Bargain, Browse, Buy

Posted on May 22, 2013 by thebrowsingbrunette

Today’s post is all about primers. I won’t lie I don’t use primer everyday, I only apply it if I don’t want to take any chances of my makeup fading throughout the day for example if we are going to be busy ALL day and we have somewhere to be at night then a primer is MUST for me!

BARGAIN: First off I will come out and say I do NOT own this e.l.f. Mineral Infused Face Primer however I follow a lot of beauty blogs and youtubers that have had nothing but fantastic things to say about this primer. This primer is supposed to be the dupe for Smashbox’s Photo Finish Primer (which I’m pretty sure my mom has used in the past and loved). I see no reason not to believe them as I use e.l.f.’s eyelid primer and it is fabulous. Something to note is this primer has no SPF unlike the other two mentioned in this post. I think for $6 it’s worth a try for you and ME!

BROWSE: I’ve a big fan of Mally products and this Perfect Prep Poreless Primer is no exception. The only thing that sucks about this product is the $35 dollar price tag. Like most of the more expensive products I’ve tried I didn’t buy this one My mom got me Mally’s Age Rebel Foundation last year and it came with this primer. This has an amazing consistency that feels like velvet when you put it on. I have really large pores and this helps to minimize them. I’m not saying it makes them disappear but it does help them appear smaller. Also this has SPF 15 which is awesome. If you have large pores this might be a good investment for you.

BUY: L’Oreal’s RevitaLift Miracle Blur offers a lot of bang for your $24. Not only is it a primer but it also helps even out the skin and blur the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, as well as minimize pores. I will say it doesn’t instantly erase all the above mentioned skin problems like the product website claims but it does BLUR. A side note it has SPF 30. The high SPF allows you to just pop this on top of your moisturizer and go for a more evened out skin tone. It has the same consistency and texture as the Perfect Pore Primer and I find it a more costly alternative to it’s high end counterpart.

*Link up with Small Town, Big Wardrobe*

*The e.l.f. primer & Miracle Blur can be found at target and right now you can get $3 off a $15 beauty product order at target.com using the code BEAUTYBOX courtesy of BeFrugal. You can also earn 4% cash back if you sign up for free with BeFrugal*

Bargain, Browse, Buy

Posted on May 15, 2013 by thebrowsingbrunette

I have acne prone skin and still get zits pretty frequently. I have been using acne spot treatments since high school so I’ve used a ton of different brands over the years. The products I’m featuring today are all products I’ve used over the last 12 months and have had varying degrees of success with.

BARGAIN: I’ve been doing a lot of research into e.l.f products lately as a ton of them are supposed to be dupes for higher end products. While shopping for other e.l.f products I saw this little gem for ONE DOLLAR. The zit zapper by e.l.f has similar ingredients to other acne spot treatments. It is comprised of Salicylic Acid, Tea Tree Oil, Witch Hazel and Camphor. Salicylic Acid is almost always the main active ingredients in acne treatment which it what helps dry out the zit. This has the lowest concentration at 1% but I feel that the lower amount allows the zits to heal a bit more milder and natural with some added help. It has a roll on applicator which I like to easily target problem areas. For a dollar it’s a must for your makeup bag even if you only suffer from the occasional breakout. 

BROWSE: When I bought Kiehl’s Blue Herbal Spot Treatment it was in impulse buy. Dave and I were having a mini vacation last February in Chicago and I of course was having a major breakout that I wouldn’t clear up. We were shopping and I spotted a Kiehl’s and had heard good reviews of their skincare so I picked up their spot treatment. It worked well for smaller breakouts I feel like bigger zits that have deeper roots it didn’t knockout as fast as I’d like. It does have almost the same ingredients as the zit zapper but it has a slightly higher Salicylic Acid count at 1.5 %. While it works I don’t think you have to shell out $18 when it’s cheaper counter parts work just as well in my book. 

BUY: Surprisingly enough Clean & Clear Spot Treatment has the highest concentration of Salicylic Acid at 2%. With that higher amount goes more sting! By that I mean if you have an “open” breakout this is gonna give you a little punch as it does have a slight burning feeling which is totally bearable but a you have been warned. This does dry out zits very fast but know with that does come some flakiness around the acne sight. I find this works particularly well on smaller breakouts but also dries out those larger zits well if you use it continually on the zit. If you are like me and have bigger and more frequent breakouts this does a great job at speeding up healing time!

*Linking up with Small Town, Big Wardrobe*

*Both the e.l.f zit zapper and clean & clear spot treatment can be found at target and right now you can get $3 off a $15 beauty product order at target.com using the code BEAUTYBOX courtesy of BeFrugal. You can also earn 4% cash back if you sign up for free with BeFrugal

L’Oreal Mascara

Posted on May 14, 2013 by thebrowsingbrunette

Not that long ago I posted about my mascara picks and I’ve recently switched it up when I bought L’Oreal Voluminous False Fiber Lash Mascara . This L’Oreal purchase was out of necessity (mascara ran out the day before we had a wedding to go too!) but I deviated from my Maybelline because L’Oreal was on sale. I’m really glad for the sale because I’m in love with it!! I couldn’t get a good picture with my eyes open (I am TERRIBLE at taking pics of myself especially my eyes! It’s tricky business). The pictures still show a difference in the volume and length. You can especially see the volume towards the edges of my lash line. The main reason I like this more than my Maybelline Illegal Length is this gives volume AND length. Also this doesn’t flake or clump. It has great lasting power which is great because you aren’t losing any of that volume or length throughout the day. This is really a drugstore gem, try it you won’t be disappointed.

A little bonus in this post, BEAUTY COUPONS!! Use these coupons from BeFrugal to save on beauty products: (If you use the target coupon you can score the mascara and some awesome elf products for cheap!!)

Use these coupons from BeFrugal to save on beauty products:

Elizabeth Arden coupon code: free 8 piece gift set with your $55+ order, expires 5/15. Plus get 10% cash back.
Nars coupon code: free mini Laguna Bronzer with any order, expires 5/31. Plus get 8% cash back.
Smashbox Cosmetics coupon code: free shipping and 15% off your $75+ order for new customers, expires soon. Plus get 8% cash back.
Target coupon code: $3 off your $15+ beauty product order, expires 5/28. Plus get 4% cash back.
Yves Rocher coupon code: 5% off any order, expires 5/31. Plus get 15% cash back.

Cash back rates can change from day to day. These rates were valid 5/10. Join now for free and earn cash back when you shop!

Bargain, Browse, Buy

Posted on May 8, 2013 by thebrowsingbrunette

I’ve tried several types of moisturizers over the years and two out of three of these I’ve been really pleased with. Check out the bottom of the post for some beauty coupon codes!

BARGAIN: Simple Light Hydrating Moisturizer is what I’m currently using and loving! It absorbs quickly, doesn’t irritate my skin, and has SPF 15. I don’t wear makeup everyday but I still like to protect and hydrate my skin and I feel that this does that really well. Prices vary depending on where you buy it but I went with $12 since that’s the most expensive I’ve seen it. Keep in mind that you are getting 4.2fl oz so even if you pay $12 you are getting a lot for the price (it is the most fluid ounces of the 3 products that are featured in the post)

BROWSE: Before I say anything else about this product I want you all to know I am not crazy enough to pay $68 for ONE OUNCE of moisturizer. My mom got it in a birchbox or maybe a beauty test tube from QVC I can’t remember but either way it was FREE. I was not super impressed with Peter Thomas Roth Laser-Free Regenerator™ Moisturizing Gel-Cream. First off I didn’t really care for the gel-cream texture. I just felt like it was way to thick and just kind of sat on my face instead of absorbing. I used it for a couple weeks and didn’t really notice a difference in my skin so I stopped. It may be something after reading the claims/benefits you might want to try but it just wan’t for me.

BUY: Everyone raves about Philosophy’s Hope in a Jar so about 2yrs ago I decided to try it. I will admit that $40 is steep for 2fl oz but a little goes a long and will last you awhile. If this is a moisturizer you are interested in trying I suggest buying it in a set with something else like this one from QVC where you try a few different products from Philosophy for a better price (they are all amazing, haven’t used one I haven’t loved). It leaves the skin smooth and hydrated and like I mentioned before a small amount can cover your whole face. I think this product is a really good investment for your skincare routine.

Here are some beauty coupons codes for various sites if you are interested in purchasing anything I blogged about today courtesy of BeFrugal.com. BeFrugal.com offers coupons and cash back for shopping online at your favorite stores, sign up for FREE! These coupons do have expiration dates, so shop soon!

*Beauty.com $10 off $50 + Free Shipping

*Beauty.com Free Shipping on orders $25+

*Drugstore.com 30% off everything in the makeup department

*Ulta.com $3.50 off $10 (this will only apply to the simple skincare as the rest are considered prestige cosmetics)

*Linking up with one of faves Catherine over at Small Town, Big Wardrobe*

Findation

Posted on May 7, 2013 by thebrowsingbrunette

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Okay this might be one of the best things I’ve found on Google, EVER. A few weeks ago I did post about L’Oreal’s Matchmaker app and how it can help you find the right foundation. It worked great and my foundation matches pretty much perfectly Well I’ve been hearing alot of good things about Revlon’s ColorStay Whipped Foundation. I’ve been doing alot of research over the last week reading up on reviews and watching tutorials/reviews on youtube. In my research I couldn’t really find anything helpful about shade matching with this particular foundation. The glass jar the foundation comes in is pretty thick so it’s hard to hold up a shade in foundation I know works to see if it matches. After several google searches I came across findation.com. The slideshow above is screen shots what I entered and my results. You need to select at least 2 foundations that are good color matches for you however the more you enter the more accurate the matching. Once you’ve selected your foundations click find your matches and it provides you with what color you are in virtually every brand. I got 81 results!!! I was blown away. From drugstore brands to high-end brands it has everything. You can even email all your results so you have them handy anytime. I did a color swatch on my face with the Revlon Foundation and it appears to match perfectly. I truly believe that you may never buy the wrong foundation color again with this handy little site!

*Linking up with Lady and the Blog for Tuesday’s Best of Beauty*

L’Oreal Colour Riche Balm

Posted on May 6, 2013 by thebrowsingbrunette

Sorry I’ve been MIA the last several days, we were busy with a wedding and lots of family in town. Which leads me to my latest beauty find. I had to stop at get some mascara because I was just about out and didn’t want to run out while I was getting ready Saturday for the wedding. I had some L’Oreal coupons with me so I decided to try there mascara (only used it once so far so if it’s good I’ll blog about it!) and I picked up L’Oreal Colour Riche Balm in Nourishing Nude. Like I mentioned before I don’t really use lipstick but I figured this seemed more like a high class lip balm with some color so I tried. One of my best beauty purchases in awhile. It goes on so smooth and velvety. It’s not sticky and you can fill the moisture on your lips. Also it does not leave the disgusting white film around your mouth PLUS when it wears off your lips are still touchable soft and hydrated. According to the L’Oreal site:

“This tinted lip balm provides a hint of luscious, kissable color, smoothing lips instantly and for a full 8 hours of continuous hydration. Lips are softer and more supple all day long—and keeps conditioning even after it’s been removed.”

I haven’t stopped wearing it all weekend and I can tell you I’ve noticed a huge improvement in my lips. They have never felt softer.

If you are interested in trying this for yourself Ulta is currently having a sale on L’Oreal buy one get one 50% off and there are coupon codes courtesy of BeFrugal.com for $3.50 off of $10.

*BeFrugal.com recently contacted me about providing coupon codes for my readers! It is 100% free to sign up for and you get CASH BACK for shopping through BeFrugal which has 3000+ stores like Ulta, Sephora, and Drugstore.com to name a few.

Bargain, Browse, Buy

Posted on May 1, 2013 by thebrowsingbrunette

Lipstick isn’t really something I’ve ever really used but lip balm now that’s a staple! I am really wanting to branch out into lipstick/lipgloss so hopefully that’s something I can share with you guys in the coming months.

BARGAIN: I’m not gonna lie the reason I tried this lip balm was because of it’s unique shape. It turned out to be a great find that only cost me $3. EOS (evolution of smooth) offers amazing flavor/scents (I personally use the sweet mint). Two things that I love about it: gives a subtle shine and is super easy to find in my purse due to its odd shape.

BROWSE: Now I didn’t shell out the $23 for this Fresh Sugar Lip Balm, my mom was nice enough to give me the two that she received as a free gift from Sephora. The application of this brand amazing; it goes on super smooth and is hydrating. With all that being said I think the price tag is a tad ridiculous.

BUY: I first bought rosebud salve at a Sephora back in Las Vegas like a million years ago. This is really a multi-functional product. First off yes it’s a great lip balm. A little goes a long way because this is thick like jelly so you don’t need to continually. You can use it on dry patches on your face or body. Also it makes a great diaper cream and the small tin is much more conivenant to fit into your purse or diaper bag. This product is only $6 and will last you a lifetime.

*Linking up with Small Town, Small Wardrobe for Whatever Works Wednesday*

Whatever Works Wednesday link-up party on smalltownbigwardrobe.com

Julep

Posted on April 25, 2013 by thebrowsingbrunette

So I realize I might be late to this party but I don’t care. I recently discovered Julep after seeing there polishes floating around pinterest and some other blogs I follow. For some reason I’ve been really into my nails lately. I am typically a disgusting nail biter but when they are painted I don’t touch them. When I took the style profile quiz I was labeled as “classic with a twist” which agreed with however the colors in that particular starter box didn’t really tickle my fancy so I opted for “the it girl” which came with 3 polishes.

I like any other ~~fifteen year old girl~~ grown woman, immediately opened the box and painted my nails (thankfully at least Presley was still napping and Carter let me paint them as he watched). I opted for Simone which to me looked more pinky but according to Julep it’s a “soft pastel lilac opalescent shimmer”. Was a little disappointed that once I put on my top coat the shimmer wasn’t really noticeable but it’s still a pretty color.

A few things:

One thing that I wasn’t expecting was how small the polishes are. I’m used to Essie which is 15ml and Julep is 8ml. It’s still a good amount of polish but not the size i’m used too.
Like most monthly subscription services if you don’t “opt out” or “skip a month” your card will be charged! Be sure to watch your email!
Julep focuses on nail polish and a few other beauty products, this isn’t the site for you if don’t like nails (DUH!)
Benefits of signing up include 20% off all products (i.e. if you want to buy other products outside of your box), a rewards program for referrals, and if you decide another lovely lady in your life could use a little polish you can opt to send your monthly box at no additional cost!

Bargain, Browse, Buy

Posted on April 24, 2013 by thebrowsingbrunette

I’m switching around when I post this series. I usually post on Saturday but feel like no one really reads blogs on the weekends (I do but I have no life) so here is a mid-week Bargain, Browse, Buy!

BARGAIN: Sephora is one of my favorite places to go look around. I could spend hours in there and still not see everything. I have only tried their nail polish and this eyeliner but have been completely happy with both. The Sephora Collection Kohl Expert eyeliner is a great buy for $8. It has lasting power and good pigmentation. This particular type only comes in black and brown but if you aren’t adventurous with your eyeliner colors this is really a perfect choice for you.

BROWSE: I wasn’t really impressed with this Buxom liner. It didn’t go on smoothly at all and I found it to smear somewhat. Buxom is an offset of bare minerals (which I love!) so I was really surprised I didn’t care for this liner. Ironically it won an award from O Magazine for easiest to apply but in my opinion not so much but maybe you want to try for yourself.

BUY: I L-O-V-E this liner. Mally is always talking about how her makeup is bulletproof when she’s on QVC (does anyone else like to watch QVC or is just me? I mean I have to watch on my computer but the makeup tutorials are great. Anywho back to the post). These Evercolor Starlight Waterproof eyeliners are everything you could want in a liner. They last through everything (like her mascara I talked about here), glide on the lid super smooth, and they come in 18 colors!! I really love the midnight which is the blackest of black for everyday use and when I want to open up my eyes I pair it with the ice blue in the inner corners. A single liner runs you $15 but I guranatee you will love them so I would get a deal like this where you can get five liners for $33 (making the liners about $6.60 a piece!).

*Linking up with Small Town, Big Wardrobe for Whatever Works Wednesday*

MatchMaker by True Match

Posted on April 21, 2013 by thebrowsingbrunette

In yesterday’s post I talked about my L’Oreal True Match Lumi Foundation and how I used the MatchMaker by True Match app to find my color match. I wanted to give you guys a full look at the app so you could see how truly easy it is to find your shade. Above are screenshots from each stage of the app. On steps 5 & 6 there are more hair and eye choices but I could not get the full list in my pictures. Based upon my answers you can see that my true match shade is N1. There are 32 shades in the True March Super Blendable Foundation and 15 shades in the True Match Lumi Healthy Luminous Foundation. I’m currently using the N1 – N2 shade in the Lumi. I have no doubt that the original true match covers as well as the lumi but I have yet to try it. A draw back that is stopping me from buying original is that there is no pump on the bottle which makes it harder to control the amount that comes out. This app is free and well worth a few minutes of your time to help you get the perfect shade of foundation.

A side note even if you might not end up going with L’Oreal (which by the way L’Oreal and Lancome are owed by the same company!) this app is still super helpful helping you determine if you have a warm, neutral, or cool skin tone which is so beneficial in not only helping pick makeup shades but picking colors for your wardrobe.