Ipsy - May 2014

I know it's really late to be posting my May Ipsy bag, but my bag was delivered after we'd already left for a vacation on May 17th so I didn't actually have it until we returned home on the 27th.  I did manage to schedule a couple of posts for while we were on vacation but then once we got home jet lag/plain laziness set in and I failed to post the Ipsy bag or anything else, so I'm going to try to be more consistent with the posting going forward.  The upside to the late posting of May's Ipsy bag is that I've actually tried all of the products since I've been home.

May's theme was "Fresh Picks" and was more skin/hair care focused than their bags typically are.  I did see on Ipsy's website and Facebook page that some people that were upset that their wasn't much makeup in this bag, but I'm okay with this once in a while as the makeup samples multiply quickly when you're getting a monthly sub.  There were also a huge variety of products available this month so there were a lot of different bag variations.

The first product in my bag was a Pacifica eyeshadow duo.  These were made exclusively for Ipsy out of 2 colors from Pacifica's 4 color palettes and every subscriber received one this month in one of two shade combinations.  I received the pink/brown Celestial & Opal duo but there was also a purple and white duo with the colors Moonbeam & Unicorn.  I've used the shadow a few times and they are okay, but not highly pigmented even with primer.  In order to get a good swatch on my arm I had to lay them on pretty thick so they aren't very smooth swatches and the pink shade blends with my arm.  I will, however, still use them over the summer for light makeup days.  I estimated the cost of the duo based on weight compared to the full sized palette and got a value of $5.

Next I received a 0.5 oz sample tube of Jersey Shore Sun Sans Tan Anti-aging Sunscreen.  It's SPF 35, which is a little low for me and my pale skin, but I figured I'd still use up the small tube.  However since it is primarily a zinc sunscreen it does have a very white cast to it.  I put it on my face before walking the dog the other day and ended up looking like a ghost, so if anything I'll use this on my shoulders but not my face. These sized tubes are generally sold in a two pack for $25 so despite the relatively small size this single tube has a value of $12.50.

My third item was a sample of Derma e microdermabrasion scrub.  I received a dr. brandt microdermabrasion sample last month which I've used and liked (I was pleasantly suprised it didn't irritate my sensitive skin) but was not a fan of the chemically lemon smell.  This Derma e sample has a lemon scent as well but is much more mild and natural than the dr. brant (more lemon zest than the lemon Pledge smell of the dr. brandt).  I've used it a couple of times and will likely repurchase it when it's gone.  The sample is a generous 1 oz size, which is 1/2 of the full size product, and has a value of $14.63

My fourth item was the Hey Honey Take it Off Exfoliating Mask in a 10 ml sample size.  It is a clear mask with no noticeable scent and the instructions say to put on a light layer of moisturizer then apply the mask and let dry for 15-20 minutes before peeling off.  I have tried it once and wasn't blown away by the results or anything but I'll use it up because I'm guessing I'll only get one more use out of the small sample tube.  Based on the volume of this compared to the 50 ml full size my sample has a value of $7.

Finally I received the Eva NYC Therapy Session Hair Mask.  I'm happy I got this one as two of the other options were for curly hair which I don't have.  (There was also a hair oil but I've had mixed experiences with those).  This ended up being my favorite product in May's bag and I've already ordered the larger 500 ml size with Ipsy's discount code.  The mask has a very light powdery scent and not only made my hair noticeably softer, but the results seem to last for a few days before I need to reuse it.  The 2.03 oz size that I received in my Ipsy bag is worth $12.

One of the things that I was excited for most in May was the bag, and wish I had gotten it in time to use it in my carry-on bag on vacation.  I haven't loved the bags from my first two months with Ipsy so it's great to finally receive a bag I can see myself using often.  May's bag is a nice canvas material which is definitely an upgrade from last month's vinyl bag.  It is printed on one side with a cute green leaf pattern.  As with last month I left this out of the total value calculation, but this is one I could where I could actually see purchasing a similar bag.

Overall I'm really happy with this months selections and am exited for June's bag, which should be here in a few days thanks to my late posting of this.  This month was a great value as well for my $10 monthly subscription and I got a total estimated bag value of $51.13.  If you're interested in signing up for Ipsy you can do so using my referral link here.