Beauty Wise Wednesday: January Ipsy Review

It's the beginning of a new month and that means that I get to look forward to getting my next Ipsy bag. I'm pretty excited about this next one. I'm able to see previews from their facebook page and it's all make up. I won't spoil what they are until I write my unveiling of it.

Before I get my new bag, however, I want to share my reviews of the products from my first Ipsy bag in January.

**Product #1: SOHO Crease brush: $8.50 on sohobeauty.com

Review: I was very excited to get a brush in this months bag. I have a minimal collection of brushes so this was a great addition. It is pretty fluffy so it was hard to really get a defined area. I did enjoy using it however and maybe it just takes a bit more getting used to. Not sure if I would buy these brushes again, I want to try some other brands first.

**Product #2: Big Sexy Hair Spray and Play 1.5oz:$10.18 on verbenaproducts.com

Review: I typically don't wear hair spray I actually only tried this once this month. I found that it had a great hold for my entire 8 hour shift at work yet didn't feel too crunchy. Also when I pulled my hair back into a pony tail after it didn't flake or powder. I think I would like to try out some of their other products for sure.

**Product #3: Pacifica Tuscan Blood Orange BodyButter 2.5oz: $7 on pacificaperfume.com

Review: I can't say enough great things about this lotion! It has the most amazing, fresh scent! I got so many compliments on the smell throughout the month. It also does a great job at moisturizing. Soaks quickly into the skin and doesn't leave an annoying oily finish that I'm not a fan of. I think I will be using the discount they gave to buy more products. I want to check out their candles for sure, if they smell as great as the lotion they will be amazing.

**Product #4: Nailtini nail lacquer in Frappe: $13 on tinibeauty.com

Review: I really enjoyed this nail polish. It was very smooth going on. I liked the brush, it made it easy to paint my nail in just a few strokes (I have large nail beds and that is important.) I only wore it once this month but when I did it seemed to last a good amount of time without chipping. I think I will for sure be using the discount I got in the Ipsy bag.

**Product #5: Josie Maran %100 pure Argan oil .17oz: .5oz is $14 on sephora.com ~$2.80 for this sample size.

Review: Now this product was a new concept for me. I have always shied away from oils cause I have combination shin. I wanted to try it out as a face moisturiser mostly. I took me a while to figure out the right amount to apply. The oil goes on smoothly and actually doesn't leave your skin feeling greasy at all. I have dry patches of skin in the T zone and although this product says it is good for all skin types I didn't feel like it helped with the dry skin at all. I started putting on a night moisturizing cream to help with the dry skin. Overall I don't think I would purchase this product. It is pretty pricey and I think I can find other products that do a better job. I'll use the rest of the sample as a cuticle oil.

Overall I was very happy with my first Ipsy Bag! It was so much fun to try things that I wouldn't have tried on my own. I can't wait to get my next bag and share it with all of you!

Beauty Wise Wednesday: My make up routine

As I mentioned last week, I want to tell you what my beauty routine is right now so that we can see how it changes through the year. Now as I have said before, I am not expert with make up but I really want to class up my look.

First I start with foundation and for that I just use Cover Girl Aquasmooth in creamy natural. This is a liquid to powder type compact foundation that I put on with just a make up sponge. I have been using this for quite a while and I really do enjoy how smooth it goes on and how long it lasts. There are a few foundations I will be trying out once I run out of this.

I, then, put on concealer. This is a new addition to my make up routine but I really like the effect it gives to my face, hiding flaws. I currently use Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch in Radiant. This is the foundation I reviewed in the past. I will be looking to try out some other concealers this year. Hopefully I'll get a couple to try in an Ipsy bag.

I finish off these with a powder to seal the foundation and concealer. For this I currently use Clinique Gentle Light Powder in 05 Glow. This is also an added step to my routine even though I have had this powder for years. I just recently figured out how to use it. It's a loose powder and it has a very light shimmer to it that gives me a glowing look. I need to get myself a powder brush cause right now I'm currently using a travel blush brush.

If I'm going out for a night or want my make up to last for a longer amount of time I have three primers I use. The POREfessional by Benefit, "That Gal" brightening face primer by benefit and Stay Don't Stray eyeshadow primer by Benefit. I have these in small sample sizes that I got as a Christmas gift the year before last. That just shows how often I use those eh?

I then, move onto my eyes. I do have a few eye shadows to play around with but nothing compared to probably most girls out there. I typically start out with a base color and I stick to safe neutrals, then add a darker color to my crease, usually a black or brown. If I'm feeling frisky I might do a dark purple in my crease. I really want to try branching out into other colors and doing more with my eyes.

I also put on eye liner and right now all I have is Cover Girl Perfect Blend pencil crayon. I usually apply a thin line on the top and bottom lash lines then smudge them a bit with the smudger on the pencil. I'll finish my eyes with mascara and right now I only have Maybelline The Falsies Volume Express in Blackest Black. I'm realizing that I'm not really loving this mascara so I really want to try out a few to really find what works for me.

For blush I use Mac in Coygirl a sheer tone blush. I have had this blush for a while too and would love to expand my collection once I get more comfortable with make up. I think part of me feels over done when I wear make up, but I'm quickly learning to get over that.

I also own just one lip product, Revlon Lip Butter in 025 Peach Parfait. This is a new product to me I have learned about from YouTube videos and I really enjoy using it. It goes on very smooth and isn't too crazy of a color. I swear, I used to think lipstick was a joke. I never really thought I'd able to pull off any shade. I'm hoping to figure out a few shades to enjoy.

Now for brushes I have the saddest collection out there I'm sure. My best brushes are the SOHO crease brush I got in my first Ipsy Bag and then I have a Sephora smudge and eyeliner brush that I think is the only brush I've bought and picked out for myself. The rest of my brushes are a collection of random hand me downs that I don't really know what the proper use is for them. I also have two eye lash curlers that I don't really use much. One is a black plastic curler from Sephora and another is a typical metal one by La Cross.

So this is my make up routine. Nothing too exciting, I just have a basic structure down. I'm hoping to discover better products that work with my skin and coloring. I'm excited to take you on this path of discovery with me and I hope you will be able to help me along the way.



What are your favorite products and what is a beauty "must have" that you would suggest I try out?

Beauty Wise Wednesday: My Epsy Bag!

As I said before I want to start getting more into beauty products but I dislike wasting money on things I end up hating. Well the Ipsy bag is the answer to that! Plus, what is more fun than getting a bright pink bag in the mailvevery month?

I signed up for the bag in the end of December. They charged me the $10 on the first of January then sent out the package (according to my tracking number through USPS) on January 10th. The estimated delivery date was the 14th. Its eemed to get delayed for a couple days; I ended up getting my bag on the 18th.** Note my two friends also signed up for the ipsy bags in December with me,one friend got hers a couple days before me and another friend had yet to gethers now on the 23rd. We all live in the same apartment complex**

I want to do a reveal blog each month to let you guys know what I got in my bag and what the value of the bag is. Then later that month before I get my new bag I hope to do a review blog of the products.

This month’s bag is a very dark navy blue vinyl outside with a silver zipper pull. Inside is blue with white stars and an ipsy tag stitched into it. A very cute simple bag you could fit into a bigger purse.

Product #1: SOHO Crease brush: $8.50 on sohobeauty.com ($3 e-coupon)
*The package describes this brush: "The SOHO Crease Brush has soft and fluffy bristles tapered to a slight point, perfect for applying eye shadow to the crease of your eye. It's also ideal for blending multiple shades of eyeshadow together.
*my first impression: very soft. i haven't noticed the benefit of the ergonomic design.

Product #2: Big Sexy Hair Spray and Play 1.5oz:$10.18 on verbenaproducts.com ($5 e-coupon)
*Doesn't have a package description besides saying it is a volumizing hairspray, which I guess is pretty self-explanatory.
*my first impression: leaves the hair a bit stiff but did last all day.

Product #3: Pacifica Tuscan Blood Orange BodyButter 2.5oz: $7 on pacificaperfume.com (save 20% online) 
*The package describes: sparkling, juicyblood orange with notes of red raspberry and spicy sweet mandarins. The scent of the Mediterranean beach.
*my first impression: the smell is amazing; I have gotten several comments of how great it smells.

Product #4: Nailtini nail lacquer in Frappe: $13 on tinibeauty.com  (save 30% online)
*Product description: Wear Nailtini lacquers alone, layered or garnished to create countless combinations. Great straight or mixed- its cocktails for nails.
* my first impression: love the light pink color, brushed on my nails smoothly.

Product #5: Josie Maran %100 pure argan oil .17oz: .5oz is $14 on sephora.com ~$2.80 for this sample size. (save 15% online)
*Product description: Clinically proven. In four weeks, skins smoothness, hydration and elasticity is visibly improved. Highest grade. First cold-pressed to retain integrity of nutrients. Perfect for all skin types. Balances sebum production to help fight acne. Responsible. Supports women's co-op and fair trade in Morocco.

* my first impression: the oil goes on very smooth, love that it has many uses; moisturizer, hair treatment, nail treatment and bath oil.

$41.48 total value plus the make up bag... Paid $10!!!


Sign up here: http://www.ipsy.com/theglambag