Monday, April 13, 2015

Never pay more than $10 for your mascara!

Hello beautiful people!

I've been thinking about this post for a long time, and the more I think about it, the more urgency I feel to write it. Here's the deal...
I am a mascara ADDICT.
I don't know if there is a stronger word for my addiction, but if there is, I need to know. My obsession with mascara is out of control. It's my favorite beauty product of ALL TIME. You can see my current mascara collection below:

UNREAL, right? Only a crazy person would have this much mascara! (Shout out to my summer swap buddy from last summer - Puppy Mom of 3 - who sent me a ton of the mascaras that you are currently seeing! <3 you, girl!)

But here's the deal. You can have amazing fabulous lashes without spending a ton of money! For someone who loves mascara, I have tried A LOT of them, and some of the very best ones will surprise you. This is because they are from brands you see in your local stores every day.

Here's a look at Sephora's top selling mascaras at the moment...

These are definitely the most talked-about mascaras on the internets. To me, that's a lot of money for a product that you will only use for a month or two. Some people will argue that it's worth it, but I've tried all of those mascaras. I would grab my top 3 over those mascaras any day. But what if you want to try the newest mascara? You can. And you won't have to splurge. I promise.

Here are my tips on how to NEVER spend over $10 for any mascara!

1. BUY DRUGSTORE!
I was a mascara snob for a long time. The more I try a variety of beauty products, the more I am discovering my love for drugstore products. Some of them are REALLY GOOD! My very favorite mascaras are from the drugstore. Even with all of my high-end choices (Lancome and Benefit, I'm looking at you!) I constantly reach for these day-in and day-out.
THE FAVORITES:
L'Oreal Paris Voluminous Butterfly Mascara ($7.99 at Target)

Maybelline The Falsies Flared (Only $4.19 at Ulta right now! Regular $6.99)

Wet n' Wild MegaLength Mascara (Less than $3 at most stores!)
Disclaimer - I usually layer this mascara over others as my last step. I don't usually use it on it's own, but I have! Just wanted to throw that in there!
 
2. Sales, sales, SALES!
Always buy on sale! There are even sales on Prestige beauty products at times - Ulta has 20% off coupons from time to time that are good on prestige beauty. They ALWAYS have half-price products during their 21 Days of Beauty events. They also frequently have a "$3.50 off $10" coupon - which you can use on drugstore products. (Like my very favorite mascaras mentioned above!) You can also get coupons for drugstore products in your Sunday paper, and on websites like coupons.com! (There are currently high-value coupons for L'Oreal, Maybelline, and Cover Girl! Just click the coupons.com link!)

3. Consider buying the sample size.
Let's be honest - it's only a matter of time until your mascara decides to dry out on you. It may be months, or it may only be weeks. But it will happen. Consider purchasing the sample/travel size of the mascara you are looking for. You will be able to switch up your mascara sooner, and if you hate it, you aren't out the full price. Win!

4. Join a beauty perks program!
Most beauty lovers are members of one or more beauty programs offered online or in stores. Ulta has a rewards program called ULTAmate Rewards where you can earn points for your purchases and get a free birthday gift. Sephora has the same type of program called Beauty Insider. These two stores also offer free samples with your online orders - and at Sephora you can pick your samples. If you keep an eye out for what they are offering, you can usually pick up a sample size of one or more mascaras. Also - keep an eye out for codes to get additional free samples added to your order! Check the Weekly Specials page often for the latest promo codes.

5. Join a sample program!
Last but not least - join a sample program! You can join many programs for $10 a month (like ipsy and Birchbox) OR you can get the Walmart Beauty Box (seasonal - samples are free, you just pay $5 shipping) or Target Beauty Box (seasonal - $5). You won't always get mascara, but when you do, it's usually full size! And, you never pay over $10!

I hope that the mascara lovers out there find this post helpful - and I hope it inspires you to always look for deals!

Wednesday, April 1, 2015

Fresh New Moisturizer for All Skin Types

It's finally spring time which means I FINALLY have some time for the blog! I fully intend to update as much as possible from here forward, so what better way to start back up then with a new product for you!

I got the chance to try out a new product from Neutrogena over the past few weeks - it's the Hydro Boost Water Gel! From the Neutrogena website:


Hydro Boost Water Gel instantly quenches dry skin and keeps it looking smooth, supple and hydrated day after day. The unique water gel formula absorbs quickly, like a gel, but has the long-lasting, intense moisturizing power of a cream. It boosts skin's hydration level and locks it in all day.

Naturally found in the skin, hydrating hyaluronic acid acts as a sponge for dry skin cells, moisturizing with up to 1,000 times its weight in water, resulting in more supple and smooth skin.

  • Oil-free
  • Non-comedogenic
  • Purified Hyaluronic acid
  • Wearable under makeup 
Image taken from neutrogena.com

I was really excited to receive this product in a VoxBox - it could not have come at a better time. My skin has been unreasonably dry this winter. I've never really had dry skin before - it's always been oily. Even during the winter. But this year I just cannot get rid of the rough, dry patches on and around my nose. I also have a dry area at the top of my forehead. I was excited to see if this product could help alleviate my dry skin issues!

When I opened the product, I was surprised at how watery it was. I ended up spilling some of it all over my arm because I didn't realize it was going to be that way - so be careful when opening! Aside from it being watery, the texture feels amazingly good when you touch the product. It feels light and watery, but not overly wet. It's really something you just have to feel to understand. I loved the feel of it right away. I then applied it to my face. It felt nice going on, but it tingled a bit on my skin. Not horribly, just a slight tingle - definitely the hyaluronic acid. After a few minutes of letting it sink in, my face had a familiar feel. It was soft and felt hydrated in places, but it felt like it feels after I apply Benefit's Porefessional. Which is a good thing because it always feels smooth after that. I was a little bit bummed when it didn't work wonders on my dry patches, though. (But really, nothing helps the dry patches!)

I was a little disappointed that the ingredients include dimethicone. I know it's approved by the FDA for use in cosmetics, but I don't necessarily think that it's good for MY skin type. (You know - large, easily clogged pores, acne-prone...) I do think that if your skin is normal - not overly dry, no gigantic pores - you will definitely enjoy this product!

I played around with the best time to use this product, and now I am using it at the end of my nighttime routine after applying a heavier moisturizer. I am loving how my face feels before bed now! I think my skin just needs a bit more hydration - I may be a better candidate for the Hydro Boost Gel Cream Extra-Dry Skin.

I would definitely recommend this product because it definitely works on the "normal" areas on my face. You can buy the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel at your local pharmacy or grocery store. It retails for $18.99.


Disclaimer - I received this product complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes. All opinions are my own.
Hydro Boost Water Gel instantly quenches dry skin and keeps it looking smooth, supple and hydrated day after day. The unique water gel formula absorbs quickly, like a gel, but has the long-lasting, intense moisturizing power of a cream. It boosts skin's hydration level and locks it in all day. - See more at: http://www.neutrogena.com/product/hydro+boost+water+gel.do#sthash.OIWxvI2x.dpuf
Hydro Boost Water Gel instantly quenches dry skin and keeps it looking smooth, supple and hydrated day after day. The unique water gel formula absorbs quickly, like a gel, but has the long-lasting, intense moisturizing power of a cream. It boosts skin's hydration level and locks it in all day.
- See more at: http://www.neutrogena.com/product/hydro+boost+water+gel.do#sthash.OIWxvI2x.dpuf
Hydro Boost Water Gel instantly quenches dry skin and keeps it looking smooth, supple and hydrated day after day. The unique water gel formula absorbs quickly, like a gel, but has the long-lasting, intense moisturizing power of a cream. It boosts skin's hydration level and locks it in all day.
- See more at: http://www.neutrogena.com/product/hydro+boost+water+gel.do#sthash.OIWxvI2x.dpuf
Hydro Boost Water Gel instantly quenches dry skin and keeps it looking smooth, supple and hydrated day after day. The unique water gel formula absorbs quickly, like a gel, but has the long-lasting, intense moisturizing power of a cream. It boosts skin's hydration level and locks it in all day.
- See more at: http://www.neutrogena.com/product/hydro+boost+water+gel.do#sthash.OIWxvI2x.dpuf