Haul – TJ Maxx (January 2019)

I always forget that TJMaxx sometimes has heavily discount makeup, skin care and tools from brands that I frequently purchase. Now, you do need to price compare a bit because I have seen TJMaxx selling items for the same price as you would find at Sephora (that’s rare though) and you have to check the product, specifically palettes, for damage and people “swatching” products. I found most of these at the TJMaxx we visited in Chicago but a couple were at my local TJMaxx.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Subculture Eye Palette

When this palette came out I convinced myself I didn’t need it because too many of the shades just wouldn’t be wearable. But, as my eye looks have expanded, I regretted that decision and by that point it was no longer available at Sephora or Ulta. I was thrilled to find it at TJMaxx for $20 and it was sealed up so I knew it hadn’t been “swatched.” I almost missed it at TJMaxx because it was over near the registers, not with the other makeup.

Real Techniques Lip Set

I’ve actually never seen lip brushes from Real Techniques before, I think because my local Ulta doesn’t carry them. Although I rarely use a lip brush to apply lip product, I do have a few small pots and samples of lip product to try. So this find was perfect.

Urban Decay Primer Potion & First Aid Beauty Kona Eye Stick

One sample size find was Urban Decay’s Eyeshadow Primer Potion in the original shade. Historically I’ve used the eyelid primer from NYX which has worked well. So I only wanted a sample size to see if the Urban Decay primer would work BETTER. We shall see. The other eye product find was a Kona Eye Stick from Hello FAB (aka First Aid Beauty). The cool thing about this is not only does it hydrate and de-puff your dark undereyes, it also primes that surface for makeup. Double win!

Dry Shampoo

My hair is loads of fun. Dry for most of the shaft but the day after washing my scalp gets oily. Washing it everyday is out of the question so I use dry shampoo in between. I love the Batiste brand and that is what I generally use so I picked up the cherry scent for a change. I also picked up a sample size of dry conditioner from DryBar. Historically, I haven’t had the best luck with straight dry shampoo from DryBar so I’m hoping this dry conditioner will work better on my hair.

Haul – Blue Mercury (January 2019)

Last weekend I went to visit a friend in Chicago and went to Blue Mercury for the first time. If you’ve never been, this is a skin care and cosmetics store with really more of a focus on skin care. Here are a few items I picked up.

Mario Badescu Super Collagen Mask

The products from Mario Badescu tend to be great for sensitive skin. And while mine isn’t terribly sensitive I do have perpetual redness from just, well, life. This mask should help to smooth and hydrate the skin.

Avene Eau Thermale

I spoke with the associate at Blue Mercury about products that would be good to use on a nightly basis to deal with redness and she recommended this. I liked that they had it in a smaller sample size so I could see if it works for me before shelling out the big bucks.

Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer

I’ve heard several YouTubers discuss this product and was happy to find a sample size to try it out before making a commitment on a larger product. The product description says this primer will reduce the look of redness and pores – both features I need. 

Freebies – Samples

I received these free samples at Blue Mercury – shampoo and conditioner from Oribe and serum pads from M-61. I’ve never used anything from M-61 but my friend I was visiting spoke highly of the company. And, even more exciting, the shampoo and conditioner samples are safe for my color treated hair!

Haul – Sephora Makeover (January 2019)

Last weekend I went to visit a friend in Chicago and went to Sephora Saturday morning for a makeover. The big purpose was to find a foundation and conceal that work with my skin. The makeup artist was awesome and I am so thankful she took the time to explain why she selected the products to did and how she was applying them. I will provide a picture of me post-makeover and a full list of the products used at the bottom of this post. I purchased several items relating to the foundation/concealer goal and picked up some freebie perfume samples (and another Urban Decay cherry setting spray).

Tarte Amazonian Clay Full Coverage Foundation

I’m so glad the makeup artist used this foundation. I had told her I loved this foundation (based on a sample I had) but that the color of the sample I had was wrong for my undertone. My experience has been that the amazonian clay products from Tarte really do last the whole day and I feel like this is an under-rated foundation. The shade is 16B Fair-Light Beige.

Laura Mercier Flawless Fusion Ultra-Longwear Concealer

This is not a concealer I’ve used before or even heard discussed much but I was happy with the coverage it provided in the makeover. It also did stick around all day despite the cold making my eyes water and the snow. This is in the shade 2C.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder

So powder wasn’t an item I necessarily set out to buy after the makeover but I didn’t have any nice pressed powder and had heard great things about this product. It gave a nice finish that didn’t white me out or look cake-y on top of the foundation. The color is Dim Light. 

OLEHENRIKSEN Banana Bright Eye Creme

Also not a product I intended to buy that day but it made the very dark circles around me eyes appear nonexistent. It doesn’t matter how much sleep I get, the inside corners of my eyes and right under are genetically programmed to be dark. You only need a teeny tiny amount of this product so the jar should last me a long time.

Urban Decay Cherry Setting Spray

Now apparently I am one of the few who LIKE the scent of this. I’ve heard several people describe it as cough medicine scented but I really love it. So, as it’s been on sale for $10.50 (normally $15) the last couple weeks at Sephora and Ulta, I’ve been snagging what I could.

Freebies – Perfume Samples

I almost always get perfume samples when I go to Sephora and this was no exception. After much sniffing I got samples of: Stella McCartney’s Stella, Atelier Cologne Bergamot Soleil and YSL’s Black Opium. What scents do you think I should try next time? I usually like fresh scents but sometimes fruity or the woody/spicy.

Makeover Products

Products Used:

Dior Redness Soother Age Delay Anti-Redness Soothing Serum

Kate Somerville DermalQuench Liquid Lift Advanced Wrinkle Treatment

OLEHENRIKSEN Banana Bright Eye Creme

Tatcha The Water Cream

Tatcha Silk Canvas Protective Primer

Smashbox Photo Finish Lid Primer Light

Tarte Amazonian Clay Full Coverage Foundation in 16B

Laura Mercier Flawless Fusion Ultra Longwear Concealer in 2C

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Dim Light

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Mood Exposure

Givenchy Teint Couture Shimmer Highlighter in #2

Smashbox Step-By-Step Contour Kit in Light/Medium

Anastasia Brow Wiz in Medium Brown

Benefit Gimme Brow Gel in 3.5

Houglass Caution Extreme Lash Mascara in Black

Unboxing – Sephora Play (January 2019)

Sephora Play (actually named Play! by Sephora) contains five sample sized products, per their website.  Products include makeup, haircare, perfumes, skincare and other beauty products.  The subscription is $10 per month.

Time to stop yacking and start unboxing!

Overall Box Impressions: This is my first month receiving this box. General consensus is brands are higher end (i.e. the Sunday Riley and Drunk Elephant) but the sample sizes are small. You do receive an extra sample that is frequently a foil pouch. My favorite item I received this month is the Belif Aqua Bomb.

Bite Beauty Matte Creme Lip Crayon

Was this one of the 2018 birthday gifts at Sephora? I love love Bite Beauty products in general and I like the lip crayons but the smell of this crayon is straight up offensive to my nose.

This crayon is in the color Glace. Pretty color and it does go on super smooth. I haven’t worn it on the lips yet so will have to update later after a wear test.

Belif Aqua Bomb Sleeping Mask

I am pretty excited about this as I sometimes need an overnight moisturizer. However, I wish the sample was large enough to get even two applications out of it. This is like a one application and done sample size, which I understand is typical of Sephora Play samples.

Sunday Riley Good Genes All-in-One Lactic Acid Treatment

I need to use exfoliaters a couple times per week so this is a great product for me. And Sunday Riley is a great brand that I wouldn’t otherwise have the opportunity to try out. The tube is about half full so I think I can get two, maybe three, applications out of this sample.

BeautyBlender blendercleanser solid pro

So it took me a minute to figure this out. It’s basically a bar of soap to run your already-wet sponge or brush across. So cool! I cleaned my brushes earlier this month but I do need to clean my sponges so I’m going to give this a try.

Drunk Elephant Lala Retro Whipped Cream

This Lala Retro Whipped Creme from Drunk Elephant seems to be a pretty common inclusion in subscription boxes. But, similar to Sunday Riley, its a brand I wouldn’t otherwise be able to try. I actually really want to try the TLC Framboos Serum but haven’t seen any samples of that yet.

 Marajo Nourishing Cleansing Creme & Deep Treatment Butter

It appears this was the “extra” sample for the month. I don’t like receiving shampoo/conditioner in subscription boxes for two reasons. One, I have thick, long hair so a foil pouch is not always enough for one hair wash, and never two. Two, they don’t match the type to your hair, even if covered in the profile. Case in point – I have color treated hair and therefore only use sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner. I have looked at the packaging and the website for this line from Marajo and cannot find anything that states this product is or isn’t sulfate free. Bah!

Haul – Sephora and Ulta Mini (January 2019)

This is a mini-haul item wise but I’m so excited by the products I had to share. Even though I know I have a big Sephora adventure next weekend (makeover included) I was already at Ulta to get my brows waxed back into shape. And Ulta happens to be right next door to Sephora.

Benefit Gimme Brow Eyebrow Gel ($24 at Sephora and Ulta)

I’ve looked at this product before but never brought one home because I incorrectly assumed there wasn’t an auburn shade. While getting my brows waxed, I asked about a fast and easy product for my decently thick eyebrows. She recommended this brow gel in color 3.5, which is a warm auburn brown and matches my hair well. A few quick swipes and my brows are done.

Benefit Porefessional Primer ($13 at Sephora for the mini size)

I have been using the pore minimizing primer from NYX on a day-to-day basis but I use this primer from Benefit when I want to look extra nice. So I picked up a trial size, which should get me through for a while.

Urban Decay Naked Cherry Eyeshadow Palette ($49 at Sephora and Ulta)

I have been eyeing this palette since its release because I love red shades. I finally bit the bullet because I’ve never caught it on sale. My two favorite shades are Develish and Young Love and all the shades are super creamy. I looked around at the Huda Beauty red palette, some singles available from Anastasia Beverly Hills and some other random singles but this palette had the shades I would use the most for the best cost. It just didn’t make sense to build a four shade palette for $32 when I would get all of these shades for $49. This is a spendy palette for me but I do expect to get a lot of use out of it. I had hoped to also be able to pick up the Naked Cherry setting spray from Urban Decay but apparently it is sold out in store and online :(.

Unboxing – Birchbox (January 2019)

Birchbox contains four to five sample sized products, per their website.  Products include makeup, haircare, perfumes, skincare and other beauty products (I received toothpaste in December).  The subscription is $10 per month.

Sign up using this link: https://www.birchbox.com/invite/rnqs4

Time to stop yacking and start unboxing!

Overall Box Impressions: This is the one box I get that I keep saying I’m going to cancel. I’ve had several issues with customer service, they seem to ignore my profile and prior feedback on products received (seriously, no more hair products), and the samples are pretty small. My favorite item I received this month is the Sand & Sky Mask (which was the one I selected). I think I’ll give it one more month (remind me I said that).

Design.ME Fab.ME  Hair Treatment

So far I’ve received a hair care product every month and this month is no exception. This hair treatment is intended to be applied before styling for heat protection and strengthing. Now, I very very rare heat style my hair (also noted in my profile) so heat damage isn’t a huge issue for me. My mom blow dries and curls her hair everyday so I think I’ll save this for her.

Lavanila Plure Vanilla Fragrance

I actually don’t mind receiving perfume samples occasionally since I don’t use perfume every day and samples meet my regular needs. However, this scent is pure vanilla and very, very strong. Like, don’t press the mister all the way down and certainly not more than once. But, my mom likes vanilla so I’ll save it for her.  

Sand & Sky Face Mask

This is the Australian Pink Clay Porefining Face Mask. Since I have large pores, I’m looking forward to trying this mask. With Birchbox you get to choose one of your samples each month and this is the one I chose. This mask is intended to detoxify and brighten the skin and the ingredients include clay, aloe vera and plum. I’m going to give this product a try, and will report back later. 

Stila Costmetics HUGE Extreme Lash Mascara

This mascara is intended to leave major volume, curl and lots of length. While I’m generally skeptical of a product that claims to do so many things, I do generally like Stila as a brand. Generally I focus on looking for volume and curl as my lashes are already pretty long. A friend has previously tried this mascara and really liked it. So, after I try it out for a couple days, I will report back.

Winky Lux Strobing Balm Cream Highlighter

At first I was very worried this would be took deep in color and too dark as a highlighter but after swatching it (below) on the skin, I’m actually really liking the look. The resulting highlight is actually quite subtle. The shade of this one is “Radiant Pink” but doesn’t appear pink to the eye. The balm isn’t a true cream – it feels like its between a cream and powder and is super soft.

 

Haul – ColourPop (January 2019)

Colourpop gets an A for packaging, even before you unwrap all the goodies. I had visited the website in the past to buy some of the Disney collection but some of the specific items I wanted were out of stock. I’m glad I circled back because they had all of the collection back in stock. I also picked up some of the lip products I can’t buy at my local Ulta.

Disney Collection

From the Disney Collection I bought the eyeshadow palette and four of the lux lipsticks – Snow White, Belle, Ariel and Tiana. I considered buying Jasmine (because she was one of my favorite princesses) but the color wasn’t something I expected to actually wear.

The variety of eyeshadow colors is unique – there doesn’t seem to be a common theme other than the fairytale names of the colors. However, I look forward to trying to build looks with just these colors. My favorite two are the dark blue in the lower right and the icy blue above it.

ColourPop did a nice job of providing a variety of colors in the Princess line. There are also more pink colors available for Cinderella and Jasmine. The lux lipstick is a very smooth cream that feels hydrating on your lips. The bullet tubes for these are gorgeous – gold with the signatures of the princesses on the exterior of the tubes.

The swatches, from left to right, are Snow White, Belle, Ariel and Tiana. I plan to save Ariel, and maybe even Belle, for work.

More ColourPop Lipsticks

My local Ulta has some ColourPop lip products but the colors are limited and the store doesn’t carry any Ultra Satin lip products. So, while making the Disney order I elected to to grab some lipsticks to try out. From top to bottom the colors and type are:

Ultra Satin Lip in Echo Park

Ultra Matte Lip in Avenue

Ultra Satin Lip in Wig

Lippie Pencil in Dukes Pencil

And swatched in the same order top to bottom:

Unboxing – Ipsy x 2 (January 2019)

Ipsy contains five sample sized products that are personalized based on your profile.  Products include beauty products with a heavy focus on makeup.  The subscription is $10 per month and you also have the option to add additional samples (for additional dollars) and shopping on their website gives you cash back. All together, very slick.

I actually get two Ipsy bags. I originally set up this structure to test out their profile algorithim and see if it really worked. The results have been mixed but I rarely get duplicate items (and when I do, they’re items I like). One bag is intended to be my “makeup” bag and the other is intended to be my skincare bag.

Sign up using this link: https://www.ipsy.com/new?cid=ppage_ref&sid=link&refer=17c1pg

Time to stop yacking and start unbagging! I apologize for the whacky lighting on the photos – I couldn’t seem to get a sunny day for pictures!

My “Makeup” Bag

Overall Bag Impressions: The bag (light blue and white stripes with pink piping) doesn’t really scream January to me but it is stylish. As my “makeup” bag, my profile for this account is focused on receiving makeup items. Usually it’s pretty spot on, however, this month I received a hair care item and nail polish, even though I’ve indicated in my profile I don’t want to receive these types of items. But, since this is a one-time issue, I’m not upset about the items. The nail polish is actually pretty cool but not my color. My favorite item is the Tarte foundation.

Ella Eden Eyeshadow

I received this eyeshadow in the shade “Julia” which is a shimmery light neutral. While I love the look of the eyeshadow, the color is lighter than what I usually wear. The other option you could have received was a burgundy crimson and that would have been perfect for me. But, this will still be nice for a shade to wear during the day to work since the shimmer is fairly subtle. I’ve never used or heard of this brand so I will need to test out the eyeshadow for blending, longevity and fall-out. I will let you know later what I think!

Pure Brazilian Leave-In Conditioner

This leave-in conditioner is designed to control frizz, flyaways and static. I love a good leave-in conditioner but it has to be lightweight and not weigh down my hair. That seems to be pretty hard to find and this appears to be a heavy cream that is applied in a mist. I will report back after I use it a few times.

Nailmedic Nail Polish in Rose and Chill

While I’m not terribly excited to receive nail polish (I rarely paint my nails, and when I do, it’s a dark red), the concept behind this polish is unique. The polish formula is infused with rosehip oil and green tea leaf extract, which is intended to result in strong and healthy nails. If I had received this in a darker color I would likely give it a try. One of my friends has already claimed this – she loves nude nail polish colors!

Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Full Coverage Foundation

I was SO excited to receive this (in both the makeup and skincare bags) as I’ve been trying different foundation formulas recently. Long story short, I need a full coverage foundation that will hide (or at least not accentuate) my large pores. Also, I have some acne scars and redness that the foundation needs to cover. Ipsy matched my shade well (fair sand) too. This matte foundation from Tarte is designed to be long-wearing (12 hours) and has SPF 15. What is your favorite foundation formula?

Belle En Argent Lurie Lip Gloss in Bored Now

This is an ultra-glossy lip “gloss” with a lot of shine. I do like that it includes natural ingredients like jojoba and castor oil. Normally I love receiving lip glosses but this one is a bit lackluster. It really doesn’t have any tint to it but does leave behind a bit of sparkle. In reality I’ll use this more as a gloss topper over a matte lip.

My “Skin Care” Bag

Overall Bag Impressions: I’m pretty pleased with this bag, even though it has more makeup items than skin care items. I also received an eye brush, which I forgot to include in the above photo. I truly liked all five items in this bag and the mix of items so choosing a favorite is too hard. The liquid lipstick is in a color I love to wear and the sheet masks look fun! I know some people dislike receiving makeup brushes but I like building (and adding to) my collection. I use a lot of different colors of eyeshadow so having lots of eye brushes is helpful.

Jeju:En Face Mask Set

These masks are so fun! We received two masks and they’re both very usable despite being different from each other. One is called “You Can’t Handle This Sheet” and is infused with volcanic ash extract to absorb oil and tighten pores (this would be great for me). The other one is called “This Sheet is Bananas” and has hyaluronic acid to hydrate, plump and add radiance. I like using masks (sheet masks, clays, muds and peel masks) but haven’t heard of this brand before. After I’ve had a chance to use one I will definitely report back.

Hola Neon Velvet Liquid Lip in DF

Time to try out this new-to-me brand of liquid lipstick! This waterproof formula is specifically designed to be long-wearing and is supposed to be creamy and moisturizing. That seems to be a rare combination so I’m hopeful the claims ring true. I love love love this color – it’s something I would wear regularly. Here is a quick swatch – it’s a deep burgundy color.

I will report back after I wear it a few times.

Jersey Shore Cosmetics Star Mint Glossy Balm

I’m a big fan of peppermint and a fan of lip balms, so putting them together, while not innovative, results in a product I’m sure to like. The product description does say its infused with moisturizing ingredients like vitamine E and organic peppermint essential oil but doesn’t list other ingredients. As someone who makes lip balms for personal use I would like to know what constitutes the base of the balm (i.e. beeswax, shea butter, cocoa butter).

Slmissglam Eye Brush

My friend also received this brush and said her young daughter claimed this brush as a “unicorn” brush. Apparently I’m a child at heart because I had the same thought. This eye brush is soft and I anticipate that it will be a great blending brush for the eye crease. Per the description, the bristles are synthetic. I’ve never seen this brush before so I will give it a try and report back.

Review – Que Bella Foot Mask

Find out my opinion of the product, what I liked and what I didn’t. Side note: I’m a pretty harsh grader as I expect my grades in aggregate to form a bell curve.

Product: Que Bella Professional Intensive Foot Mask

Grade: C

Retail Price: $5.00 (Target)

What I loved: the moisturizing formula

What I didn’t love: lack of instructions and problematic booties

It’s winter and my feet are dry. These feet masks are little sock like booties infused with a moisturizer designed to heel cracked and dry feet. It contains apple and Shea butter and is Paraben and dye free. The packaging says it fits up to shoe size 9 and at size 8.5 I fit, but it was snug.

The instructions said to put on the booties just like socks. What the instructions didn’t tell you was you needed to cut off the top of the booties to be able to put your feet in. Like all the sides were sealed up. Once cut, then you have to make sure the liner doesn’t slide down as you put your foot in. Once on, you’re good to go. While it did reduce some of the dryness, my heels are still cracked so more than one application is really needed. So maybe this is really something to use weekly as a maintenance treatment.

While I liked the formula and the feel, the instructions need to be improved to clarify the need to cut the top edge.