Month: June 2021
Green Goddess with Fairy Dust
So. Pacifica has launched a line of “16 Free” Plant Magic nail polishes. What was the previous high? Sundays and their 10 Free polish, I think?
Pacifica has really upped their game. Previously just 7 Free, the new 16 Free Plant Magic line boasts products free of animals, toluene, formaldehyde resin, camphor, formaldehyde, acetone, xylene, phthalates (including DBP), triphenyl phosphate (TPP), parabens, ethyl tosylamide, bisphenol A (BPA), sulfates, e-series glycol ethers, benzophenone 1, 2, nonylphenol ethoxylate. OH, and did I mention that they also have 16 Free Bio Glitter?!?!?!
After Glisten & Glow Ridge Filling Base Coat, I treated all of my nails to two coats of Pacifica Plant Magic in “Green Goddess”. Not content to enjoy the green shimmer, I jazzed up my ring finger with a coat of Pacifica Bio Glitter “Fairy Dust”. I finished all my nails with a healthy coat of Glisten & Glow Top Coat.
I was really impressed by the staying power of these polishes – well done, Pacifica!
National Nail Polish Day 2021
June 1st was National Nail Polish Day and Ulta had a lovely 11 piece gift with a $40 purchase. I just happened to need a few things…
I stocked up on 3 bottles of Zoya Remove+ ($10) and decided to splurge on a bottle of Pacifica Plant Magic 16 Free Polish in “Green Goddess” ($10). I wouldn’t ordinarily spend $10 on a single bottle of nail polish, but this color is so beautiful…plus, I used a $3.50 off coupon…so…
The 11 piece gift is worth more than what I bought! The gift included: Dashing Diva Gloss Gel Nail Strips; le Mini Macaron Sweet Mandarin Hand Mask; ella + mila Soy Polish Remover Wipes; Pacifica BioGlitter Translucent Topper in “Fairy Dust”; China Glaze “Summer Moon”; Orly Breathable 1-Step Manicure in “Power Packed”; OPI “Magic Hour”; lakur “Kissed by Rose Gold”; essie “Bahama Mama”; CND Solar Oil; and Nailtopia “Nails on Fleek”. So many new polishes!
$697 to Diamond Status…
Body Talk
Context Skin Lacquer “Body Talk” came in last month’s ipsy bag. At first glance, I thought that the polish was a light mauve…but it’s a nude! It’s a cool-toned nude, but a nude nonetheless. Do I need bifocals???
This is two coats of “Body Talk” over Glisten & Glow Ridge Filling Base Coat and under Glisten & Glow Top Coat. I did get a few bubbles in the top coat – I think it’s time to stop refilling this bottle and open a new one – it’s getting too thick and drying too quickly.
Gorgeous Hair, Perfect Repair
I just barely caught the end of May’s Gorgeous Hair Event. I was all hyped to get 50% off NatureLab. Tokyo…but of course, all of the big refill bags of Perfect Smooth were out of stock…so I settled for trying out regular sizes of NatureLab. Tokyo Perfect Repair Shampoo and Conditioner. $7.50 is still better than $15.
I also took advantage of a BOGO 40% off order on Neutrogena Rapid Clear Stubborn Acne Cleanser. The Cadillac of Acne Cleansers is $11.99 regular price! One for me and one for the kids. Oh, and also a Biore T-Zone Targeted Deep Cleansing Pore Strips ($7.99, down from $9.99).
I was disappointed by the 50% off Lipstick Queen Mini in “Route 66” ($6, down from $12). The description promised green lipstick that creates tangerine lips, but they were the same shade of pink as my Frog Prince lipstick. Arghhhhh.
I know it’s basically just a Sharpie, but my daughter really liked the BIC BodyMark Temporary Tattoo Marker ($3.99, down from $4.99).
My order qualified me for a Living Proof. Beauty Break, which came with 5 Deluxe Samples: Perfect hair Day Dry Shampoo, Perfect hair Day Weightless Mask, Perfect hair Day 5-in-1 Styling Treatment, plus Perfect hair Day Shampoo and Conditioner.
(Is adding a superfluous period to your branding a thing? Looking at you, NatureLab. Tokyo & Living Proof. .)
$734 to Diamond…
Malibu Barbie x Colourpop
A Malibu Barbie Makeup Set? Add. To. Cart.
I held off as long as I could. I kept hitting up Ulta’s website to see if it would show up – you know how I am about those points. No dice. I watched Trixie Mattel’s review video and I was itching for it. I finally took the plunge when the Malibu Barbie x Colourpop Full Collection Set was $79, down from $99.
The centerpiece of the set is the 15 pan Malibu Barbie Shadow Palette. The colors are amazing and vibrant. These shadows last all day and spread like butter. I’ve done a blue look and a pink look, but there are neutral colors, too. I feel like this palette is better quality than my other Colourpop Palette. Why would they do that?
I was shocked by the Beach Party Super Shock Highlighter. The first time I used it, I applied with a fan brush and it was pretty average. The second time I used it, I applied with my finger…it’s a motherfucking cream, ya’ll! I’ll never use another highlighter again – this is “the one.”
The set included three lux lipstick kits: a bullet lipstick and matching lip liner. “Golden Beach” is a pinkish nude, a bit too light for me. “Malibu Sunset” is a vibrant hot pink, perfect for me. Full disclosure – it stained my lips. I haven’t tried “Dreamhouse” yet – it’s a medium pink.
Even though they’re adorable, I feel like I won’t get much use out of the heart shaped Barbie Hand Mirror or the Doll Lashes. Maybe for Halloween?
The Malibu Barbie x Colourpop Full Collection Set is currently 30% off – just $69.30! I am so mad…I thought I was getting a good deal snagging it for $79 + free shipping and a free pack of Daily Do-Over Makeup Removing Wipes.
May 2021 Ipsy Bag – Flower Power
Ooooh…May’s ipsy bag is a pretty peony pattern! Peony is one of my favorite scents.
My product choice this month was Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask. I tried it out yesterday and my skin LOVED it.
Also in May’s “Flower Power” bag: Context Skin Nail Lacquer in “Body Talk” (is this mauve?); Formula 10.0.6 One Smooth Operator Pore Clearing Face Scrub (I used a few nights ago – I feel like it took FOREVER to rinse off); Saint Luxe Lip Liner Duo in “Moscato” and “Vino”; and Skin&Co Roma Citrus Amaro Hand Cream.
Now that I’m down to just ONE beauty subscription – Ipsy – I signed up for Glam Bag X, which is a quarterly, curated box for $55…we’ll see if it’s any good in August.
I subscribe to the basic ipsy bag for $12/month. If you’d like to try Ipsy –  click here. I’ll earn 250 points if you sign up through my referral link.
Sheer-treuse
Instead of a simple swatch of Sinful Colors “Sheer-treuse”, I decided to have a little fun with a simple pond mani…
Yeah, my nails DO look like a moldy old pond. I started with Glisten & Glow Ridge Filling Base Coat and used Sinful Colors “Snow Me White” with a dotting tool for the dots. Like my previous Tulle Temptations swatches, I did one coat/layer of dots on my index finger, two coats/layers of dots on my middle finger and three coats/layers of dots on the rest of my fingers. I finished with Sinful Colors Demi Matte Top Coat, EXCEPT for my pinky. My pinky is special and got topped with Glisten & Glow Top Coat.
I wish I had a little froggie nail sticker to go on these nails!
Giving Me Beach Vibes…
Sinful Colors “Beach Vibes” is giving me beach vibes…
“Beach Vibes” is supposed to smell like “Ocean Breeze”, but it’s the least scented so far of the whole Essenchills Collection. I did not smell ANYTHING but wet nail polish!
This is two coats of the navy blue “Beach Vibes” over Glisten & Glow Ridge Filling Base Coat. This polish lasted very well without a top coat – over 7 days with only minor edge wear.