Month: November 2024
Another Wicked Haul
A $10 off $50 code from Ulta means MORE Wicked products!
I have been eyeing the Scünci Wicked Elphaba Wavy Metal Claw Clip ($14) for a bit. That’s a lot for me to pay for a hair clip, but it’s SO FANCY! I also have had my eye on the r.e.m. beauty x Wicked Tulip Field Lip Stain in “Made in Oz” ($18). I am glad I grabbed it when I did, because all three shades are out of stock online.
While looking for the Tulip Field Lip Stain, I came across r.e.m. beauty Practically Permanent Lip Stain Marker in “booked and busy” ($17). I miss the lip stain markers that Ulta used to carry and this one is even better! I might pick up a few more…
OK, I need to learn to look at the sizes of products before I buy them…tell me WHY I paid $10.20 (on sale from $17) for a Biolage Smooth Proof Deep Treatment Pack Multi Use Hair Mask that is only 3.75 ounces? I usually get Shea Moisture or HASK packettes that are 1.75 ounces and less than $2. I was expecting to get more than 3-4 uses out of this damn thing…
OH! The whole reason I started the order was NOT for Wicked goodies…it was because my favorite brow pencil – Ulta Ultra Slim Brow Pencil in “Dark Brown” was on sale for 40% off ($6.60). I added a pack of Exfoliating Cotton Rounds ($2.39, also 40% off) and an EcoTools Exfoliating EcoPouf Loofah ($2.09, just 30% off).
Fiyero’s My Mani
And we wrap up the “Elphaba” side of the polishes with OPI x Wicked “Fiyero’s My Mani”. It’s a super shiny royal blue polish. I got loads of compliments from this polish and it lasted quite a while on my nails – 6 days! It probably lasted so long because I trimmed my nails super short. I don’t know what I’ve done to them – they have been peeling and splitting lately.
I’ll be honest – this shade reminds me of the cap of an old school blue BIC pen. You know the ones – the clear shaft with the pointy plastic lid. I am looking at mine right now – it’s on the desk in my home office/yarn/Barbie room.
This is two coats of “Fiyero’s My Mani” over Cuticula Mic Drop Base Coat in “Melt Down” and under Cuticula Limitless Top Coat in “Champagne Toast“.
November 2024 Ipsy Icon Box – Lisa Vanderpump
I am aware that there is a show called Vanderpump Rules, and I assume that is Lisa Vanderpump comes from…but I have no context to understand how she would be relevant to my life? A quick Google tells me that she was originally one of the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills…so this lady is DEFINITELY not relevant to my life.
I made a boo boo with my product choices this month. I didn’t remember that I already picked 5 SENS “Life of the Party” ($65) for May’s Icon Box. Oopsie…it will make a great Xmas gift? I am IN LOVE with the Fenty Skin Cherry Dub Triple Action Body Scrub ($36) though – it smells go good and makes my skin so smooth. I have not tried the Polite Society Polite Pout Glossy Lip Balm in “Pink Grapefruit” ($21) yet, but I am sure I will love it.
I admit, the last few weeks have been busy and I have not had a chance to try the rest of this month’s products: Keys Soulcare Truly Becoming Multi Benefit Peptide Serum ($38); KVD Beauty Good Apple Full-Coverage Transfer-Proof Serum Foundation in “Light 008” ($42 – I have no idea when I’ll try this…I am now drowning in foundations!); LYS Beauty Speak Love Moisture Matte Lipstick in “Sincere” ($20); Origins GinZing SPF 30 Daily Moisturizer ($38); and tarte Tartelette Juicy Amazonian Clay Palette ($47 – I am most definitely gonna sell this on Poshmark, because tarte eye shadow is like that Tinkerbell makeup my mom used to buy me from the Avon lady).
This month’s box is only worth $307, but it feels like a lot more!
I subscribe to the basic ipsy bag for $14/month (recently increased from $13/month) and Icon Box (formerly Glam Bag X) for an extra $60/quarterly (recently increased from $43/quarterly). If you’d like to try Ipsy – click here. I’ll earn 250 points if you sign up through my referral link.
Ozitively Elphaba
I pulled out another Madame Alexander Happy Meal Toy to show off OPI x Wicked “Ozitively Elphaba”. Wicked opens in a matter of days, I hope Lily and I get to go see it this weekend!
While similar to “Witch O’Clock”, the olive green has a golden pearl sheen that gives it a nice chromed look. While more difficult to use, it’s not a brush stroke nightmare like some pearled polishes – “Tokyo Pearl”, I’m looking at you.
This is two coats of “Ozitively Elphaba” over Cuticula Mic Drop Base Coat in “Melt Down” and under Cuticula Limitless Top Coat in “Blackberry Passionfruit“. The scent was delightful, leaning more to the passionfruit side, and dried quick and hard. I was worried that it would be tacky like “Zombie Juice”, but there’s nothing to worry about – it dried perfectly.
Something’s Missing Ulta Haul
It’s that time of year where my hauls stop making sense…because I am buying GIFTS and I’m only showing you what I got for myself…
I still haven’t gotten that Naked Palette out of the Mini Brands x Ulta Balls…I did get an Allnighter Setting Spray, so I’m getting closer at least.
I got a brand new Maybelline Teddy Tint in “Mascara Tear” ($12.99) because I thought it was a lip stain…Benetint is a stain, but Teddy Tint is just a regular matte liquid lipstick. On it’s own, it dried tacky and I hated it. I tried it as a liner with a gloss on top and it was very nice…I need to stop buying such cheap ass lip products…
No hints on the gift I got or WHO I got it for…but I was able to use a $15 off code AND the last $36 of Ulta points I had stashed…and I STILL qualified for free gift with my $60 purchase…it came with Lancome Renergie H.C.F. Triple Serum; it Cosmetics Confidence in a Cleanser; Kiehl’s Ferulic Brew Rejuvenating Facial Essence (huh?); a deluxe sample bottle of Viktor & Rolf Good Fortune; and Lancome Idole Lash Mascara.
…I think I have another Ulta order sitting on my couch.
Nichibotsu
Phoenix “Nichibotsu” is from October’s “Natural Phenomenon” Polish Pickup and is inspired by a particular scene in Hunter x Hunter, a popular anime series that I haven’t seen. (My son is a BIG fan.) “Nichibotsu” means sunset in Japanese, and this polish is a multichrome that flashes between bright violet and fiery sunset.
This is my first magnetic nail polish! I’m still getting the hang of it – I don’t think I left the magnet above my nail for long enough, because my thumb and ring finger were really the only ones that “stayed” magentized. I’ll try again soon!
This is two coats of “Nichibotsu” over Cuticula Mic Drop Base Coat in “Melt Down” and under Cuticula Limitless Top Coat in “Champagne Toast“.
A Little Saturday Haul
Last Saturday, Lily wanted a haircut and I had just gotten my $25 off Beauty Services Voucher from Ulta for achieving Diamond Status, so we turned it into a whole day with Taco Bell and shopping…
While she was getting her hairs did with my coupon, I decided to use my free product coupon to pick a new foundation. Ulta expanded the eligible items, so I landed on Clinique Beyond Perfecting Foundation + Concealer in “Breeze” (regularly $40). I was initially going to try their new Serum Foundation, but the saleslady explained that it is HEAVIER than regular foundation, and I definitely don’t need that. It’s a perfectly serviceable concealer that matches my existing products. Cool, cool.
The ColourPop x Stranger Things collab is already on clearance, so I snagged the ColourPop Stranger Things Chapter One Eyeshadow Palette ($13, down from $26). It’s got a lot of outrageous 80s colors and glitters, so perfect for how I am feeling these days. I also snagged another Zuru Mini Brands x Ulta Ball ($9.99). I want that damn mini Naked Palette! I didn’t get it this time…but I will. At least I got to use a $3.50 off $15 coupon.
Bath & Body Works had $2.75 Wallflower Refills, so I ran in and got 10. Most are “Rose Water & Ivy”, but I picked a few other scents to go with.
Our last stop before our mandatory shopping Blizzards was checking out Katy Budget Books, which is a local version of Half Price Books. It’s a great store with an awesome staff! No hate to HPB, but there isn’t one close. The closest one is all the way in Sugarland! I found a retro (is early Y2K can be considered retro) crocheting book called The Happy Hooker and I snagged the Star Trek Cookbook for my husband…and all the recipes are inedible. At least 50% of them involve organ meat. No one in the house is brave enough to try Klingon Brain Stew.
Love You So Munchkin
Look…I’m not trying to be an asshole…but…the name of this nail polish makes no sense. (Since when do OPI Nail Polish names make sense?)
Hear me out…this is OPI x Wicked “Love You So Munchkin“. It’s a shimmery gold. Fine. The yellow brick road is golden yellow. The “official” Winkie (inhabitants of the western Oz region) color is yellow. Do you know what is NOT yellow or gold? Fucking Munchkinland. Munchkins are in the East and are represented by the color BLUE. Quadlings in the South are Red and Gillikins in the North are Purple. In the original book, Glinda has the South, but the 1939 film switched her over to the North. In later books, the good witch of the North is Locasta, but I don’t know much about her…I am just a regular person. Couldn’t the person in charge of naming these nail polishes have checked Wikipedia or something?
Oops, I got a little excited there. Sorry, rant over.
This is two coats of “Love You So Munchkin” over Cuticula Mic Drop Base Coat in “Melt Down” and under Cuticula Limitless Top Coat in “Champagne Toast“.
October 2024 Ipsy Glam Bag – Beauty Nightmares
Beauty Nightmares? I don’t want Beauty Nightmares!
So it’s not that I am behind…although I am behind…but, I am delayed in covering October’s ipsy bag because it was missing two items! I contacted Ipsy Care and they dispatched them immediately, so I just had to wait for them to arrive…
The missing items were Dew of the Gods Sorbaé Hyaluronic Lip Butter in “Strawberry Mandarin” (which I am wearing right now) and a WingMe Cosmetics All Over Eyeshadow Brush.
My product choice this month was a Thread Beauty Face It Multi-Use Complexion Stick in “00 Fair”. I think it’s a concealer – I’ll have to try it.
Also in this month’s bag: tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes™ 4-in-1 Mascara (ugh, tarte is so tired), and Toyfactory Oatbaé Oil Makeup Remover (ew, oil).
Even though this month’s products are kind of duds, I always LOVE the October bags. This one is super-witchy (can you tell I just binged Agatha All Along?) with snakes and such.
I subscribe to the basic ipsy bag for $14/month (recently increased from $13/month) and Icon Box (formerly Glam Bag X) for an extra $60/quarterly (recently increased from $43/quarterly). If you’d like to try Ipsy – click here. I’ll earn 250 points if you sign up through my referral link.
Defying Gravity
OPI x Wicked “Defying Gravity” is VERY different than Deborah Lippman “Defying Gravity”. Instead of Elphaba’s skintone (which we saw in “Witch O’Clock”), we get a representation of the night sky. It’s a beautiful midnight blue with silver shimmer.
This is two coats of “Defying Gravity” over Cuticula Mic Drop Base Coat in “Melt Down” and under Cuticula Limitless Top Coat in “Zombie Juice“.
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but the second bottle of “Zombie Juice” is not quick dry either. It stayed tacky for at least 30 minutes…ugh. I’ll try it out a few more times to be sure, just in case it’s a fluke interaction with OPI. I better try out “Blackberry Passionfruit” and make sure it’s not fucked up, too.