Ipsy: January 2013

In April 2012 I cancelled MyGlam after months of crappy bags and being misinformed by a MyGlam rep about animal hair brushes. The same month MyGlam hosted an in-house forum with online beauty gurus and their staff to work towards bettering their service. In September 2012, MyGlam changed their name to Ipsy. The reasoning behind the change wasn't very well stated, but it may have been to get away from all the negativity/backlash they received. The name change also brought a positive change in the bags. Higher quality brands, exciting products, and here I am back subscribing!

Don't know what Ipsy is? Ipsy is a once a month beauty subscription service that delivers premium beauty samples to your door. The creator of Ipsy, Michelle Phan, is a YouTube beauty expert that wants to share her favorite items with the world. The bags are delivered in the cutest reusable beauty bags. Once you join you will take a beauty/preference quiz that will help the girls choose the best products for you. The products range from beauty, skincare, hair, body, nails, and more. Every month you should also expect to receive full-sized products. Ipsy costs $10 a month, and your bag will always be valued above!
Click here to join Ipsy.

January 2013, Super Stars
My sister told me at Christmas time that she signed up for Ipsy. I started investigating and saw the Ipsy Facebook previews for this bag and was sold when I saw Josie Maran would be featured. It seemed like Ipsy was really going in a positive direction and I was ready to go in. This month's theme is Super Stars. Ipsy put together 5 Super Star products to help you get ready for a new you in the new year.

Information Card:

It looks like Ipsy has done away with real information cards. All descriptions are taken from the Ipsy online product pages.

Products:
Pacifica: Body Butter in Tuscan Blood Orange
Tuscan Blood Orange Body Butter is not only a highly effective antioxidant rich moisturizer that nourishes the driest of skin and helps fight off the signs of aging; it nourishes your other senses as well.Full Size: 8 oz ($15.00)
Size Received: 2.5 oz ($4.69)
I can never get enough of Pacifica products. While growing up I thought having acne meant I shouldn't use any moisturizing oils or butters. I received a huge tub of Pacifica body butter for christmas one year and never used it! Now that I know better, I was so excited to try out this scent. Some people thought it smells like Skittles or just overly fruity. But I love it! Blood oranges, mandarin, strawberries, and raspberries. I think it's pretty delicious. Their body butter is formulated with shea butter, almond oil, and safflower oil. It isn't too thick and is easy to apply. It absorbs pretty quickly and really does leave my skin feeling soft. It's even helping heal some really bad dry spots on my hands! My mini tube is just about empty! Luckily, I still have that untouched tub I received for Christmas that I'll be moving on to. Once that is gone, Im pretty sure I'll be rebuying this stuff. Pacifica has so many enticing flavors that I want to try them all!
Cruelty-free!

Sexy Hair: Spray & Play Voluminizing Hair Spray

Your everyday spray for BIG volume! Spray & Play is a humidity resistant, flexible hold hairspray that provides fullness, lift and incredible shine! Perfect for all hair types.

Full Size: 10.6 oz ($16.99)

Size Received: 1.5 oz ($2.40)

Switching over to 100% cruelty-free brands is a process. I buy a lot of my favorite beauty products in bulk, including my hairspray. I currently use Redken forceful 23, love the stuff, but Redken is owned by L'Oreal and therefore may be testing on animals. Sexy Hair is a cruelty-free brand so I was happy to get a sample of this stuff! This hairspray is meant to provide fullness and volume and a hold that is flexible. I've only used it so far to hold back my bangs, and it was non-sticky and is quite flexible. It does leave a little 'hairspray' like dry residue, but my hair is still flexible and doesn't look oily. I used it this weekend and I don't really think it provided any volume, but it did do a great job holding the volume I created with my brush. I didn't have to think about my hair all night long!
Cruelty-free!

Josie Maran: 100% Pure Argan Oil
Create your unique eye look with these creamy glide on pencils in the latest colors. Built to last 24/7.
Full Size: 1.7 oz ($48.00)
Size Received: 0.17 oz ($4.80)
This is actually the whole reason why I decided to sign back up. I love Josie Maran's beauty line and couldn't pass up her most coveted product, argan oil. Argan oil is a lightweight oil that is rich in fatty acids and Vitamin E. The oil is fast absorbing and can be used for a multitude of purposes and skin conditions. Use it as a moisturizer leaving the skin dewy and aglow, plus it may help acne, redness, and reduce fine lines. Treat split ends and frizzy hair, use as cuticle oil, or put a few drops into any of your beauty/skincare products to get added moisture. Argan oil can be used on any skin type. This is such a decent sample size, it will last for months.
Cruelty-free!

SOHO: "Get a Grip" Eyeliner Brush

Define eyes with the Get a Grip Eyeliner Brush. Starting with the upper lash line, delicately trace the eye from the inside corner working towards the outside. Repeat on bottom lash line. Perfect for wet or dry eyeliner.
Full Size: 1 brush ($7.99)
Size Received: Full-size! 1 brush ($7.99)

When I saw we were getting a brush, I got a little scared. All the problems with MyGlam was surrounded around brushes. Luckily, the brush I received is made of synthetic nylon bristles. It is well documented on the company's website and on the Ipsy product page. Whew! My eyeliner brush came with the bristles bent. Im pretty sure it isn't supposed to be like that, but it worked out okay. It makes for a perfect angle for applying gel eyeliners. I wish the bristles were a bit shorter because it is a little too pliable for my liking.
SOHO has brushes sourced from both animal hair and synthetics.

Nailtini: Straight Up Nail Lacquer in Frappe
You can’t go wrong with a classic, all the way to your fingertips. These two are the all-time best selling Nailtini nail lacquers. Whether the glossy true-red of bloody mary or the hint-of-pink of frappe, your tips and toes are classic perfection anytime. Full Size: 0.5 oz ($13.00)
Size Received: Full-size received! 0.5 oz ($13.00)
What an interesting brand concept. All their products are a play on happy hour and drinks. The description on the packaging says 'Great straight or mixed -- it's cocktails for nails.' Even their ingredients are listed in section headed with vodka, simple syrup, and dry gin. Super cute. I received a full-size in Frappe, a sheer pink. This wouldn't have been a color I would have picked out for myself. But it doesn't hurt to have a good sheer in my collection. The brush was perfect for an even, streak free application. Although it didn't last long. The next day it started to bubble and crack. I like bubbles in my champagne, not my nail polish...
Cruelty-free!

Total Value of my January 2013 Ipsy bag: $32.88
I'm pretty happy with this bag! You know its a good one when you are already out of a sample! All the samples are of substantial size and so many different types of products. Plus, the bag itself is a great size and the lining is so cute! I'm very happy I decided to rejoin and look forward to my next bag.

What do you think of the January Ipsy bag? Did you cancel MyGlam and resubscribe after the name change? Let me know in the comments below! If you dont get Ipsy and are interested, click here to join!

Goodebox: March 2012

Vegan and beauty don't always play nicely. Many well known brands use animal byproducts or unethical testing methods to produce their products. I find it pretty easy to spot non-vegan ingredients when shopping for groceries, but beauty is a different story. All those long, chemical names sound alike. One type of glyercin or wax may be vegan another may not. If the company does not clearly state they are cruelty-free and are free of animal products I don't feel right buying. These subscription boxes are great, but every so often I do get a product I can't use. Well not anymore. Goodebox is here to rescue me and all my eco and animal conscious beauty lovers.

What is Goodebox?
Goodebox is a monthly subscription service that delivers trial size healthy, eco-conscious, natural beauty and personal care products. Each month you will receive 6 or more products customized for you. The brands and products that Goodebox send out have been thoroughly evaluated upon the brand's use of non-toxic, natural ingredients that respect earth, animals, and humanity. The samples will range from make-up, skincare, body, fragrances, and some lifestyle and wellness products. Every month is a surprise, but the samples picked are based on a very detailed, thorough survey that even lets you indicate color preferences, any allergies, vegan, sensitivities, etc. Goodebox costs $16 a month, but the value of your box will be way above!
Click here to join Goodebox.

March 2012, First Box!
The first month of Goodebox has arrived! I was a bit hesitant signing up for another beauty box, especially since it is a bit more expensive than the others. But, I could not resist because of Goodebox's mission to only provide products that do not hurt anyone. I was really impressed by the Goodebox survey that I took once I finally slapped down the plastic. It let me choose color options as detailed as 'what lip color do I like' and it had an option that clearly let me pick a vegan preference. Also, instead of being sent a long laundry list of product info and ingredients they email you a week after they ship with all product information, ingredients, instructions, tips, and coupons! Every month you will be eligible for a 20% discount at the brand's store for the full-size (25% if you fill out Goodebox surveys)! What I liked is that the promo codes are valid for a few months, I'll have time to decide if I love the product and want to buy the full-size. Plus, some of the promo codes are site wide coupons!

I'd say their website is still a work in progress, there is no login page to allow you to see your account details or allow you to easily update preferences, but that is on the way in the next few months. They said that if anything changes you can easily resubmit a form. So far I have found the company to have really great customer service by email, although their facebook page is a little slow moving. Hopefully the more people find out about this awesome box, the better it will get!

 The products came taped to the information card. It looked nice opening the container and finding such a nice display. But I found some of the tape would not come off and ripped the print off the info card.

Information Card:

Products:
Alima Pure: Luminous Shimmer Blush in Freja
You know that rosy, 'just in from being outside' look? Now you can fake it naturally. Pure, luscious and richly pigmented. Alima's Luminous Shimmer Blush goes on sheer and blends beautifully for a natural glow.
Full Size: 0.16oz ($17)
Size Received: Petite Jar ($1.50)
Freja is sweet mauve color with glints of shimmer in it. It is a really pretty color and goes very well with my skin tone. It is almost the exact same color as my natural blush. I've never used a mineral blush, but I looked up online and it says to use a very soft brush with little product on the brush and sweep across as normal. It is better to build up then have too much product on. In the swatch,] I caked it on so you could see the color, but on my face it is very nice and sheer. And the shimmer, although more coarse than I'd like, does not look bad at all. The weird thing is the color of my Freja looks nothing like the website image; it looks more like Plush or Demeter...

Alima Pure: Bronzer in Belize
Ah, the soft, natural glow that comes from a good vacation. At least, that's the effect of Alima's Bronzer will have on your complexion. Enhance your lovely glow, even in the dead of winter, with a touch of Bronzer.
Full Size: 0.16oz ($17)
Size Received: Petite Jar ($1.50)
Oh mineral bronzer, I seem to attract the stuff like crazy. The info card said I was receiving a face shimmer powder, but it looks like the bronzer is a different product... Although, I do really like this color. It is a light/medium clay brown that has shimmer. I like that the color is less orange and more tan so it matches my skin tone a lot better than some of the other bronzers I have tried. At first I wasn't sure if I liked the shimmer, but once on your cheeks you can't notice it at all. It is a pretty shade and will look great for a natural, summer look. It has become one of my favorite bronzers and Im thinking about buying the full-size!
In general, I'm really excited about the brand. Cruelty-free, all vegan (except lip balms have beeswax), and they even have a jar recycling program (return 5 full-size jars for them to recycle, although they cant reuse them, and get you get a $11 credit!). I already bought the full-size of the bronzer using my 25% discount!

Clairvoyant Beauty: Depuffing Cucumber & Cranberry Eye Gel
Instant rescue relief for puffy eyes is in sight! An effective combination of Cucumber and Cranberry Seed Oil soothes and calms irritated eyes while reducing water retention.
Full Size: 0.5oz ($32.00)
Size Received: Full-size! 0.5oz ($32.00)
This gel uses cucumbers to heal and refresh tired eyes and reduce fluid build-up, while cranberry seed oil is full of antioxidants and fights signs of anti-aging naturally! They are blended into an aloe vera gel for a calming and gentle, tightening effect. The instructions say to just pat a small amount onto clean skin around the eye, but not to rub, pull, or tug. I would have probably rubbed it in. On their website it says it is certified vegan and biodegradable. There were some amazing reviews for the product, people saying that you'd see it working on puffiness in minutes and you could actually feel it tightening. I'm really excited about this product. I put it on tonight and felt it cool and sooth right away. Then just like the review I could feel it tightening! I was a bit worried it was burning, but my skin isn't raw or red instead it's actually less sensitive than normal.

Clairvoyant Beauty: Balancing Rosehip Oil & Hibiscus Facial Serum
Balancing, deep hydration for all skin types, even sensitive. Rich in essential fatty acids, B Vitamins plus C, and DMAE & MSM, this anti-aging formula is naturally astringent and highly antioxidant. 
Full Size: 1oz ($69.00)
Size Received: 0.25oz ($17.25)
This serum focusing on balancing and hydrating skin. Rosehip oil is full of all sorts of fatty acids and vitamins and Hibiscus is a natural astringent and has antioxidant properties. I'm assuming by balance they mean skin tone will look even and hydrated. Im learning that even though my skin is oily it needs to be hydrated so I may try this out. If it doesn't work for me I think my mom would love it.

Stark Skincare: Grapefruit Cleanse + Hydrating Balm
This water-less balm is both cleanser and hydrator! Melt away daily grime and dirt, replenishing your skin with healthy, antioxidant-rich plant-derived oils and butters! Does double duty as a moisturizer, fly away tamer, and after-shave.
Full Size: 2oz ($35.00)
Size Received: ~0.5oz ($8.75)
I looked up Stark and it looks like the products I received are from their debut collection. They have a massive banner that shows they are an all vegan and cruelty-free company! The products are all molded around the fact that our city environments are harsher and more polluted but we keep putting harsh ingredients on and into our bodies. So instead they use plant-derived oils/butters, clay, and extracts to effectively and gently solve our city skin stresses. The Grapefruit balm is an interesting concept that is modeled after the oil cleansing method. All the chemicals in the cleansers we use actually dry out our skin and make it produce more oil, so instead the use of oils w ill remove dirt and makeup without leaving it dry. This has grapefruit extract to cleanse, shea butter to protect skin with natural SPF, coconut oil that has anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and anti-fungal properties, soybean butter that stimulates collagen production, and green tea seed oil that is soothing. You just massage in, let sit for a few, and wipe away with a moistened wash cloth (or can use dry cloth). And afterwards you should tone your skin and moisturize. So you can just reapply the GF as your moisturizer!  The website warns not to use your fingers directly into the pot as your hands have moisture and water and oil don't mix! Really happy about this one! It got rid of all my makeup (well I didnt use it on my eyes) and impurities and left my skin silky soft. I'm not sure I'd use it as a facial moisturizer just because it feels a little too heavy on my skin.

Stark Skincare: Green Tea Detox Clay Mask
Purify, detox, and brighten skin with this clay, green tea and fruit extract mask. Mixed with your liquid of choice, use it as a spot treatment or weekly for soft, supple skin.
Full Size: 2oz ($25.00)
Size Received: ~0.5oz ($6.25)
I  have the sizes received as an approximation because they were not listed, but the Stark representative on their in-site chat let me know the two products were approx around .25-.5oz. This green tea clay powder is another cool idea. You just need to add a few drops of liquid, they mention water, green tea, pure fruit juice to 1/2 teaspoon of the powder. Apply an even layer and wash with warm water once it completely dries. Green tea helps repair damage from the sun and air, plus it has two types of clay that help tone skin and imrpove skin clarity. It also has apple and lime extracts that exfoliate away dead skin, improve elasticity, and leave skin refreshed. I love how it has so many roles and makes my regime a little simpler. I tried the mask yesterday, it dried realllly quickly. Like I had to rush to get it on my face because it was drying. It made my skin very tight while it was drying, but once I washed it off my skin felt smooth and refreshed. I may do this once a week and see if my skin tone improves.

Josie Maran: Bear Naked Wipes
Convenient cleansing with a blend of aloe vera, cucumber, and vitamin E. Free of fragrance, parabens, and petrochemicals, these luxurious biodegradable wipes are kind to tender skin, leaving it feeling nourished and refreshed!
Full Size: Travel Size - 8 Wipes ($6.00)
Size Received: Full-size! 8 wipes ($6.00)
It must be the month of makeup remover wipes. I don't mind these because they are my absolute favorite! While the LA Fresh wipes that I received were natural and vegan, they were like dry oil and not at all refreshing. But, I have used the Bear Naked Wipes for years and years and love them. They are moist, cool the the touch, and do an absolute amazing job removing make-up. I'll be going home for a week and half in May, so I'll be sure to bring all my makeup wipes!

Total Value of my March 2012 Goodebox: $73.25
I am beyond impressed with my first box. Quick delivery, awesome customer service, all vegan and eco products, plus I received such a range of products. I love that I have new makeup to try out since I have so many skincare products from my boxes. But the skincare products I did receive are innovative and really exciting! I am definitely staying on board and really look forward to future months.


What did you think of my Goodebox? How does it compare to yours? Did you receive any different products than me? Let me know in the comments below!
If you don't get Goodebox, click here to join!