May 2013 ipsy Glam Bag Review & Swatches

Posted on May 15, 2013 by Brooke

The May 2013 Glam Bag theme is Spring Fling. I’m not going to mince words. Prepare yourselves…..

…… this flipping bag is awesome. It’s probably bordering out of control types of awesome. It’s loaded, you guys. If you haven’t signed up by the end of this post I don’t know wtf is wrong with you. Seriously. Go get checked out.

What you see above is an orange, white, aqua and blue makeup bag. Fun, makes me think more Summer than Spring, but still seasonally appropriate. The card is basically there to give you the run down of what is in your bag and the discounts you can get by visiting the Glam Room on ipsy.com. The second card gives you a discount code for NuMe.

What’s inside?

Starting off, from NuMe, the Finishing Serum. This is great to tame your hair and give it some gloss and shine. I have oily roots and I keep it at the ends and am happy with the results (which are the same as when I use any type of Argan Oil, etc).

Next, from Zoya, the Nail Polish in Blu. Y’all know I love me some Zoya. Check out my swatches and review of Blu here.

From Pacifica, the Luminizing Body Butter in Crushed Coconut Pearl. This gives you shimmer and glow and also keeps your skin hydrated. The pearl is subtle and ohhhhh it smells gooooooddddd…. This has my skin smelling yum and feeling fresh and cool. Loving this.

Next, from Yaby, a concealer refill in Buff. Not a huge fan of the shadows, but the concealer has major coverage. Albeit a little thick, if you have a monster zit or something equally as fierce this should cover it for you. This color matched me well and it’s small enough to keep in your makeup bag for touch-ups.

Finally, the Juice Beauty Reflecting Gloss in Pink. This tastes amazing. I can’t believe I’m talking about taste first with a gloss… but omg.. like oranges… so yum. It has a ton of slip, isn’t sticky and gives a nice tinted shimmer. Full size!

Oh, but we’re not done. I also got this lil doozie from Urban Decay – the Moondust Eyeshadow in Glitter Rock. Gorgeous. Soft, really glittery… just so ridiculously pretty. I saw a few of the other shades as well and I think I need more of this thing we call Moondust. Anyway, this is a FULL SIZE shadow! Received as a bonus for being an active ipsy member! Woooo!

(L-R: Urban Decay Glitter Rock, Yaby Buff, Juice Beauty Pink)

All in all, how ridiculously awesome was this bag?! Definitely worth the $10 and then some. I am absolutely in for June since the value from ipsy remains fabulous!

Ipsy does profile pages now, so here is mine. And now they finally are offering a referral program, basically refer two friends get an UD shadow and a BaubleBar bracelet for free in your next bag. Soooo go sign up because those bracelets are super cute and I wants

Here is where you can go to subscribe to ipsy for a Glam Bag.

What do you think about the May Glam Bag? Are you going to subscribe for June? I know I’m looking forward to my next bag!

****This post contains one or more referral links.

April 2013 ipsy Glam Bag Review & Swatches

Posted on April 13, 2013 by Brooke

The April 2013 Glam Bag theme is Pretty in Pink! So, hopefully you like pink and girlie or this month’s bag will not be for you. I can take or leave pink, some look horrible on me while others are perfect, there never seems to be an in between in regards to my tone vs. this color.

What you see above is a white makeup bag capped with hot pink. Super cute, but collects dirt like no ones business. The card is basically there to give you the run down of what is in your bag and the discounts you can get by visiting the Glam Room on ipsy.com. The second card gives you a discount code for Generation Beauty.

What’s inside?

Usually I start left to right, but I’m sure your eye was drawn immediately to the sad and shattered blush to the right. It’s made by Be A Bombshell and is in the shade Sweet Cheeks. This raspberry pink shade is beautiful and pigmented with a lustrous sheen. RIP.

Next, from Mica Beauty Cosmetics, the Shimmer Powder in Earth. This powder was kind of gritty and glittery, but makes for a lovely pop of pinked lavender n the lid. A great shade for me, personally, because the wrong pink can make me look very sickly.

(L-R: Mica Earth, Be a Bombshell Sweet Cheeks)

From Sation Nail Lacquer for ipsy, a polish in the shade Of Corset I’ll Call You. I’ve heard great things about Sation but unfortunately I’m not a fan of this particular polish. It didn’t apply very evenly and the formula was a bit runny. This is my first experience with Sation so I don’t know if this is the norm for them, hopefully not. (Below is three coats).

Finally, from Sexy Hair, a small size of the Nourishing Styling Treatment. This product is to speed up your blow dry time and when used on dry hair, to reduce frizz. Something I can always use!

All in all, I’m happy with the bag, definitely worth the $10… it’s too bad about the blush, though, as it would have been my fave product from this bag. Regardless, I’m definitely in for May since the value from ipsy remains fabulous!

Ipsy does profile pages now, so here is mine. There isn’t anything there, but I think it’s fun that it’s offered. Hopefully they’ll also go by way of Birchbox and GlossyBox and have a referral program set up or a point system in place for free products. After seeing how awesome this bag was, that is really the only thing holding them back.

Here is where you can go to subscribe to ipsy for a Glam Bag. It’s not a referral.

What do you think about the April Glam Bag? Are you going to subscribe for May? I know I’m looking forward to my next bag!

March 2013 ipsy Glam Bag Review & Swatches

Posted on March 16, 2013 by Brooke

The March 2013 Glam Bag is taking you on The Great Escape! With this ridiculously crap weather we’ve been having lately, I’m READY for an escape.

What you see above is a nautical white and blue stripe makeup bag. Adorable. The card is basically there to give you the run down of what is in your bag and the discounts you can get by visiting the Glam Room on ipsy.com.

What’s inside?

First, from Juice Beauty, the Hydrating Mist. This is a wonderful size for travel, especially since skin gets so dry on airplanes. This mist will refresh your skin but it’s heavy on the rose scent, so if you aren’t a fan of floral you might want to try another product.

Next, from La Fresh, Travel Lite Makeup Remover Wipes. I love getting makeup remover wipes as samples. You really can never have enough of them and these ones by La Fresh really do a great job at removal and stay moist after opening.

Third, from GlamRX, the Mini Freestyle Palette. This particular one was made exclusively for ipsy, but there is another version available. These are so awesome for popping loose shadows or other products in for travel. I love that one was in this Glam Bag.

Finally, to put in your GlamRX palette, two small shadow refills from Yaby. I got the shades Sand Dune and So Vain. Pigment was lacking and they were quite patchy to use, even with a firm brush. I used these as part of the EOTD I posted on St. Patrick’s Day.

All in all, I’m extremely happy with this months bag and it’s a total win! I’m definitely in for April!

Here is where you can go to subscribe to ipsy for a Glam Bag. It’s not a referral.

What do you think about the March Glam Bag? Are you going to subscribe for April? I know I’m looking forward to my next bag!

February 2013 ipsy Glam Bag Review & Swatches

Posted on February 14, 2013 by Brooke

The February 2013 Glam Bag is set to make you Red Carpet Ready! With Awards Season in full swing, these are definitely must haves even if you just plan on sitting and watching the show from the comfort of your home.

What you see above is a shiny black makeup bag (that holds fingerprints like no other). The card is basically there to give you the run down of what is in your bag and the discounts you can get by visiting the Glam Room on ipsy.com.

What’s inside?

The first item is the Lash Card Individually Wrapped Mascara Shields. I hate getting mascara on my freshly applied eye makeup just as much as the next person… but these seriously are more of a pain in the butt to hold while you’re applying mascara than it is to clean up a small mascara dot from the wand.

The second item is the Smokey Lash Kapow Mascara from POP Beauty. I really liked how this mascara lengthened and slightly curled my lashes.

The third item is the Pixi Flawless & Poreless Face Primer. This product is very slightly tinted & did well as a base for my makeup. My look also held up well throughout the day. My only con with this is the scent is sort of plasticy.

The fourth item is the Gel Eyeliner from MicaBeauty. This is a brand I’ve never heard of but the liner was really great in terms of application and pigment. The formula was easy to glide on and took minimal effort.

The fifth item is a Coastal Scents Shadow Palette sample. I was really excited for this item because I’ve always heard a lot about Coastal Scents and how great their shadows are. I definitely was not disappointed. It was a joy to apply the shadows as they went on smoothly and with great pigment. They were easy to blend and smoke out. The set I received is Glitz & Glamour and includes the shades Candlelight, Gunmetal, Incognito and Ashen.

(L-R: The Coastal Scents Shadow Palette, Pixi Primer, Mica Beauty Gel Eyeliner)

Below is an eye look using the quad, mascara and liner. I’m pretty in love, which is fitting since it IS Valentine’s Day

All in all, I’m extremely happy with this months bag and it’s a total win! I’m definitely in for March!

Here is where you can go to subscribe to ipsy for a Glam Bag. It’s not a referral.

What do you think about the February Glam Bag? Are you going to subscribe for March? I know I’m looking forward to my next bag!

January 2013 ipsy Glam Bag Review & Swatches

Posted on January 24, 2013 by Brooke

For the first Glam Bag of 2013 ipsy did an okay job. It wasn’t as fabulous as the December Bag, but it was definitely worth the $10 and then some.

What you see above is a navy makeup bag with matching zipper. The card is basically there to give you the run down of what is in your bag and the discounts you can get by visiting the Glam Room on ipsy.com.

What’s inside?

The first item is from Josie Maran and is, yup, you guessed it… more Argan Oil. *sigh* Please, and this is for ALL of you monthly subscription beauty services out there, stop including the Argan Oil in these bags. I have SO MANY!

The next item is another polish from Nailtini. I love these polishes, they are so easy to use and stay on well. This particular one is Bloody Mary, and only required one coat!

Third, from Pacifica, Tuscan Orange Body Butter. This cream is 100% vegan It’s wonderfully sweet and moisturizing. This is extremely fragrant and will make you hungry, but it feels amazing!

Fourth, from Big Sexy Hair, the Spray & Play. This volumizing hairspray provides excellent hold and is the perfect size for in your purse.

Finally, from London Soho, a concealer brush. I love a new makeup brush and this one is a great quality. I was a little sad to get the concealer brush, though, because others got a shadow brush. Grrr… maybe next month!

All in all, I’m extremely happy with this months bag and it’s a total win! I’m definitely in for February!

Here is where you can go to subscribe to ipsy for a Glam Bag. It’s not a referral.

What do you think about the January Glam Bag? Are you going to subscribe for February? I know I’m looking forward to my next bag!

December 2012 ipsy Glam Bag Review & Swatches

Posted on December 22, 2012 by Brooke

Just when I think I’m so happy that I’m resubscribed to Glam Bag and it can’t get any better, it got better! November’s bag was worth above and beyond $10 and this months bag is worth above and beyond double that.

What you see above is a gunmetal metallic makeup bag with matching zipper. Very nice, and still no chemical smell. Useable! The card shown with the bag is a $20 off code for JustFab and the two cards below that are just showing what is inside the December Glam Bag and telling you to buy a subscription for someone else.

What’s inside?

Starting on the left, the first item is from Mai Couture and is a pack of highlighting paper. This is a nicely pigmented highlighter and works and looks divine! The only thing I dislike is that shimmer gets all over my fingers and I have to wash my hands in the middle of applying makeup, which is annoying because I also do it before I apply my makeup and after.

Next is Bombshell Lip Gloss in Hot Mess. Which is the best name for a lip gloss ever. The applicator is doe foot, and the shade ends up looking like a reddened pink.. that is where the pros end for me. The gloss is sticky and very thin. Not something I’d ever buy.

Third is a new product from Urban Decay that will launch in early January, the Naked Skin Beauty Balm. I have no idea what shade I got, but it’s way too dark and orange for me. I did try it a bit for testing purposes and I do like it. A little goes a long way and the consistency is more runny than not. Even so, I would buy a full size in my shade once it launches.

The fourth item is also from Urban Decay and is a mini-sized 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Zero. I do like the shade as well as the product and these minis are nice for travel. Though I am tired of getting Zero in everything lol

The fifth item is from NYX and is their Loose Pearl Shadow in Charcoal Pearl. The shade is pretty and it had a nice, soft consistency.

The sixth and final item is from Mirabella and is a Prime for Face & Eyes. This is a greasy and runny product, that may be okay for the face but I don’t see how this would make a good primer for eyes. I didn’t like the feel of it at all, but I’m generally not a fan of a face primer.

All of these items together will clearly do you up right for a festive holiday or New Years Eve face.

Here is where you can go to subscribe to ipsy for a Glam Bag. It’s not a referral.

What do you think about the December Glam Bag? Are you going to subscribe for January? I know I’m looking forward to my next bag!

November 2012 ipsy (My Glam?) Glam Bag Review & Swatches

Posted on November 14, 2012 by Brooke

This Summer, after I received my June Glam Bag and did an open box video, I cancelled my MyGlam Glam Bag subscription. It was such a disappointment across the board for me. Weird products, chemical smells… just wasn’t impressed.

So, what made me resubscribe? Well, I got an email saying if I came back I’d get a Benefit They’re Real Mascara as an extra. I do love that mascara, and My Glam had morphed into ipsy (Why? I have no idea and frankly I’m too lazy to look) so maybe it’s better now. Without even looking to see what the bags had been between June and now I went ahead and forked over my $10 to re-subscribe.

Holy….. This is AMAZING. I’m floored by how great this month’s bag is for 10 bucks.

What you see above is a cute and classy deep brown makeup bag with a gold zipper. I believe it’s canvas. Very nice, no chemical smell. Useable! The two cards are just showing deals and discounts that ipsy subscribers can get when shopping with the sponsors of this months bag as well as a deal on a justfab.com subscription.

What’s inside?

Clearly, if you read the start of this post, you know it’s all good things.

Starting on the top left is a nail lacquer from Nailtini in the shade Millionaire. SO pretty, right? It’s a mix of regular glitters and bar glitters in multiple shades, and just makes me think of a New Years Eve extravaganza. It’s shown below as one coat over Chanel Malice.

Next, from Benefit, the They’re Real Mascara, which I’ve reviewed here. It’s a great mascara if you’re in the market for some va-va-voom on your eye balls.

From theBalm, one of the shades in the Meet Matt(e) Palette. The shade I got is Matt Batali (sounds Italian, so imma say it’s appropriate for me lol) and it’s a deep eggplant color. So smooth and pigmented for a matte shade. Very impressed and I just may have to purchase the full palette so he can hang with his buddies.

The fourth item is a bareMinerals Marvelous Moxie Lipgloss in the shade Dare Devil. The applicator is sponge doe-foot (YAY) and it’s only slightly sticky. The vibrant pinky-purple shade has a hint of shimmer. It may look scary, but on the lips it’s sheer and just gives a hint of color. I fear shades like this on my lips, but this one looks gorgeous!

The final item is from Starlet Cosmetics and is a Black Eye Pencil. I’ve never heard of this brand, but I found the liner to be smooth in application and though the black shade isn’t super saturated it wore nicely and is easy to smudge for a smoky, party eye.

(L-R: theBalm Matt Batali, bareMinerals Dare Devil, Starlet Eye Pencil)

It seems based off the one card that some people also got an Eyebrow Defining Gel from Chella. I’ve never heard of that brand, but I can always use brow gel! Would have probably liked that in place of the liner, but either way, I’m still VERY happy with this months bag and will be continuing my subscription into December.

By the end of this email I convinced myself that, as a blogger, I need to become educated on ipsy. I haven’t been on the site since June, but it looks MUCH more clean and organized. More like I’d expect it to be.

They do profile pages now, so here is mine. There isn’t anything there, but I think it’s fun that it’s offered. Hopefully they’ll also go by way of Birchbox and GlossyBox and have a referral program set up or a point system in place for free products. After seeing how awesome this bag was, that is really the only thing holding them back.

Here is where you can go to subscribe to ipsy for a Glam Bag. It’s not a referral.

What do you think about the November Glam Bag? Are you going to subscribe for December?

June 2012 MyGlam Glam Bag Review & Open Box Video… Also, some Target Beauty Bag Love

Posted on June 13, 2012 by Brooke

Hellooooo!

I thought it would be easier with these subscription things to film an open box video like I just did with Little Black Bag so I’m testing it out here with the June Glam Bag from MyGlam. I also received the new Target Beauty Bag on the same day, so I threw that in there at the end.

In the interest of not taking too much time from your day, it’s only around five minutes long. I want to try and keep these short and sweet. You obviously know the deal with MyGlam by now and it being a beauty subscription service. I don’t take time out to explain about that, I’m just here to show you the goods.

You can sign up for your own Glam bag at myglam.com for $10 a month. The way they charge is a bit odd, so make sure you read up on all of the FAQ stuff. These tend to sell out very quickly. Rather than stalking them on Facebook, or waiting for a notification email, I suggest checking the website once a day, that’s how I ended up being able to sign up.

May 2012 MyGlam Glam Bag Photos and Thoughts

Posted on May 17, 2012 by Brooke

Since I’ve been a subscriber of MyGlam Glam Bags… I haven’t really been all that impressed. It all started out extremely negative for me. I held on and they have been steadily getting better. This month, I’m definitely the happiest I’ve been with them ever.

The May Glam Bag brings us a love theme. Why it’s a love theme in May absolutely escapes me, but I guess we can love all year and not just in February!

Normally I start off with the positives, but this time there aren’t many negatives so I’m going to start there first. I don’t want a ton of inserts and paper crap in my monthly subscription service… but a card describing what is in there is always nice to have (like what Birchbox does). MyGlam basically went from WAY too much paper, to no paper.

Also, I didn’t like the bag this month. The makeup bag is cutesy… but teeny bopper I-Can’t-Get-Enough-Of-Justin-Beiber-ish. My 3 year old is pleased with it, though.

That’s where the negatives end! Contents wise, the bag is a win! Two more brushes to add to my pink pouch of brushes, a Philosophy fragrance sample of Love Sweet Love (unfortunately in those pesky vials I hate), Nail Bling Manicure in Minutes, and a FULL SIZE Lippie from Studio Gear in the shade Romance (see swatch below).

Overall, I’m pleased. YAY for Glam Bag MAY! They are steadily getting better and I’m absolutely keeping my subscription into June.

You can sign up for your own Glam bag at myglam.com for $10 a month. The way they charge is a bit odd, so make sure you read up on all of the FAQ stuff. These tend to sell out very quickly. Rather than stalking them on Facebook, or waiting for a notification email, I suggest checking the website once a day, that’s how I ended up being able to sign up.

April 2012 MyGlam Glam Bag Photos and Thoughts

Posted on April 12, 2012 by Brooke

I just want to preface this post by saying that this is the best Glam Bag I’ve received in the three months that I’ve been a subscriber. The February bag was a complete fail… the March bag was MEH and smelly… April… we’re much, much better!

Let’s start with the bag itself. This months bag is my favorite thus far. It’s a metallic pink that makes me think of Jem and the Holograms (a bit of cartoon glitz from the 80′s there for ya!). It’s the perfect makeup bag or clutch for a night out.

Inside this months bag was a pretty decent array of items. I can’t say I’m extremely disappointed in any of it… but lets break it down and see just what I love and what I don’t!

First off. I’m SO happy for the absence of 500 cards stuffed in the bag. In the past 2 bags there was a card for everything. It was rather annoying, and fans expressed this. So, THANK YOU, Glam Girls, for listening!

Included in this months Glam Bag was:

~ Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Woodstock. I’m sure we all got different shades, and Woodstock is one I don’t have… but is probably the last shade in the universe that I’d ever choose for myself. The size is what I’d call a deluxe mini size… but that’s fine by me since I’ll likely only use this when I’m doing some crazy type of eye look for blogging purposes. I guess I’m a little sad faced too, because as their “hint” they showed the 24/7 in Perversion… and I thought I would be getting that one… so that was the product I was crazy excited for.

~ DermStore Lip Quench – Moisture Infused Lip Treatment. This has some sort of crazy pine type scent. It’s not unpleasant… just different. The product is rather sticky, but I do love to get lip balms and things like that. They are so easy to throw in your bag for anytime. I can’t stand having dry lips! Right now this product is free on the DermStore website with purchase.

~ All-Belle Eyelashes. No part of the box is in English, so I’m not sure if these just stick on or you need glue. The website is in English but I have no way of knowing what pair of lashes this is… Either way, I’ve never used false lashes and I don’t have the glue here so I probably won’t be using these. If there was a glue included I’d probably try it just for kicks.

~ MyGlam All-Over Eyeshadow Brush and Eyeliner Brush. These two go with the crease brush sent with last months bag. Yes, the one that stunk. If you put your nose right up to the two new brushes you can catch a whiff of the same scent, but the smell DOES fade (I kept it outside on the porch for almost a week. I’m sure my mailman thinks I’m insane.) and the brushes are nice and soft. The pouch and brushes are nice for traveling and if they get lost or forgotten I won’t fall apart like if I lost my MAC brushes lol

Overall, I think this month was worth the $10.00. Just barely, but we’re getting there.. and I will be keeping my subscription for May.

Since the bags have been steadily getting better it makes me want to believe that the Glam Girls are listening to their customer feedback. On their Facebook page they state that the bags are planned in advance, so we should hopefully still be noticing a nice increase in all things awesome.

You can sign up for your own MyGlam bag at myglam.com for $10 a month. The way they initially charge is a bit odd, so make sure you read up on all of the FAQ stuff. These tend to sell out very quickly. Rather than stalking them on Facebook, or waiting for a notification email, I suggest checking the website once a day, that’s how I ended up being able to sign up.