Category: Hair
February 2018 Birchbox – Follow Your Heart
This month’s box has some heft to it. I mean that literally – it was really heavy for a Birchbox.
The weight was due to two absolutely gigantic (for Birchbox, anyway) sample bottles – Love Beauty and Planet Smooth and Serene Argan Oil & Lavender Shampoo and Conditioner. Birchbox heard my prayers! Matching shampoo and conditioner in matching sizes! Sometimes lavender gives me a headache though…I’ll have to be careful with the shampoo and conditioner.
Also in this month’s curated box: Sunday Riley Good Genes All-in-One Lactic Acid Treatment (I’ve had this before and loved what it did for my skin); Doucce Cosmetics Luscious Lip Stain in “Steaming Red”; and Beauty Crop Wing Woman Liquid Eyeliner in “Black”.
No fragrances this month – I only miss them when I don’t get them.
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.
Ulta Birthday Trip
I had an afternoon Doctor Appointment last week and I decided not to be a lazy shit and leave the house before noon. I thought I’d hit Ulta to pick up my Birthday Gift and see what else I can pick up.
I’ve started this new habit of keeping a list of stuff I want from Ulta in my basket in the app, so I don’t forget and can compare prices. I had at least half a dozen random items and this store did not have a single one of them in stock. Really? I had a $10 off coupon burning a hole in my pocket!
I decided to finally try the NYX Liquid Suede Metallics, since they were Buy One, Get One 50% Off. I picked up “Buzzkill” (hot pink) and “Go Rogue” (black). Warning, the pink STAINS bad, as I found out today. I also grabbed a few different nail buffers. The biggest part of my purchase was a set of Hot Tools Soft Pillow Rollers for my daughter’s birthday next week – don’t worry, she doesn’t even know what Instagram is.
This quarter’s birthday gift is kind of lame – Just an Ulta Cranberry & Pomegranate Lip Oil and Mask. The rest of the year gets NARS, it Cosmetics and Lancome! I got the shaft.
Disappointed, I hit a second Ulta on the way to my appointment and again – disappointment. I actually ended up placing an online order a few days ago…I’m excited!
February 2018 Ipsy Bag – Unzipped
Ipsy takes on a monumental task with February’s theme, “Unzipped”, the insert card boldly declaring, “Being sexy isn’t limited to a certain size, shape, or age.” Not only YES, but FUCK YASSS! Thank you, Ipsy!
I’m a big fan of black lace on nude – I have several skirts and dresses, not to mention lingerie, that would be a swell match for this bag.
The products are a bit “meh” this month, but not horrible. I’m actually glad to have a bit of dry shampoo – I’d given all mine away around Xmas-time. It’s Eva NYC Freshen Up Dry Shampoo. Also in this month’s bag: -417 Hand Moisturizer (a neutral scent, I cannot quite place it); TRÈSTIQUE Mini Eye Pencil in “Swiss Chocolate”; Beaute Basics Eyeshadow in “Lavish”; and a Luxie Beauty Blending and Shading Eye Brush 249 (I think this is going into my travel makeup brush set).
If you’d like to try Ipsy – click here. I’ll earn 250 points if you sign up through my link.
Gloomy Lotion
As cynical as I am, I’m a sucker for a new products. I’ve been wanting to get my hands on L’Oreal’s True Match Lumi Glotion Natural Glow Enhancer in “Fair” ($14.99). (In my head, I always think Gloomy Lotion). I’ve been really liking the GlamGlow Illuminating Moisturizer. The Gloomy Lotion doesn’t smell as good, but it does the job – I like it.
Since I had a 20% off coupon, I filled my cart with a few other things to get to $50. I also wanted to try Maybelline’s Total Temptation Eyebrow Definer Pencil in “Medium Brown” ($7.99). I’ve been loving on the Ulta Slim, but this one is a winner, too! It’t only about 2/3 the length, so it might not be such a good deal pricewise. I got a $5 off a future purchase from those brands for my purchase.
I also got refills of my SheaMoisture Peace Rose Oil Complex Shampoo and Conditioner ($11.49). It wasn’t on sale, but hey, 20% off. Speaking of rose, I also had to try out Philosophy‘s new scent – Amazing Grace Nude Rose ($20). It’s similar with Ballet Rose, but instead of notes of leather, there are green notes. It made my husband gag, so that’s a really good sign.
Oh, and thanks for actually sending me samples, Ulta! I got a cared with three different shades of Too Faced Born This Way Foundation and a card with samples of L’Oreal Revitalift Serum and Moisturizer.
Only $397.23 to get to Platinum for 2019. Chances of hitting Diamond status? At this juncture, I’d say highly unlikely.
Sephora Play January 2018 – Happy You Year!
It’s January 31st, I had major surgery and I am still managing to cover all my January boxes in January. High Five!
This month’s “Happy You Year” bag is filled with products to revitalize. The first thing I squealed over is the GlamGlow SuperCleanse Clearing Cream-to-Foam Cleanser – I LOVE GlamGlow!
Also in this month’s bag: Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair Deep Conditioning Mask (just a foil pack, boo); Lancome Cils Booster Super-Enhancing Mascara Booster (don’t care); Smashbox Photo FInish Primerizer (primer AND moisturizer – genius!); Ole Henriksen Hygge HydraClay Detox Mask (I love me some masks); and Clinique Pep-Start Eye Cream.
No fragrance though – boo!
If you don’t get Sephora Play, sign up TODAY. Sephora Play is only $10/month. You can sign up at sephora.com/play.
January 2018 Ipsy Bag – Game Face
I gotta get through these boxes before they cut me open!
This month’s “Game Face” ipsy bag is totally 80s! The products are anything but retro. The first product that caught my eye was the F.A.R.A.H BRUSHES Z-Tweeze Dual Ended Tweezer – I’ve never seen a product like this before and I consider myself a tweezer aficionado. One end has the usual wide slant tweezers, but the other end has pointy ones. I cannot wait to start attacking ingrown hairs with these!
Also in this month’s bag: CAKE BY CAKE BEAUTY Heavy Cream Intensive Body Balm; DIRTY LITTLE SECRET COSMETICS Eyeshadow in “Sangria” (sparkly red eyeshadow – yes please!); THEBALM COSMETICS Mary-Lou Manizer; and ANDALOU NATURALS Argan & Shea Styling Cream.
If you’d like to try Ipsy – click here. I’ll earn 250 points if you sign up through my link.
January 2018 Birchbox – Find Your Happy
Even though I forgot to pick the products in my Julep box, I did remember to pick for my Birchbox. I picked the curated box, of course. Not that any products stood out to me, but the sample choices were either lame or repeats.
Of all the brands I get in Subscription Boxes, I’d have to say that I get Smashbox the most. I get a Smashbox product every single month. I’m not mad about getting another Smashbox Photo Finish Radiance Primer – I actually like this pearly primer. (I got it in September’s ipsy.)
Also in this month’s box: Oribe Gold Lust Repair & Restore Shampoo and Conditioner (So glad I got equal sizes of BOTH products); Laura Geller New York Fortifying Lashes Eyelash Primer (why?); and Clark’s Botanicals Age Defying Radiance Cream.
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 Boxes – January 2018
Ooooh! Another two box month!
The first box – “Hello Staycay” – has a wide variety of products. Even though I’ve gotten them before, I was compelled to use the Pretty Animalz Tiger Sheet Mask immediately. The cat ran away, but it super-hydrated my skin – I’ll be using more of these masks soon. Also included in the Staycay box: Nexxus Humectress Hair Mask; Dove Gentle Exfoliating Body Polish “Crushed Macadamia & Rice Milk” (I bet this smells SO good!); OGX Biotin & Collagen Shampoo (where is the conditioner mother fuckers???); Mrs. Meyer’s Body Wash in “Basil” (this is WEIRD); Vichy Mineral 89 Face Moisturizer; and CoverGirl Melting Pout Lipstick in “Evan-Gel-Ical” (obviously a dupe of Too Face Melted – yay!). I will use every single thing in this box – and hopefully, the $3 off $15 coupon, too. I only used one of the two coupons I got last month.
The second box – “Hello Jetsetter” – is all products from across the pond – the best that Boots (an UK store) has to offer. I was pumped to see a full eyeshadow palette from Sleek MakeUP – 12 matte and shimmering colors. Also inside the Boots box: No7 Restore & Renew Serum; No7 Airbrush Away Primer; Soap & Glory Righteous Body Butter; Soap & Glory Pillow Plump Lip Gloss; and Botanics Shine Away Ionic Clay Mask. Again, another box that I will use ALL of…except maybe the coupon. This coupon is $5 off $20…but only on the brands included in this box. We shall see…
Both boxes were $7, with free shipping and 5% off with my Target Red Card. Both were chock full of good stuff – I wish they were this good every month!
Sephora Play! December 2017 – Glam Straight
I know, I know. Again. Don’t even say it.
December’s box is full of party products – special products for a night out. Before I could even get excited about any of the products, I was in awe of the Art Deco pouch that came with this month’s box. It’s total Gatsby.
After the pouch, I was drawn to the Dr. Jart+ Cicapair Tiger Grass Cream – it’s a soothing cream that eliminates redness. My scabby winter skin could use the help. Also in this month’s box – Atelier Cologne Clementine California (so happy – I just used up a travel spray of this); drybar Triple Sec 3-in-1, Clinique pretty easy liquid eyelining pen in “black”; Make Up For Ever Artist Rouge Mat in M401 “Hot Red”; and Smashbox Cover Shot: Golden Hour Eye Shadow Duo. I could almost do a full face with this box. I’dd look really weird with no eyebrows though.
Do you get Sephora Play? This is far and away, the best subscription box I get every month. Sephora Play is only $10/month. You can sign up at sephora.com/play.
December 2017 Birchbox – On the Dot, Off the Cuff
This month’s Birchbox was a “Hail Mary” pass – I was all set to cancel my subscription until I saw the goodies in this month’s fabulous box. I’d had weak boxes for the last several months and now that the point system has been overhauled…but lo and behold…an amazing box! They’ve earned a brief reprieve.
I was expecting the Davines MINU Illuminating Shampoo – For Color-Treated Hair – it was my sample choice this month. The box also came with foil packs of Davines MINU Illuminating Conditioner – For Color-Treated Hair and Davines MINU Hair Serum – For Color-Treated Hair. Bahhhhh….foil packs….no….
The goodies I wasn’t expecting: Stila Cosmetics HUGE Extreme Lash Mascara (they messed up and I got TWO of these!); Lavanila The Healthy Fragrance Pure Vanilla Eau de Parfum (eh); LOC Liquid Shimmer Shadow in “Eclipse”; and Sunday Riley C.E.O. Rapid Flash Brightening Serum. Oh, and I almost forgot…an eyelash curler. A FUCKING eyelash curler. Does anyone even use those anymore?
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.