The Body Shop Haul

Happy Friday everyone!

I'd like to share The Body Shop goodies that just arrived a few days ago.

The "reasonable" motivation of the haul (in other words, the excuse)

1. My Phylosophy hair conditioner completely ran out. Plus, Phylosophy discontinued it. I need a new hair conditioner.
2. I wanted to try The Body Shop brow and liner kit. 
3. I'm gradually replacing all of our hair and body care with organic products. So everything but the eyebrow powder don't contain paraben, silicon, colorant and sulfate.
4. The Body Shop site went 40% off that day.

Here we go

• Aloe Gentle Exfoliator. 
• Spa wisdom Africa ximenia and salt body scrub. 
• Shower gels for earth lovers in Cucumber & Mint and Apricot & Basil. Both smells really nice without overwhelming. 
• Rainforest shine conditioner. 
• Rainforest volume shampoo (smallest size).
• Brow and liner kit in dark brown and black. 

I'm excited about each and everyone of the items. My highest hope lies on the shampoo and the aloe exfoliator. I only pick the smallest size of the shampoo to try out. Hopefully, it will cleanse my hair thoroughly.

Have you tried out any of those products? Any recent haul to share?

Have a great weekend!

How I budget my high-end beauty purchases

Happy Friday everyone!

The following tips serve as my general shopping guideline. I then mix and match the tactics to maximize the saving. In the next post, I'll share with you my favorite places to shop for specific brands:)

1. Get on the mailing list and/or sign up for free membership

The retailers send you information on promotions, product updates, tips, tutorials, events, etc... through email. You can plan your purchase months in advance. The biggest sale event of the year are their Friends and Family Sale. It tend to take place during the holiday season.

Last year, giant beauty brands like YSL, Giorgio Armani, Lancome, Bobbi Brown, Clarins, Too Faced, Stila, Benefits, Smashbox had 20% Off Friends and Family Sale.

My personal pick is Sephora. When you join their Beauty Insider program (for free), you may get up-to 5 sale events through out the year . For every dollar you spend you get 1 point in your beauty bank. When your bank has 350 points, you become a very important beauty insider VIB. You get delux sample when you have 100 points and 500 points in your beauty banks.

Bloomingdale's started their loyalist program that give you 2 points for every dollar you spend on Beauty and Fragrance. You'll get a $25 coupon on any item in the store when you have 5000 points. It's long way to go, but Bloomie carry Chanel!

Pros

• Great saving if you have a particular favorite. Many brands/retailers rewards their members with delux samples, free shipping, discounts from time to time.
• Usually save 20-30% of the retail price (most brands shoot for 20% off) for Friends and Family Sale.
• Retailers like Sephora, Ulta, Beauty.com carry diverse mechandise, you have discount on all brands (Sephora and Beauty.com) or select brands (Ulta) rather than a single brand. 

Con

• You need to love enough number of items from the brand in order to qualify for the sale 

2. Last call

Many brands liquidate part of the line to refresh with new products. The last-call prices are considerable lower than the full price. I love last-call items from YSL, Smashbox, Lorac, Stila,.

Pros

• Always discounted price
• You might find products that you have waited to save up or don't love enough to buy at full price.

Cons

• Need to act quickly
• Tend to not offer the most popular shades so you need to look hard

3. Discount retailers

There are a number of whole sale or discount companies on the market. I've tried 3 of them. They're all authentic but the quality is either a hit or miss.

For example, ACW, Haute Look, Strawberrynet (freeshiping worldwide), Izzysbeautyshoppe

Pros

• Always discount price
• Ship worldwide

Cons

• Some products are already opened and slightly used.
• The quality aren't good sometimes. I threw away a whole bottle of Dior Skin Nude from ACW because it dried out too much to be blendable. 

4. Online Cash back 

Some online rebates give you cash back if you shop through them using their affiliated links. I personally have Ebates account but Mr Rebates is a similar company. Ebates sends you a check at the end of the quarter or you can have them deposit directly into your paypal account.

Pros

• Always get back certain amount of money you spend. This can add up quite a bit.

Cons

• You have to wait until the end of the quarter.
• Not everything you want is available online.

5. Tax free from out-of-state retailers 

Note: if you buy in store, that store might charge you shipping free.

High tax rate can be painful on huge orders. I remembered IMATS LA. Pasadena tax rate was nearly 10%. I didn't save as much even after discount.

Pro

• Tax free

Con

• Sometimes the return fee if unsatisfied overwhelms the tax. You might want to make sure you like the purchase. 

6. Free shipping and/or free return

Most retailers waive your shipping free for $50 purchase. Some ship free all the time (Nordstrom, Derstore, Strawberrynet, ASOS).

Pro

• You can save quite a bit if you are an online shopaholic. Imagine paying $6-$10 extra for each shipment.

Con

• The mental factor "I need to stock up for free shipping" might urge you to spend more than you need. Be "wise" and "disciplined"! (thinking about my own problems now...)

7. Gift with purchase 

Lancome, Clinique, Estee Lauder and Clarins are among many brands that give good GWP at a reasonable minimum purchase. Many times, I find the GWPs well worth the saving

Pros

• You can try delux samples or sometime full size of popular products
• Most GWP include a good makeup bag. I never have to buy makeup bags

Con

• You might overspend just to get the gift.

8. Duty free

Those of us who travel internationally, especially who transit in Asia, can find a whole shopping mall there or shop aboard. The brands carried there are the most popular in the market like Chanel, Dior, Guerlain, Shiseido, Shu Uemura, Bobbi Brown, Cle de Peau, YSL, Givenchy, Clinique. Some brands design exclusive products or value sets for duty-free shops. When I shop at duty-free, I stick with my absolutely needed list and try to only browse through gift section.

Pros

• No tax
• You can find duty-free exclusive products, Asian/European exclusive or limited editions that were no longer available in your country.

Cons

• Between flights, sleep deprivation, dehydration, no tax combined with a weakness for makeup can lure you into splurges that you may (or may not) regret later. I'm just saying:)

9. The extreme
Completely avoid shopping malls, beauty sections at drugstores, and browsing through beauty blogs or retailer websites. If you're a makeup junkie, you know what I'm talking about :). We beauty addicts are much easier to be intrigued :D.

Now, if you combine several tactics, you can save more. For instant, I never pay for shipping, I'd rather wait and be patient until my shopping cart fills up to the minimum require purchase. Another choice is to buy through retailer like Nordstrom who always waive the shipping. But again, you can weight pros and cons of different perks to make decision.  

How do you budget your beauty purchases? I love to learn more and more ways to save :)

Bobbi Brown Friends and Family Sale 20% - April 16-18

Sephora VIB Sale 15% Off March 29 through April 6

The online code is CHICVIB. Enjoy shopping!

VIBs are Beauty Insiders who spend at least $350 at Sephora stores, Sephora.com or Sephora inside JC Penny in one calendar year. 

 

Groupon Deal: $15 for TheBalm Cosmetics Palettes

What You Get

• For $15, you get theBalm Cosmetics’ Balmbini Vol. 2 palette (a $28 value). The palette includes the following:
  • Four shadows/liners
  • Highlighter
  • Lip/cheek cream
  • Nude lip gloss
• For $17, you get the Nude ’Tude 12-color eyeshadow palette in Feeling Nice (a $36 value).
• For $19, you get theBalm Cosmetics’ shadyLady 9-pan palette with nine eyeshadows and eyeliners (a $39.50 value). Choose from the following options:
  • Vol. 1 Cheetah palette
  • Vol. 2 Zebra palette
  • Vol. 3 Giraffe palette
• Click here to view an image of each option
• An additional $4 shipping fee will be charged at checkout.

I came across the deal a couple of days ago but didn't manage to post it. Still one day left when I print-screened this offer. More details here.

TheBalm Mary-Lou Manizer is one of my favorite highlighters. I haven't owned any of their eyeshadows but have tested them out numerous times in stores, buttery texture, opaque colors and long-wearing.

Enjoy shopping! 

Free Full-size Giorgio Armani Fluid Sheer with any Giorgio Armani Skincare

Code: GASKIN.

I checked and they still had Fluid Sheer in 3 Golden Bronze, 10 Golden Beige and 11 Amber.

Enjoy shopping!

Lancome Friends & Family Sale 20% Off

* Free standard shipping on any order until 12/25/2011, no code needed!

Friends and Family starts 11/28 through 12/02/2011. 

Smashbox Friends & Family Sale 20% Off 2011

Smashbox has now joined the crowd. 20% Off and free shipping on US orders. This offer expires on 11/28/2011 at 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time.

Please head to this link for full details.

Happy hauling!

Yves Saint Laurent Holiday Sale 20% Off & Free shipping

It seems that every band has a good sale in November! I finally will lay my hands on Touche Eclat.

Enjoy!

Kiehl's Holiday Sale $20 off a $65 purchase

Many of you might probably receive a personal coupon accompanied by three extra coupons for three of your friends. Kiehl's is having an one-time deal - $20 off a $65 purchase online and in store (not valid at Kiehl's counter within department stores). This festive sale ends on 12/31/2011. 

Kiehl's is my absolutely favorite skincare brand, so I'm more than excited for this sale. I've only reviewed several Kiehl's products on my blog so far but I've used quite a few of their products since 2010. I'd like to throw out some shopping ideas for this sale in case you're new to the brand. Reviews on these are coming up.

1. Super Fluid SPF 50 (I swear by this sunscreen)
2. Avocado Eyecream (my daily eyecream)
3. Rare Earth Pore Refining Tonic (my friends love it!)
4. Abyssine serum (very nice serum)
5. Panthenol protein moisturizing face cream ( I love this rich nourishing moisturizer)

Enjoy shopping!

Giorgio Armani Beauty Holiday Sale 20% OFF & free 2nd-day shipping

What is the deal? 20% off plus 2nd day shipping with any $75 purchase

And the code is..... GAHOLIDAY1

Good until..............11/24/2011 the sale is still going on as of now. I'm waiting for the customer service confirmation on the end date. 

May I recommend some of my very favorite Giorgio Armani goodies?

1. Eyes to Kill Intense Eyeshadows (Purpura, Khaki Pulse, Rock Sand, Blast of Blue, Pulp Fiction)

2. Luminous Silk Foundation (reviewed here)

3. Eyes to Kill Mascara (reviewed here)

4. Micro-Fil Loose Powder (reviewed here)

Or you may browse through Giorgio Armani label in the post for my other reviews of the line.

Happy hauling!

Sephora VIB Sale 20% Off 2011

Obviously, not all of us received personal invitations by mail or email. I have to admit I'm running out of patience with Sephora sales this year. Had to ask them for the VIB code on facebook. *Sign*. The sale starts tomorrows 11/10 -11/14/2011. The code is VIBDREAM for online purchase.

Here is the promotional link to download the invitation for in store purchase. You need to sign in your VIB account to download it and also for the code to be activated if you opt to shop online.

Who are VIBs? When you open a free account (membership) with Sephora, you are a Beauty Insider. Very Important Beauty Insiders (VIB) are those Beauty Insiders who spend at least $350 per calendar year.

Happy hauling!

Clarins Friends and Family Sale 20% Off 2011

I hope you've yet to exhaust yourself with all the Friends and Family Sale. Happy shopping ladies!

Benefit Friends and Family Sale 20% Off 2011

This is just in. Enjoy! 

*Get 20% off any order, enter LOVEYALL at checkout. Offer valid only at benefitcosmetics.com. Excludes holiday products and expires 11/14/11 at 11:59pm PST. Combinable with standard shipping offers only. FREE standard shipping is automatically applied on all US orders over $50 and international orders over $125. No codes necessary. Excludes order shipping to China.

Beauty.com Friends and Family Sale 20% Off 2011

Another big beauty sale! Link is -------------> here.

"Discount valid on Beauty.com items only, excluding Fresh, Jane Iredale, Maui Jim, and Oakley products, gift cards, and certificates. Valid Tuesday 11/8/2011 from 12:01am through Friday 11/11/2011 11:59pm Pacific Time. Only valid at time of order and cannot be applied to past orders. Value cannot be redeemed for cash. May not combine with other offers. Please see site for full details. International orders are not eligible to receive this offer"


I've been eyeing Deborah Lippmann and Kevyn Aucoin! What will you stock up?

Sephora Friends and Family Sale 2011 - 20% Off

The highly anticipated Sephora Friends and Family 20% Off kicked off today and will continue through 11/02/2011. You need to visit the website at this link www.sephora.com/friends then enter your email address to get one single use promotion code. Yes, one code for a single checkout but Temptalia said you can use up to 5 different emails per computer. So chill out!

I entered two different emails and got two codes since the first one was wasted during heavy traffic. A dozen attempts later my order went through. Phew!

Happy hauling ladies!

My shopping cart in anticipation of Sephora Friends and Family Sale 2011

It's that time of year again, Sephora Friends and Family Sale starts from 10/20 through 11/2/2011. A million hugs to Musings of a Muse. The official link to this post is here.

Rumors have suspected this will be an one-time deal in stead of unlimited uses of the couples in the past years. While this is unconfirmed, I've created a wish list to be on the safe side.

Here's what my shopping cart currently looks like.

1. Fresh Soy Face Cleanser 5.1 oz (I use it after cleansing oil to remove my makeup)
2. Tocca Giullieta Collection Eau de Parfum 1.7 oz  (will be reviewed here)
3. Dior J'adore Eau de Parfum 1 oz
4. Dior Show Iconic Mascara in Noir (reviewed here)
5. Bobbi Brown High Shimmer Lip Gloss in Naked Plum 
6. Dior 5-color eyeshadow quint Rosy Tan (will be reviewed here)

Are you planning early this year? Feel free to share your wish list here. Any recommendations will be welcome too! Can't wait!