Author: Lara
Farsali Unicorn Essence
Remember that unicorn stuff that everyone was slapping on their face earlier this year? I bought some!
I bought the small size (.34oz) of Farsali Unicorn Essence Skin Enhancing Antioxidant Serum ($20). I noticed the smaller size when I was in the store, but since they were out of stock, I ordered online with my 20% off code.
I’ve been using it as a primer for several days and so far, I haven’t noticed the slightest difference in how my makeup lasts. It has no effect on my pores, but my skin does feel very soft while it’s on. It smells wonderful and the scent lasts all day…if you’re into having a face that smells like cotton candy. I won’t say it’s a horrible product, but it’s certainly not something I’d buy again. It doesn’t seem to do much except make your face smell good. I’d say there’s a reason that this product hasn’t been seen in any Influencers’ repertoires lately. Now that Sephora is carrying the brand, there’s no need to pay the Influencers for placement?
I got some decent samples with my order: Kat Von D Lock-it Makeup Setting Mist; Bvlgari Aqva Pour Homme Atlantigve (it smells like old school Aqua Velva, like my dad used to wear – a big ole NOPE); and Algenist REVEAL Concentrated Color Correcting Drops (you can either add to your makeup product or use directly on your face…hmmmm).
Only $22 to ROUGE…
Target Beauty Box – November 2017
I paid $7 for this.
I’d feel worse about it, but I already used the $3 off coupon from this month’s box…not that I’m bragging or anything. It’s not that it’s a skimpy box, it’s just not quite as packed full as the last couple of boxes.
The big shiny thing in the box is a MISSHA Snail Hydro-Gel Mask. Yes, another product with snail slime in it. I’m not even fazed by this shit anymore. Also in this box: Dove Derma 2-in-1 Shampoo & Conditioner (I don’t have dandruff, but it’s good to have this just in case); Skinfix Ultra Rich Hand Cream (perfect for my purse); Tom’s of Maine Coconut Bar Soap; Maybelline Great Lash Mini Mascara (a staple from high school); and La Roche-Posay Facial Cleanser.
So, $7 box with free shipping and an additional 5% off with my Target Red Card. I already used the $3 off $15 coupon – I bought a mountain of face wash. No regrets.
November Julep Maven Box – Nourish & Flourish
Ooohhh…Julep is adding masks to their repertoire!
Yup, I had to add the Triple Quench Deep Hydration Sheet Mask System to this month’s box. Not just a sheet mask – it also includes an essence ampoule pack for before the mask and a sleeping pack for after the mask. I’m going to wait until the winter chill hits my face hard and BAM! I’m going to moisturize the fuck out of my face.
I also chose Your Cuticles Look Thirsty Fast-Absorbing Cuticle Creme. Not a hand lotion, but a creme just for your nails beds. They’re not kidding, my cuticles sucked it right up. This is so much better than a messy cuticle oil. I also chose Julep It Girl “Dina” – vintage denim shimmer. It absolutely does remind me of a comfy pair of stonewashes.
There’s a single mystery hard candy in this month’s box. No words on it all. I opened the cellophane and it’s BLUE, but there’s no smell. I’m scared.
Not a Julep Maven? Click HERE to join – I’ll get a $15 credit and you’ll get your first box free!
Not What I Intended…
…but pretty nonetheless.
I had seen a trend of turquoise and gold nails lately, so I thought I’d pile on. Julep “Naveena” is not turquoise, it’s more of a teal…but my bedroom is dark and I was in a hurry – so close enough. Even so, teal and gold is pretty, pretty combination. The gold is Julep “Oscar”, a dense gold glitter.
This is two coats of “Naveena” over Julep Oxygen Bonding Base Coat. It’s a bit sheer on it’s own, but the glitter masqueraded my visible nail line. The finishing touch was Glisten & Glow Top Coat.
I need to search my stash for a better turquoise – I want to be a Navajo Princess.
Full Advantage
I didn’t take last Friday off, just so I could go to Sephora…but since I was off…I decided to take full advantage of my 20% off code…and go to Sephora.
In addition to a buttload of Xmas shopping (shhhhhhh!), I picked up Kate Somerville EradiKate Daily Cleanser Acne Treatment ($38) and EradiKate Acne Treatment ($26). I haven’t found anything that compares to this sulfur wash and my deluxe sample is almost empty.
The one mistake I made was my timing. The closest Sephora is across the street from Cinco Ranch High School…and damned if I didn’t show up right as school let out. The whole store was asses to elbows with high school girls…and they were all putting makeup directly on their faces – don’t they know that’s how you get herpes??? Fortunately though, the high school girls weren’t buying anything – no line to check out. As I mentioned earlier, I remembered my Sephora Play! card for 50 extra points and I splurged 100 points on a deluxe sample of Kate Somerville Wrinkle Warrior 2-in-1 Plumping Moisturizer + Serum. I’ve already tried it and it’s fantastic, but I’d be hard pressed to pay $95 for a full size! I also got a sample of Sephora Matte Perfection Powder Foundation in “26 neutral sand – sable” – I hope the shade is a match! Oh, and the Tote Bag – the whole reason I decided to go in person instead of ordering online…
I really did try to get to Rouge on this trip, but I just couldn’t make it happen…only $38 left to go though!
Sephora Play! October 2017 – Complexion Companions
Yeah, yeah, yeah. I know.
Sephora must have heard my complaints last month – fragrance is back. This month’s fragrance is Chanel Gabrielle. It’s an old fashioned scent, reminiscent of Estee Lauder – maybe White Linen or Joy.
The rest of the products in this month’s “Complexion Companions” box are…you guessed it…for your complexion. I am most excited to try Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder – it’s insta-famous. Also included: Becca First Light Priming Filter Instant Complexion Refresh (I think I tried a sample of this before and it broke me out?); Make Up For ever Ultra HD Skin Booster Hydra-Plump Serum, Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Invisible Cover Foundation in R230 (I’m betting it’s too dark, since I use 115 in their Cover Stick); and Cover FX Custom Enhancer Drops in “Moonlight” (Hmmm…).
A very interesting and cohesive box this month.
I am SO proud of myself for remembering to grab the Play! card when I went to Sephora Friday – I got my 50 points!
Do yourself a favor and sign up NOW. 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.
Trixy
Here it is, the last of my Halloween nails…
Julep “Trixy” was the perfect match for my Halloween costume – the Evil Queen from Snow White. I rarely do full costumes anymore – in this case, my whole costume was the crowned wimple, a mini cape and the makeup. Really, the makeup WAS the costume. Oh…and an apple. The apple was key.
“Trixy” is a blackened purple glitter. It’s the sister of “Marlise”. Like Marlise, it a bit gritty, so I topped with Glisten & Glow Top Coat. This is two coats over Julep Oxygen Bonding Base Coat.
Since the glitter is in a clear base, this would look really interesting over a contrasting color. Maybe a yellow?
Bloody Angel
Pretend it isn’t November 1st and that it’s October 31st. Thanks.
Dripping Blood is my favorite Halloween nail art. This year, I decided to mix it up and go with a matte white background. I started with two coats of Sinful Colors “Angelik” after Sinful Colors Base Coat. I painted the drips freehand with Sinful Colors “Undead Red”. Not a bad job, if you ask me. Someday, I’ll get off my ass and use one of my fancy brushes…
This paint job lasted quite a while…well, Friday to Monday.
Only 364 days until Halloween!
I Remembered!
Guys! Guess what! I remembered to use my $3 off coupon from this month’s Target Beauty Box!
I had a nasty, nasty breakout last week, so I went looking for a face wash with sulfur in it. It was a total fail, so I guess I’ll have to break down and pay $38 for EradiKATE. Ugh. Sulfur WORKS THOUGH guys…in the meantime, I went ahead and decided to try Shea Moisture African Black Soap Clarifying Face Wash & Scrub ($9.99). I’ve read good thing about it online, so I thought I’d try it.
I also picked up Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Moist ($2.99), which I got a sample of in a box back in my June box. My son uses it, so I thought I’d try it out – it makes my hair feel like doll hair! It says to use it once a week, but I dunno…it might get used every time I wash my hair.
Oh, and I can’t run out of my Dip-its and cotton rounds – gotta have ’em.
I ordered the November box yesterday…another coupon is coming.
Belly Dancer
Years and years ago – like 1999 – I used to take belly dancing classes. I really enjoyed it, but I changed jobs at one point and started working weekends, so the classes no longer worked with my schedule. I couldn’t imagine taking classes again now – as self conscious as I was about baring my itty bitty belly at 23, I cannot imagine baring my lumpy mama belly now. Pretty sure I sucked really bad, too – the teacher always praised how well I could remember the choreography. I will, however, always cherish the brief moment in time when I was able to roll a quarter up and down my stomach – I really could do it!
My point IS…that my nail polish combination reminds my of gorgeous belly dancer costume. I started with Glisten & Glow Ridge Filling Base Coat and then two coats of Revlon “Chameleon”. I used Nanacoco “Emerald” and Sinful Colors “Twilight Twinkles” on the tips, to bring out the green and gold in “Chameleon”. I finished with Glisten & Glow Top Coat.
Hmmm…I’m gonna go find some quarters.