Tag: Sale
Instinct + Transformation
Makeup Revolution Palettes at 40% off? Don’t mind if I do!
I’ve had my eye on the Revolution x Alexis Stone collaboration since it launched. I hesitated, not because of the price, but because of the unlikelihood that I would get much use out of it. But FOMO and a great price convinced me. The Instinct Palette ($15, down from $25) is a 28 shade matte palette with a rainbow of colors. Makeup Revolution has really upped their quality – these shadows were super pigmented and wore well without primer. (I did get a little bit of staining with the pink shadows, so be warned.) The Transformation Palette ($9, down from $15) has 7 shimmery shades that can be worn alone or over your Instinct shades, which is what I did.
I also snagged the I Heart Revolution Tasty Avocado Palette ($10, down from $15) and Tasty Hot Dog Palette ($7.49). I know that I look horrible in green eye shadow, but I couldn’t resist that cute avocado packaging. When I tried it out, I wasn’t wrong – my husband refused to go get ice cream with me while I was wearing it. The Hot Dog Palette was a nice surprise – I never knew that mustard and ketchup vibes would look so good on me.
My hair is growing out of control, so I got a few new hair tools – the Pattern Hair Clip ($10) is bigger than the octopus clips I’ve been using and it holds ALL my hair. It’s designed for curly hair, but works just fine on straight hair, too. I also got the Invisibobble Bunstar ($8 for 2). This little sperm-shaped piece of plastic screws in and holds your bun! I don’t exactly understand how it works, but it does.
I also got my son another L’Oreal Colorista Highlight Kit and myself an Ulta Tinted Juice Infused Lip Oil ($4.50, down from $9).
This 5 piece Benefit gift with purchase was the last Beauty Break I’ve seen – two weeks ago. A $60 purchase got me a Benefit makeup bag with my favorite mascara – Benefit Roller Lash, as well as The POREfessional Hydrate Primer, Precisely My Brow Pencil in “Warm Light Brown”, and Gimme Brow Brow-Volumizing Fiber Gel in “Warm Brown”. A $75 purchase got me a Benefit “Laughter is the Best Cosmetic” Canvas Tote. I want more Beauty Breaks – where did they go???
Just $935 to Diamond status!
On the Run
I am fully aware of the irony of continuing to buy eye shadow while under lockdown. I get to go to the grocery store once a week and I need to look HAWT when I go…
Sephora lured me in with 50% off the Urban Decay On the Run Mini Palettes ($12.50, down from $25). I’ve been drooling over these little 8 shade palettes. I Selected two of the five: “Detour” (blues and browns) and “Shortcut” (reds and mauves). I’ve had a chance to try both palettes and they are so blendable and smooth. I didn’t even have to pull out the shadow primer. I can see myself going back to these again and again. Now I want to get the other 3 colorways – please go on sale again!
I was able to snag a sample of Lord Jones Royal Oil, basically a CBD Beauty Oil. The only two ingredients are grapeseed oil and CBD oil…I’m hesitant to coat my face in grapeseed oil, as I’m recovering from a breakout. I’ll try it later, I think. I also got samples of Cristophe Robin Detangling Gelee with Sea Minerals and Marc Jacobs Youthquake Gel Creme.
Sephora is offering free shipping while their stores are closed. Don’t threaten me with a good time! Just $281 to VIB in 2021.
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!
Semi Annual Stuff
Don’t you hate it when you try out a new scent and it’s immediately discontinued?
I JUST added “Kaleidoscope” to my shower – barely a few weeks ago – and now it appears to be discontinuing! It’s all 75% off. Well boo. I picked up two more Body Washes to be used later.
I also got two more “Winter” Hand Soaps at 75% off – I didn’t go crazy on the $3 soaps, because I just stocked up at $2.50.
My daughter’s Wallflower broke, so I picked her up a cute Santa Doggie one, along with 5 more $3 Wallflowers. I probably should’ve gotten more – I’m running low. Who am I kidding, I’m sure I’ll be back to the sale.
Since I didn’t get that much stuff, I used the 20% off $25 coupon in my email, instead of the $10 off $40 mailer, so I still have a coupon to use. I was hoping to see Rose Water & Ivy show back up for the sale, but it hasn’t popped back up yet.
Ulta Stocking Stuffers
I picked up quite a few more last minute gifts from Ulta, using a 20% off coupon. Again, not sharing the gifts and stocking stuffers, but the few goodies I added for myself.
I’ve been eyeing the Urban Decay “Sweet Little Vices” Set for a bit and half price ($12.50, down from $25) was the right price. It includes 4 mini lipsticks to match (flavor AND color scheme) the last several Naked palettes – Naked Honey, Naked Cherry and Naked Heat. (I don’t have the Naked Honey palette…yet..but I have about $73 in Ulta points, so I probably will get it after the new year). The shades are “California Honey” – honey-flavored metallic golden orange w/ gold shimmer, “Keep Tame” – honey-flavored sheer medium warm nude, “Bing” – cherry-flavored bright pink comfort matte, and “Red Hot” – cinnamon-flavored bright red comfort matte.
Did I need another red nail polish? No, but “Romance” from the Frida Kahlo x Ulta Collection Collab was also half price ($3.75, down from $7.50).
Oh, and another Scunci Octopus clip ($2.97). I thought I it would hold more hair than the ones I have, but it barely holds all my hair. I have too much hair right now.
Just $97 to Diamond status for 2020. I booked a haircut for the day after Xmas, so that should push me over the edge!
$4.95?!?!?!
I guess it’s a little late to be very helpful, since the sale was actually last Saturday, but I guess I can brag a little bit…Bath and Body Works had ALL of their body care products for $4.95, AND the deal was stackable with coupons.
I had been planning to wait until the Semi-Annual Sale to try a new scent, but I couldn’t resist the chance to add a new scent to my shower. I had it narrowed down to two new scents – “Into the Night” (an alluring blend of dark berries, midnight jasmine and rich amber) and “Kaleidoscope” (iris, cedarwood, and pink pepper). I was leaning towards “Into the Night” – Lily’s pick – but the store was out of the body wash, so I got “Kaleidoscope” instead. I like how spicy it is! I usually stay away from the more oriental type scents, but I like this one on me. Instead of the Fine Fragrance Mist, I got a Mini Perfume Spray for a stronger scent.
There may be some gifts in this bag…mind ya business.
Oh, and “White Citrus” was back in stock, so I got the Body Soap, plus “Into the Night” and “Thankful” (Frankincense & Myrrh) bubble baths for Lily.
So, coupons…I used a $10 off $30 AND a free item coupon – SCORE!
Ulta Cyber Monday 2019
Ulta offered a HUGE Wintry Wonders 24 piece Beauty Bag with $80 purchase on Cyber Monday. Of course, I still had some gift shopping left to do…
Obviously, I’m not going to ruin Xmas by showing all the gifts I bought – but I can show the few things I picked up for myself. I’d been wanting to try It Cosmetics Confidence in a Cream Rosy Tone Moisturizer for a bit, but the price ($48) was putting me off. 30% off though – you have my attention. I’ve been using it for nearly a week and it’s too soon to tell if there’s a dramatic change in the tone of my skin – but the texture of my skin is amazing right now. It’s dewy and clear – no breakouts, which is a good sign. I’ll continue to use it, but I’m not sure if I’d buy it again at full price.
I also picked up a sale Makeup Revolution Good Vibes Lip Balm with Cannabis Sativa ($4.90, down from $7). There’s no tint, no fragrance and no taste to this lip balm – I mean, it works as a lip balm, but I think slapping Cannabis on the label is just a selling ploy – there’s nothing a special about this lip balm – disappointing.
So, inside the Wintry Wonders bag: MAC Lipstick Sample Card, with “Velvet Teddy”, “Mocha”, and “Hug Me”; Becca Sample Card with First Light Prioming Filter and Backlight Priming Filter; Tom Ford Metallique (why do all Tom Ford scents smell so old lady?); Rusk Pro Restore01 Leave-In Conditioner; Ralph Lauren Romance; NARS Climax Mascara; Ahava Extreme Minerals Extreme Firming Eye Cream; Sagely Naturals CBD Cream; 18.21 Man-Made Wash in “Sweet Tobacco” (GROSS); Philosophy Purity Made Simple Moisturizer; Clinique Beyond Perfecting Super Concealer Camouflage + 24-Hour Wear Sample Card; Juice Beauty Phyto-Pigments Flawless Serum Foundation Sample Card (I’ll put it on my Jade Egg); Boscia Purifying Cleansing Gel; Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion; Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer; Marc Jacobs Daisy; Unwined by Hask Red Wine Inspired Repairing Shampoo & Conditioner (very interested in trying this – even though I’m allergic to red wine – it should be okay, as long as I don’t drink it); Marvis Classic Strong Mint Toothpaste; Mario Badescu Botanical Exfoliating Scrub; Too Cool for School Pumpkin Sleeping Pack; Hempz Blushing Grapefruit & Raspberry Creme Daily Herbal Color Preserving Conditioner (but no shampoo???); Anastasia Beverly Hills Dip Brow Gel in “Dark Brown” (Yasssss…cannot wait to try it); Giorgio Armani Light di Gioia (surprisingly, it’s not horrible – reminds me of sunflowers); and Living proof. restore Perfecting Spray. This is a really nice bag, full of brand new products for the most part.
In addition to the gift with purchase, I was able to use a $10 off coupon on my order. $157 to Diamond…so close!
Julep Sales on Sales on Sales
Julep is still going with the nail polish sales – they sent out an email offering an additional 50% off all clearance polishes, which were already 50% to 70% off. Believe it or not, there are quite a few Julep polishes that I don’t have!
The first thing I grabbed was the Hypnotic Frenzy Set, which includes 6 mini polishes for $10. The polishes are Boho Glam “Agatha” – Gilded bronze multidimensional glitter, Bombshell “O’Neill” – Sleek copper chrome, It Girl “Vinsy” – Blooming pink multidimensional glitter, Classic with a Twist “Brita” – frozen raspberry chrome, Bombshell “Kirra” – Icy purple multidimensional glitter, and Boho Glam “Maryann” – Lilac mauve shimmer. The bottles are teensy!
A few were $3.50, like “Geena – Rose Quartz for January” – Rose quartz iridescent shimmer and Bombshell “Kaia” – Flaming red orange metallic. I actually got two of “Kaia” because I thought that was how my niece’s name was spelled….spoiler alert, it is not. Dammit.
The rest were $2.50 each. I got “Clarity” – Lucid azure duochrome , “Leo” – Golden honey duo metallic, “Betsey – Peridot for August” – Peridot birthstone iridescent shimmer, It Girl “Geneva” – Supernova Iridescent Microglitter, Boho Glam “Chira” – Rich Teal Microshimmer, and “Lucky Libra” – Prosperous teal iridescent .
Just $35.50 for all these polishes, 15 in all, plus free shipping.
Barbie Friendsgiving
I know I need more eye shadow like I need a hole in the head…but I thought I missed out on the PĂśR x Barbie Endless Possibilities Palette! But then it popped up in Ulta’s pre-Thanksgiving Friendsgiving sale for 40% off, so…
I had passed on it when it launched several months ago, because I did not want to pay full price – $34. 40% off brought it down to $20.40, which is much more reasonable. I was not familiar with PĂśR ‘s eye shadow quality, but it turns out that is really soft and buttery – it blends very well. There is a good range of pinks and browns in the palette, but the most pleasant surprise was the blue eye shadow. I grew up in the 80s and ALL of my Barbies had that same baby blue eye shadow. The blue in this palette is an almost perfect reproduction of that baby blue – somewhat sheer, with a pinkish shimmer. This might be the only blue eye shadow I own that doesn’t look completely ridiculous.
I also picked up 2 of the 4 PĂśR x Barbie Lipsticks for $10.80, down from $18 – “Legendary”, Barbie pink, and “Timeless”, dusty mauve pink. Although they are insanely pigmented and have decent staying power – it IS lipstick and gets all over EVERYTHING.
I also got a 4 piece gift (with a $35 PĂśR purchase), which included PĂśR 4-in-1 Correcting Primer, 4-in-1 Lip Duo, Lit Mist Illuminating Setting Spray, and a makeup pouch. I tried out the primer and it is really nice.
I was kind of pissed that the PĂśR x Barbie collab went down to 50% on Cyber Monday, but oh well.
$266 to Diamond…stay tuned!
More Ulta Friendsgiving
So I received my second Ulta Friendsgiving order right before Thanksgiving, but I’ve been sick AF since Monday…the whole damn house needs to be quarantined!
So many good sales before Black Friday and Cyber Monday! What could I pick up to get me to $65 for that 23 Piece Friendsgiving Beauty Besties Beauty Bag???
I had been drooling over the Hask Rose Oil & Peach Shampoo and Conditioner ($5.99 each) since I saw them at Walgreen’s a few months ago. I knew they would eventually show up at Ulta, so I waited. It sounds weird, but the shampoo is more rose scented and the conditioner is more peach scented – why? They are a more budget-friendly choice than the Redken and Nexxus products I’ve been buying lately and work just as well. They smell less salon-y, too.
I noticed that Mamonde Petal Spa Oil to Foam Cleanser was half off ($10.50, down from $21) AND came with a free gift! I’ve gotten several samples in beauty boxes and really like the scent, so I splurged. The free gift was three samples: Mamonde Petal Spa Oil to Foam Cleanser, Mamonde Rose Water Toner, and Mamonde Plum Blossom Lip Sleeping Mask. Since I cannot resist anything rose, I also picked up the new Biore Rose Quartz + Charcoal Pore Refining Scrub ($7.99) – it’s very gentle.
I hadn’t gotten my first Friendsgiving order yet when I placed this one, so I ended up adding two more Zoya Remove+ ($10 each) to my cart – oops!
Inside that hot pink sequined Beauty Besties Bag: ANOTHER Mamonde Petal Spa Oil to Foam Cleanser (happy to have it for travel); Redken Color Extend Magnetics Shampoo & Conditioner (I just used up a full size of the conditioner, but still have some of the shampoo left); Maybelline The Colossal Mascara; Yves Saint Laurent L’Homme; Anastasia Beverly Hills Lip Gloss in “Moon Jelly”; Giorgio Armani Acqua di Gioia; Prada Candy (2 of these, so Lily got one); bareMinerals Complexion Rescue Sample Card; it Cosmetics Blurring Foundation No 101; Benefit The POREfessional; Philosophy Purity Made Simple 3-in-1 Cleanser for Face and Eyes; Peach & Lily Glass Skin Refining Serum (looking forward to trying this); Paradoxx Secret Weapon Conditioner (why is this hair conditioner in a little metal tin that will immediately rust in my shower?); Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara; Ulta Beauty Sugared Vanilla Moisturizing Body Lotion; Moschino Toy 2; Ulta Beauty Charcoal Nose Strips; La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Moisturizer; Bed Head Small Talk; Love Wellness Lights Out Dietary Supplements (ooooh, sleeping pills that probably won’t work on me!); John Varvatos Eau de Toilette; Elizabeth Arden Advanced Ceramide Capsules; and Hempz Pink Pomelo & Himalyan Sea Salt Herbal Body Moisturizer. Phew – my fingers are tired. These are really good samples – I will use at least 75% of them!
In case you are noticing that the math doesn’t add up, there were a few other items that I added to my cart that will be Xmas gifts. Shhhh…don’t tell!
I got to use a $10 off coupon, in addition to the many sales. Just $319 to Diamond…