Playing with Texture
Hi all! Time to talk about the April BoxyCharm. Sorry it’s such a late post; this month, IPSY didn’t ship out my box until midway through the month, which means I didn’t receive any of the items until April was almost over and I had very little time to get it posted. Good thing IPSY chose an item that I already had last year for my first item! Another disclaimer, this post is going to be mostly skincare, so we’ll be discussing texture instead of color for the most part.
Choices this month were awful for makeup, very few things I’d want in the box, but the skincare options slayed so I just got those. The one makeup item that is in this box is something IPSY chose for me that I would also never have chosen for myself -_- So IPSY struck out on this one.
Beauty Stat
Alright, let’s get started. The first item IPSY chose for my box is the Universal Pro-Bio Moisture Boost Cream by Beauty Stat. I’ve actually received this item from IPSY before, and absolutely loved it. I wonder if that affects whether you get repeats?
The packaging for Beauty Stat is very modern and unassuming, it’s a white jar with teal writing. It’s no piece of artwork, your vanity won’t be more beautiful when it’s included, but it’s alright. The jar aspect is preferable to me than the push pump or squeeze type of moisturizer; with these, I can physically look inside the item and make sure I got every last drop.
The texture is very unique and hard to describe. It reminds me of ice that melts to water? Like, it goes on thick but immediately melts to a very lightweight-feeling cream.
It retails for $50, which must be the reason I didn’t buy it again even though at the time it was the top face cream I had ever tried. I’m happy to see it and try it again now that I’ve tested so many others. I can also see that there are some sellers on Ebay and Poshmark that have it for $37-$42, so maybe I’ll look for those discounts in the future. I don’t think it’s feasible to repurchase this otherwise on my budget. If your beauty budget is significantly higher than mine though, this is a great item to get!
Lunar Beauty
I am only the tiniest bit familiar with Lunar Beauty and don’t like blush palettes, so I was pretty sure I wouldn’t like their Moon Prism Blush Palette or even not open it and just give it away. But when I received it, I decided I would at least take pictures so the post isn’t missing it, and I can write about what I think of the shade range and all that. Then, when I took it out of the unit carton, I was just stunned by the textured packaging and the lifted artwork. The image on IPSY when I got my order placed only had the shades, not the artwork, so I was actually surprised and excited when I opened it.
It’s a 6-pan palette with a mix of bright and sultry shades from a light baby pink to a deep shade I’d describe as cherry but a little warmer. It’s also got one shimmer, which I think is a good ratio. I’ve tested the lighter and darker shades and I think the formula is very good. What I’ve been doing is tapping on with a blusher and then patting in with my hands, which still have some foundation on them from when I blended (I’ve been doing foundation with my hands instead of a brush recently) and that makes for a seamless transition with no harsh lines. I just have to be careful, because if I pat even one too many times the blush is just gone. There also hasn’t been any fallout in any of the shades I’ve tried out so far which is nice because I just cleaned my vanity.
The brand suggests through their listing online that it can also be used on the eyes, which I hadn’t thought of, so I might try some nice pink rose looks this spring and see if I can make that work.
It retails for $35, which surprised me a lot, I figured they’d go way higher with the price because of the custom packaging. I can see people, especially his fans, purchasing this palette at that price. It’ll last years too and it’s a great item to have in the collection if you like the unique custom packaging. I would consider purchasing a highlighter palette of theirs, if they also kept the price this reasonable.
Buxom Cosmetics
I’ve heard of this brand before but hadn’t tried them out that I can remember, so I added on their Plump Shot Lip Serum in the shade Dolly Babe. This is one of those spicy glosses that makes your lips tingle and swell up.
The packaging is a tube but rounded to be wider int he middle and smaller at the edges, so it’s heavier and more satisfying to use. It’s also frosted white like a glass bottle or something. Just really well thought out and different.
The wand is very long and the applicator is small, suggesting that a more precise application is ideal, which did makes sense when I tried the formula out as it’s more of a liquid lipstick than a gloss. It’s just a glossy finish on a liquid lipstick. Instead of drying down it just stays glossy. But very pigmented, unlike a lot of glosses I’ve tried. A very different texture than I’m used to.
The shade is a little deep for what I typically wear, I’d rather have gotten it in the lighter pink or golden shades, but I guess this is the shade they’re using to market?
The tingling is actually a little more gentle than the one from Fenty, which relieved me because I’m not used to these types of things and my lips already have issues with dryness and irritation. But I had to try it out and be brave, and I’m glad I did. The plumping effect is faster and just as obvious, but the pigment applied makes it easier to see the difference which I think was intentional.
The only thing that isn’t really for me is the feeling of applying. Since it goes on like a liquid lipstick, it’s not as smooth when applied and doesn’t leave my lips feeling like my TYS gloss. It’s a thicker texture and not as juicy on the lips. But I do plan to use it regularly since I can get the plumping effect for a lot less discomfort.
The brand offers this product in 20 shades, and some are shimmers instead of the matte one I got, so maybe those ones are more like a traditional gloss. They retail for $29, which is a crazy amount of money for a lip gloss. Like, absolutely bonkers – but they are featured in Allure, and they really work.
I certainly won’t be purchasing any, but if they come up in the future, I’d add one on in a lighter shade or try a sparkly one.
Lauren’s Skincare
Another new brand to me, Lauren’s Skincare might have the most alluring website I’ve ever been on. No small talk, right to the products, the photography is stunning, and the site is cohesive and mouthwatering. I want all of these items. I want the cucumber eye cream, and I want the healing mask, and I want the overnight eye mask… I want everything.
But what I did actually receive is their Vanilla Almond Body Scrub, which has a twin body lotion. I chose this because I haven’t tried a lot of body care items recently and in the spring and summer I like to be out more wearing less, so it’s time to get back to shaving and scrubbing and moisturizer and all that.
Anyway, the packaging is a squeeze tube, which I prefer for scrubs, the tubs get full of water and get all diluted. At first application, I was disappointed that it wasn’t rougher. But as I stood longer out of the water and applied more, it did roughen up like I need. So just make a note to let some water drip off first.
When rinsing, it did leave that plastic-ish feeling on my skin, which I was also disappointed in because it did feel like a nice creamy texture. It also didn’t slap me with the almond or vanilla scent although it was pleasant.
All-in-all it’s nothing revolutionary, but I definitely plan to use it up just to get used to scrubbing regularly again. it retails for $20, which I feel like would get you a lot more product at other retailers, and the amount of product I needed to do my whole body was a little crazy. I used it once and I probably went through 20-25% of the bottle to get it all over me.
I will definitely try more from this brand now that I’m on the lookout for it. I’m excited to maybe try one of their face products and see if they do a better job with those.
Evio Beauty
Ever since I tried the Baggage Claim Eye Masks from Wander Beauty, I feel like I’ll never discover something that I love that much or that works so well. However, these Tear Catchers are a really nice product that also give that oversaturated feeling that WB’s product gave so I’m happy that I tried them.
The actual material used is more similar to the eye masks by Aceology, which I use regularly, but they’re absolutely drenched in serum and no matter how long I left them on they didn’t seem to dry up?? Even the WB ones eventually “dried” as in mattified. They stuck to my face, but they didn’t still feel wet. These ones just did not ever not feel wet. Not until – and this is true – I woke up the next morning. They felt so good I slept in them. And the funniest part is that they were these tiny, dry, shriveled leaves at that point. My skin had literally sucked everything out of them. They looked sad. I was happy.
The package comes with 6 items and retails for $18, which is $3 a pop, and that’s really not bad. The Baggage Claim ones are $26 for 6, more like $4.50 per.
I will absolutely purchase more packs of these from the shop if I see them, I can imagine doing one overnight every night honestly.
Glow Recipe
A brand I’m getting accustomed to seeing on IPSY, I’m happy I added on their Plum Plump Hyaluronic Cream.
The packaging is adorable, a really heavy, kind of large pink jar with twist off cap. Once again, my preference for face creams because I know when it’s running low, and I know when I’ve used it all up. And I say heavy because it is heavy; I feel like it’s actually glass.
When I opened it up, I realized that part of the weight is it’s designed to be refilled. So there’s the outer shell, and then there’s an inner container as well that can pop out and be put back in. And unlike the Fenty Beauty moisturizer – which I do really like so no shade – the refill pod is significantly less than the original moisturizer. You can purchase the complete face cream from their site for $40, or just the pod for $34. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I feel like the Fenty one is only two or three dollars less for the refill, which is just silly.
The formula has a little bit of a jelly-like texture to it. You know those creams where just touching it doesn’t mean you’ll get some on your hand? So it’s a little bit like that. Also, the color was a little different than I expected. Instead of pink like the packaging, it’s a very light lilac color so it’s more of a purple.
I have really enjoyed this face cream so far as it’s lightweight, has a sweet fragrance, and is easy to spread over the skin. I have a feeling I will reorder the pod and continue it through summer as it also reminds me of the gel moisturizers I used to exclusively apply during the hotter months of the year that kept my skin cool and not greasy.
Grown Alchemist
I am very disappointed by this particular item. Texture, fragrance, packaging, nothing is how I hoped it would be and I regret spending money on it. It’s the Skin Renewal Day Cream and right from the first application, it’s not a day cream. It’s the thickest, sun-tan-lotion-est cream I have ever tried and it’s not even an SPF but it leaves this white cast all over my face. I exfoliate plenty and this thing can’t even absorb. And I thought I’d like it better at night but it actually stung in places on my face where I’m having issues, and none of my other creams have that issue. The smell is atrocious and I’m going to give it away.
And it retails for $50? That’s absolutely ridiculous. I’ve been on the fence with this brand since I discovered it but this seems to put me squarely in the “no thanks” bin.
Byroe
I have already talked a lot about this brand – and this product in particular – but I felt that, since I’m repurchasing it, I should give it a mention. The last item I added to my box was the Peony Tea Face Oil. This isn’t just a face oil though, like, it’s a wonderful item and it’s become kind of like my favorite condiment. I put it on everything. Foundation a little too matte? Pour the tea. Liquid highlighter starting to dry out? Pour the tea. Face just turned out a little dull? A few drops of tea. No makeup today? Put some tea on that s—. Everything is better with this stuff in it.
The texture is exactly like water, and the packaging is fire, and the longevity of the product is all day. I have gotten so many compliments on my skin – my skin not my makeup – on the days I add this item. I stopped using primers and just use this mixed in with whatever I’m wearing.
Other brands say their products give you a healthy “glow” but when I discovered this product, I realized that they could only ever dream of making a product like this.
Add that to the fact that it’s been on sale on Ipsy’s website as low as $18 over the last few months, where it would retail at $50 directly from the brand, it makes sense why I have several extras in storage for when this second bottle I’ve gotten runs out.
People say that you should avoid highlighters and oi ls when you have texture because it draws it out – but this seems to be the exception. My texture doesn’t mind this one bit.
Thanks for coming by and taking a look at the April BoxyCharm! In a few days we’ll be choosing our May ICON items and I’m really excited to see what they’ve picked out for us.
Talk soon!
Dani