Month: March 2018
Sephora Play! March 2018 – Festival of Beauty
Is it me, or is “Festival” the most over-used campaign buzzword in the Beauty World right now? It’s getting to be ridiculous, kind of like “Unicorn”. Don’t get me wrong, I was deep into Festivals and outside concert in my youth. I religiously attended Lollapalooza 1992 through 1995, and various other outside concerts…but back then, the only makeup I needed back then was black eyeliner…
What I SHOULD have worn was sunscreen. I never did and I always got a sunburn every damn time. So it was nice of Sephora to include Murad Invisiblur Perfecting Shield Broad Spectrum SPF 30 | PA+++. The package says invisible SPF, primer and anti-aging treatment in one – I’m sold!
Also in the Festival box: Buxom Plumpline Lip Liner Crayon in “Hush Hush”; Sephora Matte Perfection Powder Foundation in “14 Neutral Linen” (close to the shade I’ve been using – “16 Cool Linen”); Verb Ghost Oil; Lancome Miel-en-Mousse Foaming Cleanser and Makeup Remover; and a tiny foilpack of OUAI Anti-Frizz. Oh, and a snazzy tie-dye pouch that says “Beauty is my Spirit Animal”.
If you don’t get Sephora Play, join us for Festival Fun. Sephora Play is only $10/month. You can sign up at sephora.com/play.
Blue Steel
I call this look…Blue Steel.
Julep “Ida” is described as blue heron matte shimmer, but to me, it’s Blue Steel. This is quite a unique polish. I have load of steel, gunmetal, stone – all sorts of metallic gray polishes – but nothing like this blue/gray metallic polish.
Matte polishes can be pretty hit or miss and Matte Metallic polishes are difficult to work with, but “Ida” was a breeze to apply. This is just two coats over Julep Oxygen Bonding Base Coat.
I feel like I need to find Magnum and Le Tigre polishes, too.
Blood Sugar
…Sex Magik. Sorry, can’t help it – I’m a child of the 90s. Blood Sugar Sex Magik was the soundtrack to the summer between 10th and 11th grade.
Forget about RHCP for a minute, and let’s focus on Jeffree Star Love Sick Collection. Launched back on February 10th, my cart was full, but the palette had already sold out when I tried to complete my transaction. Devastating! I wasn’t entirely shocked – although I’ve been lucky in the past, I missed out on the palette this time. I was pleased when a new feature was released within an hour or so – pre-orders for the re-stock!
The re-stock happened this past week and I received my Blood Sugar Palette ($52), plus the other goodies I picked out. The Blood Sugar Palette contains 18 eye shadows in a plastic case that resembles a First Aid Kid. That case fits neatly in a VHS Sleeve. Like whoa, that is a cool detail. Like the Beauty Killer Palette, the shadows blend effortlessly without primer, although the pans are smaller. I have been using the palette exclusively for the past few days and the combinations are endless.
The Collection launched with four new shades of Velour Liquid Lipstick ($18), but I only snagged three of them: “Romeo”, (bright matte neon pink – basically a highlighter for your lips, the marker not the makeup); “Problematic”, a vibrant, matte berry; and “Restraints”, a metallic gunmetal. I skipped “Self Control” – I just cannot rock a matte lavender lip.
I also splurged on Velour Lip Scrub in “Chocolate Covered Strawberry” ($12) and this stuff is MAGIK. It is a yummy way to remove your liquid lipstick – I could just eat the whole jar.
My only regret on spending $118 is that I don’t get Sephora or Ulta credit. Other than that, it is totally worth it.
March 2018 Ipsy Bag – Create
Ipsy has been hitting their creative stride this year. March’s theme is literally, “Create”, and comes with a glam bag you can color yourself. I handed it over to Lily to color for me and she did a GREAT job.
This month’s products are basics from high quality brands: Skyn Iceland Pure Cloud Cream; Benefit Cosmetics BADGal Bang Mascara in “Pitch Black” (I’m a big fan of Roller Lash – will this beat it?); Skin&Co Roma Truffle Therapy Cleansing Cream (Oooooh); Tarte Cosmetics Sex Kitten Eyeliner; and Steve Laurant Beauty Lip Oil in “Orchid” (lip oils are great for removing liquid lipsticks).
If you’d like to try Ipsy – click here. I’ll earn 250 points if you sign up through my link.
Space Glam
Oooh…Space Glam!
Essence Cosmetics “Space Glam” is a complex nail polish. The gold shimmer hits you first, but the base is a duochrome, color-shifting wine to mauve to lavender.
This is two coats of “Space Glam” over Glisten & Glow Ridge Filling Base Coat and under Glisten & Glow Top Coat.
Come to think of it, this polish seems really familiar. I wracked my brain and figured it out – it’s very, very similar to Zoya “Faye”. “Faye” is a tiny bit less gold and more mauve, but they’re very similar.
March 2018 Birchbox – finally. spring.
This month, I chose the single sample choice, instead of the Curated Box. I wanted that Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream.
I shouldn’t have bitched about not getting a fragrance last month, though – this month’s fragrance, TokyoMilk Dark Bulletproof, gave me the WORST headache. Also in this month’s box: Marcelle Ultimate Volume Nano Mascara; OUAI Leave In Conditioner; and Winky Lux Glazed Lips Donut Lip Gloss (Winky Lux makes those clear, color-changing lipsticks with the flower inside – I want one BAD!)
This box was a bit lame. Birchbox is a serious yo-yo!
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.
Target Beauty Box – March 2018
I snatched up the March Target Beauty Box – the February Box sold out before I could order it. No big loss though – it was all Honest Beauty. I am not AT ALL interested in Jessica Alba’s makeup. Blech.
This month’s box has lots of new products – or at least they said new on the label: Olay Cleaning Infusions Body Wash in “Crushed Ginger”; No7 Early Defence Glow Activating Serum; St. Ives Collagen Elastin Moisturizer (I cannot tell if this is for my hands or for my face); Nexxus Dry Shampoo (ugh, starting to get so much dry shampoo again); Pantene Foam Conditioner (weird); Clairol Color Crave Hair Makeup in “Brilliant Amethyst” (it washes out after one use…mmm’kay, why?); and wet n wild Color Icon Eyeshadow Quad in “Sweet as Candy” (while the product itself isn’t new, the packaging and formula are new).
As usual, the box included a $3 off $15 Beauty coupon. The box was $7, with free shipping and 5% off with my Target Red Card. A great value this month!
Don’t Backtalk Me
Actually, yes…DO Backtalk me.
I was unimpressed when Urban Decay released the Backtalk Eye & Face Palette ($46) a few weeks ago. At first, I thought it was was just a pink version of a Naked palette…but then I got interested in the coordinated blushes/highlighters. Have you ever done your eyes and then applied a blush you though would look good, but then it did NOT look good, but then you’re late for work and you have to go to work looking like Lindsay Lohan? Ugh.
So I had dropped in to Sephora to pick up a birthday gift for my Mother-in-Law, and there was the Backtalk palette, right inside the front door…so I started swatching the colors on my wrist. It wanted to come home with me! But I walked away…to see if they had a Urban Decay Vice Liquid Lipstick in “Backtalk”. Yup, and on clearance for $9. (So are they eliminating the whole liquid lipstick line after just a year? Or are they going for a reformulation, like Kat Von D did with her Studded Kiss Lipsticks?) So I just HAD to buy both the palette and the lipstick.
I did a full face yesterday and the formula is the high quality I’ve come to expect with Urban Decay. I used it with no primer and still got good color payout, although it was tougher to blend. I will note that this palette is BYOB – Bring Your Own Brush.
Only $785 to Rouge. Woof.
Sally Hansen 3D Design
When it comes to nail decals – or anything that is supposed to stick to the nail, like nail wraps or even nail stamping – I am deeply skeptical. In trained hands, sure…but most are hard to get the hang of using. I was pleasantly surprised by Sally Hansen 3D Design Appliques. I picked the Floral design, but they also come in Geometric and Knit Sweater patterns. They were an absolute snap to use.
I started with Sally Hansen Double Duty Base & Top Coat and then a single coat of Sally Hansen “Hot Magenta”. (This bottle of “Hot Magenta” is one of my older polishes – the date on the bottle is 2008.) I then carefully peeled off the decals and placed them on my nails. I went in with another coat of “Hot Magenta”, topping with Glisten & Glow Top Coat. The results were amazing – the clear decals took the polish like a champ. They are mostly idiot proof, although I did manage to tear one of the decals. I was able to place the two pieces back together on my nail, so it wasn’t noticeable at all.
Each package comes with 16 decals for $7.99. (Why not 20, so I can get two full sets?) $7.99 is a bit pricey for one and a half manicures worth of decals, but it’s about the same as Jamberry wraps, which go for $15 each and provide 2-3 applications. I might get more of these if I can find them on sale somewhere…
Makeup Recovery
I am SO spoiled.
I got a surprise in the mail on Thursday – a box from my bestie, Sally, filled to the brim with all the newest Makeup Revolution products! Over the past few months, Makeup Revolution has put out several new variations of their Chocolate Palettes, originally based on Too Faced’s “Chocolate Bar” palette. “Chocolate Rose Gold”, “Mint Chocolate”, “Chocolate Orange”, and “Chocolate Elixir” are the newest.
I’ve only cracked into the “Chocolate Rose Gold” and “Chocolate Orange” so far. The shadows are good quality, but really do need a primer underneath. Both are heavy on gold/bronze, which I am really liking for this season.
Not only did I get four new eyeshadow palettes, but I got three new highlighters: “Mermaid’s Heart”, with shades ranging from blue & green to gold; “Dragon’s Heart”, with shades ranging from gold to pink & red; and “Bleeding Heart”, a shimmery blush and wine, with bronze veins running throughout. “Bleeding Heart” is my favorite.
In addition to the makeup, I got a huge Flamingo Lolli AND a Flamingo Face Mask – Holler & Glow “Babes of Paradise” Hydrating Pink Peel Off Face Mask. You KNOW I tried that face mask the same day I opened the box! It was smoothing and nearly pulled off in a single sheet – that NEVER happens. It was very similar to the GlamGlow GravityMud Mask – the silver one.
I should have surgery more often…don’t worry, I made a trip to the post office today to send a “thank you” box.