Review: Maybelline Dream Fresh BB 8-in-1 Beauty Balm Skin Perfector SPF30

After I posted my L'Oreal Magic Skin Beautifier BB Cream review, I told you that I'd be reviewing the Maybelline version next, so here it is! I purchased the Maybelline version shortly after I purchased the L'Oreal version and I've been using both of these products off and on for several weeks now. I've got a lot to say about this one, so let's jump right into it:

Maybelline Dream Fresh BB 8-in-1 Beauty Balm Skin Perfector SPF30 in Light

(retail: around $8.50, 1.0 oz)

Review & swatches: L'Oreal Limited Edition Nail Color in Brit Invasion

Remember the Limited Edition L'Oreal London Fall Nail Color Collection I showed you a few weeks ago? Well I finally found the display in my area, and when I saw the colors in person, I had a hard time deciding on just one bottle (I gave myself a limit since they weren't on sale when I found them). After much debate, I finally decided on the shade Brit Invasion, which I purchased for around $5.99 at my local Rite Aid.

 L'Oreal Brit Invasion

(retail: around $5.99, 0.39 oz)

Buy 2 Clean & Clear or Neutrogena products at Target, get a cute tote bag FREE

This just in!

Available NOW: buy any two CLEAN & CLEAR® or NEUTROGENA® products at your local Target and receive a special edition tote bag of your choice FREE upon check-out:

 

o   CLEAN & CLEAR® Girl Up tote bag:  With every CLEAN & CLEAR® Girl Up tote, consumers are helping support Girl Up, a United Nations Foundation organization dedicated to bettering the lives of young women in impoverished countries.

Review: Pantene Pro-V Aqua Light Shampoo and Conditioner

When it comes to me and haircare, "silicone" is not a four-letter-word (aka: bad word, evil word, horrible word). I know that for many of you (especially you curly-haired folks) silicone-free haircare products work best, and I completely understand that. For some, products containing silicones (especially those that are not water-soluble and don't break down when you cleanse the hair) are a big no-no because they can build up on the hair and eventually cause hair to look flat, weighed down and generally icky. I get that. I absolutely get that.

But for me personally, when it comes to haircare products, silicones work wonders. I've tried going silicone-free many times, and my hair just never looks as good as when I use haircare that does contain silicones. I do understand though, that silicones can build up on the hair, and that you do need to use a good clarifying shampoo about once a week to avoid build-up. 

For example: have you ever loved a haircare product and the way it made your hair look, only to discover that a few months into using it, the product magically stopped working? That could very well be because the silicones in the product built up on your hair and gradually made your hair look flat and lifeless. The next time this happens, try using a clarifying shampoo (I love the ones by Suave and Vo5) for a day or two, and return to using your favorite products. You might just find that they start working again.

Well that was an incredibly long intro to this review, but I just had to get that out there because when I saw the new-ish Aqua Light collection from Pantene a while back, I thought to myself: "Dare I?"

I did, and now I'd like to share my thoughts with you! I picked up both the shampoo and conditioner at Rite Aid a little over three weeks ago and have been using both ever since:

 Pantene Pro-V Aqua Light Shampoo and Conditioner

(retail: around $6 each, 12.6 oz)

Spotted at Big Lots: my holy grail foundation!

A HUGE thanks to reader Lore K. for this one! Lore found THIS at her local Big Lots recently:

 image credit: Lore K. for Nouveau Cheap

Physicians Formula Healthy Wear Powder Foundation SPF50 in Natural Beige

(retail: $14.95; Big Lots price: $4)

Pictures and swatches of the new Maybelline Color Tattoo shades

After yesterday's post about the four new shades of Maybelline Color Tattoos, I received tweets and comments from readers Halifax, Dawn and Vick all sharing a link to the new colors (pics and swatches).

So check out Sasquatch Swatch's blog post here if you'd like to see them.

Thanks so much, Halifax, Dawn and Vick, for the link!

New sales, new products and more!

There's so much going on in the budget-beauty-world today that I can barely keep track of it all (if you saw my posts from yesterday then you know that it's been quite a week already!). So I decided to put everything into one neat and tidy blog post--please take a minute to scan through because I don't want you to miss anything!

• Thanks to reader Sydney for letting us know that NYX is on HauteLook now through Wed. 8/1. Only members can view the items on sale, but membership is free and you're usually approved in less than 24 hours. I spotted the Crimson Amulet palette for $15 (regular price: $25), which I reviewed here. I'd like to tell you that, of all the palettes I own, I've been getting the most mileage from this palette lately. The eyeshadow shades are extremely wearable (shimmers and mattes) and they look great over the HD primer (you get a mini HD primer with this palette). Also, the blushes are so beautifully pigmented and long-wearing...I think this palette's a steal for $15. There are TONS of other products on sale (palettes, sets, etc.) so definitely check it out ASAP before things start to sell out.

• Thanks to readers Priya and nojazzatthealter for the heads-up that Tarte Cosmetics is having their Friends and Family sale now through 8/6. Use code FFAUG for 30% off your order, and you get free shipping on orders of $40 or more. Not everything on the site is included in the 30% off deal, so be sure to read the fine print before making a purchase.

• Thanks to reader Vick for letting us know that Maybelline is releasing FOUR new Color Tattoo shades! According to Vick, the names are Ready, Set, Green (a medium green color), Fuschia Fever (a pinkish purple), Test My Teal (a dusty tealish blue) and a fourth shade that's said to be a royal blue color. How exciting!

• Avon is having a Christmas in July sale. Now through tomorrow, 7/31, enter code SALEXMAS to get $0.99 shipping on orders of $10 or more OR free shipping on orders of $20 or more. Click here to view the makeup sale page (there's lot on sale right now).

• Reader @debbiedayglo recently spotted some Cynthia Rowley nail polishes at her local Marshalls, and we've been chit-chatting back and forth about these mysterious polishes for a few days now. These are NOT the Cynthia Rowley for Avon polishes from a while back--the polishes at Marshalls  look like this, but it seems that very little is known about them in general. Just wanted to put this out there for all my fellow lacquer-heads who love hunting down hard-to-find polishes!

• Speaking of polishes, reader Zadidoll let us know that Solar Club, a division of Color Club, recently put out a new line of color-changing polishes called Ruby Wing. Color-changing polishes are not new (I love the ones from Del Sol), but there are a few Ruby Wing polishes that ARE pretty unique, such as the ones that contain holographic flakes! Oooh la la!

Thanks SO much, Sydney, Priya, nojazzatthealter, Vick and @debbiedayglo for all of the excellent tips and info! I really appreciate it!

New Rimmel Cosmetics coupon

Heads-up, Rimmel fans! Red Plum has brought back their $1 off Rimmel coupon, perfectly timed to use with the sales going on this week!

Click here to  grab it.

If you missed my weekly drugstore sales post, here are the Rimmel sales going on this week (now through 8/4):

CVS: BOGO1/2OFF all Rimmel cosmetics

RITE AID: BOGO1/2OFF all Rimmel cosmetics; spend $15 get $5+UP (limit 2)

WALGREENS: BOGO1/2OFF all Rimmel cosmetics

New collections from Pond's and Herbal Essences

A huge thanks readers Jess and M. for the heads-up about some new products from Pond's and Herbal Essences!

First up, Jess spotted an ad in a magazine the other day for this new collection from Pond's and, as luck would have it, it's already been added to the Pond's website (sometimes it takes forever for brands to add new products to their websites so I'm always appreciative when a brand adds products to their site at the same time as the initial marketing campaign):

image source: ponds.com

New Pond's Luminous Clean Collection

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On Pencil Set: $12 at Sephora

In addition to the $10 Smashbox and NARS deals I posted about earlier today (click here if you missed them), reader Rebecca just let us know that there's a good UD deal on Sephora.com right now as well:

 image source: sephora.com

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On Pencil Stash

On sale for $12 at Sephora 

(regular price: $34)

Don't forget to check out all of the current codes to use at checkout before you place your order!

PS: For those of you who missed my Milani Shadow Eyez review, according to MANY of you, the Milani pencils are near-perfect dupes of the UD pencils. Just wanted to put that out there as an alternative if you don't want to or can't place a Sephora order.

Thanks so much, Rebecca, for the heads-up about this one!

Deborah Lippmann polishes on clearance at HSN

This morning I was perusing all of the beauty clearance pages that I link to at the bottom of my blog, and noticed that there are several Deborah Lippmann sets on clearance right now at HSN.com (I'm not sure how long these have been on the HSN website, but I'm SURE one of you knows the answer to that!).

Deborah Lippmann Lady Sings The Blues and Today Was A Fairytale

$10 + $3.95 shipping 

(regular HSN price: $19)

NOTE: these are mini 0.27oz bottles (regular bottles are 0.5oz)

Deborah Lippmann Lady Is A Tramp and Ruby Red Slippers

$10 + $3.95 shipping 

(regular HSN price: $19)

NOTE: these are mini 0.27oz bottles (regular bottles are 0.5oz) 

Deborah Lippmann Angels We Have Heard On High, Deck The Halls, O' Holy Night (plus bonus jazz CD)

$14.97 + $3.95 shipping 

(regular HSN price: $34.50)

NOTE: these are mini 0.27oz bottles (regular bottles are 0.5oz)

Deborah Lippmann Do You Think I'm Sexy, I Love The Nightlife, Shake Your Groove Thing

$34 + $4.96 shipping 

(regular HSN price: $42)

NOTE: these are full-size 0.5oz bottles

Random thoughts:

I love Today Was A Fairytale over gray. And just look at the glitter-jelly gorgeousness of Lady Sings The Blues.

To view all of the beauty products currently on clearance at HSN, click here.

Smashbox Master Class Eyeshadow Quads: $10 at Sephora

 image source: sephora.com

Smashbox Master Class Eyeshadsow Quad in Hazel

 image source: sephora.com

Smashbox Master Class Eyeshadsow Quad in Brown

A HUGE thanks to reader Snugs Montreal for leaving a comment on the You Tell Me page today about this one:

Right now on Sephora's website you can get the Smashbox Master Class Eyeshadow Quad in Hazel or Brown for just $10 (retail: $22).

I LOVE Smashbox eyeshadows (they were some of the first higher-end shadows I ever owned) so I'm afraid this offer is going to make me pull the trigger on a Sephora order that I've managed to escape placing for a few months now. I don't think I can resist this one, my lovelies. But now the question is: which shade should I get? 

And the other dilemma: which code to use at checkout?? So many choices!

PS: The NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Toundra is still $10 too (retail: $24).

Thanks a million, Snugs Montreal, for the scoop on this deal!

The Lipstick League – week of 7.23.12

Lipstick League Question of the Week:

If, for one month, you could only use one brand for ALL of your makeup needs, which brand would you choose?

G's answer: Admittedly, that would be pure torture, but if I had to? Maybelline. I'm always surprised when people say they don't care for Maybelline. I personally can't fathom that, because so many of their products work very well for me. I cannot live without their Define-A-Brow pencil (I always have two extra back-ups at all times because I constantly live under the threat of accidentally running out), and their concealers (SuperStay and Age Rewind) are the only concealers I can 100% depend on these days. I also love the taupe Color Tattoo, Colossal Volum' Express Mascara (yellow tube) and Color Sensational lipsticks and glosses, and I often use Dream Matte Mousse foundation and Dream Matte powder. The only thing I'm not too keen on is their blushes (why did they have to discontinue the Dream Mousse blushes--especially the ones that didn't contain sparkle?? Those rocked my world). I haven't tried the Dream Bouncy blushes yet, but this would compel me to finally buy some (I've been meaning to try them for months now). And of course I could go longer than a month using just the Maybelline polishes I already own (so many of their LEs are gorgeous).

Links of the Week:

Vampy Varnish – Love plump, shiny, saturated lips? Then you’ll love the new Buxom Full-Bodied Lip Glosses this season.

we heart this – Do you really need another product with Argan Oil? If it’s Moroccanoil, the answer is yes.

Clumps of Mascara – is giving away a pretty awesome beauty bag. You’ll definitely want to get in on this one.

Gouldylox Reviews – If you want to slim your face and jawline in a hurry, this will do the trick. It’s not permanent, but in a pinch it will work. (And it feels great.)

Nouveau Cheap – Do I love the new L’Oreal Magic Skin Beautifier BB Cream? Do I hate it? Am I on the fence? Come see for yourself.

Pink Sith – wouldn’t be LION if she told you the brushes from the Japonesque Safari Chic Set are PURRfect!

Prime Beauty – asks Hot weather making you melt?  Cool off and perk up with Laura Mercier’s Tone Perfecting Eye Gel!

Phyrra – lets her skin shine through with Urban Decay Naked Skin Liquid Foundation. See why she loves it!

Guest Post of the Week, as chosen by Vampy Varnish – Jessica from Beautezine is one of my favorite bloggers (and people!) and she’s got the new fall goodies from Yves Saint Laurent covered!

If YOU could only use one brand for a month, which would it be?

My mom's a junkie (and I'm her dealer)

My 72-year-old mom's latest glitter manicure

My mom is 72 years old and in the past year or so, she's developed an addiction that many of us share:  

She's obsessed with glitter nail polish.

 (here's proof)

Truth be told, I think this addiction is absolutely adorable, and I'm afraid that I "feed her habit" on a regular basis. About once or twice a week, I like to visit my parents and I always bring over new polishes for my mom to try. I ask her to pick her favorites, and then I proceed to give her a new manicure. She loves it, I love it, and it's a fun time for both of us. The polishes we used for the above manicure: Salon Perfect Lavender Icing (base color) and Jordana Glitters Specialty Nail Polish in Sequins. 

The moral of this story: you're NEVER too old to rock glitter. Just ask my mom (and her friends at Bingo who are constantly jealous of her "pretty manicures").

The Weekly Drugstore Makeup Sales (7/29 - 8/4)

In today's paper (Sunday, 7/29) there's going to be a P&G insert featuring coupons for various P&G products (click here for the full list--coupons may vary from region to region). There are some good Olay and CoverGirl coupons this time around. To find out if your local newspaper will carry this insert, click here. All three drugstores are running sales this week to coincide with this coupon insert for even more savings. For example, at CVS, Pantene haircare is 2/$6.79 this week, and there's a coupon for $3 off 2 Pantene products in the P&G insert, bringing you final cost down to 2/$3.79. And at Rite Aid, Pantene haircare is on sale this week for 2/$7 and you get $2+UP, so that's another great way to use the P&G insert coupon.

PRINTABLE COUPONS THAT CAN BE USED WITH THIS WEEKS' SALES:

$2 off Revlon ColorStay Whipped Creme Makeup

$1 off any Maybelline face cosmetic (includes BB cream)

$1 off any L'Oreal eye cosmetic

$1 off any L'Oreal Ever haircare product

$1 off any L'Oreal skincare product

$1 off any Garnier moisturizer

$1 off any Garnier haircare product

$0.75 off any Suave body wash 

Click here for the following printable coupons (sorry, no direct links):
$1 off Neutrogena face cosmetic
$1 off Neutrogena lip or eye cosmetic
$1 off Clean & Clear product
$1 off Aveeno suncare product

Spotted: new products from Revlon, Maybelline and Olay

Lots of exciting things to show you today, so let's get started!

First up, reader Lisa spotted new Revlon jumbo bronzers recently, and I'm VERY excited to share them with you and tell you what I know about them (for details, keep reading!):

image credit: Lisa for Nouveau Cheap

Revlon Terra Solare Sunglow Powders

Review & swatches: Sally Hansen Smooth and Perfect Color + Care Nail Polish

Today I'd like to show you some swatches and give you my thoughts about the Sally Hansen Smooth and Perfect Color + Care Collection. I received some samples a while back, and while I realize this collection is not new, I thought that you might want to know a little bit more about it in case you've been considering a purchase.

There are eight shades in this collection and I received five for review:

Sally Hansen Smooth and Perfect Color + Care Nail Polish

(retail: around $5.50 each, 0.45 oz)

Zoya BOGOFREE promotion

A big thanks to readers nojazzatthealter and Wenz, who both left comments on the You Tell Me page today about this one!

From the Zoya Facebook page:

Special Weekend Promo Code: SUMMER7 
Buy 1 Get 1 Free any Beach & Surf Colors. Limit 12, valid through Monday (7/30) Midnight ET, consumer orders only.

As soon as I saw the comments about these, I immediately dug through my picture files because I remembered doing some quick swatches a few weeks ago of one of my FAVORITE shades from the Beach & Surf Collection. My swatches didn't turn out that well so that's why you never saw these on the blog, but here they are just to give you an idea of the beauty of Zuza:

 Zoya Zuza

There's a beautiful gold shimmer to this polish that makes it look like a cooler teal at certain angles, and then warmer at other angles. Zuza requires two coats for perfect opacity and I just can't recommend it enough--my photos truly do not do it justice.

What are some of YOUR favorites from the Zoya Beach & Surf collection? Do you plan to pick up any others while this special code is valid?

Thanks again, nojazzatthealter and Wenz for the fantastic scoop!

Missha USA Big Summer Sale (30, 40, 50% off)

Attention Korean beauty fans! I just received an email from Missha USA about their Big Summer Sale that starts TODAY and runs through 8/10:

This sale is for US customers only, and you get free shipping on orders of $40 or more. If you've been thinking about a Missha haul lately, this would be a nice time to either pick up some old favorites or try something new.

As I've mentioned before, I purchased a Missha BB cream locally here in San Diego and I'm currently testing it for review. I believe the one I own, Perfect Cover BB Cream SPF42, is Missha's most popular BB cream (I could be wrong, but I think I read that somewhere). If you're a fan of Perfect Cover or have been wanting to try it, the 20 ml travel-size tube is on currently on sale for $9.09 (regularly $12.99). 

They've also got a travel-size BB Cream sampler that contains six different Missha BB creams for $37.47 (normally $74.94) that I'm seriously considering purchasing right now. Sounds like a good way to try several different formulas before committing to a full-size purchase. By the way, since I own the travel size Perfect Cover BB cream, I can tell you that you get more than enough product in this tube to be able to determine whether or not you'd want a full-size tube. For example, the full-size L'Oreal Magic Skin Beautifier and Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream are both 30 ml (1.0 oz) and the Missha travel size tubes are 20 ml.

PS: all of their nail polishes are on sale too, including The Style Crystal Nail Polish in HGR01 that I've been wanting forEVER. Check out these swatches and you'll see what I mean.

Happy shopping, and if you have some favorites from Missha that you'd like to share with us, please do!

Review: L'Oreal Magic Skin Beautifier B.B. Cream

If you're unfamiliar with the term "BB Cream", don't let it intimidate you. It's just a catchy name for an all-in-one "Beauty Balm" that, traditionally-speaking, can function as a moisturizer and/or skin treatment, primer and foundation all in one tube. BB Creams are quite popular in Asia and in recent months, US versions have been popping up all over the drugstores. As of the time of this post, there are currently six US BB creams available in drugstores. I do not own the Garnier version or the L'Oreal Youth Code version, but I do own the Maybelline version, which I will be reviewing next week. I haven't spotted the Palmer's version in stores yet, and the CoverGirl version is actually just their existing tinted moisturizer with a new name.

I've been using the new L'Oreal Magic Skin Beautifier BB Cream for over a month now, and I'm finally ready to share my thoughts with you.

NOTE: I realize that certain readers are upset about US BB creams, since many believe that they're nothing but glorified tinted moisturizers that do not deliver the multiple skin benefits and/or fuller coverage of their Asian counterparts. To date, I only own one Asian BB cream, which I'll be reviewing here in the future. Therefore, I cannot really get into the pros and cons of Asian BB creams vs. US BB creams, but I can say this: for my reviews, I'm going to take each product for what it's worth and not make Asian BB cream comparisons. Yes, it might be a misnomer to call some of these US versions "BB creams" but I don't think it's of any benefit to get angry about that here. These are what they are, and I have no idea why US brands have gone in a different direction with their versions, but each will be reviewed based on its own merits and not how it stacks up to its Asian counterparts.

L'Oreal Magic Skin Beautifier B.B. Cream in Fair

(retail: $10.95, 1.0 oz)

Beauty-related Rite Aid Video Values coupons, SCRs and the return of Glam Camp

I just received a sneak-peek at the Rite Aid Video Values coupons for August, and of course I'd like to share all of the beauty-related coupons with you today. Here's the scoop from Rite Aid:

• August Video Values offers go live on Sunday, July 29, and will remain up through Sept. 1 (coupons expire Sept. 15).

• The Single Check Rebate guide for August will be hitting stores soon and, unless otherwise noted, be valid from Aug. 1 through Sept. 4.

• And don't forget, the window to earn July's Video Values offers or to purchase items qualifying for July's Single Check Rebate offers will soon be closed (Saturday, July 29th, for current Video Values offers; Tuesday, July 31, for current SCR offers otherwise noted).

Beauty-related August Video Values list

Buy one Get one Free - Jessie's Girl Eye Dust
$3.00 off Veet
$3.00 off Clearasil
$2.00 off Maybelline Superstay 10 Hr lipgloss

$1.00 off Maybelline Eye Studio Master Drama eyeliner or Great Lash Mascara

$2.00 off Maybelline Eye Studio Master Brow Pencil
$2.00 off Revlon Eye Beauty Tools or Brow Pencils
$2.00 off New Revlon Colorstay Whipped Crème Makeup
$2.00 off Infusium 23

$2.00 off any 2 Dove Hair Care products
$2.00 off any 2 Axe products
$2.00 all Samy Signature & Fat Hair Items
$1.00 off Mitchum
$1.00 off Aveeno Hair Care
$1.00 off any Clear product

Beauty-related coupons in the Walgreens August Coupon Booklet

It's the end of the month, so you know what that means! The Walgreens August Coupon Booklet (free and available in-store) will be available starting this Sunday, 7/29. So let's take a look at the beauty-related coupons Walgreens has in store for us:

(courtesy of Wild for Wags)

$2/1 Bio-Oil Skin Care 2 or 4.2oz
$3/1 L’Oreal Frost & Design or Couleur Experte Hair Color
$3/1 Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair 1oz
$1/1 Neutrogena Sun Care
$3/1 Revlon Pedi-Expert
$1/1 Revlon Tweezers or Brow Set
$2/1 Sally Hansen Magnetic Nail Color
$1/1 Sally Hansen Salon Effects Nail Polish Strips

I'm really excited about that high value Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle repair coupon, since I've returned to using this moisturizer recently (click here for my review). 

To see the full list of coupons available in the August Coupon Booklet, click here. And remember: unless otherwise specified, you can combine Walgreens coupons with manufacturer's coupons for additional savings.

Review: Physicians Formula Organic Wear Lash Boosting Mascara

I love Physicians Formula Organic Wear Jumbo Lash Mascara (you can see my review here) and I would put it in my top five drugstore mascaras of all time. So when I saw that PF came out with a new version called Organic Wear Lash Boosting, I waited patiently for a good sale at CVS (which CVS is known to run quite frequently) and then picked it up. Now that I've been using this mascara off and one for a few months, I'm ready to give you my verdict!

Physicians Formula Organic Wear Lash Boosting Mascara in Ultra Black Organics

(retail: around $9.99, 0.26 oz)

HOT deal alert: CEW Beauty Insiders' Beauty Box ($25 and free shipping for new customers)

NOTE: I just received this press release and rushed to post about ASAP because supplies are limited. AFTER YOU ADD THIS TO YOUR CART, YOU WILL BE PROMPTED TO ENTER YOUR ZIP CODE TO SEE IF THE PRODUCT IS AVAILABLE IN YOUR AREA. 

The box was NOT available in my area, but when I entered a zip code for another state (just as a test), it WAS available for purchase, so it really depends on what region you're in. 

UPDATE 8/1: this box is now available in all regions of the US.

The must-have, coveted summer beauty set has arrived. The expert curators of Beauty Bar have joined forces with Cosmetic Executive Women to bring you the limited-edition Insiders’ Choice Beauty Box, filled with 11 luxe beauty products voted as the top picks of this year’s CEW Beauty Insiders’ Choice Awards.

This best-in-beauty exclusive features essentials handpicked by industry pros, including products from Burt’s Bees, Sally Hansen, and L’Occitane to name a few. The ultimate summer gift for your favorite beauty addict – or a fabulous treat for yourself – the Insiders’ Choice Beauty Box is valued at $109, but is available for a special price of just $25.

As an extra perk for Beauty Bar consumers, between now and August 31st, 2012, when you buy two Insiders’ Choice Beauty Boxes, you’ll receive one free.  Available to the first 250 customers here. Use code BBCEW at checkout.
 
The Insiders’ Choice Beauty Box includes the following award-winning products:

• StriVectin Tightening Neck Cream (deluxe sample)

• Burt's Bees Richly Replenishing Cocoa & Cupuacu Butters Body Lotion (6 oz.)

• Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Balm in Red Dahlia

• IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Concealer (travel size)

• Dr. T's Supergoop! All-Over Everyday UV Lotion for Face + Body SPF 30 (travel size)

• Sally Hansen SalonEffects Nail Color Strips in Animal Instinct

• L'Occitane Lavender Hand Cream (1 oz.)

• Maybelline New York Instant Age Rewind Eraser for Dark Circles Treatment Concealer in Neutralizer

• Heidi Klum Shine Eau de Toilette (.5 oz)

• L'Oreal Paris Voluminous False Fiber Lashes

• L'Oreal Paris Youth Code Serum Intense

TO SUMMARIZE: If this box is available in your area (you'll be prompted to enter your zip code to confirm availability AFTER you place it in your cart), then you'll be able to buy two and get one free if you're one of the first 250 customers to enter code BBCEW at checkout (thanks so much to the readers below for clarification on that!). And if you're a new customer to Beauty Bar, you'll also receive FREE 2-DAY SHIPPING on orders of $25. 

Good luck, and if you're able to get one (or two) please come back and let us know!

Sinful Colors

I've received lots of emails and comments on the blog in the past 48 hours regarding the Sinful Colors/blogger issue and, until now, I've chosen not to write a blog post about this and I also have been moderating comments regarding the matter (sorry if you posted comments and they were not approved). I wrote my last Sinful Colors post on this blog BEFORE the controversy was made public (or at least before I personally was made aware of it).

If you have no idea what I'm talking about, click here for more details.

The reason why I haven't wanted to discuss this until now is because I wanted to await a public response from Revlon/Sinful Colors/Mirage Cosmetics. Since Revlon addressed the issue on their Facebook page today, I now feel like I can write about this more fairly and in a calmer way than I would have been able to write about it two days ago.

That said....

Salon Grafix Healthy Hair Nutrition Collection (press release)

A few months ago, I showed you the new Conditioning Cleanser from Salon Grafix when I spotted it at a local drugstore. Today I'd like to give you some additional information (plus coupon info!) about this new collection, in case you've been thinking about a purchase.

Please note: the following press release from February of this year. These products are now available at CVS, Walgreens, Walmart and other retailers across the nation.

Calling for a Revolution – The Anti-Shampoo is Here 
Salon Grafix Introduces Healthy Hair Nutrition

(Auburn Hills, MI) February 1, 2012 — Ordinary shampoos contain harsh detergents, chemicals and lathering agents that strip color and contribute to dryness and hair damage. Salon Grafix, a leader in high-quality and affordable hair care, is proud to announce the release of their new product line, Healthy Hair Nutrition. Consumers accustomed to products necessary to replenish moisture lost in the shampoo process will be delighted in this product line. Healthy Hair Nutrition will maintain hair health and color while removing dirt and product build up, leaving brilliant natural shine. When it comes to Healthy Hair Nutrition, what could be healthier than what is natural to the hair? Two new products from this line will be hitting shelves just in time for spring in February of 2012.

The Healthy Hair Nutrition line consists of the Conditioning Cleanser and the Intensive Hair Repair Masque. Salon Grafix promises that these new additions will adhere to their company’s long-standing philosophy of supplying salon quality products to the masses for a modest price. The product line will be available for purchase online as well as at various retail chains across the country.

These new items are made possible through Salon Grafix’s 30 plus years of experience in the hair product industry, paired with the assistance of one of the top hair care product formulators in the country. What makes the Healthy Hair Nutrition products so unique is that they primarily utilize botanical ingredients such as Camellia Sinensis (green tea) leaf extract which tones and protects the scalp and Geranium Maculatum (Geranium leaf extract) which helps to repair dry, damaged hair as well as restore balance to oily hair. The citrus crème fragrance, specially formulated for this new line, provides top notes of lemon, mandarin and crisp greens with heart notes of jasmine and rose; all based off of creamy woods, powder and musk scents to tantalize the senses.

 Healthy Hair Nutrition Conditioning Cleanser

The Wednesday Question

What's the one drugstore product you love the most out of all the products you've purchased so far this year?

Why do I ask questions that I myself have a hard time answering?? Even though I absolutely love so many products I've purchased this year (Revlon Balm Stains immediately come to mind), I'm going to have to say that so far this year, I am absolutely head-over-heels in love with NYC Peach Sparkle. I have had it as my Facebook cover photo for weeks now (I can't bear to change it) and I even begged asked NYC on their Facebook page if they would please consider making it part of their permanent collection. I just can't accept the fact that it's limited edition and will be gone forever.

My New Holy Grail Cuticle Product: Badger Cuticle Care

I've been receiving comments over the past several weeks about how my cuticles and nails are looking better (in my polish posts), so I'm finally ready to reveal to you my secret weapon (which I've been using once a day for the past three months):

Badger Cuticle Care

(retail: $5.99, 0.75 oz)

Review: L.A. Girl Pro Primer Eyeshadow Stick in Nude

When I found this primer at my local Asian market (click here if you're in San Diego and would like more info), I couldn't say no. Retailing for just $1.98 (it's $4 on the LA Girl website and it's currently on sale for $2.50 at Cherry Culture), I had to pick it up and give it a whirl. 

This new primer from LA Girl comes in three shades: Nude, White and Black. And even though I was intrigued by the idea of a matte black primer, I had to go with Nude because I felt like it would work better with the eyeshadows I tend to wear on a daily basis.

For more information about all three shades, click here.

LA Girl Pro Primer Eyeshadow Stick in Nude

(Retail: around $4, 0.07 oz)

Blast from the past: how I paint and clean up my nails

I've been receiving lots of comments and emails lately about how I apply my nail polish, so I thought I'd take a moment to let newer readers know that I actually posted a (horribly grainy) video tutorial a few years ago that tells you exactly how I clean up my manicures.

Click here to view it.

I hope that answers your questions!

Allure Fall Beauty Box - now available for purchase

A huge thanks to reader Elsa's Daughter for letting us know that the Allure Fall Beauty Box is now available for purchase. It retails for $39.99 plus $10 shipping and contains "over $300" worth of products (mostly drugstore!!):

 (image source: allure.com)

If this is anything like past Allure boxes, it will sell out quickly, so do NOT hesitate if you want one.

Thanks so much, Elsa's Daughter, for the heads-up!

Free Garnier, Creme of Nature and Miss Jessie's samples

 Thanks to reader Tasha for the heads-up on two haircare freebies today (don't hesitate if you want these because these types of freebies often go FAST):

• Click here to visit the Garnier website for free samples of Garnier Sleek and Shine shampoo and conditioner.

• Click here for a free sample of Creme of Nature Argan Oil Perfect Edges styling cream.

Also, I stumbled upon free samples the other day when I was checking out the Miss Jessie's website. This is a new-to-me brand that I spotted at Target recently so I was looking into their products when I saw a FREE SAMPLES button on their home page. You can select THREE samples from this page and have them shipped to you FREE!

Thanks again for the Garnier and Creme of Nature tips, Tasha!

Sinful Colors FAQ (and a call for swatches)

Since Sinful Colors Fever has struck around here this week (if you have no idea what I'm talking about, Sinful Colors polishes are on sale for $0.99 each this week at Walgreens), I want to do one more post about Sinful Colors before the sale is over (it runs through 7/28).

Unfortunately, I haven't had a chance to answer your questions directly this week (apologies!), so here are the most popular questions that I've been receiving this week via comments/twitter/facebook/email. I'm also asking for links to swatches (which I'll get to a little later in this post).

Sinful Colors FAQ:

Q: I want Bare! Why can't I find it at my Walgreens?

A: The shade Bare was a limited edition shade released earlier this year. The reason I included it in my top ten Sinful Colors post was not to taunt you. I honestly had heard from a few readers who said they saw lone bottles of this polish in random displays lately, so I thought it was easier to get. But after having heard from several of you, it seems it's NOT so easy to get. So apologies if you cannot find it at your local Walgreens.

Q: I'm seeing that some readers are finding older limited edition shades at their Walgreens. Where are they and why can't find I find them at mine?

Review: I Love...Coconut & Cream Bubble Bath & Shower Gel

Last October I gave you a sneak peek at the British brand I Love...Cosmetics and their collection that was about to launch in the US. By now, you've all probably seen their bath and body products at Walmart, Rite Aid and Walgreens (I think they're at CVS too but I'm not 100% sure). Anyway, last week the entire line was on sale at Rite Aid for $5.99 each (regularly $7.99) so I picked up the I Love...Coconut & Cream body wash and have been using it for eight days straight. I normally don't post a review after just eight uses, but I can't keep this one to myself any longer!

 I Love...Coconuts & Cream Bubble Bath & Shower Gel

(retail: around $7.99, 16.9 oz)

Spotted: New Prestige Vanity Flair Eye Palette (plus a special free shipping offer!)

Two exciting bits of info to share with my fellow Prestige Cosmetics fans today!

First up, reader @peqpatino spotted the new Prestige Vanity Flair Eye Palette at her local Rite Aid recently and was kind enough to share:

 

image credit: @peqpatino for Nouveau Cheap

Prestige Vanity Flair Eye Palette

(retail: $15)

First Look: New Yes To Haircare Collection

A huge thanks to my pal Halifax of Sparkled Beauty for the heads-up that Yes To JUST released their new haircare collection today. And in case you're a fan of their existing haircare products, per the Yes To Carrots Facebook page, THE OLDER PRODUCTS ARE NOT BEING DISCONTINUED--they're still available for purchase so there's no need to panic if you're a fan of those products.

But let's take a look at the brand new products!

(all of the following information/images via yestocarrots.com)

Keep reading for more details...

John Frieda by Conair Brush Collection (press release)

I received the press release for the new John Frieda® by Conair Brush Collection and since I thought these looked promising, I wanted to share them with you:

Over two decades ago, the John Frieda® Hair Care Experts revolutionized hair care with the innovative Frizz-Ease® Hair Serum, and are taking frizz-fighting technology to the next level with John Frieda® styling tools by Conair. This Cutting-edge collection of professional-grade brushes work in tandem with the John Frieda® Full Volume Dryer for smooth, healthy gorgeous hair without stepping foot in the salon.

John Frieda® styling tools brushes include:

John Frieda® Paddle Brush Sleek Finish ($12.99): Made with shine-enhancing  silicone bristles, natural IONS and a flexible cushion base, this pro-finish brush works in tandem with the John Frieda® Full Volume Dryer to smooth fly-aways and reduce frizz  for a beautiful finish.

Exciting news for Sinful Colors and Black Radiance fans

Reader Natalie left a comment today asking a question about the Sinful Colors 99-cent sale going on at Walgreens (now through 7/28) and she reminded me of something I completely forgot to mention in my earlier posts:

For those of you who don't live near a Walgreens, this sale is also going on ONLINE. And if you've never shopped at Walgreens.com before, you get free shipping on orders of $25 or more!

UPDATE: thanks to reader SophiaMix for letting us know that if you enter code JULY15 at checkout, you'll receive an ADDITIONAL 15% OFF YOUR ORDER!  

The Lipstick League – week of 7.16.12

Lipstick League Question of the Week:

 

What’s your most prized beauty possession?

G's answer: I'm a nostalgia junkie, so my most prized beauty possessions are my original Sinful Colors polish, my original Too Faced eyeshadow single, my original Urban Decay eyeshadow single, my original Wet n Wild polish, my original Zoya polish, and my (unopened) Revlon Street Wear polishes. Sorry, but there's no way I could narrow it down to just one of those!

Lipstick League Links of the Week:

Phyrra – wants you to show some skin with Urban Decay Naked Skin Weightless Ultra Definition Liquid Makeup. Which shade is your match?

Vampy Varnish – loves the new Urban Decay Smoked Palette and thinks you might love it too!

we heart this – Hey you in that red lipstick! There are bugs in your makeup. Yes, BUGS.

Beauty Junkies Unite – Amber shows us how the new L’Oreal Magic Skin Beautifier BB Cream works, complete with a before and after of her skin!

Clumps of Mascara – is rockin’ jelly nails. Zoya’s Gloss collection is unlike any kind of collection we’ve seen in a while.

EauMG – Expand your vocabulary with the Smell Bent Vocabulary Perfume Collection!

Gouldylox Reviews – brings out her inner bombshell with Be a Bombshell’s summer collection!

Krasey Beauty – Looking for a great new body wash? Check out Tone’s newest Fruit Peels Body Wash, and read about how K.B met K.P (Kellie Pickler).

Nouveau Cheap – Will your cravings for some Revlon Moon Candy turn you into a lunatic? (Get it?? Lunatic? Lunar? Moon? Yeah, I know. Sorry. But this collection sure is pretty!)

Pink Sith – sits you down for a fairytale about princesses and NARS Vent Glace Eyeshadow

Prime Beauty – Find out why Prime Beauty cannot stop sniffing herself. Could she have discovered fragrance nirvana with the new Kiehl’s Aromatic Blends?

Guest Post of the Week, as chosen by Phyrra – Check out one of my favorite bloggers, the Makeup Zombie! She shares her favorite indie companies.

What's your most prized beauty possession? 

Blog changes (my response to your feedback)

I wanted to give you an update regarding the much-appreciated feedback I received from this post.

First of all, I want to thank each of you, from the bottom of my heart, for the comments left on that post. I read every single word and took to heart everything you said. I wish that I could have responded to every single comment, but I never in a million years anticipated that when I asked for your feedback, you would return it tenfold. As some of you may have noticed, I've been absolutely horrible these past two weeks at responding to comments, and that's because things in my personal life are hectic and when it comes to the blog, I figure that the majority of you would rather see new content on a daily basis vs. responses to comments (if it comes down to having to choose). So I always go with new blog posts if I'm slammed for time, with the hope that, eventually, I can respond to comments later down the road. Sometimes that doesn't always turn out as planned though. And for that I am so sorry. Because your comments were so thoughtful and heartfelt, I wanted to take my time and write long, thoughtful responses in return. But time just slipped away from me and again, I'm so sorry for that. I'm always trying to move forward and share new things with you (my first priority!) so I hope that if you took the time to comment on that post (or ANY post), you didn't interpret my silence as a lack of caring. Because that is NOT the case and I'm so grateful to have heard from you.

Whew! All that to say that I'm making a few changes on the blog (sorry, but I just had to get that out there first).

Free Orly Mini Polish at Ulta (Seventeen Magazine promotion)

 A huge thanks to reader Michaela on Facebook for the heads-up about this one:

In stores from July 3 - August 6

Bring the August 2012 issue of Seventeen OR a printout of the seventeen.com home page OR an e-reader edition to a participating ULTA store to receive 1 mini bottle of ORLY nail lacquer (ARV: $4). 20,000 will be given away. One per person while supplies last.

Pick one of 4 shades: Nite Owl, Peachy Parrot, Sweet Peacock, Fowl Play 

IMPORTANT: Seventeen Magazine has run offers like this in the past, so I have a few tips I'd like to share with you before you head over to your local Ulta store:

Call ahead to make sure that your store is participating in the offer. If they say "yes", then make sure they still have minis available and that they haven't run out.

Please please do this first, because the last time I posted about an offer like this from Seventeen, readers said their store was already out of the product or that their store was not participating in the offer. You can google "orly seventeen magazine ulta" and you'll see that this offer has been posted on many freebie blogs already, so I can't stress enough that you should call first before you visit your Ulta (unless you were already planning a trip anyway).

Thanks so much, Michaela, for the heads-up!

My Top Ten Favorite Polishes from Sinful Colors

UPDATE: If you'd like to see swatches and dupe comparisons of some of the newer Sinful Colors shades, please click here.

Per requests from several readers, today I'd like to show you my top ten favorite polishes from Sinful Colors. Hopefully this will come in handy if you're new to the brand and want to take advantage of the $0.99 sale that starts Sunday (7/22) at Walgreens. This sale runs through 7/28, so you've got some time to get your shopping lists in order!

These are not the ONLY shades I love from Sinful Colors, of course, but they're my top ten. If you need some ideas about new shades to try, I hope this will help you. Also, I'm going to include five "honorable mentions" at the bottom of this post, plus a reader-submitted swatch of the newest shade in the Sinful Colors family!

I'm also including swatches from previous posts (when available). If I didn't have an existing swatch, I did a quick swatch on two fingers just to give you an idea of what the color looks like on the nail. So here we go!

COMING IN AT NUMBER 10:

The Weekly Drugstore Makeup Sales (7/22 - 7/28)

There is so much to get to this week at all three drugstores--let's not waste another minute:

CVS shoppers: Revlon nail polish fans: this week ALL Revlon polishes are $4.99 each and you'll get $3 back in Extra Bucks. The best part? The limit is SIX on this Extra Bucks deal! That means that you can buy them one at a time, and each time you get $3 in Extra Bucks you can apply those Extra Bucks to the next bottle, and repeat that a total of six times! OR, you could just buy all six bottles at once, pay $29.94 out of pocket and receive $18 back in Extra Bucks. Either way, your final price after Extra Bucks for 6 bottles of Revlon polish will be $11.94. Some fun under $1 deals: $0.79 Vo5 shampoo or conditioner and $0.69 Yardley bar soaps. And of course don't forget that the CVS Beauty Clearance Sale is still going on.

Rite Aid shoppers: This week all Wet n Wild products are 40% off and when you spend $8 (calculated AFTER the 40% off deduction) you'll get $3 back in +UP Rewards. And the limit is 2 on this deal, so that means you can repeat the process a second time if you'd like. (If you've been wanting to try any of the newer Megalast lipstick shades I showed you here, NOW is the time for a haul!) Speaking of hauls, if you've been wanting some Revlon Balm Stains or Moon Candy you don't want to miss this deal: all Revlon nail enamel and lip colors are BOGO1/2OFF this week and when you buy 2 items you get $4 back in +UP. Shoot, you can take those $4+UP and turn right back around and use them to pay for half of the $8 you need to spend on Wet n Wild, and then you'll get three more +UP Rewards! If you wanted to, you could take those $3+UP and apply them to an Almay eye cosmetic, which happen to be $5.99 this week (you'll only pay $2.99 out of pocket). Rolling over rewards during sales can really pay off!

Walgreens shoppers:  The moment many of us have been waiting for has finally arrived! Starting Sunday 7/22 and running through 7/28, all Sinful Colors nail polishes will $0.99 each (no coupon required). I'll be doing a post later today featuring my top 10 must-have shades from Sinful Colors, so if you need some ideas, check back soon for my recs! And don't forget about the coupon deal on CoverGirl Blast Flipsticks this week (click here if you missed it). Also, don't forget that all Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear polishes are B2G1FREE for the month of July.