Ipsy: March 2013

I just got my May Ipsy this past week. Where has time gone!?

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.

March 2013, The Great Escape
The theme this month is based around products that are perfect for travel. A perfect theme for spring. I didn't go on any trips this spring, but have two trips coming up in June! The bag itself is not my favorite. It feels really cheap, of course it is, but it almost feels like a diaper bag. It is weird to me.

Information Card:

Products:
Juice Beauty: Hydrating Mist
Juice Beauty Hydrating Mist tones, hydrates, and refreshes your face and hair while on the go, anytime of the day. Hydrate with the refreshing blends of organic juices for a fresh, radiant complexion. 
Full Size: 6.75 oz ($22.00)
Size Received: 1 oz ($3.26)
After living in DC for two years, I became best friends with my former MAC Fix + hydration mist. After MAC lost their cruelty-free status, I've been on the hunt for a new hydration mist. Trying out one from an all organic, cruelty-free company is the perfect way to start my search. Juice Beauty's hydrating mist uses white grape juice, aloe vera, and rose hip extract which all act as antioxidants that help sooth inflamed skin, rejuvenate tired skin, hydrate, and refresh. I love using these mists as makeup setters. A spritz of this after applying makeup help to set makeup, making it less suceptible to summer heat and humidity and kind of airbrush out your lines leaving you with a dewy fresh look. So far I like this mist just fine. I like that it has a finer spray than the MAC, but I dislike how powdery the smell is, but that dissipates quickly.
Cruelty-free!

GlamRX: Mini Freestyle Palette
The GlamRX Mini Freestyle Palette was made exclusively for ipsy Glam Bag subscribers. The magnetic base is the perfect spot to store pan-only eyeshadows (2 of which are included in this Glam Bag!), blushes & bronzers, or whatever you need for perfect for quick touch ups on the go!
Full Size: 1 mini palette ($9.95)
Size Received: Full-size received! 1 mini palette ($9.95)
I have so many pans and single pot eyeshadows in my collection that I barely ever use since they are all in one large box. In the morning, I am not taking the time to look at each and every color I own before making a decision, I just keep reusing the most convenient ones. The idea of a freestyle magnetic palette is awesome! I'm quite sure GlamRX is not the first, but I do love that this brand has a massive mirror to make this palette perfect for the go. It is small, but again this palette is for on the go. A lot of my eyeshadow pans are not magnetic, but it looks like some competitors make magnetic stickers meant for metal eyeshadow pans.
Cruelty-free!

Yaby: Eyeshadow Pans in Azalea Petal and Seashell

Whether you want to make a dramatic statement or just add a veil of color to your eyes, the yaby eyeshadow refills are extremely easy to work with. Can be used wet or dry and the smooth texture allows blending with ease.

Full Size: 2 - 3 g pans ($6.30)

Size Received: 2 - 3 g pans ($6.30)

These little guys are adorable. And I love that they have magnetic bottoms so they are the perfect first additions to my GlamRX palette. Yaby was created by a makeup artist that understood that artists and makeup aficionados alike need eyeshadow pans/palettes that take up little space and are easy to organize. These guys are teeny in size (as big as a penny?), economical, and the company is fully vegan friendly! I received Azalea Petal is a shimmer plum and Seashell a shimmer cream. The company boasts that these are highly pigmented, provide smooth application, and can be used wet or dry. So far I really am happy with them. I dont think they are as pigmented as described, but I love wearing these two colors together for a sweet/soft day look. And even though the pans are teeny, I feel for the price they are so worth it!
Cruelty-free! 

LA Fresh: Travel Lite Makeup Remover Wipes

La Fresh® Travel Lite® portable towlette wipes are perfect for jetsetters, go-getters, outdoor enthusiasts and multi-taskers everywhere. Towlette packets are small in size, designed for practicality and are easy to apply discreetly.
Full Size: 8 ct ($1.99)
Size Received: Full-size received! 8 ct ($1.99)

Got to love these wipes! So far these are my favorite makeup remover wipes that I have gotten from LA Fresh. Many wipes could be halved or even quartered and still be large enough for one use. These biodegradable wipes are just the right size, you won't feel like you are wasting any product. My skin feels fresh, moisturized, and clean after I use these. And I didn't need to rub so hard to get my eye makeup off. I would definitely re-buy these if I saw them in a store.
Cruelty-free! 

Total Value of my March 2013 Ipsy bag: $21.50
I'm seriously loving Ipsy. What a change they've made in one year. This is one company that listens to their customers!

What do you think of the March Ipsy bag? What was your favorite item? Let me know in the comments below! If you dont get Ipsy and are interested, click here to join!

Ipsy: February 2013

I love how early Ipsy is delivered! I normally don't even get the email tracking until after I get my Ipsy! Kind of a nice surprise!

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.

February 2013, Red Carpet Ready
Ipsy is really delivering on their themes. Birchbox had a similar theme this month, but it really didn't seem to relate really well to the products they sent out. Whereas everything in this Ipsy bag is related to va va voom eyes. Im not the fondest on the bag, lacquer black is so plain and boring. I don't think I'll reuse it, it looks too cheap to even try and use it to go out. But I was so impressed with the size of all the samples this month. Each item is about half the full size or larger! Pretty darn good.

Information Card:

Products:
Coastal Scents: Shadow Palette in Gold Quad
These miniature-sized samples contain four hand-selected shades by ipsy, making it easy to create a variety of looks. Wear these pressed powders dry or wet for a more intense, dramatic look.
Full Size: 4 - 0.16 oz ($7.96)
Size Received: 4 - 0.07 oz ($3.48)
This brand has been on my radar for awhile, but I've never been interested in buying anything from them. They generally market massively large palettes with 101 colors, which I don't really use. I'm simple when it comes to my eyeshadow, I don't like to wear 4 colors in one day. Maybe I'm boring? I received the Gold Quad shadow palette which has browns and yellow hues. These colors are actually really exciting though. They are multi-dimensional and really pair well together. The colors are Dark Goldenrod (iridescent, metallic gold), Sunbeam (a pale, matte yellow), Golden Globe (iridescent, liquid gold), and Dark Golden Olive (black-olive, with gold shimmer). The colors are on par with what I like to wear. But I have to say the formula of these guys are not that great. They crumble when you use a brush to apply and the fall-out while applying was insane. I had to restart my entire face because I got the dark color all over. I was not a happy camper. I would recommend only using these Coastal Scents shadows with a wet brush. They were highly pigmented though! And lasted all night long, so for the price they have a lot going for them.
Cruelty-free!

Pixi: Flawless & Poreless Primer

The Pixi Flawless & Poreless primer creates a beautiful no-shine finish for flawless, long-lasting makeup application. This shine controlling, oil-free primer smooths out fine lines and hydrates while making pores instantly disappear. It is the perfect skin primer for all complexions and all skin types.

Full Size: 1.0 oz ($29.00)

Size Received: 0.5 oz ($14.50)

Pixi always gets me every time I go into Target. I see the aisle and my little eyes light up. Then I see the price and I slowly back away. This is a face primer that helps smooth out fine lines and reduce pore size while hydrating and creating a flawless foundation for makeup. It contains shea butter and silicas, but also stearyl alcohol and salicylic acid. So it provides moisture and hydrates, but also contains ingredients that dry out my face? Maybe they balance each other out just right. It also contains something called squalane, which is similar to argan oil, in that it is a miracle moisturizer. Squalane used to be obtained from shark livers, so I have to verify Pixi sources from a vegetable source before I try it out. I'm interested to try it since my acne dries out my face so badly, that a shea butter primer may be the answer I need. The reviews seem to say, you either love it or hate. So once I get the a-okay that it is vegan, I'll try it out and report back!
Cruelty-free! (unsure if vegan, yet)

Pop Beauty: Smokey Lash Kapow Mascara
This lash-POP-ing mascara makes lashes plump, long and lusciously flirty! Smudge proof formula adds volume while curling lashes up and out for a look that truly POPs your peepers! 
Full Size: 0.25 oz ($18.50)
Size Received: 0.17 oz ($12.58)
We all know I am obsessed with blinc. I have two different blinc mascaras that I use for different occasions. But I'll always take a mascara sample to take on vacation or to have in my car makeup kit. This mascara is a lengthening without clumping. It also has vitamin E and other nutrients to help protect and nourish. This mascara is safe for even the most sensitive eyes and for contact wearers. I haven't tried it yet, but when I do I'll let you all know what I think.
Cruelty-free!

MicaBeauty: Gel Eyeliner in Black

Define eyes and apply eyeliner like a pro with the MicaBeauty Gel Eyeliner! This smooth, highly pigmented gel eyeliner glides over the lid evenly and dries quickly for a long-wearing, smudge-proof finish. Comes in 5 other highly pigmented shades. 
Full Size: 0.18 oz ($35.00)
Size Received: 0.05 oz ?? ($9.72)

Gel Eyeliners are not my favorite. It's a lot of work to me. I'm so used to pencils and pen type application of eyeliners that don't require a brush and a precise, even hand. But we received the nice eyeliner brush from Soho in our January Ipsy bag, so I figured I'd try the eyeliner out. It applied super dark and glided on very smoothly. I had a thick, sexy liner in under a minute. It did dry quickly, but I don't think I would call it smudge-proof. Throughout the day I would have a few smudges. And there is no way I would wear this if I knew I was being active. But it is the perfect eyeliner for going out on the town like a diva. I don't think we received a full-size, but I really have no idea how much we did get, so I'll er on the side of caution. Just fyi, it does contain beeswax, so it is not completely vegan.
Cruelty-free! (product not vegan)

Lash Card: The Lash Card
Apply your mascara perfectly with the Lash Card! Say goodbye to smudging, clumping, and messy mascara application. The Lash Card has two curves on each side that fit a variety of eye shapes, making it easy to get those hard-to-reach lashes. 
Full Size: 10 Lash Cards ($4.99)
Size Received: 4 Lash Cards ($1.99)
These re-usable lash cards are to help protect your skin while you apply mascara. I don't have a problem applying mascara on my top lashes, but it is a bit hard to get at my teeny bottom lashes without getting mascara all over. These cards can be reused about 10x each. But I could see just washing one over and over and not wasting a ton of cash.
Cruelty-free!

Total Value of my February 2013 Ipsy bag: $42.27
Another awesome month. I love how precise this theme was! Glamorous, eye make-up! And its nice that the previous months products (like the brush) work so well with this month's. Still not regretting re-subscribing. And almost wonder if Ipsy is better than Birchbox now. Except, I still love Birchbox Points!

What do you think of the February Ipsy bag? What was your favorite item? Let me know in the comments below! If you dont get Ipsy and are interested, click here to join!

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!

MyGlam: April 2012

Before I received my April bag I decided to cancel MyGlam. I found out that the MyGlam representative that assured me that the crease brush from the MyGlam March bag was synthetic. After someone mentioned I should do a flame test (burning animal hair has a distinct smell and will singe, whereas synthetic will smell like plastic and ball up), and it has the exact characteristics as animal hair. Im quite horrified as I not only used the brush, but I told everyone here that the brush was synthetic. I update the older post to reflect correctly. This month MyGlam has clearly labeled their brushes as one being synthetic and the other being from pony hair. But I am not spending my hard earned money on a company that does not value me and my concerns. Goodbye MyGlam...

Don't know what MyGlam is? MyGlam is a once a month beauty subscription service that delivers premium beauty samples to your door. The creator of MyGlam, 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. MyGlam costs $10 a month, and your bag will always be valued above!
Click here to join MyGlam.

April 2012, Girls Night Out
This month MyGlam revealed EVERY single product in the bag the week before they shipped. Most of the previews were so obvious that even if you wanted to avoid them, you couldnt. We all sort of hoped that there would be more products in the bag than they showed but no such luck.

This month the theme was Girl's Night Out. On facebook they had said the month would be filled with glamorous products. I'm not sure if they delivered. Honestly it is one of their better bags, but they have yet to wow me like Beauty Army or Birchbox has.

Information Card:

Products:
DermStore: Lip Quench
Using a blend of nourishing oils, this treatment softens and smooths lips. 
Full Size: 0.21oz ($12.00)
Size Received: Full-size! 0.21oz ($12.00)
This lip gloss is formulated with Maxi-Lip to give thin, dry lips a fuller, smoother hydrated appearance. Looking at the ingredients I was a bit worried since there are so many ingredients that look iffy. But most of these ingredients are always synthetic or plant based. The ones that may possibly be an animal source are: Ceramide-3, Tribehenin, and Propylparaben. It does have beeswax if that concerns you. I will contact DermStore to ensure that they are plant-based. Most companies seem to use synthetic versions of these ingredients, but it is better to be safe and sound. Although in the mean time I did try this out (Im not perfect!). It really is thick but that means you only need a little. It's pink in color, but sheer on your lips. I found that it lasted for hours and hours. It wasn't overly sticky and added just a slight sheen. I have to say Im not the biggest fan of the fragrance, it smells chemically and the taste gets stuck in my mouth. I wasn't too excited about this product since Im receiving it as a free gift for my purchase on the DermStore website (used my $25 off coupon from MyGlam). Seems fishy that we got it the same month that it is a gift with purchase.
What I did just notice is that MyGlam is offering $15 off your purchase of $30 or more on Dermstore.com using the promo code: April15. I've purchased now twice from them and have not been happier. On top of free products: speedy, free shipping; a wide range of products; free samples in the box; and I got a free magazine subscription both times I purchased (Health for me and Better Homes and Garden for my aunt).

All-Belle: False Lashes in Red Wedding A2822

Accentuate your eyes for any occassion with these gorgeous faux lashes.

Full Size: 1 pair of lashes ($8.50)

Size Received: Full-size! 1 pair of lashes ($8.50)

Having never, ever worn false lashes Im curious about these. The pair that I received are the most natural looking of the pairs that MyGlam has posted on their website. I'm happy about that. I already have pretty full lashes, but who knows maybe these will make me look extra special. I plan on trying these out a few days before graduation and if I like how they look I'll wear them to my ceremony. It is odd to me that the lashes vary in length, but I won't know what that looks like until I try them on. These did come with a bottle of lash glue, which is great since Id be less inclined to try them if I had to buy glue. My only issue is that the entire box is written in what I think is Chinese! That is real helpful... MyGlam should have included a translation card. What if the box tells me important allergen information!? I'd have no idea. I'll have to look up a tutorial to help me apply these. 

Urban Decay: 24/7 Glide-on Eye Pencil in Junkie
Create your unique eye look with these creamy glide on pencils in the latest colors. Built to last 24/7.
Full Size: 0.04oz ($19.00)
Size Received:0.03oz ($14.25)
We all know I love me some Urban Decay!! I haven't tried their eye pencils yet, but based on how much I love the shadow pencil I knew this was going to be love at first sight. I was pleasantly surprised that I received Junkie. Actually, beyond ecstatic, it was the color I wanted to receive! Junkie is not available for full-size purchase, but is available in a trave-size set of 5 colors (Electric). Junkie is a blue/green with tons of sparkle. The sparkles are pinkish and silver. The color is perfect for my eyes that range from blue to grey to green depending on what I am wearing. It definitely brings out the green in my eyes. Plus, just like the shadow pencil this glides on so easily and lasts all day long without a smudge! I adore this pencil already! I like that I can wear it any old day and with any shadow color. Definitely the best product I've received ever from MyGlam.

MyGlam: All-Over Eyeshadow Brush and Eyeliner Brush

Handpicked by Michelle, enjoy two additional signature pink brushes to ad to your exclusive myglam collection. 

The brushes that caused me to cancel. On the MyGlam website there is more information about the brushes and it clearly states that the all-over eyeshadow brush is made from pony hair. The angled eyeliner brush is synthetic and made from nylon. Someone had posted on makeuptalk that they thought the crease brush was made of animal hair as well and I informed them what the MyGlam rep told me. That's when someone mentioned to me about the flame test, which the crease brush failed. The crease brush is from an animal source. I was so upset that the representative misinformed me. I've been using it all month thinking it was cruelty-free. At this point I feel guilty throwing out a brush that an animal may have died for. So instead I hope one of my close friends will take both the crease and all-over eyeshadow brush off my hands. 

That being said before I use the nylon brush, Im going to take it to the lab to look at it under a microscope. The fibers are too well packed in to pluck one out for a flame test. I'll be at the lab all day tomorrow working on a ton of schoolwork, so this will be a fun break from looking at fibers. I'll report back with the results. And maybe Ill get a chance to take a photo of what I see :) The brush it self is nice and soft, it is sturdy, and seems like it will be a great brush. Let's just hope it doesn't have scales!

Total Value of my April MyGlam bag: $34.75 + (brushes)
I'm fine with the value, but I think it is cheap of MyGlam to have 2 brushes in one bag. Whole-sale brushes are obviously easily to obtain than an actual brand name sample. It would have been nice to get at least one more sample. Although to be fair, the products we did get this month were good sized. MyGlam may have gotten better (this is my favorite bag), I don't think they deserve my money. I plan on writing to MyGlam to inform them of their mistake and hope that in the future they will properly educate their staff on the ingredients and source of their products. If MyGlam continues to move in a better direction I may decide to resubscribe, but for the time being I do not regret my decision at all.

What do you think of the April MyGlam? Have you canceled? Let me know in the comments below! If you dont get MyGlam and are interested, click here to join!

MyGlam: March 2012

I received my MyGlam two days earlier than expected! Granted, MyGlam ruins the surprise of the bag with 20 million reveals beforehand so it is a bit hard to not peek at the contents before hand.

Don't know what MyGlam is? MyGlam is a once a month beauty subscription service that delivers premium beauty samples to your door. The creator of MyGlam, 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. MyGlam costs $10 a month, and your bag will always be valued above!
Click here to join MyGlam.

March 2012, Say Goodbye to Winter!
This month's bag is all about saying goodbye to winter and the skin woes that go along with the dry air. The products are to help repair and restore your skin and hair just in time for a bright and dewy spring! Last month a few bloggers went to MyGlam headquarters to help give feedback on what they are doing right and wrong. As many of you know, the MyGlam facebook is always in constant uproar. Complaint after complaint and a lot of negativity. I understand where it comes from, but it is soo much! I feel anxious when I am on their page! The girls talked about improving the quality of the brands and the products. Obviously, this bag was already planned by the time they visited, but the bags just keep getting meh and meh-er. 

Information Card:

Products:
Keracolor: Color Enhancing Leave-In Treatment in Natural
This leave-in treatment is especially designed to enhance, protect, strengthen, and hydrate all hair types.
Full Size: 5.5oz ($38.00)
Size Received: 0.17oz ($1.17)
I've never heard of this brand before, and I know a lot of hair products (used to work in an upscale hair salon). It seems like the internet also doesn't know it well, as the company is mostly associated with MyGlam. Keracolor is a company that only sells color enhancing leave-in treatments; they have different colors, as well as the Natural that I received. The treatment is formulated to magnify your natural hair color while nourishing and restoring the dimensional highlights in your hair. The product works by depositing color on the hair shaft, that lasts until you re-shampoo, adding depth and luminosity. It is infused with keratin to strengthen your hair, is enriched with a CET complex to enhance, protect, strengthen, and protect hair. The product is split into two pouches, but you blend once you want to activate the product. I'm a little iffy about using this since I do not color my hair and I like my hair color as is. Who knows how my hair will react to it? I'm already so happy with Joico K-Pak Revitaluxe that I dont need a product to give me that just left the salon feeling.
eta: Many people have been saying that this caused their hair to feel have a chlorine damaged effect, crinkly, and greasy. I will NOT be trying this.

3Lab: Perfect Cleansing Foam 
This creamy concoction cleanses completely without causing dryness or irritation. 
Full Size: 4.4oz ($50.00)
Size Received: 3.4oz ($38.64)
This is the product that I wanted to receive but now that Im looking at the ingredients and the description I'm not too sure if it is for me. Vitamin E microbeads stimulate circulation, green tea extracts purifies, whereas lipids, shea butter, and sodium hyaluronate hydrate leaving a healthy, youthful glow. The first ingredient is Mystiric Acid which is found in palm/coconut oils and helps to moisturize and hydrate. Im not quite sure I need THAT much moisture! I can just picture using this and breaking out like mad. Do I really want to apply shea butter on my face? The website does say it works for all skin types, but Im so scared to try it out. Has anyone tried this product? Thoughts?
One thing I have to add, it says on the side of the bottle 'Official BeautyFix Selection.' Almost like the DermStore sold all of the samples found in this bad to MyGlam for super cheap. Not cool.

Murad: Eye Lift Perfector
Increase skin's firmness by 50% as in as little as 15 minutes. Firming and luminating complexes address dark circles, both instantly and long-term. 
Full Size: 0.06oz ($35.00)
Size Received: 0.015oz ($8.75)
There was no description of the product on the little info card, thanks MyGlam. I used the description on the MyGlam website. I received a Murad product in my BeautyFix Season 13 Kit (Absolute Bronzing Boost) and absolutely love the product! However TEEENY this sample may be it is 1/4 of the full-size product. But the full-size has a controlled pen tip that doesn't make you waste any product. Either way this will be enough for 3-4 uses and hopefully I can get a feel for the product. I'll store it in a airtight bag as to not waste any drop!  This is a tinted concealer that hides flaws while perfecting skin tone that lifts, hydrates, and depuffs while minimizing dark circles. It has a lot of great reviews and people are raving that it stops make-up from looking cake-like and hides dark circles better than a heavy concealer.
eta: Ugh. No luck, it was the exact same color as my skin, so it did not work to conceal.

Pur-lisse: Pur-Protect SPF 30 Essential Daily Moisturizer
This moisturizer delivers reliable broad-spectrum UVA/UVB protection plus rich hydration thanks to a couple of exclusive complexes, vitamin E, soy protein, and calming antioxidant white team. Skin is left calm and smooth.
Full Size: 1.7oz ($55.00)
Size Received: 0.14oz ($4.53)
Again, no description on the card... I really like the pur-lisse company philosophy and ingredients. All products are vegan and cruelty-free and they use natural plant, vitamin, and peptide extracts in their products. The moisturizer contains lupine peptides that nourish skin, blue lotus flower that is used for detoxifying skin, white tea to destress and repair damage, soy proteins that help skin retain moisture and produce collagen and elastin, and seasilk that reduces fine lines and firms. Whew! Plus it apparently is light-weight and absorbs quickly. I love that it is a middle of the road SPF. I don't want to stay white, I just want to be protected. But for such an expensive moisturizer, Im not very likely to buy even if I like it.
eta: eh, I used it tonight. It felt very greasy and heavy. My skin still feels greasy to the touch. It felt like sunscreen when applying and how it absorbed. I would not use this moisturizer again.

DermStore: $25 off purchase of $50 or more
Once again, MyGlam marketed this as a gift card. If there is a minimum purchase it is not a gift card!!! You enter it in the coupon box not the giftcard box. It really irritates me that they think this is considered a deluxe sample. Im not asking to sample a beauty website, I want to sample products! The whole point is to pay my monthly fee and get the samples, not have to shell out even more. After all that, Im still going to use it. I received the same coupon with my BeautyFix subscription and I already used it. The store is slow and glitchy, but they do have a ton of products. As mentioned, I may buy another Murad product, or maybe Ill buy some essie or butter London nail polishes.

MyGlam: Classic Crease Brush & Case
Well this smells awful. It smells like it was manufactured the day before they sent it off in a sealed bag. You know that chemical, fake leather smell. The case is magnetic, which is kind of nice. The brush is HUGE for being a crease brush. I mean it feels like a pretty nice brush and it is very soft. I also confirmed with MyGlam that the brush is synthetic. MyGlam representatives did not know what they were talking about. I did a 'hair' test and it smelled and burned like animal hair. THIS IS FROM ANIMAL HAIR! From the giant case it seems like there will be more brushes to come in the future... I like the idea of including brushes, but their own brand? So weird. Again, I want to sample products that I can re buy in the future!

Total Value of my March MyGlam bag: $53.09 + (coupon and brush/case)
It may have a good value, but most of it is the cleanser that Im unsure about...
Im very close to canceling and may do so before the April bag ships. I feel the MyGlam bags are not what I expected and the multiple DermStore, Guthy-Renker themes of the bags makes me wonder how they are choosing products.

What do you think of the March MyGlam? Are you satisfied with the products and samples? Have you tried the 3Lab Perfect Cleansing Foam? Let me know in the comments below! If you dont get MyGlam and are interested, click here to join!

MyGlam: February 2012

I was  expecting my MyGlam bag this Saturday but it was already at my doorstep Thursday afternoon. A nice surprise since Im home from work feeling crummy. MyGlam listened to customer complaints and this month switched over to UPS Innovations and sent East Coast bags first. I love that they actually listen to our feedback. It gives me hope that every month will be an improvement.

Don't know what MyGlam is? MyGlam is a once a month beauty subscription service that delivers premium beauty samples to your door. The creator of MyGlam, 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. MyGlam costs $10 a month, and your bag will always be valued above! Click here to join MyGlam.

February 2012, Valentine's Day Bag

The February theme was loosely based on Valentine's Day and special moments. Adding extra sparkle for a big date or a girl's night and unleashing your inner bombshell. Im in love with this month's makeup bag. I know I wont be able to keep all of them, but they will make perfect bags for gift giving. Although, I wasn't as excited about what I found inside the bag. Lots of paper and a few too many small, teensy samples. Plus, chocolates I can't eat. I'm giving MyGlam one more month to see if they can knock it out of the park like the December bag.

Information Card:

This month no pricing information was printed on the info card, wonder if it was because of the goofs last month.


Products:
Freeman: Facial Hydration Mask in Goji Berry
Turn your date night prep-time into a soothing spa experience with easy-to-use skin-perfecting masks. 
Full Size:6 oz ($3.99)
Size Received:0.5 oz ($0.33)
This is my third Freeman product in two months. I received two now from MyGlam and one from Beauty Army. After using my Freeman Cucumber Peel Mask a few times I haven't been too impressed. I love the feeling of peeling it off, but barely does anything for my skin. This month I received the Goji Berry hydrating mask which helps to restore healthy skin tone and improves moisture retention. Soothes and hydrates creating supple, soft skin. This will be a good mask to try out on a lazy Sunday afternoon. My skin is beat from the constant weather changes of DC. So we shall see.

X Out: Shine Control
Stay flawless and shine free with this oil-free moisturizer with a mattifying complex.
Full Size:? oz ($?)
Size Received:0.75 oz ($~5.00)
Oh boy, another Guthy-Renker product. That makes 3 in the last two months from MyGlam. This product is made by Proactive. Shine Control keeps skin hydrated, healthy-looking, and shine-free. I'm actually intrigued by this product. It would have been great to get in a summer bag when my forehead and nose are glistening like a mirror. It has a translucent, creamy texture that really does dry matte. And it absorbed quickly, which I loved. The skin I tried it out on is silky smooth. What Im not too excited about is that this is one of those proactive free gifts you get when you sign up for a month of their acne treatment. So the only way to get this is to buy the X Out Wash-In Acne Treatment. The website doesn't specify what the full-size is or its monetary value alone. Only that the 30-day supply for both products is 19.95. Im just assuming it has a lower value than the acne treatment itself.

NYX: Roll On Shimmer in Onyx
NYX's brand new, intensely rich, shimmering powder that can be applied to the eyes, face, and body.
Full Size: 0.052 oz ($4.50)
Size Received: Full-size! 0.052 oz ($4.50)
The container has a roller ball tip that rolls out the loose powder pigment and glitter. It feels like it applies moist, but who knows. The color I received is Onyx, a charcoal black with silver colored glitter. Im not too excited about this color because I dont see how this product is versatile. Yes, maybe I can wear this on my eyes. But my face and body? Maybe halloween? But speaking generally about the product, although there is great pigmentation and sparkle, it wears off easily. No matter how long you wait for the product to 'set in' the glitter gets everywhere and I easily rubbed off the pigmentation too. I can only see it creasing terribly and getting black glitter all over my face. No bueno.
Included 30% NYX Roll on Shimmer coupon code (GLAMMENYX)

Premier: Dead Sea Cinderella Mask
Luxury skincare rich in life-enhancing minerals from the Dead Sea waters.
Full Size: 2.04 oz ($149)($20.73 on amazon)
Size Received: 0.07 oz ($5.11)($0.71)
The mask which is also called the Instant Stretching & Revitalizing (Lifting) Mask is packed full of essential oils and other natural ingredients, plus mud from the Dead Sea. It has a lifting or reviving effect within the 5-10 minutes you wear it. The mask stimulates the metabolism of skin refreshing tired skin and reducing wrinkles. It says it will last 3 days. It is called the Cinderella Mask because it works miracles. Use on clean skin and massage mask into face and neck, wait 5-10 minutes and rinse off. I'm actually excited about this. Especially since it is a reasonable price on amazon. My life is hectic and generally sleep and relaxation are the last thing on my list of things to do. This may be my miracle worker!

Premier: Concentrated Facial Serum w/vitamin E and C
Luxury skincare rich in life-enhancing minerals from the Dead Sea waters
Full Size: 1.7 oz ($149)($28.18 on amazon)
Size Received: 0.07 oz ($6.14)($1.16)
I also received a second sample from Premier not listed on the information card. The serum is suposed to provide an invisible veil of support for skin. It lifts, tightens, and nourishes skin improving texture and appearance of fine lines. It promises a lot. But Im intrigued to try it. It says to apply to a clean face, and massage into skin with upward strokes, and moisturizer should be applied after the serum has been absorbed. The product has many positive reviews on amazon. Who knows maybe this will help with the few fine lines I have.
Included is a information card letting you know if you like Premier on facebook you can enter to win $100 shopping spree.  And a coupon code for 50% your entire purchase on their website (MYGLAM).
WORD OF CAUTION! I found both Premier products on amazon for less than $25. That is a huge difference from what the website is charging. If you like this product buy from amazon!

NuMe: $100 Gift Card
Enjoy $100 towards NuMe's products. Hair tools that will revolutionize your everyday look.
Although a generous coupon code, Im not rushing to order. NuMe products are extremely expensive, think a straightener for $300. And the coupon is only for styling tools not hair care or accessories. I dont straighten my hair often and am happy with my Conair blow dryer. Plus, there is currently (as of 2/16/12) a NuMe Haute Look event where some straighteners and blow dryers are under $100. But I have until August 31st, 2012 to decide if I do want to use it or give it to a friend. Who knows, maybe I'll want a mini straightener for travel? Either way it is generous.

Ghiradelli: 2 Chocolate SQUARES
Dear Glammies, Here's a sweet surprise with love from San Francisco! Enjoy these decadent delights!
Full Size: 12 squares ($3.75)
Size Received: 2 squares ($0.63)
Two Ghiradelli squares, Dark Chocolate and Milk Chocolate. A cute extra, although I can't eat either. It always sucks getting dark chocolate that has milk fat in it. I swear it would taste just as good if you didn't add the milk fat. What about vanilla? I gave the chocolate's to my roommate who could enjoy them.

Total Value of my February 2012 MyGlam bag: ~$12.33 (without including $100 coupon code)
Not entirely impressed. Again little samples. Skin care and masks galore. Liked last month's better.

What did you think of my bag? What was your favorite product this month? If you dont get Myglam, click here to join! Let me know what you think in the comments below!