Category: Face
October Ipsy Bag – Alter Ego
Ipsy’s October theme is “Alter Ego”, as in transformation. Everyone likes to transform for Halloween…but I like to transform 365 days a year.
Inside my snazzy black vinyl and gold pleather bag: Eau Thermale Avène Soothing Moisture Mask (yassss); MicaBeauty ipsy EXCLUSIVE Cream Eyeshadow in “Bronze”; AYRES ipsy EXCLUSIVE Pampas Sunrise Hand Cream (mmmm…smells yummy and lemony); theBalm Cosmetics Meet Matt(e) Hughes Long-Lasting Liquid Lipstick in “Committed” (excited about this – texture and color); and Coastal Scents Xpress Line Cosmetic Pencil (It didn’t say what color it is, but I am assuming black.)
No offense, ipsy – but these don’t seem like very transformative products. At least not to me.
If you’d like to try Ipsy – click here. I’ll earn 250 points if you sign up through my link.
October Birchbox – Power Pose
It’s October and you know what that means…PINK. The entire country is drowned in Pepto Bismol pink, a massive marketing event purportedly intended to raise breast cancer awareness, but really designed to sell pink versions of every product possible, from KFC to NFL. I don’t apologize for my cynicism. My mother died of breast cancer a decade ago and I don’t need a pink bucket of chicken breasts to remind me to get MY breasts squished between plexiglass plates on a yearly basis.
In any case, Birchbox offered the choice of two curated Estée Lauder boxes. I picked the “Power Pose” box, which contains Clinique Chubby Stick Moisturizing Lip Colour Balm in “Mega Melon” (is that some kind of ironic joke about breasts?); Clinique Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief; Darphin STIMULSKIN PLUS Multi-Correction Divine Cream; Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Serum Synchronized Complex II; and Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer (I think I have 4 of these now). OH! And an obligatory pink ribbon. Yay.
I know I sound like an asshole – normally, I love the color pink – just not that trademarked Komen pink. One of the organizations that I do admire is The Rose, a local organization that provides Breast Cancer screening and treatment for those who cannot afford it. They are able to do this, not by donations or pink marketing – but by also servicing women (like me) that have insurance and using those funds to support their initiatives. They DO something.
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.
Sephora Play – September 2015
It’s here! The first Sephora Play box! Like I need another subscription box…I DO. I NEED MORE BOXES.
Inside the first Play box: Sephora Collection Rouge Infusion in “Peony” (I got this same color in the new “Gimme Some Lip” box – but I like it); Marc Jacobs Highliner in “Blacquer” (I now have enough black eyeliner to transcribe the bible); Ole Henriksen Sheer Transformation; Bumble and bumble. Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil Primer (Mmmm – excited about this); GlamGlow SuperCleanse (I love putting mud on my face); and Elizabeth and James “Nirvana White” (Ugh, this is my 3rd one – I can’t give this shit away.)
My box also came with a card that will give me 50 extra points with my next Sephora purchase – WIN!
Sephora Play is only $10/month. You can get on the wait list at sephora.com/play.
Vegas Recap
So…I already shared my Sephora Makeover, but I thought I would share a few other highlights from my Vegas trip.
First, I’ve gotta talk about my nails. I had no idea what I was going to wear, so I picked a neutral polish – Julep “Rachael”, graphite shimmer. I accented “Rachael” with Julep “Kirby” – silver jagged glitter top coat – on my thumb and ring finger. I had to use the Chandelier Bar at our hotel, The Cosmpolitan, as a background – it was just too perfect. I started with Julep Oxygen Bonding Base Coat and ended with “HK Girl” – and my nails looked pristine the whole weekend.
Next up…I made the mistake of letting myself get pulled into a skin place at our hotel called Skins 6/2. Before I knew what was happening, some chick was putting crap all over my face. Turns out it was SNAKE VENOM and according to her, it was like all-natural botox. I’ve gotta admit, it momentarily seemed to work. Of course, they were having a one day sale on their Forever Flawless Snake Venom Serum – just $500 instead of $1,500. Really? Did she really think I was going to fall for that shit? My bullshit scam meter was on high alert, so I high-tailed it out of there. A quick google gave me this and this and this. Looks like I managed to avoid a really nasty rash at the very least. Oh…my wrinkles were back by that evening.
Fast forward to the next day…walking through the Miracle Mile shops and a girl at a kiosk tries to get my attention to sample something. I am still irritated by yesterday’s snake oil, so I ignore her and keep walking until my slightly alcohol addled brain realizes that it was a moYou kiosk. I immediately take two steps back and say, “Is this THE moYou?” Yup, it was moYou nail stamping. I’d been wanting to try nail stamping and moYou London is the Cadillac of nail stamping, but I was under the impression that it was only available in the UK. Well, not anymore – they even have a US website now.
I picked up the starter kit + french manicure kit and the saleslady even threw in a free corrector pen and black polish, all for $90. So brace yourselves…nail stamping is coming!
Vegas Sephora Makeover
When I made VIB status at Sephora, I got a voucher for a free custom makeover. Even though there are Sephoras everywhere here, it’s not like I have the time to schedule a makeover. I had nothing but time while I was in Vegas this past weekend, so I figured – why not now?
I scheduled my makeover at the Miracle Mile Sephora, right on the Vegas strip. (I was too lazy to walk all the way to the Forum shops.) I told my artist, Glenn, to start me over completely. He used Sephora PANTONE Color IQ to get my exact skin tone – 1y06. He tried the matching shade of Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Invisible Cover Stick Foundation in “118 – Flesh”, but it was a bit too dark, so he went with “115 – Ivory”. The Color IQ system is AMAZING – now I’ll always know the right color for me!
Glenn taught me the error of my ways – all along, I had been putting foundation first, then doing my eyes and getting eye shadow fall out everywhere. He showed me how to do my eyes first, then use eye cream to clean up the fallout. The eye cream sucks up the makeup, plus freshens under your eyes. For my eyes, he used a combination of the Kat Von D Shade & Light palette + Metal Crush eye shadows in “Raw Power”, “Thunderstruck” & “Symphony”. For the liner, he used Kat Von D Tattoo Liner (which I’ve got). Mascara was Dior.
My eyebrows…are a WORK OF ART. They’re bigger than my usual, but ON FLEEK. Glenn introduced me to the Hourglass Brow Sculpting Pencil. I’m breaking up with my Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz!
He then went to work on my foundation with the Make Up For Ever system. First was the Skin Equalizer, then the stick foundation. He used a foundation brush and it blended beautifully. He finished with NARS Light Reflecting Setting Powder and Make Up Forever Setting Spray. He did go a bit nuts contouring with bronzer, which is not my usual look, but I don’t look like Kim Kardashian, so there’s that.
For my lips, he went neutral with liner and lipstick from Buxom. Glenn was an absolute rock star. My makeover was supposed to be 45 minutes and he spent an HOUR and 45 minutes with me. We spent the whole time talking about our shared interests – John Waters, Face Off & Rocky Horror.
Since I was fresh off a $250 Gremlins slot machine win, I went a little nuts…but not TOO nuts. I got the Make Up For Ever Skin Equalizer & Ultra HD Invisible Cover Stick Foundation. I held back on the Kat Von D Shade & Light palette (it’s so similar to my Monarch palette), but I did get Kat Von D Metal Crush Raw Power. I also got the Hourglass Arch Brow Sculpting Pencil in “Warm Brunette”. I also got a Sephora lip brush – I think it will allow me to use Kat Von D “Piaf” without looking like a lunatic.
The best part? They let me use my VIB 10% discount again!
The next day, I used the techniques that Glenn taught me. I used my Beauty Blender with the foundation stick and the results were even better – I was able to get thinner, more natural coverage. I was right about the lip brush – I rocked “Piaf” on Saturday night and didn’t look like a freak!
September Ipsy Bag – Face Fashion
“Face Fashion” – is “face” being used as a verb or a descriptive noun? I am so confused…am I being told to look toward fashion or being advised that these products are fashion for my face???
In any case, all of the products in this month’s ipsy bag are for my face: NYX Cosmetics ipsy eye Shadow Trio (LOVE these limited edition colors); Evelyn Iona Cosmetics Cream Blush in “ASH” (Looks pink to me); J. Cat Beauty #MOTD Waterproof Slide on Pencil for Eyes in “Bronze” (cool color, but UGH – waterproof); ACURE Argan Oil Cleansing Toilettes; and Crown Brush Oval Concealer Brush (I was hoping for a lip brush).
The bag this month…so sophisticated! I’m adoring the bronze pattern.
If you’d like to try Ipsy – click here. I’ll earn 250 points if you sign up through my link.
September Birchbox – Better Together
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“Better Together” is Birchbox’s September theme – and the box is chock full of extras to go with my main samples.
Inside my box: (MALIN + GOETZ) Grapefruit Face Cleanser, with a bonus foil pack of Vitamin E Face Moisturizer (both are going to Vegas with me later this week); Davines LOVE Smoothing Shampoo, with a bonus foil pack of LOVE Conditioner (I LOVED Davines Minu in my July box, so this was my sample choice this month); English Laundry Eau de Parfum Signature for Her (In deed, it smells English…like the Queen Mum herself); Juice Beauty Green Apple Peel Sensitive (I prefer clay masks to peel off, but I’ll give it a spin); and POP Beauty POP Portfolio Shadow Trio in “Sugar Plum” (I am suspicious of silver and purple eye shadow).
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.
VIB, Bitches!
A few weeks ago, I finally made Sephora VIB! I was buying a birthday gift for my Loo, so no celebratory post at the time…but I can celebrate the 10% off code that I got to use on this order!
I’d had my eye on the Deborah Lippman Wicked Nail Lacquer Trio on the Sephora Sale page for a couple months, at least. $15, down from $20…and even sweeter with 10% off. I just can’t resist Oz-related beauty products – I’m still kicking myself for missing the Urban Decay Theodora Palette. The set includes “Popular” – Glinda’s glistening pink, “Defying Gravity” – Elphaba’s unlimited green, and “One Short Day” – positively perfect emerald. Maybe I should watch the musical at some point? Oh yeah – these are my FIRST DL polishes!
I say stupid stuff – like that I don’t want to spend $21 on a lipstick – but $18.90 is acceptable? Well, whatever – but I fell in love with Kat Von D Studded Kiss in “Piaf” when I swatched it on my arm in the store. It’s a rich dark chocolate with purple shimmer – I’ve never seen anything like it…
…and then I wore it to work today. I am still not used to dark lipstick on myself. I felt like a freak – even though 20, even 15 years ago, I only wore dark lipstick. I caught a glimpse of myself in the bathroom mirror at work and spooked myself – I looked like nightmare Laura Palmer.
By the middle of the day, I was loving “Piaf”. Phew – I was afraid I would never wear it again and had flushed $18.90 down the drain.
Oh yeah – my samples: NUDE Progenius Omega Treatment Milk (I have no idea); Bumble and bumble. Surf foam wash shampoo and creme rinse conditioner; and Moss Commodity eau de parfum (I *think* it is the men’s version, but I cannot even tell).
August Ipsy Bag – Prep School
School started up yesterday, so Ipsy’s August theme is fitting – “Prep School”. (Ugh, I was SO not a prep – give me black eyeliner or give me death.)
Inside this month’s cute houndstooth bag: La Fresh Eco-Beauty Good Night. Night Cream; Skone Cosmetics Luxe Doubler Eye/Lip Pencil in “Wine” (how has no one ever though of this before???); Briogeo Blossom & Bloom Ginseng + Biotin Volumizer; Noyah Natural Lipstick in “Desert Rose”; and Trust Fund Beauty Nail Polish in “Elegantly Wasted” (eh, ok).
I also finally got my j. cat Beauty Hydrating Lip Stain – points!
If you’d like to try Ipsy – click here. I’ll earn 250 points if you sign up through my link.
Target Beauty Box – August 2015
…and another Target Beauty Box – are we going to be getting these every month now? I hope so!
August’s box was more summer stuff – Hello Sunshine! Inside were: CoverGirl Super Sizer Mascara by Lashblast in “Very Black”; Fekkai Pre-Soleil Hair Mist (sounds like suntan lotion for my hair – I’m in!); Clairol Hair Food Moisturizing Mask (I got this in another Target Box – it smelled quite nice and I used it up a few months ago); Olay Active Botanicals Moisturizing Toner & Moisturizing Day Lotion (love that Olay); and Crest 3D Whitestrips 1hr Express (Sure, why not?).
As always, I got an extra 5% off with my Red Card and a $3 off $15 coupon was included. Fingers crossed for a new box next month!