Beauty Talk: My December Ipsy

As a lover of all things beauty and skincare, a subscription service like Ipsy's Glam Bag is right up my alley. For $10 a month, a handful of products are delivered to my doorstep, and I get exposed to new brands and products. It's a win-win. This month I decided to share what I got in my Ipsy bag as well as share my thoughts on the products now that I've had a chance to try them out. 

First: the bag. It's red, quilted, and oh-so holiday appropriate. I'll probably never use it. It's got that cheap plastic-y finish that makeup bags often have to help keep them clean, but I'd rather it just be fabric. I'll probably end up giving it to someone who will enjoy it more than me!

Marc Anthony Hydrating Coconut Oil & Shea Butter Deep Nourishing Conditioning Treatment: If your desire in life is to smell like a piña colada, then this product is for you! In all seriousness, this seems like a great (drugstore) conditioner. I used this after coloring my hair (since it's ultra moisturizing and color-safe) and it definitely did the job. Because of the coconut oil and shea butter, it definitely has a discernible scent, but it's not overly fragrance-y. 

Clark's Botanicals Deep Moisture Mask: This product was definitely the dark horse of my bag. I don't often gravitate toward intense moisturizers, but Ipsy knows what they're doing - as we make our way into the colder months, everyone's skin - even mine! - is looking for a little extra somethin'. This product is designed to be used two ways: as a rise-off mask, or as a leave-on moisturizer. While I haven't used the product as a mask, I have used it in the evenings as a moisturizer and I absolutely love it. 

Any dryness I was experiencing around the perimeter of my face has disappeared, and it hasn't irritated my skin at all. This product is thick, so I use it sparingly, but it still sinks into the skin quickly - I apply it after I remove my makeup and go about my business without have to worry about it transferring or leaving me looking like a greased chicken. It adds huge value to the bag - at .5 oz, it's just under a third of the full size, but since the full size (1.7 oz) is $72, I don't think I'll be justifying that purchase anytime soon, no matter how much I love the product. Let's hope I get some more samples from this brand in the future!

IT Cosmetics Hello Lashes Clinically Proven 5-in-1 Mascara: In the last year, I've become an IT Cosmetics convert. I love their Universal Brow Pencil, their powder foundation, and especially their brushes. Needless to say, this mascara is one I've been wanting to try for a while.

I'm not going to lie, I wasn't that impressed with this mascara the first time I used it, and it put me off giving it a fair shot BUT once I gave it a few days to "dry out" after opening (this can sometimes make all the difference) and I gave it another shot, I ended up really liking it. 

It gives great length and definition to my lashes, and although I'm still learning to contend with the wand (which I have a love/hate relationship with) I'm glad I played around with it a bit. I definitely understand the "hype" around this particular mascara - it's giving my beloved Lights, Camera, Lashes a run for it's money! PSSST - let me know what your favorite mascara is below!

Elizabeth Mott Thank Me Later Eye Shadow Primer: I have a on again/off again relationship with eye shadow primers. I want to find one that changes everything, but I never have, so I keep looking. I have hooded lids, which means that most eye shadows are going to crease/fade/smudge throughout the day, no matter how great they are. That's why I was excited to receive this - but I wasn't wowed by it.

I tried it under different brands of eye shadow, and even different finishes (matte vs shimmer) but didn't find that it increased the pigmentation or lasting power of my eye shadow in any way. I'm disappointed, but not surprised - I think eye shadow primers might be a myth? Or maybe they're just something that works for those with a different eye shape than mine.

Pacifica Power of Love Natural Lipstick in Nudie Red:  I was super excited to get a product from Pacifica, a brand I've been curious about but have never tried. This lipstick was the full size product I received in this month's bag, and I'm a fan. It's a great shade for me, a your-lips-but-better color that goes with anything and everything. 

While it's not the most creamy lipstick in the world, it's not drying at all and has decent lasting power, which is pretty impressive considering it's a natural lipstick formulated without petroleum, oils, or waxes. At $9.99, the lipstick alone makes this month's bag worth the price of admission, which is nice to know since I'm going to get some serious wear out of this. 

It's also nice to know that if I want try any of the other products from the brand, all I have to do is swing by Target (and, let's get real, I'm probably already there). 

That's everything I got in last month's Ipsy! If you've been thinking about signing up for an Ipsy subscription, you can do it here. Let me know if you've tried any of these products, or share what you got in your Ipsy Glam Bag with me! P.S. Definitely let me know if eye shadow primers are LIES or if I just haven't found The One.