not for the faint of heart.
Skimpy outerwear, sun-kissed skin, delectable smelling sunscreen, tousled beachy hair, a soft, sweaty glow– summer evokes its own spontaneous sexiness, and Ipsy perfectly captured that raw, animalistic aesthetic with its adventurous collection for June, aptly called “On The Wild Side.” Last month, my first with the beauty subscription service, really blew me away and I was eager for a repeat. And while I can’t say it was packed with essentials the way May was, June had less subtle nudges toward an avant-garde late night look, that really turned up the heat for the hotter months. A lot of girls wrote how disappointed they were with the package, but I think it’s important to keep that theme in mind.
Lead free and cruelty free, my full-sized Starlooks Lip Pencil came in flirty “Tickle Me Pink,” a pulpy pink, like the color of a fresh watermelon rind, that glided on creamy and soft. “Starlooks’ long-lasting, full-coverage Lip Pencil enhances the shape of your lips and gives them perfect definition,” in a long-wearing formula. And I love their suggestion to use it as a hyper-pigmented lip color for this shade in particular, for a daring departure from the norm without veering into vampy territory. Grab yours from Starlooks for $12.
Available from NYX for $7, “NYX Mosaic Blush contains five matte and shimmery shades in one compact blend to create a flush of color and dazzling glow!” My NYX Blush in neutral “Dare” delivered a pretty subtle sun-kissed color, but with mica as its first ingredient, the shimmer of this shade is a little heavier than I’d have chosen for myself.
Cailyn Cosmetics Line-Fix Gel Eyeliner with Brush Built-In in steely Iron, is my favorite steal from this month. A full pot of gorgeous gel liner with a perfectly precise brush built into the packaging, Cailyn’s formula doesn’t set right away, so fine-tuning that tight cat-eye can become a reality. Once it’s dry, the liner is smudge-proof and waterproof for 24 hours, but also safe for sensitive eyes. Get it directly from Cailyn for $21.
Like many of the ladies who received the J.Cat Beauty Sparkling Cream Palette have commented, I wasn’t too thrilled with 1999 girly glitter throwback either. Trying to think up ways to embrace the product, though, I was taken by the idea of a sleek cat-eye drawn on in its darker shades, kept chic with just a hint of sparkle. However, the site notes that it should be used on the body, not in the eye area. Given that, I’m not really sure what I’m supposed to do with it then short of actual body painting? Or maybe disco up my decolletage? I did see one look that used it to build up an embellished eyebrow area, which is cool for a high fashion concept photo session or costume party, perhaps a little too Cirque du Soleil for a Saturday night, though. But the five-color combo only goes for a modest $4.49 from J.Cat, so it’s hardly a weighty investment to find a fun way to play with this palette.
Similarly cheap chic, J.Cat Beauty Eyelash + Eyelash Glue can be gotten online from J.Cat Beauty for $4 a pair, which includes a tiny tube of lash adhesive. The fluffy set of falsies is irresistibly boisterous, for a beautiful way to go Holly Golightly on a hot summer night without having to reapply tons of mascara, and is available in 30 different styles.
What was your favorite product from Ipsy for June? — Casandra Armour
