I had gushed about how much I enjoyed October’s Ipsy bag, with three (maybe four) of the five products and samples I received being absolutely awesome. I figured such an impressive value would be hard to beat, but I’m happy to report that November’s bag, with a “Glam It Up” theme, was just as- if not more- fun to try and play around with.

What I Received:

Be A Bombshell Lip Crayon in ‘Hot Damn’ (*FULL SIZE*)

Starlooks Gem Eye Pencil in ‘Topaz’ (*FULL SIZE*)

BH Cosmetics Baked Eyeshadow in ‘Aphrodite’

Em Cosmetics: Lip Gallery Creamy Color Sheer Lipstick in ‘Nude’ (*FULL SIZE*)

Pixi Beauty Bronzer

Nailtini Straight Up Color Nail Lacquer in ‘Champagne’ (*FULL SIZE*)

Product # 1: Be A Bombshell Lip Crayon in ‘Hot Damn’ ($14)

At first glance, this fire engine red lip crayon looks like it’d be intimidating to wear. It’s definitely bright and it’s more than bold. I’ve said before that those two traits are typically right up my alley when it comes to cosmetics, but I’ve also said that red lips can be a tricky thing for me. Too dark can mean looking washed out, and too bright can mean looking like a circus clown. It’s hard to find a happy medium that compliments my skin tone. ‘Hot Damn’ actually applied as more of a reddish-pink, which was a relief, and was quite pretty, suitable for the colder months and coming holidays- but the formula was unfortunately a bit drying. It also began to fade after about an hour or so, the pigmentation of the initial color eventually turning to a deep pink stain on my lips that lasted for another hour, give or take- before vanishing completely.

Would I Purchase?: No. I look for three things in lip color: pigmentation, longevity, and hydration for my lips. While this crayon had pigmentation, however brief- the overall finish and texture left a lot to be desired.

Product # 2: Starlooks Gem Eye Pencil in ‘Topaz’ ($14)

I was admittedly a little excited when I saw the color of this eyeliner, although I’m not particularly fond of the harder pencil ones. A beautiful, sparkly metallic silver, ‘Topaz’ glided on easily and pain-free with no scratching or irritation to my eyes. I blended a thin line across my upper lids, and immediately saw how much brighter it made them look. The liner stayed in place all day without fading or smudging, but I did see a little bit of the sparkle had ended up underneath my eyes by the end of the night- although it was barely noticeable. Apart from that, which wasn’t a big deal at all, I was pleasantly surprised.

Would I Purchase?: Yes! I loved this formula (a first for a hard pencil liner,) and I loved the color. This is a beautiful, long-lasting liner to have for the holidays that would look wonderful with festive and sparkly party dresses and accessories.

Product # 3: BH Cosmetics Baked Eyeshadow in ‘Aphrodite’ ($14.95 for complete palette)

Although it was beautiful in the packaging, I wasn’t sure how ‘Aphrodite,’ a deep, shimmery rose with a touch of violet, would actually look on my fair skin. I applied it in the morning before work, and was quite pleased with how it stayed in place all day without fading or flaking down onto my cheeks- but the color wasn’t flattering on me at all. Instead of looking rose/violet, the shadow appeared a bit more reddish/somewhat orange-y on my lids- making me look like I had an unusual case of pink-eye.

Would I Purchase?: Yes! I wouldn’t purchase ‘Aphrodite’ again, because the color just didn’t look good on me at all, but I have to give credit where credit is due. I really enjoyed how long-lasting and mess-free this formula was. I’d be more than happy to try a different, more complimentary shade in the future.

Product # 4: Em Cosmetics: Lip Gallery Creamy Color Sheer Lipstick in ‘Nude’ ($16.50)

Each of November’s Ipsy bags featured a product from Em cosmetics, the new makeup line from Ipsy founder and YouTube personality, Michelle Phan. I saw the ‘Nude’ lipstick in the tube and was really looking forward to trying it because of how lovely it looked. As it’s name implies, the shade was a very subdued, every-day nude/pink that was nearly identical to my natural lip color. It looked as though I’d applied a clear lip balm at first since the sheer formula isn’t very pigmented at all. The texture of the lipstick was also similar to a balm- very smooth and very creamy. My lips felt soft and glossy. The only downside to this lipstick was how quickly it disappeared. No sooner had I applied some of this to my lips when I had to re-apply less than an hour later, and then again less than an hour after that, and so on.

Would I Purchase?: No. It sucks to say it, because the color, while sheer, was nice enough, and the texture of the lipstick felt wonderful- but I could get longer lasting color, with similar moisturizing results, at half the price of a tube of this- with drug store brand lipsticks or lip balms.

Product # 5: Pixi Beauty Bronzer ($18)

I’m overtly cautious when it comes to bronzers. Some appear too dark on my skin and many more turn orange after I’ve applied them, which is never a good look. I’ve been content with my Laura Mercier powder bronzer for quite some time now since it’s one of the more natural tones I’ve come across, but when I saw this Pixi bronzer (in the lightest shade possible) in the package, I wasn’t immediately frightened away. It looked light enough for my complexion and there wasn’t any shimmer to worry about. I gave it a shot- and I was very, very happy with the results. This bronzer gave me a hint of color, was in no way overpowering, and didn’t appear orange on my skin. It looked like I had the most subtle of tans, and it helped to highlight my cheekbones. I’m impressed.

Would I Purchase?: Yes! This is just one of those products that works really well for me. It gave great results with no weird reactions (breakouts, irritation to the skin, etc.) I think my favorite aspect of it was how natural it looked. I don’t like a lot of shimmer on my face, and this bronzer had a lovely matte finish which complimented the rest of my makeup. I’m sold.

Product # 6: Nailtini Straight Up Color Nail Lacquer in ‘Champagne’ ($13)

I can never have enough nail polishes. I’ve been sporting a subtly-sparkled pewter shade for the past week and a half, but when I opened the box for this lacquer, I couldn’t wait to switch. ‘Champagne’ is, as you guessed- a champagne color. With a shimmery pinkish/nude/kind of gold hue, this polish glided on easily and dried to a beautiful finish in just two coats (and a top coat to seal it in place.) Much like the ‘Topaz’ eyeliner I received in this month’s bag, this shade is perfect for the upcoming holidays since it will compliment any outfit.

Would I Purchase?: Yes! I really liked the formula to this polish, and the color is absolutely gorgeous. I have a wide variety of reds, pinks, and corals in my lacquer collection, as well as some brighter colors like yellows, purples, blues and greens- so it’s nice to have a beautiful nude shade to add to the mix for when I want long-term wear that won’t clash with my wardrobe or makeup selections.

With October and now November’s Ipsy bags being really, really well put together (even if I wasn’t completely in love with everything I received,) I’m excited to see what they’re planning for December. With it being the holidays and the end of the year, I’m hoping that they pull out all the stops.