BRB!

By on January 23, 2012 in Site News

I’ve been saving my pennies since I started working and now it’s finally time to get my own apartment! After weeks of searching, I found just the right place. I’m moving in 2 weeks! This was a little sooner than I expected so there will be a lot of running around to get everything organized and packed up.

Unfortunately this means I’ll be away from the blog for a bit. I should be back to my posting routine (and hopefully even more frequent posting thanks to a shorter commute) by mid-February. Thanks for your patience!

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January Blog Sale

By on January 17, 2012 in Beauty Deals, Shopping

Purchasing

  • If you would like to purchase, please fill out the email form at the bottom of the page
  • I’ll send you a Paypal invoice including shipping fees and expect payment within 48 hours
  • Assume all items have been swatched or tested unless the description specifically says brand new :)
  • All sales are final – please look up swatches before purchasing!

Shipping

  • I make every effort to ship packages within 2 days of payment
  • USA shipping is $2.00 + $0.50 for each additional item
  • Contact me for international shipping prices (usually $4-12)

  • China Glaze Sea Spray $4 sold to Nicole
  • Essie Borrowed & Blue $4 sold to Nicole
  • Barry M Pure Turquoise $2
  • Essence I Like $1
  • Nicole by OPI My Lifesaver $2 sold to Laurel

  • China Glaze Ruby Pumps $4
  • China Glaze Ahoy! $4
  • Essie BBF Best Boyfriend $4 sold to Laurel

  • Essie Smokin’ Hot $4 sold to Laurel
  • China Glaze Below Deck $4 sold to Laurel
  • OPI Done Out In Deco $4 sold to Laurel
  • Sally Hansen No Hard Feelings $2
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Chanel Quartz Nail Varnish Comparisons

By on January 16, 2012 in Reviews

I initially passed over Chanel Quartz thinking it would be boring. When a few trusted bloggers posted that they had fallen in love with it, I knew I had to take a closer look. What I found was a gorgeous light taupe with the same opalescent quality that made Black Pearl so popular last spring. Yes, it’s neutral, but it is not boring.

Zoya Jules, Chanel Quartz, China Glaze Swing Baby

Zoya Jules, Chanel Quartz, China Glaze Swing Baby

Quartz is a funny color because it falls just between taupe and champagne. The closest colors in my drawer were Zoya Jules (a pale gold foil) and China Glaze Swing Baby (a champagne foil). By comparison, Quartz has much finer shimmer and more of a frost finish. It reminds me very much of a seashell.

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Beauty Deals: January 16th, 2012

By on January 16, 2012 in Beauty Deals

Flash Sales
Sign up!
Monday

  • Luxury Scents (H)
Tuesday

  • Sperry Top Sider (H)
  • North Face (I)
Wednesday

  • Donald Pliner (H)
Thursday

  • Nothing yet…
Friday

  • Missoni Accessories (R)

Bath & Body Works

  • 20% off with code GIFT20 (expires 2/15)

Beauty.com

  • $10 off $50 order + free shipping when you click through this link (expires 12/31)
    • For all customers (not just new customers), but some exclusions, check here for details
  • Free shipping on $25+ orders

Bobbi Brown

  • Free Shimmer Lip Gloss in Glacier with $65 orders and code GLACIER9 (expires 1/31)
  • Free Treatment Lip Shine in Plumberry with $65 order and code PLUM11 (expires 4/13)
  • Free Lip Gloss in Nougat with $65 order and code GLOSS12 (expires 4/13)
  • Free shipping on $65+ orders
  • Pick three deluxe samples with every order (expires 1/19)

DermStore

  • 10% off when you shop from your My Favorites list (expires 6/2)
  • Free shipping on all U.S. orders

Drugstore.com

  • New customers only: Spend $50 and get free shipping + a $100 Restaurant.com credit when you click through this link (expires 12/31)
  • New customers only: Spend $25 and get free shipping + $50 Restaurant.com credit when you click through this link (expires 12/31)
  • New customers only: $5 off $30 or $10 off $50 when you click through this link (expires 12/31)
  • Free shipping on $25 orders
  • Check out the instant coupons section for great deals

NARS Cosmetics

  • 20% off with code SIERRA (expiration unknown)
  • Free shipping with $50 order

Nordstrom

  • Free shipping and free returns on every order

Sephora

SkincareRx

  • 20% off with code MUACOUPON20 (check for exclusions)
  • Free shipping on $49+ orders

Stila

  • 20% off when you sign up for the newsletter
  • Free shipping on $50+ orders

Ulta

  • $3.50 off $10 order with code 62548 (expires 1/21)
  • $15 off $75 + free shipping with code ONLINEDEAL1 (expires 1/28)
  • Free shipping with $25 order and code ONLINEJAN12 (expires 1/21)
  • Check out the other current special offers
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Beauty Blog Link Love: January 14th, 2012

By on January 14, 2012 in Networking

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Essie Bangle Jangle

By on January 9, 2012 in Reviews

Leonard Lauder (of Estee Lauder) developed a theory that the purchase of cosmetics, especially lipsticks, is inversely related to the health of the economy. In other words: when things suck, women go out and buy makeup. Sounds about right, don’t you think?

Over the last few years I think the trend has changed from lipstick to nail polish, especially with brands bringing out increasingly interesting shades. I told you a few months ago that I had cut down my beauty budget a lot, and boy does it sting sometimes. Nail polish is most certainly my little luxury! Expect lots of those in the next week or so.

Essie Chinchilly, Essie Bangle Jangle, OPI Done Out In Deco

Essie Chinchilly, Essie Bangle Jangle, OPI Done Out In Deco

First up is Essie Bangle Jangle from the Winter 2011 collection (called Cocktail Bling). When I first saw the collection I wasn’t floored, but then I saw this on Pinterest and I was SOLD. It’s a perfect greyed lavender and the finish is gorgeous – somewhere between a creme and a jelly.

Essie Chinchilly, Essie Bangle Jangle, OPI Done Out In Deco

Essie Chinchilly, Essie Bangle Jangle, OPI Done Out In Deco

I did comparison swatches to Essie Chinchilly (a grey brown) and OPI Done Out In Deco (a true lilac). I was afraid that Bangle Jangle might be too close to the OPI, so I was pleasantly surprised to find otherwise.

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OPI Holland Collection for Spring 2012

By on January 7, 2012 in Collection Info

OPI Holland Collection for Spring 2012

This is a really lovely collection that covers a lot of bases – you’ve got simple neutrals, punchy brights, and pretty pastels. As always, the names are creative and fun. I haven’t yet seen the collection in person (available in February), but I did find some great swatches on a blog called Fashion Polish (Part I, Part II). I highly recommend you check out the swatches so you can see the gorgeous textures.
  • A Roll In The Hague Take advantage of this frisky little orange
  • Red Lights Ahead…Where? This coral-packed red is the hottest in the district
  • Kiss Me On My Tulips A smooch-worthy shade of hot pink
  • Pedal Faster Suzi! This pink lavender shimmer will have you “wheeling”
  • Vampsterdam A deep purple for a divine diva
  • Did You ‘ear About Van Gogh? Rumour has it this sandy bisque is a work of art
  • Thanks a Windmillion You totally deserve this breezy sea green
  • Dutch ’Ya Just Love OPI? All of Holland hollers for this crowd-pleasing plum
  • Gouda Gouda Two Shoes Take a walk on the wild side with this robust rose
  • I Don’t Give a Rotterdam! This sassy steal-blue shimmer means business!
  • I Have Herring Problem What’s that you say? I need to “sea” this shimmery green-blue?
  • Wooden Shoe Like to Know? It’s no secret…everybody loves this shimmery chocolate-brown
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Spring 2012 Trend: Neon Lips & Nails

By on January 6, 2012 in Trends

I’ve been browsing the spring makeup collections and I’ve noticed a lot of new neon products, especially for the lips. While I don’t have a lot of use for neon lipstick in my normal life (my coworkers would probably look at me like I had a third head), I do appreciate the trend and would love to participate somehow, so I included some neon nail polishes as well.

Top Row: MAC Morange, MAC Party Parrot, MAC Pink Pigeon, MAC Scarlet Ibis, OPI A Roll in the Hague, OPI Red Lights Ahead… Where?, OPI Kiss My Tulips

Bottom Row: MAC Entertain Me, MAC Embrace Me, MAC Redd, Bobbi Brown Citrus, Bobbi Brown Atomic Pink, Bobbi Brown Ultra Violet,  Bobbi Brown Atomic Orange, Bobbi Brown Neon Pink

It’s kind of refreshing to see neons in spring because I’m used to washed out pastels being the focus. It does leave me wondering what summer will bring, though!

How would you rock the neon trend?

P.S. I’ll do a full post on the OPI Holland Collection very soon! It’s pretty exciting :)

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Tweezerman Zip File

By on January 4, 2012 in Reviews

We’ve all been there – you have a shopping cart that’s just a few dollars shy of free shipping, so you desperately search the site for something, anything that’ll get you to the threshold. Last time this happened I was shopping online at Sephora, so I found this cute $5 nail file and happily completed my purchase.

When it arrived I was somewhat confused… I mean, the nail file was quite precious with its lip print design, but did I really need a travel nail file? Since when were nail files hard to carry around anyway?

I figured I should at least give it a shot. I removed my polish (Chanel Graphite for New Year’s!), clipped my nails, and set to filing the edges smooth. That’s when the trouble started. The file wouldn’t smooth anything unless I used a lot of pressure, at which point the flimsy cardboard started to bend. After that, the sandpaper started to peel off. I was at my boyfriend’s at the time (he heard a lot of choice words during this process) and since I hadn’t brought another file with me, I had to give up entirely until I got home.

I’ve never before encountered such a useless, poorly made product. If it can’t perform its designated function even once, what’s the point? For $5, I had much higher expectations.

After reading the website reviews, I see that my experience with this product isn’t unique at all. Shame on me for not reading them before! I’ll just go back to my beloved Sally Hansen nail files, which only cost $2.99 for a 2-pack (and are eligible for coupons at Ulta).

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Beauty Deals: January 3rd, 2012

By on January 3, 2012 in Beauty Deals

There are some good skincare flash sales this week (notably Amore Pacific and Mario Badescu) and some great gift with purchase offers at Bobbi Brown. Happy New Year!

Flash Sales
Sign up!
Monday

  • Winter Coats (R)
Tuesday

  • Amore Pacific (G)
  • North Face (I)
  • Terax Haircare (H)
Wednesday

  • Anne Klein (H)
  • Tech Cases (G)
Thursday

  • Cosabella Lingerie (G)
Friday

  • Mario Badescu (G)
  • Dresses <$100 (R)

Bath & Body Works

  • 20% off entire purchase with code GIFT20 (expires 2/15)
  • 20% off any order with code 20JANSEMIANNUALSALE (expires 1/15)

Beauty.com

  • $10 off $50 order + free shipping when you click through this link (expires 12/31)
    • For all customers (not just new customers), but some exclusions, check here for details
  • Free shipping on $25+ orders

Bobbi Brown

  • Free Bobbi To Go Set with $100 order and code NEON12 (expires 1/9)
  • Free Shimmer Lip Gloss in Glacier with $65 orders and code GLACIER9 (expires 1/31)
  • Free Treatment Lip Shine in Plumberry with $65 order and code PLUM11 (expires 4/13)
  • Free Lip Gloss in Nougat with $65 order and code GLOSS12 (expires 4/13)
  • Free shipping on $65+ orders
  • Choose 2 free deluxe samples with every order

DermStore

  • 10% off when you shop from your My Favorites list (expires 6/2)
  • Free shipping on all U.S. orders

Drugstore.com

  • New customers only: Spend $50 and get free shipping + a $100 Restaurant.com credit when you click through this link (expires 12/31)
  • New customers only: Spend $25 and get free shipping + $50 Restaurant.com credit when you click through this link (expires 12/31)
  • New customers only: $5 off $30 or $10 off $50 when you click through this link (expires 12/31)
  • Free shipping on $25 orders
  • Check out the instant coupons section for great deals

e.l.f. cosmetics

  • 50% off entire purchase (up to a $7.50 discount) with code CAROLINA

Molton Brown

  • Up to 25% off in the sale section
  • Free shipping with $75 order
  • Free 1 oz. sample with every order

NARS Cosmetics

  • Free two-day shipping on all orders

Nordstrom

  • Free shipping and free returns on every order

Philosophy

  • Free shipping with $50 order

Sephora

SkincareRx

  • 20% off with code MUACOUPON20 (check for exclusions)
  • Free shipping on $49+ orders

Smashbox

  • Pick 3 deluxe samples with every order

Stila

  • 20% off when you sign up for the newsletter
  • Free shipping on $50+ orders

Ulta

  • $3.50 off $10 order with code 62548 (expires 1/21)
  • Buy 2 Get 2 Free on Ulta brand products
  • Check out the other current special offers
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