Category: Jewelry
November 2023 Ipsy Icon Box – Pat McGrath
This quarter’s curator is Pat McGrath, of Pat McGrath Labs. I don’t have a lot of Pat McGrath products…in fact, her stuff is so pricey that the only stuff I’ve tried out is lippies either from other ipsy drops or Sephora Favorites Sets. Her eyeshadow is supposed to be FANTASTIC, so I was excited that her Divine Rose Luxe Quad in “Eternal Eden” ($62) was in this quarter’s icon box. It was every bit as soft and blendable as they say – I am in love with the palette. The color story is very similar to one of my other faves – KVD Lolita Por Vida, just on a smaller scale. The box also included Pat McGrath Labs MatteTrance Lipstick in “Elson” ($39). It is a great-for-everyone red…but it’s lipstick and when I wore it, it got all OVERYTHING. My poor Smashburger was covered in lipstick.
My first product choice this month was Gloss Moderne Clean Luxury Shampoo + Conditioner Duo ($65). Imagine, spending $65 for a TINY set of shampoo and conditioner. It did smell nice, but I have so much hair that I will probably only get 4 uses out of the conditioner. NOTE TO SELF: do not use again until I get a haircut.
My second product choice was Act + Acre Cold Processed Stem Cell Scalp Serum ($86). I haven’t tried it yet…but my hair is thinning and I figured, why not? NOTE TO SELF: Don’t complain about having too much hair in one paragraph and then describe a product to grow MORE hair in the next paragraph.
My final product choice was the Baublebar Cosmic Couple Earring Set ($44). I just needed more gold earrings.
I also received: Dew of the Gods The THEORY Retinol Moisturizer ($42) – which has been a nice light moisturizer for every day; Tatcha The Rice Wash Soft Cream Cleanser ($40) – I like that it has a bit of texture to it; and Danessa Myricks Beauty Dew Wet Balm in Rose Water ($22) – very unlikely to use this one.
Ipsy says this month’s box was worth $400…even at the new price of $60/quarter, that’s a steal.
I subscribe to the basic ipsy bag for $14/month (recently increased from $13/month) and Icon Box (formerly Glam Bag X) for an extra $60/quarterly (recently increased from $43/quarterly). If you’d like to try Ipsy – click here. I’ll earn 250 points if you sign up through my referral link.
August 2022 Glam Bag X – Alicia Keys
I’ve been receiving Keys Soulcare products in the last several Glam Bag X boxes – I was wondering when we would see Alicia Keys as a curator!
I love that I get to pick THREE products in every Glam Bag X. I liked the One/Size Ultimate Blurring Setting Powder in May’s bag so much that I chose One/Size Turn up the Base Versatile Powder Foundation in “Fair 1” this time. The powder foundation gives decent coverage and gives a very filtered look…but it’s about one tic too light for me…meaning it will be perfect for winter when I retreat inside.
My other product choices were a Baublebar June Bracelet Set (2 gold bracelets – I gave one to my daughter), and Epione Beverly Hills Flawless Serum. I’ve been using it at night because it’s super thick, almost like honey.
For some odd reason, the (non-choice) products I received are not what’s showing up on ipsy’s site for me…so weird. The only one that is accurate was the Huda Beauty Silk Balm Honey Kiss Lip Balm in “Queen Bee” (a basic clear lip balm with a doe foot applicator). The site lists 4 other products, but I received 5 additional products: Keys Soulcare Be Luminous Exfoliator (a powder that turns to foam – interesting feeling); Go-To Skincare Skin Party (a thick skin cream); LYS Beauty Aim High Liquid Highlighter (no thanks); oSea Essential Hydrating Oil (I don’t like oils on my face, so I gave it to my daughter); and Rinna Beauty Lipgloss in “Guilty Pleasure” (I haven’t tried it yet, Lisa Rinna’s lips scare the FUCK out of me).
When I put my bag together, it said it was worth $449…not sure if it is worth more or less than that, due to the product changes…I feel like it was a nice box, so I guess that’s all that matters.
I subscribe to the basic ipsy bag for $13/month and Glam Bag X for an extra $43/quarterly. If you’d like to try Ipsy – click here. I’ll earn 250 points if you sign up through my referral link.
Online Shopping Binge
I kind went nuts last week with the online shopping – between Thursday night and Saturday morning , I placed no less than 6 online orders…so many sales and coupons in my inbox…I couldn’t resist.
With the long holiday weekend and biblical flooding, almost all of the packages hit at once yesterday. Instead of half a dozen different posts, I figured I’d stuff most of them into one…
I am fairly shameless, so I’m not going to show the pile of underwear from Victoria’s Secret. Yup, I hoard panties, too.
I had been eyeing the Sephora Sun Safety Kit – I need to protect my easily scorched skin. Inside the kit are 16 different sun protection products in a cute travel bag: – AmorePacific Natural Protector SPF 30, Clarins UV Plus Anti-Pollution Broad Spectrum SPF 50, Clinique Moisture Surge CC Cream Broad Spectrum SPF 30 in Light Medium, Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Dark Spot Sun Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 50 Sunscreen, Dr. Jart+ Premium Beauty Balm SPF 45, Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment SPF 15, Josie Maran Cosmetics Argan Daily Moisturizer SPF 47, Korres Yoghurt Nourishing Fluid Veil Broad Spectrum SPF 30, Murad Invisiblur Perfecting Shield Broad Spectrum SPF 30, Ole Henriksen total truth eye crème SPF 15, Origins VitaZing Broad Spectrum SPF 15 Energy-Boosting Moisturizer with Mangosteen, Peter Thomas Roth Max Sheer All Day Moisture Defense Lotion SPF 30, Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protection Cream SPF 50+ WetForce Broad Spectrum Water Resistant (80 Minutes), St. Tropez One Night Only in Light-Medium, Supergoop! City Sunscreen Serum SPF 30, and Vita Liberata Passion Flower & Argan Dry Oil Broad Spectrum SPF 50. PHEW – that’s a lot of sunscreen!
For my 3 samples, I chose Viktor & Rolf “Flowerbomb” (spicy and flowery, reminds me of a Victoria’s Secret scent), Maison Martin Margiela REPLICA “Beach Walk” (this doesn’t smell like a perfume – it smells like a thing – LOVE), and dr. brandt Do Not Age. Sephora was also running a Jetsetter deal – pick 3 extra samples – so I got Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask, Smashbox Camera Ready BB Cream, and boscia Purifying Cleansing Gel. My face is gonna be SMOOTH.
I can’t say no to Birchbox’s Limited Edition Boxes. As soon as I got the email got the “Under the Sun” ($55) box, I knew I would eventually order it…but not until I got that 25% coupon. 25% off and $10 in Birchbox points and ADD TO CART. Inside the box: Baggu Tote Bag (I had my fingers crossed for this elephant print!), Cynthia Rowley Beauty Beauty on the Go Multi Blush & Bronzer Duo (meh), Laura Mercier Bakes Eye Color in “Cameo” (yasss), Sugarpova Flirty Candy (why does Maria Sharapova sell candy?), Chloe + Isabel Birchbox Exclusive Medina Convertible Pendant Necklace (my favorite part of the box!), Knockaround Premium Sunglasses (silver!), ncLA Nail Lacquer in “Bikinis & Martinis” (it’s the color of bubble gum you’d find stuck under a picnic table), and Supergoop! Skin Soothing Mineral Suncreen with Olive Polythenols SPF 40.
For samples, I got Vasanti Brighten Up! Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator and Sumita Jumon Contrast Eye Pencil. I also finally got my Birchbox Anniversary Keyring (not pictured).
…and today, I got a big box of Deep Cleansing Hand Soap from Bath & Body Works. You know that I start to get the shakes if I have less than 30 bottles under the sink. They were all between $2.75 & $3.25, plus 20% off and free shipping. I threw in a handful of Scentportables for my car for good measure.
I also received my Dream Polish Gem Glam Topcoat in “Lily Flower” – yes, it’s scented! This another popular one on Instagram and it’s 5 free – I can’t wait to try it out.
I am still waiting on my sale order from Delush Polish – that’s the only one that hasn’t arrived. I think I have enough stuff to keep me busy…until next week when all my subscription boxes start rolling in!