Author: Lara
Merry Xmas to Me: Part Deux
Ostensibly, I only went to Ulta yesterday to pick up one thing. Zoya recently announced that they are retiring ALL of their Pixie Dusts. Even though they are BOGO on their site right now, I didn’t feel like buying enough ($55) to qualify for free shipping. So I figured I could use my $5 off $10 coupon to make my own BOGO. The only Pixie Dust I really HAD to have was Zoya “Noir” – a black and fuchsia mix.
But then I remembered that my sister has been repeatedly recommending the Freeman Beauty “Black Sugar & Charcoal” Mask/Scrub. Wouldn’t you know that they’re BOGO right now? So I also picked up the “Dead Sea Minerals” Clay Mask. But as I was walking around, I was the Ultra Chi Holiday Display…
I made an executive decision to put my husband out of his misery and complete his Xmas shopping for him. Normally listed at $149.95, the Holiday Ultra Chi Tourmaline Flat Irons were $99.95. With another 20% off coupon, that’s $79.96. I know the holiday irons will go on sale after Xmas for $79.95 anyway, so why not buy it now? I also had a $10 rebate debit card from buying heartworm pills – thanks Dottie!
They even had one that perfectly matches my car! The box says Magenta, but whatever. It also came with a free Rose Gold carrying case. Nice.
I didn’t even bother wrapping it – I brought it to my BFF’s last night and had Loo show me how to use it. I looked like Donna from “That 70s Show”. It made my hair straight, so I guess it worked!
Review – Dr. Jart+ BB Dis-A-Pore Beauty Balm
In a perfect world, I would have enough time to do an in-depth review of every product that comes into my possession. Alas, I work full-time, have two kids…and am fairly fucking lazy. But it’s Xmas vacation and I have the luxury of a little extra time…
My bud Sterin asked for a review of a sample I received in a Sephora shipment – Dr. Jart+ BB Dis-A-Pore Beauty Balm. I received a single use (barely) packet. It retails for $36 (1.7 fl. oz.). According to Sephora, it only comes in one shade – fair to light. Racist much, Dr. Jart?
Application was simple – it was fairly easy to smooth on with my fingers. When I looked at myself in the mirror, I looked like Data from Star Trek: The Next Generation. My face was uniformly the same color (admittedly the purpose of foundation), but it seemed to accentuate my pores instead of hide them. It just looked like I was wearing makeup. Lily had Gymnastics, so I didn’t have time to start over – I figured I could wash my face and start over when we got back, before going to a dinner party that night.
Fast forward several hours. After running errands, doing chores around the house and then fucking around all day, I didn’t feel like redoing my makeup. I just slapped on more powder (Physician’s Formula Mineral Powder is my go-to). I figured my BFF would forgive my for looking like a cyborg as we exchanged Xmas gifts. Then a funny thing happened…she was snapping pictures of our shenanigans all night. When she uploaded the pics to her computer, I was stunned to find that my skin looked absolutely STUNNING and FLAWLESS. Well…I wasn’t expecting that.
So, long story short, this is a product for very white people only. Although you may look like a cyborg in person, it photographs very well and has 12 hour plus staying power. I don’t foresee purchasing this product in the future, but if I get another sample, I may use it if I know a lot of pictures will be taken.
Influenster Vox Box – Frosty Vox Box
I finally qualified for an Influenster Vox Box! That golden moment when you have just the right demographics and the Influenster gods shine down on you and send you box full of fun stuff to test out – complimentary, for testing purposes, of course.
Inside my Frosty Vox Box: Boots No 7 Protect & Perfect Intense Advanced Serum (I had gotten a sample in my Target Beauty Box and used it last night – what a coinkidink); NYC Expert Last Lip Color in “Sugar Plum”; Celestial Seasonings Candy Cane Lane Decaf Green Tea (This will go to Logan); EcoTools Sleek + Shine Finisher Hair Brush (Excited!); Rimmel Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal Eyeliner in “Black” and Gentle Eyes Makeup Remover (Yay! I am almost out of my Ulta Makeup Remover); McCormick Gourmet Thyme (This will go to my husband); and Fruit Vines Bites in “Cherry” (These will go to Lily).
This box has something for everyone! I can’t wait to dig in…
December Birchbox – Decked Out
I would like to say that I’m going to apologize for how behind I am on posting…but nope.
I got my “Decked Out” December Birchbox on Thursday and I am absolutely loving getting to pick a sample each month. This month I chose Vasanti Kajal Extreme Intense Eye Pencil in “Rose Gold”. I wore it yesterday and today. It doesn’t work well over other eye shadows, but today I wore it alone and it looks outstanding – very subtle. I also got Ojon rare blend oil Moisture Therapy; SeaRX Microdermabrasion Face and Body Scrub; Mirenesse Mattfinity Lip Rouge in “8. Sydney”; and another Rusk Dry Texture Spray (got one in my last Allure Beauty Box) and promptly gave it to my other daughter, Loo.
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.
150 Lean Cuisines
150. That’s how many Lean Cuisines I had to eat to get a $25 Sephora Gift Card through their soon-to-be-discontinued Delicious Rewards Program.
It was SO worth it. I was able to add that $25 gift card to the $15 gift card that everyone got in their email to get the Atelier Cologne Miniature Discovery Set that I’ve been lusting over. I only paid $10 for this $50 set and STILL got free shipping!
Each flacon has a quarter ounce of pure perfume. Not cologne, not eau de parfum – the REAL stuff. The 5 included are Orange Sanguine, Cedrat Enivrant (my absolute favorite since receiving in the Birchbox Modern Mermaid Box), Vanille Insensee, Rose Anonyme and Vetiver Fatal.
I love that Sephora actually lets you select your own samples. I got Anthony High Performance Anti-Wrinkle Peptide Serum, Dr. Jart+ BB Dis-A-Pore Beauty Balm and Escada Joyful.
Next time I see you, I will force you to smell me.
Flamingo Bestie Nails
My bestie and I have so much in common…growing up in the same shit town…a deep-seated hatred of the human race in general…a passion for makeup, fingernail polish…and flamingos.
During our last lunchdate at Fuckrudder’s, she presented me with a bottle of Sinful Colors “Unwrap Me” – black and red/pink.whatever glitter. It wasn’t even a Christmas present – it was just because! I decided to try it over 2 coats of Sinful Colors “Forget Now”, which is quickly becoming my go-to pink. The pink/red/whatever glitter is almost exactly the same shade as “Forget Now”, so it catches the light “just so”.
Again, Sinful Colors Base Coat and Sally Hansen Diamond Flash.
As for the metal flamingo ornament, I think I bought it at Target several years ago? It’s huge and I love it…
December Ipsy Bag – Thinking of You
I got my ipsy bag on Saturday, but I’ve been a bit bogged down in boxes…
“Thinking of you” is this month’s theme. The bag itself is everything – I love it. It is getting switched into my purse ASAP.
Inside my bag: Bumble and bumble. Repair Blow Dry; Cailyn Cosmetics Just Mineral Eye Polish in “#5 Orchid” (This is the weirdest product ever – I can’t wait to try it!); Nourish Organic Renewing Eye Cream; NYX Cosmetics Butter Lip Balm in “Parfait”; and tarte deluxe lights, camera, lashes 4-in-1 mascara (because I NEED more mascara).
If you’d like to try Ipsy – click here. I’ll earn 250 points if you sign up through my link.
A Unicorn in Lederhosen
I ended up with this fantastic “Unicorn in Lederhosen” ornament at Chinese Christmas last year…AKA White Elephant for everyone else. (It’s not racist since we ARE Chinese?) Anyway, my cousin Kate knew I would absolutely steal this from anyone who picked it, but I got lucky and picked it first.
This is a glitter gradient with Funky Fingers “Triple Dog Dare Ya” over Nanacoco “Illusionist”. “Illusionist” was a bit thin, so I used two coats. I am in lust with the fuchsia and blue glitters in “Triple Dog Dare Ya”. I need to make it a permanent part of my glitter rotation.
For some odd reason, the tips started chipping immediately – even with the Sinful Colors Base Coat and Sally Hansen Diamond Flash. Next time, I’ll use Orly Bonder with the Nanacoco.
December Beauty Box 5 – Merry & Bright
I got my Beauty Box 5 and Ipsy bag on Saturday, but as you can tell, I’m getting a little backed up in hoard…
This month’s theme is “Merry & Bright”. This is a very odd box. Inside: Jaqua “Pink Champagne” Hand Creme with Meadowfoam Seed Oil (What the fuck is meadowfoam? It kind of smells like diaper ointment…); Absolute! New York Nail Polish Remover Pads in “Lavender” (I tried it last night and after some furious rubbing, I got all the polish and glitter off one nail. There is NO WAY one pad will work on all 10 nails. It’s non-acetone and smells like freshly poured asphalt, NOT lavender); Juice Beauty Stem Cellular Mostiurizer (I’ve heard good things about Juice Beauty – excited); Nanacoco Nail Polish in “Emerald” (So pretty); and Lucky Brand “Lucky Number 6” (a spicy, oriental scent that reminds me of B&BW “Japanese Cherry Blossom”).
No makeup. What????
Zoya Cyber Monday Mystery Bag
I am such a sucker for mystery bags & boxes! Of course, I ordered the Zoya Cyber Monday Mystery Bag – it was only $15.
I received a Mini Color Lock System ($20 value) – I had been wanting to try their base and top coats; Qtica Natural Nail Growth Stimulator ($20 value); Zoya Matte Velvet Red Lipstick ($12 value) – too bad, I already have it; and Mini Trio of polishes ($12 value) – “Willa” (AKA “Black Swan”) – a full-coverage, densely pigmented onyx black cream, “Lael” – a deep, saturated red-toned plum purple with a shiny creme finish, and “Rekha” – a bold medium blood red with a glossy cream finish.
$64 worth of goodies!