Author: Lara
Hot Pink Tights
Sinful Colors “Hot Pink Tights” was the perfect Patrick pink polish to wear to The Rusty Krab Experience, a Spongebob Squarepants themed pop-up experience in Downtown Houston. I told the kids it was for them…but I think the grown-ups had more fun than the kids…
I started with Glisten & Glow Ridge Filling Top Coat. This is one coat on my index finger, two coats on my middle finger and three coats on the rest. I finished all fingers with Sinful Colors Demi Matte Top Coat, EXCEPT for my pinky. My pinkie got the glossy treatment with Glisten & Glow Top Coat.
“Hot Pink Tights” seemed to chip easily though – even with a top coat. Several of my fingers looked like shit after three days – disappointing. The color itself was really nice though – one of the best from the Tulle Temptations Collection.
Eucalyptahhh
I LOVED the light eucalyptus scent of Sinful Colors “Eucalyptahhh” – I wonder how long it would clear my sinuses if I wore it when I had a cold??? This might be the best smelling scent in the Essenchills Collection.
This is two coats of “Eucalyptahhh” over Glisten & Glow Ridge Filling Base Coat, with NO top coat.
Coincidentally, “Eucalyptahhh” is the EXACT color of my new Aqua Coolmax Sheets – I HIGHLY recommend these sheets.
April 2021 Allure Beauty Box – Packing List
April’s theme is “Packing List” and contains a little bit of everything.
The star of the box is the Chella La Vie Eyeshadow Palette. It’s hard to go wrong with a neutral eyeshadow quad. I’ve been using the shades for the past week and they are very flattering. The shades are good quality and blend well.
I am running out of room for serums. I am still using the U Beauty Resurfacing Compound from February’s Box during the day and the Dermelect Self Esteem Beauty Sleep Serum from November’s box at night. This month’s box contains akar Restore Eye Serum, but it will have to wait.
Also in this month’s box: Maapilim Face Moisturizer, Aveda Botanical Repair Masque (I love the way Aveda products smell); Cargo Swimmables Eye Liner Pencil in “Dorado Beach” (a waterproof gold eyeliner – it actually looks great underneath my lash line); and Hero Cosmetics Mighty Patch Duo (cannot wait to try these).
An interesting box, but not quite sure it was worth how much I paid for it…
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.
Not Sorry
Sinful Colors “Not Sorry” was my first pick from the “Go Off!” Collection. Although it looks baby blue in the bottle, it comes out more of a steel gray or pewter on my nails.
This is two coats of “Not Sorry” over Glisten & Glow Ridge Filling Base Coat and under Glisten & Glow Top Coat. Two coats is pretty sheer, I could’ve gone with three. Glitters were a bit sparse, I had to go fishing to get 2-3 per nail.
This polish is only so-so – it might be years until I get to the other two.
Go Off!
Breaking News! HEB has the newest Sinful Colors Glitter Topper Collection – “Go Off!”
Do I really need three different shades of the same shimmer topper with the exact same glitters – little gold solar flares and hot pink lips? I do…because HOT PINK LIPS!
The baby blue polish is “Not Sorry”. The light pink polish is “Pop Off”. The lavender polish is “Just Say It”. I bought them ALL…at $2.98 each.
I guess my news alert is fairly meaningless, unless you live in South Texas, where HEB is KING…
Bubble Gum
Sally Hansen “Jewel Bubble Gum” was an Ulta clearance find from the Jelly Belly x Sally Hansen Collaboration. I don’t know that I’ve ever come across a jelly belly this color, but maybe it was a special limited edition jelly bean?
This is two coats of “Jewel Bubble Gum” over Glisten & Glow Ridge Filling Base Coat and topped with Glisten & Glow Top Coat. As you would expect, the first coat was streaky, but the second coat was smooth and self-levelling. This is a “conservative” nail polish color that doesn’t feel conservative.
More than anything, it reminds me of satin pointe shoes. It made my toes feel much more sophisticated!
Hair Haul
Everyone in the family was needing a little hair care, so another Ulta haul was in order…
For myself, I ordered a NatureLab.Tokyo Perfect Smooth Shampoo Refill ($22) to match the Conditioner. I also got a back-up Colorista Bleach Highlights Kit ($10.99).
My son needed shampoo & conditioner for his bleached hair, so I grabbed Pacifica Sunshine Highs Shampoo & Conditioner ($10 each) while they were BOGO 40% off.
I decided to treat my daughter with Colorista Semi-Permanent Color in “Purple” ($10.99).
All this hair stuff qualified me for a free 12 piece Hair Color Sampler. The sampler included Madison Reed Color Protecting Shampoo & Conditioner (I’ve been curious about this brand for a long time); Virtue Recovery Shampoo & Conditioner; Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate Shampoo & Conditioner (I don’t know what citric acid will do for my hair, but looking forward to trying it); Kenra Color Maintenance Shampoo & Conditioner; Fekkai Technician Color Shampoo (no conditioner?); AG Hair Care Ultradynamics Extra-Firm Finishing Spray; Pureology Color Fanatic Multitasking Leave-In Spray (giving to my son); and DevaCurl Noo-Poo Blue Anti-Brass Zero Lather Curl Cleanser (also giving to my son).
On the non-hair front, I picked up St. Tropez Self Tan Purity Bronzing Water Face Mist ($15, down from $30) for my kids, because they LOVED the previous sample I got…for myself, I got Ulta Coffee & Chocolate Energizing Superfood Mud Mask ($4, down from $8) – it smells good enough to eat! It sucked all the gunk out of my pores and made my skin super soft.
I qualified for a second gift with purchase – a Best Seller 7 Piece Gift, with my $65 purchase. This gift included Smashbox Photo Finish Primer; Bumble and bumble. Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil Primer; Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Complex (I love this stuff); Glamglow Supermud Clearing Treatment (I also love THIS stuff); MAC Powder Kiss Lipstick in “Werk, Werk, Werk” (it’s red…meh); and Clinique Moisture Surge 100H Hydrator. That was only 6 pieces!!! What a rip-off…
Just $784 to Diamond!
Influenster Vox Box – Romance Parfum by Ralph Lauren
I was THRILLED to receive a bottle of Ralph Lauren Romance Parfum (1oz – $64) from Influenster, complimentary for review purposes.
Ralph Lauren fragrances have always held a special place in my heart. My mother’s signature scent was Lauren by Ralph Lauren – I still have the last bottle she bought before she died – 16 years ago. I cannot smell it without thinking of her. That being said, Romance smells nothing like my mother’s Lauren to me – it smells like MY Lauren. Instead of the carnations in Lauren, Romance is heavy with Damascena Rose. Rose has always been my signature scent, ever since discovering Tea Rose in middle school. Romance is not a straight up rose scent – it’s more like a rose for people who say they don’t like rose (like my husband). He actually liked the scent of Romance!
This is a very wearable scent, day or night. I’ve moved it into my permanent fragrance rotation.
Thank you Ralph Lauren and thank you Influenster!
Ruby Tutu
Sinful Colors “Ruby Tutu” has a song stuck in my head…Ruby, Ruby, Ruby, Ruby Soho!
“Ruby Tutu” is a sheer red polish with a bit of sparkle. It reminds me of the inside of a tomato, of all things. I started with Glisten & Glow Ridge Filling Base Coat. There is one coat of “Ruby Tutu” on my index finger, two coats on my middle finger and three coats on the rest of my fingers. I finished with Sinful Colors Demi Matte Top Coat on all my fingers, except the pinky – I went for a glossy finish with Glisten & Glow Top Coat.
Ruby, Ruby, Ruby, Ruby Soho! (I can’t remember the rest of the song – just that part.)
High Brow Haul
During this past year of working from home bliss, makeup is minimal during the week…except for my brows. I MUST put on my brows before turning on the camera.
I decided to branch out from my usual Ulta Ultra Slim Brow Pencil in “Dark Brown” ($10) and also order an Ulta Sculpting Brow Pencil in “Dark Brown” ($10). It’s got a thicker, angled tip and seems maybe a tick darker than the Ultra Slim. It was more difficult to use and the first time I used it, I looked like an angry Brooke Shields. I did get a nice 6 piece gift with purchase though – a spiffy blue bag with Makeup Remover Facial Towelettes, Poreless Face Primer, Clear Brow Gel, Automatic Eye Liner in “Matte Black”, and Jelly Gloss Lip Gel.
I spent $2.49 on this really bizarre lip balm in a pouch – Freeman Feeling Beautiful Lip Dip Tinted Balm in “Raspberry”. I love doe foot applicators, but I feel like there is not enough of this super moisturizing lip balm in the little pouch…
My $60 purchase also qualified for a It Cosmetics Beauty Break, with Confidence in a Cleanser (I wish it wasn’t so expensive!); Superhero Elastic Stretch Mascara, Hello Results Wrinkle Reducing Daily Retinol Serum-in-a-Cream (this is going straight onto my counter); Brow Power Universal Brow Pencil in “Universal Taupe” (I am guessing this will be a bit light for me); Confidence in Your Beauty Sleep (another great cream); and Confidence in a Gel Lotion.
Wondering where the rest of my $60 purchase is? Shhhh…it’s on it’s way across the ocean.
Just $859 til Diamond.