As June has come and gone it's time to finally round up the last of my monthly posts with my Glambag review. Things have been solidly better in the Ipsy world over the last couple of months, and I'm generally feeling pretty pleased with my decision to stick with my subscription (things were getting a bit dicey towards the end of last year). The theme this month is "Swim into Beauty", and while nothing I got was really waterproof or pool friendly, there was definitely some good stuff packed inside that little cosmetics bag. Let's take a peek inside, shall we?
The Skinny on Ipsy
Ipsy is a beauty subscription service that sends you 5 deluxe samples or full sized products in a specially designed cosmetics bag every month.
What it costs: $10 monthly
Why it's special: If you're a total makeup junkie/beauty product addict, Ipsy offers you a great way to get acquainted with new brands, try the latest trends, and switch up your routine without having to spend a lot of cash. You'll complete a style quiz that will help Ipsy determine what products you'd most like to get in your Glambag, and can review products as you go to help personalize your experience. Ipsy also offers awesome sets from their brand partners each month at crazy discounts, as well as coupon codes to shop on their websites.
What you get back: Each time your review your monthly bag and the products in it you have the opportunity to earn points. When you've saved up enough points you can redeem them for an extra goodie of your choosing in your next bag.
Interested in becoming an Ipsy subscriber? Use my referral link to let them know I sent you their way!
Curious to see more? You can view all of my previous Glambag reviews here.
This month I ended up with a nice mix of offerings from much loved brands, as well a couple of new things I'd never heard of. All of my samples were also a really decent size, so I definitely will be able to play around with each of them a bunch and get a good feel as to whether or not the full sizes are worth investing in. Here's a quick breakdown of everything I received:
- Shea Moisture Shea Butter Lip Crayon in Sarah
- Pure Brazilian Miracle Leave-in Conditioner
- Dr. Brandt Pores No More Vacuum Cleaner
- treStique Mini Shadow Crayon in Aspen Pine
- Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer
This vivid statement-making lip color glides on smooth and stays true for all-day drama. This brilliant multi-tasker acts like a liner and lipstick in one. Use to define lips and then fill in with beautiful, all-over color. Blended with moisturizing Shea Butter, this lip crayon softens and hydrates while keeping lips supple and kissable.
Full Size, 2.9 g ($9.99)
Shea Moisture is one of those brands I managed to stumble up on a few months ago and immediately became impressed by. For a reasonably priced drugstore line they have a very high end feel and use a ton of quality, natural ingredients in their formulas. So far I've only tried out their haircare products, so I was really curious to see how one of their cosmetics items faired. With the bar set high, I have to say this chubby lip pencil didn't let me down. The shade Sarah is a vibrant pink with a sort of purple iridescent sheen. It's definitely a bold and sassy color, so those who fear the statement lip might be more comfortable with something a bit more subdued. I, however, think it's quite fun and perfect for the summertime. The formula of this was also quite lovely. Packed full of shea butter, it was as smooth, glossy, and moisturizing as I had hoped. It's also a little bit sheer, allowing you to either apply just a wash of color, or build it up to full opacity.
An ultra-reparative Keratin infused conditioner that re-constructs dry damaged hair by restoring keratin proteins that have been depleted by chronological aging, styling, chemical and environmental damage. Use for Gorgeous, Silky Smooth Hair!
Full Size, $6.78 oz ($26)
Sample Size, 1.0 oz ($6)
Ever since I grew my hair out long, I've developed a whole new appreciation for leave-in conditioner. It detangles, protects, and smooths my ends, keeping my hair looking and feeling healthy. This formula is a total winner in my book. First off, it smells incredible, and you all know how much of a sucker I am for a yummy scent. Second, it works wonderfully, offers UV protection, and doesn't leave my hair feeling weighed down or greasy. In a way this reminds me a lot of the Miracle 10 Leave-in Conditioner, but I think I actually might like this better!
This gentle exfoliating mask helps loosen and extract blackheads without painful extraction tools while absorbing oil and tightening pores. Dr. Brandt’s exclusive formula combines Salicylic and Glycolic Acid to assist in the release of blackheads while Eijitsu Rose helps tighten pores.
Full Size, 1 oz ($45)
Sample Size, 0.25 oz ($11.25)
Everything I've tried from the Dr. Brandt Pores No More line has been awesome, and I've been dying to try this particular product ever since it launched. This mask is meant to act like a vacuum that will suck all of the gunk out of your pores. While it isn't a total miracle worker, I definitely noticed that my skin felt a lot smoother and more refined after using this. I know I'll get several uses out of this one sample bottle, so I'm really intrigued to see if using this regularly makes a difference in the number of blackheads currently plaguing my t-zone.
This amazing 12 hour eye shadow has customizable color that you can build from a subtle wash to intense vibrancy. It’s also super blendable with a crease free, smooth finish.
Full Size ($26)
Sample Size ($10)
I love a good cream eyeshadow stick in the summertime. I'm generally in a lazier mood with my makeup application, and they're usually the kind of thing you can swipe on and blend out with your fingers in a matter of seconds. I've never heard of this particular brand before, but the formula on this does seem pretty descent. My shadow stick was in the shade Aspen Pine, a deep earthy green. I can't say that I rock green shadows all that often, but I know they look decent with my complexion. This particular color is on the deeper side, and has quite a hefty sparkle to it, so I'm thinking this is something I'd either need to use very sparingly during the day or for a smokey evening look. The only bad thing I've noticed about this is that it doesn't seem to dry down, so it definitely is not smudge proof. If you're a chronic eye rubber there's a good chance this will end up all over the place.
Create a perfect canvas for foundation application with this silky, lightweight blend of vitamins A & E, grape seed extract and green tea. Worn alone or under foundation, this best-selling, oil-free primer helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines and pores for flawless skin with a velvety-smooth finish.
Full Size, 1 oz ($36)
Sample Size, 0.25 oz ($9)
I suppose I wasn't incredibly excited about getting this primer sample, but only in the sense that I've pretty much always got at least one of them on hand. The whole Photo Finish primer line from Smashbox is incredibly popular, although this original formula is by far my favorite of the bunch. A silicone based primer, this has an incredibly silky feel to it and does an amazing job of creating a smooth base for foundation to adhere to. In addition to giving your skin a flawless appearance, this also increases the wear time of your makeup and helps everything to stay put from day until night. It's a very popular choice for wedding or other event makeup, and for good reason. So while I'm not going to need to bust into this tube right away, it'll certainly be nice to have this on hand.
I gotta hand it to Ipsy for partnering with some excellent brands this month. Getting a full-sized lip crayon was also definitely a treat. The total value of everything I sampled this month rang in at $46.24, which is pretty darn excellent for a $10 subscription. Probably the only thing I was indifferent towards with this month's cosmetic bag. It was made out of a soft, foamy sort of material that felt very cheap to me, and I'm not a fan of the embossed logo being printed all over it. However, I also have makeup bags than I could ever possibly use, so I don't need to hold on to it if I'm not a fan. I definitely still got my money's worth with this month's samples, so I really can only complain so much!
Are you an Ipsy subscriber? What was your favorite sample this month? If not, what would you be most excited to try?
