I bought July's Ipsy Beauty Box, and this is my honest review
As an avid lover of Sephora, I recently found myself in an unexpected creative rut with my makeup and hair — and wasn’t sure which products to try next.
I didn’t want to spend big bucks on items that I wasn’t sure would work for me, but I still wanted to try something, which is why I signed up for an Ipsy Beauty Box.
At only $20, each month promised a cute makeup bag and a mix of five full and travel sized items selected for me based on a quiz I took about what products I enjoy and what products I’d like to receive, as well as the nitty-gritty about my skin and hair type and colour.
I wasn’t sure what I was getting into, but I am so glad I signed up! From a shocking $7 highlighter (I see you, Wet N Wild) to a game-changing curl creme, here is my honest review of my July 2019 Ipsy Beauty Box.
Smashbox Always on Liquid Lipstick in Babe Alert
I was a little skeptical of the formula on this cute trial size, but I’m happy to say I was wrong. Although it looks a little thick, this liquid lipstick dries perfectly without the creasing that you can get with traditional matte lipsticks.
The rosy undertone made for a perfect nude on my skin colour (something I always struggle with,) but I have a feeling this shade would be universally flattering.
The lipstick lasted for about six hours, which is beyond the length of most liquid lipsticks and only needed a touch-up after drinking a large coffee with a plastic lid.
SHOP IT: Sephora, $32 for the full size
Wet N Wild Megaglo Highlighting Powder in Crown of My Canopy
So let me just start by saying this highlighter is MAJOR and it only costs $7. Like, the colour and coverage could be a full on dupe for the cult classic Becca powder, which is $50.
I love that the product is buildable - one swipe will give you a pretty shine but you can really pack it on if you’re looking for a blinding glow, which I prefer. I also tried it out as an eyeshadow on primed eyelids and it was equally as pretty.
It doesn’t have quite the same longevity as a more luxe brand, but for the price point, this is a seriously good product. I haven’t picked up something from Wet N Wild for years, so I’m grateful it was reintroduced to me in this month’s bag.
SHOP IT: Amazon, $7
Twisted Sista Curl Activator Creme
I have always struggled with my curly hair. For the most part I have 2C type curls but on good days it can be almost 3A. The summer has been particularly hard on my hair and the ends were good and crispy until I tried this product.
Twisted Sista is a brand I had never tried, so it was exciting to play with something new. With coconut, avocado and almond oils, the ends of my hair hydrated really nicely with this creme and produced perfect curls - but this product was a little too heavy for the top of my hair, which became oily more quickly than it usually does.
Although the product says to work in from roots to ends, I’ll definitely keep using this product only on the ends of my hair, where it did the most good and gave me game-changing 3A ringlets.
SHOP IT: Amazon, $13 for full size
Red Earth Brighten Concentrate Oil with Kakadu Plum
I have pretty sensitive skin so I was worried this would cause an acne flair up, but so far, no spots!
As someone with oily skin, this concentrate was too heavy for morning use and didn’t sit that nicely beneath my makeup, but it was nice to use in the evening and very moisturizing on some of the acne marks on my face that are healing.
My only issue with this oil is the scent - I’m not a huge fan of citrus and this definitely had a lemon-y smell, so I might pass this one along!
SHOP IT: Red Earth, $60 for full size
La Beaute Fatale Cosmetics Brow Fixx Tint and Shaper in Dark Brunette
I have extremely full brows that can be unruly, so I had high hopes for this brow shaper, but this product is a bit of a miss.
The shade I was sent, Dark Brunette, was not dark enough for my black hair even with a few coats - it also isn’t very water resistant, so by midday things were starting to smear around with the summer heat.
That being said, it might be good for a friend with lighter hair than mine in the winter!
SHOP IT: La Beaute Fatale, $28 for full size
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