Ipsy Glam Bag August 2014

Hey everyone!

I got my first Ipsy bag today! I have heard great things and was really eager to try this subscription out. This first month, I am not disappointed in the slightest.

Ipsy, like Birchbox, runs you $10US. I didn’t pay any tax, and shipping was included.

This month’s theme is Beauty School, playing off the dying days of summer as people are heading back to class. I'm not heading back, of course, but it's still exciting to be at that part of the year where everything seems to be starting over.

Included in this month's bag were five great products that I would consider to be kind of standard staples to any beauty library.

Coastal Scents Shadow Palette Sample

Coastal Scents Shadow Palette Samples are an ideal way to try these highly pigmented, stunning shadows. Each miniature-sized palette offers four specially selected, complementary shades to create a variety of looks. Every shade in the palette is labelled with a corresponding Coastal Scents Hot Pot name, making it easy to repurchase your favorite colors!

It seems to me that Coastal Scents has been making the box rounds. I got some of their shadows in my Birchbox last month, and now they turn up in my ipsy. I like the taupe-y brown colors (surprise, right!?) but the pink isn't my cup of tea. Definitely sticking these in my to-go bag. The pigmentation, especially on the darker colors is to die for.

Full size: Each “Hot Pot” is $1.95, so the full size price of all four is $7.80

Sample size: $2.73

Jersey Shore Sun Mongongo Lip Conditioner

Slather on this balm for soft lips all year long. Mongongo oil has hydrating, regenerating and restructuring properties and offers a unique protection from UV and environmental pollutants in skin applications. Mongongo oil is rich in calcium, magnesium, zinc, cooper and anti-oxidants.

Jersey Shore Sun® Mongongo Nutrient Dense Lip Conditioners are 100% natural and USDA certified organic. Fresh organic flavors. No petrochemicals. Nothing artificial. No petroleum.

I like getting natural products when I can and I always need a new lip balm. This one is going to get put into my adventure bag for my next trip out of town. Yeah, I have an adventure bag. It also smells/tastes like lemon. Yum.

Full size: $5.50

Sample size: $5.50

Klorane Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk

Klorane Dry shampoo with oat milk gently revives hair, ridding it of excess dirt, oil, build-up and odor while leaving hair soft, clean and full of volume.

Directions:

1. Shake can well before use and in between sprays.
2. Spray roots evenly holding can 10 inches from head. Do not spray on hair’s length–it’s meant for the scalp and roots.
3. Leave product in for 2 minutes to allow it to soak up oil.
4. Brush hair thoroughly to remove excess product and distribute evenly.
5. Style as desired!

Since my last unfortunate foray with Pantene's dry shampoo, I haven't bought a new one. I feel like my routine has suffered as a result. This one isn't my favorite. I need to get my hands on some more Batiste. Still, it's doing the job. I also like that this is made in France.

Full size: $19.50 (3.2 oz)

Sample size: $6.46 (1.06 oz)

Manna Kadar Cosmetics Sheer Glo

Sheer Glo is an incandescent liquid that lights up skin with all over radiance. Mix with foundation or wear alone to provide a luminous glow for all skin types. An especially amazing product for mature or dry skin. Sheer Glo provides a youthful glow and dewy finish. Use on face and/or body and get glowing.

Key Benefits:

• Universal Shade

• Mix with foundation for a dewy glow

• Use as highlighter on cheeks

• Mix with lotion for an all over body glow

I still have a luminizer collection that is just too damn big that I'm slowly whittling down. This is gorgeous. It's going to be my go-to while I'm still tanner than normal.

Full size: $29 (1 oz)

Sample size: $7.83 (0.27 oz)

Urban Decay 24/7 Velvet Glide-On Eye Pencil in Plushie

24/7 Velvet is the ultimate tool for smudging, and it has the same long-lasting benefits as the 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencils that you already know and love from Urban Decay. These pencils have a soft, smoky, plush finish. The perfect tool for smoky-eye fanatics, this velvety pencil can create perfectly blended-out or rich, defined lines.

I had resisted the draw of the 24/7 pencils. That was a mistake. I always get panda eyes when I use eyeliner. Always. But not when I use this. Holy crap. I love the dark plum color and it stays on so so so well. I'm so impressed. I'm going out and buying more soon. Urban Decay is my new go-to liner forever.

Full size: $20 (0.04 oz)

Sample size: $15 (.03oz)

Total value: $37.52

Wow! There are so many great products in this bag that I feel like I'll be sticking with Ipsy for a while. It's just too good.