Month: February 2017
Target Beauty Box – February 2017
I’m not exaggerating when I say that this might be one of the best Target Beauty Boxes that I’ve ever received. Lots of goodies in this $10 box.
Let’s see what we’ve got…Soap and Glory Face Soap & Clarity Face Wash (been wanting to try this brand); Schwarzkopf Gliss Ultimate Repair Shampoo & Conditioner (Oooohhh, from Schwarzkopf, makers of my favorite shampoo/conditioner from back in the day – Citre Shine…wish they still made it); Raw Sugar Coconut & Mango Body Wash; W3ll People Expressionist Mascara; Sun Bum Sunless Self-Tanning Towelette (the only product that’s a NOPE); Masque Bar Hydrating Face Mask; and L’Oreal Pure Clay Masks – 3 masks, one with red algae, one with eucalyptus and one with charcoal (I am most hyped about these masks).
Except for that tanning wipe, I’ll be sampling all of these within the next week or two!
I even already used the $3 off $15 coupon! I picked up some Sea Breeze, a new shower cap and mustache wax (don’t judge – PCOS is a bitch). I saved my 5% with my Red Card.
Gold a la Mode
Light glitter is absolutely the best for going on a trip. It lasts well and hides tip wear. I had a short 2 days/1 night trip to Denver for work last week and this was my pic – Sinful Colors “Gold a la Mode” from the “Luxe Fragments” Collection. It’s a very yellowy gold – it reminds me of that Donald Trump idea of gold luxury – so much gold that it goes beyond luxurious and becomes tacky and ostentatious. Not that my nails looked tacky, but this much gold in say…a bathroom? Tacky as fuck.
This is two coats over Sinful Colors Base Coat and under “HK Girl”. It lasted well on my trip, but I noticed something odd. The polish began to darken at the tips of my nails and I have no idea why – al i did was sit in a conference room for two days. It began to look like ancient amber – it was weird, but kinda beautiful. I wish I had taken a pic!
Mystery Revolution 2: Electric Boogaloo
Damn you, Makeup Revolution Mystery Bags! There was actually a bunch of stuff I’ve been wanting, so it was fairly easy to find £30 (~$42 USD) to get the free Mystery Bag.
The site was sold out of the thing I wanted most – that Unicorn Rainbow Highlighter, but I was thrilled to get the new Golden Bar Palette (which they now carry at Ulta!), the My Sign Complete Eye Base in “Aquarius” (aqua isn’t exactly my color, but I wore it yesterday and I looked like a mermaid – except for the brow powder, which was a complete shitshow) and two of the new Retro Luxe Lip Kits in “Echelon” and “Noble” (also at Ulta) , which are dupes for the Kylie Lip Kits. Having never tried the Kylie Kits, I was impressed with the quality. I haven’t been impressed with Makeup Revolution Lip Products, but these aren’t bad, if a bit sticky. The lip pencils are delicate though – I snapped the tip off “Echelon” the first time it touched my lips. They last well, unless you eat chicken wings.
So far, I’ve been pretty thrilled with the Makeup Revolution Mystery Bags – the 2 I’ve gotten so far have been pretty decent, but this one is fairly lame. I biggest miss is that there was no full-size eyeshadow palette. Inside: Cream Blush in “Rose Cream” (it looks a bit sweaty); Salvation Intense Lip Lacquer in “A Love Like That”; The One Blush Stick in “Matte Rush” (haven’t tried the last one I received yet); Radiant Lights Highlighter in “Glow” (the only duplicate I’ve gotten so far, gonna save for Sally); Baked Eyeshadow in “Electric Dream” (ugh, blue eyeshadow); I ♥ Makeup Lipstick in “Heart is Beating”; The One Foundation in “12” (So…is doing blackface still considered bad taste?); and Liquid Concealer in “Natural” (looks a bit dried up). So…blue eyeshadow and blackface foundation…alrighty then.
By far, the Golden Bar Palette has made me happiest – I find myself wanting to wear it every day. Since I’m a sucker for free – I might take the mystery bag plunge again…if those Horoscope Kits go sale, I’m gonna buy them ALL.
Everlasting Flash – February 2017
Sephora and Kat Von D launched a new monthly promotion for 2017 called “Everlasting Flash” – a different deal on Kat Von D Everlasting Lip Liquids on the first Wednesday of every month. I couldn’t resist this month’s deal – 6 FULL-SIZE Everlasting Lip Liquids in all new nude shades for $99 – normally $20 each, that’s a savings of $21!
I’ve been drooling over the colors since they were revealed weeks and weeks ago. Mostly the darker shades, but I’ll take them all. I even swatched them for you! From top to bottom: “Muneca” (the only one I’ve worn so far, it’s too light for me on it’s own, but looked amazing with gold eyeshadow pressed into it), “Ophelia”, “Ludwig”, “Hawkwind”, “Sanctuary” (I am predicting that this one will be my favorite – it’s closest to my current fave, “Lolita”) and “Crucifix”.
I totally blew my monthly makeup budget on the 2nd of the month.
I don’t know why I keep getting perfume samples on purpose…I have so much, but I just can’t resist them. I used a code to get a sample bag that includes Aerin Lilac Path, Wildfox (I can already tell I like this one), Tory Burch Love Relentlessly (even more!), Prada Candy Florale, Stella McCartney Stella, Chloe Roses de Chloe (I was excited until I found my rollerball in my travel makeup bag – I had lost it over a year ago), Marc Jacobs Daisy Dot, and a mini Smashbox Be Legendary Lipstick in “Legendary”.
For my usual three samples, again, I did not receive what I picked…but I can’t remember what I picked, so I guess not a big deal. I got yet another sample of Skin Inc Pure Revival Peel (they must have SO much of this – I keep getting it), Derek Lam 10 Crosby Drunk on Youth (wore it yesterday – nice and clean scent), and Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Foundation (high hopes for this one – I think I might have picked it).
Looking forward to being tempted by next month’s Everlasting Flash!
It’s Not Black, It’s Blue
Julep “Maylee” is the first polish I selected from this month’s box. It’s described as midnight navy with gold microshimmer – and when they say microshimmer, they mean it. The shimmer is very, very understated and the light has to hit it just right. It’s so blue, it’s nearly black!
I was extremely careful when I painted my nails – I was able to get very clean edges and not stain my skin, as sometimes happens with these dark polishes. I was expecting less coverage from such a thin polish, but it covered like a champ. This is just two coats over Julep Oxygen Bonding Base Coat (I cracked open a new bottle – nothing like the first coat out of the bottle). I finished with “HK Girl” – so shiny!
Jamaican Gold
Sorry, but I’m gonna force you to look at my foot for a second.
For my birthday last weekend, my wonderful children got me a pedicure…and my husband got me a Shari! Somehow he secretly arranged for my friend Shari to come spend the weekend with me. I must be kind of oblivious, because he did it for my birthday 6 years ago and I still didn’t recognize the signs. She was more than happy to accompany me on my pedicure adventure.
The shop had an even better match for my car – Dare to Wear “Jamaican Coffee”. I’ve never heard of that brand before, but they had it and OPI, so I assume it’s similar?
I could just stare at my toes for hours…
February Julep Maven Box – Cozy in Love
Not sure what’s so cozy or in love about the February Collection, but I like it.
I skipped the lipsticks this month and went for all polish. I chose It Girl “Maylee” (midnight navy with gold microshimmer), Bombshell “August” (chocolate cherry ghost shimmer) and Bombshell “Jolene” (iron ore metallic). I also got gold metal studs to wear on my nails…those will be interesting.
I also used jules to get Voila! Nail Polish Thinner – I want to make sure my older polishes can still be used.
Oh, and a little sample of Love Your Bare Face Hydrating Cleansing Oil.
No candy this month – it’s a travesty!
Not a Julep Maven? Click HERE to join – I’ll get a $15 credit and you’ll get your first box free!
20% off Vice
Anyone else get a 20% off coupon from Ulta the Saturday before last? I found it while we were sitting in traffic, on the way to buy my car…sure as shit, I used it.
I didn’t think to hard about ordering 3 more of the new Urban Decay Vice Liquid Lipsticks – I got “Studded” (a metallic gray-brown recently spotted on Ruby Rose – it’s so hot), “Tryst” (a neon-y pink/red that seems like a dupe for JS “Watermelon Soda”) and “Trap Queen” (I wanted this gold glittery red to be more glittery – a bit disappointed). Very happy to get these for 20% off!
I also added another Zoya Remove+ to put me over the edge for free shipping – I always need it.
There were a few freebies available – I got another tube of drybar Hot Toddy, plus a full size Honest Beauty Truly Kissable Lip Crayon in “Sheer Chestnut Kiss”. In my sample pack, I got it Cosmetics CC+ Cream with SPF 50+ and ogx Quenching + Coconut Curls Shampoo and Conditioner (I don’t have curls, but I love smelling like coconut).
Thank you Ulta!
Sephora Play! January 2017 – Beauty, Set, Go
Saving the best for last…my January Sephora Play!
I love how they’re missing up the pouches that come every month – this month has nylon and mesh bag and says, “Sweat is just another way to glow” – I’ll have to take their word on it.
The first thing I noticed was the sample of Tory Burch Love Relentlessly – DOH! I just used 100 points to get a sample the order before last. Oh well.
Also is this month’s box: AmorePacific Color Control Cushion Compact; OUAI Treatment Masque (for hair, not my face); Clinique Almost Lipstick in “Black Honey” (I’ve been wanting to try the Black Honey); tarte FRXXXTION Stick (ooooh another stick cleanser – I just used up my Julep Love Your Bare Face Stick); and Youth to the People Kale + Spinach + Hyaluronic Acid Age Prevention Cream.
This month’s box is great – yay!
If you haven’t signed up yet – why? This is by far the best subscription box I get every month. Sephora Play is only $10/month. You can sign up at sephora.com/play.
Mandarin Gold
So…I got a new car this weekend – a 2017 Honda Accord Hybrid Touring in “Mandarin Gold”. It’s the ultimate middle-aged mom car.
It is now my mission in life to find the perfect polish to match my car. I’ve never seen another color quite like Honda’s new “Mandarin Gold.” It’s not your ordinary gold, but more like a very sparkly brown with gold shimmer.
Julep “Penny” was near the top of my huge basket of untried polish. Julep describes it as burnished bronze metallic, but I detect more than a hint of copper. It is a rather close match to my new baby, if not a bit too light and a bit too copper.
I love Julep’s metallic polishes though – they have the best finish and self-level to be perfectly smooth. This is two coats over Julep Oxygen Bonding Base Coat and under “HK Girl”.
The first polish was close, but no cigar. I will continue my search.