Tag Archive | money saving

L’Oreal Brow Stylist Shape and Fill Brow pencil review

Aug26

Happy Saturday! Can I just say I’m a coupon clipping kook! Not that’s a bad thing. I love new beauty products, and often find them in the Sunday paper coupons. It might only be a buck or two savings, but it’s a great way to try new products for not a lot of money.

Having coupons that expired today, I made my way to Ulta yesterday. I was trying to stay away, but I had to buy a birthday gift, and Ulta is next store to Charming Charlie  I had not been to Charming Charlie’s in awhile and was very pleasantly surprised. They had many more new and fun products. I almost purchased a book on how to tie a scarf. Lots of great gift ideas. Plus they carry e.l.f. products!

As you get older, your eyebrows get sparse. While I don’t pay a ton of attention to my brows, (i.e. rarely pluck, etc.), I do like them to look nice. Mine are blonde and I wear glasses.

I purchased L’Oreal Brow Stylist Shape & Fill in Blonde at Ulta.  The regular price is $10.99, I paid $4.24 using a manufacturer’s coupon, Ulta coupon and member rewards points. It is identical to Benefit Good Proof brow which costs $24 in my opinion.  The color I was using for the Goof Proof brow is number one.

Here is what’s on Ulta’s website:

Define your brow statement. L’Oreal’s Brow Stylist Shape and Fill Pencil is a unique 3-in-1 mechanical pencil with spoolie. The triangular tip precisely outlines, easily shades, and evenly fills brows. Soft styling spoolie blends for shaped brows.

Benefits:

  • 3-in-1 mechanical pencil with spoolie
  • Triangular tip
  • Outlines, shades, fills
  • Defined brows

 

The colors are the same, it’s hard to tell them apart.

L'Oreal Brow Stylist swatch 8-26-17

They both have unique tips, which makes it easier to fill in your brows.

L'Oreal Brow Stylist side by side 8-26-17

Benefit Goof Proof on the left, and L’Oreal on the right.

 

They both go on the same as well. I’ll be taking the Benefit Goof Proof back!

L'Oreal Brow Stylist 8-26-17

I don’t have a photo, as I tried the product on, but have no other eye make up on, and frankly I don’t want to scare anyone. (I’m super pale).

Thanks for stopping by.

 

 

 

 

 

Light Blue by Dolce & Gabbana & Dupe

Oct16

Happy Sunday!  I love perfume, especially florals. I have my go to fragrances, and seldom buy anything new.  Getting ready for a recent vacation to the tropics, I was at my favorite store, Ulta and spied a fragrance ad that caught my eye.  It was Light Blue by Dolce & Gabanna.  The models were in swimsuits and appeared to be somewhere in the Mediterranean Sea. I tried it and immediately fell in love.  Not wanting to fork out $98 for a 3.3 ounce bottle, I went to Dolce & Gabana Light Blue for Women 3.3 ounces on Amazon and purchased it for $36.90, free shipping with Amazon Prime.

Next stop, I bought a travel perfume bottle to take my new favorite scent on vacation. I was at Wal-Mart buying travel size stuff and came across  Capri Breeze  I bought a small can of body spray that is .5 ounces for a $1. It smells exactly like the real thing. I even went back the next day and bought the rest of their stock, which was five cans of spray.

I took two cans on vacation, and used one up completely.  This stuff smells so good. It’s great to throw in your purse or gym bag. You can spray it all over your body.  I’ve never used a body spray before, and enjoyed how easy it is to use.  No dripping or getting too much on.

These travel size body sprays would make great gifts, along with being a good stocking stuffer.  When my 3.3 ounce bottles runs out, I’ll definitely be buying the bigger size Capri Breeze which is only $2.98 for 2.5 ounces.

Thanks for stopping by!

 

 

Maybelline Superstay Better Skin Powder Foundation

Oct16

Happy Sunday!  I’m finally getting back into the  swing of things after being on vacation for 10 days.

Being an avid beauty junkie, I’m always on the lookout for the next best thing. About two months ago, I started using Maybelline Superstay Better Skin skin transforming powder in Classic Ivory.  I purchased it at Ulta for $10.99.  I try to use a foundation with an SPF of at least 30, along with a moisturizer with at least a SPF of 30 every day as well. This foundation does not contain any SPF. It has Salicylic Acid  and promises to transform your skin in three weeks.

Here is the description from Ulta’s website:

What if a powder could cover like a foundation and control shine all-day?

“Superstay Better Skin Powder covers like a foundation. It uses a unique blend of soft, finely-milled powders to deliver all-day complete coverage that feels lightweight and breathable on skin.

In addition the powder’s creamy texture blends seamlessly and gives all-day oil control for a shine-free finish.
Finally, the formula contains skin-clarifying salicylic acid, which is proven to reduce the appearance of imperfections, pores and unevenness while flawlessly covering.”

You can adjust the coverage easily by how you apply it.  If I want more coverage, I use the sponge applicator that came with it.  I prefer using a kabuki brush, as it’s a much lighter coverage.

I was leary of the Salicylic Acid being too harsh for my mature skin.  I’ve never had a problem with acne, and I know this ingredient works well for that.

I have to say  I’ve been very pleasantly surprised with this product.  Not only does it give me all day coverage, but I do feel my skin has improved.  I have very nice skin for my age, and don’t need too much coverage. The picture below was just taken last week, we were on vacation in Central America, so I have a bit of a tan. It lasts all day, and I never need to touch it up.

I have some color (IE spots), as I just returned from vacation.
Easy to carry, includes mirror

If you are looking for a nice drugstore brand powder foundation, this is a real winner.

Thanks for stopping by.

 

Essence The Gel Nail Polish

Sep11

Ulta is my favorite store. Since I’m a rewards member, they are always sending me coupons for free stuff. Well, free with any purchase.  Today’s freebie was Matrix Total Results Color Obsessed shampoo and conditioner. They are each 1.7 ounces. Perfect for our upcoming vacation. I would imagine it’s pricey, but free works very well for me. Matrix Total Results Color Obsessed shampoo

I didn’t need anything, so I grabbed some  Essence The Gel nail polish on Jeans On! This polish is only a $1.99, and I love this color of blue. I was turned on to this brand by another beauty blogger. This is really some pretty darn good polish.  It stays on well, and is very shiny.  Can’t got wrong for under $2 bucks. If I wasn’t digging my current manicure so much, I would be wearing this now.

I also got some Ulta Make up Wedges for $1.99. These are good quality sponges that are easy to clean. I just throw mine in a lingerie bag and wash them in the washing machine.

 

 

Last Summer Pop of Color

Sep9

Okay, I know it’s September, but it’s 85 degrees here in Southeasten Wisconsin, and I’m still digging Summer’s bright colors. I’m playing with my Julep nail color freebie box which has 12 colors, now on colors number three and four.  I got twelve full size bottles for free, just for signing up.  I had never used Julep before, but I love the brand now.  It stays on well, and is very pigmented.

The orange color is Jenna and the bright pink is Randi.

Here’s a link to Julep if you want to sign up for their monthly box.  Julep Maven

I just may have to wear this duo with my snazzy dress for our vacation in Costa Rica.

 

 

Julep Beauty Box

Aug20

Ladies, if you love nail polish like I do, you have to check this out. It’s Julep’s monthly subscription box. I signed up for three months, at $20 a month. I got 12 full size bottles of polish just for signing up.  A $168 value! Wow! Who doesn’t like free??? Plus you get to customize your monthly box.  They had a ton of products to chose from. I’m going for skin care this month. My $20 box is valued at over $60 for August. This line of cosmetics is available at Ulta.  Julep at Ulta

I’m excited to try the skin care items I’ll be getting for August. Plus the line is vegan, cruelty free, no nasty stuff in their products, etc.. Woo Hoo! Plus you can cancel at any time. You can sign up for just one month if you want. The longer you sign up, the cheaper it is.  You also earn points too.  I got a free add on in my first box. Also the items are full size. Did I mention the skin care is Korean?  I can’t wait to try my August skin care items.

I’ll do a review when I get my first box.  The polish is awesome, stays on really well, and I love the colors I got in my free box.  They even selected a color based on my birthday month, how cool is that!

Check out this link to join  Julep

Free gift for signing up!
Sunny Summer color in Saaya.

More Fabulous Dupes!

Aug3

Glam it up has done it again!  Please follow her blog, you will be amazed!

https://glamitupbeauty.wordpress.com/

 

hi guys !! I know I know you are all thinking “someone is running out of ideas she’s just posting dupes post ” im sorry it just that there is a lot of people loving these and plus we all love a good deal specially if it’s makeup am i right?😉😉 but i promise you […]

via 💄💄want some dupes (part 3)💄💄 — Glam It up

No Lift Nails Cuticle Oil Review

Jul10

I’m always glad when something good comes out of doing something regrettable.  I did my own acrylic nails about two months ago.  While I loved the look, I didn’t realize how hard the fake nails would be on my natural nails. While doing some research for acrylic nail after care, I came across this awesome product.

Fast forward six weeks later, let me introduce you to No Lift Nails Cuticle Oil. Holy flipping cow!  I kept the fake ones on until my own grew out. I picked some up at Sally Beauty for $6.99 No Lift Nails Cuticle Oil  The ingredients are simple: Avocado Oil, Almond Oil, Vitamin E and fragrance.  It smells amazing. I put a drop on each nail before bed and massage it over my entire nail and cuticle.  The bottle is one ounce.

Cuticle Oil 7-10-16

In just six short weeks, my nails are all long and strong as heck.  My nail polish has been lasting longer, hardly chipping at all.

Cuticle Oil Nails 7-10-16

Here is a photo of my July 4th manicure.  I didn’t feel like redoing my nails, so I painted a silver line where the new growth is.  My nails grew an 1/8 inch in two weeks!  I started out with a wild blue color and just kept adding on.  I do my nails at night, and put this on over my polish, no smudges at all!  I actually filed my nails a bit here, as I wanted them to be squared off. My nails were really brittle before and would always break.  I feel like I have a gel manicure because they are so strong.

I have only used a small amount after daily use for six weeks. I sometimes will put some on my hands. I literally want to gnaw on my fingers because it smells so good.

Cuticle Oil 7-10-16 after two months of daily use

You can buy it on Amazon, but it’s $10. I actually paid less than $6.99 at Sally Beauty because I have a rewards card. It’s funny because I have been taking 5000 mg of Biotin for months and it wasn’t doing anything for my nails.  This stuff is awesome!

Thanks for stopping by.