Ipsy Mystery Bag!

        Hello Lovelies,
    I received an extra Ipsy bag this month!  If you've never heard of Ipsy before, it's a subscription service that costs $10 a month.  They send you 4-5 deluxe and/ or full size beauty items that are curated to a profile you fill out.  You get points for reviewing items and referring other people, and this month I spent 1500 points on a mystery glam bag.  I know there were many people who didn't get the mystery glam bag but really wanted to know what was in it.  Well you are in luck!  The answer to that question is right here for you.  

    I was so happy this beautiful pink package of delight came in today!  My regular bags don't come in nearly as fast so I wasn't expecting it yet.

    I did a little research and the bag is from June 2013, but the products are not from that month so I think Ipsy just used the leftovers from multiple bags.  Lucky me!  I got a great mix.

    I got a Coastal Scents medium shadow brush.  I'm happy with that because I have an old one I want to throw away so this can replace it.  I absolutely love the Pop eye shadow colors I received.  I think they are perfect colors for that transitional period from Summer to Fall.  

    Skincare is my favorite beauty arena so I am so excited to see this in the bag.  It's Klorane's cornflower smoothing and relaxing patches for underneath the eyes.  I will probably be trying these out tonight.  

    Nice work Ipsy!  Pacifica's Indian coconut nectar body butter is now going to be a staple item for me.  I will definitely be repurchasing this.  It smells fantastic and feels amazing.  It's hydrating and really is cooling and soothing for skin.  This is going straight into my purse to go everywhere with me.

    My last item is Starlooks amethyst gem pencil.  It's a shiny pale purple that glides on smoothly.  I know I'm probably thinking ridiculously far ahead, but I think this is going to be my New Year's eyeliner.  It's definitely perfect for it.

    I am thrilled with this bag.  I know I will use everything in it, and I even found a new must have staple item.  If you got a mystery glam bag let me know what you got!  I'm curious to know if there was a variety of bags sent out.  If you're interested in starting your own Ipsy subscription I will have a link for you below. 

http://www.ipsy.com/r/6w2u?sid=ipsypoints&cid=general

If you'd like to see what I got in this months regular bag I have a link for that too!

http://beautymadnessforever.blogspot.com/2014/08/august-ipsy-opening.html

    Have a fantastic day!

August Ipsy Opening

        Hello Lovelies,
    I was very excited to get my August Ipsy bag this month!  If you've never heard of Ipsy before, it's a subscription service that costs $10 a month.  They send you 4-5 deluxe and/or full size beauty items that are curated to a profile you fill out.  I adore the bag.  I'm planning on using it as a pencil bag because it looked perfectly suited for that purpose.

    If you're looking at my bag and thinking "Hey! what the heck?  I didn't get that much stuff!"  It's because I got a couple of bonus items with my points this month.  Yay!

    I got the punker shadow/liner that I am very excited to try.  I think it will make a great night out look.  I was surprised with how small the Wrap Artist decals are because they were 1000 points.  I was expecting a little more for that many points, but I do think they will be great to create interesting manicures.    

    I don't have a close-up picture of the Urban Decay Perversion mascara because I gave it away.  I only use waterproof mascara.  I wish it would have been waterproof!  I would have loved to have tried that out.  

    

    Anyone who knows me knows that I am a lip product junkie.  I've been accused of being an addict on many occasions, and I'm especially addicted to lip balms so I know this will get used.  It smells exactly like a Jolly Rancher ya'll!  Oh my goodness!

    I've already tried out this Lord and Berry silk kajal eye pencil and it glided on smoothly.  I didn't have any problems with it smearing, and it is a nice dark black.  I haven't gotten a chance yet to try the Manna Kadar sheer glo yet.  I'm excited to have received it since it reminds me of the Pixi Beauty primer I received a few bags ago that I absolutely adored.  I'm hoping this gives the same healthy glow.

    And last but not least, Glam Glow's youth mud tingle exfoliate!  I swear I heard a chorus of angels singing when I saw this.  I have always wanted to try Glam Glow, but I was not willing to shell out the money to try it.  This sucker is expensive!  Just this little sample costs $19.00 at Sephora.  That's more than I paid for the entire Ipsy bag.  Ya'll know I tried this the same day I got it.  I did like it, but I think my Michael Todd Pumpkin mask does a better job.  If you received this in your bag and weren't impressed try the Michael Todd True Organics pumpkin mask.  It's a total facial like the Glam Glow is but it is less expensive, and in my opinion does a better job.  That said, I was stoked to have received the 30% coupon Ipsy gave because the mask I've really been wanting to try from them is the clearing one.  I've heard, and seen on YouTube, that it is absolutely amazing for blackheads.  

    I'm impressed with Ipsy this month.  I know I couldn't use the mascara, but I think liking 4/5 samples is awesome.  Especially when they are putting name brands like Urban Decay and Glam Glow in the bag.  I can't wait to see what I get next month!  Have a fabulous day all, and tell me in the comments below what product you are loving this month that you think I must give a try!

If you would like to join Ipsy click the link below.  

http://www.ipsy.com/r/6w2u?sid=ipsypoints&cid=general

If you would like to take a look at another one of my Ipsy bag openings I also have a link for that.  I did a look using all the products I received in it.

http://beautymadnessforever.blogspot.com/2014/03/march-2014-ipsy-opening-look-and-review.html

Influenster Uni VoxBox Opening and Review

    Hey there Lovelies!

I hope you're having a wonderful day!  I received the Uni VoxBox from Influenster complimentary to review. If you don't know what Influenster is, it's a website that offers a community to review products and share opinions.  The more products you review, and the more tasks you finish, the better your score.  The better your score is the more likely you are to qualify for a free VoxBox like I did.  Now on to the products I received!

       1.  Red Rose Real Tea tastes awesome for a tea that is squeezed out of a tube, but I'm not sure how                  healthy it is.  It has artificial sweeteners and preservatives in it.  I've been trying to stay away from both          of  these as much as possible because I don't feel like they are healthy.

     2.   Pilot Acroball Pen leaves something to be desired.  I love the way it looks, but when you use it it                  doesn't glide smoothly and the line break up.  

     3.   Impress Nails didn't impress me.  I feel like I'm being really negative with this review, but I have to be            honest.  I wear extra small in gloves and there wasn't a single thumb size that covered my entire                      thumbnail.  They had one that fit around my cuticle, but not the rest of the nail.  I was really sad I                    couldn't make them work because the floral design is adorable.  

     4.  Platex Sport tampons do what they are supposed to.  I used them at the gym and had no problem.

     5.  Rimmel London stay matte foundation gives great coverage, but I have dry skin so a matte foundation           really isn't for me.  It dried out my t-zone and made that area flaky looking.  I usually love Rimmel                 London, and I feel like this would be a great option for someone with oily skin.

     6.  NYC Expert Last Lip Color has amazing pigmentation, and pretty decent staying power.  My only               complaint, I know I'm full of them today, is that it does dry out my lips.  

I may not have loved everything I received from Influenster, but it was all free and I did enjoy trying everything out.  If you're interested in trying to get a free box from Influenster to review I will leave a link below for you.  You never know, you may be chosen.  Have a lovely day!

http://www.influenster.com/  

March Favorites

        Hey Lovelies!

I hope you all had a wonderful March.  I tried a bunch of new products this month, and I'm going to share my favorites with you.

1.  Deva care no poo smells amazing!  It smells just like a orange dreamsicle.  It's sulfate free so it doesn't damage hair and helps shape curls.  It doesn't lather as much because it doesn't have sulfate in it, but if you massage it between your hands before using (like it says in the directions nobody ever reads) and mix a little water in after you put it on your head it lathers a little.  

2.  True Blue Spa is a line that Bath and Body Works carries.  I love  this Vanilla Almond shea butter body cream.  I recommend following the directions and using it after you bathe.  It sinks into your skin right away if you use it after the shower.  If you use it without showering first it sits on your skin.  I also think if you use it after showering you can smell the almond in it more than if you don't.

3.  

Essie's Play Date is my favorite color for the beginning of Spring.  It's bright and cheery.  It's impossible for me to look at this color and not be happy.

4.  Earth Therapeutics Exfoliating Scrub with oatmeal and honey has been an absolute life saver!  I get red bumps on my arms when my allergies are freaking out and this takes them right off and leaves my arms silky smooth. 

5.  Lush's Soft Couer massage bar is so luxurious.  It smells amazing.  It literally has chocolate in the center of it.  It glides on silky smooth and is super hydrating.

6.  Candleberry's Honey Buttered Rolls candle is my absolute favorite candle of all time, and I've burnt a lot of candles in my time.  It smells like a sweet bread baking in the oven, and who doesn't like that? 

7.  

Bare Minerals Marvelous Moxie lipstick in Get Ready came in my ipsy bag this month, and I absolutely love it!  It is so hydrating, has wonderful pigmentation, lasts a long time, and smells like chocolate mint.  It's pretty snazzy my friends.

8.  Pixi's makeup remover was a game changer for me.  I've used multiple makeup removers for my waterproof mascara and none have made me happier than this.  I've used lotions that left my eyes feeling greasy.  I've used cleansing creams that didn't do the job.  This sucker not only gets rid of every last drop of makeup, but is so gentle and hydrating that my eyes feel like I gave them a treatment after I use it.  I love this stuff.

If you're interested in any of these products you can find them all on my Luvocracy account in my March Favorites.  Let me know in the comments what your favorite product was this month.  I'm curious to know what you are loving! 

Memebox Lucky Box opening! A fun way to try Korean beauty products.

        Hey there Lovelies!

It's time for another Meme Beauty Box opening!  If you don't know what Memebox is, it's basically a Korean company that puts beauty boxes on sale on their website full of the best and most popular Korean beauty products.  It's not a subscription service.  Once they're sold out they're sold out.  It costs $23.00 to get a regular box.  I really enjoyed my memebox 5-2.  I got the Lucky Box this time.  It features favorites from the previous boxes.  

I got this in my last meme box.  I think it does a pretty good job removing most makeup.  It claims to be able to remove waterproof makeup, and it does remove my Almay waterproof mascara but it doesn't remove my Maybelline Falsies waterproof mascara.  The full 150 ml costs $23.  This deluxe sample is 50 ml.

I received this pore control essence serum in my last box too.  I think it does change the appearance of pores subtly.  This is full size, and retails for $46.

This 12 ml Danahan Bon Yeon Jin Essence serum is supposed to create more radiant skin, and smooth the apearance of wrinkles.  My skins texture has been nicer, but I haven't noticed a significant difference in the appearance of fine lines.  The full 50 ml of this is sold for $68.  Wow!  Glad I got to try this in a $23 box.

The next sample to box came with is this Mamonde First Energy 10ml serum. It's made of fermented vinegar, but it didn't smell like I was sticking salad dressing on my face. It feels really hydrating on, which is good because that's what it's supposed to do.  It came with an extra foil sample of the same thing, and a sample of their cc cream.

Sep's face lifting mask retails for $14.  I really liked this mask.  My skin felt really firm after I used it.  I wish I'd taken a picture of it on.  It's the most unique mask I've ever used.  It feels like silicone and has lace print all over it.

Yet another full size item!  This Too Cool for School Aqua Gel Mist is 100 ml and costs $12.  I've been spraying this on over my makeup when my skin feels dry, but it's not time to take all of my makeup off and moisturize yet.  

This baby sample with its heart cap is so cute!  The full 9 ml of this Tonymoly Delight Tony Tint Red is $3.  I'm not sure how I feel about this yet.  It smells like Kool-aid, it tastes like Kool-aid, and it even feels like Kool-aid on.  I think you are supposed to only put it in the center area of your lips to create the gradient look that is popular in Korea.  They like to make their lips look small and cute.  I think if I used this red that way I would look like I'd just bit somebody...  I'm not sure if I want to go with that look, haha.

This 100 ml sample is a generous size.  The full size is 300 ml and costs $16.  The name is hilarious, Dreams Come True Bounce Cheese Cream.  That's right, you didn't read it wrong.  It really does drip from your fingers like a stringy cheese, but it doesn't feel like that on your skin.  It feels like a regular lotion.  

I'm really enjoying this box.  I think Memebox is a really fun way to get to try Korean beauty products.  They give a great variety of items in their box, and their samples are often generous or full size.  I definitely recommend giving this a try if you love to try new things or are really into skincare.  I think this box is a ton of fun.  Let me know in the comments what beauty box you think is the most fun?  If  you would like to try Memebox I'll have a link for you below.  

http://us.memebox.com/

     

March 2014 Ipsy opening, look, and review!

        Hey there lovelies!

I finally got my March Ipsy bag!  If you've never heard of Ipsy before, it's a subscription service that costs $10 a month.  They send you 4-5 deluxe and/or full size beauty items that are curated to a profile you fill out.  I received a March  bag earlier, but there was ink all over it and my eyeshadows were destroyed.  I was able to salvage everything but the eyeshadow and the bag after washing ink off of everything.  I'm so glad to have received my replacement that Ipsy sent for free.  They have amazing customer service!  I can finally enjoy all the items now.

I liked this product.  I'm not claiming that it's the best primer in the world, but I love the luminous quality that it has.  I used this as a highlighter across my forehead, down the middle of my nose, and at the top of my cheeks.  The full size of this is $22 for 30 ml or 1.01 oz.  The .4 oz I received is worth $9.

I love this indigo color!  It's absolutely beautiful.  I used it to line my lower lash.  This full sized item is worth $24.  This is worth more than double what I spent on my whole bag!

I received the NYX Love in Rio palette in the color "Voodoo Love Spells".  I like how the colors look in the package, but I'm not sure if the payoff is that great.  This full size item is $5.99.  I haven't gotten to try this item on my eyes yet since I received this bag today after I'd already put on my makeup.  I did try to use a similar palette for my makeup look.  

This baby lipstick is adorable!  I don't even care that it isn't full size because it's just so darn cute!  I think the "Get Ready" color is nice, it's super creamy, and it smells really good.  I would describe the smell as a chocolate mint.  If you don't like the smell of chocolate mint, you will not like this lipstick.  I think this might be my favorite item from this month's bag.  The full size of this is $18.00, and this sample size is considered to be worth $10.  

The value of my whole bag turns out to be 48.99!  That is almost 5 times what I payed for it!  That's not even counting the items I salvaged from the damaged bag.  I'm a happy girl.  : )

I don't claim to be a makeup artist extraordinaire, but I did want to share the look I created today using a few of my ipsy items.  How I used each item is described above by the full item description.  

These are all the other items I used for my look.  Pixy brighten and lighten combo, Maybelline Dream Fresh BB cream, Pixi's Beauty Blush in No. 3 "Perkiest Pink", Maybelline Dream Bouncy blush in pink frosting (I listed two blushes because I layered, first bouncy cream blush, and then my pixi blush), Maybelline Falsies in waterproof (must have for the allergy prone), Covergirl's eyeenhancers trio, Avon's Color Trend brown pencil, and Avon's Shake and Go powder in light.

If you are interested in getting your own ipsy bag, I will have a link below for you to join.  I hope you enjoyed my blog.  Leave a comment below letting me know what you got in your ipsy bag, and what you are loving the most.  Have a fabulous day!

Join ipsy to get in on the fun!

March BirchBox Opening

   
        Happy St. Patrick's day lovelies!
I hope you all are having a wonderful day.  I'm currently enjoying my new BirchBox.  I'm pretty happy with the mix of things I received this time.

        I'll go ahead and start with my least favorite product.  The keims hair care shampoo might be nice for someone else, but I have scalp psoriasis and curly hair.  Sulfate doesn't agree with either of those conditions.  I tried this out even though I didn't think it would work because I heard macadamia and peppermint were good for scalp psoriasis, but my the sulfate still made my scalp burn.  Personally I think it's best to go sulfate free no matter what type of hair a person has because all sulfate does is break down the protein in it.

        Even though this sample is itty bitty I am still excited to have received it, as I am going overseas this summer.  I am most definitely going to be using this on the plane.  Hopefully this will help keep me from getting that tight icky feeling plane air does to my skin.  It has one of those tips that you have to cut to use so I'm going to wait to try this out till then.

        I like the size of this sample, but I don't like the packaging.  It can be used more than once, but this cardboard package ends up having to sit on top of your sink to be used again since you don't want it spilling inside your cabinets or drawers.  I like the product.  It leaves the skin feeling cool and refreshed.

        This was a BirchBox finds item.  I'm definitely looking forward to trying this BB cream for the body, but there hasn't been a day warm enough to wear shorts, or even capris.  Hopefully it warms up a little over spring break so I can give this a try.

        This is the product I was most excited about seeing in my box upon opening.  I've never tried stila products, but I've heard a good deal about them.  I like the slightly orchid tint to this product because it is on trend for spring.  I love the color on, but it is sticky on application and doesn't last long.  I will still be using all of it because I do like the color, and the smooth look the brush gives.

  

        If you are interested in purchasing any of these products, here are the details on the products and prices.  I really enjoyed this months box.  I only had one dud in the box.  If you received a BirchBox, let me know what you got, and what your favorite items were.  If you don't have Birchbox, and are interested in signing up for this $10 a month subscription there will be a link for you below.  Have a lovely St. Patrick's day!

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