Whenever you're shopping for new lip shades, it can be a fun experience or your worst nightmare. Taking swatches of all the different colors and trying to find the one that works best for you can be messy and tedious. Especially when you're trying to find the perfect lip shade for the holidays.

The first thing any beauty expert does when picking out a new lip shade is think about what type does she want. Is it a classic lipstick, a liquid lipstick, or even a tinted lip balm? What about matte or satin? With all these options it can be hard to decide what works best for you. For most people, finding a hydrating and long lasting lip product is like finding the holy grail. Here are some of the best products and shades for this holiday season.

Red is the most popular color during the holiday season, and it's easy to see why. Throughout this time of the year, all you see is red and green. So a red lip is the most practical and the traditional holiday shade. But picking the right shade of red for your skin tone can be difficult. But luckily, Rihanna being the amazing and genius woman she is created a red liquid lipstick for all skin tones. The Fenty Beauty Stunna Lip Paint Longwear Fluid Lip Color is a long lasting (12 hours!!!) soft matte liquid lipstick. All Fenty Beauty products are all the rage at the moment and it's easy to see why! Pink may not the most popular color during the holidays, but it is a pretty popular shade year round. For some ladies, it is a signature shade so why not wear it during the holidays? The great thing about pink lip shades is that there are so many different shades of pink. From bubblegum to magenta, there is a shade of pink for everyone out there. One of the best lipsticks out there are the Wander Beauty Wanderout Lipsticks. These lipsticks have a creamy matte formula that leaves a bold and bright color on your lip that also lasts for a long period of time. When you purchase a Wanderout lipstick, they actually come in packs of two. One shade is bold while the second shade is neutral one that matches the bold one. Talk about a two for one special! Nude shades are always a year round color so it is no surprise that they are just as popular during the holiday season. Sometimes finding the right nude is a real hassle. To find the perfect nude shade, it's best to go a little bit darker than your natural lip shade. Also during the winter time, one of the biggest struggles is dealing with chapped lips. So a tinted lip balm is the best thing to use during this time of the year. It will provide a nice tint to your lips while keeping them hydrated and moisturized. For those with damaged lips during the winter time, this is the best compromise. When it comes to tinted balms, a nude shade is always the way to go. The best tinted balm out there is the Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment. There are a variety of shades that range from clear to berry. But if you're looking for the best nude one, the honey shade is a must have. Berry colored lipsticks may not seem very festive, but that’s not the case. While they are the most popular during the spookiest time of the year, they still are popular during the merriest. Why you ask? Well what’s more festive than sugarplums and the sugarplum fairy? NOTHING! Berry shades are so great because there are so many different kinds to choose from. From violet or red or even pink undertones, there’s a berry shade for everyone out there. And with Urban Decay’s Vice Lipstick, all those options are there. When I say they have almost 100 different shades and styles I’m not even joking. You can get a matte, a satin, a shimmer or even a high shine lipstick in whichever shade your heart desires. Dark colors have recently become more and more popular every single year. Once autumn comes around, all of the dark browns, burgundies, wine and other deep shades become instantly popular. These colors stay around until the end of winter. All these dark lipsticks scream maturity and strength. Kat Von D’s Everlasting Liquid Lipstick is one of the best liquid lipstick brands out there. All her shades are very pigmented and bold no mater what shade. So can you imagine how great her dark lipsticks will look on your lips? Bold shades have become all the rage lately. From electric blues to space grays, these bold colors only have one thing to say. Whoever is rocking them is one bad bitch. Bold shades are hard to pull off and anyone who can rock them confidently is a badass in my book. While there are a lot of brands out there who make bold shades, the most intriguing ones out there are the Glitter Flip liquid lipsticks by Ciaté London. These liquid lipsticks have seven different shades, a couple are tame but the rest are bolder colors. However, those tame shades are not boring whatsoever. Each lipstick, no matter what shade, is infused with glitter which gives it a metallic tone. What’s bolder than that? Holiday Limited Edition lipsticks always come out every year, but none have been as popular as Too Faced’s Melted Matte Liquified Matte Long Wear Lipstick from the Holiday Kiss Collection. This lipstick is sold out in just about every single Sephora on the planet and online as well. Why you ask? Well besides the gorgeous red/brown color and long lasting formula, what really makes this lipstick special is that it legit smells and tastes like gingerbread. After trying this out, I really can’t think of another lipstick that is more perfect for the holiday season.

Finding the right lip shade no matter what time of the year or occasion is always difficult and tricky. Always remember to always put your style and aesthetic first. What may be the most popular trend at the moment may not always work, and it’s important to make sure you feel confident and comfortable in your own skin. No matter what you decide, you’re going to slay this season.

Right now, my go to lip shades for the holidays will either be a red or that Too Faced Gingerbread lipstick, if I can get my hands on it! What are your go to shades this year?

Until tomorrow.

Every makeup junkie loves to get their hands on the hottest products of the season. But purchasing the latest products every so often can really burn a hole in your wallet. That's why beauty subscription services like Play! by Sephora, ipsy, Birchbox and etc exist. They offer samples of the hottest products of each month at a low price of $10 a month. In hindsight, this is the best deal and option for the beauty enthusiasts out there who are constantly shopping for the best products.

But how do you know which subscription is the best? Well that all depends on taste. Based on my experience, I noticed ipsy would send out unknown and obscure brands. However, I've really fallen in love with Sephora's Play! Box. Not only do they send me samples of the brands I know and love, they also send out samples of new products that will make appearances in the retail stores soon.

For those of you who do not know much about Play! by Sephora let me give you a quick little rundown. Play! is beauty subscription service that includes six samples from high end brands that you know and love from Sephora. For $10 a month you get six awesome samples plus some other perks, like 50 bonus Beauty Insider Points and a free one-on-one tutorial with a Sephora Beauty Expert. Not a bad deal right?

Let's take a look at what the September Play! Box had to offer, inside were the following products:

Touch In Sol Metallist Liquid Foil & Glitter Eye Shadow Duo in Talia Silver

Wander Beauty Wanderout Lipstick in Wanderberry Burgundy

Sephora Collection Contour Eye Pencil 12hr Wear Waterproof in Black Lace

Fresh Lotus Youth Preserve Face Cream with Super 7 Complex

Algenist Genius Ultimate Anti-Aging Cream

Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Mask

Statement eyeshadow and eyeliner are always on trend in the beauty community, it's no surprise that the Touch In Sol Metallist Liquid Foil & Glitter Eye Shadow Duo in Talia Silver was inside the Play! Box for the month of September. The eyeshadow duo has a liquid formula that you apply first to set the look, then add a layer of the glitter shimmer on top for a bold and sparkly look. The liquid formula can also be worn alone for a less statement look. The only problems that I encountered with the duo eyeshadow was that the liquid end is on the dry side. It gets to the point where you end up using too much of the liquid and it gets very heavy and thick on your eyes. When it comes to the formula it is important to remember that a little will go a long way. However the pigmentation and quality of the shadow is impeccable.

Fall time is the best time to start breaking out the dark and edgy lipstick shades. But with the changing weather it is important to keep your lips moisturized and chapped free. The Wander Beauty Wanderout Lipstick in Wanderberry Burgundy is the perfect lipstick for fall time. Not only is the color an absolute gorgeous dark red, it is also bold and long lasting. Never before in my life have I had my lipstick survive after eating a Chipotle burrito, but my Wander Beauty lipstick lasted throughout my entire meal. What is also amazing about this lipstick is that it is a hydrating formula that applies smoothly and ends up having a matte finish. Easy to say, I think I found my new favorite and go to lipstick!

The Sephora Collection Contour Eye Pencil 12hr Wear Waterproof in Black Lace is great standard and typical eyeliner. It is long lasting with a strong pigment that does not smudge easily when applying. The Sephora Collection has a variety of options when it comes to their eyeliner. There are 25 different shades which also include matte, shimmer and glitter finishes. The best thing about Sephora's house brand eyeliner is the variety of options and it truly is a great quality eyeliner.

When you're 25 years old the last thing you're ever thinking of purchasing is any kind of youth preserve or anti-aging cream. So to find those two products in this Play! Box was interesting to say the least. The Fresh Lotus Youth Preserve Face Cream with Super 7 Complex is a daily moisturizer that smells very earthy, almost like a garden of succulents. The only flaw with this cream is that it does irritate your skin at first while it tightens your skin. The second youthful cream in the box was the Algenist Genius Ultimate Anti-Aging Cream. Like the Lotus Cream it tightens your face, however the irritation isn't as strong. In fact, I found the Algenist cream to be more hydrating and it left my skin feeling soft. When I start to encounter wrinkles, this would be my go to face cream.

Now normally with the Play! Boxes, the sixth sample is typically a fragrance. However, this month instead the bonus sample was the Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Mask. On a personal preference, I'd take haircare products over a fragrance any day. So this was a pleasant surprise! The Deep Conditioning Hair Mask is a weekly treatment that hydrates and strengthens your hair. What I really love about this deep conditioner is that it truly does help treat damaged hair and makes it even softer and healthier. Plus it smells so good!! My only complaint is that I wish had more!

The September Play! Box was filled with great products perfect for transitioning into fall weather. My favorite product had to be the Wander Beauty Wanderout Lipstick while my least favorite was the Fresh Lotus Youth Preserve Face Cream. But overall, I was still impressed and I'd give this box 4/5 stars!

Now let's see what the October Box has to offer! This box has the sole intentions of keeping your complexion flawless and establishing a caring and thought out beauty routine. Inside were the following products:

Urban Decay Quick Fix Hydracharged Complexion Prep Priming Spray

Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Invisible Cover Foundation

Sephora Collection Triple Action Cleansing Water

Sunday Riley C.E.O. Rapid Flash Brightening Serum

It Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Illumination™ Full Coverage Anti-Aging Waterproof Concealer

Gucci Bloom Eau de Parfum For Her

Primer is a complete must have for creating your makeup look, but finding a good one is easier said than done. The Urban Decay Quick Fix Hydracharged Complexion Prep Priming Spray is one of the best primers out there. Instead of a cream that claims to hydrate your skin, this primer is a gentle mist that truly hydrates your face while minimizing pores and brightening your complexion. With the mist under your skin, it is easier to apply your makeup and have it long lasting. This liquid spray is magical, it does not smudge and it has a tropical scent that you will just adore.

In a box focusing solely on one's complexion it's no surprise there is a foundation sample present. The Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Invisible Cover Foundation not only applies and blends well it also gives a flawless coverage that lasts for a long amount of time. Plus it also smoothes your skin and it doesn't feel heavy on your face. What is also great about this particular liquid foundation is that it is available in 40 different shades!

Micellar water is a lazy girl's best friend when it comes to washing her face. For those of you who have been living under a rock and do not know about the amazing beauty trend, micellar water is a facial wash, makeup remover and moisturizer all rolled into one product. Now since it has become a hot ticket item, every company out there is trying to get in on the trend. In fact Sephora has created their own version and stuck it in this Play! Box. The Sephora Collection Triple Action Cleansing Water probably would not be my go to micellar water to purchase, but it is not bad. It's very cleansing and soothing. The only thing is that is leaves your face a little sticky once you first use it but after a bit your skin feels fresh after.

Next up is the Sunday Riley C.E.O. Rapid Flash Brightening Serum, a moisturizer filled with Vitamin C that brightens and hydrates skin. What is really great about this moisturizer is that it softens your skin and give it a natural glow. Plus the citrus scent is to die for! The only problem with this is that the consistency is on the sticky side, but a little water can clean that up.

Blemishes are inevitable, no one has perfect skin 24/7. And that's okay, because that's human nature. Concealer is a must have, but finding one that gives long lasting and flawless coverage can be tricky. However, the It Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Illumination™ Full Coverage Anti-Aging Waterproof Concealer provides hope. This concealer is not only a waterproof under eye concealer, it also provides anti aging benefits and reduces dark circles. It truly does give a flawless coverage and it blends well all while brightening your complexion. This concealer may specialize under the eyes but it really can cover up any blemish or dark circle you want to hide.

And for the bonus sample for October, Sephora came back with the fragrances! The Gucci Bloom Eau de Parfum For Her is a sweet floral scent that is perfect for any time of the year. The sweet scent reminds you of smelling a garden when the flowers are just about to bloom, you can't help but smile when you smell it. If you're a big fan of floral scents this fragrance is perfect for you.

Overall the October Box was very impressive! Each product had positive qualities and there was nothing terribly wrong with any of them. My absolute favorites from this box were the Urban Decay Priming Spray and the It Cosmetics Under Eye Concealer! I'd give this particular box 4/5 stars. After using all these products my complexion feels better and brighter. I can't wait to see what the next boxes will have to offer. If you liked what Play! has to offer check out their website here and subscribe.

Until next time.

It's been a long time since I posted a Sephora Play! Box review. In fact, I think my last post was about the December and January boxes. Yikes, my bad. Life has been extremely busy, but now it is time to finally get back on track. So since my last review was basically forever ago, I'm going to skip forward and tell you all about the last two boxes I received, which happen to be for May and June.

For those of you who have never heard of Play! by Sephora, it is beauty subscription service that includes five samples from high end brands that you know and love from Sephora as well as a bonus fragrance sample. So for $10 a month you get six samples plus some other perks from Sephora, like 50 bonus Beauty Insider Points and a free one-on-one tutorial with a Sephora Beauty Expert. Not a bad deal right?

The May Play! Box by Sephora highlighted some of the top products Sephora has to offer while also showcasing some new brands that are currently on the rise! Inside the Sephora Play! Box for the month of May were the following products:

• Tocca Stella Eau de Parfum
• Rahua Omega 9 Hair Mask
• TrèStiQue Highlight + Perfect Multipurpose Stick in Maldives Luminescent
• Belief Hungarian Water Essence
• Tatcha Pure One Step Camellia Cleansing Oil
• Nudestix Magnetic Matte Lip Color in Greystone

The Tocca Stella Eau de Parfum is a sweet scent that combines a mix of fruity and floral smells. The mixture of blood oranges and freesia comes together to create a sweet scent that is flirty and fresh. It truly is the perfect scent for spring time and the beginning of summer.

Finding great quality hair products that are cruelty free and vegan can be hard to find. It's like trying to find a needle in a haystack. But luckily, I know I can always count on my Sephora Play! Box to provide me with some great options. The Rahua Omega 9 Hair Mask is a vegan and cruelty free hair mask that has a professional strength formula that gives great results. The mask is made with omega rich oils which provides your hair with shine and vibrancy all while treating damaged and dried out hair. After shampooing, apply the mask and leave it in for 10 to 15 minutes. The mask has a very earthy smell, you will either love it or hate it. Once your rinse the mask out and dry your hair you can already feel the change. It softens your hair and gives it a nice shine. The one problem with this product is that it is only available online.

Back in the day when I was a loyal ipsy customer, I became very familiar with the brand TrèStiQue. In fact I received the TrèStiQue Highlight + Perfect Multipurpose Stick in Maldives Luminescent in an ipsy bag as well as this Sephora Play! Box. To be quite honest, I was surprised to see this brand on the Sephora website because years ago you would never have found this brand in stores. But today, I learned otherwise, in fact, my local Sephora carries some TrèStiQue products. The more you know! However, it still seems like a majority of their products are available only online. But I digress. When you first apply the highlight, it is unnoticeable due to its very light shade. But when the light shines on the highlight, you can really see the glow.

When it comes to the Belief Hungarian Water Essence, I'm not sure what to make of it. It's technically not classified as a moisturizer, instead it is an additional step to add before. But the sole purpose of the product is to hydrate and moisturize your face. In my personal opinion, it's just an unnecessary product and step, unless your moisturizer is not getting the job done. But at that point, you're probably better off finding a new moisturizer. But anyways, I digress. When applying the water essence it can feel a little sticky at first, which definitely can throw you off. But after you apply it, your skin hydrates and softens over time.

One product that I was truly intrigued by was the Tatcha Pure One Step Camellia Cleansing Oil. It's called an oil but it acts more like a cleanser which is very interesting. It lathers very well and gets very foamy. This cleansing oil is hydrating while it removes any dirt or leftover makeup from your day.

The last sample in the May Play! Box was the Nudestix Magnetic Matte Lip Color in Greystone. This lip pencil is very thick and applies very well. However, do not be fooled by the color of the Greystone shade that is displayed online. On the website it looks like a light nude, however when you look at it up close and personal and put it on, it is actually a really dark brown. The shade itself is dark and bold, a little too dark for my taste but it is one of those shades that is in style at the moment. The color lasts all day, the only downside is that it is not hydrating whatsoever, so your lips may feel a little dry at the end of the day.

Overall Sephora's May Play! Box was not too shabby! A lot of the products were very good and only one product was a miss, so I'd give this box 4/5 stars! The one hit was the Tocca Stella Eau de Parfum and the one miss was the Belief Hungarian Water Essence. Now let's see what the June Play! Box has in store!

Now for the June Play! Box, Sephora chose six different products that were perfect for summer time. Whether you're poolside, chilling on the beach or trying to survive the heat each product can help you no matter what situation you find yourself in! Inside the Sephora Play! Box for the month of June were the following products:

• BVLGARI Omnia Crystalline Eau de Parfum
• Verb Sea Spray
• Klorane Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk
• Coola Makeup Setting Spray SPF 30
• Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in Lovesick
• Benefit The POREfessional Face Primer

Sometimes when it comes to fragrances the scents can end up smelling really fresh and great while other times the scents end up smelling like your grandmother's closet. Sad to say but the BVLGARI Omnia Crystalline Eau de Parfum is one of the few that needs to be locked away in your grandmother's closet. The scent is so strong and overpowering you can't get a clear idea what it is supposed to smell like. In fact to me, it smelled nothing like bamboo or a crystal. Instead it smells like rubbing alcohol. So for me, this fragrance is definitely a no go.

If your hair is naturally straight like mine, it's a blessing and a curse. Sure you don't need to flat iron it daily to get sleek straight hair but curling it or having volume or texture is such a chore. But with the Verb Sea Spray adding texture and volume is not a problem at all! The sea spray is infused with sea salt and hydrating seaweed to give your hair effortless beach waves. The spray itself smells really good and naturally blends in your hair without feeling sticky later.

Dry shampoo is probably the greatest beauty invention of all time. Anything to help push back washing your hair an extra day and not have it feel greasy and gross is a lifesaver. Normally, I stick to the regular drugstore brands, like Batiste or Not Your Mother's for my dry shampoo necessities. But every once and a while I like to indulge and treat myself to a more luxurious brand. I would definitely say that the Klorane Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk is a luxurious dry shampoo, it also helps that it is an award winning product. The dry shampoo freshens up your hair instantly and also makes it feel fresh and clean. The oat milk spray smells really good and that scent transfers over to your hair very well. Sure it may be on the expensive side compared to others but if you have the extra bit of cash to splurge, why not?

Setting spray is another beauty lifesaver. Without setting spray, your makeup won't look as fresh at the end of the day. However when it comes to the Coola Makeup Setting Spray SPF 30, I have mixed feelings. First and foremost, I love how the setting spray contains SPF 30 in it for sun protection. However, when you're using the spray on your face it literally feels like you're spaying sunscreen on your face. For the first spray, it stinks and it stings. You need to close your eyes extremely hard otherwise they will burn. The first time you use the spray, it is absolutely the worst. You will smell like a skunk and your face will sting. If you're brave enough to try the spray again after the torturous first time, you'll feel slightly better. The smell goes away and the spray does not burn as much.

For the past couple of years liquid lipsticks have been all the rage. Every brand you can think of most likely has hopped on the bandwagon for this trend. In fact, one of the most popular liquid lipstick brands is Kat Von D. The Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in Lovesick is a matte liquid lipstick. The shade, Lovesick, is a gorgeous pink nude that looks good on everyone. The liquid lipstick itself is very creamy and lasts for a very long time!

Primer is a makeup necessity, using a primer helps your foundation look smoother and last longer. There are also primers out there that do much more than just the bare minimum. Take a look at the Benefit The POREfessional Face Primer. Not only does it set your foundation, it also minimizes the presence of pores on your face. Luckily, I don't have too many problems with pores but this primer still does a good job setting my foundation and making my skin feel soft and smooth.

Overall the June Play! Box was all over the place. There were a lot of hits, and unfortunately a lot of misses. This was most likely the worst Play! Box I have received to date, which is why I'd give this box 3.5/5 stars. Which if you think about it, that's not so bad! The big hits in this box were the Klorane Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk and the Verb Sea Spray. On the other hand, the big misses in this box were the BVLGARI Omnia Crystalline Eau de Parfum and the Coola Makeup Setting Spray SPF 30. I can't wait to see what the end of summer Play! Boxes have in store!

Until next time.

An investment in a beauty subscription is the best way for beauty enthusiasts and newbies to get try new products before fully committing to purchasing the full size version of a product. It's a great way to save money while keeping up with the latest beauty trends. One of the best subscription boxes out there is Play! by Sephora.

For those of you who have never heard of Play! by Sephora, it is beauty subscription service that includes five samples from high end brands that you know and love from Sephora as well as a bonus fragrance sample. So for $10 a month you get six samples plus some other perks from Sephora, like 50 bonus Beauty Insider Points and a free one-on-one tutorial with a Sephora Beauty Expert. Not a bad deal right?

Now that you know all about Sephora's Play! Box, let's get to the good stuff. The boxes themselves and the samples inside! let's go all the way back to December 2016, and see what we got!

The main emphasis of the December Play! Box was on the products you would absolutely need to look your best for a fancy night out and end the year right. In the December Play! Box were the following samples:

• Elizabeth and James Nirvana Bourbon Eau de Parfum
• Drybar Bay Breeze Hydrating Shot
• Make Up For Ever Step 1 Skin Equalizer Primer
• Bobbi Brown Smokey Eye Mascara
• Sephora Collection Cream Lip Stain in Always Red
• Urban Decay All Nighter Long-Lasting Makeup Setting Spray

When it comes to fragrances, I'm a sucker for scents that are either very sweet or floral. So when I saw the sample from the Olsen twins brand: Elizabeth and James, I was intrigued. I have heard a lot of good things about the Nirvana Bourbon Eau de Parfum, and I was impressed. It has a very sweet yet musky smell. The blend of vanilla bourbon and spice wood with a little pinch of a floral scent makes an interesting and edgy combination.

Drybar is known for their high end and luxurious products that gives any woman salon quality hair every time. Drybar has been on my Must Try list for years, so when I saw the Drybar Bay Breeze Hydrating Shot in my Play! Box, I was stoked. But sadly, my hopes were just way too high. The Bay Breeze Hydrating Shot is to be used after shampooing and it is suggested to use the entire bottle in one sitting. Which makes sense, because there is not enough spray in the bottle to use again. In fact, there's barely enough to use one time, especially if you have long and/or thick hair. The spray is also nothing like a spray, instead it is really creamy and it gets clogged in the applicator very easily. Plus, the creamy spray is really hard to spread throughout your hair, you literally need to spray it everywhere, if you can. Once you wash it out, your hair will feel rough for a bit bit it will get softer once it dries.

For any makeup enthusiast, primer is absolute must have product. But finding a primer that makes your makeup long lasting and soothe your face can be difficult to find. However, Make Up For Ever's Step 1 Skin Equalizer Primer can do both very well. The primer's formula does a great job of balancing the texture of the skin by making it really smooth. Sine the formula spreads so well, you do not need to use a lot at one time. Take a little bit of primer and massage it onto to your face and your skin and will feel very hydrated and super soft. After that, apply your favorite foundation or tinted moisturizer with no fear since the Make Up For Ever Step 1 Skin Equalizer Primer will support and strengthen it all day.

Finding an amazing mascara that can lengthen and thicken your lashes is similar to finding a needle in a haystack, extremely rare and can take a good amount of time to find. However, the Bobbi Brown Smokey Eye Mascara comes pretty close to perfection. Even though it doesn't add a lot of length to your lashes, it does a great job defining your lashes while providing a creamy coat that does not clump or smudge even after coating your lashes multiple times.

Right now liquid lipsticks are all the rage. Celebrities like Kylie Jenner and Jeffrey Star have their own liquid lipstick brands that cost a lot of money and are constantly sold out. However beauty lovers are still obsessed with their products which in all honesty are not the best quality. But luckily, other brands like Sephora have created great quality liquid lipsticks at an affordable price. The Sephora Collection Cream Lip Stain comes in every shade you could think or dream about. The consistency of the lip stain is very creamy and spreads very well, a little will go a long way. Plus it dries super fast so there are no worries about it smudging or fading away. The lip stain is hydrating and lasts all day. The shade Always Red is a classic bold and bright red, which every lady truly needs.

Whether you wear your make up for ten minutes or ten hours, setting spray is a must have! No one wants their makeup to smudge or fade right away, that's why setting spray was invented. A spray for your face that keeps your makeup in tact, that's genius. The Urban Decay All Nighter Long-Lasting Makeup Setting Spray is by far the best setting spray out there. Some setting sprays make you feel like you're spraying yourself with a water bottle, but Urban Decay's setting spray is a gentle mist that soothes your face and keeps your makeup in tact for a long period of time. The one and only problem with the setting spray is with the applicator. The button will occasionally get stuck, which makes it hard to spray. But other than that, this spray is absolutely magic.

The December Play! Box was full of amazing must have products for not only a night out on the town but for daily life. Whether it was for an office holiday party, a New Year soiree, or ringing in the New Year on the couch, these products had you covered. I'd give this box 4/5 stars. The real gems of the box were the Sephora Collection Cream Lip Stain in Always Red and Urban Decay All Nighter Long-Lasting Makeup Setting Spray, while the biggest disappointment was the Drybar Bay Breeze Hydrating Shot. Now, let's see what January had to offer!

The January Play! Box really started the New Year off right. It contained products that were essential to giving your look a fresh feeling and brand new start. It really took the idea of new year, new you to a whole new level. In the January Play! Box were the following samples:

• Tory Burch Love Relentlessly Eau de Parfum
• Ouai Treatment Masque
• Drunk Elephant Lala Retro™ Whipped Cream
• Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey
• Tarte FRXXXTION Stick Exfoliating Cleanser
• IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better™ CC+™ Cream with SPF 50+

Romantic scents and fragrances are different for everyone, what could be romantic and sultry to one person could have the opposite effect on another. But when it comes to the Tory Burch Love Relentlessly Eau de Parfum it truly is the definition of romance, but not for the reason you're thinking. This scent is actually based off of the love story of Tory Burch's parents. Burch's father would write love notes to her mother and have them published in their local paper. The notes were signed Love, Relentless, and it was a secret for the two of them to share. Just the story alone is romantic. But when you smell the sweetness of the floral perfume, it honestly does smell like love. When you smell Love Relentlessly it feels like you're falling in love.

Whenever your hair needs a little pick me up, a good deep conditioner or hair mask always does the trick. I'm a big fan of hair masks so I was excited to try the Ouai Treatment Masque! The mask itself smells really good, and that nice fresh smell transfers right to you hair while making it silky and smooth. If you have damaged hair, this mask will be your best friend because it really does revitalize and strengthen your hair. The only problem with the hair mask is that you do not get enough, especially in the sample size. My half ounce bottle was not enough and I really wanted and needed more!

If you want to try out an award winning moisturizer, then you need to check out the Drunk Elephant Lala Retro™ Whipped Cream. In 2016, it won the Allure Best of Beauty award and it is easy to see why! The cream is extremely hydrating and moisturizing, it's perfect for dry and fine skin. Plus it smells really good! What's also so great about the brand, Drunk Elephant is that they are a cruelty free brand that supports the International Elephant Foundation. A great quality product from a great quality brand, can you ask for anything better?

If you're looking for a lipstick that gives no color or tint to your lips then Clinique's "Almost Lipstick" is what you're looking for. In all honesty, "almost lipstick" is just a clever name to give to a sheer lipstick. But really, who would honestly buy a sheer lipstick? Isn't the point of lipstick to add some color to your lips? The only thing the Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey has going for it is that it is hydrating and moisturizing. This product is basically an overpriced "tinted" balm.

Most face washes or cleansers are not necessarily very travel friendly or convenient to use. They can be bulky or even leak through the top lid. I can't tell you how many times I have had some of my beauty products leak all over my toiletry bag while traveling. It is an annoying circumstance to say the least. So when I find products that are perfect for traveling, I get excited. My latest discovery came from this Play! Box, the Tarte FRXXXTION Stick Exfoliating Cleanser! The cleanser comes in a little stick, which is very similar to a glue stick. It's very easy to apply, all you have to do is apply it directly on your skin in circular motions. This cleanser is gel that is also good for all face types and it can even be used as mask too. The cleansing stick is only one ounce, so you can take it anywhere! From traveling on an airplane or to the gym for your post workout shower, this little cleanser is the perfect when you're on the go.

On the days when you don't feel like wearing a lot of makeup, a CC cream or tinted moisturizer can be your life saver! It gives your face the coverage it needs with little to no work. One of the best CC creams out there is the IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better™ CC+™ Cream with SPF 50+. CC cream stands for color correcting and this cream provides a full and flawless coverage while protecting your skin with SPF 50. It is also very soothing on your face. There are five different shades for this CC cream, and each shade is adaptable and true to its tone.

Overall, the January Play! Box was a smashing hit, filled with a variety of great quality products to start the New Year off right. I'd give it 4/5 stars, the major hits of the Play! Box were the Tarte FRXXXTION Stick Exfoliating Cleanser, IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better™ CC+™ Cream with SPF 50+, and the Drunk Elephant Lala Retro™ Whipped Cream. The only miss was the Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey, which was a major thumbs down. This Play! Box would have scorn higher but that "lipstick" really brought down the overall value of the box.

But on the bright side, I know whenever I get my Play! Box from Sephora, there will be some amazing products to test out! In fact, February and March's boxes are already looking promising, be on the lookout for that upcoming review!

Until next time.

Today there is so much competition when it comes to beauty subscription boxes. Before there were mainly two competitors: The Trendsetter, Birchbox and The Wannabe, ipsy. But now there's a new opponent in this competition. Let me introduce you to Play! by Sephora.

Just like ipsy and Birchbox, Sephora's Play! box includes five skin care, makeup, or hair care samples plus a bonus fragrance sample all for $10 a month. All the samples come in a cute draw string collectible bag that goes with each month’s theme.

Now for those of you that are wondering if I left ipsy because I got off the waitlist for Sephora's play box, that is 100% correct. Once Sephora announced they were creating their own beauty subscription service, I was fully committed. Unlike ipsy, Sephora gives me samples of the brands I love and want to try. By some chance I don't know the brand, I already trust it because it is backed by Sephora. When I would receive an unknown brand from ipsy I was always hesitant to try it, especially if they did not have their own website and were only sold on Amazon.

Something that Play! offers that the other subscription services do not offer is the Play! Pass. With the Play! Pass you can redeem it in store for 50 bonus Beauty Insider points when you make a purchase and it also includes a free one on one tutorial with one of Sephora's Beauty Experts. The passes do expire after 30 days, it is normally good until the end of the following month. I have yet to use the Play! Pass to redeem my one on one tutorial, but I plan on using that sometime in the future! Also in the Play! box you will find the Play! Book. It includes tips, tricks, how-tos, and beauty advice for the products in the box. The Play! Book introduces you to each product and helps you get the most out of them.

Let's get down to this Play! Box for November 2016. The theme was "Best In Glow" so all products were focused on radiating your beauty. What all these products have in common is that they will enhance your look with a natural shine. Even the little draw string bag came with a cute little design that showed off a cartoon woman getting ready to pamper herself to a spa day.

Now let's get to the good stuff! Inside this Play! Box were the following products:

• Cover FX Illuminating Primer
• Sephora Collection Ultra Shine Lip Gel in Pin Up Pink
• Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Colour in Rose Gold
• Caudalie Vinosource Moisturizing Sorbet
• Glamglow Thirstymud™ Hydrating Treatment
• Maison Margiela ’Replica’ Lipstick On

The Cover FX Illuminating Primer is a glow inducing and silicone free primer that does indeed give your skin a nice glow. However if you use a too much primer in one setting it can make your face look a little oily, so it is important to remember that a little goes a long way. This primer is not irritable at all so it is good for sensitive skin.

I'm not a huge lip gloss fan but when it comes to subscription boxes, I can't escape lip glosses. The Sephora Collection Ultra Shine Lip Gel in Pin Up Pink is a sheer gloss that comes in a hot pink tint. Since it is very sheer, you only get little bit of color. But it does add a nice shine to your lips.

The best item in this Play! Box had to be the Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Colour in Rose Gold, hands down. The rose gold shade was gorgeous and added a strong shimmer to your eyes. What's so great about this eye crayon is that it glides on so smoothly and it lasts all day.

One of the most needed products for the winter time is moisturizer. So when I saw the Caudalie Vinosource Moisturizing Sorbet in the Play! Box, I was really excited to try it out. This moisturizer is a light gel cream that hydrates and softens your skin. Once you apply the cream to your face it makes your skin feel smooth and strong. This moisturizer is really gentle and did not cause any irritation, so it's a thumbs up for those of you with sensitive skin!

The Glamglow Thirstymud™ Hydrating Treatment was the most high end beauty product, well besides the perfume sample. The mask itself is amazing, it smells really good and it really soothes your skin. Plus it will absorb right into your skin, so there is really no need to rinse off after. It makes a great overnight mask. The only downside of this product is the price, the full size version of the product is $69 and you only receive 1.7 oz. I will definitely be cherishing this sample.

Lastly but certainly not least, there is the perfume sample, Maison Margiela ’Replica’ Lipstick On. Getting a perfume sample is something I really love about the Sephora Play! Box. Trying out new perfumes is always fun! The Maison Margiela ’Replica’ Lipstick On is a sophisticated floral scent that smells really good.

For my first Sephora Play! box, I was really impressed. I received a lot of brands that I like and some that I really have been dying to try! So far, Play! has made a lasting impression on me and I would give this box 4 out of 5 stars. I can't wait to see what else Play! has in store!

Until tomorrow.

For the past two years, I've been unboxing and critiquing the Glam Bags I receive from ipsy. I've accumulated all different kinds of beauty products. But this past November, I decided it was time to unsubscribe from ipsy.

Why did I choose to unsubscribe from ipsy? Well over the past two years, I've gathered a bunch of different beauty products. Some that I absolutely fell in love with, but a majority of the other products were just mediocre. I would get a lot of the same items and brands all the time. But it was not the "higher end" brands that I wanted to try, instead I mainly got obscure unheard of brands. There were some great unheard of brands that I tried, the only bad part about that was that I could not purchase those items again because those brands were never sold at any of the stores I frequent. But enough about that, here are the final reviews for September and October.

First we have the September Glam Bag, which was a "Glamazon" theme. What is a Glamazon? Well the best definition I could find on Urban Dictionary describes a Glamazon as a woman with an overdeveloped sense of beauty, glamour, and fashion.

So based off this name and theme, this bag should be a total knockout. Let's start with the bag itself, it's super cute and very girly! The color scheme works well together and the print is adorable. It definitely gives of a chic and trendy feel.

So let's get to the good stuff! Inside this Glam Bag were the following products:

• Pixi by Petra Mattelustre Lipstick in Rose Naturelle
• Briogeo Don't Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Mask
• ulta3 Nail Colour in Sizzling Red
• IT Cosmetics Superhero™ Mascara in Super Black
• tre'StiQue Mini Highlight Stick in Maldives Luminescent

The Pixi by Petra Mattelustre Lipstick in Rose Naturelle is a dark nude shade that pairs really well with any pink lip liner. The lipstick is matte but not a very good one, it does not last as long as a matte should. The one thing I really dislike about this lipstick is the weird aftertaste it leaves on your lips. If you're going to eat anything take this lipstick off before you eat because you will get a really bitter taste in your mouth.

I always love trying new hair products, especially any kind of deep conditioner, so I was excited to test out the Briogeo Don't Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Mask. When I washed my hair I used a generous amount of this deep conditioner and overall I was very impressed! It softens your hair and makes it shinier while getting rid of any tangles! Score!!

When it comes to nail polish, I seem to have the worst luck. I'm really bad/lazy when it comes to painting my nails but I'm getting better with time. The ulta3 Nail Colour in Sizzling Red is a bold color that goes on bright red. The color is almost like a fire truck red shade. The nail polish applies very easily which is nice, the only downside is that the nail polish will stain your skin so be very careful! I had pink fingers for a decent amount of time. This nail polish lasts for a short amount of time. Depending on how active you are you could chip the nail polish within the first couple of days.

I was so excited to see the IT Cosmetics Superhero™ Mascara in Super Black, I've been dying to try this mascara! I heard so many good things about it, so when I tried it I was happy to see it lived up to the hype. The mascara itself is creamy but it does not smudge despite the creaminess. It gives your lashes plenty of volume and adds the perfect amount of length to them. Best mascara ever!

Last but certainly not least, there is the tre'StiQue Mini Highlight Stick in Maldives Luminescent. What I really love about this highlighter is that it is a creamy crayon that goes on very smoothly. Sometimes it is hard to find a really good shade for a highlighter but this shade was almost iridescent, it adds such a nice and natural shine to your face. This is probably the best highlighter I have ever received from ipsy!

Overall, I'd give the September Glam Bag 4/5 stars. I was really impressed with a majority of these products. My hit for this month would be the IT Cosmetics Superhero™ Mascara in Super Black, while my miss for this month would be the Pixi by Petra Mattelustre Lipstick in Rose Naturelle. But now onto the October Glam Bag!

Now we've come to the last Glam Bag I will ever critique, this is a real bittersweet moment. The Glam Bag itself is super cute, it was obviously a Halloween theme. The print of the witches was super cute and it went well with the theme. If you notice, I received some additional products in this Glam Bag. That is because I had enough points to redeem not one but two additional samples with my ipsy points.

Inside this Glam Bag were the following products:

• theBalm Cosmetics CabanaBoy Blush
• Ciaté London Fierce Flicks Eyeliner
• Trust Fund Beauty Gimme Good Face - Face Primer
• MeMeMe Blush Brush
• Ziaja Natural Olive Cream Light Formula
• Luxie Rose Gold Tapered Highlighting Brush
• Nudestix Mini Lip + Cheek Pencil in Mystic

I always get so excited whenever I see anything theBalm, it's one of my favorite brands! So I was stoked to see the theBalm Cosmetics CabanaBoy Blush in my Glam Bag! I absolutely adore the shade, it is the perfect color for a nice natural blush tone while also giving your face a nice glow. What I also love about this blush is that it can also be used as an eyeshadow.

I've been on the hunt for a new liquid eyeliner for quite some time now, but I think I can finally conclude my journey. The Ciaté London Fierce Flicks Eyeliner is everything I have ever dreamed of for an eyeliner. This eyeliner goes on so smoothly and so precise. Even with my shaking hands, my eyeliner was done in one try. With other eyeliners, I would need to start over at least twice. It also does not smudge and it is long lasting.

The Trust Fund Beauty Gimme Good Face - Face Primer is a decent face primer with some texture issues. When you first put it on, it becomes really flakey but once you spread it around your face it starts to get really gooey and soft. It is a weird sensation but somehow it ends up making your face really soft. But from there is does an okay job keeping your makeup looking fresh. After a couple of hours you can't really tell that you were ever wearing makeup.

One of my favorite things to receive in a Glam Bag are makeup brushes! So when I saw the MeMeMe Blush Brush I was excited. What I really like about this brush is that it can be used for any kind of powder. It is a soft brush that applies powder very well and it does not go on too dark, It distributes the powder evenly. You can't go wrong with a nice soft brush that apples well!

The last sample that ipsy chose for me was the Ziaja Natural Olive Cream Light Formula. What's really great about this moisturizer is that is is soothing on your face and it really softens it. The only downside of this moisturizer is that it has a really thick texture and a very generic smell.

The first sample I chose to redeem with my points was the Luxie Rose Gold Tapered Highlighting Brush. Honestly, I picked this brush because it was pretty and because it was a makeup brush, I needed to stock up! It is 100% vegan friendly and works best as a highlighter brush. The brush itself is super soft and it applies very lightly but overall very well.

The last sample I chose to redeem with my points was the Nudestix Mini Lip + Cheek Pencil in Mystic. ipsy has been giving out Nudestix samples for the longest time and I was never lucky enough to get one, so when I saw that one was available to redeem for points I jumped at the opportunity. The shade of the pencil is a nice nude pink that pairs well with any lipstick shade. What is also so great about this pencil is that it is long lasting and it can also be used for your cheeks and not just your lips!

For my final Glam Bag, I'd say it went out with a bang, I'd give it 4/5 stars. The big hit in this Glam Bag was the Ciaté London Fierce Flicks Eyeliner while the miss was the Trust Fund Beauty Gimme Good Face - Face Primer. Both of my samples were a 5/5, they were everything I hoped and dreamed they would be!

Overall I will miss ipsy, it will be sad to not get one of those pink packages in the mail every month. But who knows, maybe something bigger and better is on the way.

Until tomorrow.

Lately, time just seems to be flying by! Summer is coming to an end, and school has started once again. Even the Pumpkin Spice Latte is back at Starbucks! Is it just me or did this summer go by way too fast?

I fell behind on my Glam Bag reviews, so here you have a double header. For those of you who do not know what that means, it is a sports term where teams will play two games in one day. So let's get started with the July Glam Bag!

Well lucky for us, the July Glam Bag from ipsy was designed with summer in mind. Hence why the theme of the Glam Bag was called Hot Summer Nights. Inside this Glam Bag were the following products:

• Trust Fund Beauty Nail Polish in No Filter
• Too Faced Hangover Replenishing Face Primer
• Palmetto Derma Rejuvenating Antioxidant Mask
• VASANTI COSMETICS Professional Eyeshadow Brush
• skyn ICELAND The ANTIDOTE Cooling Daily Lotion

The Trust Fund Beauty Nail Polish in No Filter is a very light pink/purple shade. The color is gorgeous, but it was too light and bland for my taste. Once I wore the color for a little bit, I got used to the shade. There is nothing special about the applicator or formula. In all honesty, it would get clumpy and hard to paint with sometimes. But at least the polish lasted on my nails for a decent amount of time.

Primer is always a must needed product, especially in the summer. You wouldn't want your hard work to melt off your face right? The Too Faced Hangover Replenishing Face Primer helps your makeup stay fresh and stay on longer. However, it will feel rough and almost like it is drying out your skin. But that is not the case at all, your skin will feel a lot softer after the little bit of discomfort.

Whenever I need to destress and relax, I like to take a bubble bath and put on a face mask. I was excited to try the Palmetto Derma Rejuvenating Antioxidant Mask. In all honesty, the packaging for this mask is terrible. It is a pain to open and you have to cut off a big portion of the tip in order to use the product. But besides that, this mask is amazing. It has a nice smell and it absorbs into your skin so there is less to wash off when you're all done. What I really love about this mask is there is no major time limit! You can wear it for five minutes for a quick exfoliation, or you can wear it for thirty minutes for a deep detox! Also make sure you wear sunscreen after wearing this mask because the ingredients in the mask will make your skin more sensitive.

The VASANTI COSMETICS Professional Eyeshadow Brush is a super soft brush. It does apply your eyeshadow very nicely, it's not too dark and not too light. This brush is super thick and also very stiff. This brush is also versatile. It can be used while it is wet and it will intensify your eyeshadow. It can also be used as a concealer brush! Multipurpose brushes are always the best.

One thing you always need is a good face moisturizer. The skyn ICELAND The ANTIDOTE Cooling Daily Lotion will soften your face but there is real strong odor that comes with it. This lotion is also supposed to cool your face, but for those of you with sensitive skin like myself, it will burn. But it was not a bad burn, it burned in a good way. I know it does not really make sense, but the burning sensation did not hurt too bad, it just caused a little discomfort. After the discomfort your face will feel a little bit softer.

Overall I'd give the July Glam Bag 3.5 stars out of 5, just another average batch of beauty products. Nothing amazing, but nothing terrible. Well unless you count the makeup bag itself, it was pretty ugly. Other than that there's nothing really to complain about. Now let's check out the August Glam Bag!

The August Glam Bag was all about indulgence, whether it be with sweets, snacks, or even makeup. The theme of this bag was called "Sugar Highness" which in all honestly came off pretty juvenile and geared towards a younger demographic. Even the print on the bag itself screams junior.

There could have been a lot done with this theme to make it more mature. Like maybe a Treat Yo' Self bag. But instead we got this knock off Alice in Wonderland theme. If they really wanted it to make it a tea party theme it could have been done in a much more regal and elegant way. Honestly sometimes you have to question the creative directors' taste when it comes down to it. But let's look past all that and get to the good stuff: the products!! Inside the August Glam Bag were the following products:

• IT Hair Care 12-In-One Amazing Leave-In Treatment
• Beaute Basics 3 Tone Bronzer
• Benefit Cosmetics New Gimme Brow Volumizing Eyebrow Gel
• Beau Gachis Paris Pro Series Applicator Sponge
• Jelly Pong Pong Cosmetics Neapolitan Palette

The first item that you could not miss, since it was the biggest product, was the IT Hair Care 12-In-One Amazing Leave-In Treatment. This hair treatment can treat your hair in twelve different ways. It can control frizz, tangles and brittle ends. It can add body and shine, and even make your hair healthier. It also repairs dry and damaged hair. It will protect color-treated hair and serve as a heat protector. It will also treat split ends and go against breakage. All you have to do is add a little bit to your wet hair and voila. This cream smells really good and it definitely makes your hair super soft and shiny.

Finding a good bronzer can always be tricky. Some shades are too dark, some are too orange, the list goes on and on. But the Beaute Basics 3 Tone Bronzer gets the job done perfectly, especially if you have a medium skin tone. The bronzer contains three shades: a dark brown, a light brown, and a pink. The trick to using this three tone bronzer is to mix all the colors so you get the perfect shade. What I really love about this bronzer is that it is a powder, I tend to prefer powder over liquids when it comes to makeup. I feel like powder products give a better coverage and look a lot less cakey. This bronzer has great coverage and the shades are gorgeous!

One product I was not excited to see in the August Glam Bag was the Benefit Cosmetics New Gimme Brow Volumizing Eyebrow Gel. I don't use brow products, I'm lucky enough not to have any problems with my eyebrows. But from what I've heard about this product is that it will darken your brows, it won't smudge and it will last a long amount of time.

Move over foundation brushes, these little egg shaped sponges are the newest sensation. We all know how amazing the Beautyblender but is the Beau Gachis Paris Pro Series Applicator Sponge a better alternative? Well compared to the Beautybleander, the Beau Gachis sponge is not as soft and a lot more stiff. It also takes a little bit longer to dry after cleaning it. But when it comes down to the application, this sponge is just as great, and that is what matters the most.

There was one product that actually went well with this Sugar Highness theme, the Jelly Pong Pong Cosmetics Neapolitan Palette. The color combination of the color palette and the name itself is very clever. It is called neapolitan because it looks like the ice cream! One shade looks like vanilla, another looks like strawberry and the last one looks like chocolate. It was really clever and these colors actually blend together well.

Overall, the August Glam Bag was okay. This would probably be up there for the top five worst Glam Bag themes, especially for this year. Based on the products alone, I'd give this Glam Bag 4 stars out of 5! Sometimes you just have to look past the negative and focus on the positive, yes the Glam Bag theme was terrible and immature but there were some pretty good products in there! I can't wait to see what the September Glam Bag will bring.

Until next time.

This Glam Bag review is on the late side, and I apologize. June and July were crazy busy months for me, there were a lot of events going on but now it is time to get back on track. So here you have it, the review of my ipsy June Glam Bag!
This past June, ipsy wanted you to channel your inner rebel with the Rebel Rebel Glam Bag. ipsy hosted several contests on social media dedicated to breaking some infamous makeup faux pas.
The general idea of the Rebel Rebel Glam Bag was a very cute idea. Makeup is not just something we use to make ourselves look pretty. To some is is an art form and a way to express their creativity. The bag itself oozes with creativity, all of the bright colors and the distinguished fonts makes it stand out. Ideally, this Glam Bag would the perfect bag to really experiment. But for me, that was not the case.
Inside my Glam Bag I received the following products:

• Elizabeth Mott Show Me Your Cheeks Blush in Peach Pink
• theBalm Cosmetics Meet Matt(e) Trimony Eyeshadow in Matt Moskowitz
• Delectable by Cake Beauty Everything Balm
• Jouer Highlighter in Tiare
• Royal & Langnickel MODA™ Crease/Smudge Brush
• tre'StiQue Mini Shadow Crayon in Aspen Pine (Point Reward)

The Elizabeth Mott Show Me Your Cheeks Blush in Peach Pink is a light and shimmery blush. Honestly, it is more shimmer than an actual blush. The blush barely applied to my medium skin tone, you could not tell I was wearing any. It almost matched my skin tone exactly. But when you look at the color itself, it is gorgeous. It is shame that it goes on so light and the shimmer was way too much. Seeing the theBalm Cosmetics Meet Matt(e) Trimony Eyeshadow in Matt Moskowitz in my Glam Bag made me really excited because I love theBalm. I have never had a bad experience with any of their products and that is still true to this day. This eyeshadow is a bold plum shade, and it really makes your eyes pop. It applies great on your eyelids and it is easy to blend. It has a very soft and smooth texture, and it is a comfortable matte eyeshadow to wear. The best part about this eyeshadow is that a little will go a long way, you do not need to use a lot to get a long lasting dark color.
The Delectable by Cake Beauty Everything Balm can supposedly be used for any beauty problem. It apparently can moisturize skin, repair cuticles, seal split ends, brightens dark circles and more. However, I've only used this as a lip balm. It is really soft when it is applied to your lips, however it ended up drying out my lips even more. I was constantly reapplying because the softness would not last. But I do love the scent of this balm, it has a fruity scent that smells very good. Overall I was not impressed with it as a lip balm but since it has other purposes, I am intrigued.
The Jouer Highlighter in Tiare is a pearly cream highlighter that leaves a natural shine. However, sometimes this product can feel and look a little greasy on your face. But after it sets in it leaves a natural shine. The cream itself is not very creamy, the sample I received was on the dry side. The good thing about this highlighter is that it is a light shade and leaves a nice shine. This shade is perfect if you have a light or medium skin tone.
One can never have too many makeup brushes so the Royal & Langnickel MODA™ Crease/Smudge Brush is a great addition to anyone's brush collection. This eyeshadow brush is super handy because it is double ended. The dense end of the brush is perfect for applying shadow and the other side is perfect for blending. The brush itself applies and blends very well. Fun fact, this brush can also be used to apply concealer. The brush is 100% vegan and it is super soft.
All Glam Bags contain five items, and if you're wondering why I have six instead this month that is because I used my ipsy points to redeem another product. My points were about to expire so it was time to redeem a reward. I used 500 points to redeem the tre'StiQue Mini Shadow Crayon in Aspen Pine. I received the a tre'StiQue Mini Shadow Crayon in a previous Glam Bag, and I really liked it so I thought I would get another shade. I really love dark green shades, so that is why I chose the Aspen Pine shade. It is a bold dark forest green color that makes your eyes pop. What I really love about the tre'StiQue Mini Shadow Crayon is that it glides on your eyes so smoothly yet so bold at the same time. And it is also very easy to blend.
This was just another average Glam Bag, so I would give it 3.5/5 stars. The stars of this Glam Bag were the theBalm matte eyeshadow and the Royal & Langnickel brush. While the Elizabeth Mott blush did not make the cut. The Rebel Rebel Glam Bag was a pretty basic bag and not at all very rebellious, so it was hard to channel my inner rebel. Oh well. But at least the ipsy point reward was everything I hoped and dreamed it would be. I'd give the tre'StiQue eyeshadow crayon 5/5 stars! Since it is the end of July, I better get cracking on the review for July's Hot Summer Nights Glam Bag.
Until next time.

If you're anything like me, you're most likely daydreaming about traveling around the world or mentally preparing your next vacation. Well, for all the makeup lovers out there with a case of wanderlust, ipsy's May Glam Bag was made especially with you in mind.

In honor of the "Destination Chic" theme for the month of May, I decided to take my Glam Bag on my latest trip to New York City! And yes I did test every product while I was on vacation!

Out of all the Glam Bags I have received from ipsy this one was the most cohesive. The Glam Bag itself was made perfectly for traveling. The print was bright and had famous landmarks from all over the world, like the Statue of Liberty and the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Plus the bag was on the bigger side, so you could fit all, or almost all, of you beauty products. And for the first time in forever the products inside the bag went with the theme! Well for the most part... But even the promo card that comes along with Glam Bag fit perfectly with the theme, it was an actual postcard! You could even mail back the postcard to ipsy and tell them where you were from and what products you liked inside your Glam Bag.

Inside my Glam Bag were the following products:

• Mellow Cosmetics Creamy Matte Lipstick in Nude
• Eva NYC Hungry Hair Oil Treatment
• Jersey Shore Cosmetics Lavender Moisture Rich Balm
• AURORA Gel Effect Nail Polish in Safety Orange
• Smashbox Cosmetics X-Rated Mascara

I was happy to find the Mellow Cosmetics Creamy Matte Lipstick in Nude because I always love to pack a lipstick or two when I go on vacation. Normally, I am not a huge fan of nude shades, but this one surprised me. This nude has pink undertones, perfect for my complexion, and it is a flattering color. It's not too dark and not too light. This matte lipstick is long lasting, has an amazing texture, and is also very hydrating. It is the perfect lipstick to take on vacation because of its every day color and hydrating quality. Bringing a lipstick that dries out your lips when you're traveling is no fun at all. Plus, a nude shade that compliments your complexion or even a hydrating matte lipstick can be tricky to find, I lucked out with the Mellow Matte Lipstick.

Whenever I'm traveling, I always like to bring extra hair products just in case. Why you ask? Well who knows how some hotels' shampoo or conditioner will work on my hair. You'll always find shampoo, conditioner, hair oil, hair cream, or hairsprays in my travel bag. And now I have a new hair oil to add to my collection, the Eva NYC Hungry Hair Oil Treatment. This hair oil has a great formula loaded with with Argan Oil, which has the vitamins A & E and omegas 3, 6, and 9 that your hair needs to be healthy and strong. It also has Keravis Protein, which will strengthen your hair and protect your hair from heat damage. The only downside to this particular hair oil is that if you put too much on your hair, it will get greasy. But on the upside, a little oil will go a long ways plus it smells really good!

Wherever you go, lip balm is essential to carry around, you never know when or where your lips will get chapped. So the Jersey Shore Cosmetics Lavender Moisture Rich Balm ideally was a great addition to the Destination Chic Glam Bag! One can never have enough lip balm! However, I was not a huge fan of this lip balm. The scent and taste of the lavender is really strong. But, it does keep your lips soft and moisturized. And it does feel very good on the lips. Another thing I really do not like about this lip balm is the price. On the Jersey Shores Cosmetics website, this lip balm costs $10. That price for a lip balm is kind of outrageous. I can't imagine paying $10 for a little lip balm, especially when you can purchase an Eos or Maybelline Baby Lips lip balm for a significantly cheaper price.

The day has come, I finally got a repeat offender in one of my Glam Bags. Last October I received the AURORA Gel Effect Nail Polish in Inky Dinky, and what did I receive this month? The AURORA Gel Effect Nail Polish in Safety Orange of course. If you want to read my previous review on the nail polish, check out that blog post here. Personally when I travel, I do not pack nail polish, in fact I like to get a pedicure before a vacation. And if I have time, maybe I will paint my nails before hand. So before my trip to New York City, I used the AURORA nail polish to paint my nails. This time, I buffed and filled my nails before painting them and that helped the nail polish stay on maybe a day longer than last time. The bright orange is a gorgeous color but the formula does not last for long and will chip easily.

Whenever I'm traveling or on the go, I like to stick a mini/travel size mascara in my purse. I can't tell you how many times I have forgotten to pack mascara in my suitcase and then rejoice when I remember I keep a spare in my purse. I received a mini version of the Smashbox Cosmetics X-Rated Mascara in my Destination Chic Glam Bag. Finding a mini version product from a high end brand like Smashbox in one of the Glam Bags always makes me excited and happy, because these are the products I want to try and I will most likely buy. What I love most about this mascara is the brush itself. Let's be honest, the mascara itself is very creamy and can smudge very easily. But with the brush the mascara becomes flawless and gives you gorgeous long lashes.

Overall, I would give this Glam Bag 3.5 stars out of 5. Not too shabby, but also not that great. The big win in this Glam Bag was the cohesiveness with the theme and the products. Sure one or two did not fit well, but for the most part this was the most cohesive theme ipsy has ever done within the past two years I have been a member. The big standouts in this bag were the lipstick, the hair oil and the mascara. Can't wait to see what is in store for the June Rebel Rebel Glam Bag!

Until next time.

During the spring time, all the months seem to roll together. Was it not just March? Now we're at the end of April, and it's gonna be May. Who else loves those Justin Timberlake memes?! If you have no idea what reference I'm making just click here. Gosh where does all the time go? Well at least with every new month, there is a new glam bag to try out!

The theme for the April Glam Bag was titled "The Dreamers." And shocker once again, ipsy has come up with another theme that is not cohesive with the products.

It really makes you think that ipsy's themes are only meant for their "stylists" so they can promote themselves and gain more followers. The effort does not go into the bags themselves, instead all of ipsy's efforts and hard work goes into more and more Youtube views and subscribers. I'm just one of those people who does not really care about what the Youtubers say or use, I like to try new products and form my own opinions. Hey that's just me, but I digress.

This month's Glam Bag itself was super adorable. It was yellow and orange with a blue zipper and it is similar to the colors and shades of a sunset, which indeed are very dreamy.

Inside the Glam Bag were the following products:

• tarte cosmetics LipSurgence™ lip crème in wonder
• Adesse New York Organic Infused Gel Effect Nail Lacquer in Irina
• Harvey Prince Organics Keravegan Hair Mask
• Starlooks Cream Eye Shadow in Rose Gold
• Crown Brush C427 Duo Fiber Blush Brush

The tarte cosmetics LipSurgence™ lip crème in wonder is a beautiful red/pink shade lipstick. The color was gorgeous and looks good on anyone who wears it. The only downside to this lipstick is that it does tingle the lips when you first put it on, which would make one think it is a lip plumper. But it is not a plumper, and I have no explanation for the tingling. But other than that it is a pretty color and a long lasting lipstick.

One of the most disappointing products in the April Glam Bag was the Adesse New York Organic Infused Gel Effect Nail Lacquer in Irina. The gray/lavender shade of this nail polish is gorgeous, but the formula of this nail polish is awful. The nail polish goes on light so you'll need to reapply a couple coats. The worst thing about this polish is that it starts chipping hours after you just painted your nails. This nail polish might be good for you if you love to constantly paint your nails.

The Harvey Prince Organics Keravegan Hair Mask is a non-toxic and all-natural formula to help treat your damaged hair, or to help keep it healthy! The effects of this hair mask do not happen right away. Once I washed and blew dry my hair there was no immediate affect, it felt about the same after I wash my with hair with my normal conditioner. But the next day, I somehow woke up with softer and healthier hair. I do not know how or why that happened, but it did.

When it comes to the Starlooks Cream Eye Shadow in Rose Gold, my feelings are mixed. The metallic rose gold shade is a gorgeous color but the formula of the cream eye shadow is not the best. The cream is sticky and goes on super light. But once you smooth out the cream it has a good texture. It is difficult to wear that shade alone since it goes on so light and it almost matches the shade of a skin tone. Since this color is so light, it works best as an eyeshadow base.

Last but certainly not least, there is the Crown Brush C427 Duo Fiber Blush Brush. I'm always excited whenever I find a brush in my glam bags. They're such a necessity and the more you have the better! I do not own very many blush brushes so it was nice to try out something new. This brush is super soft and feels wonderful on the skin. The shape of this blush brush is very unique as well, I love that you can use two sides of the brush rather than just the bottom portion. So one side can be used for blush, and the other can be used for anything else, like a highlighter or foundation! When it comes to applying blush (or foundation or highlighter) it goes on nice and smooth, and it is also not too dark and not too light. The versatility of this brush is a big win, and it is always great to have brushes that can be used for one or more thing. Makeup brushes can be very expensive, especially the great quality ones. So this brush is a perfect addition to the glam bag.

Overall this Glam Bag had a lot of ups and a lot of downs. The two hits in this bag were the tarte lip crème and the Crown Brush blush brush, and the obvious miss was the Adesse nail polish. I would give Glam Bag 3.5 stars out of 5. Not too shabby! Can't wait to see what's in store for the May Glam Bag.

Until next time.

When March rolls around, spring fever is in the air. We want to forget all about the cold winter and focus only on the beautiful weather that's upon us. Goodbye dark and gloomy winter! Hello sunshine and hello to all the flowers in bloom.

Once February ended, it was time to say goodbye to all the dark colors in the makeup drawer and be reunited with all the bright and colorful makeup products that were hibernating this past winter.

The March glam bag from ipsy was themed Hello Spring. Pretty basic and general but a very appropriate and timely theme for the season. The glam bag itself had a rose pattern and also came in three different color combinations. There was a blue background and red rose, a mint green background and red rose, and a red background and mint green rose. I received the blue and red one which honestly is the prettiest and most unique in my opinion.

Inside my glam bag I received the following products:

• Beau Gâchis® Paris Eyeshadow Brush
• Marc Anthony Nourishing Argan Oil of Morocco 3 Day Smooth Perfect Blow Dry Cream
• OFRA Cosmetics Green Go Eyeliner
• NYX Cosmetics Liquid Suede Cream Lipstick
• TEMPTU Warm Glow Bronzer

The Beau Gâchis® Paris Eyeshadow Brush is an okay eyeshadow brush. This brush can be used to apply powder, liquid and cream products. The Beau Gâchis® brush does use animal hair, which is not the best. Lately, I've been a fan of vegan makeup brushes and less of a fan of those that use animal hair. But the brush does apply eyeshadow well and it is super soft.

My excitement could not be contained when I saw the Marc Anthony Nourishing Argan Oil of Morocco 3 Day Smooth Perfect Blow Dry Cream in my glam bag. I love Marc Anthony hair care products so I was happy to receive another! Recently, my hair has become quite frizzy after I shower so blow dry cream has been a recent addition into my hair product drawer. With this hair cream, you only need to add a little to your hair to smooth it down, and it gets the job done. The only con with this cream is that it can get your hands a little sticky but most hair creams do that anyways.

The next product is the OFRA Cosmetics Green Go Eyeliner, and it is a dark, almost olive, green shade. This eyeliner can also be used as eyeshadow or lip liner, but you won't see any green lips on me, who do I look like? The Wicked Witch of the West? The color pairs well with my eyes, but that's basically all the good when it comes to this eyeliner. The eyeliner goes on super light and it is not very noticeable on the eye. When you are applying the eyeliner, it crumbles very easily. It is not a long lasting product or good quality product.

Another product I was very excited to try in the March glam bag was the NYX Cosmetics Liquid Suede Cream Lipstick. I received the shade Pink Lust, which I was very happy with. It seems like ipsy was only giving me nude shades of lipstick or gloss, and it was nice to see a shade I would actually be happy to wear. The color was a gorgeous and vibrant pink. Even though I am not a big fan of liquid lipsticks, this lipstick was great. Most liquid lipsticks that I have tried are not very long lasting and have a strange formula but that was not the case with this lipstick. There was no weird aftertaste or a weird feeling on my lips, instead if felt like I was wearing a normal matte lipstick. The liquid lipstick dries quickly and has a matte finish. It is also long lasting so there is no need to reapply constantly.

Now lastly there is the TEMPTU Warm Glow Bronzer, which I have mixed feelings about. It is a great product but it is packaged poorly which makes it hard to use. There is no seal on the product so once you open it and use it for the first time, the liquid will go down to the cap. I contacted the ipsycare twitter about this, and they told me that you have to be careful when opening it because it will collect in the cap. So I think TEMPTU needs to find better packaging for this product because who would want to pay for a bronzer that constantly leaks? But other than the faults with the packaging the product is a great liquid bronzer. It is a nice light brown shade that gives anyone's skin tone a sun kissed glow. The bronzer blends well and it gives a nice finished glow.

Overall, I would say this glam bag was a success! I was genuinely impressed with most of the products, even though some of them did not meet my expectations. The clear hits in this bag were the liquid lipstick and blow dry cream while the miss was the green eyeliner. I'd give this bag 4/5 stars!

Until next time.