Paula's Choice - 15% Off Everything Today!

So I keep saying that I'll review Paula's Choice, so I just wanted to alert you really quick that www.paulaschoice.com is having a sale today only:  15% off everything + free shipping + 3 free samples!  Check it out!

Some of my top picks are:

Sheer Cream Lipstick SPF 15 in any color except Sherbert

Soft Cream Concealer in either color

the Powder Brush

RESIST Daily Smoothing Treatment with 5% Alpha Hydroxy Acid

Any of the Antioxidant Serums (some have retinol in them too - bonus!)

Here's what makes her products so good:  

Her products only have what your skin needs and nothing else - no fragrance, no irritants, no untested non-scientific weird ingredients like apple stem cells and that kind of BS.  She cites scientific peer-reviewed journals for every product she sells to explain what ingredients are in it that are good for you.  And she has a huge section of her website that explains everything you need to know about how to take care of your skin - I thought I knew what I was doing but I realize I had no idea. I was putting so much bad stuff on my face everyday.  Here's the learning section of the site.  She also reviews other company's skin and makeup products at www.beautypedia.com which I love and referenced in a previous post - she's like the only skincare company that concedes that other companies have good products too.  All around, I feel like I can trust her more because she tries to educate consumers without just pushing miracle products, and her products are as cheap as drugstore products.  The bottles are bigger than I thought they would be.  Sizes are listed on the product page next to the price, and you can compare that size to something you own to get an idea of how big it is.  So since they're also running a 15% off everything sale right now, and you can order sample packets of most of the products to try them out first.  I actually feel like most of the products are bigger than the stuff I've been using previously!

Let me know if you use PC and which products you like!  I use a tonnn and will do a complete review of my everyday skincare routine soon :)

Ebay Haul - Crocs (but they don't look like Crocs I promise!) and Ann Taylor Perfect Peeptoe Pumps

Hi lovely readers!  This weekend I received two pairs of shoes I won on eBay:  Ann Taylor Perfect Peeptoe Pumps in white snakeskin, and Crocs McCall Winter flats in plum.  

I have a saved search on eBay for "Ann Taylor Perfect Pumps" in a size 8 because they are my favorite heels, and I got an eBay email alert last week saying that these babies were up for sale.  I stalked their eBay page all day last Thursday on my iPhone eBay app, and won them at the last second against another bidder for only $40 plus $10 shipping!  This style is currently on sale for $169.99 at AnnTaylor.com, originally $198.  Right now, AT is also running a 40% off sale on previously marked down items, so that comes out to $101.99 if you'd like to snag a pair; not a terrible price for a pair of shoes that are this comfortable and stylish!  At $50 on eBay, I got them for less than half of what they're selling for now, and only about 25% of their full original retail price - wooo!

I think these will be great shoes to wear to friends' weddings, and possibly for a work function or grad school event.  My workplace is on the more conservative end of the spectrum so I doubt I'll be wearing these to work, but if you work in a more relaxed/creative environment I think these would be great summer work shoes too!

{Ann Taylor Perfect Peeptoe Pumps, purchased on eBay from seller muffin_made}

Next, I know what you're thinking:  Crocs, ugh.  How could she?  I swore I never would, but look how cute these girls are!  They really don't look like Crocs at all.  I saw that Jen at frmheadtotoe.com had found these at a Nordstrom Rack in black, and they really looked pretty cute!  So, I started hunting them down online and found them on eBay in this great plum color that I do not have in my shoe wardrobe.   I got them on eBay for about $30.  

The upper is flocked fabric (velvet-like), they feel light as air, and I could walk in them all day.  I think they'll be great with dresses and skirts for school or work.

{Crocs McCall Winter in plum, purchased on eBay from seller prabbits}

PS - Soon I am going to do a review/comparison of Ann Taylor Perfect Pumps, Kate Spade Karolina Pumps, and Christian Louboutin Simple 100s - let me know if you have these and which you prefer!!

What's In My February Birchbox? Plus, How To Use Beautypedia.com

Have you heard about Birchbox?

It's a monthly subscription box of 4 to 5 sample-sized beauty products that you receive in the mail around the second week of the month!  Usually, there will be at least one full-sized product in the box, or some little bonus items.  The subscription is $10 a month, or $110 per year.  If you like something in your box (or in someone else's box), you can go to the Birchbox shop and buy the full-sized version.  Purchasing full-sized products, reviewing your samples, or referring your friends gets you Birchbox points that you can use towards purchasing items in the Birchbox shop.

This month, I received some interesting items, and some sort of eh items.  Here are the full-size pics of the samples I received.  Drumroll, please:

{Shu Uemura Essence Absolue Nourishing Protective Oil for Dry Hair}

{Kiehl's Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution}

{Juice Beauty Blemish Clearing Serum}

{Eye Rock Designer Liner}

{Supersmile Powdered Mouthrinse}

I'm excited to try these products out!!

I always double-check my Birchbox samples in Paula Begoun's Beautypedia.  I mentioned in an earlier post that Paula owns Paula's Choice (a skincare and makeup line that I'm obsessed with and will review soon), but she also runs the Beautypedia website (also available as an app from iTunes).  Beautypedia is an encyclopedia of makeup and skincare products that is scientifically, meticulously, scrupulously researched.  Even though Paula sells her own products, she is not shy about telling you what else out there is good too.  She lists her "Paula's Pick's" in various categories in a subpage of Beautypedia, so I frequently go there if I need something on my list to see what is the best.  Additionally, Paula runs the Cosmetics Ingredients Directory that explains what each ingredient in a cosmetic does and whether its good for you.

So, when I want to research something on Beautypedia, I like to start on the Master Brand List page so that I can drill down into the brand's offerings with a control+f.  She also has a handy search page but I am always curious about what else each brand offers.  So, on the Master Brand List page, I'm going to search for Shu Uemura, click on that brand, then click around to find the Essence Absolue.  It must be a new product, because it is not listed.  Actually, a lot of Birchbox's samples are so new they are yet to be reviewed by people such as Paula or various bloggers.  So then, I read up on the brand in general at the top of the Beautypedia Shu Uemura page by clicking "More Info," and then I'll look through the brand's similar product offerings to see how many get good and bad reviews.

After doing the same process in Beautypedia to find the Kiehl's Clearly Corrective serum, I found Paula's review of it:  not good!  This is one sample I'll be donating to someone else - my skin cannot handle drying products with alcohol in them.

I am excited about keeping the Supersmile Powdered Mouthrinse in my Stephanie Johnson Katie folding clutch (what I refer to as my "purse pack" makeup bag), which I'll be reviewing soon!

Do you get a Birchbox?  What do you think of the product offerings?  Do you use Beautypedia to double-check your purchases and samples??  Let me know in the comments!

Banana Republic Reno Desert Bootie

I was hanging out with my stepmom this weekend, and she was wearing an absolutely adorable pair of shoes:  a nice pair of black suede lace-up booties with a stacked heel that was just the right height. 

According to my stepmom, they were also super comfortable – the kind of shoe you’d add to your everyday wardrobe.  I was excited to discover that they were from Banana Republic.  Though they call them Reno Desert Booties, they seemed more like a sensible stacked heel oxford to us.  It’s a versatile shoe that you can wear with dresses, skirts, and pants. The shoes come in two colors: black and brown.  

Originally, they sold for $140 from the store.  However, my stepmom told me that she had gotten them just the day before, on sale for about $45!!  So, I quickly started my quest to find them.  However, both are sold out on the Banana Republic website!  What's a girl with a shoe crush to do??

I found out that they are still available on Canadian Banana Republic, but not in my size {tears}.  So then I started calling the American BRs near me, but they were sold out too.  Finally, I called the one my stepmom had gone to in Florida the day before, and they had my size!  {success!!}  I got free shipping since we have a Banana Republic Luxe card, and they should be here any day!  I'll do a review of them when they get here, though sadly it'll be even harder to get your hands on a pair by then.  Let me know what you think I should wear them with!

Stephanie Johnson Gilt Haul

Gilt.com was having some deals on Stephanie Johnson bags last night so I scooped them up!  I use my SJ Katie folding clutch as my everyday "purse pack" makeup bag and I'm excited to increase my collection of these beautiful, functional, well-made bags.  I can't wait to see these pretties in my mailbox soon!

For full retail, SJ totes are $84, SJ small box cases are $36, SJ dome cosmetic cases are $32, and this type of mini pouch looks like it is sold out online but it surely went for around $30 as well.  So, I ended up getting these for more than 50% off all together.  These cases are so well-made, too.  This is a steal!  I will do a review of these once they arrive.

They are still available on Gilt.com right now, so make your way over there if you are in the market for some beautiful bags!

Lilly Pulitzer Fabric Goblets

My wonderful mom got me these glass goblets wrapped in Lilly Pulitzer fabric for Christmas one year and they have delighted me ever since!  My mom thinks she got them from this ebay seller.  I thought I would share them with you.

I love this little monkey one the best!

I always get a bunch of swoons from my girlfriends whenever they come over!

Nails Of The Day

I was in the mood for a polish change today to help me procrastinate.  Luckily, I had just picked up Revlon's new shade "620 Bewitching," which is close to Chanel "April."  

This dark red rose creme applies perfectly, and I wanted a lighter application so I only used one coat here.  

I also wanted to add a little purple sparkle, so on two random nails I added Sinful Colors "Love Me."

Its kind of awkward to do hand poses, I'm realizing - this was my first time doing nails for a blog!

This color seems like a good springtime-y rose red that can be more casual with fewer coats or more dressy with 2 or more coats.  What do you think?

Just Bought RapidLash On HauteLook!

RapidLash was on HauteLook last night for $25 marked down from $50!

So sorry I couldn't tell you all earlier!  I bought it last night while laying in bed cruising around on my HauteLook.com iPhone app, haha.

I've been wanting to try Latisse but it's prescription-only and pretty expensive.  Most lash-growth serums don't have any scientific evidence backing up their claims, but RapidLash is the lash-growth serum with the strongest scientific link out of the cosmetic, non-prescription options.  My all-time beauty sensei, Paula Begoun, has a really informative article about lash-growth products here.

Basically, Paula says that only Latisse and RapidLash have anything to their claims, and that the other products on the aisles have no scientific backing whatsoever.  I will do a more in-depth review of Paula's websites and products later.  

So, I am going to photograph my eyelashes without mascara the day I receive the RapidLash, and then each week after that.  I'll tag all of the posts with "RapidLash" so you can see the progression!  Let's see if this works!  Have any of you ever tried Latisse, RapidLash, or any other lash-growth serum?

Salmon with Mango Salsa & Asparagus

Note:  This is a post from my old blog, though I still make this dish all the time!

Just made the most DELICIOUS salmon with mango salsa and asparagus!  I was really craving a healthy meal and my bf surprised me by bringing home the ingredients for this :)  we had a great time making it together and it was really easy.  Here’s the official how-to:

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/grilled-atlantic-salmon-with-mango-salsa/detail.aspx

We modified it by sauteing the salmon in a big skillet on medium heat for about 5-6 minutes per side in olive oil after rubbing the salmon w/ a mixture of “spicy lime” seasoning and regular salt.

Three tips:  

1) Fresh salmon from the deli counter will always taste better than frozen.  6-10 oz per person is a good target size (the one i had tonight was 10 oz and i ate the whole freakin thing!)

2) Make sure that you heat up the oil in the pan on medium for about a minute or two before putting the salmon down in the pan so that all of the juice is seared in (don’t just lay down the salmon in cold oil to begin cooking or the salmon will end up more dry at the end b/c the juice will leak out).  This applies to any sort of protein, really.

3) Only flip the salmon once - don’t get too eager or else the salmon won’t cook all the way through.  Wait until you see that it has cooked up PAST the halfway point and don’t worry too much about burning it if you’ve kept your heat on medium or lower.  However, you can *rotate* the salmon in the pan with tongs if the side closest to the center of the skillet is cooking faster than the side closest to the edge of the skillet.  This also goes for any sort of thick protein.

For the asparagus just sautee about 4 big stalks per person in some olive oil w/ salt & pepper (and i added some “spicy lime” seasoning salt too) for like 5-10 mins until slightly tender.

Happy cooking!!

The UNII Palette

The UNII Palette has been around for a little while, and it has dramatically simplified my morning routine!  I love this beautiful little palette for its simplicity and ease of use.  I originally learned about this palette from Jen at frmheadtotoe.com in her wonderful video review.  You can go to that video for a more thorough review of the product and a how-to on depotting eyeshadows.  Basically, you depot your various eyeshadows from the cases they came in, put a magnet on the back of them, and stick them all in one or more UNII Palettes.  It makes traveling extremely easy - just grab it and go.  I was tired of opening all of my variously branded eyeshadow singles, duos, and quads - this makes it so I only need to open one palette for all of my miscellaneous eyeshadows that didn't come in a bigger palette (e.g., the Naked Palette).  The UNII Palette comes in a variety of colors - I chose white because I wanted to keep it simple and classic, though if I acquire enough miscellaneous eyeshadows I'll be going for a fun color in the future.  The palettes are also surprisingly sturdy with a very secure full width clasp.  The palettes are currently on sale for $26!

Here are some pictures of my finished UNII!!  Sorry that the mirror is a bit smudgy, I didn't think to clean it before snapping pics :)

Top Row:  {white thumb grip} {Clinique Rose Chocolate} {Clinique Rose Wine Duo light shade} {Rose Wine Duo dark shade} {Rimmel 003 Quad shades 1, 2, 3, and 4} 

Second Row:  {Clinique unknown shade} {Sephora Peach Beige #13} {Lancome Coquille} {Lancome Sun Coral} {Lancome Burnt Sand} {Lancome Noix} 

Bottom Row:  {The Balm Just This Once Jamie} {Clinique unknown shade} {Josie Maran Cinnamon} {Josie Maran Valencia} {Josie Maran Partagas} {Josie Maran Cloak}