Friday, September 17, 2010

I'm Coming Back, I Promise!

Hey guys - I am the worst blogger ever! Ok, well, maybe not the worst, but I'm getting close. I have totally neglected my blog since I got this new job as an Event Coordinator (which I am LOVING by the way). Alas, this is no excuse to ignore my lovely followers! So, I just wanted to send out a quick note to let you know that I have in no way forgotten about you and I will be back and better than ever before you know it. I also want to do my giveaway soon! So, please stay tuned and don't delete me just yet. Happy Friday! <3

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Wednesday's Five Fabulous Finds Under $50

Hey guys - Sorry I missed out on this post last week, just started a new job and it is taking up all of my precious blog time! Anywho, here are some fun items for you...


Shirred Rosette Top - $20.70

Beige Lace Clutch - $20.90



Over and Out Wrap Belt - $31.00

UO Suede Pump - $48.00


Monday, August 23, 2010

In Search of...

The Perfect Self Tanner

It is safe to say, when I step on the beach I am easily the whitest person. I practically glow, my skin is so fair! I purposefully do not go into the sun for fear of wrinkles; gotta keep this skin looking young as I approach 30. So this brings me to my search for the perfect self tanner and what I have tried so far.

First contender, Jergen's Natural Glow Daily Moisturizer. I have been using this product for a few years. I seem to purchase it often, thinking I will apply it every night before I go to sleep, which, rarely ever happens. When I do take the time, and become proactive about it, I can easily build a nice tan with this lotion. It does take several days, 4 in a row at least, so if you want something fast, this isn't the product for you. My only gripe is the smell. It has a very strong self tanner smell which invade my nostrils as I try to sleep. I can only imagine what my boyfriend would say if I attempted to apply it one night with him around!





The second self tanner I tried recently was the Neutrogena Sunless Micro-Mist Tanning Spray. Thank goodness I only did my legs! I sprayed it on one night before bed. It comes out totally clear so you have no idea where it is being applied, and you are not supposed to rub it in. So, following directions, I sprayed up and down my legs, hoping for the best. The next morning I woke up and my legs looked like a tan zebra! It was horrible! I returned it to Walgreens immediately. Do not try this at home!








St. Tropez Bronzing Mousse is my newest experiment. It is definitely a bit pricey, at about $35.00 a bottle at Sephora, but I have heard awesome reviews and wanted to try it for myself. I just used it for the first time last night. If you go to the St. Tropez site, they have videos on how to apply each of their self tanners. I applied it with my hands, and noticed it was a little hard to get the tanner off my palms even when I washed them right after, so today I picked up a pair of plastic gloves. You can also order a mitt from the St. Tropez site or Amazon. The mousse is really easy to apply; you can see where it goes and where you may need to rub it into your skin a bit more. When I woke up this morning and showered, I had a very light tan. I like that it doesn't make you too dark to quick, since I am indeed very pale. So far, this is the best product I have tried, which makes sense, since it is also the priciest. I used it for my whole body this evening, and had very little issue with the application process since it glides smoothly. It does have a slight self tanner smell, which isn't horrible, but I definitely notice it.

Let me know your self tanner favs too!

Monday, August 16, 2010

Splurge vs. Steal: Leopard Print Flats

You are definitely going to see animal print everywhere this fall. I love Jimmy Choo as much as the next girl, but I refuse to pay over $200.00 for a trend that may possibly be short-lived. Check out the American Eagle flats below, which I just purchased this afternoon. Leopard print, cute, and super comfy, and from Payless of all places! P.S. it's BOGO right now, but one pair of shoes get the second pair half off!

Splurge: Jimmy Choo Leopard Flat - $292.00




Monday, August 9, 2010

Monday Makeup Reviews

Happy Monday Everyone! I have a few reviews for you after taking multiple trips to Sephora this past weekend. Heehee.

Product Review #1

Product: Veil Foundation by Hourglass - $60.00

Claim: Long-lasting, flawless foundation that promotes younger looking skin.

Review: I know I said before that I tried this and didn't like it, but after all the rave reviews, I wanted to give it another chance. This time I tried it using a stippling brush which made a world of a difference. It does give a dewey, slightly airbrushed look. Supposedly one pump is enough, but I find I need a little extra. I have really oily skin, and this doesn't make a difference, I am still pulling out my blotting papers later in the day. You supposedly do not need a concealer either, but I still use one to cover up any redness.

Rating: I give this foundation 4 out of 5 stars. I do like how my skin looks, but it does come with a hefty price tag. So, if you don't mind shelling out a good chunk of change, then definitely give it a try. Want to try this for free? Click here and try 3 free samples of your choice!

Product Review #2


Product: Urban Decay Big Fatty Waterproof Mascara - $20.00

Claim: A moisturizing waterproof mascara that will plump, thicken and elongate your lashes without leaving them dry and brittle.

Review: I didn't feel like my lashes looked any thicker or longer with this mascara. It did seem to have good staying power for a waterproof mascara, but it was really difficult to remove with my eyemakeup remover pads. And can we talk about the packaging for a second?? What were they thinking?!

Rating: I give this mascara 2 out of 5 stars. It wasn't any better than the cheaper drugstore brands I have used, and it didn't live up to it's claims. I would not buy this mascara again and I don't recommend it.

Product Review #3



Product: Buxom Lips Lipgloss - $18.00

Claim: Fuller, more voluptuous lips without the sticky feel.

Review: I noticed right away a very strange, cold and tingly feeling when I applied this lipgloss, which I'm guessing is aiding in the plumpness of the lips. After some time, my lips did look plumper and the gloss had a nice smell/taste to it. The range of colors are really beautiful.

Rating: I'm on the fence. I guess I would give this product a rating of 3 out of 5 stars. I love the colors, and it does do what it claims, however I don't like the cold tingly feeling at all and it started to bother me after awhile. Definitely one to try if you like the thought of plumper lips, since it may just be personal preference for how it feels on.

Friday, August 6, 2010

Giveaway - Coming Soon!

Happy Friday! Just wanted to give you a heads up that I will be posting a giveaway on my blog soon, so keep an eye out!

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Splurge vs. Steal: Skinny Cargo Pants

I have been eying these J Brand Cargo pants for months now, but I just can't justify spending over $200.00 for jeans ($200.00 is my max, heehee). So, imagine my excitement when I saw almost identical cargo pants in the new Delia's catalog, for a fourth of the price of J Brand! The fashion Gods were listening :)



Monday, August 2, 2010

Monday Makeup Haul


Hey everyone! First off, I am super excited because I had beautyful visitors from all over this weekend! New Mexico, Texas, Rancho Santa Margarita, even a visitor from Europe. Thank you to all those new viewers, you made my weekend even more special! <3.

First, I wanted to tell you about some makeup products and brushes I ordered from MakeupGeek. I got Palladio Rice Powder in Translucent, Palladio Rice Paper, MUG Deluxe Outer V Brush, and the MUG Bent Liner Brush. The Palladio Rice Powder is a loose powder and comes in Translucent, Natural, or Warm Beige. I already have a Bare Minerals powder, so I wanted to try the Translucent. If you have a full coverage foundation, this is a good powder to use in order to set everything. I do like this powder for that reason, and the price is right at $4.89, but it has a very strong smell, almost like baby powder which I'm not real crazy about. Although once it is on your face, the smell disappears (and no complaints from the boyfriend, so that's a good sign). The Palladio Rice Paper are little sheets of paper used for blotting your face when you start to get oily. I LOVE these blotting papers. I keep them in my purse, and whip em out whenever a slick begins to form on my t-zone. At $4.89, these are a must-have! Now for the brushes. The Outer V Brush does what it says, it works for creating a V when doing a smokey eye look. I was hoping I could use it for blending as well but it's not thick enough. I was most excited to receive the Bent Liner Brush, and was thoroughly disappointed! I thought the top would be very pointy, but the bristles sort of fan out and make it really hard to get a straight line of eye liner across my lid. Next time I will just head to the art supply store!

I also came across a couple new foundations this weekend, since my Makeup Forever Mat Velvet foundation ran out. When I went to Sephora, two of the sales girls told me about a somewhat new product called Veil by Hourglass. This is actually made by the same people who produce Urban Decay, but the Hourglass line is supposed to be a more "grown-up" version. The girl who helped me insisted I let them remove my makeup and apply this to my face instead, so, I agreed. In Sephora it looked beautiful and dewey, and although it came with a hefty pricetag at $60.00, I decided to splurge. When I used the foundation the next day, I noticed it was very thick, hard to apply, and although the Sephora girls said one pump was plenty, I needed quite a few. Needless to say, I returned it that day. Just didn't seem worth the price. I exchanged the Veil with Laura Mercier's Oil Free Tinted Moisturizer. I used it today for the first time and I really like it. It is sheer, but still gives good coverage. I love that it is oil-free, and has an SPF of 20, so I don't have to use multiple products on my face. At $42.00 it is much more affordable than Hourglass. I will keep you posted on whether or not I decide to keep this one, or if I head back to Sephora for trip #3! I think this foundation may be a keeper...but, we'll see. ;)


Friday, July 30, 2010

Why Hello Fav New Website!

I found this website while perusing through a few other blogs. Has anyone ever seen this site before?! As many of you may already know, Mac NEVER goes on sale! Sigh. But, have no fear, for BeFlurt is here! My dreams have been answered :) I have only touched upon this site, and have seen Bobbi Brown, Dior, aaaand, wait for it, Mac on sale. Wooohoooo! Also, if you enter in your email address on the home page, you will receive an additional 10% off. Could this get any better?? So, if I seem to disappear for awhile, I have probably lost myself within this site. Oh BeFlurt, I <3 you.

Thursday, July 29, 2010

My Perfect Pink Lip Makeup Tutorial


I'm always in search of the perfect lip, no matter what color that may be. I was experimenting yesterday with a couple of random colors I pulled out of my purse before I headed to dinner with some friends, and stumbled upon my version of the perfect pink lip! This would be beautiful with a super smokey eye. Here is what I used:

First I prepped my lips with Soft Lips lip protectant in Vanilla so they were nice and soft.
Next I lined and filled in my lips with Sephora's Nano Lip Liner in Candid Candy 04.
I then went over the lip liner with Mac's Lustre Lipstick in Sweetie.

Hope you like!

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Look of the Week: Boyish Chic for Under $110




I fell in love with these tan Oxfords from BC Footwear and wanted to find an outfit that would compliment them nicely. I think the boyfriend jeans with the feminine ruffle top pair together perfectly, tying in the best of both worlds. For under $110.00 I would definitely rock this look. Would you?

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Product Review: CoverGirl

Product Name: CoverGirl WetSlicks Fruit Spritzers Lip Gloss

Purchased At: Walgreens

Price Tag: $4.99. Walgreens was having a special, buy one get one 50% off, so I purchased two.

Review: My feelings about this product ar
e a bit mixed. According to CoverGirl, the Fruit Spritzers will provide a long-lasting shine without the stickiness. I purchased two colors, Fig Splash and Tangerine Splash. All of the lip glosses in this line are flavored and scented. The Fig Splash smells like cookie dough to me, but can be a bit overwhelming. In the tube, it looks like a light purple, but came out very sheer on my lips. The shimmer is pretty and looks nice paired over another lipstick, unless you just want a neutral look. The Tangerine Splash does actually smell like tangerines, which I like much better. The color is a light orange/coral color with gold flecks. This is a really pretty lip gloss for summer, and can be worn alone. This product is moisturizing, and did live up to it's promise of not being sticky.

Buy Again? I don't think I would buy this product again. The smell of the Fig Splash is a bit much for me, and the colors weren't vibrant enough. I'm also not crazy about my lips being super shiny. If you want a shimmery lip gloss that isn't sticky, and would look nice layered over a lipstick, you might like this one, just be aware that the smell/taste is a bit strong.


Thursday, July 15, 2010

Conscious Coupons!

More coupons to sweeten your day!

www.lulus.com - SUMMER - 15% off all sale items.

www.maccosmetics.com - SUMMER10 - Free shipping on any purchase.

www.shopbop.com - ESTRA20 - 20% off all sale items.

www.shoes.com - SUMMER - 15% off.

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Budget Friendly Brushes!

You don't have to be a makeup artist to know that the right brush is the key to perfecting any look. You may also know that these brushes can come with a hefty price tag. But, have no fear, Miss Beautyful is here! Teehee. Here are some beauty conscious alternatives:

1. Go to Michael's (or any art store for that matter). Of course you aren't going to go pick out a paint brush to slather makeup on your face, or at least I hope not! Although an art store can offer many great brushes at the fraction of the cost of a MAC brush. Art stores are great for eyeliner and eyeshadow brushes. Check out the scrapbooking section as well, you may find a great bag to hold all of your makeup and brushes!

2. Check out Sigma at http://www.sigmamakeup.com/products.html. A couple of my fav makeup artists who I have found on YouTube videos use this brand all the time. I am getting ready to order a few brushes myself. A crease brush for $9.00?! Yes please!

3. Head over to http://www.makeupgeek.com/store/brushes.html. Marlena, aka MakeupGeek, sells quite a few brushes online for ridiculously cheap as well. I haven't tried any of her brushes yet, but I adore her so I don't think she would steer you wrong.

4. Sephora is also a great option for makeup brushes. Many of the brushes come with a steep price tag, but you can also find some great deals, especially the brush sets. I love Sephora's brushes and highly recommend them. Plus, if you buy one and you don't like it, you can return for a full refund. Who doesn't love that?!

Thursday, July 8, 2010

Lorac Makeup Sale!

Lorac eyeshadows for $4.00?! Foundation for $7.00?! It's true! Head over to HauteLook by clicking http://www.hautelook.com/invite/278208 and score some amazing makeup from Lorac right now. Hurry, it's only happening for a couple more days and I'm sure these products will sell out quick!

Cease the Crease!

We have all been there. You do your eye makeup in the morning, and by mid-afternoon, your eyeshadow has taken it upon itself to pool in the crease of your eyelid, making a mess! This is a makeup faux pas you should never have to worry about again, thanks to the magic of eye primers. I have three tried and true primers to share with my conscious beauties!



The newest addition to my primer collection not only primes your lids, it also acts as a concealer and cancels out any color in your skin, so your eyeshadow color stays true. MAC's Painterly Paint Pot is similar to my skin tone, and gives me a blank palette to do whatever fun eye makeup my heart desires! The paint pot is only $16.50, and comes with enough product to last you a year.



My other fav eye primer is the Too Faced Shadow Insurance. It comes in a small blue tube, has a slight tint to it, goes on creamy, and dries with a smooth consistency. This primer is amazing; the oils of my skin don't have a fighting chance when I use this as a primer! This small tube runs $17.00 and can be found at Sephora.





Urban Decay also makes a good quality eye primer called Eyeshadow Primer Potion. I have used this primer quite a bit (it was my go to product before Too Faced), and it does work really good. I recommend this product if you like Urban Decay, however I don't like the tube it comes in, which can be really tricky to get product out of when you are getting low. This primer sells for $18.00 at Sephora as well, but I would definitely encourage you to try one of the first two primers before buying this one!

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

My Five Fave Fabulous Summer Sandals for Under $50.00!

No need to ramble on about each sandal when you can see with your own beautyful eyes the fabulousness (I may have just made that word up, teehee). And, for under $50.00, you could add them to your Summer wardrobe without giving up your beauty conscious budget! Whether you are looking for a pop of color, or a sandal with an edge, this is summer sandal lovin' to the fullest.






http://www.lulus.com/products/soda-basic-black-chained-braid-t-thong-wedge-sandal/24400.htmlhttp://www.modcloth.com/store/ModCloth/Womens/Shoes/1+2+Step+Heel

Get Your Havaianas and Get Em Now!

If you haven't heard of Rue La La yet, you are missing out! And, I had to share one of todays deals: 2 Packs of Havaianas for only $20.00! Follow this link to sign up: http://www.ruelala.com/invite/tandreini What are you waiting for, go now!!!

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Look of the Week!

The Beautyful Conscious Look I Am Loving Today!

This stripe racerback tank from Lulus is just adorable, and how sexy is the zipper detail in the back? At only $29.00, could you ask for anything more? http://www.lulus.com/products/finish-line-racerback-tank/23686.html

Pair the top with these distressed skinny jeans from Levis, on sale for only $29.99 at Macys!
http://www1.macys.com/catalog/product/index.ognc?ID=445497&CategoryID=18369

And to bring the whole look together, these gladiator sandals from Lulus are perfect! The tank has a slight pop of grey in between the black, making these sandals a perfect match. A steal at $27.00! http://www.lulus.com/products/bamboo-dexter-66-gray-studded-gladiator-little-wedge/24286.html

Once again, I bring you an amazing summer outfit for under $100.00, at $85.99! I'm so proud, can you tell?! :)