Category: Hair
Sephora Play! March 2019 – Beauty in Bloom
What a weird ass box from Sephora this month. Why do I need 2 Dry Shampoos? They sent me Drybar Triple Sec 3-in-1 and Amika Perk Up Dry Shampoo. Do they think my hair is dirty?
Also in this month’s “Beauty in Bloom” box: NARS Bronzing Powder in “Laguna”; Sephora Collection LashCraft Big Volume Mascara, Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 40; and Versace Bright Crystal (one of my little sister’s scents).
The assortment of products seems kind of random, but whatever.
Sephora Play is usually a really good subscription box with high-end products. Sephora Play is only $10/month. You can sign up at sephora.com/play.
One-Step
I’ve found it. I’ve finally found the single hair tool for a perfect blow-out. I’ve had a love-hate relationship with blow-outs for well over 20 years. Around the time I graduated college, I ended up with a hair cut that necessitated a blow-out with round brush (it may or may not have rhymed with ‘the Bachel’). It happened probably 3 times before I was like ‘FUCK this’. I’ve tried everything from ionic dryers to diffusers, but everything takes too damn long – and makes my hair frizzy. About 10 years ago, I picked up a Conair Wet-to-Dry Styler, which works okay, but again – it take forever. Several years ago, I stepped up to a Revlon Paddle Style Dryer Brush, but there was still something lacking…
…until I tried the Revlon Pro Collection Salon One-Step Hair Dryer and Volumizer ($59.99). I can literally give myself a salon quality blow-out in about 5 minutes. 5 fucking minutes. I feel like I’ve suffered through decades of bad hair before this tool was invented. Run, don’t walk, to buy this tool. One exception, I give you permission to wait until you get a 20% off coupon like I did.
Oh and pro-tip – definitely use a blow-out spray or primer before you use it. I am using Redken Pillow Proof Blow Dry Express Primer Spray and it protects my hair while making it dry faster.
I also threw in a Revlon Nail Buffer ($3.49) because the 99 cent Diamond Brand ones I bought last time are SHIT. You get what you pay for!
My purchase qualified for a “Skinfatuation” gift with purchase, which included Exuviance Super Retinol Complex; Juice Beauty Stem Cellular Anti-Wrinkle Moisturizer; Murad Resurgence Retinol Youth Renewal Serum (fancy); Mario Badescu Vitamin C Serum; StriVectin Advanced Retinol Intensive Night Moisturizer; and Yes to Grapefruit Brightening Vitamin C Glow Boosting Paper Mask. That’s a lot of fucking retinol!
$138 to Platinum. It’s looking like I might have a chance to hit Diamond with Ulta this year, instead of Rouge with Sephora this year…
Target Beauty Box – March 2019
I almost didn’t purchase this month’s box, because of the Love Beauty & Planet Smooth and Serene Argan Oil & Lavender Shampoo and Conditioner – lavender sometimes gives me a headache, but then I remembered that I received them in a Birchbox last year and they were fine.
Also in this month’s “March Into Spring” box: Bliss Rose Gold Rescue Gentle Foaming Cleanser (rose gold everything!); TRESemme Botanique Nourish & Replenish Mask (for hair); Shea Moisture Matcha Green Tea & Probiotics Soothing Toner & Hydrating Mist (I never know what do do with these); and Shea Moisture Silicone Free Miracle Styler Leave-In Treatment (it smells super good). These products are a bit out of my comfort zone, but I am here for it.
This $7 box is heavy, but with a smaller number of products. As usual, free shipping, 5% off with my Red Card and it came with a $3 off $15 coupon. I did not manage to use my coupon last month, but I have high hopes for this month’s coupon.
Target Beauty Box – February 2019
Oh hey, I found this Target Beauty Box hidden on my counter, under a pile of mail.
February’s theme is “Love Yourself” and is all about pampering. I definitely will be pampering myself – the box includes: Nexxus Color Assure Vibrancy Retention Shampoo & Conditioner (cannot wait to try these); Love Beauty & Planet Citrus Peel Dry Shampoo (I still haven’t figured out how to use dry shampoo right); Pantene Airspray Hairspray; Boots No7 Laboratories Line Correcting Booster Serum; Que Bella Professional Selfie Ready Sheet Mask; Dove Shampoo/Conditioner 2-in-1 Clean+Fresh; and Native Coconut & Vanilla Deodorant (interesting).
This $7 box is packed . As usual, free shipping, 5% off with my Red Card and it came with a $3 off $15 coupon. I did manage to use one of the coupons I received last month – I bought a bunch of St. Ives face scrubs and washes for my kids. You’re never too young to start a skincare regimen!
Ulta Birthday to Me
I needed a haircut, my kids had been bugging me for a haircut, I had a birthday gift waiting on me…time for an in-person Ulta trip.
Let me just say – my haircut was fine. My daughter’s haircut was fine. My son’t haircut was…NOT fine. I didn’t realize how much he hated it until we got home. It was so bad that he had my husband buzz his head with clippers. I felt HORRIBLE. I bought him a bottle of my hair & nail vitamins and promised to take him to Sport Clips next time. Oh well, at least I got 2x points on all the haircuts.
So the coupon in my email said I would be getting a Full Size NYX Lip Lingerie as a birthday gift, but in-store, they gave me a totally different gift – a mini Lancome Monsieur Big Mascara. Google says that it was the December gift – I guess they give em away until they’re gone.
Oh, I also picked up a few generic Diamond buffers for my nay-nays.
Just like that, $241 to Platinum!
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.