Tag: Sale
Hydrating Ulta Haul
My purchases from November’s Diamond Love List are all about hydration – my hair, my body, my legs – all of it.
I was hoping that the NatureLab. Tokyo Saisei combo would help with my flakes, but I’m not seeing any improvement. I saw good things online about CeraVe Anti-Dandruff Hydrating Shampoo and Conditioner ($11.99 each). I haven’t started them yet – but I’m about 2/3 of the way through the Saisei…maybe another week or two.
I have been wanting Sol de Janeiro Beija Flor Elasti Renewing Body Wash ($26), so I got it (with an Xmas gift) and qualified for a free 3-piece gift, which includes a makeup bag, with deluxe samples of Bum Bum Cream and Firmeza Body Oil.
Have I mentioned lately how much I love the scent of Tree Hut Tangerine? There was a sale, so I restocked on Tree Hut Moisturizing Shave Oil in “Tangerine” ($9.99, down from $10.99) and Tree Hut Serum-Infused Hand Wash in “Tangerine” ($4.89, down from $5.99).
I always need more deodorant, so I decided to try megababe Soapy Pits Aluminum-Free Clear Gel Deodorant ($14).
Even though I used a $20 off $100 code, plus $9 in Ulta points, I still qualified for a free 11 Piece Hydration Gift with select $75 shipped purchase (what did I say about ‘hydration’). Inside the gift: Knours. Be Kind Hydrating Jojoba Oil + Aloe Vera H2O Double Duty Mist (I have no idea); Lancome Renergie Yeux H.C.F. Triple Serum; philosophy hope in a jar smooth-slow multi-tasking moisturizer; belif The True Cream – aqua bomb; DORE La Creme All-in-One Daily Moisturizer; Tula Skincare 24-7 Ultra Hydration Serum; Drunk Elephant Bora Barrier Repair Cream; Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Rich Barrier Moisturizer; Origins Ginzing Glow-Boosting Gel Moisturizer; and COSRX The Ceramide Skin Barrier Moisturizer. I will use every one of these, except maybe that weird jojoba oil.
Saisei Ulta Haul
It’s been a bit since I’ve taken advantage, but I still love Diamond Love List Mondays…
I POUNCED on a new hair routine – it’s been a while since I did that, but a new product line from NatureLab. Tokyo had me intrigued. I used a few of their lines a few years back, before I switched to Sol de Janeiro. I grabbed NatureLab. Tokyo Saisei Stress Defense Amino Acid Shampoo and Saisei Restoring Therapy Conditioner ($22 each), as well as Saisei Biomimetic Peptide Treatment Essence ($46). This line is supposed to destress your scalp and minimize fallout and color loss – my husband will appreciate it, based on the labubu-sized clump of hair he recently pulled out of the shower drain. It’s only been a week, so no results to report yet.
My current favorite lippie was in my purse when it got stolen several months ago and it wasn’t re-released with products for the second Wicked film, so I decided to try r.e.m. beauty Wicked So Popular pH Adaptive Lip Oil ($25). It gives long lasting color…but it is fucking GLINDA pink. It’s fine with my skin tone, depending on what I’m wearing, but not as good as Tulip Fields. Ugh.
A few other “add to cart” moments: Thayers Soak It Up 80HR Liquid Moisturizer for Normal to Dry Skin ($14.99) and Alcohol-Free Witch Hazel Facial Toner in “Rose Petal” ($10.95); and wet n wild Bare Focus Tinted Hydrator Tinted Skin Veil ($6.99) – this is fucking foundation, why did they lie? Not quite full coverage, but definitely medium coverage – NOT a veil.
I racked up 4 gifts with purchase on this order! Just for being Diamond, I got a Free Diamond Exclusive belif The True Cream – Moisturizing Bomb with select $50 shipped purchase.
Inside the Free 11 Piece Beauty Bag with $85 shipped purchase: a blue sequined makeup bag; ANOTHER belif The True Cream – Moisturizing Bomb; Urban Decay All Nighter Makeup Setting Spray; mixsoon Soondy Centella Asiatica Essence (I have no fucking idea); Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate Conditioner; DIME Luminosity Eye Serum; 2 Wella Invigo Brilliance Vibrant Color Mask; L’Occitane Amande Concentrate de Lait; Gucci Flora “Gorgeous Gardenia” (NO); Smashbox Pore-Vanishing Primer; Lancome Genifique Ultimate Serum; Shiseido Clarifying Cleansing Foam; Billie Eilish “Your Turn” (it smells like new shoes); and Paris Hilton “Iconic” (I actually like this one – I hate that I like it). Please no one tell Ulta that I got 15 items in what was supposed to be an 11 item gift.
Inside the Free Diamond & Platinum Exclusive 22 Piece Beauty Bag with $135 shipped purchase: a blackish green makeup bag; Sol de Janeiro Cheirosa 59 Fragrance Mist (I’ve been wanting to try this one – woody vanilla); Tirtir Milk Skin Toner; Bondi Sands Self Tanning Foam in “Dark” (nope); ma:nyo Pure Cleansing Oil; NYX Fat Oil Chillz in “Strawberry Slush”; Dolce & Gabbana “Light Blue” (deluxe size); Redken One United Multi-Benefit Treatment; Mixsoon Bean Cleaning Oil (why do I need to clean my bean?); tarte tartlette Tubing Lash Primer; No7 Future Renew Night Serum; Farmacy Deep Sweep Pore Cleaning Toner; Clinique Acne Solutions Clinical; RoC Retinol Correxion Line Smoothing Eye Cream; NOYZ “Only Human”; Marc Jacobs “Daisy Wild”; Azzaro “The Most Wanted”; Billie Eilish “eilish” (deluxe sample); Good Molecules Lightweight Daily Moisturizer; COSRX The Retinol 0.1 Cream; CECRED Moisture Sealing Lotion (for hair? wut?); Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel; Peter Thomas Roth Peptide Skinjection Amplified Wrinkle-Fix Serum; and Olaplex No. 6 Bond Smoother. 24 items in this bag!
Finally, inside the Free Diamond & Platinum Exclusive 9 Piece Skincare Gift with select $25 shipped purchase: bareMinerals Skin Rescue; Murad Environmental Shield Superactive Moisturizer; Benefit The POREfessional Deep Retreat Pore-Clearing Clay Mask; Estee Lauder Nutritious 2-in-1 Foam Cleanser (um, nutritious?); Dermalogica Dynamic Skin Recovery SPF 50; it Cosmetics Confidence in a Cream Barrier Boost; Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen SPF 50; Fur Ingrown Concentrate; and Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench SPF 45. Awww…just the 9 items in this one.
Since I knew this order would take me to Diamond Status for 2026, I used a $5 off coupon and $20.50 in Ulta points. How am I going to try all 48 samples???
Wednesday Ulta Haul
I am a sucker for Vaults/PR Boxes and also a sucker for the Diamond Love List, which made my purchase of the NYX Limited Edition Wednesday Full Collection Vault Kit ($90) inevitable. I was skeptical at first – I was afraid I wouldn’t use most of the products (see Spongebob PR Box) – but it’s all wearable for me! The Vault included the Nevermore Academy Palette (so many earthy glitters!); three Wednesday Color-Adjusting Lip Oils – “Nightshade”, “Thorn Pricked” and “Moon Shifted” (I absolutely love these lip oils – they change color and act like a stain); Wednesday Cello Vivid Matte Purple Liquid Liner (this is the only product I haven’t tried yet – give me time); Wednesday Stained Glass Blush Palette (no purple? huh?); Wednesday Stained Glass Contour Palette (my favorite of the bunch – I’ve been using it as eye shadow); and a Wednesday Phone Umbrella (weird idea, but it matches my eggplant colored phone). I even got another freebie from NYX – free Summer Grippie Socks with $30 purchase. I won’t be wearing them until winter, but I appreciate them nonetheless. Let me reiterate, I LOVE this collection – it’s giving Kat Von D Beauty, but without all the anti-Semitism.
I added a few more goodies to my cart: Sol de Janeiro Cheirosa 68 Hair & Body Perfume Mist ($26 – to go with all the Beija Flor samples I’ve been getting); Thayers Alcohol-Free Witch Hazel Facial Toner ($8.21 – 25% off); and a Wet Brush The Original Mini Detangler Hair Brush ($5.99 – for travel). No eyebrow pencils this time…
Not only did I get a sample of Nutrafol Hair Serum with my $50 purchase, I also got a free Diamond & Platinum Exclusive 11 Piece Gift with $80 purchase. The gift included Sol de Janeiro Beija Flor Elasti-Cream (SEEEEEE!); belif Aqua bomb eye gel; Dolce & Gabbana “Devotion”; Jean Paul Gaultier “Gaultier Divine”; Peter Thomas Roth Instant Firm No-Filter Primer; Uni 24-Hour Serum; tarte Lights, Camera, Action Platinum Mascara; Sunday Riley Good Genes; Kylie Jenner “Cosmic”; Azzaro “Forever Wanted”; and Briogeo Scalp Revival (I wonder if it will work on psoriasis?).
I had a $10 off code, so I used that on this order, as well as $17.50 in points. I am so close to Diamond in 2026 that I don’t mind saving a little money when I can. Just $59 to go!
Random Ass Ulta Haul
So…exactly a month ago, my car window got smashed and my purse was stolen. I bopped into the post office to shove something into the slot and it happened in less than 60 seconds. It seems that I forgot that I live in the Houston area and people here be thieving…my window is fixed (no thanks to Safelite, they are THE WORST) and I am slowly replacing the contents of my purse…it’s smaller than my ‘big black mom purse’, so I need smaller replacements…
…and the fucking $5 Ulta Basics 5 Piece Manicure Set is too big! I ended up buying a smaller one at T.J. Maxx right after I received this one…ugh, I’ll throw it in my luggage or something. I do like the tiny Aquaphor though – it’s a twin pack ($6.99)!
While I was at it, I threw a bunch of random sale crap in my cart: MONDAY Haircare BRUNETTE Dry Shampoo with Keratin ($5.59 – 30% off); Peach Slices Oil Control Mattifying Moisturizer ($8.49 – 50% off); and Pacifica Grapefruit Bubbles Gel Foam Cleanser ($3.50 – 75% off).
You can’t have too much face cleanser, so I also decided to try Ulta Beauty Cloud Facial Cleanser ($12). I also purchased another Ulta Ultra Slim Brow Pencil in “Dark Brown” ($11), because I cannot face the apocalypse without eyebrows.
On top of the $10 off $50 code I used, I got a few freebies. The rest of the family says that the puffy purple tote bag (free with $17.50 Ulta purchase) is super ugly…they are haters. I also got a free 5 Piece Clinique Gift Set, which came with a makeup bag, Clinique Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm; a mini Black Honey lippie (hello purse); Moisture Surge Overnight Mask; and High Impact Mascara. Score!
Since I got my hairs did at Ulta this past weekend, only $162 until Diamond in 2026 – have I ever gotten there this fast?
First Day Semi-Annual Sale Haul
I slipped into the closest Bath & Body Works on the first day of the sale…it was a month ago, but I held off on posting my hauls because I thought I would go back and buy more…I didn’t.
I didn’t buy much in person – it was my lunch break, and the stores always have more foaming hand soap, while I prefer the gel. I did find a lovely Beehive Wallflower Plug (I wish I had bought two), a dog deodorizing spray, a candle and some antibacterial gel….however…
…however, on the first day of the sale, the website had hand soap AND Wallflower refills for $2.99, with free shipping over $100. I jumped right on that and replenished my stock with 22 Hand Soaps and 12 Wallflower refills. I’m lazy…(or is that complacent)…so I’m not going to list out all the scents I got. You’ll just have to come sniff the air and wash your hands at my house to find out.
I did not buy ANY new sets of scents for my bathtime rituals – can you believe it?
Another Wet Ulta Haul
Can you believe a hairbrush lasted less than 3 years? Lily must brush her hair VIOLENTLY, because the brush I bought her less than 3 years ago broke in half…and she wanted the exact same one again. Only now, the Wet Brush Pro Flex Dry is $19.99 instead of $15.99 – 25% inflation in just three years! Sigh…at least I had a 20% off coupon to use on this order.
I was down to NO eye brow pencil back-up, so I got another Ulta Beauty Ultra Slim Brow Pencil in “Dark Brown” ($11). I saw a new lippie stain I wanted to try, so I got a ColourPop HydraPop Glossy Lip Stain in “Baby Fox” ($9) – I like this formula so much better than the old Glossy Lip Stain, which are on clearance for $4.50…and I thought, why not and picked up a ColourPop Glossy Lip Stain in “Ice Pop” – oops, I already have this shade. And I hate it – it looks orangeish on me. Fuck.
Since Lily likes dry shampoo, I got her another can of MONDAY Haircare BRUNETTE Dry Shampoo with Keratin ($7.99).
$403 to go to reach Diamond in 2026.
Tangerine Ulta Haul
She don’t use nothing that you buy at the store, she likes her legs to smell real orange, she uses TANGERINES…
I cannot help it, that song has been stuck in my head for DAYS. I’ve been happy with my Moroccan Rose Shave Oil, but I decided to switch it up and try Tree Hut Moisturizing Shave Oil in “Tangerine” ($10.99). I didn’t stop there – I also got Tree Hut Foaming Gel Body Wash in “Tangerine” ($9.99) and Tree Hut Tangerine Moisturizing Body Lotion ($11.49) to match. My dumb ass didn’t even wait for them to go on sale. I don’t care, I smell so good…
While I was shopping, I got a few more things for me: J. Cat Beauty Lemon-Aid Makeup Brush Soap ($2.99); Sol de Janeiro Rio Deo Aluminum-Free Refillable Deodorant Cheirosa ’62 ($16); and Nads Natural Facial Wax Strips ($5.99 – mustaches are so OUT this year).
Peach Slices was on sale, so I grabbed Lily a Peach Slices Oil Control Balancing Cleanser ($10.49, down from $14.99). She is all about Korean Skin Care right now.
In addition to a $10 off coupon, I got a Free Diamond & Platinum Exclusive 8 Piece Gift with $65 shipped purchase: Kitsch Rice Water Protein Solid Shampoo and Solid Conditioner (I’ve been curious about these!); megababe Blade Bar (ok, I love the one I have, so this saved me $8 from buying a new one); Milani Keep It Full Plumping Balm; Ralph Lauren Polo; Thayers Blemish Clearing 2% BHA Toner; Indie Lee Brightening Cleanser; Peach & Lily Super Oasis Concentrated Serum; and Charlotte Tilbury K.I.S.S.I.N.G. Lipstick in “Fallen from the Lipstick Tree” (what kind of stupid name is that?). Except for the lipstick and cologne, this is a smashing set of samples.
Just $604 more until Diamond in 2026.
Bling Bling Black Honey Ulta Haul
Why yes, that is a super blinged out Clinique Limited Edition Almost Lipstick in “Black Honey”. It was 50% off ($15.50) in this month’s Diamond Love List and my last one was down to a stub, so I JUMPED on it. That was the only thing that I wanted this month…but then I found some other things…
I was in the mood for more bougie bath stuff, so I decided to try out Sol de Janeiro Bom Dia Bright Clarifying AHA BHA Body Wash ($26). It has a little salicylic acid, along with the all the other good stuff and it will help clear up my summer bacne. I sprung for the Sol de Janeiro Limited Edition Perfume Mist Discovery Set ($34), which was kinda dumb in retrospect. I already had 62 and 48. I wanted the 40 to match the body wash, but it isn’t as good as the body wash and 87 is weird, too. Sigh. I guess I cannot be too mad, because I used $50 in Ulta points.
My daughter is into dry shampoo and MONDAY Haircare Brunette Dry Shampoo ($7.99) is cheaper than Batiste or Not Your Mother’s, so I wanted her to try it. I also needed more Unbound Jelly ($18) for…stuff.
In addition to using $50 in Ulta points and a $3.50 off $15 coupon, I got two gifts with purchase! I got Platinum & Diamond Exclusive Free 17 Piece Gift with $85 purchase, which included Good Molecules Pimple Patches (giving to Lily); Redken Control Hairspray; Polite Society Greatest Lashes of All Time Mascara; NOYZ 12:00 eau de parfum; CHI Infra Silk Infusion; Kenra Moisture Shampoo & Conditioner; Eau Thermale Avene Cicalfate Serum; Olaplex No. 4 Shampoo and No. 5 Conditioner (YASSSS); Dolce & Gabbana Devotion; philosophy dose of wisdom dark circle brightening cream; Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair; Stila Liquid Lipstick in “Mute”; Lolavie Glossing Detangler (saving for my Barbies); Drunk Elephant B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Serum; and pixi Glow Tonic (I have so much of this). I also qualified for a Diamond Member Exclusive! Free 11 Piece Sampler with $100 purchase, that included St. Moritz Tanning Mousse (giving away); le mini macaron Nail Cleanser Pads (pretty sure they are just alcohol wipes); Half Magic Face Gems (hello Gwen Stefani in the late 90s); Olaplex No. 6 Bond Smoother (trifecta!); megababe The Geo Deo (going in my travel bag); Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair; COSRX The 6 Peptide Skin Booster Serum; Living proof. restore conditioner (but no fucking shampoo?); philosophy dose of wisdom bouncy skin reactivating serum; r.e.m. beauty On Your Collar Classic Lipstick in “Lingerie”; and it Cosmetics Hello Results Wrinkle Reducing Daily Retinol Serum-in-a-Cream. WoW! My skin is excited.
Just $762 to Diamond in 2026.
Butt Stuff Ulta Haul
How can I NOT buy a product called Butt Stuff?
Look, I’m 49 years old and have birthed two children. I don’t need to draw a diagram of how that fucks up your body, especially the no-no square. I have not yet had a flare-up, so I haven’t gotten to use megababe Butt Stuff Hemorrhoid Cream ($22.40, down from $28) yet. You will be the FIRST to know how it goes…
In addition to restocking on Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Joia Strengthening + Smoothing Shampoo and Conditioner ($26 each), I added a few fun things to my cart. I’ve never read a single page or watched a single frame of Twilight, but I got a Twilight: New Moon x Colourpop Multichrome Shadow Stix in “It’s Always Been Him” ($12) because the color was extra pretty. I tried it and I like it – but it is a whole lotta green for my face. I also picked up Holo Taco “Milky White Shimmer” ($14) because why not?
All this was enough for a free 13 piece beauty bag with my $90 purchase. In addition to the canvas drawstring beauty bag, I got Oak Essentials Moisture Rich Balm (in a weird burlap bag?); Pureology Strength Cure Shampoo and Conditioner (I love a matching set); Gaultier Divine; Caroline Herrera Very Good Girl; NYX Face Freezie Cooling Primer; Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb Tiger Lily; Clinique Moisture Surge Active Glow Serum; Mugler Alien Goddess (ugh, why do I get this in every fucking bag?); Paco Rabanne Invictus Victory Elixir; Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium; Good Molecules Hydrating Facial Cleansing Gel; and Dionis Goat Milk Hand Cream in “Vanilla Bean”. I really appreciate that the bag wasn’t one of the 13 items. I could’ve done with less perfume samples, but the rest of the samples are top shelf.
Just $814 until I reach Platinum for 2026.
First Ulta Haul of 2025
…and I was ready to shop…because I placed this order on January 2nd!
Select skincare was BOGO 40% off, so I decided to try Thayers Soak It Up 80HR Liquid Moisturizer for Normal to Dry Skin ($14.99) when I got my Thayers Witch Hazel ($6.57 after discount). I also got a free Travel Size Thayers Witch Hazel. I had been wanting to try megababe The Smoothie Deo Fruit Enzyme Daily Deodorant ($9.80 after discount) and was happy to see it was also 30% off.
Ulta came out with their own marker lip stain – Ulta Magic Marker Lip Stain ($10) – so I picked up “Purple Fizz” at 30% off. It goes on like a magic marker, too! It lasts decently through food – highly recommend, although this color was REALLY dark on my pasty skin…I might have looked a bit like the joker. On the other hand, I do NOT recommend Revolution Beauty Pout Tint ($4, down from $8). It’s just lip gloss that gets all over anything – it doesn’t tint or stain at all!
It was a rather small order – around $33 after using a $10 off $40 code and benefiting from free shipping on all orders placed on an Ulta Credit Card. Just $1,119 to Diamond in 2026 (my son and his girlfriend have been using my phone number at Ulta – score).