This month, I received my Beauty Rocks Glam Bag from ipsy right on my birthday. It was like getting another present, especially since I didn’t get very many presents this year. (That’s OK, I got lots of gorgeous flowers instead!).
I made an “unboxing” video in case you want to see what I got that way instead of reading about it. You can see the shades that I swatched in the video.
Part of the fun of ipsy, in addition to getting way more stuff than $10 would usually buy, is not knowing what you’re going to receive. As usual, I tried to avoid the blogposts and Facebook messages that showed what others got. So I don’t know what the other options were, I only know what I received.
I thought the Beauty Rocks bag was a good one: all quality brands and a mix of full-size and samples. The bag itself, featuring an old school record player, is a good addition to my collection because it’s a different shape: much squarer and deeper, so it holds different size things, like compacts or palettes, than the other bags do.
Here’s what I got in my bag, a mix of old favorites and new brands to try:
- Elizabeth Mott Pop Goes the Shadow single shimmer shadow in Champagne
- Mary Kay at Play lip gloss in Berry Me, a bright cherry red shade
- Urban Decay 24/7 Black Velvet eyeliner
- Demeter perfume oil in Jasmine
- Dr. Brandt microdermabrasion exfoliator
Last night, I wore the Elizabeth Mott Champagne shimmer shadow for my birthday dinner at Duckworth’s Bistrot. I used it as a highlighter under my eyebrows (maybe shimmer isn’t such a good idea for me there) and on my eyelid blended with Too Faced Matte Shadows Palette “Pebbles”, a blue-grey shade, where it was much more successful. Both brands were easy to blend and wore very well.
This morning, I’m wearing the Mary Kay lip gloss. I admit I have never purchased or worn a Mary Kay product. The lip gloss is wonderful. It is flavorless and fragrance-free. The color is bright and fun. It’s hydrating and not overly sticky, though I haven’t been out in the wind yet. I like it. I will have to check out their website. My problem with Mary Kay and Avon is that I hate to have to buy from a local salesperson. I just want to buy it online like any other brand.
I was happy to get another Urban Decay eyeliner to add to my collection. And I like the smaller travel size. It’s plenty big for me. I use UD pencil eyeliners primarily to tightline my eyes, and the shorter size is easier to handle. I have a UD liner in Zero that I usually use, and now I have Black Velvet, an even deeper black. As a matter of fact, the Urban Decay website has a sale on their Black Market Collection of 6 travel size pencils in a range of great colors for $24 rather than the regular $36 price. I may have to spring for that!
I haven’t purchased any Dr. Brandt skincare products yet. They are good quality and quite expensive. So I’m happy to try out the travel size microdermabrasion exfoliator.
Now, the Demeter perfume oil is posing a dilemma for me: keep it or give it away. The scent that I received is Jasmine, and it is a gorgeous fragrance. Unfortunately, florals just do not work with my body chemistry. So, I think I must find the Demeter Jasmine Perfume a good home with someone who will actually be able to wear it. I would hate for this to hang around unused because it is such a beautiful scent.
So this was my April ipsy bag. Again, well worth the $10. If you’re a subscriber, what did you get in your Beauty Rocks bag?
If you’re considering signing up, please use my link. I understand that there’s a waiting list to join if you don’t have a referral. So if you go for it, please give me some extra points and get yourself on the ipsy list much faster.
On a different note, on Wednesday I posted my Birthday Giveaway of a new em Cosmetics Michelle Phan Shadow Play Palette in Tokyo Plums. The server that hosts my blog was having a serious problem on that day and my site was down for several hours throughout the day. So if you tried to comment and enter the giveaway, please try again. I am not going to widely publicize this giveaway because it’s my giveaway gift and I’d be happy if someone who actually reads my blog wins it. Hopefully that’ll make for better odds than usual!
I love my Ipsy bag this month!
Lisa Heath recently posted…Serum No. 5 SS14 Partial Collection Swatches & Review
That’s great, Lisa! I wonder if you got the pretty nail polish and the Caitlyn lip balm?
Hey Allison! it is great to see and hear you on camera, nice video! The Demeter Jasmine sounds great.
Tina @ My Highest Self recently posted…Review: RITUALS Honey Touch Indian Rose & Himalaya Honey Rich & Nourishing Body Cream
You are too kind, Tina. I rambled on too long on this video. Myself, I don’t have the patience for long videos but I didn’t feel like re-recording it, lol. Would you like the Demeter Jasmine?? I’d be happy to send it to you. Let me know 🙂
PS: HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!
Tina @ My Highest Self recently posted…Review: RITUALS Honey Touch Indian Rose & Himalaya Honey Rich & Nourishing Body Cream
Thank you, Tina!
So frustrating to enjoy a scent, but know that it’s just not going to jive with your body chemistry.
That aside, it definitely sounds like it was a great birthday bag from Ipsy. Hope your birthday was marvelous!
Avid Beauty recently posted…MAC Playland; Life is Like a Box of Crayons
Yes, Avid Beauty, I’ve gotta find a good home for it! And thanks for the bday wishes; it was a good one!
I love the red lips!
Phyrra recently posted…Phyrra Says Vol. 10
Thanks, Phyrra!
You are rocking those red lips, Allison! <3
Anastasia recently posted…TATCHA Supple Moisture Rich Silk Cream Review: A New Favorite
Yeah, Anatasia, I’ve got so many red lippies and so few occasions to wear ’em, lol!
Great video! I got almost the same box – everything was the same except I got the Cailyn pink lip gloss instead of that gorgeous Mary Kay one. I’m looking forward to trying the Dr. Brandt exfoliator!
Nidia – Lit From Within recently posted…Spring Renewal – Pastel, Glitter, and Globs
Thanks, Nidia! I am afraid the video was too long, but I didn’t have the energy or time to try again. Funny, I thought I wanted the Cailyn pink gloss, but I guess I’m better off with the MK Berry Me!
I love what you got in your bag!
Cosmetics Aficionado recently posted…Soft Daytime Smoky Eye Friday Look + Linkup
me too, except I need a home for the lovely Demeter Jasmine that just doesn’t suit my body chemistry.
I didn’t know you did videos! I will have to subscribe!
Eugenia recently posted…Easter Nails 2014
My videos are beginner fare, but you gotta start somewhere. Thanks, Eugenia!
You can never have too many Urban Decay 24/7 pencils in my opinion.
Kimmi @ The Plastic Diaries recently posted…MBFWA Get The Look: Maybelline New York x Group Swim
True, Kimmi! I did go for the 6 travel size pencils on sale on the UD website. Couldn’t resist!
I have not tried ipsy because I don’t like sample sized products. I don’t feel like I get to use them long enough to use them. However, for $10 I think you got a great deal so it’s worth thinking about. I do love almost all MK products but had to stop purchasing them for the reason you sited. That’s okay, I’m enjoying my Ulta points now. LOL
Carla recently posted…Five on Friday! #5
Carla, that’s why I have avoided Birchbox and have gone with ipsy instead. Other than a small sample from Skyn Finland that had only two uses in it (but still enough to make a decision about it), I get either full-size or deluxe samples that give me about a month’s worth or more of usage. As far as I can tell, ipsy is still the best deal in town 😉
Definitely liked reading about these. Thanks!
Kimberly recently posted…Maybelline’s 24 Hour Tattoos: Dare To Go Nude Collection
Thanks for the comment, Kimberly 🙂
I love those 24/7 liners!
Miranda recently posted…Beautiful Budget Brows: How to Fill In Your Eyebrows
me too, Miranda. I bought the 6 UD travel size liners on sale on the UD site ‘coz I need some colors in addition to the blacks 🙂
Mine just came today and I took a peek inside. I was SO happy to see that UD liner in there!
Brooke @ Blushing Noir recently posted…MAC Our Secret Fluidline Swatches & Review – Magnetic Nude
I was hoping I’d get the UD liner too. Yay!
I love Dr. Brandt! I used the pore no more and have been eye-ing the microdermabrasion product
smashinbeauty recently posted…Biotherm Aquasource CC Gel
This is my first Dr. Brandt product so I’m psyched to try it!
Being a lover of bright bold lips, I must say I love your red lips! I’m not subbed to ipsy but I enjoy looking what you guys are getting each month.
Kath TheFabZilla recently posted…#FaceFriday : All-Drugstore
It’s fun to get stuff from ipsy each month. Definitely worth the 10 bucks.
Yowza! Loving the red lips. This was a great month for Ipsy.
Sheila (Painted Ladies) recently posted…307/365 Days of Makeup IV
Thanks, Sheila, and yes, it was a good ipsy month. Loved the nail polish you got!
I love the red lips. You look great!
Happy belated birthday!
gio recently posted…Know Your Ingredients: Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Thanks, Gio!
I loved the IPSY bag this month! I am a new subscriber to them and have been very happy. I subscribed back when it was the Glam Bag and cancelled. However, now that they are IPSY, the bags seem to be consistantly good!
Pammy recently posted…Professional Advice and the Truth about Anti-Aging Skincare Myths: Introducing the RoC® ACADEMY™
I started my subscription in July, and I’ve been happy with almost all of the bags. I just wish I wasn’t last to receive mine, lol.
this bag looks fabulous! I kinda wanna sub!
Laura MyNewestAddiction recently posted…Tarte LipSurgence Lip Gloss Review and Swatches
For 10 bucks, it’s worth it, Laura!
Looks like a great bag!
Leelo R recently posted…Beauty Blogazon weekly roundup 4/18/2014
It’s a good one, Lello!
love those pencils from UD
Chrissy recently posted…Cailyn Cosmetics Gelux Eyebrow 04 Cocoa Product Review and Swatches
Me, too, Chrissey. I was so happy it was in my bag!
I liked my bag this month too!
Cindy (Prime Beauty) recently posted…The Lipstick League Weekly Reads!
Nice. I’ll have to look for your post to see what you got 🙂
You look great in a red lip!
Thank you, madam!
Very nice items in your subscription this month! I do wish UD 24/7 was actually long wearing .. these pencils still smudge on me, but I keep buying them because the color range is so fabulous 😛
Monica.
MonicaP recently posted…White pants for Easter
I only use them (blacks & brown) for tightlining my upper eyelid/waterline so they work very well on me for that. I just ordered the travel sized colored liners that I’ll use to line my lower lashline. I hope they’ll stay put! I’ll let you know how I make out. I’ve got such dry skin that smudging usually isn’t a big issue for me. I’m sorry they smudge on you, but yes the variety is incredible.
It was a great month 🙂
betzy carmona recently posted…My Week On Instagram #7
Yes, it was, Betzy!