IPSY Unbagging with Swatches April 2013

IPSY has done it yet again!  I am loving my choice to switch subscriptions, and this month again tops the charts for a $10 a month service.  I hope you enjoy the photo-fest below.  

This month I received four items, three of which were FULL SIZED makeup/beauty products in really lovely colors.  

The Big, Sexy, Hair POW Powder Play is supposed to give hair volume and texture.  I haven't yet played with this, but I am thrilled to try this out. May hair could certainly use some OOMPH or lift at the roots. 

The MICA Beauty Cosmetics shimmer in Earth is totally up my alley.  The shade is that beautiful mixture of slightly pinkish, earthy brown with a lovely shimmery finish.  This item isn't really labeled as an eyeshadow directly on the packaging, however that is the only way that I will be using this loose powder product.  

Be a Bombshell Blush in Sweet Cheeks!  Wowza, this is a really beautiful shade.  If I was on the website I would have hands down chosen this color, so I am quite impressed that this is the shade that I received in my bag.  It has a lovely rosey pinky hue about it, and in the pan it looks like it has a satin sheen.  It is identical in size to a MAC blush, and the black container seems oddly similar if not identical.

I wanted to insert two swatch photos of this blush because although it does have a nice rosey color at one angle, if you turn just a bit it has an incredibly shimmery aspect to it.  Almost to the point of being un-wearable as a blush and more wearable as a highlighter.  Bummer.  I wonder if all of their blushes are this shimmery?

Lastly we have the Sation, not STATION as I called it in my video (Whoopsie) nail lacquer for IPSY in the shade Love at First Byte.  It is a very lovely naturally pink shade that seems very complimentary and subtle with my skin tone.  The polish went on very smoohtly, no issues with application or streaky strokes.  

This is after one coat, no top coat applied. 

Here is the brush, very standard sized nail polish brush.  You can sort of see the semi opaque-ish, not quite clear-ish consistency with this color. 

This was after two coats and no top coat.  I actually really like this color!  To me this color almost says Bridal Natural Nails.  I will absolutely be wearing this shade very soon, and I will be interested to see how this wears over the course of several days.  

Here is the bags value breakdown:

MICA Shadow- $14.95 

Website: http://www.micabeauty.com/mineral-eye-shadow-earth-colors.html

Be A Bombshell Blush- $16.00

Website: http://beabombshellcosmetics.com/product/blush/sweet-cheeks/

Sation for IPSY Nail Lacquer- $5.00
Website: This was the only place I could find selling their products online http://store.misspn.com/

BigSexyHair POW Powder- Full Sized is .53oz for $15.95, this sample was .07 oz and was worth about $2.15
Website: http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?skuId=2215478&productId=xlsImpprod4270041&navAction=push&navCount=1&subdoc=487stylersb2g1wk49&categoryId=cat190008

Total Value of this months bag was: $38.10  

Have a beautiful day everyone,
XOXOXO
Melissa

Glamour Birchbox July 2012 Review

This months Birchbox is themed with the Five Senses.
Sight, Touch, Taste, Sound, Smell.
I was quite excited to receive this months box based on all of the previews from Birchbox, and watching the videos online of all the gals that received their boxes before I did.

FINALLYYYYY a REAL Stila Lip Glaze!! Holy Guacamole :-)  

I have almost every color of the $1 ELF Hypershine lip glosses. I look forward to trying out the original inspiration for these affordable elf glosses.  I have heard great things about these Stila Lip Glazes and I expect this wonderful gloss to live up to all my hopes.

Whose genius idea was it to create Lemongrass Yuzu "MINTS".  I am going to whip out a "WHAT THE CRAP?!?!" for this product.  I saw so many people getting delicious sounding Cocoa Minteas, or Chai Minteas, but NOOOO I got LEMONGRASS flavored mints.  They smell like PLEDGE, and they taste like what you would imagine pledge really tastes like.  This was a total disappointment.  N'ough said

Annick Goutal Perfume; The last sample from Annick Goutal that I received was less than desirable to put it kindly.  I did not have high hopes for this scent either, but I was pleasantly surprised.  It smells fresh, citrus-y, and feminine.  Simply put, I would wear this. 

Ear buds!  Birchbox gave us colorful ear buds :-)  I will most certainly use these with my computer.  Thanks Birchbox. Now I just have to learn about what the heck "spotify" is.

Boscia B.B. Cream claims to be self adjusting to all skin tones.  From a first impression stand point, it appears to be slightly darker than my natural skin tone.  I dont know how this will self adjust to a lighter shade?  I have seen self adjusting blushes, creams, foundations etc adjust darker, but never lighter.  I am really loving my Lioele Triple the Solution BB Cream, so this has some serious expectations to live up to.  

Yahoo Color Club Nail Polish.  I am stoked to try out this brand of polish.  I have an ever growing collection of polishes and I have yet to own any Color Club Polishes.  Thank you Birchbox.


Overall I would give this months box a HUGE thumbs up.  I look forward to my Birchbox Anniversary coming up next month.  Fingers crossed for another great box.  I hope that you are all receiving fantastic boxes.  Have a BEAUTIFUL WEEK

Melissa :-)