May Ipsy Glambag Review – ‘Spring Fling’

Tags

beauty, Cosmetics, Ipsy, Juicy Beauty, NuMe, Samples, St. Tropez, Subscription Box, Yaby, Zoya

I’ve been a subscriber to Ipsy since January, and I’ve got to say this is the best Glambag yet! If you aren’t familiar with Ipsy, it’s a monthly subscription of 4-5 deluxe and full size beauty products that costs $10 per month (shipping is free). Your samples will also come in an Ipsy-designed cosmetics bag! If you’re interested in subscribing, please use my referral link HERE.

This month’s bag featured the theme “Spring Fling” – and what a fling it is!  If you’re into spoilers, Ipsy does a nice job of posting sneak peeks of the products on their Facebook page. I always try not to look, but my curiosity gets the best of me and I always have a pretty good idea of what’s coming in my bag.

Each month there are a few either/or samples. Based on your beauty profile, the experts at Ipsy will select products they think you will love. This month, however, there were a number of either/or samples. I’ll showcase what came in my bag of course, but I’ll also give you a listing of what was in some of my fellow Ipsters’ bags too.  Enough chatter, let’s get to the goods! Here’s a pic of my samples:

1. Juice Beauty Reflecting Lip Gloss (Color: Fig)

I’m thrilled with this one! This is a full size Juice Beauty Reflecting Gloss in the color Fig. Juice Beauty uses the safest, local, organic and natural ingredients possible. This lip gloss smells like a fruit salad, is just shimmery enough, and has nice staying power. The color is a lovely raspberry shade, or well, Fig shade…but I think raspberry is a better color description. Other Ipsy subscribers received Mirabella lipstick in a variety of colors, lip liner, or perfecting powder also by Mirabella.

2. St. Tropez One Night Only Instant Glow Body Lotion

I’m a total sucker for self-tanner, so this is perfect for me. I like a little extra color on my pasty white skin in the summer time…sometimes this stuff can be a little precarious to apply, so practice definitely makes perfect. Other subscribers received either a roll-on perfume or a bronzing body butter, both by Pacifica, instead of the St. Tropez.

3. Yaby Concealer Refill (Buff)

This is probably the one thing that I’m least fond of, not that it’s not a great product, but I have a concealer that I like and don’t plan on deviating from. This Yaby concealer now lives in my little magnetic Glam RX Palette that came in the March Glambag.

4. Zoya Nail Polish (Neely – mint green)

Every subscriber received a full-sized Zoya nail polish, I got the lovely mint green shade called Neely. I’m a big fan of Zoya and I’m happy with the color, which was from their Spring 2013 Lovely Zoya Collection.

5. NuMe Finishing Serum  

Hair oils and serums are pretty popular right now. I’ve tried a number of them, and I’m definitely a fan! This is a nice sized sample, and I thought it worked really well on my long, straight hair. Other subscribers received Macadamia Healing Oil Treatment.

I’d say Ipsy hit a homerun with their May Glambags, and they did a superb job matching me with the available samples…and getting full sized products is always a huge bonus! I’m interested to know if you’re an Ipsy subscriber, and what you thought of your May Glambag. And if you aren’t a subscriber…what are you waiting for? Join in the FUN!

xoxo,
Jackie

So Many Samples…Such Little Time!

Tags

beauty, Birchbox, Cosmetics, Health, Samples, Shopping, Skincare

Alrighty, ladies…this is a fun one. I am a product junkie…make up, skin care, hair products…you name it. Many times when purchasing products I get samples, either sample packets, deluxe sized samples, and even some full size freebies.  I also subscribe to a few of the super-fun subscription boxes (Birchbox and Ipsy). So that means I have a plethora of samples of some really great products that I just don’t use.

Here’s where you come in…are you equally as addicted to products as I am? Do you have too many samples of items that you just won’t use? Maybe we can help each other – let’s swap!

Check out my list of samples below and see if there’s anything you’re interested in. Send me a note, or comment below, and tell me what you have available for swapping and hopefully we can work something out. Shipping is our own responsibility, so we’re even when it comes to shipping costs. The hope is that we each can get some goodies that we’ll love..and use!

Here are some pics of the goodies up for grabs:

And here is the full list:

MAKEUP:

– bareMinerals blush in ‘Kiss’ – brand new, never opened, full size.
– bareMinerals blush in ‘Naughty, Naughty’ – brand new, never opened, full size.
– Smashbox Lip Enhancing Gloss in ‘Razzle’ – .14 fl. oz.
– Lancome Blush Subtl Duo in ‘Aplum’ and ‘Miel Glace’
– Laura Mercier Foundation Primer – 0.5 fl.oz. (great size!)
– Laura Geller Spackle Tinted Under Makeup Primer in Bronze – 0.09 fl.oz.
– Dermalogica SkinPerfect Primer SPF 30 – 0.24 fl.oz.
– Estee Lauder Sumptuous Bold Volume Lifting Mascara
– Clinique High Impact Mascara (Quantity: 2)

MAKEUP BRUSHES:
– Clinique 2 brush set including blush brush and angled shadow brush.
– ULTA 3-brush set blush brush, contour brush, and eye shadow brush. 

SKINCARE
– Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion – Quantity: 4
– Exuviance Collagen Triple Boost Serum – Quantity: 2, 0.16 fl. oz.
– Clarins Beauty Flash Balm – 0.53 fl. oz.
– Clarins UV Plus Day Screen High Protection SPF 40 – 0.33 fl. oz.
– Vichy One Step Cleanser (Cleanser/Toner/Eye Make-Up Remover)–1 fl. oz.
– Erno Laszlo AntiOxidant Complex for Eyes – 0.25 fl. oz.
– Erno Laszlo Redness FX Calming Lotion  – 0.1 fl. oz. – Quantity: 4
– Erno Laszlo Total Skin Revitalizer Facial Hydration – 0.1 fl. oz.

HAIRCARE
– Alterna Bamboo Color Care UV+ Fade Proof Fluide – 0.25 fl. oz size.
– Big Sexy Hair Powder Play Volumizer.
– KMS California AddVolume Shampoo/Conditioner packets.
– Sebastian Light Weightless Shine Conditioner sample packet.

MISC.
– Caldrea Madarin Vetiver Hand Soap Samples – Quantity: 2

FRAGRANCE SAMPLES
– Bond No.9 ‘Nuits De NoHo’
– Bond No.9 ‘The Scent of Peace’
– BCBG Max Azria
– Clarins ‘ Eau des Jardins’
– Twirl by Kate Spade

FOIL SAMPLE PACKETS:
– Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer (2)
– Murad Skin Perfecting Primer
– Urban Decay Naked Skin Foundation (Shades Available: 2.0 / 4.0 / 8.0)
– PurMinerals Colour Correcting Primer ‘Comoplexion Pur-fection Peach’
– Kiehl’s Crème de Corps
– Kiehl’s Abyssine Serum+
– Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Moisturizer
– Kiehl’s Tea Tree Tone
– Kiehl’s Cucumber Herbal Alcohol-Free Toner
– Exuviance Brightening Bionic Eye Crème
– Peter Thomas Roth Anti-Aging Buffing Beads
– Thymes Kimono Rose Body Lotion
– Bath & Body Works True Blue Spa Toe the Line Foot Scrub
– Show Stoppers Double Stick Designer Fashion Tape

Interested in a swap? Let me know by commenting below, or email me at cosmosandcardigans@yahoo.com and we can work out the details. Thanks for checking out my blog!

xoxo,
Jackie

The Wonders of Influenster!

Tags

Cosmetics, Influenster, Online Communities, Pinterest, Twitter, VoxBox, VoxBoxes

I discovered Influenster about 2 months ago…I don’t remember how I came upon it, but I am really happy that I did! What is Influenster, you ask? Here’s how they refer to themselves:

Influenster is a free-to-join community of invited trendsetters who live to give opinions of products and experiences. Influenster creates links between brands and members to reward participation and influence future products.

Basically it’s a website that wants your opinion on all sorts of things…it’s a community of influential people who can qualify to receive free mailings with products to try. It doesn’t matter if your interests are fashion, style, and beauty products or camping, video games and travel – you can offer up your opinions on anything and everything. Along the way you will earn an ‘Influenster Score’ based on your interaction with the website, by providing answers and reviews on products, engaging with @Influenster on Twitter, and by submitting your blog, Pinterest page and Youtube Channel to the Influenster team. Answer questions and unlock Expert Badges on up to 5 Categories, adding to your overall Influenster score.

What’s in it for you, you ask? Well…as an Influenster with a high Score, you become eligible to earn a VoxBox! (A what?) A VoxBox! VoxBoxes are offered to specially selected Influensters and they are filled to the brim with the hottest products that interest you. Each box has a theme and designed around a specific program. No one is ever guaranteed a VoxBox, as it’s totally determined based on your interaction with the site.

And this month, I’ve been selected to receive a VoxBox! [WOO HOO!] It’s theme is called the Sugar ‘n Spice VoxBox, and I should receive it soon. As an Influenster, and the recipient of a VoxBox, I’m required to review all the products and let you know my thoughts on them…so look for my reviews next week!

Head on over to Influenster and check it out! Even if you only have 5 minutes a day to devote to this, it could be worth it..and it’s fun!

Let me know what you think, or if you are already an Influenster! If you are interested in Influenster, send me a note to cosmosandcardigans@yahoo.com, or hit me up on twitter at @jackieschumi and I will send you an invite – but hurry, I’ve only got 5 to give out right now!

Ciao!
xoxo,
Jackie