Tag: Clinique
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.
Fire Fighter Ulta Haul
I was sitting in my local Ulta a few Saturdays ago, waiting for the bleach to process, and texted my daughter to find out if she needed anything from Ulta. She said no, then I told her to ask her dad…she told her to tell me to get more lube. I could feel her CRINGING through the phone. I was relaying this to my stylist…and she was like – WE SELL LUBE? I pulled up the app and showed her all the different options, and as I was scrolling, I saw the Smile Makers “The Fire Fighter” ($60)…since I had a 20% off coupon that was about to expire, I decided to splurge on my vajayjay with “The Fire Fighter”, as well as Unbound Jelly ($18) and Unbound Jolt Enhanced Stimulating Water-Based Gel ($24). Let me tell you, “The Fire Fighter” is one DAMN fine machine. Reach out for more details…
Even though summer is almost over, I occasionally shave in the winter…I love rose scented bath stuff, so Tree Hut Moroccan Rose Bare Moisturizing Shave Oil ($12.99) and Moroccan Rose Foaming Gel Wash ($11.49) were a no brainer. I even got a free Tree Hut Shower Sponge with my $20 purchase.
My purchase qualified me for a free Platinum & Diamond Exclusive 12 Piece Skincare Gift with $60 purchase, which came with Real Techniques Real Clean XL Makeup Remover Wipes; COOLA Sun Silk Drops Sunscreen; bareMinerals Ageless 10% Phyto-Retinol Night Concentrate; Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair; Cocokind Resurrection Polypeptide Cream; Philosophy Hope in a Jar Smooth-Glow Multi-Tasking Moisturizer; Perricone MD Cold Plasma+ Sub-D/Neck; Urban Skin Rx Even Tone Cleansing Bar; Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion+; Sun Bum Sunscreen SPF 30; Juice Beauty Green Apple Age Defy Serum; and Sol de Janeiro Bum Bum Body Firmeza Oil. I will use every single one of these!
Getting my hair done, plus this haul, leaves me with just $63 til Diamond in 2025.
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.
First Ulta Haul of 2024
I know, it’s kind of hard to believe that I haven’t had an Ulta haul yet this year…to be fair, I ordered back on the 5th of February – I’ve just been busy with work, school, kids, a sick husband, excuses…so let’s get to it!
I am very easily swayed by the monthly Diamond Love List emails…When I showed off my new Drybar The Single Shot Round Blow-Dryer Brush ($108.50, down from $155), he gave me SO MUCH SHIT, since I spent so much money on the Dyson Air Wrap. My answer was that my child stole my Air Wrap and I am too lazy to walk all the way to her bathroom to get it…and my Revlon One-Step smells like burnt dog hair. And really, it was only $25.50 after using $83 of Ulta points…
I was talking to a girl in one of my MBA classes and she said that she would never buy a perfume without smelling it…hi, it’s me – I’m the one who does that, it’s me. I knew that I would LOVE Fresh Beauty Hesperides Grapefruit Eau de Parfum Rollerball ($29) before ever smelling it and I was right. It reminds me of my mom…
Lippies were 30%, so I loaded my cart: Flower Beauty Bitten Lip Stain in “Tempt” ($8.40, down from $12 – it’s very similar to the Colourpop Stain) and KVD Beauty Everlasting Hyperlight Vegan Transfer-Proof Liquid Lipstick in “Ghost Bloom” ($16.10, down from $23) for me; Makeup Revolution Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory x Revolution Brat Lip Gloss ($4.90, down from $7) and Makeup Revolution Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory x Revolution Lip Balm ($4.90, down from $7) for Lil. I also added in Hempz White Peach Rosé & Peony Herbal Shave Gel ($6.49, down from $12.99) because it was half off. A bit disappointing to use, as it wasn’t as slippy as the Caress Body Wash I had been using to shave.
I am deeply saddened that I didn’t get to a salon to use my $25 off beauty services coupon for another year of Diamond, but I did remember to use my free foundation coupon. This year, I chose Clinique Stay-Matte Sheer Pressed Powder Foundation in “01 Stay Buff”, a $39 value.
My $30 makeup purchase qualified me for a 4 pieces NARS gift, which includes NARS Climax Mascara; NARS Lipstick in “Inappropriate Red”; NARS Bronzing Powder and NARS High-Pigment Longwear Eyeliner in “Via Veneto”. I probably won’t use any of it. I also qualified for a free hair gift, but it sold out before I could place my order. Boo.
It’s so rare that I spend enough for the massive gift with purchases…this one required a $130 spend! Inside the HUGE satiny makeup bag: drybar DETOX Thickening Dry Shampoo (giving to my daughter, so I don’t have to buy her some); Urban Decay Glide-On Eye Pencil in “Whiskey”; Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate; Dear Klairs Supple Preparation Unscented Toner (there’s licorice root in it, I’m scared); e.l.f. Liquid Poreless Putty Primer; Hourglass Veil Translucent Setting Powder; Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Face Base Primer; megababe Space Bar (I think I have 3 of these now); Lancôme Cils Booster Mascara Base (and 3 of these); Clinique Almost Lipstick in “Black Honey” (yasss, the one in my purse is almost gone); Eau Thermale Avene Tolerance Cleanser; philosophy Purity Made Simple Pore Extractor Clay Mask; Peach & Lily Glass Skin Face Polisher; Estee Lauder Nutritious Melting Soft Creme Mask; Andrew Fitzsimmons Restructuring 10-in-1 Leave-In Conditioner; NYX Epic Ink Liner in “Black”; Laura Mercier Translucent Setting Powder; Origins Checks and Balances Frothy Face Wash; Bondi Sands Self Tanning Foam (NOPE); Maybelline Sky High Mascara; La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 Serum; Pixi Glow Tonic; Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen; Sol de Janeiro Bum Bum Body Oil; Sunday Riley C.E.O. Afterglow; Dermalogica Micellar Prebiotic Precleanse (precleanse? I ain’t washing my face twice); Living proof. Clarifying Detox Shampoo (but no conditioner?); and Good Molecules Niacinamide Brightening Toner. PHEW, that’s a lot of good samples!
$1,105 to Diamond in 2025…
October 2023 Ipsy Bag – Glam-O-Ween
Glam-O-Ween sounds like a competition on RuPaul’s Drag Race…and I’m here for it!
This month’s product choice was Saturday Skin Rise + Shine Gentle Cleanser. I got a full size in a Glam Bag X last year and used it all, so I got it again. It makes my skin so clean it squeaks.
Also is this month’s glamtastic velour spider bag: ACE BEAUTÉ Effortless Radiance Loose Setting Powder; Avant Skincare Collagen Intense Radiance Activator Serum (I’ve been using before bed and it smells SO luxurious); ciate London Extraordinary BB Cream (I’ve also tried this one out – not bad and absorbs well); and Clinique Acne Solutions™ Clinical Clearing Gel (I’ll probably let me daughter have it).
A nice skincare centered bag this month…not a product will be wasted.
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.
Snow White Ulta Haul
I usually splurge a little bit in March, around tax/bonus time…but this year, I may have splurged a lot, buying the whole Disney Snow White x Colourpop Collection ($104). Wait – since I used $125 in Ulta points on my order, does that mean I didn’t splurge at all? All this only cost $12.43, so maybe not a splurge…does that mean I still get to have a splurge?
At first, I was only going to buy the “Thy Magic Spell” Lip Kit ($20) for myself, which is the Evil Queen themed lip set, with Crème Lux Lipstick in “Evil Queen”, Lippie Pencil in “Jealous Much”, and Lux Lip Gloss in “Queen G”. Then I saw the Snow White themed “Love’s First Kiss” set, with Crème Lux Lipstick in “Snow White”, Lippie Pencil in “Such a Beauty”, and Lux Lip Gloss in “Red as Rose” and I wanted to give it to Lily…and then I saw the whole collection, and said FUCK IT, I want it ALL. My only complaint is that the full collection did not come in a nice promo box, like the Malibu Barbie Collection – but maybe that’s because I got it directly from Colourpop? Whatever, like I need more boxes…Also in the collection: “Dreams Come True” Pressed Powder Palette, Super Shock Blush in “Fair Enough”, Super Shock Blush in “I Wish I Wish”, Super Shock Blush in “Just Rosy”, and “Just One Bite” Lippie Scrub. Surprisingly, my favorite part of the collection is the blushes – they have a springy, almost gel-like texture.
I got the L’Oreal Detox & Brighten Clay Mask ($12.99) because I really liked that line of cleansers…I was disappointed to find that this mask does NOT smell like the cleanser I loved so much. It smells like…well…dirt. The jar was half empty, too – I’ll be lucky to get three uses out of it! It’s probably old stock from the original line – six years ago!
My purse needed a replacement buffer, so I got another Flowery Blue Max 4-Way Buffing Block ($2.99) – these are my favorite.
I have been enjoying the Ulta Weightless Water Lip Stain in “Very Berry”, so I ordered “Mango Dreams” ($10) and “Pink Popsicle” ($10), too. I need to order “Cherry Pie” to get the whole set…or steal the one I stuck in Lily’s Xmas stocking. I paid full price, so I could get an Ulta free 10 piece gift. Inside the bright yellow makeup bag: Poreless Face Primer; Tinted Eye Primer in “Champagne”; Lip Gloss in “Velvet Mauve”; Lip Oil in “Peach” (hands down, the best product for removing longwear lipstick); Maximum Lashes Mascara, 2 Eye Shadow Quads, an eye shadow brush and a makeup sponge.
Speaking of freebies, I was supposed to get 3 more gifts with purchase for National Lash Day, but the initial Lash Day Sampler Pack with $65 purchase went out of stock before my box was packed. Whatever, it was a bunch of fake lashes, anyway. I still got the 6 Piece Lash Day Step-Up Sampler with $85 purchase, which included Clinique High Impact Mascara; Benefit Bad Girl Bang Mascara; KISS Lash Purify Eye Makeup Remover and Lash Cleanser; Grande Lash-MD Lash Enhancing Serum; e.l.f. Big Mood Mascara, and a little Tweezerman Mascara Guard. Time to throw away all my current mascara and switch to new tubes! I also got an 8 Piece Makeup Obsession Sampler with $60 purchase, which included a L’Oreal Blend Artist Foundation Sponge, a Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge; Ulta Juice Infused Lip Oil in “Red Apple”; a Morphe Oval Shadow Brush; Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Color in “Rosegold”; Pro.Conceal White Concealer; Smashbox Photo Finish Illuminate Glow Primer; and Milani Cheek Kiss Liquid Blush in “Nude Flush”.
That’s right…all this for $12.43 and a $3.50 off $15 coupon. And I still have $80 in Ulta points!
$963 to Diamond in 2024.
First Ulta Haul of 2023
Well…that didn’t take long. The first Diamond Offers email arrived on January 2nd and I jumped right on it!
I wasn’t planning on getting the Urban Decay Cosmetics Naked x Robin Eisenberg Eyeshadow Palette ($27, down from $54), but half price made it a lot more attractive. Initially, I was put off by the lack of “naked” colors in a “naked” palette, but I was pleasantly surprised by how wearable these bright shimmery colors are. There are several color-shifting duochrome shadows, which are like catnip to me. I can see myself wearing this one quite a bit!
I didn’t want to forget to redeem my Diamond gift of a free Clinique Foundation, so I guessed at my shade and chose Clinique Beyond Perfecting Powder Foundation + Concealer in “0.5 Breeze” (normally $36). I chose correctly and this is a GREAT powder foundation – not cakey at all. Since all Clinique was 25%, I also picked up a back-up tube of Clinique Almost Lipstick in “Black Honey” ($16.50, down from $22). I never thought I’d be a Clinique girl like my mom, but here we are.
I threw some fun clearance items into my cart – a few $1.25 nail polishes, Nailtopia “Carrot Cake” and “Blueberry Milk”. I am out of samples of micellar water, so I am trying out wet n wild Makeup Remover Micellar Cleansing Water ($4.99).
I got a few different freebies with this order. I received a BareMinerals Platinum & Diamond Exclusive 4 Piece Gift with $35 makeup purchase, which includes Ageless 10% Phyto-Retinol Night Concentrate, Prime Time Original Foundation Primer, and Mineral Veil Finishing Powder in a very nice Makeup Bag. I also received an Exuviance Diamond & Platinum Exclusive! Free 4 Piece Gift with $25 purchase, which includes Deep Clean AHA Cleanser, Glycolic Expert Moisturizer, Overnight Transformation Complex, and A.G.E. Less Everyday Moisturizer. My skin is gonna look AMAZING.
Just $1,149 to Diamond in 2024…
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!
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!
Black Honey
I’ve fallen in love with Clinique Almost Lipstick in “Black Honey” ($20) over the past year…but I couldn’t buy a full-size tube because the rest of the world is in love with it, too!
It finally came back into stock online, so I snatched it right up. Who even am I, spending $20 on a barely tinted lipstick?
I also picked up two new Freeman Beauty Exotic Blends Masks at BOGO 40% off – Detoxifying Japanese Matcha Cream (VERY similar in texture to the Canadian Hemp Seed mask) and Exfoliating Indonesian Coconut (VERY similar in texture to the Charcoal & Black Sugar Mask). I added a HASK Color Care Color Protection Deep Conditioner packette ($2.99) – why should my face have all the fun?
My Zoya Remove+ is now $12 – fuck inflation! Good thing I had that $3.50 off $15 coupon…
$765 to Diamond in 2023…