Category: Makeup
21 Days of Beauty x 2
I never think I am going to see something I want during Ulta’s 21 Days of Beauty Sale…and then I always do. This time, I ordered two different times!
The first order – I forget which day of the sale it was – had two products I wanted for 50% off: Zitsticka Goo Getter Surface Zit Hydrocolloid Patches ($8, down from $16) for Lily and it Brushes for Ulta Brush Bath Purifying Solid Brush Cleanser ($11.50, down from $23). I haven’t used the brush cleaner (maybe this weekend), but Lily has been using the zitstickas and loves them. I saw her putting on on her tush the other day…I also added Megababe The Geo Deo ($14) to my order, because I wanted to try it out. I don’t like it as much as Rosy Pits, but it is a nice basic “clean” smelling deodorant.
The second order…how could I pass up half price Ulta Ultra Slim Brow Pencil for half-price? They were $5, down from $10, so I bought two, “Medium Brown” and “Dark Brown.” Then I just threw some stuff into my cart…a tgin Honey Miracle Hair Mask Packet ($2.99), because I want to use it with the tgin shampoo and conditioner I just got off Amazon…Sally Hansen Insta-Dri x PEEPS Nail Polish Duo Pack ($11.99), which also came with a free Tumbler full of PEEPS lip gloss…Cetaphil products were BOGO 40% off, so I got Extra Gentle Daily Scrub Exfoliating Face Wash and Gentle Skin Cleanser Face Wash For Sensitive Skin.
$886 to Diamond – I better get a move on!
March 2023 Ipsy Bag – Step Into Your Power
Words cannot express how much I love the pyramid textured bag this month. It’s on trend and luxurious, begging you to run your fingers along the ridges…OH. I guess I just DID express in words how much I love it. Hmmm…
This month’s product choice was Hey Honey! Make A Splash! Intense Hydrating Aqua Serum. I haven’t tried it yet, because I’m trying to use up a few different serums, but I am looking forward to using it. I really like Hey Honey! face products.
Also in this month’s bag: Mischo Beauty Blush in “Madam” (meh); Ren Clean Skincare Evercalm™ Barrier Support Antioxidant Moisturizer; Trust Fund Beauty Nail Lacquer in “Ride of Die” (is this another silly putty polish?); and KAB Cosmetics Mini Tinted Lip Oil in “Borderline”.
Not a bad bag this month, but it’s not blowing me away either. Meh.
I subscribe to the basic ipsy bag for $13/month and Glam Bag X for an extra $43/quarterly. If you’d like to try Ipsy – click here. I’ll earn 250 points if you sign up through my referral link.
Snow White Ulta Haul
I usually splurge a little bit in March, around tax/bonus time…but this year, I may have splurged a lot, buying the whole Disney Snow White x Colourpop Collection ($104). Wait – since I used $125 in Ulta points on my order, does that mean I didn’t splurge at all? All this only cost $12.43, so maybe not a splurge…does that mean I still get to have a splurge?
At first, I was only going to buy the “Thy Magic Spell” Lip Kit ($20) for myself, which is the Evil Queen themed lip set, with Crème Lux Lipstick in “Evil Queen”, Lippie Pencil in “Jealous Much”, and Lux Lip Gloss in “Queen G”. Then I saw the Snow White themed “Love’s First Kiss” set, with Crème Lux Lipstick in “Snow White”, Lippie Pencil in “Such a Beauty”, and Lux Lip Gloss in “Red as Rose” and I wanted to give it to Lily…and then I saw the whole collection, and said FUCK IT, I want it ALL. My only complaint is that the full collection did not come in a nice promo box, like the Malibu Barbie Collection – but maybe that’s because I got it directly from Colourpop? Whatever, like I need more boxes…Also in the collection: “Dreams Come True” Pressed Powder Palette, Super Shock Blush in “Fair Enough”, Super Shock Blush in “I Wish I Wish”, Super Shock Blush in “Just Rosy”, and “Just One Bite” Lippie Scrub. Surprisingly, my favorite part of the collection is the blushes – they have a springy, almost gel-like texture.
I got the L’Oreal Detox & Brighten Clay Mask ($12.99) because I really liked that line of cleansers…I was disappointed to find that this mask does NOT smell like the cleanser I loved so much. It smells like…well…dirt. The jar was half empty, too – I’ll be lucky to get three uses out of it! It’s probably old stock from the original line – six years ago!
My purse needed a replacement buffer, so I got another Flowery Blue Max 4-Way Buffing Block ($2.99) – these are my favorite.
I have been enjoying the Ulta Weightless Water Lip Stain in “Very Berry”, so I ordered “Mango Dreams” ($10) and “Pink Popsicle” ($10), too. I need to order “Cherry Pie” to get the whole set…or steal the one I stuck in Lily’s Xmas stocking. I paid full price, so I could get an Ulta free 10 piece gift. Inside the bright yellow makeup bag: Poreless Face Primer; Tinted Eye Primer in “Champagne”; Lip Gloss in “Velvet Mauve”; Lip Oil in “Peach” (hands down, the best product for removing longwear lipstick); Maximum Lashes Mascara, 2 Eye Shadow Quads, an eye shadow brush and a makeup sponge.
Speaking of freebies, I was supposed to get 3 more gifts with purchase for National Lash Day, but the initial Lash Day Sampler Pack with $65 purchase went out of stock before my box was packed. Whatever, it was a bunch of fake lashes, anyway. I still got the 6 Piece Lash Day Step-Up Sampler with $85 purchase, which included Clinique High Impact Mascara; Benefit Bad Girl Bang Mascara; KISS Lash Purify Eye Makeup Remover and Lash Cleanser; Grande Lash-MD Lash Enhancing Serum; e.l.f. Big Mood Mascara, and a little Tweezerman Mascara Guard. Time to throw away all my current mascara and switch to new tubes! I also got an 8 Piece Makeup Obsession Sampler with $60 purchase, which included a L’Oreal Blend Artist Foundation Sponge, a Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge; Ulta Juice Infused Lip Oil in “Red Apple”; a Morphe Oval Shadow Brush; Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Color in “Rosegold”; Pro.Conceal White Concealer; Smashbox Photo Finish Illuminate Glow Primer; and Milani Cheek Kiss Liquid Blush in “Nude Flush”.
That’s right…all this for $12.43 and a $3.50 off $15 coupon. And I still have $80 in Ulta points!
$963 to Diamond in 2024.
February 2023 Glam Bag X – Bailey Sarian
I’ve never heard of Bailey Sarian before receiving this month’s Glam Bag X, but I like her style!
Even though I have approximately 787 makeup bags, I picked up this red snakeskin one. It reminded me of my red phase in the early 2000s, when I drove a red Mercury Cougar and carried a red snakeskin purse, JUST LIKE THIS!
In addition to the red snakeskin bag, I also chose the ĀTHR Beauty Manifest Crystal Palette, which is similar – but not exactly the same as – the Moonlight Crystal Palette I got in my first Glam Bag X. Instead of blues and purples, Manifest Crystal has a warmer, more fiery range of maroon and purple shadows – I love it! I also selected 5 SENS Catch Feelings, a parfum with notes of ruby grapefruit and damask rose – two of my favorite scents, together in an unexpected way. My only complaint is that the fragrance fades superfast on me.
Also in this this month’s box: Drunk Elephant Protini Powerpeptide Resurf Serum (have not tried yet); Georgette Klinger Rose Clarifying Toner (it’s just rose scented witch hazel, definitely not worth $26 – but I will use the heck out of it); Innbeauty Project Face Glaze Highlighting Gel Cream (VERY similar to Keys Soulcare Let Me Glow Illuminating Serum – it is great to use under powder foundation); Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder – Light Catcher in “Celestial Light” (have not tried this yet either); and ThisWorks Evening Detox Face Mask (I love a good clay mask – this one tingles a bit).
A spectacular box this quarter! The confirmation email did not give me a box value, but adding up the individual products is $360 – not bad!
I subscribe to the basic ipsy bag for $13/month and Glam Bag X for an extra $43/quarterly. If you’d like to try Ipsy – click here. I’ll earn 250 points if you sign up through my referral link.
A Weird Little Ulta Haul
Sometimes I order a few random things, then they sit on my counter for weeks, and then I’m like…OH YEAH!
I’ve been skeptical of the viral Brow Stamping Kits all over Tik Tok and Instagram…but Ulta came out with one, so why not try it. The Ulta Eyebrow Stamp and Stencil Kit is just $16, much cheaper than the $40 sets on social media. The set comes with 4 reversible stencils, a stamp and a spoolie. I’ll admit, the results are pretty good – IF the stencil matches your brows. Only one of the stencils works for me…the rest are too thick and make me look like Miss Trunchbull. You also have to get them EVEN. The first time I used the stencil, I thought I looked good – but my daughter was like, “Why are your eyebrows crooked?” Why couldn’t I tell that they were crooked? I won’t give up my Ulta Ultra Slim Brow Pencil in “Dark Brown” ($10), but I had fun with the stamp.
I wanted to try a better shade than the last one I picked out, so I got Urban Decay Vice Lip Bond Glossy Liquid Lipstick in “Unbreakable” while it was 40% off ($16.20, down from $27). This lipstick is fantastic and made it through a whole Italian dinner!
I got to use my birthday $10 off coupon and STILL got a 4 piece MAC gift with $35 makeup purchase, which included MAC Eye Shadow in “Espresso Matte”; MAC Clear Lipglass; and MAC Matte Lipstick in “Chili”, all in a little pink makeup bag.
$972 to Ulta Diamond in 2024.
Lunar New Year Ulta Haul
The Crème Shop had a cute endcap display of Hello Kitty Lunar New Year stuff, but I passed it by in-store, just to order a bunch online for the kids and I. My son likes Kuromi, so I got Kuromi Fortune Macaron Lip Balm in “Lucky Lychee” ($10 each) for him and I. I got my daughter Hello Kitty Fortune Macaron Lip Balm in “Apple Blossom” ($10) for my daughter. So what if they arrived slightly after Lunar New Year? I’ll save the gift with purchase – a set of 4 lucky red envelopes & stickers – for next year.
I saw an Insta post about how amazing L’Oreal Infallible 24HR Fresh Wear Foundation In A Powder ($15.99) is, so I added to cart. I used Ulta’s Shade Finder to pick “20 Ivory” and it was (shockingly) a perfect match. The Shade Finder on Sephora’s website is shit, but Ulta’s is REALLY good. This foundation has replaced the Clinique I just got as my holy grail powder foundation – it’s smooth and wonderful and reduces redness. We’ll see how it fares when the weather gets hotter, but for now – I love it.
I also grabbed an L.A. Girl Gloss Lip Stain in “Adored” ($5.99) and I love this one, too! I assumed it was similar to the Colourpop gloss stains I was obsessed with last year and the L.A. Girl ones have better staying power AND are cheaper!
Oh yeah, and I got a NARS 4 Piece Beauty Break with my $50 purchase – even though I used a $5 off coupon to drop my total below $50. Inside the gift: NARS High Pigment Longwear Eyeliner in “Via Veneto”; NARS Bronzing Powder in “Laguna”; NARS Lipstick in “Inappropriate Red”; and NARS Climax Mascara. Good stuff!
Just $1,003 to Diamond in 2024.
January 2023 Ipsy Bag – The Year of You
Keep calm and stroke the furry bag…if you know, you know.
This month’s furry bag is absolutely adorable…but there is NO WAY I could keep it in my huge MOM PURSE. Can you imagine what kind of gunk would end up stuck in the fur? Gum…lip balm…boogers…who knows? I’ll have to keep it safe in my bedroom…
I totally spazzed on product choice this month, so I got whatever ipsy thought I should get. Work, School, Kids is a shitshow, so the only product I’ve tried is the Plum Color Affair Nail Polish in “Winter Rose” (coming soon). Also in this month’s furry purple bag: ĀTHR Beauty Desert Rose Lip and Cheek Oil Stain in “Harmony” (lips maybe…cheeks NEVER); It Cosmetics Hello Results Wrinkle-Reducing Serum-in-Cream; Oryza Nebula Shimmer Eyeshadow Palette; and Polaar Ice Pure Gentle Scrub with Arctic Cotton.
I made sure and did my product choice for February’s Glam Bag X, so I don’t get screwed again!
I subscribe to the basic ipsy bag for $13/month and Glam Bag X for an extra $43/quarterly. If you’d like to try Ipsy – click here. I’ll earn 250 points if you sign up through my referral link.
First Ulta Haul of 2023
Well…that didn’t take long. The first Diamond Offers email arrived on January 2nd and I jumped right on it!
I wasn’t planning on getting the Urban Decay Cosmetics Naked x Robin Eisenberg Eyeshadow Palette ($27, down from $54), but half price made it a lot more attractive. Initially, I was put off by the lack of “naked” colors in a “naked” palette, but I was pleasantly surprised by how wearable these bright shimmery colors are. There are several color-shifting duochrome shadows, which are like catnip to me. I can see myself wearing this one quite a bit!
I didn’t want to forget to redeem my Diamond gift of a free Clinique Foundation, so I guessed at my shade and chose Clinique Beyond Perfecting Powder Foundation + Concealer in “0.5 Breeze” (normally $36). I chose correctly and this is a GREAT powder foundation – not cakey at all. Since all Clinique was 25%, I also picked up a back-up tube of Clinique Almost Lipstick in “Black Honey” ($16.50, down from $22). I never thought I’d be a Clinique girl like my mom, but here we are.
I threw some fun clearance items into my cart – a few $1.25 nail polishes, Nailtopia “Carrot Cake” and “Blueberry Milk”. I am out of samples of micellar water, so I am trying out wet n wild Makeup Remover Micellar Cleansing Water ($4.99).
I got a few different freebies with this order. I received a BareMinerals Platinum & Diamond Exclusive 4 Piece Gift with $35 makeup purchase, which includes Ageless 10% Phyto-Retinol Night Concentrate, Prime Time Original Foundation Primer, and Mineral Veil Finishing Powder in a very nice Makeup Bag. I also received an Exuviance Diamond & Platinum Exclusive! Free 4 Piece Gift with $25 purchase, which includes Deep Clean AHA Cleanser, Glycolic Expert Moisturizer, Overnight Transformation Complex, and A.G.E. Less Everyday Moisturizer. My skin is gonna look AMAZING.
Just $1,149 to Diamond in 2024…
December 2022 Ipsy Bag – Oh What Fun
Oh what fun it is to…open up an ipsy bag tonight!
My product choice this month was Ahava Cactus & Pink Pepper Hand Cream. It’s on the coffee table, where I can reach it any time…because I have basically lived on the couch this week. I am not sick – I am on vacation.
Also in this month’s velvet color-block bag: Ciate London Wonderwand Mascara in “Black Magic”; Juliette Has a Gun Magnolia Bliss (I don’t care for magnolia – it’s too old lady for me); Pure Brazilian Leave-In Conditioner; and Sophia + Mabelle Watermelon Lip Slick – Fruit Lip Oil (I’ve been using this to remove liquid lipstick – it’s great for that).
This month’s bag is sorta so-so. Not bad, but nothing to get too excited about, except for the had cream.
I subscribe to the basic ipsy bag for $13/month and Glam Bag X for an extra $43/quarterly. If you’d like to try Ipsy – click here. I’ll earn 250 points if you sign up through my referral link.
Miscellaneous Ulta Haul
Really…I just needed shampoo. I’d had my refill of NatureLab.Tokyo Perfect Smooth Shampoo ($23) in my cart for weeks…I just added stuff slowly until I had enough junk for free stuff!
I had seen KVD Beauty Everlasting Hyperlight Vegan Transfer-Proof Liquid Lipstick in “Velvet Cloak” ($23) on insta…I was transfixed by the color. It’s a new shade, not a renamed shade from Kat Von D. I was SO right – it’s gorgeous on me. It’s not quite “Lolita”/”Queen of Poisons” – but it’s close. Speaking of lippies, I also got Ulta Weightless Water Lip Stain in “Very Berry” ($6, down from $10). This formula doesn’t bleed quite as much as the Revolution version – I love it!
For funsies, I added a bunch of other sale stuff to my cart: a HASK Color Care Color Protection Deep Conditioner ($1.79, down from $2.99); 2 packs of Exfoliating Cotton Rounds ($2.09, down from $3.49); Ulta Crystal Aloe Scented Gel Hand Wash ($2.10, down from $3.50); Ulta Soft Cotton Scented Foaming Hand Wash ($2.10, down from $3.50); J. Cat Beauty Curl & Lift-Up Eyelash Comb Curler ($2.39, down from $3.99 – for Lily, because curled lashes are all the rage with high schoolers these days); 2 EcoTools Bath Poofs ($2.39, down from $2.99); an Ulta 4-Way Buffing Block ($2.40, down from $4); Freeman Refining Pink To Green Color Changing Clay Facial Mask ($3.49, down from $4.99 – this mask pissed me off…it did not start green, nor did it turn green – BULLSHIT MARKETING); Freeman Soothing Pumpkin Mud Facial Mask ($3.49, down from $4.99 – it smells like pumpkin pie); and a wet n wild Ultimate Brow Micro Brow Pencil in “Medium Brown” ($3.59, down from $4.79 – not bad, but has a reddish tinge that looks cheap).
I used a $15 off $75 code and GOT a nice gift with purchase. Inside this positively BURSTING 20 piece “Little Luxuries” sample bag (free with my $80 purchase): Benefit The POREfessional Super Setter Long-Lasting Makeup Setting Spray (I have so much setting spray, I could paint my house with it); Urban Skin Rx Retinol Rapid Repair Treatment; Clinique High Impact Mascara; IGK Pay Day Instant Repair Shampoo, Conditioner & Cash In Instant Repair Serum; Vichy Mineral 89 Booster; Giorgio Armani Acqua Di Gio; Tula Skincare Take Care + Polish/Take Care + Nourish; olaplex No. 8 Bond Intense Moisture Mask (ooooh, this is the good stuff); Curlsmith Bond Curl Rehab Salve (sending to my niece, Curly Sue); Sexy Hair Imperfect Nectarine Strengthening Mask; Gucci Flora Gorgeous Jasmine; Urban Decay Wild Lash Vegan Mascara; Good Molecules Silicone-Free Priming Moisturizer; Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder; La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Matte Moisturizer; Mugler Alien Goddess; Giorgio Armani Si Passione; Buxom Wanderlust Blush Card; Kylie Cosmetics Matte Liquid Lipstick Card Sample in “Mary Jo K”; and Viktor & Rolf Good Fortune.
Just $119 to Diamond in 2023…almost there!