Author: Lara
October Beauty Box 5 – Think Pink
Oh. Another Breast Cancer Pink-themed Beauty Box. *Groan* Well SHUT MY MOUTH, this Beauty Box 5 “Think Pink” box has some pretty good stuff in it…
Let’s see what we’ve got…a Happy Hands HappyFace Makeup Cleansing Cloth (it’s supposed to remove all your makeup with just water – WHAT?); a Ferro Cosmetics Pink Rhinestone Kabuki Brush (I’m in the market for a new powder brush – this one is SO soft); Styli-Style Perfect Pout Long Lasting Balm Stick in “Playful Pink”; Knotty Hair Ties (this type is so pretty, but they stretch out so easily); and a Nubar Nail Polish Mini in “Pinktober!” (Of course, it’s called that).
I will actually use all this pink stuff – thanks, Beauty Box 5!
Walker Blood
So…my sweet mother-in-law sent me a picture of bloody nails for Halloween inspiration. And then…my friend Angie did bloody nails. I had to try bloody nails!
I started with Sinful Colors Base Coat and a single coat of RUFFIAN “Sahara”, for a nude look. I picked Sinful Colors “Rich in Heart” for the blood. “Rich in Heart” is a deep, shimmery maroon, as opposed to the usual blood red. They look black in the picture, but you can see the red shimmer on the bottle. (I also did “Rich in Heart” on my toes.) I started off using a big dotting tool for the blood drips, but it was taking forever, so by the third nail, I just painted them with the brush – they ended up looking about the same. Next time, I might try with a paint brush to get better curves. To finish, I sealed them with “HK Girl”.
Maybe it was because I was was watching The Walking Dead while I was doing my nails, but I decided that the blood looks like Zombie Walker blood.
Fall 2015 Freeman Beauty Mystery Bag
I guess technically, it isn’t a beauty bag – it comes in a box – no bag to be seen. As of Friday night, it’s still available on their website! $30 and free shipping!
Inside this year’s box: c. Booth Mimosa Honeysuckle Body Souffle (this smells SO good – primarily honeysuckle); Barefoot Exfoliating Polish (works on your whole body); Barefoot Repair! Deodorizing Foot Spray (my feet don’t smell, but good to have on hand, I guess); c. Booth Blackberry In-Bath Body Conditioner (Not only do I need pre-conditioner for my hair, now my whole body needs conditioner?); Freeman Hibiscus Overnight Repair Mask; Freeman Daisy Oxygen Revival Mask; psssst! Volumizing Boost Invisible Texturizing Powder (I don’t understand this product – will have to research further); Freeman Pomegranate Body Wash (smells divine); Vita-K Professional for Crow’s Feet; Vita-K Professional for Dark Circles; and three single use mask packs – Facial Purifying Paper Mask in “Star Fruit”; Facial Lava Clay Mask in “Cinnamon & Moroccan”; and Facial Peeling Mask in “Pumpkin” (more pumpkin!). I also picked 4 free samples masks with my order: Facial Enzyme Mask in “Pineapple” (I’ve tried it before and loved it); Pomegranate Revealing Peel-Off Mask; Facial Exfoliating Scrub in “Pink Grapefruit”; and Chocolate & Strawberry Clay Mask (I am the most excited about this one).
No repeats from last year and no duplicates of any full-size products I have. I can’t wait to start putting masks on!
Target Beauty Box – October 2015
So this month’s Target Beauty Box is interesting – it is all products by L’Oréal Paris. Ooooh la la!
Let’s see what we’ve got…Voluminous Mascara in “Blackest Black” (good thing I gave my Sister-in-Law 3 unopened mascaras a few days ago – I have an unending supply); Advanced Haircare Total Repair 5 Restoring Shampoo (well what conditioner am I gonna use, huh?); Elnett Satin Hairpsray (I think I have one of these from another Target box); Age Perfect Cell Renewal Night Cream (this was listed on the car, but there isn’t a sample of it in my box – just a little sticker to “test” if my skin needs renewal – it doesn’t); Revitalift Volume Filler (single use samples of serum and cream); True Match Shade Strips (this is the coolest thing in the box – stickers to place on your face to find the best foundation match); and Advanced Haircare Ultimate Straight Shampoo, Pre-Conditioner and Conditioner (They done changed the game – now I need pre-conditioner before my conditioner???)
Kind of a weeny box for $5. But the mascara alone is more than $5, plus – there’s a coupon for $5 off $20 of L’Oréal, so… Now if they would just set it up as a subscription, instead of me having to order it each month.
Teal Midnight
Oh Sinful Colors…how I love your bad puns.
This is Sinful Colors “Teal Midnight” from the “Bling it On” Collection. Although it is a HILARIOUS pun, this polish doesn’t look overly teal on my nails. The hue is almost right, but it’s not quite dark enough and a touch too blue. This is just two coats (with Sinful Colors Base Coat and “HK Girl”), but maybe 5 or 6 coats would give a true teal. If I had to name the color, I’d go with aqua.
It’s not that the polish is sheer – it’s a somewhat goopy jelly, with iridescent glitter suspended in the base. It’s smooth though and not at all bumpy. I can’t wait to try the rest of the blingy polishes.
October Ipsy Bag – Alter Ego
Ipsy’s October theme is “Alter Ego”, as in transformation. Everyone likes to transform for Halloween…but I like to transform 365 days a year.
Inside my snazzy black vinyl and gold pleather bag: Eau Thermale Avène Soothing Moisture Mask (yassss); MicaBeauty ipsy EXCLUSIVE Cream Eyeshadow in “Bronze”; AYRES ipsy EXCLUSIVE Pampas Sunrise Hand Cream (mmmm…smells yummy and lemony); theBalm Cosmetics Meet Matt(e) Hughes Long-Lasting Liquid Lipstick in “Committed” (excited about this – texture and color); and Coastal Scents Xpress Line Cosmetic Pencil (It didn’t say what color it is, but I am assuming black.)
No offense, ipsy – but these don’t seem like very transformative products. At least not to me.
If you’d like to try Ipsy – click here. I’ll earn 250 points if you sign up through my link.
Halloween Whopper
So…I broke down and ate one of those Halloween Whoppers from Burger King – you know, the one with the black bun? Turns out, the black bun turns your poop green. Not the muted green after a tasty blue snow cone, or the dark green after a spinach salad – but GREEN – bright green. Of course, Buzzfeed is all over it.
Instead of sending poo pictures to my friends and relatives, I figured that the easiest way to communicate the effect of the Halloween Whopper is through my fingernails. Here is is folks, THIS is the color I was stuck with for two whole DAYS. It’s China Glaze “Four Leaf Clover” and it is MAGNIFICENT. Bask in the glory of my poo color.
I’ve had this polish since before I even started this site. Lily picked it out for me for Christmas one year. It’s almost as if she KNEW. This is two coats over Sinful Colors Base Coat with “HK Girl”. I got a bit of crusties – I need to be more careful. (I mean on my nails, not on my butt.)
October Birchbox – Power Pose
It’s October and you know what that means…PINK. The entire country is drowned in Pepto Bismol pink, a massive marketing event purportedly intended to raise breast cancer awareness, but really designed to sell pink versions of every product possible, from KFC to NFL. I don’t apologize for my cynicism. My mother died of breast cancer a decade ago and I don’t need a pink bucket of chicken breasts to remind me to get MY breasts squished between plexiglass plates on a yearly basis.
In any case, Birchbox offered the choice of two curated Estée Lauder boxes. I picked the “Power Pose” box, which contains Clinique Chubby Stick Moisturizing Lip Colour Balm in “Mega Melon” (is that some kind of ironic joke about breasts?); Clinique Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief; Darphin STIMULSKIN PLUS Multi-Correction Divine Cream; Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Serum Synchronized Complex II; and Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer (I think I have 4 of these now). OH! And an obligatory pink ribbon. Yay.
I know I sound like an asshole – normally, I love the color pink – just not that trademarked Komen pink. One of the organizations that I do admire is The Rose, a local organization that provides Breast Cancer screening and treatment for those who cannot afford it. They are able to do this, not by donations or pink marketing – but by also servicing women (like me) that have insurance and using those funds to support their initiatives. They DO something.
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.
Devilish Lee
Sometimes, two polishes from different brands come together just right…
Julep “Lee”, spitfire red creme, and Sinful Colors “Devil’s Stare”, a red jelly with flakies – were separated at birth. My thumb and index finger have two coats of “Devil’s Stare” and my ring finger and pinky have two coats of “Lee”…but my middle finger has one coat of “Lee” and one coat of “Devil’s Stare”. You can’t even tell the difference between them! I did dots of “Lee” on top of the “Devil’s Stare” on my index finger and vice versa on my ring finger – again, you can’t even see it. A perfect tonal match!
What else did I use? Sinful Colors Base Coat and “HK Girl”, of course.
Matte Lips!
Finally! NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in “Cannes” is mine!
Last week, Ulta had NYX on sale for Buy 2, Get 1 Free, so I went ahead and ordered it. I also got 2 of the new NYX Liquid Suede – “Sandstorm” and “Stone Fox”. I don’t know how the slate gray will look on my lips, but Halloween is coming…
For my samples, I ended up with single use cards of Benefit The POREfessional and tarte Smoother Operator Amazonian Clay Tinted Finishing Powder. They were also running a deal for free shipping with a $1 breast cancer donation…and of course, the usual $3.50 off coupon. I got all this for $12.34!