Tag Archives: better than sex

Sephora Haul

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Sephora Haul

Hello! I don’t shop with Sephora often but, whenever I do, I make sure that my purchases are made online. Sephora’s online promotions pale in comparison to an in store shopping experience and I always receive lots of free goodies with a fifty dollar purchase so that I qualify for free shipping. And, we all know that that isn’t hard to do!

It had been a while since I restocked my Better Than Sex mascara and I was almost out of the tube that I have been using. I spent fifty-four dollars on my order and got all of these freebies to show for it:

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The Haul:

  • 2 Better Than Sex mascaras by Too Faced
  • PeterThomasRoth Water Drench moisturizer (Free with my Beauty Insider points)
  • Fresh Sugar Lip Mask (Free with my Beauty Insider points)
  • Farmacy Vitamin B Night Mask (Free with twenty-five dollar purchase)
  • Clarins serum and moisturizer sample (Free with any purchase)
  • Herbivore Pink Cloud moisturizer sample (Free with any purchase)

Other than Bath & Body Works, I would definitely say that Sephora has the best promotions to give you the most bang for your buck. And, it should because the products are expensive! The Better Than Sex mascara is the only “high end” makeup that I use and it is a whopping twenty-seven dollars per tube. Being able to test out all different kinds of brands and products FO FREE really helps to soften the blow for high priced purchases.

During my online shopping with Sephora, I usually find something that I can use my Beauty Insider points with and typically use my rewards for skin care. While they have free makeup and hair care available, I don’t do my hair and makeup every day, more like once a week, so a trail size mask or moisturizer makes more sense for me. I went with the Fresh Sugar Lip Mask, which I can’t wait to try because my lips are always in a permanent state of chapped. I also cashed in for the PeterThomasRoth Water Drench moisturizer for something different during my skin care routine.

Sephora also offers a plethora of Beauty Deals online and you can get a free trial size product with a twenty-five dollar purchase. Like free shipping for fifty dollars, this is not difficult to get and just one Better Than Sex mascara got me over the twenty-five dollar mark. I chose the Vitamin B night mask from Farmacy for this freebie because it has been a while since I had a new Face Mask Festivities on my page. Keep it posted for a review on this mask soon!

Finally, with every online purchase you can pick out two free sample products which is a nice touch. I always go the skin care route for these samples too and ended up with two moisturizers and a serum sample. With all of these freebies combined, it makes every online order with Sephora well worth it and I feel like I got a deal for how much I spent.

Of course, it’s always fun to poke around in store at Sephora and see everything in real life. I recommend going home and ordering the products you have your eye on online, though, so you can score a great deal too!

Which store offers the best promotions? What are your thoughts on any of the products in my haul if you have used them? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

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Sephora Haul

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Sephora Haul

Hi! I was running low on my Better Than Sex mascara, which meant that it was time to put an online order in with Sephora. I love shopping on Sephora’s website because of all of the amazing freebies that are offered with your purchase. You can’t beat free shipping, two samples, a mini product, and cashing in your Beauty Insider points for a haul worth writing home about… Or posting on your blog about, I should say! Check it out:

The Haul:

  • 2 Too Faced Better Than Sex mascaras
  • Clinique Moisture Surge moisturizer: FREE with Beauty Insider points
  • Summer Fridays Jet Lag face mask: FREE with twenty-five dollar purchase
  • Lancome Advanced Genifique serum sample: FREE with purchase
  • Fenty Skin starter set sample: FREE with purchase

The Better Than Sex mascara by Too Faced is the most expensive makeup product that I use. While I cringe a bit at the twenty-seven dollar price tag, I can justify it by all of the goodies that I get to test out from my purchase. Sephora always offers an assortment of free mini products with twenty-five dollar orders and if you shop with Sephora, then you know that that isn’t hard to do!

During my online shopping, I usually like to cash in my Beauty Insider points and when I saw that the Clinique Moisture Surge moisturizer was available, it went into my bag immediately. I do love my Garnier SkinActive moisturizers but the Moisture Surge by Clinique is SO nice. It is ultra hydrating, so lightweight, and absorbs like a dream. Although I have a ton of my Garnier moisturizers in my stock pile, the Clinique one will be much appreciated during the winter to help combat dry skin.

For my next freebie, I chose the Jet Lag face mask by Summer Fridays because it has been a while since we have had a Face Mask Festivities post. Testing out new face masks is one of my favorite things to do to relax and you can’t beat trying one out free of charge. I’m excited! 😀

Finally, for my samples I went with a serum by Lancome and the Fenty Skin starter set. I could take or leave the serum because I am most looking forward to trying out the Fenty products – I have always wanted to! The starter set came with the Total Cleans’r, Fat Water, and Hydra Vizor. How can you turn down testing out a product named Fat Water?! The answer is that you don’t lol.

For under sixty dollars, I was able to get my must have mascara and a whole lot of freebies along with it. I can’t wait to try out all of the new to me products in my haul so keep it posted for reviews!

Have you used any of these products before? What do you think of them? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

 

 

Lil Red’s Makeup Must Haves

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Lil Red’s Makeup Must Haves

Hi! Yesterday, we took a look at all of Lil Red’s beauty essentials and today we are going to continue on by discussing my must have makeup. Thanks again to the darling Libby of Goddess Attainable for the prompt! Let’s get started:

Maybelline Tattoo Studio Eyeliner:

Once I complete my morning skin care routine, I let the products sit for about a half hour and then I apply my makeup. For as long as I can remember, I have always started the makeup process with eyeliner on my bottom lid first. The Maybelline Tattoo Studio eyeliners has been my go to for forever. I love its price (seven dollars) but I am especially fond of how creamy and pigmented it applies. This eyeliner also never budges throughout the day so you will never face a “How long has my eyeliner been smudged?” moment in the mirror!

Selena Gomez Rare Beauty Palette:

I purchased the Rare Beauty palette earlier this summer and I am so glad that I did! I was sick of all of the eyeshadow colors that I had been using for the past decade and had never bought an actual palette before. While online shopping with Sephora, I decided to give the Rare Beauty palette a try because the colors were beautiful and the price at twenty-five dollars wasn’t bad, either.

Once my order arrived, I was blown away by the quality of these eyeshadows for the price. It applies so rich and lasts all day. The Rare Beauty palette encouraged me to play around with makeup more and I have been having a blast in the process. 😀

Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara:

To complete my eye makeup routine, I end with a healthy dose of Better Than Sex mascara by Too Faced. My sister introduced me to this mascara several years ago and I have been a faithful user ever since. In fact, it is one of the few makeup items that I splurge on at twenty or so dollars per tube. In my opinion, it is worth every penny. The Better Than Sex mascara gives me long, bold lashes perfect for fluttering and it will always be a staple in my makeup stock pile. Which reminds me… I need to order more!

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Maybelline Dream Bouncy Blush In Fresh Pink:

As I’m sure you all can tell, I stay dedicated to the products that I like and the Dream Bouncy blush by Maybelline is no exception – I have been using it since my teens! To begin the process of face makeup, I start with a base of Dream Bouncy in my favorite shade of Fresh Pink. This creamy blush applies so smoothly and I use it on the apples of my cheeks all the way up to my hairline. At first, it’s a bit much but I tone it down in the next steps…

The Body Shop Blush In Bubblegum:

To continue on with the pinky keen palette, I dust on a powder blush by The Body Shop in Bubblegum. And, yes, I have been using this blush since my teens too lol. The powder blush helps mellow out the super bright Dream Bouncy blush without losing the original color and provides a matte finish. I also apply this blush from the apples of my cheeks to my hairline.

Sephora Golden Hour Highlighter In Dusk:

Three years ago, I got hip to highlighter and Sephora’s Golden Hour in Dusk was my first purchase. At first, I wasn’t so sure about highlighter because I didn’t want it to be super noticeable. The Dusk shade offers a soft pink hue that gives my face angles for days without being incredibly obvious, which is exactly what I wanted.

Once my blush is on, I will apply the highlighter on the ridge of my nose and my chin. Then, I brush it on from the apples of my cheeks to my hairline down to my left and right jawline. Which brings us to our final step…

The Body Shop Brush On Radiance In Pink:

To finish off my makeup routine, I use the Brush On Radiance in Pink by The Body Shop all over my face and down my neck. This helps blend together all of the different products and gives your skin some shimmer. This is one of the first products that I ever used by The Body Shop in my teens and my makeup routine would feel so weird without it. The Brush On Radiance beads are so pretty and they literally last for forever which makes the twenty plus price tag much more bearable.

Lipstick:

With my ever changing hair, I have had to alter the lipstick colors that I wear. As I’m sure you all can remember, I always used to wear the Pure Red lipstick by NYX. Unfortunately, it just doesn’t look good anymore with my red, pink, and lilac hair. So, I have had to change things up and have grown partial to nude, mauve, and pink hues.

Right now, I am loving my Bite Beauty Lip Crayon in Glace for full face makeup occasions. For more casual outings, I tend to apply something quick and easy like the Clinique Chubby Stick in Super Strawberry. The Chubby Sticks are a tinted balm but you would be amazed at how bold the color is once its on!

During my work week, I rarely wear makeup so it is always fun when I have a chance to beat my face with the products above! ❤

What is your makeup routine like? What are some of your must have makeups? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Get Ready With Me: Valentine’s Day Edition

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Get Ready With Me: Valentine’s Day Edition

Hello everyone! Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, which means we definitely need to talk makeup. Of course, the outfit is important too. But, bringing that girly sweetness to your face will tie the whole look together for a romantic date night with your significant other. There are a few key things that make for a successful Valentine’s Day makeup and I am going to share them with all of you today. Check it out:

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Accessories:

When I think of a perfect date night look, the first thing that comes to mind is a sassy pout, huge eyelashes, and glowing skin. These are the three things that we will be covering so let’s get to it:

Sassy Pout:

Now, normally, I say wear whatever shade of lipstick that you want. However, we are talking Valentine’s Day and it is all about the red and pink. Nothing screams girly sweet more than a pretty pink lipstick in seashell, salmon, or a shocking hot hue. And nothing screams edgy classic more than a bold red lip.

Whichever shade you choose, tie it into your outfit somehow. For example, the skirt that I plan on wearing has red hearts and lipstick kisses on it, which matches my lippie perfectly. Rocking pink pearls or jewelry? Slick on a similar hue for a look that is oh so cohesive and oh so cute!

Huge Eyelashes:

I don’t know about all of you, but I still flirt so hard with my boyfriend as if it were our first date. And, perhaps the most flirty makeup staple of all is huge eyelashes. Don’t go too overboard with the rest of your eye makeup and opt for longer than life lashes that you can bat to your beau across the dinner table.

I prefer Too Faced’s Better Than Sex mascara myself, because just one application gives you five times more length than any drugstore brand I’ve ever used. But, whatever your mascara preference is, apply liberally and be sure to comb through your lashes after each use to avoid clumping. Nothing ruins flirtatiously looking up through your lashes like huge clumps!

Glowing Skin:

As far as blush goes, I am wearing a few different shades of pink blended together in the pictures above. I would suggest going this route for an added touch of baby doll adorable. But, for the ultimate glowing skin, we need a highlighter! Whether you’re eating dinner by candlelight or sipping on cocktails in a lounge, when the soft lighting hits the highlighter on your face, magic happens.

I absolutely love Sephora’s Golden Hour highlighter in Dusk. At first glance, it just looks light pink. But, it has golden sparkle mixed into it for a shimmer straight out of a fairy tale. Hello, glowing skin! Everyone has their own techniques for where to apply highlighter and I always hit the following areas when completing my MOTD:

  • From the hairline to the end of my nose
  • The apples of my cheeks
  • My chin
  • From the top of my cheeks downwards
  • From the far corners of my eyes arching over my brows

When applied in the places above, no lighting is bad lighting for me because every angle has been covered. Dust on as little or as much as you want depending on how bold you feel like going. I usually just put one application on each area but it will call for more or less depending on where you’re going for your date night!

So, there you have it! I had such fun taking these pictures and concocting the perfect tips and tricks to beat your face like a pro this Valentine’s Day. Now, get out there and celebrate your love! 😀

PS: Don’t forget these must haves in your purse for your big Valentine’s Day date!

Valentine’s Day Purse Essentials:

You’re probably only going to be carrying a small purse on Valentine’s Day, so you need to make the most of it. Your cell, coin purse, and keys are obvious essentials. If you’ve put on your make up properly, you shouldn’t need to reapply it during the evening. This means you should be able to get away with just taking along a lipstick.

You can get lipstick cases with mirrors in them. This can be handy for topping up without either having to carry an extra mirror or use up the battery on your phone. If you’re planning on taking a lot of photos with your phone, think about carrying an external battery. You can get ones small enough to pop into a clutch. You can also get selfie lights to put on your phone. These can give you lots of light where you need it without using up your phone battery and they’re nicer to use than a regular camera flash.

If your purse is big enough, you can pop in some folding slippers in case you want to lose the shoes later. If it’s not, at least put in a couple of invisible blister plasters, just to be on the safe side. On that note, if you’re looking for love but don’t have a regular date, make sure you have some condoms. You don’t want to spoil the romance by having to order STD testing.

How are you celebrating Valentine’s Day? Do you have an outfit or makeup look in mind? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Holiday Haul: Sister & Brother In Law Edition

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Holiday Haul: Sister & Brother In Law Edition

Hello everyone! No matter what winter holiday you celebrate, I trust that all of you had a wonderful time celebrating with friends and family. I know I did! Now, I hate to toot my own horn but I am usually the MVP of Christmas in my family. I live for holiday shopping and I love gifting those close to me with something special. Unsurprisingly, my title was bequeathed onto me again this year. However, my sister and brother in law, Kristen and Ramon, did a bang up job themselves! Check it out:

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Kristen and Ramon treated me to a lovely red flannel button down from Express, a handmade beanie from our friend’s Etsy shop, and some Better Than Sex mascara for my beauty hoard. I absolutely love my flannel and I feel so spoiled because I never shop at Express, as it is a bit out of my price range. I am really excited to pair it with my new knitted beanie for a look to keep me comfy and cozy all winter long. Pair with your favorite leggings, rinse, repeat.

And, of course, you can never go wrong with gifting me the Better Than Sex mascara by Too Faced. Granted, I have two back up tubes already but now I won’t have to buy any more for a good long while. I am so touched by the thought that went into these gifts by my sister and brother in law and I am looking forward to putting all of it to good use. ❤

Do you like to shop on Etsy? What is your favorite Etsy shop? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sephora Haul

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Sephora Haul

Hi!! Whenever I need to restock my Better Than Sex mascara by Too Faced, I always shop Sephora online to get the best deals. With free shipping with a fifty dollar purchase (Which isn’t hard to do!), two free samples, and an option for more freebies with a coupon code, it just makes sense to do – especially if you know exactly what you want. And, if I ever did want to play around with new products in store, I would definitely go home and order the goods online to bank in on all of the great promotions! 😀

This time around, I scored an amazing goodie bag filled with trial sized products to try out and I am looking forward to testing them all and sharing my findings with you. Check it out:

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The Haul:

  • 2 Better Than Sex mascaras
  • Laneige Water Sleeping Mask
  • Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Cream
  • Replica perfume
  • Good Genes Lactic Acid Treatment
  • Ouai Leave In Conditioner
  • Bite Beauty Lip Crayon in Glace
  • Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes Mascara
  • Laura Mercier Lipstick samples
  • Atelier Vanilla Incense perfume

For fifty dollars total, I got all of the products seen above and I consider that a steal. There is nothing better than getting a lot of bang for your buck and I feel like I get that every time I shop with Sephora. I also love being able to try out beauty products without having to commit to them and, who knows, maybe I will find a new favorite in the sample sizes.

I wouldn’t be a good sister or daughter if I didn’t share the wealth and have given my mom the perfume samples because she’s a fragrance gal and the Tarte mascara and Bite lippie to my sister. I already have both of those and will not be using either up any time soon. Sharing is caring and it’s nice to be able to enjoy all of this awesome stuff together. Both of those very special ladies in my life always know how to make my day with something as simple as a text message so I take every opportunity I can to treat them, too!

How do you score the best deals at Sephora? What did you get in your most recent beauty haul? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Better Than Sex Mascara Annoyance

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Better Than Sex Mascara Annoyance

Yo yo yo. I’m sure when you read the title of the post all of you were like “what?” because I would be nowhere without my Better Than Sex mascara by Too Faced. And, that’s still true. But, oh my god, they must have changed the formula or something because the mascara is SO sticky now and I really just can’t deal. This would all be fine and dandy if it wasn’t for the fact that I wear contacts because it has been causing me a lot of grief. Read on to find out more!

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The first thing that I do once I’m out of the shower and have wiped off my face with my micellar water is put my contacts in. This has been my routine for years and, then, I apply my skin care products and makeup accordingly. But, now the order of operations has been tragically skewed because the fact that my mascara now takes at least a half hour to fully dry has been destroying my contacts left and right.

Within an hour or so of having my mascara on and contacts in, they would be so dry from the Better Than Sex getting on the lenses that I literally couldn’t see anything and would have to take them out. It was getting to the point where I had to wear my glasses with the wrong prescription to go about my day, making my vision nowhere near as sharp as it should be. It was just getting ridiculous.

After going through a box of contacts that should have lasted me three months in a little over one, I said that enough was enough and began putting my contacts in after my mascara had time to dry. Annoying? Totally. But, it worked, and I am no longer changing my one a day contacts twice daily.

On the BTS reviews on Sephora’s website, I saw many people complain about the same issue that I was having so I just had to write a post about switching up my morning routine to accommodate the stickiest mascara ever. And, also to say to Too Faced to get the old formula of Better Than Sex back ASAFP, because this new one is not doing anyone any favors. SMH!

Which mascara do you use? What do you do about sticky mascaras? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Lil Sephora Haul

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Lil Sephora Haul

Helloooo everyone! Within the past year or so, I have become absolutely addicted with shopping Sephora. Can you believe that there was a point in my life when I didn’t understand why people were so obsessed with it?! I used to think that it was so overpriced but, if you know how to shop their deals online, then you literally make out like a bandit with tons of free goodies and promotions.

Whenever I need a reup on my beloved Better Than Sex mascara, I always turn to Sephora’s website so that I can get some free swag with the things that I needed to purchase anyways. In my most recent haul, I grabbed two more BTS mascaras, my favorite highlighter in Sephora’s Golden Hour collection in Dusk, and three freebies. Take a look:

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The Haul:

  • 2 Better Than Sex mascaras by Too Faced
  • Golden Hour collection highlighter in Dusk by Sephora
  • Laura Mercier lipstick in Classic Red – FREE!
  • Daisy by Marc Jacobs perfume sample – FREE!
  • Jack Black Pure Clean Daily Facial Cleanser sample – FREE!

Although I do love shopping Sephora online, it is sometimes disappointing to receive your package and see that the samples that you ordered were replaced with different ones. I originally chose a face mask and serum sample as my two freebies and got the perfume and cleanser, instead, most likely because the two I wanted were out of stock. It’s fine, but I’m not really a perfume girl and I can never tell if I like a cleanser by just one sample use. This has actually happened the past several times I ordered with Sephora and, believe me, I’m not mad about it. It’s just more annoying than anything.

Another unfortunate instance with this order was that the box for one of my mascaras was completely un-intact, which is a little disconcerting with makeup. I’m not worried about it, but it’s just not a good look to open your box and see one of the rather expensive mascara tubes just hanging out in there instead of in its package. Normally, Sephora’s packaging is on point and this was easily the worst overall order I’ve had since shopping with them.

Despite the hiccups with my freebie samples and the poor packaging, I am excited to try the Classic Red lipstick shade by Laura Mercier, which I got for free with a twenty-five dollar purchase. Be on the lookout for a swatch post for that soon. And, here’s to a better unboxing experience next time!

What is your favorite store to purchase makeup from? Which store offers the best freebies or rewards programs? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

How Much Is My Face Worth?

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How Much Is My Face Worth?

Hiiii! Makeup is something that I definitely enjoy, but I would never say that I go overboard with my beauty product purchases. However, that doesn’t mean that I don’t like splurging every now and again! And that begs the question of how much is my face worth. I’m also going to include my hair styling necessities, since that is a major part of my look, as well. Let’s find out together, because now I’m curious!

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A typical MOTD for yours truly looks a lot like the look above plus or minus the lipstick. The products and cost of what I use to achieve that MUG are the following:

Eyes:

Brows: Microbladed by La Marie Brow Club

Mascara: I use a combination of mascaras to get the super bold, fanned out look but the main component is Better Than Sex by Too Faced. This mascara runs for twenty-four dollars per tube.

Eyeshadow: My favorite eyeshadow to use is a gorgeous metallic bronze shade from The Body Shop. When the store that I live by had their half off closing sale, I purchased quite a few of them for six dollars each. Not bad!

Face:

Blush: Like my mascara, I use a combination of blushes to create just the right color. I use Maybelline’s Dream Bouncy blush in Fresh Pink which costs about eight dollars per compact. I also use a warmer baked orange shade from The Body Shop over the Fresh Pink to make a nice, summery glow over the pasty pale, which gives a contrast that I love. That blush is called Macaroon and I got it for close to eight dollars, as well.

Highlighter: The highlighter I’m using right now is Sephora brand from their Golden Hour collection in a shade called Dusk. I like this highlighter a lot and it was the cheapest one in the store, costing me nineteen dollars.

Shimmer: To finish the makeup on my face, I use the Blush On Radiance beads from The Body Shop to tie everything together with a shimmery finish. One jar lasts me such a long time and is twenty dollars.

Lipstick: And, of course, my lipstick! I use a matte shade called Pure Red by NYX and it is six dollars per tube. It is absolutely divine and I have never used a better lipstick in my life.

Hair:

Leave In Conditioner: To keep my hair silky smooth, I use the Mistress Leave In Conditioner by IGK. It’s a bit more pricey at twenty-nine dollars. But, I’ve been using the same tube since September and I literally can’t live without it.

Heat Protecting Spray: I am currently using a heat protecting spray by Tresemme that I’ve had since August. It cost me seven dollars for the bottle, making for an insanely cheap cost per wear!

Hair Dye: Of course, I would be nothing without my signature red hair. Nothing, I say! The Vidal Sassoon Runway Red color from the London Luxe collection is all I will ever use and, at ten dollars per box, I can definitely swing that!

Hair Straightener: My Hot Tools hair straightener from TJMaxx was twenty-five bucks and it had to be included on this list because if I’m doing my makeup, then I’m definitely straightening my hair to complete the look. This flat iron works great and the products that I use definitely work well along with it.

Grand Total: $162

This sounds crazy because one hundred and sixty-two bucks is a pretty big number – BUT, I’m actually really happy with it… I thought it was going to be higher! I make an honest effort to use more budget friendly brands than high end and I think that number shows for it. My makeup lasts me a long time because I try to take good care of it and use it until its completely done and the cost per use of each product makes those purchases well worth it.

How much is your face worth? What is the cheapest and most expensive beauty product you use? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sephora Haul

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Sephora Haul

Hi! Every four months or so, I like to stock up on the goodies that I use from Sephora. AKA, my Better Than Sex mascara and a fabulous hair balm by IGK. All of my Sephora shopping is always done online, because they sure know how to add on the freebies with excellent promotions and samples. And, it is always free shipping if you spend over fifty dollars, which is so not hard to do! Take a look at my most recent haul and let’s discuss:

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The Haul:

  • Sephora Favorites Lashstash To Go gift set
  • IGK Mistress Hydrating Hair Balm
  • Guerlain La Petite Robe Noire Deliciously Shiny Lipstick sample (FREE!)
  • Atelier Cologne perfume sample (FREE!)
  • Clinique Chubby Stick in Super Strawberry (FREE!)
  • Glow Recipe Avocado Sleeping Mask sample (FREE!)

I was so happy to have purchased the mascara gift set because, not only did it come with five samples of mascara, but it included a voucher to get a full size of your favorite for free. This gift set was twenty-eight dollars, and a full size of any of the mascaras in the set is usually twenty-four or twenty-five bucks. Talk about a steal! The mascaras that came in the set are Too Faced’s Better Than Sex, Buxom’s Lash Mascara, Lancome’s waterproof Monsieur Big, Smashbox’s Super Fan, and Tarte’s Lights, Camera, Lashes. I’m looking forward to trying all of these mascaras but, let’s be honest, we all know that I’ll be getting a full size in Better Than Sex!

Purchasing my IGK hair balm was also a must for me. Although it’s a bit pricey at twenty-nine dollars, it takes me a good long while to finish one bottle. I began using the one I’m on right now in October and I’m still not done with it – and I use it daily. So, I’m definitely willing to shell out for something that lasts me that long. And, my hair has never been more soft and shiny since my IGK regimen so, continue to shell out, I will.

And, finally, the freebies! With each Sephora online purchase, you get at least two to three free samples to choose from. This time, I picked a perfume sample in Vanille Insensee, which is divine and two lipstick pods from Guerlain to swatch. I also used one of their promo codes to receive a free mini jar of the Glow Recipe Avocado Sleeping Mask, which you can review in tomorrow’s Face Mask Festivities. To top it off, I used my Beauty Insider points for a free Clinique Chubby Stick. I am obsessed with these moisturizing balms that give the perfect pop of color and I just had to give a more red shade a go. I can’t wait to try it out!

I have such fun shopping online with Sephora and picking out the best deals to give me the most bang for my buck. And, judging from the haul above, I’d say that I did a pretty good job!

Which stores offer the best online discounts? How do you shop smart at Sephora? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah