April Beauty Haul

There's something that just makes me so excited about new beauty products.

I'm super excited to try all of these things out. Some are old favorites (Clump Crusher Extensions and Becca Ever Matte Primer) and others are things that I can't wait to use (Hourglass Mineral Veil Primer, Beautyblender Solid, Deborah Lippman Blue Orchid, Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow in RSVP, and Benefit Gimme Brow).

Sephora Gift Card Haul

Hi there!

For Christmas my aunt gave me a gift card to Sephora, which was pretty much like having a second Christmas in my book. See, I usually buy my higher-end stuff from Ulta because I like their rewards point system better (although, maybe it's just the Ulta stores in my area, but I always seem to come across the snottiest employees, so I definitely don't visit there for the customer service or their coupon policy), so I don't get to play around with brands such as NARS or some of the other awesome stuff at Sephora.

I knew coming into Sephora that I really wanted some new face products. As much I love the Garner BB cream for combination/oily skin, I know deep inside that the shade is just too dark and yellow for me. And I really wanted to dabble in some higher-end stuff while I could.

After talking to a makeup artist and getting my skin color matched with their new computer program (seriously, I have no clue how it works, but it was beyond cool to watch), she recommended for me the Stila CC Cream. She matched me to the lightest shade, which I would have never thought would match me, but I think it looks pretty good.

In all honestly, I had never heard of it before. In a week or so I'll give a better first look at it, but so far I really like it.

I also picked up some more face powder (she recommended the Sephora brand, which I'm kinda skeptical about, but I'm too lazy to drive to MAC to pick up more of the Studio Fix powder).

Two total random things I never intended on buying were the Josie Maran Bear Naked nail polish removing wipes and Deborah Lippmann's Daytripper. The wipes called me because they have polar bears and peppermint scent and Daytripper is a color I've been lusting over for just about two or three years.

Overall, I thought it was a successful trip to Sephora.

And in case that wasn't enough shopping, I then went to Ulta to do some more damage. I had triple rewards points for the week, and I couldn't pass that down (why does it seem every time I actually have a good coupon or deal at Ulta, is when I don't need to buy anything? I think they plan this...).

 

 

I needed a new Urban Decay De-Slick spray really bad, so  picked up another full-size one.

 

Everything else I got was just truly impulse shopping and the promise of 3x reward points.

 

They had Body Shop lip balms 50% off, so I got this set of three (coconut, shea butter, and mango flavors) for $6.99. Which means that I essentially got 2 of them free, which is awesome.

 

And this Too Faced Beauty Blogger kit totally called me. Mostly because it has a sample of the Chocolate Soleil bronzer and the Better than Sex mascara. First of all, if something promises to smell like chocolate, you know I'll be all over it. Second, I love mascara. And I love products with kind of dirty names (one of the main reasons why I own the two NARS blushes that I do, although the colors are definitely worth it even if they weren't named anything raunchy). And I love samples. So I snatched this up fast.

 

Finally, I picked up this Real Techniques blush brush because I've heard amazing things about their brushes and thought this was a good place to start.

 

 

Last but not least, I had to pick up a new floral/fruity body wash. And Victoria's Secret always comes through for me.

 

 

 

 

I'd say it was a successful trip. I love trying out new things and I think I have a lot of great new options.

 

Have you gone shopping recently? Let me know if there's any products I should try out? 

 

A Trip to Ulta

Hi everyone!

Yesterday I went to Ulta for a sample of the Macadamia hair mask that I’ve been lusting over for pretty much forever. However, I didn’t just walk out of there with the sample.

I picked up some spring nail polishes from London Butter (these are the first from that brand I’ve ever bought, so hopefully they are as nice as everyone one says they are).

Fiver and Trout Pout

 

And I randomly picked up a travel size of Urban Decay’s De-Slick makeup setting spray. Hey, it was at the checkout and my face was oily. So I'd say I had a successful shopping trip. And I'll let you know what I think of the nail polish, the mask, and the Urban Decay De-Slick.

Lights, Camera, Lashes! Review

Hey everyone!

If you read my last Friday Night Five, you know that one of my favorite things of late, is Tarte's Lights, Camera, Lashes mascara.

{For more information, see Sephora!}

A few weeks ago (or maybe more?) I cashed in my Sephora Beauty Insider Points (whatever it's called) for the small sample of this. Well, at that time I was so into my L'Oreal Voluminous Millions, that I had no desire to try out a new mascara. So it got lost in the shuffle understandably.

Well, last week I decided to finally give it a try. Let's just say, I wasn't expecting to be impressed. However, it has completely rocked my mascara world. And still is, actually.

I Love:

-That this mascara has great staypower! It's not even waterproof, but it doesn't smudge, flake, wear off. However, it's super easy to take off at night!

-Fantastic lash definition!

-Hasn't clumped once!

-Kind of a dry formula, which I am a huge fan of!

-Buildable! Can be as natural or as dramatic as you want! In fact, I think that it gives a dramatic look that isn't spidery, creepy, or just gross looking like the Falsie's I reviewed.

-Cruelty Free! (I love this!)

-Makes my lashes actually soft! Not crunchy, crispy, or wet!

-Defines, adds length, and volume. So, it does everything!

-Is formulated without stuff like: Parabens, Synthetic Fragrances and Dyes, Sulfates, and other things (that I have no clue what they are, but sound yucky haha)

-Has an average looking brush, but it works wonders!

Basically, it's perfect! And I urge you all (that have the extra $19) to try it out. Because, it's absolutely amazing, and so worth that kinda steep pricetag. And the thing that I love most about it, is that it is cruelty free.

Oh, and in case you are wondering, I did buy it in the full size today at Ulta, so now I'll have beautiful lashes for even longer!

Hope you all have a great day! What's your current mascara love? Do you think that high-end mascaras are worth it? Are you a drugstore sorta girl?