Author: Lara
Hair Vacuum
That’s right…I bought a fucking vacuum for my hair. I FINALLY bought the Dyson Airwrap Complete Styler ($549.99). I’d been watching and waiting for it to come back in stock and I finally snagged it!
Owning a Dyson vacuum, I was skeptical about their foray into hair products…until my stylist used one on my hair. I used to DREAD blowouts – they take SO long and I get so HOT. That’s not even a thing anymore with Dyson. I mean…the dryer is still hot, but not nearly as hot as a regular hair dryer. The Airwrap itself is barely hot at all! It just sucks your hair around the rod and BOOM! Waves for days. Even the drying brushes are better than my trusty Revlon One-Step – the previous gold standard for at-home blowouts.
I’ve only been able to use the tools a few times…my children have used it more than I have! Regular styling tools have been useless on my daughter’s super-fine hair, but the Dyson tools handle it just fine. My son played around and put waves in his hair, making him look like the offspring of Gilderoy Lockhart and Severus Snape. Highly recommend!
All in all, I don’t regret my purchase at all…but maybe that’s because I was able to apply $250 in Ulta points towards my purchase. Don’t get me wrong, $299.99 still hurts, but it’s not quite as bad. I actually had $378 in Ulta points saved up, but Ulta limits redemptions to $250 a pop. Oh well, I guess I get to shop more.
Oh! I also received a free Brow Sampler with my purchase. The sampler included: Ulta Ultra Slim Brow Pencil in “Medium Brown” (just one tic lighter than my usual “Dark Brown”, but let’s give it a shot); Revolution Makeup Soap Styler (I don’t think I have fluffy enough brows to even try this); Anastasia Dip Brow Gel in “Medium Brown” (interesting); It Cosmetics Brow Power in “Medium Brown”; NYX Micro Brow Pencil in “Espresso” (now we’re talking); Too Faced Brow Wig in “Dark Brown” (Brush on hair? I feel like I will mess this up!); and Benefit Precisely, My Brow Pencil in “Medium Brown”. I kind of wish there was more consistency in the shades of this sampler, but I should be able to use about half of the samples!
Just $804 to Diamond in 2023!
February 2022 Sucreabeille Mini Subscription Bag
February feels so long ago…but I’ve been super busy with work, school, kids and being exhausted all the time…but it’s Spring Break, bitches. Since I’m back in school – Graduate School – this is my first REAL Spring Break since…1998? You better believe that I am taking the whole week off.
February’s unreleased scent is called “Sleep Paralysis” and holy shit…it smells like cookies and…well, poop. Underneath the somewhat Snickerdoodle-like initial sniff, there’s an underlying scent of indolic poo. I kinda dig it.
Like January’s bag, February’s bag also included a scent I’ve already tried – “Black Honey” – but I’m not even mad, because I love it. It just happens to be my scent of the day today. Also in this month’s bag: “Water Witch” (a musky, mermaid-y scent…but I like “Sea Hag” better); “Don’t Be a Lady, Be a Legend” (their site says the main note is raspberry lambic, but it’s been decades since I’ve drank it, so I’ll take their word on it); “100% That Bitch” (ooooh, cotton candy!); and “Bleeding Heart” (strawberries in champagne, I love this one).
I would wear every single one of the scents this month, but if I had to pick a favorite…I’m torn between “Black Honey” and “Bleeding Heart”.
I subscribe to the Mini Subscription Bag at just $15/month (shipping is extra), but there’s also a Medium Subscription Bag for $40/month and a Full Size Subscription Bag for $70/month. Click here for a $5 off coupon (for you AND me)!
Extra AF
Why yes, I AM “extra AF,” why do you ask?
Sinful Colors “Extra AF” is a sheer shimmer neon from 2019’s Neon Collection. Have I really been sleeping on this polish almost three years? I specifically went looking for a sheer yellow polish, because not only are my tips a bit stained from several weeks worth of dark polishes, but I wanted to show off my freshly cut nails. Sheer polishes look like ass on unevenly trimmed nails!
This is two coats of “Extra AF” over Glisten & Glow Ridge Filling Base Coat. The polish has a demi-matte finish, so I decided to go au naturel – NO top coat. The first few days went well, but by day 5, large chunks were flaking off my nails…I HATE when that happens.
February Glam Bag X – Addison Rae
I’m sorry to be so late posting about my February Glam Bag X, but ipsy did not include one of my items in the original shipment (the black croc bag, which was one of my selections). I contacted ipsy Care and they were very helpful in getting the bag out to me – it took about a week. It is a lot smaller than I expected, but isn’t that ALWAYS how it is?
This quarter’s curator is Addison Rae. Her name sounds vaguely familiar to me, but I admit – I had to google her. She’s this super famous TikTok-er? Is that the correct term – TikTok-er? I get on TikTok occasionally to watch videos my kids send me – I’ve even made a few videos – but I’ve never been subjected to Addison Rae content. My kids are teenagers and they say she is “cringe”.
My other product choices (besides the black crock makeup bag that I obviously don’t need because I have over 5+ years worth of ipsy bags) were Quay Australia High Key Mini Sunglasses in “Black/Smoke” and Keys Soulcare Harmony Mask. I plan on trying the mask on Sunday.
Also in my Glam Bag X: Tula Skincare 24/7 Moisture Hydrating Day & Night Cream (I just finished a sample that I received recently – I am excited to get a full size jar); Anastasia Beverly Hills Clear Brow Gel (I will literally NEVER use this); Aceology Multi-Vitamin Brightening Biodegradable Masks; Pat McGrath Labs Lust: Gloss in “Love Potion” and First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Niacinamide Dark Spot Serum.
I find it interesting that someone so young (21) is pushing skin products for us older ladies…but I’m not complaining! I’d much rather have high end skincare than fake tanner or false eyelashes or whatever else these young whippersnappers are into.
I subscribe to the basic ipsy bag for $12/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.
Brainchild
Not bad, for a five year old (or more) nail polish.
I had to shake the FUCK out of Formula X “Brainchild” before using it, and if you look closely at the bottle in the picture, it’s still not entirely mixed together. The polish was usable and not too thick – it applied perfectly.
This is two coats of the lovely deep eggplant “Brainchild” over Glisten & Glow Ridge Filling Base Coat and under Glisten & Glow Top Coat. Except for the pinkie, of course…my special matte pinkie got Glisten & Glow Matte Top Coat.
I really wish Sephora hadn’t discontinued Formula X – these are really good polishes!
Shine, Honey
I’ve been BAMBOOZLED!
Bamboozled…buffaloed…tricked. Sinful Colors Power Paint “Shine, Honey” is a DUPE of Sinful Colors Sinful Shine “Shine Annie”. Click the link and compare…exactly THE SAME.
Even so, I probably would’ve bought the polish anyway. I’m a hoarder, that’s what I do.
This is two coats of “Shine, Honey” over Glisten & Glow Ridge Filling Base Coat and under Glisten & Glow Top Coat.
Power Paint
Guess what? There’s a new Sinful Colors Collection! Well…kind of new.
I expected to find the new Power Paint polishes in a cute display on an endcap, but I was shocked to find them on the aisle, right where the Sinful Shine polishes should be…where did the Sinful Shine polishes go? It seems like this is not exactly a “new” collection, but a rename of the Sinful Shine polishes…these colors look VERY familiar….hmmmm…
Eh, HEB had BOGO 50% off coupons, so I went ahead and bought just 4 of the 15 rebranded polishes. Left to right, I picked up “24K Drips”, “Cari-BAE-n”, “Diamonds on my Neck”, and “Shine, Honey”. I hope they are not exact duplicates of polishes I already have!
Iced Petit Four
I LOVE petit fours, but I’ve never had a periwinkle petit four.
This is Sinful Colors “Iced Petit Four”. This is two coats over Glisten & Glow Ridge Filling Base Coat. No top coat…except for my pinky nails. I topped with Glisten & Glow Top Coat. I like it glossy, too!
I really like the matte, yet shimmery finish. I felt a little bit like Elsa…Which Confection Crush should I try next?
It’s So Grape
No need to adjust your screen, this polish is more gray than grape.
Sinful Colors “It’s So Grape” is another one of the Confection Crush “Sweet & Sugary” polishes. I mean…it DOES look like a grape gum drop…that rolled under my couch and moldered for a year. I don’t care, it’s still cute!
This is two coats over Glisten & Glow Ridge Filling Base Coat.
Birthday Haircut
Okay, technically, I got my hair cut the day AFTER my birthday, but I say it still counts as a “birthday haircut.”
Although my hair DID need a cut, the real reason I went to Ulta was to use my Ulta Diamond coupons, which were due to expire on February 9th. That’s a ridiculously short period of time to use these valuable coupons…so I got my butt in there to get $25 off Salon Services and a free bottle of Clinique Beyond Perfecting Foundation + Concealer in “0.5 Breeze”. Of course, my skin is so dry and flaky this winter that I haven’t DARED trying it. Soon.
After getting my hairs did and my skin matched, I went down every single aisle. Somehow, I didn’t go nuts. I found 2 Schmidt’s “Rose + Black Pepper” Natural Deodorant, one for me and one for Lily. They were on clearance, $4.99, down from $9.99. I came across a Revlon x Barbie Nail Tool Set ($7.99). I wanted to try the Colourpop Fresh Kiss Lip Creme, so I tried “Alt Rock” ($8.00). I thought it would be a dupe for KVD “Lolita”, but it’s more fuchsia. The texture is soft and it didn’t crack my lips, but it did get on everything.
I initially thought that this year’s Birthday Gift was lame – a Deluxe Sample of tarte Lash Smoothie Hemp Mascara, but I tried it and I actually like it. Who knew? I also used my $10 off birthday coupon.
$1,103.77 to Diamond in 2023.