IPSY GLAM BAG 🍳JULY 2017 🍳

IPSY GLAM BAG

JULY 2017

"Over easy"

This month Ipsy glam bag is themed around the character 'Gudetama' which is actually an egg yolk lazing around most of the time. I like that there are some differences to all the bags and not all of them are circled around the same hipster designs. 

This month theres are 5 items in the bag. I have accidentally misplaced an item before the reviewing process and did not manage to find the item. However here are the other 4 products received:

1. Tarte cosmetics; park ave princess bronzer.

Made of amazonian clay, most of Tarte's products are well known due to this little nugget info of the ingredients. It is supposed to last long and strong throughout the day. You can find this particular bronzer shade in most of Tarte's contour and highlight product. Hence it is not really a new shade introduced, however i do love receiving brands like Tarte and also the bronzer is something new I've not tried before. 

The pic quality is potraying the colour to be super dark but in reality it is much more lighter than this and is more like a milky brown than a dark fudge. The packaging is light weight with a faux crocodile skin cover. It is easy to blend not chunky or chalky and smooth to the touch. Picks up colour well on brushes too. (Swatches all the way below)

2. Trèstique concealer in Porcelain.

I have received lip products from the brand Trèstique before however not for other face products. Its good to receive a concealer. Im normally not too fussy with the concealer shades as long as it is pretty similar in tone because its only going to cover small areas of my face with blemishes. I am no longer into the whole caking your face to contour trend and would much prefer a natural look instead. 

Coverage wise, it offers a fairly good coverage but over my tattoo swatch you can still see through the dark colours. Tends to fade abit fast throughout the day. 

3. Seraphine botanicals Ginger + Gold blush.

I love this brand! There is just something about that feminine packaging and plant related names that pulls me in. This is an illuminating peach gold blush.

Again, like the photo of the bronzer, this blush is not this dark in reality and it is a light shade of shimmering peach. This blush is not too powdery when swatched and has shimmers which looks nice on the cheeks even without highlights. Pick up well with a blusher brush and transfers to the face smoothly. Pigmentation wise tho is not as strong but the shimmers relfected makes up for the colour payoff. 

4. Ciaté Gel kohl liner. 

Who else thought that Ciaté only come up with nail polishes? Its good to know that i found out that this brand also carries makeup through my subscription boxes like this. I love the ciate matte liquid lipsticks too.

This unique product is double ended, has a black pencil liner on one end that is supposed to be gel-kohl, and the other end is a brush to smudge out the line. I like the brush, it feels sturdy yet soft bristles nit the hard edge type. The liner is also really smooth and draws without tugging. 

Below are all the product swatches:

5. The last product that unfortunately i misplaced, is the Hanalei rose lip treatment. 

I actually really like this product, it contains pure kukui oil which helps to moisturize and smooth your lips. You can use it before bed and after lip scrubs for the full treatment. It comes in the clear version too, this is tinted rose hence has pink tones in it. Good for those natural dry no makeup days.

Overall i think the July glam bag is cute, simple and i love that the products all have different purposes for the face. I wouldn't have liked it if i get repeats or two same product functions. 

PLAY! BY SEPHORA 🐚 JULY 2017 🐚

PLAY! BY SEPHORA

JULY 2017

"Glamp out"

This is box #072 for reference. July's box has a beauty staycation theme. I like the look of this box so far. Has a mix of beauty and skincare.

1. It cosmetics superhero elastic stretch volumising mascara.

The brush shape seems to be average and doesnt have a special curve or thin separative combs, however, on the first swipe it already gives me definition and thicker looking lashes. I have naturally thin short lashes hence i needed something to darken and lengthen. This helped in that area, im pretty sure its the formula. I usually apply mascara after curling and the curl still sticks. Compared to better than sex, it doesnt smudge as often as bts does. 

2. Fresh rose face mask.

The website claims this product hydrates and tones the complexion to restore radiance and suppleness to all skin types. Upon opening the sample jar, you will notice the strong rose scent immediately. If you are very sensitive to scents on products meant for face, this might not be good for you. Application was simple, dip and spread. Not so hygienic unless theres a spatula included. There are rose petals in the gel, and when spread on the face it sort of melts away. It leaves a tacky feeling after applying, which i leave on for 10minutes, after washing away, i couldnt feel a significant difference but it does make your skin feel a bit fresher. 

3. Tarte rainforest of the sea lipstick.

I received this in the shade 'set sail', the colour was a verly close mlbb shade, so when i wear it i almost couldnt realise the point where it begins to fade off, if it was a brighter colour im pretty sure it would be more obvious. I was quite happy to have received this in this month's box tho, always happy to receive tarte products. But i know for sure that im still not going back to bullet lipsticks eversince the liquid mattes arrival. 

4. Madam CJ walker beauty culture deep conditioning hair masque.

From the reviews i read, this has very good positive feedbacks especially for curly thick hair. The cream is thick and covera enough for the thickest of hair. My hair is pixie short average thickness. And i rarely have the time to do hair masque that requires me to walk around with a towel on my head after shower. At most i only have time to nourish my hair when its a 2in1 step like a conditioner+mask kinda thing. So i will clear out one of my days to try this out.

5. Clinique pep start 2-in-1 exfoliating cleanser.

I have not tried this cleanser yet as at the moment i am on a anti acne skincare regime that im not about to break yet. Hence this is going to have to wait for when im done with the routine. As it is i have a few more cleansers that are lined up to be tried too. 

6. Mon guerlain eau de parfum.

I like this perfume sample! It is not too strong yet it has a distinctive scent that can set you apart from the sea of smells in the morning train ride to work. With notes of lavender, jasmine, sandalwood and vanilla. Whats not to love? I have already used the mini sample bottle to its end. 

Overall review of July's box, i liked 3/6 of the items so thats actually half of the box. The other half is part of skincare/haircare routine that i rarely have time for. It will be the least to get finished up hence i will probably still have it for a long period of time. Looking forward for better use of products in the next box. 

PLAY! BY SEPHORA 💦 JUNE 2017 💦

PLAY! BY SEPHORA

JUNE 2017

#083

My box variation received for June is box #083. Lets dig in! (You can find your box variation from viewing your order detail in your sephora account, its the last 3 digit of the item number.)

The box i received for June did not look as exciting as the previous boxes I've got nor did i get most that I've seen from the spoilers. I was however excited to see kat von d and tarte in the box.

1. Kat von d everlasting liquid lipstick in K-dub.

This is a very out of the ordinary loud purple magenta lipstick. It reminds me very much of a slightly darker version of Colourpop's Lychee ultra matte lip. But i wish i got the other colour I've seen in the spoilers, i think it was lovesick. Because the red seems much more wearable than a purple. However, formula is consistent like the regular line, dries matte as usual. Sample size has the regular doe foot applicator too.

2. Tarte guard tinted moisturizer with spf 20.

This is a tinted moisturizer from tarte and its the first time that I've heard of tarte having a moisturizer line. This isnt too thick and has a light bb cream kind of texture. The tint helps blend the moisturizer to my skin tone better, and this helps to prep my skin before foundation as it has spf 20 to protect from uv rays. This is an excellent light moisturizer for going out to the beach on a very sunny day if you intend to still wear some makeup on. 

3. Dr dennis gross Alpha Beta Glow pad- self tanner for face.

Why sephora, why this. I have light-med skin with slight olive undertones and i am asian, i think I'd end up looking swarthy if i decide to tan myself, and it isn't really a trend here to self tan. This was a dud for me as i found absolutely no use for it.

4. Bumble & bumble - bb dont blow it fine (h)airstyler.

I have a short pixie hair cut, altho at this state i usually just wash and go. But sometimes i do add product to style it. This, doesn't really do anything much for the hold or styling wise. And on a sidenote, i read that this tested on animals. Im giving that a pass.

5. Briogio curl charisma.

My girl has thin curly hair, i use this on hair to tame the curl and give a bit more of definition, it looks good and gives better defined hair texture than her wispy curls.

6. Derek lam 10 crosby - blackout eau de parfum.

One of the perfume samples i could not tolerate was this. It is so strong and spicy that it reminds me of a guy's perfume. And it was so overpowering as well. Ill skip this one thanks.

So in conclusion, this months's box wasnt that helpful for me. It was full of hair products which i dont really seem to be interested in with short hair and also alot of misses with the lipstick shade and the useless tanner pads. The only takout that im using more of from this box is the tarte moisturizer and the curl charisma leave in. 

IPSY GLAM BAG 💋JUNE 2017 💋

IPSY

JUNE 2017

"VOLUME UP"

Five products in a bag, whats not to love about ipsy?! Not to mention the cute creative bags each month. Everything is definitely worth paying $10usd/month for. This month series is 'volume up'! Lets get in on the deets.

1. Nyx whipped lip & cheek souffle in pink cloud:

The shade i received is pink cloud which is a bright pinky coral shade. I seriously wished i got the shade cocoa bean or the plush. From the swatches that ive seen, i would definitely make more use out of cocoa bean for my lips and plush for both lips and cheeks. I feel like pink cloud is just way too pink for my liking and i really abhor pink lipstick. To put it on my cheeks it looks way to bright, maybe ill have to dap just a tiny bit to make it work.

2. The balm blush in Balm springs:

As shown in the swatch above this is a highly wearable cheek colour for every day wear as it is mot too bright but gives a subtle nude pink glow to your cheeks. I love this blusher, ditto on the balm too.

And i love how the blusher looks like a tiny magnetic book. Fits my mini ecotools blush brush easily in the teeny rectangle.

3. Margaret Dabbs nail polish in Green Daylily:

Cute nailpolish name, cute jewel tone green colour. I like that its in green and thank god not a weird pink. This is a very wearable dark turquoise green. I cant quite put a finger to what the exact shade is. Nevertheless i like this.

4. City color cosmetics Bold brow eyebrow powder in medium:

I'm giving this away as i do not use brow powders unless it comes in a waxy state or with the wax portion because i tend to touch my face alot and without a base underneath, my brows slides off easily. It looks good tho, the powders looks pigmented. 

5. Bio republic skin care masks- Aloe rescue and green tea detox:

I love getting sheet masks! Mainly because i feel like masks contributes to a daily skin care routine that helps to give instant refreshment to the skin. And i also like to decide based on what my skin needs. Ive tried the green tea detox already as i felt like my face really needed a detoxification routine because i feel like my skin has hone through so much lately of dirt and stress and pimples are forming eveywhere. The mask itself is like any regular sheet mask. It fits like normal and inhave no issues with the fitting. Just the right amount of product soaked in and enough excess to rub in the aftermath.

June's bag is not that bad, the only thing different I wished i got was the nyx souffle. Other than that, i like the blusher and masks. 👍🏾

LIP MONTHLY 🎆 MAY 2017 🎆

LIP MONTHLY

MAY 2017

Lip monthly is a monthly subscription bag that consists of 3-4 full size items. Costs $12.95 per month. And usually sends 3 lip products and at least 1 other beauty product.

1. Bang beauty lipgloss in shade rosie:

For people who love hot pink lipstick shades, this ones for you guys. Its very pigmented for a gloss which is good, means to say it wont be the super sheer thin gloss that needs to be layered. However people who cant pull off hot pink or even a baby pink because it clashes with their colouring, example like me (asian malay) this colour sucks balls. And secondly i dont even wear gloss, but i would make exceptions for reds or nudes as i can wear those for work. So i most definitely will never ever wear this.

2. City colour dual lip wand:

Here's what i dont understand, you already gave me a gloss, so now you give me another lipstick that comes with a gloss. And instead of another different shade, you give me another pink. It looks like a less bright pink than the first one, but nevertheless it is still pink. 😒 i get that its summer and all but does everything have to be in pink? I didn't even bother to remove the plastic and swatch cause ill never wear it. This is going into my donation pile too.

3. Luna cosmetics eyeshadow pencil in Gemini:

Because this isnt in pink and its not a gloss, this instantly becomes an okay product. Gold will always find its way in the middle of the eye, so it's worth trying once in a while. Luna cosmetics, i have tried their brown nude lip gloss before and i love it because its wearable and not weird. 

4. Starlooks lip liner. (I think the shade is called sublime if not mistaken.)

This is the only thing in this bag that works good enough for me to try on everyday and not be scared of the outcome. The colour is a pretty pinky nude shade that doesnt lean too pink but instead leans more to neutral that makes it easy to wear. 

Here are the swatches of the products i bothered to check out:

A month back, i actually already decided to remove my subscription from lip monthly because i wasnt getting anything special, but they offered me the next month's bag for 20% off. Hence I decided why not, lets give them another month to try convince me. But they actually forgot to minus that 20% off before charging me the next bag, hence i had to email CS back and forth until they agreed to return me the balance back. 

So next month will be my last bag from lip monthly.

IPSY GLAM BAG 🌞 MAY 2017 🌞

IPSY

MAY 2017

"SUMMER FRIDAY"

Enter summer with a splash together with Ipsy and this month's products. May's bag is abit special compared to the rest, its a waterproof zip up bag with ice creams all over that is just the right pouch to bring your goodies to the beach for.

Time to review the 5 products inside!

1. Jelly pong pong 'supercharged super intense' eyeshadow duo in shade 'Electric'. (Thats a mouthful to say). I still can't get over how cute the brand name is and also im very happy to receive a wearable eyeshadow shade thats perfect for foiling. The shadow applies smooth and pigmented(not chalky either!) This promises to be super charged and super intense so scroll down to see the swatches!

2. Caked makeup lip fondant in 'Low-key'.

Below is the swatch for the eyeshadows above and also the lip fondant swatch. The lip fondant applied smoothly without being too thick or watery. It dries up about 10 seconds and may lasts up to 4-5hours of wear without eating, afterwards it tends to dry the lips up abit. It has a lovely vanilla cake scent, nothing chemically. And i also LOVE the shade low-key. Its such a nice rosy shade. Super wearable. 

(Heres my lip swatch! :)

3. Urban decay 'Afterglow' highlighter in shade 'Sin'.

This champagne gold hue is finely milled for a soft buttery feel, making it the perfect highlighter for the face and body. This is super intense and pigmented as seen in the swatch, the reflect of the highlighter is really strong. Keep a light hand when handling this. 

4. Briogeo Rosarco Milk™ Reparative Leave-In Conditioning Spray. 

I actually use this a lot after showering and on days where i dont have enough time to condition my hair. I also use it on my lil girl's hair as shes got curly hair to be tamed. This works well in detangling and repairing the damage in the tangles. Not to mention the smell is great hence theres no problem wearing out after slathering it all on your head.

5. Royal & Langnickel MODA™ Precision Angled Brush.

Synthetic brushes and 100% vegan cruelty free. This brush is good at multitasking for different areas. I usually use this for nose contouring as it picks up just the right amount of product and blends super nicely. 

I really love this months bag, from the bag design to the products inside i actually love everything. This is so rare for me to ever feel a whole bag is complete with things i like. So this is the best Ipsy glam bag I've received thus far. 💓💓

Sephora Play Box 🍑 MAY 2017 🍑

SEPHORA PLAY BOX

MAY 2017

"Beauty on the rise"

Sephora play box costs $10usd per month, curated from all things new and popular from Sephora itself. 

May's bag came a little bit different than the usual sephora play drawstring canvas bags. This month the items came in the box as usual, but in a plastic square envelope thats waterproof and perfect for bringing to the beach. There are 6 products this month. Here is the info sheet:

1. Rahua omega 9 hair mask:

I have recently cut all my hair off and am seen sporting a really short undercut pixie now. Hence ive not yet tried the hair mask yet. It does however have a seal so i might be swapping this or giving it away.

2. Tatcha pure one step cleansing oil:

This cleansing oil promises to wipe away makeup and any leftover residues in one step. I tried them dry as per instructions and it did start to lather up after a while but it was tugging at my face cause there wasnt any water involved, when i do try to wash my face first and use the product the oil wont interact with the wet surface at all. So i have mixed feelings about this cleansing oil. I find that it works best for removing the heavily made up part of your face. For instance, like eyeshadow, eyeliner & mascara, and rubbing off slowly with cotton pads.

3. Nudestix magnetic lip crayon in Greystone:

This shade is a bit too dark for me, i dont really fancy the whole brown lips thing. But i think if the colour wasnt that dark i would love to wear them on all day. I swatched this on the lips and i find that the texture is smooth and highly pigmented. They also did not budge at all even after wiping, hence the'magnetic' reference. 

4. Trestique highlighter stick:

I love the colour of the highlighter, its a champagne with pink undertones. I usually prefer pinks to golds. Hence this colour suits me. However infond that kost creamy product i put on top of my foundation and powder tends to move the bottom layer abit. So i like powder versions of highlighters more compared to cream sticks. This glides on smoothly tho. No tugging.

5. Stella by Tocca perfume:

This has top notes of bitter orange and bloody orange, middle notes of wild diamond orchid, spicy lily. And bottom notes of sheer musk and sandalwood. The smell ismt too overpowering but it leaves a nice refreshing scent throughout the day. Staying power is good too, i really love the perfume sample as i went through the sample bottle within few weeks! 

6. Hungarian water essence by Belif:

Korean skincare is one of the trending things in the beauty world right now. This product claims to recharge your skin with deep, lasting hydration. To be used after cleansing and toning as an extra hydration step. The pumper dispenses a clear white liquid (resembling water) when spread out on the skin it is not sticky and is easily absorbed into the skin, then it dries completely. This is good to use on days that are quite dry.  

Out of the 6 products received, i actually only loved the tocca perfume sample as thats the one ive used up the most of. Next item that would get good use is the highlighter. I love the brand nudestix and their quality is amazing, im just not a fan of the brown shade given. I believe ill be using the belif once in a while to prep for before i slather makeup on. Next the cleanser, i tried to make it work a few times but im not a fan of the oil. And lastly the hair mask, i hate hair products that needs to be used in the shower. Im okay with leave in conditioners etc. 

Conclusion: May's bag 🌟🌟🌟/5