Em's Beauty

Forever 21 Haul and COUPON CODE!!

2012-06-17T12:45:00.000-07:00

Hey Everyone!! I just did a big Forever 21 Haul and I have a coupon code for 10% off and free shipping when you spend $50!!

I give you the code at the end of the video, check it out and let me know what you think :)

I show some really cute and trendy sandals, bracelets, tank tops, a tote bag and more!!

10 Makeup Tutorial Videos, Out of the Shower to Out of the Door!

2012-06-16T18:22:00.000-07:00

Even though it's been ages since I've posted, I still love you guys!! I have just been so focused on school that I haven't been able to sit down and write about beauty products, although I still think about them all of the time! I have thought of so many ideas for blog posts but just haven't gotten to it and it makes me sad! OK so here's a super big video post that I made on YouTube!! It's a group of 10 mini-videos that I created following me step by step from my look with no makeup, just out of the shower, to my full made-up face :) I hope you guys enjoy! Let me know what you think!!

Tweezing my brows:

Applying concealer:

Now for some foundation!

Don't forget the powder :)

Now prime for eyeshadow and apply under eye concealer as needed:

Time for some brow-bone highlight:

Now to finish the eyeshadow look:

Line your upper and lower lash lines:

Finish the face with blush and bronzer:

And last but definitely not least, brow gel and mascara:

Enjoy!!

New Youtube Videos!

2012-02-17T13:53:00.000-08:00

Hey Everyone!!

I've posted some new videos on YouTube and I think you guys will like them! Some are on make up and some of them are just random vlog's on my life. Here are the beauty videos, let me know what you think!

HOT Lip Combo

2011-07-23T15:21:00.000-07:00

Hello beautiful readers :)

Just a quick post to show you all a summertime lip pair that I've been loving. It's comprised of Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick in Dreamy with Bare Escentuals Buxom Lip Gloss in Rosie. It's a beautiful rose-colored lip that I think looks great in the summertime.

What are your summertime lip combos that you're loving right now

Cheap, Low-Cal Way to Spice up your Frozen Meal

2011-07-22T18:53:00.000-07:00

This post is a bit off the make-up track but I think eating well and conveniently is important and makes me feel beautiful inside and out!

Earlier this afternoon I went to a hot yoga class which really drained me! When I got home I was way too hungry for a Lean Cuisine but too tired to make anything else :(

I was able to bulk up my meal without bulking up the calories and the result was delicious! Let me show you all how, it's really easy!

I had the Spaghetti with Meatballs meal so I thought what better way to add more than to add tomatoes to my sauce? I put a can of petite diced peeled tomatoes in a saucepan while I microwaved my lean cuisine. Then, I shook in quite a bit of Italian Seasoning. When my Lean Cuisine was heated I put it in a wide, shallow glass bowl. I then used a spoon with holes in it to place my seasoned tomatoes on top without adding too much liquid. The result was so delicious, my tomatoes mixed in with the sauce on the meal perfectly and it ended up practically doubling my meal!

Here's the nutrition breakdown:

Lean Cuisine Spaghetti with Meatballs

Cal: 270
Total Fat: 6g
Sat fat: 2g
Cholesterol: 25mg
Sodium: 580mg
Potassium: 510mg
Total Carb: 38g (3g fiber, 6g sugar)
Protein: 16g
Vit A: 8%
Vit C: 10%
Calcium: 4%
Iron: 15%

Tomatoes Petite Diced

Calories: 93
Fat: 0g
Cholesterol: 0g
Sodium 220mg
Total Carb: 4g (1g fiber, 3g sugar)
Protein: 1g
Vit A: 35%
Vit C: 70%
Calcium: 7.5%
Iron: 14%

Note: this is not one serving, I used the entire can which is 3.5 servings, so these numbers reflect the entire can

Total meal

Calories: 363
Total Fat: 6g
Sat fat: 2g
Cholesterol: 25mg
Sodium: 800mg (this is a little high, be weary as you eat the rest of the day!)
Protein: 17g
Vit A: 43%
Vit C: 80%
Calcium: 11.5%
Iron: 29%

I will say, it's best to make food yourself as frozen food tends to have a high amount of sodium, but I think this is a great way to get a filling meal without too much effort. Also - if you drain the tomatoes you will probably cut the sodium down considerably :)

Let me know what you think of the low-cal, nutrient dense recipes!!

How to get 3 Essie Nailpolishes for $12.50 (plus tax)

2011-07-15T18:46:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone!

I know it's been forever, I've been taking an Anatomy class this summer and it's basically taken over my life!

I'm still taking the class but I just HAD to post this awesome deal going on at ULTA! It's been one of the few beauty purchases I've had time to make!

Right now ULTA is having a sale on Essie, buy two and get one free. They retail for $8 each so that would be $12.50 but if you go to their website you can print a coupon for $3.50 off a purchase of $10 or more. So it's as easy as that to get 3 Essie colors for $12.50!!

Here are the colors I purchased:

On the left is Smooth Sailing, a pretty blue that looks purple in some lights and blue in others with shimmer that looks silver in some lights and pale pink in others. Smooth Sailing is from the current summer collection, Brazilliant.

In the middle is Innocent. It's a beautiful dusty rose color but this is actually the color I'm the least excited about. I thought it would be sort of a classier, subtle polish that I could wear to like a job interview but when I see it on my skin, it looks a bit dull. I will have to put it on and wear it for a few days to really have a good idea as polishes always seem to grow on me :)

On the right is the color I'm wearing now, Vermillionaire. It's a red-orange creme and I really love it. It isn't as traffic cone orange as Brazilliant and I personally think it looks a bit classier. I had intended to buy Brazilliant but when I saw them in person I thought Vermillionaire would be more worthwhile for me personally. I painted my nails with this color on Tuesday and it's now Friday. There are a few tiny chips but overall I think this manicure's in pretty good shape!

I've already received compliments on Vermillionaire and I can't wait to try Smooth Sailing next! I hope you guys find this great deal while it's still going on!

Happy painting :)

wet n wild Haul Under $10!!

2011-04-13T13:58:00.000-07:00

Rite Aid is having a great sale on wet n wild products right now and I just couldn't resist!

I have been waiting for a wet n wild drugstore deal for a while and I finally came across one!* This deal is for 40% off! I have seen a lot of buy one get one 50% offs in the past, but 40% is a lot better! Buy one get one 50% off is really only 25% off (at best) because you have to pay full price for one item and half for the other. With 40% off you can get however many items you want and they're all discounted by 40%!

So here's what I bought, all of this was UNDER $10 including tax!! (In CA):

From left to right: Lust 248 eyeshadow, lipstick 502A, Wild Shine nail color in Wildcard and Metallica, Speed gloss in 946 Crazed, and Knock on Wood 383B eyeshadow.

Here's a closer look at the eyeshadows:

Lust

I've heard really great things about wed n wild eyeshadows and I've been a long lover of their lipsticks (lots of color selection for a very small price!!)

The eyeshadows did not disappoint. They were actually much more intense colors than I thought and the first time I tried them I had to stop myself from getting too much on my brush. That being said, I would be careful of these colors as they are more intense/slightly darker than they appear in the palette. The formulations of these eyeshadows are very good, they apply smooth and are very pigmented. I had a little bit of trouble blending them but I think that will come with practice as I'm not used to shadows that are as powdered as these are. I know some people don't like powdered eyeshadows but with a light hand you can create some beautiful looks with these.

The Lust palette is my favorite of the two! It's organized with matte shades on the left and shimmery shades on the right. The top two colors are more eyelid/browbone colors, the next two are deeper more colorful shades and the bottom two can be used for your crease or as a powder liner. It was $4.99 originally and $2.99 after the discount.

Knock on Wood

The Knock on Wood palette has three shades with their suggested uses stamped onto them. The top shadow has some tiny glitter and is dusty rose color, the middle shadow is a deep chocolate brown and the third is a plum/burgundy. The bottom two shadows are not glittery but they are not matte either, they have some shimmer to them (so be aware if you are only interested in matte colors). It was originaly $2.99 on sale for $1.79.

Oh and definitely don't be afraid to use the colors other than how they're listed! I used the browbone color on my lid and the eyelid color on my outer corner instead and I thought that was a really pretty look! That's the best thing with these palettes you can experiment with different combinations and they all look so pretty together!

I have not been able to try either of the nail polishes yet as I've just recently had a pedicure but I'm in love with how pretty of a color Wild Card is (the purple) and I think Metallica is a color that is coming in this spring. Each of them was only $0.99 and I got them for $0.59 on sale.

Probably the most interesting thing I bought was the "Speed Gloss" which is a new product by wet n wild. It claims to have energy-boosting ingredients for a fusion of intense color and shine, with a kick! I thought that sounded amusing even if it didn't work and the color was a really pretty purple-berry (although it comes off more berry than it looked. I will say I honestly did feel more energized after trying it on but that is probably just because I was so excited for the awesome deals I got! The applicator is plastic and I like how it's a squeeze tube so I won't waste as much product but I am not sure how easy it will be to squeeze all of the gloss out. This isn't a sticky formula which is nice, but stay power is just so-so. Regular price, $3.99, on sale for $2.39.

The last product I purchased was one of their regular line lipsticks. this is a really pretty color (a bit darker than I usually go for) but I figured it was such a good deal, why not? I have a few of their lipsticks and some of them I really love so it's worth the $0.99 ($0.59 on sale)! This lipstick is a berry color with a blue undertone but gold shimmer!

*I've posted all my tips on shopping drugstore circulars in my "Awesome Steals at CVS" post...check it out!

March FAVORITES!

2011-04-11T16:10:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone!

It's been a while since I've posted my monthly favorites! I had intended this to be a video but mini update on my life: I was out of town 16 days of the last month AND I moved on Saturday so I've been incredibly busy. I would say that a video is coming but I don't think my room is going to be clean/unpacked enough to film a video in for a while.

Enough of the intro, let's get into the goods!

From top to bottom: Essence of Beauty Big Night Out, Gosh Darling, and ELF Baby Doll.

Starting with makeup, I'm LOVING my Gosh Darling Lipstick! This was a gift from my sister (as she lives in the UK) and I wear it all the time especially now that it's the springtime and lighter nude colors are really going to be in. I'm not positive about the price, I would guess it's under $20 but don't quote me. If you have any friends in the UK I would recommend you asking for this :) Oh but don't tell them to look in a "Gosh" store because those are for comic books haha

Another lip product I've been loving is the Essence of Beauty XXXL Shine Lip Gloss in Big Night Out. This lip gloss is such a wearable deep lavender. It's so flattering on and has blue undertones which help make your teeth look whiter. This really is a go to lip gloss and yes, you can wear this to work! Don't be afraid of the purple it comes off very pretty and neutral (for a purple)! Besides the beautiful color the formulation is really good as well, not sticky and very moisturizing. I found this at Ulta for $1.99!!

The last lip product I've been using a lot of is the ELF Plumping Lip Glaze in Baby Doll. This is a plumper but it does not hurt! There are two sides, one has the plumping agent which you put on first, it's sort of clear/silvery/white and feels very cool and tingly (in a good way!). Then you put on the color/gloss which in this case is a very baby pink. It's a really good color for this spring as the pinky/coral tone is definitely in. As with all plumpers I've ever tried, there's some plumping but it's never hugely noticeable. Regardless I've been wearing it a ton and it's only $1 available at some Targets and eyeslipsface.com

My next product is a high end product, the Mac Eyeshadow in Trax. I've been using this color in my crease a ton lately, big surprise it's purple! I know there's been a bit of a purple theme to my March favorites. It's a velvet finish color that is described as a "Burgundy-Plum with shimmer" but I don't really see that much burgundy I see more of a plum. Like the Essence lip gloss it's a more neutral purple, it's definitely dark but when you put it on it doesn't look like you're a five year old dressing up for her princess pageant! I bought this from a CCO (outlet that sells Mac and other Estee Lauder brand products) in a 6 piece palete for $26.75. You can get if from a Mac counter or MacCosmetics.com for $14.50 individually (although for me at least, that's A LOT for eyeshadow! I would recommend buying it in a palette or from a CCO if you ever come across one).

For face, I'm loving the Hard Candy Sheer Envy Face Primer. I purchased this in a kit from Walmart (where they sell Hard Candy) as a mini size and I'm basically doing everything I can (folding/squeezing/squashing) to make this last before I can make it to Walmart for a replacement. The full size is only $8 and it's a good size amount of product. I've been using the tiny mini size pretty much every day for over a month and there's still some in there!!

Next is the Rimmel Lasting Finish Foundation. I've been using this foundation almost daily for the last month and really loving it. It's long-lasting and the finish is very natural. I don't feel like people can see my makeup at all when I wear this. It really makes me feel more confident! I tried using another product today and I literally have been saying to myself all morning "ARGH why didn't I use my Rimmel Lasting Finish??" Bonus tip: try applying with your fingers rather than a brush. I have tried both and I think my fingers work really well with this product. It costs around $7-$8 from drugstores.

This next product I've been using a lot especially because six of my last 16 days out of town have been in Phoenix, AZ....It's the CVS brand "Faces" Sunscreen. I really love this sunscreen because it's oil free and won't clog your pores, has SPF 30, and dries without any residue. I really hate it when I can feel the sunscreen on my body (especially on my face) and this stuff really does seem to disappear after rubbing it in. $6.99 at CVS.

To go with the sun protecting theme I want to add in my Michael Kors purple aviators!! These are from an outlet store and were $59 (plus tax). I really love that these are purple (one of my favorite colors). Most aviators can look a little bit masculine but the purple color counteracts that pretty well :)

And last but not least, my current favorite face wash is the Neutrogena Acne Stress Control Face Wash. It has microbeads that you can massage into your face to exfoliate and make your skin really smooth. I really like the way my skin looks and feels after using this. I had purchased because I knew I'd be stressed out in March (which I was) and thankfully I didn't break out too much at all :) I bought this at Target for $6.99.

OK that's it for my favorites in March! Sorry it's a bit late, the good news is that all of these products I'm still using and think will be carried into the summer for me. I hope you all have some ideas for your next shopping trip! Oh and the images I have are just of the products I had in my purse (I mean, that's how much I love these, I've been lugging them around everywhere with me!!).

Donate to Japan AND Save Money on Makeup!! WIN-WIN!!

2011-03-23T18:40:00.000-07:00

Hey Everyone I just wanted to post some information on an awesome deal that I was e-mailed about.

Right now through April 10th you can save 20% off on Eyes Lips Face (ELF) cosmetics (one of my favorite high quality bargain beauty brands!!!!) AND 5% will be donated to the Red Cross for Japan! Granted there are better deals from ELF like 50% off or free shipping (if you spend over $35 then it actually isn't a better deal) but I think it's worthwhile to make an order that you know a portion of will go to the red cross in Japan. I really do think that this is an awesome way to save some money off already amazing and affordable makeup while simultaneously helping out people who can really use it in Japan. Thumbs up to ELF for offering this deal!

Here's there site:
http://www.eyeslipsface.com/

Promo code: JAPAN

Some ELF Products I love:

Eyes

Liquid Eyeliner in Black $1 (I like black A LOT more than plum which I would not recommend)
Eye Shadow Primer $1
Eye Brightening Quad $1

Favorites include: Drama, Butternut, Luxe, (ordering Day 2 Night, heard great things!)

Eye Shadow Brush $1

I USE THIS EVERY SINGLE DAY!

Eye lash curler $1
Wet Gloss Lash and Brow Clear Mascara $1

Nails

Nail polish $1

Great for trendy colors you are worried you won't love past this season!

Lips

Super Glossy Lip Shine with SPF 15 $1

Favorites include: Candlelight, Goddess and Pink Kiss

Hypershine Gloss $1

Fairy

Plumping Lip Glaze $1

Baby Doll

Therapeutic Conditioning Lip Balm $1

Some people find it waxy, I suggest only applying a little but it's the smoothest best feeling balm to me, I really like it and it's great to keep in my purse.

Face

Studio Contouring Blush and Bronzer $3
Studio Powerd Brush $3
Kabuki Face Brush $5
Studio Complexion Brush $3
All Over Color Stick (concealer type) $1
High Definition Powder $6

Hope that gives you a few ideas :)

Awesome STEALS at CVS!! And some tips on drugstore savings...

2011-03-22T09:22:00.000-07:00

(Note, I've bolded some tips in here that will help you ensure you're getting an awesome deal from the drugstore)

Something I do regularly when I'm bored at work (when I'm no writing this blog!) is scan through the current drugstore circulars. You can find them online on the store's websites. The makeup deals are all usually on one page about 3/4 of the way back. They'll sometimes have some really great deals like buy one get one 50% off or 40% off a certain brand, etc. I can then plan out a trip to a drugstore to buy a certain product that I'm lusting for that's on sale! There are so many makeup products I want to try that there is always at least one brand on sale that I'm interested in.

So yesterday I was going through the circulars hoping to see Wet 'n Wild on sale (I've been wanting to get some of their new eye shadows) and I saw that at CVS they had the Skin Renew Anti-Dark Circle and Anti-Puff Eye Rollers on sale. I had been hearing about these from a few makeup gurus and wanted to give them a try so when I saw them on sale for $10 my interest was peaked. I checked the Target and Walmart websites to see what they typically retail for (sometimes deals at Drugstores look good but they're not actually the best price) and I saw that in other stores they sell for about $12 so saving $4 for both seemed like a good enough deal for me.

On left: Anti-Dark Circle

On right: Anti-Puff

I stopped at CVS on my way home from my yoga class and while shopping for the eye rollers I spotted out of the corner of my eye the new Physician's Formula Mood Boosting powders on a display. This display was pretty hidden though, it was on the top shelf sort of pushed back and their stock was dwindling. This made sense because I think they came out for Valentine's day (don't quote me though) so they're probably limited edition. I have been hearing A LOT about these powders and how great they are but I had totally forgotten until I saw that display.

Their blush retails for around $12 and the bronzer for $14 which like most Physician's Formula products is on the more expensive side of drug store but right now CVS is having a sale where all Physician's Formula products are 40% off! But it gets even better, they also had these little coupons taped on that were good for $3 off! That made the blush only $4.19 and the bronzer $5.39! I know these sales vary by location but at my CVS the Physician's Formula sale will be going on through Saturday the 26th so I would definitely check it out especially before they run out of these powders!

On left: Blush in Rose

On right: Bronzer in Light Bronzer

They also had a face powder in beige but I decided to purchase the blush and bronzer. I tried them this morning and so far I'm happy with the results. The blush is a very pretty and flattering color that will look good on a lot of people and the bronzer is very natural (I have it in light) with some shimmer but it isn't noticeable to the point where you can't wear it all over your face without looking like an oil slick. They also have these really cute heart patterns that get cuter every time I look at them :)

They have some sort of mood boosting ingredient in them which I'm not sure if that's really going to do anything BUT my mood was definitely boosted by the deal I got! I couldn't wait to share it with you all :)

I know you think that's the end of the deals I found but it isn't! When I went to pick up the Garnier Eye Rollers I noticed a sign that said if I spend $15 on Garnier then I'll get a $5 off coupon for my next purchase at CVS...so buying the two rollers at $10 each=$20 total which earned me a $5 off coupon! So far I'm happy with the Anti-Dark Circle roller (only used it once) and the Anti-Puff I'll have to wait to really see how it works because I had an uncharacteristically good night's sleep last night.

Even if you aren't in the market for the Physician's Formula Mood Boosting Powders or the Garnier Eye Rollers I have some good tips for ensuring a good deal at the drugstore:

Be sure to check online for sales at different local drugstores so you can find the best deal.
Compare prices at different store websites that typically sell products for less money than drugstores (Walmart and Target are my go-tos).
Go to that drugstore with a certain brand or product in mind that you know will be on sale and a good deal. Try to avoid purchasing products that are not on sale because chances are in a week or so they will be! Also they're probably cheaper at Walmart or Target so just do your best to resist!
Look out for coupons that are taped to products, if the product isn't on sale save that coupon and plan to come back next week in case it is on sale then (but check the expiration date to make sure you have time).
Take advantage of deals that give you money back coupons if you spend a certain amount on a type of product but ONLY if you actually WANT the products. It is not a deal if you don't want it! Don't let them trick you!

Tips for a Long Lasting Pedicure

2011-03-08T11:45:00.000-08:00

Hey Everyone!

I just got a pedicure last night and I wanted to share some tips to get your pedicure to last longer! Mine typically last a few weeks which I've heard from a lot of my friends is not always the case so I wanted to go over a few things I do that I think really help!

First: Choose a good nail polish brand! In my opinion some nail polish brands last a lot longer than others. It can be worth it to spend $8.50 or so for OPI or China Glaze (I hear Essie and Orly work well also) if you want your pedicure to last.

Second: You want to make sure your feet are clean and dry, especially around your toenails. If you're doing this yourself that means washing your feet in soap and water and cleaning the dirt from underneath your nails. Nail polish will chip a lot faster if it's put over dirty nails instead of dry, clean nails. If you're in a salon they usually do this but if you don't think they're doing the best job of ensuring that your nails are clean or they aren't washing off the cuticle oil enough then you should speak up. I would politely ask if they could make sure that they've removed everything.

Third: If you can without being too messy, it sometimes helps to paint the edge of your nails as well. This is easier on your fingers because the nails are usually longer, but if you can get a line of polish on the edge of the nail (I'm talking about the edge you cut not like the sides) then it can help keep your polish from chipping.

Fourth: Use a top coat! Top coats will not only make your nails look shiny they will also serve as a top layer to protect your polish.

Fifth: Every few days it may help to re-coat your nails in top coat. I would do this step before you see any chipping as a preventative measure. This is also good if you notice that your nails aren't as shiny as they were before. Sometimes after the beach or just regular wear the shine might fade. This is optional as I don't find I need to do this if I follow the other steps.

Sixth: If you are using a polish at a nail salon and you love it, I would buy that same polish. You can either buy it from that salon (sometimes they will sell it to you for a reduced price, like $6 for OPI) or from a store that sells that brand of nail polish. You can then use that polish to cover any small chips that you may have and really extend the life of your pedicures. If the color you've chosen is pricier and not a polish that you are dying to add to your collection or you can't find it (sometimes they discontinue colors) then you can definitely buy a cheaper version of a similar color to cover up chips. You'd be surprised at how well a similar color will blend in on your toes. For this purpose I like to by NYC nail polishes which are only around $1 and they have some really fun colors.

OK I think those are all the tips I can think of right now, but they should really help you all keep those pedicures looking amazing for at least an extra few days!

I'd love to hear how it's worked for you!

Ulta Automatic Eyeliner Review

2011-03-07T16:45:00.000-08:00

Hey Everyone!

The other day I went out to dinner with my boyfriend and the whole time I was distracted by the huge sign on the Ulta next door. The sign was advertising a free makeup bag filled with makeup with a $20 (I think) Ulta makeup purchase. I must have been very good that night because my boyfriend gave in and came with to see if I could find $20 worth of makeup I'd like to purchase. Needless to say I had to hurry before his patience ran out.

Fortunately, I had run out of my favorite eyeliner the Ulta Automatic Eyeliner in black. Unfortunately the next day I ran out of the black/brown color so I'm kicking myself for not buying that too. Anyway that wasn't $20 I ended up buying the Ulta Natural Eye Kit as well but that's for another review. When I purchased my replacement eyeliner I realized I should write a review for you all because I do like this eyeliner over any other drugstore eyeliner pencil and I've tried my fair share.

Just a little background because I know that Ulta's aren't everywhere: Ulta's are cosmetics stores that sell drugstore brands along side of higher end brands like Smashbox, Benefit, Urban Decay, Stila, OPI, etc. They also have their own makeup line which I've tried quite a few products from. In that line they sell the automatic eyeliners and my favorite colors are black and black/brown which I like a lot better than the other browns which are too light for me.

These eyeliners are my go-tos for my waterline and lower lash line. I'll use them on the top too if I don't need the smooth line I get from a liquid liner. They have lids that you can take off and then you twist the top so the eyeliner automatically "sharpens". I like automatic liners a lot better than pencil because you don't have to deal with a sharpener and sometimes the wood from regular liners will get stained black so you think it's the liner until you rub it on your sensitive eyes and realize it's actually wood and it really hurts! I never have that issue with automatic liners. These are also really long lasting. My second favorite automatic liner is from cover girl define a line but it's not nearly as long wearing as Ulta's. Another bonus is that the black is a very true and dark black even after only one layer. I don't like to re-apply several times just to get a good black color on my waterline. I don't think it's good to be stretching out my eyes like that.

This brand eyeliner is great, they last a long time, have good color pay-off, are easy to apply and they're pretty inexpensive at $7 regular price but please don't buy them regular price! Ulta.com has lots of coupons (most common is $3.50 off $10) and you can more likely than not find a deal like the one I did where you spend $xx and get free makeup or you buy like 3 Ulta products for $15 or something like that. It won't take too much reasearch to save a substantial amount of money! Or check back here and I'll try to post good deals I see pop up :) Right if you use the coupon code 68830 at Ulta.com you can get $3.50 off a $10 purchase. You can also print the coupon off from their site and use it in store.

Happy lining!

Mini Outlet Haul

2011-02-05T00:30:00.000-08:00

Swatches to come, but it's late and I wanted to get this up :)

Eliminate your PIT STAINS!

2010-12-21T14:18:00.000-08:00

Warning: the topic of this post is extremely gross but I'm taking a bullet and writing about this because there are girls out there suffering from this easily preventable problem and I have the power to help! I would never let one of my readers suffer from pit stains if I could help it!

This tip came from my sister and it's a good one :)

When I was a lot younger I had complained to my sister about a gross pit stain on my P.E. shirt and she told me something that I was shocked to hear: the very deoderant that I had been layering on to prevent my pit stains was in fact the CAUSE OF MY PIT STAINS! Anti-persperant deoderant (at least all of them that I've ever seen) has an ingredient in it called aluminum. Aluminum is what really stains your cute white tops that embarrassing yellow color!

So my beauty tip to all of you who are reading this, when you're wearing white or other light colors, DITCH THE ALUMINUM DEODERANT!

But wait, what are you supposed to wear? You can't just go without deoderant at all! That would not be beautiful. The good news is that there are brands of deoderant out there that are aluminum-free!

I personally like to use Tom's of Maine (note the "Aluminum-Free" text on the packaging):

There are lots of other types besides Toms and they're easy to find. They sell these at big stores like Target, not just at pricey health food stores.

Oh and if there is ever a time when you really need the extra anti-persperant that aluminum gives you I would just remember to wear darker colored clothing so the stain won't actually show up. And don't be super grossed out if you see someone with one, it's not really their body making that color it's just the type of deoderant they use. Give them the tip and my URL bc they obviously need to check this blog out hehe

Hopefully this saves some of your tops from a premature trip to the dumpster, thanks for reading :)

Awesome Homemade Gift Ideas!

2010-12-08T18:15:00.000-08:00

Hey Everyone!

I wanted to let you all know about some really great homemade gift ideas!

I didn't end up making these this year but I wish I had! Hopefully I caught a few of you before you spent $$$$$ (<-- major bucks) on Christmas gifts for your girlfriends.

Homemade gift idea 1: Bath bombs

You only need a few things, the main ingredients are baking soda and citric acid which react with water to make it bubbley! You can also mold these in anything from ice cube trays to christmas ornament balls (for the round traditional look)!

Homemade gift idea 2: Lip balm

You can create these really easily and even add some color to it by mixing in your favorite lipstick! It might even lighten a color that is just a bit too dramatic for your friends.

Homemade gift idea 3: Chocolate dipped __fill in the blank__ (thanks for the idea, Katie!)

Dip anything from pretzels, oreos, candy canes, brownies, biscotti, etc. in chocolate and add non-pareils, crushed candy canes, crushed oreos...wow this is making me hungry!

Homemade gift idea 4: Bath salts

These make great gifts for your friends who let their stress get to them. Bath salts are soothing and can leave your skin soft and lightly fragranced.

Homemade gift idea 5: Body scrub

You can scent this, color this and even choose the amount of exfoliation when you create your own body scrub. You can use ingredients like honey and olive oil that are great for your skin and add epsom salts (for large grains and more exfoliation) or sugar (for finer grains and a gentler exfoliation).

There are tons of places to find step by step instructions but I wanted to give you all some ideas to get working on :)

Happy Holidays!

Beauty Bargain/Great gift idea!

2010-11-24T15:00:00.000-08:00

Hey Everyone!

Sorry it's been a few days, I have been super busy but I wanted to put this up because it's SUCH A GOOD DEAL! And it's an awesome gift idea!

They're Stila lip glazes and they come in boxes of 4. They were orriginally priced at $20 ($55 value!) but I saw them at Nordstrom Rack for $7.97!!! That's less than $2 per lip glaze! I bought both sets :)

Here they are in the box:

The box on the left is called "Twinkle Set" and on the right is "Blissful Set"

"Blissful Set" is my favorite but they're both really pretty!

The "Twinkle Set" includes Grapefruit, Mauvelous, Pinkle-Twinkle (very sparkly!), and Cherry Pie. Cherry Pie doens't look very cherry until you put it on and after a few minutes you can definitely see the cherry color.

The "Blissful Set" includes Kitten, Rose (my personal favorite!), Harmony, and Bliss. Bliss is a bit on the gloopy side but it's really pigmented for a gloss, I'm very impressed with all of these!

Each lip glaze is 0.5 fl. oz. regular size glazes are .08 fl. oz. but they cost $22 each!

Here are some swatches (Blissful is on the top and Twinkle on the bottom)

Top from left: Kitten, Rose, Harmony, Bliss

Bottom from left: Grapefruit, Mauvelous, Pinkle-Twinkle, and Cherry Pie

Oh, and the sticker with the $20 price info on it comes right off in case you give this as a gift :)

Let me know if you'd like any more info on these :)

Happy Thanksgiving!

(To those of you who celebrate it!)

My Beauty Story (TAG from Youtube)

2010-11-18T15:12:00.000-08:00

Hey Everyone!

I have been watching beauty videos on Youtube and they've been posting videos on "My Beauty Story" answering the questions bellow. I thought it would be really fun to do this and I invite EVERY ONE of you to do it too! Comment bellow or comment with a link to your blog and your story :) I would love to read about you!

OK so here we go:

1. How old were you when you started wearing makeup?
My best friend as a child used to always want to play dress up and put make up on and I HATED it!! Lol I was such a tomboy as a kid I thought it was so boring to dress up and put on makeup. That was probably like around 5 or 6. Oh how things have changed!
I love watching videos! I may or may not get into it but for now I'm enjoying blogging. I would suggest you all check them out!

2. How did you get into makeup?
I didn't really get into makeup until High School and I feel like my interest in it has grown exponentially. I started pretty slow and kept trying new things and learning new techniques as I went along.

3. What are some of your favorite brands?
Ok, so high end I really like and "WISH" for Smashbox and I like ELF for it's quality for the price. I love a lot of other brands for different things too. I think each brand has some real gems!

4. What does makeup mean to you?
Makeup is a fun way to be creative and express myself. I have so much fun doing makeup and trying out new products.

5. If you could only wear 4 products on your face what would they be?
I'm not sure if this is "face" like foundation, blush, primer etc. or like including eye shadow, mascara, lip stick... I'll say ONLY 4 products at all and I'd say tinted moisturizer, a neutral eye shadow color I could also line my eyes with, lip gloss, and a bronzey blush I could use to contour and give my face some color. Wow that's hard!

6. What is your favorite thing about makeup?
I like that I can express myself and it makes me feel more confident.

7. What do you think about drugstore makeup vs high end makeup?I love both, I think you have to do some research on drug store though or be willing to try out some duds because there are a lot! But when you find a dupe for like 10% of the price it's SO exciting :) I think there can be duds with high end makeup too.

8. What is one tip of advice you can give to a beginner?
I'd say do whatever makes you happy. I wouldn't get so involved with makeup so fast that you feel frustrated. Give yourself time and practice and enjoy it! And don't forget to flaunt it a little :)

9. What is one makeup trend you never understood?
I don't know, I think everyone has different styles and I respect that. There may be some thigns I wouldn't ever do on myself but if you feel confident in it then go for it! There could also be things I do that you woldn't ever and that's cool too! We all have different features and different things look good on different people.

10. What do you think about the beauty community on YouTube?

Talk to you all soon :)

Victoria's Secret: "Secret Reward" Card

2010-11-16T10:04:00.000-08:00

I just stopped by Victoria's Secret last night for their 7/$25 panty deal and when I left they gave me an awesome "Secret Reward" card! Apparently if you spend $10+ through the end of the month they will give you this card that you can use from Dec. 1-19th with a secret value of $10, $50, $100 or $500! I thought this was a really fun promotion and I know I'll be back to purchase from their beauty section soon. You find out how much it's worth when you're checking out, but I think each card is worth at least $10 so spend $10 now and come back for at least $10 worth of free stuff later!

Check out the fine print on their website http://www.victoriassecret.com/. I'm definitely not sponsored or being paid to share this I just got the card last night and though maybe you guys would be interested too :)

Time for a HAUL!!!

2010-11-15T17:29:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone!!

Sorry I haven't written in a few days, I had a really busy but FUN weekend!

I got to spend some time with my favorite people, including my boyfriend, parents, friends from church and old friends from college...all in 2 days! Oh and USC won! Fight on :)

So let's get to the haul! I will have a more make-up focussed haul soon but since the weather has been getting so dry here I have been buying a lot of skin care products. There are some golden nuggets in here, guys!! Haha

The Body Shop

Wise Woman travel set:

This retails for $35 but I had a coupon to try out a travel kit from the Body Shop for $12 so I thought I'd go for it :) Unfortunately it was not the right formulation for my skin type at all (I have sensitive combination skin that really only breaks out after I use certain beauty products). After using the product for a day or so I broke out and was very dry and blotchy :( I couldn't stand using it anymore. I would definitely suggest asking for a sample (most Body Shops are happy to give these out!) before you purchase because for such small packages $35 is waaay too much to gamble with. Fortunately they let me return it.

Moringa Body Butter:

I was looking for a nice soft floral scented body butter to use at night now that the weather is getting really dry here. I like this so far, it smells floral but not overbearing and it feels moiturizing. It's a nice scent to go to sleep to :) This is a mini size that retails for $8 I believe.

Amazon

Egyptian Magic:

I AM SO IMPRESSED WITH THIS STUFF!!!! Yea, OK this is definitely one of my favorite products right now. After my skin fiasco with the Wise Woman products I needed some major repair and this stuff did the trick! This "All purpose skin cream" is pricey (about $30 on Amazon, $36 at Whole Foods for 4oz) but it's absolutely worth it. I rub this between my fingers then put on my face in place of moisturizer before bed and I wake up with the softest skin! You look totally greasy but don't worry, it's just like that when you put it on at first before bed. When you wake your skin looks so nice and soft and it hasn't broken me out at all. It just soaks into your skin and makes the texture amazing. I felt a huge difference after the first night. I am excited to keep using it and would definitely reccomend this!

Drugstore

Glade holiday candles:

There was a really good deal at Target on Glade holiday candles and I couldn't resist :) It was 5/$12.50 and you got a $5 gift card to Target if you bought all 5. I LOVE the "Creamy Custard/Blushing Apple" 2-in-1 candle and liked the peppermint (which smells like Andes chocolates) and the Apple Cinnamon is a nice smell too. The vanilla kind of let me down, it burned our really quickly and didn't have too strong of a scent. My boyfriend loves vanilla though so I'll burn those when he's around.

Lip products:

I haven't really done my research and don't remember what these are all called so I'll have to do an update :( The Wet 'n Wild lipstick is something like 547B and the first revlon is "Luminous Pink" I'm really loving that color, it's a very pretty light pink that changes colors in different lights. The pink ELF lip gloss is in "Pink Candy" it looks a lot less berry in this lighting and in the store but it's very pretty. I'm not a fan of the lip stain on the bottom, I'll have to get you guys the name but it's the nude color. It just wasn't flattering on me, I'll have to test other colors for you all :)

Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion:

I'm obsessed with Clinique's Dramatically Different moisturizer but for about 4oz @ $24 I'm always trying to find a drug store equivalent. I think I found it! I still have to use this a bit more but I really want to do a post comparing the two. They have really similar textures and I do notice differences but I just might have found my drugstore replacement! This lotion was $8 at Target for 16 oz.

Bath and Body Works

Creamy Pumpkin Wallflower Plug in:

I love this scent! It totally reminds me of Butter Pecan ice cream :) Matt didn't like it though so I went to get a replacement this weekend. I'll save it for when he leaves. It was also half off (regular price is around $7) because Halloween is over, bu I'm still feeling the fall scents for Thanksgiving!

Vanilla Bean Noel Triple Moisturiing Cream:

I got this free with "any purchase" which is why I purchased the air freshener but this retails at $12. Please read my post on BBW and how to get a good deal there before you spend $12 on this lotion! Seriously, it's nice but you can get it so much cheaper. Anyway, I think of all of their holiday scents (aside from Secret Wonderland) this is the one I'm most likely to want on my body. Peppermint is nice but do I really want to smell like it?? This lotion smells a bit like yogurt in the bottle but once you rub it in it smells like really yummy sweet vanilla. My boyfriend loves this and so do I!

Let me know what you guys think about the hauls! If you guys think these mini reviews are helpful or if you'd rather wait until I've used a product a lot and can give a longer review. Thanks for reading :)

Beauty tip! How to match any eye look you have with clear gloss!

2010-11-10T15:05:00.000-08:00

Many many times I've searched and searched through my many lip colors without being able to find one that matches the look I'm going for with my eye shadow. After playing around one day I realized you can use your eye shadow on your lips! Just apply your desired color eye shadow and then top with a clear gloss or vaseline! You can make it as sheer or as dramatic as you like :)

I'll post some photos soon so you can "get the picture" hahahaha! OK haha I know, I'm lame :)

Neutral Fall Look - Great for Brunettes!

2010-11-10T14:27:00.000-08:00

Hey Everyone!

I've put together this pretty neutral fall look that I thought looked great with my brown hair and deep berry colored sweater. (Excuse my wet hair, this is how I look before work every morning...see my japanese hair straightening post for details on that!)

I've used my Coastal Scents 88 warm palette on my eyes, and went for a neutral almost brown/pink look. I don't like wearing dark lips to work and I thought maybe it would be fun to show off a neutral work-appropriate fall look!

Here are the products I used:

Face:
Maybelline Dream SMOOTH Mousse foundation (applied with a stippling brush)
Bare Minerals powder foundation on my T-zone to set
ELF Studio Blush and Bronzer duo (use bronzer very lightly, just to give a touch of color)
Bare Minerals Mineral Veil

Eyes:
ELF eye shadow primer
Coastal Scents 88 warm pallette:

I thought it might be helpful to draw a circle around the colors I used. Let me know if this doens't make sense and I'll try to think of a new strategy :)

I used the red circle (three from the right and 3 from the bottom in the picture) on my lid and blended it up a bit to give me some color, the purple circle (1 from the left in the picture and 5 rows up) as a highliht just under my brow bone and the yellow circle (1 up and 1 from the right) in the outer corner and I blended it in my crease and above just a bit.

Ulta's Black/Brown automatic eye liner
Bare Minerals Mineral veil just under my eye liner (so it wont run as much)
Lips:

Kept it simple and inexpensive with Wet and Wild's lipstick #547B, I don't know the color but it looks a lot browner than it is, it's really a pretty neutral and light pink that I think is great for fall.

I hope you all found this helpful!

Let me know if you'd like to see another look to go with an outfit or something work or school appropriate :)

Mini-Vent and Products to Avoid from ELF!

2010-11-08T15:06:00.000-08:00

ELF (eyeslipsface.com) makeup is cheap and surprisingly good quality but they are taking FOREVER to ship to me!! Boooo :(

If you're planning on placing an order with them I wouldn't be expecting the package anytime soon! I ordered on the 3rd and it's the 8th and it still says "order processing" Argh! OK I'm done venting :) Thanks for listening!!

Just for their slow shipping I'm going to let you guys know of some products to avoid from them.

Liquid eye liner I've tried in black and plum and the plum is worse but they both flake *correction: the purple flakes and the black smudges* :( When it flakes, it looks like you've got a big ole gap in your eye lashes.
French manicure set the little stickers it comes with never stick to your nail, and the white isn't opaque enough so there's no way you could freehand with this polish. You can still use the colors to polish on their own but don't expect those little stickers to do you any good (i've thrown them away so they aren't shown, but I now notice the clear is looking a bit yellowish and I haven't even had it for 6 months).
Liquid eye shadow realllly pretty color and finish but it won't last. It creases (even with primer) and it flakes off and when I got it I remember looking at it and being like ok this doesn't look like it's as good quality as the other stuff I got
Facial Whip I've got two of these and they both separate in the bottle so when I try to use it all I get is slightly white water. I have tried to shake shake shake them up and squish them around but I haven't been able to get the product out of the tube. It's kind of a let down *not pictured, I'm a dummy and forgot to take a picture of these*
2-in-1 conditioning gloss I bought this from a Target instead of online and it had made a mess inside the packaging, I couldn't even get it out without getting my hands covered in the goo so I returned it. Fortunately when you purchase from Target they will let you return but I think you aren't supposed to have opened it *not pictured, because I returned it*

This is what you get, ELF! Ya, that's right, you're sorry now, next time you'll ship to me sooner won't you? That's what I thought!

OK so I'm just kind of playing around I'm in a grumpy mood obviously but I really do like ELF products (notice how there are only 5 duds and I have purchased SO MUCH of their makeup!) and I would definitely say go expiriment I mean it's only $1 for the most part. I just felt like having some fun and blowing off steam :)

Japanese Hair Straightening - aka the single beauty thing I do that makes my life 1000x easier

2010-11-08T11:07:00.000-08:00

I get a lot of questions in person about my hair and whether or not I flat iron it or if it's naturally straight or what? People in person always ask so I figured maybe some of my blog readers would be curious too :)

I do not flat iron my hair (anymore) and I haven't for years. I've had it permanently straightened which basically means I had a chemical process done to my hair so that it will be straight until I cut it off. I have to go in for touch ups every 6 months because the new hair that grows in won't have had the chemical treatment so it grows in just like my hair was orriginally. It looks totally fine though because my hair is long so it pulls the top few inches straight.

Before:

It was hard to find a before because I straightened all the time. But this is me after letting my hair air dry a few years ago, before I started having my hair permanently straightened. (I'm making a goofy face hehe)

After:

I just took this photo a second ago, this is how my hair looks after brushing but without blow drying or using a flat iron. It's basically how it looks naturally out of the shower! :)

Benefits:

After I wash my hair, all I do is spray in a leave-in conditioner/detangler and comb and that's IT!
I never flat iron and I never blow dry (unless I'm going somewhere I can't have wet hair when I get there)
If you sleep on your hair funny or have it in a bun the folds will go away in a matter of minutes.
If you're ever at a pool or a water park or it rains you can be the one girl there who doesn't care if they get wet because their hair will be perfect again when it dries :)
You can live in Florida or Georgia or anywhere with humidity and it doesn't make one difference, your hair will look awesome there too
Although the process is a chemical and it does damage your hair, my hair has improved because I used to flat iron it so much that even though I used a Chi ceramic straightener my hair was damaged a lot more than the straightening ever does. After I leave I'm always like stroking my hair, it feels so good!

Negatives

It can be really pricey, I found a really cheap place to do it (initial costs $200 for long hair, $180 for medium and $160 for short, touch ups after 6 months cost $160) but you have to be careful. Some places don't use the best treatment (my guy uses Liscio which is one of the top ones) or they aren't really skilled at it which brings me to my next point:
If the person doing your hair isn't skilled, they can leave in the treatment too long and I've heard of people saying their hair started breaking off!! I think this is something to be aware of but you can do things to make sure this doesn't happen to you: do some research before you start, call the salon and ask what type of treatment they use and do some review searches for that brand. Also, ask them how often they do the treatment, if they do it a lot then you are more likely to have someone who knows that they're doing. You can even ask for photos or testimonials from their other clients. I mean, if you're spending this much money then they should definitely be open to helping you out! But I've been straightening my hair for like 3 years and I've never had a problem and I think it's rare to have someone's hair all break off. Basically unless you're sure about the salon, I would reccommend paying more.
The process takes 3 hours!! Sometimes I bring a book from school :)
It smells a bit stinky at first, and you can kind of still smell it for a day or so because you can't wash your hair or get it wet for like 2 days after. My bf says he doesn't notice but he's about as observant as any other man (so not at all hehe)

The process (all from memory, so I might forget/mix up a step or two)

First, if you haven't washed your hair that day they wash it for you
They put this white goo (kinda smelly but not like overbearing) stuff on your hair (just your roots if you're getting touched up)
They then wrap up your hair and put you under like a heating fan for like 30 minutes
They check on your hair to see if it's the right texture, if not they may have you go for longer
They rinse out the goo from your hair
They blow dry your hair then straighten it with a flat iron
They then put this cool white cream on your hair (the first time I went, I was like shocked because they had just spend all this time straightening my hair so perfectly then they got it wet! Which if you ever straighten your hair you know that getting it wet like ruins what you just did!)
I think they rinse it off after that and give you a deep conditioner
You sit for a while under one of those blow dry things you always see in hair salons in movies
They rinse out the leave in conditioner and give you a haircut
They blow dry your hair and style it

So I think that's it, let me know if you have any other questions or if I missed anything! This is a really cool process but it isn't for everyone. I hope that this information helped you make a decision or helped you think of some questions that you want to ask your stylist :)

***DISCLAIMER: This is just my personal opinion and experience, I'm just sharing my opinion and what has happened to me, not what I think will happen to anyone else. I am simply posting this as a story of the treatment I personally have done to my hair***

Tutorial bust :(

2010-11-07T09:42:00.000-08:00

Hey Guys,

So I just finished my first attempt at a tutorial and it turned out really badly!! :( :( :( I'm going to have to work on lighting, using a mirror in the frame and speaking up! It's harder than it looks but I really want to put some up in the future so I'll work on perfecting my game :)

Here's a blog version breakdown of this look:

Eyes:
ELF Primer (pat all over the lid and a bit up to the brow bone)
NYX Jumbo eye pencil in cottage cheese (on lid, apply with a brush or dot on and lightly blend with finger)
Physician's Formula Shimmer Strips for Hazel eyes lightest pink color 1 from the bottom (used a sponge tipped applicator and patted on color all over lid)
ELF Drama brightening eye quad light silver (applied in crease and outer corner with the ELF eyeshadow brush) and darker silver (used a small crease brush for outer v/blending)
ULTA automatic long lasting water proof eye liner in black

Lips:
ELF Super glossy lip shine in Pink Kiss

Face:
FACE DISCLAIMER: I'm having some major skin issues right now because I got my brows waxed yesterday. I always break out so much after I do! So I had to do some major covering work hehe

Maybelline Dream Smooth Mousse foundation (used the ELF studio stippling brush)
ELF all over color stick as concealer (used my finger)
Bare Minerals powder foundation in medium beige to set (used my body shop kabuki)
ELF Healthy glow bronzing powder in sun kissed (used my ELF studio all over face brush)
Cover Girl Cheekers in pretty peach (I used my ELF studio blush brush...looking back now I may have used a bit more of a pinky/purpley color but I think this looks nice too)
Bare Minerals mineral veil (used my bath and body works kabuki)

Oh, and I forgot a highlight color on my brow bone...this was my first video so I knew I'd forget something. I would probbly have used a regular white shimmery color so any would work :) there's on on the top of the physicians formula palette that I ended up using but really it doesn't matter.

Let me know if you try this look out how it goes! You can sub any colors/brands/tools you have :) I'd love to see photos!

ELF 50% off coupon!

2010-11-04T12:30:00.000-07:00

ELF or Eyes Lips Face (eyeslipsface.com) always has really good coupon codes or free with purchase codes so it's always a good idea to either wait for a good one or check the front page of their site before you make an online purchase. Yes, yes, I hear you, most of the stuff is dirt cheap anyway so why wait for a coupon?? Well why not?! If you wait for/find a good one you can get everything for even dirtier cheap! hehe

So I had been waiting because I already have a decent amount of ELF stuff. I heard about a coupon code last year that was 75% off but when I saw a 50% off (only off of 25 of their popular items) I went for it. I have to say I love buying makeup online! It's really fun to wait for it and get all excited and then get a big box of it in the mail :) It's like Christmas!

Here's what I ordered, just to give you guys some ideas. If you want any reviews when they come in, let me know! I think I'll post photos/swatches at the very least :)

Nail polish (reg price $1 each):

Burgundy a shimmery cranberry color that I think will look really pretty for a holiday party!
Mod Mauve a light grey/lavendar that has become one of my favorite color combos!
Smokey Brown From what I can see it's a light taupey color but ELF is notorious for having different colors in person than online. I will definitely swatch this one for you all!
Sunset a light shimmery pinky-purple. Another shimmery color maybe for a party or just when I feel like adding some shimmer to my life ;)

Mineral eye shadow (reg price $3 eacy):

Celebrity a light yellowy-tan lid color with shimmer

Glamourous pinky/purple with shimmer
Golden a golden lid color with shimmer
Sassy a tan lid color with shimmer
Wild a deep chocolatey brown color with... you guessed it! Shimmer!

Miscellaneous

High definition powder (reg price $6) I'm currently using bare minerals' mineral veil as a setting powder but I've heard some good things about this stuff and it's much cheaper (especially at half price it's only $3!) I'm excited to try this out!!
Kabuki face brush (reg price $5) I've heard really good things about this brush too, that it's surprisingly soft. I am in love with my kabuki from the body shop though, we'll see how this stands up!
Eye primer (reg price $1) I really love this stuff, I haven't tried the mineral line version so I can't really compare but at $1 this stuff is a great deal and it does what I need it to do :) It makes the colors of my eye shadows stand out, last all day (even through my hot yoga classes), and they never crease with it. I bought 3 backups for only $1.50 with the coupon code :)
Medium (reg price $3) I don't remember what this is!!! Haha I keep trying to find it in the list of things that are 1/2 off but I can't. I guess it'll be a surprise when it gets in! Let me know if you know what it is lol

OK so the coupon code is "FAVES" and it lasts through Monday I think so get shopping!

Last point, I'm not getting anything special for writing this post from ELF or anything, I mean this is a new blog I'm not receiving any offers but if I ever do get some freebies I'll let you all know! I'll probably be so excited/honored that I'll want to blab about it like instantly! But I'll always give my honest opinion :) Otherwise what is the point??