Go To CVS Now!

(Not) A shock, I've already used this title for le blog. I'm actually a bit tickled pink that I found this out before the infamous drugstore guru Ms. Recessionista (or at least posted it before her - hooray for being on the east coast). Anyway, go to the magic red machine of awesomeness and scan your card and it should print out $2 worth of Extra Bucks free, just because that expire on the 13th of June. No prior purchase required, not your quarterly bucks, just $2 free because CVS loves me you.

Am I not made of awesome?

Laura Mercier @ Gilt Today!

Laura Mercier is going to be at Gilt today starting at 12pm EST. While I don't find the Laura Mercier brand that exciting, they make great staple products which in my opinion are of great quality. I'm actually hoping they will be featuring some of the face makeup since I've been dying to try their foundation, but regular price ($42) isn't in my budget. Will you be taking part?

disclosure: This post includes a referral link.

Review: Estee Lauder Lip Conditioner SPF 15

I apologize in advance for the stock picture. I've been trying out this lip balm for about a week and wanted to share my thoughts. Estee Lauder is a brand that normally markets to more mature ladies though recently, they've used the blogosphere to attract a different audience. I'm honestly not sure how this made its way into my stash because I don't remember purchasing it; maybe a swap extra? Either way, rambling aside, I've been using this for about a week.

Now you all know how much I love my Woody's Citrus Ice lip balm, which I actually finished. If not, let me remind you. Well, this stuff is pretty decent as well, however, I don't feel it moisturizes nearly as well as the Woody's. If my lips are already hydrated, it does a fairly decent job of keeping them that way, but if I apply on dry flaky lips, it doesn't do the heavy duty hydrating job that the Woody's does. It does have a similar texture, a bit of slip, but more on the thick creamy side (which I prefer - and makes it ideal to double as a lipstick base). Since it comes in a lipstick tube, it has the harder texture and isn't mushy. I've found that this has kept its shape in my purse even after standing around waiting for the commuter train in the heat. And, even though it's in that tell tale signature gold case, I don't feel negative about pulling it out in public, in fact, I quite enjoy it! It's quite heavy substantial and luxe.

There's no obvious scent to the product though you get a bit of an SPF aftertaste in your mouth after application (or perhaps it's the shea butter?). The Estee Lauder Lip Conditioner SPF 15 retails for $16.50 and comes in a .13oz/3.8g stick.

I'm not sure I'll repurchase but I'll use up this tube.

Have you tried the Estee Lauder Lip Conditioner? What are your thoughts on the product?

Bye Bye Bling

A few days ago, I received an e-mail from Bing.com telling me that their cash back program would be ending in just a few months. I know I'll miss having the ability to find the very best deal on cash back sites and Bing had some of the best cash back amounts.

"We are writing to notify you that the Bing cash back program will be discontinued, and the last day to earn cash back on your Bing Shopping purchases will be July 30, 2010."

"We encourage you to redeem your cashback savings and to further support redemption, we are waiving the $5 minimum payout effective July 31, 2010."

I think one of the major reasons that they ended the program was that it was most likely a marketing scheme to get the word out about Bing, but though I use the Bing cash back program, I continue to use Swagbucks for my searching needs.

What are your thoughts?

Disclosure: This post includes a referral link.

DF&CCO & CCO Haul

Today I drove to the outlet malls to check out the CCO (Estee Lauder brands) and DF&CCO (Lancome brands). I was hoping to go to catch in on the Memorial Day sales but the idea of going to an outlet mall swarming with people was not my idea of a good time. I hoped that some of the sales would still be in place today and I lucked out at the Lancome branded outlet (the normal CCO almost never has sales aside from the meager 10% off on Black Friday).

$2.99 La Roche-Posay Gentle Cleansing Bar (retail $9, regular price at DF&CCO $7.20)
$2.99 Lancome Feuille D'or nail polish
$2.99 Lancome Color Design eyeshadow in Vue
$1.99 Ralph Lauren Wild EDT mini .25oz

Then at the CCO I went a little bit of neutral crazy. I picked up, Time & Space, Grand Entrance, Night Manoeuvres, Silverthorn and Magnetic Fields

All but the one with the tag showing were $10.25 - Time & Space was $10.00 -

And 2 more pigments for my happy pigment family: Gold Mode & Lark About

And one mineralize blush: Daft Pink

I clearly spent more than I really should but there was so much stock I couldn't help myself!

While I was there, I went ahead and swatched the pearl glide liners they had in stock (bankroll, molasses, fly by bleu (?), black russian and the reddish one) and don't kill me, but I don't know what the fuss is all about. Yes they were creamy, but they did not stay put. I swatched them on my hand, waited, blew on them, and rubbed and they were gone, well aside from the microglitter, that stuck around! Colors were gorgeous though.

Have you hauled anything lately? Did I do good?

Empties

I was expecting this post to be more substantial than it is, but I've decided to not wait until I use something else up since we could be waiting awhile!

I've recently used up 3 products (notice that there's really no makeup but I am working on that!).

- Avene Eau Thermale - Love this stuff and have several back ups waiting for me
- Fresh Seawater & Ginseng Treatment Toner - Love this stuff too. Unfortunately this toner has been discontinued but I use this primarily on my nose or where I have clogged pores, I doesn't burn and it doesn't really tingle all that much, but I swear I feel a kind of bubbling and it brings the ickiness to the top and makes extraction much easier. I usually apply this with a cotton pad on my nose and wait for it to bubble and then use one of those torture devices to clean things up. Also really nice to pour some in a spray bottle, stick in the fridge and spray when it's hot and icky. I already have a backup and will be sad when my stash is gone.
- Woody's Citrus Ice Lipbalm - I've sang my love for this already here. Even though Woody's is a male grooming brand, I really love this lipbalm. It easily compares to the Fresh balm but honestly I think it's a bit better and so is the price point! I won't be repurchasing now because I am what you would call a lip balm connoisseur, but I definitely will in the future. Oh, and I love this balm so much, I scooped out the very very last bit of it before deeming it finished. 

Witness:

Have you used up anything recently? Would you repurchase?

Beauty Blog Link Love - 6/05/10 - #11

Over at theNotice, Rae has been bitten stung by the Misikko bug -- and she is not pleased!

Betty Girl Makeup is back, and continuing on with her series on contouring!

Vex in the City shares her delight at discovering the wonders of Mehron's new Celebré HD-Pro foundation.

Lisamarie from Beauty Crazed checks out the multitude of choices in lash enhancers.

Louise pens a love letter to a BLUE eyeshadow, and is now trying to deal with her embarrassment.

Mz. More from The Glamorous Gleam tells you all about her experience with the Zoya Nail Polish Exchange, and shows off her new goodies!

Does your significant other complain about "too girly" shower gel scents? Want a happy medium? Look no further and discover what shower gel Hellcandy and her bf are raving about!

Jeweled Thumb shares how she spot cleans her brushes, and reviews 6 cleansers to help you find the best one for you!

Hot Beauty Health shares the top beach beauty buys for summer 2010!

Krasey Beauty meets Dany Sanz, the artist, legend, and creator of Make Up For Ever.

Spiced Beauty shows you that you can look fab in red lipstick... even if it just costs a dollar!

There's a new natural cosmetics line on the block! Lipglossiping casts her eye over Bourjois' little sister, Une.

Jolie Laide Girl is glowing with Make Up Forever's HD Blushes.

Learn how to get 'Perfect Skin' with the help of makeup artist Jon Hennessy at Makeup by Kim Porter.

Phyrra shows you the newest collection from Aromaleigh, Victoria’s Revenge. If you like steampunk, you’ll love this collection!


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Find out what Audrey Dao is giving away for June's Reader of the Month Giveaway!

Cindy from Prime Beauty is a Stila IT girl and you can be too, with her awesome Stila giveaway!

L'Occitane Friends & Family

Through Sunday you can save 25% on all purchase at L'Occitane with their Friends and Family sale. Simply use code FNF25 at checkout.

Now would be an awesome time to try some of their limited edition makeup line. I'm also a fan of their hand creams in various scents. Anyone hauling?

Jouer Beauty @ Gilt Today!

"Jouer, meaning “to play” in French, offers a range of lush cosmetics in linkable containers — to help you custom-create your own perfect makeup palette. But ingenious packaging aside, the true draw of Jouer is the wearability of its shades, formulated to blend with all complexions. Founder Christina Zilber started the line in 2004 to give women effortless, gimmick-free makeup, and the result is an ever-growing, 133-product collection that includes luminous face, eye, lip and cheek color, all made from natural botanicals and mineral-rich ingredients."

- Gilt 

Um, how awesome. Anyone up for a game of "connect the eyeshadow" - who doesn't love creating your own perfect palette? I definitely think I'll be trying some items from this brand especially since they seem to focus on wearable shades - my guess is that means there will be a bunch of pretty neutrals (potential taupe alert!). Will you be taking part at noon EST?

disclosure: This post includes a referral link ok, I admit it, it contains three!

I Found Alice, Kinda

If you missed out on Alice, she's back for a limited time at Urban Decay, unfortunately, you're required to buy quite a few other products to get a hold of her.

Price tag? $211 - ouch!

Includes the Alice in Wonderland Book of Shadows

AND full-sizes of:
Honey Body Powder ($26)
Eden Eyeshadow Primer Potion ($18)
Midnight Cowboy Glitter Liner ($18)
Kirk Pocket Rocket Lip Gloss ($19)
Razor Sharp Ultra Definition Finishing Powder ($30)
De-Slick in a Tube ($28)
Big Fatty Mascara ($20)
= $159 + $52

Well, at least they kept the price the same? But yowza a $211 haul is not in the cards for me. What about you?