June Ipsy: Volume Up

It’s time again to rip open that shiny pink envelope and take a peek inside.  It may be the first of July but I recently received my June Ipsy glam bag.  Ipsy (check Ipsy out here) wants you to be seen and be heard with this June’s theme Volume Up.  All the goodies are stashed in a cotton bag with an illustration of a cheeky smile .  Here’s what I snagged in this month’s bag:

NYX Cosmetics Whipped Lip & Cheek Souffle in Pink Cloud

I’ve been using mostly cream blushes now that the Summer heat and humidity have arrived.  Ipsy read my mind when they tossed this full size blush in my bag.  When I unscrewed the cap, I immediately thought that it smelled like NYX’s Soft Matte Lip Creams.  I first tried this warm, peachy-pink color out on my lips.  The consistency is thinner than the lip creams.  When applied, it seems to be lacking enough grip to give the right amount of opacity and to keep it in place. After blotting with a tissue, I was hoping that it would leave a blotted look similar to Colourpop’s Ultra Blotted Lips.  No such luck.

Next I tried it on my cheeks and I instantly fell in love!  It has a creamy texture that just blends to leave a beautiful flush of color.  I dabbed a few dots on my cheekbone and lightly dabbed with my fingertips.  The initial application left a pop of color that had a hint of glow but wasn’t overpowering.  It didn’t add texture to my skin like many other blushes and lasted at least 8 hours.  I plan to get my paws on more shades.  Check out all shades of the Whipped Lip & Cheek Souffle here.

Juice Beauty Phyto-Pigments Ultra-Natural Mascara

I love when I receive mascaras in my bag as I am super picky about my lash needs.  I’m lash needy!  I want it all:  volume, length, a product that doesn’t flake, no smudging and if it could do my grocery shopping, do the dishes and water the plants for me, then I am sold (I told you I want my mascara to do it all).  So when Ipsy sends out mascaras for me to try, I get to try a new one out without paying full price for the product.  

I’ve tried some of Juice Beauty’s skincare products before.  I appreciate that they are cruelty-free and pack their products with better for you ingredients.  But unfortunately this mascara just didn’t work for me.  The brush is on the thin side and has a slight spiral.  I first noticed that the formula is very wet.  It took a pretty long time to dry and unfortunately still left little mascara dots on my upper and lower eyelids.  I could deal with that if it added some drama to my lashes but sadly it did not.  If you want your lashes to be thin and wispy, you’ll probably dig this formula.  Sorry, Juice Beauty.  This one’s not for me.   Check out Juice Beauty here.

Hey Honey Undercover Detoxifying Mud Mask

Since the humidity has been on the rise, my skin has been a little schizophrenic.  Typically my skin is very dry with a slightly oily t-zone.  But the warmer temperature helps my skin feel more hydrated.  However, with the humidity also comes some breakouts.  Giving my face a dose of love with a mask always seems to help to clean out my pores.  I must admit that I was hesitant to try Hey Honey’s new mask as it states it’s intended for normal and oily skin types.  Anything that will zap moisture from my skin can take a hike.  But since my skin has been feeling more hydrated lately, I slathered on the mask in the hopes that any pesky blemishes would magically disappear.  The mask is pretty wet when applied.  It never fully dried down to the dry and chalky texture of other mud treatments that I’ve tried.  It almost felt like a peel-off mask.  

After waiting leaving it on my face for the recommended 15 minutes, I rinsed off the mask to reveal soft and smooth skin.  My skin didn’t feel tight and dry like it does with some other mud masks.  My pores appeared slightly smaller and some blackheads had vanished.  I am going to give this mask a whirl once a week until it runs out and see how it performs with consistent use.  But so far, I’m a fan.  Check out Hey Honey here.

theBalm Balm Springs Blush

I’ve been a fan for years of theBalm.  Not only are their formulas top notch, but their packaging is adorable.  Balm Springs is a lovely rosy shade that adds a healthy flush of color without looking heavy or cakey.  The powder is very fine with little kick-up from the pan.  It blends easily without emphasizing pores.  It’s long-wearing and will stay put even on crazy humid days.  Check out the Balm here.

Margaret Dabbs London Treatment-Enriched Nail Polish in Green Daylily

I must admit that I rarely wear nail polish.  I’ve got shakey hands and applying polish is a big pain in the tush.  But this gorgeous teal color was begging to be worn.  The formula is very opaque and with two coats, it was streak-free with lots of shine.  I topped it off with an acrylic top coat and the polish held up with minimal chipping for a few days.  Check out Margaret Dabbs London here.

Another month, another fabulous Ipsy bag.  Once a month, I receive my Glam Bag from Ipsy.  Ipsy is a popular beauty subscription service where you pay $10 each month to receive a fabulous cosmetics bag filled with 4 or 5 sample-size to full-size beauty products.  When enrolling, you take a beauty preferences quiz.  Based on your answers, Ipsy attempts to match the products it sends to you to match your tastes.  It’s something I look forward to each month and I already can’t wait to see what goodies will be included in my July bag.