Category: Body
HUGE Ulta Haul
Those “gift with purchase” deals get me every time. Last week, Ulta was offering a pink plastic Beauty Bag, filled with samples – free to Platinum Members with a $60 purchase. There just happened to be $60 of stuff I needed…a back-up Urban Decay Naked Skin Ultra Definition Finishing Powder in “Medium Light”…2 more Freeman Beauty Masks that were BOGH (I’m a total mask addict now) – Avocado & Oatmeal Clay and Golden Grain Brightening…5 Ulta Brilliant Color Lip Glosses on sale for $3 each – “Rich Plum”, “Toast” (a back-up), “Spice”, “Guava”, and “Cupcake”…and I broke down and tried Poo-Pourri in “Rosy Cheeks” (I tried it earlier today – although I didn’t smell poo-poo, it seemed to be a mostly non-offensive load – more research is needed).
Inside my beautiful pink bag (perfect for my upcoming Vegas trip): Lancôme Defincils Mascara in “Black”; Ulta Sweet Fantasy Vanilla and Caramel Silky Smooth Body Lotion; it Cosmetics No-Tug Waterproof Gel Eyeliner in “Black-Brown”; Juice Organics Brightening Shampoo and Conditioner; Dolce & Gabbana “light blue – Sunset in Salina” (reminds me of my mom – smells a little bit like “Lauren”); it’s a 10 Miracle Leave-In for Blondes (I gave away the last one I got, but I’ll give this blonde version a try); Thierry Mugler “Angel” (I think a friend of mine wear this – so I never will); Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion (I have SO many samples of this shit); Whish Body Butter in “Almond”; Biolage Matrix Exquisite Oil; dermalogica Ultrasmoothing Eye Serum; Laura Geller Baked Liquid Radiance Foundation in “Golden Medium”; Juice Beauty Stem Cellular Booster Serum (good stuff – I used up my last sample); Kate Spade “Live Color Fully” (I might actually wear this one); Benefit It’s Potent eye Benefit cream; and a mini Ulta Brilliant Gloss in “Toast” (I guess I didn’t need that back-up I ordered?). Gee, I’ve got finger cramps from typing.
Two more samples came with my order – HASK Coconut Monoi Oil Shampoo and Conditioner and Cargo HD Picture Perfect CC Cream. I also used my $3.50 coupon. Excited to play with my new stuff!
Target Beauty Boxes – Back to School 2015
More Target Beauty Boxes – and just a month after the last duo! This month, there were 2 “Back to School” Target Beauty Boxes – just $5 each. Of course, I ordered both of them.
Inside the “Honor Roll” Box: a Bathery Delicate Pouf (they’re not quite as good as the Bath & Body Works ones, but not bad); John Frieda Luxurious Volume 7-Day Treatment; Olay White Strawberry Body Wash; NYX Butter Gloss in “Strawberry Parfait”; Goody Ouchless Elastics; Cover Girl Outlast All-Day Primer; and Burt’s Bees White Tea Facial Wipes (I hope these don’t burn my eye area like the Cucumber Sage ones I got in my December 2014 Allure Box).
Inside the “Head of the Class” Box: Goody Ouchless Elastics (I’m glad I got a pack of these in each box – now that my son’s hair is longer than mine, elastics are in short supply in my home); a Bathery Pumice Stone; Hollywood Fashion Tape; Cover Girl Colorlicious Lip Gloss in “Give Me Guava”; wet n wild Max Volume Plus Mascara (another mascara to throw in my box); Herbal Essences Wild Naturals Illuminating Dry Oil Spray; and Yes to Cucumbers 10-count Wipes.
A great value for about $10. I used my Target Red Card to get my 5% off – it’s just 50 cents, but every little bit helps.
Beauty Box 5 – Summer Night Out
I might actually use every single thing in my Beauty Box 5 this month!
Inside this month’s “Summer Night Out” box: OFRA Lip Gloss in “Truffle”; OFRA Lip Liner in “Spicy”; Nanacoco Nail Polish in “Orange Wonderland” (it’s really more sparkly/rusty); Love Life Skin Restorative Night Cream and Intensive Recovery Serum (2 foil packets each); and Pur~lisse Flash tattoos (I’m about to get another REAL tattoo, so maybe I’ll use these on my wrists?). I also got codes for 20% at purlisse.com and 25% off at lovelifeskincare.com.
Now I just need to plan a Summer Night Out!
Ulta Adventure
Oh the disappointment when one opens up an online order and one of the items is damaged! I ordered 2 NYX AVANT POP palettes (BOGO50%off) – and the “Art Throb” palette was shattered. Luckily, the “Surreal My Heart Palette” was in fine shape. I also ordered a clearance Urban Decay 24/7 Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner in “Woodstock” (hot pink!) for $10 and 2 Palladio lip stains – “rose” and “mocha”.
Because my order was over $40, I got the NYX Beauty Break Set, with Love in Paris Palette in “Merci Beaucoup”, Doll Eye Mascara in “Extreme Jet Black”, Butter Gloss in “Maple Blondie” and Slide On, Glide On, Stay On & Definitely a Turn On Waterproof Extreme Shine Eye Liner. (I like this set better than what I actually paid for.) For samples, I chose skincare and got CoTZ Face Sunscreen and Garnier Nourishing Cleansing Oil.
This morning, I went on an adventure to replace the shattered palette and use my $10 off ANYTHING coupon to get another Urban Decay Naked Skin BB Cream. The Copperwood Ulta didn’t have the paletter OR the BB Cream. I did pick up another Zoya Remove+.
The Willowbrook Ulta did have the NYX palette – phew.
Lily also begged for Sally Hansen “Sweet Nectar”. It was 79 cents on the clearance aisle, so why not. It’s sickeningly orange, but you never know when it will come in handy.
It’s not Saturday without a quick trip to Bath & Body Works. I’d been jonesing to experience the Semi Annual Sale in person, since I’ve been ordering online.
It was a fairly conservative trip – 2 50% off 3-wick candles, plus a metal candle holder. Just 5 50% off Hand Soaps – I just needed enough to use my $10 off $40 coupon.
I need a nap – I am plumb tuckered out.
Summer Semi Annual Sale: Online Haul
Slowly, but surely, I’m getting over the fact that there isn’t a Bath & Body Works overly close to my new office. I’m soothing my pain with online shopping…
I was disappointed by the dearth of 75% off products on the website, but I did find a few things that sparked my interest. I got 3 50% off Aromatherapy Body Wash & Foam Baths (really just the foam bath part) for my husband – 2 “Lemon Zest” and a “Tangelo Woods”. The “Lemon Zest” is absolutely the best smelling bubble bath I’ve ever smelled.
The big draw for this sale was the return of classic scents (all $3.50 each) like “Plumeria”, “Country Apple”, “White Tea & Ginger”…and “Juniper Breeze”. “Juniper Breeze” unfailingly reminds me of my mother – she wore this back when the scent was called “Juniper with Aloe”. I still have her last bottle – just days after she died, I packed up all of her body spray and bubble bath to take home with me. (My sister doesn’t use either and wanted it out – it was a massive amount.) As I slowly used up all her products, she was with me a little. 10 years later, I still cling to this nearly empty bottle of “Juniper with Aloe”. Even though I now have a whole new bottle to use, the old one will still reside on my dresser – a small, but significant reminder.
Beauty Box 5 – Bon Voyage
Oh Beauty Box 5, I was considering canceling you, but you’ve won me over this month and received a stay of execution with this month’s box, themed “Bon Voyage”.
In my “Bon Voyage” box: Urban Decay Perversion Mascara (FINALLY, a prestige product – I wasn’t wowed by this mascara when I first got it, but I find myself reaching for it when I’m going out on the town); Herbal Essences Body Wash in “Honey Smell Good” (and it does); LOL Rotational Eye Shadow in “Splash That Cash” (it should be called “Irritable Bowel Syndrome”, because I’ve seen these exact shades of brown and green in the toilet this past week); Nails Inc. Nail Polish in “Bruton Street” (another fancy brand – $9.50 at Ulta or Sephora); and Simple Skincare Micellular Cleansing Water (a skimpy sample – just a moistened pad – but not a dealbreaker). There was also a $20 off $49.95 coupon for GorgeHair.com, but no way I’m spending that much money on a brand I’ve never heard of.
Keep the good boxes coming, Beauty Box 5!
Target Beauty Boxes – June 2015
So I missed the last Target Beauty Boxes in April – I was too busy sleeping off a hangover in New Orleans…but I got them this time – oh, yes I did.
Again, there were “His & Hers” boxes. His box ($5) was kind of lame – my husband was really disappointed. Whatever, at least I got him a box open…that I opened for him. Inside his box: Gillette Fusion ProGlide Razor (same one as in the last box; it was okay, but no great shakes); Axe Styling Messy Look Gel and Axe Styling Spiked Up Extra Hold Gel (My husband shaves his head and my son has longer hair than me, so needless to say – this stuff won’t get used in our house); Dove Men + Care Oxygen Charge Shampoo (will get thrown in the travel bag); and an Orabrush Tongue Cleaner (now THIS is cool and will get used).
Her box ($7) is decent: Olay Regenerist Luminous HydraSwirl Eye Cream; Revlon Ultra HD Lipstick in “Gladiolus” (the same damn color that came in my Allure Beauty Thrills); Sinful Colors “Boom Boom” (I don’t have this one – YAY!); Cutex Advanced Revival Nail Polish Remover Pads; and Fekkai Blowout (my 3rd can – also received in my February Birchbox and the October 2014 Target Beauty Box).
Both boxes shipped free and I also got a 5% discount with my Red Card. Each box also came with a $3 off $15v Beauty/Personal Care purchase, so even though the boxes were not as good as previous ones, they were still worth it.
Online Shopping Binge
I kind went nuts last week with the online shopping – between Thursday night and Saturday morning , I placed no less than 6 online orders…so many sales and coupons in my inbox…I couldn’t resist.
With the long holiday weekend and biblical flooding, almost all of the packages hit at once yesterday. Instead of half a dozen different posts, I figured I’d stuff most of them into one…
I am fairly shameless, so I’m not going to show the pile of underwear from Victoria’s Secret. Yup, I hoard panties, too.
I had been eyeing the Sephora Sun Safety Kit – I need to protect my easily scorched skin. Inside the kit are 16 different sun protection products in a cute travel bag: – AmorePacific Natural Protector SPF 30, Clarins UV Plus Anti-Pollution Broad Spectrum SPF 50, Clinique Moisture Surge CC Cream Broad Spectrum SPF 30 in Light Medium, Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Dark Spot Sun Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 50 Sunscreen, Dr. Jart+ Premium Beauty Balm SPF 45, Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment SPF 15, Josie Maran Cosmetics Argan Daily Moisturizer SPF 47, Korres Yoghurt Nourishing Fluid Veil Broad Spectrum SPF 30, Murad Invisiblur Perfecting Shield Broad Spectrum SPF 30, Ole Henriksen total truth eye crème SPF 15, Origins VitaZing Broad Spectrum SPF 15 Energy-Boosting Moisturizer with Mangosteen, Peter Thomas Roth Max Sheer All Day Moisture Defense Lotion SPF 30, Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protection Cream SPF 50+ WetForce Broad Spectrum Water Resistant (80 Minutes), St. Tropez One Night Only in Light-Medium, Supergoop! City Sunscreen Serum SPF 30, and Vita Liberata Passion Flower & Argan Dry Oil Broad Spectrum SPF 50. PHEW – that’s a lot of sunscreen!
For my 3 samples, I chose Viktor & Rolf “Flowerbomb” (spicy and flowery, reminds me of a Victoria’s Secret scent), Maison Martin Margiela REPLICA “Beach Walk” (this doesn’t smell like a perfume – it smells like a thing – LOVE), and dr. brandt Do Not Age. Sephora was also running a Jetsetter deal – pick 3 extra samples – so I got Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask, Smashbox Camera Ready BB Cream, and boscia Purifying Cleansing Gel. My face is gonna be SMOOTH.
I can’t say no to Birchbox’s Limited Edition Boxes. As soon as I got the email got the “Under the Sun” ($55) box, I knew I would eventually order it…but not until I got that 25% coupon. 25% off and $10 in Birchbox points and ADD TO CART. Inside the box: Baggu Tote Bag (I had my fingers crossed for this elephant print!), Cynthia Rowley Beauty Beauty on the Go Multi Blush & Bronzer Duo (meh), Laura Mercier Bakes Eye Color in “Cameo” (yasss), Sugarpova Flirty Candy (why does Maria Sharapova sell candy?), Chloe + Isabel Birchbox Exclusive Medina Convertible Pendant Necklace (my favorite part of the box!), Knockaround Premium Sunglasses (silver!), ncLA Nail Lacquer in “Bikinis & Martinis” (it’s the color of bubble gum you’d find stuck under a picnic table), and Supergoop! Skin Soothing Mineral Suncreen with Olive Polythenols SPF 40.
For samples, I got Vasanti Brighten Up! Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator and Sumita Jumon Contrast Eye Pencil. I also finally got my Birchbox Anniversary Keyring (not pictured).
…and today, I got a big box of Deep Cleansing Hand Soap from Bath & Body Works. You know that I start to get the shakes if I have less than 30 bottles under the sink. They were all between $2.75 & $3.25, plus 20% off and free shipping. I threw in a handful of Scentportables for my car for good measure.
I also received my Dream Polish Gem Glam Topcoat in “Lily Flower” – yes, it’s scented! This another popular one on Instagram and it’s 5 free – I can’t wait to try it out.
I am still waiting on my sale order from Delush Polish – that’s the only one that hasn’t arrived. I think I have enough stuff to keep me busy…until next week when all my subscription boxes start rolling in!
Beauty Box 5 – S.O.S.
My poor little Beauty Box 5 has been sitting on the counter for almost a week – how could I forget?
May’s theme is “S.O.S.” – Super Outstanding Skin! Inside this month’s box; Bio Swiss Stainless Steel Mini Tweezer (perfect to add to my purse emergency kit – never know when you might have a brow emergency at work); Ahava 3 Sample Pack (fancy skin stuff); Styli-Style Blush/Highlighter Stick in “Bittersweet” (kinda orangey, but hey – it isn’t bronzer); Dermalogica AgeSmart Multivitamin Hand and Nail Treatment; and Coastal Scents Classic/Synthetic Brush (it appears to be an eyeliner brush – yasss).
OK, this is a better box than the last few – they’ve got me for a few more months…
Allure Beauty Thrills – May 2015
Oh it’s been too long since the last Allure Box – 6 months! Even though I haven’t used up any of the products I’ve been using since the last two boxes, I need more…
This box is chock full of new stuff: Aloxxi Lightweight Sculpting Wax (oh HELL NAW); BIC Soleil Glow Razor (I doubt I’ll give up my beloved Mach 3 for this); Bioré Charcoal Pore Minimizer (LOVE their Charcoal line – using this tonight); Cetaphil Intensive Moisturizing Cream; Dickinson’s Original Witch Hazel Daily Refreshingly Clean Cleansing Cloths; Clear Scalp & Hair Active Damage Resist Ultra-Nourishing Shampoo and Conditioner; Colgate Optic White Express White Toothpaste; Colgate Optic White Toothbrush + Whitening Pen (got one of these in the last box and haven’t used it); Derma E Anti-Wrinkle Vitamin A Glycolic Cleanser (I got this in a Birchbox and just used it up yesterday – I love it!); Derma E Anti-Wrinkle Vitamin A Retinyl Palmitate Creme (Huh?); Dove Advanced Care Anti-Perspirant/Deoderant with NutriumMoisture (I am almost out of deodorant); Dove go Fresh Revitalize Body Wash (I am using the last one I got to shave my legs and I am almost out); Jergens Natural Glow Instant Sun Sunless Tanning Mousse in “Deep Bronze” (I’ll be giving this away); John Frieda Frizz Ease Nourishing Oil Elixir (Oooooh!); MD Complete Even Tone & Texture Accelerator; Not Your Mother’s Clean Freak Cleansing Conditioner; Physicians Formula Eye Booster Instant Lash Extension Kit (this scares me); Pond’s Rejuveness Anti-Wrinkle Cream; Revlon PhotoReady Eye Art Lid + Line + Lash in “Desert Dazzle” (my sister gave me one of these in a different color from her Allure Sample Society Box, but I haven’t tried it yet); Revlon Ultra HD Lipstick in “Gladiolus” (too orangey red for me); Secret Outlast Clear Gel (I don’t usually like gel deodorant, but I’ll try it); Suave Professionals Luxe Style Volumizing Weightless Blow Dry Spray; Suave Professionals Sea Mineral Infusion Exfoliating Body Wash; and Suave Professionals Visible Glow Self-Tanning Body Lotion (another one I’ll be giving away).
All this for $45.95 + $10 shipping! Even though I’ll be giving away about a third of the stuff, it’s still a great deal.