PLAY! by Sephora | September + October 2017 boxes

When I do these box reviews monthly, it always starts to feel like they're always being posted and are clogging up my blog feed. I'm trying something new (as you may have noticed) and condensing the months in to just one post. If you'd prefer to see them monthly, just let me know - but otherwise we're going to forge ahead like so.

I'm still thoroughly enjoying my Play! by Sephora box more than other beauty boxes I've tried in the past. Mostly because the brands are prestige and I happen to get a lot of items that I wanted to try before receiving the sample. If you're unfamiliar with this subscription, it costs $10 per month and you receive samples from brands that are sold at Sephora.

Here's a look at the September and October boxes.

SEPTEMBER 2017

• DevaCurl Melt Into Moisture Matcha Butter Conditioning Mask - Despite the fact that "curl" is in the brand name, this deep conditioner is for all hair types. It's meant to add extra hydration and nourishment beyond what a regular conditioner would.

• Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner - This is a cult favorite liquid eyeliner pen. It has a precise felt tip and all reviews I've ever heard confirm that it truly is waterproof. I've never tried this before, believe it or not, so I'm really looking forward to giving this a go.

• Giorgio Armani Acqua di Gioia perfume - Another cult product, but this is the feminine version of the much beloved men's cologne. It's summery and ocean fresh with notes of mint, peony, brown sugar, jasmine and lemon. 

• Benefit Gimme Brow - If you read my blog, especially my empties posts, you'll know I love this stuff dearly. If you don't have unruly brows, this will add extra tint and fullness without a lot of effort. It takes no time at all, and works like a charm. Plus it lasts all day.

• Laura Mercier Velour Lovers Lip Color in Happy - This warm fuchsia lipstick claims to be moisturizing and highly pigmented. It's a matte formula but won't dry out your lips thanks to the added mango butter for hydration.

• Belif The True Cream Moisturizing Bomb - If you're a skincare junkie like I am, chances are you've heard of this korean moisturizer. It's a bit of a fad product right now. It's meant to be deeply hydrating, and it's especially good for those with normal or dry skin. 

OCTOBER 2017

• Makeup Forever Ultra HD Invisible Cover Foundation - This foundation is very lightweight and natural, with a light coverage finish. When my skin looks great, I enjoy using this. If I have a zit or two, it doesn't give me enough coverage. Happy to have a small size to pack for travel. 

• Cover FX Custom Enhancer Drops in Moonlight - If you're looking for an extra glowiness to your skin, look no further. You can drop these in to your moisturizer or foundation or apply with a light hand directly on to cheek bones. 

• Laura Mercier Translucent Powder - Set your look with this translucent powder. It's sheer with a touch of color, and will keep all your makeup from slipping and sliding and creasing.

• Chanel Gabrielle Chanel - This perfume has the hint of Chanel that we all love, but with a fresher, more spring-like touch. It has notes of jasmine, orange blossom, tuberose and ylang-ylang. Smells nice, but smells more like something I'd wear in the summer than in the colder months. 

• Makeup Forever Ultra HD Skin Booster - I did not realize Makeup Forever had skincare products until this showed up in my box. This is a face serum that aims to hydrate and reduce the appearance of fine lines. This is meant to be used as the last step in your skincare routine before applying your primer. 

• BECCA First Light Filter Face Primer - This primer is infused with a subtle glow to add radiance and perfection to the skin. It works to improve dryness, dullness and uneven skin tone. The cool violet color works to brighten skin and even out imperfections.

Do you subscribe to Play! by Sephora? Are you loving it as much as I am? Let me know!

Play! by Sephora | Summer 2017

I figure I better start this post with a "uhhh yeah, I'm still alive" disclaimer! Blogging has taken a back seat this summer to family time and any extra minutes of sleep I can possibly get. Family is always my #1 priority, but I sure do miss blogging! 

It's been a while since I've shared my Play! by Sephora box and I have really been enjoying it. I thought I'd spare you multiple posts and instead lump June, July and August's boxes all in one conveniently long post. 

If you're on the hunt for a great $10/month subscription beauty service, look no further than Play! by Sephora. All of the brands featured in the bag can be found at Sephora, so naturally you get some great deluxe samples to try. If you're interested in signing up, you can so do here (not an affiliate link). 

JUNE

• Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium perfume - This is a cult favorite perfume. It's musky yet sweet, not for the beginner perfume-wearer. I think this smells like a knock-off of Flowerbomb and because I love that perfume so much, I'll probably never purchase Black Opium.

• Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in K-Dub - This formula of lipstick is super-long wearing. Like, will hold up through a hurricane long-lasting. I have found it to be extremely drying, but I am so impressed by the pigmentation and longevity of it. I'm not excited about the shade they selected, but perhaps I'll have a reason to get funky with my lip color and I'll pull this out.

• Benefit Porefressional primer - This primer smooths pores for an even and flawless makeup application. I've used it in the past and really liked how it seemed to give me a blurred base to apply my foundation on to. 

• IGK Rich Kid Coconut Gel - A coconut-infused hair gel that nourishes and conditions. It's not marketed like your typical gel; it seems to be more of a leave-in conditioner than something that's going to hold a style all day. It's also said to be good for both wavy, curly and straight hair.

• Ouai Rose Hair & Body Oil - This is a silicone-free multi-purpose oil. It's said to be quickly absorbed in to skin or hair. Use this product to restore and repair dry skin and hair and reduce the appearance of scars and redness. 

• First Aid Beauty Hello FAB Coconut Skin Smoothie Priming Moisturizer - An oil-free primer comprised of super-food ingredients. It'll blur the appearance of pores and provide a dewy finish to the skin. It can be worn alone or underneath makeup. 

JULY

• bareMinerals GEN NUDE Matte Liquid Lipcolor in Swag - This lip color is infused with a primer and hydrating ingredients for a cream-to-matte finish. Swag is a really pretty everyday color, perfect for the office or to dress up your look. 

• Milk Makeup Cooling Water - This is a caffeine-infused stick of... something? that you can rub on to your skin or under eyes for a cooling, de-puffing effect. You can also leave it in the fridge to amp up the effect. It seems a little gimmicky, but maybe it really is the next best thing? TBD.

• It Cosmetics Superhero Elastic Stretch Volumizing Mascara - This mascara's aim is to be like skincare for your lashes. It volumizes, lengthens and stretches lashes while conditioning and strengthening. 

• Boscia Charcoal Pore Pudding Intensive Wash-Off Treatment - First off, can we just talk about how gross the term "pore pudding" is? Ughh... anyway. This is a fancy swirled face mask that detoxifies the skin and reduces the appearance of pores in the process. It's formulated with white charcoal and kaolin clay, both known for removing impurities in the skin. 

• Atelier Cologne Orange Sanguine - If you're a citrus-scent lover, this one's for you. Orange Sanguine features notes of bitter orange, blood orange, amber, and sandalwood. It's not my favorite scent, but I prefer far warmer, woodsier scents than this typically.

• Briogeo Rosarco Milk Reparative Leave-In Conditioning Spray - This is a lightweight leave-in conditioner. Spray it on damp hair and let it work its magic. It aims to reduce flyaways, protect against UV rays, and hydrate hair. It's also 96% naturally derived! 

AUGUST

• Alterna Cavier Anti-Aging Miracle Multiplying Mist - A treatment and styler in one. It claims to provide volume both instantly and over the course of using the product. It strengthens hair to reduce breakage and restore it's natural thickness. 

• Kat Von D Saint & Sinner Perfumes - Two new fragrances from Kat Von D. As you can guess, Saint (the white bottle) is the lighter, fruitier version of the two. It has notes of vanilla, jasmine and tiare flower. Sinner is the warmer, darker version, comprised of notes of patchouli, wood and cinnamon. Neither fragrance smells very unique to me, so not something I'd bother picking up for my own collection in the future. 

• Clinique HIM Dual-Ended High Impact Mascara & Primer duo - The priming end of this duo helps boost the appearance of the mascara you put on top, adding volume and length. It goes on white, so over top you layer the High Impact mascara for color and fullness. 

• Beauty Blender Micro Mini - This mini version of a beauty blender is teeny tiny. I use mine for blending out under-eye concealer and getting in to any nooks and crannies that my normal-sized beauty blender can't. Not essential to have, but convenient from time to time. 

• GlamGlow Volcasmic Matte Glow Moisturizer - This moisturizer claims to hydrate the skin for a glow without shine. It's marketed as a "water balm" formula, which I've heard is complete crap, but hey... it has decent reviews on the Sephora website, so maybe it's not so bad.

• Too Faced Mascara Melt Off Cleansing Oil - This oil is meant to take off both waterproof and normal mascara. It has a small wand that almost looks like a bristle-free mascara wand, and you just rub that along your lash line to coat your lashes, let it sit for a minute, then wipe away the product and mascara with a wipe. Not really essential, especially for $17, in my opinion. 

Play! by Sephora | April 2017

You guys.... was this month's Play! by Sephora bag made for me or what?! They should've told me I'd be featured on this month's bag! ;) In all honesty, I'm keeping this forever and ever because I'm a narcissistic little POS and this graphic speaks to me deeply. 

I can assure you the contents inside of the bag are also quite good, too. For $10, I'm pleased. If you want to sign up, you can do so here (no affiliate link, just the website).

Here's what came in this month's bag...

• Kate Somerville Exfolikate Cleanser - I'm really excited about this little sample because this is a mega-pricey little exfoliating face wash. People swear by it, you could go broke buying it, and I secretly hope I hate it so I don't feel the need to splurge on a full size.

• Marc Jacobs Daisy perfume - I've used up a full size of this in the past, and I do like this perfume. My nose has kind of distorted what I originally loved about this smell after years of wearing it (know what I mean??), so I don't think I'll ever own a big bottle of this again, but it'll be nice to revisit this fresh, floral scent again in small doses. 

• Makeup Forever Aqua XL Eye Pencil in Black - I'm not crazy about pencil eyeliner, but I'll give this a shot. It claims to be creamy and long wearing, both of which I require in any eye liner pencil I touch, but it will remain to be seen once I test this guy out. 

• Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Cream - This is a hydrating hyaluronic acid cream, with 30% of that active ingredient packed in to this creamy punch. It claims to provide hydration for up to 72 hours, which is no small boast. If that's true, this just might be worth a full size purchase (which'll set you back a whopping $52 for 1.6 oz)

• Smashbox Photo Finish Primer - I've used this before, and I quite like it. It makes my skin appear poreless and it gives a nice, natural looking blur to my skin. It does help slightly with longevity of foundation wear, too. I have so many samples of this stuff I'll never need to shell out for a full size bottle. 

• Sephora Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover - Would anyone turn down a travel eye makeup remover? I certainly wouldn't. This stuff comes in handy as heck when traveling. And while I use a cleansing cloth, or oil, to remove my makeup every night, I always start with an eye makeup remover first because I hate smearing eye makeup all over my face. I have high hopes for this stuff, as I've never tried it before. 

Play! by Sephora | January 2017

January's Play! by Sephora box arrived, and I have to say, I think it;s the best box I've gotten yet. Lots of deluxe samples from brands I love. I won't rave for long... let's get right to it. One last thing, though - if you want to subscribe, click here. It's $10/month and if you love to try beauty products from Sephora brands, I don't think you'll regret your purchase. 

Here's what came in January's box...

• Dermablend Loose Setting Powder in Natural - A loose setting powder that boasts 16 hours of wear time. Locks in makeup and enhances wearability.

• Ouai Treatment Masque - A hair mask that aims to make hair soft and smooth. Claims to repair hair and mend split ends. Free of parabens and pthalates. 

• Pinrose Wild Child perfume - A perfume comprised of tiare flower, bergamot, gardenia, jasmine, frangipani, vanilla bean and amber. 

• Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey - A lipstick made for any skin color or look, made to be universally flattering (although this color does not look good on me). Free of parabens. Black Honey is a deep brick red color that washes lightly on the lips in an almost balmy way. 

• Tarte FRXXXTION Stick Exfoliating Cleanser - Good for all skin types, this cleanser helps with oil, pores and uneven skin texture. It's a cleanser, exfoliator and mask in one. Free of parabens and pthalates. 

• Caudalie Resveratrol Lift Face Lifting Moisturizer - A decent sized moisturizer sample that's oil-free and aims to sculpt the face, firm and smooth lines. Free of parabens, sulfates and pthalates. 

Play! by Sephora | October 2016

My one and only beauty subscription box, Play! by Sephora, continues to keep me excited each month. October's box is full of some fun goodies, all of which are available for purchase at Sephora. This subscription costs just $10 a month, but there is a short waiting list (it takes about a month to get off of it), and you get a handful of samples from prestige brands.

If you're interested in subscribing to Play! by Sephora, click here. 

Here's what came in October's box...

• Smashbox Always On Matte Liquid Lipstick in Driver's Seat - A lippie that boasts 8 hours of wear time. Driver's Seat is a warm pink color and this sample size is large enough to get lots of use out of.

• Too Cool for School Egg Mellow Cream - A moisturizer infused with collagen for younger looking skin. Good for dry, sensitive, normal and combo skin types. Free of parabens, sulfates and phthalates. 

• Skin Inc. Pure Revival Cream - A non-abrasive peel that sloughs away dead skin for brighter, renewed skin. Safe for blemish prone and sensitive skin. Free of parabens, sulfates and phthalates.

• Nudestix Intense Matte Lip & Cheek Pencil in Belle - A multi-purpose pencil for lips and cheeks. Dries matte for all day wear. Belle is a plum nude color. Free of parabens, sulfates, phthalates, gluten, preservatives, cyclomethicones and animal-derived ingredients. 

• Verb Leave-In Mist - A hydrating mist that tames and detangles hair while prepping it for styling. Good for straight, wavy and curly hair. Free of parabens, sulfates and phthalates.

• Tom Ford Orchid Soleil - The newest Tom Ford fragrance, characterized by notes of tuberose petals, black orchid, vanilla, chestnut, and patchouli among others. Warm and floral. 

What product are you most excited about in this month's box? For me, I think it's the Egg Mellow Cream. Let me know yours in the comments!

Play! by Sephora | August 2016

You guys, I am loving Play! by Sephora. It is totally worth the wait on the waitlist. The brands are prestige, the samples are a nice size, and overall the quality is there for $10/month. You can sign up here if you're interested - this isn't an affiliate link, FYI.

Here's what came in the August box...

• Makeup Forever Artist Eyeshadow in Pink Granite - This is a gel-powder eyeshadow that's super silky and easy to blend. The color is gorgeous, perfect for a day or night time look!

• Clean Reserve Blonde Rose - I normally hate the Clean perfumes, but Blonde Rose smells so good. It has notes of rose, peony, jasmine, cedarwood, sandalwood and musk. It's floral with a deeper musky vibe and it's perfect for late summer. 

• Urban Decay Perversion Mascara - I loveee this mascara. It's lengthening and volumizing and will making your lashes look like a million bucks. 

• Lancome Energie de Vie The Smoothing & Glow Boosting Liquid Moisturizer - This moisturizer works to eliminate dullness, uneven texture and dryness in the skin. It's chock full of antioxidants to nourish the skin, and it's made without parabens, phthalates, and sulfates.

• Caudalie Resveratrol Eye Lifting Balm - This eye balm has all sorts of good ingredients that help reverse aging around the eyes, reduce puffiness and dark circles and smooth the appearance of wrinkles.  

• Sephora Contour Eye Pencil 12 Hour Wear Waterproof - This eyeliner boasts as 12 hour wear that doesn't budge or smudge. Free of parabens, phthalates and sulfates. 

Have you tried Play! by Sephora? Let me know your thoughts! 

Play! by Sephora | June 2016

This month's Play! by Sephora box has arrived and it's full of lots of fun goodies! This beauty box costs just $10 per month and you get a handful of deluxe and regular sized samples. This box is not customizable, everyone gets the same thing, but so far that hasn't been a problem for me.

Here's what came in this month's box...

• Tarte Tarteguard 30 Sunscreen Lotion - This is a non-chemical sunscreen that can be used as a moisturizer. It protects against UVA and UVB rays and claims to have a lightweight non-sticky formula. 

• BareMinerals bareSkin Sheer Sun Serum Bronzer - This is a bronzer and serum in one. It can be used to bronze up your face as a contour, or over top of a foundation for an all-over glow. 

• Benefit  They're Real Mascara - A mascara aimed at lengthening, curling and volumizing lashes. I've used this before and really liked it. It'll make your lashes look like a million bucks.

• BECCA Backlight Priming Filter - This makeup primer helps blur imperfections and adds a glow to the face. 

• Bumble & Bumble Don't Blow It - This hair cream works to enhance texture and add body. It conditions to keep hair soft and hydrated.

• Tocca Florence Perfume - This perfume is comprised of notes of bergamot and violet petals, gardenia and blonde wood. This is a really fresh scent. I have a mini rollerball of this scent and it's one of my favorite Tocca perfumes. 

Have you tried any of these products? Let me know how you like what you've tried! 

Play! by Sephora | May 2016

Play! by Sephora is a fun, newer, beauty subscription service that costs just $10/month. You can sign up at Sephora.com, if interested. All the brands and products you receive in your box are available at Sephora - convenient and easy if you end up loving one of the products enough to buy it in full size.

Here's what came in May's box...

• Briogeo Don't Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Mask - This deep conditioner is meant to restore and hydrate, and protect against future damage. It's formulated with B-vitamins, rosehip and argan oils, algae and biotin. It's free of DEA, silicones and artificial dyes, plus it's cruelty free.

• Korres Wild Rose + Vitamin C Advanced Brightening Sleeping Facial - This is deemed "an overnight facial in a jar", and aims to improve texture and complexion of the skin. Main goals? Antiaging and brightening. It's free of parabens, sulfates and pthalates. This is a 95% natural product.

• Bite Beauty Amuse Bouche lipstick in Kimchi - This lipstick is creamy and mega-pigmented. They're formulated with 12 edible oils, vitamins, omega oils , fresh pressed pigments and fresh pressed fruit for a citrus flavor. (Personally, I LOVE Bite lipsticks! Totally awesome to get one in this bag!)

• Atelier Cologne in Orange Sanguine - I have a few samples of this yummy perfume, and it's quite unique! It has notes of blood orange, orange peel, geranium, jasmine, tonka beans, sandalwood and amber. Delectable and perfect for summer.

• Tarteist Lip Crayon in Latergram - This is a perfect "my lips but better" lip liner. It's pigmented, and will help prevent lipstick from feathering. It's free of parabens and pthalates. 

• Origins Maskimizer Skin-Optimizing Mask Primer - This spray primes, preps and optimizes the skin for a mask to be used. It will help your mask spread, and rinse of easier while hydrating, soothing and boosting skin-radiance. It's free of parabens, sulfates and pthalates. I've been looking forward to trying this!

Have you tried any of these products? What are your thoughts? Let me know! 

Play! by Sephora | March 2016

I finally got off the waitlist for Play! by Sephora!!!! I'm so excited! Play! is Sephora's $10 monthly beauty subscription. You get deluxe-sized samples from premium brands, and typically something from Sephora's house brand, too - from what I've seen. It comes packaged in a super cute, durable box, and it has a nice magazine-style booklet to explain each product.  Unlike Ipsy or Birchbox, everyone gets the same Play! box every month - it's not customizable to your preferences.

Interested in a new beauty subscription? Get your name on the Play! waitlist here.

Here's what came in the March box:

• Replica Beach Walk perfume sample: You'd never ever guess, but this is an uber-beachy scent. It smells like a day at the beach - sunscreen, coconut, surf and sand. If you like Bobbi Brown Beach or Bronze Goddess, you'll love this scent, too. 

• Murad Invisible Perfecting Shield: This is a silky sunscreen with SPF 30 for protection from the elements. It also functions as a primer and moisturizer.

• Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Oil: I got a sample of this in my February Ipsy, but have yet to try it. This oil claims to sink in quickly to add radiance and make skin appear smoother and camera-ready. I have to admit, I'm a little nervous to try this for fear of an uber-oily face!

• Fresh Soy Face Cleanser: This gentle cleanser is ideal for sensitive skin. I've used samples of this in the past and I really like it. It's expensive in a full size, so I'm excited to have another mini bottle.

• Kat Von D Tattoo Liner: I was surprised to find that this liner had a way different brush than the ones I bashed in my overrated products post. This formula is mega-waterproof and very black. I'm excited to give this a go since it seems better than the others I've used in the past.

• Sephora The Perfectionist Airbrush Sponge: Here's Sephora's take on the BeautyBlender. The interesting shape is supposed to help get in to small facial curves for an even makeup application. I already tried this out and I can't say I'm a fan. It seems to soak up all my foundation without applying it to my face and the shape isn't very convenient. The BeautyBlender still holds the title as best beauty sponge in my book.

Overeall, I'm excited about this box. I can't wait to see what I receive in the upcoming months. Have you signed up? Let me know how you like it! 

December Ipsy Glam Bag

Sing it with me.... "It's the most wonderful time... of the month!" Ipsy time! My glam bags have been coming at the VERY end of the month for the last couple months. Anyone else getting theirs late, too? 

Anyway! If you're not familiar with Ipsy, it's a $10/month beauty subscription box. You'll receive deluxe sized samples and often times, one or two full size products, too! If you're interested in signing up, click here. 

Let's not waste any more time. Here's what came in my December Ipsy Glam Bag...

• Marc Anthony Coconut Oil & Shea Butter Deep Conditioning Treatment: This is a weekly treatment for your hair. It's aimed at you ladies with super dry hair that needs an added boost of moisture. 

• Pacifica Power of Love Natural Lipstick in Nudie Red: This matte lipstick is nearly a my lips but better shade. It's made with coconut oil, shea butter and vitamin E. It's vegan and cruelty-free!

• Peony Cosmetics Shadow Trio: I'm pretty sure every shadow trio I get from Ipsy has these same three colors. (annoying) ANYWAY... these shadows are created with kaolin clay, which absorbs excess oil. They're paraben free and claim to last up to 8 hours.

• Elizabeth Mott Thank Me Later Eyeshadow Primer: This primer will help your eye shadow glide on smoother, last longer and stay on crease-free. You only need to use a pea sized amount.

• RickyCare by Ricky's NYC Classic 3D Blender: This is a knock off of the beauty blender. It's latex free and can be used wet or dry to apply foundation. I tested it, and it's not nearly as good as the Beauty Blender, IMO. 

What did you get in your ipsy bag? Let me know! 

September Ipsy Glam Bag 2015

It's Ipsy time again! This month's bag has some goodies, and it actually has a product I've wanted to try (the Acure scrub) so I'm excited to get a sample before purchasing the full size.

If you're unfamiliar with Ipsy, it's a beauty subscription service that costs $10 per month and you get a nice reusable travel bag filled with beauty samples and full sized products. It's my favorite beauty subscription service and I recommend it to anyone who likes to try out new makeup and skincare products. To find out more or to sign up, click here. 

Here's what came in this month's bag:

• NYX + Ipsy Eye Shadow Trio - This trio of shadows is a collaboration between NYX and Ipsy. The colors are perfect for fall. See swatches below.

• Eyelyn Iona Cosmetics Cream Blush in Ash - First of all, I have to gripe about the horrible sample packaging. I can't get a brush in this little tub to save my life, and I can fit maybe one finger in. Not ideal! Anyway - the formula is organic, paraben-free and cruelty-free. $1 from every product sold is donated to various women's organizations. I can get behind that! 

• Acure Brightening Facial Scrub - I'm really excited to get something from this brand in my Ipsy bag! This formula has organic chlorella and argan stem cells to repair the skin. It's vegan, gluten and cruelty free, as well as paraben, sulfate, silicone, phthalate and synthetic fragrance free.

• J. Cat Beauty #MOTD Waterproof Slide on Pencil in Bronze - This stuff is really waterproof, and it's a beautiful bronze color that's totally wearable any day of the week. 

• Naobay Oxygenating Moisturizing Cream - This brand is totally new to me. This moisturizer is made up of plant extracts and organic oils like sweet almond oil and rosehip oil. 

Swatches of products from left to right: Evelyn Iona blush, J.Cat eyeliner, NYX eyeshadow trio. 

Have you signed up for Ipsy? What are you waiting for! Sign up now! 

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! 

Ipsy Glam Bag | January 2015

If you like trying new beauty products, like I very much do, you have got to subsribe to Ipsy. It costs just $10 a month and you get lots of great products to try, and often times, a few full-sized things, too! Click here to sign up. (Disclaimer: If you sign up through this link, I get points credited to my Ipsy account)

Here's what came in January's Glam Bag:

• La Fresh eco-beauty good day. day moisturizer - This is an interesting sample pack, but it looks like I'll get lots of uses out of it. This moisturizer is chock full of quality anti-aging ingredients and appears to be formulated with natural ingredients.

• Jouer Essential Lip Enhancer - I was really excited to see this in my bag - Jouer is an awesome brand! This balm is meant to increase the fullness of the lips, decrease fine lines and hydrate.

• Pacifica Natural Mineral Coconut Eyeshadow in Ethereal - Pacifica is a good option for a natural brand, but I have to admit I'm not thrilled with this formula or color. It's SUPER light, but might work better as a highlighter! Glad I tried it before buying a full size.

• BellaPierre Shimmer Powder in Whesek - I wasn't so sure about this mineral eyeshadow.... until I swatched it (see swatch below). It's the coolest silver color. I need an excuse to wear this ASAP! 

• Elizabeth Mott All Over Shadow brush - I love this brush! It's really soft and works great for applying eyeshadow. Cute color, too! 

If you're not fully convincined that Ipsy is awesome - check out some previous bags here:

Ipsy - March 2014

Ipsy - August 2014

Ipsy - October 2014

Have you tried any of these products? 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!

Ipsy | April 2014

This month there's no Battle of the Subscription boxes now that I officially said goodbye to my Birchbox subscription. I've held on to Ipsy, a subscription service that is totally worth the $10 a month. You get so many awesome, and often full-sized products to try each month. If you're interested in susbcribing, click any hyperlinked "Ipsys" in this post.

First and foremost, how cute is the bag this month? It looks like a record player and the inside says "Beauty Rocks". I like the square shape of it, too. Here's what's inside...

• St. Tropez Gradual Tan Plus Anti-Aging Multi-Action Face - This moisturizer not only provides anti-aging benefits, but it adds a subtle glow to the skin. I actually have a full size version of this that I haven't pulled out to try just yet. This will be perfect for use on the go!

• Cailyn Tinted Lip Balm in Apple Pink - This balm has a cool packaging feature - the top part houses a lip brush for application. It's FAR more pigmented than I expected it to be, providing a nice wash of color on the lips.

• dr. brandt microdermabrasion - This product is marketed as an at-home alternative to expensive dermatology office treatments. I'm a skin care junkie, so I'm looking forward to trying this. 

• Urban Decay 24/7 Velvet Glide-On Eye Pencil in Black Velvet - I am super excited to receive a travel size of Urban Decay's awesome 24/7 eyeliner! This is a velvety smooth waterproof eyeliner, known for being absolutely amazing. 

• Elizabeth Mott pop! goes the shadow eyeshadow in Champagne - This eyeshadow is super smooth, and a gorgeous shimmery champagne nude color. It smooths on like butter and would be a gorgeous shade for any skin color. Here's what the shade looks like (on the inner 1/3 of my eyelid).

Have you tried any of these products? Did you get anything different in your Ipsy bag? Let me know! 


p.s. Here's a bonus picture of Winnie from Easter! She had so much fun running around with family. Also, she has her own Instagram account now! Find her at: WinnietheGoldenRetriever