Category: Face
On Wednesdays, We Order from Ulta
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Ulta knows what they are doing, offering their Wednesday Beauty Breaks…I’ll be pondering on whether to order something, I’ll get that email, and I’ve clicked “Complete Order” before I know what hit me…
Since my main purchase was a gift, I’ll show you the stuff for ME that I got. I ordered BOGHalf Freeman Beauty Masks – both new – Banana-Oat Instant Smoothing Mask and Charcoal & Black Sugar Mud Mask. There’s a new Apple Cider Vinegar Mask that I wanted, but it was sold out.
This weeks Beauty Break (free with $50 purchase) was from Laura Geller. It was Baked Marble Eyeshadow Duo in “Pink Icing/Devil’s Food”; Color Drenched Lip Gloss in “Pink Lemonade”; i-care Waterproof Eyeliner in “Charcoal”; and double-ended makeup brush (I wanted this the most!) – all in a cute gold wristlet.
I got nearly the same skincare samples AGAIN – Benefit The POREfessional and smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer. Both are good products – but I have so much! Oh…and I used a $3.50 off coupon to get my total to $50.94 – I’m getting good at this!
March Birchbox – Ready for Anything
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This month’s Birchbox has me “Ready for Anything”!
I chose this month’s curated box. Inside the box: PARLOR by Jeff Chastain Smoothing Blowout Spray; MILK Studios Lip Color in “C.R.E.A.M.” (What is this, lipstick for ants?); Smashbox Photo Op Eye Shadow Trio in “Filter” (Pretty browns, but unfortunately, one of the pans is shattered); Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream; and Wilma Schumann Hydrating Collagen Eye Pads.
A cute little box…if I can salvage the eye shadow and figure out how to use that tiny little lipstick.
If you would like to try Birchbox, click on my referral link – https://www.birchbox.com/invite/5453f – I’ll get 50 points if you join.
Target Beauty Box – March 2016
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This month’s Target Beauty Box is giving me “Vacay Vibes”.
So much stuff for just $5 this month! Inside my box: Clairol Hair Food Moisture Shampoo & Conditioner; Not Your Mother’s Texturizing Sea Salt Spray (I had stopped getting so many of these…but here we go again); Sinful Colors Professional Nail Color in “Poisonberry” (I don’t have this one – yassss!); Laneige Water Sleeping Mask (Always happy to get this product – will be gone in no time); Banana Boat Sun Control Comfort SPF 30 Lotion (Yup, need to start stockpiling sunblock for the summer); nügg anti-aging Face Mask; you are AMAZING Juicy Grapefruit Body Lotion (Mmmmm, smells juicy); and Caress Adore Forever Body Wash.
I wonder if I can use my $3 off $5 coupon on next month’s box? But then, wouldn’t I have to buy 3 of them?
Bonus Ulta Haul
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For the past few years, I’ve had a ritual. As soon as I find out what my yearly bonus will be, I go online and buy the makeup that’s been on my mind. I only spend around $50 – nothing huge – it’s just a fun, immediate way to celebrate.
This time, I immediately went to Ulta’s site and started adding.
First was another Makeup Revolution Palette and another Salvation Lip Lacquer in “Nothing Like Anything”.
In addition to 3 more NYX Lip Lingerie and another Lip Ombre Duo in “Rags & Riches”, I also decided to try NYX HD Finishing Powder in “Banana”. Yup, I’m gonna try Banana Powder…the Kardashian Holy Grail for contouring. I’m not going to contour, per se…I don’t know what I’m gonna do with it.
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There was also a Skincare Beauty Break – it was free, so why not? It came with a Clarisonic brush head (I don’t have a Clarisonic…yet); Mario Badescu Enzyme Cleansing Gel; Clarins One-Step Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser; Exuviance Purifying Clay Mask; and Bliss Fabulous Makeup Melt. My freebies were Benefit Air Patrol and Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer (I think I have enough of this to paint my house now).
I promise – these NYX Lip Lingerie Liquid Lipsticks are NOT all the same color. From top to bottom, they are “Push-up”, “Corset” and “Bedtime Flirt”. The formula is creamy, although a bit drying, and last almost all day
I wore “Push-up” today – it looked great with a dramatic matte eye. It did feel dry after a few hours, so I did a bit of lip balm over it to replenish my lips. It didn’t melt away and didn’t leave any weird residue on my lips.
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I couldn’t resist swatching the Makeup Revolution Salvation “New-trals vs. Neutrals” palette. It’s a bit frustrating that all the Salvation palettes come in identical plastic cases…although this palette is matte black plastic and “Girls on Film” is shiny plastic. Other than that, the only way to tell them apart is to look at the stick on the back. This palette also comes with the shadow names printed on the plastic liner – I love that! It also came with a good quality, dual-ended brush – instead of the sponge applicator in “Girls on Film”.
The quality also feels better than “Girls on Film”. I wore it this morning, sticking to the lightest matte and the orangey matte for my crease. It went on flawlessly with the brush and blended beautifully. I’m looking forward to trying the shimmers tomorrow – they look very similar to the UD Gwen Stefnai palette. I’m in HEAVEN…at least until my monster order for the Makeup Revolution site makes it across the pond…
Summerstash
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Oh Nouveau Cheap, you are so dangerous to me…the moment she posted Sephora Favorites Summerstash on sale for $30 (regularly $45), I jumped all over it.
Even though this set came out a year or two ago, I neeeeeeeded it. Inside the sassy gold canvas bag: Buxom Divine Goddess Luminizer in “Venus” (the product I am least likely to use); Deborah Lippmann Nail Lacquer in “Mermaid’s Dream” (yassss); Josie Maran Coconut Watercolor Cheek Gelee; Marc Jacobs Beauty Mini Lash Lifter in “Blacquer”; Make Up For Ever Aqua Eyes Waterproof Pencil (my big sis called dibs); NARS Travel Size “Laguna” Bronzing Powder; Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Stained Gloss in “New Wave” (AND it came with a brush!); stila Cosmetics Magnificent Metals Foil Finish Eye Shadow in “Kitten” (YASSSS); and Urban Decay All Nighter Makeup Setting Spray.
I finally used some points to get some goodies – Buxom Objects of Obsession (500 pts), which includes Mini Vanity Lash Mascara in “Show-Off Black”; Mini Hold the Line Waterproof Eyeliner in “I’ll Be Waiting”; Mini Full-On Lip Cream in “Kir Royale”; and Mini Full-On Lip Polish in “Sophia”. I also got two 100 pt items – Pink Gel Coat Nail Strengthener & Brightener and Liquid Blendercleanser.
I also used a code to get two extra samples – NARS Audacious Mascara in “Black Moon” and First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream – in addition to the three regular samples, Marc Jacobs “Decadence” (smells like the inside of a rich old lady’s purse); Dr. Dennis Gross ferulic + retinol wrinkle recovery peel and Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer.
I may have too much mascara now…
Target Retail Therapy
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I’ve had a rough week…so a little lunchtime retail therapy at Target was necessary…
I remembered to use my $3 off coupon…I stocked up on up & up dip-its (they’re only $1.49 now!) and got another St. Ives Green Tea Scrub – I’ve been out for a while. My splurge was another NYX Ombre Lip Duo in “Hearts & Spades”. I don’t know where I’m going to wear black and red lipstick to…work? Why not?
I also bought a bunch of hangers…Huggable Hangers were 25% with Cartwheel, but I was so distracted that I forgot to scan the barcode. SONOFABITCH!
February Birchbox – Date Night
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Just in time for VD – my “Date Night” Birchbox is here…
I really wanted to try the new Arrow lip gloss that was a sample choice, but since I was in Vegas, I didn’t click fast enough and it was sold out. So, I chose the curated “Date Night” box. Inside: Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Lip Tar in “Strumpet” (I’ve been wanting to try Lip Tar so bad!); Cynthia Rowley Beauty Brightening Illuminator (got this in a Birchbox last year); Whish Renewing Mud Mask; amika Bombshell Blowout Spray (I got this just last month!); and Catherine Malandrino “Romance de Provence” (smells like Grandma…not mine, but someone’s).
If you would like to try Birchbox, click on my referral link – https://www.birchbox.com/invite/5453f – I’ll get 50 points if you join.
Target Beauty Box – February 2016
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I can’t believe how much stuff is in the February Target Beauty Box – “Sweet Treats”. It is bursting to the seams.
Inside the box: Soapbox Coconut Oil Shampoo & Conditioner; Mayfair Soap Foundry Body Creme in “Sea Lily Jasmine” (Smells good); Vera Wang “Embrace” Eau de Toilette (Pear blossom and green tea – reminds me of my mom); L’Oreal Boost It Air Blown Texture Mist; Skinfix Lip Repair Balm; EcoTools Bath Pouf (it’s a bit tiny, but I can always use these); Laneige BB Cushion (Now that I finally tried the first sample I got, I’ll actually use this); Derma e Hydrating Night Creme (nice); and Incoco Nail Polish Appliques (I need to try these – this is the third pack I’ve gotten).
Just $7 for this box, with a $3 off $15 coupon inside. I need to hurry up and use the last 2 I got – they expire on Sunday.
Another Sephora Makeover
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Back in Vegas this past week – a sort of early 40th birthday celebration. I don’t know if I’ll ever hit Rouge status again, so I’m going to take advantage of the free makeup services while I can. If nothing else, I figured it would be 90 minutes that I wasn’t stuffing my face or losing money in a slot machine.
I scheduled a 90 minute Beauty Consultation with 2 goals – to get better at applying bright eye shadows (unless it’s natural colors, I tend to feel a bit like MiMi from The Drew Carey Show) and to find another BB Cream (since Urban Decay Naked Light has been discontinued).
Tasha started with Too Faced Eye Shadow Primer and a neutral base from the Too Faced Natural Matte Palette. She taught me to start with a matte before adding the color – I had no idea. She then used a combination of Make Up For Ever and Buxom shadows to create this shimmery turquoise look – I felt like a mermaid.
On the BB Cream front, we tried Benefit first – that one was a big fat NOPE. It collected in my pores and made me like I had polka dots. It didn’t work with a layer of The POREfessional either. None of the Bobby Brown colors worked, so Tasha moved on to the Smashbox BB Cream. It was a bit better, but there were still a few odd orange flakes. I decided to wear it for the night before I decided to buy.
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I was also excited that Tasha wanted to try the new Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Definer in “Caramel”. I usually use “Soft Brown”, but she suggested trying a lighter color – it looked great on me. She also used Sephora Color Corrector in “Peach” to correct the dark circles under my eyes. Genius.
My final purchases were rather moderate, if I do say so myself. I picked up the Brow Definer ($23) and Color Corrector ($14), but I also grabbed a Travel Brush ($15) since I forgot mine – DOH!. I also decided to purchase the Skin Inc Get Glam Holiday Set ($65), which includes a full-size Skin Inc Pure Revival Peel and half-size Pure Deepsea Hydrating Mask. A Skin Consultant put both on my face before my the makeup and both felt amazing. I don’t usually spend much money on skin products, but I figured I’d give it a spin since I was using my 10% off VIB code.
I also got the Rouge Welcome Kit, which includes a new RED card and special Marc Jacobs “So Rouge” lipstick. Since my birthday is just around the corner, I also got to pick my birthday gift – I chose the Fresh Set with Soy Face Cleanser and Rose Mask. So, so happy with my purchases and gifts!
First Ulta Haul of 2016
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I didn’t think it would be so soon…but here it is – my first Ulta haul of the year.
I had been using John Frieda Illuminating Shine and I REALLY like they way it makes my newly short hair feel. I noticed it was $3 each on Ulta’s site and went nuts, ordering 3 each of shampoo and conditioner. (I guess it is discontinued now – it’s no longer on Ulta’s site. FUCK.) Isn’t that the way it always goes? You find something you like and them BOOM – it’s gone. Ugh. I also got a John Frieda Gift with Purchase – travel sizes of John Frieda Beach Blonde Cool Dip Purifying Shampoo, Smooth Seas Detangling Conditioner and Sea Waves Sea Salt Spray. Of course, I just cut all the blonde off my hair, but these will be good for summer.
I also picked up Urban Decay Loose Ultra Definition Finishing Powder – I’ve been using the Pressed, but wanted to try this. I also got Biore Baking Soda Liquid Cleanser (is baking soda the new charcoal?) – I tried it last night and it was nice. I had been lusting over Nicole by OPI “Pick of the Glitter” for about a month, after spying it in a Walgreen’s display. It was still on my mind, so I broke down and bought it. (It is every bit as good as I thought it would be.)
My purchase qualified me for the Platinum Skin Beauty Break Gift with $60 Purchase – a little plastic makeup bag with NOICE samples. Inside the bag: Dermablend Professional Setting Powder (Pricey); Philosophy Purity Made Simple One-Step Facial Cleanser (going to Vegas with me); StriVectin SD Advanced Intensive Concentrate for Wrinkles & Stretch Marks (Which one should I work on first?); Juice Beauty Green Apple Peel Sensitive (Leave it to Gwyneth Paltrow to make beauty products in the worst scent imaginable); Clarins Super Restorative Total Eye Concentrate; Lancome Renergie Lift Multi-Action Lifiting and Firming Moisturizer; Skyn Iceland Hydro Cool Firming Eye Gels; Patchology FlashPath Eye Gels; and Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Oil. This is the best sample bag I’ve gotten from Ulta, I think!
I didn’t get my Variety Sampler though…Bummer.