Maybelline: Any Cosmetics - $3 ECB WYB $10 (limit 1) $1 off any one Maybelline New York mascara (exp 11/9/12) $1 off any one Maybelline New York SuperStay 24 lip color or lip product (exp 11/9/12) $1 off any one Maybelline New York FitMe foundation, concealer or powder (exp 11/9/12)
Revlon: Any Cosmetics or Tools - $5 WYB 2 (limit 6) Physicians Formula: Any Cosmetics - $7 ECB WYB $10 (limit 1) $1 off any one full size Physicians Formula product (exp 11/30/12)
Almay: Any Intense I-Color Shadow, Liner or Mascara, $5.99 - $3 ECB (limit 1) $1 off any one Almay cosmetic product (exp 11/04/12)
"Take your eyes from natural to smoldering in just 2 easy steps with L'Oreal's rich color depositing Voluminous Smoldering Eyeliner & Voluminous False Fiber Lashes Mascara. Clump-free, flake-free, smudge-free. Ophthalmologist & allergy tested, fragrance-free. Suitable for sensitive eyes & contact lens wearers."
BREAKDOWN:
A mascara and kajal-like eyeliner duo meant to create the illusion of false lashes.
ANALYSIS:
As someone cursed with very pale and very sparse lashes, I'm always on the lookout for products that will give me the dark, lushly dramatic lashes of my dreams. Over the years I've tried to wear false eyelashes as well as lash extensions but I absolutely hate how they feel on my eyes. As a result I've had to fake full lashes by tightlining and layering volumizing mascara. L'Oreal Voluminous False Fiber Lashes Kit is the same technique in one convenient package. It combines a creamy black eyeliner and fiber-infused thickening mascara to mimic the look of false eyelashes.
The Voluminous Smoldering Eyeliner is kajal inspired; "kajal" is another word that simply means "kohl," a word to designate highly pigmented, very smooth and usually very dark eye cosmetics (fun fact: it is actually illegal to import and sell real kohl in the USA as the real thing is usually made from lead sulfide, which is toxic!). This liner is indeed very creamy and richly dark, making it perfect to tightline the lashes. It easily fills in all the pales spots in between lashes and melts into the lashline for the illusion of a thicker lash base.
However, it is this smoothness that is also problematic as the liner is so soft it does smear and melt quite easily so the wear is only a few hours (unless the weather is warm or you have very oily skin; it won't survive nearly that long in those cases). Another drawback to the creamy formula is that you have to sharpen the pencil every time you use it to get the full effect of tightlining and because the pencil is already fairly short, you go through it quickly. If you do not mind the touch-ups required or the small amount of product, then this is a great product to wear as it is very smooth and looks amazing on the eye.
The Voluminous False Lashes Mascara is the latest variation of the popular Voluminous mascara and it lives up to the name. The formula is thick but not too heavy, but the secret is that it contains tiny fibers that adhere to the lashes to thicken and lengthen them; the extra fibers add dimension, giving them them look of falsies. My favorite part of this mascara is the brush; it is the dense, heavily bristled spoolie brush that I love because it thoroughly coats every lash.
At first I was apprehensive about this mascara as it is the same gold packaging as Voluminous Million Lashes, a product with the distinction of being the only mascara I threw away after just a few uses. I was pleasantly surprised, however, as it is nothing like Million Lashes. False Lashes is a great formula applied with a great brush that does thicken lashes as promised. I'm not sure if the fibers have anything to do with it or if it was just the formula, but my eyelashes did look more volumized and even slightly lengthened. The wear was great with no transferring and only a minimal amount of flaking after several hours of wear.
Overall I enjoyed this kit and would purchase it again, although I wish they would make it available in other colors for a more natural look for fair skin people; right now it's only available in black and while I like the drama that dark lashes and eyeliner give me I sometimes want something a little more subtle. Also, a waterproof version would be excellent especially for the eyeliner as it does not work very well in the waterline. And while the False Fiber Lashes Kit does not quite look the same as false eyelashes, it does give the appearance of fuller and longer lashes.
RETAIL PRICE:
$15.99
VARIATIONS:
Black
ADDITIONAL INFO:
Available as set and items are sold separately as well.
CoverGirl: Any Cosmetics - $3 ECB WYB $10 (limit 1) $5 off any two Cover Girl lip products (exp 10/21/12) $2.50 off any one Cover Girl lip product (exp 10/21/12) $3 off any Cover Girl Simply Ageless (exp 10/31/12) $3 off any two Cover Girl Products (exp 10/31/12) $1 off any one Cover Girl Product (exp 10/31/12) *Excludes Clean liquid makeup, powder & clearance items
L'Oreal: Any Cosmetics - $3 ECB WYB $10 (limit 6) $1 off any one L'Oreal Paris Eye Product (exp 11/25/12) $1 off any one L'Oreal Paris Eye Product (redplum.com) Revlon: Any Nail Enamel - $3 ECB, $4.99 (limit 6)
RiteAid
L'Oreal: Any Cosmetics, Skincare, Hair Color - $10 +UP WYB $25, BOGO50% (limit 4) $1 off any one L'Oreal Paris Eye Product (exp 11/25/12) $1 off any one L'Oreal Paris Eye Product (redplum.com) $1 off any one L'Oreal Paris Skincare Product (redplum.com)
Walgreens
CoverGirl: Any Cosmetics - BOGO50%
$5 off any two Cover Girl lip products (exp 10/21/12)
$2.50 off any one Cover Girl lip product (exp 10/21/12)
$3 off any Cover Girl Simply Ageless (exp 10/31/12)
I recently tried these new scent products from Glade as part of a BzzAgent campaign. I've been a member of BzzAgent for years; they are a company that allows you to sample products and uses your feedback as a consumer to improve the product.
This is the third time I was part of a BzzCampaign for Glade and I was again thrilled with the result. Rather than send out one of the two fragrance items (a reed diffuser and a refillable spray mister), they sent me coupons so that I could choose one of the scents myself. It is available in four scents: Fuji Apple & Cardamon Spice, Cotton & Italian Mandarin, Pineapple & Mangosteen and Lavender & Juniper Berry. The only one of these that really interested me was the Apple scent; I don't care for any other fruit scents and I hate flower scents with a passion. And once I smelled the Apple in stores I knew it was the perfect scent for fall.
The spray is a fine mist that blends into the air; it's not overpower or heavy at all. The diffuser is amazing as it has been set up for over two weeks and the scent is just as strong as it was the day I opened it. And it's such an authentic, crisp apple scent; far better than any other apple-scented products on the market.
I highly recommend picking up one of these, particularly the diffuser as it is the lazy girls approach to a nicely scented home. The price is rather affordable as well; the starter kit for both costs around $5 while the refills are about $3 - and there is always a sale somewhere and coupons available in both the paper and on coupons.com.
Ever since the economy took a nosedive a few years ago, there has been a huge resurgence in coupon usage. In fact, more people are using coupons now than ever before. Between the recession and TLC's "Extreme Couponing," almost half of all Americans use at least one coupon a week. Some, however, take it to another level and use dozens of coupons every time they visit a grocery or drug store. While this may seem impossible for many of us, with a little knowledge and a decent amount of patience, it is an entirely viable option for saving thousands of dollars every year.
Before you can jump in and start saving, you must first know what coupons are and what kinds are out there and how to use them. There are two main types of coupons, and both of these types come in several forms. The two types are manufacturer coupons (the most prevalent) and store coupons (not uncommon, but certainly harder to find).
Manufacturer Coupons
Manufacturer coupons are issued by the makers of the products themselves, and the bar codes on them usually start with a "5" or "9" (a side note: coupons with a "5" barcode will double if your store does this, "9" coupons will not). There are five main types of manufacturer coupons: insert, home mailer, printable, tearpad and peelie.
Insert coupons are likely the ones most people have come in contact with; they are the ones that come in your newspaper or magazines. These are the easiest way to get your hand on coupons as you can find them in every Sunday paper - and there is usually plenty of them. Most of these types of coupons expire a month after they are printed, but normally another set comes out soon after.
Home mailer coupons are mailed from the manufacturer to you, and are either in flyers, booklets or envelopes (most times you must sign up to be on their mailing list or email or call the manufacturer to request coupons). These have fairly long expiration dates, usually several months to a year after issuing.
Printable coupons are the newest form and have only been around a few years. These are available on websites like Coupons.com, SmartSource.com and RedPlum.com. Also, many companies will put printable coupons directly on their websites, so always check them before purchasing an item. The expiration dates on these are typically only a few weeks from printing. Unfortunately, most times you will only be able to print two of these per computer, and it is a big no-no to Xerox these (it constitutes fraud!).
Tearpad coupons are a great find, and are most often on cardboard displays in stores. These can be gold mine for supersavers as they usually have very long expiration dates (several months ahead). Often there may be a lag in insert coupons for a particular product; if that is the case tearpad coupons can be used instead. Although there may be a stack of these available, couponing etiquette dictates that you only take what you need and not the whole pad; leave some for others.
Peelies are the rarest and trickiest of coupons. These are fastened to the products themselves as stickers, and they are few and far between. They do have fairly long expiration dates as no one knows how long an item will sit on the shelf. The temptation may be great to pull these off of a product, but beware: many stores prefer to have the cashier remove these or they will not honor them.
Store Coupons
Store coupons are not as common as manufacturer, but they can be invaluable if found. You can denote these coupons as the barcode begins with a "1" or "4." Store-specific coupons can be found in various places: newspaper inserts, magazines, tearpads in the store, home mailers and cash register tapes (also called CRTs). CRT's are sometimes printed at the bottom of your receipts; many of these are for percentages or a specific amount off your next purchase. CVS drugstores have a printer in every store where you scan your loyalty card and it will generate coupons based on your previous purchase history.
Now that you know about the types of coupons, it helps to know a few tricks about them. The best is called "stacking." Although you cannot use two manufacturer coupons on one item, you can use a manufacturer coupon AND a store coupon. For example, if you have an X brand shampoo on sale for $3.99 and you have a manufacturer coupon for $1 off any X brand shampoo, plus a store coupon for $2 off any shampoo - that shampoo will cost you just $0.99!
Coupons are very easy to use once you know the various types and how to use them. With a little patience and a lot of practice, you can save thousands of dollars a year by couponing.
CoverGirl: Any Cosmetics - $3 ECB WYB $10 (limit 1) $3 off any 2 Cover Girl Products (exp 8/31/12) $1 off any 1 Cover Girl Product (exp 8/31/12) $5 off any cosmetics purchase of $15 or more (Coupon Center) *$8 - Lash Blast Mascara, Liquiline Eyeliner, Flipstick Lip Duo, Intense or Smoky ShadowBlast
Maybelline: Any Cosmetics - $3 ECB WYB $10 (limit 1) $1 off any 1 Maybelline Cosmetic Product (coupons.com) $5 off any cosmetics purchase of $15 or more (Coupon Center) *$5 - Volum' Express, Sensational Lip or Shadow Quad
Walgreens
Carmex: Healing Lotion or Ointment (limit 1) $1 off any Carmex Skin Care Product (coupons.com)
Maybelline Dream Nude Airfoam: "Our most lightweight
foundation for 100% Nude Perfection.
Lightweight foam for a flawless finish.
Ideal for normal skin."
Revlon PhotoReady Airbrush Mousse: "Get an airbrushed finish with Revlon’s light-as-air mousse makeup. Press
button gently to deliver a lightweight air-infused foam mousse that blends
seamlessly. Photochromatic pigments minimize the appearance of flaws for a
smooth, poreless look."
BREAKDOWN:
Two
different brands of foundation in the form of an air-infused mousse for
lighter, more natural looking coverage.
ANALYSIS:
My
“holy grail” foundation has yet to be found.
I’m fairly picky about foundations, which is likely due to the fact that
I have oily skin that is so pale it’s hard to find a makeup shade to
match. In my search I have developed
five criteria to finding the perfect foundation: shade/tone, coverage, ease of
application, durability to elements/skin, and length of wear. Whenever I purchase a new foundation (I
always try out the newest products on the market in my search; I rarely
repurchase one brand over and over) I use these five qualities to review the
foundation.
A
couple months ago both Maybelline and Revlon released an air-infused mousse
foundation, and the concept intrigued me.
Both claim it to be a lightweight formula with an airbrushed finish for
a flawless, natural look. Because they
were launched at nearly the same time, I purchased them simultaneously and
chose to review them together to compare.
I
will admit, I went into this product test with a slight bias against
Maybelline. I’ve tried several of their
foundations in the past and I’ve never liked a single one. So when their Dream Nude Airfoam came out, I
was a bit wary. One problem I have
continuously had with Maybelline foundations is color and tone; they never
offer a shade light enough for pasty-pale girls like me (although FIT ME in 110
is very close) and the tone is always off, usually too yellow or orange. Sadly, that is also the case with the Dream
Nude Airfoam; the palest color they offer is a couple shades too dark for me
and even though I have warm-toned skin, it’s a little too warm for my
taste. With that said, it actually
blends out very well so if I get a slight tan this summer, it will likely match
my skin perfectly; for now I just have to blend it down my neck for it to look
natural.
Other
than the color issue, I actually liked this foundation quite a bit. The coverage is about medium; I say that
because it does even out my skin tone and blotchiness but does not fully cover
some light freckling or faded scars. As
I already stated, it blends very well and leaves no distinct lines or streaks;
it also does not settle into pores or fine lines. It wears for up to 12 hours, which is longer
than I would imagine most people wear makeup anyway. Even without a primer, it does not mix with
the oils from your skin and change color or “melt” off. As someone with oily skin, this was a huge
plus for me as many foundations degrade rapidly and either wear off or get
goopy and cakey if you try to touch it up with blotting paper or powder. With the Dream Nude Airfoam, when it’s applied
it’s a very natural, nearly matte finish.
Over the course of the day it keeps that finish far longer than most and
when it does need touching up it doesn’t cake.
It fully lives up to its claim of giving a flawless finish; my skin
looked airbrushed but still very natural.
My
experience with Revlon PhotoReady Airbrush Mousse was very different. The very first observation I made about this
foundation was that it contains shimmer.
This is a dealbreaker for those of us with oily skin as shimmer makes
the skin look shinier and that is something I certainly do not need. PhotoReady liquid foundation as well as the
Age Defying DNA Advantage (read my review of this product here) also contain
the same shimmer and is the reason I steer clear of those two foundations. In spite of that, the color and tone of the
PhotoReady Airbrush Mousse did match me well so if you are on the pale side and
are looking for a shimmery foundation, this product may work for you.
Other
than the shimmery finish, I did have other concerns about this product. Although it claims to give an airbrushed,
light finish, it does settle into pores, it streaks and cakes in certain areas
even when less than the recommended amount is used (which is equivalent to the
size of a walnut). Like the Maybelline,
it is about medium coverage but using the amount to get that coverage also
leaves you with a visible amount of makeup on your face – not a natural,
airbrushed look. While it does last all
day without wearing off, it can mix with the oils in your skin and cake up or
melt.
It’s
clear which of the two mousse foundations was my favorite, but I’m not sure I
even love the Maybelline one as the color is not quite right. I should mention that it is only available in
12 shades; the Revlon is available in 8.
Because these foundations are so light and blendable, you can likely
deal with one that is a shade or two off so the lack of variety is not a huge
problem. They did both feel very light,
but as to the finish and wear I imagine that the Maybelline would appeal more
to those with normal to oily skin and the Revlon to those with dry skin. Also, the Maybelline contains SPF 16 while
the Revlon does not; and in spite of being called “PhotoReady” I actually think
the Maybelline photographs better even in spite of the SPF.
Youth Boosting 3-in-1 Concealer (Step 1): “Complete concealing solution combines two concealers and a professional blending tool to deliver flawless coverage. High-performance formulas help undo the visible signs of aging, restoring firmness & elasticity and improving skin’s appearance instantly and long-term. Yellow Cream color-corrects dark under-eye circles and blends easily for lightweight, buildable coverage. Light Stick can be used on any imperfection for line-smoothing, fuller coverage. 95% felt their undereye circles and puffiness seem to disappear instantly. 12 hour wear."
Youth Boosting Foundation + Brush (Step 2): "First ever cosmeceutical foundation. Breakthrough perfecting formula melts into skin, instantly evening out skin tone and texture. Ultra-luxurious and ultra-lightweight foundation glides on and blends effortlessly delivering flawless coverage with a smooth velvety finish that lasts all day. High-performance formula helps treat the visible signs of aging restoring firmness & elasticity and improving skin's appearance instantly and long-term. 12 hour wear."
Youth Boosting Pressed Powder (Step 3): "First ever cosmeceutical powder. Light as air "finishing powder" invisible blends into skin, instantly evening out skin tone and refining skin surface, for a smooth skin texture with a flawless, youthful-looking finish. Acts as a protecting shield from pollution and free radicals. Works to extend the wear of foundation so your complexion remains flawless."
BREAKDOWN:
Three-step system that is makeup and skincare in one. Instant cosmetic results as well as cumulative skin results.
ANALYSIS: Physicians Formula is known for their innovative cosmetics (think of their beautiful blushes and bronzers), and this line of makeup/skincare products are no exception. They claim to not only provide instant youth-enhancing results with makeup, but the skincare ingredients nourish your skin for lasting results.
The 3-in-1 concealer is fascinating by virtue of the fact that it is comprised of both a liquid and stick formula. As many of us makeup mavens know, both versions are necessary for a complete cosmetic collection as liquid is best for the undereye area and the thicker stick is better suited for covering blemishes and scars. Having the two products in one is pure genius - although the "3" in this equation, the blender/rollerball is of little use as it can get gunky and is difficult to clean (a no-no for good sanitary practice - use brushes instead). The product itself is great, although the liquid concealer could be more pigmented as it is not as covering as I would like. My only other issue is that most people will likely use more of the liquid than the stick, and there appears to be far less of it so you would be likely to use it all before making a big dent in the stick.
Although this is considered a liquid foundation, it is far more of a cream and is full coverage with a matte finish. It comes with a synthetic flat foundation brush, which works well but I prefer a stippling brush. And in spite of the fact that it contains SPF 15, it does not photograph oddly. It is very smooth so it does blend well and lasts all day with minimal fading. Even without a primer on oily skin, the product does not degrade or "slip" - it actually seems to absorb oil to prevent shininess. This foundation actually reminds me of Tarte's Amazonian Clay Foundation in both consistency and wear. It does live up to promise of more youthful appearance; it does not sink into wrinkles or pores so it does leave the skin looking very smooth and fresh. There is only one negative to this product; it is fairly drying so if you have dry skin, steer clear.
The first great thing about the pressed powder is that it is accompanied by a brush rather than a pad; this gives you a softer application and prevents buildup that leads to caking. The formula is very smooth and glides on beautifully without the typical powder look. There are two formulas: mattifying (which zaps any bit of shine you may experience) and illuminating (slight shimmer for a dewy finish). These work great separately but even better paired together with the illuminating on areas you wish to highlight and the mattifying on your T-zone. This powder gives the perfect light, airbrush finish to your makeup.
As a makeup, the Youthful Wear line fulfills it's promise to give a younger appearance. The makeup has good coverage but feels light and does not settle into fine lines and pores. Although it works wonderfully on oily skin, I would not recommend it for dry skin as it soaks up any excess oil. The number of shades available is very limited (the concealer only comes in yellow/light and light/light), but as it is a new product they may expand the range in the future. In regards to the skincare benefits of using this product, I have noticed my skin is far more smooth after taking off my makeup and some of my fine lines do appear to be fading.
RETAIL PRICE:
$12.95-14.95
VARIATIONS:
Youth Boosting 3-in-1 Concealer: Yellow/Light, Light/Light Youth Boosting Foundation: Fair, Light, Medium Youth Boosting Foundation: Mattifying, Illuminating (both available only in translucent)
L'Oreal: Any Eye Cosmetics - $3 ECB WYB $10 (limit 1) $1 off any L'Oreal Paris Cosmetic Product (exp 11/27/11) $1 off any L'Oreal Paris Eye Product (exp 12/18/11) $1 off any L'Oreal Paris Eyeliner (exp 12/18/11)
Garnier Nutritioniste: Any Skin Care - $5 ECB WYB $15 (limit 1) $2 off any Garnier Nutritioniste Moisturizer (exp 11/20/11) $1 off any Garnier Nutritioniste Cleanser (exp 12/17/11) $1 off any Garnier Nutritioniste Moisturizer (exp 12/17/11) *$5 - Cleansers 5 oz, Towelettes 25 ct, Moisture Rescue gel-cream, Lotion or Foam Cleanser 1.7 - 6.7 oz *$14 - Garnier Ultra-Life Eye Roller 0.5 oz Day, Night, Eye Cream, Deep Wrinkle Treatment or Skin Renew Dark Spot Corrector 0.5-1.7 oz *$10 - Garnier Skin Renew Lotion 2.5 oz, Moisture Cream 1.7 oz or Eye Roller (excludes Skin Renew dark spot corrector)
Jergens or Curel: Any Moisturizer 13-21 oz, $6.99 - $3 ECB WYB 1 (limit 1) $1 off any Jergens Moisturizer 7.5 fl oz or larger or any Jergens Natural Glow Moisturizer (exp 12/3/11) $1 off any Curel Moisturizer 3.5 oz or larger (excludes travel and trial sizes) (exp 12/3/11) $2 off any Curel Itch Defense or Sensitive Skin Remedy Moisturizers 7.5 oz or larger (excludes travel and trial sizes) (exp 12/3/11)
Nivea: Select Products - $5 ECB WYB $10 (limit 1) *Select products include Nivea Lip Care, Body Wash 16.9 oz, Shower Gel 8.4 oz, Select Nivea Gift Sets, ALL Nivea Hand or Body Lotion (excludes clearance items)
