june hauls

hi guys! can you believe the year is already halfway gone!? anyway here's some of the stuffs i got this month. made a few trips to sephora because they decided to make like 4 of the sephora play! bonus points coupon things expire this month..... ~Lin-chan ^.~

tarte: swamp queen palette
ulta: lorac pro 3 palette, covergirl clean matte bb cream in light

target: wet n wild color icon blush in rose champagne
walmart: wet n wild 1 step wonder gel polish in stay classy, royal and langnickel moda powder brush, makeup mat (only $3!), kiss salon color nails in bonita
sephora: jack black the stick lip balm in fresh mint

bonus review! this polish lasted me less than 12 hours before chipping. at least it was only $2!

bonus review! these lasted me about 5-6 days before popping off, using the included glue. the glue included is the same in their gel fantasy nail sets.

sephora: formula x in victory lap (see notd post), sephora collection green tea sheet mask & rose lip mask, freebie clinique almost lipstick in pink honey

target: nyx tinted brow mascara in espresso

sally's: renewed my membership with a half off coupon, got a membership renewal freebie product - ion thickening shampoo, and i bought volumedic volumizing shampoo. i got both of these because they no longer sell folicure, and i thought these'll be worth a try to start growin my hair back!
walmart: royal & langnickel moda complexion brush, maybelline color tattoo eye chrome in beige luster

maybelline beige luster, clinique pink honey

ulta: last week, they had a 4-hour deal thing where if you spent $40, you got 5 extra items. so i went ahead and placed my order, since the items appealed to me, and i got: nyx high voltage lipstick in flutter kiss and wine & dine, clinique clarifying lotion 3, secret ph balanced deodorant, tree hut sugar scrubs, and the freebies in the 5 piece set: maybelline vivid matte liquid lip in berry boost, master precise skinny in defining black, and lash sensational luscious mascara in blackest black, garnier micellar water and miracle anti-fatigue sleeping cream.

master precise skinny pencil, flutter kiss, wine & dine, berry boost

flutter kiss

wine & dine

berry boost

target: pantene bb shampoo

sam's club: garnier whole blends shampoo, conditioner, and mask set in honey treasures

amazon: zero time dilemma -- zero escape is one of my favorite game series! can't wait to playyy!!

planner haul!

hi guys!! so recently i made a post about how i got my first erin condren life planner, and i wanted to show you guys what other stuff i bought for it! at the end of that post, i had a snapshot of a few stickers that i was able to find at local stores, and i mentioned that i ordered some from etsy. well, they've arrived now, and i bought a few other things..so here's what i gots! ~Lin-chan ^.~

walmart: small post-it notes, expo markers, pilot G2 pens (these and sharpie pens are my absolute favorites), washi tape (scotch, duck, & studio g brands)
walmart/target: more washi, metallic, & duct tape (scotch & duck brands)
ps, i don't recommend getting the duct tape (pink & gray plaid), i didn't realize it was duct tape until i got home..and the edges are super sticky!

for individual sticker sheets purchased from etsy, please see my list on etsy.

aHappyBlueTree -- they also included a business card with a several sample stickers and a coupon code
-- coupon code: THANKYOU10 for 10% off

PlannerBliss -- love it! the laptops are so cute! and i thought about getting these brush stickers instead, but i caught a 50% off sale with this shop, so i opted for this set instead. and i love the sushi sample sticker! so tiny yet detailed!! >w<
-- coupon code: THANKYOU10 for 10% off

Stickeriffic -- how cute! look at the sample stickers! they also gave me a coupon code on my etsy receipt. they also included a card for their website stickeriffic.com
-- coupon code: JUNE20 for 20% off

PlannerPenny -- pro-tip: if you order from their website, you can stack a coupon code with their buy 9 sheets, get the 10th sheet free deal! also, on fridays, she has select sticker sheets for half off! lovvve the watermelon themed sample stickers! and the frenchies!! >w<
-- coupon code: penny for 15% off $8+

my first Erin Condren Life Planner!! (neutral hourly layout)

hi guys! i'm excited to share that i spent an exorbitant amount of money on a planner! an erin condren life planner to be exact. but, for good cause. i'm a professional now and i want something tangible to manage my schedule with. and as such, i went with the hourly planner since i am a very deadline driven person and like having and knowing my timelines. i also picked this one because i don't plan on doing crazy ridiculous sticker spreads like most people i'm seeing online. that shit is expensive as all hell, and i have other things i like spending my money on...such as my face. XD going forward, i may do planner posts on occasion, like if i actually do any themed sticker spreads or something...? but we'll have to see. ~Lindsay-chan ^.~
if you're interested in ordering one, you can use my affiliate link* and receive $10 off your purchase -- which is basically like free shipping, which is awesome.
onto the planner!!

i got the watercolor mid century circles gold metallic planner, with platinum coil, 18 months in the neutral color scheme and hourly layout. the cost adds up pretty quickly if you want to customize these planners in any way, and by the way, these start at $50. if you wanted one of the other three coil colors, it was extra. if you wanted 18 months instead of 12, it was extra. just having a metallic cover was extra. and obviously putting your name on it was extra too. so, i ended up paying a whopping $70 after shipping and the $10 off coupon. eeeeep!!! but i just got promoted, so promotion present..? the planner came with a bookmark, perpetual calendar, and additional goodies in the plan for it pouch: a card to explain the following items, a coil clip connector, pay it forward cards (unique coupon codes), a sample sticker book, and 3 compliment cards.

the cover is laminated, so that you can use dry erase markers on the inside. after a couple inspirational pages, there are monthly calendars for 2016-2017, goals pages, and a note page with an inspirational phrase before each monthly calendar spread.

no, your eyes do not deceive you. one of the big complaints i have with this planner: the monthly calendar spreads for each month don't look like they were sized properly before printing and have a slight blurriness or pixelated look to them...which is kind of annoying. otherwise, i appreciate that they reinforced the tabbed pages.

the last section in the planner is a notes section, which has several sheets of blank, ruled, or graph paper with various designs across the top. also, there are two pages with 2018 monthly calendars, bullet points, and white space to put any future plans. these pages are followed by a four banner sticker pages, two of which are blank, one has all 'birthday!' stickers, and the other has various appointments etc on it. (by the way, the light green column says 'vacation!')

lastly, after the sticker pages, there's a storage pocket, where the perpetual planner--among other things--can be stored. on the other side of the folder is another pocket as well as the back cover which can also be written on with dry erase markers. i didn't photograph the outside of the back cover, but it's similar to the front cover. there are gold metallic circles, and the watercolors are mostly purples, blues, and greens with a bit of red and orange.

these were included in my package as freebies since it was my first order. i got a few sheets of GIANT gift tags, an inspirational post card, and a "be you" sticker.

i will say that i did order some planner stickers and i'm still waiting for them to come in. if you're interested, i saved them in a list on my etsy. in the meantime, i've purchased a few packs here and there at various stores that are easily accessible.

target (dollar spot): 4 of july themed stickers
walmart: pandas, hearts
hobby lobby: silver holographic stars, the happy planner colorful dots set
michaels: banners, flags
dollar tree: owls, dots
not pictured: i found some -- dare i say -- gaia online stickers i bought circa 2007 that i'm thinking about using. they're emojis, kiki kitty, and a few of the npc's.

*Affiliate Link

june 2016: sephora play!

hi guys! double header! here's june's sephora play impressions! (theme: the minimalists) ~Lin-chan ^.~

sheer sun, backlight priming filter, tarteguard

1. bareminerals bareskin sheer sun serum bronzer (.1oz--mini, $28 for 1oz [$2.80]) -- this is very interesting. you shake it very well before opening..to find the dispenser is really weird shaped! anyway, this is a very watery texture, but blended out it is very subtle. not totally sure how i feel about it, but we'll see.
   repurchase? probably not
2. becca backlight priming filter (.2oz--mini, ret. $38 for 1oz [$7.60]) -- this has a really subtle glow to it. i'm not sure if it'd really show through if you applied this and then foundation over it (depending on the coverage). but if you mix it with your foundation, you might see better benefits. texturally, it's a more lotiony consistency than my usual favorite dimethicone primers.
   repurchase? maybe
3. tarte tarteguard 30 sunscreen lotion (.23oz--mini, ret. $32 for 1.7oz [$4.33]) -- i got a sample of this quite a while ago and only used it once or twice. i really liked the formula, but i don't remember what i thought about the lasting power. and i appreciate that it has little to no fragrance.
   repurchase? maybe
4. benefit they're real mascara (.1oz--mini, ret. $12) -- every time i got a sample of this, i never used it and passed it along. and i think i'll still do the same with this one. i'm not a huge fan of the formula of this (difficult to remove) and the wand is weird.
   repurchase? nah
5. bumble and bumble don't blow it (.5oz--mini, ret. $31 for 5oz [$3.10]) -- this has a really nice scent! i'm excited to try this because it's a leave-in for air dried hair, which is what i normally do anyway.
   repurchase? maybe
6. tocca florence (sample, ret. $68 for 1.7oz) -- this one confuses me. i don't typically like floral scents, but this one i kind of do only for the nostalgia factor. it kind of smells like night blooming jasmine, and there were trees near my mom's growing up.
   repurchase? probably not
7. 'coupon' for an extra 50 points on the next in-store purchase

approximate product value: ~$30

june 2016 ipsy bag

hi guys! today, i got my june IPSY BAG*! (theme: rebel rebel) can't wait to try everything! ~Lin-chan ^.~

here's my impressions:

1. urban decay eyeshadow in fireball (.85g--mini, ret. $19 for 1.5g [$10.77]) -- i am sooo excited that i got the fireball sample, considering that i have a full size of lounge and a few dupes of it. this pan is the same size as ones in other smaller palettes or sample palettes.
• likelihood to repurchase: no need to
2. formula x nail polish in wingwoman (4ml--mini, ret. $10.50 for 12ml [$3.50]) -- i love formula x polishes. they're great and they don't chip as quickly on me as most other brands. i think i've mentioned it on here before, but i'm not a huge fan of cream polishes since they tend to have visible streaks, and i'm not into coraly reds either.
• likelihood to repurchase: probably other colors
3. seraphine botanicals happy hibiscus blush (2g--full size, ret. $18) -- first off, this lil itty bitty thing is $18??? this is about the size of a silver dollar, and for whatever reason, they were compelled to include a tiny mirror inside this compact. after swatching it, i was pretty surprised. it's a really pretty pinky terracotta color. i'm not sure, but it might get more use as an eyeshadow than a blush, but i'll try it out and see how i like it.
• likelihood to repurchase: probably not
4. royal & langnickel moda crease/smudge brush (full size?, ret. $5.99) -- not too sure about this brush. the smudger is not quite as stiff as i'd like it, but i think it'll work well. rubbing the crease side on my hand feels like it might be the tiniest bit scratchy and has maybe a slight bit more flex that i like as well. i'll give this a try and let you know.
• likelihood to repurchase: probably not, but maybe others from the brand
5. delectable by cake beauty everything balm (7ml--mini, ret. $16 for 20ml [$5.60]) -- not sure how i feel about this stuff. it's like vaseline in a tube, with faint plasticy sweet fragrance. swatching a tiny amount on my hand, it absorbed fairly quickly but now my skin's slightly shiny but also feels soft...? very strange. i'll have to keep you posted.
• likelihood to repurchase: undecided
6. points freebie: benjabelle brush cleansing balm (1.5oz--full size, ret. $14.95) -- i love my benjabelle brush daisy brush tree, it's the best! not that that says anything about this brush cleanser, but that's what made me interested in redeeming points for it. it smells like it might be goats milk based, but otherwise has no fragrance.
• likelihood to repurchase? probably not
7. graffiti ipsy bag -- this is a very cute bag. i'm not huge on how much brown is on it, but whatever.
8. card with company info/discount codes (some codes are case sensitive)
1. seraphinebotanicals.com: 25% off purchase, code: ipsy25 (exp. 7/31/16)
2. royalbrush.com: 40% off purchase, code: ipsy4016 (exp. 7/31/16)
3. cakebeauty.com: 25% off purchase, code: IPSYEVERYTHING (exp. 7/31/16)
4. elizabethmott.com: $10 off $35 purchase, code: ipsy35 (exp. 7/31/16)
5. dermae.com: 30% off purchase some exclusions, code: ipsy16 (exp. 12/31/16)
6. juicebeauty.com: free mini phyto-pigments liquid lip in gwyneth with purchase & free shipping on $30+, code: ipsymini (exp. 7/31/16)
7. peterlamas.com: 20% off purchase, code: ipsyj16 (exp. 7/15/16)
8. booboocoverup.com: 30% off purchase, code: IPSTER30 (exp. 7/31/16)
9. timelesstruthcosmetics.com: 40% off purchase & free shipping over $50, code: ipsy40 (exp. 7/31/16)
10. tinibeauty.com: 40% off purchase + free nailtini lacquer with $20+ purchase, code: IPSYREBEL (exp. 7/31/16)
11. jouercocsmetics.com: 25% off purchase some exclusions, code: 25off (exp. 7/31/16)
12. crownbrush.us: 30% off purchase, code: crownipsy30 (exp. 7/31/16)
13. doucee.com: 30% off purchase, code: mascara30 (exp. 7/31/16)
14. clarisea.com: 30% off purchase, code: IPSY30 (exp. 7/31/16)
15. kloraneusa.com: 20% off purchase some exclusions, code: ipsyeyes20 (exp. 7/31/16)
16. jessesgirlcosmetics.com: 20% off purchase + free shipping on $20+, code: 2016JUNEIPSY (exp. 7/31/16)
17. vasanticosmetics.com: 30% off purchase, code: ipsysummer30 (exp. 7/31/16)
18. mirabellabeauty.com: 30% off purchase, code: ipsy2016 (exp. 7/31/16)
19. biorepublic.com: 40% off purchase + free shipping on $5+ (USA) or $40 (CAN), code: ipsy4016 (exp. 7/31/16)
20. us.frankbody.com: 10% off purchase, code: IPSYBABE (exp. 7/31/16)
21. rodial.co.uk: 20% off purchase, code: ipsy4020 (exp. 8/15/16)
22. thebalm.com: 20% off purchase, code: IPSY20 (exp. 7/31/16)
23. beabombshellcosmetics.com: 25% off purchase, code: ipsy25 (exp. 7/31/16)
24. dirty-little-secret.com: 20% off purchase, code: Ipsy20 (exp. 7/31/16)

approximate product value: ~$44 + $15 (points freebie)

everything balm, happy hibiscus blush, ud fireball & lounge (swatched dry), 1 coat wingwoman (sorry it's not focused!)

possible dupes for urban decay lounge & fireball:

top: ud lounge; left to right: makeup geek havoc, prestige total intensity hocus pocus, wet n wild comfort zone palette;
ud fireball, makeup geek maitai (all swatched without primer)

*Affiliate Link.