July Ipsy Glam Bag

This month's Ipsy arrived at my door, and as you can easily see for yourself -- it's another fabulous one! Honestly, if you haven't signed up for this subscription service yet, do yourself a favor and sign up now. It's just $10/month and you get so many deluxe samples and full-sized beauty products that are really fun to try. Click here to subscribe! 

Here's a detailed look at what came in July's Ipsy Glam Bag....

• Eau Thermale Avene Cleanance Gel Soapless Cleanser - This cleanser is meant to cleanse the skin without stripping it of essential moisture. It aims to stop sebum and oil production and diminish acne-causing bacteria. 

• Jor'el Parker Classico Eau de Parfum - This is a great sized sample of perfume! If only I appreciated the scent more! The notes are Indian Tuberose, Turkish Cyclamen, and Spanish Mandarin. I get a whiff of jasmine somewhere in there, too, but it's not listed as a note. It's sweet and floral, good for spring and summer.

• Be a Bombshell Lip Balm in Ruby - This is a lightly tinted red-orange lip balm. This is a good one to throw in your purse for a hint of color, no need for a mirror to apply. See the swatch below! 

• Ofra Cosmetics Eyeshadow & Highlighter in Bliss - Pick your poison, this product can be used as an eyeshadow OR a highlighter. Bliss is a beautiful gold shimmering shade that is buttery and easy to apply. Very nice quality. It's hypoallergenic and cruelty-free. See the swatch below! 

• Tarte Park Avenue Princess Bronzer - I was most excited about this product gracing my Ipsy bag, as I've heard so much about it but never tried it. This is a waterproof formula, and it has a gorgeous satin finish. See the swatch below! 

Have you tried any of these products before? Let me know! 

November Ipsy

If this is the first time you've seen one of my Ipsy posts, here's the down and dirty details: Ipsy is a monthly subscription service that delivers bags of beauty samples to your door for just $10 per month! If you are at all interested, give it a shot by signing up here. 

Here's what came in my Ipsy bag this month!

Temptu S/B Highlighter: This is a sheer highlighter that is transfer-resistant and light reflecting. Use this on cheeks, nose & forehead or body.

ClariSEA Sea Salt Solutions Instant Glow Powder Exfoliant: This exfoliator is 100% natural and is formulated with almond flour, sea salt, rose powder and orange peel powder. Use this to buff away dead skin and impurities to reveal vibrant skin. 

Be a Bombshell Eye Base in Submissive: This eye base is very similar to the Maybelline Color Tattoos, especially the color "Bad to the Bronze". It's lighter and less pigmented though. It can be used alone, or underneath shadows for extra intensity.

Nicole by OPI Nail Polish in Guys & Galaxies: This color is an Ipsy exclusive! It's comprised of iridescent silver glitter pieces and ultra small silver glitter.

Marc Anthony Oil of Morocco Argan Oill Volume Shine Hair Spray: This product has two purposes - to nourish and style. It's infused with keratin, grape seed oil, and argan oil to nourish, strengthen and condition the hair while holding your locks in place. 


Are you an Ipsy subscriber? What did you get in your bag? Let me know!

Ipsy | June 2014

This month's Ipsy bag is here, and let me tell you - it.is.AWESOME. 

If you aren't familiar with Ipsy, it's a monthly subscription service for beauty samples. Ipsy has amazing value; oftentimes the bags are filled with a mix of deluxe samples and full-size products. And always the value of the bag surpasses the $10 it costs each month. If I were to recommend a beauty subscription service to anyone, it would flat out be Ipsy. Click any of the hyperlinked "Ipsy's" in this post to start your subscription.

This month's theme is "Pretty in Paradise" and features a bag styled by Rebecca Minkoff. This is easily the cutest Ipsy bag I've received - I LOVE the design of it! Now let's dive in to what goodies it came with...

• Marc Anthony Dream Waves Beach Spray - I've never really gotten too excited about "beach" sprays. I like to keep my hair mostly free of product because I like to go 2-3 days without a wash, but I will definitely have to try this out and maybe my mind will change.

• Essence of Beauty Fine Fragrance Body Mist in Forever Paris - This smells surprisingly good, and I really like the size of it! Perfect for summer travels.

• Be a Bombshell Lash Out Mascara - I always like to sample a new mascara. This seems nice, although I have yet to test that theory.

• Nicka K New York Shimmer Eyeliner - This is a beautiful emerald green eyeliner that is so dramatic and fun! I will certainly be giving this a go this summer.

• NYX Butter Gloss in Apple Strudel - You know how much I love these. These made my best of beauty 2013 list and it's a miracle I got a shade I don't already own! Score!

What do you think of June's bag? I'd give it a 10/10 - this was probably one of the best bags I've received yet! I love me some Ipsy!

Battle of the Subscription Boxes IIV: Birchbox vs. Ipsy

That time of the month is here - the battle between Birchbox and Ipsy! Let's dive right in... 

November Birchbox

• Color Club Nail Polish in On the Rocks (full-size: $8) This shimmery grey polish is from the new "Cocktail Hour" collection from  Color Club. I believe this is the third mini Color Club polish I've received from Birchbox - I enjoy getting them.

• Elite Therapeutics Elite Creme (full-size: $45) This is an all-over moisturizer for body and face. Basically, it's a super fancy lotion.

• Laura Mercier Lip Glacé in Quartz (full-size: $24) I was so excited to get a sample from Laura Mercier in this birchbox.... until I saw the color. No joke, it looks like I ate shimmery chocolate and smeared it all over my lips. This shade is not for us fair gals... 

• Shea Terra Organics Rose Hips Black Soap Deep Pore Facial Cleanser (full-size: $16) Any time I can swap my chemical-induced products for organic and natural options, I'm happy. This cleanser claims to clear blemishes and brighten skin tone. The color is scary, but I'm willing to be brave and give it a shot.

• Juicy Couture Viva la Juicy Noir perfume  (full-size: $25-$90) Unfortunately, this sample came shattered in my birchbox (and birchbox CS reps were awesome in dealing with this - THANK YOU, birchbox, if you're reading!) On the upside, my birchbox products smell awesome! I have the original Juicy Couture which is a very versatile, fruity/musky scent, and this is a more sultry version with hints of berry and honeysuckle.

• Ahmad Tea London (full-size: $7) Due to the perfume sample spilling all over my box, I don't think these teas are drinkable anymore (again, thanks to Birchbox CS team for sending another sample my way!). I'm excited to try these British teas when I receive new ones, as I'm a bit of a tea junkie.

November Ipsy Glam Bag

• Kiss EverEZ False Lashes (full-size: $3.99) Full-size product alert! I've tried Kiss lashes before and they're great! The nice thing about these is they come with glue and an applicator. This specific pack has nice long, natural looking lashes which I'm positive I'll get use out of.

• Pixi Beauty Bronzer in Subtly Suntouched (full-size: $18) It's no secret I absolutely love Pixi products, and since I've never tried any of their face powders, I'm thrilled to try this. It's described as a medium honey tan and looks beautiful in the pan. Great size, too - about 1/3 of the size you'd buy in stores.

• Nailtini Nail Lacquer in Caviar Cocktail (full-size: $13) Full-size product alert! This is nearly the same shade that I received in my Birchbox - coincidence or not? I don't love silver nail polishes, but I'm happy to try out a brand that's new to me and to receive it in full-size! 

• .em by Michelle Phan Waterliner in Bronze Kiss (full-size: $20) Full-size product alert! .em cosmetics is a fairly new brand, launched by super-popular YouTube beauty guru, Michell Phan. I've heard mixed reviews about her cosmetics line, but this liner seems like a total gem - it's a beautiful shade and claims to apply without tugging or smudging. I'm excited to give this a go!

• StarLooks Gem Pencil in Amethyst (full-size: $14) Full-size product alert! This is the third month in a row that I've received something from StarLooks -- not that I'm complaining; I've generally liked their products so far. This gem pencil is a silvery lavender color with lots of shimmer and is maybe the best of the three products I've received. It would be a gorgeous liner, or even better smeared out over the lid.

• Be a Bombshell Lip Crayon in Shameless (full-size: $14) Full-size product alert! ANOTHER full-size product! This lip crayon is a burgundy red with shimmer. The lip crayon format makes it super easy to apply. A great color to keep stashed in your purse for fall!

L to R: Lip Crayon, Waterliner, Gem Pencil, Bronzer

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The winner is abundantly clear - IPSY! With five full-size products, and a value of over $60 - the $10/month price tag is so worth it! 

Ipsy and Birchbox are a great way to try out various products before shelling out the money to purchase something in full-size. To sign up for Birchbox, or Ipsy, just click the links in this sentence! Both are just $10 a month for awesome beauty samples delivered straight to your door.

What did YOU get in your Birchbox or Ipsy this month? Let me know in the comments below!