Ipsy, you’ve done it again.

Serious, ya’ll … if you’re thinking about subscribing to a beauty box, and you don’t want to pay more than $10 a month, Ipsy is where it’s at.  However, you have some homework to do in order to get the most out of it.  I’m going to divulge a bit of advice, so listen up people!

When you sign up for Ipsy, you fill out a beauty profile where you tell them your hair color, skin type, complexion, etc.  You can leave it at that, and I feel like Ipsy does make an effort to oblige you.  However, the secret is by going back and reviewing the products you receive in the box.  If you get eyelashes – which is snore city, if you ask me – you go fill out their little eyelash survey and tell them it’s “not for me” and voila!  So far, no more eyelashes.  It’s called their Ipsy Match program, and at this point no other box I’ve found has this much of an in-depth customization tool.

Now they better not go screw it up since I just sang high praises and make me look like an idiot. That = no likey.

Here is what came in my February box:

I lurve.  Lurve it all.

My utmost fave thing in the box is the tiny vial of velvet gel from Phyto-C.  This product sparked quite a bit of convo on the Ipsy site, as so many people did not know how to use it.  I will admit it’s one of the more confusing ones.  The product itself says to use a few drops on age spots or dark spots.  The Ipsy website says it can be used as a primer before makeup.  Even the company’s own website says nothing more than to use 1-2 times per day.

If you do not already know, let me give you some background info on me.  Do NOT under any circumstances give me contradicting instructions, vague instructions or no instructions.  I cannot function unless you tell me in a clear and concise manner, with time references and step-by-step bullet lists, what I am supposed to do.  In case you’re curious, it’s very hard to be friends with me.

And yes, I emailed the company.  I do that A LOT.  Turns out this product can be applied all over the face, serum-style, prior to applying moisturizer.  Well alright then.  How hard was that to explain?  Why couldn’t that be printed on the packaging?  Gah, guess I should be CEO of Phyto-C then.  I have all the best ideas.

Anyway, now that all of that is squared away, I love this serum.  It makes my skin feel so incredibly soft, softer than anything else I’ve used.  So soft, that I went on eBay and purchased two other Ipsy users’ velvet gel samples that they didn’t want.  Is that insane?  Probably.

Also in the box is a lipgloss from Pop Beauty.  I’m not too enthusiastic about Pop Beauty’s makeup.  Maybe I’m not being fair as I’ve never really tried much of it, but the displays in Ulta just look so super cheap.  If someone is in love with Pop Beauty, please comment and let me know what I’m missing out on.

However, the lipgloss is really nice.  I got the color Peony Petal and it looks so lovely on my lips.  Perfect spring shade.  It’s supposed to include lip-plumping peptides, but I poo poo at anybody’s lip-plumping claim.  Unless you’re Juvederm and come in syringe form, I’m pretty much sure you’re not plumping anything.  But for a pretty lipgloss, you do good work.

And now you know I am not a fan of nail polish.  It takes a lot to get me excited about nail polish.  BUT.  It is nearing spring (kind of) and Zoya’s earth-toned purple invoked a feeling inside of me.  That is the only reason I was okay with getting nail polish in my box.  The color sent me to my happy place.

I say I’m not a fan of nail polish, but I do paint my nails every other week or so.  In other words, it is necessary to have nail polish.  I just don’t want to be inundated.  In fact, the smaller the sample bottle the better cuz it will take me 15 years to use up what I already have.  And as an OCDer, that fact drives me super batty.  I just love the feeling of finishing something and throwing it away.  It’s like a job well done, completed that task, checkmark on the to-do list kind of feeling. I know some of you out there can relate.

And blush.  I love blush.  Again, it will take about 15 years to use up what I already have, but the difference here is that I love it.  It’s easy to be around a thousand blushes when they are all your children.  Sorry.  You don’t choose love, love chooses you.

Or something like that.  Shut up, Brain.

Got this gorgeous melon colored matte blush from City Color.  I wore it the other day, and I’m not even gonna hide the fact that I stared at myself all day.  I mean, I went out of my way to purposefully walk past mirrors.  Literally paraded my ass around the clothing department in Walmart during grocery shopping just to catch a glimpse of my pretty cheeks.  That right there might be the beginning stages of a little situation professional psychologists lovingly refer to as “crazy.”  I’m mildly concerned.

Last item in the box is my least favorite, although I don’t hate it by any means.  It’s a cream eyeshadow by Tini Beauty.  I don’t wear cream eyeshadows very often (more like hardly ever) as my old crepey eyelids don’t care for them too much.  The color they sent me is called Spiced Rum, and it’s a super metallic-y bronze.  I dabbed the teeniest tiniest bit on my lid the other day and wowza.  Pigmented, yes.  I’m going to try a look this weekend with it, see if I can’t get a little more comfortable wearing cream eyeshadow.  If it can’t be done, I’m gonna have to pass this along to my daughter who can get away with practically anything.  Being 20 will do that for you.

Well that’s it for now.  Only 5 more boxes to review.  Get excited!