Not Another LA Blonde

Tag: thebalmcosmetics

  • Ipsy – August 2017

    Ipsy – August 2017

    Good Morning and happy Tuesday y’all! I got my Ipsy bag at the end of last week and I’m going to be real honest… I like about half of what I got (maybe I’m just being picky lately, but I haven’t been super impressed with the last few bags I got)!

    I know we never talked about the July bag, but with everything going on last month I just ran out of time!

    Here’s the deal, I’m going to share with y’all what I got in my pouch this month and what I did or didn’t like about each item in my bag:

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    For starters, the theme of August’s bag was GOOD VIBES ONLY. My bag said Peace Love Lipstick. I liked this bag more than some of the others because of its simplicity and is cute enough to throw into my work purse.

    bag

    The Products:

    theBalm Cosmetics Voyage Vol. 2 Eyeshadow in Willkommen – Value for 0.57 g= $5.50

    You can get the Face Palette for $39.50 which includes 9 eyeshadows, 2 blushes, a bronzer, a highlighter, and 2 lip/cheek creams. Famous for their triple-milled pigments and anti-aging ingredients, theBalm is one of our fave go-tos for gorgeous, cruelty-free products. The Willkommen eyeshadow is a deep caramel shade, perfect for creating boho-inspired looks. I think this color is super cute and if I didn’t already have like 5 of the same color then this would def be a keeper in my book. I really like theBalm products and look forward to receiving it in my bag!

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    FORMULA 10.0.6 Pores Be Pure Skin-Clarifying Mud Mask – Value for 1 oz = $2.06 

    The full 3.4 oz mud mask retails for $6.99. You’ll instantly feel the tingle of this clarifying mask as it sucks the gunk out of clogged pores. AHHHH yes, I love masks that I can paint on my face! I prefer these over sheet masks any day of the week. This one smells really good and left my face feeling really clean but not all dried out like some masks make you feel. I can’t wait to use this again and with its inexpensive price I will definitely be buying this again!

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    sundays Nail Polish in No. 28 – Value for 14 ml = $18

    This is a FULL size product!! Based in NYC, Sundays’ nail salons have spawned a cult following for their cruelty-free, non-toxic nail polishes! Sundays nail polish has an insanely shiny lacquer finish and a totally curated color selection. This color is a lavender grey and looks really nice on the nail. I normally do gel manicures, but sometimes a girl’s just gotta let the nails breath and use a regular ol’ polish. This color will be great when the weather gets a little bit cooler and we transition into Fall!

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    Make Up For Ever  EXCESSIVE LASH Arresting Volume Mascara – Value for 2.5 ml = $7.35

    The full size 8.5 ml mascara retails at $25. This mascara gives you the fanned-out lash look with its petite brush. The blend of soft and hard fibers on the brush allows you to layer on the formula and build up your lashes while combing through to nix clumps. I LOVE getting mascara in my bag!!! Personally, I love Make Up For Ever and was super excited to get this in my bag this month. I’ve been looking for a new mascara so this came at the perfect time. (side note: I haven’t purchased mascara for almost a year now!) I really like this mascara and it’s become my go-to in the morning.

    mascara

    Hey Honey Come Clean: Propolis & Minerals Facial Scrub –  Value for 15 mL = $5.14

    The full 70 mL cleanser retails for $24. The main ingredient in this scrub is Propolis extract (a healing and anti-inflammatory compound produced by bees). It helps dissolve residue, minimize the look of pores, hydrate, and brighten up your skin. It’s also packed with non-abrasive dissolving crystalline beads to help clear dead skin cells and blackheads for a smoother complexion.  This is the perfect size to throw into my gym bag for when I shower after my workout during lunch. It has a nice feel to it because of the beads (I always feel like my face gets cleaner with them) and I am totally washing away all the sweat/makeup residue after my workout!

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    While I can’t guarantee an exact price of the products in the whole bag, I’ve estimated that the AUGUST bag is worth at least $38.05! While there was only 1 FULL size item in the bag, I think that the $10 you pay for the bag is such a steal compared to buying each item separately!

    The cost of the box every month is $10 + tax and free shipping. So for 5 products (one of which should be full size, the low price is a pretty good bargain. The bag is great if you’re looking to try out different products that you may not currently use.

    To subscribe to Ipsy use my referral link to discover new brands/products that you might come to love that you wouldn’t otherwise try!

    XOXO

    p.s Let me know if you got anything different that you absolutely loved!

    Also, if you see something that you like/want feel free to check out Mercari if you have it. If I can’t find friends that want any of the goodies I’m not a fan of, I try to sell it!

  • November 2016: Ipsy

    November 2016: Ipsy

    OK, so I’m super lame and missed my own personal deadline for posting about the glambag in November!

    I got my bag at the beginning of November and have tried almost all of the items!

    Let’s get to the good stuff and I’ll share with you what I got in my pouch this month:

    For starters, the theme of this month’s bag was ROCKSTARLET. The bag was cute with with cosmetic constellations.

    The Products:

    Leaders Cosmetics USA Aloe Soothing Renewal Mask & Aquaringer Treatment Mask Value = $10

    They are $5 each. Ipsy says that they are perfect for the winter blues! I used both of them and honestly don’t know how I feel.  They were both pretty goopy when I took it out of the package and put it on my face. At first I thought that was fine and that it would soak into my face or dry up a little bit. When I took it off after 15 min, the directions said to rub in the leftover serum. There was soo much stuff left on my face that I had to get a tissue and rub a little off before I could go to bed!

    Eyeko Skinny Liquid Eyeliner deluxe in Black Value = $18      

    This eyeliner was nice, nothing exceptionally great about it, but it was easy to use. It glided onto the eyelid smoothly and lasted all day. As for purchasing this product on my own, I don’t think I would. There are a lot of other liquid eyeliners out there that do the same thing for less money!

    Pūr~lisse Blue Lotus Balancing Moisturizer Value for 0.5oz = $16

    This moisturizer retails for $55 for a 1.7oz tube! This product is meant to hydrate the skin just enough without overly hydrating.

    tarte cosmetics Maracuja Oil Value for 7 ml = $7

    The full size of this size bottle at Sephora retails at $15. This oil “targets indivisual skin concerns and delivers balanced moisture for firmer, brighter, and smoother-looking skin.” I personally am not a huge fan of oils, so I can’t give an accurate review for this.

    theBalm Mad Lash Mascara Value for 2.5 ml= $5.63

    For a full mascara, this retails for $18. This product was just ok in my opinion. It was a little too goopy and didn’t make my lashes look any longer. I think that I will stick to the mascaras that make my lashes look longer/fuller! The other thing that I didn’t really like was the shape of the brush. It was a large curve brush that kind of made a mess on my eyes and I had to clean up the area.

    While I can’t pinpoint an exact price of the products in the whole bag, I’ve figured that the bag is worth at least $56 (just a super rough estimate, not sure if the eyeliner was full size or not)! I think that it is fairly accurate, so the $10 you pay for the bag is such a steal!

    The cost of the box every month is $10 + tax and free shipping. So for 5 products (one of which should be full size, the low price is a pretty good bargain. The bag is great if you’re looking to try out different products that you may not currently use.

    To subscribe to Ipsy use my referral link to discover new brands/products that you might come to love that you wouldn’t otherwise try!

    XOXO

    p.s Let me know if you got anything different that you absolutely loved!

  • October 2016: Ipsy Glam Bag

    October 2016: Ipsy Glam Bag

    Yet again the month of October has escaped me! But better late than never!!

    I got my bag back in October, but was super busy so I didn’t get to try all of the products like I would have preferred!

    Let’s get to the good stuff and I’ll share with you what I got in my pouch this month:

    For starters, the theme of this month’s bag was BLACK MAGIC. The bag was cute with with a little Halloween type design.

    The Products:

    Sarah Jessica Parker Lovely Perfume: Retails – $52 for a 1.7oz bottle at Ulta. This travel size probably costs around $12 (that seems to be the norm for travel size roller balls). To be completely honest I wasn’t a fan of the scent.  This had a woodsy scent and I am more of a fresh/flowery kind of girl! I think that this product is definitely great if you’re trying to find a new scent.

    Indi Beauty Buttercream antioxidant Lip Scrub: I think that this sample size container retails for 5.50. The small container at the Indi website retails for $12. This one is pretty small, so I’m not sure how much it would cost!  This product is pretty cool because it is made right here in the US! How neat is that? It is also cruelty-free and vegetarian! I didn’t have the opportunity to try this, but I have heard a lot of great things about it!         

    Beaute Basics Satin Taupe Eye Shadow: Retail – $7. This color is great for that brown smokey eye look. It has a little bit of shimmer to it also which is great! It has a soft texture and is easy to apply.

    theBalm CabanaBoy Blush: 0.2oz = $1.70 Retail – $21. In my opinion this is a super small sample size. This is a dusty rose blush with plum undertones. You really only need a small amount and it goes a long way! With such a small size, it is hard to use as a blush.

    Ciate London Fierce Flicks Eyeliner: Retails – $20 I am so happy that this is a full size product! This is one of those marker type eyeliners. It glides on super smooth and lasts all day! The only thing I don’t like about this type of eyeliner is how fast the marker part seems to dry out; hopefully that doesn’t happen with this one!

    While I can’t pinpoint an exact price of the products in the whole bag, I’ve figured that the bag is worth at least $46 (just a rough estimate)! I think that it is fairly accurate, so the $10 you pay for the bag is such a steal!

    The cost of the box every month is $10 + tax and free shipping. So for 5 products (one of which should be full size (I got a few full size items this month!), the low price is a pretty good bargain. The bag is great if you’re looking to try out different products that you may not currently use.

    To subscribe to Ipsy use my referral link to discover new brands/products that you might come to love that you wouldn’t otherwise try!

    XOXO

    p.s Let me know if you got anything different that you absolutely loved!