Ipsy September 2013 Review

Ipsy time again! Ipsy is one of my favorite cheap sub boxes! For only $10 a month, you get 4-5 samples or full size makeup and beauty products plus a cute makeup bag every month! September's theme was Classic Beauty.

Opening the bag

"Info" card - just a list of this month's possible brands and the % off you'll get if you buy from them later

 This month we got a little bonus item, basically an advertisement for Michelle Phan's makeup line, Em. It contained a very small sample of one of her palettes.

Em by Michelle Phan sample

This month's bag was super cute! I love the color and the print:

Pretty bag!

My first product was a set of 3 Freeman paper face masks ($5). I got all 3 varieties: brightening for dull skin, hydrating for dry skin, and purifying for oily/combo skin. My skin tends to vary with the weather/seasons, so I'll probably get a chance to try all of them. I prefer makeup from Ipsy, but this isn't a bad item.

Freeman Paper Masks

Next up was a Starlooks Kohl Eyeliner in Obsidian ($12). At first, I thought I had this exact product from my Starlooks sub, but it turns out I have Onyx. I was confused at what the difference was since they both appear to be black, so I wrote to Starlooks and asked. They got back to me in minutes as they usually do and said that Obsidian is the blackest possible, while Onyx is a bit lighter and may look almost charcoal. I swatched them next to each other and I think I maybe see a small difference, but it's so small I'm not sure it would make a difference at all on eyes. Either way, it's a nice pencil - soft and glides on - but I probably would have preferred one of the other product possibilities this month instead simply because I already get the Starlooks sub. I love it, but I don't need their products from Ipsy, too.

Starlooks Kohl Eye Pencil in Obsidian

My next product was an NYX Single Eye Shadow in Shimmery Black ($4.50). I've been preferring loose eyeshadow to solid lately, but it was a pretty color, so I figured I'd give it a shot. It is a pretty color, but unfortunately, it doesn't have very good color payoff - it took quite a few swipes to get it showing up well. It also had a lot of fall out which I hate when applying to my eyes since it tends to leave a raccoony mess. Oh well.

NYX Single Eyeshadow in Shimmery Black

The last eye product, one that I think everyone got, was a sample size of Elizabeth Mott It's So Big Volumizing Mascara ($8). I haven't tried this out yet, but I'm hopeful for it. I like volumizing. I'm a bit surprised we only got a trial size instead of full size, especially when I found out the discount we'd get if we order from them is the highest of the month at 50% off, making the full size only slightly more than the value of the sample we got.

Elizabeth Mott It's So Big Volumizing Mascara

 My last product was a J. Cat Beauty Fantabulous Lipstick in Honeycrisp ($2.49). Wow. This was just a bad color. Maybe I just don't know how to use nude lipstick, but I put this on and I looked like a cadaver. And again, a lipstick. I'm done expecting Ipsy to pay any attention to our profiles or reviews, which are supposed to influence what we get in our bags. I wish they'd stop advertising Ipsy Match - they don't use it. If I pretend they don't use it, I'm less disappointed when I get a lip product. It is still only $10 a month, after all.

J. Cat Beauty Fantabulous Lipstick in Honeycrisp

Swatches L to R: Starlooks Kohl Pencil in Onyx (not in Ipsy bag), Starlooks Kohl Pencil in Obsidian, NYX Eyeshadow in Black Shimmer (after blowing away all the dust), J. Cat Beauty Lipstick in Honeycrisp

September 2013 Ipsy bag

Technically, this bag had almost a full face (minus blush), so that's kind of nice. I just wish I liked the products more. I'll probably use the kohl pencil and face masks and at least try the mascara. The lipstick is a total loss and I don't know really if I'll use the eyeshadow - I have so many better ones, it's kind of silly to use one I don't love. Again, I'm just disappointed in the advertising of Ipsy Match to give us products matched to us. If they had followed mine, I would've gotten the Butter London polish, the Jesse's Girl liquid eyeliner, or the Chella Highlighter Pencil. I would have loved all of those! I may consider using the coupon codes to buy one or more of those, but I'd have rather just gotten them in my bag than have to buy them. 2 out of those 3 are over $10 even with the coupon code. Maybe I'll get one in a future bag.

What did you get in your bag this month? If you want to subscribe, please use my link! If you haven't tried it and you like makeup/beauty stuff, you should!

(And just a disclaimer: I bought this box myself and was not compensated for this review in any way. All opinions are my own. The final link is a referral link, but I also included a non-referral link at the top.)