Deal :: Maybelline Color Tattoo

Oh, the Rite Aid clearance section is so good to me. I got this little pot of Maybelline's Color Tattoo 24hr eyeshadow in 400 Rich Mahogany. It was still sealed in it's limited edition wrapper, as well. The price tag was a whopping $4.

I have been using it as a dark brown gel eyeliner on those days when I'm just not in the mood for black. The color is gorgeous, I find myself reaching for it more and more often.

Empty :: Senna Barely Base Sheer Mineral Makeup

Now, this definitely isn't a sample size. And it definitely isn't cheap. It's taken me nearly 6 months of almost daily use to finish the entire bottle. Thankfully, I have a second bottle squirreled away from my days working at the salon, so I don't need to repurchase just yet.

I'm conflicted about this product as a whole. On one hand, it is the right amount of coverage for my skin and I always get tons of compliments when I use it. It is quick and easy and light. I feel like I'm wearing next to nothing, but still take care of any unwanted shine. And most importantly, it doesn't cause me to break out.

But, as I said previously, it is expensive, and not at all kind on my post-grad budget without an employee discount. They tout being an eco-conscious and health-aware luxury makeup brand, but I'm not 100% convinced that it's worth it.

For now, Senna's Barely Base will still serve it's post as my go-to foundation and SPF as my summer tan fades and the shade "vanilla" starts to suit me again. We will see how financially stable I am once this second bottle runs dry.

Empty :: Benefit's Fake Up

Well, there goes the very last of my concealer.

I somehow managed to destroy this sample the first time I tried to use it. I also somehow managed to use almost all of it anyways. "Impressed" is an understatement for the feelings I have toward Benefit's Fake Up, considering it was my first successful use of concealer in general and also my first introduction to the Benefit line.

Overall, I'm excited to try more Benefit products in the future. I'm not going to purchase a replacement for Fake Up at this time, because I need to reach out for more experience with other products, starting at the drugstore, now that I think I've got a handle on how this whole concealing thing works. This doesn't mean that I won't be back someday. Other concealers have got some big shoes to fill.

Deal :: L'Oreal Collection Privee Nail Polish

The Rite Aid near my boyfriend's parents house has the best clearance beauty section. Because it isn't right in the center of town, the makeup on clearance doesn't look like it's been through World War III and it is almost almost full of limited edition products for half price.

I found this L'Oreal Collection Privee Doutzen Nail Polish in doutzen's nude 600 for $3.49.

It is a very mauve toned nude, which I love. I've been holding out on buying a mauve polish, and I'm so glad I stumbled upon this one for such a reasonable price! Manicure post will be coming later, once I change my pedicure for the fall.

Cut :: Laqa & Co Lip Lube

I'm cutting this product from my lip collection. I've tried it numerous times, and it's just not working for me.

The primary reason is the color. I don't think this bright peach color suits my olive-based skin tone, and it's a little too intense for my style.

The secondary reason is the texture. It feels a little too much like lip balm, which is great for moisturization, but not so great when it doesn't seem to set evenly.

Although I love the packaging, including the twist up bottom and the minty scent & flavor, this product just doesn't suit my current lifestyle. I have a feeling my little sister will love it, though.

Empty :: Beauty Protector Protect & Detangle Leave in Conditioner

I am very disappointed that I've used all of this up, now that this unseasonal humidity has settled into my tresses.

Scent: I can't describe the scent of this spray, but I can say that I can't get enough of it. It is pretty strong, so beware when mixing with other fragrances.

Texture: This spray conditions and detangles, but it is also light enough for everyday use. A small amount of product is enough to detangle all of my hair post-shower, so I only use two or three pumps.

Packaging: I like the soft plastic of the bottle. I don't feel like it is going to crack if I accidentally drop it or it gets thrown around in my luggage during travel. I do recall that the pump was very hard to get started in the beginning, though.

Comments: I have a couple other similar product samples hanging around to try first, but overall I really liked this product and I will likely be purchasing the full-size. I am looking forward to trying the Beauty Protector shampoo and conditioner.

Empty :: BeeKind Body Lotion

I've been taking this lotion from BeeKind with me while traveling in lieu of any regular size body lotions.

Scent: Honey and chamomile, which combines into a very fresh and clean scent that isn't overpowering or harsh.

Texture: This is definitely a "lotion" versus a "cream". It is very thin and runny, and soaks into the skin quite rapidly.

Packaging: I absolutely love that this brand supports honey bee and sustainable pollination research. Every time I use this product, I think of fuzzy little honeybees and how sad it would be to live in a future without them.

Comments: I'm more of a "cream" person myself, but I did love the scent and mission of BeeKind. If I could continue to purchase this product in a 30mL tube, it would become a staple in my travel bag.

Empty :: Whish Shaving Cream

I have finally squeezed as much of this product from Whish as I can out of its tube.

Scent: Acai grapefruit, but smells a little soapy and acidic.

Texture: A "thick whip", and little goes a long way! I like the cream over a gel or foam, now that I've tried it.

Packaging: I don't like the tube, and that's just a personal preference. I feel like I miss out on some of the product left inside.

Comments: I was rather unimpressed with this shaving cream. I didn't notice a difference in the softness or smoothness of my skin post-shave like I did with the exfoliating scrub from Whish. That being said, I don't think I will be purchasing the full size product.

Seeking :: Polish Pairings

Oh, the complex art of pairing your manicure and pedicure. It is basically advanced color theory. Some just have an eye for it, and some, like me, require lots of research and quite the headache before I head to the parlor. I never want my fingers and toes to match… but I want them to complement each other.

Here's my current dilemma:


Last week, I got a pedicure with OPI's Coca Cola red (boyfriend's choice, pictured on the left). Now, I'll be getting my manicure done with my little sister today, and I have no idea what to pair this bright red with. This pedicure is still going strong, so there's no real reason to get it done again. Pinterest research turned up some solid suggestions: gold (although it's still summer and that seems like such a holiday-time pairing to me) and hot pink (and I simply can't imagine myself with hot pink nails, it just isn't me).


Finally, I found a suitable combination on Purewow. Their "Meet Your Match" quiz turned up the seemingly obvious combination of a bright nautical red and a sandy nude.

Now that's a summery match I can really sea myself in.

Warning :: EOS lip balm

I am honestly more than a little disappointed to be writing this post. I have loved EOS lip balm since before I even started using it. They have established such an amazing brand in a short period of time, and I admire the seamlessness of their marketing, graphic design, and public relations departments.

A Facebook friend shared yesterday that she thinks there might have been a formula change in EOS products. She had been an avid user for a long time, and developed a nasty rash when she started using a newly purchased Sweet Mint.

I did a little research online to see if I could find any other relevant conversations, and mostly turned up people describing their allergic reactions. Not very informative in this case, when a product has seemingly turned against you out of nowhere. But when I saw a pictures of these reactions, I realized that I had this same experience earlier this summer.

I thought I had skimped on the SPF in my balm, and ended up with sunburnt lips for a week. But I stopped using my EOS after that, simply out of convenience. I didn't have another problem all summer.

Stranger yet, I've had this same lip balm since October 2013 and never before experienced a negative reaction. My friends EOS was newly purchased and gave her this reaction right away.

I have so many questions... Do they expire faster than usual (and can therefore expire on the checkout shelves)? What is in this product that I am reacting to, when I have no other known allergies? Is it safe to purchase EOS again?

Have you been affected by this?

Haul :: Bath & Body Works

In February and March, I picked up quite a few free samples from Bath & Body Works through the offers posted on their Facebook page. It's a good day when the little "Get Offer" button is the first thing I see on my newsfeed. I've quickly rounded them up into this master post. Bath & Body Works is a company based primarily on their scents, so that's what I'll be focusing on here.

The first offer was posted on January 19th to welcome spring very, very early with a free 3 oz Body Lotion in their new scents: Sun, Sky, or Air.

As you can see, I picked up two! After briefly trying all three scents at the store, I decided Sun and Sky were my favorite of the bunch. Air was "pear blossom" scent, and something about pears I'm not very fond of. Sun is "golden magnolia", so it's very warm and sweet. I've already carried this around in my purse a bit as my on-the-go hand lotion. Sky is "violet lily", so it's got a very fresh and clean scent, which is perfect for springtime. I'm glad these little bottles don't have the scent descriptions on the back, so I get a chance to train my nose.

For Valentine's day, February 14th, Bath and Body works posted an offer for their Mad About You Diamond Shimmer Mist, which was a one day offer and meant that I dragged my very patient dinner date to the mall before they closed. When I asked the sales representative about the offer, she said it was for the full sized bottle and caught me by surprise. The scent is sugary sweet, and reminds me of a cotton-candy-esque perfume I had growing up. I'm very skeptical of shimmer mist, so when the sun comes back out I'll have to pull this out again for a test run to see if my boyfriend asks why I'm covered in glitter. So far, swatches have looked not-so-subtle to me. I do appreciate that Bath and Body Works were willing to give away full sized products to their dedicated customers. - that's generosity and I like that!

Last but not least, this fan exclusive offer for a free 3 oz sample of the new Hawaiian-inspired scents was posted for one day only on March 10th. The scents were Hawaii "passionfruit kiss", Oahu "coconut sunset", and Maui "hibiscus beach". I finally settled on Hawaii "passionfruit kiss", but Oahu "coconut sunset" was a close runner-up. Coconut always reminds me of summer without fail, so I was impressed with Hawaii's summery scent without coming across as too beachy. Make sense? My mom loves this new collection, as she pointed out while we were shopping this weekend. Likely that's because of their inspiration more than anything else, considering she's irritated by fragrance.







 

My favorite so far? Of the new scents that I've tried, I think my favorite is Sky. It's so perfect for the time of the year, with such a late spring finally unfolding and the sky gradually turning from it's wintery grey into a clear blue. I'm excited to take home some new products that caught my eye at the store yesterday, including the new French Lavender & Honey and the Morocco Orchid & Pink Amber.

Keep checking in - I'll always try to post an alert when I see a Bath & Body Works Facebook offer!

Offer Alert :: Bath & Body Works

Get over to Bath & Body Works' Facebook page as fast as you can - this offer expires today! Give yourself a little Valentine's Day gift, thanks to BBW.

Will anyone else be trekking through the Valentine's Day Nor'easter up here in the Northeast to get your free Mad About You Diamond Mist?

UPDATE: The Mad About You Diamond Mist that Bath and Body Works is giving away today through this offer is a full sized product! Most malls are open for another 2 hours tonight - drag your Valentine's Day date to the nearest mall before dinner, because you don't want to miss this.

Offer Alert :: Origins

Origins has this little(big!) offer going on through their Facebook page. It expires on February 8th, so don't let it slip by you!

According to the comments, a lot of people have tried to use the offer and representatives at some of their locations were unaware of the promotion. I'll be calling the counter at Macy's first, before I make the snowy trek downtown. I've personally never used Origins products in the past, as far as I can remember, but my skin is in dire need of some winter care.

If all goes well with the weather, my best friend and I will be stopping in to our local Macy's Origins counter together after our winter vineyard tour on Saturday morning!

Giveaway Alert :: Olivella

This giveaway came up on my Facebook feed today, and I was very excited to see it.

I'm already a huge fan of Olivella's face wipes, but I haven't tried any of their other skincare products yet. I use the Olivella Face & Body Cleansing tissues every night to remove my makeup before bed, and I love them because they are so gentle, they are essentially scent-free, and they work. I've tried other brands of face wipes in the past, but I've had problems with getting my mascara off, leaving my skin irritated, or being too strongly scented.

Check out this referral link to enter the Olivella Sempre Kit Giveaway until January 31st for your chance(s) to win $123.50 worth of skincare products, including face & body creams, moisturizer, shower gel, and more.

Giveaway Alert :: Birchbox & The Honest Company

Birchbox posted giveaway details on their Instagram account (@birchbox) today, linking up with The Honest Company (@honest) to provide one seriously lucky follower with some seriously nourishing skincare products. The harsh, dry winter weather has been wrecking havoc on my skin, and the products in this goody-box sure do look like sweet salvation from cracked hands and lips.

To enter, follow @honest on Instagram, regram the picture and make sure to tag @honest and #birchbox in your caption. They will pick a winner tomorrow (1/29) at 5 p.m ET. Find all the rules at birchbox.com/rules.