Bath & Body Works SALE Haul!

Hello friends!

I made a stop at Bath & Body Works on Saturday... planning to just get some Wallflowers...

not realizing there's a Semi-Annual Sale going on, and lots of stuff was 75% off! 

Needless to say, I was drawn in by some great deals. 

Here's what I came up with!

I have 5 areas in my house where I use Wallflowers (kind of obsessed)- 

and it's that time of year where I'm using all the fun tropical, fruity scents. 

I picked up duos of Pineapple Orchid, Peach Bellini, and Coconut Lime Verbena. 

I've tried the Pineapple Orchid and Peach before and loved them-- 

but the Coconut Lime is new to me. 

These are normally $12.50 and I got them for $6.00 apiece! 

As if my shower needs a few more body washes in it!

These small, 3 oz. body washes are normally $5 apiece (a little pricey for the size, IMO)...

but I got them for $1.25 each. 

I'd never tried these scents before, but used them both over the last couple of days. 

I LOVE Rio Rumberry!! So sweet, fruity, and delicious. 

Sea Island Cotton is nice & clean... almost reminds me of a Philosophy type scent-- similar to Pure Grace. If you're guy doesn't like super fruity girly scents- he might go for this one. 

The only C.O. Bigelow lip shines I have are the minty kind- and I've been kind of a sucker for all things peach lately so I picked up this Moisturizing Lip Shine in Golden Peach. LOVE. 

It's a clear, non-sticky gloss, and the scent/flavor is tremendous! :)

Normally $7.50- I got this for $3.00. 

Finally, I make it to the check-out and I could've sworn the lady at the counter asked me if I'd like to try a margarita! Before I could utter "yes, please!" (lol), I realized she was talking about this Island Margarita Concentrated Room Spray!

 (I blame scent overload in the store for making me loopy by the time I was finished shopping). 

But seriously, she sprayed some of this stuff and it smells DELICIOUS! 

I was spraying it around the house yesterday & Tyler agreed- it is freakin' awesome. 

It typically costs $5.00 but I got it for $3.00. 

♥

Moral of this story: if you're ever in my neck of the woods, you'll know you're getting close to my house because you'll smell tropical fruity cocktail type scents a block away!!

Daily Nuggets...

• I had a great salad for dinner-- It's the salad-in-a-bag type thing from Wal-Mart that has not only the lettuce mix, but also dressing, tortilla strips, and cheese. It says it serves 4... I added chicken, tomatoes, and corn and it was delicious! Here's a look. 
• Watching Laura Geller on QVC as we speak! Love her. 
• I eluded to this in a tweet yesterday... but another makeup dupe project is in the works!
• Picked up some new floss picks recently (Tyler uses them non-stop) and now I feel like I'm finding them ALL OVER THE HOUSE. 
• While Tyler has been helping me with workouts from time to time, our schedules don't always mesh for it everyday, but I've been finding the Tone It Up workouts on YouTube super helpful! A couple that I've been doing the most in the past week (and getting sore from!) are the Sunset Workout and the Best Ab Workout Circuit . 
• Just a reminder- I still update the What's New section on the blog- a weekly roundup of all the newest things on the Beauty Broadcast family of sites! :)

Benefit High Beam Dupe!

Hi everyone! I want to start out by saying I CANNOT take credit for this find! Someone tweeted me this tip about a month ago, and I can't find the original tweet to see exactly who to give credit to! But if you're out there reading this- THANK YOU! Your tip was dead on, in my opinion! 

Let's just cut to the chase: Boots No. 7 High Lights Illuminating Lotion ($12.99).... 

is a dupe for Benefit High Beam ($26.00 at full size) 

To be fair, that tiny High Beam is not full size, but I didn't have a full size one to show.

If I did, the packaging would look more like this...

Before we get down to the nitty gritty comparisons, let's chat about why I like High Beam to begin with. I talked about it in my Snow White and the Huntsman Makeup Kit post- where I showed the tiny size and mentioned how I was considering buying the full size. It's an awesome creamy/liquid highlight that you can dot on with a tiny brush applicator provided (you almost feel like you're putting nail polish on your face, LOL). It has the slightest pink tone, which has made it tough for me to find something similar in my collection-- the pink is just so subtle. But it's just a great way to give a pretty, non-glittery glow to cheekbones, brow bones, bridge of the nose, or cupid's bow- and it'll never look the least bit cakey or powdery thanks to the liquid-ish format. 

So... what's the problem with Benefit High Beam?

The full size will cost you $26.00. 

So some little angel reading that blog post tweeted me, telling me that Boots No. 7- sold at Target- has a product that is basically the same thing... except DOUBLE the product and HALF the price. 

In these swatches, No 7 High Lights is on the left, and High Beam is on the right. While High Lights is just a bit more liquid-y, the difference is hardly identifiable. And the color tone of it is a perfect dupe. Also, I like how the High Lights packaging has a pump, as opposed to the wand on High Beam. 

In this picture- you can see that I haven't completely sheered out the products as much as I would on my face- just so they would show up in the picture.  Normally you would just see a faint glow that's very subtle. 

As an example-- I'm wearing High Beam in this pic.

Again- here's a size comparison of both products full size (pretend the Cha Cha tint is High Beam :)...

You're getting less than half of a fluid ounce of High Beam, and a full fluid ounce of High Lights. 

So thank you again so much to the wonderful lady out there who suggested I give High Lights a try! I'm so happy with it, and the larger size makes me feel free to mix it in with lotions and use it more freely without feeling guilty. Now I don't need to get full size of High Beam!

♥

Daily Nuggets...

• Tomorrow is Friday! I think you can guess how I feel about that :) 
• I love hearing about your most repurchased products in the comments section of my latest video!
• An ice cream truck came down my street yesterday... this has been happening for the past couple of weeks but I haven't been able to catch it due to not being adequately clothed post-shower, or already being in bed so I could wake up for work. I am committed to eventually catching the ice cream truck, and shooting a vlog on what will be my first EVER ice cream truck encounter!
• Meanwhile I had a salad for dinner tonight. yeehaw. 
• I can tell Cupcake is flattered by all the nice comments about her in my new video. Maybe she'll start showing off more often :)

Friday Night Makeup Haul! :)

Who says Walgreens isn't a good time on a Friday night? :) 

Tyler and I went out to Chili's and then stopped in at Walgreens so he could look for some all-important floss picks and I could scope out the new makeup. 

L'oreal products were "Buy 1 Get 1 50% off" - so I took advantage of that! All of the items I picked up are things I've never tried before! 

The haul...

• Ardell Double Up False Lashes #202... As you know, I love a good "drag queen lash" so these extra full lashes seemed to be right up my alley. They're longer on the outsides & super thick all over. I'll let you know how they work! 
• Maybelline Porcelain Collection Lipstick in Afternoon Tea... There were only two of these special limited edition lipsticks left in the display, and after hearing some rave reviews, I decided to pick one up! The cap also has a unique feel... not the slick plastic you typically find. This one seemed like an everyday wearable neutral that's not "erase your lips" nude. 
• L'oreal Infallible Eyeshadow in Smoldering Plum... After LOTS of questions about these Infallible eyeshadows- I finally decided to test one out! I'm not sure if this shade is limited edition or not- since it was in a special display. It almost seems like a loose pigment that is tamped down with a little stopper-type thingy... so it's made into more of a pressed color. They claim to wear for 24 hrs. This shade seemed to be a spitting image of my beloved MAC Beauty Marked- so I thought it'd be a safe pick!
• L'oreal True Match LUMI Healthy Luminous Makeup in True Beige... I was trying to decide between this and the new L'oreal BB Cream that was sitting nearby- but I figured I'd go with something that might offer a little more coverage & that I can hopefully get use out of for my daily news makeup. I have several new foundations I'm trying now-- Revlon Colorstay Whipped and Neutrogena's shine control makeup. I'll keep you posted on how they work. I haven't so much as swatched this new L'oreal one yet- so I'm not sure what to expect!
• L'oreal Colour Riche Lipsticks in Rose Taffeta and Pink Chashmere... As you can see- the packaging on these lipsticks is a bit different from the normal Colour Riche- and I can't remember the specific type these are- if you know, tell me! :) They're super creamy & seem like they'll be rather moisturizing! 

 Swatches of the lipsticks I picked up-- Maybelline Afternoon Tea, L'oreal Rose Taffeta, L'oreal Pink Chashmere

A closer look at the Infallible eyeshadow in Smoldering Plum...

Just as I thought- it looks a LOT like MAC Beauty Marked. Gorgeous plum with burgundy shimmer.

♥  

I also Instagrammed (emilynoel83) an outfit of the night! It's a dress I got from JC Penney a couple years ago... it has a built in bra AND a necklace-looking halter top! Woop woop! The sandals have a small wedge & are from Kohl's. The jeans jacket is from the Gap. As far as the makeup- here are a few key items... I used The Balm's Shady Lady palette, Kiss #03 falsies, The Balm Down Boy blush, and lips are L'oreal Project Runway lipstick in Sultry Raven's Pout (limited edition) and Bare Escentuals Buxom Big & Healthy Lip Stick in Tokyo to add just a little depth & definition. 

Daily Nuggets...

• There's a new Shopping List Ideas video!
• I am SO glad it's Friday. Chillin' on the couch drinking some Pinot Grigio. 
• Tyler & I compromised... he's watching US Open Golf, but has the volume down so I can play whatever music I want. 
• Wanna hear some of my favorites on my ipod right now?! :)
• Beggin' -Phillip Phillips- American Idol
• Didn't You Know How Much I Loved You- Skylar Laine- American Idol 
• The Wanted- Chasing the Sun
• We Run the Night- Havana Brown feat. Pitbull 
• Fly Over States- Jason Aldean
• Lights- Ellie Goulding
• Too Close- Alex Clare
• 1901- Phoenix

My Mad Men Face of the Day!

Photo Courtesy amctv.com 

As fans of Mad Men know, another season has come and gone! I watched the finale yesterday... I'm always a day behind with prime time TV due to my crazy work schedule & early bedtime. I don't want to give anything away to those who haven't seen it yet, so I won't discuss it in-depth. I'll simply say- Mad Men is my favorite show on television... it's set in the 1960's and not only is the acting amazing- but the hair/makeup/clothes are SO AWESOME. Here's a quick montage from this past season so you can see what I'm talking about (spoiler free)...

 Photo Courtesy amctv.com

From the beauty standpoint, one of my favorites on the show is Joan, played by Christina Hendricks. Her look is characterized by rosy lips and cheeks, and a classic defined eye. It's something I'd classify as "natural glam"- and it works well on TV... so I sometimes adopt this look for the news! Here's what I did today... obviously I wasn't really trying to get her look with hair & outfit (top from Cato)- but her makeup look was what I was after... hope you like it! 

What I used...

Face...

• Revlon Colorstay Whipped Foundation
• Dalton Conceal It Concealer
• Bare Minerals Summer Bisque
• NYX Stay Matte Not Flat Powder
• Revlon PhotoReady Bronzer in 100 Bronzed & Chic
• The Balm Hot Mama Blush
• The Balm Mary Lou Manizer (cheekbone highlight)

Eyes...

• Smashbox Shades of Fame Palette (See it here). Bliss (light cream) on the lid and brow bone, Nude (light brown) in the crease, Mocha (dark shimmery brown) in the outer corner. 
• Wet n Wild Mega Liner in Black (slight wing- upper lashline)
• Maybelline Master Drama pencil in Midnight Master (smudged- lower lashline)
• Maybelline Mega Plush Volum Express Mascara
• Andrea Mod Lash #53 

Lips...

• Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Romantic
• Bare Minerals 100% Natural Lip Gloss in Pomegranate

♥

Daily Nuggets...

• Wished I could blog yesterday but worked a strange shift (anchored morning & evening)- and in between I pretty much only had time to edit my latest video, and watch the all-important Mad Men finale. 
• Today I interviewed a 4-year-old for an upcoming story. She had more personality than you can imagine! And she saved her mother's life. 
• Watching an hour of "At Home Salon" on QVC. Love that concept & they're showing some pretty cool things!
• My aqua Turbie Twist is an exact match for the tank top I'm wearing right now. I feel so cool. LOL. 
• Here's what Cupcake is doing as I type this...

Victoria's Secret Beach Sexy Tinted Body Lotion

As much as I love sunless tanning- I sometimes run out of time! 

I recently tried a product that can be a solution for that problem, or just something to give you a little extra glow. Beach Sexy Tinted Body Lotion from Victoria's Secret has golden shimmer as well as a bronze tint. Here are the different reasons why I reach for it...

1. If I'm wearing an outfit that exposes my arms or legs & I forgot to self tan the night before

2. If I did self tan, but it's not completely even everywhere... this helps to blur the lines (but isn't full coverage)

3. If I want sort of a dewy, highlighted look all over my skin

4. Travel. It's just the perfect, quick to apply, no-brainer finishing touch product when you're showing some skin. Just apply it like a lotion.  

While the shimmer gives skin a slightly dewy look, it doesn't feel greasy... it just feels like a lotion, so therefore it is pretty moisturizing. One thing to keep in mind- this doesn't necessarily provide a lot of coverage that will mask significant imperfections on the skin. However the bronze tint is definitely evident. It's also a decent amount of shimmer- so if you dislike that, you might want to steer clear of this. Something I'm really happy about-- this doesn't seem to come off on my clothes! :)

 With lotion on the left, without on the right

If you DO want some bronzy coverage, lets say, on your legs... as I mentioned in my latest self tanner video- try Sally Hansen airbrush legs, and mix it with a little moisturizer in your hands, then spread it on. This product acts more like a body makeup & can truly mask flaws... it might have a little glow (I use a shade called Deep Glow), but not near the shimmer that the Victoria's Secret kind does.

♥

Daily Nuggets...

• Who is keeping up with the Bachelorette this season? I'm not always into it, but this season I'm very intrigued! 
• After shooting this week's Unsung Hero story, my director Josue and I got some fresh baked jalapeno cheese bread for a Mexican bakery-- it was amazing.
• I recently discovered I've been toting around 3 differenet containers of mints in my purse. Time to clean it out! Although I need to keep some, especially if this jalapeno bread habit continues.
• My Mally Gel Nail manicure is still holding up beautifully! I did it Sunday & it's supposed to stay on 2 weeks. I'll keep you posted!
• A co-worker drew a picture of me yesterday. I'd show it, but it's still at work.The lashes are big, the lips are big, and the hair is big. Pretty accurate!! :D

♥

Every now and then, my mom will pass along a clipping from our local newspaper. This one reminds you to appreciate the small things in life... 

because when it comes down to it- they are actually BIG things to be happy for! 

Organizing Makeup Odds & Ends...

Hey everyone! 

When you think about Caboodles...

Chances are, something like this comes to mind:

I'll be the first to say- there's absolutely nothing wrong with a hot pink makeup case! :) 

But I've realized Caboodles has a whole different world of organizational products...

they're from the "Crystal Clear" collection! These acrylic trays are quite classy... and would coordinate well with "Clear Cube" makeup drawers & other similar products.  I've actually been seeing these in stores like Wal-Mart, Target, and Ulta for awhile... but I just recently realized my need for some different storage things like this. 

I wanted to show you how I put these to use in my makeup room... so below are the best pics I could take (it's kind of hard, because it's clear!) And I'm kicking myself because I threw away the packaging-- these all had specific names. They run between $15 and $20 apiece. 

♥

1. Storing Products I'm Testing... 

I've found it's helpful to keep products I'm testing out to review separate from the rest of my collection- that way I don't forget about them. Out of the 3 Caboodles pieces I have, this one has the most divided areas. The back part of the kit has quite a few small compartments... places that could store multiple eyeliners or a lipstick. Some of those compartments are slightly larger and can fit foundations. In the front, there's actually a drawer, and on top of that (where the it cosmetics powder is sitting) is just a flat platform where products can sit. In the lower right, there's a square compartment with a removable lid. 

I'm storing this in an open space on my desk by my makeup palettes. As I review various products, some will come out of the storage area, and others will go in. The varied sizes of the slots here should cater to any product. It's a much cleaner look than multiple little containers sitting all over my desk holding various things. 

♥

2. Storing Smaller Palettes...

Makeup comes in about a zillion shapes and sizes. I've found that small palettes- like those from Too Faced, are tough to find a good place for. They're too chunky to fit in the file-folder type things that I use for Coastal Scents palettes... and I feel like I'm constantly moving these things around. This storage tray has more open space than the first one, with about 5 smallish slots, and 3 fairly large open spaces. It holds multiple palettes from Too Faced, Benefit, and tarte.... and I also like that I can put another organizer inside to hold squeeze-tube lip glosses. This tray also has small handles on each side. 

This easily slides out above some of my other storage drawers in my bookshelf. I could see this tray as being a GREAT drawer organizer product and I'm thinking about getting more for my bathroom drawers... it'd be so great for bobbi pins in the smaller areas, and other little hair tools, skincare items, etc. 

♥

3. Storing my Formerly Homeless Products

There are some products that have just never had a good place to live in my makeup area. Let's list them... kabuki brushes, Benefit stains, mini brush cleanser & water mist bottles, q-tips & cotton pads, and my abundance of Mally eyeliners. I also recently picked up some Real Techniques brushes (many of you told me I needed to try these!) so I needed some space for those too. What's cool about this round organizer is that the bottom two wings can be pushed in, taking up less space. The smaller slots in front are just PERFECT for those hard to store kabuki brushes! I see this as also being great for your tall products- liners, mascaras, and brushes. While this doesn't spin, I like that it's tiered so from front to back- you can see everything you have. 

Now all of these products that used to clutter up the area around my makeup mirror sit contained, off to the side. Still very accessible, but much neater. 

♥

I hope this helped those of you who are looking for some new makeup storage options! For those who have large collections like me, this may take care of your odds & ends. For others- a couple of these might handle all the makeup you have! One of the most versatile pieces is probably the second tray I showed... with larger spaces, you can even put some of your own containers inside. And for anyone needing some brush storage-- the round organizer is ideal! Thanks for stopping by my blog! :) 

Daily Nuggets...

• I'm thinking about locking my box of Triscuits up in the kitchen. Must. stop. eating them!! 
• If you need some laughs throughout your day, follow @laughbook on twitter!
• Watching the most ridiculous Vitamin Water commercial... did that guy just ride an antelope? 
• Been getting back into my workout routine... thank goodness for Tyler who has been serving as my in-home personal trainer a few times a week. I'm grateful for the knowledge he's gained over time and is willing to share with me!
• Just updated the What's New section of the blog! Check out anything you might've missed during the past week! (This usually happens on Sundays)
• I have gotten so many tweets on a couple of recommendations I've made... 1. Almay Get Up & Grow mascara  2. Flatbread pizzas (as seen on BeautyVlogcast!) Glad these things are working for you! :)