Author: Lara
February 2023 Glam Bag X – Bailey Sarian
I’ve never heard of Bailey Sarian before receiving this month’s Glam Bag X, but I like her style!
Even though I have approximately 787 makeup bags, I picked up this red snakeskin one. It reminded me of my red phase in the early 2000s, when I drove a red Mercury Cougar and carried a red snakeskin purse, JUST LIKE THIS!
In addition to the red snakeskin bag, I also chose the ĀTHR Beauty Manifest Crystal Palette, which is similar – but not exactly the same as – the Moonlight Crystal Palette I got in my first Glam Bag X. Instead of blues and purples, Manifest Crystal has a warmer, more fiery range of maroon and purple shadows – I love it! I also selected 5 SENS Catch Feelings, a parfum with notes of ruby grapefruit and damask rose – two of my favorite scents, together in an unexpected way. My only complaint is that the fragrance fades superfast on me.
Also in this this month’s box: Drunk Elephant Protini Powerpeptide Resurf Serum (have not tried yet); Georgette Klinger Rose Clarifying Toner (it’s just rose scented witch hazel, definitely not worth $26 – but I will use the heck out of it); Innbeauty Project Face Glaze Highlighting Gel Cream (VERY similar to Keys Soulcare Let Me Glow Illuminating Serum – it is great to use under powder foundation); Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder – Light Catcher in “Celestial Light” (have not tried this yet either); and ThisWorks Evening Detox Face Mask (I love a good clay mask – this one tingles a bit).
A spectacular box this quarter! The confirmation email did not give me a box value, but adding up the individual products is $360 – not bad!
I subscribe to the basic ipsy bag for $13/month and Glam Bag X for an extra $43/quarterly. If you’d like to try Ipsy – click here. I’ll earn 250 points if you sign up through my referral link.
As If…
My nails match my doll!
Okay, not MY doll…my daughter’s doll…but you get the idea…and yes, I realize that it’s NOT a Barbie…but we all make exceptions sometimes.
I just happened to pick up these Color Street Nail Strips in “Breaking Plaid”…and coincidentally, we JUST watched Clueless for the first time about a month ago. (Don’t tell me, I already know I am WEIRD.) Shortly afterwards, Lily was gifted this Rainbow High doll – how could I not go all matchy matchy?
I will admit, I LOATHE the solid color nail strips – they show every single mistake in my application. I totally screwed up the thumb – it ripped right in the center! From now on, I’ll use just the glitter or designs and use regular polish on accent nails…because these nails were an absolute tragedy!
A Weird Little Ulta Haul
Sometimes I order a few random things, then they sit on my counter for weeks, and then I’m like…OH YEAH!
I’ve been skeptical of the viral Brow Stamping Kits all over Tik Tok and Instagram…but Ulta came out with one, so why not try it. The Ulta Eyebrow Stamp and Stencil Kit is just $16, much cheaper than the $40 sets on social media. The set comes with 4 reversible stencils, a stamp and a spoolie. I’ll admit, the results are pretty good – IF the stencil matches your brows. Only one of the stencils works for me…the rest are too thick and make me look like Miss Trunchbull. You also have to get them EVEN. The first time I used the stencil, I thought I looked good – but my daughter was like, “Why are your eyebrows crooked?” Why couldn’t I tell that they were crooked? I won’t give up my Ulta Ultra Slim Brow Pencil in “Dark Brown” ($10), but I had fun with the stamp.
I wanted to try a better shade than the last one I picked out, so I got Urban Decay Vice Lip Bond Glossy Liquid Lipstick in “Unbreakable” while it was 40% off ($16.20, down from $27). This lipstick is fantastic and made it through a whole Italian dinner!
I got to use my birthday $10 off coupon and STILL got a 4 piece MAC gift with $35 makeup purchase, which included MAC Eye Shadow in “Espresso Matte”; MAC Clear Lipglass; and MAC Matte Lipstick in “Chili”, all in a little pink makeup bag.
$972 to Ulta Diamond in 2024.
Blueberry Milk, NOW with Snowflakes!
Remember “Blueberry Milk”? My work trip got rescheduled after that freak ice storm, so I redid the nails I had planned on, with a small added touch…snowflakes!
This is two coats of Nailtopia “Blueberry Milk”, over Glisten & Glow Ridge Filling Base Coat. I topped with Glisten & Glow Top Coat. I did sandwich in a coat of Glisten & Glow Glitter Grabber over the Julep Snowflakes and under the top coat. What did I do before Glitter Grabber? Oh yeah, I just peeled the decals off when they started to lift.
As much as I pay attention to my nails, I know it’s not something that most folks pay attention to, ESPECIALLY not in a male-dominated industry like Telecomm. Imagine my surprise, when one of the Outside Plant guys noticed my snowflakes! I will take that single compliment TO MY GRAVE.
Climaxxx
Such a naughty name for an innocent looking polish.
Sinful Colors “Climaxxx” is a plastic-y, Barbie pink. The first coat was slightly streaky, but the second coat evened out well.
This is two coats of “Climaxxx” over Glisten & Glow Ridge Filling Base Coat and under Glisten & Glow Top Coat.
Smoky Palo Santo
Who doesn’t want their fingers to smell like burning wood?
This is Sinful Colors “Smoky Palo Santo” from the Essenchills Collection. The scent is very, very faint – but they did smell like exotic burning Palo Santo for about 24 hours.
This is two coats of “Smoky Palo Santo” over Glisten & Glow Ridge Filling Base Coat. Without a top coat, the polish started chipping rather quickly, which was a disappointment.
Blueberry Milk
Blueberry Milk sounds…DISGUSTANG!
Even so, I absolutely LOVE this nail polish – Nailtopia “Blueberry Milk”. I was supposed to go on a work trip a few weeks ago and this was the color I chose – it matches the streaks in my hair – but it was canceled due to inclement weather in North Texas. But guess what, bitches? My trip was rescheduled for this week and I am painting my nails tonight. You’ll be seeing “Blueberry Milk” again soon…
This is two coats of “Blueberry Milk” over Glisten & Glow Ridge Filling Base Coat and under Glisten & Glow Top Coat.
Lunar New Year Ulta Haul
The Crème Shop had a cute endcap display of Hello Kitty Lunar New Year stuff, but I passed it by in-store, just to order a bunch online for the kids and I. My son likes Kuromi, so I got Kuromi Fortune Macaron Lip Balm in “Lucky Lychee” ($10 each) for him and I. I got my daughter Hello Kitty Fortune Macaron Lip Balm in “Apple Blossom” ($10) for my daughter. So what if they arrived slightly after Lunar New Year? I’ll save the gift with purchase – a set of 4 lucky red envelopes & stickers – for next year.
I saw an Insta post about how amazing L’Oreal Infallible 24HR Fresh Wear Foundation In A Powder ($15.99) is, so I added to cart. I used Ulta’s Shade Finder to pick “20 Ivory” and it was (shockingly) a perfect match. The Shade Finder on Sephora’s website is shit, but Ulta’s is REALLY good. This foundation has replaced the Clinique I just got as my holy grail powder foundation – it’s smooth and wonderful and reduces redness. We’ll see how it fares when the weather gets hotter, but for now – I love it.
I also grabbed an L.A. Girl Gloss Lip Stain in “Adored” ($5.99) and I love this one, too! I assumed it was similar to the Colourpop gloss stains I was obsessed with last year and the L.A. Girl ones have better staying power AND are cheaper!
Oh yeah, and I got a NARS 4 Piece Beauty Break with my $50 purchase – even though I used a $5 off coupon to drop my total below $50. Inside the gift: NARS High Pigment Longwear Eyeliner in “Via Veneto”; NARS Bronzing Powder in “Laguna”; NARS Lipstick in “Inappropriate Red”; and NARS Climax Mascara. Good stuff!
Just $1,003 to Diamond in 2024.
Winter Rose
Ew. This nail polish is almost the exact color of my skin.
I am not at all against nude nail polish…for other people. It’s too boring for me.
I got Plum Color Affair Nail Polish in “Winter Rose” in January’s ipsy bag. The name of the polish was no where to be found on the bottle OR the box it came in, so I initially assumed the name of the color was “Be Good”, because that’s what it said on the top of the box. Oops. Ipsy’s website told me it’s really named “Winter Rose.”
This is two coats of “Winter Rose” over Glisten & Glow Ridge Filling Base Coat and under Glisten & Glow Top Coat.
January 2023 Ipsy Bag – The Year of You
Keep calm and stroke the furry bag…if you know, you know.
This month’s furry bag is absolutely adorable…but there is NO WAY I could keep it in my huge MOM PURSE. Can you imagine what kind of gunk would end up stuck in the fur? Gum…lip balm…boogers…who knows? I’ll have to keep it safe in my bedroom…
I totally spazzed on product choice this month, so I got whatever ipsy thought I should get. Work, School, Kids is a shitshow, so the only product I’ve tried is the Plum Color Affair Nail Polish in “Winter Rose” (coming soon). Also in this month’s furry purple bag: ĀTHR Beauty Desert Rose Lip and Cheek Oil Stain in “Harmony” (lips maybe…cheeks NEVER); It Cosmetics Hello Results Wrinkle-Reducing Serum-in-Cream; Oryza Nebula Shimmer Eyeshadow Palette; and Polaar Ice Pure Gentle Scrub with Arctic Cotton.
I made sure and did my product choice for February’s Glam Bag X, so I don’t get screwed again!
I subscribe to the basic ipsy bag for $13/month and Glam Bag X for an extra $43/quarterly. If you’d like to try Ipsy – click here. I’ll earn 250 points if you sign up through my referral link.