Ring in the New Year @ Sephora

Holiday 2015: Shopping @ Sephora

#SassyHolidays 

#HolidayGiftGuide2015

A Guide to Shopping Sephora: Holiday Season 2015

Christmas is upon us. So many people receive gift cards or cash as gifts and so I thought that after Christmas was a great time to have a guide to give you ideas of how to spend that extra "Christmas" cash or to buy belated Christmas gifts for your family.

You know, Sephora isn't just for girls.  There are plenty of gift ideas that are suitable for men or even ladies who aren't necessarily "into" makeup.

The LEGAL mumbo jumbo:

** Disclaimer:  I received one or more of the products featured in this post for review purposes.

** Disclaimer:  There are one or more referral and or affiliate links contained in this post.

BEFORE You Shop:

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First, before you even THINK of doing any online shopping, you should make sure that you are a part of Ebates!  If you don't know what Ebates is, checkout my post about Ebates here: Click HERE.

To sign up to start earning cash back on almost EVERY purchase you make online, click here: Sign Up for Ebates

CHRISTMAS GIFT CARDS: Stuck with a GC you won't use?

Got a gift card for Christmas? Do you know that there are now sites where if you don't want the gift card you received or would rather have cash or a gift card for a different store there are sites where you can exchange your current gift card for cash or a different store!  So, if you do have a GC and would rather get one say to, Sephora, be sure to search for applicable sites where you can exchange your cards!

Sephora: A Shopping Guide to Holiday Shopping at Sephora

Before I begin, the products in this guide are products that I was fortunate enough to receive myself from Sephora.  It was a huge blessing to get this opportunity as I am a HUGE makeup junkie and am far too poor to afford to be able to support my unhealthy habit.

I wanted to do a "review" type post, but with this many products it was just no feasible.  I'll be doing reviews later on a few of the products listed below.  Let me know in the comments if there are any specific products you would like to see reviewed later on!

Hair:   Because your hair deserves the best

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HIGH END Product:
This is the most expensive product on the list.  But it's oh so, so gorgeous!

GHD: Flat Iron
Price:  $225.00
Link: ghd LE Artic Gold Flat Iron
Category:  HAIR

The ghd LE Arctic Gold Flat Iron features a Roll UP bag & a Heating Mat to set your flat iron on!

Living Proof | Happy Hair Days

Holiday Gift Set:  
Price: $32

LINK: Living Proof: Happy Hair Days

Category:  HAIR

Skincare | Products to Nurture Your Skin

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First Aid Beauty | Holiday 2015 Gift Set
Price: $59
Sold at: Sephora.com 

Category:  SKINCARE

Kate Sommerville | Melrose Place
Holiday 2015 Gift Set
Price:  $85
Link:  Kate Sommerville | Melrose Place
Category: SKINCARE

LIPS | 

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Buxom | Don't Miss A Beat Set

Holiday Gift Set
Price: $32
LINK: Buxom | Gift Sets on Sephora

Clinique Chubby Stick Holiday Gift Set - $25

CLINIQUE | Chubby Stick Set

Holiday Gift Set (2015)
PRICE:  $25
LINK: Clinique | Lipstick

Clinique | Chubby Stick Set

Features:

Eyeshadow Chubby Stick

Blush Chubby Stick

3 Lip Balm Chubby Stick:

(Intense, Regular, Baby Tint)

BITE Beauty | 
Mix & Mingle 
Price:  $13
Link: Bite| Mix & Mingle Lipstick

SEPHORA LIPS |
Sephora Lip Gel & Kiss Me Balm

SEPHORA | LIP GEL
PRICE: $14
Sephora Lip Gel

32 Shades to choose from

SEPHORA | KISS ME BALM
PRICE:  $5- $8
LINK:  Kiss Me Balm

9 Colors to choose from

EYES: 

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Too Faced | La Grand Palais
Holiday Gift Set
Price:  $49
Link:  Too Faced

Features:

• 18 Eyeshadows
• 2 Blushes
• Highlighter
• Bronzer

Too Faced | Bon Bons Chocolate Palette

Price:  $49

Link:  Too Faced: Bon Bons Palette

This wasn't actually one of the items taht I received, but it's actually on my MUST BUY list and so, I thought I would throw it in this list.  I've had the opportunity to try Urban Decay, Too Faced among many others and my Too Faced Chocolate Bar Palette (The Original) is probably my favorite palette I've ever owned.  I cannot wait to get the chance to try out the Chocolate Bon Bons Palette!

Miscellaneous

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Atelier Cologne | Collection Azur
Holiday Gift Set
PRICE: $25
Link: Atelier Cologne | Azur Collection
Category:  Perfume

Four Travel Sized Perfumes 
Sample four different scents from Atelier Cologne

Sephora | Holiday Brush Set
Holiday Gift Set 2015
Price:  $85
Link: Sephora
Category: Beauty Tools

Formula X | Bottle Service Set
Holiday 2015 Gift Set
Price:  $36.50     $22 SALE PRICE
Link:  Formula X | Bottle Service Set

Thoughts

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I was so so excited to get this treasure trove of goodies from Sephora.  I don't make a lot of money from blogging and so it's through my reviews that I'm able to provide gifts for my friends and family which is what this Sephora Haul enabled me to do.

I wasn't ALL giving.  There were a few things that I kept for myself.  I kept the Too Faced palette (I know that was a bit greedy of me, but it had been on my wish list!), the Bite Beauty lipstick & The Clinique Lipstick set.  My daughter got a few things as well, including the Formula X Bottle Service Kit, she's a nail junkie and so there was never any doubt who that would go to.

I think among these products, the items that really stood out to me the most were:

ghd Flat Iron | Arctic Gold Series - It's just absolutely stunning.  Although I rarely put a tool to my hair, it was extremely tempting to keep just because it's so gorgeous!

Formula X Bottle Service Kit - It's such cute packaging as well as includes a wide variety of colors to try, perfect for someone who has never tried the brand before.

First Aid Beauty Kit - I've heard wonderful things about this brand, so this was a standout for me because it was a great value with the combination for products included.

Too Faced | La Grand Palais - I'm obsessed with Too Faced.  They have such adorable packaging and their eyeshadows are so pigmented!  This was a great set having 18 eyeshadows, plus two blushes, a Melted, a Mascara and a bronzer and highlighter PLUS shadow primer!!  This was definitely the best value, in my opinion!

Sephora Holiday Brush Set-  This is a gorgeous gift set and the brushes are super soft!!  I love the little sparkly stand that's included with this.  Anyone would be thrilled to get this as a gift.

TALK BACK TO ME

I'd love to hear from you!

What were your favorites out of this list?  What was your favorite gift this Holiday season?

Will you be using your Christmas Money on Makeup items this year??

Must-Have Essentials June 2014

So, if you have read my blog, most of you know that I am super new to the world of beauty.  Not to say that I am completely new to the world of beauty, but more specifically to high-end beauty.  I honestly began my journey with beauty products at a very tender age of 12.  The other girls, who had more strict parents than mine, would sit all pile on my bed in awe and wonder watching as I loaded on the make-up.  Oh, how I wish I might would have waited a few more years.

I have always kinda marched to my own beat when it came to beauty products, makeup to be exact.  I poured over my issues of Seventeen, and YM, etc. learning how to apply make up, what shades worked best and etc.  I was teased incessantly in high school for my choice of shadow colors.  It wasn't very popular to go with anything other than the "natural look".  I even had girls stick a purple shadow in my choir folder, teasing me for my choice of plums as a shadow.

I guess that they weren't aware that purple hues accentuate the green eye.  Oh well, it's in the past and I will try not to bawl my eyes out thinking of it.  LOL JK  Well, times have changed, the magazines def have changed.  Some products have come and gone, but one thing remains, My love for all things plum...  But, that honestly has nothing to do whatsoever with todays post.  Today I wanted to show you a few of the items that I have found to be an everyday essential.

First off, we all need a fab cleanser.  It was my lack of using quality skincare products that got my skin into the less than ideal condition I know find myself stuck with.  My first ever subscription box was to Julep.  Not being a big nail polish person, I opted for the beauty products option versus the nail polishes.  The first box came with what I consider an excellent cleanser.  This cleanser honestly leaves my skin feeling so super soft and creamy!  I find myself washing more often just so I can use this oil!  I would definitely recommend to anyone looking to try and find a new cleanser.  The size is definitely a plus!  I have had mine for two or three months and barely have made a dent in it.  I believe the price is just $28 or $22.50 for Julep subscribers.  A very good investment for your skin.

Second, everyone needs a go-to moisturizer.  This is one area that I also failed to use during the majority of my life.  I purchased a make-up lot on Ebay and this $32 bottle of magic was included.  I have about drained it dry and I honestly don't know what I am going to do when I run out.  I definitely can't afford to pay $32 on a jar of moisturizer. So, I guess I will be shopping around for a cheaper alternative.  However, until then I will definitely keep this in my daily beauty regimen.  This moisturizer really helps to add some moisture to my very thirsty skin.  It also has the best scent hands down to any other skincare product I own.  I absolutely am obsessed with this smell.  If you have to add tons of creams, you might as well add great scent to it.  If you have $32 to spend a moisturizer, then definitely pick this one up!  If, like me, you need a cheaper alternative and you know of great products, please leave a comment giving me advice.  Am going to need to buy something very soon.  Have a Purlisse sample, but am not that impressed by it.  It feels as if I am adding water to my skin...

 

Ok, I don't know exactly which category this would necessarily fall into, but it's definitely on my short-list of must have products.  It's a tad on the expensive side, I will always try to ebay it and find a cheaper alternative to purchasing retail.  This oil really, really makes my skin so smooth and soft.  It gives me a great palette on which to load all the other products that I require, which as I get older that list seems to grow by leaps and bounds.

Primers:  I have no clue when a primer was invented, but I only recently discovered them and man, do they make a real difference!!  I have two shown, quite honestly, I prefer the cheaper Elf alternative to the more expensive.  If I had both lying in my make up pile, I would always pick up the Elf.  If you haven't ever used a primer and you have less than perfect skin, either scarring from past acne or acne that is present, this is a great product to help smooth over those lines.  It also helps to cover the wrinkles to help give you a smooth finish.  I feel like the Elf formula works better.  It's like butta for your skin.  Genius!!

Eye Shadow Primer:  Easy test.  If you want to see how well an eyeshadow primer performs, simply put primer on one eye, than none on the other and then do your shadow.  I can tell a huge difference when using this.  It's like using this primer my shadows adhere better to my eyes.  The colors are bolder and I end up using less product, which in the long run, helps to save money.  I have tried other shadow primers, Smashbox and Too Faced and I prefer this formula better.  Urban Decay really seems to be the stand out winner in the Eye Beauty Race.  Their eye shadow colors are sooooo much better than most other competitors and this is a to die for product.  I definitely recommend trying it out if you haven't already.

Must Have: Balm.  Ok, so we all need something quick and easy to use.  The Balm's "How about them Apple's" palette, is the answer to all our problems.  If you have this palette on hand, it's a really easy way to get a bit of color on both your lips and your cheeks.  I had this sample for about a month before I decided to try it on my cheeks and it's my favorite cheek product hands down.  It looks so natural and just gives me a flushed look as compared to a clown look.  I have tried their competitor's "tints" and they always seem to end up streaky and cling to my not so lovely spots.  And believe me, it's a hard pill for me to swallow as I LOVE their other products.  The cost of the full size "Apples" palette is $32.  I haven't shelled out the money for it, but I have to say that I am very likely to one day soon.  I would love to have access to all six colors offered in the palette.  I cannot say enough awesome things about this product.  

Ok, so that's just a few of the items that I have discovered in the past few months.  And they are honestly products that I find myself using if not everyday, then on the days I actually wear make-up!  I am having so much fun on this beauty journey of discovery.  I find myself dying to try more and more products and spending money I really don't need to.  Thank God for my subscription boxes that give me access to many fab products that without it, I wouldn't have the ability to try.  Of course, that can be both a curse and a blessing.  A curse when I find an absolute fantastic item I love and can't afford to purchase the full size item.  But, thankfully with Birchbox I get so many great skincare items, that I hopefully won't be having to shell out any big bucks anytime soon.

What products do you find you can't live without?  Are there any fab products I need to try?  I am looking for advice on more economical skincare options and would love your advice!!4

Sephora

Shop Birchbox

For Julep Products:

Until next time!!

Sassy Gal

xoxo