Tag: Cover FX
February Diamond Day
I’ve needed shampoo for a bit, but I’ve started waiting until Ulta’s Diamond Day each month, to see what goodies they offer up…
For February’s Diamond Day, they offered the Kylie Cosmetics Birthday Sipping Pretty Palette ($65) FREE with $20 purchase. Since it came out in 2018, they must have had a bunch sitting around – let’s see if I can sell it on Poshmark. I also got a Cover FX Monochromatic Lip Color ($21) FREE with a $25 purchase.
I really like NatureLab.Tokyo Perfect Smooth Shampoo and Conditioner, so I bought a Bottle of the Shampoo ($14) and a refill pouch of the Conditioner ($22). The pouch saves me ~26 cents per ounce – yes, I did the math!
I am forever in search of new acne products, so I grabbed OH K! Blemish Powder ($15). I was expecting a powder, but it’s a liquid! It’s very similar to Kate Somerville EradiKate, but with Calamine instead of sulfur. It does reduce redness and dried out my breakout zones – but couldn’t I just use MUCH cheaper calamine lotion???
I am continuing my obsession with lip balms into 2021 – I got the Ulta Harry Potter X Ulta Beauty Magic Lip Balm Set ($8.99) – a set of 5 magically named glitter lip balms. The balms are supposed to be scented, but I couldn’t smell anything. I gave the lavender (purple glitter) and matcha (green glitter) balms to my daughter and kept blueberry, honey & rose for myself.
Just $1,065 to Diamond in 2022…I better get to shopping.
Yes to Ulta
That Ulta, they keep getting me with their “gift with purchase” offers. My $60 purchase brought me a 10 piece “Patio Prep” Sampler. The sampler includes: My Amazing Replenish Hydrating Shampoo & Conditioner (This brand is new to me and I am excited to try it); L’Oreal Voluminous Primer/Base (I’ve gotten 3-4 samples of this and still have never tried it); Cover FX Mattifying Primer + Acne Treatment (Intrigued by this product – looking forward to trying this as well); Peach & Lily Glass Skin Refining Serum; Milani Bold Matte Lipstick in “I am Worthy” (I have not tried it yet, but it looks like my favorite shade, KvD “Lolita”); belif The True Cream Aqua Bomb (YES – I will never run out!); Hey Honey! 24Seven! Honey Day & Night Cream; and skyn Iceland The Antidote Cooling Daily Lotion. No lie – this is the best sample bag I’ve received in a good long while!
The way I’ve been shopping at Ulta lately, is filling my shopping cart with things I want, waiting for a good promo or deal. Yes to… products were BOGO Half, so I picked up a few items for my son: Yes to Tomatoes Triple Threat Acne Treatment Kit ($12.99 and includes a sulfur solution like Kate Somerville – I might have to switch myself) and Yes to Tomatoes Detoxifying Charcoal Cleanser ($5, down from $9.99). He acted offended, but I’ve noticed a real improvement in his complexion since he’s started using them.
I added to my conditioner hoard with John Frieda Wonder Drops – Frizz Smoothing Wonder Mask ($1.47 each and also BOGO Half). I got two and used one so far. It felt like a normal conditioner to me – nothing special. The packettes are smaller than I’m used to – only one application. I also ordered a Diane Hanging Shower Comb ($3.50) to evenly distribute my conditioning packs.
I liked the ColourPop Ultra Blotted Lip in my last order, so I ordered another one – “Cherry on Top”, a blackened cherry ($7).
EVERYWHERE is selling face masks now. I bought a pack of 3 from Kitsch for $12.99. They are good quality and breathable, so I’ll definitely buy more now that Texas has a Face Mask Order across the whole state.
I found a few 75% off clearance goodies: Ulta Transforming Clay Cleanser ($3.12, down from $12.50 ), which is supposed to change colors after 30 seconds, but changes color immediately – so weird. Also, Beauty by Popsugar Liquid Velvet Lip in “Be Racy” ($6, down from $24), which was way pinker than I expected and kind of tacky, as in made my lips stick together.
The last few things I threw in my cart were random – a Rebels Refinery Skull Lip Balm in “Mint”, because it reminded me of a lighter that I used to have, and a back-up Zoya Remove+ ($10). Oh, and don’t forget about that $3.50 off coupon!
After this purchase, I’m 40% to Diamond in 2021 ($719 to go)…but I have $61 in points. The new Urban Decay Naked Ultraviolet Palette drops in a few days and I’ve got my eye on it…
Birthday Splurge
But is it really splurging if it’s on the sale page?
I hadn’t used my $10 off birthday code at Ulta yet, so I filled my cart on the sale page. Actually, let me back up. I was scrolling the Sephora Presidents Day sale and saw that the Jackie Aina and Carli Bybel palettes from Anastasia Beverly Hills were 30% off, so I decided to redirect that purchase over to Ulta – not only because I have a coupon, but also because I feel like I get more value from being top tier at Ulta than being top tier at Sephora. Also, Ulta has BOMB GWPs.
Ulta didn’t have the Jackie Aina palette, but the DID have the Anastasia Beverly Hills Carly Bybel Palette ($31.50, down from $45). That’s fine, because the Jackie Aina palette looks a little cray. (I was hoping that the Alyssa Edwards palette would be back, but nope.) I only know Carli from the Allure Beauty Box she did last year. I was thinking that the palette would end up being pretty basic, but it’s got a nice selection of colors, with lots of shimmer and glitter. I’m enjoying using it, except that the glitter shades have the fallout from hell. It sprays all over my whole damn face. Primer helps a little bit, but it still gets everywhere. I’m gonna have to work on it.
I also decided to go out on a limb and try the Lime Crime Venus XS Vixen Palette ($10, down from $20). I’ve stayed away from Lime Crime for the most part because the owner was a shitbag, but since selling out in 2018, it appears they’ve turned their reputation around. The XS Vixen is a small red-themed palette. The quality is just OK – it doesn’t blend very well at all and the coverage is splotchy. Looks like I can continue to ignore this brand.
One more sale purchase – an Urban Decay Cosmetics Brow Beater Microfine Brow Pencil and Brush in “Dark” ($10, down from $20). I’m guessing that it’s on clearance because they are discontinuing it…which is fine. The quality is fine, similar to Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz, but still not as good (for me) as the Ulta Ultra Slim Brow Pencil.
I picked up the new Pacifica Sunshine Highs Toning Shampoo & Conditioner ($10 each) for my son’s bleached locks. I got it in preparation for another round of highlights, so probably next week or so.
There was also a free 28 piece beauty bag with a $70 purchase. You know I cannot get enough of those GWPs. Inside this HUGE red bag: Elizabeth Arden Prevage Anti-Aging Daily Serum; LORAC Pro Plus Fiber Mascara (eek, those fiber mascaras scare me); PUR Fully Charged Mascara; Boots No7 Dark Circle Corrector; Mamonde Petal Spa Oil to Foam (I have 3 sample bottles of this now – thanks, Ulta); Living proof. restore perfecting spray; Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick in “Patina” (I really like this shade – I wonder if my old one is dried up?); proactivMD Deep Cleansing Face Wash (I used proactive back when it first came out; it worked for a while, but then ate all my skin off); Becca Ever-Matte Poreless Priming Perfector; Clinique Dramatically Different Hydrating Jelly; First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream; It’s a 10 Miracle Finishing Spray; Shiseido Benefiance WrinkleResist 24 Pure Retinol Express Smoothing Eye Mask; Patchology Flashpatch Illuminating Eye Gels (so many damn eye patches – I feel like a fucking pirate); TonyMoly Vital Vita 12 Ampoules Mix & Match Serums; Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder and Glow Powder; DevaCurl Supercream (no curls here, go will give away); Viktor & Rolf Bon Bon; Zitsticka (intrigued); Botanics Simply Calm; Ulta Beauty Matte Black Eyeliner; Biolage Airdry Glotion (what?); Pureology Colour Fanatic; Smashbox Photo Finish Oil & Shine Control; Giorgio Armani Acqua Di Gio; e.l.f. Poreless Primer Putty (oh, this is some GOOD stuff – I like it); Cover FX High Performance Setting Spray and Florence by Mills Clean Magic Face Wash (what does that girl from Stranger Things know about beauty products?) A dang good bag!
$1,088 to Diamond. I better step it up!
January Sephora Play! – Stress-Free Beauty
Oh, no matter how up to date I am on my posts, Sephora Play is always gonna be running late!
January’s theme is “Stress-Free Beauty” and includes products for your relaxation rituals.
So I wonder if Sephora knew that Kat Von D was jumping ship, when they put together this box? Did they know and use it as an opportunity to offload liners with the old branding? Or did was the move truly a surprise? Who knows? In any case, I have another Kat Von D Beauty Tattoo Liner in “Trooper”.
Also in this month’s box: Cover FX High Performance Setting Spray; Glamglow SUPERMUD Activated Charcoal Treatment Mask; Dr. Andrew Weil for Origins Mega-Mushroom Relief & Resilience Soothing Treatment Lotion (I JUST got this in October’s box!); Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer; and Giorgio Armani Beauty Si Passione (gross and stinky).
This box was meh. Sephora – do better!
Sephora Play gives you 5-6 prestige samples a month, for just $10! You can sign up at sephora.com/play.Â
Cyber Fundays 2018
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This Xmas, I did my Ulta shopping BEFORE Thanksgiving, during the “Cyber Fundays” event. They had some smoking deals that I couldn’t pass up! There were also some decent Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals, but mostly on stuff I already had, like half price Modern Renaissance and Naked Heat. Boo!
If you’re thinking that this order looks skimpy…it’s because I pulled out the gifts I ordered for my daughter. She doesn’t come here, but her brother does – and I trust him about as far as I can throw him with one hand.
I was excited to snatch the NYX Lip Snacks Soft Matte Metallic Lip Cream Set ($15, down from $25) for myself. It’s a set of 12 minis of my favorite lip formula from NYX, specially scented like buttercream. I’ve onlhy sampled 2 so far, but they are the BEST. I also got a half-price Urban Decay Razor Sharp Water-Resistant Longwear Liquid Eyeliner in “Demolition” ($11, down from $22) – I think a shiny brown cat eye will look good on me.
The biggest bummer was a broken bottle in the China Glaze The Grinch Grinchworthy Nail Art Duo ($10). It wasn’t the “Grinchworthy” polish itself, but the “For Rhinestones Only” adhesive – the stem of the bottle broke inside the cap and it leaked everywhere. I called Ulta Customer Service and they sent me out another one immediately, no questions asked – so now I have 2 bottles of “Grinchworthy” and 2 pots of green felt. I cannot wait to make my nails look like Astroturf! Oh, and I got another tidbit from Customer Service – they won’t be including samples in orders again until January. Cheap bastards.
I added a bottle of Zoya Remove+ to get me over the $65 mark, to get the glittery pink 18-piece Cyber Fundays sample bag. The sample bag was STUFFED – it had: Too Faced Glitter Glue (saving for a special occasion); Cover FX Blurring Primer; Urban Decay Perversion Mascara; Patchology Flashpatch Restoring Night Eye Gels (this is the third set I’ve gotten – I guess I should use them); philosophy Renewed Hope in a Jar; Clinique Happy; 2 Anastasia Beverly Hills Lip Glosses in “Vintage” (2!!!); Lime Crime Unicorn Hair in “bunny” (ugh, another one); bliss lemon & sage body butter; Biolage Hydra Source Shampoo & Conditioner; L’Oreal Paris Voluminous Primer/Base for Mascara; philosophy Amazing Grace; Armani Code Cashmere; Skin Laundry Hydrating Cream Face Wash; L’Oreal Paris Pure-Clay Cleanser Detox-Brighten (this black one is my fave); MAC False Lashes Mascara in “Extreme Black”; and Clinique Moisture Surge Hydrating Supercharged Concentrate. There were also 2 hot coupons – $15 off $75 (only good in December) and another $5 off $15 Ulta Beauty Collection (good until 2/1/19).
I was also able to use a $10 off coupon, bringing my order down to $64.49 before tax – but I still got the bag. I was sweating for a hot minute! Just $301 to Diamond…I do predict another order before the end of the year, but not that much!
Sephora Play! Smarts – Complexion Your Way: Matte
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On the second weekend of Sephora’s ROUGE BONUS 20% off sale, they dropped new Sephora Play! Smarts boxes – Complexion Your Way ($20), with a choice between “Matte” and “Dewy”. Of course, I chose “Matte”.
The star of this box was the Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Matte Longwear Foundation + Primer. The sample card came with Primer and three shades of foundation. Amazingly, the lightest shade, “150”, was the near-perfect shade for me. There was just enough in the pack for a thin full face application (with a Beautyblender). It was BEAUTIFUL, especially topped with the Cover FX Perfect Setting Powder, also included in the box. This will definitely be the next foundation I buy.
Along with a nifty netted zipper bag, the “Matte” box had It Cosmetics Confidence in a Cleanser Skin-Transforming Hydrating Cleansing Serum (love this cleanser); Clinique Chubby Stick Sculpting Highlight; Smashbox Photo Finish Pore Minimizing Primer; Peter Thomas Roth Hungarian Thermal Water Mineral-Rich Moisturizer; and Sephora Collection Beauty Magnet Concealer Brush. I will use all of these, immediately.
I added another purchase to my order – the Ellis Brooklyn Bibliotheca Discovery Set ($20), a fragrance sampler that includes six of the brand’s set. Can you believe that the one I originally received was totally evaporated??? I was SO pissed. I called Sephora immediately and they sent me a new one, no questions asked. Luckily, it was fine…and I got two more samples. Oh yeah, did you hear that Sephora only gives two samples per order now? There will be riots in the street!
Back to the Ellis Brooklyn set…it was utterly disappointing. I really didn’t like any of the scents enough to buy a full size. I had especially high hopes for “Rrose” – I love a good rose, but it was bland. “Raven”, “Myth” and “Sci Fi” were the best of the bunch, but didn’t last long enough for me to get a feel for on me. “Rives” was straight up POISON that gave me a headache (probably the lavender). I wore “Fable” today and I cannot even remember what it smelled like. I am utterly disappointed in this set. I was hoping to find another high quality niche brand to love, like Atelier or Replica, but every formula was weak and was gone within 10 minutes. FAIL.
Oh samples! In the first shipment, I got foundations – Milk Blur Liquid Matte Foundation (3 shades on a card) and Giorgio Armani Face fabric Second Skin Makeup (4 shades foil packs). The second shipment gave me another sample of Ellis Brooklyn Myth and Dior Joy. Oh, joy.
Just $44 to Rouge!
Sephora Play! June 2018 – Summer Nights
Summer fling don’t mean a thing…But, uh oh, those summer nights…
June’s theme for Sephora Play is “Summer Nights” and features products meant to last well into the night. Oh, look at the that deluxe sample of Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream! I’ve gotten this few times and never tried it – but I’m committed now. I’ve even secured my husband’s service to apply to my bum bum!
Also in this (or last) month’s box: Too Faced Melted Matte Liquified Matte Longwear Lipstick in “Queen B” (I’ve been wanting to try this formula, even though I’ve been annoyed at the brand for a bit); Cover FX Perfect Setting Powder; Clinique Take the Day Off Makeup Remover; Marajo Nourishing Cleansing Creme and Deep Treatment Butter (um, you mean shampoo and conditioner?); and Living proof. frizz styling cream.
No fragrance again – boo! Still a good box, though!
Don’t be a prude, join up now. Sephora Play is only $10/month. You can sign up at sephora.com/play.
YAYROUGE, Part 2 & 3
Yeah, I paid $8 for dental floss. Technically, $6.80 with my 15%…I tried out Cocofloss in “Cara Cara Orange”. Yeah, I know it’s dumb – it’s not even as orangey flavored as I hoped. But I was just so damn salty that the Sun Safety Kit sold out.
For samples, I got Cover FX Shimmer Veil, Tory Burch Tory Burch (I forgot that I love this), and Versace Bright Crystal (my lil sis likes this one). I didn’t pick any of these samples…
My other order makes a lot more sense. I knew I would be getting the Sephora Favorites Give Me Some New Lip Kit ($28, $23.80 after discount) sooner or later. I kind of miss the lip shaped box. I wanted Smashbox Always On Metallic Matte in “XO, Vlada” so bad – and it’s full size! It’s a beautiful copper and lasts all day. I wore Huda Beauty Lip Strobe in “Snobby” to the dentist and it lasted through the whole cleaning. The dentist even complimented it! Also in the box: Marc Jacobs Beauty Le Marc Liquid Lip Crayon in “Night Mauves” (also full size); treStiQue Mini Plumping Lip Balm in “Barbados Berry”; and Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Mattemoiselle Plush Matte Lipstick in “Candy Venom” (gonna try this one tomorrow).
For samples, I got Smashbox Photo Finish Lid Primer, Woman by Ralph Lauren and Yves Saint Laurent L’Homme. Again, I did not pick any of these samples.
Just $708 to Rouge for 2019. I don’t know if I can do it!
Sephora Play! October 2017 – Complexion Companions
Yeah, yeah, yeah. I know.
Sephora must have heard my complaints last month – fragrance is back. This month’s fragrance is Chanel Gabrielle. It’s an old fashioned scent, reminiscent of Estee Lauder – maybe White Linen or Joy.
The rest of the products in this month’s “Complexion Companions” box are…you guessed it…for your complexion. I am most excited to try Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder – it’s insta-famous. Also included: Becca First Light Priming Filter Instant Complexion Refresh (I think I tried a sample of this before and it broke me out?); Make Up For ever Ultra HD Skin Booster Hydra-Plump Serum, Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Invisible Cover Foundation in R230 (I’m betting it’s too dark, since I use 115 in their Cover Stick); and Cover FX Custom Enhancer Drops in “Moonlight” (Hmmm…).
A very interesting and cohesive box this month.
I am SO proud of myself for remembering to grab the Play! card when I went to Sephora Friday – I got my 50 points!
Do yourself a favor and sign up 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.
Sephora Play! November 2016 – Best in Glow
I’ve been slacking…I’m finally getting around to posting my last subscription box of the month – just days before I start receiving my December boxes.
“Best in Glow” is November’s theme, products to stave off winter dullness. I don’t know about you, but down here in Texas, we haven’t seen a whole lot of winter. We had frost on the ground one day last weekend and that’s it.
I’m most excited about Stella McCartney POP – I’ve been wanting to try it since I love Stella so much. It’s very floral and sharp smelling. I could see myself using free samples, but not buying it. Also in my box: Sephora Ultra Shine Lip Gel in “Pin-up Pink”; The Estee Edit by Estee Lauder Dissolve the Drama Makeup Remover; Cover FX Illuminating Primer; Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Colour in “Rose Gold”; and GlamGlow SuperMud Clearing Treatment (please send me GlamGlow in every subscription box, please and thank you).
If you haven’t signed up yet – you’re a turkey! 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.