collective haul: sephora and other purchases

hi. 🙋 my name is lindsay, and i have a problem: i hit rouge status again...in july. 🙊
if i miss discussing certain items photographed in this post, it's because they're all repurchases that i've talked about at least a handful of times before in the past. ~Lindsay ^.~

i'm not really sure what the hype with this kush mascara is... it's good, but like it's kind of dry compared to other mascaras, and performs ok-ish. every time i wore it, it'd flake and i'd have random black spots or streaks on my face.... i have been liking this sample of boscia's cactus water moisturizer! it's an interesting texture.

i'm not going to lie, i definitely bought this inner beauty favorites set for the bottle. i know. that's super sad. but i wanted to try it and have oneeeee. and the fenty liner is pretty awesome. i kind of wish it was a brush tip, but given the formula it's understandable that it's a felt tip.

i'm also finally on the estee lauder double wear bandwagon. i tried it for the first time just the other day and it's a lot more lightweight than the double wear light---which by name makes no sense, but you know... 💁 i'm in the shade 1w2 for those wondering. also, for as much as i kinda criticized the idea of redeeming this 250 point perk, the notebook and pen are actually nice. i love this type of pen!

had i hauled the bum bum bath bombas before...? they're amazing, but $10 each is expensive! so be sure to wait for sephora sales!

also, i had a sample of the clinique acne+line correcting serum, it's nice. i also got a sample of the new ddm jelly and i don't like it. i didn't feel like it did much for me, so it got passed along. and because i got them on the same trip, pictured here are the loreal brow stylist and febreze unstopables melts in shimmer (like the downy unstopables for your laundry). this brow gel is not the same as the previous and i'm not sure how i feel about it yet.

got a few things from sally's, target(?), and urban decay as well! i love these hair masks! and they were on sale at the time that i ordered them! these are the "OG" ones, not the new masks that aren't good whatsoever. then from urban decay, i redeemed my birthday sin highlighter...again. and i got another primer potion and their new-ish waterliner in legend. from sephora, i got an old favorite - buxom foundation in dim the light, the estee lauder double wear concealer in warm light, as well as the ordinary.'s makeup primer. i ended up passing the face primer along, because i couldn't deal with the scent.

sin, warm light, legend

a few more ulta things that i missed! also, i'm pretty sure i've converted to drunk elephant. the tlc sukari babyfacial is awesome!
and i also got a lot of goodies from beautylish. i was running low on parian spirit, and i needed more of the ordinary.'s salicylic acid. i also grabbed one of their retinoids to try. i tried out this clean apothecary brush shampoo, it works well enough, but i didn't try foundation-caked brushes in it yet. and i think this oribe dry shampoo was a freebie? i didn't order it, but it got passed along since i don't use them often enough.

it cosmetics has having a friends and family sale at the time i ordered this..if i remember right. got two favorites!
skindinavia - repurchasing because i needed more!

april 2016 ipsy bag

hi guys! it's been just over a week, since got my april IPSY BAG* (theme: dreamers) ...but i've been really busy this week with work and hadn't had a chance to post about it. sorries! ~Lin-chan ^.~

here's my impressions:

1. buxom wildly whipped lightweight liquid lipstick in centerfold (.08oz--mini, ret. $21 for .16oz [$10.50]) -- this is a really nice shade. it does take a little bit of work to apply and it fades pretty gracefully.
• likelihood to repurchase: probably not, for the sake of my stash
2. nudestix lip + cheek pencil in mystic (.088oz--mini, ret. $24 for .05oz [$42.24]) -- first confusing thing about this, just to get it out of the way---why does this sample contain more product than a full size of this product??????? otherwise, this is a really nice shade for the lips. not so sure how i feel about using it on the cheeks, but yeah.
• likelihood to repurchase: maybe
3. l.a.b.² - live and breathe beauty just blending in brush (full size, ret. $7) -- this is a really fluffy, flexible brush. not stiff enough for my needs in the crease, but definitely feels like it'd be great for blending away any harsh lines.
• likelihood to repurchase: undecided
4. ren evercalm global protection day cream (1.02oz--mini, ret. $45 for 1.7oz [$27]) -- i wonder if this is called evercalm because of the light aromatherapeutic scent it has..and maybe calming properties for the skin..? anyway, i'm interested in giving this a shot, and the scent's light enough that it'd probably wouldn't be noticable after a short while.
• likelihood to repurchase: probably not
5. pur-lisse blue lotus + white tea sheet mask & blue lotus + seaweed sheet mask (2 masks--ret. $36 for 6 [$12]) -- i'm definitely excited to try these out! ya know, try all of the sheet masks!
• likelihood to repurchase: probably not for the price
6. ipsy bag -- i love the watercolor-y wilderness-ness of it!
7. card with company info/discount codes
1. renskincare.com: 20% off purchase, code: ipsy20 (exp. 5/31/16)
2. purlisse.com: 30% off purchase, code: ipsylotus30 (exp. 5/31/16)
3. elizabethmott.com: $10 off $35 purchase, code: ipsy35 (exp. 5/31/16)
4. nthdegreehair.com: 40% off purchase, code: flawless2016 (exp. 5/31/16)
5. trustfundbeauty.com: 35% off purchase, code: ipsy35 (exp. 5/31/16)
6. prettywomannyc.com: all products $5.99, code: ipsy (exp. 5/31/16)
7. citycolorcosmetics.com: 25% off full size highlight trio palette, code: ipsyglow (exp. 5/31/16)
8. tula.com: 30% off purchase + free shipping, code: ipsy30 (exp. 5/31/16)
9. mybodyskincare.com: 20% off purchase + free shipping, code: ipsyglow (exp. 5/31/16)
10. incoco.com: 20% off purchase, code: ipsy20 (exp. 5/31/16)
11. starlooks.com: 15% off purchase, code: ipsy0416 (exp. 4/30/16)
12. tartecosmetics.com: 20% off purchase, code: ipsyapr (exp. 5/10/16)
13. sophinailpolish.com: 40% off purchase, code: ipsy2016 (exp. 5/31/16)
14. luxiebeauty.com: 30% off purchase excludes product collaborations, code: ipsydream (exp. 5/31/16)
15. harveyprince.com: 30% off purchase, code: ipsy (exp. 5/31/16)
16. pro-belle.com: 30% off $20 purchase, code: ipsy30 (exp. 5/31/16)
17. adesseny.com: 20% off purchase + free shipping, code: ipsy20 (exp. 5/31/16)
18. nomadmakeup.com: 20% off purchase + free shipping, code: ipsy20FS (exp. 5/31/16)
19. moroccanoil.com: free moroccanoil tote bag with purchase, code: ipsytote (exp. 5/31/16)
20. novexhaircare.com: 20% off purchase, code: novexdreamer (exp. 5/31/16)
21. skinandcoroma.com: 15% off truffle therapy products, code: truf2ipsy (exp. 5/31/16)
22. briogeohair.com: 20% off purchase, code: ipsy20 (exp. 5/31/16)
23. jellypongpong.com: 20% off purchase, code: ipsy20 (exp. 5/31/16)
24. ofracosmetics.com: 40% off purchase, code: ipsyofra (exp. 5/31/16)
25. dermae.com: 30% off purchase + free shipping, code: ipsy16 (exp. 5/31/16)
26. twistedlily.com: 20% off purchase, code: ipsy20 (exp. 5/31/16)
27. crownbrush.us: 25% off purchase, code: 2016crownipsy25 (exp. 5/31/16)

approximate product value: ~$99

centerfold, mystic

centerfold

mystic

*Affiliate Link.

top favorites & discoveries of 2015

hi guys!! today i bring you my top favorite things for the past year! actually, i thought about including the bad, but i forgot about most of them or tossed or gave them away........so yeah, only favorites! haha. enjoy. ~Lin-chan ^.~

beauty

1. urban decay afterglow blush in rapture -- i don't think the 8-hour claim holds true..or i just touch my face too much, but i really liked this color a lot.
2. makeup geek eyeshadows: barcelona beach, starry eyed, magic act, beaches and cream, rapunzel, baby face -- you'll have to go back through my individual favorites posts for the year to see what i said about each one, but these are my standout favorites for the year. my absolute favorite of the bunch is barcelona beach, which is basically what i use in my crease all. the. time. these are super inexpensive and amazing quality.
1. makeup geek soft dome brush [not pictured because i totally forgot!] -- this is an amazing crease-blending brush. super soft bristles and i had to get a second one!
3. benefit boxed blush/bronzer in hoola and dallas -- for some reason, i've been gravitating toward both of these a lot the past few months. originally, i was a bit scared to use hoola but it's actually an amazing contour shade. and dallas is a really nice dusty rose blush shade.
4. becca shimmering skin perfector pressed in opal -- such a pretty highlight! it's super glowy and gorgeous!
5. kevyn aucoin duo in 210 (sugared peach & rust brown shimmer) -- this is such a pretty duo. if it weren't in the beautylish lucky [grab] bag, i would have never tried it.
6. nars dual intensity eyeshadow in himalia -- this is a perfect one and done eyeshadow. i love taupes and neutrals, and this is a good one!
7. ardency inn rose gold shadow -- i picked this up on the suggestion of talkbeckytalk. soo freaking pretty. it's not exactly rosegold by most people's standards, but it's still really pretty nonetheless.
8. ofra shadow/highlight in bliss -- such a gorgeous highlight. i'm super excited that i got something so amazing from my ipsy bag. i know ofra is typically a makeup artist or stage-makeup brand, but this is beautiful!
9. buxom palettes -- these are such a great deal! they're $40 a palette, or $12 per shade, and they are such great quality that i had to have two. hahaha. these have amazing staying power and blend very well.
10. maybelline blushed nudes shadow palette -- this palette is not the most amazing thing ever, but for whatever reason, i was really gravitated toward it.
1. maybelline lash sensational mascara [not pictured because i don't currently have one] -- this is a pretty great mascara. actually, i think it's fairly comparable to benefit's roller lash. possible dupe?
11. maybelline fit me matte+poreless foundation (120) -- i've gone through so many bottles of this stuff throughout the year, it's kind of ridiculous. i really enjoy this foundation. it does begin to wear down toward the end of the day, but it keeps me pretty matte throughout the day.
12. makeup forever artist shadows -- these are so amazing. if they're still available, get the palettes because they're an amazing deal, then branch out from there. pictured is 18 singles in an xl z palette.
13. kat von d tattoo liner in trooper -- this is the new favorite brush-tip liner. it's super black and stays all freakin day and does not transfer with my hooded eyes. i probably won't get another in the limited edition packaging, since it costs more for the same amount of product..but i love this packaging too.
14. it cosmetics bye bye under eye corrector (light) -- this is such a great product. with my new job, i've started to develop dark circles. eeeep! but this blends in very nicely with the heat of your skin.
15. colourpop lippie stix in lumiere and cookie -- for just $5 these are super great and affordable! cookie is my favorite orangy nude and lumiere is my favorite mlbb type shade!
16. benefit roller lash mascara -- i have yet to actually buy a full-size of this mascara, but i really enjoyed this mascara. i liked the curved rubberized wand and the length and volume that this mascara gave.
17. bite limited lab release lipsticks (may & september) -- these two shades were my favorites of the bunch. i love bite lipsticks because the formula feels amazing, and these two shades were ones that i wasn't totally sure about when i ordered them, but i ended up loving them!
18. luxie beauty tapered blending eye brush 205 -- this has been my go to fluffy blending brush. i typically use this for highlight or blending the rough edge of the crease.
19. laura mercier caviar shadow stick in rosegold -- i primarily used this as a base for my kevyn aucoin duo, so i'm not sure how well it holds up on its own. but it's super gorgeous!
20. wayne goss holiday (00) and 02 brushes -- these two brushes omg. they're super soft and apply product sooo freakin well. sometimes i use just the holiday brush for highlight, blush, and bronzer. using the tip for highlight, and one side each for blush and bronzer. and the 02 brush, i also use for highlight.

random

1. salmon furikake -- the best of the several rice seasonings i've tried.
2. bubz shirt -- it's just too adorbzable.
3. elizabeth & james nirvana black -- i'm not sure what about this i love. at first i wasn't sure about it, then it grew on me.
4. shiseido facial cotton -- the best for makeup removers, micellar waters, etc.
5. insomnia cookies -- supah delicioso. don't get delivery if they're in your area, so slow...

november 2015: sephora play!

hi guys! my november sephora play! box came in today! yay!! (theme: the exclusives) i'm super excited about the bite lip pencil---i've had my eye on this particular shade for a while!!!!!! ~Lin-chan ^.~
note: please excuse the face. i am exhausted. i got up at 7 this morning to go to work for training, and didn't get to leave until 5. TT_TT (see instagram pic in sidebar)

bite rhubarb

buxom dolly

1. bite beauty high pigment lip pencil in rhubarb (.05oz--mini, $24 for .09oz [$13.34]) -- omg you guys. this has been on my list since last year's holiday gift sets! i'm super excited that i have this now, not only to try out the formula, but this is my color!
   repurchase? possibly
2. buxom full-on lip cream in dolly (.07oz--mini, ret. $19 for .15oz [$8.87]) -- i'm not 100% sold on this one. like the color is nice on me, but i don't like how it can bunch up..? like if you purse your lips together, there's a noticeable line there--you guys know what i mean. anyway, i like the formula, but i'm not sure about this color.
   repurchase? nah
3. sephora collection contour eye pencil in 29 my boyfriend's jeans (.017oz--mini, ret. $10 for .04oz [$4.25]) -- i was kind of sad when i swatched this. it's not as super prettyful as the indicator on the end of the pencil. lol. i was hoping it to be more full-on metallic..but it's almost like a normal blue shade, with a hint of metallic shimmer.
   repurchase? nah
4. makeup forever step 1 hydrating primer (.16oz--mini, ret. $36 for 1oz [$5.76]) -- i'm probably going to pass this off. you guys know...hydrating anything face is no good for me! haha.
   repurchase? no
5. josie maran 100% pure argan oil (.16oz--mini, ret. $48 for 1.7oz [$4.52]) -- over the years, i've acquired quite a few of these and have never gotten around to actually using them for anything. so i'll probably pass this one off (just like the others), since i've got one open..somewhere.....
   repurchase? probably not
6. stella mccartney stella eau de parfum (sample, ret. $50 for 1oz) -- i'm really bad at describing scents.. i just know i don't like it. and, after reading the card, it says "rose" and "amber"...and we all know that lindsay loves rose scented things. 
   repurchase? no
7. 'coupon' for an extra 50 points on the next in-store purchase

approximate product value: ~$36.74+

october favorites & mehs

hi guys! only a couple items last month too. enjoy. ~Lin-chan ^.~

favorites:

designer or die, silk sheets, style icon, star treatment, lingerie lover, wild nights

1. becca shimmering skin perfector poured in opal -- i took this on my orlando trip and i loved it. you guys know i'm not as huge into cream cheek products..but this was buttah. it blended out amazingly.
2. buxom custom palette (shadows listed above) -- i think i did a pretty good job at picking these 6 shades. the first four are great for more neutral looks, and sometimes i like changing it  up and using the first two and last three to semi-replicate what i've been doing with the maybelline blushed nudes palette.
1. i've got another one sitting on my sephora wishlist right now. some of them are out of stock and i haven't swatched them in the store yet. but we're going to wait until the vib sale and see what kind of discounts we can get.
3. jergens bb body cream -- i forgot how much i loved this lotion. omg. the scent is nice and the tint it gives is super nice too. just make sure it's dry before putting clothes on because the color will transfer.
4. luxie beauty tapered blending eye brush 205 -- i redeemed some ipsy points for this and got it with this month's bag. and it became an instant favorite. it's a great crease area brush, super soft and fluffy.

random favorites: 

1. stoli ginger beer -- not a recent favorite. actually my mom gave us some of these a while back when i decided i wanted to try moscow mules. turns out those are absolutely disgusting, but stoli ginger beer (compared to about 4 other brands we've tried) is really, really good. ginger beer is non-alcoholic, it's ginger soda. not ginger ale, but strong gingery soda.
2. not your father's rootbeer -- this is alcoholic. it's hard rootbeer. and it's really good. i hate anything that remotely tastes like alcohol, and this you almost can't tell. and it also has a higher abv than your average beer. so not only is it super drinkable, making you think nothing of it, if you stand up too fast you'll feel it. haha. 
1. note: this is better on ice than in the bottle.
2. in comparison, the coney island one is absolutely gross. again, it has alcohol taste.
3. disclaimer: drink responsibly and yadda yadda. don't drink if you're under age, etc.

meh/undecided: 

1. becca shimmering skin perfector [liquid] in opal -- i also took this with me on our orlando trip. and i did not like this quite as much. i felt that it blended away and didn't really show up as strongly as i would have liked. i guess you could consider it more natural looking than the poured and pressed versions, which i like more.

october hauls

hi guys! i apologize in advance for the lateness of my october favorites and empties posts. a lot has been going on between work, halloween, and family, so they kind of got on the back burner. expect to see them within the next several days. anyway, i think you guys will start to see a theme with some of the items i picked up this month... ~Lindsay-chan ^.~

amazon: theBalm balm desert, elf long lasting lustrous eyeshadow in soiree, loreal infallible eyeshadow in glistening garnet

soiree, glistening garnet, balm desert

sephora: bite limited lab release lipstick for october (boisenberry), clinique clarifying lotion 3, bobbi brown eye kit (500 points), dr. jart+ dermaclear (freebie with code); buxom eyeshadows ($40 custom palette) in wild nights, silk sheets, lingerie lover, style icon, star treatment, designer or die.

designer or die, silk sheets, style icon, star treatment, lingerie lover, wild nights

boisenberry, golden pink

boisenberry

elf: they finally re-released their illuminating (ambient) palette! yes! i finally get my hands on one! i also ordered their bronzing and contouring palettes, studio matte magic mist & set, studio kiss it goodbye lip color remover, studio baked eyeshadow in burnt plum, essential smudgepot in wine not, and they were having a promo for a fall harvest kit for $6 (essential brightening eyeliner in coffee, studio pout perfector in glow, beautifully bare blush in peach perfection, studio moisturizing lipstick in berry kiss, need it nude eyeshadow palette)

swatches: burnt plum, wine not, berry kiss

bronzer, contour, and illuminating palettes

need it nude palette

sephora: makeup forever artist shadows in D504, D826, I838

D504, I838, D826