Tag: Anastasia Beverly Hills
February 2025 Ipsy Icon Box – Gabrielle Union
Leave it to Gabrielle Union to come up with an ipsy Icon Box that I’ll actually try ALL of the products, instead of giving half of them away!
After several quarters of reality show stars and “influencers”, ipsy has nabbed an actually CERTIFIED movie star in Gabrielle Union. Homegirl is four years older than me and she looks as amazing as she did in the 90s. How even?
As soon as I saw it was an option, I SNATCHED the Anastasia Beverly Hills Nouveau Eyeshadow Palette ($55). Believe me when I say this palette might be as good as the OG – Modern Renaissance. (My eyes popped when I saw the price increase in just 8 years – from $42 to $55.) Nouveau has a full range of shades – classic neutrals to sparkling metallics to moody darks. I’ve only played with it once or twice, but I cannot wait to have an opportunity to go all out that isn’t a grocery store trip.
My other product choices were Origins Clear Improvement Blackhead Clearing Mask-To-Scrub ($37) and Dew of the Gods Amalfi Glaze Body Serum ($36). I did not read the label (AGAIN) on the Origins Mask and used it as a scrub in the shower the first time – oopsie. I used it as a mask the next time and I really liked it – it sucked the oil out of my pores like a fucking SHAMWOW. The Amalfi Body Serum smelled nice, but it made me sparkle like a stripper. I’ll save it for a special occasion.
Gabrielle’s picks included Beautystat Triple- Plump Coconut Milk Serum ($42); Byroe Oat Yogurt Moisture Barrier Cream ($106 – I’ve been using it as a night cream and it is SO luxurious…wish it wasn’t so spendy); First Aid Beauty KP Bump Eraser Body Scrub 10% AHA Fresh Strawberry ($30 – I love this for my bikini line…I’ll rotate it into my shower after I finish the Fenty Skin Cherry Dub Scrub); Make Up For Ever The Professionall 24HR Double-Ended Lifting & Volumizing Mascara in “Black” ($28 – I love the double brush design that lifts and thickens); and NARS Powermatte Lipstick in “American Woman” ($34 – although I love the Lolita-esque Chestnut Rose color, it’s a lipstick and didn’t last through a Taco Bell run).
This might be the best Icon Box I’ve received so far! $368 worth of products for less than $75…
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.
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!
December 2023 Ipsy Bag – The Glammest Show on Earth
Is “glammest” even a word?
Doesn’t matter, this bag IS the glammest…and check out the zipper pull! I love a big heavy ball, don’t you?
My product choice this month was Veriphy Skincare Self Absorbed Moisturizer. I’ve been using it as a daily moisturizer and it’s the perfect weight. My skin feels well moisturized and it isn’t too heavy.
Also in this month’s glammest bag: Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz in “Medium Brown” (I’m usually a “Dark Brown” girl, but I’ll still use it for “no-makeup” makeup days); Dr. Brandt Skincare Microdermabrasion Age Defying Exfoliator (slightly peppermint scented, seems very similar to his POREdermabrasion product); SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Hyalu-Cica First Ampoule (the texture is very serum-like); and Tresluce Beauty Ilusión Volumizing & Lengthening Mini Mascara in “Jet Black”.
A pretty good bag – I’ll use 4/5 products.
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.
Metal Mania Ulta Haul
Urban Decay keeps making Naked Palettes and I keep buying them. Sigh.
I know, I know…I barely even wear eyeshadow anymore. But Naked Palettes – I just can’t quit you. So I added the new Urban Decay Cosmetics Naked Metal Mania Metallic Eyeshadow Palette ($59). Weren’t these $54 before? Hmmm…the colors are very nice, but I feel like they aren’t blending as well as the older palettes. I cannot tell if this is a change to my eye skin or the shadows themselves…I’ll continue working with them to figure it out.
I also got a free gift – my choice of Urban Decay x Smiley Naked Mini Eyeshadow Palette (regularly $33). I chose the “Mucho Happy” one, but I haven’t tried it out yet.
I also restocked on basics – Thayer’s Witch Hazel Toner in “Rose” ($10.95) and Got 2b Glued Spiking Glue ($7.99) for Lily’s Band Hair. I also add a Sweet & Shimmer Sheer Lilac Lip Oil ($2.99), but was disappointed that lilac is just the color – not the flavor or scent.
Oh, the reason I ordered when I did…to get the National Brow Day (October 2nd) Sampler with my $50 purchase. I got a Morphe Supreme Brow Dual-Ended Brush; Winky Lux Uni-Brow Mini Precision Brow Pencil; NYX Micro Brow Pencil in “Cool Ash Brown”; Benefit Fluff Up Brow Wax (no…just no); Benefit Gimme Brow Brow-Volumizing Fiber Gel (Another no); Anastasia Brow Wiz in “Medium Brown” (YES!); and Ulta Beauty Dual-Ended Brow Highlight in “Light to Medium”. Are we still saying “brows on fleek”? No?
I got to use a $15 off $50 coupon…just $202 to Diamond in 2024.
May 2023 Ipsy Icon Box – Anastasia Soare
Anastasia? Of Anastasia Beverly Hills? That’s a really BIG name to start off Glam Bag X’s new identity as Icon Box. Anastasia Soare is definitely an icon – a BROW icon.
I am absolutely OBSESSED with Anastasia’s contribution: the new Anastasia Beverly Hills Primrose Palette ($55). I missed it when it dropped in 2021, so it’s a not a new product at all, but it’s new to me and that is all that counts. I love a good 10 shade palette, but I really appreciate it when a brand give you HUGE pans of your base colors. The shades are neutral, yet bold and maintain the high quality that I expect from ABH. I will struggle not to use it every day for the rest of 2023.
I am also obsessed with one of my product choices – Pat McGrath Labs LiquiLUST Legendary Wear Lipstick in “Rose Divinity” ($32). It’s a metallic mauve and I LOVE it. My other product choices were Grown Alchemist Polishing Facial Exfoliant ($65) and Kate Somerville Dry Skin Saver ($56). I admit, I haven’t had a chance to try either – soon!
Also in my Icon Box: Alamar Cosmetics Alamar Essentials Eye Trio Brushes ($18); Volition Beauty Golden Eye Brightening Serum with Vitamin C + Niacinamide ($40); MAC Magic Extension 5mm Fibre Mascara in “Extensive Black” ($26); and Skin Inc Body Sculpt Fit Serum ($32.50). I haven’t tried any of these products either…I know, I’m slackin’.
All together, my box was worth $324 – not bad.
I subscribe to the basic ipsy bag for $13/month and Icon Box (formerly Glam Bag X) for an extra $43/quarterly. If you’d like to try Ipsy – click here. I’ll earn 250 points if you sign up through my referral link.
Fresh Cyber Monday Haul
I didn’t go TOO crazy on Cyber Monday…well, maybe a little.
I mostly bought gifts, so not sharing them in this post…but I did get a little something for myself…Fresh Beauty was 25% off, so I got Fresh Sugar Strawberry Exfoliating Face Wash ($24.75, down from $33) and Fresh Sugar Balm Gift Set ($13.87, down from $18.50). This qualified me for a free gift from Fresh – a makeup bag with 4 samples: Fresh Rose Hydration Cream (LOVE); Fresh Soy Face Cleanser; Fresh Black Tea Age-Delay Eye Concentrate; and Fresh Sugar Advanced Therapy Lip Treatment. I admit, I kind of enjoy buying Sephora-owned products from Ulta…
Oooh, another gift with my $90 purchase! Inside the (mostly skin stuff) Cyber Monday bag: No7 Menopause Skincare Nourishing Overnight Cream (HOW DID THEY KNOW I’M OLD???); MAC fix+ Magic Radiance; Love Wellness Bye Bye Bloat (again, how did they know my digestive tract is all broken?); Peach & Lily Glass Skin Refining Serum (I love this stuff); Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream; it Cosmetics Confidence in a Cream (I love this stuff, too); Better Not Younger Bounce Back Shampoo & Conditioner; Ariana Grande God is a Woman; Tom Ford Noir; Givenchy Gentleman (a good friend of mine wears this – it’s nice); Olay Regenerist Hyaluraonic +Peptide Hydrating Gel; Clinique Moisture Surge 100H Auto-Replenishing Hydrator; Kate Somerville ExfoliKate; Tula Skincare the cult classic purifying face cleanser & 24-7 moisture hydrating day & night cream; Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion; Giorgio Armani My Way; a Zitsticka; It’s a 10 Miracle Leave-In Product; IGK Pay Day Instant Repair Shampoo & Conditioner + Cash In Instant Repair Serum; Too Faced Lady Bold Lipstick Sample Card; NARS Concealer Sample Card; Keys Soulcare Let Me Glow Illuminating Serum (I also love this stuff); Anastasia Beverly Hills Crystal Lip Glow in “Glass”; Fresh Rose Deep Hydration Cream (even more stuff I love); and Laura Mercier Pure Canvas Primer.
I got so much stuff that I was able to use a $10 off code AND qualify for Diamond in 2023 – that’s it, I’m in!
Hair Vacuum
That’s right…I bought a fucking vacuum for my hair. I FINALLY bought the Dyson Airwrap Complete Styler ($549.99). I’d been watching and waiting for it to come back in stock and I finally snagged it!
Owning a Dyson vacuum, I was skeptical about their foray into hair products…until my stylist used one on my hair. I used to DREAD blowouts – they take SO long and I get so HOT. That’s not even a thing anymore with Dyson. I mean…the dryer is still hot, but not nearly as hot as a regular hair dryer. The Airwrap itself is barely hot at all! It just sucks your hair around the rod and BOOM! Waves for days. Even the drying brushes are better than my trusty Revlon One-Step – the previous gold standard for at-home blowouts.
I’ve only been able to use the tools a few times…my children have used it more than I have! Regular styling tools have been useless on my daughter’s super-fine hair, but the Dyson tools handle it just fine. My son played around and put waves in his hair, making him look like the offspring of Gilderoy Lockhart and Severus Snape. Highly recommend!
All in all, I don’t regret my purchase at all…but maybe that’s because I was able to apply $250 in Ulta points towards my purchase. Don’t get me wrong, $299.99 still hurts, but it’s not quite as bad. I actually had $378 in Ulta points saved up, but Ulta limits redemptions to $250 a pop. Oh well, I guess I get to shop more.
Oh! I also received a free Brow Sampler with my purchase. The sampler included: Ulta Ultra Slim Brow Pencil in “Medium Brown” (just one tic lighter than my usual “Dark Brown”, but let’s give it a shot); Revolution Makeup Soap Styler (I don’t think I have fluffy enough brows to even try this); Anastasia Dip Brow Gel in “Medium Brown” (interesting); It Cosmetics Brow Power in “Medium Brown”; NYX Micro Brow Pencil in “Espresso” (now we’re talking); Too Faced Brow Wig in “Dark Brown” (Brush on hair? I feel like I will mess this up!); and Benefit Precisely, My Brow Pencil in “Medium Brown”. I kind of wish there was more consistency in the shades of this sampler, but I should be able to use about half of the samples!
Just $804 to Diamond in 2023!
February Glam Bag X – Addison Rae
I’m sorry to be so late posting about my February Glam Bag X, but ipsy did not include one of my items in the original shipment (the black croc bag, which was one of my selections). I contacted ipsy Care and they were very helpful in getting the bag out to me – it took about a week. It is a lot smaller than I expected, but isn’t that ALWAYS how it is?
This quarter’s curator is Addison Rae. Her name sounds vaguely familiar to me, but I admit – I had to google her. She’s this super famous TikTok-er? Is that the correct term – TikTok-er? I get on TikTok occasionally to watch videos my kids send me – I’ve even made a few videos – but I’ve never been subjected to Addison Rae content. My kids are teenagers and they say she is “cringe”.
My other product choices (besides the black crock makeup bag that I obviously don’t need because I have over 5+ years worth of ipsy bags) were Quay Australia High Key Mini Sunglasses in “Black/Smoke” and Keys Soulcare Harmony Mask. I plan on trying the mask on Sunday.
Also in my Glam Bag X: Tula Skincare 24/7 Moisture Hydrating Day & Night Cream (I just finished a sample that I received recently – I am excited to get a full size jar); Anastasia Beverly Hills Clear Brow Gel (I will literally NEVER use this); Aceology Multi-Vitamin Brightening Biodegradable Masks; Pat McGrath Labs Lust: Gloss in “Love Potion” and First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Niacinamide Dark Spot Serum.
I find it interesting that someone so young (21) is pushing skin products for us older ladies…but I’m not complaining! I’d much rather have high end skincare than fake tanner or false eyelashes or whatever else these young whippersnappers are into.
I subscribe to the basic ipsy bag for $12/month and Glam Bag X for an extra $43/quarterly. If you’d like to try Ipsy – click here. I’ll earn 250 points if you sign up through my referral link.
June 2021 Ipsy Bag – Do You
There can be only one…and that one is ipsy!
That’s right, after over seven years of reviews, nearly a dozen different subscriptions and literally thousands of products sampled, I’ve come to the conclusion that ipsy is the absolute BEST beauty subscription service out there. Some subscriptions were better – Sephora Play! – but died an early death. So that’s it – I’m down to one regular subscription…but I’m still keeping my eye out for new ones to try!
June’s bag is an on-trend sticker-themed bag. I cannot wait to put Barbie accessories in this bag!
My product choice this month was an Anastasia Beverly Hills Liquid Lipstick Mini in “Crush”. It’s a dark fall color that I haven’t tried yet…I am easing back into lipstick after a year and a half wearing balms under my mask.
Also in this month’s “DO YOU” bag: CLIV Max Hyaluronic Propolis Foaming Cleanser; Glamglow Supermud Instant Clearing Treatment Mask (good stuff); Glow on 5th Gua Sha (I have no idea how to properly use a gua sha – I’ve googled a few things, but still intimidated…hit me up with hints); and IBY Beauty Carry on 2 Face Palette Blush in “Sunkissed”.
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.
November 2020 Ipsy Bag – Be Present
November’s product choice hit it OUT OF THE PARK. I chose Anastasia Beverly Hills Matte Lipstick Mini in “Dead Roses” and this is now my signature color! I swore that I would never go back to regular lipsticks after experiencing liquid lipsticks…but this lipstick applied like a dream and stayed put all day – even under a mask! It did get all over the inside of the mask, but that’s kind of unavoidable.
I sprayed on Commodity Gold and it was a very musky vanilla fragrance. It was alright, but I feel like I got a major headache after wearing it. I knew I had received a sample of it a few years ago…and it turns out that I HATED it. Ha.
Also in this month’s “Be Present” bag: Context Skin Nail Lacquer in “The Morning After”; Item Beauty Lid Glaze in “Desert Weekend”; and Lasting Smiles Vanilla Bean Blended Beverage Organic Lip Balm.
This month’s bag was a great selection of products – keep it up, 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.