Yves Saint Laurent MASCARA VOLUME EFFET FAUX CILS Review

I have been a member of influenster for quite some time, so when I was invited to participate and try out the new YSL mascara of course I jumped at the chance. If you aren't familiar with Influenster wow it works if you are invited and accepted to a campaign they send you over a free product to try.

Eye and lip products tend to be my favorite makeup items. I'm always on a quest to find a mascara that will really make my lashes look like I have my falsies on. The first time I tried this new product I was not very impressed. It wasn't bad but it wasn't great. With mascara sometimes I find I have to try and apply it in different ways in order for it to turn out the way I want.

So I tried a second time and the results were really great. If you like Diorshow you will probably really like this one as well. For me I'm a very glam makeup kinda girl for any nights out and even during the day when I wear makeup it's never the typical "natural" look. For my day looks I really like this mascara a lot. It curls, adds volume, and is not clumpy at all as long as I use my lash comb after applying. That also being said it sadly won't replace my false lashes. I'm not sure anything will ever keep me from my falsies especially for concerts and such. But as far as mascaras go this is in my top 3 now and I'm very picky.

 

I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes.

Holy Tony Moly! Review

So I recently purchased a few Tony Moly items at Sephora. I could not resist the adorable packaging alone(I know I know I work in marketing so I should know better but good packaging definitely helps sell me on a product, am I wrong dolls?) Unfortunately there are a few additional items that I wanted to get like the eye calming stick that’s packed up like a panda, I mean come on how freaking cute is that?!

What I did get my hands on was the Tony Moly Bbo Bbo Lip balm in both the Honey and the Blueberry (pink lips and the red lips containers). At $9 I didn’t think the price was terrible since I use a lot of Fresh lip products and those are pretty expensive. This stuff is absolutely awesome. I have super easy to chap lips and have to really take care of them or they look and feel terrible. This stuff works. I didn’t find either to be the better of the two, they both did the job. If my lips were chapped I put it on at night and woke up to smooth lips. I didn’t have to keep using it constantly like chapstick though its texture and scent make me want to use it more. I find it to be better than my Fresh products that I spend 2x more on so you can bet I will purchase these lip balms again.

I also purchased the Tony Moly Pocket Bunny Moist Mist but haven’t used it enough to say it’s the best thing out there. The few times I have used it I have liked it. It feels nice and not sticky and does make my skin feel good. I think I will love this especially in the summer when I’m working outdoor events and also when I travel for all the amazing road trips I have set up. It’s definitely the cutest packaging for a facial mist I have ever seen.

All of these products were purchased at Sephora if you guys are interested in trying them yourself!

 

 

 

Sugarpill Eyeshadow palette, Sparkle baby and Cold Chemistry rock my world!

There are very few cosmetics items that get me super excited as easily as Sugarpill eyeshadow palettes do. I have all the other previous palettes and have loved them over the last year or so. I always love doings fun colorful looks for all the concerts I go to and Sugarpill has provided many of those. I find their shadows have more staying power that pretty much anything else out there (though I do love the makeup forever artist shadows, and use both together often)

So a little about each palette starting with Sparkle baby. This is a cute lighter palette with a hot pink (hotsy totsy) exception  (I love using pinks, they really make green eyes pop). I absolutely love Kitten parade as well it's a peachy pink, that isn't' too warm for us cool toned ladies. The lighter colors are really great for blending and highlighting other looks as well. The pigmentation on the lighter colors is not as good as I find most of the other Sugarpill palettes to be.

Under bright light

Under normal light

Cold Chemistry has been on my wish list for quite some time. I tend to do 2 looks, Smokey darker eyes, or bright fun eyes. Cold chemistry has all the darks I use most. A beautiful purple (Elemental Chaos) a great shimmery grey/black (Soots & Stars) and one of the best shades for highlighting (Diamond Eyes). The green (Subterranean) is gorgeous as well, but I do not use a lot of greens typically. This is probably my new favorite palette. SUPER pigmented and absolutely perfect for a variety of looks. This one gets my vote of approval and would be the first palette I'd recommend someone new to Sugarpill to try.

Kaplan MD Perfect Pout Lip Mask and Lip Balm Duo

I've recently placed a number of Sephora orders and would like to share some reviews on which products I like and don't as I use them.

First up is the Kaplan MD kit. I've heard about this kit all over the internet and was very curious to see if it could deliver. I have issues with chapped lips and I'm constantly looking for products that can fix and prevent this issue. After reading about this product I knew I had to give is a shot.

The lip mask feels very tingly when I've used it. The first time it absorbed much slower than the last few times I've used it. It definitely plumps my lips, though the effect is temporary (lasts a few hours tops) After you use the mask you are supposed to wipe off the excess, then apply the balm.

The balm feels nice, no major smell to it in my opinion. It helps hydrate for sure, but I'm not sold that it would work nearly as good on its own.

Overall I really like the product but I'm not sure that it's the best thing out there yet (I like to try everything until something stands out and becomes the only product I want to use because it's so amazing) I would definitely use it prior to special occasions to plump up my lips a bit but to me that is the most noticeable difference between this product and others out there.

How to get High End items on a low end budget

Since starting my blog a few years ago I have completely changed the way I shopped. I have always loved pretty things and had champagne taste on a PBR budget. Over the last two years I have found a way to get some of the coveted items I always though were just outside of my reach. So today I will share with you some tricks and tips to get those items at a much more affordable price.

1. Online cashback! For some of you this obvious, but after talking to a lot of friends not everyone seems to know about it. I primarily use Mr. Rebates and Ebates. If you have a Discover Card you can go through Discover Deals and get up to 15% cashback at times. Right now there's 15% cashback at Saks Fifth Avenue and 10% cashback at Sephora through Discover. This may not seem like a lot but believe me it adds up quick! This is a good time to buy a pair of classic Louboutins that rarely (if ever) go on sale since it's like getting 15% off. I'll post links below for you to sign up for these sites if you aren't already taking advantage of them. There are many other cashback sites out there, these are the one's I have personally use and would recommend.

Ebates (referral link)


Mr.Rebates (referral link)

2. Know your brands. It helps knowing about the brands you like. For example Christian Louboutin shoes do go on sale. Twice a year actually, however these are the more seasonal colors and styles with some classic once in awhile. Chanel does the same. Knowing the sale cycles and products makes it much easier to find what you covet at a discounted price.

3. Shop around. Again some of you are saying I do this! Before I buy ANYTHING, I always Google search the item to make sure I'm getting the best price with the highest cashback possible!

4.Gift Card events. Neiman Marcus and Saks both offer events where if you buy a certain amount they will give you a gift card. Some brands are excluded, but a lot of high end brands like Alexander Wang, Alexander McQueen, Chloe, and many others are not. My first bag splurge was an Alexander Wang Rocco. I added a filler item to my cart to put the total over 1000. For making a purchase over 41000, I got a $300 gift card. I also got 10% cashback. So ultimately I ended up paying $600 for the purse, which often costs more even on sale. Sometimes depending on the timeframe of your purchase, you can get an even better deal. With most credit cards they offer a price rewind. If the item goes on sale within 60-90 days of purchase they will give you credit back for the difference. This has worked out for me a couple of times making the item cost even lower! So this is why it's  always good to know your brands and know the sales cycle.

5. Shop more buy less. Instead of buying a ton of items that are a good deal or cheap, buy smart. If you buy something think am I really going to wear this often? Many people will tell you of cost per wear, this is definitely something people should think about. For example I'm more likely to wear a purse or sunglasses for a long time, therefore spending on a high quality item rather than a bunch of cheaper items I grow sick of makes sense. I also do not take the tags off items until I wear them. If they sit in my closet for more than 3 weeks they go back (unless they are out of season like buying a sweater during the summer or vice versa) Bottom line is don't buy things you will not wear no matter how great the price.

6.Places I shop for deals. Of course there's your TJ Maxx, Homegoods, Marshalls, Off Saks, Neiman Marcus Last Call, Nordstrom Rack(I've found Jimmy Coo's, Mui Mui, and many other designer items at prices between $75-$250, sometimes with the item being full price in store still!), and many other stores that offer high end items at lower prices but there are other places as well. I'm a big fan of Gilt.com they offer a lot of Alexander McQueen items at great prices. For example his iconic skull scarves. They are usually a decent percentage off to begin with, but Gilt also sends out promo codes for an additional 10-30% making them a steal! I have bought many items this way. Another good site is the Outnet.

7. Secondary Markets like eBay, consignment &thrift stores and Poshmark. I shop through a lot of secondhand stores on Instagram. You can follow their accounts and when new items come in they post them and you can call and purchase. This is great for items you may have missed out on. I eyed a particular Alexander McQueen bag but it sold out online at a price I just couldn't pay. A few months later a trusted seller on eBay posted the bag at a great price and now its mine.  Poshmark can be great too. I sell on there and have done very well making some money (I usually put right back into my closet)

My Poshmark Closet

These are just a few of the many ways you can find Luxury items at a more affordable price!

Happy Shopping!

New Year, New Look, New Topics

Welcome,

After a long break from Blogging I'm returning better than ever! I have spent the last 2 years working for a job I hated, and remodeling a house. Now I'm in a job I like that I'm not working 60 hours a week. I have almost all the renovations for the basement where I live done (got some awesome before and after pictures coming soon). In addition I have a new focus on the content I will feature. I have gotten back into my music adventures, photography, and interviews, there will be some of this on the blog in addition to the designer scores I get for less, beauty reviews, hauls, and other lifestyle content for you to enjoy. I may have a new found love for high end, however it will always be with a rock n roll twist.

Thanks for stopping by and new content coming this week!

New Years Resolutions

So I'm a little far behind in my posts this month. The holidays have taken a major toll on my productivity. These things have inspired me to write this post.

My New Year's Resolutions

1. Make more time for the fun things in life. Since I have moved to Virginia and gotten a "real" job some of my passions have been come to a complete stop.

This being said that brings me to

2. Make it out to more concerts and shows. I usually went to at least 1 a week in Florida so I'm going to say I want to make it to at least 50 shows in 2013. I will post about my concert conquests on my other blog. If you care to follow my music and musician related ramblings it is http://amandasixx.blogspot.com  I have been absent from there for far too long but other than some killer pictures and set lists, Virginia hasn't given me much to write about.

3. Get back into interviewing bands and promoting up and coming artists. Growing up this was a huge part of my life. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know bands from a different perspective, even though sometimes it could come with huge let downs. I firmly believe 10 years from now my career will be more in this direction anyways :)

4. Get healthy. Most people want to lose weight and all power to them. Since living here I have been tired all too often, which kept me from going to shows and otherwise doing a lot of things. I have gained a little weight, but mostly i'm not in the same shape I used to be. That will change. I will also go back to my Florida eating habits. Since living up here I haven't been eating the right foods, often because I have "no time" to cook. Well this year I'll make the time. My goal is to start working out at least 3 days a week on my elliptical and work my way up to 5 days a week and also doing strength training.

5. Focus on what will make me happier. For me right now that means paying off my student loan since that is the main thing hindering me from packing up and moving out west. I have quite a few options too look at in the job arena and need to check them out.

6. Read more books, I used to read a lot but since I've moved here I haven't made time for this either. By the end of 2013 I want to have read 13 books.

7. Blog more often!

What are your resolutions?

Hope everyone has a fabulous New Years!