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 to Buy: It Cosmetics *And What Not to Buy!*

Today I wanted to dive in on what is worth buying from the “It Cosmetics” line. Over the years I’ve been testing many of their products and noticed some major hits while others aren't reaching the “you must own this” mark. Here are the products I feel everyone needs in their makeup and skincare bag.

Continue below to see What to Buy: It Cosmetics!

Buy

- Confidence in a Cleanser 
I really enjoy using this product. The overall texture of this cleanser is nice and I feel for the price its totally worth it.

- Bye Bye Under Eye Concealer

Seriously this concealer is amazing. I noticed a major difference with my under eye area when I used this. I also use this concealer to touch up small areas that need extra love as well.

- Bye Bye Under Eye Cream
I’m currently using this and so far I’ve enjoyed the product. I will have to update it the future. Currently, it does do the job on some under eye wrinkles but as of now it doesn’t irritate my skin, has little to no fragrance, and leaves me feeling positive about my future results. 

- It Cosmetics Foundation

My girlfriends all use this product and all claim its worth the investment. I personally haven't tried it yet because I'm currently on foundation overload but as soon as I empty one of the foundation bottles I will hop on the 'it cosmetics foundation' bandwagon and grab me some too!




Avoid

- Brow Power Universal Eye Pencil

I honestly didn’t see much amazement in this. I felt it was like a regular eye pencil that if you wanted to make darker you just needed to press down harder. Stick with a Covergirl pencil and save your money.

- Super Hero Volumizing Mascara

I bought the full size of this hoping to do wonders. Honestly, I didn’t see much difference and noticed it had a weird odor. In a recent shopping trip, I was given a small deluxe sample which I plan to try again and see if they improved the formula.

- Confidence in a Cream:

This product is generally an okay product. But I didn't notice much of a difference compared to other drugstore face creams. 

- Bye Bye Melting 3-in-1 Cleansing Balm
Seriously this is my #1 on the worst things to get. Maybe better for someone with dry skin that needs an oily/balm-like product on their skin but for me it sat on my skin and didn’t melt the makeup off. I plan to keep trying the product but I haven’t enjoyed it at all. And super scared to use my Clarisonic with it. 

I hope this post gave some insight into what I feel is the hits and fails of the It Cosmetics collection! Now I would like to ask everyone; What to Buy from It Cosmetics that I didn't mention! I love trying new makeup so drop me some suggestions! 

Also don't forget to follow the Instagram: @brittmcadenmills! I post daily fashion, beauty, and lifestyle! I appreciate all the love and support as I try to grow this side hustle.

- 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

Beauty + Skincare EMPTIES

Its that time again where I grab up the basket of "empties" and go over how I felt about the products! I've been really enjoying this because I can really sit back and dissect the product (from packaging, quality, short/long term results, etc). The best part is I'm using up items I've had sitting around and making space for new items to try!

If you would like to hear what EMPTIES I have and what products I plan to repurchase continue reading!

- Kristin Ess Extra Gentle Shampoo & Conditioner
So shocked. I used up an entire set of haircare products! Honestly didn't see anything 'amazing' when I used these the first few times. The results were 'eh'. Depending on the weather  conditions the product would either do its job or leave my hair extra oily and flat. The smell is also a bit too perfumey for me. I do think the packaging was nice. The bottles have some natural weight to them which feels pleasing. For the price, I feel you should just go to Ulta and buy a Salon set.


- Eyelure Wispy N152
When I have the time to wear false lashes I love em. This brand has always been an affordable favorite and the wispy is so great for a 'natural glam' look.


- Garnier SkinActive Micellar Water *Pink Bottle*
Best product ever. I have to stress the pink bottle because I did a repurchased but grabbed the blue bottle (and I'm not enjoying it as much.) The pink is an All-in-1 and good for sensitive skin. I also love it comes in smaller travel size bottles!

- Too Faced Shadow Insurance
I have been slowly using this up for ages. It really does lock in the shadow and keeps it from sliding or melting off (which says A LOT because I live in Florida!). I will probably repurchase down the road but I'm currently wanting to try out a few new brands of eyeshadow primer.


- Ole Henriksen The Clean Truth Foaming Cleanser
It has a good foaming pump. Citrus scent. And removes dirt easily. Worked great with my Clarisonic. This is a cult classic but I doubt I'll repurchase because I'm in need of a cleanser that fits all my needs.


- Sephora Collection Avocado Face Mask
This mask was in a collection set I purchased and wow I'm so glad I got to try this! The way the mask was packaged is 100% high quality. I felt the mask is like most sheet masks as in there was a lot of product and the results were normal. I'm going to look more into Sephora's sheet masks next time I'm in-store.

- Abercrombie & Fitch Perfume Sampler
I was given this sample set on a trip to the store. Was super excited to try 3 of their newest perfumes and the package even had a $10 off coupon! The samples had a good 7-9 pumps in it which is great! Ellwood is definitely a beautiful scent.

- Batiste Dry Shampoo "Cheetah bottle"
Like most Batiste Dry Shampoos this one did what was expected. I like the packaging and the scent wasn't too bad either. Definitely, plan to restock on some dry shampoo in the near future! Also watch for this, you can get them at Tjmaxx for much less!

- Dr Jart+ Ceramidin
I received this in a Sephora Play! Kit. It wasn't too terrible of face cream. But definitely isn't my Charlotte's Magic Cream or La Mer. I don't plan to repurchase because I have so many face creams I need to test out and the results from this wasn't that amazing.

- Dirty Works Coconut Body Scrub
Not sure where this came from... It was in my basket of shower scrubs and I thought it was worth using. Definitely had amazing exfoliants in it! The scent felt like a vacation and the exfoliants knocked all the dry skin off in one use! If I could find this product again I would definitely repurchase for prepping my skin for tanning.

- Chapstick
I mean, its Chapstick. Classic. Everyone uses it. Will always have one in my purse!

- Benefit's Bad Gal Lash
I love benefits products - Hoola Bronzer is my jam. But I'm not a fan of this mascara. The brush was very chunky and I felt the product didn't transfer off well. It seemed really clumpy at times and for the cost, it's not worth it.

- Two Neutrogena Makeup Remover Towelettes
I live for these things. Especially when I visit the spa. But I will warn everyone to not skip on using a face cleanser or wiping down your face with some water. These wipes remove makeup but there are some oils and perfume that will leave a strange film-like layer on your skin. If you apply makeup after using one of these it might alter the appearance of your makeup too.

As always don't forget to follow the instagram! I post daily style, beauty, and lifestyle posts! Also when I reach my 'speical' goal I plan to do a huge giveaway! Thanks for all the support! 

- 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 

Testing a Monthly Subscription Kit: PLAY! by Sephora

For years now there’s been monthly subscription kits (the Fab Fit kits, Birchbox, Boxycharm, Sephora, etc). And I’ve always wondered if these kits are truly worth it. The first thing is to decide on a kit. Some are devoted to jewelry, some makeup+skincare, and some for lifestyle.

Today I had the opportunity to test a monthly subscription kit; a Play by Sephora kit. Now a cool fact on Sephora; you can sign up for the monthly subscription or just purchase a “Play Smarts” kit (which informs you in advance what’s in the kit). The “Play Smarts” are usually themed and I have purchased “Play Smarts” kits in the past and loved it. [Image below is of my “Play Smarts” kit. It was a kit based on Age 30’s skincare. Like I said, I LOVED it.]

So when this opportunity to try the regular monthly subscription kit for FREE came around I felt I must try and compare. Now the only difference from the two kits is being aware of what you’ll get versus a kit that is a complete surprise. Both kits came with 5 products + 1 extra bonus, 50 points card to use on your next purchase, and the online how to use video. 

Below you will see images of the regular Play by Sephora kit I received. 

Overall, this kit was alright. For the price you pay you do get a good amount of items. The sizes are deluxe samples/travel sizes so you get more than 3 uses; which I love. There was some nice products and some that I didn’t care for (since the kit is a surprise without me knowing what’s inside a few of the items doesn’t work well with my skin/I already had in my collection.)

If you’re on the fence about trying a monthly kit I recommend doing the homework and reading reviews on if the products were legitimate, if the kit has a ‘personal profile’ so you will get items custom to your needs, and if you can purchase something that you already know whats coming to you (like the “Play Smarts” kits by Sephora).