Category: Makeup
February 2021 Allure Beauty Box – Making Time
Uh oh, Allure Beauty Box is back on their bullshit again…
February’s box is another boring box, with weird products. The last few have been so good…but now this weird stuff…
U Beauty Resurfacing Compound is a beauty serum with retinol…and supposedly $148 for the one ounce bottle that came in my box. $148 an ounce! It’s a perfectly serviceable serum, but I haven’t been using it every day – I’m afraid to use retinol too often on my sensitive skin.
Also in the box: Christophe Robin Daily Hair Cream; Floss Lip Advocate in “Your Honor” (what an odd product name); Madeca Derma Revitalizing Mask; La Roche-Posay Anthelios Melt-In Milk Sunscreen SPF 100 (and it’s water resistant!); and Sisley Black Rose Cream Mask (I’ve been using this on my face at night – it smells nice).
I hope next month’s box is better – I bet it gets here tomorrow.
The Allure Beauty Box recently increased their price from $15 to $23/month. They also offer an option for $250/year – a savings of $26. Sign up via my referral link.
Naked Wild West
When a new Naked palette launches, you know I’ll be there.
Urban Decay Cosmetics Naked Wild West ($49) launched in stores last Sunday, after launching online at urbandecay.com a few weeks ago. I had my husband drop me off while running errands – the store didn’t even have the display set up yet! I had to ask someone and they grabbed one out of the storeroom.
The palette is coppery neutrals with a few blues thrown in, reminiscent of a southwestern color scheme. I’ve only gotten to use it once, but so far so good. The turquoise was a nice compliment to the coppers – I have high hopes for this palette.
It was also the last day of my birthday month – the birthday gift this year was lame…a tiny vial of Dermalogica Daily Exfoliator. Meh. I didn’t even bother getting my Sephora gift. I’m burnt out, I guess.
Because the palette was $49, the salesgirl only let me redeem $36 – she kept looking at a chart and I think it was her first day, because she wouldn’t let me apply $50, even though I’ve done it online several times. I didn’t want to go all “Karen”, so I just paid my $14 or so and left…I am still annoyed though. I should just stick to online.
$1,052 to Diamond status in 2022.
February 2021 Ipsy Bag – Send Love
I’d received the February bag weeks ago, but I had to thaw out a bit before I was able to try products – Texas was frozen solid!
February’s ipsy bag was full of brands that were new to me. I love getting to try out new brands.
My product choice this month was Innisfree Pore Clearing Clay Mask with Volcanic Clusters. It was a nice clay mask, but it did have an odd, vinegar-y smell. I did not find the volcanic clusters though.
Also in this month’s bag: Banila Co Clean It Zero Pore Clarifying Cleansing Balm (a slight menthol odor had me freaked out that I accidentally rubbed Vick’s all over my face and eyes, but it emulsified without blinding me; it reminds me of the Pharmacy Cleansing Balm); Shades by Shan Eyeshadow Duo in “Whip & Shortcake Honey”; a Shaina B Miami Blush Brush; and Soroci Morning Waterdrop Cream (a nice, light moisturizer).
I subscribe to the basic ipsy bag for $12/month. If you’d like to try Ipsy – click here. I’ll earn 250 points if you sign up through my referral link.
February Diamond Day
I’ve needed shampoo for a bit, but I’ve started waiting until Ulta’s Diamond Day each month, to see what goodies they offer up…
For February’s Diamond Day, they offered the Kylie Cosmetics Birthday Sipping Pretty Palette ($65) FREE with $20 purchase. Since it came out in 2018, they must have had a bunch sitting around – let’s see if I can sell it on Poshmark. I also got a Cover FX Monochromatic Lip Color ($21) FREE with a $25 purchase.
I really like NatureLab.Tokyo Perfect Smooth Shampoo and Conditioner, so I bought a Bottle of the Shampoo ($14) and a refill pouch of the Conditioner ($22). The pouch saves me ~26 cents per ounce – yes, I did the math!
I am forever in search of new acne products, so I grabbed OH K! Blemish Powder ($15). I was expecting a powder, but it’s a liquid! It’s very similar to Kate Somerville EradiKate, but with Calamine instead of sulfur. It does reduce redness and dried out my breakout zones – but couldn’t I just use MUCH cheaper calamine lotion???
I am continuing my obsession with lip balms into 2021 – I got the Ulta Harry Potter X Ulta Beauty Magic Lip Balm Set ($8.99) – a set of 5 magically named glitter lip balms. The balms are supposed to be scented, but I couldn’t smell anything. I gave the lavender (purple glitter) and matcha (green glitter) balms to my daughter and kept blueberry, honey & rose for myself.
Just $1,065 to Diamond in 2022…I better get to shopping.
January 2021 Allure Beauty Box – Happy Returns
I know I’m way past due to talk about a January Beauty Box, but I wanted to try at least SOME of the products first.
When I first opened the box, I was like, WTF is this skimpy box? But I was intrigued as I started rooting through the box. The first thing I noticed was the card from Mani Me x Allure worth $30 towards customized stick-on nail gels. You upload pics of your nails and they 3D print them to fit exactly! I ordered a set and am patiently awaiting their arrival.
The big box in this month’s box is Saturday Skin Rub-a-Dub Refining Peel Gel. This was an interesting product. I don’t use peels often because of my sensitive skin, but this one was super gentle. I still don’t plan on using it more than every few weeks.
Also in this month’s box: L’occitane Immortelle Reset Huile-en-Serum (smells so good); True + Luscious Super Moisture Lipstick in “Vintage Rose”; The Beauty Crop Blush Duo in “Mauve-ulous”; and a Baseblue Airsponge.
I’ll hold off judgement on this box until I get my Mani Me Gels…
The Allure Beauty Box recently increased their price from $15 to $23/month. They also offer an option for $250/year – a savings of $26. Sign up via my referral link.
January 2021 Ipsy Bag – Dream It
Don’t dream it…be it…
I’ve had to keep a close eye on this little ipsy bag – my daughter keeps trying to steal it! Her favorite YouTuber is “Dream”, so she really wants this Dreamy-y makeup bag.
My product choice this month was Byroe Salmon Cream – it’s made of FISH EGGS. Yeah, I don’t care – I’ve been rubbing it all over my face. It’s not any worse snail slime.
Also in this month’s bag: Sugar Cosmetics Matte as Hell Crayon in “Viola” (LOVE this shade); Complex Culture Time Pressed Lip Balm (I lined my lips with the lip crayon and filled in with this balm – the crayon stayed put, but my lips were also moisturized); Laruce Beauty LR22 Kabuki Brush in Denim Blue Collection (this is the tiniest kabuki brush I’ve ever seen); and Kensie Beauty So Pretty Fragrance (I have been wearing it – but the scent is so non-descript that I cannot describe it….it’s just…there.)
Another great bag – thanks, ipsy!
I subscribe to the basic ipsy bag for $12/month. If you’d like to try Ipsy – click here. I’ll earn 250 points if you sign up through my referral link.
First Ulta Haul of 2021
Remember how excited I was about NatureLabs.Tokyo Perfect Shine Shampoo & Conditioner? Turns out that it was the wrong product. I had sampled Perfect SMOOTH Shampoo & Conditioner. Oops. I bought a bottle of the NatureLabs.Tokyo Perfect Smooth Conditioner ($14) and I like it much better than the Perfect Smooth. Ugh. I’ll buy more Shampoo, I guess…
I am a sucker for Urban Decay foundation. Every time they release a new one, I’m all over it. Their newest is Urban Decay Hydromaniac Glowy Tinted Hydrator Foundation ($29). I was expected something like a tinted moisturizer, but it was a medium to full coverage foundation. I just put on on my face with my fingers and was like…oh NO. I grabbed my Beauty Blender and buffed it out. It gave nice, smooth coverage. If I left my house more than once a week, I’d use the hello out of it.
I also added a pack of Kitsch Face Masks ($12.99). My kids like these masks best, so I keep on buying them.
A few nice Platinum/Diamond freebies came with this order. I got a Too Faced Damn That’s Sexy Mascara set with my $25 makeup purchase and a deluxe sample of BareMinerals Original Liquid Foundation in “Fairly Light 03”. I haven’t tried either yet.
$1,145 to Diamond for 2022!
Sephora Favorites Hello! Greatest Beauty Hits (and more)
Ooooh! Sephora Sale on Sale! An extra 20% off sale items…so tempting.
I’d been eyeing the newest Sephora Favorites Hello! Greatest Beauty Hits set. $8 on sale is better than $10…but $6.40 is even better. I was most interested in Sol de Janeiro Cheirosa ’62 Eau de Parfum – it was so summery. Also in the set: It Cosmetics Lash Blowout Volumizing Mascara; Tarte SEA Jelly Glaze Anytime Lip Mask in “Strawberry Jelly”; BareMinerals Gen Nude Powder Blush in “Call My Blush”; First Aid Beauty FAB Pharma Arnica Relief & Rescue Mask; and Sephora Collection Ultra Glow Serum: Glow + Strengthen Vitamin C Serum. As usual, the set comes with 15% off vouchers for each product – I might actual used the Cheirosa ’62 one.
While browsing the sale section, I found a few other smokin’ deals. I splurged on a Fresh Rose Hydration Skincare Essentials Set ($55, down from $63 – $44 after discount). I also picked up the tarte SEA Yours & Mine Quench Lip Rescue Duo ($17, down from $19 – $13.60 after discount). I really like the Lip Rescue I got in the Give Me Some Balm Set – all the mask wearing has dried out my lips! The Milk Makeup KUSH Triple Brow Pen ($11, down from $22 – $8.80 after discount) was a bad purchase. The first time I used it, it was GREAT. The color “Dutch” was a perfect match to my brows and each stroke was like a little hair. The second time I used it though, it did not work at all. It’s like all the color went out of the pen after one use! Ugh, if I wasn’t so lazy, I’d take it back.
For my samples, I got Kiehl’s Calendula Water Cream and amika Flash Instant Shine Mask.
I made this purchase in 2020, but it wasn’t enough to put me into VIB status – I still needed like $65, but I didn’t want to buy something dumb. I feel like such a peasant.
December 2020 Allure Beauty Box – Hello Hibernation!
Okay, this is more like it!
I’ve been threatening to cancel my Allure Beauty Box for several months now, but the December box was full of really good products!
The STAR of December’s box was the Ciate London Trend Edit Palette ($24). This is a beautiful eyeshadow palette full of rich browns and spicy shimmers – I’m a sucker for a red shimmery eyeshadow! Just this palette is worth the cost of the box!
Also in this month’s “Hello Hibernation” box: Mudmasky Leave-Me-On Winter Mask; Caudalie Vinosource S.O.S. Thirst-Quenching Serum; ByMe x MyBeautyBrand Black Liquid Eyeliner; La Roche-Posay Retinol B3 Serum; and Cetaphil Deep Hydration Healthy Glow Daily Cream (this is a rich, thick face cream – I prefer to sleep in it, than to wear for daytime).
In addition to the normal box, there was a special “Beauty Loot” pouch, just for me! Inside the pouch was a deluxe fragrance sample of Proenza Schouler Arizona! It’s a mature and mysterious scent – it reminds me of Neiman Marcus for some reason…
Keep kissing my butt, Allure – I like it!
The Allure Beauty Box recently increased their price from $15 to $23/month. They also offer an option for $250/year – a savings of $26. Sign up via my referral link.
December 2020 Ipsy Bag – Home for the Holidays
Well of course, I’m home for the holidays – we cannot go anywhere!
I cannot stop stroking this month’s fuzzy makeup bag – it’s like a pink sheep!
I am loving getting a Color Club Nail Polish every few months – this month, I got “Get Lost”, a creamy powder blue. Lily already snatched it to use – I hope I get to use it soon.
Also in this month’s bag: Feel Enzymatic Exfoliating Cleanser (I love the almond-y scent); Goldfaden MD Facial Detox Clarify + Clear Mask (I LOVE this mask – it’s got a hint of tingle and it made my skin AMAZING); IBY Beauty Lush Eyeshadow in “Yoga Pants” (A perfect “lazy” eye shadow – a single swipe across the eye and you’re done); and Kensie Life Beat Body Lotion (the only product in this month’s bag that I haven’t sampled yet).
This might be the best bag I’ve received all year. I did not select a product this month, but their picks were perfect for me.
I subscribe to the basic ipsy bag for $12/month. If you’d like to try Ipsy – click here. I’ll earn 250 points if you sign up through my referral link.