Category: Fragrance
Sephora Play! January 2017 – Beauty, Set, Go
Saving the best for last…my January Sephora Play!
I love how they’re missing up the pouches that come every month – this month has nylon and mesh bag and says, “Sweat is just another way to glow” – I’ll have to take their word on it.
The first thing I noticed was the sample of Tory Burch Love Relentlessly – DOH! I just used 100 points to get a sample the order before last. Oh well.
Also is this month’s box: AmorePacific Color Control Cushion Compact; OUAI Treatment Masque (for hair, not my face); Clinique Almost Lipstick in “Black Honey” (I’ve been wanting to try the Black Honey); tarte FRXXXTION Stick (ooooh another stick cleanser – I just used up my Julep Love Your Bare Face Stick); and Youth to the People Kale + Spinach + Hyaluronic Acid Age Prevention Cream.
This month’s box is great – yay!
If you haven’t signed up yet – why? This is by far the best subscription box I get every month. Sephora Play is only $10/month. You can sign up at sephora.com/play.
Friday was a Good Day…
…I didn’t have to use my AK. Oh, and I received boxes from Sephora AND Ulta.
I broke down and decided to order the Milk Makeup Blur Stick ($36) – I had to see what all the fuss was about. The fuss is warranted. I’ve been using it almost every day since I got it. It’s like a giant chapstick for your face. It’s really weird rubbing a giant chapstick on your face, but you get over it when you see what it does for your skin. It makes all of your pores absolutely disappear. I don’t know where they go – and I do not care. For reference, it’s very similar to Benefit The POREfessional, with the added bonus of not having to get it on your hands. This is a must have product.
My excuse for ordering was to get my Sephora Birthday gift – I chose the Tarte Set with Amazonian Clay 12-hour Blush in “paaarty” and Tarteist Creamy Matte Lip Paint in “Birthday Suit”.
I used a code to get a fancy Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Set with Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex, Advanced Night Repair Eye and Revitalizing Supreme Light Global Anti-Aging Creme. (Why do all these products have such long names?) For my three samples, I got one thing I chose – Clinique Foaming Sonic Facial Soap – and two I didn’t – Calvin Klein Deep Euphoria and Skin Inc. Pure Revival Peel.
Wednesday is the best day to order from Ulta, because of the special Beauty Breaks. I’d been shuffling things in and out of my basket for three weeks, waiting for a good Beauty Break. Imagine surprise when my order arrived on Friday – just two days later.
The Beauty Break that got me was the e.l.f. Beauty Break, with Illuminating Primer, Poreless Face Primer, Moisturizing Lipstick in “Ravishing Rose”, Lip Exfoliator in “Sweet Cherry” (I’ve been using the last one I got to exfoliate after liquid lippies) and a Complexion Brush. I also got a free Deluxe Sample of Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion (the best one I’ve used) and drybar Hot Toddy Heat and UV Protectant. My sample pack included Olay Regenerist Moisturizer and H2O+ Beauty Elements Keep It Fresh Face Cleanser.
OH! I bought some stuff, too! I had to get my hand on the new Urban Decay Vice Liquid Lipsticks – I got “Conspiracy” and “Amulet”. Although the lipsticks are thinner than Jeffree or Kat’s, they go on smoothly and the colors are unique. I must have MORE…I also grabbed a backup Zoya Remove+ and a Japonesque Solid Brush Cleanser (replacing the one from my ipsy bag that I used up).
Such a good day!
Alchemy
I thought I did not want the new Kat Von D Alchemist Holographic Palette ($32)…I was wrong. I did want that palette – so very much.
I am also so very proud that I made it 6 days into the year before placing my first Sephora order. So, so proud.
I am still playing with the palette and it has been fun so far. Today at work, a co-worker stopped me mid-sentence, “Wait. Are you wearing green lipstick?” I corrected him – it wasn’t green lipstick, it was red with green on top. (Kat Von D “Plath” with “Green Emerald” layered on top.) It was very…witchy, so I can understand his concern. I need to figure out how to use them as highlighters, but I LOVE them over lipsticks.
I used 100 points to get a mini rollerball of the new Tory Burch fragrance – “Love Relentlessly” – which honestly smells a lot like the other two Tory Burch fragrances I have, but muskier. Oh well. I also used a code to get a deluxe sample of Omorovicza Thermal Cleansing Balm.
I THOUGHT I was getting samples of the new Urban Decay Primers, but it turned out to be samples of the Primer and Ultra HD Foundation, of which I already have full sizes of…oh well. I also got samples of Too Faced Glitter Glue and Korres Greek Yoghurt Foaming Cream Cleanser (why do they spell “yogurt” like that?).
Sephora Play! December 2016 – The Partygoers
Oops…my December Sephora Play! box got buried under a stack of shit on my counter. I could have used this stuff over the holidays…
This month’s theme is “The Partygoers”. I don’t go to many parties, but I put on a lot of makeup before I go to Target, does that count? The first thing that caught my eye…the goody bag is BLACK with rose gold printing…”I take the party with me”…It’s gorgeous. Also in this month’s box: Urban Decay All Nighter Makeup Setting Spray (I have so many samples of this, but I’ve never tried it – I should); Make Up For Ever Step 1 Skin Equalizer Smoothing Primer (I have the full size – good stuff); Bobbi Brown Smokey Eye Mascara; Sephora Collection Cream Lip Stain in “Always Red” (been wanting to try this new product!); Drybar Bay Breeze Hydrating Shot (instructions say to spray the entire bottle on wet hair, then rinse out after 3-5 minutes – kind of a pain in the ass); and Elizabeth and James Nirvana Bourbon (smells like a Hobo’s ass crack).
A so-so box, but I’m not even mad.
If you haven’t signed up yet – you’re missing the boat! This is by far the best subscription box I get every month. Sephora Play is only $10/month. You can sign up at sephora.com/play.
Sephora Play! November 2016 – Best in Glow
I’ve been slacking…I’m finally getting around to posting my last subscription box of the month – just days before I start receiving my December boxes.
“Best in Glow” is November’s theme, products to stave off winter dullness. I don’t know about you, but down here in Texas, we haven’t seen a whole lot of winter. We had frost on the ground one day last weekend and that’s it.
I’m most excited about Stella McCartney POP – I’ve been wanting to try it since I love Stella so much. It’s very floral and sharp smelling. I could see myself using free samples, but not buying it. Also in my box: Sephora Ultra Shine Lip Gel in “Pin-up Pink”; The Estee Edit by Estee Lauder Dissolve the Drama Makeup Remover; Cover FX Illuminating Primer; Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Colour in “Rose Gold”; and GlamGlow SuperMud Clearing Treatment (please send me GlamGlow in every subscription box, please and thank you).
If you haven’t signed up yet – you’re a turkey! This is by far the best subscription box I get every month. Sephora Play is only $10/month. You can sign up at sephora.com/play.
November Birchbox – The Finishing Touch
I am thankful for…my subscription boxes.
I didn’t choose the curated box this month – instead I picked just one product and got this month’s “The Finishing Touch” box. The product I chose was Chella Eyebrow Color Pencil in “Tantalizing Taupe”. I hope it’s not too light for me.
Also in this month’s box: Avène Soothing Moisturizing Mask (I got this in my October 2015 ipsy bag, but don’t think I ever used it); Number 4 Jour d’Automne Smoothing Balm; Supergoop! Forever Young Hand Cream with SPF 40; and TokyoMilk Light “Awaken Within” (a VERY strong jasmine scent).
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.
Mystery Surprise!
Sally sent me a mystery surprise! All the way from Scotland…OK, technically not a surprise, since I knew it was coming. And not a mystery, since Sally gave me a sneak preview of the bag…but a mystery surprise, nonetheless.
Makeup Revolution was having another Mystery Bag promotion and Sally graciously sent me one of the mystery bags she received…plus a little extra.
Inside of the mystery bag was a combination of Makeup Revolution, I ♥ Makeup and other TAM brands: Live Love London Body Mist in “Sensuous” (smells like pears); I ♥ Makeup No Shine Please! Totally Matte Foundation in NS05 (I thought it was a pore primer and just put on my nose today – it actually worked well for it though); Freedom Makeup “Future Bright” palette; Makeup Revolution Blush Bronze & Brighten in “Rave”; I ♥ Makeup All Day & Night Eyeliner in “The Last Laugh” (looks bronze); Freedom Makeup Pro Melts Lipgloss in “Steal the Show”; I ♥ Makeup Super Wow! High Color Lip Gloss Stick in “Atomic” (I have a few of these – they’re decent); and three Makeup Revolution nail polishes – “Cool Days”, “Love etc” and “Find True Love”. That’s a bunch of goodies and no duplicates with what I’ve already got!
The only new product that I really wanted to try was the I ♥ Makeup Liquid Lipstick in “Molten Chocolate”, so she sent me one. The applicator is lovely and color is out this world, but it’s like regular lipstick and doesn’t last all day. She also sent me one of the new Makeup Revolution Precision Brushes! I have been lusting over these and now I finally have one to try…she also sent me the polishes from her bag, since she cannot wear polish – “Are you still available”, “Adore” and “Never Enough”.
Thank you, my sweet friend – I truly appreciate the mystery surprise…and now I’m putting together a box of my own…just waiting for the weather to get a little cooler so everything won’t melt.
20ROUGE, Part II & III
Merry Xmas to me! I make Xmas shopping SO easy for my husband.
Well, as much as I love torturing him and making him visit Sephora and Ulta to go shopping for me…I love saving money more. So I decided to forego the torture and take this opportunity to order myself some Sephora exclusive items.
I’d had my eye on the Kat Von D Metal Matte palette ($60) since it launched. In real life, it’s HUGE. I’m glad I ordered when I did – it was already out of stock when I went to Sephora on the 4th. I’m still disappointed that I missed out on the Mi Vida Loca palette last year. I had bought it for my ex-BFF, and I thought she was getting it for me, but she blew it off for too long and it sold out. c’est la vie.
I also said, “fuck it” and ordered the Kat Von D Everlasting Mini Liquid Lipstick Set. I don’t have any of these shades and I wanted to try the new shade “Plath”, plus some older shades – “Backstage Bambi” and “Mother”.
I was a good girl and did not open the boxes – I just shoved them in my husband’s junk drawer to wrap later.
For samples – I didn’t get what I picked again. I don’t remember what I picked, but I ended up with Wildfox perfume (never heard of it, smells like a generic Victoria’s Secret type scent); Clinique Beyond Perfecting Foundation + Concealer in “neutral”; and Juliette has a Gun Not a Perfume (insert says it is pure Cetalox, a background note in perfume – interesting, it smells very generic).
At the last minute, I decided to order one more thing for myself – MILK MAKEUP Gel Brow in “Pilsner” ($18). I had used 100 points to get a sample of it with my last order – all the way back in August – and I like the way it lasts. I don’t like having to sharpen it, but other than that, it’s a winner.
This one will not be waiting until Xmas – I’ll break into it as soon as I’m done with my little sample.
Samples this time were Sephora Instant Moisture + Cream; Tatcha One Step Camellia Cleansing Oil; and Josie Maran Surreal Skin Argan Finishing Balm.
Sephora Play! October 2016 – The Cool Cut
This is it – the Sephora purchase that put me over the edge for Rouge status in 2017. $10 and BOOM.
October’s theme is “The Cool Cut” – innovative products that are about to hit it big.
One of my favorite Sephora sample discoveries is in this box – Belif The True Cream Aqua Bomb. It has me jumping on the Korean Beauty bandwagon. Also in this month’s box: Smashbox Always On Matte Liquid Lipstick in “Driver’s Seat” (interested in how their formula compares to Kat Von D and Jeffree); Cristophe Robin Regenerating Mask with Rare Prickly Pear Seed Oil (Winnie the Pooh approved?); Skin Inc. Pure Revival Peel (also good stuff – I bought some the last time I was in Vegas); Blinc Mascara Amplified; and Yves Saint Laurent Mon Paris (not bad – smells like rich people).
If you haven’t signed up yet – you are missing out! This is by far the best subscription box I get every month. Sephora Play is only $10/month. You can sign up at sephora.com/play.
Sephora Play! September 2016 – The Unbasic Basics
Finally…on the last day of the month, I get to the last subscription box of the month…just a matter of days before I start getting a new batch of boxes.
“The Unbasic Basics” is this month’s theme – no basic bitches with this month’s picks. I am most excited about Living proof. Perfect hair Day night cap overnight perfector. I’m absolutely in love with the Living proof. 5-in-1 Styling Treatment from this month’s ipsy bag. Can I please continue to get Living proof. products in every box?
I also received Kat Von D Tattoo Liner in “Trooper” (number 4 or 5); Sephora CollectionRouge Brilliance Rouge Shine Lipstick in “Love Spell” (so pink); Anastasia Beverly Hills Clear Brow Gel (I don’t know that I have enough brows for a gel); Dr. Jart+ Water Drop Hydrating Moisturizer; and Tory Burch Jolie Fleur Verte (smells so green – love it).
If you haven’t signed up yet – you are missing out! This is by far the best subscription box I get every month. Sephora Play is only $10/month. You can sign up at sephora.com/play.