Category: Hair
January Beauty Box 5 – Ev’rythang Done
So Beauty Box 5 has gone full ghetto with the theme for January – “Ev’rythang Done”. Well, okay then…
So, I’m going to get ev’rythang done with Bodipure Keratin Gloves (Intriguing); Nails, Inc. Nail Polish in “Bruton Mews” (a deep, dark green – I don’t think I’ve ever seen a polish this color); Scratch Customer Accent Nail Wraps (These are supposed to work over polish); Novex Bamboo Sprout Deep Conditioning Treatment (I’m skeptical of this one – the foilpack says “bamboo sprouds”); Not Your Mother’s Haircare Plump for Joy Thickening Hair Lifter (Weird); and Salon Grafix Freezing Hair Spray.
After I keratin my hands, I’m going to paint my nails green and put gold stickers on them…then put bean sprouds in my hair…and then time for lifting and freezing. Then ev’rythang will be done.
January Birchbox – Moodboard Your Year
January’s Birchbox issued a challenge to “Moodboard Your Year”, so I declared 2016 as The Year of Creativity. I want to be more creative with my beauty purchases and not just buy the same things I’ve been buying. Don’t get me wrong – I’m not going to stop hoarding…I just want to become more CREATIVE in my hoarding…
Hmmm…How can I be creative with my January Birchbox? I received amika Bombshell Blowout Spray; Embryolisse Lait-Creme Concentre (I am happy to get any moisturizer, but the name is grossing me out…I didn’t see embryo in the ingredients, but…); Eyeko Fat Liquid Liner (OMG, it’s like a sharpie!); R+Co. Death Valley Dry Shampoo (Ugh); and TONYMOLY Delight Tony Tint in “Red” (my sample choice for the month).
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.
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…
December Ipsy Bag – with Love from Ipsy
This classy quilted red bag – it makes me want to go back to carrying a red purse instead of the pink one I carry right now!
December’s theme is “with Love from Ipsy”. There are some exciting goodies inside this month’s bag: RickyCare from Ricky’s NYC Classic 3D Blender; Pacifica Power of Love Natural Lipstick in “Nudie Red” (this will look great with the Pacifica eye shadow from the Target Beauty Box I just got); Marc Anthony Coconut Oil & Shea Butter Deep Conditioning Treatment; Elizabeth Mott Thank Me Later Eye Shadow Primer; and Peony Shadow Trio (I chipped both of my thumb nails trying to get this fucking thing open and jammed my thumb nail into one of the shadows, leaving a deep rivet – things in life shouldn’t be this hard).
I am thinking through my subscriptions for next year – I’ll definitely be keeping ipsy in 2016!
If you’d like to try Ipsy – click here. I’ll earn 250 points if you sign up through my link.
Allure Beauty Thrills – December 2015
Just like last year, the Allure Beauty Thrills Box went on sale during Thanksgiving vacation. Again, I set my alarm and ordered. The price went up again – $49.95 now, with $10 shipping. Even so, it is a hell of a deal.
There were a few repeats from previous boxes, but loads of new stuff: Algenist Power Advanced Wrinkle Fighter Serum (easily the most valuable item in the box – $105 on Sephora’s site); Aloxxi Volumizing Whip (eh, I am SO past the mousse phase); Caress Daily Silk Silkening Body Wash (this is THE BEST for shaving your legs in the shower); Clear Scalp & Hair Total Care Nourishing Shampoo & Conditioner (going to my sister); Colgate Optic White Toothbrush + Built-In Whitening Pen (my third one); Colgate Optic White Express White Toothpaste; Dove Advanced Care Anti-Perspirant/Deodorant (still using the last one I got); Dove Deep Moisture Wash (another good one for leg shaving); e.l.f. Studio Lip Exfoliator (intrigued); e.l.f. Studio Moisturizing Lipstick in “Bordeaux Beauty”; HASK Monoi Coconut Nourishing Shine Oil (another repeat); Herbal Essences Naked Volume Shampoo (what the fuck am I supposed to do with shampoo and no conditioner?); Jessica Custom Nail Color in “Soak Up the Sun” (bright ass pink); Michael Todd Knu Anti-Aging Face Lift Serum ($58 on Ulta’s site); Not Your Mother’s Clean Freak Unscented Refreshing Dry Shampoo (Ugh); One ‘N Only Island Essentials Awapuhi Intensive Treatment; Redken One United Multi-Benefit Treatment (I LOVE the Blonde Idol BB Spray from my first Allure box – looking forward to this one); Rusk Working Spray; Simple Skincare Micellular Make-Up Remover Wipes; Sonia Kashuk Tools Medium Eye Shadow Brush No. 28 (I needed another blending brush); Suave Professionals Moroccan Infusion Styling Oil; Touch In Sol Feel Like Honey Moon Skin Base; and Yes to Tomatoes Detoxifying Charcoal Cleanser (Tomatoes and charcoal sounds like something you’d use to get out skunk stink).
All these high end wrinkle products – my face is going to be a smooth as a baby’s behind!
December Birchbox – Winter Essentials
Winter is a tough season for my skin. I feel like my skin is so try that I have to put a lot of products on it to moisturize it. In turn, I get breakouts. Then more products to combat the breakouts…and skin that is drier and flakier than before. Let’s see what Birchbox thinks my “Winter Essentials” should be…
Inside this month’s box: Jane Iredale Just Kissed Lip and Cheek Stain in “Forever Peach” (I tested it on my wrist and got about as much color as a cherry chapstick – it smelled like chapstick, too); Coastal Scents Eye Shadow Duo – formalEYES (the description on the card led me to believe I would be getting classic pinks and mauves – uh, I got gold and emerald green…then I looked at the package and it says styleEYES – guess I got the wrong one? I showed my husband and he just said, “Slutty.”); eSalon Perfect ending Leave In Conditioner (is that anything like a happy ending?); derma e Microdermabrasion Scrub (I LOVE this scrub); and JUARA Coconut Illipe Hand and Nail Balm. There was also a tasty treat in my box – a little chocolate bar from Chuao Chocolatier – “Cinnamon Cereal Smooch”. It was SO good. I did not share.
Hmmm…not a bad box, but a little odd. We’ll see how the slutty green eye shadow looks with peachy chapstick.
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 – December 2015
See, I’ve gotten smart – I throw my husband a beauty box every once in a while to keep him happy…
Just like last December, Target offered “His” and “Hers” Beauty Boxes. The “His” Box was $5 and included a Target brand Up & Up Five Blade Razor (since he joined the Five Dollar Shave Club, I might steal this for my legs); Degree Dry Spray in “Adventure”; Gillette Clinical Endurance Antiperspirant in “Cool Wave” (apparently, Target thinks men are stinky); Axe “Apollo” Shower Gel; and Dove “Extra Fresh” Body and Face Wash. Oh, and a $3 off $15 coupon.
This should keep him off my back for a few months at least…
The $10 “Hers” box is MUCH more exciting. Inside: Clairol Hair Food Dry Shampoo; CoverGirl Star Wars Lipstick in “30” (Yes, yes, yes! I’ve been wanting one of these!); Maybelline Push Up Drama Mascara in “Blackest Black”; CeraVe Eye Repair Cream; Goody Ouchless Elastics Sweat Stretch (they are made like those loops you make potholders out of); Pacifica Love³ Eye Shadow Trio (very pretty earth tones); Laneige Water Bank Moisture Cream (another LOVE); and Olay Regenerist Microsculpting Cream (What am I going to microsculpt?).
…and another $3 off $15 coupon.
Ulta Cyber Fundays
The weekend before Thanksgiving/Black Friday, Ulta ran a “Cyber Fundays” promotion with a bunch of stuff on sale, plus a gift with purchase sample bag on orders of $60+, plus $10 off. I decided to knock out some stocking stuffers, plus get a few things for myself. Imagine my surprise when Ulta decided to break my modest order into three different shipments.
The first box was rather piddly – just a travel size Joico K-PAK Deep-Penetrating Reconstructor (my BFF swears by K-PAKs, so I thought I’d give them a try while on sale) and a few stocking stuffers from the 5/$5 Promotion.
The second box was also small – a single lotion stocking stuffer, my variety sampler – Lumene Time Freeze Instant Lift Serum and Burt’s Bees Renewal Intensive Firming Serum – and my gift with purchase…Inside the Berry Glam Beauty Bag: Too Faced Born This Way Foundation with 3 different shades – “Vanilla”, “Light Beige” and “Sand”; Gucci “Bamboo” (not bad, smells like Crystals in Vegas); “Pink Sugar” (too hookery); Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Powder Duo; Pureology Coulour Fanatic Instant Deep-Conditioning Mask; Benefit ThePOREfessional Pro Balm & License to Blot Set; Urban Decay Cosmetics Revolution Lipstick (Card with 4 sample colors); Giorgio Armani “Acqua Di Gio”; Whish Body Butter in “Winterberry” (the last one I got smelled like hot dog water, so I am scared to try this one); It’s a 10 Miracle Leave-In Product (guaranteed in every Ulta sample bag); Ralph Lauren “Romance”; Philosophy Purity Made Simple 3-in-1 Cleanser for Face and Eyes; Ulta Legendary Lengths Lengthening Mascara; Clarins Super Restorative Day; Alterna Haircare Caviar CC Cream (for hair); Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer (I have SO much of this shit); Skyn Iceland Pure Cloud Cream; Nip+Fab Skin Dragon’s Blood Fix Plumping Serum (it couldn’t be worse than the snake venom that nut in Vegas smeared all over my face); and a BUNCH of Ulta coupons.
FINALLY…the third box had the REAL stuff I ordered: John Frieda Liquid Shine Shampoo and Conditioner ($3.74 each!); Joico K-PAK Shampoo (to go with the conditioner); Ulta Rose Gold Palette (been lusting after this FOREVER); Poo-Pourri “Merry Spritzmas” (for my son – at 10, he is starting to get manly shits); eos Holiday Set (also for him), some other stocking stuffers and some nail buffers for ME.
I monitored Ulta’s Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales and it looks like the Cyber Fundays sale was actually the better deal (for me, anyway). They’re still sending different sale emails every day, though…I may not be done ordering yet!
yassss bitch!
So…last Tuesday, an email appeared in my inbox from Sephora – offering a 24 hour window to order the new Urban Decay Gwen Stefani palette before it officially launched on 12/1. I couldn’t risk a sell out, so I graciously ordered it for my husband…I also placed an order for my bestie, since her man is also buying it for her for Xmas. Aren’t I a sweetheart? Now the hard part…I have to let him wrap it and stick it under the tree for three more weeks…
…BUT…at least I can play with the awesome black and gold sample bag I got with my order. Inside: Ole Henriksen 3 Little Wonders; Skin Inc Pure Deepsea Hydrating Mask; Yves Saint Laurent TOUCHE ÉCLAT (another luminizer); Kate Somerville ExfoliKate; Fresh Soy Conditioning Eye Makeup Remover and Soy Face Cleanser; Living Proof Style Extender; Versace Bright Crystal (going straight to my sister – she loves this scent); Sephora Colorful Blush in “No5 Sweet on you!”; Nude Progenius Omega Treatment Rescue Oil; Beauty Blender Liquid blendercleanser (I wonder if it works better than the baby shampoo I usually use?); Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion (I used this for the first time a few weeks ago – it really helps!); and Amazing Cosmetics Amazing Concealer in “Medium Beige” (I think I have some of this somewhere?).
I also got the usual three samples with my order – BITE Beauty Agave Lip Mask in “Champagne”, “Natural” and “Smashed”; REN Clean Skincare Wake Wonderful Night-Time Facial; and Benefit Air Patrol BB Cream Eyelid Primer.
Just $132 left until Rouge…
November Birchbox – Feeling Fancy
November’s Birchbox has me “Feeling Fancy” – and smelling GOOD.
I know I just bought Roses de Chloe, but now I am going to have to go buy Cartier Eau De Cartier Goutte de Rose – obviously, another rose scent, but different – it smells somehow greener? Birchbox’s description says it’s unisex, but I really can’t see that happening – it’s too floral. Also inside my box – MAKE Skin Illuminator (Ugh.); Number 4 Flouro5 Elixer Restore & Repair Oil; PARLOR by Jeff Chastain Touchable Curl Cream; and LOC Matte Lipstick in “First Kiss” (I’m excited about trying Birchbox’s new house brand!)
All in all, a very glamorous box!
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.