SOCIAL MEDIA

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Beauty Stocking Stuffers- $25 & Under

Nov 30, 2013

Nothing says the holidays like spending money on gifts for others when you know you'd rather be spending it on yourself. However many of us have a large list of people we need
 to buy gifts for in order to make them happy. The best thing ever invented during Christmas was the idea of stocking stuffers. You know,  those cute little things you hang off the fireplace (or window) and fill with small gifts for everyone! If you're looking to save money this year and buying great quality gifts, then check out the list below for some awesome ideas for the people on your list (or yourself).
Holiday Stocking Stuffers Under $25







Victoria Secret Holographic Makeup Bag-$25
VS is selling an assortment of makeup bags this holiday season for $25. This holographic
bag comes in a beautiful pink tone and is small and sturdy enough to carry around your purse. These bags come in different shapes, sizes and colors for everyone’s taste.



Bare Escentuals bareMinerals Double Domination Stocking Stuffer-$18
bareMinerals is packing up their lash domination mascara as a double holiday gift. For $18
at Macy’s you can buy a full size tube of this mascara plus a mini one to drop in your
purse or as a stocking stuffer for the women in your life who are in need of some “Domination” mascara. This mascara offers volume, length, thickness, lift and pure domination for larger-than-life lashes. Wear this mascara to your next holiday party or
family Christmas gathering and dominate the room with your lashes! Or at least try too!


Pinch Provisions Minimergency Kit For Her in Metallic Silver-$15
Nothing says Christmas like surviving the holidays and now you can give a gift that helps with that! For $15, Sephora is selling their “don’t go to grandma's house without this” 17-piece kit that includes everything you need for your beauty, fashion, and personal care holiday survival gear. This kit has everything you need, plus it’s small enough to fit in
your hand as you discreetly pull it out of your purse and walk to the bathroom! If you plan
to make it through the holidays then this kit has everything you need when you are
caught
in a holiday “pinch”!


Avon Pretty in Neutrals Makeup Palette -$25
One thing that I have always loved about Avon is their gift sets for Christmas every year.
 If you like neutral makeup colors then this gift set from Avon is perfect to keep or give
out.  The palette comes with eyeshadows, bronzers, blushes and glosses in a two tier pull
out compartment. Everything you need to look awesome for the holidays! For under $25 dollars, this “me” gift is right for you or for anyone on your gift list! But come on, you
know you're gonna keep it!



EOS Lip Balm-$9.99
The first time I saw this lip balm, I knew I had to have it right then and there! EOS is
offering this lovely egg shape like sphere in a trio as stocking stuffers. They come in
Vanilla Bean, Pomegranate Raspberry, and Sweet Mint flavors in a lovely Christmas ornament tin.
  


E.L.F. Essential Holiday 9 Piece Glossy Lip Gloss Cube-$10
E.L.F. has packaged up these nice lip glosses in a lovely Christmas cube box that you
can hang off your tree for that “wow, what exactly is that on your tree” effect as people
walk into your home. These lip glosses come in 9 different shades varying from clear to
a very dark plum. These can be purchased online or at their flagship store in NYC. Great
as a gift for one person or to bulk up anyone's stocking (or your purse!).



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Stila Lip Glaze Set


Now that Thanksgiving is over it's time to start buying gifts for the people you care about the most. I for one mainly buy beauty gifts for the beautiful ladies in my life that take my advice to heart. This year is no exception and I have already started my holiday gift giving shopping with this Stila Lip Glaze Set. For just $28 you can purchase this stocking stuffer for the lovely ladies in your life that either love lip glosses or that fear them because they think all of them are created equal and leave the lips sticky and tacky.

I love to wear this over my lip stains because it adds a bit of dimension to my lips or I wear them alone for subtle yet fun look. I recommend buying one set for yourself and another to use as stocking stuffers. 


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Posh V Pinch: Pink Lip Stain

Nov 29, 2013

         


When one thinks of the house of Yves Saint Laurent (YSL) very seldom does  L’oreal come to mind. However, would it surprise you to know that L’Oreal actually owns YSL? Yes you heard me right. L’Oreal owns YSL and not the other way around.

Nonetheless having these two makeup lines being part of the same company does, on occasion come with perks that lie on your lips! When YSL came out in the summer of 2013 with their Rouge Pur Couture Vernis à Lèvres Glossy Stain, (aka lip stain) it literally revolutionized the way lip stain worked.  
For those who don’t know what lip stain is (because you live in chapstick land), it is like a lip gloss with the staying power of facial primer. When you apply a good lip stain, it should stay in place regardless of eating or drinking for the next 5-7 hours. It cuts down the constant need to reapply lip gloss or lip stick and can endure just about anything you throw at it. However the biggest complain about lip stain in general was that when it started to fade, it looked like a bad stain was left on your lips, left you with a ring around the collar effect and for many made their lips very dry and settled into the fine lines of their mouth. Not attractive at all if you ask me.
A few years ago YSL came out with their lip stain and it sent the ladies running to their nearest Sephora to pick one-or two or three-up. Their lip stain was offered in 40 different shades that resembled a beautiful prism of a rainbow. Moreover, the color never travels when eating, drinking, talking or kissing your significant other and doesn't fade uneven. The main deterrent though is that for an attractive 0.20z size bottle, it retails anywhere between $34-$36 dollars. A bit steep for many if you ask me, but this is where L’Oreal comes in.
In late 2012, L’Oreal came out with Color Caresse Shine Stain. This lip stain comes in 12 different shades that are very pleasing to the eye. These shades boast a 4-5 hour staying power that does not travel while eating or drinking, doesn’t dry your lips out, settle into the fine lines or fade unnaturally. Just like YSL it comes in a very attractive bottle with a very similar lip wand. L’Oreal’s lip stain measures at 0.21z and retails for anywhere between $7-$10 dollars a bottle. A total steal!

Now, here is the catch….YSL and L’Oreal’s lip stains are basically the same formula. They are what is considered in the makeup world a dupe of each other. So if you want to spend $34-$36 dollars on YSL, then go right ahead. Just know that for a lot less, you can get the same exact lip stain from L’Oreal. Granted, YSL has more shades (40) than L’Oreal (12) so if YSL is out of your price range, keep in mind that L’Oreal boast the same lip stain for less than half the price. 

 Below are a few pointers to help make lip stain of any color or brand last longer:     

 After brushing your teeth, brush your lips with your tooth brush to get rid of any dry and dead skin cells. If you have dry lips, then sadly any lip stain will reflect it.

Dry your mouth before applying lip stain and DON’T wear lip balm underneath it. In order for the lip stain to work, your lips must be dry and clean for the formula to stain your lips.

Both YSL and L’Oreal take about 1 minute to set. So don’t touch your lips, add lip balm drink or eat anything or keep pressing your lips together during that time.

If you want the lip stain to look darker then apply 2-3 coats in order to get that darker effect.

Lastly if you want to add lip balm because your lips feel dry, and then add it on AFTER the lip stain has dried so that you don’t disturbed the setting process. 


Keep smiling :-)








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Nightmare at 20,000 Feet

Nov 24, 2013
http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/us/en/travel-information/delta-partnership.html


This past August I had a terrifying experience. I was calling Virgin Atlantic to ask about exchanging money at their counter thanks to my Flying Club membership and while I waited on hold for about 15 minutes I read on their site that they had a new partnership with Delta. It was a few days before my flight and my heart sank. Yes, I am an anglophile but that's not the reason I fly Virgin. I fly with them because the service is impeccable and if I'm going to be on a 7+ hour flight, sitting in economy, I want to be as comfortable and pampered as possible. Virgin Atlantic offers that. American based airlines, in my experience, do not. These days I will do anything to avoid flying Delta, American Airlines or Continental when I go overseas. Their flights are usually less expensive but that doesn't sway my decision on who to fly with. I normally begin my European trip in Paris and have gone as far as flying into London and taking the Eurostar into Gare du Nord OR heading over to Luton Airport to catch the Easyjet into Charles de Gaulle on the same day just to avoid those carriers.

My fear in August was lifted as soon as I spoke to a representative and I happily hoped on a Virgin Atlantic plane and experienced the amazing service that always leaves me landing comfortable and happy in the UK.

But this morning the fear came back. I was looking up flights to head back over to the UK in April and saw that they had flights from NYC-LHR-LAX for $651. YAY!!! That's LESS than I ever paid for my NYC-LHR round trip flights! But then I saw why it was so cheap: the flights are direct to London but then have layovers on the way back where I'll end my journey with Delta. For $400 more and inconvenient times (who has the energy to be at Heathrow for a  9am flight?!?!?!) I can fly Virgin direct but any of the flights under one thousand dollars use the Delta partnership. It sucks, I wish there was a more middle ground but the money isn't what scares me, it's the fact that Delta is taking over US routes and I fear that I'll end up always having to make a connection and suddenly be on an aircraft with sub par service all the while missing out on the whole Virgin experience. Would I still have the option of free wine/liquor drinks for the second half of my flight? Will snacks and meals be provided as part of my ticket cost? What about pillows and a blanket on the house for the portion of the trip that is flown via Delta? So many questions!

I'd like to know if anyone has flown Delta via Virgin. Is the experience the same? Do they try to match the great level of service that Richard Branson and co. have developed and that has made Virgin Atlantic what it is? I'm hesitant to try it. One would think that a $400 savings is reason enough to give it a try but flying for 12+ hours in one day means that if I can have comfort even in economy then I would want it for the entire trip and not just the first half. After all, it's at the 7 hour mark that delirium starts to set in for me!



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Tis the Season to be Sparkly!

Nov 20, 2013
Tis the Season to be Sparkly!

Tis the Season to be Sparkly!


The holiday season is my second favorite time of the year because it means it's time to pair all that sparkles with white hot dresses. Check out this NYE look. A Grecian dress with a loose undo, a contrasting statement necklace and smokey eyes are all you need to a timeless NYE look. Pair it with gold pumps and a cuff wristlet and you're ready to ring in the new year!

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Lining it Up

Nov 15, 2013
 
Hello Beauties! A few weeks ago I began putting focus on budget beauty tips because one of my many goals is to make the world a prettier face no matter what. That way of thinking has had me try out and praise one brand that years ago was, in my eyes, a joke. Wet 'n Wild Cosmetics has done wonders with their formulas over the past few years and I am more than happy to spread the word.

About a week ago I stopped by my now local Walgreen's and came across their holiday makeup collections. Nothing caught my eyes except the Wet n Wild Icon-o-last! Color Icon Eyeliner Collection. Not only were they colors that I adore but the price tag can't be beat. $5...not bad! The first thing I did when I got home was wash my arms up to my elbows and test out the colors. While I like all the colors and will wear them all out within a few months the purple and cobalt blue are the ones that stand out the most for me. Those, along with a hunter green, are my absolute favorite colors to line my eyes with along with a black layer on top. I like how the shades compliment my dark skin thanks to my yellow undertones and how I only needed to pass the colors once to get the right color. 

Sadly, the shades have no names but here are the 5 in the collection

Which is which? Wet n Wild is on the left and Tarte's Onyx is on the right.


Can you spot the difference? The top shade is Deviant by Urban Decay while the bottom one is Wet n Wild's version
All in all this holiday collection is great. The colors are on par with brands that are much pricier and their staying power is pretty great. Just like my Urban Decay and Tarte liners, once they set it takes elbow grease or makeup remover to get the shades off but they do come off a bit quicker. Regardless of that though I highly recommend running to your nearest drugstore to purchase this set for $5 because sadly, they are not sold online.

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