Birthday Haul Pt. 2 & May Favorites

Hi guys, thanks for coming back to my blog.

I want to continue my birthday haul post now and my May favorites, they kinda go along with the haul because there are so many products I got for my birthday that have become quick favorites.  So instead of making separate posts I decided to just combine them somehow, I’m just winging it as I go along so bare with me. 

Birthday Haul Pt. 2

Sephora Continued

TARTE Brazilliance™ Skin Rejuvenating Maracuja Face And Body Self Tanner

So I have tried a couple of different self tanners since spring begun, St. Tropez, Lorac and this is my definite favorite.  I posted about the Xen-Tan for the face and I really do like that one but I hadn’t found anything for the body that I liked until I used the Tarte self-tanner.  If you are someone who really requires a guide color you will not like this because there really isn’t one.  It comes out of the tube a gel like consistency and it is a very dark tan color, however once you rub it in the color disappears completely and you just have to go on faith that you have hit all the right spots.  It comes with the mit and it works very well to distribute the product evenly.  I have been wearing  it for 2 weeks and I haven’t experienced any streaking or uneven color.  I use a thick balm on my heels and elbows before I use the tanner so it doesn't absorb heavily around those dry areas.  I have sort of fell into a schedule for application.  I shave and exfoliate my legs with a body sugar scrub every other day prior to application.  I know most people like to apply self-tanners at night before bed but I have found I like to apply it in the morning after my shower and prior to applying my makeup.  The only complaint I really have is it stays sticky longer than I would like it to and in the bend of your elbows  it can rub off as you bend your arms if you do not spend enough time with your arms straight until it dry's.  I’m not sure how long it lasts because I reapply it every other day.  The one bottle has lasted me for 2 weeks and I still have approximately 1/2 of a bottle and I apply it to arms, legs, shoulders and decollete.  I’m really not sensitive as some people can be to the smell of self-tanners but I don’t believe this one is strong at all.  *This is a May favorite*

 

CIATÉ Very Colourfoil Manicure™

(Kiss Chase #101)

So I have been seeing this nail art kit on the Sephora’s sale page.  I had never tried the CIATÉ brand nail polish so I thought with the kit being on sale and all, well why not.  I am so glad I did.  Apparently this brand is the leader in transforming top coats and all kinds of weird effects in the world of nail art.  I really like this polish.  It doesn't drag or streak and it goes on very opaque after just one coat.  I will be the first person to tell you I am not artistic at all, so most any nail art that requires that ability is out for me.  The foils that came with this kit are beautiful and they come in a wide range of colors.  You only need one square to do all 10 finger nails although I did mix 2 colors for my first go.  This kit also comes with the glue needed to apply the foil.  It’s so simple, paint, dry, glue, foil, top coat and go.  I liked this brand of polish so much I went back to Sephora and grabbed the 3 for $18 deal.  I couldn’t find this option on the web page but I did purchase it in store.

(PPM188 Pucker Up, PPM007 Members Only, PPM185 Mineral Love)

Of course the bottles are only .17 fl. Oz compared to the large bottle that came inside this kit which was 0.46 fl.Oz.  Apparently you can’t order directly from the company here in the states because they do not ship to North America but there are plenty of places you can find this brand including Sephora, Nordstrom and Amazon just to name a few.  You can usually find one of the nail art kits like this one on Sephora’s sale page as well.

Bite Beauty Vivid Luminous Crème Lipstick Duo

(Violet / Palomino)

So if you are taking air into your lungs you have heard of or experienced Bite Beauty lip products.  Bite Beauty is an exclusive brand just for lips.  I know a lot of women have a special place in their heart for lipstick and lip products in general but this takes it to a whole new level.  The lip products that Bite Beauty makes are an exception to every rule, they smell good, taste good, feel good and wear on the lip so very long it’s not natural.  I just didn’t understand all the hype attached to these lip products so I grabbed one of the lipstick duos that Sephora has at the register.  The duo’s come in two different color options, a bright option, pictured above in Violet and Palomino and a nude option in Lychee and Musk.  So the first duo I bought was the nude option and I would love to include a picture and swatch but, what can I say, I used it up.  It is a small amount in each end only .05 Oz per side and the product is so soft and creamy that it just melts onto your lips.  I will defiantly be getting one of the Deconstructed Rose colors or the Deconstructed Rose Lip Gloss Library, you have to check it out in person.  It is a limited edition part of the line and a must have.  The Agave Lip Mask is apparently a wonderful item as well and permanent to the line so grab it when you can, you have time on this one but don’t pass out when you see the price, it has huge sticker shock with the $26.00 price tag for a lip balm.

Amazon

Makeup Geek Brushes: Foundation Stippling Brush, Cheek Highlighter Brush, Small Crease Brush

 

 

 

 

 

So if you have been a regular reader of my blog then you already know just how much I love Makeup Geek brushes.  These are the new and improved Makeup Geek brushes and holy cow, my new, never leave home without them, always in my bag, use every time I put makeup on my face, holy grail brushes.  I only ordered 3 and it wasn’t because I wasn’t sure about them it was simply a money issue.  Lets just say I ran out of birthday funds a couple of items back and my husband rocks.   He was ordering a hard drive for his computer off of Amazon and I said well let me see what they carry in the beauty department.  I was able to grab these brushes for a dollar less per brush than you can get them for on the Makeup Geek site.  I have used all 3 brushes since I got them and they are wonderful.  As you know I have owed the original brushes from Makeup Geek for a couple of years and they are still my go to brushes.  As with the original brushes I haven’t experienced any shedding and they have been washed a couple of times as well as keeping their shape.  I plan to order the rest of the new brushes within the next 2 weeks with the exception of the ones that have already sold out.  The link above for the stippling brush goes to the Makeup Geek site because I can no longer find this one on Amazon, my advice is to hurry they are going quick and I think I seen September listed as the month they would be back.

Sigma Pencil Brush E-30

So I didn’t have this Sigma brush until 5 days after I received my other brushes so I don’t have a picture of this one but I know everyone reading this post probably knows what it looks like, if not you can follow the link above.  That will take you to the Amazon page for this brush and this one will take you to Sigmabeauty.com.  This is my first Sigma brush and I think I love it.  It is so soft and my whole look for my bottom lash line as well as inside corner is drastically different and so much better.  I believe I will order the essential kit next, it is recommended as a great place to start.  Although I was able to order the Sigma brush from Amazon unlike Makeup Geek I didn’t get as big a saving, it was only a penny.  All of the Sigma products are exactly the same price pretty mush, as they are on Sigma’s web page.  I’m unsure of the difference in shipping because I have never ordered from Sigma and I’m not a Amazon Prime customer.  This brush is out of stock on Sigma’s page.

May Favorites

So with all of these new items it has been a hard list to make.  So lets go back to the Haul Pt. 1.  My Clarisonic Pro is definitely on my favorites list.  I have wanted one for so long and it works like everyone said it would.  Love it for so many reasons but the first reason is it will help save my face from looking any older than it is.  My next favorite from the 1st post would have to be my Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette.  Like I said in the haul I just can’t put my finger on why it just makes everything glow.  The Hourglass N° 28 Primer Serum is the same way.  My skin stays hydrated and I have cut way back on the amount of coverage I’m wearing.  I have cut out my foundation completely.  I simply use my Hourglass N° 28 Primer Serum and then the 3rd May favorite my It Cosmetics Anti-Aging Full Coverage Physical SPF50 CC Cream.  I have been applying this with the Makeup Geek stippling brush and it gives me all the coverage I need.  I really need to go back and give credit where credit is due and that is my skin care.  I have continued with my Theraderm system, I’m on the 3rd travel size because it is so cheap $10 compared to shelling out the $140 for the full size.  Of course lets go ahead and add the OLE HENRIKSEN3 Little Wonders to the favorites list for May.  I really believe this is what it took to give the my skin the little push I was looking for.  It really seems to glow without any makeup, not that I would go without anything in public, but I have took it way down as I said before.

So I have covered everything I believe.  I have included skin care, Clarisonic and Ole Henriksen.  I have talked about makeup with the  It Cosmetics, Hourglass products, Bite Beauty and the tools to put it on with, the amazing Makeup Geek brushes as well as the Sigma pencil brush.  I have included a couple of nail products, even a self-tanner.  The one thing I am missing, something for the inside….

Plus White 5 Minute Premier Whitening System

This $7.00 teeth whitening system really works, I am blown away.  I have been using it for about 2 weeks and I believe my teeth are probably at least 5 shades whiter than they were.  You can pick this up at Wal-Mart and it contains everything you need plus a coupon. 

 

Julep Maven Box Free

lf you get any subscription boxes you know how awesome they can be.  I have gotten Starbox, Ipsy Bag and a Zamplebox for vapors, they kindly sent me a free box after my husband lost his job, but I haven’t gotten any of the first boxes free.  With a coupon code, I’ve seen several versions, you can get your first Julep Maven box free.  It usually costs $19.99 plus $3.99 shipping and handling.  So I used the code FREEBOX and it worked.  I paid the $3.99 shipping and handling and I had my box within 3 days.  I got to choose from a few different boxes so I chose the one with 2 polishes and a blush, a very nice blush that I will have pictures of very soon.

So I think that is all guys.  Once again thank you so very much for stopping by and catching up with me.  I am so sorry it is so long but I guess that’s what happens when you get as far behind as I did.

Much Love and God Bless,

KelleJo

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The Urban Decay makeover and a brief rant about Ulta associates.....

Hi Guys, thanks for stopping by.

So I had this appointment with an Urban Decay makeup artist at Ulta since the 1st week of beauty steals. I overheard the manager talking about the UD team coming and I stuck my nose in and said hey what’s going on with the Urban Decay event? So she made me the appointment and it was today.

So let me just say that the very, young man was very nice and very talented. They had set up right inside the front door. Apparently I really didn't need an appointment because I walked in and they offered to do my makeup. He asked me what it was I was interested in and if I used UD products? I told him I would like to see the new Naked foundation, curious if it would give me the amount of coverage I require to feel comfortable when leaving the house. I told him I really just wanted some hands on education. I wasn't interested of course in the new Electric palette because I simply do not wear those types of colors but I could appreciate it from a distance, it was displayed all around where they were set up.

So I love the foundation, it did give me the coverage as well as the hydration I need from a foundation. It matched my skin tone and color, it gave me the flawless finish we all desire from our makeup. He applied a little blush using the orange color in the Electric palette and that was it. No eye shadow, no contouring, just a little foundation and blush. I know this was free but I was just expecting more from an Urban Decay, Ulta event. I thought surely I would get a small goody bag or samples or something. They didn't even pressure me to buy products and it's a good thing because I took zero money.

I want to thank the young man once again, I believe his name was Louis. I am sure he stayed within whatever guidelines where set up for the event. I stayed and walked around looking for self-tanners on clearance and spring items within my $9.00 worth of Ulta reward points. 

For the most part the ladies and gentleman that work at Ulta are nice. I have had some great exchanges with a handful of the associates and the manager at my local location is wonderful however, some of them are just so stuck up it makes me nauseous. One I have in mind I believe is the Lancome specialist. I asked her about a Lorac product and she was just not friendly at all and this is not my first experience with her. I had my brows done a few months ago at the brow bar, by a different associate, it wasn't a great experience either. Come to find out she didn't do some of the things required at one of these appointments and she gave me zero education. I told her I was there to have them shaped for the first time outside of the $8.00 nail salon wax. I was clueless when it comes to keeping my brows up and I told her this. Is this not a customer based business?  Do we want our makeup associates to treat us like we are on a lower level than they are. Do we not stand on the same earth or is their ground just a little more elevated than mine? I have been in the customer service industry for 20 plus years. I just do not understand how this is OK just because they work at a makeup store or counter.

Sorry about the little rant but I know anyone who has been in an Ulta or at the Macy's makeup counter, just a general reference, not a specific counter, has had a similar experience. I am the last person to think I am better than anybody else because I know where I have been... lol

Tomorrow I will post my Theraderm update, it won't be very long because I really haven't noticed many improvements. Thank you all for reading my new About Me page and the comments that were left on my Facebook feed were so sweet, thank you again.

Much Love and God Bless,

KelleyJo

Empty Target Shelves

Hi Guys!!

So I told you that I was going to go check out the Pixie brand clearance items at Target and I did. I went by yesterday and found in total about 3 items left. Not sure if it might have been Emily's video or they had just been on clearance for a while, but it was cleaned out. Seriously there was like 1 shadow single, a lipstick and a brow gel and that was between both the Pixie and the Sonia Kashuk brand. To late to the party, not the first time...lol

Tomorrow I am going to my local Ulta store for a Urban Decay makeover. Not sure what that will involve but I'm pretty excited. Like any self conscious female my first thought is what will the artist think of me. The biggest thing I have running through my mind is my age, like what is this old lady doing in a young women's world. I know it's crazy but I can't help it, I'm just a girl...

Wish I had some other news to tell you guys but it's been a quite few days. I did pick up the Nivea Creme in the little tin, it's awesome. Seen a great video about 5 Surprising Uses for Nivea Creme. Also picked up the HD Eye Shadow Base by NYX and I will let you know how it works for me very soon. I found that one of my local, not the one closest to me of course, CVS carries NYX and it is usually buy 1 get 2nd for 1/2 off, so I grabbed a brow pencil in taupe and had pretty good results with it this morning. I don't think I have mentioned this but my brows are my most frustrating, aggravating just nerve racking thing I have to deal with on the daily. I have read tutorials, watched videos, you name it, nothing helps.... Until this one little blog post I found the other day. It was on The Beauty Department and it was how to use a brow brush. This one little post, with illustrations and pictures, has changed my life forever!!! Check it out if you have the same evil nemesis lurking on your forehead.

Still using the Theraderm and I will have a weekly update in the next few days. Be sure to read my new page, About Me. I know a little narcissistic but I added some more information about my family and some pictures of those that I love. Thank you so much for reading this and please subscribe and leave a comment... Would love to know more about you.. Also if you can tell me where to find my blogs media URL so I can put Pintrest buttons on my posts that would be so incredible. I keep trying and I can't make them work for some reason.

Much Love and God Bless,

KelleyJo

Theraderm Skin Cleansing System, Day 5

Hello, Hope everyone is doing very, very well today. I am on day 5 for the Theraderm Clinical Skin System. So I just wanted to give you guys a quick update on my thoughts about this skin cleansing system.

Not sure if I had mentioned it but I have used this product for a brief time before now. My Aunt had gotten the travel size for the ladies in my family for Christmas and I’m sure, do to my young age at the time, I didn't keep it up and wasn't very concerned with my skin. Anyway I am so far pretty happy with my skin. I broke out terribly when I started using the Clinique 3 Step system and took that as a result of starting the new skin routine. This time I haven’t experienced any breakouts so far. I think my skin was a little red the first time I used it but nothing I was overly concerned with. I believe I explained in one of my prior posts that it was a 4 step system. So here is a brief description and picture of each product and how I use it.

   1. Cleansing Wash, I have been using my Dermabrush to clean my face with the first product in the system. It lathers up nice and has no real smell to it.

   2.Fruit Acid Exfoliate, I put 10 drops of this on the round   application pads and rub it all over the face as well as eye lids.

   3. OPC Reparative Gel, I use my fingers to rub a thin layer all over my face,      neck and eye lids.

   4. Enriched Facial Moisturizer, I rub a small amount over  entire face, neck and eye lids.

None of the products seem to have a strong smell associated with them, which is great for anyone who might me sensitive to certain aromas. I used to have a sensitivity to a lot of different smells, they would give me migraine headache, that was such a miserable thing to have happen just from smelling a nice perfume or even certain foods. So, I am very pleased with the system so far and I will come back on a weekly basis and give you updates. I just want to add that I do follow this with additional moisturizers, oils and eye cream. I am using the Tarte Maracuja Oil under my eyes, Olay Eye serum around my eyes and Clinique’s Repairware Laser Focus on my fine lines and wrinkles around the corners of my eyes, forehead and laugh lines. I also still use the It Cosmetics Feel The Moment primer serum before applying my makeup.

Don't forget guys to go check out the Luvocracy page and app. I really love putting my collections together and I would love to see your's as well.

This is the last week of Ulta’s 21 Days of Beauty Steals. I wanted to get the Laura Geller Baked Highlighter and dual ended brush that is featured today for $15.00 instead of the usual $44.00. I have had a bit of bad luck with my former employer. 

I had to quit do to a tone he took with me over a statement I made in front of a customer about how much money was made the night before. I didn't even know the gentleman was walking up to the buffet, nevertheless I was told in the back “Do not ever say anything about money ever again in front of a customer, do you hear me Kelley, do you understand?”. I wish I was able to include a audio clip for you to hear the tone that was used when he said this to me, it was degrading and unacceptable. My husband doesn't talk to me in this tone and no other person is going to either. Anyway payday was Friday and I was told my check was mailed on Friday, today is Tuesday and I still didn't receive my check. I do not believe it takes 4 days for mail to come when it was mailed in the same city it is being delivered in. So all that being said I didn't have the $5.00 to pick this product up. I was going to even give in and use my $9.00 in points to get the cost down.

I am going to post my March favorites in a separate post so be sure to go read it when I get it uploaded. Take care you guys and I will talk to you all very soon.

Much Love and God Bless,

Kelleyjo

Dolly and I

Dolly and I in our favorite chair

Today I watched some tutorials by one of my favorite YouTube makeup guru's Wayne Goss. He does a Smokey eye tutorial for hooded eyes that I love. So I had been spending my day doing skin care and I thought I would try it before I cleaned my brushes.  I'm not very camera happy so not sure if you can tell allot by the picture of me with my dear friend, my dog Dolly, I think it turned out pretty gosh darn good.
BTW, don't forget about the 21 Days of Beauty Steals at Ulta, this starts week 2.

 
We are waiting on the dead to walk tonight on A&E. The Walking Dead is my favorite TV show right now and anytime it's in a new season, so it's a Sunday night must see for me.  

Don't forget to check out Gossmakeupartist.com, you can link above or from his page to his multiple YouTube channels, you won't regret it.

Much Love and God Bless,
Kelleyjo

What a disappointment

I had told you guys in my previous post about the Urban Decay Hautelook event, I was not thrilled with the choices of products.  The one primer potion is the one called Greed. This is the only one in their line that you can find most days at Ulta for the same price.  The reason for this,  it's got shimmer.  You can make this work, I do.  When I picked this up at Ulta for $10, I was over the moon. Then I got home and figured out the shimmer secret. There isn't anything on the tube that says it contains shimmer.  It is called Greed and if you know what that means in Urban Decay speak your golden. This old girl did not.

To use the Urban Decay primer potion Greed..

Use the eyeshadow primer as you would with any eyeshadow primer.  To hide the shimmer, since I am 40 years old and have hooded eyes, I don't use shimmer all over my lids. 

 I use the NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in milk and put a light coating from lash line to crease.  I then blend it out making it even carrying it up right under my brow bone. This gives me the benefit of using this awesome eyeshadow primer for half the cost and zero shimmer.

By no means am I saying anything negative about Hautelook. If you can wait for shipment it is the holy grail of bargain buy websites. I have the app on my phone and I look ahead at up coming events. I use the app daily. If it is an event I want to get something from I make sure I log on when the event starts. There are limited product inventory and I have logged on 30 minutes into an event to see a sold out banner across the product I was looking for. 

Enjoy this wonderful Saturday guys. I am off to work a double. Don't forget about the Ulta 21 days of beauty steals, today is Philosophy foundations for $25 each, as well as free brow wax when you spend $50 on Benefit products. They are also having a ton of other in store and online events. 

Much love and God bless,

Kelleyjo

21 Days of Beauty Steals

Hi guys,
So the It Cosmetics QVC New Year New You came today and I will get started on using it and getting a good idea of what I think about all the included products.

I went to Ulta this morning when they opened for day 2 of the 21 Days of Beauty Steals. I have the first page of the sale paper from last week on my mirror and all the days that I need to be there circled. So this was my first day and I wanted to grab the Stila In The Know palette for $20. That is a GREAT buy on this palette. It is a all matte, 10 shades and includes an eyeliner pencil. I also picked up the It Cosmetic Naturally Pretty Vol 1 Matte Luxe Transforming Eyeshadow Palette. I am so excited about this. Turns out it's been out since last year but working very hard to hide itself from me. I had never seen a review nor seen it in the stores, nada. The one problem I have right out of the package is there is no brush! I have seen the brush included in reviews, tutorials and on QVC, I believe. So I sent It Cosmetics a quick email to see if I can find out why.

So I will post pictures and swatches very soon..

Much love and God bless
Kelleyjo