Quantcast
Channel: The Budget Beauty Blog
Viewing all 1741 articles
Browse latest View live

Laura Geller Luminous Essentials at Ulta

$
0
0
TheLaura Geller Luminous Essentials 3 Piece Highlighting Collection ($33)  has just launched at Ulta and if you're into highlighters, this has you covered! It's a $68 value and includes her famous Gilded Honey Baked Gelato Swirl Highlighter, the Baked French Vanilla Highlighter (a personal favorite of mine) and her brand new Easy Illuminating Stick in the shade Ethereal.

If you haven't tried Laura Geller highlighters yet, you're missing out! I love the Baked Gelato Swirl when I want a lot of glow, but French Vanilla is more of a subtle, almost matte highlighter that's great for brightening up the skin under your eyes, brow bones, above your cupid's bow, etc. It wakes up your whole face without adding any tangible shimmer (see swatches of ithere in my recent review of the Passport to Pretty palette).

Also, right now, spend $35 on Laura Geller at Ulta, and get this 3 Piece Blush set (you get a bag, brush, and deluxe size of the Baked Blush n Brighten in Tropic Hues).

Grab your Luminous Essentials set now at Ulta.com


Affiliate Link| Subscribe to The Budget Beauty Blog by Email

My Latest Ulta Haul

$
0
0

Even though I was on vacation last week, I couldn't resist shopping some of the 4th of July sales online! I hauled a bunch of things at Ulta because they had some great giveaways, between the Laura Lee Beauty Bag (free with a $75 purchase) and the Buxom Lip Polish in Dolly with any purchase. I ended up getting mostly skincare with a couple of makeup items...let's take a look!

First, I was super excited to learn that my favorite Korean skincare brand, Skin Food had arrived at Ulta! Even though it's not the entire line yet, quite a few of my favorites are there, plus a few I haven't tried yet. I ended up grabbing the Peach Sake Pore Serum ($16)- this is my second bottle-and the Rice Brightening Scrub Foam ($14) which I haven't tried yet but have always wanted to. To see all of my Skin Food recommendations, check out this post here.

Next, I grabbed some more products from bath & body company, Lalicious. I've been using their Sugar Coconut Body Butter (which I got for free using my code at BeautyKind) and several readers have been telling me that I have to try the Lalicious Shower Oil ($28), so I got it in the same Sugar Coconut scent, which is a light, sweet Coconut Milk-type fragrance (so good!). I was skeptical because most shower oils I've tried don't lather very well, but this one...oh my gosh, it's amazing!! It's super thick and creamy and makes tons of foam, while leaving my skin feeling super soft and silky afterward. I'm already obsessed after one use. I also picked up the Lalicious Hand Cream ($18) in the Brown Sugar Vanilla scent, since I've been wanting to try it. I also got a free Sugar Coconut Body Scrub which is still available with any Lalicious purchase (no minimum required).

Next, I decided to try something from the new Freeman Beauty Infusion line and settled on the Brightening Overnight Mask with Hibiscus & Vitamin C ($7.99). It's a serum-infused water-gel mask that's supposed to minimize dark spots and correct discoloration. The price was right, and it sounded interesting, so I jumped on it! I'll definitely let you guys know how I like it.

Finally, I grabbed two of the new Essence makeup items that I've had in my cart for a few weeks...the Pure Nude Highlighter ($4.49) and the Forbidden Volume False Lash Mascara Topcoat ($3.99). I will definitely be doing reviews on these once I've tried them out, so stay tuned!

Next...the freebies! This is the Laura Lee Beauty Bag that came with a $75 purchase...it's amazing. The Bliss Fabulous Foaming Face Wash ($24) and Laura Geller Baked Gelato in Gilded Honey ($26) are full sizes. Plus, I'm excited to have a travel-size IT Cosmetics Hello Lashes and Purity Cleanser for taking on vacations this summer. I've also been dying to try Benefit's Dew The Hoola bronzer.

Also in this photo is the Buxom Lip Gloss in Dolly (free with any purchase- not part of the Laura Lee bag)...such a pretty shade!


Overall, I'm happy with my haul so far! What about you, did you haul anything during the 4th of July holiday sales?

 Affiliate LinkSubscribe to The Budget Beauty Blog by Email

L'oreal Revitalift Bright Reveal Brightening Peel Pads Review

$
0
0

L'oreal Revitalift Bright Reveal Brightening Peel Pads ($19.99) are brand new for summer 2016 and I found them at my local Walgreens a few weeks ago. When I first posted a photo of the display on Instagram, I ended up getting a lot of requests for a review, so now that I've been using them for about three weeks, I feel like I can finally go in depth and tell you guys what I think. So let's take a look!

What Does Glycolic Acid Do For Your Skin? 

First, I want to talk about the benefits of using glycolic acid for those of you who aren't familiar with a product like this (if you're already a pro, you can totally skip this section). Glycolic Acid is an Alpha-Hydroxy Acid (AHA) and is derived from sugar cane. Other AHA's include Citric Acid (from citrus fruits), Lactic Acid (from milk), Malic Acid (from apples), and Tartaric Acid (from grapes). AHA's work by eating up and removing dead skin cells from the surface of the skin, sort of like mini Pac-Men. Glycolic Acid has the smallest molecules of all of the AHA's so it can penetrate deeper into the skin, making it the most effective option.

Glycolic Acid:

  • Reduces fine lines by increasing cell turnover- newer younger skin cells are now visible
  • Helps to clear clogged pores and blackheads, which in turn improves acne.
  • Helps other products to penetrate deeper into the skin by removing a barrier of dead skin cells and grime.
  • Minimizes the appearance of pores by keeping them clear of debris

Ingredients: 

The Loreal Bright Reveal Peel Pads contain 10% Glycolic Acid as well as Citric Acid, for gentle, yet effective results. A lot of you have been asking me to compare these to the Peter Thomas Roth Unwrinkle Peel Pads and the Pixi Glow Peel Pads. Right away, I can tell you that both of those contain 20% Glycolic Acid, making them much stronger options. 

I don't have sensitive skin by any means, but 20% Glycolic Acid is too strong for me to use every day and makes my skin flake so I have to build up to it very slowly. That wasn't the case with the L'oreal Peel Pads...they didn't burn, sting, or dry my skin out (but if you have sensitive skin, you may still have to go slowly with these). I actually prefer the 10% glycolic acid because I can use these every day rather than every few days. Glycolic Acid works best when you use it cumulatively, so stronger isn't always better!

I've heard that the Pixi Glow Peel Pads have a strong rose fragrance, but the L'oreal Bright Reveal pads don't smell like much of anything...maybe just an alcohol-type scent? It's very mild and disappears almost instantly. 




How I Use Them: 

I actually use the L'oreal Bright Reveal Pads a few different ways, so they're a really versatile product! 

1. First, I use them on my face at night after cleansing. They're gentle enough that you can use them every night but I skip them on nights when I use a scrub...using both is too much for my skin and can make them sting a little bit. The reason I use them at night is because glycolic acid can make your skin sun-sensitive (make sure to wear SPF during the day!). Right away, my skin feels smoother and looks brighter. The pads are fairly large and they have just the right amount of solution on them...they're not dry and they're not overly saturated to the point where they're dripping (like some others I've tried in the past). This means I can cover my entire face, neck, and then some! Which brings me to my next use for these...

2. Once I've covered my face and neck, the pad still has a little bit of the solution on it. I like to take it and go over rough areas on my body. I have darkness and discoloration on my knees from kneeling all the time playing with my son. The skin has gotten very thick and dry and it looks terrible! I've been using these on them every day and have noticed a huge difference so far. The darkness is fading and they don't have a thick, dry layer over them anymore. I'm going to keep using them and hopefully my knees will go back to being the same color and texture as the rest of the skin on my legs. You can use these pads on any rough areas...elbows, feet, hands, or anywhere you have dry, dead skin that you want to remove. Just be aware that it'll take weeks of daily application in some cases to see results. 

3. The third way I use these is to take a fresh peel pad and go over my body with it to get rid of scaly, dry skin, especially on my legs! This is awesome if you're using self-tanner because they remove that top layer of dead skin that color tends to cling to. Just start using these a few days before to make sure you get rid of all the dead skin and your tanner will go on much smoother! I feel like these are better (and easier) than scrubs for removing dead skin. 


Overall, I'm really happy with the new L'oreal Bright Reveal Peel Pads! I've found so many great uses for them and have noticed that my skin looks brighter, younger, and healthier the past few weeks.
I think that the 10% concentration of Glycolic Acid is perfect because I can use them every day with no irritation, so if you haven't been able to use other peel pads that have a 20% concentration, you may want to give these a try!

You can find L'oreal Bright Reveal Brightening Peel Pads at drugstores and at Ulta.com

 Affiliate LinkSubscribe to The Budget Beauty Blog by Email

NYX Cosmetics Bright Idea Illuminating Sticks at Ulta

$
0
0
New at Ulta today are the NYX Bright Idea Illuminating Sticks ($7.99 each) and they're currently BOGO 50% off! PLUS you can use code 308920to get $3.50 off a $10 purchase!

These creamy soft sticks claim to set right away and are supposed to give a lit-from-within glow. There are highlighters, blushes, and bronzers so no matter what your skin tone, you're sure to find one that works for you.
What do you think? Will you be picking one (or more) up? I think I'm going to jump now while they're BOGO 50% off!

Grab yours now at Ulta.com

Affiliate Link |Subscribe to The Budget Beauty Blog by Email

NEW Anastasia Moonchild and Sweets Glow Kits + Swatches

$
0
0
Two new Anastasia Glow Kits just arrived this morning at the Anastasia Beverly Hills website and I have some stunning swatches for you! I shared them on Instagram last night before the palettes became available and when I checked this morning, they were live! Anastasia made a point of not telling anyone when they would be released to prevent their site from getting overloaded with traffic...that way, you won't have to fight the crowds to get one. Let's take a closer look!

Moonchild Glow Kit ($40)- 

Magically-Metallic highlighters that offer a celestial skin finish. Layer shades together or sweep them separately on face, eyes and body for a kaleidoscopic, shimmering effect. For a brightly amplified glow, apply with a damp makeup brush or sponge.

Blue Ice - Diamond white with an icy blue reflect
Star - A moonstone fusion of mint, platinum and silver reflect
Purple Horseshoe - A glittering lavender with an arctic blue reflect
Pink Heart - Pearl white with a pink opal reflect
Lucky Clover - A shamrock-infused gold with canary yellow diamond reflect
Blue Moon - Frozen blue with a silver reflect



Here are the swatches on three different skin tones...aren't they just gorgeous??
Photo: @trendmood1 on Instagram
Glow Kit Sweets($40)-
A collection of four metallic powder highlighters for intense luminosity. Layer shades of Anastasia Beverly Hills Glow Kit, or wear them separately, on the face and body for a radiant glow. 


Marshmallow - Intense pear with gold reflect 
Sassy Grape - Lavender with blue reflect
Taffy - A fusion of peach, pink, and gold reflect
Butterscotch - Caramel gold with white reflect



Pic: @Trendmood1 on Instagram
What do you think? Will you be indulging in one of the new Glow Kits? 

Grab yours now at AnastasiaBeverlyHills.com
 Subscribe to The Budget Beauty Blog by Email

New Lip Gloss Haul For Summer + Swatches

$
0
0
Lip gloss is making a comeback and I for one am really happy about it (I never truly enjoyed those drying matte lipsticks). Maybe I'm a little too happy, since I've gone crazy buying just about every new gloss that I lay eyes on. So rather than write a bunch of different reviews, I thought I'd just do a quick overview post and if you'd like to know more about any specific formula, let me know in  the comments below and I'll post a more thorough review. :)

Smith & Cult "The Shining" Lip Gloss in Flesh Riot & The Lovers- After becoming obsessed with Smith & Cult's nail polish line (created by the founder of Hard Candy), I decided I had to try their lip glosses. They come in beautiful tubes with dented metal caps and the horror-themed name was just too cool to pass up (love The Shining!). These aren't your typical gluey, sticky lip gloss formula...they're infused with portulaca pilosa extract, which is moisturizing and plumping (not tingly), plus coconut oil so they have a definite balm-like quality that keeps my lips hydrated even after the shine fades away. Flesh Riot is a really sheer mauve-nude with a fine gold shimmer, while The Lovers is a pretty warm melon-pink. They also have a delicious vanilla scent. I bought these on Net-a-Porter and they have a video on the site that lets you see each different shade being applied to a model so you can see what it looks like on (just click on the shade you want, then the video icon on the left hand side of the screen). These two shades are particularly sheer (see my swatches below), but there are more pigmented colors, if you're looking for that.

Lancome Juicy Shakers in Piece of Cake & Meli Melon-  How could I not try these after all the hype this summer? Everyone raves about these but to be honest, I'm kind of torn. I love the shade selection (although they are more sheer than many people have claimed them to be) and the scents are amazing too (I love how they smell just like their name). They feel awesome when you first put them and they don't seem to dry out my lips like other lip oils I've tried. But on the downside, you have to reapply them constantly...they disappear so quickly that it almost seems like it's not worth the effort. Sigh...

Lorac Alter Ego Lip Gloss in Dutchess - I already own a few of these and I love how smooth they feel on my lips and they're super pigmented for a lip gloss. I purchased this shade at Ulta when they were 50% off, so it was only $8. It's a perfect MLBB color and I find that I reach for it a lot!

bareMinerals Gen Nude Buttercream Lip Gloss in Snarky-  bareMinerals just launched a huge line of Gen Nude glosses, lipsticks, and matte liquid lipsticks in everyday wearable shades so I grabbed one a few days ago and I'm already in love with the formula. It feels so hydrating and buttery (like a lip treatment), plus they contain Volulip which is a peptide that increases your lip volume without tingling or burning. I got the shade Snarky, which is described as a rosy pink with gold shimmer.
Anastasia Beverly Hills Lip Gloss in Vintage-  I've never tried an Anastasia lip gloss and I figured it was about time! I grabbed one in the shade Vintage, which is described as Victorian Rose. Out of all the glosses in this post, it has the most pigment...it's pretty much full coverage in one swipe and is also the longest-lasting. It doesn't have as much shine or slip as the other glosses and while I wouldn't describe it as sticky, it definitely hugs my lips and doesn't feel quite as slick or as hydrating as the others (but it's not drying by any means). I guess that's why it lasts longer though, so it's a trade-off!

Perricone No Lipgloss Lipgloss SPF 15- I got this gloss in a QVC set that will be coming out next week (fyi...this gloss costs $30 and the price of the whole kit is only $24 and it has a few other full-sized and travel-sized products in it- stay tuned for my review next week!). This is supposed to mimic the color of youthful lips...that perfect rosy shade that babies and children have that we lose over time and it also contains neuropeptides, making it an anti-aging treatment. It has a gorgeous texture...it's very cushiony and soft like a liquid balm...and the hydration lasts long after it wears off. I'm loving it so far!

Buxom Full-On Lip Polish in Dolly- I got this gloss for free with a recent Ulta order and I was so excited to try it, especially when I saw the beautiful shade in the tube. Unfortunately, this gloss didn't agree with me at all. Minty-scented products tend to dry my lips out like crazy and the tingling was too much for me...it almost burned. I know that a lot of people love this gloss, but I can't wear it...such a bummer!

Have you tried any good (or bad) lip products this summer? I'd love to hear about them! :)

 Affiliate LinkSubscribe to The Budget Beauty Blog by Email

Ulta x Jenny Fox Miss Fabulous Palette Launches Tomorrow

$
0
0

Ulta has teamed up with YouTube Vlogger Jenny Fox to create an affordable eyeshadow palette called Miss Fabulous ($20). I will admit, I have never watched her videos and don't know much about her, but these rich, warm colors look really beautiful for fall don't they?

The palette is launching tomorrow, July 10th online and will be in stores July 24th. It contains 12 matte and shimmery shades. I haven't tried Ulta's eyeshadows in the past so I'd love to hear from you guys...how are they? Are they worth buying? Please let me know in the comment box below! :)



Subscribe to The Budget Beauty Blog by Email

New BH Cosmetics Vegan Brushes

$
0
0
bh Cosmetics has just released a new line of vegan brushes and they're all between $3.50 and $6! I'm so curious about how they feel because they look really beautiful and high-end, don't they? I'll definitely be adding a few of these to my next bh Cosmetics order! I have my eye on the Large Powder Brush ($6), Pointed Blending Brush ($5.50), Eye Blending Brush ($4), and the Large Eyeshadow Brush ($3.50).

What do you think of the new bh Cosmetics vegan brushes? Are you interested in trying them?



Affiliate LinkSubscribe to The Budget Beauty Blog by Email

Bumble & Bumble Don't Blow It | Does it Really Work?

$
0
0


I recently got a sample of the Bumble & Bumble Don't Blow It (H)air Styler ($15-$30) in my June Sephora Play box and I was really excited to try it because I'm always looking for ways to dry my hair without heat. The trouble is, my hair is a complete disaster when I air dry it. It has a bit of natural wave to it...not completely straight but not curly either and it has a tendency toward lots of frizz due to damage from bleaching. Also, since my hair is fine in texture, it usually looks really flat if I don't blow dry it. 
I've tried putting it up in different styles when it's still damp (thank you Pinterest) but those never seem to work because when I take it down hours later, it's still a bit damp and the waves end up falling out. I've also tried sleeping in rollers, but I end up tossing and turning...it's just not worth it. 

So the idea that I can put a product in my hair and just let it air dry to perfection sounded perfect! Especially now that it's 90+ degrees outside and the last thing I want to do is use a blowdryer. 

Claims: 

This innovative hair cream creates a more refined take on this relaxed style for great hair days—without the heat or hassle. A texture-enhancing blend of lightweight polymers boosts hair’s natural texture and adds bounce while a plant-based conditioning blend keeps hair soft and hydrated.

Work evenly into towel-dried hair, scrunch, or twist, and go.




This cream smells great (light and fresh) and doesn't feel sticky...it's lightweight and spreads easily through your hair.
I use somewhere between a nickel and quarter sized dollop for my medium-length lob, and work it all through my towel-dried hair. Then I scrunched it a little and twisted large, two inch sections all over my head. For the next hour or so, I played with it on and off...re-twisting certain sections that were falling out, raking my fingers through, parting it one way, then the other.
It never felt like I had product in my hair...there was no sticky or crunchy feeling, it just felt soft.

So here's what it ended up looking like! There was a wonky piece in the front that stuck out in a weird way, but I was happy that I didn't have the usual amount of frizz and my hair wasn't completely flat-looking.

Obviously, it didn't look as nice as when I blowdry it but it also didn't look nearly as bad as it does when I air dry it without this product. In fact, it gave a sort of rumpled, surfer-girl vibe that I didn't mind at all. Hey, it's summer after all!
I wanted to take this photo without doing any styling whatsoever, so you can see the results with just this cream, but afterward, I did use a curling iron to define my waves and fix that piece in the front that was sticking out awkwardly.

Overall, I was pretty impressed with this product but it's not a miracle cream by any means. It definitely gave me better results vs. air drying my hair on its own, namely less frizz and more volume. But at the same time I still had to work at it a bit. I couldn't just put it in and go...I was constantly playing with it to get it to behave during the drying process.
But  in the end, it was nice not to have to use a blowdryer in this hot weather and once I touched it up with a curling iron, it looked the same as it does when I blow dry it first...not bad!

Have you tried this product? Do you have any tricks for avoiding heat-styling that work for you?

You can purchase Bumble & Bumble Don't Blow It at Sephora stores and Sephora.com



Affiliate Link | Subscribe to The Budget Beauty Blog by Email

New Pixi Beauty at Target

$
0
0

New Pixi Beauty products have just hit the Target website and I'm so excited for all of them, especially the Glow Tonic pads that are perfect for summer travel! Let's take a look...


MultiBalm ($12)-These chubby sticks can be used on lips and cheeks and have a cream-to-powder formula that's enriched with shea butter, aloe, and rosehip oil. They come in five shades...Baby Petal (nude), Sheer Sculpt (brown), Soft Strawberry (red), Watermelon Veil (pink), and Wild Rose (rose).

Lower Lash Mascara ($11)-This mascara has a super slim brush to grab every lash and a water-resistant formula keeps smudges at bay. It contains Vitamin E and Panthenol to condition lashes and is great for sensitive and watery eyes. I already love and use Maybelline Lash Discovery, which is a lot cheaper than this one, but the mascara junkie in me wonders if this will make my lashes look different in some way. Sigh...I may have to get it and find out. ;)

Pixi Lip Lift Max (new shades) $14-  In addition to the original Lip Lift Max (which was a translucent shade) there are now two new colors, Honey Sheen and Sheer Rose. This gloss contains peptides to plump your lips and a cooling minty flavor. I know quite a few people who love the original Lip Lift Max but I never tried it for two reasons:  I've already been blessed with naturally full lips and also because minty-flavored lip products tend to dry my lips out. Still, I know a few people that will be really excited that this formula now comes in different shades!
Pixi Glow Tonic-to-Go Pads ($18 for 60 ct)- I'm super excited for these because I love Pixi's Glow Tonic and these pads are their travel-friendly sister! There are 60 pads in this jar, so it'll last two months (if you're using it once a day) and each one is pre-soaked with Glow Tonic. No more lugging around the bottle and cotton pads...just throw this jar in your travel bag and you're good to go!
Best of Bright Discovery Kit ($22)-If you haven't tried Pixi's Glow Tonic or Glow Mud yet, this kit is the perfect way to try the Glow Mud Cleanser (one of my favorites), the cult-classic Glow Tonic, and the Glow Mud Mask. If you're already a fan like I am, this kit is also great for travel so you don't have to bring the full sizes on vacation with you.

Do you have any of these on your wishlist?


Affiliate Link | Subscribe to The Budget Beauty Blog by Email

Macy's Black Friday in July- 50% Off Deals + Free Shipping & Returns

$
0
0

The Macy's Black Friday sale is here and there are some amazing beauty deals to be had! In this post, I'm going to link to some of my favorite picks (pictured above) but if you want to see all the beauty deals on one page, click here

There are tons of Tarte products at 50% off today, including some that are on my Holy Grail list: 




Tarte BB Tinted 12-Hour Primer (Reg. $36, Now $18)- Love this stuff, such great coverage! *HG


Also, Anastasia Beverly Hills Liquid Lipsticks and Lip Glosses (select colors) are only $10!




A few more favorites: 




Head on over to Macy's today to grab these deals because they won't last! There are also a ton of Smashbox, Bliss, Clarasonic deals and more.





Affiliate Link | Subscribe to The Budget Beauty Blog by Email

Get The Balm Meet Matt(e) Trimony Palette for $22 Shipped

$
0
0
If you haven't indulged in The Balm's Meet Matt(e) Trimony palette, this is the perfect time to do so! Ipsy is offering the palette for only $22 + free shipping (Reg. $42) and you don't need to be a Glam Bag subscriber to order (I cancelled mine but I was still able to add this to my cart). You just have to sign up for a free Ipsy account with your email address and you'll be able to purchase it!

There are limited quantities available so if you want this palette, don't wait too long. Also, check out my review and swatches of Meet Matt(e) Trimony HERE. It's one of my favorite palettes ever.

Grab yours now at Ipsy.com

 Subscribe to The Budget Beauty Blog by Email

Becca Champagne Splits Now at Sephora

$
0
0
The new Becca Champagne Splits ($38) launched today at Sephora.com and I'm seriously tempted to get one! I didn't end up getting the Champagne Face Palette with the new Prosecco Pop shade, and two of these duos feature Prosecco Pop as the highlighter (the bottom two above).

Shades include:

  • Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed Champagne Pop (soft white gold with pinky peach undertones) & Mineral Blush in Flowerchild (peachy pink, golden highlights)
  • Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed Champagne Pop(soft white gold with pinky peach undertones) & Mineral Blush in Hyacinth (vibrant poppy pink)
  • Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed Prosecco Pop (medium warm gold) & Mineral Blush in Amaretto (matte toasted almond)
  • Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed Prosecco Pop (medium warm gold) & Mineral Blush in Pamplemousse (matte warm coral pink) ** I think I'm getting this one!**
Grab yours now at Sephora.com...I'm sure they'll sell out very quickly!


Affiliate Link | Subscribe to The Budget Beauty Blog by Email

Novex is Now at Ulta

TONS of Sephora/Ulta Holiday 2016 Sneak Peeks!

$
0
0
 Yesterday, Sephora and Ulta held their Holiday preview events and I was able to get lots of screenshots from Milly Almodovar Thompson (beautylogicblog on Snapchat and @beautylogicblog on Instagram). I've been following her for a long time now and she always has the best sneak peeks (if you love seeing what's new, definitely follow her!). All photos in this post are from beautylogicblog on Snapchat or @beautylogicblog on Instagram.

I wanted to quickly preface this post by saying I don't have any release dates yet for any of the products you'll see here...but since they're holiday sets, they'll likely be out in the fall (late Sept.-October). I've organized everything by brand and some things are exclusive to Sephora while others are exclusive to Ulta. Ok, so let's get started! 

Tarte Cosmetics

There are some really exciting sets from Tarte launching this year, like this Pretty Paintbox Palette ($59) which will be exclusive to Sephora. 
It contains 24 eyeshadows...
On the other side of the palette, there's a blush, highlighter, bronzer, and contour shade (I'm taking a guess there), and then in a separate compartment, you'll find the Tartiest mascara, Lip Paint, and an eyeliner.
Here, we have the Tarte Tartiest Paint Palette, which will be exclusive to Ulta Beauty. It also has 24 eyeshadows, plus a blush, highlighter, and bronzer, Tartiest Mascara and Lip Paint. I don't have a price on this one, but it contains one less cheek product and is missing the eyeliner from the other kit, so my guess is that it'll be a little bit less than the Sephora set.

OK...I'm dying over this one! It's the Tarte Color Wheel Amazonian Blush Palette. Remember the Big Blush Book Tarte released last year that sold out in record time? This is reminding me of that except it has completely different shades in it (and that's not a mirror...it has blushes on both sides for a total of 10). I was lucky enough to get one of the Big Blush Books, which was filled with all of their core blush shades, but I don't have any of these new ones in my collection (plus some of them look like highlighters). So yes...I am totally getting this when it comes out!

Too Faced

Too Faced Christmas in New York Collection Chocolate Shop will be $58 and exclusive to Sephora. It smells like chocolate and has eyeshadows, blushes, Shadow Insurance, Better Than Sex Mascara, and Melted Chocolate Lipstick (not sure of the shade).



The Christmas in New York Merry Macaroons Palette ($39) smells like vanilla and contains 12 eyeshadows and a Better Than Sex mascara.

NYX Cosmetics

Out of all the sneak peeks I reposted on Instagram, this one is getting the most attention! NYX is launching two gift sets at Ulta...The Liquid Suede Set contains all 24 shades for $49.  This set is the entire Liquid Suede collection and it's a total steal since they're $7 a piece (buying them individually would cost $168).

Next, we have the Soft Matte Lip Cream Vault. It contains 36 shades for $64 (individually it would cost $216, so this is also a major steal! I believe there are only 34 shades currently so this set may include two previously unreleased colors.

Lorac

Lorac is releasing a blush palette called Cue The Confetti at Ulta (not sure if it's exclusive yet) and it'll be $30. From what I can make out, these appear to be the Color Source blushes (I can see Tinge, Technicolor, and Vivid but can't make out the top left shade). If these are the Color Source formula, I will definitely pick this up because I love them (see my review here).

Urban Decay

The Urban Decay Junkie Vice Lip Palette ($35) will be at Sephora and includes 12 Vice lipsticks in matte and shimmer finishes.

Kat Von D

The Kat Von D MetalMatte Eyeshadow Palette ($60) will be at Sephora and includes 9 metallic shadows and 13 mattes. Also on Snapchat (I wasn't able to get a screen grab) Milly showed that the front of the palette has the word Matte on in and when you turn it upside-down, it says Metal...very cool.

Also at Sephora, Kat Von D will be releasing a mini Everlasting lipstick set. It has 6 existing shades plus two new ones (that Milly wasn't able to swatch yet). Here, she swatched five colors...L.U.V., Echo, Sante Sangria, Backstage Bambi, and Lovestruck.

These new Studded Kiss Limited Edition Lipsticks ($21) are shades that were previously in liquid lipstick form... Mother, Double Dare, and Lolita 2.


Bobbi Brown

Launching at Sephora is the Bobbi Brown Bobbi To Glow Shimmer Brick Palette ($69).

Sephora Collection

Look at this adorable blush palette from Sephora! I'm not sure of the price yet but Sephora collection is always pretty reasonable.



Hourglass

I remember the hype over last year's Hourglass palette and then the disappointment at the size of the pans for $80...it just didn't make sense for a lot of people who already owned the shades in larger sizes. But this year's Surreal Light Palette ($80) has all new limited edition shades which might make the splurge worth it for a lot of people. Plus the marble packaging is just beautiful! 


The new shades are: Surreal Light, Surreal Glow, Surreal Effect, Surreal Bronze, Surreal Strobe Light.

It Cosmetics

If you love IT Cosmetics brushes like I do, you'll want this City Chic set, which features five brushes for $68 ($150 value).

Marc Jacobs Beauty 

The About Last Night Palette contains 20 plush eyeshadows (and a huge mirror) for $99.
The Object of Desire Palette ($69) contains six eyeshadows, blush, bronzer, and highlighter.

Well that's it for now! What's on your holiday 2016 wishlist?


 Subscribe to The Budget Beauty Blog by Email

Illuminate by Ashley Tisdale Summer 2016 Now Available at BH Cosmetics

$
0
0
It seems like the Illuminate by Ashley Tisdale line just launched at BH Cosmetics, and now they've added two more products to their lineup for Summer 2016. Let's take a look!

Illuminating Shimmer ($9)- 

These baked highlighters are gorgeous and can be used on the face and body. They come in two shades...Shimmering Sand and Beach Bum.


Body Bronzer ($19)- 

This is a lightweight, tinted moisturizer that gives your body a sunkissed look that lasts all day...but washes off with soap and water. It's supposed to illuminate, perfect, and add a faux glow with a light pink grapefruit scent. They come in two shades, Soaked in Sun and Sun Goddess.

 I think I need both highlighters and the lighter body bronzer! What's on your list?

Grab them now at BHCosmetics.com


Affiliate Link | Subscribe to The Budget Beauty Blog by Email

Beauty Deal! QVC Color Cosmetics 7-Piece Discovery Kit

$
0
0
I've been so excited to post about the new QVC Beauty Color Cosmetics 7-Piece Discovery Kit ($24) and it's finally live on QVC.com. It's such a great deal and has so many amazing products to try.
For $24 (and $3 shipping) you're getting five full-sized products (the Perricone No Lipgloss Lipgloss retails for $30 by itself!). QVC sent me this kit a few weeks ago and I've been playing around with all the products, so I'm able to share my thoughts with you.

Let's take a look!
Perricone No Lipgloss Lipgloss, Julep It's Balm, Nudestix Magnetic Eye Color
Perricone No LipGloss Lipgloss (Full Size)- This is an anti-aging lip treatment that comes in a universal rosy shade that's meant to mimic the look of youthful lips (like that beautiful rosebud color babies have). It contains neuropeptides to smooth vertical lip lines and address the loss of fullness, plus SPF 15. It feels more like a moisturizing liquid balm with the addition of jojoba, argan, and abyssinian oils and isn't sticky or goopy at all. It just feels amazing on the lips and makes them look smoother, plus the color is perfection! I'm obsessed. (Retails for $30)

Julep It's Balm in Vintage Mauve (Full Size)- This is a full-coverage lip crayon with a moisturizing treatment core in the middle, so it's not as dry-feeling as a lot of other lip crayons are. It makes my lips feel smooth and soft and the color is such a beautiful MLBB shade that leans more dusty rose than pink. (Retails for $20)

Nudestix Magnetic Eye Color in Immortal (Full Size)- This is my first time trying Nudestix and I'm already hooked! This shade, Immortal is a beautiful deep bronze color with a satin finish, no shimmer. It's really smooth and creamy and glides on easily, but also dries down fast and lasts all day with no creasing. You can use it all over your eyelids or use it to line your eyes. I love taking it under my lower lash line because it stays put! (Retails for $24).

IT Cosmetics CC+ Full Coverage Cream in Medium (Deluxe Sample .135 oz)- This is my holy grail summer foundation for so many reasons. It has amazing coverage, yet is lightweight. It moisturizes my dry skin and doesn't settle into lines or cake, so it makes my skin look younger, not older. It also has SPF 50, which is incredible for a foundation. It's also an anti-aging treatment with peptides, niacin, hyaluronic acid, and antioxidants, so it's really everything you could ever ask for in a foundation. (Full size retails for $38).

Algenist Reveal Radiant Color Correcting Primer (Deluxe Sample .17 oz.)- I reviewed this primer a few months ago (see that post here) and I loved it! It contains multi-colored algae to color correct and even out your skintone, plus alguronic acid and microalgae oil which are in Algenist's skincare products, so it also provides anti-aging benefits as well. In clinical studies, women noticed more even skin tone and brighter skin in 10 days using only this primer...nothing else. So it actually benefits your skin from the inside while it's color correcting on the outside. It also feels creamy...more like a lotion than a silicone primer.
Campanelli Fresh Face Makeup Remover Towel- This is magical! It looks like it's just a super soft furry towel but this baby removes all traces of makeup with just water. Yup! Just wet it under the faucet, wring it out so it's just damp and use the short-fiber side to remove your makeup in circular motions, then flip it over to the side with the longer fibers to exfoliate. This took off my eye makeup (even mascara) easily and didn't leave any raccoon eyes in the morning. The best part is, I didn't need any cleanser and this towel can be washed in the washing machine so there's no waste. 

This kit also includes a blender sponge, which feels a lot like the Real Techniques sponge (the orange one). 


Here are swatches of all five makeup products...they're all such pretty, wearable shades! Even if you're not a match for the CC+ Cream, you can still feel the texture and see if you like it before buying the full size.
Overall, this is a fantastic kit for $24...I'm so happy I discovered some new products (and have some travel sizes of some of my favorites).

Grab yours now at QVC.com

Press Sample | Affiliate Link | Subscribe to The Budget Beauty Blog by Email

Maybelline Baby Lips Glow Balm Review

$
0
0
Maybelline Baby Lips Glow Balm ($3.49 at Target) is brand new for Summer 2016 and it's the Baby Lips you know and love...with a twist. The formula reacts with your pH to create a perfect pink glow that's unique to your body chemistry. This concept isn't new (remember the "mood lipsticks" in the 80's and 90's?) but over the years the technology has definitely improved. Back then, you'd get this crazy bright, neon pink shade on your lips, but have no fear, this one isn't like that at all.
The packaging is just like the Original Baby Lips except the cap is opaque instead of see-through and it has a pretty pink ombre effect.

When I swatch it, you can see how light the color is on me. I'm not sure how it looks on other people (it may be deeper or it may not show up much at all), but I really like the color it becomes on my skin. To me, it doesn't feel any different than the original Baby Lips...it's lightweight yet hydrating and has a very subtle vanilla scent.

Here, you can see what it looks like on me (but again, your result might be a little different). My lips are naturally pretty pale but this balm gives them a subtle pink boost.

Overall, I really like this color and will definitely add it to my lip balm rotation but is it worth all the hype? I don't know...I can't to sit here and say it's a whole lot different from the rest of the Baby Lips family because it's really not. They already have several pink shades out on the market that will probably look similar to this once it's on your lips, plus the formula feels the same to me. So unless you're a Baby Lips collector and need to have every single shade, you probably don't need to run right out and buy this.

Baby Lips Glow is available now at drugstores and Target.com

Press SampleAffiliate LinkSubscribe to The Budget Beauty Blog by Email

Free Ulta Beauty Bag With Purchase + What's New?

$
0
0

Happy Monday! Ulta has a brand new 20 Piece gift with a $75 purchase this week and it's filled with goodies from Benefit, It's a 10, Butter London, bareMinerals, IT Cosmetics, Juicy Beauty, Clarins, Strivectin and more.

There are also lots of new products that just launched...let's take a look!


1. bareMinerals Skinsorials Dirty Detox Skin Glowing & Refining Mud Mask ($35)- This mineral-rich, beautifying mud gives your skin a fresh, ridiculously healthy looking glow. bareMinerals harnessed the benefits of the skin-loving mud - loaded with four mineral-rich clays, purifying charcoal, and a refining complex infused with papaya enzyme - to help deliver exceptionally smooth, luminous and vibrant skin. This modern twist on a traditional mud experience is enriched by subtle notes of bergamot and eucalyptus* to entice your senses. Getting your face dirty never looked more beautiful.

2. bareMinerals Mix. Exfoliate. Smooth. Add-to Cleanser Skin Polishing Grains ($22)- Reveal your natural, healthy glow with these innovative add-to-cleanser buffing grains. Simply mix a small amount with your favorite cleanser for a customized exfoliating experience. A botanical cocktail of chardonnay, rose, sweet orange peel and black rice grains, plus mineral-rich sea salts gently refine texture, encourage cell turnover and help renew skin's vibrancy. Your skin is left feeling incredibly soft, smooth and freshly polished.

3.  NYX Velvet Matte Lipstick ($6.99)- Dress your lips in decadent color with NYX Cosmetics' Velvet Matte Lipstick - a luxurious lip color that glides right on and never feels dry. Housed in an elegant soft-touch case, each standout shade is a fashion statement in itself.

4. bareMinerals 5-in-1 BB Advanced Performance Cream Eyeshadow ($19)- This is my holy grail cream eyeshadow, and now it comes in two new shades, Luminous Pearl and Rich Camel. I saw that there would be 4 new shades in the last Ulta catalog (and there are 4 new shades on the bareMinerals website) but so far there are only 2 new ones on Ulta.com. 

5. Too Faced Born This Way Concealer ($28)- Too Faced Born This Way Naturally Radiant Concealer instantly hides imperfections, banishes the appearance of dark circles, and blurs the look of lines and wrinkles for complete coverage so undetectable, they'll think you were Born This Way.

6. Smashbox Always On Matte Liquid Lipstick ($24)- Perfected on-set in Smashbox's L.A. photo studio, their long-wear, water-resistant liquid lipstick features Advanced Polymer Technology that makes it stay put and look as fresh and flawless as your first swipe - for up to 8 hours. Featherweight but fierce, this liquid matte formula is infused with lip-smoothing Primer Oil complex for suede-soft lip color in super-rad shades. It's smudge-proof, budge-proof and non-feathering. Because really, who has time for touch-ups?

7. Tarte Double Duty Beauty Young, Wild & Free Amazonian Clay Palette ($28)- With 4 mattes and 4 lusters in rich, warm tones, the creaseless, creamy powder eyeshadows include a mix of base, crease, liner and highlight shades for a complete shadow wardrobe in one travel friendly palette. Powered by Tarte's iconic Amazonian clay formula, each pigment-packed shade helps balance skin on the lids for supreme bendability and rich, long-lasting payoff - it's great for Tartelettes of all ages and skin types. Designed for the on-the-go gal, this chic palette features a yummy scent and special message to put a smile on your face throughout the day.

What's on your list? 


Affiliate Link |Subscribe to The Budget Beauty Blog by Email

trèStiQue Review and Swatches

$
0
0
I was recently introduced to the brand trèStiQue and right away, I knew that this was makeup designed after my own heart. I love beauty products that come in stick form...they're quick, easy, and efficient...perfect for a busy mom of a 3 year old (ahem...me) that doesn't have a lot of time to apply makeup during the week . trèStiQue takes it a few steps further by including tools within the stick itself (talk about travel friendly!) and magnetic closures that ensure that they won't pop open in your bag. 
They kindly sent me a few products to try and I couldn't wait to share them with you, so let's get started! 

Blush Stick ($34)- This comes in two shades...Bora Bora Coral and St. Barths Pink (which is the one I have). I was surprised by how big it was in person...this isn't a tiny little blush stick! It's large enough to cover your cheeks in one or two swipes and the angled brush on the other end does a great job of blending it seamlessly into your cheeks (I swirl it in circular motions). The magnetic closure is really strong and I have every confidence that it will stay closed, even if it's banging around at the bottom of my purse. 

I love the formula so much, especially for summer because it's not greasy at all. The cream-gel dries down almost immediately to a powder finish and becomes like one with the skin, so you can run your fingers over your cheek and you won't feel a thing. That's really rare for a cream blush, at least in my experience. Most that I've tried take some time to completely dry down (and some don't at all) so I was very impressed with that aspect of it. It was also nicely pigmented and long-lasting...I'm talking all-day wear! 
Also, if your brush starts wearing out before you run out of blush, trèStiQue offers replacement brushes for $5...just pop out the old one and swap it for a new one.

In the photo below, I swatched the blush straight from the tube, and then blended out with the brush below that for a really soft finish. 

The Lip Crayon ($28) has a creamy matte lipcolor on one end and a BB Lip Balm on the other. I'm not really a fan of matte lipsticks because they're usually too dry for me, but this one surprised me! It goes on smoothly and is very long-wearing without making my lips feel parched. The BB Lip Balm isn't too slick or shiny so it can be worn under the matte lip color as more of a primer to keep your lips soft, or layered on top for a subtle shine. When I wear the balm on top, my lips feel comfortable the entire time I wear this lipstick!
Looking at the balm in the tube, you would think it has some color, but it goes on pretty much clear...just a hint of pink. The lipstick color I was sent is Barcelona Bright Berry (there are six shades in all with coordinating balms).

Here I am wearing both the St. Barths Pink blush and the Barcelona Bright Berry lipstick with the balm layered on top.

I apologize that this photo is out of focus (my camera focused on the trees behind me instead!) but I still wanted to include it because you're still able to see what the colors look like on me.

trèStiQue also offers bundles, which save you a little bit of money as well as mini sets (here and here) so you can try the products before committing to the full sizes. They offer eye crayons, highlighters, contour sticks, concealers and more...all in portable stick form with attached tools.

Overall, I have really been enjoying trèStiQue! The products are very high-quality and the packaging is genius, from the travel-friendly magnetic closures to the two-in-one time saving designs. If you love your makeup in stick form like I do, be sure to check out trèStiQue.



Press Sample | Affiliate Link | Subscribe to The Budget Beauty Blog by Email
Viewing all 1741 articles
Browse latest View live




Latest Images