Tag: Make Up For Ever
Sephora Play! August 2016 – The Eye Openers
Except for the perfume sample, this month’s box is entirely focused on eye products, hence “The Eye Openers”. The first thing I noticed was the adorable muslin bag with winking eyes – “Wink outside the box.” What can I store in this bag?
Inside this month’s box: Urban Decay Cosmetics Perversion Mascara (I love getting more of this); Caudalie Resveratrol [Lift] Eye Lifting Balm; Lancome Energie De Vie Smoothing & Glowing Liquid Care Moisturizer; Sephora Contour eye pencil 12HR wear in “Flirting game” (taupe shimmer); Make Up For Ever Artist Shadow in I-544 (iridescent pink granite); and CLEAN Reserve Blonde Rose (I love a rose scent, but I prefer a greener rose – this one is heavy on the musk…also, within 3 minute, it gave me a massive headache – UGH).
I am loving every single thing in this box AGAIN. If I had to pick one subscription box to keep and get rid of the rest – it would be Sephora’s.
If you haven’t signed up yet – get off your ass and DO IT! 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! 06 – February 2016
February’s Sephora Play! theme is “Now & Later” – beauty essentials for all day and all night.
As soon as I opened the box, I knew I would be giving the Tom Ford “Black Orchid” to my big sis – Tom Ford is her favorite. She also bought a few Tom Ford rollerballs when we went to Sephora over the weekend. Also inside this month’s box: bareMinerals Pop of Passion Lip Oil-Balm in “Plumberry Pop”; Lancome Drama Liqui-Pencil Longwear eyeliner in “Noir Intense”; Bumble and bumble. Pret-A-Powder (I am intrigued to try this different take on dry shampoo); Make Up for Ever Rouge Artist Natural in “N9 Copper Pink” (this color looks BANGIN’); and tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes 4-in-1 Mascara.
Sephora Play is only $10/month. You can sign up at sephora.com/play.
Summerstash
Oh Nouveau Cheap, you are so dangerous to me…the moment she posted Sephora Favorites Summerstash on sale for $30 (regularly $45), I jumped all over it.
Even though this set came out a year or two ago, I neeeeeeeded it. Inside the sassy gold canvas bag: Buxom Divine Goddess Luminizer in “Venus” (the product I am least likely to use); Deborah Lippmann Nail Lacquer in “Mermaid’s Dream” (yassss); Josie Maran Coconut Watercolor Cheek Gelee; Marc Jacobs Beauty Mini Lash Lifter in “Blacquer”; Make Up For Ever Aqua Eyes Waterproof Pencil (my big sis called dibs); NARS Travel Size “Laguna” Bronzing Powder; Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Stained Gloss in “New Wave” (AND it came with a brush!); stila Cosmetics Magnificent Metals Foil Finish Eye Shadow in “Kitten” (YASSSS); and Urban Decay All Nighter Makeup Setting Spray.
I finally used some points to get some goodies – Buxom Objects of Obsession (500 pts), which includes Mini Vanity Lash Mascara in “Show-Off Black”; Mini Hold the Line Waterproof Eyeliner in “I’ll Be Waiting”; Mini Full-On Lip Cream in “Kir Royale”; and Mini Full-On Lip Polish in “Sophia”. I also got two 100 pt items – Pink Gel Coat Nail Strengthener & Brightener and Liquid Blendercleanser.
I also used a code to get two extra samples – NARS Audacious Mascara in “Black Moon” and First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream – in addition to the three regular samples, Marc Jacobs “Decadence” (smells like the inside of a rich old lady’s purse); Dr. Dennis Gross ferulic + retinol wrinkle recovery peel and Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer.
I may have too much mascara now…
Another Sephora Makeover
Back in Vegas this past week – a sort of early 40th birthday celebration. I don’t know if I’ll ever hit Rouge status again, so I’m going to take advantage of the free makeup services while I can. If nothing else, I figured it would be 90 minutes that I wasn’t stuffing my face or losing money in a slot machine.
I scheduled a 90 minute Beauty Consultation with 2 goals – to get better at applying bright eye shadows (unless it’s natural colors, I tend to feel a bit like MiMi from The Drew Carey Show) and to find another BB Cream (since Urban Decay Naked Light has been discontinued).
Tasha started with Too Faced Eye Shadow Primer and a neutral base from the Too Faced Natural Matte Palette. She taught me to start with a matte before adding the color – I had no idea. She then used a combination of Make Up For Ever and Buxom shadows to create this shimmery turquoise look – I felt like a mermaid.
On the BB Cream front, we tried Benefit first – that one was a big fat NOPE. It collected in my pores and made me like I had polka dots. It didn’t work with a layer of The POREfessional either. None of the Bobby Brown colors worked, so Tasha moved on to the Smashbox BB Cream. It was a bit better, but there were still a few odd orange flakes. I decided to wear it for the night before I decided to buy.
I was also excited that Tasha wanted to try the new Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Definer in “Caramel”. I usually use “Soft Brown”, but she suggested trying a lighter color – it looked great on me. She also used Sephora Color Corrector in “Peach” to correct the dark circles under my eyes. Genius.
My final purchases were rather moderate, if I do say so myself. I picked up the Brow Definer ($23) and Color Corrector ($14), but I also grabbed a Travel Brush ($15) since I forgot mine – DOH!. I also decided to purchase the Skin Inc Get Glam Holiday Set ($65), which includes a full-size Skin Inc Pure Revival Peel and half-size Pure Deepsea Hydrating Mask. A Skin Consultant put both on my face before my the makeup and both felt amazing. I don’t usually spend much money on skin products, but I figured I’d give it a spin since I was using my 10% off VIB code.
I also got the Rouge Welcome Kit, which includes a new RED card and special Marc Jacobs “So Rouge” lipstick. Since my birthday is just around the corner, I also got to pick my birthday gift – I chose the Fresh Set with Soy Face Cleanser and Rose Mask. So, so happy with my purchases and gifts!
Sephora Play! 04 – December 2015
“Oh What Fun” is Sephora Play’s December theme and oh, what fun it is. I’m not sure if I lost the little playbook that came with it, or if I just lost it somewhere in my house…but I usually don’t remember to cash in the card for 50 extra points anyway.
Inside…NUDE Skincare Advanced Renewal Serum (5 packets!); Viktor & Rolf “Flowerbomb” (saving for my sister, she likes this scent a lot); Smashbox Full Exposure Eye Shadow Duo; Dr. Brandt Skincare PoreDermabrasion (love getting Dr. Brandt); Make Up For Ever Aqua Eyes in “Matte Black” (eek, waterproof eyeliner…NO); and Fresh Seaberry Moisturizing Oil (My skin is SO flaketastic right now).
Sephora Play is only $10/month. You can sign up at sephora.com/play.
Sephora Play! 03 – November 2015
November’s Sephora Play! is “The Exclusives” – products that Sephora says can only be found there…are you sure Sephora? Because I bought a bottle of “Stella” by Stella McCartney at Ulta – but that was last year, so it might be exclusive to Sephora now?
Besides the sample of “Stella”, my box also includes Make Up For Ever Skin Equalizer (which I bought in Vegas a few months ago – great primer); Bite Beauty High Pigment Pencil in “Rhubarb”; Buxom Full-On Lip Cream in “Dolly” (this should go well with the “Rhubarb”); Sephora Collection Contour Eye Pencil 12Hr Wear Waterproof in “My Boyfriend’s Jeans”; and Josie Maran 100% Pure Argan Oil (I have SO MUCH damn Argan Oil now). Another amazing box!
Someday, I’ll actually remember to bring the card for 50 extra points into Sephora – I forgot last time!
Sephora Play is only $10/month. You can get on the wait list at sephora.com/play.
VIB 20% Off!!!
It’s that magical time of the year – 20% off weekend for Sephora VIBs. I absolutely knocked some Xmas shopping out of the way, but I also picked up a few things for myself.
I couldn’t contain my excitement, so I zipped over to Sephora on Friday, during lunch. (I was bummed that Roses de Chloe was no longer one of the samples I could choose with an online order, so I wanted to sniff it.) Yup, I loved it, so I picked up a Roses de Chloe rollerball ($28). When we met, my husband couldn’t stand all the rose perfume I wore, but he said, “Hey! That’s nice.” Does that mean he’s getting old and likes it when I smell like his grandma? I also used my points to get Make Up For Ever HD Powder. I was pissed that they no longer had samples of Tory Burch Absolu – of course they don’t have the good stuff during a sale. I also got a free Sephora tote.
Then on Saturday, I hit the Sephora inside JC Penney – I wanted to check out all their Xmas sets, since they’re different than the sets inside a regular Sephora. I happened upon the Formula X Ultimate Ombre Set on clearance for $13.99 (down from $29.50). Yay!
It’s Sunday night and I have a few more hours…trying not to shop anymore.
Vegas Sephora Makeover
When I made VIB status at Sephora, I got a voucher for a free custom makeover. Even though there are Sephoras everywhere here, it’s not like I have the time to schedule a makeover. I had nothing but time while I was in Vegas this past weekend, so I figured – why not now?
I scheduled my makeover at the Miracle Mile Sephora, right on the Vegas strip. (I was too lazy to walk all the way to the Forum shops.) I told my artist, Glenn, to start me over completely. He used Sephora PANTONE Color IQ to get my exact skin tone – 1y06. He tried the matching shade of Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Invisible Cover Stick Foundation in “118 – Flesh”, but it was a bit too dark, so he went with “115 – Ivory”. The Color IQ system is AMAZING – now I’ll always know the right color for me!
Glenn taught me the error of my ways – all along, I had been putting foundation first, then doing my eyes and getting eye shadow fall out everywhere. He showed me how to do my eyes first, then use eye cream to clean up the fallout. The eye cream sucks up the makeup, plus freshens under your eyes. For my eyes, he used a combination of the Kat Von D Shade & Light palette + Metal Crush eye shadows in “Raw Power”, “Thunderstruck” & “Symphony”. For the liner, he used Kat Von D Tattoo Liner (which I’ve got). Mascara was Dior.
My eyebrows…are a WORK OF ART. They’re bigger than my usual, but ON FLEEK. Glenn introduced me to the Hourglass Brow Sculpting Pencil. I’m breaking up with my Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz!
He then went to work on my foundation with the Make Up For Ever system. First was the Skin Equalizer, then the stick foundation. He used a foundation brush and it blended beautifully. He finished with NARS Light Reflecting Setting Powder and Make Up Forever Setting Spray. He did go a bit nuts contouring with bronzer, which is not my usual look, but I don’t look like Kim Kardashian, so there’s that.
For my lips, he went neutral with liner and lipstick from Buxom. Glenn was an absolute rock star. My makeover was supposed to be 45 minutes and he spent an HOUR and 45 minutes with me. We spent the whole time talking about our shared interests – John Waters, Face Off & Rocky Horror.
Since I was fresh off a $250 Gremlins slot machine win, I went a little nuts…but not TOO nuts. I got the Make Up For Ever Skin Equalizer & Ultra HD Invisible Cover Stick Foundation. I held back on the Kat Von D Shade & Light palette (it’s so similar to my Monarch palette), but I did get Kat Von D Metal Crush Raw Power. I also got the Hourglass Arch Brow Sculpting Pencil in “Warm Brunette”. I also got a Sephora lip brush – I think it will allow me to use Kat Von D “Piaf” without looking like a lunatic.
The best part? They let me use my VIB 10% discount again!
The next day, I used the techniques that Glenn taught me. I used my Beauty Blender with the foundation stick and the results were even better – I was able to get thinner, more natural coverage. I was right about the lip brush – I rocked “Piaf” on Saturday night and didn’t look like a freak!
Sephora Makes my Dreams Come True
Remember just 2 weekends ago, when I spent the whole weekend looking for a dupe for “Lolita”? My search is over…
Sephora just came out with a new version of “Give Me Some Lip”, a Sephora Favorites Lipstick Set – literally just a few days after I started my search for a “Lolita” dupe. The star of the set is Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in “Lolita”! Also included in the set: Fresh Sugar Rosé Tinted Lip Treatment (I love the Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment from the Sephora Sun Safety Kit); Marc Jacobs Beauty Le Marc Creme de Je’taime; Make Up For Ever Artist Plexi-Gloss, Tarte Amazonian Butter Lipstick in “Coral Blossom”; and Sephora Collection Rouge Infusion The Neutrals in 19 – “Peony”.
There was finally something I wanted to use points for – I got Kat Von D Studded Kiss Lipstick in “Lovecraft” for 100 points. I also used an online code to get a free deluxe sample of belif The True Cream – Moisturizing Bomb. For my other three samples, I chose philosophy Renewed Hope in a Jar Eye, GlamGlow YouthCleanse Daily Exfoliating Cleanser and Atelier Cologne “Sud Magnolia” (They’re like Pokemon – I gotta catch em all).
I guess I’m having a lipstick phase…
Just the Samples, Ma’am
Last week, Sephora was offering 5 face samples with every order, so I went ahead and ordered a gift I had been planning anyway. The 5 samples I picked were : tarte Maracuja Oil (is Maracuja the next Argan?), Clinique Beyond Perfecting Foundation + Concealer in “9 neutral”, philosophy purity made simple 3-in-1 cleanser for face and eyes, Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in “OPAL” and Kat Von D Lock-It Tattoo Foundation in “Light 48” (I’ve been wanting to try this one for a while). I also got a free mini Make Up For Ever Lipstick in “Rouge Artist Natural” – it’s so tiny and cute!
Oh, and I signed up for Sephora Flash, too! For $10, I’ll get free 2 day shipping from Sephora for a year…this is very, very dangerous, I can already tell.