this L'Oreal True Match Blush in Spiced Plum. It's a soft color that lets the rest of your makeup do it's job. It's a soft peach (even though it says plum) that stays in the background and lets your bronzer or highlighter shine. And, because it does it so well, it wins the award for best summer blush. I'm not sure how much I paid for this because I'm sure I picked it up at Big Lots but if I see a color that I might like from L'Oreal True Match, I won't hesitate to get it.

I have mentioned this China Glaze, Travel In Color, color so many times, I'm sick of hearing about it! But, I'm not sick of seeing it!! I love this color AND this formula. I normally put nail polish away once I've used it, taken a picture and then talked about it on my Monday NPR posts. Not this bad boy. It has a home right next to my desk (where I paint my nails). Every time I apply polish, I have to decide if I can add a touch of this to it. Ok, I'm done gloating about it. I won't mention it again (for the next 2 days).

I always try to have a non makeup item on my list. Lately it's been different coffees that I've loved. This month I discovered the Archer Farms Decafinated Caramel Macchiato coffee for the Keuring machine ($9.99 for a box of 18, but I bought 2, got a $5 gift card and got 5% off using Target Cartwheel making it $7 per box). This is a really good coffee. It isn't a strong coffee, so I have to brew it on the smallest setting, but with just a splash of creamer and a tap of sugar, you can sit back and relax with a cup of this in your hand. Target (seller of the Archer Farms brand) has been doin' the durn thing with their coffees. They always have a sale and a cartwheel discount to boot. Make sure you check them out if you are on the coffee isle.

So those are my loves for September. What are you loving this month? What did you absolutely despise this month? What have you had your eye on because you just know it's going to be your favorite? Let us know!

Empties!

Hey there!

September is gone! I'm not sure where it went but it sure went fast. And now, it's time to show you what I used up this month as I walk towards the trash can.

Starting in the bathroom, the tub actually, I used up another AVON Bubble Bath (Coconut Water - 2 for $10) and a Target Up & Up brand body wash (Radiant Body Wash in Peach Extract and Silk $2.59). I like both brands. The Coconut Water Bubble Bath was ok but I'm not sure that I'll buy another one. The Peach Extract body wash was nice and creamy just as good as the Caress Brand. I will continue to purchase this one.

While in the tub a girl tends to shave her legs and (excuse my non-delicate nature here) pits. I mentioned a few weeks ago that I tried some cheapo reapo Dollar Tree razors ($1 for 5) and hated them. That means I have 5 razors that I need to trash. Bye Bye. I will NEVA purchase these again.

Deodorant - Secret brand in Powder Fresh. I buy them at Sam's Club, 4 for $7 or something like that or I use coupons at Target or Wal-Mart. Anywhosie, it's the only deodorant I wear because my underarms tell on me if I don't.

I'm tossing 3 bareMinerals products because they are old as heck and probably smell bad. I love my bareMinerals products and will always repurchase them but perhaps this time I won't go all ham and buy the big mamma jamma sizes! I put a good dent in the ORIGINAL SPF 15 foundation ($27). I probably only had 1/3 left. I only used half of the READY SPF 20 pressed powder Foundation ($29) and I might have used half of the tinted Balance & Boost Mineral Veil (purchased during a QVC special, so not sure of the price) -- maybe.

I need a moment of silence here. My favorite foot cream has been the Aveda Foot Relief cream for years. I love the smell, I love the feel, I love what it does for my feet. I don't love the price - $24. I have to give a bit of a spoiler here folks. I have tried other foot creams and so far they are only so-so. If I don't find something amazing soon, I'm going to have to borrow $24 from one of you and get this! And, by borrow I mean have with no intention of giving it back.

I got a Befine food skin care daily moisturizer ($24)  in an Ipsy bag and I don't like it. I tried it for a while and then decided that it wasn't any good. No need to keep it.

I picked up a Lush Bubble Gum Lip Scrub ($9.95) about a year ago. I gave some of it to my sister, shared with a friend and I still ended up with most of this left. I bought it to scrub the dead skin off my lips. I used it a few times and then realized, I don't have dead skin on my lips. I wear Baby Lips on my lips every night and it seems to do the trick. This is a nice product but I probably won't purchase it again.

I finally had to ditch my sample of Smashbox Photo Finish Luminizing Foundation Primer ($38). I wasn't a fan so I didn't use it that often and when I went to try it again, it was dried out. No worries. I don't think I missed anything. Not sure that I'd buy it.

I also had to let go of a Revlon Treat & Boost nail polish. I really liked it. It was great as a base coat on my nails. I don't know that it was magical or anything but it was nice. I bought it during the super CVS sale in the spring so I'm not sure what the cost is now. And, it may be discontinued. No worries. There are plenty of really good base coats out there.

Random - Clobetasol Propionate. My scalp needs extra help. I have to have this very month. I get it from my doctor's office.

And that's what's getting tossed in the bin this moment. I hope you enjoyed going through my trash. What did you finish this month that you loved? What did you finished that you didn't like?