Category: Makeup
Sephora Play! 05 – January 2016
Apparently, Sephora thinks I’m getting old…”No Appointment Necessary” is January’s theme. The insert says that these products will “help me get expert-level results at home.” Well then…
They sent me…Living Proof Prime Style Extending Spray (the Jennifer Anniston stuff); Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare alpha beta peel original formula (when I was a kid, I loved putting Elmer’s Glue on my hand and trying to peel it off in a single sheet); dr. brandt Needles No More Wrinkle Relaxer; Sephora Rose Eye Mask (my favorite scent); Clinique Chubby Stick Sculpting Highlight in “Hefty Highlight”; and Tocca Isabel (another rosy scent – I love it…).
Just a few weeks until 40…I’m ready.
Sephora Play is only $10/month. You can sign up at sephora.com/play.
The Saga of “Give Me Some Nude Lip”
I’m going to tell you a story…it’s a very scary story…but I can promise that it has a happy ending.
The Monday before last, Sephora released an all-nude version of their “Give Me Some Lip” Set – even though it was $28, I had to have it. Inside the all new “Give Me Some Nude Lip” Set: Laura Mercier Crème Smooth Lipstick in “Milky Way”; NARS Lipstick in “Dolce Vita”; Marc Jacobs Beauty Mini (P)Outliner Longwear Lip Pencil in “Prim(Rose) (cocoa spice)”; NUDESTIX Lip + Cheek Crayon in “Whisper”; and Tarte Deluxe Tarteist Lip Paint in “Namaste Nude”.
On Thursday…my box arrived. I gleefully opened the box, carefully peeled the sticker seals from the lip-shaped box…and the contents were FUCKED UP…Noooooooooooooo! There were two Marc Jacobs lip liners and no Tarte Lip Paint. A tragedy. I called Sephora Customer Service…and their computers were down and they couldn’t help me. I called an hour later…and the phone jockey hung up on me. I called right back…computers still down. Finally, a few hours after that – everything was back to normal and I got someone who could help me. She told me that she would send out another one immediately and I could just return this one to my closest store. YES.
So while I waited, at least I had other samples to play with. My order qualified for the free Beauty to Love Sample bag, which came with Becca Backlight Priming Filter (huh?); Atelier Cologne “Mandarine Glaciale” (I have so many samples of this, but I love it); Perricone MD Re:Firm Surface Recovery Treatment; Touch in Sol Feels Like Honey Moon Skin Base (I just tried the one I got in my last Allure Beauty Thrills – it’s ok, but not moisturizing enough for winter); BITE Beauty Agave Lip Masks (I tried the last sample I got a few days ago – feel nice at bedtime); First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Hydra-Firm Sleeping Cream; Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer; and Skin Inc Pure Deepsea Hydrating Mask. I’m glad I got these good samples, because I didn’t get ANY of the ones I picked at checkout. Instead I got Thierry Mugler “Alien” (Smells so gross); Clinique Moisture Surge (I like this stuff); and Dr. brandt Do Not Age Beauty Sleep Serum.
On Saturday, I dutifully delivered my fucked up lip set to Sephora. The return was quick, but then the “Cast Member” decided I need skin stuff and showed me a bunch of skin care stuff and smears some Kate Somerville stuff on my hand. I thanked her and got the hell out of there without buying a thing.
Days passed…On Tuesday, my new box arrived.
I was holding my breath as I opened it…YES! Everything in this box was perfect. I also got three more samples – Lancome Teint Idole Ultra Makeup Stick (I feel like I keep getting Lancome stuff and I should be more excited about it…but I’m not); Prada “Candy” and DKNY “Be Desired”.
I’m going to be taking all these nude beauties with me to Vegas in a few days – I can’t wait to try them all! Good thing I ordered it on the first day it was available…it’s already out of stock! Yay – happy ending!
January Ipsy Bag – All Eyes on You
“All Eyes on You” is ipsy’s January theme…this cute neon eyeglasses bag has mostly eye products in it!
Inside my bag: theBalm Cosmetics Mr. Write (Now) eye liner in “Jack B. Bronze” (interesting); Jelly Pong Pong Fairy Lashes CURL (What a goofy name for mascara); Hikari Cosmetics Cream Metallic Pigment Shadow in “Mink” (I dunno about black eye shadow on my whole eye, but it might make a good eyeliner); Lasting Smiles Lip Balm in “Peppermint Creme” (Obviously, NOT for my eyes…); and Hey Honey Skincare Open Your Eyes Eye Contour Lifting Gel.
What a great bag this month!
If you’d like to try Ipsy – click here. I’ll earn 250 points if you sign up through my link.
HEB Beauty Clearance
I know it might seem like it, but I had slowed WAY down on my nail polish purchase…until this month, anyway. So many beauty clearances, so little time.
I had some time to kill while my daughter was at a birthday party yesterday, so I decided to knock out some grocery shopping at HEB. I meandered into the beauty section with a full cart and found not just an endcap, but a whole table display of beauty clearance. There was a little bit of everything…
I chose three nail polishes – Maybelline Color Show “Midnight Blue” and “Twilight Rays” ($1.48 each), and Revlon Parfumerie “China Flower” ($2.48″). I also grabbed Physicians Formula Extreme Shimmer Eye Liner for Green Eyes ($4.81). I couldn’t resist the green glitter eyeliner…I NEEDED it.
About $10 is a small price to pay for such happiness…
Target Beauty Boxes – January 2016
Two Target Beauty Boxes this month…and they’re BOTH for ME! I don’t have to share with ANYONE.
Inside the “Refresh” box: Acure Day Cream (Definitely gonna use this); John Frieda Keraflex Hair Spray; Nivea In-Shower Body Lotion (I do not understand the concept of in-shower body lotion – doesn’t it just end up all over your towel?); Clear Total Care Shampoo & Conditioner (going to my sister); Simple Micellular Wipes (I got these in the last Allure Beauty Thrills – I opened the other day to prep before using my Tria); Marlowe Extra Moisturizing Lotion (smells divine); Nip+Fab Glycolic Fix Pads (it says they “retexture and resurface” my skin – uhhhh, scary); and scünci Braided Elastic Bands.
Inside the “Renewal” box: Caress Love Forever Body Wash; Attitude 2-in-1 Shampoo & Body Wash (What? No.); Laneige BB Cushion (I got this in another Target Beauty Box…and still haven’t tried it. Oops.); scünci No Slip Grip Braided Headband; Degree Women Fresh Energy Dry Spray; Jergens Wet Skin Moisturizer (I am sensing a trend…); Attitude Volume & Shine Shampoo; Revlon Ultimate All-In-One Mascara (Actually so excited to try this that I trashed the old Julep Mascara I had been using up); and Hada Labo Tokyo Anti-Aging Facial Mask (I received one of these in Ulta’s 2014 Cyber Monday bag…again, haven’t tried it yet).
A few repeats…a wakeup call for me to actually use this shit! I don’t believe in New Years Resolutions, but I’m gonna do it!
Each were $7 and each came with a $3 off $15 coupon. Maybe I’ll actually use both this time. At least I managed to use one of the coupons last month…on replacement electric toothbrush heads. So glamorous.
January Birchbox – Moodboard Your Year
January’s Birchbox issued a challenge to “Moodboard Your Year”, so I declared 2016 as The Year of Creativity. I want to be more creative with my beauty purchases and not just buy the same things I’ve been buying. Don’t get me wrong – I’m not going to stop hoarding…I just want to become more CREATIVE in my hoarding…
Hmmm…How can I be creative with my January Birchbox? I received amika Bombshell Blowout Spray; Embryolisse Lait-Creme Concentre (I am happy to get any moisturizer, but the name is grossing me out…I didn’t see embryo in the ingredients, but…); Eyeko Fat Liquid Liner (OMG, it’s like a sharpie!); R+Co. Death Valley Dry Shampoo (Ugh); and TONYMOLY Delight Tony Tint in “Red” (my sample choice for the month).
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.
Goutte de Rose
I had been slacking off on reviewing my Birchbox products the last several months…until there was something I wanted. I got a sample of Cartier Goutte de Rose (“droplet of rose” en Francais) in my November Birchbox and I fell in love. So I steadfastly reviewed my November and December samples and accrued $20 in Birchbox points. I added the $10 off code in my December Birchbox and purchased the 1.6 fl. oz. bottle for $37!
I don’t care if it makes my husband’s eyes water, I smell FABULOUS.
My samples came several days later, in a separate mailer. I got Davines Oi Shampoo & Conditioner (I’ll be bringing these to Vegas with me in less than 2 weeks!) and LAQA & Co. Cheeky Lip in “Humble Brag” – which I had already gotten in my August Birchbox. Oh well…
Sephora Play! 04 – December 2015
“Oh What Fun” is Sephora Play’s December theme and oh, what fun it is. I’m not sure if I lost the little playbook that came with it, or if I just lost it somewhere in my house…but I usually don’t remember to cash in the card for 50 extra points anyway.
Inside…NUDE Skincare Advanced Renewal Serum (5 packets!); Viktor & Rolf “Flowerbomb” (saving for my sister, she likes this scent a lot); Smashbox Full Exposure Eye Shadow Duo; Dr. Brandt Skincare PoreDermabrasion (love getting Dr. Brandt); Make Up For Ever Aqua Eyes in “Matte Black” (eek, waterproof eyeliner…NO); and Fresh Seaberry Moisturizing Oil (My skin is SO flaketastic right now).
Sephora Play is only $10/month. You can sign up at sephora.com/play.
A Very Rouge Xmas
So…I knew whatever I was getting for Xmas put me over the top to Sephora Rouge status (they started email blasting me IMMEDIATELY), but I have been dying the last few weeks to find out what I was gonna get. Of course, I already knew about the Urban Decay Gwen Stefani Palette, but what else???
My husband also got my the Urban Decay Vice 4 Palette! And my kids got me the Kat Von D Mi Vida Loca Studded Kiss Lip Set! The girls behind the counter at Sephora was so impressed with their picks, that they filled their bag with stocking stuffers for me: Benefit Fake Up, First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream, Sephora Gel Gloss Ultra Brilliant Ultra Shine Lip Gel in “Pin-up Pink”, and Perricone MD High Potency Face Firming Activator. So sweet!
On top of that, he actually bought me a purse – he picked out himself, with NO input from me AT ALL. It’s a badass red Loungefly with huge embossed sugar skull. He done GOOD.
Shroom
Nothing puts me off a brand like the fear of having my identity sold for $20 on the deep web…then again, I still shop at Target, so it’s not a dealbreaker. But in addition to the nastiness of Lime Crime’s hack and poor response, there have been rumors about the products not being vegan (like I care) and just being repackaged wholesale stuff. (Read this summary from Jezebel for more detail.) Even so, I’ve been wanting to sample Lime Crime’s Velvetines line to see if it’s all it’s cracked up to be.
Hautelook stepped in to save the day! On November 30th, they were stocking Lime Crime – with free shipping, to boot. I jumped on that deal and ordered Velvetines in “Shroom” (90s Brown) for $12, instead of the normal $20 – plus, I didn’t have to worry about my card information ending up in Slovenia. It arrived on my doorstep today.
The packaging is hella cute, but it takes more than that to impress me. The formula went on smoothly and didn’t bleed. It dried to a matte finish quickly and wasn’t sticky at all. I’ve only been wearing it about an hour, so I can’t tell how drying it is on my lips yet. I’d say that the formula is similar to Kat Von D Everlasting Lip Liquid, but almost a dead ringer for NYX Liquid Suede. If I was blind testing the product, I don’t think I’d be able to tell the difference. As a matter of fact, “Shroom” is suspiciously close to the NYX Liquid Suede “Sandstorm” that I picked up a few months ago…just sayin’.