IPSY November 2013 bag (Review)

I don't know how to apologize for this review for being so late. Been in a stressful rush lately to apply to get my Esthetician license with some hiccups and possibly missing the due date. I am glad to say I am back home in Hawaii and ready to work (preferably not in retail.) Then again to be honest with my readers the few that there are, I never planned to be 26 still living with my parents. They are amazing people don't get me wrong but sometimes when you fail at getting a job or anything career wise it can become disheartening. The last thing I want to be is a disappointment to them, I want to live on my own, and know what it's like to file my own taxes without help. Yet I am part of the percentage of Americans that don't get a job in their field right after they graduate College because it's competitive and they like this thing called experience (And they don't want to be the ones to give it to you.) All personal matters aside I love my interest in the cosmetic world and the fan base it creates. And I hope I can share my gathered knowledge and get paid for it one day. Yet for now I will just leave what I learned here or what I've found that I think would interest others as well. 

Thank you for being curious enough to see what I have to say about things that make us happy. Because options are like assholes, everyone's got one and this blog is mine. ;)

Ok now to the good stuff!

List of products:
1. [Full sized] Kiss, ever ez lashes - 03 (Came with glue and applicator)
2. [Full sized] Pixi beauty, bronzer - Subtly Suntouched
3. [Full sized] Nailtini - Caviar Cocktail
4. [Full sized] Be a Bombshell, lip crayon - Shameless
5. [Full sized] EM cosmetics, waterliner - Emerald
6. [Full sized] Starlooks, Gem eye pencil - Amethyst


Wow 6 full sized products for November that's redonkulous. Ipsy's reputation for being one of the best beauty subscriptions is undisputed. I used to compare them with Birchbox and let me tell you Ipsy always makes room for improvement while Birch just believes in their diehard fans. Which is ok, nothing wrong with it. I just need a better deal for my buck is all, cause well I am jobless for the moment. :/

Bag & Product photos:

My Ipsy November 2013 bag.

I am soooo happy they went with snake print this time, can't tell you how much I am a reptile print gal. The color is actually gold out of photo but I've notice that it changes with format or with different lighting. Needless to say I was blessed with an over abundance.


Product photos and reviews:

Kiss, ever ez lashes - 03

These were amazing lashes, they are light weight and on a clear band. The length is just enough to pass for a natural look. This was just crazy to receive because it's 2 pairs of false lashes with an applicator and glue. The glue was good, it did not irritate my eyes and did a decent job of staying on. Although it was clear glue that has a duo chrome hue which I thought was rather unusual for lash glue. But it dried clear and looked just fine after I lined it. If this doesn't get you to want to subscribe just wait.

Pixi beauty, bronzer - Subtly Suntouched

Now Pixi has some great stuff and for this bronzer I just loved the velvet finish of the case. Yet Ipsy kinda hit a miss with me on the color. When this could work for fair skin this just look like there was nothing on my face. The slight shimmer probably could be seen just the color was meh worthy. I do like a good bronzer, I just prefer to be able to see it and then blend it.

Nailtini - Caviar Cocktail

Now this wasn't the original color I was expecting to get, there was a copper-ish one. Yet I actually liked and worked with this shade better. The metallic dark gray color just popped in lights and complimented my skin tone rather well. The perfect transition color from fall to winter, in fact most metallic shades are best suited for this time. That won't stop me though from wearing this shade in the other seasons as well. This is the 3rd nailtini polish I've gotten over the year and this one I will keep for myself. (Not that I need anymore nail polish. Seriously I have a decent massive collection.)

Be a Bombshell, lip crayon - Shameless

Meh, is the word I've choose to describe this color. It's pretty sheer fuchsia color, can build up but the shimmer in it just turns me off. The formula is decent and might even be better then the Revlon lip crayons with out the minty smell. Shameless just didn't work for me at this moment, maybe later in a year I'll change my thoughts about it and heck this could work for you if you just love the color of the swatches. It just didn't get my goat.

EM cosmetics, waterliner - Emerald

Color predictable, but boy did this liner live up to the hype! Totally giggly that Michelle Phan decided to share her line with us this month and even more to come. I already have two of the lipsticks and just love love love them. The color always seems predictable since they know it's my favorite color. The formula is really exquisite, highly pigmented, easy to work with, and really is meant for that water line. I mean its semi-permanent once it drys, which means you need to be a little fast and precise. Has a built in sharpener and smudge tip as well.

Starlooks, Gem eye pencil - Amethyst

Did not expect to get two eyeliners in one bag, that is a first. They are different colors and brands which feels like a cop-out but a cop-out in my favor. I really wanted to try this shade to get me out of my purple shy. Shimmery enough to pass for a silver but purple undertone to give it a shy pop of color. This wasn't so water proof though, when I did try this with a primer it still creased. Though I think that was the primers fault. Pigmentation is fantastic and easy to work with.

So that is all she wrote, for last month's Ipsy bag, if you want me to review October let me know in the comments. Though personally I wasn't really that into what I got after I came home to see it. I will however show you my Halloween photo since it is a rather good Kabuki fox makeup look that Rose shock inspired me to do. The mouth is the same but I felt after the fact that I should have added more teeth. Contacts were from Pinkyparadise in Venus Bright red.

So whether your late in the game or ahead of the trend do it because it satisfies you.

-Val

Aztec gold in a pot of gold (Nail sticker mani)

Since prints are such a fashion find for any wardrobe, it is unfortunate that I have not mastered this fashion trend. So naturally I look to a nail art to get me comfortable with prints. I don't know what it is or if any other people have this problem with bold prints. Yet this gold Aztec nail sticker from Maybelline has given me the gumption to try it. Because it's still fall I think this mani would be great for the transition into winter with the combination of gold and black it's pretty edgy but classic.

Review on Maybelline nail fashion sticker - Aztec gold:
This was such a promising print and just very well done to fit my nails even if I cut one nail template in half. See I have pretty small nails and that's ok sometimes. Whats not ok are nail stickers that are HUGE and even if I tried to used it the print would just look terrible if I cut it to fit my nail size. Like sizing in clothes there is no universal size chart so they make excess in large sizes to accommodate what "Normal" sized people are. If I buy a top I have to get it taken in or not buy it at all, same with nail art stickers... I digress. Now what I didn't like about these nail art stickers in particular is that to make it semi reflective it was thick. The problem I had with them is that even when I filed them down around the edges and sealed them in with a top coat. They were too thick and lifted anyway around the edges. You will see what I mean in the photos.

How to achieve this nail mani:
So to prep your nail, start by wiping it with some nail polish remover and let it dry. If you wash your hands with water the nail will not completely dry and will often cause bubbling under the polish. Then add the base coat, get your nail stickers ready to the proper size. Cut to fit, then place them on, file off the excess and seal them in with a top coat. On the ring finger and the thumb use a gold nail polish. After it has dried use a tiny drop of top coat to where you want to put the nail gem. Add your gem then seal with a top coat. For this mani I had to add and extra top coat a few days after to try to decrease the sticker from lifting.



Product list:
1. Seche Vite, dry fast - base coat.
2. Maybelline fashion nail stickers - Aztec gold.
3. Elf nail varnish - Pot of gold.
4. Black medium sized nail gem.
4. Seche Vite, dry fast - top coat.

Product photo:

Photo of the mani:

Alright my darhlings, whether you're late in the game or ahead of the trend. Do it because it makes you happy.
-Val

Smokey Brown Diamond mani

Yet another Fall themed nail art mani that is even easier to do! Yes, I do a lot of easy manicures. Mostly because I hardly have the patience to sit for long hours at a time not touching anything. I bought the Elf Disney villain theme nail polish collection at the local Walgreens and my plan is to use all the colors at least once. Using one of the colors from the Cruella Deville series called Smokey brown. I just added some medium sized gems and voila. A simple nail mani that matches the Smokey browns of the fall season. This is the third Halloween inspired fall mani.

*To set the nail art gems use a decent dot of the top coat to adhere it securely.

Product list:
1. Seche Vite, dry fast - base coat.
2. Elf Disney villains 2013 nail varnish - Smokey brown.
3. Medium sized nail art gems - Silver/clear color.
4. Seche Vite, dry fast - top coat.


Product Photo:

Nail polish mani Photo:

Elf (Disney Villains 2013) - Smokey Brown

Whether you're late in the game or ahead of the trend do it because it makes you feel fabulous.

-Val