Urban Decay Friends and Family 30% off!!!

Now through April 17th, Urban Decay is back to their old antics with their AMAZING friends and family discount!!

Use coupon code: FNFS9 at checkout to redeem the coupon!

What I bought:

1. Eyeshadow in Gash - it's a deep brick red, and I've been coveting it forever! I am finally breaking down and buying it!

2. Pocket Rocket Lip Gloss - these are seriously fun! They are delicious glosses with attractive men on the top. Turn the lip gloss up, and WHOOPS - the little man gets shirtless...lovely idea. I ordered Timothy - because I love a preppier guy and because corals are very in for spring!

Some other ideas:
1. Primer Potion in Sin - this is a pre-order of their amazing eye shadow primer, but with an added shimmer! Should be amazing!

2. 24/7 Glide on Pencils - There are a few new fun colors in these amazing pencils, and now is a perfect time to try them!



In addition to all of this, if you spend $35 (BEFORE THE DISCOUNT!!!!), you get a free UD Deluxe Lipstick Sample in Sellout!

Happy Shopping!!!

L'Oreal Couleur Experte Express

I love to color my hair. Usually I fork out the obligatory $100 to have a professional do it, but occasionally I just buy a box and go to town.

The one thing I've NEVER been brave enough to do is highlight my hair. That's for the professionals, I thought. Plus, how do you see the back of your hair?

Then I found myself talking to a resident and complimenting her hair, asking where she got her color done. She laughed, then admitted that she and her sister color each other's hair using the "red box" color. I was immediately intrigued.

So I went and got a box of L'Oreal's Couleur Experte in Chocolate Macaroon, a nice medium brown with "warm" highlights. I set out to start this project at 9:45 on a Thursday night, because I'm an idiot. I finished about 11, which was less than ideal, but the results were GREAT!

It really did highlight my hair an appropriate amount for a dark headed person, without getting Marilyn-blonde highlights in my Jackie-dark hair.

So, the point is, I highly recommend this product, with a few caveats:
1. It is a more time consuming process. You color with the all over color, then dry your hair to your normal style, THEN do highlights. So, all told, you need probably a good 1.5 hours. This is a good Friday night or Sunday afternoon project.

2. It might be good to enlist the help of a friend. Or mirrors set up with multiple views. Without mirrors, I might have ended up with a blonde patch behind my left ear.

3. The options offered in the kit include a brush and a little wand that works flat-iron style to make highlights. BUT, the brush includes a hook on the end, for using with a pull through cap (not included, but available at Sally Beauty Supply stores). I used the flat-iron style wand, and it did great, but it made more highlights at the part/crown of my head, which is cute, but next time I will be buying a pull through highlight cap to get a more all-over highlighting. I also think a pull through cap would make it easier to see what you're highlighting and color more evenly.


They make this in colors ranging from super blonde (this is what my friend had tried with GREAT results) to VERY dark with reddish highlights. It ranges about $13-15, and currently at CVS they are offering $5 extra care bucks if you spend $20 on L'Oreal. So this would be a perfect time to try L'Oreal's new sulfate-free line of hair care!

Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow (just kidding!)

Well! That was a nice little break I took, eh?

I have no excuse. I can't even think of a good reason why. The point is, I was gone for 4.5 months, and now I'm back. Hopefully in a more permanent way.

Since my hiatus has been blog-only, not makeup/hair product free, I have a HUGE list of new things to talk about. Hopefully this will lead to more frequent posting :-)

So the biggest news in my hair related life is that I recently cut off EIGHT inches of my hair! If you know me, this is a huge deal, because I have this moderate phobia about short hair. And if you've known me a long while (long enough to remember when I HAD short hair), then you understand why...but I digress. Main point is that since chopping the hair, I have had a ton of fun trying out new products and being surprised that stuff that USED to work with long hair now doesn't, and what never worked before, now does! It's all very exciting in a "wow, it's lame that excites you" kind of way...

New things I love in hair care:

1. CHI flat iron - I was originally going to make a post called "Ode to My Chi," but I realized that my position as Last Person In America to latch on to the CHI probably made that a little strange. Yes, I'd tried one before. Yes, it was nice. But hell, my blow dryer and round brush always made better results. But then, over Christmas, my wonderful mother splurged and bought me a CHI on sale at Ulta (aka Heaven). I also got myself some CHI products to use with the flat iron, as I am obviously a product junkie. Now, I cannot stress this enough, people: If you are REALLY willing to invest in a CHI (or a GVP/Sally Beauty version), please please please get some products! They make an amazing difference in the outcome of the straightening. My two favorites: CHI's Silk Infusion and the 44 Guard. Seriously, for as much as you may like the CHI...try these. Insanity. The CHIs are currently on sale at the above link for $90, which is a pretty good deal, or you can try the GVP/Sally's Beauty version for $50. The products are available all over and typically run $10-15.
2. D'Organiques Original Sprout - This is an organic line that makes hair care. Shampoos, conditioners, styling products. They are completely free of ANYTHING that you might possibly take offense to in a hair product - no hormones, no sulfates, no nothing. And yet, they still work well and have a lovely clean scent. Most of their products are marketed for children, and parents of such children who want pure shampoos. What caught my eye is their line for children with curly hair - a growing little group who often doesn't have many options for hair care. Having somewhat fine (although abundant) curly hair myself, I decided to try their Deep Conditioner on my hair. It's a great daily conditioner for me, and really brings my curls out without enticing the frizz to come. I also picked up some of their Curl Calmer last week, and while it's not tough enough to be a daily styler, it's definitely nice to have to revive/tame down my 2nd day hair. All this is to say I highly recommend this company and their products to anyone with a child, especially one with curly hair. The products are mild and well developed, and smell exactly like I'd want my child's hair to smell (rather than like adult products)! Prices are a touch high, but you can find specials at Ulta (I found them on clearance here!), and at certain hair care specialty stores.
3. John Frieda Luminous Color Glaze - This product has been around a while, but I recently revisited it to revive my color. As usual, it did not fail to disappoint. Now, to preface - if you want your hair COLORED, don't buy this expecting miracles. This product is good for a few things: a) It maintains current color b) it improves shine and overall texture of hair c) it can, in certain cases, add enough color to give you a slightly noticeable change. I'm a big fan of the Brilliant Brunette, as it keeps my hair the darker brown I prefer, rather than flattening out to a blah color after a few weeks. The other upside to this glaze is that, should you not want any color assistance, they also offer a CLEAR glaze that is just there to give you shine. These run about $8.99 at any drugstore, Target or Walmart.

Ok, here's to getting back "on the wagon" and keeping up with my blogging!

Online Eye Makeup Tutorials

I was searching for some fun ideas for Halloween makeup, and stumbled across this young woman, who posts on YouTube.

She does eye makeup tutorials online, talking about products she likes, how to get certain colors, and she's also pretty funny - making the videos entertaining. She's from the UK, and she's gained quite a cult following doing these videos out of her home - it even supports she and her son.

Point is, she has almost 200 videos posted so far, and they range from the neutral to the highly exotic. She has posted some specific makeup copies - Amy Winehouse, Avril Lavigne, the women from Sex and the City - but she also has some very creative styles of her own.

So go watch a few - they're all right at 10 minutes, not a big committment.

As Lauren says at the end of videos, Zoom zoom!

Sephora Beauty Insiders!!! DEAL ALERT!!

For anyone who has a Sephora Beauty Insider account (these are free - go to your local Sephora and sign up if you want this) - Sephora is offering a nice discount!

Enter code JZD55MXH at checkout to receive $15 off of a $35 or more purchase! Sephora is also offering free shipping and samples with your order, so this is a FABULOUS opportunity!!!

Alright, math time - if you spend $35, this amounts to a 42% discount - CRAZY!!!

Many of the brands Sephora offers are selling Christmas gift sets - including Benefit, Urban Decay, Philosophy, and many, many others. Start shopping!!!

Let me know if you need any help ;-) Offer ends Oct 31st - and obviously applies to online shopping.

Thanks to Jen at Mythbuster Beauty for passing along such an incredible deal! Please check out her site, she always checks out fun stuff!

Sexual Healing - for hair?

Now, this post is going to lead you to believe that I am COMPLETELY INSANE.

But bear with me.

As I was perusing some hair product forums today, I came across one lady's "recipe" for her curly hair. She's yada yada yada-ing, using all the forums acronyms and abbreviations for products, and she mentions how one step is to apply "KY" to her hair.

In my mind, I'm thinking, KY...wonder what that's an abbreviation for? Meanwhile, the 14 year old in my head snickered a little at how it sounded like sex lube.

SO I did a little digging. And folks, THEY ARE SERIOUS.

SEX LUBE. For your hair!

I was incredulous! Who in their right mind would do this? And who is the sicko who discovered it?

As it turns out, generic KY is a cheaper alternative to a much-loved anti-frizz product used by people with all types of hair - basically anyone who tends to get frizz or not as much control as they'd like. And it is WIDELY popular.

Well, always willing to try something new, I had to check it out. I obtained some generic KY, washed my hair, and applied it before my regular hair products. Side story: I bought a new mousse a few weeks back that gives me frizz I am not fond of, so I was eager to see the difference.

As much as it pains me to admit, the stuff really worked. My frizz was significantly reduced (esp. considering it was the second time I washed my hair today!), and my hair looked glossy and shiny. There was absolutely NO feeling of lube in my hair, it felt exactly the same as it does with nothing in it (I applied it when my hair was wet). Except maybe my hair feels nicer. Definitely not sticky or anything.

So, if you have issues with frizz, whether you are curly, straight, whatever, this may be something to try. I personally used the "jelly" version, which is lighter and more water based - but of course there are the more serum-like types that may work for you. Generic is good because it is cheap. And for the science nerds out there - the reason this works is because it is high in glycerin, which is a humectant, and draws moisture from the air into your hair. Gooooooooo science!

Sex lube for hair - who would have guessed?

Venture forth, brave souls!

ALERT! BENEFIT COSMETICS SALE! 20% OFF!!!

Just received a code today for 20% of your purchase at Benefit cosmetics!

This is wonderful news because not only does Benefit have great products (some of which I discussed in my last post), but they also have come out with some cute new gift sets for Christmas!

You should definitely go check the gift sets out, but also take a gander at the Buh Buys - which have great deals on some cream shadows, makeup brushes, and a few other fun products!

Benefit has also just introduced a new mascara color - BadGal Plum - guaranteed to accentuate your eye color. Plum, as I mentioned before, is so hot right now (as Mugatu would say...). Fun for a try!

You'll really just have to go check it out. I'll give you recommendations if you really need them, or you can check my Benefit label to see what I've liked and not liked.

The code is BENEBABE. Enjoy!