Makeup! Clothes! "Girly stuff" thread

[yasscat]

Tangentially beauty related, but I'm kind of irritated with Sephora. I'm a VIB Rouge, so I get free shipping on all of my orders. The past two years, the free shipping was two-day shipping and now they've changed it to three. I assume that it became prohibitively expensive to continue two-day shipping, but they had been slipping on that front for a while. Toward the end of the year, I never got anything in two days. They'd give me a two-day shipping estimate and then another day or two would always get tacked on somewhere en route.

Three-day shipping isn't really all that expedited. 3-5 days is regular ground shipping. So, basically, Sephora is sending me things the same way they send everyone else's things, but they still want me to feel special so I don't stop spending at least a thousand dollars a year in their store, so they're just going to pretend I'm still getting things faster.

I don't need to get things faster, so I'm not super pissed about it, but it's kind of indicative of Sephora not really knowing how to make the Rouge tier attractive to people who can spend their money elsewhere, like Ulta, where your reward points have a monetary value. Sephora needs to reevaluate its rewards program, I think. I would shop at Ulta more often, but their shipping is garbage. They don't pack things well and your stuff comes to you broken.

This is one of the biggest reasons I almost exclusively shop at Ulta, except for Sephora-only exclusives. I was rouge for two years (one of which was the year rouge launched in the first place) and their benefits are just...super shitty. Meanwhile, I can go to Ulta and not only get points for getting my hair dyed or my eyebrows waxed, but also get double points (because I'm platinum), not to mention the promos they have like the one they're running now--all skin and hair services net you 5X the points. And you only need to spend $450 (or rather, have 450 points), which is super fucking easy if you're like me and frequent their salon and brow bar.

tl;dr: ulta >>>>>>> sephora

(I'm sorry you've had bad experiences with Ulta's shipping...I've never had a problem with things I've ordered online, but I've only ordered online like...four? five? times. Have you contacted customer service about it? If enough people complain, they might switch to better shipping materials/packing methods.)

 

[Broken Pussy]

This is one of the biggest reasons I almost exclusively shop at Ulta, except for Sephora-only exclusives. I was rouge for two years (one of which was the year rouge launched in the first place) and their benefits are just...super shitty. Meanwhile, I can go to Ulta and not only get points for getting my hair dyed or my eyebrows waxed, but also get double points (because I'm platinum), not to mention the promos they have like the one they're running now--all skin and hair services net you 5X the points. And you only need to spend $450 (or rather, have 450 points), which is super fucking easy if you're like me and frequent their salon and brow bar.

tl;dr: ulta >>>>>>> sephora

(I'm sorry you've had bad experiences with Ulta's shipping...I've never had a problem with things I've ordered online, but I've only ordered online like...four? five? times. Have you contacted customer service about it? If enough people complain, they might switch to better shipping materials/packing methods.)

I shop online a lot, because I live in a small town and going to an actual brick and mortar location requires a trip to the nearest small city. I always go to Sephora and Ulta when I'm in the city but I don't go to the city that often.

I think the packaging thing is a pretty widespread problem. I've read about it on multiple websites and I know that Christine from Temptalia has mentioned it a couple of times. They don't cushion things very well. A box from Sephora has layers of tissue and bubble wrap, and it seems like Ulta just throws your stuff in a box and hopes for the best. I'm always afraid to buy anything expensive from them. When I order perfume, for example, I cross my fingers until it gets to me.

 

[yasscat]

I shop online a lot, because I live in a small town and going to an actual brick and mortar location requires a trip to the nearest small city. I always go to Sephora and Ulta when I'm in the city but I don't go to the city that often.

I know that feel. The closest Sephora to me is about an hour away, and the closest Ulta (the one I go to most often because salon) is about 30 minutes away. (I live in a very small, very rural, college town.)

I think the packaging thing is a pretty widespread problem. I've read about it on multiple websites and I know that Christine from Temptalia has mentioned it a couple of times. They don't cushion things very well. A box from Sephora has layers of tissue and bubble wrap, and it seems like Ulta just throws your stuff in a box and hopes for the best. I'm always afraid to buy anything expensive from them. When I order perfume, for example, I cross my fingers until it gets to me.

I did notice the lack of padding, etc. in my Ulta packages...but I guess I just lucked out when nothing was broken. (I'm also only ordered stuff like shampoo, lotion, lipsticks, etc., so that might have had something to do with it.)

 

[Broken Pussy]

Then I signed into my Urban Decay account, and all of the points I had from their reward system expired on January 1st. Why do the points not roll over? Why do all these stores hate me when all,I want is to give them all my money?

Ugh.

 

[GRANDnumberofMULTIPLES]

I live about 10 minutes away from an ulta and have a couple sephoras within a 20-30 minute radius. I'm not much of an online shopper because for the most part I can get it nowNOWNOWNOWNOW if I really want/need it. But having ordered from both Sephora and Ulta online for something that wasn't in store, I can easily say that I would totally order anything over Sephora over Ulta online. The last time I ordered from Ulta everything was chucked into a box with no padding and one of the dude-scented cologne samples broke in transit which was fantastic when I opened the box up.

I've decided to go on a makeup/bodycare ban of sorts. I've already felt kind of disillusioned by seeing a lot of what looks like the same colors recycled in palettes, palettes with shitty pigmentation and high price tags, and not really feeling anything was an "I NEED THAT NOW" with the exception of the Modern Renaissance palette. I cleaned out a lot (like, where the fuck was all this stuff hiding) of old eyeshadows I'd never wear now, nasty creme blushes, and the like after New Year's and realized how much I fucking have. Duplicates of my favorite NYX eyeliner pencil out the wazoo out of that "oh shit better stock up" mentality. With the amount of shadows and blushes and other exciting scents and colors, I have no fucking need to be spending more money on more stuff.

My exception would be for running out of a primer, foundation, concealer, setting powder, or mascara. My choices for those don't really run over $10-$14. I still have gift cards for cosmetics but that's it. It's been fun shopping my hoard. My mom had given me a NARS Charade duo and I guess at the time the colors weren't my bag but I like them now.

I organized a lot of my Bath and Body Works/Lush/other bodycare on a three-tier IKEA cart with my makeup on the top tier. It's satisfying seeing how it fits. All my palettes (with the exception of two of the UD VICE and Lime Crime Venus because they're big) fit in a box on top and it's like my little card catalog I can page through. Blushes are in another little box with two spring/summer foundations. It's a hell of a lot easier to know what you have when you can see it.

 

[QB 290]

probably the wrong place to ask, but hell, i'll ask anyway
Does anyone have any recommendations for womens running trainers? Preferably ones you can buy in the UK?

 

[fire_fly]

I've decided to go on a makeup/bodycare ban of sorts. I've already felt kind of disillusioned by seeing a lot of what looks like the same colors recycled in palettes, palettes with shitty pigmentation and high price tags, and not really feeling anything was an "I NEED THAT NOW" with the exception of the Modern Renaissance palette. I cleaned out a lot (like, where the fuck was all this stuff hiding) of old eyeshadows I'd never wear now, nasty creme blushes, and the like after New Year's and realized how much I fucking have. Duplicates of my favorite NYX eyeliner pencil out the wazoo out of that "oh shit better stock up" mentality. With the amount of shadows and blushes and other exciting scents and colors, I have no fucking need to be spending more money on more stuff.

My exception would be for running out of a primer, foundation, concealer, setting powder, or mascara. My choices for those don't really run over $10-$14. I still have gift cards for cosmetics but that's it. It's been fun shopping my hoard. My mom had given me a NARS Charade duo and I guess at the time the colors weren't my bag but I like them now.

That's where I'm at right now. I'm going on a no-buy for a little bit, except for essentials. There isn't anything new that I can't live without anyway... I mean, I got three of the UD Vintage Vice lipsticks on sale for $11 each, but aside from that, I'm focusing on 1) investing in better basics and skincare and 2) getting through the mountain of lipsticks/lip glosses that I already have.

Of course, it helps that I've decided to give up eyeshadow, since my eyes won't tolerate it for more than a couple of hours now. So I'll just go and stare longingly at the palettes that I know better than to waste my money on...

Also, I've gone back to entirely shaving my eyebrows, so all the loose shadows I used to use for drawing them on will be seeing the light of day again, and I'm window-shopping so that when my tax return comes, I can get my brakes fixed and finally invest in some supplies to make my own lip glosses. I've been drooling over the new Geek Chic "Shadow Galactica" collection, particularly "Tin Puppet" and "Iron Crunch". I want to get samples and make lip glosses out of them (well, the ones that are lip-safe, of course).

 

[Broken Pussy]

I live about 10 minutes away from an ulta and have a couple sephoras within a 20-30 minute radius. I'm not much of an online shopper because for the most part I can get it nowNOWNOWNOWNOW if I really want/need it. But having ordered from both Sephora and Ulta online for something that wasn't in store, I can easily say that I would totally order anything over Sephora over Ulta online. The last time I ordered from Ulta everything was chucked into a box with no padding and one of the dude-scented cologne samples broke in transit which was fantastic when I opened the box up.

I've decided to go on a makeup/bodycare ban of sorts. I've already felt kind of disillusioned by seeing a lot of what looks like the same colors recycled in palettes, palettes with shitty pigmentation and high price tags, and not really feeling anything was an "I NEED THAT NOW" with the exception of the Modern Renaissance palette. I cleaned out a lot (like, where the fuck was all this stuff hiding) of old eyeshadows I'd never wear now, nasty creme blushes, and the like after New Year's and realized how much I fucking have. Duplicates of my favorite NYX eyeliner pencil out the wazoo out of that "oh shit better stock up" mentality. With the amount of shadows and blushes and other exciting scents and colors, I have no fucking need to be spending more money on more stuff.

My exception would be for running out of a primer, foundation, concealer, setting powder, or mascara. My choices for those don't really run over $10-$14. I still have gift cards for cosmetics but that's it. It's been fun shopping my hoard. My mom had given me a NARS Charade duo and I guess at the time the colors weren't my bag but I like them now.

I organized a lot of my Bath and Body Works/Lush/other bodycare on a three-tier IKEA cart with my makeup on the top tier. It's satisfying seeing how it fits. All my palettes (with the exception of two of the UD VICE and Lime Crime Venus because they're big) fit in a box on top and it's like my little card catalog I can page through. Blushes are in another little box with two spring/summer foundations. It's a hell of a lot easier to know what you have when you can see it.

Every time I try to go the no-/low-buy route, my makeup hoarder 'tism screams in protest.

 

[wifflypuff]

probably the wrong place to ask, but hell, i'll ask anyway
Does anyone have any recommendations for womens running trainers? Preferably ones you can buy in the UK?

It's going to depend on your feet. Someone with narrower feet might prefer Puma or Mizuno. I have wide feet, so New Balance is the way to go. Also depends if you do most of your running indoors or outdoors, trail running, etc.

 

[LD 3187]

probably the wrong place to ask, but hell, i'll ask anyway
Does anyone have any recommendations for womens running trainers? Preferably ones you can buy in the UK?

Adidas and Asics are both good brands with a wide range of prices. Also to add on what wifflypuff said it's important to know your kind of stepping, if you buy a shoe for the incorrect stepping you will be more prone to injuries and it won't be as comfortable. If you want specifics i like the Asics GT 1000 series, they aren't exactly cheap tho.

 

[bloodcoffee]

Any recommendations for translucent, loose powder? I bought a sample of the RCMA No Colour powder to try it, because even a full sized jar is cheaper than the Vichy one, and it has great reviews online. My No. 7 pressed powder is the perfect shade but seems to cake on this new foundation.

 

[Jack Me Hoff]

Any recommendations for translucent, loose powder? I bought a sample of the RCMA No Colour powder to try it, because even a full sized jar is cheaper than the Vichy one, and it has great reviews online. My No. 7 pressed powder is the perfect shade but seems to cake on this new foundation.

Everyone in this thread seems to use far more expensive products than me but I like the NYX loose powder.

 

[Fareal]

Sigh. I know the answer is a sad 'no', but what the hell, it's worth a try asking.

Hormonal spots. Usual places - chin, occasional hairline, usual times of month.

Does anyone have ANYTHING that will make the buggers go away other than the ol' hormonal contraception? It and I really, really do not get on and in any case, it made the bloody spots worse.

I'm too old for period spots. Help pls

 

[sea panther]

Sigh. I know the answer is a sad 'no', but what the hell, it's worth a try asking.

Hormonal spots. Usual places - chin, occasional hairline, usual times of month.

Does anyone have ANYTHING that will make the buggers go away other than the ol' hormonal contraception? It and I really, really do not get on and in any case, it made the bloody spots worse.

I'm too old for period spots. Help pls

Unless you're hitting menopause, you're never too old for hormonal acne :') Long term use of birth control has really helped me, but for some people it does make it worse. Aside from asking your doctor for other options I think all you can do is have a good skin routine and a clean diet.

 

[Fareal]

Unless you're hitting menopause, you're never too old for hormonal acne :') Long term use of birth control has really helped me, but for some people it does make it worse. Aside from asking your doctor for other options I think all you can do is have a good skin routine and a clean diet.

we were doing just fine until the clean diet

I know you're right though, when I've made concerted efforts to Not Eat Like Shit it has been a bit better. But, y'know, vegetables.

 

[wifflypuff]

Sigh. I know the answer is a sad 'no', but what the hell, it's worth a try asking.

Hormonal spots. Usual places - chin, occasional hairline, usual times of month.

Does anyone have ANYTHING that will make the buggers go away other than the ol' hormonal contraception? It and I really, really do not get on and in any case, it made the bloody spots worse.

I'm too old for period spots. Help pls

I got hit hard with hormonal cystic acne after I turned 30. For me the Arcona skincare line was a godsend + benzoyl peroxide 10% on breakouts.

 

[GRANDnumberofMULTIPLES]

Yeah, with the hormonal stuff I would spot-treat with benzoyl peroxide (which will bleach fabric so be careful) and now that I don't use that any longer I actually use a little bit of the Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque as a spot treatment. That seems to calm down my trouble spots without irreversibly damaging my pillowcase or making my skin really tender and thin.

@bloodcoffee I use the NYX HD Finishing powder. Hasn't done me wrong or made me look cakey.

 

[wifflypuff]

Yeah, with the hormonal stuff I would spot-treat with benzoyl peroxide (which will bleach fabric so be careful) and now that I don't use that any longer I actually use a little bit of the Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque as a spot treatment. That seems to calm down my trouble spots without irreversibly damaging my pillowcase or making my skin really tender and thin.

@bloodcoffee I use the NYX HD Finishing powder. Hasn't done me wrong or made me look cakey.

SO MANY RUINED PILLOWCASES MY GOD. On the other hand- no more painful bullshit pustules on your face.

Seconding the Mint Julep masque too- stuff's a keeper.

I just picked up Cinema Secrets setting powder, which I prefer to the MUFE/NYX HD powder- doesn't leave a whitecast even if I get a little heavy handed with application.

 

[fire_fly]

Sigh. I know the answer is a sad 'no', but what the hell, it's worth a try asking.

Hormonal spots. Usual places - chin, occasional hairline, usual times of month.

Does anyone have ANYTHING that will make the buggers go away other than the ol' hormonal contraception? It and I really, really do not get on and in any case, it made the bloody spots worse.

I'm too old for period spots. Help pls

Birth control didn't make my hormonal acne go away, either, it just made it less. And, with the first one I took, I got all these other fun things to deal with alongside it, like hyperpigmentation, weight gain, and even more excessive hair than I had before. So I feel you. I wouldn't take the shit if I didn't have to.

And I know I recommend it for literally every skin issue, but these two things have improved my skin more than anything: oil cleansing and chemical exfoliation. Just make sure that if you go with the latter, you're never without SPF, because you'll wind up with even more problems than before.

 

[TheMightyMonarch]

I feel like I made a huge mistake

Recently, I got hair extensions. Mirco links, to be exact. But the person who put them in for me didn't really tell me how to take care of them, so a lot of them are falling out. It's pretty obvious just by looking at me that I have hair extensions because I have naturally really thick hair while my extensions are not as thick. Plus my extensions aren't as wavy as my actual hair. So I look stupid. Plus my hair is always tangled and I feel like it's too much to handle. I wasted a lot of money on something that wasn't even useful in the end and now I'm super broke. Ugh.

Rant over. Has anyone here ever gotten extensions before and if so, can they give me any advice?