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Enter…Birchbox

I’ve been a loyal Ipsy customer for 2 years now, but I have heard so many good things Birchbox that I thought maybe it was time for a change.  Even though most people had already received their February box I ordered my first Birchbox in the middle of the month which is why I’m just now getting a review in. But this also gave me time to look at some of the products other subscribers had already reviewed.

First impressions were literally the good, the bad and the ugly…

  • The good – I love that I don’t have to look up the full-size prices. They were all listed right there on the Birchbox website. This saved me a lot of time.
  • The bad – The LAQA & Co. Avo Lip Butter I received was not the peachy “Nova” I was hoping for, but the much darker “Ninza”, which is more of a burgundy.
  • The ugly – Like many other subscribers, I was disappointed that the above lip butter came broken. When I opened the top, the stick was stuck on the roof and smashed. I placed it back in the tube, but I’m afraid it won’t stay put, and it was truly messy putting it back.
Yes, my grandma made that beautiful penguin towel. Ahh, penguins, the most majestic animal in the world.

The LAQA lip butter did have redeeming qualities – for one, it smells amazing! And after trying the shade on, I think I may actually be able to pull of the deep color. This item usually retails around $25 (although, Birchbox listed it as $15 on the site and $25 on the card that came in the box…confusing). This size is about 1/4 the size (I couldn’t find the exact size) so I would guess it comes in around $6.

The Supergoop! Daily Correct CC Cream with SPF 35+ is fantastic. It worked flawlessly under my regular powder and I like the fact that it will help protect my skin from those darn UV rays. The regular 47 mL size goes for $32 so this 3 mL will be $2.04.

If you’re looking for furthering protection, look no further than Dr. Lipp Miracle Balm. Although this item has an almost Vaseline feel and was slightly sticky, it seems to be doing its job. I put it on this morning and almost 5 hours later (and after eating) I still don’t feel like I need to reapply. The 15 mL size is $16.50. This teeny tiny 3 mL tube would be $3.30.

Read the directions before using Klorane Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk. It says to spray about 10 inches away from your head – don’t take this lightly. I love dry shampoos and have used my fair share of brands. This one made me jump when I pressed down it came out with so much pressure. That being said, it works. You would pay $20 for the regular 3.2 oz. bottle. This travel size would be $6.25 (1 oz.).

The last item, is the only one I have yet to try out – Vasanti BrightenUp! Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator. Honestly, the only reason I have yet to try it is because I forgot to use it this morning when I washed up. I’m looking forward to seeing how much more rejuvenated I feel after using it. The 4.23 oz. rings up at $34, so this 0.7 oz. would be $5.62.

I spent $10 (just like with Ipsy), but would have spent $23.21 if I had bought these sizes outright.

Overall, I like the more spa-like vibe of Birchbox (so far…Ipsy was much more make-up oriented), but with this first box down, I still feel like I got a better deal price-wise with Ipsy. Guess I’ll just have to see how next month goes.

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Hello March Glam Bag!

And Hello Spring!

First of all, can we just appreciate how cute the bag for this month’s Ipsy is?

Okay, moving on to Skone Cosmetics – Insanely Intense Tattooed Eyeliner in JetBlack (0.07 oz.). I am in heaven with this eyeliner. Liquid eyeliner always used to scare me. In high school, I tried out a friend’s once, and I ended up looking like a Picasso painting. Not an understatement! But I don’t think I have ever been so impressed by eyeliner. I will definitely be buying Skone again. It looks like I received the full-size, which retails on skonecosmetics.com for $15.

The Pixi by Petra – Beauty Blush Duo in Rose Gold (0.16 oz.) is a really pretty blush. The combination of the two colors blends really well with my lighter skin tone. The 0.36 oz. size sells on both pixibeauty.com and target.com for $18. This smaller size would ring in at $8.

I wish I could love the deep red that is NYX Cosmetics – Liquid Suede Cream Lipstick (0.13 oz.) but it just doesn’t work for me. I ended up giving this to my friend who, by the way, looks gorgeous in it. The same size retails on nyxcosmetics.com for $7.

The MeMeMe – Loose Powder Brush (2 oz.) is super soft. I’m still getting used to figuring out different brushes (other than a regular blush brush or eyeshadow brush. I know…don’t make fun of me). This same brush retails on mememecosmetics.com for 14£, which means $20.04 (this one comes with its own carrying case).

Unfortunately, I was not impressed by Nourish Organic – Rosehip & Rosewater Body Oil (0.5 fl. oz.) and I really really wanted to be. I have high hopes for products with “organic” in their names, especially if it’s meant for my face or body. It came out of the tube separated. But maybe I just got a bad batch bottle. Or maybe that’s how it’s supposed to be, but I didn’t care for it. The 3 fl. oz. is $19.99 on nourishorganic.com so this small tube would be $3.33.

I also redeemed from points the NAOBAY Natural & Organic – Oxygenating Moisturizing Cream (0.75 oz.), which retails for $47.60 on beautybay.com for the 1.7 fl. oz. so this smaller (free) size would have been $21.

Including my bonus product, I would have spend $74.37. Lucky me!

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Happy New Ipsy!

January ipsyIt’s a new year….and a new set of goodies!!!

 

theBalm Cosmetics – Mr. Write (Now) eye liner (0.01 oz.) fell right into my ready and waiting hands. After this Christmas, my digits were primed for opening little treats. Mr. Write (Now) was definitely Mr. Right! I’m already a fan of theBalm Cosmetics and it’s not a bad price for a handle little eye liner. It can be found on thebalm.com for $17.

The J.Cat Beauty – Blinkle Shimmer Eyeshadow in shade Tangerine Light (0.09 oz.) has to be one of the funkiest colors I’ve seen not only out of Ipsy but ever – it has definitely put the groove back in my step. It can be purchased at Jcatbeauty.com for $4.99.

I’ve been getting a number of brushes recently and have been having an interesting time figuring out how to use all of them. Who knew you could have a brush for shaping, smudging, gliding, tweeking, glitterizing, etc. etc. …well, some of those I may have made up, but you get the idea. Before this Beau Gâchis Paris brush I always used my finger to smudge my eyeshadow but now I’m fancy! It is regularly $12 on Beaugachis.com, but there’s currently a Christmas/End of the Year Blowout sale for $9 so get a deal while you can!!!

Anything that has serum in the title usually reels me in instantly. That word just sounds so soothing. That’s exactly what pur~lisse – BLUE LOTUS 4-in-1 Eye Adore Serum (0.24 oz.)is – soothing. As much as I love it, I am not loving the dollar signs that go with it – on shope.purlisse.com it is a whopping $65 (0.5 oz./15 mL). While this half-size bottle would be $31.20, it’s going to make a slight dent in my wallet. I think for now I’ll stick with my to-go-unnamed brand.

Mitchell and Peach – English Leaf Body Cream (30 mL/1.01 fl.oz.)…all I can say is wow.Words cannot describe how in love I am with this body cream. Truly. In. Love. I wish the price tag was more in my range. On Mitchellandpeach.com it rings in at 36£ (180 mL), which equates to $52.62, making this much smaller size equal $8.77. #sadface

My total would have been $70.96. Even though some of these little (expensive) beauties won’t be rebought by me anytime soon, I plan keeping my New Year’s Resolution to enjoy my GlamBag…well, and maybe try to be healthier and shit. Haha…Happy New Year! Here’s to 2016!

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Merry Christmas to Me – From Ipsy

Ipsy outdid themselves this month. The December Glam Bag is the perfect gift for me…from me! The name was the perfect way to celebrate the holiday – “For You With Love From Ipsy” and boy, was I in love.

First, I fell for the Pin Up Girl from Julie G. This limited edition nail color is fantastic. I hope it continues to live up to its no chip formula it boasts. You can find this size (0.35 fl. oz.) on jessesgirlcosmetics.com for $3.99.

 

I’m not really one for lip stuff. I usually stick to lip balm and don’t really venture further than that but Ipsy has had me jumping outside of my comfort zones. I was pleasantly surprised to open this present – ModelCo’s Lip Enhancer Illusion Lip Liner (0.05 oz.). ModelCo has impressed me so far, I hope this product continues to live up to their standards I’m used to. This exact size can be found on their website – modelcocosmetics.com – for $20.

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Although I just said I wasn’t much for lip “stuff” I was hoping I would get this product – Pacifica’s Power of Love Natural Lipstick. Two words: in love. This 0.07 oz. stick is available at target.com for $9.49.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – anything that will moisturize my face I’m willing to try and it only helps that I’ve always wanted to try LATHER’s products. Their honey moisture mask has been a facial relief. This 0.5 oz size will ring in at $2.75 compared to the full-size on lather.com at $22.

 

Jersey Shore Cosmetics has quickly become a favorite brand of mine thanks to Ipsy. The Vanilla Bean Anti-aging Lip & Hand Polish (1 oz.) has been … different … but I’m willing to try anything when it comes to anti-aging. On jerseyshoresun.com, the 1 oz. jar rings in at $25.

 

My Christmas present was getting $61.23-worth of product for $10.

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November Glam Bag – Beauty Blast

I loved the April Beautifully Bohemian bag but I think a new favorite has rocketed into my world this month! This colorful little bag is just too much fun.

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The first shining star I pulled out of the bag was the Deluxe Pointed Crease Brush by Crown. First impression – it is so soft – and I mean soft. I absolutely love it! Good brushes can be hard to find but I think the Crown brush is out of this world! It retails at $12.38 but I found it for 60% off on crownbrush.us for $4.95.

The Luxie Beauty – Matte Eyeshadow Pan No. 290 (0.05 oz.) is 100% cruelty-free. They hooked me right there, but then there’s the color – Aubergine (eggplant) I cannot get enough of this color. When I saw it my eyes lit up like shooting stars and once on, it did not disappoint. This size retails on luxiebeauty.com for $6.

Previously, Smashbox has impressed me – I  loved the Smashbox face primer so I had a feeling their Full Exposure Mascara (3 mL) would be out of this world. I’ve been using it every day since i received my little pink bag and it’s amazing! Keeps my lashes looking full and the application is stellar. The 11.4 mL retails for $20 on smashbox.com so this size blasts in at $5.26.

Model Co is another brand that has continued to impress me. Their Highlighting Trio (3 x 0.04 oz. = 0.12 oz.) in colors – Champagne, Peach Bellini, Bronze Shimmer – not only sound delightfully delicious, they are gorgeous on the eyes too. Modelcocosmetics.com retails this size at $22.

I truly enjoyed the Coolway sea salt spray I received a few Glam Bags back, so it does not surprise me that I love their holding spray as well. The Coolway Stronghold Spray (0.5 oz.) keeps my hair from orbiting outside of the Earth’s atmosphere. The 3.3 oz. size retails for $19.95 on coolwayhair.com. This smaller size is an astronomical deal at $3.02.

Not only did I get a couple of full-sized items but I only had to pay $10. I feel like I’m rocketing into some great deals. My total this November would have been $41.23 had I bought these at full-price. Keep up the heavenly work ipsy – you’ve outshined yourself this month.