October 2024 Ipsy Glam Bag – Beauty Nightmares
Beauty Nightmares? I don’t want Beauty Nightmares!
So it’s not that I am behind…although I am behind…but, I am delayed in covering October’s ipsy bag because it was missing two items! I contacted Ipsy Care and they dispatched them immediately, so I just had to wait for them to arrive…
The missing items were Dew of the Gods Sorbaé Hyaluronic Lip Butter in “Strawberry Mandarin” (which I am wearing right now) and a WingMe Cosmetics All Over Eyeshadow Brush.
My product choice this month was a Thread Beauty Face It Multi-Use Complexion Stick in “00 Fair”. I think it’s a concealer – I’ll have to try it.
Also in this month’s bag: tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes™ 4-in-1 Mascara (ugh, tarte is so tired), and Toyfactory Oatbaé Oil Makeup Remover (ew, oil).
Even though this month’s products are kind of duds, I always LOVE the October bags. This one is super-witchy (can you tell I just binged Agatha All Along?) with snakes and such.
I subscribe to the basic ipsy bag for $14/month (recently increased from $13/month) and Icon Box (formerly Glam Bag X) for an extra $60/quarterly (recently increased from $43/quarterly). If you’d like to try Ipsy – click here. I’ll earn 250 points if you sign up through my referral link.
Defying Gravity
OPI x Wicked “Defying Gravity” is VERY different than Deborah Lippman “Defying Gravity”. Instead of Elphaba’s skintone (which we saw in “Witch O’Clock”), we get a representation of the night sky. It’s a beautiful midnight blue with silver shimmer.
This is two coats of “Defying Gravity” over Cuticula Mic Drop Base Coat in “Melt Down” and under Cuticula Limitless Top Coat in “Zombie Juice“.
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but the second bottle of “Zombie Juice” is not quick dry either. It stayed tacky for at least 30 minutes…ugh. I’ll try it out a few more times to be sure, just in case it’s a fluke interaction with OPI. I better try out “Blackberry Passionfruit” and make sure it’s not fucked up, too.
Polish Pickup October 2024 – Natural Phenomenon
Not only did I receive October’s Polish Pickup last week, but I also received my replacement Cuticula “Zombie Juice” Top Coat – Wheeeee! Even though it’s no longer spooky season, I’m looking forward to testing it out.
October’s theme is “Natural Phenomenon” and I ventured out of my comfort zone and got a few non-polish products.
Phoenix “Nichibotsu” ($13) is inspired by an anime called Hunter x Hunter (my son’s favorite). Nichibotsu means ‘sunset’ in Japanese. It’s also a magnetic polish, which is why I finally sprang for a Nova Nail Magnet ($5) – I cannot wait to play with it!
Painted Polish “Live Laugh Lava” ($13) is inspired by…DUH…lava.
Envy Lacquer “Synchronous” ($12.50) is inspired by the synchronous firefly display in the Appalachian mountains.
Proving that I don’t learn, I picked up one more Cuticula Limitless Quick Dry Top Coat in “Blackberry Passionfruit” ($10).
Oh, and I got a kitchen magnet/bottle opener ($8.75) celebrating two of my favorite things – True Crime & Nail Polish. I was a bit miffed that I got double charged for shipping, as this was an in-stock item. Boo.
25 Fly
Even though this polish is inspired by Veruca Salt’s album American Thighs, it’s giving Pink Pony Club, right? RIGHT?
I picked up Crystal Knockout “25 Fly” from July’s Rewind, but it was originally from October 2023 – 90’s Grunge. It’s a combination of two of the songs – “25” and “Fly”. My boyfriend in college used to play that album, but I’ll be damned if I remember any song except “Seether”. Maybe I’ll put it on next time I’m in the car?
This is two coats of “25 Fly” over Cuticula Mic Drop Base Coat in “Melt Down” and under Glisten & Glow Glitter Grabber, then Cuticula Limitless Top Coat in “Champagne Toast“. The heart glitters were definitely a bit lifty, so you’ve gotta use something to keep them flat.
I didn’t realize this this was a thermal polish until after I’d already posted pics…Oopsie! It was BARELY thermal, but I do recall side-eyeing my nails while wearing it.
Nessa-ist Rose
Does anyone else feel really WEIRD holding the tiny OPI mini bottles? Just me?
Instead of holding the tiny mini bottle, I thought I’d mix it up by holding something else OZ related. This Wicked Witch of the East doll AKA Nessarose was from a series of Happy Meal toys. Remember when the Happy Meal toys were actually GOOD? I mean…fucking Madame Alexander! They DID recently bring back the McNugget Buddies…but other than that, kids today are getting the shaft.
OPI “Nessa-ist Rose” is just a plain red nail polish. I don’t have any OPI reds to compare it to, but it’s fairly close to Zoya “Sooki”. It’s got a deepness to it that I like, like a candied apple.
This is two coats of “Ness-ist Rose” over Cuticula Mic Drop Base Coat in “Melt Down” and under Cuticula Limitless Top Coat in “Champagne Toast“.
Witch O’Clock
What time is it?
For the last 30 some-odd years, my answer has always been the same – “4:30 – it’s not late, it’s early, EARRR-LAYYYY” – and if you get that deep cut from The Spin Doctors, congratulations…you now need antacids if you eat a single slice of pizza.
…but NOW, maybe I’ll change my answer to “Witch O’Clock”, WHICH is the name of the first polish in the OPI x Wicked Nail Lacquer 12 Piece Mini Pack. OPI “Witch O’Clock” is a dark olive green and is very similar to Deborah Lippman “Defying Gravity”.
This is two coats of “Witch O’Clock” over Cuticula Mic Drop Base Coat in “Melt Down” and under Cuticula Limitless Top Coat in “Champagne Toast“.
Pink Pony Ulta Haul
Killing some time before I had to go pick up the kid from Marching Band last week, so I bopped into Ulta to have a look around…
L’Oreal Colorista is not my favorite hair dye, but for $3, I don’t mind have an extra “Metallic Pink” on hand for…dancing at the Pink Pony Club? Or whatever…
I know it’s dumb, but I bought The Body Shop Edelweiss Cleansing Concentrate for Lily…because this year’s Marching Band show opens with “Edelweiss” from The Sound of Music and I thought it would be funny…I spent $6.25 for that eye roll!
I love Wet n Wild’s Fantasy Makers Halloween line, so I grabbed their “Vampire Venom” Lip Gloss Stain ($6.49). It’s got the weirdest applicator. I was expecting a doe foot – but it’s a little plastic spatula? It’s a sheer glossy stain, okay looking I guess.
Finally, I snagged a bottle of L.A. Girl Pro Matte Mixing Pigment in “White” ($9) for my super-secret Halloween makeup that I’ve told everyone about already. Shhhhh…
At least I got to use a $3.50 off $15 coupon!
Elvira
Boy, was this a hard polish to photogrpah!
Hit the Bottle Polishes “Elvira” is inspired by the Mistress of the Dark herself – from September’s Vintage Halloween Polish Pickup. It’s a dark, dark, DARK shimmery blackened wine polish that looks black under most lights. In sunlight, however, is where Elvira shines. Ironic? Like a black fly in your chardonnay?
This is two coats of “Elvira” over Cuticula Mic Drop Base Coat in “Melt Down” and under Cuticula Limitless Top Coat in “Champagne Toast“.
I wonder if I can talk the family into watching Elvira, Mistress of the Dark tonight?
Wicked Ulta Haul
As soon as Ulta dropped all of the Wicked Movie Collab products…I knew I was in trouble. I tried – TRIED – to be conservative, but I don’t know if I did a very good job, especially since it was Diamond Love List Monday…
Right off the bat, I knew I had to get the OPI x Wicked Nail Lacquer 12 Piece Mini Pack ($49.99). I hate paying full price for nail polish, but I just couldn’t risk it selling out before I got it. The set has 12 mini polishes, 6 for Elphaba and 6 for Galinda. I am really looking forward to trying them all out. Ariana Grande’s r.e.m. beauty released a bunch of matched sets and lipsticks, but I was drawn to the r.e.m. beauty x Wicked Ozdust Eyeshadow Palette ($55). I am impressed by how creamy and blendable the shadows are. The glitters really pop! I even got a gift with purchase – a full size Midnight Shadows Liquid Eyeshadow. I wasn’t paying attention and thought it was a lipstick – which actually looked amazing after I wiped most of it off and applied lip stain on top of it. It made my lips look like stained glass – new favorite lip look! I’m sure I’ll be picking up more Wicked Collab stuff, but this is it for now.
It’s been a while since I’ve gotten hyped up about Urban Decay, but the new Urban Decay Cosmetics Moondust Space Cowboy Glitter Eyeshadow Palette – Limited Edition ($49) caught my eye. Yes, I know it’s basically just a few shadows pulled from Naked palettes in a fancy package – SHUT UP. I have only gotten to use it once, but I ended up with nice results, so no regrets. Oh, and I also got a Platinum and Diamond Free 5 Piece Gift with $35 makeup purchase, which came with an clear vinyl crossbody bag (perfect for stadiums with a clear bag rule); Urban Decay All Nighter Long Lasting Makeup Setting Spray (ugh, I have so much of this); a card sample of Urban Decay Moondust Eyeshadow in “Space Cowboy”; Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in “Zero”; and Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion in “Original”.
I added a few more random items to my bag: an EcoTools Exfoliating EcoPouf Loofah ($2.99); L’Oreal True Match Super-Blendable Powder in “C1 Alabaster” ($6.49, on sale from $12.99 – Ulta’s site told me which shade to use based on the shade I wear in Infallible, but it’s a bit light on me); and Thayers Alcohol-Free Witch Hazel Facial Toner in “Rose Petal” ($10.95).
All this got me a Free Platinum & Diamond Exclusive 28 Piece Gift with with $150 purchase – woo hoo! First off, this gift came with a gorgeous chocolate velvet cosmetic bag. Inside the bag: COSRX Master Patch Intensive; Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour HydraPlay Skin Perfecting Daily Moisturizer; Morphe Mini Continuous Setting Mist; Maybelline The Falsies Lash Lift Mascara; Sol de Janeiro Cheirosa 48 Perfume Mist (Awww, I already have one of these); Chloe Intense; Olaplex No. 7 Bonding Oil; Frank Body Glycolic Body Scrub; bareMinerals Complexion Rescue Blonzer (uh whut? It’s blush and bronzer, oh); Estee Lauder Revitalizing Supreme + Night Power Bounce Creme; e.l.f. Power Grip Primer; Benefit The POREfessional Super Setter Long-Lasting Makeup Setting Spray (ugh, more???); Wella Ultimate Repair Miracle Hair Rescue (again, more???); Clarins Total Eye Lift; Polite Society Greatest Lashes of All Time Mascara (braggy a bit?); Dime TBT Cream (what even is this?); Eau Thermale Avene Cicalfate Intensive Skin Restorative Serum; megababe Le Tush Clarifying Butt Mask (literally laughed out loud); tarte tartelette XL tubing Mascara; Charlotte Tilbury Exagger-eyes Mascara; Florence by Mills Floating Under the Eyes Patches; CeraVe Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser; OUAI Leave in Conditioner; Buxom Plump Shot Collagen Infused Lip Serum; e.l.f. Skin Holy Hydration Eye Cream; pixi Glow Tonic; NOYZ Lost + Found; and Vichy Mineral 89 Fortifying and Plumping Daily Booster. Damn, my fingers are TIRED.
I should feel worse about randomly spending $150+ without a good coupon or sale…but I don’t, because I used the last $30 of Ulta points I had saved up.
Carrie
This is my first polish from Cupcake Polish, and it’s a doozie.
Cupcake Polish “Carrie” is inspired by Carrie, specifically her blood spattered look at the end of Prom Night. At first, I thought it was just a red sparkle glitter part in a clear base…but I was wrong. It’s a thermal nail polish! Check out my ring finger and pinky – the base of the polish turned black!
Initially, I thought – of course, Carrie is vintage Halloween because it was made in 1976…but then I remembered that I ALSO was made in 1976. Does that mean I am vintage, too? I need to rest…
With all this glitter, I was expecting it to be a pain in the ass to remove…and it was. Have the exfoliating cotton rounds ready for scrubbing with this polish.
This is two coats of “Carrie” over Cuticula Mic Drop Base Coat in “Melt Down” and under Cuticula Limitless Top Coat in “Champagne Toast“.