Outfit: Casual Fall Shopping

Fall Shopping by artaslife featuring gold glasses

I wore this outfit today for a casual afternoon of shopping.  

Here are a couple of my actual pieces.  

Acid Wash high-waisted "mom jeans"

Military-style jacket

Black round sunglasses

Review: Missha M Perfect Cover BB Cream (No 21)

Today I have a review of Missha's Perfect Cover BB Cream in color number 21.

This product is very popular and has been widely reviewed.  Even still, since this has turned out to be one of my all-time favorite BBs, I wanted to write my own review and let my readers know about this awesome product.

First, this is what Missha's website has to say about this BB cream:

Originally developed as a salve for patients after laser treatment, BB Cream’s soothing and regenerative properties were adapted for cosmetics to improve skin while providing coverage. The M Perfect Cover BB Cream is Missha’s most popular product with over 30 million sold worldwide. Combining cosmetics with skin care, this product promotes natural-looking coverage while providing sun protection, treating dark spots, and preventing wrinkles.

The M Perfect Cover BB Cream is suitable for all skin types and can be used as a makeup base or foundation.

This is what I have to say:

I bought this BB in the Missha store in South Korea. It is offered in two sizes. I bought the smaller size for about 7,000 Won, which is roughly $7 US.  This bottle lasted me for a few months of daily use. I have tried various Missha skincare and cosmetics products and this brand has never disappointed me!  I feel that their prices are pretty reasonable and the products are excellent quality.

This BB is thicker and creamier than some of the others I have tried, although it is not greasy or extremely moisturizing.  I used this BB often during the hot summer months and it never made my normal skin look or feel oily.  Number 21 is the second-lightest shade.  It is a light sandy beige.  The color is definitely on the lighter side and has a decidedly grayish tone.  The first time I saw the color on my skin, I was worried it would make me look pale and sickly, but it smoothly blended into my skin without any grayish cast, and dried to a perfect matte finish.  The coverage is heavier than some BBs I have used (especially those by Holika Holika and various American Brands.)  It has a nice medium coverage, while still giving that fresh and naturally beautiful look that has made Korean BB cream a worldwide sensation.

Color Swatches

The one thing I did not absolutely love about this BB is the scent.  It is quite strong and bold, and what I would describe as perfumey and "older."  I imagine that the powerful middle-aged female executive characters that always pop up in K-dramas would smell like this BB cream.  The scent also does not fade quickly.  Even though I'm not a huge fan of the way this BB cream smells, it is only a minor issue.  

Overall, I would rate Missha's Perfect Cover BB cream as among my top 3 favorite BB creams. There is a reason why there are so many reviews out there for this product!  If you have normal to dry skin and are looking for a great BB with fuller coverage and a matte finish, this just might be the one. However, I would caution anyone with darker or very warm skin tones to test the color first, since the lightness/gray tone might be an issue for some people. 

Have you ever tried this super-popular BB? What did you think? If not, what is your favorite BB cream?

Outfit: Summer Into Fall

Indian Summer by artaslife featuring riding boots

This is an outfit I wore recently to the last of the summer night markets in Chinatown.  It was still pretty warm, but beginning to be a little chilly in the evenings.  I paired a tribal print summer dress in Autumn tones with tights and a jean jacket for extra warmth.  I accessorized with tan knee boots and bag, and turquoise jewelry.    

Recent Freebies

Hi everyone! Today I have a quick post with some of my awesome recent freebies.

This L'Oreal Youth Code Pore Vanisher was an unexpected treat!  Cosmopolitan Magazine and L'Oreal randomly sent me this full-size product asking me to try it out and give feedback.  How cool is that? I was really excited to receive this, since I had sampled this product awhile back and really liked it.  You can read my review here.

This full-sized L'oreal Colour Riche Extraordinaire Lipcolour was also from Cosmo Magazine and L'Oreal.  They sent me an email asking if I'd be willing to try this lipgloss and fill out a survey about my experience.  I really liked this product, so I will likely post a review soon!

When I requested this freebie, I thought it seemed a little too good to be true.  So, I was really excited when it actually arrived!  I got these Jockey Skimmies shorts for creating an account with Jockey.  I love wearing dresses and skirts all summer, and I always wear cotton hot pants-type shorts under them.  These are like an upgraded version of my usual shorts.  The nude color is great and the fabric is like a slip, so there is no catching on dresses or skirts.  These aren't shapewear, so they aren't tight and don't create any weird bulges.  I highly recommend these to all my dress-loving readers!  

I won this full-sized Suave Visible Glow Self-Tanning Body Lotion from a Suave Facebook giveaway.  If you like their products, you should definitely friend them on Facebook, because they give away tons of free products and samples! 

I got this NeilMed Sinus Rinse for reading a tutorial and taking a quiz on their site.  It might not seem all that exciting, but this product is worth more than $10 and is a total lifesaver if you have sinus problems or allergies!

I got two sets of this Dove Oxygen Moisture Shampoo/Conditioner sample from different sample sites.  (I think one was from Pinch Me, and the other was from Walmart.) This is the first time I remember trying Dove shampoo.  I used the first set already, and I really liked it!  It is a good inexpensive shampoo for fine hair.

This Dove deodorant sample was from Poshly.

These Olay and Herbal Essences body washes came from a P&G Sample Box, and an Orgullosa Box.  If you like P&G products check out both the P&G site and their site for Latinas called Orgullosa.  Both offer great sample packs!

Frizz Ease Styling product samples from John Frieda. 

 These are various small samples: Crest White strips, Suave Naturals, Ban cloths, Olay lotion.

So, what freebies and deals have you gotten lately?

New In: Sandals/Shoe Factory Store Review

Hi everyone!  I recently bought these two pairs of sandals at Shoe Factory, a local Philadelphia shoe store.

These thick strapped gladiator sandals are right on-trend and were only $9.99! 

My pictures do not do these shoes justice-they are so cute on!

  

Not only are these stylish, the material of the straps is straps is very soft and the shoes are really comfy.  

These nude sandals were also $9.99. They are made of a soft microsuede fabric embellished with plastic studs.  I like how they kind of blend into my feet, giving a very neutral and minimalist look.

I decided to write this post after I realized there was barely any information about Shoe Factory online!  This is a local family-owned Philly store that I have been shopping at my whole life.  So, I wanted to do a quick review on this awesome store.

Shoe factory is located in Northeast Philadelphia at Castor and Tyson Avenues.  It is within walking distance of the Roosevelt Mall.  You can check out their Facebook page here.

Shoe Factory sells discount women's shoes and some girls' sizes as well.  The prices are really reasonable, with their shoes averaging about $15 full price. (Their winter boots tend to be more in the $30 range full price.) They also regularly mark down their merchandise throughout the season.  Sometimes there are sales where the whole store is marked down.  Many times, I have picked up some cute shoes there for $4-$7!

Their selection is really random.  They offer shoes in every imaginable color and style.  This store is a great place to check out if you need to match a certain outfit or want some sexy shoes for a night out or a formal event.  They carry many fashion-forward and over-the-top styles.  You can find anything from basic to attention-grabbing, flats to stilettos.  Most of their shoes are unknown brands, or inexpensive brands like Bamboo, Qupid, or Classified.  Occasionally, you might find a store brand like Charlotte Russe or Forever 21.  As a size 5.5/6 I find the selection hit or miss.  Often, they don't have my size, or the sizes run too big for me.  My sister who is a 7.5/8 fares much better.

They only have one location, and the store is cramped with tables stacked with shoes.  It is almost always crowded.  When I can, I like to go on week nights when it is a little more quiet.  There is not much space to walk or try on anything on, but I consider the less-then-perfect shopping experience a small price to pay for such a huge variety of cute and inexpensive shoes!

I also saw a number of bad reviews of Shoe Factory's customer service on store review sites.  This has not been my experience, but I have witnessed moments of tension between staff and other customers while shopping there.  I personally think that this stems from two things: Shoe Factory's bag-check policy, and their return policies.  The staff asks that all larger bags are checked-including handbags!  This is not a common store policy, so I think it leaves some shoppers feeling disgruntled.  I consider it an inconvenience that I'm willing to accept in order to get a good deal, and I simply leave my handbag in the car if it is large.  Also, Shoe Factory's return policy is very strict.  I'm not sure of the details, because I don't do returns, but I think returns are only issued as store credit and many sales are final.  These policies tend to annoy certain customers, but since Shoe Factory is a small privately owned store, it is the owners' prerogative, and being demanding and pushy will get you nowhere! I have been shopping there since I was a pre-teen and never had an issue with customer service.

Shoe Factory is one of my favorite places to shop for shoes, because there are so many great deals to be found.  Just leave your big purse and your attitude at home, and try not to go on Saturday afternoon!

You can also check out a Shoe Factory review from PhillyDiva19154

      

New In: Freebies and Bargains

I have gotten a lot of great freebies and bargains lately, so, it seems that I'm long over due for a freebies and bargain post.

Freebies

These cute little sandals from H&M were FREE!  They are possibly one of my greatest bargain snags to date!  Neshaminy Mall sent me an online survey that promised a $10 gift card, so I completed it and scored $10 free.  At the mall, I was looking for some little summer sandals.  These fit the bill, and were priced at $12.95.  So, with my gift card, I expected to pay $3.  Not a bad deal!

Oh but it gets better....

At the register, the sandals rang up $5 on clearance... AND all the clearance was buy one get one free!!!  My sister got a little two-pack of panties as the BOGO deal. So, I got these sandals, panties for my sister, and still have $5 of free money on my card. How awesome is that???

I won these two chocolaty-brown Nicole for OPI polishes from a Dove chocolate giveaway on Facebook. The prize also included a coupon for a free Dove chocolate bar-yum!

Wet 'N Wild always offers $1-off coupons, making their 99 cents items FREE.  I got these two colors free with coupons at CVS. If I keep getting these deals, pretty soon I'll own every color!

I won this full-sized Weleda Pomegranate lotion from their Facebook giveaway.

Free lotion samples that I requested by mail: Jergens BB Body, and Suave Moroccan Infusion.

A free sample of Pantene shampoo and conditioner.

Samples of John Frieda shampoo/conditioner and Garnier Fructis Marvelous Oil.

I scored all of these for free in a "Start Sampling" box.  I like medicine samples like the Tums and Breathe Right strips, because they are great to keep around in case someone in my house gets sick.  Because of free samples, I have a little medicine stash in case of emergencies.  I also got this Garnier Fructis Damage Eraser Sample, and best of all, a free Colgate tooth brush!

These are random samples.  I grabbed a Gucci cologne sample for my BF, Burberry Brit and a body splash for me.  The L'Oreal Pore Vanisher, Garnier 5 Second Blur, and Olay came in my free magazines-so double win there! I also got this Tide sample, and a coupon for a free full-sized bottle of Suave. I'm going to give the Suave to my BF.

Some vitamin samples...Zarbees natural allergy relief, Heliocare, and all the rest are from AI Sports Nutrition.  I'm not sure if these AI Sports products are a sample pack or a giveaway, because it seems really generous for just a sample!

I also picked up some things for free with coupons at CVS.  This Almay eye makeup remover was free with coupons and Extra Care Bucks. (Sorry, I used it before taking the pic!)

 This Colgate Optic White toothpaste was free at CVS after Extra Care Bucks and coupons.

Bargains

This sporty white watch was just $2.50 on Ebay, including the shipping from China!  It works great and looks really nice.  It also comes in other bright colors.

I found these two skinny belts on sale at Charlotte Russe at Neshaminy Mall.  They were $1.99 for both (so, less than $1 each!) and they are perfect for summer dresses and skater skirts.

 I found this small cross-body handbag on Ebay. It was $4.50-and that's including shipping from China!  Obviously, for just $4.50 it is not top-of-the-line quality, but it is a good-looking bag and perfect for the price.  It almost resembles a small version of the Marc Jacobs Natasha Bag.  It also comes in a variety colors.  I've been pretty satisfied with inexpensive bags that I've purchased from China.  So, if you need a certain color, shape, or style of handbag but don't want to pay a lot for something you won't wear often, Ebay is a great place to look.

 So, have you scored any great freebies or bargains lately?

Outfit: Indie Concert

This is what I wore to an outdoor indie concert this weekend.

My spiked ankle boots 

Mint open-knit crop sweater 

Mint spike bracelet 

So, have you attended any outdoor concerts or festivals yet? What did you wear?