Did I mention that I finally switched my Ipsy Plus subscription to every other month? I didn’t want to cancel because I still enjoy getting Ipsy bags and I love the add-ons. But I am drowning in beauty products, and I need to cut down a bit. So, I missed the June bag, but I am very pleased with the July bag and the add-ons that I chose to supplement it. (So much for cutting down on beauty products, right?)
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Switching to every other month does have its downside, however. My Plus Bag used to arrive by about the 10th of the month. In July, I didn’t get my Plus Bag till the end of the month. I guess I am a less important subscriber now, lol.
The theme of the July Plus Bag is “Stay Golden” referring to the golden glow that some of us get in mid-summer. Because it has rained several days each week and almost every weekend since the end of June in the Boston area, I am anything but golden. But Stay Golden is a nice concept anyway.
Here’s what I got in my Stay Golden Plus Bag:
- Il Makiage Black Card Lift Curl & Lengthen Mascara: I had no expectations about this mascara except that I think Il Makiage is a good quality brand, but I ended up liking it. The wand is my kind of wand: it has plastic teeth. Not only that, one side has longer teeth and the other side has shorter teeth like a lash comb. And the formula works well for me. It definitely does lift, curl and lengthen. Cruelty-free. Nice discovery. $25
- Juice Beauty SPF 30 Oil-Free Moisturizer: I hate just about everything about this organic mineral sunscreen. First, the scent is horrendous. Marcia, you would hate this one!! It smells like an ashtray to me. And just because it says “oil-free” doesn’t mean that it isn’t heavy. I couldn’t imagine wearing this heavy moisturizer on a hot day, ew. The only good thing is that, though it is a white cream with zinc oxide as the active sunscreen ingredient, it doesn’t leave a white cast. Yay. Instead of wearing it on my face, maybe I will use it as a body sunscreen. At any rate, a fail for me. Cruelty-free. $30
- Oryza Ombre Blusher, shade Malibu Sunrise: This month, I ended up with 3 different blushes, and I knowingly chose them all. This one is a beautiful, shades of peach, ombre powder blush. It is strongly pigmented and very peach. In fact, it is so peach that I have to wear it over foundation because my own pink skin sort of clashes with it, lol. I can’t apply this with a heavy hand because it is so obvious, and I like a more natural looking blush. Nevertheless, it’s a wonderful blush especially if you like ones that don’t whisper and last forever. Glad I tried it. $25
- Purlisse Blush Glow BB Cheek Color, shade Vivid Coral: When they named this Vivid Coral and put it in a bright orange tube, they weren’t kidding. When it first comes out of the tube, it is rather alarming…for me, at least. Squeezing out the tiniest amount is the way to go with this pigmented but lightweight cream blush. It can be applied with fingers or a fan or duo fiber brush. Like the Oryza, it works better on my pink cheeks if I am wearing foundation that creates a neutral palette. But Purlisse BB Cheek Color in Vivid Coral can be controlled or sheered out as long as I don’t apply too much. Cruelty-free. $18
- Half Caked “Your Eyes Only” Eyeshadow Palette: I am a real fan of Half Caked’s tube mascara in the lavender tube, so since I had to pick a fifth product, I chose this palette to give away. I have way too many shadow palettes and this one is very similar to the Violet Voss Wildflowers palette that I got in May. So I hope that someone will want this warm-toned palette with 9 shades of pinks and chocolates that comes in sturdy cardboard palette that looks like a retro 90s style disk. I would say that it is mostly a neutral palette except for a deep raspberry pink that I think could be used as a blush if it is too bright for you to use as an eyeshadow. The palette comes with a mix of shimmers and mattes. The vast majority of the reviews on the Ipsy website are very positive. Enter the giveaway at the end of this post. Cruelty-free and vegan. $16
The value of the bag is $114, and I paid $25 plus tax. In spite of the fact that I strongly dislike the Juice Beauty moisturizer and I ordered the Half Caked shadow palette to give away, I thought this was a really fun bag. I enjoyed literally playing with all the makeup whether I will wear them (the 2 blushes above) all the time or not. And I really like the mascara.
I ordered four add-ons for July, two full size and two minis. Honestly, I think the highly discounted add-ons are one of the true benefits of my Ipsy subscription. Here’s what I chose:
- Patrick Ta Beauty Monochrome Moment Velvet Blush, shade She’s Passionate: I was thrilled when I saw this add-on option for July. My friend Gabrielle told me how excited she was to get a Patrick Ta blush in her May Ipsy X Bag, so I jumped at it even though I knew I was already getting two blushes in my Ipsy bag. And I’m glad I did. This is my favorite of the trio. The shade, She’s Passionate, is a peachy-pink that is very similar to NARS Orgasm, and it’s so flattering. Plus the compact is gorgeous. Well worth the $18 that I think I paid for this $32 blush.
BTW, here are swatches of all three blushes that I bought from Ipsy in July.
- Dose of Colors Meet Your Hue Concealer, shade 08 Light with Pink/Neutral Undertone: I usually use a cream concealer, but for some reason this liquid concealer from the quality brand, Dose of Colors, jumped out at me. I was sort of worried that it would be just like Tarte’s Shape Tape (not that there’s anything wrong with that), but for me, Dose of Colors Meet Your Hue Concealer is superior. It is much more of a full coverage concealer, IMHO. Plus the 08 Light shade is a good color match for me. BTW, there are 30 shades. My only nitpick is that it has the same fat sponge wand applicator that Shape Tape does, and I find it to be too wide, too thick and it applies too much. But that’s a relatively small problem. I’m glad I tried this concealer. I think I paid $12 for it, and the regular price is $24
- Hanalei Kona Peptide Eye Cream, deluxe sample: This is the second mini tube of this wonderful eye cream that I have purchased in the past couple of months. It is tinted, rich, gentle, and highly moisturizing. In addition to peptides, it contains caffeine to combat puffy undereyes. It also hydrates and helps treat lines and wrinkles. It sinks in completely and is terrific under makeup. I use it all around my eye area, and I find it firming as well as moisturizing. I also love Hanalei’s lip balm.
- Akar Skin Restore Eye Serum, deluxe sample: I wasn’t familiar with Akar Skin, but I think they make various skin oils. Restore Eye Serum is a lightweight oil with vitamins A and E as well as kojic acid. One drop is all it takes to hydrate my entire eye area. I use it every night. It can be used alone or over or under traditional eye cream. It is fragrance-free and fine for my very sensitive eyes. I would like to try more products from Akar Skin.
I was really delighted with my products from Ipsy this month. Perhaps absence makes the heart grow fonder, and an every other month subscription is the way to go: for me, for now at least.
GIVEAWAY!
Wow, it has been so long since I have hosted a giveaway! I was limiting my trips to the post office, and I guess I got out of the habit. But hopefully that will change.
Rafflecopter will select one lucky reader of Never Say Die Beauty as the winner of the fun Half Caked Your Eyes Only Eyeshadow Palette.
The giveaway is limited to U.S. residents, age 18+, where permitted by law. The giveaway will run for a little more than a week from today Friday, August 6 through Sunday, August 15 ending at midnight August 16.
As usual, you MUST LEAVE A COMMENT on this blogpost about why you want to win the palette. One entry per household. The comment is mandatory. And you must record that you did it on the Rafflecopter widget below. Extras that you can do to earn more points are:
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- subscribe to Never Say Die Beauty
- follow Never Say Die Beauty on Twitter
- follow Never Say Die Beauty on Instagram
- follow Never Say Die Beauty on Pinterest
- visit Never Say Die Beauty on Facebook (and like it if you want!)
If you don’t already subscribe to Never Say Die Beauty via email and you want to, and you plan to stick around for more than just the length of the giveaway, the signup is on the homepage of the blog in the upper right hand side. 
If you do any of the above extras, you are entitled to more points. But YOU MUST CLICK OFF THOSE OPTIONS on the Rafflecopter widget. Also, I do verify that the winner has done the tasks she/he has checked off on the widget. Please respect the rules.
The winner will be notified by me via email. You have 48 hours to get back to me, if not a new winner will be selected in your place. The winner will provide me with her/his mailing address, and I will send your prize to you as soon as possible. I am not responsible for loss or damage in shipping. In other words, if it’s lost or damaged in shipping, I will be sad, but there is no replacement.
As always, thank you for participating in my giveaway and spreading the word to anyone who you think might like the prize. Good luck! xoxo
I would like to win because the Palette has perfect colors for fall that is coming
I want to win as I need a make up refresh and love the colors in the palette
Such a nice give-away. Thanks for sharing. Most of all I love the eye shadows they are beautiful. If I win, I will share with my daughter. She is an R.N.
What a generous giveaway, Allison! Wow, that Patrick Ta blush is GORGEOUS!
Lola Seicento recently posted…A Garden Paradise for Wildlife
I want to win the palette because these are all the colors that suit me and I love the shades. Every color is very pretty.
You are right about me and Juice Beauty. I haven’t been able to use their products. That Patrick Ta blush makes this bag well worth it. What a beauty. Having something this beautiful makes your blush collection even better.
MarciaF recently posted…Double the pleasure with QUR lipbalms
Those are really beautiful colors that look easy to wear no matter what your eye color is.
I love that raspberry shadow! It’s so me! Also, I am so flattered you took my rec and got the Patrick Ta blush! I have the same shade and adore it! So wearable!
These shades look great!
I like the colors there is a little sparkle and a little plain but bold for fall/winter. And if we continue wear our mask my eyes need a lot of help 🙂
I would like to win the Half Caked Palette because they suit every skin-tone and hold up all day without fading.
I love the shades and although its been years since I have purchased make-up , I would love to be able to try this one out! and hopefully feel good about wearing make-up again.
@tisonlyme143
I like the colors.
I would like to win because this Palette because I love the colors, they are perfect colors for Fall!
love to win this for my wife she would love this
I really love the colors!
I love the colors in this months bag! I definitely understand that it can get a bit pricey though. I hope you enjoy your goodies!
I want to win because I love eye shadow pallets and I like the colors in this one.
I just love make-up. This is a great palette. I would love to have this.
Honestly i’m such a sucker for a palette that is packaged cute like this and especially with a nostalgic theme. Also they shades are ones i wear often.
I would love to win this. The pigments in the eyeshadow are so beautiful!
The Half Caked Eyeshadow Palette shimmers and shines and goes well with a lot of my wardrobe changes.