Category: Makeup

 
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November Ipsy Bag – Beauty Blast

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Well, November’s Ipsy bag is BADASS! I love the galaxy print on the bag and the products are top notch. I’m pretty sure Ipsy wins November…

Inside my “Beauty Blast” glam bag: China Glaze Nail Lacquer in “Soft Sienna Silks” (this color is going on my nails TOMORROW); Beaute Basics Sahara Gold Chubby Eye Pencil; LeeAni Eco Go Away Gloomy Day Serum; Smashbox Cosmetics Full Exposure Mascara (NICE); and tre’StiQue Mini Matte Lip Crayon in “Chile Red”.

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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Never Too Early to Start Xmas Shopping

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I couldn’t pass up the chance to combine a 20% off coupon with an already smokin’ deal. I’ve been watching the Urban Decay Naked on the Run palette drop in price on various sites over the past month and it finally popped up at Ulta for $32. It was overpriced at $54, but $25.60 was just the right price. I tried the palette immediately and LOVED the shadow colors. Just the color “Dive” alone is worth it – metallic rose w/golden micro-shimmer. The Naked Lip Gloss “Sesso” is also nice.

I also picked up an Xmas present for Lily – the NYX Mega Glam Nail Polish Set. These little mini polish bottles are perfect for her tiny hands. I’m fairly certain she doesn’t read this site, so I think I’m safe in posting it.

I’ve finally figured out that the best day to order online from Ulta is Beauty Break Wednesdays – when they always have a free gift going. This time, I got a 4 piece sampler from bliss, with Fabulous Makeup Melt gel-to-oil cleanser, Fabulous Foaming Face Wash, Triple Oxygen Radiant Protection Energizing Serum and Instant Energizing Foaming Mask. I also got samples of L de L Cosmetics Retinol Anti-Wrinkle Facial Oil, Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer and Mario Badescu Botanical Exfoliating Scrub.

I can’t wait to use my Sephora VIB 20% off next week!

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Target Beauty Box – October 2015 – #2

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What! What! WHAT! There were 2 Target Beauty Boxes this month!

This $10 box packs a punch – I don’t even know how they fit it all into the box. Inside my box: Goody Ouchless Silicone Lined Elastics; Cover Girl Intensify Me Eyeliner in “Intense Black” (it has a paddle tip that paints thin and thick lines); Revlon ColorStay Ultimate Suede Lipstick in “Wardrobe”; RoC Deep Wrinkle Night Cream (I’ve heard good things about RoC, but have never tried it – looking forward to trying it); ACURE Moroccan Argan Oil + Stem Cell Triple Repair Shampoo & Conditioner (big samples, not foil packets!); Skinfix Ultra Rich Body Butter; Hello Toothpaste in “Supermint”; Olly Beauty Vitamins (with Biotin, Vitamins C, E & Borage Oil – I ate them already – they were yummy); and S.W. Basics Certified Organic Body Scrub (At first, I thought it was a packet of granola – it has just three ingredients: sugar, coconut oil & shredded coconut – so it kinda IS granola).

As usual, there’s a coupon $3 off a $15 Beauty purchase. Another great box from Target!

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October Beauty Box 5 – Think Pink

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Oh. Another Breast Cancer Pink-themed Beauty Box. *Groan* Well SHUT MY MOUTH, this Beauty Box 5 “Think Pink” box has some pretty good stuff in it…

Let’s see what we’ve got…a Happy Hands HappyFace Makeup Cleansing Cloth (it’s supposed to remove all your makeup with just water – WHAT?); a Ferro Cosmetics Pink Rhinestone Kabuki Brush (I’m in the market for a new powder brush – this one is SO soft); Styli-Style Perfect Pout Long Lasting Balm Stick in “Playful Pink”; Knotty Hair Ties (this type is so pretty, but they stretch out so easily); and a Nubar Nail Polish Mini in “Pinktober!” (Of course, it’s called that).

I will actually use all this pink stuff – thanks, Beauty Box 5!

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Target Beauty Box – October 2015

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So this month’s Target Beauty Box is interesting – it is all products by L’Oréal Paris. Ooooh la la!

Let’s see what we’ve got…Voluminous Mascara in “Blackest Black” (good thing I gave my Sister-in-Law 3 unopened mascaras a few days ago – I have an unending supply); Advanced Haircare Total Repair 5 Restoring Shampoo (well what conditioner am I gonna use, huh?); Elnett Satin Hairpsray (I think I have one of these from another Target box); Age Perfect Cell Renewal Night Cream (this was listed on the car, but there isn’t a sample of it in my box – just a little sticker to “test” if my skin needs renewal – it doesn’t); Revitalift Volume Filler (single use samples of serum and cream); True Match Shade Strips (this is the coolest thing in the box – stickers to place on your face to find the best foundation match); and Advanced Haircare Ultimate Straight Shampoo, Pre-Conditioner and Conditioner (They done changed the game – now I need pre-conditioner before my conditioner???)

Kind of a weeny box for $5. But the mascara alone is more than $5, plus – there’s a coupon for $5 off $20 of L’Oréal, so… Now if they would just set it up as a subscription, instead of me having to order it each month.

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October Ipsy Bag – Alter Ego

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Ipsy’s October theme is “Alter Ego”, as in transformation. Everyone likes to transform for Halloween…but I like to transform 365 days a year.

Inside my snazzy black vinyl and gold pleather bag: Eau Thermale Avène Soothing Moisture Mask (yassss); MicaBeauty ipsy EXCLUSIVE Cream Eyeshadow in “Bronze”AYRES ipsy EXCLUSIVE Pampas Sunrise Hand Cream (mmmm…smells yummy and lemony); theBalm Cosmetics Meet Matt(e) Hughes Long-Lasting Liquid Lipstick in “Committed” (excited about this – texture and color); and Coastal Scents Xpress Line Cosmetic Pencil (It didn’t say what color it is, but I am assuming black.)

No offense, ipsy – but these don’t seem like very transformative products. At least not to me.

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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October Birchbox – Power Pose

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It’s October and you know what that means…PINK. The entire country is drowned in Pepto Bismol pink, a massive marketing event purportedly intended to raise breast cancer awareness, but really designed to sell pink versions of every product possible, from KFC to NFL. I don’t apologize for my cynicism. My mother died of breast cancer a decade ago and I don’t need a pink bucket of chicken breasts to remind me to get MY breasts squished between plexiglass plates on a yearly basis.

In any case, Birchbox offered the choice of two curated Estée Lauder boxes. I picked the “Power Pose” box, which contains Clinique Chubby Stick Moisturizing Lip Colour Balm in “Mega Melon” (is that some kind of ironic joke about breasts?); Clinique Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief; Darphin STIMULSKIN PLUS Multi-Correction Divine CreamEstée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Serum Synchronized Complex II; and Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer (I think I have 4 of these now). OH! And an obligatory pink ribbon. Yay.

I know I sound like an asshole – normally, I love the color pink – just not that trademarked Komen pink. One of the organizations that I do admire is The Rose, a local organization that provides Breast Cancer screening and treatment for those who cannot afford it. They are able to do this, not by donations or pink marketing – but by also servicing women (like me) that have insurance and using those funds to support their initiatives. They DO something.

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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Matte Lips!

Finally! NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in “Cannes” is mine!

Last week, Ulta had NYX on sale for Buy 2, Get 1 Free, so I went ahead and ordered it. I also got 2 of the new NYX Liquid Suede“Sandstorm” and “Stone Fox”. I don’t know how the slate gray will look on my lips, but Halloween is coming…

For my samples, I ended up with single use cards of Benefit The POREfessional and tarte Smoother Operator Amazonian Clay Tinted Finishing Powder. They were also running a deal for free shipping with a $1 breast cancer donation…and of course, the usual $3.50 off coupon. I got all this for $12.34!

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October Julep Maven Box – The New York Never Sleeps Collection

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They say “New York Never Sleeps”…and so does Julep with October’s Collection.

The polishes this month were nice, but none of them just blew me away. I was more interested in the new Eye Shadow 101 crème-to-powder shadow stick – I picked “Champagne Shimmer”. I tried it today and it went on smoothly and evenly. I am fantasizing about an extra 5 minutes of sleep on the days that I use it – just swipe and go.

I couldn’t go absolutely polish-less, so I chose Julep Boho Glam “Michaela”, blackcurrant microglitter shimmer. I also chose NEON yellow skull & crossbones nail decals. Obviously, if I want NEON yellow on my nails, I’m gonna have to use a sticker. I also got a little bag of candy corn, which I handed over to my husband. See, he benefits from my beauty boxes, too!

Not a Julep Maven? Leave a comment and I’ll send you a referral email good for a free welcome box!

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Sephora Play – September 2015

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It’s here! The first Sephora Play box! Like I need another subscription box…I DO. I NEED MORE BOXES.

Inside the first Play box: Sephora Collection Rouge Infusion in “Peony” (I got this same color in the new “Gimme Some Lip” box – but I like it); Marc Jacobs Highliner in “Blacquer” (I now have enough black eyeliner to transcribe the bible); Ole Henriksen Sheer Transformation; Bumble and bumble. Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil Primer (Mmmm – excited about this); GlamGlow SuperCleanse (I love putting mud on my face); and Elizabeth and James “Nirvana White” (Ugh, this is my 3rd one – I can’t give this shit away.)

My box also came with a card that will give me 50 extra points with my next Sephora purchase – WIN!

Sephora Play is only $10/month. You can get on the wait list at sephora.com/play.