IPSY BAG: May 2013

hello dearies!

what is up with all the beauty box drama these few months? as someone else said on the Glossybox Facebook page, it looks like we are getting 'glymmed' - i laughed out loud when i read that. 

i had just redeemed my points for my second free box too :/ i hope they don't completely screw us over and take our money and run.

on a happier note, this is what my May ipsy bag looked like - colorful on the outside as well as inside :)

May's Spring Fling:

1) Pacifica Luminizing Body Butter in "Coconut Crushed Pearl" 
Ride the fresh and sensuous look, feel and scents of summer into fall, holiday and beyond with the body-loving brilliance of Pacifica’s Coconut Crushed Pearl Bronzing Body Butter and Coconut Crushed Pearl Luminizing Body Butter. Two indulgent products combine the perfect flush of mineral color, luminescence of crushed pearl, sultry fragrance notes of coconut and vanilla and serious skincare benefits of tropical actives like coconut (the ultimate super food) for a healthy, head-to-toe glisten and glow. So, kick back, soak in the skin-quenching and sun-drenched goodness of these color-meets-treatment stunners and experience tropical bliss and beauty any time of year.

Coconut Crushed Pearl Luminizing Body Butter: Treat, enhance and illuminate. This Body Butter – full of crushed pearls, minerals and ultra-nourishing phytonutrients - leaves skin hydrated, youthful, gorgeous and glowing. Coconut oil, tropical extracts, antioxidants and sea minerals hydrate and nourish.
i have been obsessed with coconut lately so i was really excited about this. usually i don't like shimmer in my lotions but i guess for summer, i can use a little sparkle. 

lemme show you how it sparkles in different lighting:

all taken in natural light but the top one is in the shade, bottom left is in the sun and bottom right is when the sun is setting. hahaha. it is very pretty!

and if you love Pacifica body butters like i do, then you would be happy to know that i found these at two different Winners this week - and for only $4.99! on the far left, there is a "Coconut Crushed Pearl" one but it's a bronzing body butter instead of luminizing. i am very tempted to get the "Tahitian Gardenia" one!

size: 58 mL (full size!)

retail value: $7

promotion: 20% off online purchase until the end of today (May 31) - only for Americans

2) Macadamia Natural Oil Healing Oil Treatment 

Macadamia Hair's light weight Healing Oil Treatment instantly absorbs into the hair to provides intense nourishment. It contains Omega 7 fatty acids, which is an essential component of skin and hair health. The Healing Oil penetrates the hair and scalp to improve strength, eliminates frizz, reduces blow drying time, and extends the life of color treatments. Instant absorption, light-weight and has a non-greasy feel. Natural UV protection.

Apply to clean, damp hair or dry hair. Let air dry or blow-dry. Add 1 pump of Healing Oil Treatment to 1.5 oz of any permanent color line to enhance vibrancy,dimension and lock in color. Avoid applying to root area for extra volume.

i've already received the exact same item in my February Glossybox. i got a trim recently (first one since last September) so i have been neglecting my hair oils. when i used this in February, i felt that it made my hair look healthier so i should definitely resume usage.

those who did not receive this oil treatment received a Nume Finishing Serum instead. 

size: 30 mL ("full size"!)
retail value: $13.50
promotion: 30% off online purchase of a 125 mL bottle in the States until July 31, 2013

3) Juice Beauty Reflecting Gloss in "Pink" 
This exclusive, pre-launch of the Juice Beauty Reflecting Gloss will give your lips brilliant shine while keeping them healthy and nourished. A combination of antioxidant-rich acai and goji berries, natural minerals and sweet agave nectar that will give your lips radiant color! Made with certified organic ingredients.
another gloss! i am drowning in lipgloss.
this one is quite unique looking with the frosted glass. i can tell that the gloss itself is quite shimmery though.

i've also never seen such a long list of organic fruit in a lipgloss - check it out:
organic acai & goji berry, blueberry & cranberry & strawberry & pomegranate & red raspberry & grape seed oil. oh my.

size: 4 mL
retail value: $15 (8 mL) or $48 (4-pack full size of "Champagne", "Pink", "Fig" and "Guava")
promotion: 20% off online purchase of $30 or more until June 15, 2013 for both US and Canada!

4) Zoya Professional Lacquer in "ZP654 Jacqueline" 
Zoya Nail Polish and Treatments puts beauty, fashion and style into every bottle with innovative custom color creations and fashion trend adaptation resulting in a truly luxury cosmetic experience. Created with the finest quality pigments and finishes, each bottle of Zoya is as special and unique as the woman who created it and whose name graces every bottle – Zoya herself! The award-winning, ultra long-wearing Zoya formula is also vegan friendly and Big5Free*.
*Formulation contains no formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin, toluene, dibutyl phthalate or camphor.
i was very excited to see a Zoya polish since they are harder to come by here but a little disappointed by the color.
BUT i just changed my mind again when i saw the online swatch of this color! it's full coverage (intensity is rated a 5, meaning opaque) which makes it very impressive for a cream color like this. "Jacqueline" is described as a magnolia nude cream. it is part of the Lovely Spring 2013 collection. i am totally going to try this color next and if i get bored of it, it's nothing a little glitter can't fix (or a lot of glitter, either or!)

i only know one Jacqueline... she was one of my best friends way back in grade 2. she also lived on the same block as me and i thought she had the prettiest name.
i should also point out that Zoya is not 3-free or 4-free but 5-free. what what!

size: 15 mL (full size!)
retail value: $8
promotion: buy 2 bottles and get 1 free & free Remove+ & $5 shipping - what a sweet deal so of course, it is only available in the states. and only until today.

5) Yaby Concealer Refill in "CC008 Buff" 
yaby concealers have a creamy texture and are extremely easy to apply. They are highly pigmented to correct any imperfection on the face and body, are creamy and gentle for around the eyes and are tear proof! Vegan friendly and contains no animal byproducts.
The heavy duty metal reusable pans are designed to be sturdy and not easily warped - sanitize empty pans with alcohol and keep some for other special beauty mixing needs!
i really like how my little GlamRX palette is filling up! i've also had a thing for concealers lately so i am excited to try this one. this product was another item ipsy personalized to their customers using YouMatch. out of the four color options, i think i got the best match for my skin so good job ipsy! it is just a tad lighter than my skin tone but that's usually fine for concealers.

pigmentation wasn't amazing though. i had a few problem areas on my face - especially a pimple that i accidentally keep scratching when i put on my glasses (grrr) - and i didn't feel that it covered it up that well. please scroll down for swatches!

there was also a random black dot in it...

size: 20 mm / 3.5 g (full size!)
retail value: $4.85 / 5.24 (camerareadycosmetics.com)
promotion: 20% off online purchase until June 10, 2013 - ships to Canada starting at $7.50

6) *bonus* Urban Decay Moondust Eyeshadow in "Stargazer"
Sparkly shadow goes ultra-sophisticated—with intense hues, microfine sparkle and lush, 3-D metallics, with a look out of this world!
Moondust is dazzlingly sparkly but with a super refined, incredibly sophisticated feel (and not a single speck of chunky glitter).
New technology gives Moondust an amazing effect not found in traditional pressed-powder shadows. It feels like a cream but goes on like a powder to create a smooth, brilliantly reflective look. The result? Sexy, twinkling sparkle with a ton of depth and movement. (And a LOT of questions about what you’re wearing!)
Works best when applied with your fingers. For extra intense color payout, try it wet.
what a nice surprise!!! i got a little note with this item, thanking me for being an active member of the ipsy community - yay!  i've always wanted to own a UD shadow and this one is gorgeous. even the packaging is super pretty! love the compact-like case with the little circular window in the middle. this product is also brand new to the market - sweet! there are a total of 7 shades available.

if i compare it to the other Moondust colors available, it may not be one of my favorites but it actually is very pretty, especially today when i experimented with it and applied it over teal and yellow eyeshadow using the Essence Quattro Eyeshadow in "Vamp It Up" from my February Glossybox. "Stargazer" has a somewhat greenish hue to it so it worked well over the yellow and the teal. Urban Decay actually describes the color as a metallic lime-gold w/ gold 3-D sparkle and is marked Vegan, Metallic, Shimmer and Sparkle.

trying to show you the sparkle in this but failing:

the shadow does not show up super pigmented but works wonders when worn over another color. what i do is just dab the eyeshadow on using my finger.

size: 1.5 g (full size!)
retail value: $20

tada! another great ipsy bag! you know, i am not actually sad about Glymm and (reportedly) Glossybox going down... those were the two i was most displeased with but i still had a hard time breaking up with them. ipsy has gives me plenty of goodies each month and they are all fantastic. just look at the variety:

lotion, nail polish, concealer, hair oil, eyeshadow, lipgloss. that's a bagful!
this bag was the first that i've seen where ipsy has personalized the contents to the customer. i think they did pretty well in regards to my own personal experience and i hope they continue to do this! i like seeing the different items other people are getting.
i am definitely happy keeping my subscription to ipsy. my favorite of the bunch this month is the Urban Decay eyeshadow and now i am excited to use my Zoya polish too. what was your fav?

IPSY GLAM BAG: November 2012

first up, a little rant about Google.
apparently i have maxed out my Picasa storage for my account - i had no idea that i was using Picasa this entire time nor was i aware that i had limits but okay. so the only way i can fix the problem was to a) get more storage by paying each month or 2) upload photos that are within size limits. these limits depend on if you are a Google + user; if you are, you can upload photos up to 2048 x 2048 pixels. if not, the max is 800 x 800. and so, obviously signing up for Google+ seems like the better choice. but now i run into some issues with their "Names Policy". apparently my name, Helen To, does not sound legit. so i had to submit online proof (you can also do offline like scanning an id) and i had to wait a day since my account was pending review.
this was ridiculously frustrating!!! have you other ladies encountered this storage problem before? what did you do?

- - -

sooo the wait is over!! ipsy has arrived in Canada and i just received their first bag on Monday! i was definitely one of those people who scrambled to sign up the second i heard that they have expanded into Canada.
i have been pretty excited about this since i have seen previous ipsy (myglam) bags before and the amount of makeup they include appeals to me. this particular bag, entitled "Party Perfect!", was a hit in this regard since the majority of items i got was in fact makeup.

i was driving with my parents after i picked up my mail and i was singing "i'm so excited" the entire way home and they just gave me the crazy look.
so let's dive into this flashy pink bubble mailer!

first up, i see a welcome message for Canadians and two cards: one with the list of products (no other info besides offers) and $20 off JustFab (which is like a shoe 'subscription' company).
i've browsed JustFab plenty of times but one of the major turn-offs is the shipping charge to Canada. i checked today and i think they have lowered it since i last checked - $6.95. not too bad...

okay, let's keep diving into the chocolate brown bag (which is very plain but has the ipsy logo inside).

November's contents (since it doesn't come with a detailed product card, i'll be copying what the info on the site says here; prices are also in US dollars):

1) theBalm Meet Matt(e) eyeshadow in "Matt Batali"
"Matt Batali is just one of the nine shadows found in theBalm’s Meet Matte(e) compact palette (named after their favorite Matthews next door) which can be combined to create a multitude of soft and wearable looks. Matt Batali leaves a dark, matte finish, perfect for creating a smokey eye."

hi Matt! what a cute sample size you are! i love the little 'book' with magnetic closure. if you look closely, you can see that my eyeshadow was nicked a bit - it's obviously not a fingerprint but i guess mine got into a little accident.

i'd describe the color as a taupe-y aubergine since it looks brown, gray and purple at the same time. the eyeshadow is pigmented and lasts all day. it was a tad chalky when i first applied it though.

promotion: get the Meet Matt(e) eyeshadow palette for 50% off - the catch? shipping to Canada is $40. how is that right?? shipping to the US is $2.15 and somehow ours cost 18x more... ridonkulous. but you have to agree that it's so clever that all nine eyeshadows are different Matts.
size: 0.9 g
retail value: N/A but the palette with a brush (9.5 g) is $34.50, currently on sale for $17.25

natural light; artificial light

2) Starlet Intense Eyeliner in "Black"
"These creamy eyeliner pencils glide on to deliver a lasting vibrant color in chocolate or black. Blend or line your lids to create your favorite glam look, whether a smoky eye or straight line wing tip."

i am so glad i got "Black"! this specific eye pencil doesn't seem to be listed on the website since it looks different from the "black eyeliner". perhaps this is the more intense version.

to me, it still looks like a soft black though (see above for swatch). i used it yesterday on both my upper and lower lash line and man, was that a mistake. within an hour, i was having mad raccoon eyes. i had to keep cleaning up under my eyes since it continued to smudge all through the day. and as for my upper lash line, after 4 hours, i had huge creases on the inner corner. and to think i even wore an eye primer!
to sum it up, it was just a huge mess. no likey.

promotion: 20% off. shipping one eyeliner to Canada costs $17.84! eep.

size: 1.5 g (full size!)

retail value: N/A but the less intense version is $11

3) Nailtini Nail Lacquer in "Millionaire"

"Introducing Millionaire nail lacquer from the new Nailtini “Speakeasy” Collection chosen specifically for the ipsy community. Millionaire spikes a base of rose gold micro-glitter with iridescent gold and teal tinsels for statement-making nails, whether worn alone or as a dazzling special-effect topcoat. The only line of lacquer developed to maximize the creativity of the user by "cocktailing" different shades, Nailtini serves up endless color possibilities with amazing performance, hip sensibility and tongue-in-cheek attitude. Always 3-free, made in the USA and never tested on animals."

i've seen Nailtini before at Winners and have been tempted to pick one up. "Millionaire" also looks exactly like Nicole by OPI's "A Gold Winter's Night" and tokidoki's SANDy which i considered picking up after seeing both on sale at Shoppers and Sephora, respectively. however, i was feeling conflicted about the bar glitter - is it pretty or is it hairy?

i love the clever description!

on the website it is described as a "golden glitter infusion; teal & gold tinsels awash in rose-gold microglitter" (i like the word awash). the teal bars may appear purple when you play with the light. "Millionaire" is part of the Speakeasy collection. i don't think it's a polish i'd wear on all of my nails - i personally just used it as an accent. i also prefer it as a two-coater. 

promotion: 25% off. shipping to Canada is $11.95.

size: 15 mL (full size!)

retail value: $13

4) bareMinerals Marvelous Moxie Lipgloss eclos Moisture Therapy Regenerative Cream 

"This medium-weight moisturizer with restorative benefits helps smooth and brighten for a youthful finish. Hydration replenishes dry, dulling skin suffering from the signs of aging. Powerful extracts and antioxidants boost collagen levels for noticeable tightening and firming. Exclusively formulated with rejuvenating Apple Stem Cells, clinically proven to significantly reduce wrinkles and improve skin texture in two weeks. Formulated without parabens, sulfates, synthetic fragrances or dyes, mineral oil or petroleum."

instead of the lipgloss, Canadians got an eclos anti-aging product instead. apparently, there were issues with shipping lipglosses here. this eclos product was included previously in the August 2012 bag.

eclos is part of the Freeman brand (you know, the bare foot products?). eclos is focused on using Plant Stem Cells from a rare Swiss apple that are clinically proven to help skin look younger. sounds promising.

it definitely has a herbal scent to it but nowhere as strong as CyberDERM's PM Anti-Age.

promotion: i actually found this on the eclos site listed specifically for myglam customers - use MYGLAM10 to save $10 and get a free sample. shipping to Canada seems to be about $15.57.

size: 7 mL

retail value: $24.99 (60 g)

5) Benefit They're Real! Beyond Mascara 

"they're real! beyond mascara lengthens, curls, volumizes, lifts & separates. The jet black, long-wearing formula won’t smudge or dry out. A specially designed brush reveals lashes you never knew you had!"

i already have one of these mascaras from September's Topbox. i've heard both praise and criticism about the mascara but i am still excited to try it (once i get through my current round of mascaras!).

promotion: free Sugarbomb deluxe mini face powder with $35 purchase. international shipping is $18.95 and decreases if you spend over $75.

size: 3 g

retail value: $23 (8.5 g)

6) *bonus* myglam Glam Gloss in "01" - whaaa? i thought they couldn't ship lipglosses but here's one! i cannot find any information on this except that it was also thrown in as a bonus for the August 2012 bag. the box was a little bunged up but the gloss is fine. the holographic box lists an expiration date for this gloss as well as the production date. it was back in May which is why it was still called "myglam" instead of ipsy (changed in September). 

it looks like a really cute pink but i will have to get around to this later! (again, too many products on my hands - this is not a complaint)

size: 7 mL (full size! or so i assume)

retail value: N/A

so did you count it? that's 5/6 makeup-related items! *applause applause* i have been getting too many lotions and shampoos so this is a nice change. i am also glad to be able to try out new brands - 5/6 of the items are from brands i have not received in beauty boxes before.

one gripe i have with ipsy though, is that i get emails about products that are in the bag. ever since they sent me an email that my bag was shipped and up until i actually got it, i've received 3 emails. they need to understand that us Canadians get this box later than the Americans so stop spoiling the surprise!!
how do you like your ipsy this month?