Author: Lara
October Birchbox – Behind the Scenes Beauty
…And I’m back to the curated box option this month.
Really, I wanted the Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate. Kiehl’s is really good stuff! I’m also happy to try the Matrix Biolage R.A.W. Uplift Shampoo and Conditioner – matching deluxe samples of each! No foil packs!
Also in this month’s “Behind the Scenes Beauty” box: [comfort zone] Hydramemory Cream Gel and Stila Cosmetics Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner (I feel like I have at least 6 of these).
Quite a good box this month…keep it up, Birchbox!
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.
Marlise
It doesn’t get much Halloweenie-er than this!
Julep “Marlise” is described as luminous borealis glitter, but it just looks black and green to me. When I think of borealis I think of the blue and purples, but there’s usually green in there, too. It’s not the first time that Julep’s descriptions have come from Bizarro World.
I started with Julep Oxygen Bonding Base Coat, and then two coats of “Marlise”. The glitter finish was rough and scratchy – those usually chip quickly. I sealed it with my favorite Glisten & Glow Top Coat, which made it extra shiny. The top coat didn’t entirely smooth the polish – it was still pebbley.
I was impressed by how long this glitter lasted with the top coat – it still looked decent when I took it off.
October Ipsy Bag – Spellbound
This month’s crimson lace makeup bag is absolutely outstanding. Sure, I have more makeup bags than any human being ought to have…but you never know when you’ll need another one.
The first thing I saw in the bag, was the huge Urban Decay package…I got excited, hoping it was the new Troublemaker Mascara (I know, I bitch about too much mascara – but new is new). But no, it was an Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in “Perversion”. I think I have 3 or 4 of these. I don’t even use eyeliner anymore…but I can use this for my Halloween eyebrows? Also in this month’s bag: Nail Medic Charcoal Infused Nail Polish in “Volcanic Ash” (ipsy, why do you send me so much gray nail polish?); tarte deluxe lifted sweatproof mascara (just say NO to waterproof mascara); Hey Honey Trick AND Treat: ACTIVE PROPOLIS CREAM CONCEALER; and TONYMOLY Peach Hand Cream (yummy!).
If you’d like to try Ipsy – click here. I’ll earn 250 points if you sign up through my link.
Red Left Hand
Sometimes, I see a nail look on Instagram that I just have to imitate. This is one I saw on @am1e’s feed. I happened to have all the stuff to make it happen, so I did.
I started with Sinful Colors Base Coat and then two coats of either Sinful Colors “Black on Black” or “No Text Red”. I used Sinful Colors “Devil’s Stare” as accents on my middle and ring fingers. The finishing touch was Zoya Velvet Matte Top Coat.
It turned out REALLY good – I was very proud of myself. I’m almost starting to prefer matte-d glitters to shiny ones. Almost.
Lily was not a fan of the matte finish. She said they felt “weird”. I guess matte nails are an acquired taste.
Smouldrin’ Cauldron
Not this past weekend, but the weekend before, I found myself in a rural Walmart after a family breakfast. While filling my cart with cheap Xmas decorations, I couldn’t resist throwing a few Halloween nail polishes into my basket as well…
This is Pure Ice “Smouldrin’ Cauldron”. It’s a gray jelly, with dark blue glitter and iridescent flakies. This is three thick coats, sandwiched between Glisten & Glow Ridge Filling Base Coat and Glisten & Glow Top Coat. Even with a thick layer of top coat, it was scratchy and jagged – I kept snagging my nails on things.
Yes, these polishes are just $1.98, but they aren’t anywhere near as good as Sinful Colors. They are goopy, take forever to dry and chip quickly. I wore this polish for less than 24 hours before I had to scrub it off. Yuck.
Target Beauty Box – October 2017
So, I went to go use the two coupons I got last month and they had expired the previous weekend. Ugh. So I checked the mail on the way to Target anyway and behold…this month’s box had arrived. I didn’t end up using the coupon though – Target was running a deal with a $5 giftcard with a $20 Beauty purchase – not stackable.
Anyway, what an odd collection of items in this month’s Target Beauty Box – “Cooler Temps”.
The first thing that caught my eye was the Maui Moisture Shea Butter Shampoo. I absolutely HATE getting a shampoo without matching conditioner, but I can use this with some of the hair masques I’ve been collecting. Also in this month’s weird box: Masque BAR Wrinkle-Reducing Mask (yes, please); e.l.f. Wax Brow Pencil (wonder if my husband will let me use this on him?); Neutrogena Nourishing Eye Liner in “Spiced Chocolate”; L’Oreal Extraordinary Hair Clay System (skeptical, but at least I got both shampoo and conditioner pouches); Raw Sugar Lemon Sugar Hand Wash (odd); and Rimmel Matte Liquid Lip Color in “Be My Baby” (rusty peach).
$7 for this box, which feels like a but much for what I got…unless I remember to use my goddamn coupon this month!
Bad Bitch
Sometimes, the right nail polish can make you feel feminine. Or it can make you feel young and playful, even like a kid again. But once in a while, the right combination will make you a bad bitch…
The boss bitch combination is Julep “Laurie” with the silver nail decals I got in this month’s box. Upon my husband’s advice, I didn’t go crazy and add one to every nail, instead choosing to adorn only my “devil nails”. The skull looks amazing. The snake sunk into the polish a bit, but not too badly. Not pictured is the badass spider I added to the middle finger of my left hand. I felt like a newly engaged bride, but instead of sticking my hands in peoples’ face to show off my ring, I was showing off my “devil nails”.
This is Julep Oxygen Bonding Base Coat, two coats of “Laurie”, then Glisten & Glow Top Coat.
I forgot how good the Oxygen Bonding Base Coat is. My nails looked perfect for days and days. Pay no mind to my poor middle finger – the nail bent and broke and I had to chop her.
Everlasting Flash – Super Sonic
Kat Von D…you complete me.
I didn’t agonize for a moment when this month’s Everlasting Flash was released. A new shade of Everlasting Glimmer Veil? Count me in.
“Super Sonic” ($22) is a golden orange shimmer, with a greenish glow. It is magnificent and meshes well with the Saint & Sinner palette. I feel like I could wear it every day.
It’s sold out for now, but I suspect Kat will add to the core collection. Fingers crossed.
For samples, I went all fragrance. I fell in love with Jo Malone Peony & Blush Suede, but I’ll have to take out a second mortgage to afford a full size bottle ($65 for just 1 ounce!). The other two will go to my son – Givenchy Gentlemen Only and Maison Margiela REPLICA At the Barber (smells like Bay Rum – might need to give it to my dad, ugh).
$189 to Rouge…I can do this.
October Julep Maven Box – Trancing in the Moonlight
What does “Trancing in the Monnlight” mean?
I am not a fan of Trance Electronica personally – I find it boring. The nail polishes I picked this month are ANYTHING but boring. I picked Boho Glam “Trixy” – galactic rose glitter, Classic with a Twist “Laurie” – deep crimson shimmer, and Wonder Maven “Marlise” – luminous borealis glitter. I am thinking that I will use “Trixy” with my Halloween costume.
My absolute favorite thing in the box were the silver nail stickers – skulls, snakes and spiders, oh my! I hope they have some left so I can add to next month’s box!
I used Jules to finally restock on Oxygen Bonding Base Coat – YAY!
Oh look, a solitary Lime Tootsie Roll. Thanks, I guess. I’d been bitching about no candy, so I should be happy, right?
Not a Julep Maven? Click HERE to join – I’ll get a $15 credit and you’ll get your first box free!
Pumpkin Spice Everything
It’s that time of year again…Halloween Nails!
I’ve been wearing my “Pumpkin Spice Everything” shirt every chance I get, so I decided that my nails should match. I’m not even that big of a Pumpkin Spice fan, but I have some psychological problem that makes me buy every Pumpkin Spice product that I see. Just this weekend, I bought Pumpkin Spice Cheerios, Pumpkin Spice Pop-Tarts and Pumpkin Spice Nutrigrain Bars. Something is really wrong with me. (Although I did eat the Nutrigrain bar as a snack today and it was fucking delicious.)
I created my own personal Pumpkin Spice on my fingernails. I started with Sinful Colors Base Coat and I borrowed Sinful Colors “Courtney Orange” from my daughter. After two coats of the orange, I did the tips with…wait for it…Sinful Colors “Pumpkin Spice”. I finished with Glisten & Glow Top Coat.
I also did my toes with “Courtney Orange”, but no “Pumpkin Spice”.