Sample Test #1

Here we go - I'm using my own face as a guinea pig.

Test #1: Cover FX Camouflage Concealer in Light

First Impression:
*Scary orange color, even though it's second to lightest and the spectrum of offerings ranges from X-Light to X-Deep.
*Strange odor: Semi-herbal, semi-medicinal, overall weirdness.

Application:
*A little thick, but goes on smoothly and blends quickly and easily. No more orange (phew!).
*Covers like a dream - I'm instantly flawless.
*A little goes a long way - Just how I like it for $$$ purposes when looking at a new product. I used maybe a quarter of the sample and got all the major areas on my entire face.

Wear:
*Lovely matte finish.
*Didn't do my dry skin any favors - Flakiness showed through, but was squashed with a light moisturizer application over the top. To it's credit, make-up stayed put.
*A little heavy. I don't notice it moment-to-moment, but my face feels way different than normal to the touch (the company calls this "velvety". Hmm.).

Grade: B+
I'd buy it and use it, but not every day. Too heavy. Super fab special occasion coverage.

Image courtesy of Sephora.com

Full Size Info:
Buy it online through Sephora at $27 for 0.5 ounces. The sample is 0.05 ounces, so I'm pretty sure 1/2 an ounce would last for quite a while. Wide range of colors

Samples Are A Girl's Best Friend

Samples, how great are they?

A world of possibilities to find the next best thing in a palm-sized package. I have a stash of all kinds of goodies just waiting... and waiting... and waiting... for me to find the perfect moment to try them out and use them to their full potential. Maybe because they're free, or maybe just thinking I might need just exactly that size of that thing at some specific future moment, but I never actually use them.

This changes today!

I recently placed an online Sephora order, of which every one you get to choose three of their offered samples for that time period. I also (through RetailMeNot.com, posted about here) found a web code to get a slew of other free samples with my order in a tidy little travel case. Here's the stash:

So now my objective is to try each and every one, and give a little review here. Who knows, I may just find the next best thing.

Oh, the possibilities...

Gorgeous on the Go

Trolling Sephora.com one day, I found myself scoping the "Value Sets" section. As a rule, this section of the site offers fantastic little snack packs of all sorts of beauty brands, allowing you to test drive a multitude of colors and categories.

On this day, I found this gem I've come to love:

Image courtesy of Sephora.com

It's the Too Faced Glamour to Go 2 Pack, and my only disappointment is that I missed number one. Containing eight semi-sheer and shimmery eyeshadows on the top level and four glosses and a blush on the second slide-out tray, it's topped off by the mirror (underside of lid above shadows - not seen in photo), and the fact that it's all about the size of a 1/4 of a pack of cards. Magical! My faves in the pack: The yellow looking shadow in the bottom right corner is actually the perfect shade of glimmery gold that I find myself using nearly every day in some capacity, and the nude lip gloss in the top left corner of the bottom tray is almost obscenely perfect.

Downside: No applicators come with this guy. To me, not truly a problem as I'd rather use my own brushes or fingers anyway, but if you're used to the brands that come with their own you may be dismayed.

Priced at $19.50 it may seem spendy, but when considering a regular size Too Faced singular eyeshadow is around $16 a pop... Well, you can see the value.

Further Lip Service

As mentioned yesterday, since getting hooked on Covergirl Outlast Lipstain I've had a bit of an extra drying factor happening on my lips. Thought I'd share my fave ways of nipping that in the bud:

Image courtesy of Yun.Shop.blogspot.com

Favorite Chapstick:

As many of my pals will confirm, I'm a bit of a chapstick snob. I've tried a boatload, and my winner comes from a place you may not even know makes the stuff: The Gap. Yep, Great American Pants (did you know that's what Gap stands for?) should actually be Great American Chapstick... but Gac just isn't that catchy. How do I love thee? Let me count the ways:

*Zero stickiness.

*Sheen like a light gloss.

*Long-lasting.

*$4-$5.

*Actually good for your lips.

*Yummy flavors/scents that change periodically (I currently have Sugar Plum and Pomegranate in my purse).

Image courtesy of mythbusterbeauty.com

Favorite Gloss:

Lots of the same high points I look for in a chapstick factor into my gloss as well. I don't wear it super often, so I'll put up with a teeny bit of stickiness, but other than that I want an easy, comfy wear. I'm not the girl who wants to reapply either, so it's gotta have a bit of staying power. Winner: Too Faced. There are several different styles, from uber-shine to just-a-hint. Find it at Sephora.com

Givin' Some Lip

New must-have alert!

Image courtesy of makeupandbeautyblog.com

Pretty much all the drugstore brands are jumping on the bandwagon with the lip stains in marker form, but I decided to try Covergirl Outlast Lipstain... Mostly because it was the one in front of me in the aisle, and on sale to boot. It seemed like a safe bet to try (regular price: $8.99).

Image courtesy of Walgreens.com

I chose the color 'Flirty Nude', pictured above. Based on some staining trials in college with actual markers, I knew to choose slightly brighter than I would in a lip gloss or lipstick as stains are sheer as sheer can be, and are easily layered for higher impact. The options for the Outlast stain line are fairly wide - From the lightest pink 'Everbloom Kiss', to the darkest mauve 'Saucy Plum', you'll find a shade for you.

Bonus: This little guy is currently available for the buy one get one 50% off program on Walgreens.com (good for a multitude of Covergirl goodies - Mix and match style), so if you need a super easy stocking stuffer, carpe diem.

My only issue with it is the little bit of a drying factor, which I've found to be easily remedied with a little swipe of gloss or chapstick over the top. Pucker up!

On Sale Now!

Discount alert:

Image courtesy of VictoriasSecret.com

The Victoria's Secret cotton-cashmere wrap I wrote about in August here is now on sale for $39. Not only that, but sweaters are 20% off using the code SWEATER20 at checkout, bringing the total to under $32. 

Image courtesy of BizRate.com

Just wanted to pass on the good news.

Signed, Personalized, Delivered - It's Yours

One of the most successful gifts I've ever given was a personalized sign from Meissenburg Designs.

All images in this post courtesy of OldWoodSigns.com

A homespun company with high end results, Meissenburg Designs offers a plethora (literally.) of vintage poster art you can choose to personalize with your own text. My choice was for my favorite skier, and after choosing my art, the size of my sign, and even the material (I chose metal), had the perfect "logo" applied featuring my skier's fave spot.

This is the art that's on my sign - I changed "Stowe" to a different city, and "Vermont" to a different locale.

I was blown away with the personalized service - I wasn't sure which version of my text to use, so my consultant whipped up images of both and emailed them to me for decision making. I had an estimated time of arrival of 2-4 weeks. I got it in one. I knew exactly what it would look like when it arrived. It looked even better in person.

All of this makes the bang for the (semi-big) buck oh-so-worth it. Each sign is priced based on size, material, and personalization preferences. Mine was over $100, but has been on the mantel for years since, and even elicited a little bit of a misty eye upon giving (score!).