Come spring I am dying to pull out my pink and coral clothes from closet hibernation. The same holds true for my toes! I have been obsessed with NYC’s Prospect Park Pink for the past few weeks.
It’s the perfect blend of peachy pink and has my toesies excited for the months ahead. It dries in a rapid 60 seconds and cost only $1.99 at Target!
What colors do you gravitate toward this time of year?
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I’m always on the hunt for great beauty products that won’t break the bank. When I notice someone’s pearly whites or luscious locks you bet I’m the first to ask what they use. My brothers are no exception to this, and last year I noticed Luke’s head full of curls looking a little fuller and bouncier. Luke shared his secret of this product for taming his curls:
Yes, it can be used on our horsey friends, but is also fantastic for any hair type. I am in love with this product! I use it as a clarifying shampoo about once a week. It strips product build-up, brings body and life back to my hair and really does result in “shiny, manageable hair”. If you want your mane to look and feel like a superstar, you need to give it a try.
laineygossip.comPick up a bottle of Mane n’ Tail on sale right now at Rite-Aid. You can also find it at Walgreens and Sally’s. Thanks for the beauty tip Lukey!
What is your favorite hair product?
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Threshold ombre throw pillow $14.99
Red stipe pillow $19.99
Essie really red nail polish $7.79
Red ikat pouf $39.99
Huffy men’s cruiser $119.99
A favorite red notebook $2.99
Today we are hitting up Target with our sister, Helen who flew in town for a long weekend. You can always rely on Target to hit the bulls-eye with Target-red Valentine’s loot! What are you loving at Target right now?
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My goodness, I don’t usually get the ‘Winter Blues’, but this year I’m praying Spring shows her face early this year. Here are a few things that I’ve been loving this month, simple necessities to see me through.
1. Nightly bath with gorgeous products: to warm up and relax
2. A cozy book: to take me somewhere else
3. Fluffy slippers: to keep me snug
4. Enticing Drama’s: to help entertain
5. Green smoothies: to make up for all the carbs!
What are your survival secrets?
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We haven’t done a holler dollar in over a month, have you guys noticed that many stores have upped their prices in their dollar sections? We’re not impressed.
However I eventually found a good buck to blog about…these Sally Hansen ‘Little Details’ tweezers have been my fave for years, but I’ve recently had a hard time finding them in my usual stores. I was ridiculously excited when I found them at the Dollar Tree, and for only a dollar…holler! (Usually $4)
These are a must for any makeup bag and possibly the best dollar you’ll ever spend!
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The number one thing I hate about doing my nails is how long it take for them to dry. I can sit idle for hours and still manage to smudge the polish (Yes, Mum I’m applying thin coats). Who has time for that this time of year?
This is the number one reason I’ve been in love with OPI’s Opening Night Champagne for several years:
It applies ever so evenly and is hyper-pigmented with it’s metallic, shimmery champagne color that it only requires one thin coat of polish (you can even skip the base and top coat). Five minutes to dry and I’m out the door for all the Christmas festivities. Perfect…
WRONG, the color has been retired and can only be found in England for $30!!!
What the heck? So friends, I’m in the need of a new one-coat metallic beauty, and any beauty shortcut tips, please.
Anyone else running around like crazy with no time to curl their hair?
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In my early 20′s I worked for Clinique in England. I LOVED that job, mostly because I LOVE the products and all the freebies I received. At the time I traveled quite a bit and often without much notice, and that’s when I came up with my ‘cosmetic grab bag’. It’s simply my soap bag ready to go at any moment.
Today it’s still one of my favorite packing tips. Just having it ready and handy has proved to be very useful and a real time saver. It’s especially nice to have all new products ready and waiting; and as you can see I like the travel sized items from Bath and Body Works which are often free with coupons. Sometimes I get really nerdy and try and colour coordinate all my products, but hey it’s fun and festive. :)
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This week I visited the salon for some much needed hair care before the the lil’ bro’s upcoming nuptials.
image source unknownI realized while sitting in that spinny chair of horror that I would much rather be in a gynecologist office than be in that chair…
I realized that I felt this way for three reasons:
No, it wasn’t supposed to be pink! it was supposed to be like Rapunzel’s or Sleeping Beauty’s, not Katy Perrys and now as a result, when that little blue bowl of bleach comes closer to my locks my heartbeat starts to raise.
Luckily, this time I am in the clear. I was in skilled hands and it turned out beautiful. But probably when I go next, the stylist will be gone and I will be back to square one.
Does anyone else feel like this or do I need to be medicated?
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I must say my mummy and sissies have locks to envy. But I’ve noticed this takes a little more work than my tie it in a elastic approach. They have a little touch up throughout the day with this little baby.
This detangles and volumes, without your hair becoming a nest. I’m a recent convert, and now that they’re in the $1 section at Target, you can be too…Holler!!!
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Living is a desert takes its toll on your skin. You need an effective moisturizer that can you can use generously without costing an arm and a leg. I haven’t been a 100% happy with my usual moisturizer so was ready for a change.
At Costco I noticed a 2-pack of 6.0 oz Olay complete moisturizer for sensitive skin and thought for $16.68 I would give it a try.
I couldn’t be happier with the change, so of course I had to blog about it!
It’s a fraction of the cost of my regular moisturizer when you compare price per ounce, and overall I am more satisfied. Lightweight moisture, without being greasy or sticky as well as a reasonable price is a winning combination for me.
Do you have a winning combo moisturizer that you can’t live without?
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It is finally getting cooler around here, and I am all ready for fall with my Old Navy leopard print scarf. It’s lightweight enough for hot days, but will be great for layering when temperatures plummet.
I also splurged this week on a pedi with friends where I found this OPI color, ‘Over the Taupe’:
I am loving this medium-brown hue. I think it’s neutral enough to be a staple all winter long, and confident that it would look great on any skin tone. How are you getting ready for fall?
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Pinterest is slowly making the world a better place one day at a time. As well as insane eye candy and creative inspiration, Pinterest has changed my life by learning to use this…
…as a facial scrub!
As I had it in my kitchen cupboard I thought I would give it a try…
All you do is simply make a paste out the baking soda and water and apply it in circular motions to your face. You can leave it on your face until it begins to tingle and then simply rinse off.
The results are smooth, silky fresh skin, equivalent to any face scrub I have tried.
It feels like the baking soda really getting into those pores, and leaves my skin silky clean. It is also the least expensive spa treatment I’ve ever tried, as well as being a little more ‘natural’ than chemicals, facials and peels.
In fact, I love it so much that I’ve ditched my regular body scrub and instead use baking soda on my feet, elbows and knees!
Do use baking soda for anything other than baking? Seriously what on earth would we do without Pinterest?!
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In college I loved to buy make-up. I would eagerly await my paycheck so I could run to the MAC counter to pick up a new eye shadow.
Now that I’ve mostly figured out what make-up and application techniques works for me I don’t get all that excited to try something new, and the expense of buying products at the department store hurts. I would much rather be spending my money on a new throw pillow or candles than eye shadow.
I also feel that grocery store brand cosmetics have improved over the years. Maybe I wasn’t paying too much attention in the past, but now with my eyes open to store sales and manufacturers coupons I haven’t been able to resist the low prices on grocery store brand cosmetics.
Sometimes you will take a hit on a new product at the grocery store, you spend a few dollars and discover as soon as you open the product it won’t work. A bronzer that is grainy and orange, or an eyeliner pencil that wont even apply on your eyelid, what the heck?
However, more times than none I’ve found great comparables to my more expensive, department store brands and a few dollars lost on a bad product is outweighed by the savings. By switching just a few basics, I have saved over $250 dollars a year.
Here are a few winners that are crazy good value in my book.
#1 Cover Girl Concealor
Covergirl fresh complexion under-eye concealer
My Northern England genes have given me some major dark circles under my eyes. Concealor is the product I cannot live without. It has to be a miracle worker. I have tried every department store brand out there and this under $6 covergirl concealor is equal if not better than it’s competitors in coverage and quality.
#2 Rimmel London Blush
Medium-toned skin needs high pigmented products especially in eyeshadow and blush. MAC used to be my number one choice for these. I have found blush to be the easiest thing to match at the grocery store, and this high pigment powder blush from Rimmel London for $4 creates a rosy and pretty glow.
#3 e.l.f. Golden Bronzer
Wearing 100 spf daily leaves my skin a little ghost-like and some major bronzer is always needed. I am obsessed with this $3 e.l.f golden bronzer. It has the perfect combo of color and glow, not too orange or shimmery creating a perfect sun-kissed look for summer.
#4 Victoria Sectret Lip Gloss
Victoria Secret beauty rush lip gloss $5
This shiny lip gloss creates almost an identical look to Clinique’s Superbalm for a fraction of the cost. Only $5 when you buy four, it is great to have a few extra around the house for a perfect last minute gift.
The easiest way to transition from department store to grocery store to match your make-up before it runs out. Bring the product to the store and allow a little times going through different brands to find a close match. Don’t get disheartened if you don’t find a match, just keep the product in your purse for when you go to a different store that may carry different brands or have a wider selection.
Do you have any grocery store brand make up that you can’t live without? I would love to give them a try!
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Don’t you just hate it when you see a tiny bit of silver packaging peak through your eye shadow or blush? It’s like the beginning of the end. Sometimes this happens sooner rather than later, but you always know what’s coming next: the cracks, the crumbles, and the mess. :(
At this stage, I’d just keep the fragile product on my countertop instead of my usual bag, since I’m never ready to just throw the product away. But while witnessing Em put on her makeup one day I noticed she simply places her loose product in a ziplock bag, so it’s still handy to be on the go.
I’ve recently adopted this method myself. Just simply dip your brush into the bag, and apply the makeup as usual. Em thought this process was normal. I thought it was genius, and therefore deserved a blog post!
It makes me feel good to use up every speck product, especially with those pricey ones!
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Friday’s post is coming a little bit early, coz I thought you’d like to jump on this deal…
As you all know by now we’re major Clinique fans around here, but we’ve been disappointed as of late because it seems they keep raising their prices. Usually their bonus gifts are free with $21.50 purchase but now they’re around the $25 range…boo.
Anyhow, I’m making do and trying new products (see HERE) since we’re on a student budget. But some of their products I simply can’t live without.
The good news is that there seems to be more promotions on their website. Like, right now you can choose 3 mini items with ANY purchase, plus FREE shipping. Click (HERE for promo).
I bought my go-to concealer for $15.50, and selected: Pore Refining Solutions (never tried), Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief Mini (fave), and All About Eye’s Rich Mini (fave) for FREEEE. 2 of these items are my must have’s, even though I’ve never paid for them once…holler!
Plus sometimes it’s just nice to sit at home and order, and look forward to a package in the mail. Recently I’ve been finding caked faced consultants very annoying, how about you guys?
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Since the hubs has been back in school, I’ve had to look for big ways to cut back. Clinique is my go to beauty brand; having been a consultant for them I know and love most of their products. However, having EVERY item from them is just not doable these days.
The ELF cosmetics caught my eye on my last visit to Target, (I think it may have been because their new line has all white packaging)…anyhow, the natural compact looked so soft and not too shimmery so I thought I’d give it a whirl.
Even with my sensitive skin, I was really impressed with it, especially because it was only $3!
Click on image to see me blink!
What do you guys think? Good enough, right?
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It’s time again for bonus time at Clinique. This is the free gift available at Dillard’s with any $23.50 Clinique purchase.
We have been noticing that Clinique make up prices have been sky-rocketing the last little while, enticing us more than ever to stick with our trusty basics. Sometimes it is so hard not to get side-tracked with new products when you’re in the store!
We are total addicts of the 3-step system, and are happy that these products remain reasonably priced and last forever.
We always plan to purchase one or two 3-step items each bonus time, keeping us stocked on mascara, eye shadow and lip glosses that each bonus gift usually brings. Bonus time runs until March 24th or until gifts last.
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First up we have an exciting announcement…
Sarah’s been invited to be a contributor over at Lil Luna! Her first post is today, where she’ll be sharing her painted wallpaper project. Be sure to go check it out HERE.
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This month we were both a little disappointed with our magazine reading. What is it with March? However, we did find a few little tidbits to share – hope you enjoy!
Sarah’s Finds:
I was surprised this month when Parents Magazine arrived at my door. I have no idea where it came from, but I enjoyed the read nonetheless. Even though I have no kiddies, I am planning on babysitting my sweet nephews for the next 10 days, so I thought the reading might come in useful anyhow :)
Their “Best Blog Awards 2012″ article led me to some fantastic mommy blogs; but my favorite find was written by a daddy, Made By Joel. As an artist and stay-at-home dad, I’m sure he leads a pretty busy life, but still he manages to create some pretty awesome, yet simple crafts with supplies you’ll find already in your home.
Check out this flipping adorable miniature cityscape. It’s adorable. Although he has his printables all ready to share with us, I’m kinda tempted to make a personalized one of our huge family for all the little kidlets. A cute, thrifty gift don’t you think?
Next up is a sweet find from Good Housekeeping. Wooser + Prince’s emery boards found at Parkside Papers, $5 for three. I simply fell in love with the fresh patterns, and thought how lovely it would be to file with these…I’m so ready for spring!
Emily’s Finds:
This month my favorite magazine picks are from House Beautiful. This picturesque courtyard made me smile. It is simply stunning and makes me dream of having casual dinners with friends and family…outside!
This white hutch is absolute perfection. I am hoping for one someday.
I am beyond obsessed with gold right now…I am pinning like mad gold + gray, gold + black, gold + anything, and now I’m going to be pinning gold + green.
Green with a hint of gold really is so romantic. Lastly my favorite pick from Country Living this month is this bathroom featuring a lovely dressing area. Heck yes I’ll take a couch and armoire in the bathroom.
Happy magazine Monday everyone, have a lovely day!
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Last week I went to Sally’s Beauty Supply to pick up my beloved Argan oil (cheaper version of Moroccan oil). While I was waiting in line at the register I saw a stand with Sally’s brand make-up. Blushers, eyeshadow, lip glosses and more all for $.99.
I haven’t really tried any dollar make-up since my wet n’ wild days in middle school, so I thought it was time to give it another try.
For one dollar each, I’m pretty impressed. I am especially happy with the bronzer that has helped give my February ‘lack of luster’ skin a little glow. So to my frugal friends out there, I give Sally’s make-up a thumbs up. Let me know what you think of it.
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Don’t you just hate it when you are beyond exhausted and all you want to do is plop into bed, but then you realize..oh, I still have my makeup on?!
Unfortunately, my skin is no longer so forgiving as when I was 17, it needs to be cleaned properly EVERY night. I am also a BIG baby when it comes to bedtime, I have to get ready for bed before I get too tired or I almost have a meltdown. I have learned to invest in makeup remover wipes to pack when we go away, or for the occasional late night at home when all the energy I can muster for my face is a wipe.
Do use face wipes? Do you hate buying them as much as me?! At least $3-$4 at the store on a pure luxury item that is in no way essential. Some things I just hate spending money on, and this is one of them. Good news is that I found them at Rite Aid in the Dollar Days section for $1!!!
Not only are they only $1, but they are the nicest, gentlest wipe I have tried – no stingy, puffy red eyes getting that mascara off. I have totally stocked up, in case they are only a seasonal item.
I have a feeling I may be using them a little more liberally…
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We are two sisters, Emily & Sarah. We are constantly working to have more efficient, beautiful lives and homes. We hope you find our ‘clippings’ fun and inspiring. Thanks for visiting.
