Category: Body
Online Shopping Binge
I kind went nuts last week with the online shopping – between Thursday night and Saturday morning , I placed no less than 6 online orders…so many sales and coupons in my inbox…I couldn’t resist.
With the long holiday weekend and biblical flooding, almost all of the packages hit at once yesterday. Instead of half a dozen different posts, I figured I’d stuff most of them into one…
I am fairly shameless, so I’m not going to show the pile of underwear from Victoria’s Secret. Yup, I hoard panties, too.
I had been eyeing the Sephora Sun Safety Kit – I need to protect my easily scorched skin. Inside the kit are 16 different sun protection products in a cute travel bag: – AmorePacific Natural Protector SPF 30, Clarins UV Plus Anti-Pollution Broad Spectrum SPF 50, Clinique Moisture Surge CC Cream Broad Spectrum SPF 30 in Light Medium, Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Dark Spot Sun Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 50 Sunscreen, Dr. Jart+ Premium Beauty Balm SPF 45, Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment SPF 15, Josie Maran Cosmetics Argan Daily Moisturizer SPF 47, Korres Yoghurt Nourishing Fluid Veil Broad Spectrum SPF 30, Murad Invisiblur Perfecting Shield Broad Spectrum SPF 30, Ole Henriksen total truth eye crème SPF 15, Origins VitaZing Broad Spectrum SPF 15 Energy-Boosting Moisturizer with Mangosteen, Peter Thomas Roth Max Sheer All Day Moisture Defense Lotion SPF 30, Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protection Cream SPF 50+ WetForce Broad Spectrum Water Resistant (80 Minutes), St. Tropez One Night Only in Light-Medium, Supergoop! City Sunscreen Serum SPF 30, and Vita Liberata Passion Flower & Argan Dry Oil Broad Spectrum SPF 50. PHEW – that’s a lot of sunscreen!
For my 3 samples, I chose Viktor & Rolf “Flowerbomb” (spicy and flowery, reminds me of a Victoria’s Secret scent), Maison Martin Margiela REPLICA “Beach Walk” (this doesn’t smell like a perfume – it smells like a thing – LOVE), and dr. brandt Do Not Age. Sephora was also running a Jetsetter deal – pick 3 extra samples – so I got Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask, Smashbox Camera Ready BB Cream, and boscia Purifying Cleansing Gel. My face is gonna be SMOOTH.
I can’t say no to Birchbox’s Limited Edition Boxes. As soon as I got the email got the “Under the Sun” ($55) box, I knew I would eventually order it…but not until I got that 25% coupon. 25% off and $10 in Birchbox points and ADD TO CART. Inside the box: Baggu Tote Bag (I had my fingers crossed for this elephant print!), Cynthia Rowley Beauty Beauty on the Go Multi Blush & Bronzer Duo (meh), Laura Mercier Bakes Eye Color in “Cameo” (yasss), Sugarpova Flirty Candy (why does Maria Sharapova sell candy?), Chloe + Isabel Birchbox Exclusive Medina Convertible Pendant Necklace (my favorite part of the box!), Knockaround Premium Sunglasses (silver!), ncLA Nail Lacquer in “Bikinis & Martinis” (it’s the color of bubble gum you’d find stuck under a picnic table), and Supergoop! Skin Soothing Mineral Suncreen with Olive Polythenols SPF 40.
For samples, I got Vasanti Brighten Up! Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator and Sumita Jumon Contrast Eye Pencil. I also finally got my Birchbox Anniversary Keyring (not pictured).
…and today, I got a big box of Deep Cleansing Hand Soap from Bath & Body Works. You know that I start to get the shakes if I have less than 30 bottles under the sink. They were all between $2.75 & $3.25, plus 20% off and free shipping. I threw in a handful of Scentportables for my car for good measure.
I also received my Dream Polish Gem Glam Topcoat in “Lily Flower” – yes, it’s scented! This another popular one on Instagram and it’s 5 free – I can’t wait to try it out.
I am still waiting on my sale order from Delush Polish – that’s the only one that hasn’t arrived. I think I have enough stuff to keep me busy…until next week when all my subscription boxes start rolling in!
Beauty Box 5 – S.O.S.
My poor little Beauty Box 5 has been sitting on the counter for almost a week – how could I forget?
May’s theme is “S.O.S.” – Super Outstanding Skin! Inside this month’s box; Bio Swiss Stainless Steel Mini Tweezer (perfect to add to my purse emergency kit – never know when you might have a brow emergency at work); Ahava 3 Sample Pack (fancy skin stuff); Styli-Style Blush/Highlighter Stick in “Bittersweet” (kinda orangey, but hey – it isn’t bronzer); Dermalogica AgeSmart Multivitamin Hand and Nail Treatment; and Coastal Scents Classic/Synthetic Brush (it appears to be an eyeliner brush – yasss).
OK, this is a better box than the last few – they’ve got me for a few more months…
Allure Beauty Thrills – May 2015
Oh it’s been too long since the last Allure Box – 6 months! Even though I haven’t used up any of the products I’ve been using since the last two boxes, I need more…
This box is chock full of new stuff: Aloxxi Lightweight Sculpting Wax (oh HELL NAW); BIC Soleil Glow Razor (I doubt I’ll give up my beloved Mach 3 for this); Bioré Charcoal Pore Minimizer (LOVE their Charcoal line – using this tonight); Cetaphil Intensive Moisturizing Cream; Dickinson’s Original Witch Hazel Daily Refreshingly Clean Cleansing Cloths; Clear Scalp & Hair Active Damage Resist Ultra-Nourishing Shampoo and Conditioner; Colgate Optic White Express White Toothpaste; Colgate Optic White Toothbrush + Whitening Pen (got one of these in the last box and haven’t used it); Derma E Anti-Wrinkle Vitamin A Glycolic Cleanser (I got this in a Birchbox and just used it up yesterday – I love it!); Derma E Anti-Wrinkle Vitamin A Retinyl Palmitate Creme (Huh?); Dove Advanced Care Anti-Perspirant/Deoderant with NutriumMoisture (I am almost out of deodorant); Dove go Fresh Revitalize Body Wash (I am using the last one I got to shave my legs and I am almost out); Jergens Natural Glow Instant Sun Sunless Tanning Mousse in “Deep Bronze” (I’ll be giving this away); John Frieda Frizz Ease Nourishing Oil Elixir (Oooooh!); MD Complete Even Tone & Texture Accelerator; Not Your Mother’s Clean Freak Cleansing Conditioner; Physicians Formula Eye Booster Instant Lash Extension Kit (this scares me); Pond’s Rejuveness Anti-Wrinkle Cream; Revlon PhotoReady Eye Art Lid + Line + Lash in “Desert Dazzle” (my sister gave me one of these in a different color from her Allure Sample Society Box, but I haven’t tried it yet); Revlon Ultra HD Lipstick in “Gladiolus” (too orangey red for me); Secret Outlast Clear Gel (I don’t usually like gel deodorant, but I’ll try it); Suave Professionals Luxe Style Volumizing Weightless Blow Dry Spray; Suave Professionals Sea Mineral Infusion Exfoliating Body Wash; and Suave Professionals Visible Glow Self-Tanning Body Lotion (another one I’ll be giving away).
All this for $45.95 + $10 shipping! Even though I’ll be giving away about a third of the stuff, it’s still a great deal.
May Birchbox – Beauty Solutions
Another Beauty Solutions box so soon? We just had one in March!
I don’t even remember what made me choose this curated box – it was probably because I hadn’t heard of any of the products in it? The box contains: Cotz Flawless Complexion SPF 50; JUARA Candlenut Body Creme (I had to Google Candlenut); Marcelle Hydra-C 24H Energizing Hydrating Gel (Mmmmmm…I love the new gel trend); Number 4 Blow Dry Lotion; and W3LL PEOPLE The Expressionist Mascara in “Black”. This is a kind of skin-centric box, but I this is the time of year my skin needs a lot of help – it alternates between greasy breakouts and dry scales. Ugh.
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.
April Beauty Box 5 – Bloom
I totally forgot to post this month’s Beauty Box 5 – “Bloom”.
This is an…interesting…box. Inside my box – Lasting Smiles Passionfruit Mango Organic Lip Balm (Lasting Smiles funds cleft surgeries for children in the developing world); Dancin’ Goat Hula Bliss Body Lotion (Mmmm, goat’s milk lotion); Incoco (not to be confused with Nanacoco?) Nail Polish Applique Set (these don’t require heat like Jamberry, hmmmm…); Style Essentials TwinGloss (2 colors in one tube); and 3 foil packets of First Aid Beauty Facial Cleanser.
I can’t decide whether or not to keep Beauty Box 5 or not. The products are really weird and from brands I’ve never heard of. Sometimes the lotions smell off, like they’ve gone bad. Any opinions out there?
April Birchbox – Mad Men California
My Birchbox has been sitting here at least a week, calling to me…
I admit it, I’ve only seen a few episodes of Mad Men, so I’m not all heartbroken about the final episodes. But the products in the California box were compelling. Inside my box: 12 Benefits Instant Healthy Hair Treatment; CLEAN Original Eau de Parfum (the card says it was inspired by soapy – it’s way TOO soapy smelling, but my husband liked it and actually put it on); Cynthia Rowley Beauty Brightening Illuminator (yup, another one); LAQA & Co. Sheer Lip Lube Pencil in “Honeypot” (Honeypot!); and Not Soap, Radio Body Wash in “Bathing with sharks” (a fresh clean smell – my husband said it smells “yummy”.)
There was also a New York box – it was so hard to choose!
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.
March Beauty Box 5 – Hustle
Finally! My box was shipped on the 10th, but I didn’t receive it until the 27th. Really, USPS? It took 17 days to get my box from Austin to Houston?
Kind of ironic that March’s theme is “Hustle”, isn’t it? Inside my box: Eslor Introductory Collection – Second Edition with Soothing Refiner and Cleanser, Botanical Peeling Gel, Chlorophyll Lifting Mask & Firming Collagen Day Cream; Elite Therapeutics Rosemary Eucalyptus Body Cream, Scandalous by Nanacoco Thickening Mascara (the flexible silicon ball brush scares me – I’ll probably stab myself in the eye); Styli-Style Line & Seal Twist Mechanical Eye Liner in “Brown Glitter” and Laugh Out Loud by Nancoco Lip Gloss in “The Lift”. The box also came with a $5 off $10 code for Beauty Box 5’s website.
BB5 sure loves Nanacoco, don’t they? I’ve never seen that brand anywhere else…
Hawaii Passionfruit Kiss
There were no parking spaces by Panera when we went for lunch Monday, so we had to park all the way at the other end…in front of Bath & Body Works. It’s an evil plan to make me buy more bath shit.
I got a badass coupon in the mail that offered a shower gel, body lotion and fragrance spray from the new Hawaii Collection for $15, PLUS it was stackable with a 20% coupon. I got all three for $12.99 with tax. I picked Hawaii Passionfruit Kiss, because the other ones available were either coconut or mango…gross!
My BFF also gave me a coupon for a free travel size, so I got an Endless Weekend Body Lotion.
It’s a conspiracy, I tell you!
March Birchbox – Beauty Solutions
Yet again, I picked the curated box – based on one product I really, really wanted.
March’s curated box is called “Beauty Solutions.” I really wanted the Laura Geller Beauty Baked Blush-N-Brighten in “Pink Grapefruit. I love baked! Also inside: Dear Clark Volumizing Hair Tonic; derma e Evenly Radiant Brightening Day Crème; Supergoop! Advanced SPF 37 Anti-Aging Eye Cream (SPF 37? Why 37? Is it a Clerks reference?); and Whish Three Wishes Body Butter in “Almond”.
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.
Birchbox Treats Me Right!
When I use up one Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz, I have to immediately order another one. I CANNOT risk running out and having to go without eyebrows. I don’t care that they’re $21 each, no other pencil matches my weird Asian/German eyebrows.
I also got a bottle of Benefit Benetint. I use the sample of Lollitint that I got in an ipsy bag ALL THE TIME.
I used a coupon code for 25% that I got for taking my 13th box. I also had $20 in Birchbox points. For my free samples, I got Whish Shaving Cream (hmmmm…might be good for travel or just bikini line) and Davines All in One Milk – oh, it’s for my hair. If you say so…
Birchbox really wants me to become a tea drinker…this is the 3rd or 4th time they’ve sent me tea. This time, it was Mighty Leaf Tea – “Orange Dulce”, “White Orchard” and “Ginger Twist”. Those flavors sound so good, I might actually try them myself instead of giving them to my son.
I also got another $30 off code from Rent the Runway. No thanks…