Ipsy: May 2016 Glam Bag Unboxing

Another month, another Ipsy, and I'm really becoming a big fan. May featured some products which I've now been able to take the time to adequately trial. There was a good mix of luxe and usable products.



Formula 10.0.6 Pores Be Pure Skin-Clarifying Mud Mask

I'm honestly not the biggest fan of mud masks, mainly because I have dry skin and rarely if ever see any noticeable results. I suppose they may help a bit with breakouts, but I've never really seen success with that, and my view is the only way to prevent breakouts is to have a thorough daily cleansing routine and not overdo your skin with too many pore-clogging moisturizers.

That said, this mask has a lovely berry smell, which is quite unexpected. It goes on smoothly and performs about par. Nothing of note, but nothing bad either.

 SLMissGlam Small Contour W07 Brush

This brush is soft, though fairly small. The brush is about the width of my thumb, and is a good size for contouring the cheeks and such.

BellaPierre Cosmetics Nude Gel Lip Liner Pencil



This product has proven to be quite a dud. The main reason is that try as I might, I can't figure out how to get the rest of the product out of the tube. Or maybe the tip is all the product that you get? I'm not sure what's going on, because otherwise I quite like the color and texture of this lip liner. It's a subtle my-lips-but-better shade of pinky nude.

The other negative is that this is manufactured in China, so who really knows what ingredients are in it.

 

Jersey Shore Cosmetics Lavendar Moisture Rich Balm

While not the most exciting of products (it's just a stick of clear balm), I quite like it. The scent is a mild lavendar, it's super rich and moisturizing on the lips, and while I wouldn't use it anywhere else (too rich), it's quite a good lip balm.

Smashbox Cosmetics X-Rated Mascara

I unfortunately haven't given this a whirl yet as my mascara stash is a bit out of control, but it certainly looks good. Will follow-up if it's worthy of a mention.

Nubian Heritage: African Black Soap

African black soap has been on my to-try list for years now, and I must say I'm enjoying using it so far. This Nubian Heritage soap features all-natural ingredients and a fairly strong fragrance. I don't mind it so much, especially as it doesn't really leave any smell when you use it, but just a warning for those who might be sensitive to scents.

What I really like about this product is how well it lathers up. I use it as a body wash and on my face after first cleansing with an oil-based product. I've found that if I only use the oil-based product, I will often get breakouts afterwards. If I instead use this or another non-oil cleanser after, I'm much less likely to get a reaction. 

So far I would say this is no miracle-worker (but really no skincare product is), but it's enjoyable to use and does the trick in keeping my breakouts at bay. For reference, I have dry to combination skin, with a tendency for breakouts in the chin area. I still get a couple now and again, but this has made a difference. I'm definitely a fan.