A new favorite: Sonia Kashuk dual ended foundation brush

Happy Tuesday, y'all! Me again. Can you even believe it? Two posts two days in a row ... say it isn't so. You just wait. You're in for a treat this week.

Obviously I've been MIA since I moved to Vegas five months ago. I'd be lying if I told you I haven't thought about shutting the ole blog down more times than I can count. Ultimately, I just couldn't bring myself to do it and I didn't want to. I really do miss you guys and I miss this blogging community. I have definitely felt like something was missing from my life without it. So what I'm saying is I just can't quit you guys, OK? And since we basically have five months of catching up to do and I don't really know where to begin, I'll just start with a beauty review because who doesn't love a beauty review?

And I'll kick off the first of a few upcoming beauty reviews with the Sonia Kashuk Complexion Perfector dual sided foundation brush since it seemed to spark the most interest when I Instagrammed a picture of my bathroom counter after getting read a few weeks ago.

The brush looks like this upclose and I bought mine at Target, my home away from home.

$18.99 online

 

Before this brush, I used to apply foundation with the elf stipple brush which I've reviewed and then I blended with just a plain make up sponge wedge. I still love the elf stipple, but dare I say I love this Sonia Kashuk more? I dare.


If you're looking to switch things up in the foundation application department, I highly recommend giving this brush a whirl. What I do is put about a dime size amount of foundation on the back of my hand. Then, I take the brush end and dab a bit of the foundation and apply to one section of my face at a time until it's applied all over. Then, use the sponge end to blend to a flawless look.

Since I bought this brush, I have not switched back to any of my old foundaton brushes and i literally use it every day. I look creepy here - I manage to do that any time i try to take a "selfie" as I see they're calling it these days - but here is my skin after using the dual ended brush for applcation. Keep in mind I'm in natural light, "#nofilter" and absolutely zero self tanner. I think the brush does a fairly good job of covering imperfections. Because trust, my skin has plenty.

SIde note: That lip gloss sitch is just awful. Please disregard.

 

Has anyone tried this brush? What's your favorite application method for foundation?

 

Review: Michelob ULTRA Light Cider

Remember when I witnessed the dude with the bag on his head falling over in Wal-Mart?  This freak:

Well the entire reason I was even in Wal-Mart (on a Friday night, mind you) was to scoop up some of the new Michelob Ultra Light Cider that just launched to test out and review for the BlogHer Michelob ULTRA light cider promotion. It's a tough life being a blogger.  Reviewing booze and stuff.

I didn't know what to to expect because I've never tried any form of a cider beer, so I brought it out on the boat with me Memorial Day weekend for my friends to try as well.

Survey says ...

Everyone loved it; boys and girls!  It was very crisp, light and refreshing and was perfect for a hot summer day on the boat.  I also don't mind that it's only 120 calories per bottle.  A girl's gotta keep her figure.

The cider is naturally sweetened, gluten-free and made from crisp apples. You can definitely taste the apple flavor!  To read more about the cider, which is available in a 6-pack, visit Michelob ULTRA's site by clicking here.

We drank the cider on a boat, but tell me which favorite summer meal or activity do you think would go best with Michelob ULTRA Light Cider?

Sonia Kashuk Satin Luxe Lip Color Review + $100 Target Gift Card giveaway

If there is one thing you know about me, you know I love affordable, great-quality make-up, and more importantly, I love sharing my latest and greatest bargain beauty products with all of you bargainistas. When I recently received the new Sonia Kashuk Satin Luxe Lip Color from Target to test out in Classic Red and Pink Punch for free, I couldn't wait to share with you ladies.

However, if I'm being completely honest, I was slightly terrified thinking about how I was going pull this look off when I saw how vibrant the hues were. I typically stick to light pink glosses because of my fair skin, but I have to tell you, I'm so glad I had the opportunity to test these bold colors because wow, did they make me feel glamorous! If I can pull these colors off, I know they will flatter anyone with any skin shade. Hello red lips...

How playful is this hot pink lip with wavy hair for a fun summer look?

Now, let me dish on the deets.

Maybe you are feeling spicy and want to wear a hot pink or a classic red like me, but maybe you want something more low-key for the office. You're in luck, because the Satin Luxe Lip Color comes in 14 shades and is only $9.99! Ladies, that is a steal and you better believe I'm planning on adding more to my already out-of-control make-up collection. Yes, I am a make-up hoarder, and no, I don't care.

So not only does this lipstick soften and hydrate your lips, it will protect them from the sun with built-in SPF 16. Sun safety helps with anti-aging, and the nourishing ingredients plump up lips for added firmness.

Speaking of ingredients, any of you care to know what you are putting on your lips? This Satin Luxe Lip Color is paraben- and fragrance-free and contains Brown Seaweed Extract to preserve skin elasticity as well as Ceramide 2 and Palmitoyl Peptide to visibly reduce the appearance of wrinkles.

Other than the incredibly pigmented color, which you can see in the pictures of me above, the best thing about Sonia’s line of lipsticks is the way they wear. When first applied, they are smooth with a silky glide, but within about an hour they change and behave more like a stain, but with a satin finish. After about 3 hours, I reapplied and my lips looked fantastic.

Oh, oh, oh! I almost forgot. I know this may seem silly, but packaging on products is important to me. I LOVED the new black packaging with its color button to make finding the right tube easier when digging through my stash.

How exciting is this? BlogHer is offering all of my readers an opportunity to enter a sweepstakes to win a $100 Target GiftCard to buy some of Sonia Kashuk Satin Luxe Lip Color for yourself! All you have to do is leave me a comment answering the following question:

Rules:
No duplicate comments. You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:
a) Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post
b) Tweet about this promotion and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post
c) Blog about this promotion and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post
d) For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.

This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.

The Official Rules are available here.
This sweepstakes runs from 6/4 to 6/30.
Be sure to visit the sponsor's brand page on BlogHer.com, where you can read other bloggers’ reviews and find more chances to win!

The No Brainer Wardrobe

As I mentioned earlier this week in this gem of a post, I get pitched some pretty ridiculous products to review on this here blog of mine. Well, we're all in luck because for once, this wasn't one of them.  Y'all know I "keep it real" and I certainly would not be talking about this if I did not think this was perfect for you bargainistas. 

The "No Brainer Wardrobe" is an 80 page ebook writted by Hayley at the blog Tiny Twig and she had me at, "I noticed that my friends were spending a lot of money on clothes and never had anything to wear."

 .... uh, me.  

In Hayley's words, "The book was designed to to help women learn to love the clothes they have, lose the clothes they hate, and shop for items to fill the gaps."  

If 80 pages sounds daunting, don't worry your pretty little faces.  It was such an easy read and I'm not exactly what you'd call a book worm.  Reality TV addiction anyone?  You honestly don't feel like you're reading a book, but instead an article in Cosmo or on one of your favorite blogs (ahem ... mine?).  

The first thing The No Brainer Wardrobe tells you to do is discern your style suggesting the use of Pinterest as a tool.  Duh, why didn't I think of that?  Who isn't addicted to Pinterest these days?

Look at all of your fashion pins and look for patterns.  What do you consistently pin over and over again?   Below are 10 of my fashion pins and I've already noticed some patterns: cardigans, pink, layers, and ruffles.

The "tough" part comes after you figure out your style preference: purging your closet.  EEEP!  If you are like me, you hate to get rid of a single thing because you tell yourself, "what if I want to wear that one day?"

Listen up ladies.  At this same exact time last year I purged my closet and I can tell you that without a doubt that there is not ONE SINGLE THING that I gave to Goodwill that I have ever given a second thought to.  If you don't wear it, get rid of it.  It's just taking up space in your closet and cluttering your head when you try to get dressed.  The book gives you step-by-step instructions for "deleting" things you feel fat in, that don't fit, make you feel uncomfortable, etc.


After you purge, you get to the fun stuff.  Now you build your wardrobe with clothes you feel great in, look great in, will last you and are a great value.  She honestly covers it all by teaching you how-to:

• Group your wardrobe into 3 apparel sections. First is the "Essentials", then the "Additions" and finally the "Finishers",
• Shop at a value store (my specialty),
• Thrift,
• Figure out your body type and dress for it,
• Dress professionally,
• Make jeans and a t-shirt an outfit, 
• Dress your age, 
• Shop when you're preggers (she's a mom), etc. 

The book is regularly $7.99, but Hayley is offering all of of you bargainistas 50 percent off a copy of The No Brainer Wardrobe.   Just enter the code "blonde" at check-out and you, my friends, only pay $4.  Cheaper than a cup of Starbucks.  You can't beat that.   If you order it, I want to know what you think.

That's all folks.  Have a fabulous weekend!


Disclaimer: My copy of this ebook was provided to me free of cost, but I was not compensated for this review and all opinions are my own.  As most of you know, the only other product I've ever promoted on my blog was e.l.f. because it is a product I believe very strongly in.   I have been contacted by countless companies to review products that I have turned down because I feel very strongly in only reviewing products I feel pertain to my readers and are in line with my bargain philosophy.  That will never, ever change!