Sinful Colors: Cinderella

I am so excited to share with you my first experience trying Sinful Colors nail polish! I had known of Sinful Colors for years now, but never purchased a bottle. After reading some polish blogs showing swatches of Sinful Colors Cinderella, I  headed to Wegmans to pick up the coveted baby blue shade. While I'm not usually a fan of baby blue, the swatches of Cinderella were so pretty! The color perfectly resembles Cinderella's dress with a bit of shimmer. And it was only $1.99! 

 

I had to use multiple coats, but it wasn't very difficult to work with and I felt the shade wore well. However, I prefer Blue Lotus from Mary Kay's Zen in Bloom Collection over this shade. Even though I'm not a big fan of this hue, many polish lovers adore it so I'd encourage you to check it out. While I didn't fall in love with this color, I'm still open to trying others from the Sinful Colors line. 

 

Are you a fan of Sinful Colors? What's your favorite shade?

What do you think of Cinderella?

Julep Warehouse Sale

Today I want to show you the super discounted goods I got from Julep's Warehouse Sale! Some of these items were almost 90% off!! But the first item I will show you is something I actually purchased from Julep when I bought my June Mystery Box! 

 

 

Julep Tote Bag

 

This bag may have also been part of the Warehouse Sale or the Secret Store last month, but I actually purchased it when I bought my June Mystery Box. I collect eco friendly shopping bags to carry my stuff in most of the time. I have a large black one from Mary Kay that I love to use, and a few medium sized totes from Wegmans that I got for only a dollar a piece. I thought this bag would be close in size to the ones I get from Wegmans, but this bag was much smaller in comparison. It's not large enough for me to carry all of my everyday belongings, but it is just the right size to hold all my overnight beauty essentials. 

 

 

 

Julep's Exclusive Make-Up Bag

 

This bag was rated very  highly and it's a pretty large cosmetic bag as the website suggests. However, upon seeing it in person I was found I didn't like the look of it. There is nothing wrong with the bag and I feel it does resemble the picture on the website, but sometimes you just have to see the real thing. I plan to give this bag away since I'm sure someone else would love it. 

 

 

Lovely Lashes

 

As most people know you should change your eyelash curler pad every 3  months, but recently I read that you should also replace the actual eyelash curler every 6 months! I've never heard of this before!! Did you know about this?? Seeing as I'm on my second pad, I will be in need of a new curler soon!! And while I have a supply of mascara to last me the rest of the year, I figure I can always re-gift the mascara if I don't end up using it.   

 

 

Cabochon Ring

 

I didn't quite understand what this was when I purchased it, but it was only a dollar! After receipt, I found out you polish the stone in the ring to create your own Cabochon Ring-which is so cool. This will be a nice little DIY project and I'll have something unique to wear afterwards to show my love for polish!!

 

 

Pomegranate Body Scrub & Body Crème

 

Since I loved Julep's Fresh Citrus Skincare Set so much, I just had to try out this set! I love pomegranates and exfoliating, so this is the perfect combo for me! The body scrub and crème were sold separately, each retailing for $18. However, due to the Warehouse Sale, I got these on sale for $2 a pop!! Talk about savings!! The deal was so good I stocked up and got a second set. I'm not sure if I'll keep the extras as back up or give them away for someone else to indulge in.

 

 

 

Matte Top Coat & Maria

 

 

 
I don't currently have a matte coat polish since I typically prefer my nails shiny, but I figured I'd switch things up. I'll post some swatches at a later date when I test it out. However, I've had my eye on Maria since I've become a Julep Maven a few months ago. I finally grabbed it during the sale and I love it more than I thought I would! It's a gorgeous shimmer shade, which is best seen outside!! I wish my pictures could capture the beauty of Maria in the sunlight. You will just have to trust me and grab a bottle for yourself! So far this has been my favorite polish from Julep!!

 

 

 

 What do you think of my latest Julep purchase? What did you get from the Warehouse Sale?

Do you change your eyelash curler every 6 months? What type of curler do you like to use?

 

Paula's Choice Pt. I

I'm a huge fan of Paula Begoun, The Cosmetics Cop. She is the founder of Paula's Choice skin care and cosmetics and has written multiple books on skincare, makeup, and hair care. I personally have a copy of Don't Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me and Don't Go Shopping for Hair-Care Products Without Me and find them to be valuable resources. If you get the chance, I recommend checking out some of her books-they are a wealth of information and reviews.

Paula has taught me so much about skincare, how to read ingredient labels, and what to look for in beauty products. Paula has done numerous reviews on beauty products from multiple cosmetic companies letting consumers know which products are worth the money and which don't live up to their hype! She then has used her years of research on skin-care ingredients to create her own skincare and cosmetic line, Paula's Choice. Today, I will share my latest order from Paula's Choice!!

 

My Paula's Choice Order

 

 

CLINICAL Scar-Reducing Serum

 

This is a new product I've been eyeing since I have a few old scars. However, due to a few new cat scratches that left slight scaring I figured I'd finally give this product a try! I tested it out for the first time this morning, and I'm thinking I might do a before and after post on this product's results.

 

 

Hydralight Shine-Free Daily Mineral Complex SPF 30

 

Paula's Choice is having a 20% off sale on moisturizers with SPF, so I picked up this new moisturizer since it got great reviews. I can't wait to try it out and will probably end up buying the complete Hydralight collection at some point. I also want to try the Skin Balancing System! I love that Paula Choice offers a sample set of the system for those who'd like to try it before buying the complete set!

 

 

Extra Care Non-Greasy Sunscreen SPF 50

 

You can never have too much sunscreen since you need to apply sunscreen liberally and frequently. I wanted to stock up since I plan out being outdoors more often this summer. I love that this sunscreen is broad spectrum (protects against UVA and UVB rays) and has the maximum SPF rating (filtering out 98% of UVB rays). I also got 20% off this product!

 

Free Samples: RESIST Daily Smoothing Treatment 5% AHA, RESIST Daily Moisturizer SPF 25, and Hydralight Toner

 

Paula's Choice offers free shipping with $50+ order plus 3 free samples with a minimum $5 order (but you can always pay for additional samples). I plan to try the two RESIST samples together and the Hydralight Toner in conjunction with my new Hydralight moisturizer.

 

Additional Free Samples: Hydralight Shine-Free Mineral Complex SPF 30, RESIST Retinol Skin-Smoothing Body Treatment, and CLINICAL Instant Calm Advanced Redness Relief

 

I didn't pay for any additional samples, so it was a nice surprise to see three more added to my order! I love how Paula's Choice goes above and beyond!

 

Free Requested Catalog

 

Paula's Choice gives you the option to include a free catalog. I love having a catalog to browse through when on the go!

 

Free Additional Book

 

They also threw in this free book on debunking beauty myths! I am always looking to increase my beauty knowledge, so this book will definitely be a handy resource!!

 

Paula's Choice offers a Hassle-Free Guarantee, so I definitely recommend checking it out!

 

What do you think of my order? Which Paula's Choice products do you most want to try? Have you read any of Paula Begoun's books?

 

Lacquer: The Best Medicine Giveaway!!

You all know how much I love stuff!! Don't you love free stuff? Today I want to share with you a giveaway from Lacquer: The Best Medicine sponsored by Madison Street Beauty!

Lacquer: The Best Medicine is giving away four polishes and a sheer lip balm by Madison Street Beauty! The four polishes include Island Cove, Pacific Cobalt, Ballet Lesson, and Bubble Bath. The lip balm is in Summer Rose.

I am super excited for the chance to add Madison Street Beauty to my collection. All four polish shades look lovely; however, I'm a sucker for teal and would particularly like to try Island Cove. I also love lip balm and Summer Rose would be the perfect summer shade!

You can purchase these polishes and other goods at MadisonStreetBeauty. You have until July 16th to enter the giveaway. To enter, click here and fill out the Rafflecopter! Good luck!!

Sephora Beauty Splurge Pt. I

My addiction for Sephora is growing. With so many different brands and products to try, there's always something on my wish list. Not only did I find some really nice stuff, but everything I purchased was on sale!

 

My Sephora Beauty Haul

 

 

Illamasqua Nail Varnish Duo (Viridian/ Glitterati): Retail $25.00 on sale for $19.00!

I splurged on this gorgeous limited edition lacquer set. This is a new brand for me- I can't wait to try these rich colors!

 

 

 

SEPHORA by OPI Brush-On Cuticle Oil: Retail $9.00 on sale for $4.50!

 I was in need of some cuticle oil, and thought the tube would make it easy to use!!

 

SEPHORA COLLECTION Pro Lesson Palette: Green Eyes: Retail $20.00 on sale for $9.00!

I'm a big fan of color by number cosmetics. It's great for those who are inexperienced in makeup application or those who don't have a lot of time to get ready. I know my way around a makeup palette, but sometimes it's nice having a predetermined makeup look picked out for you. I love that this palette comes with two looks (Smoky and Natural) to enhance my best asset!

 

 

SEPHORA COLLECTION Colorful Duo Eyeshadow (Color 10 Golden Pink): Retail $16.00 on sale for $5.00!! I'm new to trying Sephora eyeshadow and thought this was a steal to try out. This duo was available in three other combos, but I selected this one because I thought it was the most wearable.

 

Mermaid To Order, Teal We Meet Again, Meet For Drinks, I'm With Brad

 

Retail $9.00 on sale for $4.50 each! Sephora was having a huge sale on all SEPHORA by OPI products since they are replacing the collection with their new SEPHORA X line. There were so many polishes to choose from, but I narrowed it down to the top four colors I most wanted to try.

 

 

 

 

I just had to try my favorite out first: Sephora By OPI Mermaid To Order

 

I just love this color-it definitely reminds me of mermaids!! I wish I tried this collection sooner before finding out it was being discontinued. I know I'm probably missing out on some great colors!!

 

 

Free Samples: Prada Luna Rossa Men's Fragrance, Living Proof Nourishing Styling Cream, Philosophy Cinnamon Buns Shampoo, Shower Gel & Bubble Bath, Fresh Soy Face Cleanser, & Dior DiorShow Mascara deluxe sample

 

As always, you get 3 free samples with every order, plus I had a promo code for the deluxe sample! Somehow they also threw in the Men's Fragrance sample which I'll give away since I can't use it.

 

Spent: $55.50 plus sales tax. Total Savings: $50.50!! Not bad-almost half off!!

What did you think of my latest Sephora purchase? What's on your wish list?

 

Zoya: Summer Flashback Sale!

I love Zoya nail polish as much as the next girl, but at $8 a pop I only tend to stock up when they have a special promotion. It had been awhile since I've purchased any new Zoya polishes since I skipped their Earth Day Nail Polish Exchange back in April. So when their Summer Flashback Sale came along, I just had to partake! Not only was it a B1G1 FREE on select polishes, but if you purchased 4 bottles (and got 4 free) you also received free shipping. Plus they threw in a free gift with my order!

 

My Zoya Haul

 

 

 

 

Free Gift With Purchase: Zoya Remove Plus Nail Polish Remover 20z

 

I am so excited to get this free with my purchase! I have never tried Zoya's nail polish remover before and it's gotten great reviews! It's a decent size bottle, so it should last me a while!!

 

 

 

 

Zoya Summer 2012 Surf Collection: Kimber, Carly, Myrta, & Meg

 

The only polish I previously purchased from this collection was Zuza, which happens to be one of my favorites! I skipped over the Beach Collection (which consisted of crème polishes) and went right for the Surf Collection due to the foil and metallic finishes!

 

 

 

Zoya Sunshine Collection: Rica & Faye

 

I went with a couple of polishes from this collection as well due to the glowing golden metallic sparkle! The other one from this collection that I can't stop thinking about is Kimmy, so I might need to buy it next time.

 

 

 

Zoya Sparkle Nail Polish Collection: Mimi & Alegra

 

As you all know I love glitter polish, so I was really into these foil-glitter, metallics! I already own Ivanka and Charla from this collection and love them both. Since Gilda wasn't part of the promo and Nidhi didn't have as much sparkle, I went with these two.

 

 

Did you take advantage of Zoya's Summer Flashback Sale? Which polishes did you pick up?

Julep Body Care: Fresh Citrus Skincare Set

As an exfoliating junkie, I was excited to try Julep's Fresh Citrus Skincare Set! The set consisted of a sugar scrub and frosting. Exfoliating is an important part in a skin care routine because it removes dead skin cells and impurities, helping you to achieve healthy skin. It is imperative to not over-exfoliate, so it is recommended to use a scrub no more than 2 to 3 times a week while taking a shower or bath.

First exfoliate the body using the scrub. Apply the scrub to wet skin, massaging in a circular motion over the entire body. Then rise off the scrub thoroughly. There are different types of body scrubs to choose from such as salt, oatmeal, or coffee. In this case I used a sugar scrub. This scrub had a nice grapefruit scent and left my skin feeling silky smooth afterwards.

 

Pink Grapefruit Sugar Scrub

After you will want to use a moisturizer. This step is also important because you will need to help replenish your skin's natural barrier by trapping in moisture. Pat your skin with a towel until it is almost dry. Then apply a generous amount of your favorite moisturizing cream or lotion. In this case, I used a frosting. It did in fact look like what you would find in a can of frosting! It felt very decadent, leaving my skin feeling smooth all over. 

 

 

 

Pink Grapefruit Body Frosting

 

I loved this set so much that I purchased Julep's Pomegranate Body Scrub and Pomegranate Body Crème during their Warehouse Sale! I'll post a review once I receive my order and try them out.

 

Have you tried any of Julep's scrubs? What's your favorite kind/brand of body scrub to use and why?