Beauty – Page 23 – Adventures in Polishland

Category: Beauty

Bimonthly Beauty Post: How to Get the Most for Your Money at Sephora!

Posted on March 25, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! Today’s post is one that my Facebook followers highly requested after I posed a photo of my recent Sephora haul. Because Sephora’s prices are a bit out of my price range, I make sure to get as much as possible for my money every time I shop there. This post will include my latest Sephora haul, and explain the six simple steps I use when shopping at Sephora. Let me show you how I shop at Sephora and get as many products as possible!

I got all of these products in the photo above for $50! Sound too good to be true? It’s easy!

Shop online at sephora.com! While there are definitely perks of shopping at Sephora in person, I find that I can only get the most for my money if I shop online. This will make more sense when I share the rest of the tips I have with you.
Become a Beauty Insider member! Sephora has a free rewards program called Beauty Insider that earns you points on all of your purchases. Each dollar spent is one point toward a free perk! While it does take some time to earn enough points for perks, there is no reason not to join this program. Even if you spend zero dollars at Sephora, you will get a free birthday gift each year! I’ve loved all of the little gifts I’ve received along the way. You can sign up for this program online or in store!
Spend $50 to get free shipping! I always wait until I have $50 worth of products to buy on Sephora’s website before ordering so I can get free shipping. My trick is to place exactly $50 in my cart and not spend a penny more! For this haul, I knew I wanted the Yu-Be Moisturizing Skin Cream, and that I needed a new base coat. I then added on the Instant Eye Makeup Remover, the Sephora Pro Lesson Palette, and a pencil sharpener. These are all items that I will use, and the grand total was exactly $50! Click on the name of each item to see it on Sephora’s website.
Enter a promo code at checkout from the Weekly Specials page! Sephora always has special promotional codes each week that get you free deluxe samples with any order over $25. Since you’ve already spent $50 to get free shipping, simply choose any code you like and enter it at checkout! To find the Weekly Specials page, click on “3 Free Samples” from Sephora’s homepage, and then on “Weekly Specials.” I got a deluxe sample of the Caudalíe Premier Cru Eye Cream with this order that retails for $24.50! I’ve been wanting to try an eye cream, and this was the perfect opportunity! You can only get these freebies online, and not when you shop in store.
Use your Beauty Insider points to get a free perk! For every 100 points earned, you can get a deluxe sample added to your order without having to use up your promo code. The perks offered change regularly, so keep an eye out for something that you really want. I snagged the Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask with my 100 points. My pores desperately need help, and I think this mask will be perfect. You can also save up your points for the 500 point perks as well, but I prefer the 100 point products so I get goodies more often!
Enjoy 3 free samples with every order! Last but not least, every online order gets three free samples. While you may get some samples when shopping in the store, you are only guaranteed three when you shop online. A few times per year, Sephora even offers five samples! I like to get perfume samples because they typically come in mini spray bottles that I can use at least 3-4 times. If there is another product I’m interested in, I’ll pick that up as well. This time I got Juicy Couture perfume in Couture La La, Clinique perfume in Happy, and Murad Hydrator lotion.

All in all, if you follow these six steps you will be sure to get the most for your money at Sephora! For this particular order, I only spent $50, but got $85.56 worth of products! That’s an extra $35.56! The best part is, I only got products that I know I will use and it only took a bit of strategizing!

I hope you find these tips helpful! Let me know how you score great deals at Sephora!

Bimonthly Beauty Post: Urban Decay Naked Skin Weightless Ultra Definition Liquid Makeup Review

Posted on March 4, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! Today I have a review of the new foundation I bought about a month ago. I posted about it during my beauty haul, and I had a request for a full review. Unlike many of the products I feature on Adventures in Polishland, this one is far from affordable! At $39, the Urban Decay Naked Skin Weightless Ultra Definition Liquid Makeup is definitely an investment product. With my experience so far, I am happy to say I feel like I am getting my money’s worth!

I have been using UD Naked Skin as my daily foundation. I love that it is very light and evens out my skin tone without being caked on my face. This product is also very customizable — I wear one layer for a natural look, but you could add another layer for more coverage. UD Naked Skin is also very blendable. A little bit of this product really does go a long way! It’s also very helpful that the bottle comes with a pump, since many drugstore foundations do not.

Above you can see what the foundation looks like on my hand before and after I blend it in. Because I walk outside in the sun a lot, my face is actually a bit darker than my hands, so that is why the foundation looks a bit dark for my skin in the photos. As you can see, just a dab of the foundation evens out to provide light coverage. You can still see any freckles or imperfections (here, my veins), but the overall coloring is evened and improved.

Overall, I am quite happy with my splurge purchase. The only thing I don’t like about UD Naked Skin is that I have to seal it with a powder to reduce shine. Other than that, I’m very impressed. I have also been using this foundation almost every day for a month and there is no visible fill line at all! This is going to last me a very long time!

You can buy UD Naked Skin at Sephora HERE for $39. There are lots of shades to choose from to find the perfect look for you!

Bimonthly Beauty Post: Baby Lips Review and a Giveaway!

Posted on February 18, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! Today I have a review of my latest beauty obsession — Maybelline Baby Lips! I am a sucker for a great lip balm, and after hearing a lot about Baby Lips, I just had to give them a try. I picked one up back in early January and soon found that I needed to have them all! Let me show you my Baby Lips collection, and tell you a little more about the product.

Above is my coveted Baby Lips collection! From left to right, the colors are Quenched, Cherry Me, Grape Vine, Pink Punch, Peach Kiss, and Yummy Plummy. All of them, with the exception of Quenched, are tinted lip balms that hydrate your lips while adding subtle color. Quenched is a just a clear balm, and was the first I tried. I was unsure about trying a tinted balm, but was absolutely blown away with the effect Quenched had on my lips! Baby Lips is advertised to protect and moisturize lips for up to eight hours, and I have found that claim to be true. Quenched is absolutely perfect for dry lips, as it includes SPF 20 to reduce extra drying from the sun. After trying it, I decided to go back to the drugstore and try the tinted shades.

But alas, I couldn’t find Baby Lips in any local drugstores! The displays were completely empty! Thankfully, my mom was able to find four of the shades for me and shipped them out as soon as she could. In the meantime, a friend from school found one for me as well! I also spotted another at the drugstore the other day and grabbed that off the display as soon as possible!

Above you can see all of the shades the Baby Lips come in. They are in the same order in all photos. I am very natural with my makeup, and stay away from lipsticks, so I love that the tinted Baby Lips are so wearable! They provide subtle coloring that looks perfect on any skin tone due to its sheer nature. I also find that the coloring of Baby Lips works like a lip stain. In other words, I can apply Baby Lips in the morning and the color is still visible on my lips when I get home from school. I can even add my regular lip balm on top to keep my lips hydrated during the day without losing the color from the Baby Lips. All in all, my lips feel healthier and more moisturized since using Baby Lips, and I love that the tinted shades look great and natural on my lips! Baby Lips sell for around $3-4 in drugstores. Check for coupons and sales before shopping!

Giveaway!

In order to share the Baby Lips love with all of you, I am having a small giveaway! I have an extra Pink Punch that will soon belong to one of my followers. Since these are so hard to find now due to the increased demand, I figured someone would love to win it! Pink Punch is my favorite color as well. Four people complimented me the first day I work it! Thanks for entering, and good luck!

Rules:

Giveaway is only open to participants with a USA shipping address.
You must be 18 or older to win, or have parental permission.
The giveaway will close at midnight EST on March 18, 2013.
All entries will be verified. False or repeat entries will result in all of that participant’s entries being deleted, and that participant disqualified.
The winner will be notified via email and will have 48 hours to respond. If she fails to respond, she forfeits the prize and a new winner will be chosen.
I have the right to add or change the rules at any time during the giveaway.

PLEASE CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO ENTER!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Bimonthly Beauty Post: Welcome & Haul!

Posted on February 4, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

I am excited to announce a new feature here at Adventures in Polishland. Twice each month you will now be getting a post dedicated to beauty and skincare products. Called the Bimonthly Beauty Post (BBP), this series will showcase hauls, reviews, and more! I have recently taken strides in my life to take better care of myself and my skin. Join me on my journey to looking and feeling beautiful!

Today I have a beauty haul to share! It seems as if all my products are running out at the same time, and there are a few new items I’ve been wanting to try as well. I headed to the Union Square area of New York City to stop by Nordstrom Rack and Sephora. Let me show you all the goodies I got!

Top row: Neutrogena Naturals Purifying Pore Scrub, Burts Bees Facial Cleansing Towlettes, Soap & Glory Heel Genius.
Bottom row: Urban Decay Naked Skin Foundation, Fresh Sugar Lip Polish, Not Your Mother’s Beat the Heat

The first stop on my journey was Nordstrom Rack. Like Marshalls and TJMaxx, you never know what you are going to find there. I was hoping to get as many items as possible at a discounted price. Not only was the store extremely busy, but the beauty section seemed to be a bit picked over. I have to remember to go during the week from now on! Nonetheless I picked up two items. I’ve been needing a face exfoliant to help remove the dry skin I get, and I decided to go with the new Neutrogena Naturals Purifying Pore Scrub. Originally I had been contemplating the Clinique Exfoliator that retails for around $19, but I am happy I settled with this one for just $6.97! I try to use natural products whenever I can, and I think this one will be gentle. I can’t wait to try it out! I also got Burt’s Bees Facial Cleansing Towelettes with White Tea Extract. I love cleansing wipes like these because they take off makeup in a breeze and leave your skin feeling instantly clean. I often use them before bed, or when I get home from school. I’ve never tried any from Burt’s Bees before, but a 30-pack was only $5.97 so I couldn’t pass them up! That price and quantity is better than what I get from the drugstore.

Sephora was the next stop on my beauty haul journey! I rarely shop at Sephora because of the high prices, but I was in the mood to splurge on some great quality products. First up I grabbed Soap & Glory Heel Genius Amazing Foot Cream. I have been using Julep’s Best Pedi Creme Ever each night before bed, and I love it. The only problem is I go through it quickly and it’s sold out online! I grabbed this substantially larger bottle for $16. I’m hoping it lives up to its name!

The next item I splurged on is the Urban Decay Naked Skin Weightless Ultra Definition Liquid Makeup in the color 3. I’m still a bit shocked at myself that I bought foundation for $38, but this bottle is going to last me a very long time, and is of the best quality. I tried a sample of this stuff and fell in love. I don’t wear a lot of makeup, but I do like to put my best face forward. This will keep my skin looking natural and non-oily all day! Finally, my last Sephora splurge was the Fresh Sugar Lip Polish. I have been desperately needing a lip exfoliant, and because I know that Fresh Sugar makes amazing products I went for it and paid $22.50 for this little tub. I tried this out as soon as I got home, and I am loving it already! My lips are completely smooth and free of dry skin. Plus, you only need the tiniest amount. This thing is going to last me a long time!

Last but not least, I stopped by Ricky’s NYC on the way back to my apartment. I am an avid flat iron user, so I make sure to use heat protectant to at least prevent some damage. I’ve been using a bottle of Frizz-Ease Heat Defeat for over a year now, and was about to buy a replacement bottle when I spotted a similar product called Not Your Mother’s Beat the Heat for an entire $6 cheaper. I decided to switch it up and try out this protectant instead. I hope it lasts me as long as the Frizz-Ease!

My grand total for this beauty haul was a whopping $103.90 with tax. Although this is way more than I usually spend, I’m glad I got some great products that will last me a very long time. If you would like to see a detailed review of any of these items, please let me know in the comments! Stay tuned to Adventures in Polishland for more Bimonthly Beauty Posts, and for your regularly scheduled nail polish!

Cuticle Care: Sunny’s Miracle Balm from 365 Days of Color

Posted on January 27, 2013August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Sunday! Today I have something a bit different for you. I don’t have any nail polish, but I do have a fabulous and affordable nail care product! Last month, I won a giveaway from the blog Glittery and Polished. One of my prizes was a tub of Sunny’s Miracle Balm from the indie brand 365 Days of Color. I couldn’t wait to give it a try!

Sunny’s Miracle Balm is a cuticle balm that keeps your cuticles moisturized. I was thrilled to win this during the cold, winter months! Plus, if you change your nail polish a lot like I do, your cuticles have seen better days! Remover is extremely drying, so it’s important to keep your hands looking and feeling good. I love this balm in particular because it is 100% organic, and includes vitamin E, biotin, and odorless garlic oil to help strengthen the nails as well as moisturize. It’s an all-around great nail care product!

I have been applying Sunny’s Miracle Balm every night when I go to bed. I take a small amount and rub it all around the cuticle and the nail. The balm is a bit greasy, but that’s why I apply it at nighttime when I won’t need my hands. The scent I have is Pink Sugar, and it smells amazing! I can’t quite explain it, but it’s very sweet and when I wake up in the morning my hands smell great! I also noticed improvement in my cuticles after just a few uses of Sunny’s Miracle Balm. They’re not as dry, and thus not as noticeable! I usually get hangnails in the winter because my hands are so dry, but I haven’t gotten any so far this season! I’m betting that this balm has something to do with it!

All in all, I highly recommend that you get yourself a tub of Sunny’s Miracle Balm. They come in dozens of scents, so I’m sure there is one for you! Plus, they are only $3 for a 0.5oz tub (like the one pictured above). If you aren’t sure which scent you would like, Sunny also offers a sampler of three tubs for $5. You really can’t beat this deal! Shop online HERE and follow 365 Days of Color on Facebook HERE.

Influenster Beauty Blogger VoxBox!

Posted on December 3, 2012August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Today I have a different kind of post for all of you! There’s a cool website called Influenster that lets people who are active in social media get rewarded. The really fun part is when they send out VoxBoxes! A VoxBox is a box filled with products that are to be tested and reviewed. I was lucky to receive the Beauty Blogger VoxBox back in October! I loved the products and can’t wait to share them with you, even if I am a bit late with this post (whoops!). Let me show you everything I got, and tell you about the items.

So many goodies in one box! I’ll speak about each one now, from left-right.

Not Your Mother’s Kinky Moves Curl Defining Hair Cream: This cream is supposed to encourage natural curls and eliminate frizz and fly-aways. Basically, when your hair is till wet from the shower, you scrunch this product through your hair. I have naturally wavy hair, and the cream did work a bit, but only for a short time. I hoped it would help encourage my hair to stay curly for the entire day, but after a half an hour or so my hair was already falling straight again. I tweeted this to the company, and they tweeted me back saying it is only for naturally wavy hair. They failed to respond to my next tweet that informed them I do have naturally wavy hair…. I’m not too pleased with this! Because the product didn’t work for me, and the company was rude, I would not recommend Kinky Moves!
Vitabath Fragrance Mist in Pomegranate & Blood Orange: This is by far my favorite product in the entire VoxBox! This body spray smells just amazing, and I don’t even like the scent of oranges! The mist is light and refreshing, and does not overpower. I love Vitabath and would highly recommend it!
Bath & Body Works Mini Candle in Black Pepper: I will admit that I did not light this candle (just not my thing), but it does smell amazing!
Kiss Ever Pro Lashes Starter Kit: I have bad memories from wearing false eyelashes as a competitive dancer growing up, so I was afraid to have a go at these, too! I do plan on trying them out for a special occasion. I do like that this is an all-in-one kit, and that the box has careful instructions. If you do wear false eyelashes, this is the way to go!
EBOOST: I also did not sample this product, as I can’t stand orange flavorings! EBOOST is basically a powder that you mix into your water for flavor and added benefits such as vitamins and immunity. If you are someone on the go, this is for you!
Goody Simple Styles Spin Pin: I was so excited to receive these spin pins, because I’ve wanted to try them out for a long time. Instead of sticking a bunch of bobby pins into your bun, these pins are supposed to easily twist into your hair and hold a bun in place. While the pins do work, they are just too big for my hair. I have very thin hair which amounts to a small bun. The pins were longer than my bun! If you have thick hair, these will work out much better for you.
NYC New York Color IndividualEyes Custom Compact: The final product in my box is this great compact! It came a bit banged up due to shipping, but with some q-tips I was able to clean it up just fine. I don’t wear a lot of make-up, so this compact is perfect for me. Not only does it give me directions on how to apply each shadow, but it is an all-in-one look! I also didn’t feel overdone when I was finished. I definitely recommend this product!

I hope you enjoyed today’s post! If you would like to receive an invite to Influenster so you can receive VoxBoxes, too, let me know! I can invite you! If you would like to know more information about a certain item, let me know that as well. I will be back to blogging about nail polish soon!

The products in this post were provided for my unbiased review. All opinions are my own.

Shop Cyber Monday Deals on Coterie!

Posted on November 25, 2012August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Remember when I wrote THIS blog post about the new website Coterie? I scored an amazing deal on Butter London nail polish that I could never have afforded otherwise. Well, Coterie let me know about the huge Cyber Monday sale they are having tomorrow, and I wanted to share the details with all of you. Not only will there be nail polish on sale, but Coterie has other special treats as well.

In addition to the sales already going on at Coterie, on Cyber Monday (tomorrow, November 25th), there will be three main events.

Get 3 Julep Nail Colors for $23 and with your Julep purchase choose between the Glow on Age Defying Hand Brightener or Facial for Hands Glycolic Hand Scrub for free
Back by popular demand with the best offer yet — 50% off MOR Salt & Sugar Scrubs
More than 40% off on Oscar Blandi Texture and Volume styling products

Plus, Coterie will be choosing 20 random shoppers to receive their entire Cyber Monday purchases for FREE! I definitely plan on purchasing the Julep deal!

Remember, you can join Coterie HERE. It is free to join so there really is no catch. You can also follow Coterie on Twitter. Search for @Coterieinc.

Happy Shopping!

Street Fair Cosmetics: A Polish Lover’s Dream in NYC!

Posted on September 28, 2012August 12, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Being new to NYC, I did some investigating online to see if I could discover some great places for affordable nail polish in the city. I came across THIS YouTube video that spoke about Street Fair Cosmetics, a family-run business that sells nail polish at street fairs throughout New York City. I knew I had to find this vendor, so I looked up their Facebook page and discovered they would be within walking distance from my apartment at a feast in Little Italy. I headed over a couple weeks ago and got some amazing polishes at extremely discounted prices. Here are some photos of the booth:

Look at all of the polishes! There are so many to choose from! Milani & Maybelline polishes are just $1 each, and Essie & Color Clubs are 3 for $10. There are lots of other brands and other cosmetics, too. I ended up spending $20 and got 11 polishes! I definitely find it helpful to set a budget before you go, because even though the prices are so low you can end up spending a lot. Also, this is a really popular booth, so be prepared to sift through lots of bins while other ladies are doing the same. It’s a bit like Black Friday on a smaller scale! I definitely plan on stopping by this booth again in the future.

Follow Street Fair Cosmetics on their Facebook page HERE to find out where they will be located! They currently have a schedule showing their locations through November. Happy Shopping!