How To Score High-End Makeup Freebies

Wednesday, October 17th, 2007 | Beauty Tips, Summer Style | 11 Comments

While I generously gave free cosmetics samples to anyone who asked when I was behind the counter, some department store makeup counters would rather see a sale before giving up the goods. However, you can leave a counter with new makeup and more money left in your pocket for other fabulous buys.

Not all cosmetics counters have free samples, but many do. My suggestion is to hit up all your favorite counters with a different technique. Take $15-$30 to spend for good measure; not all makeup counters are overflowing with samples so you may have to buy a lip gloss to get a freebie or make the minimum purchase for a free gift.

I’m going to share some tips you can use to score yourself some high-end makeup freebies!

How To Score High-End Makeup Freebies

• Save your money for the Gift. Many cosmetics counters seasonally offer free beauty bags for a minimum purchase – it’s called Gift With Purchase. This is a jackpot. By spending around $30 – my suggestion is to invest in good skincare – you can receive freebies like makeup bags, brushes, lipsticks, eyeshadows, and even sample sizes of expensive creams from your favorite lines! Many women make a habit of waiting to buy for Gifts to build up their cosmetics arsenal.
  • Lancome and Estee Lauder offer some of the best Gift With Purchase freebies, including makeup bags, mini sizes of luxury skin creams, full-size lipsticks, mascara, and even lip gloss. Clinique often gives away $50 worth of freebies for spending only $22! Don’t miss out on those Gifts!
• Get on the client list. How can you get the inside scoop on upcoming Gifts? Ask to be added to the client list of your favorite cosmetics counters and they will call you when Gifts are happening and for other cool events. Clarins (famous for skincare and self tanners) hosts an event where you can get free facials for a minimum purchase, and Clinique often has events where you can play around with makeup and take home some freebies for attending.
• Sit down for a makeover. Pick a cosmetics line that you like and visit their counter for a free makeover. That’s right: makeovers are always free. Choose a counter or day where there’s not too much traffic; it’s courtesy not to take away from other customers for a 15 minute makeover in which you may not be buying anything. I would suggest taking at least $15 with you to buy a lip gloss – or if you’re broke, an eyeliner pencil sharpener at least. At the end, tell the beauty advisor that you’re really picky about [mascara, lipstick, etc] formulas and would like a sample to try before you buy. More than likely they’ll have something you can use. If not, you still got a free makeover and learned some new makeup techniques!
• When all else fails, be a damsel in distress. You ran out of mascara and you desperately need some to hold you over until you replenish. Or, you just want to score some free high-end mascara. Approach your Lancome counter – they have the best mascara – and let them know that you’re out of your old stuff and want to try something new before you buy. Voila! You have a free, petite-sized high-end mascara to slip in your pocket or handbag.

The Many Uses of Smith’s Rosebud Salve

Tuesday, October 16th, 2007 | Beauty Tips, Product Reviews | 6 Comments

As I closed my tin of Smith’s Rosebud Salve this morning after dabbing some on my lips, I thought about how wonderfully nifty this product truly is. What is Rosebud Salve, you ask? It’s a cult favorite petrolatum-based salve infused with pampering essential oils that smells sweet, like rosebuds! A little goes a long way. I believe it is one of those multifunctional must-haves that no girl should be without.

Here are some tried-and-true ways to use Rosebud Salve:

• Eyelash conditioner. A moment of curiosity one day while putting on makeup led me to try something new with Salve. I used my finger to coat my eyelashes with it before I applied mascara. It worked like a charm! My mascara went on more smooth and rich, and my lashes looked long and pretty. Occasionally I will apply it before bed to condition my lashes while I sleep.
• Highlighter. On days when I’m going to the gym, I apply Rosebud Salve to my eyelids, lips, and cheeks for a lovely, low-maintenance sheen.
• Hand cream. I have used Rosebud Salve to moisturize my hands and cuticles, especially after a French manicure to enhance the look and sheen. It’s looks and feels so nice!
• Body cream. Dry knees and elbows? Coat them with some of this stuff - problem solved!
• Curling iron burns. Had a nasty fall-out with your curling iron this morning? Nurse that burn with some Salve to ease the sting and speed the healing process.
• Tame flyaways. Rub a bit of Salve to the tips of your fingers and use it to control hair flyaways. You can also use Salve + a baby toothbrush to tame unruly eyebrows.

Where to buy: Click here to get your hands on a tin of Rosebud Salve. While you’re at it, buy two!

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In My Bag: NAO (Never Accept Ordinary) Highlighter

Monday, October 15th, 2007 | Beauty Tips, Product Reviews | 7 Comments

I decided to take a hiatus from wearing eyeliner today - a fast from wearing my staple black eyeliner! No thought really went into it, I simply skipped it today and didn’t once feel the need to break it out and put it on. I don’t think it would have worked, however, without a new highlighter I test-drove today. It’s fabulous! My face looked so flawless, I was able to swing it with minimal makeup.

NAO (never accept ordinary) Highlighter in dark ($17) is a magic wand! It’s thick enough to double as a concealer - and a very good one, at that. My face catches the light so lovely while I’m wearing it, distracting away from any imperfections and annoying shadows against my skin. Click here to see where I apply highlighter/concealer. This would be great for photo ops! The tube is white, which is great when you’re fumbling through your makeup bag and everything else happens to be in sleek and black packaging.

On days when I want to go ‘natural’ but still look enough presentable for the office, my secret weapons are MAC eyeshadow in Mystery to deepen the crease of my eyes and contour my cheeks, Lancome Juicy Tubes lip gloss in Hallucination, and NAO Highlighter. Never Accept Ordinary.

Precious from Precious & Makeup uses NAO cosmetics also, so I knew it had to be good!

Personal Digest #5 (Enjoying the Weekend)

Sunday, October 14th, 2007 | Personal Digest | 6 Comments

New layout! What do you think?

It’s been a pretty chill weekend for me. I’ve been trying to eat right and exercise here and there (weekends are always lazier for me). Yesterday I had sushi with a friend for…lunch? It was around 4pm. Afterward I stopped by the grocery store to replenish my fish oil pills.

Otherwise I’ve been relaxing with my boyfriend, which is typical on the weekends. I may bake some Vitalicious muffins later today if we get bored/hungry.

Let’s enjoy the rest of our weekend!

Fall Fashion: Victoria Beckham In a Blazer and Scarf

Friday, October 12th, 2007 | Fall Trends | 8 Comments

Victoria keeps it simple yet posh with bootcut denim pants and a white tank top layered under a grey blazer and long colorblock scarf. The blazer is a perfect piece of an autumn ensemble and the scarf adds a nice touch of color to this otherwise analogous color scheme. The large black bag and black peeptoe pumps perfectly wrap up this chic outfit, but with the weather getting cooler I would now opt for a pair of this season’s cutest boots.

 

Fit & Fab: Mid-Week Fitness Tips

Wednesday, October 10th, 2007 | Diet Tips | 6 Comments

Still hungry/impatient after following Fit & Fab’s Fitness Goals for the week? Here are a few tips to burn some extra calories and keep you satiated until your next meal:

• Eat a high-protein breakfast. This keeps us full longer. The best breakfasts are those filled with protein and fiber and contain some good carbs to kick-start you with energy for the day. My personal favorite quickie breakfast is a piece of whole wheat bread topped with a tsp of lower calorie butter and two eggs. It tastes great and it contains fiber, protein, and good carbs altogether.
• If you must order that burger, try it without the bun. This easily knocks off 200 calories. Eating your burger with a fork/knife will help you eat slower and trick you into feeling full faster. If you braved the burger without the bun, try it without mayo next time. Then, with just lettuce and tomato. You’ll be knocking off calories all the way! Grilled chicken is still the best bet at restaurants that offer it.
  (Also, when I go to Chipotle, I order my burrito in a bowl - without the tortilla - for a fulfilling salad with fewer calories.)
• Chew sugarfree gum. Not only will this temporarily take your mind off food between meals, but studies show that gum-chewers burn an extra 35 calories per day.
• Take the stairs when you can. My friend/coworker and I take the stairs at work versus taking the elevator up three floors. She informed me that five minutes of stair climbing burns an extra 45 calories a day. After you get used to this habit, the initial exhaustion should turn into a nice burst of energy (and should make up for that mini Snickers bar you snuck in during the day - I’m guilty!)

Please share your personal fitness tips and results! We would love to hear them.

Beauty Tips: Workout Beauty / DIY Tinted Moisturizer

Tuesday, October 9th, 2007 | Beauty Tips | 6 Comments

Workout Beauty

When going to the gym, who wants to wear a full face of makeup? My pores are cringing just thinking about it! To get a cute gym look without looking like you tried too hard, use this trick:

Apply a light moisturizer to your face (SPF if you’re jogging outdoors). Next, use Vaseline or Smith’s Rosebud Salve and apply a thin layer to your eyelids for a pretty sheen. Apply more to your lips. Finish off this look with a coat of waterproof mascara.

DIY Tinted Moisturizer

Instead of buying a new tinted moisturizer, we could use what is already in our cosmetics arsenal. Simply mix your favorite primer with a bit of an SPF liquid foundation and you have a perfect tinted moisturizer that provides sheer coverage and lasts all day.