Ipsy Glam Bag Plus January 2020

 

Hello, 2020! It's still bizarre for me to write 2020, like futuristic. 😎 I am a little in love with this bag; one side is full marble and the other half is metallic rose gold and marble. At first glance, these products seem small for full-size and after doing research on each item I found that not all of them are indeed full-size.

Hanalei Company Lip Treatment in Clear - A blend of hydrating oils, with rare kukui oil—a Hawaiian nut rich in vitamins A, C, and E, and essential fatty acids. It also contains agave, aloe, and grapeseed oil. This balm has such a faintly sweet taste it’s almost imaginary, but the effects on the lips...stellar. The lip treatment which is quite large for lip products is natural and feels great on your lips without those addicting properties like Carmax. Retails for $20

Illamasqua Liquid Eyeliner in Black - The inky-black and smudge-proof formula dries to a semi-matte finish. I have so so so many black eyeliners, I want to scream in frustration - but Illamasqua's has reason to be moved to the top. It glides on smoother and than any I've ever used! Retails for $22

Complex Culture Press & Set Bronzer Brush - This 2-in-1 setting and bronzing brush helps you apply powder products seamlessly. The dense Syn-tech bristles blend out the product evenly with no streaks or blotches. Retails for $35

Purlisse Blue Lotus 4~in~1 Eye Adore Serum - This 4-in-1 formula deeply penetrates the skin to deliver a nutrient boost that helps ease fine lines, crows feet, dark circles, and puffiness. A unique peptide blend of plant-based powerhouses (French marine plants, soy proteins, and vitamin E) combat signs of aging. The full size Retails for $58 - which irks me, this box is supposed to be all full-sized!

Flesh Glisten Drops in Whisper - This versatile liquid highlighter can be used on bare skin, mixed with moisturizer, or tapped over makeup for a luminous look. The pearlescent rosy blush shade is designed to flatter all skin tones. The formula contains gelled water for a dose of hydration that keeps your highlight looking fresh, never cakey. I'm immensely disappointed in the size, this product is great at leaving your skin "fresh and dewy". Retails for $28

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

BoxyLuxe June 2019 - Review/Photos

I now have a few months of BoxyCharm under my belt. This is the first month of the upgraded, Boxyluxe. There was a little confusion (partly my fault for missreading) I feel the description is a little misleading as well. But every three months you get higher end products worth over $250 for your box. My confusion was I thought you get your BoxyCharm and the BoxyLuxe for about $60. But the upgraded version is you get 8 to 9 products of the higher end value. After the confusion was over and the fog lifted I was fine with the value and understood that this really became like a quarterly subscription box. With all the issues that I’ve had with how long it’s taken to get shipped to me and gotten lost in the mail, this box shipped and delivered in two days. I was floored! Overall out of the nine products there are a few that I love but most I wouldn’t go out and buy for myself. But I’m going to keep the upgraded quarterly version and see how it progresses. How do you like your BoxyLuxe?

Living Proof Full Dry Volume Blast - The description on the front of this bottle throws me off. I assumed it was dry shampoo but after spraying it in my hair it became stiff and crunchy. Then I realized it was hairspray and not a dry shampoo. This is a new brand for me but I have heard some favorable things about their products. But somebody that thought this was not hairspray and applied it before leaving for work it was quite an unpleasant surprise. Retails for $29


Dominique Cosmetics Lemonade Lip Gloss - at first glance I am annoyed that this lipgloss comes in that bulky rectangle square shape but that’s really the only negative thing I have to say. Strawberry Lemonade is a medium-sheer, lightweight lipgloss that gives your lips the allure of being a little bit fuller. The color is a light pink but you do need a few coats because it is so sheer. Retails for $17


PYT Turbo On The Go Hair Dryer - this season is about the mini hairdryers and they are freaking adorable! The mini turbo dryers came in either pink, purple, blue or coral. I was disappointed to get coral, but I did notice a handful of people that also have BoxyLuxe in the Illinois area all got coral. Whether it was the most shipped out color or it was delivered by region, who knows? But I tested it out last week and I am floored by its strength. My current hairdryer is a pink Revlon that I’ve had for 10 years. I would say use my hairdryer an average of 1 to 2 times a week and it is perfect for what I need. I have very thick hair and it takes a long time for it to dry. mostly, I like to let it air dry. In 10 minutes this little hair dryer did the job! Retails for $85

No PoreBlem Prime Essence - This product is a bit of enigma. I really had to do some digging to find any information on this product. If you look at the packaging majority of the information besides the name is in Korean. I couldn’t decipher what was the purpose of this product? Is it a primer? This primer is supposed to be applied as the last step of your skin care. It’s supposed to absorb into your skin to give a smoother texture and shrink the look of your pores. It absolutely did nothing for my pores and it would absorb into my skin just sat on top of it. While I am BoxyCharm‘s website they had a lot of great reviews this product was a total waste and something on I’ll never use.   Retails for $23

 

Tarteist PRO Glow Palette V3 - The first spoiler the BoxyCharm sent about BoxyLuxe was for this pallet. I was thrilled! I am a fan of Tart, they're a very excellent company. This palette consists of 6 shades of blush, bronzer, and highlighter. If you're not aware they formulate with Amazonian Clay. To be honest I will only use 2 to 3 shades of this pallet due to the fact that I have rosacea and don’t use blush. But the shades are pigmented and come in matte and shimmer as well. The blush can also double as eye shadow. Headliner and A-Lister my favorite shades. Retails for $45

Dr. Brandt Clean Biotic Cleanser - it always makes me happy when I open one of my subscription boxes and there’s a Dr. Brandt item. And to boot, it’s a new one I haven’t tried. The clean biotic is the pH balance yogurt cleanser with chlorophyll. Isn’t that a mouthful? LOL, The chlorophyll is there to reduce redness and irritation. And that’s the part that really interests. So I will give it time and see but based on previous products I’ve used from this company I have high hopes. Retails for $35

Honeymoon Farmacy Glow Serum - first let’s talk about the scent of this product. HONEY 🍯! When I opened the serum bottle my sense wafted with the smell of honey. This product is said to promote cell renewable targets hyperpigmentation and also helps reduce fine lines and wrinkles. That’s a lot of work for this yellow serum. It definitely hydrates the heck out of my skin delivering a smooth and retexturize appearance. I’m sold so far! Retails for $58

Skin & Co Roma Truffle Therapy Radiant Dew Mist - My first feelings when I saw this product was a disappointment. Another setting spray? This is the third in the last few weeks that I’ve received. And that is more in the last couple of years. When sprayed on my hands I didn’t notice anything in the sent doesn’t smell like truffles. Although it’s difficult to tell in the photos below I spritzed it a few times over my make up end it does give a sort of dewy complexion. It’s there to help rebalance your skin’s pH level and tighten your pores as well. Retails for $35

Tresique Good Vibes Mascara - When I first looked at this crazy big tube I do not think this was mascara. The good vibes mascara is an all-in-one lash enhancing mascara that help affect. The wand is an interesting shape and I found when I was coding my lashes it would hit my lid. Retails for $25