Sunday, February 27, 2011

SNOTD

Since I really liked Milani Disco Lights so this week I wanted to pair if with Revlon Iced Mauve.  I really like this combo.  Way less coats of nail polish too.


Saturday, February 26, 2011

Recent shopping

I pulled into CVS and Rite Aid late in this week's sales cycle.  I'm lucky they had the items I was looking for!



The above items were from Rite Aid.  I grabbed the last Youth Code Starter Kit!  Yay!  It was $29.99.  I had a $10 Rite Aid Video Value coupon that I have been holding on to since January.  I also had a $3 MC that my sister mailed to me.  From this purchase I received $10 in +up rewards and I will be submitted my receipt for the $10 Rebate very shortly.  So basically with coupons and rebates, the Youth Code Starter Kit was a $3 money maker.  I used the $10 +up rewards towards my next purchase of Huggies Diapers and Kotex pantyliners.  I had a $2 coupon for the Huggies which qualified for $2 +up reward and I had a $1.50 coupon off 2 Kotex and received $1 +up reward.  So for the second transaction I paid $2 OOP and I got back $3 in +up rewards.  Not bad.

 I wanted way more toothpaste but the coupons I had were for the wrong size.  Oh well.  I have plenty in my stash.  So for this transaction at CVS I grabbed the Garnier Skin Renew Anti-Dark Circle Corrector for $9.99 and I had a $2/1 MC.  The Purex Complete was on sale for $3.99 and I had a $3/1 MC that my sister mailed to me.  The Pro Clinical was on clearance for $1.24 and I had a $1/1 MC.  Going into the deal I also had $7 in ECB from a previous trip.  So OOP was $2.40.  Love shopping on the cheap/

Monday, February 21, 2011

Frequented Blogs

So today I wanted to give a shout out to all my go to beauty and coupon bloggers out there.

When I get a minute, usually towards the end of the evening before drifting off to much needed sleep, I make the "rounds" and check out my favorite blogs.   I have a ton of blogs on my favorites list that I enjoy catching up on reading on extended breaks but the ones listed below are the blogs that I check out at least once a week.

I usually stop by Hip2Save for the latest sales, coupons, and deal scenerios for beauty items.  So this week for instance, I will be shopping at Rite Aid to purchase a L'OREAL Youth Code kit.  Rite Aid has video values which I have mentioned previously.  I have a $10 off L'OREAL Youth Code kit from watching one of the video values and a $1/1 L'OREAL face product.  Not sure from which insert.  I can't find the $2/1 coupon mentioned.  So after coupons, OOP should be $23.99.  I will then need to submit for a $5 rebate check and I will receive $10 in +up.  Then I will be submitting for the $10 rebate.  So this will end up being a money maker of $1.  $1 is better than free!  lol

After Hip2Save, I quickly drop in on Nouveau Cheap and see what Gina has to say.  We shop at the same stores, namely drugstores, Sally Beauty, etc.  She will have a Weekly Drugstore Sales lineup so I make sure my list is complete for the week.  Believe it or not, the past few weeks (well it feels like weeks anyway) I haven't been out there shopping.  Gasp!  Shocking I know.  I'm well stocked and realized that since we are moving soon, by July 1st, the military will be packing us up and moving us.  I remember from the last PCS move, they wouldn't pack up liquids namely all my cleaners.  We didn't have room in the car to take them with us, so they were left in a box outside of our apartment door.  I hope our neighbors were able to use them up!  So I'm sure that rule will also include my stockpile of shampoos, mouthwash and bodywash.  3 years ago I was not stockpiling.   So I will need to use up what I have so that our cars are not packed full of those items.

Then I might head over to Chloe's Nails for inspiration.  She is genious at designing nail art, different color patterns, and konad.  I love her color combinations.  I'm going to try this look soon.  I have OPI Lincoln Park After Dark in Matte which I will use as the base and I have Funky Fingers Sand and Stilettos.  Funky Finger nailpolish are at Five Below priced at 3 for $10.  Sand and Stilettos is super glitter packed.  It feels like sand too so you need a top coat to smooth it out.  So pretty with the holo!

I will also stop by TiffanyD and see what looks she has cooked up.  Her eyes and her eyelashes are especially amazing.  She has the perfect shaped eyes for eyeshadow.   By watching some of her tutorials I learned quickly that a brush will actually make or break the look.  They are essential to shaping and defining the eye.  I haven't splurged on MAC or Sigma brushes yet, maybe someday.  But recently she showed a video on her nail polish storage.  I actually have accumulated a ton of polish in the last few months and they were spilling out of a small square cosmetic bag I had them in and were accumumating in odd places like my bedside table, the car, my purse, various other drawers in the bathroom vanity etc.  So after viewing her video, I bought the Snapware container she had in the video and my collection fits in one of the containers.  I will use the other container (the Snapware set come with 2 containers, one handle) for cotton balls, remover, nail files, cuticle cutter, buffers, Solar Oil etc...  Target also has a smaller set, I believe it come in a Snapware set of 3.  I think TiffanyD also has it in her video.  But I was thinking I would grab two of those sets.  One for mineral shadows and one for lipsticks and gloss.  I'm always looking for better storage solutions.

When I am planning out my shopping trips in advance I go to iheartcvs, iheartwags, iheartriteaid for the latest and future weekly circulars.  And the Drugstore Divas usually have some good tips and sales to look out for.

Before I shop at Target I read up on the latest sales on TotallyTarget.  I find out the match ups and which Target coupons to print so I can double up on certain items.  The prices listed on the site are not necessarily the same prices as what can be found in my local store but I'm always ready just in case!

I also frequent Sirvinya's blog.  She really got me interested in other mineral makeup companies besides the one I had been using for years previously, Bare Minerals.  She was actually the first tutorials I came across then I found TiffanyD.  I so wish I could fly over to the UK with an empty suitcase and bring home a ton of UK products like Lily Lolo, Sleek, Eyeko, Max Factor and maybe drop by the local TK Maxx and Superdrug...

So there you have it.  These blogs are the ones that I read up on this weekend at least so check them out!

Sunday, February 20, 2011

SNOTD

I have had this polish forever!  Milani Disco Lights.

I have a ton of nail polish on my nails.  I first did a coat of the Milani and it was just too sheer.  I then grabbed my Sally Hansen Sheer Vanilla that I bought at CVS for 75% off.  3 coat later to get the opaqueness I wanted, I then start with the Milani and I end up with 3 coats of that!  So 8 coats of polish which includes a base and top coat.  Can't wait to try and get this glitter off. 

My nails are really fun to look at though!

Sunday, February 13, 2011

SNOTD

Iced Mauve by Revlon.  I need two Revlon items to get $7 in ECBs back.  So I picked up this up for 75% off.  Very pretty color.

Sunday, February 6, 2011

SNOTD

This color just does not look right.  Beach by Revlon.  It's one of the scented ones.  Smelled like regular nail polish to me!  I bought it with Perplex at CVS for $2.99 with $2 ECB back.  So really no loss.  Maybe it will look better in the summer with a tan?


Maybe a black base and Konad polka dots?  I'll try it!

Thursday, February 3, 2011

The latest installment

of shopping for free...  CVS last night.  $3.54, $1.54 of which was tax.

Horrible blackberry pic.  Sorry!  Bur was the breakdown...  $3 Almay coupon print out of the magic coupon machine.  Just couldn't resist.  The foundation was free.  The 2 Physcian's Formula items, one was 75% off of retail of $15 and the bamboo case is for some powder I bought from my last 75% off CVS haul.  Both items were just a little over $10 but remember I told you all to save your $10 off CVS coupon for Physician's Formula?  Well I got $7 back in ECBs for that purchase.  The Dove Visicare for the 10.1 oz was $1.99 and I had a $1/1 coupon.  So $3.54 OOP, $7 back in ECBs.  $3.46 profit.  Not bad for a 5 min. trip.

I'm off tonight to Rite Aid for a $5 Olay Pro-X Cleansing system. 

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Philosophy Microdelivery Exfoliating Wash

I love a good exfoliator.  For years my favorite was of course, St. Ives Apricot Scrub.  Not sure why I stopped buying it.  Hmm...  I do remember buying it after a year or two hiatus and it had changed slightly. I might have to get some next trip to the drugstore just to have on hand. 

But back to Philosophy.  Sulfate-free is of course to be expected with this brand.  Only the best ingredients.  When they describe the products as "microdelivery," they mean it. The scrubbing entities are so fine, they effectively slough off the top layer of skin extremely gently.  My skin turns into this maniac irritable redness state but at the same time, I need to exfoliate that top layer of dullness.  St. Ives is perfect for me in the summer when my skin is less sensitive.  I can scrub the dickens out of it with the mega grit.  In the winter, I need something more soothing. 


Think of Philosophy Microdelivery Exfoliating Wash like the final polish of that Rock Tumbler kit you used to have as a kid.  Well I never had one, I always wished I had.  I'm sure I will be getting one soon for one of the kids.  lol  But it's that final step when you need that extra shine and glow.  That's what this exfoliator will do for your skin.  In theory of course, but when I looked at the results from using it for a week now, I see a difference.  It says that the exfoliating wash is gentle enough to use daily.  I agree maybe for some, but for me, every other day or every 2 days is perfect.  It has a nice lather as well.

It's choose your own adventure with this product.  You can buy it in 4oz, 8 oz, 16 oz, or a whopping 32 oz bottle.  And a little goes a long way with this product.  You don't need a handful, maybe a nickel size amount might be just about right.