Month: September 2018
September 2018 Allure Beauty Box – Best of Beauty Award Winner
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First, this box had me like “YASSSS” – but then I was like “WEEEEAK”.
This month’s “Best of Beauty” box includes a FULL SIZE MAC Lipstick ($18.50 value) in either “Ruby Woo” or “Lustering”. I was pumped, expecting to receive a tube of MAC’s most well known shade….but I received “Lustering” – a glossy watermelon pink. Boo.
And then I saw the fancy set of tarte Tarteist Pro Girl Boss Lashes and Tarteist Pro Lash Adhesive in “Clear”. I don’t really like the feel of spiders glued to me eyes, so it’s gonna be a no from me.
There were two possible hair products – either Living Proof Full Dry Volume Blast (an awesome product that gives your hair volume and staying power) or IGK Rich Kid Coconut Oil Gel (for natural curls). Guess which one I got – the IGK one.
All hope is not lost. The box also includes Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Sukari Babyfacial. The other option was Lala Retro Whipped Cream, which I also would have enjoyed. At least my skin will be happy!
I need to stop my bitching – this is a high value box
The Allure Beauty Box is $15/month, but they give you $5 off your first box. They also offer an option for $150/year – a savings of $30. You can sign up at https://beautybox.allure.com.
Pink Hair, Don’t Care
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That’s a lie – I do care. I care about my pink hair…very, VERY much.
I have feeling that I will be sporting pink hair for much, MUCH longer than I expected. I’ve never tried Clairol Color Crave before, but the box says it’s Semi-Permanent, lasting up to 15 washes. The shade is “Flamingo” – now you know why I bought it.) I’ve already washed it 5 times and have barely seen a change in the shade. I go back to work in a little over two weeks. Oops. Obviously, I could cover it up with brown…but I really don’t want to do that. If I have to, I can transition to red pretty easily. I’m just gonna stop worrying about it and see what happens…
ANYWAY, I wanted my nails to match my hair. I pulled nearly a dozen pink Julep polishes – I had several that were very, very close. Ultimately, I settled on Julep “Raleigh”, which I received just a few months ago. It’s the HOTTEST pink. Before a thick coat of “Raleigh”, I started with Julep Oxygen Smoothing Base Coat and streaks of Julep “Coco” to represent the brown in my hair. I guess technicality this is only one and half coats of polish? I sealed the deal with Glisten & Glow Top Coat.
I also painted my toes to match, leaving out the “Coco”.
In case you’re wondering – and I know you are – my lipstick is Kat Von D Everlasting Lip Liquid in “Miss Argentina”.
Pink forever!
Sephora Play! September 2018 – Next-Gen Beauty
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As soon as I saw that this month’s products came in a fancy ziploc bag, I got suspicious…is Sephora starting to cut corners on their monthly box?
I was somewhat relieved when I poured this month’s products into my lap – plenty of products, nice brands, too.
Sephora is pushing Sunday Riley hardcore. Not only did I get two of their products in this month’s extra skincare box, but another one here – Sunday Riley Tidal Brightening Enzyme Water Cream. I think I have enough for a complete regime now!
Also in this month’s Next-Gen box: Too Faced Hangover Replenishing Face Primer (I’m down on this brand after their messy Social Media drama, but I’ll try this product); Peter Thomas Roth Hungarian Thermal Water Mineral-Rich Atomic Heat Mask (sounds fancy, yet scary at the same time); Nudestix Intense Matte Lip + Cheek Pencil in “Kiss”; Sephora Collection LashCraft Big Volume Mascara in “Black”; and Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb Nectar.
Don’t worry, Sephora Play is still the BEST box I receive every month. Sephora Play is only $10/month. You can sign up at sephora.com/play.
Keller
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Sheer camel holographic – stunning!
Julep “Keller” is a subtly fancy nude – you can barely see the scattered holographic bits. It’s a Wonder Maven polish from this month’s box.
This is two coats of “Keller” over Julep Oxygen Smoothing Base Coat (nothing like a fresh bottle) and under Glisten & Glow Top Coat.
“Keller” is a good name for this nude polish – like Helen Keller, can’t see shit. Are we still allowed to make Helen Keller jokes, now that she’s been pulled from Texas curriculum?
Fire Dragon vs. Ice Dragon
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I never really cared about wet n wild makeup – not since Junior High anyway – until they started putting out these awesome collections. I am still peeved that I missed the Goth-o-Graphic Box, but it never hit Ulta as promised.
I did NOT miss the Fire Dragon vs. Ice Dragon Collection Box ($39.99). Inside the Limited Edition box are two set of products – a set of warm toned Fire Dragon products and a set of cool toned Ice Dragon products. I’ve only had a chance to play with the Fire Dragon side, so I might be a little bit biased towards that side. The Fire Side includes Coloricon Loose Pigment in “Gilded Crown” and “Fire Reign”; Coloricon Bronzer in “You’re Dragon Me Down” and “Queen’s Land”; Coloricon Eyeshadow Quad in “Fit for a Queen”; and Megalast Liquid Catsuit Metallic Lipstick in “Queen’s Blood” and “Redlings”. I am IN LOVE with using both shades of lipstick together. The Ice Side includes Coloricon Loose Pigments in “Ice, Ice, Lady” and “To-Knight’s Blue”; Megaglo Highlighting Powder in “Winter Falls in LA” and “Halo Walkers”; Coloricon Eyeshadow Quad in “Mythicool Creatures”; and Megalast Liquid Catsuit Metallic Lipsticks in “Icing on the Wall” and “Shall We Slay”. Lots of cool stuff I still need to play with!
I didn’t stop there. I had added a Pacifica Summer Kale Lip Balm ($1.25) from the sale page. Luckily, it does NOT smell or taste like Kale. I also added the e.l.f. Glow on the Go Selfie Light ($12) this thing is an absolute game changer – no more walking around the bedroom, looking for the perfect light – it makes every selfie perfect. This purchase also got me a gift with purchase – an e.l.f. makeup bag with foil samples of Poreless Face Primer and Hydrating Bubble Mask.
And then I found a BOGO 50% on L’Oreal products. I had been wanting to try their new chocolate lippies AKA L’Oreal Infallible Pro Matte Liquid Lipstick Les Chocolat ($9.99), so I ordered 4 out of the 6 shades – “70% Yum”, “Candy Man”, “Dose of Cocoa”, and “Box O Chocolate”. I’ve only had a chance to try out the first two and they have a really strong chocolate smell when you apply them, but the scent is gone as soon as it dries, which take a little minute. I kind of wanted the smell to stick around, but then I remembered how much my husband used to hate this chocolate lip gloss I used to wear to bed – he said it smelled like “chocolate ass”. Personally, I liked the way it smelled…but whatever. They also are very “infallible” – I had to use strong eye makeup remover to get them off my lips. They WILL last all day, whether you want them to or not. ANYWAY, this purchase also garnered me a gift with purchase – a L’Oreal makeup bag with samples of Pure Clay Cleanser Detox-Brighten (my favorite); Age Perfect Eye Renewal Eye Cream; and Voluminous Mascara Primer/Base.
On top of ALL that, I also got another gift with purchase for using my Ultamate Rewards Card – a reversible sequin makeup bag filled with samples. I am pretty sure my daughter is gonna fight me for this bag. Inside samples included: StriVectin Multi-Action Restorative Cream; Lab Series Future Rescue; dermalogica Rapid Reveal Peel (package says professional-grade, so does that mean I’ll lose 7 layers of skin?); Matrix Biolage Volume Bloom Aqua-Gel Conditioner (what? no shampoo???); Algenist Ultimate Anti-Aging Melting Cleanser; Algenist Genius White Brightening Anti-Aging Cream; tarte Amazonian Clay 12-hour Highlighter in “exposed”; and an itty bitty sample of Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz in “Dark Brown” (my shade!). Pretty nice perk for just a $40 purchase. Oh and my regular samples were pretty lame – a card with 3 sample shades of Clinique 2-in-1 Beyond Perfecting Foundation + Concealer and Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb Bonbon. I did remember use a $3.50 off coupon from an email, but this was still a big order for me – over $80. It will pay off in the long term, as there was a 5x points promo running when I ordered.
Just $453 until Diamond Status. Oh, and somehow, I have accrued $86 worth of Ulta Points (see above promo)…I’ve got my eye on that new Urban Decay Naked Cherry Palette – it would match my hair!
Chantilly Lace
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Oh my frickin GAWD, this polish was annoying to apply.
Deborah Lippmann “Chantilly Lace” was SO much work!
I started with Glisten & Glow Ridge Filling Base Coat, which is NOT the same one I used with “I Put a Spell on You”, but I don’t think that was the issue. “Chantilly Lace” was just so thin and streaky. It took me THREE thick coats to get somewhat even. If I thought I could’ve done four without a gloppy mess – I would have tried it. I gave up and glopped on the Glisten & Glow Top Coat. For all my bitching, it turned out pretty nice.
“Chantilly Lace” DOES have a nice subtle shimmer for a mostly creme polish. It is somewhat similar to Sinful Colors “Glass Pink”, but not really.
But hey, it wasn’t as horrible as that “Pinktober” polish.
Target Beauty Boxes – September 2018
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It’s been a few months since there have been two Target Beauty Boxes – any even longer since both were for ME.
The “Hello Beauty Reboot!” box is full of products to reboot your beauty routine for fall – and more rose products! I am truly and thoroughly loving this rose renaissance! I cannot wait to try the Weleda Wild Rose Body Wash and Garnier SkinActive Facial Mist Spray with Rose Water (even though I rarely use the Pacifica Rose Facial Spray I already have – what do they even do?) Also in this box: Olay Facial Cleansing Infusion with Crushed Ginger & Citrus; Nivea Smooth Daily Moisture Body Lotion; Schmidt’s Naturals Charcoal Magnesium Deodorant (hmmm, the last one gave me a rash); OGX Coconut Miracle Dry Shampoo; and L’Oreal Paris Voluminous Primer Base. A packed fucking box!
The “Hello Quench & Glow!” box is all masks, which I need, since Sally and I did ALL the masks in Vegas. In the box: Lumene LAHDE Hydration Recovery Aerating Gel Mask; TRESemme Keratin Smooth Deep Smoothing Mask Sachet; Acure Brilliantly Brightening Biocellulose Gel Mask (gross, there’s kale in it); Miss Spa Energize Facial Sheet Mask; and Masque Bar Rose Gold Peel Off Mask (yassss rose gold!).
Both boxes had the usual $3 off a Beauty/Personal Care purchase of $15 or more. Each box was $7, with free shipping and 5% off with my Red Card.
Sephora Play! SMARTS – Skincare by Age: 40s
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I’m not ashamed to admit it – I’m in my 40s – and my skin needs help!
Sephora Play! launched three extra boxes this month – Skincare by Age for women in their 30s, 40s and 50s. All of the boxes have great products, so I decided not to be a glutton and order all of them. I just ordered the 40s box.
The first thing I tried out of the box was the Volition Detoxifying Silt Gelee Mask. I’ve never heard of this brand before – but I’ve never met a mask I didn’t like. It was much thinner than a traditional mud mask, hence the silt? It kind of smelled like dirt, too…but it made my skin as soft as my 10 year old daughter’s.
I’ve also been using the Tatcha The Water Cream. It’s got an unusual slippery texture, but it sure does make my makeup stay on seamlessly, almost like it floats on my skin.
Also in the box: Caudalie Premier Cru The Eye Cream (I really need to start using eye creams); Kiehl’s Glow Formula Skin Hydrator; Sunday Riley Luna Retinol Sleeping Oil; and Sunday Riley Good Genes Lactic Acid Treatment (great brand).
And can we talk about the amazing plastic case it all came in? It’s a hard-side case, perfect for travel!
I did NOT get the samples I chose. Instead, I got Rita Hazan True Color Shampoo & Conditioner, Becca Ultimate Coverage 24-Hour Foundation, and Marc Jacobs Divine Decadence. I wanted NONE of that. I did get something I wanted very much – a Fresh Sugar Rose Lip Treatment for 100 points.
Just $211 to Rouge…
September 2018 Ipsy Bag – Who is Going to Stop Me.
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I immediately squealed when I saw this month’s ipsy bag (I had let Lily open the mailer and take it out for me). It matches the Betsey Johnson black kitty wallet that I just ordered from Poshmark, just the day before. Don’t even get me started on my new Poshmark obsession – I’ve made $190 over the last 2 weeks. (Sign up with the code KNOBBYGIRL and we’ll each get a $5 credit!)
And then I squealed AGAIN when I saw the Luxie Beauty Harley Quinn Flat Definer 110 Makeup Brush – it’s gorgeous! I have loved every single Luxie brush that I’ve gotten via ipsy – great quality!
Also in this month’s box: Luna by Luna Cosmetics Translucent Powder (NOT to be confused with Manny MUA’s Lunar Beauty, which is SO canceled; looks like it has a hint of shimmer?); Hempz Moisture Herbal Whipped Body Cream (I smelled it, but I cannot place the scent – not marijuana, not mint, maybe a hint of lysol – but not in a bad way); Lord & Berry Line/Shade Pencil in “Flash Purple”; and Eva NYC Satin Dream Leave-in Cream.
A great bag this month!
If you’d like to try Ipsy – click here. I’ll earn 250 points if you sign up through my link.
Glamoflauge
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Glamoflauge – did I just invent a word?
OK, very unlikely that I am the first one to think of glamoflauge – but that is the first thing I thought of when I saw Julep “Bradley”. (I guess Julep has run out of female names to use for polish and are dipping into male names.)
“Bradley” is mesquite green with a gold ghost shimmer and came in this month’s Julep Maven box. I am starting to think that ghost shimmer means that you can see it in the bottle, but not on the nails. You can see it an itty, bitty bit, if you look really closely.
This is two coats of “Bradley” over Julep Oxygen Smoothing Base Coat (the dregs of the bottle – I threw it away after this one), and under Glisten & Glow Top Coat.
Yeah, I definitely don’t have any dupes of this polish – I mean – why?