[REVIEW] May Ipsy Glam Bag: “Spring Fling”

ipsy is an online beauty subscription service. Each month, subscribers receive a makeup bag filled with deluxe samples and full-sized products. May’s theme was “Spring Fling.”

yaby Cream Concealer in Vanilla
full size – $4.85 CAD retail
This product is actually a refill designed for a magnetic palette, so it does not come in its own compact. At first I thought this was a creamy eyeshadow, but when I visited the yaby website, I realized it was actually concealer. This is far too light a concealer for my skin tone, but I’m thinking about using it as a highlighter. It applies easily with my fingertips, and it doesn’t feel heavy or greasy. As a concealer, it leaves a smooth, matte finish. Coverage isn’t very full, though, and for problem areas, I would couple this with a correcting product.

NuMe Finishing Serum
sample size (0.33 oz) – $29 retail for full size (2 oz)
Straight out of the bottle, this product is a little intimidating at first. It seems too thick and goopy to be easy to use. However, I followed the directions on the bottle and rubbed a few drops of it between my palms and then massaged it onto my hair. I applied it to the ends of my wet hair, and I could feel how much silkier my hair was. The product has a light, clean scent, and it didn’t leave any residue on my hands. I don’t know if I would ever buy the full size, but I will definitely enjoy using up the sample I received.

Zoya Nail Polish in Piaf
full size – $8 retail
Piaf is a light yellow with a metallic shimmer. With two coats, it provides a full coverage opaque finish. The shimmer is pretty subtle, so it doesn’t look too glittery. I think I prefer the sheer look of one coat, because the opaque gold slightly clashes with my skin tone. I think in the future, I will use this as a top coat with other colors for a bit of gold shimmer. As far as quality, I like how it applies smoothly and evenly. This polish uses Zoya’s “BIG5FREE Healthy Formula,” which contains no formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin, toluene, dibutyl phtalate, or camphor and is vegan friendly.

Juice Beauty Reflecting Gloss in Pink
sample size (0.14 fl oz) – $15 retail for full size (0.28 fl oz)
Even though what I received isn’t a “full size” product – it’s half the size of the retail product – it’s the perfect size to carry around in my purse or pocket for on-the-go touchups. I have a feeling this is going to become my go-to gloss for both color, shine, and moisture. I’ve only used this a couple times since I received my glam bag, but I love it. Made with certified organic ingredients, including various seed oils, this gloss leaves a high shine and subtle shimmer without feeling sticky at all. The shine and moisture are long lasting, and the natural fragrance/flavor from the oils is delicious. When this “sample” runs out, I just might take a trip to Ulta and buy the full size.

Pacifica Island Vanilla Perfume Roll-On
full size – $12 retail
I like the roll-on application with this perfume. It makes it easy to apply without worrying about spilling the entire bottle or using too much. The scent is pretty delicate, with the dominant scent note being vanilla with a subtle floral aroma. I like that it doesn’t smell like alcohol, as some perfumes tend to do. The fragrance is long-lasting, and you don’t really need much of it. I’m not much of a perfume person, so I won’t be holding on to this product. If you are interested in getting this product for FREE, read below for giveaway instructions!

BONUS: Urban Decay Moondust Eyeshadow in Stargazer
full size – $20 retail
If you’re planning on attending any Great Gatsby-themed parties, this is the shadow for you. Stargazer is a “lime-gold” shadow with high metallic shimmer. It’s perfect for an evening party look that can range from elegant to wild. It applies easily – and probably best – with a clean fingertip. Applied dry, it can add a gold sparkle on top of other shadows or bare lids. For a bolder look with more solid color, apply wet. This probably won’t be my everyday shadow, but I’m definitely holding on to this one for special occasions.

This month’s glam bag was an incredible value, with over $50 worth of products for only $10. If you would like to subscribe to ipsy’s glam bag service, let me know, and I’ll set you up with a referral link. And if you would like the Pacifica Perfume Roll-On, leave a comment below – I’ll give it away to the first person to request it!