#DestinationChic: My First Ipsy GlamBag Haul and Review

It took forever for me to get on the "monthly subscription box" train. I've known about them since Birchbox came on the scene several years ago, but I never saw the appeal. Why spend money to get products that I won't even use? And at the time, $10 a month wasn't reasonable. However, now that I am older and have a little bit more income, I decided to take the risk and subscribe to Ipsy! I read reviews online between several subscriptions before making my decision. Ipsy seemed like it had the most bang for its buck. Here is my review of all the products I received so you can see for yourself what the experience is like! While every "Ipster" gets a different array of product, this will give you an accurate idea of what types of products to expect.

1) Jelly Pong Pong Cosmetics Carribbean Sun Bronzer Duo

I had a lot of hesitation about this one. When I first looked at it, the shades didn't seem like they would suit me and the pan is very small. However, the bronzer is actually great! It gives a really nice glow. I used the coral color as a blush and it is really nice for summer. I like that this product is seasonally appropriate and I would love to buy this in a larger size. The pan is very hard for me to dip my large brushes into.

2) IT Cosmetics No-Tug Waterproof Gel Eyeliner

I was happy to get this since black eyeliner is a staple in my every day routine. This has a great formula. It's super black and creamy. It doesn't tug, just like it claims, and it stays put throughout the day.

3) Avene Micellar Lotion Cleanser and Make-Up Remover

I was super excited about this since I love the Simple Micellar Water. (I've gone through two bottles of that stuff already!) However, this didn't impress me. It takes tons of cotton balls to get it to take my makeup off. It's a little too gentle to really pick up the product. However, on a day when I haven't worn any makeup, it is a nice way to skip cleanser. I would recommend this if you are a person that wears less makeup and has sensitive skin.

4) Vera Mona Eye Smudger Brush

It was definitely cool to receive a brush as part of this month's bag! I have incorporated this into my every day routine and its great for a highlight shade or lid shade. While it's nothing phenomenal, it is a nice addition to my brush collection.

5) Aurora Gel Effect Nail Polish

This is the only product I have yet to try! The neon pink is a little much for me so I'm not sure if I will hold on to it or give it to a friend.

Overall, I'm glad that I decided to give Ipsy a try! It's super fun to have it to look forward to and I love the excitement of unwrapping a package and trying new products. My bag was definitely worth more than the $10 I paid.

I hope that this post helps you decide if you want to take the leap and try out a monthly beauty box and I hope your summer is off to a great start!

xoxo,
Gossip Girl

(just kidding. It's me.)

Beautycounter Product Review

Earlier this week I received some goodies I ordered from a friend of mine from the brand BeautyCounter. I had never heard of it before, but she told me all about the company's mission to find natural and safe ingredients and I was hooked! The brand focuses on finding ingredients free of harmful chemicals for their products while making sure that they actually work. I decided to test out one skincare item and one makeup item. I ordered the Routine Clean cream cleanser and a lip sheer in the color Twig.

I was definitely not disappointed! The cleanser is everything I hoped for. It balances out my skin, making it feel clean and rejuvenated. It would be great for any skin type and it has a slight citrus scent that perks you up in the morning. 

As for the lip sheer, this shade is the perfect natural nude. It smells like vanilla and has moisturizing properties that help battle the winter wind. I've been wearing it nonstop to work and to class since I got it. You can also layer it to get more color, as you can see in the photos I took below! 

I was very happy with this purchase and I highly recommend this brand to you if you are looking for top-quality skincare and makeup that is safe for you to use. 

Thanks for reading!

Xoxo, Katie

Winter Skincare Remedies

In the winter, I always seem to have dry skin anywhere and everywhere possible. Hangnails come out of nowhere, my face becomes tight, and my lips burn from the winter wind. Here in SC, we are just now starting to experience the winter weather and for me it is not welcome! In my area we didn't get any snow, but I am still snuggled up in my apartment and dreading every time I have to venture out in this weather.

For those of you that might be struggling with some of these winter skin problems as well, here are my top picks for combating the dreary conditions!

1. Mary Kay Satin Hands Peach Hand Cream: This stuff smells divine and will prevent those hangnails from happening! I got it as a Christmas present from my Mom and I am loving it. The rest of the Satin Hands collection is just as great.

2. Sally Hansen Nail Rehab Nail Treatment: This keeps your nails from breaking and provides a sheer peachy tint to your nails. I am trying it out for the first time this week and I love it!

3. Burt's Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream: An old favorite of mine! It really does rescue your cuticles. 

4. Fresh Sugar Lip Polish: I can't stress to you enough how much I love this stuff! It will completely get rid of any flaky-ness on your lips and make them smooth to prep for lipstick. 

5. Vaseline Cocoa Butter Lip Therapy: This is really the best lip balm on the market (and I have tried a ton!) It moisturizes better than anything else, ever.

I hope you try some of these out! Let me know what your favorite fixes are for dry winter skin.

xoxo, Katie