In between reviewing terrible horror movies in preparation for Halloween, and Rock N’ Shock weekend, I received my October Ipsy Glam Bag in the mail and have been actively trying out the products. I’ve only been subscribed to Ipsy for a couple of months now,  but I think the October bag may be my favorite one so far. Although I don’t necessarily understand what most of these products, sans-nail polish, have to do with the “Art of Beauty” theme this month was going for, I thought the actual design of the bag itself was really cute and I was pretty excited to check out what was inside.

What I Received:

Sexy Hair ‘Spray Clay’ Texturizing Spray Clay

be Delectable Hand Cream in ‘Coconut & Cream’

Buxom Full-On Lip Polish in ‘Dolly’

Zoya Nail Polish in ‘Mason’ (*Full Size!*)

Ole Henriksen Truth Crème Advanced Hydration

Product # 1: Sexy Hair ‘Spray Clay’ Texturizing Spray Clay ($18.95)

I couldn’t think of a better time to try this spray than after recently flat-ironing my hair. I needed something strong enough to tame the fly-away strands by my hairline, but wasn’t too strong that it made my hair stiff- or worse- oily looking. Unfortunately, my hair did, in fact, look and feel pretty “crunchy” after applying. The application itself was a pain, as the spray comes out of the bottle EXTREMELY hard and has a very strong, potent smell that doesn’t fade easily. Advertised as giving hair a “textured, matte” finish, my hair looked more dry than anything else- and the holding power was only temporary. My fly-aways were back to cause me grief within an hour or so after I first sprayed this on.

Would I Purchase?: No. “Sexy Hair” products are either terrific hits that work wonderfully, or total misses. This clay spray, in my opinion, is a miss. The almost-painful speed at which this stuff comes out of the bottle, the overwhelming smell, the finish, the poor hold- it was just bad all around.

Product # 2: be Delectable Hand Cream in ‘Coconut & Cream’ ($10)

Okay, first things first- I thought the packaging of this hand cream was adorable, and I was even more thrilled when I opened the container and immediately smelled coconut cupcake. This cream is loaded with shea butter, coconut oil, and aloe vera, and although the texture was thick- it wasn’t greasy by any means, and absorbed quickly into my skin- keeping my hands & cuticles soft and hydrated for hours. I’ve had this in my purse ever since I received it. It works well, and smells delicious.

Would I Purchase?: Yes! I’d definitely buy a full size tube of this hand cream, and probably other products in this collection, too. (There are a few different scents to choose from, as well. The ‘Lemon & Cream’ one caught my attention.) I loved the fragrance, the formula, and the results- and for the price- you can’t go wrong.

Product # 3: Buxom Full-On Lip Polish in ‘Dolly’ ($19)

I feel like I’m in the minority of people who love that tingling, borderline painful feeling that lip plumping products give you, even though I rarely see noticeable results. I didn’t anticipate much with this suggestively named gloss, which applied in a sheer rose-nude tone that darkened with a couple of coats and smelled like cinnamon- but my lips did look a little fuller and very shiny while they warmed up and tingled. The gloss didn’t wipe off easily, either- and although it didn’t last as long as other lip colors I’ve worn in the past, it did stay put for a couple of hours before I had to re-apply.

Would I Purchase?: Maybe. I have a lot of lip colors that are similar to this shade and last a little longer, but I liked the feeling and the finish of this particular brand, and I wouldn’t be opposed to trying it in another, possibly darker shade to break up and add a little diversity to the neutral colors I have in my collection.

Product # 4: Zoya Nail Polish in ‘Mason’ ($8):

I’ll never turn down a lovely nail polish shade, so when I saw this full-sized bottle of Zoya lacquer waiting for me when I opened this month’s bag, I was pretty giddy. This shade, called ‘Mason’, is from Zoya’s new Fall collection, “Cashmeres & Satins,” and dries to a beautiful, metallic, red-purple finish. The photos above are with two coats and a clear top-coat, and so far, there hasn’t been any wear and tear or chipping. This polish applied evenly and easily, and I love the deep hue that’s perfect for the season.

Would I Purchase?: Yes! I actually adore this shade enough where I would pick up another bottle when I run out, but after browsing the “Cashmeres & Satins” collection online- there’s a few other shades I wouldn’t mind purchasing, too. I love the strength of this formula, as well. There’s no tip-chipping, even with all the typing I do- and the color compliments nearly everything I wear and/or accessorize with.

Product # 5: Ole Henriksen Truth Crème Advanced Hydration ($45)

I’ve always been weary of putting anything with a fragrance on my face. My skin can be pretty sensitive sometimes, and perfumed cleansers or moisturizers usually result in an adverse reaction that takes days to clear up. When I opened this moisturizer, which is supposedly good for anti-aging, brightening, and evening out skin tone with the amount of vitamin C it contains- I was a little weary- because it smelled strongly of oranges. At first, I only applied this moisturizer only in the morning for a few days, just in case it caused any sort of irritation.

I noticed right away how incredibly lightweight it felt on my skin, and how it didn’t leave any residue after I’d rubbed it in. My skin felt soft all day, and yes- it looked a little brighter- but best of all? It didn’t cause any kind of allergic reaction. From there, I started applying the cream at night before bed, too. Over a few days, my skin continued to look refreshed and bright, and I have yet to spot any kind of breakout.

Would I Purchase?: Yes! This moisturizer worked surprisingly well. I got great results and the formula didn’t weigh my skin down or clog my pores. I didn’t even mind the citrus fragrance that much, either. It was quite pleasant.

Three products I thoroughly enjoyed, one I’m still on the fence about, and one I didn’t care for at all. Overall, I was very pleased with this month’s Ipsy bag. Well done.