a couple months ago, i saw an add for birchbox on my facebook feed and thought it was a really good idea since i am always looking for new beauty products. however, i started reading the comment thread of birchbox subscribers and noticed that all of the customers weren't very happy with their monthly shipments. many of them were raving about their ipsy bags and saying that ipsy offered better products, bigger sizes, and a better price.
i went on over to ipsy.com and was sold. for $10 a month, you get a goodie bag stocked with new cosmetics based on your preference. you take a survey/quiz upon signing up and are put on the wait list, which is the only downfall to ipsy. (i signed up on september first and november is my first subscribing month. however, my mom signed up today and she shared the ipsy link on her facebook and got to immediately skip the wait list...and i was jealous.)
anyway, today my ipsy bag came! and it came in a shiny pink pretty package! and i was so giddy about it. david laughed at me. but really, getting mail is so fun. and getting pretty mail is even more fun. and getting mail you only spent $10 for stocked with full sized, gorgeous beauty products really is ultimate fun.
inside my ipsy package was a small cosmetic bag (perfect, i needed a new one!), a fiery red lip crayon, a lavender sparkle eyeliner, a brown mascara, a golden bronzer, a gunmetal grey nail polish, and a tiny bottle of argan oil leave-in treatment for hair. it was a score in my book and i had to try it all the minute i opened it. hence the messy bun and the pajamas. you like those leopard leggings??
so here's my review. drumroll, please....
i was tentative about the eyeliner. sparkly purple isn't exactly my jam, but it glides on soooo nice. so nice. and paired with a nude eye and the soft brown mascara (i was kind of like wtf brown? at first, but i kind of like it for a less-done-up look) it is a really pretty holiday look. first, i lined my top lash line with a brown eyeliner and applied a nude shadow to my lid. i then lined my whole eye with the purple sparkle liner. i smudged it with my pinky to soften it, curled my eyelashes and applied two coats of the brown mascara.
i've been into experimenting with bold lip color lately and was anxious to give this bright red a try. i think i will always be a soft pink lover, but this was a fun change and another nice look for the upcoming holidays. my favorite thing about this lip crayon is how easy it was to apply and how pigmented it was while being so light. it felt like i didn't have anything on my lips and lasted well through the day. it was another score i my book.
the bronzer was less pigmented than i expected, but added a nice glow to my face. i contoured my face with another deeper bronzer and added the pixi shade to my cheeks and around my hairline for a healthy glow.
the nail polish was different for me and i didn't think i would like it, but the color is really nice and not too metallic. i am still not that into wearing color on my fingers, i will always be set on nude nails (my hands look like 8 year old girl hands and color brings attention to that, ha!) but i think it is a nice change for fall.
i haven't tried the argan leave-in oil yet, but you bet i am excited to! one of the best things about ipsy is how involved with their customer base they are. after you have tried all your new products, you can go online and review them and let ipsy know how you liked them and if you would like more similar products the next month, or go another direction. there are a ton of tutorials to help you learn how to use your new products and links to purchase your favorite cosmetics at major discount prices. (ps. i just did the math and the november bag i received retails at a whopping $95. yikes!!!)
so here's the jist of this post if you were too busy or too bored or just not into reading all my rambling about sparkly eyeliner and leopard leggings: i can't wait til next month, for realz. david is getting a kick out of my excitement, but like i said before...getting mail is so.freaking.fun. and all this excitement only cost him $10. win-win for the big man.
thank you ipsy for making me a happy girl with your shiny pink package of pretties!
and until next month...you'll find me anxiously awaiting that glorious email that tells me my december bag has shipped. and then stalking the mail man until it's delivered.