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

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