Tag: Sol de Janeiro
I Like Big Bum Bums…
…and I cannot lie.
It’s hard to pass up a coupon that includes Prestige Brands, even if it’s just a measly 10% off.
The many samples and deluxe samples of Bum Bum Cream are almost gone, so it’s time to buy the big boy – Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Refillable Body Cream ($48), 8.1 ounces of Bum Bum goodness – and it’s refillable! I also splurged on a purse spray of Sol de Janeiro SOL Cheirosa ’62 Eau de Parfum ($26) – it smells SO GOOD.
I scrolled the clearance page and found the Sally Hansen Insta-Dri x Ring Pop Nail Polish Quad Giftset ($2.20) and Ring Pop Nail Polish Holder ($2.50). That’s 55 cents per polish!
I also qualified for FENTY BEAUTY by Rihanna 4 piece Beauty Break. In addition to a sleek tote bag, I got a Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Luminizer in “Fenty Glow”; Eaze Drop’Lit All-Over Glow Enhancer in “Bronze Jasper”; and Hella Thicc Volumizing Mascara in “Cuz I’m Black”. I’ll probably only use the tote bag and the mascara…
Only $508 to Diamond in 2025.
A Bigger Bum Bum Ulta Haul
Ulta coupon codes that include prestige brands are getting rarer and rarer…the ones that came with June’s Diamond Love List was only 15% – what happened to the 20% off coupons???
I jumped on the chance to get more BUM BUM…the 33oz refill of Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Play Body Wash was $49, versus $56 for the same amount in a bottle. I hope they start offering refills of the Brazilian Joia Strengthening + Smoothing Shampoo and Brazilian Joia Strengthening + Smoothing Conditioner ($26 each).
I have a hate/hate relationship with my leg hair, so I am trying out Tree Hut Ocean Glow Moisturizing Shave Oil ($12.99), upon Lala’s recommendation. I haven’t had a chance to try it yet…I gave the poor lady who did my last pedi an extra tip, don’t worry. I also got a Tree Hut freebie – Tropic Glow Mini Sparkling Gel Wash. I added Ulta Beauty Exfoliating Round Cotton Pads ($3.49) for funsies.
$579 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.
Deep Hydration Ulta Haul
The last day of Beauty Steals, they had Fresh Rose Deep Hydration Face Cream for 50% off – $23 instead of $46. I jumped on that deal QUICK.
I also wanted to try Bum Bum Hair, so I ordered travel sizes of Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Joia Strengthening + Smoothing Shampoo and Conditioner. ($12 each) It smells SO GOOD and it makes my hair feel so soft – I need full sizes ASAP, so I can put these travel sizes in my travel bag.
I loved my Shhhowercap, but the vinyl lining was flaking into my hair and I had to throw it away. I decided to take a chance on a Kitsch Satin-Lined Shower Cap ($24) and I am not disappointed. The elastic doesn’t pop off my (rather large) head and the extended cap size hold ALL of my hair.
I was only able to use a $3.50 off $15 coupon…bummer.
$942 to Diamond in 2025…
Bum Bum Ulta Haul
When LaLa is in town, we HAVE to go to Ulta.
I *think* I was the one that introduced LaLa to Bum Bum Cream? We both LOVE Bum Bum Cream! We both grabbed the Sol De Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Jet Set ($30), which includes Deluxe samples of Brazilian Bum Bum Cream, Brazilian 4 Play Moisturizing Shower Cream-Gel, and Cheirosa 6 Perfume Mist. I need full sizes of ALL of these! Oh, and did you know that they make Shampoo and Conditioner now? It ain’t cheap, so I’m waiting for a sale or coupon before I try it.
I’ve been on a indie nail polish kick for the last several months, but I couldn’t pass up this Sally Hansen x Sesame Street 4 polish set ($10.99, down from $19.99), which includes 4 shades inspired by Big Bird (“Think BIG”), Elmo (“Elmo Love Hue”), Cookie Monster (“C is for Color”), and Oscar the Grouch (“SCRAM!”). I also picked up a Garnier SkinActive Mattifying Micellar Cleansing Water ($11.99). I hope it doesn’t suck.
Oh, and the weekend we went, Ulta was offering $10 off $50 or $20 off $100 – including PRESTIGE! What a smoking deal!
$1,006 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…
Sephora Favorites Hello! Greatest Beauty Hits (and more)
Ooooh! Sephora Sale on Sale! An extra 20% off sale items…so tempting.
I’d been eyeing the newest Sephora Favorites Hello! Greatest Beauty Hits set. $8 on sale is better than $10…but $6.40 is even better. I was most interested in Sol de Janeiro Cheirosa ’62 Eau de Parfum – it was so summery. Also in the set: It Cosmetics Lash Blowout Volumizing Mascara; Tarte SEA Jelly Glaze Anytime Lip Mask in “Strawberry Jelly”; BareMinerals Gen Nude Powder Blush in “Call My Blush”; First Aid Beauty FAB Pharma Arnica Relief & Rescue Mask; and Sephora Collection Ultra Glow Serum: Glow + Strengthen Vitamin C Serum. As usual, the set comes with 15% off vouchers for each product – I might actual used the Cheirosa ’62 one.
While browsing the sale section, I found a few other smokin’ deals. I splurged on a Fresh Rose Hydration Skincare Essentials Set ($55, down from $63 – $44 after discount). I also picked up the tarte SEA Yours & Mine Quench Lip Rescue Duo ($17, down from $19 – $13.60 after discount). I really like the Lip Rescue I got in the Give Me Some Balm Set – all the mask wearing has dried out my lips! The Milk Makeup KUSH Triple Brow Pen ($11, down from $22 – $8.80 after discount) was a bad purchase. The first time I used it, it was GREAT. The color “Dutch” was a perfect match to my brows and each stroke was like a little hair. The second time I used it though, it did not work at all. It’s like all the color went out of the pen after one use! Ugh, if I wasn’t so lazy, I’d take it back.
For my samples, I got Kiehl’s Calendula Water Cream and amika Flash Instant Shine Mask.
I made this purchase in 2020, but it wasn’t enough to put me into VIB status – I still needed like $65, but I didn’t want to buy something dumb. I feel like such a peasant.
Sephora Favorites POP – Beauty Cred
Well how about that…just a few weeks after Sephora releases a Hello! box, they release a POP box. I feel like they are playing around with price points and configurations to see what performs the best. I am not helpful at all – I’ll buy anything.
The “Beauty Cred” box contains “the next big thing in beauty”…hmm, okay. By far, the best sample in the box is the creamier than creamy Natasha Denona Eyeshadow in “Moonstone”. No wonder she charges $129 for a palette – this is some of the highest quality eyeshadow I’ve ever used. It pairs well with the Fenty Beauty Full Frontal Volume, Lift & Curl Mascara. The brush is super fluffy, but somehow doesn;t leave my lashes clumpy.
Also in this box: Lord Jones High CBD Formula Body Lotion in “Fragrance Free”; Fresh Rose Petal-Soft Deep Hydration Lip Balm (yasssssss, more lip balm); Amika Flash Instant Shine Hair Mask; and Maison Margiela REPLICA Beach Walk fragrance (I swear, I’ve gotten this sample 50 times from Sephora – get over this scent, it’s boring).
The set was a slighty higher price point, at $15, which is still pretty cheap. Oh, and it also came with a bunch of beauty-themed stickers.
I was over the moon to try the other samples I picked for my box. I love the scent of Brazilian Bum Bum Cream and now they have shampoo/conditioner. I IMMEDIATELY used the samples of Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Joia Strengthening Shampoo & Conditioner – it smells AMAZING! Ugh, they are $25 each. I also got a sample of Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant, which I have not tried yet.
$148 to VIB in 2021.
Vegas Birthday
As many times as we’ve been to Vegas – I’ve never been on my actual birthday!
My lips were getting dry and I forgot to pack extra lip moisture. I dragged my husband into Sephora, with the intention of buying a mini Bite Beauty Agave Lip Mask (like I did last time), but they did not have any of the minis in stock and I didn’t feel like spending $26 on lip stuff. My husband had shown me a Kiehl’s Lip Balm for $10, which was what I was getting until I saw the bin of Smith’s by the checkout. Grabbed two Rosebud Perfume Co. tubes: Rosebud Salve in a Tube ($7) and Menthol and Eucalyptus Lip Balm ($7). They were very moisturizing and I could share with my husband.
I also used this opportunity to pick up this year’s birthday gift. I was gonna wait and order online to get the Jo Malone sample, but I decided to go ahead and get the Sol de Janeiro Bum Bum Cream and Coco Cabana Cream Set – that stuff smells so good! There were also gifts from Milk Makeup and Briogeo available.
$316 to VIB…
December Sephora Play! – Award Worthy Beauty
The last Sephora box of the year contains “Award Worthy” beauty products. These products haven’t actually won awards…but are worthy of an award? Sure, ok…
I just tried that new Anastasia Beverly Hills Dip Brow Gel in “Dark Brown” last week – I’d gotten a sample in the Ulta Cyber Monday Bag. It’s…different. The product is a lot like mascara – it sticks to the little invisible baby hairs on your face and turns them into eyebrow hairs, so you have to be very careful and precise in application. I was not precise and ended up looking like Brooks Shields. It was very odd, but fairly realistic, at least compared to the current gradient brow trend, which I HATE. With a little practice, I think I could become good at applying the Dip Brow Gel. Or maybe a lot of practice?
Other “Award Worthy” products in December’s box: Urban Decay All-Nighter Long-Lasting Setting Spray; Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Cream Shadow Stick in “Golden Pink”; Tarte Rainforest of the Sea – Drink of H2O Hydrating Boost Moisturizer; Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream (I love this stuff, it smells good enough to eat); and Living proof. No Frizz Nourishing Styling Cream.
Sephora Play gives you 5-6 prestige samples a month, for just $10! You can sign up at sephora.com/play. I just noticed that this month’s box did not include a 50 point Play! Pass – rude.
I did NOT hit Sephora Rouge status this year, the first time in…5 years! My total spend was $525, so at least I made VIB status. All of my discounts in 2020 will be 15% instead of 20% and with my first order, I’ll order Sephora Flash, which is now $15 (up from $10).