Ipsy Glam Bag - April 2014

I am always super excited to get my Ipsy Glam Bag in the mail. I've been a subscriber for about 8 months now and I have never been disappointed. This month was no exception. Visit the Ipsy website to learn more about their subscription. It is just $10/month and totally worth it. They usually have a waiting list, but hopefully you won't have to wait long!

My April Ipsy Glam Bag contained:
- Cailyn Tinted Lip Balm
- Urban Decay 24/7 Velvet Glide-On Eye Pencil
- Demeter Jasmine Perfume Oil Roll On
- dr. brandt microdermabrasion
- Elizabeth Mott pop! goes the shadow

I have wanted to try the Cailyn Tinted Lip Balm since I got their gel eyeliner to sample in an earlier Ipsy Glam Bag. I love the little built in brush that comes with their products, and it is especially useful for a lip balm.

I am a huge Urban Decay fan, so I was happy to see a travel size eyeliner in the bag.

 Unfortunately, the tip of the liner broke off when I tried to swatch it.






As I've mentioned before, I'm a scentaholic, so I am always excited about perfume samples and was especially happy to see something from Demeter, as I've wanted to try it out for awhile. I like roll ons and love the simple Jasmine scent.

I am not ever super excited about skincare items in sample bags because I have very fair, sensitive skin. But I have heard good things about dr. brandt, so I'll give it a try.

The Elizabeth Mott brand is completely new to me, but I always welcome new shadows and appreciated that this was in a nice neutral (if a bit shiny) shade.

 




Here is a swatch of the Cailyn lip balm and the pop! goes the shadow.










*purchased by me

Commodity Goods Fitting Kit

I am a scentaholic.  I love to try different scents and rarely wear the same one two days in a row.  I get really excited about samples and was thrilled when I found out the Commodity Goods has Fitting Kits that include all 10 of their women’s scents for just $9.  I bought myself one as an anniversary gift (this Sunday is 1 year!) and it shipped super quick and arrived today.  I ripped it open in excitement, before thinking of pictures, so excuse the damage in the photos below. 

I was really impressed by the amount of perfume this is for just $9. It isn't some little scent card that you can sniff and desperately try to press to your wrist.  You get full sample sizes of each scent, which lets you spray them on and really get a feel for how they work with your unique chemistry.

Today I tried scent number one, which is called Tea.  I love it.  This one happens to be right up my alley.  It is a bit exotic, not too sweet, and settles to a fresh, interesting finish.  Officially its top notes are Citrus Accord, Sicilian Lemon, Bergamot (I love Bergamot, think Earl Grey). Mid notes include Freesia (another favorite), Muguet, Jasmine Sambac.  Base notes are Sandalwood (helps with that hint of the exotic) and White Musk.

I'll keep y'all updated as I try the other scents!  Leave a comment if you have tried or think you might try Commodity Goods.

*P.S. - If you buy a full size perfume within 30 days of your Commodity Goods Fitting Kit order, the $9 you spent on it goes towards the full size purchase!

*Purchased by me, opinions are my own.

Hot & Humid - Monistat Chafing Relief Powder-Gel

I apologize to those of you who are still mired in inches of snow, but down here in Austin (Central Texas) it is starting to get warm. 80-something degrees warm.  And humid.  Such weather leads to what some of my more refined Texan lady friends call “glistening” or what I call becoming a sweaty sticky mess.  After years and years of dealing with sweaty underboob and chaffed upper thighs, I realized that something could be done about these less than delicate warm weather conditions… baby powder!  It keeps babies’ chubby butts dry, why not my chubby thighs?  And it works, but it is a mess to apply and sometimes ends up as a nasty white paste at the end of the day. 

*Photo from Amazon.com

After another several years of powdery hands and pasty stains on shirts, I discovered a wonder product called Monistat Chafing Relief Powder-Gel.  It is a silky gel that you apply to areas that need relief from chafing due to “glistening” and/or movement (inner thighs, bikini area, underboob).  It goes on smooth and doesn’t leave any residue on your hands, leaving the area of application dry and cool.  The Powder-Gel is sold at drugstores for around $6 and comes in a 1.5 oz tube.  A little bit goes a long way, so I anticipate this tube lasting me through the summer (knock on wood that we don’t have another marathon summer of days and days of 100 degree weather).

Visit the Monistat website for more information.  This product was purchased by me and all opinions are my own.

*P.S. I did notice that the Monistat Chafing Relief Powder-Gel has a very similar texture and finish to several makeup primers I have tried.  Hit up the Google or check out Makeup Alley for information on using it as a primer. I’ll give it a shot someday and let y’all know.