I’m totally on the ball with my Ipsy bag this month! It just arrived yesterday and here’s the haulage:

What I Received

• theBalm Blush in Cabana Boy (0.02 oz mini; x oz full size US$)
• Essence Superfine Eyeliner Pen Waterproof (0.3 fl oz full size, US$)
• Noyah Lipstick in Currant News (1.4 g mini; 4.5 g full size US$18)
• Preventive Measures 101 Lips 101 After Hours Lip Balm (0.15 oz full size; US$13)
• Sarah Jessica Parker Lovely Rollerball (10 mL full size; US$20)
• Ipsy × Valfré makeup bag

Ipsy Coupon Codes

• Noyah: 25% off any purchase with code noyahIPSY (through 11/30)
• theBalm: 20% off any purchase with code IPSY20 (through 11/30, US only)
• Essence: 20% off any purchase with code ipsyessence20 (through 11/30, US only)
• Valfré: 25% off your first purchase with code IPSY25 (through 11/15)

Here are some more detailed product shots:

theBalm Blush in Cabana Boy

0.02 oz mini; 5.1 oz full size US$14

When I saw that theBalm blush minis were one of the options in this month’s Ipsy bag, I crossed my fingers that I wouldn’t get Cabana Boy, since I already own it in the full size. Wouldn’t you know, I got Cabana Boy! (I guess this makes up for the time they had two Urban Decay eyeshadow deluxe samples and I received the one I didn’t already have!) Nice blush, just wish I’d gotten the other option, Hot Mama, instead. [Made in USA.]

Essence Superfine Eyeliner Pen Waterproof

0.3 fl oz full size, US$2.99

I find it a little bit annoying to receive very inexpensive products in Ipsy bags, particularly when it’s YABE (Yet-Another-Black-Eyeliner). And it’s a liquid liner, which I don’t use. On the other hand, Essence products get a lot of raves, so maybe I should practice doing winged liner with this… [Made in Belgium.]

Noyah Lipstick in Currant News

1.4 g mini, 4.5 g full size US$18

This is the second Noyah lipstick mini I’ve received from Ipsy, though thankfully they’re different shades (I got Deeply in Mauve, coincidentally, in my October 2014 bag). I like the color I got this time, a deep purple. It’s not a color I would wear often, though I’m curious so it’s perfect to get it in a mini size. [Made in USA.]

Preventive Measures 101 Lips 101 After Hours Lip Balm

0.15 oz full size; US$13

This is a new brand to me—the name really isn’t very catchy at all, is it?—and it seems like all they make is two types of lip balm: a regular lip balm and one with SPF 30. I received the regular lip balm in full size. It’s kind of pricey for a lip balm, and they claim it has “anti-oxidants and anti-inflammatory delivery system 
technology”. OK. Still a $13 lip balm! Haha, well, I got this just in time for cold weather so I’ll see how their claims stack up. I’m a lip balm lover, so I never say no to getting lip balm in a subscription box. [Made in USA.]

Sarah Jessica Parker Lovely Rollerball

10 mL full size, US$20

I adore Sarah Jessica Parker’s Covet fragrance (sadly discontinued) and admired the far more commercially successful Lovely, though I didn’t feel it was for me. I don’t mind getting this nicely-sized rollerball, though. It’s great to have a travel-sized fragrance to slip into a handbag. (I am looking forward to trying out her latest fragrance, Stash!) [Made in UK.]

This month, Ipsy collaborated with artist Valfré to produce an awesome Halloween-themed bag! It’s pale pink and black, with subtle crosshatched texture, and is decorated with Valfré’s sweet, yet vaguely creepy, Halloween drawings. There’s even a candy corn on it, which won me over instantly. The black zipper pull is also a ghost with hearts for eyes. Love it! Hope there are more interesting bag collaborations on the way.

Some other Ipsy items for October 2016 that I would have liked to try:

• theBalm Blush in Hot Mama (of course, since I already had the other available shade!)
• Beaute Basics Eyeshadow in Satin Taupe (hard to resist a taupe eyeshadow)
• Kokie Nail Polish in Heavenly
• Teeez Eve’s Ready to Wear Lipstick in Romantic Red
• JoShik 5-Free Nail Polish in LUXE
  
• Kat Von D Tattoo Liner in Trooper
• Adesse New York Liquid Chrome Organic Infused Nail Lacquer in Grand Central
• Tatcha PURE One Step Camellia Cleansing Oil
• Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Invisible Cover Foundation

I generally liked this month’s bag—though I really wish they’d stop sending YABE. I can’t really fault them for sending me a blush I already own. The fact that they sent me the color I’d have chosen for myself means they’re getting the hang of this personalization thing, right? This goes for the Noyah lipstick, too: the other color option was one that I would really have disliked.