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UNBOXING | ❅ December 2014 Ipsy Bag ❅

ipsy december 3014 unboxing, coolway repair treatment, crown brush infinity shadow/crease brush, nyx butter lip balm in ladyfingers, pixi beauty fairy dust in brightening bare, tarte lights, camera, lashes mascara

This post is super late since ipsy is sending out tracking codes for the latest edition of the Glam Bag but the items in this bag are my favoritest yet so I just had to give them a quick mention! If you're not familiar with the Glam Bags, it's a monthly subscription service curated by Michelle Phan and her team. It'll set you back $10usd per month but the items included are usually over that amount so you do get your money's worth.Each bag comes with 4-5 deluxe and full sized products catered to your choices according to the introductory quiz they have you take when you first sign up. I've only come across maybe 2 or 3 items I wasn't satisfied with so the quiz is quite accurate/I have low standards (when it comes to beauty, anyway). I've used these items for the past couple of weeks on and off so I can tell you a bit about each product :D

⇥ THE BREAKDOWN ⇤

deluxe Coolway Boost Repair Treatment --  $29.95 usd for 8 oz ($3.74 usd for 1 oz) // 1.3 oz (value: $4.87 usd)
This product claims to eliminate damage from heat and chemicals by infusing moisture into your hair and locking it in with a blend of silk proteins and botanical extracts. It is safe for all hair types, including color treated hair because it does not contain Formaldehyde, Lye, Parabens, Phthalates, Sodium Chloride or Sulfates. It does, however, contain dimethicone. The scent reminds me of Smarties candy. For those who aren't familiar with this sweet, it's a fruity but tangy flavor. I'm not too sure about the claims yet as I've only used it once--didn't notice an immediate difference out of the shower. This product maintains that it will decrease breakage and strengthen hair over time, which I definitely need as I see more hair on my comb than usual. The treatment also states that it will provide silky smooth, shiny and frizz free hair that will last for days  but no comment on that yet. Fingers crossed because I'm almost out of my current treatment and am looking for something new to try. 

I've never tried a brush from Crown before so this is a welcome addition. This brush is part of the Infinity Series, which features synthetic fibers. The bristles are quite soft and flexible, giving a softer look to your eyeshadow. However, that doesn't mean it doesn't pick up pigment well, because it totally does! The shadow end can be used to pack color onto the lid or in the crease. The pointed side can be used for a softly lined eye or for a cut crease look. I love dual-ended brushes as it's compact and easy for travel and this one is no exception. I've washed it once and it retained its shape well and I had no shedding or staining. 

NYX Cosmetics Butter Lip Balm in Lady Fingers -- $4 usd for 0.14 oz ($28.57 usd per oz), 8 shades available
Lip balm is a must for me, especially in the winter months. When I saw the name, "Butter Lip Balm", I expected some heavy, intense moisture; Alas, the texture of this is on the drier side; it drags across my lip and comes off matte, so don't expect this to provide major relief on chapped, dry lips. I've tried two other colors, Macaron and Panna Cotta, and wasn't a fan of those either. Lady Fingers is described as a mauve but it's more on the fuschia rose side in person. The scent is fruity but I can't pinpoint it more precisely than that. At least it provided my lips with color, unlike Macaron, which was a fail for me.

PIXI Beauty Fairy Dust in Brightening Bare -- $10 usd for 0.02 oz ($500 usd per oz), 6 shades available
PIXI Beauty is sold at Target here in the States but it's a bit more than I'd like to pay for drugstore makeup. I was intrigued by this eyeshadow/pigment/fairy dust because I've never seen something like this before. It's a loose, finely milled mica that doesn't just fly everywhere as I'd expect of something like this. Sure, it's no cream shadow but it stuck to my lid (and the base of my lashes) better than I thought--about 4 hours with no primer on my oily lids before creasing. Though it's called "Fairy Dust", it's not very shimmery; on the website, it's described as a "medium nude sheen", with which I agree. My eyelids are darker than the surrounding skin so this evens them out with a satin finish to add interest for my "natural" days. 

deluxe tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes 4-in-1 Mascara -- $20 usd for 0.24 oz ($83.33 usd per oz) // 3ml/0.10 oz (value: $8.33 usd)
Mascara has always been a struggle for my watery and sensitive eyes. Drugstore mascaras aren't very compatible with me and believe me, I've tried. I used this one out on a whim and fell in love with how black, voluminous, and long my sparse, thin, and wispy lashes looked. For once, I could actually see them with my eyeliner on! The only downfall was that it wasn't waterproof so I ended up with a black ring on my under eyes but that still didn't stop me from rocking it this past summer. This also comes in a waterproof version so that is definitely on my list to try.

⇥ OTHER THOUGHTS ⇤

Overall, I'm very pleased with this bag. The value is approximately $34.19 usd, which isn't bad at all. I've gotten use out of every item included so I definitely feel like I got my money's worth. The bag itself is cute, albeit a bit tacky. The shape reminds me of my elementary school pencil bag but a bit fancier with the black satin feel and heart charm. It's just enough space for my everyday makeup, which is all I can ask for and the long shape allows me to fit a few brushes for touch ups. If you want to sign up for this subscription  service, it would be great if you used my referral link here^.

What subscription services do you employ? 
I'd love to hear about them!


XOXO,

MWAH ♥


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Disclosure Statement: All products mentioned were purchased with my own money. I am not sponsored by any of the companies mentioned above and was not compensated for this post. All opinions are my own. One link provided is a affiliate link, marked with a caret (^). I cannot guarantee that the product(s) will work for you. I do not approve or endorse the products or information available on these sites. Proceed at your own risk.





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