Ipsy Glam Bag: August 2015 Review

Hello, friends! It's time for another Ipsy review! Yes, I'm still subscribed. How could I not be after last month's amazing Glam Bag? Now let's dig in to this thing!

Ipsy? What's that?

Ipsy is a monthly beauty subscription service that sends you five products with a themed makeup bag for $10/month. They offer a variety of products that change monthly, and determine which ones you receive based on the results of your beauty profile quiz. Ipsy also has a rewards program, in which you can earn points for reviewing products and redeem them for prizes. This month they sampled products from Tarte, Ole Henrikson, Essie, and plenty of others! If you're interested in subscribing, I would love it if you used my Ipsy referral link! Thank you!

This month's theme was "prep school." It's all about getting ready for fall and back-to-school time. Oh, to be young again...

I think the houndstooth printed bag is classic and works well for the theme. It feels like it could be durable, so if you're one to throw a makeup bag into your purse or backpack, this could be a good option!

But enough about that. Let's get to the good stuff~

STARLOOKS | Luxe Longwear Eye Liner Pen in Black
(FULL-SIZE VALUE [.2oz]: $19) 

I always find it so funny to see Starlooks in subscription boxes, since they already have a monthly subscription service of their own. Still, I've never tried a product from them that I thought was bad, so this is a welcomed addition. I'm a novice when it comes to liquid eyeliner, but this pen seems like it'll be good to start with! 

BRIOGEO | Blossom & Bloom Ginseng + Biotin Volumizer
(SAMPLE-SIZE value [1 fl oz]: $3.60) (Full-size cost [5.1oz]: $18) 

This is a product that you spray into damp hair before blow drying to get more volume. I never blow dry my hair, so I gave this to my mother. I'm pretty low-maintenance when it comes to my hair, so I guess this is a wasted product for me. For those who care, it's paraben-free. 

HIKARI COSMETICS | Lip Gloss in Merlot
(FULL-SIZE value [.1 fl oz]: $13) 

In case anyone was wondering, Hikari and Be a Bombshell (BaB) Cosmetics use the same manufacturer. So, if you think you escaped from BaB this month, YOU WERE WRONG! I guess the fact that Ipsy has a brand-repeater problem still applies (why I cancelled the first time). Still, I think this is a good color for fall! The formula is surprisingly opaque, and I've been really into lip glosses lately, so I'll be ready to pull this out when it gets colder out!

LATHER | Ultra Mild Face Wash
(SAMPLE-SIZE value [1 fl oz]: $3.20) (Full-size cost [6oz]: $19) 

I usually don't use the cleansers and scrubs I get in subscription boxes because I'm a snob because I already have something I'm happy with. But, after hearing good things about it, I gave it a chance, and I was pleasantly surprised! This cleanser really is extremely gentle. It doesn't rather a lot, which makes sense, since it is sulfate-free. I didn't find that it made my skin feel dry in any way. It has a mild scent that I don't love, but it's not bad.

You'll need to use a separate makeup remover before cleansing, but other than that I've enjoyed using this. I won't repurchase since I like creamy cleansers that remove all my makeup, but it's a good pick!

TRUST FUND BEAUTY | Nail Polish in Elegantly Wasted
(FULL-SIZE value [.5 fl oz]: $15) 

This brand seems to be getting around the subscription box world--I received a different color by them in my LuxePineapple Glossary Box this month, too (review to come!). I haven't had the chance to paint my nails with this yet, but it's a 5-free formula (meaning it doesn't have formaldehyde, dibutyl phthalate, toluene, camphor, and formaldehyde resin). It's also vegan and cruelty-free! If you get a chance, check out the names of their other polishes. My favorite names are "I Woke Up Like This," "Resting Bitch Face," and "Bitch, Please!"

The Stats:

• Starlooks Eyeliner Pen: $19
• Briogeo Volumizer: $3.60
• Hikari Lip Gloss: $13
• Lather Face Wash: $3.20
• Trust Fund Beauty Nail Polish: $15
• TOTAL: $53.80 (That's over 5 times what I paid!)

The Best: 
I think I'll get plenty of use out of the lip gloss this coming fall season. And I'll definitely finish up the cleanser!

The Worst: 
I just have no use for any hair product that requires blow-drying. 

The Verdict: 
Overall, this bag has a great monetary value. To me, it's not as good as their knockout bag last month, I prefer when Ipsy gives out more makeup, since I usually rely on Birchbox to get a variety of products. I think I'll play it by ear to see if I want to stay subscribed. Not that I'm not happy with Ipsy, but I just feel like I'm getting products faster than I can use them up. And I'll never cancel Birchbox, so Ipsy is the one that I'm on the fence about!

Did you get this month's Ipsy? What did you get?

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Disclaimer: Not sponsored. I paid ten whole dollars for this.