Target Beauty Box – November 2017
I paid $7 for this.
I’d feel worse about it, but I already used the $3 off coupon from this month’s box…not that I’m bragging or anything. It’s not that it’s a skimpy box, it’s just not quite as packed full as the last couple of boxes.
The big shiny thing in the box is a MISSHA Snail Hydro-Gel Mask. Yes, another product with snail slime in it. I’m not even fazed by this shit anymore. Also in this box: Dove Derma 2-in-1 Shampoo & Conditioner (I don’t have dandruff, but it’s good to have this just in case); Skinfix Ultra Rich Hand Cream (perfect for my purse); Tom’s of Maine Coconut Bar Soap; Maybelline Great Lash Mini Mascara (a staple from high school); and La Roche-Posay Facial Cleanser.
So, $7 box with free shipping and an additional 5% off with my Target Red Card. I already used the $3 off $15 coupon – I bought a mountain of face wash. No regrets.
November Julep Maven Box – Nourish & Flourish
Ooohhh…Julep is adding masks to their repertoire!
Yup, I had to add the Triple Quench Deep Hydration Sheet Mask System to this month’s box. Not just a sheet mask – it also includes an essence ampoule pack for before the mask and a sleeping pack for after the mask. I’m going to wait until the winter chill hits my face hard and BAM! I’m going to moisturize the fuck out of my face.
I also chose Your Cuticles Look Thirsty Fast-Absorbing Cuticle Creme. Not a hand lotion, but a creme just for your nails beds. They’re not kidding, my cuticles sucked it right up. This is so much better than a messy cuticle oil. I also chose Julep It Girl “Dina” – vintage denim shimmer. It absolutely does remind me of a comfy pair of stonewashes.
There’s a single mystery hard candy in this month’s box. No words on it all. I opened the cellophane and it’s BLUE, but there’s no smell. I’m scared.
Not a Julep Maven? Click HERE to join – I’ll get a $15 credit and you’ll get your first box free!
Not What I Intended…
…but pretty nonetheless.
I had seen a trend of turquoise and gold nails lately, so I thought I’d pile on. Julep “Naveena” is not turquoise, it’s more of a teal…but my bedroom is dark and I was in a hurry – so close enough. Even so, teal and gold is pretty, pretty combination. The gold is Julep “Oscar”, a dense gold glitter.
This is two coats of “Naveena” over Julep Oxygen Bonding Base Coat. It’s a bit sheer on it’s own, but the glitter masqueraded my visible nail line. The finishing touch was Glisten & Glow Top Coat.
I need to search my stash for a better turquoise – I want to be a Navajo Princess.
Full Advantage
I didn’t take last Friday off, just so I could go to Sephora…but since I was off…I decided to take full advantage of my 20% off code…and go to Sephora.
In addition to a buttload of Xmas shopping (shhhhhhh!), I picked up Kate Somerville EradiKate Daily Cleanser Acne Treatment ($38) and EradiKate Acne Treatment ($26). I haven’t found anything that compares to this sulfur wash and my deluxe sample is almost empty.
The one mistake I made was my timing. The closest Sephora is across the street from Cinco Ranch High School…and damned if I didn’t show up right as school let out. The whole store was asses to elbows with high school girls…and they were all putting makeup directly on their faces – don’t they know that’s how you get herpes??? Fortunately though, the high school girls weren’t buying anything – no line to check out. As I mentioned earlier, I remembered my Sephora Play! card for 50 extra points and I splurged 100 points on a deluxe sample of Kate Somerville Wrinkle Warrior 2-in-1 Plumping Moisturizer + Serum. I’ve already tried it and it’s fantastic, but I’d be hard pressed to pay $95 for a full size! I also got a sample of Sephora Matte Perfection Powder Foundation in “26 neutral sand – sable” – I hope the shade is a match! Oh, and the Tote Bag – the whole reason I decided to go in person instead of ordering online…
I really did try to get to Rouge on this trip, but I just couldn’t make it happen…only $38 left to go though!
Sephora Play! October 2017 – Complexion Companions
Yeah, yeah, yeah. I know.
Sephora must have heard my complaints last month – fragrance is back. This month’s fragrance is Chanel Gabrielle. It’s an old fashioned scent, reminiscent of Estee Lauder – maybe White Linen or Joy.
The rest of the products in this month’s “Complexion Companions” box are…you guessed it…for your complexion. I am most excited to try Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder – it’s insta-famous. Also included: Becca First Light Priming Filter Instant Complexion Refresh (I think I tried a sample of this before and it broke me out?); Make Up For ever Ultra HD Skin Booster Hydra-Plump Serum, Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Invisible Cover Foundation in R230 (I’m betting it’s too dark, since I use 115 in their Cover Stick); and Cover FX Custom Enhancer Drops in “Moonlight” (Hmmm…).
A very interesting and cohesive box this month.
I am SO proud of myself for remembering to grab the Play! card when I went to Sephora Friday – I got my 50 points!
Do yourself a favor and sign up NOW. 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.
Trixy
Here it is, the last of my Halloween nails…
Julep “Trixy” was the perfect match for my Halloween costume – the Evil Queen from Snow White. I rarely do full costumes anymore – in this case, my whole costume was the crowned wimple, a mini cape and the makeup. Really, the makeup WAS the costume. Oh…and an apple. The apple was key.
“Trixy” is a blackened purple glitter. It’s the sister of “Marlise”. Like Marlise, it a bit gritty, so I topped with Glisten & Glow Top Coat. This is two coats over Julep Oxygen Bonding Base Coat.
Since the glitter is in a clear base, this would look really interesting over a contrasting color. Maybe a yellow?
Bloody Angel
Pretend it isn’t November 1st and that it’s October 31st. Thanks.
Dripping Blood is my favorite Halloween nail art. This year, I decided to mix it up and go with a matte white background. I started with two coats of Sinful Colors “Angelik” after Sinful Colors Base Coat. I painted the drips freehand with Sinful Colors “Undead Red”. Not a bad job, if you ask me. Someday, I’ll get off my ass and use one of my fancy brushes…
This paint job lasted quite a while…well, Friday to Monday.
Only 364 days until Halloween!
I Remembered!
Guys! Guess what! I remembered to use my $3 off coupon from this month’s Target Beauty Box!
I had a nasty, nasty breakout last week, so I went looking for a face wash with sulfur in it. It was a total fail, so I guess I’ll have to break down and pay $38 for EradiKATE. Ugh. Sulfur WORKS THOUGH guys…in the meantime, I went ahead and decided to try Shea Moisture African Black Soap Clarifying Face Wash & Scrub ($9.99). I’ve read good thing about it online, so I thought I’d try it.
I also picked up Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Moist ($2.99), which I got a sample of in a box back in my June box. My son uses it, so I thought I’d try it out – it makes my hair feel like doll hair! It says to use it once a week, but I dunno…it might get used every time I wash my hair.
Oh, and I can’t run out of my Dip-its and cotton rounds – gotta have ’em.
I ordered the November box yesterday…another coupon is coming.
Belly Dancer
Years and years ago – like 1999 – I used to take belly dancing classes. I really enjoyed it, but I changed jobs at one point and started working weekends, so the classes no longer worked with my schedule. I couldn’t imagine taking classes again now – as self conscious as I was about baring my itty bitty belly at 23, I cannot imagine baring my lumpy mama belly now. Pretty sure I sucked really bad, too – the teacher always praised how well I could remember the choreography. I will, however, always cherish the brief moment in time when I was able to roll a quarter up and down my stomach – I really could do it!
My point IS…that my nail polish combination reminds my of gorgeous belly dancer costume. I started with Glisten & Glow Ridge Filling Base Coat and then two coats of Revlon “Chameleon”. I used Nanacoco “Emerald” and Sinful Colors “Twilight Twinkles” on the tips, to bring out the green and gold in “Chameleon”. I finished with Glisten & Glow Top Coat.
Hmmm…I’m gonna go find some quarters.
October Birchbox – Behind the Scenes Beauty
…And I’m back to the curated box option this month.
Really, I wanted the Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate. Kiehl’s is really good stuff! I’m also happy to try the Matrix Biolage R.A.W. Uplift Shampoo and Conditioner – matching deluxe samples of each! No foil packs!
Also in this month’s “Behind the Scenes Beauty” box: [comfort zone] Hydramemory Cream Gel and Stila Cosmetics Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner (I feel like I have at least 6 of these).
Quite a good box this month…keep it up, Birchbox!
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.