Author: Lara
Naked Heat
I’d passed quite a few opportunities over the past month to pick up the newest Urban Decay Naked Heat palette ($54). Both Ulta and Sephora had a few pre-sales, then there was the official online launch. But the stars aligned while I was on vacation…not only had I accrued $53 in Ulta points (my last spend was the Alice Through the Looking Glass palette), but I received a 20% off anything coupon from Ulta….would it work?
Fuck yeah, it worked! But to my delight/dismay, I was now under the $50 shipping threshold. What is there to do, but to also add one of the new Urban Decay Naked Heat Vice Lipsticks in “Scorched” ($17). All told, I paid $4.11 for the palette and the matching lipstick. My samples were good, too – NARS Blush in “Orgasm” and it Cosmetics No. 50 Serum Collagen Veil.
Damn, I’m good.
I waited a bit after receiving to write my review…I wanted a chance to fully try it out and make sure before declaring it the palette of the year. IT’S THE FUCKING PALETTE OF THE YEAR. No joke, I’ve been using this palette every single day since I got it. The rich bronzes, coppers and bronzes blend beautifully and coordinate well together. There’s a full range of shades and finishes. This might be my favorite Naked palette now – so sorry, Naked 3.
$86.66 away from Platinum status for 2018.
Marisol
Julep “Marisol” – golden amber metallic – reminds me of a huge hunk of petrified amber, full of glowing bubble that catch the light.
When I picked my Julep box last month, I had no idea how beautiful this polish would be. I just got lucky, I guess
This is two coats of “Marisol” over Julep Oxygen Bonding Base Coat. The polish is smooth, not bumpy – so I finished with “HK Girl”.
Is it me, or is my index fingernail too long? I feel like it’s too long. I just hate to cut a strong nail that’s not chipping.
Summer Chrome
As fate would have it, Jeffree Star Cosmetic‘s Summer Chrome Collection dropped at almost EXACTLY the same time that my flight to Washington DC was set to land. But I remembered! I had my order placed before our plane reached the gate.
I briefly considered the whole collection, but I knew that I’d never ever wear that Kermit Green color – “Venus Flytrap”. I also didn’t need “You. Better. Work.” since it’s pretty close to Kat Von D “L.U.V.” So I just picked three ($18 each) – “Candyass” – pink gold metallic, “Calabasas” – dark dusty rose, and “Family Jewels” – cool toned milk chocolate matte. “Candyass” is already sold out!
My order was waiting for me in the mailbox when I got home the following Sunday…and per my email, had been sitting in the mailbox, roasting since that Friday. All of the colors look great on me, even if I do say so myself. The formula seems thinner, but that could be due to the mailbox roasting?
I meant to get one of the new Lip Scrubs, but I totally forgot. I see another order in my future though…
Saint or Sinner?
Fragrance is a very personal thing. What smells wonderful on one person, may well smell like a corpse flower once it hits your own skin. The only way to know…is to try it out. I get SO many samples from my boxes, that I have a good chance to try out lots and lots of different fragrances. (Collecting perfume samples is something I’ve been up to since I worked up enough courage to start asking for samples at the Foley’s Makeup Counter while shopping with my mom.)
Sometimes though, you just buy a fragrance – whether based on the brand, the name or even the bottle. Even though I was in the middle of my vacation, I couldn’t pass up the $15 off $50 email…I went ahead and ordered travel sizes of Kat Von D Saint and Sinner at $22 each. I crossed my fingers as I opened Saint to smell it…and promptly spilled it all over my arm. Luckily, I’m a fan of the light vanilla jasmine scent. Sinner is a spicier scent, with cinnamon and patchouli. For some reason, it just doesn’t last on me – I cannot catch a whiff even 10 minutes after putting it on. For me, Saint is the clear winner and I could see buying a larger bottle.
I also ordered Sephora Collection Luster Matte Long-Wear Lip Color in “Rose Luster” ($7, down from $16) to get to $50. It’s a nice matte color, but I didn’t feel like it was very long lasting.
For samples, I ended up with Madame C.J. Walker Beauty Culture Silkening Blow Out Creme (weird), philosophy Purity Made Simple 3-in-1 Cleanser (love this stuff); and Lancome Dual Finish Multi-Tasking Powder & Foundation in One All Day Wear.
Only $432 left til Rouge!
DC Vacay Nails
For one of our longest vacations ever, I needed a nail combination that would last 8-10 days. We would be visiting Washington DC/Virginia and each day would be packed with activities – there would be no nail nights on this vacation. I needed a light neutral color, that would render chips nearly invisible.
I chose Sinful Colors “Glass Pink” for my base color. This is two coats over Sinful Colors Base Coat. It’s very sheer, but gives just enough coverage to mask my severely stained nails. I topped with Sinful Colors “Silver Crush” for extra sparkle. I finished with “HK Girl”.
By the way, I took this pic while waiting for a shuttle at Reagan National Airport…multi-tasking!
So, it’s been about…10 days? Sure, it’s chipped, but still looks pretty darn good. Tomorrow is nail night!
Sephora Play! June 2017 – Your Summer Starters
Oops! I left town without finishing my homework…
Without further ado, here’s June box/bag, “Your Summer Starters”: Benefit The POREfessional (so much of this stuff, but it works); OUAI Rose Hair & Body Oil (smells so good); First Aid Beauty Coconut Skin Smoothie Priming Moisturizer (excited to try); Rich Kid Coconut Oil Gel (ooooh, more coconut); Kat Von D Everlasting Lip Liquid in “K-Dub” (This is SO my color, well…my old car’s color; Also, I used the alias ‘L-Dub’ on another blog years ago); and Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium (nope).
A great box, cannot wait to use more of the products!
I wish I could use the 50 point bonus cards on online orders – I hardly EVER go into the store.
If you haven’t signed up yet, do so 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.
June Ipsy Bag – Volume Up
Ooooh…look at those lips. So why aren’t there any lip products in my bag this month?
Let’s see…I got a Beaute Basics Travel Face Blender in Light Pink; Peek Beauty Multiuse Black Primer (I am scared and intrigued by this product at the same time; how do I end up NOT looking like I got punched in the eye?); PÜR Mini Fully Charged Magenetic Mascara (another scary product – it’s literally supposed to be magnets); Trust Fund Beauty Nail Polish in “What’s a Budget” (sea-foam blue); and Delectable by Cake Beauty Coconut & Cream Triple Moisture Body Lotion.
A fun bag for summer – with a few products I’ll have to get brave enough to try.
If you’d like to try Ipsy – click here. I’ll earn 250 points if you sign up through my link.
Discovery
Formula X “Discovery” is the next polish I grabbed from last week’s haul.
“Discovery” is a peacock blue metallic matte polish. I had high hopes for this polish, but my hopes were shattered as I began applying over Sinful Colors Base Coat. It began drying the moment it hit my nails – too fast! It began streaking and cracking like a shatter polish – oh no! The second coat smoothed out some of the streaks, but there were several deep crevices that would not smooth out. Luckily, the worst ones were on my RIGHT hand.
So I managed to smooth out my nails with 2-3 coats, depending on the streaks. It did indeed dry quickly and was hard as a rock – no sheet imprints, so there’s that. But “Discovery” began chipping immediately. Boo. And then I decided to wash a saucepan. Well fuck, my nails are destroyed now.
The color is amazing, but the formula…not so much. Application is difficult and uneven. It does not have good staying power. I wonder if a different base coat would help?
Jaydra
Plenty of rose, not enough holographic.
Julep “Jaydra” is Tuscan rose sheer holographic, but it’s more Tuscan rose. Don’t get me wrong – it’s a beautiful polish, but the holographic quality is too subtle. I like a little more bling when I go blingy.
This is two coats over Julep Oxygen Bonding Base Coat and under “HK Girl”. It went on smooth and clean, surprising for such a sheer polish. I got full coverage (no VNL) in just two coats.
It’s a good match for the many rosy nude lipsticks I love so much. It was a good match to today’s color – tarte “Festival”.
Semi Annual Soap Hoarding
It’s Semi-Annual Sale Time!
I didn’t feel like getting stabbed, so I took advantage of a “Free shipping on orders over $30” code. (West Oaks Mall is getting scarier and scarier, so I’m trying to limit my exposure). I picked up a few 75% off shower gels in discontinued scents – 2 of my favorite, “Peony” and a “Mad About You”. I also grabbed a 50% off “Rose Champagne”, a new fave from my Mother’s Day gift.
Just 4 Hand Soaps – these were the only ones that were $3. Strangely enough, they were all blue…“Lakeside Afternoon”, “Daisies & Day Dreams”, “Sweet Berries & Cream”, and “First Bloom”. Also, just one Wallflower Refill in “Blushing Pink Rose Petals”.
My order totaled $31.25. Swish, Swish Bish.