Red lips, turkey and an announcement

Hi everyone! Hope you all had an awesome Thanksgiving and got to spend the day with family and eat a ton. I did just that, and I must say, I love turkey time.

I know it’s been sort of quiet around here in the past couple of weeks. I hadn’t wanted to say why I wasn’t able to blog regularly in case things didn’t work out, but….my husband and I just bought our first home, and we’re in the process of moving!

What a great way to start my favorite month (December)! Plus, we celebrate our one-year wedding anniversary on 12/5, so it’s just an all-around fantastic feeling.

Once I get settled in to my new house, I’ll be back on track with frequent blog posts, including a few reviews I’ve been meaning to do (some are suggestions for products that are holiday-related or limited edition, so I will definitely get those posted soon).

In other news, I heard back from Tina, the winner of the Kymaro shapewear giveaway, that she’d received her prizes and is loving them already! I plan to kick off 2011 with some sort of giveaway (haven’t figured it out yet, but who doesn’t love winning something?), so be on the lookout for that.

And to throw in something beauty-related, to make this less of a ramble, here’s a photo of my newest obsession — red lips! It’s so glam and so festive for the holidays. My husband hates it, but oh well. I got this shade at the drugstore, on clearance, with a coupon…I think it was in the $2 range. It’s by Maybelline, and it’s one of their Moisture Extreme Lipcolors, in Royal Red.

The best way to rock red lips? A neutral wash of color on the lid, dark eyeliner and mascara, a cozy sweater, and a whole lotta confidence!

Maybelline and NYC haul + swatches

First things first — my promised September favorites is going to be a September/October favorites. These two months have just flown by, and really, I’ve been consistently using the same products so there wouldn’t be much difference between the two sets of favorites anyway.

Now, on to the fun stuff…the haul! I stopped by HEB (a local grocery store) on my way home to look around and came out with a tiny bit of stuff:

I got 3 products from NYC New York Color Cosmetics (a nail polish in Peony – I think a limited edition shade, an Ultra Moist LipWear lipstick in Chiffon, and a Lippin’ Large Lip Plumper lipgloss in Mulberry – this one was for sure limited edition b/c it says so on the package) and 2 palettes from Maybelline (Chai Latte – a quad, and Desert Sunrise – a LE trio from the Salsa Sun collection).

Here’s the Chiffon lipstick swatch. Of course, the camera doesn’t really pick up how pretty this is, but it’s a creamy pink frost that looks like none of the other lipsticks I own (and I own a ton!). Excited to try this one out with a baby pink gloss.

And on the opposite end of the lip color spectrum, here’s a swatch of the Mulberry gloss, where you can get an idea of the consistency as well as the shade. It’s a jelly sort of opaque gloss that definitely feels like a lip plumper when applied (really tingly).

No individual pic of the Peony polish since I didn’t have a chance to apply it. On to the Maybelline…

Here’s the Chai Latte palette…something I had picked up before in the drugstore but never purchased. As if I need more neutral shadows! But the golden bronze shade here sold me. I really have been into that bronze-y eye with the fall weather, and this is such a pretty shade. The Maybelline quads come labeled with which shadow should be placed where — top to bottom, it’s crease, lid, brow bone and outer corner. Pretty!

And Desert Sunrise! So pretty, I definitely don’t have shadows like this in my collection. I don’t really do colored shadows, except for purples, but the idea of using this green shadow is sort of exciting. Plus, another golden shadow and a really pretty reddish brown.

I think I might try to work Club eyeshadow by MAC into a look with these Desert Sunrise shadows somehow. Club is a super unique shade and one that I don’t wear too often just because I don’t really know how to wear it. But, here it is (on the left) with the green and gold shades from Desert Sunrise.

Club has some green in it, even though you can’t really see it in this photo, but there’s also some red and brown and gray and…it’s just a totally unique shadow! I think it’ll work nicely with these. If I like the results, I’ll do a FOTD post here!

August 2010 favorites

Just like last month, I’m a tad behind on posting my blog about my favorite products and things from the month of August. Oh well, it’s still in the single digits of September, so I’m not that late, right?

Makeup: Purples & lavendars (nails, lips and eyes)
I’m super excited to hear that purple is trendy for fall/winter makeup this year because I’ve found a way to make it work for me! You know I love a neutral eye look, so I was sort of intimidated to try colored shadow. But, there are some amazing purple shades in the e.l.f. Beauty Book – Neutral Edition that I bought earlier in the summer, and I wanted to make use of them.

I’ve started using the lighter, more shimmery purple (3rd column, 2nd row) as an all-over lid color and sweeping a more midtone brown (like the medium matte brown in the Wet n Wild Vanity palette) in the crease, and then deepening the outer corner with a combo of a darker plum (like the one here in the 4th column, 2nd row) and a darker brown (4th column, 3rd row).

After I dipped my toe into the purple shadow waters, I was hooked and wanted to try more, like the Maybelline Stylish Smokes quad in 06 Amethyst that I showed you in a recent CVS haul.

This is a great, inexpensive palette. Upon first swatch, all the colors seem really pigmented, but after blending out the lid color (top left) is the one that really keeps its color. But, they’re all good to blend and define into a pretty eye look.

I love the unexpected pop of purple! You could go all out and do a really bold colored eye look, but I’m sticking with soft and conservative! Here’s the lid close-up:

I’ve been topping off all of these purple eye looks with the Prestige Total Intensity Eyeliner in Powerful Purple on my top lash line (but still using Bold Brown on the bottom lash line).

Purple has also found its way into my lip products!

I love doing a light eye with a pretty pinky peach blush and a bold lilac lip. I’ve found a couple good options at the drugstore for purple-y lip shades:

• Sally Hansen Natural Makeup Inspired by Carmindy lipstick in Lilac (see this post for a swatch)
• Revlon ColorBurst lipstick in Lilac (see this post for a swatch)

I definitely plan on expanding this list over the fall and winter! I’ve also found what is quite possibly my holy grail nail shade in a purple tone:

This is Lucky Lucky Lavendar, from the OPI Hong Kong collection, and I’m in love! I first got a manicure with this last month and have since bought my own bottle. It’s definitely got a pink undertone, but there’s also that subtle, sort of quirky hint of purple that I love. Even though this was a summer color for me, I plan on wearing it into the fall and winter. Won’t that be unexpected and really pretty, to have a light lavendar nail when I’m wearing darker, heavier clothing?

Shopping: Target clearance!
Target put a bunch of its more high end makeup brands (Sonia Kashuk, pixi, Jemma Kidd, Napoleon Perdis) on clearance in August to make room for new products from each line. And I scored!

This was just Round One…I went back to different Targets many times throughout the month and built up a little stockpile of clearanced goodies! I also got some cosmetics — NP Set Lipstick (favorite is in Minneapolis, a creamy pink). I’ve only used the big powder brush from Sonia Kashuk above, not the brush set, but I’m really loving that particular one to set my foundation using the e.l.f. High Definition powder.

I’ve seen a few stragglers from this big Target cosmetics clearance in the endcaps along the health/beauty aisles, so be sure to check those out and you might be able to score, too!

Reviewing: All-in-one products
In August, I was really fortunate to review a ton of great products, and the highlight were a couple that I consider “all-in-one” products. Whether they’re intended or marketed that way, these two items have helped me to consolidate at least two products/steps into one, and that’s definitely a favorite!

I just posted a full review of the pixi Lid & Line, and it’s definitely one of my favorite all-in-one products of August. It’s a pen that has a matching shadow and liner, plus a smudger to make it nice and smoky — what more can you ask for? I’m also loving pixi’s YouTube channel where makeup artist Amanda Bell has videos about priming your eye and creating the perfect smoky eye. Really useful videos!

I’ve also reviewed (and loved!) the RUSK Deepshine Oil this month. For me, this was totally an all-in-one product because it gives me the benefits of two different products that I used to use as a hair treatment — argan oil and CHI Silk Infusion. It’s an argan oil-based product, so that takes care of that, and it gives me the same (maybe even better) results as the CHI Silk Infusion that I used as a styling aid to tame the frizz and increase shine when I blowdry. Love this stuff!

Fashion: Business dress with a twist!
I wish I’d been able to photograph more OOTDs for you guys in August because I had to come up with a ton of looks that were appropriate for business meetings and events, but I was able to style them so I still felt cute and comfy.

One standout for me was this awesome grey dress from Express Last Hurrah (an outlet version of Express) topped with a black blazer with 3/4-length sleeves and two buttons at the waist. I got the blazer at ROSS and love adding it to a really simple dress, like this one, to add that final element to tie everything together. It’s also good to top a summery dress or skirt to make it more business/office appropriate.

That’s it for August favorites. Thanks so much to everyone for sharing this month with me and reading my blog. I’ve been having so much fun posting about my favorite products and beauty finds. Stick with me in September. I’ve got tons of great posts planned, along with a giveaway or two!

 

Quick CVS Haul with Maybelline Swatches!

I haven’t hauled very much these past few weeks…I guess that happens when your bank account dips dangerously low after paying bills, tuition, vacation expenses, car repairs, etc., right? Darn adulthood! But, I felt like spending some money today and needed to stop in to CVS to get some emery boards (nail files) for emergency fixes in my office/car/purse, etc.

Cost? $1.79! But do you think I walked away spending just $1 and some change? Heck no! I caught the tailend of an Extra Care promotion for Maybelline (but $10 of their products and get $3 in Extra Care Bucks), and I had some $1 off any Maybelline product coupons, so I grabbed a couple of new (or new to me) items from that brand.

I wanted to try a ColorSensational lipstick and was drawn to 720 Pearly Pink — I’d attempt to describe the shade, but my description would be, “it’s a really pearly pink…” so that’s that!

The swatch doesn’t really show much because it’s a light shade, but it’s a soft pink with white/silver shimmers. (Cost – $7.49 minus $1/off coupon)

As you can see, the consistency of the lipstick is pretty creamy, even though the shade itself is sort of light and sheer. Here’s how it looks on my lips:

Please ignore the wear and tear of my face makeup! I was out in the hot hot hot Texas sun this afternoon and sweat is never a good addition to any look. But, if we’re talking about the lipstick, you can see that it does a good job of lightening up my naturally pigmented lips and giving a sweet pink pout. I’m always in the need for a baby pink lipstick!

I’ve also heard great reviews on YouTube for the Maybelline Stylish Smokes quads, so I picked up one in 06 Amethyst (which has some pretty purple shades…I’ve been loving purple for eyeshadow in the past few weeks and am definitely going to include some in my upcoming August favorites post). This was $6.99 (minus $1 from my coupon!), and I’m excited by the swatches!

Left to right, this is the white browbone color, the gray/purple crease color, the amethyst purple lid color, and the sparkly black outer corner color. But, as vibrant as the colors are on my fingers, they get a bit muted when blended out.

It looks like the amethyst lid color is going to be the rockstar in this quad, and the others might be duds, or just alright shadows.

I also scanned the haircare aisle before heading up to the register to pay and was really excited to see that got2b products were buy one, get one free. I’ve tried a few of their products and had good results, plus I think the packaging is too cute to pass up!

So, for $6.29, I got both of these items:

got2b smooth operator Smoothing Satin Drops – I think I might use these in my damp hair after washing but before blowdrying to help fight the frizz. I’ve heard really great things about this product, so I hope it works for me.

And, I stuck with the Smooth Operator line and picked up this Smoothing Lustre Lotion, which I’ll use in the same way that I do with all my hair treatment products — after getting my hair wet in the shower, I’ll apply and let it sit for an hour or so, then I’ll hop in the shower again and wash/condition before blowdrying. (It’s going to be tough to beat my new favorite hair treatment — RUSK Deepshine Oil!)

So, a quick trip to CVS for one cheap item turned into a haul, of course. I love CVS and always feel like I’ve saved a ton when I shop there…

Over $1,000 in savings this year? I’m not sure if that’s entirely accurate, but whoa.

Giveaway!: Top 15 Drugstore Beauty Products!

Do you like free stuff?

Do you like makeup/skincare/hair treatment products?

Great! Then you’re going to LOVE this giveaway! That’s right, What’s On My Face? just completed our first giveaway, and we’re rolling out the second. This one is for not one…not two…but FIFTEEN items! By entering, you’re competing to win one of every item from my Top 15 Drugstore (aka “Won’t Break the Bank”!) Beauty Products!

If you need a refresher, here’s a quick bulleted list of the Top 15:

• Maybelline Dream Smooth Mousse foundation (the winner specifies the shade)
• e.l.f. Blending Eye Brush (these have unfortunately been out of stock on the e.l.f. website and I can’t find them in any of my local Targets, so a backup will be the Studio Tools eye blending brush — a nice substitution!)
• e.l.f. Custom Compact
• 1 Prestige Total Intensity Eyeliner (in either Bold Brown, Fearless Teal, Powerful Purple, Strong Slate or Intense Olive)
• 1 Revlon Super Lustrous Lipgloss (in a color chosen by me)
• e.l.f Studio High Definition Powder
• Milani HD Advanced Concealer
• Wet n Wild ColorIcon eyeshadow palette (in Vanity)
• CoverGirl Lash Blast Volume (orange tube)
• TRESemme Thermal Creations Heat Tamer Spray
• Sally Hansen Natural Makeup Inspired by Carmindy lipstick (in Baby Pink)
• L’oreal HiP Jelly Balm (in a color chosen by me)
• Clean & Clear Moisturizer, Dual Action Oil Free
• Olay Daily Facials Express Wet Cleansing Cloths
• e.l.f. Beauty Book – Neutral Eye Edition (limited edition, and I think you can only find these in some Target stores)

Check out the Top 15 post to see what I think of all these products.

The only rules I have are:

• You must subscribe to this blog (Google Reader, RSS, whatever).
• You must be in the U.S. or Canada (sorry international readers, but shipping can get expensive).
• You must be 18 or older, or have your parent/guardian give permission. I’m going to need your address to ship out the prize if you’re the winner.

So, what do you have to do to enter? You have a few options…

• Reply to this post, telling me your favorite drugstore beauty products. You can do this as many times as you want (one entry per response), but each response must be a different product/tip.
• Tweet about this giveaway with a link back to my blog. (Make sure to reply to this post letting me know you’ve tweeted so that I can count it as an entry.)
• Post on your blog/YouTube channel/Facebook about this giveaway with a link back to my blog. (Again, I need you to reply separately about this so that it’s counted as an entry.)

The rest of the info…

• This giveaway will be open for one month — until August 31, 2010, at midnight CST (it’s a big giveaway, so I’m hoping to get lots of entries!)
• I’ll use random.org to generate a winner and will notify the winner through a blog post and by email (so make sure you leave your email address in your replies).

GOOD LUCK!

The fine print: I purchased the products for this giveaway with my own money and was not provided with products by any company.

Quick Face of the Day – 7/29/2010

I woke up this morning (actually, slept all night, too) with a migraine, so I stayed home from work. I wasn’t even planning on doing my makeup or leaving the house, but I need to get to the postoffice, and I’m watching YT beauty videos, so I figured why not?

This FOTD is inspired by my Top 15 Drugstore (aka “Won’t Break the Bank”!) Beauty Products that I posted last night.

Foundation is Maybelline Dream Smooth Mousse (if you want details on my concealer/primer, it’s the same as in the FOTD in this post), and I also used my Milani HD Advanced Concealer to brighten my undereye area and the e.l.f. Studio High Definition Powder to set it all. Blush is an NYC Blushable Creme Stick in Plaza Pink, which could have been on my Top 15 list…let’s call it #16! I set that with a sweep of NARS Orgasm Blush on both cheeks.

The eyes have it! That’s a combo of 3 things on my Top 15 list — Wet n Wild Coloricon palette (this one in Vanity), Prestige Total Intensity Eyeliner in Bold Brown, and CoverGirl Lash Blast Fusion mascara.

I wanted a pinky coral pop of color on my lips since my eyes are neutral. So, I paired Sally Hansen Natural Beauty Inspired By Carmindy lipstick (not the Baby Pink that was on my Top 15 list…I used Perfect Pink instead) topped with Revlon ColorStay Mineral Lipglaze in Continuous Coral. Got this at Target the other day with a coupon, and I love it! It’s really opaque and pigmented.

So, that’s what’s on my face today! Don’t forget that my Holy Grail Hair Treatment Giveaway ends TOMORROW at midnight, so get those last minute comment entries in!

Top 15 Drugstore (aka “Won’t Break the Bank”!) Beauty Products

Here’s the thing.

I love shopping.

And I love cosmetics.

But, I love being able to pay my bills and not go below $0 in my bank account.

So, I’m a drugstore makeup shopper. Yes, I like Sephora and MAC and all of the high-end stuff, but I’m not going to turn my nose down at a good product even if it can be purchased in the same store where I buy tampons and Tylenol. A good product is a good product, and it’s even better if I can use a coupon or get a really good clearance deal.

I’ve tested out lots of drugstore makeup, and I feel like I’ve tried enough to name a handful of “must haves” — actually, I set out to make a Top 10 list and ended up with a Top 15. In fact, I probably could go to a Top 20, but I need to set some boundaries for myself, I guess!

Here are some of my favorites, no particular order:

Maybelline Dream Smooth Mousse (foundation)
If you watch beauty gurus on YouTube, chances are you’ve probably heard of this foundation recently. It’s been getting lots of raves, and rightfully so. Let’s start off with the practical packaging. It comes in a jar, so you can dab your brush (or sponge, if that’s how you roll) directly into the foundation, unlike so many drugstore foundations that come in bottles without pumps, so you’re constantly pouring out way more product than you need. Another great thing? This really is a mousse-like consistency, really creamy and it sets almost to a powder on your face. For around $6 to $8 (probably less if you grab one of the tear-pad coupons on the Maybelline displays in the drugstore!), this is a winner.

e.l.f. Blending Eye Brush
I’d love to say I have a collection of professional makeup brushes. I’m sure that the proper implement makes a huge different in how your makeup is applied and what it ends up looking like. But, at this point, I’m working with a piecemal collection of brushes, mostly from e.l.f. Fortunately, their brushes are so good that I don’t feel like I’m really sacrificing by not having higher-end, more expensive brushes. I especially love their Blending Eye Brush. I’ve said it before, but it’s the perfect tool to apply a light, soft wash of color in the crease without any sort of harsh lines. It’s soft and fluffy, but the tip is dense enough to get a bit of concentration in your application. And for $1? I’m going to buy 10 backups so I never have to live without this brush!

e.l.f. Custom Compact
You’re going to notice a trend here — I love e.l.f.! Their custom compact is a great product, even though it doesn’t come with any sort of makeup inside (you have to purchase their custom shadows separately to create your own palette). What do I love about this $1 steal of a deal? The compact fits MAC eyeshadow pans! That’s right, for $1, you can create your own MAC eyeshadow palette. The compact is already magnetized, so no need to worry about gluing magnets to your pans, and another major bonus? The huuuuuge mirror! Of course, you can also fit the custom eyeshadow singles from e.l.f. in here (that’s what the compact is made for), so you can mix and match e.l.f. shadows with MAC shadows to create the four color combination that works for you!

Prestige Total Intensity Eyeliner
Pencil liners typically aren’t as easy to work with as liquid or gel liners, but these Prestige Total Intensity Eyeliners completely redefine what a pencil liner is all about. They glide on, stay put and come in a great variety of colors (fearless teal, bold brown, strong slate, powerful purple, intense olive — my fave). What more could you want in a liner, pencil or otherwise?

Revlon Super Lustrous Lipgloss
Scroll down a few posts, and you’ll see my recent rave review for the spring/summer collection of shades from the Revlon Super Lustrous Lipgloss. The permanent colors are pretty amazing, too. This is the closest thing to liquid lipstick that I’ve found. Great shade selection, smooth application, opaque pigmentation…color me impressed.

e.l.f. studio High Definition Powder
I really do love e.l.f. Cosmetics this much to include so many of their products on my Top 15 list! I use this powder every single day to set my foundation and any cream products I use. For $6 (or cheaper if you catch it during one of their frequent online sales), you get a huuuuuge container of loose powder and a nice puff (actually useable if you don’t use a fluffy brush to apply setting powder). I love the soft look and finish it gives to my face.

Milani HD Advanced Concealer
This is another part of my everyday face routine. I love this product after I’ve applied undereye concealer to hide dark circles and foundation. I use this to brighten my undereye area…not so much as a concealer but not really as a highlight either. It’s just a fantastic brightener and really opens up your eyes and makes you look refreshed and awake. And I love the clickable pen applicator, so easy to use and keeps you from wasting product.

Wet n Wild Color Icon Eyeshadow (palettes and singles)
I first heard about these palettes from EasyAccessBeauty on YouTube, when she compared them to MAC shadows in both pigmentation and consistency. Her video convinced me to get one of the palettes, Vanity (of course, it’s the neutral browns palette, and in case you couldn’t tell, I’m sort of a neutral shadow whore!), and it was love at first swipe! I got several of the singles (Brulee, Penny, Nutty) and one of the trios (Walking on Eggshells). These are great for everyday and evening/weekend looks. With a good base and primer, this shadow will stay put longer than your foundation!

CoverGirl Lash Blast (Length, Volume and Fusion) mascara
If there’s one thing CoverGirl knows, it’s mascara. Forget the high-end stuff…if you want the effect of false lashes without the glue and pain, you must try Lash Blast. There are three formulas — Volume (orange), Length (yellow) and Fusion (purple) — and I find them all the be true to their names. But, if you can’t decide which one to get, go with the orange tube…I think Volume gives you full lashes and the appearance of length, too. Must disclose that I was fortunate enough to try out Lash Blast Fusion through BzzAgent (read my post about what the heck that is here), but I would have purchased it myself if I hadn’t gotten it for free. For$8 and such an awesome quality mascara, why not?

TRESemme Thermal Creations Heat Tamer Spray
If you read my hair tips post, you know this stuff is holy grail for me! Smells glorious, comes in an awesome spray bottle and does the job. I blowdry my hair quite often, so I need something to keep it shiny and soft, despite the heat damage. This is another brand that you can usually find a “steal of a deal” on at Target or your local drugstore — keep your eyes peeled for coupons, buy one get one free, and things like that, so you can stock up on Heat Tamer Spray!

Sally Hansen Natural Makeup Inspired by Carmindy lipstick in Baby Pink
I picked up this lipstick (and other shades from the same line) by chance during one of the recent CVS 50-75% beauty sales. Turns out that what I thought was just a few cheap-o lipsticks includes my everyday, perfect pink pout! I also have the MAC Viva Glam Gaga lipstick, and even though this isn’t an exact dupe, it comes close.

It’s got maybe a touch more peach in it, but that makes it slightly more wearable than Gaga, which is a screamin’ baby pink. Love love love the consistency of this, too! Sort of like a cremesheen from MAC, this glides right on and you need just a coat, and you’re set. Perfect pair to my everyday, neutral eye.

L’oreal HiP Jelly Balm
This was another impulse, “must get because it’s marked way way down” buy that turned in to one of my favorite products. Super moisturizing, and depending on the shade, great to wear alone or on top of a lipstick. It’s a balm, but you’ll get a nice wash of color on your lips. I’ve heard that these are comparable to MAC tender tones, which you can only get at a CCO now because they’re discontinued. So, skip the CCO and try CVS (or Walgreens or Wal-mart or Target or…you get the idea) for one or two or ten of these!

Clean and Clear Moisturizer, Dual-Action Oil Free &
Olay Daily Facials Express Wet Cleansing Cloths
I’m using a picture of the two of these items together but counting them separately in my list of 15. I use a mix of high-end and drugstore skincare products. I think once you find what works for your skin, stick to it! But, some of us are on that eternal quest to find the perfect products for the clearest, softest skin, I know (which is why I’m still testing out some things…)! But, for drugstore skincare, I like these two! The C&C has salicylic acne medication and is especially made for dry skin, which is great for me (since I have both the occasional zit and skin that belongs in the Sahara Desert). I use it in the morning before applying primer. And, I love the Olay cleansing cloths to clean my face at night. They do a great job of removing my makeup and cleaning my skin at the same time.

e.l.f. Beauty Book – Neutral Edition
I got this product a week or two ago (see full review), and I’m LOVING it! $5 for 12 silky smooth, pigmented shadows that I can combine in a million different ways for a neutral, work (or play!) look. If your Target sells e.l.f. Cosmetics, look for the special endcap display with these Beauty Books — grab ‘em if you see ‘em! I get the sense that they’re limited edition, and for $5, they’ll be sold out before you know it!

Small CVS Haul and Mail Call!

Happy Friday! I love love love this time of day — after 5 on a Friday! It is the longest possible amount of time until the next workday.

Stopped by CVS on my way home. I had no intention of getting makeup. I always buy People and US Weekly every Friday, as you saw in my Target haul last week, so that’s all I planned on getting at CVS (didn’t actually wind up getting them because they didn’t have the new issues out, though). But, when I scanned my ExtraCare card (don’t have one? You need one!) at the coupon lottery machine, or whatever CVS calls it, I got a $3 off any Revlon product coupon! That’s all I needed to see to stroll the cosmetics section!

And, there are still remnants at my CVS of the 50-75% off beauty products sale from a month or so ago! I snagged a Revlon Super Lustrous Lip Gloss in Shine That Pink for $1.99! It had a 75% off sticker on it! Unfortunately, I think that means it’s a discontinued shade, but I’m glad I got it while it was still available. Really shimmery candy apple pink.

I also got a Revlon ColorBurst lipstick in Lilac, originally $8.99, but I saved $3 with my handy dandy coupon! I think it’ll pair nicely with my Lilac Pastelle Revlon Super Lustrous Lip Gloss that I got at Target last week. I have quite a few of the ColorBurst lipsticks, and I love the formula. They’re super creamy and easy to apply but don’t feel heavy on your lips. The only downside I’ve seen with this line of lipsticks is that they’re so creamy, they tend to melt and come off the tube easily.

Swatches of both Revlon lip products:

Swatching while driving, not a smart idea! Super Lustrous Lipgloss in Shine That Pink on the left, ColorBurst lipstick in Lilac on the right.

When I was looking at the Revlon section, I noticed that all Maybelline products are buy one, get one 50% off until Sunday, and I had a couple Maybelline coupons ($1 off any Maybelline item, $2 off any Maybelline foundation), so that was a no-brainer — I got two Maybelline products!

That’s the Maybelline Dream Smooth Mousse Foundation in 150 Classic Ivory on top. Love this foundation! I’ve already got one (and a backup in 110 Porcelain Ivory for the fall/winter), and it’s definitely a product I’ll continue to use again and again. It’s so lightweight and blends to almost a powder finish (but it doesn’t seem cakey on the face, just really smooth and soft).

I also got a new Maybelline product — the Eye Studio Cream Eyeshadow Trio in 25 Neutral Liasions. I love using cream bases for my shadows, after I’ve applied a primer. I typically use a MAC paint pot but it would be nice to find an inexpensive dupe that is available at the drugstore. This trio has shadows for shading, lining and highlighting — a shimmery champagne, a lightish brown and a deeper brown. Looks like I’ll have to layer them to get good pigmentation, but I’m excited to give them a shot.

I also got the new People Style Watch at CVS. Love this magazine. It combines my love of celebrities and pop culture with my love of beauty and fashion, and there are always tons of good tips in there.

I had a few goodies waiting for me in the mailbox, too, when I got home.

Got a sample of bodycology lotion in Cherry Blossom from Wal-mart. If you’re not already looking at the Wal-mart sample page, you should be. It’s an awesome site with offers to receive free samples/trials of new products, and there are free music downloads and other fun things.

There was also an issue of Rouge, a magazine from P&G Beauty, which includes tips and tricks on using their products (which include CoverGirl and Olay), and (this is the best part)…

Coupons! In case you couldn’t tell, I’m a sucker for coupons. The whole gimmick works — if I can save a couple bucks with a coupon, I’m way more likely to buy a product that I might not have thought about purchasing otherwise.

So, small haul, but shopping on Fridays makes me happy! Did you do any shopping today? Tell me what you got in the comments!