ipsy Glam Bag july 2014 Overview and Swatches

I Purchased This Referral Link

I was really pleased with last month's Glam Bag but it seems like the pendulum is swinging back towards the dark side because I feel lukewarm about this month's bag. This month's theme is "Sensationally Sunkissed" and emphasizes products that you can use while in the sun and by the pool side. This month's bag is pink with a scalloped edge but I can't help but think that it looks like a ravioli. In this month's bag I received two full size and three mini items.

Inside my bag: Bare Escentuals 5 in 1 BB Advanced Performance Cream Eyeshadow (mini), Clear Clinic Laboratories Vanished Clear Spot Treatment (mini), Elizabeth Mott Tints & Sass in Cherry (full size), Hang Ten Dark Tanning Oil (mini), and Nailtini Nail Polish in Mango Rita (full size).

This month, the algorithm for ipsyMatch must have ignored my quiz because I got tanning and acne products in my bag. I'm not into tanning products with such a low SPF and I don't prefer getting such small samples of acne products, especially one in such an unhygienic packaging and with so much alcohol (the first ingredient is actually rubbing alcohol and it smells like rubbing alcohol)

I was hoping to get a full size of the Bare Escentuals Cream Eyeshadow but got a mini in the shade Divine Wine. In the tube, it looks like a deep grey plum and it initially applies like that on the skin. I noticed that as it dried, this shimmer was peeking through and when I rubbed my skin, this beautiful green highlight came out. I don't know if that's supposed to happen but it added a lot of depth to what I thought was a boring eyeshadow.

I didn't bother using the Clear Clinic Spot Treatment because I have no interest in dabbing rubbing alcohol on my skin to clear up my acne or the Hang Ten Dark Tanning Oil because SPF 8 is a joke. The Elizabeth Mott Tints & Sass is similar to the Benefit Benetint but has better packaging since it's in a spill-proof bottle with a doe foot applicator. 

Here's a FOTD using the Tints & Sass and Bare Escentuals Cream Eyeshadow.

I also wanted to show the Nailtini Nail Polish. I wasn't fond of the Nailtini nail polish. I thought that the long wand combined with a thinner polish meant that no matter how much I wiped off the brush tip, the polish would just flow down from the top of the wand.

July's ipsy Glam Bag Value: 

Bare Escentuals 5 in 1 BB Advanced Performance Cream Eyeshadow (Mini): 1 mL/.03 oz valued at $6.00
Clear Clinic Laboratories Vanished Clear Spot Treatment (Mini): 2 mL valued at $9.33
Elizabeth Mott Tints & Sass in Cherry (Full Size): 10 grams/ .35 oz valued at $22.99
Hang Ten Tanning Oil (Mini): 1 oz valued at $1.50

Nailtini Nail Polish (Full Size): .5 oz valued at $13.00

Total Bag Value: $52.82

Last month's Bag Value: $37.72.

Compared to last month's bag, this was a much better value (since the Elizabeth Mott Tints & is worth so much) but I felt that the products inside this bag ignored my preferences and included the tanning and acne products I didn't want. I'm still going to subscribe for next month's bag but I hope there are better picks inside.

If you'd like to subscribe to the ipsy Glam Bag, feel free to use my referral link which gives me points to redeem in products on the website. Otherwise, feel free to use a nonreferral link!

ipsy Glam Bag June 2014 Overview

I Purchased This Referral Link

Although last month's ipsy Glam Bag was a dud for me, thankfully this month's Glam Bag makes up for it! This month's theme is "Pretty in Paradise" and thankfully is a much more makeup oriented bag. It emphasizes travel-friendly beauty items for the summertime. I am especially pleased this month since I received three full size and two minis. The bag is also very stylish and designed by Rebecca Minkoff.

Inside my bag: Be a Bombshell Mascara (full size), Dermadoctor DD Cream (mini), Marc Anthony Dream Waves Beach Spray (mini), Nicka K Shimmer Eyeliner in Green (full size), and NYX Butter Lip Gloss in Eclair (full size).

Swatches of the contents

The Be a Bombshell mascara smells like terrible straight from the tube. It reminds me of a sharpie but amped up and just pungent. I was hoping that I wouldn't receive the mascara in the bag since I can't wear nonwaterproof mascaras and though I can usually salvage it by using a waterproof topcoat, the smell is too terrible for me to bother. 

The Dermadoctor DD Cream is just okay but sadly it stays a little dewy to the touch for me to wear throughout the day. I tried the Marc Anthony Dream Waves spray but need a few more tries to see if it'll create waves in my fine, straight hair. I like the Nicka K Shimmer Eyeliner (it's got this unique foam tip) though the formula stains. I like the NYX Butter Lip Gloss but the shade is a little too light to wear on its own, I plan on pairing it with a darker lipstick.

June's ipsy Glam Bag Value: 

Be a Bombshell Mascara (Full Size): 7 grams/.25 oz valued at $15.00
Dermadoctor DD Cream (Mini): 10 mL/.3 oz valued at $9.50
Marc Anthony Dream Waves Beach Spray (Mini): 45 mL/1.52 oz valued at $3.23
Nicka K Shimmer Eyeliner (Full Size): 2.8 grams/.1 oz valued at $4.99

NYX Butter Lip Gloss in Eclair (Full Size): 8 mL/.27 oz valued at $5.00

Total Bag Value: $37.72

Last month's Bag Value: $46.99.

Although technically not a good of a value as last month's bag, I'm much happier with the contents inside (excluding the mascara) and the bag is super cute.

If you'd like to subscribe to the ipsy Glam Bag, feel free to use my referral link which gives me points to redeem in products on the website. Otherwise, feel free to use a nonreferral link!

ipsy Glam Bag May 2014 Overview

I Purchased This Referral Link

I recently received my ipsy Glam Bag for May but I've been holding off on posting about it due to my feelings about the contents inside. Still though, I do want to cover it in case there are people who are interested in the subscription service!

This month's theme is "Fresh Picks", and seems to emphasize skincare and natural beauty for the Spring and Summer. Judging from the other picks that subscribers got, it was a skincare heavy month and I personally wasn't fond of the items I got. Last month's was makeup-heavy (which was what I signed up for) so the heavy skincare items made the bag rather lackluster. I did like the design of the bag the items came in with, it's a canvas bag with a leaf design that was much nicer than last month's record bag.

In my bag I received: Boo-Boo Coverup Concealer in Medium, Eva NYC Therapy Session Hair Mask mini, Jersey Shore Sun Sans Tan Anti Aging Sunscreen Mini, La Fresh Travel-Lite Makeup Remover Wipes, and Pacifica Mineral Eyeshadow Duo.

Swatches of the concealer and eyeshadow

Unfortunately, the Boo-Boo Coverup is too light for me so it's not very useable. The Jersey Shore Sunscreen is Zinc Oxide based which means it applies very white and light on my skin (and can cause flashback in photos), and the La Fresh makeup wipes have a displeasing scent. The Pacifica eyeshadow isn't bad but a tad powdery and since I don't have particularly dry hair, the hair mask was just okay for me.

What's the value of the bag?

Boo-Boo Coverup in Medium (Full Size): 10 mL/.34 oz valued at $20.00 

Eva NYC Therapy Session Hair Mask (Mini): 60 ml valued at $12.00
Jersey Shore Sun Anti Aging Suncreen (Mini): .5 oz valued at $12.50
La Fresh Travel-Lite Makeup Remover Wipes (Mini): 8 wipes valued at $2.49
Pacifica Mineral Eyeshadow Duo: Not available, value not assessed

Total Bag Value: $46.99.

I'd say that I'll most likely get the most use out of the Hair Mask and the Eyeshadow Duo. Despite that, it's still a pretty high valued bag.

If you'd like to subscribe to the Glam Bag, feel free to use my referral link*. Although I am a little disappointed in this month's bag, I'm hoping that redoing my quiz will make it so I receive more makeup items next month!

Disclaimer: I purchased the ipsy Glam Bag. The link marked as an referral link gives me points that I can use to redeem for products on ipsy's website!

Ipsy Glam Bag April 2014 Overview

After a few months on the waitlist, I finally was subscribed to the Ipsy Glam Bag and received my first bag for April 2014. After hearing lukewarm reviews about the Birchbox, I thought the Ipsy bag would be better for me as it is more makeup-centric.

This month's Glam Bag theme is Beauty Rocks (perfect timing for the music festivals like Coachella). For $10, I got three full size items and two deluxe samples.

The items I received in the bag were a Benefit Cosmetics Lollitint mini, Cailyn Cosmetics Tinted Lip Balm in Acid Pink, City Color Cosmetics White Gold Shadow & Highlight Mousse, Kiss Looks So Natural Eyelashes in the Shy style, and Urban Decay 24/7 Eyeliner in Black Velvet.

Of the contents, I'll get the most use out of the Urban Decay eyeliner and the Eyelashes. Black Velvet looks like a deeper black than Perversion or Zero but due to the matte finish, it isn't as creamy. The Kiss Eyelashes are great for a subtle daytime look.

The Cailyn Tinted Lip Balm is too drying to use as a lip balm (although it is pretty fair at being a matte lipstick), I'm too much of a blush doof to use the Lollitint well, and the City Color Cosmetics Mousse is good as an eyeshadow but too strong to use as a cheek highlight.

What's the value of the bag?

Benefit Cosmetics Lollitint (Mini): 2.5 mL/.08 oz valued at $5.71

Cailyn Cosmetics Tinted Lip Balm (Full Size): 4 grams/.14 oz for $19

City Color Cosmetics White Gold Shadow & Highlight Mousse (Full Size):  2.6 grams /.092 oz valued at $3.99

Kiss Looks So Natural Eyelashes in Shy: $3.99

Urban Decay 24/7 Eyeliner in Black Velvet (Mini): .02 oz valued at $10.00

Total Bag Value: $42.69.

Although I wasn't too fond of a lot of the bag, I was happy enough with the Urban Decay Black Velvet Eyeliner and Kiss Eyelashes that the whole bag is worth it to me plus I didn't have to pay for shipping.

If you like the look of Ipsy Glam Bags, feel free to use my affiliate link when you sign up! 

Are you subscribed to ipsy or other subscription services? Which are your favorite?

Disclaimer: I purchased the Ipsy Glam Bag. The link marked as an affiliate link gives me points that I can use to redeem for products on Ipsy's website!