Month: June 2023
June 2023 Ipsy Bag – Ready, Set, Play!
I am so behind…more time in the office, less time in the house, ugh…
I haven’t touched a single thing in this month’s ipsy bag – not a thing! My product choice this month was Frank Body Rosehip Body Scrub & Cleanser – it looks like it would be a good pouch for travel, so I think I’ll wait until my next trip (Reno in July) to try it out.
I also got: Adesse New York Nail Polish in “Bellini” (very, VERY pale pink); BareMinerals Complexion Rescue Natural Matte Tinted Moisturizer in “Vanilla” (I have been wanting to try this – going into the office more might be a good excuse); Dito ICE CREAM Liquid Lipstick in “Lucky”; and WingMe Cosmetics 03 Small Shading Brush (that’s right – another FUCKING eye brush).
This month’s brands seem a bit off, but there is a good mix of products…plus a super soft and squishy bag.
I subscribe to the basic ipsy bag for $13/month and Icon Box (formerly Glam Bag X) for an extra $43/quarterly. If you’d like to try Ipsy – click here. I’ll earn 250 points if you sign up through my referral link.
Chamomile Calm
Is it me…or does this nail polish color look like hummus?
That’s not necessarily a bad thing – I LOVE hummus. I eat it as a whole-ass meal several times a week.
It’s NOT hummus though, it’s supposed to be chamomile – Sinful Colors “Chamomile Calm”. Chamomile flowers have white petals, with bright yellow centers – so I’m assuming that this goldish polish is supposed to represent the color of chamomile tea. I am not a big chamomile drinker – I don’t know that I’ve ever had a cup – but this scented polish certainly did smell a bit like Sleepytime Tea, so that must be the chamomile.
This is two coats of “Chamomile Calm” over Glisten & Glow Ridge Filling Base Coat.
Licorice Allsorts
Say hello to my new favorite nails polish: Lilypad Lacquer “Licorice allsorts”, from May’s Polish Pickup. I don’t say that lightly, either. It’s black, but it’s pink, but it’s rainbow! It’s the perfect polish for my Goth Barbie heart. This is the first polish that I’ve loved enough to wear TWICE IN A ROW. That’s right, I took it off and then put it right back on my nails, wearing it for nearly two weeks straight. I also took it with me to the nail salon for my most recent pedicure. I love this polish THAT much. Even though it’s full of flakies, it doesn’t lift or peel. It’s very long lasting, yet easy to remove. It’s the holy grail of flakie polishes!
How ironic that my new favorite nail polish is named after my LEAST favorite candy, if indeed you consider licorice to be candy, which I do not. (Technically, I’ve never had licorice allsorts, but I’ve had regular black licorice – close enough.)
This is two coats of “Licorice allsorts” over Vibrant Scents Base Coat in “Island Petals” and under Vibrant Scents Top Coat in “Island Petals”.
National Nail Polish Day 2023
Last June, I wanted the Scünci Pride Claw Clips ($7.99), but I didn’t order them in time and they were sold out. Not this year! One for me and one for daughter. The Great Hair Event was still going on when I placed the order, so I ordered Arctic Fox “Poison” for 50% off ($9.24 instead of $18.49). I intended it for my daughter, and even ordered a Lime Crime Bushy Brow Pencil in “Valentine” ($15)…but it was missing from my order! Then she told me that she has to die her hair back brown for Band…so I guess I’ll use it in my hair? I don’t need the brow pencil, so I just accepted a refund from customer care.
Oh, and I have been liking moisturizing primers lately, so I decided to try Tula Filter Primer Blurring & Moisturizing Primer ($38). I really like it so far – it is very smoothing and as far as I can tell, I am NOT breaking out. It’s a similar texture to Benefit Primers, except it doesn’t roll up into booger particles on your fingers.
Since I ordered this little haul on National Nail Polish Day, I received one of two different samplers with my $50 purchase. Inside the sampler: Flowery Duraboard Nail File 2 pack; Dashing Diva Glow Gel Nail Strips in “Ballet Blooms Mini”; Londontown KUR Perfecting Nail Veil “Shade 4” (‘Nail Veil’ – that’s a new one); Sally Hansen Insta-Dri “Petal Pusher”; Essie “Mrs. Always Right” (it me!); OPI Infinite Shine “Sage Simulation”; and China Glaze “Tropic Like It’s Hot”.
Just $591 to Diamond in 2024.
Purple Thunder
By Vanessa Molina “Purple Thunder” was the first polish I tried from May’s Polish Pickup. I was really impressed by the formula – it went on smooth and lasted quite a long time. Why can’t all polishes be like this? How do they get the flakies to lay so flat without lifting?
This is two coats of “Purple Thunder” over Vibrant Scents Base Coat in “Island Petals” and under Vibrant Scents Top Coat on “Island Petals”.
I still haven’t come across a Circle K yet, to try to find the elusive Mountain Dew Purple Thunder…I’ll keep trying though.
Summer Fun Ulta Haul
I must be depressed…I’ve been shopping an awful lot lately. Hmmm…oh well, I’ll feel a lot better if my skin looks nice.
I cannot believe I am saying this…but I cannot WAIT to get an ingrown hair, so that I can try out the Fur Ingrown Microdart Patch ($22.40, regularly $28). I am a longtime sufferer of ingrowns on my bikini line – I am thrilled to find out if these little patches can ease some of my pain! Updates to come…
Speaking of skincare, I wasn’t thrilled with the wet n wild micellar water I got recently, so I picked up Garnier SkinActive Micellar Cleansing Water with Rose Water ($11.99). I also want to save the planet from my cotton pad habit, so I also got Garnier SkinActive Micellar Cleansing Eco Pads, Reusable, 3 Pack ($11.99). I also received a gift with purchase: a Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water deluxe sample.
I did splurge a little bit…I got the limited edition Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Poutsicle Hydrating Lip Stain in “Fuchsia Wife” ($27). I know that’s a lot for a lippie, but I really liked the color name. I was hedging my bets in hoping that the formula is similar to Colourpop Glossy Lip Stains – and it is, although at a premium price. I’ve worn “Fuchsia Wife” a few times and that stuff stays on like crazy! No regertz.
My $60 purchase garnered me ANOTHER gift with purchase – a suncare sampler: Ulta Beauty Gradual Self Tan Facial Mist (gifting to the daughter); Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protector Lotion (this shit is BOMB); St. Tropez Luxe Tan Tonic Drops (gifting to the son); CeraVe Facial Moisturizing Lotion; COOLA Organic Makeup Setting Spray; La Roche-Posay Anthelios UV Correct Daily Lotion; Avene Solaire UV Mineral Multi-Defense Sunscreen Fluid; Jack Black Double-Duty Face Moisturizer (gifting to son); and Dermalogica Daily Moisturizer. Ain’t NOBODY gonna burn in my house.
$667 to Diamond Status in 2024.
Polish Pickup May 2023 – Junk Food
Ya’ll…I might be hooked on Polish Pickup.
May’s theme was Junk Food…and I may have gravitated towards a specific kind of junk food – Mountain Dew. Three of the four items I purchased are Mountain Dew related! The Vapid Wax “Gamer Fuel” Wax Melts ($6) and Bluebird Lacquer Cuticle Balm No More Uglies in “Baja Blast” ($7) are scented like…you guessed it…Mountain Dew “Baja Blast”, my favorite flavor of Mountain Dew. They really DO smell like “Baja Blast” tastes, although the wax melts have an underlying hint of that orange puke sawdust smell (that weird shit they used to pour on vomit in elementary school, it’s a very unique smell.) One of the polishes I ordered is By Vanessa Molina “Purple Thunder” ($13), which is based on Mountain Dew “Purple Thunder”. I don’t think I’ve ever encountered this flavor…now I’m on the hunt! (A quick google says it’s exclusive to Circle K – I’ll be looking.)
Lilypad Lacquer “Licorice Allsorts” ($14) is the other polish I picked. Although I wouldn’t touch licorice with a 10 foot pole, this polish drew me in…I’m excited to see what they look like in person…
Influenster Vox Box – Charlotte Tilbury Collagen Lip Bath Gloss
Influenster and Charlotte Tilbury graciously sent me a complimentary sample of Collagen Lip Bath in “Refresh Rose” in exchange for my honest review.
Normally, I’m not a big fan of lip plumpers. My sister got me Lip Venom when it first came out – I don’t think they even make it anymore, it was so spicy. I’ve also tried Too Faced Lip Injection, as well as several other brands. I never noticed much of a difference, but then again I have full lips. I am definitely not the target market. The website touts marine collagen as the ingredient that causes plumper lips. The tingling feeling is coming from menthol and peppermint oil, so if you’re sensitive to either of those two ingredients – it’s best to steer clear. I definitely prefer the minty tingle to the capsicum that fuels some other plumpers.
I am also not big on lip glosses right now, preferring a smoother balm that doesn’t get all over everything. I will say that the collagen lip bath doesn’t make a mess and it felt nice on my lips. Since “Refresh Rose” is a clear gloss, I’v e been using it over lip stains and I really like how it feels and lasts all day. I also like the unique heart shaped applicator…that’s a new one to me.
I looked up the price point – $35 – and internally screamed. A bit pricy for a gloss, no matter how nice. If they drop it down to $20, I think they’d sell a lot more…I’m guessing that’s why I’ve never gotten any Charlotte Tilbury products before…it’s pricey AF.
Berry Crush
Sinful Colors “Berry Crush” is from Winnie Harlow’s “Fruity Blend” Collection. It’s an…odd polish. It’s a sheer, demi-matte red, with black micro-glitter that looks like seeds. It really does look like a smoothie made with strawberries and blueberries.
This is two coats of “Berry Crush” over Glisten & Glow Ridge Filling Top Coat. This polish chipped super fast without a top coat.
Comet Mebro
Funky Fingers “Comet Mebro” is supposed to be a color-changing solar polish…but since I bought it on clearance over 6 years ago…I guess this polish is no longer feeling like changing it’s color. I tried it in full sun…nothing. I even shoved my hands underneath one of my husband’s plant lights…NOTHING. Oh well.
Without that fun feature, this is just another sheer blue nail polish.
This is two coats of “Comet Mebro” (…and what a cringey name) under Vibrant Scents Base Coat in “Island Petals” and under Vibrant Scents Top Coat in “Island Petals”.