Sliding

I try to keep fairly meticulous notes about my life. What I eat, what I do, how I feel, weekly goals, monthly goals, etc. Today I realized I didn't set any weekly goals for myself. This worried me for a bit because I know I am better off having that as part of my routine and I don't want to lose it.

Then I remembered that last week was very stressful. My car is in the shop. I didn't feel well. Someone is threatening my future stability. It's just a lot. I mean, it's usually a lot but lately it just seems like my momentum is going but everything is still requiring so much from me, from my roommate, from everyone. 

So yeah, I was too overwhelmed on Sunday to set goals. I may be too overwhelmed this week as well. Hopefully not, but if I am, I just have to realize it's part of the process. 

Allure Beauty Box February 2026: My Thoughts

 

My Allure Beauty Box arrived somewhat battered. Everything was fine on the inside but the box had some damage. I took the time to assess everything and my thoughts are pretty mixed. Was I pleased? With some of it, but there was also one major dud. Anyway, as always, criteria.

DO I THINK I WILL USE THIS?

AM I EXCITED FOR THIS?

ARE MY FIRST IMPRESSIONS POSITIVE?

DO I FEEL CHEATED?

SIDIA Solid Perfume Braless (Customization product– $48 value)
The packaging is elegant and simple, a very weighty, solid black. I really like the look of it. The scent is delicate. The best way I could describe it is 'clean' and I like that. It seems pretty open to anyone in that regard. It doesn't feel greasy when applied.
DO I THINK I WILL USE THIS? I will use this. I have been using this consistently since I got it.

AM I EXCITED FOR THIS? I am. Honestly it was the element of the box I was most excited for.

ARE MY FIRST IMPRESSIONS POSITIVE? I was a little dismayed at how small it is, but the packaging is provocative in that it's metal and very heavy. It feels interesting in the hand.

DO I FEEL CHEATED? Not at all.

First Aid Beauty Bronze + Glow Dropswith Niacinimide ($28 value)

I've had trouble learning to control bronzers and make them work for me. When I read about this one and found out it was drops in a tube, I just really didn't know what to expect or how to handle it. It is tricky to apply and I'm going to have to practice a lot to get it right, but I do enjoy the way it looks on my skin. It blends well while still giving a nice bit of healthy color.
DO I THINK I WILL USE THIS? When I used it earlier today, I liked the subtlety of it. So many bronzing items are just too dark for me but this works quite well.

AM I EXCITED FOR THIS? I see a lot of potential here.

ARE MY FIRST IMPRESSIONS POSITIVE? They are, aside from the fact that there is a certain learning curve when it comes to application. This bottle wants to spit out a lot of product. You have to be careful when you open it.

DO I FEEL CHEATED? I really don't.

UZO Blaque Liquide Eyeliner ($24 value)

I love this product's look. It's a metal container and feels substantial. The liner is well-pigmented and glides on decently. It held up on me for about three hours before just fading out completely and that's unusual given how my body typically deals with liners. If this were black or gray or blue, I would have been a lot happier, but I can't fault it.
DO I THINK I WILL USE THIS? It's a black eyeliner. I have to be careful with such things because they can come off as harsh against my coloring. But we'll see. Maybe I can smoke it out in a way that works for me.

AM I EXCITED FOR THIS? It's a black eyeliner so when I found out it was part of the box, I wasn't that happy. Now that I have it, though, it does have good coverage and doesn't run when my eyes water. That's pretty astounding given my history with eyeliners.

ARE MY FIRST IMPRESSIONS POSITIVE? When I saw the liner and held it in my hand, my impression was quite positive. The container is heavy and feels very lux. Once I tested the liner out, I found it actually held up pretty well. So yeah, good first impression.

DO I FEEL CHEATED? Even though I did not want another black eyeliner, I'm not that upset with this one. It's a good product and I think I can somewhat make it work for me.

CNP Propolis Jelly Lipcerin™ Honey Lip Butter ($17.90 value)

This comes in a stout little bright yellow container. You remove the lid and then click on it until the product comes out of a hole in the middle. Unless you're using a brush, at this point things are going to get sticky and messy. However, it does hydrate well and the scent is nice.
DO I THINK I WILL USE THIS? As above, it's sticky and messy. And yet, I find myself reaching for it. I have no doubt I'll use this completely. It just hydrates that well.

AM I EXCITED FOR THIS? Not really. I'm not mad at it either though.

ARE MY FIRST IMPRESSIONS POSITIVE? No. My first impression was that this was a lot of steps to get to a lip product. I mean, it was just a few steps, but that still seems like too many. My second impression was that it's just everywhere when you try to apply it. It wasn't until a while later that I noticed how great my lips felt that I decided to come around on it.

DO I FEEL CHEATED? No. It's a pretty decent little product and does what it's supposed to do.

Cuccio Milk & Honey Cuticle Oil Roll-On ($5.69 value)

I didn't even know cuticle oil was a thing but I'm glad I do now. This bottle is a decent size and the roll-on works well. You never want roll-ons to be too large because there is always the risk of them gunking up. I don't think this one will, though.

DO I THINK I WILL USE THIS? I certainly do. My cuticles are a disaster and any help I can get with them is welcome.

AM I EXCITED FOR THIS? Yes. I have such high hopes for this product. I plan on being very diligent about using it so that I can actually get some kind of improvement happening on my nails.

ARE MY FIRST IMPRESSIONS POSITIVE? My main concern was over there being a faulty roll-on applicator but it seems to be fine. The oil feels nice. I'm sure it will take a while for me to actually get some kind of change going on.

DO I FEEL CHEATED? No. Even though this was a cheaper product, it still seems like an okay one to fill out a beauty box.

Sephora Collection Express WaterproofEye Makeup Remover($4 value)

I have so many questions. Why is a Sephora anything in an Allure box? Why would anything this cheap be in the box? Don't they realize we all have makeup remover wipes for this? I get that it's supposed to help remove more stubborn levels of eye makeup, but still. Could we not have thought of anything else to include? Maybe a nice hair product?
DO I THINK I WILL USE THIS? No.

AM I EXCITED FOR THIS? No.

ARE MY FIRST IMPRESSIONS POSITIVE? No.

DO I FEEL CHEATED? Yes.

I'm not going to rank them this time because I think my thoughts on the matter are fairly clear. A few hits, a few misses, a few kind of in the middle. It certainly didn't blow me away. Allure could have done a lot better than this.

Ode to an Empty: ELEMIS Pro Collagen Energizing Marine Cleanser

Ahh, Elemis. How I love you. How I miss you when you are gone. This is the second product by this company that I have finished and again, I am left both bittersweet and satisfied. All I can do now is write this goodbye blog post and, of course, do my usual assessment.

1. Did I use this?

Clearly, as I'm writing about it after it has been completely emptied. And I do mean completely. I was squeezing the very last bits out of it to have as many days with it as possible. 

2. Was it a good amount?

Speaking of me getting product out of this tube, I must say it certainly lasted me quite a while. I was only using it as a nightly cleanse, but still, for a deluxe mini to last over two months is pretty great. Of the many things one must give Elemis, being generous with product is certainly one of them. 

3. Did I enjoy it?

I think one of the keys to sticking to a skin routine is finding products you look forward to using. Whenever I thought about starting my nightly face ritual, the idea of putting this product on my skin always made me happy. It has a mild, lovely scent that always leaves me feeling very fresh and calm. It went on gently. My skin felt good after each use.

4. Did it live up to my expectations?

Elemis is an expensive product, so I expect a lot from it. So far, it has not disappointed me. As I mentioned above, I always receive a good amount, even in the minis, and have a great experience. This was no exception. My skin is so much better after using this cleanser.

5. Would I repurchase?

If I had the money to shell out for it, I would purchase it in a heartbeat. 

Another great thing about this cleanser is that it lasted until it absolutely needed to. I have more cleanser arriving today so this worked out well. I mean, it's not like that was planned or anything, but it's a nice little touch.

Postponed Again

There is something that I have been anticipating happening for a while now. It's been, to say the least, a cursed process. People who were responsible have died. Other people have gotten involved. Other people have gotten selfish. Other people have declared everyone else enemies.

Now someone is threatening to postpone it once again. Mind you, this event is so close to happening now. Everything is ready. All the i's are dotted and all the t's crossed. But someone is threatening to derail the whole thing. They're going to gamble on having a greater portion of a good thing instead of just accepting the reasonable portion they were going to receive. It's just so infuriating. 

I don't even know what to do at this point. It's just too much. 

IPSY Extra February 2026: My Thoughts

I wasn't expecting IPSY to send the Extra box this month, which somewhat saddened me as I really liked the selections. Imagine my surprise when it showed up before any other February subscription. I'm glad because it's giving me some time to explore everything before the other ones get here. So let's look at what I received. As usual, we have some criteria.

DO I THINK I WILL USE THIS?

AM I EXCITED FOR THIS?

ARE MY FIRST IMPRESSIONS POSITIVE?

DO I FEEL CHEATED?

ICONIC LONDONHandbag Glam Face Brush Set
I had no idea this was even in offering but wow do I love it. The brushes are soft and gather product very well. They're lightweight, which I enjoy in a brush, and have a good handfeel. As this is Iconic London, they have a good deal of quality to them. And the little case they came in is very nice as well. I'm quite pleased.
DO I THINK I WILL USE THIS? I will always use brushes. I'm very much a brush person when it comes to cosmetics and I know these will be utilized a good deal.

AM I EXCITED FOR THIS? I wasn't expecting brushes but yes, I'm very excited to have them and excited to explore what Iconic London can offer.

ARE MY FIRST IMPRESSIONS POSITIVE?
Yes. I used them to apply the face palette and they worked quite well. They even tickle a little. They hold a lot of product.

DO I FEEL CHEATED?
Not at all. I'm quite happy with the brushes.

LUCKY CHICK Mystic Halo FacePalette
This palette has pressed powders and has one highlighter in Aura, blushes in Rise and Soul, and a bronzer in Fate. The pans are a good size, which is important. I hate it when blushes are small because they're so hard to get out with the brushes.
DO I THINK I WILL USE THIS? I do. I use a lot of face color stuff and I certainly think I will use these.

AM I EXCITED FOR THIS? I really am. I'm still very much exploring the potential of blushes, highlighters, and bronzers so any that I have to experiment with are welcome.

ARE MY FIRST IMPRESSIONS POSITIVE? Very positive. I love the color story in this palette.

DO I FEEL CHEATED? I do not. This is a decent product size for Extra.

HAUS LABS Color Fuse Glassy Blush BalmStick

As I mentioned in a previous post, this is Lady Gaga's brand and I've been curious to see what she does with her cosmetics. When I opened it, I was very charmed by the packaging. I'm pleased with the size of this and while I wasn't sure about how the color would work on me at first, it's swatched out well.
DO I THINK I WILL USE THIS? I do. Even if I don't use it as a blush, I'll probably use it on my lips.

AM I EXCITED FOR THIS? Am I excited to own something from Haus Labs? I most certainly am.

ARE MY FIRST IMPRESSIONS POSITIVE? My first impression is even better than I thought it would be. I really find this color to be beautiful.

DO I FEEL CHEATED? Absolutely not.

ELEMIS Balancing Lavender Toner

I love Elemis as a brand but I wasn't sure how I would feel about this because of the lavender. I was still glad to receive it though because I needed a toner. One of the things I liked right away is that it has a spray top. That pleased me because it means I'm not trying to flip this down and try not to spill it everywhere.
DO I THINK I WILL USE THIS? I will use this until it's gone. I've already used it several times.

AM I EXCITED FOR THIS? I am excited both to explore what a toner can do for me and also to see how well Elemis can produce one.

ARE MY FIRST IMPRESSIONS POSITIVE? I am shocked at how well this is working for me. Clearly, I needed a toner because my pores are getting cleared of things I didn't even know were still on my face. Instead of being overwhelmed by the scent, I find it relaxing and refreshing.

DO I FEEL CHEATED? No this is a good-sized product and it will last for quite a while. I'm very happy with this.

DOMINIQUE COSMETICS Moisture Grip SerumPrimer

I'm still on the hunt for a primer that really works for me. So far they've just not done what I needed them to do, despite the fact that I leave them alone for decent amount of minutes. This one intrigues me because it's not just a primer, it's also a serum. The fact that this is supposed to help keep your face hydrated and plumped while you wear it would be quite a bonus for me.
DO I THINK I WILL USE THIS? I will. And if it does what it says it will do, I will use all of it.

AM I EXCITED FOR THIS? I am very hopeful for this. I hope it works.

ARE MY FIRST IMPRESSIONS POSITIVE? It's thick and it feels good on my skin. It pumps out well and gives me good coverage.

DO I FEEL CHEATED? No this is a good product that does double duty so I'm very happy to have it.

I find myself very pleased with this month's Extra box. It's actually my favorite-sized box of everything IPSY offers and I have a feeling it will tend to be the one I enjoy the most. Even though it has only one outright skincare item, the primer functions as a serum too. I also love that I received the brushes. This feels like a very balanced box.

Goodbye Beckett

Yesterday I lost my computer. He'd been with me for several years, but admittedly, he was always a little difficult. It was, to be certain, an expense I did not need. It threw me off for hours, possibly days, in terms of what I need to be doing. Now most of my time is spent in setup. 

Interestingly, certain things won't be traveling with me to the new computer. A game that I played for years won't be installed on this system because I'm at odds with said game's policies and practices. That's weird and kind of sad, given the history I've had with this game. I've been playing for over 20 years.

In a lot of ways this is a good thing. That game took up so much of my computer space, time, and energy. But I've moved on and now have other things to do with my free time. 

Yesterday was exhausting because we had to travel into the city to get the new computer. It was dark by the time we got home and neither one of us is very good in the dark these days. I'm so thankful to my roomie for helping me with this. He was the real hero of the day. 

As for now, I'm settling in with the new system. There are some quirks, there always are, but hopefully we'll be able to make things work. 

Allure Beauty Box March 2026 Customization Spoilers

Allure has put out sneak peeks for March. Customization opens 2/3—featuring four choices of Rose Inc Cream Blush Refillable Cheek & Lip Color. Rose Inc's tagline is “clean beauty powered by science,” and they are very big into the clean beauty movement. As usual with Allure, they're giving you four options.  As far as the options go, I feel like this is kind of Goldilocks for me.

-Hydrangea (light cool pink)

Too light. It's a pretty color but I think it would just disappear on my face. I need something that's going to actually show up on my skin.

-Azalea (berry)

Too dark. In this case, I think this would make me look like someone slapped me. I really can't wear berry shades.

-Heliotrope (nude apricot)

Just right. I love the warmth and richness of this shade. It's truly beautiful and would complement my skin quite well.

-Foxglove (warm terracotta)

Probably too dark. This would read as a bronzer on me and may be too orange.

Given all of that, the choice I would make is the Heliotrope. The best match for me all the way around plus I really love the name.

Granted, they're all beautiful shades. I think any of them would work for the right person. Overall, this seems to be a good choice for the month. Which one would you choose?

Month in Reflection: Five Lessons Learned in January 2026

January is over and we're on to a new month of beauty subscriptions, but I thought it was a good idea to go back and look at the discoveries and standouts of last month. After all, learning how to be the architect of my own beauty is my goal for the year. It's worth assessing what I actually learned in the last 31 days and what aspects of the boxes helped me.

LESSON ONE: YOU HAVE TO LET SCENTS SETTLE
When I smelled Mitchell & Peach English Leaf Body Soufflé Cream, I was not a fan. I thought it was too pungent, specifically basil. I did not like it at all and thought about giving it away to someone. But after a bit of having it on my skin, I found that I really loved it. I enjoyed the clean, natural notes of it and how they worked with my chemistry. Now it is a go-to product that I use as often as I can get away with it. Conclusion? Let scents sit on you for a while before you pass judgment.

LESSON TWO: OH WOW. MY LASHES CAN LOOK LONG!

When it comes to my eyelashes, I've always felt pretty hopeless. They're short, fine, and sparse. Whenever I would apply mascara, it would always smudge, run, and make my eyes watery. That was before I received my Kulfi Beauty Badi LashSmudge Proof Volumizing Tubing Mascara in Black. Tubing mascara coats your lashes and stays put until you're ready to remove it. It also forms, well, little tubes around the lashes and helps to make them look thicker and longer. For once, for once, this actually worked for me. I usually have to apply at least three coats, but once I have, my lashes look amazing. Conclusion? I actually have hope about finding other products/techniques to deal with my various issues.

LESSON THREE: HAIR MIST IS A MUST-HAVE FOR ME
Scent can do so many things for us. It can summon memories, it can boost our confidence, and it can also instantly improve our mood. This last one is what EVEREDEN'S Hair and Body Fragrance Mist in Darling does for me on a daily basis. Whenever I'm stressed or sad, spraying just a little bit on my hair actually helps to ground and center me. It gives me a bit of joy that is needed and well-deserved. Will I go through this bottle quickly? Probably so, but after it's finished, I'm going to buy another hair mist. Conclusion? Little moments of joy can make all the difference.

LESSON FOUR: LIFE IS BETTER WHEN YOUR SKIN FEELS AMAZING

Last month, I put some amazing things on my skin, though nothing quite as wonderful as the ELEMIS Peptide4Plumping PillowFacial. I know I've blogged about this before, but wow, this was good. The thing I've figured out is that my skin can affect so much about what's going on with my day. If it's irritated, I'm irritated. If it feels rough, I'm not happy. If it's being sensitive, I'm not able to focus as well as I should. Listening to my skin and giving it what it needs has really helped improve things for me. Conclusion? Sometimes the issue is that you need to be moisturized.

LESSON FIVE: SERUMS ARE A VITAL PART OF A SKINCARE ROUTINE

Serum. It doesn't sound appealing. It sounds like something unpleasant on your skin. Oh how wrong I was about that. This probably started with my exploration of body and hair oil, but it's certainly moved on to the wonders of what face oils and face serums can do. I think 8 Faces Brilliance Serum was able to disarm my
apprehension with its beautiful packaging. When I saw that bottle, I WANTED to try it. I needed to try it. Once I did, I realized what an important step this was in taking care of my skin. I've discovered how skincare can be a luxurious process full of beautiful sensory moments. A good serum can really add to that.

As I transition into my elderly years, I want things to be as good for me as possible. I want my days to have intention. I want my time to be used in ways that truly improve my life. This year-long journey of discovery is supposed to help me with that. I think, overall, January was successful in that regard.  

Ipsy Feb 2026 Original Bag Reveals: My Thoughts

Yesterday was also reveal day for Ipsy Original. This is how my bag is going to look. These are the things picked for me. Thought I would do an assessment of each. This is my criteria. 

DO I THINK I WILL USE THIS?
AM I EXCITED FOR THIS?
WOULD I HAVE PICKED THIS?
DO I FEEL CHEATED?

BEAUTY CREATIONS COSMETICS Plump & Pout Lip Plumping Booster Gloss in Pink Lemonade
Okay. We're starting out well. I always enjoy lip products and I needed a new lip plumper. I'm wondering if the shade comes off as pink or if it's pink lemonade flavored.
DO I THINK I WILL USE THIS? Yeah I'll use it. I'll probably use it completely.
AM I EXCITED FOR THIS? I'm certainly not mad about it.
WOULD I HAVE PICKED THIS? No, probably not. But again, not upset.
DO I FEEL CHEATED? I do not.

ERBORIAN CC Red Correct

At first I was a little concerned about this because I have a problem with green color correctors (Quote my roommate: Why are you green?), however, this one starts out green but fades to beige so possibly this won't be a problem. It's also supposed to be calming on the skin and we all know how angry my skin tends to be.
DO I THINK I WILL USE THIS? It's going to depend on how well it actually beiges out.
AM I EXCITED FOR THIS? I'm curious about it, to be sure. If this works, it will be wonderful.
WOULD I HAVE PICKED THIS? Possibly so. Once I knew it was color-changing, I might have picked it to see how well that works for me.
DO I FEEL CHEATED? Nope.

PRADOS Start with the Slay Primer

Even though I'm getting another primer this month, I'm still okay with getting this mini because I'm still in the process of trying to find out what primers work best for me.
DO I THINK I WILL USE THIS? Yes. I plan to use all of this.
AM I EXCITED FOR THIS? I am. I'm still on the hunt for the perfect primer.
WOULD I HAVE PICKED THIS? I would have, yes.
DO I FEEL CHEATED? I certainly do not.

SEPHORA COLLECTION Size Up VolumizingMascara

. . .okay, Ipsy knew everyone was getting a mascara in their other box. Why would they put one (and a generic Sephora one) in the glam bag? That doesn't make a lot of sense to me.
DO I THINK I WILL USE THIS? I honestly don't. I'll probably find someone else to give this to.
AM I EXCITED FOR THIS? I'm not excited for a cheap mini mascara, no.
WOULD I HAVE PICKED THIS? Not at all.
DO I FEEL CHEATED? Yes, I actually do. This is the only one this month and the first time with Ipsy, but I'm really not happy about this at all.

This is the product I picked.

DO I THINK I WILL USE THIS?
AM I EXCITED FOR THIS?
WAS IT MY FIRST CHOICE?
DO I FEEL CHEATED?

ELEMIS Pro-Collagen Black Cherry CleansingBalm
I've written a lot about this already (and Elemis in general) but I still stand by the opinion that this was the best choice I could have made for myself this month.
DO I THINK I WILL USE THIS? I will use all of this.
AM I EXCITED FOR THIS? I am very excited about getting this.
WAS IT MY FIRST CHOICE? It was.
DO I FEEL CHEATED? No. I think this is a good-sized mini and it will not be wasted.  

Aside from the mascara, I'm pretty happy with the Original Bag for this month. The product of my choosing is one I really want to try out and if the CC color-correcting cream works for me that is such a bonus. Same with the primer. The lip product is just a mini so I'm sure I will use it completely and if it tastes like pink lemonade, all the better. I'll tell you more when I have the bag in my possession. 

Ipsy Feb 2026 Ultimate Choice Day Reveals: My Selections and Thoughts

It's choice day for Ipsy Ultimate! This is how my box is going to look.

These are the things picked for me. Thought I would do an assessment of each.


DO I THINK I WILL USE THIS?
AM I EXCITED FOR THIS?
WOULD I HAVE PICKED THIS?
DO I FEEL CHEATED?

KEVYN AUCOIN Indecent Mascara
I knew already I was getting this so I've already processed the fact that I'm getting another mascara. I love the name of it and as I said before, I'm willing to give this a try because it's supposed to curl the lashes.
DO I THINK I WILL USE THIS? I plan on it but we'll see how much I find that I like it.
AM I EXCITED FOR THIS? Marginally. I have one I love already.
WOULD I HAVE PICKED THIS? No because I have one already that I love and several more besides.
DO I FEEL CHEATED? No it's still a good product.

RODIAL Collagen Booster Drops

YAY!!!!! I love Rodial and I can't wait to get this product. My skin needs all the help it can get and this will be a great way to help make things better.
DO I THINK I WILL USE THIS? I will use this until I'm squeezing the last drops out of it.
AM I EXCITED FOR THIS? I am very excited for this. I'm elated in fact.
WOULD I HAVE PICKED THIS? Yes. I trust this brand and would have always picked this.
DO I FEEL CHEATED? Certainly not.

BISHA Essential Rice Water MakeupPrimer
While I wasn't happy with the Bisha products I got last time, that's probably more of a me problem than a them problem. It's just the way my eyes react to things. I'm looking forward to this and I really want to see what the rice water will do for me.
DO I THINK I WILL USE THIS? I do. I'm curious about it, certainly, and finding good primers is always needed.
AM I EXCITED FOR THIS? Yeah. Not elated like some of these, but still excited to get it.
WOULD I HAVE PICKED THIS? It would have depended on what the other choices were. Maybe?
DO I FEEL CHEATED? Not at all. This is a solid brand and a good size.

CHARLOTTE TILBURY Beauty WandDuo

YAY!!!!!!!!!!! I was worried these would be put in the choice groupings and they would get selected before I could get to them. But they came with my standard box so I'm really excited. Now I've not had the greatest luck with want-with-built-in-sponges in the past, but CT's are supposed to be very good. Hopefully, these will work for me.
DO I THINK I WILL USE THIS? I do, yes. The only issue may be the applicator. But overall, I do think I'll use these a lot.
AM I EXCITED FOR THIS? I'm so very stoked that I'm getting these! Two CT wands!!! In full size!!!! Yeah, you could say I'm excited.
WOULD I HAVE PICKED THIS? I would have picked this in a heartbeat. It was a very high choice for me.
DO I FEEL CHEATED? Absolutely not.

DR.JART+ Ceramidin™ Skin BarrierMoisturizing Eye Cream

I'm okay with this but I have an eye cream that I adore already. So right now it's not at the top of my list. I'll certainly use it when I run out of the eye cream that I adore.
DO I THINK I WILL USE THIS? I do. I have plans to use it.
AM I EXCITED FOR THIS? Excited? Nah. I'm not upset but I'm not just over the moon about it.
WOULD I HAVE PICKED THIS? No. I have an eye cream that I love already.
DO I FEEL CHEATED? No. It's still a very good product.


These are the products I picked.

DO I THINK I WILL USE THIS?
AM I EXCITED FOR THIS?
WAS IT MY FIRST CHOICE?
DO I FEEL CHEATED?


SAINT JANE BEAUTY RichRescue Phyto Mucin Cream
It was between this, a palette, and a eye concealer. I considered the eye concealer but I think I'm getting one from another box this month and the palette just wasn't to my taste. Plus, I've heard really good things about Saint Jane Beauty and I certainly support plant based products.
DO I THINK I WILL USE THIS? Oh yes. I will certainly use this.
AM I EXCITED FOR THIS? I am. I'm still trying to sort out the best creams for my face and I know this will get used up.
WAS IT MY FIRST CHOICE? It was. While I would have considered one of the others, I think in the end I would have always selected this.
DO I FEEL CHEATED? Not at all.

NARS COSMETICS Explicit Lipstick in 821 Liaison 
Okay there were three reasons for this choice. The first was the fact that I loved the color and thought it would look really good on me. The second was that I'm curious about how this feels on my lips because it's been nice to discover how glorious certain lipsticks can feel. Plus, I just really liked the idea of wearing Explicit lipstick with my Indecent mascara and my Pinkgasm blush.
DO I THINK I WILL USE THIS? I'm not sure. When it comes to lipsticks, you don't know until you know.
AM I EXCITED FOR THIS? I am. I love the color and do anticipate it will work on me.
WAS IT MY FIRST CHOICE? Yes. There really wasn't anything else in this list that appealed to me.
DO I FEEL CHEATED? I do not.

GROWNALCHEMIST Gentle Gel Facial Cleanser
It was, by far, the easiest choice for me. I'm always going to choose a cleanser over the other options because I know it will get used and I go through cleansers quickly. And, okay, also I just really loved the packaging. It's a bottle I'll probably keep and refill.
DO I THINK I WILL USE THIS? Oh yes. It was selected because I knew I would use it.
AM I EXCITED FOR THIS? I am. My nightly skin ritual is one of my favorite parts of the day and I know I will enjoy having this be part of it.
WAS IT MY FIRST CHOICE? Yes.
DO I FEEL CHEATED? Clearly I do not.

Overall, I'm very pleased with this box. I think I'll get a lot of use and wear out of everything. It feels like it's a good variety of products for me to try as well. When the box comes, of course, I'll tell you my reactions. Until then, it certainly gives me something to look forward to.

Small Changes

In 2025, I changed my glasses frames. The ones I had before were similar, but not quite as large and not quite as cateyed. For the most part, no one said anything about them. I mean, I wasn't craving compliments so that was fine, but still. However, when I got these new ones, suddenly I had a lot of people talking about them. Pretty much everyone I encountered talked about how they liked the new frames. It felt good to know I picked out something that worked so well with my features.

The problem being, well, the glasses are rather large. I didn't want them damaged but it was difficult to find something to keep them safe because of their size. While they fit in a conventional glasses case, it was a snug fit. 

My solution? Well, Ipsy gives out these bags every month and one of them was perfect for holding my glasses. It was sleek and black with a little fake jewel on it. The inner lining was bright pink and very soft. I felt like it was appropriately fancy for my fancy glasses. 

Remember when we were all about sparking joy? This little setup of mine certainly sparks joy in me. Sometimes the little changes make all the difference. 


 

Ipsy Extra Choice February 2026 Spoilers: My Thoughts

I'm not getting the Ipsy Extra box this month, but I thought I'd go over the choices for those who do.

GLO GIRL Love Bomb Eyeshadow Palette
This seems like a pretty decent product. It's supposed to be highly pigmented and long-wearing. The shades are beautiful. They're very warm and range from neutrals to very sultry colors that suit its Valentine's Day theme. If you love romance and enjoy dramatic looks, this might be a great choice for you. I have a lot of palettes right now so this wouldn't be my first choice, but I certainly wouldn't mind if it ended up in my box.

HAUS LABS ColorFuse Glassy Blush Balm Stick in Glassy Hibiscus
This is Lady Gaga's makeup line and people really love it. This is supposed to leave a great glow to the skin, as it is formulated to both hydrate and plump. It's also reported to calm the skin and help deal with redness. Even though it's called a blush, it's usable for lips as well. The shade is rich, rosy mauve that would work on most skin types. It should last up to 8 hours and is buildable. Again, a selection I would be happy receiving.

BRIOGEO HAIR CARESuperfoods Passionfruit + Açaí Hydrating Mask
This would have been a tempting choice for me. I love hair masks and this one is supposed to be especially good for thin, fine hair. This is because it claims to be very lightweight and non-greasy. Now the scent seems to be somewhat polarizing. Described as something like fruity bubble gum, people either love this or hate it. It's something to really keep in mind about a product like this as you'll have it for quite a while and if you hate the scent, that could be a problem.

MAKE UP FOR EVER HD Skin Smooth & Blur Undetectable Under Eye Concealer
I'm on the lookout for a good liquid concealer. I love my stick one, but liquids are better for the V method of foundation. This might be a selection I would give heavy consideration because it's supposed to defuse imperfections while not highlighting pores and creases like many concealers do. It's supposed to last a full 24 hours which would also make me seriously consider it.

ELEMIS Balancing LavenderToner
I love Elemis and I'm need of a good toner. It contains no alcohol or other harsh ingredients. It's supposed to refresh, soften, and purify the skin, all the while calming it. I know very well that Elemis products are quite good at calming the skin and as I've mentioned before, if there is one thing my skin needs, it's to be calm. The only thing that gives me pause here is the lavender scent. Lavender can be very overwhelming to me and the idea of swabbing it on my face every night doesn't exactly appeal.

I'm actually somewhat happy I'm not getting this box next month because I would probably put way too much time into figuring out which of these I would select. There is a lot of really good product here and that is a positive thing. There seems to be something for every need. I mean, even if you don't want anything else, you can always choose the Haus Labs product just for Lady Gaga vibes.

What will you choose?  

 

End of the Month Reviews: Ipsy Winter 2025 Icon

I received this box earlier this month but it is still technically an edit from last year, 2025. At the beginning of the month, it's always easy to get enchanted by all the pretty new things in the pretty boxes. Over time, this changes. As we're coming to the end of the month, I thought I would go back and see how well the products I received from the subscription boxes did. This is my criteria.

1. Did I use this?
2. Was it a good amount?

3. Did I enjoy it?
4. Did it live up to my expectations?
5. Would I repurchase?

Natasha Denona I Need a Nude lipstick 36NP Amorosa

1. Did I use this? Yes, although I find that I'm saving it for special occasions. I shouldn't do that. I should use it as often as I want because I deserve luscious lipsticks and I do own this.
2. Was it a good amount? It is a very standard bullet of lipstick, so yes.

3. Did I enjoy it? Ahhh, so much. I have never had a lipstick that felt better on my lips.
4. Did it live up to my expectations? Yes and my expectations were pretty high too.
5. Would I repurchase? I would. I have never had a lipstick that felt so velvety on my mouth.

8 Faces Brilliance Serum
1. Did I use this? I use this morning and night. It's really helped to soften my skin.
2. Was it a good amount? It has a decent amount of product and given that you only need drops of it at a time, it will last for quite a while.

3. Did I enjoy it? I love this serum. I love the way it feels on my skin. I love the scent of it. I love the beautiful bottle. It very much pleases me. In fact, the bottle is so beautiful I plan to display it when I'm finished with the serum.
4. Did it live up to my expectations? I really had no expectations for this before I started using it but as you can tell, I love it a lot.
5. Would I repurchase? I certainly would.

Rodial Glass Powder
1. Did I use this? I use this a lot. It's become my go to setting powder.
2. Was it a good amount? It's a standard amount of loose powder. I will say that the holes in the sifter insert are a bit too wide and allow more powder to escape at a time than I would like. I've wasted some of the product because I couldn't control the sifter well.

3. Did I enjoy it? I'm not the biggest fan of loose powder. I find pressed powders to be easier to control. Despite that, I'm using this as my regular powder because it's so good at blurring my skin.
4. Did it live up to my expectations? I have very high expectations for Rodial. It's a company that I hold to a lofty standard and aside from the sifter issue, it's certainly lived up to what I expected.
5. Would I repurchase? No but I would purchase the pressed version of this. I know I could control it better.

Natasha Denona Retro Palette 15 Eyeshadow Palette
1. Did I use this? Some? Not a lot. Nothing wrong with the palette itself but a majority of the shades just don't appeal to me.
2. Was it a good amount? Yes, this is a large palette and really, maybe that's part of the problem for me. I tend to like palettes with fewer than nine pans because I think they tell a better color story and make more sense in my head.

3. Did I enjoy it? I would say I enjoy it more in theory than I do in application. I'm just not using this very much. Maybe that will change over time, but I find this just isn't quite working with my coloring.
4. Did it live up to my expectations? The quality of the product is certainly there. It's beautiful and heavy and very well made.
5. Would I repurchase? Not at this size and not these shades. Maybe one of her more neutral warmer palettes.

Dr. Brandt Skincare Glycolic SkinRenewal Mask
1. Did I use this? My skin gets irritated so quickly with masks that I have to use them sparingly. I did decide this would be my go-to mask for when I used one though.
2. Was it a good amount? Yeah, it's a very decent amount of product. It's going to last quite a while.

3. Did I enjoy it? Yes. It dries down quickly and comes off easily. It leaves my skin so very soft and what else could you really want in a mask?
4. Did it live up to my expectations? It did. I feel like it does what is required.
5. Would I repurchase? I think so. It's certainly been easy on my skin, and that isn't something I can say about a lot of skin mask-type products.

Persona Cosmetics Volumizing Tubing Mascara
1. Did I use this? I used it once to see if I liked it better than my other one. I didn't. I haven't used it since.
2. Was it a good amount? Yeah this is actually a pretty large tube of mascara.

3. Did I enjoy it? I was unmoved one way or the other.
4. Did it live up to my expectations? It's okay. It's just not as good as my other one.
5. Would I repurchase? No. Not a bad product, but just not thrilling for me.

Lithe Beauty Soft Fill Lip Pencils
1. Did I use this? I used these more than I thought I would. Unlike a lot of lip pencils (that can be too dry and hard), these glide over the lips well and fill in your lips very smoothly. The soft aspect of them has been quite beneficial for me.
2. Was it a good amount? I think so. You don't need much of the product so it will last for quite a while.

3. Did I enjoy it? Again, I find that I enjoyed them quite a lot. They're really good about blending with other colors and blurring the edges of my lip line to help it look fuller, more even, and softer.
4. Did it live up to my expectations? It exceeded them by a long shot.
5. Would I repurchase? I would. This product has really upped my lip shaping technique.

Bisha Essential Eye Designer Duo Set in Downtown Black and Uptown Brown
1. Did I use this? I tried for quite a while to make these work for me but they just never did. Eventually, I gave up and went back to other things.
2. Was it a good amount? It's a standard size.

3. Did I enjoy it? I found them frustrating. That probably has more to do with the way I react to liquid liners than it does with any fault of the product. If liquid liners work for you, these are probably great.
4. Did it live up to my expectations? Given that I expected to not have any more luck with these than I ever have with this kind of pencil, I guess so.
5. Would I repurchase? No. Again, nothing against the product. It just doesn't work for me.  

End of the Month Reviews: Ipsy Original for January 2026

At the beginning of the month, it's always easy to get enchanted by all the pretty new things in the pretty boxes. Over time, this changes. As we're coming to the end of the month, I thought I would go back and see how well the products I received from the subscription boxes did. This is my criteria.

1. Did I use this?
2. Was it a good amount?

3. Did I enjoy it?
4. Did it live up to my expectations?
5. Would I repurchase?

ELEMIS Peptide4 Plumping PillowFacial

1. Did I use this? Oh certainly yes! I used this until I could no longer squeeze product out of it.
2. Was it a good amount? It was only a small sample, but there was a good amount of product in it.

3. Did I enjoy it? I enjoyed this so much. This was probably one of my favorite things I got all month.
4. Did it live up to my expectations? My expectations for Elemis are very high but this still lived up to them. I miss this already.
5. Would I repurchase? I would if I had the funds, yes. The way this calmed down my skin and relaxed me was so very nice.

LUNA MAGIC Strawberry Mojito lip pencil

1. Did I use this? This has been my go to lip pencil all month. A lot of the ones I have are too dark but this one is so complimentary to my coloring.
2. Was it a good amount? It was a full lip pencil so yes.

3. Did I enjoy it? I do enjoy it, yes. I think it works so well with my lips.
4. Did it live up to my expectations? It did, yes.
5. Would I repurchase? Oh certainly yes.

MOONSLICE BEAUTY Cream Blush in Cutie Pie

1. Did I use this? Yes. I used it a lot.
2. Was it a good amount? Even though it's not the biggest container, it's still a lot of blush and because it's a cream, it isn't flaking off like a powder one would.

3. Did I enjoy it? I did. I'm really enjoying more orange blushes.
4. Did it live up to my expectations? Yeah. I wasn't sure where I stood with cream blushes but I am certainly a fan of them now.
5. Would I repurchase? I would.

SUGARSILK Ethereal Eyes Palette

1. Did I use this? I did. I used it more than I thought I would.
2. Was it a good amount? It's not a very big palette but it'll still last me a long time.

3. Did I enjoy it? Yes. I actually use some of the shades for color correction and others just for lighter eye looks.
4. Did it live up to my expectations? Yeah. I actually found it to be far more useful than I anticipated.
5. Would I repurchase? I would.

byrosiejane's Remi Perfume

1. Did I use this? Yes. I used it sparingly because there isn't much of it.
2. Was it a good amount? No it was just a small sample.

3. Did I enjoy it? I did. It isn't my favorite perfume, but I did like it.
4. Did it live up to my expectations? Yeah. It was a very nice scent.
5. Would I repurchase? Probably not because while I enjoyed it, it isn't exactly my scent profile.

The Monthly Bag
1. Did I use this? Yes. I decided to make it my purse bag.
2. Was it a good size? Yes. It holds a lot.

3. Did I enjoy it? I do enjoy it because of the side zip and the blue accent on it. Oh and the little zipper coin. Yeah, I really do like this bag. However, I have noticed my bag was different than a lot of other people's for this month.
4. Did it live up to my expectations? Yes.
5. Would I repurchase? I normally just get black bags so no I probably wouldn't get a white one again, but that doesn't change the fact that I adore this.

End of the Month Reviews: Ipsy Extra Box January 2026

At the first of the month, it's always easy to get enchanted by all the pretty new things in the pretty boxes. Over time, this changes. As we're coming to the end of the month, I thought I would go back and see how well the products I received from the subscription boxes did. This is my criteria.

1. Did I use this?
2. Was it a good amount?

3. Did I enjoy it?
4. Did it live up to my expectations?
5. Would I repurchase?

Kulfi Beauty Badi Lash Smudge Proof Volumizing Tubing Mascara in Black
1. Did I use this? I did! I used this a lot. In fact, it's been the mascara I've been reaching for almost every time I do my eyes. My little sparse, short lashes respond really well to this mascara and I'm so very pleased with it.
2. Was it a good amount? Oh yes. You're not having to use much to really get a good amount on your lashes and this will last me quite a while.

3. Did I enjoy it? Deeply! I usually find mascaras frustrating and annoying because they get everywhere and smudge. Because this one is working for me, it's just so much fun to put on.
4. Did it live up to my expectations? Yes. It exceeded them, really. It gave me hope that mascara can work for me.
5. Would I repurchase? I certainly will.

BYROE Sugar Plum Shimmer Lip Oil
1. Did I use this? I did. I figured out how to make it work for me. I really needed lip liner on first but once I did, everything worked well.
2. Was it a good amount? Yes. This will last for quite a while and I don't really need much of it.

3. Did I enjoy it? It's not really my style, but I'm pleased when I put it on.
4. Did it live up to my expectations? Yes because they weren't very high. Glittery lip oil? I did not have that high up on my priority list. However, I find that I do like it quite a lot.
5. Would I repurchase? I think I would by another Byroe lip oil but I don't think I would get one with a shimmer.

WANDER BEAUTY On-the-Glow Blush & Illuminator in Dusk
1. Did I use this? Yes, I used this a lot. Both sides.
2. Was it a good amount? It is. It's a very decent size.

3. Did I enjoy it? I like both for different reasons. The blush side actually is dark enough to use for contouring and the shimmer side is a good blending shade to make concealer blend better.
4. Did it live up to my expectations? I think so. It doesn't exactly do what I planned for it to do, but I've found it to be very useful.
5. Would I repurchase? I think so.

EVEREDEN'S Hair and Body Fragrance Mist in Darling
1. Did I use this? I use this daily. It blends wonderfully with my hair.
2. Was it a good amount? Yes. Lots of product in the bottle and you don't need much.

3. Did I enjoy it? I love this scent. I usually don't go for strawberry-scented things but I love the freshness and lightness.
4. Did it live up to my expectations? I didn't realize how much I would really use this. I thought it would be just an occasional thing but it's become part of my daily scent profile.
5. Would I repurchase? Yes.

CHICA BEAUTY Mirame Liquid Liner
1. Did I use this? No. I have other eyeliners and this one doesn't work very well.
2. Was it a good amount? Yeah it was a fine amount. I just wish it worked better.

3. Did I enjoy it? No. It was basically useless to me.
4. Did it live up to my expectations? Given that I just found it to be useless for me, then no.
5. Would I repurchase? No.

End of the Month Reviews: Allure Beauty Box January 2026

At the first of the month, it's always easy to get enchanted by all the pretty new things in the pretty boxes. Over time, this changes. As we're coming to the end of the month, I thought I would go back and see how well the products I received from the subscription boxes did. This is my criteria.

1. Did I use this?
2. Was it a good amount?

3. Did I enjoy it?
4. Did it live up to my expectations?
5. Would I repurchase?

Obagi Hydrate Facial Moisturizer by Obagi Medical
1. Did I use this? Yes. I used this twice a day. The cream set well on my skin and absorbed nicely.
2. Was it a good amount? No. The bottle ran out pretty quickly and because the lid didn't come off, I couldn't access anything that was left inside. I think I had this about two weeks.

3. Did I enjoy it? I did, but honestly the fact that it didn't last as long as it looked like it should have marred my liking of it.
4. Did it live up to my expectations? Yes and no. It did what it was supposed to, but there isn't as much product in the bottle as it seems.
5. Would I repurchase? Probably not. This is an expensive product for how much you actually get.

Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Serum

1. Did I use this? Yes. I used this with every hair drying and sometimes just to add some shine to my hair.
2. Was it a good amount? For how little you use it, it actually is. You need very, very little of this product and it's going to last me a good while.

3. Did I enjoy it? Yes. The way it speeds up hair drying is pretty game-changing for me. I love that about this product.
4. Did it live up to my expectations? I would say it exceeded my expectations. I really didn't believe the hype but it certainly did what it promised and that turned out to be a nice, fundamental change for me.
5. Would I repurchase? I certainly would. For one thing, it isn't that expensive. For another, it really does a great job on my hair.

Mitchell & Peach English Leaf Body Soufflé Cream
1. Did I use this? I used this several times a day. I used this as often as I felt I could get away with using it. I used this because I found myself craving the scent and the softness.
2. Was it a good amount? Yes. The tube isn't that large but there is a decent amount in there and it's lasted at least through the month and then some.

3. Did I enjoy it? I really loved this. My skin is certainly smoother and softer after using it for a while and the scent is something I have come to dearly love.
4. Did it live up to my expectations? Considering how I felt when I first smelled it, I would say this is the biggest turnaround I had on any of the Allure products this month. This is the product I will miss the most when it's gone.
5. Would I repurchase? I had to give this some pause because, admittedly, this is a more expensive product, but honestly if I had the money to spare, yes, I would certainly repurchase.

Blake Brown Beauty's Fundamental Nourishing Mask

1. Did I use this? Yes. I used this with every shower and looked forward to doing so.
2. Was it a good amount? This was a massive amount, given that people go through hair masks slowly. I'll have this for a while.

3. Did I enjoy it? I really did. This felt so lux. It did wonderful things to the feel of my hair and left it smelling wonderful.
4. Did it live up to my expectations? Yes. I felt like this was a pretty divisive item, but I really felt it did what it needed to do.
5. Would I repurchase? I would, though honestly as slowly as one goes through this, repurchase wouldn't have to be that often.

Levitate Beauty's Hydrogel Under Eye Masks

1. Did I use this? I did, though I kind of had to remind myself to do so. It's cold and putting on eye masks right now isn't that fun.
2. Was it a good amount? I received three, which I feel was a pretty good amount. They had a generous amount of product in the packet as well, which could be smoothed over my skin.

3. Did I enjoy it? Aside from the cold, I did. I liked the fact that the masks were very thin and stayed in place well. I also appreciated that they had placement pads on them.
4. Did it live up to my expectations? My expectations for eye masks are very little so yes, they did. They certainly did what they were supposed to.
5. Would I repurchase? To be honest, I'm probably not going to buy eye masks as they have a way of just showing up in my life for free, but if I did happen to purchase some, I would certainly consider this brand because I felt the design was very practical.

Tarte Cosmetics' Sculpt Tape Contour

1. Did I use this? I did. Mostly because it's the only bronzer I own.
2. Was it a good amount? Yes. I feel this had a good amount of product in it.

3. Did I enjoy it? No. It blended down into my skin to the point that it was barely noticeable and what was there tended to read very muddy orange on my skin.
4. Did it live up to my expectations? Not really. It just didn't work on me very well.
5. Would I repurchase? No. I don't think this liquidy of a bronzer works for me. Tarte is a good brand so this probably works for a lot of people, but it just wasn't suited for me.  

So yeah, end of the month, I'm mostly very satisfied with what I got and even happily surprised by some of it. Good month from Allure.

Ipsy Ultimate Spring 2026 Sneak Peek III and IV: My Thoughts

This is groups III and IV of the Ipsy Ultimate Spring collection. Of the four, I was most pleased with these.

• NARS COSMETICS Explicit Lipstick
  I am never upset by a new lipstick. I'm not sure what shade we'll be getting because two different pictures were shown. If this is a product we get to make a choice about, perhaps we can pick the color, but if not, hopefully they'll pay attention to my profile and give me a shade that actually works with my coloring. I also love the name. Very inspiring.

• SAINT JANE BEAUTY Rich Rescue Phyto Mucin Cream
  I've never had any Saint Jane Beauty products, but I am very excited about this one. Snail mucin has been all the rage for a while, but people are starting to move away from that and go to mucin found in plants. This is supposed to make your skin more youthful, plump, and glassy within three weeks. I'm always down for a product that does that.

• MAKE UP FOR EVER HD Skin Hydra Glow Hydrating Foundation
  This foundation is supposed to give you a natural, hydrating finish that has a slight glowy cast to it. I'm not sure how I feel about that, but honestly,  that's based on my past history of being younger and having oily skin. Now that I'm older and matte finishes don't look good on me, this might be something I really need. It's also supposed to be good for uneven texture which is certainly something I have to deal with these days.

• GROWN ALCHEMIST Gentle Gel Facial Cleanser
  I am happy for a cleanser. This one is supposed to do a gentle exfoliating but at the same time not strip the skin of its moisture. I always love something that claims to really cleanse pores. My pores need all the help they can get. Am I a sucker for good packaging? Oh yes I am. And this bottle is beautiful.

• FABLE & MANE Sahascalp Wild Ginger Purifying Scrub
  When spoilers first came out, besides the Rodial and the Charlotte Tilberry, this was the thing that caught my eye. One of the main reasons I started this exploration of beauty was to figure out if there was some way to make my hair less . . . like my hair. Getting a good product for it always makes me happy. You can only use this once a week to replace your shampoo, which means it will last a good long time. It's supposed to remove any build-up, improve scalp health, and deal with any flakes you may have. A lot of people love the scent of this and many people with oily and fine hair (like mine) said that it actually added volume, which is such a win in my book.

• LIVING PROOF Perfect Hair Day Heat Styling Spray
  Even though I get a lot of hair products, I usually don't get hair sprays. This one is good because it's formulated to protect your hair from styling tools. Would that I had had something like that back in the day when I was using curling irons and hot rollers all the time! This is something I will certainly use and I really hope it's in my box. The scent is supposed to be wonderful as well.

• LITHE BEAUTY Gel Eyeliner Set
  Instead of the usual black, it looks like these are purple (Galaxy) and blue (Blueprint). I'm happy about that as I've gotten so many black liners recently. I also like the fact that these are cream as creams tend to work on my eyes at least a little bit better than the liquid ones do. I also like the fact that you get two of them instead of just one.

• KEVYN AUCOIN Indecent Mascara
  This is a product that everyone is getting. I'm sure it's a very good mascara but right now, I have three new mascaras so I can't say I'm that thrilled about this. Though I am intrigued by the claim that it curls the lashes. If it does that, I'll reverse my opinion so fast because that is an amazing idea. If my lashes need anything, it's certainly curling.
  
  Normally this is when I rank things, but honestly aside from the mascara, which is ironically the product that I KNOW I'm getting, I'm really excited about all of these. I'll be happy with any of them that shows up in my life. And even the mascara is pretty great so overall, very nice selections. 

Ipsy Ultimate Spring Sneak Peek I-II: My Thoughts

This is the IPSY part one and two sneak peek for the Ultimate Box for Spring. This is just the first two lists. I'll add the rest of them tomorrow.

• NARS COSMETICS Quad Eyeshadow in Kuala Lumpur
  I know NARS is considered a great brand but I'm not really that into this quad. The shades are more rosy/pinkish than I usually wear on my eyes. The quads from NARS are usually highly regarded, though, so I'm sure a lot of people will like this.

• CHARLOTTE TILBURY Beauty Wand Duo
  This is a hero product and one of the more expensive offerings for the season. I believe the colors are the classic Pinkgasm and Pillow Talk. Now this might not be a big deal for a lot of people because a lot of people already have these shades, but this is major for me and I hope this is an option given to me.

• TATCHA The Camellia Gold Spun Lip Balm
  Okay, okay. It's TATCHA. And that means this is also a hero product for the box. However, it's also a lip balm and I have enough lip balms at the moment. I'm sure it's amazing and if I get it, I won't be mad at it, but given the finite number of products we'll be getting and knowing what two of them already are, I have to say if I'm given an option between this and certain other things, I'll choose those, brand name or no brand name.

• COMMODITY FRAGRANCES Ice(d) Fragrance
  Nope. I love getting fragrances, but this one is not for me. Not at all. It has spearmint and I'm basically allergic to that, mango, which I do not enjoy the smell of at all, and eucalyptus. This is kind of the thing I want the least out of everything on offering this season.

• BISHA Essential Rice Makeup Primer
  Can you really have too many primers? Probably not. I'm intrigued by the concept of it being a rice primer and given that my usual level of primers is e.l.f., I think this might be a nice change.

• RODIAL Collagen Booster Drops
  There is a little black notation on this that states everyone gets this. That is really awesome. This product is worth so much more than the price of the box and plus, it's RODIAL so what's not to be excited about? I really love body oils and the fact that I know I'm getting this fills me with joy.
  
  

• MAKEUP BY MARIO SoftSculpt® Transforming Skin Perfector

  This pressed powder works as a bronzer, a highlighter, and a way to set your makeup. It's supposed to be nice and lightweight, adding a subtle airbrushed effect to your skin and great for 'no makeup makeup' days. I wouldn't be upset about getting this. I just hope IPSY matches my skintone properly because I'm fairly pale and need quite a light product when it comes to these things.
  
  My list from most excited to least.
  1. RODIAL Collagen Booster Drops
  So excited for this.
  2. CHARLOTTE TILBURY Beauty Wand Duo
  Probably equally excited for this but not getting my hopes up that I'll get it.
  3. MAKEUP BY MARIO SoftSculpt® Transforming Skin Perfector
  Intrigued by the idea of this and hopeful they get my shade right.
  4. BISHA Essential Rice Makeup Primer
  Like with the one before, I just hope they get my shade right.
  5. TATCHA The Camellia Gold Spun Lip Balm
  I mean, I could be proven wrong because it is TATCHA, but I'm just not really in need of another lip balm right now. 
  6. NARS COSMETICS Quad Eyeshadow in KualaLumpur
  The shades don't really work for me. 
  7.COMMODITY FRAGRANCES Ice(d) Fragrance
  Full of scents I do not enjoy. Could I be proven wrong? Perhaps, but I don't think so.

Ode to an Empty: Elemis Peptide4 Plumping Pillow Facial

Last night, I ran out of my ElemisPeptide4 Plumping Pillow Facial. I loved this cream! It was wonderful and soothing and calming for my skin. I need that because my skin tends to stay irritated most of the time. This is also supposed to reduce redness and fine lines. I have a lot of stuff going on my skin right now to reduce redness and fine lines so I can't say as to how much this contributed to that, but I can say that it certainly helped.

My two favorite things about this product were the scent and the texture. The scent contained Star Avensis, Indian Night Jasmine, bitter orange, orange, and coriander. I love all of these, though admittedly, while I love the smell of coriander, I am one of those people who thinks cilantro tastes like soap. However, the combination of all of these left me relaxed and happily ready for a good night's sleep. The texture was was very gentle and lightweight. As soon as I put it on my skin, I could feel it not only absorbing but also helping to absorb the serum and eye cream I had on under it. After that, my skin felt soft without any kind of greasy or oily sensations.

When it comes to skincare, one of the things I make determinations on is just how it makes me feel afterward. Mind you, a lot of the time, that's just nothing at best or covered in textures at worst. But with this, I actually felt better about things. I felt serene, tranquil. That's a very good way to feel before bed and certainly an indication of a successful overnight mask.

As I finished the tube, clearly I loved this. In fact, found myself reaching for it as often as I could. Would I repurchase? I certainly would were it in my price range. This product is expensive, but if you have the funds, it would be worth the investment.

Allure Beauty Box Sneak Peek Feb 2026 I Have Some Thoughts

 Allure put out a pic of the spoilers for the Beauty Box for Feb 2026. Along with the SIDIA Solid Perfume, these are the expected items.

• Uzo Blaque Liquide Eyeliner
Sigh. Another black eyeliner. I think they should ban these for a while. This will be the third one I've gotten in two months. I do not need another black liner, especially not one that will eventually dry out. I read a lot of reviews over this and people seem to love it. They say it is really waterproof and doesn't smudge, that the line is very precise and pigmented. We'll see, I guess.

• CNP Propolis Lipcerin Honey LipButter
I also have quite a few lip products right now. However, given that it's winter, I'm going through them fairly fast. Korean Beauty products are very popular right now and I've not really gotten a chance to explore very much of them. Reviews are positive for this. People like the scent and the taste. They say it absorbs into the skin very well. It's intriguing, but I think with lip products, how high could the bar be?

• FAB Bronze Glow Drops
First Aid Beauty is a very beloved brand. People really enjoy their skincare and certainly it's something I wanted to try. Would I ever purchase bronzing glow drops for myself? No. Should I? Hmm. I guess we get the chance to find out. Besides just adding a nice, healthy glow to the skin, it's also supposed to help the skin barrier and hydrate. I find myself pretty excited about this as it isn't something I have any real experience with and find myself curious.

• Cuccio Naturale RevitalizingRoll-On Cuticle Oil
Okay. This is the one I'm most looking forward to. I NEED this. My cuticles are always a mess and I need all the help I can get with them. I honestly didn't even know this existed and I'm happy it does. This product isn't very expensive, but in this case I'm not upset about that because if this works to improve my nails, I'll be able to repurchase.

ORDER OF EXCITEMENT:

1. Cuccio Naturale Revitalizing Roll-On Cuticle Oil I NEED THIS.
2. SIDIA Solid Perfume, in Braless I love scents.
3. FAB Bronze GlowDrops Very curious about this.
4. CNP Propolis Lipcerin Honey LipButter Always need more lipcare.
5. Uzo Blaque Liquide Eyeliner Sigh. We'll see.

We'll see how the list changes once I have the box. More on that next month.  

Allure Customization for February 2026

When it comes to Allure's monthly Beauty Box, they select all the items for you but you get to customize one selection to your preference. This month, the item in question is a solid perfume, SIDIA Solid Perfume, to be exact, and your options are either Braless or Soaked.

So Braless has top notes of black pepper, Spanish rosemary, and coconut. The middle notes are violet, black tea, peony, cedar, and orris. The bottom notes are patchouli, papyrus, vanilla cream, musk, and leather. Now there are some issues. I'm concerned that the cedar might be powerful and that would be a problem. I don't want to smell like a tree. Normally, I hate patchouli, though admittedly, some of the other scents I have contain it as a bottom note and it doesn't bother me when mixed with everything else. What it has going for it is the peony, vanilla cream, and leather. These are scents I really do adore. I also do love the name of this one and it seems like something I would have.

Soaked, on the other hand, has top notes of Juniper, lemon, and olibanum. Its middle notes are oregano, cypress, and cedarwood. For base notes, it has amber, leather, and sensuous musk. This has a lot working against it. For one thing, there are two trees in the middle and the only thing there to balance it out is a spice that I like in food but not on me. I'm not sure the lemon and oregano wouldn't make this gourmand in a way I wouldn't enjoy. Speaking of trees, we also have that Juniper and olibanum (frankincense) as well and I suspect this might be way too woody for me. The bottom notes here appeal to me, but I don't know that they would balance the rest of it.

Given all of that, my selection for the month was Braless. It seemed to be the least risky option and I really love the name.  

Ipsy Original Choices for February 2026

Ipsy's Original Choice is happening on 1/26. It looks like these are the items to choose from.

• Milani Conceal + Perfect Liquid Contour
This is a full-sized product, but it's drugstore level and doesn't retail for much. It looks like a decent contour and the various colors to choose from seem nice. However, I recently got basically the same thing from Allure's January box, but from a more lux brand, tarte.

• Benefit The POREfessionalFoundation

This looks interesting. This foundation is very beloved and Benefit is a respected name. It's only a deluxe mini though and for a foundation, that doesn't give you many times to see if you will actually like it.

• ELEMIS PRO-COLLAGEN BLACK CHERRYCLEANSING Balm

I have two products from Elemis that I really adore, both of which are due to run out very soon. One of them is a cleanser and it will be dearly missed. The only thing I'm not sure about with this is the scent. I'm not sure how strong it will be and if it will clash with the other scents I use. This is also a deluxe mini.

• Kookie Professional Maxed OutMascara

This is a full-sized product, also at the drugstore level. I'm sure it's nice enough and does what it's supposed to do, but I already have enough mascara.

• Dr. Jart+ Cicapair IntensiveSoothing Repair Cream

This deluxe mini caught my attention because it is supposed to be really good at calming sensitive skin and helping to reduce redness. It's also supposed to hydrate the skin, which everyone needs this time of year, and absorb well.

My choices from what I want most to least.

1. ELEMIS PRO-COLLAGENBLACK CHERRY CLEANSING Balm: I need another cleanser and I love this brand.
2. Dr. Jart+ Cicapair Intensive Soothing Repair Cream: I don't know this brand, and one of the reasons I started subscription boxes was to educate myself about what is out there. I could certainly use something like this, though perhaps not as much as I could use a new cleanser.
3. Milani Liquid Contour: I think the fact that this is full-sized ranked it slightly higher than the foundation. Milani is a fairly respected drugstore brand and while I do have something a lot like this, the tubes run out quickly.
4. Benefit The POREfessional Foundation: A lot of people probably would have put this higher, but I just don't think I would get a lot of use/knowledge out of something that I would run through so quickly.

5. Kookie Professional Maxed Out Mascara: Nothing against the product, I just do not need another mascara. 

Which one would you choose?