They say the third time is a charm and no doubt about it, this is my third Ipsy Glam Bag and I am very pleased with the mix of full and sample sized products! When compared to Birchbox at the same price, I'd say the amount of deluxe and full-sized products has been more rewarding with Ipsy. I'm ready to dive in and share with you everything I received this month with an in-depth review of the July Ipsy Glam Bag!
What's inside /
2. SUNDAYS / No. 45
3. SUGAR COSMETICS Stroke of Genius Heavy-Duty Kohl
/ 03 Green Light
4. OFRA COSMETICS Eyeshadow / Exquisite
5. Z SKIN COSMETICS Acne Spot Treatment
1. MELLOW COSMETICS
Creamy Matte Lipstick / Candy Floss
I was excited to try out Mellow Cosmetics Creamy Matte Lipstick since I’ve also had sample of their liquid lipstick before in a different subscription box. The shade provided in this month’s Ipsy Glam Bag is Candy Floss, a vibrant, Barbie-style hot pink.
This shade is pretty far outside my usual comfort zone, to the point that I wasn’t sure if I could pull it off. However, I found it best complimented a full face of neutral makeup with this pop of color as the focal point.
The formula goes on very creamy while moisturizing and I was convinced this wasn’t a total matte, yet when it started to set on my lips it became less satin looking and turned into a soft matte. There was no streakiness or cracking, and the lipstick was highly pigmented. It’s not a transfer-proof lipstick as to be expected with a creamy formula, but it feels weightless on the lips without any dryness.
It also doubles down as a lip stain if you remove the top coat with a wipe or cloth, which is a great way to avoid stains on cups and get a softer pink look on your lips. As I mentioned with the staining, it does take a good makeup wipe to fully remove the color at the end of the day.
Overall, I love trying new shades rather than the typical nudes sent in subscription boxes, because you never know how it will look on you until you try. Plus, this is a full-sized product, worth $15, which easily covers the price of the $10 Ipsy Glam Bag. If you are unhappy with the shade, just pass it along.
Price $15
Full Size
Purchase here
2. SUNDAYS / No. 45
Sundays nail polish is made with the goal of being non-toxic, cruelty-free and vegan. The shade No. 45 is a soft powdery sky-blue hue that is absolutely dreamy.
I took my time though, making it a mindful self-care activity and applied three layers to cover the streaks and get full coverage. Each layer dried fairly quickly and wasn’t left tacky like other polishes, so I was able to build it up quickly. By the third and final layer, I was satisfied with the coverage and let it set.
Let me tell you though, just a little bit more effort pays off significantly! The color is beyond beautiful and the polish is thick and sturdy enough that I can work with my hands and not worry! I saw other reviews with people complaining, but adding a few extra layers gives me the longevity and durability I am looking for in a polish. I’ve used many other polishes that go on beautifully in one swipe, but by the next day half of it is chipped and gone, rendering it useless, so I appreciate Sundays polish!
Price $18
Full Size
Purchase here
3. SUGAR COSMETICS
Stroke of Genius Heavy-Duty Kohl / 03 Green Light
The next item I received is Sugar Cosmetics Stroke of Genius Heavy-Duty Kohl (now that’s a mouthful of a name!) eyeliner. There was a 50/50 chance that I would get the shade 02 Purple Rain or 03 Green Light, the latter of which arrived in my bag.
The formula is velvety soft and no pressure is needed to easily apply the product with just one swipe. The liner is waterproof and is claimed to last up to 8 hours, and the only budging I saw if I accidentally touched it, even with water. Even during hot days and sweating the liner barley moved, leaving no rings in undereye area.
Since I have mastered and prefer liquid liners, I have strayed away from crayon eyeliners. However, these are fun to use on the waterline, especially with a great color like this. The shade is like a metallic forest green that compliments my blue eyes nicely.
It’s a super blendable, high quality liner made with safe ingredients, and cruelty-free. When looking to purchase more, I was unable to successfully find where to get either this shade (03 Green Light) and 02 Purple Rain, and even their staple Back to Black is sold out on their website and Ispy alike. My guess is that these are brand new shades, so we’ll just have to wait and see if they become available at a later date.
Price $13.99 (based on Back To Black)
Full Size
Find All Eye Products here
4. OFRA COSMETICS Eyeshadow / Exquisite
Next on the list is the Ofra Cosmetics single pot eyeshadow in the shade Exquisite. The eye shadow arrived ready to be placed in a magnetic palette, which I unfortunately do not own. I wish it would have just arrived in the little plastic casing as sold on their website since they are giving you the full-sized eyeshadow.
I’ve seen this brand before, mainly on Instagram, so I am happy to give it a go. The shade Exquisite is a metallic, glimmering black, that has a significant amount of sliver glitter.
I was expecting it to be a lot bolder and pigmented than it initially turned out when swatched. I don’t mind that it’s a more muted black; in fact, it’s perfect for building a more natural smokey eye and pair wonderfully with dark browns.
The shadow is buildable, but you are not going to get blackest of blacks with it. Ofra even carries other black shades such as Triple Black that might be more saturated. The formula is amazing though, and I found it easy to build the shade with no fall out, while smoothing and blending easily over the lids.
It’s like an everyday sheer smokey black with a nice glimmer. The lack of saturated black isn’t enough for me to throw out the brand and I would love to try other shades since the formula is amazing.
Price $15 here
Refill $9 here
Full Size
5. Z SKIN COSMETICS Acne Spot Treatment
I love getting acne treatments! Since even over 30 my skin continues to break out like crazy, I was happy to see this Acne Spot Treatment from Z Skin Cosmetics. It’s made with a perfect blend of exotic herbs and oils to heal and effectively treat acne allowing for an even complexion.
Z Skin uses all-natural ingredients like Apple Cider Vinegar to deep clean pores and prevent acne, Tea Tree Oil to disinfect pores and remove all dirt, debris and sebum along with extra absorbent Almond Oil that easily gets right down to base of the pores to prevent future breakouts. The formula smells mainly of tea tree oil and goes on smoothly with a very brief and slight tingle before it settles matte without any notice of product on your face. There’s no greasy texture or residue left behind whatsoever.
Go ahead and use this anywhere you get breakouts, including the face, neck, chest. I’d advise to always apply to clean skin, typically before bed and after your skin care regimen dab a little cream to problem areas and let it do its magic. I’ve also used Z Skin in the AM before makeup, so you can always do whatever works for you and still get results. So far I’ve noticed less irritation, redness and reduction of pore size after using for a couple of nights and will with continued use know it’s full potential.
Price $17
Sample Size
Purchase here
Overall, July's Ipsy Glam Bag included 4/5 full-sized items! Sign up here to join the fun for only $10! Plus, earn rewards, cashback's and discounts at their store.
Thank you for reading!
This post is NOT sponsored by Ipsy. All products were given as part of a paid subscription to Allure Beauty Box. Just wanted to share my experience. This post contains affiliate links. Please read the disclosure + thank you for supporting Cuppy Cakes!
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