My March Ipsy bag took me a little while to be able to test out the products and form an opinion. Especially something like moisturizer, I need to use if for a couple of weeks to see if I really like it or not.
If I do like the products, Ipsy supplies a link that offers a discount for Ipsy subscribers. It’s of the perks that really works for me. I have purchased several of the products that I have tested. If you are interested in joining Ipsy, here is a link for you. https://www.ipsy.com/r/2tpz
This month I received 5 items in a colorful makeup bag. I really have to start repurposing some of these bags. They accumulate too quickly.
The first item was a .03 oz. sample size of Pixi Mesmerizing Mineral Duo by Petra.
The color I received to test was Apricot Glow, which was extremely like. The package says that you can apply it dry or wet, so of course, I tried both ways. Dry, the shadow was very light, but I could see myself wearing on a summer day when my objective is to keep my look light and fresh. It applied nicely and lasted all day. Then I tried the wet application. While the color was definitely more saturated, I did not like the way it felt on my eyes. It was a very cakey feel, if that makes any sense. I could not find this exact product on the website. The closest item I found was a 6 color palette. This product sells for $12.00 for the 6-color palette. Verdict – I probably won’t buy this product. There are plenty of eye colors that I already love.
Next up is a .16 oz. full size Butter Lipstick by NYX Cosmetics in the color Pops. I was expecting just another lipstick, which is not necessarily a bad thing. I like lipstick. 
This lipstick blew me away! The lipstick went on creamy and smooth and felt beautiful on my lips. The first thing that really surprised me was the color. At first I thought it was a little too neutral and light, but the more I wore it, the more I fell in love. And did I mention that it had mega staying power? That’s right. It stayed with me for hours and hours, even through eating and drinking. The nice part about this was that, unlike other products that are meant to last all day, it didn’t dry out my lips and continued to look fresh. This product sells for $6.00, which means I can afford every color my heart desires. Verdict – I will definitely buy this product in every possible color…and you should, too.
I was never really big on highlighters. I think the work best with a darker complexion. 
I am so fair…ok, I’m pretty pale…that I don’t get much impact from a highlighter. They usually leave me looking washed out. This month, to test, I received a 1.4g full size Ivory Lace Highlighter from Chelle. This product is in the form of a pencil, and I found the application of this a little rough for my older skin. It did not go on smoothly and tugged and my skin a bit. Not a good thing, especially if I apply it near my eyes. Truth be told, if I do need a product like this, either for cover up or contouring, I have other products that I like much, much more and are better suited to my skin. This product sells for $18.00. Verdict – I’ll pass, thanks.
I do like an effective face moisturizer, and this month I received a 1 oz. sample of Acure Day Cream. I wasn’t too sure about this. The first time I used it, it stung my face a little. 
I think it was just a case of my skin being chapped from the cold, because that did not happen again. In fact, I have been using it daily for about 2 weeks and my skin is definitely smoother than it was before. I thought from the sting and the scent that there was a citrus oil in the crème. Sure enough, there is citrus reticulata (red mandarin) oil. This face crème is gluten free and vegan. Free of parabens, sulfates, petrochemicals, phthalates, formaldehyde donors, synthetic fragrances, animal testing, ethanolamine, mineral oil, propylene glycol and silicone…if that matters to you at all. This product sells for $18.99 for 1.75 oz. Verdict – This is a little on the expensive side, but I think it is definitely worth it. I will definitely buy this product.
Next up in the skin care category is Skyn Iceland Hydro Cool Firming Eye Gels. I received 2 envelopes of two gels each. This is one product that I had to wait to try. 
Unlike cosmetics or creams, I couldn’t just try it on and get ready for work. We had to plan the testing of this product, so Chris and I decided to do a facial day and try these out while applying a hydrating mask to the rest of the face and saturating the hair with coconut oil. These gels get applied to the under eye area, which, honestly, was a bit uncomfortable to wear for 15 or 20 minutes. And I have to admit…I didn’t really see any benefit. Sure, the fine lines around my eyes were a little less noticeable, but I can get that effect with a nice, cool, CHEAP cucumber. Even if I used organic, locally grown cucumbers, it would come nowhere near the cost of these eye gels. They sell for a package of 8 pairs for $30.00. Ummm…no thanks. I’ll pass. Verdict – obviously I will not purchase.
So…are you an Ipsy subscriber? Let me know what you think of this month’s bag and what you received to test.
Rachelle's Best Life 