Category: Makeup
Sephora Favorites Hello! Haul-Star Heroes
So Sephora discontinues their monthly Play! sample subscription box, only to release a non-subscription sample bag every month? I figured the Hello! set wouldn’t be every month, but they’re coming out pretty regularly.
The samples in this month’s “Haul-Star Heroes” aren’t very exciting, but since Sephora is still offering free shipping, I went ahead and bit. The best sample in the set is Caudalie Vinopure Pore Purifying Gel Cleanser. It smells so good! I mean, it cleans my face just fine, but I really like the scent.
Versace Bright Crystal is one of my sister’s favorite scents – I’ve gotten it for her several times. Instead of sending her this sample, I’ve been wearing it – I kinda like it! I won’t start wearing it regularly though – I’d be annoyed if someone poached my signature scent.
Also in the set: Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Microfinishing Loose Powder; Ren Clean Skincare AHA Smart Renewal Body Serum (I wonder what this will do to my BODY?); and Lancome Monsieur Big Mascara. Meh. The set came with 15% off coupons for each of the products included, but I don’t see myself buying any of them.
My son has been bleaching the hell out of his hair, so I picked Kerastase Blond Absolu Shampoo & Conditioner for him – I’ve got him using a purple shampoo/conditioner once a week for brassiness. I also got a sample card of Laura Mercier Flawless Lumiere Radiance Perfecting Foundation – all the colors look too dark for me.
Just $138 to Beauty Insider for 2021.
September 2020 Ipsy Bag – Good Vibes
Ooooh…corduroy. This month’s ipsy bag has me feeling some kind of way. At least I don’t have to hear it rubbing together between my thighs.
My product choice this month was a Generation Clay Urban Defense Purifying Pink Clay Mask. I love me some clay masks. I used the mask today and it was very nice. It dried quickly and I could feel it sucking all the gunk out of my pores – highly recommended.
Also in this month’s “Good Vibes” bag: Sundays Nail Polish in “No 18” (visuals coming soon); tarte Big Ego mascara in “Black” (ohhh, I have so much mascara); Georgette Klinger Volcanic Mineral Scrub (this smells HORRIBLE); and Pacifica Beauty Desert Sunset Matte Blush & Bronzer Duo (used this today as well, very flattering).
Good products this month, even though the bag itself reminds me of baby poopoos.
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.
September 2020 Allure Beauty Box – Opening Up
That’s a bold move Allure, curating a box around the world opening up from COVID-19. Let’s see what Allure thinks I need to get back into the world of the living…
I’ll be honest, I’m far from the world of the living, so the only product I’ve sampled so far is the Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm. The lavender component is so strong that it made me eyes water when I used it. It did rinse clean though – IO feel like many cleansing balms do not. It’s ok, if you like cleansing balms.
The rest of the products in the box seem like a hodgepodge. I don’t use dry shampoos, so I won’t be likely to use Waterl<ss Dry Conditioner. I *might* try the Wander Beauty Unlashed Mascara and the Cleo Noir Twist Up Eyeliner in “Purple”, as well as the e.l.f. Highlighting Brush. I don’t go outside if I can help it, so it will be a while before I break out the La Roche-Posay Anthelios 50 Ultra Light Sunscreen Fluid. Oh, I also got a sheet mask – Glam Up Revitalizing Japanese Sake Sheet Mask.
This is the last $15 box – I’ll see what next month’s $23 box brings…
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.
Forever Flawless
I know I just bought a new eyeshadow palette…but I’ve been waiting literally FOREVER for these two Makeup Revolution Forever Flawless palettes to arrive at Ulta from the UK…and last Monday was Diamond Offer Day, so…
The Makeup Revolution Forever Flawless Flamboyance Flamingo Palette Is a creamy collection of pink and coral eye shadows, with a few pops of blue and glitter. Some of the pinks are VERY bright – be warned. I may have left the house looking like a gay raccoon…The quality is very good. With Makeup Revolution, you never know what you are going to get. Sometimes the quality is rough – basically kitty litter – but sometimes, it’s creamy and blendable like this one!
I also got the Makeup Revolution Forever Flawless Spirituality Palette, which is full of rich burgundies and coppers – it’s very similar to the Kat Von D Lolita Por Vida Palette, but a helluva lot cheaper! These palettes were just $10 each, on sale from $15.
Wearing a mask whenever I leave the house, I’ve been living for balm stains. I had been waiting for the Milani Rose Transforming Lip Balm ($9.99) to come back in stock. It turned my lips a baby pink, with a hint of pearl. It’s okay, nothing special.
I got a few Diamond Freebies with my order – Becca Cosmetics Hydra-Light Lip Plumping Balm and Covergirl Fresh Mascara. I haven’t tried either yet.
$269 to Diamond in 2021. Oh, and my order came with ANOTHER $10 off $40 coupon!
Stoned Vibes
While taking my daughter to Ulta for a back-to-school haircut, I had a moment to go shopping for myself…
Urban Decay Cosmetics just launched the “Stoned Vibes” Eyeshadow Palette ($54) and I had been on the fence about it, but seeing it in person lured me in…well, that AND a $10 off a $40 purchase coupon. I’ve had a chance to sample several of the “stoned” shades and they are very different than what you’d expect. They’re very sheer, but buildable. Be warned, they leave a lot of fallout all over your face. The colors are a nice range of colors, too. I’ve seen a few negative reviews, but it’s kind of nice to see Urban Decay branching out and releasing something different than another Naked palette.
I also scooped up some clearance goodies: a few 75% off Frida Kahlo x Ulta Beauty items – a back-up Blurring Primer and the Beso de Amor Cheek & Bronzer Duo. There were also a bunch of Jelly Belly x Sally Hansen polishes at 50% off – “French Vanilla”, “Jewel Very Cherry”, and the “Hop Into Spring” Duo with “Birthday Cake” and “Jewel Bubble Gum”.
I also bought 3 tiny Conair Quick Smooth Hair Brushes, because they have velcro in them to make your hair smooth. I couldn’t tell a difference, honestly. And, they were $6…and I expected them to be $3 because they were so tiny.
The cashier let me break my purchase into two transactions, so I could use the $10 off coupon on the eyeshadow and another $3.50 off coupon on everything else. Just $299 to Diamond status in 2021.
August 2020 Allure Beauty Box – On Balance
Allure Beauty Box wants to bring balance to my beauty routine this month.
I am never sad to get a rose scented product, but I am still not fully sold on facial oils. I have not yet been brave enough to try the Pixi Rose Oil Blend, but at the very least, I could use it to remove lipstick?
I have not tried the Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum yet either…but that’s because I’m really liking the Peach & Lily Serum from last month’s box – I use it every week day! Same goes for the Erno Lazlo Sea Mud Deep Cleansing Bar, Floss Brighten Up Highlighter in “Sunlit”, and the Looks & Meii Brightening Lift Up Perfect Fit Mask. I’ll get to them…
I HAVE tried the H2O+ Hydration Sensitive Gel Cream Moisturizer and the Whish Botanical Primer. They are both really nice products and gentle to my skin. Powder foundation sticks really well to the primer!
So…I’m going to have to make a decision about whether to keep Allure Beauty Box soon. I just got an email warning me that the price is going up to $23 with October’s box. The email promised more full size products, but I’m skeptical…they’re already on probation…
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.
August 2020 Ipsy Bag – The Future is Yours
August’s ipsy bag contains futuristic products in a futuristic holographic bag.
My product choice this month was It Cosmetics Confidence in Your Beauty Sleep Night Cream. I didn’t read the description when I picked it – I wouldn’t have picked it if I had realized that it is lavender-scented. Lavender usually gives me an immediate headache, but this product was fine. I’ve been wearing it to bed with no ill effects!
Also is my cool little holographic bag: Araceli Beauty Jalisco Eyes Single in “Sombrero” (a good neutral base color – it applies like butter); Hey Honey Take Away the Drama Youth Boosting Honey & Copper Peel Off Mask; Jersey Shore Cosmetics Moisture Rich Hydrating Lip Balm in Watermelon; and MOTD Cosmetics Pigment Packer Small Shader Brush.
I also splurged on a $5 nail polish duo add-on with Cuccio Colour “Mercury Rising” and Color Club “Ghosted”. The add-ons are SUPPOSED to be shipped with your ipsy bag, but they arrived separately, about a week before my bag. What’s the point of that???
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. I am starting to get tempted to subscribe to the yearly plan…
Sephora Favorites POP – Beauty Cred
Well how about that…just a few weeks after Sephora releases a Hello! box, they release a POP box. I feel like they are playing around with price points and configurations to see what performs the best. I am not helpful at all – I’ll buy anything.
The “Beauty Cred” box contains “the next big thing in beauty”…hmm, okay. By far, the best sample in the box is the creamier than creamy Natasha Denona Eyeshadow in “Moonstone”. No wonder she charges $129 for a palette – this is some of the highest quality eyeshadow I’ve ever used. It pairs well with the Fenty Beauty Full Frontal Volume, Lift & Curl Mascara. The brush is super fluffy, but somehow doesn;t leave my lashes clumpy.
Also in this box: Lord Jones High CBD Formula Body Lotion in “Fragrance Free”; Fresh Rose Petal-Soft Deep Hydration Lip Balm (yasssssss, more lip balm); Amika Flash Instant Shine Hair Mask; and Maison Margiela REPLICA Beach Walk fragrance (I swear, I’ve gotten this sample 50 times from Sephora – get over this scent, it’s boring).
The set was a slighty higher price point, at $15, which is still pretty cheap. Oh, and it also came with a bunch of beauty-themed stickers.
I was over the moon to try the other samples I picked for my box. I love the scent of Brazilian Bum Bum Cream and now they have shampoo/conditioner. I IMMEDIATELY used the samples of Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Joia Strengthening Shampoo & Conditioner – it smells AMAZING! Ugh, they are $25 each. I also got a sample of Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant, which I have not tried yet.
$148 to VIB in 2021.
What’s YOUR Hogwarts House?
You want to cause chaos in your household? Pick up a couple of Hogwarts House Bath Bombs for your kids and watch them freak out when their bath bomb tells them they are in the wrong house. No joke, my little Hufflepuff daughter was scandalized when her bath bomb told her she should be in Slytherin. My Slytherin son wanted to get into HER bath and kick her out, and even a week later, he is too scared to use his own bath bomb. The Harry Potter x Ulta Beauty Mystery Hogwarts House Bath Bombs are $8 each – purchase at your own risk.
The Harry Potter x Ulta Beauty Hogwarts House Lotion ($12 each) is a much safer bet. I got one for each member of the family: Gryffindor (berry vanilla), Hufflepuff (wildflowers), Ravenclaw (cucumber), and Slytherin (raindrops). They all smell very good.
I added a few odds and ends to my order – a China Glaze Striper in “Paint it Black” ($1.05, down from $1.50) and a Marc Anthony Deep Repair Aloe Vera & Jasmine Oil Deep Conditioning Packet ($1.79, down from $2.99).
I got a Clinique Beauty Break with my order, with Clinique High Impact Mascara, Lipstick in “Bare Pop”, and Take the Day Off Makeup Remover. I also used my trusty $3.50 0ff $15 coupon.
Just $418 to Diamond in 2021.
National Lipstick Day
I took a short vacation – a few days floating in the pool, no schedule, no plans was just what I needed. I’m a little bit behind on my beauty posts, but it was worth it.
National Lipstick Day was back on July 29th and Ulta had a lot of fantastic deals. I’m having to wear a mask whenever I leave the house, but just know that I am STILL wearing lipstick under that mask. Ridiculous, I know. The liquid lipsticks I’ve been wearing for the last few years have a tendency to be drying, so I decided to take advantage of a great BOGO sale to pick up Lipstick Queen Medieval Lipstick (regularly $24), a reddish balm; and Lipstick Queen Blue By You Metallic Lipstick (regularly $25), which turns to a metallic pink. I love Lipstick Queen Frog Prince so much, that I thought I’d try a few more shades. These lipsticks are really moisturizing and they match any skin tone. I also got a free Lipstick Queen Altered Universe Gloss mini with $25 brand purchase!
Speaking of color-changing lippies, Harry Potter X Ulta Beauty Bewitching pH Lip Balm ($10) was back in stock, so I got it (for myself). It turns my lips a glittery, peachy pink. It’s a bit gritty though, which is annoying. I also picked up a clearance Essence Fruit Kiss Caring Balm in “Raspberry Dream” ($1.49, down from $2.49). I’ve started leaving lip balm scattered around the house, so what’s one more?
PÜR 4-in-1 Pressed Mineral Powder Foundation was 40% off ($17.70, down from $29.50), so I decided to try it out – I picked shade “Ivory”. The packaging is really neat – it’s packed into a Lucite compact. It has less coverage than I was expecting, but it photographs really smoothly. I’ll have to use it a bit longer to determine whether it will be a permanent replacement for my KVD powder foundation.
Absent good sales at Bath & Body Works, I decided to try out Ulta’s Moisture Gel Hand Soap at BOGO 40% off (regularly $6). I chose “Pink Grapefruit” and “Sea Salt Splash”. I am obsessed with the “Pink Grapefruit” – it smells just like my favorite Albanese Gummie! Oh, and a clearance Ocean Vibes Foaming Hand Wash ($3).
To top off my cart, I added another pack of Kitsch Face Masks ($12.99). Face masks are definitely not going away any time soon. I also got a clearance travel size Schmidt’s Rose + Vanilla Deodorant Stick ($2.49, down from $4.99). I thought that this one had given me a rash, but now that I’ve used other scents from Schmidt’s, I think it was something else. Gonna give this one a try again.
The National Lipstick Day gift with $70 purchase was a 10 piece lipstick sampler worth $70! Inside the Sampler: Buxom Full-On Plumping Lip Polish in “Dolly” (I’ve gotten their lip cream in “Dolly” before); tarte Sugar Rush Lip Sip in “Dragon Fruit”; Lipstick Queen Saint Lipstick in “Peachy Natural”; Ulta Beauty Jelly Gloss Lip Gel in “Suntan”; L.A. Girl glossy Plumping Lip Glossin “Plush”; Winky Lux Disco Kitten Gloss in “far out”; Milani Lipstick in “Bahama Beige”; Zoeva Pure Velour Lips in “Clear Message”; p/y/t Beauty Plumping Gloss; and Urban Decay Vice Lip Chemistry in “Physique” (these are fun stain/glosses). What a great bunch of new samples. I also qualified for another free tote with my $75 purchase. The white one was sold out, so I got another pink one, which I gave to Lily for her craft supplies. Oh, and I used a $3.50 off $15 coupon.
Just $481 to Diamond in 2021.