So excited for sooooo many colors!!! Okay, to clue you guys in to my excitement, last month’s Ipsy(MyGLam) bag included a Coastal Scents sample, plus a 20% Off coupon and I definitely took advantage of it!!
I bought three of their palettes, which happened to be on sale, and it always feels good to score something of good quality for very little money 😉
So many colors, so many ways to use them… and as for their quality – very good!
They have good staying power and color payoff, with each color being the size of a dime. They don’t quite overcome the high quality of more luxury lines like MAC, NARS, Louise Young or Lorac, but they are very good – especially for the price.
I also purchased their Eclipse Concealer Palette, which includes 3 color correctors, a highlighter and concealers for every skin tone (including mixing a custom color). They are cream based that warm up well with finger application and have good pigmentation and a slight powdery finish on the skin.
I also picked up their 10 Blush Palette, with 4 matte and 6 satin powder blush shades.
So if you have ever been curious about Coastal Scents or perhaps haven’t heard of them, I would definitely recommend them!
So I don’t know if it was the post office or what, but both my Birchbox AND MyGlam – now Ipsy – September subscriptions didn’t arrive until the last days of September.
That, plus being out of town, I am finally getting around to publishing these latest 2 posts – sorry for that 😦 – I’ll try and be a concise as possible.
One of the things I am hoping to accomplish in the near future is becoming a truly consistent blogger, so thank you to all my readers for bearing with me.
Okay – so onto the latest goodies in the MyGlam bags – but wait… first things first, the weird name change to ipsy… beauty by you<<< I think it is strange and unnecessary, plus it sounds too similar to “tipsy.” Maybe that is how the name came about – the “MyGlam” team got together for a re-branding meeting and couldn’t come up with anything, so they decided maybe a few cocktails would help… it didn’t
SEPTEMBER – overall: B.
SOHO Smudge Brush – Full Size
Good brush, seems sturdy and of good quality. No shedding.
Full Size Value: $5.97
Circus by Andrea’s Choice Nail Color “Tightrope” – Full Size
Neon violet-fuschia nail color. Vegan and cruelty free. Bold and quite pigmented, dries semi-matte and sets fairly fast. Okay polish overall. Brand “Circus” was created by Andrea’s Choice – one of the “YouTube Beauty Gurus” behind Ispy.
Full Size Value: $29.95 (as part of a 5 polish collection)
Carol’s Daughter Monoi Repairing Split End Sealer – .38 fl oz Sample
Loving this stuff! While it says “93% fewer split end instantly” – it should be clarified that it is not reversing the split ends, but simply binding them together to appear less noticeable. Nevertheless, smells great – light semi-floral beachy-coconut scent, due to the Tahitian based ingredients; and really does keep the frizz and split ends smooth.
I think with continued use, especially after having your hair trimmed, would keep your ends looking amazing.
Would be great for ladies with long hair and ladies with hair prone to brittleness, or easily damaged.
A bit hesitant about the full size value for the price
Full Size Value: $25.00 (1.7 FL OZ)
Jane Sparkle Gloss “Sparkle Pink” – Full Size
Uggghhhhh!! Dislike. Sorry Jane.
When initially applied, it is slightly sticky with good pigment, but gets tacky too quickly.
It has an artificial cotton candy -esque scent that gives me a headache.
There are better quality drugstore glosses around the same value.
Full Size Value: $9.99 (part of a 3 gloss set)
Mirabella Eye Colour “Semiformal” – Full Size
Biggest problem here would be that the product came as a single pan, luckily I have a shadow palette I can place it into.
Good quality shadow. Blends nicely. Warm soft bronze with a slight sheen.
Medium to Tan skin tones can use this as a neutral everyday color, will pop a bit more on deeper skin tones, while light skin tones could use this easily as a crease/contour shadow.
Full Size Value: $10.00
OCTOBER – overall: B+.
Couture Colour Pequi Oil Treatment – Full Size .5 fl oz
Very lightweight hair treatment that hair adsorbs easily, which is always awesome!
Mixed feelings on this one considering it really doesn’t live up to the majority of its claims.
They sell it as a “gloss, stain and lacquer all in one!” – Gloss yes – stain not the stain you want – lip lacquer uhhh sure.
They also say it is “feather light, non-smearing, intense and stay put” – Feather light, not exactly, smearing – all over, intense – yes, stay put – uhh no!
They do advise you to apply a thin layer, which for the more novice make-up user could take a few tries to get used the the product consistency.
It smells minty! A little odd.
The color is very intense and for someone who applies make-up regularly and well, this product was a bit unexpectedly tricky. The wand is a strange 8 type of form and the product does stain imperfectly, but after you have taken it off! So imagine if it smears and then stains outside your lips! Seriously, I felt like Cher from Clueless when she gets all flustered and her lips are all stained/smeared with residual lip color and Dion is attempting to fix her make-up!
Redeeming qualities, the color is a gorgeous true and vibrant blue red and the product is not sticky. When applied (with a lip primer to help avoid smearing) it looks seriously sexy!
Overall- not worth the money for a product that doesn’t live up to its claims.
Full Size Value: $39.00
Be A Bombshell Eye Liner “Onyx” – Full Size
Love this marker liner! One of the best pen/marker liners I have tried 🙂
I don’t tend to buy pen/marker liners anymore, as I prefer to use a brush and gel liner the majority of the time, so I was excited to try this out.
It has a fairly thick felt tip (could be difficult for some people), which may not hold up for fine liner looks with continuous use, but it offers versatility.
Dries quickly, long-lasting, quite pigmented, does not feather or run at all!! Great when you are in a hurry.
It does not state that is it waterproof, but I definitely feel it is water resistant – and could stand up to a bit of humidity and light drizzle, but easily comes off with facial cleansers and water.
If you are looking at taking your look from office to a night out, this could be a great product to toss in your bag.
Full Size Value: $14.00
theBalm What’s Your Type? “the body builder” Black Mascara – .11 fl oz Sample
Very good mascara for length and separation but not as well with volume – a little disappointing considering the name – I was expecting it to be the total package mascara.
My lashes already have good length and are naturally curled, but I had to be careful with this mascara – when I applied it, it lifted and lengthened my lashes to the point where they were hitting my brow bone.
Non-clumping, non-smearing and long-lasting.
Full Size Value: $19.00
I am loving that Ipsy/MyGlam has been including so many full size products, plus one of the greatest things that has come about is that every product/brand has an accompanying discount code or coupon!
As in my my overdue Birchbox post, again, sorry for this being soooo late. I’ll keep this one as short as possible, considering it will be a quick review of the last two MyGlam months 🙂
July was a really good one…
Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Oil-Free Lotion (Deluxe 1.0 fl oz. Sample)
I use this product already – so I loved getting this one. Great to have a small bottle on hand for travel or just your bag. I use this when I am going to be at home mainly, in the evening or just not really going out (since it does not contain SPF).
This moisturizer really feels like you are applying a barrier layer – locking the moisture in and everything else out. It is non-greasy, with a natural somewhat medicinal/botanical scent, and has a cooling affect on the skin. It works well under some make-up, but not all.
It is oil-free, paraben-free, fragrance-free and colorant-free; and helps keep oil in check.
Full Size: $26.00 (4.2 fl. oz.)
NuMe HydroPunch Hydrating Conditioner (Deluxe .7 oz. Sample)
I hate having to judge conditioners I only get to use once or twice, but this one was clearly a very nice conditioner. I definitely felt the effect of its “hydro punch” ingredients (Argan oil, strengthening bamboo and conditioning sage) after I used it. I would definitely consider purchasing this conditioner, though considering how much conditioner I go through, it may get a bit pricey.
Caution: It is quite heavy on the fragrance/ perfume – but the scent is pleasant.
LOVE THESE!! I use them already – so I was excited to get them! I always carry a Travel Pack with me and have the full 30 count pack on my bedside table.
Josie Maran Magic Marker Lip and Cheek Stain in “Quickstep” (FULL SIZE)
Quickstep is a rich plum – which comes off a bit warmer in tone when I apply it – considering my yellow undertones. It is a nice, but pretty standard, lip/cheek stain pen. It has good staying power once set, fragrance, cruelty and paraben free, and vegan friendly.
Though it is a good stain pen/marker, there are others just as good for less.
Full Size: $19.00.
Circus by Andrea’s Choice Nail Polish in “Reverso” (FULL SIZE)
White nail color. Vegan and cruelty free. Bold and quite pigmented, dries semi-matte and sets fairly fast. Good polish overall.
Brand “Circus” was created by Andrea’s Choice – one of the “YouTube Beauty Gurus” behind MyGlam.
Full Size: Price Unknown – not available for purchase until this fall.
and onto August… which was okay.
Demeter Roll On Perfume Oil in “Dragon Fruit” (FULL SIZE)
Nice, but as expected, very fruity and a hint of floral. An oil, so very little is needed. Made with Jojoba Oil and Vitamin E, so it is skin softening and non-drying.
Full Size: $10.00 (.29 fl oz).
S.A.L.T.Y. Cosmetics Glama-ZOID! Eyeshadow (.035 oz. Sample)
Packing and branding seems a little cheap, but product is okay. Simple enough – extremely fine milled mineral shadow. Color is an iridescent violet pink.
Could be used as an extremely subtle highlight, but overall staying power seems to be lacking!
Full Size: $14.97 (Large 2.5 grams).
Full Size: $4.50 (Small 1.25 grams).
Sample: $3.97.
Eclos Cellular Activator Facial Serum (Deluxe .5 fl oz. Sample)
Unsure about this one… I tried it but, ehhh – undecided. It applies well. It is a very thin, non-greasy, serum that absorbs very quickly. The real thing the irks me is the scent – a strange semi-natural lemony funk.
This lightweight serum helps wake up skin’s self renewal process to revitalize fatigued, stressed skin. Unique plant extracts help boost firmness and tone to smooth out fine lines and damage. Exclusively formulated with rejuvenating Apple Stem Cells, clinically proven to significantly reduce wrinkles and improve skin texture in two weeks. Comfrey, Gotu Kola, Tumeric and Green Tea antioxidants shield against skin aging environment assaults, helping to prolong a youthful appearance.
If you haven’t figured out yet, I get put off by things with unpleasant scents – no matter how great the product may claim to be.
Full Size: $24.99 (1.7 fl oz.)
Eclos Moisture Therapy Regenerative Cream (.25 fl oz. Sample)
Same sentiments as the serum – undecided. Has the same semi-natural lemony funk going on that just puts me off.
This medium-weight moisturizer with restorative benefits helps smooth and brighten for a youthful finish. Hydration replenishes dry, dulling skin suffering from the signs of aging. Powerful extracts and antioxidants boost collagen levels for noticeable tightening and firming. Exclusively formulated with rejuvenating Apple Stem Cells, clinically proven to significantly reduce wrinkles and improve skin texture in two weeks.
Full Size: $24.99 (2 oz.)
Circus by Andrea’s Choice Nail Polish in “Ringmaster” (FULL SIZE)
Same sentiments as the Reverso white polish. Neon pink nail color. Vegan and cruelty free. Bold and quite pigmented, dries semi-matte and sets fairly fast. Good polish overall.
Brand “Circus” was created by Andrea’s Choice – one of the “YouTube Beauty Gurus” behind MyGlam.
Full Size: Price Unknown – not available for purchase until this fall.
MyGlam BONUS: MyGlam Glam Gloss (Full Size )
Pardon the photo quality. Bright, fuscia pink gloss that is quite pigmented. Only slightly sticky, but overall quite smooth. Does get tacky after a bit of time on the lips. Smells of strawberries and bubblegum – so I’ll be holding onto it.
June has turned out to be a good month for my beauty subscriptions… first a good June Birchbox and now, the MyGlam June bag.
Again, wasn’t amazingly great (for me) but at least it wasn’t a step backwards 😀
The theme was “Out All Night”, with the products focusing on those that would hold up for quite a few hours without disappointing.
So onto the products…
Swatch of the shade I received below:
“629 Power” – Full Size!
NYX Round Lipstick
LOVE these lipsticks! Some of my absolute favorites – and there are over 100 shades to choose from.
Emollient rich and mineral-based lipsticks = non-drying and pigment rich!
What they say: Top your look off with trendy shades of NYX’s Round Lipsticks that are made to last all night long. NYX’s Round Lipsticks are formulated with conditioning agents and provide a beautiful velvety texture. The saturated color resists wear and smudging making your lips kissable from dusk till dawn. From Pure Nude to Pink Lyric to Chic Red, this lipstick is available in countless shades. So put it on, enjoy the night and keep in mind, your lipstick isn’t going anywhere!
My only issue would be the shade I received (Power) – it borders on Nicki Minaj type bright blue-based pink. Not a shade I would have selected myself, but it may come in handy someday (if I layer it with another product).
Value: $4 USD
philosophy take a deep breath oil-free energizing oxygen gel cream moisturizer
It’s a cooling, very lightweight and non-greasy moisturizer. A perfect one for warmer months!
Not a fan of the smell, a bit of a synthetic “cream” scent; and NO SPF
What they say: After being out all night, send your skin to detox with take a deep breath oil-free energizing oxygen gel cream moisturizer. This lightweight fresh-feeling moisturizer acts like a breath of fresh air to revitalize skin. It helps diffuse energizing oxygen to the skin as needed to detoxify skin and restore a healthy-looking glow, while a blend of antioxidants helps protect skin against environmental attack and pre-mature aging. Take a deep breath provides oil-free hydration to leave skin feeling smooth and comfortable. Skin goes from dull and lackluster to fresh, revitalized and positively glowing.
FYI: It says a “healthy looking glow” – what they actually mean is that it has micro-shimmer particles in it!
Full Size Value: $34 USD
Living proof. frizz Nourishing Styling Cream
Have yet to try this one out – but will be doing so very soon!
I have very long – curly hair, so if I love it – I will let y’all know 🙂
Smells wonderful.
What they say: Keeping hair frizz free all night is the ultimate challenge. For soft, nourished and frizz-free hair, frizz Nourishing Styling Cream eliminates frizz by blocking humidity. It weightlessly smoothes, conditions and tames frizzy, unmanageable hair. frizz is powered by Living Proof’s miracle molecule, OFPMA. It does what silicone and oils can’t: block humidity without weighing hair down, even on the most humid days. OFPMA create an exquisitely thin, weightless shield around each hair strand that is 70% more effective at blocking humidity than silicone. The same technology strengthens your frizz defense with each use and repels dirt and oil, so hair stays cleaner, longer. Welcome to the 1st day of your frizz free life.
Full size value: $12 to $36 USD
“Black Eyeliner 30” – Full Size!
Marbella Permanent Eyeliner Pen
Okay – first off – not permanent! I hate it when companies do that – just be honest in your labeling, please!
Glides on very smoothly, much like a felt tip writing pen.
As for the pen, standard felt nib, which you can actually pull out! Yes, you can pull out the nib and turn it around, giving you access to a “new” nib/tip after you have beat up the first side (after on-going use).
Green-based black eyeliner, which they say is waterproof – it is not. A little water/moisture and any slight contact will make it smudge. So I would say anyone with greasy lids, or hooded lids, caution when using this pen.
Also, applies smoothly, but has a tendency to bleed a little – so beware if you have fine lines around your eyes.
Once set, it doesn’t budge, unless (as mentioned above) any moisture gets at it.
It will leave behind a faded greenish imprint, so you will need a make-up remover and/or good face wash to get it off.
What they say: This semi-permanent eyeliner truly lasts all night long. This pen offers long-lasting color and glides on with the ease of the pencil and the intensity of a liquid liner. It is made with all organic ingredients and conditions skin while staying on for those long nights. The eyeliner is easily removed with makeup cleanser, just rub eye gently with cleanser until the line is gone. Dermatologist-tested, this pen is 100% water based and oil- and alcohol-free.ingredients and conditions skin while staying on for those long nights.
Full Size Value: $19 USD
So overall, I’m happy with this month and I think the products went well with the “Out All Night” theme.
ArtsyArchitette 