Monday, November 30, 2009

Strawberry.net Haul

I don't know why I felt the need to haul from Strawberry.net - my guess was I was reading over at the Pink Sith and saw a post about them and was thinking that I never had never ordered from them before so now was as good a time as any. Sometimes that's all the reason you need!

Anyhow, before I continue with my review. I would like to point a few things out. First of all, strawberry.net is on Ebates (3%). Second, if you are in the US, even if you order from the "US" version of the site, at least my credit card hit me with a little under $2 foreign transaction fee.

Alright, they are currently running a few extra promotions for the holidays. And I saw some Benefit products in their Christmas Specials area that piqued my interest.


First the Benefit 10 Palette Bronzer & Highlighter Palette


For those of you unaware, I despise when companies put lip products in with eyeshadows. Despise! So, why did I pick up this palette? It was so adorable, I was able to overlook the prospect of gritty lipgloss? It was 41% off and only $16.50? It was adorable (did I mention that already?). Probably a combination of the above, plus no sales tax or shipping, and an extra 5% off. Either way, I snatched this pretty thing up and boy do I love it, though I still hate lip and powder products in the same palette. I couldn't resist the buckle!





Then...


The Benefit Pop Powder Pop! Palette (which is unfortunately no longer on the strawberry.net site)



This I was able to get for a steal. $15! $15 for Hoola, Dandelion and Dallas face powders all housed in a cute little cardboard box with a tiny little (and in my opinion unfit for application) brush. So adorable. So something I'll probably forget to use, but (!) so adorable! Benefit really knows how to reel me in with their packaging.

So there you have it. Benefit has reeled me in again. I also hauled a 3rd item but it is not Benefit so it does not deserve a spot along the adorable (!) Benefit products in this entry.

Disclosure: This entry includes an Ebates referral link. 

Sunday, November 29, 2009

Back...

Well, I'm back! Several posts in the works, and some good and bad news. Upon arriving, I noticed that the winner of my giveaway had not e-mailed me and thus forfeited their win... to

Lilly!

Lilly, please e-mail me at jeweledthumb@gmail.com within 48 hours to claim your prize! I hope this time someone actually claims it!


Well it appears all 3 of her e-mails went to my spam folder! Good thing winner #2 didn't e-mail me. Lisa has not in fact forfeited her win! Congratulations to her. =)

Monday, November 23, 2009

So Long Farwell Ahbeitezang* Goodnight

I hate to go and leave this pretty sight...

Or, I'm leaving on a Jet Plane...
'cept I'll know when I'll be back again.

My husband makes fun of me mercilessly since I'm basically a human jute box. I have this "talent" to memorize songs and recall them just by someone saying a phrase from them - I still remember a song I sang in Middle School (I'm now 26 so that was quite a few years ago).

Anyway, it's true. DH and I are going down to Georgia to visit his parents. I adore them and desperately need the respite. I'll be back on Sunday.

I do have a post planned for my return. I happened to find the Wet N Wild holiday palettes in my local CVS today and of course I bought both of them. So, swatches and my thoughts on my grand return!

I hope (my US followers) have a great Thanksgiving!

* Disclosure: I had to google how to spell this.

Giveaway Winner Announced

Congratulations to... LISA!

Lisa, please contact me at jeweledthumb@gmail.com within 48 hours to give me your address. Congratulations and thank you to all participants!

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Bloggy News

Well, Happy Birthday to me! DH let me sleep late even though I have to finish my silly graduate final case study. Don't forget that my first giveaway ends tonight! I got my birthday gift already. It is two books that I've been wanting - no makeup, which is fine, I get enough myself as is! Tonight my parents are treating DH and I to dinner at a Japanese Steakhouse (yum!) and then back to my parent's house for cake (super yum!). It was my Dad's Birthday yesterday so we are doing a joint celebration.

Oh, in actually blogging news, I've posted a picture of myself in my profile. I'm wearing my dear love *sniffsniff* Prescriptives custom matched foundation (slightly lighter and pinker than their lightest premixed shade).

Hope everyone has a great end to the weekend! I'll be back tomorrow posting the winner's name!

Friday, November 20, 2009

My Zoyas Arrived!

My free Zoya Hot Lips arrived today! And this is the perfect excuse to take a break from my final exam case study of doom for graduate school to take pictures, swatch and review these bad boys! First of all, Zoya Hot Lips retail for $6.95 which is around what you'd pay for a lipgloss at the drugstore (probably less in some cases). They are short and stout and really filled to the brim. I was actually worried I'd pop one while I was squeezing out the gloss.
Zoya markets these as a lip treatment. I haven't actually put them on my lips yet but on my hand they appear a tiny bit sticky, a bit thick and moisturizing. There is a sweet smell that seems familiar but I can't quite place it (*edit* I figured it out. It smells exactly like Lancome's Spring Fling juicy tube - ie raspberry hard candy). I "bought" 3 colors: Babydoll (a very light pink -no shimmer), Disguise (deep cherry red - no shimmer), and Luck (a mauvey pink - subtle shimmer).
I was a bit worried looking at the website photos, that these wouldn't have an applicator since the bottoms are flat, however, I was happy to see upon opening them that there is a rounded applicator (not as great as slanted flat tip but better than none for sure).

I'm quite pleased with the colors and think they will work well for my skin tone. I have fairly pigmented lips so I think Disguise as a stain would be lovely and probably Luck would be a nice everyday MLBB color (it's very close to my natural lip color with a dash of shimmer)

Can you tell I'm NW10 or less? Yes, my hand is nearly white and that's without the flash!

Did you participate in the Zoya Hot Lip promotion? What colors did you haul?

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Makeup On The Move

On the train on my way to work this morning, I was sitting next to a lady that started applying her makeup. She whipped out her cosmetic mirror and some sort of moisturizer (maybe tinted? I didn't recognize the tube). Then she went right to lips, pulling out some Carmex in a pot first and then something else I recognized! Lola lipstick (who could miss the cute tube?)! It was nearly down to a little nub. Interesting how the non-makeup obsessed actually use things up, huh? She then proceeded to apply some lipliner. At that point I had to get off the train so I don't know if she did her eyes next (hope she didn't hurt herself).

Have you ever watched (out of the corner of your eye of course) someone apply makeup on public transportation (of even in their car driving - bad - don't do this!). Did you recognize any products?

Do you yourself apply your makeup on the way to school or work?

Personally, I'm a bit clumsy so I'd probably drop everything or poke my eyes out. The only thing I do is maybe reapply the lip product that I'm wearing that day or some lotion for my hands. I also like good lighting when I do my makeup and an overcrowded train on a dreary rainy day (like today) doesn't quite provide that.

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Missha

Guys, oh boy, do I have a deal for you! So I was reading Musings of A Muse and found her entry about a Missha deal. I am all about Asian branded makeup, especially trying out new ones and I have never tried Missha but like most Asian makeup, it's adorable.

Anyway, they are currently running several promotions and I was so excited to share them with you guys.

So, the deals are many.

First of all, you can get a free sample set of various Missha products that the Muse reviews by only paying a $9 or so shipping charge. Awesome, right?


Then, new customers get a 20% discount when they register. Also awesome.

And shipping is free over $40. It gets better!

If that weren't enough, there are some awesome deals on the Missha website, like the following:

Halloween Makeup Sets I II & III

$24.99 (originally $34.98) gets you Easy Styling Makeup Kit [No. 01 contra Smoky] + The Sytle Crystal Mascara [Gold Pearl]

$19.99 (originally $28.97) gets you The Style Silky Shadow Duo [No.11 Real Smoke] + M Super Extreme Waterproof Pencil Eyeliner [black] + The Style Glam Pearl Gloss [PK101]


$22.99 (originally $32.98) gets you M Dual Quick Drawing Shadow [no. 01 Silver Violet] + M Shimmering Oven Blusher [Shimmer Blossom]

PLUS Each of these sets also gets you a free #8 brush.
PLUS 20% off
PLUS free shipping

PLUS

spend $30 get Garden Pleasure Honey&Lilac Shower Gel ($10.99)
spend $60 get Facial Black Sugar Scrub (19.99)
spend $90 get M Perfect BB Deep Cleansing Oil ($24.99)

I bought each of the sets above, got free shipping, 20% off, 3 free #8 brushes and a free shower gel all for the very low cost of $54.38 - um hell yes! Probably will divy it up for some holiday gifts but still inexpensive enough to treat yourself.
(all images from missha's website http://www.misshaus.com/)

I ♥ Vocal Point (& Alice.com!)

I just received several Pantene coupons in the mail from Vocal Point. Several $1 off coupons for Pantene products and one $2 off coupon. I'll definitely be taking advantage of these during the next Pantene sale.

Looks like the Olay wasn't a one time only thing. Hooray for beauty products.

I also found another site recently. Alice.com.

This again I found through the budgeting blog world. But then I found that they sell health and beauty items too! Free shipping and they have e-coupons built right into the site.

For instance:


Cover Girl Lash Exact mascara
alice.com price: $5.05
cvs.com price: $7.99

Neutrogena Makeup Remover Towelettes
alice.com price: $5.89
cvs.com price: $7.99

So they carry a varying stock of makeup items, plus things like razors, soap, deodorant, toothpaste, shampoo, styling products and of course other household items and most things are discounted. You can also reorder your favorites and set it to 2 weeks, 2 months or however long you think you'll run out. What did I buy? Boring things like aluminum foil, hand soap for our guest room and some zip loc bags (hey you can't beat the $1.87 price on alice when they are usually $3+ at the store!).

I'll definitely be ordering from them again in the very near future. We will soon be running out of laundry detergent and something tells me getting it delivered for free will beat running to the store and lugging it into the house.


disclosure: Vocal Point does not pay me any money to refer you to the site, nor do they pay me anything to post. Alice.com does not pay me anything to post about the site. However, Alice.com does have a referral program. The program gives you a $10 credit after purchasing $50 worth of merchandise from the site, and I receive 3%.

Monday, November 16, 2009

Bloggy Update

Ok, some blogging-related news.

I just wanted to let you know that I am definitely listening to your suggestions from my first giveaway and am in the process of compiling some future posts! I am not responding to individual posts in the comment section of the giveaway so it's not super hard to figure out the number of entries when it comes time to pick a winner (don't think I'm ignoring everyone!). So, thank you for all your suggestions and especially the birthday wishes!

I have also embarked upon twitter. I'm new and am always open to new followers/friends. So go ahead and add me and I'll add you back. You can read my latest tweets on the upper right hand side of the blog.

Saturday, November 14, 2009

Priminition

So, I mentioned that I had picked up the regular line ELF primer during my last ELF haul. Well, it arrived so I sat down to compare it to my family of primers. First of all, I have been using the Lumene primer on a fairly regular basis since I bought it several months ago when it was on clearance at CVS. I like it and I'm (guessing) about 1/2 way done and the thought of finishing a cosmetic item is both strange and awesome so I haven't been giving my other primers much love. The comparison photographs were unfortunately taken indoors with artificial light so I've included both flash and non flash ones. The primer is not rubbed in as the swatches were done on notebook paper.


Lumene Eye Makeup Base $9.99/.34oz squeeze tube
Urban Decay Primer Potion $17.00/.34oz wand
Isododecane, Talc, Cyclopentasiloxane, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Trihydroxystearin, Triethylhexanoin, Isopropyl Lanolate, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, VP/Eicosene Copolymer, Dimethicone, PEG-40 Stearate, Propylene Carbonate, Phenoxyethanol, Cera Alba (Beeswax), Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Propylparaben, Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Butylparaben, Methicone, Isobutylparaben.
May Contain: Mica, CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499 (Iron Oxides), CI 77163 (Bismuth Oxychloride).

Benefit Recess Creaseless Cream shadow/liner $19.00/.16oz pot
cyclopentasiloxane, isododecane, polyethylene, polymethylmethacrylate, dimethicoe, disteardimonium hectorite, propylene carnonate, [+/-: titanium dioxide (CI 77891), tin oxide, iron oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), mica, carmine (CI 75470), bismuth oxychloride (CI 77163)].
ELF Mineral Eyeshadow Primer (flat cap) $3.00/.15oz wand
Isododecane, Cylopentasiloxane, Octyl Palmitate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Dimethicone, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Triacontanyl PVP, Propylene Carbonate, Titanium Dioxide, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), Mica (CI 77019), Bismuth Oxychloride (CI 77163).
ELF Eyelid Primer (curved cap) $1.00/.17oz wand
Cyclopentasiloxane, Octyl Palmitate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Dimethicone, Kaolin, Triacontanyl PVP, Propylene Carbonate, Titanium Dioxide, Barium Sulfate , Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), Mica (CI 77019).

Primers with a pink(er) undertone: ELF regular, ELF studio, UDPP
Primers with a yellow(er) undertone: Lumene, Benefit Recess
All of them are matte except for the Benefit. It has a very subtle pearly sheen.

These are all basically clear when rubbed into the eye and that's partially why I did not swatch on my skin. Honestly, I haven't personally had any problems with these creasing so if you are looking for a primer, I think either of the ELF ones would do the job at a much lower price point!

And finally, an up close and personal picture of Studio Gear crystal taupe eyeshadow. Love this. Looks boring and brown in the pot but it gets a beautiful silver sheen when applied.

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Zoya Tweets

Zoya is giving away free products again thanks to reaching 10,000 followers on twitter. This time it's 3 of their Hot Lip lipbalms with code LIPS (today and tomorrow only). Just pay $6.95 for shipping. I missed out on the last twitter promo so I'm excited about this one!

I picked up: Luck, Disguise & Babydoll. What about you?

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Sephora Haul Lite

It is Veteran's Day today and since I work for a government contractor, I had the day off. I went to Sephora to return the Cargo Eastern Eye Pencil collection I hauled during friends & family. They are pretty but sure do they smell! When the SA asked why I was returning the set, I was completely honest, "they smell like a #2 pencil and it bothered me". The two ladies behind the cash wrap were obviously intrigued and cracked open the container to sniff. They agreed.

Even though I should have waited to buy until the VIB sale, I wound up exchanging the pencils for a set of two Benefit creaseless cream shadows for $10. Colors are recess & honey bunny. Honestly, even though I could have gotten them for $8, $10 is still a good deal and who knows if they'd be gone by the 13th. These are in-store only right up by the cash wrap in a little black mesh baggy.

Anyone haul anything today?

Giveaway

So recall how I was all verklempt about 2 weeks ago reaching 7 followers and promised a giveaway after reaching 10. After a few days staggering around 9 I was thinking it would at least take a few more days to reach 10, but no, with my very very supportive blogging pals (I blame both of you for this sudden influx of people, in a good way!) Aly of The Gloss Menagerie and... er Nouveau Cheap of Nouveau Cheap!

12 followers I now have, I am holding a giveaway!

Here are the rules:
1. 1 lucky winner will receive everything in the picture below. To enter. Please post a comment to this entry telling me One thing you want to see on Jeweled Thumb (a specific post, request I review a certain item or be creative!)
2. You must be a follower of this blog to enter!
3. I will be shipping worldwide *clutches wallet* so my dear ladies across the pond can most certainly enter as well.
4. If you (re)post this on twitter or your own blog, you will receive an additional entry (please link me if this is the case in a separate comment).
5. This giveaway will take place between November 11th and November 22nd (my birthday) at 11:59pm EST. Winners will be picked the following morning since I go to bed way way way before 12am!
6. Winners will be picked randomly by random.org
7. Now here's the one thing that is not particularly common on other blog giveaways. You do not need to leave an e-mail address for me to contact you. However, I will be posting the name of the winner (so at least give something descriptive and not anonymous when you post!) on the blog on November 23rd. You must contact me at jeweledthumb@gmail.com within 48 hours with your mailing address. If not your win will be forfeited and I will pick a new winner.

Any questions?

Onward:

The lucky winner will receive:
  • Bobbi Brown mini glitter lip gloss in baby pink
  • Stila full size lipglaze in Spiced Rum
  • Tony & Tina (long discontinued) cosmic lights (aka eye safe glitter) in Higher Love
  • Tarte mini glistening powder in sugar daddy
  • Maybelline pulse perfection mascara in blackest black
  • Too Faced lash gems
  • 3 Styli-Style line & seal liners: jade, bluestone, & navy
  • Broadway fashion diva nails (yes these have the skull & crossbones I'm not a fan of - hopefully one of you can rock them)
Ready...set...go!

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

ELF Studio Sale

Ladies, for an undisclosed amount of time. The ELF studio line is 60% off on their site with the code EBNSTU60. Please note. It appears that the brush holders are not included in most (if not all) of the studio line sales. It didn't work for me when I made my order but apparently is working for everyone else. Guh!

I picked up a backup of the undereye concealer, the new lipbalm, the new brush cleaner, the new mineral face primer and the regular $1 line's new eye primer to compare to the mineral one that has many fans (myself included). I also bought another Studio Brush set to give as a Christmas gift. Shipping is an extra $6.95 under $75 and all orders that are over $25 quality for a free yearly subscription to Women's Health magazine. You can also now get FREE gift wrap with every ELF order.

Oh, and don't forget ebates!

Anyone ordering anything?

Another Edit: This is a ONE time use code. I tried to make another order to get the brush holders and it didn't let me use the code again. Poo!

Monday, November 9, 2009

Current Faves


I know there are several bloggers out there that do a list - usually monthly of their favorite items. I obviously missed the boat on the October lists. However, I really am thrilled with some of these items and simply can't wait to share my love for them!
Woody's Quality Grooming Citrus Lip Ice SPF 15: This isn't just for men, ladies! This is Fresh Sugar's cheaper-slighter more emollient (but not overly so)-little sister brother. And while I'm comparing it to Fresh, it's $7.50. It comes with a clasp to attach it to your rugged backpack er purse. And it's not outrageously heavy either. Oh and it's $7.50. I swear the smell of the two of these is extremely close. It's not spot on, but I think I may prefer the Woody's to tell you the truth. Sometimes with Fresh you get this weird after/taste/smell? You can get this at most places that sell the Woody's shave and grooming brand. I found mine at Beauty First but check online. While I was searching for pictures, I found that this is marked down at quite a few e-tailers.
ELF Studio Line Undereye Concealer & Highlighter: Ok, really the only part of this I'm raving about is the concealer part. The highlighter isn't quite as subtle as I'd like - too shimmery. However, the concealer part is awesome and it's one of the only under eye concealers that works on my super pale complexion. Even only liking half the product, at $3 and often on sale, it's not exactly breaking the bank. This stuff is awesome. I use the fair color and for reference I'm about a NW10. The best part about this is the consistency. It's not thick and cakey OR thin and runny. It's a perfect slightly thick liquid. I dot this on the skin under my eyes and pat gently with my finger. A little goes quite a long way.

Tarte Cheekstain in Tipsy: This is the perfect glowy peach on me. I love this because it's so easy to apply. I usually use it over foundation giving myself "grease stripes" and then buffing it out with a synthetic brush. It's super easy and very hard to goof at 6:20am even when I'm only half awake. It's a significant amount of money but I generally buy the mini size on Ebay (I have one that I bought quite awhile ago that I've hardly made a dent in!).

Shu

I love Shu Uemura. I love the minimalist packaging, the calculated numbering/naming system. I love that everything can fit in a palette and it all works together in a jigsaw puzzle like fashion and if not paletted it can be stacked with ease. So what do I love even more than my little precise square plastic bundles of joy? A sale of course! And guess what's on sale today at Hautelook? You guessed it. I'm hoping the discount is worth it. Sale starting at 11am EST.

Will you be checking it out?

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Breaking News: Urban Decay F&F

It was literally just announced on Facebook that the Urban Decay sale is starting tomorrow through November 20th. Code is FNFW1 for 30% off your entire order!

Hopefully by the time I wake up tomorrow AM, the two things I have my eyes on won't already be gone!

Saturday, November 7, 2009

Review: Alison Raffaele Soft Shadow


During the somewhat infamous makeup.com 70% off sale, I selected a couple of items from the Alison Raffaele brand. This is one of the lines that almost no one talks about at least from what I've read on makeupalley or blogs.

I was seriously amazed when I opened up the package though. Note: Alison Raffaele shadows will cost you a pretty $19.50. I paid a mere $5.85 with the discount. I swear this line has some of the prettiest packaging ever. I kind of wish I had ordered a few more shades. I picked up Olive Shine and Amethyst. Even though the price is up there. These shadows are fairly sizable weighing in a .11oz or 3g (for reference MAC singles are only .05oz and $14.50).
As I said, the packaging is to die for. It is a decently sized and sturdy metal compact with a beautiful raised design on the top and a mirror inside. I'd call the color of the metal an icy purple? The powder inside is a slightly harder consistency. I found the olive color a bit more pigmented than the amethyst, though both are pretty. I have to admit, given that I work in an office, I don't really go for super pigmented shadows and go for more of an understated look. These are perfect. At first swipe they are soft and they can be built up for more intensity. And, did I mention the packaging? Oh, I did? It's bea-yoooo-tiful. Reminds me a bit of a celtic knot. Maybe it is, I'm not Irish.


Oliveshine: taupe with a slightly greenish cast

Amethyst: purple with a slightly silver cast

Pretty, huh? I believe the makeup.com 50% sale is still going on in their Boutique. But be careful and make sure things have a little (included in boutique sale) sign next to them before you check out. Makeup.com does not break down how much things are in the basket or in order confirmation so you won't really know if something was not included in the discount unless you ask them. A tedious process that I know. Code is 50OFF.

Hello Winter! Goodbye Oil! Hello Scales!

So lately my skin has been rebelling. Not that it doesn't usually rebel, that's what you get (when you let your heart win wooah-oh-oh-ohh-oh). Anyway, not only do I suffer from atopic dermatitis, the occasional hormonal acne, keratosis pilaris and rosacea, oh no, that's not enough you say? No, I have some of the most sensitive skin ever (I guess that goes along with the great 4 skin issues above). In fact, a doctor of mine when I was growing up basically told me I couldn't shower everyday and that I couldn't take hot showers ever.

See, during the summer my skin is super oily and I'll be completely honest. I sweat so to wear anything more but some basic lip balm is just silly since It'll be all off by the time I step in the door at work anyway. During the winter it's flaky and dry and during the month or so in between... oh boy.

Right now, my skin is basically going "WTF". I was using my trusty Tweezerman Blackhead/Whitehead Remover AKA torture device on the top of my somewhat oily nose and noticed that the sides of my nose were flaky and dry. My cheeks looked like a disaster, red splotchy and dry; but my chin was oily and had a new colony of breakouts. And the biggest surprise of all, all but a few small patches on the forehead (dry and scaly) and the area right between my brows was oily, but that little spot at about a square inch was dry and peeling.

AHHHH!

Here's the dilemma. Those "rich for winter" formulated items break out the oily part of my face. The for normal to oily skin dry out the dry areas and the sensitive stuff doesn't seem to do anything.

Lately, what have I found that works?

Murad face lotion(s) (for day): I got turned onto this stuff when I worked at ULTA, especially the pomegranate face moisturizer, which seriously worked on everyone's skin I applied it to. This stuff penetrated so quickly that if someone walked in with a dry flake that would be magnified with the BE foundation, I would apply a thick coating of this, wait a bit, remove the excess, and tada! no more dry patch. And it wasn't so rich that it aggravated oily skin. I've gone through several tubes of this myself.

Fresh Seawater and Iris Root Treatment Toner (for both): This is one of the only toners that I've tried that doesn't dry out my skin (and it takes off the excess makeup that my non oil based cleanser sometimes leaves behind). Of course Fresh discontinued this and of course it retailed for $62 which is insane. Thankfully, I happened upon this at a store at Union Station on super clearance for $5.99 a bottle and I cleaned them out. I have 4 backups and I'm about half way done with my first bottle. I adore this toner. It seems to bring all the service grime to the top. Using the Torture Device after applying this toner is super easy. There's a bit of a bubbling like feeling (not burning!) when you first apply it. It's actually very pleasant. Why do I always fall in love with discontinued products, why?

Philosophy Hope In A Jar (for night): I apply this on the extreme dry areas on my face at night and by the morning they are gone... until I step outside again of course. I use the regular version but I've heard good things about the sensitive skin version. I'm actually shocked that the fragrance hasn't been an irritation thus far.

What skincare changes do you have to make during the change of seasons and what works for you?

Disclaimer: What works for me might not work for you!

Friday, November 6, 2009

Blogging Community

I could just be oblivious since I'm rather new to the world of beauty blogging, but wouldn't it be great if there was some sort of message board for bloggers to ask questions and chat? If there is, feel free to share with me.

Oh and update on the Baby Friendly Makeup post. Said Mommy messaged me enthusiastically on facebook this morning and had already applied all the products and loves them (especially the Fresh Rose). Mission accomplished!

Thursday, November 5, 2009

In Which I Ask You What To Buy

So, Paypal recently sent out this neat little rebate/coupon thingy for sasa.com and some other retailers not based in the US (order stuff $20 or more, get free shipping and a rebate back in your paypal account of $20!). Of course, I didn't really care about any of the others. Why waste $20 on things other than beauty? Anyway, it expires on the 17th of November and I want to use it but I am seriously overwhelmed whenever I visit the website. Obviously, I could buy something I'm familiar with, but where's the fun in that? So, dear readers. Any faves from Sasa.com? Anything you've even heard about but never tried? Anything that looks particularly cute that you want me to review?

Note: This apparently only works if you were personally sent the code by paypal, or else I would be totally all about sharing.

Monday, November 2, 2009

Baby-Friendly Makeup

A friend of mine recently had a baby and was heading back to work after her maternity leave. One day, we were shopping in Target and she lamented how she wanted to go to the makeup aisle but felt a bit guilty spending money that wasn't something for the baby. Though try as I might to offer to get her something, she insisted I shouldn't. I even tried to buy her diapers! It was a no-go. Well, I figured that if I were to send a package to her house, it wouldn't be something she could hand back to me! So, I decided to put together a list from Sephora of baby and thus mommy-friendly makeup items. It occurred to me while I was sifting through Sephora.com that stick makeup was harder to find than I had thought (I didn't want to get her anything that required a brush to apply and wanted to avoid pots). I finally settled on the items below. I hope she enjoys them!


Tarte Lock & Roll Creaseless Eyeshadow Duo in Sandstone $17: Purse-friendly and no additional applicator or brushes required!

Sephora Brand Flashy Liner in Flashy Pink $8: For bright eyes and the appearance of sleep even when she might not be getting much!

Clinique Blushwear Cream Stick in Rosy Blush $18.50: Dot on cheek, rub and run out the door glow!

And finally, the most luxe item in the package:

Fresh Sugar Rosé Tinted Lip Treatment $22.50: For just enough color and even SPF for swipe and go!

I even splurged on a $2 gift bag (remember when those were free... oh those were the days). Am I the most awesome friend or what?

NEW E.L.F Studio Products!

I am a big fan of the E.L.F studio line. I was able to score much of the line for 75% off awhile back. I recently bought a few things a few weeks ago when the line went 50% off. I just got an e-mail about new products!


As with all the Studio Line products, these retail for $3 each.



BRUSH SHAMPOO "An anti-bacterial brush cleanser for thorough cleaning in-between makeup applications. Disinfects brushes to provide a fresh and clean application every time. Washes away traces of dirt, makeup, oil and debris from your brush while conditioning the hair to provide a clean and soft application for every use."


PRESSED POWDER - 6 shades "The Silky formula melts into the skin for adjustable coverage. Apply alone or over foundation for a flawlessly smooth and natural-looking finish. The portable makeup compact and sponge is convenient for on-the-go touchups. "


LENGHTENING & VOLUMIZING MASCARA - comes in Regular & Waterproof formula - Black & Dark Brown "Achieve thicker, fuller, and longer lashes that are beautiful and natural. The enlarged brush coats your lashes evenly for an enhanced appeal. The unique formula is clump free and quick drying so you can have color that stays on all day with no smudging and no flaking."


DAILY BRUSH CLEANER "An anti-bacterial daily brush cleanser for quick cleaning in-between makeup applications. Disinfects brushes to provide a fresh and clean application every time. Helps to keep your brushes lasting longer for extended use."


LIP BALM SPF 15 "Relieves and soothes lips with a drench of moisture. SPF 15 helps to shield lips from harmful sun rays. Softens lips to prevent and temporarily protect against chapped, cracked or chafed lips."

What products are you going to be picking up? I'm curious about the lip balm. In the e-mail they compare it to Fresh Sugar Lip Balm (price tag, a staggering $22.50). I have to admit, Fresh's is really nice. Can ELF's even compare? And does it have the same lovely light fragrance? I'm tempted.