Category: Makeup
November 2025 Ipsy Ultimate – Natasha Denona
Ipsy Icon Box (previously Ipsy X) is now called Ipsy Ultimate. Nothing like a rebrand, huh?
At least I’ve heard of Natasha Denona. I prefer the boxes curated by brands (like Natasha Denona) or by actual celebrities. I have wasted too much time googling celebrity makeup artists, or worse…influencers…and I literally do not care.
The biggest surprise of the box was the Natasha Denona Yucca Palette ($69). I was expected to look like a tumbleweed, but all the earthy desert tones really pop on my skin. Who knew that my best eyeshadow color would be mustard yellow? The box also came with Natasha Denona Hy-Glam Concealer ($30), but I haven’t tried it yet. I should…I’ve been eating macadamia nuts all week and my skin is garbage.
My product choice were pretty good this month. I picked Tatcha The Matcha Cleanse ($40 – I would never spend $40 on face wash…but this is a nice fucking face wash); Salt & Stone Black Rose & Oud Body Lotion ($20 – I am in love with this woody rose scent); and Dr. Jart+ Ceramidin Skin Barrier Moisturizing Eye Cream ($44 – a bad pick, I think I thought it was face cream – boo!)
Also in this month’s box: Lithe Beauty Soft Fill Lip Pencils in “Dusk” & “Scarlet” ($32 – nice, soft lip pencils); Bisha Essential Eye Designer Duo Set in “Downtown Black” & “Uptown Brown” ($58 – haven’t tried yet); and Persona Cosmetics Volumizing Tubing Mascara in “Black” ($24 – haven’t tried yet).
$317 worth of products this quarter!
I subscribe to the basic ipsy bag for $14/month (recently increased from $13/month) and Icon Box (formerly Glam Bag X) for an extra $60/quarterly (recently increased from $43/quarterly). If you’d like to try Ipsy – click here. I’ll earn 250 points if you sign up through my referral link.
Saisei Ulta Haul
It’s been a bit since I’ve taken advantage, but I still love Diamond Love List Mondays…
I POUNCED on a new hair routine – it’s been a while since I did that, but a new product line from NatureLab. Tokyo had me intrigued. I used a few of their lines a few years back, before I switched to Sol de Janeiro. I grabbed NatureLab. Tokyo Saisei Stress Defense Amino Acid Shampoo and Saisei Restoring Therapy Conditioner ($22 each), as well as Saisei Biomimetic Peptide Treatment Essence ($46). This line is supposed to destress your scalp and minimize fallout and color loss – my husband will appreciate it, based on the labubu-sized clump of hair he recently pulled out of the shower drain. It’s only been a week, so no results to report yet.
My current favorite lippie was in my purse when it got stolen several months ago and it wasn’t re-released with products for the second Wicked film, so I decided to try r.e.m. beauty Wicked So Popular pH Adaptive Lip Oil ($25). It gives long lasting color…but it is fucking GLINDA pink. It’s fine with my skin tone, depending on what I’m wearing, but not as good as Tulip Fields. Ugh.
A few other “add to cart” moments: Thayers Soak It Up 80HR Liquid Moisturizer for Normal to Dry Skin ($14.99) and Alcohol-Free Witch Hazel Facial Toner in “Rose Petal” ($10.95); and wet n wild Bare Focus Tinted Hydrator Tinted Skin Veil ($6.99) – this is fucking foundation, why did they lie? Not quite full coverage, but definitely medium coverage – NOT a veil.
I racked up 4 gifts with purchase on this order! Just for being Diamond, I got a Free Diamond Exclusive belif The True Cream – Moisturizing Bomb with select $50 shipped purchase.
Inside the Free 11 Piece Beauty Bag with $85 shipped purchase: a blue sequined makeup bag; ANOTHER belif The True Cream – Moisturizing Bomb; Urban Decay All Nighter Makeup Setting Spray; mixsoon Soondy Centella Asiatica Essence (I have no fucking idea); Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate Conditioner; DIME Luminosity Eye Serum; 2 Wella Invigo Brilliance Vibrant Color Mask; L’Occitane Amande Concentrate de Lait; Gucci Flora “Gorgeous Gardenia” (NO); Smashbox Pore-Vanishing Primer; Lancome Genifique Ultimate Serum; Shiseido Clarifying Cleansing Foam; Billie Eilish “Your Turn” (it smells like new shoes); and Paris Hilton “Iconic” (I actually like this one – I hate that I like it). Please no one tell Ulta that I got 15 items in what was supposed to be an 11 item gift.
Inside the Free Diamond & Platinum Exclusive 22 Piece Beauty Bag with $135 shipped purchase: a blackish green makeup bag; Sol de Janeiro Cheirosa 59 Fragrance Mist (I’ve been wanting to try this one – woody vanilla); Tirtir Milk Skin Toner; Bondi Sands Self Tanning Foam in “Dark” (nope); ma:nyo Pure Cleansing Oil; NYX Fat Oil Chillz in “Strawberry Slush”; Dolce & Gabbana “Light Blue” (deluxe size); Redken One United Multi-Benefit Treatment; Mixsoon Bean Cleaning Oil (why do I need to clean my bean?); tarte tartlette Tubing Lash Primer; No7 Future Renew Night Serum; Farmacy Deep Sweep Pore Cleaning Toner; Clinique Acne Solutions Clinical; RoC Retinol Correxion Line Smoothing Eye Cream; NOYZ “Only Human”; Marc Jacobs “Daisy Wild”; Azzaro “The Most Wanted”; Billie Eilish “eilish” (deluxe sample); Good Molecules Lightweight Daily Moisturizer; COSRX The Retinol 0.1 Cream; CECRED Moisture Sealing Lotion (for hair? wut?); Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel; Peter Thomas Roth Peptide Skinjection Amplified Wrinkle-Fix Serum; and Olaplex No. 6 Bond Smoother. 24 items in this bag!
Finally, inside the Free Diamond & Platinum Exclusive 9 Piece Skincare Gift with select $25 shipped purchase: bareMinerals Skin Rescue; Murad Environmental Shield Superactive Moisturizer; Benefit The POREfessional Deep Retreat Pore-Clearing Clay Mask; Estee Lauder Nutritious 2-in-1 Foam Cleanser (um, nutritious?); Dermalogica Dynamic Skin Recovery SPF 50; it Cosmetics Confidence in a Cream Barrier Boost; Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen SPF 50; Fur Ingrown Concentrate; and Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench SPF 45. Awww…just the 9 items in this one.
Since I knew this order would take me to Diamond Status for 2026, I used a $5 off coupon and $20.50 in Ulta points. How am I going to try all 48 samples???
September 2025 Ipsy Bag – More is More
Another pink glam bag…perfect for storing Barbie clothes!
My product choice this month was Elemis Superfood Midnight Facial. It’s a botanical scented night cream and it is very hydrating. I’s like to say that it smells like…dragonfruit…but the description says banana fruit flower.
Also in this month’s bag: a FULL SIZE Eva NYC Stay Hydrated Leave-In Conditioner (no complaints here, I use Leave-In Conditioner to slick back my hair when I clip it up every day); Hey Honey Wrinkle Smoothing Multi Peptide Serum (great for WFH days); Pinklipps Cosmetics Everlasting Lip Liner in “Rose Brown” (I LOVE the sharpener in the cap – and it looks great with my skin tone); and SONÄGE SKINCARE Gommage Exfoliating Gel (this is the only piece I haven’t tried yet – soon I will).
This is a better bag than recent months – I’ve been needing new skincare!
I subscribe to the basic ipsy bag for $14/month (recently increased from $13/month) and Icon Box (formerly Glam Bag X) for an extra $60/quarterly (recently increased from $43/quarterly). If you’d like to try Ipsy – click here. I’ll earn 250 points if you sign up through my referral link.
August 2025 Ipsy Icon Box – Ash K. Holm
I was so disappointed that I did not get one of my product choices this month. I chose Dr. Jart+ Vital Hydra Solution Glow Face Mask with Hyaluronic Acid ($37), but they swapped it out with Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder ($43). Normally, I wouldn’t be pressed about receiving an equivalent value product, but I have SO MUCH of this setting powder. Ugh.
I really like the Fenty Beauty Slip Shine Sheer Shiny Lipstick in “Goji Gang” ($26) – it’s like Clinique Black Honey, but glossier and sexier. The jury is still out on Kopari Beauty Kaanapali Coast Hair & Body Mist ($29) – it is overwhelmingly coconutty. I’ll have to be careful with it.
Also in this month’s Icon Box: Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm ($40 – I don’t like cleansing balms, so I’ll be giving this away); Haus Beauty B Structural Volumizing and Lengthening Mascara in “Black Onyx” ($29 – I’ve used it once, it’s plain black mascara); Kulfi Beauty Underlined Kajal Eyeliner Duo ($40 – who is out here paying this much for two eyeliners?); ODACITÉ C-Glow Hydra-Firm Body Oil ($40 – puzzled by what to do with this); and Patrick Ta Major Dimension II Rose Eyeshadow Palette ($70). Honestly, I absolutely get why this eye shadow is $70 – it’s smooth, creamy and blendable – and it even comes with two cream bases to lock in your look. I haven’t been brave enough to try them…yet.
I had to google Ash K. Holm to find out that she is the Kardashians’ makeup artist. Alrighty then.
This month’s box comes in at $317 value…not bad, except for all the weird bummer products. Is it time to say goodbye to the Icon Box?
I subscribe to the basic ipsy bag for $14/month (recently increased from $13/month) and Icon Box (formerly Glam Bag X) for an extra $60/quarterly (recently increased from $43/quarterly). If you’d like to try Ipsy – click here. I’ll earn 250 points if you sign up through my referral link.
Wednesday Ulta Haul
I am a sucker for Vaults/PR Boxes and also a sucker for the Diamond Love List, which made my purchase of the NYX Limited Edition Wednesday Full Collection Vault Kit ($90) inevitable. I was skeptical at first – I was afraid I wouldn’t use most of the products (see Spongebob PR Box) – but it’s all wearable for me! The Vault included the Nevermore Academy Palette (so many earthy glitters!); three Wednesday Color-Adjusting Lip Oils – “Nightshade”, “Thorn Pricked” and “Moon Shifted” (I absolutely love these lip oils – they change color and act like a stain); Wednesday Cello Vivid Matte Purple Liquid Liner (this is the only product I haven’t tried yet – give me time); Wednesday Stained Glass Blush Palette (no purple? huh?); Wednesday Stained Glass Contour Palette (my favorite of the bunch – I’ve been using it as eye shadow); and a Wednesday Phone Umbrella (weird idea, but it matches my eggplant colored phone). I even got another freebie from NYX – free Summer Grippie Socks with $30 purchase. I won’t be wearing them until winter, but I appreciate them nonetheless. Let me reiterate, I LOVE this collection – it’s giving Kat Von D Beauty, but without all the anti-Semitism.
I added a few more goodies to my cart: Sol de Janeiro Cheirosa 68 Hair & Body Perfume Mist ($26 – to go with all the Beija Flor samples I’ve been getting); Thayers Alcohol-Free Witch Hazel Facial Toner ($8.21 – 25% off); and a Wet Brush The Original Mini Detangler Hair Brush ($5.99 – for travel). No eyebrow pencils this time…
Not only did I get a sample of Nutrafol Hair Serum with my $50 purchase, I also got a free Diamond & Platinum Exclusive 11 Piece Gift with $80 purchase. The gift included Sol de Janeiro Beija Flor Elasti-Cream (SEEEEEE!); belif Aqua bomb eye gel; Dolce & Gabbana “Devotion”; Jean Paul Gaultier “Gaultier Divine”; Peter Thomas Roth Instant Firm No-Filter Primer; Uni 24-Hour Serum; tarte Lights, Camera, Action Platinum Mascara; Sunday Riley Good Genes; Kylie Jenner “Cosmic”; Azzaro “Forever Wanted”; and Briogeo Scalp Revival (I wonder if it will work on psoriasis?).
I had a $10 off code, so I used that on this order, as well as $17.50 in points. I am so close to Diamond in 2026 that I don’t mind saving a little money when I can. Just $59 to go!
July 2025 Ipsy Bag – Hot Glow Summer
This month’s ipsy bag itself is very cute…but the contents are a bit of a dud.
The only product I’ve used so far is my product choice – TONYMOLY The Chok Chok Green Tea Foam Cleanser. It leaves my skin feeling almost squeaky clean and smells nice, too. But what is a Chok Chok???
The other items in this months bag are a bit weird: Toyfactory Niabrow Serum Brow Gel Mini (ugh, who uses all this brow gel?); Bisha Essential Lip Designer in “Beverly Hills” (grrrrrrr…); Avatara Juicy Lip Jelly in “Watermellow Clear” (maybe I can use with the lip liner?); and Morphe Mini Bake & Set Soft Focus Setting Powder in “Translucent” (are people still doing their makeup like this?). I feel like the products are for a face I don’t have…
I subscribe to the basic ipsy bag for $14/month (recently increased from $13/month) and Icon Box (formerly Glam Bag X) for an extra $60/quarterly (recently increased from $43/quarterly). If you’d like to try Ipsy – click here. I’ll earn 250 points if you sign up through my referral link.
Random Ass Ulta Haul
So…exactly a month ago, my car window got smashed and my purse was stolen. I bopped into the post office to shove something into the slot and it happened in less than 60 seconds. It seems that I forgot that I live in the Houston area and people here be thieving…my window is fixed (no thanks to Safelite, they are THE WORST) and I am slowly replacing the contents of my purse…it’s smaller than my ‘big black mom purse’, so I need smaller replacements…
…and the fucking $5 Ulta Basics 5 Piece Manicure Set is too big! I ended up buying a smaller one at T.J. Maxx right after I received this one…ugh, I’ll throw it in my luggage or something. I do like the tiny Aquaphor though – it’s a twin pack ($6.99)!
While I was at it, I threw a bunch of random sale crap in my cart: MONDAY Haircare BRUNETTE Dry Shampoo with Keratin ($5.59 – 30% off); Peach Slices Oil Control Mattifying Moisturizer ($8.49 – 50% off); and Pacifica Grapefruit Bubbles Gel Foam Cleanser ($3.50 – 75% off).
You can’t have too much face cleanser, so I also decided to try Ulta Beauty Cloud Facial Cleanser ($12). I also purchased another Ulta Ultra Slim Brow Pencil in “Dark Brown” ($11), because I cannot face the apocalypse without eyebrows.
On top of the $10 off $50 code I used, I got a few freebies. The rest of the family says that the puffy purple tote bag (free with $17.50 Ulta purchase) is super ugly…they are haters. I also got a free 5 Piece Clinique Gift Set, which came with a makeup bag, Clinique Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm; a mini Black Honey lippie (hello purse); Moisture Surge Overnight Mask; and High Impact Mascara. Score!
Since I got my hairs did at Ulta this past weekend, only $162 until Diamond in 2026 – have I ever gotten there this fast?
Another Wet Ulta Haul
Can you believe a hairbrush lasted less than 3 years? Lily must brush her hair VIOLENTLY, because the brush I bought her less than 3 years ago broke in half…and she wanted the exact same one again. Only now, the Wet Brush Pro Flex Dry is $19.99 instead of $15.99 – 25% inflation in just three years! Sigh…at least I had a 20% off coupon to use on this order.
I was down to NO eye brow pencil back-up, so I got another Ulta Beauty Ultra Slim Brow Pencil in “Dark Brown” ($11). I saw a new lippie stain I wanted to try, so I got a ColourPop HydraPop Glossy Lip Stain in “Baby Fox” ($9) – I like this formula so much better than the old Glossy Lip Stain, which are on clearance for $4.50…and I thought, why not and picked up a ColourPop Glossy Lip Stain in “Ice Pop” – oops, I already have this shade. And I hate it – it looks orangeish on me. Fuck.
Since Lily likes dry shampoo, I got her another can of MONDAY Haircare BRUNETTE Dry Shampoo with Keratin ($7.99).
$403 to go to reach Diamond in 2026.
June 2025 Ipsy Bag – Make Bold Moves
I love the pattern on this month’s ipsy bag, but the flimsy material is disappointing. I love a mod motif moment, but a stiffer material would have made it bound for my purse…but alas, it’s not tough enough.
I haven’t used my product choice this month – INH Hair Mini Quick Slick Flyaway Hair Finishing Stick. It’s a good idea and I can see throwing it in my purse if I’m going out…wait, when do I ever “go out”?
Also in this month’s bag: First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Body Lotion (this stuff is great – going in my travel bag); Goldfaden MD Radiance Whip Brightening Treatment Mask (I used this last week – it felt nice, but I couldn’t tell if I was brighter); Luna Magic Always Demure Concealer Brush (will never use this); and YC Collection Oh, My Eyebrows! in “Medium Brown” (this one is really good – I like the texture, although it did crumble a bit while using it).
A decent bag this month!
I subscribe to the basic ipsy bag for $14/month (recently increased from $13/month) and Icon Box (formerly Glam Bag X) for an extra $60/quarterly (recently increased from $43/quarterly). If you’d like to try Ipsy – click here. I’ll earn 250 points if you sign up through my referral link.
SpongeBob Ulta Haul
I know it’s dumb…but I am a SUCKER for collections in PR Boxes. Half the time, I don’t even use half of the items in the collection, except for an initial swatch. I expect that to be true of the Wet n Wild SpongeBob Squarepants PR Box ($75). I was a bit disappointed in the outside box itself – I was expecting sturdier carboard – so it will probably end up in the bin. Inside the PR Box: Underwater Wonder Liquid Blush in “Rock Star” (it’s VERY pink, but flattering on me); Double The F.U.N. 2-in-1 Liquid Eyeliner & Stamp (OMG, the stamp is in the shape of the background flowers in the cartoon – like a rickie tickie stickie – and coincidentally the same shape and size as the tattoo I gave myself in high school that I lost in my reconstructive surgery…BREATHE); Splash On Waterproof Mascara in “Deep Dive” (I won’t be using this – will probably end up with Caty); Bikini Bottom Cooling Lip Oil in “Thar She Blows”; Bikini Bottom Cooling Lip Oil in “I’m Ready”; Bikini Bottom Cooling Lip Oil in “I Wumbo, You Wumbo”; F.U.N. Eye & Face Palette (I’ve used this and I admit – blue eyeshadow is not my friend); Always Looking Up Mirror & Keychain Set; Squidward Makeup Sponge (Besides the eye stamper, this is the other thing I wanted most); Serving Up Smiles Eyelash Curler – SpongeBob; Kelp Shake Dual Phase Dewy Setting Mist (another giveaway); and SpongeBob SquarePants Face & Body Gems (I threatened my daughter to wear these to the Stray Kids concert – I did NOT call her bluff). I am NOT disappointed with my purchase.
I was looking for Tree Hut “Tangerine” Body Spray to match my Tangerine mood, but they don’t make it. I had to settle for Tree Hut Serum-Infused Hand Wash in “Tangerine” ($6.99). It’s a bit pricy, but I find solace in the fact that this bottle is 11oz versus Bath & Body Works 8.75oz bottles.
Since Lily actually needed the serum and not the moisturizer I got last time, I got her Peach Slices Snail Rescue Intensive Serum ($17.99) and Peach Slices Snail Rescue Blemish Busting Toner ($13.99). Since she isn’t interested in makeup, the least I can do is provide her with decent skincare. Oh, and I also switched her over to the shaving oil I like. I let her try mine and she liked it, so I got her Tree Hut Moisturizing Shave Oil in “Electric Beach” ($10.99).
There was also a birthday gift in this order (not pictured, of course), which pushed me over the threshold for THREE gifts with purchase. The free gift with $75 purchase was not that impressive. It included Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protector Lotion SPF 60 (I take it back – I needed this badly); NOYZ “Detour”; Proactiv Green Tea Moisturizer (this stuff is still around?); NYX Duck Plump in “Clearly Spicy” (my third sample); and Anastasia Beverly Hills Lash Sculpt Mascara.
The Platinum & Diamond Exclusive Step Up 14 Piece Gift with $90 purchase was more impressive: megababe Blade Bar (YES, another one!); Tiffany & Co. “Tiffany & Love for Him” (this smells good enough that I passed it over to my husband to try out); Yves Saint Laurent “Black Opium”; Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray; Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Supercharged Gel-Creme; Dermalogica Dynamic Skin Recovery SPF 50; TheraBreath Deep Clean Oral Rinse; Cetaphil Hydrating Foaming Cream Cleanser; COSRX Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser; Clinique Acne Solutions Clinical Clearing Gel (for the girl child); smashbox Photo Finish Primerizer+; Good Molecules Niacinamide Brightening Toner; Vanicream Gentle Facial Cleanser; and Natasha Denona Golden Palette Eyeshadow in “Oro” (it’s a bit crushed, so I am scared to open it).
I managed to fill my cart to just over $185 to get the Diamond Exclusive 36 piece beauty bag. I usually don’t luck into these, but I was getting a pedicure and was feeling bougie. In addition to the clear orange makeup bag, it included Jean Paul Gaultier “Le Male Elixir Absolu” (not bad, but since my FiL wears Le Male…I’ll pass); Shiseido Benefiance Wrinkle Smoothing Eye Cream; Kylie Cosmetics Matte Liquid Lisptick Card Sample in “Koko K”; Prada “Paradoxe”; COSRX Master Patch Intensive (an 18 pack – that’s $5 worth); Boots No7 Lift & Luminate Triple Action Serum; Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Gel Tint Sample Card; bareMinerals BarePro 24HR Wear Skin Perfecting Matte Liquid Foundation Sample Card; tarte Shape Tape Contour Concealer Sample Card; Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Foundation Sample Card; Drunk Elephant C-Luma Hydrabright Serum; Camille Rose Moroccan Pear Conditioning Custard; Lancome UV Expert Supra Screen Invisible Sunscreen Serum; Sol de Janeiro Bom Dia Bright Cream (just a packet instead of a pot, but I’ll use it); Ralph Lauren “Polo”; Valentino “Uomo Born in Roma”; Valentino “Donna Born in Roma Extradose”; Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb; Burberry “Goddess”; Kate Somerville ExfoliKate; Clinique Moisture Surge Body Hydrator; Paco Rabanne “Invictus Victory Elixir”; Givenchy “Irresistible”; belif The True Cream – Aqua Bomb; Method Island Mist Body Wash; COSRX The 6 Peptide Skin Booster Serum; e.l.f. Thirst Burst Drops; Dior “Miss Dior”; Sunday Riley Luna Sleeping Night Oil; Round Lab Birch Juice Moisturizing UVlock SPF 45; Dolce & Gabbana “Light Blue”; Starface Hydro-Star Patches; Indie Lee Brightening Cleanser; Lanolips 101 Ointment; Earth Harbor Naturals Siren Silk Multi-Tasking Hydration Cream; Drunk Elephant Mello Marula Cream Cleanser; Marc Jacobs “Perfect”; NYX Blur Screen 30 Primer; Good Molecules Hyaluronic Acid Serum; CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion; Carolina Herrera “Good Girl” (I think this is the stripper perfume); NYX The Face Glue Gripping Primer; Mugler “Alien” (Nooooooo); Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream; NYX Face Freezie Cooling Primer; DHC Super Collagen Cream; and DIME Luminosity Eye Serum. Phew, my fingers and eyes are tired!
I used a $20 off coupon and $17.50 in Ulta points on this order. I wish my coupon had been 20% off instead of $20 off $100…but I DO have an actual 20% coupon that is valid for the next 10 days…what should I fill my cart with?
Ohhhhhhh, we’re (almost) halfway there….$445 to Diamond in 2026, living on a prayer…