Month: November 2017
Thanksgiving Nails
I know that Thanksgiving is long past…don’t judge me…
I tested several polishes and finally settled on Julep “Laurie” as my base color. I know I just wore it, but it was good match for the wine color in my Thanksgiving dress. I started with two coats over Julep Oxygen Bonding Base Coat.
I used Zoya Magical Pixie Dust “Bar” to jazz up each nail. I’ve never used a Magical Pixie Dust in this way, so I wasn’t really sure how it would turn out. I just lightly dusted it on each nail – the texture is heavy, so I used very little and spread it around. I topped with Glisten & Glow Top Coat and it mostly smoothed it out, although there were a few pebbled spots.
I absolutely LOVE how these turned out. I need to try this method with the rest of my Pixie Dusts!
Sephora Play! November 2017 – Survival of the Chillest
How about I let Sephora go first this month? Er, second…
This month’s “Survival of the Chillest” box is all about self-care – pampering products to the max. I am most excited about Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask to Clear Pores. My skin has been a nightmare lately and charcoal and clay and sulfur seem to be the only things that help.
Also in this month’s box: Marc Jacobs Beauty Velvet Noir Major Volume Mascara; IGK Mistress Hydrating Hair Balm (the name is icky); Sephora Collection Rouge Cream Lipstick in “The Red” (I feel like I have this already); Caudalie Vinoperfect Concentrated Brightening Essence and Burberry My Burberry Blush.
I am feeling like I need another pampering day…even though this is my 9th (and last) day off in a row – I feel like Thanksgiving vacation hit me like a truck.
Have you signed up for Sephora Play? 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.
Drops of Jupiter
So…I absolutely HATE the band Train – mostly because of the song, ‘Drops of Jupiter’. It’s just so…ew. I don’t even have a good reason for disliking it so much, I just do.
I was tempted to pass up this polish, just because of the name alone…but it was so unique and pretty, that I relented and made peace. This is Fresh Paint “Drops of Jupiter”. It’s a purple and green duotone and it is AMAZING. I wish the green was as obvious in the pic as it is in real life – just trust me, it’s WAY more green in real life.
This is two coats of “Drops of Jupiter” over Glisten & Glow Base Coat and under Glisten & Glow Top Coat.
I did my toes, too. It’s getting cold, though – so no one is likely to see them…
$2.50 Hand Soap
I used to get excited about $2.95 Hand Soap at Bath & Body Works. But it had started happening often enough that I didn’t go every single time…but this past Saturday, I got an email about $2.50 Hand Soaps. And not just the usual collection – ALL Hand Soaps, even the fancy $7.50 ones.
The limit was 15, so I bought 15. I let Lily pick a few for her bathroom and I picked out the rest. I was excited to try some of the new styles – Exfoliating hand soaps, Aromatherapy Collection Hand Soaps, and Honey Butter Collection.
In addition to the $2.50 sale, I had a mailer with a $10 off $30 coupon AND a free body item – I let Lily pick out a Body Wash. My receipt said I saved $90.50 – it sent chills down my spine.
Poop & Polish
My name is Lara…and I am a poopaholic.
For real, I spent $30+ on poop related stuff at Five Below the other day. Not only did I buy this animated poop (it makes farting noises and vibrates – no jokes, please), but I also bought a poop coffee mug, poop Xmas Tree ornaments and other assorted poop items that may or may not find their way into the kids’ stockings this year. I binged on poop.
BUT, I also bought some more nail polish. I feel like the Five Below by my work hasn’t gotten any new Funky Fingers in like a year…but they’ve been getting new Fresh Paints. I’ve never tried the Fresh Paints, so I grabbed three – “Dorothy”, “Rose” (OMG, this is a Golden Girls-themed collection), and “Drops of Jupiter” (ugh, I hate that song – but this polish is fucking cool).
I hope this poop thing NEVER goes away. I can’t live without poop…and polish.
Dina
Julep “Dina” is perfect match for well-worn denim – I checked! Well, checked against my husband’s jeans.
I started with Julep Oxygen Binding Base Coat and then painted two coats of “Dina”. I got full coverage in just a single coat, but I always do two…just in case. (In case of what, I do not know.) I finished with Glisten & Glow Top Coat.
“Dina” was the only polish I picked from this month’s box – I love it though. Oooooh, and tomorrow I get to pick out stuff for my December box.
Adult-ish
I love to wash my face. Like a lot.
I only needed one face wash, but since I wanted to use my $3 off $15 coupon (from this month’s box), I went ahead and bought three.
I’ve used the Biore Baking Soda Cleanser and Neutrogena Deep Clean Cleanser before – they’re good, solid cleansers. The L’Oreal Paris Pure Clay Cleanser – Detoxify & Brighten is a new one – and it is AMAZING. I was expecting it to be green clay, but it was black clay. It feels really good on my face AND it smells very high end. There are two others in the line – I want to try them, too!
OH…and this cute “Adult-ish” shirt – I couldn’t resist it.
Rouge for 2018
This is it, the tiny purchase that pushed me over the goalposts for Sephora Rouge!
I had gotten a tiny sample of Sephora Matte Perfection Powder Foundation ($20) last week, so I decided to try a full size while I still had my 20% off. I picked a lighter shade – “16 Cool Linen” after a good 10 minutes of swatching on my arm.
I also decided to pick up another Kat Von D Beauty Everlasting Glimmer Veil Liquid Lipstick ($22), this time in “Rocker”, a sparkly orange with gold glimmer. I had a hard time deciding, there a pink and a black that I also want.
Since I purchased in store, I was able to get my Rouge Gift – a VIB ROUGE PRO Mini Flawless Airbrush #56.5. It’s for cream or liquid foundation – I haven’t tried it out yet…but soon.
So that’s it, $1,000 for the third year in a row. What will 2018 bring?
Fashionably Late
Here we go, another eggplant nail polish. Eggplant is my favorite shade of purple.
This here is Deborah Lippmann “Fashionably Late”. I painted two coats over Glisten & Glow Ridge Filling Base Coat and under Glisten & Glow Top Coat. Polishes this dark are usually difficult to photograph, but I was able to capture the muddy dark purple quite well in my kitchen.
Eggplant was my mother’s favorite vegetable. She didn’t live long enough to see the invention of the emoji…I wonder how she would feel about her favorite vegetable now being the universally recognized symbol for an erect penis. I feel like she would roll her eyes at me, but secretly be laughing about it. Then she would ask why I have to be so gross.
Farsali Unicorn Essence
Remember that unicorn stuff that everyone was slapping on their face earlier this year? I bought some!
I bought the small size (.34oz) of Farsali Unicorn Essence Skin Enhancing Antioxidant Serum ($20). I noticed the smaller size when I was in the store, but since they were out of stock, I ordered online with my 20% off code.
I’ve been using it as a primer for several days and so far, I haven’t noticed the slightest difference in how my makeup lasts. It has no effect on my pores, but my skin does feel very soft while it’s on. It smells wonderful and the scent lasts all day…if you’re into having a face that smells like cotton candy. I won’t say it’s a horrible product, but it’s certainly not something I’d buy again. It doesn’t seem to do much except make your face smell good. I’d say there’s a reason that this product hasn’t been seen in any Influencers’ repertoires lately. Now that Sephora is carrying the brand, there’s no need to pay the Influencers for placement?
I got some decent samples with my order: Kat Von D Lock-it Makeup Setting Mist; Bvlgari Aqva Pour Homme Atlantigve (it smells like old school Aqua Velva, like my dad used to wear – a big ole NOPE); and Algenist REVEAL Concentrated Color Correcting Drops (you can either add to your makeup product or use directly on your face…hmmmm).
Only $22 to ROUGE…