Month: June 2018
June 2018 Allure Beauty Box – Kat Von D
So this is why I signed up for the Allure Beauty Box in the first place – I saw ads about the Kat Von D box and wanted in.
Even though I already own one, the full size Everlasting Lip Liner in “Lolita” ($18) made the box a steal all on it’s own. In addition, the box included a mini Tattoo Liner in “Trooper Black”, a mini Studded Kiss Creme Lipstick in “Double Dare” (I don’t have this one), and a little Travel Mirror (which I also have.)
The box also included a promo code (ALLURE18) that gives you 2 Everlasting Lip Liquid Minis in “Exorcism” and “Nahz Fur Atoo” with a $50 purchase at katvondbeauty.com. It won’t get me to Rouge though, so I won’t use it.
The Ole Henriksen Transforming Walnut Scrub ($28) was a strange add, but I’ll take it – it was full size! I’ve tried it out already and love the way it smells.
How is the Allure box turning into my favorite box?
The Allure Beauty Box is $15/month, but they give you $5 off your first box. They also offer an option for $150/year – a savings of $30. You can sign up at https://beautybox.allure.com.
Raspberry Fizz
Ipsy did good this month! After months and months of weird polish colors, they sent me a wearable color that actually goes with the season. I got Dream by PS Cosmeceutical “Raspberry Fizz” in my June bag.
I’m not familiar with the brand PS Cosmeceutical, but their formula is on point. Nearly full coverage in one coat, so I went for two. This is the two coats over Glisten & Glow Ridge Filling Base Coat and under Glisten & Glow Top Coat.
“Raspberry Fizz” reminded me of another polish…OH! It’s very nearly a dupe for Jenna Hipp “Rose Tart”!
I also did my toes (again). The weirdest thing happened to my mermaid toes – I wore some black flats without socks for a few days and the black rubbed off onto the tips of my toenails. They weren’t even new shoes. My feet looked filthy and so I had to change the polish.
Jeffree Star – The Summer 2018 Collection
Jeffree Star, I can’t quit you. Well, your lipsticks anyway.
When Jeffree Star announced his 2018 Summer Collection, the biggest fanfare surrounded his new eye shadow palette – “Thirsty” ($48). When the Dreamsicle themed packaging was teased, I expected a warm palette with lots of oranges. There are a few, but I was really confused by the yellow and blue hues. Although some of the looks I’ve seen online from this palette are stunning, I ultimately decided to wait on this palette.
Four new flavors of Velour Lip Scrub ($12) also launched – “Pink Lemonade”, “Rainbow Sherbet”, “Orange Gummy Bears”, and “Grape Soda”. I kind of wish that I had added “Orange Gummy Bears” to my cart, but I totally forgot. Oh, and they offered an orange star Hand Mirror ($20). I never thought I needed a hand mirror until my mother-in-law asked for one the other day. Maybe I do need one?
The strength of the 2018 Summer Collection are the eight new shades of Velour Liquid Lipstick ($18). Instead of purchasing the entire collection for $105 (a savings of $39), I decided to just pick three individual shades.
The first choice was easy – “Thirst Trap” – a mellow rose gold metallic. It’s by far, my favorite of the three. It’s somewhat similar to Ofra “Versailles” – of course, with a better formula.
Next up was “Cherry Wet”. I expected a pink/red, like a cherry, but it came out more red on me. Weird.
Last was “Fudge Pop”, a glittery metallic brown. Many brown lipsticks look odd on me, but this one was just right.
You can see me modeling the shades in the Insta post to the left. Clockwise from the top left: “Thirst Trap”, “Cherry Wet”, an ombre of “Fudge Pop” and “Thirst Trap”, and “Fudge Pop” alone. The ombre is AMAZING – this might be my new go-to look this summer.
June 2018 Ipsy Bag – Flying Colors
This month, ipsy is celebrating ‘Pride Month’ with a rainbow selection of striped bags – I got the blue one, but I’ve also seen red and yellow ones.
The products this month are a bit odd. I know I should be more excited to get a MAC product, but I’m still working on a full size bottle of MAC Prep + Prime, so I don’t really need yet another sample of it. Also in this month’s bag: Dream by PS Cosmeceutical in “Raspberry Fizz” (the best color of nail polish I’ve received in an ipsy bag in at least a year); Adesse New York Lip Polish Luxury Lip Gloss in “Skinny Dip”; Kensie Eau de Parfum (never heard of it before, but it smells like one of those ‘Designer Impostor’ body sprays from the 90s); and Feel Pure Anywhere Balm in “Rose” (yassss).
If you’d like to try Ipsy – click here. I’ll earn 250 points if you sign up through my link.
Valen-time
Sinful Colors “It’s About Valen-time” is a bit out of season – it’s far past Valentine’s Day…but I’ve always got time for a pink foil.
This is two coats of “It’s About Valen-time” over Sinful Colors Base Coat (I just cracked open a brand new bottle) and under Glisten & Glow Top Coat. Application was a dream. Sometimes foils show brush strokes, but not this one. Application was smooth, although I may have gotten a single pinprick bubble.
Definitely a dupe for Zoya “Bobbi”, except it didn’t stain my nails. Bonus!
Platinum Order
Another Ulta order? So soon?
I’ve started doing this thing where, if I run out of something or if I see something I want to try, I stash it in my Ulta account and wait for a gift with purchase to hit (usually the Wednesday Beauty Break). Wouldn’t you know it, my basket got full and there was a NARS Beauty Break the week before last!
This Ulta Haul is pretty boring, to be honest. Just like almost every order, I got a Zoya Remove + ($10). I ended up buying 2 Japonesque Solid Brush Cleaners ($20), because they were BOGO Half. Freeman Masks ($4.29) were also BOGO Half, so I got Anti-Stress Dead Sea Minerals Clay Mask (I’ve had this one before and it’s very refreshing) and Brightening Green Tea + Orange Blossom Peel-Off Gel Mask (this one is new to me). The fun item that I picked up was the Memebox Black Cat Headband ($6). Do I really need a fuzzy headband with cat ears? Yes, if only because my daughter wants to steal it.
The NARS Beauty Break included 4 lip products – Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in “Dolce Vita” (I already have the lipstick); Powermatte Lip Pigment in “Starwoman”; Velvet Lip Glide in “Bound”; and Lipstick in “Orgasm” (which I just got, so I’ll give it away).
No other samples – boo, Ulta! Oh, but this order made me Platinum for 2019.
Queen Bee
I know you’re dying to read how I used my coupons from this month’s Target Beauty Boxes…literally dying.
Something I’ve noticed – it’s impossible to use two of these coupons in a single transaction. I don’t know if the products don’t stack or what, but I had well over $30 of beauty/health/dental/personal care products in my cart (not shown here – Aussie shampoo/conditioner for my son, replacement toothbrush heads and some other crap I can’t remember), but only one coupon would validate. Whatever, Target.
ANYWAY, what you care about is is the Good Chemistry Queen Bee Rollerball Perfume ($12.99) – not the Q-Tips or cotton rounds or mustache wax. I fell in love with the scent, which was included in this month’s box. The notes are black currant, peony and amber. Peony is my second favorite after rose. I didn’t smell any similarity myself, but I noticed that Bath & Body Works “Mad About You” (discontinued) is black currant, peony and vanilla.
May 2018 Allure Beauty Box – In the Fast Lane
Yup, I added yet another Beauty Box Subscription to the mix – the Allure Beauty Box. (This is different than the seasonal Allure Beauty Thrills boxes from a few years ago.) My sister used to get it a few years ago, but ended up canceling it. I was sucked in by an ad for the June box – a collab with Kat Von D. They were nice enough to start my subscription with the May box – “In the Fast Lane.”
Inside my first box: Wander Beauty Baggage Claim Gold Eye Masks (2 sets); Kenra Dry Oil Control Spray; First Aid Beauty Hello Fab Coconut Skin Smoothie Priming Moisturizer (LOVE this stuff); St. Tropez Self Tan Purity Bronzing Water Mousse (nope, nope, nope); and CLE Melting Lip Powder in “Desert Rose” (this is one of the most amazing products I’ve ever tried…this powder absolutely melted onto my lips without a mess and stays PUT – this is the next big thing in lip color).
There were also two new subscriber gifts – L’Oreal Ever Pure Hair Sheet Mask Steam Treatment (weird) and Grande Lips Hydrating Lip Plumper in “Lust Red” (my lips are plenty plump).
The products seem a bit higher end than my other boxes, but that might be because this is a more pricey box. I’ll give it a few months to see how it goes.
The Allure Beauty Box is $15/month, but they give you $5 off your first box. They also offer an option for $150/year – a savings of $30. You can sign up at https://beautybox.allure.com.
Roberta
2018 is the year of the mermaid nail polish. I just cannot get enough of these water-themed colors this summer.
Julep “Roberta” – breezy turquoise shimmer – was a bit thicker than I like. Although it was very nearly goopy, the thickness actually gave me a bit more control over the application.
This is two coats of “Roberta” over Julep Oxygen Smoothing Base Coat and under Glisten & Glow Top Coat. I think I’ll be going back to the Oxygen Smoothing Base Coat for good – this polish lasted a full week on my fingers!
I also did my toes – that’s when I noticed that the color matches my living room walls exactly. It’s like the tips of my toes disappear when they’re hanging off the edge of my sofa!
Influenster Vox Box – Pantene Foam at Walgreens
It’s been a while since I’ve gotten an Influenster Vox Box – over a year!
I qualified for the Pantene Foam at Walgreens Vox Box. Influenster sent me a full size bottle of Pantene Foam Daily Moisture Renewal Conditioner, complimentary for testing purposes. I am happy to test a conditioner, since I have far more samples of shampoo than conditioner stacked in my shower.
When I first started using it, it was very, VERY hard to get past the initial impression – which is rubbing shaving cream in your hair. Once you start working it in though, it feels nothing like shaving cream. As it melts into your hair, it feels more like a regular conditioner. I really like how it makes my hair feel, moisturized, but not weighed down. Some conditioners make my soft, but limp, but there was still a bunch of bounce in my hair with the Pantene. This is a really nice product.
It remains to be seen as to whether I will permanently add this product into the rotation, but it is a distinct possibility.
All June at Walgreens, you can BUY 1, Get 1 50% Off Pantene Products. Plus, get a $5 Off digital coupon (available on the Walgreens app or Walgreens.com) when you EITHER Buy 2 Pantene Foam Products OR Buy Any 3 Pantene Hair Products. If you REALLY want to stack the deal, you also get $3 in Walgreens Reward Points when you buy any 3 Pantene Products.
Thanks Influenster!