Deal Alert- Cherry Culture

Free Shipping on ALL CherryCulture.com US orders, now through July 31. No minimum purchase or code required.

Lumiere blush swatches

For those who saw the review on my YT channel.

Face of the Day- July 8, 2009

Products used:

Bare Escentuals Prime Time face primer

ELF studio concealor in fair (under eyes)

Everyday Minerals matte foundation- Fair Neutral

NYC loose translucent face powder

The Body Shop cheek color- Golden Pink

Urban Decay Primer potion

NYX shadow- Sahara (on lid)

NYX shadow- Suede (in crease)

The Body Shop shadow- Vanilla Cream (browbone)

Ulta eyeliner- Black

Covergirl Lashblast- Very Black

NYX megashine lipgloss- Sweet Heart

Sale Alert: Bare Escentuals

BE is having their friends and family sale- 20% off now through Sunday, June 21. Enter code SHARE at checkout.

Review/comparison: Conair Flatiron vs Chi

This is a sort of long review, feel free to skip down to the pros/cons list at the bottom if you get bored.

I’m the type of girl who can’t live without her flatiron. I use it on a pretty much daily basis and may have come to take my beloved Chi for granted. That won’t happen again. I was horrified to find out that I couldn’t take my Chi to Europe, after reading numerous accounts of people’s Chi being fried and destroyed when used overseas, even with the proper adapters and voltage converters. I of course didn’t want to destroy it on the first day, go with wavy, frizzy hair for a month, then have to shell out almost $200 on my arrival back home. Immediately after I read these stories (which was less than a week before I was leaving), I started looking for a nice quality dual voltage flat iron that I could use in Europe and when I got back home. I was on a budget and wanted to avoid spending over $50, so that ruled out the impressive T3 I found on Sephora’s website. No luck in Ulta, but after browsing reviews on MakeupAlley, it looked like Conair had some decent models, and many of the reviews raved about how they found such an amazing flatiron at Wal-mart, of all places! 

While picking up some other toiletry items for the trip, I browsed Wal-mart’s selection of Conair flatirons, looking for those keywords “dual voltage” on the packaging. I found several models but none seemed to be the exact one I had read reviews about on MakeupAlley. Thinking (mistakenly) that if a couple Conair models had gotten such rave reviews that they all must be pretty decent, I picked up the Conair 1” model. It had no other special name, although the packaging had those flatiron keywords “professional, ceramic, tourmaline”.  I thought I had gotten a pretty good deal for $27 and went home to try it out. The packaging claimed it went up to 395 degrees, and the iron had 3 settings (high, med, low). I turned it on and adjusted it to high, waiting for the red and green blinking lights (indicating it was heating up) to turn to just green (indicating it was hot, I did think this was a nice feature). Once it was hot, I started sectioning and flatironing my hair. Immediately I could feel that the clamp wasn’t as strong as that I got with my Chi, I almost felt the need to squeeze down as hard as I could as I moved the flatiron through my hair, but this didn’t help much.  I also noticed that it took about 2-5 slow passes over a section of hair to get it as straight at I’m used to, my Chi usually does this in 1-2 straight passes. After ironing a few sections of hair, I noticed it seemed to not be straightening anymore, and perplexed, I glanced down at the iron. Those stupid red and green blinking lights were back, apparently the Conair couldn’t hold its heat for more than 4 sections of my hair. I waited for the solid green again and proceeded with styling. It continued to lose heat every few hair sections and I had to wait for it to get hot again.

I heard that because Europe is a higher voltage (220v where I am, America is a standard of 120v), the flat iron would get hotter when I came over here and therefore would straighten better. I held my breath the first time I ran it through my hair, the day after I arrived in France. Exact same problems it had back home, and I couldn’t tell any heat difference. This morning I timed how long it took to do my hair. Our apartments here in France have no air conditioning, and getting hot and sweaty in my sleep is one of the biggest contributors to my wavy morning hair. I woke up with what I think would be moderate waviness, compared to what I’ve seen my hair like before. With going over my hair several times super-slowly, and having to wait every couple minutes for my flatiron to heat up again, it took about 18 minutes to complete the job. I’m still not totally satisfied with the straightness of some of the pieces in front, but it’ll do. Now 18 minutes may not seem like a lot for those of you who take a long time to do their hair, and granted, I do have a lot of thick hair. But at home using my Chi, I could have completed this look in under 10 minutes and had better results. I didn’t even bother doing the back here because it’s too hard to get a good angle for seeing and it didn’t feel too wavy when I ran my hands through it. Huge lesson learned in planning ahead and doing your research in ample time. If I had looked sooner, I may have been able to order a higher quality dual voltage iron without having to pay up the butt for shipping.

Pros: Dual voltage, 3 heat settings, plates claim to be 25% longer than average.

Cons: Doesn’t get very hot, weak clamp, must stop every few minutes while flatiron heats up again.

Conclusion: Unless you have very thin or fine hair with just a slight wave that is easy to straighten, skip this one and go for the good stuff. I’m glad Wal-Mart has a 90 day return policy; this thing’s going right back as soon as I get home. 

Free Stuff: WalMart samples

I've been using this feature on walmart.com for over a year and love some of the items I have been able to try out. Visit http://instoresnow.walmart.com/In-Stores-Now-free-samples.aspx  and check out what products they're offering free samples of. Sometimes it's random things like huggies diapers and pledge wipes, but quite often they offer beauty products. Just provide your shipping information and in a few short weeks you'll receive your sample of shampoo and conditioner, body wash or lotion, foundation, whatever! You have the option to sign up for the mailing list, but it's not necessary. Extra bonus: the samples usually come with a nice coupon if you decide to make a purchase. The samples change out frequently, so I like to check back once a week or so just to see if there's anything new.  The only catch is that ony one sample is provided per household. Enjoy!

FotD: May 21, 2009

Products Used:

Bare Escentuals Prime Time Primer

UDPP

Clinique Line Smoothing concealor

Clinique Perfectly Real liquid foundation

Revlon A Floral Affair Blush in "Pinking of You"

NYC loose translucent face powder

NYX Sahara shadow (on lid)

NYX Suede shadow (in crease)

The Body Shop Vanilla Cream shadow (highlight)

Covergirl Lash Blast

MAC Myth lipstick

Bonnebell Liplites gloss in Capuccino

Deal Alert: ULTA, The Body Shop

Get a goodie bag filled with 20 deluxe product samples when you spend $25 or more at ulta.com. Use promo code 35993. 

Memorial day weekend, get 30% off spring and summer giftsets at the Body Shop. Don't forget about picking your free skincare starter kit with any $30 purchase, good through May 27. 

Minimal Packing: MAC Palette is filled!

In attempt to pack lightly for my upcoming trip to France, I took a ong time to select which 15 eyeshadows would make the journey with me. I didn't want to use too wild colors like turquoise or hot pink because I will be over there studying and wanted to be more conservative so I picked a lot of neutral colors. I also wanted a good mix of dark and light for day and night looks. Colors listed by column from left-right and individual shadows within each column from top to bottom. 

First column: NYX trio Aloha, Mink Brown, Deep Bronze

Second column: MAC Sable, MAC  Satin Taupe, Smashbox Rapture

Third column: NYX Trio Sahara, Suede, Chocolate (which suffered a booboo during depotting and had to be re-pressed)

Fourth column: MAC Vellum, MAC Shale, MAC Graphology

Fifth column: The Body Shop Vanilla Cream, MAC Prussian, ELF Dusk

Deal Alert: Stila

Receive a FREE Stila Appreciation 24kt Luxe Lip Gloss with your stilacosmetics.com purchase of $25 or more. Use code Appreciate at checkout

Deal Alert: Bare Escentuals

May 12-14 Use code BLEMISH at checkout to receive a free deluxe sample of Rare Minerals Blemish Therapy with any BE online purchase. Free Shipping on orders over $50. 

DIY Tooth Whitening- Simple and Cheap!

We all probably think we could use a whiter smile and have stains from smoking, coffee, soda, or wine. Getting your teeth professionally whitened can cost hundreds of dollars and even store bought at-home whitening systems can run over $50 and take over a week to see results. This simple DIY recipe can be used for instant results and is 100% natural.  All you need is one strawberry, baking soda, and your normal toothpaste.

First, crush the strawberry into a pulp and add 1/2 a teaspoon of baking soda. Use a toothbrush to spread the misture on your teeth and let sit for 5 mins. Rinse out with water then brush your teeth using your regular toothpaste. Use a mouthwash or floss to get rid of any stubborn strawberry seeds. Voila!  The reulst may not be as dramatic as whitening systems, but it does work. 

Because the acid from the strawberry and abrasive nature of the baking soda can damage your tooth enamel if used too much, don't use this method more often than once a week. Enjoy that nice smile!

Deal Alert: The Body Shop

Thursday is a "Celebrate You" day for Body Shop "Love Your Body" members, meaning 20% off everything in-store or online. For those who aren't members, the card costs only $10 for a year. Members get 10% off every purchase for a year, 20% off on select days, and up to $50 in free gifts. 

Deal Alert: 50% off NYX!!

Cherryculture.com has NYX 50% off now through May 15, in celebration of NYX's 10 anniversary. Use code NYX50 at checkout, US orders only. 

Deal Alert: ELF and Ulta

ELF is having a 50% off studio line sale at eyeslipsface.com.  Receive 50% off any items from their studio line when making a purchase of $15 or more. Use code EGSTUDIOX at checkout. 

Ulta online has free shipping with any $25 purchase or more. To promote the Smashbox Untamed collection, theyre offering a Free mini lipgloss in Aura with any smashbox purchase (this offer valid online and in-store). 

Deal Alert: Sephora

Fee Deluxe sample of Flora by Gucci Fragrance with any $25 purchase. Enter code FLORA at checkout. Beauty Insiders only, but signing up is a breeze!

This Summer

I mentioned in one of my videos I'll be busy for part of this summer. I finish finals for this semester on May 5, then have about 3 free weeks when I'll be filming and uploading as many videos as possible. May 28-June 27, I'll be in Strasbourg, France studying abroad. I'll be taking 3 classes there so will have that workload, and since the school only allows us to take one checked bag, I'll be packing only the makeup bare necessities. I'll try to film as many videos as I can before then so I can upload some in France. I plan on creating a separate youtube account where I upload trip videos, but they won't be makeup related. 

Furthermore, I won't be doing much hauling this summer because as of now I'll have 1-2 unpaid internships and may not be getting a paid job until the fall. As much as I love the opportunities these internships present, I'll be tight on cash and won't be hauling as much as I did last summer when I was working. I'll try to create fresh summer looks for you guys with products I already have or with the few products I buy. As always, I appreciate your support. Hope you guys have fun summers planned too!

Deal Alert: Sephora

Beauty Insiders: Online and in-store, 15% off your Sephora Purchase through April 21. Use code BD2T9CB5 online. In store, use the email sephora sent you, just print it out. 

Deal Alert: Ulta Online

Place an order on Ulta's website now through April 18 and receive 15% off the entire order with the code 34481.

Deal Alert: Free Benefit Giftset from Sephora

Sephora is giving away free Benefit gift sets ($113 values!) That incluse the popular products California Kissin' lip gloss, Bad Gal Blue mascara, and Rush Hour lip and cheek color, along with an adorable shower cap and beauty bag.  Simple use the code BEAUTYGEMS with any $50 online order that includes any Benefit item (the whole $50 doesn't have to be benefit products). 

Also, if you're a beauty insider and have 100 points in your beauty bank, the featured deluxe sample is of Benefit's Bad Gal mascara. Enjoy!

Deal Alert: ELF & Ulta

For a limited time, ELF has 50% off its mineral products. Enter the code EGMINA on any order of $25 or more to receive 50% off ELF mineral products. 

Ulta is offering a free expandable tote bag filled with deluxe samples with any online purchase of $60 or more. Enter promo code 31988 at checkout. Quantities are limited. 

Deal Alert: Urban Decay

Urban Decay is having their "friends and family" sale, which means 30% off everything for you guys! OFfer good April 6-17, 2009. Enter code FNFS9 at checkout. Also, receive a sample of their lipstick "Sellout" when your order is over $35 (I assume this would be $35 AFTER the discount, meaning $50 before the discount, though there is no specification). 

DIY Beauty: Highlights for Blondes

Lemon juice works well as a natural hightlighter for blondes. Just apply lemon juice to hair with a wide toothed comb and lay out in the sun for about an hour. You may have to repeat the process a few times before seeing a difference, but it does work.  Enjoy your naturally lighter hair!

Just  a few warnings: This will not work on people with darker hair (sorry, brunettes), over-using lemon juice on hair can leave it dry and brittle, so be sure to use a good conditioner after rinsing the lemon juice out. Also avoid applying lemon juice to hair that is chemically treated or has been exposed to chlorine. 

Deal Alert: Ulta

Ulta stores host "college day" the first Tuesday of every month. This tuesday, April 7th, receive 20% your in-store purchase when you show your college id. 

Deal Alert: Cherry Culture and Sephora

Cherry Culture has 20% off everything online through March 31. Use discount code MMM20 at checkout. Free shipping minimum applies to price before discount. 

Sephora has a free Tarte eyeliner pencil in black with any online natural and organic purchase. Use code TARTE  at checkout. 

Face of the Day: March 20, 2009

Products Used:

Benefit That Gal Face Primer

Urban Decay Primer Potion

Everday Minerals Intensive Fair Concealor

Everyday Minerals Fair Neutral (matte formula) Foundation

Everyday Minerals Start to Finish Rice Powder in Fair

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Light Flush

Maybelline Expert Wear Eyeshadow Quad in Designer Chocolates (used outer corner color in crease, did not use crease color)

Cover Girl Lash Blast in black

MAC Viva Glam VI SE lipgloss

Deal Alert: Urban Decay, The Body Shop, and Sephora

Urban Decay: Free travel sized Primer Potion with purchase of any eyeshadow on their website. Includes cream shadows and loose pigments but no shadow boxes. No promotion code needed, offer expires 4/30/09. Visit their website for more: http://www.urbandecay.com/index.cfm?CFID=12269614&CFTOKEN=74273756&jsessionid=163069d27321945693e946786f1a567484c3TR

The Body Shop: Free shower gel with any $25 purchase from their website and at participating US stores.  200 or 250 mL size of select shower gels only. Valid through 4/19/09.  Visit here to select your shower gel, then the price will be deducted from your order once $25 more is put in your basket:  http://www.thebodyshop-usa.com/bodyshop/beauty/free-shower-gel?cm_mmc=Email-_-090329cherry-_-middleimage-_-showergel

Sephora Beauty Insiders only: Get 8 free natural beauty product samples with any online order. Enter code "gonatural" at checkout. You can also get these samples by going to your local Sephora on Saturday, March 21. Get a natural beauty makeover and all 8 samples. 

Deal Finder: Cosmetology Schools

In this tough economy, everyone's looking for a good deal and you may be understandably reluctant to drop money for a high-end salon and spa haircut, facial, pedicure, or any other service.  A lot of people are still not willing to visit a value salon that may not leave their hair looking as nice and certainly won't offer the luxurious body seaweed wrap.  Your solution?  Seek out local cosmetology schools, which offer great services at low prices.  The catch?  Students do the work, but depending on what service you're seeking, it's still worth it.  

You can usually request a more experienced student for your appointment and get out with a great looking haircut for around $15!  Aveda Institutes, Marinello Schools of Beauty, and Regency Beauty Institutes are great places to start.   As always, enter at your own risk.  I'd be more willing to book a pedicure or standard trim than an extreme haircut or color processing.  Give it a try and enjoy your savings!

Face of the Day (FotD) March 14, 2009

Fairly simple look using Everyday Minerals Face Products. Trying to warm up the colors a bit for spring. Enjoy!

Products Used:

Benefit That Gal Face Primer

Urban Decay Primer Potion

ELF Studio Concealor in Fair

Everyday Minerals Start to Finish Rice Powder in Fair

Everyday Minerals Concealor in Intensive Fair

Everday Minerals Foundation in Fair Neutral (matte formula)

Everyday Minerals Blush in Nick Nack

Mac Shadow in Femme-Fi (on lid)

Mac Shadow in Sable (in crease)

L'oreal Telescopic Mascara in Black

The Body Shop Hi-Shine  Lip Treatment in Mauve Dream

Welcome!

Hey guys, welcome to my blog! This will be based on the same subject as my youtube channel (which you can check out here if you haven't already: http://www.youtube.com/user/MoonbeamBeauty). I'll be trying to update my blog when I can't post a video, and maybe do some exclusive reviews or other content on here. Hope you guys enjoy, and keep watching!