IPSY: NOVEMBER 2013
There's a small card tucked into the package from Michelle Phan, reminding Ipsy subscribers that each bag contains a full-sized product from em, her cosmetics line. That means that this bag is extra-full, with six items instead of the usual five. All I can say is Sweet! because who doesn't love a bonus item?
The bag this month is made with the skin of a shiny golden alligator. Well, close enough. It's a bit gaudy, but I actually like it quite a bit because it is so flashy and over the top! It even has a wrist strap, so it could be used as a small bag - if I was capable of reducing my purse to such a small size. I'm not, but it's a fun thought.
This month, Ipsy wants me to glam up with...
em michelle phan Lash Gallery Lengthening Mascara - Oh yay. Another mascara. I mean, it suits the bag theme and I'm sure it's awesome, but I just don't use mascara often enough to justify another tube of it. Maybe it's the universe's way of reminding me to put more effort into having long lashes? Well, it's $20 normally, so I wasn't likely to try it unless it was sent to me in a bag like this...
Be a Bombshell Lip Crayon in Hot Damn - Another brilliant bright red lip color! Personally, I love lip crayons, but I don't know if I can carry this color off because it is such a strong, vibrant shade. I gravitate to pinks and berries for a reason. But perhaps this will encourage me to be bolder... $14 at the Be a Bombshell website. There was a Be a Bombshell blush in the April 2013 bag.
Nailtini Straight Up Nail Lacquer in Caviar Cocktail - This is a shimmery silver nail polish that has a bit of blue in it, so it's actually more of a pewter or a steel gray. I don't have a color like it (my silver is a bright-white chrome silver) and I think it'll be a great addition to my nail collection. $13.00. There was a Nailtini polish in the July 2013 bag.
Pixi Beauty Bronzer in Subtly Suntouched - Bronzer is one of those beauty items that I feel I ought to use, but I'm not sure how. I mean, intellectually I understand that it's for contouring and giving definition to the face, but when I'm holding the bronzer in one hand and a brush in my other, I don't quite know where to place it. I guess now that I have this, I'd better do some experimentation. It doesn't look too dark, so I think it'll be OK on my skin? Sold for $18.00 on Pixi Beauty's website, but that comes with a kabuki brush, which the bronzer in the bag does not. I'll knock off $6 for the brush and price this at $12.00. There was a Pixi Beauty Mascara in my August 2013 bag.
Starlooks Gem Eye Pencil in Amethyst - I've been enjoying my black Starlooks Kohl Pencil, so I'm quite happy to receive another pencil from the same company. Purple has always been my favorite color for eye make-up, which makes this seem like an even better choice. It's a shiny, glittery pencil that I'm already in love with - it'll be seeing a lot of use this holiday season! $14.00. This is the third Starlooks product I've received from Ipsy, after the Lip Pencil in June and the Kohl Pencil in September.
GLAMGLOW YOUTHMUD TingleExfoliate Treatment - This face mask promises a "tingle-tastic tightening effect" using green tea leaf extract. Huh. I've never heard that green tea would tighten the skin, but I'm certainly willing to give it a shot! This sounds right up my alley. I love that Ipsy has been including more skin care products of late. This stuff ain't cheap! A full-sized pot of the face mask costs $69 - this trial-sized tube is about a third of that size, so I'll value it at $23.00.
The bonus em mascara pushed the value of this bag up to $96.00 - definitely the costliest Ipsy bag yet! But I am thrilled with these products. The nail polish, the eye pencil, the face mask - these will definitely go immediately into rotation, while I look forward to exploring the other items.
I'm noticing a definite trend with Ipsy bags: the same companies appear in the bags over and over. Is this a good thing or a bad thing? I'm not sure. On the one hand, I've really enjoyed the Starlooks items so I smile whenever I see them, but overall I do like getting a variety of brands so that I can constantly explore new things. Well, as long as the items received in the bags maintain this quality, I'll be pleased no matter what brand show up!
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