Donate to Japan AND Save Money on Makeup!! WIN-WIN!!

Hey Everyone I just wanted to post some information on an awesome deal that I was e-mailed about.

Right now through April 10th you can save 20% off on Eyes Lips Face (ELF) cosmetics (one of my favorite high quality bargain beauty brands!!!!) AND 5% will be donated to the Red Cross for Japan! Granted there are better deals from ELF like 50% off or free shipping (if you spend over $35 then it actually isn't a better deal) but I think it's worthwhile to make an order that you know a portion of will go to the red cross in Japan. I really do think that this is an awesome way to save some money off already amazing and affordable makeup while simultaneously helping out people who can really use it in Japan. Thumbs up to ELF for offering this deal! 

Here's there site:
http://www.eyeslipsface.com/

Promo code: JAPAN

Some ELF Products I love:

Eyes

• Liquid Eyeliner in Black $1 (I like black A LOT more than plum which I would not recommend)
• Eye Shadow Primer $1
• Eye Brightening Quad $1
• Favorites include: Drama, Butternut, Luxe, (ordering Day 2 Night, heard great things!)
• Eye Shadow Brush $1
• I USE THIS EVERY SINGLE DAY!
• Eye lash curler $1
• Wet Gloss Lash and Brow Clear Mascara $1

Nails

• Nail polish $1
• Great for trendy colors you are worried you won't love past this season!

Lips

• Super Glossy Lip Shine with SPF 15 $1
• Favorites include: Candlelight, Goddess and Pink Kiss
• Hypershine Gloss $1
• Fairy
• Plumping Lip Glaze $1
• Baby Doll
• Therapeutic Conditioning Lip Balm $1
• Some people find it waxy, I suggest only applying a little but it's the smoothest best feeling balm to me, I really like it and it's great to keep in my purse.

Face

• Studio Contouring Blush and Bronzer $3
• Studio Powerd Brush $3
• Kabuki Face Brush $5
• Studio Complexion Brush $3
• All Over Color Stick (concealer type) $1
• High Definition Powder $6

Hope that gives you a few ideas :)

Awesome STEALS at CVS!! And some tips on drugstore savings...

(Note, I've bolded some tips in here that will help you ensure you're getting an awesome deal from the drugstore)

Something I do regularly when I'm bored at work (when I'm no writing this blog!) is scan through the current drugstore circulars. You can find them online on the store's websites. The makeup deals are all usually on one page about 3/4 of the way back. They'll sometimes have some really great deals like buy one get one 50% off or 40% off a certain brand, etc. I can then plan out a trip to a drugstore to buy a certain product that I'm lusting for that's on sale! There are so many makeup products I want to try that there is always at least one brand on sale that I'm interested in.

So yesterday I was going through the circulars hoping to see Wet 'n Wild on sale (I've been wanting to get some of their new eye shadows) and I saw that at CVS they had the Skin Renew Anti-Dark Circle and Anti-Puff Eye Rollers on sale. I had been hearing about these from a few makeup gurus and wanted to give them a try so when I saw them on sale for $10 my interest was peaked. I checked the Target and Walmart websites to see what they typically retail for (sometimes deals at Drugstores look good but they're not actually the best price) and I saw that in other stores they sell for about $12 so saving $4 for both seemed like a good enough deal for me. 

On left: Anti-Dark Circle

On right: Anti-Puff

I stopped at CVS on my way home from my yoga class and while shopping for the eye rollers I spotted out of the corner of my eye the new Physician's Formula Mood Boosting powders on a display. This display was pretty hidden though, it was on the top shelf sort of pushed back and their stock was dwindling. This made sense because I think they came out for Valentine's day (don't quote me though) so they're probably limited edition. I have been hearing A LOT about these powders and how great they are but I had totally forgotten until I saw that display.

Their blush retails for around $12 and the bronzer for $14 which like most Physician's Formula products is on the more expensive side of drug store but right now CVS is having a sale where all Physician's Formula products are 40% off! But it gets even better, they also had these little coupons taped on that were good for $3 off! That made the blush only $4.19 and the bronzer $5.39! I know these sales vary by location but at my CVS the Physician's Formula sale will be going on through Saturday the 26th so I would definitely check it out especially before they run out of these powders!

On left: Blush in Rose

On right: Bronzer in Light Bronzer

They also had a face powder in beige but I decided to purchase the blush and bronzer. I tried them this morning and so far I'm happy with the results. The blush is a very pretty and flattering color that will look good on a lot of people and the bronzer is very natural (I have it in light) with some shimmer but it isn't noticeable to the point where you can't wear it all over your face without looking like an oil slick. They also have these really cute heart patterns that get cuter every time I look at them :)

They have some sort of mood boosting ingredient in them which I'm not sure if that's really going to do anything BUT my mood was definitely boosted by the deal I got! I couldn't wait to share it with you all :)

I know you think that's the end of the deals I found but it isn't! When I went to pick up the Garnier Eye Rollers I noticed a sign that said if I spend $15 on Garnier then I'll get a $5 off coupon for my next purchase at CVS...so buying the two rollers at $10 each=$20 total which earned me a $5 off coupon! So far I'm happy with the Anti-Dark Circle roller (only used it once) and the Anti-Puff I'll have to wait to really see how it works because I had an uncharacteristically good night's sleep last night.

Even if you aren't in the market for the Physician's Formula Mood Boosting Powders or the Garnier Eye Rollers I have some good tips for ensuring a good deal at the drugstore:

1. Be sure to check online for sales at different local drugstores so you can find the best deal.
2. Compare prices at different store websites that typically sell products for less money than drugstores (Walmart and Target are my go-tos).
3. Go to that drugstore with a certain brand or product in mind that you know will be on sale and a good deal. Try to avoid purchasing products that are not on sale because chances are in a week or so they will be! Also they're probably cheaper at Walmart or Target so just do your best to resist!
4. Look out for coupons that are taped to products, if the product isn't on sale save that coupon and plan to come back next week in case it is on sale then (but check the expiration date to make sure you have time).
5. Take advantage of deals that give you money back coupons if you spend a certain amount on a type of product but ONLY if you actually WANT the products. It is not a deal if you don't want it! Don't let them trick you!

Tips for a Long Lasting Pedicure

Hey Everyone!

I just got a pedicure last night and I wanted to share some tips to get your pedicure to last longer! Mine typically last a few weeks which I've heard from a lot of my friends is not always the case so I wanted to go over a few things I do that I think really help!

First: Choose a good nail polish brand! In my opinion some nail polish brands last a lot longer than others. It can be worth it to spend $8.50 or so for OPI or China Glaze (I hear Essie and Orly work well also) if you want your pedicure to last.

Second: You want to make sure your feet are clean and dry, especially around your toenails. If you're doing this yourself that means washing your feet in soap and water and cleaning the dirt from underneath your nails. Nail polish will chip a lot faster if it's put over dirty nails instead of dry, clean nails. If you're in a salon they usually do this but if you don't think they're doing the best job of ensuring that your nails are clean or they aren't washing off the cuticle oil enough then you should speak up. I would politely ask if they could make sure that they've removed everything.

Third: If you can without being too messy, it sometimes helps to paint the edge of your nails as well. This is easier on your fingers because the nails are usually longer, but if you can get a line of polish on the edge of the nail (I'm talking about the edge you cut not like the sides) then it can help keep your polish from chipping.

Fourth: Use a top coat! Top coats will not only make your nails look shiny they will also serve as a top layer to protect your polish.

Fifth: Every few days it may help to re-coat your nails in top coat. I would do this step before you see any chipping as a preventative measure. This is also good if you notice that your nails aren't as shiny as they were before. Sometimes after the beach or just regular wear the shine might fade. This is optional as I don't find I need to do this if I follow the other steps.

Sixth: If you are using a polish at a nail salon and you love it, I would buy that same polish. You can either buy it from that salon (sometimes they will sell it to you for a reduced price, like $6 for OPI) or from a store that sells that brand of nail polish. You can then use that polish to cover any small chips that you may have and really extend the life of your pedicures. If the color you've chosen is pricier and not a polish that you are dying to add to your collection or you can't find it (sometimes they discontinue colors) then you can definitely buy a cheaper version of a similar color to cover up chips. You'd be surprised at how well a similar color will blend in on your toes. For this purpose I like to by NYC nail polishes which are only around $1 and they have some really fun colors.

OK I think those are all the tips I can think of right now, but they should really help you all keep those pedicures looking amazing for at least an extra few days!

I'd love to hear how it's worked for you!

Ulta Automatic Eyeliner Review

Hey Everyone!

The other day I went out to dinner with my boyfriend and the whole time I was distracted by the huge sign on the Ulta next door. The sign was advertising a free makeup bag filled with makeup with a $20 (I think) Ulta makeup purchase. I must have been very good that night because my boyfriend gave in and came with to see if I could find $20 worth of makeup I'd like to purchase. Needless to say I had to hurry before his patience ran out.

Fortunately, I had run out of my favorite eyeliner the Ulta Automatic Eyeliner in black. Unfortunately the next day I ran out of the black/brown color so I'm kicking myself for not buying that too. Anyway that wasn't $20 I ended up buying the Ulta Natural Eye Kit as well but that's for another review. When I purchased my replacement eyeliner I realized I should write a review for you all because I do like this eyeliner over any other drugstore eyeliner pencil and I've tried my fair share.

Just a little background because I know that Ulta's aren't everywhere: Ulta's are cosmetics stores that sell drugstore brands along side of higher end brands like Smashbox, Benefit, Urban Decay, Stila, OPI, etc. They also have their own makeup line which I've tried quite a few products from. In that line they sell the automatic eyeliners and my favorite colors are black and black/brown which I like a lot better than the other browns which are too light for me.

These eyeliners are my go-tos for my waterline and lower lash line. I'll use them on the top too if I don't need the smooth line I get from a liquid liner. They have lids that you can take off and then you twist the top so the eyeliner automatically "sharpens". I like automatic liners a lot better than pencil because you don't have to deal with a sharpener and sometimes the wood from regular liners will get stained black so you think it's the liner until you rub it on your sensitive eyes and realize it's actually wood and it really hurts! I never have that issue with automatic liners. These are also really long lasting. My second favorite automatic liner is from cover girl define a line but it's not nearly as long wearing as Ulta's. Another bonus is that the black is a very true and dark black even after only one layer. I don't like to re-apply several times just to get a good black color on my waterline. I don't think it's good to be stretching out my eyes like that.

This brand eyeliner is great, they last a long time, have good color pay-off, are easy to apply and they're pretty inexpensive at $7 regular price but please don't buy them regular price! Ulta.com has lots of coupons (most common is $3.50 off $10) and you can more likely than not find a deal like the one I did where you spend $xx and get free makeup or you buy like 3 Ulta products for $15 or something like that. It won't take too much reasearch to save a substantial amount of money! Or check back here and I'll try to post good deals I see pop up :) Right if you use the coupon code 68830 at Ulta.com you can get $3.50 off a $10 purchase. You can also print the coupon off from their site and use it in store.

Happy lining!