Tag: Lancome
Well, Fuck You TOO Fed Ex
I was shocked that my poor Ulta order made it through this abuse from Fed Ex…UPS would NEVER.
Really, the main product I was worried about was the L’Oreal Infallible 24H Fresh Wear Foundation In A Powder in “20 Ivory” ($12.74 – 25% off), but I spy no cracks. I would’ve been SO MAD!
I also decided to try Derma E Psorzema Scalp Relief Shampoo and Conditioner ($9.75 each – 25% off) to tackle the heartbreak of psoriasis. It has tee tree oil and tingles. [My late mother LOVED tingly shampoo, especially Nioxin – I feel like she would’ve LIVED for this product.]
I’d been fairly indifferent to the endless Disney Collection from Nailtopia, but I literally screamed when I saw Nailtopia’s Spongebob Squarepants 25th Anniversary collection – and on sale for 30% off. I controlled myself and only picked up “Squidward” and “Golden Pineapple”. Oh, and throw in a new Eco Tools Exfoliating EcoPouf Loofah ($2.99) and Thayers pH Balancing Daily Cleanser with Aloe Vera ($14.99) for good measure.
I lucked into three different gifts with purchase! The Free 11 Piece Back To School sampler with $50 purchase came with Matrix Food for Soft Shampoo & Conditioner (deluxe bottles!); Redken One United Multi-Benefit Treatment; Lancome Lipstick (some random pink color); another Thayers pH Balancing Daily Cleanser with Aloe Vera (going in my travel bag NOW); it Cosmetics Superhero Elastic Stretch Mascara in “Super Black”; NYX Vivid Rich Mechanical Eyeliner in “Always Onyx”; L’Oreal Revitalift Derm Intensives Plumping Serum (hello, travel bag); Maybelline The Falsies Surreal Mascara; La Roche-Posay Anthelios Light Fluid Sunscreen SPF 50; and CeraVe Hydrating Foaming Oil Cleanser. That’s a DAMN GOOD freebie bag! I also got a Kiehl’s Free Set For School Gift #3 with $50 purchase that came with Kiehl’s Truly Targeted Acne-Clearing Solution; Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cleanser; and Kiehl’s Super Multi-Corrective Soft Cream. Last, but not least, there was the Free 13 Piece Mystery Sampler with $60 Ulta Beauty Rewards Credit Card purchase that came with OUAI Leave In Conditioner; Sunday Riley C.E.O. Glow Vitamin C + Turmeric Face Oil; Clean It Zero Original Cleansing Balm; Smashbox The Original Photo Finish Primer (ugh, I just got rid of like…10 of these); Good Molecules Lightweight Daily Moisturizer (travel bag); Grande Cosmetics GrandeLASH-MD Lash Enhancing Serum; Peach & Lily Glass Skin Refining Serum (travel bag – LOVE this stuff); it Cosmetics Confidence in an Eye Cream; La Roche-Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Cleanser (travel bag); Vichy Liftactiv Supreme H.A. Serum; Lancome Cils Booster XL Mascara Base; L’Occitane Dry Skin Hand Cream; and e.l.f. Power Grip Primer. I’ve got a lot of trips coming up and I’m set on samples for my travel bag!
I got my hairs did yesterday and my son and his girlfriend have been using my Ulta account, so only $164 to Diamond in 2025.
Big Bum Bum Ulta Haul
I’d been waiting for a 20% off coupon that includes Prestige Brands…and BOOM, it’s Bum Bum time.
I got full size Sol de Janeiro Brazilian 4 Play Moisturizing Shower Cream-Gel ($26), Brazilian Joia Strengthening + Smoothing Shampoo ($26), Brazilian Joia Strengthening + Smoothing Conditioner ($26), and Rio Deo Aluminum-Free Refillable Deodorant Cheirosa ’62 ($16). It ain’t cheap smelling this good. My friend Brittany asked if there would be a scented cloud following me around and the answer is YES. A scented cloud of salted pistachio and caramel – yum!
Don’t tell my children that I bought more lube at Ulta – Smile Makers Generous Gel ($19.95)
I also got a free mystery gift with my $60 purchase. The mystery included Billie Eilish “eilish” (it smells like straight vanilla extract); Real Techniques Miracle Concealer Sponge; OUAI Anti-Frizz Creme; it Cosmetics Confidence in a Cleanser (the only useful thing in the gift); Peach & Lily Super Oasis Concentrated Serum; and Lancome Idole Ultra Precise Waterproof Liner.
$763 to Diamond in 2025.
First Ulta Haul of 2024
I know, it’s kind of hard to believe that I haven’t had an Ulta haul yet this year…to be fair, I ordered back on the 5th of February – I’ve just been busy with work, school, kids, a sick husband, excuses…so let’s get to it!
I am very easily swayed by the monthly Diamond Love List emails…When I showed off my new Drybar The Single Shot Round Blow-Dryer Brush ($108.50, down from $155), he gave me SO MUCH SHIT, since I spent so much money on the Dyson Air Wrap. My answer was that my child stole my Air Wrap and I am too lazy to walk all the way to her bathroom to get it…and my Revlon One-Step smells like burnt dog hair. And really, it was only $25.50 after using $83 of Ulta points…
I was talking to a girl in one of my MBA classes and she said that she would never buy a perfume without smelling it…hi, it’s me – I’m the one who does that, it’s me. I knew that I would LOVE Fresh Beauty Hesperides Grapefruit Eau de Parfum Rollerball ($29) before ever smelling it and I was right. It reminds me of my mom…
Lippies were 30%, so I loaded my cart: Flower Beauty Bitten Lip Stain in “Tempt” ($8.40, down from $12 – it’s very similar to the Colourpop Stain) and KVD Beauty Everlasting Hyperlight Vegan Transfer-Proof Liquid Lipstick in “Ghost Bloom” ($16.10, down from $23) for me; Makeup Revolution Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory x Revolution Brat Lip Gloss ($4.90, down from $7) and Makeup Revolution Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory x Revolution Lip Balm ($4.90, down from $7) for Lil. I also added in Hempz White Peach Rosé & Peony Herbal Shave Gel ($6.49, down from $12.99) because it was half off. A bit disappointing to use, as it wasn’t as slippy as the Caress Body Wash I had been using to shave.
I am deeply saddened that I didn’t get to a salon to use my $25 off beauty services coupon for another year of Diamond, but I did remember to use my free foundation coupon. This year, I chose Clinique Stay-Matte Sheer Pressed Powder Foundation in “01 Stay Buff”, a $39 value.
My $30 makeup purchase qualified me for a 4 pieces NARS gift, which includes NARS Climax Mascara; NARS Lipstick in “Inappropriate Red”; NARS Bronzing Powder and NARS High-Pigment Longwear Eyeliner in “Via Veneto”. I probably won’t use any of it. I also qualified for a free hair gift, but it sold out before I could place my order. Boo.
It’s so rare that I spend enough for the massive gift with purchases…this one required a $130 spend! Inside the HUGE satiny makeup bag: drybar DETOX Thickening Dry Shampoo (giving to my daughter, so I don’t have to buy her some); Urban Decay Glide-On Eye Pencil in “Whiskey”; Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate; Dear Klairs Supple Preparation Unscented Toner (there’s licorice root in it, I’m scared); e.l.f. Liquid Poreless Putty Primer; Hourglass Veil Translucent Setting Powder; Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Face Base Primer; megababe Space Bar (I think I have 3 of these now); Lancôme Cils Booster Mascara Base (and 3 of these); Clinique Almost Lipstick in “Black Honey” (yasss, the one in my purse is almost gone); Eau Thermale Avene Tolerance Cleanser; philosophy Purity Made Simple Pore Extractor Clay Mask; Peach & Lily Glass Skin Face Polisher; Estee Lauder Nutritious Melting Soft Creme Mask; Andrew Fitzsimmons Restructuring 10-in-1 Leave-In Conditioner; NYX Epic Ink Liner in “Black”; Laura Mercier Translucent Setting Powder; Origins Checks and Balances Frothy Face Wash; Bondi Sands Self Tanning Foam (NOPE); Maybelline Sky High Mascara; La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 Serum; Pixi Glow Tonic; Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen; Sol de Janeiro Bum Bum Body Oil; Sunday Riley C.E.O. Afterglow; Dermalogica Micellar Prebiotic Precleanse (precleanse? I ain’t washing my face twice); Living proof. Clarifying Detox Shampoo (but no conditioner?); and Good Molecules Niacinamide Brightening Toner. PHEW, that’s a lot of good samples!
$1,105 to Diamond in 2025…
Cyber Diamond
Here we go, here’s the haul that made me Ulta Diamond for 2022.
I’m sure it’s not shocking that finally bought the Urban Decay Cosmetics Naked Cyber Eyeshadow Palette ($49), but it might be shocking that I paid full price. (I am still saving my Ulta points for a Dyson Airwrap – I’m up to $312!) It’s a very versatile palette, although I am concerned about the quality. The shadows are not as buttery as the first several Naked palettes – a few of the shimmers are downright CHALKY. Ugh. Use a primer and you’ll be fine, but it’s an annoying extra step. Also, watch out for fallout – the glitters get everywhere. I do wish there was at least one more dark, saturated shade besides the burnt orange, but I can mix and match with another palette.
I recently got new bleached streaks in my hair (another Ulta trip) and decided to dye them turquoise when I get sick of blond. I decided to try Arctic Fox in “Aquamarine” ($17) – my kids SWEAR by it. I feel like I’m cheating on Overtone, but their turquoise didn’t take well on my hair. Holding out hope for Arctic Fox.
I had seen the Kitsch Leopard Print Towel Scrunchies ($10.50, on sale from $14) at full price in the store, but was thrilled to find them for 25% online. I also splurged on Kitsch Moisturizing Spa Socks ($12, on sale from $16). I feel like the open toe design will be more comfortable to sleep in – it’s hard for me sleep in regular socks. I also threw in some Ulta Exfoliating Cotton Pads ($2.09), because why not?
I DID use the $20 off $100 coupon code that was out before the holiday sales, and I still qualified for the Hello Holidays 23 piece More Glow Beauty Bag. Inside the bag: Clarins Re-Boost Refreshing Hydrating Cream; Megababe Antibacterial Wipes in “Squeaky Clean” (note to self: do NOT confuse with makeup remover wipes); Good Molecules Silicone-Free Priming Moisturizer; Marc Jacobs Daisy Eau So Intense; Ellis Brooklyn Sweet; Yves Saint Laurent Mon Paris Eau de Parfum Intense (What are all these “intense” perfumes?); Lancome La Vie est Belle (2 samples of this one); Not Your Mother’s Naturals Activated Bamboo Charcoal & Purple Moonstone Shampoo and Conditioner (I’ve been wanting to try this one; Joico Defy Damage Protective Shampoo, Conditioner, Masque & Shield (4 packettes!); MAC Lipstick Samples in “Ruby Woo”, “M-A-C Red” and “Cockney”; Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream; The Body Shop Body Butter in “British Rose” (I think this sample is why I chose this particular bag); Living proof. Restore Repair Mask; Jack Black Performance Remedy Turbo Wash (will go to the husband or the son); Kate Somerville +Retinol Vita C Power Serum; tarte Shape Tape Contour Concealer; Dear, Klairs Midnight Blue Calming Cream (I’m scared that the package says “For Nighttime Only” – will I burst into flames if I use it in the daytime?); Bobbi Brown Hydrating Eye Cream; Biosilk Silk Therapy Leave-In Treatment; Benefit Boi-ing Cakeless Concealer in “Light Cool”; and NYX The Marshmallow Primer (made with marshmallow root – weird). The bag is super cushy, made out of ski-suit material.
(There were also a few gifts (not shown) from this haul – shhhhh…)
Megababe Ulta Haul
Get ready for post after post of Ulta Hauls – they keep having great sales on stuff I need!
I was attracted to one of the Wednesday Beauty Breaks a few weeks ago – it was a 4 piece sampler from Megababe with $50 purchase! I’d been dying to try Megababe Rosy Pits Daily Deodorant, but it’s always sold out. I got a deluxe sample of Rosy Pits, as well as Thigh Rescue Anti-Friction Stick, Squeaky Clean Hand Sanitizer, and Space Bar Detoxifying Charcoal Underarm Bar.
Ulta happened to be having some great sales on body products, so I picked up Megababe Chest-o Presto Clarifying Body Acne Mist ($18 – my son has not had overwhelming results with Pacifica Bacne Warrior, so I am trying this one out on myself and so far, it seems to be helping with the breakouts on my chest and back), Ulta Super Soothe Gentle Daily Cleanser ($10 – very cucumber-y scent), and Tweezerman Rose Gold Slant Tweezers ($20.70, down from $23 – my daughter wanted tweezers, so I gave her my old ones) for myself. I got Ulta Sunless Tanner Facing Mousse ($1.29, down from $3.24) for the boy child – I maybe regret buying him the Self Tanner. I got eos Shea Better Shaving Cream ($1.99, down from $3.99) for the girl child. I was able to use the usual $3.50 off $15 coupon.
My order also came with a 27 piece Beauty Sample Bag (free with $35 purchase): Australian Glow Facial Bronzing Mist with Rosewater (although I love rosewater, the boy will be getting this one); wet n wild PrimeFocus Primer Serum (I have one of these on my sink right now); Buxom Wanderlust Primer-Infused Blush Sample Card; Tan-Luxe Super Glow Hyaluronic Self-Tan Serum (again, to the boy); Weleda Skin Food; Crepe Erase Body Smoothing Pre-Treatment (just like the Infomercial!); Yves Saint Laurent Mon Paris; Skyn Iceland Arctic Elixir; Urban Decay Primer Potion; Hempz Pink Pomelo & Himalayan Sea Salt Herbal Body Salt Scrub; Hey Honey Sweet Treat Wild Berry & Honey Yogurt Recovery Mask (the tube is jacked up – pretty sure it is empty); it Cosmetics Confidence in an Eye Cream (I think I have two of these already); Indie Lee Squalane Facial Oil; Curlsmith Hold Me Softly Style Balm (going to the boy); Alterna My Hair My Canvas Cool Hydrations Nourishing Masque; NatureLab.Tokyo Perfect Smooth Shampoo & Conditioner; The Route The Party Peel Golden Illuminizing Peel; John Frieda Frizz Ease Leave-In Conditioner; Nioxin Scalp Relief Cleanser, Conditioner & Soothing Serum; Banila Co Miss Flower & Mr. Honey Propolis Rejuvenating Ampoule; Estee Lauder Beautiful Magnolia (intriguing scent, I have a bottle of the original Beautiful and this one is very similar); NudeStix Lip Glace; Barefoot Scientist High Dive Hydration Cream (I NEED this for my dry ass feet); Lancome Hydra Zen Gel-Creme; Peter Thomas Roth Cucumber Gel Mask; Smashbox Photo Finish Oil & Shine Control Primer; and Ursa Major Golden Hour Recovery Cream. What a great batch of samples!
I’ve got three more orders to review after this, so I’ll post my spend to Diamond Status after the last one.
Perfect Shine Splurge
Back in November, I think when Sephora was offering 15% off, Ulta sent out a $10 off $40 coupon, so why not restock on a few things. Sometimes, there’s nothing like splurging on fancy shampoo & conditioner!
I’d gotten to try NatureLab Tokyo Perfect Shine Shampoo & Conditioner ($14 each) in an Allure Beauty Box last year. I really liked it, but it wasn’t widely available. Fast forward a year and now Ulta carries it – score! The secret ingredient is grape stem cells. I don’t know what those are. I also picked up some a single use conditioners – PURA D’OR Single Use Hair Thinning Therapy Intense Moisturizing Masque ($1.79), HASK Shea Butter & Hibiscus Oil Anti-Frizz Deep Conditioner Packette ($2.99) and HASK Tea Tree Oil & Rosemary Hair & Scalp Treatment Mask Packette ($2.99).
Freeman Masks were on super sale, so I bought a replacement Cucumber & Pink Salt Clay Mask. I also grabbed a clearance China Glaze “Rainbow” for $2.62 and a new Flowery nail buffer.
I definitely did NOT buy that Kylie Cosmetics Velvet Lip Kit in “Bare” – it was a gift with $25 makeup purchase. I now know the secret of the Kylie Lip Kits! The lip liner is one tick darker than the lipstick, so it creates an optical illusion of a fuller lip. The more you know…I tried it out and the color was WAY too light for me. Hypothetically, my lips did look bigger though.
My $70 purchase qualified me for a Hello Holidays Sample Bag – it’s so fancy! Inside the bag: Dermablend Insta-Grip Jelly Primer; Awake Pore Down Tightening Concentrate; Donna Karan Cashmere Mist Towelette (WEIRD); Lake & Skye 11 11 (I could not smell this); MAC Lipstick samples in “Ruby Woo”, “M-A-C Red” & “Cockney”; Too Faced Damn Girl! Mascara; Pravana Color Protect Cleanse and Condition (HUGE samples tubes – will try these out after my next dye session); Philosophy Purity Made Simple Hydra-Bounce Eye Gel; Ahava Dead Sea Water Mineral Body Lotion; Tula Skincare 24-7 Moisture Hydrating Day & Night Cream; Smashbox Photo Finish Primer; Burberry Her; Yves Saint Laurent Mon Paris; NatureLab Tokyo Perfect Shine Shampoo & Conditioner (foilpacks for travel!); Tonymoly Golden Pig Collagen Bounce Mask; Gucci Guilty; AG Haircare Glow Shine Infuse Serum; Lancome Teint Idole Ultra Wear Sample Card (none of these will match me); Beekman 1802 Milk Drops Probiotic Ceramide Serum; John Frieda Frizz Ease Secret Weapon Touch-up Creme; Patchology Little Helper Energy Dietary Supplement Strip (a caffeine strip that melts on your tongue – is drinking a cup of coffee so hard?); and VDL Velvet Blur Primer.
Oh, and if the order looks a little light, it’s because there were a few gifts in my order…
Sephora Favorites Hello! Haul-Star Heroes
So Sephora discontinues their monthly Play! sample subscription box, only to release a non-subscription sample bag every month? I figured the Hello! set wouldn’t be every month, but they’re coming out pretty regularly.
The samples in this month’s “Haul-Star Heroes” aren’t very exciting, but since Sephora is still offering free shipping, I went ahead and bit. The best sample in the set is Caudalie Vinopure Pore Purifying Gel Cleanser. It smells so good! I mean, it cleans my face just fine, but I really like the scent.
Versace Bright Crystal is one of my sister’s favorite scents – I’ve gotten it for her several times. Instead of sending her this sample, I’ve been wearing it – I kinda like it! I won’t start wearing it regularly though – I’d be annoyed if someone poached my signature scent.
Also in the set: Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Microfinishing Loose Powder; Ren Clean Skincare AHA Smart Renewal Body Serum (I wonder what this will do to my BODY?); and Lancome Monsieur Big Mascara. Meh. The set came with 15% off coupons for each of the products included, but I don’t see myself buying any of them.
My son has been bleaching the hell out of his hair, so I picked Kerastase Blond Absolu Shampoo & Conditioner for him – I’ve got him using a purple shampoo/conditioner once a week for brassiness. I also got a sample card of Laura Mercier Flawless Lumiere Radiance Perfecting Foundation – all the colors look too dark for me.
Just $138 to Beauty Insider for 2021.
November 2019 Sephora Play! – Beauty for Self-Care
Self-Care? Let me tell you, I self-cared the fuck out of myself last week. I laid my ass on the couch every day…and enjoyed every minute of it. I think I put a mask on my face every single day, except one. I’m paying for it now, though – I went back to work today and ended up staying until 6:30….and to top it off, I think I’m coming down with a cold. FRACK.
November’s Play! box is a six heavenly samples to help me with my self-care. I was most excited to sample the Clinique Almost Lipstick in “Black Honey”. My lips have been feeling dried out and it was a nice change from my drying liquid lipsticks. The color didn’t last very long though, not even until lunch.
Also in this month’s box: NARS Lipstick in Tolede (haven’t tried yet); Glamglow GLOWSTARTER Mega Illuminating Moisturizer in “Nude Glow” (I LOVE this stuff); Lancome Hypnose Drama Instant Full Body Mascara; Dr. Jart+ Cicapair Tiger Grass Color Correcting Treatment SPF 30 (I got this a few Decembers ago – it’s decent); and Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium (too strong for me).
Sephora Play gives you 5-6 prestige samples a month, for just $10! You can sign up at sephora.com/play.
Sephora SUMMER SAVE
It’s that time of year again…Sephora’s end-of-summer sale event – 20% off!
I had been keeping Rosebud Perfume Co. Rose & Mandarin Lip Balm ($8) in my cart for my next order, so I finally got it! It’s subtle scented and very slick – I’ve been using it before bedtime.
The email with my promo code showed me the new Moroccanoil Color Depositing Masks, so I ordered two Minis ($7) – “Aquamarine” and “Hibiscus” – I’ll have to wait another few weeks until my hair fades more, but I am excited to try them.
Not impressed by her latest launches, I did order one of the new Kat Von D Kitten Minis – Crush on Blush – Highlighter + Blush Duo ($22). The blush shade is “Nova” which matches my fave lipstick “Lolita” perfectly – it’s a better match than my actual “Lolita” blush. I’ve been using the highlighter, “Gammaray” for eyeshadow – I LOVE it.
I wasn’t planning on getting a new foundation, but I was poking around on the site and came across bareMinerals Blemish Rescue Skin-Clearing Loose Powder Foundation for Acne Prone Skin in “2N” ($29). When I opened it up, my first thought was FUCK, it’s too dark. That’s what I get for letting the site choose for me – I had them match the last foundation that I felt was a really good match for me, Fenty Beauty in “150”. Once I got it on my face, it wasn’t really too dark – darker than my usual, but not too dark. This is a full coverage powder – more full coverage than I am used to, so I may save it for special occasions and not wear it to work every day. It wears okay, but I feel like it oxidizes by the end of day – maybe not the best for summer sweating.
Again, I got neither of the two samples I picked. Instead of REPLICA Whispers in the Library, I got Lancome La vie est Belle. Instead of Glamglow Waterburst, I got Clinique iD Dramatically Different Hydrating Jelly. Boo.
I know if probably doesn’t seem like it, but I’ve really reduced my spending this year. This order doesn’t quite get me to VIB status for 2020 – my total spend year-to-date has been $338, believe it or not. Another $662 just isn’t in the cards this year, unless I win the lottery!
Ulta Birthday to Me
I needed a haircut, my kids had been bugging me for a haircut, I had a birthday gift waiting on me…time for an in-person Ulta trip.
Let me just say – my haircut was fine. My daughter’s haircut was fine. My son’t haircut was…NOT fine. I didn’t realize how much he hated it until we got home. It was so bad that he had my husband buzz his head with clippers. I felt HORRIBLE. I bought him a bottle of my hair & nail vitamins and promised to take him to Sport Clips next time. Oh well, at least I got 2x points on all the haircuts.
So the coupon in my email said I would be getting a Full Size NYX Lip Lingerie as a birthday gift, but in-store, they gave me a totally different gift – a mini Lancome Monsieur Big Mascara. Google says that it was the December gift – I guess they give em away until they’re gone.
Oh, I also picked up a few generic Diamond buffers for my nay-nays.
Just like that, $241 to Platinum!