Free Sample Sites :)

       
            Who doesn't love a freebie? Going the the mailbox and seeing something that isn't a bill gets my heart racing every time. There are plenty of websites out there that have links to freebies, but I have noticed that many of them are chocked full of ads, or have offers so old they are expired. I am going to post a couple of my favorite sites, and some tips that I would like to pass on (having learned myself after much trial and error).

          First off, have a separate email account for all of the spam you will be getting, if spam bothers you. It makes sense that the majority of freebies do really cost something, and that is your marketing information. I do notice an increase in spam after a day of free stuff hunting, but fortunately with gmail, it catches most of them and automatically sends them to the spam folder. There are also instances where you must verify yourself through email in order to receive the freebie. For this reason, and the fact that I don't mind spending two seconds to delete spam, I just sign up for everything with my email account I check most often.

           Next, please consider your carbon footprint when requesting samples. When I started I was like a maniac requesting everything I saw posted. Glucose monitors, ear plugs, pre-natal vitamins, bumper stickers, you name it I wanted it. It was free, it was fun. But, after awhile I had to admit that I was wasting paper and time getting things that I would eventually throw in the trash. So now I focus only on the freebies that I know people in my home or others I know can use. 

           Now, on to the sites that I have found to be the most beneficial. First, The Absudrly Cool Freebie Finder. This site is updated numerous times throughout the day and does an amazing job of finding freebies from many different product categories. A tip when using this site is to check the comments after the freebie posting. Many freebies can go extremely quickly, or seem fishy, and taking the time to read other user's comments can save you the time and frustration on filling out a freebie form for nothing! From this site I have gotten numerous hair care samples, makeup samples, even a box of water bottles! 


           The next website that I check is She Speaks.
This is an account based website that has product reviews, coupons, and free samples. I have gotten a box FULL of homeopathic cough syrups, cold pellets, allergy medicine and more to pass along to women I know. I have also received makeup that has not been released yet, as well as a box full of full-size and trial size deodorants for my tween daughter and her friends. Upon trying the products you simply return to the website and answer questions about your experience. Now, you can go weeks without seeing anything you want to be a part of, but I definitely think it worth your time to sign up. 

           

           

It's been a LONG time.......

Hello fellow babes!

It has been a bit since I last posted....but I am back :).

 

I recently ran out of foundation and found myself looking for something cheap in the makeup aisle of my local overpriced not Wal-Mart store. 

I decided to try out Rimmel's 16 hour foundation and Foundation Primer.

Now, since the cost of BOTH of these was still less than the cost of the foundation I was debating on buying, I decided to give these a go. 

First off, the Foundation Primer might be different than other primers you have tried. It goes on somewhat thick and appears VERY light. Now, I am fair myself and usually find the lightest tones of foundation a tad too dark for my skin. However, I was afraid at first on how light this was, until I put on the Lasting Finish 16 Hr Mineral Enriched Foundation.

These two work together perfectly  to create a soft pore-minimizing look that really does last all day. 


I have found that when using the primer it is best to let the primer "set" for a couple of minutes before applying the foundation. This gives the primer a chance to sink in and dry, thus giving the foundation a chance to glide over the surface and create a more polished finished product. 


I would definitely recommend these two to anyone who wants coverage and staying power. 


As always, use a good sunscreen and happy shopping!

Mascara Honeymoon

If you are like me, you probably assumed that mascara has always been around in some sort of form similar to what is popularly marketed now in our drug stores.

If you are a normal person, you have probably never given mascara history a second thought!

While looking into vintage makeup, I stumbled across the concept of cake mascara. As I wrote in a previous post, celebrities and contemporary consumers alike have raced about this product.

A few days after writing about this, I received my package of cake mascara. While rumor has it that stars such as Marilyn Monroe have used  Longcils Boncza Cake Mascara  , I decided that I would wait to spend $26 on mascara, and try something a little more affordable first.

I decided on la femme makeup's black cake mascara in black. La Femme had a lot of positive reviews, and at around $5, I couldn't pass it up!

When I opened up the little box it came in I was surprised at how big the product was. Be prepared for something around 3 times the size of the mascara you are probably using now.

The mascara comes with two spoolie brushes, but as I had read these are not as effective as mascara brushes, and were quickly replaced with a brush from Walgreens.

I had brought la femme's cake eyeliner sealer to use instead of water, as I had read that the mascara was not water proof at all, and I am a crier.

Adding a few drops of the eyeliner sealer to the mascara I swirled my brush in and proceeded to apply it from roots to tips of the lashes in order to get a dramatic effect.

And the verdict? I love it! The mascara stays put throughout the day, but comes off much easier than my water-proof mascara. There is so much product in the case that many reviewers have had it for over a year and still have some left!

So give it a try! You just may have to show your old mascara the vanity door.

Curly Top

People, women in particular, have a habit of wanting what they don't have. This shows up in the areas of beauty and fashion as well. Ask any teenager with a mop of curly hair what she would love, and most likely on the top of her list would be to have pin straight hair. Curly hair historically has represented class and beauty, and to dream of curly hair supposedly foretells that someone will seduce you, finding you irresistible. For years, women have tried various methods in order to get the halo of ringlets or loose tumbling wavy that they crave. From perms, to rollers, sponges, to rags, a girl has tried it.

But what about those of us who already HAVE curly hair? Since 60% of the population has some from of curly hair, you would think that there would be a plethora of information on this topic. Sadly, there is not.

The trouble with naturally curly hair is that it is unpredictable and seldom dries exactly how you want it. This is where the right products come in. I was born with slightly wavy hair that has become curlier as I have gotten older. Supposedly this is hormonal, but I think the universe decided to finally grant me a wish. Luckily, I adore this new state and seldom straighten it, but it took time and A LOT of trial and error with different products to find what would really work for me.

Read on and learn about which products actually passes the test, and which ones were emptied for their spray bottles.

 

The #1 product I can not do without is Paul Mitchell Express Style Round Trip Liquid Curl Definer. This is my go-to product. As with all of the Paul Mitchell "Express Style" line it is designed to cut drying time. And if you are perpetually late as I am, this is a life saver. Putting 4-8 pumps of this thin clear liquid into your hair and scrunching with a soft cloth instantly brings to life and defines curls. I have put this in my hair and watched as the curls literally formed in front of me. And at $10-$12 you have nothing to lose trying this one!





 Secondly, I like to use Big Sexy Hair Humidity Resistant Volumizing Spray Mousse, Root Pump Plus. Not only do I like the price at $8.00, this is one of the few voluminous foams that has been strong enough to keep my curls lifted along the crown, and not leave a gunky mess. I lift up sections all around my hair and spray in a straight line as to make my curls appear fuller.






Next, on the list of "must haves" is Aveda's Light Elements Defining Whip. After diffusing my hair on low heat, I like to take a fingernail size dallop of this and scrunch it into my hair. It makes hair soft and gets rid of any "crunch" that might have formed if you used hairspray or gel. Now, this is the priciest product I buy at $20, but it does last forever! I bought my last jar this summer, and I still have tons left. Plus, I have not been able to find a drug store or cheaper alternative that has the same consistency and delivers the same results.


So there you have it. Hopefully this will save you some money and help to defray your salon costs. And the more money you save at the salon is more money you can spend on clothes and make-up!

Lip Service

I have recently begun to try and find a lipstick I don't feel ridiculous wearing on a daily basis. I have never been a regular wearer of lipstick. This is partly due to the fact that I can never find a color that looks nice on me, after about 10 minutes I have more on my teeth than lips, and it transfers onto EVERYTHING I come into contact with. So, I gave up wearing anything on my lips besides the occasional chap-stick when I was about, oh, 15 or so.

Since I have been trying to do a more "glam-vintage" look lately, and have even been keeping my finger and toe nails glossy red,  I decided it was time to go back on the hunt for a lipstick.

First off. let me remind all of you that I am cheap. I mean cheap. I don't like to go somewhere and spend more than $10 on a good dinner, and I find most of my clothes at my local thrift store on the weekends because of their 2 for $1 special. Hence, spending $15-$30 or more on lipstick is not really an option for this gal.

The first lipstick I bought was by Wet 'n' Wild. Yes, I am aware of the fact that I am over the age of 12, and it is not 1990, but the price sucked me in. Besides being so cheap, the other reason that I wanted to try Wet 'n' Wild first was because they had a new matte lipstick that was touted as being a "long lasting matte finish". This sounded like a product that would fit into the Old Hollywood glamor vibe I have been going for.  The first Wet 'n' Wild lipstick that I tried was Cinnamon Spice (917B). It was pretty, but it was a bit too dark. With my pasty white complexion I was paranoid that I looked a little too gothic. So the next day I bought Stoplight Red (911D). This was beautiful in the package. It looked like Elizabeth Taylor had dropped off her favorite lipstick for me to try out. Alas, this was too red. It just didn't look right on me. It made my teeth look yellowish, and didn't match my skin at all.

Saddened, I decided to layer them. Putting one on top of the other looked pretty good. Having to mix them just right was a little annoying, but I could live with applying two lipsticks and blending them. I mean if they looked good, stayed in place, and lasted I would finally have a pulled together total makeup routine, and that was incentive enough.

But, while the DID stay matte, unfortunately I did not think that they were long lasting. Now, I have no other Wet 'n' Wild lipstick products to compare these with, but after about 45 minutes to a hour after application I could see my natural lip color poking through in spots through my meticulously applied lip color.

Another sore spot with me was the fact that the Stoplight Red lipstick's cap became dislodged multiple times in my makeup bag and purse, the lipstick decorating everything it came in contact with. I did not have this problem with the Cinnamon Spice, but would not buy this kind again for that reason alone.

Also, these lipsticks transferred onto everything. My sweater, my son's cheek when I kissed him lightly, my hand when I scratched my face, my lips even managed to leave a lasting impression on a few unsuspecting victims who made the unfortunate decision to hug me the past week or so. Their shirts will never be the same.

Now, I admit that the packaging did not say "transfer proof". I assumed that long lasting and transfer resistant were close cousins.

So, on to the next lipstick. I decided that I would probably have to raise the stakes a bit if I was to find a decent product. This time I decided to go with Rimmel lipstick. Now, I have had a little experience with Rimmel in the past, and was pleasantly surprised by their products. I decided to go with Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick in True Vintage (123). And while yes, I am a sucker for packaging and names, the color looked like the perfect balance between the gothic deep blood reds and the orange/red fire engine reds that I just can not pull off.

I love this color. It is definitely the vintage color I was going for. It is a pretty and deep red, but it doesn't look too fake or loud. Yes, it still does transfer, but not as much as the others did. I have been more careful on how I hug people, and am making a conscious effort to blot so that I won't be so prone to coloring everything around me.

I do remember a few years ago trying a lipstick that was supposed to be very transfer proof. It was one of those with the two-step process of first applying the color, letting it dry, and then layering a moisturizing top coat on top of that. I had a few problems with this lip color. I ran out of the moisturizing top coat WAY before I ran out of the lip color and my lips became so chapped that they were flaking and causing the lipstick to look horrible anyway. My lips don't feel dry using the Rimmel, and after a hour the color is still true. 

Also, gratefully, the Lasting Finish Lipstick's cap has managed to control its contents quite nicely so far and there have been no further casualties in my purse. :)

 This is Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick, in True Vintage.

Face Wash Connoisseur

I have spent a small fortune on face-wash over the years. My combination sensitive/pimple prone skin has led me on quest after quest down countless beauty aisles trying to find my perfect match.

Anything with "microscrubbers" or granules was too harsh and HURT. All of the acne products I tried dried my skin out terribly, and when I used a cream based wash, I broke out worse than before!

I even went so far as to get on Accutane for a few months, even this did not completely get rid of the imperfections I saw glaring at me from the mirror every morning.This prompted my doctor to suggest that I may have rosacea, but since I am no longer covered on any health insurance plans, I am getting every medical diagnose I need recently on ask.com.

So what is a beauty lovin' babe to do? Well, try new face washes until she hits the jack pot of course!!

Ladies and gentlemen, I do believe that the jack of pots has been found!

Let me give some clues: it has helped clear up the redness on my cheeks, my pimple count is way down, and it actually leaves my skin feeling soft and smooth.

Could this amazing breakthrough be from the counters of Lancome or Clinique? Perhaps I stumbled across it while being hypnotized by pretty packaging and techno music at Sephora? Nay.

I found my new savior at Walgreens. Walgreens, at the end of the aisle, in the back of the store, on sale as they are discontinuing selling it there. (As Walgreens so often does with ALL of the products I like, but that is another story for another day)

"Just get on with it! What is this product already?" I hear you asking.

Drum roll please!

The product in question is no other than the uber glam Impruv Moisturizing Antibacterial Cleanser.

Yep, that's it. I paid like $7.99 (this was close out pricing people!) and it has worked better than Pro-Active and Accutane combined.




It did take a bit to get used to though. This is not a face wash that sells you on packaging. This face wash is also not about to stoop down and seduce you with a pleasant floral scent. It comes in an unassuming blue and white bottle, and has a mild medicinal scent. The scent is probably due to the fact that it contains the anti-bacterial agent  Triclosan (  0.2% )  to reduce bacteria without stripping natural moisture from the skin.

So, comes the end to my face wash struggles. Like any beauty addict, I still stroll the face wash aisle when I am at the store, but I know better than to give into the temptation of some sweet young new thing. I know that at home I have something special that I don't want to ruin in a moment of retail weakness.

 Happy washing!

Vintage Gal

I am a love of vintage. So much so that I am always on the look out for vintage clothes, furnishings, and you guessed it....makeup and hair!

I recently was researching mascaras, which are my #1 beauty staple, and came across many positive reviews on Cake Mascara . The reviewers mostly applauded the product for its ability to build up lashes and create the pin-up girl look that I want to attain. So, I did what any broke person would do, checked my checking account and preceded to order some!

I also read that La Femme makes a blush that I NEEDED. According to many reviews at www.makeupalley.com this is a staple in many professional make-up artists bag's. Well then I, obviously, should have it in my bag as well! Here is just one review of many I found enabling on their site:

I read that makeup artists keep this in their bag, and rave about it. So now it's my turn! I love it, it goes on smoothly, and give me a nice healthy glow. Like the others said, it is highly pigmented, so use a light hand. Plus it is so cheap, but IMO just as good as any high end blush.

As soon as I get this I will be sure to review it for everyone, along with a couple of other things that I bought.
Stay tuned!