December 2021 Ipsy Glam Bag

I’d like to start with how annoying it is that my bag always comes in at the middle of the month. I don’t know why that irks me so much. Ok, rant over 🙂

This month ipsy theme is Time to Shine

I have the base glam bag subscription and here is what I received

This month I selected Tarte surfer girl volumizing mascara. I like getting to try new mascaras and minis are easy to use up

The other items are

I got the comb as an add on because I needed one, but I didn’t want to make time to go buy one so I’m happy I got this in my bag.

• Real Her mini lisptick in Girl Power
• Ahava Sea kissed mineral hand cream
• Glowiest Youthful Glow and Peachy Glow face mask duo
• Refreshments Tangles be Tamed con in lavender fizz
• Benefit Porefessional hydrate primer

The Ahava cream is nice to throw in a bag or leave in the car, especially now that it’s gotten cold and my hands get dry often.

The face masks are eh. I haven’t been using have masks recently but I enjoy them overall and should probably get back into the habit of using them.

The hydrating primer is also just eh. I’ll probably mix it with a mattifying or pore blurring primer. I’ll get use out of it but it isn’t my preferred primer type.

The Real Her lipstick. Hmmm. I’m torn about this brand as a whole. The intent is nice – positive affirmations, enhancing natural beauty and community give back. The issue I have is that I’ve never really liked a product enough to keep it, use it or recommend it. I do like the color, it’s a nice mauve, but the formula is too much like a balm for me. I also like that this is a mini, using up an entire product might motivate me to keep it.

Overall this month’s bag was OK. I’m happy I got a comb for $3 and without having to leave my house, and it’s nice to have a new mascara and hand cream. Plus, I do like the makeup bag. I’ll get use out of two of the other three products, maybe even the third one so I’m overall satisfied with this month’s bag.

Do you have this subscription? What did you get and what did you like?

Ipsy Glam Bag Aug 2021

I received my ipsy August bag this weekend and here is what I got

Lately my favorite part of the subscription have been the bags. These are perfect to organize my bag or to just carry the essentials around with me. I love this design and the clasp feature.

For the products:

BRTC Korea Vitamin B5 Velvet Mask & Vitamin A Velvet Mask Duo
m2ü nyc Eye Primer in Nude
Shades by Shan Highlighter Single in Irma
Tatcha The Rice Wash
TheBalm Bronzilla

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Well, just realized this never made it out of my drafts and I’ve already received October’s bag. Oops.

The one item I’ve been consistently using from this bag is the Tatcha Rice Wash. It has just a bit of texture that feels like it’s washing away any dirt or oil stuck in your pores.

The only items I haven’t used are the face masks, I haven’t really been using them lately. The rest of the products are all nice and will be perfect for travel or even to keep in your purse to lightly even up after a long day.

Do you get ipsy and what did you get in November?

Subscription box look

This year I decided to cancel my boxycharm subscription so I can focus on the products I have, including all the products I’ve received via boxycharm and Ipsy; the only two subscriptions I’ve had for several years.

I am keeping my ipsy subscription because you can skip months and I like the sample subscription.

Using January’s products and a palette previously received in Boxycharm I came up with this look

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I know what you’re thinking and you’re right. I never do my hair.

The Ace Beauté Scarlet Dusk palette came in the January 2020 boxycharm box but I hadn’t used it at all so I pulled it out for this look. The a Kevyn Aucoin mascara came in the Boxycharm premium May 2020 box.

I like the formula of Ace Beauté’s shadows and I have a palette that I purchased on my own. The shadows apply pigmented and are easy to blend. Using a glitter primer I was able to apply a shimmer shade (Hibiscus) without having to wet my brush.

I think the Kevyn Aucoin mascara is ok. I like it but I wouldn’t pay full price for it. The brush is small with tight bristles that seperates lashes nicely and with a couple of layers it made my lashes look nice.

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From Ace Beauté’s website

The January ipsy bag came with a blush and highlighter and blush, along with some face masks, a color correcting cream and a hyradte and glow oil. I didn’t think to use the color corrector but I did use the highlighter and blush.

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I was surprised at how much I liked the Ciaté London Glow to Illuminating Blush in Matchmaker. Overall I have not been impressed with this brand so I didn’t have high hopes, plus I prefer matte blushes but this was a nice blush. The pigment is perfect for a blush and it isn’t glittery.

The highlighter is Catrice Luminous Highlighter in Lumi and it gives a beautiful wet highlight look.

I haven’t used the other products I received in the ipsy bag but I’m happy about the products I received.

I liked being able to use the products in my bag and enjoyed shopping my subscription box stash for this look.

Wander Beauty Mascara

If you have any kind of beauty subscription you’ve probably received some variation of the Wander Beauty mascara more than once.

This gold packaged volume and length mascara is the latest one I’ve tried.

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I used two coats on top and one on the bottom. Overall I like the way it made my lashes look, it wasn’t too wet when first opened and it gave me good volume. I did notice that in between the two coats, which I applied one eye then second eye, back to first eye then second eye, seemed to dry fast.

The one thing I can’t get down with is the packaging. I’m sure it’s better than a tube, because you can squeeze the last of the product onto the wand, but it’s too unconventional for me. The other thing I noticed, which it didn’t say on the packaging, is that this is waterproof, which I prefer not to use.

I like the mascara and would recommend it if you’re looking for a volumizing waterproof mascara.

2020 Low Buy

After spending a large amount of time trying to figure out how to organize my collection I realized I’m in desperate need of a no buy.

A small look into what I’m dealing with 🙈

I’ve always had a habit of overspending and needing to complete collections but this year I’ve become overwhelmed with what I have and the thought of having things to go bad before they’re used.

Being realistic though, I’m setting a low buy for 2020 instead. I’m working to start now, in November, so I don’t quit cold turkey.

I started by unsubscriping from all makeup and skincare emails, if I don’t see it I won’t need it, right?

Next, I’m handing my cards over to my boyfriend. I know the temptation is too strong for me to stop myself so I’m removing part of the temptation by cutting myself off financially.

Third, I’m going to focus more on following people who are also on no/low buys and focus more on panning.

Next, I am keeping my Ipsy and BoxyCharm subscription, there’s no way I could go without ANYTHING new lol.

The last thing is I’ve set a goal for myself. Since I enjoy the perks I get from being Rouge at Sephora, I’m going to save up for some luxury items to purchase during the Rouge sales, limited to two sales a year. This way I can keep my Rouge status and finally satisfy my curiosity regarding some of these high tag items.

Wish my luck!

September Ipsy Glam Bag Plus

I’ve been getting the Ipsy Glam Bag Plus for a couple of months now and so far I’ve been really impressed by the products I’ve received.

This month’s box included:

• Nomad Cosmetics Berlin Underground eyeshadow palette
• Glamglow Tropical Cleanser
• Illamasqua Antimatter Lipstick in Midnight
• Ciaté London Extraordinary translucent power
• Wander Beauty Frame Your Face Micro Brow Pencil in dark brown

My box arrived yesterday and since today is my day off I decided to play around with some of the products, specifically the eyeshadow palette and eyebrow pencil.

I had to use a different palette for an initial crease shade but the remaining six colors were all from the palette.

Overall I’m very impressed by the pigmentation, the blendability and how approachable this palette seemed.

The brow pencil is fine, I personally prefer bigger tips because I just use it to fill in my brows but overall I was able to use it and I liked the way my brows came out. The pigmentation was great, not too much and it didn’t feel waxy

I’m not sure if I’ll try out the remaining products or gift them since I already have so many of those products in rotation.

I’m very happy with this month’s box and would definitely recommend it!

If you’re interested in trying it here’s my code you can use to sign up, or you can sign up on your own.

Get Ipsy Now!

I will try to keep posting initial reviews as my boxes come in!

No spend. For real.

I’ve tried so many times to go on a no spend, I’ve even tried a low spend, but I can’t keep away from new makeup.

Starting August I’m going to try something new. I’m going to stick to the subscription boxes only.

I currently receive Boxycharm, I get Boxylux every three months, and I just received my first month of Ipsy Glam.

I’m going these will hold me over for the month so I still get new makeup, without buying new makeup.

I think the only exception will be extraordinary TJ Maxx or Marshall’s finds.

Here is what I received in the July Ipsy Glam box

I’m excited to try the Huda Beauty palette and the Thrive cosmetics mascara.

My sister gifted me the pixi spray already and I’m still feeling it out so this second one might go to a friend.

Overall I’m exiting to try everything in the box and I think it’s a great value.