6 Tips For Moving With Makeup

Moving is NOT exactly my favorite thing to do. BUT when you have to it's good to be prepared. I have moved a couples times with a large collection of makeup. Of course however frustrating I found it, I wanted to make sure it all arrived in the condition it left in. Want to know how I did it? Keep reading.

1: Clear out the stuff you don't want. Ugh , I know. This was a very daunting task for me but I managed to come up with a box full of stuff. This was used for my girls night in (well the stuff that I never used anyway) or thrown out.

2: Pick out the bare minimum to keep in a makeup bag. You will want to have these products out and on hand while you are packing and unpacking. That way you aren't super rushed to unpack everything when you get to your destination as well as during the move.

3: Keep pressed products in one piece. To do this I use cotton pads and put them over powder products to absorb the shock of any bumps in the road or however you are traveling, and this will keep them from shattering. Remember if a pressed powder product does shatter you can always fix it with rubbing alcohol.

4: Organize it in bags. Using sandwich bags, I can keep all of my cream eye shadows together, powders together, blushes together and anything else I want to sort. It's also a good idea to keep your liquid products like brush cleaner or setting spray in their own bags so if they do break it wont ruin anything else. I usually put these bags in one or two boxes and proceed with my next tip.

5: Extra Padding. I use everything from fabric scraps to bubble wrap to keep my makeup from bouncing around too much and breaking either their cases, or the product itself. Remember that the worst thing you can do is leave room for the products to move around. Boxes can't protect your makeup on their own, make sure the box is full so it doesn't accidentally get crushed if a heavy box gets sat on top of it. This is also a good thing to note if you can't keep the boxes with you or you are shipping them, put some packing peanuts inside until it's just a bit difficult to close. Your things should be suspended in the peanuts so they are unable to move.

6: Take it with you. I prefer to keep mine where I can hold onto it and I know it wont get bounced around a lot, Make SURE you label your box fragile in case a mover or someone else picks it up. You won't want it to be thrown around and have anything broken. Like I said, I like to hold on to mine, it's just easier to make sure I know it wont break. :)

The last thing left to do is unpack. Good luck to those of you who are moving.

xoxo
Courtney

Beauty Subscription Smackdown part 2 December 2014 Ipsy vs Lip Monthly

Okay, cliché I know, but is it really already December? Where did the year go?!? Christmas came and went fast, winter is in the air, and it's scarf weather and rain boots for the next few months. Anyway I have an update and we can move on to the smackdown. So I know I said I was going to let my Lip Monthly subscription renew this month but after reconsidering it I decided I wasn't enjoying it as much as I had hoped, so this will be my last Lip Monthly bag for a while. I also want to apologize for the lateness of this post, my bags were running incredibly late this month.

Lets start off with Lip Monthly since that's what arrived first:

Admittedly the bag this months bag is very cute, it is a bit wintery as it has snow on it, so I won't be using this year round as a makeup bag in my purse, but the design is flat out adorable. Again I love the size of these bags compared to the Ipsy ones since they hold bushes much better and holds more makeup.

Magnolia MakeUp Matte Lip Color in Matador $15- I'm sure this color would look better on some people, but on me. No. Just no. As for the product itself, it's very liquidy and stains quite a bit. It takes quite some time to dry, it more rubs off than anything else. I'm just not impressed with this product like I was hoping to be.

Milani Brilliant Shine Lip Gloss in Nude Touch $4.99- This has to be one of the best products in the bag based on color. It's mostly clear with sparkles. This is actually not a bad formula either. It isn't horribly sticky and is very reflective. I very much like this product and I will continue to use it.

LA Girl Endless Semi-Permanent Automatic Lip Liner in Mauvelous $5- This color isn't anything special to me, but it is a pretty basic color. It does still feel like it will have a very nice wear time and I will try this out, but as for the color it's just not that special.

NYC Ultra Moist Lip Wear in Mocha $0.99- This to me was the most disappointing product. Not only is it just not a pretty color (in my opinion), it's NYC and we just got a lipstick from that brand last month. Soooo this wasn't that great. Again the formula feels nice and its a good cheap brand for lipstick but how versatile is this color really?


Bag Total: $25.98- In case you didn't figure it out, I was not pleased or impressed with this bag. Though I have no doubt that these colors would look fantastic on other people, I just was not impressed. I feel like lip products are such a personal thing that they really need to release the customization features promised several months back. I'm not saying that these aren't good products but they send a lot of drugstore items and it's just not all that interesting to me.

Now on to Ipsy:

Kind of annoyed with the post office for taking so long to deliver, but with the Christmas season being here I suppose I can't be too mad at them.

This months theme? "Thinking of You"

How cute were these cards? Ipsy sent out a few different sayings and this one made me smile.

The bag itself is adorable and a very nice change from the usual bag size and shape. I do like the key chain on the zipper, so I will be removing that and putting it on my keys. The bag is very classy looking and I enjoy the design a lot. I love when Ipsy makes interesting changes to the bag design!

NYX Butter Lip Balm in Marshmallow $4- While I initially I was concerned about the color of this product but I find that it actually neutralizes the color of my already very pigmented lips. So I'm very happy with this product with just that. Add on top that this is very comfortable to wear and moisturizing. I think I will repurchase, especially at this price point. I feel like this would also be a good product for beginners or high school students where rules are a little more strict.

Style Sexy Hair 450° Blow Out $7- Though I'm not incredibly wowed by this product I do feel like this worked well. My blow dry time was reduced, and I'm always glad for some heat protection. The product comes out in a light mist and a bit oily, but it works into the hair well and so far I haven't noticed any gross residue.

Beauty Without Cruelty Facial Cleanser 3% AHA Complex $2.99- I've always been a huge fan of soap free cleansers. I was a little concerned because some people have reported it really irritating their skin bu so far I have not had any problems. I will continue to use this and see how my skin fairs with it.
Note from the Boyfriend; I have borrowed and used this product and so far am pleased with the results. It worked well in clearing my acne without making my face feel super dry or any more oily.

Cailyn Just Mineral Eye Polish in Orchid $15- This absolutely needs a primer underneath it. However this is just a beautiful color. I'm not a huge fan of the applicator, but I could see why some people may like it. I wish that it was just a pot of loose pigment instead of only having the option of using the applicator, but I will figure out a way to make it work.

Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes 4-in-1 Mascara $8.33- I was really excited to try! I will be receiving a Covergirl Mascara from a Influenster Vox Box soon, but I decided to open this now instead of waiting. The wear time is not very impressive, but it's good for a non-waterproof formula. The application is uncomfortable with the shape of the brush, it's not something I particularly like especially with the formula being as dry as it is. It doesn't apply very well, however with the use of a lash comb it separates nicely to create a natural look. It's a nice mascara but I wouldn't repurchase for the full price.

Bag Total; $37.32- That wraps up 2014 Ipsy bags. I was pretty impressed with my Ipsy bag this month and I really enjoyed the products that were in it. I found it was a nice mix of skin care, hair care and makeup. I love when they balance the bags nice.

Soooo the winner is....Ipsy! even though these subscriptions have a different focus, I still feel like each had a fair chance when it comes to wearability and a quality. I found that Ipsy this month provided a great mix of quality products and nice wearable colors to try. Though Lip Monthly had some good quality products, the wearability is very limited to specific skin tones. They have promised to launch customization features and improve their experience but I'm just not seeing what they have promised. In my opinion they still have a lot of potential, but they are not delivering in a way that I would hope and expect. If I see improvement on the website and in the bags I will resubscribe in the future, but for now part two of this series is over.

Of Course that means the overall winner of  "Lip Monthly Vs Ipsy" is also Ipsy. Though Lip Monthly is not the winner, I do feel like they have quite a bit of potential and they could be a strong competitor in the future if they make some much needed improvements. Stay tuned for part three of the smackdown series!

Hope you enjoyed!
xoxo
Courtney

Have any Subscription box suggestions? Leave me a comment below and let me know! If I sign up I will even use your referral link! :)

Beauty Subscription Smackdown Part 2: Lip Monthly vs. Ipsy November 2014

So I did in fact let my Ipsy subscription renew this month.  It should have renewed in August, but Ipsycare was kind enough to give me two months free so I could gather the funds to renew my yearly subscription. Since month to month just isn't something that works with my budget I was so grateful that Ipsy would do something so kind for little old me...So let's get started!

Ipsy:

Happy 3 years Ipsy! Technically the first bag was sent in December of 2011 but they started in November of that year and it looks like celebration is in the air with this month's sparkly glamorous theme. Maybe not everyone's cup of tea, but I've been all about glitter lately and they definitely sent out some killer brands this month!


This month's theme is "Girl Meets Glitter"

1. Temptu Highlighter in Pink Pearl ($2.75) -I have to say I was so excited to see this in my bag. Now I don't have an airbrush machine, but I do know you can use a few tiny drops on your fingers and oh my goodness is this reflective. I love the glow it gives my cheek bones and that it doesn't start looking cakey with certain products applied under it like some cream highlighters do. Unfortunately this doesn't seem to last to long on me either. Any ideas on that one?


2. Jcat Wonder Lip Paint in Red Potion ($4.99) -At first I was like "not ANOTHER red lip color" but no. No it is not really red it's more like a dark berry color. Which is great because Ive been loving the vampy berry-ish lips lately. I've heard that this is comparable to the OCC Lip Tars, but as I've never tried one (don't stone me) I have no way of really knowing. However this was very beautiful looking when I applied it to my lips and it dried matte. It also seemed to stain my lips a little bit too, so after I took it off my lips were still a light berry color. I'm not sure about the wear time on this yet because I haven't had a chance to wear it out, since its a little dark for me to wear to work.


3. Be a Bombshell Eye Base in Submissive ($14) - I have to say this is a great coppery brown base color for a neutral eye look. It has just enough shimmer to look good alone or you could top it with some nice browns for more dimension. I love that it was full size and I will definitely be rocking this at work for a while! I have noticed that I need to wear a primer with this at the very least because it did start creasing on me a few hours after putting it on. I have been liking this with some of my brown matte shadows though and that seems to last all day.


4. Elizabeth Mott You're So Fine Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner in Glitterati ($17.99) - I'm so torn. It's black liner, but its got sparkles AND it's really long wearing (like lasted through tears). I think I may wear this more than once or twice because it has a great little brush and I can get a thin line. The other thing I was worried about was the sparkles getting in my eyes or being painful on my lid because they are a bit chunky but I haven't had that problem so far so I'm happy with this. I'm really hoping they come out with more colors because this works so much better than my Urban Decay 24/7 liquid liner...now if only I could perfect that winged liner look...


5. Marc Anthony Oil Of Morocco Argan Oil Hairspray ($1.54) - The only thing in my bag that isn't makeup. I have to say I am not a huge hairspray person. I have one I like for most things because it keeps my hair in place but it's not great for just basic styles because my hair looks so...dingy. I don't think my hair looks dingy with this which is nice but it does still give me crunchy pieces, so I'm not thrilled with that. But I am curious to see how it holds up the wet crazy weather we get here. Also can I mention that I love hair products with Argan Oil, anymore its the only thing I use in my hair other than Tea Tree Oil.



Total Bag Value: $41.27 Wow. Just wow. I got a lot of makeup this month which is awesome. I'm loving the items I got. I feel like this month was very fall and winter colors and I'm pleased with that. The wind picks up like crazy here in the winter and hairspray is a must, but its also hard to find the right one for your hair so I'm happy to try that. I also think that a lot of this makeup will integrate well into my daily routine.


Lip Monthly:

So Lip Monthly has been getting better...ish. Last month was good, but their customer service is...questionable. They have also promised the release of new features, which have yet to be launched for a couple months now. Obviously this company is still quite small compared to other subscription services, but they really need to up their game. Again they have said they are training new employees, however it really is compromising customer care. If emails are taking longer than usual (for me it took over a week) a notice should be sent out and their customers shouldn't have to inquire over social media. Okay, rant over. I do still have high hopes for this company, which is why I will be letting my subscription renew in December. Which means part two of the smackdown series will last a little longer than I had originally planned. Onto this month's bag shall we?

1. NYC Expert Last Lip Color in Purple Crush ($1.99) -I will admit I was the tiniest bit sad to see NYC in a bag this month, but, I really don't have room to talk. Just because I have easy access to this brand doesn't mean everyone does. I actually really like this lipstick too. The color borders a bit (in my opinion) on the pink side, but overall I feel like it's going to wear on the lips well, especially with how much it stained my hand when I swatched it. It was also nice to get a color I could actually wear to work since some of the darker colors are a bit much sometimes.


2. City Color White Gold Mousse ($4) -AAaannd this is why I said I had no room to talk. I didn't receive this when they sent it out in an Ipsy bag a while back. Since I don't have easy access to this brand I am always happy to get products from them. Its the same way as when I didn't have easy access to NYX before we got an Ulta. As for the product itself, I can see why they called it white gold. Admittedly I had no idea how to keep it from drying out so I did a bit of research. I did find that it can be used as a highlight (my first guess) as well as an eyeshadow base. When I first saw this I was worried it would be cakey-looking but to my surprise I haven't had that issue. I'm still not sure if I should keep the little pot thing that was inside it. I find it quite messy but I don't want it to dry out either. Thoughts?


3. Ofra Lip Liner in Silk ($13) -Daaaanngggg I wasn't expecting to see Ofra in the bag. I'm glad that they are stepping up their game and adding slightly more expensive brands to the mix. Also this color is the embodiment of my lips but better. I really love this and I know I will continue to use it until I run out of it. Also it's the perfect color to pair with sheer lip glosses. This is one of my favorite items from the bag.


4. Hikari Lipstick in cabernet ($13) -If you watch my unboxing video I'm pretty sure I said "Carbonette" Not sure where it came from, but I know that's not how it's pronounced. I've been reading it like that since I got it in an Ipsy bag. Again I have no idea why. But it's a nice lipstick, again I was happy to see a slightly more expensive brand in the bag. But this is just not my color. So one is going to my cousin for Christmas and the other to a close friend for her birthday.


5. Crown Brush Deluxe Syntho Lip Brush ($2.45) - The card does read $3 for retail value, however I did find that it was actually $2.45 on the website. I don't really think it makes too much of a difference but I thought I'd point that out. I do have to say this brush works rather nicely, It's very soft and comfortable to use and it applies product really well. I'm really glad they didn't decide to make this the monthly mix up item since its a tool. I felt like this was the perfect addition to this bag.


Total bag value: $34.44 Though the card claims 34.99, I don't think it makes a huge difference either way. I feel like this months bag was really wearable and that they are really listening to their consumers. We said we wanted the prices back on the cards, they gave it to us, we said we wanted more color and less balms, they obliged. They did have a shipping issue this month, so a lot of people got bags very late. However this was not the fault of Lip Monthly but they did do their best to help their customers and keep us updated. They sent an email to everyone apologizing for the issues so I think they are doing better. While the company is having some problems, I do want to say that I am in no way trying to bash them. I think they truly care about their customers and I see a lot of great things happening for them in the future.



And the winner this month is...Lip Monthly! Whoa. I didn't even see that coming. If I separate my bag from the customer service this month which was...confusing and a little irritating, I actually do like this bag just the tiniest bit better than my Ipsy bag. For one reason, I just felt like it was a little more wearable. I do want to say that I was really impressed with Ipsy pulling out some awesome brands and I honestly thought that Lip Monthly didn't stand a chance. I feel like Lip Monthly got me to branch out to a new color this month, I would have never gone for that NYC lipstick in a million years, and provided me with a great tool to use and an awesome lip liner. I have to say that the only thing I'm not thrilled with is that they are continuing to get a lot of products that were in Ipsy as well, I would like to start seeing some other brands and colors.

I hope you enjoyed November's edition of Beauty Subscription Smackdown, feel free to leave a comment below! Do you get either of these bags? What did you think? Is there a subscription you think I should try?

Interested in either of these subscriptions?  Please use my referral links below!

                                                        Ipsy       Lip Monthly

xoxo
Courtney

Beauty Subscription Smackdown Part 2- Ipsy vs. Lip Monthly October 2014

Holy crap! Is October seriously almost over?! WHERE DID IT GO?!?!!?! On the bright side Halloween is just around the corner! Even better than that? My Ipsy and Lip Monthly bags arrived. You will be able to find a Lip Monthly Unboxing video right here.

I think the best thing about October is all the dressing up and the creative makeup. So I definitely had high hopes for this month's subscriptions. I really have been craving those deeper lippies now that fall is FINALLY here. So let's get into the bags shall we?

Ipsy:

 "Beauty Candy" was this month's theme, I kind of like that they played off of Halloween like this, especially because it wont offend anyone and who doesn't love candy? In my opinion they could have gone with a few more dark colors, but all in all, not bad. For more information on ipsy check out their FAQs or my thoughts and review on the company here.

I have to say when I heard the bag was teal I was really skeptical about it being a fall color and felt like it should have been saved for a spring bag, but when it arrived it looks a lot more like a jewel tone than I was expecting. I'm really loving the quilted design too and it feels really sturdy.

#1- Ecru New York Acacia Protein BB Cream Beauty Balm For Hair ($12) - As always, I doubt hair products before I try them, but yet again Ipsy has sent a wonderful product in my bag. I tried this in my hair shortly after opening my bag and it smells and feels very nice. I did notice it made my hair softer when it's dry, and I can't wait to see what it will do when it's wet.


#2- Figs and Rogue Hand Cream in Mango Mandarin ($6.56) - Can I just take a moment to point out how darn cute these tubes are?! These smell really sweet, but I'm fond of the smell. It actually kind of reminds me of satsumas and how my cousin and I used to sit and eat them in my grandparents kitchen. So it brings me back to happy times. As for the cream itself it has a nice texture and is just in time since the hand cream in our car has just about ran out.


#3-  Mica Beauty Mineral Eyeshadow in Harlequin ($14.95) - I was a bit intimidated at first by the darkness of this color, but I found that it compliments my hair color well so I think I will use this on date night. I'm not sure I trust this with just a primer, so I used a mixing medium to prevent fallout since it's VERY glittery. But it looks nice with the Wet N Wild pallet Comfort Zone.


#4- Skyn Iceland Glacial Cleansing Cloths ($5) - I did need some new cleansing wipes for my purse, so these came just in time. Though these are not my favorite, they do take off most of my makeup. The only beef I have with this is that it's marketed for sensitive skin and the wipes themselves are very course feeling. The formula on the wipes is a little sudsy but overall nice. I wouldn't pay $15 for the full pack of 30, but I will use these up and I'm glad I got them.


#5- Starlooks Lip Gloss in Guilty Pleasure ($1.50) - So considering that I recently spent $20 on a lip gloss that I'm loving that is very similar to this one, I'd spend $12 in a heartbeat. But honestly, this formula feels a lot like the Revlon Superlustrous Lip Gloss. The main difference is that the Starlooks one smells like a Carmelizer from Dutch Bro's Coffee. Mmmm...coffee....back to the gloss- I like it a lot and I've really been into rose colored glosses lately, but I'm addicted to the Buxom Full On Lip Polish in Courtney, which smells like cookies. Noticing a trend here? But I just might splurge on this when my Buxom one is gone.


Total retail value-$40.01 Though I'm not fond of the texture of the wipes or the size of the lipgloss, I have to say I am very pleased with my bag as a whole. I know that I will get use out of everything I received and I don't really dislike anything. I'm excited to get more use out of everything and once again I feel like my bag is very balanced.


Lip Monthly:

 So Lip Monthly has been making some improvements to their company. One of those things is the introduction of some new features that have yet to be released. But in more current news, Lip Monthly confirmed that they will be switching up the bags every month from now on when I asked on instagram.

Screenshot from Lipmonthly

 I'm definitely considering sticking around with this company for a little longer than I originally planned. BUT we shall see how these next few months go. And yes, I do appreciate that these bags are bigger, I can fit brushes in these without the bristles bending and they feel very sturdy.

For more information on this subscription check out the FAQs or my thoughts and review of the company here. Onto the bag!

#1- Starlooks Lip Scrub ($.66) - So obviously this is a sample size, but it looks like Starlooks wanted to be in a couple of boxes this month since this is the second product I have received from them. I will give this a shot, but as I can more easily make my own lip scrub and it's far less expensive that way, I will not be buying this after I use it up.


#2- Noyah Lip Balm in Cherry($3.99) - I think it's worth mentioning that Ipsy sent this brand out as well, and made the coupon code "FALLinLOVE" that you can enter at checkout for a free lip balm as well as 15% off your purchase (expires 11/20/14). So honestly this wasn't that impressive to me. It seems like a nice lip balm, but since I don't need ANOTHER one, I will be handing this off to John. Another thing to mention is that you can get 20% off of all lipsticks, lip glosses, and lip balms if you use the code "lipmonthly" at checkout (expires 12/31/14).


#3- Jcat Beauty Fantabulous Lipstick in Honeycrisp ($2.99) - In September of 2013 Ipsy sent out this same exact lipstick, the customers feedback was generally pretty bad. I'm not in love with this, since it looks yellow on my lips and is just waaay too dark for me.


#4- DeVine Lip Shimmer in Pinot Noir ($4.95) - Oh my gosh. This smells reeeaaaally good. It also feels amazing on my lips. This may actually be a repurchase for me. These have Resveratrol, grapeseed oil, and red wine antioxidants. They just feel amazing on the lips and are all natural, alcohol free, cruelty free, gluten free, pesticide free, and paraben free. Can these get any better? I'm extremely excited about this, even though I didn't need another lip balm I like that this is tinted and still gives my lips a bit of color.

#5- LA Girl Eyeliner in Navy ($3) - This seems a bit lighter than navy to me. BUT I do like that it isn't black. I cannot tell you how many black liners I get. So I was excited to see that it wasn't black. It's a bit hard but I think it could work if I heat the tip with a lighter before use. The only thing that worries me is that it skipped a bit when I swatched it, so I'm afraid of it tugging on my eyelid.


Total retail value-$15.59 Did I mention I just love the bag this month? I'm really glad they are taking suggestions from their customers. This month not only was the bag cute, but also very fall themed. I do like the products in it, but again I want more glosses and lipsticks and such. Lip balms are nice but I have yet to EVER finish one. They usually just dry out first or I toss them because they are old.  I think these guys are really going up in quality, and I can't wait to see what comes next month!


The winner for this month is...Ipsy! Okay guys, Lip Monthly was definitely better than I was expecting, but Ipsy was just spot on with everything this month and completely unbeatable. I don't expect Lip Monthly to be quite as expensive in value because it's new, so that really isn't why. I have just been getting so much use out of my Ipsy bag that it's insane. So better luck next time guys!


xoxo
Courtney

The Scoop On Ipsy

After writing "The Scoop On Lip Monthly" I thought I could do a more in depth review on Ipsy as a whole. I've been with Ipsy for just over a year, and I think I've gotten to know the company fairly well.

Photo Credit: www.ipsy.com

As you may already know, Ipsy is a subscription service that sends 4-5 deluxe or full size samples to your door for only $10 every month (just over $15 if you live in Canada).

The bags are curated by Michelle Phan and customized a bit based on a quiz you take when you sign up and can take anytime after.

Photos directly from www.ipsy.com

The samples range from makeup, to skincare, to brushes, and even nail polish! So every month you get a set of products to try and enjoy. It's important to remember that while the bags are customized, it's only to a point and you can never fully opt out of any particular product. So some months may be kind of a flop for you, but if you have your quiz filled out just right and you review products, more often than not you will receive bags you love.

Let's talk about Ipsypoints. Every month is an opportunity to earn Ipsy points. The most you can currently earn in a month is about 90 (if there are 5 products in the bag, if there are 4 than you can earn 75). You earn points by sharing and following the instructions on the popups you get twice a month, and reviewing items. The only other way to earn points is to refer people (giving you 250 points). Every Ipster gets 100 points to start off with, when you reach 500 or 1000, you can get an item. The 500 point items are a new addition and seem to be smaller and usually samples, where as the 1000 point items are usually full size and/or worth more. For instance I just redeemed a 1000 point item set: Samples of Bellapierre lip and cheek stain and the illuminating bronzer. Accumulating points can take a while, so be patient. Even if you have 1000 points wait until there is something you want. Also note that points expire 1 year from when you earn them, and that ipsy uses your oldest points first when you make a redemption. For example, I had 1005 points this month. I redeemed 1000, so instead of my points expiring next month like they would have, my 5 points wont expire until next August. Nice right?

The community is something else I love about Ipsy. On their website they have created a space for Ipsters to reach out to each other via message boards and talk about products and reviews. Though you cannot private message anyone, it does provide a safer place to talk to people without giving out personal information or anything weird/creepy going on. Not only does the community exist on thier website, but there Facebook page is another place to see this in action and ask Ipsy questions (something you can't otherwise do without contacting Ipsycare).

Something to note about the Ipsy community is that though it is not possible to private message anyone, people do give out emails in order to swap items with fellow ipsters. This DOES involve giving out your name and mailing address to a complete stranger. Now I'm not saying these things don't work out and can't be totally harmless, but Ipsy is not responsible for anything you do with your glam bags after receiving them. So if you don't receive an item or something bad happens because you gave a stranger your address--not Ipsy's fault. They wont even replace any products that you traded for. Basically be careful about that. Personally I choose not to give my address to anyone and stick with what I've got.

I've talked to Ipsycare a lot. Now normally you would think "uh oh" but it's usually for small things like when I couldn't get the site to let me change my profile picture (they fixed it right away). That's not to say there have never been bigger problems. For instance, once they had a site glitch and charged the card I signed up with (my mom's before I got mine) for an Ipsyme item and I freaked out and had to run to the bank so they didn't overdraw the account since they had other stuff going through, but Ipsy quickly took the card out of the system and fixed it so that when I renewed it would charge my card instead. This literally happened within a day.

There are other times when I've just talked to Ipsycare to suggest items for future bags or to show them how much they have impacted people's lives. At one point I even emailed them to let them know that they really made a difference in my life (it sounds silly but they have) and since my renewal date was coming up, they extended it for an extra two months so I would have more time to do so. I seriously did not expect that and I started crying. As it turns out, it saved my butt because my car got a flat and I came to find out I had to replace ALL of my tires. Had I renewed Ipsy that month, I wouldn't have been able to fix the tires.

Other than customer service, they are awesome at keeping in touch and interacting with their subscribers. They are constantly posting new things for us to do like challenges or questions for us to answer. It's actually really fun to see how much they interact and reply to our comments!

Along the same lines as social media, sneak peeks are released the first week of every month. This could be awesome or horrible, depends on how you look at it. For me it's both: I like to figure out whats in them for the fun of it...BUT I am also never surprised about what is in the bag...Literally I have ALWAYS looked at the spoilers, but then I'm like: "well, I already know what I COULD get, so I might as well just take a peek at my glam room" ARG!! This month it is my personal goal not to peek...but I've sort of already broken that by looking at the first one via email.

Lastly, I just want to say that if you ARE thinking about subscribing to ipsy, they are a great company. I really enjoy this service and I recommend it to ANYONE who is just starting out using makeup, or already has a huge passion for it, or even just likes to try new things every once in a while. Just please Please PLEASE read the FAQ's before you sign up. For heaven's sake, you are giving out personal information to someone. Know what you are paying for and don't ask ridiculous questions on the message boards. The FAQs probably could answer that for you. I will even link them for you right here.

Also please use my referral link below and score me some points. I would be very very very grateful!

http://www.ipsy.com/r/13bs?sid=ipsypoints&cid=general

xoxo

Courtney

Top 5 De-Clutter Tips

Sometimes life can get a bit cluttered...or a lot. This can lead to a need to completely re-think what you own VS what you need. As was the case for me...

I have WAAYYYY too much stuff that has accumulated over the years. For example 15 collector dolls, 8 porcelain dolls, 50+ beanie babies, a massive wardrobe, tons of crafting supplies, makeup...you get the idea right? Well in a room that is probably the size of some people's closet, this is not easy to organize. So it has resulted in half my room eventually being blocked off by tubs, boxes, and other various things.

Keep in mind, that I had a room three times as big before my last move, so at one point, all of this stuff had a home. But it slowly gets taken out of storage here and there and tossed into this tiny room and I'm left with no clue what to do with it. So here are my organizing tips:

1- Get rid of things you just plain don't need. The collectable dolls I mentioned earlier? Yeah, about 7 of those were sold to new homes, as well as some of the collectable outfits.  My massive wardrobe is continuing to decrease, a lot of my clothes weren't my style anymore or were too small, so out with the old and in with some new jeans and a few new shirts.

2- - Have a good organization system- One of my best organization systems is in my bathroom (currently overrun by makeup since my vanity is a work in progress)I have a spot for everything from my hair tools to my backup products. Since I don't have much cupboard space, I have cute trays on the counter to hold different lotions, hair products, and face products, so everything has a home.

3- Have a catch-all basket that you put away every night. This is so, if I have to take off in a moments notice or if I just don't feel the desire to carefully put something back in it's home, I can put it in a contained space until just before bed, as long as you remember to empty the basket every night it's not a bad system to have.

4- When you get something new, get rid of something old. I will admit I don't always do this, but it worked really great when I was a kid. Now I tend not to apply this to everything, but I find it helps with clothes. Now if only I could convince myself to apply that to my shoes...

5- Now if one particular room is really a mess, then I would say spread out. Pull EVERYTHING you can out and start going through it. Chances are you will find a bunch of stuff you don't need, and you will save yourself the trouble of just moving the mess around you while you sort. Trust me it's a lot easier this way.

Doesn't it feel better to have a clean living space? I am so glad to be getting through my own clutter, it will save me some work with my spring cleaning later!

xoxo
Courtney

Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad

So I am back with another yummy recipe! Figures it's chicken, since I prefer white meats. This particular recipe has some back story. Lately my boyfriend and I have been loving Sherri's. Now if you don't have a Shari's near you, or you haven't seen it on the menu, they have these lunch trios. My favorite thing in the lunch trio options is cranberry pecan chicken salad. The problem is that it's just too expensive to go to a restaurant and eat a sandwich. so I decided it was time to make my own. Here was I came up with:

You will need:

-1 stick of celery

-2 chicken breasts

-1 handful of cranberries (sometimes I add more)

-1 handful of chopped pecans

-2 1/2 - 3 tablespoons Olive Oil Mayonnaise (or as much as i takes to coat everything )

-Spices (I used poultry seasoning, fresh ground pepper, sea salt, garlic, and paprika to taste.)

-Bread of choice

Makes about 4 sandwiches (if you reeeallly like chicken)

1. After thawing chicken breasts, chop them into small chunks and fry in a fry pan, adding your choice of spices to taste. Set aside to cool.

2. Chop up a medium handful of pecan halves and one celery stick. Add this and a handful of cranberries to chicken. Add mayonnaise (I usually do this by sight. I want enough to coat everything but not so much that it gets runny)

3. Let cool in fridge in closed container. I let mine sit overnight, but a few hours will do just fine. (We used dried cranberries, so overnight allows the Mayo to slightly reconstitute the dried cranberries)

4. Spoon onto your choice of bread. I prefer ciabatta rolls or sourdough. Serve and Enjoy!

For an extra kick of flavor I like to eat this with garden fresh tomatoes on top..YUMMY!

I hope you like this fast simple recipe. The best part is that it only took about 20 minutes (not including thaw time) to make, then you can just pop it into the fridge and serve it whenever you are ready. I'm considering making this for our upcoming family reunion. I hope you enjoy this as much as I do.

xoxo
Courtney

Beauty Subscription Smackdown Part 2- Ipsy vs. Lip Monthly September 2014

In case you haven't heard, there is a new subscription box on the market. The first box was sent out in June. This makes September their 4th bag. Since information was hard to come by on their website, I shot them an email so I could get correct information for you...

Le's take a quick look at the boxes shall we?

Ipsy:

• $10 a month or $110 a year if you choose to do an annual subscription. 
• 4-5 deluxe samples or full size products.
• The bags are themed and super adorable and slightly customized to your liking. 
• Send everything from skincare, fragrance, hair products, and makeup. 
• Points system to receive rewards for reviewing products, sharing on Facebook, and referring people. When you get enough points you get to redeem them for an extra item(s) of your choice in your next bag.

Lip Monthly:

• $10 a month (promotions available as well as different packages to be paid up front)
• Centers around Lip Products
• 4-5 Deluxe and Full Size Samples
• Points system and customization to be added soon (in progress)
• 1-2 monthly mix up products
• Same Super affordable price as Ipsy

On to the Products!

I want to start with Lip Monthly, since it's the newbie. I also have an unboxing video coming soon for Lip Monthly on our new channel! :)

#1- Cherimoya Retractable Waterproof Lip and Eye Liner Pencil (Latte)- $3.99 I have to admit the concept of a lip AND eyeliner pencil in one is a little strange to me. Normally I wouldn't use the same color on my lips as I would my eyes. I got Latte, as I said before, so it's kind of a light brown color. I actually love the color, so it will mostly be used on my eyes, but I think it will look nice with my makeup for Halloween (yes, we are already planning that, details will be on Romance in Harmony soon.)

#2- Cherimoya Lip Crayon (Coral)- $8 I was a bit put off by getting the same brand twice in a bag. I would much prefer to try different brands, but this actually seems like it's a nice product. On the package it says it's "Matte with moisturizing properties" I have to say it feels nice and the color is gorgeous. The only thing is that I feel like it's more of a summer color so I'm probably not going to get much use out of it for a while. The scent though, is like orange cream cake frosting. It makes me want to eat it.

#3-Eco Lips Hemp Fair Trade Lip Balm (Vanilla)- $3.49 Hmmm. I like the concept and it feel very good on the lips, but I HATE the smell. It's just too strong for me. John doesn't mind it so he gets to have it. It's pretty much a basic lip balm.

#4- Jesse's Girl Julie G Nail Color (Romeo)- $3.99 This is pretty opaque.  I think one coat would do you just fine, but I'd do two just to make it look a bit nicer. The color is again like a pinky coral. Like the lip crayon, I think that it's more like a summer color, so this may be my last summer manicure.

#5- Pur~Lisse Pur~ Moist Hydra Balance Moisturize- $16.17 Again? Seriously? Are you guys seeing this? ARE YOU?! This is the FOURTH time that I have received a Pur~Lisse Moisturizer. This is the second one of this particular kind that I have gotten. I actually use this one every night, so it's nice to have an extra one to put off me paying $55 for a moisturizer.

I do like this bag as a whole. I think it's surprisingly well rounded. However I do have a couple issues with it. One is that they had the same brand twice. I like both products, but they could have sent one in next months bag. The other is the bag itself. Last month they sent out the exact same bag, and I was very shocked to see it again. I think it will get old fast. I personally don't want four of the same bag. It just kind of seems like a waste. I feel like if you were to send out a new bag design every month (like Ipsy) that would be cool. If not than just go back to boxes. It's not super exciting for me, so I am hoping next month will be better...I'm really hoping for a black lipstick actually.

Total Retail Value: $35.64


Next up we have Ipsy, so let's jump right in...

#1- Crown Brush Shadow/Crease Duet Brush- $6.99 Dang this is soft! I was nervous that this would be broken, since other people were saying theirs was, but it was in one piece. I haven't been wearing much eyeshadow lately but I'm sure I will soon.

#2- Hikari Lipstick (Cabernet)- $13 Honestly, I probably wont use this. It's a gorgeous color, but it's not for me. I think I will pass it along as a Christmas present to my cousin. This shade will look amazing on her! I've actually heard some great things about these lipsticks, so I'm sure it's something she'll love.

#3- Pacifica Natural Water-proof Eye Pencil (Fringe)- $2.86 Holy crap! I freaking love this. It glides on really smooth, and once it set it wasn't budging from my hand. I might have to pick up a few of these next time I'm at the natural grocers.

#4- Briogio Don't Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Mask- $4.95 This smells like a mixture of bananas and a hospital to me. Weird right? But I'm excited that this is a hair mask I can use in the shower. Again, this probably wont get much use until the winter, but I think I'm all stocked up on those types of things!

#5- LeeAnni Eco 3-in-1 Revolution Light- $3.74 I think I was most excited for this product. However it was half empty when I got it so I sent Ipsycare an a email and they replied two hours later (wow.). They are sending a replacement. I really didn't find this to feel greasy, but the concept of a toner and moisturizer AND a serum in one is very intriguing. It smells like cinnamon (yum!), and made my face feel strangely tight and then really soft... I feel like this is the kind of product I need to use a little longer to give a good review on.

Ipsy Point Referral Duo Items- Illuminating Bronzer and Lip and Cheek Stain.
Illuminating Bronzer- ($10.40) I kind of feel like this is more of a highlight than a bronzer. It's very light and shimmery, even kind of sparkly. It has a nice feel to it. It's almost a champagne color, so it looks quite nice on my skin tone, and I think it will last quite a while since I will probably only use it as a slight highlight every now and then.
Lip and Cheek Stain- ($11.10) I foresee this lasting quite some time and being used very often. It's a bright pinky, but can be sheered out to a nice flush. I could even see topping this off with glosses or powder blushes and it looking amazing. I can't wait to use this!

I have to say I wasn't super excited nor was I super disappointed with my Ipsy bag, but after receiving it I have concluded that it was awesome (apart from the color of the lipstick), and I will use all the products which I got. Like Lip Monthly, I think it's a well rounded bag. It seems like a typical Ipsy bag for me. I definitely needed a pick-me-up after last month's bag, and I think this hit the nail on the head. Plus I'm totally loving this bag design. It's definitely me. I'm also really thrilled with Ipsy for letting me switch my referral item, I had redeemed it for something else and then a few hours later the BellaPierre Duo popped up, and I know I will get some use out of this.

Total Retail Value:w/o $31.54 W/ $53.04

So this month I think the winner is...Ipsy. Even though my LeeAnni Eco was half empty, I still enjoyed the products more, no the lipstick wont be used, but neither will the hemp chap stick from Lip Monthly. I feel like Ipsy had more variety and better brands. This month was great for subscription boxes but Ipsy takes it this month! Maybe Lip Monthly will step it up next month!

If you are interested in joining me in either of these subscriptions I would greatly appreciate it if you used my referral links.
                                                      Ipsy         Lip Monthly

That's all for today beauties!
 xoxo
Courtney

Dealing with the Cyberbully

Everyone knows when they put themselves out there that they are making themselves vulnerable to haters. Especially bloggers and vloggers. Most of these people hide behind their monitors and laptops waiting to strike at the next person who comes their way.

After posting our opinion and revealing the truth about a website called Manhood 101 as our first post on Romance in Harmony, this finally happened to me. I was all prepared for haters, don't get me wrong, but I thought they would at least use some more intelligent language. But Honestly whatever, call me what you want to, I can delete your comment if I deem it inappropriate, I will delete it.

However this got me thinking. Have you ever seen the movie Cyberbully directed by Charles Binamé? If not you can watch it on Netflix or on Youtube in parts. So many people put up with these comments and people hiding behind desks. What are you supposed to do when this is happening. Well here's what I think:

1. You can delete comments and flag things. Remember that, especially if it's on a blog. If you are blogging, change your moderation settings. If they attack you for not letting them comment, simply say you didn't feel it was something that was appropriate or needed to be said. There are also settings on social media sites that you can change as well as blocking people.

2. If it follows you to school don't back down. I'm not saying fight them, but realistically bullies will only ever pick on you if they think you are weak. I was bullied throughout middle school. It was hard, no one let up and instead of saying anything I just let it happen. When high school came around I was just sick of people picking on me. So when it started happening again I pushed back. I didn't cry in front of them, and when started calling me names I asked "why?". Now this person gave me a reason. She thought I had called her fat. I told her I didn't but she didn't believe me so she took things to the next level. she tried to push me against walls and lockers. I simply pushed back a bit (enough to not fall over) and walked on with my head held high. Eventually they realized I wasn't going to be picked on and they left me alone. But often if you ask why it will confuse them. Even if it's just before they cal you another name. Just ask what you did to them and offer to apologize. It sounds weird but it does work. Also, if they call you a name just say "thank you" and keep walking as you were. Don't let them see they are getting to you. By the way, I was never bullied after that by anyone.

3. If it comes down to it you could take down your profile or whatever, but you shouldn't have to. These things blow over. Eventually they will find a new person to make fun of and leave you alone. At the end of the day cyberbullies are too scared to show their faces so they take out how hurt they are on people who they deem easy targets.

If you are going through bullying, I hope this helps.
xoxo
Courtney

The Scoop On Lip Monthly

As some of you may have heard, Lip Monthly is a new subscription service priced at $10 a month. This service has been around since June of this year. As this is a company still in it's infancy, I thought I'd give it a shot. my next four Beauty Subscription Smackdowns will be Lip Monthly Vs. Ipsy. Continue reading to find out what information I could gather about the company:

Photo Credit: www.lipmontly.com

So I want to start out with something that I feel is very important: Customer service. No one wants to wait a week to get a reply about a broken product or a credit card issue. According to Lip monthly staff, there was a technical issue on their email platform:

Screenshot from Lip Monthly's Facebook Page

Now, don't get me wrong I am glad someone finally said what was going on, but it took me posting on their page about how unhappy I was to get their attention. Not cool. Keep in mind that Lip Montlhy is supposed to reply within 2-3 business days. They would have been within this time frame had I actually received the email when it says it was sent (Aug 25):

But, I actually received it On the 27th as you can see here:

Yes, I did block out my personal email, but that isn't the point. I received this 3 and a half days after I sent it. Not horrible, but it would have been nice to know what was going on. Ya know?

Moving on from customer service, A big factor for subscription services is products. Duh. So there has been a lot of discrepancy on how many products are sent out and sizes. Even after checking their FAQs I found that it differed slightly from a video I found on their homepage. The video states that you get 2-3 full size products plus a couple samples. Which does technically add up to 4-5 samples, but when I asked Lip Monthly they simply said 4-5 samples. So I'm not entirely sure what's going on there.

Now in case you didn't know lip monthly's first two months were sent out in a box, however August was sent in a bag. It's also sounding like September's will also be in a bag. As this email shows:

Photo Credit: www.lipmontly.com Screenshot from promotional email

This could be kind of exciting. When I asked if they were switching to bags they replied with " for packaging, we’ll be trying the bags instead of the boxes but might switch back and forth." as seen in the email above.

 As for brands in the box, it looks like they go with drugstore and mid-range brands like the ones listed in the picture below:

Photo Credit: www.lipmontly.com Taken from same promotional email as above.

This has also been shown in previous bags with brands like Stila and City Colors.

As you can also see in the email above they do run promotions quite often, making it pretty easy to find a good deal.

One thing I was really super concerned about was the rumor about discontinued products. They do have a blurb in their FAQ's about discontinued products here. They do say that they have not sent out another discontinued product since their first box.

Another thing I think is exciting is that they not only ship to the US but internationally as well. This costs an extra $5 for shipping.

The last thing I want to note is that they seem to be growing their company as well as the amount of customers.

Screenshot from Lip Monthly's Facebook page

I have a lot of hope for this company so I am going to give them a shot and see how it turns out. I'm really excited for the next four boxes/bags.

xoxo
Courtney

Jersey Shore Sans Tan Sunscreen SPF 35 and Dermalogica Protection 50 Sport SPF 50

So instead of having these two sunscreens face off in a little battle, I thought it would be more fun just to try each one and review them for what they are. Honestly, I was going to the beach and thought it would be fun to sneak in one last sunscreen post before the summer ends. I also want to  tell you that both of these companies sent me samples to review on my blog about two months ago, but as always I will give nothing but my honest opinion on both products.

Let's take a closer look at the claims and the companies:

Jersey Shore Sun Sans Tan Anti-Aging Sunscreen SPF 35- Something I think is really awesome is that this brand is not only cruelty free, but this product is also free of things like parabens, retinyl palmintate, oxybenzon, and a bunch of other yucky stuff you may not want on your body. It's also fragrance free and 100% natural, organic, and non- GMO ingredients. Jersey shore says it's also "reef safe" and FDA approved for babies under 6 months. So it just basically sounds awesome. The full size is 2 oz. and retails for $40.

Dermalogica Protection 50 Sport SPF 50- This company is geared towards making your skin as healthy as possible and less about glamor. This particular product is water-resistant for up to 40 minutes, and offers broad spectrum protection. The brand was founded by a professional esthetician who wanted to put the focus on products to better the health of the skin rather than how beautiful it was. All of their products are manufactured in the USA and they do not test any of their products on animals. The full size of this is 5.3 oz. and retails for $32.

How the products preformed:

As for the SPF factor, I think they protected about the same (not taking water into account). but the differences came down to application, smell and feel.

Jersey Shore Sans Tan Anti-Aging Sunscreen- I have to say, this has a thicker consistency so I like it more on my face than my body. It takes a bit if work to rub in and because it's more of a physical sunscreen than a chemical one, it's visible on the skin as well as a bit heavier feeling. But it's amazing for what it is and nice on the face if you aren't taking lot's of flash pictures. This is also fragrance free and it's not like the natural smell was gross.

Dermalogica Protection 50 Sport SPF 50- This stuff feels exactly how it claims. It does not feel greasy and absorbs quickly into your skin without feeling heavy. I really enjoyed the way this feels on and that their really wasn't too much of a sunscreen smell.

What this really comes down to is personal preference. I like both of these for different reasons and they are both awesome products. I want to give a big thank you to Dermalogica and Jersey Shore Sun for sending me the samples. That's all I have on this for today!

xoxo
Courtney

Dr. Brandt Pore Refiner Primer vs. Ulta Pore Perfecting Primer

So I went to my local Ulta not too long ago (shout out to the amazing girls there), and thought I would get something new to try out. Weeeeelllllllllllllll, that took me about an hour or so [believe me, my boyfrind can confirm this], but I finally decided on some ulta brand makeup since they were having a promotion and you got a free goodie bag with any $19.50 purchase of Ulta brand cosmetics. The thing that I picked up that I was most excited about was the Ulta Resolve Pore Perfecting Primer. As you may know I was not so thrilled to receive the Dr. Brandt Pores No More Pore Refiner Primer in my August Ipsy bag. I did an earlier review on it when the company sent me samples, but I thought I'd give it another shot. Here is what I discovered:

How much do they cost? Though the full sizes of both products are one fluid ounce, the price is one of the biggest differences. Dr. Brandt Pores No More Pore Refiner Primer is retailed at $45 for one ounce. Ulta Resolve Pore Perfecting Primer is retailed at $15, but coupons are easy to come by with Ulta.

What do these products claim to do?

Dr. Brandt: According to Dr. Brandts website, this primer is supposed to be resistant to sweat and humindy, mattify your skin, lessen the look of pores and imperfections, keep makeup from clogging your pores, and be antibacterial.  

Ulta: On ulta's website they claim this primer enhances the texture of the skin while making it look luminous, minimize skin imperfection and discoloration, and keep makeup in place all day.

Performance is really where this matters though, right? Though I stick by my original opinion about the blackheads being more noticeable with the Dr. Brandt, the initial overall appearance looks nicer. However I found that throughout the day, Ulta's Resolve wears better and looks fresh longer. I also feel like it kept my makeup on better. What I didn't see with Ulta was is helping with discoloration, but it is clear, so I really wasn't expecting it to.

I also want to note that Ulta's smells a little like rotten fruit when you first apply it, but the smell dissapates after a minute or so. Dr. Brandt's doesn't have a smell, so if you are sensitive to that you may want to consider it more.

Verdict- I don't hate the Dr. Brandt primer so much as I was just let down by it. For $45 I expected to be wowed and I just wasn't. When it comes down to it, I think that the Resolve Pore Perfecting Primer is more wallet-friendly and works just as well. I will use both products up entirely, but I probably wont splurge on the Dr. Brandt as the smell of Ulta's primer just doesn't bother me enough to justify spending $45 on a primer.

Keep in mind, my skin is combination and I am prone to blackheads, your personal results may vary for these products and this is what works best for me.

Have you tried either of these products? How did they work for you? Comment below and let me know!

xoxo

Courtney

Beauty Subscription Smackdown Month 3- August 2014 Ipsy vs. Beauty Box 5

Heeeellllooooo, it is the final month of this little battle, and I am super excited about both this month. So let the final round of the smackdown begin...

For those of you who don't know, I am taking three months to compare my Ipsy bag and my Beauty Box 5 and determine which one is better. This is my third month, here is where you can find the first and second ones.

Before we start I want to remind you of a few things:

1-Price. Ipsy is $10/month or $110/year. Beauty Box 5 is $12/month or $99/year. So though Ipsy is less expensive month to month, Beauty Box 5 is less expensive for a year.

2-Samples. Ipsy sends out 4-5 product samples a month ranging from deluxe to full size products, Beauty Box 5 guarantees 5 samples a month ranging from packets to full size.

3-Products. Though both boxes are beauty related, most often Beauty Box 5 seems more body and skin care where ipsy is more makeup. But both boxes tend to have a mix.

So I'm going to shake it up and start with BB5.

This months Beauty Box 5 theme is Radiant and Remarkable.

Item 1- Nanacoco Lip Gloss (Mysterious)- These were sent out in various colors. The color I got was a very bright pink. This is super pigmented and not too sticky, so I'm in love with this. Retail Value- $3.99

Item 2- Style Essentials Nail Polish (4?)- I couldn't really find a color name, but it's like an iridescent blue-green color. It's actually really cute, but I think it's more of a fall color since it's pretty dark. Retail Value- $7

Item 3- Pur~Lisse Pur Protect Essential Daily Moisturizer- Hmmm...we seem to have another product that I also received in an ipsy bag. I got this one last month and I LOVE it. It doesn't break my skin out, so I'm not too disappointed to have another one. Retail Value- $16.17

Item 4- LA Fresh Travel Lite Oil Free Makeup- I got LA fresh Oil Free Cleanser wipes in my October 2013 ipsy bag. I HATED them, they smelled odd and didn't feel that great on the skin. I'm hoping these will surprise me since it's a sensitive formula. This is a little 8 count one, so I will get to form a solid opinion. These were also featured in the May 2014 Ipsy bag, however I did not receive them. Retail Value- $2.49

Item 5-Novex Brazillan Keratin Hair Food- Again with hair masks? I think this will go with the one from last month. I will try it in the winter months and see how I feel about it then. Retail Value- $0.63

My total for this months box is $30.28 I'm surprisingly excited for this box, though I am not excited about the brand of wipes. I was about to go out and buy some, so at least I wont have to buy as many. The lipglosss is super bright, but I really like it on my lips. As for the nail polish and hair mask I may not have picked those up for myself but they will get some love pretty soon.

Now on to Ipsy! This month's theme was "Beauty Schooled" The bag this month is one of my favorites. I actually love orange and polka dots are awesome so this was a really nice bag to get. But the products I'm less excited about...

Item 1-Nicka K New York Absolute Lip Balm (Grape)- This is probably the best thing in my ipsy bag this month. The pot it comes in is HUGE, and it smells super yummy. Because it has glitter in it, I was expecting to see some on my lips and be uncomfortable to wear, but I have not experienced that at all so I'm quite pleased. It just feels really moisturizing and amazing on the lips. Retail Value: $3

Item 2- Dr. Brandt Pores No More Pore Refiner Primer- I was actually kind of bummed to see this in my bag, though I enjoyed the microdermabrasion a lot, and the mattifying lotion was awesome. I was not a fan of this product. So seeing this in my bag was kind of a let down. Retail Value: $11.25

Item 3- Urban Decay Perversion Mascara- I should have been excited to try this right? Right? I don't know. It's another black mascara. I wish ipsy would send more browns. I haven't tried this yet. I may do it in a few days, but I just bought a new mascara and I'm in the midst of testing it out. Retail Value: $5.50

Item 4- Coastal Scents Forever Blush Sample Duo- This was one of the few things I was looking forward to. I love blush samples, and these colors looked beautiful. The pigmentation is just plain awesome. I read some people complaining about the size, I was honestly expecting it to be about this big. It kind of reminds me of the Benefit blush sample sizes, but I think I actually like that I get to try two different blushes from the line. Retail Value: ~$1

Item 5- Lord and Berry Silk Kajal Kohl Eye Pencil- AGAIN with the black liner. I have gotten starlooks, UD, and now Lord and Berry. But let's just talk about how freaking tiny this thing is! I might be able to use this twice. I was actually more disappointed in this sample size than the blush duos size. Retail Value: $2

So my total for my ipsy bag this month is $22.75 . Honestly, I know I should be excited about these, but I have WAY too many black liners. I dislike black mascara, I have tried the primer before and was not a fan (you can find the review here). The only things I was really excited to try was the lip balm and blush. That being said, if you look at the ingredients on the blush, it seems like it's two steps away from being plastic. So I'm not sure about this month

I think the winner for this month is Beauty Box 5. Not that it would have tipped the scale either way, since the overall winner still would have been  ipsy. The reason I picked Beauty Box 5 this month is that even though there are two products that have been in ipsy bags, they are things I will get some use out of. I'm not sure I can say the same for my ipsy bag. 

 xoxo

Courtney

Girl's Night In- On a Budget!

Who says girls night has to be expensive?! Not me! Since my high school friends and I are all going different ways soon, I wanted to have one last get together.

Now, since I blog, have two subscriptions boxes, AND have an undying love of makeup I had a ton of stuff that I didn't want and hadn't used. So what did I do? Obviously I filled up a box with it.  Okay, but really, I filled a box over the course of a few months, and saved it for a party. Since my friends often ask me about products or to do their makeup, I thought it would be fun to give them some things to try out. So here is what I did-

Basically how this worked was I set up a date when all of my friends could come over, and I set out all of the makeup I accumulated on a table. The plan was, when they arrived we would have dinner. I used this recipe for Creamed Avocado and Lime Chilled Pasta both to accommodate my friends lifestyles and because it was super hot out. I also made a lime and herb chicken pasta salad, which I posted a recipe for here. Along with all that, I bought stuff to make Shirley Temples, and Orange Soda to drink. For a snack I set out chips and salsa.
 Total Grocery Cost- $17.69 (after coupons)

Party favors are so much fun, so even though everyone was already getting makeup I wanted to go the extra mile and find something exciting. SO I came up with these: These were pretty cheap to make, everything in here cost a dollar or less. It includes a compact mirror, a face exfoliating scrubby, a handwritten note, and a makeup item that I personally enjoy. I actually like suggesting low priced items for them to try so that they can go back and buy them if they love them. Total Favor Cost-$11.00

As you saw in the favors, the notes all had a green butterfly on the back. Now I did this using my embossing kit, but you could draw or stamp them on as well. Since I already had everything for that, it didn't cost me a dime!

Another thing I did for favors was give everyone a tote to take their things home in. I found these at Michael's craft store for $3 each. Now these have some designs already, but you can find blank ones at other craft stores. I bought six totes and some fabric markers (they were on sale for $3.50). So this activity cost me $21.50.

The next activity I had fun with was makeup trivia. What I did was make a slideshow with questions and multiple choice answers on various brands throughout history, and whoever got the most points won the prize.  (Nail kit, Covergirl Outlast lippie, Revlon Nail Polish) $7 after coupons

So the last thing we did for activities was a no-mirror makeup challenge. I had everyone bring their daily makeup and try to put it on without a mirror. The winner got a handmade state picture. Not a penny spent!



The only other thing that cost me a bit of money was the decorations. I spent $4 on a table cloth, and $2 on some fake flowers to make these centerpieces.

For utensils and cups, I could have gone with plastic cups and paper napkins, but instead I used some mason jars left over from another craft, as well as our own cloth napkins, finishing the look with some twine (Napkins were $3 total, jars $8, twine $0.75):

As you can see, we put a straw and the plastic silverware in the jars.

We then sat out table clothes that I previously made from burlap (I will post that DIY soon.)

My total for the whole party was $57.19, but the prices could easily be cut down if you chose to make it a potluck, or only make ONE main course. I had to make two since I had some picky eaters attending.  You also don't have to do favors, especially if you are giving away makeup, but I think just over $57 for a whole party isn't too bad, especially since everything for parties can get very expensive. If you make the changes suggested in this paragraph, you should save about $20.

Note:  This is not including sales tax, as it does not apply here.

That's all for today!

xoxo
Courtney