ipsy is an online beauty subscription service. Each month, subscribers receive a makeup bag filled with deluxe samples and full-sized products. With many people going back to school this month, the theme of August’s glam bag was “Glamour Academy.”
Pacifica Alight Multi-Mineral BB Cream
sample size (0.34 fl oz) – $16 retail for full size (1.0 fl oz)
When I first saw “BB Cream,” I was excited. I had never used a BB cream before, and I wanted to give this kind of product a try because of everything I had heard about them. I wish I had read Pacifica’s note on the product before using it, though: “Don’t expect this to be a heavy foundation. This is more close to a tinted moisturizer leaving you with a natural finish.” I was expecting an all-in-one product with full coverage, eliminating the need for a moisturizer, concealer, and foundation. I was a little disappointed when I didn’t get the coverage I was expecting. As a tinted moisturizer, however, it’s pretty effective. It leaves a soft finish, similar to the matte finish of a primer. It also did a better job than other tinted moisturizers I have used at minimizing the appearance of oil throughout the day. If you’re looking for a tinted moisturizer, this might be worth a try. If your skin is like mine and needs heavier coverage, stick to a regular foundation or try a different BB cream.
Noya Beauty Cherry Lip Balm
full size (0.15 oz) – $3.99 retail
I’m pretty partial to my Arbonne Lip Saver lip balm. It is incredibly moisturizing and long lasting, so I am usually hesitant to try new products. Noya gives Arbonne a run for its money. Like Arbonne’s balm, this product lasts forever. I applied it before bed one night, and it felt fresh the next morning. When I wear it under tinted gloss, it keeps my lips soft and lasts through most of the day. It also has a great cherry flavor, though it lacks the cooling, tingling sensation of balms like Arbonne or Burt’s Bees. While it’s a few dollars more than cherry Chapstick, Noya’s lip balm is kosher and natural with very few ingredients, including organic extra virgin olive oil and organic stevia. It is available online and in select health food/kosher markets in Illinois, New York, and New Jersey. Unfortunately, not everyone can access Noya’s products: “We do not currently ship abroad or to Ohio.” Sorry, Ohio.
Michael Todd Jojoba Charcoal Facial Scrub
sample size (30 ml) – $18 retail for full size (100 ml)
This was a fun product to try, because I’ve mostly been receiving makeup and hair products in my glam bags. This was the first skin treatment I received, and I hope I receive more like it! It’s a gentle scrub that doesn’t make you feel like you’re scraping your skin off with apricot pits or walnut shells. Instead it lightly exfoliates with jojoba wax beads, and it also left my skin feeling soft and moisturized. I wouldn’t mind adding this to a regular skin care regimen!
Pixi Lash Booster Mascara in Blackest Black
sample size (3.0 g) – $17 retail for full size (7.0 g)
I normally don’t wear mascara, because I sometimes wear glasses instead of contacts. Mascara + glasses = dirty lenses. Since receiving this product, though, I’ve been wearing mascara (and contact lenses) nearly every day. It’s not clumpy, separates my lashes pretty effectively, and doesn’t irritate my eyes. With other mascaras, I have had to wipe off the excess product from the wand before application, but I did not have that problem with Pixi’s mascara. I actually like the small sample size, because the shorter wand makes it easier to apply and reach the lashes in the corners. If I decide to make mascara a permanent part of my everyday look, I might order the full size of this product.
Chella Eyebrow Color Pencil in Dazzling Dark Brown
full size (0.09 g) – $18 retail ($45 for eyebrow color kit)
Like mascara, I don’t normally use eyebrow pencils, mostly because I don’t know what to do with them. The last time I used product on my eyebrows, it was for my dance recital in May so that I wouldn’t appear eyebrow-less to the audience members in back row. What I like about this pencil was the color. It is a dark brown, which is not too dark and looks more natural than black. It also doesn’t leave my eyebrows looking shiny or waxy like eyeliners can do. While I won’t be purchasing this product for myself, I recommend it to anyone who is in the market for an eyebrow pencil.
This bag is worth approximately $40, far more than the $10 subscription fee. A great value! If you would like to subscribe to ipsy’s glam bag service, let me know, and I’ll set you up with a referral link.
