Sephora Annual VIB Sale Haul & Shopping Tips

In case you haven't heard, it's that time of year again! The Sephora VIB sale is back! If you are a VIB or VIB Rouge member you will receive a coupon to save 20% off your total purchase. VIB members can save 20% off in store or online with coupon code: VIB20, beginning 11/13 through 11/16/2015.

This is Sephora's biggest sale of the year. It's a great way to try out new products without breaking the bank and it is also a good time to stock up on your tried and true items. Even though you may not be out of your favorite Mascara right this second, you will kick yourself in a month when it dries up that you didn't stock up during the sale.

I am a VIB Rouge member so my sale was a week early and my order just came in. Here is what I picked up:

New Products:

Too Faced Love Flush Blush in Love Hangover
NARS One Shocking Moment Cheek Palette
NARS Lip Gloss in Chelsea Girls

Bite Butter Cream Lipsticks in Caramel and Pecan

Anastasia Self Made Palette

Re-Stocks:

Rosebud Salve

Fresh Soy Face Cleanser

Armani Eyes to Kill Mascara


Money Saving Shopping Tips:

Cash Back - If you haven't already, check out EBates. It doesn't cost anything to join. To cash in, you simply go to the EBates website, search for the store you want to shop at and follow their link to the store and you'll earn cash back when you make a purchase. You can also download a button to add to your browser that will automatically alert you if there is an Ebates discount at the store you're shopping at. They are currently offering 4% back at Sephora.

Also, If you have a credit card that offers cash back, you may be able to earn extra cash back rewards when you shop through a link on their website. I have a Chase Freedom card that gives 1% cash back on all purchases, but right now through their rewards program they are offering an additional 5% back at Sephora.

Discount Gift Cards - There are several websites where you can buy gift cards at a discount. My favorite one is Raise.com. I was able to score a Sephora e-giftcard at a discount that I used during the sale. It is so easy to use. Once you purchase the gift card they provide you with the gift card number to use when shopping online.


The great thing about this event is you can shop in-store or online as many times as you want within the 4 day sale and get 20% off your order every time.

Happy Shopping!

Beauty Room Tour

Today's post is all about my beauty room. This room has gone though several transformations over the years. First, we painted it yellow and used it as our guest room. It then became a guest room/office for a while. Finally, when we were renovating our bathroom a few years ago I set up a mirror at the desk in here and made a little vanity for myself during construction. I loved getting ready in here so much that I created a permanent vanity area for myself in here and the room was transformed into my beauty room.

Here's a peek inside:

I get ready in here in the morning and also use this space to do the majority of my blogging and photography.

The vanity setup is mostly from Ikea. The desk is the Liatorp. I added a glass topper to prevent the white desktop from getting stained from makeup products. I think it gives it an elegant touch.

On my vanity, I have 4 of the MUJI 2-Drawer Acrylic Drawers stacked up. These drawers are slightly taller than the ever popular 5-Drawer system by MUJI. This makes them more versatile on what you can store in there. The top drawer is the lift-top version that I leave open so I can store my foundations and setting sprays upright. These are great quality and a great value. The US MUJI online store doesn't seem to be open right now but you can find these on Amazon or go to one of the US Stores.

To the left of my desk I have two of the Alex 6-drawers stacked. I like these compared to the 9-drawer version since the drawers are wider. I use this to store my makeup collection and accessories. I still have plenty of room left to grow.

I hope you enjoyed this peek inside my beauty room! I've been meaning to get this post up for a while now. I've been enjoying this space for about 3 years but alas, I'm being kicked out. This is the bedroom adjacent to the master bedroom so it is going to be the baby's room. It is actually empty in the process of being painted right now. I took these pictures over the summer. We moved the vanity, alex drawers and some of the decor upstairs to the guest room. I rearranged the furniture a bit in there and it actually fits quite nicely. While I'm sad to see this space go, it will be nice to have our little guy right next-door. I can't wait to share what I have in store for his nursery! Stay tuned!

Reference:

Paint: Behr, Moon Dance
Sunburst Mirror: Homegoods
Trifold Mirror: Pier 1
Foil Prints: I See Noise
Baies Candle: Nordstrom
Voluspa Candle: Bloomingdales
Orchid Quatrefoil Pillow: Motif Pillows
Purple Lattice Pillows: Dawns Decor & More
Bed: Ikea
Side Table: Target
Bedding: Target
Dress Form: PB Teen
Storage Drawers: Ikea
Desk: Ikea
Mercury Glass Jars: Anthropologie
Votives: Z Gallerie
Makeup Mirror: Target
Chair: Ikea
Faux Sheepskin Rug: Ikea
Chandelier: Home Depot

A Pink, Blue and Burlap Gender Reveal

As soon as we found out we were pregnant, we knew we wanted to have a Gender Reveal Party. It just looked like so much fun and the perfect way to share with family. The theme was "What Will Baby Bee?" Here's a recap of the night:

It has been pretty warm around here even though its September so we took advantage and had a BBQ with all the fixings.

We decorated with pink and blue accents with some touches of burlap. I ordered the mustache and lip cutouts from Etsy and then we glued them to bamboo skewers to use as a fun prop for guests to cast their vote.

There were definitely more boy votes than girls...

The cake was from Guilty Bakery in Plymouth. They did such an amazing job recreating the design I had found and really brought it to life. They even added an extra layer of frosting so no one could peek through the rosettes.

The baker instructed us on the "right way" to cut into a gender reveal cake, which is to cut straight into one of the sides and tip a piece over. I was so happy that she told us that because it was so much more climactic with everyone finding out at once!

It's a boy!! The room exploded into screams and even a few tears! It was such a great way for our families to share in the experience of finding out the sex of our baby.

The cake did not disappoint. It was a vanilla cake dyed blue with whipped cream and blonde Oreo filling. Oh so delicious!

Reference: 

Burlap Chalkboard - Michaels

She or He Banner - Ichabods Imagination on Etsy

Mustache and Lip Cutouts - Custom Creative Craft on Etsy

Cake - Guilty Bakery

Blue Mason Jars - Target

Beverage Dispenser - Bed Bath & Beyond

Anastasia Brow Wiz vs. Nyx Micro Brow, is it a dupe?

When it comes to brow products, Anastasia is queen. I've tried her powders, pomade, brow gel and pencils. What I've always liked the most is the Brow Wiz. It is such an easy, quick product to use that packs a big punch.

When I saw that NYX came out with a similar product, the Micro Brow Pencil, I knew I had to try it to see how it compared to the Brow Wiz.

When it comes to product design, these two are essentially the same. They're both mechanical pencils with the product rolling up on one side and a spoolie brush for combing and blending on the other. I tend to favor the brush on the Brow Wiz. It's just slightly more dense and pointed at the end. The one design flaw for the Micro Brow is that the caps are two different sizes. If you aren't careful, you'll put the slightly smaller brush cap on the pencil side and end up smashing the product. Can you tell I'm speaking from experience? On the Brow Wiz, both caps are the same size so this can't happen. Smart!

As far as the consistency of the product, the Brow Wiz has more of a creamy consistency while the Micro Brow is a bit dryer. I think the Brow Wiz is easier to work with in that respect, it glides on the skin a bit easier. Both products do a great job at making it easy to use short strokes to fill in your brows, which in turn makes them look more natural. Both products have great staying power. They won't smudge and last all day.

For colors, I use Taupe in the Brow Wiz and Blonde in the Micro Brow.  One thing I've always thought was lacking in the Brow Wiz was the color selection. Taupe is the lightest shade. I have dirty blonde hair and this shade is just a tad dark for me. Micro Brow also comes in a Taupe color but I bought the Blonde. This one is more of a color match for me. Color match is an important part of brow products. If a product is too dark, your brows immediately stand out in a bad way, making them look obviously filled-in, so it's always good to go a shade lighter than you think you need.

Verdict:

I would vote that the NYX Micro Brow is definitely a dupe for the Anastasia Brow Wiz! They aren't exactly the same but the similarities are so close that if you're looking to save a little money, NYX Micro Brow is the way to go. The Micro Brow is a much better value at $10 for 0.003 oz while the Brow Wiz is $21 for the same amount of product.


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Pregnancy Log - 18 Weeks

How far along: 

18 weeks

Baby Size: 

Sweet Potato

Symptoms: 

I had some nausea in the first trimester but it has mostly dropped off aside from occasional car sickness (if I'm not driving), some minor headaches and heartburn. Overall, I'm feeling better!

Sleep:

It's getting tougher. I've been a stomach sleeper my whole life. When I found out I was pregnant I started to get nervous about it. From what I've read, it is fine to do until it feels uncomfortable, but I've been forcing myself to sleep on my side now to get used to it. The Snoogle is a lifesaver! My main sleep issue is waking up once or twice during the night to go to the bathroom. I'm a light sleeper so I sometimes have trouble falling back asleep.

Loving:

The only real craving I've had was ice cream, more specifically, DQ Blizzards.

Loathing: 

My taste buds have definitely changed. Before the pregnancy I was a die-hard diet coke addict. I drank at least 2 a day. Pretty much right away after finding out I was pregnant, soda started tasting horrible to me, especially diet soda and I found myself in a drink crisis! I've switched to Seltzer when I want something other than water, but it just isn't the same. I guess this is my body's way of forcing me to drink water. My nose is extra sensitive now and people's stinky lunches at work are making me crazy!

Maternity Clothes:

I've bought some, but haven't really worn them yet. Luckily we are in the season of flowy skirts and maxi dresses. I can still wear my regular tops but my pants don't comfortably button. I've been wearing my regular pants with a belly band. With fall approaching, I think its time to invest in some maternity pants.

Missing Most:

Wine, beer and carefree coffee drinking. I've limited myself to 1 cup of coffee per day. I'm usually a 3-a-day coffee drinker so this has been challenging! That afternoon pick-me-up coffee is what I'm missing the most! Not drinking alcohol hasn't really bothered me much. Fall beers are my favorite though and as those hit the shelves it is making me a bit disappointed I'll be missing them this season.

Can't Wait:

To find out the gender! We had our anatomy scan last week and we have the results but we're waiting for a few weeks to do a gender reveal party. The suspense is killing me!

Gender Predictions:

I have a feeling in my gut that it is a boy but I can only seem to come up with girls names that I like. I'm so confused!

Feeling:

It is starting to feel a lot more real now that everyone knows and it's fully setting in that we are having a baby! I'm a nervous person by nature so I wasn't letting myself get too excited until I was out of the first trimester, which was driving Mike nuts. I just can't help it! Thankfully, everything is progressing well! I've even started to feel little faint movements here and there which is exciting! On the other hand, I can get moody pretty easily. I'd compare it to PMS, getting annoyed at the littlest thing and having little to no patience. It is definitely a roller coaster of emotions sometimes and I feel like my mood can change at the drop of a hat.

Nursery:

No movement yet but I'm definitely pinning ideas like crazy! I think I'll get more serious once we find out the gender.

Special Announcement!

Today I'm thrilled to share the news with you that I'm pregnant!

Mike and I are expecting our first baby due in January 2016. I'm 18 weeks along. We are so excited! I plan to share updates here and there on the blog along with my regular posts. Stay tuned!

Becca x Jaclyn Hill Shimmering Skin Perfecter Pressed Champagne Pop Review & Comparison

This is a collaboration between YouTuber Jaclyn Hill and Becca Cosmetics. Since Jaclyn is responsible for much of the hype about the Shimmering Skin Perfectors it only made sense that she created her own unique color for the brand. It's no secret that Jaclyn is one of my favorite makeup artists on YouTube so when I heard about her latest collab I knew it had to be mine!

Becca describes the color as a soft white, gold shade with pinky peach undertones. It has a warm, almost orange undertone. I'd describe the color as the lovechild of Rose Gold and Peach. This shade has the same creamy texture as the other shimmering skin perfector pressed powders. They are all highly pigmented and easily blendable.

Jaclyn describes this shade as being flattering for all skintones but she created it with fair skin in mind. Sometimes it can be difficult to find that perfect highlight shade that shows up correctly if you have pale skin. Champagne Pop creates a beautiful soft lit glow that doesn't overpower lighter skin tones.

Since the color payoff is so high with a high-shimmer finish, it does take a bit of finesse to apply Champagne Pop without looking like a disco ball. The two brushes I turn to are the Sigma F35 and the MAC 188. The F35 is a tapered highlighting brush. It lets you dust the highlighter lightly over targeted areas for precise application. The MAC 188 is a small duo fibre brush that I reach for when I want a lighter application as it picks up less product and is great for blending.

I thought I'd compare the color of Champagne Pop to the other shades in my collection. This shade is lighter than Opal but darker than Moonstone. Rose Gold is more copper in tone, Opal is more golden and Moonstone is more yellow.

Overall I love this highlighter. Even though I have 3 other varieties of Becca's highlighters, I think I've found my perfect shade. It compliments my fair to medium complexion and does not give me a white cast or look muddy on my skin.

This is a limited edition product that is exclusive to Sephora.

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Summer Foundation Rotation

With every season I like to change up my makeup routine to adjust to the climate changes. Summer is now in full swing and I've definitely been gravitating towards products that control oil and provide a dewy summer glow. Here's whats in my current foundation rotation:

Tarte Amazonian Clay Foundation

This is my go-to full coverage foundation for summer. The consistency is thick and almost whipped. I apply it with the Tarte Airbrush Foundation brush. The combination of the two is just magical. It covers all imperfections and discolorations and blends in wonderfully. The finish is definitely matte. You definitely need to add some bronzer, blush and highlight to bring your skin back to life. The wear is also very good. I use this if I'm going to be outside in the heat and don't want to worry about my makeup melting off my face. My shade is Light Neutral.

Chanel Perfection Lumiere 

This is a medium coverage foundation with a dewy glow finish. It feels light on the skin and does not dry me out nor make me oily. The best thing about this foundation is the finish. It does a nice job at camouflaging imperfections while leaving a beautiful subtle glow to my skin. Being Chanel, this is certainly a splurge item. It has a slight floral scent when you apply but the scent does not hang around once it is set. My shade is 20 Beige.

IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream 

This is a multi-tasking product that provides moisture, sunscreen and full coverage. The finish is slightly dewy, giving your skin a luminous glow. It is also infused with anti-aging properties that IT describes as providing long term brightening and color correcting benefits. The consistency is thick, similar to the Tarte, but more of a cream than a whipped texture. It is an extremely easy product to use. I can skip my moisturizing step when I use this and I can even blend it out with my fingers and it still looks amazing. It is a real time saving product. The only drawback is the staying power. It does break down quicker than a traditional foundation, so make sure to set with a matte powder to extend the wear. My shade is Fair.


All three of these contain an SPF which is a must for the summer. One better, they all contain physical sunscreens rather than chemical ones. Do you change your foundations with the seasons? What are you loving this summer?

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