I Target the Clearance Section

So obviously I didn't walk away from the Target clearance section with only 1 tinted balm stick.  Heavens no.  So here are 2 Napoleon Perdis Lipsticks I picked up for $3.60 each! Seriously....3 dollars and 60 cents. For Napoleon Perdis.

Ok, so the Target line isn't his regular line, but it's still pretty good stuff.

Normally the Target line NP Set lipsticks go for $10-$12. Which is high for a drugstore brand, but cheap for a high end brand. But that's a reasonable price for something on this level. So to get some for less than a Covergirl lipstick is a super bonus!

First up. NP Set lipstick in Madrid. On clearance for $3.60!

The NP Set lipsticks are no longer named after cities, that I've seen. So I'm guessing that's why these are discounted. Works for me!

The bottom of the box says the name Madrid and just below says "Bright Matte Red".

I only agree with 2 out of the three words. 

This is in fact a bright red and a really good red at that. It's not too orange and not too blue. This is exactly the type of red every woman should have in case of emergency. Or Tuesday. Whatever comes first. 

The formula is rich and creamy. There's no tugging but it's not too soft so that it gets eeeverywhere either. I could easily wear this for a day and I don't think it would get too dry or cracky. I mean, I haven't done the full day test yet so I'm going off a hunch here. 

However, the 'matte' claim, I would have to give a mostly disagree bubble to. As you can see in the swatch, there is a bit of sheen. To me, matte is MATTE. And I base my matte off my beloved MAC lipstick, in particular, Ruby Woo. That is my most favorite red in the whole world and the lipstick I wear the most. It's an extremely true blue red and it's very matte. I expect my matte's to have a soft velvet finish to them. With zero sheen.  That's how I prefer my bright lipsticks. 

This Madrid color is definitely not a creme or sheen. It's not glossy like regular lipsticks, so by that standard it's a matte. But for my standards, it falls short. 

NP Set lipstick in Denver. On clearance for $3.60!

Having started this quest for a nude lipstick some years ago, I had to pick this up.  

But after getting it open at home, I realize that the search is still on. And very well may never end.

Oh sure, here it looks sheer and like a nice shade of light nude pink that would be great on me, right??

Wrong.   In fact, it's a very opaque lipstick, which would normally be great, but in this case, it's an opaque lipstick in the color Dirty Milk Bath. At least, on me it is. 

There is far too much white in this lipstick, and paired up with the opacity, it looks like I put coffee creamer on my lips, then let it harden under the light of the sun for hours while I simultaneously drown. 

Is that too strong of a visual? or not enough?

So yes, it was a valiant effort, yet it wasn't meant to be. 

I'd love to say I'm going to hold onto this to perhaps mix with other colors to create the perfect nude for me some day. But I'm making the big girl decision to gift this to a fairer friend rather than take up the drawer real estate that could go to a more worthy lipstick.  

I'm not cut out for Denver, apparently.  I'll just have to drink my Coors Lights here on the east coast. 

Pixi Sticks

Endcaps. noun. Def.: Small shelves at the back of aisles full of discounted awesomeness.

Ok, that's not exactly what Webster's says but that what I say. And especially about the Target endcaps.

What I'm about to show you is a product of an end of season run and new stock assortment.  See, what had happened was....   Target gets rid of all their discontinued makeup colors, or old packaging or just poorly selling products in their cosmetics aisles once a season. But twice a year, just before spring and just after winter, there is a glorious and wonderful surge/purge of these products.   The spring clear out happened about two weeks ago and I picked up quick a few things that I'll be showing you over the next day or two. It was a pretty good haul I must say.

Of the things I managed to get before the store closed, my favorite is this Pixi Tinted Balm.

Pixi Brilliance Balm in Magnificent Mauve on clearance for $4.80

I picked this up because I have a very soft spot in my heart for tinted balms. I also have another Pixi tinted balm that I've come to love, so finding another color for a fraction of the original $16 price tag was an amazing bonus! 

What I Thought Was Going To Happen:

Come home with tinted balm. Open it excitedly. Realize the color is dark in a weird 90's way. Hate myself for wasting 5 bucks. Go about my day. 

What Actually Happened:

Came home with tinted balm. Open it excitedly. Realize the color is a PERFECT NUDE on me! Get uber psyched  Tell some people via email and gchat. Wonder who else I can tell. Remember I have a beauty blog. Get amped to share it on the blog. Realize no one will understand how awesome this is. Begin plotting my return to Target to get more!

So this doesn't look like much on my hand...but that's the point!!! 

This is my Nars Dolce Vita.  For those who arn't in the know, Dolce Vita is this coveted lipstick by Nars that everyone swears is the perfect, 'their lips but better' color.  I've tried it numerous times, but on my darker lips, Dolce Vita looks like I've put nothing on my lips. I've tried so hard to love it, but can't spend the 20something bucks on something that looks as well as chapstick.

Then I came across Magnificent Mauve. 

This is no lie, my actual lip color...but better! 

This gives my lips just enough color so I don't look washed out and washed up. Not to mention it feels so soft and smooth on my lips. Like a really high end lip balm. 

The color is actually a stain so it stays really long and the more you apply the more color you get. Which is why I love my tinted balms! Buildable color is essential for the makeup love down to the novice. 

Originally these Pixi sticks go for $16 each.  So at $4.60, this is super beauty buy/steal! 

There is nothing better than being pleasantly surprised by a product. And this was more than pleasantly. This was straight up super secret service surprised! 

I'm so proud of my cheapskateness, I mean bargain shopping! 

The Unfortunate Frosty Factor

So about 2 weeks ago I walked into a Walgreens store where I was greeted by a salesperson. Odd, since I can't ever remember that happening before. She had a whole table set up with the new Neutrogena Color Sticks. Complete with a peach color tester.

Having had many sales jobs in the past, I indulged her sales pitch.  By indulged I mean I played and sniffed stuff as she talked about stuff I wasn't listening to.  That is, until she said the magic word....COUPON!!!!!

Apparently, if I bought a Neutrogena Color Stick, she could give me an in store coupon for $2 off, plus some other coupon if I buy a second PLUS there was a discount with the Walgreen's points card. So naaaturally I walked out of there with two of them.  And I got both for 6 bucks!!

 Neutrogena MoistureSmooth Color Stick $8 each

 Left: Juicy Peach Right: Sweet Watermelon

Ok. Let me start out with this.

These. Smell. Amaaaaazzzing. 

I honestly have no idea what the lady said to me because I was smelling this Juicy Peach stick like it was my job. It honestly smells that good. And that's pretty much the only reason I bought them.  

I tried it on my hand, and even in those lights, I knew they weren't going to be right for me, but I couldn't say no. I just couldn't. They smelled soooo delicious. 

Side note: this has been my experience with Neutrogena cosmetics thus far. I love their skin care. And I want  to love their cosmetics for that reason. But our love just ain't in the cards. 

Left/top: Juicy Peach

 Right/Bottom: Sweet Watermelon

I absolutely love tinted balms and all these amazing color balm sticks out on the market. I think they're great and pretty fool proof. Well, until this fool bought these. 

Yes, they are great colors. But as you can see on my hand, these have a lot of what I call, frostiness. It's not really shimmer, it's that white frosty color that is the complete opposite of good against my perma tan skin. Frostiness is the same reason most lipsticks and I can't be friends. 

Frostiness is also the reason me and a lot of drugstore eye shadows can't be friends. 

Frostiness and I aren't good together. We pretty much hate each other and would probably do really mean things to each other at a reunion. 

On the up side, Neautrogena really knows their moisture and these really do feel great on the lips. 

At some point this summer I'll get bored and probably try out one of the darker colors in this line just to check out the frosty factor and also because I'm a terrible learner.  But until then, these delicious color sticks are fantastic options for the fair skinned.  

Or the tan who are attending 80's themed parties. 

Sorry Neutrogena. We're still cool though!

Birch Hoarding

Ladies! and friends of ladies....

I know, I've apologized for being very neglectful about 6 times already...so let's just say I did and get on with it shall we?

Clearly some of you are wondering.....WHAT'S IN THE BOX?!?!?!  aka...the Birchboxes.

I've still been receiving them, but because of my absenteeness, I haven't shared their awesome contents with you.  But, if it makes you feel better, they've all been stacked up on my desk, unused, because I wouldn't allow myself to use them until I took the appropriate blog action first.

As it turns out, this Birch hoarding turned out swimmingly for me! This weekend I opened them all up to take photos, forgetting what was in them, and had my own personal Christmas filled with tons of goodies and no dud gifts!!   No seriously. I cleaned up harder than a Walmart worker in a glass ketchup aisle.

February was all about being red carpet ready! The box was filled with everything you needed for a perfect Oscar Party!

1. Dermablend Quick-Fix Concealer.  A super concealer for all those paparazzi pics
2. Vasanti Brighten Up Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator. This cleanser is packed with tons of fine crystals to exfoliate and leave you looking bright and glowy! I haven't tried it yet, but the backs of my hands looked and felt amazing. 
3. Juicy Couture, Couture La La perfume. It's surprisingly fresh, with a good call into summer with floral and citrus scents
4. Twistband Thick Headband.  You all know the hair ties, now get into the full headhand!!  In person this is a nice dark teal color, that just happens to match everything I own!
5. Ghirardelli Milk Chocolate with Caramel filling square.  Because a piece of chocolate can simply make or break your red carpet readiness. This has been proven. I think I saw it on Animal Planet.
6.. Votivo Candle in Pink Mimosa.   Oh how I wish there was smellavision.  I don't even think I have the words for this candle. It smells so immensely heavenly that I've had to stop me from biting into it.  It smells like the most delicious pink lemonade you've ever encountered.  I'm scared to burn this. Because once that wax is flowing, I might be tempted to drink it.  
Mental note: this candle is only for sober use only.

 

March was Madness! as usual. But for Birch, it was all about the face-off. Because Birchbox is more than just their boxes, their Facebook page and blog shared some serious beauty faceoffs for the fans.  If you wanted to see who won between gel vs liquid, this was your time! 

1. Every box comes with the little paper gift pillow which I've come to love. I like that it's filled so that I get a gift, within a gift!(that I bought myself).  These little pillows are great to give your unloved items to a close friend. In March, my pillow was filled with Caldrea body lotion packs.  I'm so very excited about these because they have really ingenious flavors/scents.  Tea Olive Lime, Aloe Water Apricot and Coconut Fig. 

I drool just thinking about them.   Normally people would take these on a great trip with them, they're so nicely packed an ready to go, but I have a different approach to my special beauty items. I like to use my most luxurious products when I come home from a trip. Because isn't that when we need it the most? No matter how great a trip is, when you come home and have to get back to reality, that's the time to break out the good china. No one wants to explain how amazingly life changing their trip was wearing Vaseline and Chapstick.  

No offense Vaseline or Chapstick. 

2. Whish Shave Crave Shaving Cream. I can already see this stuff being something addictive. It's rich and thick and seems really indulgent. But having moved from shaving to waxing some years ago, this will be gifted to a fine friend very soon. 

3. Madewell for Birchbox Emery Board.  A full size floral emery board. What's not to love?? Because it doesn't matter how many you buy, you always need one. 

4. Marcelle BB Cream Golden Glow.  Ok. So we all know about BB creams, right? I've been doing my rounds with them, but this one, so far, seems different. It's full of tiny flashes of gold. Nothing glittery like a middle school dance, just soft bits of gold that leave you golden goddessy! I have exciting plans for this stuff this summer. And this size hold plenty of product! 

In this box, there was also a free gift with purchase card for Benefit's BADgal Lash Mascara. 

And also, I lied. Turns out I actually used a product from this box and never replaced it.  It's not pictured here but this box also contained Serge Normant Meta Revive Dry Shampoo. I used it to give my hair some volume for an updo for either the St. Patty's Day Ball or the niece's 1st birthday party. I'm not sure. Could be both. 

 In April, Birchbox teamed up with Women's Health Magazine to bring you their favorite products. Including a subscription card for Women's Health mag. Birchbox talked about making small changes to make a bigger difference in our lives. Pretty cool.

1. Nexxus Youth Renewal Rejuvenating Elixir. This tiny glass bottle is a serum that is said to cure dry hair and help with age related breakage, along with adding shine. I look forward to giving this a run!
2. BIRCHBOX FIND! Birchbox sent a full size  Simple Revitalizing Eye Roll-On.  This affordable eye roll brightens your eye area, while reducing puffiness and tired eyes.  Monday eyes. This is for Monday eyes. I think they'll agree.
3. Mirenesse Glossy Kiss Lipstick. This, I am so excited for! This is a full size glossy stick stain for your cheeks and lips. This color is called Cheeky Kiss and it's the perfect pinky nude color! When I re-opened the boxes this weekend, it was like my prayers were answered because I have been after a color like this for ages!
4. J. R. Watkins Hand & Cuticle Salve. I am in love with this tiny tin. I love anything in a tiny tin, really. However, this one is actually helpful. This lavendar scented salve is exactly what my cut up cuticles crave. And the DIY-er in my is craving that empty tin to fill with....so many possibilities!
5. Kiehl's Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate. Listen. If anyone ever hands you anything by Kiehl's for free, you take it!! This line reducing concentrate is a sure winner for sooo many that it makes me nervous to try it because I know I'll be hooked.  Though I don't have lines I need reduced, this serum is pure vitamin C and it's by Kiehl's. So i'm sure it's full of miracle brightening things that will make me curse them because I will want to give them my money.

 Finally, May was about beauty diaries. Birchbox was all about sharing personal beauty tips and routines. 

1. BIRCHBOX FIND! Not only does The Box keep me on top of my beauty game, but now they've even found me a new pen! A Pilot Acroball PureWhite. Pens make me happy. New free pens make me down right excited!! If you received this pen also and wasn't as excited as I am, you're dead inside.
2. Sumita Color Contrast Eyeliner. This speaks to me on so many levels. Indian formulas  Eyeliner. Trial size. I haven't tried it yet, but I've been itching to try out a Sumita eyeliner! How do you know Birchbox, how do you always know?
3. Speaking of always knowing. The Indian had been downright hounding  me to try out the Deva Curl No Poo shampoo. She kept informing me how life changing it would be, so I laughed rather loudly when I opened up my Birchbox not even days later to find this DevaCurl 3 Step System with No-Poo Shampoo, One Conditioner Conditioner and Light Defining Gel.  Hairdress Trish also loves Deva Curl products and has done all their specialized courses, so I'm excited to try this out and tell her how I love it. I'm assuming I'll love it. How could I not?
4. Coola Classic Face SPF 30 Cucumber Moisturizer for Face. SPF!!!! You must know how much I love SPF by now.
5. Marvis Classic Mint Toothpaste. Ok, it's toothpaste. No one is so excited about this, but the old timey tube with the green label makes me smile. So it can stay.


See...when you open 4 Birchboxes at once you really clean house! I'm really considering hoarding the next few months to do this again.   But to save your pupils, I won't do that.  Especially in a week or two when June's box arrives.   Another box!! Thank you, Birchbox. Seriously.

My Prime Time

I spent far too long avoiding primers before makeup.  I kept saying it was another step. Another something I'd have to tote on a trip. An unnecessary expense.

Wrong.

It's necessary. So very necessary.

I have very dry skin, but for some reason, my eyelids remain oily. Fighting off makeup like a small patch of skin warriors.  I could leave the house feeling awesome about my freshly applied eye makeup, just to end up cursing in my head in a public bathroom as I use some thin piece of cardboard that The Man tries to tell us are 'towels' to scrub off my migrating makeup from all around my eyes.

Then I sucked it up and bought the Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion in Original.  

$20 for the full size, which has lasted me well over a year. I think I'm pushing up on 2 right now, hence the grubby looking tube. 

I know I sound all calm and collected right now, but I love this stuff so much that I really want to type in all caps right now because this stuff is that good. But I shall spare your pupils.

                         

The color is a 'nude' color. Once you blend it in, it's basically invisible but it gives some coverage to even out the color on your eyelid which makes everything you put on top pop!  ( don't mind the bits of glitter on my hand, I was trying out other stuff also on this day)

I use this daily. Even when I run out of the house in my running to the store for milk makeup which is only my Mac Feline and whatever blush is left on my brush, I use a the tiniest amount on my lash line before my Feline and I know that if for some reason I get asked to participate in a new version of Supermarket Sweep on the spot, my liner will still be in place at the end of my spontaneous game show participation.

I really can't say enough good things about this tiny potion. Except that Potion is the right word because this stuff is MAGIC!! (oh come on, you know it was coming)  Since owning this, I've switched up my lipstick only routine to so many Eye Days. It's opened up a whole new world of makeup for me and also colors because this gives such a good base to my colors that even the drugstore brands seem richer and brighter and last wonderfully long!

Bottom line: BUY THIS!!    There are 4 colors, from original, to a matte nude, a shimmery gold and a chamagne shimmer, all with super cool names you can't say no to. So don't!! GET THIS!!

Ps. it's also available in a small travel size for $10. Awesome small package to take anywhere and will probably last you a good amount of time!

I've been cheating

Ok, so I promised you guys I'd be back, um...two weeks ago.  See...what had happened was...

Things just didn't go according to plan.   I've got a lot of family things to attend to right now, so I'm doing that, but still thinking about Blush all the while!

I owe you guys a lot of posts.  I can't say for certain that I'll be caught up soon and back to a daily schedule, but I'm going to do my best for you beautiful folks. So with that in mind...

I've been cheating.

For what is probably years now, I've been hooked on my Purple Cover Girl. That's what we call it on the streets. It's actually the Cover Girl LashBlast Fusion. I've loved it and never waivered because everything else sucked. I mean, once you turn to that plastic brush with the pointy 'bristles', there's no going back.  So I thought.

A few months ago, I got into a different crowd of online sites. They introduced me to this new stuff.  It's called Rocket. And it's awesome.  

Maybelline The Rocket Volum' Express  $6

First off, the name is awful. Just awful.  What were you thinking, Maybelline?? Even the ads are awful. But don't let that fool you.  This stuff is boss. 

I don't have any good photos to prove this however, because as I've learned over the course of this blog, taking photos of mascara is awful, hard and I'm not equipped.  So, you will have to just trust me like I'm the male lead in an action movie and you're the only chick to be seen besides the girls that bring weird food to the head bad guy.

The color in the Very Black is soo very black!! And it's a much shinier, wet looking black than the Lash Blast.  The brush however, it's a standard spooly and not the uber cool plastic type that is in the Cover Girl and now branching out to other brands, it's standard, yet doesn't get gunky and clumpy and makes me wanna cuss. Well, it makes me wanna cuss, but in a good way! 

I love the volume this gives my lashes. And I actually think they look much longer with this mascara than my last, even though that was a 'fusion', both volumizing and lengthening.  

Besides the brush, and awful name, the other difference this has from my tried and true CG is that you have to act fast with this one. With the Lash Blast, I can wine and dine it. Take my time. Come back, put on some more, build it up later in the day. But the Rocket, well now I understand the name. It's like the frat boy of mascaras. You gotta get in and out. And going back for a 2nd round later on is just gonna make things bad. 

So in conclusion, what we've learned here is that Maybelline is actually making stuff I like, and this mascara is awesome. And also, mascaras are like boys. I'll have my few favs that I know are always there, but I'd rather just keep trying new ones every so often. To keep it interesting. 

EEEK!

I know. I owe you guys a biiig apology! I'm sorry for my absence, truly. Things this year have been nuts! Pretty much just like last year. I picked a heck of a time to start blogging.   I'm still all over the place and my family recently celebrated my niece's 1st b'day with a big and awesome celebration!   Now that that's passed, I can get back to sharing my stuff with you guys. And I got some stuff!!

I'm clearly waaaay behind so I'm going to give you a sneak peak of things to come in the coming week(s)...ok more like months.

Seriously...I'm that behind.

Coming Soon!!!....

• Spring Makeup Colors!
• Eyeliners!
• New Skin care!
• Birch BoxES!! that's right, plural. Because I'm that behind. Yikes. 
• I tackle this whole BB cream business like you wouldn't believe!
• Dark Lips...
• Nude Lips...
• Drug Store Shampoos
• Some awesome stuff if you love the smell of grapefruit...
• Makeup brushes for the not-so pros
• I introduce you to my hairdryer, now that we're officially serious...
• Lots of updates on some products I've already shown you guys...
• and a ton more that I'm forgetting! 

So please check back next week when I Could Blush gets back on track this spring. For me...for you...for makeup counters everywhere!