Any members of the old Make up Clique still around?

[Imzadi]

I've tried the Double Extend Mascara before, and found the white wand too goopy and clumpy. Does anyone have tips on how to use this, or another affordable (drugstore price range) tubing mascara?

Try this tip. http://www.ebay.com/gds/How-to-keep...-get-better-results-/10000000178545307/g.html

It's what I do, applying pressure and pulling it in between a folded piece of toilet paper and removing the excess from the brush. I don't have to do it every time it's put back in the container. More like every fifth or sixth time as the mascara builds back up on the brush again. Other times, I just gently roll the wand on a was of toilet paper without pressing down on the toilet paper. This just removes the excess mascara on the surface of the bristles.

While you may think this wastes a lot of mascara, think about the fact that you wouldn't be using that mascara at all if it's too clumpy for you. Yet, the mascara works so well that I'll factor the wasted mascara into using it. I forgot to mention earlier: all the reviewers I've read (and I) think this mascara dries out very quickly in the tube. More than likely, you will have to replace the tube before you ever get to use it all, and that is including wiping the excess mascara off the brush.

However, it IS at a drugstore price. Much cheaper than expensive brands. So waste away! In fact, Rite Aid has a Buy One Get One 50% off on L'Oreal makeup this week. AND they have a 100% money back guarantee on all their makeup. Just return anything you don't like and get your money back.

Another tip I do to get off the excess clumps: I get one of those free disposable mascara wands that are used to try on the mascaras at Sephora, or just wash out an old used mascara brush really well, and use that to comb out the clumps right after applying mascara. Make sure you clean off that wand really well after combing, or you end up with a dried mess in that brush later.

 

[Imzadi]

Hey Imzadi!!! Have you tried First Aid?

I forgot all about this. Then I was at Sephora tonight and the sales woman recommended it to me for a facial cleanser. I got a sample and will try it out later.

 

[mandy200587]

If anyone doesn't have a sephora near them, the wand mentioned by imzadi is at target for like a dollar. Cheap and can be easily cleaned with baby shampoo

 

[mandy200587]

New subscription service in the works!!!!

http://www.harpersbazaar.com/beauty/makeup/news/a11765/sephora-subscription-box/

 

[Imzadi]

If anyone doesn't have a sephora near them

Mandy, tell me about Sephora. Do they have sales? Any types of coupon codes pr anything like that when you buy online?

I LOVE that they give samples in the stores to try stuff before buying, to be sure they really work. I also know they have a generous return/exchange policy. But, then we get hooked on an EXPENSIVE brand item that we've fallen in love with for megabucks. Now, I'd like to get that item on sale or at a discount.

 

[mandy200587]

Mandy, tell me about Sephora. Do they have sales? Any types of coupon codes pr anything like that when you buy online?

I LOVE that they give samples in the stores to try stuff before buying, to be sure they really work. I also know they have a generous return/exchange policy. But, then we get hooked on an EXPENSIVE brand item that we've fallen in love with for megabucks. Now, I'd like to get that item on sale or at a discount.

I just switched back to Sephora in the past few months. Sales are few and far between from what I can see. There are different levels of Sephora member. You can sometimes get discounts, I know when I got VIB status, I got 20% off my order which was awesome. I know from what I've seen they don't have the sales like Sephora does but their return/exchance policy plus the wider variety have won me over from Ulta.

 

[Imzadi]

Oooh! I think I figured out a way to get discounts at Sephora. I do Swagbucks, which is a Rewards site, which gives points for clicking on various online ads, doing web searches, or watching their videos. The points can then be converted into gift cards for various stores: Amazon, Target, Walmart, to name a few. One can also shop online by going through the Swagbucks affiliate links on their site and also get points. (Do a search on the Budget Board to learn how to properly do Swagbucks to get the most points. Most people there use Swagbucks to finance their trips to Disney.)

I don't do Swagbucks often. Many people are diligent and can get a $5 or $10 gift card or $5-$10 in Paypal each month. I mainly go through their links when I shop online or when I make travel reservations. I click on Swagbucks first, and then Expedia or Priceline, etc.

So, I currently have $25 worth of points saved up. I was looking to see which retailer I wanted to get a gift card for. (Usually I get Amazon or Walmart.) A neat trick I learned is that if I get a gift card from Swagbucks for Walmart, I can then go through Swagbucks to shop at Walmart, use the gift card I just got, AND get more points for the purchase I just made with the gift cards. So it's a good idea to check out which online stores Swagbucks has and if they also have gift cards to the same stores.

Also, different stores give different amounts of Swagbucks points for making a purchase. I was doing a search there and realized that I could buy my same items at Walgreens instead of at my usual Walmart, for the same price, and get double the amount of Swagbucks points back for Walgreens. I'm making a $25 purchase, which automatically qualifies me for free shipping instead of going into the store. Also, since I have a Walgreens store rewards card too, I will get their points from them for shopping there, (which is totally separate from all the Swagbucks stuff.)

So, then I did another search and found out Swagbucks has Sephora gift cards in denominations from $5 up that I can swap my Swagbucks points for. Sephora.com is one of Swagbucks stores I can shop at AND get more points for my purchase. And if I become a Sephora member, I will eventually work my way up to getting that 20% off that Mandy mentioned in the last post.

 

[mandy200587]

So far I'm still waiting on these big perks to kick in but the one time 20% off was pretty dang nice.

This is what the Very Important Beauty Insider get you:

• 

 

[Anesthesia Fine]

One of my more shameful "achievements" is hitting VIB Rouge, and it's honestly not much different. The gifts are nice but they're usually gift-with-purchase. I got an additional eyeliner with the NARS birthday swag, there are some products available to only Rouge members first, and that recent 4X points promo was pretty sweet. I think the classes and mini-makeovers are free, too. But I vastly prefer the Ulta platinum perks!

 

[mandy200587]

I do wish Sephora would switch to perks like Ulta has but I doubt they will. I just can't get behind Ulta anymore after a few instances and not being able to find products, let alone most of their lack of knowledge about the products.

 

[Anesthesia Fine]

That's a shame. The two near me are pretty good, and I like being able to find dupes in the drugstore section!

 

[mandy200587]

It is. They just don't keep the store up anymore. The product samples are run down along with stock being hit or miss.

 

[mandy200587]

I just placed an order for some Sephora stuff....trying out some Bite Lip remover wipes, a sample of Urban Decay 8 hour blush, a sample of the new Makeup Forever Foundation, plus dior waterproof mascara. I'll report back as I try everything!

 

[mandy200587]

I tried the new Makeup Forever Foundation....I love it better then the old formula actually! Also tried the new Bite lipstick I got....only had to reapply once....color held most of the entire day in some form even with eating,drinking and brushing teeth.

 

[diz8297]

That stinks about your ur poor experiences with Ulta. I love the one near me-no problem with returns, this one has Clinique in it, great selections. I like Sephora, but the closest one to me is in an urban mall. I have to pay for parking and it's not convenient. Also, I have rediscovered some old faves: Olay foaming face wash vs Philosophy and I'm finding Ulta more in line with my choices. But given my fickle tendencies......I'm sure that will change once more!!!

 

[Momma2Mia]

One of the physicians I worked with recommended the Mario Badescu line for my teenage son re: Acne. I started using their cleansers for my skin as well and have really liked their products. They have a very user friendly website and you can fill out a skin profile and they make recommendations. After several days I received an email and they asked if I would like samples of those products, which they sent at no charge!

 

[mandy200587]

I tried the Urban Decay 8 hour blush...I was pretty impressed with the staying power of it. I will say one of the colors was way to light and the other too bright but mixed together they were the perfect combination.

 

[kkmcan]

I ordered the Tarte Light of the Party palette and the Bling on blush palette from Sephora. they are my Christmas gifts from my husband so I can't open them when I get them. But I don't care. It will be so exciting to finally get to open them on Christmas. Just waiting on the Sephora Give Me More Lip set and possibly the Buxom 15 mini lipgloss set to show up on the website.

 

[::danielle::]

I'm still around too.

I was at Sephora a couple weeks ago and I picked up a good hydrating moisturizer. After reading reviews on MakeupAlley.com in which quite a few people said after using it and the wrinkles literally disappeared, they realized their wrinkles were caused more by a lack of hydration and not using a good moisturizer. I headed right for a sample.

OMG! They were right! All this time, I thought because of various chronic illnesses, that I was just aging, and the after effects of illness had started to show on my face. My skin had begun to get a crepey texture too. But, I just simply needed to switch to a more HYDRATING moisturizer.

I followed the directions of one reviewer who posted that she reapplied it at first every few hours, as her skin seemed to drink it all in each time. After a couple days, my skin texture went from crepey and wrinkled to nice & plump now and the wrinkles are pretty much gone! I feel like I re-hydrated a raisin back into a grape!

Now, I need a good face wash as I suppose that is stripping my skin of moisture too. My favorite one got discontinued a while ago.

I tried Cetaphil as it was supposed to be mild. My face felt really tight.
I can't stand the smell of Phisoderm.
The Simple (brand) skincare cleanser did nothing. Too "simple" I guess.
I hate Dove soap as it seemed to leave a film on my face.
I tried ALL of Origins cleansers after my favorite of theirs, the Mint Wash, had been discontinued and all of the others were too drying.

I was going to try Philosophy's Purity Made Simple, which got great reviews. But some reviews say it has parabens which are supposed to be a bad thing, I guess. Plus, it's really expensive.

I'd like something foamy, not creamy. But, I heard those tend to be more drying. And I'd like something that removes MAC foundation. Although, if there is a second thing that does that, I'm fine with that.

Any suggestions?

Would you mind sharing the name of the moisturizer? I'd love to give it a try!

 

[mandy200587]

Anyone else wish they made foundations in travel sizes??? I can seem to find everything else but foundation in travel size when I've looked.

However I will say that Makeup Forever held up pretty dang well in rain and heat in Disney