Category: Hair
Miscellaneous Ulta Haul
Really…I just needed shampoo. I’d had my refill of NatureLab.Tokyo Perfect Smooth Shampoo ($23) in my cart for weeks…I just added stuff slowly until I had enough junk for free stuff!
I had seen KVD Beauty Everlasting Hyperlight Vegan Transfer-Proof Liquid Lipstick in “Velvet Cloak” ($23) on insta…I was transfixed by the color. It’s a new shade, not a renamed shade from Kat Von D. I was SO right – it’s gorgeous on me. It’s not quite “Lolita”/”Queen of Poisons” – but it’s close. Speaking of lippies, I also got Ulta Weightless Water Lip Stain in “Very Berry” ($6, down from $10). This formula doesn’t bleed quite as much as the Revolution version – I love it!
For funsies, I added a bunch of other sale stuff to my cart: a HASK Color Care Color Protection Deep Conditioner ($1.79, down from $2.99); 2 packs of Exfoliating Cotton Rounds ($2.09, down from $3.49); Ulta Crystal Aloe Scented Gel Hand Wash ($2.10, down from $3.50); Ulta Soft Cotton Scented Foaming Hand Wash ($2.10, down from $3.50); J. Cat Beauty Curl & Lift-Up Eyelash Comb Curler ($2.39, down from $3.99 – for Lily, because curled lashes are all the rage with high schoolers these days); 2 EcoTools Bath Poofs ($2.39, down from $2.99); an Ulta 4-Way Buffing Block ($2.40, down from $4); Freeman Refining Pink To Green Color Changing Clay Facial Mask ($3.49, down from $4.99 – this mask pissed me off…it did not start green, nor did it turn green – BULLSHIT MARKETING); Freeman Soothing Pumpkin Mud Facial Mask ($3.49, down from $4.99 – it smells like pumpkin pie); and a wet n wild Ultimate Brow Micro Brow Pencil in “Medium Brown” ($3.59, down from $4.79 – not bad, but has a reddish tinge that looks cheap).
I used a $15 off $75 code and GOT a nice gift with purchase. Inside this positively BURSTING 20 piece “Little Luxuries” sample bag (free with my $80 purchase): Benefit The POREfessional Super Setter Long-Lasting Makeup Setting Spray (I have so much setting spray, I could paint my house with it); Urban Skin Rx Retinol Rapid Repair Treatment; Clinique High Impact Mascara; IGK Pay Day Instant Repair Shampoo, Conditioner & Cash In Instant Repair Serum; Vichy Mineral 89 Booster; Giorgio Armani Acqua Di Gio; Tula Skincare Take Care + Polish/Take Care + Nourish; olaplex No. 8 Bond Intense Moisture Mask (ooooh, this is the good stuff); Curlsmith Bond Curl Rehab Salve (sending to my niece, Curly Sue); Sexy Hair Imperfect Nectarine Strengthening Mask; Gucci Flora Gorgeous Jasmine; Urban Decay Wild Lash Vegan Mascara; Good Molecules Silicone-Free Priming Moisturizer; Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder; La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Matte Moisturizer; Mugler Alien Goddess; Giorgio Armani Si Passione; Buxom Wanderlust Blush Card; Kylie Cosmetics Matte Liquid Lipstick Card Sample in “Mary Jo K”; and Viktor & Rolf Good Fortune.
Just $119 to Diamond in 2023…almost there!
Good Apple, Super Mud
I love Ulta’s “21 Days of Beauty” sales – every day they have amazing deals on a wide range of products.
I jumped on the deal for 50% off KVD Beauty Good Apple Skin-Perfecting Hydrating Foundation Balm in “Light 010” ($20.25 instead of $40.50). It’s basically foundation in a compact. I’ve only had a chance to try it once, since it is still hot as FUCK here in Texas. For my first try, I applied on bare skin – no primer – and used an Urban Decay Foundation Brush. It sure is full coverage! It went on very thick, but I was able to get fairly smooth full coverage. It came off as a thick coat though, as my husband said it looked like “kabuki makeup.” I topped with Kat Von D Lock-it Setting Powder, which gave it a nice matte finish. The next time I use it, I’ll experiment with primers and a beauty blender for lighter coverage.
Another smoking deal was 50% off Glamglow SUPERMUD Charcoal Instant Treatment Mask ($30 instead of $60). I am sucker for facial masks, especially luxurious ones.
Although it wasn’t on sale, I need conditioner, so I got a NatureLab.Tokyo Perfect Smooth Conditioner Refill ($23).
Oh, and there was an AMAZING gift with purchase – a 14 piece sampler with my $60 purchase. There are 4 deluxe perfume sample! Little cute bottles – not tiny sample vials! The fragrances are Moschino Boy Toy, Versace Yellow Diamond, Viktor & Rolf BonBon, and Ralph Lauren Polo Earth. I haven’t tried any of them yet. Also in the gift: Ellis Brooklyn Bee (small vial, not deluxe); First Aid Beauty Bump Eraser Body Scrub; Sacheu Beauty Slick Skin; Florence by Mills Up in the Clouds Facial Moisturizer; it Cosmetics Confidence in a Cream; Banila Co Purity Therapy; Maelys B-Tight Lift & Firm Booty Mask (ooooh kay); Sun Bum 3 in 1 Leave In Treatment; Kiehl’s Super Multi-Corrective Eye Zone Treatment; ThisWorks Deep Sleep Pillow Spray; Murad Rapid Dark Spot Correcting Serum; Kopari Coconut Crush Scrub; Derma e Advanced Peptides & Collagen Serum; MAC Fix+ Spray; Living proof. Full Dry Volume & Texture Spray; Urban Decay Perversion Mascara; Love Wellness bye bye bloat Supplement; Derma e Thickening Shampoo & Conditioner; NatureLab.Tokyo Perfect Repair Shampoo & Conditioner; OUAI Detox Shampoo (no matching conditioner?); Grande Cosmetics Grande Gummies Vegan Collagen Booster (I just ate them – yummy); vor Sunset Rituals Conditioner (heyyyyy, no shampoo); and HASK Tea Tree Oil & Rosemary Hair & Scalp Treatment Mask. That is 27 samples, not 14…score!
Just $244 to Diamond in 2023!
Influenster Vox Box – Conair Cool Air Styler
I am BAD at hair.
Let me rephrase that…I can grow hair, lots of it. I am also pretty good at coloring my hair. I am REALLY FUCKING BAD at styling my hair. I acquire tool after tool, looking for the holy grail tool that will make hair styling easy for me. Will it be the InfinitiPro By Conair Cool Air Styler???
I was pumped to get another Vox Box so soon after the last one. (Oh yeah, I received this product complimentary from Influenster and Conair in exchange for my honest review.)
Well, right off the bat, I was annoyed that I had to blow-dry my hair first. Ugh, it only works on dry hair. Okay, I can deal with that…I dried my hair and got to work…it absolutely did not help that it was rainy outside. My hair doesn’t hold a curl well on a normal day, but forget about it when humidity is involved…
As you can see, the end results were mixed. I was able to get a nice way going on my right side, but this tool is not ambidextrous like the Beachwaver or the Dyson Airwrap. Doing the left side of my head was very AWKWARD and I must practice. It also made a far better wave on tiny amounts of hair (less than half an inch), than the usual amount I try to curl (an inch or so). I feel like it would take three hours to curl all my hair that way. It was however, FAR more comfortable to use than a regular curling iron because of the cool air blowing on the shaft. It supposedly locks in the curl, but if nothing else, keeps your scalp from sweating while you are holding it up to your head.
Sigh. The Conair Cool Air Styler is not MY holy grail, but it is an improvement over most old fashioned curling irons. It takes some practice to get the hang of it, and there are three different heat settings. It normally retails for $64.99, but Amazon has it for $49.97!
Barbie x GLOSSYBOX
GLOSSYBOX is one of the few subscription boxes that I haven’t tried yet. When I saw ads for the Barbie x GLOSSYBOX collaboration, I had to get in on it.
I was excited to see that GLOSSYBOX allows non-subscribers to purchase their limited edition boxes – phew! The Barbie box was $35 for me, but $30 for GLOSSYBOX subscribers. It’s still available to order – click here!
I wish I had looked a bit closer at what was included in the box before I ordered it…I was pissed when I realized that the included eye shadow palette – Ä€THR Beauty Moonlight Crystal Palette – in the Halsey Glam Bag X last August. Well fuck…some lucky person might be getting it as a gift? It’s a GREAT palette, for a night out or even a grocery store trip.
The other big winner in the box was the Revolution Beauty Pout Bomb Plumping Gloss in “Candy”. At first, I was put off by the color – it’s super light. But then I had the idea to pair it with a darker lip liner and it looked AMAZING. I don’t care for plumping products that are spicy and hurt, but this one is just a mildly tingly mint. I love it!
I’ve been washing my face with the GLOSSYBOX SKINCARE Gentle Foaming Cleanser. It’s light and rinses clean. I also like the Cuvée Beauty Champagne Infused Eau De Parfum Rollerball. It reminds me of a Mimosa – champagne and orange juice.
The box also included First Aid Beauty Niacinamide Brightening Cream; Knesko Skin Rose Quartz Antioxidant Collagen Face Mask; Spectrum Collection A10 Small Fan Brush; Emilie Heathe Makeup Hair Clips (they are weird looking, but I like the concept); Floss Beauty Highlighter in “Sunbeam”; and a Makeup Eraser (I mean…I can always use another washcloth?)
I feel like I got a lot of value for just $35, even though the eye shadow was a dupe. According to GLOSSYBOX, the retail value of the box is over $230.
GLOSSYBOX subscriptions range from $21 monthly (if you purchase one month at a time) to $17.50 monthly (if you purchase a year at a time).
PEEPS Polish Haul
$1.50 nail polish…yes…$1.50 PEEPs nail polish…you have my interest AND you have my attention.
Even though it’s well past Easter, I added the entire Sally Hansen Insta-Dri x PEEPS Collection to my cart – “PEEPS Pink”, “PEEPS Yellow”, “PEEPS White”, “PEEPS Blue”, and “PEEPS Fruit Punch.” Is “Fruit Punch” even a color?
I love freebies, so I restocked on my favorite brow pencil – Ulta Ultra Slim Brow Pencil in “Dark Brown” and “Medium Brown” ($10 each). This gave me a free 10 piece gift from Ulta: Eye Shadow Palette (8 shades); Highlighter & Blush Duo; Luxe Lipstick in “Raisin”; Tinted Lip Oil (great for removing long wear lip paint); Clear Brow Gel; Matte Eye Primer in Nude; Mattifying Face Primer; Lash Flash Mascara; and a Makeup Removing Cloth in a faux leather Makeup Bag.
I am a sucked for each new lippie that NYX puts out, so I grabbed a NYX Smooth Whip Blurring Matte Lip Cream in “Velvet Robe” ($8), which granted me a freebie: an NYX Suede Matte Velvet Vegan Lip Liner in “Sandstorm”. Oh, I have this shade of Liquid Suede!
I purchased a Conair True Glow Sonic Facial Brush Replacement Head ($8, down from $10) because…they come with an adapter for the recently out-of-business Clarisonic! I tried it and the little adapter piece that came with it worked like a charm…I am so glad I hadn’t trashed it yet. My daughter is obsessed with Stranger Things, so I got her a half price MAC Lip Glass in “Rockin’ Robin” ($10, down from $20). I also added an INVISIBOBBLE Waver Traceless Hair Clip ($3.50) for funsies.
Not only did I use a $5 off coupon, but I got more freebies – thank you Diamond Day! I got a Platinum & Diamond 4 piece gift that included four Jane Iredale products: POMMISST Hydration Spray, Just Kissed Lip and Cheek Stain, Beyond Lash Volumizing Mascara, and Smooth Affair Illuminating Glow Face Primer. I also got a Platinum & Diamond Exclusive gift from NEST Fragrances – three votive candles in “Grapefruit” (burning now – smells so good), “Ocean Mist & Sea Salt”, and “Wild Mint & Eucalyptus”.
$313 to Diamond in 2023!
Overboard Hauls
I have always been obsessed with eye shadow palettes, but there haven’t been many good ones in a long while…until NOW!
This post will be a combination of an order I placed a few weeks ago, but it arrived the same day I got my hairs did and bought a bunch of stuff at Ulta. I placed the online order because the Saturday before THAT, I took Lily to get her hairs did and wanted to use the $10 off $40 coupon mailer, but it didn’t go into effect until Sunday. I also had a coupon in the app, so I got to use both!
I had been eyeing the Thor: Love and Thunder line at Ulta and I was THRILLED to find Ulta Beauty items for BOGO. Not BOGO 40% or 50%, but Buy One, Get One FREE. I got the Thor: Love and Thunder Be Worthy Break Apart Eye Palette ($25) and the Thor: Love and Thunder Valkyrie Eye Palette (FREE, from $20). The two palettes also got me a FREE Tote Bag, which was arrived several days later. Although the packaging is top notch, I am a bit disappointed in the quality of the eye shadows. They are not as pigmented as previous palettes (I am thinking of the the AMAZING Frida Kahlo palette). The shadows are a bit flaky and have a lot of fallout. If I had paid full price for both, I’d be PISSED. I’ll still use them, but I think I’ll have to use a primer.
I splurged on my daughter a little bit and ordered some of the wet n wild Lilo & Stitch products. I was disappointed that the eye shadow was out of stock online, but I got her the Hula Honey Glow Face Palette ($10.49) and Experiment 626 Makeup Brush Set ($16.99). I also snagged a few clearance items – Nailtopia Nail Lacquer in “FOMO” ($1.75, down from $10) and Lime Crime Unicorn Hair Color Removing Wipes ($2.80, down from $4). I also grabbed a Colourpop Sonic Blooms Glossy Lip Stain in “Tutti Frutti” ($8). I went to use it the other day, but it was BROKEN! The lip of the bottle had broken off inside the cap. I’d seen nail polish do this, but never a lip product. Ulta Customer Care was very helpful and immediately sent me a replacement.
Oh, and I got a Truly Beauty Break with my $60 purchase – it came with 4 full size products: CBD Jelly Anti-Blemish Body Cleanser (smells like a watermelon Jolly Rancher!); Nice Melons Whipped Body Butter (it had melted in my mailbox); Berry Cheeky Clearing Butt Polish (both my children tried to steal this from me!); and Berry Cheeky Clearing Butt Serum.
All that came in the mail…and I still bought more stuff in person. I was SO excited that my store had the wet n wild Lilo & Stitch Ohana Palette ($16.99)! I also splurged on two more Colourpop Glossy Lip Stains in “Ice Pop” and “Twice Shy”, as well as one of their new eye shadow palettes – X-tra Celestial “Clearly in Love” ($12). (I wanted that free makeup bag.) The Colourpop eye shadow is so much better in quality than the Ulta! It’s creamy and has incredible color payoff without a primer. Ulta needs to get on it. I also snagged a new bottle of Poo-pourri in “Amalfi Flush” for the family vacation…if you know, you know.
Since I wasn’t able to use all the Ulta points I had saved up on the Dyson Air Wrap a few months ago, I used $250 on my hair and purchase…that makes $500 so far this year!
$366 to Diamond in 2023.
Wet Ulta Haul
Lily discovered the absolute BEST hairbrush for wet hair at LaLa’s house, so we had to order them for ourselves! I ordered two WET BRUSH Pro Flex Dry Brushes – at $15.99, not cheap…but these brushes are THAT good. She grabbed the coral one, and I was left with the teal, which is the color I would’ve chosen anyway.
I had a $10 off $40 coupon, so I filled my basket with other things I needed. I got a 12oz Thayers Witch Hazel in “Rose Petal” ($10.95), as well as a travel size at BOGO 40% ($2.39 after discount). After scrolling through the clearance, I found the I ❤ Revolution Mini Rose Cream Palette for 50% off ($4.50, down from $9). I also tried out the new Colourpop Glossy Lip Stain in “Caftan” from the Shore Thing Collection ($8) – I am OBSESSED with this lip stain. I stays on for hours and doesn’t dry out my lips like the matte lip paints I love so much. I’ll be stocking up on these.
My $50 purchase came with a Megababe 4 piece gift…that’s giving me serious deja vu. It included a mini Rosy Pits Daily Deodorant (my fave), Thigh Rescue, Squeaky Clean Hand Sanitizer, and Squeaky Clean Antibacterial Wipes…It’s almost identical to the Megababe gift I received a year ago! I ain’t even mad…
Just $494 to Diamond in 2023.
Wild Green Arctic Fox
You know me, I’m a SUCKER for a 50% off sale…
Arctic Fox Hair Color for 50% off – that’s just $9.24! I loaded up…I got 5 shades: “Purple AF”, “Virgin Pink”, “Wrath”, “Aquamarine”, and “Ritual”. I am not sure what Lily and I will be doing with all these colors…you’ll just have to wait and see. I also grabbed a Punky Color Lightning Fast Bleach Kit for her, which came with a free brush and gloves.
I also purchased the Urban Decay Cosmetics Wild Greens Eyeshadow Palette ($22, down from $44). Green eyeshadow is hit or miss with my green eyes, but I figure it’s worth a shot at 50% off. I’ve used it a few times and I am liking the neutral peaches more than the greens.
This purchase was made back at the end of May – during Ulta’s Gorgeous Hair Event. I would’ve posted earlier, but there was a bizarre screw-up on my order…instead of my Wild Greens palette, I received a jar of It Cosmetics Confidence in a Cream. Sure, the face cream is regularly $50, much more than the $22 I spent on the palette…but it’s the principle! I called Ulta Customer Care and they were quick to ship me out a palette AND a return label for the cream. I was kind of hoping they’d tell me to keep it, but I was a good girl and sent it right back…in a Sephora box.
Just $546 to Diamond in 2023!
Fruity Blend Haul
Another Target exclusive collection from Sinful Colors? Yes, please.
Winnie Harlow is Sinful Colors‘ newest brand ambassador and the new collection – Winnie’s Fruity Blend – has a smoothie like texture…neat! I grabbed all of them – $2.98 each : “Berry Crush”, “Blueberry Smash”, “Lime Light”, and “Snatched Strawberry”. There was also a new 3-in-1 Nail Treatment called “Glowin” that I’m excited to try.
I also bought Love Beauty and Planet “Indian Lilac & Clove Leaf” Shampoo and Conditioner for an upcoming road trip, as well as some back-up Contact Solution and Exfoliating Cotton Rounds. Exciting!
I got the address issue with my Target account cleared up and the polish came straight to me…although my shipment was in two boxes, which kind of defeats the purpose of them forcing me to order $35 of stuff for free shipping?
Perfect Smooth Haul
It wasn’t on sale, but I was almost out of shampoo! I cannot risk a single day with dirty hair, so instead of waiting for a sale, I just ordered refills of my favorite (right now) – NatureLab.Tokyo Perfect Smooth Shampoo and Conditioner ($23 each). My hair is also feeling sad and dry, so I added a SheaMoisture Manuka Honey & Yogurt Hydrate + Repair Protein-Strong Treatment (30% off, so only $2.44).
Nail stuff was also 30% off, so I got some new Flowery buffers and a new Ulta toenail clipper. OPI Nail Lacquer Thinner ($10.40) was FINALLY back in stock, so I bought a bottle to try to revive some of my old crusty polishes.
My order was pretty boring, but even with the $3.50 off $15 coupon, it qualified me for a free 10 piece gift with my $60 order. The star of the gift is another tube of NYX Lip Lingerie XXL in “Turn-On”. THIS is the color I’ve been looking for! It goes on a boring brown, but as it dries, it becomes a near dupe for KVD “Lolita” – I love this shade! Also in the gift: Formula 10.0.6 Draw It All Out Skin-Detoxifying Mask; Covergirl Clean Fresh Brow Gel; Kristin Ess Reconstructive Moisture Mask (yassss, my hair needs help); Kneipp Mineral Bath Salt in “Eucalyptus” (offering to my son); Urban Skin RX Retinol Rapid Repair & Dark Spot Treatment; L’Oreal Infallible Matte-Lock Primer; Peach Slices Snail Rescue; Ahava Deadsea Water Mineral Hand Cream; and CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser.
$622 to Diamond in 2023.