Lancome Beauty Kit

This post is about those amazing gift with purchase kits you sometimes hear about at department store beauty counters. One of the best reasons to purchase your beauty and skincare in department stores is the awesome contracts they have established with some of your favorite beauty brands!

- Sometimes Ulta will have a small gift with purchase on some items but nothing like a department store!
Belk, Dillards, Macy's, and Nordstrom will have deals with big brands like Clinique, Estee Lauder, and Lancome where you literally get an entire makeup collection when you spend X amount of money (normally all you have to do is pick up that face lotion you need a refill on or that new lip kit you've been eyeing).

Below you'll see images of the Lancome Beauty kit my sister recevied. I was compltely blown way at all the FULL SIZE products that she got for only spending 75$.

Luxury Verses Affordable - Rubber Face Mask

A while back I asked my Instagram followers if they will like to see some luxury versus affordable products; ya know to find some amazing dupes of those high-end brands we all envy. (btw, if you're not following please click here to follow along!).
The results were super positive so I dived into the beauty and skin care shops to purchase luxury products and then did research and found affordable ones.

Today's post is all about the well known Dr. Jart Rubber Face Mask (retails for $13) and a more affordable option which is the Sephora Collection Rubber Face Mask (retails for $6).

Continue reading to hear my thoughts on both masks and if the Sephora Collection is a great dupe for the Dr. Jart Rubber Face Mask. 

Dr. Jart Rubber Face Mask collection comes in these fun 7/11 inspired drink cups and in many different styles. From firming, hydration, to acne control. The instructions are super simple. mix the 2 components with the 'straw spoon' and then apply to face. Wear time is about 15-20 minutes (I wore mine for 20 minutes). CRAZY, the mask really turned to rubber like goop!!! Peeled right off and no crazy clean up.
The results were amazing. My skin felt great and for a good 5 days I felt like my skin was at its ultimate 'best skin day'.

What came in the cup + what it looked like mixed!

The mask & after I removed it!

Sephora Collection Rubber Face Mask (Image below) comes in more limited options and from what I can tell its an online exclusive item. *since purchasing mine they came out with another style of mask, so 3 styles in total*. The mask for the Sephora Collection comes in this adorable paint can inspire look. With this mask you mix water to the already pre-measured powder, apply to face, and wear time is 5-7minutes (I wore mine for about 10 minutes to make sure it was fully dry).
I did make one major error; I put too much water. Therefore, my mask was a bit runnier. And with this more liquid texture, it didn't get the super solid rubber finish like the Dr Jart+ BUTTT it did turn rubber-like. Unlike the Dr Jart+ this mask also had a more fragrant scent but it was actually really nice. This mask was for blemish or acne skin. After using it I did notice an improvement in my skin (I felt it helped some of my previous acne spots fade away).

VERDICT: Though the Sephora Collection mask is cheaper in price, the packaging isn't as elaborate, and the product didn't get the super thick rubber texture (that was my fault on not pre-measuring the water); I do feel this is a good dupe if you want to experience the rubber mask but not drop $13 on the Dr Jart+.
I feel with the Dr Jart+ I have a solid 5 days of flawless skin, while the Sephora Collection mask took me 24-36 hours to notice my blemish spots to fade. Both masks are incredible and I think if you're wanting a rubber mask definitely grab one of these!

DONT FORGET! Sephora is doing their super amazing sale RIGHT NOW. Rouge sale just ended but if you're VIB you get 15% off everything! In-store & Online! So maybe grab up this affordable dupe of the Dr Jart+ today! 

If you haven't already follow my fashion + lifestyle instagram! simply click this link or search: brittmcadenmills 
Thanks again for all the support!

- Brittney

What Makeup Products to Splurge on

When it comes to makeup, I feel there are some products you need to invest a little in and some you don’t have to invest a lot in. Today I will talk about Makeup Products to Splurge on! 

Continue reading to hear what Makeup Products to Splurge on:


Foundation - This is a product I always invest in. Foundation is on your skin all day and is something you don’t want moving or fading after a few hours. There are some low price foundations that work well but my most favorites for all day wear are higher priced.

Cleanser - This is one of the most important products I recommend investing in. Your skin cleanser takes all the dirt and toxins off your skin. If your skin cleanser isn’t doing the best job then your makeup won't sit well and look good. 


Lotion - Another major skincare item I invest highly in. Your lotion is protecting your skin from the elements and is helping reverse signs of aging. Invest in this product if you want your skin to be healthy, balanced and glowing for your makeup canvas.


Deep color lipsticks/lip stains - I’ve always had a hard time finding low price lip stains and lipsticks that stay well throughout the day. When I need a stain or deep color I invest a bit in the product.

Eyeshadows in shades of purple - I mention this because, in the makeup color world, purple colors are challenging to get right. I watched a Youtube video where Jeffree Star spoke about how purple pigments sometimes don't transfer well. 

Eyeshadow with large glitter pieces - Makeup glitter is totally different from craft store glitter. Craft glitter is sharp-edged while makeup the glitter has to be rounded (so if there's any fallout into your eyes the glitter won't cut your eye!) I tend to shop higher quality with super chunky glitter shadows just because of how serious this health safety is. 

FAST TIP: I love finding affordable products. Be EXTREMELY CAUTIOUS when shopping at off-price retailers (Like TJmaxx, Ross, Etc) sometimes the makeup could be expired or opened. This also goes for products you might find at Ulta's clearance rack. Make sure the products aren't opened and once you take the item home do a smell test.  *I plan to do a future post about tips on beauty products; similar to this tip!*

In a future post, I'll speak on products you don't have to splurge on. So watch for that post! And as always, if you’re not following the Instagram please click this link and follow along! I post daily fashion, beauty, and lifestyle! Thanks again for all the support as I grow this side hustle.

- Brittney

Ulta VS Sephora - Which is Better?

Which is better to shop at, Ulta or Sephora? As a huge, and I mean huge makeup + skincare fan I have shopped both stores countless times and realized there's quite a difference and I will say - "the best store" depends on what you want/need from your makeup experience.  Below you’ll see the reasoning and details on Which is Better - Ulta VS Sephora. 

Drugstore or luxury.
If you’re on the search for a drugstore mascara or some of the well known skincare items (like netrogenia makeup wipes) you best go to Ulta! The store has half high end and half drugstore/affordable products. From Elf cosmetics, Makeup Revolution to Urban Decay, MAC cosmetics. 

But if you want the best of the best (I’m talking Dior, YSL, Gucci, Kat Von D, etc) you need to visit Sephora. Also, don't forget that Sephora is owned by a Luxury Retailers LVMH - So you'll definitely only see the best of the best. 

Store Collection - Which is Better?
Both Ulta and Sephora have their own personal collection. Ulta seems to always do bogo sales on their collection while Sephora does random promotions on select items but generally both are at affordable prices. I personally prefer the Sephora over Ulta. I feel Sephora’s formula is better quality cause it is competing with all the luxury brands within their store. Also, it's founded in Paris with Louis Vuitton as its parent organizer. While Ulta is simply competing with drugstore brand like Revlon.

In-store treatments.
Both stores have trained associates to do special in-store treatments. Ulta has a hair salon, skincare bar, brow bar, and makeup bar. Sephora has a makeup + skincare bar. If you want a mini spa day stick with Ulta. If you want a smokey eye before your dinner date - go to Sephora.

Sales and Promos.
If you’re looking for good deals or special promos Ulta is the one. You can look online or in your newspaper for the Ulta flyer. From bogo items to special pricing. Sephora does have a sale section online and sometimes a small sale tower in store but their items are all high end which rarely gets marked down. And while Ulta does an amazing 21 days of beauty sale and amazing promos on Black Friday; Sephora simply has a few items marked down, a few percentages off specials (which rarely happen) and that's about it. 

Free Samples.
Ulta has testers you can sample in store.
Sephora has testers you can sample in store and you can request samples to try at home on practically any item that can be made into a sample (even perfumes!). Sometimes even at the register, I’ve made a purchase and they'll throw a deluxe beauty sample into my bag ‘just because’. 

Gift With Purchases.
Ulta has tons of gift with purchase items. I will say you need to remind them at the register because they will forget to give you the gift!
Sephora doesn’t have any special gift with purchase. Sometimes they'll have a spend $35 or spend $50 in-store you will get a sample bag of treats. But I stress on sometimes; because it rarely happens. 

Membership perks.
Both stores have special membership clubs. Both have uniquely different perks. I’m going to go over each in detail.

Ulta - the Ultimate Rewards. Regular membership is getting a 1 point per dollar on all purchases. Points can be gained and used to take a dollar pricing off your purchase (even high-end items). Example -> 100 points turn into $3.00 off.  Ulta credit card gets double the points off each purchase per dollar spent. So 20$ spent = 40 points. There are also double points on your birthday month. Random bonus point days. And a birthday gift. Points expire in a year unless you reach tier two (spend $450 in a calendar year).

Sephora - VIB membership. Dollars spent turn into points that can be used to get deluxe size sample/travel items. Sometimes they do special events where your points can be used to enter into contests. Points never (and I mean never) expire. They sometimes do double points days which you'll see in the Sephora App or online. When you reach tier two and tier three there are special gifts and you can get more points per dollar spent. Birthday gifts during your birthday month as well. 

Verdict.
The conclusion is both stores have their wins and losses. It honestly depends on if you are on a mission for samples, drugstore makeup, luxury makeup, bulk/gift with purchase items, in-store spa/beauty treatments, etc. 

I hope this break down on what each store offers helps on your next beauty journey! 
- Brittney 

Ultimate Skincare Routine - Why I love my Clarisonic Brush

For 2019 I decided to focus on my daily skincare routine. My goal is to have smooth skin and never ever have to deal with breakouts + aggravated pores again. Luckily I found the solution. Read about my skincare past, present, and why I feel the Clarisonic is important for my Ultimate Skincare Routine!

Skincare Past “college days”: I really didn’t care about what I was using to remove dirt and toxins from my skin so I constantly resorted to the cheap makeup remover wipes and washing my face in the shower with whatever soap was an arm reach away. 

Skincare Present: having a baby (well being pregnant) things changed. My skin started to react more towards what I used and how often I cleansed. A night without removing my makeup (like I did in college) the next day my skin would look tired and I’ll spend a week getting the balance + healthy glow back. I noticed fine lines and exaggerated pores if I didn’t cleanse well.

So, I created the ultimate skincare routine with products that worked well for my skin (AKA: ditched the wipes and invested into products I could trust) + purchased an amazing tool; the Clarisonic Mia Brush. *I understand a lot of people turn away when they see the price but let me explain the amazing features this product offers and some affordable ways to purchase one!*

The Clarisonic has magnetic brush attachments that last 3 full months. From a foundation brush, massage brush, and the classic lineup of different skin cleansing brushes. The Clarisonic has a smartphone feature where you can customize your skincare routine. It’s water proof (so you can hop in the shower with it) and a charging port so no battery changes. A full charge holds for 60 minutes - most brush timers last 40-90 seconds.
Around holidays Clarisonic website does promotions on the full lineup of Clarisonic tools. You can also purchase gift sets that come with cleansers, additional brush heads, and more. A great tip is Clarisonic is sold at Ulta where you can use your Ultimate rewards points + shop Ulta catalogue for when they have a special promo sale! - I personally purchased my Clarisonic at Ulta during my birthday month (double points!) and I had a 20% off promotion. 

If you’re interested in learning more about this amazing skincare tool send me a private message on my Instagram, comment below or click these links! I hope this post was insightful on one of my favorite tools I use in my Ultimate Skincare Routine! 
- Brittney 

LUSH HAUL - Using my Own Tips!!!

Good Morning everyone!
The other day I took a trip to LUSH Cosmetics and used my own tips to grab up a few items. Below you'll see all I purchased! (FYI - I purchased all of this for only $100!)
In total, I got 12 bath and bubble bars, 2 samples, and an 8oz bottle of shower gel (not pictured because my Husband is already using it!) all for under $100!

The gift set "Orbital" was a great deal! It was actually cheaper buying this gift set instead of purchasing each one separately. I did get a few bath bombs I've never tried before and so far I love them! (this was one of my tips).
I also got 2 samples! (one of my tips again!) The soap bar is a good size that I can use multiple times. And the small black jar has a shower scrub that will be at least 2 uses!
I also purchased some holiday items which were limited edition and there was a buy one get one free promo! (another great tip!).

As you can see some of these tips really did pay off! I had an amazing experience shopping the store!

Beauty EMPTIES!

Today's a quick post on some beauty products I emptied. When I’m bored I’ll check up on my favorite bloggers when they make this style of post because I always love reading about products and getting new recommendations! So today I thought I’d do the same.
This post is going to be simple and sweet. I’ll list where I purchased each item as well in case anyone wants to try these!
 As always follow the Instagram for daily posts on fashion, beauty and lifestyle!

1. Bastiste Dry Shampoo - This worked well when my hair felt oily or sweaty (especially in the summer time!). Love the scent and the packing is super cute. I’ll be mentioning in more details about this in a future post. Purchase anywhere beauty items are sold!

2. HUM Collagen Pop - At first I didn’t enjoy this. In fact I wrote a negative review about this because of the taste. After day 6, I was able to handle the taste and plan to get more. Its a 10 day drink mix tablet. I’ll be mentioning more on this in a future post! Purchased at Sephora.

3. Clarins Hydra-Essential Eye Mask - This lil’ guy was a sample from a Nordstrom purchase. I actually got 5 solid uses from it! Overall it's nice. I feel if I purchased a full size I would see more results on my under eye area. Considering purchasing again soon at Nordstrom.

4. 14 Karat Gold Rush Tanning Lotion - This is my go-to tanning lotion. The smell is heavenly and the amount of bronze color you get is amazing! Purchased at Amazon.

5. Sexy Little Things Perfume - This was my signature scent throughout college! Once I got married I felt I needed a ’signature scent’ change (but wanted to finish using my stash of S.L.T. Perfumes I built up in my closet!) This is now Discontinued.

6. MakeUpForEver HD Primer - The quality this primer gives is 100%. I’m definitely going to restock on this one soon! Purchased at Sephora.

7. Clinique Mascara - This mascara is surprisingly a good one. It doesn’t do a lot of volume but it's a great lengthening mascara. I’ll most likely get another small size with my Sephora points; but probably won’t purchase a full size. Purchased at Sephora.

8. Pacifica Kale Detox Face Wash - I really enjoyed this face wash! I even made my husband use it! The only downside is I couldn’t stand the smell (its the least pleasing smell in the Pacifica Collection) but the product WORKS wonders! Purchased at ULTA.

Get the MOST out of your Lush Cosmetics Experience

Like most people, I love treating myself with some skincare/bath items and a store I can’t avoid is LUSH Cosmetics. First of all, the smell! Ya’ll complained about smelling Abercrombie and Fitch a mile away, oh LUSH has that same effect. And like most, I notice the prices of these bath bombs and bubble bars... These things aren’t cheap! 

Today I’m giving out my tips on getting the MOST out of your Lush! So you too can enjoy LUSH the way I do.

1: Check the web-shop beforehand
This tip is major. If you walk into a LUSH without an idea on what you want - the associates will take you for a spin and your shopping basket will be packed to the top. What I do is browse the site to see what is new, the prices, and create a list on what I really want and what I just want to ‘look’ at.

2: Pick a side and shop in a circle
If you run around in circles the associates quick thinking is “oh she’s lost. Let me guide her to products” and that is where you can feel pressured or overwhelmed. Pick one side (left or right) and work your way around until you make a full circle of the store.

3: If you need help, ask the associates 
These workers are TRAINED to know everything about every product. So if you are confused or curious about a product - ask.

4: Wanna facial? Foot Treatment? Hand Treatment? Makeup routine? Get one on demand!
The staff is trained to do any type of in-house spa treatment free of charge! They do appreciate if you are purchasing something (it can be an item they used or something else) but do indulge on some spa time if you wish!

5: They are always down to give GENEROUS free samples!
See a soap bar you want to try? Or a face wash? Maybe a lotion? They're always down to give you a product to sample. Just ask. I noticed if you have good vibes and conversations with the associate they’ll give multiple samples (I left once with 5 samples!).

6: Don’t be fooled by the gift sets
Remember when I said visit the web-shop first? Compare prices on buying the products separately VERSUS a gift set. The year round gift sets are a better deal than buying the products separately. But the Holiday gift sets are MORE EXPENSIVE than buying each item separately. I was told this by an actual associate at my local Lush. 

7: Once you’re home, break up the bars
You heard me right! Those giant bubble bars can be cut up into 3, 4, even 6 pieces to create multiple baths! Lush associates will tell you to just crumble a chunk off; but I prefer cutting mine. 
My TIP - get a sharp metal knife, cutting board, and carefully cut slices to the size you wish. Put the pieces into zip bags for easy and dry storage.

8: Bathbombs can be chopped into 2 pieces
Be VERY VERY careful but you can separate bath bombs. My biggest tip if you want to separate your bath bombs is select bath bombs in store that are already separating or have a drastic crack in the middle. Take a butter knife and carefully separate the two. *You can also find videos on Youtube for guidance!*

So there's a few of my tips to get the most out of your LUSH visit. If you have any questions please ask me! And as always follow the instagram for daily posts on fashion, beauty and lifestyle!

-Brittney 

Color of the Year items you can own today *Affordable*

Pantone stated Living Coral is the color of the year. And someone who lives near the coast, I love colors that give me the tropical beach vibes (like coral). This beautiful bold shade you will be noticing in fashion, beauty, and home decor for 2019.
Today I rounded up 9 affordable items you can purchase in Living Coral from fashion, beauty, and home. 
And as always, don’t forget to follow the instagram! (you can click this link!) My instagram has daily posts on fashion, beauty and lifestyle! 

- Brittney 

Fashion: 
 

Coral Dress from Red Dress Boutique  - This dress is in the most perfect shade of Living Coral. Perfect for date night, or in the office (just pair with a white blazer!). Best of all is how affordable this piece is at only $32.00. 

Coral Skirt from Red Dress Boutique  - Talk about a Coral skirt! I seriously love the idea of wearing this while walking on the beach or at a summer party by the pool. Simply throw a white tee-shirt on or even a black top. Snag this for the great price of $48.00. 

Coral Swimsuit from American Eagle   - This swimsuit is giving major summer vibes. I love the black belt detail and the thick straps. Very vintage meets modern feel. You can get this for $30.00. 

Coral Hat from Nordstrom - This Coral hat is perfect for days at the park or relaxing by the pool. The fun flamingo detail is extra preppy. You can get this for $19.95. 

Beauty:

Coral Tarte Lip Rescue from Sephora - This Rainforest of the Sea collection is so inspiring of all things tropical. This lip rescue is a tinted lip balm that is in the amazing Coral color. I personally own this and love it. Especially the packaging! You can get this for $19.00. 

Coral Sephora Collection Blush from Sephora - Sephora Collection is super affordable and was on target with the “it” colors for this year. This blush is rich in Coral tint and looks beautiful on. You can get this for $14.00. 

Home Decor:

Coral Decor Piece from At Home  - This beautiful Coral is perfect for any type of home decor piece. You can place on a bookshelf, in your bathroom, or even create a kitchen table/outdoor table centerpiece with some coral inspired coral! *This is a replica of Coral* You can get this for $13.99. 

Coral Bath Towels from At Home - If you want your home to have some Living Coral but not bold enough to paint an accent wall try these towels for your bathroom (or grab some for your kitchen!) these towels come in all different sizes and prices start at $3.99.

Pillow from At Home - This is the perfect way to dress up your living room with some Coral summer tones (or even your outdoor patio area!). This Coral pillow is priced at $14.99.