Author: Lara
November Birchbox – prep. set. party!
Is it December already? Oops.
This month’s curated box is products meant to prep for a party. Apparently…a very orange party.
Included in this month’s box: JUARA Candlenut Body Creme (a repeat); Smashbox Cosmetics Always on Matte Liquid Lipstick in “Driver’s Seat” (it’s SO orangey); Marcelle Hydra-C Eye Contour Gel-Cream; Living proof. STYLE|LAB T.B.D. Multi-Tasking Styler (interested in trying this out); and LAQA & Co. B’Lighter in “Peacher’s Daughter”.
More than any other box I get, my Birchbox samples just sit and gather dust. I need to nut up and decide if I should keep it or not.
If you would like to try Birchbox, click on my referral link – https://www.birchbox.com/invite/5453f – I’ll get 50 points if you join.
Cloves!
Do you know what Sinful Colors “I Klove U” reminds me of? Clove Cigarettes!
I’ll admit it…when I first started smoking cigarettes, it was cloves. I thought I was so cool, with my shimmery brown Sampoernas. Listen children, it’s all fun and games until you start coughing blood. Years later, long switched to Marlboro Ultra Lights, my husband-to-be laughed at me when I told him I used to smoke cloves. Ehhhh…I ‘m not embarrassed – it was like a 90s Alternateen right of passage.
In any case, this is two coats of “I Klove U” over Sinful Colors Base Coat. It dried rather quickly and and smoothly, although it wasn’t as dry as I thought it was – I got a sheet impression in my right thumbnail. The edges are also starting to chip after 24 hours. Booooooo.
Jeffree Star Holiday Collection 2017
Jeffree Star Cosmetics released his Holiday Glitter Collection on November 18th. He’s been a busy bee this year, with a summer collection, a collab with Manny MUA and his family collection just a month ago. I hadn’t been interested in any of those collections…but this year’s Holiday Collection is on a whole other level.
It included 8 liquid lipsticks, 3 Ammo lipsticks, 3 new lips scrubs and 2 highlighter palettes. You know me – all I want are those liquid lipsticks. I actually tried to purchase the bundle of 8 ($105), but it had already sold out…at 12:03, just minutes after launch!
I decided to be conservative and pick out my favorite 4 colors.
I received my order 5 days ago, but it took me a bit to try out all the colors. I hope it was worth the wait!
Instead of swatches on my arm, I decided to be narcissistic and use selfies.
“Poinsettia” is a bright, metallic red – perfect for any skin tone. I think I might like this one the best out of the collection. It’s somewhat similar to Kat Von D “Dazzle”, but I wouldn’t call it a dupe.
“Santa Baby” is a matter berry/wine. I like that it doesn’t lean too pink – this is a very mature berry.
“First Class” is a metallic true gold. The gold applies a bit thinner than the matte colors. I feel like it would be a knockout with a darker lip liner or a highlight.
Finally, we’ve got “Human Nature”, a dark mauve. I feel like it is very much a dupe of my favorite Jeffree shade – “Androgyny”. I’ll be doing a comparison swatch sometime soon. This shade looks the best on me, out of the four I picked.
More swatches coming soon!
Thank You for Being a Friend
I seem to have come across Golden Girls-themed nail polish at Five Below!
In person, Fresh Paint “Rose” is more of a blush gold – almost rose gold, but not quite. The picture doesn’t do it justice. It was a bit touchy to apply – it’s not a true foiled polish, but I had to be very careful not to make brush strokes.
This is just two coats of “Rose” over Glisten & Glow Base Coat and under Glisten & Glow Top Coat. My tips are very worn after just two days, but I feel like that’s because of dishes and cleaning out the garage and Xmas decorating and just…life.
November Ipsy Bag – All You
This month’s ipsy bag is themed “ALL YOU” and features products for real ipsy subscribers!
The first item that caught my eye was the tarte Deluxe Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush in “Feisty”. I was all disappointed because I thought it was a color I already had, but I was wrong! I got “paaarty” in my Sephora birthday gift, which is a cooler nude. Score!
Also in this month’s gold bag (there was also a blue version): SLMISSGLAM B36 Tapered Highlight Brush; Manna Kadar Cosmetics HD Perfecting Powder; Youth to the People Age Prevention Cleanser (with Kale – I’d rather wash my face with it than eat it); and Benefit They’re Real! Mascara Lengthening & Volumizing Mascara (I prefer the Roller Lash, but this one is good, too).
If you’d like to try Ipsy – click here. I’ll earn 250 points if you sign up through my link.
I Want You to Haunt Me
Blurple for my stubbies!
Pure Ice “I Want You to Haunt Me” is a mostly blue silver flakie jelly, but there’s a hint of purple in there, too. This is two coats over Glisten & Glow Base Coat and under Glisten & Glow Top Coat.
I decided to go with stubbies earlier this week because the edges were getting jaggy and bendy. I’ve learned the hard way that letting my nails break or get damaged and THEN cutting them is bad. For years, I didn’t cut my nails until I HAD to. NO MORE! By trimming all of my nails at regular intervals, they’re stronger and healthier – much less likely to split and/or peel.
Thanksgiving Nails
I know that Thanksgiving is long past…don’t judge me…
I tested several polishes and finally settled on Julep “Laurie” as my base color. I know I just wore it, but it was good match for the wine color in my Thanksgiving dress. I started with two coats over Julep Oxygen Bonding Base Coat.
I used Zoya Magical Pixie Dust “Bar” to jazz up each nail. I’ve never used a Magical Pixie Dust in this way, so I wasn’t really sure how it would turn out. I just lightly dusted it on each nail – the texture is heavy, so I used very little and spread it around. I topped with Glisten & Glow Top Coat and it mostly smoothed it out, although there were a few pebbled spots.
I absolutely LOVE how these turned out. I need to try this method with the rest of my Pixie Dusts!
Sephora Play! November 2017 – Survival of the Chillest
How about I let Sephora go first this month? Er, second…
This month’s “Survival of the Chillest” box is all about self-care – pampering products to the max. I am most excited about Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask to Clear Pores. My skin has been a nightmare lately and charcoal and clay and sulfur seem to be the only things that help.
Also in this month’s box: Marc Jacobs Beauty Velvet Noir Major Volume Mascara; IGK Mistress Hydrating Hair Balm (the name is icky); Sephora Collection Rouge Cream Lipstick in “The Red” (I feel like I have this already); Caudalie Vinoperfect Concentrated Brightening Essence and Burberry My Burberry Blush.
I am feeling like I need another pampering day…even though this is my 9th (and last) day off in a row – I feel like Thanksgiving vacation hit me like a truck.
Have you signed up for Sephora Play? 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.
Drops of Jupiter
So…I absolutely HATE the band Train – mostly because of the song, ‘Drops of Jupiter’. It’s just so…ew. I don’t even have a good reason for disliking it so much, I just do.
I was tempted to pass up this polish, just because of the name alone…but it was so unique and pretty, that I relented and made peace. This is Fresh Paint “Drops of Jupiter”. It’s a purple and green duotone and it is AMAZING. I wish the green was as obvious in the pic as it is in real life – just trust me, it’s WAY more green in real life.
This is two coats of “Drops of Jupiter” over Glisten & Glow Base Coat and under Glisten & Glow Top Coat.
I did my toes, too. It’s getting cold, though – so no one is likely to see them…
$2.50 Hand Soap
I used to get excited about $2.95 Hand Soap at Bath & Body Works. But it had started happening often enough that I didn’t go every single time…but this past Saturday, I got an email about $2.50 Hand Soaps. And not just the usual collection – ALL Hand Soaps, even the fancy $7.50 ones.
The limit was 15, so I bought 15. I let Lily pick a few for her bathroom and I picked out the rest. I was excited to try some of the new styles – Exfoliating hand soaps, Aromatherapy Collection Hand Soaps, and Honey Butter Collection.
In addition to the $2.50 sale, I had a mailer with a $10 off $30 coupon AND a free body item – I let Lily pick out a Body Wash. My receipt said I saved $90.50 – it sent chills down my spine.