Wednesday, November 28, 2012

My November Favorites!

November Beauty Favorites

I know I rarely ever do monthly favorites, but I had to do a favorites list this month since there are several products I've been loving lately and have been getting most of my attention! The list can pretty much go on forever, but I'll try to keep it short!

Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation - I've had a few samples of this and loved it, but have only finally purchased a tube this month. It's probably one of my favorite cream foundation as it's full coverage, yet it looks like skin. It's comfortable to wear and the color Bamboo Beige is perfect for me when I am in the MAC NC30 color range. My only gripe is that it's not budge-proof and starts to get a little shiny and fade around my mouth around 5-6 hours in wearing it. Despite that, I really do love this foundation.

MAC Bombshell Lipstick - This has been the only lipstick I've been wearing all month. It's such a pretty rosy pink with a hint of frost. It can look a little bright sometimes, so when I want something more subdued, I like mixing it with a lighter shade, such as MAC Creme D' Nude.

Revlon Bordeaux Lipgloss - Bordeaux has been my favorite pick for an easy berry lip this Fall. I love how pigmented and moisturizing it is, and that I don't have to bother with a lip liner. Definitely recommend if you're looking for a very wearable berry.

MAC Bamboo Eyeshadow - Bamboo is a fairly popular shade by MAC, but it's never one that I thought I needed. Well, I was wrong and this light beige-peach with a matte finish has found it's way into my MAC Everyday Palette, and has been a color I tend to reach for just about every day. Fabulous for warm skin tones, it's a great blending color and pairs well with copper, golds and browns. It leans slightly orange, so I wouldn't necessarily recommend it for cool skin.

MAC Mulch Eyeshadow - Mulch is another great shade by MAC that I surprisingly didn't own. Although it's pretty much a standard dark bronzy-brown with reddish undertones, it compliments my skin really well and I find myself using often.

Monday, November 26, 2012

Nars Friends and Family + Other Great Cyber Monday Deals!

NARS Friends & Family 2012

Starting at midnight last night, NARS began their Friends and Family sale! You get 20% your order + Free Shipping!! It's a great opportunity to pick up some of your favorties that Sephora doesn't carry, or for those of you that missed out on your Nars favorites during Sephora's F&F and VIB sales.
Use Code: NARSFF2012. (Don't forget to use Ebates on your purchase to save an extra 4%)

*Ebates is also doubling their cash back on many stores, so I've included the savings for each store listed.

Some other great sales:

Coastal Scents
Coastal Scents Black Friday is extended until Wednesday! Take 50% Off Everything!
No code necessary.

Express
40% Off Everything + Free Shipping! Ends 11/26.
No code necessary.

Forever21
Free Shipping with no minimum + up to 70% off on select items! Ends 11/26.
Use Code: CYBERMON.

Josie Maran
For those of you who are running low on your Josie Maran Argan Oil, now is the chance to buy! Take 25% Off Josie Maran's Featured Products + Free Shipping on orders over $25! Ends at 11/26 11:59PM.
Use Code: ARGAN25.

Lancome
Take 20% off your order at Lancome now through 11/30 11:59PM EST. Also, enjoy Free Shipping on orders of $49+.
Use Code: HEARTS. (Don't forget to use Ebates on your Lancome purchase to save an extra 14%!!)

NYX
20% off all items + Free Shipping on orders over $40! Also, 30% off all eye and lip sets!
No code necessary.

Origins
It's the final day to make your purchases at Origins for $10 off your orders of $25 + Free Shipping!
Use Code: TENOFF. (Don't forget to use Ebates on your Origins purchase to save an extra 12%!)

Sephora
Free Mystery Sample bag with $25 purchase! Ends 11/26.
Use Code: UNDERWRAPS. (Don't forget to use Ebates on your Sephora purchase to save 8% on your purchase!)

Shu Uemura
Stop by Shu Uemura and take 20% off your order of $50 or more + enjoy Free Shipping! Ends at 11/27 11:59PM EST.
Use Code: WISH2012. (Don't forget to use Ebates on your order to save an extra 10%!)

Smashbox
It's the final day to make your purchases at Smashbox and receive 25% off your order of $50 or more + Free Shipping and Free Samples!
Use Code: FRIENDS2012. (Don't forget to use Ebates on your Smashbox order to save 12%!)

Tarte
Take 25% off your order + Free Shipping on orders of $40 and more! Ends 11/26 11:59PM EST.
Use Code: CYBER. (Don't forget to use Ebates on your Tarte order to save an extra 4%!)

The Body Shop
50% off the entire store + Free Shipping on orders of $30! Ends 11/26.
No code necessary. (Don't forget to use Ebates on your order for an extra 10% savings! 6% for Canada.)

Too Faced
Take an additional 50% off Vintage Items! Ends 11/26.
Use Code: BLACK2012. (Don't forget to use Ebates on your order for an extra 4%)

Topshop
Free Shipping on all orders worldwide! Ends 11/26 23:59 PST.
No code necessary.

Ulta
Shop Cyber Monday Deals + $10 off $50 and $20 off $100. Ends 11/26. Also, free beauty bag containing 15 samples with any $35 purchase! Ends Tuesday.
Use Codes: 85224 for $10 off $50 and 85118 for $20 off $100.

Let me know in the comments if you know of any great Cyber Monday deals!

I will be updating the list shortly with more deals.

Sunday, November 25, 2012

Step by Step Autumn Smokey Eyes Tutorial!

Autumn Smokey Eyes Tutorial

I wanted to show you an eye look that I've really been loving lately, and have been recreating on most days I've been going out. The star of this look is MAC Club Eyeshadow, which is a really beautiful soft brown with reddish undertones and a metallic green duochrome. What I love about it is that it can transform with whatever base you use. In this look I've layered Club over a black base, and it makes the green tone really stand out and appear as a beautiful, rich emerald green. On the rest of the lid where the black wasn't applied, it appears as a reddish-brown. So before I even picked up any other eyeshadows, it looked like I've already used more than one. 

For a cheaper alternative to MAC Club ($15), Wet n Wild has a great dupe in their Comfort Zone Color Icon Palette ($4.99). You'd actually be able to re-create most of this look with the Comfort Zone palette.
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Products Used:

Nars Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base
Bobbi Brown Black Ink Long-wear Gel Eyeliner 
MAC Club Eyeshadow (red-brown with greeen pearl)
MAC Bamboo Eyeshadow (light peach-beige, matte)
MAC Jest Eyeshadow (soft peach with icy shimmer)
MAC Mulch Eyeshadow (red-brown with bronze pearl)
MAC Woodwinked Eyeshadow (warm antique gold)
Covergirl Lash Blast Mascara
False Lashes (cut in half)
L'Oreal Gold Charge HIP Chrome Eyeliner 

*For this tutorial I used the site Beauty Sets to quickly and easily create a collage of images. Please let me know if you find this method of tutorial confusing. It's much easier and less time consuming for me, but if they aren't helpful, I'll continue doing them the way I did before. Thanks!!
Step 1: Prime your eyelids. (Photo #1)

Step 2: Apply black cream/gel liner to the top lash-line. It doesn't have to be perfect, because in the next step we are going to smudge it. (Photo #2)

Saturday, November 24, 2012

Final Chance for Black Friday Sales!

Last Chance Black Friday Sales!

As the Black Friday sales are coming to a near end, here's a list of sales that are still going on right now!

ASOS
20% Off Everything site-wide! Expires 11/25 @ midnight PST.
BLACKFRIDAYBONUS

Banana Republic
25% Off Your Purchase of $150! Expires 11/24.
BRSHOP25

Becca
$20 off $50 + Free Shipping! Expires 11/24 @ midnight PST.
GIVETHANKS

Coastal Scents
50% Everything Site-wide! (A great time to purchase brushes or eyeshadow palettes)
(No code necessary)

Charolette Russe
20-50% Off + Free Shipping when you spend $50! (Great deals on trendy shoes!)
(Discount is automatic at checkout)

Cherry Culture
20% Off Everything Site-wide! Expires 11/25.
TKGS20

E.L.F. Cosmetics
Free Shipping on Orders over $30 + Buy 1 Get 1 50% Off! Expires 11/24 @ midnight.
BLKFRI
(Although the code ECD2 gives you 50% off Studio products, so if you're only purchasing Studio products, it would be a better code to use)

Eve Pearl
40-60% Select Products! Expires 11/27 @ 11 AM EST. (The Salmon Concealer is 40% off if you've been curious about it!)
BPCM2012

Express
$15 off $50
$30 off $90
$60 off $180
2476 (Or print in-store coupon here)
Expires 11/25 11:59 PM ET.

Forever 21
Extra 50% Off Sale Items! Expires 11/25.
EXTRA50

Giorgio Armani
20% Off + Free Shipping on Orders of $75! Expires 11/25.
BLKFRIDAY12

Illamasqua
20% Off Everything Site-wide! Expires 11/26.
XMAS20

J-Crew
25% Off Your Purchase In-store and Online + Free Shipping on orders of $150! Expires 11/25 @ 11:59PM ET.

Jewelmint 
Get 50% Off Your Entire purchase!
BFGET50

Shoemint
Get 25% Off Your Entire purchase!
HAPPY25

Smashbox
20% Off Orders of $50+!
FRIENDS2012

Victorias Secret
$30 Off $150 + Free Shipping when you spend $50! Expires 11/27 @ 11:59 EST.
FREE50 & 30OFF150

YSL
20% Your Order!
BLKFRIDAY12

Zara
Up to 50% on Select Items + Free Shipping!
(no code necessary)

Happy Shopping!