Pepersonal Shopping: February 2013

Tuesday, 26 February 2013

Save Money Online Shopping!

So if you guys couldn't tell already, I am all about the bargain hunting. For me, half the fun of shopping is the rush you get when you know you've scored an awesome deal. And I am about to let you all in on my best-kept online shopping secret- RetailMeNot.

RetailMeNot is website that is essentially a collection of every coupon code available for every online store out there. For example, today I was browsing Urban Outfitters and saw a top I really liked. Before I even put it in my virtual cart, I opened up RetailMeNot and searched for Urban Outfitters. The first thing I see is a coupon code available for $20 off $100 plus free shipping. Not a bad deal, right?

If you online shop at all or want to give it a try, RetailMeNot is one of the most valuable resources out there. Everything is super well-organized and easy to find, and the codes are constantly being updated. So what are you waiting for? Head on over and start saving some serious $! ♥

Sunday, 24 February 2013

Budget Beauty: 10 Products Under $10

Ever since the oh so popular post on Drugstore Dupes, I have been getting a ton of requests to do more posts about beauty products for people (like me!) who would rather get an awesome deal than splurge on high-end cosmetics. I'm so glad that you guys love these budget beauty posts, because I love sharing all of these amazing deals with you! Read on to score some more bargains on my favorite beauty products that are under $10!

NYC Browser Brush-On Eyebrow Kit- $4
I have really patchy, sparse eyebrows and for awhile I was going through brow kit after brow kit desperately trying to find one that would actually last all day and look natural. Then one day I was browsing through my second home, Target, when I saw this little guy for about $4. I figured I might as well give it a try, and boy am I glad that I did. The powder is a super natural color (not orange-y like some powders) and it lasts all day. Plus, the gel is really great for slicking down those stubborn hairs that won't stay put.

e.l.f Mineral Eyeshadows- $3

If you've seen basically any of my other posts, you'd know how much I absolutely rave about almost everything e.l.f. cosmetics. And this product in particular is one of my absolute faves. The mineral shadows are super high quality (they rival some of the priciest and well-known brands out there!), and the color selection is amazing. When I first tried these out, I got about 10 colors. After trying them all and seeing which I got the most use out of, I generally stick with repurchasing Elegant, Celebrity, and Golden.

Maybelline Great Lash Mascara- $4.50

This classic mascara seriously never goes out of style. I keep trying out new ones, but I always gravitate back to my Great Lash.

Revlon Colorburst Lip Butters- $6.50

I absolutely love these lip butters because they have the semi-sheer color payoff of a lip gloss but with a matte (not sticky!) finish. There is a huge variety of colors and they are all gorgeous, but my favorite has to be Strawberry Shortcake. It's a perfect everyday shade of pink.

Maybelline Color Tattoo 24HR Eyeshadows- $5

Okay, I know the color I have pictured below looks really bright, but I promise they aren't all that extreme. In fact, my favorite color in this line is Bad to the Bronze which is a really pretty shade of brown. The main reason why I love these so much is because they really do last all day without any creasing or smearing. In a pinch, these also work great as an eyeshadow primer because they keep any other eye products on all day as well.

Maybelline Dream Matte Powder- $7

So as I'm sure most of you guys know by now, I have really oily skin. If I forget to put on a matte setting powder like this one I will literally be a complete greaseball by the end of the day. I also really like Dream Matte because I can continue to apply it as needed throughout the day without it ever getting cakey and unnatural looking.

Nyx Powder Blush- $6

These blushes are incredibly smooth and leave a super natural looking flush to your skin. And it doesn't hurt that almost all the colors I've tried are gorgeous. However, my two favorites would have to be Summer Peach and Pinched.

Maybelline Baby Lips Lip Balm- $3

I know, I know...more Maybelline. They just have so many awesome products I couldn't help but include all of my favorites! Besides the really cute packaging, this lip balm is also really hydrating and smells amazing.

Revlon ColorStay Longwear Nail Enamel- $8

These nail polishes come in an insanely huge (and pretty!) variety of colors. Not to mention, they have some pretty crazy staying power as well. I set a personal record when I was able to keep a coat of this polish on for about a week with absolutely no chipping.

e.l.f. Waterproof Eyeliner Pen- $1

I just had to save the cheapest product for the grande finale! I use this eyeliner pen instead of a traditional liquid liner when I want to go for a more dramatic winged effect. With a little primer the liner will last all day and the colors are all really beautiful. The only downside is if you leave the cap even slightly loose, these guys will dry out and become completely unusable within hours. So if you're always in a rush in the morning like me, make sure you at least take the time to make sure the cap is on tight!

Have a product under $10 you'd like to share? Want more posts like this? Talk to me in the comments down below! ♥

Friday, 22 February 2013

Makeup Primer 101

Makeup primer is one of those products that is either something you cannot live without, or something you cannot understand to save your life. While I definitely fall under the first category, I can understand how primer could be a little intimidating with so many options out there and very limited explanations as to what it truly does and how to properly use it. But I'm here to help!

Without further adieu, here is everything you need to know to get started with the magic that is primer!

What is makeup primer and how do I use it?
Makeup primer is essentially a product designed to create a smooth canvas for your skin and make your makeup last all day long. It generally comes in a tube or bottle, and can be applied similarly to a moisturizer or any other all-over skin cream. Put primer on after you have done your full skincare routine including cleansing, scrubbing etc., but before you start putting on any makeup like a foundation or powder.

Bonus Tip- Once you start getting a little more comfortable using primer, you can really play around with different ways to use it. As I've mentioned before, I like to mix my primer with foundation instead of applying it separately to lighten the coverage. Also, when I'm in a pinch for time or have run out of eye shadow primer, face primer works just as well for keeping eye makeup on all day.

Where can I buy primer?
Anywhere that sells makeup should also sell a pretty wide variety of primers. This includes cosmetic stores like Ulta and Sephora, as well as drugstores and supermarkets. I tend to buy most of my cosmetics from Ulta just because they send out coupons fairly often and I certainly will not pass up a chance to save money!

How do I know what primer to get?
It really all depends on what your specific skin needs are and what your budget is. With so many primers out there, I promise there will be one that is perfect for you. Sometimes it just takes a few duds to find the right one. I'll try to speed up the process with these suggestions:

If You Have Sensitive Skin- bareMinerals Prime Time Foundation Primer

If You Want to Minimize Redness- L'Oreal Paris Studio Secrets Professional Anti-Redness Primer

If You Have Oily Skin- Victoria's Secret Pro Airbrush FX Oil-Free Primer

If You Have Dry/Combination Skin- The Body Shop Vitamin C Skin Boost

P.S.- This one isn't labeled as a primer, but The Body Shop recommends you use it as one on their website. I use it all the time and I love how smooth it makes my skin!

If You Need It to Last Through Anything- Shiseido Refining Makeup Primer

If You Have Large Pores- Clinique Pore Minimizer Instant Perfector

Have any other questions about primer? Feel free to ask below in the comments! ♥

Wednesday, 20 February 2013

Is this real life.......?

I just happened to refresh sparkle & mine at a magical moment:

Seriously guys, you are amazing. It is such a blessing to be able to share my passion for beauty and style with 10,000 friends (and growing!). If all this could happen in just 4 days, I have such high hopes for what this blog can become and I hope you all will continue on this crazy journey along with me!

Have any requests for future posts or questions for me? Comment down below and let me know what's on your mind! ♥

5 Nail Polish Trends to Try!

Matte (via Vampy Varnish)

Almost every nail polish line is clamoring to come out with their own version of this chic matte look. All you have to do is apply it over normal polish like a topcoat!

Sparkle Ombre (via A Polish Addict)

This look is a little more tricky to get just right, but definitely do-able with a little practice. Let the base color dry completely, then grab a tiny dab of clear glitter polish and apply it in small amounts at a time from top to bottom. The amount of polish on your brush should naturally dwindle as you reach the bottom of the nail, leaving you with just a hint of sparkle.

Dual Colors (via Pinkbeauty)

This one is super simple, just use tape to diagonally cover half of your nail!

The Modern French (via Popcosmo)

Just like the picture shows, all you need for this one is a fun polish color and some hole punch reinforcement stickers that you can get at any office supply store!

Color Gradient (via Gotham Polish)

If you're a nail polish junkie like me this will be the easiest idea yet! Just pick out 5 shades in the same color family (one for each finger) and paint them on from lightest to darkest.

Have any other nail polish ideas for spring that I forgot to mention? Feel free to add them in the comments! ♥

Tuesday, 19 February 2013

Get This Necklace!

So yesterday I was just strolling through the black hole of amazingness that is Target, and I came across these adorable necklaces! I was literally just looking at a necklace at J. Crew that looks exactly like this, except way more expensive. At my Target location, it was available in 4 colors- black and gold, cream and gold, neon yellow and silver, and orange and gold. I decided to scoop up all but the orange, because I had to make myself feel like I had some self-control. But seriously, how cute are these?! Online they are selling for about $7 on clearance, and in-store I got mine for $6 each. I would definitely suggest heading over to your local Target or just ordering them online!

What clearance deals have you scored lately? Let me know in the comments below! ♥

Monday, 18 February 2013

Budget Beauty: Drugstore Dupes!

Is it weird that I would rather slum it up with some Ramen Noodles for dinner and save my money for that new makeup I've been coveting? I mean, who needs real nourishment when you have cute lip gloss, right?

Okay, that may be a little extreme. But I have a way you can have your awesome makeup and still have money in your pocket too- drugstore dupes! A drugstore dupe is basically a cheaper and drugstore-brand duplicate of a more expensive product. In fact, I have found that some of these dupes are actually better than their expensive cosmetic counter counterpart. Of course, these are all items that have been tested by me so I can tell you from personal experience that they are truly amazing!

UPDATE: Check out more of my favorite drugstore dupes here!

The Original: Dior Amber Diamond Highlighter- $45

Drugstore Dupe: Hard Candy Bronzer in Tiki -$9 (The color looks dark on here, but it actually comes out to be almost the same color as Amber Diamond. It works great as a highlighter even on my fair skin!)