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Ulta

3 Things Beauty Lovers Do

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1. They revel in getting a great deal

Yesterday I practically danced out of Ulta because I paid $5.97 for an $83 Murad Serum!

A little backstory: Ulta is in the midst of their awesome 21 Days of Beauty sale. Every day for 21 days, they feature a handful of different products on sale that are usually half off!

One of yesterday’s products was Murad Environmental Shield Rapid Dark Spot Correcting Serum, a glycolic and tranexamic acid serum for fading hyperpigmentation, which I’ve been wanting to try forever.

A 1-ounce bottle is usually $83 (!), but yesterday it was on sale for 50% off, so you could snag one for the sweet price of $41.50.

But guess what? I got an even bigger deal by cashing in $36 in Ulta points.

All in all, I ended up paying a mere $5.50 for my bottle, plus 47 cents for tax.

Heck, I’m still happy about it and dancing in my chair as I type this, LOL!

2. They find like-minded beauty lovers in the most unexpected places

So, I’ve had a couple of doctor’s appointments this week to check on some things, and you know me. I try so hard to be strong and tough on the outside, but inside, I’m an emotionally mushy meatball and end up crying at the drop of a hat.

Anyway, I was at the OB/GYN getting some tests done on Monday and started getting weepy – nervous tears, purr usual – when the doctor said, “Hey now, if you cry, you’ll mess up your beautiful makeup.”

I ended up laughing because I felt so totally seen! That morning, I purposefully wore sleek cat eyeliner and a few cool-toned shadows on my lids thinking that nice eye makeup on would help me to avoid any tears.

I mentioned this to the doctor and she started laughing, too, and she said that it sounded like something she’d do as well. It lightened the mood significantly, and we both got a good chuckle.

3. They can talk about makeup even when things get weird

Speaking of makeup bringing people together, in the same conversation, I just happened to be wearing a hospital gown and not much else. Needless to say, I felt a little vulnerable.

It got less weird though, when the doctor mentioned that she wanted to try Selena Gomez’s Rare Beauty line, and the nurse and I immediately jumped in to tell her that it was really good and what things she should buy.

Funny how talking about beauty can make even the most awkward moments a little easier to bear.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Checking In: Sales at Ulta, Snail Skin Care, Sunscreen and More!

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Aloha, amiga! We’re back from Hawaii. Today was the first day I haven’t been surrounded by my family in almost two weeks, and ya know…’twas a little weird. Maybe even a little lonely.

So, naturally, the first place I went for emotional comfort was Ulta. ?

Girl, I know you do the same thing. ? Some days it’s just nice to browse and be out around other beauty lovers.

Some good sales going on right now, like this one on Sun Bum, one of my favorite sunscreens at the moment. The entire line is buy one, get one for 40% off. I was sorely tempted to get backup bottles of my favorite SPF 70 lotion and spray, but I’m well-stocked up at the moment, so I passed.

By the way, I used both the Sun Bum 70 lotion and spray in Hawaii all last week, and they rocked once again. I usually tan merely by walking to/from my car to the house on a sunny day, but I barely picked up any color on this trip, which NEVER happens, ever.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again — I’m really, really happy with this line. If you decide to try it, definitely wait for a sale, because it seems to go on sale a lot, at least at Ulta.

Neutrogena skin and sun care items are also on sale (also buy one, get one 40% off). If you like quickly absorbing sunscreens that don’t leave a behind a sticky film, Invisible Defense Lotion SPF 60+ is the way to go. Totally worth buying two bottles.

Interestingly…while I was browsing, I also ran into a new-to-me brand called Peach Slices with three products called Snail Rescue…

Yes, each item contains 95% snail concentrate. ? Um…gross, and wow?

It caught my eye because, I mean, Snail Rescue? Also, while we were in Hawaii, I saw this ginormous snail on one of my morning walks.

That’s my slipper next to it for scale, and I wear a size 7, so it was a fairly massive snail. So crazy!

I’ve never used any skin care products with snail ingredients in them (that sounds so weird)… I like to keep an open mind, but I don’t know if I’ll “go there,” especially not while that giant Hawaiian snail I saw on the side of the road is still fresh in my mind.

I mean, it was almost as big as my foot! ?

Also on the walk with the snail sighting, I ran into another interesting item — a patrol car celebrating the female rear end.

Say hello to The Booty Patrol Car. Side note: Hawaii has the weirdest cars, man.

It has a siren on it and everything!

Goodness gracious, I have so many questions… First of all, who is the driver, and do they ever turn on the siren? Assuming they do, is it only used when they spot “booties of note” passing them by? Also, when they turn on the siren, what exactly do they expect to happen? Because if I had a big, juicy butt, I would NOT get into a car marked “Booty Patrol.” NO WAY. ?

Everything about this car cracks me up, but the oversized peach stickers are particularly amusing to me.

Oh, and speaking of peaches, I’m deeply intrigued by this Peach Pudding Makeup Cleanser, which is also from the same brand that makes the snail stuff.

I may have to buy it eventually just to touch it.

Additional sales of note: there’s a free two-piece gift with any $28 Briogeo purchase (I highly recommend the Don’t Despair Repair Deep Conditioning Mask because it deeply moisturizes without weighing strands down), and Real Techniques is BOGO at 50% off (I bought the brush set years ago and still use and love it).

When you get a chance, please pop in and say hi. I’d love to hear from you. Let me know how you’re doing.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Sunscreen Roundup, Part 4: Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protector Lotion SPF 50+ For Face/Body, Ulta Beauty

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shiseido ulta beauty sunscreen
Yup, more sunscreen!

I’ve been trying quite a few new sunscreens lately, and here are the hits and misses!

For more, check out:

Last weekend I had fun in the sun. ? I went to the beach AND the pool (on different days), and it’s my solid belief that any time you get to spend time near a big body of water is a good thing.

And if you also get to test a couple of new sunscreens while you’re at it, that’s even better!

I tried two new-to-me sunscreens, both of which appear on the Valisure “nice list” (you can read about the sunscreen drama here).

Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protector Lotion SPF 50+

Wait — technically, only one of the sunscreens is new-ish. It’s a chemical sunscreen called Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protector Lotion SPF 50+ Sunscreen for Face/Body ($49 for a 5-oz. bottle, which works out to $9.80 per ounce).

I used to wear Shiseido sunscreen waaaaay back in the day when MBB was just a wee baby website in 2007 (!). It’s been a few years, though.

I’m happy to say that it’s still around (and still pricey) and, yes, still pretty darn good.

shiseido sunscreen bottle

(It’s good…but it’s not nearly as great as the Sun Bum SPF 70 Lotion I’ve been using and loving, but more on that in a sec.)

The good? it’s tinted, so there’s absolutely no white cast, and the texture is on the thinner side, so it absorbs easily and you aren’t left sitting there for half a day rubbing it into your skin. If you like sunscreens with a runnier texture like La Roche-Posay Melt in Milk or Neutrogena Invisible Daily Defense Lotion Sunscreen, you’ll probably like it.

It’s also very moisturizing, which my dry skin LOVES, and the faint, lovely citrus scent isn’t overpowering.

It’s a little different than I remember it being, though, because after I rub it in, there’s a slightly greasy film left behind, but it dries down in about 15 minutes. It’s not sticky or uncomfortable or heavy, but it’s present…and I can definitely feel something on my skin.

I did a little experiment at the beach last weekend to see how the Shiseido stacks up to the Sun Bum SPF 70 Lotion, which has been my go-to jam lately. I applied the Shiseido on one side of my body and the Sun Bum on the other, and while both sunscreens prevented my skin from picking up much color, the Shiseido side was slightly more tan than the Sun Bum side.

I plan to keep the Shiseido one around until I finish it up because I like how moisturizing it is and how easy it is to apply, but I probably won’t be buying it again because Sun Bum works better and is much more cost-effective at $15.99 for an 8-oz. bottle, which works out to $2 an ounce.

Ulta Beauty Mineral Matte Tinted Face Lotion SPF 30

Speaking of cost effective, here’s a lovely, affordable hidden gem for ya: Ulta Beauty Mineral Matte Tinted Face Lotion SPF 30. This physical sunscreen is available in a single shade, which, frankly shocked me because it actually suits my tan skin tone pretty well (I’m an NC 42 in MAC, for reference).

FYI, I’ve noticed people with lighter complexions in the reviews on Ulta’s website mentioning the tint appearing orange on their skin, so if your skin is fair, please be aware of that.

ulta beauty matte mineral sunscreen tube

I like this tinted moisturizer a lot, almost as much as a Bliss Block Star. The price is excellent — $12.99 for 2 ounces ($6.50 per ounce), which is much more affordable than Bliss Block Star, which is $19.99 for 1.4 ounces ($14.28 per ounce!).

Like Bliss Block Star, Ulta Mineral Matte absorbs quickly, layers well both on its own and with makeup, and has a beautiful, natural-looking matte finish. Also, Ulta Mineral Matte has a similarly slippery silicone-y feel to it, like Block Star, so it feels smooth on my face.

The major differences are 1) the scent (Ulta’s is floral and slightly more obvious) and 2) the dry time. Ulta’s takes about 20 more minutes to completely dry down, so you have to be patient.

shiseido ulta beauty sunscreen swatches

BUT, IT WORKS. I wore it all last weekend in conjunction with a sun hat, and I didn’t pick up any color on my face!

If your skin tone is in the medium to tan range, don’t hesitate to grab this next time you’re at Ulta. It’s a hidden gem, and, quite frankly, I don’t understand why more people don’t talk about it.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Latest Ulta Haul: Skin Care, Sunscreen and Makeup

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ulta skin care haul april 2021
Goodies from Ulta

Look what you made me do, Ulta! ?

Remember how I mentioned there’s a new Ulta in my town? And how it’s barely a five-minute drive away from mi casa?

YES, I know. They ran a 20% off sale on everything last weekend, and this is what found its way into my basket…

ulta basket sunscreen skin care april 2021
Ooh-la-la!

Lots of sunscreen and skin care as you can see. Yup, I still love makeup, and I was tempted by quite a few things (like this palette and these cream shadows), but I resisted *this time* around because I’ve decided that it’s time to get serious about fighting the good fight against hyperpigmentation. If I’m going to go to the effort of doing retinol, Vitamin C, AHAs and BHAS, I’ve got to get the sun protection part of the equation right, so sun protection was my main goal on this trip.

Side note: having a product game plan before beauty shopping helps a ton. I’ve blacked out at Ulta and Sephora one too many times, leaving with a basket of things I didn’t even plan on getting, and I know I’m not alone in this either. Having a plan stopped me from being tempted by things I probably don’t need, so I wholeheartedly recommend this strategy next time you head to the mothership.

Back to the sunscreen! What I really wanted was a face sunscreen, specifically a tinted one because I’ve heard that tinted sunscreens can help medium and darker skin tones prevent hyper pigmentation.

cerave cotz sunscreen swatches
I’m on a mission to keep the hyper pigmentation at bay.

The Cotz one is going back, unfortunately. I like how smooth and fresh my skin looked after applying it, and I liked the depth of the tint (I couldn’t see it at all on my skin), but it made my face itch. ?

The tinted Cerave, though, is a keeper! The tint is a little lighter than the Cotz one so I can see a slight cast at first, but it fades after it settles in.

I also like how lightweight and moisturizing it is. Only thing is…the tint rubs off on my mask and clothes, so I’m going to use the La Roche Posay Melt In Milk sunscreen on days when I wear white shirts or tees (which I do often).

la roche posay in milk swatch
LOVE THIS!

OMG, this is SO GOOD. The name “Melt In Milk” really does it justice because it absorbs incredibly quickly and completely, leaving behind absolutely no cast whatsoever. Plus, it’s moisturizing but isn’t sticky or heavy. I also like the amount of SPF protection and that it doesn’t have a strong sunscreen-y scent.

Speaking of scents…don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind scented skincare at all. I just prefer that the stuff I wear on my face not smell like a margarita. But on beach days or fishing days or camping trips, I do love a summery, sunscreen-y scent, which is why I picked up a couple things from Sun Bum, including this SPF70 lotion.

sun bum swatch
Smells like summer

It smells like a coconut and pineapple smoothie, and it doesn’t leave a cast. I also bought the spray version because I’m really trying hard to get better at reapplying, and I figure that having a spray might help me stay motivated, since it’s faster and easier to apply than the lotion.

In non-sunscreen news…I stocked up on the retinol cream I’ve been using from Neutrogena, and I grabbed an old-school fave of mine by Proactiv.

pro activ neturogena in hand
Pimples and wrinkles… GOOD TIMES.

I wore this benzoyl peroxide cream back in my early 30s, back before I discovered Kate Somerville Anti-Bac Clearing Lotion. I still love the Kate Somerville, but they just keep jacking up the price! Last time I went to Sephora it was $52 (it was $39 when I started using it back in 2013). I’m pretty cranky about the price increase, so I’ve been trying to find an alternative… When I re-stumbled on this cream at Ulta for $35, I was stoked. I hope it still works for me.

Other stuff I picked up: a bottle of Pattern leave-in conditioner and couple of Clinique liquid eyeliners in basic brown and black.

pattern leave in conditioner
Waves for days
clinique pretty easy liner brown and black
This liner really is pretty easy!

Have you done any beauty shopping lately at Ulta or anywhere else?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Briogeo Now at Ulta!

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briogeo at ulta
Now you have another reason to visit Ulta!

Wait — hold up! Now I’ve got yet another excuse to fill my Ulta cart, because now they carry Briogeo hair products at Ulta.

YESSSS! ?

A couple of their products are pretty well known, like their Be Gentle, Be Kind Avocado + Kiwi Mega Moisture Superfood Masks and Don’t Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Masks. Both won Allure Best of Beauty and Reader’s Choice Awards in 2020.

briogeo at ulta
Be Gentle, Be Kind Avocado + Kiwi Mega Moisture Superfood Mask has spinach, chia seeds and cocoa seed butter to lock in moisture.

But the brand is probably BEST known for their haircare products for curly, wavy and textured hair; mind you, they do have products for all different types of hair.

They’re considered a “clean line” (air quotes, because there really isn’t a standardized definition for what “clean” means in the beauty industry), because everything’s vegan, cruelty-free, gluten-free, and they omit sulfates, silicones, parabens, artificial dyes, DEA, and phthalates. That’s good. Instead, they incorporate what they call the NOVA complex, which is a proprietary blend of natural oils, vitamins and antioxidants.

The founder, Nancy Twine, used to work in finance, and she started the company after tragically losing her mom in a car accident.

“That profound loss changed my world, and also inspired me to begin a soul-searching journey to find new meaning and purpose in my own life and create a meaningful career rooted in inspiration. This journey led me to reconnect with memories which brought me the most joy and happiness: the times I spent with my mom when I was young, concoting our own beauty treatments from scratch in our home kitchen (something she learned from her mom growing up in rural West Virginia).”

— Nancy Twine, Founder and CEO of Briogeo (from official Briogeo PR)

They have a great reputation for their products for wavy and curly gals, and I’ve used their Don’t Despair Repair Deep Conditioning Mask before and loved it. It’s rich yet lightweight, and it moisturizes my very dry ends without weighing everything down.

briogeo at ulta
Made for dry, brittle, colored, or over-processed hair, the Don’t Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Mask has rosehip oil, B-vitamins and algae extract to restore moisture and hydration to thirsty hair.

I’m also stoked to give these few things a try…

Are you familiar with Briogeo? If you are, you’ll have to let me know how you feel about their products!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. TGIF! ?

Ulta Hair Haul

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ulta hair haul

If you happen to be on the lookout for a new dentist, might I suggest finding one with an office in close proximity to an Ulta? Because, and I say this from personal experience, you will never miss another cleaning if you can simultaneously promise yourself that you can go to Ulta afterwards. LOL!

This celebratory hair haul happened this week because — woo-hoo! TMI moment ahead — my gums are in grrrrrrreat shape. My pockets are all twos and threes, with nary a deep pocket in sight.

Hence, the aforementioned victory lap around Ulta, and this much-needed hair haul!

First, the backstory… I went to put my hair up before work the other day and realized that most of my black ties and bobby pins were gone.

SERIOUSLY, where do they go?

(Does anybody actually look as cute as this girl on “The Fit Girl Club” headbands packaging when they work out? Because I look much, much scarier than she does when I drop down to do burpies…)

scuni fit girl club

Anyway, I’m stoked about these bungee elastics because I read somewhere that one of my favorite hair stylists and makeup artists, Britt Sully, loves them for creating unfussy, casual cool-girl hair.

kitsch bungee elastics

Also, I really hope these no-snag elastics do what they’re supposed to do, because I’ve been wearing Dutch braids quite often lately, and the elastics I’ve been using (I think they’re by Goody) keep breaking on me, and I pull hair out every time I remove them.

kitsch no snag elastics

Really, how long do you think it’ll take before I lose these black hair ties? Honest question.

I give ‘em about six months before it’s “Welcome to the abyss!”

scuni ponytail elastic-thick hair
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The *Best* Cleansing Oil Is 50% Off Tomorrow on Ulta.com

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dhc deep cleansing oil
Now you can find this bad girl at Ulta!

You, guys! Note to self: The best makeup removing cleansing oil — DHC Deep Cleansing Oil; I’ve been using it for years! — is on sale for 50% off tomorrow at Ulta.

I’M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS.

Ulta is in the midst of their “21 Days of Beauty” sale event, and it’s the only sale I set alerts for this month in Google Calendar.

I can’t even count how many DHC bottles I’ve gone through, and it’s an all-the-way-down-to-the-last-drop thing. Very rich, and very moisturizing, DHC Deep Cleansing Oil is designed for all skin types, but it’s a TREASURE for my dry skinned peeps.

The main ingredient is olive oil…

Yup, that’s right: olive oil. And it feels like a really expensive olive oil, too.

It also smells a little like olive oil, but I like it. (Don’t worry; your face won’t smell like salad dressing.)

This stuff gently, but very effectively, melts makeup — including waterproof mascara, long-wearing liner and liquid lipstick. Basically, if something is stuck to your face in any capacity and you massage Deep Cleansing Oil on it, whatever it is will slip away.

It does this without drying out my cheeks, making my chin break out, or clouding up my eyes (my pet peeve!). I use one pump, which I apply directly to my face while it’s dry, and then massage away. Then I rinse with water and followup with a second cleanser (usually a foam or a cream), because I’m all about that double cleanse life.

A big 6.7-oz. bottle of Deep Cleansing Oil, which comes with a pump and lasts me a few months, is usually $28, but with the half-off sale tomorrow you can snag one for just $14.

Unfortunately, this is an online-only sale, so you won’t be able to stroll into Ulta to pick it up… Maybe this is a good thing, though, because that way you won’t be tempted to grab anything else? Glass half full, people.

Ask Siri to remind you, write it on a Post-it, do what you need to do, ’cause tomorrow is the day!

My homies are at HomeGoods


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Unsung Makeup Heroes: Benefit Ready Set Brow 24-Hr Setting Gel

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benefit ready set brow
Benefit Ready, Set, Brow!

The long-running Unsung Heroes series here on Makeup and Beauty Blog features some of our all-time favorite permanent collection products.

Desert island brow gel right here!

OK, if I were a castaway stranded on a desert island, I would very likely be more concerned about finding enough food and water and getting the hell off said island than I would be my brows, but assuming there was a sheltered fresh water lagoon and all of the mangoes and papayas I could eat, and I had the luxury of worrying about keeping my brows from moving while I bathed under the waterfall or dove into the lagoon, I’d be all about $24 Benefit Ready Set Brow 24-Hr Setting Gel.

Girl! I’ve been using this for almost a year, and I’m about to finish my first tube. Squee! And for sure, I’m getting another.

You might be thinking, “Yeah, right, how exciting can a clear brow gel be?” Well, I think this one is really, really exciting, and I feel like with some makeup basics, like brow gel, if you’re going to go through the trouble to use them, they should be really, really good. And this one is.

To put it in context, I think it’s better than the Anastasia Clear Brow gel, which was my gold standard for years. This one has a stronger hold, and the brush combs through my individual brow hairs better, which makes brows look more defined and fuller, yay! It mellows out whatever brow powder or brow pencil you happen to be using to fill in your brows, too, without lifting away the product.

That’s the thing about the Anastasia Brow Gel… If I fill in my brows first, then run that gel through them, it tends to remove about half of my pencil/powder/whatever I use. Then I have to go back in and refill the empty spots.

Now that I think about it, I don’t know why I was so in love with that brow gel, but I digress…

tom ford shade illuminate cheeks sublimate k
Wearing Benefit Ready, Set, Brow! in my brows with MAC Brow Sculpt Pencil

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