Ipsy December Makeup Bag & An Easy Pin

I have an easy pin for you today. I had this pinned for a while and have tried it several times. Each time I tried, my hair kept falling. The original author says that short hair works fine for the hairdo, but it wasn't working well for me. I finally was able to pull it off this past weekend. This literally took a couple of minutes to do and is a cute alternative to a ponytail.

via

Wow..putting those two pics together really makes my hair look bad. Ha! 

I forgot to take a picture until we got home, so this had been up for a while..and I obviously didn't do a fabulous job of hiding my bobby pin. And my hair was kinda falling. Oh well. Live and learn. 

The point is it's easy to do. You should try it! (and rest assured yours will look better than mine!)

And now for some beauty reviews...

I was going to sign up for the monthly and better known Birchbox, but they had a waiting list. I am definitely not a patient person, so I decided to sign up for Ipsy instead. Each month for $10, you get makeup products in a little makeup bag. The products are all full size which I think is awesome!

Here's what the December bag looked like.

 

1. Mirabella Primer for Face & Eyes $29

I just recently started using Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer Light, so I automatically compared the two products to each other. The Smashbox is a little more expensive at $36, but the Smashbox is better and worth the higher price in my opinion. I have naturally oily skin, and the "light" version of the Smashbox primer is more creamy and less greasy. Mirabella doesn't have a creamy light alternative, so I will definitely be sticking with the Smashbox brand. 

2. be a bombshell lip gloss in hot mess $14

 This stuff is really pretty and stays on for a long time! Per the directions, you can apply to the bottom lip only and rub your lips together for a less dramatic look, or you can apply to both top and bottom. The color is definitely out of my comfort zone, but I really like it. 

3. Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Zero $19

I really like this stuff a lot! It applied very easily and stayed on very well. In the pic below, it's only on my bottom lash line. I have a problem with my eyeliner on my upper lashes always wearing off onto my eyelid crease as the day wears on, so I didn't even try it on my upper line. I would definitely buy this!

4. NYX Ultra Pearl Mania Eyeshadow in Walnut Pearl $3

This stuff is like a loose powder consistency, and it was a little messy. When I opened the bottle, some automatically spilled out. I think this made it easier to apply though since I didn't have to dip my brush into the container. I had seen several reviews online where users purposely poured it out. I really liked it a lot and for $3 would definitely buy this!

 

5. MAI Couture highlighter papier $28

I was a little confused when I first saw this because I thought it was a greasy face blotter paper thing (like my technical term there?). It's actually paper with makeup on it. You just rub the sheet on certain areas of your face and it highlights with a beautiful peachy shimmer. I had to work a little bit to blend because it made me look borderline burned suntan face. After I fixed it, I thought it was really pretty. I don't know that I would pay $28 for it though.

Have you tried any of these products before? What did you think of them?

Linking up today with Steph & Katie today! Thanks for hosting ladies!