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Thursday, February 28, 2013

Enter to WIN a beauty grab bag from Total Beauty

http://www.totalbeauty.com/contests/win-februarys-beauty-grab-bag?utm_source=TB&utm_medium=300x250&utm_campaign=beauty-awards-monthly-sweeps-february2013

Takes 1 minute to enter!!

The beauty bag contains

- Eucerin Skin Calming Daily Moisturizing Creme
- Degree Women Motion Sense Invisible Solid Anti-Perspirant Deodorant
- EOS Organic Lip Balm - Smooth Sphere
- Listerine Original Listerine Antiseptic Mouthwash
- Mirabella Beauty Madame Rouge Velvet Lip Crayon
- Urban Decay Stardust Sparkling Lip Gloss
- NYX Cosmetics Color Lip Balm
- ARTISTRY Light Up Lip Gloss
- It Cosmetics Vitality Lip Flush Anti-Aging Lipstick Stain
- Wella Velvet Amplifier
- Revlon ColorStay Makeup with Softflex for Normal/Dry Skin
- Physicians Formula Cashmere Wear Ultra-Smoothing Bronzer
- Crest Pro-Health Clinical Gum Protection Toothpaste
- Nails Inc. Nail Polish

Sunday, February 24, 2013

SEPHORA workshop

So I recently had the pleasure of attending the pilot of Sephora University. It was a skincare workshop where there was a demo, a "try" it section and shopping time with one of the available coaches.
     I learned a lot, had a great time and picked up some great products that I will review for you later.
This workshop got me to rethink my skincare routine. YES! I will admit that my routine is not the "end all, be all" of routines.
    I said earlier that I only wash my face once a day, at night. I was told I should do it twice to wash of the dead skin and bacteria from my pillow. I am greatly considering doing this. I think a mild/gently cleanser in the morning would be a good idea. So now I am on a mission to find one.         
     There was one available, Bliss Fabulous Foaming Face Wash. I am considering this , but I will always be on the look out for a less expensive product that is just as good or possibly better.

Things I learned from the workshop
Gel cleansers are good for oily/ combination skin. They usually get foamy enough to break down the oil.
Cream cleansers are good for dry/normal skin because the creamy color/texture is an indication of an added moisturizer.
Anything that is used on the eye can be used on the mouth. ie: eye cream
Apply masks with a foundation brush to save on product and to help apply evenly.

I picked up 2 products that appealed to me and I have a sample of a third product.

Origins Clear Improvement™ Active Charcoal Mask To Clear Pores was the first product I picked to try. It's  a clay mask and I LOVE clay masks. I had one used used many years ago, but it's since been discontinued. After having a chance to try this mask I liked it! I am going to replace my current mask product for a couple weeks to see if I notice a difference. I bought a small tube for $16. YES I know $6 above my price range!!! I have faith in this product though, so I will let you know if it was $16 well spent.

Sephora Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover was the next product I bought. I (and I'm guessing some of you too) have to work a bit to remove your mascara and liner. This removes it instantly. It's silicon based which is good (silicon particles are too big to clog the pores)
The makeup comes off without any effort at all and it works for lipstick too. INSTANTLY!
There wasn't any trace of my my liner or lipstick. Then I used a regular makeup wipe for the rest of my face. This product was only $9.50. GREAT!!! It yelled BUY ME as soon as I saw it.

The sample I have is for Ole Henriksen Grease Relief™ Face Tonic. I tried it, it was good, but I am so wary of astrigents I am just not ready to give it a free pass to my face. Plus at $30 it's a large amount to plop down if I'm not sure. I was assured adding a toner/astringent to my routine would be great and help with the oilyness, but I've been burned before ( yes literally been burned) by astringents. They are always harsh and make my face feel like it's on fire then a couple hours later I'm oily again. I'd like to sample this product a few times before I'm 100% sold on the purpose as well as the price!

Go to the Sephora website and check if they'll have a workshop in your city. Hopefully this pilot will lead to more workshops in the future.

PS- The staff was VERY friendly. I am not good with names, but if you are in Sephore in the meatpacking district Keisha, Dami, Lorenna and Miranda (gosh I hope her name was Miranda) are great!

Saturday, February 23, 2013

THIS WEEK.....

Drug store sales for next week-

CVS
Revlon, Almay, Roc, Covergirl eye makeup , NYC and CVS beauty products are bogo 50%
Neutrogena Deep Clean cleansers are 2/$10

Walgreens
Covergirl, L'oreal, Revlon, Maybelline and Rite Aid are bogo 50%
Ponds cold cream and makeup wipes are bogo FREE!

RiteAid
Revlon and Physicians Formula 40% off
Almay buy 2 get 1 free
L'oreal eye products $6.99
Covergirl lip products bogo 50%
NYC bogo 50%
Renewal cosmetic applicators and tools bogo FREE!

Ulta is having a sale on all of their branded products buy 2 get 2 free
 
NEWS for next week-
new $1 *GEM*
comparison review of glitter eyeliner
*crossing my fingers* HOPEFULLY more free samples


22 Makeup Shades that look Good on "Every" Skintone.

22 Makeup Shades that look Good on "Every" Skintone is article I found via Yahoo from Glamour Magazine. 
I would really like to know if every means every when they talk about skintones. I might be true since a lot of the colors are earth tones.
Check it out and let me know what you think.

WARNING: Some items are 4x my proposed price point.

Thursday, February 21, 2013

Beauty Rewards Clubs you should join RIGHT NOW!!!

Sephora
https://www.sephora.com/profile/MyAccount/beautyInsider/beautyInsider.jsp
points toward FREE merchandise and FREE birthday gift.

Ulta
http://www.ulta.com/ulta/rewards/rewards.jsp
with ULTA's rewards program, the perks of being pretty are taken to a new level. It's a program where you earn fabulous rewards for every dollar you spend. And if you love shopping for beauty products you might get pretty stuff for FREE. It's simple. It's easy. It's free to join. It's a pretty sweet deal.

CVS
http://www.cvs.com/promo/promoLandingTemplate.jsp?promoLandingId=beautyclub-member&WT.mc_id=L_ECBC_Direct
spend $50 get $5 coupon

Biore
http://www.facebook.com/bioreskin?sk=app_205787372796203
enter points found on merchandise to earn FREE items

Simple
https://www.simpleskincare.com/simplevip/
newsletter, coupons and discounts

REVIEW!!! Makeup Wipes

The week's review is brought to you by makeup wipes
I tried 4 different kinds by e.l.f, Biore, Neutrogena and Walgreens.


E.L.F. Makeup wipes
these wipes have a very soft florally smell. The cloth is not textured, it's flat, thin and very soft. It's also kind of stretchy.

the size is 7x7 inches and cost $3.00 for 20 wipes

(If you used 1 wipe everyday) the yearly cost would be about $55.



Biore Makeup wipes
these are textured. They have little dots on them, for scrubbing I guess, but they are rough. The smell is light and clean. The wipes get off all the makeup, but they are so rough I do not want to use them around my eyes. When I did use them near my eyes, I experienced mild irritation.

the size is 5x8 inches and cost $6.89 for 30 wipes

yearly cost about $85

ps-this is the old packaging, Biore now uses an all white wrapping with blue lettering and design.


Neutrogena Makeup wipes
Soft and untextured. They come in a variety of scents. I tried the regular and lavender, both smelled great. They removed all makeup. No irritation to the skin or eyes.

size is 7x7 inches and cost $6.89 for 25 wipes

yearly cost about $100
 



Walgreens Makeup wipes
I know people stay away from store brands because they don't think they will be as good as other name brands. Thes wipes were great! They were thicker than any of the other brands listed and soft. They reminded me of baby wipes with a similar smell. These wipes get off all makeup without irritation.

size is 7x7 inches and cost $4.99 for 30 wipes

yearly cost about $61

ps-this is the travel sized pack. The full sized pack is similar in design.









*all yearly costs are rounded to the nearest whole number

**all prices listed are for my area, prices may differ in other areas.



 

Free Clarin's Sample!!

https://www.facebook.com/ClarinsUS/app_485958561454298

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

NEW FREE SAMPLES!!! Calico Minerals



From the Dead Sea, to your bathroom. For free.

Our complete cleansing and nourishing kit is the complete package for revealing amazing, supple, radiant skin. Harnessing the power of the Dead Sea's 26 minerals, this 3-step system will revitalize your skin like nothing you've ever tried.
http://www.calicominerals.com/sample/

MILANI FREE LIPSTICK GIVEAWAY!!!

Enter daily for a chance to win the FREE Milani Color Statement Lipstick Giveaway! Ends February 22, 2013. Good Luck!! 100 Winners Daily

$1 *GEM* of the WEEK


      This weeks *GEM* comes from NYC or New York Color. It's a makeup brand that makes VERY affordable products.
The *GEM* is a set of make up brushes. It includes 5 brushes for blush, eyeshadow, eye liner and lips and an eyeshadow applicator. I found it available in discount store.
(you can find GREAT deals in discount stores, especially travel sized options)

The brushes are only 3 inches long and take up almost as much space as a credit card.

 
 
 
 
I am also posting pics or me. The first one, in the striped sweater, is me after I used these brushes.  I did use a different travel brush to apply my powder foundation. I also used the eyeshadow  brush to apply my concealer. The second one is me after using my regular brushes.
 





Sunday, February 17, 2013

THIS WEEK!!! SALES and more!

So I will start with drug store sales for this week.
 CVS
Maybelline, Rimmel, Covergirl, Sally Henson, St. Ives and Almay products are all buy one get one 50% off (bogo 50%)

Walgreens
Covergirl, L'oreal, Rimmel,  Revlon, Roc, Maybelline and Rite Aid Renewal brand are      bogo 50%
Bio-oil 25% off

 RiteAid
Revlon, L'oreal,Maybelline, Neutrogena, and Sally Henson are bogo 50%
Almay foundation, blush and powder are $8.99

Also this week I have:
a new $1 *GEM*,
a new review and comparison- this week will be makeup remover wipes
and another link to FREE samples

FACEBOOK LAUNCH!!

Today I launched my Facebook page, April Maykup. Please go there and "LIKE" it!
And if you are in NYC and want you make up done by a WONDERFUL person like myself, please email me aprilmay.kup@gmail.com. :)

Thursday, February 14, 2013

*SALE @ ULTA*

 Just want to let you know that ULTA is have a sale on it's branded products.
YES!! all ULTA products are $5 or less. I will be heading there this weekend to pick up some new products and of course keep you in the know off all the good and bad.

p.s. You can also print coupons from their website to use in store!

BB CREAM REVIEW

So this weeks review is on 3 different BB Creams by Garnier, L'oreal and Maybelline.

WHAT IS BB CREAM?!

BB creams (short for beauty or blemish creams) are like tinted moisturizers on steroids. In addition to hydrating and evening out skin tones, BB creams also treat the skin with antioxidants or other anti-aging ingredients, plus offer broad-spectrum SPF. 

-Allure Magazine


The first is Garnier B.B. Cream $11.99.  First let me say I was biased when I tried this. I love every Garnier product I've tried so why NOT the B.B. cream?! Right away I notice that the color palette is limited to only 3 shades and the are quite similar in color tone. I would use the medium/dark for myself, but in a pinch I could easily use the medium/light especially if I was using powder foundation on top.
The texture is smooth, a little thin, but creamy. It covered very well so, I did not feel like I needed concealer (especially if you are going for a natural look) It felt smooth on my skin. The cream blended  nicely and did not feel heavy or greasy. At $12 it is above my $10 price cap, but keep checking back here for those sales! One great new thing about this BB cream is that it comes in normal/dry skin  and normal/oily formulas.

Next we have Maybelline BB Cream $8. I liked Maybelline's cream before trying it, simply because it has 5 color choices available. Even with that amount of choices Maybelline still manages to leave out people with darker skin tones. 
The cream was the creamiest out of all 3 I sampled. It had great coverage (again, no concealer needed, if used with powder) It also felt the best on my skin. My skin felt normal and was still soft and flexible. Personally I would choose this BB. It was the best of all 3  brands I tried, it has great coverage, and will do great for the summertime when I do not feel like wearing a face full of makeup. PLUS with an under $8 price tag it's a great thing to have in this blog and in my makeup bag.


Lastly we have the L'oreal Professional Magic BB Cream $10.95. I saved this for last because it was not my favorite :(
It comes in 4 colors, but the colors are so far apart in range. If I were to get the dark one, it would be TOO dark but the next color TOO light. I admit it does cover well but, it makes my skin feel  chalky and dry. I was put off my the appearance of the cream when I first saw it. The "cream" was kind of watery and there were weird gray flecks in the mixture. I tried stirring it together but it didn't make a difference. It also had a chemical smell, where as the others barely had any smell at all.  The plus side is that L'oreal did make another BB cream that I hope to get my hands on and review for you soon.



Just because I only reviewed these 3 doesn't mean that you ONLY have these to choose from. There are other brands like Smashbox and Physicians Formula to name a couple. I will be constantly reviewing products so you might another review on more BB creams coming real soon. STAY TUNED!



Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Mario Badescu *FREE SAMPLES*

So our first free samples are brought to you by MARIO BADESCU.
These products have a good reputation, but can be expensive. All you have to do is click on the link below and it will take you right to the page to fill out your skin care analysis. It will take a little while, but in a few weeks a sample kit will arrive at you door along with a guide on how to use the products. The instructions are VERY specific!
I filled out my questionnaire a few months ago, but I have not used any of the samples. SO of course I will make this one of my duties in the next few weeks to use them and report back to you on the results.

 



This Weeks Beauty Sales!

Hello again!
As I said before, I will keep you in the know of sales, coupons, deals, ANYTHING that can get you a better deal on beauty products.

These deals are for my area, but they are also available online from the drug store websites.
At CVS this week-
Physicians Formula products 50% off
Olay Makeup Wipes 2/$9
Milani, NYC, L'oreal, Revlon and Almay products are all buy one get one 50% off (bogo 50%)

At Walgreens this week-
Covergirl, Neutrogena, Revlon, and Maybelline are bogo 50%
Simple products 25% off

At RiteAid this week-
Revlon, Maybelline, Neutrogena, and Sally Henson are bogo 50%
Garnier Dark Spot Peel $14.99
Ganier BB Cream $11.99 (my BB cream comparison will be up later this week)
All Garnier facial cleansers $4.99
St. Ives 2/$9

Also signing up for store savings cards saves money. When you buy certain products you can earn cash back to use during your next store visit. TRUST ME this "extra cash" comes in handy.
Be sure you check the drug stores in your area, because often different areas have different sales.

I'll be back later with a list of freebies you can get RIGHT NOW!!

Monday, February 11, 2013

$1 GEM of the Week

So every week I will search the ends of the earth to find you the $1 item that you MUST have and make it sound SO good that you will not be able to live without it!!

This weeks *GEM* comes from eyeslipsface or e.l.f. If you don't know about them yet, then you will after this! It's called the "Zit Zapper"
It comes in a roll on tube that easily applies to pimples and destroys them!
You can get it at the e.l.f. website and Target. (If anyone knows any other places to find it, please let me know!)

This *GEM* is a great item to keep in you makeup bag, work bag, overnight bag or gym bag for whenever those pimples might pop up. It's cute, compact and most importantly CHEAP!
Go get 1...or 10!


My Weekly Routine

I read an article in Cosmo a while ago that listed the most important things for great skin.
1.always use sunscreen
2.exfoliate
3.use porestrips weekly
4.use a mask weekly
5.stay hydrated and moisturize
6.sleep

I already did most of these things. I am guilty of not getting enough water or sleep. I also never thought pore strips were useful, but I am a convert to pore strips. They are better than I remember them being.
So once a week ( usually Sunday) I do a mask. I use Neutrogena Deep Clean Long Last Shine Control $8.39. First I exfoliate using the apricot scrub then I apply the mask and leave it on until it dries. After I rinse it off with hot water (same temperature as in the daily routine.)

 
 
Next I apply water to my nose and use a Biore Deep Cleansing Pore Strip $8.49. I leave this on for 10 minutes then peel it off. Okay I'm going to be honest with you it does hurt a little to peel this thing off your face, but as my momma always told me "beauty is pain."  I rinse off whatever little bit of chalky residue might be left behind. I then apply the Garnier spot correcting products as I do everyday.
 
 
Another great mask is the Proactive Refining Mask $10.95 (@ Sears) or $20 (@Proactive website).
You can also find it on Ebay. I got this one as a free sample!! (stay tuned and I will also keep you in the know of free samples too!!)
The directions say use 2-3 times a week, but for me that is excessive. Once does great for me even though I have oily skin. This stays on for 10 minutes until dry then you can rinse it off with warm water. You can also use it as an acne spot treatment.
 
 
If you have any questions email me, leave comments and even suggestions for products you would like me to review or if you want further information on any of the products I've shown so far.
 
 





Sunday, February 10, 2013

My Daily Routine

     I know everyone has a daily routine and I would just like to share mine with you. Over the years I've learned about my skin through trials of products and disappointment. Before you you try any product you have to know your skin! I repeat! KNOW YOUR SKIN!
It might take a while to figure out, it took me a while too, but it's worth it!
My face is:
Oily
Scars easily- I do have some acne scars ( believe me, I'll post pics)
Needs exfoliation
Needs moisture and hydration.
Only has an acne break out during what I "lovingly" refer to as "shark week" (menstruation).
Can not take harsh astringents and certain products.

First of all I only wash my face at night. I remove all my makeup before I do my first step which is exfoliate. I HAVE to exfoliate everyday. You may not need to and for most people it's harsh on their skin. Try once a week to start off with and if necessary increase to more times per week.  I use St. Ives Apricot Scrub $4.49. I scrub for about 3-5 minutes in a circular motion. I add a little water if the mixture starts to dry out while I'm applying it.
 
Next I use a cleanser. I like Neutrogena Oil Free Acne Wash Cream Cleanser $6.99. I apply this all over my face and leave it on for up to 10 minutes. Honestly my timing could be wrong. It's cold when I apply it and I usually leave it on until it's no longer cold. Then I wash it off. I always use hot water. Not hot enough to burn me but a comfortable temperature for me.
 

 
After my face is dry, since I do have old acne scars I use Garnier Dark Spot Corrector $12.99  and Dark Spot Overnight Peel $17.99. Now I know you're saying to yourself  "didn't this heffa promise me $10 items!?" But I assure you I did not pay sticker price for these items. I got them on sale, buy one get one 50% off AND used a $2.00 off coupon. Plus these items are worth the money! (I'll do a whole entry on items worth their price tag later on)  I use these because they work! I have pictures which I will post later as well. Now back to our regular programming. First I apply the corrector, since it's a cream and I wait a minute for it to soak in. I only use a pea sized amount for my whole face. Then after I use the peel. A little goes a loooong way, only one squirt does my whole face. This has to dry otherwise it will rub right off.


Since I don't wash my face in the morning ( I've read articles that advocate only washing your face once a day, to avoid excessive drying and trauma) I use sunscreen in the morning before my makeup. It's also a good idea to use a moisturizer. AND since I have dark spots having a little something extra to fight them is a good idea to me! So I found a product that helps with all 3. Ambi Even & Clean Daily Moisturizer with SPF 30 $12.39.  Again I hear the sighs of  "oh no! she's a liar! AGAIN" but I got this product on sale for $9.99 and I've had it over a year. All you need is one squirt to cover your face.

 
Even if you don't use these exact products it's really important to use a moisturizer on your face. Cleansers strip away the natural oils in your skin and you have to put some healthy moisture back it in. Also it's great to use a sunscreen to stop age spots, discoloration, skin damage and darkening of acne scars. Just make sure the sun screen is "oil free".
 
I can assure you I have bought all of these items on sale! The prices listed are the list prices and NOT what I actually paid. If there is a deal to be had, I will know and obviously pass the info on to you!
Thanks for reading and stick around for more to come.

Welcome to Beauty On A Budget!

HI EVERYONE!!!!
      Thanks for coming here and checking out my blog!

I created this to be informative, answer questions and (secretly) promote myself a a makeup artist.
I have no affiliations with any companies and I am strictly freelance. I'm doing this for myself and for anyone who wants to know about different products, the good, the bad and the ugly!
     ALSO (and this is the biggie) I will being working with a budget of $10 for products! That's right! I will be finding the BEST products for $10 and under. Sometimes I will review higher end items above my $10 price range and I'll let you know if they are REALLY worth the money.
     SO if you like makeup, sarcasm, skin care, more sarcasm, bargins, and information sprinkled with more sarcasm and humor, stick around and check back frequently to see what I'm going to do next!







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