December 2019 Allure Beauty Box – The Mother of All Brows
December’s Allure Beauty Box was curated by Anastasia Soare – yes, THAT Anastasia…of Anastasia Beverly Hills. The box includes several of Anastasia’s products, as well as a few of her other favorites.
The centerpiece of the box is the Anastasia Beverly Hills Moonchild Glow Kit, a palette of 6 highlighters. Just this kit alone is worth $40, although it’s currently on sale for $24 at Ulta. Honestly, I don’t use highlighters very often and I already have the Kat Von D Alchemy palette, which is similar…but I have been trying the shades as eyeshadow and I like the way they look as a understated, glowy look.
In addition to the Glow Kit, the other ABH products included were Liquid Lipstick in “Bohemian” ($20) and Clear Brow Gel ($22). I really like the lipstick – it’s a dark brick red. I don’t have much use for the brow gel.
The other products included were First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Face Moisturizer (full size!) and Christophe Robin Cleansing Purifying Scrub with Sea Salt.
This is such a high value box – $82 just in Anastasia Beverly Hills products alone!
The Allure Beauty Box is $15/month, but they give you $5 off your first box. They also offer an option for $150/year – a savings of $30. Sign up via my referral link.
Twisted Peppermint
A crushed peppermint…or a Snowman murder? It could be either. Let’s split the different and call it “Twisted Peppermint”.
Since I used Funky Fingers “Elsa”, I wanted to use Julep “Elsa”, too. This “Elsa” is a frosty iridescent textured polish – it reminds me of windshield frost. I started with Glisten & Glow Ridge Filling Base Coat and two coats of “Elsa”. I wanted to see how Julep “Ruby Slippers” would look in a gradient, so I tested it on my ring finger. It is a really concentrated glitter, so I just went ahead and covered the whole nail. I decided to use Sinful Colors “Decadent”, a much sparser red glitter, instead to gradient the tips.
I really like how it turned out. Even though I didn’t use a top coat, it lasted a really long time. There something to b e said for light, neutral polishes.
So I kind of did something similar about 4 years ago, using Sinful Colors “Tokyo Pearl” for the base instead of “Elsa”. I like this version better.
December 2019 Ipsy Bag – Shine On
Shine on? Well, I certainly will try…
I did not miss the product choice window this month – I selected BELIF The True Cream Moisturizing Bomb. I’ve gotten this sample at least a dozen times from different subscription boxes and purchases and it is a really good moisturizing cream.
Also in this month’s silver pleather bag: FLUIDE 7-Free Nail Polish in “Strut” (I love a good gunmetal nail polish); Aromatica Rose Absolute First Serum (looking forward to trying this serum in my favorite scent); Beauty for Real Lip Gloss + Shine in “Sunlight”; and Tarte Amazonian Clay Waterproof Bronzer in “Park Ave Princess” (what is the point of waterproof bronzer???).
An interesting box, but the products seem more summery than wintery – maybe they know I’m in Texas and it is currently 75 degrees outside?
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.
Starry Frida
I was excited to try yet another red nail polish – Frida Kahlo x Ulta “Romance”.
“Romance” is a great basic red polish. It was not too sheer – full coverage in two coats without a visible nail line. This is two coats over Glisten & Glow Ridge Filling Base Coat.
I was going for a holiday look when I picked Sinful Colors “Starry Eyed” for my accent nails, but it turned out more patriotic. Oops.
I topped my first three nails with Glisten & Glow Top Coat and used Glisten & Glow Matte Top Coat on the last two.
I am in love with how this polish looks mattified – it’s giving me inspiration for another holiday look…
Ulta Stocking Stuffers
I picked up quite a few more last minute gifts from Ulta, using a 20% off coupon. Again, not sharing the gifts and stocking stuffers, but the few goodies I added for myself.
I’ve been eyeing the Urban Decay “Sweet Little Vices” Set for a bit and half price ($12.50, down from $25) was the right price. It includes 4 mini lipsticks to match (flavor AND color scheme) the last several Naked palettes – Naked Honey, Naked Cherry and Naked Heat. (I don’t have the Naked Honey palette…yet..but I have about $73 in Ulta points, so I probably will get it after the new year). The shades are “California Honey” – honey-flavored metallic golden orange w/ gold shimmer, “Keep Tame” – honey-flavored sheer medium warm nude, “Bing” – cherry-flavored bright pink comfort matte, and “Red Hot” – cinnamon-flavored bright red comfort matte.
Did I need another red nail polish? No, but “Romance” from the Frida Kahlo x Ulta Collection Collab was also half price ($3.75, down from $7.50).
Oh, and another Scunci Octopus clip ($2.97). I thought I it would hold more hair than the ones I have, but it barely holds all my hair. I have too much hair right now.
Just $97 to Diamond status for 2020. I booked a haircut for the day after Xmas, so that should push me over the edge!
$4.95?!?!?!
I guess it’s a little late to be very helpful, since the sale was actually last Saturday, but I guess I can brag a little bit…Bath and Body Works had ALL of their body care products for $4.95, AND the deal was stackable with coupons.
I had been planning to wait until the Semi-Annual Sale to try a new scent, but I couldn’t resist the chance to add a new scent to my shower. I had it narrowed down to two new scents – “Into the Night” (an alluring blend of dark berries, midnight jasmine and rich amber) and “Kaleidoscope” (iris, cedarwood, and pink pepper). I was leaning towards “Into the Night” – Lily’s pick – but the store was out of the body wash, so I got “Kaleidoscope” instead. I like how spicy it is! I usually stay away from the more oriental type scents, but I like this one on me. Instead of the Fine Fragrance Mist, I got a Mini Perfume Spray for a stronger scent.
There may be some gifts in this bag…mind ya business.
Oh, and “White Citrus” was back in stock, so I got the Body Soap, plus “Into the Night” and “Thankful” (Frankincense & Myrrh) bubble baths for Lily.
So, coupons…I used a $10 off $30 AND a free item coupon – SCORE!
Vinsy
With 14 new polishes to choose from in my last Julep order, it was really hard to choose which one to try first. I narrowed it down to trying a polish from the Hypnotic Frenzy set…but that was still 6 polishes to choose from. The sparkle of Julep “Vinsy” caught my attention.
“Vinsy” is a coppery pink metallic glitter. The base is slightly tinted, which is good because my nails are mucho stained. I started with Glisten & Glow Ridge Filling Base Coat, and then two coats of “Vinsy”. I got good coverage in just two coats – I think I could’ve gotten 100% coverage with three, but I knew I would never get three coats off. I topped it with Glisten & Glow Top Coat.
Target Beauty Box – December 2019
I actually caught December’s box in December!
This month’s theme is “Sleigh All Day” – products to help you “sleigh” all day and night. I’ve been using the Renpure Biotin & Collagen Thicken + Strengthen Shampoo and Conditioner. They’ve got a very light smell and they give my hair some texture. The label gave me a good laugh – it says, “These products are tested on our families, not on animals.” Okay, then.
Also helping me “sleigh all day”: Palmer’s Coconut Oil Formula 2 Step Hair Mask (my hair has been dry, so my hair NEEDS this); Biore Deep Cleansing Pore Strips with Charcoal; Lumene Nordic-C Glow Reveal Moisturizer; Good Chemistry Magnolia Violet Perfume (I cannot tell if I like this or not – it reminds me of something?); and Mixed Chicks Coil, Kink & Curl Styling Cream (I’ll be gifting this to someone with curls).
A pretty good little box, even if I don’t use the biggest product – the curl cream.
The box was $7, free shipping, plus 5% off with my Target Red Card. The coupon was $3 off $15 and I haven’t used it yet. I didn’t use last month’s either, a crying shame.
Rockstar Pink
I’ll always have a soft spot for the Sally Hansen Hard as Nails Xtreme Wear line of nail polish. For years, it was was the main polish in my collection! It’s cheap and available everywhere. There are colors and finishes for every mood – and every once and awhile, I’ll still grab one or two to add to my collection, when they’re on sale or clearance.
Sally Hansen “Rockstar Pink” is rockstar polish – it’s a nearly full coverage microglitter, full of pink, blue and fuchsia.
This is two coats of “Rockstar Pink” over Sally Hansen Double Duty Base & Top Coat and under Glisten & Glow Top Coat. I feel like it was shinier without the top coat, almost like it reduced the surface of the glitter to reflect light. Interesting.
Also – this was a SONOFABITCH to get off – lots of scrubbing.
Ulta Cyber Monday 2019
Ulta offered a HUGE Wintry Wonders 24 piece Beauty Bag with $80 purchase on Cyber Monday. Of course, I still had some gift shopping left to do…
Obviously, I’m not going to ruin Xmas by showing all the gifts I bought – but I can show the few things I picked up for myself. I’d been wanting to try It Cosmetics Confidence in a Cream Rosy Tone Moisturizer for a bit, but the price ($48) was putting me off. 30% off though – you have my attention. I’ve been using it for nearly a week and it’s too soon to tell if there’s a dramatic change in the tone of my skin – but the texture of my skin is amazing right now. It’s dewy and clear – no breakouts, which is a good sign. I’ll continue to use it, but I’m not sure if I’d buy it again at full price.
I also picked up a sale Makeup Revolution Good Vibes Lip Balm with Cannabis Sativa ($4.90, down from $7). There’s no tint, no fragrance and no taste to this lip balm – I mean, it works as a lip balm, but I think slapping Cannabis on the label is just a selling ploy – there’s nothing a special about this lip balm – disappointing.
So, inside the Wintry Wonders bag: MAC Lipstick Sample Card, with “Velvet Teddy”, “Mocha”, and “Hug Me”; Becca Sample Card with First Light Prioming Filter and Backlight Priming Filter; Tom Ford Metallique (why do all Tom Ford scents smell so old lady?); Rusk Pro Restore01 Leave-In Conditioner; Ralph Lauren Romance; NARS Climax Mascara; Ahava Extreme Minerals Extreme Firming Eye Cream; Sagely Naturals CBD Cream; 18.21 Man-Made Wash in “Sweet Tobacco” (GROSS); Philosophy Purity Made Simple Moisturizer; Clinique Beyond Perfecting Super Concealer Camouflage + 24-Hour Wear Sample Card; Juice Beauty Phyto-Pigments Flawless Serum Foundation Sample Card (I’ll put it on my Jade Egg); Boscia Purifying Cleansing Gel; Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion; Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer; Marc Jacobs Daisy; Unwined by Hask Red Wine Inspired Repairing Shampoo & Conditioner (very interested in trying this – even though I’m allergic to red wine – it should be okay, as long as I don’t drink it); Marvis Classic Strong Mint Toothpaste; Mario Badescu Botanical Exfoliating Scrub; Too Cool for School Pumpkin Sleeping Pack; Hempz Blushing Grapefruit & Raspberry Creme Daily Herbal Color Preserving Conditioner (but no shampoo???); Anastasia Beverly Hills Dip Brow Gel in “Dark Brown” (Yasssss…cannot wait to try it); Giorgio Armani Light di Gioia (surprisingly, it’s not horrible – reminds me of sunflowers); and Living proof. restore Perfecting Spray. This is a really nice bag, full of brand new products for the most part.
In addition to the gift with purchase, I was able to use a $10 off coupon on my order. $157 to Diamond…so close!