Author: Lara
Hella Clean
Why do I keep buying these ugly-ass nail polishes?
I thought “Skurt Skurt” looked like cat puke…but Sinful Colors “Hella Clean” looks like the cat ate a MAGA flag and puked it up. Why is the glitter in a vaguely skin colored base? And why add the black and white itty-bitty glitter that looks like salt and pepper? I have no answers.
This is two coats of “Hella Clean” over Glisten & Glow Ridge Filling Base Coat and under both Glisten & Glow Glitter Grabber and Glisten & Glow Top Coat.
PEEPS Fruit Punch
I’ve never encountered fruit punch flavored PEEPS…thank GAWD. I hate fruit punch, especially Hawaiian Punch. I have a story about Hawaiian Punch…but on the off chance my high school drama teacher ever reads this (hi, Mrs. Hale), I’ll refrain from sharing the story HERE…
I don’t even like fruit punch colored things…like this nail polish, Sally Hansen Insta-Dri “PEEPS Fruit Punch”. It’s just a touch too orange for me. I’ve gotten over my fear of orange nail polish, but rorange is still hard for me. I’ll pray on it.
This is two coats of “PEEPS Fruit Punch”, over Glisten & Glow Ridge Filling Base Coat and under Glisten & Glow Top Coat.
Sugar Cloud
Sometimes I rip off the clearance sticker – sometimes I don’t. This time, I did not – so I will forever be reminded that I only paid $1 at HEB for Sally Hansen Sugar Shimmer “Sugar Cloud”. Can you believe I bought it 8 years ago?
“Sugar Cloud” is a muted aqua, with a brilliant gold shimmer. The gold shimmer is not quite evident in my crappy phone picture, but it’s there.
This is two coats of “Sugar Cloud” over Glisten & Glow Ridge Filling Base Coat.
Snow White Ulta Haul
I usually splurge a little bit in March, around tax/bonus time…but this year, I may have splurged a lot, buying the whole Disney Snow White x Colourpop Collection ($104). Wait – since I used $125 in Ulta points on my order, does that mean I didn’t splurge at all? All this only cost $12.43, so maybe not a splurge…does that mean I still get to have a splurge?
At first, I was only going to buy the “Thy Magic Spell” Lip Kit ($20) for myself, which is the Evil Queen themed lip set, with Crème Lux Lipstick in “Evil Queen”, Lippie Pencil in “Jealous Much”, and Lux Lip Gloss in “Queen G”. Then I saw the Snow White themed “Love’s First Kiss” set, with Crème Lux Lipstick in “Snow White”, Lippie Pencil in “Such a Beauty”, and Lux Lip Gloss in “Red as Rose” and I wanted to give it to Lily…and then I saw the whole collection, and said FUCK IT, I want it ALL. My only complaint is that the full collection did not come in a nice promo box, like the Malibu Barbie Collection – but maybe that’s because I got it directly from Colourpop? Whatever, like I need more boxes…Also in the collection: “Dreams Come True” Pressed Powder Palette, Super Shock Blush in “Fair Enough”, Super Shock Blush in “I Wish I Wish”, Super Shock Blush in “Just Rosy”, and “Just One Bite” Lippie Scrub. Surprisingly, my favorite part of the collection is the blushes – they have a springy, almost gel-like texture.
I got the L’Oreal Detox & Brighten Clay Mask ($12.99) because I really liked that line of cleansers…I was disappointed to find that this mask does NOT smell like the cleanser I loved so much. It smells like…well…dirt. The jar was half empty, too – I’ll be lucky to get three uses out of it! It’s probably old stock from the original line – six years ago!
My purse needed a replacement buffer, so I got another Flowery Blue Max 4-Way Buffing Block ($2.99) – these are my favorite.
I have been enjoying the Ulta Weightless Water Lip Stain in “Very Berry”, so I ordered “Mango Dreams” ($10) and “Pink Popsicle” ($10), too. I need to order “Cherry Pie” to get the whole set…or steal the one I stuck in Lily’s Xmas stocking. I paid full price, so I could get an Ulta free 10 piece gift. Inside the bright yellow makeup bag: Poreless Face Primer; Tinted Eye Primer in “Champagne”; Lip Gloss in “Velvet Mauve”; Lip Oil in “Peach” (hands down, the best product for removing longwear lipstick); Maximum Lashes Mascara, 2 Eye Shadow Quads, an eye shadow brush and a makeup sponge.
Speaking of freebies, I was supposed to get 3 more gifts with purchase for National Lash Day, but the initial Lash Day Sampler Pack with $65 purchase went out of stock before my box was packed. Whatever, it was a bunch of fake lashes, anyway. I still got the 6 Piece Lash Day Step-Up Sampler with $85 purchase, which included Clinique High Impact Mascara; Benefit Bad Girl Bang Mascara; KISS Lash Purify Eye Makeup Remover and Lash Cleanser; Grande Lash-MD Lash Enhancing Serum; e.l.f. Big Mood Mascara, and a little Tweezerman Mascara Guard. Time to throw away all my current mascara and switch to new tubes! I also got an 8 Piece Makeup Obsession Sampler with $60 purchase, which included a L’Oreal Blend Artist Foundation Sponge, a Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge; Ulta Juice Infused Lip Oil in “Red Apple”; a Morphe Oval Shadow Brush; Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Color in “Rosegold”; Pro.Conceal White Concealer; Smashbox Photo Finish Illuminate Glow Primer; and Milani Cheek Kiss Liquid Blush in “Nude Flush”.
That’s right…all this for $12.43 and a $3.50 off $15 coupon. And I still have $80 in Ulta points!
$963 to Diamond in 2024.
Was It All Just a Dream?
…no really, that’s the name of the polish.
This is OPI “Was It All Just a Dream?”, from their 2018 Grease Collection. I am OBSESSED with the color aqua right now – my living room, my blankets, even my favorite cup…all aqua. This aqua crème polish is a perfect match!
Even though the polish is kind of old and separating in the bottle, it went on my nails just fine. The first coat was streaky, but a second coat fixed it right up. This is two coats of “Was It All Just a Dream?” over Glisten & Glow Ridge Filling Base Coat and under Glisten & Glow Top Coat.
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.