Ipsy - January 2014

Ipsy - January 2014

"19 Reasons" Theme

I think I missed the reasoning behind this theme. I believe it has something to do with the typical "New Year, New You". This is what I received:

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Ipsy

 Keep reading for in depth descriptions and mini-reviews on these products!

The bag was cute. The bottles and such had a more rubberized texture. This one was the first one that really smelled like plastic. It was sort of overwhelming when I first opened it. Oh well. I usually use them as a purse/receipt holder, but I won't be using this one for that. It will just stay for travels.

Healthy Sexy Hair Soy Tri-Wheat Leave-In Conditioner
1.7oz. (Travel Size) - $6.00 (actual prize, not calculated)
Full size (8.5oz ) is $17.95
Found at www.ulta.com

The one thing I was ecstatic about receiving was the Healthy Sexy Hair Leave-In Soy Tri-Wheat Conditioner. This will run you $5.99 at Ulta for this size and $16.99 for the full-size. I usually only buy this size anyways (I don't know why since I love this stuff sooo much!). I was actually planning on getting another one until I saw this as an option of something that we would be receiving. So happy! It leaves my hair so soft and just feeling wonderful and not dry. And it doesn't make your hair feel oily or sticky or heavy. <3 <3 <3

I had no idea what I was getting this month as I don't look at anything before I get my bag. I'll sometimes see the hints on Facebook, and sometimes I look more into the hints than others. This month I didn't really look too much into it. I was happy and satisfied with this month, but not over the moon excited like it was the greatest bag ever.

Absolute! Makeup Cleansing TissuePomegranate Extract - 10 ct. - $2.49
Found at www.nicka.com

Have not tried these yet. I just received a package of Ponds ones that's full size and I have opened so I will use those before these. I will probably save these for my travels at some point. However, I am happier that I received the pomegranate extract ones over the cucumber. I do not like cucumber scent. They have even more scents on the website and you can buy the 10 ct. for $2.49, as well as 33 ct. for $4.99 and 60 ct. for $7.99. I do not know what shipping is or what other products they may have. Oh, it is NickA New York. This is the same website/brand that I got for the nail polish last month.

Bright Skin Serum by Apothederm

0.35 oz. - $23.79 (insert shocked face here)

Full size - 1 oz. is $67.95
found at www.apothederm.com

I was happy to see something like this. I have gotten more into skincare recently. I did get a Clarisonic within the last month. And have noticed some wrinkles and I just really am wanting a better complexion. While some sort of moisturizer or anti-aging/anti-wrinkle serum would have been even better, a skin brightener is more universal and easier for this company to give out. I would like to say "Thank You!" for not giving a packet. It's a pretty decent sample. You'll definitely get at least a few uses and really see if your skin has any problems with the formula. It's probably not enough to see results, but definitely to see if it is something you like. Now I have just seen the price, and even how much the sample itself is worth. I know skin serums are definitely more expensive. But this is not something I'll purchase because of the price. Is it worth it? I don't know. I actually did not like the why it left my skin feeling after. It had almost a plastic feeling. Like I had a layer or liquid plastic over my face. I don't really even know exactly what a skin brightener should do or what results I would expect to see. More research needed.

MicaBeauty Tinted Lip Balm

2.5g in #05 Natural - $18.75 (another shocked face)

Full size (4g + built-in brush) is $30
found at www.micabeauty.com



What surprised me about reading the description for the first time, is that this is a 24 hour lip tinted balm. I have not tried it, but this I think will make me think differently when trying it out for the first time. Probably tomorrow. I want to know if the color stays, or if it just conditions for 24 hours. For me to consider something 24 hours, the color must stay too. Like the Maybelline Color Tattoos. I have yet to see a lip product like this. I received the color Natural, which is a nude. I think Nude would be a good name. When I think of natural I think of a "my lips but better" color. A slightly pinky-mauve color. But I also do not know how pigmented it is, and if it actually will be natural. The description says for a sheer wash of color, 1 swipe is all you need.
[UPDATE] I tried this today. What I thought would be a nude definitely isn't. Under the first layer it is more a pink-mauve. The perfect "my lips but better color". It is super light-weight, feels like nothing. But a balm is a complete understatement. I purposely didn't put a balm on to see what it was like and I think it may have dried my lips out even more. So far the color hasn't strayed an hour later with me biting my lips because of the little chapped parts. Let's see what happens when I eat. I'll update again.


Elizabeth Mott Smooth Shadow Pencil

0.7g in Pearl - $6.99
Full size - 1.5g for $14.99

Found at www.elizabethmott.com

This is an interesting one. On the product itself, it says Smooth Shadow pencil. And it is the same size as an eyeliner. It is not a jumbo eyeshadow stick. But when you look it up on their website you discover quite a bit more information. Ipsy does not provide you with cards with information about the products. You can find this information at ipsy.com along with codes for promotions for each product. Not just the ones you receive in your bag, but all the products that the company has sent out that month. On the company's website it says "Not your ordinary eyeliner", which is does not say in the description Ipsy provides.

But they claim to be waterproof and last all day. Ipsy suggests using it on your waterline. Which I was thinking about doing especially for this color, but the shimmer factor has me iffy about it. But I think I will try it now that it says waterproof. Nothing really stays on my waterline for hours and hours. Even UD 24/7 liners don't stay. This only comes in 3 colors, two of which were options to get (Pearl and Penny). The other color is Raven, which doesn't appear as black on the website as you might think with the name. I am actually really excited to try this. The name just throws you off.