A Warning for Sephora in JCPenney Shoppers

This isn't a huge deal, but I wanted to make others aware and see if anyone else has had something similar occur to them. It also reminds me that when you're dealing with a major corporation, whether it's your employer or a store you frequent, you need to be diligent and ensure things are applied the way they are supposed to be. This is especially relevant when dealing with stores with rewards programs or running sales or special deals. Sometimes the computer doesn't quite work the way it's supposed to.

In any case, I realized that one of my purchases at a Sephora in JCPenney didn't seem to apply to my money spent column on the Sephora website completely. It turned out, after speaking with Sephora over the phone that it was the (Sephora in JCPenney exclusive) Sephora Favorites Summer Obsessions Set that wasn't applying to my balance. Since I've recently had an unusual influx of gift cards, I have reached my renewal for VIB rather early in the year, well aside from about $25 worth, which this set would have taken care of. And once they discovered the mistake, they said it could take up to 2 weeks (!) to get the spend amount changed. So, just a warning if you bought the set during the sale and especially a general warning when it comes to buying at big stores running specials, etc.

If you did buy the set, it probably wouldn't be a bad idea to check your receipt and online account to ensure your points and dollar spent was appropriately applied. You never know when you'll get a few gift cards and be close to a 100 point perk that you actually want or close to renewing your VIB or VIB Rouge levels!

Are You A VIB? Psst Sale Starts March 29th!

Are you a Sephora VIB? You are typically given the Very Important Beauty (Insider) election if you're crazy and spend over $350 in a calendar year at Sephora. I'm guilty. Either way, if you do happen to be one, you can receive 15% off any purchase from March 29th (this Thursday) through April 6th. No exclusions and the code, CHICWEEK can be used multiple times. They are also holding a special event in store on the 29th which you bet I'm going to, free umbrella!

Anyone going to pick up anything? I'm tempted to get a back up of my Makeup Forever Sens'eyes.

Sephora VIB NARS Set

If you're a VIB you should have received an e-mail today from Sephora indicating you could get this trio of NARS deluxe size samples for free with any $35 or more purchase. This is good in stores and online, code is VIBNARS but it will only work if you are a very important beauty insider.

Included is the following:
Bronzing Powder in Laguna (0.08 oz)
Pro-Prime Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base (0.09 oz)
and Illuminator in your choice of Orgasm or Copacabana (0.29 oz)

These are really good size samples, the bronzer is the size of a NARS eyeshadow (the full size Laguna is .28oz at $34), for reference the full size pro-prime is .26oz at $24 and the illuminators are 1.1oz and $30. I've been wanting to try Laguna and the Pro-Prime but didn't want to spring for the full sizes as I wear bronzer very rarely and am happy with my current eye primer.

Happy shopping and Happy Valentine's Day!

Haul, Rambles & Another Dupe

I've been feeling less than spectacular lately. Yesterday I actually stopped by the CVS Minute Clinic to test for strep as that what it felt like (though I have no tonsils). However, according to the quick test and the 24 hour one, it is not strep, which makes me think it's just another mono relapse. Even though my voice is scratchy, my throat hurts and I went to bed at 7pm last night and woke up 10am, I decided to drive to the outlet mall. I need new work pants, I wanted to check out the CCO and generally get out of the house and the Sephora VIB event thingy was tonight.

I only managed to get 1 pair of pants and then a cute tweed short sleeved blazer from a store I would never walk into most days but I saw something hanging on the $4.99 rack and wandered over to this cute thing. I think it will look great with a cami underneath and some black pants for work.

And the CCO. There was a ton of stuff there and I walked out with a few things I've been eyeing.

Liquid Foundation by Bobbi Brown

Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation. This was $31.50 at the CCO and the Alabaster is a near perfect match for my skin in this formulation. It actually kind of reminds me of the Prescriptives foundation I loved (custom blend with extra moisture). Perfect for dry pale skin!

I also picked up a MAC greasepaint stick in Below Ground which after I actually got in the car and looked at my swatches... Well, look at this.

So let's see, on the far left is MAC Slick Black, then MAC Below Ground and then MAC umm I think it's Uniformly Blue and then the blue Benefit liner in the Femme Metale Set (not a bad dupe but a touch lighter). And guess what's below the bronzey MAC shade? Oh yes, that would be NYX Jumbo Liner in Iced Mocha. Foiled again (as you'll remember this is also a dupe for the MUFE #15 aqua cream)! Why do I buy the same color multiple freaking times?!

So then I ran to the Sephora event. No chocolates as promised but I did get a cute reusable shopping bag. I also sniffed Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb and applied it. I wanted to see what the fuss was all about. On me, it smells exactly like Lempicka Lolita L which is significantly cheaper. I did pick up the Some Beauty To Love Benefit set and got my Birthday Gift and the mini MUFE cream blush as my 100 point perk.

How's everyone been? If you are a VIB you can get 20% off your order with code VIB20. Anyone go to their local Sephora for the VIB event tonight? Did you get chocolates?

VIB Deal (It's Good This Time!)

For awhile, being a VIB wasn't as awesome as it was made out to be. Only occasionally did you receive a deal that regular Beauty Insiders didn't get but Sephora has redeemed themselves with this one (like they even had to - I very willingly fling my money at them!).

There doesn't seem to be a cut-off date but it's while supplies last which we all know means they will be gone ASAP. Before you order, Sephora is currently on BING 20% which makes the deal even more sweet if you order online!

Sephora VIB 15%

Starting today, use code VIBMADNESS to get 15% off your total order at www.sephora.com - the sale ends April 19th, 2010. Sephora has also shipped out a mailer that has an extra 15% in-store for a friend tonight only. It also includes a coupon for you that can be used during the sale dates.

How do you know if you're a VIB? Typically, you are part of the "very important beauty insider" program if you spend $350 or more in a calendar year. You should have received an e-mail inviting you to the program with a 10% off coupon initially.

I'll probably go into the store since I have some store credit that I haven't yet used and it won't dip into my weekly diet as much. What are you going to haul?

Sephora VIB/BI Coupon

All these coupons and sales will be the death of me, I swear. Next up, Sephora. Sephora hinted at a gift card for their VIB (very important beauty insiders AKA those of us that spend more money than we should there!) back when the program first launched. For months, people buzzed about getting a percentage back on a gift card and how much it would be - I think at one point we heard it was 1% which would have been laughable. Anyway, well, Sephora has come through and sent 2 different "gift certificates".

$20 off $35 for VIB
$15 off $35 for regular Beauty Insiders

Look out for these in your e-mail. They act as gift cards so they are unique 1 time use codes and I've heard word that it doesn't make you spend the minimum $35 to get the coupon to go through. So you could in fact buy something for $20, use a free ship code and pay nothing (or a tiny bit for tax if anything).

I'm sure I'll figure out something to get with my code but I can't make up my mind yet. What is everyone else hauling?