Tag: Smashbox
Sephora Play! 04 – December 2015
“Oh What Fun” is Sephora Play’s December theme and oh, what fun it is. I’m not sure if I lost the little playbook that came with it, or if I just lost it somewhere in my house…but I usually don’t remember to cash in the card for 50 extra points anyway.
Inside…NUDE Skincare Advanced Renewal Serum (5 packets!); Viktor & Rolf “Flowerbomb” (saving for my sister, she likes this scent a lot); Smashbox Full Exposure Eye Shadow Duo; Dr. Brandt Skincare PoreDermabrasion (love getting Dr. Brandt); Make Up For Ever Aqua Eyes in “Matte Black” (eek, waterproof eyeliner…NO); and Fresh Seaberry Moisturizing Oil (My skin is SO flaketastic right now).
Sephora Play is only $10/month. You can sign up at sephora.com/play.
Ulta Cyber Fundays
The weekend before Thanksgiving/Black Friday, Ulta ran a “Cyber Fundays” promotion with a bunch of stuff on sale, plus a gift with purchase sample bag on orders of $60+, plus $10 off. I decided to knock out some stocking stuffers, plus get a few things for myself. Imagine my surprise when Ulta decided to break my modest order into three different shipments.
The first box was rather piddly – just a travel size Joico K-PAK Deep-Penetrating Reconstructor (my BFF swears by K-PAKs, so I thought I’d give them a try while on sale) and a few stocking stuffers from the 5/$5 Promotion.
The second box was also small – a single lotion stocking stuffer, my variety sampler – Lumene Time Freeze Instant Lift Serum and Burt’s Bees Renewal Intensive Firming Serum – and my gift with purchase…Inside the Berry Glam Beauty Bag: Too Faced Born This Way Foundation with 3 different shades – “Vanilla”, “Light Beige” and “Sand”; Gucci “Bamboo” (not bad, smells like Crystals in Vegas); “Pink Sugar” (too hookery); Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Powder Duo; Pureology Coulour Fanatic Instant Deep-Conditioning Mask; Benefit ThePOREfessional Pro Balm & License to Blot Set; Urban Decay Cosmetics Revolution Lipstick (Card with 4 sample colors); Giorgio Armani “Acqua Di Gio”; Whish Body Butter in “Winterberry” (the last one I got smelled like hot dog water, so I am scared to try this one); It’s a 10 Miracle Leave-In Product (guaranteed in every Ulta sample bag); Ralph Lauren “Romance”; Philosophy Purity Made Simple 3-in-1 Cleanser for Face and Eyes; Ulta Legendary Lengths Lengthening Mascara; Clarins Super Restorative Day; Alterna Haircare Caviar CC Cream (for hair); Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer (I have SO much of this shit); Skyn Iceland Pure Cloud Cream; Nip+Fab Skin Dragon’s Blood Fix Plumping Serum (it couldn’t be worse than the snake venom that nut in Vegas smeared all over my face); and a BUNCH of Ulta coupons.
FINALLY…the third box had the REAL stuff I ordered: John Frieda Liquid Shine Shampoo and Conditioner ($3.74 each!); Joico K-PAK Shampoo (to go with the conditioner); Ulta Rose Gold Palette (been lusting after this FOREVER); Poo-Pourri “Merry Spritzmas” (for my son – at 10, he is starting to get manly shits); eos Holiday Set (also for him), some other stocking stuffers and some nail buffers for ME.
I monitored Ulta’s Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales and it looks like the Cyber Fundays sale was actually the better deal (for me, anyway). They’re still sending different sale emails every day, though…I may not be done ordering yet!
November Ipsy Bag – Beauty Blast
Well, November’s Ipsy bag is BADASS! I love the galaxy print on the bag and the products are top notch. I’m pretty sure Ipsy wins November…
Inside my “Beauty Blast” glam bag: China Glaze Nail Lacquer in “Soft Sienna Silks” (this color is going on my nails TOMORROW); Beaute Basics Sahara Gold Chubby Eye Pencil; LeeAni Eco Go Away Gloomy Day Serum; Smashbox Cosmetics Full Exposure Mascara (NICE); and tre’StiQue Mini Matte Lip Crayon in “Chile Red”.
If you’d like to try Ipsy – click here. I’ll earn 250 points if you sign up through my link.
Never Too Early to Start Xmas Shopping
I couldn’t pass up the chance to combine a 20% off coupon with an already smokin’ deal. I’ve been watching the Urban Decay Naked on the Run palette drop in price on various sites over the past month and it finally popped up at Ulta for $32. It was overpriced at $54, but $25.60 was just the right price. I tried the palette immediately and LOVED the shadow colors. Just the color “Dive” alone is worth it – metallic rose w/golden micro-shimmer. The Naked Lip Gloss “Sesso” is also nice.
I also picked up an Xmas present for Lily – the NYX Mega Glam Nail Polish Set. These little mini polish bottles are perfect for her tiny hands. I’m fairly certain she doesn’t read this site, so I think I’m safe in posting it.
I’ve finally figured out that the best day to order online from Ulta is Beauty Break Wednesdays – when they always have a free gift going. This time, I got a 4 piece sampler from bliss, with Fabulous Makeup Melt gel-to-oil cleanser, Fabulous Foaming Face Wash, Triple Oxygen Radiant Protection Energizing Serum and Instant Energizing Foaming Mask. I also got samples of L de L Cosmetics Retinol Anti-Wrinkle Facial Oil, Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer and Mario Badescu Botanical Exfoliating Scrub.
I can’t wait to use my Sephora VIB 20% off next week!
October Birchbox – Power Pose
It’s October and you know what that means…PINK. The entire country is drowned in Pepto Bismol pink, a massive marketing event purportedly intended to raise breast cancer awareness, but really designed to sell pink versions of every product possible, from KFC to NFL. I don’t apologize for my cynicism. My mother died of breast cancer a decade ago and I don’t need a pink bucket of chicken breasts to remind me to get MY breasts squished between plexiglass plates on a yearly basis.
In any case, Birchbox offered the choice of two curated Estée Lauder boxes. I picked the “Power Pose” box, which contains Clinique Chubby Stick Moisturizing Lip Colour Balm in “Mega Melon” (is that some kind of ironic joke about breasts?); Clinique Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief; Darphin STIMULSKIN PLUS Multi-Correction Divine Cream; Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Serum Synchronized Complex II; and Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer (I think I have 4 of these now). OH! And an obligatory pink ribbon. Yay.
I know I sound like an asshole – normally, I love the color pink – just not that trademarked Komen pink. One of the organizations that I do admire is The Rose, a local organization that provides Breast Cancer screening and treatment for those who cannot afford it. They are able to do this, not by donations or pink marketing – but by also servicing women (like me) that have insurance and using those funds to support their initiatives. They DO something.
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.
June Ipsy Bag – Swim Into Beauty
It’s fitting that June’s bag is made of black neoprene to match the theme – “Swim Into Beauty”.
This month brought me an interesting bag: Formula X Nail Color in “Power Source” (fucking neon coral); Befine Cucumber Face Mask; Smashbox Cosmetics Photo Finish Foundation Primer (so…much…primer); it Cosmetics Brow Powder Universal Eyebrow Pencil; and tre’StiQue Mini Shadow Crayon in “Kona Coffee” (I was so pissed when I pulled this out of my bag – I thought the cap was missing, but the cap looks like a pencil).
If you’d like to try Ipsy – click here. I’ll earn 250 points if you sign up through my link.
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!
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.
Le Poop and Le Barf
Puss has being absolutely BEGGING to be featured on my site and today, she wouldn’t take NO for an answer.
My son thinks he is a comedian. As I gleefully opened up my Ulta “Finishing Touches” Fragrance Collection, he asked if any of the perfumes were from France. So I started reading off where the perfumes were from and he says, “I thought so – it smells like Le Poop and Le Barf.” How can a 9 year old be so funny?
A few Saturdays ago, I was sitting at my daughter’s Gymnastics Class and got an Ulta email…The special of the day was 2/$40 on the “Finishing Touches” set, plus a free stainless steel 3 piece serving set. Why not? I can keep one and use the other for a white elephant gift. (I was a little perturbed when I saw that Ulta will have these for $14.99 on Black Friday, but then again – that would require leaving the house on the most dangerous day of the year.)
Inside the box: Bvulgari “Omnia Crystalline”, Calvin Klein “Endless Euphoria”, DKNY “MYNY”, Estée Lauder “Modern Muse”, Giorgio Armani “Acqua Di Gioia”, Jimmy Choo “Jimmy Choo”, Juicy Couture “Viva La Juicy”, Lancôme “La Vie est Belle”, Philosophy “Loveswept” (the only one of these that I already own – I got it for Valentine’s Day), Prada “Prada Candy”, Ralph Lauren “Midnight Romance”, and Vince Camuto “Femme”. The set also came with a refillable purse atomizer and a $5 off Fragrance Coupon.
I also picked the mystery sample pack – I got L’Oreal EverSleek Intense Smoothing Shampoo, Conditioner and Humidity Defying Leave-in Creme; Smashbox Camera Ready CC Cream and Redken Diamond Oil. Interesting…
I can’t wait to try all my new fragrances – I hope I like at least one of them…
Ulta Makes Me So Happy
I can’t pass up a gift with purchase…I’ll tell myself that it’s virtually the same as the last gift with purchase, but it does no good.
Ulta’s purchase requirements are go strange – $19.50 of Ulta products to get the gift. I got Ulta Oil-Free Makeup Remover, Ulta Precision Liquid Liner in “Plum” (I know, weird), and Ulta Double Duty Lipstain & Blam in “Romance”. The gift is a makeup bag filled with the usual stuff – but DIFFERENT usual stuff. I am most excited to try the Ulta Super Stretch Fiber Mascara and the eye shadow topper…which was unfortunately shattered during shipping…fuck.
I also got the two 97 cent polishes I saw on Nouveau Cheap – China Glaze Halloween 2013 Monsters Ball “Bat My Eyes” and “Boo-gie Down”.
Since I used my $3.50 off coupon, I had to find one more thing to qualify for $25 free shipping. I picked Pixel Lip Tint in “Addictive”, which also came with the choice of a free nail polish – I chose Pixel “The Midas Touch”.
Finally…my free samples. I picked the Variety Sampler again, because I am scared of the perfume samples. I got three little foil packets – Smashbox Photo Finish More Than Primer Blemish Control Salicyclic Acid Acne Treatment, The Body Shop Nutriganics “Drops of Youth” and Dermelect Cosmecuticals Timeless Anti-Aging Daily Hand Treatment. Meh.
The most exciting thing in the box was the new Ulta Catalog – for the 21 Days of Beauty that starts 9/7! So many good deals! Ulta makes me so happy…