Category: Face
January 2021 Allure Beauty Box – Happy Returns
I know I’m way past due to talk about a January Beauty Box, but I wanted to try at least SOME of the products first.
When I first opened the box, I was like, WTF is this skimpy box? But I was intrigued as I started rooting through the box. The first thing I noticed was the card from Mani Me x Allure worth $30 towards customized stick-on nail gels. You upload pics of your nails and they 3D print them to fit exactly! I ordered a set and am patiently awaiting their arrival.
The big box in this month’s box is Saturday Skin Rub-a-Dub Refining Peel Gel. This was an interesting product. I don’t use peels often because of my sensitive skin, but this one was super gentle. I still don’t plan on using it more than every few weeks.
Also in this month’s box: L’occitane Immortelle Reset Huile-en-Serum (smells so good); True + Luscious Super Moisture Lipstick in “Vintage Rose”; The Beauty Crop Blush Duo in “Mauve-ulous”; and a Baseblue Airsponge.
I’ll hold off judgement on this box until I get my Mani Me Gels…
The Allure Beauty Box recently increased their price from $15 to $23/month. They also offer an option for $250/year – a savings of $26. Sign up via my referral link.
January 2021 Ipsy Bag – Dream It
Don’t dream it…be it…
I’ve had to keep a close eye on this little ipsy bag – my daughter keeps trying to steal it! Her favorite YouTuber is “Dream”, so she really wants this Dreamy-y makeup bag.
My product choice this month was Byroe Salmon Cream – it’s made of FISH EGGS. Yeah, I don’t care – I’ve been rubbing it all over my face. It’s not any worse snail slime.
Also in this month’s bag: Sugar Cosmetics Matte as Hell Crayon in “Viola” (LOVE this shade); Complex Culture Time Pressed Lip Balm (I lined my lips with the lip crayon and filled in with this balm – the crayon stayed put, but my lips were also moisturized); Laruce Beauty LR22 Kabuki Brush in Denim Blue Collection (this is the tiniest kabuki brush I’ve ever seen); and Kensie Beauty So Pretty Fragrance (I have been wearing it – but the scent is so non-descript that I cannot describe it….it’s just…there.)
Another great bag – thanks, ipsy!
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.
Sephora Favorites Hello! Greatest Beauty Hits (and more)
Ooooh! Sephora Sale on Sale! An extra 20% off sale items…so tempting.
I’d been eyeing the newest Sephora Favorites Hello! Greatest Beauty Hits set. $8 on sale is better than $10…but $6.40 is even better. I was most interested in Sol de Janeiro Cheirosa ’62 Eau de Parfum – it was so summery. Also in the set: It Cosmetics Lash Blowout Volumizing Mascara; Tarte SEA Jelly Glaze Anytime Lip Mask in “Strawberry Jelly”; BareMinerals Gen Nude Powder Blush in “Call My Blush”; First Aid Beauty FAB Pharma Arnica Relief & Rescue Mask; and Sephora Collection Ultra Glow Serum: Glow + Strengthen Vitamin C Serum. As usual, the set comes with 15% off vouchers for each product – I might actual used the Cheirosa ’62 one.
While browsing the sale section, I found a few other smokin’ deals. I splurged on a Fresh Rose Hydration Skincare Essentials Set ($55, down from $63 – $44 after discount). I also picked up the tarte SEA Yours & Mine Quench Lip Rescue Duo ($17, down from $19 – $13.60 after discount). I really like the Lip Rescue I got in the Give Me Some Balm Set – all the mask wearing has dried out my lips! The Milk Makeup KUSH Triple Brow Pen ($11, down from $22 – $8.80 after discount) was a bad purchase. The first time I used it, it was GREAT. The color “Dutch” was a perfect match to my brows and each stroke was like a little hair. The second time I used it though, it did not work at all. It’s like all the color went out of the pen after one use! Ugh, if I wasn’t so lazy, I’d take it back.
For my samples, I got Kiehl’s Calendula Water Cream and amika Flash Instant Shine Mask.
I made this purchase in 2020, but it wasn’t enough to put me into VIB status – I still needed like $65, but I didn’t want to buy something dumb. I feel like such a peasant.
December 2020 Allure Beauty Box – Hello Hibernation!
Okay, this is more like it!
I’ve been threatening to cancel my Allure Beauty Box for several months now, but the December box was full of really good products!
The STAR of December’s box was the Ciate London Trend Edit Palette ($24). This is a beautiful eyeshadow palette full of rich browns and spicy shimmers – I’m a sucker for a red shimmery eyeshadow! Just this palette is worth the cost of the box!
Also in this month’s “Hello Hibernation” box: Mudmasky Leave-Me-On Winter Mask; Caudalie Vinosource S.O.S. Thirst-Quenching Serum; ByMe x MyBeautyBrand Black Liquid Eyeliner; La Roche-Posay Retinol B3 Serum; and Cetaphil Deep Hydration Healthy Glow Daily Cream (this is a rich, thick face cream – I prefer to sleep in it, than to wear for daytime).
In addition to the normal box, there was a special “Beauty Loot” pouch, just for me! Inside the pouch was a deluxe fragrance sample of Proenza Schouler Arizona! It’s a mature and mysterious scent – it reminds me of Neiman Marcus for some reason…
Keep kissing my butt, Allure – I like it!
The Allure Beauty Box recently increased their price from $15 to $23/month. They also offer an option for $250/year – a savings of $26. Sign up via my referral link.
December 2020 Ipsy Bag – Home for the Holidays
Well of course, I’m home for the holidays – we cannot go anywhere!
I cannot stop stroking this month’s fuzzy makeup bag – it’s like a pink sheep!
I am loving getting a Color Club Nail Polish every few months – this month, I got “Get Lost”, a creamy powder blue. Lily already snatched it to use – I hope I get to use it soon.
Also in this month’s bag: Feel Enzymatic Exfoliating Cleanser (I love the almond-y scent); Goldfaden MD Facial Detox Clarify + Clear Mask (I LOVE this mask – it’s got a hint of tingle and it made my skin AMAZING); IBY Beauty Lush Eyeshadow in “Yoga Pants” (A perfect “lazy” eye shadow – a single swipe across the eye and you’re done); and Kensie Life Beat Body Lotion (the only product in this month’s bag that I haven’t sampled yet).
This might be the best bag I’ve received all year. I did not select a product this month, but their picks were perfect for me.
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.
Super Skin Surprises
I don’t know that I would’ve paid $12.99 for the Ulta Super Skin Surprises Set, but 50% off ($6.49) is just right.
I was drawn to the set for the Jergens Rose Body Butter. It’s got a nice, light rose scent, but it STILL smells unmistakably like Jergens Lotion. I do NOT especially care for that Jergens scent, so I will not be purchasing this body butter when I run out.
I just finished off the Pacifica Kale Lip Balm that I kept in my office, so I replaced it with the Thayers Organic Slippery Elm Slip Balm in “Peppermint Stick”. I love how smooth and wintery it makes my lips feel.
I have no desire to darken my skin, so I gave the St. Tropez Self Tan Purity Vitamins Bronzing Face Serum to my kids. Then slathered it on their faces and to be fair, they did start to look like Oompa Loompas. All kidding aside, my son got compliments from girls and they wanted to know what products he was using, so apparently, this stuff works.
I have been using the Curel Set, which includes Curel Moisture Facial Lotion Enrich and Curel Intensive Moisture Facial Cream. I am much two lazy to use a two product regiment every night, but this one isn’t too bad. I like the way my face feels the next day after using it.
Also in the box: Garnier Micellar Cleaning Water All-in-1 Cleanser & Waterproof Makeup Remover (I like this for pre-cleaning before face masks); Neutrogena Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelette Single; and No7 Laboratories Dark Circle Corrector in “Light/Medium”. A great box, all things considered.
This is the order that put me into Diamond status for 2021, but the rest of my order was gifts and stocking stuffers, so I’ll keep them private.
Perfect Shine Splurge
Back in November, I think when Sephora was offering 15% off, Ulta sent out a $10 off $40 coupon, so why not restock on a few things. Sometimes, there’s nothing like splurging on fancy shampoo & conditioner!
I’d gotten to try NatureLab Tokyo Perfect Shine Shampoo & Conditioner ($14 each) in an Allure Beauty Box last year. I really liked it, but it wasn’t widely available. Fast forward a year and now Ulta carries it – score! The secret ingredient is grape stem cells. I don’t know what those are. I also picked up some a single use conditioners – PURA D’OR Single Use Hair Thinning Therapy Intense Moisturizing Masque ($1.79), HASK Shea Butter & Hibiscus Oil Anti-Frizz Deep Conditioner Packette ($2.99) and HASK Tea Tree Oil & Rosemary Hair & Scalp Treatment Mask Packette ($2.99).
Freeman Masks were on super sale, so I bought a replacement Cucumber & Pink Salt Clay Mask. I also grabbed a clearance China Glaze “Rainbow” for $2.62 and a new Flowery nail buffer.
I definitely did NOT buy that Kylie Cosmetics Velvet Lip Kit in “Bare” – it was a gift with $25 makeup purchase. I now know the secret of the Kylie Lip Kits! The lip liner is one tick darker than the lipstick, so it creates an optical illusion of a fuller lip. The more you know…I tried it out and the color was WAY too light for me. Hypothetically, my lips did look bigger though.
My $70 purchase qualified me for a Hello Holidays Sample Bag – it’s so fancy! Inside the bag: Dermablend Insta-Grip Jelly Primer; Awake Pore Down Tightening Concentrate; Donna Karan Cashmere Mist Towelette (WEIRD); Lake & Skye 11 11 (I could not smell this); MAC Lipstick samples in “Ruby Woo”, “M-A-C Red” & “Cockney”; Too Faced Damn Girl! Mascara; Pravana Color Protect Cleanse and Condition (HUGE samples tubes – will try these out after my next dye session); Philosophy Purity Made Simple Hydra-Bounce Eye Gel; Ahava Dead Sea Water Mineral Body Lotion; Tula Skincare 24-7 Moisture Hydrating Day & Night Cream; Smashbox Photo Finish Primer; Burberry Her; Yves Saint Laurent Mon Paris; NatureLab Tokyo Perfect Shine Shampoo & Conditioner (foilpacks for travel!); Tonymoly Golden Pig Collagen Bounce Mask; Gucci Guilty; AG Haircare Glow Shine Infuse Serum; Lancome Teint Idole Ultra Wear Sample Card (none of these will match me); Beekman 1802 Milk Drops Probiotic Ceramide Serum; John Frieda Frizz Ease Secret Weapon Touch-up Creme; Patchology Little Helper Energy Dietary Supplement Strip (a caffeine strip that melts on your tongue – is drinking a cup of coffee so hard?); and VDL Velvet Blur Primer.
Oh, and if the order looks a little light, it’s because there were a few gifts in my order…
November 2020 Allure Beauty Box – Back in Full Force
I was prepared to cancel my subscription before I opened this month’s box, but it was *just* compelling enough for me to wait and see what next month brings…
I’ve been using Dermelect Self Esteem Beauty Sleep Serum for the past week. It does sting a tiny bit when I apply it, but it absorbs very quickly. I have no idea which ingredient is doing that – maybe the salicylic acid?
Oooh…Naturelab Tokyo Perfect Shine Clarifying Scalp Scrub! This will go great with the shampoo I just bought (but haven’t posted about yet).
Also in this month’s box: Josephine Cosmetics Eye/Dazzle The Liquid Metallic Eyeshadow in “Leona” (haven’t tried yet, but intrigued); Manna Kadar Lip Bliss Moisturizing Lip Mask; Skinmedica Instant Bright Eye Mask; Neogen Dermalogy Real Ferment Micro Essence (it’s made of ferments yeast and rice – I’m scared); When The Last Choice Sheet Mask; and Acure Ultra Hydtrating 12 Hour Facial Moisturizer (excited to try this one – Acure is a great brand).
Is the quality of the boxes FINALLY starting to improve? Or is this a fluke? Stay tuned for next month’s decision…
The Allure Beauty Box recently increased their price from $15 to $23/month. They also offer an option for $250/year – a savings of $26. Sign up via my referral link.
October 2020 Ipsy Bag – You’re Magic
Good old, reliable ipsy. I can always count on ipsy for a good bag.
Not only was this month’s bag out-of-this-world black pleather with gold embossing, but the contents kicked butt, too. I’ve been using the HELL out of the Illuminati Cosmetics Quad Palette in “Secret Society”. I’ve never heard of this brand before, but it’s really good quality.
My product choice this month was Tarte Maracuja Tinted Hydrator in “Fair Neutral”. I was shocked at how much coverage was in a tinted moisturizer. For me, it gave medium coverage while feeling light om my skin. It did get all over the inside of my mask, so that was annoying.
Also in this month’s bag: Benefit Gimme Brow+ Warm Golden Blonde 2 Volumizing Eyebrow Gel (I’ll literally never use this); Essence Cosmetics Pure Nude Highlighter 010 in “Popping Champagne” (this was a nice subtle highlighter – I liked it); and Timeless Beauty Bar Apres Sea Face Sheet Mask and Face the Day Face Sheet Mask Set.
All in all, a good mix of products – I’ll use 4/5. Allure better get their shit together or I am canceling and upgrading to Ipsy Plus.
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.
October 2020 Allure Beauty Box – Screen Gab
$23 for this???
I was expecting at 4-5 full size products for $23, so imagine my surprise to get this box of tiny little random products.
The only product I’ve been using so far is the Dr. Jart+ Ceramidin Cream – I’ve been putting it on my face before I go to bed. It is a very heavy moisturizer, so not suitable for daytime. I definitely WILL use the Static Nails Liquid Glass Lacquer in “Irene”, but it is not spooky enough for the few weeks before Halloween.
Also in this month’s “Screen Gab” box: The Nue Co. Topical C (powdered vitamin C that I am supposed to mix into other face products – way too much work for me); Verso Super Eye Serum (ugh); Sigma Liquid Lipstick in “Venom” (not even full size – rude – and I haven’t been bothering with lipstick since I cannot leave the house without a mask); La Roche-Posay Lipikar Balm AP+ (I literally just put this on my hands – it is kinda nice); Wilma Schumann Hydrating Collagen Eye Pads; and Rusk Native Fig Shampoo & Conditioner...just a single use foil pack! What a rip-off!
I’ll give Allure one more month to get their shit together or I am pulling the plug.
The Allure Beauty Box just increased their price from $15 to $23/month. They also offer an option for $250/year – a savings of $26. Sign up via my referral link.