Tag: tula

December 2020 IPSY Glam Bag Plus Unboxing

.Reading time 9 minutes.

Hey hey, it’s MJ,

            So I cannot believe that this is the last Glam Bag Plus post of the year, how has this year slipped by so fast but also felt like 350 years of history all in about 366 days and we aren’t even at the end of the year yet. 

            There are going to be six items in this because I redeemed points and got a really nice eye shadow palette, I have another form the same brand and I love it so much. So there will be more items in this one that usual, though there are half and half skin care and cosmetics in this. I chose most of the skin care and the value of my box was insane for a $25 plus tax price tag. 

The Bag:

            I expected it to be shearling feeling by the pictures on the website but it’s finer than that, I really don’t know how to explain it but it’s not fuzzy but it’s still really nice. I do like the Glam Bag Plus bags lately now that they are different than the regular Glam Bag bags. 

The Products: 

            So what did I get? I will say this first though, the choices this month were better than months prior and I think they are finally starting to find their groove with this new choice system. 

Doucce Freematic Limited Edition Smokey Pro Palette:

            Doucce makes some amazing products, their mascara’s are some of my favorites ever and having another palette from them is always a great addition to the collection, I like their palette’s because the single pans come out so if you run out of one or want to switch up some colors you can with no problem, it also comes with a highlighter and I am a sucker for highlighters so having another one is pretty great over all. I also like that the matte shades and the shimmer/metallic shades are balanced four and four usually in a palette the balance shifts one or the other and that can make day looks more difficult. 

QMS Medicosmetics ACE Vitamin Day & Night Cream:

            I chose this one, I love a good day and night cream and I have been going though moisturizer a lot this year because well this year hasn’t been too nice to my skin between makeup and face masks and face masks while wearing makeup all day at work I have had more skin issues this fall than in months past so I chose this one in hope that I can get some really good moisture in my skin. Also this is one of those products that is luxury skin care that I would never buy at full price because of the price so being able to get it in a bag like this is amazing to me.

111Skin 3 Phase Anti-Blemish Booster

            I got two acne products in this bag, this one and the next one, I chose this one because I love 111Skin but it’s just out of my price range on a normal day but their products are amazing, I have a few of them stashed away in my fridge to keep them fresh and I am looking forward to being able to have another serum to try out.

Shaina B Miami Mini Miami Blush and Highlight Palette:

            I will never stop loving the flamingo logo’s in this brands pans, I chose this one as well and this was the last one that I chose this go round. I like the shades, the blush in shade Rosa is actually the right color for my skin tone Brickell is a little dark but I could almost use that as a contour shade so I’m not upset about it. Maybe it’ll look different on the skin than in the pan so who knows. 

Tula Skincare Go Away Acne Spot Treatment:

            I really like Tula as well, I have their cleanser and it’s one of my favorites so getting another Tula product is always nice. It’s another spot treatment and I think that I need to get back into using spot treatments again because again my skin is suffering from everything that’s been going on this year so I am really looking forward to adding this into my skincare routine to help combat my skin issues that have been cropping up a lot more recently. Like seriously I got my skin under control late last year and into this year and then well the world blew up and my skin has been suffering with the stress, masks, hormonal, and environmental stuff this year.

IL Makiage Color Boss Multi-Dimensional Eye Color in Eyes on the Prize:

            I am going to start off and say holy crap this is pigmented and so gold, I really like the shade and a little goes a long way. I love the packaging when I opened it I kept opening and closing the uni-carton because it was hinged and the packaging itself on the product is beautiful. The shade and pigmentation are great and I will find a use for this in looks in the future because it’s a great shade. 

            Overall my December Glam Bag Plus was a great way to end off the year with this service, I can’t wait to see what next year brings with the Glam Bag’s both the regular and the Plus but we will have to wait and see for what January will bring. 

            If you want to know what else I have gotten this year you can, January, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, and November.

            I will see all of you later in the week with another post so until then I hope everyone has a great rest of the week!

            -MJ

November 2020 IPSY Glam Bag Plus Unboxing

.Reading time 10 minutes.

Hey hey, it’s MJ,

            So this showed up in my mail a few days ago and I am not going to ramble as much as I usually do at the beginning of a post, I feel like I don’t have anything else to say that I haven’t already said a dozen times in 2020 posts. I will say this though, if you are able to hug your loved ones, you never know when you won’t be able to do that anymore. Someone I know lost her husband in a car accident earlier in the week and we take even simple words to our family members for granted, tell you parents that you love them, hug your pets, and check in on family members virtually that you can’t see right now. I know we are coming into the holiday season and a lot of people aren’t going to be able to celebrate in person with their family this year but please everyone be safe. Wear a mask, social distance, and if possible avoid large gatherings. 

            That for sure brought down the mood a little bit but it needed to be said, please be safe and responsible this holiday season because cases are on the rise again.

            Right so onto the actual post, like a huge 180 from what I was talking about but I feel like it needed to be said because people aren’t being smart and it’s causing problems for others. 

The Bag: 

            It’s cute, I still don’t know how I feel about getting the bags, I like the little glam bags for the regular Glam Bag but the drawstring bag for this one is still going to have to grow on me. I like the color blocking though and it’s a nice light weight bag that seems like a breathable material so it might work for something that might be on the damp side, maybe mask storage? 

The Products, what did I get?

Violet Voss Coral Pop Eyeshadow Palette:

            This was one of the two that was picked for me and I think it was a pretty good choice on IPSY’s part. So for years I have honestly called Violet Voss Violent Voss because I apparently can’t read. All the colors are super nice and there is this beautiful pop of a coral red. This palette is mostly neutral and it is going to go in my travel pile of palette’s because it’s a cute little six pan palette. The pigmentation and the holding power of this shadow is actually pretty great and I am actually looking forward to dipping into this palette.

Girlactik 3-in-1 Lip Sparkle Balm in Twinkle and Periwinkle:

            This is was the other IPSY chosen product and I do not have a lot of lip crayon products, I also like Girlactik, I have one of their lip balms and I actually really like it so I am looking forward to giving these two a chance. They are both actually really nice colors, I thought that I was going to like Twinkle more just because of the shade on the packaging but I think that I like Periwinkle a little bit more. They are very sparkly so if you are into that, this product might be for you. Also I am always afraid of crayons to be honest because I am never sure how to sharpen them, I am afraid of ruining them in the process. 

Tula Skincare Eye Feel Amazing Colling & Brightening Hydrogel Eye Masks: 

I love Tula, that is my current facial cleanser and I love the brand so when I saw a Tula product in my choices I wanted to so bad and that was one of my choices. I am really looking forward to this because I need to get back into meditation in the new year because I do miss taking a nice skin care break with a mask on or doing an eye mask because let’s be real I am tired like all the time and I would like to not look like I am super tired all the time. There are four in this set and I am really looking forward to using them, they are going in my fridge as soon as I am done taking a picture of them. 

Flesh Touch Flesh Highlighting Balm in Pinky:

            It’s kind of blinding y’all, I actually really like this even though you really don’t get much of it. I really love highlighters and that is not a secret, I should eventually do a new or updated highlighter round up but that will be for at some time next year. I feel like there are a lot of posts that I want to write next year. It a beautiful shade (seriously when I am writing these posts my hand is just covered in swatches) and I have seen Flesh before but I have never purchased anything from them, this might be my gateway product. 

Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Night Cream

            I see a Murad product and I jump at it, I love Murad so much and it’s just so expensive. Murad was kind of my gateway into good skin care products and I really like everything I have tried from them. I like the idea of a retinol night cream even though my skin is still pretty wrinkle free but that could change and this year has for sure added some small wrinkles to my face so I am really excited to give this one a try but I have some other that I need to use first that are hanging out in my fridge. I do love a good night cream though, I am still finishing off my Korres Wild Rose one and I love it so much.

            So overall this bag was kind of amazing, I loved it so much. I feel like maybe the Glam Bag Plus is finally starting to find its stride though I still think that giving more than four choices would be awesome but I don’t run the company. I really like IPSY and there is so much good about it, it for sure outweighs any of the problems. I am excited to see what my choices will be for next month, as long as it’s not eyeliner. 

            Do you subscribe? Did you get any really great products this month? 

            If you want to see what else I have gotten this year in my Glam Bag Plus’s, you can! January, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, and October!

            I hope everyone has a really great rest of the week and I will see y’all over the weekend with a new post!

            -MJ 

Updated Skin Care Routine 2020

.Reading time 8 minutes.

Hey hey, it’s MJ,

            So last year I wrote a blog that talked about my skincare routine and a lot has changed since then and I mean a lot. I have been using different products and my current routine even with my recent add-ins has actually been really clear and my break outs are down so much. Usually that is my main concern and so that is the thing that I really monitor when I change anything in my skin care routine.

            There are no products that have carried over from my last routine from last year. That’s actually really crazy for me because I have had such a turnover of products and that means that I wasn’t a huge fan of them in the first place. I do also feel like my skin care routine is cyclical and so a lot of things change until I can find something that really works. As someone who used the same products for years and then branched out I guess I’m just trying to find that combination that really and truly works 

            My routines for morning and night are pretty much the same except for the lotion I use at night but other than that most everything is the same so let’s run through it. 

            Face Wash: I am currently using Tula Probiotic Skincare Purifying Face Cleanser and I actually really like it, it’s a rather thick cleanser but it does work and I really like it. Before that I was using the Paris Hilton Beauty face wash and that was actually pretty good too. I have been finding some pretty good facial cleansers after I finished off the Peter Thomas Roth cleanser late last year. The Tula cleanser smells like skin care should smell, I have no way else to describe it.

            Toner: This is really new, like I have only used it a handful of times and it has amazed me so far. I am currently using the Sunday Riley Martian Mattifying Melting Water-Gel Toner. It is a calming formula and it hasn’t been really adverse to my skin so I was really excited to even have a product that is kind of like that. I got this so recently, actually in my April ipsy Glam Bag Plus (spoiler alert that post comes out next week) but I have been using it since then. 

            Serum: I have been using The Better Skin Co, Epik C Serum, I got that in my spring fabfitfun box this year and I have been using it since. It is a pretty thick serum and it is probably the best I have tried so far and I am a huge fan of it. I have tried other serums and I have liked them but they broke me out more than I would like.

            Eye Cream: Sunday Riley Auto Correct Brightening and Depuffing Eye Contour Cream, this is just a sample size but I actually would purchase the full size of this product, my only issue with samples is they are just too small to actually get a good wear test out of them. However after my Mary Kay one went from being great to leaking out of the bottle like crazy. 

            Facial Moisturizer: 

            Day: Tatcha The Water Cream, this was for sure a sample as well and I got it last month and I have been using it since and I would consider buying a full sized version of this as well even though it is really expensive but so far it is completely worth it to spend money on good skin care. 

            Night: Korres Wild Rose Vitamin C Brightening Sleeping Facial, I have been using this for a while and I really like it and it smells amazing; this is another product that I would purchase again. I went through a lot of moisturizers that just made my skin retain its redness but with all of the changes in my routine I’m not as red as I used to be.

            Masks: I use Ahava’s Hydration Cream Mask about once a week or so and I leave it on all night instead of washing it off after a few minutes. I love it.

            I also still use sheet masks about once a week so I can get some extra skin care time in. 

            Overall there has been a bunch of changes and it’s a really great feeling to know that my new combination of skin care products is actually working for my skin and keeping all of my problems at bay. 

            I’ll see you all in another few days with another post, stay happy stay healthy.

            -MJ

Spring 2019 FabFitFun Unboxing

.Reading time 14 minutes.

I feel like I have been waiting for this box since December when I got my winter box because this subscription box is probably my favorite ever, I love the other boxes I get but nothing can beat full sized items and the brand named items in the box are always really great quality. By the time you are all reading this I have had the box for at least a week, I have been a little busy and I had some posts scheduled ahead of time so this is a little later than I wanted it to be. 

            Seriously, this box was amazing, like usual I am not going to tell you how much the total of my box was because that’s just a little odd for me, the box is $50 four times a year or $180 once a year to be a select member, I will probably upgrade to that at some point because it allows for more customization options and early access to the edit sales and customization as well as an earlier ship date. I feel like in my past unboxings I have kind of glossed over this portion of the subscription service. 

            Like I said this box is $50 a quarter and this box was valued between $226.99 and $314 dependent on the customizations and the options that were available to potentially be in this box. Really, this box is worth over four times what you pay and that is such a good return on your investment. The only thing I am going to say about the value of mine was it was in the upper mid-range of those prices. If you really want to you can do the research and look up the prices of the items to see an exact figure.

            Per usual all of these opinions are mine, as they always are. 

            Okay, enough exposition, now onto the real stuff; what did I get? I am going to start out with the items that I had the ability to customize and I will tell you the other options that I opted not to get, what I didn’t get may be something that you love but what I chose I wanted more. 

            Deux Lux Demi Backpack: I am a sucker for backpacks because I screwed my shoulders up when I was in high school carrying heavy one shoulder bags to class so I have carried a backpack since late 2015 and I have not looked back. This is a smaller and more versatile than the faux leather backpack that I carry usually. It is pretty light weight and it is canvas and vegan leather, (according to the care instructions) it seems like it would be great for anything really, dates, music festivals, hanging out with friends, going to the park with your dog. It is a really great backpack and it comes in a protective sleeve so it will be stored in there for now. The other two options were a Show Me Your Mumu Brie Robe, I didn’t choose this one because I am not a robe person. The other option was the Unplug Meditation Aromatherapy Diffuser, this would be a great thing to use the Way of Will Essential Oils from the Winter Box, but I already have a diffuser so I didn’t want to get a second one. 

            Korres Wild Rose Vitamin C Brightening Sleeping Facial: Now that is a mouth full, I really like Korres I got their body lotion in my spring box last year and it is so nice. It is moisturizing and it smells amazing. I have really been getting into skin care this year so when this was one of the options I jumped on it. It smells amazing and I am really excited to try it and see how it does with my skin, it is dermatologically tested to that usually means that I can use it without any adverse effects. According to the packaging it has over 90% natural content so I should be just fine. The other options were one of two pairs of Quay Australia sunglasses, they are really cute but I wear glasses and I have prescription sunglasses so they wouldn’t work for me. The other option was the Sunnylife Lovers Picnic Set, again really cute but not something for me, I don’t think I have ever been on a picnic in my life.

            Makeupdrop Silicon Beauty Applicator: If anyone read my foundation application post you know how much I love my Ulta brand silicon applicator and I am looking forward to trying this one as well. This one was a mystery item, I kind of liked having a bit of mystery even with the customization options, sometimes it is a way to get rid of excess stock and I am totally okay with that. The other two options were a set of Giadzy measuring spoons, I have a set of measuring spoons and I am not a huge fan of plated items because that starts to come off and it gets harder to use the item. The other was a bottle of Lavido body lotion in Mandarin Orange and Bergamot, I have so much lotion that I don’t need any more no matter how much I love Bergamot. 

            These next two items were customizable to select members so I had no option on what I got here and I was not upset with what I got.

            Sip by S’well: It’s an insulated travel water bottle and I have been eyeing a S’well water bottle for years now and I was really hoping to get this option because I am a hoarder of water bottles, as I am writing this I am still mourning my Kate Spade travel tumbler that I dropped on my bathroom floor yesterday (last Thursday for you) and broke, for some reason I break my favorites that I can’t replace and I don’t know why. I really like the fact that it’s covered in triangles for reasons of my own. This is a hand wash only but most water bottles and travel tumblers are so that wasn’t too shocking. The other two options were a bar necklace from The2Bandit’s, which is also really cute or the Ciaté London setting powder, I like Ciaté so I would have been okay with any of the options that were within this category. 

            Tula Purifying Face Cleanser: Again I have been getting into skin care and I have a pretty good skin care routine going on but I am always willing to try something new. It is probiotic skincare so I am hopeful that I don’t have a reaction to it, I like the packaging it’s nice and simple so I see nothing wrong with that. I can’t really say much else because I haven’t tried it yet to see how my skin reacts to it. The other options were either the Daily Concepts detoxifying brush or the Eleven by Venus (yes, that Venus, the tennis star) jump rope. 

            These last three were in every box, so every subscriber got all of these items. 

            Ouai Leave in Conditioner: Ouai is a brand that I am familiar with because of ipsy and it’s a really nice brand. I have pretty dry ends of my hair so having a leave in conditioner is something that I need but I don’t actually have. I am excited to add this into my hair care routine. 

            Dr. Brandt Skincare Needles No More No More Baggage Eye De-Puffing Gel: Another mouth full to say, it is red so it color corrects for dark spots but I put it on my hand to see it’s consistency and once it sunk in my skin was so smooth and it was amazing. I really like Dr. Brandt so having more good skin care is for sure up my alley. I got a Dr. Brandt product in my winter box as a surprise and I can say, it’s pretty great.

            Manna Kadar Champagne Body Scrub: Champagne and Charcoal, sign me up. I am cool with body scrubs; I should use them more because I love how my skin feels like after I wash all of the grit off. I love the packaging, rose gold lid, simple label with a pink and rose gold marble detail around the bottom, it’s so nice. It is a really large jar too, it’s about 18 oz. so for a body scrub that is on the large side from what I have seen. I am excited, pre usual, to give this one a try and really see what it smells and feels like. 

            So that was my spring box and I am already waiting for the summer box and its accompanying spoilers and customization options. I’m excited for it already. 

            If you subscribe what did you get? Did you have a favorite this month? Did you not get any of the items that you wanted to get? Let me know in the comments! 

            -MJ