With New York Fashion Week over and done, and Boston Fashion Week swiftly approaching- September’s Ipsy Bag, NYFW-inspired with a “Street Style” theme- arrived in an edgy silver, studded pouch and featured an assortment of chic products for the fashionista on the go. With skin care, makeup, and tools tucked inside- I was really pleased this month, both with the pouch- which I’ve been using to carry odds and ends within my Fall handbag- as well as the quality of what was is in it.

What I Received:

Nourish Organic Moisturizing Cream Face Cleanser

Pacifica Natural Water-Proof Eye Pencil in ‘Gun Metal’

Mitchell and Peach Luxury Hand Cream

CAILYN Art Touch Tinted Lip Gloss in ‘Love Affair’ (*Full Size!*)

Crown Brush Infinity Shadow/Crease Duet Brush (*Full Size!*)

Product # 1: Nourish Organic Moisturizing Cream Face Cleanser ($13.99)

When it comes to skin care and cosmetics, the more natural and organic- the better. I can’t stand using products that contain harsh chemicals and ingredients whose names I can’t even pronounce. They almost always result in some sort of horrid reaction or breakout that causes me more grief than I have the time or patience to deal with. For the past few years my skin care regimen has been simple, and effective. When I saw this vegan, fragrance-free cream cleanser, suitable for all skin types in my Ipsy bag- and read it’s short list of ingredients that I actually understood (watercress, cucumber, and aloe-vera, just to name a few-) I was excited to use it. This cleanser was gentle but effective on my face- giving me a deep clean without stripping my skin or drying it out. I was left feeling refreshed and rejuvenated after each use- and without any aforementioned horrid reactions or breakouts!

Would I Purchase?: Yes! This cleanser, with it’s organic components and ability to thoroughly clean even the most sensitive of skin- can and will make an excellent addition to my daily (and nightly) wash-up routine. I have a little of the sample left, but I fully plan on purchasing the full-sized tube once I’m out.

Product # 2: Pacifica Natural Water-Proof Eye Pencil in ‘Gun Metal’ ($11.00)

I make no attempts to hide my disdain for hard pencil liners. Ones that I like, or at the least don’t mind TOO much are far and few between- and I’m usually left tossing them out and replacing them with my usual gel or pen/marker liners. My overall impression has been that they hurt to apply, they don’t last long, and they’re rarely pigmented enough to my liking. I was skeptical when I saw this waterproof grey/silver pencil liner in my Ipsy bag, audibly sighing when I realized that I’d have to try it in order to give a proper review.

But I was pleasantly surprised.

This liner went on smooth- with no tugging or irritation. It was perfectly pigmented, giving me a beautiful stroke of silver that brought out the blue in my eyes and is a perfect shade for the season- and it lasted all day without fading, smudging, flaking, or bleeding down from my lash line. I was impressed, relieved, and really happy to finally have found a hard pencil liner that actually works for me!

Would I Purchase?: Yes! I never thought I’d see the day where I would willingly and happily pay for a pencil like this- but it really is a stand-out product among other eyeliners. This particular formula comes in four shades total, including “Gun Metal,” and I’d love to try them all.

Product # 3: Mitchell and Peach Luxury Hand Cream (£17)

In my July GlossyBox, I had received a tube of Mitchell and Peach’s body cream in this same fragrance that I had really enjoyed. The hand cream was no exception. Like the body lotion- this product sank into my skin quickly without leaving any kind of greasy residue and kept my hands soft and lightly fragranced (without being overpowering) for a long time. It’s a nice, effective, and luxurious treat that I’m happy to have in my handbag now that it’s getting chillier outside.

Would I Purchase?: Yes! For the holidays, I’d love to put together a Mitchell and Peach gift set for some of my girlfriends who are in need of a little pampering. These products are wonderful and I’d absolutely purchase more of them in the future.

Product # 4: CAILYN Art Touch Tinted Lip Gloss in ‘Love Affair’ ($19)

The last time I used a CAILYN lip product, it dried my mouth out so bad that I was peeling and sore for a good three days- only able to use clear balms and Vaseline to keep my lips hydrated while they healed. Needless to say, I was hesitant to try this lip gloss- despite it’s lovely cranberry color. I love a good matte, wine-colored lip in the Fall- but I thought this might be a nice way to transition into that- and threw caution to the wind to give this product a shot.

Here are the pros: The shade, is, at first- very pretty- and the consistency of the gloss isn’t thick or tacky. It’s lightweight and smooth.

That’s about it.

The gloss lasted all of ten minutes before it had faded completely (and I’m not a compulsive lip-licker or anything.) The description of the product stated that it could act as a lip stain- but after the color bled to the outer edges of my lips and disappeared, the only color that remained was the off-red that resulted in my lips once again becoming severely dried out and chapped. Sigh.

Would I Purchase?: No. This is the second time I’ve had a bad reaction to a CAILYN lip product, and I hope it’ll be the last. I don’t know what it is with the ingredients this brand uses but the colors never last and they are beyond drying. Thankfully, this was the only disappointing product in September’s bag.

Product # 5: Crown Brush Infinity Shadow/Crease Duet Brush ($6.99)

When it comes to reviewing beauty boxes/subscriptions- one of the hardest things for me to write about are makeup brushes. What exactly can be said? The bristles are soft, they apply color/product evenly? There’s only so much to review. For that reason, I’ll get right down to it instead of trying to create any kind of “filler” for this post. This brush is nice. It’s not revolutionary or groundbreaking- but it’s two-in-one function (one side is for shadow, the other for the crease,) is convenient. The bristles are, in fact, soft- and the brush does distribute shadow and blend it evenly. Best of all? It’s price point. You can’t go wrong for $6.99!

Would I Purchase?: Yes! Although I don’t anticipate having to replace this brush anytime soon- I wouldn’t be opposed to buying a new one if and when the time came. It’s decent quality and fairly priced.

With the exception of the lip gloss- September’s Ipsy bag was a hit for me. I enjoyed, and was even surprised (in a good way!) by some of the products I received- and I discovered a new cleanser that I absolutely love. I’m looking forward to October’s bag!