ULTA 21 DAYS OF BEAUTY: WEEK 3 PICKS

Charlotte Tilbury Setting Spray // IGK Dry Hair Leave-in Overnight Mask // MAC Fix+ Setting Spray // Dermalogica UltraCalming Cleanser // BeautyBlender Pro // IGK Gloss Top Coat // KVD Beauty Liquid Eyeliner // Kenra Pearl Detangler Spray // Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Foundation

The final week of Ulta's 21 Days of Beauty Spring Sale starts today. In case you missed the sale posts from over the last few weeks, every year Ulta hosts a 3-week long event with tons of makeup, skincare, hair products + fragrance items for 50% off of their original retail price. The usually host the sales 2-3 times a year and it's one of my favorite times to shop. You can score amazing, high-end products for 50% off which is pretty rare. The one kicker for the sale is that the items change out daily so when something's on sale, it's only good for that one day. You can shop both in-store + online though! Also another quick tip- Sephora is also currently matching the same deals on their site here + offering a few of their own items for 50% off too. I've also seen Amazon jump in some too- a few of the items they've price matched throughout the sale, others they haven't. It might be worth a check if you prefer to shop through them! 

To keep things from being too repetitive, I won't ramble on as long in today's post but I will link my Week 1 Sale Picks here and I'll link Week 2 Sale Picks here. If you're curious about more info on the sale or my recommendations for those weeks, you might enjoy revisiting those! 

**As always- here's your reminder to use Rakuten to earn some extra cash back if you're shopping online! I always plug them (not sponsored- I just love it and have been using it for years) because if you're not shopping with Rakuten, you're leaving extra money on the table. It's a free cash back "hosting" site where you can shop thousands of retailers and earn cash back on your purchases. I just looked at my own account and since signing up in 2012, I've earned over $1,100 by shopping through Rakuten! I tend to use it the most for places like Ulta, Sephora, Target, Nordstrom, etc. They have pretty much any national retailer you can think of and most places offer at least 1-2% cash back always, however you can sometimes earn up to 10-20% back! It definitely adds up over time and I use it every time I shop online.

Once again, *not sponsored* or obligated to share, however I do have a referral code if you want to sign up! If you use my code, after spending your first $30 through Rakuten (can be on any retailer), we'll both earn an additional $30 of cash back! I'll link my referral here if you want to sign up :)**

Alright, let's do this! Here are my top picks for Week 3 of Ulta's 21 Days of Beauty: 

ULTA 21 DAYS OF BEAUTY SALE PICKS: WEEK 3

+ Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray (Saturday, March 22nd; $11.50 sale price, regular $23)

+ IGK Antisocial Dry Hair Leave-in Mask (Saturday, March 22nd; $18 sale price, regular $36)  

+ MAC Fix+ Setting Spray (Friday, March 21st; $17 sale price, regular $34)  

+ Dermalogica UltraCalming Cleanser (Friday, March 21st; $22.50 sale price, regular $45)  

+ BeautyBlender Pro Blending Sponge (Saturday, March 22nd; $10 sale price, regular $20)

+ IGK Expensive Clear Gloss Top Coat (Saturday, March 22nd; $16 sale price, regular $32)  

+ KVD Beauty Waterproof Tattoo Liquid Eyeliner (Wednesday, March 26th; $12.50 sale price, regular $25)  

+ Kenra Pearl Detangler (Friday, March 21st; $13 sale price, regular $26)  

+ Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Foundation (Thursday, March 27th; $24.50 sale price, regular $49)  

-SHOP THE SALE ON SEPHORA HERE-

Do you have your eye on anything from the sale?

I love sharing my picks with you all! Should you click on or make a purchase through the links in this post, I'll earn some money to keep on shopping! Pretty cool, huh? :)

NEW AT ABERCROMBIE

Derby Sweatshirt // Denim Mini Dress // Lace Cami // Yankees Cap // Strawberry Hoodie // Halter Mini Dress // High Rise Jeans // Bronco Hoodie 

I love sharing my picks with you all! Should you click on or make a purchase through the links in this post, I'll earn some money to keep on shopping! Pretty cool, huh? :)

TOP 5 MOST POPULAR BLOG POSTS | 3.17.25

Happy St. Paddy's Day! In light of Ulta's current 21 Days of Beauty Sale, today's post got pushed back to today and Friday's post was my Week 2 Ulta Sale Picks. Every month around the halfway point, I like to share the top 5 most popular blog posts here on TheKristenDiary.com. The rationale for putting the most popular posts in the middle of the month versus at the end really boils down to the fact that the first time I ever shared one of these, I chose to upload it halfway through the month. I then liked the idea of capturing the last bit of the previous month with the beginning bit of the current month so we've been running with it ever since! It logically makes zero sense at all but I think that's kind of the fun for me? If you're a new reader, I also think these round-ups are a cool way to see some different content. A lot of my older posts tend to circulate within these lists each month so it's a nice mix within the regular, newly posted content I share weekly. Here's the line-up for March: 

1. SALT & STONE DEODORANT REVIEW + RESTOCK HAUL - For all my fellow "clean" deodorant lovers, Salt & Stone is my go-to. I've tried what feels like hundreds of non-toxic, aluminum free deodorants over the past 3-4 years. After countless brands and formulas, my favorite currently is still Salt & Stone. Their formula is the best one I've found so far, I love the packaging + the scent options. If you're someone interested in clean beauty, this blog post has a more in-depth review of my thoughts + the different scents I like. 

Read here: Salt & Stone Deodorant Review + Restock Haul 

2. OURA RING UNBOXING - I'm closing in on the three year mark of owning my Oura Ring! It is hands down one of my favorite splurges. I'm all about prioritizing my health and the Oura Ring provides great data and insight on sleep, activity, feminine health + more. I wear and sleep with in daily which makes tracking metrics seamless and very insightful. I also find it to be very accurate when it comes to how I'm feeling overall + my feminine cycle. For more info, check out my unboxing post here. I share all about the ring features, my ordering experience + more. 

Read here: Oura Ring Unboxing 

3. DESTINATION DISNEY | DIY DISNEY GIFT BASKET + DISNEY ESSENTIALS - Disney season is officially upon us! It's so fun to see this oldie post pop up in the most read posts each spring and summer. Several years back, I made this fun DIY Disney Gift Basket for my sister's birthday. She had planned a trip to Disney World with her bestie so I made her the basket, filled it with all things Disney and shared it in this post. I love that the post still gets lots of visitors every year- I had no clue it would end up being one of the most visited posts I've ever shared! If you're a Disney lover, have a trip planned or need a gift for another Disney lover- you might enjoy taking a scroll. I'll link the post here ;p 

Read here: Destination Disney | DIY Disney Gift Basket + Disney Essentials 

4. REVIEWING YASSO GREEK YOGURT BARS - I'm officially back on my fave fave Yasso Bars right now. It should really be no secret that I have a bit of a sugar problem- ya girl loves a sweet treat. Trying to balance that with a fitness plan and healthier eating can be tricky which is why I love these. They're greek yogurt "ice cream" bars that are a little more calorie/"diet" friendly but they still taste great and feel like an indulgence. Recently I also tried the poppables which are also a win! I chat a bit more about them in this review post + share my favorite flavors. 

Read here: Reviewing Yasso Greek Yogurt Bars 

5. LUXURY MAKEUP HAUL - Another post that spends a lot of time with the popular kids is this Luxury Makeup Haul from 2019. This was is from my early early days of blogging which is also crazy- it's wild I've been blogging on here since I think 2017! This one has stood the test of time and is my "oldie but a goodie" haul. I always say that because I still love and use many of the products I first bought in this post. I'm always a broken record whenever I talk about this post but the MAC Prep + Prime in Radiant Rose has changed my life since I first bought it here, ya'll. It's one of daily staples- I couldn't tell you how many I've repurchased over these past six years! I also have to give myself some props for the photo- not to shabby for a newbie, huh? I still think it's one of the best looking haul shots I've posted!  

Read here: Luxury Makeup Haul 

What kind of posts do you want to see for spring and summer?

I love sharing my picks with you all! Should you click on or make a purchase through the links in this post, I'll earn some money to keep on shopping! Pretty cool, huh? :)

ULTA 21 DAYS OF BEAUTY: WEEK 2 PICKS

Live Tinted Huestick Color Correctors // Peace Out Acne Redness Mist // Lancôme Lash Idôle Lash-Lifting Volumizing Mascara // Nudestix Nudies Glow // Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream // Dermalogica Daily Milkfoliant // OUAI Anti Frizz Creme // Bumble & Bumble Dryspun Texture Spray 

Week 2 of Ulta's 21 Days of Beauty kicks off today, March 14th! In case you missed the sale details, every year Ulta hosts a three week long sale event with tons of higher-end beauty products on major sale. The products and brands vary within makeup, skincare, haircare and fragrance and are all 50% off of their regular retail price. The only kicker is that the items change daily so sale prices for each item is only valid for one day only. You can shop both in-store or online at Ulta.com!

PS-- Sephora is also offering the same 50% off deals on the same items they also carry + some of their own sale picks! I will link the item's on their site below or you can shop here. I've also seen a few of the deal price matched here on Amazon too! 

Last week I shared my top picks for Week 1 of the sale- I'll link that post here just in case you want a little more info on the sale or are curious about what was on sale last week. I've been trying not to go too crazy but with prices this good, there are a few things I just can't resist! Would you want to see a haul of everything I've bought once the sale is over? Let me know! 

Let's get in to my Week 2 sale picks. All of my picks are the items that I'm the most interested in purchasing or are tried-and-true products that I love + would recommend. Over the years I've seen them included some of the same items over the years so it can be a good time to stock up on favorites as well as try out new products! 

**One last thing-- if you're shopping online, make sure you earn some extra cash back with Rakuten!! I always plug them (not sponsored- I just love it and have been using it for years) because if you're not shopping with Rakuten, you're leaving extra money on the table. It's a free cash back "hosting" site where you can shop thousands of retailers and earn cash back on your purchases. I just looked at my own account and since signing up in 2012, I've earned over $1,100 by shopping through Rakuten! I tend to use it the most for places like Ulta, Sephora, Target, Nordstrom, etc. They have pretty much any national retailer you can think of and most places offer at least 1-2% cash back always, however you can sometimes earn up to 10-20% back! It definitely adds up over time and I use it every time I shop online.

Once again, *not sponsored* or obligated to share, however I do have a referral code if you want to sign up! If you use my code, after spending your first $30 through Rakuten (can be on any retailer), we'll both earn an additional $30 of cash back! I'll link my referral here if you want to sign up :)** 

ULTA 21 DAYS OF BEAUTY SALE PICKS: WEEK 2

+ Live Tinted Huestick Color Correctors (Monday, March 17th; $13 sale price, regular $26)

+ Peace Out Acne Redness Mist (Sunday, March 16th; $14 sale price, regular $28)  

+ Lancôme Lash Idôle Lash-Lifting Volumizing Mascara (Friday, March 14th; $15 sale price, regular $30) 

+ Nudestix Nudies Bloom/Matte/Glow Sticks (Monday, March 17th; $12-$17.50 sale price, regular $24-$35)  

+ Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream (Friday, March 14th; $19.50-$35 sale price, regular $39-$70)

+ Dermalogica Daily Milkfoliant (Saturday, March 15th; $34 sale price, regular $68)  

+ OUAI Anti Frizz Creme (Saturday, March 15th; $14 sale price, regular $28)  

+ Bumble & Bumble Dryspun Texture Sprays (Friday, March 14th; $18.50 sale price, regular $37)  

-SHOP THE SALE ON SEPHORA HERE-

Do you have your eye on anything from the sale?

I love sharing my picks with you all! Should you click on or make a purchase through the links in this post, I'll earn some money to keep on shopping! Pretty cool, huh? :)

HEALTHY GROCERY HAUL | 3.12.25

Okay we're back on this lovely Wednesday with another semi-healthy focused grocery haul. I'm always the first to admit when I fall off the wagon which unfortunately happens all too often... after my birthday week and Valentine's Day, it was pretty much balls to the walls on eating everything I wanted. This week we're getting back on some disciplinary action and like with most things, ya gotta put your money where your mouth is (quite literally in this case, no??). Hehe- jokes aside, not having healthy food options at home is pretty much a recipe for disaster with clean eating. I was stuck in this endless cycle of "I'm getting back on the healthy train tomorrow" which just kept going and going and going. I kept thinking WHY can't I get out of this and then I realized like with everything else, spending money would solve all of my problems.

Lol- in reality I *should* be saving by eating at home versus ordering takeout but my grocery bills might beg to differ on that, these prices are still wacky as hell. It isssss what it isssss (and it's not good!!) -lol.

Okay this is kind of a recap of where I started in January but sticking to what works, works! As of now, I've learned I have to keep breakfast and lunch easy peasy if I'm going to eat healthier at home. I bought some eggs to try and kick my current Starbucks habit but keeping it totally real- I'm not too motivated on giving that up just yet. I can moderate my calories pretty well, plus it's something I look forward to that helps get me out the door in the mornings. They've also ruined me with the convenience of mobile ordering- I order as I'm leaving the house and by the time I arrive, it's always waiting on the counter for me. Consciously I know I need to dial it back a bit so maybe I'll aim to replace 1-2 of the days with eating at home. 

The lunch plan that works for me is some type of deli meat + cheese with greek yogurt. It seems to be the easiest meal for me to get higher protein in with lower calories. I'm pretty sure I recapped all of this in my last grocery haul but I like to do the Oikos Greek Yogurt with some variation of meat/cheese roll-ups or a wrap/sandwich. I love these Hero Tortillas or this Hero Seeded Bread for that! Worth the splurge- great nutrition/ingredients + yummy.

We love a protein/potato/veggie dinner but I actually had some new ideas for this week. I found a Baked Mozzarella Tomato Chicken recipe that I want to try out so I grabbed the essentials for it and originally planned to also try the viral TikTok ground beef/sweet potato bowl (it's ground beef cooked with taco seasoning, cubed sweet potatoes, cottage cheese, avo + hot honey on top!), however it's getting pushed to the future. I ordered a new bottle of Mike's which hasn't come yet and they were sold out of cottage cheese so TBD on that. I also ended up finding chicken drumsticks on sale so we love an improv. I'll probably use my fave Greek seasoning for them- it's so easy and is great on chicken with a little lemon and EVOO. 

Everyone did us a solid this week by putting all of the Yasso items on BOGO which I can never pass up and then you've always got a few stragglers, ya know? Mine this week is the Catalina Crunch Snack Mix (on BOGO at Publix!) plus two different breads which is rando, lol. 

DAIRY

+ Mozzarella Cheese

+ Smoked Gouda Cheese   

+ President Salted Butter 

PRODUCE

+ Brussel Sprouts 

+ Honeycrisp Apples 

+ Sweet Potato

+ Red/Orange Bell Peppers

+ Diced Red Onion 

+ Cherry Tomatoes 

+ Avocado 

PROTEIN

+ Chicken Breasts

+ Chicken Drumsticks 

+ Eggs 

+ Hickory Smoked Deli Turkey 

GRAINS/BREAD

+ Rustik Oven Hearty Grains & Seed Bread

+ Pepperidge Farm Oatmeal Bread 

MISC:

+ Yasso Sea Salt Caramel Bars

+ Yasso Cookies & Cream Bars

+ Yasso Sea Salt Caramel Poppables 

+ Catalina Crunch Cheddar Snack Mix 

+ Spices: Chili Powder, Smoked Paprika & Sesame Seeds

What are you shopping for this week? 

*SHOP ALL OF MY FOOD FAVES + FINDS HERE*

I love sharing my picks + hauls with you all! Should you click on or make a purchase through the links in this post, I'll earn some money to keep on shopping! Pretty cool, huh? :)

WHAT'S IN MY AMAZON CART | 3.10.25

Nail Duster Collector // Rice Water Makeup Wipes // PHLUR Vanilla Skin Deodorant // Blue Light Screen Protectors // Mike's Hot Honey // Kingsman Blu-Ray // Eye Supplements // Daily Multivitamin // Lymphatic Supplement 

**SHOP THIS POST + ALL OF MY AMAZON WANTS HERE**

I love sharing my picks with you all! Should you click on or make a purchase through the links in this post, I'll earn some money to keep on shopping! Pretty cool, huh? :)

ULTA 21 DAYS OF BEAUTY: WEEK 1 PICKS

Snif Coco Shimmy Fragrance // Clinique Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm // Kopari Beauty Kaanapali Coast Hair & Body Mist // Live Tinted Huegard Skin Tint SPF 50 // Kiehl's Creme de Corps Body Butter // Fenty Gloss Bomb Lip Plumper // NARS Afterglow Liquid Blush // Urban Decay All Nighter Makeup Setting Spray // Peter Thomas Roth 24K Gold Eye Patches

It's time for the first annual 21 Days of Beauty Sale at Ulta of 2025. Ulta offer's this event a few times each year with tons of amazing deals. It's a three week long event with daily "beauty steals" that are 50% off of the regular price for that day only. All items are from higher-end brands within the makeup, skincare, haircare + fragrance categories. Because these items usually have more moderate to higher end price points, the savings are incredible! It's a great time to stock up on favorite products or to try out something new. I always shop the sale + cover it here on the blog with all of my favorite picks! 

These are the items I either already own and love or that I have on my list to purchase.

-THE FULL SALE 411-

+ The sale is a 21 day event starting on Friday, March 7th - Thursday, March 27th 

+ Items change daily so each sale item and discount is valid for one day only when featured

+ Items can be purchased in-store or online for shipping/free store pickup at your local ULTA Beauty (PS-- Sephora also offers the same daily deals on their site on the products that they carry; if there is an item on sale at Ulta that they do not carry at Sephora, they usually will offer a different item/brand that is comparable)

+ Diamond & Platinum Ulta Rewards members get free shipping on all deals (if you aren't Diamond/Platinum, you have to spend $35 to get free shipping or can do free store pickup!) 

+ If you're shopping online, make sure you use Rakuten to earn some extra cash back! It's 100% legit, free + easy to use. If you've never signed up, my referral code will give you a $30 bonus after your first purchase of $30 or more (can be earned anywhere through Rakuten but a great offer to take advantage of now if you plan to shop the Ulta sale!) 

Alright, I think that's all of the highlights and nitty gritty on the sale. This post is all of my picks from Week 1 of the sale. Be sure to check back next week and the following after for my Week 2 + 3 sale picks!

ULTA 21 DAYS OF BEAUTY SALE PICKS: WEEK 1

+ Snif Coco Shimmy Fragrance (Sunday, March 9th; $32.50 sale price, regular $65)

+ Clinique Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm (Saturday, March 8th; $22 sale price, regular $44)  

+ Kopari Beauty Kaanapali Coast Hair & Body Mist (Sunday, March 9th; $14.50 sale price, regular $29)  

+ Live Tinted Huegard Skin Tint SPF 50 (Sunday, March 9th; $21 sale price, regular $42)  

+ Kiehl's Creme de Corps Body Butter (Tuesday, March 11th; $24.50 sale price, regular $49)  

+ Fenty Gloss Bomb Lip Plumper (Saturday, March 8th; $11.50 sale price, regular $23)  

+ NARS Afterglow Liquid Blush (Friday, March 7th; $16 sale price, regular $32)  

+ Urban Decay All Nighter Makeup Setting Spray (Saturday, March 8th; $18 sale price, regular $36)  

+ Peter Thomas Roth 24K Gold Eye Patches (Thursday, March 13th; $37.50 sale price, regular $75)  

-SHOP THE SALE ON SEPHORA HERE-

Do you have your eye on anything from the sale?

I love sharing my picks with you all! Should you click on or make a purchase through the links in this post, I'll earn some money to keep on shopping! Pretty cool, huh? :)