I can't stand being without lip balm. If my lips are even sort of dry, I start freaking out. One day while shopping at the mall, I was without my must-have item, so I wandered into Sephora looking for something to do the job. The cheapest lip balm product I could find was $7, and I was desperate, so I bought it. Little did I know that Carmex and all the other stuff I've ever used would be shunned in favor of Jack Black "Intense Therapy" Natural Mint Lip Balm.
I recently ordered a double-set of Jack Black's Lip Balm. (Because 2 for $10 is way better than 1 for $7!) One was the usual Natural Mint I always use, and the other was Vanilla Lavender. Now, I like lavender as long as it's in a pillow mist or hand lotion, but I found I really don't like the way it tastes. The vanilla was hardly noticeable over the strong floral scent/taste. (This probably explains why I haven't seen the vanilla/lavender variety sold in stores) The lip balm also comes in Lemon/Chamomille, but I'm not much a fan of chamomille, so I haven't tried it.
At any rate - despite sharing a name with an actor I find particularly annoying - this lip balm is fabulous. It moisturizes very well and lasts longer than most other products I've tried. Yeah, I wish it didn't cost $7, but at least it works.
Available at: Sephora, sephora.com, Ulta (in-store only)
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Monday, February 14, 2011
Beauty (Budget) Tip: Buy Online
I'm a HUGE fan of online shopping. It's the best way to get great deals on stuff you already know you want/need from the comfort of your own home. Shopping for beauty products online can save you time and money, and can get you free stuff.
How To Do It:
- Go to your favorite beauty/department store.
- Check out the products you're interested in.
- Find them online cheaper, or with better free gifts.
Better Deals:
Ulta, Sephora, Drugstore.com/Beauty.com (these sites share a shopping cart, but beauty.com carries the higher-end stuff) offer special online-only deals, free gifts, and clearance items that vary from what's offered in stores. Sign up for e-mails to get full access to ongoing deals. If you're making a large purchase, check sites like http://www.amazon.com/ and http://www.buy.com/. That way, you won't have to pay sales tax.
Ulta's "Special Offers" section: http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/specialOfferCenter.jsp
Sephora's "Beauty Deals" section: http://www.sephora.com/promo/beautybonuses/index.jhtml?om_mmc=ret-n1-20110212onlysephora---opi-h6pban2b-gwp--om-us-stdfooterfreestuff-fostdh-h-&emtc=20110212onlysephora---opi-h6pban2b-gwp--om-us&ematg=1458425081&dicid=448764:18777604368:32265374
Free Stuff:
Ulta, Sephora, and Beauty.com give you 3 free samples of your choice with online purchase. Some single-brand stores like philosophy.com give out samples too. If you're shopping at Ulta or Sephora, you're going to have to pay sales tax either way, so you'd might as well get some free stuff!
Save More:
Use http://www.retailmenot.com/ to find current coupon codes for discounts, free shipping, etc. Use a site like http://www.ebates.com/ to get cash back on all your purchases. Having/using an ebates account will get you 4% - 12% cash back. (or more: during holidays, some places give double cash back). It may not be a huge amount, but it can help offset sales tax.
Keep in Mind:
There's usually a minimum purchase required to get free shipping - generally, it's $25 or $50. If I've already got $40 worth of stuff in my shopping cart, I search the clearance section to get $10 worth of stuff, or I order Christmas gifts early. I'd rather spend $10 and get stuff I'm going to use than spend $6 on shipping.
How To Do It:
- Go to your favorite beauty/department store.
- Check out the products you're interested in.
- Find them online cheaper, or with better free gifts.
Better Deals:
Ulta, Sephora, Drugstore.com/Beauty.com (these sites share a shopping cart, but beauty.com carries the higher-end stuff) offer special online-only deals, free gifts, and clearance items that vary from what's offered in stores. Sign up for e-mails to get full access to ongoing deals. If you're making a large purchase, check sites like http://www.amazon.com/ and http://www.buy.com/. That way, you won't have to pay sales tax.
Ulta's "Special Offers" section: http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/specialOfferCenter.jsp
Sephora's "Beauty Deals" section: http://www.sephora.com/promo/beautybonuses/index.jhtml?om_mmc=ret-n1-20110212onlysephora---opi-h6pban2b-gwp--om-us-stdfooterfreestuff-fostdh-h-&emtc=20110212onlysephora---opi-h6pban2b-gwp--om-us&ematg=1458425081&dicid=448764:18777604368:32265374
Free Stuff:
Ulta, Sephora, and Beauty.com give you 3 free samples of your choice with online purchase. Some single-brand stores like philosophy.com give out samples too. If you're shopping at Ulta or Sephora, you're going to have to pay sales tax either way, so you'd might as well get some free stuff!
Save More:
Use http://www.retailmenot.com/ to find current coupon codes for discounts, free shipping, etc. Use a site like http://www.ebates.com/ to get cash back on all your purchases. Having/using an ebates account will get you 4% - 12% cash back. (or more: during holidays, some places give double cash back). It may not be a huge amount, but it can help offset sales tax.
Keep in Mind:
There's usually a minimum purchase required to get free shipping - generally, it's $25 or $50. If I've already got $40 worth of stuff in my shopping cart, I search the clearance section to get $10 worth of stuff, or I order Christmas gifts early. I'd rather spend $10 and get stuff I'm going to use than spend $6 on shipping.
Friday, February 11, 2011
Thumbs-Down: PurMinerals "Mineral Melt" Makeup Emulsifier Wipes
From the moment I removed the (free sample) wipe from its packet, I knew this product was not for me. As oil dripped down my hands, I found myself wondering "Who needs this much oil to "emulsify" their makeup?!?!" Seriously, most of the ingredients are oils - sunflower, safflower, sesame, macadamia, wheat germ, avacodo, lemon, jasmine, cedarwood. There are a couple other ingredients I can't pronounce, but it's mostly just oil. The instructions tell you to massge onto face, leave for 10-15 seconds and "pat dry" What they mean is "absorb the massive amount of oil off your face".
If you've ever used baby oil to remove stage makeup, you know how great it works. I guess if you're doing Sea World shows with beluga whales and you wear a collection of waterproof products, these wipes could be useful. (The package says they're safe for sensitive eyes and contact lenses) If not, stick with normal face wipes.
If you've ever used baby oil to remove stage makeup, you know how great it works. I guess if you're doing Sea World shows with beluga whales and you wear a collection of waterproof products, these wipes could be useful. (The package says they're safe for sensitive eyes and contact lenses) If not, stick with normal face wipes.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Product Spotlight: Gold Bond Ultimate Healing Lotion
This is one of the better lotions I've ever used. It moisturizes without irritating even just-roughly-shaved skin. Best of all - it smells great. It has a fresh, clean fragrance that isn't "perfume-y".
Cost: approx $5 for 5.5 oz size
Available at: Drugstores, mass merchandisers, Ulta, Costco
Cost: approx $5 for 5.5 oz size
Available at: Drugstores, mass merchandisers, Ulta, Costco
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Thumbs-Down: Maybelline "Lash Stiletto" Mascara
A good mascara is hard to find. When I saw ads for Maybelline's "Lash Stiletto" mascara that promised to "do for your lashes what stilettos do for your legs", I thought "Hey, that sounds cool". What I didn't know is that their advertising was semi-accurate. This mascara made my lashes look skinny and pointy. (I guess that's what stilettos do for my legs.) But I was really hoping for soft, long-looking lashes. So, if you like pointy, crunchy lashes, this would be a mascara for you. I'll stick with Bourjois and Sephora brand mascaras.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Product Spotlight: Visine Total Eye Soothing Wipes
I won a container of these in a drawing. To be honest, I probably never would have bought them on my own. However, they are super-convenient and they don't irritate the delicate eye area the way some makeup removers (even ones made for eyes) tend to do. They're pre-moistened and come in a plastic container with screw-off lid that's easy to store in a medicine cabinet. They do a good job of removing makeup, but if you wear waterproof mascara or eyeliner, it might take too much work to get them to remove all your makeup.
My suggestion: Keep some around for emergency eye makeup removal - like when your teenage daughter is trying to walk out the door looking like a raccoon. If she argues there's no time to remove the badly-done "smoky eye", you can hand her one of these wipes as you walk out the door. :-)
Cost: $5.99 for a container of 30
Available at: drugstores, mass merchandisers, http://www.drugstore.com/ ($1 coupon available now)
My suggestion: Keep some around for emergency eye makeup removal - like when your teenage daughter is trying to walk out the door looking like a raccoon. If she argues there's no time to remove the badly-done "smoky eye", you can hand her one of these wipes as you walk out the door. :-)
Cost: $5.99 for a container of 30
Available at: drugstores, mass merchandisers, http://www.drugstore.com/ ($1 coupon available now)
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