Ipsy Glam Bag - March 2015 - Full Review

Hi friends,

I am back with a full review on all the products I received in my Ipsy Glam Bag for the month of March 2015. As always, this blog post is the companion to the original open bag video for the same month, which you can watch here:

Not familiar with Ipsy Glam Bag? It is a cosmetics and skin Care samples subscription box for which you pay $10/month . Each month, you will receive 5 items (there is always one full size) that are always a mix of skin care and makeup. The greatest thing about Ipsy Glam Bag is that you earn referral points when your friends subscribe through your link, as well as additional points for your reviews. In turns, your earned points may be used for the purchase of more samples on the website itself. You also get competitive coupon codes for full size products. Need I say more? I love Ipsy! Click here to get your own subscription!

Here is what I received for the March 2015 bag:

Ipsy Glam Bag March 2015

1. Pur - Liss Beauty - Pur Delicate 4 in 1 Facial Cleanser:

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Cleanse the day away in one simple step with this sulfate-free blend of Soy Milk, Whole Oat and White Tea. This gentle cleanser leaves your face silky soft, without a trace of impurity. The 4-in-1 sulfate free & non-drying formula gently washes away dirt and makeup (even mascara!), while soothing and toning skin. (quoted from Ipsy Website).

I thought this was a good face cleanser, It comes as a creamy formula which worked very well with my Clarisonic Mia II. It did not dry my skin and took ll my makeup off. What else can you ask from a cleanser?  It's a bit expensive ($36) when considering that most of it will go down the drain! B+

2. Dr. Brandt - Anti AgyingMattifying Lotion:

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“An apple a day keeps the lines away.” This oil-free, lightweight lotion is formulated with apple stem cells to help delay the natural signs of aging by maintaining the longevity and activity of stem cells in the skin. Simultaneously, retinol stimulates new cell turnover and improves the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Dr. Brandt’s multi-tasking formula provides the best of both worlds, delivering anti-aging and pore minimizing/mattifying benefits.(Quoted from Ipsy Website)

Here is another example of something that is way to expensive for what you actually get from it! There are a lot of mattifying lotions on the market, this one is $55 and they pretty much all do the same thing and contain the same ingredients in order to "mattify" your T-Zones. This one does have a nice fresh, citrucy scent and feels a bit like a spa, however, it's nothing more than a very fluid lotion that will keep your skin matte. Beware, that means that your fine wrinkles will become more visible as it is not a flexible lotion upon being absorbed into your skin. In fact, I am not sure if it was a reaction to the mile long list of ingredients or simply the fact that it is mattifying, but this formula, I felt on my skin - in manner of a mask - all day! Too expensive, little result, not for me. I would rather stick with my blotting tissues and setting powder. C+.

3. Boo Boo Coverup - Concealer:

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Have a Boo-Boo? Skip the bandage and the shiny ointment. Look your best even while you heal with Boo-Boo Cover-Up for face and body. Our innovative formula offers great coverage for skin imperfections while containing ingredients known in nature to promote healing. (Quoted from Ipsy Website).

Let me get straight to the point here: I hate this product! It is the equivalent of opening a tube of acrylic paint and putting it on your face. For $20 per tube, while the coverage is complete, it is very difficult to blend. Powder looks awful on it and it ended up cracking along the edges by end of day, making it even more noticeable. It did not help that the shade medium is way too yellow for my fair skin tone. This is not a product for me. But if you are prone to blemishes or need to cover something completely such as a birth mark, you may want to try this alternative to DermaBlend. D.

4. Jessica Liebeskind - Vintage Illuminating Face  Highlighter:

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Add a beautiful wash of color and subtle, sexy shimmer with the ILLUMINATING FACE HIGHLIGHTER. Created to be worn on top of fresh, dewy skin or as a delicate highlight over pretty blush – the reflective pearls add radiance on contact delivering a diamond-like finish to the skin. (Quoted from Ipsy Website).

This product is out of stock already and I know why! It is AMAZING! I do not like nor do I use highlighters, but this one, I fell in love with the minute I sampled it and have been using it ever since! It is the perfect peachy - pearlescent hue that is subtle and in essence does not look like a highlighter, in fact, I have received nothing but compliments since using it in that my face now "glows". You better check their site and get your own (when it is in stock again). Well worth the $20. A+.

5. NYX Cosmetics - Butter Lipstick in Hunk:

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Pamper your lips with a hydrating kiss of smooth Butter Lipstick in 22 luxurious shades. The delicate texture of satin fused with the high color saturation creates an even finish on lips that’s long-wearing and beautiful. (quoted from Ipsy Website).

I am already a big fan of NYX Cosmetics, I love their lipsticks, their eye shadows and blushes. When considering this is a mass retailer brand, the results are at times as good if not surpassing high end brands.  I already own a couple of the Butter Lipsticks and was pleased to get another one, unfortunately this was the wrong shade of wine and purple for me as it is much too dark. I do use it for a dramatic effect on my inner lip or as a dab, otherwise, full strength is just too dark. Cheap, under $7, I would definitely recommend that you check other colors within this range of NYX Butter Lipstick since the formula is perfect! B+.

And this will conclude the full review from the Ipsy Glam Bag for March 2015. It was a great bag to receive, not so much when it came to sampling. I really did not care for the Dr Brandt Mattifying lotion nor the Boo Coverup. Otherwise, still a great bag!

Thank you so much for reading my blog and watching my YouTube videos! Share the love!

Sophia, NJ


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Swatches & Stuff - March 2015

Hi friends, 

Welcome back to another episode of Swatches & Stuff, in which, I go over some of the products I have tried and tested in the last 30 days. This time around, it's all makeup, no skincare or "stuff".
You can watch the coordinating video on my YouTube Channel here:

Swatches & Stuff - March 2015

1. L'Oreal Infallible Pro-Matte Foundation in Natural Beige - $11.08

Infallible Pro-Matte

Once in a while, I will try a new foundation. I do not really know why I would want to do that since I have been very partial to my favorite foundation (Yves Rocher True Light) for years. I have never been able to match its flawless results. Yet, as I mentioned above, once in a while I will give another brand a chance. 
I picked this Infallible for its 24 hour stay-on claim as well as the matte finish. The color I chose is Natural Beige, similar to Buff, a beige with a hint of pink as it suits my skin tone better.
There are a lot of things I like about this foundation but some I do not like as well. So let do a quick pros and cons for you:

Pros: complete coverage, stays on all day (no budging, no transfer), good color match, matte finish, looks amazing on camera (I am wearing it in the video above).
                                   Cons: too much coverage (looks pasty), makes fine lines and pores too visible,                                    dry, not flexible (you can feel it), difficult to apply.

So, in conclusion, this is not a bad foundation, it is just too much and requires a lot of work for a flawless application. If you are using your fingers, you will have a coverage that is very thick and pasty, I would recommend that you mix it with your moisturizer in order to get a better, more fluid coverage, otherwise, use a foundation brush like the Crown Brush Syntho Series Foundation Brush which I use all the time and work your foundation in upward strokes for a better, more even coverage.
I did not completely fall in love with this, nor do I hate it. I think it looks great on camera, but in natural light and on the go, it makes fine lines and pores way to visible for me to feel comfortable, I do like the fact that it stays on all day and is similar, in that respect to the Revlon Color Stay Foundation. B.


2. L'Oreal Infallible - Pro- Matte - Pressed Powder - $11.88 

L'Oreal - Infallible Pressed Powder

I have purchased this powder at my local drugstore since there was a buy one - get one 50% off incentive. I really was not in the market for a new face powder but really wanted to see how it would work with the foundation within the same line.
I can tell you that both together is just way too much coverage for me. Think 1950s coverage!
This powder is very dense, there is zero fall-out. In that sense, it is very similar to the Lancome 'Dual Finish' Versatile Powder Makeup (Though I did not try this one as a wet formula yet).

Because it is very dense, I recommend you apply this powder with a brush rather than the sponge applicator provided in the package.
And on that subject. I did not like the packaging at all. The top part is flushed to the powder itself (no edge or recess), it does not seem very hygienic if you are going to carry this in your purse's makeup bag. The bottom part, which houses the sponge) provides a nice size mirror though.
Overall, I thought this was okay, with a good matte finish when applied lightly, but again, when combined with the Infallible Foundation, it is way too much coverage for me, but looks good on camera. B.

3. Milani - Rose Powder Blush in Tea Rose - $12.40

Milani Rose Powder Blush

There really are not too many Milani products I do not like. This is a drugstore brand, in my opinion, that rivals the high end ones each and every time I try one of their products.
This blush is no exception, I find it to be stunning all around. First, the packaging. It is a very large size, I cannot see myself EVER hitting pan on this one. It also has this beautiful rose relief effect that makes it attractive while providing even more product. The color I picked is Tea Rose, a dark rose with a hint of brick. It is completely matte, no fall-out, beautiful finish and stays on all day. What else could you ask for from a blush. Superbe! I love it! A+.





4. L'Oreal Colour Riche Eye Shadow Quad in Stacked Heels - $6.39

L'Oreal Colour Riche Eye Shadow

This eye shadow quad comes in a total of 20 different shade combinations. Here is something to be excited about when you want variety!
However, while I think it looks great on my eyes and received loads of complements in the coordinating video above, I am very disapointed with this quad. And here is why:
First, the packaging is ridiculous, no one is going to use shadow that is packed in those tiny little corners, you will hit pan in the middle, where there is the most product and more than likely will toss the whole thing, shortly after. The pans themselves are also not very well secured and one of them is actually ready to fall out. In other words, this is cheap packaging, and nothing like the Infallible line  from the same brand (I recommend those).

Second, and while the colors are beautiful when swatched on your hand, they do not translate at all on your lids, in fact, they blend in so much that you cannot tell there is a gradient or a transition going on, aside from the two opposite colors, namely the white shimmer and the darkest purple in the quad. In the Video, I swatched them on my hand, they looked gorgeous and then blended them completely with just one stroke. Eye shadow should not do that, in my opinion, I need to have contrast between colors, if I wanted one color, I would buy single shadows, not quads. 
Further, there is way too much fall-out and the stuff will not stay on at all, regardless of my using a primer. 
In conclusion, if you are going out and want a pop of color, but do not care about eye effects and longevity, you may want to get this one, there are a lot of colors to chose from and it's cheap (It my be a consideration for a teenage girl who wants to start playing with makeup without breaking your bank). But for that price, do not expect high end results! D-.

5. Clinique - High Impact Lip Colour - Extreme Pink - $16.00

Clinique - High Impact Lip Colour - Extreme Pink

I am not a huge fan of Clinique but I do love their lipsticks. I wanted a replacement for my favorite one (which I had to toss after 12 years) their Butter Shine in Raspberry Rush.
Since my Department Store was out, I opted for the Long Last Shine in Berry Freeze. Which in itself is interesting because I do not care for frosted/shimmery lipsticks.
However, this one is simply beautiful and translates wonderfully on camera. It is not something I would wear all day long but definitely at an event or on camera and when I know pictures will be taken as it provides glow and volume to my lips. The color is also beautiful a mauve that is not too violet nor too dark for my skin tone. I like it a lot. A.



 

6. Sally Hansen - Diamond Strength Nail Polish in Royal Romance - $2.18 to $6.99 (on Amazon)

Diamond Strength in Royal Romance

This is part of an old line of polishes from Sally Hansen but it is still available in certain drugstore (definitely online). 
The no-chip nail color claim is no joke, this nail polish does not budge, at worst it might start peeling as an entire layer, but that may be after 5 days and if I did not prep my base properly. The color itself is just gorgeous (okay, okay, I am bias towards purple). It is a dark orchid with a shimmer of gold. But unlike most shimmers, this one is subtle so it gives this beautiful dimension to your nails without feeling overpowering. I am loving this one and will probably will seek other colors within the same line. A.





7. Orly - Nail Defense - base and top Coat Strengthener - $6.95

Orly - Nail Defense

I have purchased this alongside the Nail Tek Plus  treatment because my nails became very damaged. I made the mistake, having cut them short, to apply the ImPress - Press - On Nails! And what a mistake that was! While my nails looked fabulous for a few days, the claim that they do not damage your nails is totally bogus! They started peeling on the side, and curving in all directions, so I had to remove them using the polish remover on the sides, as per their recommendation on the package. Well, long story short, they still peeled off layers of my nails, making them even more brittle and prone to breakage. I will never do that again!
Having run out of my Essie Millionail, I opted for this Orly Nail Defense instead. It is a base coat treatment with proteins, as well as a topcoat. 
You can also use it alone and apply every other day.
So far so good and I think it works well with the Nail Tek Plus. It's fluid and has a wide brush. It also does not look as far as I can tell as a polish that will harden and get all goopy over time. B+. 

8. Revlon - Color Stay Gel Envy - Base + Color Nail Polish in Up the Ante (Purple) and Royal Flush (Hot Pink) - $6.49 

Royal Flush

Up the Ante

Here is something interesting about these nail polishes. About two years ago, I had purchased a Revlon Color Stay in a sand color and thought it was just awful. Terrible application, zero stay on, would crackle etc. By far the worst I had ever tried. Because everything is about the gel formula these days, Revlon got on the bandwagon and came up with this new line of Colorstay called Gel Envy.
There is a world of difference between their previous attempt ad this one.
The Gel Envy formula is jsut the right onsistency, it is not too fluid nor is it too goopy that you have to hurry up and apply before making a mess.
The brush is wide enough and the stay on is great. I wore each for over 5 days in a row with very little chipping peeling. In fact, and if anything, they stayed put only to start receding at the top, if that make sense, after 5 days. These are very good. Unfortunately for me, the two showcased here are probably the only two colors I would purchase from the line. A. 

I hope you have enjoyed this review, you can watch all my other Swatch & Stuff videos on my YouTube Channel here.

Thank you so much for reading my blog and watching my YouTube videos! Share the love!

Sophia, NJ


Connect with me:

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This blog contains affiliate advertising, this is how I support my blog and YouTube Channel.  I was not solicited to advertise for the products mentioned above, all opinions are my own. 

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Eco Emi Variety Box - February 2015 - Full Review

Hi friends,

I am glad to report that Eco Emi redeemed itself with the February 2015 box. And it is a good thing because the January box was a disaster (to me)!

Eco Emi continues to provide great organic, cruelty free and environmental friendly boxes directly to your door. Price, which includes shipping, will vary depending on the box you are subscribing to. Mine is the original box, called Variety Box, and contains an array of products ranging from skincare and cosmetics to household and food items. I could switch to all skincare and makeup but I have my Ipsy bag for that. I truly enjoy trying new products (in particular the food items) as the Variety Box provides good samples from various mom and pop brands. I am all for supporting my local economy and so, this box is right up my alley.

You can check out my open box video here:

This is what I received in the February 2015 box:

Eco Emi - February 2015 - Variety box

Let me dive right into the review as there were a lot of great items this month:

1. SweetRiot - Yummie - Candy Coated Dark Chocolate - $4.99/pack or $23.95 / 12 packs

Sweetriot - Yummies

These are very similar to the American M&M's or the British Smarties.
With no artificial colors, no artificial flavors, no preservatives, these 100 calorie packs are just what I need. Not only are they delicious, they also have more chocolate than they have coated candy! So if you are in search of the right guilt free chocolate fix, you may try this as an option. 
A.







2. Sant - Superfruit Tea with Garcinia Indica -  $9.95 / pack

Sant Superfruit Tea

This is just weird. A pouch filled with dried fruits (Garcinia Indica) which boasts to have potential as an appetite suppressant,  a protector of brain health and as a cancer preventative. The way I look at it, you would have to drink this stuff all day, everyday, for a long time, for any effect to actually take place. While it has been used in Asian countries for centuries, I am really not sure whether Western diets are ready to adopt this "superfruit" as a beverage of choice.

You are supposed to grab a few dried fruits and drop them in water, steep for at least 30 minutes and drink either hot or old.
Mine took forever to turn the water red (I thought it would be something similar to Red Zinger tea by Celestial Seasoning).
The taste was just okay, it gave a hint of tart flavor to my water, nothing sweet, I just did not think it was all that great to be honest. 
I am all for promoting healthy living and better lifestyle, but I really don't see this as being an essential or something so revolutionary that it should be the basic ingredient in all our daily beverages. Not impressed. C.


3. Love Bean - Superfood Fudge Spread - $29.10 / 2 jars or $10 / 10 Squeeze pouches

It really does not take much to make me happy, just throw some chocolate in my general direction and I will follow you to the end of the world. (The preceding statement is NOT an exaggeration!)
So, Eco Emi sends me this tiny pouch of super fudge with coconut flavor, at $1 per pouch and all raw ingredients, I figured I had nothing to lose. 
The stuff is delicious! It's not a replacement to Nutella, let's be real, but it is a good and much healthier alternative.
You can add your super fudge to fruit, waffles, bread of course, anything where chocolate would simply enhance the flavor. If it was calorie free, I would probably add chocolate to steak, cheese, you name it!
Of course this is all vegan, fair trade chocolate. Their store offers one more variety (naturally raw). It's a great concept, for a great taste. And again, if you are looking for a chocolate option that does not wreck your diet, you may want to consider this one, I know I am considering purchasing a jar. It really was delicious! A. (I wish it was a bit more fluid, in that case it would be an A+).


4. Whiskey Ink & Lace Cocoa Mint Lip Balm - $5 / Tin

Whiskey Ink & Lace Cocoa Mint Lip Balm

How can one not completely fall in love here! The brand name itself is adorable, it has this feel of rough old west cowboy saloon with a dash of romantic intrigue (that's the lace part). I am real sucker for these kinds of brands. Now, I have checked the site, most of the products are for men (shaving creams, mustache wax etc.) but they have candles and bath scrubs as well. In all, I find the products not only intriguing, but their ingredients are also very interesting.
You may want to check this Cake Batter Body Butter for instance.
If you have a man in your life who is not afraid of using skin care products, these would make a fantastic gift for Father's Day.
Moving on to the Lip Balm. It's just wonderful. A bit too solid as a formula, but I will attribute that to the fact it was very cold outside and the box stayed on my front porch for a while.  That being said, if you can imagine what rubbing your lips with Girl Scout Cookies Thin Mints would be like, this is it!
Delicious scent, a bit of a tingle from the mint, a nice balm that goes on well and does not melt off right away. I am falling in love with this brand.  A. 


5.  Beauty Without Cruelty (BWC) - Daily Benefits Shampoo and Conditioner - $9 / each

 

BWC Daily Benefits Shampoo

I am fairly familiar with the BWC brand since Eco Emi tends to send quite a few of these each year. 
If you are looking for hair products (or any other skincare products for that matter) that are sulftate, paraben, chemical etc, free. BWC is for you.
This is a no-nonsense line of products that is as pure as can be. Generally I find their shampoos to be too volumizing for my thick hair, I always end up with a ball of fluff on top of my head. So if you have thinning hair, this Daily Benefits line is a good option. For thicker hair, I would recommend their Moisture Plus line. 

Overall, this one did the job as a shampoo and conditioner duo, they are clarifying without stripping your hair of all its essential oils. A good option when traveling since I have noticed that my hair tends to stay cleaner longer when I use their products. B.


6.  Love for Humanity - Eye Serum - $50/ 0.5 oz

Love for Humanity - Eye Serum

 Let me start by letting you know that this is cheaper on Amazon ($41.77 instead of $50).
The sample I received was just too small for me to notice any kind of benefits though.
Their website lists the following claims and ingredients:

• Ultra potent eye serum
• Immediately revives puffy skin around the eyes
• Brightens dark circles
• Helichrysum reduces skin discoloration & fine lines
• Blue Chamomille calms and heals delicate skin
• Pumkin Seed naturally exfoliates and encourages cell turnover for a youthful glow

Overall, I would say these are all excellent ingredients for an eye serum. I did find it to be too fluid, it is almost liquid, more like an oil. It did absorb very well and did not leave a greasy film on my skin. I think one would have to use it for an extended period of time in order to see any difference on dark circles, but the reviews on this product are phenomenal. So you may want to check it out if you have dark circles, creeping eye lids and fine lines. I simply have too many eye products at the moment to consider this hefty purchase. But, take this into consideration, since it is fluid, a little goes a long way and it may be worth the splurge over time. It has a nutty scent that is barely noticeable, I did not care for the yellow color though. B+.

7. Colorganics - Lip Tint in Wine - $11.50

Colorganics Lip Tint

I am really not sure about this lip tint. I have always liked the concept of tinted lip balm, but to be honest, this one does not have much of the "balm" factor in it. I found the formula to be too dry (it may be the sample I received). It goes on okay, and me be applied to your lips throughout the day if you need a hint of color but do not want to carry a full lipstick with you.

Adds a rich sheer tint while protecting and moisturizing your lips with organic castor oil and moisturizing organic hemp seed oil. (quoted from Colorganics website)

 I am not in love with this. C+.




8. Bioterra Herbs - Boing Energy Supplement - $4.99 / 10 caps

Boing Energy Supplement

There has been a lot of talk in the past few months about false claims and false ingredients in drug store supplements. To be honest, I am really not sure who we can trust anymore these days when it comes to our health. I tend to forget to take supplements all the time, I much prefer watching my diet and ensuring that I add a scoop of Green Vibrance to my morning smoothie, that seems to be working for me. 
If you have lousy energy and feel fatigued all the time, you may want to consider these as the reviews for it are generally very positive. 

 Their website reports the following ingredients:

 Asian Ginseng (root), Astragalus (root), Ophiopogon (root tuber),

  Schisandra (fruit), Grass-leaf Sweetflag (rhizome)

And that it is Vegan and organic of course. Back in my college days, I used to take Ginseng vials for energy every morning and that seemed to work. 
I tried these, the pills (which are filled with a slightly brown powder) are a tad too big to swallow, you may need a big gulp to get the stuff down. I am naturally energetic so I cannot say that I noticed any difference, I can tell you however, that these did not give me jitters. I am not on the market for supplements, so this is not something I would consider purchasing in the future, however, you may want to consider these for its energy boosting properties. B.   

And that concludes my February 2015 Eco Emi Variety Box Review. It was indeed a good box, Aside from the weird dried fruit, I did enjoy sampling all of the items in this box.
 


You can get your own box here.

You can view all my Eco Emi open box videos here.
Check out my other subscription boxes here.


 

Thank you so much for reading my blog and watching my YouTube videos! Share the love!

Sophia, NJ


Connect with me:

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

INSTAGRAM

YOUTUBE

Want to send me a product for review? Have a product request?

Mailing address:

My Great Challenge
PO Box 402
519 Pompton Avenue
CEDAR GROVE, NJ 07009-9998



This blog contains affiliate advertising, this is how I support my blog and YouTube Channel.  I was not solicited to advertise for the products mentioned above, all opinions are my own. 

My Advertisers:



Too Faced - New Chocolate Bar (#2) is here!


















Visit My Great Challenge's profile on Pinterest.