Middle of the month means ipsy time, and I got my February Valentine’s #ipsyLove bag. The bag itself is pretty cute. It’s made out of a synthetic fabric that reminds me a little of old-fashioned oilcloth in that it’s somewhat stiff, holds its shape and won’t get dirty. It’s a raspberry pink to celebrate the holiday. But no hearts here, instead a pink, white and greenish diamond pattern.
Inside were 5 products that represented a good range of beauty products:
- City Color Creamy Lip Stain in a great shade of deep pink called Flirtini: full-size $4.99
- Model CoBlush Cheek Powder in a pink that’s similar to the gloss called Cosmopolitan: full-size $22
- a black eyelash curler by Emite Professional Make Up with 4 red replacement pads: full size $25
- Mitchell and Peach Flora No. 1 Fine Radiance Oil: 10 ml/0.34 fl. oz. deluxe sample worth 15 British pounds or $23
- eva•nyc Up All Night Volumizing Spray: 30 ml/1 fl. oz. deluxe sample (8 oz. bottle=$12 so this is worth $1.50)
I think ipsy does many of the brands they represent a disservice. At first, I was on the fence about this month’s bag mainly because I have so much darn makeup, I just don’t need any more (Can you believe I’m saying that? I just don’t know where to put it all!). But when I looked up each product in my bag on their own websites, I was shocked to find out how expensive, how well-made, what good quality so many of them are. Why doesn’t ipsy include that info with the bag? Or even on the ipsy website? Go figure. I think the brands should complain about it! For instance, Mitchell and Peach is an English brand that crafts natural products from ingredients raised on a select group of farms in the English countryside. The coconut oil that’s just one of the ingredients in the Fine Radiance Oil comes from the “Mitchell Farming Estate”! How charming is that? But I never would have known if I hadn’t looked up the brand myself!
The range and the product value is really there. It’s actually a good bag. However, I’m a little jaded because, as I mentioned above, I’m at the point where I have so much makeup that I’m difficult to excite. Plus, I just got my first Memebox (for 2.5 times the price I might add), and I’m over the moon about it (review coming soon!).
Back to the goodies. I used the City Color Creamy Lip Stain right away because I love the deep pink shade. It’s an extremely lightweight liquid lipstick, that immediately sinks into my lips and has a matte finish. It also has an unpleasant chemical smell that they tried to mask with a floral scent. The masking scent doesn’t work, but thankfully the smell goes away in a few minutes. It’s a stain, and it’s drying to my sensitive lips…but again, I just love the color. I’ll probably put my go-to hydrator, City Lips Lip Plumper, on top of it, and I’ll be fine. This is an inexpensive brand, but I like it anyway because the color is so wonderful.
I love the idea of a facial oil from a farm in England, and I enjoyed wearing a few drops of it today. It’s not super-oily like many serums, and the bottle has a dropper top that regulates how much comes out. It does have a pleasant light floral scent, but only applying a few drops, I couldn’t really smell it for long. It was lightly hydrating and that was perfect for wearing under my foundation.
I haven’t tried the other three products yet. I’ll probably add the powder blush to my giveaway pile because I have sooooo much blush (at $22, someone will be excited about it!) along with the Volumizing Spray that I won’t use. The Emite Make Up Lash Curler is even more expensive than my beloved Shiseido, so I will have to try it out.
Unless I made a mistake, this month’s ipsy bag is worth a whopping $76.50. Yikes, I can’t believe it. I paid 10 bucks for it, delivered. In spite of my huge stash of makeup, ipsy is still a great deal. If you decide to take the plunge and sign up, I’d be grateful if you would use my referral code here: http://www.ipsy.com/r/1zp5?sid=ipsypoints&cid=general
Emite Makeup
I love the makeup bag so much! I am, as you can well imagine, very curious about this lovely sounding face oil, and you had me at “pleasant light floral scent” 🙂 It is very strange that Ipsy didn’t include more product information about the individual high quality products! That really seems like a marketing miss!
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I definitely think it’s a marketing miss, and I’m surprised the brands that participate don’t demand it! I guess they must figure that product trial is enough. Not sure I agree! And yes, I am liking the Mitchell and Peach Fine Radiance Oil. I have to go back and spend more time on the M&P website because their product line looks wonderful!
Such a cute bag this month!
Yes, the bag itself is adorable!
I got the Flirtini lippie as well, but a cold has prevented me from sniffing it properly LOL. I wish I had got the CG polish or the face brush. Ah well. That’s a WHOPPING deal from Ipsy, they need a new marketing team if they haven’t mentioned the value! I’m travelling this weekend and lazy so will unbox mine sometime next week.
Renu recently posted…Tarte Amazonian Clay Full Coverage Powder Foundation review, swatches, FOTD
Don’t smell too hard when you put on the City Color lippie, but the shade is great! A friend is sending me her brush, since she won’t use it so I am extra lucky! I didn’t see the nail polish, but I’m good with what I got 🙂
Very cute bag, I really like the lip color on you!
Tina @ My Highest Self recently posted…Vaseline Intensive Care Healing Serums
Thanks, Tina! me too. just wish it didn’t smell so bad.
Let’s hope the brands see your post, or maybe someone (or you) can contact itsy to let them know that an informational sheet would be beneficial.
I hope so too ‘coz I think it would make the bags more valuable to subscribers and to brands!
That bag is adorable! I haven’t signed up for the subscription boxes but always love seeing the latest bag design from ipsy when bloggers post it. And that lip color is stunning on you – what a nice way to usher in spring…if it ever comes! 🙂
It’s best not to start, Jen. It becomes addictive!
This looks like a nice bag, this month and that lippie is gorgeous on you.
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Thank you, Erika! I love this shade 🙂
Looks like a wonderful bag with a nice variety of products. The blush looks quite pretty 🙂
Monica
The blush is very pretty! I was shocked when I learned it was priced at $22. Since I have so many blushes and I prefer cream blush, I’ll be adding this one to the giveaway pile.
ohhh I love the lippie on you. I hope I got it too! But without the smell lol
Brooke @ Blushing Noir recently posted…OPI Infinite Shine Nail Polish Swatches + Review
I hope you got it w/o the smell, too, Brooke! You’d think the company would test the product before launching it!
Every now and then I miss getting my Ipsy bag. (I was subscribed for almost 2 years!) But I had the same issue, I’m accumulating so much make up…which is one of the reasons I cancelled. I have tried a deep conditioner from Eva NYC and it was lovely!
Kristina Vieweg recently posted…Hemp Soap On A Rope from The Body Shop
Yes, that’s the problem, Kristina, too much stuff! But usually I get a lot of visits to my blog for the ipsy posts as well as likes on IG so I keep it. But I don’t know if I’d miss it if I stopped 😉
Hey, what a minute! You can never have too many blushes! Haha, just kidding. I know exactly what you mean because I am in that boat as we speak. I’ll tell you what, though – next month I’ll be signing up for Ipsy because these bags seem to be getting better and better. This month’s looks great!
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You do know what I mean, Brittany! Also, I am a cream blush lover so I will add it to the giveaway pile and I know someone will be happy to win it 🙂 But yes, lately ipsy has been pretty much right on the money…and for 10 bucks delivered!
Love the makeup bag!
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It’s a cute pattern this month!
That face oil sounds very interesting.
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It’s a lightweight oil that I can wear under my foundation in these frigid, dry temperatures. I like it.
I got the exact same bag this month too. I didn’t realize it was worth that much. I’ve already got the lash curler so it’s being given away in a giveaway this weekend.
Marcia, is it the Emite lash curler that you already had? I’m wondering whether to try it and use it in a post along with my relatively new Shiseido or give it away.
Wow, we got the exact same bag! My two favorite items were the eye lash curler and blush. The lip stain was unpleasant for me.
Thanks for sharing!
xoxo Val
wildflowersandcurls.blogspot.com
Yes, the scent of the lip stain is definitely unpleasant! I love the shade so I’ve been putting up with it. I’m glad you like the lash curler. I was surprised that Emite is a Scandinavian brand, their website is in a foreign language but I don’t know which one! I adore my Shiseido so I wasn’t sure whether to keep this one or use it in a giveaway!
Hi! I received the blush and hair volumizer also. The other products I received was the Cargo lip gloss, Glam Glow sample, and Tini Beauty eye shadow. I was thinking the same thing about the prices of the products. I would never had known how expensive they were unless I looked at the company’s website. The eye shadow is $18 or $19?! I don’t like to complain but I was a bit disappointed this month. I’d have used the brush and nail polish much more than anything I did get. Oh well, not every month can be great & it is only $10. 🙂
Your bag sounds even better than mine, Natalie! But when we have so much makeup already, don’t we get picky! At least I do! I adore the color of the City Color lip stain, but the chemical scent is awful. I sorta wish I got the Cargo one instead because Cargo makes better quality makeup than CityColor. I lucked out in that a friend is going to mail me her brush that she won’t use. I love that kind of foundation brush! And yes, isn’t it surprising that ipsy doesn’t have more info about the brands? I guess it’s because they would have to customize the insert for all the different configurations of products in the customized brands. But they should at least do a better job on their website.
lol – Yes, I guess I have gotten picky since my make-up collection has grown so much. The Cargo lip gloss is really nice. That’s too bad about the chemical smell of the lip stain. I’m glad you’re able to get the brush. Cool beans! I was thinking the same thing on the companies information. It would be difficult to make so many different insert cards.
Next time I’m at the “fancy” Walgreens that carries the high-end indie brands, I will be checking out the Cargo gloss 🙂
The bag itself is cute this month, and the contents aren’t bad, I’m curious about the Mitchell and Peach. Thanks for providing a little more info about them, going to look it them up.
The Mitchell and Peach Fine Radiance Oil has a light floral fragrance that dissipates quickly. Instead of a dropper in this sample bottle, there’s a dropper top that allows you to shake out a drop or two at a time. The oil is lightweight, different from a lot of other heavy oils I’ve used. So far, so good. Because it’s not oily, I can wear this under foundation which is great in these frigid dry temperatures. I wish I had some spare $ coz I’d love to try their body products.
I got the Emite in another subscription box (I don’t remember which one). I’m giving mine away on Sunday. It’s not as good as the Shiseido but we all have different shape eyes. I don’t know what to tell you but I know I always need a spare eyelash curler since I misplace everything!
Ah, thanks, Marcia. I love the Shiseido lash curler, but I will probably keep this one and do a post comparing the Emite, Shiseido and my Tarte lash curlers. If it really is a $25 curler, I should try it out!
Still havent pulled the trigger on Ipsy but seems to be getting better each month.
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I think the bags are getting better, Norah. But since you’re a MUA, I can’t see you subscribing to ipsy. Not enough stuff that you’d use.
The City Color Creamy Lip Stain you got looks like a good dupe for the Cynthia Rowley Lip Stain in Sugar. 🙂 Looks gorgeous on you Allison! That’s good that Ipsy is starting to add more better quality makeup to their bags. I unsubscribed because I wasn’t liking the quality of the bag and the makeup in the early stages of the program.
x Carol
intrice.blogspot.com
I’d say the quality of the items varies, Carol. The City Color is not great quality, and as I mentioned, the chemical smell is a turn-off but I love the shade. I should check out the Cynthia Rowley Lip Stain!! But other products I’ve been receiving including this month’s Emite Lash Curler, the ModelCo blush, the English skincare from Mitchell and Peach were really good. And I’ve loved the deluxe samples I got over the past few months from Bare Minerals, Tarte and Urban Decay and some nice eyeshadows from Pacifica and Bellapierre, and brush from Elizabeth Mott, I can’t really complain 🙂
I love the bag this month! And the value is great, I love the products you received! I really want to resub soon!!
Priyanka
At first I was on the fence, but when I visited the websites and learned about the products I feel very good about this month’s bag!
We got totally different products! Your bag looks great!
I’ll look forward to reading about yours, Jamie!
POhh with this bag you got a eyelash curler. Is it a good quality?
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I wasn’t familiar with Emite Professional Make Up, the brand for the eyelash curler, so I went to the website. It appears to be in a Scandinavian language, talk a lot about makeup for makeup artists, and the price on the lash curler is $25. It looks like good quality. I love that it’s black has a wide curling base like my beloved Shiseido, and it came with 4 pads in red. Since my Shiseido is relatively new, I was going to add this to my giveaway pile but when I found out the price I think I decided to keep it!
You are so right about Ipsy leaving out all the info, what a shame too because they all sound like they have great quality. I actually canceled Ipsy in December because I got too many dud products, this bag looks like one of the better ones though!
Julie recently posted…Makeup and Beauty Favorites: February 2015
The last few months have definitely improved, Julie. I still think the bag is worth $10 including delivery especially since these last few months the value of the items has certainly exceeded the amount I paid. While there are more luxe sub boxes would there that really appeal to me, I don’t want to spend more money plus I get so many readers for my ipsy posts. I’ll hang on for a little while longer especially since the bags have been trending better lately.
I am not a fan of City Color Cosmetics because most if not all I have ever tried from them has had a funky scent… and their customer service has not been the best to me. But the shade is nice on you and the other goodies in your bag looks fun. My bag was a bit different from mine.
It’s the first City Color product I’ve tried, and I was surprised at the yucky chemical smell, but unfortunately I love the shade. I’ll be looking forward to seeing what goodies you got this month.
The bag is cute (always a plus!) and the selection looked great too. Totally agree that they should give some info. It helps the brand and the end users if they love what they got.
I guess because they customize the bags and there are so many variations, they can’t include cards with just what’s in the bag. But they could either give a card with info on all the stuff each month or at least put it online. 🙂
We got the exact same bag this month! My favorite item was definitely the blush- I’m wearing it right now!
Thanks for linking up to Best of Beauty! xo
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I’m glad you love the blush. As much as I’d like to try it, I have so many blushes I think it should put it in the giveaway pile, but I could change my mind
I got the exact same items this month and I’m very happy with the products. The lip stain I think is my favorite. But you are right, I had no idea about the oil and it is interesting where it comes from and what is in it.
mitchypoo recently posted…Anavita Moisturizing Anti-Wrinkle Cream Review & Giveaway
Does your City Color lip stain have a chemical scent too? I love the shade but I wish it smelled better!
I did not remember any smell at all, but I double checked and if anything it has a light floral scent that dissipates quickly. Did you get a dud?
mitchypoo recently posted…Anavita Moisturizing Anti-Wrinkle Cream Review & Giveaway
Thanks so much for going back and checking! If yours doesn’t smell, I definitely must have gotten a dud, and so did a couple of others. Poor quality control, I guess
WOW, I’ve never seen an Ipsy bag priced that high before! You really lucked out this month! I had no idea about Mitchell & Peach, either. Now I want to try the face oil!
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Me either, Sammi. I don’t know if I made a mistake, but just the blush, lash curler and the Face Oil deluxe sample were over $65. Lucked out this month, I guess 🙂
This was a nice little bag!
Stephanie Louise (@StephLouiseATB) recently posted…ThirdLove Lingerie is Seriously Gorgeous
Yes! Good assortment, good value this month!
Really nice products! The colour of the creamy lip stain look great on you 🙂
They really are great lip balm stains: gorgeous shades, hydrating, long-lasting, and super affordable! Thanks so much for visiting and commenting! <3
We got the same exact bag this month — I didn’t look up the values though, so I’m surprised! You’re right about ipsy not doing a great job at “selling” the products, though… I wish they’d give an info card instead of those stupid cards with this month’s hashtag!
Thanks for sharing!
Elizabeth
Thanks for visiting and commenting, Elizabeth! I’m glad you liked your bag this month too 🙂
Good to see that you were able to overcome the smell of the City Color gloss. I’ve heard nothing but bad things about the smell. A girl on IG had it in her empties post b/c she said she had to stop using it because of the smell. Hopefully City Color will see all these reviews & make some changes for future products!
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I really love the shade, but I agree with you wholeheartedly. Don’t you think they would test the product before launch and before sending it out to thousands of women who may have never tried the brand before, me for one! It makes you think they have no quality control at all. I’m wondering whether it’s a case of a bad batch. I have read a few (not many) reviews where there was no bad smell so maybe it’s a bad batch. weird though, right?!