Shop Miss A!! A bargain hunter's dream?

What if there was a dollar store that had amazing makeup, jewelery, and accessories and you could shop for all of it from your couch?  What if they offered free shipping on orders over $30 and had good customer service too? I found this amazing site called ShopMissA.com and I love it!!  I have placed 3 orders so far and I have been able to get a wide variety of their products and feel like I can tell you what to look for and give you tips on it all. The biggest thing to watch out for is lead in their jewelry.  This is my only disappointment with this store.  I love the jewelry that I got from them, but several of the pieces had warning labels that stated "not intended for children," "for ages 14 and older," etc.  I believe one even had the "this product contains a chemical known to the state of California to cause.." label.  Some of their jewelry items do say "lead free" on the website but not all do.  In the future I will only be ordering items that state "lead free" on the website. My only other warning is that you need to check your package and everything in it thoroughly right when you get it.  If anything is broken or defective or you just want to return or exchange something, you only have 3 business days from when your package arrived to you.  I had 3 out of my 40 something items that were broken/defective in my first order and 1 in my second order and 3 in the third. With the 1st order I contacted them about 2 weeks later and at first they just told me their policy and that I had missed their cutoff.  They did give me store credit when I complained that their cutoff date was not a normal amount of days for a return and that it was only listed on the site under the returns tab (which you wouldn't check until you were already trying to do a return and you might already be too late without even knowing it at that point).  The only other con is that stuff sells out quickly.  They get some really amazing things for $1 but usually the best colors and options are sold out when I look at the site.  They have an email subscription that alerts you when they add inventory and I would highly recommend joining it if you love the site. Thanks for reading!!  Have you ever tried this site?  Leave me a comment below with your thoughts!

Zit Fix! The 3 Best Spot Treatments

I have had acne off and on since I was about twelve.  Unfortunately it's been mainly "on" and very rarely "off."  I have tried so many different acne products both prescription and over the counter with little success.  There are a few products that are worth sharing though :)

If you have acne often or even if you only get a "spot" rarely, the best strategy may be just to treat each spot.  Often using a strong or drying product on your entire face will cause more harm than good.  These three use a variety of active ingredients to help you get rid of zits faster.

The first is Murad's Acne Spot Treatment.  This baby is $16 for a little tube that will last for a very long time.  It is very soothing and effective at reducing the swelling and pain of a zit while helping it heal faster.  Here are the claims straight from Sephora, "High performance ingredients, such as sulfur and salicylic acid, reduce the appearance of blemishes while supporting natural cell turnover. Zinc and licorice root extract help support natural healing. This product is dermatologist developed."  I just barely ran out of this and I will miss it.  The only downfall is that it is a little smelly due to the sulfur.

The second product is a glycolic acid acne spot treatment called the Zit Zapper from Perfectly Posh.  This is also a small tube with the same amount of product as the Murad treatment.  It also will last forever!  This acid is great for getting rid of the dead skin cell plugs and oil that causes zits, blackheads and whiteheads.  It can shrink some zits in a matter of hours!  The claim straight from Perfectly Posh "Aggressively exfoliates clogged pores to reduce duration of blemishes."

The third product is actually a mask but I liked it a lot better as a spot treatment as it was a little too drying for my entire face.  It is Proactiv's Skin Purifying Mask.  This product was great for making you feel like you were instantly shrinking and drying out your zit.  It also always made them heal up in about half the time that they would heal in without this treatment.  The mask uses sulfur, kaolin clay and tea tree oil to clarify skin and kill bacteria.  The claims from Proactiv "Containing sulfur medicine and kaolin clay, it draws out impurities, reduces excess oil, and keeps pores clear, helping prevent new breakouts. It also soothes and calms skin as it reduces redness, irritation and blotchiness."
These three have really helped me with my skin when I was desperate to fix a nasty spot or two (or three).  :)  I hope they will help you out too!
What are your favorite acne fixes?  I'd love to hear in the comments below!

Review: Maybelline Dream Lumi Highlighting Concealer

4 out of 5 stars

Best uses:  Highlighting, concealing under eye circles while highlighting, matte finish highlight with no shimmer, sheen, glitter, etc.

Why I like it:  The wand is easy to use, it lasts a long time, it provides good coverage and a natural looking highlight, blends easily.

What I don't like:  If my skin is dry at all, this makes it look worse.

How I use it:  I like to apply it right along the lowest part of my under eye, you know that line or indent that goes from the inner corner of your eye, at an angle out and down, I put it right in that low spot and blend gently with my finger.

If I have more time then I will apply along the skin right next to the bottom of my nose, a little right down the center of the bridge of my nose, a bit on the tip of my chin and a wedge/triangle under my eye.

Foundation Review: L'oreal true match Lumi

1 out of 5 stars

Best uses:  dry even skin with no blemishes or imperfections, dewy finish, minimal coverage

Why I took it back:

I purchased this with a coupon on sale and was so excited to try a new affordable foundation.  The name sounded good, it had nice packaging and a nice pump.  I never felt like it dried on my skin.  I would try to set it with powder but it felt like it was still sliding around.  

I always have blemishes and or dark spots from healing blemishes, and I will build another layer of foundation in these areas for more coverage.  This did not work with this foundation!  I fought with it for about a week.  The tipping point was when I went to the bathroom at work and saw my face in the mirror.  I was so embarrasssed!  The makeup had slid off of my blemishes and literally was in little "drifts" across my face.  It looked so bad!  I decided at this point that the trial period was over and that I could not ever wear it again.  I took it back to Rite aid and got a refund.

Other people have had similar experiences to mine, but a few have actually liked this foundation.  As I said under best uses, it may work out it you have no oil or shine to your skin and if your skin is flawless.  I still kind of doubt it would be good though :(

Thanks for reading!!

Makeup Review: e.l.f. BB Cream

4.5 out of 5 stars

Best uses:  everyday natural look, medium coverage.

Why I love it:  

This has the best coverage of any BB cream I've tried.  If you have acne prone skin or other imperfections you want to cover, this is the BB cream for you.  I also love that this does not dry out my skin and lasts all day.  It has a natural, somewhat dewy finish.

How I use it:

I use about 1.5 pumps and use my fingers to apply all over my face.  If you want to you can set it with powder.

Hair Product Review: Nioxin System 2, Cleanser, Scalp Treatment, Scalp Therapy (fine hair visibly thinning)

4.5 out of 5 stars

Best uses: 

making thinning/fine hair appear thicker, helping thinning hair regrow.

Why I love it:  

After I had my little boy, I started losing a ton of hair, which is normal, but I lost it and lost it and lost it for months.  I don't think that is normal.  Whenever I pulled my hair back you could see a ton of scalp in the front :(.  I felt so ugly and bald.  Ulta had this trial kit on sale for $19.99 and a $3.50 off any purchase of $10 or more coupon, so I decided to try the full system.  It helped give the hair that I had a lot of body and within a month I had a lot less scalp showing when I pulled my hair back.  Now my hair is pretty much back to its normal self at the roots, which is amazing, because it really was so thin and noticeably patchy.

How I use it: 

I got my hair really wet, lathered the Cleanser then applied it to my scalp and massaged it around well and then rinsed.  I applied the Scalp Therapy (conditioner) from scalp to ends, massaged a bit and let it sit for about two minutes, massaged a bit more and rinsed.  After I got out of the shower and had wrung my hair out (gently) a few times, I pumped 2-3 pumps of the Scalp Treatment into my hands, rubbed them together a bit and then applied to my scalp and roots like mousse.  I concentrated more on the areas around my forehead and temples because that's where my hair thinned out the most.

I ran out of the conditioner a while ago (that always happens) and so I still use the shampoo occasionally and try to remember to use the Scalp Treatment almost every time I wash.

Eye Makeup Review: e.l.f. Studio Eyebrow Kit

5 out of 5 stars

I have to start this review out by saying I love, love, love this product!  I can actually make my brows look good with this and it is so easy!  If I can do it anyone can ;)

Best uses:

making you eyebrows look amazing!, filling in sparse areas of brows, emphasizing eyebrows to enhance your overall look either for everyday or for special occasions.

Why I love it:

The gel is super easy to use with the little applicator.  My brows get sparse from my arch out to the ends and they're scraggly at the ends.  I can use the gel to fill in and create direction at the ends of my brows.  The powder then just darkens my brows and makes them look thick and dark in a very good way.  Overall this makes my makeup look soooo much better than it did before I found this product.  Your brows really help your look come together.

How I use it:

I take the gel and do small strokes with the thin end of the brush anywhere I want to add more eyebrow "hairs."  I keep it within the bounds of my natural brows and do short small strokes to make it look natural, if I do accidentally go a bit overboard, it wipes off easily with a q-tip and can be re done in that area.  Then I take the fluffy end of the brush and put some powder on it and apply in strokes along my brow in the direction of growth.  I go up and out in the middle half of my brow, then down and out on the top half after my arch and up and out on the bottom half after my arch.  


Thanks for reading!!  You really should try this!!

Hair Product Review: Alba Botanica Natural Hawaiian Shampoo Body Builder Mango & GIVEAWAY!!

4 out of 5 stars

**Giveaway will close on Wednesday 5/28/2014**


The Review:

Best uses: 

Volumizing shampoo & conditioner for fine hair, light shampoo & conditioner for healthy hair, inexpensive pick for those looking for products without animal testing, parabens, artificial colors, pthalates, sulfates, and that have 100% vegetarian ingredients.

Why I love it:

This did a great job of giving my hair a lot of body.  It was not weighed down at all while I was using it and it kept my hair healthy.  Also even those it is sulfate free, the shampoo does still lather, which I think makes for easier use.


How I use it:

I really soak my hair and let it sit for a minute then get some shampoo in my hand and lather it.  I get my hair wet again right before I massage it into my scalp.  I don't like to shampoo my ends unless they have product in them (which is not common for me).  I make sure I've massaged it all along my scalp and then rinse and gently wring my hair out.  Sometimes I wait a minute so that my hair is not so saturated with water before I apply my conditioner.  I apply the conditioner from root to ends, I massage my scalp a bit and also like to comb through my ends a bit with a wide toothed comb to make sure the product is distributed, but you don't have to do that.  I like to let it sit for about two minutes and then rinse with water that is on the cooler side of warm, not cold and definitely not hot.

Note: If your hair is damaged, you can still use this product, but I would use it twice a week at most as it is not very moisturizing.  Also make sure you are doing deep conditioning about once a week when using this product, whether you have damaged or normal hair.





THE GIVEAWAY:

To earn entry, follow my page on facebook, click the link here.  You can earn additional entries for following my blog (4 entries) and commenting on a post (2 entries), following me on Pinterest, here, or on Instagram, 1 entry for each.


Thank you so much for reading!!  Have you tried sulfate free hair products?  Do you see a difference in your hair?  Share your experiences in the comments below.

**Sorry but this will only be open to those in the US due to shipping cost**

We have a winner!!  Brittany!!   I'll be contacting you to get you your prize :)




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Eye Makeup Review: e.l.f. Smudge Pot Cruisin Chic

                                                                               4.5 our of 5 stars

Best uses: 

easy eye shadow, day or night, natural eye look.


Why I love it:

I am really not an eye shadow person.  I have hooded eyes so it is hard to even tell whether I have eye shadow on most of the time, so I feel it's a waste of my time.  This is so quick and easy to apply and it makes a noticeable difference.  It is smooth and creamy, I absolutely love the color, it is buildable and multidimensional.


How I use it:

I apply elf's mineral eye shadow primer first and let it dry.  Then I use my finger to apply the smudge pot.  I begin applying close to my lash line, in the middle of my eyelid, and then smudge to the inside and outside corner and also work it up to my crease.  I then move to my other eye and do the same.  I like to apply a second layer to my whole lid or just to my crease.  This intensifies the shadow.  Sometimes I also apply a little, with a small brush, to my outer lower lash line.

Thanks for reading!!





Link party at Agape Love Designs here

Blush Review: NYC Mosaic Powder Pink Cheek Glow

5 out of 5 stars

Best uses: mauve/fuschia/pink glow, add healthy looking color to your face, everyday blush (light application), special event blush (heavier application).

Why I love it:

I really love the color this gives.  It is a very flattering pink with a touch of fuschia.  It is very easy to get the product onto a brush and onto my face.  It is not grainy and has great color payoff.  There is no shimmer.  It is buildable and it does not take much time to go from a more natural everyday look to a more dramatic evening look.

How I use it:

I use either my elf kabuki brush or my elf complexion brush.  I very lightly pull the brush across the blush and then apply from my apples of my cheeks along my cheekbone to my temple.  I blend and then repeat if necessary.  Be careful, you can end up with more blush than you meant to quite easily.


Thanks for reading!!  Do you have any blush recommendations?  Any that you have been wanting to try?  If so, please do share, in the comments below :)

Mascara Review: Maybelline Define-A-Lash Lengthening Washable Mascara

4.5 our of 5 stars

Best uses: lengthening, no clumping, clearly defined lashes, helps hold curl for stick straight lashes


Why I love it:

This is my favorite mascara!  I have stick straight lashes that do not like to curl.  They are long, but not noticeable because they aren't thick and because they don't curl up.  Even when I skip using my eyelash curler, Define-A-Lash helps my lashes curl and stay curled. It is not clumpy but does really intensify my lashes, it blackens, thickens and lengthens them without sticking them together.


How I use it:

I apply it slowly from the base of my lashes pulling them up, wiggling my wand just slightly from sided to side.  I use about three original sweeps to get the middle lashes, outside lashes, and inner lashes, then do about two more long slow sweeps to really pull the lashes up and help them curl.  I apply it to my bottom lashes by wiggling it back and forth and slightly pulling down.


note: I do always get it on my skin, I use a wet q-tip to carefully remove it or smudge it into my crease color of eyeshadow. (I have this problem with all mascaras).



Thanks for reading!  Comment below with any questions or with your mascara recommendations.