Category: Fragrance
June Birchbox – Say Yes!
Why is Birchbox all of a sudden taking so long to get here? Is it because everyone I know gets one now?
Instead of picking this month’s curated box from “The Tig” (I was disappointed that it wasn’t curated by Tig Notaro), I went with the regular “Say Yes!” box, picking COOLA SPF Sport 50 in “Mango” (water resistant – yay!) as my sample choice. Also inside my box: Comptoir Sud Pacifique “Vanille Extreme” (not quite Atelier, but similar); Dr. Jart+ Ceramidin Cream (I am starting to love these expensive skin care samples – my skin hasn’t looked this good since the last millennium); Marcelle Waterproof Eyeliner in “Mulberry”; Vasanti Cosmetics Brighten Up! Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator (I got a sample of this in my last Birchbox order – LOVE it); and a SARAHPOTEMPA Darby clip – very bright and 80s.
If you would like to try Birchbox, click on my referral link – https://www.birchbox.com/invite/5453f – I’ll get 50 points if you join.
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.
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!
Sephora Math
Sometimes shopping at Sephora takes a bit of math to get the best deal.
I totally fell in love with the Tory Burch perfume I received a few weeks ago. Since they didn’t have it at Ulta, I decided to break down and order it from Sephora…but $28! Daaaaang, girl. But I also noticed that Tory Burch was one of the options in the Spray of Sunshine Perfume Sampler, which was only $24. Bingo! So I ordered the set online and it got here Friday. They were also offering a Fresh & Floral Perfume Sampler for free with each $25 purchase. So I added a $1 hair tie to my order to get more samples. (I’m pretty sure that’s what those hair ties are for…)
Also inside the Spray of Sunshine Perfume Sampler: Chloe “Love Story” (old ladyish, gardenia?); Elizabeth and James “Nirvana White” (Fuck you, Olsen Twins – although marginally better than “Nirvana Black”, it smells like a knockoff, like one of those designer impostors at the grocery store); Giorgio Armani “Si” (Spicy flowers, smells like the lobby of the Palazzo in Vegas); Marc Jacobs “Daisy Dream” (Reminds me of a Mother’s Day Bouquet – bright, but cheap); and “Stella” by Stella McCartney (Love this old fashioned rose scent – already own it). Inside the Fresh & Floral Sampler: another Tory Burch; another “Nirvana White”; another “Love Story”, Burberry “My Burberry” (smells like new leather shoes – why?); Dolce & Gabbana “Light Blue” (Douchey); philosophy “live joyously” (literally smells like nothingness); Dior “Miss Dior Blooming Bouquet” ( Citrus, but flowers – good job, Natalie Portman) and my personal favorite of the bunch – Atelier Cologne “Mandarine Glaciale” (The ultimate in unisex – like masculine & feminine at the same time – orange spray, but an underlying sexual scent that’s almost obscene). For my regular 3 samples, I picked Atelier Cologne “Orange Sanguine” (I lucked out and got 2 – I already own it, but so?); Buxom “Show Some Skin” Weightless Foundation”; and Urban Decay “Naked Skin” Ultra Definition Powder Foundation.
I always have a trick up my sleeve. I volunteered for the monthly trip to Costco, knowing it would be a perfect opportunity to hit Ulta and Sephora first. Of course, I didn’t tell Logan this until we were almost to Ulta. Oh, the moaning! All I needed was more Zoya Remove+, but he also talked me into buying him a new eos lip balm in “Lemon Drop”. I must say, the kid’s got taste. We then zipped into Sephora to get my Tory Burch Rollerball. Nothing else caught my eye.
I was surprised that something did catch my eye at Costco – the Jenna Hipp “The New Candies” mini nail polish collection. I’ve never heard of Jenna Hipp, but it was only $7.99! It included 8 creme polishes in yummy sounding colors: “Marshmallow Fondant”, “Crème the Cantaloupe”, “Pink Lady Finger”, “Violet Éclair”, “Très Parfait”, “Thin Mint”, “Rose Tart” and “American Pie”.
So that’s Sephora Math – any questions?
Beauty Insider Love #3
My second Sephora order arrived yesterday, part of a huge pile of boxes – 2 Amazon, a Victoria’s Secret and my husband’s Loot Crate.
I could resist no longer…I finally broke down and ordered the Kat Von D Monarch Palette. I’ve been coveting my BFF’s Monarch and now I have one of my own…tomorrow morning I will emerge from my cocoon…
Not pictured is the Kat Von D Studded Kiss “Bauhaus” lipstick that I ordered for Loo. She was so helpful in taking the kids to school and starting dinner when I was out of town, that she deserved a little treat.
For samples, I picked out all fragrances. For my husband, I picked Dolce & Gabbana “the one” – it’s a horrible, wretched fragrance. He wrinkled his nose and his eyes started watering, so I guess he’s not going to be wearing it. He described it as “nasty.” The other two were for me – Elizabeth and James “Nirvana Black” and Tory Burch. “Nirvana Black” is also wretched. I don’t care if the Olsen Twins designed it, it’s fucking foul. Tory Burch, on the other hand, is absolutely lovely. It has notes of grapefruit and peony and I can totally see myself buying it in the near future.
Beauty Insider Love #2
Technically, this is my 2nd purchase using my 10% off Beauty Insider code, since I placed an online order yesterday.
I am usually annoyed by the lack of selection at the JC Penney’s Sephora, but I had to go to get their exclusive Summer Obsessions set. The main reason I wanted the set was the beautyblender. (Now I just need Loo to show me how to use it.) Also inside the coral makeup bag: Benefit “Watt’s Up”; NARS Lip Gloss in “Turkish Delight”; Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-hour blush in “fearless”; Tarte lights, camera, splashes 4-in-1 waterproof mascara (the one product I’m unlikely to use); Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Bronzer; and Urban Decay All Nighter Makeup Setting Spray (wish I would have had this when I was in New Orleans).
I also snagged a clearance bottle of Formula X Nail Polish in “Law of Attraction” for $2.99. I also got a free sample of Pink Sugar eau de toillette. It kinda smells like cotton candy.
My code is good until Monday – I’m trying to resist buying the Kat Von D Monarch palette…but I just might have to pull the trigger.
April Birchbox – Mad Men California
My Birchbox has been sitting here at least a week, calling to me…
I admit it, I’ve only seen a few episodes of Mad Men, so I’m not all heartbroken about the final episodes. But the products in the California box were compelling. Inside my box: 12 Benefits Instant Healthy Hair Treatment; CLEAN Original Eau de Parfum (the card says it was inspired by soapy – it’s way TOO soapy smelling, but my husband liked it and actually put it on); Cynthia Rowley Beauty Brightening Illuminator (yup, another one); LAQA & Co. Sheer Lip Lube Pencil in “Honeypot” (Honeypot!); and Not Soap, Radio Body Wash in “Bathing with sharks” (a fresh clean smell – my husband said it smells “yummy”.)
There was also a New York box – it was so hard to choose!
If you would like to try Birchbox, click on my referral link – https://www.birchbox.com/invite/5453f – I’ll get 50 points if you join.
Influenster Vox Box – Calvin Klein VoxBox
I had no idea that I qualified for the Calvin Klein Vox Box until I started getting emails telling me to check it in.
Inside the little silver bubble envelope was a sample of REVEAL Men Calvin Klein – Calvin Klein’s newest fragrance for men. Read their description:
REVEAL Men Calvin Klein captures the tension between instant attraction and playful seduction. Make him feel confident and sexy with this vibrant, salty oriental fragrance. Crystallized ginger, raw salt, and vetiver notes will leave him charismatic and spontaneous. The scent is addictive and he will be irresistible
This scent is NOT for me. It is a sophisticated scent for sure, but it smells too “Grandpa” for me to like on my husband. He sniffed it and just shrugged, which is high praise from him. I do know that he used to wear CK One long before we met, so it’s not a stretch for him to wear it. Actually, I may let his dad check it out – he might like it.
The sample also came with a little fake leather credit card holder – Logan will get a kick out of it. I’m afraid to give the sample to him – my sister gave me some Sephora Men’s cologne samples to give him and he coated himself in Paco Rabanne. Oh my GAWD, it made me gag.
As always, product received complimentary for testing purposes. Want some complimentary stuff? Check out Influenster for yourself…
February Ipsy Bag – #ipsyLove
My ipsy bag is getting better and better.
“#ipsyLove” is February’s theme. I am most excited about the polish in this bag – China Glaze “Marry a Millionaire”. The picture doesn’t do it justice – lavender and silver glitter, with green bar glitter. I also got JOYA Compostion No. 1 Parfum Oil, Medusa’s Makeup Safari Eye Shadow in “Headhunter”, Mitchell and Peach Fine Radiance Face Oil (I just started using face oil this week to try to combat winter dryness – I’ve been using nyakio Hydrating Face Oil with Kola Nut, but that sample is almost gone) and ModelCo BLUSH Cheek Powder in “Peach Bellini”.
I also used my ipsy points to get Figs & Rouge Nourishing & Soothing Hand Cream in “Rose Berry”. It is in the same tube as their lip gloss, so I hope I don’t get the two confused…
The bag is super cute and matches my purse – I’m already using my bag from last month for makeup, so I wonder what else I can put in a makeup bag in my purse?
If you’d like to try Ipsy – click here. I’ll earn 250 points if you sign up through my link.
Bout Damn Time
I was wondering if my Ulta order was EVER gonna get here.
On the last day of January, I used a 20% coupon to get the stuff I couldn’t find in-store. I ordered Urban Decay Naked Skin Ultra Definition Pressed Finishing Powder in “Naked Medium Light”, a Urban Decay Good Karma Optical Blurring Blush and Ulta Makeup Brush and Sponge Cleaner to clean it. I also couldn’t resist grabbing stila’s Glow and Behold Makeup Set, which includes Convertible Color Dual Lip & Cheek Cream in “Magnolia”, Deluxe Lip Glaze in “Gleam”, Smudge Stick Waterproof Eye Liner in “Lionfish” and a cool rhinestone headband. Normally priced $29, it was only $20 – $16 after my coupon! I really just wanted the headband. (I immediately put it on and showed my husband and he looked at me like I put a cat turd on my head. Ass.)
I chose the skincare sampler – yet another Smashbox sample – Photo Finish Foundation Primer. I also received Altchek MD Daily Moisturizer. Only 2 samples – so sad. I guess technically 3, if I count the philosophy “live joyously” scent card. I don’t.