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

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december 2014 ipsy bag

hi guys! it's december IPSY BAG* time!! (theme: thinking of you) ~Lin-chan ^.~

here's my impressions:

1. tarte lights camera lashes mascara (.1oz--mini, ret. $20 for .24oz [$8.34]) -- i'm excited to try this out. i've gotten several samples in the past and just never had the chance to use them, so i gave them away.
• likelihood to repurchase: maybe
2. nyx butter lip balm in parfait (.14oz--full size, ret. $4) -- has a fruity type of scent and is fairly pigmented. i already have one in brownie, and this shade is a little pinker than i'd like.
• likelihood to repurchase: not this shade
3. nourish organic renewing eye cream (14ml--near full size, ret. $19.99 for 15ml) -- i'm not sure how i feel about this. maybe it's the avocado oil mixed with the argan oil, but it smells kinda weird. it's super thin too, like water.
• likelihood to repurchase: probably not
4. cailyn cosmetics just mineral eye polish in orchid (.09oz--full size, ret. $15) -- this is interesting. it's a powder pigment with a sponge applicator. the shade is really pretty, more of a pinky champagne than an "orchid"/purple.
• likelihood to repurchase: probably not
5. bumble and bumble repair blow dry (.5oz--mini, ret. $30 for 5oz [$3]) -- i don't really ever blow dry my hair. i usually air dry it. so i think i'll pass this to my mom. has a salon shampoo type of scent.
• likelihood to repurchase: no
6. black ipsy bag with heart keychain -- love it! i love the black satin. this is more of a pencil case bag, and the heart keychain is so cute!
7. card with company info/discount codes
1. tarte.com: 20% off purchase, code: ipsydec (exp. 1/8/15)
2. nyxcosmetics.com: 25% off nyx glam collection, code: nyxglitz (exp. 1/31/15)
3. nourishorganic.com: 30% off, code: loveipsy30 (exp. 1/31/15)
4. cailyncosmetics.com: 20% off and free gift, code: ipsycailyn (exp. 1/31/15)
5. beautywithoutcruelty.com: 15% off, code: cgwxuyet (exp. 1/31/15)
6. coolwayhair.com: 20% off, code: ipsy12 (exp. 1/31/15)
7. crownbrush.com: 30% off $25+, code: ipsy30 (exp. 1/31/15)
8. pixibeauty.com: 20% off, code: pixidust (exp. 1/31/15)
9. sexyhair.com: 20% off, code: ipsy (exp. 1/31/15) or text: ipsy to 33233 for "an even better code"

approximate product value: ~$50.33

orchid (swatched dry), parfait

*Affiliate Link.

september 2014 ipsy bag

hi guys, lookie what came in yesterday! my september IPSY BAG*! (theme: street style) i also redeemed 1000 ipsy points for a nyx bronze smokey look kit. did y'all know that ipsy points expire?! seriously, you gotta use 'em or lose 'em! because i lost some without knowing they expire and I wasn't very happy... ~Lin-chan ^.~

also, somehow i was sent a second crown brush instead of a pacifica eyeliner -- which i'm totally cool with. if that eyeliner is anything like that eyeshadow duo they sent us a couple months ago, they can keep it!

here's my impressions:

1. pacifica natural waterproof eye pencil in gunmetal/fringe (.026oz--mini, ret. $11 for .1oz [$2.86])
2. nourish organic moisturizing cream face cleanser (1oz--mini, ret. $13.99 6oz [$2.33]) -- i heard people didn't like how this smelled..except, i don't smell anything from the tube. i'll have to update later on how i think of it.
• likelihood to repurchase: probably not
3. alterna hair care caviar cc cream (.85oz--mini, ret. $25 for 2.5oz [$8.50]) -- i'm interested in the bb and the cc everythings, but cc for your hair? that's totally unnecessary.. >.<  i do like the scent, but of the other alterna products i've tried, i definitely love their scents. i'll have to update later on how i feel about it when i use it.
• likelihood to repurchase: nah
4. crown brush infinity shadow/crease brush (ret. $6.99 ea) -- the pencil/crease side is pretty stiff, and i think it'll work out with how i'll use it. the shadow side is a little more flexible than i like, and it's a bit large for my eyes.
• likelihood to repurchase: nah
5. hikari cosmetics lipstick in cabernet (3.8g--full size?, ret. $13) -- this is such a pretty color. it's not my style, but i think it's something that does compliment my skintone. texturally, it's a slightly drier than i'd like but it works. this is a shade that definitely needs a lip liner or an invisible one.
• likelihood to repurchase: nah
6. gray ipsy bag with studs -- i love this bag. it makes me want to go buy studs to put onto all the things.
7. extra: nyx bronze smokey look kit (ret. $12) -- these shadows are kinda hit or miss. the matte ones aren't as pigmented, but the shimmers are nice. the glosses were unexpectedly pigmented, i was impressed. 
8. card with company info/discount codes
1. pacificabeauty.com: 20% off purchase, code: fallbeauty (exp. 10/31/14)
2. nourishorganic.com: 30% off any nourish organic facial product, code: ipsy30 (exp. 10/31/14)
3. alternahaircare.com: 20% off purchase & free shipping, code: ipsy20 (exp. 10/31/14)
4. crownbrush.us: 30% off $25 purchase, code: crownipsy30 (exp. 12/31/14)
5. hikaricosmetics.com: 30% off purchase, code: hikari30 (exp. 10/31/14)
6. nyxcosmetics.com: 35% off proof it shadow primer, code: fallproof (exp. 10/31/14)
7. avon.com: 20% off $50 purchase, code: daring (exp. 10/31/14)
8. beabombshellcosmetics.com: 30% off purchase & free coco delight lip gloss, code: ipsy30 (exp. 10/31/14)
9. beautywithoutcruelty.com: 15% off purchase, code: cudwdfaa (exp. 10/31/14)
10. briogeohair.com: free shipping, code: ipsysep14 (exp. 10/15/14)
11. cailyncosmetics.com: 20% off purchase + 2 free deluxe samples of pure lust lip tint, code: ipsygift (exp. 10/31/14)
12. harvebenardbeauty.com: 50% off purchase, code: hpbipsy (exp. 10/31/14)
13. harveyprince.com: 30% off purchase, code: harveylovesipsy (exp. 10/31/14)
14. leeanni.com: 15% off purchase, code: ipsy9 (exp. 10/31/14)
15. mitchellandpeach.com: 20% off purchase, code: ipsy22 (exp. 10/15/14)

approximate product value: ~$33.68 37.81 + 12

nyx bronze smokey look kit, shadows swatched over milani eye primer

cabernet lipstick

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