Author: Lara

 
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Tutti Frutti Tonga

What is the correct way to spell “Tutti Frutti”? According to OPI “Tutti Frutti Tonga”, it’s “frutti”…but according to Sally Hansen “Tutti-Fruitti”, it’s “fruitti”. Wikipedia says “Tutti Frutti”, as does Little Richard…so I guess Sally Hansen can SUCK IT.

ANYWAY, this is two coats of OPI “Tutti Frutti Tonga” over Glisten & Glow Ridge-Filling Base Coat (I got my new bottle – yay) and under Glisten & Glow Top Coat. I like how pearly it is – but that quality made the polish hella-streaky and it left drag marks on my nails. The second coat self-leveled a bit better, but it still looks streaky to me.

Frankly, I expect better from OPI – I am very disappointed in this polish.

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Body Language

Miss me? I took an extra long summer vacation this year (drove all the way from Texas to New York with my sister, to see my other sister – 10/10, highly recommend a sister roadtrip), which included a full website hiatus. I was maybe, a little bit getting burned out and disconnecting really felt good. But now I’m itching to post about a month’s worth of beauty boxes that were waiting for me on my kitchen counter when I got home.

Sinful Colors “Body Language” was a polish I wore before my vacation, but I just didn’t have time to post it. It’s one of the darker shades from the “Naughty Nudes” Collection. The polish is a chocolately brown, but with an extra pearly green shimmer. It kind of reminded me of boogers…

This is two coats of “Body Language” over Sinful Colors Base Coat, with Glisten & Glow Top Coat on all but my pinky – gotta have that mattified pinky. (I used Glisten & Glow Matte Top Coat.) I think I need to try it with a gold or green glitter.

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One Last Semi-Stop

I controlled myself so well…until Sunday, the very last day of the Semi-Annual Sale. I found myself at the mall, killing time while Lily was at a birthday party…

The pickens were pretty slim on the last day of the sale….but there was plenty of $2 and $3 Hand Soap. I picked up 12 – 10 for me and 2 for my big sis, because they match her kitchen.

I used a $10 off $30 coupon – all this was just $23 AND CHANGE!

Just 6 more months until the next sale…

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Aphrodite

Ahhhh…this is more like it.

Formula X “Aphrodite” is a beautiful brass/pewter holographic polish. As old as this polish must be, it still applied beautifully. This is two light coats, over Glisten & Glow Base Coat and under Glisten & Glow Top Coat…except for that mattified pinky nail with Glisten & Glow Matte Top Coat. (I just received a new bottle in the mail today – squeeeeee!)

Holographic nail polishes are underrated – especially in the summer. Indoors, they look like plain old gray nails, but outside in the sunlight – they take on a life of their own! The holo sparkle in “Aphrodite” is a whole-ass rainbow on my fingers!

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Pepto Pizzaz

Ugh, I am about fucking DONE with L.A. Colors – this polish pissed me off SO MUCH.

This is L.A. Colors “Pizzaz” – I picked it up at WalMart a few weeks ago. It was 98 cents, on a clearance end cap – I should’ve known better!

Why am I so irritated? This polish was a streaky, chalky mess. Even after two coats, there were streaks and drag marks. The finish of the polish itself was demi-matte, and there was a tantalizing bit of purple opalescent shimmer before I hit the top coats. Of course, that shimmer totally disappeared after the top coats – I was just left with Pepto Bismol pink. This is two coats over Glisten & Glow Base Coat, with Glisten & Glow Matte Top Coat on my thumb and ring finger, and regular Glisten & Glow Top Coat on the rest.

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June 2019 Ipsy Bag – Block Party

I feel like June’s ipsy bag is a pretty big deal…it’s a full collab with Tetris! It’s not just the bag(s), ipsy released a full line of Tetris-themed makeup and brushes – 13 year old me, as well as 43 year old me thinks that’s pretty cool.

My bag included a Tetris-themed Tapered Blending Brush and I paid $3 extra to get one of the single eyeshadows – “Block Party”, a bronze/rose gold shade. It’s decent quality and stays on without primer. There were also full coordinated palettes available to add to my bag, but I wasn’t feeling any of the color schemes.

Also in this month’s “Block Party” bag: Hey Honey Sweet Treat Wild Berry & Honey Yogurt Recovery Mask (mmmm); First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Hyaluronic Hydrating Primer; Neogen Code9 Black Volume Cream (sounds like a product from The Matrix – I am literally scared to try it); and ETAT LIBRE D’ORANGE I Am Trash Les Fleurs Du Déchet Eau de Parfum (you gotta love a perfume called “I am Trash” – it actually smells really good, like orange peels).

This month’s bag is a great value!

If you’d like to try Ipsy – click here. I’ll earn 250 points if you sign up through my link. 

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Reflection Pool

Oh hey, What do you think of Sally Hansen Color Therapy “Reflection Pool”? It’s pretty tight. It’s a shimmery teal, with a hint of purple.

I am SOLD on the Sally Hansen Color Therapy (with Argan Oil) formula – this is one of the nicest polish formulas I’ve ever used. The perfect consistency – not too thick or too thin – and it self-levels like a dream. No drag marks, no bubbles. I wish it was a little bit cheaper – this baby was $6.79 – and some shades are $7.99 – almost OPI prices!

This is two coats over Glisten & Glow Base Coat and under Glisten & Glow Top Coat.

I also did my toes – perfect for pool time. Only problem – I need a (closer) friend with a pool.

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Sephora Play! June 2019 – Destination Beauty

What a coincidence – this month’s Sephora Play! box is stocked with travel essentials and we leave on a 10 day road trip across America in a just a few weeks. (Driving from Texas to New York state counts as across America, right?)

I swear, I JUST used up my last sample of Farmacy Green Clean Makeup Removing Balm – literally 3 days ago. (I got a sample in my March ipsy bag.) The texture is dreamy smooth and it really does remove makeup quickly and completely. I’m still getting used to applying to my dry face and then emulsifying, but I am getting there.

Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask in “Original Berry” is another product I’ve tried before and used up (August 2018 Allure Beauty Box). As much as I hate applying lip balms with my finger, I did not mind so much with this one.

Also in this month’s Play! box: tarte babassu foundcealer skincare Foundation SPF 20 in “16S” (curious about this Frankenstein product); Herbivore Rose Hibiscus Coconut Water Hydrating Face Mist (I’ve found that these face mists work GREAT at removing liquid lipstick – wow!); Sephora Collection All Day Hydrator – Hydrate & Glow; and Klorane Anti-Pollution Shampoo and Conditioner with Aquatic Mint (weird).

I feel like this is a high value box with products I’ll actually use – good job, Sephora!

Sephora Play gives you a lot of bang for your buck each month. Sephora Play is only $10/month. You can sign up at sephora.com/play

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Deja Ulta Haul

I am getting serious deja vu from this Ulta Haul – oh yeah, I did a haul like this almost exactly a year ago.

I decided to use my 20% code to stock up on L’Oreal Colorista Semi-Permanent Hair Color for the kids ($10.99 each) in “Red”, “Maroon”, and “Burgundy”. I also picked up a L’Oreal Colorista Highlights Kit (also $10.99). Will I ruin my hair? Maybe…but maybe it will look amazing? The color isn’t important – I just need to process it to pick up the pink dye I’ll add to it later…

In addition to the hair dye, I grabbed one of the cute little I Heart Revolution Donut Palette ($7) – of course, I got the “Chocolate Dipped”. I also grabbed some sale NYX lippies – Liquid Suede Metallic Creme Lipstick in “Acme” ($2.09, down from $2.99) and Lip Lingerie Glitter in “Eurotrash” ($5.25, down from $7.50). I am a bit disappointed in the Lip Lingerie Glitter – it is more like a glossy paste than a long lasting liquid lipstick – but I am IN LOVE with the Liquid Suede in “Acme” – it is perfect!

I also continued my experimentation with hair dissolving chemicals by picking up Nair Glides Away Sensitive Formula Hair Remover with Coconut Oil for Bikini, Arms & Underarms ($8.99). I haven’t tried it yet, but hopeful.

I got a HUGE Beauty Break with my $65 order – a 14 piece Fresh by Day Summer Sampler. Inside the sampler: NEST Grapefruit & Verbena Fragranced Body Wipes (weird); Soap & Glory Flake Away Body Polish (oh, it’s for your legs); Vichy Purete Thermale One Step Cleanser for Sensitive Skin (a positively huge 3.3 oz tube); Bed Head by TIGI Queen Beach Salt Infused Texture Spray (another full size product); Clean Rain; eyeko Yoga Waterproof Mascara (nope); Alterna Caviar Anti-Aging Replenishing Moisture CC Cream; MAC Prep + Prime Fix+ Setting Spray; PUR Lit Mist; Pacifica Indian Coconut Nectar Body Butter; Bare Republic Mineral Sunscreen Lotion with Diamond Dust (a shimmery suntan lotion – crazy); Poo-Pourri “Lavender Vanilla”; Mamonde Petal Spa Oil to Foam (I LOVE the way this smells); and CoTZ Face Moisture Mineral Sunscreen. A great set of summer samples!

I got a second 20% off code after this order, but it expired yesterday. Oh well…$522 to Diamond status.

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Natural Blonde

I had hoped to cover all 6 of the Sinful Colors Pride Collection during Pride Month, but we’re here at the end and I’m only on the fourth one…which is Sinful Colors “Natural Blonde” – which I am definitely NOT.

I’ve been blonde a few different times – it was a wild ride every time. This polish is pretty close to the color my hair turns with bleach – brassy yellow.

I’m not the biggest fan of yellow polishes, but this gold glitter is one of the better ones. It’s super-saturated and full coverage in just two coats. I started with Sinful Colors Base Coat and topped with Glisten & Glow Top Coat…except for that mattified little pinky.