Month: September 2023
A Citrusy Ulta Haul
Have you ever smelled a scent that was so amazing that you had to stop what you were doing RIGHT THAT SECOND and order every product that you could find in that scent? That’s what happened to me when I smelled Hempz Citrus Blossom Herbal Body Moisturizer With Vitamin C. I got a tiny 2.25oz sample from Ulta and I immediately ordered a big 17oz bottle ($27.99). Of course, I am kicking myself this week – Hempz is 40% and that same bottle is $16.79. Run, don’t walk to buy it.
I rounded out my order with a few more citrusy products: Megababe Sunny Pits Daily Deodorant ($14), which smells EXACTLY like the Love’s Baby Soft Lemon that was one of my mom’s favorites and a clearance Ulta Scented Foaming Hand Wash in “Pink Grapefruit” ($3.50), another scent that reminds me of my mom. Now I can think of my mom when I smell my armpits and when I wash my hands.
Lily was out of zit stickers, so I ordered Peach Slices Acne Spot Dots ($4.99) for her. She said they didn’t work as well as Zit Stickas, so I don’t think I’ll be getting these again.
I got a free 5 piece Beauty Break from e.l.f. Cosmetics with my $50 purchase: e.l.f. Power Grip Primer; Whoa Glow Sun Protection + Makeup Primer; Holy Hydration! Makeup Melting Cleansing Balm; Luminous Putty Bronzer; and Hydrating Core Lip Shine in “Happy”. Oh, and I used my $3.50 off $15 coupon, OF COURSE.
$268 til Diamond in 2024.
September 2023 Ipsy Bag – Find Your Groove
I LOVE a fancy zipper pull and this month’s ipsy bag has a wild tasseled zipper pull. Groovy.
This month’s theme is “Find Your Groove”, so consider it found. My product choice was First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream – winter is coming, and so is my dry skin. I’m still trying to use up the Kate Somerville Cream from May’s box, so I haven’t busted it open yet.
Also in this month’s groovy bag: Hey Honey Show Your Glow – Colloidal Gold & Honey Beauty Mask (a nice soothing mask that doesn’t dry or peel – you just rinse); Lavido Thera Intensive Oil Control Clarifying Gel Wash (going in my travel bag for this weekend); Pacifica Stellar Gaze Length & Strength Mineral Mascara in “Supernova” (a nice mascara – very basic); and Shaina B Miami Lip Gloss in “Heat Wave” (haven’t tested it yet).
A nice bag with products I’ll actually use!
I subscribe to the basic ipsy bag for $13/month and Icon Box (formerly Glam Bag X) for an extra $43/quarterly. If you’d like to try Ipsy – click here. I’ll earn 250 points if you sign up through my referral link.
Speedster
Sinful Colors “Speedster” isn’t too old…if three years isn’t old for a nail polish.
It’s fine, the quality was fine. This is just a plain, old candy apple red nail polish. It’s fairly similar to Zoya “Sooki”, my favorite red. It’s perhaps a bit more orange?
This is two coats of “Speedster” over Glisten & Glow Ridge Filling Base Coat and under Glisten & Glow Top Coat.
Missy
Julep “Missy” is another polish that has been chilling in the cabinet since 2016.
“Missy” is a silver foil polish. I love to hate foils – they are usually so fussy to deal with and streaky…but not “Missy”. I got smooth coverage and no bubbles – shocking! Is it me, or is there faint greenish cast to this silver?
This is two coats of “Missy” over Glisten & Glow Ridge Filling Base Coat and under Glisten & Glow Top Coat.
WONDERSKIN
I don’t know about you, but that lip stain that goes on blue and peels off is all over my socials. Does WONDERSKIN live up to the hype?
I ordered two tubes of WONDERSKIN Wonder Blading Lip Masque ($22) few weeks ago. One for me – “Charming” (Toffee Rose) – and one for my daughter – “Romance” (Cool Rose). I made the mistake of not ordering the Wonder Blading Lip Activator ($12), which I didn’t realize if what makes the blue stuff peel off. I was scraping my nails at the edge of my lip and I couldn’t figure out why it wasn’t peeling! I gave up and wiped the blue off with wet toilet paper, which was a LOVELY experience.
Once I got all the blue off my fingers, I topped with my favorite lip balm and was ready to go. The stain lasted all day, even through Mexican food and booze and charcuterie and more booze.
For the record, my daughter said that hers DOES peel. I’ve worn it several times and no peeling for me. Hmmm…
I don’t know that WONDERSKIN is worth $22 + $12, but it does last a pretty long time. (Full confession, I only ordered it to use up some Shop Pay cash that was about to expire, which made then $14.40 each.) I am curious how the darker colors or a vibrant red will work on me though…I might save up more Shop Pay cash and try again…
Candied Grapefruit
My old Potluck Gang was finally able to get together the weekend before last and the theme was “Barbie Boobs”. We’ve been doing this for 22 years, and we’ll never run out of offensive themes for our potlucks!
“Barbie Boobs” means pink food and pink nails, so I picked a pink I hadn’t tried yet – Sinful Colors “Candied Grapefruit” from the Confection Crush Collection. It’s a glossy pink, a bit streaky – even with the second coat. Ugh, it reminded me of that awful liquid amoxycillin I used to have to take as a kid…
This is two coats of “Candied Grapefruit” over Glisten & Glow Ridge Filling Base Coat and under Glisten & Glow Top Coat.
NOTE: This is NOT what color candied grapefruit is. My Father-in-Law makes it and it’s more of a coral shade.
WHOA
I admit, Swamp Gloss “WHOA” appears suspiciously similar to “Revved up Like a Douche”, but it’s not supposed to be?
“WHOA” is a thermal nail polish – the part of my nail that is attached to my flesh (like, most of it) is supposed to be WHITE! Right after I painted my nails, the polish was mostly white, with a thin strip of turquoise at the tip…but when I woke up the next morning…BLAM, no more thermal action. I don’t know what made it not work…hmmm…Here’s some swatches of what “WHOA” should look like, from Nicole Loves Nails.
I would be more irritated, but I like the 90s Taco Bell vibe. “WHOA” is inspired by the King of WHOA himself, Keanu Reeves and was originally from Polish Pickup April 2021 – The Nineties, but made a reappearance in July 2023 – REWIND.
This is two coats of “WHOA” over Vibrant Scents Base Coat in “Island Petals” and under Glisten & Glow Glitter Grabber and Vibrant Scents Top Coat in “Island Petals”.
Raspberries ‘N’ Cream
Berries and cream…berries and cream…I’m a little lad who loves berries and cream.
Sinful Colors “Raspberries ‘N’ Cream” is THE LAST of the Velvet Matte polishes from the Confection Crush Collection…FINALLY.
“Raspberries ‘N’ Cream” is medium pink polish, darker than “Rosewater Delight” but lighter than “Strawberry Cheesecake”. This is twp coats, no base coat and no top coat. It chipped within A DAY. Argh.
Rosy Ulta Haul
I was running low on my absolute FAVORITE underarm deodorant – Megababe Rosy Pits Daily Deodorant ($14) – so I ordered one. I literally used the last smidge in the roller the day this box arrived.
We’re all adults here…I hope…so I’m just going to put it out there…after a hysterectomy and menopause, a lady might need a little help in the moisture department. I ordered Unbound Jelly ($18) and it does what it is supposed to do. No weird scents or flavors, it just gets the job done. Ulta is now carrying a wide variety of lubes and toys, so be forewarned. Good thing my teenagers actively ignore anything I write or put on social media!
Eyebrows are the most important element of my look these days, so I stocked up on a few more Ulta Ultra Slim Brow Pencils ($10 each) – one in “Medium Brown” for casual looks and one in “Dark Brown” for when I want to go full “Faye Dunaway as Joan Crawford in Mommy Dearest.” I got a free 9 piece gift with my purchase that includes an eye and face palette; ULTAmate Lashes Mascara in “Jet Black”; Velvet Matte Liquid Lipstick in a mystery shade; Lip Stain in a mystery shade; Poreless Face Primer; Matte Eye Primer; an eye shadow brush and a makeup sponge, all in a metallic pink makeup bag.
Not only did I use a $10 off $40 coupon and got the free Ulta gift with purchase…I also got a free 10 piece body care gift with my $60 purchase…which wasn’t really $60 because of the coupon. The gift included Hempz Citrus Blossom Herbal Body Moisturizer; Daily Concepts Your Facial Mini Scrubber (looks like the Dobie pad in my kitchen); Kniepp Mineral Bath Salt in “Under the Weather” (eucalyptus!); Whim by Ulta Beauty Peppermint Moisturizing Foot Mask; La Roche-Posay Lipikar Wash AP+; L’Occitane Amande Shower Oil; Completely Bare Don’t Grow There Body Moisturizer & Hair Inhibitor (you KNOW I’ll be trying this); Megababe Space Bar Detoxifying Charcoal Underarm Bar; Dionis Goat Milk Shave Butter; and Fresh Milk Body Cleanser. I feel like I would use ALL of those!
Just $329 to Diamond in 2024.