January 2018 Ipsy Unbagging

I can't preach enough about how much I love Beauty Subscriptions. If boxes like Boxycharm are more than you want to spend on a beauty subscription, Ipsy is a very affordable alternative. For $10/month (billed the 1st of the month), you receive 5 items and a cute Glam Bag. The items aren't always full size, so you do often get deluxe samples. Which I think is nice to at least try the item prior to purchasing it full size. What is also nice is the fact that you can easily rate each product that you receive and Ipsy will personalize your future bags according to your feedback. 

Ipsy's January theme is Conquering 2018, so the bag is perfect for those who have any fitness resolutions. I love this bag and will use it in my gym bag for sure. It also comes with a cute "I will conquer" insert to help keep you motivated.

The first item was Nyx Lip Lingerie in Beauty Mark. I was not a fan of this. I look horrible with dark brown lips, so this color was not flattering. It's streaky, which you'll see in a swatch below. And there was something about the smell that was off-putting. It smells almost chemically. I do hear a lot of people love these though, so maybe a lighter shade will work for me.

The next item is Ciate Fierce Flicks Liquid Eyeliner. It comes with a felt tip, and claims to be "long-wearing, dries quickly, and won't smudge or transfer". The Fierce Flicks liner definitely lives up to those claims. It is not waterproof, though - so water will make it smudge/come-off. I like this eyeliner and it's pretty good, but I probably wouldn't repurchase since I prefer waterproof formulas.

One of my favorite items for January is Dirty Little Secrets eyeshadow in Bikini. This color is a gorgeous copper shade and is super pigmented. If used wet, it is even more stunning. And if you wanna be fancy, you could use this as a highlight. This shade is something I reach for often, so I would definitely repurchase!

 

The next item is Befine Skincare's Exfoliating Cleanser. It's made with brown sugar, almonds, and oats - and it smells like it! This is the most appetizing cleanser I've used in awhile. But if you use this, beware! If your face is not wet before you apply, this exfoliator is really rough. You need water to activate whatever is in it that makes it soapy. I made that mistake the first time I used it and irritated my skin. I love this cleanser but it is really difficult to get out of the tube. I might just cut it open and pour it in a jar. Because of that difficulty, I'm not sure if I'd repurchase, but I do think it's good.

Another of my favorites this month is City Color Cosmetics Contour Palette. This is so buttery and pigmented and blendable! I think City Color nailed it with the color selection, since you get a cool contour shade, a warm bronzer, and a beaming highlight. This shows up on my Tan-Olive skin so that is always awesome. I love this and was happy to receive it, so I'd definitely repurchase.

If you are looking to experiment with more makeup or add to your collection, subscription boxes are the way to go. Every month I find myself trying products that I would never chose for myself, and end up loving nearly everything. And for $10/month, you can't beat that.