Ipsy July 2014 part 2

WHAT'S IN THE BAG?

I signed up for two Ipsy Bags and my second bag was a hit too!  

Faith Aromatherapy Body Lotion in Citrus/Ginger - This smells really good and is a nice sized little lotion to stick in my purse.  I do wish Ipsy would go back to having the whole bag be makeup.  I get plenty of lotion samples in my Birchbox subscription.

Pur-lisse Essential Daily Moisturizer and Sunscreen - I love this brand - have several tubes of the moisturizer but none with sunscreen yet so this was nice.  I have recently added sunscreen to my daily makeup routine because a cousin mentioned she read it was the best defense against aging that you can do for your skin.  I am all about preventing the wrinkles! 

Elizabeth Mott Tints and Sass in Cherry - I really like this - I am a lip girl so I can never have too many tints - and you can use this on your cheeks as well!  I love when products are multi-functioning!

 I was very pleased with my second bag - it only contained two duplicates - the Pop bronzer (which I shared with a friend) and the Bare Minerals 5 in 1, which was a different shade so I can use both! 

I also love having two of these cute pink bags for all kinds of uses.  I was very pleased with July Ipsy but would love it if they went back to only makeup in their bags.  I have plenty of lotion and sunscreen from my subscription to other boxes.

Ipsy July 2014

WHAT'S IN THE BOX?

Ipsy is a monthly subscription box that contains 4-5 beauty items for $10.   July's month theme was Sensationally Sunkissed!  What a cute pink scalloped bag!  I really like that it is waterproof too.

The first look out of the bag:

Sexy Hair Soy Renewal Beach Spray - This is a great beach spray!  I love the smell of it and the way it textures my hair.  I have tried this soy renewal brand before and I really like it.  It can be a bit pricey though.

Hang Ten Dark Tanning Oil - I will probably use this to shave my legs, a tip given to my by another Ipster.  I have pale white skin and am a redhead - I do not tan - I turn red and then go back to white - or maybe a darker pink.  There is not a tan shade.

Bare Minerals 5 in 1 creme eyeshadow -  This is the smallest sample I have ever seen in an Ipsy bag - even smaller than the Benefit tints.  I was really hoping to get the duo pallet instead of this because I prefer them over creams but I will use this.  The color is right for what I like and I have primers and and even an over the shadow cream to make it last.  This is a bit messy and hard to get in place.  It is smooth though.  I usually prefer shimmery eye shadows.  

Pop Bronzer - Again, I will have to find a different use for this as I do not use bronzers.  It is a nice size though - very impressed with Pop products.

Pixi Beauty Mini Tinted Brilliance Balm - One of my favorite things in this bag was the Pixi tinted brilliance balm.  The full size is $14.  My shade is a tad on the pink side for me.

I like getting Ipsy so much that when my cousin needed someone to sign up to get off the waitlist, I got another one.  So this is just my bag 1 review.  I really liked this one so couldn't wait to see what bag 2 had!

Currently...

Currently Burning:

I do not burn candles normally in the summer but I love my wax burners - right now I am using this one from Better Homes and Gardens.  These are at Walmart and cheap - and they last a long time.

Currently Buying:

(photocredit: www.helloprettybird.com)

I fell in love with Memeboxes!  I purchased a few - Naked Box 22 and Naked Box 19.  I cannot wait to review these two boxes.  The Naked boxes show you what comes in them before you order.  I am working my way up to a blind box.  There are Memeboxes, Super boxes, Lucky Boxes and Naked boxes.  

Currently Reading:

Reading Possession by JR Ward - a novel of The Fallen Angels.  I think this is book number 5 or 6. 

Current Obsessions:

Decorating my planner with Washi Tape.  McDonald's Caramel Frappe's.  Flip flops.  Sea Salt Sprays.  Perfectly Posh products.  Bracelets.  Ipsy makeup bags.  Birchbox.  Pinterest. Benefit Cosmetics.  Watching Bones.  

Monday Musings...

I finally found the Elf Ariel makeup products I have been looking for at my local Walgreens.  

UNDER THE SEA EYES - ($4.99) This set contains a waterproof eyeliner and two eye shadow sets.  The are blue and a light tan and then mauve and a darker tan.  

GO ON AND KISS THE GIRL - The lip kit included a lip stain pencil with two super glossy shines in light pink and dark pink.

FASHION BOX BY VEGAN CUTS - (39.99) plus use the code shopvegansave10 for 1o% off - shipping is $9.95.   There are six items in this special edition fashion box.   It includes:

1. Deux Lux Wallet
2. Djuna Shay Headband
3. LVX Nail Lacquer
4. Michelle Starbuck Designs Earrings
5. 2 x Pura Vida Bracelets
6. Coupons from V Apparel, Miakoda, Herbivore and Coral 8

BIRCHBOX ANNOUNCEMENTS -   So there are three bonus items available for July:

the Beauty Protector Dry Shampoo $18, headphones $13, or the Triple C Power Card charger $28. 

Birchbox is also letting us pick one of the items in our box next month - a nail polish from the Ruffian nail polish set that came in the Mermaid box or a Cynthia Rowley lip gloss in one of two shades: Valentine or Sugar.  The lip glosses will be the small size I believe.

Sephora store has a new skincare kit that is customizable.  You can pick 5 items from a variety of 12.  I think I have my list narrowed to the below.  The price is $29.

1.  Ole Henriksen Ultimate Lift Eye Gel

2.  Philosophy's Hope In a Jar

3.  Soap & Glory Face Soap and Clarity

4.  Dr Jart's Premium Beauty Balm

5.  Peter Thoms Roth Cucumber Gel Mask

Monday Musings....

My Mermaid Birchbox still had not arrived so I e-mailed Birchbox to find out what was the hold up - turns out they were having some mailing issues with their distributors so for my trouble they are giving me 100 BB points which is $10 off in their store.  That brings the cost of this box down to $24 - I got a mystery box and a free bracelet coming in this box and already saved $10 with other BB points.  Thanks, Birchbox!

My Mystery Citrus Lane should be getting here any day but from the previews I have seen, I should have passed on this box.  It fits more of a young baby than the 3 year old boy I bought it for.  I will probably be saving it for a baby Christmas gift. 

Julep had a Flash Sale last week and I picked up a few items.  I did not really need any nail polish but I could not resist Sheryl for $2.  I also picked up a few cute magnets and a bracelet for  a friend.   I spent maybe $12. 

I really want to order the Barkbox - if only they would come out with a good discount to buy this box!  I did find a new toy for Butch by seeing their unboxings - these bones are super cute and can be thrown in the wash.  $8 at the Harry Barker site. 

I finally got an e-mail from Influenster saying I am getting one of their sample SurfVoxBox's! I will review it once it gets here and I also got some freebies from Pinch Me which I will be reviewing soon.  Both sample companies are free to join and send you free samples in the mail if you are selected.

And finally, I am excited to try some Perfectly Posh products.  I ordered a few things to try this week and got the buy 5 get one free deal.  Here is a sample of what they sell.  I am trying the Gender Bender, Hippie Scrubber, Polka-Dot Peppermint, After Sun Body and Shimmer Lotion, and lip balms.

Throwback Thursday... BENEFIT COSMETICS

I learned this week that Benefit started in 1976 and that the product Benetint was created for exotic dancers!  I thought I would review some of my favorite Benefit products.

My absolute favorite thing in the Benefit line has to be their Porefessional.  This balm minimizes the appearance of pores and I love how smooth it goes on.  It is $31 a tube so it is a bit pricey - I usually look for it in the $8 and $10 tubes or in a set of Benefit products to save money.

(photo credit: benefitcosmetics.com)

Another Benefit product that I buy all the time is their That Gal face primer.  This primer is fantastic!  It is a face brightening primer and helps take the dullness out of your skin pallor.  Love it!  It retails for $29 a bottle so I get it in sample sizes or in a set.  

(photo credit lookfantastic.com)

Another product of theirs I adore is High Beam.  It is a luminescent complexion enhancer - a highlighter for under the eyes.  It brightens.  It retails for $26 a bottle and I can usually find it in a kit with my other faves for a reasonable price.  The last kit I got, Beauty Score, was $36 for 10 Benefit products.  

(photo credit: www.hijabbeauty.com )

Of course since I am a lipgloss girl, they also have several lip products that I adore.  Posietint is a lip and cheek stain.  Benetint is there oldy but goody product.  It is a big seller as well.  Both are very nice for lips and cheek color.  They each retail for $30 so it is nice to find them in the sample sizes. 

(photo credit: fairyhalls.weloveshopping.com)

Benefit also has a mascara that people rave about:  They're Real.  I am not too picky about my mascara.  There are a few I would never buy again but for the most part, I like whatever I am using at the time.

(photo credit: benefitcosmetics.com)

So that was the reviews on things I have tried, let's talk about the products I want to try:

Benefit just came out with lip tint balms called Hydrating Tinted  Lip Balms based on their tints.   These promise to hydrate the lips as well as tinting them and can be worn alone or over the tints.  They have them in the four tints:  Posie, Bene, Cha Cha and Lolli!  These sell for $18 a piece.

(photo credit:  thebeautyblog.ca)

I am also dying to try their Fine-One-One, which is a cheek and lip stain.  It looks amazing too!  Clever marketing works on me evidently!  It retails for $30.

(photo credit www.suelenmakeup.com)

Benefit also makes Boing, an industrial strength concealer.   And again, I am a sucker for packaging on this one - super cute!  Boing retails for $20.

(photo credit: makeupandbeautyblog.com)

And finally, I would love to try Dr. Feelgood, a velvety complexion balm.  And of course, super cute packaging.  It retails fro $31. 

(photo credit: www.fr2day.com)

Wednesday LOVES...

The things I am loving this Wednesday:

I am loving these Wrist Candy Style Packs by PuraVida Bracelets.  They are very cute and there are tons to choose from in a style that everyone will like.  

Sisters of Los Angeles glasses that were in the Pop Sugar Must Have box! Super cute!  

I really want to build a kit on Benefit Cosmetics website.  It looks so fun and you get a good deal on the products.  

Found on thebeautythesis.com

My faves in this photo are #5 the Dream blush by Maybelline, #7 EOS lip balm, and #9 the Yes to Cucumber towelettes.  I want to try #4 Wet n Wild lip balm and #12 Garnier Moisture Rescue.  

Bergdorf Goodman Coupon...

WHAT DID I ORDER?

In Glossybox's May box, there was a coupon for $25 off at Bergdorf Goodman's store. 

The makeup came in this cute little purple bag that I can use in my purse to hold makeup or lotions.  

Clinique A Different Nail Enamel in Hot Date - this is a very pretty purple.  And I like the tiny bottle size since I rarely use up all the large bottles before I have to throw them out.

Clinique Chubby Stick Intense in Grandest Grape - The Chubby Sticks are one of my favorite Clinique products.  I really like this shade and it is not too bold when blotted.

Eye and Lip Pencil Sharpener -  I had just enough left over to get this little sharpener because I can always use a sharpener.

Shopping Thursday....

What I have been ordering this week....

I have wanted to try Lush for awhile so I ordered this little set - $16.95.  It comes with Sweetie Pie shower jelly and a Rock Star soap.  It has a cute little wrap with it too.  

Birchbox announced a limited edition box this month - Mermaid box and I have never gotten a limited edition box so I snatched this right up.  Cannot wait to try the sea salt spray and 

the cologne.  It comes with a cute little mirror as well.  I used my points to knock off $10 and added the Mystery bag and bracelet.

I realized I needed some new Tupperware - hard to believe since my grandmother sold it for decades but still... I needed some new stuff and look at the cute set I found!  It's called the Little Bit of everything set and it is such a value for $18.00.

And since Father's Day is coming up, I also picked these up for my husband - he loves these and will be thrilled!

And my husband loves wax candles and so I got him these two cute little bears for each of his kids!  These are the  Single Honey Bear s and Flicker had a great deal on them - $2.50 a piece and free shipping.

Not much makeup this week.  I am excited about the order I placed at Berdorf's with my $25 gift certificate.  This Clinique set in purple is very pretty.  And I had a little left over to get a eyeliner/lip pencil sharpener.