Not Another LA Blonde

Tag: moisturizer

Target Beauty Box – September: Your New Basics
Happy Thursday!! Thank goodness it’s almost the weekend; it’s just been one of those weeks that seems like you have a million things to do but not enough time (go to an Angel baseball game or finish the cheer bows you need to make? Both!)! For instance…this post, I got my box in the mail about a week ago and I’m only just now getting around writing about it. Good thing tomorrow is my off day!

The Target Beauty Box is a one-time purchase monthly box that includes deluxe and full sized beauty products that you can find at Target and of course other retailers. This month there were 2 boxes available, so I purchased both!

The box varies in price from $7-$10 so it’s relatively inexpensive to purchase a box. This month the box was $7! I like that you can choose every month if you want to buy the box or not since it’s not an actual subscription.

Here is a BREAKDOWN of the SEPTEMBER goodies:
1. Garnier SkinActive Moisture Bomb Jar – Value for 7 ml = $2.10
A full size, 1.7 oz., jar retails for $14.99 in store. “Packed with a specially designed Antioxidant complex of Vitamins C, E, and super-fruits Goji berry, & Pomegranate, these water-light formulas are clinically proven to actively repair and protect skin’s moisture barrier improving skin’s healthy and youthful look over time.” I’m not always a fan of day time moisturizers just because I feel like they make me oily during the day but this was not the case with this moisturizer. I really like the Garnier brand so I was excited to see this in my box.
1. Acure Ultra-Hydrating Shampoo – Value for 1.3 oz. = $1.62
A regular 8 oz. bottle of this shampoo is $10 in the store. “ACURE’s Moroccan Argan Oil + Argan Stem Cell Shampoo provides lasting moisture to even the most dry and damaged hair leaving it soft, smooth, and manageable. Sulfate-free and safe for color treated hair, organic Argan Oil and Sea Buckthorn Oil hydrate and smooth, Argan Stem Cells & Pumpkin Seed Oil boost healthy hair growth, CoQ10 supports healthy keratin production. Lock in moisture, repair damage, and strengthen hair follicles with ACURE’s nutrient-rich shampoo!” While I’m not a huge fan of all of this brand’s products, I’m always willing to try out a new shampoo/conditioner. Lately my hair has been pretty dry (idk if it’s the weather or what) so I was excited to see this hydrating shampoo in my box. After using it, I felt like my hair was actually thanking me for giving it “water” hahaha
1. Acure Ultra-Hydrating Conditioner – Value for 1.3 oz. = $1.62
A regular 8 oz. bottle of this shampoo is $10 in the store. “ACURE’s Moroccan Argan Oil + Argan Stem Cell Conditioner provides lasting moisture to even the most dry and damaged hair leaving it soft, smooth and manageable. Safe for color treated hair, organic Argan Oil and Sea Buckthorn Oil hydrate and smooth, Argan Stem Cells & Pumpkin Seed Oil boost healthy hair growth and CoQ10 supports healthy keratin production. Lock in moisture, repair damage, and strengthen hair follicles with ACURE’s nutrient-rich conditioner!” I used this with the shampoo since I wanted the full effect of using the set together (I usually mix and match my shampoo/conditioner). As with the shampoo, I liked how my hair felt after using this and will most likely purchase again to mix in the schedule between my blonde shampoo days!
1. Total Tease Mascara – in Very Black Washable = $7.99
This is a full size product!! “Unlike traditional volumizing Mascaras that can leave a clumpy mess, Total Tease Mascara is defined to catch, comb, and tease for perfectly refined, long full lashes. Lash Teasing comb provides precision separation for a clutter-free lash look with 5X/500% volume.” I can’t remember the last time I bought COVERGIRL mascara…wait I can’t remember the last time I bought mascara period. I’m ALWAYS a huge fan of trying out new mascaras and let’s just say that I was not disappointed in this one. I liked the coverage that it gave my lashes and in terms of mascara isn’t too expensive. I will def be buying this one again.
1. Simple Micellar Water –Value for 1.9 oz. = $1.27
A full 13.5 oz. bottle of this retails for $8.99 in store. “Simple Micellar Cleansing Water thoroughly cleanses and instantly hydrates skin and unclogs pores with a formula that’s gentle enough for sensitive skin. Made with triple purified water and skin-loving ingredients, this cleanser uses tiny molecular balls known as micelles to entrap and dissolve dirt, oil, makeup, and impurities–all without the need for harsh, irritating chemicals. It also instantly boosts skin hydration by 90%, leaving your skin feeling soft, fresh, and revitalized.” AHHH yes I love micellar water. I’ve tried a couple different kinds, but there was something about this one. It didn’t leave my face feeling dried out or slightly sticky. This was super easy to use with my cotton rounds that I also received in this box. This was the travel size so it’s super inexpensive plus a little goes a long way so I won’t have to continuously purchase this item!
1. up&up Premium Cotton Rounds– Value for 2 = $0.06
These are only $0.99 for a 30 pack of cotton rounds! “up&up premium cotton rounds are made with 100% pure cotton. The dual sided design creates a strong, soft and lint free cotton round for all your skin care needs. Gentle enough for all skin types.” These are seriously the best! I use them for EVERYTHING from taking off my eye makeup at the end of the day, to wiping my face with micellar water, to taking off my nail polish. These are super affordable and I am A-OK with buying the Target brand!
1. Sensodyne ProNamel Strong & Bright – Value for 2 oz. = $3.99
The full size is only 3 oz. and retails for $5.99. “Strong Enamel Whiter Teeth; Clinically Proven Enamel Strengthening; Advanced Brightening System” I don’t have sensitive teeth, but this toothpaste works just the same. I loved the way my teeth felt nice and clean after using and left me with a minty taste in my mouth. A definite go to product!
1. NIVEA In-Shower Body Lotion – Value = $5.49
This is a FULL size product! “Contains nourishing almond oil, moisturizes wet skin in seconds, and leaves no sticky feel.” This is the perfect size for my gym bag! Why take the extra step of drying off and then putting on lotion when you can just put this on while your still wet and then get dressed as normal. I don’t know about you, but I hate putting lotion on my legs and then putting jeans on. With this lotion I don’t get that feeling of my legs getting stuck because they’re already moisturized and dry! If you haven’t already, go try this product!

THE VALUE

The value of this September Beauty Box is approximately $24.14. Since this box was only $7.27 including tax and shipping (I have free shipping + 5% off with my Target Debit Card) this is still a great deal even though the value is a little low! There were 8 items in my box this month and 2 were full sized items. This is perfect for trying out a new product that you may not normally buy.

I think this box is a great deal and I love trying new products every month! I also love the fact that if I don’t like the box one month, I don’t have to buy it! The only thing is if you want the box, you have to be quick because they do sell out every month. I can’t wait to see what will be in the August box!

XOXO
September 21, 2017
Target Beauty Box: July
Happy Thursday!! Thank goodness it’s almost the weekend; it’s just been one of those weeks that seems like you have a million things to do but not enough time! For instance…this post, I got my box in the mail about a week ago and I’m only just now getting around writing about it.

The Target Beauty Box is a one-time purchase monthly box that includes deluxe and full-sized beauty products that you can find at Target and of course other retailers.

The box varies in price from $7-$10 so it’s relatively inexpensive to purchase a box. This month the box was $7! I like that you can choose every month if you want to buy the box or not since it’s not an actual subscription.

Here is a BREAKDOWN of the JULY goodies:
1. Scunci Cashmere Headwraps (Black & Charcoal) – Value for 2 = $2.00
You can buy a pack of 6 headbands for only $6 at Target! Taking comfort to a whole new level! Feel the difference with just one touch of these Super Soft Comfy headwraps. The thicker, black and grey headbands were included in my box. Normally I would love these, but I have about a million of these in my drawer. I also have fine, thin hair so these tend to slip easily and never stay in place while I’m working out. These are perfect if you have the right shape head or really thick hair that keeps things in place.
1. e.l.f. Illuminating Mist & Set – Value for 2.02 oz. = $3.00
This is a full size product!!! This fine mist creates a natural glow on the skin with ultra-fine, light-reflecting particles for an instant illuminating effect. Infused with Vitamin A, C, E, and Green Tea to help hydrate, nourish, and brighten the complexion for a healthy looking radiance. The lightweight, comfortable formula is perfect for all skin tones. Helps improve makeup wearability and prevent color from running or fading. I don’t actually use setting spray, in fact I currently have an unopened MAC one in my makeup drawer at home. I think that this spay would be good because it is inexpensive and I know a lot of people who rave about not only this brand, but this product as well.
1. John Frieda Frizz Ease Secret Weapon – Value for 0.15 oz. = $0.20
The full size, 4 oz. bottle of this is $5.39. The sample size I got is probably only big enough for one use. Instantly smooths hair and camouflages frizzy ends for a flawless, shiny finish. Use anytime, anywhere. This was one of the only products that I was truly disappointed by. I don’t have frizzy hair and have never had the need to use this type of product before. This is definitely one that I will not be using.
1. Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel Moisturizer – Value for 0.25 oz. = $2.65
A full, 1.7 oz. jar retails for $17.99 in store. This is a refreshing, lightweight water gel that instantly quenches and continuously hydrates skin. This sample size seemed very tiny to me! I like and use a lot of Neutrogena product, so when I saw this I was excited to try it out. I tried this out one morning as a day moisturizer, but I would recommend using at night since it has a little bit of a smell to it. I only used it once since the sample was so small, but for the price I would buy this product to use on a regular basis. I liked the way this felt smooth on my skin and it didn’t feel thick even wearing it under makeup. I would recommend this product to be used at night before bed.
1. Que Bella Limited Edition Duo – Dead Sea Mud & Pineapple Peel Off –Value for 2 = $2.00 (approximate)
These masks usually run from about $1.99-$2.99 depending on which one you buy. Two masks nourish, firm and refresh skin with Dead Sea minerals, vitamin C and amino acids. I couldn’t find these 2 online, but I know that they were limited edition so they may be sold out already. I like this brand and have used many of their masks before, so I was excited to see these in my box. The Replenishing Dead Sea mud mask and the hydrating pineapple peel off mask both left my face feeling refreshed and like I didn’t just have a breakout a few days earlier. I love masks and I love this brand so I would recommend to anyone who asked!
1. Secret Cool Waterlily Clear Gel Deodorant – Value for 0.5 oz. = $1.06
A full, 2.6 oz. deodorant retails for $5.49. Quick-dry deodorant with new, reactivating scent technology offers long-lasting odor protection. This is the perfect size for my gym bag! The scent is great because it’s not overwhelming but you still smell fresh. I usually switch my deodorants between Secret and Men’s deodorant so that my body doesn’t get too used to one type.
1. ACURE Day Cream – Value for 1 oz. = $9.70
A full, 1.75 oz. tube of day cream retails for $16.99. face the day with gotu kola extract and chlorella. This powerhouse combo helps moisturize and protect with a one-two punch. Honestly, in my opinion, this brand tends to have a funky smell to their products. I’m not sure if it’s just the ones that I’ve used, but I really didn’t want to take any chances with this one so I didn’t bother to try it out. I’ll see if any of my friends want this product because I have a few who love this brand.
1. Neutrogena Make-Up Remover Cleansing Towelettes – Value = $1.47
This is actually considered full size since they do sell a 7 pack of wipes in store! This size is perfect for traveling or for throwing into your gym bag for on-the-go purposes. Dissolve dirt, oil and makeup (even waterproof mascara!) for clean, fresh skin in one easy step. I love getting things like this in my boxes because then I never have to buy my makeup removing wipes at full price! I use these daily after my workouts during lunch time. These don’t irritate my face and they don’t dry out my face either.

THE VALUE

The value of this July Beauty Box is approximately $22.08. Since this box was only $7.27 including tax and shipping (I have free shipping + 5% off with my Target Debit Card) this is a great deal! There were 8 items in my box this month and 2 were full-sized items. This is perfect for trying out a new product that you may not normally purchase.

I think this box is a great deal and I love trying new products every month! I also love the fact that if I don’t like the box one month, I don’t have to buy it! The only thing is if you want the box, you have to be quick because they do sell out every month. I can’t wait to see what will be in the August box!

XOXO

P.S. If you see something that you like/want feel free to check out my Mercari app to see if I’m selling any of the products I didn’t want. If I can’t find friends that want any of the goodies I’m not a fan of, I try to sell it!

*Any products I sell on my page are 100% unused/unopened (if sealed) and 100% authentic*
July 20, 2017
Ipsy: May 2017
I’m just going to start by saying that I really didn’t like anything in my May Ipsy Bag and was a little disappointed 😦

I review what comes in my bag every month and I never seem to get the brands that I’ve chosen in my preferences, but this month was especially bad!

With that being said, I’ll share with you what I got in my pouch this month:

For starters, the theme of this month’s bag was SUMMER FRIDAY. The bag was cute; it was clear with Popsicles and ice cream cones all over it. The bag is water resistant which is perfect for summer time and being by the pool.

The Products:
1. pur~lisse BB Tinted Moist Cream SPF 30 Value for 0.34oz= $8.50
The full size (1.4oz) bottle retails for $35. Primer. Tinted Moisturizer. Foundation. Sunscreen. This is seriously a go-to in the morning and helps you skip as many steps as possible if you’re a “do my makeup in five min.” type of girl like me. When I put this on my face, is soothes the skin, and creates an even looking, natural glow. I don’t feel like my face is clogged after putting it on and I still feel light and fresh. I will def be buying this product!
1. South Mane Macadamia Oil Treatment Value for 10ml = $1.70
The full 100ml bottle retails for $16.99. This oil is made from macadamia nuts and hydrates ALL hair types, tames frizz, and strengthens your hair follicles. I’m not a fan of hair oils as they tend to make my hair greasy looking. I did not like getting this product in my bag this month and won’t be purchasing on my own.
1. Urban Decay Afterglow Highlighter in Sin Value for 2.4g = $9.18
The full size of this highlighter (6.8g) retails for $26. If you’re looking for an IRL version of that amazing Snapchat filter glow, this champagne-hued highlighter is IT. Very lightweight powder and long lasting. Personally, I’m not a highlight wearer, and I don’t think that I will be anytime soon. I’ve done my reviews with Ipsy and have said every time that I don’t like getting this product.
1. Luxie Beauty Luxie Dreamcatcher Precision Foundation Brush 660 Value =$23
This is a full size product. You can use this brush for all your liquid, cream, or powder foundations, concealers, highlighters, AND bronzers. The periwinkle color on the handle makes the brush super unique. The brush is 100% vegan and cruelty-free. I love getting brushes because they’re always worth more than the bag and I love getting to try new brushes out!
1. Caked Makeup Lip Fondant in Low Key Value = $16
This is a full size product! This is a lightweight, moisturizing, super saturated liquid lippie. It’s a berry-hued color that just screams summer! Honestly, I’ve never heard of the brand before but it has cool packaging. The color is a little more intense than what I usually wear so idk if this will stay in my staple of go-to lip colors.

If I’ve done all my math correctly, I’ve figured that the bag is worth $58.38 With 2 full size products, the $10 you pay for the bag is such a steal! Like I mentioned above, I wasn’t a fan of my bag this month, so I really didn’t have much to say about it.

The cost of the box every month is $10 + tax and free shipping. So for 5 products (one of which should be full size, the low price is a pretty good bargain. The bag is great if you’re looking to try out different products that you may not currently use.

To subscribe to Ipsy use my referral link to discover new brands/products that you might come to love that you wouldn’t otherwise try!

XOXO

p.s Let me know if you got anything different that you absolutely loved!
May 30, 2017