April 2014 Ipsy Unboxing

Outside of the iconic pink envelope.

Alright. I spent a lovely day in school learning about gastrointestinal bacterial upset and parasites. As amazing as that is to learn, I was pretty excited to get that pink bubble envelope from the mail box. 8:00pm when I pulled into the spot, the envelope waited for me just a key-unlocking away.
Inside and bam. Good to go. 

Dumped Out

Nightshade wanted in the picture.

Cailyn

Tinted Lip Balm in Acid Pink

Full Size Retail: $19
This is a full size product.

Acid Pink and Lashes.

I like how their website shows a bunch of photoshopped images of peoples lips. Shimmer shades look the worst. Like a floating pair of lips dipped itself in red corn syrup and then kissed some thick craft glitter. That is more of an issue with the whole beauty industry using photoshopped images to sell products to enhance a person's looks in real life, as opposed to on a computer.

All of that rant being said I pulled out Acid Pink from my bag. Ugh. Heart sank. It's like...barbie Volkswagen. But I'm open minded. On my beauty quiz, I did mark that I am willing to try things.
On, it's moar laik volkSWAGen amirite?? Get it? Ah.
I left the bathroom with it on gave a nice old smile to Ahndoo and his eyes got wide.
"Is that a good eyes wide or bad eyes wide?" World filled with relief it was good. I swear I have never wore anything like this or would have considered it, but I don't think it looks bad. It's fresh and pretty fun. I hate beaches and summer culture, but I can see this in the summer.

Wearing UD Naked Basics, Cailyn Acid Pink,  andChella Indigo.

Now the less rosy. It's dry as all get out. Why they market it as moisturizing I don't know. Easy solution to just throw some of my trusty BeeBalm (that's my brand. of boring burts bee knock off. that I made.) Moist and I am test transfer with my sippy cup. It seems fine.

My only other qualm to an otherwise fabulous product is that applying it is incredibly tedious. Practicality does not factor, as this is something I doubt I would store in my purse to quick apply. Painting my entire lips with this took longer than it should. Perhaps practice would aid?

Benefit

Lollitint Blush

Full Size Retail: $30
Weight: 12.5 ml/ 0.42 US fl. oz.
This is a deluxe sample. Adjusted price to $5
Weight: 2.5 ml / 0.08 US fl. oz. 

Tiny Lollitint. Very tiny, but I bet lasting.

Now this little guy, I am dying over. As stated in the impressions post this was something I had wanted for it's freshness. Blushing routine has been Wet n Wild "Mellow Wine" since I started to use blush two weeks ago, but that blush is from 2010 when I bought it for a dance. (We needed to dress like dolls, so I figured blush is a good makeup. Little did I know I bought a great cheap product..) It's great but it doesn't wear forever and over the BB Cream I've been sporting, it makes me uneven matte and dewey.

This Lollitint is dewey without looking drippy. It does not look purple on my skin, and in face makes me look healthy. Vibrant and glowy or something. The intructions on the cardboard suggested dabbing it on your face and then smudging out (I would hope one cheek at a time). I did not do this. My blush brush aided me. With the applicator I swiped it over my brush and then stippled by my apples/cheek bone and then buffed it out once the brush gave all it had. That gave a natural color.

Urban Decay

UD Black Velvet and Mousse pot.

24/7 Velvet Glide-On Eye Pencil

Full Size Retail: $20
This is a travel size. Adjusted price to $10
 Of course I'm satisfied with this. We have to test it's wear over my hooded lids, but on my hand two coats gave it a nice black. It also does not smudge away very much. That gives me hope for it's
wearability.

City Color

White Gold Shadow & Highlight Mousse

Full Size Retail: $4
This is a full size product. 
Very interesting texture. If I were to say butter, I would mean it's like margarine. I have only swatched on my hand so far, and it's lovely. Smudging it doesn't take the bulk of it's color away. This will also require a test that isn't 9:30 at night.

Kiss

Looks so Natural Lashes in Pretty

Full Size Retail: $4
This is a full size product.

Okay. I want to say this is the dud of the bunch, but I will use it I'm sure. That aforementioned dance where we dressed as dolls, I also used some fake lashes. Using the lashes may or may not be for a costume of sorts. But I am not going to open them now. I'm glad I got one of the more natural one. These look like uncanny valley perfect ones, but it's not like... separate chunks. 

Swatches!

Labelled for your convenience. The White Gold shadow is heavy and then blended out. Same with the Cailyn Lip Balm. As with a blop of the Lollitint and then blended out with my finger.

Overall I don't know what Ipsy thinks of when they think Rocker. Alanna Myles Black Velvet I guess. Maybe Cyndi Lauper sans the clothespin idfk hair. Our definitions are different though, and that is not necessarily cause to be disappointed. Whether you love or hate her, I would have lined the "Rocker" ideology with Kat Von D as far as makeup look. I dig her look and lack of actual shirts.
BUT MOSTLY.

COLUMBUS, OH - MAY 19: Korey Cooper of Skillet performs during 2013 Rock On The Range at Columbus Crew Stadium on May 19, 2013 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Scott Legato/Getty Images)

$42/10

Webcam.

Best picture I could get of the blush.

What are my favorites? Likely the Lollitint. I need to run more tests with it but I really consider buying a different shade if I like this one so much. And the Cailyn Acid Pink. It's just cool. It truly holds true to the idea of a sampling service: I would have never in a million years bought this on my own, but I am glad I have it.

I can be a rocker with my items for sure. If you want to try a good chunk of stuff worth well over $10 for $10, you are welcome to use my referral code here.

Ipsy Impressions - Beauty Rocks April 2014

Ah yes! Ipsy time! This will be my second Glam Bag and I am excited to be joined on this one. One of my pals and a sister signed up, but sadly my sister is still waitlisted despite a facebook share. Too bad, because frand and I have been talking about previews all week while she had to listen to them.

Anyways I firstly excited for five items. The three full size and one sample was very satisfying, but five items is always nicer! More things to try!

In each group of previews, I had a tough time deciding what I wanted to hope for.

1. In group 1, of course I hoped to get eyeliner (like everyone was getting I assume?)
2. Group 2 lip products. Having just bought my bare minerals marvelous moxie trio, I kind of had less enthusiasm about this. I have a champagne balm, a medicated peach balm, and a pink and nude lipstick. Another lip color seems extraneous to me. All the same, I would love to try the Cailyn, which I got! Reviews told me it functioned much like a stain, and works best if used with some kind of balm. At least its different than what I already have. Maybe it will be my new best friend. I just hope what I get is the pictured Apple Pink and not Acid Pink. While "Acid" is a nice edgy descriptor, I do not want plastic Barbie Volkswagen.
3. Next group some shadows and a nail polish. This polish I really like. The sequin thingers look to be a great size and the blue is a beautiful shade. I wanted that, but alas. Out of the two shadows I was most interested in the City Color mousse guy. I read it works well as a primer and highlight? The other one seemed rather boring. And psssh. I have my Naked Basics palette. I don't really need this.
4. So we had a cheek stain, primer (with acne treatment eh?), microdermabrasion lotion thing, and gradual tan thing. I wanted the Lollitint or the microderm. I am so satisfied with getting the Lollitint! I cannot wait to try it, and it's orchid? Boy that's fresh. Intimidating color, much like Super Elfin Blue Pearl. 
5. I wasn't going to win on this one. Frigging lashes? Man. I mean I can keep them around to use on a cosplay I might do once a year. No interest in the perfume because Paris Hilton has got me covered. Brush would have been cool. The hair product was a total no. Ah well. Win some lose. This item will still see some use.

Now, if you like me want to recieve well over $10 worth of product for $10 you are welcome to use my referral link. It is this.

ULTA-mately

On the way home from work, my wonderful husband obliged my pal and I to go to JoAnn's to grab some 2oz Sculpey III packets for $1.24. He also took it like a trooper when we asked to stop by a plaza across the street that housed an Ulta.

Well. My experience heretofore with Ulta was during December maybe. Andrew and I were with his sister and she wanted to grab some EOS guys from there. This was after we left Hobby Lobby, which is in a shared strip. Upon entry I was drooling. Makeup aisles in my world are literally just that.
Generously, I have provided a beautiful layout for you to see how Meijer has the main makeup section laid out.

As you can see, there is a bit going on in that second aisle from the right. Its mostly tools and manicure stuff and then like condoms. I'm five and can't handle that part of the aisle. I avoid it at all costs. Then on the other wall we have a grouping of makeup pouches and the like, going into a big section of nail polish. We have Studio M, China Glaze, OPI, Sally Hansen, Sinful Color (am I making that up, or is it a real brand?) Essie, and probably more. I only look at the top row because I only want to spend $3. Following there is some NYX, Wet and Wild, Black Radience, Some other stuff.

The main aisle holds the brands almost everyone has heard of. Almay, Physicians Formula, Rimmel, Covergirl, Revlon, LoReal, Maybelline...some other stuff.

Then we have shampoo. Good old shampoo and body wash and like. hair brushes.

Thats my exposure.

I've been in a mall store a few times, in a mall roughly an hour away from myself, called the Body Shop. I've purchased a beauty goldish eye shadow pot. I loved it and used it until I lost it (but it was like a year or two I had it. It was probably a blessing I lost it, because bacteria.) Next I had a beautiful matte black. It was like butter for eyelids. Whipped butter color. Like Fleishmans pretend butter that I like for toast. I lost it eventually. I'm pretty sure I bought a brush set that was tiny for travel (this I think. I bet it was this) . Lost that also. Hih Skool ≠ Responsible. This store though, was in a mall. it was in that normal mall cubical size they give to smaller stores.

Ulta though. Mother effing that was a makeup store. With just makeup and other beautification things. WOWE.

How does Ulta compare to this illustrious Sephora I keep hearing about? I have no frigging clue. Maybe it's a cheaper store? Just comparing Bare Minerals products, it's the same on both websites across the BM website. No clue. 

All of this being said, I bought some Ulta products because cheap. Boy. I don't know what I expected, but it wasn't my yeild. Upcoming review on my products in a smudge. Have to will myself to utilize them.

Pending

Wellp, my day was peculiar. Have you ever been in a physical altercation, because someone accused you of stealing toilet paper? At least that's off my bucket list.

• See George Strait
• Write a novel
• Get almost killed over a ridiculous accusation by family member.

Of course, there was more too it. I was an aggressor, as well as taking the bait from someone acting far under their age. But I defended my close family and had my father not pulled the apparent psycho off of me, I don't even know. Today was a strange day. 

By the end of the day, I was able to snag my mail and goo over it.
Ebay brought me the tidings of an UD Naked Basics palette, Bare Minerals Faux Tan, and my Marvelous Moxie lippies from the IpsyMe. That and Nightshade is being extra clownish right now.

The bronzer is great, although the mini buki brush is not one I'm familiar with. I do not really think I applied it very well, as it was done in the car. A full review is pending with some more familiarity.

The UD palette has me swooning. Pulling it out of the envelope and it's phospholipid bilayer of tape (hah. I tried to joke.), I felt this lovely almost silicone feeling tiny guy. The size is amazing. I gravitated towards "Faint" immediately and ran my finger over it. I swear I will abuse this descriptor, but it was like sticking my finger in a tub of whipped butter. The transfer on a random spot on my arm yielded a color much darker than the pan. A choir of angels started to sing in a chiming first soprano.

It's late, and that is also pending a full review when it is not almost time to sleep.

I'll open my Moxie trio and play with those tomorrow. After a recent disappointment with Ulta house brand eye liners, I am relieved to have struck cosmetic gold.

And btw, I have my bathroom sink cabinet completely stocked with Cottenelle, plush, tp. Why on earth would I steal two rolls of toilet paper on a day I was not even there to steal it? What a strange day.

Furthermore, I am not a worthless, messed up "thing" as I was referred to. Someone spitting that much venom, is not worth listening to. Instead, when the dust settles I want to maintain my posture. I have a beautiful set of parents, beautiful sisters, wonderful nephews, two amazing puppies, and a man who I adore. And most importantly, I love God. I have a million and one things to be thankful for, and I will not be shaken. Bull headed opinions are not going to bring me down. Not today.

Today was not a day I want to repeat, but I'll be darned if tomorrow isn't better.