Month: July 2019
July 2019 Ipsy Bag – Dive In
Dive in? Well, okay. I’m just glad that the “Dive In” theme isn’t all waterproof products – I cannot ever get that shit off.
My product choice this month was Smashbox Cosmetics Always On Lipstick in “Babe Alert”. Nude rose – I cannot get enough of nude rose lipstick.
Also in this month’s palm frond decorated ipsy bag: Billion Dollar Brows Eyebrow Brush (the insert says that the brush is infused with charcoal to resist bacteria – what? why?); Color Club Nail Polish in “Palm to Palm” (it matches the palm fronds on the makeup bag); FEEL Mindful Palo Santo Soothing Mask; and TheBalm Cosmetics Eyeshadow in “He Said, She Said” (I may need to try a primer woith this shade – I used it this morning, and the shimmery lavender shade was barely visible).
If you’d like to try Ipsy – click here. I’ll earn 250 points if you sign up through my link.
Frida Kahlo x Ulta Beauty
It’s here – the collaboration of the year! Ulta Beauty just released a collaboration with the estate of Frida Kahlo. While Frida herself may have rolled her eyes at the commercialism aspect of her image and artwork being used to sell makeup, she LOVED beauty and I think would appreciate the celebration of her legacy.
The cornerstone of the collection is the Signature Box, which includes a 12 shade eye shadow palette and a New Hue Shadow Switching Pan in a Keepsake Box ($30). This is now my FAVORITE eye shadow palette – sorry KvD. I already have a New Hue Pan, but I don’t mind having another one. (Or Lily might get lucky…)
I also picked up the Face Primer ($15) – and it smells AMAZING. The scent is lightly floral, but not gagging. It’s a clear gel primer and it immediately blurs all my imperfections. It doesn’t break me out (so far) and it also works great as an eye shadow primer.
I splurged on all 4 of the Matte Liquid Lipsticks ($10 each). My favorite is “Pasion”, a universally flattering orangey red. “Surreal” is a dark mauve. I didn’t care for “Vida” – it is too light on me and was streaky. I’ll be trying the chestnut brown “Sensual” tomorrow. All the the lipsticks are super long-lasting – more so than other Ulta brand Liquid Lipsticks I’ve tried. They’re also not drying, which is crucial.
The last piece of the collection that I purchased was the Floral Headband ($18). My husband HATES it, but I LOVE it. He says it makes me look like an old lady, but I don’t care. I struggled a little bit with it – is it cultural appropriation? Ultimately, I decided it’s not different than when I wear floral headbands at the Ren Fest. It’s not necessarily work-appropriate, but fun for costumes.
I didn’t get the WHOLE collection – there is also the Artist Brush Set ($30), Liquid Illuminator ($10), Blush & Bronzer Duo ($12), a Brow Master Palette ($15 – and brows ARE what you think of when you think about Frida), and a Cosmetic Bag ($20). I really agonized over the Cosmetic Bag, but I couldn’t rationalize it with all the bags I already have. If any of it goes clearance, I might pick it up – as well as a back-up of the Primer.
I postponed my order until I could get a REALLY good gift with purchase – and not just one, but two of them. The Clinique gift was small, with deluxe samples of High Impact Mascara and Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm. The Ulta gift (free with $60 purchase) was really nice. It was a big comfy Cosmetic bag with an eye shadow & cheek palette; Face Highlighting & Color Stick in “Pixie Dust”; Makeup Remover Facial Towelettes; Lip Crayon in “Festival”; Patent Shine Liquid Lipstick in “Verona”; Matte Eye Primer in “Nude”; Hydrating Face Primer; Ultamate Lashes Mascara in “Jet Black”; Cheek Brush; Mini Blending Sponge (OMG, the tiniest one I have ever seen – it looks like a hummingbird egg); 3 hair ties; and a $5 off $15 Ulta coupon
Not only did I use a $10 off coupon, but also $59 in Ulta points that I had accumulated. My whole order was just $34 + tax!
Oh…and this order made me platinum for 2020…will I get to Diamond? Maaaaaaybe.
Target Beauty Box – July 2019
Coming home from vacation to a pile of Beauty Boxes (and Zulily/Victoria’s Secret packages) is AWESOME!
First up is this month’s Target Beauty Box – “Gym Bag Beauty”, which includes Simple Sassy Sachet Moisturizing Face Wash (it comes in a little pouch, so you can squeeze out every last drop – I’ve already started using it and I LOVE it); Simple Micellar Cleansing Water (also in an earth-friendly pouch); Nexxus Frizz Defy Anti-Frizz Sheets, Crest Kid’s Anticavity Cavity Protection Flouride Toothpaste Strawberry Rush (a weird choice, but I’m digging it); Head & Shoulders Smooth & Silky Shampoo and Conditioner (I’ve already started using this as well – had a few flakes lately); and Acure Radically Rejuvenating Day Cream Facial Moisturizer – SPF 30.
For the first time in a long while, I think I will be using everything in this box!
A good value for $7. As usual, free shipping, 5% off with my Red Card and a $3 off $15 coupon. This month’s coupon was scannable – I added it into my app this morning and headed to Target to pick up Method Body Wash in “Pure Peace” – I got it in a Target Beauty Box in January and I LOVE the smell. I also picked up some shaving cream for my husband and MY DAUGHTER…cray cray, I know.
Tutti Frutti Tonga
What is the correct way to spell “Tutti Frutti”? According to OPI “Tutti Frutti Tonga”, it’s “frutti”…but according to Sally Hansen “Tutti-Fruitti”, it’s “fruitti”. Wikipedia says “Tutti Frutti”, as does Little Richard…so I guess Sally Hansen can SUCK IT.
ANYWAY, this is two coats of OPI “Tutti Frutti Tonga” over Glisten & Glow Ridge-Filling Base Coat (I got my new bottle – yay) and under Glisten & Glow Top Coat. I like how pearly it is – but that quality made the polish hella-streaky and it left drag marks on my nails. The second coat self-leveled a bit better, but it still looks streaky to me.
Frankly, I expect better from OPI – I am very disappointed in this polish.
Body Language
Miss me? I took an extra long summer vacation this year (drove all the way from Texas to New York with my sister, to see my other sister – 10/10, highly recommend a sister roadtrip), which included a full website hiatus. I was maybe, a little bit getting burned out and disconnecting really felt good. But now I’m itching to post about a month’s worth of beauty boxes that were waiting for me on my kitchen counter when I got home.
Sinful Colors “Body Language” was a polish I wore before my vacation, but I just didn’t have time to post it. It’s one of the darker shades from the “Naughty Nudes” Collection. The polish is a chocolately brown, but with an extra pearly green shimmer. It kind of reminded me of boogers…
This is two coats of “Body Language” over Sinful Colors Base Coat, with Glisten & Glow Top Coat on all but my pinky – gotta have that mattified pinky. (I used Glisten & Glow Matte Top Coat.) I think I need to try it with a gold or green glitter.
One Last Semi-Stop
I controlled myself so well…until Sunday, the very last day of the Semi-Annual Sale. I found myself at the mall, killing time while Lily was at a birthday party…
The pickens were pretty slim on the last day of the sale….but there was plenty of $2 and $3 Hand Soap. I picked up 12 – 10 for me and 2 for my big sis, because they match her kitchen.
I used a $10 off $30 coupon – all this was just $23 AND CHANGE!
Just 6 more months until the next sale…
Aphrodite
Ahhhh…this is more like it.
Formula X “Aphrodite” is a beautiful brass/pewter holographic polish. As old as this polish must be, it still applied beautifully. This is two light coats, over Glisten & Glow Base Coat and under Glisten & Glow Top Coat…except for that mattified pinky nail with Glisten & Glow Matte Top Coat. (I just received a new bottle in the mail today – squeeeeee!)
Holographic nail polishes are underrated – especially in the summer. Indoors, they look like plain old gray nails, but outside in the sunlight – they take on a life of their own! The holo sparkle in “Aphrodite” is a whole-ass rainbow on my fingers!
Pepto Pizzaz
Ugh, I am about fucking DONE with L.A. Colors – this polish pissed me off SO MUCH.
This is L.A. Colors “Pizzaz” – I picked it up at WalMart a few weeks ago. It was 98 cents, on a clearance end cap – I should’ve known better!
Why am I so irritated? This polish was a streaky, chalky mess. Even after two coats, there were streaks and drag marks. The finish of the polish itself was demi-matte, and there was a tantalizing bit of purple opalescent shimmer before I hit the top coats. Of course, that shimmer totally disappeared after the top coats – I was just left with Pepto Bismol pink. This is two coats over Glisten & Glow Base Coat, with Glisten & Glow Matte Top Coat on my thumb and ring finger, and regular Glisten & Glow Top Coat on the rest.
June 2019 Ipsy Bag – Block Party
I feel like June’s ipsy bag is a pretty big deal…it’s a full collab with Tetris! It’s not just the bag(s), ipsy released a full line of Tetris-themed makeup and brushes – 13 year old me, as well as 43 year old me thinks that’s pretty cool.
My bag included a Tetris-themed Tapered Blending Brush and I paid $3 extra to get one of the single eyeshadows – “Block Party”, a bronze/rose gold shade. It’s decent quality and stays on without primer. There were also full coordinated palettes available to add to my bag, but I wasn’t feeling any of the color schemes.
Also in this month’s “Block Party” bag: Hey Honey Sweet Treat Wild Berry & Honey Yogurt Recovery Mask (mmmm); First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Hyaluronic Hydrating Primer; Neogen Code9 Black Volume Cream (sounds like a product from The Matrix – I am literally scared to try it); and ETAT LIBRE D’ORANGE I Am Trash Les Fleurs Du Déchet Eau de Parfum (you gotta love a perfume called “I am Trash” – it actually smells really good, like orange peels).
This month’s bag is a great value!
If you’d like to try Ipsy – click here. I’ll earn 250 points if you sign up through my link.
Reflection Pool
Oh hey, What do you think of Sally Hansen Color Therapy “Reflection Pool”? It’s pretty tight. It’s a shimmery teal, with a hint of purple.
I am SOLD on the Sally Hansen Color Therapy (with Argan Oil) formula – this is one of the nicest polish formulas I’ve ever used. The perfect consistency – not too thick or too thin – and it self-levels like a dream. No drag marks, no bubbles. I wish it was a little bit cheaper – this baby was $6.79 – and some shades are $7.99 – almost OPI prices!
This is two coats over Glisten & Glow Base Coat and under Glisten & Glow Top Coat.
I also did my toes – perfect for pool time. Only problem – I need a (closer) friend with a pool.