Month: November 2025
November 2025 Ipsy Ultimate – Natasha Denona
Ipsy Icon Box (previously Ipsy X) is now called Ipsy Ultimate. Nothing like a rebrand, huh?
At least I’ve heard of Natasha Denona. I prefer the boxes curated by brands (like Natasha Denona) or by actual celebrities. I have wasted too much time googling celebrity makeup artists, or worse…influencers…and I literally do not care.
The biggest surprise of the box was the Natasha Denona Yucca Palette ($69). I was expected to look like a tumbleweed, but all the earthy desert tones really pop on my skin. Who knew that my best eyeshadow color would be mustard yellow? The box also came with Natasha Denona Hy-Glam Concealer ($30), but I haven’t tried it yet. I should…I’ve been eating macadamia nuts all week and my skin is garbage.
My product choice were pretty good this month. I picked Tatcha The Matcha Cleanse ($40 – I would never spend $40 on face wash…but this is a nice fucking face wash); Salt & Stone Black Rose & Oud Body Lotion ($20 – I am in love with this woody rose scent); and Dr. Jart+ Ceramidin Skin Barrier Moisturizing Eye Cream ($44 – a bad pick, I think I thought it was face cream – boo!)
Also in this month’s box: Lithe Beauty Soft Fill Lip Pencils in “Dusk” & “Scarlet” ($32 – nice, soft lip pencils); Bisha Essential Eye Designer Duo Set in “Downtown Black” & “Uptown Brown” ($58 – haven’t tried yet); and Persona Cosmetics Volumizing Tubing Mascara in “Black” ($24 – haven’t tried yet).
$317 worth of products this quarter!
I subscribe to the basic ipsy bag for $14/month (recently increased from $13/month) and Icon Box (formerly Glam Bag X) for an extra $60/quarterly (recently increased from $43/quarterly). If you’d like to try Ipsy – click here. I’ll earn 250 points if you sign up through my referral link.
Vampire’s Blood
Penelope Luz “Vampire’s Blood” is the final polish I got from September’s PPUWEEN. It’s one of the most amazing magnetic polishes that I’ve tried…
Not only does “Vampire’s Blood” magnetize well, it also changes colors with a top coat. You’ll notice that my pinky is more of a pinkish mauve – that’s the polish without a top coat. Once I added a top coat to the rest of the nails, they turned more of a blood red shade. I used a round rare earth magnet to give a velvet french manicure effect.
This is two coats of “Vampire’s Blood”, magnetized with a rare earth magnet, over Cuticula Mic Drop Base Coat in “Tropical Oasis” and under Cuticula Limitless Top Coat in “Froot Loop“.
Hydrating Ulta Haul
My purchases from November’s Diamond Love List are all about hydration – my hair, my body, my legs – all of it.
I was hoping that the NatureLab. Tokyo Saisei combo would help with my flakes, but I’m not seeing any improvement. I saw good things online about CeraVe Anti-Dandruff Hydrating Shampoo and Conditioner ($11.99 each). I haven’t started them yet – but I’m about 2/3 of the way through the Saisei…maybe another week or two.
I have been wanting Sol de Janeiro Beija Flor Elasti Renewing Body Wash ($26), so I got it (with an Xmas gift) and qualified for a free 3-piece gift, which includes a makeup bag, with deluxe samples of Bum Bum Cream and Firmeza Body Oil.
Have I mentioned lately how much I love the scent of Tree Hut Tangerine? There was a sale, so I restocked on Tree Hut Moisturizing Shave Oil in “Tangerine” ($9.99, down from $10.99) and Tree Hut Serum-Infused Hand Wash in “Tangerine” ($4.89, down from $5.99).
I always need more deodorant, so I decided to try megababe Soapy Pits Aluminum-Free Clear Gel Deodorant ($14).
Even though I used a $20 off $100 code, plus $9 in Ulta points, I still qualified for a free 11 Piece Hydration Gift with select $75 shipped purchase (what did I say about ‘hydration’). Inside the gift: Knours. Be Kind Hydrating Jojoba Oil + Aloe Vera H2O Double Duty Mist (I have no idea); Lancome Renergie Yeux H.C.F. Triple Serum; philosophy hope in a jar smooth-slow multi-tasking moisturizer; belif The True Cream – aqua bomb; DORE La Creme All-in-One Daily Moisturizer; Tula Skincare 24-7 Ultra Hydration Serum; Drunk Elephant Bora Barrier Repair Cream; Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Rich Barrier Moisturizer; Origins Ginzing Glow-Boosting Gel Moisturizer; and COSRX The Ceramide Skin Barrier Moisturizer. I will use every one of these, except maybe that weird jojoba oil.
Cheshire Cat Grin
My first try from October’s “Optical Illusions” – Lemming Lacquer “Cheshire Cat Grin”. This polish is inspired by the optical illusions of the Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland. I loved it so much that I brought it with me to my last pedicure.
This is only the second polish I’ve tried from Lemming Lacquer, but I am really liking their formulas. They go on smooth and they self-level very nicely. I didn’t even need Glitter Grabber!
This is two coats of “Cheshire Cat Grin” over Cuticula Mic Drop Base Coat in “Tropical Oasis” and under Cuticula Limitless Top Coat in “Froot Loop“.
Diva de los Muertos
I’ve been waiting since SUMMER to try out these Dashing Diva Dia de los Muertos nail decals that I picked up at TJ Maxx over the summer. I used them for Halloween/Dia de los Muertos and got lots of compliments.
I think I’m finally at peace with the fact that every nail decal I use will probably lift. My nail bed is very curvy and those suckers just want to FLY.
I started with Holo Taco Pink Smoothing Base Coat and then two coats of Holo Taco “Milky White Shimmer”. (I forgot how streaky this polish is.) I laid down the stickers and then finished with Holo Taco Glossy Taco Top Coat.
Polish Pickup October 2025 – Optical Illusions
Just a small haul from October’s Polish Pickup. The theme is “Optical Illusions”, which means a lot of holos and magnetic polishes. All the magnetic polishes are starting to look the same to me. Do I have magnetic polish fatigue?
Cuticula “Psychedelic Glow” ($13.50) is inspired by a flower that looks like it’s moving when you look at the center of it…hmmm, I may know a little bit about that.
Lemming Lacquer “Cheshire Cat Grin” ($14) is inspired by the optical illusions of the Cheshire Cat. I absolutely LOVE the colors in this one.
Zombie Claw “All is Vanity” ($13.75) is – I think – inspired by one of the most famous optical illusion paintings, ‘All is Vanity’ by Charles Allan Gilbert. You’ll recognize it as soon as you click…
There are Ghosts in the Basement!
Oh, look! It’s another magnetic polish that I forgot was magnetic…
Sweet Heart Polish “There are Ghosts in the Basement!” is from September’s PPUWEEN and is inspired by Matthew Lillard’s character from Thirteen Ghosts. I love a shifty chameleon polish and this one goes from gold to bronze to copper. It really captures the look and feel of the film. Other reviews state the the magnetic effect is very sublte…but still…I feel like a loser when I overlook a magnetic polish, now that I have plenty of magnets to use.
This is two coats of “There are Ghosts in the Basement!” over Cuticula Mic Drop Base Coat in “Tropical Oasis” and under Cuticula Limitless Top Coat in “Froot Loop“.