Category: Nails
Target Beauty Boxes – June 2017
Two Target Beauty Boxes this month – one for him and one for me.
The “Hello Sunshine” box for her includes Hawaiian Tropic Island Sport Sunscreen (always appreciated); John Frieda Beach Blonde Sea Salt Spray (I have so. much. seal salt spray.); Sinful Colors Nail Polish in “Island Coral” (must be a new shade – I don’t have it); Masque Bar Soothing Sheet Mask; Aussie 3-Minute Miracle Treatment (this is what my son uses on his luscious locks, but I haven’t used it since high school – I’ll give it a whirl); Schick Hydro Silk Women’s Razor; and NYX Gotcha Covered Concealer.
The “Hello Dapper Dude” box for him includes Nivea Men Creme (What the fuck is “Men Creme”?); Olivina Men All-in-One Body Wash in “Bourbon Cedar” (Mmmm…); Schick Hydro 5 Men’s Razor; Dove Men+Care Elements Deodorant; Colgate Optic White Radiant Toothpaste (always appreciated); Yes to Natural Man Cleansing Wipes (Man Cleansing Wipes?); and Axe Adrenaline Cool Charge Body Wash.
We’re leaving for vacation in a few weeks, and all these travel size products will be used!
Each box was $7 this month, plus free shipping and 5% off with my Red Card. Each one also came with a $3 off $15 coupon. The boxes were well, well worth it this month.
Flamingo Swimsuit
Last summer, I found the cutest flamingo swimsuit at Torrid. I paid WAY too much for it, even though it was on sale. I do not care, I LOVE it.
Since I was going on my first dip of the summer, I had to make my nails match my suit. I couldn’t decide on the creamy pink or a glittery pink, so I asked my daughter for advice. Of course, she said to use both…so I did.
I started with Sinful Colors Base Coat and then alternated with Sinful Colors “Zest of Times” and “Let Me Flamingo”. I did two coats of each – I forgot how sheer “Let Me Flamingo” is. I topped with Funky Fingers “As If” – it was the closest I have to a black and white glitter. I cannot believe I don’t have a black and white glitter! I finished with “HK Girl”.
It turned out well, huh?
Dressing Up
I don’t really have many opportunities to “dress up”, unless you count my weekly trip to the grocery store. I attended a high school graduation over the weekend though, and wore an actual dress! Of course, my nails had to match.
The main color of the dress was a wine-like shade, but I decided to emphasize the olive green accent. After Sinful Colors Base Coat, I painted two coats of Deborah Lippmann “Defying Gravity”, from the Wicked Trio. I absolutely love this green. I used Sally Hansen “Rogue Red” in varying patterns for an accent. The triangular shards are reminiscent of the triangles on the dress – perfect! I finished off with “HK Girl”.
I absolutely adored this combination…this scorching summer demands MORE glitter.
June Julep Maven Box – Bask in the Heat
Let me just say, I fucking HATE the summertime. There is NO part of me that is excited to “bask in the heat”. It’s the first week of June and it’s already 95 degrees. Killlllll meeeeeeeeee.
Even though the weather has me grouchy, I can still crack a smile for my Julep box. I went ahead and selected Julep’s new mascara – With a Twist Lash Boosting Bamboo Mascara in “Jet Black”. It’s a decent mascara, very similar to Length Matters, which I love…but I didn’t see any remarkable difference in volume after twisting the brush. I’ll keep practicing…
For polishes, I chose Boho Glam “Marisol” – golden amber metallic – and Classic with a Twist “Jaydra” – Tuscan rose sheer holographic. I don’t know what it is, but I’ve really been digging gold polish. Oh, and I also used Jules to get another love your bare face Detoxifying Cleansing Stick – I love this thing with my Clarisonic.
…and an Atomic Fireball. Fuck you. Yup, grouchy again.
Not a Julep Maven? Click HERE to join – I’ll get a $15 credit and you’ll get your first box free!
Magical Bag
Did I need more liquid lipstick? No, but I wanted it. Same thing.
I’ve been jonesing to try the Ofra Long Lasting Liquid Lipstick ($17) since it dropped at Ulta a few weeks ago. I’d been admiring “Emerald City” – not a duochrome, but a trichrome – for quite some time. I also picked up “Versailles”, because I need more rose gold in my life. “Versailles” is very close to Jeffree Star “Pussy Whipped”, but not quite as peachy. “Versailles” looks better on me, TBH. I haven’t tried “Emerald City” yet. The Ofra formula is nice and smooth and not drying.
I also decided to try Ulta Adjustable Coverage Foundation in “Fair”, which is very affordable at $14. I’m pleased with the performance. it’s light coerage, but a good match for my skin. I also picked up the new Ulta New Hue Shadow Switching Pan. I know I just paid $9 for a sponge in a tin, but this damn thing works like a champ. I don’t know that I could’ve made my own at home for cheaper. I spent just enough on Ulta products to get a FREE Deluxe palette, one of those ones with ALL the products – 24 shadows and blush and lip stuff. I might never use it, but free is free. I used a code for $5 off $15 in Ulta products, so I got all those goodies for a steal.
I also threw in a Zoya Remove+ for shits and giggles. My free sample pack had Olay Regenerist Advanced Anti-Aging Micro-Sculpting Cream Moisturizer and Jack Black Double-Duty Face Moisturizer (for my man).
The real star of my order was the FREE 24 product beauty bag that I got with a $60 purchase. It was packed so full, I can barely get all the stuff back in it!
Inside this magical bag: philosophy time in a bottle repair serum (love this stuff, but too pricey); DevaCurl Buildup Buster Gentle Deep Cleansing Serum; it Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Full Coverage Anti-Aging Waterproof Concealer (I’ve heard good things about this stuff); Sexy Hair Long Sexy Hair Shampoo, Conditioner and Detangler (I don’t have long hair anymore, so I must be patient); NYX Total Control Drop Foundation (4 shades, surely the lightest will work); Shiseido Benefiance WrinkleResist24 Intensive Eye Contour Cream; Clinique BIY Blend It Yourself Pigment Drops (very interesting concept); Urban Decay All Nighter Long Lasting Makeup Setting Spray (Finally! I’ve been wanting to try this); Ulta Mattifying Balm (another one I’ve wanted to try); Too Faced Mascara Melt Off Cleansing Oil (another genius idea); Jimmy Choo L’eau; Tory Burch Love Relentlessly; Benefit Hoola Quickie Contour Stick; Julep love your bare face Hydrating Cleansing Oil; Unwash Bio-Cleansing Conditioner; First Aid Beauty Oil-Free Mattifying Gel (another WOW product I want to try); Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Aloe, Cucumber and Green Tea (I stuck it in the fridge for a hot nasty day); Organic to Green Coco Oil; Lancome Advanced Genifique Youth Activating Concentrate; Anastasia Beverly Hills Lip Gloss in “Butter Scotch”; Vitabath Spa Day Body Wash in “Lavender Chamomile”; COOLA Classic Sunscreen White Tea Moisturizer; StriVectin Hair Deep Repair Mask; and Smashbox Cover Shot Golden Hour Eye Shadow Duo. Phew, finger cramps. Oh, and another $5 off $15 Ulta coupon.
Bree is Blinding
Looking for a polish that will look great with yellow-stained nails…and I came across Julep “Bree”.
“Bree” is from last December’s Julep box – not sure how I passed this one by. Julep describes this one as golden gardenia multidimensional glitter. Not sure where the gardenia part comes in, but yeah – it’s gold glitter, alright. I’m quite a fan of full coverage glitters and this is one of the fullest coverage glitters I’ve ever used. This is just two thin coats over Julep Oxygen Bonding Base Coat and under “HK Girl”.
“Bree” lasts and lasts…I wore it for a full week (Sunday through Saturday) with minimal edge wear. The best part…”Bree” melted right off when I went to remove it – no scrubbing!
Wrapped in Plastic – The Return
You had to know that this beauty was coming back…
I had to show off Hare Polish “Wrapped in Plastic” along with my other Twin Peaks polishes. I started with Sinful Colors Base Coat, painted two coats and finished off with Zoya Matte Velvet Top Coat. I am in love with how it turned out. It reminds me of a frosted over window in winter, with the crystals reflecting the sun.
The strangest thing happened with this polish – it changed colors. After a day or so, it began to take on a yellow hue, instead of the pure ice blue. I think it might have been caused by my fingernails, stained by the green and yellow polishes that I used last.
The first time I tried it (several years ago!!!), I went shiny. I definitely like the matte version better.
Marina
Oh Marina…
I am in total love with Julep’s matte shimmer formula – even more than the Sinful Colors Kylie ones. This is my other pick for May – Julep Classic with a Twist “Marina”. I’d expect an ocean-y blue color for “Marina”, yet Julep made it royal raspberry matte shimmer. Whyyyyyyy?
This is two coats over Julep Oxygen Bonding Base Coat. It lasted for a decent amount of time, even with no top coat. Go “Marina”! I am loving this color on me.
“Marina” also makes a better Raspberry Beret than the one I did last year. Just sayin’.
Garmonbozia
“Bob, I want all my Garmonbozia.”
As I sit here waiting (just a few minutes now) for the return of Twin Peaks, I figured I’d share my Garmonbozia with you.
Garmonbozia is pain and suffering, but is also represented by creamed corn. How do you make your nails look like creamed corn? And why would you? I figured I could just go for a “wet” look. I started with Sinful Colors Base Coat and two coats of Sinful Colors “Bye Felicia”. I topped with Zoya “Monet” and “HK Girl”.
I didn’t think I could stand the yellow nails, but they are kind of growing on me.
Green Formica Table
Twin Peaks is so close I can taste it…so you’re gonna have to put up with a bunch of Twin Peaks-themed manicures.
I’ve been thinking about “Green Formica Table” for ages and ages. (Or technically, “This is a formica table. Green is its colors.) Going off of memory, this is how I remember the green formica table and I was too lazy to watch Fire Walk With Me again…or google it. I think I did pretty well.
I started with Sinful Colors Base Coat and two coats of Sinful Colors “Happy Ending”. I topped with a single coat of Hare Polish “The Owls are Not What They Seem” and then finished with Zoya Matte Velvet Top Coat.
If you’re familiar with “Happy Ending”, it’s a bright kelly green. The jelly brown in “Owls” darkened it up just enough to make it look like aged plastic, plus the matte-ed glitter made it perfect.
Just two more days until Agent Cooper returns…isn’t it too dreamy?