What's in my IPSY bag - October 2017

Fall is finally upon us! Nope...wait...spoke too soon... because it is still freaking 90+ degrees out in the middle of October!

But, I digress. Bring out the pumpkin spiced everything. I am SO ready for the colder weather months. The good news is, you don't have to wait for cooler weather to enjoy some moody fall makeup and new skin care products, which is why I am loving this month's IPSY glam bag.

This month's glam bag gives off a steampunk/dracula's bride vibe. The bat zipper detail adds that extra spooktackular dust on top. Adorable.

I am about to break out my happy dance because I feel like the IPSY fairies get me. I've been literally dying to try and/or have been needing every single product in this bag. Are they hiding out in my bathroom? Because, I seriously scored this month.

Here is what received:

1. Bye Bye Pores pressed translucent powder - IT cosmetics
2. Vitamin C All Day Eye Cream - Context
3. Water Luminous Jelly Cleanser - JM Solution
4. 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Perversion - Urban Decay
5. Gloss Couleur Intense in Kiss - Studio Makeup

Bye Bye Pores pressed translucent powder - IT cosmetics
I LOVE the Bye Bye Pores translucent powder by IT cosmetics. It is exactly what I was hoping that it would be and I will definitely be purchasing the full-sized version in the future. This powder blurs my fine lines and pores and truly gives an airbrushed finished to my makeup. Even with large pores and leftover texture from acne scarring (damn you adult acne!) adding this powder on top of foundation, makes my skin look incredibly smooth. It doesn't hurt that this powder has anti-aging peptides and collagen added in. Bonus! The powder is very lightweight. It will set your makeup without adding cake. Definite buy!

Vitamin C All Day Eye Cream - Context
My twenty-something former-self believed that a separate eye cream was not necessary and that regular night cream would suffice. My thirty-something current-self is now a believer. I was not prepared to one day look into the mirror and see bags and dark under eye circles (not hangover induced) that wouldn't go away even after drinking lots of water and a good night's rest. Let's be real though, I haven't had a good nights' rest in years thanks to a couple of mini humans. Still, my tired eyes are starting to reveal my true age and that just can't happen. I want to stay as fresh as Christie Brinkley, you know what I mean?

Now, while I did need eye cream, I cannot say that this one in particular changed my life. This is the first eye product I've used, so I really don't have anything to compare it to. So far, I like it. It has a cool gel-like texture that feels cold and tingly when applied to my under eye area. It is light enough to wear under makeup and it has Vitamin C, which I am hoping will work its magic. After this is finished, I think I may want to try a thicker formula just to compare. So I am still on the fence when it comes to this cream.

Water Luminous Jelly Cleanser - JM Solution
I wanted to add to a new cleanser to my routine and was very excited to find this little guy in my IPSY bag this month. My skin is typically normal-to-dry, so finding products that keep my skin feeling hydrated is very important to me. What immediately drew me to this cleanser was that it claims have hyaluronic acid, which - if you didn't already know - is making the rounds as the holy grail of anti-aging. Specifically, hyaluronic acid is naturally found in the skin and is crucial to maintaining collagen levels. Collagen is important to keep your skin nice and tight, so bring on the hyaluronic acid!

Overall, I liked this cleanser but was not prepared for the jelly texture. If you aren't careful, the gel will slide right off of your hand and into the sink before you have a chance to foam it up. I used this with my Clarisonic Mia and found that my skin felt clean and bouncy afterwards. Will I purchase the full-size? Mmm....maybe. I like it, but I'm not sure that I love it yet. Time will only tell.

24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Perversion - Urban Decay
I actually own the full-sized version of this eye pencil already but was very glad to receive another one because it is amazing. The color Perversion is a very dark black. It glides on like butter and definitely keeps it's color intensity throughout the day. This is a fantastic smoky eye pencil because it smudges like a dream. The flip side is that my lash and water line tend to be the oiliest part of my face - go figure. So, if I'm not trying for an intense smoky eye look, I need to set my eye area with powder to prevent turning into a panda. I highly recommend the urban decay 24/7 eye pencils in every color! I specifically love the green and purple which I use to bring out the different shades in my brown eyes and make them pop.

Gloss Couleur Intense in Kiss - Studio Makeup
Last, but not least, this lip gloss is the PERFECT fall shade! I have a terrible time matching my lip color to my skin tone. Nude lips tend to wash me out while the peachy and berry colors can sometimes leave me feeling a bit garish. But this color hit the mark for me. It gives off that moody burgundy berry fall look with that model perfect glossiness. My only wish is that the color would last longer! I found that the beautiful color disappears quickly leaving the glossiness behind. I suppose I could simply re-apply it to keep it fresh, but as a busy working mom, I just don't often have time to think about it. That said, this is the perfect fall date night lip gloss - just don't expect it to last through any make-out session.

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AND, there you have it folks! My October IPSY bag reveal and product review. Thank you so much for taking the time to read this post. While you are here, I want to let you know that you are special and you deserve to look and feel your best. I hope that you remember to give yourself a pamper now and then and remember that you matter!

Please send me some love by leaving a comment to let me know what your go-to product is that makes you feel amazing! I love trying new things!

Best!
Emilia*w

Leave a Comment Beauty, Beauty & Fashion, IPSY, K-beauty, Korean skin care, Makeup, Review, Self-care, Skin care, Style

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Recommended Read: The Wahls Protocol

If you are interested in healthy living and using food as medicine, then The Wahls Protocol by Dr. Terry Wahls is an excellent read. I discovered Dr. Wahls after stumbling upon her TedX talk "Minding your Mitochondria." You can watch it here{link}. After watching her Ted talk, I couldn't wait to learn more and her book does not disappoint. It is easy to read and will inspire you to make more conscious decisions about what you eat in order to maintain optimal health.

Dr. Wahls' Background

In 2000, Dr. Wahls was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), an autoimmune disease that attacks the brain and central nervous system. She received treatment from the top doctors at the Cleveland Clinic, but, despite the latest prescription drugs, by 2003 she was in a wheelchair.

A practicing medical doctor, Dr. Wahls researched the latest studies to find a way to slow down her disease. She began a series of self-experiments and lifestyle changes that was so successful, her symptoms actually reversed. After starting her protocol, Dr. Wahls went from a wheelchair to being able to walk, jog, and take a 20 mile bike ride! Her personal journey to health inspired her to write the Wahls Protocol to share her experience with others with the hope that they too could replicate her results.

In the Wahls' Protocol, Diet is Key!

While Dr. Wahls’ protocol is an overall lifestyle plan, the major component of the book is its diet.

There are three diet levels to Dr. Wahl's protocol: the Wahls Diet, Wahls Paleo, and Wahls Paleo Plus. Each level is increasingly more restrictive with the last being a ketogenic diet. Her basic diet is easy to remember: eat 9 cups of fruits and vegetables daily - 3 cups of leafy greens, 3 cups of bright colors, and 3 cup of sulfur rich vegetables. She recommends eating organic when possible, adding grass fed/wild meats and fish, and avoiding eggs and dairy.

Dr. Wahls' diet focuses on using nutrition (vs supplements) to protect the brain and specifically the mitochondria. MS is an autoimmune disease that affects the brain and central nervous system. In MS, the brain begins to shrink over time, causing symptoms to worsen and become permanent. Dr. Wahls reviewed research in similar diseases that caused the brain to shrink. She noticed that in all of the cases, the mitochondria - the cell's energy centers - were not functioning well. Using successful studies in mice and functional medicine principles, Dr. Wahls identified various vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients that the mitochondria need to stay healthy and to protect the brain from shrinking. She believed that if she obtained the same nutrients through food, her body would not only better absorb it, but she might also receive the benefit of millions of other compounds that were not yet identified by science.

When creating her food plan, Dr. Wahls’ found that the Paleo diet provided the highest level of nutrients. She adapted the paleo diet into her protocol, adding foods in amounts that would provide the building blocks that she identified as critical to the developing healthy brain cells and mitochondria.

Thoughts on the Protocol

There is a lot of buzz lately around the paleo diet as a cure all. I am skeptical about fad diets in general, particularly ones that eliminate select food groups. However, here are the things that set Dr. Wahls’ protocol apart for me:

1. She is a practicing medical doctor and bases her protocol on legitimate medical studies.
2. She does not advocate eliminating traditional medicine or prescription medication in favor of natural or homeopathic cures. 
3. She admits that the full scale scientific studies supporting her protocol are not complete, but many people -especially those with MS- don't necessarily have time to wait. 
4. Her diet is balanced and nutrient dense.
5. Her results speak for itself.

Dr. Wahl's book makes a lot of sense. In order to be healthy, you need to give your body the building blocks it needs to stay healthy. The best way to do this, is through food. It is not a secret that the American diet is seriously lacking in nutrients. Our lifestyle encourages us to reach for pre-made meals or quick and easy solutions. This leads to many people eating a lot of processed foods with little to no nutritional value but chock full of chemicals and additives. It is no wonder that food allergies, cancer, and autoimmune diseases are on the rise.

I, thankfully, do not have MS, but do have family members who have MS and Parkinson's disease. In my youth, I often took my health for granted. As I've gotten older, I realize how important it is to take care of my body now, and not wait for a terrible diagnosis to start. Dr. Wahls' book gave me hope that I can still repair whatever damage I have done in the past and take care of my cells going forward. Prevention is key!

What do you think of the Wahl's protocol?  Do you follow any specific diet that you find helpful? Or do you feel that the paleo or "food as medicine"  movement is a marketing ploy? I find that people have very polarized views on this subject and am interested in hearing your thoughts! Let me know what you think in the comments* below.


Thanks for stopping by!

xx, E

*Please keep it classy! Different views are accepted, but disrespectful, name-calling, and bullying comments will be deleted.

Leave a Comment Food & Wellness, Health, healthy living, Inspiration, Life, Nutrition, Review, Self-care

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