August 2014 Ipsy -- Urban Decay, Dr. Brandt, Klorane, & more!

I'm so excited to share what came in this month's Ipsy bag!

The bag...

Last summer they did a very similar bag to this one. It was the same shape and material but was a clear neon pink. I'm absolutely in love with this white and orange polka dot pattern!

Klorane extra-gentle dry shampoo with oat milk! 

Retail value of travel size: $9.00

Received the full travel size bottle in bag!

I was so excited to see that they included a dry shampoo in this month's bag. I love using dry shampoo and I love trying different kinds. This is the perfect size for travel or keeping in my purse for touch ups throughout the day.

Dr. Brandt Pores No More pore refiner primer!

Retail value of full size: $45.00

Retail value of this sample:  $11.25

I have always been intrigued by this brand. I've gotten samples from Sephora and loved every one. I'm especially excited for this primer because it says it is for oily/combination skin and that's what I am! I am always on the lookout for something that is going to help with the big ol' pores on nose, cheeks, and chin! I can't wait to start using this!

Urban Decay Perversion mascara! 

Retail value of full size: $22.00

Retail value of this sample: $5.50

How could I not be excited to see Urban Decay in this month's bag?! And a mascara no less! I love trying new mascaras and they are the perfect product in sample form because you get to try the brush and the product and there is enough for several uses! Then you can figure out if you like it before buying a full size.

Jersey Shore Sun Mongongo Nutrient Dense anti-aging lip conditioner!

Retail value of full size: $5.50

Received full size in bag! 

I was excited to see a lip balm in my bag but as soon as I smelled it my opinion quickly changed. It is described as "Mandarin green orange and ginger" My sister and I describe it as bug spray! lol I just think it is really stinky. My mom really liked the scent though so I am going to give it to her!

J. Cat Beauty Single eyeshadow in Half Naked

Retail value of full size: $2.99

Received full size in bag!

I haven't had the best of luck with eyeshadows from Ipsy over the past year. Mostly because I got really odd shades. I was so happy to see that this month I got a nice neutral champagne shade. It has a slight shimmer to it but no glitter. I'm really excited about it. I've never tried anything from J. Cat Beauty before so I look forward to trying their brand for the first time!

That's everything in my bag this month!

Retail Value of the bag: $34.24

Amount I paid: $10.00

I'm telling you, I just love Ipsy. I love getting new products to try every month and I love all the cute bags!

If you are interested in trying out Ipsy you can check them out here.

Thanks for stopping by!

xoxo

WalMart Beauty Haul! (Skincare, Haircare, Nails, & more!)

My husband and I stopped at WalMart after going out for dinner because I needed to buy some tampons. We like to be very sarcastic and joke with each other so while parking the car we were joking about something and I said to my husband "Why don't you just stay in the car!?" The car stops, I get out, and realize he is still in the car. "Haha, very funny." I think. "He'll get out of the car now." I say to myself. "He'll come walking in behind me."

Nope. 

"He really stayed in the car!" Psshh! "Oh no he didn't!" 

So I thought to myself "I'll teach him to let me go in the store alone!" So I picked up my tampons... and two things of dry shampoo, some toner, and lip balm, nail polish remover, and more! Bahaha! 

I thought I was so funny.

(I did buy him one of those $1 boxes of movie theater candy for sitting in the car while I wandered through the store.)

 He actually did find it funny when I walked out with my bag full of stuff.

Now I want to share that bag full of stuff with you 

(Minus the tampons... 'cuz they're just tampons, what more is there to say...)

Simple Soothing Facial Toner, $5.97

I have been in need of a facial toner for some time now after running out of my huge bottle of Mario Badescu Seaweed Cleansing toner. I had seen this talked about in YouTube videos but have had such bad experiences with drugstore toners in the past (too much alcohol making it over-drying) so I've been hesitant to try it. Something I'd never noticed until today was that it says "100% Alcohol free" which instantly made it better than all the other toner options on the shelf. So into my cart it went!

I used it for the first time and it had zero scent (no fragrance, very good!). It also made my skin feel softer and smoother than it was before. It didn't burn or tingle nor did my skin feel dry at all!! It actually reminds me so much of my {over-priced} Mario Badescu toner I'd used for so long (but for a quarter of the price)!

Hopefully my first impression lasts because I would love to find an affordable drugstore toner that is actually good! I'll keep you posted...

Not Your Mother's Clean Freak Refreshing Dry Shampoo, $4.74

I have used two kinds of dry shampoo: the uuber affordable and citrus scented Suave dry shampoo and the very popular Tresemme Fresh Start dry shampoo. I was adequately pleased with both of them but ready to try something new! I didn't have any at home so I decided to pick this up on recommendation from my sister in law. I already love this brand so much so I didn't hesitate at all when I saw this at my Walmart.

Hopefully it lives up to my expectations!

got2b Rockin' it 4ever stylestay encore fresh dry shampoo, $3.97

Can we discuss how long the name of this is? I mean I'm assuming that is all part of its name... I don't even know... but it just goes on and on lol. This is another hair care brand I have tried several times over the years so I picked it up as well... because why only have one of something at a time when you can buy two. LOL Really it was a little impulsive of me but I wanted to be able to try out both and see which is better.

I didn't do it for me, it was for you! ...does that excuse work? :)

got2b POWDER'ful Volumizing Styling Powder, $3.97

I have heard of these volumizing powders before but never tried one. I saw this video on YouTube of MissGlamorazzi showing how she is styling her new shorter hair style and she uses like a million products but she makes it look so easy and her hair turns out amazing and basically I want to be her... so I'm starting with a volumizing powder :) 

This isn't even the same brand she used but it is cheaper and that's how I roll! I have no idea what to expect from this or if I'll actually be able to make it work in my hair!

EOS Lip Balm in Strawberry Sorbet, $2.97

I have used several of these over the years but haven't had one in quite a while. My WalMart recently put up a huge display and I've been looking at it every week when I do my grocery shopping and finally had to pick one up! I've never tried this scent before so I scooped it right up!

As expected it smells amazing! And as always, these feel amazing on the lips. If you've never tried one before you must get out from under that rock you've been hiding under and GO GET ONE! Right now!

Can you tell I like them? Just a little :) I mean they are the funnest shaped lip balm ever.

elf Nail Polish Remover Pads, $2.00

I have always been curious about nail polish remover pads but never wanted to take the plunge since I have a bottle of remover and my own cotton rounds so why waste the money on some pre-soaked pads, right!? But I go up to my parents on the weekends a few times a month and I get tired of dragging along a full bottle of remover (which has leaked on me many a time & is so annoying). Hence this purchase!

For $2.00, even if they suck I'll at least know and will stop wondering! I tried one out and it worked pretty well actually (and on red polish which tends to be stubborn)! I did notice it made my fingertips dry out a bit but anything with acetone tends to do that.

And there you have it. 

Those are the new beauty items from my revenge bag full of stuff from Walmart :)

xoxo

First Impressions: Suave Professionals Dry Shampoo spray

Up until a few months ago I had no clue what dry shampoo was. Now that I think about it I find it odd that I didn't know because not only have I always loved buying hair styling products but I have never been an everyday hair washer so you would think dry shampoo would be an old friend of mine.

Well it sure is a good one now!

I have read/heard tons of reviews on different dry shampoos but (as you all know) I don't like shelling out too much on one product. I heard Suave was revamping all of their products but, despite their low prices, haven't always been their biggest fan. It was this review from Nouveau Cheap that finally convinced me to pick it up.

I just used this for the first time yesterday on second day hair. I straightened my hair and was wearing it down with my [overgrown] bangs pinned to the side. The roots and bangs were feeling a little greasy so I decided to take the plunge and use my dry shampoo. I don't know why it seemed so intimidating but I felt like I had no clue what I was doing.

Once my hair was done I did as the can directed and shook the can "well" (I assumed that meant I needed to put some effort into it and not just lazily shake it once or twice) and held it about 10 inches from my head. The nozzle felt very tight and I had to press down rather firmly before product came out. This made me nervous because I didn't know if I was supposed to use a continuous spray all over my head like hair spray or short spritzes just along my part. I ended up using a few faint hearted spritzes. Miraculously, it worked! (Amazingly I might add!). My roots felt so soft and clean and they didn't look the least bit greasy.

The bonus I wasn't expecting? Volume!

This baby made my roots perk up so nicely and stay that way all day (with a little froufing and poofing and smooshing with my fingers throughout the day).

Also, I have read that a white powder residue is common on darker hair but my hair is blond so I can't give an account for that. I didn't see any change in my in the color of my roots (which, considering how long it's been since I had my hair colored, might not have been a bad thing).

I've only used this once so I can't give a can't say 100% but so far so good!

If you have been wanting to try a Dry Shampoo but weren't sure which brand I would recommend trying this. The price is low ($2.00-$3.00) and so far the quality is great. Even if you don't want to buy the Suave brand I recommend picking up a dry shampoo. I am totally blown away with the great results I saw on my own hair.

xoxo