Category: Body

Mystery Gift Card Ulta Haul
Never look a gift (card) horse in the mouth!
I am not going to ask any questions as to why my employer sent me a duplicate of the $100 Ulta gift card that I got in December – I just spent on things I didn’t want to spend my own money on…
Peach Slices Scar Remedy Silicone Sheets ($19.99) had been chilling in my cart since January. I had a cyst on my arm removed and I would like to avoid scarring. Guess what – these damn things won’t stay on my skin, so I have no idea if they actually work. Dammit.
My big splurge was the Urban Decay Cosmetics Naked Shaped Multi-Tasking Eyeshadow Palette Warm ($56). I am fortunate to have a (mostly) neutral skintone, so this palette works for me – although not as well as the Cool one I got a few months ago. It’s giving Naked 3 vibes.
Clinique was 30% off, so I picked up a spare Clinique High Impact Volumizing Mascara in “Black Honey” ($18.90, down from $27).
Something new from Sol de Janeiro: Cheirosa 68 Jelly Perfume Balm ($26). It’s like perfume chapstick? I haven’t decided if I like the way it feels on my skin…
Lots of freebies with this order! There was a Diamond Exclusive gift with $50 purchase – it Cosmetics Confidence in a Cream Moisturizer – good stuff. I also got a Peach Slices Snail Rescue All-In-One Oil Free Moisturizer with $10 purchase.
Inside the free 8 piece Skin Sampler with my $70 purchase: Sol de Janeiro Beija Flor Elasti-Cream (to match my Jelly Perfume Balm!); Cocokind Electrolyte Water Cream; First Aid Beauty Ultra Gentle Cream-to-Foam Face Cleanser; Clarins One-Step Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser; Versed Cleansing Balm; Charlotte Tilbury Charlotte’s Magic Water Cream; e.l.f. Cosmetics Thirst Burst Drops (I am using a sample of this now – good stuff); erborian Skin Hero; and Vacation Crystal SPF 50 Face Gel. I think I’ll use every single one, except the cleansing balm.
Inside the free 7 piece skin care sampler with $95 purchase: Klairs Supple Preparation Unscented Toner; Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Serum; mixsoon Bifida Ferment Essence; Round Lab 1025 Dokdo Ampule (what IS this?); Peter Thomas Roth Peptide Skinjection (wasn’t this fool in the Epstein Files?); DIME Hyaluronic Acid Serum; and Dermalogica Stabilizing Repair Cream. A higher end bag of samples – but I’m less likely to use these.
$1,027 to Diamond in 2027.

Covered in Roses for my Birthday
I had a BIG birthday last week…the big 5-0. I can KICK…and I can STRETCH…barely.
I’ve gotten over the fact that no one ever knows what to gift me…I feel like I am easy to chop for. I’m very vocal about what I like, but there’s the small problem of me buying whatever I want, whenever I want it. So when my daughter asked me what I wanted, I just told her that I want “Covered in Roses” stuff from Bath & Body Works, because I had sampled it at the tail end of the Semi-Annual Sale and fell in love. There were a few other rose scents launched for Valentine’s Day, but they were not for me.
I was expecting a lotion and maybe a spray, but my child took advantage of B3G3 and got me every single product in the line, except the Hand Soap (which wasn’t included in the sale). I’m talking Fragrance Mist, Shower Gel AND Moisturizing Body Wash, as well as Lotion, Body Cream and Body Butter. Come smell me – I’m wearing it right now.
Per B&BW, the notes are ruby berries, sugared rosebuds and blush amber. I think the berries are delivering the green note I sense, and the amber is very subtle – I don’t do well with overly musky scents. I hope this one sticks around!

November 2025 Ipsy Ultimate – Natasha Denona
Ipsy Icon Box (previously Ipsy X) is now called Ipsy Ultimate. Nothing like a rebrand, huh?
At least I’ve heard of Natasha Denona. I prefer the boxes curated by brands (like Natasha Denona) or by actual celebrities. I have wasted too much time googling celebrity makeup artists, or worse…influencers…and I literally do not care.
The biggest surprise of the box was the Natasha Denona Yucca Palette ($69). I was expected to look like a tumbleweed, but all the earthy desert tones really pop on my skin. Who knew that my best eyeshadow color would be mustard yellow? The box also came with Natasha Denona Hy-Glam Concealer ($30), but I haven’t tried it yet. I should…I’ve been eating macadamia nuts all week and my skin is garbage.
My product choice were pretty good this month. I picked Tatcha The Matcha Cleanse ($40 – I would never spend $40 on face wash…but this is a nice fucking face wash); Salt & Stone Black Rose & Oud Body Lotion ($20 – I am in love with this woody rose scent); and Dr. Jart+ Ceramidin Skin Barrier Moisturizing Eye Cream ($44 – a bad pick, I think I thought it was face cream – boo!)
Also in this month’s box: Lithe Beauty Soft Fill Lip Pencils in “Dusk” & “Scarlet” ($32 – nice, soft lip pencils); Bisha Essential Eye Designer Duo Set in “Downtown Black” & “Uptown Brown” ($58 – haven’t tried yet); and Persona Cosmetics Volumizing Tubing Mascara in “Black” ($24 – haven’t tried yet).
$317 worth of products this quarter!
I subscribe to the basic ipsy bag for $14/month (recently increased from $13/month) and Icon Box (formerly Glam Bag X) for an extra $60/quarterly (recently increased from $43/quarterly). If you’d like to try Ipsy –  click here. I’ll earn 250 points if you sign up through my referral link.

Hydrating Ulta Haul
My purchases from November’s Diamond Love List are all about hydration – my hair, my body, my legs – all of it.
I was hoping that the NatureLab. Tokyo Saisei combo would help with my flakes, but I’m not seeing any improvement. I saw good things online about CeraVe Anti-Dandruff Hydrating Shampoo and Conditioner ($11.99 each). I haven’t started them yet – but I’m about 2/3 of the way through the Saisei…maybe another week or two.
I have been wanting Sol de Janeiro Beija Flor Elasti Renewing Body Wash ($26), so I got it (with an Xmas gift) and qualified for a free 3-piece gift, which includes a makeup bag, with deluxe samples of Bum Bum Cream and Firmeza Body Oil.
Have I mentioned lately how much I love the scent of Tree Hut Tangerine? There was a sale, so I restocked on Tree Hut Moisturizing Shave Oil in “Tangerine” ($9.99, down from $10.99) and Tree Hut Serum-Infused Hand Wash in “Tangerine” ($4.89, down from $5.99).
I always need more deodorant, so I decided to try megababe Soapy Pits Aluminum-Free Clear Gel Deodorant ($14).
Even though I used a $20 off $100 code, plus $9 in Ulta points, I still qualified for a free 11 Piece Hydration Gift with select $75 shipped purchase (what did I say about ‘hydration’). Inside the gift: Knours. Be Kind Hydrating Jojoba Oil + Aloe Vera H2O Double Duty Mist (I have no idea); Lancome Renergie Yeux H.C.F. Triple Serum; philosophy hope in a jar smooth-slow multi-tasking moisturizer; belif The True Cream – aqua bomb; DORE La Creme All-in-One Daily Moisturizer; Tula Skincare 24-7 Ultra Hydration Serum; Drunk Elephant Bora Barrier Repair Cream; Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Rich Barrier Moisturizer; Origins Ginzing Glow-Boosting Gel Moisturizer; and COSRX The Ceramide Skin Barrier Moisturizer. I will use every one of these, except maybe that weird jojoba oil.

August 2025 Ipsy Icon Box – Ash K. Holm
I was so disappointed that I did not get one of my product choices this month. I chose Dr. Jart+ Vital Hydra Solution Glow Face Mask with Hyaluronic Acid ($37), but they swapped it out with Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder ($43). Normally, I wouldn’t be pressed about receiving an equivalent value product, but I have SO MUCH of this setting powder. Ugh.
I really like the Fenty Beauty Slip Shine Sheer Shiny Lipstick in “Goji Gang” ($26) – it’s like Clinique Black Honey, but glossier and sexier. The jury is still out on Kopari Beauty Kaanapali Coast Hair & Body Mist ($29) – it is overwhelmingly coconutty. I’ll have to be careful with it.
Also in this month’s Icon Box: Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm ($40 – I don’t like cleansing balms, so I’ll be giving this away); Haus Beauty B Structural Volumizing and Lengthening Mascara in “Black Onyx” ($29 – I’ve used it once, it’s plain black mascara); Kulfi Beauty Underlined Kajal Eyeliner Duo ($40 – who is out here paying this much for two eyeliners?); ODACITÉ C-Glow Hydra-Firm Body Oil ($40 – puzzled by what to do with this); and Patrick Ta Major Dimension II Rose Eyeshadow Palette ($70). Honestly, I absolutely get why this eye shadow is $70 – it’s smooth, creamy and blendable – and it even comes with two cream bases to lock in your look. I haven’t been brave enough to try them…yet.
I had to google Ash K. Holm to find out that she is the Kardashians’ makeup artist. Alrighty then.
This month’s box comes in at $317 value…not bad, except for all the weird bummer products. Is it time to say goodbye to the Icon Box?
I subscribe to the basic ipsy bag for $14/month (recently increased from $13/month) and Icon Box (formerly Glam Bag X) for an extra $60/quarterly (recently increased from $43/quarterly). If you’d like to try Ipsy –  click here. I’ll earn 250 points if you sign up through my referral link.

Wednesday Ulta Haul
I am a sucker for Vaults/PR Boxes and also a sucker for the Diamond Love List, which made my purchase of the NYX Limited Edition Wednesday Full Collection Vault Kit ($90) inevitable. I was skeptical at first – I was afraid I wouldn’t use most of the products (see Spongebob PR Box) – but it’s all wearable for me! The Vault included the Nevermore Academy Palette (so many earthy glitters!); three Wednesday Color-Adjusting Lip Oils – “Nightshade”, “Thorn Pricked” and “Moon Shifted” (I absolutely love these lip oils – they change color and act like a stain); Wednesday Cello Vivid Matte Purple Liquid Liner (this is the only product I haven’t tried yet – give me time); Wednesday Stained Glass Blush Palette (no purple? huh?); Wednesday Stained Glass Contour Palette (my favorite of the bunch – I’ve been using it as eye shadow); and a Wednesday Phone Umbrella (weird idea, but it matches my eggplant colored phone). I even got another freebie from NYX – free Summer Grippie Socks with $30 purchase. I won’t be wearing them until winter, but I appreciate them nonetheless. Let me reiterate, I LOVE this collection – it’s giving Kat Von D Beauty, but without all the anti-Semitism.
I added a few more goodies to my cart: Sol de Janeiro Cheirosa 68 Hair & Body Perfume Mist ($26 – to go with all the Beija Flor samples I’ve been getting); Thayers Alcohol-Free Witch Hazel Facial Toner ($8.21 – 25% off); and a Wet Brush The Original Mini Detangler Hair Brush ($5.99 – for travel). No eyebrow pencils this time…
Not only did I get a sample of Nutrafol Hair Serum with my $50 purchase, I also got a free Diamond & Platinum Exclusive 11 Piece Gift with $80 purchase. The gift included Sol de Janeiro Beija Flor Elasti-Cream (SEEEEEE!); belif Aqua bomb eye gel; Dolce & Gabbana “Devotion”; Jean Paul Gaultier “Gaultier Divine”; Peter Thomas Roth Instant Firm No-Filter Primer; Uni 24-Hour Serum; tarte Lights, Camera, Action Platinum Mascara; Sunday Riley Good Genes; Kylie Jenner “Cosmic”; Azzaro “Forever Wanted”; and Briogeo Scalp Revival (I wonder if it will work on psoriasis?).
I had a $10 off code, so I used that on this order, as well as $17.50 in points. I am so close to Diamond in 2026 that I don’t mind saving a little money when I can. Just $59 to go!

First Day Semi-Annual Sale Haul
I slipped into the closest Bath & Body Works on the first day of the sale…it was a month ago, but I held off on posting my hauls because I thought I would go back and buy more…I didn’t.
I didn’t buy much in person – it was my lunch break, and the stores always have more foaming hand soap, while I prefer the gel. I did find a lovely Beehive Wallflower Plug (I wish I had bought two), a dog deodorizing spray, a candle and some antibacterial gel….however…
…however, on the first day of the sale, the website had hand soap AND Wallflower refills for $2.99, with free shipping over $100. I jumped right on that and replenished my stock with 22 Hand Soaps and 12 Wallflower refills. I’m lazy…(or is that complacent)…so I’m not going to list out all the scents I got. You’ll just have to come sniff the air and wash your hands at my house to find out.
I did not buy ANY new sets of scents for my bathtime rituals – can you believe it?

June 2025 Ipsy Bag – Make Bold Moves
I love the pattern on this month’s ipsy bag, but the flimsy material is disappointing. I love a mod motif moment, but a stiffer material would have made it bound for my purse…but alas, it’s not tough enough.
I haven’t used my product choice this month – INH Hair Mini Quick Slick Flyaway Hair Finishing Stick. It’s a good idea and I can see throwing it in my purse if I’m going out…wait, when do I ever “go out”?
Also in this month’s bag: First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Body Lotion (this stuff is great – going in my travel bag); Goldfaden MD Radiance Whip Brightening Treatment Mask (I used this last week – it felt nice, but I couldn’t tell if I was brighter); Luna Magic Always Demure Concealer Brush (will never use this); and YC Collection Oh, My Eyebrows! in “Medium Brown” (this one is really good – I like the texture, although it did crumble a bit while using it).
A decent bag this month!
I subscribe to the basic ipsy bag for $14/month (recently increased from $13/month) and Icon Box (formerly Glam Bag X) for an extra $60/quarterly (recently increased from $43/quarterly). If you’d like to try Ipsy –  click here. I’ll earn 250 points if you sign up through my referral link.