Category: Body
An Itty Bitty Birthday Haul
I couldn’t bear to let my $10 off Birthday coupon expire at Ulta, so I filled my cart with random items…
I’ve been wanting to try the megababe Blade Bar ($8) and I tried it out over the weekend. It’s basically a bar of soap that you can use to shave your legs…I’ve done it before with regular soap (when I was poor and/or desperate), but this bar is so much better…it’s mainly shea butter and it made my legs feel super moisturized. I didn’t knick myself either – win win.
Of course, I snagged a back-up Ulta Ultra Slim Brow Pencil in “Dark Brown” ($11), but I also came across a NEW brow product…Ulta Longwear Brow Stain in “Dark Brown” ($11). All I have to say about this product is WOW. It is LIFE CHANGING. It takes a lot of confidence to use, but once I figured it out – this stuff stays on and does NOT come off unless you scrub it off…and it looks like natural eyebrows! Remember when I got the eyebrow stamping kit? That one was a miss for me, but this little baby is my new holy grail….
What else did I pick up…hmmm…a replacement Garnier SkinActive Micellar Cleansing Water with Rose Water ($11.99)…Holo Taco “Red Licorice” ($14)…and another lip stain marker – Ulta Magic Marker Lip Stain in “Raspberry Kiss” ($10 – the perfect color for me).
Oh, and did I mention 6 piece Makeup Gift with my $60 purchase? It included a Real Techniques Makeupsaver Sponge (ooooh….absorbs 90% less makeup); stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner; Lancome Idole Lash Mascara; Benefit The POREfessional; Estee Lauder Double Wear Smooth & Blur Primer; and another NYX Duck Plump “Clearly Spicy”.
Just $910 to Diamond in 2026…
February 2025 Ipsy Icon Box – Gabrielle Union
Leave it to Gabrielle Union to come up with an ipsy Icon Box that I’ll actually try ALL of the products, instead of giving half of them away!
After several quarters of reality show stars and “influencers”, ipsy has nabbed an actually CERTIFIED movie star in Gabrielle Union. Homegirl is four years older than me and she looks as amazing as she did in the 90s. How even?
As soon as I saw it was an option, I SNATCHED the Anastasia Beverly Hills Nouveau Eyeshadow Palette ($55). Believe me when I say this palette might be as good as the OG – Modern Renaissance. (My eyes popped when I saw the price increase in just 8 years – from $42 to $55.) Nouveau has a full range of shades – classic neutrals to sparkling metallics to moody darks. I’ve only played with it once or twice, but I cannot wait to have an opportunity to go all out that isn’t a grocery store trip.
My other product choices were Origins Clear Improvement Blackhead Clearing Mask-To-Scrub ($37) and Dew of the Gods Amalfi Glaze Body Serum ($36). I did not read the label (AGAIN) on the Origins Mask and used it as a scrub in the shower the first time – oopsie. I used it as a mask the next time and I really liked it – it sucked the oil out of my pores like a fucking SHAMWOW. The Amalfi Body Serum smelled nice, but it made me sparkle like a stripper. I’ll save it for a special occasion.
Gabrielle’s picks included Beautystat Triple- Plump Coconut Milk Serum ($42); Byroe Oat Yogurt Moisture Barrier Cream ($106 – I’ve been using it as a night cream and it is SO luxurious…wish it wasn’t so spendy); First Aid Beauty KP Bump Eraser Body Scrub 10% AHA Fresh Strawberry ($30 – I love this for my bikini line…I’ll rotate it into my shower after I finish the Fenty Skin Cherry Dub Scrub); Make Up For Ever The Professionall 24HR Double-Ended Lifting & Volumizing Mascara in “Black” ($28 – I love the double brush design that lifts and thickens); and NARS Powermatte Lipstick in “American Woman” ($34 – although I love the Lolita-esque Chestnut Rose color, it’s a lipstick and didn’t last through a Taco Bell run).
This might be the best Icon Box I’ve received so far! $368 worth of products for less than $75…
I subscribe to the basic ipsy bag for $14/month (recently increased from $13/month) and Icon Box (formerly Glam Bag X) for an extra $60/quarterly (recently increased from $43/quarterly). If you’d like to try Ipsy – click here. I’ll earn 250 points if you sign up through my referral link.
January 2025 Ipsy Bag – A Clean Slate
A brief hiatus was just what I needed…
This month’s theme is “A Clean Slate” and included a different kind of makeup bag than usual. It doesn’t zip – it has a magnetic snap. It wouldn’t work inside my purse, but I’m sure I can find a use for it…
My product choice this month was Dr. Lili Fan Probiotic Recovery Cream. I am in LOVE with this face cream – and not just because I just got crispy-crittered in Cozumel. In my mind, it is that luxurious “Pearl Cream” from the 90s commercials…(I have no idea what the original “pearl cream” was like, I’m just talking shit.)
I’ve been using the Pamper + Polish Sugar and Coconut Infused Body Scrub (damn, the sugar is sharp), but I haven’t tried the other three products. I’ll probably get around to using the Glow Recipe Plum Plump Hyaluronic Acid Lip Gloss Balm, but I won’t ever use the Seraphine Botanicals Mimosa Mist Glass Skin Setting Spray. I might *possibly* use the Illuminati Cosmetics Multi-Chrome Gel Eyeliner in “Prime” – not sure.
Not a horrible bag, but not a lot of product types that I use…it’s been a bit since I’ve updated my ipsy preferences, so maybe I should do it.
I subscribe to the basic ipsy bag for $14/month (recently increased from $13/month) and Icon Box (formerly Glam Bag X) for an extra $60/quarterly (recently increased from $43/quarterly). If you’d like to try Ipsy – click here. I’ll earn 250 points if you sign up through my referral link.
First Ulta Haul of 2025
…and I was ready to shop…because I placed this order on January 2nd!
Select skincare was BOGO 40% off, so I decided to try Thayers Soak It Up 80HR Liquid Moisturizer for Normal to Dry Skin ($14.99) when I got my Thayers Witch Hazel ($6.57 after discount). I also got a free Travel Size Thayers Witch Hazel. I had been wanting to try megababe The Smoothie Deo Fruit Enzyme Daily Deodorant ($9.80 after discount) and was happy to see it was also 30% off.
Ulta came out with their own marker lip stain – Ulta Magic Marker Lip Stain ($10) – so I picked up “Purple Fizz” at 30% off. It goes on like a magic marker, too! It lasts decently through food – highly recommend, although this color was REALLY dark on my pasty skin…I might have looked a bit like the joker. On the other hand, I do NOT recommend Revolution Beauty Pout Tint ($4, down from $8). It’s just lip gloss that gets all over anything – it doesn’t tint or stain at all!
It was a rather small order – around $33 after using a $10 off $40 code and benefiting from free shipping on all orders placed on an Ulta Credit Card. Just $1,119 to Diamond in 2026 (my son and his girlfriend have been using my phone number at Ulta – score).
I got a Semi…
…Annual Sale Haul. What did you think I meant?
So, even though I purchased 3 times, I visited the sale and different stores another half dozen times. I was looking for one SPECIFIC thing…I wanted one of those Wallflower Projectors from Halloween. I saw them in a few different stores, but always on the 50% table. Those things were $39.95 – $42.95 originally, and even $20 was too much…I finally broke down and went to the outlet in Katy Mills Mall and HALLELUJAH, they had about 20 of the Skeleton Hearses at 75% and it was finally mine. They didn’t have any of the Tentacle Houses, which was disappointing…
I spent the most on my first visit, the day after Xmas. Wallflowers AND Hand Soaps were $2.99, so I stocked the fuck up. I added a few backup Shower Gels, but now knew scents have entered my shower…I am waiting for a good sale + coupon to add “Perfect in Pink” to my shower.
Oh, and since my daughter binged Bridgerton over the holidays, I grabbed a “Diamond of the Season” Fine Fragrance Mist for her…and another “Vampire Blood” for me!
I added up my receipts and I spent $119.47…but (supposedly) saved $208.23. That averages out to ~64% off…not too shabby!
Last Ulta Haul of 2024!
I didn’t intentionally wait until the last day of the year to post my last haul of the year…or did I? Seeing as how I placed this order the first week of December…it definitely wasn’t intentional – I was just doing holiday stuff…eating, disassociating, crocheting, losing track of what day it is…THAT’S what the holidays are really about!
This last haul was mostly gifts and stocking stuffers, but since I had a 20% off code, I threw a few things in the bag for myself…like Sol de Janeiro Samba Foot Fetish Cream and Smoothing Board ($27). If you think Bum Bum Cream is good, wait until you try this stuff! It leaves my feet feeling pedicure smooth for DAYS after using it.
Tell me why the r.e.m. beauty Practically Permanent Lip Stain Marker in “booked and busy” that I paid $17 for is like using a felt-tip marker that is running out of ink, but the $11.99 CoverGirl Outlast Lip Stain in “All Star” is like a damn sharpie?
That’s it for personal “gifts”…I admit that I kept the 23 piece beauty bag with $85 purchase for myself…it was a pretty red plaid bag with Garnier Fructis Hair Filler Shampoo & Conditioner packettes; TONYMOLY I’m Aloe Mask Sheet; tarte Shape Tape Corrector Card Sample; Versace Eros; Dime Biome Body Butter; Mugler Alien Goddess; Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb; Givenchy Gentleman Society; OUAI Fine to Medium Hair Treatment Masque; Valentino Uomo Born in Roma Green Stravaganza (huh?); Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium; Valentino Donna Born in Roma Intense; Good Molecules Hydrating Facial Cleansing Gel; Tom Ford Ombre Leather; Azzaro The Most Wanted; Jean Paul Gaultier Le Male (I think this is what my father-in-law wears?); Givenchy L’Interdit; NYX Lip Pencil in “Ever” (do I sense a hint of “Lolita”?); CHI Infra Silk Infusion; Smashbox Photo Finish Illiminate Glow Primer; Charlotte Tilbury Charlotte’s Magic Serum Crystal Elixir; and Kate Somerville ExfoliKate. So the bag was mostly fragrance from brands I don’t like…but I got a Xmas-y bag to put Barbie sweaters in, so I’m not even mad!
Here’s to a more beautiful 2025!
December 2024 Ipsy Bag – Unwrap Joy
The gift wrap detail on this month’s bag is adorable – too delicate to throw in my purse, but too pretty to not use…maybe Barbie will get it?
I tried out this month’s product choice yesterday – Pur~lisse Beauty Sheer Glow Strawberry Vitamin C Tinted Moisturizer in “Fair”. This is NOT a moisturizer – if it’s thicker than a BB or CC Cream, dowsn’t that mean it’s a foundation? That being said, I got decent medium coverage. I did have to buff it out with a kabuki brush, but it lasted well in humid weather and it only oxidized on my chin.
The only other product that I’ve tried in this month’s bag is the Catherine Malandrino Mystere Fragrance. It’s a very holiday-forward scent, with notes of orange and cranberry. I’ve been wearing it a lot this past week!
Also in this month’s “Unwrap Joy” bag: Nena Skincare Glacial Body Lotion; Pixi Beauty LipGlow in “Fleur“; and Half Caked Double Dipper Highlighter. Unsure as to whether I’ll use these…
I subscribe to the basic ipsy bag for $14/month (recently increased from $13/month) and Icon Box (formerly Glam Bag X) for an extra $60/quarterly (recently increased from $43/quarterly). If you’d like to try Ipsy – click here. I’ll earn 250 points if you sign up through my referral link.
Another Wicked Haul
A $10 off $50 code from Ulta means MORE Wicked products!
I have been eyeing the Scünci Wicked Elphaba Wavy Metal Claw Clip ($14) for a bit. That’s a lot for me to pay for a hair clip, but it’s SO FANCY! I also have had my eye on the r.e.m. beauty x Wicked Tulip Field Lip Stain in “Made in Oz” ($18). I am glad I grabbed it when I did, because all three shades are out of stock online.
While looking for the Tulip Field Lip Stain, I came across r.e.m. beauty Practically Permanent Lip Stain Marker in “booked and busy” ($17). I miss the lip stain markers that Ulta used to carry and this one is even better! I might pick up a few more…
OK, I need to learn to look at the sizes of products before I buy them…tell me WHY I paid $10.20 (on sale from $17) for a Biolage Smooth Proof Deep Treatment Pack Multi Use Hair Mask that is only 3.75 ounces? I usually get Shea Moisture or HASK packettes that are 1.75 ounces and less than $2. I was expecting to get more than 3-4 uses out of this damn thing…
OH! The whole reason I started the order was NOT for Wicked goodies…it was because my favorite brow pencil – Ulta Ultra Slim Brow Pencil in “Dark Brown” was on sale for 40% off ($6.60). I added a pack of Exfoliating Cotton Rounds ($2.39, also 40% off) and an EcoTools Exfoliating EcoPouf Loofah ($2.09, just 30% off).
November 2024 Ipsy Icon Box – Lisa Vanderpump
I am aware that there is a show called Vanderpump Rules, and I assume that is Lisa Vanderpump comes from…but I have no context to understand how she would be relevant to my life? A quick Google tells me that she was originally one of the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills…so this lady is DEFINITELY not relevant to my life.
I made a boo boo with my product choices this month. I didn’t remember that I already picked 5 SENS “Life of the Party” ($65) for May’s Icon Box. Oopsie…it will make a great Xmas gift? I am IN LOVE with the Fenty Skin Cherry Dub Triple Action Body Scrub ($36) though – it smells go good and makes my skin so smooth. I have not tried the Polite Society Polite Pout Glossy Lip Balm in “Pink Grapefruit” ($21) yet, but I am sure I will love it.
I admit, the last few weeks have been busy and I have not had a chance to try the rest of this month’s products: Keys Soulcare Truly Becoming Multi Benefit Peptide Serum ($38); KVD Beauty Good Apple Full-Coverage Transfer-Proof Serum Foundation in “Light 008” ($42 – I have no idea when I’ll try this…I am now drowning in foundations!); LYS Beauty Speak Love Moisture Matte Lipstick in “Sincere” ($20); Origins GinZing SPF 30 Daily Moisturizer ($38); and tarte Tartelette Juicy Amazonian Clay Palette ($47 – I am most definitely gonna sell this on Poshmark, because tarte eye shadow is like that Tinkerbell makeup my mom used to buy me from the Avon lady).
This month’s box is only worth $307, but it feels like a lot more!
I subscribe to the basic ipsy bag for $14/month (recently increased from $13/month) and Icon Box (formerly Glam Bag X) for an extra $60/quarterly (recently increased from $43/quarterly). If you’d like to try Ipsy – click here. I’ll earn 250 points if you sign up through my referral link.
Wicked Ulta Haul
As soon as Ulta dropped all of the Wicked Movie Collab products…I knew I was in trouble. I tried – TRIED – to be conservative, but I don’t know if I did a very good job, especially since it was Diamond Love List Monday…
Right off the bat, I knew I had to get the OPI x Wicked Nail Lacquer 12 Piece Mini Pack ($49.99). I hate paying full price for nail polish, but I just couldn’t risk it selling out before I got it. The set has 12 mini polishes, 6 for Elphaba and 6 for Galinda. I am really looking forward to trying them all out. Ariana Grande’s r.e.m. beauty released a bunch of matched sets and lipsticks, but I was drawn to the r.e.m. beauty x Wicked Ozdust Eyeshadow Palette ($55). I am impressed by how creamy and blendable the shadows are. The glitters really pop! I even got a gift with purchase – a full size Midnight Shadows Liquid Eyeshadow. I wasn’t paying attention and thought it was a lipstick – which actually looked amazing after I wiped most of it off and applied lip stain on top of it. It made my lips look like stained glass – new favorite lip look! I’m sure I’ll be picking up more Wicked Collab stuff, but this is it for now.
It’s been a while since I’ve gotten hyped up about Urban Decay, but the new Urban Decay Cosmetics Moondust Space Cowboy Glitter Eyeshadow Palette – Limited Edition ($49) caught my eye. Yes, I know it’s basically just a few shadows pulled from Naked palettes in a fancy package – SHUT UP. I have only gotten to use it once, but I ended up with nice results, so no regrets. Oh, and I also got a Platinum and Diamond Free 5 Piece Gift with $35 makeup purchase, which came with an clear vinyl crossbody bag (perfect for stadiums with a clear bag rule); Urban Decay All Nighter Long Lasting Makeup Setting Spray (ugh, I have so much of this); a card sample of Urban Decay Moondust Eyeshadow in “Space Cowboy”; Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in “Zero”; and Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion in “Original”.
I added a few more random items to my bag: an EcoTools Exfoliating EcoPouf Loofah ($2.99); L’Oreal True Match Super-Blendable Powder in “C1 Alabaster” ($6.49, on sale from $12.99 – Ulta’s site told me which shade to use based on the shade I wear in Infallible, but it’s a bit light on me); and Thayers Alcohol-Free Witch Hazel Facial Toner in “Rose Petal” ($10.95).
All this got me a Free Platinum & Diamond Exclusive 28 Piece Gift with with $150 purchase – woo hoo! First off, this gift came with a gorgeous chocolate velvet cosmetic bag. Inside the bag: COSRX Master Patch Intensive; Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour HydraPlay Skin Perfecting Daily Moisturizer; Morphe Mini Continuous Setting Mist; Maybelline The Falsies Lash Lift Mascara; Sol de Janeiro Cheirosa 48 Perfume Mist (Awww, I already have one of these); Chloe Intense; Olaplex No. 7 Bonding Oil; Frank Body Glycolic Body Scrub; bareMinerals Complexion Rescue Blonzer (uh whut? It’s blush and bronzer, oh); Estee Lauder Revitalizing Supreme + Night Power Bounce Creme; e.l.f. Power Grip Primer; Benefit The POREfessional Super Setter Long-Lasting Makeup Setting Spray (ugh, more???); Wella Ultimate Repair Miracle Hair Rescue (again, more???); Clarins Total Eye Lift; Polite Society Greatest Lashes of All Time Mascara (braggy a bit?); Dime TBT Cream (what even is this?); Eau Thermale Avene Cicalfate Intensive Skin Restorative Serum; megababe Le Tush Clarifying Butt Mask (literally laughed out loud); tarte tartelette XL tubing Mascara; Charlotte Tilbury Exagger-eyes Mascara; Florence by Mills Floating Under the Eyes Patches; CeraVe Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser; OUAI Leave in Conditioner; Buxom Plump Shot Collagen Infused Lip Serum; e.l.f. Skin Holy Hydration Eye Cream; pixi Glow Tonic; NOYZ Lost + Found; and Vichy Mineral 89 Fortifying and Plumping Daily Booster. Damn, my fingers are TIRED.
I should feel worse about randomly spending $150+ without a good coupon or sale…but I don’t, because I used the last $30 of Ulta points I had saved up.