Category: Face

 
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January Julep Maven Box – Future Fresh

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New year, new subscription boxes! Well, technically not new…I’ve been getting Julep boxes for over three years now and I still love them as much as ever.

January’s box is “Future Fresh”. Honestly, I haven’t jumped on the oil bandwagon, but I took a chance in selecting Julep’s Boost Your Radiance Reparative Rosehip Seed Facial Oil. I’ve been using it semi-consistently for the last 5-6 days. I don’t know that I’ve noticed a difference in my skin –  was already in the middle of a mid-winter skin freakout. (I’m thinking that the breakout was overcompensation from trying to combat dry, winter skin.) I don’t know that my skin is more radiant, but I do feel like the oil has a skin blurring effect. Best of all, it smells absolutely DIVINE. I am in love with the romantic rose/bergamot scent, although it is almost too hippy for me.

For polishes, I chose It Girl “Darcy” – Baja Sunrise Sheer Iridescent Shimmer – and Wonder Maven “Pacita” – Honey Ginger Sheer Iridescent Shimmer. Yup, two sheer shimmer polishes – they’re radiant. Oh, and they sent me a Tootsie Roll Pop. Ugh, all that licking.

Not a Julep Maven? Click HERE to join – I’ll get a $15 credit and you’ll get your first box free!

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December Birchbox – Shine On

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I couldn’t resist picking the “Shine On” curated box this month – I saw a rose product and that is all it takes for me.

The product in question? The Organic Pharmacy Double Rose Rejuvenating Face Cream – two roses are better than one, right? Also in this month’s box: LOC One & Done Shadow Stick in “Rock Steady”IPKN Radiant Cream Primer SPF 15Rene Furterer Lumicia Shampoo and Rene Furterer Lumicia Conditioner (YES! Matching shampoo and conditioner in the same size tubes!) There was also a purse sized mirror in this month’s box, along with a card with fancy gift labels (that I would never, ever use because they aren’t self-sticking).

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.

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Sephora Play! November 2016 – Best in Glow

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I’ve been slacking…I’m finally getting around to posting my last subscription box of the month – just days before I start receiving my December boxes.

“Best in Glow” is November’s theme, products to stave off winter dullness. I don’t know about you, but down here in Texas, we haven’t seen a whole lot of winter. We had frost on the ground one day last weekend and that’s it.

I’m most excited about Stella McCartney POP – I’ve been wanting to try it since I love Stella so much. It’s very floral and sharp smelling. I could see myself using free samples, but not buying it. Also in my box: Sephora Ultra Shine Lip Gel in “Pin-up Pink”; The Estee Edit by Estee Lauder Dissolve the Drama Makeup Remover; Cover FX Illuminating Primer; Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Colour in “Rose Gold”; and GlamGlow SuperMud Clearing Treatment (please send me GlamGlow in every subscription box, please and thank you).

If you haven’t signed up yet – you’re a turkey! This is by far the best subscription box I get every month. Sephora Play is only $10/month. You can sign up at sephora.com/play.

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November Birchbox – The Finishing Touch

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I am thankful for…my subscription boxes.

I didn’t choose the curated box this month – instead I picked just one product and got this month’s “The Finishing Touch” box. The product I chose was Chella Eyebrow Color Pencil in “Tantalizing Taupe”. I hope it’s not too light for me.

Also in this month’s box:  Avène Soothing Moisturizing Mask (I got this in my October 2015 ipsy bag, but don’t think I ever used it); Number 4 Jour d’Automne Smoothing Balm; Supergoop! Forever Young Hand Cream with SPF 40; and TokyoMilk Light “Awaken Within” (a VERY strong jasmine scent).

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.

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November Ipsy Bag – Rock Starlet

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Ipsy arrived first this month. I was excited to see that fuchsia bubble mailer!

“Rock Starlet” is this month’s theme. I received the gold and navy constellation-print neoprene bag – there was also one with silver print. Jewelry, I am ALL silver…but I tend to go for gold in accessories, like my current phone case.

Inside my “Rock Starlet” bag: Luxie Beauty Rose Gold Small Duo Fiber Brush (this is one of the most unique brushes I’ve ever seen – there’s a thin layer of extra long fibers on the end for a lighter touch – I’m excited to try it with a highlighter); Japonesque Pixelated Finishing Powder (not sure what to do with this – is it a highlighter or for my whole face?); Adesse New York Brightening Base Coat (interested to try it); ELEMIS Pro-Collagen Marine Cream (huh?); and theBalm Cosmetics Mad Lash Mascara.

These are very sophisticated products – I will be cycling ALL of these into my routine soon, except maybe the mascara.

If you’d like to try Ipsy – click here. I’ll earn 250 points if you sign up through my link.

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20ROUGE, Part II & III

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Merry Xmas to me! I make Xmas shopping SO easy for my husband.

Well, as much as I love torturing him and making him visit Sephora and Ulta to go shopping for me…I love saving money more. So I decided to forego the torture and take this opportunity to order myself some Sephora exclusive items.

I’d had my eye on the Kat Von D Metal Matte palette ($60) since it launched. In real life, it’s HUGE. I’m glad I ordered when I did – it was already out of stock when I went to Sephora on the 4th. I’m still disappointed that I missed out on the Mi Vida Loca palette last year. I had bought it for my ex-BFF, and I thought she was getting it for me, but she blew it off for too long and it sold out. c’est la vie.

I also said, “fuck it” and ordered the Kat Von D Everlasting Mini Liquid Lipstick Set. I don’t have any of these shades and I wanted to try the new shade “Plath”, plus some older shades – “Backstage Bambi” and “Mother”.

I was a good girl and did not open the boxes – I just shoved them in my husband’s junk drawer to wrap later.

For samples – I didn’t get what I picked again. I don’t remember what I picked, but I ended up with Wildfox perfume (never heard of it, smells like a generic Victoria’s Secret type scent); Clinique Beyond Perfecting Foundation + Concealer in “neutral”; and Juliette has a Gun Not a Perfume (insert says it is pure Cetalox, a background note in perfume – interesting, it smells very generic).

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At the last minute, I decided to order one more thing for myself – MILK MAKEUP Gel Brow in “Pilsner” ($18). I had used 100 points to get a sample of it with my last order – all the way back in August – and I like the way it lasts. I don’t like having to sharpen it, but other than that, it’s a winner.

This one will not be waiting until Xmas – I’ll break into it as soon as I’m done with my little sample.

Samples this time were Sephora Instant Moisture + Cream; Tatcha One Step Camellia Cleansing Oil; and Josie Maran Surreal Skin Argan Finishing Balm.

 

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Target Beauty Box – November 2016

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I skipped out on the October box, but I couldn’t say no to the November box – Beauty Ballot.

Inside my Ballot box…L’Oreal Advanced HairCare Volume Filler Thickening Shampoo (but no damn conditioner); Andalou Naturals 1000 Roses Beautiful Day Cream (looking forward to this); HASK Keratin Protein Soothing Deep Conditioner (I guess I can use this conditioner with the L’Oreal shampoo); Laneige Water Bank Soothing Mask; W3LL People Bio Brightener Stick; L’Oreal Voluminous Primer (I like the Voluminous Mascara, but I’m WAY too lazy to use a mascara primer); and Revlon ColorStay Eyeliner in “Black” (It has a cool little smudgy tip).

Another $10 box, but this one seems more stuffed than the last one – I ain’t even mad. I also got my $3.50 off $15 coupon – if I remember to use it. Don’t forget the 5% Red Card discount.

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20ROUGE, Part I

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Sometimes, you just gotta TREAT YO SELF.

I’ve held back several months…but when that 20% off discount code hit my inbox…I decided to use the fuck out of it. Sephora is not like Ulta, throwing around 20% off codes like confetti. They do it exactly ONCE a year…and I was not Rouge yet last year, so this is the first time I’ve gotten to take advantage.

Even though I had placed an Xmas present order online earlier, I decided to swing by Sephora after work to pick up something I’d been lusting over for months – GlamGlow GravityMud Firming Treatment. I can only watch so many of Jeffree’s silver snapchats without wanting to try it myself. I wasn’t about to spend $69 on it…but $55.20 seems so much more reasonable. (I know I’m full of shit.)

I tried it Friday night…and it was worth every fucking cent. It smells like coconut (my husband said pina colada) and tingled slightly. I don’t know if it lifted anything, but my skin DID feel firmer and smoother – much more so than with any of the other masks I’ve tried. The effect was most noticeable on my forehead. It will be hard to limit myself to using it just twice a week.

I also got my Rouge Renewal Gift – NARS Blush in “Goulue” (what kind of word is that?). I tried it today and it is perfect for me – much better than the famed “Orgasm”. I also got a free totebag – you can always use a new totebag.

I placed a few online orders – I’ll document those as they arrive…

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Sephora Play! October 2016 – The Cool Cut

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This is it – the Sephora purchase that put me over the edge for Rouge status in 2017. $10 and BOOM.

October’s theme is “The Cool Cut” – innovative products that are about to hit it big.

One of my favorite Sephora sample discoveries is in this box – Belif The True Cream Aqua Bomb. It has me jumping on the Korean Beauty bandwagon. Also in this month’s box: Smashbox Always On Matte Liquid Lipstick in “Driver’s Seat” (interested in how their formula compares to Kat Von D and Jeffree); Cristophe Robin Regenerating Mask with Rare Prickly Pear Seed Oil (Winnie the Pooh approved?); Skin Inc. Pure Revival Peel (also good stuff – I bought some the last time I was in Vegas); Blinc Mascara Amplified; and Yves Saint Laurent Mon Paris (not bad – smells like rich people).

If you haven’t signed up yet – you are missing out! This is by far the best subscription box I get every month. Sephora Play is only $10/month. You can sign up at sephora.com/play.

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Been So Long Ulta

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It’s been so long Ulta…I’ve missed you.

As you can tell, I’ve drastically cut back on purchasing the past few months, with the move and unpacking and having less space in the new place…but I couldn’t break this ritual…I buy a UD palette every time I hit a milestone at work – you know, raises, bonuses, etc. I hit an unexpected milestone, so I decided on a little “treat yo self”.

I immediately snatched up Urban Decay XX Vice Ltd Reloaded Palette for $34, down from $56. I already have the previous 3 Vice palettes, and have most of these colors in my original UD palettes, but so what? I’ve used it for the last three days in a row – I love it! It’s actually my favorite of the Vice palettes. The palette didn’t come with any free samples inside though…rude!

Since the “Beautiful Hair” event was going on last week, I grabbed the daily special – John Frieda Brilliant Brunette Visibly Deeper Shampoo & Conditioner at 40% off – $5.99 instead of $9.99. I’m a bit disappointed – I’ve been using it for a week and I don’t notice a lick of difference in the tone of my hair. I mean, the shampoo is as nice as any other John Frieda, but I don’t expect to rebuy.

I also took advantage of “Buy One, Get One Half Off” on Freeman Beauty Masks – I got Cucumber Facial Peel-Off Mask and Pear Pore Clean Mask. They both smell fantastic, but Pear is the best…

For freebies, I got a free Deluxe Size Buxom Wildly Whipped Lightweight Liquid Lipstick in “Centerfold”. The texture is luxurious, but it doesn’t dry matte like I expected – it gets on everything. I also got L’Oreal Revitalift Bright Reveal Brightening Moisturizer with Sunscreen and Lab Series Future Rescue Repair Serum (this is for dudes, wonder if I can get my husband to try it?)

You know I used a $3.50 coupon and got free shipping…oh yes I did.