Author: Lara
Body Talk
Context Skin Lacquer “Body Talk” came in last month’s ipsy bag. At first glance, I thought that the polish was a light mauve…but it’s a nude! It’s a cool-toned nude, but a nude nonetheless. Do I need bifocals???
This is two coats of “Body Talk” over Glisten & Glow Ridge Filling Base Coat and under Glisten & Glow Top Coat. I did get a few bubbles in the top coat – I think it’s time to stop refilling this bottle and open a new one – it’s getting too thick and drying too quickly.
Gorgeous Hair, Perfect Repair
I just barely caught the end of May’s Gorgeous Hair Event. I was all hyped to get 50% off NatureLab. Tokyo…but of course, all of the big refill bags of Perfect Smooth were out of stock…so I settled for trying out regular sizes of NatureLab. Tokyo Perfect Repair Shampoo and Conditioner. $7.50 is still better than $15.
I also took advantage of a BOGO 40% off order on Neutrogena Rapid Clear Stubborn Acne Cleanser. The Cadillac of Acne Cleansers is $11.99 regular price! One for me and one for the kids. Oh, and also a Biore T-Zone Targeted Deep Cleansing Pore Strips ($7.99, down from $9.99).
I was disappointed by the 50% off Lipstick Queen Mini in “Route 66” ($6, down from $12). The description promised green lipstick that creates tangerine lips, but they were the same shade of pink as my Frog Prince lipstick. Arghhhhh.
I know it’s basically just a Sharpie, but my daughter really liked the BIC BodyMark Temporary Tattoo Marker ($3.99, down from $4.99).
My order qualified me for a Living Proof. Beauty Break, which came with 5 Deluxe Samples: Perfect hair Day Dry Shampoo, Perfect hair Day Weightless Mask, Perfect hair Day 5-in-1 Styling Treatment, plus Perfect hair Day Shampoo and Conditioner.
(Is adding a superfluous period to your branding a thing? Looking at you, NatureLab. Tokyo & Living Proof. .)
$734 to Diamond…
Malibu Barbie x Colourpop
A Malibu Barbie Makeup Set? Add. To. Cart.
I held off as long as I could. I kept hitting up Ulta’s website to see if it would show up – you know how I am about those points. No dice. I watched Trixie Mattel’s review video and I was itching for it. I finally took the plunge when the Malibu Barbie x Colourpop Full Collection Set was $79, down from $99.
The centerpiece of the set is the 15 pan Malibu Barbie Shadow Palette. The colors are amazing and vibrant. These shadows last all day and spread like butter. I’ve done a blue look and a pink look, but there are neutral colors, too. I feel like this palette is better quality than my other Colourpop Palette. Why would they do that?
I was shocked by the Beach Party Super Shock Highlighter. The first time I used it, I applied with a fan brush and it was pretty average. The second time I used it, I applied with my finger…it’s a motherfucking cream, ya’ll! I’ll never use another highlighter again – this is “the one.”
The set included three lux lipstick kits: a bullet lipstick and matching lip liner. “Golden Beach” is a pinkish nude, a bit too light for me. “Malibu Sunset” is a vibrant hot pink, perfect for me. Full disclosure – it stained my lips. I haven’t tried “Dreamhouse” yet – it’s a medium pink.
Even though they’re adorable, I feel like I won’t get much use out of the heart shaped Barbie Hand Mirror or the Doll Lashes. Maybe for Halloween?
The Malibu Barbie x Colourpop Full Collection Set is currently 30% off – just $69.30! I am so mad…I thought I was getting a good deal snagging it for $79 + free shipping and a free pack of Daily Do-Over Makeup Removing Wipes.
May 2021 Ipsy Bag – Flower Power
Ooooh…May’s ipsy bag is a pretty peony pattern! Peony is one of my favorite scents.
My product choice this month was Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask. I tried it out yesterday and my skin LOVED it.
Also in May’s “Flower Power” bag: Context Skin Nail Lacquer in “Body Talk” (is this mauve?); Formula 10.0.6 One Smooth Operator Pore Clearing Face Scrub (I used a few nights ago – I feel like it took FOREVER to rinse off); Saint Luxe Lip Liner Duo in “Moscato” and “Vino”; and Skin&Co Roma Citrus Amaro Hand Cream.
Now that I’m down to just ONE beauty subscription – Ipsy – I signed up for Glam Bag X, which is a quarterly, curated box for $55…we’ll see if it’s any good in August.
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.
Sheer-treuse
Instead of a simple swatch of Sinful Colors “Sheer-treuse”, I decided to have a little fun with a simple pond mani…
Yeah, my nails DO look like a moldy old pond. I started with Glisten & Glow Ridge Filling Base Coat and used Sinful Colors “Snow Me White” with a dotting tool for the dots. Like my previous Tulle Temptations swatches, I did one coat/layer of dots on my index finger, two coats/layers of dots on my middle finger and three coats/layers of dots on the rest of my fingers. I finished with Sinful Colors Demi Matte Top Coat, EXCEPT for my pinky. My pinky is special and got topped with Glisten & Glow Top Coat.
I wish I had a little froggie nail sticker to go on these nails!
Giving Me Beach Vibes…
Sinful Colors “Beach Vibes” is giving me beach vibes…
“Beach Vibes” is supposed to smell like “Ocean Breeze”, but it’s the least scented so far of the whole Essenchills Collection. I did not smell ANYTHING but wet nail polish!
This is two coats of the navy blue “Beach Vibes” over Glisten & Glow Ridge Filling Base Coat. This polish lasted very well without a top coat – over 7 days with only minor edge wear.
May 2021 Allure Beauty Box – Power List
That’s IT! I cannot handle any more overpriced face creams or serums! I emailed Allure Customer Support today, in an attempt to cancel my Allure Beauty Box account.
This month’s overpriced face cream is Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream ($265 for 50ml). My little sample is just 7ml ($37.10). I haven’t tried it yet…I’ll get to it eventually. In addition to this cream, there’s also Wander Beauty Sight C-ER Vitmain C Concentrate and CosRx Propolis Light Ampoule. Two more facial serums!
Also in what should be my last box: Josephine Cosmetics Liquid Lipstick in “Tiphaine” (is that pronounced “Tiffany”?); Belif Moisturizing Eye Bomb; Purlisse Matcha Green Tea Antioxidant Sheet Mask; and Cetaphil Sheer Mineral SPF 50.
Goodbye and so long Allure Beauty Box…
The Allure Beauty Box is $23/month. They also offer an option for $250/year – a savings of $26. Sign up via my referral link.
Guilty Pleasure
How long ago did I buy this polish? Where did it even come from?
Oh yeah, this is one of my Dollar Tree finds from last year! You cannot beat 2/$1.
Sinful Colors SinfulShine “Guilty Pleasure” is a rose gold shimmer. This is two coats over Glisten & Glow Ridge Filling Base Coat and under Glisten & Glow Top Coat. This is such a dense polish, I could’ve gotten away with just one coat.
Whereas my previous polish – “Burnished Bronze” – was like an old penny at the bottom of your purse, “Guilty Pleasure” is a shiny new penny, straight from the mint. I cannot get enough of these coppery neutrals!
Burnished Bronze
I love a good copper/rose gold polish! Especially when it coordinates with the outside of my house…
This is NOT my first time wearing Sally Hansen Color Therapy with Argan Oil “Burnished Bronze”. I tried it out a few summers ago (2019?) while vacationing across the country. We drove from Texas to New York to Canada, but I never did take a good nail pic. I shoved the bottle back in the cabinet, knowing I’d come back to it.
This is two coats of “Burnished Bronze” over Glisten & Glow Ridge Filling Base Coat and topped with Glisten & Glow Top Coat. This polish was super smooth in application, but I was confused by the bubbles that formed in the top coat. I suspect that it was my fault, since I applied the top coat fairly quickly after the polish – maybe it wasn’t quite dry enough?
April 2021 Ipsy Bag – Force of Nature
I am so, SO late posting about April’s ipsy bag – I don’t think I’ve ever been this late before.
I’ll be honest, I am getting a little bored with Subscription Beauty services – and running out of places to cram all these makeup bags. I haven’t decided whether I’ll keep getting the products and just stop writing about them, or cancel them…or what. I need to ponder what I’m going to do….
…but in the meantime, April’s bag was a mixed bag. My product choice was Tatcha The Water Cream, which I’d gotten in Sephora Smarts box a few years ago. It’s great under makeup.
Also in this month’s nature-themed box: Beau Gâchis Concealer Brush (just what I need – another fucking makeup brush); Glow on 5th Smooth as Silk Hand + Body Scrub; Grace & Stella Dead Sea Mud Mask (I used this last weekend – it’s okay I guess – a bit thin); and Nomad Cosmetics Tuscany Intense Eye Shadow in “Aperitivo”.
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.