Tag: tarte
November 2024 Ipsy Icon Box – Lisa Vanderpump
I am aware that there is a show called Vanderpump Rules, and I assume that is Lisa Vanderpump comes from…but I have no context to understand how she would be relevant to my life? A quick Google tells me that she was originally one of the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills…so this lady is DEFINITELY not relevant to my life.
I made a boo boo with my product choices this month. I didn’t remember that I already picked 5 SENS “Life of the Party” ($65) for May’s Icon Box. Oopsie…it will make a great Xmas gift? I am IN LOVE with the Fenty Skin Cherry Dub Triple Action Body Scrub ($36) though – it smells go good and makes my skin so smooth. I have not tried the Polite Society Polite Pout Glossy Lip Balm in “Pink Grapefruit” ($21) yet, but I am sure I will love it.
I admit, the last few weeks have been busy and I have not had a chance to try the rest of this month’s products: Keys Soulcare Truly Becoming Multi Benefit Peptide Serum ($38); KVD Beauty Good Apple Full-Coverage Transfer-Proof Serum Foundation in “Light 008” ($42 – I have no idea when I’ll try this…I am now drowning in foundations!); LYS Beauty Speak Love Moisture Matte Lipstick in “Sincere” ($20); Origins GinZing SPF 30 Daily Moisturizer ($38); and tarte Tartelette Juicy Amazonian Clay Palette ($47 – I am most definitely gonna sell this on Poshmark, because tarte eye shadow is like that Tinkerbell makeup my mom used to buy me from the Avon lady).
This month’s box is only worth $307, but it feels like a lot more!
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.
October 2024 Ipsy Glam Bag – Beauty Nightmares
Beauty Nightmares? I don’t want Beauty Nightmares!
So it’s not that I am behind…although I am behind…but, I am delayed in covering October’s ipsy bag because it was missing two items! I contacted Ipsy Care and they dispatched them immediately, so I just had to wait for them to arrive…
The missing items were Dew of the Gods Sorbaé Hyaluronic Lip Butter in “Strawberry Mandarin” (which I am wearing right now) and a WingMe Cosmetics All Over Eyeshadow Brush.
My product choice this month was a Thread Beauty Face It Multi-Use Complexion Stick in “00 Fair”. I think it’s a concealer – I’ll have to try it.
Also in this month’s bag: tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes™ 4-in-1 Mascara (ugh, tarte is so tired), and Toyfactory Oatbaé Oil Makeup Remover (ew, oil).
Even though this month’s products are kind of duds, I always LOVE the October bags. This one is super-witchy (can you tell I just binged Agatha All Along?) with snakes and such.
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.
Wicked Ulta Haul
As soon as Ulta dropped all of the Wicked Movie Collab products…I knew I was in trouble. I tried – TRIED – to be conservative, but I don’t know if I did a very good job, especially since it was Diamond Love List Monday…
Right off the bat, I knew I had to get the OPI x Wicked Nail Lacquer 12 Piece Mini Pack ($49.99). I hate paying full price for nail polish, but I just couldn’t risk it selling out before I got it. The set has 12 mini polishes, 6 for Elphaba and 6 for Galinda. I am really looking forward to trying them all out. Ariana Grande’s r.e.m. beauty released a bunch of matched sets and lipsticks, but I was drawn to the r.e.m. beauty x Wicked Ozdust Eyeshadow Palette ($55). I am impressed by how creamy and blendable the shadows are. The glitters really pop! I even got a gift with purchase – a full size Midnight Shadows Liquid Eyeshadow. I wasn’t paying attention and thought it was a lipstick – which actually looked amazing after I wiped most of it off and applied lip stain on top of it. It made my lips look like stained glass – new favorite lip look! I’m sure I’ll be picking up more Wicked Collab stuff, but this is it for now.
It’s been a while since I’ve gotten hyped up about Urban Decay, but the new Urban Decay Cosmetics Moondust Space Cowboy Glitter Eyeshadow Palette – Limited Edition ($49) caught my eye. Yes, I know it’s basically just a few shadows pulled from Naked palettes in a fancy package – SHUT UP. I have only gotten to use it once, but I ended up with nice results, so no regrets. Oh, and I also got a Platinum and Diamond Free 5 Piece Gift with $35 makeup purchase, which came with an clear vinyl crossbody bag (perfect for stadiums with a clear bag rule); Urban Decay All Nighter Long Lasting Makeup Setting Spray (ugh, I have so much of this); a card sample of Urban Decay Moondust Eyeshadow in “Space Cowboy”; Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in “Zero”; and Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion in “Original”.
I added a few more random items to my bag: an EcoTools Exfoliating EcoPouf Loofah ($2.99); L’Oreal True Match Super-Blendable Powder in “C1 Alabaster” ($6.49, on sale from $12.99 – Ulta’s site told me which shade to use based on the shade I wear in Infallible, but it’s a bit light on me); and Thayers Alcohol-Free Witch Hazel Facial Toner in “Rose Petal” ($10.95).
All this got me a Free Platinum & Diamond Exclusive 28 Piece Gift with with $150 purchase – woo hoo! First off, this gift came with a gorgeous chocolate velvet cosmetic bag. Inside the bag: COSRX Master Patch Intensive; Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour HydraPlay Skin Perfecting Daily Moisturizer; Morphe Mini Continuous Setting Mist; Maybelline The Falsies Lash Lift Mascara; Sol de Janeiro Cheirosa 48 Perfume Mist (Awww, I already have one of these); Chloe Intense; Olaplex No. 7 Bonding Oil; Frank Body Glycolic Body Scrub; bareMinerals Complexion Rescue Blonzer (uh whut? It’s blush and bronzer, oh); Estee Lauder Revitalizing Supreme + Night Power Bounce Creme; e.l.f. Power Grip Primer; Benefit The POREfessional Super Setter Long-Lasting Makeup Setting Spray (ugh, more???); Wella Ultimate Repair Miracle Hair Rescue (again, more???); Clarins Total Eye Lift; Polite Society Greatest Lashes of All Time Mascara (braggy a bit?); Dime TBT Cream (what even is this?); Eau Thermale Avene Cicalfate Intensive Skin Restorative Serum; megababe Le Tush Clarifying Butt Mask (literally laughed out loud); tarte tartelette XL tubing Mascara; Charlotte Tilbury Exagger-eyes Mascara; Florence by Mills Floating Under the Eyes Patches; CeraVe Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser; OUAI Leave in Conditioner; Buxom Plump Shot Collagen Infused Lip Serum; e.l.f. Skin Holy Hydration Eye Cream; pixi Glow Tonic; NOYZ Lost + Found; and Vichy Mineral 89 Fortifying and Plumping Daily Booster. Damn, my fingers are TIRED.
I should feel worse about randomly spending $150+ without a good coupon or sale…but I don’t, because I used the last $30 of Ulta points I had saved up.
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!
June 2022 Ipsy Bag – Show Your Colors
This month’s ipsy bag is a bit…meh. Except for that lemon zipper pull – I am OBSESSED.
I have been pampering my skin this year, so my product choice was Tatcha Indigo Night Cream. It’s THICK, but it’s not making me break out, so I like it. I think it would be better ion the winter than the summer, but since I opened it, I might as well use it.
Also in this month’s bag: Able Skincare Hyaluronic + Retinol Radical Youth Activator Serum (with a crisp cucumber scent, I LOVE this serum); Dr. Paw Paw Overnight Lip Mask (honestly, I haven’t tried it yet); Tarte Maneater Voluptuous Mascara (again, I have plenty of mascara, so I haven’t tried it yet); and Brow Atelier Groom & Sculpt Tinted Brow Gel in Chestnut (I don’t even have enough brows to groom or sculpt).
I am a bit disappointed with this month’s bag, but I’m CERTAIN that next month’s bag will be better.
I subscribe to the basic ipsy bag for $13/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.
Birthday Haircut
Okay, technically, I got my hair cut the day AFTER my birthday, but I say it still counts as a “birthday haircut.”
Although my hair DID need a cut, the real reason I went to Ulta was to use my Ulta Diamond coupons, which were due to expire on February 9th. That’s a ridiculously short period of time to use these valuable coupons…so I got my butt in there to get $25 off Salon Services and a free bottle of Clinique Beyond Perfecting Foundation + Concealer in “0.5 Breeze”. Of course, my skin is so dry and flaky this winter that I haven’t DARED trying it. Soon.
After getting my hairs did and my skin matched, I went down every single aisle. Somehow, I didn’t go nuts. I found 2 Schmidt’s “Rose + Black Pepper” Natural Deodorant, one for me and one for Lily. They were on clearance, $4.99, down from $9.99. I came across a Revlon x Barbie Nail Tool Set ($7.99). I wanted to try the Colourpop Fresh Kiss Lip Creme, so I tried “Alt Rock” ($8.00). I thought it would be a dupe for KVD “Lolita”, but it’s more fuchsia. The texture is soft and it didn’t crack my lips, but it did get on everything.
I initially thought that this year’s Birthday Gift was lame – a Deluxe Sample of tarte Lash Smoothie Hemp Mascara, but I tried it and I actually like it. Who knew? I also used my $10 off birthday coupon.
$1,103.77 to Diamond in 2023.
First Ulta Haul of 2022
I placed my first Ulta order of the year…I had no specific plan in mind, I just kept adding to cart until it felt right.
I take that back, I did have a bit of a plan. I am running out of conditioner, so I picked up a refill of NatureLab.Tokyo Perfect Smooth Conditioner ($23). The shampoo lasts forever, but I go right through the conditioner. Speaking of refills, I got a refill of my KVD Beauty Lock-it Foundation – it was half off ($12, down from $24)! My favorite Ulta Ultra Slim Brow Pencil in “Dark Brown” was also half off ($5, down from $10), so I got another one of those, too.
I need eye shadow like a need another kid, but I got the NYX Limited Edition Lunar New Year Eyeshadow Palette ($10) anyway. I am annoyed that I haven’t had a chance to play with it yet.
I cannot pass up cheap nail polish, so I got China Glaze “Diamond in the Rough” and “Bring on the Bubbly” for $1.88 each. They’ll make good toppers.
My order qualified for a tarte 4 piece Beauty Break, which includes tarte Stay Spray, sugar rush Lip Slip in “Dragon Fruit”, sugar rush Lash Smoothie Volumizing Hemp Mascara, and a shape tape glow wand. Tarte isn’t my favorite makeup brand, but it’s not bad.
$3.50 off coupon and $1,150 to Diamond for 2023.
December 2021 Ipsy Bag – Time to Shine
After last month’s Glam Bag X, the regular ipsy bag is almost a let down. Almost…
My product selection this month is Skyn Iceland Glacial Face Wash in White Willow Bark. This is a nice, creamy face wash – I like it.
Also in this month’s bag: Codage Paris Moisturizing Mask; Complex Culture Get Set Nail Polish in “Hustle” (a nice orange leaning red); Tarte Surfer Curl Volumizing Mascara; and a Hipdot Contour Brush (I am about to fucking rage on all these makeup brushes – how do I make it stop?)
The rose gold bag is really nice. I want to put it in my big “mom purse”, but I feel like the glitter would flake off and end up in the bottom of my purse.
I subscribe to the basic ipsy bag for $12/month and Glam Bag X for an extra $43/quarterly. Oh wait, I just saw on the site that the price went up to $13 in October – I’d better check my credit card statement! If you’d like to try Ipsy – click here. I’ll earn 250 points if you sign up through my referral link.
Cyber Diamond
Here we go, here’s the haul that made me Ulta Diamond for 2022.
I’m sure it’s not shocking that finally bought the Urban Decay Cosmetics Naked Cyber Eyeshadow Palette ($49), but it might be shocking that I paid full price. (I am still saving my Ulta points for a Dyson Airwrap – I’m up to $312!) It’s a very versatile palette, although I am concerned about the quality. The shadows are not as buttery as the first several Naked palettes – a few of the shimmers are downright CHALKY. Ugh. Use a primer and you’ll be fine, but it’s an annoying extra step. Also, watch out for fallout – the glitters get everywhere. I do wish there was at least one more dark, saturated shade besides the burnt orange, but I can mix and match with another palette.
I recently got new bleached streaks in my hair (another Ulta trip) and decided to dye them turquoise when I get sick of blond. I decided to try Arctic Fox in “Aquamarine” ($17) – my kids SWEAR by it. I feel like I’m cheating on Overtone, but their turquoise didn’t take well on my hair. Holding out hope for Arctic Fox.
I had seen the Kitsch Leopard Print Towel Scrunchies ($10.50, on sale from $14) at full price in the store, but was thrilled to find them for 25% online. I also splurged on Kitsch Moisturizing Spa Socks ($12, on sale from $16). I feel like the open toe design will be more comfortable to sleep in – it’s hard for me sleep in regular socks. I also threw in some Ulta Exfoliating Cotton Pads ($2.09), because why not?
I DID use the $20 off $100 coupon code that was out before the holiday sales, and I still qualified for the Hello Holidays 23 piece More Glow Beauty Bag. Inside the bag: Clarins Re-Boost Refreshing Hydrating Cream; Megababe Antibacterial Wipes in “Squeaky Clean” (note to self: do NOT confuse with makeup remover wipes); Good Molecules Silicone-Free Priming Moisturizer; Marc Jacobs Daisy Eau So Intense; Ellis Brooklyn Sweet; Yves Saint Laurent Mon Paris Eau de Parfum Intense (What are all these “intense” perfumes?); Lancome La Vie est Belle (2 samples of this one); Not Your Mother’s Naturals Activated Bamboo Charcoal & Purple Moonstone Shampoo and Conditioner (I’ve been wanting to try this one; Joico Defy Damage Protective Shampoo, Conditioner, Masque & Shield (4 packettes!); MAC Lipstick Samples in “Ruby Woo”, “M-A-C Red” and “Cockney”; Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream; The Body Shop Body Butter in “British Rose” (I think this sample is why I chose this particular bag); Living proof. Restore Repair Mask; Jack Black Performance Remedy Turbo Wash (will go to the husband or the son); Kate Somerville +Retinol Vita C Power Serum; tarte Shape Tape Contour Concealer; Dear, Klairs Midnight Blue Calming Cream (I’m scared that the package says “For Nighttime Only” – will I burst into flames if I use it in the daytime?); Bobbi Brown Hydrating Eye Cream; Biosilk Silk Therapy Leave-In Treatment; Benefit Boi-ing Cakeless Concealer in “Light Cool”; and NYX The Marshmallow Primer (made with marshmallow root – weird). The bag is super cushy, made out of ski-suit material.
(There were also a few gifts (not shown) from this haul – shhhhh…)
September 2021 Ipsy Bag – Back To
September’s theme is “Back to”, as in Back to School, Back to Work, Back to Life. I know they mean well, but I cannot help but roll my eyes at seeing that trope yet again. Businesses desperately want everything to go back to normal…
My product choice this month was Grace & Stella Hydrating Rose Facial Spray. I tried it out and my face just felt…wet. It dried quickly, but it didn’t seem to do much. My skin didn’t feel moisturized and it did not leave a scent. I don’t exactly understand this product.
Also in this month’s bag: Bioclarity Barefaced Exfoliating Jelly Cleanser (this has a strong veggie smell); BRTC Vitamin B5 Velvet Mask & Vitamin A Velvet Mask; Tarte Sugar Rush Lash Smoothie Volumizing Hemp Mascara (they are putting hemp in EVERYTHING these days); and Verso Skincare Night Cream (I am not kidding when I say that this smells and FEELS like Elmer’s Glue – I kind of like it).
My daughter was eyeing the bag – she said it was giving her Hufflepuff vibes. (Of course, she’s never seen Clueless and doesn’t get the 90s yellow plaid vibe.) I was a kind mommy and promised her the bag.
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.