What's the Benefit?

Each month, Ipsy gives discount codes for the brands they feature in their bags.  In July, one of the codes was for a free beauty trio with any online purchase from Benefit.  This set included sample sizes of High Beam, BADgal Lash Mascara, and the Refined Finish Facial Polish.  This set normally sells for $10 and includes a plastic makeup bag.  http://www.benefitcosmetics.com/product/view/hello-gorgeous

I haven’t tried a lot from Benefit but all I hear are great things so I was really interested in getting this set.  The great thing was that I didn’t have to buy anything else from the website!  I was able to get the set for free just by paying the shipping price of $5.95!  Here’s a quick review of what I thought of all of the products.

Refined Finish Facial Polish; deluxe mini $6?, full size $23 – This is a facial scrub that is meant to brighten your complexion and minimize the appearance of pores.  I can’t say that I really noticed either of these results, but it did leave my face very soft.  I think I need to try it out for a few more days before I can give you an accurate review. http://www.benefitcosmetics.com/product/view/refined-finish-facial-polish

High Beam; deluxe mini $8.00, full size $26 – This is liquid highlighter.  I used it under my eyes and I definitely think it works!  It’s very similar to the highlighter I got in my August Ipsy bag so I’ve been alternating between the two.  The only bad thing about this is the packaging.  The makeup itself is not watery at all but the applicator is a little brush so I don’t think I’ll be able to use/get to all of the product in the tube. http://www.benefitcosmetics.com/product/search?q=high+beam

BADgal Lash Mascara; deluxe mini $10.00, full size $19 – I was very happy with this mascara.  It doesn’t clump easily and gives a lot of volume.  I wish it lengthened a little more, but I’ve been using it as a primer for my regular mascara which seems to be working really well! http://www.benefitcosmetics.com/product/search?q=badgal+lash+mascara

The normal price of Benefit’s deluxe samples is usually anywhere from $6 to $10.  If you’re looking for a specific one, but can’t find it on the product page try searching for it by the name of the product.  They’re not always listed in the same category with the rest of the makeup.

I’m sure you can do the math and realize that spending $5.95 for the deluxe samples of these 3 products was a great deal.  Trying these for less than $2 a piece is much better than paying the full price (or even the normal price of the deluxe sample) and realizing that it wasn’t for me! 

Thanks for Reading!!

~Sarah

August 2014 Ipsy Bag

August’s Ipsy bag was nowhere near as exciting as I hoped it would be.  Everything I got I will use, but I probably would have only selected 1 of the 5 myself.  This month’s theme is “Beauty Schooled”.  It came in a white cylindrical bag with orange polka dots and trim.  I really like the bag, but because of the material and the fact that they had to cram it in to my pretty pink mailer, it has really bad crinkled creases in it that I’m not sure will come out!  If not it’s definitely not the end of the world, I’m more interested in what’s inside it anyway!  This month I got 5 items, only 1 of which was full size.

Manna Cosmetics Sheer Glo; Full Size $29.00, Sample Size $7.83 – I haven’t decided whether I actually like this yet or not.  It’s a liquid illuminator so I’ve been wearing it under my eyes to brighten them up.  It’s a very runny formula but I do think that it does a good job.  I just don’t know that I really need a product like this so I probably won’t buy the full size any time soon.  http://www.mannakadarcosmetics.com/manna-sheer-glow.html

Absolute New York You’re the Balm in grape; Full Size $2.99 – This lip balm is a light purple color with little specks of glitter throughout.  It looks nice on lips but I just hate lip balms that you have to dip your finger into.  Am I the only one that thinks this is completely unsanitary?? This was also my only full size product at a whopping retail price of $2.99! http://www.nicka.com/navigation-menu/lip/duo-lip-balm

GlamGlow Youthmud Tinglexfoliate Treatment; Full Size $69.00, Sample Size $20.53 – I don’t really use face masks in my skin routine, but if I get one I will definitely use it!  As I started to apply this I noticed a weird black chunk in what I was spreading onto my face.  At first I thought it was a piece of plastic from the tube, but after further investigation, I realized it was supposed to be like that.  I went ahead and finished the application, complete with the chunks of who knows what, and let it dry for about 10 minutes while I watched Bachelor in Paradise. (Side note, I love everything Bachelor so this show is quite wonderful.)  Anyway, after I took off the mask I did notice that my skin felt very soft and smooth.  I was definitely happy with this product, but let’s be real, $69 for less than 2 ounces of anything is a little out of my comfort zone.  http://www.glamglowmud.com/youth-mud.html

Lord & Berry Silk Kajal Eye Pencil; Full Size $16.00, Sample Size $4.00? – I was really disappointed when I pulled this out of my bag.  First of all, it’s teeny tiny.  Second, I don’t like pencil eyeliner.  They never seem to go on smoothly and I know this is stupid, but I don’t like having to sharpen them.  It’s so much easier to just get the kind that twists up!  I decided to go ahead and try it for the good of the blog.  I have to admit that it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be.  It went on a lot smoother than I anticipated, although it’s still not as good as the twisty kind.  I’ll definitely keep using the sample, but I think I’ll stick with my $1 Jordana Quickliner. http://shop.lordandberry.com/usa/silk-kajal.html

Perversion Mascara; Full Size $22.00, Sample Size $5.50 – This was my favorite item this month!  I knew from the Facebook spoilers that I would either get a purple Urban Decay eyeliner or this mascara, so I was relieved when I got this!  I can’t say that I’ve ever tried it, but I have a hunch that I’m just not the purple eyeliner type.  Anyway, this mascara is great!  It lengthens and volumizes and it isn’t clumpy.  The formula goes on very smoothly.  The only bad thing is the neck of the tube is really small and the brush is pretty thick, so the brush gets a little wonky when you pull it out to apply.  Despite the brush issues I think this mascara is great!  http://www.urbandecay.com/perversion-by-urban-decay/457.html#start=1&cgid=1_501

Even though I was initially really disappointed in this bag, it turned out to have some good stuff in it!  I will definitely use everything although I may not purchase most of them in the future.  The total value of the items in my bag this month is $40.85.  Half of that value comes from the mud mask alone!  If you’re not an Ipsy subscriber yet, you should definitely check it out!  If you are the least bit curious you should try it for a month or so and see how you like it.  You can cancel at any time and by looking at the bag value above and from all my other Ipsy posts you can tell that you will definitely get your money’s worth!  Here’s my referral link if you want to give it a shot!  http://www.ipsy.com/r/6b49

Thanks for Reading!!

~Sarah

June PINCHme Box

A couple months ago I signed up for PINCHme.com.  PINCHme is a website that brands use to test their new products.   Once a month PINCHme releases a list of products available for consumers to test and review.  You choose the products that interest you and PINCHme will send them at no charge.  The more you review the more products you will be able to choose from.  I was able to get a couple things in the month of June since it was my first time. 

Sinfulcolors Nail Polish in the color Ablaze – I was able to choose between 4 different colors from this brand.  I’ve never tried a Sinfulcolors nail polish before but I loved this color and was excited to try it.  The formula was a little watery and it didn’t last as long as OPI or Essie, but overall I was very happy with it.  I did two coats and put a glitter polish on my ring finger as an accent.  After trying this I’m definitely more likely to buy Sinfulcolors in the future.  If you’re looking for a specific shade but don’t want to invest in a whole bottle of a more expensive brand it’s definitely a great value at $1.99 a bottle! 

Skinnygirl Tasty Nutrition Bar, Dark Chocolate Pretzel – I also had the choice between a couple flavors of these bars and was very happy with my choice!  This was so yummy!  The bars are small, but very filling.  They’re also only 160 Calories.  They sell them at Target $5.99 for 5 which is a little more than what I would normally be willing to pay.  However, these would be great to have while travelling or on the go.  If I ever see these on sale I will definitely buy!

This is the only PINCHme box that I’ve gotten so far but I’m looking forward to getting another box in August.  I love trying new things, so these websites that offer items like this for the price of a survey are the greatest!

Thanks for reading!!

~Sarah

Cincinnati Style

This past weekend my sister and I went to Cincinnati to visit some of our family.  While we were there we HAD to go shopping because how could that not be included as part of a fun weekend with the girls? 

Here’s a run-down of everything that I bought:

•         5 pair of shorts
•         8 Dresses
•         3 Skirts
•         1 pair of Jeans
•         2 pair of pants
•         3 pair of capris
•         3 bikini bottoms
•         2 pair of shoes
•         10 shirts

Now if this was a story about normal shopping I would have spent on the ups of $500.  However, this is me we’re talking about and my cheap self only spent a little over $100 on all of this!  The most I paid for any one item was $7!

So now you’re wondering how I did this, and if you’re not then you’re obviously reading the wrong blog.

There is a chain of stores in the Cincinnati area called the Snooty Fox. http://www.shopsnooty.com/  It’s an upscale consignment store offering brands like J. Crew, Banana Republic, Ann Taylor Loft, and Vineyard Vines…just to name a few!  Consignment stores are some of my favorite stores to shop at because you never know what you may find!  These stores are really great because they only take clothes that are in good condition and their prices are really reasonable.  Plus every store has SO MUCH STUFF!!  Here are a few of my favorite Snooty Fox finds! 

These shorts are from White House Black Market and they were definitely one of my favorite purchases!  I paid $3.50 for these! 

I found this pink scalloped Banana Republic Skirt for $1.00! 

I have been searching for a pair of pink capris for I don’t even know how long and found this pair from Express for only $5.00! 

We also stopped at the Gap Factory Store which is just outside of Cincinnati in Kentucky. http://www.gap.com/products/hebron-ky-store-3111.jsp  This store carries Old Navy, Gap, Athleta, Piperlime, and Banana Republic and is absolutely huge!  Everything is divided into Men’s, Women’s, and Children’s, and further into pants, shorts, tops, dresses, etc..  Prices are normally set by brand (for example all Old Navy dresses were $4.99 while Gap dresses were $6.99).  They also have specials on certain items depending on the time of year and/or sizes.  They had a special on all sizes/brands of Ladies’ shorts and all brands of Ladies’ Jeans size 00 and 0 for $1.99 each!

I got this pair of Gap Jeans for $1.99. 

I bought several Old Navy Dresses.  This is one of the cotton dresses that I bought for only $4.99. 

I also found this super cute pair of Banana Republic Flats for $.49! 

If you are ever in the Cincinnati area, I highly suggest that you check out these stores!  This is only a small sample of the amazing deals that I found!  If you don't plan on making the trek to Cincinnati anytime soon, check out some of your local consignment shops.  You never know what you may find!

Thanks for reading!!

~Sarah