Category: Face
May 2021 Allure Beauty Box – Power List
That’s IT! I cannot handle any more overpriced face creams or serums! I emailed Allure Customer Support today, in an attempt to cancel my Allure Beauty Box account.
This month’s overpriced face cream is Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream ($265 for 50ml). My little sample is just 7ml ($37.10). I haven’t tried it yet…I’ll get to it eventually. In addition to this cream, there’s also Wander Beauty Sight C-ER Vitmain C Concentrate and CosRx Propolis Light Ampoule. Two more facial serums!
Also in what should be my last box: Josephine Cosmetics Liquid Lipstick in “Tiphaine” (is that pronounced “Tiffany”?); Belif Moisturizing Eye Bomb; Purlisse Matcha Green Tea Antioxidant Sheet Mask; and Cetaphil Sheer Mineral SPF 50.
Goodbye and so long Allure Beauty Box…
The Allure Beauty Box is $23/month. They also offer an option for $250/year – a savings of $26. Sign up via my referral link.
April 2021 Ipsy Bag – Force of Nature
I am so, SO late posting about April’s ipsy bag – I don’t think I’ve ever been this late before.
I’ll be honest, I am getting a little bored with Subscription Beauty services – and running out of places to cram all these makeup bags. I haven’t decided whether I’ll keep getting the products and just stop writing about them, or cancel them…or what. I need to ponder what I’m going to do….
…but in the meantime, April’s bag was a mixed bag. My product choice was Tatcha The Water Cream, which I’d gotten in Sephora Smarts box a few years ago. It’s great under makeup.
Also in this month’s nature-themed box: Beau Gâchis Concealer Brush (just what I need – another fucking makeup brush); Glow on 5th Smooth as Silk Hand + Body Scrub; Grace & Stella Dead Sea Mud Mask (I used this last weekend – it’s okay I guess – a bit thin); and Nomad Cosmetics Tuscany Intense Eye Shadow in “Aperitivo”.
I subscribe to the basic ipsy bag for $12/month. If you’d like to try Ipsy – click here. I’ll earn 250 points if you sign up through my referral link.
April 2021 Allure Beauty Box – Packing List
April’s theme is “Packing List” and contains a little bit of everything.
The star of the box is the Chella La Vie Eyeshadow Palette. It’s hard to go wrong with a neutral eyeshadow quad. I’ve been using the shades for the past week and they are very flattering. The shades are good quality and blend well.
I am running out of room for serums. I am still using the U Beauty Resurfacing Compound from February’s Box during the day and the Dermelect Self Esteem Beauty Sleep Serum from November’s box at night. This month’s box contains akar Restore Eye Serum, but it will have to wait.
Also in this month’s box: Maapilim Face Moisturizer, Aveda Botanical Repair Masque (I love the way Aveda products smell); Cargo Swimmables Eye Liner Pencil in “Dorado Beach” (a waterproof gold eyeliner – it actually looks great underneath my lash line); and Hero Cosmetics Mighty Patch Duo (cannot wait to try these).
An interesting box, but not quite sure it was worth how much I paid for it…
The Allure Beauty Box is $23/month. They also offer an option for $250/year – a savings of $26. Sign up via my referral link.
Hair Haul
Everyone in the family was needing a little hair care, so another Ulta haul was in order…
For myself, I ordered a NatureLab.Tokyo Perfect Smooth Shampoo Refill ($22) to match the Conditioner. I also got a back-up Colorista Bleach Highlights Kit ($10.99).
My son needed shampoo & conditioner for his bleached hair, so I grabbed Pacifica Sunshine Highs Shampoo & Conditioner ($10 each) while they were BOGO 40% off.
I decided to treat my daughter with Colorista Semi-Permanent Color in “Purple” ($10.99).
All this hair stuff qualified me for a free 12 piece Hair Color Sampler. The sampler included Madison Reed Color Protecting Shampoo & Conditioner (I’ve been curious about this brand for a long time); Virtue Recovery Shampoo & Conditioner; Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate Shampoo & Conditioner (I don’t know what citric acid will do for my hair, but looking forward to trying it); Kenra Color Maintenance Shampoo & Conditioner; Fekkai Technician Color Shampoo (no conditioner?); AG Hair Care Ultradynamics Extra-Firm Finishing Spray; Pureology Color Fanatic Multitasking Leave-In Spray (giving to my son); and DevaCurl Noo-Poo Blue Anti-Brass Zero Lather Curl Cleanser (also giving to my son).
On the non-hair front, I picked up St. Tropez Self Tan Purity Bronzing Water Face Mist ($15, down from $30) for my kids, because they LOVED the previous sample I got…for myself, I got Ulta Coffee & Chocolate Energizing Superfood Mud Mask ($4, down from $8) – it smells good enough to eat! It sucked all the gunk out of my pores and made my skin super soft.
I qualified for a second gift with purchase – a Best Seller 7 Piece Gift, with my $65 purchase. This gift included Smashbox Photo Finish Primer; Bumble and bumble. Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil Primer; Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Complex (I love this stuff); Glamglow Supermud Clearing Treatment (I also love THIS stuff); MAC Powder Kiss Lipstick in “Werk, Werk, Werk” (it’s red…meh); and Clinique Moisture Surge 100H Hydrator. That was only 6 pieces!!! What a rip-off…
Just $784 to Diamond!
High Brow Haul
During this past year of working from home bliss, makeup is minimal during the week…except for my brows. I MUST put on my brows before turning on the camera.
I decided to branch out from my usual Ulta Ultra Slim Brow Pencil in “Dark Brown” ($10) and also order an Ulta Sculpting Brow Pencil in “Dark Brown” ($10). It’s got a thicker, angled tip and seems maybe a tick darker than the Ultra Slim. It was more difficult to use and the first time I used it, I looked like an angry Brooke Shields. I did get a nice 6 piece gift with purchase though – a spiffy blue bag with Makeup Remover Facial Towelettes, Poreless Face Primer, Clear Brow Gel, Automatic Eye Liner in “Matte Black”, and Jelly Gloss Lip Gel.
I spent $2.49 on this really bizarre lip balm in a pouch – Freeman Feeling Beautiful Lip Dip Tinted Balm in “Raspberry”. I love doe foot applicators, but I feel like there is not enough of this super moisturizing lip balm in the little pouch…
My $60 purchase also qualified for a It Cosmetics Beauty Break, with Confidence in a Cleanser (I wish it wasn’t so expensive!); Superhero Elastic Stretch Mascara, Hello Results Wrinkle Reducing Daily Retinol Serum-in-a-Cream (this is going straight onto my counter); Brow Power Universal Brow Pencil in “Universal Taupe” (I am guessing this will be a bit light for me); Confidence in Your Beauty Sleep (another great cream); and Confidence in a Gel Lotion.
Wondering where the rest of my $60 purchase is? Shhhh…it’s on it’s way across the ocean.
Just $859 til Diamond.
Decades Haul
I have been STALKING and WAITING for the Urban Decay Decades Mini Eyeshadow Palettes to go on sale ($12.50, down from $25). I’ve seen it on sale a few times, but the windows were so short, I missed the sale…but not this time!
I was most excited about the 90s palette – “1993” – a palette full of grungy, 90s shades. There is literally a metallic gold shade called “Grunge”. I’ve used it a few times and it is fairly versatile. The other palette I got was the 00s palette – “Soundtrack” – a palette full of shimmery shades, even one called “Y2K”. “Y2K” is my favorite – a color-shifting duochrome. This palette is not as versatile, but reminds me of my first few Urban Decay palettes, and “Throwback” is a dead ringer for “Polyester Bride”. If you know, you know.
Ulta just came out with a whole line of WandaVision makeup, but the only product that piqued my interest was the Ulta Beauty Collection x Marvel Studios WandaVision Wing Tip Liner Duo ($12). The felt tip eyeliner is nothing new, but the cat eye stamp is really cool! It took a few tries to get it right – on the first try, I put it on upside down, but I was able to fix it. I could’ve used this a few decades ago…my cat eye days are mostly behind me.
My poor son inherited my bacne, so I jumped at a new product designed to fight it – Pacifica Bacne Warrior Acne Fighting Spray ($16). He’s been using it, but the jury is still out on how effective it will end up being. It’s really hard to spray, so it’s not as easy to apply as you’d think. Pacifica products were BOGO 40%, so I got Pacifica Sea Foam Complete Face Wash ($6, down from $10) for myself. It smells SO good – like a coconut popsicle!
I picked up a pack of Kitsch Face Masks ($12.99) – my kids’ favorite masks for school. I qualified for a Tarte Beauty Break 4 Piece Gift with my $50 purchase. The set includes Shape Tape Foundation in “228 light beige”; Stay Spray Setting Spray; Maneater Voluptuous Mascara; and Base Tape Hydrating Primer. I haven’t tried any of them yet, but free is free. I didn’t forget to use that $3.50 off $15 coupon, either.
$919 to Diamond…
March 2021 Ipsy Bag- Stronger Together
I held off on posting about this month’s ipsy bag, because I wanted to try some of the products…
My product choice this month was Benefit They’re Real Magnet Mascara…First off, it’s not literally magnetic. I guess that would be bad if it was really magnetic? I tried it out and it was thick and flaky. My eyes got a bit irritated wearing it, so I’m not a fan. I didn’t really see a difference between They’re Real Magnet Mascara and the regular They’re Real Mascara.
Also in this month’s bag: Belle en Argent Nail Polish in “Picturing Sicily”; Ciate London Fruit Burst Lip Oil in “Lychee & Acai” (I have this on my bedside table – perfect for before bedtime lip moisturizing); Hanalei Company Aloe E Face Cleanser (it smells really nice); and Purlisse Beauty Matcha Green Tea Antioxidant Priming Moisturizer (this really makes your makeup stick…and smells nice).
For once, I actually tried all of my products this month – great bag, ipsy!
I subscribe to the basic ipsy bag for $12/month. If you’d like to try Ipsy – click here. I’ll earn 250 points if you sign up through my referral link.
March 2021 Allure Beauty Box – Full Refresh
March’s Allure Beauty Box is…interesting.
So, this month, Allure sent me another pricey serum – 111Skin Vitamin C Brightening Booster ($155) – but I haven’t used it, because I’m still using the pricey serum from February’s box. So is that what this box is gonna be now?
Also in this month’s box: Eyeko Double Act Shadow Stick (it’s hard for me to get excited about black and brown eyeliner pencils, but it DID come with a super cute sharpener); b.glen Clay Wash Mild Facial Cleanser (it works well, but smells weird – kind of vinegary); pixi by petra LipGlow Tinted Lip Balm in “Ruby” (I’m all about balms right now); Ahava Deadsea Water Mineral Hand Cream; and Mudmasky Serum-infused eye mask (nope, have not tried yet).
Not a bad box, but a very odd mix of products.
The Allure Beauty Box recently increased their price from $15 to $23/month. They also offer an option for $250/year – a savings of $26. Sign up via my referral link.
February 2021 Allure Beauty Box – Making Time
Uh oh, Allure Beauty Box is back on their bullshit again…
February’s box is another boring box, with weird products. The last few have been so good…but now this weird stuff…
U Beauty Resurfacing Compound is a beauty serum with retinol…and supposedly $148 for the one ounce bottle that came in my box. $148 an ounce! It’s a perfectly serviceable serum, but I haven’t been using it every day – I’m afraid to use retinol too often on my sensitive skin.
Also in the box: Christophe Robin Daily Hair Cream; Floss Lip Advocate in “Your Honor” (what an odd product name); Madeca Derma Revitalizing Mask; La Roche-Posay Anthelios Melt-In Milk Sunscreen SPF 100 (and it’s water resistant!); and Sisley Black Rose Cream Mask (I’ve been using this on my face at night – it smells nice).
I hope next month’s box is better – I bet it gets here tomorrow.
The Allure Beauty Box recently increased their price from $15 to $23/month. They also offer an option for $250/year – a savings of $26. Sign up via my referral link.
Naked Wild West
When a new Naked palette launches, you know I’ll be there.
Urban Decay Cosmetics Naked Wild West ($49) launched in stores last Sunday, after launching online at urbandecay.com a few weeks ago. I had my husband drop me off while running errands – the store didn’t even have the display set up yet! I had to ask someone and they grabbed one out of the storeroom.
The palette is coppery neutrals with a few blues thrown in, reminiscent of a southwestern color scheme. I’ve only gotten to use it once, but so far so good. The turquoise was a nice compliment to the coppers – I have high hopes for this palette.
It was also the last day of my birthday month – the birthday gift this year was lame…a tiny vial of Dermalogica Daily Exfoliator. Meh. I didn’t even bother getting my Sephora gift. I’m burnt out, I guess.
Because the palette was $49, the salesgirl only let me redeem $36 – she kept looking at a chart and I think it was her first day, because she wouldn’t let me apply $50, even though I’ve done it online several times. I didn’t want to go all “Karen”, so I just paid my $14 or so and left…I am still annoyed though. I should just stick to online.
$1,052 to Diamond status in 2022.