Sunday, December 21, 2014

Sale Alert-Delia's is Going Out of Business

I just received an email that the iconic 90's teen store, Delia's, is closing.  Their going out of business sale is currently 40% off everything, including new arrivals.



Petite girls, this is a great opportunity to stock up on short length jeans.  Their inseams start at 26"! Their jeans are running about $25.99 right now and they are offering free shipping on orders over $75.

Also, if you like 90's fashion and are not familiar with Delia's place in 90's teen history, you should definitely Google search Delia's catalogs from the 90's for a fun look at 90's fashion, beauty, and pop culture.

RIP Delia's!   

Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Outfit: Benefit Dinner

New Classics

New Classics by artaslife featuring golden jewelry

This look is based on what I wore recently to a beef and beer fundraiser for the family of a friend.  I had to go from work to the benefit dinner, so I stuck to a classic and low key-yet pretty-style.  

Here are a few of my actual pieces:

Watch from Ebay


Scarf from 89 Cents Direct

Necklace from 5.99fashion.com

 What do you like to wear for casual evenings out?

Monday, December 8, 2014

New In: Ebay Jewelry

Hi Everyone! Here are a few of my latest Ebay finds...

This map watch is really similar to one I was eyeing at Urban Outfitters for $34, but I found this great retro-style watch on Ebay for just $2.78!  That even includes shipping from China.






This crystal necklace is just so pretty and delicate!  It is slightly smaller than my other crystal necklace from ebay.  It was only $1.63 (for just the pendant without a necklace) and it always gets compliments.



These gold layered necklaces are similar to more expensive styles that I admired, but these were just 99 cents each-including shipping!




Whenever I see a new watch or jewelry trend that I like, I try to track a similar style down on Ebay. That way, I can own all the newest styles while spending next to nothing. 

So, what do you like to buy from Ebay?

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

Bargain Brag: Jeffrey Campbell Black Friday Score!

On Black Friday, I noticed that the Urban Outfitters near my job had 50% off of all clearance.  I decided to stop by to see if I could pick up any nice Christmas gifts.  I did find a few gifts (I'm not totally greedy!) but the best find was actually for me! 



I scored these adorable Jeffrey Campbell Ivar Velvet sandals for just $30



Even the box is cute! 



I've always admired Jeffrey Campbell shoes.  I feel their style really fits my aesthetic, but I've never owned a pair because their price range doesn't usually fit my budget. 


I was shocked when I saw these $125.00 shoes were marked down to $59.99 with an additional 50% off, making them only $30!!! 



I really needed a new pair of dressy shoes, and I loved that these could be worn either dressy or casual.  


The best thing about the shoes is that they are not just cute, but also soooo comfortable.  The inside is very cushioned and the straps fit perfectly. You could easily dance all night in these.   



When I came home I checked Urbanoutfitters.com and found that the same style is currently selling for their full price of $125 online. OMG!  I'm so excited about this super score.  I'll definitely be rocking these adorable chunky sandals on New Years Eve! 


So, what great deals did you find this Black Friday?

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

New In: Sephora Favorites Draw the Line Gift Set

Hi everyone! First, I want to wish a Happy Thanksgiving to all my American readers.  And no matter where you are from, I just want to let you know that I am so thankful for all of you who take the time to read my blog :-)

Today I just wanted to share with you this awesome eyeliner set that I recently got from Sephora.  It would make a great holiday gift for makeup obsessed friends and family.


I am not a big Sephora shopper, so I was totally unaware of the amazing gift sets that they offer for the holidays.  I had planned to buy my sister a Makeup For Ever liner for her birthday, but then I came across a post about Draw the Line from one of the bloggers that I follow.  For $30, you get 6 different name-brand eyeliners (7 if you count the fact that the Urban Decay 24/7 liner is double-sided!) 5 black, 1 brown, and one deep plum. The set comes with one black and one brown liquid liner.  

When I told my sister about Draw the Line, she said she would get me one too, since my birthday is coming up.  So, here is a peek at my newest toy!
    
The box is pretty cute if you plan to give it as a gift.


Nars Cosmetics Via Veneto Larger Than Life Long Wear Eyeliner (black) 

Kat Von D Deluxe Tattoo liner in Trooper (black liquid) 

Sephora Collection Contour Eye Pencil 12 HR Wear in Black Lace 

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Double Ended Eye Pencil in Perversion and Rockstar

stila Cosmetics Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner in Dark Brown 

Deluxe Marc Jacobs Beauty Highliner in Blacquer 
I may write a review once I try them all out.  If you want to know more about each liner, this is a review that I found very helpful when deciding whether this set was a good investment or not. 



The fun part about shopping at Sephora.com is the gifts and samples! 

I got these three samples with my purchase.


They also had a free gift offer on orders over $25.  I got this 8 piece set and bag.  It includes Lancome mascara, Marc Jacobs lip gloss (which I LOVE btw), Kat Von D lip stain, Smashbox shadow primer, Philosophy lotion, Urban Decay eyeliner, and 2 perfume samples. 

The shipping was super-fast, too!  Overall, I love my Draw the Line set, and my shopping experience on Sephora.com.

So, what holiday gift set is on your wishlist this year?

Sunday, November 23, 2014

Review: Maybelline Dream Pure BB Cream

Hi Everyone, today I have a review of Maybelline Dream Pure BB Cream.  




First, this is what Ulta.com had to say about the product:

Maybelline's 1st blemish fighting BB cream helps clear skin with 8 great skin benefits! With 2% salicylic acid. For combination and/or blemish-prone skin.

Why You'll Love It: Their Dream Pure BB Cream is a 1-step wonder for healthy-looking skin today and clearer skin tomorrow.

Benefits:

  • Clears acne
  • Conceals
  • Imperfections
  • Minimizes look of pores
  • Reduces appearance of redness
  • Adjusts to skin tone
  • Hydrates and smoothes
  • Enhances and clarifies skin
  • Is oil-free, with a lightweight feel

2% salicylic acid is one of the highest percentages of this powerful blemish-fighter that you can get without a prescription, yet it's gentle enough to use every day.

For Best Results: Apply a thin layer of Dream Pure BB cream on skin. Can be used with or without a moisturizer.



This is what I have to say about Maybelline Dream Pure BB:

Well, this review almost didn't happen!  I found a sample of this BB cream in Seventeen Magazine.  I'm always really excited to find free samples in magazines, but I was less-than-stoked about this particular freebie score.  I have never had acne, even as a teenager.  So, I knew this this product was not for me even before trying it.  That, coupled with the fact that I had previously sampled Maybelline's Dream Fresh BB Cream and did not like it, made me want to just toss the sample.  (You can check out my review for Maybelline's Dream Fressh BB cream here.)

However, curiosity made me give the Dream Pure BB a try, despite the fact that it was not for my normal to dry skin and was from a product line I found to be disappointing in the past. To my surprise, this turned out to be a pretty decent BB Cream.

The sample was fairly generous, so I was able to use it three times.  The first two times I used it with my L'Oreal Youth Code Pore Vanisher as a base.  (You can see my review of Youth Code Pore Vanisher here.)  Since the Pore Vanisher is moisturizing, I decided to try the BB cream alone one day to see how it performed solo.


A swatch of Maybelline Dream Pure BB Cream in Light/Medium

The sample color was light/medium, which is the color I would usually choose.  I found that it had a decidedly orange tone.  While this orange undertone might be great on an oompa loompa, it wasn't the best match for my skin.  The orange color wasn't that apparent after the product was blended, but I still felt like this shade was not a great match for my skin.  You might want to sample colors if you consider buying this product.
Oompa Loompas

The product is thicker and creamier than the Dream Fresh BB Cream.  It has good coverage.  I'd say it is a heavier light coverage or a very light medium.  If you need extra coverage due to acne scarring, I don't think this product alone would work for you.  It has much better coverage than the Dream Fresh BB, though.  It dried to a matte finish. Despite containing 2% salicylic acid, during the three days I tried it, I did not find that it dried out my skin.  Of course, I can't say if this would remain the case over a longer period.  It worked better for me with a base, though.  When I wore it alone, it did not look quite as smooth and it settled into my fine lines.  Since I don't have oily skin or acne, which is the type of skin this product is intended for, I can't tell you how this BB fares for those conditions.  I can say it was gentle enough for my normal to slightly dry skin. 

Overall, I feel this was a much better BB Cream than Maybelline's Dream Fresh BB.  The quality is fair for its low price.  There are probably better BB creams for acne out there, but this product exceeded my expectations.  If you are looking for a budget friendly BB for acne that is not overly drying or irritating, this is a decent product.

Have you tried Maybelline's Dream Pure BB Cream? What did you think?

Monday, November 10, 2014

New In: Marshall's Sweaters Mini-haul

Hi Everyone. Today I have a sweater mini-haul from Marshall's.  On my latest trip to Marshall's, there were so many cute sweaters to chose from!  A lot of the junior's sweaters were mall store brands: Abercrombie and Fitch, American Eagle Outfitters, and Hollister.  All of the sweaters I picked out were under $25.  Had I not been under a self-imposed shopping ban, I could have easily left with 10 amazing brand-name sweaters, all between $13 and $25 each.  However, I managed to control myself a little and left with only three.  If you are looking for some cute cozy sweaters for the holidays and don't have the patience to wait for the winter sales, Marshall's is a great place to stock up on better-quality sweaters for resonable prices.  
Brand: American Eagle Outfitters
Price: $12.99
This light weight gray marled sweater has silver threading that gives it a subtle shimmer.  It also has a rounded slightly high-low bottom.  Similar sweaters are currently selling on American Eagle's website for around $40. 

Brand: Abercrombie and Fitch
Price: $16.99
This soft drapey open knit cardigan makes a great not-so-basic basic.  It has a bit of personality but there are still so many ways to wear it.  I could wear this with all black and a tribal statement necklace for an edgier look, or pair it with tan knee boots, jeggings, and a white tee for a classic look.  Abercrombie currently has some draped cardigans on its website for $40

Brand: Hollister
Price: $24.99
This sweater is warm, soft, and cozy. I love the simple shape and the cable knit.  This is my favorite sweater of the haul because I can picture myself wearing it all the time.  It would be cute under a pink textured coat.  As much as I love this sweater, it wasn't as good of a deal as the others.  Hollister currently has a similar cable-knit sweater on sale for $28.


So, do you ever shop at Marshall's? What are your favorite items to purchase there? Have you gotten any steals at Marshall's lately?

Monday, October 27, 2014

New In: Crystal Necklace from Ebay + Ebay Tips


One of the fashion bloggers that I follow recently posted a crystal jewelry haul, and her post inspired me to get some 90's-style crystal jewelry of my own. I started my search for cool crystal jewelry on urbanoutfitters.com.  Although Urban Outfitters had exactly what I was looking for, I decided to see if I could find better prices on Ebay.  I discovered quite a few similar styles from Chinese sellers on Ebay.  It was so hard to choose, but I settled on this simple amethyst pendant with a silver-tone setting and chain.     

Most listings were for just the pendant alone, but since I didn't have a chain that was appropriate, I looked for a set. This pendant and necklace pair was just $2.78 including shipping from China! It was exactly as described in the listing and I absolutely love it. It is even prettier in person than in the pictures.  This seller also has a variety of stones to choose from in the same style.  You can find the exact listing for this item HERE.

This seller also offers the same pendant on a leather cord, which gives it even more of a 90's feel.  I went with the silver chain, though, because I wanted it to look more delicate and pretty, more like the styles on Urban Outfitters.

Since this necklace was so pretty and so cheap, I decided to order a different style in clear crystal without the chain.  Keep an eye out for an Ebay accessory haul post in the near future. 



Ebay Tips

Since I'm sharing an Ebay purchase with you, I thought I'd also mention a few tips to keep in mind when purchasing low-priced items from Chinese Ebay sellers.

1. Be aware that international shipping takes longer.  Chinese products usually arrive to the United States in about 3 weeks.

2. If there is a problem with your purchase, always contact the seller first before leaving negative feedback. Often, they are very helpful and will try to fix the problem by offering to send out a new item or issuing a refund.  Also, the large time difference can cause a lag in response time, so give them a day or 2 to respond.

3. Check the seller's feedback. Most importantly, look at their negative feedback to see the types of problems buyers have encountered.  Also, feedback for the particular item you are buying can be helpful.  If all listings are private, I tend to feel that the seller is trying to hide specific feedback, which could be a bad sign.

4. Always buy in your currency.  Although listings with Chinese currency are usually slightly cheaper, it can end up costing you extra if your bank charges foreign currency fees. (I found out the hard way that my bank does!) 

3. Don't expect too much for super-cheap items and you won't be disappointed.  Usually, I am really shocked at the quality of items purchased from China compared to the price.  Many times, I wonder how the sellers can possibly make a profit from the transaction.  But keep in mind that Ebay shopping with Chinese sellers is a gamble. They often use stock photos that may not be an accurate depiction of the actual item you receive. (That has happened to me a couple of times.) They may skimp on packaging and the item arrives broken or damaged.  The item might not be durable; it may be flimsy and break or tarnish easily.  That's why I buy trendy impulse items on Ebay and shop elsewhere for classic pieces that I expect to last.

So, do you ever shop Ebay? What's your latest Ebay find? Do you have any Ebay tips to share? 

Thursday, October 23, 2014

Outfit: Evening Class

Class night

Class night by artaslife featuring leather cowboy boots

This is just an outfit I wore to class recently. For "Indian summer" days, I like to hang onto summer just a little longer by pairing a summer dress with more season appropriate pieces.

What is your favorite season to dress for? 

Tuesday, October 14, 2014

New In: Makeup Freebies + My Free Makeup Collection


Here are my two newest makeup freebies...



I got this Rimmel Volume Accelerator Mascara in a social giveaway. (One of those giveaways where you send a gift to a friend.) It is a good mascara and it does add plenty of volume! I've gotten compliments on my lashes while wearing this mascara. Overall, I've had really positive experiences with Rimmel products. They seem to be very good quality for their price range.


I got this Mary Kay lipstick through a text message giveaway. I was super excited to recieve such a nice full-sized product for free! But when I got a look at this bright orange shade (Citrus Flirt) I was like, "Never mind...don't think this is gonna work!" However, I was really surprised once I gave it a try. I would have never thought I could do the bright orange lip trend, but it turned out to actually be quite pretty and flattering on me. And the formula is perfect: light, yet moisturizing. I've had very limited experience with Mary Kay products in the past, but the couple Mary Kay items that I have tried recently were excellent quality. 

While preparing this post, I noticed that I've amassed a huge free makeup collection over the past year or so! So, I thought I'd show it off.  I got all of these cosmetics for free through contests, giveaways, and couponing


Face



Facial Moisturizers and Fragrance


Mascaras


Lipsticks


Eyeshadows


Eyeliners


Nail Polishes


If you love to discover great new products without the financial risk, it pays to keep your eyes out for giveaways and sales!  

Have you won any beauty swag lately?