Category: Fragrance
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.
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.
Something’s Missing Ulta Haul
It’s that time of year where my hauls stop making sense…because I am buying GIFTS and I’m only showing you what I got for myself…
I still haven’t gotten that Naked Palette out of the Mini Brands x Ulta Balls…I did get an Allnighter Setting Spray, so I’m getting closer at least.
I got a brand new Maybelline Teddy Tint in “Mascara Tear” ($12.99) because I thought it was a lip stain…Benetint is a stain, but Teddy Tint is just a regular matte liquid lipstick. On it’s own, it dried tacky and I hated it. I tried it as a liner with a gloss on top and it was very nice…I need to stop buying such cheap ass lip products…
No hints on the gift I got or WHO I got it for…but I was able to use a $15 off code AND the last $36 of Ulta points I had stashed…and I STILL qualified for free gift with my $60 purchase…it came with Lancome Renergie H.C.F. Triple Serum; it Cosmetics Confidence in a Cleanser; Kiehl’s Ferulic Brew Rejuvenating Facial Essence (huh?); a deluxe sample bottle of Viktor & Rolf Good Fortune; and Lancome Idole Lash Mascara.
…I think I have another Ulta order sitting on my couch.
A Little Saturday Haul
Last Saturday, Lily wanted a haircut and I had just gotten my $25 off Beauty Services Voucher from Ulta for achieving Diamond Status, so we turned it into a whole day with Taco Bell and shopping…
While she was getting her hairs did with my coupon, I decided to use my free product coupon to pick a new foundation. Ulta expanded the eligible items, so I landed on Clinique Beyond Perfecting Foundation + Concealer in “Breeze” (regularly $40). I was initially going to try their new Serum Foundation, but the saleslady explained that it is HEAVIER than regular foundation, and I definitely don’t need that. It’s a perfectly serviceable concealer that matches my existing products. Cool, cool.
The ColourPop x Stranger Things collab is already on clearance, so I snagged the ColourPop Stranger Things Chapter One Eyeshadow Palette ($13, down from $26). It’s got a lot of outrageous 80s colors and glitters, so perfect for how I am feeling these days. I also snagged another Zuru Mini Brands x Ulta Ball ($9.99). I want that damn mini Naked Palette! I didn’t get it this time…but I will. At least I got to use a $3.50 off $15 coupon.
Bath & Body Works had $2.75 Wallflower Refills, so I ran in and got 10. Most are “Rose Water & Ivy”, but I picked a few other scents to go with.
Our last stop before our mandatory shopping Blizzards was checking out Katy Budget Books, which is a local version of Half Price Books. It’s a great store with an awesome staff! No hate to HPB, but there isn’t one close. The closest one is all the way in Sugarland! I found a retro (is early Y2K can be considered retro) crocheting book called The Happy Hooker and I snagged the Star Trek Cookbook for my husband…and all the recipes are inedible. At least 50% of them involve organ meat. No one in the house is brave enough to try Klingon Brain Stew.
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.
Diamond in 2025 Ulta Haul
I’d been dropping stuff in my cart for a few weeks and finally checked out…
I am paranoid about running out of shampoo & conditioner, so I got back-ups of Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Joia Strengthening + Smoothing Shampoo and Conditioner ($26 each).
I saw that Ulta had a gift with purchase for buying $19.50 worth of Ulta products…I can do that in my sleep! I had been eyeballing the Ulta Beauty Collection Weightless Water Lip Stain in “Cherry Pie” ($11). I was expecting it to be redder on…I guess I need to put like, 35 coats on? My nails need attention, so I also got an Ulta Manicure Buffing Block ($4) and two packs of Exfoliating Cotton Rounds ($3.99). I got the pink variant of the gift with purchase, which includes a 6 pan eye shadow palette; Ultamate Lashes Multi-Tasking Mascara; Poreless Face Primer; Cream Blush Stick; Tinted Eye Primer; High Shine Liquid Lipstick; Tinted Lip Oil; an Eye Shadow Brush; and a Makeup Sponge.
Speaking of nails, I also stocked up on Zoya Remove+ Nail Polish Remover ($8.40, down from $12) and a Flowery Blue Max 4-Way Buffing Block ($2.09, down from $2.99). Since I like color changing lip products and Tim Burton, I got a few of the Nightmare Before Christmas Collection products – Wet n Wild Nightmare Before Christmas Truth or Scare Color Changing Lip Oil and Nightmare Before Christmas Two-Faced Color Changing Lip Oil ($5.99 each). They are not sticky and have surprisingly solid staying power.
I used a $3.50 off $15 coupon AND $50 of my collected Ulta points, but that didn’t stop me from qualifying for 2 more gifts with purchase. First, I qualified for a 14 Piece Fall Haul with my $70 purchase, which included Belif Moisturizing Eye Bomb, Clean it Zero Ginseng-Glow Cleansing Balm; e.l.f. Poreless Putty Primer; NYX Duck Plump High Pigment Plumping Gloss in “Clearly Spicy” (I just put this on and it reminds me of the original Lip Venom – pure capsaicin on my lips – Jesus FUCK); Snail Rescue Purifying Cleanser; La Roche-Posay Mela Serum Dark Spot Correction; Florence by Mills Wildly Me (do you understand what I mean when I say it smells purple? The notes are iris, wisteria, violet and lavender); CeraVe Moisturizing Lotion; First Aid Beauty KP Bump Eraser Body Scrub (the sole reason I picked this bag variation); The Good Patch Dream Patch (a melatonin patch!); Tula The Cult Cleanser (oh, a DELUXE sample!); eczema honey Soothing Body Wash; Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser; and Vichy Mineral 89 Fortifying and Plumping Daily Booster (what is it even boosting?) I also qualified for a Platinum & Diamond Exclusive Free 10 Piece Gift with $90 purchase, which included Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer Bronzer (I bet this makes me look like I’m wearing blackface); Yves Saint Laurent Libre (stinky); Wella Ultimate Repair Miracle Hair Rescue (giving to Lily to deal with all day marching band braid damage); Benefit Precisely, My Brow Pencil in “Warm Deep Brown” (oh, this might be a match – I usually end up with Taupe in sample packs); tarte Maracuja Juicy Plumping Lip Oil (ugh, not falling for this again); Living Proof. Perfect hair Day High-Shine Gloss; Kylie Jenner Matte Liquid Lipstick in “Kylie” (ugh); Smashbox Photo Finish Primer; Anastasia Beverly Hills Lash Sculpt Lengthening & Volumizing Mascara; and OUAI Detox Shampoo (but NO MATCHING CONDITIONER – rude). Lots of good stuff!
This purchase pushed me over the edge! I’m Diamond in 2025!
Vampire Blood Halloween Drop
Look, I KNOW I am running out of room in my shower for Shower Gel…but I had two free products (up to $16.95 each) expiring in August and I got an email about a sneak preview Halloween Drop (with FREE SHIPPING) and you know the rest.
Ever since getting those “Vampire Blood” candles and lotion from the Winter Semi-Annual Sale, I’ve been wanting more of the scent. I sprung for two Shower Gels, a Body Lotion, Hand Soap (Gel AND Foaming), as well as Car Fragrance Refills. I liked a lot of the scent accessories, but they can all wait for clearance…except the bejeweled Car Fragrance Holder ($11.95) – I couldn’t risk it being sold out next winter. My only regret is that I thought I had added a mini “Vampire Blood” Fine Fragrance Mist to my cart and I did not…sigh.
I snagged a few leftovers from the Summer Semi-Annual – “Calypso Clementine” for me and “Bridgerton Diamond of the Season” for a special someone.
I need to step away from my GMAIL…
Black Honey Bum Bum
I haven’t bought mascara since…I cannot remember. I don’t remember EVER buying mascara – I get so many samples, that I toss it and grab another sample every few months or so….but then Clinique came out with Limited Edition Black Honey High Impact Mascara ($26). I love Black Honey Almost Lipstick, so I had to try it. It’s a rich burgundy, but it doesn’t read that way on my lashes. My lashes are already black, so it just lengthens them. I feel like this shade might be a game changer for blondes and those with light, light lashes though – it’s basically like a brown mascara.
In addition to the Black Honey Mascara, I wanted to try the new Sol de Janeiro scent, Cheirosa 48. I purchased the Sol de Janeiro Cheirosa 48 Perfume Mist ($24) and I am a bit disappointed in the guava/orchid scent. I expected something sweeter. I guess? It will get used…when I’m not using the JUMBO Sol de Janeiro Cheirosa 62 Perfume Mist ($38). I run through conditioner like it’s water, so I got a back-up Brazilian Joia Strengthening + Smoothing Conditioner ($26), too. Oh, and I got a few gifts with my $60 Sol de Janeiro purchase – a puffy makeup bag and another deluxe sample of Bum Bum Cream.
I grabbed the Revolution Makeup Lip Shift Lip Stain Galactic Sunrise ($8) because it’s a WonderSkin dupe. It works exactly the same, but for just $8. Too bad there’s only one shade. Lily is obsessing over AriZona Green Tea, so I got her Vacation AriZona Iced Tea Lip Balms ($11.99). The Gigi Blow Dry Wax Sticks, Hard Wax Formula ($9.99) is for my mustache. Shhhhh…
Not only did I use a 20% off code for $28.80 off, but I dug into my Ulta Points for $86.50. My total was only $31.59!
$508 to Diamond in 2025.