ipsy | April 2019 | Review

It's time to dive into ipsy's April glam bag and see which products are worth purchasing and which products you should take a pass on.

Really pleased with the products that I received in April! 

Great colors, perfect to get you ready for spring!

You can watch my super quick video (honestly it's like two minutes and 30 seconds) here

Quick Stats:

Number of Product I'll Use Regularly: 3

My Overall Star Rating for April's Glam Bag: ⭐⭐⭐ (3 out of 5)
Thoughts on April's Glam Bag: Very pleased! Excellent colors, cute bag.

In honor of spring beginning (or if you live in New York, monsoon season ☔) April's ipsy bag theme was #ipsybloom.

Fittingly, April's glam bag was cover in bright yellow lemons (honestly, I thought they were pineapples for the first half of the month 🤦).

Finally, the products:

1. SUGAR COSMETICS: Kohl of Honour Intense Kajal in Black Out

Brand: Sugar Cosmetics

Product: Eyeliner
Name of Shade: Black Out
Color: True Black
Finish: Matte
Formula: Pencil/Kohl
Waterproof: Yes
Smudges/Streaks/Runs: No/No/No
Lasts for: 12+ Hours

Pros: Super intense, inky black color that sinks perfectly into the lash line.

 It is also perfect for tight lining because it will not budge or smear in the water line. 

It is cry-proof, so there are no black tears running down your cheeks. 

The tip gives great precision for more intricate details (i.e. cat eye, winged liner 😸 ). 

And thanks to the twist-up tip, there is no need to worry about sharpening.

Cons: I always scrutinize for a con, but I did not see any while using this eyeliner.

Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5 out of 5)

Would I Purchase: Yes.

Final Thoughts: True black color, long lasting pigment, with a formula that gives the ability to create dramatic precise lines or be blended out into a smokey look. Very versatile and waterproof. 

Bravo, Sugar Cosmetics! 👏

2. BUXOM COSMETICS: BUXOM Lash Volumizing Mascara in Blackest Black

Brand: Buxom Cosmetics

Product: Mascara

Size: Mini

Name of Shade: Blackest Black

Color: Black
Waterproof: Yes
Formula: Volumizing
Wand Shape: Hourglass
Lasts for: 12+ Hours
Smudges/Flakes: No/No

Pros: This mascara gives extra volume with a super fanned out flare. The black shade gives a subtle sheen to lashes making them look full and luxurious. 

Although it does not claim to be waterproof, it has proven to be for me, never smears or streaks. 

Cons: My only con is that you need to "wiggle" the wand back and forth quite a bit between lashes and go closer to the root to get the real fanned out effect. A lovely formula, but this is not a mascara I would use if I am in a hurry

Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⋆⋆ (3 out of 5)

Would I Purchase: Unlikely.

Final Thoughts: A very nice volumizing mascara. To get the full effect of the volumizing formula it takes just a bit more work and time. Still a great formula.

3. LAURA SANCHEZ: Moods Eyeshadow in Martini Olive Green

Brand:  Laura Sanchez

Product: Eyeshadow
Name of Shade: Martini Olive Green
Color: Moss Green
Finish: Metallic/Shimmer
Formula: Pressed Powder
Fallout: Yes
Blendable: Yes
Chalky/Flaky: No/A little
Lasts for: 8+ Hours 

Pros:  This shade is the perfect green, ultra-flattering for all skin tones (P.S. looks really nice on hazel eyes 😉). 

It has a creamy texture and blends onto lids like a dream. It can be used dry or damp for a more intense color. Perfect for all over the lid or just across the lash line as a liner. 

Also, it has stellar shimmer with an awesome metallic finish!

Cons: Fallout. There is definitely fallout with this shadow. And it is very important to sweep away any trace of the fallout with a clean brush before using concealer over it. 

If you do not, and you do apply concealer over it, it will create green smudges under the eye that will be very hard to get rid of, without removing more of your makeup than you'd like.

Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⋆⋆ (3 out of 5)

Would I Purchase: Unlikely.

Final Thoughts: This shadow is from Ms. Sanchez's Moods Palette (which is super pretty BTW!) and is a beautiful color. The fallout can be an issue but can be worked with. This shadow blends nicely and can be used to create a variety of eye looks.

4. FIRMA BEAUTY: 103 Angled Contour

Brand: Firma Beauty

Name of Brush: 103 Angled Contour
Feature for Brush: Under Cheekbone/Under Eyes
Feature I Use it for: Contour (under cheekbones)
Formula it Works Best with: Powder
Bristles Splay: No

Pros: Soft bristles and a sharp angle helps take the guess work out of contouring.

The edge fits perfectly under the cheekbones to apply contour shade to the hollows of the cheeks.

This brush is also nice and fluffy so it is great for dusting setting powder under the eyes and around the face.

Cons: The only minor drawback is the handle is a little light and not as weighted as other, so ease of use is a slightly affected.

Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⋆ (4 out of 5)

Would I Purchase: Yes.

Final Thoughts: Soft, fluffy, and angled expertly. 👍

5. PURLISSE: Watermelon Energizing Aqua Balm

Brand: Purlisse

Product: Moisturizer
Size: Mini
Formula: Balm
Scent: Watermelon

Pros: Lightweight and non-greasy, this balm is almost gel-like and sinks right into skin.

Gives skin a nice dose of moisture and has a good scent 🍉.

Cons: Tiny bit sticky

Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⋆ (4 out of 5)

Would I Purchase: Very likely

Final Thoughts: A very competent moisturizer with a lovely scent.

And here are a couple looks I create with April's products:

Don't forget to check out the video review here

Thanks for checking out my review of ipsy's April glam bag products!

If you're not an ipsy subscriber (gasp!) check out their site here: www.ipsy.com

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XOXO

Ultima Beauty

ICYMI: Violet Baudelaire | The Slippery Slope | A Series of Unfortunate Events | Makeup

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