Tag: Sale
Sephora Tween Ulta Haul
Why are they called ‘Sephora Tweens’ instead of ‘Ulta Tweens’?
I had a 10% off coupon code, so I figured it would be a good time to stock up on Sol de Janeiro. I restocked Sol de Janeiro Beija Flor Elasti Renewing Body Wash ($26) and Brazilian Play Body Wash ($26).
I’m a fool for lip stains, so I decided to try the new Maybelline Super Stay Icy Tint in “Acai Freeze” at 25% off ($9.79, down from $12.99). It’s veru similar to the ColourPop Glossy Lip Tint. It’s fine, but didn’t stay all day. Disappointed.
The rest of my haul was Xmas gifts…so…no peeking!
In addition to the 10% off code, I got a ton of freebies. I got a Diamond exclusive Briogeo Avocado + Kiwi Hair Mask with my $50 purchase. I also got a free 13 piece gift with my $80 purchase, that included Anua PDRN Hyaluronic Acid 100 Moisturizing Cream; Batiste Light Dry Shampoo (going to my son’s girlfriend); Cetaphil Nourishing Oil to Foam Cleanser; Squishmallows “Wonder Whirl”; Starface Hydro-Star Patches (going to my daughter); Orabella “Salted Muse” (weird – people want to smell salty?); Juvia’s Place Magic Lip Oil in “Blue Berries”; tarte Maracuja Juicy Lip Balm; Clinique Moisture Surge 100H Hydrator; essence Lash Princess Mascara (also going to son’s girlfriend); Lancome Juicy Tubes Original in “Love Spell”; Rare Beauty Dewy Liquid Blush (to son’s girlfriend); and About Face Matte Fluid Eye Paint in “Capulette”.
$237 to Diamond in 2027.
A Li’l Bit of Everything Ulta Haul
Sometimes, shopping is just adding stuff to cart until it feels “right”…or at least until you get a bunch of shit for free.
I cannot remember how I started just dropping things in my cart, but I think I started looking for pore clearing masks. Ulta no longer carries Freeman, but there was a 30% off sale and a GWP on Florence by Mills, so I decided to try Florence by Mills Feed Your Soul Berry in Love Pore Mask ($16.10, down from $23 – this was a very thin, very strongly berry scented mask – it dripped everywhere before it dried) and Clear The Way Clarifying Mud Mask ($16.10, down from $23 – a more traditional mud mask, I liked this one much better). The 3 piece gift with purchase included a full size Feed Ypur Soul Love U Latte Coffee Glow Mask (haven’t tried yet); Swimming Under the Eyes Hydrating Under Eyes Gel Pads and a Silicone Face Mask Brush.
But then I started seeing stuff on sale…Arctic Fox Hair Color was 25% off, so I picked up “Virgin Pink” and “Poison” ($13.87, down from $18.49. Tree Hut was on sale, so I picked up a Tree Hut Moisturizing Shave Oil in “Moroccan Rose” ($9.99, down from $10.99). Zoya was also 30%, so I got two bottles of Zoya Remove+ ($8.40, down from $12). Inner Circle was 30% off, so I got Glamping – Santal Wood Hand Wash ($3.49, down from $4.99 – it smells SO GOOD). Flowery was 30% off, so I picked up my favorite Blue Max 4-way Buffing Block ($2.09, down from $2.99). MONDAY Haircare was BOGO50%, so I bought little travel sizes of SMOOTH Shampoo and Conditioner for Curly & Frizzy Hair with Wheat Protein ($3.49 + $1.74) for my cruise. I liked the product, but the packaging was annoying AF and hard to squeeze. I won’t be purchasing again.
Then I saw that Ulta had a free Beauty Bag with $22 purchase (what happened to $19.50?), and I just used up my favorite lip stain so I dropped an Ulta Beauty Collection Weightless Water Lip Stain in “Plum Paradise” ($11.50) in my cart. Then I dropped a few packages of Exfoliating Cotton Rounds ($4.49 each) in my cart. Inside the free gift – I chose the leopard print, of course: a 5 pan eyeshadow palette; Matte Veil Face Primer; Pop Star Lashes High Definition Volumizing Mascara; Cream Blush; Matte Veil Eye Primer; Lip Stain (appears to also be “Plum Paradise”; Jelly Gloss Lip Gel; an eyeshadow brush and foam blender.
I had a premonition that my favorite Pattern claw clip would break soon, so I picked up a back-up for $12. I also grabbed an extra Ulta Loofah ($3).
I qualified for a free 16 piece gift with my $80 purchase, which included e.l.f. Power Grip Primer; pixi Glow Mist; Thayers Facial Toner in “Rose Petal” (my favorite!); No7 Future Renew Night Serum; Vichy Liftactive Bonding Serum; Peach Slices Snail Rescue Purifying Cleanser; belif The True Cream – Aqua Bomb (another favorite!); CeraVe Balancing Air Foam Cleanser; Juvia’s Place Culture Multi-Chrome Shadow in “It Girl”; Ulta Beauty Collection Pop Star Lashes Volumizing Mascara (another one?); CNP Propolis Lipcerin; Differin Epiduo Acne Gel; La Roche-Posay Toleriane Purifying Foaming Cleanser; Some By Mi AHA.BHA.PHA Miracle Cream; L’Oreal True Match Lumi Glotion in “903 Medium Glow”; and Cetaphil Gentle Exfoliating SA Cleanser.
I also qualified for a free 20 piece gift with my $125 purchase, which included Nakery Beauty Soothing Moisture Wipes (for my butt); StriVection peptight Face Life Serum; Azzaro “The Most Wanted”; Prada “Paradoxe” Deluxe Sample; tarte Platinum Mascara; another belif The True Cream – Aqua Bomb; Ralph Lauren “Polo”; Bumble and bumble. Bb. Seaweed Oil; Charlotte Tilbury Exagger-eyes Volume Mascara; Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate Leave-In Treatment; Ole Henriksen Strength Trainer Peptide Boost Moisturizer; Yves Saint Laurent “Libre Berry Crush”; Kylie Cosmetics Supple Kiss Lip Glaze in “003 Rose Bloom”; Mugler “Alien Pulp”; Burberry “Goddess”; Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Wash (I’m still using the full size from my last Ipsy Ultimate); SEEN Leave-In Conditioner; Yves Saint Laurent “Myself” Deluxe Sample; Prada “Paradigme” Deluxe Sample; and Origins Ginzing Energizing Lightweight Moisturizer. Lots of good stuff!
I also got a free Sunday Riley Good Genes Lactic Acid Treatment with my skincare purchase.
…and then I used a $10 giftcard and $53 in points, because you know I am frugal like that.
Just $325 to Diamond in 2027!
Foamy Little Soap Haul
I am so glad I didn’t stock up on $3.50 soap during the last Semi Annual Sale – because last weekend (or was it the weekend before?) they had $2.95 Foaming Hand Soap!
I was able to stack the sale with a 20% coupon, plus a free mini (I wanted “Vampire Blood” Hand Cream, but I had to settle for “Black Cherry Merlot”) and a free full size item (“Vampire Blood” Moisturizing Cream). I picked out 13 soaps, mostly Halloween scents like “Vampire Blood”.
I think $2.36 is as cheap as I am likely to get hand soap these days!
Elven Ulta Haul
I purchased a bunch of e.l.f. products, so it’s an “Elven Ulta Haul” – get it? I crack myself up sometimes, I really do.
I noticed bristles falling out of my favorite kabuki brush, so I’ve been on the hunt for a replacement. (I’m pretty sure that the one I’m using is 10-12 years old.) I’ve gotten several in the past decade, but I think the e.l.f. Cosmetics Kabuki Face Brush ($7) is my favorite. It’s huge and it’s SOFT.
I decided the add a few more e.l.f. products to my cart and I was not disappointed. The e.l.f. Cosmetics Main Stain Lip Marker in “Hotvine” ($5) is the best lip marker I’ve ever gotten – it’s the perfect intensity for lips and it stays all day! It’s still there when I get home from work, imagine that. The e.l.f. Cosmetics Sheer For It Blush Tint in “Burgun-Did That” ($5) is not quite as good, but it’s as good as the Ulta version at half the price so I’ll be switching. I don’t even know if I need more brush soap, but I added the e.l.f. Cosmetics Clean Queen Solid Brush & Sponge Cleaner ($5) to my cart just in case. Okay, not just in case – I wanted the gift with purchase, which was an e.l.f. Cosmetics Flawless Face 6 Piece Brush Collection. I don’t NEED more makeup brushes, but I’ll use these as my travel set. I wasn’t ready to forsake my Ulta eyebrow pencil for e.l.f., so I picked up an Ulta Beauty Ultra Slim Brow Pencil in “Dark Brown” ($6.60) while it was on sale.
I am auditioning new shampoos and conditioners, so I added L’Oreal EverPure Sulfate Free Iron Sleek Smoothing Shampoo & Conditioner ($10.99 each, with 200 extra Ulta points) to my cart. I’ll swap these into the shower when I finish the Pantene Rosewater set I got at HEB.
Thayers was BOGO50, so I picked up a Thayers 80 Hour Hydrating Milky Liquid Moisturizer ($14.99) and a Thayers Oil Balancing Jelly Toner ($7.49) – it was kombucha in it. I’m not used to the jelly texture, but I’m trying…
My purchase got me a few more gifts with purchase. My diamond gift was a Redken All Soft Mask Deluxe sample and I also got a 12 piece gift with my $65 purchase: Vacation Shimmer Oil SPF 30; tarte tartelette XL Tubing Mascara; Eau Thermale Avene Vitamin ActivC9 Serum; Vichy LiftActiv Bonding Serum; Some By Mi Air Fit Sunscreen SPF50; Bondi Sands Self Tanning Foam in Dark (definitely giving this away); belif Super drops Niacinamide Golden Glow Serum; e.l.f. Skin Whoa Glow SPF 30; NYX Butter Gloss in “Creme Brulee”; and La Roche-Posay HyaluB5 Serum. That’s only 10 items, so I am kind of annoyed.
I was already annoyed because the main box was crushed and the Blush Tint and Brush Cleaner were missing, leaving only crushed boxes. Ulta Customer Support was very helpful and sent replacements right away and even included a second free brush set – my heroes!
I’m poor right now, so I used a $10 off coupon, as well as $17.50 in Ulta points. I also had a gift card in my purse, but I forgot to use it…
Just $582 to Diamond in 2027.
Greenhouse Semi-Annual Sale
I hit that Bath & Body Works Semi-Annual Sale the Sunday before the actual sale started in stores…although it’s fun hopping to different stores, it is kind of annoying when you cannot find matching products! I loaded my cart and ended up smelling like my greenhouse.
That’s right – I bought the whole “Off the Vine” collection – Shower Gel, Body Cream and Fragrance Mist. It doesn’t exactly smell like tomatoes…more like tomato leaves. The geranium notes are also pretty strong, but not off-putting. I cannot wear it every day – but it’s a nice change every few weeks or so.
I also grabbed Shower Gel, Body Cream and Fragrance Mist in “Carrot Charm”. Again, it’s not exactly carrot scented, but carrot adjacent? There’s a lot of nectarine in the scent, which is nice. Again, this is not a daily wear fragrance.
And then there is “Lemon Pomegranate Cream” – this is a scent I could wear every day! I probably should’ve gotten two Shower Gels instead of just one.
They only had Shower Gel in “Always & Forever” – it’s a traditional rose scent, so I can use it with “Rose Water & Ivy” or any of the other dozen rose scents I’ve got.
I also threw a few Wallflowers in the cart, as well as a cool Snake Wallflower plug. I got a few “Covered in Roses” Hand Creams for the purse and an “Aurora” Lip Gloss, which is a disappointing clear goo.
Oh, and did I mention the free shipping? The only buzzkill was having a duplicate order made – the website is hella glitchy, but the return process was fairly simple.
Even though I hit the stores a few more times – like when I had to return the duplicate order – I never did end up buying more past this original order. I didn’t even get any hand soap – I never caught prices below $3.50, which pissed me off.
Green & Pink Aesthetic Ulta Haul
I didn’t plan it this way…but how come everything I ordered was matchy-matchy green and pink?
Yes, another restock on Vichy Dercos Selenium Sulfide Anti-Dandruff Shampoo and Hair + Scalp Moisturizing Conditioner ($19.99 each). I’m down to using once or twice a week, so this should last me a bit longer. Speaking of hair, scünci was half off, so I got Polybands for me (or my Barbies…$3.50) and Hosiery Elastics for Lily ($4).
I’m a sucker for Urban Decay AND lip stains, so I decided to try out their newest drop – Urban Decay Cosmetics Lip Toy pH Staining Lip Oil in “Jam Sesh” ($24). Unfortunately, I am underwhelmed by this product for the price. I mean, it looks nice…but the stain doesn’t last all day like the r.e.m. Beauty stains. I even got one of the high staining shades!
Good thing I bought two of my Ulta Beauty Ultra Slim Brow Pencils in “Dark Brown” ($11), because they jacked the price up to $12 in store – but they are still $11 online? Make it make sense. At least I got a free eight piece gift with my $21.50 purchase: Ultimate Lashes Mascara in “Brown”; Soft Blur Face Primer; Makeup Puff; Lip Stain deluxe sample; 5 Pan Eyeshadow Palette; Cosmetic Brush; and Matte Veil Eye Primer deluxe sample in a brilliant green Pouch.
Not only did I get a free Briogeo Avocado + Kiwi Hair Mask with my $50 purchse, but I also got an 8 piece skincare gift with my $90 purchase. Inside the skincare gift: Clinique Smart Clinical Repair Wrinkle Correcting Cream (I’ve been using this at night – not bad); Byoma Creamy Jelly Cleanser (I already used this one up – it’s squishy); Peach & Lily Miniprotein Exosome Bioactive Ampoule (What do all those words mean?); Anua PDRN Hyaluronic Acid Capsule 100 Serum; Beautybio The Zenbubble Oil-Free Calming Gel Cream (I LOVE the way this one feels on my skin at night); and Ole Henriksen Strength Trainer Peptide Boost Moisturizer. I’ll try all of them…eventually.
I decided to be cheap this order and used a $5 off coupon, as well as $20.50 off in Ulta points. YOLO.
Just $828 until Diamond in 2027.
Peachy Skin Ulta Haul
Lily needed more face wash and one day during Ulta’s 21 Days of Beauty Event and her Peach Slices Snail Rescue Purifying Cleanser ($14.99) was BOGO 40% off, so I picked her up two. I kept the gift with purchase (a sample size Snail Rescue Purifying Cleanser) for myself. Kate Somerville EradiKate 3% Sulfur Daily Foaming Cleanser was half off ($23 instead of $46), so I got her one of those to try, too. She isn’t into makeup, but at least I can make sure she has good skincare.
My Thayers Alcohol-Free Witch Hazel Facial Toner in “Rose Petal” was also BOGO 40% off, so I picked up two for myself. I also added a Zoya Remove+ Nail Polish Remover ($12) for the hell of it…and to get another gift with purchase. I even got to use a $10 off coupon.
The free 5 piece mystery gift with my $65 purchase included Not Your Mother’s Clean Freak Dry Shampoo (giving to Lily as well); e.l.f. Cosmetics Smoky Kohl Eyeliner in “Rare Emerald” (might keep this one); Tula Skincare A+ Renewal Serum (keeping for me); NYX Epic Wear Eyeliner Stick in “Turquoise Storm” (cleaning out old eyeliner stock?); and rms Beauty Legendary Lip Oil (great for removing longwear liquid lipstick!).
$962 to Diamond in 2027.
Mystery Gift Card Ulta Haul
Never look a gift (card) horse in the mouth!
I am not going to ask any questions as to why my employer sent me a duplicate of the $100 Ulta gift card that I got in December – I just spent on things I didn’t want to spend my own money on…
Peach Slices Scar Remedy Silicone Sheets ($19.99) had been chilling in my cart since January. I had a cyst on my arm removed and I would like to avoid scarring. Guess what – these damn things won’t stay on my skin, so I have no idea if they actually work. Dammit.
My big splurge was the Urban Decay Cosmetics Naked Shaped Multi-Tasking Eyeshadow Palette Warm ($56). I am fortunate to have a (mostly) neutral skintone, so this palette works for me – although not as well as the Cool one I got a few months ago. It’s giving Naked 3 vibes.
Clinique was 30% off, so I picked up a spare Clinique High Impact Volumizing Mascara in “Black Honey” ($18.90, down from $27).
Something new from Sol de Janeiro: Cheirosa 68 Jelly Perfume Balm ($26). It’s like perfume chapstick? I haven’t decided if I like the way it feels on my skin…
Lots of freebies with this order! There was a Diamond Exclusive gift with $50 purchase – it Cosmetics Confidence in a Cream Moisturizer – good stuff. I also got a Peach Slices Snail Rescue All-In-One Oil Free Moisturizer with $10 purchase.
Inside the free 8 piece Skin Sampler with my $70 purchase: Sol de Janeiro Beija Flor Elasti-Cream (to match my Jelly Perfume Balm!); Cocokind Electrolyte Water Cream; First Aid Beauty Ultra Gentle Cream-to-Foam Face Cleanser; Clarins One-Step Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser; Versed Cleansing Balm; Charlotte Tilbury Charlotte’s Magic Water Cream; e.l.f. Cosmetics Thirst Burst Drops (I am using a sample of this now – good stuff); erborian Skin Hero; and Vacation Crystal SPF 50 Face Gel. I think I’ll use every single one, except the cleansing balm.
Inside the free 7 piece skin care sampler with $95 purchase: Klairs Supple Preparation Unscented Toner; Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Serum; mixsoon Bifida Ferment Essence; Round Lab 1025 Dokdo Ampule (what IS this?); Peter Thomas Roth Peptide Skinjection (wasn’t this fool in the Epstein Files?); DIME Hyaluronic Acid Serum; and Dermalogica Stabilizing Repair Cream. A higher end bag of samples – but I’m less likely to use these.
$1,027 to Diamond in 2027.
First Ulta Haul of 2026
There was a really good sale going on during the beginning of January, so I stocked up on a few things…
Vichy Dercos seems to be helping with the heartbreak of psoriasis, so I restocked on Vichy Dercos Selenium Sulfide Anti-Dandruff Shampoo and Dercos Hair + Scalp Moisturizing Conditioner ($15.99 each, down from $19.99). This purchase netted me a free sample of Vichy Mineral 89 Serum.
I couldn’t pass up the BOGO 40% on Garnier, so I got 2 Garnier SkinActive Micellar Cleansing Water with Rose Water (normally $11.99), as well as another pack of Garnier SkinActive Micellar Cleansing Eco Pads 3 Pack ($7.19, down from $11.99). This purchase netted me a free metallic train case…I quibble with their definition of train case – it’s just a medium size makeup bag.
Ulta Beauty products were 30% off, so I picked my Ulta Beauty Ultra Slim Brow Pencil in “Dark Brown” ($7.70, down from $11) and Exfoliating Round Cotton Pads ($2.79, down from $3.99).
Against my better judgment, I bought another crackle nail polish – Sally Hansen Insta-Dri x Stranger Things Nail Polish in “Rift” ($7.99). It wasn’t even on sale! But then I scrolled the sale page and bought Covergirl STRANGER THINGS The Bite PH Transforming Lip Gloss in “Hawkins Lab” ($4.50, down from $7.99). The slimy green gloss turns into a coral-leaning pink. (I like the r.e.m. beauty one better.) It also smells like burnt marshmallow goo, which tracks with that weird white goo in the upside down. I also got Orly Nail Lacquer in “Vintage” ($4.20) because it matches my living room.
I used a $5 off coupon AND $50 in Ulta points from my holiday shopping.
$1,143 to Diamond in 2027!
After Xmas Gift Card Haul
So my old boss gave me a “connection award” right before Xmas…but instead of $250 extra on my paycheck, the best I could do was pick out gift cards from some website. Right. And there was a fee with each one, so I was only able to get $225 in gift cards. Okay. I got $50 in food gift cards for each of my kids, which left my with $125 for myself…what kind of damage could I do with $125???
That $100 Ulta gift card went quick. I found out (the hard way) that I am allergic to zinc pyrithione – the active ingredient in the CeraVe anti-dandruff shampoo & conditioner I just bought. My scalp was weeping and bleeding – the whole works. I splurged on Vichy Dercos Anti-Dandruff Shampoo ($19.99), Conditioner ($19.99) and Scalp Serum ($48.99). The active ingredient is selenium sulfide and salicylic acid, which thankfully didn’t cause a problem. (My psoriasis is still a problem, so I met with a new dermatologist yesterday that hooked me up with a topical steroid.) That wasn’t quite $100, so I tried out a new Ulta Buffing Foundation Brush ($18) as well. I even got to use a $3.50 off $15 coupon.
The last $25 went to a Bath & Body Works gift card – just in time for the Semi-Annual Sale. This year’s sale was disappointing, but hand soaps and Wallflowers were $2.99, so I picked up 10 hand soaps and a few Wallflowers. I also grabbed more Antibacterial Hand Spray – 3/$10. I was feeling spicy, so I bought my children the most atrocious body sprays I could find. My son and his girl got “Holiday Pickle Ornament” which is not exactly nasty, but not something a human could wear without smelling like a deli tray. It’s less dilly than the candle – imagine “Cucumber Melon”, but with a kick. My daughter got “Cereal Milk Soft Serve” which made me gag. It reminded me of breast milk vomit – it was that bad.
Hopefully, my scalp clears up soon. Fingers crossed for better stuff at this summer’s Semi-Annual Sale.