october 2015 ipsy bag

hi guys! my october IPSY BAG* has finally arrived! (theme: alter ego) the postman decided that they didn't want to deliver to our area on saturday due to the game. shame on them for not coming to our neighborhood earlier in the day! ~Lin-chan ^.~

here's my impressions:

1. theBalm meet matte hughes long lasting liquid lipstick in committed (.04oz--mini, ret. $22 for .22oz [$4] -- a lot came out on the wand for this little guy. it was kind of ridiculous. scent-wise, i do not appreciate the chocolate scent it has, but at the very least it fades within a few minutes. also, it seems to not dry down all that fast; either that or i layered too much on. it is nice that it has minimal transfer--you can see a very faint outline... shade-wise, i think this leans slightly coral for what i'd like--i think from this line, i'd be happier with charming, but i'm not totally sure.
• likelihood to repurchase: maybe
2. nourish organic pure hydrating argan face serum (.5oz--mini, ret. $23.99 for .7oz [$17.14]) -- we'll have to see how this one goes. i'm not so sure about it. for sure, this is not a great packaging idea for a serum. a squeeze tube for oil-consistency products..haha that's great! it went everywhere. anyway, it smells really good, since it's a combination of argan, apricot kernel, and rose hip oils.
• likelihood to repurchase: nah
3. emite make up professional slant tweezer (ret. 200kr [~$24]) -- is it sad that it took a pair of tweezers to pull the tweezers out of their packaging tube...? they were wrapped in plastic in the tube and the rubbery tip cap thing was off to the side, making it extremely difficult to pull out of the tube... anyway. i did not have high expectations for this product, considering how crappy their lash curler turned out to be. and those expectations were met. these are ridiculously sharp, but they have no gripping power. they're precise, but you can't even pull a hair on the first attempt with these. for this price, get yourself a good pair of tweezerman's.
• likelihood to repurchase: no
4. balanced guru scrub me body scrub (1oz--mini, ret. $22.99 for 8oz [$2.87]) -- this is coffee scented..or maybe there's coffee grounds in here. idk. i'm not going to use it though. this is an interesting one compared to most scrubs as far as formulation. it's completely dry. you're supposed to pour out a bit and scrub it into wet skin. which makes sense as far as abrasive-action, but you don't typically think of scrubs as being dry.
• likelihood to repurchase: no
5. aurora gel effect nail polish in inky dinky (.4oz, ret. $12) -- this is a really pretty indigo type color. too bad i can't try it anytime soon because of work!
• likelihood to repurchase: maybe
6. points: luxie beauty tapered blending eye brush 205 (ret. $12) -- this feels like such a nice brush. it has a lot of give to it, but it still nice and fluffy and great for blending around the crease.
• likelihood to repurchase: maybe
7. metallic gold/patent black ipsy bag -- this is a really fun bag. i like how each side is a different material and color. the inside is black.
8. card with company info/discount codes
1. thebalm.com: 20% off purchase, code: ipsy20 (exp. 11/30/15)
2. nourishorganic.com: 30% off purchase, code: ipsyface30 (exp. 11/30/15)
3. emitemakeup.com: 20% off purchase, code: ipsy20 (exp. 11/30/15)
4. balancedguru.com: 25% off purchase, code: ipsyscrubme25 (exp. 11/30/15)
5. auroracosmeticsny.com: 20% off purchase, code: ipsyoct (exp. 11/30/15)
6. micabeauty.com: 40% off purchase, code: ipsy2015 (exp. 11/30/15)
7. purlisse.com: 30% off purchase, code: ipsybb30 (exp. 11/30/15)
8. vasanticosmetics.com: 30% off purchase, code: ipsy30 (exp. 10/31/15)
9. drbrandtskincare.com: 25% off purchase, code: fall25 (exp. 11/15/15)
10. lavanila.com: 15% off purchase, code: ipsylav15 (exp. 11/30/15)
11. ayresbeauty.com: 25% off purchase & free shipping, code: ipsy25 (exp. 11/30/15)
12. coastalscents.com: 25% off purchase, code: pencil25off (exp. 12/8/15)
13. beautywithoutcruelty.com: 15% off purchase, code: ipsybwc (exp. 12/1/15)
14. myaromachology.com: 30% off purchase, code: ipsy30 (exp. 11/30/15)
15. skonecosmetics.com: 20% off purchase, code: ipsy (exp. 11/30/15)
16. drugstore.com: 15% off eau thermale avene purchase, code: ipsy15 (exp. 11/15/15)
17. heyhoney.com: 20% off purchase, code: comeclean20 (exp. 11/30/15)
18. target.com: 20% off [delectable (?)] purchase, code: delectable (exp. 11/30/15)
19. itcosmetics.com: 20% off $25 purchase & free shipping, code: itlovesipsy (exp. 11/30/15)
20. kbshimmer.com: 10% off purchase, code: ipsy10 (exp. 11/30/15)
21. royalbrush.com: 40% off purchase, code: ipsy40 (exp. 11/30/15)
22. eva-nyc.com: 55% off purchase, code: ipsyoct55 (exp. 11/30/15)
23. peterlamas.com: 20% off purchase, code: ipsyoct (exp. 12/15/15)
24. girlactik.com: 30% off purchase, code: ipsygirlactik30 (exp. 11/30/15)
25. leeanni.com: 15% off purchase, code: ipsy8 (exp. 11/30/15)

approximate product value: ~$60.01 + 12 (eye brush)

committed

*Affiliate Link.

update: february ipsy crap lash curler

hi guys! so last month, i had to contact ipsycare twice because of the crappy emite make up lash curler that was included in my bag. as shown and mentioned in my february unboxing post, the lash curler i received broke after the first squeeze. thankfully, i was playing with it, away from my face. i contacted them and they sent me a new one. again, i squeezed it and that one broke immediately too. so i contacted them again and was pleased to hear that they were sending me a lash curler of a different brand and an extra bonus item for my troubles.

i'm excited to say that the new lash curler ($5) is designed like most traditional metal lash curlers, where the top cross bar wraps around the two prongs, instead of being shoddily placed into some interlocking pieces of metal............ additionally, my bonus item was far from what i was expecting. they kindly sent me a full size of laura mercier's caviar stick eye color in plum ($28).

anyway, super exited about how great ipsycare is, and sad to say that emite make up shot themselves in the foot for trying to mass-distribute their super expensive piece of crap product ($25). ~Lin-chan ^.~

february 2015 ipsy bag

hi guys! it's february IPSY BAG* time!! (theme: #ipsylove) ~Lin-chan ^.~

ps. next month's ipsy bag and spring walmart beauty box posts might be late. it depends on when they ship, but i'm having them sent to the in-laws' in case we're out of town when they arrive. so if they come by the time we're back from our trip, cool. if not, the posts won't be up until the end of march or early april, whenever we go back to their house.

here's my impressions:

1. modelco blush in cosmopolitan (.12oz--mini, ret. $22 for .28oz [$9.43]) -- this is a really soft, easy to blend blush. i like the color, but it might be a little too bright for my taste, we'll have to try it more and see.
• likelihood to repurchase: maybe
2. mitchell and peach fine radiance face oil (10ml--mini, ret. £30 for 20ml [~$23.05]) -- holy crap expensive face oil..batman. uhm yeah. the packaging for this product was a good idea, it's kinda the same style of filter dropper thing as soy sauce bottles, so that you don't dispense more than you need. it smells very aromatherapy-like, almost like the scent when you go to the aveda institute. we'll have to see how my face reacts to this, but it's really expensive.
• likelihood to repurchase: no
3. eva nyc up all night volumizing spray (1oz--mini, ret. $24 for 8oz [$3]) -- oh yay, another hair product. i guess at the very least, this is something that supposedly works with wet hair too, so i'll have to try that. in dry hair, it does feel volumizing but it also has a sticky feel, which i don't really like. the scent is interesting, i like it. it's a salon or shampoo type scent and it lingers for a while.
• likelihood to repurchase: no
4. emite make up professional eye lash curler (ret. $25) -- $25 for a freaking lash curler?! i kinda was into using lash curlers a long time ago, and then i got super lazy. but since i have this, i guess i'll use it. i'm impressed though that they included several replacement pads. buuut. the construction and design of this curler doesn't feel like anything special to me, like the handles feel sturdier but you could probably be ok with one from the drugstore.
• likelihood to repurchase: no
• annnnd then this happens..after less than a day.. i contacted ipsyCare and they're sending me a new one.
  
  
5. city color cosmetics creamy lip stain in flirtini (.078oz--full size, ret. $4.99) -- this is an ok stain product. it's very different from benefit posie tint. posie tint is very creamy when you apply it, and it dries within a few minutes. this product stays wet until it wears off (i.e. eating, drinking, etc.). granted it is nice and balmy feeling, it is only ok. the stain it leaves behind is meh and pretty patchy.
• likelihood to repurchase: no
6. extra: figs and rouge hand cream in mango mandarin -- i redeemed more points! i actually was hoping to get this hand cream in my october ipsy bag instead of the rose berry. the scent of this one is weird. like weird in that it almost smells like the rose berry yet it's supposed to be a different scent......... idk. between the two, maybe go for the rose berry.
7. pink ipsy bag -- i like the color choices and this pattern! >w<
8. card with company info/discount codes
1. modelcocosmetics.com: 20% off purchase & free shipping after $39+, code: ipsy20 (exp. 3/31/15)
2. mitchellandpeach.com: 20% off purchase, code: ipsy30 (exp. 3/31/15)
3. eva-nyc.com: 65% off purchase, code: evanyc65 (exp. 3/31/15)
4. emitemakeup.com: 20% off purchase, code: IPSY20 (code is case sensitive, exp. 3/31/15)
5. citycolorcosmetics.com: 20% off purchase, code: ipsy20cl (exp. unknown)
6. demeterfragrance.com: 20% off purchase, code: ipsy20 (exp. 3/31/15)
7. glamglowmud.com: 30% off purchase (excludes: cleansers, kits/sets), code: ipsy (exp. 3/31/15)
8. heyhoney.com: 20% off purchase, code: ipsy20 (exp. 3/31/15)
9. luxiebeauty.com: 30% off purchase, code: ipsy30 (exp. 3/31/15)
10. medusasmakeup.com: 20% off purchase, code: ipsy20 (exp. 3/31/15)
11. nyxcosmetics.com: 30% off purchase, code: nyxbemine (exp. 3/31/15)
12. pencilmeincosmetics.com: 20% off purchase, code: ipsy20 (exp. 3/31/15)
13. tinibeauty.com: 40% off $20 purchase + $5 shipping + free nail polish, code: ipsyeyes (exp. 3/31/15)

approximate product value: ~$65.47 + $6.12 (hand cream) = $71.59

flirtini, cosmopolitan

flirtini; right: remaining stain after blotting 10 minutes after application

*Affiliate Link.