haul – Adventures in Polishland

Tag: haul

The Body Shop Haul | Trying New-to-Me Skincare Products

Posted on July 17, 2017July 15, 2017 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Monday! Today I’m excited to share with you my most recent haul from The Body Shop. I keep a running list of all the beauty products I want to buy so that when I see a sale going on, I can grab everything at a discount. There is always some sort of promotion happening at The Body Shop, but I recently saw a 40% off flash sale on the website, so I picked up everything on my shopping list! Everything I purchased this time around is new-to-me and vegan. As I show you what I got, please let me know in the comments if you would like a full review once I’ve tested the product.

Tea Tree Flawless BB Cream [BUY]

I recently used up the only CC cream in my beauty stash, so I really wanted to get a replacement for it. I love wearing a light base in the summer months, and the Tea Tree Flawless BB Cream sounds perfect for my skin type. This BB Cream is designed to provide lightweight and non-sticky coverage, all while drying to a matte finish. My skin gets very oily throughout the day, so I’m really glad this product is designed to stay matte. I got the shade Light, and I think it will be a great match for me.

Camomile Waterproof Eye & Lip Makeup Remover [BUY]

I also really needed a makeup remover, as I’ve had a difficult time removing my mascara lately. The Camomile Waterproof Eye & Lip Makeup Remover should do the trick! I love that it is unscented and suitable for sensitive skin. Plus, it was carefully packaged in a plastic bag during shipping so it wouldn’t spill. I hope this makeup remover will get that mascara off with ease!

Tea Tree Skin Clearing Clay Mask [BUY]

The next product is one I also really wanted to buy, and that is the Tea Tree Skin Clearing Clay Mask. With the summer heat and humidity, my pores definitely get clogged more easily than in the winter. I wanted a skin treatment that would help to clean out my skin without drying it, and this product seems like it will do just that. The mask itself is bright green, so this will be a lot of fun to use!

Seaweed Deep Cleansing Gel Wash [BUY]

Since the sale promotion was so good, I decided to pick up a face cleanser as well. The cleanser I keep in the shower is almost empty, so I’ll be glad to have this on hand. I like using gel cleanser with my FOREO, so that’s the first reason I went with the Seaweed Deep Cleansing Gel Wash. I also like that this product is soap free and oil free, simply providing a gentle cleanse.

Nutriganics Smoothing Eye Cream [BUY]

Last but not least, I decided to purchase an eye cream. While I’ve tried a handful of eye creams in the past, I’ve never found one that actually works for me. The Nutriganics Smoothing Eye Cream seemed like a good fit for me, since it helps fight the first signs of aging. I’m in my late twenties, so I think this will be a nice addition to my skincare routine. In addition, I love that this does not contain harsh chemicals, so I can use this eye cream both in the morning and evening.

That wraps up this haul from The Body Shop! With the 40% off coupon code, I spent $56.10 total, making each item just over $11.00. I think that is a great price point for vegan skincare products that will last me a long time. I’ve had really great luck with products from The Body Shop in the past, and that is why I continue to shop from this store. Plus, I love shopping online so I can earn cash back with Ebates! You can sign up for Ebates for free with my referral link HERE.

What are your favorite products from The Body Shop? Let me know in the comments!

Marshalls Haul | Vegan Food & Beauty

Posted on June 2, 2017May 31, 2017 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Food Friday! Today I have a haul to share with you. I recently went to Marshalls for the first time in quite a while, and I couldn’t believe my luck. I discovered a plethora of vegan food products, and some vegan beauty products, too! While I knew Marshalls sold some food, I had no idea my local store had expanded to include a few isles of goodies, many of which are vegan. There were so many tasty treats available that I had to limit myself to a few things. I’m so excited to share with you my vegan haul from Marshalls!

FOOD

Cybele’s Free To Eat Chocolate Chunk Brownie Cookies – $3.99

This box of cookies started the haul for me. When I saw vegan Chocolate Chunk Brownie Cookies on the shelf I just knew I had to try them. These cookies are from the brand Cybele’s, which specializes in products that are free of the top eight allergens. I’ve already tried all of the food products in this blog post, and I’m happy to report I really enjoyed these cookies. They were such a nice treat, and I think the price was good for a box of 12 cookies considering this is a boutique brand. I stopped by the brand’s website and there are coupons available HERE if you would like to try them for a discounted price!

The GFB Gluten Free Bites in Dark Chocolate Coconut – $3.99

Next I grabbed this bag of Gluten Free Bites in the flavor Dark Chocolate Coconut. I’m sure you will notice that many of the vegan products I feature on the blog also happen to be gluten free, but I do not eat a gluten free diet. It just so happens these two dietary restrictions overlap in many specialized foods! I thought these bites sounded delicious, and I was right. It felt like eating cookie dough, and I loved the coconut outside with a gooey inside. Plus, two bites have 4 grams of protein, which is pretty good in a mini snack. I also saved a dollar buying this product at Marshalls, as a bag retails for $5.00 on the brand’s website HERE.

Pereg Quinoa with Spinach – $2.99

The last food item I purchased was a Quinoa with Spinach packet from Pereg Natural Foods. I needed to get at least one meal option instead of snack food, right?! This quinoa was really tasty, and very easy to make as it comes with all the spices pre-mixed into the packet. I am surprised to learn that this product sells for $4.80 on the brand’s website HERE, meaning I saved nearly $2.00 by shopping at Marshalls! I also got two meals out of this, stretching my dollar even further. First, I made the quinoa for dinner and sautéed some broccoli and garlic to make complete the meal. I then finished the leftovers for lunch the next day by adding the quinoa to a salad for added protein! I would definitely buy this product again, perhaps try the other flavors as well.

BEAUTY

Eco Tools Makeup Brush Cleansing Cloths – $2.99

Last but not least, I stopped by the beauty section to see if there were any products I needed to try. I found a lot of great vegan options, but limited myself to one new-to-me product. I purchased a pack of the Eco Tools Makeup Brush Cleansing Cloths because I thought they were an amazing price at $2.99. As it turns out, I got a great steal! These clothes retail for $6.99 on the brand’s website HERE. I saved $4.00 by shopping at Marshalls. I think this is because Eco Tools has new packaging for this product, so the products with the old packaging are now discounted. I’m so excited to use these cleansing cloths whenever I travel, or perhaps on days where I really need a clean brush but don’t have the time for a complete cleansing session. I’ll be sure to report back once I’ve tested these!

That wraps up my latest Marshalls Haul! I still cannot believe I found all of these vegan products for such great prices. I know some people are wary about buying food at stores like Marshalls, but so long as you check the expiration dates and ensure the packaging is in good shape you shouldn’t have any problems. All of the food I purchased was well within the expiration dates, and they tasted fresh! If you are struggling to find some treats that meet your dietary restrictions, I highly recommend seeing what your local Marshalls has to offer. I know I will be going back whenever I’m in the mood to try a new product, especially a yummy treat like cookies!

What unexpected finds have you discovered at Marshalls? Let me know in the comments!

My First Vitacost Haul!

Posted on November 15, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Tuesday! Today I’m excited to share a haul with all of you from the online store Vitacost. I first heard about this website a while back through other bloggers and YouTubers, but I finally made my first purchase earlier this month. Vitacost is essentially an online health store that sells vitamins, beauty products, health products, food, and more. I’ve had a little bit of trouble finding some vegan products at my local drugstores and department stores, so I finally decided to sign up for a free Vitacost account and make a purchase. I really love that Vitacost offers specialty products at a discounted price!

HEALTH & BEAUTY

The main reason I placed a Vitacost order is to pick up some dental floss and lip balm. I do feel a bit silly buying these essentials online, but I just couldn’t find them in any of my local stores! I stocked up on the Eco-Dent GentleFloss in Mint, which is a 100% Vegan Waxed dental floss. This floss is normally pretty expensive at $5.49 each, but Vitacost sells it for $3.49! I’m so glad it was discounted!

I also needed a new lip balm, as the colder and dryer weather has taken a toll on my lips. I was excited to try out the brand Hurraw!, which is made from organic, vegan, and raw ingredients. There are a ton of flavors to choose from, but I grabbed the Coffee flavor and I think that was a great decision. Not only does this lip balm smell divine, but it feels so nice on my lips. Let me know if you’d like a full review on this product.

FOOD

I also picked up a couple food items to make the $4.99 shipping worth it. First, I got the famous Nutritional Yeast that every vegan seems to love. I don’t know much about it, except that it’s supposed to add a cheesy taste to your food and is also full of vitamins. I put it on my pasta a few nights ago, and didn’t notice much of a difference, so I will need to do a bit more experimenting with it.

Finally, I picked up a huge pack of Pür Wintergreen Gum. I have seen this brand at Walgreens, but this huge 57-piece pack is $4.09 on Vitacost, so I figured it was worth the price. I rarely chew gum, so this will last me a long time.

JOIN VITACOST & SAVE $10!

That wraps up everything I purchased from Vitacost! I’m really happy with the website and know I will be back for more. If you are new to Vitacost, you can sign up using my referral link HERE and get a $10 coupon for your first purchase! Vitacost sells more than just vegan products, so be sure to check it out if you’re looking for tasty treats or other specialty brands you can’t find in-store. You can also earn cash back on your Vitacost purchase by shopping through Ebates! I’m always up for saving more money, and I’m excited to continue using these products.

Do you use Vitacost? Share what you buy in the comments!

Huge ELF Cosmetics Haul! | Makeup + Brushes

Posted on August 5, 2016August 3, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Friday! Today I am excited to share with you all of the goodies I recently purchased from ELF Cosmetics. I am currently in the process of transitioning my beauty collection to include all vegan products, and ELF has a ton of options that are extremely affordable, but still great quality. I made a purchase during a sale event, and I scored big time. Let me show you all of the makeup and brushes I got at an affordable price!

As always, I shopped using Ebates to earn cash back on my order. ELF is usually 3.5% cash back, but I shopped during a double cash back event and earned 8% cash back on my order. If you are not an Ebates member yet, make sure to join HERE using my referral link. It is a free service and a legitimate way to earn cash back on many of your online purchases. I spent exactly $30 on ELF’s website, so I got $2.40 cash back for this purchase.

WHAT I PURCHASED

Let’s start off the haul with the products I purchased for myself. ELF had a promotion going on at the time where if you spent $30.00, you got a free mystery gift. I made sure my cart was $30.00 so I could use that coupon! Plus, you get free shipping at $25.00, so that worked out really well! I’ll quickly mention the products I purchased from left to right, starting with the two products in the top row.

Translucent Mattifying Powder – $3.00 – I use a translucent powder every day even if I’m not wearing makeup otherwise. It helps to keep my skin from getting really greasy, but not adding any additional coverage. I’m excited to see if this one keeps my skin matte all day!
Baked Highlighter in Moonlight Pearls – $4.00 – I’ve been wanting a new highlighter that isn’t overly sparkly, so I thought this one would be nice to try. Spoiler alert – I love it! The shade is really nice on my fair skin, and while this is a shimmery highlighter, it is not too glittery. I’m very impressed at this product, and I might get more in the future.
Makeup Remover Cloths – $3.00 – I had to try out the makeup remover wipes! I did try one already, and I’m loving how gentle they feel on my skin. I’m currently using up another pack, but I have a feeling I will be repurchasing these in the future.
Volumizing & Defining Mascara – $2.00 – I’m also on the hunt for a new mascara, so I figured I would pick one up while I was shopping. I went with this particular mascara because it has the silicone applicator I like instead of the standard brush.
Moisturizing Foundation Stick in Ivory – $6.00 – I wanted a replacement for the Maybelline Foundation Stick I’ve been enjoying, so I decided to try this one from ELF. Stick foundations are great for those days where you don’t want the high maintenance of a liquid foundation. I’m hoping this will provide nice coverage!
HD Powder in Sheer – $6.00 – I’ve been wanting to try a loose setting powder as well, and got this HD Powder after hearing good things about it. It is designed to blur lines, so I will be experimenting with this product. If you have brush recommendations for this powder, please let me know!
Clear Brow & Lash Mascara – $2.00 – Another staple item for me is a brow gel. You can’t go wrong with one that is only $2.00!
Beautifully Bare Stipple Brush – $4.00 – Finally, I picked up a stipple brush because I needed one for cream products like blush and highlighter. I’m excited to see how this one works!

WHAT I GOT FOR FREE

As I mentioned above, ELF had a promotion where if you spent $30.00 you could get a free mystery gift. Imagine my surprise when all of these products showed up in my package! ELF always has at least one promotion going on, so you’ll be sure to get added savings or freebies with your order, too.

Contouring Kabuki Brush – $6.00 – I’m not sure how I feel about this brush. It’s huge in size! I think I might use it for face powder and not just contouring, but I will try it out for sure.
Concealer Brush – $3.00 – The other free brush I got is a concealer brush. I’m really happy about this one! I can always use more brushes like this.
Pressed Mineral Bronzer in Tan Toffee – $5.00 – I’m so glad I got a bronzer because I almost purchased one! Bronzer is new to me, but it’s nice to experiment with them once in a while. I’ll get more confident with it in time.
Smudge Pot Cream Eyeshadow in Ain’t That Sweet – $3.00 – I don’t wear a lot of pink eyeshadow, but I’m glad to try out the ELF Smudge Pot formula. I know these are often available at Dollar Tree, so keep an eye out there!
Shadow Lock Eyelid Primer – $2.00 – I’m also really excited to try this eye primer! I wasn’t that happy with the one I was using, so hopefully this will work better for me.
Luscious Liquid Lipstick in Pink Lemonade – $1.00 – Last but not least, I received a lip gloss! I’m not a big fan of this particular shade, but I am happy to try out this formula. If I enjoy the wear of this gloss I will be sure to pick out some more wearable shades for me in the future.

That brings us to the end of this huge ELF Cosmetics haul! I can’t believe I only spent $30.00 and got so many amazing products. I’m in the process of testing all of these right now, and will be sharing reviews on some of the goodies in the future. If there is something in particular you would like more detail on, please let me know in a comment below! Please also share your favorite (and least favorite!) ELF products in the comments! I know I will be making more purchases from this fabulous and affordable brand in the future.

March PLAY! by Sephora Unboxing & Giveaway!

Posted on April 27, 2016March 25, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday! Today I am super excited to share with you what I received in my March PLAY! by Sephora. Plus, I have a giveaway to share with you! I know a lot of you haven’t been able to join Sephora’s monthly subscription program yet. I was lucky to get off the wait list right away, and so I’m going to be giving back to one of you. First I’ll be sharing my unboxing as always, and the giveaway will be at the end. If you’d like to see a quick look at my February PLAY! by Sephora, I posted about it on Facebook HERE since I didn’t share a full unboxing during Manicure March. Without further ado, let me show you what I got in March!

March’s theme is The Perfection Collection, and features products to allow us to put our best face forward. To be honest, I don’t find the monthly themes to really be a good representation of what’s inside, but that is fine to me. I have no problem getting a random bunch of goodies from Sephora so long as they are products I’ll use!

Sephora The Perfectionist Sponge Sephora Collection The Perfectionist: Airbrush Sponge – $12.00 [BUY]

The first product I received is a beauty sponge from Sephora’s own collection. I am always up for trying a BeautyBlender dupe, so I’m very excited to test this out. I’m also glad we got a full size sponge that retails for more than the entire PLAY! by Sephora box! How awesome is that? I was just about to invest in a new BeautyBlender, but I’ll happily try this first. I’ll be sure to share my full thoughts on this product after testing it.

Fresh Soy Face Cleanser – $4.47 [BUY]

I am also very excited to receive this cleanser from Fresh. I absolutely love this brand, but never do I purchase the products for myself because they are quite expensive. I’ve tried a sample of the Soy Face Exfoliant before and really liked it. I’ll be sure to keep this on hand for when my current cleanser runs out of product!

Murad Invisiblur Perfecting Shield – $11.05 [BUY]

Another brand I love but don’t buy myself because of the high price tag is Murad. Inivisblur is a priming spray, which I feel is super trendy right now. I love that this contains SPF 30, and that it is designed to smooth out the skin. I will definitely be using this in the summer, because priming sprays are lighter than a standard primer.

Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Oil – $5.46 [BUY]

I also received a primer from Smashbox in my March box, this time in the form of a Primer Oil. I don’t usually like face oils because they tend to breakout my skin, but I’ve had great luck with the other primers from the Smashbox Photo Finish line so I hope I’ll like this, too. I’m definitely stocked up on primers for a while now!

Kat Von D Tattoo Liner in Trooper (Black) – $6.65 [BUY]

Now we are getting to the part of the unboxing where I grumble about getting the same kind of products every month. I’ve received an eyeliner in my PLAY! by Sephora box four out of five times, and three of the four eyeliners have been black. As someone who doesn’t wear eyeliner more than a few times a year, this is quite frustrating. Even if I wore eyeliner every day I would find it annoying! I appreciate that I get to try high end brands, but there are so many different beauty products we could be receiving. Why not mascara? Why not blush? Why not nail polish? Please mix it up in the future, Sephora!

Replica Beach Walk Perfume – $1.47 [BUY]

The last product is a perfume sample, and if you’ve been reading my PLAY! by Sephora posts from the beginning you’ll know I don’t enjoy receiving these. Sephora gives these samples away for free in online orders and in the store, and I’d much rather go to the store and pick a scent that works for me. I would love to stop getting these in my subscription and instead receive a deluxe skincare or makeup sample.

Overall, I have mostly positive things to say about my March PLAY! by Sephora subscription. The box has a total retail vale of $41.10, and I am excited about four of the six products. I am definitely getting my money’s worth! My box also came with a little plastic tub that I can bring into Sephora and be matched for a foundation. That’s a fun incentive to go shopping! I’m going to continue with this subscription for sure!

GIVEAWAY

As a thank you for supporting my blog, I wanted to curate a PLAY! by Sephora box for all of you! I’ve collected some of the products I won’t be using from past PLAY! boxes, and put them together in a kit. I hope that if you have been waiting to get your hands on one of these boxes this will be a fun prize! One winner will receive:

TOCCA Isabel Perfume Sample
Viktor & Rolf Flower Bomb Perfume Sample
Stella McCartney Stella Perfume Sample
Lancome Drama Liqui-Pencil Khol Eyeliner
Sephora Contour Eye Pencil in My Boyfriend’s Jeans
Smashbox Full Exposure Eyeshadow Duo
Bonus: miscellaneous Sephora samples!

This giveaway is only open to those in the United States. I apologize to my international readers, but perfume must be sent by ground shipping, and so I am limited to the USA with this one. This giveaway is open for two weeks, ending on May 11, 2016. To enter you must be following my blog and provide me with your email through the Rafflecopter widget. All other entires are your choice and bonus entries! Please email me at adventuresinpolishland@gmail.com with any questions, and read the full Terms and Conditions in the widget before entering. Good luck!a Rafflecopter giveaway

I purchase PLAY! by Sephora with my own money. Sephora is not affiliated with this giveaway. Links used are affiliate links. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

3 Ways to Save BIG at The Body Shop!

Posted on April 13, 2016March 21, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday! Today I’m going to share some of my tips to saving money at The Body Shop. I really love shopping at The Body Shop because it not only has great quality products, but it is a company focused on morality as well. The Body Shop never tests on animals, and it has a Community Trade program to ensure its ingredients are fairly sourced. The prices at The Body Shop, however, are definitely more than I would like to spend. Thus, I’ve come up with some shopping strategies to ensure I can enjoy my favorite products at a fraction of the price. I’m going to share my tricks with you today, along with my most recent purchase from The Body Shop to illustrate my points. Let’s jump into the big savings!

Tip 1: Shop with Ebates and Wait for Double Cash Back

Ebates is a website that allows you to earn cash back on most of your online purchases. I’ve been a member for a few years now, and absolutely love it! The website is legitimate and safe, and even helps you find coupon codes. The Body Shop is typically 4% cash back, but every so often it is a promoted store at 8% cash back! I’ve even seen it go as high as 10% for special holiday sales. I wait to shop until The Body Shop is double cash back. I earned $4.54 back from my latest purchase at The Body Shop. That is so awesome! You can sign up to Ebates for free and earn a $10 gift card by using my referral link HERE.

Tip 2: Wait for a Big Sale

One of the best ways to save money is to become familiar with a store’s sales. Whenever I find a product that I love I will pay very close attention to sales. Over time a pattern will emerge, and I know when to shop to get the highest discount. At The Body Shop, my favorite sale is Buy 3, Get 3 Free. There are always sales at The Body Shop, and you can visit the website’s Offers page HERE to see the current promotions. I highly recommend waiting for the Buy 3, Get 3 Free sale, though. Here is what I purchased most recently!

I love the body scrubs at The Body Shop, so I purchased the Cocoa Butter and Pink Grapefruit scrubs to stock up. These retail for $21 each regular price. I also wanted to get a body butter, because my skin has been very dry lately. I decided to try the Aloe Body Butter because it is fragrance free and I am sensitive to smells. This body butter is also $21.

Next I picked up some new-to-me hair care items. First I grabbed the Ginger Scalp Care shampoo because I do tend to get flakes and I hope this will work well for me. This shampoo retails for $10.00. I also purchased the Rainforest Moisture Hair Butter, which is a deep conditioner. I want to ensure I’m getting a lot of moisture into my hair, and will be using this once per week. This retails for $14.

Finally, I got the Seaweed Pore-Cleansing Facial Exfoliator. I’m running low on my face scrub, so I wanted to have one on backup. I’m all about pore cleansing scrubs, so I’m very excited to try this! This scrub retails for $18.

For this particular purchase, I purchased the three $21.00 items, and got the other three free. You would think my total would be $63.00, but not so! My last tip explains how to save even more.

Tip 3: Sign Up for Love Your Body Rewards

Lastly, I recommend signing up for the Love Your Body Rewards program. This program costs $10.00 per year, but it pays for itself because you get a $10 coupon on your birthday. Plus, you save 10% off every purchase. There are also ways to earn points and added rewards, so I highly recommend signing up if you are a regular customer. You can learn more on The Body Shop’s website HERE.

Now that I’ve shared my tricks to saving big at The Body Shop, let’s break down my most recent purchase!

RETAIL PRICE: 21 + 21 + 21 + 10 + 14 + 18 = 105

SALE PRICE: 21 + 21 + 21 = 63

LOVE YOUR BODY PRICE: 63 x 10% = 56.70

EBATES PRICE: 56.70 x 8% = $52.16 –> total savings of 50%!

As you can see, these three simple tips add up to huge savings at The Body Shop! I know other stores sell products from The Body Shop at discounted prices, but I can always save more buying directly from the store. Plus, I can earn rewards on my purchases with Love Your Body! It’s a win for my wallet and for me – I get to use my favorite products at a discounted price. I hope you all found this post helpful! If you have any tips for saving at The Body Shop that I didn’t mention here, please share in the comments! Happy shopping!

This post is not sponsored or affiliated with The Body Shop. My link to Ebates is a referral link. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Sephora Beauty Insider Loyalty Haul | First Aid Beauty, Smashbox, & More!

Posted on January 13, 2016January 10, 2016 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday! Today I’m back with a Sephora Haul! I typically shop at Sephora a few times a year – my birthday, the holidays, and the spring. Every holiday season, Sephora gives a coupon to Beauty Insiders at a value of $15 off a $50 purchase. I knew this coupon was coming, so I splurged on a few items that I needed, and a few others that I wanted to try. Of course, I made sure to shop through Ebates, and earned 8% cash back on my purchase during a Double Cash Back event. I also had a gift card, so I saved quite a bit! Let me go ahead and show you what I picked up at Sephora!

Sephora Beauty Insider Loyalty Haul | First Aid Beauty, Smashbox, & More!

Sephora Beauty Insider Loyalty Haul | First Aid Beauty, Smashbox, & More! First up are the items that I purchased! I usually try to aim for $50 even, but this time I went a bit over that amount. I just decided to get some extra goodies!

First Aid Beauty Fab to the Rescue Sampler Kit – I’m traveling this month, so I decided to pick up this skincare sampler kit so I could take it with me on the plane. This kit includes the Ultra Repair Cream, Ultra Repair Instant Oatmeal Mask, Face Cleanser, Ultra Repair Lip Therapy, and Ultra Repair Wash. I’m really excited to use these products because I’ve had good luck with the First Aid Beauty brand in the past. I’ll be sure to do a full review on this kit when I can!
Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm in Black Tea & Blackberry – I picked up this lip balm because I didn’t own any lip balms that weren’t tinted! I ended up destashing a lot of my old balms, and so a new one was in order. I’ve heard so many beauty gurus rave about this lip balm, so I figured it would be great to have. I’ve been using this for a few weeks now, and really love it!
NARS Pencil Sharpener – I’ve had the worst luck with pencil sharpeners, and I needed a new one yet again. Ingrid Nilsen recommend this NARS one in a recent favorites video, and I trust her opinion. Hopefully this sharpener will last for a while!
Smashbox Full Exposure Travel Palette – My big splurge in this haul is a new eyeshadow palette. Now, I don’t wear eyeshadow often, but I’m trying to reach for it more. This palette is absolutely tiny, but holds eight shadows. Four of them are shimmers, and the other four are mattes. This is perfect for travel, and I’ll definitely be packing it when I’m on the go!

Sephora Beauty Insider Loyalty Haul | First Aid Beauty, Smashbox, & More! Next up, I used a coupon code from the Weekly Specials page to score this little makeup bag filled with sample products. While I’m not the biggest fan of foil packets, they are great for travel. I am really excited for the makeup bag, though! I use pouches for everything in my purse and luggage – cords, pens and pencils, accessories, and more. Always make sure to use a coupon code when you shop at Sephora!

Sephora Beauty Insider Loyalty Haul | First Aid Beauty, Smashbox, & More! Last but not least, I got my three free samples. I love Atelier perfume samples, and I’ve heard great things about Rita Hazan hair care. The last sample on the right is a Peter Thomas mask, so that will be fun to try, too. I have entire drawer of samples in my makeup collection, so these will be added to the pile.

That’s all for my Sephora haul this time around! I always love sharing the new products I picked up with all of you. Shopping at Sephora is special to me, and splurging a few times a year is very fun. Please let me know in the comments what you picked up from the Beauty Insider Loyalty sale! I would love to know!

Shop for these products using the widget below and I will earn a small commission. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Birchbox Haul | Hair Care & Makeup

Posted on October 30, 2015October 25, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Friday! It’s the last day of Haul Week here on the blog! Today I have a small haul from Birchbox. Although I am no longer subscribed to the Birchbox subscription program, I had saved up $10 worth of points that were expiring this month. I decided to use my points and pick up a hair care favorite, plus a few other goodies. Let me show you what I got – all for $25!

Perhaps you didn’t know that in addition to its subscription program, Birchbox has an amazing online store! It’s a bit like Sephora, but there are often sales and coupons, and even freebies! There is a rewards system as well called Birchbox Points. While subscribers earn points very frequently, anyone can earn points just by shopping online. Each dollar spent is one point earned, and 100 points equals $10. I always save my points, but because they expire in a year’s time, I needed to use them right away!

First, let me share the products I purchased. I had to grab my holy grail dry shampoo from Klorane. No matter how many dry shampoos I try, this one is still a favorite. Unfortunately, it costs $20, so I only pick it up when there is a deal. I also decided to purchase a trio of mini lip glosses from Cythnia Rowley. I received one of these glosses in a Birchbox last year and really loved it, so I grabbed it for $15. I am a little disappointed with how tiny these glosses are, but I’m still happy with them. I’ll have a full blog post showing them off soon!

The rest of the items in this haul were freebies! I got an email from Birchbox with a coupon code for this travel size dry shampoo from Living Proof along with the L. Erickson headband. I’ve been doing PiYo for over a month now, so this headband really comes in handy for my short hair. Plus, I am always up for drying out another dry shampoo. Maybe this one will beat out Klorane!

Finally, Birchbox has a Bonus Shop that lets you add additional freebies to your order depending on what you buy. I always go for the Mystery Sample Pack. If you spend $35 or more, you can add this pack to your order for free. It contains two deluxe samples, but you don’t know what they are. This time I got the Templespa In Good Condition Hair Conditioner and Marcelle Waterproof Eyeliner in Blue Lagoon. These are great products, but I think I’ll be passing them on this time.

All in all, I’m really happy with this Birchbox purchase! I do miss the subscription program, but still recommend it for those of you who have an extra $10 to spend each month. You can subscribe using my referral link HERE if you’re interested.

What is your favorite hair care product at the moment? Let me know in the comments!

This post includes affiliate links. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

The Body Shop Haul | Skincare, Scrubs, & More!

Posted on October 28, 2015October 25, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Wednesday! Haul Week continues with a huge haul from The Body Shop. I’ve been keeping a close eye on the sales that The Body Shop has for the past couple of months, but I knew I would be shopping during the month of October. I recently joined the Love Your Body program at The Body Shop. This is a rewards program where you pay $10 per year and earn 10% off every single purchase. In addition, you get a $10 coupon during your birthday month and other perks throughout the year. In essence, the Love Your Body program pays for itself with the birthday coupon! Luckily, The Body Shop had an amazing sale early in October, and I stocked up on a ton of products I needed. Let me show you what I purchased!

The Body Shop always has a sale going on, and usually it is Buy 3, Get 2 Free. However, when I shopped it was Buy 3, Get 3 Free! In addition, I shopped through Ebates to earn cash back on my purchase. The Body Shop is usually 4% cash back, but I shopped during a double cash back promotion and earned 8% cash back! It really pays to do your research when it comes to products you want to purchase. Plan in advance, and you’ll be knowledgable about sales and coupons!

The main reason I placed this order is because I desperately needed some body scrubs! I ran out back in July, and it was time to stock up. I try to use a body scrub once per week to remove dead skin cells. With the colder months arriving, exfoliating is a must! I picked up the Coconut, Mango, and Pink Grapefruit scents. I’ve already begun using the Coconut Scrub, and it smells amazing! Now I’m all set on scrubs for the coming months, and I saved a ton of money by stocking up during a sale!

Next I picked up some new to me skincare items. I just ran out of cleanser, and my serum is running very low. I also wanted a light moisturizer for the daytime, as my face can get quite greasy. I decided to try out a couple different items from The Body Shop. First, I got the Vitamin E Cream Cleanser. I am hoping this will cleanse my face without stripping it of needed oils. Then I reached for two products from the Vitamin C line. I’ve had great luck with Vitamin C products in the past, so I’m hoping these work well. I grabbed both the Vitamin C Skin Boost serum and the Vitamin C Daily Moisturizer.

Last but not least, I got a couple freebies! Every order from The Body Shop comes with one free sample. I got the Tea Tree Facial Wash to test. Then I got a really exciting bonus! The Body Shop had a promotion where if you spent $60, you got a free Mega Shower Gel of your choice. I went with Satsuma, as its one of my favorite scents from The Body Shop.

PRICE BREAKDOWN:

Coconut Body Scrub – $20
Mango Body Scrub – $20
Pink Grapefruit Body Scrub – $20
Vitamin E Cream Cleanser – $16
Vitamin C Skin Boost – $28
Vitamin C Daily Moisturizer – $21
Mega Satsuma Shower Gel – $20

TOTAL RETAIL VALUE: $145

DISCOUNTS:

Buy 3, Get 3 Free ( – 20, 20, 16)
Free Mega Shower Gel ( – 20)
$10 Birthday Coupon ( – 10)
10% Love Your Body Discount ( – 10%)
Free Shipping with $50 Purchase

TOTAL SPENT: $53.10 (or 64% savings)

Plus, I earned $2.65 in cash back from Ebates! What an amazing deal!

All in all, I am so excited about my new products from The Body Shop! My Love Your Body membership has already paid for itself, and I got to stock up on a ton of needed products. I hope this post helped you learn how to familiarize yourself with store sales in order to maximize the savings! It definitely pays to keep a wish list and be patient for just the right sale! If you’d like to see a full review on any of the products in this post, please let me know in the comments

What is your favorite scent from The Body Shop? Let me know in the comments!

This post contains affiliate links. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Birthday Haul | What I Got for My Birthday!

Posted on October 27, 2015October 27, 2015 by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Tuesday! Haul Week continues with a Birthday Haul today. As I mentioned in yesterday’s post, October is my birthday month. I celebrated 26 this year, which is a bit hard to believe. I feel like my Sweet 16 was just a few years back! Nonetheless, I thought I would share the gifts I got with all of you. Perhaps you’ll want to add some of these to your next wish list! Let me show you what I got for my birthday this year.

My parents got me some practical gifts, and then this awesome blush palette from Benefit Cosmetics! This is the Real Cheeky Party Holiday Blush Palette. It retails for $42, but contains four blushes, the Hoola bronzer, Watt’s Up! highlighter, and two sample sizes of They’re Real! in the eyeliner and mascara. I own one Benefit blush that I absolutely love, and I’ve been wanting to try more. I’m really excited that I now have this in my collection! If you want to get your hands on this, make sure to grab it now. It’s Limited Edition and sure to sell out!

I told you my parents got me some practical gifts! This is the OXO Good Grips 3-Piece Water Bottle Cleaning Set. It is MUCH needed! I always use a reusable water bottle, and those straws can be really hard to clean well. Not all of my water bottles can go in the dishwasher, and I didn’t even have a dishwasher at my last apartment! I first got the idea for this when cleaning my nephew’s baby bottles back in January. Adults need clean bottles, too, and I’m so glad I have this set!

The last gift my parents got me is a Postal Scale from American Weigh Scales. I’ve been wanting one of these for a long time! I send out a lot of packages, and this will help me avoid the lines at the post office and print my own postage at home. I can get the exact weight of all my packages now! That means faster shipping for my giveaways, too. I’m excited to begin using this right away!

Next are the gifts from my brother, sister-in-law, and nephew! First up is Garfield Holiday Collection, which is a DVD of all of the holiday shorts starring Garfield. I mainly wanted this because I love Garfield’s Halloween Adventure, but that almost never airs on TV anymore! Now I get to watch it whenever I want! In fact, I watched it the night I got this gift. I also love Garfield’s Christmas special, so it will be fun to watch that in just a month!

My last gift from my brother’s family is very special. I’ve been a huge Full House fan my entire life, and my brother happened to know someone working on the new TV show Grandfathered. What you see above is a handwritten birthday wish from Bob Saget! I nearly fell on the floor when I opened the card! I really appreciate my brother’s friend going out of her way to ask Bob for this incredible message. And, of course, a huge thank you to Bob Saget for taking the time to write me this note!

All in all, I had a nice birthday that I got to celebrate with my family for the first time in three years! I had my choice meal of Chipotle, and of course a hot pink cake. No celebration is complete without some tasty treats, right?! I hope you liked seeing what I got for my birthday. I’m so thankful for the gifts I received, and wanted to share them. If you are also an October baby, I hope you had a great birthday, too! I’ll see you tomorrow as haul week continues!