I’ve been having a lot of fun experimenting with the products and samples I’ve received from Ipsy over the past few months. I’ve discovered some great brands and cosmetics that have worked really well for me, and also learned which ones don’t work as well, too. For $10 a month, I’m almost always satisfied and impressed with what I receive. Consider me a happy customer.

I was pretty excited to see how Ipsy would close out 2013, what with it being the holidays and New Years, so when I received my red-lined, black patent bag loaded with goodies meant to go along with the theme “Celebration,” I couldn’t wait to dive right in.

What I Received:

NYX Extra Creamy Round Lipstick in “Iced Honey” (*FULL SIZE*)

Be a Bombshell –  The One Stick in “Girl Crush” (*FULL SIZE*)

POP Beauty Bright Up Your Life Eye Shadow Trio in “Smokin’ Hot”

Ardell Natural Lash False Eyelashes

Nicka K New York Nail Color in “Classic Taupe” (*FULL SIZE*)

Product # 1: NYX Extra Creamy Round Lipstick in “Iced Honey” ($4)

Okay, first things first. I am absolutely in love with the color and consistency of this lipstick. This pinkish/gold hue applied like a dream- softly and smoothly. It felt wonderful on my lips and gave them a beautiful shine that would look gorgeous in the Spring or Summer. The problem with this particular formula, however, is that while it’s described as being smudge-proof and long-lasting, it vanished from my lips within twenty minutes, tops. There is absolutely NO longevity to this lipstick at all, which is really disappointing and echos a similar issue I had with the sample of em Cosmetics lipstick I received in November’s Ipsy bag that had no staying power whatsoever. I want something I won’t have to continually reapply every half hour throughout the day. This lipstick isn’t it.

Would I Purchase?: No. I’m sure I’ll be on the lookout for this color in another formula or from another brand that’ll last me a little longer, since it really is a beautiful shade- but count me out on this collection. It was a let down.

Product # 2: Be a Bombshell –  The One Stick in “Girl Crush” ($16)

I’m weary of 3-in-1 sticks, mainly because 2 out of the 3 ways they can be used suck. Example- a 3-in-1 stick looks amazing on your cheeks, but it makes your eyes look like you have a contagious medical condition or dries your lips out, or a 3-in-1 stick does wonders for your lips- but flakes on your eyelids and barely shows on your cheeks, etc.

Even still, I tried this iridescent and shimmery light pink stick on all three areas: cheeks, lips, and eyes. It barely showed on my cheeks, only succeeding in giving them a bit of a sparkle under certain lighting. It wasn’t much better on my eyes, where the pink was only slightly visible and had faded by mid-afternoon. On my lips, the color showed up a lot more by comparison, and didn’t dry my lips out like I feared it would, but much like the NYX lipstick included in this month’s bag, it didn’t last long before it had smudged and disappeared.

Would I Purchase?: Maybe. There’s still hope for this product yet, because while it didn’t give me a flush of color the way I’d hoped, I think it’d still made a decent highlighter for cheek and brow bones on the days where I want a “no makeup/more natural” look.

Product # 3: POP Beauty Bright Up Your Life Eye Shadow Trio in “Smokin’ Hot” ($24)

This beautiful trio of eyeshadows- a shimmery cream, metallic silver, and black with a hint of sparkle- arrived just in time for me to play around with for the holidays, specifically New Years, where I think it will compliment my planned ensemble rather nicely. I applied this trio after my primer, and the shadow stayed vibrant and more importantly- in place- all day at work and into the night at the office Christmas party without flaking, smudging, or creasing. I love the way it brings out the blue in my eyes, and I think it’s going to be my go-to whenever I want to create a classic smokey eye.

Would I Purchase?: Yes! I loved these colors. I loved how easy they applied- and most of all- I loved how long they lasted. These shades are only three of a full-sized palette, which also includes a beautiful purple and green- among others. Consider me smitten.

Product # 4: Ardell Natural Lash False Eyelashes ($3.99)

For someone who loves the look of false eyelashes as much as I do, I was hoping to enjoy these more. While these falsies applied easily enough and with no mess, which is always a good thing, they felt heavy along my lash line to the point where I had to peel them off because they were too uncomfortable, which turned out to be easy since they had already started to lift up, anyway. While the price point is definitely nice, the quality of these lashes isn’t.

Would I Purchase? No. I’ll stick to my volumizing and lengthening mascaras for dark, dramatic lashes. These falsies were cheap (not just in the price,) and flimsy.

Product # 5: Nicka K New York Nail Color in “Classic Taupe” ($4.99)

I wasn’t entirely sold on the color of this nail polish when I first saw it in it’s bottle. It looked a bit murky to me, but even still, I wanted to review it. That nearly became impossible when upon going to apply the lacquer for the first time, the brush broke off INSIDE THE BOTTLE. Luckily, I had a clean spare to use. Unluckily, the consistency of this product was so thick and goopy that the spare brush was rendered useless in no time. Even after letting my nails dry for fifteen minutes, they still smudged and peeled with everything I touched.

Would I Purchase?: No. This nail polish is cheap. It’s poorly made, has no quick-drying or long-lasting qualities, and the color is just as murky looking on my nails as it was in the bottle. I’ll pass on this one.

So one product I loved and four others I didn’t like at all or didn’t particularly care for. I had hoped December’s Ipsy Bag would go above and beyond in terms of the quality of products- but nothing in this month’s bag- sans the eye shadow trio- impressed me at all. Overall, I was pretty disappointed.

Oh well. There’s always 2014 for Ipsy to “wow” and dazzle me.

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.

Pre-blending. This is the ‘Aphrodite’ color after just one swipe of my brush.

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.

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.

For September, ipsy went with a “Classic Beauty” theme, featuring products to create timeless looks that have been in style for decades: smoldering smoky eyes, perfectly defined liner, or a bold red lip. I’ve been playing around with the products these past few days, either using them all at once or mixing and matching- and while I didn’t exactly fall in love with this month’s bag, it was fun to doll myself up like Marilyn Monroe for a bit.

What I Received:

Chella “Ivory Lace” Highlighter Pencil

Starlooks Obsidian Kohl Eye Pencil

NYX Single Eye Shadow in “White Pearl”

Elizabeth Mott “It’s So Big” Volumizing Mascara

Cailyn Cosmetics Tinted Lip Balm in “Big Apple”

Product # 1: Chella “Ivory Lace” Highlighter Pencil ($18)

Typically when I highlight the inner corners of my eyes or under the arch of my eyebrows, I use a light/neutral matte eye shadow and blend accordingly. This pencil, which is less of an ivory color and closer to a fair skin-tone, was a surprisingly nice substitute. The pencil went on creamy, not scratchy, and was easy to blend with my fingertips. My eye area looked brighter, making me appear more awake (which proved to be a lifesaver after I stayed out nearly all night over the weekend,) and apart from that little miracle, the pencil was also nice for quick touch-ups around the rest of my face, too- i.e. covering freckles and/or imperfections.

Would I Purchase?: Yes! This highlighter is mess-free and easy to carry, making it one of those products that fit conveniently into your bag in the case of what I call a “out all night- need a pick me up” emergency. Even better? You don’t need to use a lot of this pencil to get decent coverage and color- which means you get your money’s worth.

Product # 2: Starlooks Obsidian Kohl Eye Pencil ($12)

Despite this black matte eyeliner being advertised as “ultra-soft” and “creamy”, I found it to be stiff and almost painful to apply. Maybe it’s because I’m so used to gel liners, or maybe I just got a dud pencil that had somehow hardened up, but this pencil did NOT go on smoothly, even after I used a primer along my lid and lash line. It took a few attempts to get my cat-eye to look semi-even and not flaky, but the liner only lasted a few hours. When I checked a mirror about four hours after I’d first applied it, it had already started to smudge and fade down into the outer corners of my eyes.

Would I Purchase?: No. This eyeliner was a hassle to apply, and even more of a hassle to keep in place. I’ll stick to my gel liners, which glide on easily and don’t budge or require reapplications for 10x longer than this pencil did.

Product # 3: NYX Single Eye Shadow in “White Pearl” ($4.50)

I’ve heard some good things about NYX. Their pricing is reasonable and their products apparently give great results. I was looking forward to trying one of their highly pigmented shadows in this month’s bag. To my dismay, I received a very bright, very shimmery silvery-white color. I haven’t worn a shade like this since I was in Jr. High (back when pink frosted lipstick was also a thing.) Even still, I applied it. The color, not very pigmented at all, gave my eyelids a sort of weird sheen that, even with primer, didn’t last all that long. By mid-day, the sheen was nearly gone, leaving just my eyeliner and mascara behind, and although I didn’t much care for the color in the first place- I wasn’t impressed with the formula at all.

Would I Purchase?: Maybe. I wouldn’t try this color again, but I really would like to give NYX shadows a second chance after all the hype I’ve heard about them. I wouldn’t be opposed to spending the $4.50 to try a brighter, bolder shade to compare pigmentation and longevity.

Product # 4: Elizabeth Mott “It’s So Big” Volumizing Mascara ($19.99)

I’m a sucker for clever or cutely named cosmetics. This mascara was no exception. The name wasn’t the only thing that caught my attention when trying this product, but also the hourglass shaped brush. When I first opened the tube, I noticed the mascara itself seemed to clump on the bristles, which I should have taken as some kind of warning. It didn’t get much better when I actually applied it to my lashes. After two coats, my lashes were definitely thicker, and by “thicker”, I mean “stuck together.” I had to use a brush to separate my lashes and work the mascara through from base to tip- which, admittedly, didn’t make them look half bad when I was done.

Would I Purchase?: No. The finished look, after applying and combing the mascara through my lashes- wasn’t horrible– but it definitely wasn’t worth the extra steps and this mascara definitely isn’t worth the $20 price tag. I can achieve better results (sans-brush and with one coat) with other mascaras. “It’s So Big” fell flat.

Product # 5: Cailyn Cosmetics Tinted Lip Balm in “Big Apple” ($19)

The unusual and unique shape of this balm’s container, which features a built in brush handle, piqued my interest once I’d opened my ipsy bag and had me eager to try the deep, apple red matte shade- which seemed more daytime appropriate than other, brighter red lipsticks and lip balms I’ve tried in the past. This balm applied easily enough with the tiny brush, and gave decent color with only a few swipes across my lips- however, it didn’t last. After a couple of hours, the color had faded, peeled, and sort of feathered out to the edges of my mouth, making my lips looked more chapped and dry than anything.

Speaking of dry- this balm pretty much sucked ANY moisture out of my lips. After I’d carefully removed it, I had to continually apply copious amounts of chapstick, hydrating balms, moisture-rich lipsticks, and finally, Vaseline, for DAYS afterwards to get my lips to feel even mildly comfortable again. Even now as I write this, they still feel a little dry. Not as bad as a few days ago- but still dry.

Would I Purchase?: No. This lip balm was such a disappointment. As nice as the color was, it didn’t last long at all- and the extremely drying, cracked, and otherwise unpleasant feeling it gave my lips long after I’d removed it was horrid.

With the exception of the highlighter pencil, this month’s ipsy bag was pretty underwhelming. I don’t expect to be blown away each and every month (especially for a $10 subscription) but overall, the September bag was a let down. I’m hoping October’s will be better.