IPSY BAG: December 2014

happy April Fools! i have never been a fan of lying since well, lies aren't usually nice. but harmless pranks on the other hand...
just a bit of fun in the office today, covering up the sensors on the bottom of the mouse on people's computers... teehee...
can you believe some property developer in BC posted on MARCH 31 that Disneyland purchased the rest of their land to develop a micro-park, the first in Canada?!
who in their right mind would play with the feelings of Disney enthusiasts like that!? on MARCH 31! not. funny.

ipsy's last 2014 bag was centered around being a "Creative Genius".

1) Cailyn : Just Mineral Eye Polish in "#5 Orchid"
Made with 100% raw mineral powder, this highly pigmented satiny powder not only colors your eyes with shimmery, gorgeous hues, but is also safe to wear long hours.
The easy to use built-in sponge tip allows smooth application and seamless blending of colors. Whether you want to give a subtle wash of color or go for dramatic smokey makeup, CAILYN Just Mineral Eye Polish will be a girl's best friend. size: 2.5 g (full size!)
retail value: $15.00

a few years ago, i would've been excited about a product like this but now all i see is a shimmery mess waiting to happen. the color "Orchid" (which i would have expected to be more a purple for some reason...) is a nice neutral shimmer.

2) Sexy Hair : 450° Blow Out Heat Defense Blow Dry Spray
Protect those tresses! Sexy Hair’s 450° Blow Out Heat Defense Blow Dry Spray protects hair from heat damage up to 450°F. In addition to outstanding thermal protection, it also conditions for smooth, sleek styles, detangles for improved manageability and strengthens hair. Helps to decrease blow dry time and adds weightless shine. size: 50 mL
retail value: $18.95 (125 mL)

i am horrible at remembering to put heat protectant prior to blow drying. i'm a fan of Sexy Hair though so i will try to incorporate this into my routine.

3) Tarte : Lights, Camera, Lashes 4-in-1 Mascara
Like a pushup bra for your lashes, tarte’s best-selling mascara lengthens, curls, volumizes and conditions to deliver a 330% increase in lash volume instantly. The high-performance formula is also infused with naturally-derived olive esters to help nourish and protect lashes. size: 3 mL
retail value: $20.00 (7 mL)

mascara!! can't use these babies fast enough.

4) BWC : Premium Aromatherapy Facial Cleanser 3% AHA Complex
Beauty Without Cruelty 3% A.H.A. Facial Cleanser is a lightly-foaming, soap-free cleanser that removes dead surface skin cells, daily impurities, and excess oil without over-cleaning your skin. Nature's own alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) gently and deeply clean and actively clarify your skin without disturbing it's natural balance. Pure premium Oshadhi aroma-therapeutic essential oils tone, condition, and calm, leaving your skin clean, clear, and refreshed.
size: 59 mL
retail value: $11.95 (250 mL)

this lightly scented (lavender?) clear gel cleanser is pH balanced and soap-free. my boyfriend always reaches for his bar of soap when washing his face. i always tell him that it is not good for his face since it dries out the skin. but he always says, 'what? it's soap!'. now i will just have to show him that 'soap-free' is a thing!

5) NYX : Butter Lip Balm in "BLB05 Marshmallow"
Dip your lips in a sheer wash of color with NYX Butter Lip Balm. One swipe leaves dry lips feeling supple and hydrated.
This Buttery Lip Balm is addictively soft and scrumptious and perfect for adding a subtle hint of color for a naturally flirtatious pout. Apply directly to bare lips or apply it over lip liner for more intense color.
size: 4 g (full size!)
retail value: $4.00

available in 8 shades but of course i get the one that will probably wash me out :/ it's too bad since i love NYX.

December's bag is sort of a fail for me - not interested in using the majority of these products... please check out the sale page instead :)

AT THIS MOMENT ...
currently listening: Often [Kygo Remix] - The Weeknd
just watched: Cinderella (2015 - lovely dresses and design, and of course a fairy tale but over the top corny at parts. and just not enough magic! the only magical part was the fairy godmother but that was so sudden that you don't really believe it...) ; The Impossible (again - but still so powerful. must watch!) ; More Than Blue (Korean - for most of the movie, i was getting a bit annoyed - yes it is touching that a terminally ill man loves a woman so much but won't tell her because he's going to die so he does all these things for her that hurts him at the same time... i was like JUST TELL HER!! but then there is a slight twist that makes things a hundred times more sad)
still watching: Doctor Who Season 5 (finished!) // Walking Dead Season 5 // Vampire Diaries Season 5 // Marco Polo Season 1 // Outlander Season 1 (oops starting too many..,)
now reading: - -

IPSY BAG: October 2013

happy sunday! 

i finally have time to sit down and blog about this ipsy bag :) 

this weekend was quite eventful since we had the company holiday party on Friday night. it was a good time and i love dressing up for these occasions. holiday decorations and music make me so happy! the celebration was located at Spruce Meadows - i have not ventured out here before but i hear the Christmas Market is pretty fun. 

here's a picture i posted on instagram with my fellow accountants :)

and nowww the ipsy bag for October: "The Art of Beauty".

1) Bella Terra Mineral Cosmetics Mineral Shimmers in "NSH20 Emotion"

It's easy to create a variety of looks with Bella Terra Mineral Cosmetics Mineral Shimmers! As an 8-in-1 product, the Mineral Shimmers are a creamy eye shadow, matte eyeshadow, eyeliner, lip color, nail polish, mascara, body glitter, and hair color for fun hair streaks! Available for purchase in 60 luminous and luxurious shades.

this is a very shimmery purple pigment. the shimmer does not show up as much in the swatch though. i hardly reach for mineral eyeshadows but these are definitely fun for holiday parties! this was not very long lasting so i would suggest a primer, which would also help with the color intensity. 

the other option ipsy subscribers received was Navy. 

size: 2 g
retail value: $14.99 (2.5 g)
promotion: 50% off purchase and free shipping [expired Nov 15, 2013]

2) Coastal Scents Classic Medium Shadow Brush - Natural (BR-C-N02)
The Coastal Scents Shadow Brush is a medium sized brush made out of natural fibers that is wide in shape and condensed to allow an even distribution of eyeshadow on the lid. This professional cosmetic brush can be used for shading the crease and highlighting the brow bone with complete precision.

i used to contemplate about placing a Coastal Scents order for the longest time... but just never went through with it. now i get the chance to try one of their brushes! i was actually looking for this particular size of a brush. the natural hairs (there is also a synthetic version) are quite soft. i used this brush with the Bella Terra mineral shimmer - it picked up the product well and distributed the product evenly.

size: 1 brush (full size!)
retail value: $2.49
promotion: 25% off purchase [expired Nov 7, 2013]

3) Nourish Organic Deeply Nourishing Coconut & Argan Body Lotion
Nourish Organic's new Deeply Nourishing Coconut & Argan Oil collection is a new collection of ultra-moisturizing body lotions and body washes that hydrate, soften and smooth the skin. These products contain highly concentrated, precious ingredients that replenish your skin with essential nutrients and restore your skin's natural glow.

this body lotion has a whipped kind of texture and absorbs quickly... maybe too quickly - i feel that i need to use more of this lotion in order to feel that my hands are "deeply nourished". it's great if you don't like the greasy feeling afterwards (my guitar-playing boyfriend would have no complaints about that!). the scent is coconut and argan with hibiscus (i prefer just coconut but this smells alright - not too strong). according to ipsy, the hibiscus is rich in antioxidants and protects from environmental damage. other scents available are Lavender Mint and Almond Vanilla.

size: 30 mL
retail value: $9.99 (236 mL)
promotion: 20% off Nourish Organic purchase on target.com or in store [expired Nov 10, 2013 and N/A in Canada]

4) Sexy Hair Spray Clay Texturizing Spray Clay
The Sexy Hair Spray Clay Texturizing Spray Clay creates and allover textured look with a matte finish. This spray allows for a fine and even product distrbution and is great for all hair types.

this Spray Clay is used for adding texture and movement without the crunchiness.
you can use the product just like a regular hair spray (same nozzle and aerosol can).

as you can see, the cap on mine is a little bunged up but the product is okay.

size: 50 mL
retail value: $18.95 (157 mL)
promotion: $5 off $25 Sexy Hair purchase on ulta.com or in store [expired Nov 15, 2013 and N/A in Canada]

5) Zoya Nail Polish in "ZP679 Neve"
Part of the Fall 2013 CASHMERES & SATINS Collection, these shades are created to work together with this season's most stylish runway designs and luxurious fabric blends. These ultra long-wearing, glossy nail lacquers by Zoya are BIG5FREE - free of toluene, camphor, formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin and dibutyl phthalate (DBP).

ipsy members either got this color Neve (sapphire blue metallic), Giovanna (emerald green metallic) or Mason (red violet metallic).
Neve is described as a sapphire blue and if you look closely, you will see fine green and red glitters. i really wish i could capture that on camera since it is really pretty. i find that my camera also captures more of the blue in the polish while it is actually slightly more purple.

 i apologize for the bad swatch! it is actually more purple than this!

i love the formula of Zoya polishes - they are 5 free and are rather easy to remove - no staining! the polish lasted me long enough before i got bored with the color. it did start chipping within 3-4 days.

size: 15 mL (full size!)
retail value: $8
promotion: buy 2 nail polishes, get 1 free and a free Zoya Remove + at zoya.com [expired Nov 10, 2013 and N/A in Canada]

- - -

so here's the entire ipsy bag! ipsy always delivers in terms of variety... which can mean value for some. personally, i still enjoy ipsy. i need to make sure that i start doing those reviews on ipsy so that the ipsymatch could be more accurate.

thanks for reading!

have you started attending holiday parties / or started holiday shopping yet?

IPSY BAG: April 2013

i don't know why i wasn't motivated enough to put this up earlier since it is a good bag... but i am blaming Glymm for dampening my spirits regarding beauty boxes. i was able to leave my Glossybox and BB5 untouched for two whole days! what what!

anyway here is a quick blurb about the ipsy bag for uhh... April.
"Pretty in Pink":

1) Be A Bombshell Blush in "Sweet Cheeks" 
"A highly pigmented pressed powder blush that highlights the complexion and provides long lasting color. Can be used both as a blush or a bronzer."

oh how pretty! i love the packaging and the names - hilarious! i got "Sweet Cheeks" (which has shimmer) but others got "Beach Please" (a matte).

i haven't gotten around to using this since i love this color (described as "medium rose pink") so naturally, i have like 10 variations of it :)

size: 5 g (full size!)

retail value: $16

promotion: 30% off and free full size pink shadow that expired on April 30, 2013 and was only available in the US - shucks cause that would've been awesome!

2) MicaBeauty Cosmetics Shimmer Powder in "72 Earth" 
"MicaBeauty Mineral Eyeshadows are extremely gentle, free of preservatives, chemicals, dyes, talc, oils, and other fillers. With this unique formula, the eyeshadows will look ultra smooth and stay put for hours without creasing or pulling the delicate eye area. Can be mixed with clear lip-gloss, clear mascara, and clear nail polish to add pigment to lips, eyelashes and nails!"

this is the deluxe sized version of MicaBeauty's multi-purpose shimmer powder. those who did not get this got a full size Two Cosmetics Duo Eye Shadow.

"Earth" is a shimmery pink champagne color. it looks to be a comfortable everyday kind of color and works on all skin tones.
i was thinking that it looks like a very pretty color but also so familiar at the same time...

so very familiar... and that's when i started digging through my collection and found this Bellapierre version - which is yet to be opened (like many, many, many others).

well would you look at that!
they are identical! they even have the same name! i tried to dig up some more info to confirm the relationship between MicaBeauty and Bellapierre but cannot find anything except someone posting in a forum that MicaBeauty, Micabella and Bellapierre are all just using different names.
i did find that MicaBeauty and Micabella are the same company - MicaBeauty is the US website while Micabella is the Canadian version. all three priced their "Earth" shimmer powders at $14.95-14.99.
did anyone else notice the similarities?

size: 2 g

retail value: $14.95 (2.5 g)

promotion: 30% off but expired April 30, 2013 and only valid in US

3) Miss Professional Nail Sation Nail Lacquer for ipsy in "2012 Of Corset I'll Call You"

"Sation Nail Lacquer is a contemporary beauty company, infusing a creative direction in nail care through a blend of lifestyle aesthetics. The collection features 120 colors from its seasonal & limited collections."

i have never heard of Sation nail polish or Miss Professional Nail before. the color "Of Corset I'll Call You" is part of a limited collection and is described as a "romantic lavender-rose". i think the color is just okay, maybe slightly boring so i am not in a rush to use it. i'd probably put it on my swap list.

size: 15 mL (full size!)

retail value: $5

promotion: 20% off online for US only until May 31, 2013

4) Sexy Hair Big Sexy Hair Powder Play
"Get ‘POW’ volume in an instant with Sexy Hair's Powder Play! Powder Play adds instant volume to any type of hair style or texture. Weightless, odorless, and colorless! Instantly liquifies when applied and adds volume and texture in seconds. Just sprinkle on dry hair at the root for lift and volume. Apply throughout the hair for extreme volume and texture."

anything that promises volume is always welcomed but i have gotten a bit lazy with these powders. even with dry shampoo (powders), i've found that if i am not careful, i would go to work and discover later that i had white residue on my scalp. and of course, it'd be on days when i'd have a conversation with some VPs of the company.

i have thick hair so i definitely have to use quite a bit in order to achieve the voluminous look. it looks great for a while but my hair would resume its natural flat state an hour or so later. but with this size, i guess you can always carry it with you and reapply it throughout the day/night :)

i've always been interested in the Big Sexy Hair line so i am glad i got this. ipsy members either received this or Healthy Sexy Hair Soy Renewal.

size: 2 g

retail value: $15.95 (15 g)

promotion: $5 off $25 purchase of Sexy Hair products from Ulta until May 10, 2013 - so again, not for Canadians

and that's that! all of these products are great but for me, i already have similar colors in my makeup collection so i'd prefer to swap them with someone.

i'm sorry this post is up later than usual but i have been busy with other fun events like the Calgary Comic & Entertainment Expo (if you have seen my instagram pic, you will know what i mean) and Army and Navy's Legendary Shoe Sale. they probably deserve their own blog posts - what do you think? ;)

IPSY GLAM BAG: January 2013

i am catching up on my posts... slowly but surely!! rest assured, i have NOT forgotten about you guys :)
oddly enough, i have not received any more beauty boxes yet this month and it's the 28th today. i received this ipsy bag back on the 16th and had received the tracking number only two days prior.

this month's bag is entitled "Super Stars" and comes in a navy blue pouch with a star pattern lining the inside:

the "Super Stars" of the month are:

1) SOHO  "Get a Grip" Crease Brush
"Create the perfect eye with the Get a Grip Crease Brush. First apply a neutral base eye color to the entire eyelid. Then apply a darker color to the eyelid crease – this will add dimension and depth. Finish the look by applying a shimmery highlight color to the inner corner of the eyelid and along the brow bone."
this is the first item i pull out since it is found outside the navy bag. i've seen SOHO brushes at Walmart before but have not tried them (and i am not 100% sure if they have this specific line).
the "Get a Grip" line consists of brushes that feature a tri-grip handle - very ergonomic indeed.
i have another crease brush from Topbox (Expression from August 2012) and this SOHO one is fluffier and softer. i enjoy the softness of the bristles (which is natural by the way) but the fluffiness seems to get the eyeshadow all over your eye rather than the area you are aiming for (the crease!). i don't have a ton of eyelid space so when i used this brush, i got some eyeshadow underneath my eye as well.

promotion: $3 off brushes on walgreens.com - they do ship to Canada but shipping starts at $12.49 AND this brush (along with many others) are only available in-store... you're better off buying from Walmart
size: 1 brush (full size!)
retail value: not sure - but i will check next time!

2) Pacifica Tuscan Blood Orange Body Butter 
"Tuscan Blood Orange Body Butter is not only a highly effective antioxidant rich moisturizer that nourishes the driest of skin and helps fight off the signs of aging; it nourishes your other senses as well. The infusion of sparkling, juicy blood oranges that are highlighted with notes of red raspberry and spicy sweet Italian Mandarins take you to the beaches of the Mediterranean. Made with nature’s best moisturizers - Shea butter, almond oil and safflower oil - Pacifica’s vegan, paraben and gluten free Body Butter is a skin must have."

not only does this smell delicious, it has a good list of ingredients. upon pulling off the seal, you can smell the blood orange as if you are about to take a bite out of one. the body butter feels great on the skin - very smooth and hydrating.

sorry it's blurry!

promotion: 20% off purchase not valid in Canada but Pacifica does ship to Canada (shipping starts at $6.75)

size: 73 mL ("full size"!)

retail value: $7 or $15 (236 mL)

3) Josie Maran 100% Pure Argan Oil (Organic Moisturizer)

"This 100% Pure Argan Oil is a legendary oil that's rich in vitamin E and essential fatty acids, and grown organically in Morocco. With its multitasking benefits, Argan Oil can be used for many areas including hydrating and nourishing skin as a daily moisturizer, skin treatment, treating spilt ends, and softening cuticles. It's gentle enough to use on all skin types and is known to help with skin conditions including acne, eczema and rosacea. Argan Oil easily absorbs into skin to give you a youthful, dewy glow, and has astonishing healing, conditioning, and antiaging properties to keep your skin and hair nourished and revitalized and to keep you looking beautiful from head to toe."

there are so many ways to use this product - on your skin, on your hair or in your bath... i dabbed it on my face and ran some through my hair. i did so sparingly since i already generate enough oil in both areas on my own :) it absorbs quickly and leaves a glow to my skin without any greasiness. in the ends of my hair, it has a glossy feeling which may come across as oily to some people. i'd just be careful with how much you use since a little really does go a long way!  

promotion: 15% off purchase of $45 or more until Jan 31/13; shipping to Canada is $4.95 but free if you spend  >$25

size: 5 mL

retail value: $48 (50 mL)

4) Sexy Hair Spray & Play Volumizing Hairspray

"Your everyday spray for BIG volume! Spray & Play is a humidity resistant, flexible hold hairspray that provides fullness, lift and incredible shine! Perfect for all hair types."

i've been meaning to try this line FOREVER. i battle flat hair everyday so volumizing products are right up my alley. the other night, i did a quick spritz in my hair and it really did give my hair volume. however, the quick spritz did not last me an hour. i am pretty confident that if i was to use more of this, it will hold longer. 

promotion: $5 off purchase of $25 or more not for Canada!

size: 50 mL

retail value: $17.50 (300 mL)

5) Nailtini Nail Lacquer in "Bloody Mary"

"You can’t go wrong with a classic, all the way to your fingertips. These two are the all-time best selling Nailtini nail lacquers. Whether the glossy true-red of bloody mary or the hint-of-pink of frappe, your tips and toes are classic perfection anytime.
No makeup cabinet is complete without an all-star nail lacquer and Nailtini stocks top-shelf, 3-free nail lacquer in dozens of shades, textures and finishes. Wear them alone or layered to create custom looks and effects, each one a cocktail unto itself. Cheers to beauty, and as always, apply responsibly!"

"Bloody Mary" is described by Nailtini as a "classic true red" and it really fits the description. the red actually appears slightly darker than shown below. i've only been at my new job for a week so i don't know how bright i can go in terms of nails so i will have to hold off on swatches for now! 

promotion: 30% off purchase until Feb 28/13; shipping to Canada is $11.95

size: 15 mL (full size!)

retail value: $13

in a time where beauty boxes have started to go downhill and lose their appeal, i have yet to be disappointed by ipsy. i really enjoy the variety of products in each bag. though we've received Nailtini from ipsy before, this one is not a glitter and in a shade i do not own. my favorite product would be either the body butter or perhaps the hairspray - what about you?