Sephora
Today, I decided to go pick up my free birthday gifts at Sephora and Ulta.
I knew that at Sephora I wanted a makeup duo from Ilia: Ilia Limitless Lash Mascara mini and Multistick cheek and lip stick mini in At Last, a mauve rose shade.
I remember at the end of the year asking the Sephora saleswoman during their December sale how many points I needed to keep my VIB status. She gave me the figure and I asked her if she was sure about it, and she said yes. I spent enough to add that number of points.
Right now, Sephora is giving 15% off to VIB members. I wandered around the store looking at what was new, and I picked up K18 Leave-In Hair Mask (Aquis’ brand!), Sol de Janeiro Moisturizing Shower Gel, and Tatcha The Liquid Silk Canvas primer.
When I checked out, the cashier rang up my purchases, and I was surprised at how expensive it was. I said to her did you take off the 15%? She said no, that I hadn’t qualified for VIB status last year. Ugh, I was so angry at that SA from last December. So, I said, do I at least get 10% off, and she said that the lowest level didn’t start till 4/18. I told her that I wasn’t going to buy the items and to take them back.
I thought about buying the items for 10% off, but I decided I will see if I can buy them elsewhere. None of the items I had been considering were things that I needed now. Oh well.
Ulta
I forgot that this was school vacation week. Ulta was incredibly busy with middle school girls running around. Usually Ulta is empty, but not this afternoon. At one point, I was looking at Essence, a brand I used to do market research for, because I saw an ad for a new mascara and wand that looked like a lot of more expensive brands that I like. Two girls who looked like 7th graders came over, and I stepped aside to make room for them. One of the girls reached for one of the mascaras, unscrewed it, and started applying it to her lashes. It wasn’t a tester but a tube of mascara that was being sold. I said to her that she absolutely shouldn’t be applying the mascara that someone else might buy after she used it and put it back. I thought maybe she would buy it out of embarrassment, but she put it back and looked at me with disdain. Ugh. I will email Essence’s corporate office and tell them they have to put safety packaging on their products.
I had a list of things that I needed at Ulta:
- the new mascara from Essence, though I couldn’t remember the name of it
- JOICO K-PAK Luster Lock Hair Treatment
- Ulta Solid Brush Cleanser
- a pencil sharpener.
I noticed that Ulta had $10 off a $50 purchase so I decided to pick up something else to reach $50. I decided on Eyelure Pre-Glued False Lashes because I hadn’t noticed them before and they had a style, Naturals, that looked like they might work for me. I bought them and got the $10 off.
At checkout, I told the saleswoman that it was my birthday, and I wondered what the gift was. It was Peach & Lily Power Calm Hydrating Gel Cleanser.
Even though it is called Hydrating, the word “Power” coupled with a gel formula concerned me because it suggested it was for oily or acne-prone skin. She reassured me it was for all skin-types, and it was indeed hydrating. I took it. Turns out, the Peach & Lily Cleanser is described on their website as “hydrates, soothes, and respects the skin barrier. A gentle, pH 5.5, sulfate-free formula.” I haven’t tried it yet, but it sounds promising. Peach & Lily is a clean beauty, cruelty-free, vegan brand. The cleanser is a travel size at 1.0 fl. oz./30 ml rather than the full size. Nevertheless, it’s a nice way to try out something new. I tried it out, and it’s a clear gel with a light scent and it’s fabulous.
When I got home, I tried the pencil sharpener right away because my Victoria Beckham eye liners really need sharpening. I had actually bought a sharpener when I ordered them from the brand, but I can’t find it. So I bought the Ulta pencil sharpener with a wide and a narrow opening. I immediately tried to sharpen the Beckham liners and the narrow opening is too big! Ugh, I will have to continue hunting for the one that fits them.
Next, instead of trying the new mascaras, I was really tempted by the Eyelure Pre-Glued Naturals Lashes. The box claims 15 hour wear, 15 seconds to apply. I have the worst eye shape for false lashes, so I seldom wear them. First, my eyes are relatively small and I usually have to trim the lashes. Next problem, my eyes are downturned, and though I try to loosen up the lashes so they’ll bend, it’s always hard to fit them along my lashline. The Naturals were 3/4 length lashes, so I didn’t have to trim them.
I should have put mascara on first so that my own lashes that show toward the insides of my eyes would be colored. Oh well. The pre-glued lashes are very sticky. Though you’re supposed to apply them with tweezers, I thought it was easier with my fingers. The length was decent though just a tad short. I tried hard to set them right at my lashline, but it looks like, in spite of the eyeliner I applied at my lashline and in the tightline area, the blackness of the lashes shows my own skin.
Nevertheless, for $5.99, they’re decent false lashes, the right length, almost natural looking, and fun to play with.
As I mentioned, they’re supposed to stay on for 15 hours, but I applied them at 4pm and I have nowhere to go, lol. But they are supposed to be usable for 3 times, so maybe I can try them again next time I am going out.
Allison, you look amazing! Your complexion looks flawless and you haven’t aged a bit since I last saw you. Keep it up, girl!!
<3
Thanks, Amy xoxo Wish I looked that good in person! You can’t see my scar because of my hair nor the pouch under my chin that resulted from the surgery. And the wrinkles. Oh well. Still, thank you!!
A friend of mine gave me a 20% off coupon because she’s Rouge, so I was able to get a fragrance sampler nice and cheap from Sephora, but that is the only way I would have shopped there. So glad you got stuff at Ulta. I like Peach and Lily as a brand. You look terrific!
I like Peach & Lily, too. I have one of their essences as well as the Glass Serum. LMK if you find something you like in the fragrance sampler!
I liked two of the fragrances: YSL Libre and Tom Ford Black Orchid. I redeemed the card for Black Orchid, which means, after my savings, I got it for half price!
I was standing in front of the YSL Libre at Sephora on Monday. I should have smelled it! My hair colorist used to wear Black Orchid several years ago, and I loved how it smelled on her. I’ll bet I would love it on you! Unfortunately, I was surprised and disappointed that it didn’t work with my body chemistry. Glad you got it for half price. Woo hoo!!
It’s very interesting because it’s a fougere, but it’s feminine. I really like it. It’s more of a return to the classic YSL of original Opium and Yvresse than anything like Black Opium, which I can’t stand. I’m sorry Black Orchid doesn’t work on you.
Thank you for introducing me to “fougere”. I looked it up! Actually, I used to love the original Opium (though I don’t know Yvresse), but I was surprised that Black Opium didn’t work for me either.
Allison, you look fantastic! So glad you are feeling better.
Thank you, Denise! My recovery is sort of up and down. My incision, neck muscles and nerves are tight and sore and often feel like someone has a shard of glass and is twisting it inside my neck. I am going to try using a scar cream and see if that will at least help make my skin more flexible, but I’m not sure which to buy. Several lists say use a silicone gel and others say something else. Ugh. But I am certainly doing better than a few weeks ago 🙂