Sephora vs. Ulta
I know…it’s like day seven of 30 of my #beautytimeout but since I’ve done so much shopping this summer I’ve got a lot to write about and update you on. First, Ulta just opened up two stores in my area within the last year. I am such a Sephora addict that I never really stepped foot in Ulta. Funny though, one is located by my house and the other by where I work. So it was only a matter of time I stopped in. And ADM/OMG!! If Sephora and Walgreens had a baby, it would be Ulta. Ulta is like Sephora’s cheaper cousin. What I love about Ulta is that you get things you can find at Sephora like Tarte and Philosphy but you also get things you find at drugstores like Rimmel and Herbal Essences. You can find so many brands in there including OPI, NYX (can’t wait to tell you all about that new obsession!!) and Frieda and Fekkhai. It really doesn’t get any better than this.
So to give you an idea….I can spend $100 easy at Sephora in one trip. Thankfully we only have one store and it’s in a mall located in an inconvenient place. I can buy about the same amount of products at Ulta and spend like $30-$40. So you know hubby’s really loving Ulta too! The only con about Ulta? I can actually step in on my lunch hour! And I have co-workers who’d be so down for that! Which makes this 30 days really hard! I’m almost twitching!!!
Beautify Your Bathroom!
While on my beauty break aka #beautytimeout I have been concentrating on other things such as cleaning up my medicine cabinet in my bathroom. Which by the way, is more full of beauty products than medicine. One of the things I love about my house is that it’s got some great storage. For example, in my upstairs bathroom, I have the medicine cabinet, a drawer in the cabinet under the sink and above my toilet, a huge cabinet. And they are all filled to the point of exploding. I even went and got a small tote that can go under my sink inside that cabinet to fill up with more goodies. Then I realized that it was just out of control. Does anyone need that much stuff? And since I am lucky enough to receive beauty products from companies who like to hear my thoughts I ask myself why do I buy so much stuff? I even give out beauty products to friends (one of my versions of cleaning stuff out) and I giveaway things on the blog (wait to see the goodies I’ve got in store for you guys!) So there shouldn’t be a need for all that. My bathroom started to rival that of a beauty warehouse. So I have purged products and medicine that were outdated (makeup goes bad too chicas!) and given things to friends that may need it. I have re-organized my medicine cabinet and it looks great. It’s got everything we all need (not just me!!) and I know I’m using all the products that are in there. Now to tackle the products in that other cabinet…..
What does your bathroom look like? Are you a beauty addict like me?
On A Beauty Break!
Well chicas, if you’re not following me on twitter you may have missed my announcement. I’m going on a beauty buying break! This means for the next 30 days (until September 20th) I won’t be buying any lip gloss, eye shadow, mascara or anything! This is going to be hard for me as the only thing I’m allowing myself to purchase is shampoo/conditioner and body wash.
So why the break you say? Well I have noticed that this summer my spending has been out of control. I have discovered new stores and purchasing products to do reviews yet I haven’t gotten around to post those reviews. Sad right?? So I’m going to use these 30 days to focus more on natural beauty (fitness, vitamins and such) and catch up on all these product reviews that I have laying around the house. I must say it’s going to be hard because I have friends and co-workers who are die hard beauty and fashion addicts. One of which I will be interviewing just for fun! I will be living vicariously through her shopping habits since I won’t be doing any of it. She’s the one who introduced the shopping bible to me. Trust me chicas, that bible works! Keeps you from buying things you may not need and identifies what you’re really lusting after.
But don’t worry, Gee will be here every Friday for her fabuloso Fashion Friday posts and I will still be perusing magazines and adding to that bible so you will see lots of posts from me! Also I’m happy to announce that I have been chosen to be a blog ambassador for Jennifer Lopez’s new fragrance, Love and Glamour! So check out my tweets as well as face book posts with the hashtag #loveandglamour!
Also, hubby just gave me my hashtag for my beauty break. #beautytimeout so don’t forget to check that out!
Sephora Now Offers Makeup Services
You could always get a free consultation on any type of skincare issue or makeup question at your local Sephora store. But now they are also offering a 45-60 minute makeup session for that big or not so big event. For the weddings, showers and whatever you may have to go to this summer, this could be a life saver! You can always try out a new look at anytime and purchase the makeup to recreate at home. The only catch with this session is that you have to purchase at least $50 of makeup. But as beautiful as you’re going to look, I’m sure the $50 won’t be a problem. Stay bella!
Summer Beauty under $20!
You all know my absolute love affair with MAC. But for those of you would like to keep beautiful without breaking the bank, this post is for you! I’ve been playing around with different brands and different types of makeup. Poor hubby but I say it’s for the blog. 
It’s for me too I love playing with makeup! Any way you will see some posts in the next few weeks where I’ve been reviewing drug store brands. Because it’s always not all about the higher end brands right!! Those are fun too but definitely experimenting with the cheaper brands is not out of the question.
So since we are smack dab in the middle of summer… and what a hot summer it is!!… I have been looking for lighter versions of my makeup. Even in the weekend, I really don’t want to pile it on like I’m going to work. But I also HATE leaving my house bare faced. It’s not a diva thing either (well not mostly!) but with this sun you really have to protect your face. Anti-aging is serious chicas! And since I hate putting on sunscreen yet don’t want to be totally without makeup…my solution is tinted moisturizer. Don’t knock it till you’ve tried it! Here are the products I’ve used to get a summertime glow:
1. Hard Candy Sheer Envy Tinted Moisturizer in Medium I got this at Walmart for $8. It has an SPF of 15. Did you know Walmart now carries Hard Candy? I thought this was only in stores like Sephora. There was a great selection of stuff at my local Walmart. Of course I was with the boys so I couldn’t look much….
2. Ulta cheekcolor in Afterglow You can buy this online or in stores. They were having a sale usually goes for $6 but I picked this up for $3.
3. Glam Eyes Mascara for $6 I previously wrote a review for this product and have been using it ever since.
Just add your favorite gloss and you’re done! All for less than $20! So what do you think? Do you change up your makeup routine for summer?
Also, if you don’t like the extra dewy look I’m sporting in the picture ( I dont think I like it much either but it was sooooo hot that day!) you can add a mattifier. Stay tuned for a post on mattifiers!
Product Review: Lash Addiction Boy Toy
These lashes are the “wow him” lashes. These are called Boy Toy. Definitely perfect for a hot date or night out with the girls. During the day time or at work these may be a bit much depending on the type of office you may work in. For someone in a more creative office it may fly but for a corporate office…maybe not. Here are some pics…
Definitely hot depending on what your style is. What I love about Lash Addiction is that they have so many pairs to choose from. And at only $6 you can pretty much try them all! What I would really like is if they included tips on how to care for the lashes right on the box. What do you think of these compared to Tarte?
Product Review: Lash Addiction "Tarte"
I received two false lashes for review, an everyday one which is Tarte and another va-va-voom one that I will write about in another post.
Tarte is a very cute every day set of lashes. If you check out their shop there are a lot of different types of lashes to choose from at a very good price. At $6 for a set of lashes, that’s definitely not bad at all. Keep in mind that the lashes do not come with lash glue.
When I applied Tarte, hubby didn’t even really notice. It was a very subtle look perfect for a bit more volume and length for day wear. I wore it all day and they stayed put. It looked like I was wearing a great mascara. All I did was use a little glue, applied and then added some mascara underneath lashes to mix them in with my real lashes. And ya está! A perfect look.
Since I didn’t have lash glue I got some at Sally’s for less than $4. You can get it in clear or white but it does dry clear. Now I know why they call it Lash Addiction. I love the way they look! They brighten up my brown eyes. I can’t wait to try the diva ones! What do you think about fake lashes? Are they a must or a no-go for you? Let me know in the comments!
Here’s a bonus picture…The left is with the Tarte eyelash and the right is without. Subtle but noticeable difference. Like I said…perfect for every day use!
Urban Decay Private Sale
Ok my little beauty addicts! I just heard that Urban Decay is having a private sale with huge reductions. I may be checking this one out myself. So check out the invite and stay bella!
Beauty Buy: Bobbi Brown Cabana Coral Palette
This online exclusive by Bobbi Brown is perfect for all skin tones. It includes four coral lip shades and six gorgeous but very neutral and wearable eye shadow shades. For $60, this palette is definitely on my list for summer beauty buys!
How many lip glosses in your purse?
I carry a selection of lip glosses and lip sticks in my purse which I change around from time to time. I always keep my favorites with me because I apply my lip gloss in the car on the way to work. Don’t worry I’m being a safe driver! In case you were wondering what’s currently in my little makeup bag I keep in my purse here it is!
1. Mac Viva Glam VI both gloss and stick. Love this color!
2. Lorac Glosses in Haute, Lavish and Glam ( got these for Christmas. Some great shades of pink!)
3. L’Ancome Juicy Tubes in Rosy Fishnets
4. Mac lip stick in Hug Me it’s a shade darker than my natural lip color. A pink-brown. Very cute.
5.Sephora Long Wear lipstick in Maniac No 3. Might be doing a review on this one soon.
Sephora Lip Liner in Pure Pinky 16 I use this to line the Long Wear Lipstick by Sephora as well as the Rosy Fishnets and Lorac Glosses. Very versatile liner which is why I keep it in my small bag.
6. Carol’s Daughter Natural Sexy Shine lip gloss in Bubbling Brown Sugar. Will also be sharing my thoughts on this one.
Now that is a list for you! I think I’m showing my lip gloss addiction here. I just counted and that’s 9 glosses! How many do you carry in your purse?
