Welcome to this weeks smackdown, bronzer edition. Today I'm smacking down 2 bronzers that arent really compared a lot, but are very similar in my eyes. The Nars Laguna Bronzer and the Elf Warm Bronzer!
Lets start with the packaging. They are both packaged in a sleek looking black compact that opens up to reveal a mirror, and the pan of product. They are both very easy to open, and are very sturdy.
Nars Laguna Bronzer holds 8 grams of product and has a retail of $38.00. Elf Warm Bonzer has 12.3 grams of product and retails for $3.00. So, clearly Elf is far more budget friendly here.
Elf Warm Bronzer has 4 different bronzing colors in the pan making it very versatile. You can customize for added dimension on you face and even highlight with the lightest shade. It has a satin finish, so it is great for contouring as well as generally warming up the face. And, since it has that satin/skin-like finish, it blends very beautifully if you are using a fluffy brush and a light hand.
Nars Laguna Bronzer is also a satin finish bronzer that is ver easy to work with. It blends seamlessly into your skin and makes it look like you aren't even wearing any bronzer at all, only you have that hint of dimension that is very natural looking. This is by far the easiest bronzer I've ever worked with. It is so smooth and works with lots of different skin-tones.
When swatched, these bronzers look a tiny bit different. They have the same finish (Satiny, skin looking), but the Elf is a bit more pigmented with one swipe, and is also a bit warmer. Overall, with the price difference and the performance I don't think I even need to say it, but the Elf Warm Bronzer is the winner for me on this one! So much cheaper with such a similar effect, you cannot go wrong with this $3 gem!
Showing posts with label bronzer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bronzer. Show all posts
Thursday, June 5, 2014
Wednesday, June 4, 2014
What's New: Too Faced Bonjour Soleil Limited Edition Summer Bronzing Wardrobe
Welcome to Wednesday of bronzer week here at Winky Pink! Today I'll be talking about whats new in the bronzing world. And that would specifically be the Too Faced Bonjour Soleil Limited Edition Summer Bronzing Wardrobe. This is a palette of 3 different bronzers from Too Faced. None of these shades of bronzers are limited edition or specific to this palette, they can all be found for $30 each in their own round pans.
What I love about this palette so much is that it comes with one of my all time favorite bronzers, Chocolate Soleil! It also comes with Sun Bunny, and Snow Bunny.
All three of these bronzers are great, and for different reasons! Chocolate Soleil is a stellar contour shade. It's matte and the perfect shade for loads of skin tones. Sun Bunny, is a beautiful warm satin finish bronzer that warms up the face in very little time, with very little product. And Snow Bunny is a gorgeous 4 layer shade that can be customized for a highlighter or a natural-looking blush!
You can currently get this palette at Sephora, Ulta, beauty.com. and HSN (don't forget about that code I mentioned here! It's good til the end of this month!). It retails for $44. I highly recommend buying this now if you want it. Limited Edition stuff can become very obs-elite very quickly!
What I love about this palette so much is that it comes with one of my all time favorite bronzers, Chocolate Soleil! It also comes with Sun Bunny, and Snow Bunny.
All three of these bronzers are great, and for different reasons! Chocolate Soleil is a stellar contour shade. It's matte and the perfect shade for loads of skin tones. Sun Bunny, is a beautiful warm satin finish bronzer that warms up the face in very little time, with very little product. And Snow Bunny is a gorgeous 4 layer shade that can be customized for a highlighter or a natural-looking blush!
You can currently get this palette at Sephora, Ulta, beauty.com. and HSN (don't forget about that code I mentioned here! It's good til the end of this month!). It retails for $44. I highly recommend buying this now if you want it. Limited Edition stuff can become very obs-elite very quickly!
Tuesday, June 3, 2014
Tip Tuesday: The Do's & Don'ts of Bronzing
Welcome to Tip Tuesday of this weeks special edition Bronzing week here at Winky Pink! I Absolutely LOVE bronzers! It's no lie. I contour with them every day of the year, and warm my pale skin with them all day every day during the summer and warmer months. Today I'm going to tell you some do's and don'ts that I rigorously follow when applying bronzer.
DO
DO
- use a fairly fluffy brush when your are applying your bronzer. I've seen so many people flub up their makeup by thinking that they can draw lines on their face to make it look more contoured. NO! fluffy brushes are your friend when you are contouring your face. The last thing you want are streaks on your cheeks. My favorite brush to use right now is the Eco Tools fan brush (pictured above).
- use a shade that is only few shades darker than your natural skin tone. This will make it look way more natural and blend seamlessly into your skin.
- use a matte (or skinfinish) shade if you are contouring with your bronzer. There are so many sparkly bronzers on the market. Trust me. Sparkle draws attention, and if you are trying to contour, that means you are trying to NOT draw attention to that particular area. Matte bronzers are your best friend for this purpose! My favorites are Too Faced Chocolate Soleil, Tart Park Avenue Princess in Matte, Revlon Photoready Bronzer, and Essence Sun Club Matte Bronzer.
- make sure you know exactly where you need to place your bronzer. You don't want it all over your face. Contouring is your best friend. So, unless you want to look muddy, only take your bronzer where you absolutely need too.
- take it down your neck a little. You want your neck to match your face. No white necks with tan faces. It looks horrible!
- over do it. I know that the idea of looking skinnier is appealing, there is definately a line that can be crossed. You want things to look natural.
- use too much product. A little goes a long way people. Only pick up a small amount on your brush. You can always add more if you think you need it.
- use a shade that doesn't flatter your skin tone. Know what your undertones are and know what looks best on you. There are orangy bronzers out there that look stellar on some people. Guess what? Those people usually have orange under tones, which means that they have a lot of red and yellow pigments in their skin, as apposed to more blue and red. I heard so many ladies rave about NYC Sunny bronzer, and when I picked it up and tried to use it I looked like an Umpa Loompa! Badly! So, I try to steer more towards cool toned bronzers. But, trust me NYC Sunny is so so so pretty on lots of skin tones, just not mine :)
- put bronzer on your skin where clothing will be rubbing it. Especially if you will be wearing white! A white collard shirt can quickly yuck up if you pull your bronzer down your neck a little too far. Just be mindful and careful with this.
Monday, June 2, 2014
Review: Pixi Beauty Bronzer in "Subtly Suntouched"
Welcome to bronzer week! I absolutely cannot live without bronzer. I think it is a total game changer when it comes to making your face look finished. So, this week I'll be posting something new every day that has to do with that bronzed summer glow! I have an excess of bronzers in my makeup collection. Like, way too many. And today I'll be reviewing one of my favorites, the Pixi Beauty Bronzer in "Subtly Suntouched".
This bronzer is a skin finish and subtle shade. It is great for fair skin, or if you just want a quick and easy glow. There is no shimmer to see when looking at the product in the pan, but when swatched you can detect that "dewy" finish that honestly just looks like skin.
It comes in a mint green container that has a screw-top lid that is see through. It's very sturdy and I've had this bronzer for months and have had no problems whatsoever with is scratching or scuffing.
This product retails for $18.00 and comes with a kabuki brush. It is sold at Target stores and target.com, as well as on Pixi's website. I use this bronzer a lot, and think it is a great product. There are no bad things to say about it. The product pictured is from an ipsy bag a while back, so it is not full size and didn't come with a brush.
Overall, I think this is a stellar product that, if you have fair to light skin-tones, will work very well for you! I give it 5/5 winks!
It comes in a mint green container that has a screw-top lid that is see through. It's very sturdy and I've had this bronzer for months and have had no problems whatsoever with is scratching or scuffing.
This product retails for $18.00 and comes with a kabuki brush. It is sold at Target stores and target.com, as well as on Pixi's website. I use this bronzer a lot, and think it is a great product. There are no bad things to say about it. The product pictured is from an ipsy bag a while back, so it is not full size and didn't come with a brush.
Overall, I think this is a stellar product that, if you have fair to light skin-tones, will work very well for you! I give it 5/5 winks!
Wednesday, May 14, 2014
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!
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!
Monday, April 21, 2014
Review: Too Faced The Secret To No Makeup Makeup
Guess what? Summer is just around the corner (thank goodness!), and I'm not sure about you, but for me, that equals less time for my makeup routine. Plus, with swimming, sports, camping and playing outside, I feel like even if I do my makeup, it just melts off anyway. I wasn't necessarily searching for an all-in-one palette that can do my whole face with ease, but when I saw this Too Faced The Secret To No Makeup Makeup palette I thought this would be an awesome basic summertime healthy looking face kit.
I normally start with the packaging, so let me explain that first. It comes in a tin housing with a magnetic closure. When you open it, there are 6 products with labels for you to know what is what. The top has an insert/guide and when you remove it, there is a very small mirror behind it.
Here is what Too Faced has to say about this palette:
This multitasking face palette is your answer to creating the illusion of flawlessness. The collection is dedicated to complexion perfection—for a flawless “I was born perfect” look—any time of the day. With Too Faced’s signature how-to Glamour Guide included with three looks to get you started, the kit has everything you need to create a complete makeover, so it’s great for traveling or overnight stays.
This palette includes:
Bronzing Veil (Powder)
Creme Blush (Cream)
Blush (Powder)
Concealer (Cream)
Luminizer (Cream)
Brightener (Cream)
The Bronzing veil in this kit is nothing short of stunning. However, I personally wouldn't classify it as a bronzer. It isn't terribly dark, and even on my fair skin tone, it doesn't really "Bronze" my skin. It does illuminate and blur imperfections beautifully.
The Creme Blush is another stunner! This is a beautiful classic pink. A little goes a long way with this blush. It has a matte, yet dewy finish and it also has a slight staining effect, making it super long wearing.
The Blush in this palette is a light baby doll pink. This is the product in this kit that is just okay to me. It's decently pigmented, and it has a lot of sparkle, but it doesn't stick around that long. I would suggest using this over the Creme Blush for a longer lasting effect.
The Concealer is pretty good. It's a tad dark for me, so I can't use it under my eyes. It's great for minor imperfections and for canceling out slight pigmentation problems.
The Luminize is a peachy highlight that can be used for emphasizing the cheekbones, browbones, and down the bridge of the nose. I really like this product, and my only complaint is that it's not big enough.
The Brighten is a matte, peachy-yellow under toned correcter product. This is great for concealing dark circles, and to contour your face. I was very surprised how dark this looked in the pan vs. how light it was on my skin.
The insert that tucks inside this kit has three different looks that you can create using this palette, giving you a step-by-step color coded guide, and then on the flip-side there is a model demonstrating each look. I found this guide to be very helpful and a great resource.
This palette retails for $39.00, and is available wherever Too Faced cosmetics are sold. I think this is a great value for 6 products, being that they are pretty and pigmented. It's also very flattering on a lot of different sin tones. Overall I'm in love with this purchase, and can't wait for summer so that I can practice my "no makeup" look!
I normally start with the packaging, so let me explain that first. It comes in a tin housing with a magnetic closure. When you open it, there are 6 products with labels for you to know what is what. The top has an insert/guide and when you remove it, there is a very small mirror behind it.
Here is what Too Faced has to say about this palette:
This multitasking face palette is your answer to creating the illusion of flawlessness. The collection is dedicated to complexion perfection—for a flawless “I was born perfect” look—any time of the day. With Too Faced’s signature how-to Glamour Guide included with three looks to get you started, the kit has everything you need to create a complete makeover, so it’s great for traveling or overnight stays.
This palette includes:
Bronzing Veil (Powder)
Creme Blush (Cream)
Blush (Powder)
Concealer (Cream)
Luminizer (Cream)
Brightener (Cream)
The Blush in this palette is a light baby doll pink. This is the product in this kit that is just okay to me. It's decently pigmented, and it has a lot of sparkle, but it doesn't stick around that long. I would suggest using this over the Creme Blush for a longer lasting effect.
The Concealer is pretty good. It's a tad dark for me, so I can't use it under my eyes. It's great for minor imperfections and for canceling out slight pigmentation problems.
The Luminize is a peachy highlight that can be used for emphasizing the cheekbones, browbones, and down the bridge of the nose. I really like this product, and my only complaint is that it's not big enough.
The Brighten is a matte, peachy-yellow under toned correcter product. This is great for concealing dark circles, and to contour your face. I was very surprised how dark this looked in the pan vs. how light it was on my skin.
The insert that tucks inside this kit has three different looks that you can create using this palette, giving you a step-by-step color coded guide, and then on the flip-side there is a model demonstrating each look. I found this guide to be very helpful and a great resource.
This palette retails for $39.00, and is available wherever Too Faced cosmetics are sold. I think this is a great value for 6 products, being that they are pretty and pigmented. It's also very flattering on a lot of different sin tones. Overall I'm in love with this purchase, and can't wait for summer so that I can practice my "no makeup" look!
Wednesday, April 16, 2014
Whats New: elf Blush Palette
I decided to go back to a little whats new today. I've told you about this product in one of my hauls in the past, but I decided to take some more in-depth photos and swatches for you.
There are 4 shades in this palette. There are two different palette options on the elf website, light and dark. I only purchased the light one, and I'm liking it so far. Three of the shades are pink, with one being a bronze color. So, this would be a great item to take traveling with you if you like options when you travel. The only shade that has any sort of sparkle is the bottom right shade. The other three are matte. These are decently pigmented, but not overly or surprisingly so.
One of the features of this palette that suprized me, was the fact that you can pop each shade out from the palette housing. Making me wonder, if elf is going to do something like sell the shades or new/other shades individually in the future.
There are 4 shades in this palette. There are two different palette options on the elf website, light and dark. I only purchased the light one, and I'm liking it so far. Three of the shades are pink, with one being a bronze color. So, this would be a great item to take traveling with you if you like options when you travel. The only shade that has any sort of sparkle is the bottom right shade. The other three are matte. These are decently pigmented, but not overly or surprisingly so.One of the features of this palette that suprized me, was the fact that you can pop each shade out from the palette housing. Making me wonder, if elf is going to do something like sell the shades or new/other shades individually in the future.
Overall at $6, I think this is a great buy. You get four shades and they are all very pretty and blend-able. It's also a decent size, yet compact enough that I don't think it would be hard to travel with.
Friday, March 7, 2014
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 :)
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 :)
Friday, February 21, 2014
Friday Haul: NYX, tarte, Benefit and more!
As a makeup hoarder, I tend to buy makeup or some sort of beauty item every single week. Sometimes lots, sometimes just 1 thing. But, just about every week, I get myself a little something to add to my collection. I'm a true hoarder. And, what's crazy, is that I normally use everything I buy. And, whats great, is that if you absolutely hate something, most places will take things back! So, if you've been dying to try something, but aren't quite sure if you'll like it, save your receipt. You normally have nothing to lose :)
So, here is my haul for this week. I'll do a breakdown of what I got, and even how much I paid for it, so you can try to get the same deals before the week is over!
1. Essence Sun Club Matt Bronzing Powder for blondes. They also have this for brunettes/darker skin. This is a nice light bronzer that looks very natural on my skin, and I'm liking it so far. I got it at Ulta, and it was $4.99, so very bargain priced for such a large compact.
2. Benefit They're real! mascara. I have the full size of this, and it's pretty good. Not worth the hype in my opinion, but it's good. I got an email from Ulta so I could get this mini size for free if I showed them the email. So, I paid nothing for this travel friendly sized mascara. Although, it did get me into their store so I had to look around, and ended up getting a few things while I was there.
3. Tarte Be MATTEnificent pallet. This sucker is limited edition, and like all things in the makeup world that are limited edition, if you see it, you need to get it or it will be gone the next time you go to the store. Mark my words, I cannot tell you how many times I've seen something at the store that is limited edition, and thought in my head "I like it, but I'll sleep on it and come back in a few days and get it then if I still want it" - only to find that a few days later it's gone. Then, in your desperation you ask the nice sales person when they'll get more in and they precede to tell you that what they had is all that they will get since it's limited edition. People, like I said above, if you hate it you can take it back. This pallet was a bit of splurge for me at $37. But I love, love, love it! I am so in love with tarte cosmetics, and this pallet is just awesome. The shadows are so silky, and the blush as I said in my tarte review on Monday, is my favorite, and this shade is so subtle and pretty.
4. NYX nude on nude pallet. This was a TOTAL score for me! I love neutral shadows. They are just funner for me to work with, and I don't feel like I'm trying to hone in on my 80's past. Don't get me wrong, I'll still rock the blue eyeshadow here and there. But, normally it's the neutrals that get me excited. Plus, the lipgloss pans are pretty, too. I got this at Ulta this week. I read through the fabulous inter-web that Ulta was having a NYX overhaul and they were clearancing a bunch of their stuff, so of course I had to check it out. I found this baby amongst a bunch of things that were marked down (they had single eyeshadows, and smaller eyeshadow pallets as well as a few lip products at my store, too). I spotted this pallet with a sticker that said it was normally $25 and was now $12.50. Score! I was super excited about my find, and when I went to check out, it rang up at $4.99!!!! Holy crap! And, to make things even better, I have the Ulta app on my phone, that had a weekly offer for 20% off one single item. So, I scored a $25 pallet for $4. Even if I don't like this baby (which I know I will), at $4 I'll let my 6 year old daughter have it for playing with before I'll return it.
That's it! I normally don't spend over $50 in one week on cosmetics at all! But, tarte always gets me with their pretty packaging and great quality. Other than the tarte pallet, this was a very budget-friendly week, being that I got a free mascara, and a $25 pallet for only $4. Next week there will be a haul from CVS for sure. They have some great deals going on for the week that are sure to make for some cheap makeup! So I'll see you back here next Friday to share my findings!
Labels:
Benefit,
blush,
bronzer,
Drug Store,
Essence,
Eye Shadow,
Haul Friday,
lipgloss,
mascara,
NYX,
tarte
Monday, February 17, 2014
Review: QVC excusive Tarte Colored Clay 7-Pc Collection with Bag
Image taken from QVC's website
First, let me just start by saying, that my FAVORITE brand of makeup is tarte. I love that they promote a more natural line of makeup and skincare. Their ingredients are usually safe, and they are effective! I honestly have not bought something from the line that I haven't loved. So, when I saw this set as the 'todays special value' on QVC, I grabbed it.
This 7 piece set includes the following:
- clay eyeliner in Black
- LipSurgence Lip Gloss in True Love, a sheer raspberry shade
- clay blush bronzer in Pink Bronze
- colored clay SPF 15 liquid foundation
- colored clay CC primer
- lights, camera, LASHES mascara in Black
- Bamboo foundation brush
- and Bonus makeup bag
On to my review. Lets start with the foundation. The colored clay SPF 15 liquid foundation as of right now is a QVC exclusive, and it is what makes this set stand out in my opinion. The set comes with a brush to apply it with, and the 2 products work together wonderfully! The foundation comes in the same jar as the Amazonian clay airbrush foundation. It has a net-like sifter that you touch your brush with to get a small amount of product, then you buff it onto your face. The lid of the jar has a stopper on the inside to prevent the foundation from spilling all over the place, and you are supposed to shake the jar before each use. This foundation is very build-able, and lasts all day with a satin matte finish. It is quickly replacing my go-to foundation (tarte's Amazonian clay 12-hour full coverage SPF 15). I have very oily patches, and also have some dry patches as well, and it wears very well on me throughout the day. It doesn't cling to my dry areas, and there is very little to no breakdown where I'm more oily.
Moving on to the colored clay CC primer. This product I'm a bit on the fence about. I like it enough that I will probably repurchase it, but it's definitely not my favorite primer of all time. Mainly because of the color it leaves on my skin. it has 4 chambers of color on a very chubby stick, that you drag across your face and then buff out with your fingers. 2 chambers are skin colored, 1 is a very light green that is supposed to counteract any redness on your face and then the last chamber is purple, which is supposed to even out and brighten your skin. I'm very pale, and I got the shade 'fair' in this stick, and it goes on a bit dark for me. Once I sheer it our with my fingers, and then apply foundation over it, it looks just fine. But, this isn't a product that I can use alone by any means like the description says.
The clay blush bronzer in Pink Bronze is one of the more disappointing products in this kit. Everyone who loves makeup knows that tarte's Amazonian clay 12-Hour blush is a cult favorite. And, this blush in comparison to those is just okay. The bronzer portion is very peachy and the blush portion is very pale and not very highly pigmented. when you swirl around the whole pan, you get a very brownish peachy pink color that has a slight shimmer to it. The staying power of this blush bronzer is decent, however not as good as the Amazonian clay blush that is a tarte favorite. Overall, I'm not sure tarte could have really gotten it any better after the Amazonian clay blush, to be honest. So if I weren't comparing this blush to that, then it would be okay.
The clay eyeliner in Black is a nice addition to this kit as well. It is a waterproof twist up eyeliner, and the pigmentation is good, the staying power is great, and it is very smooth to apply. I used it in my waterline when I first got this, and it lasted about 6 hours, which is a decent amount of time for me. And, when worn as a normal eyeliner next to my lash line, it stays all day with no visible signs of wear.
Next, the LipSurgence Lip Gloss in True Love is yet another QVC exclusive product as of right now. When I got this kit, I wasn't expecting to like this gloss very much. Being on the more pale side I try to steer clear of bold lip colors in general, but this one was surprisingly great. You can sheer it out for a more natural pinkish red look, or build it up to be a more intense berry red. The doe foot applicator has a divot at the top that holds a lot of product which has been something that most people haven't liked about this product. I'm okay with it, and I think it makes this lip gloss different. The divot forms to your lips better than a normal doe foot applicator, and it holds more product on it, too. It has a very pleasant and light scent, and a touch of sparkle. It's not very sticky when you sheer it out like I like to do, and it would go on top of a berry or red toned lipstick awesomely! Another new hit from tarte! I can't wait to try new shades of these when they come out.
Lastly, the lights, camera, LASHES mascara is something that wasn't new to me at all. I've been using this mascara for a long time, and it is a go-to for me. It doesn't flake, it doesn't smudge and it separates your lashes very wonderfully. The snake skin purple packaging is adorable, and it lasts all day with out making you look like a raccoon by the end of it. Love!
The bag that comes with these products is rather large. it is a bright pink zip top bag, and it holds everything you get with this kit, plus LOTS more. It has a cute little golden tarte embellishment on one side and the material is a smooth polyester that feels pretty sturdy.
Overall, this set was a big hit for me. With the exception of the blush everything in this kit was stellar. QVC also has everything on auto-ship as well, and the auto-ship has a few changes every time. You can go here to see what you'll get next if you choose to do the auto-ship.
So, what do you think of this kit? A must have? Not a tarte fan? Don't think it's a great value? Let me know in the comments!
Labels:
blush,
bronzer,
brushes,
foundation,
lipgloss,
makeup bags,
mascara,
primer,
reviews,
tarte
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