Showing posts with label Style. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Style. Show all posts

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

My first Stitch Fix



*This is not an affiliate post. But, I honestly love this service so much and believe that my readers will too. Since I look forward to using this service again, this post does contain referral links that may provide me with a credit towards another "fix" in the future. Enjoy!

What is Stitch Fix?
Stitch Fix is an online shopping experience where a personal stylist will send you 5 items of clothing/accessories {a fix} based on your personal preferences. You are able to try everything on before you buy. Returning the items that you decide not to purchase is free and easy! The service charges only a $20 styling fee, which is absorbed into the total cost of any purchase you decide to make. If you buy all five items in your fix, you receive a 25% off discount on the entire order.

Why I love Stitch Fix.
Let me start by saying that this service is amazing! If you are an introvert who avoids the mall because you can't stand the crowds, if too many style options overwhelm you, or if you think shopping has turned into an Olympic event with two screaming children attached to your body, this service will change your life. I have had only one "fix" so far and I can't stop recommending Stitch Fix to my family and friends.

The top 3 reasons why Stitch Fix rocks:
1. You are able to try on the outfits in the comfort of your own home, on your own time and in realistic lighting conditions.
2. You avoid the mall craziness. No crowds, no fighting for parking, no screaming children to force you to abandon your shopping mission.
3. You have a personal stylist - an actual human, not just a robot - who selects clothes for you based on your personal profile and helps you to define your style. C'mon now, celebrities use personal stylists and now you can too!

How it works.
The process is easy!

First, create an account on Stitch Fix.

Second, take a quiz to determine your style profile. Your personal stylist will use this information to send you items based on your measurements and preferences. They will also choose items for you based on your Pinterest style board, so pin away! Building your Pinterest style board is like online "window shopping" and adds to the fun.

Third, schedule a fix. Choose a day that you want your items to arrive. You will only have three business days to look over your items, so don't schedule a fix during a time when you will be too busy to try things on or to remember to return what you do not want. When ordering a fix, you will have an opportunity to write a personal note to the stylist. I highly recommend that you take advantage of this opportunity and be very specific about what you expect. For example, in my fix, I asked for clothes that can take me from the end of summer through fall. I specifically requested that I wanted my fix to include two tops, two bottoms and a dress. It was exactly what I received.

My experience using Stitch Fix.
Receiving a box from Stitch Fix feels like Christmas! You know it's coming but you don't know what you are going to get. On fix day, I was so excited to check the mail and could not wait to get the kids to bed so that I could try everything on.



When I opened the box, the first thing I looked for was the styling card, which included a personal note from the stylist.

The note was a nice touch, but after checking out the styling suggestions, I'll admit that I was not impressed. It was almost disappointing, like being the kid who got the socks instead of the Red Ryder BB gun that they asked for. "You'll shoot your eye out, kid!"

It felt like the stylist didn't understand the look that I was going for.  But I tried the clothes on anyway and that is when things really turned around!

Here is the rundown of what I received:

 Hillway Button Front Tank - Keep

Colibri Plaid Printed Tab-Sleeve Shirt - Keep

Level 99 Sandy Boot Cut Jean - Keep

Pixley Darcy Weave Jersey T-Shirt Dress - Return

RD Style Rory Faux Leather Front Legging- Return

After trying everything on, I knew that I wanted to keep the tank, the shirt, and the jeans, but the 25% off discount was VERY tempting.

I was tired and weak. My inner shopaholic tried to convince me that if I bought the dress and the leggings too, I would be saving money. I would get the remaining two items - a value of over $100 - for only $35!

But in the end, I wasn't in love with the dress and the leggings didn't fit quite right. I texted my cousin for a second opinion and she talked sense into me - Don't buy clothes just because of a deal since you will probably never wear them. So the next day, I returned the items in the prepaid return envelope, used the online checkout process to provide Stitch Fix with feedback and Voila! I had a couple of new outfits that I desperately needed.

Besides, the money that I didn't spend buying the whole box can now be used towards my next fix...

So, if you are like me and could use a new outfit or two without the headache and hassle of finding clothes for yourself at the mall or online, by all means please Try Stitch Fix Here and let me know what you think!