october 2014 ipsy bag

hi guys, we finally gots the october IPSY BAG*! (theme: beauty candy)

it's only been in LA for 3 days now... for some reason dhl decided to ship it to this town called rayne?????? and there was an, oh, this is a totally different zip code than us! then my postman was too lazy to put it into my mailbox yesterday when he found out the apartment office was closed.. then, today, it was in my mailbox. wtf usps man, wtf. ~Lin-chan ^.~

here's my impressions:

1. ecru new york acacia protein bb cream for hair (1oz--mini, ret. $12 for 4.2oz [$3.10]) -- this has a fairly non-descript scent to it. it's white with a lotion-like consistency. i'll have to get back to you guys on this one. this gets off pretty much everything but eye makeup. but they're not bad.
• likelihood to repurchase: no
2. figs & rouge hand cream in rose berry (.67oz--full size, ret. $6.56) -- you guys know that i hate on rose scented things..but the berry is more prominent and i think that's why i like it. it's kinda weird, almost a l'occitane hand cream in consistency but as you rub it in, it feels like water...whaaaat.
• likelihood to repurchase: maybe
3. jesse's girl mineralized baked shadow powder in kiwi shine (.07oz--full size, ret. $3.99) -- i'm not a huge mineral eyeshadow fan, mostly because payoff always varies and i'm not one for wetting my brush and dabbing it in there. this is a pretty color though, but i'm not sure that i'll use it. so i might give it away.
• likelihood to repurchase: probably not
4. skyn iceland mini glacial cleansing cloths (10 cloths--mini, ret. $15 for 30 cloths [$5]) -- these have a clean, soapy type scent to them. annnnd they're super saturated. i was thinking this would be more like a makeup wipe, but it's so foamy it's almost as if you should use this to wash your face with water...like a pre-moistened version of olay's daily facial cloths. the cloths themselves are pretty soft though.
• likelihood to repurchase: no
5. starlooks lipgloss in guilty pleasure (.03oz--mini, ret. $12 for 0.14oz [$2.57]) -- this is a pretty shade, but i don't like sticky glosses. this isn't super ridiculously sticky, but enough that my hair will stick to my lips....... and as shown in the swatch, it gets patchy if you purse your lips.
• likelihood to repurchase: meh
6. teal ipsy bag -- this is such a fun color! but if you haven't noticed, i like blue stuff.
7. card with company info/discount codes
1. ecrunewyork.com: 20% off purchase, code: ipsy (exp. 11/30/14)
2. feelunique.com: 15% off any figs & rouge purchase, code: ipsy (exp. 11/30/14)
3. skyniceland.com: 50% off one item + 20% off additional items, code: ipsygcc (exp. 11/30/14)
4. starlooks.com: 20% off any cosmetics purchase, code: ipsy (exp. 11/30/14)
5. albertiniinternational.com: purchase warm love exfoliating mask & receive free travel size rough love body scrub + free shipping, code: ipsy (exp. 11/30/14)
6. ayresbeauty.com: 25% off + free shipping over $40, code: ayresipsy (exp. 10/31/14)
7. cirquecolors.com: 10% off purchase, code: ipsy10 (exp. 11/30/14)
8. citycolorcosmetics.com: 20% off purchase, code: ipsy20ml (exp. 12/15/14)
9. doll10.com: 30% off purchase, code: ipsy30%off (exp. 11/30/14)
10. epiceinternational.com: 50% off purchase, code: ipsy5014 (exp. 1/1/15)
11. indielee.com: 20% off indie lee's brightening cleanser, code: ipsybc20 (exp.11/30/14)
12. beautyonlinesupply.com: 25% off any purchase of ienvybykiss or kiss lashes, code: ipsy2 (exp. 11/15/14)
13. micabeauty.com: 30% off purchase, code: my30ipsy (exp. 11/30/14)
14. modelcocosmetics.com: 15% off volumeyes, code: mc15 (exp. 11/30/14)
15. nourishorganic.com: 30% off any nourish organic facial product, code: ipsy30 (exp. 11/30/14)
16. noyah.com: 15% off + free lip balm, code: fallinlove (exp. 11/30/14)
17. skonecosmetics.com: 10% off purchase, code: ipsy (exp. 11/30/14)
18. smashbox.com: free smashbox eye essentials trio with $40 purchase, code: ipsysbx (exp. 11/15/14)

approximate product value: ~$21.22

kiwi shine (swatched dry), guilty pleasure

guilty pleasure gloss (right: after pursing lips..clumpy/patchiness...)

*Affiliate Link.

November 2013 ipsy bag!

  

hi guys! guess what came in yesterday? my november IPSY BAG*! (theme: glam it up). ~Lin-chan ^.~

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

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

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

here's my impressions

1. em michelle phan pillow plush cushiony lip balm in sorbet (5g--full size, ret. $15) -- based upon the name, i thought that it would be a very soft lip balm in the pot, but it's actually very firm, similar to most of the pigmented lip pans from the day life palette. after a minute on the lips, it warms up to feel "pillow plush"-like. it feels really nice. colorwise, i'm not sure this is that much of a winner, if you're looking for something pigmented. but if you're want something rather sheer, this is pretty good.
• likelihood to repurchase: no, but maybe other colors. yes for other products
2. be a bombshell lip crayon in hot damn (2.5g--full size, ret. $14) -- the swatch doesn't really look as intimidating as the tube, but it comes out really close to the same as the cailyn lip balm from the september bag on my lips. it's not emollient at all, and tugs. if you look closely, you can see shimmer in the tube, but the shimmer doesn't translate noticeably. i'm going to hand this off to my mom like i did with the cailyn one.
• likelihood to repurchase: no, but will explore the brand
3. pixi beauty bronzer in subtly suntouched (3.2g--mini size, ret. $18 for 10.21g [$5.64]) -- this bronzer isn't really that dark, which is great for my fair skintone. it kinda reminds me of the blush in the em weekend brunch quadrant. i really like the packaging on this, the whole pot is rubberized. >.< i'm excited to try this out.
• likelihood to repurchase: maybe
4. nailtini nail polish in champagne (full size, ret. $13) -- this is a really pretty rose gold color. i was kinda looking around at getting a polish similar in color to this and yay, the search is over! i really like it!
• likelihood to repurchase: yes & explore the brand
5. starlooks gem eye pencil in topaz (2.4g--full size, ret. $14) -- like i said in september..i have plenty of eyeliners right now ~.~ but, in the pencil, it looks like a blue-toned silver. swatched, it's a gorgeous sky blue [..topaz] color. i likes it. like their obsidian pencil, it needs to warm up a bit and it'll just glide on.
• likelihood to repurchase: the no side of maybe
6. tresemme tres two extra hold hair spray (1.5oz--travel size, ret. $5.49 for 11.oz [$0.75]) -- oh, yay. yet another hair spray that i'll basically never use!
• likelihood to repurchase: no
7. gold snakeskin ipsy bag  -- i'm on the fence about this, while to some degree i like snakeskin texture, i'm not huge on gold.
• update: i think i'm going to pass this off to my grandmother, she has several metallic [and sequin] pieces of clothing, maybe she'll like this bag too? lol.
8. card with company info/discount codes
1. emcosmetics.com: 30% off any purchase, code: ipsy30 (exp. 11/30/13)
2. beabombshellcosmetics.com: 40% off any purchase & free coco delight lip gloss, code: ipsy40 (exp. 12/15/13)
3. pixibeauty.com: 25% off any purchase, code: bronzepixi (exp. 12/15/13)
4. tinibeauty.com: 50% off & free eyeliner with $25+ purchase, code: ipsy4glam (exp. 12/31/13)
5. starlooks.com: 50% off any purchase, code: ipsy (exp. 12/15/13)
6. bhcosmetics.com/ipsy: 20% off galaxy chic palette, code: ipsy20 (exp. 12/31/13)
7. glamglowmud.com: 30% off any purchase, code: ipsy (exp 12/13/13)
8. beautyonlinesupply.com: 30% off any kiss or iEnvy lashes, code: ipsy (exp. 12/15/13)
9. cailyncosmetics.com: 30% off any purchase, code: ipsy30 (exp. 12/15/13)

approximate product value: ~$62.39

 

sorbet, hot damn, topaz, subtly sunkissed

*Affiliate Link.

September 2013 ipsy bag!

  

hi guys! guess what i've got!? my September IPSY BAG*! (theme: classic beauty). ~Lin-chan ^.~
my quibble: my first few glam bags shipped out early in the month and were in my mailbox by the 10th. now, i'm not even getting the trackers until the 10th and the package arrives as late as the 17th! >.>

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

1. april
2. september
3. august
4. june
5. may
6. july

here's the impressions:

1. nyx eyeshadow in pure gold (2.4g--full size, ret. $4.50) -- this is a really pretty gold eyeshadow. i haven't actually tried any of their shadows before and i really like how buttery soft and pigmented this one is.
• likelihood to repurchase: yes, different colors though
2. elizabeth mott it's so big volumizing mascara in black (4 ml--mini, ret. $19.99 for 10ml [$7.99]) -- oh look, another mascara. yay. >.> more to add to my already large collection of unopened ones..... i'll have to try it out, but i doubt it's amazing enough to order. there's a lot of really good drugstore mascaras (or high end) that are easier to obtain.
• likelihood to repurchase: no
• update: it's more like a lengthening mascara than volumizing, for me. it's ok. you know how, when you pull the mascara wand out of the tube, there's usually some excess on the tip, well for this mascara, it's really stringy and takes a few tries to get it all back in there.. >.>
3. cailyn cosmetics tinted lip balm in big apple (3g--full size, ret. $19) -- i was excited to see this because when i received the eyeliner last time, i saw that they also sold balms and i was intrigued. i'm not to keen on this color, and it's not as emollient as i would like it to be....it's dry! it is a nice stain to have and definitely use the lip brush for more precision with this color! i'm probably going to give this away since it's such a bold color. i do think that this is the perfect red that won't transfer to or stain your teeth!
• likelihood to repurchase: no
• update: passed it off to mom, she likes it and it looks a lot better on her since her skin's darker than mine
4. starlooks kohl eye pencil in obsidian (2.4g--full size, ret. $12) -- i have so many eyeliners already that i'm between using, at this rate, i doubt i'll finish any of them. it's a little bit harsh at first contact but once it warms up a bit it glides smoothly.
• likelihood to repurchase: probably not
5. freeman beauty facial paper masks in rose (brightening), and 2x starfruit (purifying) (3 masks--full sizes, ret. $1.99 each [$5.97]) -- i've never used paper face masks before, so this is kinda exciting. i'm not sure what happened exactly that i got two of the star fruit ones, everyone who got them is supposed to get one of each (blue agave (hydrating) is the other one), but oh well. the star fruit is for oily, acne-prone skin so it's all good if i like the first one. i won't get much use out of the rose one, because, as i've said many times before, i don't like the scent of rose oil.
• likelihood to repurchase: no
• update: passing off the rose one to mom
• update2: as i've said above, i've never used a sheet mask before, and this was an interesting experience. the mask itself is made of a one-size-fits-none. the eye holes are perfect circles, not ovals. so, on my face, the opening was good enough for all but 1/3 of each eye. the mask itself didn't really want to stay in place well whenever i moved any muscles in it--which i guess would be typical for something of this sort. after removing the mask and while pressing the remaining serum in, my face had a sticky feeling for about 10 minutes. after my face finished absorbing the serum it felt pretty good, but i don't think i'll try this again (and possibly other sheet masks) because the mask felt and looked pretty weird while i was wearing it. and i don't feel that i'm getting that much of a benefit by using it. and partially obscured vision.....meh.
6. em michelle phan sample card of out to lunch from the career life palette -- i'm excited about this, considering how just yesterday i was mentioning that they should do this..
7. blue ipsy bag -- >w< i'm so excited about this bag because it has an asian/oriental feel to it and it's in my favorite color!!! 
• update: this is my new purse makeup bag
8. card with company info/discount codes
1. nyxcosmetics.com: 30% off eyeshadow bases & hd eyeshadow bases, code: IPSYPRIME (exp. 10/15/13)
2. elizabethmott.com/shop/ipsy/: 50% off any purchase, code: IPSYBIG (exp. 10/30/13)
3. cailyncosmetics.com: 30% off any purchase, code: IPSY30 (exp. 10/15/13)
4. starlooks.com: 20% off $35+ purchase, code: IPSY (exp. 10/15/13)
5. freemanbeauty.com/IPSYFEELINGBEAUTIFUL: 44% off feeling beautiful sweet 16 sachet set + free gift, code: IPSYFB (exp. 11/30/13)
6. butterlondon.com: 30% off any purchase, code: IPSYbl (exp: 10/31/13)
7. chella.com: 20% off any order, code: Chella (exp. 10/16/13)
8. jcatbeauty.com: 25% off any purchase, code: fabipsy (exp. 10/15/13)
9. jessesgirlcosmetics.com: 20% off any purchase, code: IPSYSEPT2013 (exp. 10/15/13)
10. drugstore.com: buy 1 john frieda full repair item, get one 50% off, code: IPSY (exp. 10/15/13)
11. popbeauty.co.uk: 20% off any purchase, code: POPpout (exp. 10/15/13)
12. skyniceland.com: 20% off any purchase, code: ipsy (exp. 10/15/13)
13. vmakeup.com/ipsy: 20% off any purchase OR receive a free foundation duo, codes: IPSY13 OR VJFREE (exp. 10/15/13)

approximate product value: ~$50

 
 
swatches: big apple, obsidian, pure gold (swatched over original too faced shadow insurance); big apple applied to my lips

*Affiliate Link.

June 2013 ipsy bag & first impressions

 

guess what came in the mail today: June IPSY BAG*!!! (theme: on the wild side) i actually got to see my glam room yesterday, before the package even arrived. and this one is ok too. ranking the past three months, this one is number 2. april is number 1, and may is number 3. i still think the biggest problem with last month's was because my quiz answers were wrong, but still. at least for this bag, i didn't get the dry shampoo or the lashes...both of which, i do not use so that was a plus. anyway onto my impressions! ~Lin-chan ^.~

1. nyx cream blush in cb12 bronze goddess (3.5g--full size, ret. $6) -- at first, i was a bit skeptical. first off, i don't generally use cream blushes, much less, a bronze colored one. but i was pleasantly surprised. it actually came off as a nice, natural shade. i think this would be great alone as your blush or contour.
• likelihood to repurchase: yes, not this shade
2. starlooks lip pencil in k308 bare (2.4g--full size, ret. $12) -- this shade is not me. this pencil, while matte, creamy and smooth...worn alone, makes me look like a zombie. it's that pale, death-purple kind of shade on me. so while i'm not totally bashing this line of pencils or brand, this shade is a definite no.
• likelihood to repurchase: no, but i may explore the brand
• update: passed it off to mom
3. j.cat beauty sparkling cream palette in sp106 volta (3g--full size, ret. $4.49) -- i think this one's going to go to T. this is basically glitter mixed with a clear, tacky base. i'm not huge into wearing glitter products, i prefer shimmery products. another thing i don't like about this is that the glitter is chunky,  like craft glitter and feels pretty rough if you're not gentle with it. while it's a pretty neat idea, it's not me.
• likelihood to repurchase: no, but i may explore the brand
• update: passed off to T
4. cailyn cosmetics line-fix gel eyeliner w/brush in iron (4g--full size, ret. $21) -- i think this'll be a new fave. as the name states, it's a kind of gunmetal-ish black shade. this liner, once set does not budge. i rubbed and rubbed and it did not move. it does smudge when it is still wet and it is fairly difficult to remove, i used both a makeup remover wipe and an eye makeup remover pad and i still have a line on my arm! whatt. so as far as waterproof-ness, obviously this is a swatch-impression, so i'm not so sure. maybe that's why it took so many tries to get it off my arm? idk. but i really like this so far. i do not advise using the brush that comes with it, it is a flat concealer-style brush and it's not super stiff, so even if you turn it sideways, you won't get a perfectly straight line. but it is super soft and you could probably use it for things...like concealer..if you want.
• likelihood to repurchase: yes, not this shade & will likely explore the brand
• update: omg LOVE. see my spring/summer favorites post.
5. chella ivory lace highlighter pencil (1.4g--full size, ret. $18) -- this is a matte pencil, it's fairly creamy and applies very smoothly. this shade, on my skin, is a little bit too light, but if i blend it enough it'll work. i personally think this might work well as an eye base (idk about staying power), or at least something to even out your skin color before applying eyeshadow.
• likelihood to repurchase: undecided
6. leopard print ipsy bag -- i kinda like how the florescent yellow zipper breaks up the pattern, but boy is it loud! the inside matches the zipper.
• update: passed it off to mom
7. card with company info/discount codes
1. nyxcosmetics.com: 15% off entire site: ipsy15 OR 40% off tango with bronzing powder: ipsycheeks (exp.7/10/13)
2. starlooks.com: 35% off purchase, code: ipsy (exp. 7/15/13)
3. jcatbeauty.com: 25% off purchase, code: loveipsy (exp.7/15/13)
4. cailyncosmetics.com: 30% off purchace, code: ipsy30 (exp. 7/10/13)
5. chella.com: 20% off purchase, code: glambag (exp. 6/30/13)
6. freemanbeauty.com/ipsypsssst: receive super hero hair duo set with bonus for $13.98 (duo set ships free w/this promo code), code: ipsy33 (exp. 8/31/13)

approximate product value: $61.49

volta palette; bronze goddess cream blush, iron eyeliner, ivory lace highlighter, bare lip pencil

*Affiliate Link.