Bows and Buttons

Hello, it's me...

Haha, hey guys! Today I just have a quick blurb of, well I don't know what you might call it, life advice perhaps? So I was in Starbucks the other day, and I overheard this girl talking on the phone to who I'm assuming was one of her friends, and she was basically saying something to the effect of " =I can't go shopping alone, and I need XYZ item!"

This got me thinking..

When I was younger, I would be terrified to go shopping alone, even last year I was scared. I would beg my friends on end to come with me to the mall, or grocery shopping even. Don't get me wrong, I am extremely independent but for some reason, shopping was the vulnerability. And then, early February, I had to run to a friend's birthday party and I realized that I had forgotten to get a card. I was already on my way and so I had to go stop by the store by myself. Now looking back on it, that sounds so stupid but I think that really was the first step into shopping by myself. I was terrified, how could I shop without someone else, or someone else's opinion?

Now, almost a year later, I find that shopping by myself is an incredible way to have "me" time. I don't know about you guys but I cannot sit in a bath for more than 30 minutes at a time. I found that in that time where I didn't have to rely on what my friends thought on that skirt or that shirt or those bananas, I really developed my own sense of style and fruit preferences (that one was a joke). Weirdly enough, I found myself venturing out more and trying things that I normally wouldn't. I also learned in this time that no one cares about what you are doing. Not in the meanest way, but if you swatch something or pace an aisle a few times or drop a box, no one seems to care. It used to seem like the biggest ordeal and that everyone was staring at me but I really learned that they are too self-absorbed to notice. Well, that goes for people in general, not just the people at Sephora. These are all lessons I wish I would have learned at an earlier age.

So I guess the point of this post is to say, try shopping by yourself, you may just end up liking it. Now, don't completely ignore your family/friends. it is also incredibly fun to shop with them as well. Like everything in life, it's about maintaining a healthy balance.

Have you shopped alone? If so, did you end up learning/noticing anything about yourself in the process?

xx,

India

HauteLook Referral Link: http://www.hautelook.com/short/3YWBX

Influenster Referral Link: www.influenster.com/r/1114634

Hi Hi Hi! Sorry Sorry Sorry Sorry for not posting after I made a big stink over how I was going to start posting regularly again. I am back and better than ever.

Today I have a quickie review on Benefit's creaseless cream shadow (Or so it says...)

Ok so on black friday (that feels like ages ago, wow does time fly), I went to Ulta and totally stocked up on all of their doorbusters (which some are still available and cheaper!) and one of their deals was all of Benefit's eyeshadows and lipsticks were 50% off! Also, I believe they had a cream blush, but I swatched it and didn't like the shade. Anyway, I was psyched because I had seen some of my favorite beauty bloggers rave about the creaseless cream shadows and they looked so pretty online. I decided that I would just pick up the one shade that I knew I would wear the most, because I have way too much makeup(who am I kidding, you can never have enough), and the shade I picked up was called RSVP.

So it comes in this really cute but totally impractical packaging made out of printed cardboard. The actual product is inside the "tube" with a compact-like packaging

($20 at Ulta, shade: RSVP)

Inside there's a really cute looking eyeshadow encased in a thick plastic covering and a white exterior (it looks like a muffin tin right? or a pie crust?) The shade itself is shown online as very peachy but in real life it's a light champagne color with a light tinge of pink.

So I'll just be blunt here, it creased. I was beyond disappointed when it creased not even two minutes later. The color payoff was beautiful and the little shimmer it did have showed up. The color was gorgeous but I tried to apply the shadow with a flat brush that I always use for packing on shadow but it applied better with my finger or even a sponge tip applicator.

Overall, I thought it was OK, I think that the NYX shadow sticks do a much better job and have the some of the same shades and texture. I do think for a product that said it wouldn't crease, the fact that it did was really disappointing and may have affected my view of the product. But, if it's ten dollars, it's not bad, just maybe not for me.

Have any of you tried it and if so what's your opinion on it? Leave your answer in the comments below!

xx,

India

HauteLook Referral Link: http://www.hautelook.com/short/3YWBX

Influenster Referral Link: www.influenster.com/r/1114634

Hi everyone, I'm sorry I've been gone for a little while now, I promise I'll be better at posting from now on and not skipping two months at a time :) I had a hectic schedule there for a while but everything's settled down now so you can expect at least a post a week and if I don't post, I give you fill permission to comment angrily demanding me to post. Also on the note of comments, I would love it if you guys would comment anything you would like to see so I can give y'all content that you want to see.

So long tangent aside, I thought I would make a post on how I like to save money on makeup, and well just in life, because who doesn't love saving money on makeup? Also, lets be honest here, buying new makeup (or beauty products in general) can be realllly expensive. So without further ado, here is how I like to save money on makeup.

Tip 1) TJ Maxx, Marshalls, and Nordstrom

So the first tip I have for y'all is to buy all the makeup/beauty products you need from these places. TJ Maxx and Marshalls both sell a lot of high end makeup products for a slightly lower prices, which can be nice, but their real gems are the drugstore/ medium price products. I buy all of my nail polishes exclusively from these stores. The nice thing about them is they have a wide range of colors and brands, not just the ugly colors no one wants. I bought this gorgeous Butter London nail polish from my local TJ Maxx and it was only 2 dollars. 2 DOLLARS. Now Nordstrom is a fantastic place to go for higher end makeup and beauty products. The nice thing about Nordstrom is that they price match everything, so you always get the best deal. I bought a bunch of Batiste from their website for 5 dollars each. Plus they also offer no minimum free shipping and 3 free samples with every beauty order. It's like Sephora but better. Currently, I've got my eye on the Naked on the Run palette that they have for 39 dollars marked down from 54 elsewhere. Also they do a lot of gifts with purchase so be sure to check that out before buying.

Tip 2) Coupons, coupons, coupons

I cannot say it enough, coupons are a girls best friend. Every Sunday paper I've ever had includes a huge pack of coupons and more than 25% of them are for beauty/ makeup products. Coupons almost always work on top of sales and sometimes there can be really high value coupons in the inserts and even online. This brings me to my next point.....

Tip 3) Do your research

Right before I head out of the door to go shopping, I always check for online printable manufacturers coupons, places that are having sales and check my email for any exclusive sales/promotions.

That's all I have got for you today, If you want to see more posts like this, let me know below!

Again, thanks for your patience, I really appreciate it

xx,

India

HauteLook Referral Link: http://www.hautelook.com/short/3YWBX

Influenster Referral Link: www.influenster.com/r/1114634