Author: Lara
Sephora Play! May 2017 – The Rising Stars
Oh Sephora, you are full of surprises. No flamingos, but surprises.
Instead of a drawstring bag, they included a clear plastic snap pouch this month. I have no idea what I’m going to do with it. Maybe I can throw it in my pool bag?
I’m most excited to try the sample of belif Hungarian Water Essence – I’m a big fan of their Aqua Bomb. Also in this month’s box: rahua Omega 9 Hair Mask; Tatcha Pure One Step Camellia Cleansing Oil (I’m not sold on cleansing oils); tre’StiQue Mini Highlight Stick in “Maldives Luminescent”; Nudestix Magnetic Matte Lip Color in “GreyStone”; and Tocca “Stella” (blood orange and lily – I’d actually wear this one!).
Not sure about all the sticks this month, but the scent makes up for it.
If you haven’t signed up yet, you’re crazy. 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.
May Ipsy Bag – Summer Friday
Ooooooooh! More pink flamingos!
First off, you know I have those same glitter flamingo sunglasses – I bought them at Party City. I’ve never thought about putting them on a pineapple though.
…And then I saw the flamingo on Jelly Pong Pong Supercharged Super Intense Eyeshadow Duo in “Electric” (Yes, I get excited about a random brand of eye shadow just because there is a flamingo on the packaging). Also in this month’s super cute, clear, ice cream-covered bag: Urban Decay Cosmetics Afterglow 8-Hour Highlighter in “Sin” (never tried their highlighters before); Pixi by Petra Endless Silky Eye Pen in “BlackNoir”; Hey Honey Besame Mucho Lip Balm; and Luxie Beauty Luxie Dreamcatcher Precision Foundation Brush 660 (not a big fan of foundation brushes, but I’ll give it a spin).
Ipsy is getting their groove back!
If you’d like to try Ipsy – click here. I’ll earn 250 points if you sign up through my link.
Garmonbozia
“Bob, I want all my Garmonbozia.”
As I sit here waiting (just a few minutes now) for the return of Twin Peaks, I figured I’d share my Garmonbozia with you.
Garmonbozia is pain and suffering, but is also represented by creamed corn. How do you make your nails look like creamed corn? And why would you? I figured I could just go for a “wet” look. I started with Sinful Colors Base Coat and two coats of Sinful Colors “Bye Felicia”. I topped with Zoya “Monet” and “HK Girl”.
I didn’t think I could stand the yellow nails, but they are kind of growing on me.
May Birchbox – Low Effort High Impact
Pink Flamingos!
For real, the first thing I noticed in this month’s Birchbox was The Beauty Crop Fabulous Flocking Lashes Mascara. SO cute.
Also in this month’s “Low Effort High Impact” box: CLEAN Reserve Rain Reserve Blend Eau de Parfum (it actually DOES smell like rain); COOLA Mineral SPF 30 Daydream Makeup Primer (love me some COOLA); PARLOR by Jeff Chastain Moisturizing Sea Salt Spray; and Vita Liberata Fabulous Self Tanning Gradual Lotion (NOPE).
I totally spaced and didn’t click on the sample choice email for April. Oops, I get what I get and I don’t have a fit. Not a bad box, except for the self tanner.
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.
Green Formica Table
Twin Peaks is so close I can taste it…so you’re gonna have to put up with a bunch of Twin Peaks-themed manicures.
I’ve been thinking about “Green Formica Table” for ages and ages. (Or technically, “This is a formica table. Green is its colors.) Going off of memory, this is how I remember the green formica table and I was too lazy to watch Fire Walk With Me again…or google it. I think I did pretty well.
I started with Sinful Colors Base Coat and two coats of Sinful Colors “Happy Ending”. I topped with a single coat of Hare Polish “The Owls are Not What They Seem” and then finished with Zoya Matte Velvet Top Coat.
If you’re familiar with “Happy Ending”, it’s a bright kelly green. The jelly brown in “Owls” darkened it up just enough to make it look like aged plastic, plus the matte-ed glitter made it perfect.
Just two more days until Agent Cooper returns…isn’t it too dreamy?
My Kids Won Mother’s Day
I’m sure your kids are awesome and all…but my kids won Mother’s Day.
They (and the husband) straight up snatched my Bath & Body Works coupons from the mail pile and went to town. The big gift was the exclusive Mother’s Day Tote, which came with “Blushing Pink Rose Petals” 3-Wick Candle (already lit and in my boudoir); “At the Beach” Ultra Shea Body Cream; “Vanilla Flower” Hand Soap with Olive Oil; “Warm Vanilla Sugar” Bath Fizzy; “Heart of Gold (Berry Sweet)” Hand Cream; “Heart of Gold (Berry Sweet)” PocketBac and a Glittering PocketBac Holder.
Not only did I get the exclusive Mother’s Day Tote, but they also took advantage of the B3G3 sale and got me Shower Gel, Lotion and Spray in “Rose Champagne” (from the new French Collection) and “Magic in the Air”. They did good – I don’t have either of those new scents, but they are exactly what I would have picked myself. There was also a travel size “Pink Cashmere” Lotion. Weird.
I smell even better than normal now AND I got some really nice hand-drawn cards. I won children-making.
Target Beauty Box – May 2017
$10 for this month’s Target Beauty Box for Mother’s Day? That’s outrageous!
Considering what’s in this month’s box…it’s not outrageous at all. Just the wet n wild Megalast Liquid Catsuit Lipstick in “Nice to Fuchsia” is $4.99.
Also in this month’s box: Nexxus Therappe Shampoo and Humectress Conditioner (oh, back in the good old days when my mom would splurge on Humectress and I would “borrow” it); Acure Pore-Minimizing Red Clay Mask (I LOVE CLAY); Nubian Heritage Bath Bombs (again, no bath tub); Vichy Pore-Purifying Clay Mask (MORE CLAY BITCHES); Nexxus Vitali 8-in-1 Masque (Fancy and spelled with a ‘que’); Guess Dare; and Soap & Glory Flake Away Body Polish.
So, $10 for the box, free shipping and 5% off with my Red Card AND another coupon for $3 off $15 beauty purchase (I didn’t use the 2 I got last month).
Channon?
Whoa there Julep, you can’t be running out of polish names yet, can you?
They must be scraping the bottom of the barrel, because when I googled “Channon”, all I got was a porn star named Channon Rose. Never heard of her before, but that lucky girl has her own polish now.
Julep “Channon” is a water lily white matte shimmer. Sometimes water lilies have a hint of pink, so I guess that’s what they mean. I just did two coats over Julep Oxygen Bonding Base Coat. Julep’s matte formula is great – not streaky and very quick drying. It’s very similar to Sinful Colors’ formula, maybe even a teensy bit better.
If Julep is indeed plumbing the depths of porn star names, I am looking forward to seeing Julep Chasey, Traci & Tera. Oooohhh, I already have Julep “Jenna”!
May Julep Maven Box – Sun Crush
Oooohhh, matte shimmers!
That’s right, the May Collection – “Sun Crush” – is completely matte shimmers…and I could only pick two, because I had to finally get my hands on No Excuses Invisible Sunscreen Gel. I was supposed to get it in my August 2016 box, but there was an issue with the formula…but it’s available now – and just in time for my summer fun.
For polishes, I chose It Girl “Channon” – water lily white matte shimmer – and Classic with a Twist “Marina” – royal raspberry matte shimmer. I wanted them all and I might just switch them into future boxes.
The candy is back…and it was a tiny pouch of Sixlets. Boo.
Not a Julep Maven? Click HERE to join – I’ll get a $15 credit and you’ll get your first box free!
Murder House
HOW on earth did I forget about Delush Polish “Murder House”?
I was looking for a perfect black, red and white polish for Texas Frightmare Weekend and went digging…I came across “Murder House” and it was perfect. I checked the site just for fun and I found NO record of ever trying it. Wha? I got the whole Scream Supreme Collection nearly three years ago!
I started with Sinful Colors Base Coat and did two quick coats. The first coat was thin and streaky, but it only took one more coat to get 100% full coverage. (I forgot how GOOD Delush polishes are.) I finished with “HK Girl”.
I thought it would be a bitch to get off, but it really wasn’t that bad with this particular top coat. Go Sinful!