Tag: Coupons
Wall Flamingo
I am running out of plugs to stick my Wallflowers in!
I had seen this Flamingo Wallflower ($12.50) on Insta, and had plotting to bring it home for several weeks. It just turned out that Lily needed a gift for a birthday party this weekend…how convenient. I even remembered to bring the coupons I got in the mail: a free gift worth $5.50, a single wick candle for $5 and 20% off my entire purchase.
We quickly added the Flamingo and a gift set to our shopping bag. The $5.50 gift could be either a travel size or a purse size hand cream, so I chose a hand cream in “Rose Quartz”. Aromatherapy was B2G2, which is better than the usual B3G3, so I picked out some “Love” scented products – Rose and Vanilla. I chose 2 Aromatherapy Body Washes ($13.50), an Aromatherapy Body Cream ($13.50) and an Aromatherapy Pillow Spray ($15.50). My pillows will put me in the mood now!
As for the candle, I was gonna grab a random rose scent until Lily found this “French Baguette” candle ($5, down from $14.50). I was skeptical, but it really does smell like crusty french bread. My mom would have been OBSESSED with this candle – it’s so buttery! I need the body spray….
One-Step
I’ve found it. I’ve finally found the single hair tool for a perfect blow-out. I’ve had a love-hate relationship with blow-outs for well over 20 years. Around the time I graduated college, I ended up with a hair cut that necessitated a blow-out with round brush (it may or may not have rhymed with ‘the Bachel’). It happened probably 3 times before I was like ‘FUCK this’. I’ve tried everything from ionic dryers to diffusers, but everything takes too damn long – and makes my hair frizzy. About 10 years ago, I picked up a Conair Wet-to-Dry Styler, which works okay, but again – it take forever. Several years ago, I stepped up to a Revlon Paddle Style Dryer Brush, but there was still something lacking…
…until I tried the Revlon Pro Collection Salon One-Step Hair Dryer and Volumizer ($59.99). I can literally give myself a salon quality blow-out in about 5 minutes. 5 fucking minutes. I feel like I’ve suffered through decades of bad hair before this tool was invented. Run, don’t walk, to buy this tool. One exception, I give you permission to wait until you get a 20% off coupon like I did.
Oh and pro-tip – definitely use a blow-out spray or primer before you use it. I am using Redken Pillow Proof Blow Dry Express Primer Spray and it protects my hair while making it dry faster.
I also threw in a Revlon Nail Buffer ($3.49) because the 99 cent Diamond Brand ones I bought last time are SHIT. You get what you pay for!
My purchase qualified for a “Skinfatuation” gift with purchase, which included Exuviance Super Retinol Complex; Juice Beauty Stem Cellular Anti-Wrinkle Moisturizer; Murad Resurgence Retinol Youth Renewal Serum (fancy); Mario Badescu Vitamin C Serum; StriVectin Advanced Retinol Intensive Night Moisturizer; and Yes to Grapefruit Brightening Vitamin C Glow Boosting Paper Mask. That’s a lot of fucking retinol!
$138 to Platinum. It’s looking like I might have a chance to hit Diamond with Ulta this year, instead of Rouge with Sephora this year…
Born to Run
I did it – I finally pulled the trigger on the Born to Run Palette…I decided go big, or go home…and ordered the FULL Urban Decay Born to Run Vault ($98).
The Vault is value packed! The Born to Run Palette is $59 by itself, the Vice Lipstick in “66” would be $18, and the 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil would be $21 – there’s your $98. The vault also comes with a Travel Size Perversion Mascara Mini, a Travel Size Original Eyeshadow Primer Potion, a Travel Size All Nighter Long Lasting Makeup Setting Spray AND a matching crossbody bag. I was hoping the bag would be big enough to use as a purse, but I don’t think it’s quite big enough for all my “mom” stuff. It would be perfect for a night on the town though.
The Born to Run Palette is larger than the last several releases – it’s reminiscent of the HUGE Vice palettes, except with the cheaper cardboard packaging and NO brush. It’s the usual Urban Decay quality – the shifting shimmer shades have more than average fallout, but nothing catastrophic. This would be a good palette to travel with, with neutral and colorful shades. I’m in love with the “66” lipstick – it’s the perfect shade for me. It’s neutral enough to match any eye look and dark enough to not be boring. I have no regrets about waiting to get a good deal on the Vault!
Oh, I also sprung for the new Urban Decay Brow Blade in “Neutral Nana” ($26). It’s a double-ended brow tool. One end is thin pencil, much like the ABH Brow Wiz or my favorite Ulta Ultra Slim – but the other end is a fine, felt tip marker, to draw in hair detail. It works okay I guess – but I don’t know that the results are worth $26. It’s fine I guess.
Of course, I didn’t spend $98 – I waited until I had a 20% off code, plus I’d accrued $59 in Ulta points. I got all this for $43 and some change.
Ulta is STILL not giving out samples with their orders. Cheap bastards. $374 to Platinum Status.
Target Birthday Shopping
Nothing burns a hole in my pocket like a Target coupon. For my birthday last week, Target sent me a coupon code for an additional 5% off a shopping trip – I had to use it before it expired!
I really didn’t need anything specific, so I just wandered. The first thing I grabbed was a replacement up & up dip-it and a bag of Exfoliating Cotton Rounds. That was the point that I noticed the rack of Sinful Colors Nail Polish. I’ve been so bummed that Walgreen’s no longer carries them. Walmart will have the new collections soon, I’ve heard – but until then, I had consigned myself to going without. What did I spy, but random bottles with “New Shade” Stickers in the Core Collection Display. Don’t mind if I do! I picked up three of the new shades – “Hot Toffee”, “Raisin the Roof”, and “Spring Fling”. I also picked up an older shade I had never seen before – “The Full Monte”.
As I moved on through the aisles, I came upon a HUGE display for Flamingo Products. Flamingo is a service similar to Dollar Shave Club – basically, a subscription box for razors and wax strips. We’re quite happy with Dollar Shave Club, but I thought I’d give the Flamingo Face Wax Kit a try. At $9.99, it was a bit more expensive than the Nads Kits I had been using, but I feel like it was much more gentle to my face AND I was able to use less strips to get the job done. Nice!
And yes…that IS a Spongebob Squarepants Outfit for my Barbies. It says, “Sponge On!” – it was very important for me to have it!
Lolita Por Vida
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I’ve been waiting months and months for the Kat Von D “Lolita” Palette ($39). She’s been teasing it for months. Do I really need more eye shadow? No. The question should be, do I WANT more eye shadow? Yes. Yes, I do.
The “Lolita” Palette is an entirely matte palette, meant to coordinate with Kat Von D’s most popular shade of lipstick. The eight shades are all matte and are various pinks/mauves/maroons. This palette is magic for me so far – the colors are perfect on me. I’ve been going gaga over the Naked Cherry Palette, but I’ve got a new favorite…of course, until I start buying the three new Born to Run Mini Palettes…
Also included in the release are Everlasting Glimmer Veil in “Lolita” ($22) and Ink Well Long-Wear Matte Eyeliner in “Lolita” ($20). I bought both. The Glimmer Veil looks nice alone or over another lipstick. I like it over the OG “Lolita”. I haven’t tried to Eyeliner yet…soon!
I’m still bummed about Sephora dropping down to just two samples per order. I cannot be too mad though – this is the first time in FOREVER that I actually got the same samples I picked. I was pumped that they were offering samples of the newest scent from Atelier Cologne – Pacific Lime. It’s more subtle than their other citrus scents, but still unique. I’m going to have to add it to my collection! I also picked a sample of Dolce & Gabbana Garden. It smells like cheap wine coolers and pink grapefruit to me? But in a good way…
I was able to use the $25 off $75 code – it’s not as good a deal as previous years’ $25 off $50 – times are tough right now. This purchase also pushed me over the threshold to Rouge for 2019. This year, there was a choice between a Makeup Brush or a special Rouge Makeup Bag. I chose the Makeup Bag. I never need more Makeup Bags.
Second Chance at Black Friday
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Last Friday, I was off work, out and about and I happened to notice an email for $2.95 Hand Soap Sale. So after Big Lots, I skipped on over to Bath & Body Works…
I filled a bag with 6 bottles…what? That is a damn empty bag, but I just filled up on soap a few weeks ago. I was hoping to use the coupons I forgot to bring to Candle Day the week before. [$8.95 3 wick candles – it was INSANE. There were bare shelves everywhere and I managed to get 2 of the last 3-4 “Twisted Peppermint” candles. I was lucky I didn’t get shanked in the parking lot.] Unfortunately, I couldn’t stack coupons with the soaps…but they would let me do two transactions…
I was about to give up and just leave with my soap, when I noticed that they had two racks of sexy black bags by the front door. They had a shitload of the VIP Black Friday Bags left! I verified with an employee – they were selling them for $35 each and I could use all my coupons. Not only did I get $10 off, but I got a free “Winter Candy Apple” Shower Gel for Lily and a free “White Citrus” Shower Gel for myself.
Inside the gorgeous fake leather VIP bag: a Fine Fragrance Mist in “Into the Stars” (it smells nice, but I wasn’t ready to start a new scent, so I gave it to Lily); a “Winter Candy Apple” 3 wick candle, a “Twisted Peppermint” Foaming Hand Soap, a Men’s Collection 2-in-1 Hair & Body Wash in “Ocean” (my husband shall enjoy it); “Vanilla Bean Noel” Shea Butter Hand Cream; “Champagne Toast” Antibacterial Hand Gel; and a “Lump of Coal” Charcoal Sheet Mask with Purifying Charcoal.
Just a few weeks more weeks until the Semi-Annual Sale! I better make room!
Big Lots is now Sinful
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Walgreen’s has been disappointing on the Sinful Colors front lately. My worst fears have been confirmed by a Sinful Colors fb Group I joined – Walgreen’s is phasing out Sinful Colors and will no longer carry them…where will I get my fix?
Big Lots…Big Lots is where I will get my fix.
Since I moved offices across town a few years ago, there’s not a Big Lots close, so my trips have have pretty much stopped…but on my day off, I was close to one, so I stopped in to look for my precious….They had bins and bins of my precious.
I picked out 5 very glittery polishes, at $1.95 each. I got three of the Moon Metal polishes – “Planet Out”, “Cosmotion” and “Down to Earth”. I also got one of the Smashing Flecks polishes – “Smash Hit” – and I could only find one of the new Christmas Jelly Toppers – “Candy Ginger”.
I got to use a $5 off $15 coupon, because I bought some other crap, too. I’m looking forward to more Big Lots trips…
Cyber Fundays 2018
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This Xmas, I did my Ulta shopping BEFORE Thanksgiving, during the “Cyber Fundays” event. They had some smoking deals that I couldn’t pass up! There were also some decent Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals, but mostly on stuff I already had, like half price Modern Renaissance and Naked Heat. Boo!
If you’re thinking that this order looks skimpy…it’s because I pulled out the gifts I ordered for my daughter. She doesn’t come here, but her brother does – and I trust him about as far as I can throw him with one hand.
I was excited to snatch the NYXΒ Lip Snacks Soft Matte Metallic Lip Cream Set ($15, down from $25) for myself. It’s a set of 12 minis of my favorite lip formula from NYX, specially scented like buttercream. I’ve onlhy sampled 2 so far, but they are the BEST. I also got a half-price Urban DecayΒ Razor Sharp Water-Resistant Longwear Liquid Eyeliner in “Demolition” ($11, down from $22) – I think a shiny brown cat eye will look good on me.
The biggest bummer was a broken bottle in the China Glaze The Grinch Grinchworthy Nail Art Duo ($10). It wasn’t the “Grinchworthy” polish itself, but the “For Rhinestones Only” adhesive – the stem of the bottle broke inside the cap and it leaked everywhere. I called Ulta Customer Service and they sent me out another one immediately, no questions asked – so now I have 2 bottles of “Grinchworthy” and 2 pots of green felt. I cannot wait to make my nails look like Astroturf! Oh, and I got another tidbit from Customer Service – they won’t be including samples in orders again until January. Cheap bastards.
I added a bottle of Zoya Remove+ to get me over the $65 mark, to get the glittery pink 18-piece Cyber Fundays sample bag. The sample bag was STUFFED – it had: Too Faced Glitter Glue (saving for a special occasion); Cover FX Blurring Primer; Urban Decay Perversion Mascara; Patchology Flashpatch Restoring Night Eye Gels (this is the third set I’ve gotten – I guess I should use them); philosophy Renewed Hope in a Jar; Clinique Happy; 2 Anastasia Beverly Hills Lip Glosses in “Vintage” (2!!!); Lime Crime Unicorn Hair in “bunny” (ugh, another one); bliss lemon & sage body butter; Biolage Hydra Source Shampoo & Conditioner; L’Oreal Paris Voluminous Primer/Base for Mascara; philosophy Amazing Grace; Armani Code Cashmere; Skin Laundry Hydrating Cream Face Wash; L’Oreal Paris Pure-Clay Cleanser Detox-Brighten (this black one is my fave); MAC False Lashes Mascara in “Extreme Black”; and Clinique Moisture Surge Hydrating Supercharged Concentrate. There were also 2 hot coupons – $15 off $75 (only good in December) and another $5 off $15 Ulta Beauty Collection (good until 2/1/19).
I was also able to use a $10 off coupon, bringing my order down to $64.49 before tax – but I still got the bag. I was sweating for a hot minute! Just $301 to Diamond…I do predict another order before the end of the year, but not that much!
ROUGE BONUS
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Oh, Sephora…you really do spoil me. This past weekend and now this weekend, Sephora is offering 20% for Rouge Members. You know I took advantage the very first day of last week’s sale – I had to get that sample bag!
I really wanted to smell some Ellis Brooklyn scents, but they didn’t carry them at my local store. Boo. I had a hard time coming up with something I needed/wanted – until I noticed how many shades of lippies that Kat Von D is discontinuing. I was vaguely aware, but not fully – they are getting rid of about a third of their shades of Studded Kiss, Everlasting Lip Liquids, Everlasting Glimmer Veils, and Everlasting Lip Liners. I decided to grab an Everlasting Lip Liquid in “Underage Red” ($13) – you know, because the name pisses so many people off. I also got an Everlasting Lip Liner in “Misfit” ($11) – a darker maroon. I’ve gotta say, the two of these colors together is stunning. I’m very happy with my purchase.
So…that sample bag…so packed full! It included Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Color (in little weird plastic pots); Urban Decay Cosmetics Naked Skin Ultra Definition Liquid Makeup (2 shades); NARS Power Matte Lip Pigment in “American Woman”; Tory Burch Eau de Parfum; Kiehl’s Creamy Eye Treatment; Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream; Kiehl’s Ginger Leaf & Hibiscus Firming Mask (excited to try this); and Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer.
Just $86 Until ROUGE for 2019. I willΒ do it!
Naked Cherry
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Would you believe that this entire Ulta Haul cost me a mere $1.87? The magic of Ulta Platinum points, baby.
I really hadn’t been saving up points for very long – I used up most of my points just six month ago on a Beachwaver. Through strategic use of points promotions and my Ultimate Mastercard, I’d managed to accrue over $100 in points in a short period of time! By stacking a 20% off code, I was able to conserve precious points – I only used $70.50 in points this time.
I exhibited extraordinary willpower in not purchasing the Urban Decay Naked Cherry Palette ($49) at launch. I knew I had the points though, so I just bided my time until I got the code. I also splurged on matching Vice Lipstick in “Devilish” ($18). I’ve been using the palette for the past 3-4 days and it is the same buttery formula that I’ve grown to love through all the Naked palettes. There’s a variety of matte and shimmer shades that work very well together. I won’t be the first to point out that the palette seems a little bit like a rehash of the Backtalk palette – but so what? The Backtalk blushes work really well with this palette, so I call that a win. I heartily recommend the Naked Cherry palette, especially when it’s free.
I added a few other fun things to my order. I’d been wanting to try a bubble sheet mask, so I got an Ulta Revitalizing Bubbling Sheet Mask ($3.00) and since they were BOGO 40% off, I got an Ulta Age Defying Matcha Mud Mask ($1.80). Ulta also came out with Aromatherapy Fragrance Rollerballs ($12.50) – I got the “Uplift” Coconut Rose scent. I absolutely love the scent – it reminds me of the Renaissance Festival for some reason – but it doesn’t last very long at all. Kind of a bummer. I also got a Scunci No-Slip Octopus clip ($5.99) – this is hands down the best clip to hold your hair and not look like a lazy hot mess. I need like 5 more.
In addition to waiting until I got a 20% off code, I also waited until Beauty Break Wednesday. The Hempz Beauty Break included three full size products: Hempz Cinnamon Sugar & Vanilla Butter Creme Herbal Body Moisturizer, Hempz Star Jasmine & Vanilla Herbal Foaming Body Wash, Hempz Original Herbal Body Butter and a travel size Star Jasmine & Vanilla Herbal Moisturizer. Wow!
They didn’t give me any samples though…bummer.
Only $430 until Diamond status…