April’s almost over already. With staying at home, lots of folks are saying that April feels like it has lasted for years! It’s been rainy and cold for the past few weeks here north of Boston, so my garden that was ahead of the game in March is now pretty much behind the curve in April. I have high hopes for better, more outdoor weather for May.
So before my May Ipsy bag arrives, let’s take a look at my April Plus Bag. The theme is “Full Bloom”, and the floral makeup bag in shades of light green and pale peach – shades that I favor – fits it perfectly. Some of the products I received are also a good fit with the theme.
Here’s what I got in my April Plus bag:
- Bloomeffects Dutch Dirt Mask: I got all excited that this cute mask with the wooden shoe logo was from the Netherlands, but I guess it’s just the name. It’s made in the U.S., and the brand is from New York. At any rate, it is a purifying, deep pore cleansing mask for oily or acne-prone skin. The Wedgewood blue tube is very cool because it is made from something different: PICEA Wood, whatever that is. It feels decidedly different from any other packaging I’m familiar with. Because this mask is not for my skin type, I am going to put the Dutch Dirt Mask in my giveaway pile for when I resume holding giveaways so someone who can use it will get it. $49
- Céla Creme Rose The Very Best Cream Rose: I’m a big fan of roses and rose-scented anything, so I was happy to see this rose body cream in my box. Although the faint gourmand/floral scent isn’t particularly rosy, the rich pink cream is hydrating and totally greaseless. I love the fact that it’s in a tube which makes it easy to apply. This one’s a winner. $39
- Ciaté LONDON Triple Shot XXL Mascara: I haven’t tried the Ciaté Mascara yet because I haven’t been wearing makeup very often, but on the few occasions when I do, I am trying to get the hang of the Milk Makeup Kush Mascara because the volumizing and the softness of my lashes when I wear that mascara are quite amazing! The Ciaté Mascara wand looks like it may be the type with plastic teeth that I usually favor. I’ll let you know how it goes. I just don’t want to open it till I’m ready to use it. $22
- Tarte Tarteist Double Take Eyeliner in Black: When I first glanced at this eyeliner from Tarte, I thought it was a liquid eyeliner. Well, it is a felt tip liquid eyeliner with a very slim tip, but it also has a pencil liner on the other end. That pencil liner feels so soft – it will be perfect for tight lining. And the felt tip will be a terrific liquid liner. I’m psyched about this! $24
- Shaina B. Mini Miami Eye Palette: This was the item that I picked for my Ipsy Plus bag this month. It’s a combination of 8 really beautiful matte and shimmer neutrals that look like an excellent redhead palette. In fact, the model on the Ipsy Shaina B. eye palette page is a redhead, and she does look terrific in the copper-y shades. I need to play around with this ASAP. It appears to be a mini version of a larger eyeshadow palette. $20
- Hey Honey Take Away the Drama Youth Boosting Honey & Copper Peel-Off Mask, travel size: Lately, Ipsy has been slipping in mini size extras each month, and in April, I got this Peel-Off Mask from Hey Honey, a skincare brand I really like. I haven’t used it yet, but I will. I like peel-off masks, and “youth boosting” is for me.
I’m happy with this month’s bag. I am excited about the Tarteist Double Take Eyeliner, the Cela Creme Rose, and I love the shades in the Shaina B. Mini Miami Eye Palette. I hope the Ciate London Mascara will work for me when I get around to trying it. The value of my Full Bloom Ipsy Plus Bag is more than $154 (I don’t know the value of the Hey Honey mini.)
This month, I ordered two add-ons:
- 111SKIN Hyaluronic Acid Aqua Booster: 111SKIN is a pricey British cosmetic surgeon-created skincare brand whose products I love. So I jumped at the chance to buy this for $18, especially since the MSRP on this product is $135. My skin responds well to HA so I try to use an HA essence or serum every day. I’m enjoying this one.
- Luxie 209 Large Shader Summer Daze Tan Brush: Luxie is my favorite affordable brand of makeup brushes, and through Ipsy, I now own a lot of them. I was glad to add another eyeshadow brush to my collection because they are probably the brushes I use most. The regular price for the brush is $12 or ($15 for the same brush with the pale pink handle and rose gold), and I paid $3. Yay!
As usual, I’m happy with my purchases. To me, the opportunity to buy cosmetics at greatly reduced prices via Ipsy as well as the discounts that I get for purchasing other products from the brands Ipsy represents is one of the key benefits of my subscription. Since I get so many products every month from Ipsy, I find that I don’t spend nearly as much at Sephora and Ulta as I did before I upgraded to the Plus subscription.
That palette is absolutely gorgeous, and Everglade is the type of shade that I would wear all of the time!
Lola Seicento recently posted…APRIL EMPTIES 2020
That seems like a nice mix of products.
Jen Mathews recently posted…{save} Cruelty Free Skincare + $50 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway!
I love subscription boxes but the only problem I have with them is EYESHADOW………. I mark less eyeshadow but I think I get them ever box. I give most of them to my nieces and they either keep or roll their eyes and pass on to someone else. Do you have this problem?
Gloria, I took my time in answering because that is a tough question. Both Ipsy Plus and Boxycharm have made having a palette in each month’s box one of their benefits: 9 times out of 10 it’s an eyeshadow palette, and 1 time it’s a cheek palette. From their research, they seem to have found that that’s what their subscribers value most. That said, Birchbox (unless it’s changed) and lookfantastic and also Allure, I think, have more of an emphasis on skincare products and haircare than eyeshadow. So maybe check those 3 out? I actually love getting a palette every month, so I’m good with it 😉
I loved that I could get some add ons from IPSY for a reasonable price. I miss that about the subscription but I needed to cut back on my huge supply or makeup. The palette looks great and my experience with Ciate mascara has been excellent.
MarciaF recently posted…Radha Beauty Skincare – a big WOW from Beauty Info Zone!
Nice bag! Though I love the look of the Shaina b. palette, the ones I’ve tried are lacking in pigment, I hope you have better luck.
Cindy Ingalls recently posted…Boxycharm April 2020
The Shaina B. Mini Miami palette is fabulous. They must have heard you complain and reformulated because the pigmentation of the shadows in this $20 mini palette is amazing. The bronze shadow, Everglades, is stunning and lasts forever.
Wow! That is a brilliant bag, Allison and you really got yourself a great deal with 111Skin!
Shireen L. Platt recently posted…SELF-ISOLATION APRIL FAVOURITES
I agree, Shireen. 111SKIN is so expensive, and through Ipsy I’ve been able to try their skincare for next to nothing, yay!