Category: Makeup
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!
November 2022 Glam Bag X – Becky G
Sure, I’ve heard of Becky G…DISGUSTANG!
I kid, I kid…I know she is a music person of some sort. She’s the curator for this quarter’s Glam Bag X.
I am on the fence about my product choices this month. I really like the nail polish set that I picked – Lights Lacquer Nail Duo in “Mila” and “I’ll Be Home”. This brand is new to me – it’s from a YouTuber named Kathleenlights. The lippie I picked it mid – Kenia Ontiveros Beauty Ultra Matte Liquid Lipstick in “Pink Vibes”…but the lipstick isn’t pink – it’s more of a terra cotta? I haven’t had a chance to try the Balance Me Tri-Molecular Hyaluronic Serum yet.
So. Too Faced has been on my “no buy” list since the brand was outed as SUPER TRANSPHOBIC, not to mention RACIST. I just don’t feel the need to give them my money…so I was super disappointed to receive the Too Faced Sweet Peach Eye Shadow Palette instead of one of the Tresluce Beauty palettes. Oh well. I’ve been using it this week, and it’s fine I guess…but only two of the shades are peach? The shades in this palette are super confusing to me – why so much purple? The peachy scent is nice, at least.
Also in this quarter’s Glam Bag X: F.A.R.A.H. The Skin Retreat Set (looks like magic wands for my face – I haven’t played with them yet); Herbivore Botanicals Pink Cloud Soft Moisture Cream (this one has a slightly dank odor – like mushrooms or something?); Kate Somerville DeliKate Soothing Cleanser (it’s VERY creamy); and Milk Makeup Rise Lifting & Lengthening Mascara (my daughter tried to steal it, but I wouldn’t let her have it).
A great bag this quarter and I’ll use at least 75% of it!
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.
October 2022 Ipsy Bag – ???
I wonder what this month’s official theme is? There was no insert in the October bag! I’d received this bag before my trip to New York, but I hadn’t opened it before I left town…oops!
My product choice this month was Fenty Skin Fat Water Pore-Refining Toner Serum with Niacinamide. I use a lot of witch hazel as a toner and I assumed that this was more of a toner…oops, it’s more of a serum! I tried to moisten a cotton round and it just soaked in, with none left for my skin. I applied with my fingers and it was much better. Why doesn’t it come with a dropper or any more obvious way to apply?
I really liked the First Aid Beauty FAB Pharma Calamine Pore Purging Mask. I went on really smoothly and shrank my pores down to Ant-Man size. The only bummer was that there was only one use in the tube.
Also included in this month’s spooky bag: Dito Magic Feather Intense Volume Mascara (at first glance, I thought this was tarte Mascara – the packaging is very similar); Firma Beauty 405 Precision Angled Blending Brush Pro; and Jazmine Beauty Lip Lock Lipstick in “Stay Cozy” – I haven’t tried any of these products yet.
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.
Beetlejuice! Beetlejuice! Beetlejuice!
I was SO disappointed when I tried to order the Revolution x Beetlejuice collab and found that it was sold out online…and it wasn’t available at Ulta either. Imagine my surprise at finding a beautiful end-cap full of Beetlejuice at a Walmart in Horseheads, New York!
Although the larger “It’s Showtime” Shadow Palette was sold out, I was able to snag the “Strange and Unusual” Shadow palette ($9.98), as well as the “Beetle House” Shadow Palette ($9.98). I’ll admit, it’s hard to wear the “Strange and Unusual” palette without looking like Scott Baio gave me pink-eye. That’s okay – I look good with pink-eye.
I skipped the rest of the rather large collection – cake liners, fake lashes, lipsticks, brushes, and blenders. It was all super cute packaging, but I’d be unlikely to use it.
Oh, and my FAVORITE purchase was the “GHOSTIN” lip stain in “Bitten” ($2.98). It’s similar to Benefit Benetint, but with a doe foot applicator. I LOVE THIS LIP STAIN. I am wearing it right now…
I was just at my local Walmart today, and I found lots of the Beetlejuice Collection – mostly lashes and liners – in the 75% off Halloween Clearance. Go check it out – you might get lucky!
September 2022 Ipsy Bag – You Got This
LOOK at September’s bag….look at it! The iridescent crinkly fabric reminds me of one of my FAVORITE Barbies – Crystal Barbie.
My product choice this month was Glow Recipe Avocado Ceramide Recovery Serum. I am glad it doesn’t SMELL like guacamole…but also sad. It’s a light, vaguely vegetable-y scented serum – I like using it in the mornings.
Also in this month’s bag: BYROE Golden Carrot Overnight Relief Mask (again, vaguely vegetable-y smelling. but not outright carrot-y); Ciate London Extraordinary Translucent Powder; Laruce Beauty LR117 Angled Shading Brush (yes, another fucking brush); and Tween.Ty Skin Tightening Cream (what an odd company name…but this shit does seem to tighten up my wrinkles).
Not a bad bag…but not ass-kicking either.
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.
Lip Bond vs Everlasting Hyperlight
I was bored last week, so I paid FULL PRICE on two new lipsticks. FULL PRICE!
I have been very curious about Urban Decay’s new “Lip Bond” product, so I ordered Urban Decay Cosmetics Vice Lip Bond Glossy Liquid Lipstick in “Once Strangers” ($25). I was expecting a product similar to Colourpop’s Glossy Lip Stain…but I was so wrong. This product is a full-on liquid lipstick. It is full coverage and it stays ON those lips. There was NO transfer onto cups, yet it didn’t dry and crack my lips like the original Vice Liquid Lipstick. It looks glossy, yet is only slightly tacky and NOT sticky. Urban Decay has a winner with this formula! My only issue was that I picked a color bad for me…”Once Strangers” is a dark chocolate brown. I was expecting more of a dark red, but it looks like I rubbed a melted Special Dark bar on my lips. At least I got a free keychain.
KVD Vegan Beauty is FINALLY getting around to re-imagining their products after Kat Von D left the brand. Not only have they reformulated the Everlasting Liquid Lipstick, they’ve renamed them all. I tracked down the counterpart to my beloved “Lolita” – it’s now KVD Beauty Everlasting Hyperlight Vegan Transfer-Proof Liquid Lipstick in “Queen of Poisons” ($22). The color is right and the formula is amazingly light. I’m not planning on replacing all my old lipsticks quite yet…but it IS tempting.
If I had to choose, I would choose the KVD formula, but the UD formula is close behind…
I cruised through the sale page and picked up a Freeman Purifying Cream Mask ($3.49, down from $4.99 – not exactly what I was expecting, I thought it would be a creamy clay mask…but it’s more like a thick moisturizer); a loofah ($2, down from $4), and a WHIM by Ulta Beauty Rosé Shower Flower ($1.75, down from $3.50).
Oh, and I got a nice Beauty Break from it Cosmetics, with Brow Power in “Universal Taupe”, Confidence in a Cleanser, Hello Results Baby-Smooth Glycolic Peel + Caring Oil, and Confidence in Your Beauty Sleep…all in a nice big branded makeup bag.
$186 to Diamond in 2023.
Good Apple, Super Mud
I love Ulta’s “21 Days of Beauty” sales – every day they have amazing deals on a wide range of products.
I jumped on the deal for 50% off KVD Beauty Good Apple Skin-Perfecting Hydrating Foundation Balm in “Light 010” ($20.25 instead of $40.50). It’s basically foundation in a compact. I’ve only had a chance to try it once, since it is still hot as FUCK here in Texas. For my first try, I applied on bare skin – no primer – and used an Urban Decay Foundation Brush. It sure is full coverage! It went on very thick, but I was able to get fairly smooth full coverage. It came off as a thick coat though, as my husband said it looked like “kabuki makeup.” I topped with Kat Von D Lock-it Setting Powder, which gave it a nice matte finish. The next time I use it, I’ll experiment with primers and a beauty blender for lighter coverage.
Another smoking deal was 50% off Glamglow SUPERMUD Charcoal Instant Treatment Mask ($30 instead of $60). I am sucker for facial masks, especially luxurious ones.
Although it wasn’t on sale, I need conditioner, so I got a NatureLab.Tokyo Perfect Smooth Conditioner Refill ($23).
Oh, and there was an AMAZING gift with purchase – a 14 piece sampler with my $60 purchase. There are 4 deluxe perfume sample! Little cute bottles – not tiny sample vials! The fragrances are Moschino Boy Toy, Versace Yellow Diamond, Viktor & Rolf BonBon, and Ralph Lauren Polo Earth. I haven’t tried any of them yet. Also in the gift: Ellis Brooklyn Bee (small vial, not deluxe); First Aid Beauty Bump Eraser Body Scrub; Sacheu Beauty Slick Skin; Florence by Mills Up in the Clouds Facial Moisturizer; it Cosmetics Confidence in a Cream; Banila Co Purity Therapy; Maelys B-Tight Lift & Firm Booty Mask (ooooh kay); Sun Bum 3 in 1 Leave In Treatment; Kiehl’s Super Multi-Corrective Eye Zone Treatment; ThisWorks Deep Sleep Pillow Spray; Murad Rapid Dark Spot Correcting Serum; Kopari Coconut Crush Scrub; Derma e Advanced Peptides & Collagen Serum; MAC Fix+ Spray; Living proof. Full Dry Volume & Texture Spray; Urban Decay Perversion Mascara; Love Wellness bye bye bloat Supplement; Derma e Thickening Shampoo & Conditioner; NatureLab.Tokyo Perfect Repair Shampoo & Conditioner; OUAI Detox Shampoo (no matching conditioner?); Grande Cosmetics Grande Gummies Vegan Collagen Booster (I just ate them – yummy); vor Sunset Rituals Conditioner (heyyyyy, no shampoo); and HASK Tea Tree Oil & Rosemary Hair & Scalp Treatment Mask. That is 27 samples, not 14…score!
Just $244 to Diamond in 2023!