June 2021 Haul #2 Ulta

Hey doll hey! How’s your day/night going? Great I hope. I’m doing pretty good. Still working on the dress I’m going to wear at my niece’s wedding and also grading up the dress I’ll be sewing for my wedding vow renewal. I haven’t had much time to do my makeup since I’m working feverishly to get these 2 dresses finished in time… and that’s ok… because even though I didn’t use a spoon for makeup… I still used a spoon for something that enriches me… although grading up the pattern for my dress does take a lot out of me since I have to work on the floor on top of a drafting board, which means having to bend a heap to get up and down from the floor… which in turn zaps my energy… I still am getting about 3 to 4 hours of ME TIME… which is very important when you have an auto-immune illness… we tend to burn all our energy on making our households run smoothly but then have nothing left to enrich our minds, bodies and souls. This is what I mean by saving a spoon for a bit of lipstick… it’s to remind my fellow spoonies out there that you have got to spend some of your daily energy to do something special, good and enriching for YOURSELF too.

But I digress… I’m actually here to do another haul post…. it may be my last haul for awhile as I want to focus my beauty budget into our nuptials and out up coming trip up north. I’ve already purchased the flower tiara and fabric for my dress, I still need to get shoes and jewelry and I’m still not sure what theme I want to go with for the reception hall. So much to do and so little time ( 😉).

Now…..

On to the 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*

Pattern Treatment Mask ($25 for 443.6 ml / 15 fl oz of product at Ulta) is billed as being great for coilies & tight textures when your hair needs a spa day. This product is rice water-infused and delivers slip, curl elongation and definition to coils. Formulated with softening and strengthening ingredients such as Rice Water Ferment and Moringa Seed Extract in a nod to ancestral, at-home remedies, your hair will be left hydrated, silky and pampered.

It’s key scent notes are: orange blossom and geranium.

Pattern is the hair care brand launch by actress and singer Tracee Ellis Ross.

First Impressions: This product is not what I was expecting. I though it would be a white cream based product. Not the case at all. It’s a clear oil based product. I plain to use it once a month but I think this may be too rich of a product for my 3c curls… I’ll test it out and get back to you.

Pattern Clarifying Shampoo ($20 for 230.7 ml / 7.8 fl oz of product at Ulta) is billed as being great for curlies, coilies & tight textures when you need a fresh start that removes build-up, revives the scalp and gives hair a fresh start without stripping away the healthy oils of your tresses. The formula features antioxidant-rich Matcha Green Tea, Aloe Vera and Panthenol to promote strong hair. A deep clean can be especially helpful for low porosity hair types wanting to keep their cuticle open to receiving moisture.

It’s key scent notes are: exotic floral mélange of Jasmine, Bergamot & Sweet Sandalwood and this shampoo smells Devine.

No First Impression because I’ve already been using this product. This is just a repurchase. This shampoo gets it all out and yet is not harsh on the hair at all. I love the scent and the way my scalp and hair feel after. It’s gentle enough to use weekly without stripping the hair.

Pattern Intensive Conditioner – For Tight Textures ($25 for 384.5 ml/ 13 fl oz of product at Ulta) is billed as being great for tight textures (4b-4c curls) – when your scalp & hair need some extra TLC and is an ultra-hydrating conditioner formulas where tighter textures can seriously indulge. Perfect for low porosity hair struggling to get moisture to seep into strands, our powerful formula is packed with ingredients like Avocado Oil, Shea Butter, Safflower Oil & Acacia Decurrens Flower to help protect against breakage & dryness while leaving definition behind after rinse-out. Restore your curl pattern in this deep-conditioning experience.

The key scent notes are: Neroli, Rose & Patchouli.

First Impressions: This smells so darn good! I know I only have 3c hair but every once in a while I like to pamper my hair with an extra lux conditioner since from time to time my hair tends to feel a bit dry.

KVD Beauty ModCon Liquid-Gel Blush ($26 for 12 ml / 0.4 fl oz of product at Ulta and Sephora) is billed as a lightweight, long-wear liquid-gel blush for a modern, dewy, jelly skin look. It comes in 4 shades I purchased the shade Dewality (coral).

First Impressions: I am seriously disappointed with this product. It claimed to be super pigmented and as you can see from the swatches it’s not. It also looked a bit patchy so I tested it on my cheek… as you can see, very little color payoff and patchy performance and all I did was tap it in with my finger… I didn’t use a sponge or a brush and still this product doesn’t preform well at all. I did it on bare skin just to be sure to give the blush every opportunity to prove me wrong… and it failed miserably.

I don’t return products I’ve tested and hated often… I tend to just pass them off to someone who has been wanting to try it out… with this one it’s so horrible that it’s going back to Ulta… this is a solid F for me.

NARS Liquid Blush ($30 for 15 ml / 0.5 fl oz of product at Ulta and Sephora) is billed as a one drop won’t stop liquid blush effortlessly glides on skin for a lasting glow. One pump delivers the perfect amount of natural – looking color. Ideal for mixing textures: layer over powder blush for high – impact color, or apply first for a diffused effect. Go with the glow. It comes in 3 shades but Ulta only sells the shade Orgasm (sheer warm pink with gold shimmer).

First Impressions: This blush is beautiful and a little goes a very long way. I think 1 dot will be enough for both cheeks. I loved it so much I’m going to purchase the shade Torrid (warm coral with golden shimmer).

ColourPop High Tide Eyeshadow Palette ($14 for 9 g / .3 oz of total product at Ulta so it’s $1.55 for 0.33 oz each shade) is billed as a monochromatic aqua pressed powder palette. Featuring a range of pastel aquas to deep & sultry aquas for the ultimate mermaid look. Finish: Mattes & Metallics.

First Impressions: Oh baby am I in love!! This has got to be hands down my favorite monochromatic palette ever made! It’s got it all… a super light shade for highlighting, several mid- tone shades and 2 different deep tone shades… there is so much diversity in this palette that I know I can get a full week of looks with this palette. In this palette my favorite shade is Must Sea followed by Lunar.

The shades from left to right are: Just a Splash (soft pastel aqua with silver pin points – sequin matte), Currents (mid-tone sea foam green – matte), Free Floatin’ (silvery aqua – metallic), Urchin (rich deep teal -matte), Must Sea (vibrant aqua with a golden flip – metallic), Flora (smoky teal – matte), Mermaid Boy (smoky teal with green duo chrome under a black base – metallic), New Wave (bright teal -matte) and Lunar (blackened teal – matte).

Kylie Cosmetics Kylighter ($20 reg price but on sale for $8 at Ulta for 9.5 g / 0.34 oz of product) *this was a gift with purchase* is billed as your secret weapon to create the perfect Kylie Jenner glow. Each Kylighter single comes with 1 pressed illuminating powder highlighter that can be used to recreate Kylie’s favorite looks or customize your own.

It comes in 5 shades this one is in the shade Cheers Darling (light champagne gold).

First Impressions: I have never wanted to purchase anything from any of the Kardashians. Honestly I find them to be overly hyped for absolutely no reason. Never been a fan of their show and honestly their makeup lines are boring, over priced and way to hyped up. So I wasn’t really excited to get this gift with purchase and had fully intended to gift it to one of my nieces however it seems to be a super pretty highlighter and I think I will test it out after all. I still wont purchase anything from their lines but it was free and I’m keen to use it.

And that wraps up this haul post….

I hope you enjoy the rest of your day/night and that you are in great spirits and health.

Remember… Save a spoon for a bit of lipstick.

XOXO, Nita