Ipsy Glam Bag Ultimate October - Review/Photos

Let’s talk about this mess…

When Ipsy launched a new subscription box I immediately upgraded my plan. This new plan, which is called Glam Bag Ultimate breaks down like this: you get 8 full-size products, 4 deluxe sample products, a bigger glam bag and get to pick 1 of your personalized products for $50 a month. This box is supposed to have a retail value of $250+. When I received the email about this new plan they were rolling out, I was like, "they really knew this customer." I decided to cancel my OG glam bag which was going from $10 to $12 a month and upgrade my glam bag plus which is $25 a month for 5 full-size products into the Ultimate. Before I go into the disaster that is the Ultimate for October, I will say that for the three months I had the glam bag plus I loved it. Occasionally there is a product that wasn’t my favorite but everything else was top notch and definitely worth the value. Ipsy's customer service has always been great and with this company being so big which continues to grow it’s extremely important.

It wasn’t until after my box had shipped that I saw a petition going around on change.org how upset people were about the products inside their box. So I logged into my ipsy app to take a look at what I was getting and was floored these were the 8 full-size products? I couldn’t tell what was a full-size product and what was the sample size. Due to the fact that my boxes already shipped I was waiting until it was delivered so I could see everything in person and then go from there.

Customers were right to be upset. Out of this box I had maybe 3 full-size items. I was shocked and uber disappointed. I took to social media to reach out to Ipsys customer service. They apologized and gave me 800 points; while the gesture is appreciated that won’t even buy one full-size product. I decided to email them via the website. Because the box couldn’t be returned they offered next month to be free. I pondered it and went with it because the math would equal to $25 a month which is what I was paying for the glam bag plus and it would give it another shot to see if they improve for November. Needless to say November did improve but if you want the details on that you’re gonna have to wait for the next post. Hehe 😜

 

Ibom Lemon Verbena Clay Mask - This alluring mask contains lemon verbena, which helps brighten and purify your skin. The herbal scent is fresh and mood-boosting. It also exfoliates your skin. I can’t get enough of the scent of this mask. Retails $10

F.A.R.A.H Brushes Midnight Pro Trio - Surprised to find these brush fibers have a subtle, deep midnight tint. Can be used with cream or powder, the handles are crafted for a great grip. 20FF is Straight to buff foundation into your skin, the 218 Cheeky End for blush, and 40FM Stippling to stipple on highlighter or bronzer for a flawless, airbrush finish. Retails $30Nanette Lepore Beautiful Times - A fragrance that is bursting with freshness of bright oranges. There are violet and rose bring in the romance as the scent dries down. Also notes of vanilla and caramelized sugar add warmth and depth. I’m very sensitive to fragrances and this particular one I can already feel giving me headaches. Somebody lucky will be getting this as a gift... Retails for $10

BIORACE L'eau Hydrating Treatment Serum - Who doesn’t love serums? It restore its moisture balance, leaving it soft and supple. This strong serum helps to rejuvenate your complexion on contact and can be applied to the entire face after cleansing the skin in the morning and evening. Retails $68

 L.O.C.K. Color Unicorn Glow Hydrating Primer - This lightweight gel primer smooths over pores and fine lines to create an even canvas for makeup application. Hydrolyzed collagen and hyaluronic acid instantly hydrate parched skin and lock in moisture to keep makeup from caking or flaking. Out of all the primers I’ve used, this is my first gel primer and while it felt thick at first - results were good. Retails for $12

 Kaleido Cosmetics Obsidian Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner - waterproof, smudgeproof liquid eyeliner in the blackest of black for a fierce, intense look that will withstand heat, rainy showers, sweat and tears. The applicator is equipped with an ultra-precise, synthetic felt tip that dispenses just the right amount of quick-drying, long-lasting liquid formula that is super easy to use. Retails for $8

Betty Boop X IPSY Cheek To Cheek Blush Palette - This soft, peachy blush and highlighter trio work together to achieve a matte/pearl look. I adore the case and I wasn’t happy with blushes but it does work as highlighters as well. Retails for $10

C'est Moi Beauty Reflect Lip Gloss in Opulence - The gloss provides a sheer layer of shimmer that’s subtle but works as a top coat too. The nourishing formula adds shine with zero stickiness. Retails for $6

Coloured Raine Eyeshadow in Glamour - Glamour is a shimmery pearlescent champagne shade with a striking metallic finish. Velvety smooth and pigmented it blends easily. The metallic foil finish of this eyeshadow looks great against my skin tone. Retails for $7

Huda Beauty Obsessions Eyeshadow Palette in Warm Brown - This mini palette has eight creamy, matte finishes and 1 duo-chrome shimmer. It includes chocolate brown, warm plum, caramel, and copper. These highly pigmented shades are super blendable. Retails for $27

Murad AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser - This item was the one I picked for customization and mind blown. The intensive triple-action exfoliator boasts a blend of salicylic, lactic, and glycolic acids to polish away dull, dry skin without irritation. I love getting and using exfoliators, this exceeds my expectations. Retails for $40

The Saem Natural Avocado and Shea Butter Mask Sheet Set - The Natural Avocado Sheet Mask contains an abundant amount of moisture thanks to its key ingredient: avocado extract. This soothing pick-me-up is perfect for dry or sensitive skin types. The Natural Shea Butter Sheet Mask has a key ingredient (shea butter) that moisturizes and treats sensitive skin, while softening texture on contact. Retails for $6

BoxyCharm October 2019 - Review/Photos

Holy Boxy, am I behind. It’s only a little over a month since my last post but I have boxes piling up wanting to explode to be used. This box being for October I was hoping for a spooky or even one product that could be a Halloween vibe. But there is nothing along those lines. That doesn’t mean this box wasn’t a success...a beauty blender sponge? Squeeee!

Iconic London Lip Plumping Gloss in Lovestruck- The high-shine formula is infused with a biomimetic peptide, which helps to support natural collagen production for more defined and voluminous looking lips. I never buy lip plumping products because on the few occasions I have many years ago I did not see any results. But I do enjoy the faint tingling, cool feeling of this gloss. (Do you taste anise/licorice?) I even see a slight difference in my lips. Retails for $26

Illuminati Cosmetics Sponge- An edgeless, reusable, high-definition cosmetic sponge applicator. I receive so many brushes (not a complaint) but I love cosmetic sponges to apply makeup. I love getting sponges and this one is fantastic! Retails for $21

Touch in Sol Pretty Filter Glassy Skin Balm - This item is the one I picked in customization. I wasn’t sure what to expect from it - the container is much smaller than I imagined, although I still consider a full size product. This ultra-hydrating skin balm has a super smooth texture that melts into your skin like butter(literally). It gives your skin a nice glow and also works as a primer. Retails for $32

Smashbox "Always On" Liquid Eyeliner -  This black liner glides on with ease, is a highly pigmented and waterproof formula that lasts for up to 24 hours. The fine tip is easy-to-control and draws thin to thick lines with a easy to hold handle. Retails for $22

Dose of Colors Blushing Berries Palette - This palette is the essence of matte fall if i've seen one. They blend pretty decently, but wiped off my hand too easily after swatching...It includes 5 colors in the berry/plum family: Retails for $32
    ◦    Berry Chic: Dusty Blush Pink
    ◦    Rose Berry: Brown Rose
    ◦    Berry Pop: Cool Raspberry
    ◦    Mixed Berries: Blackberry
    ◦    Berry Black: Rich Dark Black Color

FabFitFun Fall 2019 - Review/Photos

I received my FabFitFun pretty late. Because my card wasn’t updated for a month my order was delayed - But with the spoilers, I wasn’t even sure I wanted the box this month. Which is pretty disappointing because I finally rounded one full year equaling four seasons AKA four boxes. Fall 2019s box was not impressive, I think if I didn’t have the flat iron in it I wouldn’t have updated my card. I’ve been using the same straightener for 10 years that I got at TJ Maxx for around $20 and have been meaning to get a new one for years. How did you feel about your FabFitFun box?

Wander Beauty Baggage Claim Gold Eye Masks - A set of 6 large (shocking) gold foil eye masks to brighten, hydrate, and reduce the appearance of dark circles. After 1 use of sitting on my face for 15 minutes, I can already tell that the puffiness was lessening. I love the gold foil and the size of these eye masks! Retails for $25

NassifMD Detox Pads - I was quite surprised at how large these pads were. It was one of the items I picked in the customization and the only item of the customization options that I wanted. The Detox Pads deep clean, exfoliate, reduce pores, brighten, even skin tone, firm, smooth, and reduce inflammation. The ingredients used will give your skin a fresh glow, reduce breakouts, diminish pore size and brighten over time. On their website they’ve stated, “In a clinical study, our Detox Pads removed makeup 108% more effectively than soap and water.” Retails for $45

Human + Kind Body Souffle - whipped and quickly absorbed into your skin, which leaves it very soft. Retails for $18.50

amika Strand Perfect Ceramic Styler - The amika Strand Perfect Styler has 100% ceramic plates that heat throughout. They radiate far in-fared heat that preserves the moisture in your hair to protect from damage. The end result made my hair extremely shiny, color me impressed. This flat iron heats up in less than 20 seconds and matches my mini hairdryer from BoxyLuxe - neato. Retails for $80

The Better Skin Co. Better Skin Lava Magik - This product is a 3 in 1: Cleanser, Exfoliator, and Mask. Lava Magik works to give the skin a more radiant appearance. French Lava wrapped in calendula, grapeseed, cucumber, and chamomile. This product intrigued me with its red-ish pink lava from France, but I'm unsure how it's purposed to work as all 3. In the end, when applied, the Lava Magik is creamy and turns into a fine exfoliator. Let's not forget the beautiful fragrance. Retails for $32

Skinvolve Body Boost Gel - This product was inspired by menthol's ancient medicinal benefits. They claim it works by targeting problem areas through our caffeinated blend of green tea, ginseng, and menthol to help break down stubborn fat cells all while keeping you smooth and toned. While it been a long hot minute since I've been to the gym - I started using pre-workout 5 years ago (and love it). But preworkout for your skin? Interesting invention - but not a road I am treking down... Retails for $45

Aveda Damage Remedy Daily Hair Repair - With the process of going silver (the long process) I'm always picking up repair or conditioning hair products. When I lived in Vegas, I loved going to the Aveda Institute and getting my hair done with their products. It protects from heat to reduce breakage by 90%. It helps detangle and protect from breakage and damage due to heat styling. My hair is the longest its been in over 10 years...WOWZA...and since its naturally awkward curly - it tends to get extremely knotty in the shower. Retails $31

Harper + Ari Exfoliating Sugar Cubes in Juice Cleanse- How cute are these?! And the smell? I'm not understanding why they chose to name it Juice Cleanse, but its a sugary and fruity scent. YUM. 1 squishy cube goes far in the shower and covers your entire body (and surprised me by getting soapy). After I checked out their website, I wanted to buy Lemon and Winter Woods in the tall adorable jars. Retails for $16

BoxyLuxe September 2019 - Review/Photos

When I opened my BoxyLuxe my first reaction was honestly disappointment. But after I rifled through each item my initial feeling was off. While, I still think you get more bang for your buck in the $20 regular BoxyCharm I still haven’t given up on the upgrade yet.

Sunday Riley Tidal Brightening Enzyme Water Cream - An oil-free gel-cream that is extremely lightweight to offer glowing, dewy skin. Tidal increases hydration by up to 68% in as little as 15 minutes for up to 24 hours of continuous moisture. The mint-colored cream kept my skin hydrated all day, now I see why people are obsessed with this brand! Retails for $65

Stila Liquid Lipstick in Patina Shimmer - This creamy, full-coverage lip color provides intense hydration with bold, long-lasting pigment that stays put for up to 12 hours of continuous wear. I usually get the same as shade from Stila but finally a shimmer! Beautiful! Retails for $22

IGK Hair Mistress Hydrating Balm - A leave-in conditioning balm that melts into hair to support hydration and reduce frizz. Retails for $29

MODA Makeup Brushes 8pc Brush Kit - These exclusive new MODA Studio set is quality black quilted handles, sleek silver ferrules, and vegan bristles. I was stunned at the retail value of these brushes and will be using the hell out of them. 😗 Retails for $69

Tarte Park Ave Princess Chisel Palette 🎨- The Amazonian clay-infused bronzer bar with 6 bronzing, highlighting powders in magnetic removable pans to make every complexion look more radiant in seconds, housed in a covetable rose gold compact. As much as I love Tarte this is the third pallet which is almost identical. It tweaks my annoyance to receive this but partly my fault because I missed the survey from BoxyCharm to customize, but only allowing 24 hours to complete the survey is...bogus. Retails for $45

Dr. Brandt Hydo Biotic Recovery Sleeping Mask - A gel, leave-on sleeping mask that hydrates deeply and works overnight to balance your skin. It helps by reducing redness (just meh for me) while restoring hydration to dry skin in 24 hours. Like all Dr Brandt products - they’re amazing quality and I LOVE them. This small tube works wonders on my dry skin overnight! Retails for $52

Hank & Henry Blickity Black - A liquid eyeliner that has a matte/satin finish and glides on easily.  This pen lasts on your lids for a long-wear hold. The case is white and brown, throwing me off and worrying me into thinking I was getting a brown liner. But the color is black as night, it was just a little tricky. Retails for $17

Violet Voss Essentials Eye Shadow Palette - This Pro series eyeshadow palette has velvety metallic, shimmery and silky Matte shades. This is the first time I’ve been introduced to this company. Thier products are highly pigmented and while their website lacks a lot of information they do have plenty of other products that I like to purchase. Retails for $29