My 2017 Beauty Booty, aka Sephora Stash

People read these! They really do. I get an unprecedented number of views whenever I post a haul. Why??? I don't know. But this is a super fun thing for me to post about, so if some of you enjoy it as well, yay!

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- Make Up For Ever Artist Plexi-Gloss in Pearly Plum (0.23oz, $20.00)

- Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Cosmic Gloss Lip Glitter in Gal On The Moon (0.34oz, $19.00)

- Urban Decay Vice Special Effects Long-Lasting Water-Resistant Lip Topcoat in Monarchy (0.16oz, $18.00)

- Caudalie Birthday Set - Vinosource Moisturizing Sorbet (GIFT: 0.33oz, ~$10.00) and Vinoperfect Radiance Serum (GIFT: 0.33oz, ~$26.07)

- Decorate with Lights Sample Bag (PROMO: Clinique Pep-Start Pout Perfecting Balm & Pep-Start Pout Restoring Night Mask, Kate Somerville Wrinkle Warrior 2-in-1 Plumping Moisturizer + Serum, Kiehl's Since 1851 Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado, Korres Greek Yoghurt Smoothie Priming Moisturizer, Living Proof Perfect Hair Day 5-in-1 Styling Treatment, NARS Liquid Blush, Stella by Stella McCartney EDP, Too Faced Hangover 3-in-1 Replenishing Primer & Setting Spray, Urban Decay Vice Special Effects Liquid Lipstick, Bright Crystal by Versace EDT)

- Black Opium by Yves Saint Laurent EDP sample

- Sauvage by Dior EDT sample

- Wildfox by Wildfox EDP sample

They say it's my birthday... nenner nenner nenner! That was supposed to be The Beatles. Anyhoo, in addition to needing to order my birthday present, there was a great sample bag as the promo and perfume for my regular samples. I rounded it out with a few new lippies from my favorite brands that I'd been eyeing. That birthday gift was amazing! Worth over $35!

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- Bumble and Bumble Thickening Hairspray Mini (2oz, $11.00)
- Bumble and Bumble Thickening Full Form Mousse Mini (1.4oz, $17.00)
- Bumble and Bumble Spray de Mode Flexible Hold Hairspray Mini (2.7oz, $16.00)
- Living Proof Restore Trio (a $21.00 value for $12.00)
- PROMO: $15 off an order over $50
- eaudemoiselle de Givenchy Romantic by Givenchy EDP sample*
- Polo Red Extreme by Ralph Lauren EDP sample*
- Sì Intense by Georgio Armani Beauty EDP sample*

*DID NOT RECEIVE

I'm *almost* embarrassed to say that I mainly placed this order for the fragrance samples (which I didn't even receive!)... BUT... I also found a promo code for $15 off any purchase of $50 or more. And since I'm also collecting haircare minis for several upcoming blog posts, in particular Ouidad, Bumble and Bumble, and Living Proof, I figured this was a good enough deal not to pass up.

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- Living Proof Style Lab Trial Kit (a $35 value for $29)
- Dylan Blue by Versace EDT mini (REWARD: 0.17oz, ~$14.00)
- Saint by Kat Von D EDP mini (REWARD: 0.15oz, ~$9.71)
- Moisturize and Be Merry Sample Bag (PROMO: Biossance 100% Squalane Oil mini, Reserve Warm Cotton by CLEAN EDP, Clinique Moisture Surge Hydrating Supercharged Concentrate mini, fresh Rose Face Mask mini, L'Occitane Cleansing & Softening Shower Oil with Almond Oil mini, 'Replica' Lazy Sunday Morning by Maison Margiela EDT, Smashbox Be Legendary Liquid Lip mini in Mauve Squad)
- Bel Azur by Tory Burch EDP sample
- eaudemoiselle de Givenchy Romantic by Givenchy EDP sample
- Peonia Nobile by Acqua Di Parma EDP sample

I had to have this promo. And the perfume samples. And the mini perfumes. And hell... might as well throw in some more Living Proof hair care. Seriously though, that "sample" bag is not even a sample bag. The only samples in the bunch are the perfumes. The rest are all deluxe and I estimate that the products and bag are worth over $50 combined. And that's conservative.

I finally had to spring for flash shipping. Only $10 per year and I buy a lot from Sephora. Totally worth it.

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- Sephora Collection Show Curl XL Lash Curler ($16.00 on sale for $9.00)
- Sephora Collection #Lipstories Lipstick in Festival Lights (0.14oz, $8.00)
- Sephora Collection #Lipstories Lipstick in Ice Breaker (0.14oz, $8.00)
- Yves Saint Laurent Tatouage Couture Liquid Matte Lip Stain trial size in Rouge Tatouage (PROMO: 0.1oz, ~$18.00)
- Bloom For Her by Gucci EDP sample*
- Decadence by Marc Jacobs Fragrances EDP sample
- Reserve Rain by CLEAN EDP sample

*DID NOT RECEIVE

I don't even no why I placed this order. I was probably just bored. People should take away my credit cards when I'm bored. I wouldn't have cared for the lipstick. That is not a color I would have ever picked for myself. Could I really have placed an order just for three perfume samples? Well, yes, I suppose we all know I could. But they're not special enough for such a lame order. I have tons more stuff on my loves list.

However, I would like to note that this order was pretty much the beginning of the end for my packages arriving with all of the items I purchased. From here out, I don't believe I ever got the samples I chose, which may not seem that important, but I have a blog! I want to review the stuff I pick out. If I place an order like the dud this one was, it's probably so I can review the products. All I've been able to deduce since then is that I paid for the free shipping, so now nothing is ever going to be right again???

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- Urban Decay O.N.S. Afterglow Highlighter Palette ($34.00 on sale for $19.00)
- Urban Decay Vice Lipstick in Earthling (0.11oz, $17.00 on sale for $8.50)
- Miu Miu by Miu Miu EDP trial size (PROMO: 0.1oz, ~$6.80)
- Grande Cosmetics GrandeLIPS Hydrating Lip Plumper sample*
- Laura Mercier Velour Extreme Matte Lipstick 8-count sampler*
- Tata Harper Regenerating Cleanser sample

*DID NOT RECEIVE

This is my first real foray into the world of highlighters. I know, right!? I'm about a year late to the party. I super fell in love with this Urban Decay palette and I was pretty psyched about the very earthy lipstick as well. I also was happy to get the trial sized perfume. I only wish I could have gotten three samples but if I was only getting one, I'm glad it was the cleanser because I am falling in love with Tata Harper products.

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- Sephora Collection Lip Powder in Gold Reserve (0.035oz, $12.00 on sale for $5.00)
- Bonbon by Viktor & Rolf EDP sample*
- Miu Miu L'eau Bleue by Miu Miu EDP sample
- Mon Guerlain by Guerlain EDP sample*

*DID NOT RECEIVE

I was a little surly from my last order, being the third time in a row not receiving some of my samples, when I decided to make this purchase. I was feeling like the customer care was declining since I signed up for free flash shipping. Since it was free, and I had a 20% off promo, I made a minimum purchase. And guess what!? I only got one of my samples... again. Talk about irritation on top of irritation. They got me back good, didn't they?
                                                                                                                    

Sephora Beauty Insiders:

By signing up to become a Beauty Insider, you open up a whole new world of Sephora awesomeness. Becoming a member is easy and free. You can do it in-store or online. When you sign up, you'll be assigned a card number that will automatically be applied to your purchases online, and can be scanned from your smart phone in-store. Pre-tax and pre-shipping, you'll receive one point for every dollar spent, excluding gift cards. However, if you use a gift card to pay, you will still receive points.

There's also a great app you can use to shop. Some of the perks of using the app are instant notifications that you will receive to notify you of exciting new opportunities. You'll also get app-only previews and promotions, be able to use the virtual artist program to try on various cosmetics, and be able to save all of your LOVES for future purchases.

Some of the other benefits of being a Beauty Insider are:

• Birthday Gifts each year that you are a member. Usually you can select from several options of minis worth $10-$20. There is no purchase necessary in-store and only a small minimum purchase required online. These can be redeemed anytime during your birthday month in-store, and two weeks before and after your birthday AND during your birthday month online.
• Rewards! Use your points in the Rewards Bazaar to get really cool deluxe samples of some of Sephora's favorite products. Use any amount from 100 points and up to access these great bonuses. Obviously, the more points, the more incredible the items. New rewards are constantly being added and some are even for trips, like to New York Fashion Week or to visit various spas and boutiques belonging to brands like Caudalie, Make Up For Ever, benefit Cosmetics, and more. Some even including travel!
• Access the Beauty Insider Community. You can join groups, participate in the forum discussions, and chat with other insiders to get info and recommendations. Complete your beauty profile to receive personalized makeup color matches.
• Free Beauty Classes where you can learn from an instructor the basics like skin care routines, all the way up to creating new makeup looks based on today's trends.

Once you've spent $350 in one calendar year you'll become a VIB (Very Important Beauty Insider), and if you spend $1,000 you'll attain Rouge status. Both of these add to the special privileges you can receive as a Beauty Insider. For example, as a VIB you'll also get to have one Free Makeover a year in Sephora stores and a Monthly Gift, which turns out to be basically another promo code especially for VIB's. A VIP Rouge member gets unlimited free makeovers, Free 2-day Shipping, and invitations to Private Events.

What's great about shopping online is you'll get to choose three Free Samples of sweet products from a list of 12, free shipping when you spend over $50 (or for any amount if you purchase Flash Shipping for $10 per year), AND PROMOS! Do not forget to enter a promo code for orders $25 and up. Some require a higher minimum purchase, but all of the free goodies are fabulous - deluxe samples, fantastic extras with select fragrance purchases, and occasionally makeup baggies full of perfume, skincare and makeup samples. There are even coupon codes for $10 off from time-to-time. You can find these promos on the site under Beauty Offers, by the promo entry space, or at coupon code sites such as Groupon or RetailMeNot. You supposedly cannot enter codes once they've been taken off the site, but I've found I can sometimes still enter a code in the first couple of days afterwards. Don't take my word for it! If you want something badly enough, place that order as soon as possible. Usually items are only added or removed on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

All samples, promotions, and rewards are first-come, first-serve, so if you see something you really want, make sure to grab it while you can. But don't worry. Even if you miss one, there are new items being added all of the time.

I've found that purchases in-store can be hit-or-miss when it comes to getting samples and other freebies. Some times they have nothing in the original packaging. Other times you might get something unbelievable like a deluxe sample of a really expensive face cream, etc. One thing is true for almost all stores is that a beauty expert will pack you up a sample of almost anything you want from their product selection.

One last thing... Sephora has a beauty subscription service call PLAY! PLAY is $10 per month (with free shipping) and you will be sent five to six samples and/or minis, in an adorable pouch, straight to your door. Included is a PLAY Pass that you can redeem in-store for 50 Beauty Insider points with a full-size purchase, AND a one-on-one consultation to learn how to use your products for that month. Look through some of my PLAY reviews to get an idea of what kind of goodies you can expect to receive with your subscription.