Fresh Cyber Monday Haul
I didn’t go TOO crazy on Cyber Monday…well, maybe a little.
I mostly bought gifts, so not sharing them in this post…but I did get a little something for myself…Fresh Beauty was 25% off, so I got Fresh Sugar Strawberry Exfoliating Face Wash ($24.75, down from $33) and Fresh Sugar Balm Gift Set ($13.87, down from $18.50). This qualified me for a free gift from Fresh – a makeup bag with 4 samples: Fresh Rose Hydration Cream (LOVE); Fresh Soy Face Cleanser; Fresh Black Tea Age-Delay Eye Concentrate; and Fresh Sugar Advanced Therapy Lip Treatment. I admit, I kind of enjoy buying Sephora-owned products from Ulta…
Oooh, another gift with my $90 purchase! Inside the (mostly skin stuff) Cyber Monday bag: No7 Menopause Skincare Nourishing Overnight Cream (HOW DID THEY KNOW I’M OLD???); MAC fix+ Magic Radiance; Love Wellness Bye Bye Bloat (again, how did they know my digestive tract is all broken?); Peach & Lily Glass Skin Refining Serum (I love this stuff); Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream; it Cosmetics Confidence in a Cream (I love this stuff, too); Better Not Younger Bounce Back Shampoo & Conditioner; Ariana Grande God is a Woman; Tom Ford Noir; Givenchy Gentleman (a good friend of mine wears this – it’s nice); Olay Regenerist Hyaluraonic +Peptide Hydrating Gel; Clinique Moisture Surge 100H Auto-Replenishing Hydrator; Kate Somerville ExfoliKate; Tula Skincare the cult classic purifying face cleanser & 24-7 moisture hydrating day & night cream; Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion; Giorgio Armani My Way; a Zitsticka; It’s a 10 Miracle Leave-In Product; IGK Pay Day Instant Repair Shampoo & Conditioner + Cash In Instant Repair Serum; Too Faced Lady Bold Lipstick Sample Card; NARS Concealer Sample Card; Keys Soulcare Let Me Glow Illuminating Serum (I also love this stuff); Anastasia Beverly Hills Crystal Lip Glow in “Glass”; Fresh Rose Deep Hydration Cream (even more stuff I love); and Laura Mercier Pure Canvas Primer.
I got so much stuff that I was able to use a $10 off code AND qualify for Diamond in 2023 – that’s it, I’m in!
Vein Slayer
I did not do much Black Friday shopping…but I did restock on Glisten & Glow base and top coats – I couldn’t pass up a 35% off code.
I also couldn’t pass up Glisten & Glow “Vein Slayer” ($11, $7.15 with code). I know it’s supposed to be a Halloween polish…but it also looks like crushed peppermint!
This is two coats of “Vein Slayer” over Glisten & Glow Ridge Filling Base Coat, topped with Glisten & Glow Glitter Grabber and Glisten & Glow Top Coat…except that pinky. That pesky pinky got Glisten & Glow Matte Top Coat. I don’t care for the matte finish with this polish.
This polish lasted on my nails a full seven days without a single chip. It looked FLAWLESS when I took it off, I was just ready for a change.
Blueberry Macaron
That’s blueberry macaron, NOT blueberry macaroon. A blueberry macaroon would be DISGUSTING.
I did the Velvet Matte right this time! Just two coats of Sinful Colors “Blueberry Macaron” – no base coat, no top coat. It dried perfectly – no wrinkles or creases. There’s a faint gold shimmer undertone to the polish – can you see it in the pic?
Will I ever be finished with the Confection Crush Collection???
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!
Gingerbread Spice, Orange Slice
I promise, this was not planned…but my brunch matched my nails!
Over the Thanksgiving Break, I was running errands with my son and we stopped for brunch at First Watch. As a special treat, we ordered Gingerbread Spice Donut Holes for an appetizer. Not only were they FUCKING DELICIOUS, but they matched my nails!
I am wearing Sinful Colors “Orange Slice” from last winter’s Confection Crush Collection. It’s one of the gumdrop textured polishes and it does NOT look at all like the gummy orange slice candy. I was annoyed until I realized that it looks like candied orange peel! My father-in-law makes them sometimes, and they are delightful.
This is two coats of “Orange Slice” over Glisten & Glow Ridge Filling Base Coat.
I’ll Be Home
Of course, the first product from this month’s Glam Bag X that I tried out was the nail polish!
This is two coats of Lights Lacquer “I’ll Be Home” over Glisten & Glow Ridge Filling Base Coat. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that it’s a matte polish! I think I’ll try it with a snowflake top coat next!
I did top my index and middle fingers with Glisten & Glow Top Coat for two reasons. First, I wanted to see what the polish looked like with a shiny finish…but my second reason was that these two nails always chip quickly. Instead of my usual thumb/ring finger accent nails, I’ve started doing my index/middle fingers if it involves more layers of polish or top coat. I’ll say that it paid off, because with those two nails protected – the manicure lasted much longer! I actually did my thumb and index finger on my right hand – I recently ripped off my right thumb nail in a freak laptop accident and it’s super weak.
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.
Thanksgiving Skittles
Today, I am thankful for several hundred bottles of Julep nail polish, which allowed me to pick the perfect shades for a Thanksgiving Skittles Mani. (A Skittles Mani is simply a different shade on each nail, so that it appears that you are holding a handful of Skittles.)
I started with Glisten & Glow Ridge Filling Base Coat and then two coats of each, starting with my thumb: Julep “Maryam”, Julep “Mercedes”; Julep “Zoe”, Julep “Tatiana”, and Julep “Dahlia”. I finished with Glisten & Glow Top Coat…don’t you love it? (BTW, Glisten & Glow is having a 35% off Black Friday Sale – I’ve already placed an order.)
I initially was going for Fall Cremes, but I came across “Dahlia” and “Tatiana” and HAD to use them. I did set aside some other possible Skittles combos, so keep an eye out!
$2.95 Hand Soap, now with Coupon Stacking!
This past Saturday was $2.95 Hand Soap day!
I bought my 20 bottle limit…and was pleased to find that this year, they allowed coupon stacking! I was able to use my 20% off coupon, which brought the bottle price down to $2.21/$2.22 each. I was also able to get a free body product, so I chose a Shower Gel in “Strawberry Snowflakes”. I really wanted more “Strawberry Poundcake”, but they did not have any. Maybe I’ll get lucky at the After-Christmas Semi-Annual Sale.
According to the receipt, I spent $47.46 and saved $124.25.
Sour Melon Crush
“Sour Melon Crush” would make a disgusting candy…but it makes a delicious nail polish.
Yup, this is Sinful Colors “Sour Melon Crush”, from last year’s Confection Crush Collection. It’s another one of those gumdrop textured polishes.
I did two coats of “Sour Melon Crush” over Glisten & Glow Ridge Filling Base Coat. No top coat.