Saturday, October 29, 2011

Sephora Friends & Family Haul 2011 Haul Part 1

Since Snowtober is killing the Northeast right now, my Halloween plans are ruined :( So what better way to spend a snowed in night than beauty blogging? (And snow in October? What?!?)

I placed 2 orders to Sephora given I love 20% off of anything and it's a great time to buy if you've been eyeing anything that is just too costly.  I ordered twice because I wanted to redeem for 2 different items in teh 100 point perks and you also get to pick 3 more samples.  Also, Sephora was offering AMAZING point perks (Guess they are trying to compete with Ulta now!)
  • NARS Danmari All About Cheeks Blush Palette ($65)
  • Fusion Beauty Anti-Wrinkle Primer ($10.50 sale)
  • Laura Mercier Face Illuminator - Rose Rendevous ($42)
  • Kat Von D True Romance Eyeshadow Palette - Angeles ($15-sale)
  • Laura Mercier Book of Nudes ($48)
*All Prices are BEFORE 20% off.  You can still redeem 20% off codes til 11/2.
NARS palette includes Hungry Heart, Super Orgasm, Desire, Casino, Orgasm, and Sin.  These keep going in and out of stock, so if you are wanting this palette, you may have to check frequently. I only owned Deepthroat for NARS blushes.  If you already own a few of the blushes or don't like NARS blushes, I'd say this a skip.  But I bought this because I don't have any of these shades--especially not a crazy neon pink. 
I had eyed the Dior Amber Lights highlighter, but I saw this one and fell in love.  It's so pretty I don't want to touch it! (But don't worry, I will!)
For point perks (100 points) I got a full size Murad cleanser (retail is $26) and a Peter Thomas Roth Anti-Aging Cleansing Gel in half the full size (the full size retails for $35).

*Reviews will be coming soon on all products!

Monday, October 24, 2011

Benefits Got Your Ticket to Glossytown

I am a sucker for lipgloss collections.  I've never tried the Benefit Lipshines and they brought out this set (you could get it for 20% off now w/ Sephora's F&F deal if you are in the US).  I love the packaging.  I think it looks very city chic.

You get 6 lipglosses (I lost 1...already...) in .1 fl oz size.  The colors are Life on the A-List, Foxy Lady, Kiss You, Spiked Punch, Nudie Tudie, and So Frisk Me (not pictured).  This retails for $24.
Spiked Punch (orangey coral) is definitely the most pigmented and my favorite out of the bunch.  I've wanted this shade for a long time, but never purchased it.  Foxy Lady is the most shimmery, it's nice for the evening or daytime if you aren't going to work (I'm corporate, so it's a no for me during the day).

Kiss You is fairly sheer for the purple color.  I was afraid of this one, but it looks natural.  It does have a sort of duo-chrome quality under a flash though, so I had to take this pic without.

The .17 lipgloss tubes retail for $18, so for $24 you get to try 6 shades and get more product.  It's definitely a good deal if you have been wanting to try a Benefit gloss.  Or if you have a friend that you won't fight over shades with, you could always go 50/50 and each take 3 for $12.  It would also make a fab holiday gift.

Overall, I like the glosses, but they are not *must haves*.  I probably wouldn't run out to buy more shades, I like the mini-sized ones that I have now.  They are fruity scented and not sticky.  I love the brush applicator (my preference).  I consider this a good-buy and I'm glad I purchased it.

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Sephora Friends & Family 2011 Online Code Available NOW!

Hi makeup lovers!  How many posts can I do in one week about this sale? Haha.

Anyway, here's the link to get your discount of 20% off! sephora.com/friends

Please note:
-Valid only online (US orders only, sorry international friends)
-One time use only (you will be e-mailed a private code)
-Use by 11/2

Happy shopping!  I'm off to play with swatches at my local Sephora and then place an order online. :) Massive haul coming soon!

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Important Changes to Sephora Friends & Family 2011 Sale

*Update* If you are looking for the online code, you can get one here: sephora.com/friends
Hey makeup lovers!  Just read on Sephora's FB that they are NOT e-mailing out discounts to BI's or VIB's this year at all.  The code will ONLY be given to Sephora employees to share with their friends & family.

Most likely, it will get leaked somehow...but in the mean time, this was Sephora's statement:
"We appreciate your inquiry about Sephora's Friends and Family discount. The Friends and Family discount is a benefit for Sephora employees to extend to their personal networks. If you know someone who works at Sephora, ask them! We’re also reserving some amazing offers just for our Facebook Fans, Beauty Insiders & VIBs, so be on the lookout!"

Sephora's Facebook page is now starting to look like NYX's page post-horrible-sale-fail.  What are your thoughts on the changes?  Will you still be looking for a code for the sale?

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Sephora Friends & Family Sale Wish List!

It's the most wonderful time of the year! Sephora friends & family!  This year it starts on 10/20 and I'm sure coupon codes will be coming out to your inboxes soon.  Last year I received 20% off, fingers crossed it's 20 again!  Sometimes there is a difference between VIBs and BIs, so we'll have to wait and see. 

I tend to go for the higher ticket items during the sale, especially foundations, perfumes, etc.  So here's a run-down of what I'm thinking about picking up.  Let me know if you have tried these or what you are thinking about picking up.  Happy shopping! All prices listed are the current selling price (Pre-Discount)

1. Dior Shimmer Star in Amber Diamonds ($44)
2. Laura Mercier The Book of Nudes ($48)
3. Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation in Rose Ivory (already own--I can do a review of it for those interested) ($42)
4. Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray ($29)
5. MUFE Lesson 1 Natural Eyes ($44 --the 2 aqua creams are full-size)

Saturday, October 15, 2011

New Fall Hair! Samy Fat Foam Review

I wanted a fresh look and I was feeling darker hair (and...ok...I have a few grays!  My family tends to gray in their 20's...and even when I see ONE I freak out, lol).  So, I went to the drugstore and first tried a Garnier dye which made my hair reddish.  UMMMM, NO!  I have no problems with red hair, but that isn't me.  And the box was definitely brown.  However, after talking to my mom's friend who is a hair dress she explained that brown hair dyes contain red undertones and that most likely my hair was reacting to the red in the hair dye!  Wonderful!

I then decided to try Samy Fat Foam to see if I could cover my now reddish brown hair (and oh yes, I sported that look for a few days at work with comments of...is your hair....red?)
I picked up No 5.  This was my first time using a foam dye and the 2nd time I've colored my hair alone.  Normally my sister dyes it in my Mom's kitchen sink.

The product is easy to mix.  Poor in powder and the liquid and shake shake shake!  What I love about this product is the coverage!  I have trouble with the squirt bottle applications because I always feel like I end up with too much on one part of my head and the color is uneven.
Here's the end result!  I'm digging the deeper shade and I love the covereage.  The foam costs about $10 at a drugstore, but check for sales or online coupons because I paid around $6. 

After you dye it there is a shampoo that you use right away.  I was nervous b/c normally you don't shampoo right away!  But I did it and then applied the conditioner.  My hair was super soft.

My hair has now been dyed about 3 weeks and I haven't had any fading (and I'm bad...I don't use shampoo for color treated hair...)
Rating: 5/5
Repurchase: YES!
Recommended for: Anyone that wants to dye their hair at home
Warning: It says do not dye if you have your period.  Um...I've never heard that in my life, but apparently it supposedly has something to do with your iron-levels during your cycle.  If your a guy, you're fine.  If you're a girl...well, I ignored the warning.

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Turn Your Closet Into Cash?

Hey ladies!  I was writing a post for another website on budget styling and I thought some of you may be interested in it, so I reposted here as well!  If you are interested in my own experience selling, I'm than happy to share!  I do more direct sales and ebay than consignment.  Just my preference!

Keeping up with fashion doesn’t have to break the bank.  Any fashionista knows that if you haven’t worn something in a year, get rid of it.  Each season, go through your clothing and divide them into three piles: keep, giveaway, and maybe.  Put the keep pile back in the closet.  Set aside the giveaway pile for the suggestions below, and keep the maybe pile in a designated part of your closet to examine next time.

Instead of hoarding clothes you aren’t wearing, try a few of these suggestions to get new clothes or get cash for your clothes.

1.       Consignment store – Second hand and thrift stores are popping up everywhere and this can be a great place to take your unwanted clothes.  Call ahead and ask them what season they are buying for so you don’t end up lugging in a bag of clothes they don’t want.  Make sure clothes are in good condition (no rips, holes, or stains). Consignment stores vary from every day clothes to high end designer labels.  A staff member will go through the clothing and tag what they think they could sell in the store.  Most stores have a minimum that they have to accept before opening an account with you, so bring a few options in case a few items don’t pan out.  The store will price your accepted items and put them in the store for a designated amount of time.  They will track your sales and give you a percentage of the sales at the end of the period or you can take the items back.

2.       Direct sale – Nationwide stores like Buffalo Exchange and Plato’s Closet will give you cash or store credit immediately for your clothes. An experienced buyer will go through your clothes and determine if the store can sell it.  They tell you the price they would sell it for and offer you a percentage of that amount. Percentages will vary from 20% on the low end to 40% on the high end depending on location.

3.       Yard/block sales – Community yard or block sales can be a great time to get rid of unwanted clothing items, along with anything else that is lying around the house.  Having a yard sale alone can be hard to organize, but if more people in your neighborhood participate, you are likely to draw a larger crowd.

4.       Online auction – Auction sites are another great way to sell unwanted clothing and you will get a larger percentage of your sales as auction sites take a smaller percentage than stores.  Auction sites will be more time consuming as you will be responsible for taking pictures of your items, pricing them, and dealing directly with your own customers.

5.       Clothing swap – Get a group of friends or co-workers together and ask them to bring in clothing that they are no longer using to set up for a swap.  Instead of getting cash for your clothes, you may end up with a stylish new dress.  Don’t just limit yourself to clothes either.  Try exchanging shoes, accessories, and hand bags.

Sunday, October 9, 2011

What's In My October Birch Box

So, because I have points worth $20 in my BirchBox account, I decided to give BB a few more rounds while I'm waiting for something I like.

One thing I will say, I love their customer service.  September's box was lost who knows where and BB kindly sent me a new box, no questions asked.  So, kudos to the awesome customer support.

On to the box!
1. Blinc Mascara (tube-forming)
2. Pangea Organics Facial Mask
3. BeFine Lip Serum
4. Orofluido Beauty Elixir (it's a hair oil...I googled it)
Extra: Tea Forte Minteas (totally random...thanks for the candy?)

I'm most excited to try the lip treatment and the mascara.  The hair oil I could have done without b/c I have macademia oil, but it's a nice small size to test out, plus you only use a little at a time to try out.

Also, thanks to my subscribers :)  I reached 50!

xox,
Staci

Saturday, October 1, 2011

Milani Contest Winner!

Thanks to every who entered!  I used random.org to select the winner.  There were 10 people entering and I ruled out any general comments as to not throw off the generater.

Without further ado....the winner is....

Livy XX!

Congrats Livy!  You will be receiving an e-mail from me to get your mailing address to send you off your goodies and a few extra surprises.  Enjoy!  Thanks to everyone who entered.

xox,
Staci