HOT Lip Combo

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

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)

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!!

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!

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!!

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...

(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:

1. Be sure to check online for sales at different local drugstores so you can find the best deal.
2. Compare prices at different store websites that typically sell products for less money than drugstores (Walmart and Target are my go-tos).
3. 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!
4. 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).
5. 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

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

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

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