february 2014 ipsy bag

hi guys! i've finally got my february IPSY BAG* yesterday! (theme: the look of love). that's 2 for 2 with the bags arriving late this year. hopefully it's just the weird weather we've been having and i'll get them sooner again... but we'll see... ~Lin-chan ^.~

here's my impressions:

1. pop beauty plump pout lip gloss in fuschia freesia (4g--mini, ret. $16 for 8.5g [$7.53]) -- this shade's bright for me, but this gloss is fairly comfortable and not sticky whatsoever. it does need a somewhat frequent reapplication.
• likelihood to repurchase: maybe, other shades
• product given away
2. zoya nail polish in dot (.5oz--full size, ret. $9) -- between the two shades given in this month's bag, i was meh about both of them (the other shade is odette). i'm not huge into neutral-pastel type polishes, mostly because they come out patchy near the cuticle sometimes..
• likelihood to repurchase: no, but definitely other shades
3. eyetini cordial cream shadow & base in violette (.14oz--full size, ret. $18) -- despite how gorgeous this product is--when applied, the packaging is really cheap and it smells really weird, kinda plastic-y. i guess at the very least, it's going on your eyes, so you shouldn't be able to smell it after application. this shade kind of reminds me of clinique's cream shadow in rock violet.
• likelihood to repurchase: nah
• product given away
4. skyn iceland fresh start mask with ice age mud (1 packet duo--ret. $39 for 6 packets [$6.50]) -- i'll have to post an update of what i think of it when i use it, but this is so expensive to repurchase!
• likelihood to repurchase: probably not because of the cost
5. jcat beauty eyelashes in EL13 (1 pair, ret. $3.99) -- i'm not huge into lashes..more like the couple times i attempted wearing any, i wasn't digging it and it felt weird. so these are getting passed off.
• likelihood to repurchase: no
• product given away
6. hot pink ipsy bag -- this bag is really cute for girly-girls. the inside has a cute abstract pattern too. i'm not a huge hot pink person, but i likes it.
7. card with company info/discount codes
1. popbeauty.co.uk: 25% off any purchase, code: popping pout (exp. 3/15/14)
2. zoya.com: buy 2 zoya polish get 1 free & free remove+, code: ipsyzp4 (exp. 3/15/14)
3. tinibeauty.com: 50% off any purchase & free nail polish, code: ipsylove (exp. 4/10/14)
4. skyniceland.com: 50% off one full sized product & 20% off additional items in your order, ipsyfsm (exp. 3/15/14)
5. jcatbeauty.com: 25% off any purchase, code: eyeluvjcat (exp. 3/15/14)
6. mallybeauty.com: 25% off any purchase, code: ipsy (exp. 2/28/14)
7. citycolorbeauty.com: 20% off purchase, code: 14ipsy20 (exp. 3/15/14)
8. uberliss.com: 30% off any purchase, code: ipsy30 (3/15/14)
9. firstaidbeauty.com: 20% off any purchase, code: ipsy (exp.3/31/14)
10. myphyto-c.us: 20% off velvet gel, code: ipsy20 (exp. 4/4/14)
11. drlinskincare.com/ipsy: 50% off any purchase, code: ipsydrlin (exp. 3/31/14)
12. pacificabeauty.com: 20% off purchase, code: ipsy20 (exp. 3/15/14)
13. numeproducts.com: 50% off + free shipping + free classic curling wand, code: nipsyparty14 (exp. 5/11/14)
14. jessesgirlcosmetics.com: 20% off any purchase, code: ipsyfeb2014 (exp. 3/15/14)

approximate product value: ~$45.02

 

zoya dot, pop fuchsia freesia, tini beauty violette

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December 2013 ipsy bag!!!

  

hi guys! guess what came in today? my december IPSY BAG*! (theme: celebration). ~Lin-chan ^.~

ranking the past nine months, from today's standpoint:

1. april 2. november, december 3. september 4. october

5. august           6. june           7. may           8. july

here's my impressions

1. be a bombshell cosmetics the one stick in girl crush (7.3g--full size, ret. $16) -- this is so pretteh. omg. i haven't used it aside from swatching, but i likes it.
• likelihood to repurchase: maybe
• update: this is so buttery. i applied it with my fingers to my cheeks as a cream blush and it was major butter. built up, this shade is a really nice, natural pink on me. (granted, it is shimmery..) and sheered out, it's a very pretty highlight. on my lips, it came off as a pretty pinky-nude type shade. but it's not very long lasting or moisturizing and it clung to my dry spots. bleh. but that's ok, i think i'll primarily use this on my cheeks.
2. pop beauty bright up your life eyeshadow trio from the naturally bare palette (4.35g/3 pans--mini, ret. $24 for 10 shadows [$7.20]) -- i swatched these dry and i'm quite impressed. they're very smooth and more pigmented than i was expecting. you guys know i love my neutrals, and these shades are pretty. we'll see how i feel when i start using it.
• likelihood to repurchase: quite possibly
3. demeter snow perfume oil rollerball (.29oz--mini size, ret. $10) -- this smells like dirt, with a twist, to me. paul doesn't think so, but i think so. or realistically, anything earthy smells like dirt to me. this is supposed to have 'perfectly captured the scent of snow'...yeah, ok.
• likelihood to repurchase: not this one, but maybe other scents.
4. nyx extra creamy round lipstick in B52 (4g--full size, ret. $4) -- very creamy but i'm not sure about lasting power. feels moisturizing but thin. this shade is in my comfort zone; it's a dusty rose.
• likelihood to repurchase: probably
5. nicka k nail polish in NY139 ripe apple (.5oz--full size, ret. $4.99) -- this thing was opaque in one coat. holy crap. i'm not into red polish, but this is very impressive.
• likelihood to repurchase: probably for other colors, not this shade though.
• will pass off to mom, she loves reds.
6. black ipsy bag -- really cute quilt type pattern
7. card with company info/discount codes
1. beabombshellcosmetics.com: 40% off any purchase & free full-sized raspberry tart blush, code: IPSY40 (exp. 1/15/14)
2. popbeauty.com: 25% off any purchase, code: EyeLuvPOP (exp. 1/15/14)
3. nyxcosmetics.com: 35% off the slim lip pencil, code: IPSYSLIM (exp. 1/15/14)
4. demeterfragrance.com: 20% off any purchase, code: ipsy20dfl (exp. 1/13/14)
5. nicka.com: 30% off any purchase, code: IPSY (exp.1/10/14)
6. jessesgirlcosmetics.com: 20% off any purchase (free shipping on orders $20+), code: IPSYDEC2013 (exp. 1/15/14)
7. mirabellabeauty.com: 30% off any purchase, code: ipster (exp. 1/7/13..? that's what it says..)
8. englishlaundryfragrance.com: receive free women's handbag or men's duffle bag with $75+ purchase and free shipping, (no code, exp. 2/23/14)
9. starrily.com: 20% off any purchase, code: IPSY (exp. not listed)
10. jcatbeauty.com: 30% off any purchase, code: jcatlips (exp. 1/15/14)

approximate product value: ~$42.19

(3rd) ripe apple -- 1 coat!!! it's showing up pinkish here, but it's actually true-to-bottle. the bag photo above shows the color more accurately.

girl crush, B52, naturally bare trio--swatched dry

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July 2013 ipsy bag & first impressions

 

yessssss! my July IPSY BAG* has finally arrived!!! (theme: beach beauty) this time wasn't too bad: my myglam room opened up this morning and my package came in the afternoon.

ranking the past four months, this one is tied for number 2. april is number 1, june is tied for number 2, and may is number 3. onto my impressions! ~Lin-chan ^.~

1. bh cosmetics california collection eyeshadow sampler (3 shadows--mini, ret. $11 for palette (16 shadows, 4 blushes) [~$1.31?]) -- these shadows are pretty nice, the purple from the hollywood palette was a bit difficult to swatch, but the other two are quite nice. i'm not super interested in their matching full sized palettes, so i probably would purchase other palettes from them in the future, but not these three.
• likelihood to repurchase: no, will probably explore other products from the brand
• update: passing it off to T
2. pop beauty pouty pop crayon in coral crush (3g--full size, ret. $25 for set of 6 [$4.17]) -- this shade is really nice, it's pretty close to my yes/no pink borderline, but i think it can work. it feels like a thinner version of a lip butter. it's very balmy.
• likelihood to repurchase: probably no, will probably explore other products from the brand
• update: passed it off to A, hubz didn't like how it looked on me (too bright)
3. coola suncare mineral face spf 20 unscented moisturizer (.23oz--mini, ret. $36 for 1.7oz [$4.87]) -- i'm glad i got the unscented one, i've posted several times on here that i hate rose oil/fragrances. i do like how it is literally unscented. like no sunscreen scent, no..nothing. i'm excited to try this but i probably won't repurchase this though because it's kinda expensive (plus shipping), when i could just go to a sephora or ulta and buy my usual stuff (clinique city block or urban decay bb cream).
• likelihood to repurchase: probably not..we'll see......
• update: product has been finished. it has a disguised sunscreen scent..don't like it. i'm sure it works great at blocking the sun and i haven't had an allergic reaction to it, but i don't like the scent.
4. sexy hair weather proof humidity resistant spray (1.4oz--mini, ret. $18.95 for 3.4oz [$7.80]) -- i'm not huge into hair setting sprays, but i will try this out. i like how the nozzle can turn and lock. the scent is only slightly less offensive than ordinary hair sprays.
• likelihood to repurchase: no 
5. nailtini straight up nail lacquer in mai tai (.05oz--full size, ret. $13) -- this red/coral-y color is ok. it's not really me. probably will give this to my mom because she loves shades like this.
• likelihood to repurchase: not this shade, but interested in exploring brand
• update: gave it to mom and she liked it
6. clear hot pink ipsy bag -- i really like this bag!! i'm not a huge pink person, but it's neon. and clear. i don't like how it's too short to put standard-sized makeup brushes and pencils into, so i'm not totally sure how i want to use this bag yet.
7. card with company info/discount codes
1. bhcosmetics.com/ipsy: 10% off california collection, code: ipsy (exp. 8/31/13)
2. popbeautycosmetics.com: 20% off purchase, code: POPluvsIPSY (exp. 8/6/13)
3. coolasuncare.com: 30% off any purchase, code: ipsy (exp. 7/31/13)
4. ulta.com: $5 off $25+, code: 108723 (exp. 8/15/13)
5. tinibeauty.com: 30% off any purchase, code: hot4ipsy (exp. 8/15/13)
6. demeterfragrance.com: 20% off any purchase, code: ipsydfl20 (exp. 8/31/13)
7. dermae.com: 20% off any purchse, code: ipsy0713 (exp. 9/31/13)
8. benefitcosmetics.com: receive a hello gorgeous trio with $35+ purchase, code: glambag (exp. 8/15/13)

approximate product value: $31.15

 

please excuse the horrid paint job; i quickly painted on 2 coats, took pictures, and immediately removed it

 

(shadows swatched over milani eye primer)

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