Friday Haul: Physicians Formula - major money maker!

Hey everyone! I'm sorry for being so MIA the past few weeks! Kids are home for the summer, and I can't seem to find the time to get dressed for the day, let alone blog. I really wanted to share this deal with you today, though. So, I'm up way later than I should be on a Thursday night, typing up this blog post. This isn't going to be terribly picture heavy, so I apologize in advance for all the rambling.

This week at CVS, if you buy 2 Physicians Formula products, you get $10 back in Extra Bucks! To make this a SWEET deal, you need to hunt down some peelies. At Ulta, I spotted a Physicians Formula display that had a bunch of the new CC+ products as well as some of the Super BB items, and they all had pink peelies that said "Get Up To $25 Back!" So, I grabbed one and read it to reveal that all you had to do to get $25, is buy 3 CC+ or Super BB items and submit your receipt along with the peelies showing you purchased them and they will send you a check for $25!

So, wanna know how to make major money on this deal? Keep reading. Like I mentioned above, at CVS this week you get $10 back for buy 2  Physicians Formula products. I went on an even further hunt for some different peelies that I knew I had seen before at Rite Aid. So, I stopped by and sure enough there was a display with the same products and they all had $3 off pink coupons attached to them! I snached 3 of them up, and here is what I came up with using all of these various coupons...

$12.99 Super CC+ Concealer
$13.99 Super CC+ Powder
$14.99 Super CC+ Cream
-$9.00 (3 $3 off coupons attached to products at Rite Aid)
-$3.00 ($3 off any Physicians Formula coupon from red machine)
-$3.00 ($3 off any Cosmetics purchase of $15 or more coupon from red machine)
-$10.00 (Bucks that printed on my receipt for a future purchase)
-$25.00 (Mail-In-Rebate here)
-$4.19 (10% back for Beauty Club membership - 10% is always taken BEFORE coupons)
-$12.22 

Even if you can't find or don't have all of the same coupons that I have this is still an AWESOME deal! 

Friday Haul: Wet n Wild & Physicians Formula!

Hey everyone! I'm not necessarily going to have a fabulous haul this week. But there are some deals to be had at the drugstores so lets get started!

At Rite Aid this week, they have Wet n Wild cosmetics on sale for Buy 1 get 1 FREE! Mix and match!! Awesome awesome price since these are such a bargain anyway. I picked up some more eye shadow trios. These are my all-time favorite shadows from the drugstore, and you cannot beat the value! Sometimes they even have coupons attached to them for even better savings! Here is what I picked up:

$2.99 Wet n Wild ColoIcon eye shadow trio in "I'm Getting Sunburned"
$2.99 Wet n Wild ColoIcon eye shadow trio in "Don't Steal My Thunder"
$0.99 Wet n Wild ColoIcon eye shadow single in "Creme Brulee"
$0.99 Wet n Wild ColoIcon eye shadow single in "Nutty"
-$2.99 (Buy 1 get 1 FREE sale)
-$0.99 (Buy 1 get 1 FREE sale)
 $3.98 for all 4 products!

Next, if you are a CVS shopper, head over and scan your card at the red machine for a $3 off coupon good on any cosmetic purchase of $15 or more! You can combine this coupon with manufactures coupons, and sales for a better value! I decided to get a few Physicians Formula mascaras, and use some peelie coupons that I found on Physicians Formula mascaras that were being sold at Bed, Bath and Beyond. Plus, when you buy 2 Physicians Formula products, you get $6 back in extra bucks. The red machine also printed off a coupon for me a few weeks ago that was good for $3 off any Physicians Formula product!  Here is how this deal worked for me:

$9.99 Physicians Formula CC Curl Mascara
$9.99 Physicians Formula Sexy Booster Mascara
-$3.00 ($3 off any $15 cosmetics purchase coupon from red machine)
-$3.00 ($3 off Physicians Formula coupon from red machine)
-$4.00 (2 $2 off Physicians Formula peelie coupons found at Bed, Bath and Beyond)
-$6.00 (Extra Bucks for buying 2 Physicians Formula products)
-$1.99 (10% back for Beauty Club membership - 10% is always taken BEFORE coupons)
$1.98 for both mascaras!

That is all! Like I said, I wasn't that big of a shopper this week. I did save a lot with this small haul, though. I paid $5.96 for $27.94 worth of cosmetics! I hope this post helped some of you find some great deals on cosmetics!

Friday Haul: theBalm, Wet n Wild, NYC and more!

Hooray for Friday! I love the weekends, and Saturday can never come soon enough. Today I'm sharing a great haul with you that includes one of my new favorite brands, theBalm!

Last week I shared a link on Facebook for you to visit thebalm.com for a 2 hour flash sale where everything was 50% off! I don't know about you, but I was all over it and was excited for a good deal on their shadows! Here is how I saved...

$36.00 theBalm Nude 'tude nice palette
$22.00 theBalm Instain Blush in "Argyle"
-$29.00 (50% off flash sale)
$29.00!   I love saving on high end brands!

And, again with the Walgreens this week. Sorry if you hate Walgreens as much as I do. But they had Wet n Wild fergie cosmetics for 40% off this week, and there was a lip color that needed me to try it. In addition to the 40% off sale, you also get 500 points (worth 50 cents) if you buy 2! Here is what I got...

$3.59 Wet n Wild fergie Center Stage Perfect Pout Lipcolor in "Fomo"
$3.49 Wet n Wild fergie On Edge Longwearing Eye Pencil in "China White"
-$2.79 (40% off sale)
-$0.50 (500 points for using your Walgreens card)
$3.69 for both products!

Next, Rite Aid has a great deal on NYC cosmetics this week. They are buy 1 get 1 50% off! and if you get $10 worth you get a $5 up+ reward. This deal has a limit of 2, so you can get a total of $10 back. I had a plethora of NYC coupons laying around, so I decided to do the deal twice for $10 back. However, things got tricky with 50% off the 2nd item, so in order to maximize my savings I had to do a total of 4 transactions...

Transaction #1
$4.99 NYC InividualEyes compact in "Union Square"
$4.99 NYC InividualEyes compact in "Best of Broadway"
-$2.49 (50% off 2nd item sale)
-$1.50 (coupon from here - no longer available)
$5.98

Transaction #2
$2.99 NYC Sparkle Eye Dust in "Opal Sparkle"
$2.99 NYC Sparkle Eye Dust in "Diamond Dust"
$2.99 NYC Sparkle Eye Dust in "Brilliant Sapphire"
$2.99 NYC Applelicious Glossy Lip Balm in "Pink Lady"
-$2.99 (50% off 2nd item sale)
-$3.00 (2 $1.50 off coupons from here - no longer available)
-$5.00 (up+ reward for buying $10 in NYC cosmetics)
$0.97

Transaction #3
$1.99 NYC Liquid Lip Shine in "Nude York City"
$1.99 NYC Liquid Lip Shine in "Brighton Beach Peach"
-$0.99 (50% off 2nd item sale)
-$2.00 (2 $1.00 off coupons from here - watch a video for savings)
$0.98

Transaction #4
$0.99 NYC Dual Pencil Sharpener
-$5.00 (another up+ reward for buying $10 in NYC cosmetics)
-$4.01

So, all transactions combined it looks like this:
$5.98 (Total from transaction #1)
$0.97 (Total from transaction #2)
$0.98 (Total from transaction #3)
-$4.01 (Total from transaction #4)
$3.92 for all 9 cosmetics! That's less than the price if just one of the compacts if purchased alone! Total pain in the rear to do 4 separate transactions, but worth the savings in the end.

That's all! I paid $36.79 for $92.08 worth of cosmetics this week! What were you able to score?

What's New: Physicians Formula Natural Nude Shimmer Strips All-in-one Palette for Face and Eyes

Hey everyone, and happy Wednesday. Today I'll be reviewing a new product from Physicians Formula. This is their Natural Nude Shimmer Strips All-in-one Palette for Face and Eyes. They also have a warm version of this palette. This one is more fair-skin friendly, so I like it better than the warm.

The packaging of this compact is rather bulky, but adorable. It has a fishnet design with a little bow where you open it. The flip side of the compact,  holds a mirror with a face brush, and sponge-tip applicator, and a guide for you to use this product. Note: The design on this compact is printed on rather than being an actual fabric material, unlike the "nude" eye shadow line from Physicians Formula.

This product has 12 different shades in one pan, that can be used individually or together to create unique colors. As you can see from the name of this product, it is intended for use on your face as well as your eyes. The guide in the back explains which shades are intended for use on your face and where they should go.  The top row is very light and can be used as a highlight on your brow bone, tops of your cheekbones, cupids bow etc. The middle row is intended for use as a light, shimmery blush and the bottom 2 rows are bronzy shades that can be used to warm the face or contour (if you like shimmery contour shades). All 12 shades can be used as eye shadows, and are certainly pigmented enough to do so.

Below are swatches of all 12 shades for you to get an idea of color payoff and pigmentation. As you can see all 12 shades have shimmer, but none of them are a chunky or glittery. They are very flattering shimmers. And, even on my pale skin, the lighter shades show up very well!

I've also swatched all shades together so you can see what a swirl of your brush could get. I think it's a lovely pink/bronze shade that is very subtle and pretty!

For a drugstore product that had a lot of different uses, I think this is stellar! The pigmentation, and shimmer in this palette rival that of high end brands for sure. So, I give it a 5/5!

5/5 Winks!

Tip Tuesday: An easy way to travel with Z Palette

Do you travel a lot during the summer? I know I do! It's a love/hate thing with me. I'm a total homebody, and traveling really stresses me out with my 3 kids. But, love it or hate it, I do it a lot when my kids are out of school for the summer.

I have been thinking a lot about streamlining my travel essentials, and more specifically, my makeup travel essentials. I really haven't seen an all-in-one palette that has everything I'll need in one place. So, I decided to make one! Aside from brushes and mascara, my customized Z Palette has it all! I'll take you through what I put inside mine, so you can get ideas for if you want to make one! I have a de-potting post here, if you would like to know how I de-pot stuff to put inside my palettes.

1. Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Bronzer (travel size)
2. Mongo Kiss Vanilla Honey Lip Balm
3. Lip Stick (sorry, I de-potted this a while ago and don't remember the color)
4. Physicians Formula Happy Booster Glow & Mood Boosting Powder in "Translucent"
5. Physicians Formula Mineral Wear Talc-Free Mineral Airbrushing Pressed Blush in "Rose"
6. Cover Girl + Olay Concealer in "Fair"
7. Lauren Brooke Cosmetiques Pressed Mineral Foundation (sample size)
8. Assorted eye shadows: Top Row, The Body Shop "Pink Crush" & Elf  "Beauty Queen" Middle Row, The Body Shop "Chocolate Linger" & The Body Shop "Caramel Flirt" Bottom Row,
The Body Shop "Coconuts About You" & Elf "What's your name?"


Aside from mascara, brushes, eyeliner and maybe liquid foundation I have everything I need in this travel-friendly compact. The Z Palettes are sturdy enough that I feel like they will travel just fine if you maybe wrap it in some PJ pants or a t-shirt. The plastic top almost feels as sturdy as glass!

Smackdown: Revlon's PhotoReady Skinlights Face Illuminator in Bronze Light vs. Physicians Formula Glow-Boosting BB Cream in Light to Medium

I'm finally doing another Smackdown! Today I'm comparing Revlon's PhotoReady Skinlights Face Illuminator in Bronzed Light vs. Physicians Formula Glow-Boosting BB Cream in Light to Medium. Sheesh, what is it with these long names of products? Anyway, starting off I'm going to tell you what the company's of each of these products have to say about them.


About Revlon's PhotoReady Skinlights Face Illuminator in Bronze Light:
With Revlon PhotoReady Skinlights Face Illuminator its easy to get a healthy glow in any light. Brighten and illuminate skin for a radiant complexion. Wear alone to highlight and brighten. Wear with foundation to banish dullness and even out skin tone.

About Physicians Formula Glow-Boosting BB Cream in Light to Medium:

Instant Natural Bronze Glow. Instant & Lasting Bronze Glow!1st Ever BB Cream Bronzer. Bronzer + BB Cream Benefits. Replaces: Moisturizer,Foundation, Bronzer, SPF. Mistake Proof Formula. Stain-Free, Streak-Free, Orange-Free, Odor-Free. Glow Activator Technology. - See more at: http://www.physiciansformula.com/en-us/productdetail/face/bronzers/06222.html#sthash.GyABSPEF.dpuf

Instant Natural Bronze Glow. Instant & Lasting Bronze Glow!1st Ever BB Cream Bronzer. Bronzer + BB Cream Benefits. Replaces: Moisturizer,Foundation, Bronzer, SPF. Mistake Proof Formula. Stain-Free, Streak-Free, Orange-Free, Odor-Free. Glow Activator Technology. - See more at: http://www.physiciansformula.com/en-us/productdetail/face/bronzers/06222.html#sthash.GyABSPEF.dpuf

Instant, natural and lasting bronzed glow! 1st ever BB cream bronzer. Bronzer + BB cream benefits. Replaces Moisturizer, foundation, SPF, bronzer. Mistake proof formula. Stain-free, streak-free, orange-free. Glow activator technology.

So, on to my opinions. These are both the same type of product to me. I don't care if one is labeled "BB" and the other one is "PhotoReady". They are both liquid bronzers that are supposed to give you a healthy/tan complexion. I realize that most of my smackdowns involve a high end brand and a drugstore brand, and I'm sorry but these are very similar in price. I wanted to compare them for myself, and I thought someone else would like the info. Revlon retails for $12.99 and Physicians Formula is $14.99. I have seen the Revlon everywhere, Target, Walmart, CVS etc. And, I have seen the Physicians Formula only at Ulta. So, Revlon is much easier to obtain.

These are both Silicone based, and feel the same on my face. The Physicians Formula does have SPF where Revlon does not. When heavily swatched, the Physicians Formula is clearly lighter in color. But when blended out, they have a very similar tone. On me, the Physicians Formula is a tiny bit more orangey, but is completely a matte finish. Revlon has a very slight shimmer to it, which when photographed I cannot detect.

 Swatched heavily

Blended swatch

So, my final verdict on these 2 products are that they are basically pretty similar. I think I'm going to lean slightly toward the Physicians Formula BB Bronzer more, just because I like how it has an SPF, and that it also is completely matte. That's not to say that I'm going to give up on the Revlon, though. There are days that a slight shimmer is great, and I think that this one blended in with your foundation is a superb idea!

Instant Natural Bronze Glow. Instant & Lasting Bronze Glow!1st Ever BB Cream Bronzer. Bronzer + BB Cream Benefits. Replaces: Moisturizer,Foundation, Bronzer, SPF. Mistake Proof Formula. Stain-Free, Streak-Free, Orange-Free, Odor-Free. Glow Activator Technology. - See more at: http://www.physiciansformula.com/en-us/productdetail/face/bronzers/06222.html#sthash.GyABSPEF.dpuf

Instant Natural Bronze Glow. Instant & Lasting Bronze Glow!1st Ever BB Cream Bronzer. Bronzer + BB Cream Benefits. Replaces: Moisturizer,Foundation, Bronzer, SPF. Mistake Proof Formula. Stain-Free, Streak-Free, Orange-Free, Odor-Free. Glow Activator Technology. - See more at: http://www.physiciansformula.com/en-us/productdetail/face/bronzers/06222.html#sthash.GyABSPEF.dpuf

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.

Yummy smelling cosmetics!

I thought I would have some fun today and talk about how companies have been making everything from foundation to mascara scented. I recently hauled the Too Faced Chocolate Bar Palette (more on that tomorrow!) and it smelled SO good. It made me wonder what else I had that smelled yummy, too. I went through my makeup collection and gave almost everything the sniff test, and here are some of my favorite smelling things...

 

1. Too Faced Chocolate Bar Palette. This smells SO good. Just like chocolate! Kind of weird for an eyeshadow, but hey, it's calorie free!
2. Too Faced Chocolate Soleil. This bronzer smells just like the Chocolate Bar Palette. This bronzer has been a favorite of mine for a long time, and I'm not sure if it's because of the great matte warmth it gives my skin, or the fact that it smells so good!
3. Eccence Sun Club Bronzer. Another yummy smelling bronzer. This one smells like piña colada or some other tropical drink. It reminds me of Hawaii. So yummy!
4. NYX Butter Gloss. This smells like you are eating candy. It's like a sugar cookie for your lips.
5. Buxum gloss. Another baked good smell. This one is more like a chocolate chip cookie. 
6. Tarte Lipsurgence Lip Gloss. This has a very light and delicate vanilla scent. So lovely and sweet!
7. Burts Bee's Lip Shimmer. I have a few different shades of these and they all smell the same. Like a mild peppermint scent. 
8. elf All Over Color Stick. At only $1 a pop, these shimmery sticks are a great addition to your collection, and they smell just like oranges!
9. Tarte Cheek Stain. I think if I had to describe my favorite summery scent, this cheek stain would be it. It's a light citrus scent that sticks around for hours!
10. Sexy Booster Blush, Eyeshadow, Mascara and Bronzer. These products from Physicians Formula all have a yummy vanilla scent that is supposed to include Horny Goat weed for an aphrodisiac. I'm not sure if it will really make you sexier, but it does smell good!

 There you have it! What cosmetics do you own that you love to inhale?

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!

Tip Tuesday: De-potting blushes

Have you ever heard of de-potting? I kind of go crazy with it. It is really easy to do and will really clear up the clutter in your makeup storage! Here is what you are going to need:

1. Blush that you'd like to de-pot
2. A thin, sharp metal object (I'm using a knife I got in a 4 pack from the dollar store)
3. Flat Iron
4. Small piece of Parchment paper
5. Sharpie
6. Empty magnetic pallet to put your de-potted goodness in when we're done

To start off, make sure your surface is stable and clean. Wash you hands and grab your product. Today I'll be showing you how to de-pot the Physicians Formula Blushes that I scored for $1 (read more about that here).

Open up both sides of the blush and place it on top of your flat iron (on the lowest heat setting), with parchment paper in between so you don't ruin your iron. Leave the blush on there for about 20 seconds. You don't want it too hot. Just warm enough to make the glue tacky. You could also use a candle or tea light for this. I like using a flat iron because I feel like you are less likely to burn yourself or your product with a flat iron. Just be careful with whatever you use in this step!

Next, take your thin sharp metal object. And slide it in between the pan and the product housing. Wiggle your metal object back and forth until you can get under the pan with your object.

Once you have your object underneath your pan, see saw until it pops free. Make sure you are super gentle, you don't want to ruin your blush!

Once it's out remove the glue residue from the back of the pan. This was very easy to do with these blushes, but you might have to get out the rubbing alcohol and scrub it off a little. I've worked with some that were way more tacky and hard to get off than these were. Again, make sure you are being careful, you don't want to break your blush!

Label up the back of your pan for future reference of your product! Trust me, don't skip this step! Then, check to see if your pan is magnetic. If it isn't you'll want to put a magnet on the back (Z Pallets come with little round magnet stickers).

 Place it in your pallet and your DONE! Easy. And, your makeup clutter station will thank you!

Whats New: Physicians Formula Nude Wear Glowing Nude Blush

I feel like my blog has been seriously lacking in the Physicians Formula area! I mean, it's truly one of my absolute favorite drug store makeup brads. So, I decided to do my Whats New Wednesday on a little Physicians Formula!

The Physicians Formula Nude Wear Glowing Nude Blush, is a pinky/peach blush that has four quadrants of color. Two of them are pinkish, and the other two are more peachy. You can wear one individual shade, or sweep your brush and mix all four together. Or, even do a combination of two or three of the shades! The possibilities are endless for this blush!

This retails for $12.99, and is sold wherever Physicians Formula is found! I like to get Physicians Formula cosmetics at CVS when they have a sale, but I've seen the brand at Target, Walmart, Christmas Tree Shops, and Bed, Bath & Beyond.

Let talk about the packaging, shall we? How adorable is it? The little rose-gold bow is such a fun touch. I really adore a lot of Physicians Formula cosmetic packaging, but this one is the cutest! It has a magnetic closure on the front and the back of the packaging. The front has a the pan of blush, and the back has a little cut-out that holds a flat brush and behind it, there is a nice sized mirror. The out side is a faux leather texture that is a peachy nude color.

Below are swatches of all four quadrants of color, then a swatch of them all mixed up.

Friday Haul: Physicians Formula, Revlon, Almay & more!

 It's Friday, and you know what that means... my weekly haul. This week I'll show you again, how you can get some free cosmetics to add to your makeup collection, as well as how to shop for deals at the dollar store. Lets get started, I've got a lot to cover this week!

1. Revlon super lustrous lipstick in "Kissable Pink". This was a free item this week from CVS. They have an Extra buck deal this week where super lustrous lipstick or gloss is on sale for 6.99 and you get $4 extra bucks back. Essentially making this lip product $2.99 after the bucks. However, you know by now that I'm a fan of that red coupon machine, and a few weeks back it gave me a $3 off any Revlon cosmetics coupon. So, with the combination of the coupon and bucks back, I got this for free. Here's the math:

Revlon super lustrous lipstick in "Kissable Pink"
$6.99  (On sale, reg. $8.99)
-$3.00 ($3 off any Revlon cosmetic purchase coupon from red machine)
-$4.00 (Bucks that printed on my receipt for a future purchase)
-$0.69 (10% back for Beauty Club membership - 10% is always taken BEFORE coupons)
-$0.70  A slight money-maker!

2. Next, if you follow me on facebook, you will have seen that I posted a link for you to print a $5 off 2 Almay cosmetics coupon. Well, if you happened to print that coupon, then you'll be able to score this deal at CVS right now. When you buy 2 Almay i-color cosmetics on sale for $5.99 each, you get $6 in Extra bucks back. Here is the math for this one:

Almay intense i-color shadow trios
$5.99 x 2=
 $11.98
-$5.00 (Coupon I printed from here)
-$6.00 (Bucks that printed on my receipt for a future purchase)
-$1.19 (10% back for Beauty Club membership - 10% is always taken BEFORE coupons)
-$0.21 Another slight money-making deal!

 3. Now, on to a little Walgreens shopping. I got 4 Almay shadow softies there this week, in "Vintage Grape", "Smoke", "Lilac" & "Petal" . Anyone else sort of dislike Walgreens or is it just me? Anyway, my transaction got a bit messed up, so I'll try my best to explain myself here with these shadows. These retail for $4.99 each and there is a sale on Almay cosmetics, buy one get one 1/2 off. Then, there is a Walgreens coupon in a little booklet next to where the ads are in the stores that is for $2 off Almay cosmetics. So, combining that deal with that coupon for $5 off 2 Almay cosmetics, and the $2 off Walgreens coupon, you SHOULD be able to score free shadow softies at Walgreens this week. I got 4 of them and could only use 1 of the $5 off 2 coupons, so these weren't free for me, the coupons wouldn't scan and they had to get a manager to come look at it, and I got frustrated because I was holding up the line, so I just went with it, and here is how it turned out:

4 Almay shadow softies
$4.99 x 4 =  $19.96
-$4.99 (Buy one get one 1/2 off sale)
-$8.00 (Coupon booklet savings - $2 off each Almay item you buy)
-$5.00 (Coupon I printed from here)
 $1.97 ($0.49 for each eyeshadow - not bad)

This situation was a bit frustrating, I'll admit. This happens, though. And, it could have been worse. I could always take them back, but then I would also be out a very good coupon, since there is no way I'd get that back. Anyway, my point is that Walgreens is usually not my favorite place to shop for deals. Their coupon policy is pretty fierce and they are sometimes pretty rude about things (I've lived in lots of different areas, and always have had a problem with rude cashiers and managers when using coupons). So, tread lightly with this deal. You can decide if it is worth it or not, since the coupon from your printer may not scan and they may look at you like your a fraud :/ May I also add, that CVS took the same coupon from the same computer with no problems at all (you can print each coupon 2 times per computer/device. I was able to score 4 coupons total - 2 from my PC, and 2 from my iPhone!). Edit: coupons.com has fixed the problem with the Almay coupon not scanning. If you printed this coupon after Monday 3/10, you should have no problems!

4. Moving on. Also at Walgreens this week, Rimmel Cosmetics are 50% off. I picked up the Rimmel Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal eye liner in "Taupe".  I'm not terribly familiar with this line, and I feel like everytime I try something from Rimmel, I hate it. With the exception of their eyeliners. namely the Scandaleyes Waterproof eyeliners. They are creamy and amazing. I didn't have this color, and I'm excited to put it to the test!

Rimmel Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal eye liner in "Taupe"
$4.79
-50%
$2.39!

5. Have I ever told you how much I LOVE Physicians Formula? I do. Love. Even though I'm a hoarder of all things makeup, I have pretty sensitive skin. Physicians Formula is Eco-friendly, and they normally use safe ingredients in their products. They even have organic products. I spotted 4 different shades of Physicians Formula Organic wear blush at my local Dollar Tree! These specific shades of blush are discontinued, which is why they were spotted at my Dollar Tree. The ones I found were "Pink Organics", "Rosy Organics", "Blushing Organics" & "Warming Organics". Once upon a time, these blushes retailed for around $12! So, needless to say, I got $48 worth of organic blushes for only $4! On a side note, I was a bit worried that these weren't "authentic", I mean, what a score, right? Plus, they were packaged differently than Physicians Formula cosmetics are normally packaged. So, I did a little research, and found that they are legit, and not knock-offs or fake at all! They have just been re-packaged so they fit better on Dollar Tree pegs. NICE! They are straight from the manufacturer and were stocked to fill orders from mass retailers, so when these shades got discontinued they send them to places like Dollar Tree.  So, hit up your local Dollar Tree, you never know what great finds you may see.

So another awesome week at the drugstore and a great surprise form the dollar store this week! I got $93.72 worth of makeup for only $7.45!!! It would have been even lower had I not ran into problems with the Almay coupon at Walgreens, but hey... I still saved over $80!

What beauty deals were you able to score this week? Make sure if you want to get in on the drugstore sales, you shop them before Sunday!

Friday Haul: Physicians Formula, Burts Bees, Revlon and more!

Hey everyone! I'm back with another Friday haul. This week, as promised, I'm going to show you how you can actually MAKE MONEY on your beauty purchases at the drug store. Please note, that some of the coupons that I used this week were printed weeks ago, and aren't available anymore. And also, the CVS store that is near me takes expired CVS coupons (the ones printed from the magic red machine in most stores). So, You may not be able to score the exact deals that I got, but these are great savings regardless of if you have the coupons from the red machine.

I shopped at CVS and Walgreens this week. However, CVS took home the best deals by far for the week!

1. Lets just start off with the product I MADE MONEY ON, shall we? This is the Physicians Formula Glow-Boosting Beauty Balm BB Bronzer in "Light to Medium" (Whew! Long name). This product is brand new at the drugstore for spring, and it has a retail of $14.99. Wanna know how I got paid to buy this product? Buckle up. Okay, I've told you before about the magical red coupon machine inside of CVS stores. Well, about 2 weeks ago, I scanned my card, and it printed a $5 of your $15 Physicians Formula purchase. This coupon expired only a week after I printed it, which most coupons from that machine do. But, my CVS is great and they take those coupons that print from that machine even if they are expired! So, I got to use that coupon on this purchase. PLUS, this bronzer had a coupon stuck to the front of it for $5 off (sorry, I left my phone in the car so no pics of the coupon). Then, CVS is having a deal this week where if you buy $10 in Physicians Formula cosmetics, you get $7 back in Extra bucks. And, don't forget that I also get 10% back from being a Beauty Club member as well. So, lets do the math:

Physicians Formula Glow-Boosting Beauty Balm BB Bronzer
 $14.99
-$5.00 ($5 of your $15 Physicians Formula purchase coupon from red machine)
-$5.00 (Coupon stuck to the product)
-$7.00 (Bucks that printed on my receipt for a future purchase)
-$1.49 (10% back for Beauty Club membership - 10% is always taken BEFORE coupons)
-$3.50 ---> They PAID ME $3.50 to buy this product!!!!

Granted I'm not getting this money in actual CASH. It's in the form of a coupon that I can only use at CVS for a future purchase. But, I'll be back there anyway for great deals on beauty next week, so it's all the same for me :)

 2. Next is the Revlon Photoready Skinlights Face Illuminator in "Bare Light". This one sells for $12.99 at my CVS. Remember that coupon  machine? When I went in on Monday morning to get the deal on Physicians Formula, I scanned my card, and it gave me a $3 off your $12 Revlon purchase coupon! So, I took a coupon that I printed off from here that was for $2 off and used it with that magical coupon, then CVS has a sale for $3 back when you buy $10 in Revlon cosmetics. So, lets do the math for this one:

Revlon Photoready Skinlights Face Illuminator in "Bare Light"
$12.99
-$3.00 ($3 off your $12 Revlon purchase coupon from the red machine)
-$2.00 (Coupon I printed from home)
-$3.00 (Bucks that printed on my receipt for a future purchase)
-$1.29 (10% back for Beauty Club membership - 10% is always taken BEFORE coupons)
 $3.70 for a $12.99 product! Great deal.

3. The last things I got from CVS were 2 Garnier Skin Renew Dark Spot Treatment Masks. I didn't use any coupons for these. CVS has an advertised deal where if you buy 2 Garnier Skin care items, you get $5 Extra bucks back! These were $2.99 each:

Garnier Skin Renew Dark Spot Treatment Masks
$2.99 x 2=
 $5.98
-$5.00 (Bucks that printed on my receipt for a future purchase)
-$0.59 (10% back for Beauty Club membership - 10% is always taken BEFORE coupons)
 $0.38 for 2 masks (only $0.19 each mask!)

4. And finally I got a little something from Walgreens, too. A Burt's Bees Lip Shimmer in "Rhubarb". This had a retail of $5.29 at my Walgreens. From now until 3/29/2014 Walgreens is having a promotion on Burt's Bees Lip products, where if you buy one, you get 3,000 points when you use your Walgreens card. 3,000 points translates into $3.00 off of a future purchase. These points get loaded onto your shopping card, so make sure if you don't have a card that you get one before trying this deal. I also had a $1.50 off any Burt's Bees Lip product coupon that I printed from here to use as well:

Burt's Bees Lip Shimmer in "Rhubarb"
$5.29
-$3.00 (from the 3,000 points I earned for buying a Burt's Bees Lip Product)
-$1.50 (Coupon I printed from home)
 $0.79 What a great deal for an all natural lip product!

So this was an awesome week! When all is said and done, I ended up paying $1.37 for $39.25 worth of cosmetics this week!! Have I proved to you yet, that you don't need to have a lot of money to have a lot of makeup? Ha, ha, what deals were you able to score on your cosmetics this week? Make sure if you want to get in on some of these deals, you shop before Sunday :)