March 2015 IPSY Glam Bag Review

It has been awhile, but I am still a loyal subscriber to the IPSY glam bag. I love every month and find that is well worth the $10/month. What is the glam bag, you ask? Allow me to enlighten you: IPSY glam bag is a monthly subscription service, that provides the member with a cute bag filled with deluxe and full-size beauty samples. The glam bag samples are tailored to each member based off of a quiz that take when you first join. If your style preferences change, you can re-take the quiz at any time! The bag is $10/month. Members can share their glam bag with other members, swap tips and tricks, and you can buy full size products at discounted prices. It's fantastic. This month's glam bag theme is: Flower Power - which makes sense, since spring is right around the corner!

1. Boo-Boo Coverup Concealer - Medium Shade - 4mL sample - Retail Value $8.00

I used this today and it worked pretty well. It went on smooth and covered up blemishes and scars. I'm not sure I would pay the retail value for it, because I have other concealers I like that are cheaper...but I will keep trying out the sample to see if I like it more...sometimes these things grow on me.

2. Acure Day Cream - 30mL (1 oz) Retail Value $19.99

I have tested this one out yet - stay tuned!

3. NYX Butter Lipstick - Pops - Full size Retail $6.00

I like the color of lipstick I received - Pops. I like a more subtle look to lipstick and this is pretty subtle. I hope you enjoy my close-up below. It went on smooth and the colored stayed for awhile. 

4. Pixi by Petra Mineral Duo in Apricot Glow 0.03 oz - sample retail $1.95

I liked this bronzer - I think I might buy the full-size option. It is also subtle, but gives you a nice glow.

5. Skyn Iceland Hydro Cool Firming Eye Gels - 2 packs - Retail $30 for 8 pairs ($7.50 for 2 packs)

I haven't tried this product out yet either - but I have to be up in 3 hours to work a 12-hour day, so it is likely I will have a reason to try them out tomorrow!

Total Retail Value of glam bag: $43 Not too shabby for the sweet price of $10! 
Also, since I did state in my previous post that I would be focusing on weight loss for the next year, I signed up for a 6-month subscription to BuluBox - my first box is set to ship on April 15th...I will share my goodies with you! 

September Glam Bag Review

This month's Glam Bag theme was Classic Beauty. As usual, Ipsy delivers an amazing bag. Check it out...

First of all, the bag is super cute! I love it. Here's the contents:

One. Freeman Facial Paper Masks (I received 3): Rose, Star Fruit, and Blue Agave. I haven't used them yet, but I am excited to try them out!! Each one is recommended for certain skin types, see below:

Rose - Dull skin

Star Fruit - Oily/Combo Skin

Blue Agave - Dry Skin

Retail price: $1.99/each

Two. Starlooks Obsidian Kohl Eye Pencil: I love receiving a great eyeliner. This one is great, it glids across you lids with ease. 

Retail Price: $12.00

Three. Cailyn Tinted Lip Balm in Big Apple: This color is a little red for my liking,  I would have preferred a pink or nude shade. I haven't worn it much yet though, so maybe it will grow on me.

Retail Price: $19.00

Four. Elizabeth Mott Volumizing Mascara (4mL): Again, I love getting mascara. I am always in need! This one is nice, doesn't seem to clump but I have only used it once. 

Retail Price: $19.99 for 10mL, so $2.50 

Five. NYX Eye Shadow in Nutmeg: I haven't used this yet, but it is a pretty shade...kind of a rose gold if that makes sense. I haven't used it yet. Between work and Insanity, I have been slacking on putting on nice make-up!

Retail Price: $4.50

Bag retail price: approximately $43.97

Bag price: $10.00

Not too shabby!!

For more information on Ipsy, click here.

Tune in tomorrow for updates on Insanity Day 8,9 & 10. Let's just say my quads are killing me!

Day #304: May Glam Bag Reveal

I have to say, I am happy with Ipsy's Glam Bag every month, but this month is by far my favorite!! Look at all these goodies:

Ipsy's May theme was "Spring Fling", providing the subscriber with 5-6 samples.

One. Pacifica Luminizing Body Butter: Coconut Crushed Pearl

I love this lotion. I might actually purchase the full-size bottle. It smells summery and sweet, leaving your skin with a beautiful shimmer. It will definitely be applied when I am not pasty pale.

2 oz bottle: $7.00

Two. Juice Beauty Reflecting Gloss in Fig

Love the color! It's a color I would normally pick for myself.

Reflecting gloss: $15.00

Three. Pacifica Roll-On Perfume in Tahitian Gardenia

Again, I love this roll-on perfume. It's very summery, a vanilla smell mixed with honey. I will definitely be using this!

0.33 fl oz: $12.00

Four. Zoya Nail Polish in Blu

Probably not a color I would normally pick, however I love nail polish and I love trying new colors!! 

Polish: $8.00

Five. Moondust Eyeshadow by Urban Decay in Intergalatic

I was lucky enough to receive this AMAZING bonus item in my bag! Not everybody received it. It's a gorgeous sparkly eye shadow from Urban Decay. I love it and I can NOT wait to use it!!

Eyeshadow: $20.00

Six. Yaby Concealer Refill in Buff

I could take or leave this one. I am in need of new concealer, however I don't use it all that much. And I wasn't super impressed with Yaby in previous bags. However, I love this bag so much...I don't care!

Yaby Refill: $5.06

Glam Bag Total Worth: $67.06

Purchased for: $10.00

Winner!

For more information Ipsy's Glam Bag, click here.

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Day #272: April Glam Bag

The theme for Ipsy's April Glam Bag was Pretty in Pink. It came with a cute white and pink bag:

And here are the contents:

One. Be A Bombshell Blush in Sweet Chicks (deluxe size)

I was so excited to get blush this month! I haven't received blush in any of my subscription bags yet and I was definitely running low. Value: $16

Two. Big Sexy Hair Powder Play

I have never used volumizing powder in my hair before so this will be a new experience. I'm not entirely sure I even know how to use it. But I love Big Sexy Hair products so I am definitely excited! 

Value: $15.95 (for full size)

Three. Sation Nail Lacquer in Love at First Byte

I am always happy to receive nail polish! Especially full size nail polish! 

Value: $5

Four. Mica Eyeshadow in Earth (deluxe size)

I love mineral make-up and this shimmery color is beautiful!

Value: $14.95

Bag Worth: $35.95 (just for the full size items)

Cost: $10

I was definitely happy with my glam bag this month!! Three full size items for only $10? Heck yes!
For more information on Ipsy, click here.

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Day #246: March Glam Bag reveal

Okay, first of all...when did the world become obsessed with the Harlem Shake? Where was I when this started happening? I feel like one day it didn't exist and BOOM, now I see it EVERYWHERE!!! Well, my mom is a store manager at McDonalds and she, along with her managers and crew team decided to bust into the shake while at work. It's HILARIOUS and I am sure the customers loved it! (Customer service was NOT interrupted during the filming of this video). So, please enjoy the Harlem Shake from the crew at Bridgeport, MI McDonalds (my mom is the lady who starts it, with the sunglasses on...she rocks.)

Okay, back to business as usual...the March Glam Bag Reveal: The Great Escape

I'm not going to lie...this month's glam bag was NOT my favorite. The bag itself, I absolutely love. I love navy and anchors, so it now sits nicely in my purse! However, the items in the bag were only "okay" for me this month.

One. Travel Lite Make-Up Remover (8 Count pouch) by La Fresh

This little pack comes with moist towlette wipes. I generally don't need these unless I am at home, but I am happy to try them out!

Two. Juice Beauty Hydrating Mist 

A mist meant to rehydrate your hair and face while on the go. It smells very summer-y. I might try using it on days that I work, especially if I want to go out afterwards.

Three. Mini Freestyle Palette by GlamRX

This palette was made exclusively for Ipsy subscribers. It is a little compact with a magnetic base. The eyeshadows I have received previously from Coastal Scents can be put in the compact and they stay put due to the magnetic base. It's pretty cool.

Four. Yaby Eyeshadow Refills

I received 2 eyeshadow colors, which fit nicely in the GlamRX palette. They aren't colors I generally use but I will try them out!

Did you enjoy your Ipsy glam bag? 

For more information on Ipsy, click here.  

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Day #213: February Glam Bag

February Glam Bag's theme was "Red Carpet Ready", I am assuming because the Academy Awards are coming up and the Grammy's, yada yada. I'm rambling.

It wasn't my favorite bag, but I still liked it better than any of my Birch Boxes. The bag was black, with red lining. Inside I received:

1. Coastal Scents eyeshadow sample. The sample I received included: dark goldenrod, sunbeam, golden globe, and dark golden olive. I was excited to get another Coastal Scents sample because I absolutely LOVED the first one I received. The eye shadow applies smoothly and lasts most of the day. I highly recommend.

2. Gel Eyeliner by Mica Beauty Truth be told, I have never used a gel eyeliner...so we will see how this goes.
3. Lash Card Used to help avoid smudging and clumping when applying mascara. I have this issue, so I am excited to try these babies out!
4. Smokey Lash Kapow Mascara by POP Beauty I love trying out new mascara, so I was excited to receive this sample. I generally only use black and that's what I received! Along with the mascara, POP offered some mascara applying tips:
POP your skills:
One. Curl lashes as close to the root as possible.
Two. Jiggle the wand from the root to the middle of the lash.
Three. Repeat twice, wait a few seconds in-between, letting each layer dry.
Four. Jiggle 3rd layer all the way to the tip of the lashes.
Six. To reach small and stray lashes – turn the brush vertically and apply.
5. Flawless & Poreless by Pixi This is a face primer to use before you apply your make-up. It promises no-shine and I have to say I like it so far! Although (sorry Pixi!) Mirabella is still my fave. 
Did you enjoy your February Glam Bag?
To learn more about IPSY's Glam Bag, go here.


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Day #195: January Glam Bag

Sadly, there will be no more showdowns between Birchbox and Glam Bag on my blog. After receiving 3 months worth of Birchbox, I felt I wasn't getting my money's worth. I absolutely love my Glam Bag every month and decided to keep that one and cancel Birchbox. However, I do want to try other subscription boxes. But I will get into that after I reveal my Glam bag for this month!
January Glam Bag: Super Stars

One. Big Sexy Hair Spray

I have always wanted to try Big Sexy hair products and after using the hair spray a few times, I absolutely love it! I have a gift card to use at Ulta and I might just use it on some hair products!

Two. Pacifica Tuscan Blood Orange Mini Body Butter

I love this lotion. It smells like summer and beaches. I currently carry it in my work bag.

Three. Nailtini Straight Up Color Nail Lacquer in Bloody Mary

I love Nailtini, however I kind of wanted the other color that was offered. Luckily I found another blogger who wanted to switch!! yay!

Four. 100% Pure Argan Oil by Josie Maran

This oil is full of Vitamin E and can be used to nourish any area that needs hydrating...split ends, cuticles, skin, etc. It makes your skin feel super soft. I haven't used it on my hair yet.

Five. Soho Concealer Brush

I just bought new make-up brushes, so I haven't used this one yet. However, can you really ever have too many?

The bag this month was adorbs. Dark blue with a starry lining. 

All in all, it was a great bag this month! What did you think of yours?

Now, which subscription to try next? Here are a couple I have been considering...

Glossybox: I've seen others post on their boxes and it always looks like a winner. It's $21/month which is kind of pricey, which is why I haven't tried it yet.

For the Makers: a monthly box in which you receive supplies to make 4 pieces of fashion jewelry. Since I love making things, I really want to try it. Subscription: $30/month

Wantable.co: You can chose a subscription to either a beauty box or a jewelry box. I really want to try the jewelry box. The subscription is $36/month or $40 for one box.

Which would you try?

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Day #155: Glam Bag vs Birchbox

Without further adieu, here is December's Showdown: Birchbox versus Glambag

First up, Birchbox:

One: Thymes Naia Body Lotion, 1.5 fl oz Love this lotion! It's a perfect size to fit in my purse or my work bag. I love the smell, it's hard to describe...it's not flowery and it's not overwhelming. It's light and almost jasminey in my opinion. Plus it's not greasy. I love it.
Two: Juice Beauty, Stem Cellular Repair CC Cream, .17 fl oz This skin cream comes in two shades: Natural Glow and Warm Glow. My sample is natural glow, which is good cause I'm pasty pale! I haven't used this cream yet, but I am excited to try it!
Three & Four: Kerastase, Nutritive Nectar Thermique Two packets of this leave-in cream...I LOVE it, it makes my hair feel silky and smooth after drying and straightening. I almost wish I had $42 to spend on the large size!
How to use it: Apply a dime-sized amount of product to slightly damp, towel-dried hair. Start from the ends and work your way upwards, massaging gently. Finish off by styling with a blow dryer or a flat iron.
Five: Thymes, Lotus Santal Body Lotion An extra treat from the Birchbox team! A small sample of more Thymes lotion. I am saving it for a special occasion.
Six: ModelCo, SHINE Ultra Lip Gloss I love this lip gloss. It comes with a little mirror on it so you can easily apply color (and make sure you don't get it on your teeth...). The color is subtle but makes your lips feel soft. I received this gloss in Berry Pink.
Next, Glam Bag:

One: NYX Loose Powder in Walnut Pearl - Love it! On the IPSY website it says this can be used on the eyes, cheeks or lips. But I think it best to stay on the eyes.
Two: Be a Bombshell Lipgloss in "Hot Mess". It looks brighter in the tube than it does when applied. I think it's still too bright for me, but maybe a good stocking stuffer??
Three: Mirabella Primer. Let me just say, this is my FAVORITE primer! A tube at my hair salon is at least $25 and I received a full tube in my glam bag. Ah-mazing! This primer makes your face super soft. In case you missed it, I wrote about this primer before. Find it here. Four: MAI Couture Highlighter Paper. I've never heard of highlighter paper. According to the package it's purpose is to "add radiance and glow to desired areas of face and body". Interesting. I will try it!
Five: Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-on Eye Pencil. Love, love, love this eye-liner! It goes on smooth and if I poke myself in the eye, my tears won't wash it away :) A must have.
I have to say. It's a toss up this month. I loved both my Birchbox and my Glam Bag!!! What did you guys think??
For more information on Birchbox, click here. For more information Glam Bag, click here.
Please help Sarah & her family this Christmas!

She was recently diagnosed with ovarian cancer with mets to the colon. She will be having a hysterectomy and colectomy on January 8. She will started chemo a month later. My husband and I are helping plan a benefit for her on January 20. We are also working to build up a fund to help her care for her 3 kids while she goes through this process.

We have $610 so far. If everyone on here donated just $1, we would reach our goal and then some. If you are able, please consider helping  this sweet woman and her family. Thank-you.

Donate Here - The Sarah McCurdy Project

Please, feel free to share this information around the blogosphere. Thank-you

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Day #129: November Showdown Glam Bag vs Birchbox

I was excited to get both my Birchbox and my Glam Bag this month!! Both of them were pretty good, it's a definitely a toss up this month.

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November Glam Bag

One. Nailtini Nail Lacquer in Millionare...very gold and glittery!! Perfect for the holiday season and New Years. It takes a couple coats to really bring out the color but it doesn't seem to chip too bad.

Two. Chella Eyebrow Defining Gel...I'm not entirely sure what to do with this particular product. I've never been big on highlighting my eyebrows with make-up AND I've never heard of putting gel on my eyebrows.

Three. Marvelous Moxie Lipgloss in Dare Devil It looks like it would be really dark, but it's actually kind of flattering. 

Four. The Balm Meet Matte Eyeshadow Truth be told, I haven't used this product yet! But I love the color.

Five. Starlet Intense Eyeliner in black I also haven't used this yet, but I am excited to receive it since I am almost out!

November Birchbox

One. Oscar Blandi Texture and Volume Spray

Two. Stila All Over Shimmer Liquid Luminzer in Rose Gold

Three. Miracle Skin Transformer Intended to be used before applying make-up, as a primer. 

Four. Atelier Cologne I love this scent. It's spicy and flowery at the same time.

Five. Chuao Chocolatier It's a chocolate covered potato chip...I'm afraid to try it. I think it will either rock my world or make me barf.

Also, check out this awesome giveaway at the Truly, Lovely blog!! I am giving away a $10 credit to my Etsy shop! 

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Day #94: Friday Top Five!

1. Detroit Tigers + World Series. Need I say more?

2. Glam Bag = awesome!! See my Glam Bag vs Birch Box here

3. My very first GIVEAWAY!! Join in the fun here

4. Why a giveaway? Because I have over 100 followers! YAY!! Thanks to everyone!

5. 3 Day Weekend?? YAY!! Hopefully, I will feel better.

Also, in the next coming weeks I have a lot of homework coming up. And with Christmas coming, I thought it would be fun to do some guest posts with a "shop theme"! If you are own an Etsy or StoreEnvy or other shop and are interested in a guest post, fill out the form below!!

Fill out my online form.

Until tomorrow,

Big, beautiful & broke... Chelsea

Day #92.1: October Showdown: Glam Bag vs Birchbox

While waiting for my Birchbox invitation, I came across another similar product called "Glam Bag". Instead of receiving a box, you receiving a cute little make-up bag each month and it's filled with samples from various companies. I received my first glam bag this month and decided to compare it's contents with Birchbox's contents. For more information on Glam Bag, click here.

Glam Bag

1. The first product in this months glam bag was a sample of eye shadow from Coastal Scents. I received rosy pink, gunmetal, elven silver and light pink. 

2. What's Your Type? Body Builder Mascara by The Balm Cosmetics in black

3. Pequi Oil Treatment to make your hair soft and shiny

4. Mirenesse Lip Bomb Glossy Lacquer Stain

5. Be a Bombshell Eye Liner. This eye liner is AMAZING. It looks like a freakin' sharpie. I usually mess up my eye liner and get it all over myself (hands, face, clothes...ugh. Sometimes I suck at being a girl) and this is dummy proof. I love it!

To top off all these awesome samples, they came in this super cute black, white and red chevron make-up bag. Perfect size for your purse or work bag. Birchbox...you have some competition.

Birchbox + Goop

1. Luna LemonZest nutrition bar I haven't tried this yet...I don't really like lemony foods so I might give this to my Hubby. Even if it says "For Women" on the label. Is that wrong?

2. Marie Veronique Organics Body Oil It says its a mixture of watermelon seed, vegetable squalene and apricot kernel oils. It smells kind of like lavender. It makes my skin feel sort of greasy but definitely moistures skin however.

3. Joanna Vargas Daily Serum Another skin product. Since I just slathered the body oil all over my hands and arms, I will probably use this product tomorrow!

4. Sprout Lip Balm Flights Tastes like chocolate. Yum.

5. Essie Nail Polish in "Size Matters" You really can't go wrong with Essie nail polish. The color is a pretty dark red. I love it! I just painted my nails in Essie's "Chinchilly" or else I would totally paint them tonight.

So, all in all both Glam Bag and Birchbox provided great products this month. I have to say, the items in Glam Bag kind of impressed me more this month, however the Essie nail polish has me swaying. October's winner? Glam Bag.

Until tomorrow, 

Big, beautiful & broke... Chelsea