Author: Lara
Jewel Orchid
Yesterday, I was feeling rather…purple…so I chose Sonia Kashuk “Jewel Orchid” for my nails and toes. It reminds me of my husband’s bathroom orchids – the vibrant centers of yellow and white orchids.
After Orly Bonder, I did two coats of “Jewel Orchid”. It was smooth formula, but I was shocked that it was a bit streaky after two coats, but nothing too noticeable. I was surprised to find a few bubbles, but “HK Girl” smoothed it out.
Pay no mind to my raggedy ass cuticles. Winter is rough on my skin, er…not that it is really winter here in Texas. I need to push back my cuticles, but I know they will bleed. Ugh.
Ulta Cyber Fundays
The weekend before Thanksgiving/Black Friday, Ulta ran a “Cyber Fundays” promotion with a bunch of stuff on sale, plus a gift with purchase sample bag on orders of $60+, plus $10 off. I decided to knock out some stocking stuffers, plus get a few things for myself. Imagine my surprise when Ulta decided to break my modest order into three different shipments.
The first box was rather piddly – just a travel size Joico K-PAK Deep-Penetrating Reconstructor (my BFF swears by K-PAKs, so I thought I’d give them a try while on sale) and a few stocking stuffers from the 5/$5 Promotion.
The second box was also small – a single lotion stocking stuffer, my variety sampler – Lumene Time Freeze Instant Lift Serum and Burt’s Bees Renewal Intensive Firming Serum – and my gift with purchase…Inside the Berry Glam Beauty Bag: Too Faced Born This Way Foundation with 3 different shades – “Vanilla”, “Light Beige” and “Sand”; Gucci “Bamboo” (not bad, smells like Crystals in Vegas); “Pink Sugar” (too hookery); Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Powder Duo; Pureology Coulour Fanatic Instant Deep-Conditioning Mask; Benefit ThePOREfessional Pro Balm & License to Blot Set; Urban Decay Cosmetics Revolution Lipstick (Card with 4 sample colors); Giorgio Armani “Acqua Di Gio”; Whish Body Butter in “Winterberry” (the last one I got smelled like hot dog water, so I am scared to try this one); It’s a 10 Miracle Leave-In Product (guaranteed in every Ulta sample bag); Ralph Lauren “Romance”; Philosophy Purity Made Simple 3-in-1 Cleanser for Face and Eyes; Ulta Legendary Lengths Lengthening Mascara; Clarins Super Restorative Day; Alterna Haircare Caviar CC Cream (for hair); Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer (I have SO much of this shit); Skyn Iceland Pure Cloud Cream; Nip+Fab Skin Dragon’s Blood Fix Plumping Serum (it couldn’t be worse than the snake venom that nut in Vegas smeared all over my face); and a BUNCH of Ulta coupons.
FINALLY…the third box had the REAL stuff I ordered: John Frieda Liquid Shine Shampoo and Conditioner ($3.74 each!); Joico K-PAK Shampoo (to go with the conditioner); Ulta Rose Gold Palette (been lusting after this FOREVER); Poo-Pourri “Merry Spritzmas” (for my son – at 10, he is starting to get manly shits); eos Holiday Set (also for him), some other stocking stuffers and some nail buffers for ME.
I monitored Ulta’s Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales and it looks like the Cyber Fundays sale was actually the better deal (for me, anyway). They’re still sending different sale emails every day, though…I may not be done ordering yet!
Just a Pit Stop…
If I make my husband drop me by Bath & Body Works on the way to wedding party…does that mean I have a problem? $8.50 three wick candles is a BIG DEAL.
Back when I lived in Dallas – before kids – I used to make my own candles. When we moved, I kept all of my oils and supplies, fully expecting to someday get back to candlemaking when I had more time…then another baby, another house, another excuse. Finally, my oils had rotted through the bottles and we had to trash them. (I bet that was the best smelling load of trash my garbageman ever had.) So until I get the urge to revisit that hobby…I buy candles and wax melts. Not a lot, but enough to have on hand.
That being said, $8.50 is a smoking deal. Regular price is $22.50 – $30.00. I picked up “Beautiful Day”, “Jingle All the Way”, “Japanese Cherry Blossom”, “Twisted Peppermint” and 2 “Pomelo Paradise”. A $15 off $40 coupon made them $6 each. I also had a stackable coupon for a free item, so I got a “White Citrus” Shower Gel.
Even after a stop at Starbucks, we made it right on time for Beth and David’s wedding party. David is my husband’s cousin and I am thrilled to welcome Beth into our (sometimes insane, but always loving) family. She and I bonded a few years ago over our shared love of nail polish – especially Zoya. It was love at first sight!
When we met, I was still rolling around the idea of Beauty Hoard in my head and she really encouraged me to get it started. If there wasn’t a Beth, there probably wouldn’t be a Beauty Hoard, so I owe her a depth of gratitude!
I can’t wait for our next nail party!
Windshield Frost
Even though it’s December, I haven’t seen any frost on my windshield. (Maybe because I live in Texas?) Although I hate scraping it on off, I love the patterns it makes. Julep “Elsa” looks exactly like those frosty patterns that make my mornings HELL.
“Elsa” – snowdrift iridescent stardust – is much thicker than Julep’s usual stardusts. It’s straight up SLUDGE. It was impossible to apply without entirely filling the edges of my nails – every crevice. I must have used a quarter of the bottle putting two coats on my nails (over Julep Oxygen Bonding Base Coat). Luckily, it dried quickly and scraped off easily enough. “Elsa” would look magnificent in an ombre with Julep “Tracy”!
So…I just got a new phone – with a better camera – and I’m playing around with new picture locations and angles. It seems to take more natural looking pictures in my bathroom, which I’m liking. I haven’t taken the selfie test though…THAT’S the real test.
December Julep Maven Box – The All Night Long Collection
For the first time in several months, I had a hard, hard time picking out my December Julep Box – “The All Night Long Collection” is absolutely amazing.
Eventually, I settled on Julep Bombshell “Tish” – silver bell full-coverage microglitter – and Julep Classic with a Twist “Makenna” – gilded lilac glitter. I also used Jules to add Julep it Girl “Elsa” – snowdrift iridescent stardust. Glitter, glitter everywhere and not a drop to drink…wait, that’s not right?
For my beauty product, I decided to try out It’s Whipped Matte Lip Mousse in “Ooh La La” – sepia taupe. I have been nutso over matte lips and have buying every one I can get my hands on…in basically the same color. One of these days, I’ll do a master Lolita dupe post…
Not a Julep Maven? Leave a comment and I’ll send you a referral email good for a free welcome box!
yassss bitch!
So…last Tuesday, an email appeared in my inbox from Sephora – offering a 24 hour window to order the new Urban Decay Gwen Stefani palette before it officially launched on 12/1. I couldn’t risk a sell out, so I graciously ordered it for my husband…I also placed an order for my bestie, since her man is also buying it for her for Xmas. Aren’t I a sweetheart? Now the hard part…I have to let him wrap it and stick it under the tree for three more weeks…
…BUT…at least I can play with the awesome black and gold sample bag I got with my order. Inside: Ole Henriksen 3 Little Wonders; Skin Inc Pure Deepsea Hydrating Mask; Yves Saint Laurent TOUCHE ÉCLAT (another luminizer); Kate Somerville ExfoliKate; Fresh Soy Conditioning Eye Makeup Remover and Soy Face Cleanser; Living Proof Style Extender; Versace Bright Crystal (going straight to my sister – she loves this scent); Sephora Colorful Blush in “No5 Sweet on you!”; Nude Progenius Omega Treatment Rescue Oil; Beauty Blender Liquid blendercleanser (I wonder if it works better than the baby shampoo I usually use?); Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion (I used this for the first time a few weeks ago – it really helps!); and Amazing Cosmetics Amazing Concealer in “Medium Beige” (I think I have some of this somewhere?).
I also got the usual three samples with my order – BITE Beauty Agave Lip Mask in “Champagne”, “Natural” and “Smashed”; REN Clean Skincare Wake Wonderful Night-Time Facial; and Benefit Air Patrol BB Cream Eyelid Primer.
Just $132 left until Rouge…
Oh, Magdalene
Oh, Julep “Magadalene”…you are beautiful beyond compare.
Is there such a thing as “Whore Blue”? No? If there was, it would be Julep “Magdalene” – Blue curacao shimmer. If there was ever a color that was made for toes, it would be Julep “Magdalene”.
Again, I succeeded in applying two coats without bubbles, due to Julep Oxygen Bonding Base Coat. Likewise, no smudges, due to “HK Girl”. THIS COMBINATION WORKS.
BFFsgiving Shopping
I got to see my BFF yesterday! And we went shopping!
So we hit Ulta first…but while we were still in the parking lot, I was finishing up some Sephora orders. I got an email offering a 24 hour window for VIB members to order the Urban Decay Gwen Stefani Palette before it hits stores on 12/1. ADD TO CART! Since that’s what my BFF and I decided our men are getting us both for Xmas, we were kind enough to do their Xmas shopping for them…
Since I placed a huge Ulta order last week with their Cyber Fundays promotion, I didn’t need much – just some Zoya Remove+. I was drawn to the 5/$5 goodies though. I got a few stocking stuffers for my daughter – bobbie pins and lip gloss – and a few for my self – a nail buffer, Ulta Nail Lacquer in “Silver Bells” and my favorite, a little travel makeup brush set.
We also hit Bath & Body Works, but that was a complete bust – nothing really jumped out at us, so we left empty handed.
Next up, Sephora…well, the Sephora inside of JC Penney’s. We didn’t feel quite brave enough to step foot in a mall.
As soon as I saw the Kat Von D Lolita Lip Duo, I knew it would be mine…even though I already have one “Lolita”, I wanted to try “Lolita II”. Just $19.50 for both.
I even remembered to bring in my Play! card for 50 extra points! I just checked my account…I only need to spend $132 to hit Rouge status…can I do it within the next 5 weeks?
Julep Melody
Roy G. Biv lasted SO long – it still looked good, but I wanted a change…
For some reason, I have a preponderance of purples in my unused stash, so I decided to try Julep “Julep” first. “Julep” is their signature color, received as a bonus in my September box. It’s a creme, but I wouldn’t call it a full creme – it’s thinner, almost a jelly. The formula was the best Julep creme I’ve tried. After Julep Oxygen Bonding Base Coat, I did two coats. Not a bubble ANYWHERE. I decided to jazz it up by adding Julep “Melody” – an iridescent, high gloss, glitter top coat – to my thumb and ring finger. It was a freebie in my November box. I finished up with “HK Girl”.
This is an odd polish – it seems like a pastel, but it’s deeper and very wintery. You might notice how short my nails are…I chopped them for my upcoming Black Friday fishing trip…that’s right – probably no Black Friday shopping for me – maybe I’ll be able to get a cell signal off the coast of Louisiana? Shocking, I know…but I have no appetite for those crowds. I know I’m a shopaholic – but those people are NUTS.
Sephora Play! 03 – November 2015
November’s Sephora Play! is “The Exclusives” – products that Sephora says can only be found there…are you sure Sephora? Because I bought a bottle of “Stella” by Stella McCartney at Ulta – but that was last year, so it might be exclusive to Sephora now?
Besides the sample of “Stella”, my box also includes Make Up For Ever Skin Equalizer (which I bought in Vegas a few months ago – great primer); Bite Beauty High Pigment Pencil in “Rhubarb”; Buxom Full-On Lip Cream in “Dolly” (this should go well with the “Rhubarb”); Sephora Collection Contour Eye Pencil 12Hr Wear Waterproof in “My Boyfriend’s Jeans”; and Josie Maran 100% Pure Argan Oil (I have SO MUCH damn Argan Oil now). Another amazing box!
Someday, I’ll actually remember to bring the card for 50 extra points into Sephora – I forgot last time!
Sephora Play is only $10/month. You can get on the wait list at sephora.com/play.