Ipsy December 2014 Glam Bag Review

Dec13

Oh Ipsy, how I love thee. I’ve been an Ipsy subscriber for over two years. Every month I get five make up related items. I usually get three full size products along with deluxe samples. A cute make up bag with a different theme each month completes the order. I only pay $10 a month, and can cancel at any time. I recently tried Lip Monthly and Boxy Glam. I was disappointed and cancelled both subscriptions.

This month’s bag is Fearless Heroine. I got a nice sized black and plum make up bag. My bag included full sizes of an eyelash curler by Precision Beauty, NYX Butter Lip Balm in Parfait and Cailyn Just Mineral eye polish in Orchid. Rounding out my order were deluxe samples of BWC Facial Cleanser with a 3% AHA complex, and Tarte- Lights, Camera Lashes 4 in 1 mascara in black. I found pricing on all items except the Tarte mascara, with a value of $26. The eye shadow alone was $15. I am rarely disappointed with my monthly glam bags.

The Cailyn Just Mineral Eye Polish in Orchid is a pale pinky gold color that is shimmery. This will make a great highlighter color. The NYX Butter Lip Balm in Parfait is a natural pink tone for when you just want a little lip color. Plus you don’t need a mirror to reapply since it’s a balm.

This month’s bag was definitely a winner. In the past, whatever I didn’t want (which usually isn’t much) I send to my 18 year old niece. Her mother died 12 years ago, so I send her a fun care package every few months.

#thinkingofyou#ipsy http://www.ipsy.com

Just another reason to love Ipsy.com!

Nov10

I have had my subscription to Ipsy.com for two years now. For $10 a month I get five cosmetic items, plus a cosmetic bag. I usually get several full size items, along with deluxe samples. I get skin care, nail polish, hair care, etc. As you can imagine, after two years, I have a lot of stuff. A lot of cool stuff that I usually put in a drawer and forget about. I have a stash of unwanted stuff that I have been sending to my niece over the years. For the most part, I love everything I get. It is fun trying brands I have never heard off. I got some blue brown eye shadow that simply looks amazing with my blue eyes.

I’ve been in menopause for five years now, and let me tell you it sucks! Most of the unpleasantness I’ve been able to handle. My skin is one of my best assets, so when I got a funky rash on my face recently I was flipping out. I mean really, it is a good thing I don’t smoke, as my hair is a fire hazard these days. I can deal with most things not looking so great, but when the hair and skin go, I’m basically screwed. I’m a middle aged woman, and I know I’ll never look like I did when I was in my 20’s; and I’m fine with that. But I do want to look good for my age. So I’m trying everything I can find for this stupid rash, and nothing was working. We had a party to go to this past weekend, and I was hoping it would clear up. You can only cover up so much with make-up.

I was rummaging around in my junk drawer in the bathroom trying anything that could help with this rash. I came across some Josie Maran Pure Argan oil I had gotten in one of my Ipsy.com bags. I thought, what the heck, let’s give this a try. I had never used oil on my face before, but given the dry patches I had everywhere, I had nothing to lose. OMG! This is the best face product I have encountered in my 50 plus years on the planet! It’s that good. I have used super expensive face creams to drug store brands, but never had such immediate results. Within several days of using the Josie Maran Pure Argan oil at night, my rash was gone. Plus my skin looks amazing. I just ordered some Josie Maran sunscreen .5 ounces with a 47 SPF on eBay for $9.50. The price of Josie’s products are very reasonable, with travel sizes available. On Josiemarancosmetics.com, the same SPF was $14, and I paid $9.50 with free shipping on eBay.com. I was comparison shopping between Josie’s website and eBay. One thing you will want to note on eBay is you have to look closely at the size. Some eBay sellers have the wrong size listed. It is a good idea to look at the photo on eBay to see the actual size. Also for sunscreens be sure to check the expiration date. If you don’t see one, don’t order it.

Here is a photo of me from the party I was at this past Saturday. Doesn’t my skin look great? Not too shabby for a soon to be 56 year old woman. Now, if I could only make my nose look smaller.

http://www.josiemarancosmetics.com/

http://www.ipsy.com/new/

www.ebay.com

Using Josie Maran Pure Argan Oil for three days

Dollar Tree Booyah-Revlon Top Speed Nail Polish, 3N1 Nail Art Pen

Oct24

I truly love the fact that Dollar Tree is next to my local grocery store. On my visit to Dollar Tree this week I found some great Revlon nail polish. I had to dig through a lot of stuff, as the kid who worked there was putting stuff away all over the place. I picked up five Revlon Top Speed fast dry nail enamels. They are Fire #510, a true red shade, Espresso #840, a deep shade of brown, Grape #660 a dark amethyst color, Vintage #570 a lovely fuchsia color, and my favorite Varnished #360, a shimmery pewter.

I change my nail polish every few days. Last week I went to a wedding and had on twelve coats from the previous weeks. I just keep painting over the old color, and no one is the wiser. I get compliments on my nails all the time. I tried finding the colors I bought online and found out they were all discontinued. Who cares?? I got them for a buck each. I did find the polishes on Ebay and Amazon for much more. The total price elsewhere $31, I paid $5! Revlon is a good brand of polish, and stays on much better than really cheap polish like LA Colors.

The polish was repackaged, so they seem pretty darn fresh. And like the name says, they dry superfast. I do my nails before I go to bed, as I don’t want to waste any prime time I could be watching something stupid on TV. Or surfing the internet for new and exciting information. I actually do my nails in the bathroom as the lighting is good, since I don’t wear my glasses while applying. I guess I’m lucky any of it gets on my nails, as I’m blind as a bat without them. Oh wait, I’m hunched over with my eyeballs six inches away. Man, its hell getting old.

I also got a Sassy & Chic 3N1 Nail Art pen in Blueberry. I’m having all kinds of fun with nail art these days. I got a Sassy & Chic 7 Way Nail Buffer. Not a bad haul for $7, wait no $8 counting the Tootsie Rolls I got, which lasted for two whole days. A girl’s gotta have some candy while she’s doing her nails.

Ipsy October 2014 Beauty Candy Glam Bag Review

Oct20

OMG! I think this is my favorite bag yet! The Nicole by OPI nail polish is to die for. It is a super cool dark cherry red color. The VolumEyes mascara by Model Co. is awesome. I’ve already used it twice since I got my bag on Oct. 17^th. It’s a blackish gray, that really brings out my blue eyes. Of course I poked myself in the eye this morning, being in a hurry as always. I think I’ll save this mascara for the weekend. The name says volume, but I got amazing length as well. I also got Epice Purifying Exfoliant which I’m anxious to try. My bag also included Rose Berry Figs and Rouge hand cream. It smells like a delicious fruit tart. I don’t know if I want to eat it or just put it on my hands.

Last but not least I got some lip gloss by Starlooks in Guilty Pleasure, a soft rosy color that smells like candy. This was a nice way to end my lousy week. The teal quilted cosmetic bag was the icing on the cake. Enjoy! ipsy.com, you are the bomb!

Oh Dollar Tree, how I love thee!-Maybelline Colorshow Nail Tattoos

Sep17

Just picked up these Maybelline Colorshow Nail Tattoos at Dollar Tree a few days ago. They are so flipping fun! Super easy to apply, and they look cool. Of course they are discontinued, but I did find them on EBay for $5. Score one for me. The fact that I’m a bean counter makes these even more fun.

Sally Hansen Insta- Dry Top Coat-Review

Sep13

Let me start off by saying I’ve been painting my nails for more than 40 years. Now you may think I’m older than dirt, but I know a thing or three about make-up. I do my own nails and have for years. I’ve neglected my nails for long periods of time, especially when my son was small, I was going to school and working full time. I discovered Sally Hansen Insta- Dry Top coat a few years ago. Before I discovered this awesome top coat, painting my nails was usually an ordeal, that’s why I did it so rarely.

This top coat changed everything for me. That sounds corny, but when you don’t have a lot of time to wait around for your nails to dry, you just don’t do your nails. I now do my nails before I go to bed. You heard correctly, right before I go to bed. No sheet imprints, smudges, anything. It is simply amazing.

My co-workers tease me because I have different polish on every other day. I’m in to nail art these days, so I go a little longer with the same polish. You simply apply your regular polish, wait two minutes, and then apply the Insta-Dri. After 30 seconds, it’s dry to the touch. I go to bed, and wake up with a perfect manicure. Our two dogs sleep with us, and I toss and turn a lot when I sleep, but nothing smudges my polish. I only wish this stuff came in a bigger bottle. It works with any brand of polish. Try it; you will be glad you did. I usually buy it at Wal-Mart for under $5. When I’ve used the top coat with Sally Hansen polish, it looks like a gel manicure, and lasts for days without a touch up. It’s nice to find a product that actually does what it’s advertised to do.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Sally-Hansen-Insta-Dri-Anti-Chip-Top-Coat/10322333

Sept. 2014 Ipsy Glam Bag Review

Sep13

Yippee! I got my September Ipsy glam bag today. Lots of good stuff. The cosmetic bag is a pewter colored bag with silver studs. The five items I received are as follows: Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair deep conditioning mask for hair. I can’t wait to try this, as I color my hair and need a deep conditioner. Leeanni Eco 3 in 1 Revolution Light, a toner, serum and moisturizer combined. Sounds like this will save me some time in the morning. Pacifica Natural Minerals eyeliner pencil in brown. Hikari lipstick in Cabernet, which is a dark pink, matte lipstick. Last, but certainly not least is a Crown Crease/Shadow brush. This is the third eye make-up brush I’ve gotten from Ipsy. I love the fact the brush is a dual brush. The bristles are very soft, and the brush is well made.

I wasn’t real crazy about the lipstick, as the color was a bit too bright for me. I wish I had a purse that looked like the cosmetic bag for this month. I’m such a little kid waiting for my bag each month. I knew it was coming today, and had my hubby throw the pink package upstairs to me after he got the mail. He asked me how I knew it came today, and I told him I saw the fuchsia package as he was walking up the driveway. I will most likely give the lipstick to my niece. She loves getting packages from her aunty, because she knows she’s getting some great hair, make up and skin care products.

http://www.ipsy.com

Holy Grail of Mascara! Bombshell Volume by CoverGirl

Aug30

This is the best mascara ever! I have been wearing make up for over 40 years, and have tried numerous brands of mascara. I have long eyelashes, but they are blonde when I have no make-up on. I’m always on the hunt for a really good mascara. I usually end up disappointed, but not this time. The Bombshell Volume by CoverGirl really delivers.

As you can see in my photos, this is some killer mascara. Ulta was having a giveaway if you bought several Olay products along with CoverGirl products; you got a free Bombshell Volume mascara. I was thrilled the first time I used it. I am wearing brown in my photos. In the other photo I am wearing L.A. Colors mascara in brown. The price was around $12 at Ulta, but I had an Ulta coupon, along with a manufacturer’s coupon. I think I paid around $6 for this tube.

I always crack up when I see ads in magazines for mascara, and in the fine print it says “lash inserts used”. No lash inserts needed with Bombshell Volume! Just sit back and wait for the compliments.

Dollar Tree Delights-Eye Shadows

Aug23

I just got back from Dollar Tree this afternoon. Oh how I love that store. I was just there on August 19^th and got some great nail art pens and polish. Even though I was just there four days ago, I was at Ulta which is in the same strip mall, so I had to stop. I’m so glad I did. They got some new L.A. Colors 12 color eye shadow pallets. The first pallet I picked up called Trendy has various shades of brown and are a matte finish. I will get a lot of use out of this one as brown shades are my go to colors for my blue eyes. Next up is the Glamorous pallet. It has shades of taupe along with several grays and a cornflower blue. Last but not least is Supernatural; it has four shades of gray along with some blue and aqua shadows. It has a pretty color of cobalt blue which is a good crease color along with the brown lid color for a more intense look. The L.A. Colors shadows are highly pigmented and last all day. No eye primer required. I met some friends for dinner this week and only had to touch up my lipstick and powder my nose. My make-up had been on for almost 10 hours, and still looked good at the end of the evening.

I also got a 3-in-1 Instant Eye Enhancer from Physicians Formula. The package said it was for blue eyes, but after I opened it, turns out it’s for green eyes. It will go in the pot of make-up I’ll send to my niece. I got some hot oil treatment for my hair. I use to use hot oil treatments years ago when I had my very curly hair professionally straightened. You can’t go wrong with two treatments for a buck!

Stayed tuned for my next review on an Argan Heat flat iron purchased from Ulta today. Happy make up hunting!

Dollar Store Treasure Hunt-Deals on Cosmetics

Aug19

You can find some amazing deals on make up at the dollar store. I went today and got five nail art products for $5. I already have six of the L.A. Colors Nails Art Deco polishes and they work great. The Sassy + Chic 3 in 1 Nail Art Pens just came in. I try and stop every week to check out what’s new. I have several twelve color eye shadows pallets from L.A. Colors that I use all the time. Even if I only use one color (which I never do) it’s a total steal, and it wears well. I don’t really care for their regular nail polish, but the Art Deco nails are great.

I recently purchased Physicians Formula Organic Wear blush at the dollar store. I believe it’s discontinued, as I looked at other stores and couldn’t find any. I bought warm and cool colors. I went back a week later to buy some for my niece and they were gone. That’s the thing about the dollar store; you have to buy the things you like when you see them.

My local dollar store is next to the grocery store, so I don’t even have to go out of my way. I’ve been on a nail art kick since my nails finally grew long. They were awful for the longest time. I recently added spinach to my diet, having a spinach salad four times a week for lunch. My nails are awesome now. I get so many compliments on my manicure these days. I have “man” hands, so having nice looking nails is sweet. Speaking of sweet, the dollar store has the freshest candy too.

cornfedcontessa

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