Today I received a "Birthday Gift Reminder" e-mail from Ulta. Apparently, I still had my June birthday gift waiting for me to redeem. That was all the push I needed to make a trip to my local Ulta Store. It really doesn't take much for me to find a reason to head to one of my favorite beauty stores and browse the isles. However, I did make a list of items and did some online reasearch before I left of a few products that I had been eyeing for a while now. I had $10.00 off plus my free birthday gift aaaaaaand over 1000 store points. So I made my list and headed over. Much to my disbelief I actually was pretty good and purchased what I came for with the exception of just a few lipsticks - most were on clearance so I still see that as a win. Below are all the goodies I picked up in todays ULTA Haul. Enjoy!
I'll start with the free birthday gift I had waiting for me.... A sample size mascara of Lancome MON SIEUR BIG - Big volume mascara. I haven't tried it yet, but what girl doesn't love a free sample. Thank you, ULTA.
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Next up: Better Than Sex Mascara. This is by the brand Too Faced cosmetics and I purchased the waterproof version of this one. There's a regular version that comes in light pink packaging and then the waterproof in light blue packaging. I wanted the waterproof version because it's summer time which means lots of beach and pool time so waterproof is a must for me. I've heard nothing but good things about this mascara from everyone, so I thought I'd give it a whirl. I do wear false lashes on occasion, but I much prefer to avoid that extra step on a day to day basis. And Better Than Sex mascara is supposed to be like wearing false lashes, so of course - I'm intrigued and have to try it out. I, however, am really picky about my mascara and the only one I have ever truly loved is Clinique High Impact and recently Superhero by IT Cosmetics. That being said, I purchased the sample size so I can try it out and make sure it's definitely going to work for me and my pickiness before commiting to purchasing a full tube. I'm so excited about trying this one out. (Trial size $12.00)
My next purchase: Mario Badescu Skincare Aloe Vera Toner. As an avid lover of Aloe Vera I wanted to try this toner. I use Lemon Witch Hazel every morning on my face to wakeup my skin and give me that morning rush from the yummy citrus smell. It's like walking into Jamba Juice and being envoloped in that delicious fruity smell that just wakes you up instantly. But my bottle of Witch Hazel is running low and I wanted to try this new Aloe Vera Toner. So in my bag it went. ($15.00)
Did I mention how much I love Aloe Vera?? Because I do. Like seriously. LOVE IT. As someone who lives in the kitchen, Aloe Vera is a must. It treats burns and cuts instantly. And as someone who enjoys the beach - Aloe Vera is great for aftersun fun. With that being said.... it should be no surprise that my next item is Aloe Vera Soothing Gel by SKINFOOD. I purchased this container because it says it has 93% Aloe Vera. I like that. I also like that it's a pretty big container for only $8.00. And apparently other people like that too, because there was only one container left on the shelf. So in my bag it went.
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Ahhh yes. The main reason I went to Ulta. I wanted to use my $10.00 coupon on Neutrogena Hydro Boost hydrating serum. Back story: I had been using Murad for a long time - like many years. I loved it. I still do. It's what my Facialist always uses on my skin during our appointments. It's amazing. It really is. But, and this to me is a really big BUT, you can't buy it at CVS, Walgreens, RiteAid, Albertsons, Target, etc..... you have to buy it from your facialist, from the official Murad website or at a fancy store like Ulta. To me, that got old. I ran out one evening and needed more but they don't sell it at CVS which is open 24 hours.
Now, I had seen the Hydro Boost line before and wanted to try it. It was intriguing to me but I didn't need it. However, on this night I NEEDED something. So, I bought Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel. I went to the store at like 9:00pm and was home at about 9:12pm. It was easy, fast and convenient. And I am loving it! If Murad was easier to get my hands on in a pinch, I wouldn't have switched. But I'm glad I tried this new line. It feels SO good on my skin. My skin just drinks it up. And with my CVS points and coupons and the deal they had, I paid next to nothing for it. Fast forward a few months and at Costco they had a value pack: Full size container of the water gel AND the eye cream for $24.99. Each of these items full size containers is about $19.99 so both together for $24.00?!?! Are you kidding me?!?! I bought two packs right then and there! Since then I have gone through 2 containers of the water gel and am on my third. I seriously love it. It's so luxurious and amazing. It's life in a tiny jar. That said, obviously, I decided to try more from the line. Next I bought the cleansing gel - loved it! And now at Ulta, I purchased the Serum I had been dying to try out. So far my skin and I have loved all the items in the lineup, so I should love this one too. Being able to get my hands on it whenever I want it or need it makes the $19.99 worth it.
Now, I had seen the Hydro Boost line before and wanted to try it. It was intriguing to me but I didn't need it. However, on this night I NEEDED something. So, I bought Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel. I went to the store at like 9:00pm and was home at about 9:12pm. It was easy, fast and convenient. And I am loving it! If Murad was easier to get my hands on in a pinch, I wouldn't have switched. But I'm glad I tried this new line. It feels SO good on my skin. My skin just drinks it up. And with my CVS points and coupons and the deal they had, I paid next to nothing for it. Fast forward a few months and at Costco they had a value pack: Full size container of the water gel AND the eye cream for $24.99. Each of these items full size containers is about $19.99 so both together for $24.00?!?! Are you kidding me?!?! I bought two packs right then and there! Since then I have gone through 2 containers of the water gel and am on my third. I seriously love it. It's so luxurious and amazing. It's life in a tiny jar. That said, obviously, I decided to try more from the line. Next I bought the cleansing gel - loved it! And now at Ulta, I purchased the Serum I had been dying to try out. So far my skin and I have loved all the items in the lineup, so I should love this one too. Being able to get my hands on it whenever I want it or need it makes the $19.99 worth it.
Now, this item I did NOT get at Ulta but I did get it at CVS on my way home from Ulta... so I am counting this in the haul. I did not even see this on the shelf at Ulta or I would have thrown it in my bag as well. I also did not see it on the Neutrogena website when I was doing my prestore research. But this is the Hydro Boost exfoliating cleanser... again.... I cannot wait to use it. This was only $9.99 at CVS but with my coupon (you know that looooooong reciept they always give you?!? - it has some good deals!) it ended up being $8.00. So now I have the ENTIRE Hydro Boost line in my hands and am BEYOND excited to use it all. I use my old containers of gel to hold other makeup products like my RCMA powder - it works very well for that.
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Of course what would a trip to ULTA be without a little makeup, right??? I always scan the clearance area - always. It's a great way to try some products out that maybe don't offer trial or sample sizes. I found some ULTA lip crayons for $1.99 and one was open so I rubbed it on my forarm and it felt really soft. So I picked out one in every color. Well, I accidentally grabbed two of Sugar & Spice but at $1.99 I don't care. (Arm swatch left to right: Vintage, Prom Night, Sugar & Spice, American Girl, and Doll Face.)
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The last thing in my bag is a Lip Cream. It's by a brand I have never seen or heard of but the color caught my eye. I enjoy a good nude color and this one looked so pretty in the store swatched on my arm. It's Velvet Matt Lip Cream by Catrice Cosmetics in the shade MidNude Season. ($5.24... in the swatch below it's the very last color on the right closest to the tube.)
I was in ULTA for about an hour cruising the isles for all these items and looking for deals. I'm glad I found a few but the sweetest deal is being able to use my points earned on previous purchases to pay for this haul. For all of the items listed above, I only had to pay $9.64. Sweet, baby!!!
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