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Ipsy December 2015 Glam Bag Review

Dec21

Season’s greetings! I haven’t written in a while.  I’ve been super busy with work and a new business I started making handmade cosmetics. So far so good, I’ll share more later when I get my website up to speed.

I got my five products this month and a special bonus.  I’ve been an Ipsy subscriber for four years.  Michelle Phan (the founder of Ipsy) sent me a nice note and an EM by Michelle Phan eye color palette.  The color is neutral, and I love it! It’s valued at $28.  It has six colors and they will all look lovely on my blue eyes. Thanks Michelle!

Here is a rundown of what I received this month:

Clark’s Botanicals Deep Moisture Mask, my skin is a bit dry now, so this will be a treat.

Tarte Smooth Operator Amazonian clay finishing powder, a great travel size.

Peter Lamas Spa Sensuals Intensive Repair Hand Cream-a lovely citrus scented hand cream.

Thank Me Later Eye Shadow Primer by Elizabeth Mott-an easy to apply creamy primer.

Power of Love Natural Lipstick by Pacifica in Nudie Red-full size. The color is just okay.  It tastes and smells awful.  I’m making my own lip stick and balm, with a minimal amount of ingredients. The label says 100% vegan, but most of the ingredients I can’t pronounce. Maybe my teenage niece will like this.

Thanks for stopping by and Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year!

 

@ipsy

#ipsy

#decemberglambag

Update-e.l.f. High Definition Undereye Setting Powder

Nov30

ELF Undereye Setting Powder Packging

Update-I used a better brush today, and the results are amazing!  The lines are blurred and not cakey at all.   I’ve had this on since 7 am, it’s now noon, and my under eye area looks great!  Never under estimate the power of a good brush!

Whose says $3.00 won’t get you anything these days?  I just bought this powder yesterday at http://www.target.com/p/e-l-f-high-definition-undereye-setting-powder/-/A-14795896#prodSlot=medium_1_4&term=elf+under+eye+powder, and it’s awesome.  It works great to set your concealer.  I just started using Becca Under Eye Brightening Corrector along with Bye Bye Under Eye Anti-aging concealer by IT, (which I purchased from http://www.ulta.com) and this e.l.f. setting powder is a nice finishing touch.  It’s a finely milled whitish powder that blends well. I have some serious under eye line action going on, and this helps to blur everything out.  While you can still see my lines, my dark circles are gone, and I can live with that!

The brush that comes with it is a joke, but for $3 bucks, who cares! Just use a small fluffy brush to apply. Now it doesn’t completely hide my lines, I have too many! Plus I wear glasses so that helps to hide them as well.  Now if I could just blur out all the other wrinkles on my face, oh wait, I really don’t have too many. That my friends is from using a daily sunscreen for the last 30 years. Sure, you can get procedures done to help look younger, but I would rather have more money in my pocket.

 

IT Cosmetics Review-CC Cream and company

Sep22

I just tried IT Cosmetics CC+ Cream and Bye Bye Pores loose powder recently.  I stopped at my local Ulta to try it out. I have to say, I was very impressed. I went in with no foundation on, and looked great afterwards. I was hooked. The line is higher end for me, but I love how it makes my skin look and feel.  Plus Ulta has a gift with purchase going on right now. I got a travel size Brow Power, Bye Bye Under Eye concealer and Hello Lashes in black.

I already had tried the Brow Power from a recent Ipsy package, and loved it.

The CC+ cream has an SPF of 50 which is cool, but the coverage is what I really liked. It’s pricey at $38 for 1.08 ounces, but I have found a little goes a long way. It wears like iron and I just had to powder my nose after having it on for 10 hours. I have Light on.  I also bought the Bye Bye Pores loose powder in translucent. It’s $24 for .23 ounces which is high, but again, you don’t have to use a lot.

The real surprise with the free gift was the Bye Bye Under Eye Concealer in Neutral Medium.  I thought it would be too dark for me, but it’s perfect.  It is a bit thick, but once you warm it up on your hand it blends very nicely. It lasts all day, and completely covers my under eye circles. The Hello Lashes 5 in 1 mascara in black was just ok. I’ve used better. The line is cruelty free also.  I think I may have found my holy grail of foundation and concealer. The photo of me is in my car, I like to get photos in natural light.The gal at Ulta didn’t even put any moisturizer on my face first, what a difference.

All in all, I give IT Cosmetics a big thumbs up.

Traveling with men-a must have

Aug31

Can I just say that I wish I had invented this product? It’s Fresh Drop Bathroom Odor Preventor. OMG! A lifesaver when you are traveling. I just got back from vacation, and the bathroom didn’t have a fan (which is unusual).  I put this little gem next to the toilet and reminded both my husband and son to use it before going number two.

When you are sharing a hotel room, a little stink can go a long way.  This wondamus product will prevent the most vile emptying of the bowels not to kill you or your traveling companions.  Really, there have been times before I found Fresh Drop that I would literally gag after the hubby or son took a big one.

Actually it’s not a bad idea to carry a bottle with you.  You never know when that awkward moment might hit, and you don’t want to die of embarrassment.  Stacy’s travel tip for the day. You are welcome world.

http://www.amazon.com/Fresh-Drop-Bathroom-Odor-Preventor/dp/B0038NNEKEFresh Drop 8-31-15

Art Deco Dragon fly Brooch

Jun20

I love my local jewelry store called Dan’s L&L Fine Jewlery http://danslandljewelry.com/.  They have new and used jewelry.  The selection is outstanding and bargains galore.  I just picked up this dragonfly brooch today.  It’s from the 1920’s and is sterling silver with garnets.  When I held it up to the light, I noticed the garnets are different colors. It has marcasite as well.  And it was a whopping $21!  The saleslady said it came from an estate sale.  I love vintage jewelry especially at these prices!Dragon fly pin- 6-20-15-2 Dragon fly pin- 6-20-15-3

Ipsy June 2015 Glam Bag-Review

Jun15

Hello! Welcome to summer! June’s Ipsy bag was a mixture of great and just okay.  The bag itself is a black neoprene fabric. I’ll be saving this for the women’s shelter.  Here’s what was in my June bag:

Ipsy June 2014 Glam Bag Review Ipsy June 2014 Glam Bag Review.jpg-1The Healthy Body Butter in Pure Vanilla- I’m not big on food scented products, but I know my niece will like it.

JCats Liptitude Hydrating Lip Stain in Bead?-it’s a coral color that is better suited for Aunt Ethel. Yikes!

SmashBox Photo Finish Primer-I’ve used this before and like it. It’s a nice travel size.

Tre’Stique Mini Shadow crayon in Kona Coffee-A rich dark brown, too dark for me however.

And last but not least It Cosmetics Brow Power in Universal Taupe in the mini size. OMG! I love this brown pencil.  I’m always on the hunt for the next best eyebrow make up.  The color is perfect and it really stays on all day without fading. It’s a two ended pencil with color on one end, and a spooley brush on the other.

I don’t pay a lot of attention to my brows because I wear glasses. But I do think this color is very flattering on me.  I know I could use a good tweezing, but hey, I’m too flipping lazy.

All in all it was a decent bag.  I’m keeping the primer and brow color.  The rest are going to my niece. Not bad for $10!

Wet n Wild Reviews-Nail Polish, Balm Stain and Eye shadow primer

May24

I’m really digging Wet N Wild these days.  I usually shy away from this brand due to the very low price. I.e. (crappy quality). So not true!  I was looking for an eye shadow primer, and did a little research on YouTube.  I tried Wet n Wild- Fergie’s Take on the day eyeshadow primer.  While I don’t have a problem with my shadow staying on all day, I do like making a color more intense. I had gotten a Mica Beauty eye primer in a recent Ipsy package. I loved how it worked, but had a reaction to it.  The ‘Take on the Day” works great.  You only need a small amount and I was able to intensify my eye shadow significantly. It was a bargain at Walgreens for only $3.79.

I bought the Megaslicks Balm Stain in Caffeine Fix for a whopping $1.99 during the same trip to Walgreens.  It’s a neutral color that is very moisturizing and easy to apply.  I love any kind of lip color that I don’t have to use a mirror to apply. A definite thumbs up!

Last but not least is the Wet N Wild Megalast salon nail color in On a Trip.  A pretty purple/cornflower blue color for $1.99 at Walgreens.  I haven’t really found the Wet n Wild line at most of my usual make up haunts. My favorite store Ulta doesn’t carry it. This polish is awesome!  There are 18 colors to choose from, but Walgreens only carried 8.  I have every color under the sun, but I saw a review by a fellow beauty blogger and thought I would give it a try.  This polish has a wide professional style brush, is Toluene & phthalate free.  It wears so well.  I’ve had it on for four days now, and it still looks great.  It is still as shiny as when I first applied it.  Walgreens has a sale going on right now, but one get one for 50% off.  I’ll be going there to get more for sure. Sorry about my man hands.  It’s such a pretty color, maybe my hands don’t look so ginormous after all.

http://www.wnwbeauty.com/tmp/product2.php?cid=37&pid=923&subid=37

http://www.walgreens.com/store/c/wet-n-wild-megalast-salon-nail-color/ID=prod6097905-product

NYC Applelicious Glossy Lip Balm-Review

May2

Let me start off by saying I’m a huge tinted lip balm fan.  I usually wear lipstick, but sometimes I just want the ease of swiping on some lip balm. I found this NYC Glossy Lip Balm in Chocolate Apple at my local Dollar Tree. I loved it.  I went back a few days later and bought all they had, which was twenty tubes. I do believe I have enough tinted lip balm to last me for the next 10 years. I’m sure I’ll be giving some away.

It is really creamy and I love the color.  Here is my high school graduation photo taken in 1976, and a current photo. As you get older your lips naturally get thinner. I’ve been wearing something, be it lip gloss, balm, lipstick or whatever on my lips for 44 years.  My mom was an Avon lady, so I started wearing lip gloss when I was 12. The point I’m trying to make is, your lips don’t have to get thinner as you age. I have some sort of moisturizer on my lips 24/7, and as a result of that, my lips have remained the same. Oh the NYC is usually $3, and I paid $1 each.  Yeah!

While I’m glad my lips have stayed the same size, I can’t say the same for my nose.  Must be from having allergies and always having a runny nose. Oh well, I guess there could be worse things. At least I have all of my original teeth! Ha!

And yes, I was trying to rock the Farrah Fawcett hairstyle that most girls had in 1976, that was as close as I could get with my naturally curly hair. Fresh from the salon for that one, never looked like that again.

http://www.newyorkcolor.com/en/makeup/applelicious-glossy-lip-balm

Ipsy April 2015 Glambag Review

May2

Ipsy April 2015 GlambagThe past few months my Ipsy bags have been a bit of a disappointment. So much in fact, I didn’t bother to review most of them.  Well this April bag made up for it.  I’ve been an Ipsy subscriber for 4 ½ years, and have generally been very happy with my monthly bags.  For $10 you really can’t go wrong.  I recently changed my profile, so that may have contributed to my better April bag.

Here is what I got:

Klorane Dry Shampoo with oat milk-$6.50-love the scent, works really well

Hikari Tango powder blush-full size-$15 a pretty matte pink coral

The Balm Nude Dude eyeshadow in Flirty-beautiful brown shade with flecks of gold-$4

Mica Beauty Cosmetic Eye Primer-$22.50-really makes the Flirty shadow pop on my blue eyes

Julie Nail Polish in Damsel-full size$3.99-vibrant fuchsia pink

Total value of April’s bag $51.99. I loved everything this month.  Nothing will be going to my niece’s goody bag this today.

In the photos I have on the eyeshadow, blush and eye primer.

Way to go Ipsy.com!