Clinique Gift With Purchase at Nordstrom

Clinique always has the cutest gifts with purchase and their latest one doesn't disappoint.  Clinique has teamed up with Trina Turk to create this fab set just in time for the holidays.  The cosmetic bag is too cute for words.  I realize that I probably have over 25 makeup bags, but honestly can you ever have too many?

Here's what comes in the set:

1.) Long Last Lipstick in Pink Chocolate
2.) Makeup Brush Trio
3.) All About Eyes (my fave Clinique product ever!)
4.) Blushing Blush Powder Blush in Cupid
5.) Liquid Facial Soap Mild
6.) Lash Doubling Mascara in Black
7.) Colour Surge Eye Shadow Quad in Pink Chocolate
8.) The gorgeous Trina Turk for Clinique Cosmetic Bag

Once you spend $25, the gift set is yours!  You can basically just buy one product and get all these goodies for free.  Not bad, huh?  The only downside is that you can only get this gift at Nordstrom--in the actual store.  Unfortunately this isn't available online.  Still, the set is def worth a trip to the mall!

Layout

This layout is pretty craptacular...bear with me.  I'm trying to come up with something fabulous soon!

Fab Read Spotlight: Applaud Women Magazine

For those ladies living in NH or MA (or, what the heck--anywhere, really)  Applaud Women is for you.  It's a great local online magazine chock-full with interesting articles about a plethora of topics. 

Needless to say, I'm a fan of the beauty and fashion pieces myself; namely the section dedicated to stunning pictures of the latest trends.

Being a proud New England gal, I'm just tickled to see a local magazine flourish while being so interesting.

Oh and a bit of shameless self promotion:  I have a style column inside!

So take a gander and learn a thing or two.  Visit www.applaudwomen.com for more info.

Beauty Boo-Boo: Rolling on Makeup

Generally speaking, painting on makeup is not really a good idea.  Think about it, the application can be messy, uneven, and overly thick.  It seems like avoiding this would be a no-brainer.

No so for L'Oreal.  Their new True Match Roll'on Foundation literally contains a mini-paint-roller-esque brush.  You are actually meant to roll on the foundation the same way you would paint the walls of your apartment.

You've got to be kidding me.

The product has (thankfully) not made its way over to the States as of yet.  If, for some ungodly reason, you feel the urge to replicate the look of a freshly painted wall on your face, you can purchase the compact online.

Tsumori Chisato Limited Edition Mini Brush Set

I absolutely love cute brush sets.  I don't know what it is.  I own about a million makeup brushes, but when I see a cute set I simply must have it.

My newest obsession is Shu Uemura'sTsumori Chisato Limited Edition Mini Brush Set.  What's not to love?  The kit contains four well-made brushes: one essential face/cheek brush, two eyeshadow brushes, and one lip/eyeliner brush.

But let's talk about the bag for a second.  I. Am. In. Love. With. This. Bag.  I saw a preview of the limited-edition collection and immediately knew that I needed to have it.  I mean, a winking cat?! How could I not buy this?? 

So don't freak out on me, here...the price is $69.  I know, I know.  Very pricey.  But I'll say it again--it's a winking cat!

Oh and p.s.: the collection also includes tons of other too-cute-for-words products including an amazing palette and pretty lipstick!

The Solution for Dry Brittle Hair

My hair is super thick and dry--especially in the winter.  I usually have tons of breakage and split ends to prove it, and my hair just look dull.  Not very attractive, to say the least.

I've tried lots of hair masks out there; drugstore brands, high end bottles, and everything in between.  There are so many options that it's easy to get confused and waste a lot of money in the process.

Oribe's new Signature Moisture Masque is a great solution.  Firstly, I have to let you know that it's $59 per tub.  It's pretty pricey, but honestly if you're like me, you've wasted a lot more than that over the years on products that don't even work.  It's definitely worth it to spend a little more in order to get results.

You use this mask like most others--simply massage into your hair and leave it as long as you want (the longer you wait, the more drastic the outcome will be).  Then, rinse it out.  You can use this weekly, or even daily if you hair needs some extra TLC.

This stuff is fabulous.  It seemed to not only hydrate my hair, it also made it shiny and healthy to the touch.  The smell was great too.  Often times, products like this tend to smell horrible due to the ingredients used, but this mask smells clean and a little fruity.

I also found that the mask didn't weigh down my hair, a common issue with masks.  I've never used one that was lightweight and yet completely moisturized.

I highly recommend this product for anyone who needs some severe hydration, or just wants a little more fabulosity hair-wise.



Disclosure:  This review contains a sample product sent for consideration by a PR firm. My priority is to you, and I honor that commitment by being honest!

If you have any questions about this, please email me.

Anastasia on Sale at The Fairest!

For the next day or so, The Fairest is offering up some fabulous Anastasia products for up to 50% off.

The brand is well-known for its brow grooming products, but they also have some gorgeous eyeshadows and blushes.

My fave products on sale are the Shimmer Highligher ($12.60) and the Highlighting Brow Kit ($16).  There are oodles of other great products as well--def a sale to take advantage of.

Free Clutch and Samples from Sephora!

I'm such a sucker for free gifts with purchases.  I'm honestly obsessed.  Even though the "gifts" aren't really free since you have to buy something in order to get 'em, it still seems like a present to me.  Plus I love having mini sample-sized products to try out and toss in my purse.

Sephora's newest GWP has made my heart go aflutter.  First, there's the gorge clutch.  I'm so into girly floral doodads and this really fits the bill.  Metallics surprisingly can work as a neutral, so virtually any outfit will match this bag.  I'd almost be happy with just the bag alone.

But of course, who would turn down amazing samples?!?  This bag comes stuffed with 8 samples.

Perfect-o!  Here's how to get it:  Simply spend $50 on anything in the store (believe me, this is not a difficult task!),  and enter the code CLUTCH4U at the checkout.  Easy peasy.

Fab Winter Fashion on the Cheap: Avon's Holiday Collection

Avon is one of my go-to brands for low-priced beauty products.  They're always up with the trends and everything I've tried from them has been of the best quality.  It just seems natural that I'm smitten with their winter fashion (yes, fashion!) collection.  Everything is amazingly chic and trendy, without looking over-the-top.  Here are a few of my current faves:

 

I don't know about you guys, but for some reason I carry around double the amount of stuff in the winter.  I usually need a ridiculously large bag, but it can be tricky to find one that's large without being bulky.  Try the Classic Quilted Tote ($14.99).   

 

I'm a bit in love with their new Luxurious Sweater Coat ($34.99).  Because it cuts in at the natural waistline, which is usually the smallest part of a gal's body, you'll look slimmer than ever.  Plus, the sweater is cozy and warm.  Perfect for cuddling up with your main squeeze by the fire. 

How cute are these Cable Flip Top Gloves ($9.99)?  Not only are they super adorable; they also come in handy for when something needs to be done in the freezing cold! (Get it? Handy!! I'm hilarious).  Since my boyfriend refuses to turn the heat in our apartment up to the boilimg temperature that I prefer, these bad boys are great for typing at my computer while staying toasty.  The gloves will be available on 11/23.

Check out the entire winter collection at www.avon.com.

Drugstore Beauty Bargain: Shimmer Stripe Blush

Clinique just came out with their 'Shimmering Stripes' Powder Blusher in Tuxedo Plums for winter.  I tried it and liked it, but I could help thinking that I had used something almost exactly the same before.  Then I figured it out--the product is almost an exact replica of Milani's Glimmer Stripes in Berry Glimmer!


Both have great pigmentation and look very similar on.  They're a bit shimmery, but not glittery, and give a touch of color to the face.  The colors in the pictures are a little off (Milani's doesn't actually have red in it; that's a deep purple-ish hue).


The difference?  Clinique charges about $30 per compact and Milani's version is under $8.


Get thee to a drugstore!

Ballerina Flats

Every girl secretly (or not so secretly) wants to be a ballerina.  It's just a fact.  Whether you're like me and took ballet classes for practically your entire life, or if you just like dancing around your apartment (which I'm also guilty of), these adorable flats are for you.

I'm always a huge fan of flats.  They're just so comfy and cute--a way better option than sky-high heels.  Delia's Sandie Ballet Flats are so incredibly pretty.  Everyone should own a pair.

They come in the classic ballet pink, or in a fabulous light gray.  AND, they're on clearance for about $20! Woohoo!

Pretty One-Shoulder Dress for Under $40!

One-shouldered dresses are so fab right now.  Despite the somewhat trendy cut, they are surprisingly seasonless and flattering for most body types.

Victoria's Secret has this amazing One-Shoulder Bra Top Dress that is just calling to me.  First of all, it's on sale for $39.  How great is that for basically a year-round party dress? I also love the fact that it has a great built-in bra.  The whole one-shoulder thing is tough to pull off without some support and honestly, why wants to worry about constantly pulling up a strapless bra all night? 

The colors are gorge.  This purple hue is my fave, but it's also available in a few jewel-toned colors as well as a basic black. 

Just the Ticket: BeautyTicket.com

Have you heard of Beauty Ticket yet?  I finally found it and it's officially my new fave place in the world.

Basically, the site offers up superb deals on fab makeup brands that we all know and love.  Deals that are around 50% off and up!  It looks to be that a lot of the products are either discontinued on unpopular products, but from what I can tell, everything looks great.  I mean, unless you're some sort of makeup collector I don't think it's a huge deal to buy "last season's" eyeshadow palette.

The best buys that I'm salivating over?  The Smashbox Tokidoki Soft Lights & Brush Set ($20!!!) and Pixi's Must Have Kit in Ravishing Rosy (again, $20).

I'm jumpin' for joy over here!

Fashion Faux Pas: Yeti Boots

I'm always sad when I have to put away all my cute summer sandals for the winter.  Luckily there are some adorable boot options out there that keep your tootsies toasty warm and look pretty.

Unfortunately, Gucci's Black Alpaca snow boots do not fit into that category.

I don't see any reason why these boots even exist.  For some reason, once snow falls on the ground, it's like people lose their sense of footwear style.  They give up.  Just like Ugg boots (don't even get me started on those), these boots do absolutely no favors for anyone and are not flattering in the least.

Plus they look like what I imagine yeti feet look like.

Oh and they're about $800.

Are you kidding me??

Hydration Nation

I'm no stranger to dry skin.  In the past, I've wished for some sort of skin transplant because it just gets so dry and disgusting, especially in the winter.  Since that's not really an option, I'm constantly searching for dry skin cures. 

My latest love is Origin's Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask. Umm...it's pretty much amazing.  I applied this stuff before I went to bed last night and woke up with noticeably softer, hydrated skin.

I'm always a little scared of products like this, because in addition to the dryness my skin is also severely sensitive.  I usually have to use fragrance-free products, and when I opened up the tube I definitely detected a fruity scent--almost citrus-y.  For some reason, it didn't hurt my skin at all.  Right away when I applied the stuff, my skin felt soothed. 

Hydrating products are prone to being greasy, but that wasn't the case with this mask.  It almost seemed to mattify; you could even apply it during the day and go in public without looking like a freak, which is a nice bonus. 

For $21 a tube, I highly recommend this product.  I'm so excited to have hydrated skin this winter!

Disclosure:  This review contains a sample product sent for consideration by a PR firm. My priority is to you, and I honor that commitment by being honest!


If you have any questions about this, please email me. 

Orly’s Once Upon a Time Color Collection

I'm really diggin' Orly's newest collection, Once Upon a Time.  I'm a little girl at heart, so anything that remotely has to do with fairytales really tickes my fancy.

Orly is known for having amazing nail polish to begin with.  I prefer it to all other brands; unless I see a color that they don't carry.  The formula just seems to apply ridiculously smoothly and lasts DAYS, which is huge for someone like me who constantly picks at her nails.

This collection features hues reminiscent of storybook tales--dark cremes and light fairy-esque colors make it utterly adorable.  I want to get my hands on all these colors, but I'm going to start with my faves, pixie dust and enchanted forest.

Oh, I haven't even mentioned the best part! Each bottle comes with a little fairytale-inspired charm!  I'm always a sucker for cute charms and doodads. I have no idea what I plan on doing with these charms, but nevertheless it adds to my growing love of the collection.

Each bottle is $7.50, which is pretty a good deal for a really well-made, pretty polish.

Beauty Boo-Boo: Milani INFINITE Liquid Liner

Milani is my go-to drugstore makeup brand.  I usually have really good luck with it.  Their eyeshadows are especially pigmented, and everything else is pretty much fab.

Unfortunatley, my opinion has somewhat changed after trying their new INFINITE Liquid Liner.  I was so dissapointed by this product.  I was drawn to it by the bright color (I opted for the deep purple hue).

The application was horrible.  The liquid liner came out somehow clumpy, like an old mascara.  It didn't apply evenly at all.  I tried running the closed tube under hot water to loosen it up, but it didn't seem to help matters.  The formula just isn't good. 

I will say that the liner is very much waterproof.  When I tried to wash it off, it barely came off, even with a heavy duty makeup remover.  Upon closer inspection, I noticed that it had the same feel to it as the glue you use to apply false eyelashes.  It was sticky and actually ended up sticking to my lashes and clumping them together a bit.  I literally had to tug at this plastic-esque liner for a while to fully remove it.  And it took a few lashes with it.  That's unacceptable.

Milani, why would you do this?!

The Open-Toed Shoe Pledge

This is more of a summer post, but since I wear open-toed shoes year-round, I feel it's appropriate.  Ladies, from time to time we must all be reminded of some essential beauty and style rules. The following came to my inbox the other day and I decided I must share the wisdom with all of you!

The Open-Toed Shoe Pledge

I pledge to follow these rules when wearing sandals and other open-toe shoes:

• I promise to always wear sandals that fit. My toes will not hang over and touch the ground, nor will my heels spill over the backs. And the sides and tops of my feet will not pudge out between the straps.
• I will vow to keep the polish fresh, intact and chip-free. I will not cheat and just touch up my big toe.
• I will sand down any mounds of skin before they turn hard and yellow.
• I will wax the hairs off my big toe.
• I won't wear pantyhose even if my misinformed girlfriend, coworker, mother, sister tells me the toe seam really will stay under my toes if I tuck it there.
• If a strap breaks, I won't duct-tape, pin, glue or tuck it back into place hoping it will stay put. I will get my shoe fixed or toss it.
• I will not live in corn denial; rather I will lean on my good friend Dr. Scholl's if my feet need him.
• I will resist the urge to buy jelly shoes at Payless for the low, low price of $4.99 even if my feet are small enough to fit into the kids' sizes. This is out of concern for my safety, and the safety of others. No one can walk properly when standing in a pool of sweat and I would hate to take someone down with me as I fall and break my ankle.
• I will take my toe ring off toward the end of the day if my toes swell and begin to look like Vienna sausages.
• I will be brutally honest with my girlfriend/sister/coworker when she asks me if her feet are too ugly to wear sandals. Someone has to tell her that her toes are as long as my fingers and no sandal makes creepy feet look good.
• I will promise if I wear flip flops that I will ensure that they actually flip and flop, making the correct noise while walking and I will swear NOT to slide or drag my feet while wearing them.
  I will promise to throw away any white/off-white sandals that show signs of wear... nothing is tackier than dirty white sandals.

Beauty Boo-Boo: Lancôme Ôscillation Powerfoundation

I'm so over the whole vibrating makeup thing that's been going on.  I don't see how anything vibrating (no matter how "micro" the vibrations are) can help anyone apply makeup better.  Why would it possibly be needed?  I tried some of the mascaras out there, and most recently I tried Lancôme's Ôscillation Powerfoundation. I was not impressed.


As with the mascaras, I found application to be a little tricky. I don't know if I'm shakier than most gals out there, but I can apply other makeup without any similar issues. When using the mascara, I could easily lean down on my elbow to keep my arm straight when applying.  It's tougher to replicate that when applying foundation. 

Though the foundation claims to give off 7,000 micro-vibrations per minute, the shakiness is still a bit visible and apparent when trying to use the product. That is not to say that it's as shaky as say a Sonic toothbrush, but it's still a bit weird-feeling.


Once I deposited enough of the foundation onto my face, I actually had to go over it with a makeup sponge before I felt like everything was blended sufficiently.


Oh, and the foundation is $48!  I've used many other foundations that were less than half that price that work a million times better.


No one should need to "turn their makeup on".  I think I'll save my vibrating for the bedroom! ;) (that was a joke courtesy of my boyfriend who thinks he is oh so hilarious).

Skincare To Go!

Oh Dr. Brandt, you have captured my heart once again. 

I am so ticked by Dr. Brandt's new Skincare To Go sets!  There are three fab options this season: Pores No More To Go, Blemishes No More To Go, and Lineless To Go. 

The kits are perfect for gifting (even if the gift is for yourself).  You can use 'em for traveling, or to get a taste of what Dr. Brant has to offer.  It's a great way to sample the line, as each kit is around $50. 


Dr. Brandt is well-known for having amazing skincare products.  I've been a long-time fan of the Pores No More Pore Refiner, and with the set I got to try out the rest of the line, which I am now obsessed with!

You can grab the sets at Sephora, or online at drbrandtskincare.com.