What's New: Maybelline The Nudes Palette

Today, I'm bringing you pictures and swatches of a brand new,  12 pan palette from Maybelline! This is just starting to hit drug stores, but can be found right now at Bed, Bath & Beyond. It retails for around $10 there and they are going fast!

I picked mine up about 5 days ago and have been playing with it ever since. So, I do have an opinion about this product even though its fairly new. It comes with a variety of shades with a variety of finishes. On the back of the packaging, it outlines how the palette is divided into quads, trios, and duos. I find this to be pretty helpful when creating looks with these shades.

Overall, I'm pretty satisfied with the color options in this palette. They have a great range of cool tones and warm tones, along with some wonderful matte shades. The colors are build-able and can come off quite pigmented if used with a primer. For around $10.00, I think this is well worth the investment and time trying to find it! Look for deals when you start finding it at your local drugstores. Maybelline products normally have a great sale attached to them :)

Review: Maybelline Color Whisper in "Lust For Blush"

I found the most perfect nude pink lip color in the world! I absolutely love a nude lip. It's hard for many to achieve since having a nude lip can sometimes make you look dead. So, a lot of us look to nude pink shades to counter that balance of a nude lip and a dead face. However, pinks are hard, too. Some are too bright, some are too brown etc.

I'm so happy to have found this lip color. It's the perfect balance of it all and it look so pretty with my fair skin tone. The Maybelline Color Whisper in "Lust For Blush" is now in the archives as my favorite drugstore lipstick! It's so beyond perfect for a variety of shin tones, and it feels like a chap-stick. It's very hydrating, and not too heavy, like some lipsticks.

I find pictures of lips a little creepy and weird, but I thought it would be helpful for you to see what it looks like on my lips in natural light.

This lipcolor retails for $7.50 at most drugstores or wherever Maybelline is sold near you. I definitely recommend it if you love the idea of a nude lip, but can't seem to find one that looks good on you. This is such a nice color, and the price is budget friendly!

Friday Haul: Maybelline, Physicians Formula, The Balm

Hooray for the weekend! I hope your week was awesome, and that you were able to score some great beauty finds. This week, I went to Ulta, Kohls, and Rite Aid. Here we go...

I went to Kohls this week because they sent me a coupon for $10 off anything in the store. I originally wanted to get some new clothes, but looked them over and didn't find anything that suited me, so of course I browsed the cosmetics to find something there. I had no idea that Kohls sold theBalm cosmetics! I found this "Smoke Balm" eyeshadow palette for $12! Easy desicion at that point. A $2 trio from theBalm after my $10 coupon. I reviewed this item yesterday, so click here for more info.

Then, I hopped over to Ulta. I posted on Facebook that they are having a 40% off sale on a lot of drugstore brands. Maybelline and Physicians Formula are 2 of the 5 brands that are 40% off right now. PLUS, you can use a $3.50 off your $10 purchase coupon for even better savings, and Ulta takes Manufacture Coupons as well! So as I was browsing, I found this BB Bronzer with an attached $5 off coupon. Then, I got some things from Maybelline that I've needed and wanted as well. Here is how this sweet deal ended up:

$14.99 Physicians Formula Bronze Booster Glow Boosting BB Cream
$6.99 Maybelline Define a Brow in Dark Blonde
$4.99 Maybelline Fit Me Bronzer (Can you tell I'm gearing up for summer?)
-$10.78 (40% off sale)
-$5.00 (Coupon attached to Bronze BB Cream)
-$3.50 (Ulta $3.50 off $10 purchase coupon)
$7.68 For $27 worth of makeup!

Last, I went to Rite Aid for one of my favorite sales ever! They do this sale every now and then, and I JUMP on it! Spend $15 on Physicians Formula get $10 up+ rewards (excludes eye & clearance)! Already that is a sweet deal, but combine it with a coupon, and you can get a smoking deal! PLUS, you can do this twice. That's a $20 savings if you spend $30. I've told you about the Buy 1 Get 1 Free coupons that I found at Target. I went and got another one, then ran to Rite Aid and found more coupons stuck to the products there as well:

$14.95  Physicians Formula Nude Wear Bronzer (Yes, another bronzer this week)
$13.95  Physicians Formula Super CC Color Correcting Powder
$6.55 Physicians Formula Gentle Cover Concealer Stick
-$13.95 (Buy 1 Get 1 Free Coupon from Target)
-$3.00 (Coupon stuck to CC powder at Rite Aid)
-$20.00 (up+ Rewards for next purchase)
-$1.50  --> An awesome money maker, if you can find the coupons at Target!

So that's all for my haul this week. I got $74.42 worth of makeup for only $8.17 this week!

I want to mention, that there was a $4 off any Almay cosmetics coupon in the Sunday paper. If you were lucky enough to get one, then you can get some free stuff at Ulta and CVS this week! CVS has the lip glosses for $5.99 with a $2 reward, so free after the $4 coupon. And Almay is included in the 40% off sale at Ulta, so choose your scenario there. I was super lucky and scored 2 of these wonderful coupons, thanks to my sweet neighbors, so I'll be saving mine for a money making scenario next week! So make sure you come back next Friday. And, have a great Easter weekend!

My Holy Grail Drugstore Products

 

Makeup

Primer: Monistat Soothing Care Powder Gel

Foundation:  L'Oreal Visible Lift Serum Absolute

Concealer: Maybelline Fit Me Concealer

Powder: Coty Airspun Powder in "Translucent" 

Lip Balm: EOS Lip Balm

Lip Gloss: NYX Butter Gloss

Lipsick: Maybelline Color Whisper in "Lust For Blush"

Lip Liner: NYX Retractable Lipliner

Blush: Physicians Formula Sexy Booster in "Rose"

Cream Blush: Revlon Photoready Cream Blush in "Flushed"

Bronzer: Revlon Photoready Bronzer

Highlight: Physicians Formula Happy Booster Glow & Mood Boosting Powder in "Translucent"

Finishing Spray: NYX Dewy Finish Makeup Setting Spray

Eyeshadow Primer: Wet n Wild Fergie Take on the Day Primer in "For my Primas"

Eyeshadow: Wet n Wild Eyeshadow Trio in "Walking on Eggshells" 

Eye Liner: L'Oreal Silkissime Eyeliner in "Black"

Mascara: Maybelline Volum'Express The Rocket Mascara in "Very Black"

Eyebrow Product: Maybelline Define-a-Brow in dark blonde

Skincare

Facial Moisturizer: St. Ives Timeless Skin Collagen Elastin Facial Moisturizer

Eye Cream: Lumene Vitamin C+ Anit-Puffiness roll-on eye serum

Scrub: Freeman Facial Polishing Mask Charcoal and Brown Sugar

Mask: Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque

Cleanser: 365 Everyday Facial Cleanser

Body Moisturizer: Alba Botanica Cocoa Butter Lotion

I will add/change this list as things change or I find new products that fit my liking.

Friday Haul: Maybelline, Physicians Formula, The Body Shop & more!

Happy Friday! I hope your week was great. I'm back in the thick of drugstore deals this week, so I hope you're ready to shop! I went to Target, CVS, and The Body Shop this week. 

 At Target I was able to get some great deals using the $3 off $15 Beauty purchase coupon that came with my Target Beauty Box. If you follow me on Facebook, you will have seen that I posted a link for you to print off a coupon for $3 off any $5 yes to coupon, and I also posted about Target having a lot of Clearance finds this week as well. So, make sure you are following me! So, here is the deal I was able to get with combining all of these coupons:

Yes to Blueberry Cleansing Facial Towelettes (Bonus Pack) $5.99
Yes to Cucumbers Cleansing Facial Towelettes (Bonus Pack) $5.99
Revlon Colorstay Whipped foundation (Clearance priced) $5.48 =
$17.46
-$3.00 ($3 off $15 Beauty purchase coupon that came with my Target Beauty Box)
-$3.00 (Yes to coupon from here)
-$3.00 (Yes to coupon from here)
-$2.00 (Coupon that I printed for Revlon from here) 
$6.46 for all 3 items!

The first thing I picked up at CVS, was this 2 pack of Maybelline Mega Plush Mascara. CVS has a sale where if you buy $10 worth of Maybelline cosmetics, you get $3 back in extra bucks. I also had a $2 off coupon from the red machine. Here is what this deal looks like:

2 pack of Maybelline Mega Plush Mascara in "Blackest Black"
$9.99 (The extra bucks will still print even though it's a penny off of the $10)
-$2.00 ($2 off any Maybelline cosmetics purchase coupon from red machine)
-$3.00 (Bucks that printed on my receipt for a future purchase)
-$0.99 (10% back for Beauty Club membership - 10% is always taken BEFORE coupons)
 $3.99 - Only $2 per mascara!

Next up, I had to get in on the Physicians Formula deal, where if you buy any 2 Physicians Formula cosmetics, you get $10 back in extra bucks! I had a coupon from the red machine for Physicians Formula, and when I went to Target, I found these fun little pink stickers on Physicians Formula products that said "Buy 1 Get 1 FREE". So, I peeled one off and took it to CVS where I was able to score this deal:

Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips All-in-one Nude pallet for face and eyes in "Natural Nude" & "Warm Nude" $13.99 each...
$13.99 x 2 =
$27.98
-$13.99 (Buy 1 Get 1 FREE coupon sticker)
-$3.00 ($3 off any Physicians Formula cosmetics purchase coupon from red machine)
-$10.00 (Bucks that printed on my receipt for a future purchase)
-$2.79 (10% back for Beauty Club membership - 10% is always taken BEFORE coupons) 
 $1.80 - Only $0.90 for each pallet!

Next, if you follow me on Facebook, you will have seen me post about a Groupon deal for The Body Shop. For $15 you get $30 to spend in store! This is just a straight $30, and if there are sales in store, you can still use the Groupon! This past weekend, there was a sale for "Buy 2 get 2 or buy 3 get 3". So, I was able to get 6 items for the price of 3, plus I used my Groupon to pay for most of my purchase! Here is how it worked

4 single eyeshadows in "Caramel Flirt", "Chocolate Linger", "Coconuts About You", & "Pink Crush" $10.00 each x 4 = $40.00

2 single blushes in "Bubble Gum", & "Ginger" $16.00 each x 2  = $32.00

  $40.00 (eyeshadows)
+$32.00 (Blushes)
$72.00
-$15.00 (Amount from the Groupon)
-$30.00 ("Buy 2 get 2 or buy 3 get 3" sale)
 $27.00 for all 6 items, only $4.50 per item!

This week, had I not gotten any of these cosmetics on sale or used coupons, I would have paid $127.43. Since I was smart about my shopping, I only paid $39.25! What were you able to score this week? Make sure that if you want to get in on any of the Drugstore deals, you shop before Sunday!

Smackdown: Tarte emphasEYES for brows vs. Maybelline Define-a-Brow

Today's smackdown, is all about the brows. I personally like to fill in my brows with a pencil. I think I have better control, and I also feel like it looks more natural than filling them in with a powder, expecially when done correctly. Tarte emphasEYES for brows and Maybelline Define-a-Brow are 2 pencils that are specifically for your brows, and they are very similar. But how similar? I'll tell you my expiriences with both of them and compare for you, so that you can decide which would be better for you. In this smackdown, I'm comparing the Tarte emphasEYES in Taupe - light taupe. And the Maybelline Define-a-Brow in dark blonde.

Lets start with the price of these 2 products. The Maybelline Define-a-Brow for .001 oz. is around $6. Where the Tarte emphasEYES will set you back $19.50 for the exact same amount of product, .001 oz. So, the Tarte emphasEYES is quite a bit more expensive. Expecially considering you can often find Maybelline products on sale at your local drug store.

Both pencils have a very fine tip. In fact, other than the color of the plastic surrounding the product, I cant tell a difference between the 2 of them. The application is the same for both. Using short stokes to fill in your eyebrows where needed, to create the illusion of little hairs where they may be sparse. One thing I do want to point out, is that the Tarte emphasEYES is much easier for me to twist up than the Maybelline Define-a-Brow. I'm not sure if all of the Maybelline Define-a-Brow pencils are as difficult to twist as mine is, but it is definitely a noticeable difference.

 

Tarte emphasEYES has a spooly on the opposite end of the pencil for you to groom your eyebrows before and/or after you apply your pencil, where the Maybelline Define-a-Brow has a small comb for the same purpose. I personally think the spooly on the Tarte emphasEYES is much better for it's intended use and grooms my eyebrows a lot better and easier than the comb version on the Maybelline Define-a-Brow pencil.

The color payoff is the same and they even look very similar when swatched out. Maybelline Define-a-Brow is a much harder formula than the Tarte emphasEYES, so the Tarte emphasEYES goes on a bit easier and creamier, however once applied they have the same effect.

Personally, overall I like the Tarte emphasEYES a little bit better. And, I think I lean toward liking that one better only for the fact that it has the nicer grooming tool on the other end of the pencil. That being said, the  Maybelline Define-a-Brow is certainly a wonderful alternative and very close dupe that costs a lot less for the same overall end results.

Tip Tuesday: Using Bright Blushes

One of the more widely used items in my makeup case, are my blushes. I love how they make me look like I'm not dead, and that they can perk up even the most bland of skin days. As we head into spring, I feel like the most colorful and spring-like thing you can add to your makeup routine is a bright eye popping blush! I have several blushes in my collection that would make most people cringe, but here are 3 reasons why I love them so much.

1. Bright washes of color on the apples of your cheeks makes you look more youthful. I was reminded of this on Sunday when I was curling my 6 year old daughters hair. Her cheeks had this hint of color on them that made her simply glow. As we age our skin looses pigmentation. So, adding that pigmentation on your cheeks makes you look younger.

2. It can save you money! This post was inspired by a bright blush I purchased just yesterday (I'll tell you more about that in my haul post on Friday). Bright colors can make for some very clown-like looks if you aren't careful. But, with a light hand and a good quality blush brush, you can use a very minimal amount of that blush, so it will last a long time. And, if you read my haul Friday post, you'll see just how affordable it truly can be!

3. Bright colors show up and look great on everyone. From the lightest of lights to the darkest of dark's. Bright, bold colors are universally flattering no matter what color your skin might be. I'm very pale, and you would think that using a bright, highly pigmented blush would make me look like I've got neon cheeks. However, I apply it very carefully and with a light touch to both the product and my skin. So, I'm left with a light wash of brightness that wakes my face up and makes me look alive again. You can always add more blush if you feel like the pigmentation isn't enough for you, so build it up until you get the color you want. But, always start with a very small amount.

So, there you have it! Below I've given you some examples of the blushes that are in my collection that are super vibrant and pigmented.

1. Maybelline Master Glaze Blush in "Pink Fever"
2. NYX Rouge Cream Blush in "Glow"
3. bareMinerals Blush in "Fruit Cocktail"
4. elf Studio Blush in "Pink Passion"
5. essence Silk Touch Blush in "Life's a Cherry"

What's New: Maybelline Color Tattoo's

If you love staying power, pretty colors, and rich pigments on your eyes, then you probably have already tried Maybelline Color Tatoo's. These are among my very favorite shadows in the entire universe. And, they have 6 new colors for spring! I saw these and snatched up 3 of the 6, and I'm already in love. Here are the 3 that I picked:

Stroke of Midnight

This is a black shade (the 1st black in the color tattoo line). It is pretty pigmented, but not impressively so. It has fine silver flakes that are very noticeable, so if your going for matte, this one isn't for you. 

Nude Compliment

This is one of 3 mid-toned shades in the new line up. I liked this one the best, since the other 2 weren't great shades for my skin tone. I feel like this is a true "nude" shade and doesn't have any underlying pigments making it more red or yellow toned. It's has a beautiful sheen that comes off very well and isn't overpowering at all. 

 

Pure Nude

This is my favorite of the 3 that I chose. A very pale, pink shade that is pretty pigmented. As you can see in the swatches below, I'm super pale. So it's hard for me to find shades that are on the lighter side that don't look washed out on me. And, while this is very close to my skin tone, you can definitely tell that its there. Especially when it's on my lids. Just like Nude Compliment, it has a very pretty sheen that isn't sparkly or over done. This looks great for a natural look that has pizazz! Such a gorgeous color.

 

So, have you seen these at your local drug/grocery store? Did you pick some up, too?