Category: Makeup
Goodbye Crater Pores!
Whoever packed my box did a great job color-coordinating the tissue paper!
Birchbox has the best loyalty points system, hands down! I had $30 in points just a few months ago and here I am with $30 in points again!
After trying a sample of Benefit’s The POREfessional in Ulta’s Cyber Monday Bag, I had to have a full size. (This stuff is like the most magic nose spackle ever!) Also needed a back-up Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz. With a 20% off code, $30 in points and free Ace shipping, I only paid $11.60.
The free samples were so-so this time: Harvey Prince “Imperial Gardenia” (which I received in my June Box) and evologie Stay Clear Cleanser. Hit me up if you like Gardenia and you can have the perfume…
Xmas Present Round-up
I had a beauty-tastic Xmas!
My sister knows how much I love Betsey Johnson, so she got me a HUGE Betsey makeup bag with flowers and skulls. Inside the bag was an ionika paddle brush and a My Beauty Spot Perfect Eyebrow Design kit. I wonder if my husband will let me use the eyebrow set on him?
My BFF outdid herself this year. She got me the “Welcome to Twin Peaks” Set from Hare Polish. I had no idea this even existed!
The polishes are “The Owls are not What They Seem”, “Wrapped in Plastic”, “The Knockouts of the Double R”, “Damn Fine Coffee” & “The Red Room”.
I’ll be wearing one…or all of them – when we go to the Twin Peaks Festival next year!
Not only is my BFF enabling me, but now she’s enabling Lily. She gave Lily the OPI Coca Cola 10-pack of Style, which has 8 mini bottles of polish (“Coca-Cola Red”, “Today I Accomplished Zero”, “My Signature is DC”, “You’re So Vain-illa”, “Sorry I’m Fizzy Today”, “Get Cherried Away”, “Green on the Runway” & “A Grape Affair”), plus Nail Envy nail strengthener and Top Coat.
I asked her if I could borrow them and she said, “No – you have enough of your own polish.”
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Review – Dr. Jart+ BB Dis-A-Pore Beauty Balm
In a perfect world, I would have enough time to do an in-depth review of every product that comes into my possession. Alas, I work full-time, have two kids…and am fairly fucking lazy. But it’s Xmas vacation and I have the luxury of a little extra time…
My bud Sterin asked for a review of a sample I received in a Sephora shipment – Dr. Jart+ BB Dis-A-Pore Beauty Balm. I received a single use (barely) packet. It retails for $36 (1.7 fl. oz.). According to Sephora, it only comes in one shade – fair to light. Racist much, Dr. Jart?
Application was simple – it was fairly easy to smooth on with my fingers. When I looked at myself in the mirror, I looked like Data from Star Trek: The Next Generation. My face was uniformly the same color (admittedly the purpose of foundation), but it seemed to accentuate my pores instead of hide them. It just looked like I was wearing makeup. Lily had Gymnastics, so I didn’t have time to start over – I figured I could wash my face and start over when we got back, before going to a dinner party that night.
Fast forward several hours. After running errands, doing chores around the house and then fucking around all day, I didn’t feel like redoing my makeup. I just slapped on more powder (Physician’s Formula Mineral Powder is my go-to). I figured my BFF would forgive my for looking like a cyborg as we exchanged Xmas gifts. Then a funny thing happened…she was snapping pictures of our shenanigans all night. When she uploaded the pics to her computer, I was stunned to find that my skin looked absolutely STUNNING and FLAWLESS. Well…I wasn’t expecting that.
So, long story short, this is a product for very white people only. Although you may look like a cyborg in person, it photographs very well and has 12 hour plus staying power. I don’t foresee purchasing this product in the future, but if I get another sample, I may use it if I know a lot of pictures will be taken.
Influenster Vox Box – Frosty Vox Box
I finally qualified for an Influenster Vox Box! That golden moment when you have just the right demographics and the Influenster gods shine down on you and send you box full of fun stuff to test out – complimentary, for testing purposes, of course.
Inside my Frosty Vox Box: Boots No 7 Protect & Perfect Intense Advanced Serum (I had gotten a sample in my Target Beauty Box and used it last night – what a coinkidink); NYC Expert Last Lip Color in “Sugar Plum”; Celestial Seasonings Candy Cane Lane Decaf Green Tea (This will go to Logan); EcoTools Sleek + Shine Finisher Hair Brush (Excited!); Rimmel Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal Eyeliner in “Black” and Gentle Eyes Makeup Remover (Yay! I am almost out of my Ulta Makeup Remover); McCormick Gourmet Thyme (This will go to my husband); and Fruit Vines Bites in “Cherry” (These will go to Lily).
This box has something for everyone! I can’t wait to dig in…
December Birchbox – Decked Out
I would like to say that I’m going to apologize for how behind I am on posting…but nope.
I got my “Decked Out” December Birchbox on Thursday and I am absolutely loving getting to pick a sample each month. This month I chose Vasanti Kajal Extreme Intense Eye Pencil in “Rose Gold”. I wore it yesterday and today. It doesn’t work well over other eye shadows, but today I wore it alone and it looks outstanding – very subtle. I also got Ojon rare blend oil Moisture Therapy; SeaRX Microdermabrasion Face and Body Scrub; Mirenesse Mattfinity Lip Rouge in “8. Sydney”; and another Rusk Dry Texture Spray (got one in my last Allure Beauty Box) and promptly gave it to my other daughter, Loo.
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.
150 Lean Cuisines
150. That’s how many Lean Cuisines I had to eat to get a $25 Sephora Gift Card through their soon-to-be-discontinued Delicious Rewards Program.
It was SO worth it. I was able to add that $25 gift card to the $15 gift card that everyone got in their email to get the Atelier Cologne Miniature Discovery Set that I’ve been lusting over. I only paid $10 for this $50 set and STILL got free shipping!
Each flacon has a quarter ounce of pure perfume. Not cologne, not eau de parfum – the REAL stuff. The 5 included are Orange Sanguine, Cedrat Enivrant (my absolute favorite since receiving in the Birchbox Modern Mermaid Box), Vanille Insensee, Rose Anonyme and Vetiver Fatal.
I love that Sephora actually lets you select your own samples. I got Anthony High Performance Anti-Wrinkle Peptide Serum, Dr. Jart+ BB Dis-A-Pore Beauty Balm and Escada Joyful.
Next time I see you, I will force you to smell me.
December Ipsy Bag – Thinking of You
I got my ipsy bag on Saturday, but I’ve been a bit bogged down in boxes…
“Thinking of you” is this month’s theme. The bag itself is everything – I love it. It is getting switched into my purse ASAP.
Inside my bag: Bumble and bumble. Repair Blow Dry; Cailyn Cosmetics Just Mineral Eye Polish in “#5 Orchid” (This is the weirdest product ever – I can’t wait to try it!); Nourish Organic Renewing Eye Cream; NYX Cosmetics Butter Lip Balm in “Parfait”; and tarte deluxe lights, camera, lashes 4-in-1 mascara (because I NEED more mascara).
If you’d like to try Ipsy – click here. I’ll earn 250 points if you sign up through my link.
Merry 20% off Xmas to Me!
My husband and I have a unique arrangement. We tell each other exactly what we want for gifts and then go buy it. We occasionally surprise each other, but for the most part, we know what’s coming. He wanted a breadmaker, so I ordered it from Amazon, got it 2 days later and started making bread. I REALLY wanted the Urban Decay Vice3 Palette…and wouldn’t you know it, I just got a 20% off at Ulta coupon!
Since my husband is out of town fishing, I decided to “be nice” and go pick up my own gift today. I say “be nice”, because it really benefits me. I get to use my 20% coupon AND I get the Ultamate Rewards points. Of course, the first Ulta was out of stock. So I got to use my $5 off $10 coupon on Zoya Remove+ and some headbands.
I found success at the second Ulta though – they had at least 20 vice3 palettes. (I wonder if I have to wait until Xmas to use it? I bet I can use it tomorrow, since he already got to use his breadmaker…) I also picked up a 4 pack of $10 gift cards for teacher gifts. Since both Logan’s teachers complimented my nails during my last parent teacher conference, I think they’ll enjoy it…
I had to hit Bath & Body Works – I couldn’t resist $2.50 Hand Soaps, especially since they were only $2 with my 20% off coupon. I showed restraint and only picked up 16…which I will be sharing with my little sister.
I also hit Bed Bath & Beyond to use a 20% off coupon on a new ceramic skillet for my husband’s birthday. (I totally hoard those coupons. My sister and BFF even save theirs for me…let me know if you need one – I have plenty extra this year.) How lucky am I that he always wants kitchen stuff for gifts?
Merry 20% off Xmas to me!
Ulta Cyber Monday Bag
Online shopping orders are coming in! There were some smoking beauty deals on Cyber Monday…Ulta offered the choice of 3 different beauty sample bags with a $60 purchase and since I needed some gifts for my bestie, why not order online and get a gift for me?
I chose the pink glitter bag, mostly because it came with a sample of Benefit The POREfessional. This bag is LOADED with goodies!
Makeup: Benefit The POREfessional (my biggest beauty concern right now is my giant crater like pores); Cargo Swimmables Water Resistant Bronzer (Uh…no.); Bare Minerals 5in1 BB Advanced Performance Cream Eyeshadow (I’ve gotten this before and never tried it); Too Faced Tinted Beauty Balm in “Nude Glow” (I’ve been wanting to try this!); Ulta Lip Gloss in “Charmed”; tarte Amazonian Clay 12-hour blush in “Fearless”
Face: Hada Labo Ultimate Anti-Aging Facial Mask (with a $3 off coupon); Rodial Stem Cell super-food facial oil; Exuviance Daily Antioxidant Peel CA; Philosophy Purity Made Simple 3-in-1 cleanser for face and eyes
Body: Vitabath Body Wash “In Bloom” (Asian Orchid & Coconut)
Hair: Rusk glue (Deluxe sample!); Alterna Caviar Anti-Aging Replenishing Shampoo and Conditioner (Anti-aging shampoo? Really?); Macadamia Beauty Deep Repair Mask
Fragrance: Dolce & Gabbana “light blue”; Dolce & Gabbana “light blue” Pour Homme; Marc Jacobs “Daisy”; Dolce & Gabbana “Dolce”
Other: Hollywood Fashion Secrets Fashion Tape (I actually need this – my boobs are always popping out)
Coupons: 20% off your next hair service at Ulta The Salon; $10 off Bare Minerals (online only); $15 off any online purchase of $75; $5 off any Ulta brand purchase of $10+
I chose the variety sampler and got Ouidad Moisture Lock (I don’t have curly hair) and a single use sample of Butter London Lippy Moisture Matte Lipstick in “Ruby Murray”. It was kind of a lame sample pack, but I don’t even care with all this other great stuff.
Allure Beauty Box – December 2014
Because I knew this season’s Allure Beauty Box would go on sale during my Thanksgiving vacation, I set an alarm on my phone to remind me to jump on the computer and purchase it…again, I was able to get this value-packed box of goodies – over $250 of stuff for $44.95 + $10 shipping.
Is it possible that this box is even better than the last one? Inside: Aloxxi Conditioning Detangler (Lily might be getting this); Bioré Self heating One Minute Mask (I would have tried this out tonight if it wasn’t for a freak mustache wax accident this morning – don’t ask); Burt’s Bees Cucumber & Sage Facial Cleansing Towelettes (I totally used up the e.l.f. ones I got last time, so I know I’ll use these); Cetaphil Intensive Moisturizing Cream; Clean & Clear Morning Burst Hydrating Gel Moisturizer; Colgate Optic White Toothbrush + Built-In Whitening Pen (weird); Colgate Optic White Platinum Whiten & Protect Toothpaste (cool); Curel Skincare Rough Skin Rescue (the only duplicate from the last box – my husband already called dibs on this bottle to take to work); Dove White Beauty Bar (I didn’t know people still used bar soap?); Jergens Natural Glow 3 Days To Glow Moisturizer (I don’t need to be browner, so this will be gifted); John Frieda Brilliant Brunette Colour Protecting Moisturising Conditioner (this shit is my JAM); John Frieda Colour Refreshing Gloss for Cool Brunettes; John Frieda Frizz Ease Nourishing Oil Elixir; Neutrogena Boost Water Gel; Not Your Mother’s Whip It Up Cream Styling Mousse (do people still use mousse?); Organic Doctor Organic Manuka Honey Hand & Nail Cream; Organic Doctor Organic Virgin Coconut Oil Hydrating Radiance Elixir; Physicians Formula Nude Wear Glowing Nude Blush in “Rose” (YES, YES, YES); Rusk Texture Dry Finishing Spray; Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in “Sweet Talker”; scünci Hair Emergency Kit (my purse needs this); Shea Moisture Superfruit Complex Body Lotion; Splat hair Chalk in “Dusty Rose” (why not?); and Style Sexy Hair Dry Shampoo (yes, more dry shampoo).
My only disappointment was that there was no face wash! Now I have to go buy some fucking face wash!