What is it: Every month Ipsy sends out a cute makeup bag of samples and full size items. You can review your bag for points that you can trade in for reward items. The rewards change often and the range between 300 points and 1000 points. You can get around 95 points every month.
If you want to subscribe you can subscribe HERE and skip the waitlist. That is my referral link so I do get points to spend but I’m not an affiliate I don’t make any money or anything it’s just one beauty junkie to another.
You can now customize your bag and pick out one sample per month that will get to be in your bag which is a pretty nice change even though it came with a price increase.
Last Ipsy of the year I can’t believe it. I am not a huge fan of this bag I think the dark green with the silver is supposed to be festive but I think it looks like tin foil.
Maybe I have been reviewing this brand too highly since I got cake hand lotion 2 months in a row lol. That said I really like their lotions and happy to have and use this one. I have never tried anything from the Milk Made line and it doesn’t smell as good as the Delectable line but this feels so nice on my hands like it is so balmy feeling with out being greasy.
So this is now in like the top 5 of single most expensive brushes I own (like not from sets). And it really feels well made and looks well made. The grey handle is that soft touch matte it has a nice long ferule the bristles are soft and cut well and it is just so aesthetically pleasing. It is a multipurpose brush that could be used for so many things I see my self traveling with this one for sure. I wish it wasn’t so expensive because I would like more and a few of their eye brushes but I will content myself to loving on this one. They only sell a few brushes but hopefully this brand can expand and there can be other brushes from this brand I can lust over. This is the item I picked by the way very happy with my choice.
So I can’t find this color any where but Tarte often makes sample sizes of colors they don’t sell for like kits and boxes and gift with purchases and what not so that isn’t weird. Tarte blushes are super smooth and long wearing but I don’t really ever wear blush and really wouldn’t wear such a baby pink color so I am leaving it unswatched so someone else can have it.
I thought this was going to be too dark but it is actually really sheer and subtle. It is a very pretty subtle type of highlight and that is good for some days. I have wanted to try this brand but it is a bit pricey and harder to access so I have never gotten the chance. So pretty Excited to try something from them it is really smooth as well.
You can see how it is just a nice subtle glow.
So 3 of the 5 are items I’m keeping and I redeemed points to get a Luxie brush added to next months bag which is nice. The brush in this bag pretty much makes it even if the rest was less then impressive to me.
What is it: Every month you will get a bag, a $5 off coupon (sometimes $10), 5 deluxe samples and 1 bonus sample. Why not just say 6? I don’t get it.
All the brands will be brands you can find in Macy’s which is cool since they sell Mac and a lot of other brands that are never to rarely in subscription boxes.
The cool thing about the coupon is that it is good in stores and online also Macy’s does have sales and $5 products so if you are strategic you can score a free product every month. Depending on your state you may still have to pay tax but it is still basically free.
Who’s not ready for it to be 2020? Me!!! So Macy’s sent a really gross feeling glittery bag this month. Its that kind where you can feel the glitter and it is all hard and scratchy. I don’t like.
This is one of those weird silicone gel blenders. I don’t like these I think they just smear makeup around rather then blending anything in. This one is cute with some glitter in side it. But I will be passing it on because this is just not a great way to apply makeup.
This is a really smooth gold highlighter with alot of shimmer in it. This is alot more intense than I would have expected from Pur which I usally think of as a pretty plain tame brand. Swatched below.
This color really photographs badly it looks pretty and rich and sparkely in person but the pictures make it look like a weird brown. This is not a sticky gloss which I appreciate but it is also not the kind of product I use but I plan to keep this because it is so different then anything else I have. The listed color was different than the one I received so I guess I got a substitution. This is also a pain in the ass because you have to click it up so many times. There is a definite tingle when I applied it but I don’t think it plumped. It was just shiny and thick. Swatched Below.
Always seems to me such a cheap brand gimicky brand and then every time I see the prices I am shocked at how expensive they are. This is such a weird product that seems more fitted for a kid then an adult. This is a glittery lip balm that is super glittery and frosty on the lips. It is comfortable and you can’t feel the glitter but it is just such a weird product I thought it was like an eye gloss at first. I don’t know really what to make of this. Swatched Below.
I love this because I will be able to bring a vitamin c serum with me next time I travel. I use a vitamin c almost every night and if I miss it to many days I can see a difference in my skin but it never makes the cute in the skincare bag for travel because I have no travel size ones. I like the idea of these little capsules too because they wont spill.
Weird for Macy’s to send 2 glittery lip products but I applaud them on sending stuff that no one else is sending. High value with 3 full size products this month it is hard to be disappointed.
I can’t believe it is December and Christmas is in 20 days like where has the time gone.
I don’t have a group shot this month I couldn’t get a nice shot of them it was a mess so oh well.
Skincare (10)
Lancome Genifique Youth Activating Eye Cream this was ok but I
used it for nearly a month and didn’t see any “youth activating” so I think
there are better eye creams for less.
Repurchase: No
Up & Up Refreshing Wet Cleansing Towelettes these were
terrible I kept these as car wipes but they don’t take any makeup up off and
they dry out quick. They are soft though.
Repurchase: No
Soo Ae Donkey Milk Skin Gel Mask this is a very wet mask. Like
dripping in my eyes wet. Also very thin so while it fits my face well it is not
the most comfortable because of how wet and kinda slimy it feels. It is also
pretty tacky so it did stay on my face well but I am not the biggest fan. It is
moisturizing though did leave my skin tacky. I don’t hate this so much that I
won’t use the other 4 I have (where did they all come from I don’t know because
I didn’t buy them) but I don’t recommend them.
Repurchase: No
The Body Shop Pomegranate
Invigorating Toner I wanted to have a non drying toner but this just left me
feeling sticky. It wasn’t drying so I guess it did its job but this is a step I
don’t need or want and this was not the product for me.
Repurchase: No
Private Doctor Define Minus Serum this did nothing and a it needed
a lot to spread it around.
Repurchase: No
Earth Therapeutics Collagen Cleansing Facial Towelettes I really
like these they were gentle and felt nice I think I might like these more then
my green Garnier ones but I just opened a new pack of those so we shall see.
But these were good. And I loved the packaging because since it had a an actual
lid to seal.
Repurchase: Yes
My Clarins Re-Charge Relaxing Sleeping Mask I didn’t like this at
all for starters the tube only had two uses and I expect more from Macy’s
second this was sticky and did not feel hydrating at all.
Repurchase: No
Double Dare OMG! 2 in 1 Detox Bubbling Microfiber Mask this is a
fun mask but it isn’t something I am running to purchase. The bubbling mask
leaves my skin feeling like squeaky clean and tight so the second hydrating
mask is essential to adding moisture back into the skin.
Repurchase: No
Laneige Water Sleeping Mask this will never be my favorite I don’t
like the scent and I don’t feel like it does much I used it up as a neck/chest
moisturizer.
Repurchase: No
Dermadoctor Kakadu C Amethyst Clay Detox Mask I love the purple color of this. It is heavily fragranced though it legit smells like purple. It isn’t a bad scent just strong. This is a very drying tightening mask but my skin does look and feel softer and cleaner after I use it. It is expensive so I don’t know that I would invest in it when other cheaper masks also work for detoxing my skin. I had some congestion going on i think from trying the First Aid Beauty face oil I got in Ipsy this month so I used this to try and help get rid of that.
Repurchase: Probably Not
Random (4)
Fortune Cookie Soap Company OCD Hand Sanitizer in Weapon of Choice
these are my favorite hand sanitizers I use them pretty much exclusively this
one had a bit of a rum scent I loved it it was from a zombie themed collection
awhile back.
Repurchase: Yes
Sweet & Shimmer Face
and Body Mini Wipes in Frosted Berry these are my favorite for swatches they
are cheap smell good and are decently soft for cheap wipes. I pick these up at
Ulta every Christmas and use them all year. They have different scents each
year but they all smell pretty similar especially the non berry ones.
Repurchase: Yes, It is that
time to stock up again.
Degree Motion Sense in Stay Fresh I saw this new citrus Bergamont
scent and thought oh I’ll live that I love citrus and bergamont scent but this
smelt kinda weird on me and I have another one to get through.
Repurchase: No
Earth Therapeutics Foot Peel not the greatest foot peel. The peeling started like the next day just about but it was a very slow tiny little pieces at a time and not like a deeply penetrating peel only the very surface layer. Not a greatest one but much cheaper than a lot of other ones I have tried.
Repurchase: No
Home Scents (4)
Columbia Candle Supply Brow Sugar & Fig Wax Melt I love the
wax melts from this company they are really great and I love that they do
mystery packs because it is more fun that way. They are cheap and you can get
at least 2 or 3 melts out of one ounce so I like them. This was a just
generally warm sweet scent.
Repurchase: Maybe
Bath and Body Works Pumpkin Peanut Brittle Candle this was very
peanut and a bit caramel I really enjoyed this candle. It had a really good
scent throw as well.
Repurchase: Yes
Bath and Body Works Orange Truffle Candle this smelled reasonably
good but had a very average scent throw I prefer a stronger scent throw. The
orange and the chocolate mixed nicely (shocking really lol) and didn’t smell
fake at all but it was just not strong enough for me.
Repurchase: No
Bath and Body Works Lemon Mint Leaf Candle this had a good scent
throw and was nice and bright and clean and fresh smelling I liked this a lot.
Repurchase: Yes
Makeup (3)
Maybelline Master Precise All Day Liquid Liner in Black this
wasn’t that great I found it hard to line my eyes with and get a good flick and
I didn’t find it black enough or opaque enough without multiple coats.
Repurchase: No
Too Faced Shadow Insurance Anti-Crease Eye Shadow Primer I really like this it has more color to it than the Urban Decay one and it really holds on to shadow really well. This will probably be the primer I purchase when I next need one.
Repurchase: Yes
Urban Decay Naked Skin Beauty Balm this is unfortunately
discontinued which is so fucking sad since this is my favorite foundation every
I bought a few of these when they were being discontinued for dirt cheap so I
have a stock but I love this it’s the right tone the right color it so light
and comfortable on my skin no matter what the weather it and it has the light
but blurring type of coverage I look for.
Repurchase: All of them if I could
Lotion (1)
Hempz Toffee Butter Crème Triple Moisture Herbal Whipped Body
Crème I like Hempz lotions quite a lot but this one was a miss for me the scent
was way to buttery and I don’t go for that type of scent. The lotion quality
was good but I would go for a different scent.
Repurchase: No
Bodycare (6)
Fortune Cookie Soap Company Party Bath Salts in Sprinkles this
didn’t have enough scent to it and it kinda dried my skin out a bit. Not a fan.
Repurchase: No
Lush Butterball Bath Bomb this left my skin super soft but it
didn’t turn the water colors or smell strongly it was pretty meh.
Repurchase: No
Target Beauty Bergamot & Blood Orange Bath Salts these were
unimpressive they didn’t have a lot of scent and they only preformed marginally
well at Epsom Salts so I wouldn’t recommend. I grabbed these because they were
on sale for 90 cents but they weren’t really worth it.
Repurchase: No
Fortune Cookie Soap Company Aloe-lujah Skin Gel in Free Spirit this
had such a nice bright fruity scent that I loved. I don’t love Aloe though I
find it a bit drying on my skin. But this is nice for burns and scraps and
anything like that. And it does absorb into my skin quickly.
Repurchase: No
Fortune Cookie Soap Company Solid Sugar Scrub in Sugar Rush this
is one of those products that I savored every use and tried to make last it was
a great body scrub but the scent is want made this so special. It smelled like
sweet tarts and was so yummy and strong I loved it and you love to have more in
this scent.
Repurchase: Yes
Fortune Cookie Soap Company Body Wash in Regenerate this didn’t
have much of a scent and there is some stuck in the bottom I can’t get out but
it was fine for a travel body wash wouldn’t recommend it though they have much
better body washes.
Repurchase: No
Perfume (1)
Zoella Snow’ella Perfume I am so glad to be done with this. I never liked any of the perfumes in this set they all smelled like Claire’s like little girl perfume. I used this up by every time I used it on myself I also sprayed my sheets with it.
Repurchase: No
Haircare (3)
Shea Moisture Jamacian Black Castor Oil Strengthen & Grow
Treatment Masque this is a really nice hair mask it makes my hair feel smooth
and strong but it takes a lot of product to coat my hair so I don’t know that I
would purchase.
Repurchase: Maybe
Keranique Micro-Exfoliating Follicle Revitalizing Hair Mask this
was kinda like a scalp scrub and I really really liked it. It was easy to get
through my roots and on my scalp unlike other scalp scrubs I have tried and it
felt really nice and invigorating. My scalp felt cleaner and lighter after I
really liked this.
Repurchase: Yes
Garnier Fructis Smoothing Treat Avocado 1 Min Hair Mask I have
liked the other hair masks I have tried in this like but the Avocado one left
my hair feeling a bit dry. I like how easy and quick these masks are and they
smell nice. This one was just not for me I prefer the other ones.
Repurchase: No
Declutter (7)
Pretty Vulgar The Ink Gel Eyeliner in 01 Black List ugh this liner
I tried so hard to love this because the bottle is so cute looking like a
little ink well but liner sucks. It is so smudgey it never sets down and the
staying power is terrible. If I am going to go through the trouble of a potted
gel liner I want it to be bullet proof. This is also really hard to get out of
the bottle since you have to go through a longer thinner neck to the bottle and
you can’t see what you are picking up.
Anastasia Beverly Hills Liquid Lipstick in Crush this was just too
ballerina pink and I couldn’t darken this to a place where I would be willing
to wear it. Unfortunate because I love this formula.
Billion Dollar Brows The Microblade Effect Brow Pen in Dark this
is supposed to give you hair like strokes in your brows and it does. It takes
practice though. This ended up making my brows look much fuller then I like so
I am passing it on to a friend it just isnn’t my personal preference for my
brows.
La Ritzy Cosmetics Lip Stix in Plum this is one of those things in
theory I should have loved this it was easy to apply I loved the color even
though it got all over my coffee cup it didn’t slide all over my face and it
was comfortable but I was super aware that it was on my mouth like it felt
heavy and every time I looked in a mirror I just wanted to wipe it off so this
should just go to a better home. With someone who can love it properly.
Luscious Angel Eyes Eyeshadow Primer this is just an average eye
primer and I have plenty that I love so I see no need to try and use up one I
don’t love since eye primers take years to use up. This is really thick so a
little goes a long way and it’s like halfway between translucent or being a
color and blanking your lid out and I need it to do one or the other.
Colourpop Crystal Liquid Highlighter in Amber this liquid highlighter would separate and come put chunky as well as look chunky on the skin and slide around this just didn’t really work out for me. Maybelline Color Tattoo Metal in 60 Silver Strike this is super pretty and metallic but I never use it so it can go.
I really wanted to get through more products this month and Dec is starting off slow which isn’t the greatest.
