Month: November 2016
Black Friday Haul
I usually stay far, far away from stores on Black Friday – I am too delicate to get trampled to death! Oh, I shop…online. I ordered a few things on Thanksgiving Day, but I don’t think I actually got anything online on Black Friday.
I made a special exception this past Black Friday – I ran by Walgreen’s to take advantage of 5/$5 Sinful Colors Nail Polish. As per usual, my closest Walgreen’s didn’t have any of the new Holiday polishes – fuck ’em. I dragged Logan to the one across from HEB and they had them.
I picked up a core collection polish that I’d never noticed before – “You Just Wait” and 4 of the Holiday polishes – “Flake Out”, “Star Studded”, “Velvet Ribbon” and “Holly At Me”.
Time for Xmas manicures!
FINALLY!
FINALLY! Jumpin’ Jesus on a Pogo Stick, it took almost a month for this box to make it across the pond from Scotland. Mailed on October 28th, it finally arrived on Black Friday, November 25th. (The second box she sent was mailed a week later and arrived within 10 days!) Sally has been fighting with USPS for weeks, with USPS claiming that it never made it off the shipping container in Chicago. As a matter of fact, they still don’t know where it is – they are still telling her that they don’t know where it is. Thanks, USPS!
The box was a big beat up, but it was well packed and everything arrived safely and undamaged. I was only positive on one of the gifts – Makeup Revolution‘s new Halloween palette: “The Dead Are Alive” – its 16 beautiful graveyard colors. I’ve been using it for the last several days straight. I was pleasantly surprised with another Halloween palette – “Give Them Darkness” and Halloween lipstick – the “Beyond Vamp” Matte Lipstick Collection (I’ve only tried “Give Them Darkness” so far – I thought it was black, but it is dark blue on me). I was also treated to another Makeup Revolution Precision Brush – this time the cheek brush – and the Makeup Revolution Ultra Base Corrector Palette – every color corrector I could ever need!
In addition to all the best new Makeup Revolution products, there were a few pressed glitters from OPV Glitter – “Hot Miss”, “Xpoze”, and “Charmed”. I have never used pressed glitter before, but it’s not nearly as scary as I thought. As long as you use a good shadow primer, it sticks right on.
Thank you Sally for sending me TWO amazing boxes of Makeup Revolution goodies…Rest assured, I will be returning the favor.
Oh Lord, Won’t You Buy Me a Mercedes Benz
My friends all drive Porsches, I must make amends…
Not really – I actually don’t know anyone who drives a Porsche – or a Mercedes Benz, for that matter. I do have a few friends that drive BMWs, but I have forgiven them.
Julep “Mercedes” has a unique finish – described as “canyon rose metallic” – it’s like a mixture of copper, gold and silver pigments that haven’t quite mixed all the way. It looks a bit like a glitter, but it’s not a glitter at all – it’s completely smooth.
This is two coats with Julep Oxygen Bonding Base Coat, finished with “HK Girl”.
I wonder if I’ll ever get me a night out on the town?
Sephora Play! November 2016 – Best in Glow
I’ve been slacking…I’m finally getting around to posting my last subscription box of the month – just days before I start receiving my December boxes.
“Best in Glow” is November’s theme, products to stave off winter dullness. I don’t know about you, but down here in Texas, we haven’t seen a whole lot of winter. We had frost on the ground one day last weekend and that’s it.
I’m most excited about Stella McCartney POP – I’ve been wanting to try it since I love Stella so much. It’s very floral and sharp smelling. I could see myself using free samples, but not buying it. Also in my box: Sephora Ultra Shine Lip Gel in “Pin-up Pink”; The Estee Edit by Estee Lauder Dissolve the Drama Makeup Remover; Cover FX Illuminating Primer; Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Colour in “Rose Gold”; and GlamGlow SuperMud Clearing Treatment (please send me GlamGlow in every subscription box, please and thank you).
If you haven’t signed up yet – you’re a turkey! This is by far the best subscription box I get every month. Sephora Play is only $10/month. You can sign up at sephora.com/play.
Walk the Walk
I tried to play it cool on Thanksgiving.
“Oh look, my nails match my dress.” My husband was buying none of my bullshit. “You know you were planning it all along.” Yeah. I was. The only choice I made that morning was lipstick – “Masochist” or “Richblood” – and I chose “Masochist”.
I knew I would be wearing the new red dress to Thanksgiving, so I painted my nails with Sinful Colors “Walk the Walk” from the “Luxe Fragments” Collection. It’s a cool-toned red jelly with glitter shards. It’s really almost a cranberry – fitting for Thanksgiving.
This is two coats – not quite full coverage – over Sinful Colors Base Coat and under “HK Girl”.
November Birchbox – The Finishing Touch
I am thankful for…my subscription boxes.
I didn’t choose the curated box this month – instead I picked just one product and got this month’s “The Finishing Touch” box. The product I chose was Chella Eyebrow Color Pencil in “Tantalizing Taupe”. I hope it’s not too light for me.
Also in this month’s box: Avène Soothing Moisturizing Mask (I got this in my October 2015 ipsy bag, but don’t think I ever used it); Number 4 Jour d’Automne Smoothing Balm; Supergoop! Forever Young Hand Cream with SPF 40; and TokyoMilk Light “Awaken Within” (a VERY strong jasmine scent).
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.
November Ipsy Bag – Rock Starlet
Ipsy arrived first this month. I was excited to see that fuchsia bubble mailer!
“Rock Starlet” is this month’s theme. I received the gold and navy constellation-print neoprene bag – there was also one with silver print. Jewelry, I am ALL silver…but I tend to go for gold in accessories, like my current phone case.
Inside my “Rock Starlet” bag: Luxie Beauty Rose Gold Small Duo Fiber Brush (this is one of the most unique brushes I’ve ever seen – there’s a thin layer of extra long fibers on the end for a lighter touch – I’m excited to try it with a highlighter); Japonesque Pixelated Finishing Powder (not sure what to do with this – is it a highlighter or for my whole face?); Adesse New York Brightening Base Coat (interested to try it); ELEMIS Pro-Collagen Marine Cream (huh?); and theBalm Cosmetics Mad Lash Mascara.
These are very sophisticated products – I will be cycling ALL of these into my routine soon, except maybe the mascara.
If you’d like to try Ipsy – click here. I’ll earn 250 points if you sign up through my link.
Kleopatra
BOOM!
Sinful Colors “Kleopatra” is blowing me away. It’s a baby blue/lavender duochrome – all polishes should be duochrome. I had a hard time not admiring my nails constantly – they are so outstanding.
I used Sinful Colors Base Coat with two coats of “Kleopatra”. The polish doesn’t finish matte – it’s very shiny, but I topped with “HK Girl” and it’s like glass.
Yes, it’s another one of those Kylie polishes, this time from the “Denim & Bling” Collection. I’m not even embarrassed about promoting them anymore – the colors and finishes are just making me so happy.
Are You Still Available?
The reason I get so excited about trying new brands of nail polish is because I’ve pretty much tried every brand there is…but there are a few that have been beyond my grasp…
I hadn’t been able to try Makeup Revolution nail polish because Ulta doesn’t carry it here and they won’t ship it across the ocean…but I got a guy…I checked their site and it looks like they don’t even carry the polish online anymore – they must be liquidating their stock via mystery bags.
The first one to catch my eye was Makeup Revolution “Are you still Available?”, a dusty medium purple. This is a full coverage creme. The quality was very good – not too thick and not too thin, although the brush itself was sub par. I got full coverage with two coats over Orly Bonder and under “HK Girl”.
I haven’t gotten my hands on Jeffree Star Cosmetics “Scorpio” yet, but Sally has it and I swear that “Are you still Available?” would be a perfect match. I might have to add it to my Cyber Monday order if it’s in stock…
Mystery Surprise!
Sally sent me a mystery surprise! All the way from Scotland…OK, technically not a surprise, since I knew it was coming. And not a mystery, since Sally gave me a sneak preview of the bag…but a mystery surprise, nonetheless.
Makeup Revolution was having another Mystery Bag promotion and Sally graciously sent me one of the mystery bags she received…plus a little extra.
Inside of the mystery bag was a combination of Makeup Revolution, I ♥ Makeup and other TAM brands: Live Love London Body Mist in “Sensuous” (smells like pears); I ♥ Makeup No Shine Please! Totally Matte Foundation in NS05 (I thought it was a pore primer and just put on my nose today – it actually worked well for it though); Freedom Makeup “Future Bright” palette; Makeup Revolution Blush Bronze & Brighten in “Rave”; I ♥ Makeup All Day & Night Eyeliner in “The Last Laugh” (looks bronze); Freedom Makeup Pro Melts Lipgloss in “Steal the Show”; I ♥ Makeup Super Wow! High Color Lip Gloss Stick in “Atomic” (I have a few of these – they’re decent); and three Makeup Revolution nail polishes – “Cool Days”, “Love etc” and “Find True Love”. That’s a bunch of goodies and no duplicates with what I’ve already got!
The only new product that I really wanted to try was the I ♥ Makeup Liquid Lipstick in “Molten Chocolate”, so she sent me one. The applicator is lovely and color is out this world, but it’s like regular lipstick and doesn’t last all day. She also sent me one of the new Makeup Revolution Precision Brushes! I have been lusting over these and now I finally have one to try…she also sent me the polishes from her bag, since she cannot wear polish – “Are you still available”, “Adore” and “Never Enough”.
Thank you, my sweet friend – I truly appreciate the mystery surprise…and now I’m putting together a box of my own…just waiting for the weather to get a little cooler so everything won’t melt.