I'm a graduate student at the University of Oregon, in Eugene. I tell you this because this post is intimately tied to that part of my identity. Last week, the state board of education terminated the contract of the UO's president, Richard Lariviere, saying he wasn't enough of a "team player" and his efforts to make the UO a self-sustaining economic entity, apart from the (very, very broken) state funding system were undermining the other colleges in Oregon. This is patently absurd, of course––I'm baffled how anyone could think that the improvement of one school must come at the detriment of others (especially if, as is the case here, the one school helps subsidize the others). The campus community, as well as Eugene at large (and many state politicians, actually), has not taken the news well, and the members of the board, the chancellor, and the governor are the target of much ire. There have been rallies, petitions, and meetings, but as of Monday, the board voted to oust Lariviere come Dec. 28, at which time the UO will, apparently, have no president. The sense of frustration and sadness that I get from how events have played out cannot be overstated, and I considered writing a post on here about all of it, but ultimately decided that would be a little too "beyond" the "beauty" purpose of the blog. So I decided to paint my nails green and yellow so I'd have an excuse to write about this, while still keeping true to the spirit of the blog. Not to mention it was a great procrastinating tool!
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
30 Days Makeup Challenge: Day 1
The lovely Magi-Mania ran this feature on her blog (which is in German, but the pictures are great if that's not a language you're familiar with!), and I thought it was a cool idea, but I knew I would never have the wherewithal to actually post my answers every day. So: I still think it's fun and I'd like to do it, but with the modification that I will post a new answer every day that I feel like it, which will be nowhere near 30 in 30 days. 30 in 6 months, maybe, though I can't promise even that. (ETA: I've also decided to change many of the questions, since there were some I didn't feel equipped to answer, and others I wanted to address that weren't present. Also, it's my blog, so I can pull crap like that!)
Having said all that, then, here's the first one!
When did you start wearing makeup?
I started wearing foundation and concealer in early high school, I think, but I didn't really get into makeup (in the sense of it being a daily ritual and outlet for my OCD) until a couple years ago. My approach to it has changed a lot, too; now I'm very careful about what I buy and do a lot of research beforehand, but I'm also more willing to spend more for higher-end products rather than just sticking to cheapie drugstore stuff (though I still love me some cheapie drugstore stuff!). I've gotten much better about knowing what I like to wear and not buying things that don't fit into that ethos, though there are some times that I can't help myself––fortunately, I have friends who are willing to take lots of the things I don't use, so at least I don't feel like they're completely wasted!
What about you? When did you start wearing makeup? I'd love to hear your stories!
Having said all that, then, here's the first one!
When did you start wearing makeup?
I started wearing foundation and concealer in early high school, I think, but I didn't really get into makeup (in the sense of it being a daily ritual and outlet for my OCD) until a couple years ago. My approach to it has changed a lot, too; now I'm very careful about what I buy and do a lot of research beforehand, but I'm also more willing to spend more for higher-end products rather than just sticking to cheapie drugstore stuff (though I still love me some cheapie drugstore stuff!). I've gotten much better about knowing what I like to wear and not buying things that don't fit into that ethos, though there are some times that I can't help myself––fortunately, I have friends who are willing to take lots of the things I don't use, so at least I don't feel like they're completely wasted!
What about you? When did you start wearing makeup? I'd love to hear your stories!
Labels:
30 Days
Monday, November 28, 2011
Revlon Nail Enamel in 675 All Fired Up Review and Swatches
I've been buying a lot of nail polish lately, because a) it's cheap, b) it's cute, and c) there are so many colors to procure! Even though I'm absolutely terrible at painting my nails, I still enjoy the ritual, and besides, it's so fun to have pretty colors waving at you on your fingers! I was having a serious lemming for a red nail polish, so when I was at Target I picked up one by Revlon (for $3.99, because I was too impatient to wait for a sale). It's called All Fired Up, and it is seriously red.
Revlon All Fired Up
Labels:
grade: A-,
jelly,
nail polish,
red,
Revlon
Sunday, November 27, 2011
theBalm You're Giving Me a Complexion Kit Review and Swatches
You know how sometimes you purchase something, and you're just so excited that you can hardly bear it, and then you use the products, and you realize with a sinking feeling that they're just not going to work for you? Yeah, that happened. Now I'm going to grouse about it on here (the real reason I started a blog!).
I posted a few days ago about the awesome theBalm sets at TJ Maxx. Before I go any further, let me tell you that this review is in no way a condemnation of theBalm or TJ Maxx. I love them both super lots, but sometimes love is not enough (I feel like that should be accompanied by a really sad guitar).
Labels:
concealer,
finishing powder,
grade: A-,
grade: B,
set,
theBalm,
tinted moisturizer,
TJ Maxx
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Skincare Saturday: Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque Review
It's been awhile since I've posted anything for Skincare Saturday, and for that I apologize. My skin has been acting up like crazy the past couple months, and I've gradually had to learn that I should just stick to the prescription stuff and leave experimentation for some other time, which means I've been very wary about adding anything to my routine. A few weeks ago, some drugstore (Walgreens, maybe?) had Queen Helene Mint Julep masque on sale for $2.99, so I decided I had to pick it up, grouchy skin be damned. I've only used it a couple of times, so these are really more just my observations about the product than a true review.
Image from Drugstore.com
Labels:
mask,
Queen Helene
Friday, November 25, 2011
Cherry Culture NYX Haul (plus pictures of adorable animals)
Happy Black Friday! I hope you all were able to take advantage of some of the awesome sales going on in the beautysphere this weekend (check my Twitter feed for specifics!); I placed an order with theBalm for timeBalm concealer and Cabana Boy blush at 40% off plus free shipping, and am very tempted to get a few things from Inglot during their 15% off plus free shipping sale, but have so far managed to abstain, since I have too many eyeshadows already!
I went to the mall today, not to shop (that would be suicidal), but to get color-matched in various foundations at the department store, which happily ended with me carting off 3 sample portions of MAC Matchmaster, Estee Lauder Double Wear, and Lancome Teint Idole Fresh Wear (each in the lightest shade, surprise surprise). You can look forward to reviews on those in the next few weeks.
I also finally received my Cherry Culture order today, 2 weeks after I ordered it. Painfully long turnaround time, but I'm super pleased to have it now! I was also very pleased to see that they wrapped my nail polishes in 3 layers of bubble wrap, and they all arrived in perfect condition.
I got a Black Label Lipstick in Socialite, Advanced Salon Formula nail polishes in Maroon and Gold Glitter (super creative names, guys; leftmost and rightmost polish, respectively), Girls nail polish in Carnival (middle polish), and Eyeshadow Base in Skin Tone. I'll have reviews and swatches of everything up as I get around to testing them! I'm thinking Gold Glitter over Maroon would be perfect for a holiday manicure...
I went to the mall today, not to shop (that would be suicidal), but to get color-matched in various foundations at the department store, which happily ended with me carting off 3 sample portions of MAC Matchmaster, Estee Lauder Double Wear, and Lancome Teint Idole Fresh Wear (each in the lightest shade, surprise surprise). You can look forward to reviews on those in the next few weeks.
I also finally received my Cherry Culture order today, 2 weeks after I ordered it. Painfully long turnaround time, but I'm super pleased to have it now! I was also very pleased to see that they wrapped my nail polishes in 3 layers of bubble wrap, and they all arrived in perfect condition.
Fragrance Friday: Givenchy Very Irresistible L'Intense and Saffron James Le'a Reviews
After the past couple FFs, I was beginning to think I was a miserly shrew who turned everything she smelled rancid. Then I remembered that I still have perfumes I wear and love, so threw that theory on the backburner and tried another couple perfumes from my sample collection. And, what do you know, I actually found one I like!
$56.50 for 1 oz, $80.50 for 1.7 oz, available from Sephora
Givenchy Very Irresistible L'Intense, via Sephora
But first, the one I'm less crazy about. Givenchy Very Irresistible L'Intense is supposedly Very Irresistible on steroids, but having not smelled VI in a very long time, I can't really attest for or against that. Regardless, I can give you my (completely non-professional) impressions of the scent. 1) It smells like baby powder, which diminishes over time, but is definitely underlying all the way through. Now, I love babies (not in a creepy way! Unless you find strange women in grocery stores making faces at your baby to be creepy, that is), but I do not want to smell like one's butt, even if it is clean. There are also some fruity (plum) and floral (rose) notes, as well as a healthy dash of patchouli, but nothing can really conquer baby powder. This one is a pass for me, BUT, unlike some other perfumes I've "reviewed" (read: ranted about), I didn't feel the need to wash this one off.$56.50 for 1 oz, $80.50 for 1.7 oz, available from Sephora
Labels:
Fragrance Friday,
Givenchy,
perfume,
Saffron James
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Happy Thanksgiving!
I hope you're all getting to enjoy some quality time with your family, friends, and awkward relatives (maybe that's just me?), and are able to eat too much delicious Thanksgiving food!
Here are some things I am thankful for in my life:
––Obviously, my family and friends, without whom my life would be bleak and dark. I love you all so much!
––Grad school, because even though it's a lot of work, it's still less than I had at Swat (thanks, undergrad, for making all my future academic pursuits seem laid-back), and it's all linguistics and therefore awesome. I love that I get to spend my time learning about what I want to learn about, and feel so blessed to have such amazing, intelligent, creative colleagues and co-students.
––Having a job! This is thanks to grad school, too. I love having a steady source of income (as small as it may be), and truly enjoy getting to teach and learn from my students. Though all the grading I have this weekend is a bit of a drag!
––Rain jackets, because they're super convenient and keep me dry.
––Modern medicine, which has made everything else in my life possible.
––Good food, for being the one thing guaranteed to always make me feel better, whether it's homemade pie, or Café Yumm!, or a piece of really good cheese.
And here are some things I'm grateful for in my beauty life!:
––My Meow foundation and concealer, for letting me not feel self-conscious about my skin, and for being light enough to match perfectly!
––Blush, for making me look like I'm neither ghostly nor sickly, and because it's just so pretty.
––Tarte LipSurgence pencils and Jordana EasyShines, for being easier than falling off a log to apply, and keeping my lips happy and pretty.
––Body butters, because they smell delicious and keep my hands soft.
––Sally Hansen Hard as Nails clear base coat, which is a miracle worker for my nails, keeping them from peeling, breaking, and splitting.
––Fast-dry top coat, for mitigating the effect my clumsiness and impatience has on my nails!
––Perfume and deodorant, for helping me smell good (the former) and keeping me from smelling bad (the latter). There are few things that give me more immediate happiness than a great perfume!
––And Philosophy Purity facial cleanser, for removing my makeup gently and not breaking me out.
There are so many other things I could write about (Turkish grammar books, for giving me ideas for how to structure my experiment! Bunnies, for always being so adorable and making me giggle like a maniac. Babies, for pretty much the same reason, with the added bonus of making faces. Leather boots, for keeping my feet warm and dry. My wonderful boyfriend, for putting up with my neuroses and quirks.), but I don't want to completely inundate you, so let me just finish with this:
I am so thankful for all of you who read and comment, and feel so lucky to have anyone reading my posts. I passed 10,000 page views yesterday, which, while it isn't very impressive compared to other beauty blogs, I'm still really pleased about, and it obviously couldn't have happened without you! So thank you. Have some pie to celebrate!
What are you thankful for this year?
Here are some things I am thankful for in my life:
––Obviously, my family and friends, without whom my life would be bleak and dark. I love you all so much!
––Grad school, because even though it's a lot of work, it's still less than I had at Swat (thanks, undergrad, for making all my future academic pursuits seem laid-back), and it's all linguistics and therefore awesome. I love that I get to spend my time learning about what I want to learn about, and feel so blessed to have such amazing, intelligent, creative colleagues and co-students.
––Having a job! This is thanks to grad school, too. I love having a steady source of income (as small as it may be), and truly enjoy getting to teach and learn from my students. Though all the grading I have this weekend is a bit of a drag!
––Rain jackets, because they're super convenient and keep me dry.
––Modern medicine, which has made everything else in my life possible.
––Good food, for being the one thing guaranteed to always make me feel better, whether it's homemade pie, or Café Yumm!, or a piece of really good cheese.
And here are some things I'm grateful for in my beauty life!:
––My Meow foundation and concealer, for letting me not feel self-conscious about my skin, and for being light enough to match perfectly!
––Blush, for making me look like I'm neither ghostly nor sickly, and because it's just so pretty.
––Tarte LipSurgence pencils and Jordana EasyShines, for being easier than falling off a log to apply, and keeping my lips happy and pretty.
––Body butters, because they smell delicious and keep my hands soft.
––Sally Hansen Hard as Nails clear base coat, which is a miracle worker for my nails, keeping them from peeling, breaking, and splitting.
––Fast-dry top coat, for mitigating the effect my clumsiness and impatience has on my nails!
––Perfume and deodorant, for helping me smell good (the former) and keeping me from smelling bad (the latter). There are few things that give me more immediate happiness than a great perfume!
––And Philosophy Purity facial cleanser, for removing my makeup gently and not breaking me out.
There are so many other things I could write about (Turkish grammar books, for giving me ideas for how to structure my experiment! Bunnies, for always being so adorable and making me giggle like a maniac. Babies, for pretty much the same reason, with the added bonus of making faces. Leather boots, for keeping my feet warm and dry. My wonderful boyfriend, for putting up with my neuroses and quirks.), but I don't want to completely inundate you, so let me just finish with this:
I am so thankful for all of you who read and comment, and feel so lucky to have anyone reading my posts. I passed 10,000 page views yesterday, which, while it isn't very impressive compared to other beauty blogs, I'm still really pleased about, and it obviously couldn't have happened without you! So thank you. Have some pie to celebrate!
What are you thankful for this year?
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Essence Holographics.Com LE Nail Polish in Prism@tic White Review and Swatches
Essence came out with a "holographic" collection (scare quotes because the products were not, in fact, actually holographic, but rather duo/multichrome, a distinction apparently lost on the German brand) a few months ago, and I happened to come across a small display of some of the products in Ulta a few weeks ago. I decided to only pick up one polish, Prism@tic White (stupid name, guys), that I thought I could use for wintry-themed nails and to layer over other polishes. I decided to wear it over black to start with, because I knew its duochromeness would show up better over a dark polish.
Essence Prism@tic White
Labels:
duochrome,
Essence,
grade: A,
nail polish,
white
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
theBalm at TJ Maxx: Deals and Steals to the Max(x) (I hate myself)
I was feeling the need to check and see if TJ Maxx had gotten another shipment of theBalm products, since every time I've gone on the weekend there's been nothing, and lo and behold: oodles and oodles of theBalm holiday sets and individual products (though not the one I've been particularly lemming, namely Cabana Boy blush). I snapped some crappy pictures for y'all (you're welcome):
There were other kits and sets available too, including a bunch for skincare (I was also tempted by the Clear Skies Ahead kit for combo/acne-prone skin, but decided my skin is too unpredictable to risk the $23), several nail polish sets, and some super-cute pouches with nail, lip, and eye/cheek products (some had Betty Lou-Manizer, others had eyeshadow).
I picked up the "You're Giving Me a Complexion" set because I've been wanting a new liquid foundation/tinted moisturizer, and thought the other products sounded promising, too. I opted for the Light option, only to discover upon opening it at home that all of the products were Medium (2 shades down from what I needed!). Extremely annoyed, I did the 20 minute trip back to TJ's to see if they had a light kit that actually had light products, and after establishing that the moisturizer and TimeBalm were both as they were supposed to be, exchanged it for another. Of course, upon getting home, I realized that the Liquid TimeBalm concealer was Nude, not Fair like the box had claimed, so it's a shade darker than I was promised (boo, hiss), but I'm going to continue playing around with the products to try and get them to work for me. The TimeBalm Tinted Moisturizer in Light (which is the lightest it comes in, though it's only a small 3-shade range) is still a bit dark for me, but I'm going to try cutting it with moisturizer to see if I can't sheer it out and make it wearable. Fingers crossed! I'll write full reviews of everything after I've gotten the chance to wear it all more, but if you're interested in any of these products/kits, get to a TJ Maxx soon, because I don't know how long they'll last! Just be sure to open the packages and check the contents to save yourself some misery.
A whole load of makeup kits from theBalm, ranging from eye to face to lip kits, with some combos thrown in for good measure
Shady Lady eyeshadow palettes, Vol. 1, 2, and 3, each a mere $12.99 each, $39.50 normally. If you like eyeshadow and enjoy pops of color (unlike some people who only wear neutrals, *cough*), this is an absolutely unbelievable deal.
4 full-size lip products! I was so tempted to get this, but then I remembered I hated the sample of Stainiac that I got, and I don't really like or wear lip gloss, so that would basically be $25 down the drain. But it's a fantastic deal for those who would be able to make use of the products!
Close-up of the Green Eye Kit (as in, the kit for people with green eyes, not the kit with green eyeshadow...I was confused by this for a bit), which comes with Overshadow loose mineral shadow, 2 Shady Lady eyeshadows (I can't remember exactly which ones, sorry!), Balms Away makeup remover, and Cheater mascara
And my favorite Balmbini palette!
There were other kits and sets available too, including a bunch for skincare (I was also tempted by the Clear Skies Ahead kit for combo/acne-prone skin, but decided my skin is too unpredictable to risk the $23), several nail polish sets, and some super-cute pouches with nail, lip, and eye/cheek products (some had Betty Lou-Manizer, others had eyeshadow).
I picked up the "You're Giving Me a Complexion" set because I've been wanting a new liquid foundation/tinted moisturizer, and thought the other products sounded promising, too. I opted for the Light option, only to discover upon opening it at home that all of the products were Medium (2 shades down from what I needed!). Extremely annoyed, I did the 20 minute trip back to TJ's to see if they had a light kit that actually had light products, and after establishing that the moisturizer and TimeBalm were both as they were supposed to be, exchanged it for another. Of course, upon getting home, I realized that the Liquid TimeBalm concealer was Nude, not Fair like the box had claimed, so it's a shade darker than I was promised (boo, hiss), but I'm going to continue playing around with the products to try and get them to work for me. The TimeBalm Tinted Moisturizer in Light (which is the lightest it comes in, though it's only a small 3-shade range) is still a bit dark for me, but I'm going to try cutting it with moisturizer to see if I can't sheer it out and make it wearable. Fingers crossed! I'll write full reviews of everything after I've gotten the chance to wear it all more, but if you're interested in any of these products/kits, get to a TJ Maxx soon, because I don't know how long they'll last! Just be sure to open the packages and check the contents to save yourself some misery.
Labels:
sales and deals,
theBalm,
TJ Maxx
Monday, November 21, 2011
Soap & Glory The Righteous Butter Body Butter Review and Pictures
Thanks to living in the Pacific Northwest, I don't have to worry about the flaky dryness that comes from snow and dry-as-bone air (oh, the Northeast, how I don't miss you). My hands, however, do still have a tendency to get dry and tight, as I tend to favor overwashing them in hot water (because who wants to wash their hands with cold water? No, seriously, why would you ever do that, especially in the winter?), so rather than change my habits (see previous parenthetical rambling), I choose to apply lotion. I do, however, like to make it as exciting as possible by trying to find yummy smelling lotions, and have found that mini containers of body butter make for an excellent indulgence. My Nivea Soft gets the job done, but sometimes I just want to be able to creepily sniff at my hands and smile to myself. One product I recently added to my collection helps me do just that, so thank you, Soap & Glory, for enabling my sniffoholicity (=sniff + [alc]oholic + ity, yay morphemes!).
Labels:
body butter,
Soap and Glory
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Revlon Carbonite LE Nail Polish Review and Swatches
Chanel came out with a trio of polishes this summer, including a sparkling gunmetal-gold called Graphite (and a truly lovely green duochrome, Peridot), that was very popular. Of course, at $25/bottle, it's way out of my price range. Revlon came out with a "dupe" a couple months later, Carbonite (clever, guys), which I happened to recently see on clearance at Rite Aid, so I picked it up so I could see what the hype was all about (you can see Cafe Makeup's comparison of the two here and here). For me: major letdown.
Revlon Carbonite
Labels:
grade: A-,
grey,
nail polish,
Revlon
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Skincare Saturday: Bare Escentuals bareMinerals Deep Cleansing Foam Review
I'd been wanting to try this cleanser since Christine reviewed it several months ago, but as my skin is only dry in the winter, I had no real reason to buy a new cleanser to try and treat that. The past month or so, though, my skin has been feeling tight and I've had some dry patches (in large part from the acne treatments I'm using), so I figured Sephora's F&F sale was the perfect time to pick it up. I've been using it for a month and a half now, on-and-off (more on that shortly), and feel equipped to review it now.
Bare Escentuals bareMinerals Deep Cleansing Foam
Labels:
Bare Escentuals,
cleanser
Friday, November 18, 2011
Fragrance Friday: BCBGMAXAZRIA and Taylor Swift Wonderstruck
I feel like Fragrance Friday often ends up just being me ranting about how much I disliked the scents, and I'm afraid this week will be no different. The saddest part? I actually like the celebrity perfume better, which pains me because I loathe Taylor Swift (so many of her songs perpetuate the view that women need to be "rescued" by men, ugh). Anyways. Here are my thoughts.
Image from Nordstrom
BCBGMAXAZRIA (why so much capitalization and no spaces, guys?) was a free sample I got with a Nordstrom order. It's described on Nordie's as follows: "An intriguing mix of kir royal, wild strawberry and black cherry introduces the scent before settling into a sensual and sophisticated note of jasmine, lily, rose and violet. The drydown entices with the luxurious and rare orris, one of the finest and most precious ingredients in nature, accented by musk and sandalwood."
Labels:
Fragrance Friday
Thursday, November 17, 2011
I Finally Caved...
...and joined Twitter. I thought it would be a good way to keep tabs on what's going on in the beauty world, and that it'll be much easier for me to share posts and links I find interesting there rather than waiting for Sunday Summary (which, you may have noticed, has been MIA lately, because I've lacked the motivation to go back through my feeds and find the posts I really liked). I promise to keep my posts to a relative minimum and only tweet (my inner linguist is so amused about that use of the word) things that are actually relevant and/or interesting. My name on Twitter is @BeyondNurBeauty (and you can follow me by clicking the handy "Follow" button on the left!); nur is German for "only" or "just", and since BeyondJustBeauty was one character too many, I decided to do that instead of BeyondJustBeaut, which would just annoy me with its incompleteness. If you're on Twitter, let me know so I can follow you!
You're welcome to just add me to your RSS feed if you don't have a Twitter account (which is how I read all my non-beauty-related tweeters), and equally welcome to ignore it entirely––though I should tell you, I will probably post pictures of baby marsupials and/or food there rather than straight on the blog.
I hope nobody is too angry about this development; I still rather hate Twitter, but I think it can be a very useful tool when not, well, misused. Here's hoping this doesn't end up being a complete disaster!
You're welcome to just add me to your RSS feed if you don't have a Twitter account (which is how I read all my non-beauty-related tweeters), and equally welcome to ignore it entirely––though I should tell you, I will probably post pictures of baby marsupials and/or food there rather than straight on the blog.
I hope nobody is too angry about this development; I still rather hate Twitter, but I think it can be a very useful tool when not, well, misused. Here's hoping this doesn't end up being a complete disaster!
Labels:
random
Philosophy 3-in-1 Shower Gel in Cinnamon Buns and Peace on Earth Review and Pictures
I used to be a one-shower-gel-at-a-time kind of girl...but then the Philosophy shower gel sale happened, and there that went! Before, the only decision I had to make in the shower was whether I wanted to shave or not (usually not). With the increase in the size of my shower gel collection, though, I've doubled the amount of thinking required. And yet my pre-breakfast cognitive daze is as strong as ever. You can imagine how this could be a problem. "So, self, which shower gel would we like to use today?" "Gee, self, we used up all our decision-making power when we decided not to shave..."
Of course, there are many worse things in the world than indecision regarding one's choice of body wash, especially when there's really no wrong answer.
Of course, there are many worse things in the world than indecision regarding one's choice of body wash, especially when there's really no wrong answer.
Labels:
Philosophy
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Tip Tuesday: Discount Beauty Sites
I'm changing it up with Tip Tuesday! Because who wants to pay more than necessary? Here are some great sites for budget-minded beauty folk. I haven't ordered from all of them, but they are all well-respected and -reviewed by other beauty bloggers. Some of them are dedicated discount beauty sites, whereas others are the sale section of beauty brands (always a great place to look).
All Cosmetics Wholesale (and its new sister site, Suite 7 Beauty)
ACW is the motherlode of discount beauty websites. Their selection is truly mind-boggling, and I have spent many hours perusing it and idly adding items to my shopping bag (though I've yet to actually purchase anything from them). They have some really great deals on stuff (their clearance section often has oodles of 50% off+ sales), though it varies by brand, and they also have a huge selection of discontinued MAC products (at a marked-up price due to their rarity, of course). I've got several lipsticks from Urban Decay, NARS, and Clinique in my shopping cart right now, and I'm just biding my time until I feel I can afford it to order them…Suite 7 Beauty carries Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics, NYX, Lime Crime, and Sugar Pill, among others, though the prices there are usually the same as retail.
Labels:
sales and deals
Monday, November 14, 2011
Best Affordable Makeup Brushes
See the updated version here!
Note: I considered breaking this down into a Tip Tuesday and Recommendation Thursday, but ultimately decided it would be more trouble than it was worth to try and separate them in a way that still made them make sense. As a result, this post is really long (and it took me so many hours to write, I don't even want to think about it), but I've tried to organize it in such a way that you can find specific parts easily and skip what doesn't interest you. I'll be including reviews for the brushes in my collection under their respective categories, so keep an eye out for those.
Note: I considered breaking this down into a Tip Tuesday and Recommendation Thursday, but ultimately decided it would be more trouble than it was worth to try and separate them in a way that still made them make sense. As a result, this post is really long (and it took me so many hours to write, I don't even want to think about it), but I've tried to organize it in such a way that you can find specific parts easily and skip what doesn't interest you. I'll be including reviews for the brushes in my collection under their respective categories, so keep an eye out for those.
Okay, crash course on why makeup brushes matter: Using quality tools to apply your makeup will ensure you get the most out of your products, or, put more accurately, using bad brushes will make even the nicest makeup look and behave like crap. Regardless of whether you use high- or low-end cosmetics, you want to get the most out of your collection, and good brushes are a vital part of that.
So, what makes a brush good?
Saturday, November 12, 2011
More Beauty Sales
Here's a run-down of a ton of F&F and beauty sales, courtesy of Nouveau Cheap. I'm looking forward to the Tarte 30% off!
Friday, November 11, 2011
Fragrance Friday: Bond No. 9 Andy Warhol Lexington Avenue Review
Fragrance Friday has made a triumphant return! Though I can't promise it won't slink back into obscurity. Today's fragrance for discussion: another Bond No. 9 scent, Andy Warhol Lexington Avenue (so named because the bottle features an Andy Warhol design of shoes).
Image from Bond No. 9
Labels:
Bond No. 9,
Fragrance Friday
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Recommendation Thursday: Winter Skincare, Facial Cleanser Edition
I realize I didn't do a Tip Tuesday on winter skincare, facial cleansing, but I hope you'll forgive my laziness (or, more accurately, busyness––I just didn't have the time!).
Recommendations all have ratings above 3.8, with buy agains of 65% or more on MUA. I've bolded the products that have 4.0+ and 75%+, since if I'd restricted the products to those only, this list would be uninformatively short! Cleansers are a very personal matter, and what works for some people may not work for you (this has been a problem of mine!), but I thought that the masses of MUAers would help make this recommendation list a good resource for you, regardless of personal skin type. Some cleansers are conspicuously absent, including Cetaphil, Cerave Hydrating, and Fresh Soy Face Cleanser, because they didn't receive enough lippies/buy-agains.
While bar soaps are usually to be avoided, particularly in the winter (due to their inherently drying binding ingredients), there are a few that have received such good reviews that I couldn't not include them. The Dove Beauty Bar is a staple that I've used in the past and liked a lot; it's gentle, moisturizing (25% lotion, in fact), and very no-fuss. You can also use it as a body wash, and it travels really well (no need to fit it into your quart-sized ziplock!). The Cetaphil Gentle Cleansing Bar has also received much praise, more so than the liquid cleanser version, as has the Aveeno Moisturizing Bar, which has colloidal oatmeal, known for its moisturizing properties. The Dove is the cheapest option, and you can sometimes find it for $1/bar, but even not on sale it's only a couple of bucks; the Aveeno runs about $3, and the Cetaphil is around $5.
Recommendations all have ratings above 3.8, with buy agains of 65% or more on MUA. I've bolded the products that have 4.0+ and 75%+, since if I'd restricted the products to those only, this list would be uninformatively short! Cleansers are a very personal matter, and what works for some people may not work for you (this has been a problem of mine!), but I thought that the masses of MUAers would help make this recommendation list a good resource for you, regardless of personal skin type. Some cleansers are conspicuously absent, including Cetaphil, Cerave Hydrating, and Fresh Soy Face Cleanser, because they didn't receive enough lippies/buy-agains.
While bar soaps are usually to be avoided, particularly in the winter (due to their inherently drying binding ingredients), there are a few that have received such good reviews that I couldn't not include them. The Dove Beauty Bar is a staple that I've used in the past and liked a lot; it's gentle, moisturizing (25% lotion, in fact), and very no-fuss. You can also use it as a body wash, and it travels really well (no need to fit it into your quart-sized ziplock!). The Cetaphil Gentle Cleansing Bar has also received much praise, more so than the liquid cleanser version, as has the Aveeno Moisturizing Bar, which has colloidal oatmeal, known for its moisturizing properties. The Dove is the cheapest option, and you can sometimes find it for $1/bar, but even not on sale it's only a couple of bucks; the Aveeno runs about $3, and the Cetaphil is around $5.
Beauty Sales, Part II
I posted the first batch of F&F sales I knew about yesterday, but there are a couple more that have started today!
The Body Shop is having their annual 30% off sale, no code needed, through Nov. 13, and Too Faced has 20% off with code FF2011F through Nov. 16. The Body Shop is well-loved for their body butters, and Too Faced has some great eyeshadow palettes (including my beloved Natural Eye!), so now's a good time to pick those up if you're interested!
The Body Shop is having their annual 30% off sale, no code needed, through Nov. 13, and Too Faced has 20% off with code FF2011F through Nov. 16. The Body Shop is well-loved for their body butters, and Too Faced has some great eyeshadow palettes (including my beloved Natural Eye!), so now's a good time to pick those up if you're interested!
Labels:
sales and deals
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Philosophy 3-in-1 Shower Gel in Holiday Lights Aglow Review and Pictures
When Nordstrom was having their 3-Philosophy-shower-gels-for-$15 sale last week, I picked up 3 shower gels for myself (and then 3 for Christmas presents!). I've not used them all yet, and since I don't want to review them without testing them, but I also don't want y'all to feel neglected, I've decided to review at least the one I have tried!
Labels:
Philosophy,
shower gel
Beauty Sales
There's a few F&F and beauty sales going on right now, so I thought I should share some of them with you!
NYX is 40% off on Cherry Culture through Nov. 13th with code NYX40––methinks I'll have to pick up some more nail polishes (even though I really should go on a nail polish no-buy, since my collection has expanded exponentially...) and maybe another eyeshadow or two!
Benefit is having their F&F sale through Nov. 14 with code LOVEYALL (holiday items are excluded, sadly!)
Beauty.com has 20% off your order through Nov. 11th; there are a few brands that are excluded (Fresh, Jane Iredale, and a couple others), but this is a great chance to pick up some discounted brands that aren't available from Sephora, like Cargo and Vincent Longo.
That's all I know of right now, but I will update if I come across any others, and feel free to share more in the comments!
NYX is 40% off on Cherry Culture through Nov. 13th with code NYX40––methinks I'll have to pick up some more nail polishes (even though I really should go on a nail polish no-buy, since my collection has expanded exponentially...) and maybe another eyeshadow or two!
Benefit is having their F&F sale through Nov. 14 with code LOVEYALL (holiday items are excluded, sadly!)
Beauty.com has 20% off your order through Nov. 11th; there are a few brands that are excluded (Fresh, Jane Iredale, and a couple others), but this is a great chance to pick up some discounted brands that aren't available from Sephora, like Cargo and Vincent Longo.
That's all I know of right now, but I will update if I come across any others, and feel free to share more in the comments!
Labels:
sales and deals
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Amazing Cosmetics Anti Aging Face Primer Review
I'm sorry I've been so lax about posting lately! I've been working on a truly epic brush post and on some winter skincare stuff, but you can't really derive any enjoyment from those until I've posted them, which will be a few days yet (did I mention we're past the halfway point in the term? Shit's starting to get real). So I decided to write this rather brief, picture-free review to tide you over. My apologies, and I promise, bigger and better things are on the horizon!
I love Sephora's free samples. They're great for entertainment value, if nothing else (such as when I get perverse pleasure from finding a truly revolting perfume), but sometimes, you even find a cool new product. Such is the case with the Amazing Cosmetics face primer.
I love Sephora's free samples. They're great for entertainment value, if nothing else (such as when I get perverse pleasure from finding a truly revolting perfume), but sometimes, you even find a cool new product. Such is the case with the Amazing Cosmetics face primer.
Amazing Cosmetics Anti Aging Face Primer, image from Sephora
Sunday, November 6, 2011
NARS Blush in Deep Throat Review and Swatches
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Thursday, November 3, 2011
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Urban Decay Rollergirl Palette Review and Swatches
I picked up several things during the Sephora F&F sale, including this palette from Urban Decay. Originally released this summer, I wanted it from the first time I saw it on Temptalia, but I knew it would eventually go on sale, so I bided my time. I've never tried any Urban Decay eyeshadows, but the Naked palette has gotten such rave reviews that I've been wanting to for a long time. Luckily for me, on sale did it go, and with my 20% off code, I picked it up for a mere $14.40. Happy days!
Closed Rollergirl palette (gloss not shown, obviously)
Labels:
eyeliner,
eyeshadow,
grade: A,
lip gloss,
neutral,
palette,
sales and deals,
Urban Decay
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