Category: Hair
January 2019 Allure Beauty Box – Thrill of the New
I’m not even gonna apologize for running late on reviews – I been busy as shit.
2019 brings big changes to the Allure Beauty Box – gone is the shiny red box, instead replaced by a generic cardboard mailer. That’s okay though – because now the monthly goodies are coming inside a sleek plastic pouch. No word yet on whether we’ll be getting the same red pouch every month, or they’ll mix up the design – stay tuned.
In this month’s all new pouch: Mally Shadow Stick Extra in “Burnished Bronze”; OUAI Scalp & Body Scrub (Hmmmm, not sure if I’m ready to be picking sugar out of my hair for a month – also includes a 15% off code for theouai.com); Sunday Riley C.E.O. Glow Face Oil; Sunday Riley A+ High-Dose Retinoid Serum (How did they know I’m retinol aged now?); Doucce Relentless Matte Lip Crayon in “Winterberry” (with a code for 25% off at doucce.com); and a pack of 2 Beautyblender Micro Mini Sponges.
And as a bonus this month, each subscriber received a nail polish from NCLA. I got and orangey red called “Call My Agent”.
The Allure Beauty Box is $15/month, but they give you $5 off your first box. They also offer an option for $150/year – a savings of $30. Sign up via my referral link..
January 2019 Ipsy Bag – Recharge
I am getting total summer vibes from this month’s ipsy bag. I mean, look at this summery bag – baby blue chambray stripes with a hint of coral lining…ugh, why are my feet so cold? Maybe because it’s January.
Inside this month’s “Recharge” bag: Fluide Lip Gloss in “Elsewhere” (brand is new to me…and um, will this blue gloss make me look like Elsa?); Color Club Nail Polish in “Williamsburg” (this blackened blue glitter is HAWT); Illumasqua Colouring Pencil Eye Crayon in “Honour”; Pure Brazilian Leave-in Conditioner; and H2O+ Beauty Oasis Hydrating Treatment.
This is a rather random assortment of products. The brands are kind of off as well. Is ipsy the next subscription box to get the boot???
I haven’t gotten my Allure or Sephora boxes yet this month…I wonder what that means?
If you’d like to try Ipsy – click here. I’ll earn 250 points if you sign up through my link.
First Ulta Haul of 2019
I follow enough drag queens on Instagram to know that Sugarpill is one of THE makeup brands to use – besides Jeffree Star and Anastasia Beverly Hills, of course. Ulta just started carrying their lipsticks, so I loaded a bunch in my cart and waited to see what else I needed. Originally, I had Sugarpill “Trinket” in my cart, but it sold out. I also had some other ones, but I decided to try just one and scope out the quality before buying more. I settled on “Pillow Fight” ($18), a dusty mauve with gold sparkle. It smells like a dreamsicle! The formula wasn’t super drying, but more drying than I’m used to. It lasts about as long as my other liquid lips…I’ve got a new brand to stan!
I also needed to stock up on face washes. Pacifica was BOGO 40% off, so I got Crystal Beam Foaming Crystal Face Scrub ($16) and Coconut Milk Cream to Foam Face Wash ($6, down from $10). I am VERY disappointed in the Crystal Beam – it is NOT a scrub. There is NO grit to the exfoliant – a total waste. Boo.
I also got two of my favorite eye brow pencil at BOGO 50% off – Ulta Ultra Slim Brow Pencil in “Dark Brown” (one at $10 and one at $5). Until I can afford microblading, I’ll keep buying these.
I got a 19 piece Beauty Bag with my $25 purchase. Inside the bag: Juice Beauty Phyto Pigments (and there’s actually a picture of the GOOPtress on the sample – ugh); L’Oreal Sublime Bronze Tinted Self-Tanning Lotion (nope); Benefit They’re Real Mascara (HUGE Deluxe Sample); Alterna Haircare Caviar Anti-aging Shampoo & Conditioner; Maybelline Great Lash Mascara; Ahava Mineral Mud Clearing Facial Treatment (yes!); Organic to Green Coco Oil; Caroline Herrera Good Girl; Botanics Shine Away Ionic Clay Mask (yasss); Mario Badescu Herbal Hydrating Serum; Marc Jacobs Daisy Dream; Living proof. T.B.D. multi-tasking styler; Clarins Extra-firming Nuit Night Cream; Chloe Chloe; Sexy Hair Love Oil; Boots No7 Early Defence Glow Activating Serum; Trilogy Rosehip Cream Cleanser; Philosophy Purity Made Simple Cleanser; Perricone MD H2 Elemental Energy; and PUR Get a Grip Endurance Eyeshadow Primer. Oh, and a $5 off Ulta Beauty Collection Coupon. This is the best sample bag in a bit!
Ulta is STILL not including samples with their orders. Jerks. I used a $3.50 off coupon on this order.
$399 to Platinum for 2020.
Sephora Play! December 2018 – Cheers to Beauty
It’s only the 3rd – late, but not too bad.
December’s box is really light – all of the products are very tiny. I am most excited about the Fresh Sugar Lip Caramel Hydrating Balm. If my nose was working, I’d tell you how good it smells. Unfortunately, you’ll just have to pretend I told you it smells just like a yummy caramel swirl. I am religious about using heavy balms and masks on my lips every night, so this will be put to good use immediately.
Also in this month’s box: Too Faced Primed & Peachy Cooling Matte Perfecting Primer (the insert says it smells like peaches & cream); Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes 4-in-1 Mascara in “Black”; MoroccanOil Treatment (for hair); and Sephora Collection Rouge Gel Lip Liner in “Nothin’ But Nude”. As a bonus, they added a sixth sample to my box – Stellar Cosmic Face Powder in “Haze”. (I had no idea what this product is, so I had to look it up on Sephora’s site – it’s a mattifying translucent finishing powder – NICE). Not horrible products, but nothing really exciting either.
Another month without a fragrance sample. So sad.
I kind of miss the fabric pouches that used to come with the box. I mean…I don’t do anything with them, but I don’t do anything with these weird ziploc pouches either.
Sephora Play is usually my favorite monthly beauty box. Sephora Play is only $10/month. You can sign up at sephora.com/play.
December 2018 Ipsy Bag – Be Merry. Be Bright. Be Bold. Be You.
Sweet lord, I am behind. The holidays are upon us and I am barely hanging on. I promise, you’ll get all my beauty updates…eventually.
This month’s Ipsy bag is luxe as fuck. It’s a black pleather bag, with gold sequins on the front, with a pink satin lining. You could use it as a clutch on a night out!
Inside this luxe bag: It Cosmetics Superhero Elastic Stretch Volumizing Mascara in “Black” (I really need to trash all my open mascara and start over – I think I will start with this one); Tinct Cosmetics Nail Polish in “Aarhus” (weird name for a cosmetics company and an even weirder name for a plain purple polish); Delectable by Cake Beauty “Iced Gingerbread” Hand Cream (seasonal); F.A.R.A.H. Brushes Tapered Blending Brush 35E; and TLW Frizz Fighter. As a special bonus, I received an SLMISSGLAM L36 Tapered Highlight Brush. I think it is safe to say that tapered brushes are “in” right now.
A GREAT bag itself, with some…interesting…products.
If you’d like to try Ipsy – click here. I’ll earn 250 points if you sign up through my link.
Target Beauty Boxes – December 2018
My Target Beauty Boxes got here quick! I mean…they sat on the counter for about a week before I opened them, but they got here quick.
I love His & Hers Beauty Boxes. My box – “Hello Glow!” – has lots of citrus scented products: bliss Lemon & Sage Body Butter; ME! Bath Coconut & Lime Bath Bomb (would it be tacky to stuff this in one of the kids’ stockings?); and Dr. Teals Pink Himalayan Body Scrub. I love citrus-y stuff. There’s also some non-citrus stuff: Que Bella Professional Plumping Gold Peel off Mask; Ponds Cold Cream; and Dove Nutritive Solutions Intensive Repair Shampoo (no conditioner – assholes!)
His box – “Hello Handsome!” – has lots of good stuff, too. My husband will enjoy: Degree for Men Black & White UltraClear Antiperspirant; Harry’s Shiso Body Wash; Crest Gum Detoxify Toothpaste (cooling activated foam!); Dove Men+Care Body Wash Minerals + Sage; Cremo Bourbon & Oak Solid Cologne (my son said it smells good, but it smells like a bar rag to me); Bulldog Skincare Sachet Perforated Trio (moisturizer, face wash & shave gel).
A good value for $7 each . As usual, free shipping, 5% off with my Red Card and each came with a $3 off $15 coupon for beauty/personal care. I hope I get a chance to use them!
Target Beauty Box – November 2018
View this post on Instagram
Well, since I ordered the December Target Beauty Boxes today – YES, there are TWO – I should probably tell you what was in the November box?
My dry winter skin needs ALL the products in this month’s “Hello Hydration” box. Inside the box: Hask Monoi Coconut Oil Nourishing Shampoo & Conditioner (super deluxe sample bottles!); bliss Drench & Quench Cream-to-Water Hydrator; Aquaphor Lip Repair (my poor lips need this so bad); Lumene VALO Overnight Cream; and L’Oreal Hydra Genius Liquid Care Moisturizer.
I cannot wait to moisten myself with these beauties! I will be so MOIST.
A good value for $7. As usual, free shipping, 5% off with my Red Card and a $3 off $15 coupon (that expired yesterday, December 3rd).
Cyber Fundays 2018
View this post on Instagram
This Xmas, I did my Ulta shopping BEFORE Thanksgiving, during the “Cyber Fundays” event. They had some smoking deals that I couldn’t pass up! There were also some decent Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals, but mostly on stuff I already had, like half price Modern Renaissance and Naked Heat. Boo!
If you’re thinking that this order looks skimpy…it’s because I pulled out the gifts I ordered for my daughter. She doesn’t come here, but her brother does – and I trust him about as far as I can throw him with one hand.
I was excited to snatch the NYX Lip Snacks Soft Matte Metallic Lip Cream Set ($15, down from $25) for myself. It’s a set of 12 minis of my favorite lip formula from NYX, specially scented like buttercream. I’ve onlhy sampled 2 so far, but they are the BEST. I also got a half-price Urban Decay Razor Sharp Water-Resistant Longwear Liquid Eyeliner in “Demolition” ($11, down from $22) – I think a shiny brown cat eye will look good on me.
The biggest bummer was a broken bottle in the China Glaze The Grinch Grinchworthy Nail Art Duo ($10). It wasn’t the “Grinchworthy” polish itself, but the “For Rhinestones Only” adhesive – the stem of the bottle broke inside the cap and it leaked everywhere. I called Ulta Customer Service and they sent me out another one immediately, no questions asked – so now I have 2 bottles of “Grinchworthy” and 2 pots of green felt. I cannot wait to make my nails look like Astroturf! Oh, and I got another tidbit from Customer Service – they won’t be including samples in orders again until January. Cheap bastards.
I added a bottle of Zoya Remove+ to get me over the $65 mark, to get the glittery pink 18-piece Cyber Fundays sample bag. The sample bag was STUFFED – it had: Too Faced Glitter Glue (saving for a special occasion); Cover FX Blurring Primer; Urban Decay Perversion Mascara; Patchology Flashpatch Restoring Night Eye Gels (this is the third set I’ve gotten – I guess I should use them); philosophy Renewed Hope in a Jar; Clinique Happy; 2 Anastasia Beverly Hills Lip Glosses in “Vintage” (2!!!); Lime Crime Unicorn Hair in “bunny” (ugh, another one); bliss lemon & sage body butter; Biolage Hydra Source Shampoo & Conditioner; L’Oreal Paris Voluminous Primer/Base for Mascara; philosophy Amazing Grace; Armani Code Cashmere; Skin Laundry Hydrating Cream Face Wash; L’Oreal Paris Pure-Clay Cleanser Detox-Brighten (this black one is my fave); MAC False Lashes Mascara in “Extreme Black”; and Clinique Moisture Surge Hydrating Supercharged Concentrate. There were also 2 hot coupons – $15 off $75 (only good in December) and another $5 off $15 Ulta Beauty Collection (good until 2/1/19).
I was also able to use a $10 off coupon, bringing my order down to $64.49 before tax – but I still got the bag. I was sweating for a hot minute! Just $301 to Diamond…I do predict another order before the end of the year, but not that much!
November 2018 Allure Beauty Box – Mask Anything
View this post on Instagram
Holy cow – this month’s Allure Beauty Box is almost ALL masks! Well, except for the gold encrusted Invisibobble…
The masks in this month’s box are Lapcos Pearl Brightening Metallic Sheet Mask (never heard of this brand); Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Jelly Sheet Mask (or this brand); Kocostar Rose Lip Mask (or this brand); Glamglow Supermud Clearing Treatment (yay – Glamglow is good stuff); Patchology Flashpatch Rejuvenating Eye Gels (I’ve gotten these in a sample bag before, but never used them); and Starskin Exfoliating Double-Layer Foot Mask Socks (never heard of this brand either, but been wanting to try foot peeling socks).
Also included in this month’s box – a code for $10 off any beauty purchase at Anthropologie. Yeah, not gonna use that.
My skin is really looking forward to this box!
The Allure Beauty Box is $15/month, but they give you $5 off your first box. They also offer an option for $150/year – a savings of $30. Sign up via my referral link..
Sephora Play! November 2018 – Merry and Bright
View this post on Instagram
This is an…interesting…box.
First off, Commodity Gold straight up smells like donkey ass. Unwashed donkey ass. Someone come take this shit out of my house.
Everything else is less controversial. I’m a big fan of Philosophy Purity Made Simple Cleanser. I’m also happy to get Laura Mercier Translucent Setting Powder, Sephora Collection Cream Lip Stain Liquid Lipstick in “Pink Tea”, and Lancome Hydra Zen Anti-Stress Moisturizing Face Cream. I was, however, really confused when I looked at the Christophe Robin Cleansing Volumizing Paste with Pure Rassoul Clay and Rose Extracts. At first, I assumed it was another mud mask…great! Then I read the directions – this shit is for your hair. What? I’ll let you know.
Sephora Play is THE best beauty box I receive every month. Sephora Play is only $10/month. You can sign up at sephora.com/play.