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Too broke for beauty boxes?

You can go to Walgreens and ask for samples at the beauty counter and get them for free ^w^ They do tend to run out, especially at Christmas and around holidays but they usually get new samples every week, sometimes twice a week. Here's a shot of what they gave me today.

Sometimes they give out makeup. I've gotten samples of the L'Oreal Lumi foundation before but I don't know how often they get cosmetic samples. They usually have skincare and drugstore hair care items. I'm not so much for the hair care but I do love the skin care items. Last time I went they had clinical dove deodorant to give out. So if you ever go in there or you pass by one, then stop in and ask if they have any :)

Detox for your hair?!

Redken's Nature Rescue line is perfect for those looking for a detox for their hair. You don't even have to use it daily or once a week! It's also paraben, silicone, and sulfate free to boot! It's also a better way to cleanse your hair from product, pollution, etc than a clarifying shampoo. The sea salt polish is like a face scrub for your hair and leaves it in it's natural shiny state after!

Search your local salons about this line and if you have any questions just ask! We're here to help!

Jan Ipsy bag!

Ipsy is a beauty sample subscription you can get mailed to you every month. They have a good bit of items for the month to put in the bag and what you get in your bag depends on the little match quiz you take. It gives you a chance to try items that are more targeted toward you and find new things.

This month is a pretty good bag for me! I received a bunch of Proactiv+ Mark Fading Pads. I don't really have any marks that need to be faded but it's nice they put more than one packet in there. The next item is is made by Nourish Organic and it's a lightweight moisturizing face lotion in argan and rosewater and it's not heavily scented! That's one thing I really like about products like this. Especially something that goes on my face I don't want something scented or if it is then I'd like it to be very light and this is. It also is lightweight.

As for makeup items, I got 2. The first being a Mica Beauty Cosmetics lip tint in #6 Fiesta. It's a very pretty rose color. I haven't put it on yet but it looks promising. The next thing is a Smooth Shadow Creamy Eye Pencil from Elizabeth Mott and it's in the color Pearl and it's not a white pearl but more of a beigey neutral with shimmer in it and it's gorgeous! It's the perfect thing for inner eyes to make them pop and maybe a little highlight under the brow.

The last thing in the bag was a hair product. Being a cosmetologist I am always SUPER extra excited about hair stuff and this is a deep conditioning mask and that makes it even better considering my hair is currently ruined. It's made by the brand Brigeo and it's called Don't Despair, Repair! It doesn't feel like a heavy mask so I'm not looking for it to help me too much but we'll see. Also it's not enough to cover all of my hair or just my ends because I have thick coarse hair and a lot of it but I'll try to stretch it as far as it goes and let you guys know how it goes!

If you have a monthly beauty box subscription, which one do you have? Which one do you want? Are you currently happy with yours or do you feel like you're not getting your moneys worth?

New Wet N Wild Balm Stain and shadow swatches!

As I mentioned before, I promised you guys some swatches! They're not the best but one day I'll invest in a fancy schmancy camera. But first up, the shadows!

The Naked Truth

As you can see, these new shadow sets have 5 colors. A crease color, base color, browbone color, eyelid color, and a definer. Mind you my skin is rather fair and you're not going to be able to see the highlight or base colors. And because of the glare. sorry.

Top row starting on the left: base, browbone, eyelid
Bottom row starting on the left: crease, definer

Now on to the balm stains! These are very nicely pigmented and they do stain! I picked up 2 more colors today in Lady And The Vamp and Pinky Promise. You won't be able to see that well but Pinky Promise is AMAZING! It's such a beautiful nudy pink And my favorite thing about these is that you can twist them up instead of sharpening them! I don't know why but I hate when I have to sharpen lip stuff.

Lady And The Vamp, Pinky Promise, Red-dy Or Not

Lady And The Vamp, Pinky Promise, Red-dy Or Not

Let me know if you have gotten any of these and what you think of them! Do you like the color choices? What about the smoothness? Are you more excited over the balm stains or the new shadows? 

The shadows are $3.99 each and the balm stains are $2.99 each. Both currently have $1 coupon off attached to them!

BeautyBox 5 Jan 2014

So my beautybox five came in today and I have to share with you guys! Being winter it's mostly skin care related stuff. There's also a promotion in for the upcoming film That Awkward Moment starring Zac Efron. There's also a bonus item in this months box!

This month the box includes:

• H20 Plus Spa Sea Lotus Body Wash
• Nubar Cuticle & Nail Oil
• Swissco Bath & Shower Exfoliating Gloves
• Jergens Daily Moisturizer
• Epic Blend Hemp Coconut Lip Balm
• BONUS PRODUCT: That Awkward Moment Mirror Compact

I'm pretty happy with this box. I personally would like more hair things. We got a moisturizer last month and now another one. I think they could have put in a hair mask or something you know? Oh well. I'm hoping next month is amazeballs because of Valentines :D

New Wet N Wild products!!!

I went into my local Walgreens today and looked in an area where they put up their "limited edition" and new items and I was thinking the holiday stuff would still be there but guess what! We have new products :D

They have some new single shadow colors along with single glitter shadows. As far as new new items they have released a megaslicks Balm Stain!!! I picked up the color Red-dy Or Not. They also have some new palettes. And these have 5 colors in them. There is also a new large 8 shadow palette with bright colors. Even a red!

But today I just picked up the balm stain and a 5 shadow palette. I did want one of the nude stains but they were sold out. It's like only 2 stains and so yeah. I'll post up some swatches after work but here's a peek at the stain and the shadows. The palette I got is called The Naked Truth. If your stores sell out of new Wet N Wild items quickly, I would suggest going and getting something you really want. They also have $1 off now coupon attached to them!!

I have immediately put on the balm stain and guys, I think this is going to be the next big buzz in the beauty world. I got a red shade and it goes on so smooth and it's pigmented more than you would think. I really hope they come out with some matte shades.

Also, in the Fergie Wet N Wild collection they have released some new lashes and a mattifying powder!

Like I said, I'll do some swatches when I come home :) I hope you guys check these out and let me know what you think of the new balm stains!!!

WHAT A MESS!

Do you have a clutter, be it small, medium, or large of a mess of cosmetics? It's easy for us to grab something and then put it where it's convenient and it just piles up. But today I will share with you on some tips of getting a bit organized where you can maximize your product uses and space!

• Have a designated spot for your stuff. It makes it easier for you to do everything in one space than having to travel back and forth to do things.
• KEEP EVERYTHING ORGANIZED!!!!! This is the most important thing to do. It can be a difficult thing to do but it also can be easy peasy!
• Invest in a storage unit for your items but don't undersize or oversize. If you plan on purchasing more items or having back-ups, then it's best to buy a size or so larger unit than what you need. It'll give you extra storage space but won't take up as much room like the Alex drawer unit from Ikea that you would only use 1 drawer out of it.
• And you don't have to have drawer units. There's a really nice turntable type of organizer available on Amazon, in different sizes. When I first saw it, it was perfect for holding hair products but it can hold makeup, hair stuff, skin care, whatever you want honestly. Here's a picture of the mini one...
  
  
  
• As you can see, even the mini one holds quite a bit of things and it even has dividers. This one would be perfect for someone who has a small beauty collection or a small space. As mentioned, you can find these on Amazon, just search "makeup organizers" and you'll find all sorts of organizers. This particular one can be found HERE.
• If you have a bunch of smaller items such as bobby pins, lipsticks, eyeliner pencils, single eyeshadows, primers, hair ties, it's also a good idea to look for single little holders. It will keep them separated from the rest and easier to get to and thus more likely to be used! You can use anything from empty candle jars, plastic pencils desk holders. I even took a fingernail polish box and cut off the top, taped up the sides in decorative tape, and BAM! Instant little box holder. If you guys want a tutorial for it just let me know!
• DO NOT OVER BUY!!! I know it's hard to not buy this amazing new item so and so got and reviewed and now everyone is getting it. You don't need the same color/shade/hue of whatever in 10 different brands. Just about every lipstick I have is either red or pink and they're all almost the same. The same thing with eyeshadows. You don't need the same color brown in Chanel, Too Faced, Wet N Wild, NYX, Urban Decay, MAC, Inglot, etc. At MOST you need 2. IF you plan on using it THAT much or if you know that they will retire/discontinue/limited edition it and even so it's ONLY when you use it A LOT. I have NEVER emptied out an eyeshadow. It takes a LONG while for those to run out.
• If you are just doing things on you and occasionally on your friends/family, your do not, I repeat, YOU DO NOT need to have one of those mega beauty rooms with 500 billion items. You will not be finishing anything and waste your money because things do expire. If you are in the beauty business, not a self proclaimed "beauty guru", like a licensed cosmetologist, makeup artist, etc then it's perfectly acceptable because you're going to be using those to make your money every day. If you're not licensed then you don't have the need to have that much. It seems nice on camera but it does add up and quick and once you get in it, you then realize, people who do this, do this for life. It's not a quick cash thing.
• It's perfectly fine to test out items but if you don't like it then take it back for an exchange or donate it to a family member or friend because if you don't like it then you're not going to use it and it's just going to sit there. Let someone else get some use out of it.
• There is no end all, be all cosmetic product. That goes for hair and skin. In the hair industry, we call it cocktailing which means to achieve the look/condition of your hair you need to mix products. But this also doesn't mean you need 10 items. It's perfectly fine to have more than one or two but don't over do it. You don't need 4 different hair oils, you know?
• Samples, samples, samples! They are a great way to test out a product and don't take up too much room. The only problem, mostly with makeup, it's near impossible to get a sample to buy unless you're on like etsy or if you order from the cosmetics website and they send you a sample with your purchase. Hair samples are MUCH easier to obtain and a SUPER awesome thing. I currently have a sample of Redken's Diamond Oil which I want very much but it is a pricey item. $40. So having the sample lets me try out the item and letting my clients know how it works, the smell, the texture, etc without breaking the bank.
• Do your research on products before purchasing them. Is it something you "need" or just shiny and new? A simple makeup collection should consist of a moisturizer, face primer, foundation, powder, blush, lipstick, lipgloss, eyeshadow primer, eyeshadow, eyeliner, mascara, bronzer, and a highlighter. That's pretty much everything you would "need" for a full face of makeup. Of course you don't have to have all of that. If you're someone who just puts on foundation and mascara then that's perfectly fine! As for hair, it honestly depends on your hair type and need and what you're looking to achieve. If you color your hair a lot and it's dry then you would want to invest in color protecting and moisturizing products.

A lot might sound contradicting and repetitive but the main thing is to not over buy and get overwhelmed. I know A LOT of people who have bought things just because of the hype or they bought something that they like but never use. You will figure out the perfect organization for yourself and how it's set up. Everyone is different and has their unique quirks :)

I hope that this has helped someone and if you have any input then leave a comment down below! If you have an awesome idea then please share! 

Welcome!

This blog is dedicated to all the average Jill's (and Joe's) out there who aren't in the beauty biz, just starting out, on a budget, and just average! My name is Cindy and I hope you stick around and enjoy my reviews, opinions, and ramblings. I am a licensed cosmetologist in the state of Georgia. When I'm not working then I stay at home fiddling with products and trying out different things whether it be my hair or my makeup or skin care. I also spend a hefty time online talking to my fiance in the Netherlands. I do travel there and every once in a while I will make some posts about some products only available there but my theory is, if enough people talk about it and there's a demand for it then eventually they will bring it to the states and vice versa! I will do reviews when I can. I can't promise one every day because I am busy working in a salon. Not everything I review will be on one thing. It will be on hair, makeup, and skin.

Now that you know a little about myself, please tell me more about you! This blog is for you and should reflect that!