E.L.F. COSMETICS | Halo Glow Blush Beauty Wand in Magic Hour

This product serves as a fantastic dupe for Charlotte Tilbury’s offerings, which is particularly interesting given the brand’s sensitivity to imitation (cue the side-eye). The Halo Glow Blush Beauty Wand is a luminous liquid highlighter that adds a stunning glow when lightly tapped onto blush with your fingertips.

Initially, it appears quite pigmented, but it sheers out beautifully to provide a skin-like finish, giving your complexion a candlelit glow. The shade is lovely as well! I received the FULL SIZE valued at $13 CDN.

OLIVIAUMMA | Pudding Calming Everyday Cream

Oliviaumma, a Miami-based Korean skincare brand, is new to me. The name translates to “Olivia’s Mom,” honoring the founder Hye Young Kim’s daughter and their skincare bond. Their eye-catching packaging is perfect for Instagram, and all products are made in Korea, emphasizing effective Korean skincare practices. They aim for the coveted glass skin look, with this moisturizer being a standout. Formulated with soothing aloe vera, ceramides, and panthenol to fortify the skin barrier, this pudding-like cream promises a dewy, fresh appearance.

Despite its appealing look, the pricing is significantly higher than typical Korean beauty products, with moisturizers and serums priced between $48-$68 USD. This could pose a challenge for those marketing it as a K-beauty brand, especially to consumers familiar with K-beauty’s affordability and quality ingredients. It seems that only those unaware of K-beauty pricing might be tempted by these products. I received a deluxe size valued at $8 USD.

Hola Neon is another brand new to me, focusing on lip products that range from highly pigmented liquid lipsticks to liners and lip oils. Their Lip Drip Lip Oil Collection features four shades, with “Gloss Me” being the most neutral—a delicate pale pink that offers a subtle hint of color (swatch provided below). The texture is on the thicker side but remains non-sticky, creating a pleasant experience. I would describe it as “encapsulating” on the lips. Unlike other lip oils that can be overly runny, this one has a consistency reminiscent of the original lip oils from Clarins. I received a FULL SIZE valued at $21 USD.

DALLAS & JAMES SKINCARE CO. | Watermelon Dream Overnight Glow Mask

This brand is affectionately referred to as the watermelon brand because I’ve previously enjoyed a watermelon eye cream from Dallas & James. I find this overnight mask to be even more impressive! Its texture is wonderful, and it truly lives up to its promise of being “pillow-proof,” as it dries down to a comfortable, silky finish almost instantly. It ranks among the best sleeping masks I have tried! I received a deluxe size valued at $17.70 USD.

THE NUE CO. | Skin Filter Serum

This brand, while primarily known for intriguing fragrances and wellness supplements, surprised me with their Skin Filter Serum. Finding this particular product on their website required some digging. I have mixed feelings about “clean” brands that use the term retinol; in this case, they refer to a plant-based alternative that mimics retinol’s effects. It feels misleading to leverage the reputation of retinol without actually using the ingredient itself. The gel-like texture is very spreadable, and a small amount goes a long way! I received a deluxe sample size valued at $21.67 USD..

Final thoughts: Although I voiced some concerns, I genuinely enjoyed the assortment of products I received this month. The total value of my March Ipsy Original Bag was $107.21 CDN. While the sample values might seem inflated, the two full-size products were perfectly suited to my preferences, making the experience worthwhile!

Wishing everyone a fantastic weekend!