Ipsy April 2015 bag was much-awaited, because based on the very first spoiler, we would be getting a makeup clutch instead of the usual cosmetic bag. Unfortunately, this was a false alarm, and we got the usual bag, although it was higher quality than the previous one. Not surprising, but the April theme is Beautifully Bohemian, because Coachella festival style is all the rage this month.
HOW IT WORKS: Each month subscribers will receive a new Glam Bag with deluxe samples and full-sized beauty products customized according to your beauty profile. Members can watch videos and play along with the stylists with the same products that they are using, all for only $10/month. If you would like to use my referral link click here to join Ipsy. Thank you!
theBalm Cosmetics NUDE Dude Eyeshadow Single Fit – This was our very first spoiler, and everyone received one of two colors in their bags. theBalm is famous for their fun packaging and cheeky names, and the formulas are actually pretty good, too. Their Mary-Lou Manizer highlighter is still my HG after all these years! I’ve only worn it once so far, and while I like the smooth and pigmented formula, it still creased a lot on my oily eyelids, so I’d recommend wearing a good primer underneath. Less fallout that way, too.
JulieG Nail Color Damsel – Ipsy describes this shade as a mid-tone pink creme, I would say it’s more of a muted fuchsia. I do like the color, but I have several similar ones in my collection already, from brands that I like more than JulieG. This will make a nice little though, so I’m going to keep it sealed.
Mullein & Sparrow Mini Lip & Cheek Tint – I was hoping to get this product in my bag because it looked kinda cool on the company’s website, and I like vintage-inspired packaging. First of all, I like that it’s a natural product that contains real organic oils, butters, waxes, and plant extracts. It smells like a mix of cocoa butter with blackberries, and even though it’s also supposed to have patchouli oil in it, I didn’t catch any of it in the fragrance bouquet. It’s purple in the tin, but on the lips the color shows up as slightly brownish – definitely a natural look, but it calls for a little more color on top.
MicaBeauty Eye Primer – I am not a fan of MicaBeauty, and found this eye primer too thick and awkward to work with. Also, some people reported that their primers had weird brown spots in them, to which Ipsy replied that they must be bubbles from the time the primers were hardening. There’s such bubble in my pot too [you can see it in the picture above at 10 o’clock], but I don’t care because I had no plans of using it again.
Gallany Cosmetics Petal Lipstick – This is a new brand for me, so I had no prior expectations. The lipstick turned out to be better than I expected, with creamy non-heavy formula and a color that’s not purple, hot pink, ghostly nude, or red, like the ones Ipsy always tends to send. It’s a very lovely your lips but better medium mauvey pink shade that is perfect for the daytime and will complement most complexions.
THE VERDICT: This was an okay bag, I wasn’t over the moon nor did I feel disappointed. My favorite samples this month were Mullein & Sparrow lip balm, and Gallany Cosmetics lipstick, and both happen to be lip products – I guess I’ve been on a lippie kick lately! I also liked the bag itself, it felt sturdy and actually looked like it’s well-made, with proper stitching everywhere and well-aligned pattern.
Do you like discovering new beauty brands or do you prefer sampling new products from your current favorite companies instead? What did you think about your April Ipsy bag? Let me know in the comments below!
| Product | Retail value |
|---|---|
| theBalm Cosmetics NUDE Dude Eyeshadow | $3.00 |
| JulieG Nail Color | $3.99 |
| Mullein & Sparrow Mini Lip & Cheek Tint | $10.00 |
| MicaBeauty Eye Primer | $22.47 |
| Gallany Cosmetics Petal Lipstick | $10.75 |
| Box Retail Valie | $50.21 |
Disclosure: This post features products purchased by Glamorable and may contain affiliate or referral links. For more details about my product review policy, copyright, and information about affiliate links, please refer to Disclosures & Content Use page.
The eyeshadow is pretty. It sucks the primer didn’t work for you 🙁
Too bad, indeed, it seems like a pricey product. Maybe I was doing something wrong?
I haven’t tried the eye primer, but mine didn’t have any weird spots, at least. I wish I’d gotten the lippie products and nail polish that you did, they look pretty good! I wasn’t that excited about my bag, either.
I don’t know if ipsy actually looks at our style profile, but I did mention that I prefer lip products and nail polish.
Love the vintage packaging of the Mullein and Sparrow tin. So fun and cute. The Gallany lipstick looks nice as well.
I know, right? That vintage tin is absolutely adorable.
Oh that eyeshadow single and mini lip tint look great. This was a very nice Ipsy bag!
I’m glad you like it!
I adore that lippie you got! I hope I get it too, and that they don’t send me the Mica primer. Ugh!
It’s such a beautiful shade! One of my favorite YLBB lipsticks so far 🙂 I rarely expect to get a HG from Ipsy, but this one is a hidden gem
The Nude shadow makes me giggle. I like products that work double as lippie and cheek. I guess I feel it’s more bang for my buck.
Indeed, and they’re also travel-friendly 😉
Nude Dude is a hilarious name!
Haha, I know right? 🙂
I got the Mica primer too and have the exact same spot. I’m shocked at the value placed on it. It’s nothing I’d pay that kind of money for.
No kidding, it’s not even good, so why put such ridiculous tag on it. I doubt anyone actually buys them at these prices.
I got the primer, but don’t have any spots – how weird!
Lucky you! I guess that means that not the entire batch was contaminated.
Cute bag, but some of the products were duds. Bummer!
Bummer, indeed! But they can’t all be winners, and I accepted that 🙂
Not familiar w/ the lipstick too… where was it made?
I wasn’t able to find any info about the country where the products are made, but the company’s owner is a US chemist and has her own cosmetics manufacturing facility where she makes these. There’s more info about her on their About page: http://gallanycosmetics.com/about.php
Ipsy replied there was bubbles??? Oh my gosh, I had no idea that bubbles in the product would turn black… that is so strange to me. I love the makeup bag this month, very boho.
I don’t really buy that either, but they offered to replace it with another product, so I’m cool with it.
Awwww I didn’t get that polish! It’s so pretty!! I saw an email about the Mica. Mine had bubbles too and in another shipment it had weird black crap all through it. Prob from the shipping packing in the box but I thought it was weird a cream product wasn’t shut well and could open that easily.
It’s a gorgeous color for Spring! What did you end up doing with your Mica primer in the end? Did you ask for a replacement?