Category: Face
January 2019 Ipsy Bag – Recharge
I am getting total summer vibes from this month’s ipsy bag. I mean, look at this summery bag – baby blue chambray stripes with a hint of coral lining…ugh, why are my feet so cold? Maybe because it’s January.
Inside this month’s “Recharge” bag: Fluide Lip Gloss in “Elsewhere” (brand is new to me…and um, will this blue gloss make me look like Elsa?); Color Club Nail Polish in “Williamsburg” (this blackened blue glitter is HAWT); Illumasqua Colouring Pencil Eye Crayon in “Honour”; Pure Brazilian Leave-in Conditioner; and H2O+ Beauty Oasis Hydrating Treatment.
This is a rather random assortment of products. The brands are kind of off as well. Is ipsy the next subscription box to get the boot???
I haven’t gotten my Allure or Sephora boxes yet this month…I wonder what that means?
If you’d like to try Ipsy – click here. I’ll earn 250 points if you sign up through my link.
First Ulta Haul of 2019
I follow enough drag queens on Instagram to know that Sugarpill is one of THE makeup brands to use – besides Jeffree Star and Anastasia Beverly Hills, of course. Ulta just started carrying their lipsticks, so I loaded a bunch in my cart and waited to see what else I needed. Originally, I had Sugarpill “Trinket” in my cart, but it sold out. I also had some other ones, but I decided to try just one and scope out the quality before buying more. I settled on “Pillow Fight” ($18), a dusty mauve with gold sparkle. It smells like a dreamsicle! The formula wasn’t super drying, but more drying than I’m used to. It lasts about as long as my other liquid lips…I’ve got a new brand to stan!
I also needed to stock up on face washes. Pacifica was BOGO 40% off, so I got Crystal Beam Foaming Crystal Face Scrub ($16) and Coconut Milk Cream to Foam Face Wash ($6, down from $10). I am VERY disappointed in the Crystal Beam – it is NOT a scrub. There is NO grit to the exfoliant – a total waste. Boo.
I also got two of my favorite eye brow pencil at BOGO 50% off – Ulta Ultra Slim Brow Pencil in “Dark Brown” (one at $10 and one at $5). Until I can afford microblading, I’ll keep buying these.
I got a 19 piece Beauty Bag with my $25 purchase. Inside the bag: Juice Beauty Phyto Pigments (and there’s actually a picture of the GOOPtress on the sample – ugh); L’Oreal Sublime Bronze Tinted Self-Tanning Lotion (nope); Benefit They’re Real Mascara (HUGE Deluxe Sample); Alterna Haircare Caviar Anti-aging Shampoo & Conditioner; Maybelline Great Lash Mascara; Ahava Mineral Mud Clearing Facial Treatment (yes!); Organic to Green Coco Oil; Caroline Herrera Good Girl; Botanics Shine Away Ionic Clay Mask (yasss); Mario Badescu Herbal Hydrating Serum; Marc Jacobs Daisy Dream; Living proof. T.B.D. multi-tasking styler; Clarins Extra-firming Nuit Night Cream; Chloe Chloe; Sexy Hair Love Oil; Boots No7 Early Defence Glow Activating Serum; Trilogy Rosehip Cream Cleanser; Philosophy Purity Made Simple Cleanser; Perricone MD H2 Elemental Energy; and PUR Get a Grip Endurance Eyeshadow Primer. Oh, and a $5 off Ulta Beauty Collection Coupon. This is the best sample bag in a bit!
Ulta is STILL not including samples with their orders. Jerks. I used a $3.50 off coupon on this order.
$399 to Platinum for 2020.
Target Beauty Boxes – January 2019
Two boxes again this month – and they are BOTH for me and my skin!
The blue box is “Hello Skin-sational!” It’s all to moisten my winter skin! Included in the box: Vichy Mineral 89 (like Heinz 57 for your face?); Cetaphil Extra Gentle Daily Scrub; Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream; Dove DermaSeries Body Lotion Replenish; La Roche-Posay Toleriane Hydrating Cleanser; La Roche-Posay Redermic R (I guess now that I’m getting old, I need that retinol); and CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream. I am gonna use ALL of these.
The yellow box is “Hello Flawless Beauty Finds!” It has all kinds of different stuff: Love Beauty & Planet Argan Oil & Lavender Deodorant (ugh, I really want to try their new deodorant, but lavender gives me a headache – I’ll have to see if they make a rose version); Method Body Wash in “Pure Peace” (peony and rosewater – omg, my favorites); Up&Up Premium Cotton Rounds; Maybelline Eye Studio Master Precise All Day Liner; Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Skin Therapy Oil (I wonder how this would do on my giant belly scar?); Schmidt’s Naturals Travel Sized Toothpaste with Activated Charcoal (I’ve been wanting to try charcoal toothpaste); and Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water All-in-1 Waterproof.
Two stuffed boxes for $7 each . As usual, free shipping, 5% off with my Red Card and each came with a $3 off $15 coupon – one for skincare only and the other for any beauty products. I didn’t use either coupon last month – I had them with my when I went to Target, I bought $20 of shampoo for the house…and I forgot to to pull a coupon out of my purse. Goddamnit.
First Sephora Haul of 2019
It was an amazing test of willpower to wait until January 1st to place a Sephora order. The 1st was the final day of the “Sale on Sale” – 20% off Clearance items, but I didn’t want to make the same mistake as last year and place an order too early.
I only wanted one thing from the Sale Page – the tarte Let’s Flamingle brush Set. Do I need more makeup brushes? No. Do I want makeup brushes shaped like flamingos and pineapples? FUCK YES. I wasn’t feeling the original $44 price, or even the $25 sale price. $20 seemed like the right place. I haven’t used them yet, but I’ve unboxed them and they are soft and uber-fluffy.
I also picked up Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Mattemoiselle Plush Matte Lipstick in “Flamingo Acid” ($18). Are you sensing a theme here? I’d been coveting the shade since it dropped as part of the 10/10 set – but I wasn’t about to buy 10 tubes of lipstick for just one shade. Luckily, they just released them all individually. I busted it out today – it is absolutely the perfect winter shade. It makes me look really white, but hey – I AM really white.
I’m super bummed that Sephora is still only offering two samples per order. (They’re also changing up the Rouge Benefits for 2019 – ugh, now I’ll have to pick between makeovers and free shipping – you cannot have both now.) I had picked a Jo Malone sample, but of course I didn’t get it. I got AmorePacific The Essential Creme Fluid and Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder. I absolutely HATE powders on a postcard. Ugh, Sephora – get it together.
$952 to Rouge.
Sephora Play! December 2018 – Cheers to Beauty
It’s only the 3rd – late, but not too bad.
December’s box is really light – all of the products are very tiny. I am most excited about the Fresh Sugar Lip Caramel Hydrating Balm. If my nose was working, I’d tell you how good it smells. Unfortunately, you’ll just have to pretend I told you it smells just like a yummy caramel swirl. I am religious about using heavy balms and masks on my lips every night, so this will be put to good use immediately.
Also in this month’s box: Too Faced Primed & Peachy Cooling Matte Perfecting Primer (the insert says it smells like peaches & cream); Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes 4-in-1 Mascara in “Black”; MoroccanOil Treatment (for hair); and Sephora Collection Rouge Gel Lip Liner in “Nothin’ But Nude”. As a bonus, they added a sixth sample to my box – Stellar Cosmic Face Powder in “Haze”. (I had no idea what this product is, so I had to look it up on Sephora’s site – it’s a mattifying translucent finishing powder – NICE). Not horrible products, but nothing really exciting either.
Another month without a fragrance sample. So sad.
I kind of miss the fabric pouches that used to come with the box. I mean…I don’t do anything with them, but I don’t do anything with these weird ziploc pouches either.
Sephora Play is usually my favorite monthly beauty box. Sephora Play is only $10/month. You can sign up at sephora.com/play.
December 2018 Allure Beauty Box – By Popular Demand
As soon as spoilers began popping up, I was pumped. Partially because of NikkieTutorials – gotta support the tall girls – but mostly because her product choices are on point.
I’ve been wanting to try out Juvia’s Place eye shadows, so I was most excited about the custom palette created by Juvia’s Place, just for the Allure Beauty Box. The custom palette contains six out of the twelve shades in The Nubian Palette. Having been struck with the flu, I haven’t yet tried it – I am counting the minutes until I am germ free!
Also in Nikkie’s box: OFRA x NikkiTutorials Everglow Highlighter (oh, we’re still doing highlighters?); NYX Lip Lingerie in “Cabaret Show” (I don’t have this one – score!); Ren Clean Skincare Evercalm Overnight Recovery Balm; LASplash Art-Ki-Tekt Waterproof Slim Eyeliner; and single foil packed Neutrogena Makeup Remover Wipe (Isn’t this the product that gave eveyone rashes? Um, no thanks).
This box is nearly a full face – for just $15! The booklet is also full of discount codes for most of the brands included – 30% off OFRA, 10% off Juvia’s Place, 20% off Ren and 25% off LASplash.
The Allure Beauty Box is $15/month, but they give you $5 off your first box. They also offer an option for $150/year – a savings of $30. Sign up via my referral link..
Target Beauty Boxes – December 2018
My Target Beauty Boxes got here quick! I mean…they sat on the counter for about a week before I opened them, but they got here quick.
I love His & Hers Beauty Boxes. My box – “Hello Glow!” – has lots of citrus scented products: bliss Lemon & Sage Body Butter; ME! Bath Coconut & Lime Bath Bomb (would it be tacky to stuff this in one of the kids’ stockings?); and Dr. Teals Pink Himalayan Body Scrub. I love citrus-y stuff. There’s also some non-citrus stuff: Que Bella Professional Plumping Gold Peel off Mask; Ponds Cold Cream; and Dove Nutritive Solutions Intensive Repair Shampoo (no conditioner – assholes!)
His box – “Hello Handsome!” – has lots of good stuff, too. My husband will enjoy: Degree for Men Black & White UltraClear Antiperspirant; Harry’s Shiso Body Wash; Crest Gum Detoxify Toothpaste (cooling activated foam!); Dove Men+Care Body Wash Minerals + Sage; Cremo Bourbon & Oak Solid Cologne (my son said it smells good, but it smells like a bar rag to me); Bulldog Skincare Sachet Perforated Trio (moisturizer, face wash & shave gel).
A good value for $7 each . As usual, free shipping, 5% off with my Red Card and each came with a $3 off $15 coupon for beauty/personal care. I hope I get a chance to use them!
Second Chance at Black Friday
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Last Friday, I was off work, out and about and I happened to notice an email for $2.95 Hand Soap Sale. So after Big Lots, I skipped on over to Bath & Body Works…
I filled a bag with 6 bottles…what? That is a damn empty bag, but I just filled up on soap a few weeks ago. I was hoping to use the coupons I forgot to bring to Candle Day the week before. [$8.95 3 wick candles – it was INSANE. There were bare shelves everywhere and I managed to get 2 of the last 3-4 “Twisted Peppermint” candles. I was lucky I didn’t get shanked in the parking lot.] Unfortunately, I couldn’t stack coupons with the soaps…but they would let me do two transactions…
I was about to give up and just leave with my soap, when I noticed that they had two racks of sexy black bags by the front door. They had a shitload of the VIP Black Friday Bags left! I verified with an employee – they were selling them for $35 each and I could use all my coupons. Not only did I get $10 off, but I got a free “Winter Candy Apple” Shower Gel for Lily and a free “White Citrus” Shower Gel for myself.
Inside the gorgeous fake leather VIP bag: a Fine Fragrance Mist in “Into the Stars” (it smells nice, but I wasn’t ready to start a new scent, so I gave it to Lily); a “Winter Candy Apple” 3 wick candle, a “Twisted Peppermint” Foaming Hand Soap, a Men’s Collection 2-in-1 Hair & Body Wash in “Ocean” (my husband shall enjoy it); “Vanilla Bean Noel” Shea Butter Hand Cream; “Champagne Toast” Antibacterial Hand Gel; and a “Lump of Coal” Charcoal Sheet Mask with Purifying Charcoal.
Just a few weeks more weeks until the Semi-Annual Sale! I better make room!
Target Beauty Box – November 2018
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Well, since I ordered the December Target Beauty Boxes today – YES, there are TWO – I should probably tell you what was in the November box?
My dry winter skin needs ALL the products in this month’s “Hello Hydration” box. Inside the box: Hask Monoi Coconut Oil Nourishing Shampoo & Conditioner (super deluxe sample bottles!); bliss Drench & Quench Cream-to-Water Hydrator; Aquaphor Lip Repair (my poor lips need this so bad); Lumene VALO Overnight Cream; and L’Oreal Hydra Genius Liquid Care Moisturizer.
I cannot wait to moisten myself with these beauties! I will be so MOIST.
A good value for $7. As usual, free shipping, 5% off with my Red Card and a $3 off $15 coupon (that expired yesterday, December 3rd).
Cyber Fundays 2018
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This Xmas, I did my Ulta shopping BEFORE Thanksgiving, during the “Cyber Fundays” event. They had some smoking deals that I couldn’t pass up! There were also some decent Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals, but mostly on stuff I already had, like half price Modern Renaissance and Naked Heat. Boo!
If you’re thinking that this order looks skimpy…it’s because I pulled out the gifts I ordered for my daughter. She doesn’t come here, but her brother does – and I trust him about as far as I can throw him with one hand.
I was excited to snatch the NYX Lip Snacks Soft Matte Metallic Lip Cream Set ($15, down from $25) for myself. It’s a set of 12 minis of my favorite lip formula from NYX, specially scented like buttercream. I’ve onlhy sampled 2 so far, but they are the BEST. I also got a half-price Urban Decay Razor Sharp Water-Resistant Longwear Liquid Eyeliner in “Demolition” ($11, down from $22) – I think a shiny brown cat eye will look good on me.
The biggest bummer was a broken bottle in the China Glaze The Grinch Grinchworthy Nail Art Duo ($10). It wasn’t the “Grinchworthy” polish itself, but the “For Rhinestones Only” adhesive – the stem of the bottle broke inside the cap and it leaked everywhere. I called Ulta Customer Service and they sent me out another one immediately, no questions asked – so now I have 2 bottles of “Grinchworthy” and 2 pots of green felt. I cannot wait to make my nails look like Astroturf! Oh, and I got another tidbit from Customer Service – they won’t be including samples in orders again until January. Cheap bastards.
I added a bottle of Zoya Remove+ to get me over the $65 mark, to get the glittery pink 18-piece Cyber Fundays sample bag. The sample bag was STUFFED – it had: Too Faced Glitter Glue (saving for a special occasion); Cover FX Blurring Primer; Urban Decay Perversion Mascara; Patchology Flashpatch Restoring Night Eye Gels (this is the third set I’ve gotten – I guess I should use them); philosophy Renewed Hope in a Jar; Clinique Happy; 2 Anastasia Beverly Hills Lip Glosses in “Vintage” (2!!!); Lime Crime Unicorn Hair in “bunny” (ugh, another one); bliss lemon & sage body butter; Biolage Hydra Source Shampoo & Conditioner; L’Oreal Paris Voluminous Primer/Base for Mascara; philosophy Amazing Grace; Armani Code Cashmere; Skin Laundry Hydrating Cream Face Wash; L’Oreal Paris Pure-Clay Cleanser Detox-Brighten (this black one is my fave); MAC False Lashes Mascara in “Extreme Black”; and Clinique Moisture Surge Hydrating Supercharged Concentrate. There were also 2 hot coupons – $15 off $75 (only good in December) and another $5 off $15 Ulta Beauty Collection (good until 2/1/19).
I was also able to use a $10 off coupon, bringing my order down to $64.49 before tax – but I still got the bag. I was sweating for a hot minute! Just $301 to Diamond…I do predict another order before the end of the year, but not that much!