december 2017: sephora play!

hi guys! it's late again, but i'm trying to catch up here today and tomorrow. anyway, my sephora play! arrived less than 2 weeks ago and here are my initial thoughts. note - i only kept 1 item because i don't typically use these kinds of products. (theme: the 2017 play list) ~Lin-chan ^.~

1. smashbox cover shot shadows from the golden hour eye palette (turned on & psyched) -- the sole item i kept from this bag! i'm not sure which shade is which, but they're both pretty. i'm not sure i like using them both at the same time though because they kind of blend into one another. either way, i really like the formula and color of these!
   repurchase? probably not
2. drybar triple sec hair texturizer -- i like never use these. i don't really need/want volume.. so it got passed along.
   repurchase? no
3. laura mercier eye basics (primer) in wheat -- this was a fairly neutral shade, slightly tan for my skintone. honestly, i'm not huge into tinted eye primers because they sometimes change the color of the shadows applied over it, and i have plenty enough eye primer that i decided i probably don't need it.
   repurchase? nah
4. peter thomas roth 24 karat gold lift & firm cream -- passed this along because i'll never get around to using it..
   repurchase? no
5. anastasia lip gloss in vintage -- passed this along because glosses, and online swatches didn't seem to match me anyway.
   repurchase? no
6. tom ford black orchid perfume sample -- passed this along, don't remember the scent but i think it was a pretty strong one.
   repurchase? no
7. 'coupon' for an extra 50 points on the next in-store purchase
8. info card - i really liked how they had random facts about the sephora play! subscription. it's kind of neat to know how many people are subscribed from each state, and other random facts!

december 2016: sephora play!

guess what came today~? got this month's sephora play box (theme: the partygoers) in the mail today, and i'm pretty excited. it's got some oldies but goodies and a few new things to try! ~Lin-chan ^.~

1. drybar detox dry shampoo (.8oz--mini, $23 for 3.5oz [$5.26]) -- this is so weird. correct me if i'm wrong, but this has a men's aftershave type of smell to it. and i do not want to go walking around smelling like this stuff. no thanks.
   repurchase? no
2. makeup forever step 1 skin equalizer smoothing primer (.16oz--mini, ret. $37 for 1oz [$5.92]) -- i really like this type of primer, but i'm put off by the fragrance it has. not about it. and the price is kind of more than i want to pay too. i'll use this up but i'm not planning on repurchasing.
   repurchase? no
3. bobbi brown smokey eye mascara in black (.1oz--mini, ret. $30 for .2oz [$15]) -- i'm definitely interested in trying this mascara out. i got one a long ways back and ended up passing it along because i didn't have intentions to use it anytime soon (still got that mascara backlog, guys...). i'm almost at the end of the tube i'm using now, so i'll try this one out very soon!
   repurchase? no
1. update: this is getting passed along. it didn't really do anything for me until 3-4 passes on each eye. no thanks. 1-2 coats was lots of separation and slight lengthening, but not enough to my liking.
4. urban decay all nighter setting spray (.5oz--mini, ret. $31 for 4oz [$3.88]) -- i usually go for the oil control setting sprays, but i have used this one and love it too!
   repurchase? buying from skindinavia is more cost effective
5. sephora collection cream lip stain in always red (01) (.04oz--mini, ret. $14 for .169oz [$3.13]) -- i applied this shortly after i put up my instagram photo, so like 4-5 hours ago? and it's staying super strong. i ate, i drank. and it only came off in places where i was biting at my lip--bad habit, i know. but even in those places, it's not noticeable and this is a bright friggen red. so that's really saying something. for the color, i'm not 100% with it being on me, but this formula is great! i'm definitely thinking about picking up a full size in a more comfortable shade. as a sidenote: it will transfer to your teeth before it dries down, but once it's dry it has minimal transfer.
   repurchase? yes!
6. elizabeth and james nirvana bourbon (sample, ret. $60 for 1oz) -- so i sprayed this onto the card and i liked it, sprayed it on my arm and tried to see how well it worked out. then teh paul says i can't buy more because one of the scents in this perfume is in his coworker's cologne and it weirds him out. sadface.
   repurchase? ........
7. 'coupon' for an extra 50 points on the next in-store purchase

approximate product value: ~$33