May 2021 Haul#1 Lights Lacquer and Ulta

Hey doll hey!!! How’s your day/night going? Mine is going pretty good today. Moderate pain levels, plenty of energy (despite not being able to sleep more than 2 hours last night) and I got some goodies in the mail today 🥰.

I had a Nephrology appointment today. They did ultrasounds of my kidneys and didn’t find any deterioration in either of my kidneys, I still have stage 3 kidney disease but it’s good to know it hasn’t progressed.

Well…. On to today’s haul…..

*As always… All products listed I purchased myself, all links provided are purely for convenience purposes to help you find the product quickly and are in no way affiliate links. The swatches are done on clean bare skin with no primer and are done in 1 swipe, pictures to the left/top are taking without flash and the right/bottom with flash*

Starting with Lights Lacquer:

From left to right:

Talk to the Hand Duo ($22 for 12 mL each on the Lights Lacquer website for both the top and base coats) is billed as a long lasting manicure with this iconic base (gripping) and top coat (long lasting and fast drying).

Marie ($9.50 for 12 mL on the Lights Lacquer website) is billed as a Warm Pink Jelly that is self leveling and long lasting with a cushion based formula that is highly pigmented.

Nebula ($9.50 for 12 mL on the Lights Lacquer website) is billed as a Lavender Shimmer with an ultra fine Blue/Gold holographic that is self leveling and long lasting with a cushion based formula that is highly pigmented.

My Jam ($9.50 for 12 mL on the Lights Lacquer website) is billed as an Ultra Violet Purple with Grape Jam Hues that is self leveling and long lasting with a cushion based formula that is highly pigmented.

Left picture is 1 coat the right picture is 2 coats.

First Impressions: None of these shades are highly pigmented at all, however I prefer it that way. I would rather have 2 thin coats than have 1 full pigment coat because the manicure lasts longer that way. Out of the 3 shades I chose my favorite by far is Nebula… in person this shade is a stunner!!

Now on to the Ulta part of this haul:

Milani Make It Dewy Setting Spray Hydrate + Illuminate + Set ($9.99 for 60 mL/ 2.03 fl oz at Ulta) is billed as being able to rime, set and hydrate skin while also giving your brightness a boost that delivers just the right dose of dewy to your complexion with a cooling, refreshing feeling, while locking in your makeup for up to 16 hours without creasing, smudging or fading! Spray under or over makeup, or wear on its own for a healthy radiance. Keep it in your makeup bag for the perfect glow on the go!

First Impressions: I don’t really have any really, I love the original version so I thought I’d try the dewy version out. I mean, it’s a setting spray… it’s meant to take down the powder to melt it into the skin and help with makeup longevity.

Face Halo PRO ($22 for a 3 pack at Ulta) is billed as being designed in collaboration with professional makeup artists that works best for those heavier makeup days. It effectively removes makeup using revolutionary HaloTech fibers which are 100 times finer than a human hair. Chemically inert and pH neutral, the Face Halo PRO removes makeup and impurities using water only. Perfect for any skin type or sensitivity. Soft and plush, no need to rub or scrub.

First Impressions: I’ve used these for about a year now and I can’t imagine my night time skin routine without it. It’s gentle and works even on the hardest of makeup to remove.

E.L.F. Cosmetics Putty Blush Brush ($4 at Ulta Online only) is billed as a brush that easily picks up cream and putty formulas to assist in easy application and blending, creating an air-brushed effect. Its duo fibers help apply products with a diffused look or build up for a bold pop of color.

First Impressions: It’s just a flat duo fiber brush, nothing special. I just needed another cream blush brush and so I thought I’d give it a shot.

NYX This Is Milky Gloss Lip Gloss ($8.50 for 4 mL/ 0.13 fl oz at Ulta) is billed as a new generation of hydrating lip gloss, infused with vegan milk! A single swipe delivers a buildable splash of milky color with an ultra-glassy shine, serving 12 hours of quenching hydration for your lips. Available in 8 milky shades with a sweet addictive scent. Featuring a vegan formula with no animal-derived ingredients or by-products, all NYX Professional Makeup products are proudly cruelty-free and PETA certified.

The shade I chose is Moo-dy Peach (a sheer coral).

First Impressions: This is a super sticky lip gloss that smells like brownies with a subtle color payoff.

Benefit Cosmetics Watt’s Up! Champagne Cream Highlighter ($30 for 9.76 mL/ 0.33 oz at Ulta) is billed as a delicate champagne glow that’s gorgeous. With a cream-to-powder finish…it’s a switch on “wow” for all complexions. You’ll adore the smooth applicator & luminous sheen.

First Impressions: This cream highlighter is so pretty, very soft focus with the perfect amount of peach in it blend well with my skin tone. It’s a bit drier of a formula than I am use to with cream products but I think it should be fine as long as I apply it before foundation.

LA Girl Shockwave Eyeliner ($4.49 1.18 mL/ 0.04 oz at Ulta) is billed as full-coverage, bold neon & metallic finishes. Get up to 16-hour wear and sharpen after use.

It comes in 10 shades… This one is called Electric

First Impressions: This formula is super creamy and very pigmented. It also appears that it will be long wearing because I had a world of time trying to remove all 3 shades off the back of my hand.

LA Girl Shockwave Eyeliner ($4.49 1.18 mL/ 0.04 oz at Ulta) is billed as full-coverage, bold neon & metallic finishes. Get up to 16-hour wear and sharpen after use.

It comes in 10 shades… This one is called Ocean and is a bit more turquoise than it appears in the pictures.

LA Girl Shockwave Eyeliner ($4.49 1.18 mL/ 0.04 oz at Ulta) is billed as full-coverage, bold neon & metallic finishes. Get up to 16-hour wear and sharpen after use.

It comes in 10 shades… This one is called Dragon and has a black base to it. This one was so much softer than the other 2 and broke when I swatched it.

L.A.Girl Desert Dream Eyeshadow Palette – VIP ($15.99 for 35 g/ 1.23 oz of total product, making it $0.99 a shade at Ulta) is billed as a 16 color eyeshadow palettes are headlining the show with bright and bold colors for our baddies who love to do the most. If you vibe with the warm tones like soft coral, pops of yellow, and gold shimmer eyeshadows (think flower crown queen of the festival), then the V.I.P. palette is where we’d find you. Maybe the edgy look is more your flex, with blazing greens, and daring blues (you know, the person at the show turning heads wherever they walk), then the Main Stage palette is where we’ll meet you. Put these two together and you have the full spectrum of pigmented, rainbow eyeshadows to create the next viral makeup look. Try it with the Desert Dream Liquid Glitter Shadow to add extra sparkle to your look!

First Impressions: The shadows were all super pigmented and finely milled. There are some super metallics in the palette that were a tad flaky but I expected that since the other 2 LA Girl palettes I own has the same issue… nothing too serious but worth noting. The color story is super spring like and well thought out.

From left to right the shades are: Guest List (Icy White – metallic), Basic (flesh cream – matte), Escape (coral with a silver flip – metallic), Lit (lemon yellow – metallic), Flower Crown (light rose with a sliver flip – metallic), Feels (mid toned coral – matte), Exclusive (red based orange – metallic) and Sunshine (bright yellow – matte).

From left to right the shades are: Take a Pic (dusty mauve – matte), Vibez (deep coral – metallic), For the Gram (burnt orange – matte) and G.O.A.T (deep gold – metallic), Extra (rose gold with a copper flip – metallic), #OOTD (red based coral- matte), Road Trip (dusty mid toned brown – matte), and Baddie (copper metallic).

L.A.Girl Desert Dream Eyeshadow Palette – Mainstage ($15.99 for 35 g/ 1.23 oz of total product, making it $0.99 a shade at Ulta) is billed as a 16 color eyeshadow palettes are headlining the show with bright and bold colors for our baddies who love to do the most. If you vibe with the warm tones like soft coral, pops of yellow, and gold shimmer eyeshadows (think flower crown queen of the festival), then the V.I.P. palette is where we’d find you. Maybe the edgy look is more your flex, with blazing greens, and daring blues (you know, the person at the show turning heads wherever they walk), then the Main Stage palette is where we’ll meet you. Put these two together and you have the full spectrum of pigmented, rainbow eyeshadows to create the next viral makeup look. Try it with the Desert Dream Liquid Glitter Shadow to add extra sparkle to your look!

First Impressions: I love that there is a mix of pastel and neon shades all in the same palette. The color story is very well executed and I love that the black isn’t super saturated because pastels are hard to deepen with a deep black but pair well with a dustier black.

From left to right the shades are: Line Up (Icy Blue with silver flip – metallic), Thirsty (Light periwinkle – metallic), Light Show (light grey blue with a coral flip – metallic), Viral (true coral – metallic), Wrist Band (pastel green – matte), Sky High (pastel blue – matte), Ferris Wheel (pastel dust purple – matte) and Flex (dusty berry – matte).

From left to right the shades are: SSS (neon green- matte), Head Liner (neon blue – matte), Merch (deep purple – metallic), AYYY (deep berry – metallic), Shuffle (lime green – metallic), Backstage (deep blackened sapphire – metallic), All Nighter (deep blackened purple – metallic) and Black Out (dusty black – matte).

L.A.Girl Under The Palm 16 Color Eyeshadow Palette ($15.99 for 35 g/ 1.23 oz of total product, making it $0.99 a shade at Ulta) is billed as a limited-edition Hey Hey Vacay Eyeshadow Palettes from L.A. Girl. Each soft, pigmented shadow gives major vacay vibes in the Under The Palm 16 Color Eyeshadow Palette.

First Impressions: The color story for this palette is my whole world! There is coral, army green and a nice meld of neutrals.

From left to right the shades are: Naked (peachy beige – matte), No Regrets (champagne beige – metallic), Sandy Toes (peachy tan – matte), Vibin’ (copper with a slight coral flash – metallic), Bucket List (pale coral with a peach flip – metallic), R+R (muted orange based coral – matte), Summer (mid toned orange based coral – matte) and Coral (red based coral – metallic).

From left to right the shades are: Panoramic (moss green – metallic), Mojitos (army green – metallic), Scenic Route (burnished gold – metallic), Coconuts (bronze with an orange flip – metallic), BRB (deep moss green- metallic), Palms (deep olive green – matte), Explore (grey based mid-toned brown – matte) and Unplugged (dusty deep brown – matte).

L.A.Girl Good Times And Tan Lines 16 Color Eyeshadow Palette ($15.99 for 35 g/ 1.23 oz of total product, making it $0.99 a shade at Ulta) is billed as a limited-edition Hey Hey Vacay Eyeshadow Palettes from L.A. Girl. Each soft, pigmented shadow gives major vacay vibes in the Under The Palm 16 Color Eyeshadow Palette.

First Impressions: This palette is HEAVEN! The corals, sea green/turquoise and tans pair perfectly together…. this has got to be the most stunning color story I have ever seen!

From left to right the shades are: Seashells (Icy white with a slight yellow shift – metallic), SPF(vanilla beige – matte), Glowin’ (pale coral with a peach flip – metallic), Sandals (soft coral – matte), Memories (Rose with a slight gold flip – metallic), Bikini (dusty mauve based coral – matte), Heat (bright red based coral – matte) and XOXO (peach with a coral flip – metallic).

From left to right the shades are: Poolside (sea green – metallic), Take a Dip (teal – matte), Sea Ya (deep turquoise – matte), OG Maui (deep teal with a turquoise flip – metallic), Sunkissed (copper – metallic), Tan Lines (tan – matte), Take Me (deep chocolate brown – metallic) and Tropi-cool (mid-toned red based brown – matte).

Well dolls… that’s all for this haul. I hope you enjoy your day/night and that you are in great spirits and health.

Hey spoonies… remember…. save a spoon for a bit of lipstick.

xoxo, Nita