For those who read my Beauty Box reviews, you may have noticed there hasn’t been a BeautyArmy post since June. After another disappointing selection window in July, I decided to cancel my subscription and instead sign up with a different service. I’ve heard a lot of good things about ipsy, and figured I’d try my luck with them. For $10 a month (with free shipping!) you get five deluxe-sized, and sometimes full-sized samples, delivered in a cute little makeup bag instead of a standard box. The bag also comes with a card that offers coupon codes for each of the samples included, so if you want to buy any of them, you can get a certain dollar amount of percentage off of your purchase.

Although you can’t select your own samples the way you can with BeautyArmy, I’m already impressed with the price and the brands affiliated with ipsy.  I recently received my first bag with a back to school theme entitled “Glamour Academy.”

What I Received:

Michael Todd Jojoba Charcoal Gentle Exfoliating Facial Scrub

NYX Mosaic Powder Blush

Pacifica Alight Multi-Mineral BB Cream

Pixi Beauty Lash Booster Mascara in “Blackest Black”

Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick in “Anarchy”

Product # 1: Michael Todd Jojoba Charcoal Gentle Exfoliating Facial Scrub ($18)

I am always on the lookout for a decent facial scrub, and was eager to try this blackish-grey colored, bead-filled exfoliant. The color and texture of this product sort of reminded me of a mud mask. Lightly scented, this scrub gently sloughed away the dead skin cells on the surface of my skin, as well as the pesky dirt and residual makeup that sometimes finds itself trapped in my pores. When I rinsed my face, my skin felt smooth, refreshed, and thoroughly cleansed without feeling dry or “stripped” the way some other, harsher scrubs tend to make me feel.

Would I Purchase?: Yes! I can easily see this facial scrub becoming a part of my daily skin care regime. It worked well for me each time I used it, and it’s reasonably priced- which is a huge plus.

Product # 2: NYX Mosaic Powder Blush ($7)

When it comes to blush, I’m pretty much stuck on my NARS ‘Orgasm’ blush stick, but this pretty patterned compact caught my eye when I first opened my ipsy bag. Containing both matte and shimmery colors, this product is meant to give you a natural flush and a hint of a glow, and is advertised as being suitable for every skin tone. When I first swirled my brush on this palette and applied it to the apples of my cheeks, I was a little alarmed at how dark it looked. It took some blending to make it look a little more natural on my skin, but the finished look was quite nice, and it stayed in place all day with help from my finishing powder.

Would I Purchase?: Maybe. I’m still madly in love with my NARS, but this product wasn’t bad, and I wouldn’t be opposed to trying it in a lighter shade to avoid having to blend it as much as I did the first few times I wore it.

Product # 3: Pacifica Alight Multi-Mineral BB Cream ($16)

I knew I was going to have an issue with this BB cream the second I poured some out of the tube. This product was oily on contact, and had an unnatural yellow tint to it. Even still, I applied it to my face, hoping for the best. Needless to say, it didn’t work out. This particular formula gave me zero coverage, and yet still managed to make my skin look almost radioactive with the yellow undertones and excessively shiny with the minerals and moisturizers it’s loaded up with. I had to scrub it off and go back to my usual foundation, instead.

Would I Purchase?: No. This product was just not for me at all. If and when I do decide to go back to using BB creams, I’ll stick with my Dr. Jart formulas since they match my skin tone and give me better coverage. This BB cream was far too greasy and poorly tinted for my liking.

Product # 4: Pixi Beauty Lash Booster Mascara in “Blackest Black” ($17)

I like my lashes to look fake. Thick, long, dark- the works. I’ve been using Too Faced’s “Better Than Sex” mascara for a few weeks now and have really liked the results it’s given me so far. That doesn’t mean I won’t try other brands/types of mascara, though. I gave this tiny, mint-colored tube a shot, and while the results weren’t horrible- they weren’t exactly what I look for in a mascara. My lashes did look a little longer, but not necessarily thicker or darker, despite the “Blackest Black” name.

Would I Purchase?: No. That’s not to say this is a bad mascara. It’s not. It IS nice and the shape of the brush allows for an easy, mess-free application, but I think it’s better suited for people who want a more natural look to their lashes as opposed to a dramatic one.

Product # 5: Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick in “Anarchy” ($22)

I think this might be my favorite sample in my August ipsy bag. This petite tube of lipstick packed one hell of a punch. In a shockingly bright and vibrant shade of pink, not only did this highly pigmented formula glide on easily and evenly, but it stayed in place all day- and when I say all day- I mean ALL. DAY. Long after my morning coffee, long after my lunch hour- and well into the late afternoon. I didn’t have to reapply once, and I didn’t notice the color start to fade until dinner time. This lipstick was hydrating, didn’t flake, and stayed creamy and glossy the entire time I had it on.

Would I Purchase?: Yes! This is seriously fantastic lipstick. As much fun as I had with this hot pink, I would love, love, LOVE to try this formula in other, more subdued shades for the Fall. I’ve been browsing the Urban Decay website and so far I’ve added “Strip,” “Protest,” and “Naked,” to my must-have list.

Overall I’m very pleased with my August ipsy bag. There were a couple of products I didn’t exactly fall in love with, but I did find a couple of things that I really enjoyed- and it didn’t break the bank for me to try them, either. I’m looking forward to seeing what this beauty box/bag service has in store in the future.