Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Urban Decay "Alice In Wonderland" Book of Shadows NOW available online at Sephora & Ulta. Sales & Deals at Both Sites so HURRY!!!

Hello all! I just wanted to do a quick post and let everyone know that the Urban Decay "Alice In Wonderland" Book of Shadows is now available at Sephora and Ulta Online. Both sites offer free samples (so don't forget to add them to your basket!!) and free shipping for orders $50 and over so this will definitely qualify if you don't want to add other products to your purchase.
Ulta is offering 20% off select brands (including Urban Decay but excluding the Alice Book of Shadows). The code is 20680 and sorry, not sure when it expires but most likely at least by the end of the month. I know that the 20% off discount includes brands such as Stila and Elizabeth Arden as well but for sure not Smashbox.. I tried. Click here for more details on this promotion.
If you want to purchase this from Sephora, here are a few promo codes:
1. GLITTER -Get a free Sephora Brand full size Glitter Pot (last I checked, the only colors left were gold and silver.)
2. 4STEPS- Bag of 4 skincare samples. You get to choose your skin type: Normal, Oily, or Dry skin.
3. BEBARE- 10 Day supply of Bare Minerals "original formula" foundation.
4. BEMATTE- 10 Day supply of Bare Minerals "matte formula" foundation.
Sephora codes tend to work until they run out. Sign up for their emails if you want to stay up to date on new codes, freebies, and exclusive offers.

Monday, January 25, 2010

Urban Decay "Alice In Wonderland" Book of Shadows Swatches (and dupes!) & Sephora Haul (NEW Products!!)

Hello!! Just visited Sephora last Friday January 22, 2010 and they had EVERYTHING that was on my "to get" list. That never happens so you can see how excited I was. I asked the SA if they had the UD Alice in Wonderland Book of Shadows in yet and they did!! They put them all in the back so you need to request for it at the register in order to get one. I was told that they only had about 8 left (but that was an hour before I came.) Here's what I got along with the highly anticipated Alice Palette:
There was a TON of sale items. Nearly everything I purchased was on sale..

1. Urban Decay "Alice in Wonderland" Book of Shadows (3)- $52
2. TheBalm "Shady Lady Vol. 2" Palette- $39.50
3. Stila "Jewel Eyeshadow" Palette- $32
4. Kat Von D "Lightning Sheer" Lip Gloss in "Strutter"- $9 (sale)
5. Kat Von D "Rock N' Roll" Eyeshadow Duo in "Moonshine"- $10 (sale)
6. Kat Von D "Autograph Eyeliner" in "Immortal Love"- $9 (sale)
7. Kat Von D "Autograph Eyeliner" in "Romantico"- $9 (sale)
8. Kat Von D "Autograph Eyeliner" in "Brass Knuckles"- $9 (sale)
9. Make Up For Ever "Waterproof Eyebrow Corrector" in "4"- $19
10. CARGO Blush in "Rome"- $12 (sale)
11. CARGO Blush in "Catalina"- $12 (sale)
12. CARGO "Botanical Lipstick" in "Eve Pinky"- $10 (sale)
13. CARGO "Botanical Lipstick" in "Grace"- $10 (sale)
14. CARGO "The Reverse Lipliner" in "Dark/Medium"- $7 (sale) I bought 2 of these.
15. Sephora by O.P.I. "Matte Nail Colour" in "Matte DOmestic Goddess"- $5 (sale)
16. I also got a free deluxe sample of Smashbox eye primer because the SA was super nice!! I got 3 foundation samples as well..
I was so happy that there were a few Cargo blushes left. I had planned to buy "Rome" online but it got snatched up too quickly! Luckily when I went, Catalina and Rome were still left over. All the colorful quads were gone though. Boooooo!

So here's the equation: Disney+Urban Decay=A third book of Shadows!! Here's the Urban Decay "Alice In Wonderland" Book of Shadows!!
I love the black/gray box with the dark detailing. I love that it's simple and not over the top. I have to say however that I do not like the packaging of any Urban Book of Shadows because they are not practical. Sure they're cute but they're so big and bulky to lug around. This is a palette that needs to be kept at home -unless you have a gigantic makeup bag.
Above is the little card that's in the back of the palette. It shows all the colors and what the comes with the Book of Shadows.
Here's what it looks like when you open it up. As you can see, it's a forest scenery with Alice in the middle of the path. Very cute!
Here's a closeup of Alice and the artsy detailing. I really love the mushrooms and giant wine bottle. I love fantastical little details.
Here's what's inside when you pull out the drawer from underneath the little pop-up display. I have to say that this drawer is so much easier to pull out that the Urban Decay Book of Shadows Vol. 1. I could never get that drawer open. As you can see, this palette comes with 16 shadows, 1 mini Urban Decay Primer Potion, and 2 mini Urban Decay 24/7 liners in "Zero" and "Flipside."
Swatches!!!!! (no flash.. I will take flash photos later because now that I look at it, these seem very light. There's just been no sun where I live so it's difficult to get good swatch photos.)
Above (from left): Underland, Alice, Oraculum, Queen, Chessur, White Rabbit, Wonderland, & Curiouser.
Above (from left): Muchness, Mushroom, Midnight Tea Party, Vorpal, Absolem, Drink Me Eat Me, Mad Hatter, & Jabberwocky.

I have to say that I like this Book of Shadows so much more than the previous 2. I purchased both the palettes but sold/passed them on because I never used them. UD Book of Shadows Vol.1 was too colorful. I really loved the colors but I would never wear them. It also had 2 brushes that I though were super cute -but they didn't work well. Also, the Primer Potion was smaller and in a different bottle. UD Book of Shadows Vol.2 I remember being so glittery! Everything just had so much glitter and I didn't want to look like a multicolored disco ball. I did like the 2 liners that came with it instead of the brushes but still, I couldn't really use the palette. The Alice palette contains more natural and wearable colors which I'm a huge fan of since I usually wear more natural shadows. Also, I have to warn you that none of the shades in this palette are new. They're just shades that already exist -but with cooler, new names. So to those who already own another book of shadows or multiple UD palettes, I'd skip out on this one and save the $52. However, if you're an Alice in Wonderland fan, I guess you might want this.. but I don't feel that it's worth it if you already have the shadows.
Dupes:
1. Underland=Flash
2. Alice= Painkiller
3. Oraculum= Baked
4. Queen= Last Call
5. Chessur= Chopper
6. White Rabbit= Polyester Bride
7. Wonderland= Maui Wowie
8. Curiouser= Grifter
9. Muchness= X
10. Mushroom= Mushroom
11. Midnight Tea Party= Midnight Cowboy
12. Vorpal= S&M
13. Absolum= Homegrown
14. Drink Me, Eat Me= Sin
15. Mad Hatter= Twice Baked
16. Jabberwocky= Oil Stick

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Valentine's Day 2010 Wishlist

Valentine's day is soon on its way in just about 2 weeks!! I love holidays because it gives me an excuse to buy gifts, dress up, and go shopping! Sometimes people make this big fuss over Valentine's Day but I really don't think you need to be in a relationship just to have a good, fulfilling VDay. Back in highschool, I used to go out and get my best friends Valentine's gifts and they'd all do the same -even the boys. =) I'm planning to do the same thing this year and pick up boxes of candy hearts and silly valentines for my friends. I'm also planning on getting my little brother and sister some cool gifts so I'm super excited. This Valentine's Day, I want to ditch the oooohey gooooey romantic plans and just have an awesome, fun day. All I want is to eat a hearty meal (a good one this year!!) and to see a movie or play.. preferably a play. I definitely shortened it but here's what's on my Valentine's Day wishlist.. the things I'd really love to have:


1. Smashbox "Decadence" Vanity Brush Set" -$46.95

I know this came out a very long time ago but I just recently re-discovered it and I just have to have it! I've been needing to upgrade my makeup brushes for so long now but I keep going out and buying more makeup and zero brushes! I really don't have the heart to go and buy expensive individual MAC brushes so I'd definitely settle for these (less than $6 per brush!!) This is such an awesome value since the original price was $150 back I think 2 years ago and now it's only $46.95 on Ebay (shipping included.) This set would totally knock me off my feet.


2. Happy Family "Robot Messanger" -$20.00

I absolutely love robots so this would really suit me.
I love the olive tan color and the big robot on the flap. This is a really good bag for school or trips -something not too big and not too small. I love the crossbody style and that there's a flap so my stuff doesn't spill out everywhere. I just love the cool, casual feel of this bag -perfect for days where I don't feel like dressing up. The bag even has an extra zipper pocket on the inside! ..perfect for pens and misc. items. The price is awesome as well. (Btw, if it says the bag has been sold, click on their shop and there will be tons more available.)



3. Sanrio "Hello Kitty Nerd Scarf" -$30.00

Oh I just love this scarf so much. I love everything from the Hello Kitty "Nerd" Collection. It's adorable. Hello Kitty with her red bow and black rimmed glasses (with tape in the middle!) I love the red stripes on the scarf bus I'm not crazy about the "I (Hello Kitty Face) NERDS" wording across it but it'll do. I do find it a tad pricey at $30 (because material wise -it probably won't be that great) but Sanrio items are always overpriced so it's a given.

And what I want to do/where I want to go.....
1. Wicked San Francisco

This sounds like such an amazing show. I haven't been to a play in such a long time and I'd love to attend this. I love plays, costumes, and costume makeup! I haven't read the book yet but its been on my reading list for awhile so I'll need to buy a copy soon. The show is quite pricey but hey, this is a wishlist. It would also double as a homework assignment (one of my classes requires that I attend plays and poetry readings throughout the quarter.)


P.S. If anyone knows of any awesome plays or poetry readings in the SF Bay Area or around there, please let me know! Email or leave a comment.




2. Valentine's Day Movie

I'm dying to see this movie. For some reason, it seems like it'll be like a "He's Just Not That Into You" type of movie and I loved that movie so I think I'm going to like this one as well. It opens on February 12, 2010 -perfect timing for Valentine's Day but I have a feeling it's going to be packed.










What are your Valentine's Day plans? What would you love to have for Valentine's Day?

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Sneaky You.. Urban Decay: Disney's Alice in Wonderland Book of Shadows Update


Have anyone of you been feenin' for this little beauty to the left here? I have. There's been all sorts of rumors as to when this third limited edition book of shadows would be coming out. I've read that Sephora announced that it would be available in late Decemeber (something like that) but it was false. I've heard rumors that this would come out in February, in March, and another claiming that it would be available to us a few weeks before the movie opened. Well.. I looked on the UrbanDecay site today just to see if it came yet and it was THERE!!..but I "missed" Alice. On the homepage, it tell you that it's "Available now but only in very limited quantites and to get mine TODAY." When I clicked on the link, it took me over to the page where you would add the product to your cart to go buy it but when I got there, it said in red font, "You missed Alice! She was just here, but we know where she might be hiding... leave us your info and we'll tell you if we see her." So I left my name and email.. I wasn't too concerned since I already subscribe to their emails and don't mind emails from them. Hopefully, it's available again very soon.
I've had the other 2 previous palettes.. the original Urban Decay Book of Shadows (with the flower popups) and the Book of Shadows Volume 2 (with the peacock packaging) but I've since passed them both on. I know loads of people loved them but when I got them, all I did was swatch and push them to the back of my makeup drawer. I receall using them both only ONCE. They were pigmented and very nice but too glittery for my taste. I like shimmer.. but lots of the colors were packed full of glitter. I'm also more of a neutral gal and I usually wear makeup (and clothing) in whites, blacks, tans, browns, taupes, olives, grays, plums, etc.. those kinds of colors. I guess I'm a bit boring huh.. but I just love those "earthy" colors. When I saw this palette, I felt like it had more natural colors than the other 2 and contained a few richer colors that I love like the purple on the upper left corner and the golden color on the top row. I have really high hopes for this palette and want to get my hands on it ASAP.
Did any of you run into Alice on the Urban Decay site? If so, did you make it time to buy one?? Let me know!
<3kali

Saturday, January 16, 2010

The Best of 2009: My Personal Favorites

I've been meaning to post this for awhile and I'm finally getting around to it. These are my favorite beauty products/discoveries of 2009.


1. Urban Decay "Liquid Liner"- $18

This has got to be my favorite liquid liner. I had my eye on these for quite awhile but never wanted to take the plunge and buy one. Sephora was offering a full size of this in "Smog" for just $8 for a limited time so I got one. Since then, I've purchased a few more. "Smog" is still my favorite of all the colors I own and it's well worth the full price. First off, the packaging isn't the best. Sometimes some of the liner gets around the opening of the bottle so I have to clean it off. The bottles are wide so they're not very convenient storage-wise. I do love what's inside the bottle though. In my experience, most of the liners give good color payoff and I don't have to line my eyes twice -which is an issue with some liquid liners. The formula is not streaky. It's very smooth with a beautiful metallic-y sheen. The liners are not waterproof but that's not much of an issue for me. I don't like when liners have too much staying power and I have to tug at my lids to get it off. These liners have great staying power and only come off when you wash it off with water or makeup remover. These liners are currently offered in 12 different shades. At $18 a pop, they're a little pricey but very much worth it.


2. Too Faced "Shadow Insurance" Primer- $17

When this first came out on the Sephora site, I purchased it right away. I wanted to see how it compared to its rival -Urban Decay "Primer Potion." It's the same price as UDPP with just 0.01 more ounces of product. I love both primers. I think that TFSI is better when it comes to people with dry lids -as opposed to UDPP being excellent for people with oily lids. I've mentioned that I have dry skin so sometimes when my lids are dry (especially in Winter), I opt for TFSI. I love how this stuff seems to disappear into my skin.. meaning it'll work for all skin tones. TFSI also prevents shadows from creasing and helps them to last all day long. Another plus is that TFSI comes in a squeeze tube which is a lot better than the potion bottle tube that UDPP comes in. TFSI's packaging allows easier access and ease of use. You can actually get all of the product that you paid for unlike UDPP which you have to cut open if you want to get all the product out. This is a definite winner -especially if you have dry skin.

3. Illamasqua "Intense Lipgloss"-$19

These glosses definitely fit their name. They are intense and packed full of color. These glosses are moisturizing, non-sticky, smell nice, and give full color payoff. The only thing I don't like about these glosses are that they're a bit pricey for the small tubes. Sometimes I squirt out too much product and I end of wasting it. I prefer a tube and wand to a squeeze tube. These glosses come in a wide variety of beautiful colors. The sheer glosses are great too but I prefer the opaque color payoff of these glosses.





4. Yves Saint Laurent "Volume Effet Faux Cils Luxurious Mascara"- $28.50

I love this mascara. It's my absolute favorite mascara in the whole world! First off, the packaging is gorgeous -a gold tube with the YSL logo. The mascara itself is wonderful. I know that $28.50 is a hefty price tag so this isn't something I can buy every 3 months (or less.) The mascara thickens and lengthens my lashes like nothing else. The color is very black and I get tons of volume. The only thing I don't like is that it can get clumpy. It doesn't bother me too much since I use my Sonia Kashuk lash curler with every mascara. The finished look is amazing. This definitely is a luxury.

5. Prestige "My Biggest Lashes" Mascara- $7-8

This is my second favorite mascara. If I can't afford a tube of YSL Faux Cils, I turn to this. This gives me basically the same effect that the YSL mascara gives me except it's a tad less dramatic and not a black as the YSL mascara. It lengthens and thickens my lashes while giving them great volume. I use my lash comb for this mascara as well because sometimes when I do my lashes to quickly, they clump up. This is a lot less clumping than the YSL Faux Cills though so if you hate clumpiness, go for this one. It's also about $20 cheaper. I can't find a link for this mascara but I've seen it at Ulta and CVS for sure. I'm guessing it's available at other drugstores as well.. and Target.





6. Sephora Brand "Flashy Liner" Set- $20
I absolutely adore this set. Go here if you want to see the full review on it. I never tried any of Sephora's Flashy liners prior to purchasing this set so this gave me a chance to check them out. They're waterproof and stay for hours on my waterline and I've never found another pencil liner that could do the job. I love all the colors in this set and I love that it only cost me $20 for a whole set of 7 mini liners. I like using "Deep Black" on my waterline and applying MAC Pearlglide liner in "Black Russian" on top for a smooth, shimmery finish.

7. CeraVe "Moisturizing Lotion"- $12.99

I use this lotion every day and don't know what I'd do without it. My dermatologist prescribed me a special medicated version of this. I've also tried the "normal" kind that's sold over the counter and I love it. The medicated kind that I get through prescription is just a bit stronger and more moisturizing than the over the counter version but they pretty much do the same thing. This is the best lotion I've tried in my entire life. I love that it's unscented. I can use it on my face and body. It's just the perfect, fuss free lotion. Even my boyfriend loves it.

These are my favorites.. what are yours?
(Pictures from Sephora.com & Drugstore.com)

Tarte Sale: 20% Off Everything

For those of you who love Tarte, there's another sale going on. They had a few 50% off the entire site sales during the end of last year but I always put it off. If you're in desperate need of their products, they're having another sale that's 20% off (better than nothing huh..) If it can wait, I have a feeling they'll have another 50% off sale since they had 2 during I believe November and December of last year. If you love Tarte and you love deals, sign up for their emails. They ALWAYS have promotions and special offers. The current promotional code is: JANUARY20. (Sorry, I'm not sure when it expires but I'm guessing at the end of January.) Here are a few of my favorites from Tarte Cosmetics.. (the following prices are the original prices before any discountis taken.)

"Smooth Operator" Tinted Moisturizer (with SPF 20)- $35
I really love tinted moisturizers. I have eczema and extremely dry, sensitive skin -which can be a big pain. However, one positive factor to my skin condition is that I rarely break out but on the down side, my skin on my body is always so dry! Anyways, I don't like using foundation on a regular basis so I opt for tinted moisturizers. This has been my favorite one for the last year or so. It doesn't dry me out (which is a big problem I have with most foundations, tinted moisturizers, etc..) and it gives me light to medium coverage. I think this stuff works pretty well and on the plus side, it's made from natural ingredients and also contains SPF to protect your skin from the sun. I already wear sunscreen on a daily basis and this provides just a little extra protection. Tarte's site offers a chart (on their site) to help you choose the correct color for your skin. Before I bought my first tube/bottle, I had gone to Sephora to check out some Tarte items. A makeup artist for Tarte was in that day and applied some to my face. She told me I was the color "Veil" and when I went outside, I looked liked a ghost that was way too made up! I wasn't interested in it until I was shopping for a tinted moisturizer. I decided to give it another try and looked at the chart before buying a tube. I matched the description of "Disguise" -medium with beige undertones, and bought a tube without testing it. It was perfect! I think the chart really helps so keep that in mine if you plan on buying this.

"Femme Naturale" Eye Palette- $44

I purchased the "Femme Fatale" palette monthes ago. The colors were pretty and pigmented but honestly, all I did was swatch the colors and shove it in the back of my makeup drawer. I never used it so I eventually passed it onto someone else. If I could go back in time, I would've just purchased this palette instead. This palette contains more natural colors than the "Femme Fatale" palette. The packaging is cute (but not too practical) and it comes with a double sided liner and a "Brush with Greatness" double-ended shadow brush (this alone is valued at $24.) I think the "Femme Naturale" palette sold a lot better than its counterpart because this is no longer available on the Sephora or Tarte site. I don't have swatches for this item since I don't own it but there are gorgeous swatches on Temptalia's blog. Personally, this isn't on my "Must Have Right Now" list but it would be nice to have.
"Picture Perfect" Eyelash Curler- $15
A few months ago, I tried this lash curler at Sephora and I absolutely loved it. I didn't think it was any good until I tried it. It gives my lashes a nice, natural curl that holds all day.. and longer. I also like that when I squeeze the grips or whatever you call it, it doesn't hurt my fingers. I like that the grips are lavender. it's just a really lovely curler. I didn't buy it since I didn't want to spend $15 on a curler when my favorite $3 NYC one works just fine.. maybe even better (it's even better on my lashes than the $19 Shu Uemura one I bought for over 6 times the price!) I'll buy this next time Tarte has a 50% off sale since I'm not in dire need of a curler.

Vitamin Infused" Lip Gloss- $21

Honestly, this is not worth the $21 price tag but if you get it at a discounted price, it's a great gloss. I bought this in "OM" from Beauty.com earlier last year and it was really pretty. To me, it's kind of like a MAC Dazzleglass. It's decently moisturizing and is semi sticky. The gloss is sheer pink with shimmer. The reason I don't think it's worth $21 is because it's just so small for that price. It's just your average gloss. I do like that it feels good on my lips and doesn't make them chapped. Another reason I don't think it's worth paying full price for is that you have to apply it a good amount of times before you get your lips full coated. Every time I used it, I'd have to stick the wand back in the tube up to 4 or 5 times just to evenly coat my lips. I like it but it's not good for the busy girl who needs a quick makeup routine.
There are tons of other wonderful items that Tarte offers. Try them out if you like natural ingedients and makeup that makes your skin feel good. They also don't test on animals. Hurry before the sale ends!
(All pictures are from tartecosmetics.com)

Monday, January 11, 2010

Thoughts on Girls who Wear "Lots of Crap" on their Faces

Sometimes I go on Yahoo Answers when I have free time. I love answering questions pertaining to makeup and beauty and I love giving my advice to those who may want or need it. I also appreciate receiving help when I need it. I think Yahoo Answers is wonderful because it gives us a place to help people from all over the world as well as receive help from those around the world. It's just a great system. However, every once in awhile there are some indecent questions or even some rude and sometimes vulgar comments and answers out there. I feel people sometimes use this system to insult others for no reason at all. It makes me sad to see people act in such a cruel way towards others -especially when they don't even know the person and they're just typing these terrible insults behind a computers screen.. HA! Those are the types of people who can never say anything to a person's actual face but have no problem talking trash from behind a computer screen in their mom's basements 14038532954miles away.

Anyways, I stumbled over a meaningful question that a Yahoo member asked and was appalled by the many rude answers she received. Ok.. this whole thing isn't THAT huge of a deal but I've just seen this happen so many times so I wanted to write about it. The girl stated something like, "She's addicted to makeup and just loves it." She wears lots of makeup daily -primer, foundation, another foundation on top, blush, bronzer, highlighter, eyeshadow, liquid liner, lots of mascara, lip gloss, lipstick, and the list goes on...... She stated that people at her school called her "fake" just because of the amount of makeup she uses. She also stated that she has light blond hair that looks bleached but isn't. This girl asked her question because she wanted help.. not to receive endless insults. There were no positive answers. All the answers were variations of this:

1. You're a slut.

2. You have low self esteem and need to pile on all that "crap" to make yourself feel better.

3. You're probably really ugly.

4. Stop wearing so much of that crap because it looks nasty.

5. Wearing all that makeup won't make guys like you.
People so often judge others solely based on the way they look. Sure, there were some slutty, snobby girls back in my high school who wore tons of makeup but that doesn't mean that all girls who wear lots of makeup are trashy or have low self esteem. I generally keep my look natural but there are days when I'm feeling a little more creative and add more color and shimmer. Does that change my personality? No. Look at some makeup artists. They wear TONS of makeup on a daily basis but to me.. I see them as being beautiful and expressing themselves in such an artistic way. There are celebrities who wear lots of makeup.. Beyonce, Lady Gaga, Gwen, Katy Perry, and the list goes on. That in no way means they're fake sluts with low self esteem.

Going back to that question I read on Yahoo Answers, it never occurred to anyone that this girl may just be very artistic. Maybe she wants to be a makeup artist. Maybe she's just pushing boundaries and wants to make a statement. Maybe she hasn't gotten her basic makeup application skills down and just needs practice. Practice does make perfect. All in all, who cares? It's her face and she shouldn't be judged on just that alone. I've seen many girls like her and hey, some are fake but some are not. Accusations cannot be based on just one girl alone. Just because we've met one girl who wore "lots of crap" on her face and she turned out to be a fake person, it doesn't mean that everyone we meet from then on is going to be like that too. This needs to come to a stop. People need to stop be judged and people need to stop judging. Sorry for my repetition and rambling! =)

How do you feel about this? Is it ever right to judge others like that?

(All pictures were randomly found on Yahoo.. sorry I forgot to copy links down!)

PS. I know Gwen isn't really wearing that much makeup in this picture. I was looking for pictures but eventually chose this because I just really love her hair in it!

Sunday, January 10, 2010

HURRY!! All Cargo Makeup Half Off

I'm not sure if anyone's heard, but Cargo is being totally discontinued at Sephora stores and Sephora online. Months ago, they started pulling Cargo off the shelves in some Sephora stores (2 of the 5 Sephora stores I frequent stopped carrying Cargo) but they still kept it online and in certain stores. They even released a few new palettes during the holiday season so I wasn't too worried about Cargo leaving me. I thought it would just be like what they've done with Shiseido products -keep a few skincare products in a handful of stores but still carry most of the line on their site. I was wrong. I am positive Cargo is leaving us. Late Friday night when I got home, I pulled up Sephora.com to skim through items before I went to bed (terrible habit.) I clicked on the Cargo tab to see if they were releasing any fabulous new palettes and to my amazement, I saw the "Runway" Palette for only $25.50 and the "Hands of Hope" Palette for only $14.50. I thought it was just those seasonal holiday items that were on sale. Then I kept scrolling through the rest of the Cargo items and noticed that every single Cargo item was half off. My jaw dropped. I really really like Cargo (not quite love though) but I like love Cargo and I was really sad to find out Cargo would be leaving Sephora since I go to Sephora more than any other cosmetics/beauty store. Anyways, lots of their items were unavailable.. I guess people already got their hands on them OR they just never bothered to restock certain items (The Big Easy blush hasn't been available online for months.) So.. I advice anyone who loves Cargo/wants to try them out to get on this deal RIGHT now. The items are not in Sephora's Sale section (I wish it was since I would've been able to get more.. bleh) and you have to scroll down to the "Cargo" tab in the upper right hand corner of the page where it says "brands."

Here is something I would definitely grab while you can. As of right now, all 3 Cargo "Essential Eyeshadow" Palettes are still available. They come in the combinations: Warm/Neutral, Cool/Neutral, and Dark/Neutral.

These are originally $32 but have been discounted to $16.

I already own the Dark/Neutral verison from the Cargo "7 in 7" set and I was tempted to get the other 2 but I had to hold back. I knew I'd never even use the other 2 since I love the Dark/Neutral version so much. I did grab a Warm/Neutral palette as a future gift.

I think these palettes make a fantastic gift for anyone who needs a basic neutral palette, anyone who is new to makeup, or anyone who just wants to add to their ginormous collection. I am drawn to neutral palettes so naturally, I purchased this. This an an absolute MUST-HAVE. Perfect for every day. The palettes not super shimmery or glittery but not totally matte either. I'd describe it as "almost matte" with the slightest bit of shimmer. These are very beautiful. Also, each color has an indentation of where to apply the shadow but as we makeup lovers know, you don't have to always follow the rules. =)

Here's another product that I think would be great to add to anyone's makeup stash. Sephora offers the Cargo "Color Eyeshadow" Palette in 8 amazing combinations but unfortunately (as of right now), their are only 3 choices left.

These are now just $14.

I didn't pick any up because the one I really wanted (Toronto) was already gone. I was going to scoop up London but I decided not to since I already own similar shades (sadly that one's already gone now too.) These palettes come in such fun color combinations so review the swatches on Sephora.com. I'm sure other bloggers have swatches as well.

An added bonus is that the packaging is really pretty. I'm a sucker for beautiful packaging and I love the bright colors and artsy images on the covers of these palettes. I think this would make a fun birthday, late New Years, or a "Just Because" gift.

At last, we have the popular Cargo Blushes. Sephora offers these amazing blushes in 16 colors BUT....... there are only 5 left! This is on sale for only $12!! Can you believe that??

If I could, I would've purchased so many more of these but the only colors available Friday night were Gotham, Laguna, Mendocino, Polynesia, Rome, and Lyon. I quickly added Gotham, Rome, Polynesia, and Lyon. I didn't order right away because I wanted to sleep on it. I had so many other items in my cart and I really didn't want to spend too much on more makeup.

When I woke up, Rome was sold out. I was so so sad because that was one of the colors I really wanted. Anyways, I ended up purchasing Laguna, Polynesia, and Lyon. (I read that Gotham has a blue sheen to it in several reviews and I'm just not sure if that's for me. I imagine it would be great on cooler toned gals though.)

As of right now, the colors that are still available are: Laguna, Gotham, Polynesia, Mendocino, and Lyon. If you are interested in any of these colors, grab them NOW. Cargo blushes are super popular so I'm sure these are going to go fast. They were always sold out even when they weren't on sale.

I really hope this reaches any Cargo fans out there. I'm one of them and if I had known sooner that this sale was going on, I would've jumped on it. There are tons of other wonderful Cargo products that I haven't mentioned so be sure to look through all the products. I'm a huge fan of their blushes and my favorite product of theirs is their Topeka blush and Reverse Lipliner. Have you purchased anything from this sale? What are your favorite Cargo items?

(Pictures from Ulta.com & Sephora.com)

Saturday, January 9, 2010

NARS Lovers: A Discount on NARS Makeup

I am a huge fan of NARS makeup. NARS is one of my favorite cosmetics brands out there but I rarely have the luxory of buying lots of their items at a time. Everyone knows.. the stuff is really expensive. So when I want something from NARS, I usually put it aside and keep it on my wishlist until there's a Sephora 20% off sale (which only comes around like twice a year!) or a Beauty.com 20% off sale (which comes around about once every 2 months. Sign up for their emails!) I will only buy NARS full price if it's a blush or lipstick or if I have a gift card. Their singles and duos are lovely but they simply cost too much! I love their palettes but they range around $55-$75! Anyways, my NARS wish list has piled up in the past week or so. I was in Italy during the end of December to early January so I missed out on the 22% off deal on the NARS site. So I waited and waited for a Sephora or Beauty.com promo code to come up for about a week and no luck. I signed up for emails from Nordstrom, Saks, Barneys, etc.. but still no special deals.. only offers of free shipping. Finally, I took matters into my own hands and spent a LONG time searching Yahoo and Google for any NARS discount codes out there. Everything was either expired or didn't work (I tried codes from various discount sites.) Finally, I stumbled upon this:

15% off any order over $60 at NarsCosmetics.com!!
Promo Code: J1001900
(Offer expires January 15, 2010)
I really don't know why this code wasn't posted on any of those discount sites.. but it really should be. My determination paid off! I was ecstatic when I found the code. Also, NARS offers free complimentary shipping on all orders over $25 and free 2 Day shipping on orders over $150.
I ordered lots of items. I'm really trying to go on a No-Buy but these were things I "HAD TO HAVE." Anyways, I just wanted to share this code for any NARS lovers out there. It really helped me out and I hope it helps others too.
Do you love NARS? What are your must have NARS items?
(Top picture is from Beauty.com & second picture is from Narscosmetics.com)

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Old News (but still something to talk about): Smashbox "Wish for the Perfect Pout" Set

I love Smashbox gloss. In particular, I love love love Smashbox's Lip Enhancing Gloss. It's probably my absolute favorite "overall" gloss. It provides great color, lasts long, and moisturizes your lips. It also smells good -which is always a plus! The size is perfect and the wide range of colors are perfect. I LOVE this gloss. They come in full, true color, and sheer color so you just choose which type of color payoff you want. From my experience, this is how I would describe each:

-Sheer Color: A moisturizing gloss with just a hint of color. If you want more color, I'd skip on these. These are almost clear on the lips with the slightest hint of color.

-True Color: For these, what you see is what you get. The color in the tube is the color that will be on your lips. To me, these are pretty opaque and creamy.

-Full Color: If you want a pretty bold lip with tons of color, choose these. The Smashbox site describes these as "high impact" with a "3-d pearlescent shine" and I definitely agree. They're not so "bold" that they look unwearable but they are high impact. I really like Aura and I think it would suit most skintones. (Picture above from Nordstrom.com)

Individually, the glosses are each $18 a pop for a full size 0.20oz tube. I was so excited when I saw this set back in the beginning of November. Even though it wasn't very expensive, it was the BEST product I purchased with Sephora's F&F 20% discount. The set was $29 (and it's supposedly a $96 value.. not sure it should actually cost $96!) With the 20% discount, the set only cost me $23.20 (plus tax.) Anyways, you get 2 full size tubes along with 4 minis. One of the full sized tubes is the full color "Pout" -which is one of my major staple products. So I basically got a refill Pout (individually at $18) along with another full size gloss and 4 minis for just $5.20 more! GREAT VALUE!! These are sold out on both sites but I bet they're still available in some Sephora stores and other department stores such as Nordstrom, etc.. I just recently saw a few sets at my local Sephora. So if you see it, grab it while you can.

The set includes: (full size) Pout, (full size) Luster, (mini) Tease, (mini) Candy, (mini) Aura, & (mini) Radiant. Full sizes are 0.20oz and Minis are 0.14oz.
(Top row from left): Luster, Pout, Tease, Candy. (Bottom row from left): Aura, Radiant. Don't mind that little blue line. =)

I'm sorry but it doesn't say anywhere on the packaging or glosses if they are true, sheer, or full color. Some of the glosses are listed on the Smashbox site but some are not. I'll do my best at explaining.

1. Luster- Sheer nude with golden shimmer.

2. Pout (true color)- My favorite. Milky baby pink that's almost bubblegum but not quite. This gloss is opaque with light shimmer. I have to admit, this won't work for all skintones but if it does work for you, it'll look so awesome.

3. Tease- Medium berry color. It looks sort of like a "True Color" since it looks as it does in the tube but it's a tad sheer. Still has tons of color though.

4. Candy- Shimmery medium pink with hint of coral.

5. Aura (full color)- Another one of my favorites. This is kind of inbetween medium and dark. It's a darker medium peachy nude with shimmer. There's a hint of pink in there also. This is one of those great nudes that won't make you look dead. It's also "full color" so there's that sort of "3-dimensional" effect. Fantastic color. I can see this looking great on many skintones.

6. Radiant (sheer color)- Dark pinky plum color (almost a wine color) with shimmer. It's listed as a "sheer color" but it seems to have light to medium coverage on me.

I really think this is such a great deal. Check out your Sephora store or other department stores to see if they still have this. It might even be on sale now since the Holiday season is over. I'm going to check my local Nordstrom store to see if they have anymore (they always have good sales.) Last time I went to Sephora, this item was not on sale.

Are you a fan of Smashbox glosses? What are your favorite colors?