Amazon

Happy Friday good people!

I just wanted to pop in real quick and share a post from one of my favorite bloggers. She did a post on Amazon and some things you need to be aware of while shopping especially for personal care products. Check it out and if you've had a similar experience be sure to leave a comment.

Table for Two - My PSA to You About Buying Products on Amazon

No Buy Success!

I did it woohoo! *two step*

For Lent, I went on a makeup no buy. I didn't say anything because I had already received some not so supportive comments from some who probably thought they were "joking" with me,but that's not how I took it. So I decided to keep it to myself and talk about when I was done.

It was really broad at first but then I was like no, if you're going to do this you need to be specific! So basically Skincare, hair care and tools like brushes weren't included. I did pick up a few eye primers and color tattoos to try out as primers since I am still have issues with my eye looks lasting. Which I am very annoyed by *sigh*. So mainly color products like lippies, nail polish, blush, and single eyeshadows and eyeshadow palettes were included. I also included foundations including BB creams, tinted moisturizers, etc. since I had picked up quite a few in the last month or so. I almost caved and ordered the new Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless foundation just a few days before Lent was over. Phew!

 I was really put to the test when Lancome had an AWESOME Today's Special which of course was a good deal. I had it in my cart before I left work but then I forgot about it. When I got home, I looked at it again and then I was like NO! You're on a no buy and pretty or not, you don't need it! So I did not order it. During this time I did some reorganizing of my stash and future "planning".  This always helps put your beauty buying habits into perspective lol.

Going forward I'm going to continue with a no buy in some areas and a "low" buy in others. Here's my thought process for certain "beauty areas".

• Nail polishes - I am going to continue my no buy for nail polishes. I've had my eye on ones here and there. But honestly I'm sure I have something similar already in my nail polish stash. It'll have to be something pretty unique to make me buy. I reorganized my nail polishes too and everything fits. So I really don't have room for anything new.
• Lippies - Same goes with lippies. I do have my eye on some of the new NYX lippies but I'm waiting to see if Ulta does a 40% off sale. I also have my eye on some items from Colour Pop and Coloured Raine. But again we'll see and I will definitely compare colors with what I already have in my stash too.
• Blush - I don't really have my eye on any blushes except one from MAC in Coygirl that's discontinued. I found a seller on eBay but it sold. So I'll probably forget about it now. I have poked around on Colour Pop's website looking at the blushes that they launched not too long ago and there's maybe one from Tarte I may pick up.
• Highlighters -  I have been looking at several highlighters from Becca and The Balm. So we'll see if any of those come home with me. I was never really all that into highlighters. Don't know what has changed. But I have a nice stash of them so far. I'm going to sound like a broken record, but it'll have to be something unique for me to pick up any additional highlighters.
• Eyeshadows....*sigh* I think I'm eyeshdaow palette out. Shocking I know. I've eyed a few here and there but I'm not really wowed by anything. After a while they all start looking similar. The MAC 15 palettes have caught my eye, but I really don't feel like shelling out $85. One from Laura Mercier that I wanted is back on Sephora's website. If I get it, it may be my last palette purchase for a while. I've been looking more so at single shadows from L'Oreal and Jane Cosmetics. Again waiting to see what kinds of deals I can score from Ulta. I've also eyed some from Colour Pop. It's funny how now I'm shifting towards single shadows when I have always been about palettes other than Bare Minerals loose shadows.
• Foundations - I have never been a foundation junkie. I have picked up a few along with BB and CC creams. I have found ones that I really like and will stick with those. I was thinking about checking out some higher end ones but now I'm like what for??!!
• Mascaras - I am going to try some past favorites from the drugstores again and try to narrow down maybe my top 2 or 3. I don't plan to purchase any high end mascaras unless they come in a kit or come together in a bundle for a good deal. QVC does a lot of mascara bundles around the holidays.
• Brushes - I have gone a little brush crazy on and off since Christmas but that's slowing down. The only brand that I'm hype about is Real Techniques. So I'll keep an eye on what they come out with and scoop sales from Ulta. I'm also still a fan on Bare Minerals brushes and have my eye on two but now I'm leaning towards not getting them. I was also debating on checking out the IT Cosmetics brush line at Ulta but I'm leaning towards not even bothering with that either.
• Hair Products - I have A LOT going on under my bathroom sink *covers eyes*. So I'm definitely in use up mode for hair stuff and only replenish what I need. Plus I won a giveaway with some hair products from the Amla Legend line by Optimum Care! I've used all the items a couple of times and so far so good. They may show up in a post. I'm also trying to decide what I'm going to do going forward in terms of future Wen purchases. There are a few products from Shea Moisture I want to try but it's not like I have to get them right now. So they'll be on the list for a future purchase once I use some products up.
• Skincare Products - Similar to hair products, I don't need any additional skincare. I like the regimen that I have right now and I'm going to stick with it. I've picked up a couple of new scrubs from St. Ives and another mask from Freeman Beauty. So I really don't need anything else. Luckily I stocked on various products during sales. So I'll only to replenish the L'Oreal Youth Code Texture Perfector Serum since that's the item that I use up the fastest. I have my eye on a cleanser I may try when it comes back it stock online. I almost caved on some Paula's Choice products towards the end of March. Then I was like bish if you do not get off this website!!!

I think that's it lol. But course it's subject to change. It's all an ongoing process. I just have to program it in my brain that I already have something I like and works,especially when it comes to everyday "basics" like primer, foundation, cleansers, etc. So stick with those items and stop looking at others!

In addition to the no buy, I also read the "ReThink Life: 40 Day Devotional" which I really enjoyed as well.

Ok enough rambling.

I hope everyone has a Happy Easter. If you don't celebrate Easter then Happy Sunday fun day!

TTFN - Ta ta for now!

You Have a Favorite Product, So Why Buy Something Else?

Long tittle huh?

It's funny looking at various favorites videos on YouTube recently, blog posts or even my own thoughts on products and how someone has a product that they love and has given it "holy grail" status but still go out and gets/tries something new when it comes to beauty products. Especially base products like foundation, powder, primers, concealer and powder. The same can be said for other beauty related products like skin care and hair care.

I can see experimenting and playing around with color products and finishes but again once you have found your favorite red lipstick or a pink blush that compliments your skin tone, why do we feel the "need" to go get another? Or if you have a face wash that's working for you or hair styling product that's working great for your hair, why go out and try something else? If  the product stops working for you or there's a change in the product that you don't necessarily like then I can see going out and trying something else. Rhetorical questions I know and I'm guilty of this a hundred times over. I guess I'm trying to understand and change my way of thinking.

I recently decided that I am going on a drugstore makeup no buy until Easter. Doesn't see like much but since this is where most of my purchases have been the last few weeks, I thought it would be a good place to start. I've also been thinking on higher end items that I do want to pick up this year, so I can take advantage of various sales and deals from places and brands that I shop. Small steps to try and be more strategic with my purchases and not just randomly getting stuff here and there or just because.

Another random post done on the fly. So sorry if it's jumbled and doesn't make much sense.

A Makeup D'oh!

(courtesy of Microsoft)

I did it again!!!  Aimlessly purchased a makeup item at the drugstore that I already have!  Matter fact just purchased not too long ago! The wandering over to the drugstore usually happens when I frustrated at work and need to get away for a moment. Oye vey!  It's only a lipstick and yes I could return or exchange it.  We shall see.  But that's it! No more!  I am going to be more discriminatory with my makeup/beauty purchases from now until the end  of the year (and hopefully beyond that).  I had gotten my bath and body products under control but I've gotten a couple of sets recently. I just did another mini purge of some makeup items and just shopped my stash for some "new" items to play around with.  I need to purge some hair products that honestly should be pitched since I've had them for a while and nothing lasts forever.  I want to make an effort of using up what I have, enjoying it and not feel "bad" that stuff  is just sitting. The fall collections are popping up and of course the  "oooooh I want this and that" vibe has set in but I've gone back and looked over the items and some of the excitement has worn off.  Hopefully this sentiment holds.

Stay tuned...

No Buy...Take 2!

(Courtesy of Microsoft)

*siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiggghhhhh*

So I just go back from going to the mall with a friend of mine.   She wanted to try out some Bare Escentuals stuff so we headed over to Macy's.  There was no one at the BE counter which I thought was odd.  They said the girl left at 6.  Again odd.  So we walked over the the Sephora in JCPenney.  I looked at some things, swatched some things, picked stuff up, put stuff down and I ended up getting three things *head palm*. We walk back to Macy's and some items on the Chanel counter caught my friend's eye.  I ended up get a nail polish and glossimer *head palm*.  I am going to try this no buy thing again.  I'm going to look at some auto delivery orders that I have from QVC.  I did cancel one last night which felt kind of good.  I'm going to go through my collection (mainly eye shadows and blushes), have an honest conversation with myself and give some stuff/throw stuff away.  Let's see how this goes.  Wish me luck.  It's fun to look and buy but after while it's like really dude you only have one face!!  Oye vey!