Unboxing: Ipsy | July 2014

Hello, Lovelies!

Yesterday I shared my Unboxing: Beauty Box 5 for July, and now it's time to reveal the products I received from this month's Ipsy Glam Bag! And I have to say, Ipsy is definitely my favorite service that I subscribe to. Although I only started getting beauty boxes since a few months ago, the experience I've had with ipsy is the most enjoyable! From the pretty makeup bags and the fun products that fill them, to the inspirational website and the beauty community within it... I love everything about ipsy!

Take a peek at what I got last month from Ipsy and BB5!

Ipsy is a $10- monthly subscription service where members receive a Glam Bag filled with deluxe samples and full-sized beauty and makeup products. For me, the value of the bags has exceeded the cost of the monthly service! I've discovered so many new products and brands that I wouldn't normally buy on my own. There are great discounts on the products I try and love, and it's a really awesome way to build my makeup collection!

July's theme is "Sensationally Sunkissed." It's perfect for the contents of this month's bag which is all about Summer! Did I mention it's my favorite time of the year? I'm really loving bright pops of color these days... on my lips, in my clothes and accessories, on my Filofax, everywhere! When I saw this neon pink scalloped makeup bag I was in love! The items inside also work with the Simple. Summer. Beauty. and makeup look I'm using this season too. 

Here is what my bag included:

Bare Minerals 5-in-1 BB Advanced Performance Cream Eyeshadow in Divine Wine

$18- for 3 ml / Sample: $6- for 1 ml

I'm already a fan of this brand and so excited to sample one of their newest products! Although I don't typically wear cream eyeshadow, the 5-in-1 claim is very intriguing... Long-Wear Color, Prime, Brighten, Smooth, and Protect. Not sure if the shade is me, but it sounds like it'll be a really great eyeshadow base. I can't wait to try it out!

Hang Ten Dark Tanning Oil - SPF 08

$11.99 for 8 fl oz / $1.49 for 1 fl oz

Being Hawaiian and spending a tiny part of my childhood on the islands, I'm pretty familiar with tanning oil. Besides the ocean, it's one of the very distinct scents on the beaches of Hawaii. I actually love the smell... coconut and tropical. Now living in the Pacific NW, 9 months out of the year we get nothing but rain. No sunshine means my naturally tan skin is pretty much non-existent. In the summer I like to soak up the sun to bring back that natural tan I was born with, and have some protection too! But this oil doesn't provide enough SPF to really make it useful. Not sure if I'll be using it...

Pixi Beauty Mini Tinted Brilliance Balm in Pretty Pink

$14- for 3 g / Sample: $8.40 for 1.8 g

If you know me, you know that I love lip products! And these chubby crayons are a current obsession! I really like Pixi and I'm glad I got my hands on one of these little guys! It may not be full-size but this adorable mini is awesome! The formula is very moisturizing, and it smells fresh and minty. The shade comes out as a subtle rosy pink on my pigmented lips. It's very natural and pretty.

POP Beauty Sunkissed Bronzer in Secret Sunshine

Retail Value: $10- for .25 oz

Who doesn't love getting a full-size product? Although I don't use bronzer often [I also have one by e.l.f. and Wet 'n Wild], I'm excited to try out a new brand. I'm pretty familiar with POP Beauty having seen older ipsy unboxings on You Tube, but this is my first time getting an item by them. The shade of this bronzer is quite pretty. I haven't worn it yet, but in the pan it appears to have a shimmer.

Healthy Sexy Hair Soy Renewal Beach Spray

$19.95 for 5.1 fl oz / Sample: $7 for 1.7 fl oz

I've heard wonderful things about this brand, and I was pretty stoked to get this beach spray which I've always wanted to try! This formula helps heal hair damage with the power of Argan Oil. It has many other healthy hair ingredients like Soy Protein to nourish and strengthen hair and Cocoa Extract to condition and protect it. Sea Salt provides that textured beachy feel. This spray smells pretty amazing too! I can't wait to use it... it's like Summer in a Bottle.

Total Value of July's Bag: $32.89

$10- Monthly Subscription

Now you can see why I love ipsy so much! If this is a service that you're curious about, I definitely think it's worth the money. You can also take a beauty survey that helps ipsy match products suited to what you use and like. And reviewing the items you receive each month helps ipsy personalize your Glam Bag even more! You'll also earn ipsy points that can be redeemed for free products!

Want to be an ipster? Please subscribe using my link.

Feel free to browse my other Beauty and Unboxing posts. If you're already a Glam Bag subscriber, check out my profile on ipsy. You can also stay updated on my recent posts, projects, and photos by following me on instagram, or by "liking" my fan page on Facebook. So why not head over there now and show some love...

Are you a Beauty Box Addict? Which ones are your favorite? Any thoughts, questions, or comments about this post? I'd love to hear it! Your feedback is always welcome and much appreciated.

Thanks for stopping by!

Unboxing: Ipsy | June 2014

For the last couple of months I've embarked on a new journey into the world of beauty subscription boxes. And if you're a subscriber to any of the fabulous services available right now, you're probably already addicted to them like I am! Slowly but surely, I've managed to finally catch up with sharing all of my past "Unboxings." Since I have 2 new boxes en route to my house as I type, I thought I should share last month's Glam Bag with you today. If you missed May's Ipsy unbagging, you can find it here.

Ipsy is $10- monthly subscription service where members receive exclusive makeup bags filled with deluxe samples and full-sized makeup and beauty products. In my own personal experience, the value of my bags has exceeded the cost of my monthly payment! It's such an exciting way to discover new products I wouldn't usually purchase, get great discounts on the stuff I try and love, and a really fun resource to build my makeup collection! Beauty Box 5 is another monthly service I'm subscribed to.

June's theme is "Pretty in Paradise," which is quite fitting for summer. It's my favorite season of the year so I'm happy to get anything tailored to simple warm-weather beauty. The bag itself was created by Rebecca Minkoff, and the tropical design is just my style. Ipsy has done a really great job at offering me a variety of products from makeup, beauty, and skincare. My bags never feel too heavy in one type of product.

Here is what was included:

Nicka K New York Shimmer Eyeliner in Blue

$4.99 for .1oz / Sample: Full Size!

I'm pretty familiar with the Nicka K brand, as this is the 3rd product I've gotten in a beauty box. I've also sampled their lipstick and nail polish. I really enjoyed both, so I was really excited to test out this eyeliner too! Although blue isn't a color I would typically buy or even use everyday, it's still a fun shade to have in my collection. This liquid liner is pretty intense and almost has a metallic finish. It's quite beautiful! And the teal blue shade is perfect for summer!

The price of this line is pretty affordable, so I can try other shades without breaking the bank. I've never seen Nicka K in any of my local stores, so I'll most likely have to purchase everything online. That doesn't bother me though because I love online shopping!

NYX Butter Gloss in Eclair

Retail Value: $5- for 8mL / Sample: Full Size!

I love lip products and the NYX brand. So you can imagine how happy I was to get their butter gloss in my Glam Bag! It's exactly like the name implies... a buttery and creamy lip gloss. This shade is a bit too light for my super pigmented lips, but it looks great over nude lipstick. And it smells amazing!

I'm a huge fan of NYX cosmetics and I know I'll be purchasing more of these butter glosses in other shades. A few of the local stores I do my everyday shopping at carry this brand, so I can easily find a good variety of products and shades.

Carol's Daughter Sacred Tiare Styling Cream

Only at Target: $12- for 3oz / Sample: $2- for .5oz

I'm totally cool with getting hair care samples in my beauty boxes. I actually really enjoy discovering new products that help manage my curly Hawaiian hair. In the summertime I try to stay away from hot styling tools and let my natural hair do its thing. This styling cream is definitely something that I would purchase if I saw it in a store. It's made with coconut oil and healthy hair vitamins, has anti-breakage and anti-frizz properties, and even smells like the tropics! 

Right out of the shower, I apply a small amount from mid-shaft working down to the ends of my hair. Then I gather sections in my hand and scrunch them together. This gives me tight and bouncy curls. I just let my hair air-dry as I go on with my day. This styling cream is very lightweight and leaves me with soft, frizz-free hair. And it really defines my curls!

OFRA Universal Eyebrow Pencil

$13- for .4oz / Sample: Full Size!

I currently use the Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz in Brunette, which I'm extremely happy with. But it's nice to have a backup eyebrow pencil of some sort. I'm not familiar with OFRA brand and I'm willing to try anything, I'm just not sure about this "Universal" color. I do have dark brown hair with red highlights right now, so this shade may work for me. Not sure if it will for everyone though...

I don't believe this is a product that I would purchase in the future, since I already have something that I love. But I really haven't given it a good test run to say for sure. It claims to be waterproof too! We'll see.

REALTREE for Her Perfume

Retail Value: $6.99 [Travel Size] for 5mL

I remember specifically not choosing "Fragrance" in the ipsy questionnaire I took, so I was a bit surprised to see this in my Glam Room. I'm just not a big perfume person. I have a few scents that I like, but I don't wear or shop for fragrance these days. Funny thing is, I actually enjoy this scent! It's fresh and pretty, and the packaging is really cute too! I also love that it has a spritzer and is much bigger than your standard perfume sample. It's perfect for summer!

Total Value of June's Box: $31.98

$10- Monthly Subscription

Looks like another high-value bag from Ipsy. Plus 4 out of 5 products this month were deluxe or full-size!! These are the reasons why I love this service. You get such a great value for your money. Be sure to take the beauty survey that helps Ipsy match you to the products you use and like. There may be times when you get something unexpected, but reviewing the items you receive each month helps Ipsy personalize your Glam Bag even more! You'll also earn ipsy points that can be redeemed for free products!

Want to be an ipster? Please subscribe using my link.

Next week I'll be unboxing my July beauty boxes, so stay tuned if you want to see what I got! If you're a current Glam Bag subscriber check out my profile on Ipsy. And feel free to browse my other Beauty posts. You can also stay updated on my recent posts, projects, and photos by following me on instagram, or by "liking" my fan page on Facebook. So why not head over there now and show some love...

Are you a beauty box addict? Which ones are your favorite? Any thoughts, questions, or comments about this post? I'd love to hear it! Your feedback is always welcome and much appreciated.

Mahalo for stopping by!

First Impression: Ipsy | May 2014

If you're familiar with my blog, you know that I've recently ventured into the "beauty" niche. It's actually a longtime love, but I've only been blogging about my makeup and beauty adventures since the springtime. May was my very first month with beauty box subscription services. And I have to say that I'm hooked! It's such a fun way to discover new products that I wouldn't typically buy on my own, get great discounts on the products I try and love, and an awesome way to build my makeup collection. 

Ipsy is a $10 monthly subscription service where members receive a Glam Bag filled with deluxe samples and full-sized beauty and makeup products. For me, the value of the boxes has exceeded the cost of the monthly service! Beauty Box 5 is another monthly beauty service I'm subscribed to.

May's theme was "Fresh Picks." Although I saw bad reviews from members disappointed with the items from this month's bag, I couldn't have been happier. Many ipsters received more skincare than makeup. But my bag actually had everything you'd expect from a beauty subscription service. A range of makeup, haircare, and skincare!

I know this post is a little late, but it has given me a chance to really use and review these products for you...

Here is what my bag included:

Avene Thermal Spring Water

$18- for 10.58oz / Sample: $6.01 for 1.76oz

This is one of those products that I wouldn't normally buy on my own. A can of French water? Thanks, ipsy! But after reading the little pamphlet that came with it and doing some research online, I decided to give it a try. It's amazing! I know, I know... what's so special about a can of water? It can be used as a makeup setting spray, to refresh your face after a workout, cool you down on a hot day, soothe underarm razor burn, offer your little one relief from diaper rash, hydrate the dry skin on your face, and so much more.

I'm not sure if I'll be repurchasing it because of the price, but this season it's a summer favorite and has a place in my everyday bag. It really makes my parched skin feel refreshed!

Balanced Guru No Frizz Oil

$25- for 1oz / Sample: $12.50 for .5oz

I really love searching for my next favorite hair product! And ipsy couldn't have picked a more perfect item for me to try. This lightweight oil contains organic ingredients that controls frizz and helps nourish and repair your hair. It does have a distinct scent of lemon and eucalyptus which may bother some people, but I think it smells fresh and clean! 

That $25 price tag is a reason I may not purchase this in the future, but I just love "green" beauty products! When it comes to my naturally curly hair, I do a weekly almond oil treatment, use a thermal protectant spray when flat ironing, and apply light creams or oils to define my tight curls on those natural hair days. A little bit of this product goes a long way; I just apply it to the ends where my hair needs the most help.

BOO-BOO COVER-UP

$19.99 for .34oz / Sample: Full Size!

Since I go for a more natural look, I hardly wear face makeup like foundation and concealer. I also have dry, sensitive skin, so although I do worry about a breakout from testing new products on my face, I'm always open to trying it at least once. At the moment, I only own a few drugstore foundations and concealers. I'm super excited about this brand!

It's a bit on the expensive side for my taste, so I'm happy to have a full-sized product to test. This is a special face and body concealer that was made to apply over scrapes, cuts, scars, or "boo-boos." I believe it helps with the healing process using some type of medicine. The Medium shade goes well with my olive skin tone.

HANG TEN Classic Sport Sunscreen

$12.99 for 6oz / Sample: $2.17 for 1oz

Sunscreen isn't something that I would choose to have in my beauty boxes, since I can easily buy it myself at any store. I'm familiar with the brand and like that this particular sunscreen has natural ingredients. It's also a sport version with SPF 50 making it perfect for outdoor family fun in and out of the water this summer! It's not a favorite product, but I'm happy to have it in my stash. I probably won't be purchasing this one in the future since I have more sunscreen than I need.

Pacifica Eye Shadow

$14- for Mystical Quad Palette / Sample: $[?] Duo Created for Ipsy

I first discovered Pacifica at my local grocery store while shopping the "natural" health & beauty aisles. Although I'm familiar with the brand, this eyeshadow is actually the first makeup item I own from them. The line uses natural ingredients and is cruelty-free. It's a little expensive, but if the quality is great I may need to purchase more products from Pacifica!

I really like the shades that came in Duo 2! There's a really pretty purple and a shimmery pinkish-white. The colors aren't extremely pigmented, but they are buildable. I think they provide you a subtle hint of color and shimmer perfect for light, natural summer makeup looks. 

Total Value of May's Bag: +$40.67

$10- Monthly Subscription

As you can see, the value of my bag was worth more than what I pay each month! I love ipsy! If this is a service you're curious about, I definitely think it's worth the money. You can also take a beauty survey that helps ipsy match products suited to what you use and like. And reviewing the items you receive each month helps ipsy personalize your Glam Bag even more! You'll also earn ipsy points that can be redeemed for free products!

Want to be an ipster? Please subscribe using my link.

Next week I'm planning to share my June Ipsy & BB5 boxes, so stay tuned! 

I really look forward to getting these awesome packages in the mail every month. It's a little way that I like to spoil myself. Can't wait to see what's coming this month and to share it here with you! 

Feel free to browse my other Beauty posts. You can also stay updated on my recent posts, projects, and photos by following me on instagram, or by "liking" my fan page on Facebook. So why not head over there now and show some love...

Are you addicted to beauty boxes? Which ones are you subscribed to? Any thoughts, questions, or comments about this post? I'd love to hear it! Your feedback is always welcome and much appreciated.

Thanks for stopping!