Saturday, August 29, 2015

Ipsy - August 2015

 (click if you wish to enlarge)


 I hope everyone is having a splendid day so far! The school year is back, and I myself have recently just entered into college for the second time around to finish my degree. I am super excited and super hopeful, that this year will be the year I will finally accomplish my goals. That being said, what more of a perfect theme for Ipsy's August Glam Bag than "Prep School!" 


If you don't know what Ipsy is, it's a beauty subscription bag designed just for you, (by taking the beauty quiz) that cost $10 a month. The $10 also includes shipping. Beauty Guru Michelle Phan curates the bags, and you generally receive 5 items. 

If you wish to sign up you can sign up through my personal referral link here: Ipsy Sign Up



Every month you receive a bag with your Ipsy items in them. This month the bag design (as seen above) opened from the side of the bag; instead of the top.

 It's a black and white design, which to me looks like stars. I prefer the bags that open from the top, but don't mind these every now and then. I applaud Ipsy because from Day 1, they have managed to come up with a completely different design each month. 

Now let's see what I got inside my Glam Bag this month. Feel free to click on any of the pictures below if you want to see up close any of the products...



"HydraGel is a revolutionary formula with hybrid gel technology. The ease of a powder with the fresh, natural look of a cream -- HydraGel Blush makes you look like you're blushing, not like you're wearing blush. Formulated with beneficial ingredients Shea Butter, Avocado Butter and Jojoba Seed Oil to hydrate the skin while Lavender extract provides luminosity for a fresh, natural-looking flush of pure color."

I am not crazy about blush, it's just never really been my thing. I prefer a bronzer or bronzer/combo. Most of the time it's too much for my skin-tone. However, this formula has changed my mind. It is so easy to blend, and it truly looks as if you aren't wearing blush (which is a big problem of mine usually). It also makes a nice color for lips as well. This is one blush I can say will defiantly not go to waste. 

Price: $16 (For a full size; the one seen above is a tad smaller worth $12)


"Noyah's all-natural lipsticks come in dazzling earth-friendly bamboo packaging and are versatile enough to take you from subtle daytime chic to a fun-filled evening look.

The lipsticks are made in the USA, never tested on animals, and contain no parabens or sulfates. If that's not enough to make you feel all warm and fuzzy, post #noyah or #livedivinely and noyah will donate a product to the homeless!"

This was my favorite product in the bag this month. Usually, I am not too crazy about natural lipsticks. However, I am really enjoying this color as well as the moisturizing formula. The packaging is cute, and the cause they support just makes me love them that much more. Every time you post and use the hashtag #noyah or #livedivinely (make sure you tag them just in case), Noyah will donate a product to the homeless! 

Price: $18 (For a full size; the one above is a sample size worth $4)



"This highly natural La Fresh® Eco-Beauty® Good Night. Night Cream provides super hydration and restores your skin making it visibly smoother and plumper. It will also rescue your skin from fine wrinkles on the forehead and crow's feet around your eyes. Say bye-bye to damaging elements that age your skin and say hello to recovered, recharged, and youthful." 

Moisturizers for me are the most useful product I could receive. I go through so many cremes because of how dry my skin is. I enjoyed almost everything about this cream, except that it was a little thicker than I like my moisturizers. I will say it absorbs rather quickly, so this isn't a huge issue. I also enjoy the cucumber smell it has.

Price: $40 (for a full size; this is a deluxe sample which retails for $13.99) 



"This ultimate lipliner is the original Lord & Berry lip pencil. It’s easy-to-use and its formula softens and protects the skin with the nutrients from macadamia oil and waterlily extracts. You can line your lips and fill them in using this pencil- finish with a lipgloss or lipstick or a more dramatic look"

I am not really sure what Ipsy was thinking when picking this for me, other than the fact that maybe it would somehow change my mind about how I feel about nude lip-liner's. It just wasn't for me though. I have never really used lip-liner much, unless it's one of those clear (or clear wax) ones and defiantly not nude. Better luck next time.

I will give Lord & Berry their props though as they do make really well-made products, as I have tried their glosses in the past. 

Price: $18 (for a full size; this is travel size worth
 $9?) 



"Use this hydrator and your skin will feel smoother and softer immediately. Always apply to wet skin. This all over in-shower body moisturizer, "conditions your body like you condition your hair". It's also unscented so it rehydrates skin without any irritation from fragrance. Holds moisture in your skin for 24 hours."

I really enjoyed using this product, and it works so well. I love how it fits with my on the go lifestyle, as you apply it while you are in the shower. It also does a good job at keeping this skin hydrated until your next shower. I love that Ipsy included a product like this, and would love to see similar one's included in the future.

Price: $16 (for a full size; this is a sample size worth $3?)

 BONUS ITEM(S)

For every product that you review you can earn points, you can also earn points other ways such as for referrals. Once you save up enough points you can go to the points store to spend your points. 
Here is what I spent some of my points on this month:


"This bronzing powder gives your complexion the warmth and luminosity of naturally sunkissed skin. Hydrating, silky-smooth & long-wearing, it also protects against free radicals. Contains Vitamin E to protect the skin and mica, which provides dense natural pigment."  

I am a bronzer fanatic, so this was the perfect product to purchase with my points. Pixi makes great products, and this product is no exception. It works wonderful, and gets the job done. Not to mention it was only 500 points! 

Price: $18 with bronzer and Kabuki brush (this is a FULL SIZE bronzer! It did not however come with the brush which makes it worth $10) 

This month we received a value of around $52 (includes the bronzer; $42 without)! Not only did I get to try some new products, but I received a great deal since I only paid $10. What do you think about this month's Ipsy "Prep School"?" What variation did you receive? I love hearing your questions/comments, so feel free to leave them below.

               Until next time...

   STAY BEAUTIFUL BY STAYING YOU!

                         XOXO,




Saturday, August 22, 2015

Jaowying Beauty - Blink Blink Body Mask Serum



Hello Everyone! I know it's been awhile since I last wrote a post, for those who keep up with me on our Facebook know I decided to focus more of my attention to getting my degree in college. That being said, I will still be posting and bringing wonderful product reviews to you. They may however, just not be as frequent.

That being said, today I am bringing you a really interesting and intriguing product I found by the company Jaowying Beauty. Their "Blink Blink" Body Mask Serum is a one-of-a-kind product, and something I never really experienced until now. They make all sorts of weird yet practical products from skincare to makeup. Jaowying Beauty which in English means "Princess Beauty" company originates from Thailand. 

What is Blink Blink Body Mask Serum?

In short it is a gel mask that you can put all over your body. It helps to restore uneven skin tone. The ingredients (such as Arbutin, Niacinamide, Natural Beta hydroxy acide bioferment (also known as white willow bark)) all work together within just a few minutes after you put it on to help decrease skin dullness. It also can help dark spot's on your body as well.


I love knowing it's not tested on animals!

How do I use Blink Blink Body Mask Serum? 

It is really important to know how to use the serum before putting it on. Even though most bottles have English translated on the bottle, sometimes it can be hard to understand. 

First you want to make sure you test an area of your skin to make sure your skin can handle it. It is NOT for those with sensitive skin. To test it - put it on the inside part of your arm and see how long before or IF your skin is irritated from the solution (anywhere from 3 minutes to 15 minutes). After you determine how long you can use the serum, then you can try it on other areas of your body for that same length of time. For example if you started having irritated skin around five minutes, use common sense by not using it on another part of your body more than 5 minutes. It's your judgement, and what you feel okay with.  

For me personally, I had it on 15 minutes and it didn't break me out or bother me.  


My Thoughts 

For me personally, I overall really enjoyed the serum. I didn't notice much of a difference when it came to scars or things of that nature. However, it did wonders when it came to brightening my skin. It only took one use after it helped to brighten my skin. It also worked really well on my stretch marks. It only took a couple of times before I noticed results on my stretch marks (those of which I can't take a picture of because of where it is at, but take my word for it!). This stuff has a powerful punch, not to mention it smells great also. It has a nice light grape soapy smell in my opinion, and is clear when you put it on. 

If you wish to purchase this product or even learn more, it is currently on Amazon for $15. You can learn more about it by going here: BUY BLINK BLINK BODY SERUM

Thanks for reading! Feel free to leave your thoughts below. What do you think of Jaowying Beauty's Blink Blink Body Mask Serum? Do you think this is something you can use? I love hearing your feedback, so feel free to leave any questions you may have as well.

Until Next Time!
XOXO,