November Ipsy Bag Review

I always say this, but isn't it crazy how quickly November is passing by? Thanksgiving is next week for us here in the United States, and the holiday shoppers are already hitting us hard at my retail job! My classes are already picked out for next semester and finals are coming up soon.

How do I cheer myself up from all this stress? Makeup of course! I've got some exciting new palettes to review, but before I get to those I have my monthly bag of goodies from Ipsy to try out. It arrived right on time this month but I haven't been able to play with the products yet, so it's first impressions only with this review.

Starting with the black and teal bag of the month: I like it! The two colors pair well together and I like the sophisticated-but-edgy vibe. This is a bag I would actually take traveling with me. Now on to the products!

Benefit They're Real mascara sample (not cruelty free) | $12 value
Despite being a cult classic, I've never tried this mascara! The spiky wand looks like one that I will enjoy. A few months ago I bought a W7 dupe of the They're Real mascara, which is both cheaper and cruelty-free, so now that I can try the real thing I will see how they compare.

Oribe Gold Lust Dry Shampoo (0.9 oz sample) | $13.84 value (estimated)
A few different people online rave about this pricey dry shampoo so I can't wait to see why! I've been trying out a few new ones from Not Your Mother's but they aren't working for me as well as my former favorite Batiste. I might hold onto this sample as it would be handy on my vacation in February!

Tarte Blush in Idol (1.5 gram sample) | $7.77 value (estimated)
When I learned I'd be getting a Tarte blush in my bag, I was really excited! These samples last for absolutely ages and the colors looked nice on the Ipsy website. Unfortunately I find this product underwhelming. First of all, it isn't a permanent shade (I believe it's from a holiday 2016 collection) so if I did like the color I wouldn't be able to purchase a full size. That won't be a problem because I don't like the shade. It's a bit too peachy pink to be a good highlight for me, but it's also way too shimmery to use as a blush. Maybe my sister would like this product, but I don't see myself reaching for this over all the other blushes in my collection.

#23 Natural Beige (unblended), #23 Natural Beige (lightly blended), Idol

Touch in Sol Advanced Real Moisture foundation (10 ml sample) | $7.65 value (estimated)
It's always a risk getting a foundation in a subscription service, but luckily this shade #23 Natural Beige isn't a bad match for me. It has more of a peachy tone than I like and it's slightly too dark, but in the summer I think it will work. Plus I can always add my white LA Girl mixing shade to it! Moisturizing foundations are my favorite and this one seems to have a good amount of coverage so I'm looking forward to trying it.

Skyn Iceland Berry Lip Fix (5 ml sample) | $5.83 value (estimated)
I've never heard of this brand before, but this lip balm sounds very promising. The sample is a good size, the scent is pleasant but not overpowering, and if I like it I can repurchase it from Ulta! I recently learned that a lot of lip balms include irritants like camphor or menthol to keep you reapplying it, but a peek at these ingredients don't seem to reveal any of those ingredients. It does have shea butter, coconut oil, jojoba oil, and other great moisturizers! I'll need them during the cold winter months, but I don't know if this will replace my favorite lip balms from Burt's Bees or Glossier.

Total estimated bag value: $47.09
Cost per month: $10

Would you be excited about any of these products?

Xx Katie