May 2016 Ipsy Bag Review and Swatches

Even though this is only my second month of receiving an Ipsy bag, I was eagerly awaiting its arrival and hoping it would be as good as the last one!

For those of you who are new to my blog or simply don’t know what Ipsy is, it is a monthly make-up subscription which costs $10 per month and includes five beauty products with a different make-up bag each month. Last month (post here) I was surprised to find that I would use every product that had been included, which was nice.

This month I’m just as pleased and I’ve actually used all of the products so I can give a first impression of each one! The May glam bag is themed around destination and travel which is showcased in the make-up bag, a pink snap-close bag with a white print of famous tourist spots (Big Ben, the Taj Majal, the Statue of Liberty, etc.) all over it. The bag also included a postcard which is a nice touch, although I probably won’t use it.

Now onto the most important part of the bag…the products! I’ll admit, I had been checking out what other people received in their glam bags before mine arrived and I’d been hoping for one of the Mellow Cosmetics lipsticks, but I’m happy with what I got anyway.

Jelly Pong Pong Cosmetics Caribbean Sun bronzer duo in Aruba

I had never heard of this brand before so I was excited to give this a try! It includes a warm brown matte bronzer and a peachy-toned matte blush. The product is quite small, but pigmented, smooth and blendable. I used the bronzer to contour today and I liked it, although it’s a little bit too warm for me. I’ll probably use it more often when I get a tan. The blush is a wearable shade that I don’t already have in my collection.

Vera Mona brush

This one doesn’t include a specific name but I used it for applying eye shadow all over the lid. It’s soft, it looks nice, and other than that there isn’t much to say about it.

Smashbox X-rated mascara deluxe sample

I’ve only used this once so I don’t have a firm opinion on it, but I can say that it didn’t smudge or flake today and it worked quite well on my lashes for a first use. I wouldn’t buy the full size version of this at the moment, but it’s a nice product and I’ll use it up for sure!

Avéne Micellar Lotion sample

With all the hype around Micellar water lately, this was an interesting variation to try. I think this product would be well-suited to people who want to moisturize but don’t like the feel of traditional lotions. The micellar lotion applies like a slightly oily water and absorbs into the skin quickly. It has a faint, pleasant scent that reminds me of baby powder for some reason. Again, I’ll use this product up but I won’t purchase the entire thing as I prefer scented lotions.

Glamour Dolls Gloss Snob lip gloss in Twirl

When I first saw this lip gloss I thought it looked rather cheap, like something you’d find in a child’s make-up set, but I’m pleasantly surprised at how pigmented the formula is and how comfortable it is on the lips! It’s not sticky at all and the gloss can be applied as a sheer color or built up to a brighter color. The light pink is perfect for spring and I’ll definitely be wearing this!

Aruba bronzer duo, Twirl lip gloss

 

Overall, I’m again really pleased with my Ipsy bag. I feel that there is a good ratio of beauty products to skin care/hair care/tools, I’ll use all the products, and they’re worth the $10 subscription! I also love discovering new brands to try so that’s another plus from me.

What do you think of this months' bag?
Xx Katie