Category: Makeup
Sephora Play! July 2017 – Beauty Staycation
Getting my last July box in right at the last minute…
July’s theme is “Beauty Staycation” and the pink gingham bag says “Glamp Out!” I prefer glamping to camping any damn day.
So pumped to get another sample of Boscia Charcoal Pore Pudding – I got a sample last year and it was a really good mask. Also in this month’s box: bare minerals Gen Nude Matte Liquid Lipcolor in “Swag” (every brand is coming out with one right now); it Cosmetics Superhero Elastic Stretch Volumizing Mascara (I don’t know if I want my eyelashes stretched); Milk Makeup Cooling Water (not sure about this – it seems to be a “cooling” moisturizer stick?); Briogeo Rosarco Milk Reparative Leave-In Conditioning Spray (not a bad leave-in – I’m still working on the bottle I got a few years ago); and Atelier Cologne Orange Sanguine (I have several of these, but it’s good).
Even though the box contains several products I already have or have had, not complaints from me – it’s alll good stuff.
If you haven’t signed up yet, get to 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.
July Birchbox – One-Two-Punch
Another month, another curated box. The theme is “One-Two-Punch” – quick solution products.
I’ll be honest, I picked the box purely for Kiehl’s Rare Earth Deep Pore Daily Cleanser – I got in a Birchbox last summer and I really liked it.
Also in this month’s box: Juliette Has a Gun Anyway (citrusy and clean); Oribe Matte Waves Texture Lotion; MAC Cosmetics Prep + Prime Skin (I have a full size – maybe I should revisit it now that my skin is healthier); and Beautaniq Beauty Blush Serum.
An interesting box and my skin is looking forward to trying some new products.
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.
Shade + Light Glimmer
Oh Kat Von D, just take all my money…
I told myself that I wasn’t going to order this palette on release day (7/11)…I lied. I ordered it.
Kat Von D Cosmetics Shade + Light Glimmer Eye Contour Palette ($49) is the shiny sister to the original Shade + Light palette, which is entirely matte. I got that palette for Xmas a few years ago and I was not thrilled with it at first…until I learned how to use it. Once I learned how to use it and contour my eyes, I fell in love with it.
I tried it out several days in a row and the quality is fantabulous. It blends well without primer and the variety of finishes are fun to play with. I have not yet used it with the matte version – that’s next on my list. I DID use the eye shadow over lipstick to “glimmerize” a matte lipstick – it looked amazing. Definitely try it.
I’m torn – I have been trying to compare it in my head with the Naked Heat palette…but they are SO different. I couldn’t choose one as a superior palette – they do two different things! Ugh, you just have to get BOTH of them.
One of the hardest parts of placing a Sephora order is picking which promo code to use. I save all of my Sephora emails in a folder, so I can easily access the most current promo codes. I found one for free deluxe samples of Living proof. No Frizz Shampoo & Conditioner. As much as Jennifer Anniston annoys me, Living proof. is one of the best hair lines I’ve ever sampled. I say “sampled” because an 8 oz. bottle is $25. Fuck a bunch of that…unless I win the lottery.
I am obsessed with the perfume samples I got with my order. I’ve been wanting to try Jo Malone for a while and I received a sample of Jo Malone English Pear & Freesia. It is different than any other fragrance I’ve tried. I cannot even explain it. It smells like…luxury. It’s pricey at $65, but not too ridiculous. I want to sample more before I pick this one. The other fragrance I got was Maison Margiela REPLICA Lipstick On. This one blew my mind. It immediately brought back memories of this old Art Deco armoire that my mom had – I believe it was lined with Cedar. This perfume smells like a mix of the inside of that armoire and literally, an old tube of lipstick. I know I am not describing it in the most attractive way, but it’s what I imagine Bette Davis must have smelled like. I might have to sell a kidney for it…it’s $126.
Oh…and a little foilpack of Fresh Lotus Youth Preserve Face Cream.
Just $383 left until Rouge for 2018…maybe I will buy that $126 perfume…
July Ipsy Bag – Over Easy
Forget this month’s ipsy bag for a moment…and LOOK at the mailer. This month’s gold mailer has me SHOOK. I’ve been getting ipsy for 3+ years and this is the first time there’s been a change to that familiar fuchsia mailer. I ain’t even mad though.
That gold mailer almost distracted me from this month’s makeup bag…oh my. I don’t even know what to think about that sad little egg, Gudetama. I don’t hate it…but…I’m not in love.
I’m not overly excited about the products in this month’s bag either – they’re not bad products, but not stuff I “need”. I’m thinking the first thing I’ll sample is the tarte Rainforest of the Sea deep dive cleansing gel. I really liked their FRXXXTION stick. Also inside this month’s box: Beau Gâchis Illuminating Brush; BRTC Jasmine Waterful Sleeping Mask (TONIGHT); Japonesque Velvet Touch Primer at first glance, I thought this was the Smashbox primer); and OFRA eyeshadow in “Gold Rush”.
There was also a rather thick booklet from ipsy, promoting their new ipsy cash program. I’m all for cash back on my purchases, but I don’t know if I can divert my purchases from Ulta and Sephora – I gots to get my points.
If you’d like to try Ipsy – click here. I’ll earn 250 points if you sign up through my link.
July Julep Maven Box – Neon Nights
Even though my Julep box was there waiting for me when I got back from vacation, I got distracted by all the goodies I purchased…
July’s theme is “Neon Nights”, and offered a selection of bright summer colors. I chose Bombshell “Hayat” – blazing hibiscus creme – and Boho Glam “Nadine” – tangy persimmon creme (to match my persimmon tree). I also chose the new So Plush Lip Gloss in “werk” – I cannot resist trying Julep’s lip products, even though they go bad before I can ever use them up. Even though I KNOW that it’s because they’re not loaded with nasty preservatives, it kind of irks me that they go rancid after less than a year. I also used Jules to get Palm Tree Nail Decals – so summery!
No candy this month, which is smart given the weather. Instead, I got another sheet of metallic temporary tattoos. I’m thinking Lily will get these.
Not a Julep Maven? Click HERE to join – I’ll get a $15 credit and you’ll get your first box free!
Naked Heat
I’d passed quite a few opportunities over the past month to pick up the newest Urban Decay Naked Heat palette ($54). Both Ulta and Sephora had a few pre-sales, then there was the official online launch. But the stars aligned while I was on vacation…not only had I accrued $53 in Ulta points (my last spend was the Alice Through the Looking Glass palette), but I received a 20% off anything coupon from Ulta….would it work?
Fuck yeah, it worked! But to my delight/dismay, I was now under the $50 shipping threshold. What is there to do, but to also add one of the new Urban Decay Naked Heat Vice Lipsticks in “Scorched” ($17). All told, I paid $4.11 for the palette and the matching lipstick. My samples were good, too – NARS Blush in “Orgasm” and it Cosmetics No. 50 Serum Collagen Veil.
Damn, I’m good.
I waited a bit after receiving to write my review…I wanted a chance to fully try it out and make sure before declaring it the palette of the year. IT’S THE FUCKING PALETTE OF THE YEAR. No joke, I’ve been using this palette every single day since I got it. The rich bronzes, coppers and bronzes blend beautifully and coordinate well together. There’s a full range of shades and finishes. This might be my favorite Naked palette now – so sorry, Naked 3.
$86.66 away from Platinum status for 2018.
Summer Chrome
As fate would have it, Jeffree Star Cosmetic‘s Summer Chrome Collection dropped at almost EXACTLY the same time that my flight to Washington DC was set to land. But I remembered! I had my order placed before our plane reached the gate.
I briefly considered the whole collection, but I knew that I’d never ever wear that Kermit Green color – “Venus Flytrap”. I also didn’t need “You. Better. Work.” since it’s pretty close to Kat Von D “L.U.V.” So I just picked three ($18 each) – “Candyass” – pink gold metallic, “Calabasas” – dark dusty rose, and “Family Jewels” – cool toned milk chocolate matte. “Candyass” is already sold out!
My order was waiting for me in the mailbox when I got home the following Sunday…and per my email, had been sitting in the mailbox, roasting since that Friday. All of the colors look great on me, even if I do say so myself. The formula seems thinner, but that could be due to the mailbox roasting?
I meant to get one of the new Lip Scrubs, but I totally forgot. I see another order in my future though…
Saint or Sinner?
Fragrance is a very personal thing. What smells wonderful on one person, may well smell like a corpse flower once it hits your own skin. The only way to know…is to try it out. I get SO many samples from my boxes, that I have a good chance to try out lots and lots of different fragrances. (Collecting perfume samples is something I’ve been up to since I worked up enough courage to start asking for samples at the Foley’s Makeup Counter while shopping with my mom.)
Sometimes though, you just buy a fragrance – whether based on the brand, the name or even the bottle. Even though I was in the middle of my vacation, I couldn’t pass up the $15 off $50 email…I went ahead and ordered travel sizes of Kat Von D Saint and Sinner at $22 each. I crossed my fingers as I opened Saint to smell it…and promptly spilled it all over my arm. Luckily, I’m a fan of the light vanilla jasmine scent. Sinner is a spicier scent, with cinnamon and patchouli. For some reason, it just doesn’t last on me – I cannot catch a whiff even 10 minutes after putting it on. For me, Saint is the clear winner and I could see buying a larger bottle.
I also ordered Sephora Collection Luster Matte Long-Wear Lip Color in “Rose Luster” ($7, down from $16) to get to $50. It’s a nice matte color, but I didn’t feel like it was very long lasting.
For samples, I ended up with Madame C.J. Walker Beauty Culture Silkening Blow Out Creme (weird), philosophy Purity Made Simple 3-in-1 Cleanser (love this stuff); and Lancome Dual Finish Multi-Tasking Powder & Foundation in One All Day Wear.
Only $432 left til Rouge!
Sephora Play! June 2017 – Your Summer Starters
Oops! I left town without finishing my homework…
Without further ado, here’s June box/bag, “Your Summer Starters”: Benefit The POREfessional (so much of this stuff, but it works); OUAI Rose Hair & Body Oil (smells so good); First Aid Beauty Coconut Skin Smoothie Priming Moisturizer (excited to try); Rich Kid Coconut Oil Gel (ooooh, more coconut); Kat Von D Everlasting Lip Liquid in “K-Dub” (This is SO my color, well…my old car’s color; Also, I used the alias ‘L-Dub’ on another blog years ago); and Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium (nope).
A great box, cannot wait to use more of the products!
I wish I could use the 50 point bonus cards on online orders – I hardly EVER go into the store.
If you haven’t signed up yet, do so now. 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 – Volume Up
Ooooh…look at those lips. So why aren’t there any lip products in my bag this month?
Let’s see…I got a Beaute Basics Travel Face Blender in Light Pink; Peek Beauty Multiuse Black Primer (I am scared and intrigued by this product at the same time; how do I end up NOT looking like I got punched in the eye?); PÜR Mini Fully Charged Magenetic Mascara (another scary product – it’s literally supposed to be magnets); Trust Fund Beauty Nail Polish in “What’s a Budget” (sea-foam blue); and Delectable by Cake Beauty Coconut & Cream Triple Moisture Body Lotion.
A fun bag for summer – with a few products I’ll have to get brave enough to try.
If you’d like to try Ipsy – click here. I’ll earn 250 points if you sign up through my link.