Category: Makeup
December Julep Maven Box – This Way to the Soiree
Oh hi, Julep – nice to see you so early this month.
“This Way to the Soiree” is December’s theme. They brought back It’s Whipped Matte Lip Mousse as the featured beauty product. I picked one of the new shades – “Swoon”, Heathered Wine Matte.
For polishes, I chose Boho Glam “Bree”, Golden Gardenia Multidimensional Glitter (Gardenias are white?), and It Girl “Kristjana”, Sweet Plum Holographic (this will look amazing with the lipstick). This month’s treat made me gag – a green apple Gilliam Candy Cane. I fucking HATE green apple.
Not a Julep Maven? Click HERE to join – I’ll get a $15 credit and you’ll get your first box free!
Show Me How to Say No to This
How could I say no to $25 off $50? Show me how to say no to this…
I tricked my husband into a Sephora visit by suggesting we kill time at JC Penney while my daughter was at a UIL Competition…sneaky me. I decided to look for a new powder foundation – I needed a sheerer one than the MAC and Kat Von D ones I have. The castmember steered me towards one I hadn’t considered before – bareMinerals Bare BAREPRO Performance Wear Powder Foundation ($30). We had a hard time matching by swatching, so we tried by my Color IQ…and then went a shade lighter to pick “Aspen 04”. It goes on lighter than the other powder foundations I’ve tried and it’s a perfect match for my skintone. I was skeptical at first, since I used to use the original bareMinerals and had to stop once I started getting cow’s feet – that shit is horrible about settling in fine lines. I’ve worn BAREPRO a few days though and I’m loving it.
I also picked up Sephora Favorites Lip Temptations ($32) – I really wanted Kat Von D Studded Kiss “Mercy” and they didn’t have it in full size. Also in the kit: Bite Beauty Lip Crayon in “Aubergine”; Urban Decay Vice Lipstick in “714” (one of their new Vice bullets – full size!); NARS Lipstick in “Jungle Red”; Sephora Lipstick in “#49”; and Know Cosmetics No Bleeding Lips Secret Lip Liner. I didn’t really need 3 new red lipsticks, but whatever.
About $40 after tax – I don’t say no to this. No, no, no.
FINALLY!
FINALLY! Jumpin’ Jesus on a Pogo Stick, it took almost a month for this box to make it across the pond from Scotland. Mailed on October 28th, it finally arrived on Black Friday, November 25th. (The second box she sent was mailed a week later and arrived within 10 days!) Sally has been fighting with USPS for weeks, with USPS claiming that it never made it off the shipping container in Chicago. As a matter of fact, they still don’t know where it is – they are still telling her that they don’t know where it is. Thanks, USPS!
The box was a big beat up, but it was well packed and everything arrived safely and undamaged. I was only positive on one of the gifts – Makeup Revolution‘s new Halloween palette: “The Dead Are Alive” – its 16 beautiful graveyard colors. I’ve been using it for the last several days straight. I was pleasantly surprised with another Halloween palette – “Give Them Darkness” and Halloween lipstick – the “Beyond Vamp” Matte Lipstick Collection (I’ve only tried “Give Them Darkness” so far – I thought it was black, but it is dark blue on me). I was also treated to another Makeup Revolution Precision Brush – this time the cheek brush – and the Makeup Revolution Ultra Base Corrector Palette – every color corrector I could ever need!
In addition to all the best new Makeup Revolution products, there were a few pressed glitters from OPV Glitter – “Hot Miss”, “Xpoze”, and “Charmed”. I have never used pressed glitter before, but it’s not nearly as scary as I thought. As long as you use a good shadow primer, it sticks right on.
Thank you Sally for sending me TWO amazing boxes of Makeup Revolution goodies…Rest assured, I will be returning the favor.
Sephora Play! November 2016 – Best in Glow
I’ve been slacking…I’m finally getting around to posting my last subscription box of the month – just days before I start receiving my December boxes.
“Best in Glow” is November’s theme, products to stave off winter dullness. I don’t know about you, but down here in Texas, we haven’t seen a whole lot of winter. We had frost on the ground one day last weekend and that’s it.
I’m most excited about Stella McCartney POP – I’ve been wanting to try it since I love Stella so much. It’s very floral and sharp smelling. I could see myself using free samples, but not buying it. Also in my box: Sephora Ultra Shine Lip Gel in “Pin-up Pink”; The Estee Edit by Estee Lauder Dissolve the Drama Makeup Remover; Cover FX Illuminating Primer; Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Colour in “Rose Gold”; and GlamGlow SuperMud Clearing Treatment (please send me GlamGlow in every subscription box, please and thank you).
If you haven’t signed up yet – you’re a turkey! 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.
November Birchbox – The Finishing Touch
I am thankful for…my subscription boxes.
I didn’t choose the curated box this month – instead I picked just one product and got this month’s “The Finishing Touch” box. The product I chose was Chella Eyebrow Color Pencil in “Tantalizing Taupe”. I hope it’s not too light for me.
Also in this month’s box: Avène Soothing Moisturizing Mask (I got this in my October 2015 ipsy bag, but don’t think I ever used it); Number 4 Jour d’Automne Smoothing Balm; Supergoop! Forever Young Hand Cream with SPF 40; and TokyoMilk Light “Awaken Within” (a VERY strong jasmine scent).
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.
November Ipsy Bag – Rock Starlet
Ipsy arrived first this month. I was excited to see that fuchsia bubble mailer!
“Rock Starlet” is this month’s theme. I received the gold and navy constellation-print neoprene bag – there was also one with silver print. Jewelry, I am ALL silver…but I tend to go for gold in accessories, like my current phone case.
Inside my “Rock Starlet” bag: Luxie Beauty Rose Gold Small Duo Fiber Brush (this is one of the most unique brushes I’ve ever seen – there’s a thin layer of extra long fibers on the end for a lighter touch – I’m excited to try it with a highlighter); Japonesque Pixelated Finishing Powder (not sure what to do with this – is it a highlighter or for my whole face?); Adesse New York Brightening Base Coat (interested to try it); ELEMIS Pro-Collagen Marine Cream (huh?); and theBalm Cosmetics Mad Lash Mascara.
These are very sophisticated products – I will be cycling ALL of these into my routine soon, except maybe the mascara.
If you’d like to try Ipsy – click here. I’ll earn 250 points if you sign up through my link.
Mystery Surprise!
Sally sent me a mystery surprise! All the way from Scotland…OK, technically not a surprise, since I knew it was coming. And not a mystery, since Sally gave me a sneak preview of the bag…but a mystery surprise, nonetheless.
Makeup Revolution was having another Mystery Bag promotion and Sally graciously sent me one of the mystery bags she received…plus a little extra.
Inside of the mystery bag was a combination of Makeup Revolution, I ♥ Makeup and other TAM brands: Live Love London Body Mist in “Sensuous” (smells like pears); I ♥ Makeup No Shine Please! Totally Matte Foundation in NS05 (I thought it was a pore primer and just put on my nose today – it actually worked well for it though); Freedom Makeup “Future Bright” palette; Makeup Revolution Blush Bronze & Brighten in “Rave”; I ♥ Makeup All Day & Night Eyeliner in “The Last Laugh” (looks bronze); Freedom Makeup Pro Melts Lipgloss in “Steal the Show”; I ♥ Makeup Super Wow! High Color Lip Gloss Stick in “Atomic” (I have a few of these – they’re decent); and three Makeup Revolution nail polishes – “Cool Days”, “Love etc” and “Find True Love”. That’s a bunch of goodies and no duplicates with what I’ve already got!
The only new product that I really wanted to try was the I ♥ Makeup Liquid Lipstick in “Molten Chocolate”, so she sent me one. The applicator is lovely and color is out this world, but it’s like regular lipstick and doesn’t last all day. She also sent me one of the new Makeup Revolution Precision Brushes! I have been lusting over these and now I finally have one to try…she also sent me the polishes from her bag, since she cannot wear polish – “Are you still available”, “Adore” and “Never Enough”.
Thank you, my sweet friend – I truly appreciate the mystery surprise…and now I’m putting together a box of my own…just waiting for the weather to get a little cooler so everything won’t melt.
20ROUGE, Part II & III
Merry Xmas to me! I make Xmas shopping SO easy for my husband.
Well, as much as I love torturing him and making him visit Sephora and Ulta to go shopping for me…I love saving money more. So I decided to forego the torture and take this opportunity to order myself some Sephora exclusive items.
I’d had my eye on the Kat Von D Metal Matte palette ($60) since it launched. In real life, it’s HUGE. I’m glad I ordered when I did – it was already out of stock when I went to Sephora on the 4th. I’m still disappointed that I missed out on the Mi Vida Loca palette last year. I had bought it for my ex-BFF, and I thought she was getting it for me, but she blew it off for too long and it sold out. c’est la vie.
I also said, “fuck it” and ordered the Kat Von D Everlasting Mini Liquid Lipstick Set. I don’t have any of these shades and I wanted to try the new shade “Plath”, plus some older shades – “Backstage Bambi” and “Mother”.
I was a good girl and did not open the boxes – I just shoved them in my husband’s junk drawer to wrap later.
For samples – I didn’t get what I picked again. I don’t remember what I picked, but I ended up with Wildfox perfume (never heard of it, smells like a generic Victoria’s Secret type scent); Clinique Beyond Perfecting Foundation + Concealer in “neutral”; and Juliette has a Gun Not a Perfume (insert says it is pure Cetalox, a background note in perfume – interesting, it smells very generic).
At the last minute, I decided to order one more thing for myself – MILK MAKEUP Gel Brow in “Pilsner” ($18). I had used 100 points to get a sample of it with my last order – all the way back in August – and I like the way it lasts. I don’t like having to sharpen it, but other than that, it’s a winner.
This one will not be waiting until Xmas – I’ll break into it as soon as I’m done with my little sample.
Samples this time were Sephora Instant Moisture + Cream; Tatcha One Step Camellia Cleansing Oil; and Josie Maran Surreal Skin Argan Finishing Balm.
November Julep Maven Box – Light & Shadow
It’s Julep time!
This month’s “Light & Shadow” theme brings a range of colors and finishes. For polishes, I chose Classic with a Twist “Carrie Ann”, blush sheer holographic, and It Girl “Mercedes”, canyon rose metallic (what’s a canyon rose?). Both gave me a Thanksgiving vibe – perfect for November. For my beauty product, I chose a new shade of Eyeshadow 101 Creme-to-Powder Eyeshadow Stick – “Burgundy Shimmer”. I have high hopes for upping my game on lazy makeup days (basically, when I hit snooze too many times).
I used Jules to get another Oxygen Bonding Base Coat. It really DOES make a difference with Julep polishes – less bubbles and it sticks so much better.
The treat in my box was a single chocolate ball. I just popped it my mouth – not bad, better than Hershey. Why only one?
Not a Julep Maven? Click HERE to join – I’ll get a $15 credit and you’ll get your first box free!
Target Beauty Box – November 2016
I skipped out on the October box, but I couldn’t say no to the November box – Beauty Ballot.
Inside my Ballot box…L’Oreal Advanced HairCare Volume Filler Thickening Shampoo (but no damn conditioner); Andalou Naturals 1000 Roses Beautiful Day Cream (looking forward to this); HASK Keratin Protein Soothing Deep Conditioner (I guess I can use this conditioner with the L’Oreal shampoo); Laneige Water Bank Soothing Mask; W3LL People Bio Brightener Stick; L’Oreal Voluminous Primer (I like the Voluminous Mascara, but I’m WAY too lazy to use a mascara primer); and Revlon ColorStay Eyeliner in “Black” (It has a cool little smudgy tip).
Another $10 box, but this one seems more stuffed than the last one – I ain’t even mad. I also got my $3.50 off $15 coupon – if I remember to use it. Don’t forget the 5% Red Card discount.