Author: Lara
Ulta Persistence
Ulta had been sending me emails with a 20% off code for at least two weeks – sometimes two a day. They knew I would break down eventually…
I’d been pining for Black Moon Cosmetics “DeVille” ($18) since it launched, but I’d been waiting for Ulta to carry it, so I could get the points. It is the perfect, metallic red. I might as well throw all of my other red lipsticks in the bin – this one is PERFECT. Who am I kidding, you can never have too many red lipsticks. I also picked up Black Moon “Haunting” ($18), a deep purplish brown. Ulta, please pick up the rest of the Black Moon line!
I also decided to try out Mandelic Acid 10% from The Ordinary ($6.80). I’ve been reading about fungal acne and wondering if that might be a factor in the breakouts on my chest. Several articles indicated that the antibacterial properties of Mandelic Acid are a miracle cure, so why not try it. I’ve only been using it for a few days, so it’s too soon to tell…
We put highlights in my son’s hair again, so I picked up a Travel Size of Joico Colors Balance Purple Shampoo ($4.99) to tone down some of the brassiness. I also wanted to try an Eyeshadow Stamp ($4.20, down from $6). I forgot that I ordered it and haven’t tried it yet.
When I ordered, the Beauty Break gift with purchase was a 9 piece bath sampler, which included Soap & Glory The Righteous Butter; Iroha Nature Hand Mask Repair Gloves (I am excited to try these – we are barely a week into cold weather and my hands are already dry and cracked); YUNI Shower Sheets (a huge wet wipe?); bliss That’s Incredi-peel; The Body Shop Drops of Youth (I’ve been wanting to try this!); Megababe Deodorant Wipes (so does Ulta think I am stanky?); Ahava Time to Clear Purifying Mud Mask; Start Happy Geranium & Peppermint Body Wash; and a NEST Fragrances Body Mist Collection (4 fragrances: Bamboo & Jasmine, Ocean Mist & Coconut Water, Ginger & Neroli, and Grapefruit & Verbena).
$419 to Diamond status.
Jelly Monkey
Time to try another ipsy bag polish – this time it is Pretty Woman “Don’t Be Jelly” from October’s ipsy bag.
I started with Glisten & Glow Ridge Filling Base Coat and two coats of “Don’t Be Jelly”, but it was missing something.
Butter London “Brass Monkey” was still on my coffee table, so why not use it for accent nails again? I topped my first three nails with Glisten & Glow Top Coat, but used the Matte Top Coat on my ring finger and pinky. I cannot decide which look I like better – they are both stunning.
“Don’t Be Jelly” is very similar to Butter London “Rebel Fox”, the polish that originally came in the “Fire Duo” with “Brass Monkey”. The formula is far better – not so thin and streaky. I really like the Pretty Woman polishes!
October 2019 Sephora Play! – Your Beauty Recipe
Better late than never, aight?
A very odd Sephora Play! box this month – there doesn’t seem to be an overarching theme, other than pieces you can mix into your beauty routine. The first sample I tried was the dpHUE Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Masque. I was worried that it would have a vinegary smell, but the smell was rather light. I used it in the shower, so I probably only left it in my hair for 5-7 minutes – but it made my hair feel really nice and silky.
I also tried the Tarte Quench Hydrating Primer – Rainforest of the Sea Collection. I wish there was more in the tube, because it was really nice. There was only 2 uses in the tube!
Also in this month’s box: Shiseido WASO: Clear Mega-Hydrating Moisturizer; Origins Dr. Andrew Weil for Origins Mega Mushroom Relief & Resilience Soothing Treatment Lotion (Is that name long enough for you?); Youth to the People Superfood Antioxidant Cleanser (why is it in a tiny glass bottle?); and Urban Decay All Nighter Long-Lasting Makeup Setting Spray.
Oh, something new in this month’s box – instead of a 50 point Play! pass, this box came with a code for 20% off any foundation, tinted moisturizer, BB or CC Cream. If I didn’t just get the 20% holiday bonus, I’d definitely use it!
Sephora Play gives you 5-6 prestige samples a month, for just $10! You can sign up at sephora.com/play.
Morticia
It’s been a bit since I’ve brought out Zoya “Sooki” – five years maybe?
I needed a red for my Halloween costume – Morticia Addams. Honestly, I didn’t remember her having blood red nails – I thought they would be black…but Google confirmed it – blood red nails and lips. In case you’re curious, the perfect matching lipstick is Kat Von D “Underage Red”.
This is two coats of “Sooki” over Glisten & Glow Ridge Filling Base Coat and under Glisten & Glow Top Coat. I love how shiny it gets.
October 2019 Ipsy Bag – Flaunt It
Holy moly ipsy – this Betty Boop bag is beautiful! If you flip it over, the back is black sequins. This might be the most luxe bag that ipsy has sent out.
The centerpiece of this month’s bag is the Betty Boop x Ipsy That’s So Betty Eyeshadow in “Flip Your Lid”. In the pan, it looks like a dark burgundy shimmer, but it isn’t very pigmented AT ALL. I’ve worn it a few times and it actually works well swiping on my eyes alone, a lazy day shadow.
Also in this month’s “Flaunt It” bag: First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads; Pretty Woman Nail Polish in “Don’t Be Jelly”; It Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream with SPF 50+ in Fair (my product selection this month); and KVOSSNYC Lip Treatment in “Raspberry” (I put this on before bedroom and apparently drooled it across my face – I woke up with a pink stain across my cheek!).
$10 for years, the basic level of ipsy that I get is now $12/month. If you’d like to try Ipsy – click here. I’ll earn 250 points if you sign up through my referral link.
35 Brass Monkeys
It’s been a bit, hasn’t it? The past week or two have just been ridiculously busy. But now that we’re in November, things should slow down, right?
Ha!
I wanted to try out the polish that came with September’s ipsy – Sundays “No. 35”. I started with Glisten & Glow Ridge Filling Base Coat and two coats of “No. 35”. This polish is a cool navy blue with a hint of green. It was very odd that it appears green in some lights!
I dug DEEP into my polish stash with Butter London “Brass Monkey” – I wanted to jazz up a few access nails. I forgot what a great flakie polish it is.
I topped my first three nails with Glisten & Glow Top Coat for shiny and Glisten & Glow Matte Top Coat on my ring finger and pinky for matte. I cannot decide which ones I like better!
Kat Von D Fire Sale
What can I say – I love a good sale.
It looks like Sephora is offloading lots and lots of Kat Von D’s old products. Most of last year’s palettes are half price (or less). I already have all of the ones on sale, except for the Vegan Palette – no thank you. I did, however, pick up the 4 remaining Everlasting Glimmer Veil Liquid Lipsticks for $5, down from $22. I got “Thunderstruck” – champagne with pink and gold glimmer, “Starflyer” – lavender with iridescent glimmer, “Reverb” – cobalt with blue glimmer, and “Televator” – bright grape with purple glimmer. I also picked up the Kitten Mini Studded Kiss Vampira Ombre Set for $7, down from $18. Two mini lipsticks, in “Vampira” and “White Out”. I’ve only used “Thunderstruck” and “Starflyer” so far – I need to get to work.
For samples, I picked (and received) Kate Somerville EradiKate Salicylic Acid Treatment and Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream. I also used a promo code to get a deluxe sample bottle of Kate Somerville Bio-mimicking Peptides Serum.
So, my total order was $27…$581 to Rouge in 2020.
Queen of Halloween
I am the QUEEN of HALLOWEEN.
I wanted to feel like a pumpkin, so I pulled out my favorite orange polish – Sinful Colors “Courtney Orange”. Technically, it is not even my polish, but my daughter’s – but it ended up in my polish stash. Besides, she’s already made clear that she is getting all my polish when I die, so…
I started with Sinful Colors Base Coat and then two coats of “Courtney Orange”. I forgot how sheer this polish is – you can see right through it, even with two coats. To jazz up my nails, I used a dotting tool in Sinful Colors “Call You Later”. I love the orange and green together – I guess it is just the UTD in me? That’s right, our school colors were a lovely combination of orange and green.
I topped with Glisten & Glow Top Coat, but in hindsight, I kind of wish that I had done a few of my nails matte so I could see how it looked.
Black Widow
It’s October, it’s getting chilly outside and I’m feeling ooky and spooky. How about some Halloween nails?
I had the idea to do Black Widow nails, but they didn’t turn out as well as I’d hoped. Although I give myself an A for effort, I give a D for execution.
After Sinful Colors Base Coat, I did two coats of Sinful Colors “Black on Black”, my basic black. For a little glitter, I used the black and red glitter, Sinful Colors “Unwrap Me”. I thought the black glitter would show up, but it melted into the background – you can only see a few scattered red glitters. For the hourglass on my ring finger, I used a dotting tool and Sinful Colors “Bitten” – I should’ve used a brush, I think, because it is bumpy and uneven.
I topped it with Glisten & Glow Top Coat, but for some reason, it looked oily and weird – I think it was the unevenness from the hidden black glitter. Hmmm…I’ll need to rethink these nails and try them again.
October 2019 Allure Beauty Box – On the Bright Side
Allure usually comes last each month, but this month it was first into my mailbox. I wonder why?
October’s theme – “On the Bright Side” – is glowy products. The stand-out product is Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream. I’ve repeatedly gotten samples of it and use it immediately – I love the way it smells, like a day at the beach.
Also in this month’s box: Sunday Riley ICE Ceramide Moisturizing Cream (such a tiny sample); M-61 Powerglow Peel; ModelCo Metallic Eyeshadow Trio in “St. Tropez” (I thought this was the same trio I received in my February box , but the colors are slightly different; I used it this morning and the colors lean brassy); ModelCo Eyelites in “Granite” (I received an Eyelites in my April box, too – have not tried the product); Kneipp Mineral Bath Salt in “Dream Away” (Will be giving to one of my kids); and Lumify Eye Drops (I’ve gotten a few times and they work well enough – they’re just too pricey for me to buy on my own).
I kind of feel that Allure is pushing a few brands repeatedly, month after month. I feel like they must have gotten a truckload of ModelCo and Sunday Riley and we’ll be getting it monthly, no matter what.
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.