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sarea
So first things first... in case there was ANYONE out there who was actually waiting for the second part of the High School King of Savvy giftset, I decided to just add it to the original post, because really, it just all belongs together.
Next, I should be talking about the other K-dramas I'm in the middle of, right? Well I hate to be predictable, so NO! I am not going to run through those right now! Instead I'm going to talk about cosmetics and skin care and all that, because I have SO MUCH STUFF NOW due to Sephora's annual VIB sale and also Black Friday.
First, here are my beauty boxes from November:
Disclaimer is that I haven't actually tried any of these yet, so all of my comments are based on the basics of the product. One thing about these beauty box subscriptions is that because the sample sizes are quite generous, I really can't keep up with getting them monthly (especially since I currently am subscribed to 3 of them)!
Birchbox:
1) Marcelle New-Age LumiPOWER 3-in-1 Moisturizer: As you know by now, I'm always good with getting new moisturizers to try.
2) Supergoop! Forever Young Hand Cream with Broad Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 40: Also am good with hand cream!
3) jane iredale Just Kissed Lip and Cheek Stain: I chose this sample. It's apparently like the Smashbox O-Gloss, wherein it works with your body chemistry to develop a unique color. However, this is available in different shades, so I'm not quite sure how that works? Anyway, the sample is in "Forever Pink," which is sold out on the site, so apparently it must be popular?
4) amika Silken Up Dry Conditioner: Mehhh if it had to be a hair care product, I wish it'd been almost anything else. I'm not a big fan of dry shampoo, but since this is dry conditioner maybe I'll feel differently?
5) ARDENCY INN MODSTER Smooth Ride Supercharged Eyeliner Travel-Size Duo: In the sample you only get one, and I got black, which is good as that's normally the eyeliner I'd use. Like when I got eyeliner from Ipsy that one month, I wasn't disappointed, but it also seems a little boring. I like that this one is travel-sized, though; I can keep it in my purse makeup bag for when I need to retouch my eyeliner.
Ipsy:
1) Delectable by Cake Beauty (sweet mint & cream ultra nourishing hand cream): As noted above, I'm cool with hand creams... and this one is a really nice size. Knowing Ipsy, it may actually be full size.
2) Luxie Beauty Rose Gold Small Duo Fiber Brush 524T: I don't think a month has gone by without my getting a brush of some kind. I'm pretty much done with it. But it may not be their fault; I just went and recheck my beauty profile, and I had checked that I wanted to receive brushes. I've now unchecked it. I might be too late for the December Glambag, but hopefully by January there will be no more brushes.
3) Elizabeth Mott Color is Bae Lip Lacquer in Red Chili or Moxie Mauve: Thank goodness, I got the Moxie Mauve. I like mauve shades, in general, and this one looks nice, reminiscent of the Laura Geller gloss I like so much. We'll see if this is as high quality as that one.
4) Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara: Completely useless to me. I don't use mascara, because I have little to no lashes, sadly, and no amount of volumizing mascara is going to magically change that. You know what 0 x n is? ZERO. It's too bad because I do like Too Faced.
5) Adesse New York Brightening Base Coat: This one is interesting... it claims to hide/repair discolorations, make polish last longer and prevent stains. If it can actually do all that, I might actually be purchasing this one at some point. WE'LL SEE.
Sephora Play!:
1) Laura Mercier Caviar Stick in Rose Gold: This is apparently an eyeshadow... but it's such a pale nude that I'm not sure what the point is? I guess someone who normally wears eyeshadow might be able to tell me.
2) Maison Margiela 'Replica' Lipstick On: Product names are becoming more and more confusing. Like WTF is the actual name of this fragrance? WTF does it have to do with lipstick? I like the concept behind the fragrance; apparently "Replica" is a series that "encapsulates a particular moment and place in time. This one is 'Chicago, 1952.'" Initially, I was pleasantly surprised by this fragrance, but I think I only liked the whatever you call it, top notes. Now it's settled into something I don't hate, but I don't love, either. I can TOTALLY see how it fits with the place/time though, which is neat. Bergamot is supposedly one of the top notes, and I DO like the bergamot Atelier perfume, but whatever else is in this perfume is not really for me. Good thing too considering a 3oz bottle is $125.
3) Cover FX Illuminating Primer: Supposedly, I can use this primer on its own if I want a more natural look. Interestink. I'll give that a shot. But I have been experimenting with BB cream recently, so I can try that on top of this, as well.
4) Caudalie Vinosource Moisturizing Sorbet: OK, when you say sorbet, I just want ice cream. I guess they feel they can get away with it because the gimmick behind this product lines is that their stuff is made with grapes. Well, whatever, it's a moisturizer, so yay.
5) GLAMGLOW Thirstymud Hydrating Treatment: A mask. I already received a GLAMGLOW mask from Birchbox last month, sigh. That one was a dualcleanse treatment; this one is apparently a hydrating treatment. I wasn't too impressed with that one, so we'll see if this one fares any better.
6) Sephora Collection Ultra Shine Lip Gel in Pinup Pink: This is a highly rated lip gel, but probably NOT in this color. Good gravy. I can't imagine that's going to look good on me, but hopefully what it means by "gel" is that it's very sheer, which will be the only saving grace.
This month's winner: Birchbox, but just barely. Ipsy was actually a close runner-up, and Sephora's wasn't bad. (I'm not a fan of getting fragrances, but since Sephora usually makes it an extra 6th item, I'm OK with it.) Birchbox's wasn't as strong as it normally is... I'm not super excited about any of the products (well, maybe the jane iredale lip stain), but at least I'll use them all. Both Ipsy and Sephora had items I probably won't use.
I got a ton of stuff during Sephora's VIB sale, most of which I have not yet used. I did try out Urban Decay's Sheer Liar, recommended byakscully, and I LOVE it. It's in their new formula, and I don't know how it compares with the old, but it works for me.
Then, over Black Friday weekend, I went to the Etude House site, and OMG. Their prices are reasonable to begin with, and there were a bunch of things on sale, and you could take an EXTRA 40% off on top of that! I'd practically lose money NOT to take advantage! :P Anyway, so yeah, I just piled a bunch of stuff -- mostly lipstick -- into my cart and hit purchase. I have since been contacted and told that one of the items isn't available, so they could refund everything, or reorder everything minus that item, and refund me the difference. I said I wanted to do the latter, but I haven't heard from them since, and it's already been 3 days. WTF Etude House? Are you sending me my piles of makeup or not?
Next, I should be talking about the other K-dramas I'm in the middle of, right? Well I hate to be predictable, so NO! I am not going to run through those right now! Instead I'm going to talk about cosmetics and skin care and all that, because I have SO MUCH STUFF NOW due to Sephora's annual VIB sale and also Black Friday.
First, here are my beauty boxes from November:
Disclaimer is that I haven't actually tried any of these yet, so all of my comments are based on the basics of the product. One thing about these beauty box subscriptions is that because the sample sizes are quite generous, I really can't keep up with getting them monthly (especially since I currently am subscribed to 3 of them)!
Birchbox:
1) Marcelle New-Age LumiPOWER 3-in-1 Moisturizer: As you know by now, I'm always good with getting new moisturizers to try.
2) Supergoop! Forever Young Hand Cream with Broad Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 40: Also am good with hand cream!
3) jane iredale Just Kissed Lip and Cheek Stain: I chose this sample. It's apparently like the Smashbox O-Gloss, wherein it works with your body chemistry to develop a unique color. However, this is available in different shades, so I'm not quite sure how that works? Anyway, the sample is in "Forever Pink," which is sold out on the site, so apparently it must be popular?
4) amika Silken Up Dry Conditioner: Mehhh if it had to be a hair care product, I wish it'd been almost anything else. I'm not a big fan of dry shampoo, but since this is dry conditioner maybe I'll feel differently?
5) ARDENCY INN MODSTER Smooth Ride Supercharged Eyeliner Travel-Size Duo: In the sample you only get one, and I got black, which is good as that's normally the eyeliner I'd use. Like when I got eyeliner from Ipsy that one month, I wasn't disappointed, but it also seems a little boring. I like that this one is travel-sized, though; I can keep it in my purse makeup bag for when I need to retouch my eyeliner.
Ipsy:
1) Delectable by Cake Beauty (sweet mint & cream ultra nourishing hand cream): As noted above, I'm cool with hand creams... and this one is a really nice size. Knowing Ipsy, it may actually be full size.
2) Luxie Beauty Rose Gold Small Duo Fiber Brush 524T: I don't think a month has gone by without my getting a brush of some kind. I'm pretty much done with it. But it may not be their fault; I just went and recheck my beauty profile, and I had checked that I wanted to receive brushes. I've now unchecked it. I might be too late for the December Glambag, but hopefully by January there will be no more brushes.
3) Elizabeth Mott Color is Bae Lip Lacquer in Red Chili or Moxie Mauve: Thank goodness, I got the Moxie Mauve. I like mauve shades, in general, and this one looks nice, reminiscent of the Laura Geller gloss I like so much. We'll see if this is as high quality as that one.
4) Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara: Completely useless to me. I don't use mascara, because I have little to no lashes, sadly, and no amount of volumizing mascara is going to magically change that. You know what 0 x n is? ZERO. It's too bad because I do like Too Faced.
5) Adesse New York Brightening Base Coat: This one is interesting... it claims to hide/repair discolorations, make polish last longer and prevent stains. If it can actually do all that, I might actually be purchasing this one at some point. WE'LL SEE.
Sephora Play!:
1) Laura Mercier Caviar Stick in Rose Gold: This is apparently an eyeshadow... but it's such a pale nude that I'm not sure what the point is? I guess someone who normally wears eyeshadow might be able to tell me.
2) Maison Margiela 'Replica' Lipstick On: Product names are becoming more and more confusing. Like WTF is the actual name of this fragrance? WTF does it have to do with lipstick? I like the concept behind the fragrance; apparently "Replica" is a series that "encapsulates a particular moment and place in time. This one is 'Chicago, 1952.'" Initially, I was pleasantly surprised by this fragrance, but I think I only liked the whatever you call it, top notes. Now it's settled into something I don't hate, but I don't love, either. I can TOTALLY see how it fits with the place/time though, which is neat. Bergamot is supposedly one of the top notes, and I DO like the bergamot Atelier perfume, but whatever else is in this perfume is not really for me. Good thing too considering a 3oz bottle is $125.
3) Cover FX Illuminating Primer: Supposedly, I can use this primer on its own if I want a more natural look. Interestink. I'll give that a shot. But I have been experimenting with BB cream recently, so I can try that on top of this, as well.
4) Caudalie Vinosource Moisturizing Sorbet: OK, when you say sorbet, I just want ice cream. I guess they feel they can get away with it because the gimmick behind this product lines is that their stuff is made with grapes. Well, whatever, it's a moisturizer, so yay.
5) GLAMGLOW Thirstymud Hydrating Treatment: A mask. I already received a GLAMGLOW mask from Birchbox last month, sigh. That one was a dualcleanse treatment; this one is apparently a hydrating treatment. I wasn't too impressed with that one, so we'll see if this one fares any better.
6) Sephora Collection Ultra Shine Lip Gel in Pinup Pink: This is a highly rated lip gel, but probably NOT in this color. Good gravy. I can't imagine that's going to look good on me, but hopefully what it means by "gel" is that it's very sheer, which will be the only saving grace.
This month's winner: Birchbox, but just barely. Ipsy was actually a close runner-up, and Sephora's wasn't bad. (I'm not a fan of getting fragrances, but since Sephora usually makes it an extra 6th item, I'm OK with it.) Birchbox's wasn't as strong as it normally is... I'm not super excited about any of the products (well, maybe the jane iredale lip stain), but at least I'll use them all. Both Ipsy and Sephora had items I probably won't use.
I got a ton of stuff during Sephora's VIB sale, most of which I have not yet used. I did try out Urban Decay's Sheer Liar, recommended by
akscully, and I LOVE it. It's in their new formula, and I don't know how it compares with the old, but it works for me.Then, over Black Friday weekend, I went to the Etude House site, and OMG. Their prices are reasonable to begin with, and there were a bunch of things on sale, and you could take an EXTRA 40% off on top of that! I'd practically lose money NOT to take advantage! :P Anyway, so yeah, I just piled a bunch of stuff -- mostly lipstick -- into my cart and hit purchase. I have since been contacted and told that one of the items isn't available, so they could refund everything, or reorder everything minus that item, and refund me the difference. I said I wanted to do the latter, but I haven't heard from them since, and it's already been 3 days. WTF Etude House? Are you sending me my piles of makeup or not?
