Category: Fragrance
Sephora Play! 07 – March 2016
“The Perfection Collection” is Sephora’s March theme – and it is the most perfect box yet. I’ve gotten almost all of these products before…but haven’t tried some of them…yet.
This box gives me my 3rd bottle of Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Oil – I guess I better try it. Also inside this month’s box: Murad Invisiblur Protecting Shield Broad Spectrum SPF 30 (I’ve got another sample of this, but cannot remember if I’ve tried it); Fresh Soy Face Cleaner (gentle and smells like cucumber); Sephora Collection The Perfectionist Airbrush Sponge (looking forward to trying this one); Kat Von D Tattoo Liner in “Trooper” (I’ve got several of these, but I love the cute little mini size); and Maison Martin Margiela Replica “Beach Walk”.
If you haven’t signed up yet – do it NOW. 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.
March Beauty Box 5 – Make Room to Bloom
“Make Room to Bloom” – sure, why not?
This month’s Beauty Box 5 is full of pastels and flowery things: Colour Me “Sky Blue” Fragrance (very strong Freesia scent – reminds me of a stronger version of Bath & Body Works Freesia); Mai Couture Blush & Highlighter Papiers (this is DUMB – tinted paper you rub on your cheeks); Pur~lisse Blue Lotus 4-in-1 Eye Adore Serum (full size is $65 – really?); Glamour Dolls Eye Shadow Duo in “Secret Weapon” (shimmery nude and copper shades); Personail Custom Floral Nail Polish Wraps (very Easter-y); and a bonus temporary tattoo – a rose.
Not a bad box…but some weird stuff, for sure.
Sephora Play! 06 – February 2016
February’s Sephora Play! theme is “Now & Later” – beauty essentials for all day and all night.
As soon as I opened the box, I knew I would be giving the Tom Ford “Black Orchid” to my big sis – Tom Ford is her favorite. She also bought a few Tom Ford rollerballs when we went to Sephora over the weekend. Also inside this month’s box: bareMinerals Pop of Passion Lip Oil-Balm in “Plumberry Pop”; Lancome Drama Liqui-Pencil Longwear eyeliner in “Noir Intense”; Bumble and bumble. Pret-A-Powder (I am intrigued to try this different take on dry shampoo); Make Up for Ever Rouge Artist Natural in “N9 Copper Pink” (this color looks BANGIN’); and tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes 4-in-1 Mascara.
Sephora Play is only $10/month. You can sign up at sephora.com/play.
Summerstash
Oh Nouveau Cheap, you are so dangerous to me…the moment she posted Sephora Favorites Summerstash on sale for $30 (regularly $45), I jumped all over it.
Even though this set came out a year or two ago, I neeeeeeeded it. Inside the sassy gold canvas bag: Buxom Divine Goddess Luminizer in “Venus” (the product I am least likely to use); Deborah Lippmann Nail Lacquer in “Mermaid’s Dream” (yassss); Josie Maran Coconut Watercolor Cheek Gelee; Marc Jacobs Beauty Mini Lash Lifter in “Blacquer”; Make Up For Ever Aqua Eyes Waterproof Pencil (my big sis called dibs); NARS Travel Size “Laguna” Bronzing Powder; Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Stained Gloss in “New Wave” (AND it came with a brush!); stila Cosmetics Magnificent Metals Foil Finish Eye Shadow in “Kitten” (YASSSS); and Urban Decay All Nighter Makeup Setting Spray.
I finally used some points to get some goodies – Buxom Objects of Obsession (500 pts), which includes Mini Vanity Lash Mascara in “Show-Off Black”; Mini Hold the Line Waterproof Eyeliner in “I’ll Be Waiting”; Mini Full-On Lip Cream in “Kir Royale”; and Mini Full-On Lip Polish in “Sophia”. I also got two 100 pt items – Pink Gel Coat Nail Strengthener & Brightener and Liquid Blendercleanser.
I also used a code to get two extra samples – NARS Audacious Mascara in “Black Moon” and First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream – in addition to the three regular samples, Marc Jacobs “Decadence” (smells like the inside of a rich old lady’s purse); Dr. Dennis Gross ferulic + retinol wrinkle recovery peel and Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer.
I may have too much mascara now…
February Ipsy Bag – Pretty in #ipsyPink
Is it me, or are the ipsy bags getting cuter and cuter? My purse is filled with a series of bags, holding all kinds of different things – I can’t figure out what to do with all the cute bags I have. Ideas please!!!
“Pretty in #ipsyPink” is the theme for February and the bag is pixelated envelope – like a valentine, I guess? Inside: MOR Emporium Classics Hand & Body Lotion in “Candied Vanilla” (smells like vanilla pudding – weird); Trust Fund Beauty Nail Polish in “I’m Kind of a Big Deal” (plastic-y pink, but I think I know what I am gonna do with it…); Naked Cosmetics Mica Pigment in “Sierra Nevada #02”; Smashbox Cosmetics Photo Finish Primer Oil (I also got a sample of this with my last Ulta Goody Bag, but I haven’t tried it yet); and Jor’el Parker “Eau So Divine” (not bad – better than the last one I received).
Another decent bag – but I really wanted that Ciate Polish…
If you’d like to try Ipsy – click here. I’ll earn 250 points if you sign up through my link.
February Birchbox – Date Night
Just in time for VD – my “Date Night” Birchbox is here…
I really wanted to try the new Arrow lip gloss that was a sample choice, but since I was in Vegas, I didn’t click fast enough and it was sold out. So, I chose the curated “Date Night” box. Inside: Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Lip Tar in “Strumpet” (I’ve been wanting to try Lip Tar so bad!); Cynthia Rowley Beauty Brightening Illuminator (got this in a Birchbox last year); Whish Renewing Mud Mask; amika Bombshell Blowout Spray (I got this just last month!); and Catherine Malandrino “Romance de Provence” (smells like Grandma…not mine, but someone’s).
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.
Target Beauty Box – February 2016
I can’t believe how much stuff is in the February Target Beauty Box – “Sweet Treats”. It is bursting to the seams.
Inside the box: Soapbox Coconut Oil Shampoo & Conditioner; Mayfair Soap Foundry Body Creme in “Sea Lily Jasmine” (Smells good); Vera Wang “Embrace” Eau de Toilette (Pear blossom and green tea – reminds me of my mom); L’Oreal Boost It Air Blown Texture Mist; Skinfix Lip Repair Balm; EcoTools Bath Pouf (it’s a bit tiny, but I can always use these); Laneige BB Cushion (Now that I finally tried the first sample I got, I’ll actually use this); Derma e Hydrating Night Creme (nice); and Incoco Nail Polish Appliques (I need to try these – this is the third pack I’ve gotten).
Just $7 for this box, with a $3 off $15 coupon inside. I need to hurry up and use the last 2 I got – they expire on Sunday.
The Saga of “Give Me Some Nude Lip”
I’m going to tell you a story…it’s a very scary story…but I can promise that it has a happy ending.
The Monday before last, Sephora released an all-nude version of their “Give Me Some Lip” Set – even though it was $28, I had to have it. Inside the all new “Give Me Some Nude Lip” Set: Laura Mercier Crème Smooth Lipstick in “Milky Way”; NARS Lipstick in “Dolce Vita”; Marc Jacobs Beauty Mini (P)Outliner Longwear Lip Pencil in “Prim(Rose) (cocoa spice)”; NUDESTIX Lip + Cheek Crayon in “Whisper”; and Tarte Deluxe Tarteist Lip Paint in “Namaste Nude”.
On Thursday…my box arrived. I gleefully opened the box, carefully peeled the sticker seals from the lip-shaped box…and the contents were FUCKED UP…Noooooooooooooo! There were two Marc Jacobs lip liners and no Tarte Lip Paint. A tragedy. I called Sephora Customer Service…and their computers were down and they couldn’t help me. I called an hour later…and the phone jockey hung up on me. I called right back…computers still down. Finally, a few hours after that – everything was back to normal and I got someone who could help me. She told me that she would send out another one immediately and I could just return this one to my closest store. YES.
So while I waited, at least I had other samples to play with. My order qualified for the free Beauty to Love Sample bag, which came with Becca Backlight Priming Filter (huh?); Atelier Cologne “Mandarine Glaciale” (I have so many samples of this, but I love it); Perricone MD Re:Firm Surface Recovery Treatment; Touch in Sol Feels Like Honey Moon Skin Base (I just tried the one I got in my last Allure Beauty Thrills – it’s ok, but not moisturizing enough for winter); BITE Beauty Agave Lip Masks (I tried the last sample I got a few days ago – feel nice at bedtime); First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Hydra-Firm Sleeping Cream; Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer; and Skin Inc Pure Deepsea Hydrating Mask. I’m glad I got these good samples, because I didn’t get ANY of the ones I picked at checkout. Instead I got Thierry Mugler “Alien” (Smells so gross); Clinique Moisture Surge (I like this stuff); and Dr. brandt Do Not Age Beauty Sleep Serum.
On Saturday, I dutifully delivered my fucked up lip set to Sephora. The return was quick, but then the “Cast Member” decided I need skin stuff and showed me a bunch of skin care stuff and smears some Kate Somerville stuff on my hand. I thanked her and got the hell out of there without buying a thing.
Days passed…On Tuesday, my new box arrived.
I was holding my breath as I opened it…YES! Everything in this box was perfect. I also got three more samples – Lancome Teint Idole Ultra Makeup Stick (I feel like I keep getting Lancome stuff and I should be more excited about it…but I’m not); Prada “Candy” and DKNY “Be Desired”.
I’m going to be taking all these nude beauties with me to Vegas in a few days – I can’t wait to try them all! Good thing I ordered it on the first day it was available…it’s already out of stock! Yay – happy ending!
Goutte de Rose
I had been slacking off on reviewing my Birchbox products the last several months…until there was something I wanted. I got a sample of Cartier Goutte de Rose (“droplet of rose” en Francais) in my November Birchbox and I fell in love. So I steadfastly reviewed my November and December samples and accrued $20 in Birchbox points. I added the $10 off code in my December Birchbox and purchased the 1.6 fl. oz. bottle for $37!
I don’t care if it makes my husband’s eyes water, I smell FABULOUS.
My samples came several days later, in a separate mailer. I got Davines Oi Shampoo & Conditioner (I’ll be bringing these to Vegas with me in less than 2 weeks!) and LAQA & Co. Cheeky Lip in “Humble Brag” – which I had already gotten in my August Birchbox. Oh well…
Sephora Play! 04 – December 2015
“Oh What Fun” is Sephora Play’s December theme and oh, what fun it is. I’m not sure if I lost the little playbook that came with it, or if I just lost it somewhere in my house…but I usually don’t remember to cash in the card for 50 extra points anyway.
Inside…NUDE Skincare Advanced Renewal Serum (5 packets!); Viktor & Rolf “Flowerbomb” (saving for my sister, she likes this scent a lot); Smashbox Full Exposure Eye Shadow Duo; Dr. Brandt Skincare PoreDermabrasion (love getting Dr. Brandt); Make Up For Ever Aqua Eyes in “Matte Black” (eek, waterproof eyeliner…NO); and Fresh Seaberry Moisturizing Oil (My skin is SO flaketastic right now).
Sephora Play is only $10/month. You can sign up at sephora.com/play.