TJ MAXX HAUL! Quick trip to TJ Maxx one evening. The inventory at my local TJ Maxx has been pretty stale lately so not much so see (or buy).
First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Intensive Lip Balm – this is normally $20 at Sephora but was at TJ Maxx for $10. I’ve had this product on my list to try and compare to my other lip balms. Haven’t pulled it out yet but probably will this weekend.
Tangle Free Hair Brush – This was an interesting brush as the bristles are rubber and very short compared to a normal brush. I’m glad I only spent $4 because it does not help with tangles at all – it just gets to the hair tangle and yanks. Not a pleasant feeling. I think the brand was something like Cala or Cana.
My current collection of highlighters (and wishlist items):
My favorite items: Pretty Vulgar Shimmering Swan Highlighter, Give them Lala Highlighter (review coming soon on this – it’s such a beautiful and unique shade) and my Becca highlighter in Champagne Pop
What I want to try more: Winky Lux Strobing Balm Highlighter
On my wishlist: Hourglass Ambient Strobe (I have Hourglass finishing powder, blush and bronzer but no highlighter – go figure) and the Diorskin Nude Luminizer Shimmering Glow Powder in nude glow.
A review of Scent Trunk’s custom service for creating personalized fragrances which can then be purchased monthly as a subscription.
Grade: A
Price: $8 for the scent palette, then $16 per month for a one month supply (5ml atomizer).
What I Loved: Based on the results of the scent palette test Scent Trunk created a truly unique fragrance that is perfect for me. I also love that I can go back and have the fragrance changed up at any point. Customer service has been easy to deal with and all items have shipped quickly.
What I Didn’t Love: I wish the cost of the scent palette would have been credited if you subscribed. However, you can take the scent test without the palette, but you risk it not being as accurate.
The first step with Scent Trunk is to order the scent palette, which contains six tiny vials of different scents. As I mentioned above, the scent palette costs $8 and you can take the online Scent Test without having purchased the palette, but it may not be accurate. There is enough fragrance in each vial for the Scent Test to be taken multiple times (either by you or others).
The second step is to go online and rate the scents you tried. I liked citrus and floral but not chypre or woods. After finishing your test you can subscribe to receive your custom fragrance every two weeks, once a month or once every other month. If you don’t like the personalized fragrance you just email customer service and they will send you another one free of charge (they do this once).
In regards to customer service, I have been pleased. The process was easy and everything shipped quickly. I had my perfume turn up missing one month (thanks USPS) and they immediately sent a free replacement.
No exaggeration when I say I love my custom fragrance. It’s unique and suited to my tastes. My mom loves it so much I’m going to give her my vial from the next month. The fragrance, labeled Aromatic Floral 1 by Scent Trunk, has top notes of bergamot mint and lavender, middle notes of iris and jasmine and base notes of musk and rose. The card even notes who formulated my fragrance (thank you Sarah McCartney in the UK!).
I think after another month or so I will retake the scent test and have a new fragrance designed, although I’m not sure how they could improve over what they sent.
Note: I am a challenging grader as I expect the grades on my product review to form a bell curve in the aggregate.
Ulta Haul! Not sure this is a very exciting haul but two standout products.
Ulta Beauty Premium Pillow Cotton Pads – these are like the Tom Ford of cotton pads. There’s a little spot for two fingers on the back which gives you great control. My Swisspers exfoliating pads keep disintegrating on me so hoping these are better.
Morphe Highlight and Contour Beauty Sponge – I actually like this one for applying liquid foundation, rather than highlighting or contouring.
My top 3 liquid lipsticks at the moment (and wishlist items):
Top is Long Lasting Liquid Lipstick in Havana Nights from OFRA. This formula is highly pigmented and dries down quickly. I usually don’t even need a second coat.
Center is Melted Matte in Queen B from Too Faced. This is the perfect nude for work when I know I won’t have a chance to touch up during the morning.
Bottom is the Matte Liquid Lipstick from RealHer in the shade I Am Adaptable. I get so many compliments from random strangers when I wear this and I love how RealHer supports other women. The formula is not a drying matte and you can easily forget you have liquid lipstick on. I have this in the pile for an upcoming review.
On my wishlist: I’d like to try one of the bullet lipsticks from RealHer to see if I like that formula as well as the liquid lipstick. I’d also like to try NARS’ Powermatte Lip Pigment and Dior’s Addict Lip Tattoo
Two items I bought online using a $100 reward from Sephora (the other three items were previously posted). The items purchased using the reward are not able to be returned so most of these purchases are either items I needed restock or formulas I knew I’d love. I also got a sample of foundation from Jouer.
Sephora Favorites Give Me Some Shine Lip Set – This is a set of six lip products curated by Sephora, including two full size items and four trial size items. Sephora says this set has a $74 value and is being sold for $28. I tend to like these lip sets because for one I like sampling lip products and two because I rarely use up a full lipstick. This set includes lip gloss from Anastasia Beverly Hills in Venus, Jelly Shot from INCredible in Ex Revenge, Volupte Liquid Balm from YSL in Chase Me Nude, H2O lip gloss from Tarte in Sundress, Sugar Advanced Therapy Lip Treatment from Fresh in translucent and Lip Injection Extreme from Too Faced.
Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Instant Retouch Setting Powder in Butter – This is sort of a repurchase – I have this powder in the Lavender shade. The lavender shade is great for brightening (looks beautiful under the eyes) and works well on my red cheeks. However, moving into spring I used up my sample of this powder in butter, which is more of a nude tone.
Three items I bought online using a $100 reward from Sephora (the other three items are forthcoming). The items purchased using the reward are not able to be returned so most of these purchases are either items I needed restock or formulas I knew I’d love. I also got a sample of Briogeo’s Scalp Revival shampoo which I actually really liked.
Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair Leave-In Mask – This is a restock item. Literally, this product is the only way I can get my long hair detangled after a shower. It also, over time, has improved the texture of my hair by adding moisture and reducing split ends. If I know the humidity will be high I use this in conjunction with Briogeo’s Rosarco Milk spray which I feel like tames frizzy hair better.
Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask – Also a repurchase. I go through one of these about every four months so I knew I better pick one up. I only use mine at night and it does help improve the texture of my lips so I can wear matte liquid lipstick.
Urban Decay Vice Lipstick in Bruise – this is from Urban Decay’s Vintage Capsule Collection and is a beautiful sheer deep burgundy red. Vice lipsticks are one of my top three cream lipsticks formula for how nice they look and how well they wear throughout the day. Also, this was on sale for $11, which only further motivated me!
The Spring Sephora VIB sale starts for Rouge members TOMORROW! Rouge members will receive 20% off from April 26 through May 6. VIB and Insider members will get 15% and 10% off, respectively, from May 2 through May 6.
So with that, here is my wishlist for the sale. I definitely won’t be buying everything – probably just a few skincare items, one haircare and a few makeup items.
Set 1 – Skincare and Haircare:
Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair! Super Moisture Shampoo (I have the leave-in conditioner but would like to add the shampoo. I would also like to try their brand new color care products).
Caudalie Gentle Cleansing Milk (I have several harsher cleansers so really need a more gentle one)
GlamGlow Good in Bed (I received a sample of this in my Play and am hooked, however, not sure if I will buy given the price for the quantity)
Origins Original Skin Glow on Set
Set 2 – Face Makeup
Anastasia Beverly Hills Dewy Set Setting Spray (it’s so hard to find dewy setting sprays!)
First Aid Beauty Pores Be Gone Matte Primer (I received a sample of this from FAB and fell in love. This is one item I know for certain I’m purchasing.)
Natasha Denona Bloom Blush and Glow Palette (I love the colors, including the dark shade, but am unsure of the cream products.)
NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer (hunt for holy grail concealer part 20)
The Spring Sephora VIB sale starts for Rouge members TOMORROW! Rouge members will receive 20% off from April 26 through May 6. VIB and Insider members will get 15% and 10% off, respectively, from May 2 through May 6.
So with that, here are my top twelve recommendations for items to look at purchasing while they’re on sale. I feel like most of these items are seriously underrated and hidden gems. So, let’s get started. I broke these down in sets of four.
Set 1 – Skincare and Haircare:
Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask
Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair! Strength + Moisture Leave-In Mask (this is the only product that works on my tangled hair)
Laneige Lip Glowy Balm in Pear
OleHenriksen Banana Bright Eye Cream (looks great under makeup)
Set 2 – Face Makeup
Becca x Khloe x Malika Bronze, Blush & Glow Palette in Made with Love by Malika (I think the darker shades are more flattering on me than the lighter Khloe palette)
Marc Jacobs O!Mega Bronzer Coconut Perfect Tan in Tan-Tastic! (This is pricey but the quantity of product is about double a traditional bronzer)
Too Faced Peach Perfect Comfort Matte Foundation
Pretty Vulgar Shimmering Swan Highlighter in Glimmers of BS (I also love Sparkling Sass)
Set 3: Eyes and Lips
Becca Ultimate Lipstick Love in Garnet (This formula rivals $30+ lipsticks)
Lancome Monsieur Big Waterproof Mascara
Smashbox Always Sharp Waterproof Kohl Eyeliner (this is my favorite eyeliner for my waterline – I wish they made more colors)
Laura Mercier Flawless Fusion Ultra Longwear Concealer (this is full coverage and covers dark circles beautifully)
MooseBeauty 