Category: Hair
January 2018 Birchbox – Find Your Happy
Even though I forgot to pick the products in my Julep box, I did remember to pick for my Birchbox. I picked the curated box, of course. Not that any products stood out to me, but the sample choices were either lame or repeats.
Of all the brands I get in Subscription Boxes, I’d have to say that I get Smashbox the most. I get a Smashbox product every single month. I’m not mad about getting another Smashbox Photo Finish Radiance Primer – I actually like this pearly primer. (I got it in September’s ipsy.)
Also in this month’s box: Oribe Gold Lust Repair & Restore Shampoo and Conditioner (So glad I got equal sizes of BOTH products); Laura Geller New York Fortifying Lashes Eyelash Primer (why?); and Clark’s Botanicals Age Defying Radiance Cream.
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.
Target Beauty Boxes – January 2018
Ooooh! Another two box month!
The first box – “Hello Staycay” – has a wide variety of products. Even though I’ve gotten them before, I was compelled to use the Pretty Animalz Tiger Sheet Mask immediately. The cat ran away, but it super-hydrated my skin – I’ll be using more of these masks soon. Also included in the Staycay box: Nexxus Humectress Hair Mask; Dove Gentle Exfoliating Body Polish “Crushed Macadamia & Rice Milk” (I bet this smells SO good!); OGX Biotin & Collagen Shampoo (where is the conditioner mother fuckers???); Mrs. Meyer’s Body Wash in “Basil” (this is WEIRD); Vichy Mineral 89 Face Moisturizer; and CoverGirl Melting Pout Lipstick in “Evan-Gel-Ical” (obviously a dupe of Too Face Melted – yay!). I will use every single thing in this box – and hopefully, the $3 off $15 coupon, too. I only used one of the two coupons I got last month.
The second box – “Hello Jetsetter” – is all products from across the pond – the best that Boots (an UK store) has to offer. I was pumped to see a full eyeshadow palette from Sleek MakeUP – 12 matte and shimmering colors. Also inside the Boots box: No7 Restore & Renew Serum; No7 Airbrush Away Primer; Soap & Glory Righteous Body Butter; Soap & Glory Pillow Plump Lip Gloss; and Botanics Shine Away Ionic Clay Mask. Again, another box that I will use ALL of…except maybe the coupon. This coupon is $5 off $20…but only on the brands included in this box. We shall see…
Both boxes were $7, with free shipping and 5% off with my Target Red Card. Both were chock full of good stuff – I wish they were this good every month!
Sephora Play! December 2017 – Glam Straight
I know, I know. Again. Don’t even say it.
December’s box is full of party products – special products for a night out. Before I could even get excited about any of the products, I was in awe of the Art Deco pouch that came with this month’s box. It’s total Gatsby.
After the pouch, I was drawn to the Dr. Jart+ Cicapair Tiger Grass Cream – it’s a soothing cream that eliminates redness. My scabby winter skin could use the help. Also in this month’s box – Atelier Cologne Clementine California (so happy – I just used up a travel spray of this); drybar Triple Sec 3-in-1, Clinique pretty easy liquid eyelining pen in “black”; Make Up For Ever Artist Rouge Mat in M401 “Hot Red”; and Smashbox Cover Shot: Golden Hour Eye Shadow Duo. I could almost do a full face with this box. I’dd look really weird with no eyebrows though.
Do you get Sephora Play? This is far and away, the best subscription box I get every month. Sephora Play is only $10/month. You can sign up at sephora.com/play.
December 2017 Birchbox – On the Dot, Off the Cuff
This month’s Birchbox was a “Hail Mary” pass – I was all set to cancel my subscription until I saw the goodies in this month’s fabulous box. I’d had weak boxes for the last several months and now that the point system has been overhauled…but lo and behold…an amazing box! They’ve earned a brief reprieve.
I was expecting the Davines MINU Illuminating Shampoo – For Color-Treated Hair – it was my sample choice this month. The box also came with foil packs of Davines MINU Illuminating Conditioner – For Color-Treated Hair and Davines MINU Hair Serum – For Color-Treated Hair. Bahhhhh….foil packs….no….
The goodies I wasn’t expecting: Stila Cosmetics HUGE Extreme Lash Mascara (they messed up and I got TWO of these!); Lavanila The Healthy Fragrance Pure Vanilla Eau de Parfum (eh); LOC Liquid Shimmer Shadow in “Eclipse”; and Sunday Riley C.E.O. Rapid Flash Brightening Serum. Oh, and I almost forgot…an eyelash curler. A FUCKING eyelash curler. Does anyone even use those anymore?
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.
Target Beauty Boxes – December 2017
Two Target Beauty Boxes for December – it’s an Xmas miracle! Well, not really – it happens every few months.
The “Hers” box (right) seems a bit light for $7. It includes Hask Coconut Oil Deep Conditioner (I’ve gotten a lot of these, and have just started using them); Rimmel London Shake it Fresh Mascara in “Very Black” (the fuck? I’m supposed to shake it up before using it?); imPRESS Press-On Manicure (Who has fingers this small? My 9 year old, I hope); Nexxus Comb Thru Finishing Mist (I’ve gotten several cans of this – I like it); Vera Wang Embrace Marigold and Gardenia (Dammit, this is the wrong one!); My Beauty Diary Black Pearl Mask; and Chapstick Red Lip Tint.
The “His” box is much beefier – I can see either my husband or son using all of this: Axe Dual 2-in-1 Shampoo + Conditioner (I had just bought my husband this exact same thing); Dove Men+Care Dry Spray Antiperspirant; Pacinos Styling Pomade (well…maybe not this); Crest Whitening Therapy Toothpaste; Olivina Cleansing Cloths (are these for the butthole?); Dove Elements Body Wash and Cremo Beard Scruff Cream & Oil.
Two $7 boxes with free shipping and an additional 5% off with my Target Red Card. Two $3 off $15 coupons – I’m going to Target tomorrow.
Thanksgiving Day Shopping
Oooohhh! My Thanksgiving orders came in at the end of last week! I didn’t even wait – I did all my ordering on Thursday. Shipping is definitely getting slower and slower.
Ulta was offering a free 9 pc gift with a $50 order, so you know I hit that shit. The only thing I really needed was another Ulta Ultra Slim Brow Pencil in “Dark Brown” ($10), everything else was just extra.
I do, however, think I’ve found my “forever” shampoo and conditioner – SheaMoisture Peace Rose Oil Complex Nourish & Silken Shampoo and Conditioner (normally $11.49, but on sale – buy one, get one 40% off). This is the scent I’ve been waiting my whole life for – rose shampoo and conditioner! And it makes my hair feel AMAZING. So soft and so shiny. It’s pricey, but I’m not even mad. This is THE ONE.
Oh, I ordered some other small odds and ends for the kids’ stockings. One of those things got me a free sample of Seche Vite! I’ve been wanting to try it for ages.
The free 9 pc bag was full of Ulta goodies: an eyeshadow palette (love the purpley colors), a highlighter palette, a blush brush, a double ended eye liner – “plum” and “blackout”, a Matte Lip Crayon in “Soiree”, an eye liner sharpener, Tinted Eye Primer in “Satin Blush”, and Color Rush Lip Gloss in “Olivia”. Oh, and a $5 off $15 coupon for Ulta products.
I was only a little annoyed that my sample pack was not included in my order.
I also got my Victoria’s Secret order. Someone always ends up with one of their robes as a gift from me – shhhh…don’t tell!
No one wants to see a pile of bras, so I’ll stick to the important stuff.
Since all the lippies were on sale for $8, I added one to plump up my order – I gotta get that free tote bag! I got a Velvet Matte Cream Lip Stain in “Perfection”. Yeah, they transfer onto anything and everything, but they still last all day on my lips.
November Birchbox – prep. set. party!
Is it December already? Oops.
This month’s curated box is products meant to prep for a party. Apparently…a very orange party.
Included in this month’s box: JUARA Candlenut Body Creme (a repeat); Smashbox Cosmetics Always on Matte Liquid Lipstick in “Driver’s Seat” (it’s SO orangey); Marcelle Hydra-C Eye Contour Gel-Cream; Living proof. STYLE|LAB T.B.D. Multi-Tasking Styler (interested in trying this out); and LAQA & Co. B’Lighter in “Peacher’s Daughter”.
More than any other box I get, my Birchbox samples just sit and gather dust. I need to nut up and decide if I should keep it or not.
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.
Target Beauty Box – November 2017
I paid $7 for this.
I’d feel worse about it, but I already used the $3 off coupon from this month’s box…not that I’m bragging or anything. It’s not that it’s a skimpy box, it’s just not quite as packed full as the last couple of boxes.
The big shiny thing in the box is a MISSHA Snail Hydro-Gel Mask. Yes, another product with snail slime in it. I’m not even fazed by this shit anymore. Also in this box: Dove Derma 2-in-1 Shampoo & Conditioner (I don’t have dandruff, but it’s good to have this just in case); Skinfix Ultra Rich Hand Cream (perfect for my purse); Tom’s of Maine Coconut Bar Soap; Maybelline Great Lash Mini Mascara (a staple from high school); and La Roche-Posay Facial Cleanser.
So, $7 box with free shipping and an additional 5% off with my Target Red Card. I already used the $3 off $15 coupon – I bought a mountain of face wash. No regrets.
I Remembered!
Guys! Guess what! I remembered to use my $3 off coupon from this month’s Target Beauty Box!
I had a nasty, nasty breakout last week, so I went looking for a face wash with sulfur in it. It was a total fail, so I guess I’ll have to break down and pay $38 for EradiKATE. Ugh. Sulfur WORKS THOUGH guys…in the meantime, I went ahead and decided to try Shea Moisture African Black Soap Clarifying Face Wash & Scrub ($9.99). I’ve read good thing about it online, so I thought I’d try it.
I also picked up Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Moist ($2.99), which I got a sample of in a box back in my June box. My son uses it, so I thought I’d try it out – it makes my hair feel like doll hair! It says to use it once a week, but I dunno…it might get used every time I wash my hair.
Oh, and I can’t run out of my Dip-its and cotton rounds – gotta have ’em.
I ordered the November box yesterday…another coupon is coming.
October Birchbox – Behind the Scenes Beauty
…And I’m back to the curated box option this month.
Really, I wanted the Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate. Kiehl’s is really good stuff! I’m also happy to try the Matrix Biolage R.A.W. Uplift Shampoo and Conditioner – matching deluxe samples of each! No foil packs!
Also in this month’s “Behind the Scenes Beauty” box: [comfort zone] Hydramemory Cream Gel and Stila Cosmetics Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner (I feel like I have at least 6 of these).
Quite a good box this month…keep it up, Birchbox!
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.