Category: Body
Target Beauty Boxes – January 2016
Two Target Beauty Boxes this month…and they’re BOTH for ME! I don’t have to share with ANYONE.
Inside the “Refresh” box: Acure Day Cream (Definitely gonna use this); John Frieda Keraflex Hair Spray; Nivea In-Shower Body Lotion (I do not understand the concept of in-shower body lotion – doesn’t it just end up all over your towel?); Clear Total Care Shampoo & Conditioner (going to my sister); Simple Micellular Wipes (I got these in the last Allure Beauty Thrills – I opened the other day to prep before using my Tria); Marlowe Extra Moisturizing Lotion (smells divine); Nip+Fab Glycolic Fix Pads (it says they “retexture and resurface” my skin – uhhhh, scary); and scünci Braided Elastic Bands.
Inside the “Renewal” box: Caress Love Forever Body Wash; Attitude 2-in-1 Shampoo & Body Wash (What? No.); Laneige BB Cushion (I got this in another Target Beauty Box…and still haven’t tried it. Oops.); scünci No Slip Grip Braided Headband; Degree Women Fresh Energy Dry Spray; Jergens Wet Skin Moisturizer (I am sensing a trend…); Attitude Volume & Shine Shampoo; Revlon Ultimate All-In-One Mascara (Actually so excited to try this that I trashed the old Julep Mascara I had been using up); and Hada Labo Tokyo Anti-Aging Facial Mask (I received one of these in Ulta’s 2014 Cyber Monday bag…again, haven’t tried it yet).
A few repeats…a wakeup call for me to actually use this shit! I don’t believe in New Years Resolutions, but I’m gonna do it!
Each were $7 and each came with a $3 off $15 coupon. Maybe I’ll actually use both this time. At least I managed to use one of the coupons last month…on replacement electric toothbrush heads. So glamorous.
December Birchbox – Winter Essentials
Winter is a tough season for my skin. I feel like my skin is so try that I have to put a lot of products on it to moisturize it. In turn, I get breakouts. Then more products to combat the breakouts…and skin that is drier and flakier than before. Let’s see what Birchbox thinks my “Winter Essentials” should be…
Inside this month’s box: Jane Iredale Just Kissed Lip and Cheek Stain in “Forever Peach” (I tested it on my wrist and got about as much color as a cherry chapstick – it smelled like chapstick, too); Coastal Scents Eye Shadow Duo – formalEYES (the description on the card led me to believe I would be getting classic pinks and mauves – uh, I got gold and emerald green…then I looked at the package and it says styleEYES – guess I got the wrong one? I showed my husband and he just said, “Slutty.”); eSalon Perfect ending Leave In Conditioner (is that anything like a happy ending?); derma e Microdermabrasion Scrub (I LOVE this scrub); and JUARA Coconut Illipe Hand and Nail Balm. There was also a tasty treat in my box – a little chocolate bar from Chuao Chocolatier – “Cinnamon Cereal Smooch”. It was SO good. I did not share.
Hmmm…not a bad box, but a little odd. We’ll see how the slutty green eye shadow looks with peachy chapstick.
If you would like to try Birchbox, click on my referral link – https://www.birchbox.com/invite/5453f – I’ll get 50 points if you join.
The Usual Saturday
My daughter and I hit the usual spots after her gymnastics class on Saturday…it’s like a thing.
First, we hit Bath & Body Works for $2.50 Hand Soaps. Even though I just stocked up, I couldn’t resist this yearly sale. I picked up a total of 12, even letting Lily pick out a few scents for the kids bathroom – “Elfin’ Around” and “Vanilla Bean Noel”. I picked a mix of Xmas and Summer scents. I used a $10 off $30 coupon, which gave me the soaps for $1.66 each. That’s an even better deal than the 20% off coupon I used last year!
Then we hit Ulta – I just needed some clipper sets for some Xmas gifts I’m putting together. I just used a $3.50 coupon, even though I have a 20% off ANYTHING coupon burning a hole in my purse. I doubt I’ll even use it this year…
Finally, Taco Bell while getting my car inspected. While there, Lily was concerned that the guy from the Lube place wanted to marry me because he came in to grab lunch…then I accosted a rando to get a picture of his tattoo to send to my husband. You know, the usual Saturday stuff.
Target Beauty Boxes – December 2015
See, I’ve gotten smart – I throw my husband a beauty box every once in a while to keep him happy…
Just like last December, Target offered “His” and “Hers” Beauty Boxes. The “His” Box was $5 and included a Target brand Up & Up Five Blade Razor (since he joined the Five Dollar Shave Club, I might steal this for my legs); Degree Dry Spray in “Adventure”; Gillette Clinical Endurance Antiperspirant in “Cool Wave” (apparently, Target thinks men are stinky); Axe “Apollo” Shower Gel; and Dove “Extra Fresh” Body and Face Wash. Oh, and a $3 off $15 coupon.
This should keep him off my back for a few months at least…
The $10 “Hers” box is MUCH more exciting. Inside: Clairol Hair Food Dry Shampoo; CoverGirl Star Wars Lipstick in “30” (Yes, yes, yes! I’ve been wanting one of these!); Maybelline Push Up Drama Mascara in “Blackest Black”; CeraVe Eye Repair Cream; Goody Ouchless Elastics Sweat Stretch (they are made like those loops you make potholders out of); Pacifica Love³ Eye Shadow Trio (very pretty earth tones); Laneige Water Bank Moisture Cream (another LOVE); and Olay Regenerist Microsculpting Cream (What am I going to microsculpt?).
…and another $3 off $15 coupon.
Ulta Cyber Fundays
The weekend before Thanksgiving/Black Friday, Ulta ran a “Cyber Fundays” promotion with a bunch of stuff on sale, plus a gift with purchase sample bag on orders of $60+, plus $10 off. I decided to knock out some stocking stuffers, plus get a few things for myself. Imagine my surprise when Ulta decided to break my modest order into three different shipments.
The first box was rather piddly – just a travel size Joico K-PAK Deep-Penetrating Reconstructor (my BFF swears by K-PAKs, so I thought I’d give them a try while on sale) and a few stocking stuffers from the 5/$5 Promotion.
The second box was also small – a single lotion stocking stuffer, my variety sampler – Lumene Time Freeze Instant Lift Serum and Burt’s Bees Renewal Intensive Firming Serum – and my gift with purchase…Inside the Berry Glam Beauty Bag: Too Faced Born This Way Foundation with 3 different shades – “Vanilla”, “Light Beige” and “Sand”; Gucci “Bamboo” (not bad, smells like Crystals in Vegas); “Pink Sugar” (too hookery); Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Powder Duo; Pureology Coulour Fanatic Instant Deep-Conditioning Mask; Benefit ThePOREfessional Pro Balm & License to Blot Set; Urban Decay Cosmetics Revolution Lipstick (Card with 4 sample colors); Giorgio Armani “Acqua Di Gio”; Whish Body Butter in “Winterberry” (the last one I got smelled like hot dog water, so I am scared to try this one); It’s a 10 Miracle Leave-In Product (guaranteed in every Ulta sample bag); Ralph Lauren “Romance”; Philosophy Purity Made Simple 3-in-1 Cleanser for Face and Eyes; Ulta Legendary Lengths Lengthening Mascara; Clarins Super Restorative Day; Alterna Haircare Caviar CC Cream (for hair); Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer (I have SO much of this shit); Skyn Iceland Pure Cloud Cream; Nip+Fab Skin Dragon’s Blood Fix Plumping Serum (it couldn’t be worse than the snake venom that nut in Vegas smeared all over my face); and a BUNCH of Ulta coupons.
FINALLY…the third box had the REAL stuff I ordered: John Frieda Liquid Shine Shampoo and Conditioner ($3.74 each!); Joico K-PAK Shampoo (to go with the conditioner); Ulta Rose Gold Palette (been lusting after this FOREVER); Poo-Pourri “Merry Spritzmas” (for my son – at 10, he is starting to get manly shits); eos Holiday Set (also for him), some other stocking stuffers and some nail buffers for ME.
I monitored Ulta’s Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales and it looks like the Cyber Fundays sale was actually the better deal (for me, anyway). They’re still sending different sale emails every day, though…I may not be done ordering yet!
Just a Pit Stop…
If I make my husband drop me by Bath & Body Works on the way to wedding party…does that mean I have a problem? $8.50 three wick candles is a BIG DEAL.
Back when I lived in Dallas – before kids – I used to make my own candles. When we moved, I kept all of my oils and supplies, fully expecting to someday get back to candlemaking when I had more time…then another baby, another house, another excuse. Finally, my oils had rotted through the bottles and we had to trash them. (I bet that was the best smelling load of trash my garbageman ever had.) So until I get the urge to revisit that hobby…I buy candles and wax melts. Not a lot, but enough to have on hand.
That being said, $8.50 is a smoking deal. Regular price is $22.50 – $30.00. I picked up “Beautiful Day”, “Jingle All the Way”, “Japanese Cherry Blossom”, “Twisted Peppermint” and 2 “Pomelo Paradise”. A $15 off $40 coupon made them $6 each. I also had a stackable coupon for a free item, so I got a “White Citrus” Shower Gel.
Even after a stop at Starbucks, we made it right on time for Beth and David’s wedding party. David is my husband’s cousin and I am thrilled to welcome Beth into our (sometimes insane, but always loving) family. She and I bonded a few years ago over our shared love of nail polish – especially Zoya. It was love at first sight!
When we met, I was still rolling around the idea of Beauty Hoard in my head and she really encouraged me to get it started. If there wasn’t a Beth, there probably wouldn’t be a Beauty Hoard, so I owe her a depth of gratitude!
I can’t wait for our next nail party!
Soap Me
I get a little twitchy if I have less than 20 B&BW Hand Soaps under my counter. When I dropped by Bath & Body Works on Saturday, they didn’t have soaps for 7/$24 – they were 6/$24. Fuck that!
However…when I checked my email on Sunday, they were back at 7/$24, plus the email had a code for 30% off, which was much better than the 20% off coupon I received via postal mail. So I dragged my poor son on a quick trip…I just grabbed 10 Xmasy scents – I even let him pick one (Honeyed Pineapple Pumpkin – gag). He prefers the foaming soap to the thicker soap I like – he says he doesn’t like the weird little beads.
With the sale and my coupon – $2.40 each. Oh, I also got a new bath scrubby…in case you were wondering…
Fall 2015 Freeman Beauty Mystery Bag
I guess technically, it isn’t a beauty bag – it comes in a box – no bag to be seen. As of Friday night, it’s still available on their website! $30 and free shipping!
Inside this year’s box: c. Booth Mimosa Honeysuckle Body Souffle (this smells SO good – primarily honeysuckle); Barefoot Exfoliating Polish (works on your whole body); Barefoot Repair! Deodorizing Foot Spray (my feet don’t smell, but good to have on hand, I guess); c. Booth Blackberry In-Bath Body Conditioner (Not only do I need pre-conditioner for my hair, now my whole body needs conditioner?); Freeman Hibiscus Overnight Repair Mask; Freeman Daisy Oxygen Revival Mask; psssst! Volumizing Boost Invisible Texturizing Powder (I don’t understand this product – will have to research further); Freeman Pomegranate Body Wash (smells divine); Vita-K Professional for Crow’s Feet; Vita-K Professional for Dark Circles; and three single use mask packs – Facial Purifying Paper Mask in “Star Fruit”; Facial Lava Clay Mask in “Cinnamon & Moroccan”; and Facial Peeling Mask in “Pumpkin” (more pumpkin!). I also picked 4 free samples masks with my order: Facial Enzyme Mask in “Pineapple” (I’ve tried it before and loved it); Pomegranate Revealing Peel-Off Mask; Facial Exfoliating Scrub in “Pink Grapefruit”; and Chocolate & Strawberry Clay Mask (I am the most excited about this one).
No repeats from last year and no duplicates of any full-size products I have. I can’t wait to start putting masks on!
October Ipsy Bag – Alter Ego
Ipsy’s October theme is “Alter Ego”, as in transformation. Everyone likes to transform for Halloween…but I like to transform 365 days a year.
Inside my snazzy black vinyl and gold pleather bag: Eau Thermale Avène Soothing Moisture Mask (yassss); MicaBeauty ipsy EXCLUSIVE Cream Eyeshadow in “Bronze”; AYRES ipsy EXCLUSIVE Pampas Sunrise Hand Cream (mmmm…smells yummy and lemony); theBalm Cosmetics Meet Matt(e) Hughes Long-Lasting Liquid Lipstick in “Committed” (excited about this – texture and color); and Coastal Scents Xpress Line Cosmetic Pencil (It didn’t say what color it is, but I am assuming black.)
No offense, ipsy – but these don’t seem like very transformative products. At least not to me.
If you’d like to try Ipsy – click here. I’ll earn 250 points if you sign up through my link.
Target Beauty Box – September 2015
Yup, every month now!
I’ll admit, I’m not in love with the “Fall in Love” Target Beauty Box – but I reserve the right to change my mind once I try the products. Inside: Jane Carter Revitalizing Leave-In Conditioner; Curls Creme Brulee Whipped Curl Creme (I don’t have curly hair, but maybe it tames frizz); Dove Quench Absolute Creme Serum (Again, I don’t have curls); SheaMoisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil (I am supposed to put this in my hair…UGH, I thought it was hand lotion); Aquaphor Healing Ointment (I could have used this a month ago, when I got my most recent tattoo – I just bought a HUGE tube of it); and Colgate Optic White Platinum Express White Toothpaste (I can throw this in my travel bag).
A very curly hair-centric box, but hey – another $3 off coupon. It wasn’t a total waste of $5.