October 2013 ipsy Review – “The Art of Beauty”

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October ipsy
October ipsy

I had a jammed mailbox again today and one of the packages in it was the pink October ipsy bag! I need to take a picture of my mailbox one of these days. You’d be AMAZED at how much mail can fit in that thing. My mail lady (who is MIA this week) has commented on it and so have neighbors who have gotten my mail for me. It came with the house (who says builders never give you any extras) and I dread the day we have to replace it.

October ipsy
The Pink Envelope

ipsy ships via DHL Global Mail.  ipsy’s shipping is the slowest of slow.  I get a few other boxes via DHL, but something about the hub ipsy uses or something makes it extra slow. It actually only took a week to arrive (from North Carolina), which isn’t even that bad.  Plus, it was “mis-shipped” per USPS and ended up at some Post Office across the state, so that added a day.

October ipsy
The Information Card

The October ipsy theme is “The Art of Beauty” and is described as “a month of masterful makeup tricks and delightful beauty treats”.  ipsy releases various spoilers every month, but I try my hardest never to get my hopes up for certain items, because, umm, I never get them.  But here is what I did get this month:

~Coastal Scents Medium Shadow Brush ($2.49): I don’t always love getting “tools” in my boxes, but I have been getting an insane amount of shadow lately, so I am have grown to be happy with this. It will get used and it saves me from buying one.

October ipsy
Coastal Scents Medium Shadow Brush

~Nourish Organic Deeply Nourishing Coconut & Argan Body Lotion ($1.50):Totally excited about this.  I slather on hand lotion non-stop these days and this is a great purse sized one.  I can’t pin-point the scent, but it’s different.  Did anyone else get this?  What’d you think it smelled like??

ipsy
Nourish Organic Deeply Nourishing Coconut & Argan Body Lotion

~Zoya Polish (Neve) ($8): I love Zoya and was excited to hear that every bag would have one this month.  I am happy with the color I got (I would have been happy with any color), but I want to know what everyone else got too!

ipsy
Zoya Polish (Neve)

~Sexy Hair Spray Clay Texturizing Spray Clay ($6.03):  My hair needed no styling on this mess of a rainy day we had today (what would have bee the point), but I couldn’t couldn’t resist spray this in to try it out. I would describe it as a winter sea salt spray.  I have no better description than that.  It adds texture to dry hair without making it all crunchy.

ipsy
Sexy Hair Spray Clay Texturizing Spray Clay

~Bella Terra Mineral Cosmetics Mineral Shimmers (Emotion) ($14.99): I’m not 100% sure about the color on me, so I think I will pass it along to a friend who will wear it better than I will!  Had the shimmer been swapped out for something else (cough, cough, Buxom gloss), I would have had an amazing bag!

ipsy
Bella Terra Mineral Cosmetics Mineral Shimmers (Emotion)

~The Bag:  Meh. Not my favorite bag.  Honestly I could even do without the bag every month.  I’ve been using them to organize my purse, carry little toys for the kids, etc.  I’m trying to use them, I swear!  It’s just taking a while!

ipsy
The Bag

My October ipsy bag had a value of $33.01 and, as always, I think it was  the $10/month cost.  I still haven’t tweeked my profile, but I’m hearing that ipsy doesn’t do such a great job matching things up anyway?  What do you think?

Did you get this month’s ipsy bag? What variations did you get? And what’d you think? If you are interested in subscribing or interested in learning more, click here.

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Jennifer

Jennifer is the author and founder of Subscription Box Ramblings. She first discovered subscription boxes in 2012 and has been addicted since. Current favorites include CAUSEBOX, Boxycharm and Beachly!

This Post Has 46 Comments

  1. I just signed up today for ipsy! Obviously on the waiting list, hopefully it won’t be too long! It seems better than Birchbox which I just re-started my subscription to and I may cancel again if I like ipsey better! Which do you prefer?

    1. Jennifer

      I’ve been hearing 4-6 weeks. I prefer Birchbox. I love their point system and they have such a variety of brands they send.

      1. Shelby

        I was considering getting Birchbox until I saw my cousin get hers in the mail. It was all these dinky samples, so not worth the ten dollars in my opinion!

        1. Jennifer

          I really like the review system / point system birchbox has. Makes even the not so fabulous bags worth it!

  2. Jenny

    Our bags are so different except for the lotion we got everything different. My Zoya was Giovanni and is the mermaid tail green. I posted a picture in my Thursday Thoughts. My mom got the shadow too but they actually sent her two containers of it. No way she is going to use that. LOL And yes there shipping sucks. My mom and my friend could walk to the shipping warehouse and it still takes days to get to them. I think all of their DHL goes to GA before getting USPS and to us so ours goes out of state and then back. Just craziness. I am hoping they sometime have a warehouse sale. I’d so be all over that. 😉

    1. Jennifer

      Now that would be fun. I could get all the things I have been eyeballing but have never actually gotten in my bags.

  3. Megan

    I stopped getting Ipsy because I live in NC & it was taking over a week to get to me since they were sending it out of state first. When I first subscribed to it, it would get to me in two days.

    1. Jennifer

      It makes no sense how DHL ships!!

  4. Stephanie

    I haven’t done my review yet, but this for me is the best bag to date. I got Sexy Hair Gel (adds volume), the Buxom lip gloss, very sticky. It does give your lips a tingly feeling, and has a minty vanilla flavor. I would like it if it wasn’t so sticky! My Zoya nail polish was like a metallic emerald green. Love it, great for the holiday season! Got the same hand cream, like it and make-up remover towelettes.

    1. Jennifer

      I love Buxom so I can handle the stickiness. And you are right, that green will be stunning for the holidays!

  5. Lauren

    We got a few of the same items: http://anothermomanotherblog13.blogspot.com/2013/10/subscriptions-ipsy-october-2013.html

    I got the Zoya polish in Giovanna which is SO PRETTY, but Neve looks gorgeous as well, the mineral cosmetics in Navy (I would have much rather had purple!), and then a little jar of Ole Henriksen Truth Creme which I have yet to try. I tried the spray clay in my hair and it made it feel really dry and gross. Then again I have really long straight/ fine hair that is weighed down by any product.

    1. Jennifer

      I love the Truth Creme! I’ve used it before and it’s great. And your Zoya is fabulous. You really could lose with the polish this month!

  6. Elizabeth

    Revise your profile. They do listen! I clicked off lipgloss, and mascara cuz I have way too many of these and now I get lipsticks, which I prefer, and blush or perfumes or lotions. I haven’t gotten my ipsy bag yet, but I will be sure and post a pic on IG when I do. 🙂

    1. Jennifer

      I’ll give it a try!! Thanks!!

  7. Ashley

    I ended up with a Navy mineral eyeshadow…not the worst it could have been but this is the second blue eyeshadow I have recived from them (my NYX was blue too) I have no idea why they think I use blue eyeshadow. My Zoya polish was the pinkish purple, its an alright color. I updated my quiz because all I ever received were mascaras and eyeliners and since I updated its been good. & if you review your products Ipsy has a points system now where you can earn freebies. I’m slowly but surely getting there!

    1. Jennifer

      Okay I’ll update!!! I was sad there wasn’t a gift offered this month! Those points are burning a hole in my pocket!

  8. Lara

    I think this may be the first month I absolutely loved what I received in my Ipsy bag!! (Except for the bag itself- a total meh). I did get the Buxom gloss and I am not a gloss girl (like do not own a single one) but omg I love it and it goes perfectly with the Buxom lip pencil I own. I agree that the scent of the lotion is odd but not bad but I have no clue what it is. I got the volumizing hair gel and I hope it does what it promises and I think my roommate got the spray clay and I would love to try that. And the makeup wipes are always great. And yes to the Zoya polish!! I got the emerald mermaid green and it’s gorgeous.

    1. Jennifer

      Ohh that emerald is gorgeous!! I really want to know what it is in the lotion I smell!!

  9. Nicolette

    Youre the first person ive seen who got that polish color. I got Mason, would’ve loved Giovanna though. I also got an item I have yet to see anyone else get, OFRA plumping lipgloss. It was my fave out of my bag!!

    1. Jennifer

      Mason is gorgeous too though! Is there any ipsy / Zoya code this month? We can always pick up more….

  10. Rebecca

    Your reviews on Ipsy just reaffirms my decision to leave Ipsy was a good choice. I prefer Birchbox.

    1. Jennifer

      lol. I prefer Birchbox (most months) too. But ipsy gets me too in that they are only $10/month and send lots of mail polish! I think I get one every other month!

  11. Bethany

    I received my bag yesterday. For my hair product I received the blow-dry gel, which I gave to my mom because my hair is really short and I towel dry it. I also had the lotion, which I like, and the nail polish in green which I love. For my other two I received a set of face cleaning wipes (have those in my bag now) and the lip gloss. The only thing I wasn’t thrilled about was the lip gloss, I know some lips stuff tingles due to the plumping agent, but this one burned! If I hadn’t already opened it and tried it, I’d give it away, but I tried it because I liked the color. I’ll debate whether the burning is worth the color or not.

    1. Jennifer

      Ohh that green polish is beautiful! That might have been my favorite!

  12. Lisa D

    I got my IPSY bag on 10/12
    I got the Zoya (which I loved and was super excited to get) in the Green Metallic color which BTW looks great on my toes 🙂
    Bella Terra Mineral – Navy –YUCK
    Coastal Shadow Brush- which is nice, I hate buying brushes at the store.
    Sexy Hair Clay- gave to my daughter….
    Lip Pencil-In gift pile- I don’t use lip stick or lip pencil.
    And the bag- I also gave to the daughter…it wasn’t my favorite.

    1. Jennifer

      Love that green!!!!

  13. Amy S.

    I got the exact same bag as you this month. I love the Zoya polish, that color is so pretty! I really hate the scent of that lotion, I can’t really decide what it smells like but not good to me!

    1. Jennifer

      I can’t figure it out either. It’s different that’s for sure.

  14. Angela DiMari

    Our bags are totally different. I’m jealous you got a makeup brush- I could use some new ones- but I love my lemon be Delectable handcream !!

    1. Jennifer

      Ahhh was it fabulous?? It’s sold at Kohls right? I need to get some!

  15. Kristina O.

    LOVE that brush used it with the shadow yesterday. It wasn’t messy and it went on nice and even. I got the same color as you. (would be good for a night out, but I went all whore face to work yesterday lol) Love the Zoya polish too. (also color twins). I got the volume gel for my hair which I am sort of scared of because I think it might dry me out. Bag is least favorite. I have zero desire to decorate it. lol.

    1. Jennifer

      Wait you are supposed to decorate it??

  16. Bonnie

    I got the same lotion that you got. It is rich and creamy, but stings if you happen to rub your eyes. I was feeling sleepy. I got the giovanna nail polish the same day I got Juleps Angelina in the mail. I swatched them and zoya’s brand is a truer emerald. I might give it to my niece who is still wait listed, but I kinda want to keep it for myself. I also received the gel, hot pink lip liner, and make up remover wipes.

    1. Jennifer

      That’s such a pretty green! How long has she been on the wait list? I’m wondering how long it is now?

  17. Bonnie

    Just saw a youtube video where she said she used the purple eyeshadow to change her nail color.

    1. Jennifer

      Where is this?? I need to see it!

      1. Bonnie

        She doesn’t go into detail and she flashes her nails at the end of the video.
        http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wq12OOikZu0

        this one uses a damp brush to paint it on and a top coat to seal,
        http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yeFqLQJ-Wh0
        Robin Moses mixes it with a little top coat on a plate before painting it on and I use mine to alter a bottle of polish. I had a cheep sheer gold shimmer that I added olive eyeshadow to make an antique gold polish that I love.

        1. Jennifer

          Wow! So cool!!!!!

  18. Kam

    I received the gel, buxom gloss, ole henrikson, the same hand cream as you and the zoya in Mason/Fuschia.

    If I had received the Delectable hand cream and the Zoya in Giovanna, this would have gone down as my best bag to date.

    Anyone want to trade Mason for Giovanna? Lol. It seems like Mason is the least popular color this month. Mason is beautiful, it just won’t work for me.

    1. Jennifer

      Oh, I agree. That would have been a dream ipsy bag!

  19. Yasi

    I actually got the buxom gloss, and it’s probably my favorite thing in the bag. I got a different bigsexyhair product, gel, which I could do without, but I do like the zoya nail polish. Mine was a deep shade of blue, which I’m going to give to my sister. I wish I had gotten the brush though. Overall, it was an decent bag.
    p.s. I use my bags for organizing and I given some of them to my mom and sister.

    1. Jennifer

      I have a full sized Buxom and love it, but I would have loved the mini one too!

  20. Lauren

    LOVED MY IPSY BAG THIS MONTH!!
    I got the purple pink nail polish, the sexy hair clay spray, the same lotion as you(coconut smell to me). the h20 hydrating treatment and the sultry lipgloss plumper.

    1. Jennifer

      I hope they send out that plumper again!

  21. Denise

    I’m looking for a birthday gift for my daughter in law. Which of the lower monthly cost monthly subscriptions would you recommend? She’s going to be 23yrs. Thanks for the help! Denise

    1. Jennifer

      A lot of people prefer ipsy, but I am more of a Birchbox girl. I really like their point system!

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