Sephora 2013: Benefit Birthday Gift

As much as I’m not a fan of birthdays anymore… I’m excited for my birthday this year because of Sephora’s Beauty Insider Rewards gift.

If you don’t know much of Sephora’s Beauty Insider rewards program, than you probably don’t know that just by belonging and making sure they have your birthday, you are guaranteeing yourself a little gift during your birthday month. Last year it was two trial size Sugar lip balms from fresh. These things full size are $22 a lip balm. So it’s a pretty good way to test products and who doesn’t love birthday presents??

Anyway, Sephora has announced what this year’s birthday gift is and it’s pretty exciting:

Two Benefit products: They’re Real mascara and Watt’s Up luminizer stick

So make sure to update your birthday, or sign up if you haven’t already for Sephora’s Beauty Insider rewards program to get your FREE birthday gift!

I’m Back and I Spend Way Too Much at Sephora

Wow… Have I been MIA?

Yes, yes I have! For good reason though, I work full-time crazy round-the-clock hours it seems like. Then when I get home, want to do absolutely nothing but sleep or sit on my couch and not even turn on my computer.

Please forgive my absence. I can’t promise that I’ll be back regularly, but I will be back every once in a while with something fun. I might change this blog up a bit, just so it fits better with my schedule. If I see something interesting I’ll post it, it may be random things that aren’t necessarily beauty or fashion, but things I enjoy. You’ll see when it happens. :) I miss this damn blog and all that comes with it: checking comments, keeping up with new trends ( I feel so out of the loop). I’ve gotten amazing at Dreamweaver and HTML/CSS since that’s what my job entails, but I do miss fashion. I haven’t read a damn fashion magazine since September.. no lie.

Anyways, so to start things off… I had a lovely trip to Sephora yesterday and took advantage of their VIB weekend special of 20% entire purchase and bought WAYYYY too much.

First is Ciate’s Mini Mani Month nail polish set for $58

A Little Trip to Sephora

As I mentioned in a previous post, I wanted to start a new skin care regimen that would protect my skin from aging and other elements that can cause wrinkles and other damage. Using the Sephora hotline I was recommended two brands, both slightly pricey for me to be willing to commit to. So when I went into my local Sephora and I simply asked for a recommendation based on my current concerns (anti-aging, very sensitive skin, slightly oily, and want full regimen) and I was taken to the Origins section.

The Origins line pride themselves on being very natural meaning good for sensitive skin. The collection they directed me to is called “A Perfect World” meant to act as a “protective bubble” against the elements and great for a twenty-something who doesn’t really have wrinkles or much damage they need to reverse, but instead just wants to prevent damage.

One of the things that they offered was a 3-piece trial set comprising of: an antioxidant cleanser with white tea, a white tea skin guardian, and an antioxidant moisturizer with white tea. This collection’s special ingredient was obviously White Tea and let me tell you it’s noticeable. These pieces all have such an amazing smell to them. I almost look forward to using them because they smell soooo good. I took the three pieces out of the box and put them in front so you can see the size for the $39.50. Considering the price of most skincare products, I thought it was a good deal.

I’ve been using them for a little over a week now and I haven’t even made a dent in any of the products. I will admit, I wish the skin guardian came with a little bit more because its only a .17oz sample. It seems a bit off compared to the size of the other two. Considering you’re supposed to use all three AM and PM, I know I’m going to run out of that one way before the cleanser and moisturizer. So far, I am happy with the products though honestly I don’t feel they’re anything special. I haven’t had any serious breakouts since using it so that’s a definite plus but my biggest concern is whether or not this was really what I was looking for. I was looking for something anti-aging that would protect my skin and there’s no SPF or Vitamin C or anything that is typically in anti-aging products in these three pieces. I probably won’t buy the full size since I really don’t feel like they’re doing anything more than a typical cleanser or moisturizer would do.

The rest of the pieces I brought home with me are samples of the Origins Modern Friction, a natural and gentle dermabrasion product. I haven’t used it yet, but its made of skin-refining rice to remove all the bad stuff from your skin. The lady suggested I use it to get rid of black heads and clogged pores.

She also gave me a sample of Origins Clear Improvement Mask. It’s a charcoal mask to clear pores as well. (My pores must have looked really bad to her.) This, like the last, I have yet to try. I didn’t want to shock my skin trying out everything all at once.

The last sample I got was Smashbox’s Camera Ready BB Cream. I originally asked about Dr. Jart’s BB Cream since I had received a sample in May’s Birchbox but it wasn’t even enough for two uses. The salesgirl instead said she really didn’t like Dr. Jart’s and suggested I try Smashbox instead. I’ve got to admit, it’s not bad, the color matches my skin better, but I feel like it doesn’t really have any staying power. Even with layering a finishing powder over it, it doesn’t last a whole day. I’m glad this was a sample because I won’t be purchasing it.

The last item up there is Urban Decay’s 24/7 Liquid Eyeliner in Perversion. This is one of the items that are a must for me in my daily routine. I love this liner and if you haven’t tried it, I highly recommend it. It’s perfect for tightlining or lining closely on your top lid. You can get an incredibly thin line with the brush and the bristles don’t break like others so even at the very end of its life you still get a perfect line.

That’s all for now. Do you all use any of these products? Love them, hate them? Have a suggestion? Share your thoughts :)

Sephora Trip + VIB Status

I’ve been doing a lot of beauty posts lately, rather than fashion, and I apologize for that. I do have a few fashion ones lined up, I promise.

First, however, I have hit VIB status at Sephora. Actually, I think I hit it awhile ago, just no one told me. I had 700+ points stored up too and so I took advantage of a few of those points on my recent trip to Sephora. I went in to get my Beauty Insider Birthday gift, but sadly they were out and told me I had to come back later.

For those of you that don’t know, VIB Status is a ‘Very Important Beauty’ Insider.  You get this status when you hit $350 in an annual year. As a VIB you receive perks such as: first dibs on new products and pre-released samples, invites to exclusive store events and services, including a private holiday shopping party, exclusive promotions and freebies, including a VIB holiday gift card, a VIB-only hotline, and a 10% off next purchase coupon when you become a VIB. I have a feeling I won’t take advantage of the status very much, especially if this 10% off is the only real benefit you get. I’d be happier if it was 10% off every purchase, not just the first purchase after qualifying.

Anyway, this is what I ended up walking away with…

1) 500 Point Gift: Buxom International Insider. Four-piece set: Passport cover, Buxom Diamond Lip Gloss in April, Mini Buxom Big & Healthy Lipstick in Sydney and Mini Buxom Lash Blackest Black Mascara. I chose this one over the Tarte option for two reasons. One, I’ve had an allergic reaction to Tarte before, and two, I’ve never tried any Buxom products. I’m not planning on using the passport cover, so if it would’ve been replaced with a different product I would be in heaven, but it’s still cute and the rest of the products are good-sized so I’m not complaining. So far I love the Mascara, and a full-sized tube may get purchased soon. The Lip Gloss smells so good which is an odd bonus, but still a bonus. The Big & Healthy Lipstick is a nice neutral color that makes your lips look matte, rather than glossy or appear to have on lipstick. It’s perfect if you’re wanting a natural makeup look.

And yes, at the bottom is my VIB “Welcome Envelope.” It essentially just informed me of my new perks and included a coupon for 10% next purchase.

Birthday Freebies

We all love getting presents on our birthday but I thought I would share some of the freebies or deals that I have received for mine since I turn 25 yesterday. (sad face here)

I also got another lovely gift but it doesn’t really count. My boyfriend and I went to a Royals Baseball game this weekend (yes, that would be the Royals who are on a horrible losing streak and who I think suck to begin with, but my boyfriend has faith in them that they’ll win someday. I’m not holding my breath.) Anyway, we went to stand in line to get tickets and a gentleman came up and handed us a pair of 9th row up from the dugout seats for free. Nice, huh? Then we got on the Kiss Cam. Neither of us appreciated that, but it was a fun birthday weekend. :)

Without further ado, the list of goodies:

Sephora: Receive a free Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment Mini Lip Duo (with any purchase)

Free People: 15% Off Next Online Purchase

Sephora + Pantone Universe

Today I went into Sephora to test out the new Color of the Year eyeshadow quad ($28) and I was pleasantly surprised! I have to be honest –  when it comes to me and my makeup, I like my traditional colors. I go after purples, browns, and blacks for eyes, and pinks for lips, (which I rarely use anything on my lips). So, this whole tangerine thing, I thought, I don’t know… but maybe I’ll be adventurous! Turned out well!

I went in and and asked if I could have someone test the palette out on me and simply waited a few minutes for a girl to finish up and it was my turn. She asked how I normally wear my makeup and I told her “pretty bold” (I love black eyeliner and playing up my eyes) she apparently loved that answer and went to work. The entire palette is made up of four colors: Scallop Shell (nude), Carnelian (orange), Sparrow (plum), and Pavement (black glitter). The tangerine color, Carnelian, at first was a shock, I’ll admit, but I told her to keep going. When she was applying it, she got the brush wet to apply it with more pigmentation. It makes a BIG difference too! By the end, I was in love with the color. I now understand all the hype about this shade. It looks amazing. I have dark brown eyes and dark hair, so I’m sure that helps, but I was seriously not expecting to like it as much as what I did. I even let her test the bright orange lip gloss (Tangerine Tango Vivid) on me. THAT I was scared for! I apparently have way more color to my lips than usual because it turned out a coral color on me. Not even a hint of orange visible.