My May Box: A Study in Expectations, Shade Roulette, and Unexpected Wins

May’s box arrived with the energy of a mixed bag — not chaotic, not disappointing, just… full of little plot twists. Some items felt like gifts from the universe. Some felt like IPSY rummaged through my bathroom cabinet and said, “She probably needs more of this.” And some were the classic IPSY gambles that make me question why I trust anyone with shade selection.

Let’s get into it.

KORRES — Apothecary Wild Rose Night Brightening Sleeping Facial

I didn’t choose this, but I absolutely would have. Korres has never let me down. Their products always feel like they were made by someone who respects skin and also respects sleep.

• Will I use it? Yes.

• Excited? I am.

• First impressions? Very positive.

• Cheated? Not even a little.

This is the kind of item that makes a subscription feel like a good decision.

NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer — Vanilla L2

I didn’t pick this, and normally I wouldn’t let IPSY choose a shade for me. But in this case… they might have gotten it right. Vanilla L2 is about as close to my skin tone as IPSY has ever dared to go.

• Will I use it? If the shade behaves, yes.

• Excited? Apprehensive.

• First impressions? Neutral.

• Cheated? Yes — it’s a concealer. I can’t pretend otherwise.

This is the emotional equivalent of someone handing you a surprise quiz. It might be fine, but you’re still annoyed.

YSL Candy Glaze Lip Gloss Stick — Showcasing Nude

I didn’t choose this, but I would have. And I’m thrilled the shade is Nude — the only one that made sense for me.

• Will I use it? A luxury lip product? Absolutely.

• Excited? Deeply.

• First impressions? Extremely high.

• Cheated? No. I feel rewarded.

This is the star of the box. YSL, please don’t let me down.

BISHA Essential Setting Powder — Tokyo Translucent

I didn’t choose this and wouldn’t have. I have plenty of powder. I didn’t want to rely on IPSY for shade matching. And yet… the shade is fine. My goal in life is translucent skin anyway.

• Will I use it? Eventually.

• Excited? No.

• First impressions? Frustrated.

• Cheated? Kind of.

This is the “I didn’t ask for this” item. It’s not bad — it’s just unnecessary.

CIELE — The Blush Brush

I didn’t choose this and wouldn’t have. I have plenty of brushes. But then I watched some reviews, and apparently, people love this brush.

• Will I use it? Maybe.

• Excited? Not at first, but now… curious.

• First impressions? Meh.

• Second impressions? Surprisingly positive.

• Cheated? I did, but I’m willing to reconsider.

This is maybe the sleeper hit of the box — the product I didn’t want but might end up liking.

SUNDAY RILEY — Good Genes

One of my choices. A prestige product. A heavy hitter. A skincare overachiever.

• Will I use it? Yes.

• Excited? Very.

• First impressions? Strongly positive.

• Cheated? Not at all.

This is the kind of item that makes me feel like I’m gaming the system.

MURAD — Superactive Moisturizer SPF 50

Another one of my choices. I needed a good SPF moisturizer, and this one has a reputation for being a workhorse.

• Will I use it? Daily.

• Excited? Yes.

• First impressions? Very positive.

• Cheated? No — this is exactly what I signed up for.

This is the practical, grown-up product that earns its place.

RARE BEAUTY — Find Comfort Bouncy Body Cream (Awaken Confidence)

I chose this and was hoping I’d get the chance to. And now that I’ve seen reviews, I’m even more excited.

• Will I use it? Yes.

• Excited? Very.

• First impressions? The container is huge.

• Cheated? The opposite.

This is the indulgent, sensory, “I deserve nice things” item. Selena, thank you.

Final Thoughts

This month’s box is a mix of luxury, practicality, and IPSY’s signature unpredictability. The highs are very high — YSL, Good Genes, Rare Beauty, Korres. The lows are predictable — concealer roulette, powder fatigue, brush ambivalence.

But overall? This is a strong month. More wins than losses. More excitement than frustration. And a couple of items that might surprise me once they’re in my hands.

May 2026 Ipsy Ultimate Review: What They’re Offering vs. What I Would Actually Pick

May’s Ultimate is one of those months where Ipsy clearly wants to look luxurious without fully committing to the chaos or the thrill. It’s a prestige anchored month with a predictable structure: one luxury makeup item, one luxury skincare item, and one cheap brush everyone gets whether they want it or not.

I’m not emotionally invested in this box — not the way I was last month — but if I’m going to do Ultimate for a single month, I’m at least going to curate it intelligently.

Below is the full item pool, followed by the eight items I would choose if I had total control.

What Ipsy Is Offering This Month

Prestige / High Value Items

• YSL Candy Glaze Lip Gloss Stick — $43 (universal)

• Sunday Riley Good Genes — $85

• Natasha Denona My Dream Cheek Trio — $48

• Natasha Denona Resurfacing Honey & Charcoal Mask — $69

• Gisou Honey Infused Hair Oil — $46

• NARS Light Reflecting Foundation — $55

• NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer — $36

• Korres Wild Rose Brightening Sleeping Facial — $55

Mid Tier / Crowd Pleasers

• Rare Beauty Find Comfort Bouncy Body Cream — $36

• Murad Superactive Moisturizer SPF 50 — $35

• Makeup by Mario Ultra Suede Cozy Lip Crème — $26

• Bisha Essential Setting Powder — $40

Fake Prestige / Filler

• Dermalactives Resurfacing Honey & Charcoal Mask — $159 (inflated RV)

• Ciele Blush Brush — $32 (universal filler)

What I Would Pick (If I Had Full Control)

1. YSL Candy Glaze Lip Gloss Stick — $43

Everyone gets it, but I would’ve chosen it anyway.

It’s the sensory anchor of the month.

2. Ciele Blush Brush — $32

Everyone gets it, and I would not have chosen it.

This is the tax we pay for the good stuff.

3. Rare Beauty Find Comfort Body Cream — $36

I’m in a body care era, and Rare Beauty tends to nail scent and texture.

A solid, comforting pick.

4. Sunday Riley Good Genes — $85

The prestige skincare anchor.

If I’m doing Ultimate for one month, this is the item that makes it worth it.

5. Korres Wild Rose Brightening Sleeping Facial — $55

Brightening, hydrating, and something I’ll actually finish.

A practical luxury.

6. Gisou Honey Infused Hair Oil — $46

Lightweight, glossy, and fun.

Not a holy grail, but a good “treat” item.

7. Makeup by Mario Ultra Suede Cozy Lip Crème — $26

I’m in my lip era.

This is an easy yes.

8. Murad Superactive Moisturizer SPF 50 — $35

Brightening + SPF is always useful.

Not thrilling, but absolutely practical.

Final Thoughts

This isn’t a “thrill month.”

It’s a value month — and a smart one if you curate it carefully.

My eight picks give me:

• Prestige skincare I’ll actually use

• Two lip products I’ll enjoy

• Body care, hair care, and SPF

• Only one dud (the brush)

• A real value total around $310 for items I’ll genuinely use

For a month I’m not emotionally invested in, this is a clean, efficient, regret proof Ultimate.

IPSY MAY 2026 — The Month of Soft Utility and Scented Rituals

Every Ipsy month has a personality. Some months are chaotic little monsters throwing glitter and indie brands at my face. Some months are prestige heavy flexes. And some months — like this one — are quietly competent, built around things you’ll actually finish, actually enjoy, and actually use.

May 2026 is a Skin First, No Miss Month.

Not flashy. Not dramatic. But deeply usable.

And for me, that made the choice surprisingly easy.

THE CHOICE ITEMS

1. Rare Beauty — Find Comfort Gentle Exfoliating Body Wash

This was my top pick, and honestly? It wasn’t even close.

The scent notes alone read like a miniature perfume:

Top: lemon zest, rhubarb, pomelo

Mid: jasmine petals, violet, black tea

Base: vetiver, tonka bean, cashmere wood

This is not a “celebrity brand vanilla musk” situation. Which is honestly refreshing.

This is bright. Floral tea. Warm-wooded. Which is just up my alley.

This is a story.

It hits every part of my sensory profile: tart fruit, humid florals, vetiver grounding, tonka warmth. And I love body washes — they’re one of the few categories I actually finish. This one feels like a ritual anchor, not a filler item.

This is an easy first pick for me.

2. Saie Beauty — Hydrabeam Concealer

This would have been a contender for #1 if Ipsy let me pick my shade. Hydrabeam is soft focus, hydrating, and forgiving — basically the complexion product equivalent of a warm lightbulb.

But shade roulette is real, and I’ve been burned before.

So it lands at #2: high emotional value, but too risky for the top slot.

3. The Ordinary — UV Filters SPF 45 Serum

A serum + SPF hybrid is always a win for my fair skin. Lightweight, daily use, and practical. This is the “responsible adult” choice.

However, I am deeply into scents right now.

For tha reason, it sits comfortably in third place.

4. Dermelect — Self Esteem Beauty Sleep Serum

A perfectly good exfoliating night serum.

No complaints, no excitement.

This is the workhorse of the lineup — reliable, but not a spark of joy.

5. Smashbox — Photo Finish Original Primer

A classic. A legend.

I have 4 other primers right now. This does not pass the stash test.

There’s nothing wrong with it.

It’s just not what I need right now.

May isn’t a prestige month.

It’s not a chaotic month.

It’s not a “who even are these brands” month.

It’s a use-everything month — and for me, that means leaning into the item that feels good, a sensory moment, a soft place to land.

This month, that’s the Rare Beauty body wash.

And honestly? I can’t wait for my shower to smell like lemon zest, black tea, and cashmere wood.

The City of Good Intentions

 Recently, I’ve been doing a lot of fictional worldbuilding. One of the cities I’ve created has a very strict magic system designed to “improve” standard humans for their own good. The mages in charge of this project view themselves as champions for humanity, as good people, as beneficial researchers. They’re wrong.

They don’t see that every “improvement” they impose comes with a cost. They don’t notice how closely they watch their subjects, how they tally their habits, how they quietly adjust the rules without asking. They believe they’re helping. They believe they’re being responsible. They believe they’re preventing harm.

But from the inside, it doesn’t feel like help. It feels like surveillance. It feels like being managed. It feels like your choices are no longer your own, even when the choices are small and silly and human.

And the strangest part is that the mages don’t understand why anyone would mind. They don’t see the imbalance. They don’t see the asymmetry. They don’t see that autonomy is not a luxury—it’s the air people breathe.

I keep thinking about how easy it is, in fiction and in life, for “I’m just trying to help” to turn into “I’ve decided what’s best for you.” And how hard it is to name the moment when care crosses the line into control.

There is something deeply dehumanizing about being watched. Not witnessed. Not affirmed, but watched, scrutinized, assessed, and evaluated. Monitored. It objectifies you. It makes you feel less like a person and more like someone's failing project.

Out of respect, I do my best to go through life ignorant of most people's daily choices. What they eat, what they love, what they cling to, what delights them? That is not my business unless they choose to share it.  That kind of autonomy should not be a luxury. It should be the baseline.

And like I said, the mages in my story aren't evil. They see themselves as helpful. They believe their vision for the world is correct. But here's the thing, they never asked the people they are 'helping' if they wanted that specific kind of help. It probably never even occurs to them that they should.  Instead of giving humanity the room to figure out their own problems, they step in and make decisions for them. It's deeply dehumanizing. 

Maybe that’s the quiet lesson tucked inside all this worldbuilding: even the kindest intentions can warp when they forget to leave room for choice. Even the gentlest “improvements” can feel like shackles when they’re imposed instead of invited. I don’t think most people set out to become mages of control — in fiction or in life — but it happens easily when we stop remembering that other people are whole, thinking beings with their own rhythms, comforts, and ways of journeying through life. That journey is never straightforward. People make mistakes, sometimes massive ones. 

But trying to steer another person’s path — by watching, correcting, or setting the tempo for their growth — is its own kind of misstep. It’s a reminder that even well‑intentioned guidance can become a cage when it forgets that every person’s journey is theirs alone.

Ipsy Original April 2026

The bag itself is pink with a little fake pearl on the zipper. It's cute. Not really my style, but cute. 

1. BELLÁPIERRE Purifying Milky Cleanser

Will I use this? Yes. I always use cleansers. Eventually.

Excitement level: Mild shrug.

First impression: Neutral. It’s scentless, the milky texture is nice, and it didn’t offend me.

Do I feel cheated? No — the size is fair.

Verdict: The dependable background character of the bag. Not thrilling, not disappointing, just… present.

2. MEMOIRE ARCHIVES First Class

Will I use this? I always end up using scents, even the weird ones.

Excitement level: Low. It didn’t blend with my chemistry at all.

First impression: It sat on my skin like, “HELLO, I AM PERFUME,” and not in a charming way. Strong chemical opening.

Do I feel cheated? No — good size, even if the scent is socially awkward.

Verdict: The extrovert at the party who introduces themselves too loudly and too close. I’ll find a way to make it work, but we’re not friends yet.

3. RUBY ROSE Lip Oil in Watermelon

Will I use this? Absolutely. I’m in my lip‑product era.

Excitement level: High — a good lip oil is always welcome.

First impression: It sits so well on my lips. Smooth, glossy, looks great… and smells like watermelon if watermelon were in middle school.

Do I feel cheated? Not at all.

Verdict: Cute, fun, and easy to love. A little nostalgic, a little silly, very usable.

4. TATCHA Dewy Milk Moisturizer

Will I use this? Yes — it’s so tiny I could blink and it would be gone.

Excitement level: Hard to muster when the sample is the size of a lentil.

First impression: I know the product is good (I own the full size), but this sample is comically small.

Do I feel cheated? Yes. Deeply.

Verdict: Luxury in theory, dollhouse portion in practice.

5. YSL Lash Clash Extreme Volume Mascara

Will I use this? Yes — even though Ipsy needs to calm down with the mascaras.

Excitement level: Surprisingly high once I saw it.

First impression: Substantial packaging, generous travel size, feels like a real product.

Do I feel cheated? Not at all.

Verdict: The unexpected winner. I wasn’t looking for another mascara, but this one showed up ready to impress.

6. SOL DE JANEIRO Cheirosa 76 Perfume Mist

Will I use this? Oh absolutely. It will take restraint not to overuse it.

Excitement level: Deeply excited.

First impression: Gorgeous packaging, stunning scent, only flaw is that it tips over like a fainting Victorian heroine.

Do I feel cheated? Not even a little. Perfect travel size.

Verdict: The star of the bag. This scent sits on my skin like it was always meant to be there. Warm, sweet, confident — it’s a whole mood.

Final Thoughts

This month’s bag was a mix of practical, nostalgic, mildly disappointing, and genuinely delightful. The cleanser will get used, the perfume will need some coaxing, the lip oil is adorable, the Tatcha sample is a crime, the YSL mascara is a pleasant surprise, and Cheirosa 76 is the kind of scent that makes you rethink your entire fragrance wardrobe.

If every bag had one product this good, I’d never complain again.

Ipsy Extra April 2026

  Uggh. I've been dealing with a lot. A lot of drama and car issues and surgeries.  I still wanted to post my first impressions about this, though.

My April Extra Box: A Soft Lip Era With One Rogue Eye Serum

This month’s Extra Box felt like it was curated by someone who knows me very well… and also by someone who wants my eyelids to suffer. Let’s begin.

1. AVANT SKINCARE — Antioxidising Micro Algae Eye Protect Serum

This one stings.

Not a cute tingle. Not a “working hard” sensation.

A sting.

There’s a generous amount of product, which is lovely in theory, but my eyes said absolutely not. This may become a gift for someone whose skin is braver than mine. I have a lot of eye stuff anyway. Seriously, the venom is easier than this. 

2. TARTE™ — Maracuja Juicy Lip Vinyl Gloss

Glorious. Wonderful.

It feels like luxury because it is luxury.

I already had a mini and adored it, so getting the full-sized version feels like a small personal victory. Plush, shiny, comfortable — everything I want in a gloss. It makes my lips look heavenly.

3. GISOU — Honey Infused Lip Oil in Bee llini Peach

A delight in a wavy tube.

The curved doe foot applicator is a tiny ergonomic miracle, and the formula glides on like peach honey silk. I really do love lip oils. I need lip oils. And this one is great. Hydrating, shiny, and effortless. This is going straight into daily rotation.

4. MAISON LOUIS MARIE — Fleur De La Passion Hair & Body Mist

This smells like being cleaned by Spring itself.

Bright, airy, and elegant — the kind of scent that makes you feel like you’ve stepped into a soft breeze. Perfect for layering, perfect for everyday, perfect for me. I paired it (wrists) with my Commodity Juice (sterum) and it was stunning. 

5. BEAUTY VAULTE — Poutastic Lip Liner Trio

Good colors.

Creamy glide.

No tugging.

And I got three.

These are the kind of practical, everyday liners that make glosses and oils look intentional. They’re going to get used — a lot.

This month’s box was overwhelmingly “me-coded”: soft textures, glossy finishes, correct tones, and a bright clean fragrance that feels like a mood.

And then one painful eye serum tried to pick a fight with my face.

But overall?

A lovely box with products I’ll actually use — and a reminder that my skin prefers comfort over chaos

The Body and Scent

 When Your Perfect Scent Turns Weird on Your Skin (And What to Do About It)

So let’s say you’re exploring scents and you finally find one that feels like you. You know the moment — you smell it on the tester strip, your brain lights up, and suddenly you’re imagining yourself as the kind of person who wears this scent. You hesitate at the price for a second, but you buy it anyway. After all, it’ll last. It’s an investment in your vibe.

Then you get it home, put it on your actual skin…

and something is just off.

The pear that smelled juicy now smells sharp.

The musk that felt warm now feels sour.

The whole thing goes sideways and you’re standing there wondering if your body chemistry is personally attacking you.

And the worst part?

You already bought it.

It cost more than your electric bill.

You do not want it to sit on your vanity like a monument to regret.

So what can you do?

Here’s the good news:

You don’t have to give up on a scent just because it doesn’t behave on your wrists. Perfume isn’t one‑size‑fits‑all, and your body isn’t a neutral canvas. Different points on your body warm, diffuse, and transform scent in different ways.

This is where scent architecture comes in.

It’s the art of placing the right scent on the right part of your body so it can actually shine. For example:

• Some scents bloom on the throat (warm, resinous oils).

• Some need movement and air, so they belong on the wrists.

• Some behave better on clothing, where they stay steady and don’t shift with your chemistry.

• Some belong in hair, where they trail behind you like a soft aura.

Once you understand how your body carries scent, you can rescue perfumes you thought were “wrong” for you — and turn them into something intentional, dimensional, and deeply personal.

Where Scents Live Best: A Guide to Body Placement (Using My Own Collection)

Once you realize that different parts of your body carry scent differently, everything changes. A perfume that goes sour on your wrist might bloom beautifully on your throat. A scent that disappears on your skin might cling to your jacket like a memory.

Here’s how I place the scents in my own collection — and why.

Malin + Goetz Dark Rum — Throat

Dark Rum is warm, dusky, and atmospheric on me. When I put it on my throat, it becomes velvety and intimate — not loud, not sharp, just a soft, warm aura.

The throat is a slow‑bloom point. It warms gradually and creates a quiet radiance. Dark Rum thrives there.

Commodity Book — Clothing

Book is gorgeous, but on my skin it can get a little too dry or vanish too quickly. On fabric, though?

It becomes library air — warm, woody, steady.

It stays exactly as it’s meant to smell, without my chemistry shifting it. Jackets, scarves, sweaters — that’s where Book lives best.

Evereden Darling — Hair

Hair is the perfect diffuser for something bright and soft like Darling. It moves with you, it lifts into the air, and it creates a gentle halo of scent.

Darling in my hair feels playful and light — a little sweetness that trails behind me.

Sucreabeille Blood Drunk — Wrists

Blood Drunk needs movement. It needs air. It needs the little bursts of warmth that come from your hands.

On my wrists, the dark fruit and danger notes stay alive and dimensional. Anywhere else, it can get too heavy — but on the wrists, it’s perfect.

Braless — Wrists

Braless is a soft, clean, skin‑close scent. On my wrists, it becomes that “this is just how I smell” layer.

It warms quickly, diffuses gently, and stays intimate. It’s the perfect everyday anchor.

Juliette Has a Gun Not a Perfume — Wrists

Not a Perfume is basically a skin amplifier. It needs movement and air to do its thing.

On my wrists, it becomes this clean, warm hum that blends with everything else I wear. It’s my diffuser layer — the thing that makes other scents feel like me.

Commodity Juice — Sternum

Juice is bright and well, juicy at first, but it deepens beautifully when it has warmth.

The sternum is one of the warmest points on the body, and Juice blossoms there — the pear sparkles, the warmth settles, and the whole scent becomes rounder and more dimensional.

If a scent doesn’t work on your wrist, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t work on you.

It might just be living in the wrong place.

Your body is a landscape.

Your scents are the weather.

And once you learn where each one belongs, you can turn even a “mistake” purchase into something beautiful.

How to Test Your Own Scent Map

1. Pick one scent to test at a time

Choose a single perfume — ideally one you’re unsure about or one that behaves unpredictably on your skin.

2. Apply it to four different points

Use tiny amounts. You’re observing, not wearing.

Try:

• Wrists (movement + air)

• Throat (slow warmth + intimacy)

• Sternum (deep warmth + bloom)

• Clothing (stability + longevity)

Optional: hair, if the scent is gentle enough.

3. Let each point develop for 10–15 minutes

Then check:

• Which one smells closest to the tester strip

• Which one smells better

• Which one goes weird or flat

• Which one feels like you

4. Pay attention to the emotional temperature

Ask yourself:

• Does this placement feel bright or heavy

• Intimate or expansive

• Like a mood you want to carry

• Like it belongs on skin or fabric

5. Keep notes — even simple ones

Over time, you’ll start to see patterns — your personal scent logic.

6. Build your stacks intentionally

• Aura scents → hair

• Atmosphere scents → clothing

• Intimate scents → wrists

• Warm bloom scents → throat or sternum

This is how you turn perfume into architecture — a dimensional, living atmosphere instead of a single flat note.

Today’s Scent Experiments

Today I tested two new samples: Montale Paris Sensual Instinct and onekind Bone Flower. I started both on my wrists, because that’s usually where I get the clearest read on a scent’s personality.

Bone Flower behaved beautifully — the florals opened cleanly, the warmth settled in, and it stayed dimensional without going sharp or cloying. Wrists are definitely its home.

Sensual Instinct, though, went powdery on my skin, which isn’t my favorite texture. It’s gorgeous on paper, but on my wrists it flattened out in a way that didn’t feel like me.

That doesn’t mean it’s a bad match — it just means it’s in the wrong place.

Next time, I’m trying it on my throat, where warm, resinous, or gourmand‑leaning scents tend to bloom more slowly and richly on me. If that doesn’t work, I’ll try the sternum, or even clothing, until I find the placement where it actually sings.

That’s the whole point of scent architecture:

A perfume isn’t wrong for you just because it’s wrong for one part of your body.

Sometimes you just have to let the scent find its home.

When you understand your scent map, you stop fighting your chemistry and start collaborating with it. Even the “mistake” purchases become part of your personal weather system.

Your body becomes the landscape.

Your scents become the seasons.

And you get to choose the climate you walk through every day.