Urban Decay 500 Point Sephora Reward

I had quite a few points to spend at Sephora during a recent online purchase. I purchased a re-up on my Dior Lip Glow lipstick and then cashed in 500 points for the Urban Decay reward and also used the code “Blitz” to get a deluxe sample kit of a variety of products. Basically, 10 large samples and one lipstick later, I was really pumped to get my Sephora Box!

The Urban Decay reward had a few products in particular I was interested in trying. First, it had the anti-aging eye primer. As you know, I love their classic eye primer. I thought if it was possible to combine elements of an eye cream with my eye primer, it was something I had to try. Well, unfortunately, the new take on this old classic just isn’t the same. Can you say…creases? I tried three shadows with it, including an Urban Decay shadow, and all creased by the end of the day. Something that never happens with the classic primer.

As you can see in the picture, Urban Decay classic primer has a slight tint and blends easily with skin.

Eye Primer

Click this image of the bottle to go to Sephora.com for a mini-size of the classic primer for only $12!

Next up in the Urban Decay package was their All-Nighter spray and B6 Complexion Prepping Viamin Spray. I absolutely love the fact that these came in “trail-size” or deluxe sample size bottles. The All-Nighter spray typically comes in a huge bottle that I feel would take months and months to go through. The smaller size is absolutely perfect. Click here to try it in only 1 oz for $14!

While I need to give the primer a few more tries before forming a definitive opinion, I do like the All-Nighter spray and feel it does a perfect job of setting your makeup for the long haul. The primer has some really interesting statistics and studies around it, click here to read more.

Last in the box was a pot of  Urban Decay eyeshadow in Mushroom, a wonderful grey smokey eye color that is extremely versatile and applies smoothly. You can find that exact shade here at Sephora.com.

Overall, if you have 500 Sephora points, I’d highly recommend cashing them in. The makeup prep spray and the All-nighter sprays are worth it alone. But hurry! Those rewards tend to go fast and this one might not be around for much longer! Happy shopping!

L’Occitane en Province Almond Body Oil Review

I’ve been searching for a magical body oil for months now. While I’m really interested to try some of the tinted oils, like the classic from NARS, I also wanted something I use for hydration every day.

After much research, I headed to Nordstrom and bought L’Occitane’s Almond Supple Skin Oil. Of course, the reviews sucked me in because they touted how wonderful it smells. Sure enough! It smells like crushed vanilla almonds. Absolutely divine.

 

It’s said to be potent enough to diminish the appearance of stretch marks and cellulite while smoothing and moisturizing skin. I haven’t been using it long enough to tout any long-term benefits but I love the smell and wish I could bathe in it morning and night. Which you almost can because they also make a shower oil.

Truth be told, it’s winter in Colorado and the air is unbelievably dry. I’m not sure anything short of a straight shea butter could really moisturize and soften  your skin. But this does a pretty darn close job. I’ve been using it each morning and love catching a whiff of the light scent throughout the day. My skin does still feel nice at the end of the day, although I feel I need to reapply lotion at night as well.

It’s $40 for  3.4 oz bottle (yay something you can travel with!) and I’ve used about a third of it in a month. I might need something even thinker for winter, but this absorbs quickly, smells great and will be a summer beauty staple.

Buy it here for $40 from Nordstrom today! Remember, Nordstrom has free shipping and free returns, on the off-chance you don’t LOVE it!

Two by Two: A History of Comparisons on Everyday Lipstick

As one of the lovely loyal readers of Everyday Lipstick, you’ve probably noticed that I love comparisons. I love comparing one product to another and deciding which one is better and which one might be the lucky winner of a place in my makeup drawer.

Today, I thought it would be fun to take you back through the past comparisons from Everyday Lipstick! Also, to find these more easily, there is a new category called “Product vs Product”.  There, you can easily find all of the product comparisons!

Tale of two False Lashes, comparison of Urban Decay Lashes vs Sephora brand

Comparison of Two Cheek Highlighters, comparison between Smashbox highlighter and Benefit Watts up

REN Vita Mineral vs REN Hydra Calm, I reviewed two REN day creams to find the better match for me!

LaVanila Lipscreen compared to Jack Black Lip Balm, my favorite lip balm reigns supreme, despite a comparison to a product that is three times more expensive

Between the eyes: Comparison of two eye creams, which is better: REN gel or Shiseido bio performance? Read the article to find out!

If you love the comparisons you’ve seen on Everyday Lipstick, sign up to get a short little e-mail each time we post! It’s quick, easy and won’t fill your inbox. 🙂 Enter your e-mail on the right side of the page under “Follow This Blog” and you’re set!

Other eyecreams continue to fall short

I feel strongly about eye creams and if you’ve been reading Everyday Lipstick for a while, you know all about this. I believe that you get what you pay for, you only have one set of eyes so you should take care of them and that eye cream is an important part of your daily beauty routine.

Despite finding some great eye creams, I’m always on the lookout for something even better. Here are a few I’ve tried in the past two years(eye creams last a long time!):

 

1. REN Active 7 Eye Gel for $30

2. Clinique All About Eyes De-puffing Serum for $28

3. Philosophy Eye Hope Cream for $49

4.  Shiseido ‘Bio-Performance’ Super Corrective Eye Cream for $60

Of those 4, there’s only one I would buy again: Shiseido Bio Performance. In fact, I just ran out of the REN Active 7 eye gel, which I had been using for 21 days. Instead of going straight back to the Shiseido Super Corrective, I’m going to try the Super Contour to see if I can tell any difference. I love Shiseido products and feel you get a lot of bang for your buck. My last Shiseido eye cream lasted me about 5 months.

Summer shoe shopping

Hello lovely ladies and sorry for the delayed posting! I don’t know what it has been with this beautiful weather but it has given

me the shopping bug and I’ve been shoe shopping instead of beauty shopping! But, since ’tis the season for fun summer footwear and a chance to bare your latest pedi colors (mine is OPI Green, similar to the one shown at right) I thought I’d share some of my fun shoe finds.

I actually walk to work each day and walk home for lunch so I HAVE to have a pair of shoes that will be comfy for about a mile a day. No heels here. I just can’t stand orthopedic sandals (not until I’m 75 at least) so when I saw these on Nordstrom and the reviews raved about the comfort, I had to try them. They are almost as comfortable as slippers! Couldn’t be happier with them.

Sam Edelman Trina Sandal, comes in about a dozen colors, $99

I also have my eye on these Tory Burch wedges. I love the color and the heel and think they’d also be a good walking to work shoe, although I haven’t made the purchase yet. I need to decide soon because they are on sale from $190 down to $130!

And finally, with the Coach sale going on, I have my eye on a few great deals from Coach. Granted, it doesn’t look like any good daily wear shoes, but could you really say no to these when they are marked down to $150 from $225?

I also totally love these from Coach but wonder if they would slip off too easily. What do you think?

Well, there you have it. My latest shoe shopping picks. What are you wearing this summer? What polish do you have on your toes? Leave it in the comments! And next time, promise, I’ll be back to beauty. 😉

Dior Sunlight: Staple product

Out with the old, in with the new. As you can see, it was time to replace my Dior Sunlight bronzer. But instead of replacing it with a new product, I replaced it with a new compact.
New Dior Sunlight

 

I’ve featured Dior Sunlight many times before, it was on my list of products to help you get a great fake glow, it’s on my list of Everyday Products, and I’ve reviewed it and answered questions about it on Sephora.com.

Since I love my lovely Everyday Lipstick readers, I put together a little Q&A, FAQ about Dior Sunlight below. Hopefully this helps you decide if it’s the bronzer you’d like to try!

Q: How much is Dior Sunlight?

A: $55, it lasted me more than 6 months

Q: Does it have any shimmer?

A: Overall, I would say no, it doesn’t begin to come close to the level of shimmer of any of the Bobbi Brown shimmer brick bronzers or blushes, but it does have a healthy sheen to it. You certainly won’t see “sparkle” in the product or on your face.

Q: Is it a bronzer or a blush?

A: While it does have a slight pink hue to it, it’s much more of a bronzer than a blush. However, it is a great combo product if you want to cut a step out of your routine. You could use it as both!

Q: What’s the difference in color between Sunset and Sunlight?

A: A lot. Sunset is much darker. So dark that it is for extremely tan or ethic skin. Sunset is too dark for me even during the summer but Sunlight works for my medium beige skin all year. Also, Sunset has less pink it in than Sunlight.

What else do you want to know about Dior sunlight? Leave it in the comments!

 

My favorite softer-smoother hair mask

Sad day. Sniffle sniffle. I just ran out of the very last drop of my all-time favorite hair mask, Redken Nature’s Rescue Cooling conditioner. I bought it on a whim over a year ago and it has lasted all that time using it about once every two weeks. It’s fantastic.

It’s more affordable then other deep conditioners (this link will take you to buy it only for $22. And remember, it lasts about a year), it has a wonderful cooling sensation, it deep conditions, I think it speeds up blow drying time and it makes your hair smell amazing all day. The smell is really unique, it’s this fresh, clean and warm smell. Kind of like puppies. I’m not kidding. (Redken would probably not love that I said that, but who doesn’t love puppies?)

After washing your hair, spread a quarter-sized amount from root to tip, massage in with your finger tips and let absorb for 1-2 minutes while you wash your face or do other shower routine things. Rinse and go! Your hair will be noticeably smoother and softer all day.

I will definitely be replacing this container as part of my beauty routine.

Bobbi Brown Friends and Family Event- ENDS TODAY

Have you been waiting for the right  moment to try Bobbi Brown products? That moment is here! 20% off ends today!


The three Bobbi Brown products I’m currently using are the Skin Foundation in Warm Beige, the Shimmer Brick blush and the high shine gloss in Pink Sequin. Honestly, they are all amazing. I am becoming a huge fan of Bobbi Brown and a convert from Dior with every BB product I try.

But here are some things I’m lusting after on their website:

The Lilac Rose Eye Palette, amazing! Click here to get it 20% off today.

Brow kit with perfect brow brush. It comes in light and dark shades. Find it here.

Pore Clearing Mask from Origins

Last night I cozed up with my lavender neck wrap and my charcoal facial to watch TV with my husband on a chilly Sunday night. This was the second time I had tested the Origins Active Charcoal Pore Clearing Mask.

Said to to be good for all skin types, active charcoal, “acts like a magnet to draw out deep-dwelling pore-cloggers. White China clay absorbs environmental toxins, and lecithin dissolves impurities.”

I really like it. It is a fabulous, detoxifying boost that seems to balance and soften your face without overdrying. It also doesn’t seem to bring impurities to the surface, which is one of my biggest concerns with masks like this. I put on a fairly thick but even layer after washing my face and using a light mist of Sanitas face mist. Your face will get so bizarrely tight as the mask dries that you will barely be able to talk! Super strange. After about 10 minutes, the mask is completely dry and you can rinse it off easily with warm water. I applied a quick coat of my night cream and that was it!

I love that Sephora currently has a special on a package of products, including the mask, in a smaller size. For $47, you get to try the Charcoal Mask, the frothy face wash, the mimosa and algae face moisturizer and the anti-aging serum. Click here to buy it from Sephora.com and if you have one other thing in your shopping cart, such as a refill of your favorite makeup sponges, you’ll get free shipping.

VIB Sephora Sale Purchase

With the 15% off VIB sale in progress, I had to take advantage and try a few new things. And then, once I started looking at the samples I could cash in some points to try, I ended up with a whole online shopping basket full of samples, minis and new products for less than $60.

Here’s what I think about that:

Score

And here’s a shot of my shopping cart:

Shopping basket 2

Here are the products and links to give them a try with me!

Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat, one of the highest rated concealers on Sephora.com.

Bobbi Brown High Shimmer Gloss in Pink Sequin, which is advertised as a rose pink with gold pearl.

Sample size of Bobbi Brown Everything mascara, here’s a link to it from the Nordstrom beauty department, with free shipping and free returns, you could give the mascara a try without paying shipping.

Sample of Shiseido Bio-Performance Super Restoring Cream, I love Shiseido products and love their Bio-contour eye cream. I’m interested to try this. It says, “Excellent for all skin types, it features a patent-pending Bio-Restoring Complex to reduce furrows and unevenness, and promote elasticity and moisture retention.”

Sample of LaVanila Pure Vanilla. What’s not to like?

St. Tropez Tanning Essentials One Night Only body lotion. You know that for a quick glow, I love Tantilizer. Here’s a post on that.

That’s it! Get excited for some reviews of these products coming in the next few weeks!