Month: June 2017
June Ipsy Bag – Volume Up
Ooooh…look at those lips. So why aren’t there any lip products in my bag this month?
Let’s see…I got a Beaute Basics Travel Face Blender in Light Pink; Peek Beauty Multiuse Black Primer (I am scared and intrigued by this product at the same time; how do I end up NOT looking like I got punched in the eye?); PÜR Mini Fully Charged Magenetic Mascara (another scary product – it’s literally supposed to be magnets); Trust Fund Beauty Nail Polish in “What’s a Budget” (sea-foam blue); and Delectable by Cake Beauty Coconut & Cream Triple Moisture Body Lotion.
A fun bag for summer – with a few products I’ll have to get brave enough to try.
If you’d like to try Ipsy – click here. I’ll earn 250 points if you sign up through my link.
Discovery
Formula X “Discovery” is the next polish I grabbed from last week’s haul.
“Discovery” is a peacock blue metallic matte polish. I had high hopes for this polish, but my hopes were shattered as I began applying over Sinful Colors Base Coat. It began drying the moment it hit my nails – too fast! It began streaking and cracking like a shatter polish – oh no! The second coat smoothed out some of the streaks, but there were several deep crevices that would not smooth out. Luckily, the worst ones were on my RIGHT hand.
So I managed to smooth out my nails with 2-3 coats, depending on the streaks. It did indeed dry quickly and was hard as a rock – no sheet imprints, so there’s that. But “Discovery” began chipping immediately. Boo. And then I decided to wash a saucepan. Well fuck, my nails are destroyed now.
The color is amazing, but the formula…not so much. Application is difficult and uneven. It does not have good staying power. I wonder if a different base coat would help?
Jaydra
Plenty of rose, not enough holographic.
Julep “Jaydra” is Tuscan rose sheer holographic, but it’s more Tuscan rose. Don’t get me wrong – it’s a beautiful polish, but the holographic quality is too subtle. I like a little more bling when I go blingy.
This is two coats over Julep Oxygen Bonding Base Coat and under “HK Girl”. It went on smooth and clean, surprising for such a sheer polish. I got full coverage (no VNL) in just two coats.
It’s a good match for the many rosy nude lipsticks I love so much. It was a good match to today’s color – tarte “Festival”.
Semi Annual Soap Hoarding
It’s Semi-Annual Sale Time!
I didn’t feel like getting stabbed, so I took advantage of a “Free shipping on orders over $30” code. (West Oaks Mall is getting scarier and scarier, so I’m trying to limit my exposure). I picked up a few 75% off shower gels in discontinued scents – 2 of my favorite, “Peony” and a “Mad About You”. I also grabbed a 50% off “Rose Champagne”, a new fave from my Mother’s Day gift.
Just 4 Hand Soaps – these were the only ones that were $3. Strangely enough, they were all blue…“Lakeside Afternoon”, “Daisies & Day Dreams”, “Sweet Berries & Cream”, and “First Bloom”. Also, just one Wallflower Refill in “Blushing Pink Rose Petals”.
My order totaled $31.25. Swish, Swish Bish.
June Birchbox – Face the Day
Month after month, Birchbox’s curated boxes are the ones I gravitate towards. I don’t know if it’s because I like to know what’s coming or if it’s because the curated boxes are well put together, er…curated. I don’t know why I like what I like…I just do.
June’s curated box is “Face the Day” and includes one of my favorite mascaras – Benefit Roller Lash. It is the only mascara that does exactly what it says it does…that I’ve tried, anyway. Also in this month’s box: Davines SU Hair & Body Wash (I’m skeptical of shampoo/body washes, although this one is specifically formulated for use after sun exposure…so it might make sense); Murad Oil-Control Mattifier SPF 15 PA++ (ooooh, gonna try this tomorrow); Davroe Ends Repair; and Mellow Cosmetics Liquid Lip Paint in “Tehran” (never heard of the brand, but I’m game).
Like I said, good box, huh?
If you would like to try Birchbox, click on my referral link – https://www.birchbox.com/invite/5453f – I’ll get 50 points if you join.
Knockout
Damn right that Formula X “Knockout” was the first one I grabbed from my new box – it’s a fucking knockout!
I’ve been in a pink mood lately, so I decided that I wanted a hot pink on my toes for vacation. If I was gonna do my toes, my fingers ought to match – for a few days at least. “Knockout” is pure fire, the hottest of the hot pink. It’s not just a pink creme – there’s a flash of blue in this hot pink.
I started with Sinful Colors Base Coat and got full coverage in just two coats of “Knockout”. I topped with “HK Girl”.
Did you notice that I chopped my nails down to nubs again? They were long and strong, except for the broken middle finger…so I went ahead and cut them all to match. Boo.
I’ve got to say, this polish lasts and lasts, even with non-matching brands of base coat and top coat. I put it on Sunday night and it’s still going strong on Thursday. Noice!
Two Sephora Orders are Better Than One
Midnight, Saturday before last (the day of the VIB Fall Preview Event)…lounging on the couch, watching a Snapped marathon, like ya do…and I see a note on Nouveau Cheap that Sephora had just listed ALL their Formula X polishes on clearance for $2 each. This is not a drill!
I placed a conservative order of just 7 polishes: “Knockout” (hot pink with a flash of blue); “Impeccable” (peachy taupe); “Motivated” (metallic mandarin); “Blazing” (shimmery maroon); “Prismatic” (glittery turquoise); “Discovery” (metallic aqua); and “Serenity” (purple glitter in a black base). See – very conservative.
For samples, I received Dior Backstage Pros with Dior Addict Lip Maximizer in “Pink”, Lip Glow in “Pink” and a tiny lip brush; Living proof. Perfect hair Day Shampoo & Conditioner; and belif The true cream – Moisturizing bomb. (What is it with these brands and their random-ass capitalization???)
Little did I know…that my Event Shopping Trip that very same day would re-qualify me for Beauty Insider Status in 2018 and a 10% code would be waiting for me in my email…
So on Tuesday, I ended up placing another order using that 10% code. My order was necessitated by the launch of the Kat von D “Lolita” Eye Shadow & Blush ($19) – I had to have it. It’s everything I hoped it would be – a perfect match to the lipstick and super-pigmented.
It would be a waste to use that code on a single shadow…so I browsed the sale page and saw that the UD Basquiat Collection was all on sale, as well as the tarte Make Believe in Yourself Collection…Decisions, decisions. After reading several reviews, I decided on the tarte Make Believe in Yourself Eye & Cheek Palette ($30, down from $40). I’ve never tried tarte shadows and the reviews on this palette are good. I tried it out this morning and the shadows ARE creamy, with no fallout. They blend like BUTTAH. I also grabbed Limited Edition Tarteist Quick Dry Matte Lip Paint in “Festival” ($16, down from $18) from the same collection. It’s a light matte mauve, lighter than I expected.
I used 100 points to get a mini Kat von D Everlasting Lip Liquid in “Lovesick” – pretty sure I don’t have that one. For my samples, I got L’Occitane Creme Divine, Dior Miss Dior Absolutely Blooming and Kate Somerville Goat Milk Moisturizing Cream. Bahhhhhhh!
Only $478 left…I can do it!
Target Beauty Boxes – June 2017
Two Target Beauty Boxes this month – one for him and one for me.
The “Hello Sunshine” box for her includes Hawaiian Tropic Island Sport Sunscreen (always appreciated); John Frieda Beach Blonde Sea Salt Spray (I have so. much. seal salt spray.); Sinful Colors Nail Polish in “Island Coral” (must be a new shade – I don’t have it); Masque Bar Soothing Sheet Mask; Aussie 3-Minute Miracle Treatment (this is what my son uses on his luscious locks, but I haven’t used it since high school – I’ll give it a whirl); Schick Hydro Silk Women’s Razor; and NYX Gotcha Covered Concealer.
The “Hello Dapper Dude” box for him includes Nivea Men Creme (What the fuck is “Men Creme”?); Olivina Men All-in-One Body Wash in “Bourbon Cedar” (Mmmm…); Schick Hydro 5 Men’s Razor; Dove Men+Care Elements Deodorant; Colgate Optic White Radiant Toothpaste (always appreciated); Yes to Natural Man Cleansing Wipes (Man Cleansing Wipes?); and Axe Adrenaline Cool Charge Body Wash.
We’re leaving for vacation in a few weeks, and all these travel size products will be used!
Each box was $7 this month, plus free shipping and 5% off with my Red Card. Each one also came with a $3 off $15 coupon. The boxes were well, well worth it this month.
Flamingo Swimsuit
Last summer, I found the cutest flamingo swimsuit at Torrid. I paid WAY too much for it, even though it was on sale. I do not care, I LOVE it.
Since I was going on my first dip of the summer, I had to make my nails match my suit. I couldn’t decide on the creamy pink or a glittery pink, so I asked my daughter for advice. Of course, she said to use both…so I did.
I started with Sinful Colors Base Coat and then alternated with Sinful Colors “Zest of Times” and “Let Me Flamingo”. I did two coats of each – I forgot how sheer “Let Me Flamingo” is. I topped with Funky Fingers “As If” – it was the closest I have to a black and white glitter. I cannot believe I don’t have a black and white glitter! I finished with “HK Girl”.
It turned out well, huh?
Dressing Up
I don’t really have many opportunities to “dress up”, unless you count my weekly trip to the grocery store. I attended a high school graduation over the weekend though, and wore an actual dress! Of course, my nails had to match.
The main color of the dress was a wine-like shade, but I decided to emphasize the olive green accent. After Sinful Colors Base Coat, I painted two coats of Deborah Lippmann “Defying Gravity”, from the Wicked Trio. I absolutely love this green. I used Sally Hansen “Rogue Red” in varying patterns for an accent. The triangular shards are reminiscent of the triangles on the dress – perfect! I finished off with “HK Girl”.
I absolutely adored this combination…this scorching summer demands MORE glitter.