November Ipsy bag

 

I loved most everything I got in my November Ipsy bag. My favorite items were the J Cat Beauty lip paint, the Laura Mercier Loose Powder/Brush and the BeaBombshell eye base. I'm still on the fence about the eyeliner (only because I'm not that good at applying it...lol), and I'm not sure that the Hair Oil will do me any good. Other then the hair oil I was very happy with this months bag, I mean who wouldn't like a glittery bag? If your interested my daughter Martinique did an Open box Ipsy video on youtube. Her box was different from mine though. LOL 

October Ipsy Bag

My October Ipsy bag came in the mail today. Got to admit I haven't been that happy with my bag the last few months and although I liked a few of the items in last months bag (see below) it didn't wow me. But this months bag is really promising. I especially love the nail polish from OPI. And it will go great with the Essie nail strips I recently snatched from the Dollar Tree a few weeks ago!

I've never used NYC mascara so I'm really looking forward to trying it out and will let you know what I think. The other three products are completely new to me and although they are small samples I am looking forward to using them in the future. I have an entire bag of samples that I'm hoarding to use when we travel (which hopefully next year will be just a bit more then we've been able to do this past year). 

September Ipsy bag. My favorite items were the lip gloss and eyeshadow brush. Still haven't tried the face cleanser (but its in my travel stash for later). 

Essie Nail strips. I keep telling you all not to sleep on the Dollar Tree!! lol 

And it doesn't hurt that this months bag is in one of my favorite colors! I know everyone doesn't count the bag as part of their Ipsy bag haul but I'm a bag addict (if you haven't noticed) and the bag is just as important to me as the products in them! lol 

My Daily Skin Care Routine

Morning routine:

I've been a Mary Kay customer for over 20 plus years. I've tried several skin care products but in the end I have always come back to my tried and true. I rarely wear make-up during the week so most mornings I just cleanse with my Timewise (Normal/To Dry Cleanser ) and Timewise (moisturizer with Sp30). If I've worn make-up the night before I use my Skinvigorate from Mary Kay. 

Nightime routine:

In the evening I use my Timewise products along with the Mary Kay Freshener (which is no longer available). I'm in the market for a new toner and I have been considering trying the Simple Soothing Facial Toner . I will let you know how that goes. If I've worn make-up that day I first wash my face with Equate facial wipes from Walmart. I will be turning 50 in a few months so I'm looking at adding a night moisturizer and a eye cream to my regiment. Guess I will be making a call to my local Mary Kay Consultant soon!

When I want to deep cleanse my face I use Mary Kay's Revitalizing Mask. This version is no longer available but the good thing about Mary Kay products is that they last a very long time. I was able to pick this up before they phased it out. I usually do a deep facial once or twice a month as needed. 

My skin tends to become very dry in the winter so I have had to switch out my usually Bath and Bodyworks products. I don't know why but Caress products just seem to work better in the winter. Year round I use Lubriderm Advanced Therapy lotion. I suffer from dry patches on my hands that can peel and become very painful. Other then Eucerin Intensive Repair lotion the Lubriderm is the closest thing that works. 

Lastly I moisturize my lips with the Eos lip balm! I hear the Nivea lip balm may be better so I plan to try that this month and let you know. 

One last item I am on the look out for is a nail conditioner so if anyone has any recommendations please let me know. I hear Burts Bee's Cuticle cream is pretty fantastic! 

February Favorites

I wasn't sure I would get my monthly favorites up. But here it goes....

I kind of laid off my Bath and Bodyworks shower gels and lotions this winter. My skin tends to get very dry and I usually have to lather on the Lubriderm lotion. The last few months I have been picking up the Caress shower gels at Target and I have to say the Tahitian Renewal is one of my favorites. 

I've also been using my Skinvigorate from Mary Kay (a gift from hubby at Christmas). I can't compare it to the more expensive Clarisonic but so far I have been loving it. But as many of you may know I have been a tried and true Mary Kay customer for more then 20 years and I have yet to find anything to complain about! 

I usually get the coconut Blue Magic for my hair but for some reason last month I picked up the Super sure gro version this time. I love the little beads in it (its a mixture of shea butter, jojobi oil and japanese green tea leaves). Not sure about the growth part but its kept my scalp from getting itchy and dry (another product of the harsh winter we have had). 

I wore way more make-up in February then I did in January. Nicki and I both wanted to try out Its Judy's Times pallet but I ended up being the one that kept it. 

I'm really surprised how much I have liked the Elf Tinted Moisturizer (with SPF 20). Its not to heavy but it gives me just enough coverage to even out my skin tone. Right now I am using Sand. I could probably go a bit darker but I didn't notice enough of a difference in the coloring in the natural light to warrant switching.

I was pleasantly surprised at how much I like the combination of pop beauty's lip gloss (peony petal) with my be a bomb lip crayon (shameless). I've been wearing the two constantly since I got the lip gloss in my February glam bag.

I received another Zoya nail polish last month from ipsy but I keep going back to Neve! If anyone had told me a year ago that I would have loved a polish color this dark on my nails I would have laughed. I just can't seem to get enough of this purple/blue color and I am totally a Zoya nail lover now! LOL

Lastly I didn't think I would like the City Color Be Matte Blush (Fresh Melon) until I actually put it on and blended it into my skin. And I have to say I love it!!!! Its a bit chalky when you first apply it but once you blend it in it looked really good on my skin color!

My favorite jewelry pieces have been my gold watch I picked on vacation last summer in Florida, along with some spike bracelets from Forever 21 and this initial necklace from Walmart of all places!

I've been toting this Just Fab bag around for almost the entire month of February and I'm finding it hard to part from it now that its March. If you missed it I did an updated "What's In My Bag" review last week.

I seem to live in jeans now which is funny because it took me a long time to get into wearing them. I never found any that were that comfortable until I stumbled upon the Faded Glory brand at Walmart. They have a elastic waist and are the skinny jeans with the stretchy material. Last month I picked up two tops from Jones New York at Sam's Club. I don't think I paid more then $8.00 each!

I love this Aqua sweater from New York and Company that my daughter Quisha gave me for Christmas and I have been pairing it with a Worthington animal print blouse from JCPenneys.

If I'm not in my rain boots or my Converse tennis shoes I have been in my "riding" boots from Merona at Target. I really like the look of them but I wouldn't recommend them if you are looking for boots for long term. The bottom of my soles are torn and the boots themselves scuff up easily. The good thing is that they are very comfortable to walk in.

I've just about finished with my Cranberry Pear Belinni candle from Bath and Bodyworks. 

I have never been a jelly bean girl until Marc introduced me to Jolly Rancher Jelly Beans and now I can't get enough of them! 

I just recently finished reading Gideon's Sword and I was surprised at how much enjoyed it. I believe there are more in this series so I may have to look into a few more books.

Nicki and I have been sharing the Earl Bynum Mount Unity Choir cd and we have basically worn it out just because its just that good! A few of my friends attend church there and one of my friends actually sings with the choir. They recently won a Stella award for their work.

Next up will be my Ipsy March bag reveal!