How to get a bunch of stuff for around $20!

This blog would've been even more amazing if our stupid Target in this town carried NYC cosmetics and had in stock Maybelline baby balm. Right now, Target has $2 off of maybelline lip products including balms and there is a manufacturers coupon on facebook for $1 off of baby balm.

•  That means regular price $3.49 at target - $3 total coupons = .49 cents (walmart has baby balm for $2.79, but you can't use the target coupon at walmart)

Also, with the $1 off NYC at Target, you could get a mascara for free since they are $1, a bronzer for a dollar and some change (check out Sunny), or a dollar and some change for a great lipstick (check out Blue Rose). I'm debating how far I want to drive to get these deals since they don't have these products in our town.

Here are the products and the price I ended up paying for them

• John Frieda Collection root awakening strength restoring conditioner, 11 fl oz (30% more free bottle) 
• Original price: $5.99 for regular bottle of 8.45 oz. Price paid after $1 manufacturers coupon I got from a free sample I requested = $4.99 for 11fl oz. This is a great product line by the way

• St. Ives Apricot Scrub, 6oz
• Original price $3.49. Sale price $2.88. Target online coupon for .75 cents off.                    Price paid = $2.13

• Rimmel London eyeshadows in 500 Posh Peacock and 300 Night Jewel 


Rimmel Shadows

• Original price per shadow is $2.49, Price paid with $1 off Target online coupon = $1.49 each, $2.98 for two eyeshadows

• Burt's Bees facial cleansing towelettes with white tea extract, 30 pack. 
• Original price $5.99. Price paid after $1 Target online coupon = $4.99. This is a great deal for 30 towelettes. These are listed online on a lot of sites around $11-$12
• They smell amazing, had good makeup removing properties, and felt tingly and refreshing. I love this brand.

• AcneFree Oatmeal & Jojoba Gentle Acne Scrub, 4.8oz & AcneFree Acne Astringent Toner Pads, 60 pack
• Original price of both products $6.99. If you bought 2 of this brand, you receive a $5 Target giftcard. I also had a 20% off of an AcneFree item. Since I had to purchase them in the same transaction to get the giftcard, I only got 20% off one item.                                                    Final price paid for both = $12.58

• ELF brightening eye color in 2003 Silver Lining. This was the only thing I bought without a coupon since it is already only $1.00. This is a decent palette. Okay color payoff, not that creamy, but for $1 its great! 

Elf Shadow

Plus I got a $5 Target giftcard which you can use on your next transaction. Since you can only use 1 coupon per transaction, you can use this on your 2nd one and get an ever lower price per coupon items. 

Total amount paid for 8 items = $28.67

PLUS $5 TARGET GIFTCARD, so Total equals

$23.67 or $2.96 per item. 

This isn't my best coupon haul ever, but it at least shows you how much you can get for your $$ when couponing. Unfortunately the best coupons I had were for products our store did not carry!! Boo!! I also had other coupons, but the prices were not right and they weren't already on sale. So just because you have a coupon does not mean you have to purchase the item. Make sure its something you like and want too!

Thanks for shopping with me and Happy Halloween!

Jessica

Peacock Inspired Look!!

Here is a DIY Peacock Inspired Look Perfect for Halloween:

You can make the perfect costume up just with hair and makeup! 

Products Used:

• Bare Minerals All over face color radiance
• Rimmel lasting finish foundation
• Physicians formula happy booster blush in rose
• NYC Sunny matte bronzer
• Palladio rice powder in natural 
• Benefit Watts up
• Lips: Sinful colors in fushia, Lancome electric pink, NYC in blue rose
• Clinique mascara high impact
• Wet N Wild single eyeshadow in Lagoon
• Benefit POREprofessional and "that gal" face primer and High beam highlighter
• Sephora jumbo eye pencil in gold
• Clinique brow pencil
• NARS single eyeshadow in Night sun
• the Balm Shady Lady volume 2 palette (see prior blog for swatches) in runaround rebecca and open to offers olwen
• Maybelline trio creme makeup (green shade)
• Victoria's Secret single eyeshadow in Jade a Kissed

Prep and Perfect

Hello!  We've done quite a few makeup looks, but we haven't talked as much about perfecting the all over look of your complexion so that makeup looks go on even better!

We will list the products and who makes them, followed by approximately how much they cost.  Keep in mind many of these products we don't spend nearly the retail price on as they are available at our local TJ Maxx store!  We would love to know your skin care routines also!  Leave us comments.

Here is Justina's current routine:  (Combination Skin)

Nighttime: 

• Remove eye makeup with Neutrogena Hydrating Eye Makeup Remover Lotion ($7)
• Wash face with Clinique Liquid Facial Soap Mild ($9)
• Exfoliate with Neutrogena Naturals Purifying Pore Scrub ($5)
• Remove any lingering eye makeup by applying Vaseline and wiping off excess with a cotton ball. ($2)
• If skin is feeling dry, use Clinique Turnaround Concentrate Visible Skin Renewer serum ($42)
• If skin is feeling oily, use a more liquid serum- the Balm Time Balm White Tea Strawberry Nourishing Facial Serum Infused with Strawberry Extract ($49)
• Apply Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel to entire face and neck area.  ($13-24.50)
• If eye area is feeling dry, apply Clinique All About Eyes ($29-47.50) 
• Apply Vaseline on eyelashes and eyebrows to strengthen and for growth. ($2)
• On occasion, when skin is flaring up with breakouts, apply prescription Trentinoin (retinol)- available through your doctor's office

**I am currently review the RoC Microdermabrasion Cleansing Discs ($10), and will let you know soon what I think!

Morning:

• Rinse face with cold water.  Towel pat dry.
• Apply one of the following Clinique serums:  Turnaround Concentrate ($42.50), Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Corrector ($49.50), Pore Refining Solutions Correcting Serum ($39.50) 
• Apply Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel ($13-24.50)

Follow with normal makeup routine.  I like to use some sort of luminizer every day to make my skin look even more glowing!  My favorite right now is High Beam by Benefit. ($29)





Here is Jessica's current routine: (Combination skin)

Nighttime:

• Wash face with Neutrogena Facial Cleansing Bar ($2)
• Use Clinique's Clarifying Lotion 2 ($14)
• Apply the Balm Time Balm Skincare White Tea Eye Perfection Gel Infused with Brazil Nut Extract ($30)
• Apply Lancome High Resolution Eye Refill 3x on facial areas showing the start of wrinkles ($40)
• Ponds Dry Skin Cream on whole face and neck area. ($8)
• Vaseline on eyelashes and eyebrows to strengthen and for growth. ($2)

Morning:

• Wash face with either Lancome Cream Radiance Clarifying Cream to Foam Cleanser ($25) or Neutrogena Oil Free Acne Stress Control Power Clear Scrub ($6)
• Ponds Dry Skin Cream on whole face and neck area. ($8)
• Occasionally use Rare Minerals Triple Treatment Eye Cream when experiencing dryness. ($19)

Follow with normal makeup routine.  Jessica likes using a luminizer every day to continue her glowing complexion.  Her favorite right now is the Balm Mary Lou- Manizer ($23)

Yours in Beauty, Justina and Jessica

Lauren Conrad Inspired Hair Look: Waves + Braids + Twists

We are huge fans of Lauren Conrad's blog, www.thebeautydepartment.com. You can find some really great information and looks on this website. Inspired by a look she posted on the blog of a mixture of waves, braids, and  twists and their how to guide, we decided to attempt a variation of this look on our own.

Check out Lauren's look at www.thebeautydepartment.com (under hair, red carpet looks)

Thanks Lauren for the idea, we <3 you.

Here are our step by step pictures to create our own variation of this idea.

Look #1

Starting point: 

My naturally curly hair

Bonus Look:
We will even throw in a bonus look for you. Here is a great messy pigtail/ duo buns look. :) Thanks Justina for your great styling skills! :) Love, Jessica

And while we were busy at work......... Ruckus was relaxing after a long day of running around the woods! What a DIVA!

Yours in Beauty,

Jessica & Justina

Fall fragrances

Easy Everyday Up Do

Pictures of the completed look:

Acne Solutions: When is enough enough?

Description: I basically used the Clinique Acne Solutions system properly except that I used 2 toners which can be very drying on your skin. Clinique skincare (even when used properly) has never been my favorite.

Remedy:
This is one of the few products I would attribute the word "magic" to. It is great for breakouts, burns, skin
irritations, insect bites, etc.

JR Watkins Petro Carbo Salve, $10.99, 4.37oz
www.jrwatkins.com

Product Description:

Petro carbo is a protective, soothing, healing topical dressing that is safe and effective for relieving pain and itching associated with minor cuts, burns and scrapes. It has antiseptic, antifungal, and anestheic proterties. 

Relied upon for generations, Petro-Carbo Salve is still a staple for every home medicine cabinet and first-aid kit. Its active ingredient is phenol (carbolic acid), but it derives other benefits and its unique aroma from botanicals such as camphor, oil of spruce and the tea tree relative, cajeput.

This stuff is really amazing, Watkins Petro Carbo Salve is a first aid kit in a tin! Sometimes known as the black drawing salve, although the salve isn't black in color any longer it still has the same drawing abilities. It actually helps draw out slivers and other small foreign materials emedded in your skin.

http://www.associatemelody.com/watkins-products/petro-carbo-drawing-salve.html

Can be used for:

cuts

scrapes

minor burns

bed sores, pressure sores

road rash, draws out embedded dirt

insect bites and stings

wind burn

chafed skin

blisters

chapped skin

slivers, draws out prickles, slivers of wood or metal

athelete's foot

boils

cracked skin

This is a natural product and this brand has been around for awhile, is based in Minnesota, and has a great reputation. You can find some of their products at Target. The only downside may be there is a strong smell, but its WELL worth it for the results of this product! I have also been using Sunday Riley JUNO transformative serum I got as a sample in my October birchbox. For $125 for the full size, 30ml, I would not be repurchasing. I was hoping it would help with my skin irritation, but Watkins instead came to the rescue!

      Update: My skin is feeling 90% better the next morning. Thanks Watkins. This is the only product   
      out there that could have saved my face in 1 day! 

Jessica

Is Almay's Eye Makeup Remover Really #1?

I decided to test six eye makeup removers. Three that would be considered more high end and three that can be found at the drugstore. The following ones were reviewed:

1. Estee Lauder Gentle Eye Makeup Remover $15.50 for 3.4fl oz, Macys.com
2. Clinique take the day off makeup remover for lids, lashes & lips $18.00 for 4.2fl oz, Macys.com
3. Sephora Face eye makeup remover $9.50 for 4.2 oz
4. L'oreal clean artiste 100% oil free eye makeup remover $6.49 for 4fl oz, Walgreens
5. Neutrogena eye makeup remover lotion hydrating $6.99 for 3oz, Walmart or $7.99 at Walgreens
6. Almay oil free eye makeup remover liquid $5.99 for 4oz, Walgreens. 

Almay claims they are the #1 eye makeup remover brand in America. See my past posts for a review of the makeup remover towelettes (do recommend, especially for sensitive skin, non oily) and makeup eraser sticks by Almay (didn't like/not worth your $). 

I use to have Lancome Bi-facil Double Action Eye Makeup Remover $26 for 4.2fl oz. I used this all up, so couldn't test it, but it is a good remover. Although for $26, I don't know I would repurchase when a lot of these high end v. drugstore are VERY similar in their removal capabilities. 

I used a wide variety of eye makeup products to test out how these work on different products. Those products (see first picture) as swatched in the order below left to right 

Left to right:

1. (Left) Hard Candy Glamoflauge heavy duty concealer
2. L'oreal Studio secrets 920 Lush Raven eyeshadow
3. Benefit Cosmetics Creaseless creme eyeshadow in stiletto
4. bareMinerals powder eyeshadow in Aquamarine (this came in a quad palette along with coffee bean, firefly, and retro and those colors are beautiful as well as this blue)
5. Sephora jumbo eye liner crayon 12 H wear, waterproof in gold. LOVE this one!
6. Sephora flashy liner waterproof in 13 flashy violet
7. Covergirl perfect points plus eye pencil in black onyx 
8. NYC liquid eyeliner in 887 Black
9. Almay intense i-color liquid liner in raisin quartz
10. Clinique Instant Lift for Brows crayon
11. (Right) Dior Show mascara

I applied the product as evenly as possible for the length of my arm, starting swatches from both ends and making sure middle was the same application and with the same pressure. I'm sure it can't be perfect, but they were pretty evenly applied. I waited about 10 minutes for everything to dry and set in. I didn't use any primer or makeup setting spray (check out Urban Decay--love!!!)

I tried to do this in the most "scientific" way possible. I would put the cutip in the bottle, count to one one thousand, remove it and tap it twice on the bottle top to remove any excess. I would then swipe it through the swatches, then take the dry end and swipe that through, then go one more time with the wet end and one more time with the dry end. I did the same process for each brand. The only one that was different was Neutrogena because it is a lotion. That may account for its less than stellar result, only because it is hard to measure if I had the same amount of lotion as liquid.

I ran out of room, so Almay actually became #1 when tested instead of #6. 

So #1-6 are in that order: Almay, Estee Lauder, Clinique, Sephora, Loreal, Neutrogena

It was kind of hard to get a picture to show everything. It really is hard to tell the difference which for me means just go drugstore on this one. Unless you have a specific skin allergy, super sensitive skin, etc, I would not purchase a higher end makeup remover. My favorite for a long time has been the L'oreal clean artiste. I do not like oily removers. My new favorite is Neutrogena lotion remover. Definitely check this one out!

I will still list the best and worst for these swatches though

1. (Left) Hard Candy Glamoflauge heavy duty concealer
1. Best: #3 Clinique. Worst: #4 Sephora
2. L'oreal Studio secrets 920 Lush Raven eyeshadow
1. Best: Neutrogena. Worst: Tie for #3 and #4 Clinique and Sephora
3. Benefit Cosmetics Creaseless creme eyeshadow in stiletto
1. Best: Almay and Estee Lauder. Worst: Clinique
4. bareMinerals powder eyeshadow in Aquamarine (this came in a quad palette along with coffee bean, firefly, and retro and those colors are beautiful as well as this blue)
1. Best: Almay & Estee Lauder. Worst: Neutrogena
5. Sephora jumbo eye liner crayon 12 H wear, waterproof in gold. LOVE this one!
1. Best: Almay and Loreal Worst: Neutrogena & Clinique.
6. Sephora flashy liner waterproof in 13 flashy violet
1. Best: Almay & Clinique. Worst: Estee Lauder
7. Covergirl perfect points plus eye pencil in black onyx 
1. Best: Clinique. Worst: Estee Lauder and Neutrogena
8. NYC liquid eyeliner in 887 Black
1. Best: Almay Worst: Neutrogena & Sephora
9. Almay intense i-color liquid liner in raisin quartz
1. Best: Loreal. Worst: Neutrogena
10. Clinique Instant Lift for Brows crayon
1. Best: Loreal. Worst: Estee Lauder
11. (Right) Dior Show mascara
1. Best:Loreal  Worst: Estee Lauder 

I was surprised that Neutrogena was the worst in a lot of categories because I do love this product. Maybe its just the feel of it that I like more though. I did use it last night and noticed this morning I had the crack binge look ie: black makeup smeared under my eyes. Again, it was a little harder to be fair with this one because it is a lotion and not a liquid like the others, so there may have been less product on the cutip. 

So who was the ultimate winner?

I don't think you can go wrong with Almay or Loreal. Based on this test, those would be the top 2 I would recommend. Like, I said before though, the difference really is hard to tell. Almay is the cheapest for the size of the bottle which for me pushes it into the winner category. Gold medal for you Almay. Estee Lauder was the worst in 4 categories but has the highest price tag. Coal for you Estee Lauder. 

Another great product is simply using vaseline. Rub this on your lids and lower eye area, leave one for 10 seconds and wipe off with a cotton ball. You will be amazed to see how much makeup your other removers left behind. Plus, using vaseline gives you great long lashes!

So whats your favorite? Do you go high end with makeup remover?

Thanks for reading! (I need to get this craziness off my arm now before emerging into public) :)

Yours in Beauty, 

Jessica

Justina's 2 cents:  

Hello everyone!  I just wanted to share my opinion on my favorite makeup removers!  I have tried various makeup removers by Clinique, Estee Lauder, Sephora, Loreal, Lancome, Mary Kay, Neutrogena, and Almay.  My main concern is that I don't have to tug too much at my eye area with the cotton ball in order to get the eye makeup remover working.  A lot of different lines have removers that work great.  

I'm with Jessica on the fact that it is hard to differentiate between the different removers and which one is best/worst/etc.  I actually really like the feeling of the more oily removers because I feel that I can easily get the product off my lids and the oily feel really dissolves it all right off.  A couple of the more oily based ones:  Clinique has one, Lancome does, and Mary Kay.  I don't like the ones that are a little more drying, one example being Estee Lauder's.  An oil based eye makeup remover won't make you break out, because you're washing your face right after using it (I hope).

Truth be told, I rarely ever buy eye makeup remover, because it is one item that always seems to be in a free gift with purchase that one of the makeup counters is doing.  Recently I did purchase some of the Neutrogena Eye Makeup Remover Hydrating, and I like it quite a bit.  Lately I've been using that on my lids and lashes, and if I am still having a hard time getting some off, I apply a little Vaseline and tissue the rest off.  Both products are pretty cheap and effective!

What do YOU use to take your makeup off?

Yours in Beauty, Justina

PS- I just bought a new webcam today, so stay posted for some HD videos to come! Hooray!

Shopping Secrets Part 1

Check out Part 1 of our two part series on where we disclose all of our shopping secrets!  


UPDATE: 
Our Part 2 did not upload to Youtube properly. We will have to re-record :( Stay posted. We had LOTS more great tips!!!

But at least we had help with editing....

 



Yours in beauty, Justina and Jessica

BRIGHT Pink Lips: Lancome Electric Pink. One of a kind or can you get this look for less??

Victoria's Secret Hot Pink (center)                                    Lancome Color Fever Electric Pink
$5-6 range.                                                                      $26.50

These look like color dupes, but...

Left- Lancome, Right, Victoria's Secret

Notice that they look like exact dupes, but it could not be any more different.  This is why SOMETIMES high end is worth the extra cash.  Watch our vlog above for our attempt to recreate this look.  Although sometimes it's not possible to completely duplicate the same exact color, you can often have a similar look. I would describe both of our looks as a "hot pink" however, in the vlog you can see that they are not exactly alike when we tried to recreate with Sinful Colors lip gloss (Walgreens).  

NYC 405 Blue Rose is a very similar color. If you add some high sheen gloss with glitter, you may be able to get a similar look. I got similar to the Lancome, but not to dupe status with this NYC fave of mine. 

Top to Bottom: 1) Sinful Colors extra shiny lipgloss, $2.99 at Walgreens, 2) Lancome La Laque Fever in Electric Pink, 3) NYC in 405 Blue Rose. Sinful Colors is shockingly pigmented for $2.99. Although not a color doupe, this will get you the closest to the Lancome look which is $26.50. The Lancome is an amazing color with pink glitter details. Hard Candy has a product called Show Girl's Secret, Glitter Glue. I haven't tried it, but maybe some pink glitter with this sinful gloss would be the best match. Sinful smells amazing too!

Lancome is going to have the most staying power. This is the one I was wearing and Justina was wearing the Sinful Colors. Throughout the night, my color did not budge, but the brightness to her pink did not seem to stay as well. 

So what is the verdict? One of a kind or can it be recreated for less? 

One of a kind!!!! You can recreate a bright pink lip with the NYC or Sinful above, however, this exact look is truly one of a kind. It is amazing.

Another reason to try before you buy!  Check out our Shopping Secrets Part vlog for more awesome tips to help guide your shopping choices.

Yours in Beauty, Justina and Jessica.

Makeup up FOREVER

No, this posting is not about Make Up Forever Professionals, the beloved brand from Sephora. This posting is about the makeup that I have been wearing today that I am FINALLY ready to review.

Hooray!  My makeup has lasted all day, except the lipstick, which I just applied 4 hours ago.

On my eyes:
Palladio Herbal Eye Shadow Primer- Jessica recently reviewed this product and loved it and so do I!  I have been using this the past few days on my lids and I'm lovin' it!  One tip that I have is to wipe the wand on your finger, then apply it to your lids.  I don't like to put the wand on my lids because I can't get enough product on there.

Clinique Strike it Rich Eye Shadow- This is one of their best sellers.  A gorgeous gold color that's not too overpowering, but just enough to make a statement for during the day.

Milani Liquid Eyeliner in Everlast- I will be doing a full review on these phenomenal $5.99 eye liners soon. They are wonderful and blow my fancy Lancome Artliner right out of the water.

Loreal Voluminous False Fiber Lashes in Blackest Black- Can I just say how much I love this mascara?  A full review on this later!

(Freakishly long eyelashes brought to you by Vaseline!)

I'm also lovin' on my lip color.  It's one of the ones on my hand in the previous post.  Can you guess which shade and win the spectacular prize?

You're welcome for the exclusive peek straight up my nostrils, and of course the trout pout.  (Not brought to you by juvederm lol)  This lip color is Wet'n'Wild 907 C Mauve Outta Here, and YES I will totally be repurchasing this long lasting, matte, gorgeous lip shade for under $3!  Holla!

Ok all, this little boy needs a bath

and this girl needs to clean the kitchen.  Yikes.

Yours in Beauty, Justina

Berry-licious swatches!

Hello everyone!

My very naughty dog just knocked over all of my lipsticks that were sitting in perfect order waiting for me to show you!  I swatched berry shades on my hand.  I'm actually thrilled to announce that I don't think any of my lipsticks are dupes for each other!  That means I not been wasting money buying duplicates of the same products.  Also- many of my lipsticks came in a free gift with purchase, meaning I already needed something like powder, and I spent enough money to qualify for a free sample of products.

Goodness!  I have gotten exactly this far in my blog and my dog has knocked over all my lipsticks exactly three times!  That rascal.  Here's a picture of Ruckus. You can't tell in this pic, but he just went through the garbage while I was doing swatches and has something on his head.  I can't clean it up til I finish this blog or I'll ruin my hand!

Ok, so here are the swatches:

Which 2 cost me under $2? 

Not gonna lie, I SO want to post which color is which, but 2 of these gorgeous shades are actually Wet'n'wild lipsticks which I love! The first person to guess the 2 Wet'n'wild shades (you have to get them both right) gets a prize. That's right, a prize!

I'll give you a hint, the rest of them are Lancome, Mary Kay, Clinique, and Estee Lauder, so if you have any of those brands at home, swatch them and see if you can find me out. If you are swatching, please send us the pictures so we can post!

Love and doggie baths for my naughty boy,

Yours in Beauty, Justina

He SO knows he's in trouble.

Are you Red-y for fall?

Hey everyone!  I'm totally loving the blogs that Jessica has written- that blog on how to spice up your living area was great!  She inspired me to organize my bathroom (and makeup)this week, and in doing so, I rediscovered a lot of my red lipsticks that were laying around.

A lot of people think they have to save red lip colors for when they are going out somewhere fancy, or for night time.  WRONG!  Red lip color (when done properly) totally wakes up your face.  There are some really really terrible red colors out there, but I will show you three of my favorites for fall.

Can you guess which is which?  The three brands are NYC, Clinique, and Lancome.

I totally love all three of these shades!  Have you guessed which one is which yet?





1st shade- NYC Sheer Red 309
I love this shade, it is kind of a gloss, but not thick.  It is very versatile and definitely has some kick, but with a neutral eye, it would be great for during the day!

2nd shade- Lancome Jezebel
This shade looks ultra dark and scary in a swatch, but is actually a gorgeous deep red once you put it on.  I love the way this looks with pale skin in the winter and maybe a little bit of a smokey eye.  Beautiful, versatile color that has a bit of gloss in it!  Funny story about this lipstick- I was carrying it in my purse one day, and didn't think twice about it.  The next day, I saw this awkward little navy and gold thing laying on the ground crushed up next to my car.  It was beloved lipstick!  I put it in a baggie and that is where it lives, without its beautiful cap, in my makeup container.  Now THAT is love.  P.S.- how did my Lancome lipstick survive being run over yet every one of their eyeliners I have has a broken cap?

3rd Shade- Clinique Dubonet
I ran across this color when I asked the lady at the counter for an every day red color that wasn't too overpowering.  I am loving it!  It has a bit of gloss to it but has more of a matte finish than the other two.  I have really been into this color and have gotten a lot of compliments when wearing it.

Which is your favorite?  I love the dubonet the best because of the silky smooth feel of the lipstick, and the color makes me happy.  :-)

Yours in Beauty, Jessica and Justina