Essenchills + Tulle Temptations
If there’s one thing that 2021 has going for it, it’s TWO new collections from Sinful Colors!
The Essenchills Collection is another scented collection, inspired by the scents of a spa day. There are 9 polishes in the collection: “So Matcha Better” (Matcha Tea), “Chamomile Calm” (Chamomile), “Bath Goals” (a Milky Bath), “Coffee Drip” (Coffee), “Salt Bath Babe” (Himalayan Salt), “Beach Vibes” (Ocean Breeze), “Smoky Palo Santo” (Palo Santo), “Low-Key Lavender” (Lavender), and “Eucalyptahhh” (Eucalyptus).
The Tulle Temptations Collection is made of sheer matte polishes with a shimmer. There’s a Semi-Matte Top Coat and 8 polishes: “Sheer-Treuse” (lime green), “Turnt-quoise” (turquoise), “Veiled in Violet” (purple), “Kiss of Cobalt” (blue), “Hot Pink Tights” (pink), “Hot & Hazy” (coral), “See-Through Citrine” (yellow), and “Ruby Tutu” (red).
I was a bit impatient, so I went ahead and ordered six packs of each collection on Amazon…but since each collection is 9 polishes, I knew I would still be on the hunt. Before I even got the Amazon deliveries, BOTH collections showed up at HEB, with the Sheer Matte Tulle Temptations at $1.98 each and the Essenchills at $2.98 each, which is opposite of their Amazon pricing. I filled out my collection, as well as getting duplicate sets to send to a few friends. Like last year’s collection, each collection had Wal-mart exclusive colors, which I managed to find a few days after the others.
Which one will I try first…hmmmmm…
January 2021 Allure Beauty Box – Happy Returns
I know I’m way past due to talk about a January Beauty Box, but I wanted to try at least SOME of the products first.
When I first opened the box, I was like, WTF is this skimpy box? But I was intrigued as I started rooting through the box. The first thing I noticed was the card from Mani Me x Allure worth $30 towards customized stick-on nail gels. You upload pics of your nails and they 3D print them to fit exactly! I ordered a set and am patiently awaiting their arrival.
The big box in this month’s box is Saturday Skin Rub-a-Dub Refining Peel Gel. This was an interesting product. I don’t use peels often because of my sensitive skin, but this one was super gentle. I still don’t plan on using it more than every few weeks.
Also in this month’s box: L’occitane Immortelle Reset Huile-en-Serum (smells so good); True + Luscious Super Moisture Lipstick in “Vintage Rose”; The Beauty Crop Blush Duo in “Mauve-ulous”; and a Baseblue Airsponge.
I’ll hold off judgement on this box until I get my Mani Me Gels…
The Allure Beauty Box recently increased their price from $15 to $23/month. They also offer an option for $250/year – a savings of $26. Sign up via my referral link.
Sweet Cheeks
I absolutely LOVED this nail polish. I’m usually more ambivalent about sheer polishes, but this one was so squishy.
I’ve been sitting on Sinful Colors Quick Bliss “Sweet Cheeks (Sheer)” for a bit. The formula has a great consistency and although sheer, gives smooth, self-levelling coverage.
This is two coats of “Sweet Cheeks (Sheer)” over Glisten & Glow Ridge Filling Base Coat. I went shiny with Glisten & Glow Top Coat and the finished look reminds me of a gummy bear!
January 2021 Ipsy Bag – Dream It
Don’t dream it…be it…
I’ve had to keep a close eye on this little ipsy bag – my daughter keeps trying to steal it! Her favorite YouTuber is “Dream”, so she really wants this Dreamy-y makeup bag.
My product choice this month was Byroe Salmon Cream – it’s made of FISH EGGS. Yeah, I don’t care – I’ve been rubbing it all over my face. It’s not any worse snail slime.
Also in this month’s bag: Sugar Cosmetics Matte as Hell Crayon in “Viola” (LOVE this shade); Complex Culture Time Pressed Lip Balm (I lined my lips with the lip crayon and filled in with this balm – the crayon stayed put, but my lips were also moisturized); Laruce Beauty LR22 Kabuki Brush in Denim Blue Collection (this is the tiniest kabuki brush I’ve ever seen); and Kensie Beauty So Pretty Fragrance (I have been wearing it – but the scent is so non-descript that I cannot describe it….it’s just…there.)
Another great bag – thanks, ipsy!
I subscribe to the basic ipsy bag for $12/month. If you’d like to try Ipsy – click here. I’ll earn 250 points if you sign up through my referral link.
The Roaring 20s
The 20s aren’t roaring yet…but I still have hope.
My sister-in-law was in town a few weeks ago and I picked up a few full sheets of Color Street Nail Decals. There were some really cool sets! My favorite is “Drop the Ball” – black and gold chevrons – very 20s Art Deco.
I wanted to mix polish and decals, so I applied the decals to 6 of my fingers – I was able to cover two fingers per decal, by using a thumb size on my thumb and sideways on my pinky (thanks for the idea, Becca). My middle fingernails are always pretty short, so it was easy to cover two nails with one medium decal. These decals lasted a week and looked perfect! The nail polish chipped before the decals.
For the polish, I couldn’t decide on shimmer or glitter, so why not both? The glitter on my index finger is Butter London “Tart with a Heart” and the shimmer on my ring finger is Nicole by OPI “On a Gilt Trip”. This is two coats of each over Glisten & Glow Ridge Filling Base Coat. I wanted them to be matte to match the Color Street, so I topped with Glisten & Glow Matte Top Coat.
Instead of holding a bottle of polish, I decided to showcase a member of my daughter’s Octopi Army – she made it herself!
I Want to Smell Like FOOD
Ignore the bag, the Bath & Body Works Semi-Annual Sale is OVER.
As soon as I got the Valentine’s Day mailer, I knew I would be hitting the store again to pick up those delicious scents. I decided on “Chocolate Covered Cherry” (it’s SO chocolatey), “Strawberry Pound Cake” (a re-promote that I’ve been lusting after), and “You’re the One” (soft rose, winter woods and strawberry nectar – I couldn’t describe any of those scents individually, but together they’re heavenly). I was torn between “Strawberry Pound Cake” and “Raspberry Jam Donut”, but strawberries won out. I’ll keep an eye out for “Raspberry Jam Donut” in the next Semi-Annual Sale.
I got doubles of “Chocolate Covered Cherry” so Lily could smell good, too.
Body products were Buy 3, Get 3 and with the 20% coupon from my mailer (and a coupon for a free Wallflower), I only spent $78. I saved $111!
Ghosted
Color Club “Ghosted” was an ipsy add-on from last summer. It was patiently waiting for me…
Color Club polishes are so thick and smooth – for most people, this would be one coat coverage…but you know I always gotta do two. I started with Glisten & Glow Ridge Filling Base Coat and topped with Glisten & Glow Top Coat, except for the pinky…which got a coat of Glisten & Glow Matte Top Coat.
I have no idea why this polish is called “Ghosted” – at first, I thought the name was trying to be spooky, but maybe it’s referring to “ghosting” a dude?
Smash Hit
Sinful Colors “Smash Hit” has been sitting in my living room nail cabinet, waiting its turn to be used, since the end on 2018. I’ve been trying to work my way through them, but there at least a couple dozen still in there, as well as a couple dozen in my bedroom.
I was feeling like something cold and icy, so I decided on this icy, sheer blue. This is two coats of “Smash Hit” over Glisten & Glow Ridge Filling Base Coat and under Glisten & Glow Matte Top Coat. The glitter is iridescent dots, with a few flakie shards thrown in for interest.
This polish reminds me of “Wrapped in Plastic”. It also reminds me of Bumble, from Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.
First Ulta Haul of 2021
Remember how excited I was about NatureLabs.Tokyo Perfect Shine Shampoo & Conditioner? Turns out that it was the wrong product. I had sampled Perfect SMOOTH Shampoo & Conditioner. Oops. I bought a bottle of the NatureLabs.Tokyo Perfect Smooth Conditioner ($14) and I like it much better than the Perfect Smooth. Ugh. I’ll buy more Shampoo, I guess…
I am a sucker for Urban Decay foundation. Every time they release a new one, I’m all over it. Their newest is Urban Decay Hydromaniac Glowy Tinted Hydrator Foundation ($29). I was expected something like a tinted moisturizer, but it was a medium to full coverage foundation. I just put on on my face with my fingers and was like…oh NO. I grabbed my Beauty Blender and buffed it out. It gave nice, smooth coverage. If I left my house more than once a week, I’d use the hello out of it.
I also added a pack of Kitsch Face Masks ($12.99). My kids like these masks best, so I keep on buying them.
A few nice Platinum/Diamond freebies came with this order. I got a Too Faced Damn That’s Sexy Mascara set with my $25 makeup purchase and a deluxe sample of BareMinerals Original Liquid Foundation in “Fairly Light 03”. I haven’t tried either yet.
$1,145 to Diamond for 2022!
…and that’s how I went to the prom with Geena Davis
…but you probably already read about that in People.
I will buy you a socially distanced beer if you know what I am talking about…
The star of my first 2021 manicure is Julep “Geena – Rose Quartz for January”. It’s sheerer than I expected – I thought it would be a textured glitter – but it was a smooth jelly glitter. I like it, although I’d like it more if my nails weren’t so stained.
This is two coats of “Geena” over Glisten & Glow Ridge Filling Base Coat and topped with Glisten & Glow Top Coat. So shiny!