Author: Lara
Double Semi Annual
I hit this summer’s Semi Annual Sale twice, so I figured I might as well cover them at the same time.
My first trip was the first week of the sale, at my closest location. Right as you walk in, there is a huge display of 75% off items. I got back-up Body Creams in “Kaleidoscope” and “Chocolate Covered Cherry”, as well as trying out a few new scents. I got Shower Gel/Body Cream combos of two scents from the Aromatherapy line: “Sunrise Yoga” and “Hot Spring Spa”. They both smell amazing and quite different than the floral/sweet scents filling up my shower. I finished off my haul with a few 75% off Hand Soaps and $3.50 Wallflower refills. After using my $10 off $40 mailer, I ended up spending $39, but according to my receipt, I saved $122!
My second haul from a different location was quite small. I got Lily a 75% off “Cherry Limeade” Body Spray/Lotion combo and a 75% off “Capri” Shower Gel for the husband. This location had bath poofs, so I stocked up! I spent $21 here, but only saved $32.
Neutrogena Ulta Haul
I usually have enough free samples of sunscreen to keep me going, but with my son’s Summer Band practice and my upcoming vacation trips, I took advantage of a Neutrogena B2G1 Free deal. I got Neutrogena Clear Face Oil-Free Sunscreen SPF 50 ($15.99) for him, while I picked Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel Lotion Sunscreen SPF 50 ($15.99) and Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen SPF 100+ ($14.99, but FREE with offer). On top of the sale, I also got a free Cherry Cooler Bag with a $25 brand purchase – I’ll bring that on vacation, too!
I’ve been obsessed with Lilac lately, and wanted a lilac heavy perfume. Instead of trial and error, I went with straight lilac in Pacifica Beauty French Lilac Spray Perfume ($22). It’s very nice, although a bit powdery smelling.
Rounding out my order, I added a few EcoTools bath poofs (Bath & Body Works had been out, so I’ll settle for EcoTools) and Exfoliating Cotton Pads.
My $65 order netted me a very nice 13 piece sample bag with basd Refreshing Body Lotion in “Citrus Grapefruit”; Clinique Moisture Surge 100H Auto-Replenishing Hydrator; Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Cleansing Gel; Keys Soulcare Skin Transformation Cream (ohh, this is Alicia Keys’ new brand); oSea Undaria Algae Body Oil (um, what?); dermalogica Sound Sleep Cocoon Transformative Night Gel-Cream; Rusk Puremix Native Fig Replenishing Shampoo & Conditioner; Cetaphil Sheer Hydration Replenishing Body Lotion; CeraVe Hydrating Cream-to-Foam Cleanser; Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair (yasssss – good stuff); COOLA Refreshing Water Cream Sunscreen SPF 50; and Tula Skincare 24-7 Moisture Hydrating Day & Night Cream. Is it me, or are “transformation” and “replenishing” getting totally over-used now?
I love that Ulta still gives you the gift with purchase, even if you use a coupon. My original total was $65.94, but I still got my goodies after using that $3.50 off $15 coupon.
Nails on Fleek
Do the kids still say “on fleek”?
No?
Then why is this nail polish called Nailtopia “Nails on Fleek”?
Sigh. I am fine with being deeply uncool, because this sheer turquoise shimmer is BEAUTIFUL. As with most sheer polishes, the polish shrank from the edges quite a bit, giving the illusion of a week-old manicure on the very next day. Other than that, this polish is fantastic.
This is two coats of “Nails On Fleek” over Glisten & Glow Ridge Filling Base Coat and under Glisten & Glow Top Coat.
Megababe Ulta Haul
Get ready for post after post of Ulta Hauls – they keep having great sales on stuff I need!
I was attracted to one of the Wednesday Beauty Breaks a few weeks ago – it was a 4 piece sampler from Megababe with $50 purchase! I’d been dying to try Megababe Rosy Pits Daily Deodorant, but it’s always sold out. I got a deluxe sample of Rosy Pits, as well as Thigh Rescue Anti-Friction Stick, Squeaky Clean Hand Sanitizer, and Space Bar Detoxifying Charcoal Underarm Bar.
Ulta happened to be having some great sales on body products, so I picked up Megababe Chest-o Presto Clarifying Body Acne Mist ($18 – my son has not had overwhelming results with Pacifica Bacne Warrior, so I am trying this one out on myself and so far, it seems to be helping with the breakouts on my chest and back), Ulta Super Soothe Gentle Daily Cleanser ($10 – very cucumber-y scent), and Tweezerman Rose Gold Slant Tweezers ($20.70, down from $23 – my daughter wanted tweezers, so I gave her my old ones) for myself. I got Ulta Sunless Tanner Facing Mousse ($1.29, down from $3.24) for the boy child – I maybe regret buying him the Self Tanner. I got eos Shea Better Shaving Cream ($1.99, down from $3.99) for the girl child. I was able to use the usual $3.50 off $15 coupon.
My order also came with a 27 piece Beauty Sample Bag (free with $35 purchase): Australian Glow Facial Bronzing Mist with Rosewater (although I love rosewater, the boy will be getting this one); wet n wild PrimeFocus Primer Serum (I have one of these on my sink right now); Buxom Wanderlust Primer-Infused Blush Sample Card; Tan-Luxe Super Glow Hyaluronic Self-Tan Serum (again, to the boy); Weleda Skin Food; Crepe Erase Body Smoothing Pre-Treatment (just like the Infomercial!); Yves Saint Laurent Mon Paris; Skyn Iceland Arctic Elixir; Urban Decay Primer Potion; Hempz Pink Pomelo & Himalayan Sea Salt Herbal Body Salt Scrub; Hey Honey Sweet Treat Wild Berry & Honey Yogurt Recovery Mask (the tube is jacked up – pretty sure it is empty); it Cosmetics Confidence in an Eye Cream (I think I have two of these already); Indie Lee Squalane Facial Oil; Curlsmith Hold Me Softly Style Balm (going to the boy); Alterna My Hair My Canvas Cool Hydrations Nourishing Masque; NatureLab.Tokyo Perfect Smooth Shampoo & Conditioner; The Route The Party Peel Golden Illuminizing Peel; John Frieda Frizz Ease Leave-In Conditioner; Nioxin Scalp Relief Cleanser, Conditioner & Soothing Serum; Banila Co Miss Flower & Mr. Honey Propolis Rejuvenating Ampoule; Estee Lauder Beautiful Magnolia (intriguing scent, I have a bottle of the original Beautiful and this one is very similar); NudeStix Lip Glace; Barefoot Scientist High Dive Hydration Cream (I NEED this for my dry ass feet); Lancome Hydra Zen Gel-Creme; Peter Thomas Roth Cucumber Gel Mask; Smashbox Photo Finish Oil & Shine Control Primer; and Ursa Major Golden Hour Recovery Cream. What a great batch of samples!
I’ve got three more orders to review after this, so I’ll post my spend to Diamond Status after the last one.
June 2021 Ipsy Bag – Do You
There can be only one…and that one is ipsy!
That’s right, after over seven years of reviews, nearly a dozen different subscriptions and literally thousands of products sampled, I’ve come to the conclusion that ipsy is the absolute BEST beauty subscription service out there. Some subscriptions were better – Sephora Play! – but died an early death. So that’s it – I’m down to one regular subscription…but I’m still keeping my eye out for new ones to try!
June’s bag is an on-trend sticker-themed bag. I cannot wait to put Barbie accessories in this bag!
My product choice this month was an Anastasia Beverly Hills Liquid Lipstick Mini in “Crush”. It’s a dark fall color that I haven’t tried yet…I am easing back into lipstick after a year and a half wearing balms under my mask.
Also in this month’s “DO YOU” bag: CLIV Max Hyaluronic Propolis Foaming Cleanser; Glamglow Supermud Instant Clearing Treatment Mask (good stuff); Glow on 5th Gua Sha (I have no idea how to properly use a gua sha – I’ve googled a few things, but still intimidated…hit me up with hints); and IBY Beauty Carry on 2 Face Palette Blush in “Sunkissed”.
I subscribe to the basic ipsy bag for $12/month. If you’d like to try Ipsy – click here. I’ll earn 250 points if you sign up through my referral link.
Mushy Gushy Mango
I may or may not have posted recently that I hate “mango anything.” That may not be exactly true, because I DO like this nail polish!
This is Sinful Colors “Mushy Gushy Mango” from their newest collaboration with Saweetie. (I have no idea who Saweetie is – I had to google her.) I threw it into my cart after noticing it during an HEB run.
Although it’s a rather sheer polish, I got nearly full coverage in two coats. This is two coats over Glisten & Glow Ridge Filling Base Coat and under Glisten & Glow Top Coat.
“Mushy Gushy Mango” may replace “Hang Ten, Brah” as my favorite mango/queso polish!
Sale Before the Sale
Although we’re in deep into the Bath & Body Works Semi-Annual Sale, right BEFORE that sale started, I got an email that ALL Hand Soaps were $3.95…with a $10 off $40 coupon AND free shipping. I jumped right on that!
I picked lucky 13 different Hand Soaps, which brought the price down to $3.18. Not bad, but if I was better at math, I would’ve just bought 11. If I’d have only bought 11, then the price would’ve been $2.57 each!
I am currently using the “Fresh Cut Lilacs” in my bathroom. I have been OBSESSED with lilacs lately – I’m thinking about planting a bush.
Target Beauty Capsule – Fresh Finds
Goodbye Target Beauty Box, Hello Target Beauty Capsule. At long last, Target has released a replacement for their beloved monthly beauty boxes!
I ordered the Target Beauty Capsule over a month ago, as part of a larger order….but silly me, I didn’t check the address and ended up accidentally shipping it to my sister in New York. (I had just sent birthday gifts for her kids.) She graciously shipped my shit back to me – so much for my free shipping.
So the Capsule comes in a fun box with a little spinner and these products: Theory Freshness Care Essential Mint Fluoride Toothpaste (I usually use sensitivity toothpaste, but I’ve been alternating with this one and it tastes marvelous); Hero Cosmetics Lightning Wand Mini (it’s a spot lightening serum); Spring & Vine Shampoo Bar in Tea Tree & Mint (I have too much hair for this!); Cocokind Texture Smoothing Cream; Luster & Lum Collagen Peptides Dietary Supplement (it’s unflavored and I have no idea what to do with it); Tom’s of Maine Plastic-Free Natural Strength Sensitive Creamy Coconut with Hemp Seed Oil 48H Deodorant; Humphreys Alcohol-Free Witch Hazel Toner with Rose; Eva NYC Freshen Up Dry Shampoo (going to my son); and a Reusable Silicone Face Mask Cover (I have no idea what to do with this…other that re-enacting that scene in The Office where Dwight pretends to be Hannibal Lecter with a piece of bologna).
This Target Beauty Capsule even comes with a beauty coupon – $5 off $15, which is better than the $3 coupon that used to come with Target Beauty Box.
Target Beauty Capsule is $14.99 and still available! Use your Target Red Card for 5% off.
Green Goddess with Fairy Dust
So. Pacifica has launched a line of “16 Free” Plant Magic nail polishes. What was the previous high? Sundays and their 10 Free polish, I think?
Pacifica has really upped their game. Previously just 7 Free, the new 16 Free Plant Magic line boasts products free of animals, toluene, formaldehyde resin, camphor, formaldehyde, acetone, xylene, phthalates (including DBP), triphenyl phosphate (TPP), parabens, ethyl tosylamide, bisphenol A (BPA), sulfates, e-series glycol ethers, benzophenone 1, 2, nonylphenol ethoxylate. OH, and did I mention that they also have 16 Free Bio Glitter?!?!?!
After Glisten & Glow Ridge Filling Base Coat, I treated all of my nails to two coats of Pacifica Plant Magic in “Green Goddess”. Not content to enjoy the green shimmer, I jazzed up my ring finger with a coat of Pacifica Bio Glitter “Fairy Dust”. I finished all my nails with a healthy coat of Glisten & Glow Top Coat.
I was really impressed by the staying power of these polishes – well done, Pacifica!
National Nail Polish Day 2021
June 1st was National Nail Polish Day and Ulta had a lovely 11 piece gift with a $40 purchase. I just happened to need a few things…
I stocked up on 3 bottles of Zoya Remove+ ($10) and decided to splurge on a bottle of Pacifica Plant Magic 16 Free Polish in “Green Goddess” ($10). I wouldn’t ordinarily spend $10 on a single bottle of nail polish, but this color is so beautiful…plus, I used a $3.50 off coupon…so…
The 11 piece gift is worth more than what I bought! The gift included: Dashing Diva Gloss Gel Nail Strips; le Mini Macaron Sweet Mandarin Hand Mask; ella + mila Soy Polish Remover Wipes; Pacifica BioGlitter Translucent Topper in “Fairy Dust”; China Glaze “Summer Moon”; Orly Breathable 1-Step Manicure in “Power Packed”; OPI “Magic Hour”; lakur “Kissed by Rose Gold”; essie “Bahama Mama”; CND Solar Oil; and Nailtopia “Nails on Fleek”. So many new polishes!
$697 to Diamond Status…