Category: Makeup
20ROUGE, Part I
Sometimes, you just gotta TREAT YO SELF.
I’ve held back several months…but when that 20% off discount code hit my inbox…I decided to use the fuck out of it. Sephora is not like Ulta, throwing around 20% off codes like confetti. They do it exactly ONCE a year…and I was not Rouge yet last year, so this is the first time I’ve gotten to take advantage.
Even though I had placed an Xmas present order online earlier, I decided to swing by Sephora after work to pick up something I’d been lusting over for months – GlamGlow GravityMud Firming Treatment. I can only watch so many of Jeffree’s silver snapchats without wanting to try it myself. I wasn’t about to spend $69 on it…but $55.20 seems so much more reasonable. (I know I’m full of shit.)
I tried it Friday night…and it was worth every fucking cent. It smells like coconut (my husband said pina colada) and tingled slightly. I don’t know if it lifted anything, but my skin DID feel firmer and smoother – much more so than with any of the other masks I’ve tried. The effect was most noticeable on my forehead. It will be hard to limit myself to using it just twice a week.
I also got my Rouge Renewal Gift – NARS Blush in “Goulue” (what kind of word is that?). I tried it today and it is perfect for me – much better than the famed “Orgasm”. I also got a free totebag – you can always use a new totebag.
I placed a few online orders – I’ll document those as they arrive…
Sephora Play! October 2016 – The Cool Cut
This is it – the Sephora purchase that put me over the edge for Rouge status in 2017. $10 and BOOM.
October’s theme is “The Cool Cut” – innovative products that are about to hit it big.
One of my favorite Sephora sample discoveries is in this box – Belif The True Cream Aqua Bomb. It has me jumping on the Korean Beauty bandwagon. Also in this month’s box: Smashbox Always On Matte Liquid Lipstick in “Driver’s Seat” (interested in how their formula compares to Kat Von D and Jeffree); Cristophe Robin Regenerating Mask with Rare Prickly Pear Seed Oil (Winnie the Pooh approved?); Skin Inc. Pure Revival Peel (also good stuff – I bought some the last time I was in Vegas); Blinc Mascara Amplified; and Yves Saint Laurent Mon Paris (not bad – smells like rich people).
If you haven’t signed up yet – you are missing out! 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.
The Hunt is the Thing
So I went on another “hunt” last week. Two things I was looking for…the new Xmas Sinful Colors polishes (since they were 2/$3) AND a Fall Limited Edition wet n wild eye shadow.
I know…wet n wild – the cheapest of the cheap. But I’d been seeing the Fall Collection, specifically the “Velour Vixen” Color Icon Trio – and really liking it. Pink Glitter is irresistible.
Spoiler alert – I went to five different Walgreen’s and didn’t find either. 4 of the 5 had mostly empty wet n wild Fall displays and ZERO had Sinful Colors Xmas displays. Now…the 4th Walgreen’s had a single wet n wild Color Icon Trio remaining…but in “Plaid to the Bone”, which has a nice duochrome green/brown. I decided to take a chance for $2.99 I also grabbed a clearance Kylie Sinful Colors in “HollyWood”, which is redder than the pic shows.
It is HIGHLY unlikely that I’ll be buying another wet n wild eye shadow. First off, I can’t get it open. I mangled my thumb nail trying to get it open – I finally had to hand it to my husband to open. Later attempts using tweezers as a crowbar were more successful. The quality was alright I guess, but the shadows didn’t end up looking anything like the shade in the pan – OR the swatches I’d seen online. The duochrome lid shade is darker and more brown than green and the browbone shade is darker than in the pan – they are basically the same color. I won’t say it was a total waste, but you get what you pay for.
So my “hunt” was not successful this time…but that’s the fun, huh?
Been So Long Ulta
It’s been so long Ulta…I’ve missed you.
As you can tell, I’ve drastically cut back on purchasing the past few months, with the move and unpacking and having less space in the new place…but I couldn’t break this ritual…I buy a UD palette every time I hit a milestone at work – you know, raises, bonuses, etc. I hit an unexpected milestone, so I decided on a little “treat yo self”.
I immediately snatched up Urban Decay XX Vice Ltd Reloaded Palette for $34, down from $56. I already have the previous 3 Vice palettes, and have most of these colors in my original UD palettes, but so what? I’ve used it for the last three days in a row – I love it! It’s actually my favorite of the Vice palettes. The palette didn’t come with any free samples inside though…rude!
Since the “Beautiful Hair” event was going on last week, I grabbed the daily special – John Frieda Brilliant Brunette Visibly Deeper Shampoo & Conditioner at 40% off – $5.99 instead of $9.99. I’m a bit disappointed – I’ve been using it for a week and I don’t notice a lick of difference in the tone of my hair. I mean, the shampoo is as nice as any other John Frieda, but I don’t expect to rebuy.
I also took advantage of “Buy One, Get One Half Off” on Freeman Beauty Masks – I got Cucumber Facial Peel-Off Mask and Pear Pore Clean Mask. They both smell fantastic, but Pear is the best…
For freebies, I got a free Deluxe Size Buxom Wildly Whipped Lightweight Liquid Lipstick in “Centerfold”. The texture is luxurious, but it doesn’t dry matte like I expected – it gets on everything. I also got L’Oreal Revitalift Bright Reveal Brightening Moisturizer with Sunscreen and Lab Series Future Rescue Repair Serum (this is for dudes, wonder if I can get my husband to try it?)
You know I used a $3.50 coupon and got free shipping…oh yes I did.
October Ipsy Bag – Black Magic
This month’s ipsy bag is full of “Black Magic”!
I’m IN LOVE with the bag, designed by Valfre. Look at the cute little witches and ghosts and lipsticks and candy corn and black cats and…so cute!
I’m also in love with the stuff in my bag: 2 patchology Flashpatch 5 Minute Hydrogels; theBalm Hot Mama! Shadow/Blush (looks like a dupe of NARS “Orgasm”); Beaute Basics eye Shadow in “Satin Taupe”; ModelCo Instant Brows Brow Pencil in “Light/Medium” (Probably WAY too light for me); and essence Superfine Waterproof Eyeliner Pen (this shit is like a sharpie – I tested it on my wrist and I couldn’t get it off, even with soap and water).
If you’d like to try Ipsy – click here. I’ll earn 250 points if you sign up through my link.
October Birchbox – Revive and Restore
Sooooo…this month’s curated box is “Revive and Restore”, which I could really use after I was laid out this past weekend with a wicked cold. Did a premonition of my illness make me choose this box???
To be honest, I saw the GlamGlow and immediately picked this box. It wasn’t the GravityMud that I’ve been lusting over, but I’m happy with any GlamGlow product. The green tube is GlamGlow PowerMud Dualcleanse Treatment.
Also in this month’s box: Avene Hydrance Optimale Hydrating Cream RICH; This Works Deep Sleep Pillow Spray (if “this works”, it will be a godsend – I have raging random insomnia); Oribe Gold Lust Dry Shampoo (meh); and MAKE Silk Cream Lipstick in “Magnolia” (so tiny).
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.
Cool Shit I Forgot About
Don’t you love it when you’re clearing up around the house and find a bag of cool shit that you bought and forgot about?
I found this Walgreen’s bag full of stuff in the couch cushions…I made a lunch trip…last week? I was specifically looking for the Batman Girls Lip Paints from Tattoo Junkee. I decided on the red Harley Quinn Lip Paint + Lip Effects ($6.99), but they also had a Batgirl Blue and Catwoman Hot Pink. I wanted to try one out before I bought them all. I’m intrigued by adding shimmer to matte lip paints…what are the odds that I’ll end up with glitter all over my face?
I also grabbed four more of the clearance Kylie Sinful Colors polishes – “North Star”, “Krushed Velvet”, “I Klove U” (WTF?), and “Magik Touch”. These are down 10 cents to $1.49 each…might have to scoop up a few more if they go lower.
I wonder what else is in my couch…
Sephora Play! September 2016 – The Unbasic Basics
Finally…on the last day of the month, I get to the last subscription box of the month…just a matter of days before I start getting a new batch of boxes.
“The Unbasic Basics” is this month’s theme – no basic bitches with this month’s picks. I am most excited about Living proof. Perfect hair Day night cap overnight perfector. I’m absolutely in love with the Living proof. 5-in-1 Styling Treatment from this month’s ipsy bag. Can I please continue to get Living proof. products in every box?
I also received Kat Von D Tattoo Liner in “Trooper” (number 4 or 5); Sephora CollectionRouge Brilliance Rouge Shine Lipstick in “Love Spell” (so pink); Anastasia Beverly Hills Clear Brow Gel (I don’t know that I have enough brows for a gel); Dr. Jart+ Water Drop Hydrating Moisturizer; and Tory Burch Jolie Fleur Verte (smells so green – love it).
If you haven’t signed up yet – you are missing out! 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.
September Ipsy Bag – Glamazon
I am LOVING this month’s ipsy bag – top notch products that I will actually use!
The theme is “Glamazon” – too glam to give a damn. Yes, these products are glam to the extreme: Too Faced Lip Injection Extreme (Ooooooh it tingles like Lip Venom – it’s the capiscum AKA the same shit in pepper spray; I just put it on and my husband noticed a difference within 60 seconds…arghhhhhh, it BURNS); Eau Thermale Avène Hydrance Optimale Hydrating Serum; Dr. G Daily Safe BB in “Fair” (So many “Dr.” products these days); Living Proof Perfect hair Day (PhD) 5-in-1 Styling Treatment (I’ve loved the other products I’ve tried); and Dirty Little Secrets Cosmetics Eyeshadow in “Teaser” (orangey tan).
Oh, and did you see that the girls on the bag are YMCAing “ipsy”? So clever.
If you’d like to try Ipsy – click here. I’ll earn 250 points if you sign up through my link.
September Birchbox – Top-Rated Time Savers
I’m so predictable – I picked the featured box again this month. It’s called “Top-Rated Time Savers” and lord knows that I need to save all the time I can…
Let’s see what we’ve got…There’s Milk Makeup Ubame Mascara; amika Perk Up Dry Shampoo (I have at least 2 other cans of this); Supergoop! Shine-On Lip Screen SPF 50 (interesting); Dr. Jart+ Premium Beauty Balm SPF 45+ (I think this is the one a tried a few years ago that made me look like Data); and Vasanti BrightenUp! Enzymatic Face Rejuventor (love this stuff – main reason I chose this box).
What am I going to do with all the time I save? Write the great American Novel? Sew another quilt? I’ll probably just sleep in five extra minutes…
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.