Month: December 2018
Aarhus
Aarhus is the second largest city in Denmark. “Aarhus” is also the name of the nail polish by Tinct Cosmetics in my ipsy bag this month. Tinct is a new brand to me, but their polish is 15 free and so, so bright. “Aaruhus” looks like a purple highlighter!
This is two coats of “Aarhus” over Glisten & Glow Ridge Filling Base Coat and under Glisten & Glow Top Coat. I did not play with the Matte Top Coat this time. The top coat made a few baldish spots – if you squint, you can see it on my middle finger.
Looking at my nails, it’s obvious that I need to do something about my thumb and index finger. The other three nails are neat squovals, but that index finger is starting to look like a stiletto. I don’t know how or why, but it always happens that way.
Xmas Eve Nails
Waylaid by the flu, I am a wee bit late on posts. Christmas is but a memory, but here I am, sharing my Xmas Eve Nails.
I started with Sinful Colors Base Coat and two coats of Sinful Colors “Ruby Glisten” as the background for my tree. To make my trees, I used China Glaze “For Rhinestones Only” to draw a tree shape and dipped each nail in the little pot of Grinchworthy Grinch Tinsel. Yeah, it pretty much got everywhere. For the stars on the trees, I fished them out of Sinful Colors “Star Studded”. For the decorations, I used a dotting tool dipped in Sinful Colors “Queen of Beauty”. I topped it all with Glisten & Glow Top Coat. Several gloppy coats and they were still bumpy.
I think they turned out all right, but the texture was intolerable. I could not handle it for more than a day…and then it took more than an hour to scrub these trees off my nails. Do not recommend.
December 2018 Allure Beauty Box – By Popular Demand
As soon as spoilers began popping up, I was pumped. Partially because of NikkieTutorials – gotta support the tall girls – but mostly because her product choices are on point.
I’ve been wanting to try out Juvia’s Place eye shadows, so I was most excited about the custom palette created by Juvia’s Place, just for the Allure Beauty Box. The custom palette contains six out of the twelve shades in The Nubian Palette. Having been struck with the flu, I haven’t yet tried it – I am counting the minutes until I am germ free!
Also in Nikkie’s box: OFRA x NikkiTutorials Everglow Highlighter (oh, we’re still doing highlighters?); NYX Lip Lingerie in “Cabaret Show” (I don’t have this one – score!); Ren Clean Skincare Evercalm Overnight Recovery Balm; LASplash Art-Ki-Tekt Waterproof Slim Eyeliner; and single foil packed Neutrogena Makeup Remover Wipe (Isn’t this the product that gave eveyone rashes? Um, no thanks).
This box is nearly a full face – for just $15! The booklet is also full of discount codes for most of the brands included – 30% off OFRA, 10% off Juvia’s Place, 20% off Ren and 25% off LASplash.
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. Sign up via my referral link..
Alessandra
Snowflakes on my nails, but it’s in the mid 70s in South Texas right now. These snowflakes are the only thing wintery right now!
For the best contrast, I picked the darkest polish in this month’s box – Julep “Alessandra”. Julep describes it as inked berry microshimmer, but wouldn’t it be easier to just call it blackberry?
This is two coats of “Alessandra” over Julep Oxygen Smoothing Base Coat. I then oh-so-carefully placed the snowflake decals with tweezers. I just had to see what Glisten & Glow Matte Top Coat looked like over the decals, so I used it on my thumb and ring finger, while using the regular Glisten & Glow Top Coat on the rest. I was afraid the Matte Top Coat would glob up over the decals, but it didn’t. Even so, it wasn’t as pretty Matte as it was shiny. Bummer.
December 2018 Julep Box – Bliss in the Kiss
Julep’s lead product for the December Collection was lipstick, but I am REAL hesitant to get more Julep lipsticks – they go bad so quickly. I appreciate the fresh ingredients and lack of preservatives…but their products go rancid within six months! The liquid lipsticks seem to fare better, I’ll keep buying those.
I don’t remember choosing these polishes, but they look like colors I would choose, so I must have.
My selections were Wonder Maven “Marleny” – cool peony shimmer, It Girl “Lennon” – galactic holographic shimmer, and Bombshell “Alessandra” – inked berry microshimmer. I am loving all these cool-toned polishes for sweater weather. Oh, and I also got another sheet of snowflake decals. I love these intricate snowflakes!
Not a Julep Maven? Click HERE to join – I’ll get a $15 credit and you’ll get your first box free!
Candy Ginger
I’ve been very vocal in the past about my discomfort with yellow nail polishes. Sinful Colors “Candy Ginger” is a Jelly Topper from this holiday’s “Jingle Jells” Collection. I fell in love with this polish – it didn’t make me look like Marge Simpson AT all.
I think the key is the matte finish – I used Glisten & Glow Matte Top Coat on all my nails, except the thumb and ring finger. (I picked it up during the Black Friday sale, when I replenished my supply of the regular top coat, but I didn’t make a post about it.) Glisten & Glow is the best matte top coat I’ve tried…although admittedly, only one of two I’ve tried. The Zoya Matte Top Coat is fine, but it has a tendency to get white and crusty around the edges of my nails – Glisten & Glow does not do that, at least not yet.
I started with Sinful Colors Base Coat and then did two coats of “Candy Ginger”. This is just two coats! I then used either Glisten & Glow Top Coat or Glisten & Glow Matte Top Coat. I love, love, love the Matte ones. Matte ALL the nails!
December 2018 Ipsy Bag – Be Merry. Be Bright. Be Bold. Be You.
Sweet lord, I am behind. The holidays are upon us and I am barely hanging on. I promise, you’ll get all my beauty updates…eventually.
This month’s Ipsy bag is luxe as fuck. It’s a black pleather bag, with gold sequins on the front, with a pink satin lining. You could use it as a clutch on a night out!
Inside this luxe bag: It Cosmetics Superhero Elastic Stretch Volumizing Mascara in “Black” (I really need to trash all my open mascara and start over – I think I will start with this one); Tinct Cosmetics Nail Polish in “Aarhus” (weird name for a cosmetics company and an even weirder name for a plain purple polish); Delectable by Cake Beauty “Iced Gingerbread” Hand Cream (seasonal); F.A.R.A.H. Brushes Tapered Blending Brush 35E; and TLW Frizz Fighter. As a special bonus, I received an SLMISSGLAM L36 Tapered Highlight Brush. I think it is safe to say that tapered brushes are “in” right now.
A GREAT bag itself, with some…interesting…products.
If you’d like to try Ipsy – click here. I’ll earn 250 points if you sign up through my link.
Target Beauty Boxes – December 2018
My Target Beauty Boxes got here quick! I mean…they sat on the counter for about a week before I opened them, but they got here quick.
I love His & Hers Beauty Boxes. My box – “Hello Glow!” – has lots of citrus scented products: bliss Lemon & Sage Body Butter; ME! Bath Coconut & Lime Bath Bomb (would it be tacky to stuff this in one of the kids’ stockings?); and Dr. Teals Pink Himalayan Body Scrub. I love citrus-y stuff. There’s also some non-citrus stuff: Que Bella Professional Plumping Gold Peel off Mask; Ponds Cold Cream; and Dove Nutritive Solutions Intensive Repair Shampoo (no conditioner – assholes!)
His box – “Hello Handsome!” – has lots of good stuff, too. My husband will enjoy: Degree for Men Black & White UltraClear Antiperspirant; Harry’s Shiso Body Wash; Crest Gum Detoxify Toothpaste (cooling activated foam!); Dove Men+Care Body Wash Minerals + Sage; Cremo Bourbon & Oak Solid Cologne (my son said it smells good, but it smells like a bar rag to me); Bulldog Skincare Sachet Perforated Trio (moisturizer, face wash & shave gel).
A good value for $7 each . As usual, free shipping, 5% off with my Red Card and each came with a $3 off $15 coupon for beauty/personal care. I hope I get a chance to use them!
Sandee
Where was this polish on Thanksgiving? It would have been perfect for Turkey Day!
Julep “Sandee” is a dark, almost black polish, infused with an oxblood shimmer. It’s not a subtle shimmer either – it’s like POW!
This is two coats of “Sandee” over Julep Oxygen Smoothing Base Coat and under Glisten & Glow Top Coat. The polish was a bit on the thicker side, but it applied well, with minimal pooling around my cuticles. I was also pleased to find that is did not stain my nails.
I cannot WAIT to try “Sandee” with my new Glisten & Glow Matte Top Coat – it is my new favorite top coat.
Lolita Por Vida
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I’ve been waiting months and months for the Kat Von D “Lolita” Palette ($39). She’s been teasing it for months. Do I really need more eye shadow? No. The question should be, do I WANT more eye shadow? Yes. Yes, I do.
The “Lolita” Palette is an entirely matte palette, meant to coordinate with Kat Von D’s most popular shade of lipstick. The eight shades are all matte and are various pinks/mauves/maroons. This palette is magic for me so far – the colors are perfect on me. I’ve been going gaga over the Naked Cherry Palette, but I’ve got a new favorite…of course, until I start buying the three new Born to Run Mini Palettes…
Also included in the release are Everlasting Glimmer Veil in “Lolita” ($22) and Ink Well Long-Wear Matte Eyeliner in “Lolita” ($20). I bought both. The Glimmer Veil looks nice alone or over another lipstick. I like it over the OG “Lolita”. I haven’t tried to Eyeliner yet…soon!
I’m still bummed about Sephora dropping down to just two samples per order. I cannot be too mad though – this is the first time in FOREVER that I actually got the same samples I picked. I was pumped that they were offering samples of the newest scent from Atelier Cologne – Pacific Lime. It’s more subtle than their other citrus scents, but still unique. I’m going to have to add it to my collection! I also picked a sample of Dolce & Gabbana Garden. It smells like cheap wine coolers and pink grapefruit to me? But in a good way…
I was able to use the $25 off $75 code – it’s not as good a deal as previous years’ $25 off $50 – times are tough right now. This purchase also pushed me over the threshold to Rouge for 2019. This year, there was a choice between a Makeup Brush or a special Rouge Makeup Bag. I chose the Makeup Bag. I never need more Makeup Bags.