My Ipsy posts have been sporadic/non-existent, but I am still getting them every month.  I do not like writing a review about them until I use all the products.  Since that sometimes doesn't happen for a while, time has slipped away.  So my question to all of you: would you enjoy seeing what is in the bag in a timely manner, with reviews of things I have used at that time?  OR Would you prefer I have educated reviews of each product at the time of the post?  Your opinion is important to me!  Now on with the post:

Ipsy is a monthly box subscription service ($10 a month) that sends you about five sample and/or full-size products that could be makeup, skin care, hair care, or nail care.  Based on your answers to a short Beauty Quiz, you are sent the best products for you geared towards your skin tone, hair color, eye color, and other beauty concerns.  You earn points by reviewing the products and those points can be redeemed for selected items.

This month's theme was "Pretty In Paradise".


Laneige BB Cushion - This BB cream is more like a working, light coverage foundation.  It contains SPF 50, which is awesome, and claims to prevent shine and brighten skin while it hydrates, protects, and revitalizes.  I am still on the fence about it after two test runs. To use the product, you use a foam applicator sponge to push onto the product-filled sponge inside the compact.  This claims to distribute "just the right amount".  I thought the small applicator in the sample was a bit difficult to use.  I am used to applying my foundation with a brush.  I honestly don't know how you could blend with the applicator alone without using a brush or your fingers to blend everything out. 

The color was pretty close to my skin tone.  It definitely evened out my skin and felt light and non-greasy going on.  The more sheer coverage isn't really my thing (I like something with a more medium/build-able coverage), but it wasn't a deal-breaker.  It didn't seem to do anything to help control my oily skin.  It was feeling very oily within a few hours.  Overall, this product didn't work well for me, but I think it would be great for people who don't wear much makeup and who don't have oily skin.  This BB cream comes in 3 shades (Light, Medium, Dark) and retails at Target for $34 for .5 oz.


Be A Bombshell Lash Out Mascara - As I probably stated before, I am a mascara snob.  I hate trying new ones because most of them leave me with raccoon eyes within hours. At this point, I only wear tubing mascaras because they do not transfer or budge no matter how sweaty or teary-eyed I get.  While this mascara didn't really add volume or a look of thickness to my lashes, it also didn't leave smudges during my six hours of wearing it.  That is a big deal to me.  The color is a very pigmented dark black and the applicator isn't weird or too skinny.  This mascara is $15.


Dove Pure Care Dry Oil Nourishing Treatment with African Macadamia Oil - The name alone is a mouthful.  Say that three times fast! lol  As someone with oily skin and hair that can easily get a bit oily at the roots, I am always wary of face oils and hair oils.  This product has a lighter texture and warm, musky scent like a perfume.  It did well in holding down my frizz and smoothing my flyaway hairs without weighing it down too much.  By the end of the day, however, my hair definitely looked more oily and, to be honest, the scent was a little over-powering for my taste.  I think this would work a lot better for African American hair or hair that is more dry and coarse in texture.  It is available at plenty of drugstores and retailers, or you can purchase it at Amazon for $11.19 for 3.3 oz.


Nicka K New York Shimmer Eyeliner - This stuff is actually really great!  It goes on very smooth and very pigmented.  The sparkles were subtle but pretty.  I received the green shade, which is a beautiful, almost grass green color.  It does take a minute or so to dry fully; keep that in mind when applying to your eyes.  You do not want to open them all the way and stamp that color above your crease.  The eyeliner wears for a long time!  I had mine on for at least ten hours and it didn't budge. (That is also without applying a primer.  I have oilier eyelids without primer.) After swatching the sample on my hand and washing with soap and water throughout the day, I still had an obvious, though faint, green line on my hand.  Eye makeup remover removed it well. I would definitely recommend this product.  In fact, I am thinking of ordering the matte black and sparkly fuchsia for myself.  It retails for $4.99 online. (Swatch below)

NYX Butter Gloss - This gloss has garnered tons of accolades from many different people.  It comes in a ton of great colors, is decently pigmented, and stays on for a decent amount of time (a few hours at least).  The consistency is smoother and less sticky than most glosses and feels good on the lips.  I owned three or four shades prior to receiving this one in my Ipsy bag.  I buy mine at Ulta for around $5.




Have you tried any of these products?  Let me know in the comments below!

I am not affiliated with Ipsy (or any of these other companies) and have not been paid for my opinion.   Also, once I catch up on reviews I will let you know via Twitter/Facebook.