something for almost nothing!

fact:  yours truly LOVES scoring a deal.   fact:  in order to BE a deal it must be quality stuff at a great price.  fact:  this falls squarely into that category.

just for one moment lets take a product break, shall we?   a few years ago, a super cute friend of my bf's introduced me to the make-up line e.l.f. (stands for eyes, lips, face.  adorbs!)  it's made by the same people who manufacture a major dept. store brand (pretty sure i shouldn't tattle so i won't) and the quality is on par with said brand.  now here's the kicker -- THE PRODUCTS COST ONE DOLLAR.  yep. "breaking news" is that there is now a professional collection, e.l.f. Studio, that will still not put a ding in the wallet with the products coming in at the three dollar price point.  i am spelling it out so that you don't think i forgot a zero or something.  at these prices, you can fully stock up on all your necessities - like this concealer (has been compared to YSL Touche Eclat), gorge little eye shimmer palette, and loverly lip gloss, and not even feel a teeny pang of guilt about it.  honestly, how often does THAT happen?

summery NPO

this is actually a New Product Obsession two-fer.  one of the things i love the most about summer is the smells.  the smell of the beach, the smell of the suntan lotions used there, the smell of all things related to long sunny days.  LOVE.  i'm pretty old school when it comes to suntan lotion smells - i like Coppertone.  plain and simple.  the after sun lotions have a bit more leeway, but i do like them to be in the "beachy" camp.

i recently discovered Mario Badescu Summer Shine body lotion and became instantly obsessed.  in all honesty i have liked every Badescu product i've tried.  they all work well and the prices are great. this one is a keeper for life.  it's not super glittery like some of the shimmer creams - it's juuuuust right.  and the scent is perfect.  it's light and beachy.  not too strong - but enough that every now and then you catch a whiff of it and have a little moment of yum.

obsession number two falls into the "i'm feeling a bit dry and a bit lazy" category.  it's a dry-oil spray from Sephora.   it has solved both issues.  my skin feels soft, and all i have to do is spritz.  done and done.  i got the coconut scent - and hello tropical beach vacation in my mind.


never more will i be without a bottle of each of these babies on my vanity.  summer lovin' indeed!

NPO a bit like the fountain...

of youth.  in terms of magic potions - this might be the best one i've found.  and lord knows i try 'em all.  product junkie.  i admit it.  my bf sees the twinkle start - if i see an ad for some new product - he looks at me sideways and says "you want that don't you?"  and i do.  i really do. 

my latest excursion, and as luck would have it, new product obsession, is Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair.  i've never really given Estee Lauder a go.  no particular reason - i've just been more distracted and attracted by the promises of other things.  but after seeing a few ads for this product, and then reading an article about the newest anti-aging sciences and a review of how well they worked - this one sucked me in.  and i am GLAD.  i swear on all things holy that i have used this 2 nights, and ALREADY see and feel a difference in my skin.  do i plan on switching to an all Estee all the time regimen?  quite possible...  do i plan on using this magic potion every night for the rest of my life?  YES.