January 2014 Ipsy Glam Bag Review

January's Ipsy Bag had us ringing in the New Year with 19 reasons why 2014 will be amazing. Everyone's bag came with an assortment of five sample products from a possible 19 different products. The theme of this month's bag was more skin care oriented than past bags, but I was lucky enough to receive a couple makeup products in mine. I subscribe to Ipsy because it continually send out more makeup then other subscriptions on the market. Here is hoping that next month provides more of a makeup selection.

If you would like to sign up for your own Ipsy Bag, I would love if you would use my referral link by clicking here. Ipsy cost $10USD or $14.95CDN per month and you are guaranteed 5 samples a month that can be either full size or sample size.

Willa Naturals Lavender Face Towelettes 

These cloths reminded me of the LA Fresh makeup removing cloths. These were thin, small cloths, not big enough to cleanse my whole face with one cloth. They did remove my makeup fairly well, however, waterproof/long wearing makeup was too much for these cloths. They have an earthy lavender scent which isn't my favourite, and I found them to be on the drier side. I would purchase these.

Alterna Caviar Anti-Aging Dry Shampoo

This dry shampoo comes is a white powder, that has a slight perfumed scent. It did absorb oil, but not any better then drugstore dry shampoos that I have used before. Because my hair is so dark, I found that this product left a white cast in my hair, and it was very messy to work with. I think the mess was due to the packaging of the sample. I would not purchase.

Marula Pure Marula Oil

This is a tiny sample, but a little goes a long way with this oil. It has a woodsy, earthy scent. The scent actually reminded me of walking down the lumber aisle at The Home Depot. It absorbs fairly quickly into my skin, but leaves a greasy look and feel. I probably wont use this on my face, but on my hands or other dry areas of my body for extra moisture. I would not purchase.

Mica Tinted Lip Balm in Fiesta

This is my favourite product of the bag! This is a highly pigmented lipstick (not balm), that goes on smooth and dries to a semi-matte finish, that lasts all day. It starts out as a bright berry pink and fades to a light pink stain as the day goes on. It is a little drying, but with a balm under or over it, you are good to go. I would purchase.

Elizabeth Mott Smooth Shadow Eye Pencil in Penny

This creamy, pigmented pencil works well as both an eyeliner and cream eyeshadow. The colour reminds me of Maybelline's Colour Tattoo in Bad to the Bronze. The product is very long lasting and takes quite a bit of cleansing to remove the product once it sets. The only thing I don't like about this pencil is that it's made of plastic and I have to sharpen that plastic to use it. I would purchase.

September 2013 Ipsy Glam Bag Review

Of all the beauty box subscriptions I've tried, Ipsy has been my favourite. They consistently impress me, and supply me with new and interesting products to try. I also enjoy the size of the samples that Ipsy gives to its subscribers. I can really get a sense if I am going to like the product enough to buy the full size. If you would like to sign up for your own Ipsy bag you can do so by clicking here. If you sign up for Ipsy you will receive a mix of 5 full and sample size products, for only $10USD or $14.95CDN.

In September, we received 5 items plus a bonus sample of Michelle's new EM Cosmetics line. The sample of the palette provided us with enough to get one eye look, but I don't think it will give me a true inspiration of the quality of her products. I actually forgot to take a picture of it for this post. There isn't a lot of product on the card or I would have swatched them.

Freeman Paper Masks

I've really been into masks lately, so I was excited to see these in my bag. I get to try 3 different masks, which is nice because a mask that works for one person doesn't always work for someone else. The brightening mask looks the most intriguing, but unfortunately I am allergic to roses so I wont be able to try it. Right now my skin is so dry so I think that it will benefit greatly from the Blue Agave mask. These masks are fairly affordable so If I end up liking them I wont have to break the bank.

Elizabeth Mott It's So Big Mascara

The last few mascara samples I've gotten from Ipsy have been truly disappointing. The Pixi one was so bad and hard to wash off that I lost at least 5 lashes per eye every time I used it. This mascara on the other hand is simply amazing. It has dark black colour payoff that really makes my lashes look fuller, and makes them pop against my makeup. This mascara lengthens more than volumizes, and I am left with a natural, yet defined, fan of lashes. I would definitely consider buying the full size.

Cailyn Tinted Lip Balm in Big Apple

I was so happy to receive this product because I absolutely loved the Cailyn eyeliner I got a few bags ago. Although the packaging is a little bulky, it is perfect for on the go, as it has a built in brush in the lid. I feel like this product is more of a stain then a balm. I found it somewhat drying on the lips, but it was extremely long lasting, and left a pretty pigmented stain to my lips after it wore away. The size of the brush comes in handy when trying to get a precise application. I can't wait to rock this colour all the way through Fall and Winter.

NYX Single Eyeshadow in Hot Crystal

I was looking forward to trying a NYX single eyeshadow because I've only ever used NYX palettes before, and I'm sure there is a quality variance. Although I am not happy with the colour I received, it does work well as a lid colour or inner eye highlight. Hot Crystal is a glittery, frosty, white shadow. I wont get much use out of this colour, but I now know that the quality of these shadows are much better then the shadows in NYX's palettes.

Starlooks Eyeliner in Obsidian

At first I was a little iffy about the quality of this liner. When I first swatched it (you will see below), there wasn't a lot of pigmentation. It took about 5 swipes to get the swatch that I did. However, after sharpening it slightly, it is like a completely different pencil. It is super pigmented, and creamy, and blends beautifully. The only downside is that because it is so creamy you need to set it with some black eyeshadow or it is smudge city on you eyelids. I'm really thinking of signing up for Starlooks Starbox based off this pencil alone.

Obsidian, Hot Crystal, Big Apple

Overall, I definitely think that the value is there with September's bag. I am happy with almost everything I received and cant wait to try other products from the brands that I received. Ipsy succeeded this month in delivering new and exciting products. Stay tuned for my October unboxing/review next week. I am trying to get caught up in time for Novembers box.

Review: Wantable.co Monthly Makeup Subscription Box

Hey girls! Today's post is really exciting! I am going to be reviewing Wantable.co's Monthly Makeup Subscription service. I want to disclaim now that is post is going to be very long! I am going to be going over all the important company information, subscription info, and reviewing the products I was sent. I also want to disclaim that I was sent this promo box for free from Wantable's PR Rep Jaclyn. However, even though I did not pay for this box my views and opinions are completely honest, and my own.

Wantable is a makeup and jewelry subscription company, that is well established and reviewed in the U.S., and is making the move to Canada in April 2013. I actually heard about this company back in September 2012 when they were first launching, and recently heard through Smart Canucks that they will be offering a free box to all Canadians. We just have to pay for shipping. Well, naturally, the beauty enthusiast in me totally wanted to jump on this offer and within the past few weeks it has spread throughout some Canadian beauty enthusiast Facebook groups that I am a part of. I got in contact with their PR Rep Jaclyn to find out more information and she offered to send me a box so that I could review it here on my blog. Thank you so much Jaclyn! I just want to say that Customer Service at Wantable is amazing! They answer all your emails and questions in a timely manner and go out of their way to make sure that their customers are satisfied!

The Wantable Team!

I've broken down all of the information you will need to know into different questions that arose for me while I've been learning about this company. Hopefully, I answer all of your questions as well.

What Wantable claims.

"We send you hand-selected boxes filled with items that perfectly match your style."

How do Canadians sign up for their first box for free? How much does shipping cost?

The first box will be available mid-April. You can sign up to be on the waiting list using the following link. Sign up for your Free Wantable Box here!

According to Wantable, once you sign up for the waiting list they will email you instructions on how to get your free box, when they launch in April. Keep in mind that you must pay for shipping, so the box isn't really free. I just noticed on the web page that it says you must subscribe and your second box will be free. Now I am/was not aware that you had to pay for a first box before you get one for free and even in my talks with Jaclyn I was never given the impression that that was so.

Shipping for this free box will be a $5 premium rate, plus whatever duties and taxes apply for where you live. Therefore, everyone will probably be charged a different amount based on where in Canada they live.

UPDATE - Due to Wantable still being a start up company it is not feasible for them to offer everyone their first box for free. As everyone would sign up for the free box and then unsubscribe. So now all Canadians who subscribe and pay for their first box will be able to get their second box for free plus the shipping costs.

UPDATE #2 - For the 1000 people who signed up to get the first box free, they will still get that. They capped that promotion at 1000, and because it was so successful, they opened up the page for more people to try as well, but their second box will be free instead. So, anyone who signed up before yesterday - March 27th, will receive their first box free, and anyone who signs up from here on out will get the second one free.

What do you get when you subscribe to Wantable?

There are two different types of subscriptions at Wantable. You can sign up for either a recurring monthly Jewelry or Makeup Subscription. Or you can buy a one time gift of either Jewelry or Makeup. The Jewelry Box comes with 4-5 items. The Makeup Box includes 5 full size items, with additional sample sized items sometimes included. Both boxes are valued at over $80 and are filled with boutique, premium, brand products.

What does this subscription cost?

$36 per month for a recurring membership + $5 premium shipping rate + any additional duties and taxes

or

$40 for a one time gift purchase + $5 premium shipping rate + any additional duties and taxes

Now Americans normally get free shipping included with the base price of each option, but us Canadians are going to be paying quite a bit more per month. Because the duties and taxes are different for each part of Canada, you will be able to figure out what your monthly cost will be after you pay the $5+ duties and taxes on the free boxes. I'm just guesstimating here, but I'm thinking that it's going to be at least $20 additional for Canadians each month. I'm not sure if I would be willing to pay that much for a subscription box, full size products or not. But, we'll see.

What if I don't like the products I am sent?

No problem! Send them back to Wantable. Returns are always free!

What if I can't afford it one month, or would like a break?

Just like Julep you can choose to skip a month or two and still keep your current membership active. You are not locked into anything. You can cancel at anytime, no questions asked.

How do they customize my box according to my style?

Every month you can choose to go with the curated box that has set colours in it, or you can choose to have a customized box made for you.

There is a very comprehensive Beauty Questionnaire you go through upon subscribing. They ask you questions about the following beauty categories: brows, lip colour, lash products, eyeliner, eyeshadow, brushes, highlighter, bronzer, blush, & nail polish.

At first you pick whether you like, love, or dislike those categories. Then each category is broken down into subcategories, then colour option, and product type. All with like, love, and dislike options. So if you say that you love black gel liner, and hate hot pink lipstick, you will get the liner, but never get hot pink lipstick.

How long does it take to ship to me?

Shipping takes 5-9 business days and they will ship to anywhere in Canada.

Who chooses the products we get every month?

Wantable doesn't just hire anyone to pick their products! Industry specialists hand pick the brands and products. Let's meet them!

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Now as you can see, this subscription is a lot more, cost wise, than others on the market right now, even Glossybox. But what makes this subscription totally worth it is that you always get full size products. And these products are completely customized to you style and preferences based off the Beauty Profile. And on top of all that you can change what you want to receive every month, by changing your Beauty Profile to reflect what you like and dislike. And finally, if for some reason you still are not happy, (although I can't see why you wouldn't be), you can return the box at no extra charge to you, plus a refund of your money.

You will never get packet samples like Gylmm, get drugstore brands or expired products, like Glossybox, and you wont have to wait three months for your next box like Loose Button. You will always get full size, in-style, and in-season products and brands delivered to your door every month.

Now that you know about the company, here is what I received in my PR promo box. I kept my beauty profile very open, liking almost everything, as I wanted to see the variety of colours and products they would send me. I think going forward I am going to refine it a bit because some of the colours I got are just okay. I kind of wish now that I had stuck with the Robert Jones curated box instead of getting the customized one. I didn't really like the green eyeshadow in RJ's box, but I would have preferred to receive the pink lip gloss and blush to the ones that were chosen for me.

The packaging of this box is very nice. It's a purple cardboard box with the Wantable logo on the outside. The products are wrapped in black tissue paper. Inside the first thing you see is a thank you card and an invoice. What I really liked about the invoice is that they show you that they were listening to your requests by listing the product categories you did and did not want. They also list the products you received and the retail price of them. On the opposite side of the page there is a little letter about this months products and the thoughts behind their choices.

The second sheet shows a small picture of each of the products sent, a description of the product, and an application tip from "T".  I really like this touch because sometimes when I receive products in these boxes I can never figure out the best way to apply them.

Once seeing my products this month I noticed that they sent me everything I need to create a complete makeup look. I really like this aspect!

Here is a breakdown of the products I received:

Brand: 29 Cosmetics
Product: Crush Cheek Blusher in Tannins
Retail Value: $36.00
Description: A real honest-to-goodness healthy glow packed with anti-oxidants in shades that leave the skin naturally looking "blushed" not made up.
Tip from T: Swirl your brush in this beautiful blush and apply in a circular motion to the apples of the cheeks, extending outward towards the temples.
My Thoughts: This isn't a blush colour that I would normally pick out for myself. So it is nice to get something different. However, when swatched this blush comes off almost brown and reminds me of a glittery bronzer. I said I didn't like bronzer, so I don't know why they would send me something that resembles one.

Brand: Be a Bombshell
Product: Felt Tip Eyeliner in Espresso
Retail Value: $14.00
Description: Our long lasting eyeliner formula in a rich brown. Serves as a great base for neutral eye shadows.
Tip from T: Connect short strokes together until you feel comfortable with application, or practice on the back of your hand until you find the proper angle and amount of pressure to get that perfect cat-eye you desire.
My Thoughts: I really liked the chocolate brown colour of this eyeliner and it went on very smooth. It wasn't overly opaque so a few layers may be needed. The marker shape makes application very easy.

Brand: Benecos
Product: Natural Baked Eyeshadow in Amazing
Retail Value: $12.99
Description: You can't go wrong with our brilliantly-hued Natural Baked Eye shadows. These mineral shadows are baked to provide you with long-lasting colour. Organic plant oils create a creamy application, goes on smooth and even. Colour sparkles and enhances your look. Moisten for a more dramatic look.
Tip from T: Using a medium shadow brush, apply shadow from upper lash line to just below the brow bone. Pair with your favourite liner and mascara, as desired.
My Thoughts: I really like this colour! It's like a greyish teal and goes on sheer enough for a wash of colour all over the lid. But I think I will use it more as an eyeliner. It will give the perfect pop of colour to a neutral eye.

Brand: Color Club
Product: Nail Polish in On the Rocks from the Fiesta Collection
Retail Value: $8.00
Description: A flashy molten silver, Color Club's On the Rocks adds a touch of luxe glamour to your everyday look.
Tip from T: Apply two thin coats of polish on top of your favourite base and finish with a topcoat for a lasting manicure.
My Thoughts: I have been loving polishes that look like metal and this is just that! This polish goes on fairly smooth, but has some streaking.

Brand: Lavera
Product: Organic Lip Gloss in Almond Kiss
Retail Value: $16.80
Description: Get your daily dose of vitamins and minerals with this shimmering healthy lip infusion. Made with 100% pure crushed minerals for shimmer, plus anti aging sun protection and super hydrating oils of vitamin E and Jojoba.
Tip from T: Apply natural lip gloss straight from the tube for a hint of sheer colour and shimmer.
My Thoughts: This gloss looks kinda brown in the tube. But swatched it has a slight peachy undertone. The shimmer is very noticeable in this gloss. I don't know how often I will use this gloss. I prefer pinks and reds, not browns.

Brand: Milu Beauty
Product: Amber Sugar Scrub Sample
Retail Value: $0.00
Description: A luxurious experience to exfoliate the skin with sugar and nourish the body with vitamins, essential oils, and a splash of bourbon. Use as an indulgence ritual to smooth, soften, moisturize and heal the body. Suitable for all skin types. Paraben Free and Fragrance Free.
Tip from T:  Try shaving with this for the most ultra-soft sexy legs you've ever had!
My Thoughts: It was nice to get an extra sample and it smells amazing!

Overall Value of this box: $87.79

Overall, I really enjoyed the products I received. I would definitely suggest filling out the Beauty Profile to specify exactly which colours and products you like to receive so that you are always getting the most for your money. I am going to stay subscribed for the free box, and depending on how much extra it will cost for me for shipping I may stay subscribed after that. At $36 I could justify it because I am getting full size products. However, I can't justify paying much more then that, seeing as I am trying to save for a house. It would have been nice to see shipping included in the monthly subscription cost like it is for Americans, but we Canadians always get the short end of the stick somehow, so here's to hoping shipping isn't too expensive.

Remember to click the link above to sign up for the free box, this is a generic link, not an affiliate link. Also please leave your thoughts on this company and this subscription service in the comments below so that Jaclyn and Wantable.co can see the opinions of their Canadian customers.

Check out Wantable's Website!

Like Wantable on Facebook!

Are you going to be signing up for Wantable in April?



I'm back with a Sephora/Target Haul!

Hey ladies, sorry I've been gone so long. This month has just not been good for blogging. I was working a lot at the beginning of the month and then I got the flu which lasted two weeks, then I was out of town. But enough with excuses I'm back and ready to get back into blogging full force.

Last weekend me and the BF went shopping across the border. We went mainly to Christmas shop but I also did some shopping for myself. It was my first time going to Sephora and I did a little damage but not as much as I could have. I just treated myself to a few goodies :)

First stop was Target. I only picked up a few things because I wanted to save my money for Sephora. I found this really pretty Jemma Kidd Neutral Palette on sale for only $18 but I resisted (I did really want it though lol).

I picked up the ELF Tinted Moisturizer to try because my current foundation is almost empty. After trying it on my hand it seems nice. Very lightweight with sheer coverage, but I should be able to build it up without it looking cakey.

On the way to the cash register I saw this EOS lip balm in a pomegranate raspberry flavour. I love these lip balms and a have a few different ones already, but thought this would be a good addition to the collection.

This little Benefit Kit was the main reason I wanted to go to Sephora. I've always wanted to try some Benefit products so I thought this would be the perfect kit. If only I could have walked away with just this.

Sephora is really good at putting little value sets right at the cash register, so while you are waiting to pay you will pick up more things. I've seen reviews of this trio on both blogs and YouTube so when I saw it sitting there calling my name I just had to add it to the basket.

This Tokidoki palette was on sale for only $3 and it contains four purple and silver eye shadows as well as a shimmery pink blush.

The Sephora Smokey Kohl liners were on sale as well so I picked one up in purple and black. They have a really cool triangle shape and I'm excited to try them out.

The mini Urban Decay Primer Potion was at the checkout as well and it easily fell right into the basket. This is a beauty blogger favourite and we'll see if it becomes one of mine.

The sales lady at the checkout counter actually talked me into this and after I bought it I had buyers remorse and kinda wanted to return it. But now that I've got it home I'm glad I bought it. It comes with every form of eyeliner that there is and I am sure it will last me a year before I have to buy another black eyeliner.

This kit has a funny story behind it. I have been researching The Body Shop skincare for sometime and actually had a sales associate talk to me about it but I didn't buy it. At Great Lakes Crossing I spun the Deal Wheel and was given a coupon for $10 off coupon. I almost bought this skincare kit and it was going to cost me $30. I didn't buy it cause I didn't want to spend that much.Then the whole day I talked to the BF about how I should've bought it cause it was a good deal. In Sephora on the clearance rack I saw the same kit for only $19! It became mine super quick and I cant wait to try it out.

I also received a bunch of mini and deluxe samples.

2 deluxe samples of Benefit Hello Flawless Foundation

I deluxe sample of Benefit Eye Cream

Foil packet samples of fresh Soy Moisturizing cream, Skin Foundation, and Sephora brand moisturizer.

 

Overall my Sephora experience was really good and the sales associates were really helpful. I cant want to go back!

What's in my Overnight Bag??

I've seen many different variations of this post but thought while packing my overnight bag that I should do my first "What's in my bag?" post. I slept over at my boyfriends last night so I packed extremely light. Normally I would pack more but seeing as I was just 10 minutes away from home I didn't think I needed that much.

Here is everything that I had in my toiletry bag. When I travel I like to bring sample sizes of almost everything in order to use up my sample stash before they go bad.

Although this toiletry bag works well for small trips, when I go away for more then a couple days it just doesn't do. I found a great train case at Walmart, it's on my Christmas List so hopefully I get it.

• Marcelle Essentials Makeup Remover
• B.Kamins Lip Balm
• Dove Cleartone Deodorant
• Contact Solution
• Contacts & Contact Case
• Glasses

• Mario Badescu Cucumber Cleansing Lotion
• Mario Badescu Glycolic Foaming Cleanser
• Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Serum
• Estee Lauder Perfectionist Wrinkle Lifting/Firming Serum
• Cotton Rounds
• CyberDerm H2O Hydration Face Cream
• Mario Badescu Strawberry Face Scrub
• Mario Badescu Special Mask for Oily Skin

• La Fresh Waterproof Makeup Remover Wipe
• Biore Pore Strip
• Garnier Body Shea Body Lotion
• Free Your Mane Shampoo & Conditioner

• All over eyeshadow brush
• Definer eyeshadow brush
• Blending crease brush
• Powder brush
• Blush brush
• Foundation brush

•  MAC Concealer (depotted)
• Garnier Anti-Dark Circle Roller w/Concealer
• PUR 4-in-1 Mineral Makeup in Light
• Revlon Colorstay Blush in Roseberry
• Caryl Baker Visage Mineral Eyeshadow in Pillow
• Laura Mercier Eyeshadow in Sandstone
• MAC Painterly Paint Pot
• Essence Quattro Eyeshadow
• Annabelle Kohl Eyeliner in Black
• L'Oreal Linear Intense Liquid Eyeliner
• Annabelle Le BIG Show Mascara

FOTD: Date Night

Me and my boyfriend spend a lot of time together, but we don't always go out. Occasionally we will have a date night where we go mini golfing, get ice cream, or go out to dinner and a movie. Here is the makeup I wore on our last date night.

 

FACE

Covergirl Trublend Foundation in 410

Garnier Anti Dark Circle Roller in Light

MAC Select Coverup in NW20

PUR 4-in-1 Pressed Mineral Makeup

MAC Tenderling Blush

MAC Cream Colour Base in Pearl

 

 

 

EYES

Hard Candy Eyeshadow Primer

MAC Painterly Paint Pot

Essence Quattro Eyeshadow in 05 to die for

Caryl Baker Visage Mineral Eyeshadow in Pillow

Cargo Eyeliner in 82 Black

Maybelline The Falsies Volume Express Flared Mascara

 

LIPS

Revlon Colour Burst Lip Butter in Sweet Tart

 

How Much Does My Face Cost?

I have seen posts like this on many beauty blogs and it sparked my interest. How much does my everyday face of makeup actually cost?? When buying products over months of time I think many of us really underestimate how much we actually spend on our beloved products. I decided to look into how much my daily makeup look actually cost me...with tax. In Canada tax is 13% which ended up being a lot on the makeup below.

Caryl Baker Visage Firming Eye Gel - $28.00

Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel - $31.00

CoverGirl Trublend Foundation - $9.99

NYC Loose Translucent Face Powder - $3.99

MAC Sheertone Blush in Tenderling - $22.50

MAC Cream Colour Base in Pearl - $20.00

L'Oreal Studio Secrets Magic Perfecting Base - $8.99

Clinique Colour Surge Eye Shadow Trio - $28.00

MAC Painterly Paint Pot - $20.00

Laura Mercier Eye Colour in Sandstone - $22.00

Garnier Skin Renew Anti Dark Circle Roller in Light - $12.99

MAC Select Cover Up in NW20 - $20.00

Annabelle Kohl Eyeliner in Black - $4.99

EOS Lip Balm in Sweet Mint - $4.99

Caryl Baker Visage Mineral Eyeshadow - $5.00

C.O. Bigelow My Favourite Lip Balm - $5.50

Annabelle Le BIG Show Mascara - $4.99

L'Oreal Carbon Black Liner Intense - $9.49

Revlon Colour Burst Lip Butter in Sweet Tart - $8.99

Total w/o tax - $271.41

Total w/ tax - $306.69



How much does your face cost? If you do this type of post let me know in the comments below. I would love to see what products you use on a daily basis. : )