Category: Hair
August Birchbox – Endless Summer
Seeing double? For some odd reason, I ended up with two identical Birchboxes this month…I guess I better check my credit card statement…
“Endless Summer”? Whoa…deja vu. I guess there’s no way to know ahead of time that another subscription box will be using the same theme…
This month’s curated Birchbox was an easy choice – I wanted that stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick in “Patina” – that will be my lipstick tomorrow. Also in the box: Living Proof. No Frizz Nourishing Oil (it will go nicely with all the Living Proof. stuff I got in last month’s box); Beauty Protector Protect & Detangle; Marcelle BB Cream Golden Glow; Acure Organics Coconut & Argan Oil Cleansing Towelettes; and Hum Nutirition Raw Beauty Green Superfood Powder (not sure what the fuck I’m gonna do with this…maybe sprinkle on yogurt?)
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 – August 2016
I totally neglected the Target Beauty Box that arrived right before I left for Mexico…poor little beauty box, left all alone in my mail pile…
August’s box is “Make the Grade” and includes: Juice Organics Repairing Shampoo & Conditioner (more coconut – I am loving anything coconut in my hair right now); Secret Clinical Strength Smooth Solid Deodorant; Crest 3D Whitestrips Professional Effects; up & up Women’s 5-Blade Razor (I’m hairy as fuck – I can always use extra razors); Olay Makeup Remover Wipes; Laneige Water Sleeping Mask (this is my JAM); CoverGirl Katy Kat Eye Mascara (this might up being a collector’s item, since Katy and CoverGirl are being sued by Hard Candy for copyright infringement); and NYC Get It All Lip Color in “ExtraordiBERRY”.
This box is jam-packed with stuff – a good buy, for sure.
The box was $7 with free shipping and 5% off with my Red Card. As always, it included a $3 off $15 beauty purchase coupon.
Sephora Play! July 2016 – Effortless Summer
I feel a bit guilty that this month’s Sephora Play! bpx has been sitting my my counter – unopened – for a week. I’ve been so busy with…stuff…and life…and stuff…
I ripped open the box and found a bevy of perfect products to give me an “Effortless Summer”. Inside the adorable pink popsicle bag: NEST Fragrances Citrine (a clean citrus and freesia blend – it didn’t make my husband gag); First Aid Beauty Skin Rescue Deep Cleanser with Red Clay (I used it last night – it is the most beautiful shimmery rust colored gel); OUAI Wave Spray; Smashbox Photo Finish Pore Minimizing Primer (Yassssss queen – I need these crater pores minimized); Beauty Blender Blotterazzi (I’ve been curious about this – I usually use paper towels from the bathroom to blot); and Too Faced Soleil Matte Bronzer in “Chocolate” (LOVE the smell – I need to locate the other one of these that I have).
If you haven’t signed up yet – get off your can and DO IT! 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.
Target Beauty Boxes – July 2016
So two boxes again this month…but they are both for ME….
The “Fresh and Fabulous” box has some weird items: Tom’s of Main Peppermint Antiplaque & Whitening Toothpaste (I’ve heard Tom’s has a weird texture, but gets your teeth really clean); Dove Regenerative Nourishment Shampoo & Conditioner (large sample tubes!); Garnier Clearly Brighter Daily Moisturizer (how convenient – I just used up the Simple Gel I was using from Birchbox’s last CEW box); Sweet Spot On-the-Go Wipettes (Nowhere on the package does it tell me what I am supposed to wipe with these – do I use them on my face or my ass?); Umberto Lifting Powder (um, going to gift this); and NYX Butter Lipstick in “Moonlit Night” (love this dark plum color).
The “Simply Radiant” box is a bit more normal: L’Oreal Paris Color Vibrancy Shampoo & Conditioner (more big sample bottles); Dessange Paris Purifying Clay Shampoo (a huge fucking bottle – but NO conditioner – WTF?); Wet n Wild Max Fantastic Mascara in “Black Cat”; Derma e Firming DMAE Eye Lift; Acure Facial Cleansing Gel; and Aquaphor Healing Ointment (this means I need another tattoo).
Each box was $7, so I wasn’t able to use last month’s $3 off $15 coupon…sneaky, sneaky! I still got free shipping and 5% off with my Red Card, though.
July Birchbox – Rise and Shine
Rise and shine? Ugh, I hate mornings. So I need all the help I can get. Birchbox is trying to help a sister out the door with this month’s box.
Inside my “Rise and Shine” curated box: dr. brandt PoreDermabrasion (love this stuff – I use it up as soon as I get it); Milk Makeup Sunshine Oil (skeptical); Elizabeth Mott It’s So Big Volumizing Mascara (I’ve had this before, but I cannot remember if I like it or not); Klorane Smoothing and Relaxing Patches with Soothing Cornflower (I need to try these); and Living proof. No Frizz Nourishing Styling Cream with bonus foil packs of Living proof. No Frizz Shampoo & Conditioner (again, heavy usage of Jennifer Anniston in the advertising makes me skeptical).
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.
Serpentina
Serpentina is mine!
It was supposed to launch on Kat Von D’s site last Tuesday and Sephora on Wednesday…but it launched early on Sephora and then immediately sold out. I was annoyed, to say the least..but then it restocked on Sephora on Wednesday and I was able to snag it. Phew, that was close. I missed out on the Mi Vida Loca palette, so I couldn’t wait on this one.
The Kat Von D Serpentina palette ($45) is inspired by Cleopatra. It’s 9 shadows – two matte, eight shimmer AND a jar of loose gold pigment. I’m scared of loose pigment, but I figure a few Q-tips will save my ass. I haven’t had a chance to try it yet…tomorrow?
Sephora was also giving out five samples instead of three. I picked Bumble and bumble. Surf Foam Wash Shampoo & Conditioner (I used a sample of this on a Vegas trip – it was nice); Tatcha Balanced Pore Perfecting Water Gel Moisturizer; Sol de Janeira Brazilian Bum Bum Cream (the package says Fast-Absorbing Body Cream Tightens and Smoothes Like No Other – so I’m supposed to tighten and smooth my bum bum?); Dr. Jart+ BB Beauty Balm; and Peter Thomas Roth 24K Gold Pure Luxury Lift and Firm Prism Cream (good thing I noticed that the back of the pouch said to use it as a highlighter before I made the mistake of covering my whole face with it). I tried to use a promo code to get a Deluxe belif sample, but it was sold out and I didn’t get shit. So sad.
…only $86 to Rouge Status for 2017.
Sephora Play! June 2016 – The Minimalists
What am I gonna do with all of these white canvas bags Sephora is now sending out in their play boxes? Ideas, anyone?
This month’s products are intended to help you create an easy summer routine, with that lovely cliche…less is more. Maybe. we’ll see…
The first thing I noticed in the box was the bright fuchsia bottle of Tarte Tarteguard 30 Sunscreen Lotion. It’s not waterproof, so I’ll try to figure out a time to try it out. Also in this month’s box/bag: bareMinerals Bareskin Sheer Sun Serum Bronzer (hmmm…maybe I can use for contouring); Benefit They’re Real Mascara (drowning in mascara right now, but this is a good one); Bumble and bumble. Don’t Blow It (H)air Styler; Becca Backlight Priming Filter (I probably have samples of this already, but haven’t tried it); and Tocca Florence Eau de Parfum (Bergamot and Violet – a bit too “mature” for me).
If you haven’t signed up yet – what are you waiting for? 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.
June Ipsy Bag – Rebel, Rebel
Rebel, Rebel…your face is a mess…
I love the graffiti print bag – it would make a perfect pen/pencil bag…if I was gonna share with my kids…and I’m not.
Let me dig in my bag…I got 12 Benefits Instant Healthy Hair Treatment (I’m still using the one I got in a Birchbox last year); Urban Decay Eye Shadow in “Fireball” (a rusty orange – this should be interesting); Seraphine Botanicals Happy Hibiscus Blush (looks like sparkly bronzer); Doucce Boombastic Lash Volumizer Mascara; and Japonesque Solid Brush Cleaner (I’ve wanted to try one of these).
Another month that I’ll use every product – SCORE!
If you’d like to try Ipsy – click here. I’ll earn 250 points if you sign up through my link.
June Birchbox – Everyday Magic
I’m ready to perform some “everyday magic” with this month’s Birchbox.
No curated box this month – I wanted the sample choice. I hadn’t yet gotten the Goof Proof Brow Pencil when I chose Benefit Gimme Brow Brow-Volumizing Fiber Gel in Shade 3 for my sample choice this month. To be honest, I’m scared of how it will look with fiber gel in my brows. My eyebrows are fairly sparse – they need volume, but…scared! I’ll report back when I try it.
Also in this month’s box: Balance Me Congested Skin Serum (hmmmm…); Kiehl’s Rare Earth Deep Pore Daily Cleanser (I LOVE anything that promises to clean my crater pores); Oribe Dry Texturing Spray (?); and The Beauty Crop PBJ Smoothie Stick in “Raisin the Roof”.
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 – June 2016
One for me and one my man…
My box was $10 and loaded to the gills: Pantene Expert Intense Hydration Shampoo (a HUGE bottle – but no conditioner!); SheaMoisture Fruit Fusion Creme Rinse (I guess I can use this with the Pantene Shampoo); Pixi Mesmerizing Mineral Duo in “Apricot Glow”; Laneige Water Bank Serum (love Laneige); S.W. Basics Exfoliant (Um, basically granola); L’Oreal Paris True Match Cushion Foundation in “Nude Beige”; L’Oreal Paris Revitalift Volume Filler Cream (what will I be filling with this?); Soap & Glory Righteous Butter Body Cream (yum); Yes to Cucumbers 10-count Facial Wipes (How many of these do I have now?); CoTZ Face SPF 40 (coming to Mexico with me); and e.l.f. Lip Kiss Balm in “Bare Kiss”.
His box was $5 and not nearly as full: Nautica Life Cologne (husband said NOPE); got2B Glued Spiking Glue (husband shaves head, son has long hair); Marlowe No. 142 Men’s Shave Gel; Axe White Label Night Body Wash; Old Spice Hardest Working Deodorant; Dove Men + Care Complete Care 2-in-1 Shampoo; Nivea Men Creme (moisturizer?); Schick Hydro Men’s Razor; CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser Bar (the box opened slightly and left soapy flakes all over the inside of the box); and Remington Beard Boss Beard Oil (husband said nope, but I’m gonna make him try it). With all these travel sizes, he’s ready to travel, too!
As always, I got 5% off with my Target Red Card and a coupon for $3.50 off any beauty purchase of $15 in each box. I also remembered to use the $3.50 off coupon from last month’s box – SCORE!