Wow, it’s been almost a year! This is going to be more of a personal post than anybody would like, but here we are.
Very shortly after my last post in August 2017 I made the decision to leave my husband of nearly five years. At almost the exact same time, I somehow contracted cryptosporidium while traveling. Dealing with all of this and trying to move out was one of the most trying periods of my life.
Things really took a turn for the better and started looking up in January of this year. I got out of my mortgage, paid off my student loans ($600/month for over 8 years!), paid off my car...and got a promotion that came with a giant raise and bonus. All in the same week. I took a trip to Cancun to celebrate.
The next few months were crazy trying to wrap things up at my job and prepare to relocate for my new job. The promotion took me totally by surprise and required that I move from Minnesota to Maryland. Which is where I am now! I am very excited to revamp this blog and include more things than makeup. I’m going to be posting about a lot of new things, since my life is so new again.
Saturday, June 23, 2018
Sunday, August 13, 2017
Not Makeup Post: Amazon Prime Nutrition & Wellness Box
This isn't makeup related, but it is box related! Amazon occasionally has "free after credit" boxes available for Prime members. I have snatched up all of the Luxury Beauty boxes in the past. This time, I grabbed a Nutrition & Wellness box. This cost $14.99, but you get that back in credit as soon as it ships. The samples are always worth more than the cost of the box. That plus the credit makes these deals too good to pass up! I typically use my credit to buy a box of Vega bars. Here is what I got this time:
I have not gotten to everything in this box yet, but almost everything has been awesome for far. Except the Acure Power Meal that tasted like total ass!
I have not gotten to everything in this box yet, but almost everything has been awesome for far. Except the Acure Power Meal that tasted like total ass!
Monday, July 17, 2017
June 2017 Empties
Here is what I got through in June:
Face/Skin items:
Some makeup wipes from Big Lots
Opinion: Yay Big Lots! I am bummed they closed the location close to me. I picked these up for exactly one doll hair during a recent visit to Illinois. They worked great...and did I mention they were cheap??
Repurchase?: Heck yes if I can get myself to another Big Lots.
Burt's Bees Towelettes
Opinion: These worked well enough. They removed my makeup, but they did leave my skin a bit sticky and tight feeling. Since the pack was pretty small, I kept them in my travel backpack to combat my airplane greasies.
Repurchase?: No. Too sticky.
Pore Gone for Good Mask
Opinion: This did nothing for me. It did not piss off my skin, nor did it help it. I was left just feeling a little more moisturized. I can easily achieve the same feeling from a standard moisturizer.
Repurchase?: *yawn* No. Too boring and not worth the money.
MD Solar Sciences SPF Moisturizer
Opinion: I used this on a recent trip to the Mediterranean. It was okay. Nothing fancy, nothing bad.
Repurchase?: No.
Skyn Iceland Cloud Cream
Opinion: My favorite moisturizer ever! Leaves my face SUPER soft and it's not greasy at all.
Repurchase?: Yes! I already blew some Ulta points on a full size, because there is no way my cheap ass would every spend $55 on a moisturizer.
Origins GinZing Moisturizer
Opinion: I want to like Origins. I really do. Their products just seems to underwhelm me over and over though. I guess this one did smell pretty good.
Repurchase?: No.
Murad City Skin Overnight Detox Moisturizer
Opinion: I am starting to really like Murad. This little packet was handy for travel. It left my skin really nice and soft when I woke up too.
Repurchase?: Not sure on this one. Murad is growing on me, but I think I like their serum more than this.
Philosophy Time in a Bottle Repair Serum
Opinion: Yay serum samples! Serum is something I love and use daily, but am still way too cheap to buy.
Repurchase?: Hopefully I will keep winning the sample lottery and won't have to.
Murad Invisiblue Protecting Shield
Opinion: I used this under my makeup like a primer. It had some slip to it, but my makeup stayed put all day.
Repurchase?: I'll just stick to my regular primers.
Hair:
Ouai Treatment Masque
Opinion: I loved this! It made my hair super soft and it smelled so good!
Repurchase?: No, I will be sticking to my much more economical Eva NYC mask.
Hask Macadamia Oil
Opinion: I love these little Hask hair oil bottles! They travel so well. A little goes a long way to make my hair super soft and shiny. I also like it as a heat protectant.
Repurchase?: I am sure I will be traveling somewhere and have to grab another one at Walgreen's at some point.
Makeup:
Some cheapo eyeliner from Beauty Box 5
Opinion: I realized when I swatched this for my eyeliner post that I forgot how much I liked it. Little did I know that the next time I used it would be the last time :(
Repurchase?: Nah, I have eyeliner ADD.
e.l.f. Makeup Mist & Set
Opinion: I tried this $3 version of my beloved NYX setting spray. It worked, but I really didn't not like the packaging. The misted was a little too zealous as well.
Repurchase?: I am sure my cheap ass will at some point. It's less than half of the cost of the NYX version!
Sephora Mascara
Opinion: I am making a point to get through some mascara samples and ditch what I don't like. I gave this 2-3 tried before I put it in the "fail" pile. It left little balls of product at the end of my eyelashes. I HATED the wand as well. Too dense and weirdly flat.
Repurchase?: Nope.
Ulta Eye Makeup Remover Wipes
Opinion: These worked great! I wish there was more in the package.
Repurchase?: Probably not. This is more of a "luxury" product for me.
Some random black eyeliner
Opinion: This eyeliner was very "meh" and I have plenty of other black eyeliners, so I quit using it.
Repurchase?: No.
Urban Decay 24/7 purple eyeliner
Opinion: I really liked this color and the slight glittery effect it had. However, every time I wore it, it would would start flaking off pretty quickly.
Repurchase?: No, and I am hesitant to try any other UD eyeliners now.
Miscellaneous:
Dr. Lipp Original Nipple Balm for Lips
Opinion: Wow was this stuff gooey! It was basically like smearing petroleum jelly on my lips. It did leave them moisturized all night as I slept, and it was still on when I woke up.
Repurchase?: Nah. Too gooey and I hate squeeze tubes for lip balm.
Perfume Minis
Opinion: I am still plugging away on my huge pile. I like practically all perfume, but the one that stood out to me here was Armani Code.
Repurchase?: These brands are all a little too rich for my blood.
Face/Skin items:
Some makeup wipes from Big Lots
Opinion: Yay Big Lots! I am bummed they closed the location close to me. I picked these up for exactly one doll hair during a recent visit to Illinois. They worked great...and did I mention they were cheap??
Repurchase?: Heck yes if I can get myself to another Big Lots.
Burt's Bees Towelettes
Opinion: These worked well enough. They removed my makeup, but they did leave my skin a bit sticky and tight feeling. Since the pack was pretty small, I kept them in my travel backpack to combat my airplane greasies.
Repurchase?: No. Too sticky.
Pore Gone for Good Mask
Opinion: This did nothing for me. It did not piss off my skin, nor did it help it. I was left just feeling a little more moisturized. I can easily achieve the same feeling from a standard moisturizer.
Repurchase?: *yawn* No. Too boring and not worth the money.
MD Solar Sciences SPF Moisturizer
Opinion: I used this on a recent trip to the Mediterranean. It was okay. Nothing fancy, nothing bad.
Repurchase?: No.
Skyn Iceland Cloud Cream
Opinion: My favorite moisturizer ever! Leaves my face SUPER soft and it's not greasy at all.
Repurchase?: Yes! I already blew some Ulta points on a full size, because there is no way my cheap ass would every spend $55 on a moisturizer.
Origins GinZing Moisturizer
Opinion: I want to like Origins. I really do. Their products just seems to underwhelm me over and over though. I guess this one did smell pretty good.
Repurchase?: No.
Murad City Skin Overnight Detox Moisturizer
Opinion: I am starting to really like Murad. This little packet was handy for travel. It left my skin really nice and soft when I woke up too.
Repurchase?: Not sure on this one. Murad is growing on me, but I think I like their serum more than this.
Philosophy Time in a Bottle Repair Serum
Opinion: Yay serum samples! Serum is something I love and use daily, but am still way too cheap to buy.
Repurchase?: Hopefully I will keep winning the sample lottery and won't have to.
Murad Invisiblue Protecting Shield
Opinion: I used this under my makeup like a primer. It had some slip to it, but my makeup stayed put all day.
Repurchase?: I'll just stick to my regular primers.
Hair:
Ouai Treatment Masque
Opinion: I loved this! It made my hair super soft and it smelled so good!
Repurchase?: No, I will be sticking to my much more economical Eva NYC mask.
Hask Macadamia Oil
Opinion: I love these little Hask hair oil bottles! They travel so well. A little goes a long way to make my hair super soft and shiny. I also like it as a heat protectant.
Repurchase?: I am sure I will be traveling somewhere and have to grab another one at Walgreen's at some point.
Makeup:
Some cheapo eyeliner from Beauty Box 5
Opinion: I realized when I swatched this for my eyeliner post that I forgot how much I liked it. Little did I know that the next time I used it would be the last time :(
Repurchase?: Nah, I have eyeliner ADD.
e.l.f. Makeup Mist & Set
Opinion: I tried this $3 version of my beloved NYX setting spray. It worked, but I really didn't not like the packaging. The misted was a little too zealous as well.
Repurchase?: I am sure my cheap ass will at some point. It's less than half of the cost of the NYX version!
Sephora Mascara
Opinion: I am making a point to get through some mascara samples and ditch what I don't like. I gave this 2-3 tried before I put it in the "fail" pile. It left little balls of product at the end of my eyelashes. I HATED the wand as well. Too dense and weirdly flat.
Repurchase?: Nope.
Ulta Eye Makeup Remover Wipes
Opinion: These worked great! I wish there was more in the package.
Repurchase?: Probably not. This is more of a "luxury" product for me.
Some random black eyeliner
Opinion: This eyeliner was very "meh" and I have plenty of other black eyeliners, so I quit using it.
Repurchase?: No.
Urban Decay 24/7 purple eyeliner
Opinion: I really liked this color and the slight glittery effect it had. However, every time I wore it, it would would start flaking off pretty quickly.
Repurchase?: No, and I am hesitant to try any other UD eyeliners now.
Miscellaneous:
Dr. Lipp Original Nipple Balm for Lips
Opinion: Wow was this stuff gooey! It was basically like smearing petroleum jelly on my lips. It did leave them moisturized all night as I slept, and it was still on when I woke up.
Repurchase?: Nah. Too gooey and I hate squeeze tubes for lip balm.
Perfume Minis
Opinion: I am still plugging away on my huge pile. I like practically all perfume, but the one that stood out to me here was Armani Code.
Repurchase?: These brands are all a little too rich for my blood.
Sunday, July 2, 2017
Sunday, June 25, 2017
BH Cosmetics Haul
Damn you BH Cosmetics!! I really wanted the Carlie Bybel deluxe edition palette, which lead me to buy a bunch of other crap. And I swear the very next day, Ulta started carrying this palette. And then BH Cosmetics dropped the Solar Flare palette! ARGH!! I didn't like having money any way I suppose.
Here is what I got sucked into buying on this order:
First up, the very hyped up Carlie Bybel deluxe edition palette:
Holy. CRAP. No pictures or swatches will ever do this baby justice. I am in love. I have not been this excited about a palette since...probably Too Faced Peanut Butter & Jelly. It is so good. All of the shades are gorgeous and apply like a dream. They are a little softer than other BH Cosmetic shades, but nothing too crazy powdery. They also blend like a dream. The highlighter trend appears to be going strong, and I have no problem with that.
Next, I got sucked into a 48 hour haul that got me both the Foil Eyes 2 and Essential Eyes palettes, plus a fluffy blending brush all for $16.99
Foil Eyes 2 is giving me major Morphe + Jaclyn Hill vibes here.
I also got a little 6 color shadow set and a liquid liner for free, and lippies were BOGO so I decided to try the shades Icon and Lust.
Here is what I got sucked into buying on this order:
First up, the very hyped up Carlie Bybel deluxe edition palette:
Holy. CRAP. No pictures or swatches will ever do this baby justice. I am in love. I have not been this excited about a palette since...probably Too Faced Peanut Butter & Jelly. It is so good. All of the shades are gorgeous and apply like a dream. They are a little softer than other BH Cosmetic shades, but nothing too crazy powdery. They also blend like a dream. The highlighter trend appears to be going strong, and I have no problem with that.
Next, I got sucked into a 48 hour haul that got me both the Foil Eyes 2 and Essential Eyes palettes, plus a fluffy blending brush all for $16.99
Foil Eyes 2 is giving me major Morphe + Jaclyn Hill vibes here.
I also got a little 6 color shadow set and a liquid liner for free, and lippies were BOGO so I decided to try the shades Icon and Lust.
Ulta Platinum GWP Bag
I recently achieved Ulta Platinum status and blew my points on a massive order. This allowed me to get this 28 piece gift bag for free. And this thing is MASSIVE.
Also, I love the holographic material. I don't like it as much as my Tarte unicorn skin bag, but it is still fun. I don't even hate the tassel.
There is so much going on in here. I think the $268 value estimate is definitely accurate.
My favorites so far include the Becca highlighter, a Tarteist lip paint, Stila lippy, and an ABH stick foundation. The foundation is too dark for me, of course, but I think I can use it as a cream contour.
Also, I love the holographic material. I don't like it as much as my Tarte unicorn skin bag, but it is still fun. I don't even hate the tassel.
There is so much going on in here. I think the $268 value estimate is definitely accurate.
My favorites so far include the Becca highlighter, a Tarteist lip paint, Stila lippy, and an ABH stick foundation. The foundation is too dark for me, of course, but I think I can use it as a cream contour.
Saturday, June 24, 2017
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)