IPSY Glam Bag Review & Unboxing

Contents of IPSY Glam Bag for April 2015

This month's IPSY theme was "Beautifully Bohemian", and just as with any other themed month, I'm not sure what the products inside had to do with it! As usual, there is a large assortment of products and each subscriber will receive 5 items (mix of full and deluxe sized samples) and the complementary cosmetic bag. If you want to join IPSY for just $10 a month (you can cancel at any time) click here. IPSY will ship to you via DHL if you are in Canada or the USA.

Contents of IPSY Glam Bag April 2015

I was pretty disappointed in this month's bag for quite a few reasons. I feel as though because I am a long-time subscriber of IPSY they have really stopped trying to impress me with my bags. 

The KCO Colors Lipstick in "Natural Born Beauty" (Retail Value: $8) was broken when I opened the seal and I basically had to MacGyver it back together for the photos I took - the color was also pretty underwhelmingly blah (brownish red). The Olive Lips lip balm (Retail Value: $5) is an absolute waste of space so I'm not even bothering to open it; they send me lip balms in almost every bag and I'm always disappointed with them since I already have ones that are thousands of times superior which I use daily.

Close up of theBalm Nude Dude Eyeshadow Single in "Flirty"

The theBalm NUDE 'dude Eyeshadow single in the color "Flirty" was probably my favorite sample in the bag since it had adorable packaging and was from a reputable brand. I also like the eyeshadows from theBalm since they have a smooth, buttery consistency and perform well on the eye. The Retail Value is around $3.75. I like the shade of this color, it's a shimmery golden violet, which complements my amber eye color.

Photo from Lawless Lacquer 

I was happy to get a Julie G Nail Color since I'd never tried one before, but this is really not my color. I have so many pink nail polishes as it is and this color is really just too generic for me - I'll probably just give it to my mother since it's more her color palette than mine. Retail Value is $3.99.

Close Up of MicaBeauty Eye Primer

This may be the first time I receive an eye primer from IPSY and this is one of those items that I would use - except for the fact that there was some funky discoloration and weird bubbles in my product. I even received a mass email from IPSY stating they were receiving complaints about the MicaBeauty Eye Primer - so I'm really not putting that anywhere near my sensitive eyes. Supposedly the Retail Value for this primer is a whopping $22.48. 

Swatches of April IPSY Glam Bag Products

The total retail value of my IPSY bag this month was: $43.22

 What did you get in your IPSY bag this month? Did you enjoy it? Leave your comments down below!

Too Faced La Creme Lipstick

Too Faced La Creme Color Drenched Lip Cream in Taffy (Outer Packaging)

Today I bring you a review and photos of the new (to me) Too Faced La Creme Color Drenched Lip Cream in the color Taffy (Retail price: $22, sold at Sephora, ULTA, and other Too Faced retailers). This present was actually given to me by a friend for my birthday last week and he chose the color, personally I think he did a great job! 

These color drenched lip creams are filled with lip-conditioning hydrators such as lotus flower which help to keep your lips moisturized (especially during the cooler months) while giving a plump appearance. 

Too Faced La Creme Lipstick Packaging

First let's talk about the packaging, everything about it from the heavy metallic feel to the embossed writing absolutely screams luxury product. On the cap, there is a monogrammed "TF" to add to the dramatic upscale flare of the packaging.

Too Faced La Creme Lipstick in "Taffy"

Taffy is described by Too Faced as a "pink marshmallow nude" and I think they're spot on, except that the color does not correlate with their "melted marshmallow" color in the Melted Liquified Long Wear Lipstick line (that one is a more blue-based and pale, similar to a Barbie pink) - that's where the "nude" comes in which differentiates the two shades.

This color is perfect for someone who is unwilling to take many lipstick risks or a daytime appropriate look (office, school, etc). I adore this color as it's really easy to put on in the morning and then go about a daily routine without worrying about using a lip liner or cleaning up with concealer after application around the lip line.

Even though this lipstick is considered a creme, it isn't sheer the way that might suggest. There is a good amount of buildable pigment in the formula and super moisture which almost feels glossy on the lips and has the staying power of 4+ hours (obviously not through eating or drinking as this isn't a staining product). The lipstick smells like a faint vanilla cupcake, it's extremely pleasant and easy to wear, it's not an overpowering or unpleasant scent.

Overall, I think the Too Faced La Creme Color Drenched Lip Cream is another great product from the Too Faced line and I can say that they are quickly becoming my favorite brand in the market for consistent pigmentation across products, great packaging and unique concepts, I also appreciate their efforts to use more "natural" and "good for you" ingredients in their products.

For the holidays, you can find the La Creme Lipsticks in a gift set,
Too Faced Under The Mistletoe La Creme Limited Edition Lipstick Trio and Glitter Bag: Shimmering Marshmallow Bunny, Shimmering Spice Spice Baby & Shimmering Naked Dolly which retails for cheaper than purchasing all 3 of the colors at $22 each.

E.L.F. Mineral Lipstick Swatches & Review

This review and swatches have been a long time coming, just because I wanted to make sure each of these lipsticks was consistent with what I've come to expect from the line-up. I first purchased one and then got my hands on 3 more. After putting them through the ringer and wearing these lipsticks quite a lot, I wanted to do a review. 

I would never recommend a product I don't personally love. And I've got to say, I *love* these lipsticks. They feel moisturizing and hydrating on the lips, the color is not too intense, in that it does not overwhelm the natural color of my lips. You can build them up to look as intense as in the tube, but you can also achieve a sheer wash of color with a light application. 

The shades I have purchased seem to have microglitter in them, this gives a beautiful sheen to the lips and isn't chunky or even really noticeable to the naked eye. With 16 shades with choose from, the mineral lipsticks only cost $5 each and I usually purchase mine during one of E.L.F.'s many 50% off sales. 

• Nicely Nude is a peach-toned nude lipstick with golden flecks of microglitter, I think it's extremely wearable and can easily be pulled off in any season, any time of the day. 
• Cool Coral reminds me of spring, it's a coral with fewer flecks of golden microglitter that blend in beautifully to the shade - I think this is a wonderful daytime spring/summer shade. 
• Barely Bitten is a "your lips but better" shade that gives just a nice flush of bright redness to your lips, almost like when you're out in the cold - again, I think this is a universal color. 
• Rich Raspberry is for red lipstick lovers, it's a deeper shade of red which borders on a berry, I love this for nights out and rock it readily throughout all seasons. 

And of course, I decided to show you what these shades look like on my lips (which are fairly light red pigmented). 

My personal favorites are Barely Bitten and Rich Raspberry as I think they suit a fair skin tone so well. I'm not a huge fan of nudes because I feel that they wash me out, but seeing as this one has some pink to it, it's one I can more easily get away with than a cooler-toned shade. 

Next time I place an order, I'll definitely be picking up some more of these tried, tested and true favorites.

Newest Obsession: EOS lip balm!

My newest choice of lip balm to apply to my lips after applying makeup in the morning, before going to bed and numerous times in between is the EOS lip balm. This delightful little ball-packaging resembles a cute little Easter egg and this gave me the idea that they would probably make amazing little gifts or party favors for your upcoming Easter shindigs. The design is literally so out-of-the-box and the rubbery container has such a pleasant feel in your hands, with enough grit that it will not just slip out of your hands. The bottoms have a sturdy base so that they don't roll off your table. EOS stands for "Evolution of Smooth" and you can find their product-line here. I'm not sure if these are sold in Canada, but in the US, I have found them all over the place, Wal-Mart, Rite Aid, QFC and ULTA to name a few. They can cost anywhere from $2.99 to $3.79 US each. They last you a long time and there's a lot of product inside of them so it's not a waste of money. I do agree that they are more expensive than your regular Chapstick lip-balm but the flavors are fantastic and they claim to be all-natural.

The manufacturer's page claims that they contain long-lasting moisture due to their contents being full of shea butter, jojoba oil and vitamin E. They do go on clear and colorless, so if you're expecting a pigment from your lip balm, this will not provide one. The products are gluten-free, without parabens, petrolatum and phthalates.

They come in the following flavors:

•  Summer Fruit
•  Lemon Drop SPF 15
•  Strawberry Sorbet
•  Honeysuckle Honeydew
•  Medicated Tangerine
•  Sweet Mint

My favorites are Strawberry Sorbet and Honeysuckle Honeydew, and I am not a huge fan of Medicated Tangerine or Lemon Drop but they are the ones that are probably most useful because the tangerine one is a super-moisturizer and lemon drop protects your lips from the harmful rays of the sun by being SPF 15. Really whichever ones you choose depends on what's available at the store and what your favorite flavor-profiles are. I usually like very sweet lip balms but some people really dislike very flavored makeup. I know that over the summer they had a pack that contained a purple balm which was in "Strawberry Sorbet" but I haven't seen that one in stores, it sounds delicious though.

When you're not looking to splurge on anything but you want to get something for yourself or your friends, these are a great purchase because they are useful and don't make a huge dent in your pocket. Many articles I've read have chosen these as the lip-product to purchase, especially during this recession.

You can purchase them here:

Lancome's Newest Collection: Roseraie de Delices

Lancome's latest Spring 2012 collection by Aaron De May, their artistic director who is known in the industry as somewhat of a beauty genius (although he somewhat resembles the crypt keeper, see below for reference images), is an absolute beauty to behold. I want every single item they have put out for the collection and I'll show them to you so you can 'oooh' and 'aaaah' yourself.

Crypt Keeper

Aaron De May - Artistic Director of Lancome

As if Lady Gaga hadn't already told us in her latest music video for 'Marry the Night', mint is definitely going to be the huge color trend for Spring 2012 (she had insider information from Calvin Klein, Chanel and the likes) and that's okay with me because it is a delicate, feminine and fresh color. Without further adieu, I present to you the fabulous 5 color all-in-one shadow and liner compacts in Vert Tendresse and Rose Romance!

There's so many options with these! There's lid, crease, shadow, highlighter and liner in each of these, you can mix and match the colors for many different looks and combinations. The rose palette consists of peach and rose tones with a burgundy liner, while the green palette containing mint and forest greens with a darker grayish green liner. I love all of the colors because they have a shimmery iridescence to them that feels youthful and joyous. However, the cost of these is a little steep (as to be expected with Lancome products) at $48 each.

Now, I present to you what *really* caught my attention in this collection, the illuminating smooth powder which is a mixture of rosy pink and pastel shimmers. It's an all-in-one product for the cheeks and face, so you can use it as your face powder and blush, as well as highlighter (the parts that are more shimmery). The cost is, again, steep at $42, but it is such a beautiful item that appears to look like a bed of roses that it almost makes it worth the price.

My least favorite items in this collection are their waterproof eyeliner pens in green and white, I'm not a huge fan of their formulation, it's a little greasy for my taste,  but some people like that. Also, they're expensive at $25.50 each and you can probably find something similar in a drugstore.

The lipstick in this line is kind of adorable because the limited-edition packaging for the cotton candy shade and the color itself are the cutest. However, the 'Le French Touch Absolu Nu' lipstick costs $35 because of the packaging, while the rest are $29, $6 for packaging, Lancome?? Really??? I know that packaging didn't set them back anything so why are they overpricing? 'L'Absolu Rouge Nu' comes in the colors 'Sweet Marmalade' and 'Rose Petal'.

L'Absolu Rouge Nu in Sweet Marmalade

L'Absolute Roughe Nu in Rose Petal

Limited Edition - Le French Touch Absolu Nu in Cotton Candy

Melting your lipsticks & making your own lip balms

Do you fear that you're turning into a lipstick hoarder? Do you have tons of little lipstick tubes hanging out in your drawers, purses, car and bathroom? Then maybe you will want to consider this interesting idea I have for you: make them into lip-palettes. It's a very simple process that anybody who owns a microwave can do. I imagine that at this point you're basically picturing a Salvador Dali-esque lipstick melting slowly all over the place. I assure you, this is not the case, I have a way you can do this in a very controlled and neat manner. I promise it's all worth it.

There are very logical reasons why you might want to do this: to de-clutter, to see all of your colors at once and make choices more easily, and to get the small remaining amount of lipstick out of the tubes you have mostly used up. The melting method lets you get the most bang for your buck, so you don't go out purchasing another lipstick when you have a decent amount stuck inside your lipstick container that you just can't get at. If you have colors that you absolutely loathe, this is a good time to get creative, you can mix them together and get new and exciting colors! Let's begin.


What you'll need:
- tiny spatula or cuticle pusher
- microwave or a candle (I recommend using tongs if you're considering the latter)
- container to put your melted lipstick in
- lipstick
- rubbing alcohol

First, you will want to take your container of lipstick and use a tiny cuticle pusher/spatula to scrape out the lipstick, you don't have to worry about making a mess or crushing it (I promise we'll reconstitute your lipstick in a manner that is beautiful). Place the lipstick chunks in your new lipstick container. You can choose an empty pillbox, palette, plastic container, glass container, used-up lipbalm case, or stacked dollar-store containers or bead organizers (my personal favorite). Whatever container you choose, make sure to put your lipstick in and dilute it a little bit with a few drops of rubbing alcohol so you can mix it together for an even consistency. Then nuke your lipstick in the microwave. Be careful not to do this for longer than a 5-7 seconds at a time (depending on the strength of your microwave) because your container can crack. Try to work with a material that you know won't crack in the microwave.

If you use a lip brush to apply your lipstick, you will get the most out of your product and you won't be wasting any on your fingers. Also, if you think your containers will melt in the microwave, use a microwaveable tupperware container or bowl and then simply scoop or pour your melted mixture into your container of choice. If you choose to turn your lipsticks into more of a 'lip balm' you will want to mix in some shea butter. How much you add really depends on how much pigment you want in your lipbalm, because the more shea butter you will add, the less color you will see. Make sure to thoroughly mix them together with mixing medium or rubbing alcohol before you melt them. This is a fun and easy project! Enjoy yourselves and show me some of your creations!

Which lipstick makes your teeth look white?

Before even attempting to pick out a color make sure you exfoliate and brush your lips with a toothbrush for the smoothest possible finish, wipe them down with a washcloth to remove excess flakes of skin. Hydrating your lips is crucial to this process because a moisturizing treatment is the key to smoothing down any wrinkles and lines you may have on your lips (use a thick lip balm without a drying agent/alcohol in it).



Regardless of which lipstick you choose, make sure that the formula is sheen/sheer because matte lipstick formulaas will get creased on your lips in every line and groove and make them appear dryer than they really are. Cinnamon and mint-flavored lipglosses and lipsticks will provide a plumping effect because the ingredients will cause a swelling reaction on your lips. Sheen and shimmer will also make your lips appear larger than they really are because it helps the light reflect in a way that creates a fuller effect. If you want longevity to your lipstick, make sure you fill your lips in with liner before you add your lipstick on top and then finish it off with translucent face powder, this is the trick makeup artists use to have lipstick last long periods of time.  



Red lipstick will complement all skintones



Choosing your lipstick color depends a lot on your skintone. If your skin is a pinkish hue then you want to choose blue-base red colors (not orangey, warm tones like your skin) and the opposite is true for olive skin, choose an orangey red (not the blue-based red which is cool toned like your skin). This contrasting effect will allow the red to make your teeth appear whiter. The deeper and more opaque red you pick, the better for creating a tooth whitening effect. But red lipstick easily can get on your teeth, thus diminishing the purpose of wearing it, so make sure you press a kleenex between your lips before you're done with the application to remove any excess, loose lipstick. If you leave extra lipstick on your lips it also will make your lips appear chapped and uneven instead of that glossy finished look you're going for.



Pink tones bring out the yellow in teeth

Mauve-based lipstick is also a good option to try if you're scared of doing the ultimate red lip. For real precision you will want to do your application either with surgically-steady hands or with a lip brush because strong colors like red must be applied perfectly in order to look good - any mistake will be readily visible. Whatever you do, if you're looking to whiten your teeth, do not wear pink lipstick, especially if you plan on doing a lot of laughing or talking. Pink lipstick will bring out the natural yellow in the enamel of your teeth and definitely showcase your plaque if you have any. You can feel safe using pink lipstick only if you have just returned from the dentist to have a deep cleaning or if you've recently completed a whitening regimen.