HAUL: Sephora VIB Sale | 2013

The most anticipated event of the year at Sephora has come and that is the VIB SALE !

These are the wonderful items that I have been coveting for a while now and have saved an arm and a leg... or two to get them.  Luckily, it didn't hurt the bank so much, considering that I got a VIB 20% off code in the mail.  First off, this year was a little different where the Sale started with the Friends & Family sale, which it was required that the only way to get the 20% off is to know a employee which I wasn't able to because I didn't know anyone, but some people were lucky enough to get the discount.  After a couple weeks there came the VIB sale which only VIBs got the discount code, but was able to give one to a family or friend.  :)

I was so excited for this sale because its my biggest purchases of the year and I'm so glad that I was able to get the items I wanted and I was able to snag limited edition products as well.

ITEMS:

1. Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette 

2. NARS Guy Bourdin "One Night Stand" Cheek Palette

3. Hourglass Immaculate Liquid Powder Foundation "Beige"

4. Dior Rosy Glow Healthy Glow Awakening Blush "001 Petal"

5. NARS Pro Prime Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base

Sephora Beauty Insider Perks:

1. Urban Decay Urban Essentials

2. Marc Jacobs Honey Mini Set

I'm so happy I was able to get everything that I really wanted this year and I was determined to get items that were limited edition, also ones I wanted to try for so long.  Everything I purchased was online and I felt that I was able to get everything on my shopping list online than going into the store, plus my nearest Sephora is quite a distance from my home.  BTW, they also had a limited edition bag this year that is much more cuter than last years bag and I believe every year they come out with different designs.

If you have any questions or want any reviews on any products I will be gearing up on the reviews once I have played with them for a while, maybe near the end of the month when I'll have a good solid opinion of the products.  Let me know what you picked up on the Sephora Sale and if you have them already, what do you think of them?

-BENNevolent

Macarons | Chantal Guillon

I absolutely love macarons and even though they have been around for so long.  Many of us has jumped into the hype about these french delicacies.  

What are Macarons?

They are simply a sweet meringue based confectionery that is filled with soft jelly/jam, sandwich together with two cookies that looks almost like a surface of an egg shell.

They come in all types of variety of flavors, some of which are very unique and you wouldn't normally consider it being an ingredient that is worth putting into a sweet macaron, but it works.

Well, I'm always on a hunt to find places that serve macrons and see what their macrons differ from other places that do serve macrons.  Today, my best friend Donna and I had a little outing in San Francisco and she suggested to go try this place called Chantal Guillon that serves macrons.  The reviews on Yelp really helped determine that we needed to visit and give them a try.  Plus the pictures people taken of the store and the cute boxes they come in was enough to have us go.

They place was small, but quite cute with light pastel colors.  The first thing you see are the macarons sitting on a tray all lined up and stacked.  I can recount about 14 different flavors to chose from.

I picked the box of 6 that cost $10.80 which come out about $1.80 each.

The flavors I chose were; Persian Rose, Red Velvet, Lavender Poppy, Green Tea, Italian Pistachio, Valentino Raspberry-Lychee.

I enjoyed them, they had a good consistency and really sweet.  You must try the unique flavors like the Persian Rose or Lavender Poppy.  They don't smell like what they are called, but they are sweet.  I must admit that I will come back to this place again, just for macrons.  It's a nice little treat every now and then.

They are definitely worth the hype about them, they're just that good.  :)

-BENNevolent

HAUL: 2|9|13

Today's haul are products that I got for my hair and body.

Items:

1. Jergens Natural Glow Firming Daily Moisturizer

2. Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Moroccan Sleek Oil Treatment

3. L'oreal Advanced Haircare Total Repair 5 Multi-Restorative Dry Oil

These purchases has been on my list of things to buy for a while now and finally I made a trip to my local drugstore.  First, the Jergens Natural Glow Moisturizer, I have been hearing that Jergens has tweaked their line of Natural Glow products and they made them without that strong sunless tanner smell.  Now all I can smell is a coconut scent that is pleasing and not offensive at all.

I love hair products, but there are some products out there that has let me down.  Then there are ones who never do and one of them is the Garnier Fructis Oil Treatment that has Argan Oil in it to help nourish your hair.  Another ingredient within this product is Apricot Oil and I think this is the scent I keep picking up with this product and it is the apricot scent that smells really good.  This is my second bottle of it and a little goes a long way.

Last product is the L'oreal Dry Oil, they recently released this year a new advanced haircare line that has ingredients in them to help any particular problems with your hair weather it be damaged, color treated, limp, frizzy, or dehydrated.  I pick up their Dry Oil because I've been using their Total Repair 5 Shampoo and Conditioner for about a month now and seen incredible results.  So, I wanted to try this that's part of the Total Repair 5 products.

I'm anxious to try these products out and give them a proper review for you guys :)

-BENNevolent

Review | Tangle Teezer Brush

Creating this post has gotten me so giddy to show you all, my go to hairbrush for all kinds of purposes.  You all know what I'm talking about if you're still reading this, so, my favorite hair tool of all time is... my TANGLE TEEZER !

Tangle Teezer $12.99 USD

If you haven't heard about the Tangle Teezer on YouTube then you must be living under a rock because this is a lifesaver.  It's originated in the UK by a hairstylist named Shaun P who wanted a brush that can do multiple things whether your hair is wet or dry and it won't cause anymore damaged to your hair.  This tool detangles your hair very easily or easier than using a simple wide tooth comb, but whats great is that you can use it on wet hair !

Gone are the days of not using a hair brush or comb to detangle those tangles while in the shower.  What I do when using this hairbrush in the shower is; obviously, detangle my hair so that the hair product I use i.e. Shampoo and Conditioner can glide on my hair easily, but when I have conditioner or hair mask in my hair, I like to brush it through to each strand to get the ends of my hair coated and in the end get even better results for my hair.

When my hair is dry, its amazing to just smooth out my hair and it combs easily without snagging too hard on my hair and cause breakage or lose strands of hair.  It can also help distribute hair treatments, oils, serums, tonics etc.  Somehow, it also creates a natural shine to my hair and doesn't leave my hair too unruly and piece-y.  Did I mention that it is easy to clean too? ;)

It's a great travel companion, meaning it won't take up so much space in your bag or purse.  They now offer smaller sizes and other versions of them as well.

Overall, I LOVE it ! I definitely recommend it to all my family, friends, and now you.

-BENNevolent

HAUL: 1|10|13

Time for a haul !

I had a free day and though I should run errands and hit up some drugstores to get a few items I've been wanting to try.

ITEMS:

1. Loreal Advanced Haircare Total Repair 5 Shampoo/Conditioner

2. Biore Pore Unclogging Scrub

3. Neosporin Lip Health Overnight Renewal Therapy

4. Assured Cotton Rounds (Dollar Tree only)

5. Pack of Sharpies

I will be doing a review on; the Loreal Advanced Haircare because its new to 2013 and is suppose to be their new line of haircare that suppose to do amazing things for your hair.  So, I will see if it works well with my hair.  Also, the Biore Pore Unclogging Scrub has been part of my skincare regime on and off, but I always seem to go back.  Now the Neosporin Overnight Renewal Therapy is something I wanted to try since its winter and my lips has been so dry and cracked and I hear this works wonders for your lips and it heals them.

Very excited to try these out and let you know my opinions on them.  :)

-BENNevolent