#I would buy both but I am not spending forty fucking dollars on socks

[sparrowsfallingfromthesky]

[tcobeauty]

The Ulta Diaries: 20% Off  + 10x Points

Here's a rundown of a couple of big ole Ulta beauty hauls, as I am so prone to succumbing to. Once AGAIN my timing was terrible, however; either that, or Ulta has some kind of surveillance on me to send me even more good deals and whatnot immediately after I've just ordered something (in this case, it was 20% everything followed by 10x points for Platinum Customer Appreciation Day). Like, it's BAD, y'all, but somehow in the best way possible? If that makes sense? Which I know it doesn't, and I don't care?

I finally got my paws on the last two elements of my SkinFood Black Sugar collection: the Bubble Foam (which I love) and the Cleansing Tissue (which I don't). They have all have that lovely, slightly citrusy scent and soft texture of the other Black Sugar products, but the Cleansing Tissues themselves are somehow both rough and flimsy, and it took two to get a full face of makeup off and still left a ton of eye makeup behind. So far, there are no usurpers to the Burt's Bees face wipes throne, and I'm not sure there ever will be (which is why I picked up another pack of those, too).

Sea greens and luscious, scrubby, buttery body care? Uh, yes please! I bought this H2O+ trio of body wash, scrub, and butter these to take on a vacation that was supposed to be beach-bound but then multiple hurricanes happened. So I didn't get quite as tropical as I would have liked, but I did bring along nothing but sea botanical skincare and haircare and natural makeup and was able to relax a bit and at least pretend I was near an ocean. So along with stocking up on some supplies and some maintenance items on sale, overall I was able to get a pretty good deal on this whole first 20% off haul.

Then I just had to go and get shit with points, too, because it was Platinum Appreciation day like two days after I received that 20% order and Ulta was doing 10x points for one day only and I am weak and the wages of over-purchasing is psychic death and I don't care who knows it. I actually needed the Physicians' Formula MineralWear powder, and then I rationalized the Zanzibar Marine Complex shampoo and conditioner for my vacation self-care aesthetic, so at least I got that going for me, right?

Because I am a basic bitch at heart, and because they were part of the 10x Points selection, I had to get my mitts on these Julep colors: one for Libra, my sun sign, and my birthstone for October. We won't get into the fact "Pink Tourmaline" is NOT the real October birthstone. I was going to swipe this gorgeous pearly pink on my toes for my birthday, but I'm fairly certain I have a lovely fungus from wearing nail polish all summer long and refusing to wear socks with sneakers (THEY JUST LOOK BAD, OKAY), so I'm giving them a breather this month and dousing everything in tea tree oil twice a day. I think I'll still be giving the Libra a go regardless, given that I'm trying to grow out some real talons and need a little lacquer support to get there.

At last, the pièce de résistance: this H2O+ peel-off Matcha mask that retails at nearly FORTY FUCKING DOLLARS for TWO OUNCES of product. If I had read the description more closely, I would not have even bothered with it, but there was an H2O+ promo (hence the new hand cream as well), and it was obviously on sale. I haven't tried it out yet, but that shit had better peel away my entire face to reveal a new one at that price. Like, I laughed out loud in shock when I realized this is the full size and I pity the fool who actually pays full price for it. I haven’t tried it yet, though, so who knows? It may actually be magical.

Total Paid: $191.51 / Value: $303 Savings: $111.49 / 37%

The first 20% off haul was a much better value overall, given the added discount,  but the total isn't too terrible compared to some of my more low-savings hauls. I'm telling you all: the points are my plague. I hate not having them, and I hate having to collect them to get any rewards anymore. I hate that in many cases having more points means you earn more points, which makes me want to hoard them to earn more, which means I never end up actually spending them, and then when I do, it's usually because I want to combine it with a sale or promo, and the companies have wised up to that shit and won't let you pull that anymore.

I just want to buy nice things that make me feel good, but for as much value as I can possibly get, and I don't think that's asking too much (which, of course it is when it comes to capitalist materialism and western heteronormative beauty standards, but that's why we have work to do, always).