I really enjoy trying new items and products. Especially if they are chosen according to my likes. And even more so if they are a surprise! So all these new subscription services that will curate boxes and packages so you receive new things that are meant to go with your taste are right up my alley.

Around the holidays, my cousin turned me onto ipsy. Her excitement and love for the brand was palpable. I had heard of them before, but wasn’t really sure how it worked and whether or not it was worth the $10 monthly price. But, after finding out your first package is free when you are given a code by someone with someone with a subscription, I figured I had nothing to lose. Free trial? I’m there and not afraid to admit it!

My first ipsy package came in January and I loved it (I didn’t think to take pictures of that one). And knowing my reviews on the five items I received where going to make future shipments even more personalized made me excited to see what would be next.

My February shipment came just before Valentine’s Day. Each shipment comes with its own little bag and unlike the January bag’s designed, which I love, February’s design just isn’t my taste. However the samples found inside were!

The first thing that caught my eye was a pink and bronze makeup brush by the brand Luxie. I was in desperate need for a new brush so receiving this one was a great perk (I am more into skincare than into makeup so my makeup collection is barely a gathering). The brush is perfect! I absolutely love it and it works perfectly even for people like me who don’t necessarily know what they are doing when it comes to makeup.

After admiring the brush, my attention immediately went for the sheet masks. I love me some sheet masks. The two I received were from a brand named bioBELLE. The first one I tried was the #iwokeuplikethis masks which is meant to enhance a natural glow and it did just that leaving my skin extremely soft. And the second one was the #staygorgeous one, meant to nourish and hydrate, worked perfectly as well. If I had to choose one over the other, I would go for the #iwokeuplikethis one, but they are both worth the $4.99 price point that they have outside of ipsy.

The bag also came with a highlighter by the brand Luna by luna and a ‘under-eye illumination’ concealer by it cosmetics. I have yet to try the highlighter, but the color is magical and the concealer gives that “i just woke up from a great night’s rest and I’m drinking enough water” effect.

The only sample that I have disliked so far is the “Whatup Beaches” bronzer by the brand Elizabeth Mott. There’s nothing wrong with the shade or product, but the size of the sample makes it almost impossible to try it. The sample size is ridiculously small for someone like me (who’s by far not a makeup expert) to be able to manage and use.

Overall, I am enjoying ipsy and can’t wait to see what else I’ll get to try!

-Rox