Top 10 Under $10 Beauty Tag

One of my favorite YouTube beauty gurus, emilynoel83 (Beauty Broadcast), did a video on this tag, so I thought I'd give it a go in blog form.  Since this is a tag, I would love to know what your top 10 under $10 beauty products are, so leave a comment and link to your blog or video below!

Drum roll please...

Shop and Drop (Then Shop Again)

In many cases, a great way to save some dough is to not shop.  I know, a true breakthrough!  What I mean to say is that in my experience when I shop at a retailer (either online or in store) then forgo shopping there for a while (shop and drop), they'll send me a little incentive to lure me back (then shop again).  Beyond the Rack and ShoeDazzle both sent me a $10 promo code to use on their sites this week.  CVS, eyeslipsface, Ulta, and New York & Company are just a few other brands who send out "we miss you" incentives.

Some of my most successful purchases were made possible by these special "we missed you" offers.  In fact, I got this pair of boots from ShoeDazzle for $.04 (that's not a typo) after receiving a $10 certificate in my inbox:

Review: Macadamia Natural Oil Healing Oil Treatment

I certainly do not have a shortage of oil on my face nor my hair, so when I received a bottle of Macadamia Natural Oil's Healing Oil Treatment in my May Glam Bag from Ipsy, I was less than thrilled.  I figured I didn't need any more help in the oil department and such products should be reserved for those dry, damaged hair types.  I, in my fleeting beauty wisdom, could not have been more wrong.

Photo Credit: Macadamiahair.com

Not a Fan Friday: Revlon Photoready 3D Volume Mascara

I know what you're thinking, "Revlon makes mascara?!"  The answer (obviously) is yes, they do.  However, mascara is definitely not the shining star of the Revlon brand and certainly cannot compare to our beloved Revlon Lip Butters.  In fact, the one and only mascara I've tried from Revlon is horrific - it's the Revlon Photoready 3D Volume Mascara in waterproof.

Chic for Cheap Spotlight: New York & Company

In this new series entitled "Chic for Cheap Spotlight," I'll be featuring some of my favorite brands and how you can get your hands on their products while on a budget.  Please note that these spotlight posts are not sponsored in any way; I just want to share my favorite brands and products with you in hopes that you'll love them as much as I do!

There was a time not long ago when I wouldn't even have dreamed about shopping at New York & Company.  As a 20-something in college, I thought "those kinds of stores" were for real grown-ups - you know, people with REAL full-time jobs who have cars with power windows and people who think "eating out" is more than just grabbing a bite at Taco Bell.  It was those kinds of people who should be shopping there, not t-shirt-and-jeans-wearing, I-don't-have-a-clue-what-fashion-is me.  My first encounter with the brand was me walking into a NY&C store to apply for a job (I was hired, of course).  Thus began my love affair with New York & Company.

Quick Tip: CVS Coupons

As a member of the CVS ExtraCare Rewards Program, you can save a TON of cash especially if you're a frequent CVS beauty shopper like me.  Coupons are available online and in-store at the coupon center. Also, as a member of the ExtraCare Beauty Club, you can earn $5 rewards for every $50 spent.

If you're not a member, you NEED to enroll!  It is by far the best drugstore rewards program (I should know, I have them all!).  I've been a member of Walgreens' rewards program for about the same time as CVS, and I'm still waiting to get cash back from Wags.  I've earned at least four $5 beauty rewards and countless ExtraBucks!  Check the CVS website to learn more!


Yesterday as I approached the register at CVS, the cashier noticed I had a handful of coupons printed off from the coupon center.  Although I told her I didn't think I had picked up anything that would qualify for any of the coupons, she said she would scan them anyway, just to make sure.  She ended up saving me an additional $5.24 (even after my $5 reward and a coupon for $6 off $30)!  Thank you, CVS cashier!

So whenever you find yourself with a few coupons that you think you can't use, just have the cashier scan them anyway; you might end up saving even more $$!

Holy Glitter, Batman!

For those of you who are not fans of glitter, you can stop reading and go back to your gloomy, sparkle-less life.  You will not enjoy this.  I mean it - GET OUTTA HERE!

Now that it's just us glitterholics here, I'd like to share my new favorite nail polish by Milani called Pink Flare.  I'm not sure how long it's been on the market, but I'm pretty sure it's nothing new (what took me so long, right?).  I love light polishes like this as chipping is less noticeable.  I applied this on Saturday, and it's just now starting to really chip away, so if you use a good basecoat (like Orly's Bonder) it should last a good while.