Type A Petite

10 Graduation Gifts for Lovely Ladies in Your Life

noreply@blogger.com (Type A Petite) — Tue, 29 May 2012 19:55:00 +0000

It's that time of year! Many of my friends and family members are graduating from high school, college, and grad school, so its time to brainstorm for awesome presents! I really love planning out my gift-giving so I've been racking up great ideas and thought I would share them with you!!

Benefit Cosmetics Value Set

This brand has super cute packaging and the product claims deliver. Plus, their value sets are always extremely well-priced for the products included. I really like this brand, and pretty much all of the Benefit products I have came in gift sets that I've received or purchased myself.

RapidLash Lash Growth Serum

This is the generic version of the famed "Latisse" prescription product, and both have been scientifically shown to assist with lash and brow growth. I've been using mine for about two months and can definitely tell that it's working! It is up on the deal website Hautelook often for $25, on Amazon Prime for $30, and is also sold in CVS stores for $50.

Voluspa Candles in Saijo Persimmon

This scent is incredible--fairly sweet but not overwhelming--and the packaging is adorable. There are many sizes to choose from, and you could create your own set!

Professional Makeup Brush Set
Sigma makes incredible brushes and the complete kits come with a great case to stand your brushes in on your vanity or to use when you travel. Use code GLAM2012 (for May) or STAR2012 (for June) to get 10% off any order and a free gift!

Magazine Subscriptions

Amazon has 1-year subscriptions for cheap and often run deals where you can get a full year under $10. If you know that your little sister picks up a copy of Glamour every time she goes to the airport, why not just get her a subscription? Every month she receives it, she'll think of you!

Noise Cancelling Headphones
My bf has these Bose® QuietComfort® 15 Acoustic Noise Cancelling® Headphones and they are awesome. I think my dad is going to pick these up for my little bro for his high school graduation. These are great for studying and traveling - no more tapping pencils or crying babies to bother you!

A Framed Picture of the Two of You!
New grads are usually moving up and out to new apartments, and you can help them decorate! There are few things that are more meaningful than making one of your memories together permanent in a photo that they'll treasure forever. I'm loving this Ikat frame from South Moon Under.

Coffee Table Design Book
Going along with the home decor theme, how about an interior design book to get their creative juices flowing and spark conversation from guests during their summer get-togethers? Everyone always flips through my beauty and design coffee table books, and they inspire me whenever I don't have anything else going on. I'd recommend this Jonathan Adler book that is being talked about all over the web.

Michael Kors Watch
Chunky, oversized watches are still on-trend, and most young women you know would love to add an MK watch to their collection. Rose gold is having a moment right now, but I'd recommend silver or gold if she doesn't already have a steady standby metal watch. I'm loving the "Blair" style for its minimal bling:

Leather Tote for the Office
Every gal needs a structured tote for her fancy new job - splurge on her with something she wouldn't buy for herself because quality is going to be important in a workhorse bag. Perhaps this gorgeous tote from designer Botkier?

Anything you've given or received as a grad present that you would recommend? Please comment below!

Other ways to keep up with Type A Petite!

noreply@blogger.com (Type A Petite) — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 16:05:00 +0000

Do you follow me on Facebook and Twitter? I post a lot of things throughout the day that aren't worth creating a whole blog post out of, so be sure to click the follow buttons on the upper right hand corner of the blog page if you're interested in that sort of thing. For example, I just put up pictures and descriptions of my Manicure Of The Day (MOTD) and Outfit Of The Day (OOTD) on my Twitter! Xoxo

Guest Post: Rhonda Allison Skincare Products Review

noreply@blogger.com (MC) — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 12:08:00 +0000

Hi, all! Guest blogger Mel here! I’m here to tell you all about my skin care routine! Our faces are the first impression that others get, so it is super important to take care of them.

I have always had really good skin that doesn’t break out a lot – I know, I know, you hate me. That is, until I moved to New York City. My skin became awful! I broke out everywhere, and I needed to fix it. I tried doing everything – even washing my face 3 or 4 times a day. Nothing worked until I found my skin savior: Rhonda Allison products. Whenever I get a facial, the facialist always tells me how much they love Rhonda Allison and they don’t try to push their salon’s products on me.

I start out each day by cleansing with the Rhonda Allison Citrus Gel Cleanser. It is their least harsh cleanser, and leaves my skin feeling so fresh! I just wet my face and put a small amount on my fingertip. The greatest thing is that when you want more bubbles, you just splash more water on your face, not more cleanser. I have their largest bottle (120 ml), and it has lasted over a year, using it twice a day. And it’s perfect for all skin types!

Once a week or so I mix things up and use the Rhonda Allison Beta Green Tea Cleanser, which has just a bit more of a kick. But if you have dry skin you should probably stay away from this.

Afterwards I wait about five minutes just to enjoy the nice clean feeling. Then I follow up by using the RhondaAllison eZinc Protection Cream. I love it because it is a moisturizer and sun protector all in one! And it has anti-oxidants! It is SPF 18 so is perfect as daily protection against the sun. If you don’t currently wear sun protection everyday, start doing so now! Most wrinkles are due to sun exposure!!!

That is my morning routine. Super simple, but also super important!

At night I again wash my face with the Citrus Gel Cleanser and then follow it up by using the Rhonda Allison Blemish Complex Cream. This is by far my favorite product. It is the perfect acne fighter. I apply it all over my face, although it is also good for spot treatments as well. It can also be used in the mornings, but I prefer using it in the evening because that is when more facial cells are replaced. Rhonda Allison also has a Blemish Serum, but I have found it to be a bit too harsh on my face.

In the winter I sometimes substitute a moisturizer for the Blemish Complex Cream. I currently use the Mare’s Milk Moisturizer, but it has been discontinued. The next time I order I am going to try out either the Rhonda Allison Ultra Hydration Cream or the Rhonda Allison Moisture AuLait. I have it narrowed down to these two because the Ultra Hydration Cream is supposed to increase moisture by 300% and the Moisture Au Lait has olive oil in it, which is super good for skin. (Sometimes I put olive oil on my feet with a cotton ball, put on socks, and then head to bed.)

So there you have it! My daily skin care routine! Not a ton of salons in my area carry Rhonda Allison, so I just order it online.

And for a special treat, try these Basin White Salt Scrubs. All of my friends have recently been telling me how soft my skin is. Although my Danish heritage is probably the main reason for it, this product gives me an extra kick. The scrub separates, so I mix it up with a spoon and then rub it all over my body while standing in the shower. After a few minutes I turn the shower on and rinse it off. It leaves my skin soooo soft! But here is the most important part: like they told me before going in the Dead Sea, do not shave beforehand! Otherwise your skin will burn, burn, burn!

I hope you enjoyed my guest blog post!

What's in my March Teen Vogue Birchbox?

noreply@blogger.com (MC) — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 23:35:00 +0000

Hey guys! Even though I received it about three weeks ago, I'm still loving my Teen Vogue March Birchbox! Lots of full-sized products in my $10 box!! Here's the link to my first Birchbox post that explains a bit about what the Birchbox service is all about.

Here's what was in my March Birchbox:

Annick Goutal Petite Cherie perfume - full size is $85 for 50 ml

Essie Luxeffects Nail Polish - $8.00 for 0.5 oz (instead of just a sample, I got a full-size one in my Birchbox - amazing!! Birchbox is great like that)

Shiseido Pureness Oil-Control Blotting Papers - full size is $18 for 100 sheets

Tarte LipSurgence Lip Tint - $24 for 0.08 fl oz (ALSO received a full-sized one in my box)

Twistband Hair Ties - full size is $10 for 6 bands

Benefit Cosmetics Some Kind-A Gorgeous Review

noreply@blogger.com (MC) — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 15:58:00 +0000

Hi everyone! Sorry I've been gone for a while. Among other things, I recently purchased some products about a month ago at Sephora, and I'd like to give you my first impressions of the ones from one of my favorite brands: Benefit Cosmetics. These are also available on Amazon, so I'll link to both Sephora and Amazon. I'm going to copy the product claims from the Sephora website.

Overall, I'm loving all of these products because they have ADORABLE packaging, scents, and the products generally live up to their claims. I'm going to review them one by one in separate posts since I'm short on time lately :)

Some Kind-A Gorgeous: The Foundation Faker

What it is:

A sheer, oil-free, cream-to-powder complexion perfector.

What it is formulated to do:

This lightweight, translucent, foundation-like product smoothes out imperfections and evens skin tone with a silky, smooth finish that's super natural and super gorgeous.

Size: 0.34 oz

Price: $29

Instructions:

Apply evenly over the entire face with clean fingertips for a sheer, natural finish or with the accompanying sponge for additional coverage.

My Review:

This product comes in three shades - Lite, Medium, and Deep. Medium is supposed to be able to match most skin tones, but I am pretty pale so I started out using the Lite. Lite turned out to be toooo pale for me, so I exchanged it for the Medium and it matches really well.

This is a cream-to-powder product, so it feels slick in the pan, feels pretty dewy on your face at first, and quickly dries on your face to a silky baby powder-like consistency. I also don't think that this would be the best for oily skin since its not very mattifying, and I don't think this would be the best for very dry skin since its not very moisturizing - luckily I have pretty normal skin, so it's just about right.

This is a sheer coverage foundation, so don't expect it to cover up dark spots or acne or scars - I would recommend this for use on pretty clear skin in the summer just to even out your complexion. It leaves a very natural finish. You definitely still need to use a concealer for undereyes and blemishes.

Its in a pretty big plastic compact with a mirror and a sponge, which works just fine, but I prefer my Sigma F80 or F84 or my Beauty Blender (click here for my review) because they work faster and leave a slighly better finish. The packaging is pretty adorable - it looks like an old school record.

Overall, I like Benefit Cosmetics Some Kind-a Gorgeous. I think that it's not a product that will work for everyone or at all times. Definitely try this one out in stores before purchasing. You can also purchase a mini 0.06oz version from Sephora in the Medium shade to try out!

Tory Burch Private Sale!

noreply@blogger.com (MC) — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 17:44:00 +0000

Hi friends! The Tory Burch Private Sale is going on online right now. Very cute clothing, accessories, and shoes up to 70% off! As with other online sample sales, you can't sort by price and must subscribe for email updates to enter the website - small price to pay for the deals I suppose. Let me know if you end up picking anything up! Here are my top three picks:

Limited Edition Eddie Ballet Flat

Marked down from $178.00 to $124.60

Howie High Heel Pump

Marked down from $375.00 to $131.25

Tiller Top

Marked down from $250.00 to $125.00

Cute stuff but still pretty pricey - I probably won't be picking anything up today, but I would love to hear if you do!

If you liked this post, please comment, send to friends, and subscribe! Also, please check out my blog sale/freebies if you haven't yet. Thanks for reading!

Makeup Etc. Blog Sale / Freebies

noreply@blogger.com (MC) — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 14:10:00 +0000

Hey everyone! I've rounded up some stuff that I realized I never use, so I'm going to sell them or give them away for free to you guys. This is all free unless someone makes an offer for a specific item, then it goes to that person for whatever they're willing to pay via Paypal. If I have an asking price in mind I've listed it, but honestly I just want this stuff out of my house so if everything goes for free that's ok too :) I just want them to find some good homes!

I'm sort of intending for this stuff to go to family and friends to save on shipping costs for me since most of it is going to be free. My little sister K gets first dibs, but anything she doesn't want is up for grabs! K, if your friends want any of this stuff, I can just mail it to you and you can distribute it to your friends so I don't have to mail multiple boxes to save me on shipping. I know a bunch of my real-life Philly friends read this blog, so if that's you and you'd like any of this, let me know and I can just give it to you in person.

Here's a list of everything I'm selling and giving away. All of this has never been used or used less than 3 times. The list gets really random at the end haha.

If you would like any of this, just leave a comment with your name, your email (which will not be displayed publicly), something about whether you know me in real life or not if it is ambiguous from the other info, and what you would like! I'll strike through items that are gone.

Since its so much stuff, I decided to just take a few photos of the collection instead of item-by-item to save on my editing and posting time. Pictures follow after the list, and they are huge because I wanted to try to capture detail, so sorry if they take a while to load and run over the sidebars of the blog template. Thanks guys!

~~TheBalm Shady Lady Vol. 1 palette (I ordered two by accident) (claimed by sister)~~
~~TheBalm FratBoy blush ~~(I ordered two ~~by accident~~)~~ (claimed by sister)~~
~~TheBalm Balmbini Vol. 2 (I ordered two by accident) (full size, brand new, still retailing for = $28), asking $14~~
~~EyeRock designer eyeliner stickers~~
~~Urban Decay black crackle and glitter nailpolish set (claimed by sister)~~
~~Juice Beauty Blemish Clearing Serum sample (claimed by Sara)~~
~~Mally Beauty High Shine Liquid Lipstick Pen (lipgloss) in Gorgelina (full size in original box, really pretty but I have one already, still retailing for $20) (claimed by sister)~~
~~Keihl's Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution sample (claimed by Sara)~~
~~Origins Checks and Balances Frothy Face Wash sample~~
~~Kate Spade purple and gold stud earrings, asking $15~~
~~Benefit Posie Tint sample (claimed by sister)~~
~~ColoreScience Pro Sunforgettable very water resistant Mineral Sun Protection Powder SPF 30 in to-go brush (full size, still retailing for $50), asking $20 (claimed by Camber)~~
~~Lancome Star Bronzer cream-to-powder bronzing veil (full size, not orange, doesn't smell like sunless tanner)~~ ~~(claimed by Sara)~~
~~Prestige Waterproof Automatic Eyeliner in Sepia (brown, full size) (claimed by Sara)~~
~~Shiseido Pureness Oil-Control Blotting Paper, 10 sheets~~ ~~(claimed by Lynne)~~
~~Almay Smart Shade Blush in 010 Pink Rose (cream blush, full size) (claimed by Sara)~~
~~Lancome Color Design eyeshadow in Aspen Nights (soft metallic black with some sparkle)~~

~~Bath & Body Works Aromatherapy Stress Relief Pillow Mist (room spray) in Eucalyptus Spearmint (full size) (claimed by Sara)~~
Jergens Natural Glow fragrance-free moisturizer in Medium (full size)
~~Kate Spade eyeglasses case (hot pink, small black smudge on it)~~
~~St. Tropez Gradual Tan everyday Body Moisturizer in Medium Dark (full size) (claimed by Sara)~~
~~Braun cordless curling iron (claimed by Liz)~~
~~Sud Pacifique Vanille Extreme perfume (claimed by Sara)~~
Gold wall sticker that says "Always Kiss Me Goodnight"
~~J.Crew skinny belt - goldish yellow fabric with white polka dots and pink leather buckle (claimed by Lynne)~~
~~SuperSmile single dose powdered mouthrinse to go (claimed by Lynne)~~
Sephora mirror (the type you get with giftcards)
~~Hair clips - floral and patterned with gold (claimed by Lynne)~~

~~Nine West blue jewelry roll (claimed by Lynne)~~
Black nylon jewelry roll with clear zippered compartments inside
~~black and clear iPhone case with pop-out stand~~
~~iPod nano exercise armband~~
~~Ripcord stretch exercise band in hot pink (claimed by Kamya)~~

Hilarious video - Shit Beauty Gurus Say

noreply@blogger.com (MC) — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 23:43:00 +0000

So I watch a lot of "beauty guru" videos on YouTube. It's my guilty pleasure. A lot of them are similar to each other but I can't stay away. Here is a GREAT parody of the beauty guru videos by a great beauty guru herself named April - check out the rest of her channel and twitter (@aprilathena7) after watching the video! (NOTE - this is NOT my video, I'm just linking to a video I think is hilarious!) If you've never seen a beauty guru video this is basically what they are to the extreme haha - enjoy!

A Little Drugstore Haul!

noreply@blogger.com (MC) — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 17:57:00 +0000

Hi guys! I recently picked up some stuff on my "need to try this" list at Walgreens!

First: Milani Liquif'Eye Metallic Eye Liner Pencil in 03 Gold and 04 Aqua

I have the black, silver, and brown and I LOVE them for the waterline (that line above your lower lash line). I first heard about how awesome these were from Holly Ann-Aeree - thanks the recommendation, hun!

I need to collect all of them! Milani also recently came out with a purple and a green, so I'll pick those up soon. Here are some packaging pictures (click to make larger):

These are soooo creamy but stay on without any smudging - after swatching these I scrubbed with my hands under soap and water with nothing moving. They only came off with makeup remover :) Here are the swatches:

Next: Banana Boat Sport Performance Sunscreen Lip Balm SPF 50 with UVA Protection!!

It is pretty impossible to find a high UVA/UVB sunscreen lip balm that doesn't dry the lips and doesn't smell terrible. This product smells sweet and tastes great, and is actually really moisturizing!

I've been on the lookout for this lip balm FOREVER. This is on Paula Begoun's Best Lip Products List on Beautypedia. Her write-up on the product is here:

"More lip balms with reliable broad-spectrum sun protection are needed, and here's an excellent one to add to your list. UVA protection is assured from avobenzone, and the emollient, balm-like base is ideal for keeping lips protected from chapping and moisture loss. It is frarance-free and flavored with the artifical sweetener saccharin."

I will be doing a post soon on How Sunscreen Works (I'll hyperlink this text once I write the post), and the importance of UVA sunscreen being included in your sunscreen products (often UVA protection is not included in sunscreen products)

Next: Vaseline Lip Therapy mini!! It's so cute!

I saw that Jen at FrmHeadToToe recently picked this up and I couldn't resist - I think this will be great for travel, and vaseline is good for lips, feet, elbows, knees, and for avoiding blisters on the feet just rub some on before putting on your heels!

Next: Colgate Wisps

These seem like a good idea to carry in my pink purse pack...I'll report back soon haha

Do you have any of these products?? Let me know what you think!

Please comment, share with friends, pin the pics on Pinterest, subscribe....you know the deal! xoxo

Kate Spade Surprise Online Sample Sale!

noreply@blogger.com (MC) — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 17:42:00 +0000

I just learned via Twitter (follow me @TypeAPetite) that Kate Spade is having an online sample sale! You can save up to 75% off! Amazing. You do have to sign up for their email list to shop the sale and you cannot sort by price, which is a bit annoying, but no big deal. The sale ends march 7th at 11:59 pm PST, with all sales final and $5 shipping on all purchases.

Here are a few items I'm loving from the sale (click pics for links to item on Kate Spade's website):

Flicker Scout - $159 marked down from $368, only in gold

Portola Valley Lacey - $89 marked down from $225, available in more colors

Twirl Gift Set - $45 marked down from $90 - this smells delicious!

Let me know if you get anything from this sample sale or hear of any other great sales!

Please subscribe & comment! xoxo

PB Teen Luggage Tag

noreply@blogger.com (MC) — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 23:43:00 +0000

I'm on Spring Break, visiting my family in Florida, so my blog updates may be a bit more sporadic than normal.

I did recently come across these cute PB Teen luggage tags online, which are perfect for a sunny spring break - how cute are these? Click the picture to go to the website.

Sigma brushes - 10% Off Code for March! Plus, How I Wash My Makeup Brushes

noreply@blogger.com (Type A Petite) — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 23:37:00 +0000

Hi girls! There's a new March 2012 Sigma Coupon Code!

Use code MARCH2012 to get 10% off plus free gift!

The free gift will either be a Sigma makeup brush (with $30 purchase) or a free trio eyeshadow palette (with $100 purchase). Free gifts won't show in your cart, but will be shipped with your purchase. The code expires March 31, 2012.

Here are a three ideas for what to get with the new promo code:

1. The Premium Kit

Sigma's best-selling Premium Kit now comes in a stylish case. All 15 brushes have a slot within the case, making access to individual brushes super convenient. I don't own this but it is beautiful!

2. The Dry'n Shape

I recently purchased Sigma's Dry'n Shape, Sigma Beauty’s revolutionary brush-drying system. It is designed to dry and shape your most dense brushes within 4 to 6 hours. The fabric used to shape the bristles was specially engineered to accelerate water evaporation, resulting in a faster drying time for your brushes. Not only is there nothing like the Dry’n Shape on the market, it truly works! I tested it out this weekend on my thick and fluffy face brushes and they were dry pronto! They also retained their original shape, which never used to happen when I dried them flat. Love it!

Type A Petite photo

3. The Bunny Collection Sets

I also recently purchased the Bunny Collection in the Mr. Bunny Black Essentials Kit. It also comes in a nice light blue and pink color combination called the Mrs. Bunny Blue Essentials Kit. I am still testing them all out so I'm not ready to give a full review, but for now I can say that they are SO soft and wonderful. These brushes are often compared to MAC brushes (here is a nice comparison guide), but cost a fraction of the price. For now, I'm sticking with Sigma :)

The case turns into two brush holders!

Type A Petite photo

Finally, here is how I washed my new Mr. Bunny Set before the first use (using the Sigma Dry'n Shape to dry them):

Step 1: lay out all of your materials.

I use three bowls (only two are pictured - sorry!), gentle soap (I use Dr. Bronner's Unscented Soap), and my Sigma Dry'n Shape.

Type A Petite photo

Step 2: Pour warm water into all three bowls, and a little bit of the gentle soap in bowl # 1.

Step 3: Swirl your brush in the warm soapy water in bowl # 1, then squeeze the bristles out.

Step 4: Swirl the brush in bowl # 2. Bowl # 2 should become slightly soapy as the soap rinses out. Squeeze the bristles out.

Step 5: Swirl the brush in bowl # 3. Squeeze the bristles out. Bowl # 3 should remain mostly clear since you've already rinsed out most of the soap in bowl # 2.

Step 6: Repeat with all of your brushes. After each one has gone through the 3-bowl cycle, put the ones that are big enough to fit into the Dry'n Shape in it, and lay the rest flat on a paper towel! That's it!

Do you own anything from Sigma? What are you going to buy this month??

Please comment to let me know you stopped by, and don't forget to subscribe! :) xoxo!

Disclosure: I am a Sigma affiliate and get a 10% referral commission of purchases made through my affiliate link. Everything I have from Sigma I love and have purchased with my own money - nothing has been sent to me for free. All posts, as always, are my honest opinion.

40% off Paula's Choice Serums Today!

noreply@blogger.com (MC) — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 16:09:00 +0000

Hi guys, just a quick post to let you know that PC is running a special promo today:

40% off of the Skin Recovery Super Antioxidant Concentrate Serum with Retinol (great for dry skin - I use this every day)

and

40% off of the Skin Balancing Super Mattifying Concentrate Serum with Retinol (great for oily or combination skin).

Use code SERUM27 at checkout to get the 40% off!
You are allowed to get up to three, so I am stocking up while they're on sale.
You get to choose 3 free samples with your order as well.

I am not affiliated with Paula's Choice in any way - I just love her products!

UPDATE: This promo ran on Monday February 27 and is now over - I'll post again when I get a new promo code!

Guest Post from my sister, K! K's Grove Haul

noreply@blogger.com (MC) — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 14:25:00 +0000

Hi everyone! I'm K and today I'm guest blogging for TypeAPetite and I'm SO excited to share all the great things I bought today at The Grove in Los Angeles!

First, I found these great 3" Chino Shorts at J.Crew in Neon Pink:

Bright colors are in right now and I can't wait to pair these shorts with a cute top! These will be perfect for the cruise I'm going on in 3 weeks.

Next, I picked up the Nike Free Run+ Running Shoe in Tide Pool Blue/Pro Platinum-Mega Blue

from Nordstrom. The light blue is VERY bright (clearly I'm in favor of this trend!) and the shoe is way more stable than I imagined! This is my first Nike running shoe... for the past six years I've been extremely loyal to the GEL-Kayano by Asics but I think I'll be happy with the switch. These shoes will be more for walking, strength training, and various FITiST classes (comment below with your email address if you want an invite to FITiST) than distance running, but hey.. maybe I'll be inspired!

Finally, I had to make a return at Gap and I found the perfect summer shoe! It's the Gladiator Wedge Sandal in Black.

I had a Gap Rewards credit for $40 so these shoes ended up costing me only about $40! They are so comfortable and versatile, I can't wait to wear them on the cruise at night! I saw a girl trying these on the store and knew immediately I had to get these sandals.

Since this is my first guest post I'll leave you with 3 NARS products I'm dying to try!

1. NARS lipstick in Funny Face (semi-matte)

2. NARS lip gloss in Angelika

3. NARS blush in Gaiety

Have any of you tried these products yet? Let me know what you think :)

-K

Please comment and subscribe!

Tag: 7 Deadly Beauty Sins

noreply@blogger.com (Type A Petite) — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 22:20:00 +0000

This tag has been going around YouTube and the blog world, so I thought I'd do it! If you're not familiar, a "Tag" is a list of questions prepared by someone, and then it gets shared with other bloggers and YouTubers to complete with their own answers!

QUESTIONS:

1. GREED: What is your most inexpensive beauty item? What is your most expensive?

Inexpensive:

CVS-brand travel nail polish remover - $1.47

Nivea "A Kiss of Moisture" Lip Balm - $1.69

Expensive:

Sensationail gel manicure polish starter kit - $49.99 (review coming soon!!)

Conair BE47SNT Double-Sided Illuminated Oval Mirror - $35.67

Urban Decay Naked Palette - $50.00

MAC Strobe Cream -$46.99

2. WRATH: What beauty products do you have a love/hate relationship with? What product has been the hardest to get?

Love/Hate:

False lashes - I love the way they look on other people but I can never get them to look right on me. Plus, I can FEEL them - too creepy.

Curling my hair - I love the way it looks on me when my hair is wavy or curly but it just takes forever. I'm not a hair girl.

Hardest to Get:

hmmm... I guess I'm lucky because I have a Sephora, Blue Mercury, CVS, Rite Aid, Target, etc by me... and there's always the internet! It was hard to find refillable liquid flip-top pumps in person for a reasonable price, so I found some on PrettyAndCute.com for only $5 here

3. GLUTTONY: What are your most delicious beauty products?

Revlon Lip Butters!! These lipstick / lip balm hybrids feel so good on and come in the prettiest colors! They don't have much of a scent but do smell nice.

4. SLOTH: What beauty product do you neglect, due to laziness?

Anything hair-related. I typically just use shampoo & conditioner, brush it out, and sleep on it wet. I'm so lazy because my hair is straight!

5. PRIDE: What beauty product gives you the most self confidence?

Foundation and concealer - it really helps me to know that I've done my best to conceal any blemishes, fine lines, under eye circles, etc.

I am currently rotating between:

Maybelline New York Instant Age Rewind Eraser Treatment Foundation SPF 18

Revlon PhotoReady Foundation SPF 20

Revlon Photoready Airbrush Mousse Foundation without SPF

L'Oreal Paris True Match Foundation SPF 17

and L'Oreal Visible Lift Serum Absolute Pro-Retinol A + Vitamin C Foundation SPF 17

For concealer, I'm currently rotating between:

Laura Mercier Secret Concealer 1

Benefit Cosmetics Erase Paste concealer 02

and Physicians Formula Concealer 101 Perfecting Concealer Duo Yellow/Light

6. LUST: What product did you lust after before you bought it?

The Beauty Blender sponge (click the link for my review!!)

7. ENVY: What beauty items would you most like to receive as a gift?

Anything from Benefit Cosmetics, MAC, Tarte, or Sigma....especially:

Benefit Cha Cha Tint

Benefit Silky Finish Lipsticks

Benefit Hervana blush

Benefit High Brow

Benefit Powderflage

Benefit Watt's Up

Benefit Hello Flawless Oxygen WOW Foundation in petal or champagne

MAC paint pot in Painterly

MAC powder blush in Blunt

MAC cream color base in Pearl, Shell

MAC eyeshadow in Seedy Pearl, Phloof!, Shroom, Brule, Satin Taupe

MAC lipstick in Myth

MAC 129 blush brush

Tarte Amazonian clay full coverage foundation in the shade Medium

Tarte Matte Waterproof Bronzer in Park Avenue Princess

Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-hr blush in Exposed

Tarte Gifted Amazonian Clay Smart Mascara

Tarte lash curler

Sigma E20 Short Shader brush

Sigma F05 Small Contour brush

Sigma F86 Synthetic Tapered Kabuki brush

I keep a running list on my Evernote app for iPhone and iPad about products I see that I want to try out, so it didn't take me too long to make this list haha. Hope you are all doing well, xoxo!

Please comment and subscribe! I'll be doing a giveaway for subscribers soon :) Let me know in the comments what type of products you are lusting after and maybe they'll find their way into my giveaway!

New Ann Taylor Perfect Pumps!

noreply@blogger.com (MC) — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 21:23:00 +0000

As I mentioned in this post, Ann Taylor Perfect Pumps are my favorite heels ever. So, when I saw these on sale on Ann Taylor's website, I knew I had to get them. They are always $155 online, but about two or three weeks ago, AT was having a 30% off full-priced shoes sale, making these girls only $108.50. I don't have any nude pumps anyway and knew I was going to eventually purchase these, so I just went for it because I didn't think my size would still be around if I waited for a bigger sale. Here's the reveal!

Lucy wouldn't leave me alone - guess she likes these heels, too!
What a little diva...

This shoe has everything I was looking for in my go-to nude pump:

- almond toe (not round or pointy)

- no platform

- leather sole, leather interior, leather upper

- fully padded footbed

- covered heel (not wood)

- 3.25" heel

These will be awesome for work, nights out, grad school events, and more. I think they look so polished and really match up well with my skin to create that leg-lengthening look.

And guess what? These are on sale TODAY at www.anntaylor.com - AT is having a 30% off full-priced purchase sale with code "FRIDAY." I highly suggest looking at their shoes because they are made well and are really comfortable.

Would you guys like me to do a tutorial on how I clean and polish my shoes? Let me know in the comments!

Have a beautiful day!

Sigma - New Product Alert!

noreply@blogger.com (Type A Petite) — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 17:00:00 +0000

There's a new Sigma Beauty product on the market that looks pretty cool, especially because it comes with a cute pink carrying case: The Sigma Beauty Spa Solutions Kit! I haven't tried this yet but it looks tempting.

The Kit contains the Sigma Cleansing and Polishing Tool and three attachments heads. It seems like the perfect item to give someone as a gift this spring so they can freshen up after the winter blahs. Here are some details from the Sigma website:

The extra-soft brush is a silicone attachment that is perfect for gentle cleansing for extra-sensitive skin.
The unique silicone massager attachment maximizes absorption of skin care products and stimulates skin circulation.
The exfoliator attachment is a pumice stone, best for removing dead skin cells to reveal healthy looking skin.

Sigma suggests using the Beauty Cleansing and Polishing Tool for facial polishing, cleansing and body exfoliation. For $39 you receive the tool, three removable brush heads and a storage case. That is about a FOURTH of the cost for similar products on the market like the Clarisonic! Does anyone have this yet? If you buy, let me know what you think!

Disclosure: I am affiliated with Sigma and get a 10% referral commission of purchases made through my affiliate link, included above and below. All posts, as always, are my honest opinion. I do truly love the Sigma brushes I have (which I'll review soon), so I expect that this will be an awesome product as well!

Beauty Blender Makeup Sponge Review

noreply@blogger.com (Type A Petite) — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 22:59:00 +0000

ITEM: The Beauty Blender Sponge

The Beauty Blender sponge is one of the best beauty inventions ever. It's a latex-free, hypoallergenic pink waterdrop-shaped reusable sponge. I've been seeing it all over the blogs, in Birchbox reviews, and in magazines for months. So I decided last weekend to ask my dad for it as a late Christmas present while he was in town visiting. We got one for me and one for my stepmom at an Aveda salon near me!

PRICE:

It's usually $39.95 for two sponges, or $23.95 for a one sponge + cleanser kit, or $19.95 for one sponge. Sometimes they are cheaper on Amazon:

Normally I would cringe at the thought of paying so much for a sponge that you would have to toss after 3 months of use, but I figured it was worth a try. As soon as I got it, I put some liquid foundation on the back of my hand, bounced the bigger flat end of the BB sponge on the foundation, and stippled (bounced) it on my face.

WOULD I BUY AGAIN? YES!

The results of the BB? The most perfect, streak-free, airbrushed finish ever. This thing is amazing! It gave my face a dewy, fresh finish. If you want to sheer out your foundation, add water to the sponge before using, and if you want a full-coverage look, squeeze out most of the water before using or use no water at all.

The round flat end of the sponge is used for the majority of the face, but there is also a pointy end that can be used for around the nose, mouth, and under-eye area. All you have to do is bounce the sponge around your face, and by using that technique you can blend it all out and avoid streaking.

The Beauty Blender Cleanser - is it worth it?

I have only washed my sponge once this week, about two days ago. I used the sample of the cleanser that came with my one sponge, and noticed that a TON of pink dye came out in the sink. I suggest washing it thoroughly before your first use to wash out any loose pink dye in it. After using up ALL of the sample cleanser, there was still pink dye coming out. So, I used some of my gentle fragrance-free
Paula's Choice All-Over Hair & Body Shampoo on it. I have also heard that
Johnson's Baby Shampoo
or Dr. Bronner's Magic Pure-Castile 18-in-1 Soap
are good for cleaning the BB too. As a note, the round plastic box that the sponge comes in also serves as a pedestal to dry your sponge on after cleansing (and with the lid on it, it's an effective deterrent for a kitty who likes to nibble on my beauty supplies). The company (www.beautyblender.net) also offers to recycle your old sponges for you if you mail them in.

In summary, I highly recommend the Beauty Blender if you want to achieve a perfectly air-brushed finish with your foundation, but I don't think the BB Cleanser is worth it because it's so expensive and there are plenty of gentle liquid cleansers out there. I hope this review helps! Do you have or want a Beauty Blender? Let me know in the comments, especially Jess & Tracye!

Edit: I used two different cameras for the pre-use and the in-use pictures, so that's why the photos don't exactly match. Also, here is a great video by BB explaining everything you need to know about the BB sponge!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qGwYbUz8ps&feature=player_embedded

After One Week of Blogging - Thank You!!!

noreply@blogger.com (MC) — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 01:50:00 +0000

Hi darlings, just a quick post to say thank you so much for checking out my little blog!

It means the world to me that I was able to share my new hobby with you. In just one week (Jan 13-20), the blog has gotten 892 page views!!! In Rachel Zoe's words, BA NA NAS! This is crazy, thank you so much!

I would love it if you would please comment on posts and subscribe to the blog via RSS, Facebook, Twitter, Blogger, or Email - the icons are on the right hand sidebar of my page :) Let me know if there's another way of following the blog that you would like me to create a button for.

Finally, please let me know if you have any ideas for my content or layout!! I want to make the blog fun for me AND my readers, so let me know what I can do to improve!

Have a great week!

CVS Mini Haul

noreply@blogger.com (Type A Petite) — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 23:55:00 +0000

I had a great time shopping at CVS this afternoon, primarily because I ran into my good friend Becca and was able to recommend a huge hand mirror for her :) I was mainly shopping for milk and laundry detergent, but you know how CVS shopping trips go!

These are mostly things that I heard about from other bloggers that I've been meaning to pick up:

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Treatment Makeup SPF 18 - I was sort of skeptical of this foundation because it has a sponge attached to it, but Elle Fowler's video convinced me to give it a try! Since there's not sufficient UVA coverage (see Paula's review here), I'll be sure to keep using my normal daily face sunscreen underneath it. I also plan on using my Beauty Blender sponge to blend it out after dotting it on with the attached sponge applicator (Beauty Blender review to come!)

Blue Magic Coconut Oil Hair Conditioner and Organic ROOT Stimulator Hair Fertilizer - These hair masks were CHEAP! Check out Rachel Talbott's video for the review + how-to. I just slapped a bunch of both in my hair according to Rachel's video so I'll let you know how it turns out!

Arm & Hammer Advance White Baking Soda + Peroxide Toothpaste - Rachel Talbott also recommended this toothpaste and I'm kinda bored with mine so I thought I'd pick it up

Maybelline Color Tattoo 24hr Eyeshadow in 35 Tough As Taupe - all the bloggers were raving about Maybelline's Color Tattoos a few months back. I have and like the shades 05 Too Cool, 25 Bad to the Bronze, and 45 Bold Gold, which are all shimmer shades. 35 Tough as Taupe is a matte neutral shade, which I don't have many of, so I thought I'd try it out!

Finally, I got the Naked Green Machine and Halls Defense Sugar Free Vitamin C drops because I was feeling a little blah today - hopefully these perk me up! Hope you are all doing well, xoxo!!

DVF Suitcase on Sale

noreply@blogger.com (MC) — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 19:20:00 +0000

Stumbling around the internet, I recently found this beautiful Diane Von Furstenberg 24" rolling expandable suitcase for almost 50% - it was originally $300, now marked down to $159.99 on Zappos Couture.

It is a beautiful black and white print, with red interior. As a bonus, it comes with a really cute removable pouch. Anyone have spring break coming up??

EDIT: The 24" appears to be sold out on zappos couture; here is the 20" on sale, marked down to $174.99: http://couture.zappos.com/diane-von-furstenberg-camargue-20-rolling-expandable-black-white

President's Day Sales!

noreply@blogger.com (MC) — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 19:10:00 +0000

Hi Lovelies, I just wanted to quickly let you know that Corporette has rounded up a bunch of the promo codes that are good for today's sales, check out Corporette here and let me know what you buy!

What's In My Purse? (Weekend Edition)

noreply@blogger.com (MC) — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 19:13:00 +0000

This is one of my favorite types of blog entries to read so I hope you enjoy this peek into what I carry every day. It may seem like a lot but I do use most of this each day and feel lost if I reach for one of these things and its missing. I really recommend all of these products!!

I'm a grad student so I do switch my things between my backpack and my weekend tote bag, and then I'll pare it all down and bring only the essentials in a smaller purse or clutch for a night out.

The bag is the 2008 Juicy Couture Canvas Premier Shopper Tote: a coated canvas tote that is a little Goyard-esque. I would die for a Goyard bag, but for now I'm loving this Juicy tote. It's big enough to handle magazines or other paperwork, but its very light because its coated canvas with leather only on the straps and trim. The print on the bag is little scottie dogs :) Unfortunately, I don't think its still for sale anywhere.

And inside:

Jonathan Adler for Barnes & Noble Love Dove Fuchsia Folding Umbrella,

Vera Bradley Double Kiss Coin Purse in the pattern "Very Berry Paisley,

Brown vegan leather wallet - no brand, gift from my mom a few years ago,

Black stretchy cotton mittens,

Tic Tacs in Wintergreen flavor,

Eucerin Dry Skin Therapy PLUS Intensive Repair Hand Creme,

Sephora Pop-Up Travel Brush,

Stephanie Johnson Katie Folding Clutch in the color "Lima Pink,"

Milly for Clinique brush/pencil case (part of this set),

Fiber One bars in "Oats & Caramel" and "Oats & Chocolate,"

Essence of Beauty (CVS store brand) antibacterial hand sanitizer in "Sunblossom" scent,

Awesome little purple folding mirror - no brand, gift from my grandma this past Christmas,

CVS travel size Cleansing & Makeup Remover Towelettes (similar),

My kitty Lucy (no I don't tote her around all day haha),

16 oz. Nalgene water bottle (this one was a free giveaway at an event I went to recently),

Moleskine Reporter Pocket Ruled Notebook,

Forever 21 black claw hair clip,

Assorted pens, pencils, and highlighters,

Post-It 1" Flat Tabs (yeah I'm a nerd - these are the only tabs I'll buy for my school work)

I use the little Vera Bradley Double Kiss Coin Purse to hold an extra necklace & bracelet in case I need them for a quick day-to-night switch, and I also use it to hold my headphones and SD memory card USB reader

So this may be TMI, but I use the little Milly for Clinique brush/pencil bag to hold tampons, an extra pair of undies, and a ziplock baggie.

And here's my favorite thing in my purse, my "purse pack:"

I use my Stephanie Johnson Katie Folding Clutch as both a makeup bag and a first aid kit. This little baby is easy to move to whatever purse or backpack I'm using each day, and it holds a TON:

I love it because it has two zippered compartments inside...

And the compartments are clear! So I can actually see what I need before I reach in and shuffle everything around. I know exactly where everything is in there.

First, I'll show you the "makeup side"

Nivea Kiss of Moisture lip balm - I love this but it doesn't have SPF, so I usually also have the Paula's Choice Moisturizing Lipscreen SPF 15 in my purse, but I just ran out. I switch to the Shiseido Sun Protection Lip Treatment SPF 36 for the summer.

Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter lipsticks in 025 Peach Parfait - a perfect peachy pink, and 085 Sugar Plum - a beautiful light mauve. These new lipstick/lip balm hybrids have taken the blog world by storm this past year and for good reason!

Tarina Tarantino Fleur de Lash mascara in Black Opal,

Mary Kay NouriShine Lip Gloss in Gold Rush (color isn't made any more),

Juicy Couture Original rollerball and spray travel perfume,

Harvey Prince Yogini spray travel perfume,

Benefit Girl Meets Pearl highligher travel sized,

Jouer Moisturizing Lip Gloss in color "Birchbox Pink" travel size,

Benefit Erase Paste in shade No. 2 medium travel size,

bobby pins, nail file, and cuticle trimmer stick,

Stila Smudge Stick Waterproof Eye Liner in color "Lionfish,"

Milani Liquif'Eye metallic eye liner in color Black,

Beautiful little Vera Bradley mints tin given to me by my bf's grandma (they're not sold on the Vera Bradley site anymore but there are a bunch on eBay), which I use to hold my pills,

CVS nail polish remover pads (usually I carry Deborah Lippmann's Stripper to Go pads, but I just ran out)

This other side is more of a first aid / for-emergencies-only kit:

This side is not as fun so I'm not going to link to everything.

I carry a dryer sheet (top of the picture, folded) to rub on my hair if it is static-y, Mini lint roller, Tide to Go pen, Band-Aids, extra contacts, mini Revlon tweezers, earplugs, one little backup dose of my everyday medicines in case I forget to take them in the morning, a Larabar, ShowStoppers fashion tape, Tums, cough drops, Visine, Band-Aid Friction Block Stick (the bandaid brand one is a lot better than competitors for avoiding blisters), and extra hair ties.

Close up shot of the adorable mini Revlon tweezers

So that's what's in my purse! Let me know what's in yours :)

Paula's Choice - 15% Off Everything Today!

noreply@blogger.com (Type A Petite) — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 19:32:00 +0000

So I keep saying that I'll review Paula's Choice, so I just wanted to alert you really quick that www.paulaschoice.com is having a sale today only: 15% off everything + free shipping + 3 free samples! Check it out!

Some of my top picks are:

Sheer Cream Lipstick SPF 15 in any color except Sherbert

Soft Cream Concealer in either color

the Powder Brush

RESIST Daily Smoothing Treatment with 5% Alpha Hydroxy Acid

Any of the Antioxidant Serums (some have retinol in them too - bonus!)

Here's what makes her products so good:

Her products only have what your skin needs and nothing else - no fragrance, no irritants, no untested non-scientific weird ingredients like apple stem cells and that kind of BS. She cites scientific peer-reviewed journals for every product she sells to explain what ingredients are in it that are good for you. And she has a huge section of her website that explains everything you need to know about how to take care of your skin - I thought I knew what I was doing but I realize I had no idea. I was putting so much bad stuff on my face everyday. Here's the learning section of the site. She also reviews other company's skin and makeup products at www.beautypedia.com which I love and referenced in a previous post - she's like the only skincare company that concedes that other companies have good products too. All around, I feel like I can trust her more because she tries to educate consumers without just pushing miracle products, and her products are as cheap as drugstore products. The bottles are bigger than I thought they would be. Sizes are listed on the product page next to the price, and you can compare that size to something you own to get an idea of how big it is. So since they're also running a 15% off everything sale right now, and you can order sample packets of most of the products to try them out first. I actually feel like most of the products are bigger than the stuff I've been using previously!

Let me know if you use PC and which products you like! I use a tonnn and will do a complete review of my everyday skincare routine soon :)

Ebay Haul - Crocs (but they don't look like Crocs I promise!) and Ann Taylor Perfect Peeptoe Pumps

noreply@blogger.com (MC) — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 00:09:00 +0000

Hi lovely readers! This weekend I received two pairs of shoes I won on eBay: Ann Taylor Perfect Peeptoe Pumps in white snakeskin, and Crocs McCall Winter flats in plum.

I have a saved search on eBay for "Ann Taylor Perfect Pumps" in a size 8 because they are my favorite heels, and I got an eBay email alert last week saying that these babies were up for sale. I stalked their eBay page all day last Thursday on my iPhone eBay app, and won them at the last second against another bidder for only $40 plus $10 shipping! This style is currently on sale for $169.99 at AnnTaylor.com, originally $198. Right now, AT is also running a 40% off sale on previously marked down items, so that comes out to $101.99 if you'd like to snag a pair; not a terrible price for a pair of shoes that are this comfortable and stylish! At $50 on eBay, I got them for less than half of what they're selling for now, and only about 25% of their full original retail price - wooo!

I think these will be great shoes to wear to friends' weddings, and possibly for a work function or grad school event. My workplace is on the more conservative end of the spectrum so I doubt I'll be wearing these to work, but if you work in a more relaxed/creative environment I think these would be great summer work shoes too!

{Ann Taylor Perfect Peeptoe Pumps, purchased on eBay from seller muffin_made}

Next, I know what you're thinking: Crocs, ugh. How could she? I swore I never would, but look how cute these girls are! They really don't look like Crocs at all. I saw that Jen at frmheadtotoe.com had found these at a Nordstrom Rack in black, and they really looked pretty cute! So, I started hunting them down online and found them on eBay in this great plum color that I do not have in my shoe wardrobe. I got them on eBay for about $30.

The upper is flocked fabric (velvet-like), they feel light as air, and I could walk in them all day. I think they'll be great with dresses and skirts for school or work.

{Crocs McCall Winter in plum, purchased on eBay from seller prabbits}

PS - Soon I am going to do a review/comparison of Ann Taylor Perfect Pumps, Kate Spade Karolina Pumps, and Christian Louboutin Simple 100s - let me know if you have these and which you prefer!!