$10 Subscription Unboxing: Ipsy v. Sephora Play

Of all the mail that gets shoved into your mailbox, nothing compares to your subscription service finally getting in! Push past the bills, the junkmail, the wedding invites, and get right to the goods! Today we unbox two $10 beauty subscription services: Ipsy and Play! by Sephora. 

Ipsy

Ipsy is subscription service created by Michelle Phan, the woman who played a major role in how beauty marketing works today. For $10 a month, subscribers of Ipsy receive 4-5 deluxe size sample products that range from lip balms to body scrubs and everywhere in between. The products featured are from brands you'd find at your local drugstore, higher end products, and even indie lines. The products are all packaged in a cute unique pouch that coordinates with a theme of the month. While you cannot explicitly customize what will be featured in your bag, Ipsy does take into account your preferences from information obtained through a quiz taken when you initially subscribe to their service. 

This Gudetama themed bag included 2 skincare type items. The Tarte Rain Forest of the Sea Deep Dive Cleansing Gel and the Caudalie Vinosource Moisturizing Sorbet. I appreciate that the skincare was so well balanced. Having a cleanser and moisturizer featured in the same bag shows that the curator really thought of the beauty process in terms of skincare. 

The remaining beauty products featured can give any Ipsy subscriber what they may need to be ready and out the door. Concealer, liner, highlight (brush). In the bag there was a Concealer Crayon from TreStique and a Wonderwand Gel-khol Eyeliner by Ciate London. The Illuminator brush is by Beau Gachis Cosmetics which is a full size brush and valued at $9.95. 

Play! by Sephora

Each Play! by Sephora subscriber receives 5 sample products and a fragrance sample.

This box included care items that serve as protective and restorative treatments from all the fun things of summer. Diving in the pool is fun. What it does to your hair and skin is not. There was a hair mask from Madam C.J. Walker. The Beauty Culture Dream Come True Wonderful Pre-Wash Protein Treatment is great to restore life to your hair throughout the summer. TTThe Peter Thomas Roth Cucumber De-Tox Bouncy Hydrating Gel can be helpful for after-sun care. Finally, the Ren Evercalm Global Protection Day Cream which smells like heaven!

The fragranced featured was Mon by Guerlain. It has a warm smell that is perfect for the "Glamp" theme. The Clinique Chubby Stick Moisturizing Lip Colour Balm is an easy throw-it-on lip product. The It Cosmetics Superhero Elastic Stretch Volumizing Mascara makes your lashes very fluttery. However, I thought it was kind of an out of place item. It just really didn't make sense in this bag. I read up on the product on Sephora's product web page. It describes the mascara "like skin care for your lashes."

Who do you think had a better bag? Ipsy or Play! by Sephora?

All photos are property of meetpepperb.com

Glam Glow Supermud Clearing Treatment Review

Written by Ada. H 

The smaller letters underneath the product name state, "Supermud Clearing Treatment". They really weren't kidding. Super poreless skin. I love everything about it.  It comes out a dark gray cream and when you rub it onto your face you're taken aback like wtf? Because in this mask is a little ingredient that looks like black flakes of I don't know what! It's awesome!  Is this what supermud looks like? I googled some of the ingredients. It could be teaoxi, volcanic pumice rock sediments, or french sea clay particles. I don't know, but these all sound like good things to me.  This mask was once available only to the Hollywood stars, but as all good things you can't keep it from the masses! We shall get our grimy hands on this and be poreless! Yeah! 

It smooths on your face like a creamy dream and starts to dry almost instantly! The clay mask will turn a true dark gray color once dried, but you'll be able to see darker black spots popping up all over the mask as it dries. What are those? That's the mask seeping into your pore holes to pull the crap out of your face! It's marvelous darling, oh so marvelous!  I've tried a bunch of face masks before and this is my favorite! This beats Origins' Charcoal Mask right out of the water!

Gimme gimme gimme. This comes with a hefty price tag though at $69 a pop. 

But that's the cost of cleaning out your pores, you dirty girl. Well paid and well played, Hollywood. That's the price of looking like a star, and a star you shall look.

Origins Clear Improvement Mask Review

I love giving myself a mini facial. One of the steps I like to include is a deep cleansing mask. The Origins Clear Improvements mask is exactly what I’m looking for to get rid of gunk that clogs up my pores. Most of the year, I have normal to combination skin. In the summer, my nose and chin get oily. The sticky summer heat makes the pores on my nose open up like canyons. I know that’s to be expected but it ain’t cute and I’m actually pretty self-conscious of what I call my pickled nose. Other times of the year, I adore my tiny nose. She’s cute! I remind myself that, on the whole, I’m very lucky to have good skin and that my obsession with skincare and beauty is a choice. My heart goes out to people who dislike their skin and feel a societal pressure to make their skin ‘better.’ It is important to keep in mind that skincare is very personal and even people with similar skin types will be effected differently by the same product. Always do a small patch test on your arm when testing out a product to test if you have an allergy to the product.

Wet                  

 Dry

Origins’ Clear Improvements mask uses charcoal to give the skin a deep cleanse. For the best results, I like to run a clean wash cloth under warm water and then place it over my face. The warmth and steam from the wash cloth will help open my pores. I then place a few small dots on my nose and chin then blend out the clay to an even thin layer. While you apply the mask, you will feel a slightly tingling sensation on your face. I like that feeling on my nose. As it dries, the mask will tighten to a point where you can’t freely move your face. When the mask has dried, usually about 15 minutes, I wet the wash cloth again with warm water and place it on my skin where the mask has dried for about 20 seconds. This helps to rehydrate the clay for an easy clean up. The clay will slide right off. If you’ve done a mud or clay mask before, you know that getting it off can take some time. If you’re impatient, like me, you’ll probably end up tugging and dragging your skin which helps no one. After I’ve removed all traces of the mask, I follow through with the rest of my at home facial: cleanse, exfoliate, a hydrating sheet mask, serum, and moisturizer.

This charcoal mask works really well to give your skin a fresh start and tighten your pores. It is recommended to be used once a week but, again, skincare is personal. Avoid over using this mask as well as leaving it on your skin for more than 20 minutes when in use because it can dry out your skin. You’ll notice if you’ve left it on too long because your skin will get slightly itchy. When trying out a new mask, it is important to listen to your skin and react to avoid irritating your skin. My cheeks are susceptible to dryness so I avoid using this mask on them. I use this mask to spot treat hormonal pimples that pop up on my chin and forehead every so often. While it doesn’t remove the pimple, it has helped to reduce their size

.

This mask is available in three sizes with prices ranging from $4 to $26. If you’re looking to just give this mask a try without making a long term commitment to the product, pick up the pod sized mask (.34oz) which is good for two or three uses. This mask is worth testing out. It has helped keep my skin looking great, especially in the humid months.

Available at Sephora; .34oz, $4; 1.7oz, $17; 3.4oz, $26

Product Photo from Sephora.com

Photo taken with iPhone 5s

Tony Moly I’m Real Tea Tree Face Mask

Article by Deanna P

My skin is not as healthy & even toned as I age & it is a little disheartening to see the changes.  I love trying new thing to hopefully make my skin look & feel better.  I received a single packet of Tony Moly I’m Real Tea Tree Face Mask.  It was very easy to use as it all it required for me to do was clean my face & take it out of the packet & leave on my skin for 20-30 minutes.  Upon removing, rub the excess oil into my face.  Some of the key ingredient include:

Water,  Hydrogenated Castor Oil,  Musa Sapientum (Banana) Fruit Extract l, Illicium Verum (Anise) Fruit Extract,, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil.

Tony Moly is a Global Korean beauty brand whose name translates to Nice & Trendy.  They have a plethora of adorable products.  They are all reasonably priced as the mask I tried retailed for $4.00

My overall experience was very good.  I liked the smell, the texture & the ease of use. My skin definitely was improved.  It looked a little healthier & it definitely felt softer & smoother.  No miracle as I still looked my age, but definitely would use this product again. 

For more info. & to see other masks & products, by this brand, Click Here:

http://www.tonymolyus.com/mask-patch/face.html