Ipsy's November Glam Bag!

Ipsy is a mail delivered makeup service that selects a mix of five deluxe samples or full-size products that are based on your own personal beauty style.  When I found out about Ipsy, I immediately knew I had to have a subscription to it.  While I have not tried similar services, such as Birchbox, so far I have been very satisfied with Ipsy!

★★★★★

Bonvivant: Bonvivant Botanical Pure Masks

The mask scents I received are currently sold out; however, you can find a different scent from the same brand here on amazon or the company’s website when they get back in stock here.  I received three different masks, which are worth about $1.89 each.

These masks were my favorite product this month! I only tried one of them and it was for hydration, but it was the best sheet mask I have ever tried.  The fibers the sheet is made of cling to your face really well and the formula that is on it really gets into your skin because it stays on so well.  I could not love these masks more; however, I do wish that they put more of the description and directions on the back of the package in English.

★★★★✰

Ciaté London: Liquid Velvet Matte Liquid Lipstick in Diva

This lovely color retails for $19 and my version was almost full-sized and worth $17.27.  It can be found here at Sephora.

I wanted to give this product 5 stars because I usually love Ciaté London products, but I couldn’t justify it with this liquid lipstick.  Overall, it is a good product and I will continue to wear it.  The bright red color makes me feel like I can accomplish anything, for as long as it stays on.  I found myself reapplying this lip color fairly frequently which is not something I am use to with liquid lipsticks.  It does not last as long as I would like for it to; however, it is not super dry like many other liquid lip colors which can count for a lot sometimes.

★★★✰✰

FORMULA X: Nail Polish in Huntress

While I was unable to find a full-sized bottle in Huntress, other Formula X nail colors cost $10.50 here at Sephora.  My trial size is worth around $3.50.

This nail polish was just ok, I was expecting it to be a dark green with shimmer, but it ended up looking more like a dark blue with a hint of green and almost no shimmer.  The formula itself was good, it stayed on reasonably well and did not chip, it just wore off with use.

★✰✰✰✰

tarte cosmetics: deluxe maracuja oil

This oil can be found at Sephora here in many sizes.  I used the smallest bottle to calculate the estimated value of my sample which ended up being about $5.63

The first two days of using this product were excellent.  I was so happy that it made my face feel super soft and hydrated because I have been swimming everyday and it was stripping my face of many natural oils.  However, after a few days of using the product I started breaking out.  I took the maracuja oil out of my night time routine and the break outs went away.

Final Thoughts:

Overall, this month’s bag was just alright.  The only product I would consider buying more of are the wonderful Bonvivant Masks.  These masks just feel so great and are an excellent addition to my skincare routine.  I will probably end up giving the maracuja oil away because I do not have a use for it.  

Makeup...Positive or Negative?

One problem that the makeup industry faces is that people argue that the company's advertisements are causing young girls to not feel comfortable in their own skin and have a low self-esteem because they do not look like the models they see in magazines and on television.  I strongly disagree that this is the case.  

Zendaya, a former Disney Channel star turned Covergirl model, once said “I wear it [makeup] for myself because I feel fabulous . . . it’s not to impress anybody else but myself.”  This speaks to me because I feel the exact same way.  When I really take the time to do my makeup it makes me feel unstoppable and that is such a great feeling.  

In my opinion, makeup gives women the freedom to be who they want to be on any given day.  It also allows women to feel beautiful even if there is something they are self-conscious about.  Some days, we do choose to go all out with our makeup or even give a theme to it.  A theme I like to do with my make up is a green smokey eye to represent my Hogwarts House which is Slytherin. I do not do this very often, but I enjoy it when I do take the time to.

Other days, we may choose to not wear any makeup at all which is fine as well!  We do not have to wear makeup everyday if we do not want to!  Makeup is about making you feel good about yourself and if you think an extra ten minutes of sleep would make you feel better than makeup then stay in bed for those ten minutes.

Sometimes, we just chose to accent one feature, such as the lips or eyes.  Occasionally, if I am running late, I will just put on chapstick. Other times, if I have a minute a bold red or dark pink lip and nothing else.  When I wear a vivid red lip, I feel like I can do just about anything.  

I believe that the makeup companies advertisements are just trying to give ideas and inspire people.  If a person is completely happy with how they look without makeup then that is great; however, not everyone is and a person should not be shunned for wearing makeup if that is what it takes to make them feel good.

Extra Special Reviews!

Ipsy is a mail delivered makeup service that selects a mix of five deluxe samples or full-size products that are based on your own personal beauty style.  When I found out about Ipsy, I immediately knew I had to have a subscription to it.  While I have not tried similar services, such as Birchbox, so far I have been very satisfied with Ipsy!

So, I have not yet received my November Ipsy bag, but I have recently gotten some great products that I thought I would go ahead and review.  A few of these products were actually from Ipsy, just not from mine.  My mom has an Ipsy subscription as well and she gave me a couple products she did not feel like she would use because she knows how much I enjoy trying new products!

★★★★★

Eyeko London Eye Do Liquid Eyeliner

The sample I was given is pretty large and is worth about $13.50 and the full size can be purchased here at Ulta for $19.

This is my favorite eyeliner I have tried that came from Ipsy! It is waterproof and has an amazing  applicator that is very precise and easy to use.  It goes on pretty dark, but the color can be intensified with a second coat!  I tried wearing the Eyeko liquid eyeliner while swimming and I was very impressed because it stayed in place and had minimal running!  I highly recommend this product if you are active and looking for a liner that can keep up!

★★★★✰

Eva-nyc Forget Me Knot Dry Conditioner

My trial size of this product is worth about $2 and the full size can be purchased here for $14.

I recently started a new swimming regime to prepare myself for an upcoming trip I have planned and my hair has been very unappreciative.  Pool water usually makes my hair a bit stiff and dries it out; however, one day I was in a rush to get ready after I finished my swim and decided to try out this dry conditioner.  It worked wonders and made my hair so soft.  I am very impressed with the results it yields, the only downfall to this product is the way it smells.  The smell reminds me of an old perfume and I do not care for it very much.  However, with the results it yields, I can deal with the less than desirable scent.

★★★★✰

Hikari Cosmetics Shimmer Bronzer in Radiate

I was given the full size version which is a $17 value and can be purchased here.

This blush went on well and was highly pigmented and looks good on a lot of skin tones!  The only problem is that I do not have one of the many skin tones it looks nice on if I use the darkest color on the bottom right.  I have pale skin and it makes me look washed out if I use that section; however, if I just use the other three then it looks great!  I do not wear blush very often, but if I do I will probably reach for this one from now on!

★★★★★

Bath and Body Works Vanilla Bean Noel body cream

The full size Ultra Shea Body Cream can be found here for $13.

Although not from Ipsy, I did receive a coupon for a free gift with any $10 purchase from Bath and Body Works.  While I did pick out several holiday gifts for others while I was there, I decided to treat myself with the free gift.   The free item I decided on was the Vanilla Bean Noel scent in a body cream from their special holiday scents section.  This scent not only moisturizes well, it also smells like fresh baked cookies and will leave people wondering where you are hiding the platter.  It is my new favorite scent from Bath and Body Works.  The Tahiti Island Dream scent was my favorite prior to trying the Vanilla Bean Noel.

October 2016 Ipsy Glambag

Ipsy is a service that hand picks a mix of five deluxe samples or full-size products that are based on your own personal beauty style.  When I found out about Ipsy, a make-up subscription service, I immediately knew I had to have a subscription to it.  While I have not tried similar services, such as Birchbox, so far I have been very satisfied with Ipsy!

★★★★★

Ciaté London Fierce Flicks Eyeliner

I received a full sized version of the Ciaté London Fierce Flicks Eyeliner which can be found here for $19.

This liner comes with a precision felt tip that makes applying it a breeze.  It has nice even coverage and stays where you put it!  It also does not smudge with normal wear, as long as you can refrain from touching it anyways!

★★★★★

theBalm Hot Mama shadow/blush

I received a very small sample of theBalm’s Hot Mama blush which I value around $1.50, but the full sized version can be found here for $21.

I used this product as an  eyeshadow because it is a little to peachy and shimmery as a blush for my taste.  As a shadow it is wonderful! You can layer it to make it more intense and it looks great with green eyes!  It stays on and in place very well even without putting a primer underneath.  

★★★★★

pūr~lisse Daily Lip Nourisher

The full sized pūr~lisse Daily Lip Nourisher with Mango and Shea Butter can be purchased from here for $16.  My trial size version was roughly half the size so I estimate it to be worth $8.

This made my lips feel amazing! I have been wearing a lot of matte lipsticks lately and so my lips have been a bit dry.  It is so lightweight and really hydrates lips well without having an awful flavor!

★★★★✰

tre'StiQue Mini Matte Lip Crayon

The tre'StiQue Mini Matte Lip Crayon in Florence Fig can be bought from here in a create your own trio set for $32.  This puts the value of my sample around $10.50

I love the cute container this lipstick is in because it makes it easy to see what color you are getting without having to open it!  The Florence Fig is a great color which complements my skin tone well!  It is also super easy to apply, but it doesn’t last very long.  It feels similar to a chapstick and it wears off like one as well.  This isn’t a big issue to me though because it is super quick and easy to apply.

★★★★✰

Kokie Nail Polish

The Kokie Nail Polish in Heavenly retails for $6, I received a full sized sample and it can be bought here.

I was a little unsure about this color at first because it is not one I would usually pick out; however, I actually liked the color of this product once it was actually on my fingers.  I ended up putting a Formula X black and white dot overcoat to spice up the color a bit.  

EXTRA! EXTRA!

This month I also redeemed some Ipsy points for an additional item for my bag.  When you redeem points, you get to pick the item and so I decided to get Lip Fondant in QT by Caked Makeup because it seemed like the most intriguing product at the time.

★★★★✰

Caked Makeup’s Lip Fondant in QT

This wonderful product can be found here for $16.

Let me start off with this, once you learn to use this product, it is amazing!  However, there is a learning curve with this liquid lipstick, which is almost a rosewood color, because the wand that comes with it is just like a clear lip gloss wand and is not super precise.  The wand is a problem because the formula is so wonderful that it doesn’t come off unless you use makeup remover.  So, if you are using this product on the go be careful when applying it, but then you will be set for the rest of the day! Due to the learning curve, I am taking one star away.  I most unfortunately tried it out while on the run without any makeup remover and it did not look as good as I hoped.

So, the total value of this month’s ipsy bag was $61!  Just my extra item this month was worth more than the $10 monthly subscription fee!

Remember to subscribe to ipsy using my special referral link here!  This will take you to the signup screen!

Ancient Beauty

Beauty products have been around for centuries now and while both styles and methods have changed, many women still choose to partake in this ritual.  In today’s society it is not necessary to wear makeup all the time; however, many people like to so that they feel more confident in their daily activities.

Some of the old traditions continue to  influence the modern makeup industry.  These old traditions include, but are not limited to, making the cheeks redder, using everyday ingredients to make the skin both lighter and softer, and lining the eyes with a combination of dark ingredients in order to draw attention to them.

For blush, the people would usually use crushed berries and other plants to make their cheeks redder.  There were also mixes such as milk and honey which were said to make the skin soft.  There were several ways that one could lighten the skin such as lead powder and chalk.  Kohl, which was a mixture of several ingredients including crushed almonds, malachite, lead, ash and many more, was used to accent the area around the eyes.  

As the Buzzfeed Ladylike girls said, the phrase “beauty is pain” was very true for some of the ladies in the past who could find out they had allergies to certain substances that they used for makeup.  They could also just be bad for a person’s health in general, like using lead around your body which can cause lead poisoning.  Today’s makeup is much safer thanks to modern science.  

Modern advances such as the internet and social media have also help the makeup industry.  It allows people to try out new styles without being self conscious by providing a platform that allows people to post demonstrations that show how to use each kind of make up.

While ingredients have really changed since people started looking to make themselves more confident, people are still using similar techniques in order to help them accomplish their goals.

September Ipsy Glam Bag

Ipsy is a service that hand picks a mix of five deluxe samples or full-size products that are based on your own personal beauty style.  When I found out about Ipsy, a make-up subscription service, I immediately knew I had to have a subscription to it.

 I received my first Glam Bag in August of this year and was amazed at what I got and how well it fit into my everyday routine.  Therefore, I was curious and super excited to see what my September bag would hold.  Overall, my September Ipsy bag was really nice and had several things I had been wanting to try.

★★★✩✩
The Crown Brush Ombre Angle Brush is $7.99 and can be found here.

The brush is very soft, shaped well, and seems durable.  I personally do not have much use for a brush like this, but it seems well made for those that do.

★★★★✩
The Be A Bombshell Cosmetics nail polish in Holy Fuchsia retails for $6 here.

Lets start off with the good, the Holy Fuchsia color is the bomb!  I am in love with this color as it is somewhere between red and hot pink on the color spectrum depending on the light.  Now the bad...the formula is not as good as it could be.  Even after trying it several times I was unable to keep it from chipping on the first day.  However, it is only $6 and that needs to be kept in mind so for what it is I enjoy and recommend the product.

★★★★✩
The Briogeo Don't Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Mask for hair is $9 and can be found here.

This deep conditioning mask left my hair very soft, nourished, and clean.  It is a good product, but I use salon quality shampoo and conditioner on a daily basis and did not notice that much difference from my normal hair care routine.

★★★★✩
While I received a trial size, the Dr. G Daily Safe B.B Cream full size can be found for $25 here.

I estimate the trial size to be worth around $7.  This B.B cream only comes in one color, fair.  While this color works for me, it would not work for someone with reasonably tan skin or darker because it would be too light for them.   I use this more as a spot concealer because it is so light on the skin.

★★★★★
The full sized Tarteist Lash Paint Mascara by Tarte Cosmetics can be purchased for $23 here.

I received a trial size and I estimate it to be about a $10 value as its a little less than half the full-size. This was by far my most favorite product I have gotten in a Glambag thus far!  It goes on effortlessly without clumping and extends the lashes perfectly.


Overall, this bag was about a $40 total value, not bad for only paying $10.  I would consider purchasing some of the items, such as the Tarte Lash Paint Mascara and Dr. G's B.B cream once my samples run out.

Remember to subscribe using my special referral link!
https://www.ipsy.com/new?cid=ppage_ref&sid=link&refer=yy2si

Introduction to the Makeup Industry

Makeup has always been interesting to me as a way that individuals are able to express themselves.  Trying new makeup routines has been a hobby of mine for several years now and it is interesting because It can completely change how someone is perceived by others.  Two months ago, I subscribed to a service called Ipsy.  After you fill out a questionnaire that tells them what you are interested in, Ipsy hand selects five beauty products per month for all of its customers.  They send out items such as skin and nail care, brushes, lip wear, and eye makeup among other things.  One of the most interesting things about makeup is looking into how various cultures have treated it in the past and how they treat it now.

Some cultures celebrate external modification to a person’s looks to the extreme, while other cultures want their modifications to look as though they are not there.  Traditional makeup from some of the Native American tribes were very bold and were made of berries, charcoal, and other things they could find in nature.  They would wear face paint for celebrations and war and had different designs for the different occasions.  In present day America, cultural appropriation of traditional Native American looks has become a problem.

After the colonization of America, on up until around the 1980s, American women generally preferred a more subtle and natural look that only took care of blemishes and accented one feature.  The rise of Pop Culture in the 80’s helped to expand our horizons in many ways including makeup.  

The cosmetic industry as a whole was worth around 181 billion Euros or 203 billion US dollars in 2014 and makeup sales made up about 17% of total sales.  The Asian market consumes the most amount of products from the industry with the Western European and North American markets following, respectively.  L’Oréal and Estée Lauder are the two largest producers of cosmetics, but the former is larger than the top seven companies combined.  

Tune in later for more interesting facts and a review of my September Glambag from Ipsy!

Sources:
http://www.consultancy.uk/news/2810/cosmetics-market-worth-181-billion-loreal-dominates
http://peopleof.oureverydaylife.com/make-indian-war-paint-9642.html