Tag: Ulta
A Clean Face is a Happy Face
I told you I was going to place an Ulta order…
It got here quick, too. Ulta needs to work on their shipping though. It came in two boxes – one had just the Ulta Ultra Slim Brow Pencil in “Medium Brown” (been wanting to try a little lighter look) and everything else in the other box. The two boxes were the same size.
The #1 thing I wanted was the nail polish – essence “outta space is the place”, from their new Out of Space Nail Stories Collection ($2.99). It’s an iridescent white – I’ve never seen anything like it! I also picked up 2 essence Kiss the Mermaid Lipsticks ($3.49) – one for me and one for Lily. I’ve been using the fuck out of my Frog Prince Green Lipstick – this one is a blue stick that turns purplish pink.
I’ve also been wanting to try a few of the new Pacifica rose products: Pacifica Rose Kombucha Flower Powered Face Wash and Rose Flower Hydro Mist (regularly $10 each, buy one sale BOG40%off). The face wash is creamy and strongly scented. It foams A LOT – a little goes a long way. I’m getting use to the face mist – it’s a very different way to hydrate your face than the creams and lotions I’m used too.
I also grabbed two of the new Wet n Wild Megalast Liquid Catsuit Metallic Lipsticks ($4.99) in “I Don’t Dessert You” and “Satin Sheets.” I totally duped myself – these are dupes of Jeffree Star “No Tea, No Shade” and “Pussy Whipped”. Jokes on me!
The last thing I added to my cart was Ulta Warming Charcoal Cleanser ($10)….so I could get the free gift with purchase makeup bag. The cleanser does warm up, but not as much as others I’ve had. The cleanser is very, very gentle. This might be one of the better makeup bag gifts. Inside the bag: an eyeshadow palette, a blush/bronzer duo, Liquid Illuminator in “Northern Lights”, Plush Drama Volumizing Mascara, Nude Lipstick in “Pink Chocolate”, Mattifying Face Primer, Tinted Eye Primer in “Peach Glow”, Juice Infused Lip Oil in “Coconut”, Eye Liner Pencil in “Blackout”, Brow Shaping Gel in “Clear”, an eye pencil sharpener, Lip Liner Pencil in “Bittersweet”, a tapered blush brush and a $5 off $15 coupon. The colors are springy and neutral.
I have been choosing skincare samples from Ulta lately – I got a Skinfix Face Cleansing Cloth and Vichy Aqualia Thermal Creme Riche. I was also able to use the $5 off coupon from my last Ulta order.
$330.6o to remain Platinum…that’s like one hair appointment!
Ulta Birthday Trip
I had an afternoon Doctor Appointment last week and I decided not to be a lazy shit and leave the house before noon. I thought I’d hit Ulta to pick up my Birthday Gift and see what else I can pick up.
I’ve started this new habit of keeping a list of stuff I want from Ulta in my basket in the app, so I don’t forget and can compare prices. I had at least half a dozen random items and this store did not have a single one of them in stock. Really? I had a $10 off coupon burning a hole in my pocket!
I decided to finally try the NYX Liquid Suede Metallics, since they were Buy One, Get One 50% Off. I picked up “Buzzkill” (hot pink) and “Go Rogue” (black). Warning, the pink STAINS bad, as I found out today. I also grabbed a few different nail buffers. The biggest part of my purchase was a set of Hot Tools Soft Pillow Rollers for my daughter’s birthday next week – don’t worry, she doesn’t even know what Instagram is.
This quarter’s birthday gift is kind of lame – Just an Ulta Cranberry & Pomegranate Lip Oil and Mask. The rest of the year gets NARS, it Cosmetics and Lancome! I got the shaft.
Disappointed, I hit a second Ulta on the way to my appointment and again – disappointment. I actually ended up placing an online order a few days ago…I’m excited!
Gloomy Lotion
As cynical as I am, I’m a sucker for a new products. I’ve been wanting to get my hands on L’Oreal’s True Match Lumi Glotion Natural Glow Enhancer in “Fair” ($14.99). (In my head, I always think Gloomy Lotion). I’ve been really liking the GlamGlow Illuminating Moisturizer. The Gloomy Lotion doesn’t smell as good, but it does the job – I like it.
Since I had a 20% off coupon, I filled my cart with a few other things to get to $50. I also wanted to try Maybelline’s Total Temptation Eyebrow Definer Pencil in “Medium Brown” ($7.99). I’ve been loving on the Ulta Slim, but this one is a winner, too! It’t only about 2/3 the length, so it might not be such a good deal pricewise. I got a $5 off a future purchase from those brands for my purchase.
I also got refills of my SheaMoisture Peace Rose Oil Complex Shampoo and Conditioner ($11.49). It wasn’t on sale, but hey, 20% off. Speaking of rose, I also had to try out Philosophy‘s new scent – Amazing Grace Nude Rose ($20). It’s similar with Ballet Rose, but instead of notes of leather, there are green notes. It made my husband gag, so that’s a really good sign.
Oh, and thanks for actually sending me samples, Ulta! I got a cared with three different shades of Too Faced Born This Way Foundation and a card with samples of L’Oreal Revitalift Serum and Moisturizer.
Only $397.23 to get to Platinum for 2019. Chances of hitting Diamond status? At this juncture, I’d say highly unlikely.
Thanksgiving Day Shopping
Oooohhh! My Thanksgiving orders came in at the end of last week! I didn’t even wait – I did all my ordering on Thursday. Shipping is definitely getting slower and slower.
Ulta was offering a free 9 pc gift with a $50 order, so you know I hit that shit. The only thing I really needed was another Ulta Ultra Slim Brow Pencil in “Dark Brown” ($10), everything else was just extra.
I do, however, think I’ve found my “forever” shampoo and conditioner – SheaMoisture Peace Rose Oil Complex Nourish & Silken Shampoo and Conditioner (normally $11.49, but on sale – buy one, get one 40% off). This is the scent I’ve been waiting my whole life for – rose shampoo and conditioner! And it makes my hair feel AMAZING. So soft and so shiny. It’s pricey, but I’m not even mad. This is THE ONE.
Oh, I ordered some other small odds and ends for the kids’ stockings. One of those things got me a free sample of Seche Vite! I’ve been wanting to try it for ages.
The free 9 pc bag was full of Ulta goodies: an eyeshadow palette (love the purpley colors), a highlighter palette, a blush brush, a double ended eye liner – “plum” and “blackout”, a Matte Lip Crayon in “Soiree”, an eye liner sharpener, Tinted Eye Primer in “Satin Blush”, and Color Rush Lip Gloss in “Olivia”. Oh, and a $5 off $15 coupon for Ulta products.
I was only a little annoyed that my sample pack was not included in my order.
I also got my Victoria’s Secret order. Someone always ends up with one of their robes as a gift from me – shhhh…don’t tell!
No one wants to see a pile of bras, so I’ll stick to the important stuff.
Since all the lippies were on sale for $8, I added one to plump up my order – I gotta get that free tote bag! I got a Velvet Matte Cream Lip Stain in “Perfection”. Yeah, they transfer onto anything and everything, but they still last all day on my lips.
Ulta 21 Days of Beauty – Day 19
I think it was Day 19…whatever, the 21 Days of Beauty were September 3rd to 23rd and on the 21st, I found something to order.
I have a hard time passing up the chance to try new foundations for 50% off. I decided to try Laura Geller Balance-n-Brighten Baked Color Correcting Foundation in “Medium” for $16.50. It’s a swirly dome, with streak of gold. I feel like this foundation makes my face matte, but luminous at the same time. It’s really nice, actually.
I also picked up a full size China Glaze “Let Your Twilight Sparkle” ($7.50) for my daughter – she actually used up the entire mini bottle already! Oh, and a Zoya Remove+ ($10).
For freebies, I got Ulta Beauty Radiant Skin Collection Warming Charcoal Cleanser and Sleeping Cream, NARS Velvet Matte Skin Tint in “St. Mortiz/Medium 1”, and Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer.
I got free shipping with the day’s deal. I used $23.50 in Ulta points (I still have $50 left) and a $3.50 off coupon, so my order was only $7.58!
Midnight Mermaid
Ulta is now carrying wet n wild cosmetics – online only. There was a 20% off coupon in my email. What a time to be alive!
I was excited, because wet n wild just released a new collection – The Midnight Mermaid Collection. It’s very similar to Black Moon Cosmetics Cosmic Metals Collection – imitation is the sincerest form of flattery! I picked up almost all of it. I got all 4 of the MegaLast Metallic Liquid Catsuit lipsticks ($4.99) – “Coral Crown”, “Harbor A Crush”, “Siren’s Jewel” and “Sea Seduction”. I only got one of the three MegaLiner Metallic Eyeliner ($3.99) – “Trident’s Shimmer”. I also only got one of the four Color Icon Metallic Liquid Eyeshadows ($4.99) – “Lara’s Necklace”, because DUH. I also picked up the Mermaid Highlighting Bar ($6.99).
I keep saying that I don’t like buying fragrances without smelling them first…but then I keep doing it. After reading the description of Philosophy Amazing Grace Ballet Rose, I went ahead and picked up the mini size for $18. It also came with a 4 oz. bottle of Amazing Grace Shower Gel as a free bonus! I am SO glad I picked it up – it’s now my second favorite rose scent, after Cartier Goutte de Rose.
I also picked up a little something for Lily – the China Glaze My Little Pony 6 pc Micro Mini Kit ($15). It’s a tie in to the My Little Pony movie coming out next month. Maybe the polish will get her over the pain of me refusing to sit through it in the theater. Oh – and my Variety Sampler included foilpacks of Olay Regenerist Luminous Tone Perfecting Cream and Botanics 100% Organic Facial Oil. Meh.
This order did not push me to Platinum Status for 2018, but you know what did? Friday before last, I took the kids to get their back-to-school haircuts at Ulta and I got a cut and color. I was going for a rose gold melt, but my stylist didn’t want to make all my hair fall out by bleaching it too much, so it ended up a pinkish red. I also went ahead and signed up for the Ulta Platinum card, so I could get 20% off all our haircuts. Ulta may be an expensive place to get kids’ haircuts…but at least I ended up with $61 worth of points out of the deal.
Since Hurricane Harvey has had us housebound for several days, I decided to play around with my Midnight Mermaid stuff. On my eyes, I used “Lara’s Necklace”, the green liquid eyeshadow, and “Trident’s Shimmer”, the pewter eyeliner. I LOVED the liquid eyeshadow and may be picking up some of the other colors. I did not care for the liquid line – it was too goopy, especially on top of the liquid eyeshadow. My lips are an ombre of the blue and green lipsticks – “Sea Seduction” and “Siren’s Jewel”, with a bit of the Highlighter in the middle. The lipsticks are just as great as the other liquid catsuits, and the price cannot be beat. It’s a lot for every day (Can you say MiMi?), but just right for the middle of a hurricane.
Naked Heat
I’d passed quite a few opportunities over the past month to pick up the newest Urban Decay Naked Heat palette ($54). Both Ulta and Sephora had a few pre-sales, then there was the official online launch. But the stars aligned while I was on vacation…not only had I accrued $53 in Ulta points (my last spend was the Alice Through the Looking Glass palette), but I received a 20% off anything coupon from Ulta….would it work?
Fuck yeah, it worked! But to my delight/dismay, I was now under the $50 shipping threshold. What is there to do, but to also add one of the new Urban Decay Naked Heat Vice Lipsticks in “Scorched” ($17). All told, I paid $4.11 for the palette and the matching lipstick. My samples were good, too – NARS Blush in “Orgasm” and it Cosmetics No. 50 Serum Collagen Veil.
Damn, I’m good.
I waited a bit after receiving to write my review…I wanted a chance to fully try it out and make sure before declaring it the palette of the year. IT’S THE FUCKING PALETTE OF THE YEAR. No joke, I’ve been using this palette every single day since I got it. The rich bronzes, coppers and bronzes blend beautifully and coordinate well together. There’s a full range of shades and finishes. This might be my favorite Naked palette now – so sorry, Naked 3.
$86.66 away from Platinum status for 2018.
Magical Bag
Did I need more liquid lipstick? No, but I wanted it. Same thing.
I’ve been jonesing to try the Ofra Long Lasting Liquid Lipstick ($17) since it dropped at Ulta a few weeks ago. I’d been admiring “Emerald City” – not a duochrome, but a trichrome – for quite some time. I also picked up “Versailles”, because I need more rose gold in my life. “Versailles” is very close to Jeffree Star “Pussy Whipped”, but not quite as peachy. “Versailles” looks better on me, TBH. I haven’t tried “Emerald City” yet. The Ofra formula is nice and smooth and not drying.
I also decided to try Ulta Adjustable Coverage Foundation in “Fair”, which is very affordable at $14. I’m pleased with the performance. it’s light coerage, but a good match for my skin. I also picked up the new Ulta New Hue Shadow Switching Pan. I know I just paid $9 for a sponge in a tin, but this damn thing works like a champ. I don’t know that I could’ve made my own at home for cheaper. I spent just enough on Ulta products to get a FREE Deluxe palette, one of those ones with ALL the products – 24 shadows and blush and lip stuff. I might never use it, but free is free. I used a code for $5 off $15 in Ulta products, so I got all those goodies for a steal.
I also threw in a Zoya Remove+ for shits and giggles. My free sample pack had Olay Regenerist Advanced Anti-Aging Micro-Sculpting Cream Moisturizer and Jack Black Double-Duty Face Moisturizer (for my man).
The real star of my order was the FREE 24 product beauty bag that I got with a $60 purchase. It was packed so full, I can barely get all the stuff back in it!
Inside this magical bag: philosophy time in a bottle repair serum (love this stuff, but too pricey); DevaCurl Buildup Buster Gentle Deep Cleansing Serum; it Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Full Coverage Anti-Aging Waterproof Concealer (I’ve heard good things about this stuff); Sexy Hair Long Sexy Hair Shampoo, Conditioner and Detangler (I don’t have long hair anymore, so I must be patient); NYX Total Control Drop Foundation (4 shades, surely the lightest will work); Shiseido Benefiance WrinkleResist24 Intensive Eye Contour Cream; Clinique BIY Blend It Yourself Pigment Drops (very interesting concept); Urban Decay All Nighter Long Lasting Makeup Setting Spray (Finally! I’ve been wanting to try this); Ulta Mattifying Balm (another one I’ve wanted to try); Too Faced Mascara Melt Off Cleansing Oil (another genius idea); Jimmy Choo L’eau; Tory Burch Love Relentlessly; Benefit Hoola Quickie Contour Stick; Julep love your bare face Hydrating Cleansing Oil; Unwash Bio-Cleansing Conditioner; First Aid Beauty Oil-Free Mattifying Gel (another WOW product I want to try); Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Aloe, Cucumber and Green Tea (I stuck it in the fridge for a hot nasty day); Organic to Green Coco Oil; Lancome Advanced Genifique Youth Activating Concentrate; Anastasia Beverly Hills Lip Gloss in “Butter Scotch”; Vitabath Spa Day Body Wash in “Lavender Chamomile”; COOLA Classic Sunscreen White Tea Moisturizer; StriVectin Hair Deep Repair Mask; and Smashbox Cover Shot Golden Hour Eye Shadow Duo. Phew, finger cramps. Oh, and another $5 off $15 Ulta coupon.
Motherfucking Unicorn!
I had JUST placed a big Ulta order, but I found myself placing another one, just a week later…because….
Ulta came out with a Rainbow Highlighter! I had actually gone to the store in person to buy it, but they didn’t have it yet, so I went ahead and placed an order online, to take advantage of the Buy 2, Get 2 Free sale.
In addition to the Rainbow Highlighter ($10), I also picked up the new Metallic Liquid Lipstick Kit ($16), the new Glitter Tears 3 Piece Eyeliner Set ($16) and a Skin Clearing Tool ($10) – yup, I’m gonna pop some pimples. I didn’t do the best job in picking products – I got the 2 $10 products for free, instead of going for higher priced items. Oh well. At least I was able to use a $5 off $15 coupon to counteract the shipping charge.
I also got a few free samples – bareMineral Skinsorials, with Pure Plush Gentle Deep Cleansing Foam, Skinlongevity Vital Power Infusion and Bare Haven Essential Moisturizing Soft Cream; and Lab Series Future Rescue Repair Serum.
The Metallic Liquid Lipstick Kit came with 3 mini Liquid Lipsticks, in “Athena” (metallic red), “Apollo” (metallic plum), and “Zeus” (gold). These lipsticks are vividly metallic – like amazing. My one complaint was that they don’t dry down completely – they stay a bit tacky and transfer a bit. Even so, they stay all day. I’m wearing “Zeus” in the look to the right.
The Glitter Tears Eyeliner Set comes with 3 mini glitter eyeliners – “Galaxy”, “Comet” and “Solar” – I don’t remember which is which and they aren’t labeled. I’m pictured wearing the rose gold one.
That Rainbow Highlighter…it practically jumped onto my fan brush and then onto my face, staying in rainbow formation. Of course, my husband said I look like a deranged Easter Bunny, but what does he know?
I’m actually wearing ALL Ulta makeup in this pic. In addition to the Rainbow Highlighter, “Zeus” and rose gold glitter tears, I’m wearing Ulta Minerals Finishing Powder, the Ulta Eye Shadow/Mascara/Blush from the February Freebie bag and the Ultra Slim Brow Pencil.
Ulta 21 Days of Beauty – Day 14
So proud…I made it all the way to Day 14 of Ulta’s 21 Days of Beauty before placing an order!
I had to pull the trigger on trying It Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Airbrush Perfecting Powder SPF50+ in “Light” for half price ($17.50 instead of $35). I’m always on the hunt for the perfect powder foundation. Trying it for the first time this morning, I wasn’t disappointed. This stuff is THICK. I used the included sponge for the first application, over only moisturizer – no primer – and it is THICK. Thick, but not as cakey as MAC Studio Fix. It covers almost as much as a liquid foundation, so I switched to my usual kabuki to buff it out evenly. I’m going to try over a few different primers next – it tended to settle into my nose pores, so I’m thinking that’s the only place I’ll really need it. A good buy!
I also took advantage of an NYX BOGO half sale – I got the Cosmic Metals and Lid Lingerie Shadow palettes (normally $9.99 each). They are like matte/shimmer twins. I wore Lid Lingerie today without primer. Note to self: NYX shadows ALWAYS needs primer. The colors are nice though.
I also grabbed another Ulta Ultra Slim Brow Pencil in “Dark Brown” ($10) – it is my new go to. Also, it put me over the threshold to get $5 off my order. For free samples, I got an Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Powder Duo (I have like 6 of these) and Smashbox Photo finish Foundation Primer (I have like 16 of these). They also threw in a huge sample pouch of DevaCurl Buildup Buster…but I don’t have curls or use a lot of product in my hair.
Free shipping since I got a Beauty Steal, so I didn’t have to hit the $50 threshold!