Category: Face
Sephora Play! 05 – January 2016
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Apparently, Sephora thinks I’m getting old…”No Appointment Necessary” is January’s theme. The insert says that these products will “help me get expert-level results at home.” Well then…
They sent me…Living Proof Prime Style Extending Spray (the Jennifer Anniston stuff); Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare alpha beta peel original formula (when I was a kid, I loved putting Elmer’s Glue on my hand and trying to peel it off in a single sheet); dr. brandt Needles No More Wrinkle Relaxer; Sephora Rose Eye Mask (my favorite scent); Clinique Chubby Stick Sculpting Highlight in “Hefty Highlight”; and Tocca Isabel (another rosy scent – I love it…).
Just a few weeks until 40…I’m ready.
Sephora Play is only $10/month. You can sign up at sephora.com/play.
The Saga of “Give Me Some Nude Lip”
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I’m going to tell you a story…it’s a very scary story…but I can promise that it has a happy ending.
The Monday before last, Sephora released an all-nude version of their “Give Me Some Lip” Set – even though it was $28, I had to have it. Inside the all new “Give Me Some Nude Lip” Set: Laura Mercier Crème Smooth Lipstick in “Milky Way”; NARS Lipstick in “Dolce Vita”; Marc Jacobs Beauty Mini (P)Outliner Longwear Lip Pencil in “Prim(Rose) (cocoa spice)”; NUDESTIX Lip + Cheek Crayon in “Whisper”; and Tarte Deluxe Tarteist Lip Paint in “Namaste Nude”.
On Thursday…my box arrived. I gleefully opened the box, carefully peeled the sticker seals from the lip-shaped box…and the contents were FUCKED UP…Noooooooooooooo! There were two Marc Jacobs lip liners and no Tarte Lip Paint. A tragedy. I called Sephora Customer Service…and their computers were down and they couldn’t help me. I called an hour later…and the phone jockey hung up on me. I called right back…computers still down. Finally, a few hours after that – everything was back to normal and I got someone who could help me. She told me that she would send out another one immediately and I could just return this one to my closest store. YES.
So while I waited, at least I had other samples to play with. My order qualified for the free Beauty to Love Sample bag, which came with Becca Backlight Priming Filter (huh?); Atelier Cologne “Mandarine Glaciale” (I have so many samples of this, but I love it); Perricone MD Re:Firm Surface Recovery Treatment; Touch in Sol Feels Like Honey Moon Skin Base (I just tried the one I got in my last Allure Beauty Thrills – it’s ok, but not moisturizing enough for winter); BITE Beauty Agave Lip Masks (I tried the last sample I got a few days ago – feel nice at bedtime); First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Hydra-Firm Sleeping Cream; Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer; and Skin Inc Pure Deepsea Hydrating Mask. I’m glad I got these good samples, because I didn’t get ANY of the ones I picked at checkout. Instead I got Thierry Mugler “Alien” (Smells so gross); Clinique Moisture Surge (I like this stuff); and Dr. brandt Do Not Age Beauty Sleep Serum.
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On Saturday, I dutifully delivered my fucked up lip set to Sephora. The return was quick, but then the “Cast Member” decided I need skin stuff and showed me a bunch of skin care stuff and smears some Kate Somerville stuff on my hand. I thanked her and got the hell out of there without buying a thing.
Days passed…On Tuesday, my new box arrived.
I was holding my breath as I opened it…YES! Everything in this box was perfect. I also got three more samples – Lancome Teint Idole Ultra Makeup Stick (I feel like I keep getting Lancome stuff and I should be more excited about it…but I’m not); Prada “Candy” and DKNY “Be Desired”.
I’m going to be taking all these nude beauties with me to Vegas in a few days – I can’t wait to try them all! Good thing I ordered it on the first day it was available…it’s already out of stock! Yay – happy ending!
Target Beauty Boxes – January 2016
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Two Target Beauty Boxes this month…and they’re BOTH for ME! I don’t have to share with ANYONE.
Inside the “Refresh” box: Acure Day Cream (Definitely gonna use this); John Frieda Keraflex Hair Spray; Nivea In-Shower Body Lotion (I do not understand the concept of in-shower body lotion – doesn’t it just end up all over your towel?); Clear Total Care Shampoo & Conditioner (going to my sister); Simple Micellular Wipes (I got these in the last Allure Beauty Thrills – I opened the other day to prep before using my Tria); Marlowe Extra Moisturizing Lotion (smells divine); Nip+Fab Glycolic Fix Pads (it says they “retexture and resurface” my skin – uhhhh, scary); and scünci Braided Elastic Bands.
Inside the “Renewal” box: Caress Love Forever Body Wash; Attitude 2-in-1 Shampoo & Body Wash (What? No.); Laneige BB Cushion (I got this in another Target Beauty Box…and still haven’t tried it. Oops.); scünci No Slip Grip Braided Headband; Degree Women Fresh Energy Dry Spray; Jergens Wet Skin Moisturizer (I am sensing a trend…); Attitude Volume & Shine Shampoo; Revlon Ultimate All-In-One Mascara (Actually so excited to try this that I trashed the old Julep Mascara I had been using up); and Hada Labo Tokyo Anti-Aging Facial Mask (I received one of these in Ulta’s 2014 Cyber Monday bag…again, haven’t tried it yet).
A few repeats…a wakeup call for me to actually use this shit! I don’t believe in New Years Resolutions, but I’m gonna do it!
Each were $7 and each came with a $3 off $15 coupon. Maybe I’ll actually use both this time. At least I managed to use one of the coupons last month…on replacement electric toothbrush heads. So glamorous.
January Birchbox – Moodboard Your Year
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January’s Birchbox issued a challenge to “Moodboard Your Year”, so I declared 2016 as The Year of Creativity. I want to be more creative with my beauty purchases and not just buy the same things I’ve been buying. Don’t get me wrong – I’m not going to stop hoarding…I just want to become more CREATIVE in my hoarding…
Hmmm…How can I be creative with my January Birchbox? I received amika Bombshell Blowout Spray; Embryolisse Lait-Creme Concentre (I am happy to get any moisturizer, but the name is grossing me out…I didn’t see embryo in the ingredients, but…); Eyeko Fat Liquid Liner (OMG, it’s like a sharpie!); R+Co. Death Valley Dry Shampoo (Ugh); and TONYMOLY Delight Tony Tint in “Red” (my sample choice for the month).
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.
Zap Zap Zap
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So…I finally broke down and ordered a laser to zap my bikini line. (I had gotten it done at Sona MedSpa a few years ago, but I figured buying a home laser would be cheaper than paying for touch-ups.) Sephora had the Tria Hair Removal Laser 4X on sale for $399, so I jumped on that deal – they’re usually $449, even on Amazon. So I managed to get a sale price, while guaranteeing at least VIB status for 2017. I’m looking forward to zapping my privates later…
For freebies, I chose boscia Detoxifying Black Cleanser, Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Intensive Exfoliating Treatment and Fresh Black Tea Age-Delay Cream. I also used a code for a fresh deluxe sample of Fresh Soy Face Cleanser. I even used some of the points I’d been hoarding to get Formula X Nail Color in “Obsessed” and more belif – The True Cream Moisturizing Bomb – I love that stuff!
Oh, I was slightly kicking myself when I got my zulily email this morning and one of the deals was the Tria 4X for $389…But I quickly got over it when I remembered my Sephora status – definitely worth the extra $10.
January Julep Maven Box – New Year, Fresh Look
As soon as I saw this month’s new beauty product, I knew I was picking it – No Limits Luxe Hydrating Crème, a universal moisturizer. I’ve got flaky winter skin on my cheeks and chin – I need it GONE. Fingers crossed that it doesn’t clog my pores and give me a nasty breakout.
The rest of January’s “New Year, Fresh Look” Collection was pretty saucy. I had a hard time choosing, but I finally decided on Bombshell “Shay” – celadon iridescent chrome – and Boho Glam “Marika” – stone matte metallic. I wanted “Celeste” – cosmic gray iridescent glitter, but I didn’t feel like paying extra, so I’m hoping I can swap it into my box next month.
Oh, look…Junior Mints! Yup, they’re gone already.
Not a Julep Maven? Leave a comment and I’ll send you a referral email good for a free welcome box!
Sephora Play! 04 – December 2015
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“Oh What Fun” is Sephora Play’s December theme and oh, what fun it is. I’m not sure if I lost the little playbook that came with it, or if I just lost it somewhere in my house…but I usually don’t remember to cash in the card for 50 extra points anyway.
Inside…NUDE Skincare Advanced Renewal Serum (5 packets!); Viktor & Rolf “Flowerbomb” (saving for my sister, she likes this scent a lot); Smashbox Full Exposure Eye Shadow Duo; Dr. Brandt Skincare PoreDermabrasion (love getting Dr. Brandt); Make Up For Ever Aqua Eyes in “Matte Black” (eek, waterproof eyeliner…NO); and Fresh Seaberry Moisturizing Oil (My skin is SO flaketastic right now).
Sephora Play is only $10/month. You can sign up at sephora.com/play.
A Very Rouge Xmas
So…I knew whatever I was getting for Xmas put me over the top to Sephora Rouge status (they started email blasting me IMMEDIATELY), but I have been dying the last few weeks to find out what I was gonna get. Of course, I already knew about the Urban Decay Gwen Stefani Palette, but what else???
My husband also got my the Urban Decay Vice 4 Palette! And my kids got me the Kat Von D Mi Vida Loca Studded Kiss Lip Set! The girls behind the counter at Sephora was so impressed with their picks, that they filled their bag with stocking stuffers for me: Benefit Fake Up, First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream, Sephora Gel Gloss Ultra Brilliant Ultra Shine Lip Gel in “Pin-up Pink”, and Perricone MD High Potency Face Firming Activator. So sweet!
On top of that, he actually bought me a purse – he picked out himself, with NO input from me AT ALL. It’s a badass red Loungefly with huge embossed sugar skull. He done GOOD.
December Beauty Box 5 – Smoky Season
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Okay Beauty Box 5, you’re on the bubble – I haven’t decided if I’m going to keep you in 2016.
December’s “Smoky Season” box is another weird one. This box included: OFRA Shimmer Eye Shadow in “Millenium Bark” (The color is alright, but it’s just a loose tin pan – what the fuck am I gonna do with that?); Beauty Box 5 Blender Brush; Prestige Cosmetics Total Intensity Eyeliner in “Deepest Black”; The Beauty Crop Glamazon Stick (a highlighter crayon); and So Fresh So Clean Makeup Removing Cleansing Towelettes (I’d complain about all the makeup remover wipes I am getting, but I actually used a lot of them this past Halloween).
I don’t know that I’ll be using ANY of these products any time soon. Grumble, grumble.
Allure Beauty Thrills – December 2015
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Just like last year, the Allure Beauty Thrills Box went on sale during Thanksgiving vacation. Again, I set my alarm and ordered. The price went up again – $49.95 now, with $10 shipping. Even so, it is a hell of a deal.
There were a few repeats from previous boxes, but loads of new stuff: Algenist Power Advanced Wrinkle Fighter Serum (easily the most valuable item in the box – $105 on Sephora’s site); Aloxxi Volumizing Whip (eh, I am SO past the mousse phase); Caress Daily Silk Silkening Body Wash (this is THE BEST for shaving your legs in the shower); Clear Scalp & Hair Total Care Nourishing Shampoo & Conditioner (going to my sister); Colgate Optic White Toothbrush + Built-In Whitening Pen (my third one); Colgate Optic White Express White Toothpaste; Dove Advanced Care Anti-Perspirant/Deodorant (still using the last one I got); Dove Deep Moisture Wash (another good one for leg shaving); e.l.f. Studio Lip Exfoliator (intrigued); e.l.f. Studio Moisturizing Lipstick in “Bordeaux Beauty”; HASK Monoi Coconut Nourishing Shine Oil (another repeat); Herbal Essences Naked Volume Shampoo (what the fuck am I supposed to do with shampoo and no conditioner?); Jessica Custom Nail Color in “Soak Up the Sun” (bright ass pink); Michael Todd Knu Anti-Aging Face Lift Serum ($58 on Ulta’s site); Not Your Mother’s Clean Freak Unscented Refreshing Dry Shampoo (Ugh); One ‘N Only Island Essentials Awapuhi Intensive Treatment; Redken One United Multi-Benefit Treatment (I LOVE the Blonde Idol BB Spray from my first Allure box – looking forward to this one); Rusk Working Spray; Simple Skincare Micellular Make-Up Remover Wipes; Sonia Kashuk Tools Medium Eye Shadow Brush No. 28 (I needed another blending brush); Suave Professionals Moroccan Infusion Styling Oil; Touch In Sol Feel Like Honey Moon Skin Base; and Yes to Tomatoes Detoxifying Charcoal Cleanser (Tomatoes and charcoal sounds like something you’d use to get out skunk stink).
All these high end wrinkle products – my face is going to be a smooth as a baby’s behind!