Author: Lara
Clearance PSA
This is a PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT!
While you’re searching the aisles of Walmart for toilet paper and hand sanitizer, please be advised that a SERIOUS nail polish clearance is going on. I found these in the Clearance aisle by the garden section (I was loitering there, while my husband was looking for something in the the garden section), but they might also be on the endcaps in the Beauty aisles. In addition to Sally Hansen, I saw some essie and L.A. Colors.
I paid $1.50 for Sally Hansen Color Therapy “Therapewter” and $1 each for Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear “Fantaseas” and “Confetti Craze”.
You may now return to your regularly scheduled quarantine activities.
Betsey
I know I should’ve waited until August, but I just couldn’t do it.
Julep “Betsey – Peridot for August” might be my FAVORITE from Julep’s Birthstone Collection. It’s from Julep’s second round of Birthstone polishes – I also have the first Peridot polish, “Claudia”. “Claudia” is a lighter – almost pastel green microglitter. “Betsey”, named for Fashion Designer and Icon Betsey Johnson, the polish is darker, ferny green iridescent duochrome. There’s hints of red and green fire in the shimmer – it’s stunning.
This is two coats of “Betsey” over Glisten & Glow Base Coat and under Glisten & Glow Top Coat.
Gosh, I miss getting new Julep polishes.
Taco Tuesday
It’s Taco Tuesday…and we had Flautas for dinner, not tacos. We like to break rules around here.
Sinful Colors “Taco Tuesday” does not look like tacos to me. It’s a sheer, light orange base, filled with different shimmery red and green glitters, as well as a few peach glitters. What exactly is IN this taco? Lettuce, tomatoes, and cheese – but no meat? Maybe it should be called “Chile Con Queso Wednesday”?
This is two coats of “Taco Tuesday” over Glisten & Glow Base Coat. Again, the glitters kept lifting up and snagging on things, because I didn’t use a top coat. I didn’t use a top coat, because I thought I wanted to smell this polish. WRONG. Fortunately, the odor was very faint, because it smelled like raw hamburger meat. No ma’am!
On the Run
I am fully aware of the irony of continuing to buy eye shadow while under lockdown. I get to go to the grocery store once a week and I need to look HAWT when I go…
Sephora lured me in with 50% off the Urban Decay On the Run Mini Palettes ($12.50, down from $25). I’ve been drooling over these little 8 shade palettes. I Selected two of the five: “Detour” (blues and browns) and “Shortcut” (reds and mauves). I’ve had a chance to try both palettes and they are so blendable and smooth. I didn’t even have to pull out the shadow primer. I can see myself going back to these again and again. Now I want to get the other 3 colorways – please go on sale again!
I was able to snag a sample of Lord Jones Royal Oil, basically a CBD Beauty Oil. The only two ingredients are grapeseed oil and CBD oil…I’m hesitant to coat my face in grapeseed oil, as I’m recovering from a breakout. I’ll try it later, I think. I also got samples of Cristophe Robin Detangling Gelee with Sea Minerals and Marc Jacobs Youthquake Gel Creme.
Sephora is offering free shipping while their stores are closed. Don’t threaten me with a good time! Just $281 to VIB in 2021.
March 2020 Sephora Play! – Wild Beauty
Hmmm…only slightly fewer repeats in March’s Sephora Play! box.
I’ve gotten the Glamglow GLOWSTARTER Mega Illuminating Moisturizer in “Nude Glow” in TWO different Play! boxes: November 2019 and March 2017. I ain’t even mad though, because I love this moisturizer. I use it up as soon as I get it.
I’d gotten a sample of NARS Powermatte Lip Pigment in “Starwoman” a few years ago, but I don’t think I even used it. I’ll use it this time?
I recently gotten a sample of Moschino Toy 2 in an Ulta Sample Bag, but hadn’t tried it yet. I wore it today and was surprised to find that it’s a keeper! The main accord is green apple and somehow, I LOVE it.
Also is this month’s “Wild Beauty” bag: Laura Mercier Caviar Chrome Eyeshadow Stick in “Metallic Taupe”; Fresh Sugar Mint Rush Freshening Lip Treatment (waiting on my bedside table to be applied before bed); and Amika Un.Done Volume and Matte Texture Spray (at least it’s not dry shampoo).
Not a bad box – I’ll use almost everything.
Sephora Play gives you 5-6 prestige samples a month, for just $10! You can sign up at sephora.com/play.
Brita
“Brita” is a fantastic name – it’s not just for water filters. In addition to RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 12 front-runner, Brita Filter, there’s Brit(t)a from Community and I even have a great, great, great grandmother named Brita.
Julep “Brita” is a sleek frozen raspberry chrome. This is two coats over Glisten & Glow Ridge Filling Base Coat and under Glisten & Glow Top Coat. There were a few little pinprick bubbles, but nothing too bad. It lasted fairly well. If anything, it was too ordinary – I’ve been spoiled by weird textures and smells!
“Brita” is one of the mini polishes from the Hypnotic Frenzy Set.
March 2020 Allure Beauty Box – Spring Vibes
Oh come on Allure Beauty Box – you gotta do better than this!
I hate when Beauty Boxes just throw a bunch of random old products in a box together. I got Floss My New Favorite Lip Gloss in “Lax” in last June’s box. Don’t even get me started on the Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in “Zero” – I think I have about 12 of these.
I wasn’t upset to get Mamonde Red Energy Recovery Serum – I’ve been wearing it every morning after my show. I’m not sure what it is helping my skin recover from, but it feels nice.
Also in this month’s box: Rodial Glamolash Mascara XXL; Dr. Botanicals Lemon Superfood All-in-One Rescue Butter; and Lapcos Ceramide Firming Mask.
Okay Allure Beauty Box – you’re on warning! No more crappy boxes or I am gonna have to cancel!
The Allure Beauty Box is $15/month, but they give you $5 off your first box. They also offer an option for $150/year – a savings of $30. Sign up via my referral link.
Chocolate Cake
Sinful Colors “Chocolate Cake” had an even stronger scent than “Cookies & Cream”! It wasn’t the same scent either – it was more of a rich dark chocolate, whereas “Cookies & Cream” was more milky scent.
“Chocolate Cake” also has a crumbly texture, similar to “Cheese Puff”. It also seemed shinier. It’s settled – the sweet scents have a far stronger scent throw than the salty ones.
This is two layers of “Chocolate Cake” over Glisten & Glow Ridge Filling Base Coat. I feel like “Chocolate Cake” chipped faster than “Cheese puff”, but that might have been an optical illusion because the polish is so dark and it’s more obvious right away.
I really hope Sinful Colors comes out with more fun scented polishes – maybe some fruit scents? Or ice cream? Their scented polishes also make me think that Sally Hansen REALLY missed an opportunity to add scents to their Jelly Belly collaboration .
Orange Capsule
I know it’s super cliched…but this palette is SO PIGMENTED.
This PIGMENTED palette is the Sugarpill C2 Orange Capsule ($42), an Ulta exclusive. This is my first experience with Sugarpill shadows, and I am very impressed. No primer needed with these shadows – they spread on the lid like butter. I was drawn to this palette for one particular shade – that bright turquoise shimmer – “Skyrise”. Even though I loved they way it looked on me, my husband said I look like Mimi from The Drew Carey Show. He doesn’t understand FASHION. Now I want the Pink Capsule Palette!
I also tried out a new brow pencil – Colourpop Brow Boss in “Dark Brown” ($6). It’s a great price, but still not as good my Ulta Holy Grail for a few dollars more. It doesn’t blend as well and fades throughout the day. It’s fine for work, though.
Black Moon Lippies are 30% off ($12.60, down from $18) – I wonder if this means they are dropping the brand? Anyway, I picked up “Warrior”, a Breast Cancer Awareness nude matte.
Oh, and I got a Women Founded Beauty Sample Bag, with it Cosmetics Mini Blurring Foundation Brush; Laura Mercier Pure Canvas Primer, Sweet Spot Labs Vanilla Blossom Gentle Wash (it says “gynecologist recommended”, so I guess it is for my vajayjay?); Benefit The POREfessional, Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream (I’ve tried this before and really like the smell); Sunday Riley A+ High Dose Retinoid Serum; Pattern Heavy Conditioner for Coilies (will be gifted to a curly-headed friend); Sagely Naturals CBD Cream (I tried a previous sample of this while in Vegas, and it TINGLED so bad – I loved it); DefineMe Sofia Isabel Fragrance (an orangey vanilla rollerball); and Drybar Jump Start Quick Dry Blowout Serum.
I was able to use a $3.50 off coupon, leaving me with $1,007 more to get to Diamond again.
Unbroken
I was skeptical…until I actually put it on.
Mischo Beauty Nail Lacquer in “Unbroken” reminds me of silly putty. It’s a neutral taupe that leans slightly purple. It looks bland in the bottle, but it is really striking on the nail. This is two coats over Glisten & Glow Ridge Filling Base Coat and under Glisten & Glow Top Coat.
Oh, and I even have a matching lipstick – Kat Von D “Haze”!
I really enjoy trying out new (to me anyway) brands via my ipsy bag – they need to keep it up!