My Latest Ulta Haul | Fall & Back to School 2016

This week, I'm partnering with Ulta to bring you my Fall 2016 beauty picks! So whether you're heading back to school soon or just want to refresh your look for the new season, I've got lots of fun products to share with you. I tried to choose a mix of recent favorites that I've been dying to talk about on the blog as well as a few brand new products.

Let's take a closer look!

bareMinerals Meet Gen Nude Set

A few weeks ago, I tried the new bareMinerals Gen Nude Buttercream Gloss in the shade Snarky and I fell in love with the creamy texture and hydrating formula. I really wanted to try the Gen Nude Matte Liquid Lipsticks, but I hesitated to buy the full-sized version in case it was too drying (I really don't like the feel of most matte lip products). Then I came across this cute Meet Gen Nude set that contains the Buttercream Gloss in the shade Sugar (which I knew I would definitely wear), a nude pink shade and Matte Liquid Lipstick in Bo$$, which is a rosy mauve with a hint of brown in it.

I have to say I'm really impressed with the Gen Nude Matte formula...it feels completely weightless! I didn't feel like I had anything on my lips all day. I put the thinnest layer on my lips and was able to get full coverage color. It dried down immediately with no sticky or tacky feeling whatsoever. If I'm being totally honest, it's a little bit drying (like most matte lipsticks) but it's the least drying of the matte liquid lipsticks I've tried, so that's huge for me. Oh, and it has a delicious cupcake-like scent too! Wear time was really good and it faded very evenly which I loved (I hate when lipsticks fade in the middle and leave a ring around the outside). I love layering the gloss on top as well.
If you've been wanting to try the Gen Nude line, this little set is a great way to try both formulas! (They're half the size of the full-size making this an $18 value).

To purchase or for more info:
bareMinerals Meet Gen Nude Set ($15)

Left: bareMinerals Meet Gen Nude Set ($15)
Middle: Matte Liquid Lipstick in Bo$$, Buttercream Lip Gloss in Sugar
Right: Wearing Bo$$

L'oreal Extraordinary Oil 

Shampoo & Conditioner

I've never been too loyal when it comes to hair products...I'm always in search of the next best thing. But then I tried the L'oreal Extraordinary Oil line. This is actually my second time purchasing this shampoo and conditioner (I first tried it back in May) and I will continue to buy it as long as they make it...it's that good. My bleached, damaged hair has never felt so soft! My regular straw-like texture felt super soft and silky after one use and actually looks shiny.
Also, the scent is amazing. It's warm and sweet and I get tons of compliments from friends and family if I see them right after taking a shower. When they hug me, they always ask what perfume I'm wearing, and I'm like, "none, it's just my hair!". If you're heading off to college, your roommate will end up borrowing this all the time...just warning ya!
The only downside is if you have fine hair like me, you may need to use a stronger shampoo every second or third wash or else this will start to weigh your hair down a little bit. I use this twice in a row, then switch to John Frieda's Go Blonder shampoo (but still use the L'oreal conditioner) and it cuts through the buildup so I can go back to using this shampoo again.
This photo below is after I had been using it for a couple of weeks and I love how healthy and shiny my hair looks! This will definitely be a must-have going into the colder weather.

To purchase or for more info:
L'oreal Extraordinary Oil Nourishing Shampoo & Conditioner

Left: L'oreal Extraordinary Oil Nourishing Shampoo & Conditioner
Right: My soft, smooth and shiny hair!

Smashbox Photo Matte Eyes Mini Palette

Lately I've been such a matte eyeshadow junkie so I jumped on this little Photo Matte Eyes Mini Palette when I saw it. I haven't owned a Smashbox palette in years...for some reason, I always skip the "artistry brands" and choose palettes from more trendy brands like Too Faced, Lorac, and Urban Decay. Man, have I been missing out! These are some of the softest, creamiest mattes I have ever touched. They literally feel like a cream when you touch them and they go on so pigmented in one swipe (my swatches are without primer). They blend so nicely on the eyes and I love that you can use these wet or dry, and also as liners and brow colors.
When I first got this palette, I was shocked by how tiny it is! But the pans are still a good size and you get a beautiful (and very wearable) palette of neutral colors. It's a great option if you want something you can keep in your bag or desk drawer (it's slightly smaller than a deck of cards and much thinner too).

To purchase or for more info:
Smashbox Photo Matte Eyes Mini Palette ($25)

Photos: Smashbox Photo Matte Eyes Mini Palette ($25)

L'oreal Detox & Brighten Clay Mask 

I've been wanting to try one of the new L'oreal masks ever since they came out, so this Detox & Brighten Clay Mask was one of the first things I put into my Ulta cart. It contains pure clays and charcoal that act like a magnet to draw out dirt and gunk from your pores. I've only tried it once but so far, I honestly can't tell the difference between this and GlamGlow (other than the fact that this is smooth and GlamGlow has those little bits of leaves in it). It tingles a bit and my skin has that deep down, squeaky clean feeling after I use it. Since I have dry skin, I'm going to limit this to once a week (my skin feels a little tight but not dry after using), but I love how my skincare seems to absorb so much better and my pores appear smaller. So if you're looking for a great dupe for GlamGlow Supermud, definitely try this one!

To purchase or for more info:

L'oreal Detox & Brighten Clay Mask ($11.04)

Photos: L'oreal Detox & Brighten Clay Mask ($11.04)

Becca Aqua Luminous Perfecting Concealer 

The Becca Aqua Luminous Perfecting Concealer just launched (so I haven't seen any reviews yet) and although it was a big splurge for me, I love Becca's Aqua Luminous Foundation, so I had high hopes for this.
Just like the foundation, this is a great option if you have drier skin, especially going into the fall/winter season. It's 32% water and feels very hydrating with no cakiness. It has light to medium coverage, so if you have really dark circles it may not be enough for you (unless you're using a color corrector first to cancel dark circles or spots...then it might be fine). I love how lightweight it feels and it blends really well. It does contain mica to blur imperfections, but don't worry...it's not visible shimmer. I was a little concerned about that at first because shimmer tends to bring out skin imperfections, but this doesn't do that at all. It does a great job at brightening my skin without drawing attention to fine lines or pores.
I purchased the shade Light, which is the third-lightest shade. It has a slightly peachy tone to it, which works out well for using under my eyes because peach counteracts bluish tones.

To purchase or for more info:
Becca Aqua Luminous Perfecting Concealer ($30)

Becca Aqua Luminous Perfecting Concealer in Light

Essence Forbidden Volume False Lash Mascara Topcoat

You know that annoying fact of life when you apply your mascara in the morning and your lashes look great, but by the afternoon, they start to lose the curl and fall flat? And then you can't re-apply your mascara because your lashes are crunchy and you get can't the brush through them? Well this little $4 game-changer is seriously my new best friend. In the photos below, I'm wearing regular mascara at about 6pm (middle photo) and it's already made my lashes fall flat. Then I applied the Essence Forbidden Volume Topcoat and it made my mascara look fresh again with some additional volume and length due to the fibers in the formula.
I have no idea how they do it, but it works on top of any other mascara. I tried it over Pur Fully Charged Mascara (which you see in the photos below) and I've also tried it over the Cover Girl Super Sizer and it worked great both times. I've also used it alone in the morning and then to touch up later in the day and I actually love it by itself too! Most importantly for me, it doesn't smudge underneath my eyes.
I love finding products that solve a real problem and when they're inexpensive, it's even better!

To purchase or for more info:
Essence Forbidden Volume False Lash Topcoat ($3.99)

Left: Essence Forbidden Volume False Lash Topcoat ($3.99)
Center: Wearing Pur Fully Charged Mascara alone
Right: Wearing Essence Forbidden Volume False Lash Topcoat on top

Soap & Glory Heel Genius Amazing Foot Cream 

This has become my favorite foot cream in the past year, so this is a repurchase for me. I've tried a ton of foot treatments but none of them make my feet feel as soft and velvety as this one does. Heel Genius is a thick, light blue-colored cream that contains super hydrating ingredients like glycerin, macadamia oil, and allantoin plus a combo of fruit acids to slough away dead, dry skin. I've been kind of slacking off on foot care this summer, but now that the fall weather is approaching, I plan to wear this every night under my socks to try to ward off the dry, cracked skin that always makes an appearance in October/November. Prevention is key, right?

To purchase or for more info:
Soap & Glory Heel Genius ($10)

Photos: Soap & Glory Heel Genius Amazing Foot Cream ($10)

NYX Go-To Palette in Wanderlust 

I had a great experience with the NYX Avant Pop Palette recently, so I've been wanting to try another one. The Wanderlust Go-To Palette totally said "fall" to me, with its rich, warm, earthy shades. I have such a weak spot for face palettes...I love having coordinated shades for my entire face in one spot. Maybe I'm lazy, but there it is! Haha. 

It comes with six eyeshadows, a highlighter, blush, and bronzer. All of the shades have a soft, buttery texture that rivals some of my high-end palettes, so even though this is a higher price point for a NYX product, it's SO worth it. My only criticism of this palette is that the blush didn't feel as soft as the other shades and went on a little bit patchy. Maybe I got a dud...I'm not sure. Also, because these shades are so soft, there's a bit of fallout, so be sure to tap your brush well before applying. All in all, this is a beautiful face palette that's perfect for travel at an great price point!

To purchase, or for more info:

 NYX Go-To Palette in Wanderlust ($16.99) 

Photos: NYX Cosmetics Go-To Palette in Wanderlust

Also, did you know...

...that Ulta offers a credit card now (actually two)? The Ultamate Rewards Credit Card gives you double the points (you get 1 additional point for every dollar you spend). If you're someone who shops at Ulta exclusively for your beauty needs you can rack up 2,000 points pretty fast, which you can redeem for $125 worth of free products!
They also offer an Ultamate Rewards Mastercard, which you can use anywhere Mastercard is accepted. You'll still earn double the points when you shop at Ulta, but you'll also earn 1 point every time you spend $3 everywhere else. So if you use your credit card for gas, groceries, etc. you can rack up Ulta points really fast. If you're not happy with your current credit card's rewards (and you're a beauty junkie), I wanted to let you know about this option because it's a great way to get lots of Ulta points (which translates to free stuff!). 

So what did you think of my Ulta Beauty haul? Have you tried any of these products yet, or is there anything you're planning to get? I'd love to hear about it! :)

 

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Full disclosure: This is a sponsored post. The items in this post were chosen by me and supplied by Ulta Beauty

New Lip Gloss Haul For Summer + Swatches

Lip gloss is making a comeback and I for one am really happy about it (I never truly enjoyed those drying matte lipsticks). Maybe I'm a little too happy, since I've gone crazy buying just about every new gloss that I lay eyes on. So rather than write a bunch of different reviews, I thought I'd just do a quick overview post and if you'd like to know more about any specific formula, let me know in  the comments below and I'll post a more thorough review. :)

Smith & Cult "The Shining" Lip Gloss in Flesh Riot & The Lovers- After becoming obsessed with Smith & Cult's nail polish line (created by the founder of Hard Candy), I decided I had to try their lip glosses. They come in beautiful tubes with dented metal caps and the horror-themed name was just too cool to pass up (love The Shining!). These aren't your typical gluey, sticky lip gloss formula...they're infused with portulaca pilosa extract, which is moisturizing and plumping (not tingly), plus coconut oil so they have a definite balm-like quality that keeps my lips hydrated even after the shine fades away. Flesh Riot is a really sheer mauve-nude with a fine gold shimmer, while The Lovers is a pretty warm melon-pink. They also have a delicious vanilla scent. I bought these on Net-a-Porter and they have a video on the site that lets you see each different shade being applied to a model so you can see what it looks like on (just click on the shade you want, then the video icon on the left hand side of the screen). These two shades are particularly sheer (see my swatches below), but there are more pigmented colors, if you're looking for that.

Lancome Juicy Shakers in Piece of Cake & Meli Melon-  How could I not try these after all the hype this summer? Everyone raves about these but to be honest, I'm kind of torn. I love the shade selection (although they are more sheer than many people have claimed them to be) and the scents are amazing too (I love how they smell just like their name). They feel awesome when you first put them and they don't seem to dry out my lips like other lip oils I've tried. But on the downside, you have to reapply them constantly...they disappear so quickly that it almost seems like it's not worth the effort. Sigh...

Lorac Alter Ego Lip Gloss in Dutchess - I already own a few of these and I love how smooth they feel on my lips and they're super pigmented for a lip gloss. I purchased this shade at Ulta when they were 50% off, so it was only $8. It's a perfect MLBB color and I find that I reach for it a lot!

bareMinerals Gen Nude Buttercream Lip Gloss in Snarky-  bareMinerals just launched a huge line of Gen Nude glosses, lipsticks, and matte liquid lipsticks in everyday wearable shades so I grabbed one a few days ago and I'm already in love with the formula. It feels so hydrating and buttery (like a lip treatment), plus they contain Volulip which is a peptide that increases your lip volume without tingling or burning. I got the shade Snarky, which is described as a rosy pink with gold shimmer.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Lip Gloss in Vintage-  I've never tried an Anastasia lip gloss and I figured it was about time! I grabbed one in the shade Vintage, which is described as Victorian Rose. Out of all the glosses in this post, it has the most pigment...it's pretty much full coverage in one swipe and is also the longest-lasting. It doesn't have as much shine or slip as the other glosses and while I wouldn't describe it as sticky, it definitely hugs my lips and doesn't feel quite as slick or as hydrating as the others (but it's not drying by any means). I guess that's why it lasts longer though, so it's a trade-off!

Perricone No Lipgloss Lipgloss SPF 15- I got this gloss in a QVC set that will be coming out next week (fyi...this gloss costs $30 and the price of the whole kit is only $24 and it has a few other full-sized and travel-sized products in it- stay tuned for my review next week!). This is supposed to mimic the color of youthful lips...that perfect rosy shade that babies and children have that we lose over time and it also contains neuropeptides, making it an anti-aging treatment. It has a gorgeous texture...it's very cushiony and soft like a liquid balm...and the hydration lasts long after it wears off. I'm loving it so far!

Buxom Full-On Lip Polish in Dolly- I got this gloss for free with a recent Ulta order and I was so excited to try it, especially when I saw the beautiful shade in the tube. Unfortunately, this gloss didn't agree with me at all. Minty-scented products tend to dry my lips out like crazy and the tingling was too much for me...it almost burned. I know that a lot of people love this gloss, but I can't wear it...such a bummer!

Have you tried any good (or bad) lip products this summer? I'd love to hear about them! :)

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My Latest Ulta Haul

Even though I was on vacation last week, I couldn't resist shopping some of the 4th of July sales online! I hauled a bunch of things at Ulta because they had some great giveaways, between the Laura Lee Beauty Bag (free with a $75 purchase) and the Buxom Lip Polish in Dolly with any purchase. I ended up getting mostly skincare with a couple of makeup items...let's take a look!

First, I was super excited to learn that my favorite Korean skincare brand, Skin Food had arrived at Ulta! Even though it's not the entire line yet, quite a few of my favorites are there, plus a few I haven't tried yet. I ended up grabbing the Peach Sake Pore Serum ($16)- this is my second bottle-and the Rice Brightening Scrub Foam ($14) which I haven't tried yet but have always wanted to. To see all of my Skin Food recommendations, check out this post here.

Next, I grabbed some more products from bath & body company, Lalicious. I've been using their Sugar Coconut Body Butter (which I got for free using my code at BeautyKind) and several readers have been telling me that I have to try the Lalicious Shower Oil ($28), so I got it in the same Sugar Coconut scent, which is a light, sweet Coconut Milk-type fragrance (so good!). I was skeptical because most shower oils I've tried don't lather very well, but this one...oh my gosh, it's amazing!! It's super thick and creamy and makes tons of foam, while leaving my skin feeling super soft and silky afterward. I'm already obsessed after one use. I also picked up the Lalicious Hand Cream ($18) in the Brown Sugar Vanilla scent, since I've been wanting to try it. I also got a free Sugar Coconut Body Scrub which is still available with any Lalicious purchase (no minimum required).

Next, I decided to try something from the new Freeman Beauty Infusion line and settled on the Brightening Overnight Mask with Hibiscus & Vitamin C ($7.99). It's a serum-infused water-gel mask that's supposed to minimize dark spots and correct discoloration. The price was right, and it sounded interesting, so I jumped on it! I'll definitely let you guys know how I like it.

Finally, I grabbed two of the new Essence makeup items that I've had in my cart for a few weeks...the Pure Nude Highlighter ($4.49) and the Forbidden Volume False Lash Mascara Topcoat ($3.99). I will definitely be doing reviews on these once I've tried them out, so stay tuned!

Next...the freebies! This is the Laura Lee Beauty Bag that came with a $75 purchase...it's amazing. The Bliss Fabulous Foaming Face Wash ($24) and Laura Geller Baked Gelato in Gilded Honey ($26) are full sizes. Plus, I'm excited to have a travel-size IT Cosmetics Hello Lashes and Purity Cleanser for taking on vacations this summer. I've also been dying to try Benefit's Dew The Hoola bronzer.

Also in this photo is the Buxom Lip Gloss in Dolly (free with any purchase- not part of the Laura Lee bag)...such a pretty shade!

Overall, I'm happy with my haul so far! What about you, did you haul anything during the 4th of July holiday sales?

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iKateHouse Haul

If you've been reading this blog, you probably know how much I love City Color's Be Matte Blushes. I'm obsessed! It's the best drugstore matte blush formula, hands down and you can totally compare them to higher-end blushes! They're so pigmented, soft and blendable with a natural-looking matte finish that doesn't accentuate pores.
I previously purchased 7 of the 12 shades and posted a full review a while ago (click here if you want to check that out), but City Color has been out of stock on the other 5 shades for quite some time. I kept checking their website periodically but had pretty much given up, thinking that maybe they're discontinuing those shades or something.
Then last week, I was catching up on some of my vlog subscriptions and saw one of my favorite YouTubers, EmilyNoel83 post a review of some palettes she got from a website called iKateHouse (see her video here). She mentioned that they carried City Color and seemed to have a good experience with them, so I went to their website and saw that they had the Be Matte shades I wanted in stock...and they're a dollar less than they are on the City Color website at only $3.99 each. Score!

I'm happy to say that I also had a great experience with iKateHouse. My order arrived in only 2-3 days (they ship from NY and I'm in CT so it didn't have to go far) and everything was really well packaged in thick bubble wrap and that was wrapped in pretty tissue paper. By the way, this isn't a sponsored post and I'm not getting anything for referring you guys to this site...they have no idea I'm even doing this post. I just had a good experience and wanted to share...they have so many affordable niche brands on the site, and I had a lot of fun browsing. I'll definitely be back to check out some more products.

Anyway, back to the blushes! Here's a close-up of each shade I got in my iKateHouse order...

These shades are all more muted colors than the original seven I got, which included a few brighter shades. I'm in love with the first shade I swatched below, Sweet Pea. It's the perfect pinky nude for my fair skin! The second shade, Fresh Melon is a really pale peachy pink and for some reason, it applied a little bit patchy and needed to be built up. This is the only one out of all 12 shades that behaved that way...not sure if I got a dud or if this particular color does that. The other three are a bit on the darker side for me (it was hard to tell from the website) but I can still use them if I sheer them out a bit.

Left to Right: Sweet Pea, Fresh Melon, Sunset Safari, Zinnia, and Hibiscus

Here's a look at all twelve shades...I think my favorites are Sweet Pea, Guava, Pink Grapefruit, Blackberry, and Papaya because those are the shades that work really well with my pale complexion. I can still wear the other shades if I use a light hand, but they are definitely more work to apply, so I tend to reach for my favorites most often.

Overall, I'm really happy to have found iKateHouse so I could complete my Be Matte blush collection! You just can't beat them for $3.99...I've had my original seven shades since last Spring and I've barely made a dent in them. They're so generously sized and pigmented so they'll last forever! 

You can check out the entire collection at iKateHouse.com.

Recent HauteLook Haul- The Balm Cosmetics

If you haven't joined HauteLook yet, then you're missing out on some great beauty deals! It's one of my favorite sites to save tons of money on makeup...sometimes up to 80% off.  The downsides are that it requires some patience waiting for the brands you want to go on sale and also shipping often takes a few weeks, but if you can deal with that, you can get some amazing bargains. I recently picked up a few items from The Balm Cosmetics sale at the end of January and they arrived today. Let's take a look! 

I've been wanting the Meet Matt(e) Nude palette forever, but it was hard to justify spending $42 on a palette when I have so many. I couldn't pass it up this time though...it was only $21! 

Also, The Balm's blushes are to-die-for...I've owned a few in travel sizes that I got in my Ipsy bag and Birchbox but have always wanted the full sizes. I was able to get these for only $10 each (regularly $20-$21). 

I know these aren't new items, but if you'd like to see swatches/reviews, let me know in the comments below! :) 

And if you haven't joined HauteLook yet, you can check it out here...it's actually owned by Nordstrom. Right now they have a Stila sale going on, with items up to 75% off! 

Today's Ulta Haul

It's tough living 45 minutes from the nearest Ulta store. I'm always hoping they'll put one in my local area but for now, I have to deal with going once every couple of months. It's been waaay too long, so I convinced my husband to go with me today (he's such a good sport!). During today's trip, I ended up getting all brand new products and and I'm so excited to try them all! Let's take a look...

Yesterday's Ulta and Sephora Haul

I've been dying to get to Ulta to see the new J.Cat and Makeup Revolution displays but the closest store to me is over 45 minutes away, so I don't get there that often. But when I do go, I try to make the most of it and end up purchasing a bunch of things all at once. I also stopped into Sephora quickly to get a couple of things since I had a gift card to use up (and it's 4x points this week for Rouge members). So here's what I got! 

Melt-Proof Makeup From Ulta!

Ulta is one of my favorite stores on the planet because they have just about anything you're looking for when it comes to beauty, whether it's drugstore, high-end or everything in-between! So when I was putting together this list of my favorite beat-the-heat beauty products, I thought of Ulta right away because they carry every single one of these products...in one place!

So without further ado, here are some of my favorite products for maintaining a melt-proof look this summer...

Anastasia Beverly Hills Dip Brow Pomade ($18)- This creamy pomade is waterproof and sticks to your hair and skin for brows that stay put all day!
Becca Beach Tint ($25)- This blendable stain works for both lips and cheeks, making it a total timesaver, plus it stays put for hours! I also love the fruity watermelon scent.
Tarte Amazonian Clay 12 Hour Blush ($28)- This powder blush stays put all day and the Amazonian Clay formula absorbs oil, so it's perfect for those humid days!
Coola Matte Makeup Setting Spray ($36)- This weightless, no touch/no rub spray sets makeup with a matte finish and protects your skin with SPF 30. It's also 70%+ certified organic.
Tarte Amazonian Clay 12 Hour Waterproof Concealer- $23- This concealer hides everything with it's full coverage, oil free formula and it comes in an easy to use stick that's perfect when you're on the go, or for touch ups. Plus, it's waterproof so it lasts all day.
Ulta RainCoat Waterproof Mascara Topcoat ($10)- I don't know about you, but even supposedly smudge-proof mascaras still run under my eyes when it's hot outside. This topcoat dries fast and makes your mascara stay on your lashes until you take it off!
Living Proof No Frizz Humidity Shield ($22) - This weightless spray leaves no buildup on your hair and you can use it anytime throughout the day on dry hair to prevent and also correct the first signs of frizz. There goes my excuse to wear a ponytail all summer!

What are your favorite melt-proof makeup items? I'd love to hear about them! 

Mini Sephora Haul

The other day I went to Sephora to spend my Shopkick gift cards. I had earned a $25 one and a $10 one using the app every chance I get.
You can get all the details about Shopkick on my Favorite Beauty Deal Sites page. You can earn virtual gift cards on your phone for doing simple tasks like walking into stores, scanning items with your phone, and making purchases.
This is what they look like...you can use them online or give your phone to the cashier in-store (I'm not going to blur out the numbers since they don't have a balance anymore).

Anyway, I had $35 to spend and I went a little over but I still made out great!

I purchased the Urban Decay Brightening and Tightening Complexion Primer Potion ($31). So far I love it! It makes my skin sooo smooth.
Next, I bought Tarte's new Park Ave Princess shade of their Amazonian Butter Lipstick ($17). It's a new shade for Spring 2015 and I'll be reviewing it very soon.
Finally, because I had 500 VIB Rouge points saved up, I got a Bumble and Bumble Hairdressers Invisible Oil Set for free. It has shampoo,  conditioner, primer spray, and the oil.
I ended up taking all of this home for $13...not bad at all!

Have you hauled any beauty products lately? Or saved money doing it?  I'd love to hear about it...please drop me a comment below! :)

Score! J. Crew Schoolboy Blazer

I've been wanting one of J.Crew's schoolboy blazers for a while now, but I never wanted to spend the almost $200 to get one.  Last fall, they came out with a light grey herringbone one that I was thisclose to buying, but ended up buying a cheaper version that I don't even wear (and now I regret it!).   
Now that fall is almost upon us, I've been thinking about investing in one again. Blazers are something that is so versatile, and can be worn with so many things, that I decided I would probably wear it enough to warrant the cost. 

But when we went to J. Crew, I found that my beloved Schoolboy has been redesigned!  They've added an inch in length to it, and when I tried it on, it looked less casual and more like something I would wear to work (which was not the look I was going for).  

Anyway, last weekend, my husband and I left Henry with his grandparents for the day and decided to do a little shopping.  Since it was such a gorgeous day, we didn't want to spend it in the mall, and went to the Tanger outlets on Long Island.  When I saw J.Crew, I thought that there was a good chance that the original schoolboy would be there since they're phasing it out, and sure enough, they were- and they were marked down! Not only that, but they were 40% off, so I ended up getting this houndstooth one for about $100! 

It looks so good with jeans, a simple white tee, chunky necklace and ballet flats.   They have this on the J.Crew factory website, but it's still $188, so if you're interested in picking up a Schoolboy blazer, I suggest heading to your local J.Crew outlet before they're gone!  Incidentally, the regular Schoolboy's are on sale on the J.Crew Factory website for $148.

Flirt! Cosmetics Kohls Mini Haul

I happened to drop by Kohl's on my lunch break yesterday, and noticed some new Flirt! products, including Agent Lash 2 in 1 mascara, whipped eyeshadow pots and a limited edition neutrals eyeshadow palette.  Plus, I picked up a Chickstick lipstick to round out my purchase. :)


Look for my reviews coming up!