Sephora's Friends&Family Sale

Hey dolls,
It's finally time for the return of Sephora's beloved friends&family sale--20% off! A lot of people seem to think the sale isn't being offered this year, but it is! After all the $$ I've dished out recently on beauty buys, I've decided on purchasing the bare essentials for the sale!

Purchase #1 Bare Escentuals Deluxe Brush Roll, $35.00.
It's pretty steep for a brush roll, I know. However, I've been looking for a decent sized brush roll for the past year! Nothing seems to be able to keep my full set of Bobbi Brown brushes, Bare Escentuals kabuki and blush brush, Chanel Foundation brush, MAC skunk brush...etc (you get the point, I'm a brush whore.). Via Sephora website: A silver roll that includes 10 pockets for large brushes, 10 for small brushes, and one for a Full Coverage Kabuki Brush. What it does: Deluxe Brush Roll is perfect for organizing all your Bare Escentuals bareMinerals brushes and taking them wherever you go. The silver roll is the ultimate in beauty storage, with 10 pockets for large brushes, 10 for small brushes, and one for the Full Coverage Kabuki Brush. Keeping everything in its place has never been so stylish. I'm hoping it'll fit all my brushes (esp. since they all aren't from Bare Escentuals), luckily Sephora has a return policy!

Purchase #2 Fresh Soy Cream
I love this as a daily face cream! It smells awesome, absorbs quickly, and moisturizes without leaving my skin greasy. Even though my last bottle isn't done--I figured I might as well stock up with the 20% discount code since it is $38.00.

Purchase #3 Laura Mercier Eye Basics in Buff
I need a good eye shadow base/color corrector for my eyelids. I have decently dark lids, and I heard this base works miracles for both and doesn't crease! I'm so excited to try it, I hope it becomes one of daily wears! For what it claims to do, $24.00 does not seem bad at all.

Purchase #4 Stila Mini Lip Glaze Trio
I was going to purchase a Stila Lip Glaze for $22.00, but I figured I might as well get the mini trio for $8.00--that way I can test the colors and see which one I like the best. Fyi, you can only purchase this if you're a beauty insider--I highly recommend signing up!

Purchase #5 Brilliant Glossing Cream from Fredrick Fekkai
I don't know what to say except I LOVE this stuff. I'm opting for the 7 oz size for $27.50, rather than the 4 oz for 20.00 since I've already gone through a bottle (which is incredibly rare for me and hair products).

I was looking for a good lip primer, but the one I was debating on was $30.00--and I wasn't quite ready to take the plunge. Maybe I'll get some samples and then decide.

I'm excited to pick my samples at checkout!
Happy shopping dolls!
The discount code is "FF2009"
Enjoy!

au naturale and loving it! LUSH review

Recently my skin was in a "rut" I guess. I was getting little bumps (which I never had problems with before), more oily-ness on my t-zone (ew), and overall my skin was just bleh and not as bright. My mom told me it was because of all the different face products I use--i.e they all have lots of chemicals etc., and I'm messing up my face. Well thank you momma! I had exhausted other options and decided to take up my mom and go with a more natural approach to my skin care. The bf had gone to LUSH not too long ago, and I loved the goodies he brought back! I went to the Beverley Hills location, and I must say the sales associate was an absolute doll. She was incredibly patient, demo-ed literally everything I was remotely interested in, and gave me lots of samples :)
here's what I ended up leaving the store with:

YUMMY YUMMY YUMMY Shower Gel



Fresh strawberries, soothing honey, moisturizing almond oil, plus a drop of rejuvenating olibanum oil. Doesn't that just sound yummy? I've been using this everyday post gymming and the smell lingers on my skin for a good amount of time. So convenient to store in a gym locker--which is a major plus--and I feel clean without drying out my skin! If you love the smell of strawberries, definitely give this a try!

KARMA Soap



Lemongrass, pine, orange and patchouli essential oils. Sounds a bit funky, no? I thought so as well--until I smelled it. I fell in love! This scent is absolutely amazing, more on the spicy-orange-ish side, and totally soothes my body. Like the gel, the soap hasn't dried out my skin at all!
*this is also one of their well-known/best-selling scents


Coalface Cleanser



Charcoal and liquorice? Well, I can't say much except that it somehow works. I told the sales associate I had been feeling a tad oily and I needed a good cleanser for after my workouts and she recommended this. I was weary at first since I read reviews on how there were chunks in it and it was harsh on skin, but I was pleasantly surprised! There are indeed grits and chunks in the bar, however if used properly (i.e- slowly and rubbed to the face genteley) you'll love it! My face feels squeaky clean and the gritti-ness gives a good exfoliation that isn't too harsh.
*best seller

Ocean Salt Cleanser



This is AMAZING. My skin is more on the sensitive side, so I only use it about 2 or 3 times a week but I absolutely love it. It exfoliates my skin well and really gives it that deep clean feeling. If you've heard the raves about this product-- believe them. Just remember, if your skin is even a little on the sensitive side, don't use every day! You can even use it on other parts of your body besides the face. Who doesn't love a 2 in 1?

Lemony Flutter Cuticle Butter



Lemon, mango, avocado and flaxseed oil. Absolutely LOVE this stuff, hands down. I love lemon scents and this one is yummy! You can use it in stubborn dry skin areas, i.e elbows, knees, etc. but make sure it try it on your cuticles! It works miracles. My cuticles are horrible and I've been using this every morning and night--there's definitely an improvement in the shape of my cuticles! with only twice a day for about a week? Awesome.

Sugar Babe Sugar Scrub



Sugar and extra virgin coconut oil are just 2 of the main ingredients in this little scrub and I absolutely adore it. For $4.95 you'll get about 2 full uses out of it (head to toe) but I broke mine up into 4 pieces. There's extra virgin coconut oil in the center and I must say, it makes your skin feel divine. So smooth and exfoliated-- beware, it's tempting to use everyday.

Therapy Massage Bar



Here's a twist on the usual massage oils or lotions me and the bf have been using. When demo-ing it in the store, I was quite pleased! My skin didn't have that icky feeling that other massage aids leave behind. Rather I felt nicely mouterized, and the fact that it melts into a buttery/liquid state while you use it is awesome. The Therapy bar is also supposed to soothe stretch marks and scars. Loved the concept so much I bought another goody for me and the bf, the Fever Massage Bar--More the reason to make it hot, right?

BIG Shampoo



Hello Margarita for my hair. I heard so much about this shampoo that I had to try it and see if the hype was just hype. I was a little set off, due to the texture of the shampoo (there's literally sea salt chunks in it) but my hair seemed to LOVE it. My scalp has been acting all sorts of weird lately and this was an amazing exfoliant! My hair is already on the voluminous side, but this shampoo definitely adds an extra oomph. Not something I'd use everytime I shampoo, but maybe once a week? It leaves your locks feeling squeaky, squeaky clean so don't forget to condition! Paired with the Veganese Conditioner-- it's literally a good hair day in a bottle.

Angels on Bare Skin Cleanser



Ground almonds gently exfoliate, rose absolute tones and lavender oil soothes. A pea-sized amount mixed with water in the palm of your hand to create an even paste is all you need. The result: angelic skin! LUSH could not have said it better. I've used this as my nightly cleanser and it is fabulous. My skin in instantly softer and well exfoliated! I never thought I would say those two things in the same sentence.

Mirror Mirror Neck Cream



True, I'm barely 23 years old but one of my biggest fears is not taking care of fine lines now. Everyone that I've seen with amazing skin that's past 30 years old all say they started using anti-aging skin care in their 20's! Naturally, I really wasn't sure if Mirror Mirror would do much of anything, but I have been using it every night on my neck for the past week. I haven't seen a huge difference yet, (I guess I can't really expect to) but I do have some semi-deep lines on my neck. The scent however, from a 1950's french perfume is absolutely intoxicating!

Gorgeous Face Moisturizer



This I received as a sample, due to the steep price ($85.00) I really wasn't sure if it would be as effective as the sales associate said it would be. She told me how it was formulated for Princess Diana, and that it was one of the most powerful moisturizers they have for reducing fine lines, etc. Needless to say I have religiously used this for the past week and I actually am not too fond of it. I really wanted to like it (hello, Princess Diana and all) but I guess it just didn't sit well with me. It was kind of oily and made me look shiny. Granted it wasn't horrible, but there was no real benefit either. For the price, I would have invested in something else...for now I'll stick to my Fresh Soy Mousterizer.

Items not pictured on the website that I purchased:

Grease Lightening
I purchased this rather than the Murad T-zone gel that I've head others rave about. I dab it on to my nose and forehead every night before bed. My skin does look a lot clearer but I'm not sure if it's due to this gel or just the change of skin care in general. Either way, I'm hoping if I keep using it, my pores will become more refined and clean!

BB Seaweed Face Mask
This mask is AMAZING. I don't even know how to describe how it made my skin look and feel--besides the fact that my skin was radiant. It is a little difficult to put on (there's actual strips of seaweed in the mask) but the results are well worth it. I highly highly recommend trying this mask!

Helping Hands Hand Cream
First off, I love the packaging! It's a small pump bottle that easily fits into my purse on the go. Second, the sales associate told me this cream was formulated for nurses to last in-between washes and I must admit, it does the job. I probably use it twice a day at most, and my hands feel so soft and supple! Almost as if I was wearing an invisible glove. I definitely recommend this for Winter.

I also purchased the Toner Tabs and 2 solid shampoos, but haven't been able to use them as of yet! As soon as I do, I'll let you know how they turn out. Also, I got a lemony scented soap (the name escapes me) but I wasn't able to find that online either. I mainly got that for my bathroom soap dish- it smells up the whole room! I have a sample of the Love Lettuce face mask which I'll try soon as well.

Overall, my experience with LUSH as a whole was pretty fabulous if I do say so myself. The sales associate was incredibly nice and knew the ingredients and history behind each product as well. My skin, only after a week, has gotten a lot brighter and more even! I really didn't expect results so fast, but I am incredibly happy with the results thus far. Hopefully my skin won't get used to the products because I LOVE them! And the fact that I'm using natural products is a huge plus in my book. Might as well save the chemicals for when my skin actually needs them..which is hopefully never.

Upcoming Warehouse/Sample Sales!

It's been a while since a good sale has been announced, and then I get these in my inbox! SO excited.

Who? The Black Halo Year End Blow Out Sale
When?10/16 (noon-5pm)-10/17(9am-3pm)
Why? Save 50%-70% on last season and end of season tops, tees, wraps, jackets, skirts, pants, sweaters and more.
Where? 588 Mateo St., Los Angeles 90013. Cash/ CC only.

This sale is one of my personal favorites! Even though it'll be last season, the one thing I adore about Black Halo is that her styles are staples-- i.e past season is barely noticeable! Be on the lookout for Jackie-O dresses, they go quick!

Who? Rock & Republic annual Warehouse/ Sample Sale at Sony Studios
When? 10/23 (9am-7pm), 10/24 (9am-7pm) and 10/25 (9am-6pm)
Why? Save 50%-80% on signature jeans, jackets & outerwear, tees and tops for guys, gals and kids.
Where? Sony Studios, Stage 14, 10202 W. Washington Blvd, (entrance off Overland), Culver City, 90232. Cash/ CC only.

Who doesn't need an awesome pair of Rock & Republics? Enough said.

In other news, I have decided to finally go on my LUSH shopping spree! I think I need a more natural approach to skin/body care so LUSH should do the trick. I recently purchased a deep pore scrub by Burts Bees and I am in LOVE with it. My blackheads are a lot less noticeable, and my skin is noticeably softer. Don't want to give too much away--I plan on reviewing all my new beauty purchases in about a week. Since pore-less became the new sexy, I've been trying to turn back the clock and get rid of blackheads while I'm at it. The one thing I hate is the random little breakouts I have been experiencing. Hopefully the revamping of my skincare will take care of that as well. Since I've been actually sticking to my gym routine, I need some stuff for my gym locker as well!

Here's what I'm thinking about getting:
Shower Gel--for the gym locker. I've heard good things about the Yummy Yummy Yummy flavor!
Bar Soap--for home. The one thing about their soap is I've heard they melt super quick in the shower, not cool. I'll probably slice it up and just take in the shower as much as I need.
Face Mask--for home. I have heard AMAZING reviews about their face masks, especially the lettuce one. I'm figuring I should by the smaller size since they expire.
Face Cleanser--for the gym locker. My bf got the sea salt cleanser, and the couple of times I used it my skin was squeaky clean and bright! I'm in love.
Body Lotion--for the gym locker.
Face Moisturizer--for the gym locker.
Neck Cream--for home. I've heard mixed reviews on the Mirror Mirror cream, so I'm very on edge about buying it. I do need a good neck cream (I know it sounds weird, but the neck ages SO fast), but I don't know if I should just splurge and get the Clarins cream even though it is a little pricey.

That's my shopping list for now, I'm sure I'll find more goodies when I actually go. I'm looking forward to their Holiday collection!
I'll review my new regimen after about 10 days-- stay tuned dolls!

To sweat or not to sweat, that is the question.

For the past couple of days, after my workout I've been sitting in the sauna since I have some extra time to kill. The first day-- within a minute, I thought I was going to die because it was so hot, and I felt like I was suffocating. The next day, I found myself relaxing and even dozing off for a bit. As soon as I got out, my skin looked fabulous! And now I even do some stretches/yoga while in the sauna. Needless to say, I have spoiled myself with the relaxing-ness and now I absolutely love it. I decided to look up some articles online to see what the deal is with a sauna--is what I'm experiencing actually supposed to happen, should I have concerns, etc. and here's what I found
Benefits:
1. The heat soothes the muscles and relaxes the body after a workout.
2. The sweating is not about loosing water weight, but about losing toxins in the body.
3. The heat opens your pores and the sweating pulls out dirt so you will have clearer skin.
4. Your body naturally will work harder to cool you down, including your heart. While not the same as a cardio workout, it does also benefit you this way.
5. Your body will produce more white blood cells and other sickness fighting cells because of the heat (similar to when you have a fever, but without the being sick first).

Be aware of:
Your heart rate
Time (Don't stay in too long!)
Drink water after your sauna, and cool down gradually.

Do you any of you hotbox yourselves?

source: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/32367.php

heaven on earth: Le Petite Retreat Day Spa

Hello dolls! Hope you all are recovering from a fabulous weekend! As for me, this Saturday was absolutely blissful and fantastic. My bf took me out for our anniversary to Le Petite Retreat Day Spa (I'll go LPR Day Spa for short) for a day of total relaxation and bonding. So first off-- this spa is hidden quite well but the exterior is gorgeous. Classic and not too over the top, very understated, and calming music plays as you enter. The staff was incredibly sweet, leading us to our respective changing areas (stocked with intuition razors, hair combs, mouth wash, toothbrush/paste etc. nothing was left out!) with our amazingly soft robes and comfy sandals, and then had us wait for one another in the fireplace area (as pictured above, beautiful isn't it?!). In the waiting area, there was an assortment of teas, fruit (mainly apples), toasted coconut granola bars, and chilled water infused with lemon, lime, and cucumbers. We awaited til our first service of the day was ready: a bath for 2 "Luxuriate in our bubbling Coppertub surrounded by a canopy of flickering candlelights, as you and your soul mate sip champagne in Zen elegance" and I must say, the description hits this service spot on. The tube was more than big enough for us, there were bath pillows for our heads, and we were surrounded by candles and stones- which added to the ambiance.
After our delightful soak, we headed out to cabana for our couples massage with Jade stones! It was a Swedish-Deep combo massage while incorporating hot & cool stones that are massaged into your body. Heat helps to relax muscle tissue & coolness helps reduce inflammation & flushes out toxins through the lymphatic system (as per the website and our lovely therapists). Overall, the experience was amazing and I really believe that this one of the best spas in LA. Granted, it's pricey so I won't be going back too often--but rest assured me and the bf will return eventually.

Til next time,
xoxo