Month: July 2017
Sephora Play! July 2017 – Beauty Staycation
Getting my last July box in right at the last minute…
July’s theme is “Beauty Staycation” and the pink gingham bag says “Glamp Out!” I prefer glamping to camping any damn day.
So pumped to get another sample of Boscia Charcoal Pore Pudding – I got a sample last year and it was a really good mask. Also in this month’s box: bare minerals Gen Nude Matte Liquid Lipcolor in “Swag” (every brand is coming out with one right now); it Cosmetics Superhero Elastic Stretch Volumizing Mascara (I don’t know if I want my eyelashes stretched); Milk Makeup Cooling Water (not sure about this – it seems to be a “cooling” moisturizer stick?); Briogeo Rosarco Milk Reparative Leave-In Conditioning Spray (not a bad leave-in – I’m still working on the bottle I got a few years ago); and Atelier Cologne Orange Sanguine (I have several of these, but it’s good).
Even though the box contains several products I already have or have had, not complaints from me – it’s alll good stuff.
If you haven’t signed up yet, get to it. 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.
Serenity Now
Argh, matte polishes can be so frustrating.
Formula X “Serenity” is a glitter matte, but it’s kind of chunky – not smooth. It’s got purple glitter in a black matte base. It’s only slightly gritty, not a full sand polish like Zoya’s Pixie Dusts. It’s just weird. This is two coats over Sinful Colors Base Coat. It dried quickly and did not dent, but the finish was just weird looking.
Oh…and it did not last for shit. I spent Sunday morning taping off the trim in my living room to continue painting my Island Oasis…and it was gone.
At least it was only $2.
July Birchbox – One-Two-Punch
Another month, another curated box. The theme is “One-Two-Punch” – quick solution products.
I’ll be honest, I picked the box purely for Kiehl’s Rare Earth Deep Pore Daily Cleanser – I got in a Birchbox last summer and I really liked it.
Also in this month’s box: Juliette Has a Gun Anyway (citrusy and clean); Oribe Matte Waves Texture Lotion; MAC Cosmetics Prep + Prime Skin (I have a full size – maybe I should revisit it now that my skin is healthier); and Beautaniq Beauty Blush Serum.
An interesting box and my skin is looking forward to trying some new products.
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.
Jade Kat
Sinful Colors “Jade Kat” was the first polish I grabbed from last week’s haul. I needed a contrast from the pink of “Hayat”, so I went with this bluish green shimmer. It’s a new add to the core collection – I dig it.
“Jade Kat” was sheerer than I expected. This is two coats over Sinful Colors Base Coat and under “HK Girl”.
I cut my nails back down to nubs. I should’ve trimmed my index finger more, but it’s growing in so strong – I couldn’t cut off my best nail!
So we painted our breakfast nook yellow. Or shall I say, “Equatorial”. New nail pic background #1!
Target Beauty Box – July 2017
Hot damn! Another badass $7 box!
Even if I didn’t want any of the other products (but I do), I would’ve gotten it for the Acure Day Cream. I’ve gotten it in several Target boxes – it smells SO good and doesn’t break me out.
Also in this month’s “Hello Fireworks” box: Conair Cashmere Headwraps; e.l.f. Illuminating Mist & Set; Neutrogenaa Hydro Boost Water Gel (Ooooooh, I like Water Gel); John Frieda Frizz Ease Touch-Up Creme (I think I have some of this – if so, it’s good stuff); Neutrogena Towelettes (I’ve started using these to clean up eyeshadow fall-out – it’s a magic life hack); Secret Clear Gel Deodorant in “Cool Waterlily” (I don’t care for gel deodorants, but free is free); and Que Bella Mud & Peel-Off Mask Duo (yassssss masks).
So $7 this month, plus free shipping and 5% off with my Red Card. And another $3 off $15 coupon. I am bummed that I didn’t get to use the two I got with last month’s boxes.
Shade + Light Glimmer
Oh Kat Von D, just take all my money…
I told myself that I wasn’t going to order this palette on release day (7/11)…I lied. I ordered it.
Kat Von D Cosmetics Shade + Light Glimmer Eye Contour Palette ($49) is the shiny sister to the original Shade + Light palette, which is entirely matte. I got that palette for Xmas a few years ago and I was not thrilled with it at first…until I learned how to use it. Once I learned how to use it and contour my eyes, I fell in love with it.
I tried it out several days in a row and the quality is fantabulous. It blends well without primer and the variety of finishes are fun to play with. I have not yet used it with the matte version – that’s next on my list. I DID use the eye shadow over lipstick to “glimmerize” a matte lipstick – it looked amazing. Definitely try it.
I’m torn – I have been trying to compare it in my head with the Naked Heat palette…but they are SO different. I couldn’t choose one as a superior palette – they do two different things! Ugh, you just have to get BOTH of them.
One of the hardest parts of placing a Sephora order is picking which promo code to use. I save all of my Sephora emails in a folder, so I can easily access the most current promo codes. I found one for free deluxe samples of Living proof. No Frizz Shampoo & Conditioner. As much as Jennifer Anniston annoys me, Living proof. is one of the best hair lines I’ve ever sampled. I say “sampled” because an 8 oz. bottle is $25. Fuck a bunch of that…unless I win the lottery.
I am obsessed with the perfume samples I got with my order. I’ve been wanting to try Jo Malone for a while and I received a sample of Jo Malone English Pear & Freesia. It is different than any other fragrance I’ve tried. I cannot even explain it. It smells like…luxury. It’s pricey at $65, but not too ridiculous. I want to sample more before I pick this one. The other fragrance I got was Maison Margiela REPLICA Lipstick On. This one blew my mind. It immediately brought back memories of this old Art Deco armoire that my mom had – I believe it was lined with Cedar. This perfume smells like a mix of the inside of that armoire and literally, an old tube of lipstick. I know I am not describing it in the most attractive way, but it’s what I imagine Bette Davis must have smelled like. I might have to sell a kidney for it…it’s $126.
Oh…and a little foilpack of Fresh Lotus Youth Preserve Face Cream.
Just $383 left until Rouge for 2018…maybe I will buy that $126 perfume…
Ten and One to Grow On…
It’s about fucking time Walgreen’s. I’ve waited so long for another Sinful Colors sale. Hypothetically, I guess I could have missed a sale…I’m not as eagle-eyed as I used to be…but the last sale I was able to participate was last Black Friday!
Like last time, it was 5/$5 – so I had to find a store with a good selection. The first two Walgreen’s that I hit were picked over – they didn’t have many of the new collections. The third store had a better selection – I was able to pick five good polishes…but none of the collection polishes rang up for the sale price. I made sure that I didn’t grab any Sinful Shine or Kandee Johnson polishes, but they wouldn’t fix the prices, so I left empty handed.
The fourth store made it up to me. I grabbed several polishes from this year’s Valentine’s Day Collection – “SWAK: Sealed With A Kiss”: “Kissful Thinking” (1st), “It’s About Valen-Time” (3rd), “Break Dance Not Hearts” (4th), and “Readie or Not” (5th). The last polish I picked (pictured 2nd) is a new core collection polish called “Jam Out”.
I couldn’t just stop at five. The next day, I hit a fifth Walgreen’s. I was in luck – this one had different collections. Whereas my first batch was pink and purple, I went blue and green. It wasn’t intentional, but it kind of worked out. I ended up getting six, because one was already on clearance for 99 cents – “Peri-Twinkle” (5th) from the 2016 Holiday Collection, “Bow-lieve In Magic”.
“Starlight” (1st) and “Cherish Me” (2nd) are from the new “Moon Metals” collection. “So Daupe” (3rd) and “Jade Kat” (6th) are also new core collection polishes. I did grab one from the new fall collection “Back to School: #GetBright – “Under the Inbluence” (4th).
This purchase pushed me over the $50 mark in Beauty Enthusiast points – I have $5 off my next purchase.
I’m hoping I don’t have to wait until Black Friday to see another Sinful Colors sale!
July Ipsy Bag – Over Easy
Forget this month’s ipsy bag for a moment…and LOOK at the mailer. This month’s gold mailer has me SHOOK. I’ve been getting ipsy for 3+ years and this is the first time there’s been a change to that familiar fuchsia mailer. I ain’t even mad though.
That gold mailer almost distracted me from this month’s makeup bag…oh my. I don’t even know what to think about that sad little egg, Gudetama. I don’t hate it…but…I’m not in love.
I’m not overly excited about the products in this month’s bag either – they’re not bad products, but not stuff I “need”. I’m thinking the first thing I’ll sample is the tarte Rainforest of the Sea deep dive cleansing gel. I really liked their FRXXXTION stick. Also inside this month’s box: Beau Gâchis Illuminating Brush; BRTC Jasmine Waterful Sleeping Mask (TONIGHT); Japonesque Velvet Touch Primer at first glance, I thought this was the Smashbox primer); and OFRA eyeshadow in “Gold Rush”.
There was also a rather thick booklet from ipsy, promoting their new ipsy cash program. I’m all for cash back on my purchases, but I don’t know if I can divert my purchases from Ulta and Sephora – I gots to get my points.
If you’d like to try Ipsy – click here. I’ll earn 250 points if you sign up through my link.
Hayat
Hayat is the Arabic word for life. “Hayat” gives me life.
Julep “Hayat” (blazing hibiscus creme) was my first pick from this month’s Julep box. After Julep Oxygen Bonding Base Coat, the first coat seemed impossibly thick. It wasn’t too streaky, but I was concerned that a second coat would be goopy. I very carefully did a second coat and although there were a few goops – it was absolutely user error.
It was the perfect background for these little palm tree decals – also from this month’s box. Peeling those suckers up with tweezers was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. It was like brain surgery…my apologies to real brain surgeons. I ever so lightly pressed them down and finished with a thick ole layer of “HK Girl”.
These would look SO good with my flamingo swimsuit!
July Julep Maven Box – Neon Nights
Even though my Julep box was there waiting for me when I got back from vacation, I got distracted by all the goodies I purchased…
July’s theme is “Neon Nights”, and offered a selection of bright summer colors. I chose Bombshell “Hayat” – blazing hibiscus creme – and Boho Glam “Nadine” – tangy persimmon creme (to match my persimmon tree). I also chose the new So Plush Lip Gloss in “werk” – I cannot resist trying Julep’s lip products, even though they go bad before I can ever use them up. Even though I KNOW that it’s because they’re not loaded with nasty preservatives, it kind of irks me that they go rancid after less than a year. I also used Jules to get Palm Tree Nail Decals – so summery!
No candy this month, which is smart given the weather. Instead, I got another sheet of metallic temporary tattoos. I’m thinking Lily will get these.
Not a Julep Maven? Click HERE to join – I’ll get a $15 credit and you’ll get your first box free!