Meet my new BFF: "The Cosmetics Company Store"

It's official:  I'm obsessed with The Cosmetics Company Store (CCS).  It's an outlet makeup, fragrance, and accessories store that features the Estee Lauder-owned brands MAC, Estee Lauder, Origins, Prescriptives, Bobbi Brown, and Clinique.  I briefly mentioned it once here.

The products include overstock, discontinued colors, and limited-edition items that have been taken off department-store shelves priced 10 to 50 percent off retail.

I realize you don't all have access to an outlet mall, but if you do, I highly recommend you pay one a visit.  It's my new favorite place to spend my lunch breaks, and since I know you're going to do exactly as I tell you, here is the list of all 74 locations.

I present you with my favorite recent purchases from CCS starting with the MAC Mineralize Eye Shadow Duo color I found there in "Illusionary Burning Ambition", which I wore to work yesterday:

At first I thought it might be too shimmery for work or every day, but once I swatched it in the store, I didn't think so at all.  I paid $13.25 for it, and MAC Mineralize Duos are regularly priced $19.50.  Not a huge discount, but I'll take it.  I really love the smokey brown eye it creates.

I'm a natural blonde, so my eye brows are basically non-existent.  I've never really done much to fill them in because I feel like a drag queen when I do and am petrified of looking chola.  Well, the Bobbi Brown Eye Brow Kit in blonde/wheat caught my eye while I was there, so I purchased it for $24.50 (from my online research it appears it was originally around $38 to $40 full price).

The kit has two eye shadows for filling in brows, a mini eyebrow brush and mini tweezers.  You can actually see my eyebrows now and the best part is, I don't even look chola:

Don't get me wrong though, a serious chola brow can be exquisite.  There's this trick who works at the grocery store I go to and she rocks the best sharpie brows.  It takes everything in me to refrain from creeping a pic with my cell.  She looks a lil something like this:

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The entire reason I even went there this week was to get a neutral all-over base color for eyes because I was out of mine.  Don't you love when you go to a store for one thing and walk out with more? Me too!  I got the Bobbi Brown Eye Shadow in Bone 2 for $14 (normally $20). 

Recently, I also purchased MAC's Knight for $10.25 (normally $14.50).  It's actually what I was wearing in the vlog yesterday.

Last but not least, I couldn't finish this post without sharing what's on my lips because it's such a good deal.  It's actually this lip balm called Gentle Lip Care Pearl & Shine from Aldi's beauty line, Lacura.

Do you want to know how cheap this stuff is?  It comes 3 to a pack for only $1.49!  I have one in my purse, make-up bag and bedside drawer.

Now you can't say I never told you anything!

p.s. A few of you little bargainistas have mentioned I should do a make-up tutorial, so I've been thinking about doing a vlog (shoot me now) or step-by-step tutorial on my make-up routine.  Any thoughts on this?  Let a girl know!