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.

Unboxing: Hard Candy 13 Piece Holiday Best Of Kit

Hard Candy has always been a brand that intrigues me. Whenever I am at Walmart, I peruse through the products and I'm tempted to pick up quite a few things. So when I saw this Best Of Kit at Christmas time I knew I had to pick it up. This kit normally retails for $19, however, I picked it up on Boxing Day for only $9.50. To me this was an unbeatable price, as the cost of the concealer by itself is almost that price.

I haven't had a chance to use everything in this kit, so this post will be more of an overview of the products. As I use these more in my daily routine I may post a review of the products I really like. If you would like to see an in-depth review of anything in this kit, leave me a comment below.

Glamoflauge Heavy Duty Concealer in Medium Light

"A heavy duty, highly pigmented, blendable concealer that provides the ultimate coverage. Create a flawless surface by covering birth marks, freckles, dark circles, and even tattoos!"

I would have bought a lighter shade, but I can make this one work for my skin tone. I have heard great things about this concealer, so this was the main reason I bought the kit. I did find it a bit thick when I was swatching it, but hopefully after playing around with it I will find the best application method.

Glow All the Way Bronzer in Glamazon Bronze

"Glow All the Way with this pearly, luminizing highlighter that illuminates any skin tone. Infused with 24-karat gold for a million dollar look! Also available in two shades of tinted sunless tanners to instantly bronze and build a lasting tan."

This product was a lot darker then I thought it was going to be, seeing as this is the lightest shade available. It is too dark for my skin tone as a bronzer, and I find it too metallic for a bronzer as well. I am going to try it out as a cream shadow, or a base for other bronze eyeshadows I already own.

Plumping Serum Volumizing Lip Gloss in Girl Next Door

"Super glossy formula hydrates and instantly plumps for fuller, curvaceous lips. Layer on for outrageous shine and create the perfect pout. No collagen needed!"

I have used this type of Hard Candy gloss before but in a different shade. This milky pink shade reminds me of Nars Turkish Delight or Essence My Favourite Milkshake. I have really been loving this shade of lip gloss lately so I am excited to try this one out.


Concealer, Bronzer, Lip Gloss

So Baked Bronzer in Tiki

"Baked on a terra cotta pan to create a beautiful, dewy yet matte finish, the infused colour found in this compact gives the complexion a hint of bronzed colour for a sun-kissed look."

This product is extremely light and too frosty to be a bronzer. When swatched it barely shows up on my skin. I will be using this as a highlighter or eyeshadow.

Kal-eye-descope Baked Eyeshadow Duo in High Maintenance

"Palette duos of highly pigmented shadows to highlight eyes with rich colour. Apply wet for a dramatic finish or dry for a softer, shimmery effect. Available in a kal-eye-descope of coordinating shades."

These shadows swatched beautifully, and will look great on the eye. Although they felt dry when I was swatching, they apply smoothly and blend easily. They would both work well as an all over the lid colour or a lid and crease duo.

Bronzer, Shadow Duo

Take It Off Makeup Remover Wipes

"Take It Off makeup remover wipes remove long-wear and waterproof makeup in one easy step. Effectively cleanse skin while refreshing and moisturizing the surface of your face. No rinsing needed. Safe for all skin types."

Lashaholic Super Volume Mascara in Blackest Black

"Are you a Lashaholic? Our volume building mascara is formulated with unique powders that thicken and lengthen each lash with every coat. Paired with an outstanding molded brush to elongate, separate and define every lash to create the biggest, baddest lashes ever."

I am always excited to try out new mascaras, however the brush and formula of this mascara does not seem like anything special. The brush reminds me of the original Great Lash brush, and I really don't like that mascara. The formula also did not swatch overly pigmented.

Walk the Line Liquid Eyeliner in Asphalt

"A quick drying, liquid eyeliner that creates bold mesmerizing eyes with a precise brush for application. Available in rich metallic and sparkling glitter shades."

I really like the small brush size of this liner, as it will give me more control over the product, and I will be more apt to achieve a straight line. However, upon swatching the formula is not overly pigmented. I may need a few coats for it to look opaque.

Take Me Out Liner Pencil in Abyss

"These creamy eye pencils deliver powerful, vibrant colour that glides on smooth for a long-lasting finish that wont budge. Line eyes with a hint of colour or go for the full artistic, multi-hued effect. Formula's vary and include metallic, glitter, and matte shades for the ultimate custom eye."

This liner needed a few swipes before it became pigmented and creamy. After that it created a decent swatch with some silver glitter visible. Because of the glitter I am not going to use this on my water line, but it will provide a different look to my everyday liner.

Mascara, Liquid Liner, Pencil Liner

Eyelash Curler & 3 Mini Brushes

I couldn't find anything about tools on the Hard Candy website, nor do I remember ever seeing any in stores. I believe that these are just filler products for the kit. I will use the eyelash curler in my travel kit, but the brushes are a no go. They feel plastic, and picky on the skin, so I will be throwing these out.

What I got for Christmas/Boxing Day Haul

Happy New Year Everyone!! I hope that you all had a great Christmas and New Years surrounded by friends and family.

I want to get out of the way at the beginning that this post is by no means me bragging about what I got and purchased for myself. I am simply sharing like so many others in the beauty community have been over the past week. These have been some of my favourite videos to watch lately, so I thought I would share some pictures.

I didn't get many beauty products for Christmas, cause honestly I really don't need anything. But on Boxing Day I picked up quite a few skincare and makeup sets. I normally go to Walmart first thing on Boxing Day because all of their Christmas gift sets go on sale 50% off. I stock up mainly on skincare, and I don't have to buy any for the rest of the year. I will put the price of the sets below the pictures.

Before Christmas, I took a trip to Frankenmuth, Michigan and bought a few things. The first was the Clinique 3 Step bundle above. It cost $11.75 which was the price of the Clarifying Lotion by itself at the CCO. I needed more Clarifying Lotion so this was an easy buy. At Dollarama I picked up the Clean & Clear Body Wash to try out.

At a Lancôme Outlet store I picked up the Glamorous Nudes palette as a gift to myself for getting a new full time job. It was normally on sale for $45, I got it for $22. These are my first high end eye shadows and I'm really excited to try them out. At Ulta I could have gone crazy, but I restrained myself and only picked up a few things I have been wanting to try. The first was the UD De-Slick Spray. I bought the sample bottle for $14. I also picked up a sample trio of UD eyeliners. These were $14ish I believe.

The only makeup product I asked for this Christmas was the Real techniques Core Collection. I have been looking for this collection for so long, but they are always sold out. I'm glad that my mom could find it. These are some of my favourite brushes!

My parents also got me a box of the Kirkland makeup remover wipes from Costco. These are my favourite remover wipes, and this box normally lasts me an entire year.

This 5 piece travel makeup brush set was on sale for $4.50. The brushes are extremely soft, and I am in love with the rose gold handles.

This Venus Embrace Travel Pack came with the handle, two razor cartridges, a small can of shave cream, and the travel container. It was on sale for $9.

I couldn't find any Nivea skincare sets this year so I picked up two of the Olay Fresh Effects Sets. These were seriously the best deal. They were on sale for $12 and came with a full size cleanser, lotion, and makeup remover wipes. They also came with the small cleanser brush, that kinda reminds me of the Clarisonic, as well as, a sample cleanser to use with the brush. I am hoping that this skincare routine does wonders for me.

 I wasn't in the market for a hairdryer, but this Revlon one was only $15. It came with two attachments, a hair brush, a mirror, some hair clips, and a headband. It was a deal I couldn't pass up.

This Revlon set came with a travel sized straightener, three hairbrushes, and an assortment of other hair accessories. It was on sale for $12. Even though I already have a straightener, I picked this up because it will be good for travel.

At Shoppers Drug Mart, the Live Clean travel sized skincare sets were on sale for $5. I only picked up one, but I was tempted to get a lot more. But seeing as I have never used this brand before, I didn't know if I would like it.

 I love Clean & Clear skincare, so buying this set was a no brainer. It was on sale for $9.99.

This Balea set was a total impulse buy. It comes with makeup remover wipes, eye makeup remover, cotton rounds, and a BB cream. This kit was on sale for $11.99.

Essence wasn't on sale, but I couldn't pass up on this Limited Edition Collection. The eye shadows are so shimmery and glittery. I believe the eye shadows were $2.99 and the face powder was $3.99.

Did you get any great deals on Boxing Day? Let me know in the comments below!

June 2013 Ipsy Glam Bag

So, I finally got on the Ipsy bandwagon! A while back I thought of joining, but the bags weren't that good so I kept waiting. Since January every bag has been amazing, and when I saw that this month everyone would be getting a full size NYX blush, I finally caved and subscribed.

Ipsy sends out better brands, and sample sizes compared to other boxes. Plus, they send a higher percentage of makeup compared to their competition, something that I really like. I had signed up for boxes like Glymm and Glossybox hoping to get makeup and ended up being disappointed because I received more skin and hair care products.

Overall, I am super impressed with Ipsy and will continue to be a subscriber for the next few months, at least, to test out their service. If you are interested in signing up for Ipsy I would love if you would use my referral link! By using my link it will make me eligible for a free gift, while supplies last.

Starlooks Lip Liner in Tipsy

I am so excited that I received this colour. It is the perfect colour for Summer. I am really surprised by the pigmentation and formula of this product. The swatch was just two swipes of the lip liner, two very light swipes. This pencil is very creamy and pigmented. I think this alone with some gloss will produce the perfect coral lip.

NYX Cream Blush in Natural

At first I was kind of disappointed by this blush. I'm not the biggest fan of cream blushes(because I don't know how to apply them), and the colour in the pan looks kind of boring. When swatched however, this blush is beautiful! The texture is very glossy and reminds more of a lip product than cheek product, but it blends out perfectly. It will give me a natural flush.

Cailyn Gel Liner in Iron

I am sooooo excited for this liner! My favourite kind of liner is a gel or cream formula, and lately I have been loving grey liner. This gunmetal grey liner will define my lash line, but it wont be as harsh as black liner can sometimes look. I cannot wait to try this out!

 J.Cat Eyelashes

This is the product I like the least in this bag. My lashes naturally look like fake lashes, so I have no use for these. I will most likely give these away to a friend.

J.Cat Sparkling Cream Palette

This isn't a product I will use on a daily basis, especially seeing as it is not safe for use on or around the eyes. It reminds me of the cream glitter eye shadows I reviewed from BA Star a few months ago. The colours in this palette are really nice, and for me they swatched nicely with only a little bit of product. I have read that some other girls have had trouble getting good swatches. Seeing as these can only be used as body glitter, I will have to save this for Halloween, or it may just go into the garbage...I haven't decided yet.

For $15 I was more than happy with the value of the products I received. I give this bag a 3.5/5 because I really don't have much use for the lashes or glitter palette.

What did you receive in your Glam Bag this month? Were you happy with the product selection?



What I Found @ Dollarama

Hey girls! Today's post is just a short one to show some great things that I have been seeing at my local Dollarama's. Lately I have been seeing some great brands at great prices, so I thought I would share with you!

Keep in mind that all Dollarama's get different products so you may or may not find these products at your stores. Happy shopping! :)

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!

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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?