Thursday, July 10, 2014

Long Time No See! Recent Sale/Clearance Purchases

Hi everyone!

So it's been a WHILE since I've posted anything. I guess you could say I have been super BUSY. We want to have our house on the market by August 1st. And I'm doing a lot on my own, and with the help of my parents, because Dylan is not here. My dad has been doing yard work here all week and is going to finish up some of the bigger projects. And of course I hope Dylan will be able to come home soon on his next days off to help my dad and I.
We've also started setting up apartment showings, which have all been busts. Dylan has been doing those on his own in Duluth. I even started applying for some jobs and already have a call back from my #1 choice: MAURICES! AHH!
I also looked into the school I plan to attend for cosmetology. They only offer programs starting in August or January, and August is already full. So I have until January to save up and prepare myself!

Anywho, besides working vigorously to get my house ready, I've been doing a whole lot of notta. Except... shopping and spending money I shouldn't on makeup, hair products, and clothing! Ugh, I have a problem. Shopping is my favorite hobby and also my 'therapy'. For real though.


But of course, I rarely pay full price for anything and I've been snagging a lot of great clearance and sales on new products, and tried and true products! I wanted to showcase some products that I've really been loving and some that I will definitely not repurchase or recommend.


After I get my recent Haute Look (The Balm) and Anastasia Beverly Hills purchases in the mail, I'm thinking of doing a 'No Buy' month. Ok, maybe a 'No Buy' week. Haha. But seriously. I need to start saving for cosmo school, where I'll learn how to even better work with these products!
TONI&GUY Casual Sea Salt Texturizng Spray, clearance at Target, 50% off= $2.50
I have seriously been loving this guy for summer! I've only had it a few weeks and the bottle is almost empty. I say it's great for summer, because if you are someone like me who has naturally wavy/curly/messy hair, you can spritz this thoroughly on towel-dried hair, and continue on with your day. I work in an office and have gone to work with just this in my hair, with no styling needed. A little scrunching can add a bit more texture. It gives you that beachy, messy, piecy look. If Target is still carrying this, I will definitely repurchase.

TONI&GUY Heat Protection Mist, clearance at Target, 75% off=Bought 3 bottles at $1.25 each
 I have only used this a couple times so far. Nothing too amazing to say about it, but heat protecting sprays are one of those must-have items if you style your hair with hot tools. So I stocked up at this price. Usually I use Tresemme heat protectant, and was using the sample of It's a 10 that I received during the Ulta Beauty Days.

Frizz-Ease serum, on clearance at Target. Frizz-Ease Go Curlier and 3-Day Straight, on clearance at Walmart
The Frizz-Ease serum has been a staple in my life since..junior high? I don't know why this particular one was marked on clearance at Target, so I snagged it up.
I haven't been very impressed with the Go Curlier or 3-Day Straight. I tried them a few times each when I got them a couple months ago, and now I don't bother. I didn't really see any significant changes to my hair by using them.
NYX HD Photogenic Concealers in Green and Yellow

I just picked these up when Ulta had their 40% off sale. I have used them everyday this week. What's strange to me is that a little goes a LONG way with the green, but the yellow seems more watery. When I want to cover up a red spot on my face with green, I have to barely graze it with the product. I feel like I have to load the yellow on under my eyes to see any correction. Regardless, I'm really loving these. I gently tap the concealed spot a couple times to lightly blend, then put on my foundation as normal and blend out. I really think these are helping me to achieve a more flawless face!

Covergirl Clean Whipped Creme, picked up 1 on clearance for about $3 at Walgreens and one at CVS for about $4
 I don't think I've ever bought anything Covergirl in my life. But I'm a sucker for clearance! I think this line might be discontinued shortly and that's why it was on clearance. The texture is a soft creme. The texture and appearance is that of a day cream or night cream. It doesn't remind me of other 'whipped' foundations I have tried (in high school I used Maybeline Dream Matte Mouse religiously). It allows for pretty good coverage but I feel like it just sits on top of my skin. I haven't tried applying it with a brush though, maybe that would help. After these two are gone I wouldn't repurchase, and I'm not sure this style of foundation is really for me!
Loreal Voluminous Butterfly Waterproof Mascara, used a manufacturer's coupon and I believe it was on sale at Target
 I picked this up because I have always heard good things about the Voluminous line of mascara, and there is a manufacturer coupon out there right now for this product (coupons.com) I didn't mean to buy waterproof and I don't think I've ever used a waterproof mascara before! I guess it's okay to have one around. I really like the length I get from this product!

NYX Mineral 'Set It Don't Fret It' Matte Finishing Powder
This is another product I picked up at the Ulta 40% sale. I'm all about being matte lately. But I've honestly never really used powders! I am loving this product. I can't believe what I have been missing out on.  A light dusting of this across my whole foundation routine and I look perfectly matte. The matte lasts all day! It has a very soft finish, I touch my face throughout the day at work just amazed at the staying power and the soft texture.
Loreal Youth Code BB Cream, purchased at CVS. Regularly $16, paid $4
BB cream was never something that tickled my fancy because I'm a full coverage kind of girl. But when I saw this insane clearance deal, I had to give it a try. I have actually really been enjoying this product for all these days I've been spending doing yard work, but still making the occasional run to the hardware store. A gives just a light tint (I bought the shade light and I'd say it's more medium) that is enough to cover most of the redness in my face and make me look a little less zombie. It also has the benefit of the SPF 15, which is another reason I've been wearing it for yard work.
I have worn it underneath my foundation acting as a primer which I think is another great way to use the product.
I can't say I see any improvements to my skin from using Youth Code, but I haven't been using it long enough and regularly enough to know for sure.
Lumene CC Anti-Age Color Correcting Cream, purchased at CVS. Regular price $14, paid $4
I've also never tried a CC cream before, but again, when I saw the deal, I had to try. I bought 2 bottles but ending up giving one to my mom because I didn't see myself absolutely needing this product. This CC is a bit thicker than the above mentioned BB. I can't see myself applying this on my whole face but rather have used it to cover and redness here or there, kind of acting as a primer before foundation. This one little bottle will last me forever, another reason I decided to give the extra to my mom rather than keep it in my stock pile!
Physicians Formula Powder Palette Multi-Colored Customer Bronzer for Blondes and Mineral Wear Flawless Airbrushing Kit. ON SALE RIGHT NOW AT TARGET BOGO FREE! Plus look for peelies! I found a $3 off peelie. Regular price, $28.18, I paid $12.49.
Ummm YES. The Mineral Wear Flawless Airbrushing Kit is EVERYTHING. I used it for the first time today and I am in love. I used the matte bronzer to do my contour, the blush is a perfectly tawny corral the looks perfect with the bronzer. The powder I thought was going to be a bit dark for me, but was perfect. I was so excited about the lasting power of the NYX powder I just got, but I can already tell this is even better! The product reads '16 hour airbrush finish' and I'd have to agree. I have had these products on my face since 6am, it is now 9pm and after an eight hour work day and mowing my lawn my face still looks pretty dang good! I am in LOVE. Not to mention the products' packaging reminds me of the MAC Alluring Aquatic collection (from what I've seen in pictures anyhow).
The Multi-Colored bronzer I haven't opened yet. The only reason I got that product is because that's what the peelie coupon was for. Had I known my cashier wasn't going to verify what the coupon was even for (grrr) I would have picked out another set, and gotten even more for my money. But that's okay. I'm going to leave this baby closed and put it in my stock pile for later use. I've used many PF bronzers in the past and I've always adored them.


So that's a wrap on some of my recent sale purchases! I feel good about how much I saved on all of these products. When I move to Minnesota it is my plan to become an extreme couponer. Where I live now, I don't get the coupon inserts in the mail so once I'm livin' in the 'big city' I will begin my quest to start saving extreme amounts of money! Which will hopefully help pay for my shopping addiction!

Like I said, I have some The Balm products coming from Haute Look that should be here next week (it literally took a month- not cool Haute Look) and I just placed an order on Anastasia Beverly Hills. Reviews on those products will most likely be to come!


Thanks for reading!