Month: February 2016
February Birchbox – Date Night
Just in time for VD – my “Date Night” Birchbox is here…
I really wanted to try the new Arrow lip gloss that was a sample choice, but since I was in Vegas, I didn’t click fast enough and it was sold out. So, I chose the curated “Date Night” box. Inside: Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Lip Tar in “Strumpet” (I’ve been wanting to try Lip Tar so bad!); Cynthia Rowley Beauty Brightening Illuminator (got this in a Birchbox last year); Whish Renewing Mud Mask; amika Bombshell Blowout Spray (I got this just last month!); and Catherine Malandrino “Romance de Provence” (smells like Grandma…not mine, but someone’s).
If you would like to try Birchbox, click on my referral link – https://www.birchbox.com/invite/5453f – I’ll get 50 points if you join.
February Beauty Box 5 – ???
So this month’s Beauty Box 5 didn’t come with an insert, so I have no idea what the theme is supposed to be. Why is a little thing like that so annoying to me? I wonder if it just didn’t make it into MY box…or if they are cutting costs by leaving them out? Hmmmm…
Inside this month’s mystery box…Hemp Nation Moisturizing Body Wash with Hemp Seed Oil (will this make me fail a piss test?); StarLooks “Sultry Sangrita” Luxe Longwear Lip Pencil (isn’t sangria usually red?); Manna Kadar “Fantasy” (I have no idea if this is eye shadow or bronzer or blush – it doesn’t say on the back); Epic Blend Lip Balm in “Hemp Raspberry Pomegranate” (am I sensing a theme here?); and Elizabeth Mott Thank Me Later Eye Shadow Primer (I got some in my December ipsy bag as well).
Not a bad box…but still missing my card. I neeeeed it!
Starfish Kisses
Countdown to February 15th – the REAL holiday – when all the candy is 50% off.
I started with Sinful Colors Base Coat and then two coats of Sinful Colors “Starfish”. (“Starfish” is the EXACT color of Spongebob’s best friend, Patrick Star!) I topped with Sinful Colors “Love Sprinkles” – different sizes of white and light pink with white hearts. Again, I was a fishing fool, trying to get those hearts out of the bottle. Dammit Sinful Colors, make it easier to get that shit out of the bottle! I closed with “HK Girl”.
I bet you’re wondering what “Starfish Kisses” are…I’ll never tell…but if you look on my window sill, you’ll find some…
Target Beauty Box – February 2016
I can’t believe how much stuff is in the February Target Beauty Box – “Sweet Treats”. It is bursting to the seams.
Inside the box: Soapbox Coconut Oil Shampoo & Conditioner; Mayfair Soap Foundry Body Creme in “Sea Lily Jasmine” (Smells good); Vera Wang “Embrace” Eau de Toilette (Pear blossom and green tea – reminds me of my mom); L’Oreal Boost It Air Blown Texture Mist; Skinfix Lip Repair Balm; EcoTools Bath Pouf (it’s a bit tiny, but I can always use these); Laneige BB Cushion (Now that I finally tried the first sample I got, I’ll actually use this); Derma e Hydrating Night Creme (nice); and Incoco Nail Polish Appliques (I need to try these – this is the third pack I’ve gotten).
Just $7 for this box, with a $3 off $15 coupon inside. I need to hurry up and use the last 2 I got – they expire on Sunday.
25% Off on My Birthday
Coincidentally, Birchbox sent me a 25% code on my birthday, to celebrate my 25th Birchbox. I also had $20 in points, so I decided to browse…
The first thing I put in my cart was Lipstick Queen “Frog Prince” ($25). It’s exactly what you think it is – green lipstick…but like 80s Mood Lipstick. It has overwhelmingly positive reviews, so I thought I’d try it out. I expected that to be it, but then I saw the Coastal Scents Pearl Brush Set with brush holder ($39.95). I’d been looking for a barrel case like that…and although I haven’t been impressed with the Coastal Scents eye shadows I’ve gotten, I’ve heard great things about their brushes. They’re SO soft…and they’re completely synthetic – no animals harmed in order to make me beautiful.
The samples I got were odd – Hanz De Fuko Natural Shampoo (smells like BenGay) and das boom Industries Everything Wash – Bay Rum, Smoke & Dirt (This stuff smells sexy as fuck – I’m sending my husband to go shower with it NOW).
Another happy birthday to me!
The Fingers are Weak
…if you offer me free stuff for my birthday, I’m gonna go get it…
I talked my husband into dropping me off at Ulta on Saturday to get my deluxe sample of Benefit Roller Lash (I tried it and I must admit, it’s pretty nice.)
I also used my $10 off coupon to try some NYX stuff. I heard that NYX Micro Brow Pencil is a dupe of Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz…and it IS. Only $9.99 instead of $21.
I also got NYX BB Cream in “Natural” ($12.99) – another win – it’s great on my skin. I was looking for NYX Lip Lingerie – the display was there, but it wasn’t in stock…so I got the NYX Lip Ombre Duo in “Ginger & Nutmeg” ($11.99) instead. I also grabbed a clearance NYX Mosaic Powder Blush in “Spice”. I am getting addicted to NYX!
After I checked out, I went to track my son and sister-in-law down at Five Below. I found them in the checkout line wearing hats and taking pictures…but I felt something pulling me.
It was the nail polish. I can’t leave Five Below empty handed. I grabbed Funky Fingers “Queen of Hearts”, “Use the Force” and “Cupcake Sprinkles” – they have the bestest top coats!
The heart is strong, but the fingers are weak.
Go Broncos?
Obviously, the Broncos won because of my nails. Obviously.
I was happy to have a reason to use my “Horses” Jamberry Wraps – so I chose orange and blue to go with them. The orange is Julep “Mariska” and the blue is Sinful Colors “Endless Blue”. To jazz them up, I used essie Luxeffects “Set in Stones” and “Summit of Style” – but honestly, I can’t tell which is which. I used Sinful Colors Base Coat and “HK Girl” to start and finish my nails.
Birthday Nails
I was agonizing over what polish I should pick for my [40th!] birthday nails…until I got this month’s Julep box…then I knew.
Julep “Rosie” is charcoal grey with magenta glitter…and I LOVE it. It’s reminiscent of Zoya “Noir”, but in a smooth glitter formula. After Julep Oxygen Bonding Base Coat, I laid down two coats of “Rosie”. On the first coat, I noticed immediate shrinkage around the edges of my nails. Sigh. I made sure and coated the tips well on the second coat, but the polish still drew away from the edges of my fingernails, leaving a sliver of white fingernail at each tip. Le sigh. I sealed it with “HK Girl” and hoped for the best.
I had a very pleasant [40th!] birthday…work was low key, got my Tieks, had a lovely raw ribeye with the family, and didn’t find any new wrinkles or have hot flashes. Life is rosy…er, Rosie.
February Julep Maven Box – The February Collection
Hey Julep…creative name you dreamed up this month – “The February Collection”.
The spotlighted beauty product this month was more Eye Shadow 101 sticks. I wasn’t feeling it, so I picked a new lip gloss in “Captivated” – Iridescent fig shimmer with Power Cell Complex. For polished, I picked It Girl “Rosie” – Charcoal grey with magenta glitter – and FINALLY got It Girl “Celeste” – Cosmic gray iridescent glitter. Just like last year, the February box came with “Hartleigh” – Holographic heart glitter top coat. There was also a single, foil wrapped chocolate heart. Yeah, I already ate it.
Not a Julep Maven? Leave a comment and I’ll send you a referral email good for a free welcome box!
Black Gold
Black gold…Texas tea…
I was afraid this combination would look trashy, but it turned out fairly classy. After Sinful Colors Base Coat, I painted two coats of Maybelline Color Show “Twilight Rays” on each nail. “Twilight Rays” is black with a strong gold shimmer. I thought it would be more subtle, but it is really striking. I used essie Luxeffects “Summit of Style” to accent my thumb and ringfinger – I got it on clearance at HEB yesterday for $4.22! This is just one coat of “Summit of Style” – I think I could get full coverage in two, maybe three coats. I sealed the deal with “HK Girl”.
It’s funny how essie “Set in Stones” is blindingly blingy, yet “Summit of Style” is more understated – more like gold jewelry instead of diamonds. My luxeffects collection is almost complete…