Category: Makeup
The Disappointment is Real
One last round of online shopping before I go back to work this week – I’ve been out of the office over ten weeks! I haven’t had that long off work ever, not even after my kids. I wonder if I will remember how to do my “real” job?
I’m not going to worry about that right now…instead, I am going to focus on my intense disappointment over Winky Lux Flower Balm ($14). I was prepared for my lips to turn any color in a range of red to pink to purple, but I wasn’t expecting what I ended up with – which was absolutely nothing. I couldn’t perceive any noticeable change in the color of my lips at all. I just paid $14 for Chapstick.
I filled my baskets with basics (that I actually needed) just to justify that damn lip balm. 2 bottles of Zoya Remove+ Nail Polish Remover ($10) – the best polish remover in the whole world, right Beth? I also noticed that SheaMoisture was Buy One, Get One Half Off, so I ordered back-ups of SheaMoisture Peace Rose Oil Shampoo and Conditioner (normally $11.49).
Oh, I was also able to take advantage of last week’s bareMinerals Beauty Break. I was able to pick my shade of BarePro Foundation. I took a shot in the dark and chose “Cashmere 06”. Also included: bareMinerals Skinsorials Skin Longevity Vital Power Infusion (huh?); Gen Nude Patent Lip Lacquer (color isn’t noted on the vial, but I think it may be “dahling”); Prime Time Original Foundation Primer; and Original Mineral Veil. I tried out bareMineral original foundation when it first launched – ~13 years ago? It somehow made me look older than I was, but now I’m that age, so maybe I should try it again? I’m looking forward to trying these old and new products.
For my samples, I got OGX Orchid Oil Shampoo & Conditioner and St. Moritz Professional Wash Off Tan (nope, nope, nope).
I also decided to bop in to Ulta for a haircut yesterday. I am completely incapable of walking out of Ulta empty-handed.
NYX has really found their niche in liquid lipsticks – they have over a dozen different lines, each of which has a distinctly different formula and feel. Right now, my favorite line is definitely the Metallic version of the Soft Matte Lip Creams. I had to pick up two more, since NYX Cosmetics are Buy One, Get One Half Off. I chose “Monte Carlo” (a pink leaning red) and “Rome” (rosy mauve?). Normally $6.99, the sale made them $5.24 each.
I wish I had figured out about using the Ulta Salon sooner – only $197.67 to Ulta Platinum. I also have $67.50 in Ulta points – I see a splurge in my future…
Sephora Play! March 2018 – Festival of Beauty
Is it me, or is “Festival” the most over-used campaign buzzword in the Beauty World right now? It’s getting to be ridiculous, kind of like “Unicorn”. Don’t get me wrong, I was deep into Festivals and outside concert in my youth. I religiously attended Lollapalooza 1992 through 1995, and various other outside concerts…but back then, the only makeup I needed back then was black eyeliner…
What I SHOULD have worn was sunscreen. I never did and I always got a sunburn every damn time. So it was nice of Sephora to include Murad Invisiblur Perfecting Shield Broad Spectrum SPF 30 | PA+++. The package says invisible SPF, primer and anti-aging treatment in one – I’m sold!
Also in the Festival box: Buxom Plumpline Lip Liner Crayon in “Hush Hush”; Sephora Matte Perfection Powder Foundation in “14 Neutral Linen” (close to the shade I’ve been using – “16 Cool Linen”); Verb Ghost Oil; Lancome Miel-en-Mousse Foaming Cleanser and Makeup Remover; and a tiny foilpack of OUAI Anti-Frizz. Oh, and a snazzy tie-dye pouch that says “Beauty is my Spirit Animal”.
If you don’t get Sephora Play, join us for Festival Fun. Sephora Play is only $10/month. You can sign up at sephora.com/play.
Blood Sugar
…Sex Magik. Sorry, can’t help it – I’m a child of the 90s. Blood Sugar Sex Magik was the soundtrack to the summer between 10th and 11th grade.
Forget about RHCP for a minute, and let’s focus on Jeffree Star Love Sick Collection. Launched back on February 10th, my cart was full, but the palette had already sold out when I tried to complete my transaction. Devastating! I wasn’t entirely shocked – although I’ve been lucky in the past, I missed out on the palette this time. I was pleased when a new feature was released within an hour or so – pre-orders for the re-stock!
The re-stock happened this past week and I received my Blood Sugar Palette ($52), plus the other goodies I picked out. The Blood Sugar Palette contains 18 eye shadows in a plastic case that resembles a First Aid Kid. That case fits neatly in a VHS Sleeve. Like whoa, that is a cool detail. Like the Beauty Killer Palette, the shadows blend effortlessly without primer, although the pans are smaller. I have been using the palette exclusively for the past few days and the combinations are endless.
The Collection launched with four new shades of Velour Liquid Lipstick ($18), but I only snagged three of them: “Romeo”, (bright matte neon pink – basically a highlighter for your lips, the marker not the makeup); “Problematic”, a vibrant, matte berry; and “Restraints”, a metallic gunmetal. I skipped “Self Control” – I just cannot rock a matte lavender lip.
I also splurged on Velour Lip Scrub in “Chocolate Covered Strawberry” ($12) and this stuff is MAGIK. It is a yummy way to remove your liquid lipstick – I could just eat the whole jar.
My only regret on spending $118 is that I don’t get Sephora or Ulta credit. Other than that, it is totally worth it.
March 2018 Ipsy Bag – Create
Ipsy has been hitting their creative stride this year. March’s theme is literally, “Create”, and comes with a glam bag you can color yourself. I handed it over to Lily to color for me and she did a GREAT job.
This month’s products are basics from high quality brands: Skyn Iceland Pure Cloud Cream; Benefit Cosmetics BADGal Bang Mascara in “Pitch Black” (I’m a big fan of Roller Lash – will this beat it?); Skin&Co Roma Truffle Therapy Cleansing Cream (Oooooh); Tarte Cosmetics Sex Kitten Eyeliner; and Steve Laurant Beauty Lip Oil in “Orchid” (lip oils are great for removing liquid lipsticks).
If you’d like to try Ipsy – click here. I’ll earn 250 points if you sign up through my link.
March 2018 Birchbox – finally. spring.
This month, I chose the single sample choice, instead of the Curated Box. I wanted that Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream.
I shouldn’t have bitched about not getting a fragrance last month, though – this month’s fragrance, TokyoMilk Dark Bulletproof, gave me the WORST headache. Also in this month’s box: Marcelle Ultimate Volume Nano Mascara; OUAI Leave In Conditioner; and Winky Lux Glazed Lips Donut Lip Gloss (Winky Lux makes those clear, color-changing lipsticks with the flower inside – I want one BAD!)
This box was a bit lame. Birchbox is a serious yo-yo!
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 – March 2018
I snatched up the March Target Beauty Box – the February Box sold out before I could order it. No big loss though – it was all Honest Beauty. I am not AT ALL interested in Jessica Alba’s makeup. Blech.
This month’s box has lots of new products – or at least they said new on the label: Olay Cleaning Infusions Body Wash in “Crushed Ginger”; No7 Early Defence Glow Activating Serum; St. Ives Collagen Elastin Moisturizer (I cannot tell if this is for my hands or for my face); Nexxus Dry Shampoo (ugh, starting to get so much dry shampoo again); Pantene Foam Conditioner (weird); Clairol Color Crave Hair Makeup in “Brilliant Amethyst” (it washes out after one use…mmm’kay, why?); and wet n wild Color Icon Eyeshadow Quad in “Sweet as Candy” (while the product itself isn’t new, the packaging and formula are new).
As usual, the box included a $3 off $15 Beauty coupon. The box was $7, with free shipping and 5% off with my Target Red Card. A great value this month!
Don’t Backtalk Me
Actually, yes…DO Backtalk me.
I was unimpressed when Urban Decay released the Backtalk Eye & Face Palette ($46) a few weeks ago. At first, I thought it was was just a pink version of a Naked palette…but then I got interested in the coordinated blushes/highlighters. Have you ever done your eyes and then applied a blush you though would look good, but then it did NOT look good, but then you’re late for work and you have to go to work looking like Lindsay Lohan? Ugh.
So I had dropped in to Sephora to pick up a birthday gift for my Mother-in-Law, and there was the Backtalk palette, right inside the front door…so I started swatching the colors on my wrist. It wanted to come home with me! But I walked away…to see if they had a Urban Decay Vice Liquid Lipstick in “Backtalk”. Yup, and on clearance for $9. (So are they eliminating the whole liquid lipstick line after just a year? Or are they going for a reformulation, like Kat Von D did with her Studded Kiss Lipsticks?) So I just HAD to buy both the palette and the lipstick.
I did a full face yesterday and the formula is the high quality I’ve come to expect with Urban Decay. I used it with no primer and still got good color payout, although it was tougher to blend. I will note that this palette is BYOB – Bring Your Own Brush.
Only $785 to Rouge. Woof.
Makeup Recovery
I am SO spoiled.
I got a surprise in the mail on Thursday – a box from my bestie, Sally, filled to the brim with all the newest Makeup Revolution products! Over the past few months, Makeup Revolution has put out several new variations of their Chocolate Palettes, originally based on Too Faced’s “Chocolate Bar” palette. “Chocolate Rose Gold”, “Mint Chocolate”, “Chocolate Orange”, and “Chocolate Elixir” are the newest.
I’ve only cracked into the “Chocolate Rose Gold” and “Chocolate Orange” so far. The shadows are good quality, but really do need a primer underneath. Both are heavy on gold/bronze, which I am really liking for this season.
Not only did I get four new eyeshadow palettes, but I got three new highlighters: “Mermaid’s Heart”, with shades ranging from blue & green to gold; “Dragon’s Heart”, with shades ranging from gold to pink & red; and “Bleeding Heart”, a shimmery blush and wine, with bronze veins running throughout. “Bleeding Heart” is my favorite.
In addition to the makeup, I got a huge Flamingo Lolli AND a Flamingo Face Mask – Holler & Glow “Babes of Paradise” Hydrating Pink Peel Off Face Mask. You KNOW I tried that face mask the same day I opened the box! It was smoothing and nearly pulled off in a single sheet – that NEVER happens. It was very similar to the GlamGlow GravityMud Mask – the silver one.
I should have surgery more often…don’t worry, I made a trip to the post office today to send a “thank you” box.
SAT Shopping
What do you do, when you’re stuck waiting for you kid to take the SAT? If it had been close to the house, I would have gone home and taken a nap, but of course, none of the schools were less than thirty minutes away. Time for a little SAT Shopping…
I managed to kill over two full hours at Target, but didn’t come home with anything cool – just boring stuff like garbage bags and birthday cards and office supplies. I even tried on a few swimsuits, which wasn’t quite as horrifying as I expected, although it definitely wasn’t fun.
I also swung by Bath & Body Works, but not to buy. One of the new summer fragrances was Sea Salt Mango and I was dying to know how salt smells. I can’t say that smelling it answered my question – it smelled beachy, maybe a bit spicy? I also smelled Rose Quartz, which is a smoky rose + patchouli that I might have to add to my collection soon.
My real kryptonite was Five Below. I was all excited about the little skull rose garden I found, neglecting to notice that I had grabbed one with no seeds in it. (I went and bought another one yesterday to get some seeds – $3.) I have never been able to get anything to grow from these Buzzy sets, but maybe this is the one that will grow? I also couldn’t resist three new glittery polishes: Funky Fingers “Betcha I’m a Unicorn“, “Unicorn Dust”, and “Supernova”.
…and just a few steps away from Five Below is Ulta. I spent at least another hour roaming the aisles at Ulta.
I immediately grabbed essence cosmetics “space glam” ($2.99) – I liked “outta space is the place” so much, that I wanted to try more from the collection.
While browsing clearance stuff, I found Pacifica Cocoa Rush Anti-Fatigue Mask for 75% off – just $3.75. It’s like rubbing chocolate pudding all over your face. It’s a hydrating mask – it doesn’t dry and pull out the pores like I prefer, but it made my skin very, very soft.
I took advantage of BOGO 40% off on NYX lippies. I picked NYX Soft Matte Metallic Lip Cream in “Cannes” immediately. I already have the regular Soft Matte in Cannes and want to compare the two. I wore it yesterday and it is so comfortable to wear. It has a soft, whipped consistency like the Julep it’s whipped, but is long lasting. I need ALL of them. I also tried Unicorn Blood Lip Gloss in “Black Hole” – I wasn’t sure how it would turn out – it’s blue glitter. I do NOT need all of them.
I was able to use a $5 off $10 coupon from my email – score! Only $309.39 to Platinum.
Sephora Play! February 2018 – Feel the Love
Missed it by THAAAAAAT much…
February’s Sephora Play box is themed “Feel the Love”, products that I’m supposed to not be able to live without. Hmmm, we’ll see about that.
This month’s fragrance is Atelier Cologne Vanille Insensee. I’m just not a plain vanilla girl, plus, I already have a small bottle of this scent. The other products are a bit more interesting: Peter Thomas Roth Firmx Peeling Gel (I love a good mask); NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in “Let’s Go Crazy” (ooooh, hot pink); Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Colour in “ROSEGOLD”; Sephora Rouge Matte Lipstick in “Rebel Chic”; and belif Moisturizing Eye Bomb (so many eye creams, so little time).
I don’t know that I can’t live without any of these products, but there’s a good variety of products for me to try out. A really good mix of products this month!
If you don’t get Sephora Play, sign up and feel the love. Sephora Play is only $10/month. You can sign up at sephora.com/play.