Bath & Body Works Semi-Annual Sale is Back for Summer 2016

Bath & Body Works Semi-Annual Sale

Bath & Body Works Semi-Annual Sale is Back for Summer 2016 and it starts now.  The Big Semi-Annual Sale (otherwise known as the Big Rubber Ducky sale) is here, and there are a ton of great deals happening on select lotions, soaps, and shower gels as well as home fragrance products.  You can score signature body care products starting at only $3.75.  Hand Soaps are $3, Wallflower refills are $3, and 3-wick candles are 50% off.  There are a lot of promotions happening, so be sure to check bathandbodyworks.com or go into a store to see them all.

Bath & Body Works Semi-Annual Sale

One of the best things about the Semi-Annual Sale is that old favorites are brought back, so keep an eye out for those scents that you loved in seasons past.  They have certain discontinued scents going all the way back to the 90’s available for a short time.  I totally remember rocking Country Apple and Sun-Ripened Raspberry back in high school.  That was so long ago!  Cucumber Melon and Mango Mandarin are also old favorites of mine, so I am personally glad to see them back, even if it is just for a little while.

Bath & Body Works Semi-Annual Sale

You can experience huge savings during the Semi-Annual Sale of up to 75% off.  The Rubber Ducky sale usually lasts for a couple weeks.  I have found, though, that the deals are better the earlier into the sale you go, so you may want to shop early.  There is also a coupon for $10 of off a $40 purchase that was mailed out to B&BW subscribers that is valid through Friday 6/10.  Use code WELOVESALE if you are shopping online to get the discount.  If you are a Bath & Body Works lover, now is your time to stock up on all of your favorites.  Happy shopping!

Bath & Body Works Semi-Annual Sale Summer 2015

Bath & Body Works Semi-Annual Sale Summer 2015

It’s back.  Bath & Body Works Big Semi-Annual Sale (otherwise known as the Big Rubber Ducky sale) starts online tomorrow 6/6, and in-store Monday 6/8.  There are a ton of great deals happening on select lotions, soaps, and shower gels as well as home fragrance products.  This weekend only, you can score signature body care products for only $3, Wallflower refill 2-packs for $5, and all True Blue Spa products are 50% off.  (Remember that it is online only until Monday.)  You can experience huge savings during the Semi-Annual Sale, up to 75% off.  The Rubber Ducky sale usually lasts for a couple weeks.  I have found, though, that the deals are better the earlier into the sale you go, so you may want to shop early.  Old favorites are brought back for the Semi-Annual Sale, so keep an eye out for those scents that you loved in seasons past.  If you are a Bath & Body Works lover, now is your time to stock up.

Monthly Favorites and Fails, March 2015

March 2015 Monthly Favorites

It’s Monthly Favorites time, better late than never.  Thank you for your well-wishes while I was sick.  I was pretty bad off all week with that stomach flu, but I feel much better now.  Almost completely back to normal.  I thought about skipping Favorites for March since it is so late in the month, but I really like Favorites posts.  Besides, I’ve been testing new products that I haven’t gotten a chance to review yet.  I really want to at least mention a couple of them because there are so many drugstore brand sales this week.  So, even though it is almost half way through April, I am going to talk about my favorites from March.

L’Oreal Infallible Pro Matte Foundation

My first favorite is one that I haven’t gotten a chance to review yet, but that I have been really liking.  It’s the new L’Oreal Infallible Pro Matte Foundation.  I am surprised my how much I like this foundation.  I have dry skin, so I was expecting that it would be too dry for me, but it isn’t as long as I use a good primer underneath.  L’Oreal Infallible Pro Matte has an extremely lightweight formula.  It does not have a full matte finish, but more of a demi-matte finish that keeps some of the life in your skin which is probably why I can get away with using it.  The foundation lasts all day on me, even long days outside like at Disneyland.  I will do a full review soon, but in the mean time, know that L’Oreal Infallible Pro Matte Foundation is a keeper.

Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara

Another product that I haven’t gotten the chance to review yet is the Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara.  Here is the blurb from Maybelline: “Lash Sensational Waterproof Mascara is the first patented fanning brush with 10 layers of bristles to reveal a full flourish of lashes. Liquid Ink formula coats from all sides for a sensational full fan effect.”  I love how my lashes look with this mascara.  The “full fan effect” is no joke, and I get great length and volume with Lash Sensational.  This is definitely a mascara worth checking out.

Maybelline Baby Lips in Rose Rush

It is Springime and I am all over a coral lip.  I keep reaching for my Maybelline Baby Lips in Rose Rush from the Pink’ed collection. For those who haven’t tried Maybelline Baby Lips yet, they are a tinted lip balm.  I find them pretty moisturizing and comfortable on the lips.  They have a lot of shine and generally sheer pigmentation, though some shades do pack more of a punch of color than others.  Rose Rush is a pink toned coral shade that has sheer, but still noticeable pigmentation.  I think that Baby Lips are a great option and I often have one in my purse.

Tarte Amazonian Clay Blushes

I found myself reaching for my Tarte Amazonian Clay Blushes all month long.  I have several of them, and I love the formula.  I know that you are all probably familiar with the Amazonian Clay Blushes, so I won’t spend a ton of time on them.  All you really need to know is that they are nicely pigmented and apply very smoothly.  The blushes pictured are in the shades Adventurous and Treasured, which were both Limited Edition, but any of the Tarte Amazonian Clay Blushes are worth exploring if you haven’t already done so.  They are a cult favorite for a reason.

Clean Apothecary Olive Oil Brush Shampoo in Lemon Scent

I am still absolutely loving my Clean Apothecary Olive Oil Brush Shampoo in Lemon Scent.  I did a full review of this brush shampoo as well as the Goat’s Milk variety, so be sure to check it out for more details.  I still can’t get over how well it cleans my brushes and how quickly I can get through all of them.  It cuts through foundation and cream products like nothing else that I have tried.  I have a ton of brushes, and this brush shampoo makes it so much easier to clean them.  I also really like the subtle Lemon scent.  It is very fresh.  Clean Apothecary Brush Shampoo is a little expensive, but I think that for my needs it is absolutely worth the cost.

Spongeables Pedi-Scrub Foot Buffer

I was without my Spongeables Pedi-Scrub Foot Buffer for a couple months, and now that I have it back I can tell how much I missed it and what a difference it makes.  This is the Revitalizing Citron-Eucalyptus version.  I think that I may prefer the Lavender & Tea Tree Oil a little more, but both scents are very nice.  One side of the Spongeable is soft and gentle, infused with soap and aromatic botanicals to leave feet clean, fresh and sweet smelling.  The other side buffs away dry, rough skin on heels and soles, and exfoliates.  Use the soft side to cleanse and moisturize; flip the sponge over to the scruffy side to exfoliate and massage away aches, pain and tension.  I really like Spongeables, and don’t want to go without again.

B&BW Honeysuckle Bouquet Wall Flowers

And finally, more of a lifestyle favorite is the Bath & Body Works Wallflower in Honeysuckle Bouquet.  I know that I have talked about how much I love B&BW Wallflowers.  They are so easy to just plug in and get any room smelling great.  I use candles in the living room, but I always have a Wallflower in the bathroom.  Honeysuckle Bouquet is described as “Sweet honeysuckle, pink peony and a touch of creamy vanilla bring spring to any room.”  I love the smell of honeysuckle, and this scent is divine.  I totally recommend picking it up for spring.

And, now onto some Fails for the month.  Sadly, I did have some products that I did not like at all.  Always keep in mind that my reviews are based on my specific experience with these products, and good or bad, you may have different results.  So, just because I give a product a bad review, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it is a bad product.  It just means that it did not work for me.

Physicians Formula Argan Wear Renew BB Cream

My first fail of the month is the Physicians Formula Argan Wear Renew BB Cream.  I was so excited to try this out, and was extremely disappointed by its performance.  It is supposed to be “a luxurious, high performance formula that will even out your skin tone, vanishing flaws and imperfections and smoothing skin texture without ever leaving a greasy feel or finish.”  I tried so hard to make this product work for me.  I applied it with brushes, my fingers, a sponge, with and without primer.  No matter what I did, the BB Cream looked streaky and patchy on my skin.  I think there is too much oil in the formula, and that’s coming from someone with dry skin.  It sank into my pores, emphasized every flaw, and made my skin look terrible.  I was really surprised because I know a lot of people love Physicians Formula face products like this, but I hated the formula.  Also, people who are sensitive to smell will have a hard time using this product because the argan oil is kind of stinky.  All in all it was a big fail for me.

Born Pretty Water Decal Nail Wraps Set

My other fail for the month was this Born Pretty Water Decal Nail Wraps Set.  This is the first product from the Born Pretty Store that has not worked at all for me.  The set includes five cute plaid patterns of full nail wraps that are water decals.  My main issue with these is that they were so big that they were completely unruly.  I had to cut them down a lot to fit my nails, and then when I tried to apply them, they kept folding up and creasing.  Every time I would try to smooth them out they would slip and slide around my nail because water decals are like that until they dry.  It was a very long and frustrating process which yielded very poor results.  I think the patterns are super cute, but they were not worth the hassle.

And that wraps up my Favorites and Fails for March.  I am sorry that this post was so late but like I said, I felt like I was dying last week, so it is better late than never.  I hope that you saw something that you liked.  I will try to get the full reviews of the new 2015 products up as soon as I can, though I probably won’t review the crappy BB Cream.  I’ll just say that it sucked and leave it at that.  But definitely a review for the L’Oreal Foundation and the Maybelline mascara will be coming down the pike.  What did you think of my Favorites and Fails?  Have you had any experience with these products?  Do you disagree with my opinions?  Let’s talk about it in the comments below.  Thanks again for all of your well wishes while I was sick.  I appreciate it, and I am so happy to be feeling better.

Bath and Body Works Semi-Annual Haul

Bath & Body Works

You have mentioned in the past that you like to see my hauls, so today I wanted to show you what I picked up from the Bath and Body Works Semi-Annual sale.  I went back and forth for a long time as to whether or not I wanted to partake in the sale this time around or wait for the summer sale (I have a lot of B&BW products already).  Ultimately the $3 anti-bacterial soaps and a gift card that I got for my birthday finally convinced me to bite the bullet.  So, without further delay, here is everything that I bought.

Bath & Body Works Haul

You may notice that the soaps make up the majority of my order because that was the main thing that I was after.  I also am a really big fan of B&BW home fragrance products, so I decided to pick up some Wallflowers, a 3-wick candle, and I wanted to try the Scentportable for the first time.  I combined the already low prices due to the semi-annual sale with a 15% off coupon for online orders for a huge savings.  The Deep Cleansing Hand Soaps are usually $6.50 each, but my final price brought them down to $2.55.  The Shower gel is usually $11, but I paid $3.40.  There was a buy 3, get 1 free sale on the Scentportable line, so with that deal, plus the 15% off, I saved $5.25 on those products.  On Wallflowers, I was able to save $11.35, and the 3-wick candle was almost $13 less than regular price.  There is still time for you to save, because the sale isn’t quite over yet.  The semi-annual sale is always a great time to stock up on B&BW, because the savings really are fantastic.

Sandalwood Vanilla Candle

I was very good, and only picked up one of the 3-wick candles.  I love burning B&BW candles in the living room where we can be constantly changing up the scent depending on our mood, rather than having a semi-permanent Wallflower scent.  B&BW 3-wick candles are my favorite.  I have tried other brands in similar styles, but B&BW candles burn the most evenly and have the best scent to permeate the room.  Sandalwood Vanilla is a warm, sultry scent that is wonderful or this time of year when late winter makes you want to be nice and cozy.

Bath & Body Works Home Fragrance

I really like B&BW Wallflowers in the rest of my house.  I have a good number of Wallflowers right now, but when I saw Autumn I had to get it.  It is one of my favorite B&BW scents.  I hate summer, so I start burning Autumn in August or September to try to usher in Fall as early as possible.  My husband enjoys the scent as much as I do, which helps.  I have never smelled Sun Drenched Vineyard, but the description “A full-bodied blend of rich fruit, white wine grapes and French oak recalls an unforgettable day at a family-run vineyard in a tiny Provençal village” sounded wonderful (albeit a bit ostentatious).  I wanted to give the Scentportables a try for the area were I keep my cat’s litter box.  It’s not in a good place for a Wallflower, so I am hoping a Scentportable can help keep cat odors at bay.  The Hubs and I chose Fresh Linen, Eucalyptus Mint, and Turquoise Waters, so we will see what works the best.

Bath & Body Works Soaps

Finally, I have an army of Deep Cleansing Anti-bacterial Hand Soaps and one lonely little shower gel.  For the most part I resisted the lotions, body sprays, and bath gels because I am pretty well stocked up in that area already.  The only exception is a bottle of Wild Honeysuckle Shower Gel because it is only available online or during the semi-annual sale.  I love the scent, especially in the Spring and Summer.  Wild Honeysuckle has bright floral notes that remain light and fresh.

Soap is a product that I blow through like crazy.  I wash my hands a lot, and though this may seem like an excessive amount of soap, for me it really isn’t.  With a bottle in two bathrooms and the kitchen, I may even need to stock up again come the next sale in June.  I prefer the B&BW Deep Cleansing Anti-bacterial Hand Soaps over any other soap.  I ended up getting eight bottles, so I will list them here and give you the B&BW description.

• Aqua Blossom- A seaside escape of ocean melon, white lotus and dewy gardenia.
• Kitchen Lemon- A fresh blend of zesty lemon, sparkling citrus and Italian bergamot.
• Mediterranean Lemon- Scented with Seaside lemon blended with Kaffir lime and wild verbena leaves.
• Mandarin Citron- Scented with Provencal lemon and juicy mandarin sprinkled with cyclamen petals.
• Rain Kissed Leaves- A crisp scent of lush green leaves refreshed by cool summer rain.
• White Pear and Fig- A cold-weather delight of crisp white pear layered with frosted fig.
• 2 bottles of Wild Honeysuckle- An alluring blend of bright flowers dancing in spring rain.

There you go, that is my Bath & Body Works haul.  Did you take advantage of the Semi-Annul sale?  If so, let me know what you picked up.  There is still a little bit of time left if you want to shop the sale, but not very much.  I believe that this is the last week, so don’t wait too long if you are going to get anything.  Also, don’t forget to sign up for Ebates if you haven’t already done to get cash back for shopping online.  I have a referral link on the right hand side of the blog page, and a post about Ebates explaining what it is about if you are interested.

 

It’s Almost Here: Bath & Body Works Semi-Annual Sale

Bath & Body Works Semi-Annual Sale

Bath & Body Works has it’s Big Semi-Annual Sale (otherwise known as the Big Rubber Ducky sale) starting Friday, Dec 26th.  There are a ton of great deals happening on select lotions, soaps, and shower gels as well as home fragrance products.  There are several items that are 50% or more.  Old favorites are brought back for the Semi-Annual Sale, so keep an eye out for those scents that you loved in seasons past.

This year returning Signature Collection fragrances are:

• Violet Lily Sky
• Pear Blossom Air
• Golden Magnolia Sun
• Lemon Vanilla
• Coconut Vanilla
• Apricot Vanilla

And returning Home Fragrances are:

• French Lavender
• Sun drenched Vineyard
• Palm Leaves
• Coastal Sun
• Eucalyptus Mint and Waves

Check your email B&BW subscribers, because they usually send out a $10 off of $40 coupon sometime during the sale.  I can’t promise that they will do it again, but it has been their practice for the last several semi-annual sales.  The sale is very popular and items will sell out fast, so it’s best to go early for the best selection.  Be sure to stock up for the next six months until this sale loops back around in June.

Happy Shopping!

Monthly Favorites October 2014

Monthly Favorites October 2014

Happy Halloween!  It’s the last day of the month, so you know what that means.  It’s Monthly Favorites time!  For those of you who are new to the blog, Monthly Favorites are those products that particularly stood out to me and ones that I reached for over and over throughout the month.  This month was a little different in that I seemed to be really focused on my higher-end products.  Usually my favorites are mostly drugstore, with maybe one higher-end thrown in, but not so this month.  Also, I’m sorry the lighting is a little funky in these pictures.  I was racing the setting sun.  Most of my looks this month were very warm, with a lot of Fall colors involved.  I love greens, golds, taupes and browns, and this time of year I take any excuse to wear them.  But enough yammering, let’s get into the products.

Revlon Photoready Color Correcting Primer

I went back to my Revlon Photoready Color Correcting Primer this month.  I forgot how much I enjoy it.  The formula dries down to a satiny finish that offers a bit of hydration, without getting oily.  It feels lightweight and wears comfortably.  My makeup blends over it very easily and evenly, and I love the soft-focus look it gives the skin.  It doesn’t actually color-correct, but it diminishes the look of fine lines and pores, and even fuzzes out my freckles a bit.  My skin looks younger and more even with Revlon Photoready Color Correcting Primer.  Silicon-based primers are still my favorite, but this one is a great alternative.

It Cosmetics Bye-Bye Redness

I am not sure if I mentioned It Cosmetics Bye-Bye Redness here on the blog before.  As you know if you have been reading along for awhile, I have mild rosacea and redness is a big issue for me.  Bye-Bye Redness really helps to cover it up.  Here is Ulta’s description of the product: “What is it: Bye Bye Redness Correcting Creme is a red neutralizing and correcting cream that completely cancels redness in your skin from view. Rich in peptides, hydrolyzed collagen and anti-aging technology, Bye Bye Redness Correcting Creme camouflages redness and any red-toned skin discolorations from rosacea, broken capillaries, blemished skin, irritated skin, sun damage, scars, age spots, physician procedures and more! Bye Bye Redness Correcting Creme gives perfect coverage that will never crease or crack and is designed to not only cover, but to make you skin appear supple and flawless!”  I have been using this as a base under my lighter coverage foundations.  With the move coming up, I’ve been trying to use up as many products as I can so I don’t have to lug them cross-country.  My light coverage foundations don’t get a lot of love because I usually need more than that, but with It Cosmetics Bye-Bye Redness as a base, I can use foundations that wouldn’t otherwise work for me without crazy layering.  One layer of It Cosmetics Bye-Bye Redness and one layer of foundation looks great, covers my redness, and no cake face.  A little goes a long way, so even though the jar is small, you barely need any product to cover your whole face.  The only down side is that it only comes in one shade, so if you are too far out of the range of that shade, even as a base it probably wouldn’t work for you.  But if you do fit into the shade range, it’s a great product.

bareMinerals READY Eyeshadow 4.0 in “The Soundrack”

I have really been enjoying my bareMineral eyeshadow this month, especially the bareMinerals READY Eyeshadow 4.0 in “The Soundrack”.  This quad is so me.   I love greens and golds, and it is so beautiful for Fall.  These shadows feel like butter and blend so easily and smoothly.  They have a luxe feel on the skin, more so that Urban Decay, Lorac, or other brands that I have tried at a similar price point.  I haven’t tried true high-end eye shadows (Dior, Guerlain, Givenchy, etc.), but I wonder if these bareMinerals READY Eyeshadows are just as good.  I don’t know, but I can say that they have a truly wonderful formula and I really recommend trying bareMinerals shadow if you haven’t already.

e.l.f. Essential Smudge Pot in Cruisin’ Chic

On the complete other end of the spectrum is the e.l.f. Essential Smudge Pot in Cruisin’ Chic.  I really like this product, and have loved quick and easy applications when I need to run out the door.  It’s really a one and done shade, where you can just apply this shadow and that’s it.  It reflects light in such a way that it has dimension on the eye, without needing assistance.  I have simply applied it with my fingers, slapped on some liner and mascara and was good to go on more than one occasion this month.  The best part is how incredibly cheap it is while still being this good.  Even though e.l.f recently raised their prices, the Smudge Pots are only $3.  You need this in your life.

Bite Beauty mini High Pigment Matte Pencil in Rhubarb

Next up is my Bite Beauty mini High Pigment Matte Pencil in Rhubarb.  This was actually part of a Holiday set that I got last Christmas from Sephora.  You can read my review of the Best Bite Set here.  Bite Beauty uses food-grade ingredients and avoids synthetic chemicals, so their products are safe and of good quality.  Rhubarb is a dark, warm-toned, rosy mauve shade.  It is right up my alley.  The formula is creamy and it does not migrate or sink into fine lines.  I have been wearing Rhubarb a lot, and really like it.  If you are interested, Bite Beauty has a similar set available for this Holiday season at Sephora.  It is called the Best Bite Remix, and Rhubarb is part of that set too.

 

Bath & Body Works Twilight Woods

I have been loving Bath & Body Works Twilight Woods scented lotion.  I am not good at explaining fragrances, so here is what B&BW says: “The warmth and mystery of enchanted woods with an enticing blend of apricot nectar, mimosa petals & Tuscan cypress.”  All I know is that it smells so delicious.  It’s a little sweet, but not cloying.  It’s exotic, but not overly musky.  It’s feminine, but not girly (if you know what I mean).  It’s sophisticated, but not a grandma type scent.  It’s just really good, and my husband loves it too.  He always compliments me when I am wearing it.

swatches

Here are some swatches of the color cosmetics.  E.l.f. Essential Smudge Pot in Cruisin’ Chic is on the top, Bite Beauty mini High Pigment Matte Pencil in Rhubarb is in the middle, and bareMinerals READY Eyeshadow 4.0 in “The Soundrack” is on the bottom.  Hopefully you saw something that you liked and that sparked your interest.  But wait, there’s more.  I also have a non-beauty favorite for October, though it isn’t very seasonally appropriate.

 

Pineapple Kona Pop tea from Teavanna

My final favorite of the month is a lifestyle favorite.  I have been absolutely addicted to the Pineapple Kona Pop tea from Teavanna.  Oh my gosh you guys, it’s AMAZING!!!  Here is what Teavanna says about it: “Prepare to receive the royal pineapple treatment. The mainland melts away as the warmth of pineapple sunshine filters through a canopy of fragrant orange blossoms. You’re on island time now.”  The herbal tea has Pineapple and citrus infusion with light floral undertones.  It tastes like pineapple juice and iced tea had a love child.  It is so good.  I have only tried it iced, so I don’t know how well it would work as a hot tea because I am not fond of warm pineapple.  But if you like iced tea, you have to give this a try.

That’s it.  Let me know what your favorites for October were in the comments below.  We are moving in less that a month, and I am kind of freaking out.  I am over-the-moon excited, but also really stressed and overwhelmed by the amount of work I have to do.  I’m sorry that I couldn’t get any of my planned Halloween tutorials up.  Tutorials take a long time to photograph, and I just couldn’t fit it in.  I will be posting as often as I can, but I’m not sure what that’s going to look like yet.  I am also not sure how long I will be without internet when I move.  I will let you know when I know.  In the meantime, have a great time celebrating Halloween tonight!  Have fun and stay safe.

Bath & Body Works Big Semi-Annual Sale Summer 2014

Bath & Body Works Big Semi-Annual Sale

Bath & Body Works has it’s Big Semi-Annual Sale starting this week.  The sale is currently happening online and starts tomorrow June 9th in store.  There are a ton of great deals happening, including select lotions, soaps, and shower gels as low as $3.00.  Wallflower refill packs are $6.25, more than half off.  There are also several items that are 50% or 75% off.  Old favorites are brought back for the Semi-Annual Sale, so keep an eye out for those scents that you loved in seasons past.  Selection will vary by store.

Check your email B&BW subscribers, because they usually send out a $10 off of $40 coupon sometime during the sale.  I can’t promise that they will do it again, but it has been their practice for the last several semi-annual sales.  The sale is very popular and items will sell out fast, so it’s best to go early for the best selection.  Be sure to stock up for the next six months until this sale loops back around after Christmas.

Happy Shopping!

February 2014 Monthly Favorites

February 2014 Favorites

It’s the last day of February, and you know what that means- it’s time for my Monthly Favorites.  For those of you who are new to the blog, Monthly Favorites are those products that particularly stood out to me and ones that I reached for over and over throughout the month.  To be honest, February was kind of a blur.  I feel like maybe I was on auto-pilot for some of the time because I am not getting as clear an impression of the month as a whole as I usually do.  I’ve been under a lot of stress and I’m having a hell of a time with my insomnia.  You know how it is sometimes, just going through the motions day after day.  Sleep deprivation had a lot to do with it.  Nonetheless, I do have some favorites that made an impression, so let’s get into it.

Maybelline Master Hi-Light Blush in Mauve

In case you couldn’t tell by the rave I gave it in my previous post, I really loved the Maybelline Master Hi-Light Blush in Mauve.  It is such a beautiful shade, and it wears really well.  Mauve has definitely become one of my favorite blushes in my collection.  I find that I am less of a fan of pink blushes.  I like less traditional shades like bright coral or plum.  Mauve fits right in with that.  It gives me a lovely sheen and looks great.  You should definitely check it out, especially because Maybelline is so often Buy one Get one 50% off at Ulta and certain drugstores.

Nivea Kiss of Olive Oil & Lemon

Last month I showed you Nivea Kiss of Milk & Honey in my favorites.  This month I have the Kiss of Olive Oil & Lemon.  I love this line of lip balms!  They are creamy without being waxy, and so moisturizing.  Kiss of Olive Oil & Lemon has a subtle herbal scent that is simply lovely.  It’s a very unassuming scent, so it doesn’t get in the way.  Just like Kiss of Milk & Honey, Kiss of Olive Oil & Lemon feels fantastic and leaves my lips hydrated and very happy.  The lightweight formula is comfortable and works so well at keeping my lips healthy.  Love it!

NYX Studio Perfect Photo-Loving Primer

I discovered the NYX Studio Perfect Photo-Loving Primer and have really been enjoying it.  My favorite primer is Smashbox Photo Finish, and this NYX primer is very similar, but only a fraction of the cost.  It’s very smooth and wears well.  I’m not going to go into too much detail right now because I plan on doing another Battle of the Drugstore Primers soon, but just know that NYX Studio Perfect Photo Loving Primer is fantastic, and well worth a try.

Paula’s Choice Skin Recovery Hydrating Treatment Mask

Paula’s Choice Skin Recovery Hydrating Treatment Mask has been a lifesaver this month.  According to paulaschoice.com: “This rich cream mask calms redness, stops flakes, and rekindles the glow.”  The combination of experimenting with skincare (more on that later) and the cold temperatures requiring us to let the heater run so much made my skin super dry and flaky.  No bueno.  The Skin Recovery Hydrating Treatment Mask is one of the strangest “masks” I’ve ever used.  It’s a thick cream like a heavy moisturizer that should be left on the skin for at last 20 minutes, or you can also use it as an actual moisturizer overnight.  It doesn’t feel sticky or greasy, absorbs easily into the skin, and works like a moisturizer, so that’s how I have been using it.  The difference in my skin is obvious.  Within two days, my skin looked noticeably healthier and felt much better.  If you have issues with dry skin, I definitely recommend the Skin Recovery Hydrating Treatment Mask.  The only down side is that you have to order online.

Giorgio Armani Acqua di Gioia

I have been loving my new Giorgio Armani Acqua di Gioia rollerball.  I wanted a perfume that was a little more sophisticated than the scents that I usually go toward (Juicy, Ed Hardy) but not too heavy.  What’s great about Acqua di Gioia is that it still smells fresh and clean, but with a grown up sophistication.  It is an aquatic scent, with light citrus and floral notes.  The scent reminds me of a villa in the Mediterranean, so beautiful.  I can see myself wearing this constantly during spring and summer.  Love it!

Bath and Body Works Sensual Amber

This month I pulled out my Bath and Body Works Sensual Amber Body Lotion and Shower Gel.  It’s is such a lovely and sexy fragrance.  Bath and Body Works describes Sensual Amber as: “The exotic scent of lotus petals enveloped by golden amber and blended with succulent plum and creamy sandalwood.”  This isn’t a year-round scent for me because it is a little more perfume-y than most B&BW scents, but I love it for late summer/early fall, and also late winter.  It’s a great scent for February, especially around Valentines Day.  Sensual Amber is a warm, seductive scent, but not so heavy that I feel weighed down by it.  I really like it.

Lorde Pure Heroine

My final favorite is a lifestyle favorite.  I’m a bit late to the party, but I’ve been obsessed with Lorde’s Pure Heroine album.  Beyond just “Royals” which is a great song, the album as a whole has a cool, indie-pop sound with witty, intelligent lyrics.  The extended version has six additional songs from The Love Club.  It’s a really good album and probably 90% of what I’ve been listening to this month.  It’s hard to believe that Ella Yelich-O’Connor  is so young and I can’t wait to see what she does next.

That’s it for my February favorites.  I hope that you saw something that you liked.  If you have used any of these products, I’d love to know your thoughts.   Leave me a comment below.  And let me know what your favorites were for February.  I am looking forward to March.  I think I am getting my sleep under control, so fingers crossed I will have better luck with it next month.  Things are slowly moving forward with our upcoming move and we still don’t have details like where and when.  The going theory is that we will be moving in late summer, like August or September.  Having a work-related move with the company relocating us is a lot different than our previous moves and a lot more stressful.  We should be getting more details soon, though, so I am hopeful and excited.  It seems that winter is pretty much over in these parts.  I will miss it when it’s gone.  I have really loved the cold temperatures and snowy weather.  Call me crazy, but winter is my favorite time of year, and I’ve enjoyed it.  I can see spring peaking around the corner, trying to take its place.

Bath and Body Works Semi-Annual Rubber Ducky Sale

Shop soon. Sale starts 12/26

The 2013 Bath & Body Works Big Semi-Annual Rubber Ducky Sale starts December 26th.  If you haven’t taken advantage of this sale in the past, you really should check it out.  You can save up to 75% off and there are Day 1 specials for select Body Lotions and Bath Gels marked down to $3 or $4 each.  I shop this sale every year and stock up on my favorites.  They also bring back the most requested fragrances of the year for a limited time during the Semi Annual Sale.

Bath & Body Works Semi-Annual Sale Most Requested Fragrances for 2013:

• Rome Honeysuckle Amore
• Paris Nights
• Sweet on Paris
• Capri Seaside Citrus
• Bali Mango
• Aruba Coconut

The sale starts December 26th in stores and online!  Be sure to sign up for the B&BW coupons and promos because they often send out an offer for $10 off of $30 or $40 during the sale.  You can score quite a haul for not a lot of money, so mark your calendars.

November 2013 Favorites

Monthly favorites November 2013

I’m so happy that it’s December!  This is my favorite time of year.  I want December to go by as slowly as possible so that I can really enjoy the Holiday season, but if the rest of this year has been any indication, time is going to fly by.  Before we know it, it will be 2014.  Crazy!  Anyway, on to my November favorites.  November was an odd month, makeup wise.  I was so sick at the beginning of the month that I didn’t do anything, not even basic skin care.  As a result, my skin rebelled and the second half of the month was spent trying to undo the damage.  Which leads in to my first two favorites.

Michael Todd True Organics Pumpkin Mask

I have reviewed Michael Todd True Organics here on the blog before.  You can read my review of several of the products from the brand here.  After completely ignoring my skin for about a week and a half, I had some healing to do.  My skin got pretty dry and flaky while I was sick, so the first step to getting it back to normal was this Pumpkin Nutrient-Rich facial mask.  I ended up with two deluxe samples that were 1 oz each, so I’ve really been able to get a feel for the pumpkin mask and I really like it.  At first I was worried that the glycolic acid might be too much for me, but my skin reacted just fine and it didn’t tingle too much or sting like some with sensitive skin have said.  The mask really helped to get rid of all of the dry flaky patches and helped my skin look and feel a lot healthier.  And the best part is that the mask smells so amazing, just like pumpkin pie.

Michael Todd True Organics Avocado and Mango mask

Also from Michael Todd True Organics is the Avocado and Mango Mask.  This mask did so much to rejuvenate my skin and bring the moisture back.  This is a hydrating mask, which isn’t always my favorite kind of mask because I don’t feel like it’s doing anything.  However, this month I really grew to appreciate just what a hydrating mask can do and now I am hooked.  The Avocado and Mango Mask feels and smells like fresh mango puree and makes me crave smoothies.  I love it.  I have been so impressed with all of the Michael Todd True Organics products that I have used (there have been a few more since my review) and am becoming a big fan of the brand.

Sleek Blush by 3 in Sugar

I still haven’t gotten around to posting my review of the Skeek Makeup products that I purchased several months ago.  (I’m so back-logged.)  However, I mentioned my Sleek Blush by 3 palette in Lace in my August favorites, and now I have the Sleek Blush by 3 palette in Sugar for November.  I love pulling out my darker blushes this time of year.  Sugar includes the shades Turbinado, Muscovado, and Demerara.  They are gorgeous blushes, and so very pigmented.  I just have to touch the tip of my brush in for major impact.  They blend well and are long-lasting on my skin.  I love them.  For those of you with lighter skin who are afraid of red and berry blushes, you can wear these shades without looking like a clown.  I recommend a duo fiber stipple brush and a very light hand.  Swatches of all of my color cosmetics will be at the end.

Pixi Beauty Bronzer in Subtly Suntouched

I am surprised by how much I like the Pixi Beauty Bronzer in Subtly Suntouched.  I received it in my November Ipsy bag, which you can view here.  Subtly Suntouched, as  the name would imply, is very subtle.  It is just barely dark enough to show up on my skin as a very light bronzer.  I haven’t really been in the mood to do a full contour and highlight this month, so I’ve been using this product to give my face a touch of warmth and it works beautifully.  I can see myself getting a lot of use out of this during the winter months.

Tarte shadow quad

For my eyes, I’ve been loving this quad from the Tarte Gorgeous Getaways palette.  You can see my full review and swatches of the the Tarte Gorgeous Getaways palette here.  I love that warm tan shade as a transition color for a lot of different looks, and I am a sucker for any green shadow.  This quad is such a no-brainer for me and I love the way it looks.  The blush is gorgeous for a light, natural look.  Be sure to check out my review post to see swatches.

Jordana Twist & Shine in Terra Crave

I showed the Jordana Twist & Shine Moisturizing Balm Stain in Cranberry Crush multiple times, but I haven’t mentioned Terra Crave yet.  Terra Crave falls into that pinky-brown, dark nude family that I love so much.  For me, those type of shades are no-brainer, go-to shades that always work no matter what.  I like the Twist & Shines very much, and you can see my full review and swatches of the other two shades that I have here.

Swatch of the color cosmetics

Here are the swatches of the color cosmetics mentioned.  The top three are the Sleek Blush by 3 palette in Sugar.  Obviously you wouldn’t wear the blush that bold, but I wanted you to see how pigmented the blushes are.  They can also be used as eyeshadow.  Underneath that is the Pixi bronzer.  Again, it’s very subtle, but looks beautiful and gives the skin a bit of warmth.  On the bottom is Terra Crave, which looks a little more pink here than in real life (on my lips it pulls more brown), but the swatch is pretty close.

B&BW Creamy Nutmeg Wallflowers

I don’t have my last favorite to show you because I’m using them right now, but here is a pic from B&BW website.  I know that I’ve mentioned before how much I love Bath & Body Works Wallflowers for the home.  One of my favorite holiday scents is Creamy Nutmeg.  I am not a fan of typical holiday scents of cinnamon and pine.  Creamy Nutmeg is “A warm blend of fresh ground nutmeg, vanilla and pralines” that smells amazing.  The vanilla tones down the nutmeg so that it isn’t too spicy, but the scent isn’t sugary or too sweet.  It smells like Christmas in a way that is both sophisticated and homey at the same time.  Love it!  You must smell it while it’s still in the store.

That’s it for my November favorites.  I can’t wait for Christmas, but I also can’t believe that 2013 is almost over.  How did that happen?  I managed to score some pretty good sales online, so I was able to get most of my Christmas shopping done without having to face down the Black Friday crowds.  The problem with shopping early (for me) though, is that want to keep going.  I love shopping, and I keep finding things that I want to get for my family members even though I’ve already got their presents.  How about you?  Did you do any Black Friday/Cyber Monday shopping?  Are you looking forward to Christmas?  Our tree went up over the weekend and we have gotten about 90% of our decorations done.  Do you decorate right after Thanksgiving, or do you wait a bit?  What are you looking forward to?  Let me know in the comments below.