Paint the Barn

I know Twilight was good fun and all....

2009-09-04T20:29:00.002-05:00

I just saw an add for a Twilight collection of make-up. I am not sure about this.... I went to high school in the 90s - I think I have seen enough goth make-up to last a lifetime!!

In case you are curious (you know who you are!): http://twilightbeauty.com/

FABULOUS Deal at CVS!

2009-08-05T07:35:00.003-05:00

Sorry (again) that I have been missing lately - we just moved! Y'all... moving with two little ones is sooooo not fun.

But the good news is that for the next 3 months I will be living with the Coupon Queen (aka my mom) who faithfully checks the paper for deals and coupons on our favorite products.

So this week, the best thing going is that CVS has a sale on Clairol Natural Instincts hair color for $5.99 - which is a great price. AND there was a coupon in the paper for $4 off one box of Natural Instincts - that is a price of $1.99.

If you still have your hands on the coupon flyer from the weekend paper - go dig out this coupon!

I have cleaned out the two CVS' near me in my fave color - Spiced Cider (Light Warm Brown)!

A word about Natural Instincts... I LOVE this product. I does not contain ammonia - which means it is very gentle, washes out in about 6-8 weeks, and you can use it all over your hair every time - you do not have to focus on roots like you do with permanent hair dye.

My words of advice when using this product:
- It will only cover moderate grays (Grays! What grays??)
- If you pick a color much darker than your natural shade, it will last longer than 6-8 weeks (because basically this hair dye is a 'stain', not a true dye)
- Since it has no ammonia (which is why it is so gentle and wash-out) it cannot lighten your hair.

Now my words of advice on the color tricks that the hair-dye industry try to use!! Here is the "Color Code":
- Always go one shade lighter than you think you need. For instance, I would say that my hair is 'medium brown' - however if I use a hair dye labeled medium brown, my hair will look goth. I use one labeled 'light brown'. Make sense?
- If the description says 'warm' this really means a bit auburn.
- If the description says 'auburn' it will be weird-girl red (ala Claire Danes in My So Called Life)
- If the description says 'red' do not go anywhere near it.
- Do not believe people who say you will look good with reddish hair - many people do NOT. You know who you are. Some people just really look fabulous with ash brown!!!

Hope this all makes sense. My natural hair color is medium brown with a hint of red. I have a few pesky grays around my face, and this product does the trick. I use Spiced Cider (Light Warm Brown) every 6 weeks and I could not be happier with the result.

OK.... just a couple more instructions...
- Apply at the roots first and then apply the rest of the dye to the ends of your hair (ends are usually drier and will soak up more dye)
- When you are done use a damp paper towel to clean up your forehead, ears, neck, etc
- Carefully check the counter/tile beneath you - little tiny drips are easily cleaned up initially but can stain if left behind!

You can do it!!! At a GREAT price! Use the savings to buy new shoes for fall :) Feel free to post any questions. I have years of experience with this product and could answer pretty much any question.

Deals this Week

2009-07-14T07:48:00.002-05:00

Sorry I have been MIA from the blogosphere!!

Here are the deals going on this week:

CVS:
- Buy 1 Get 1 FREE Revlon foundation, powder, blush, concealer, eye products
- Buy 1 Get 1 FREE (only until Tuesday!) Cover Girl Lip products (remember Outlast lipcolor is FABULOUS)

Walgreens:
- Buy 1 Get 1 FREE L'Oreal foundation, concealer, powder and blush (Love their Bare Naturale blush)
- 40% off Revlon Colorstay

Happy Shopping!

You've Been Warned...

2009-06-17T13:33:00.005-05:00

As a prelude to my upcoming review of the self-tanners I have tried, let me give you a warning....

Before I say anything, I must ask you to please remember your sunscreen when you are outside. I won't preach on the health risks associated with sun exposure... hopefully you know this already. But come on girls, even if you don't care about the health risks, sun exposure will give you premature wrinkles and sun spots. You may or may not get skin cancer - but you WILL get wrinkles and sun spots!!! And guess what? Skin damage doesn't just mean getting burned - a good dark tan just means you were slow roasted instead of dropped in the fryer.

OK - I am off my soapbox now.

I have very fair skin. I have been almost every color imaginable - white, red, orange, (fake) tan... what I have never been is naturally tan. Not one day in my whole life. Here's what happens to me when I am out in the sun - white for about 30 minutes, then RED for a week, then 3 days of peeling, then back to white. No tan.

So here's the warning... When you have fair skin, and you get burned (because you were stupid and didn't wear sunscreen!) and then have to be a bridesmaid in 1 week, so you apply self-tanner to even out your tan lines... You will be fabulously tan for about 1 day. Then the tan will peel off to reveal the white skin beneath and you will look like you have a serious skin condition for several days.

Let's just say this recently happened to someone I know...

The only deals I detected this week worth mentioning were at Walgreens:
- Buy 1 Get 1 FREE Maybelline face or eye cosmetics (remember my favorite mascara is Maybelline Volume Express Curved Brush!)
- Buy 1 Get 1 FREE Loreal nail, HiP or Bare Naturale (love their Bare Naturale blush)

More on self-tanners to come...

Deals this Week

2009-06-08T07:43:00.002-05:00

Sorry I have been MIA - it's been crazy around here! I didn't detect many good deals last week - hope you weren't disappointed!

Here's what we've got this week:

CVS:
- Buy 1 Get 1 FREE Revlon foundation, powder, blush and concealer

Walgreens:
- Buy 1 Get 1 FREE Loreal Bronze self tanner products (I prefer the "Glow" series rather than the "Bronze" - it is better for pale skin)

Not much going on this week either! Check back soon - my next post will be a review of self-tanners. I have tried them all and I have some good advice for you!!

For the Love of Lashes

2009-05-29T13:48:00.014-05:00

There are three things I am almost never without... Lipstick, earrings and mascara. I have already ranted about my love affair with Cover Girl Outlast lipstick - now onto mascara!!!

Having fab lashes is really not as hard as you might think. I am often complimented on my eyelashes, and it is chalked up to "oh, you just have good lashes". My lashes aren't bad but they aren't great either.

before.... after....

There are lots of fancy ways to achieve great lashes: fake eyelashes (which I am not knocking - they have their time and place), lash tinting (although this won't make them thicker or longer), and actual medicine to grow lashes ($ cha-ching!). But the simple, every day way to fab lashes? Learn to work your mascara!!!!

You have got to find a mascara you love, and feel comfortable with the shape of the wand. I personally love Maybelline mascara - in general I think they have the best product. My particular favorite is Maybelline Volume Express Curved Brush in Very Black.

Tips & Tricks:

Unless you have blonde lashes, go for black mascara. People with blonde lashes - it is up to you how bold you want to look.
If you can master the curved brush, you can usually skip the curler. I personally never use one - don't even own one now that I think about it!
Apply in even strokes, starting at the base of the lashes and follow all the way to the end. You get length by letting the mascara build up on the tips of your lashes - so if you make short little strokes you are probably not catching the ends.
For extra glam, apply while looking down into a mirror - this will pull the lashes up.
Get a decent coat on one eye, move the the next eye - and then do a quick second coat. Don't wait too long or the first coat will be completely dry - and then you get clumps!
Don't forget the back of your lashes!!! Do a quick swipe on the back side - spin the wand as you go for extra curl.
Eyeliner is a great touch - but go easy. Too much liner makes it harder for the lashes to stand out. Just start with liner on the outer part of the upper lid.

I know this sounds complicated, but once you get the swing of it, it will be easy. I actually timed myself this morning, and it took me one and half minutes to completely do both eyes - with both kids climbing my legs and pulling on me!!!

Happy lash loving!!

Deals this week

2009-05-27T15:34:00.002-05:00

Sorry I am so late this week!!! I hope you haven't overpaid for cosmetics!

CVS:
- Buy 1 Get 1 FREE Maybelline Mascara *** I LOVE Maybelline Volume Express (curved brush) It is absolutely fabulous. I love mascara - love the feeling of dramatic eyelashes. I have been told I have "good lashes" - but I don't! It is the mascara! Very soon I am going to take before and after pictures and put together a 'how-to' mascara post... but I digress....
- Buy 1 Get 1 FREE Neutrogena Mineral Sheers Cosmetics

Walgreens:
- Buy 1 Get 1 FREE Loreal face and lip products: foundation, powder, concealer, blush (they have great blush) or lipstick. Includes HiP (their cosmetic line designed to compete with MAC)

Sales good through May 30th. Happy shopping!

Mineral Make-Up

2009-05-18T07:15:00.003-05:00

A trendy product line in the world of cosmetics right now is "mineral make-up." I have to start off this post by saying that I have never used any of these products, so I have no personal experience.

That being said, I have several friends that are fans of BareEscentials line of BareMinerals products. People who use it seem to love it, and are repeat buyers - and that is the true test of a product! The line is pretty pricey - available at Sephora, BareEscentials stores & via phone, and QVC.

So, what you may be wondering is... do I need it?? As is true with any beauty product, you probably don't. If you are happy with your current make-up products, or maybe just need a little change, I wouldn't suggest investing in BareEscentials. But if you are seriously looking for a change... like I said, I have friends who swear by the stuff!!!

If you want to try the concept and get in on the trend, without the investment, you can try Maybelline Mineral Power make-up - which is on sale at CVS this week buy 1 get 1 free.

If any of my mineral make-up using friends are reading this post - please leave your advice & recommendations in the comments!!

Just Say No...

2009-05-15T10:58:00.004-05:00

... to yellow toenail polish.

I am not a big fan of trendy makeup. In my opinion, makeup is to enhance your natural beauty - not really to make fashion statements with your face. Save that for your earrings and shoes :)

I am, however, a BIG fan of trendy nail polish. Every month when my Glamour magazine comes, I scan the pages for the 'it' color of the month. My latest faves have been midnight blue, gunmetal gray (at the end of winter), and fuchsia.

This month I saw some bright yellow polish, and since I love yellow, made it my mission to find some. OPI has a great color (available at Ulta for $3.99). Fun, right???

What I fail to mention is that I have really pale skin. I do not tan - I just burn and go right back to white! So do you know what yellow nail polish looks like on white feet? Not good.

Maybe it would look OK on really tan feet... but my overall opinion is that it is more fungal than fun. If you want a very 'in' color on your toes - go for fuchsia. Looks good on any skin color.

Deals this Week

2009-05-12T07:55:00.002-05:00

I didn't manage to get my hands on a Sunday paper this week, but I did check the deals at CVS and Walgreens... here you go:

CVS:
- Buy 1 Get 1 FREE Maybelline Dream, lip, eyeshadow or liner
- Loreal Sublime (Glow or Bronze) $5.99

Walgreens:
- Buy 1 Get 1 FREE Loreal HiP products - this line of cosmetics is meant to compete with MAC (Note: Loreal is the same company as Lancome - just cheaper!!)

The Lipstick That Will Change Your Life!

2009-05-09T21:18:00.004-05:00

If you know me, you know my lipstick. We go together. We're a pair. Our love affair has been going on for 8 years now, and I see no end in sight! Therefore, I think it is fitting that the first product review I post on this blog be about my lipstick.

I am totally not joking when I say that this lipstick has changed my life. Well, I might be a tad dramatic - but not joking! I have always loved lipstick, and have always hated having to reapply, worrying about it coming off on my clothes, trying to avoid the ring around the lips... this lipstick changes all of that!

The name of my lipstick lover is CoverGirl Outlast Lipcolor - specifically color #545 - Naturalast. Be warned - there are other "Outlast" products, but they are totally different (and may be covered in future posts). The lip color costs about $8, and comes in a box with two tubes - one is the color, the other a gloss. I use it every day and I think it lasts me about 3-4 months.

This is one of the few products out there where the advertisements are totally true. It... Does... Not... Come... Off. Seriously. When I worked in an office, I would apply it at 7:00 am and it would still be on at the end of the workday. I can kiss my babies and not have to wipe their faces. The straw in my Diet Dr. Pepper stays clean and doesn't get nasty lipstick crummies all over it. You get the idea.

Tips & Tricks:
- Lips must be totally clean and dry before applying. Do not apply over chapstick, or other lipstick.
- Put the color on first - you can adjust how dark/light it is by how thick you apply. Don't apply too thick or it will crack and peel.
- Do not obsessively rub your lips together - just hold your lips slightly apart until it dries.
- Only use the gloss provided in the box. ANYTHING oil based is going to take the lipstick off - that includes chapstick and other lipsticks and glosses.
- Remember the above comment when you actually want to take it off - because believe me, it will still be on when you go to bed! Just put on chapstick, wait a minute, and wipe off with a tissue
- Along the same line, learn to eat neatly - greasy and oily food will make it come off faster
- If you use it every day (like I do!) then your lips may get dry. DO NOT skip the overnight moisturizer! I recommend Neutrogena Overnight Lip Balm.
- When picking out a color, remember they all go on a bit brighter than they appear in the package.

I know that many of you out there who are reading this have already fallen in love with this product - if you have testimonials please leave them in the comments!!!

Happy lipstick wearing to you! May you find your lipstick soul mate and live happily ever after.

Don't Forget the End-Caps!!

2009-05-06T14:50:00.002-05:00

When shopping the Health/Beauty section, NEVER neglect the end-caps! Sometimes the best unadvertised deals are there!

Example: Target currently has two-packs of Maybelline mascara on the end-cap for $3.99. It is the old standard pink+green Great Lash that you probably used in high school... and there is a reason it is still the most popular mascara on the market!

Don't forget to ALWAYS get curved brush mascara - then you can skip the lash curler! Oh, and unless you have blonde lashes, always get black mascara.

Hmmmm... maybe I feel a mascara tips&tricks post in the works....

Deals & Coupons from the Sunday Paper

2009-05-04T14:20:00.003-05:00

Let me start off by saying I am not a fan of "Buy 1 Get 1 50% off" sales - in my opinion this is a sucker sale. They get you in the door, and get you to buy twice as much, with small savings. I will only report BOGO 50% sales when they apply to products I love. Give me a true BOGO free or a straight discount - amen?

I just got a chance to peruse the Sunday paper ads and there are some deals going on, so let me get to it: (all of these are advertised specials, no coupons needed - except the P&GbrandSaver list)

CVS:
- Buy 1 Get 1 FREE Cover Girl Lip Products!! Hallelujah! I adore Cover Girl Outlast (specifically #545 Naturalast) - that is (and will be) a separate post.... more to come
- $5 Clairol 'Nice'n easy', 'Root touch up', or 'Gray Solutions'

P&GbrandSAVER: (coupon flier)
- $2 off one box Clairol haircolor
- $2 off one box Clairol Natural Instincts - LOVE this product, temporary wash-out color
- $1 off Cover Girl any product

ULTA:
CHI 1" flat iron on sale for $119

.... but this is better!
Target:
- CHI 1" on sale for $99
- Target also now carries Elnett hairspray for $15 - supposed to be fabulous, don't worry I will be testing and reporting back!

Walgreens:
- Buy 1 Get 1 FREE Neutrogena lip products - I love their overnight balm (it counteracts they drying effect of CoverGirl Outlast)

Happy Bargain Shopping!

Deals at CVS (until May 2nd)

2009-04-30T07:27:00.003-05:00

CVS has some BUY 1 GET 1 FREE deals going on right now:

-L'Oreal lip products
-Maybelline Eye products ***I LOVE Maybelline mascara***
-Revlon foundation,powder, blush & concealer

Also L'Oreal Preference hair color is 2/$10.98 which is a good price. I have personally never used this hair color, but have heard good things from those who have.

Remember the trick with CVS is you have to have a little shopper card - if you don't already have one, it only takes a minute and you can do it right there at the register.

What's in a name?

2009-04-29T16:19:00.005-05:00

The dear sweet director of women's ministries at my church was giving a talk about inner beauty... How we spend so much time, effort, and money on our outer appearance, whereas the Lord is concerned with our inner beauty. About half way through the talk, she paused and said "But ladies - it never hurts to paint the barn!!!"

So let this initial post be the time that I will say this: The Lord created every woman beautiful!!!! And as my grandmother (who is a true natural beauty) still says "Pretty is as pretty does". There is no true outer beauty without inner beauty.

That being said.... it is darn fun to dress it up now and then!!! Give that barn a fresh coat of red paint, so to speak! The same grandmother mentioned above also puts on lipstick every morning before she leaves her bedroom to have coffee and read the paper with her husband of almost 69 years. As she explains it to me - he is the one she wants to impress, so why not?

Well I have learned well from my mother and my grandmother - and if you know me, you know the gym is about the only place I go without lipstick (and even then, sometimes I just can't help myself!!) Now - I have two small children, and am forever on a beauty budget - does this sound familiar??

Let me be your compass in the land of budget beauty. Let me encourage you to put on your lipstick and color those pesky grays (which we will blame on the kiddos of course!) The mood lifting power is immeasurable!!