Avon, Estee Lauder And Mary Kay Allegedly Testing Makeup On Animals

Well, hell. I try to stick to the cruelty free brands, with a few exceptions (alpha hydrox), because if I know 100% that a company tests, I try to find an alternative brand. I prefer to reward good companies with my $$$. I found this news on Huffington Post, which I noticed while reading an article about Azaria Chamberlain:

Seems like 2012 is already the year of repeats; debates long-considered settled are rearing their contentious heads once again. From birth control making headlines, to the prevalence of fur at fashion week, its seems like it's the Revenge of the Past coming back to haunt us.

And so it is with animal testing, which for many of us who love both animals and makeup, is another issue that's come full circle. Turns out all that the time spent in the late '80s and '90s signing petitions was just a stay of execution for the nefarious practice of testing "beauty" products on defenseless animals (like the bunnies above; rabbits are used for testing because they are such docile creatures).

While I always hear people disparaging the group, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is once again on the front lines, making sure that we all know this is happening. (I would argue that PETA and Greenpeace have done more for animals in the past 20 years than all the other animal-advocacy groups put together, but that's fodder for another post.) But like any old story with a modern twist, this one involves China.

Turns out that currently, the Chinese government requires animal testing for beauty products sold in China, and PETA reports that while Mary Kay has been trying to work with the government to come up with new testing solutions for cosmetics that don't involve animals, Estee Lauder and Avon have gone along with the government requirements without complaint. Since the companies are all currently doing animal testing, none of these companies' products can bear the "cruelty free" designation (indicated by the leaping bunny logo), and have been removed — after long standing — from PETA's "Don't Test on Animals" list to the "Do Test" list.

Again, well, hell. I like Estee Lauder, and had started to order this set they have out, the Beautiful Skin To Go collection, but I think I'll pass.

Full article.

REVIEW: Clarins Bright Plus HP Intensive Brightening Mask

I wasn't sure I was going to like this. I applied it to the backs of my hands for a test, left it on for 5-10 minutes, washed it off, and felt itchy and kind of bumpy. I went ahead and applied it to my face though, and I am glad I did. I've used it 3 times, so far, every other day. I've gotten 3 uses out of 2 tubes, but I apply it quite thick. It seems like a plain cold cream, nothing you'd expect to see big results from, but it has done pretty much everything it claims. It has faded my post-breakout marks, and they usually take weeks to fade, because I'm pale and every scratch shows. It is non-drying though, it has not made me feel chapped, the way masks like Queen Helene's Mint Julep are inclined to do. It doesn't make my skin oily, either.

The mask, though not a typical acidy peel, does make my skin look very red and blotchy for awhile afterwards. It also itches, but it has not caused a breakout. Like I said, I put it on thick, so it takes some wiping to get it back off. After the redness fades, my skin looks better and better. My pores look smaller, even those on my nose. The smell is ok, it has a slight fragrance, not medicinal, kind of flowery. I leave it on my face for a little over 5 minutes, but not as long as 10 minutes, because it itches worse afterwards. If you leave it on too long, it will separate and come off in clumps. I would recommend it to others, but if you have especially sensitive skin, you should do a patch test.

Glam Bag giveaway @ Ulta

Free with a $35 purchase. It is 14 pieces. They are offering free shipping with $25 purchase, the code is SHIPFEB12.

link.

Free year of Elle Magazine with $25 Sephora Purchase

The code is ELLE4U

**Magazine Offer Details:
Elle magazine subscription included with your purchase of more than $25 of Sephora merchandise is a magazine subscription valued at $10-you will not pay one penny more than your Sephora.com purchase price for this customer benefit. There are no hidden costs, further obligations, or bills associated with your subscription. Sephora will not share your credit card information with anyone for this offer but will need to forward your mailing address to the Elle magazine publisher for the purpose of fulfilling your subscription. Please allow six to 10 weeks for delivery of your first issue. Your Elle magazine will be delivered to the billing address you provided. If you would like to arrange delivery to an alternative address, please contact https://www.m2mediagroup.com/feedback. Offer is available to customers within the 50 United States and District of Columbia. Orders from outside the U.S. are not eligible for this promotion. When a magazine is selected with a non_U.S. address, it will be automatically removed. Sephora is not responsible for the magazine subscription fulfillment. If you elect not to receive Elle magazine, you may request a rebate for the stated value by printing and completing the rebate form and submitting within 30 days of your purchase. Include a copy of your receipt as proof of purchase. Please allow six to eight weeks for processing. Rebate offer is available to customers within the 50 United States and the District of Columbia only.

Bodycology Body Mists

Bought 3 of these @ Ulta because they were buy 2 get 1 free, and I'm always up for trying anything vanilla-y. They were $1.99 each, and I think they have them at drugstores, but I've never noticed them here. I bought Vanilla Cupcake, Brown Sugar Vanilla, and Island Coconut. Of the three, I think the Brown Sugar Vanilla is my favorite. I smells like a complex perfume, rather than a vanilla-scented water. It is very warm, and it isn't as sweet as I'd expected, which is ok. The Vanilla Cupcake is a bit disappointing, it is only vaguely vanilla and smells very thin. The Island Coconut doesn't smell much like coconut, but I have a hard time finding anything that really smells like coconut. It smells like coconut scented paper, if that makes any sense. These don't bother my allergies. Can't say I'd repurchase.

Essence Colour & Go Nail Polish in WAKE UP!

Yech, where to start? Yea, it was only .99, but there are a lot of under $5.00 nail polishes that last forever, so what is up with this? I love Went 'n Wild, and Sinful Colors, and Avon, and assumed Essence would be as good. But...I'd had my toenails painted for a couple hours & looked down and the polish had chipped on several toes. You can literally touch the polish and it peels off.

The color is beautiful--a bright orange/coral--but what is the point of messing with it if you can't make it out of the house without chipping? One year, I went almost a month with an Avon polish on my toes. Made it weeks without any major chipping--just had to use a toothpick to dot the tips, mostly. That included wearing sandals, and doing things like mowing the grass barefoot. This is like the polishes they put in those make up kits for 5 year olds. Like colored water. It peels like tissue....

storage idea

Awhile back I bought an over-the-sink shelf for my kitchen, but I ended up using it in the bath to hold beauty supplies that would normally be in the cabinet & forgotten about. I can't say it looks neat, but it looks neater than before...

 Toilet paper on left. Candle for when it storms & the lights go out--that is wax on the mirror:

what's in my bag

Or Peggy Bundy's bag:

I carry:

Hand sanitizer--hand lotion--keys with pepper spray and whistle--makeup--gum--handkerchief (looks kind or grimy)--tissues--blotting papers--wet wipe--Fossil vanity--pink & black bag from Too Faced--phone (it is a Tracfone--I hate phones, don't care to talk to anyone except in person, and I have a landline, the Tracfone gets the internet and I like that option. It is actually 1 of 2 that I usually carry). In the summer I carry a mini-deodorant, because I'm always afraid I'll forget to put any on. Tampons are carried in a black leopard pencil case--I think it is an Estee Lauder. The denim thing is a CD holder (yea, I know). It also holds discs of my backup photos.

Gosh, look at all that pink & red..

In the Too Faced bag--flash drives with photos--10-in-1 survival tool--allergy meds--pins and pens--bobbies, hair stuff--mini post-it pad--toothbrush & paste--mini Tweezerman tweezers--and bandages, which I can't be without because my shoes are rarely made for walking.

The robot vanity:

3 Lip glosses--including a Too Faced Diamond Gloss which was a deluxe sample from Sephora in 2005 or 2006. I still use it. It isn't rancid.

How cool am I? So cool that I have an Aluma wallet.

The pink bag on the left holds my camera, which is a circa 2007 Kodak Easyshare.

the awwwww ring

It arrived:

It was about $1.50, on eBay. It is heavy & nice. Much nicer than I'd expected.

I think it is a robot...

My new vanity case:

It is Fossil's Penelope Frame Pouch.

I had a frame pouch years ago, and loved it, to death. It was canvas and eventually fell apart. So I've been eyeing this one @ Belk, and when it went on sale for $10.99, I made it mine. I wanted the pink one, but it had a little bird on it, and I figured I'd lose that bird at some point. So I bought the red, not really seeing what the decoration was--it is a robot. Which isn't me. But I like it.


This is what I used to hold lip glosses and mints and mirrors and such:

A Clinique GWP pouch...

I liked it, but it was a coin purse, so it is small.

The newbie holds more:

I love you, newbie...

Clarins Bright Plus HP Intensive Brightening Mask

To qualify for free shipping, in addition to my Clinique order, I bought Clarins Bright Plus HP Intensive Brightening Mask. It was $32.50 for 8 tubes/applications, which seems like a good deal. I don't have many dark spots on my face, unless I've had a breakout, and those spots are slow to fade. I mostly wanted to try it to revive & brighten my skin overall. It will be a few days before I can give it a go, because I am currently broken out from using Jergens Natural Glow on my face. :-D


Info from the Clarins website:

Unrivaled skin tone correcting mask restores the brightness, clarity and radiance of youthful-looking skin in just 5 minutes! Clarins’ proprietary blend of Alchemilla, Raspberry and Vitamin C helps fade freckles, dark spots and discolourations - delivering the ultimate hyper pigmentation protection. Used twice a week for 4 weeks, 97% tested reported a dramatic improvement in clarity and brightness.


Brightening Peel and Intensive Brightening Mask can be used alone or together. For complete renewal of the skin, twice a week, apply with a cotton pad soaked in lotion. Sweep over the face and neck, avoiding the eye contour. Follow with Intensive Clear Mask. Apply to a dry face and neck. Avoid the eye contour area. Leave for 5-10 minutes then rinse with water. Follow with your regular Bright Plus HP products.

Clinique Up-Lighting Liquid Illuminator

I've wanted to try Clinique's Up-Lighting Liquid Illuminator for awhile, but held out until they had a GWP. I decided to try it in Blush, to use as a....blush. I do better with liquidy blushes, like Benetint and Posietint. This is very pigmented and a little overwhelming with the first squeeze (and a ton comes out, so be careful--put it on your hand or blend it on with a sponge). It can be blended down to sheerness (I haven't done a swatch yet, I'm still covered in sunless tanner). It does shimmer, but it isn't too bad. I'm pretty sure this will work mixed with lotion or sunblock. I couldn't decide between the neutral shade or the pinky shade, but decided on the Blush color because I already have a nearly full bottle of Benefit's High Beam (which I love, BTW). I think I'll like this well enough, but the smell is pretty odd. Not perfumey, just chemically, and..odd. The bottle is MUCH bigger than I'd expected--it is about 6" tall with the pump. Again, I'll swatch it shortly.

My gift with purchase:

As it looked in the ad:

My choice includes:
7 Day Scrub Cream Rinse Off Formula (1 oz)
Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion (1 oz)
Lash Doubling Mascara in Black
Colour Surge Eye Shadow Duo in Lucky Penny and Chocolate Chip, Different Lipstick in Surprise (full size), and Long Last Glosswear SPF 15 mini in Stellar Plum
Cosmetic bag
(info and stock photo from GWPaddict)

Will add swatches & reviews soon. So far, the lip gloss is my favorite. It is sheer, and has absolutely no funky taste or smell. The Chocolate Chip eye shadow is beautiful--it is matte, and more sheer than the others I have. So, for the price of the Illuminator, I got a pretty good chunk of try-mes, and I LOVE try-mes.

Mario Badescu Summer Shine Body Lotion

Most days it is up in the 50s and 60s, and I'm itching for spring. I've been testing out warm-weather products and colors, in addition to prepping my skin for some exposure. I saw Mario Badescu's Summer Shine Body Lotion on Amazon and decided to give it a shot. The description:

Enriched with Vitamin A, this greaseless body lotion subtly shimmers for a radiant glow. Reduces the appearance of dull, dry skin with natural moisture retaining ingredients like Beeswax and Peanut Oil. Makes a great accessory for those sexy halter dresses!

6oz is $10 +$2.50 shipping.

It is not a bronzer, even though it is a beigy-gold color. This will not add much color, but it does add shimmer. Lovelylovelylovely ladylike sexy shimmer. Meaning: you won't look like a shiny Real Housewife wannabe. The fragrance is, well, hard to describe. It is summery, but not like citrus or coconut. I want to say it smells a little like papaya, something sweet and a little foody. I like whatever it smells like--it smells clean, and cool, and fresh.

For my $10+$2.50 shipping I received:

Not a bad haul!

L'Oreal Paris Sublime Bronze Clear Self-Tanning Gel, Medium Natural

I've only used this one day (multiple times), but I think I am ready to review. The color is very nice--it is a natural-looking beige-shade on me. I love the fragrance, I can't describe it, but it isn't like coconut tanning lotion. It is not cloying at all, and it smells a bit like a man's cologne, which I don't mind. The application is fool-proof, unless you are like me & you leave some droplets un-smoothed, in which case you'll end up with what looks like little brown liver spots, and they don't scrub off easily. I also used this on my face, even though it is for the body. No breakouts, so far. I bought mine on Amazon, and saved by subscribing.

I'd give it 4 out of 5 stars, taking one off because it does take several applications to build up a darker color, but I am Morticia pale, so it even takes to sun months to darken me.
Would I recommend? Yes.
Would I buy again? Yes, I think I have my subscription set to every 3 months. :-D

Essence Gel Eyeliner

Why didn't I order that from Ulta? It has 16 Makeupalley reviews and is rated as 100% Would Buy Again. It is only $3.49, and comes in two colors, Midnight in Paris, and London Baby. It gets high marks for staying power, and for being smudge proof. It is 4.8 out of 5 stars. The next time I order from Ulta, I think I'll give this a shot...

I need an intervention

an intervention to stop me from shopping. I hadn't planned on buying any more beauty-related items until spring, because I want to go on vacation and need to start saving, but I've bought something nearly every day. Or at least every week. So far, in January, I've bought:

Morticia's Nails (haven't used it yet, my hands are a mess because I've actually been cleaning my house the past few weeks)

L'Oreal Paris Sublime Bronze Clear Self-Tanning Gel, Medium Natural ( a Cat Marnell recommendation @ xojane.com)

Arm & Hammer Whitening Booster (another Cat Marnell recommendation)

Tree Hut Body Scrub, Vanilla Spice (ditto, but she uses another scent, the coconut lime, IIRC)

Deep Steep Lavender Chamomile Honey Bubble Bath (I wanted to love this, but it does not make a lot of bubbles--maybe I didn't use enough??? It is as thick as honey, and smells quite good)

From Sephora--I had a free shipping with any purchase--I ordered:

Pacifica Indian Coconut Nectar - 2.5 oz Indian Coconut Nectar Body Butter 1295989 $5.00 1 $5.00
Sample - Bvlgari Omnia Crystalline Eau de Toilette - 0.05 oz 1254234 $0.00 1 $0.00
Sample - Chloé Eau de Parfum - 0.04 oz 1371749 $0.00 1 $0.00
Sample - Clarins One-Step Gentle Exfoliating Facial Cleanser - 0.17 oz 1345701 $0.00 1 $0.00

total $5.47--I mostly ordered to get the Clarins cleanser sample.



Just now, I took advantage of the Ulta free shipping code, and ordered:


Oil Treatment 10% Glycolic AHA
by Alpha Hydrox $8.99

Enhanced Lotion 10% Glycolic AHA Anti-Wrinkle
by Alpha Hydrox $8.99

Trial Size Body Mist (buy 2 get 1 free)
by Bodycology
Vanilla Cupcake
$1.99

Trial Size Body Mist
by Bodycology
Brown Sugar Vanilla
$1.99

Trial Size Body Mist
by Bodycology
Island Coconut
FREE

Colour & Go Nail Polish
by Essence
Wake Up! 46
$0.99

Liquid Eyeliner in Black
by Essence
$1.19

Colour & Go Nail Polish
by Essence
Space Queen 04
$0.99

ABBA Pure Moisture Shampoo Sample - .25 oz./7.4 ml
by Abba
$0.00

Exuviance Brightening Bionic Eye Crème - .07 oz.
by Exuviance
$0.00

Garnier Triple Nutrition Shampoo Duo
by Garnier
$0.00

total $27.59.


I think everything totals less than $50, which is more than I used to spend, but I'm tired of being thrifty and having a bare bones routine. I keep telling myself, you are employing a lot of people--people to make the things, to ship the things, to sell the things, to deliver the things, and on and on, and it is a good deal if you think of it that way. :-D

diy salt spray

From Glamour.com--I'm actually going to try this. You mix sea salt with water, add some coconut-scented conditioner, some hair gel, and put it all in a spray bottle. I'm wanting to revamp my look for Spring--I've even bought a sunless tanner. I've always avoided tanners & tanning, but I'm so pale I actually glow in the sun, so I try to keep everything covered, except for my forearms. I don't want to look tanned, really, just a little less pale. I want to revamp my look, and I think beachy hair will be a nice change. The full salt spray how-to is here.

Jill's Steals and Deals

Hip2Save has Jill Martin's TODAY Show deals listed--this week it features a $335 Hayley Starr Wrap Dress for $59. The dress is very pretty and can be worn 30 different ways. Another deal is the Number 4 Hair Care Collection for $29 ( a $129 value). My favorite is Cuore & Pelle’s Mirella Satchel, which is $75 but a $385 value. None of these prices include shipping, and the TODAY Show codes are required. Click here for the full list and links.

Blaze Management Agency – On Location $39 for Six-Hour Hair-and-Makeup Course with Makeup Goody Bag ($495 Value)

Groupon is offering a 6 hour makeup course at Blaze Management in Chicago. At $39 it is a 92% discount. I'd love to take them up on this offer, but it expires on the 23rd of January (I assume that means you have until then to take the course, not just book it), and my vacation won't be until April. The goody bag isn't impressive-- only 4 items and it is all Rimmel and Maybelline. They've sold almost 200 of these classes, I was thisclose to ordering before I noticed the January 23rd date. :-(


If you take the course, you'll have to bring:

COTTON BUDS
Facial wipes/cotton wool
Cleanser
Toner
Eye cream
Bronzer (2 or 3 shades darker than skin colour)
Foundation (the colour of the skin, check against the face and the neck so it balances up)
Concealer
Powder (loose is more mattifying but can be compact)
Eye shadow (the same colour as the skin to use as a eyes shadow base and to help with blending)
Eye shadows (2 more contrasting colours to be able to give a 3D effect to the eye- one darker)
Eye Pencil (softer the better so not to drag the eye)
Mascara
Blusher (cream or powder (powder is good for oily skin) cream is also good for dry skin as it hydrates but can be either)
Lipliner
Lipstick
Sharpener (very important)

BRUSHES
Foundation brush/sponge
2 or 3 eye shadow brushes different widths, powder brush, concealer brush,
(can be artificial hairs may be easier to use with cream concealer)
Blusher brush
Lip brush
Slanted eyebrow brush
Eyeliner brush
Eyelash comb

HAIR THINGS
Pintail comb (metal end is good)
Hairbrush
Hair grips/pins
Tongs/Straighteners (if you would like to do curls, if not don’t worry about these)
Lacquer for curls

I was thinking, I don't own have half of that stuff, then I re-read the list and I realized, I do. I think I have it all except a foundation brush, face wipes, toner, and a makeup remover. I wonder if this means I'm high maintenance...hmmm

say awwwww

I bought a new ring:

From eBay, it was around a dollar. Hasn't arrived yet, it is coming from Hong Kong. The $1 eBay jewelry thing is hit-or-miss, some things look better online...

My next jewelry purchase will be this:

It is about $3.50.


My last purchase was a BCBGeneration zipper cuff--in fuchsia:

You can still buy them here, but I bought mine on clearance at Belk.

I actually bought it and a green one for my 14 year old cousin's Christmas (I also got her a Tokidoki Sodashop Palette), but after I saw them in person I had to have one for myself (I was also tempted to keep the Tokidoki). At Thanksgiving, she saw me wearing my fuchsia bracelet and asked about it, hinting for it. When I gave her hers she said if that had been her only gift it would have been plenty. Part of me thinks I shouldn't be wearing what a 14 year old likes, the other part of me tells that part to shut up.

oluv fresh olive leaf body scrub

Just finished off my little pot of Oluv's Body Scrub. Sad to see it go. It is a heavy-duty scrub, and leaves you covered in a layer of olive oil, and in what looks like spices, but, once you wipe all that away, the skin underneath is like buttah. I'm not a fan of olive oil--I tried it many moons ago as a bath & body oil and ended up having to throw away all my sheets and towels because they smelled like grease and the smell would not wash away. I had a similar experience with food grade grape seed oil, but only had to throw away 2 sheets after using it as body oil. I have a jar of pure coconut oil in my cabinet, I don't use it much, because it liquefies instantly and has to be wiped off. Maybe I'll use it as a pre-bath treatment. Everyone raves about coconut oil, for cooking and for wearing, so I should use it more than I do.

I don't like smelling like old potholders, so whatever benefits pure olive oil produces will never be mine. The Oluv scrub has a faint olive-y smell, but I avoid olive stuff like the plague (even shampoos and soaps). It is $22 for a 4oz jar, it is vegan, and I do recommend it, if you aren't olive-phobic like I am.

DERMAdoctor Photodynamic Therapy, and random chatter

I consider this to be my gateway drug into the world of expensive beauty products. I was strictly a drugstore cowgirl as far as my beauty routine went, and I never had much luck with anything from there. At 24, Retin-a cleared my skin and that lasted for years until I started using things like Queen Helene's Mint Julep Mask, Neutrogena's 60 Second Scrub/Mask, and St. Ives Apricot Scrub, not to mention things like aspirin masks. My skin looked worse than it ever had, Retin-a be dammed, even it couldn't stop the chaos. I finally caught on that is was the anti-acne stuff causing my breakouts and quit everything cold turkey. I started using only grapeseed oil and sunblock. Then only sunblock, because I'm quite lazy. Fast forward 4-5 years to 2011, when I received a little jar of Dermadoctor's Photodynamic Therapy from Sephora. Oh, let me tell you, it was like a miracle. A lotion I could actually use on my face?! I managed to get a total of 3 sample jars from Sephora, because I always chose it as my $25 deluxe sample. I'd still choose it if they were still offering it. I have one jar left, and I use it sparingly, mostly under my sunblock, or when my face is chapped from doing a Retin-a peel. The full-size is $85. It is so velvety, I could lick it out of the jar it looks so yummy. My skin never glowed before, never looked dewy, not until I started using this. I didn't stop with Photodynamic Therapy though, I tried other things-- Ole Henriksen Pure Perfection, Peter Thomas Roth Laser-Free Resurfacer, DDF Amplifying Elixir, Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair. Had great success with them all--no breakouts at all. I looked awfully jowly before I started my eclectic regime (I'll be 40 this year), and I can see a big difference in my before & after photos. I use them all in conjunction with Retin-a, so I don't know what is doing the lifting, or if it is a combination of everything. My next adventure will be Clarins Bright Plus HP Intensive Brightening Mask:

Can't find very many in-depth reviews though. :-( It is $32.50 for 8 tubes. The claims:

Smoothes skin's texture and leaves incredibly bright with a beautiful matte finish.

- Diminishes existing dark spots and helps slow the source of production of melanin.

- Soothes stressed skin and restores comfort. After 4 weeks use: 97% of women reported brighter skin. 97% of women reported more luminous skin.

Oh--I just ordered a full-size tube of the Clarins cleanser that I liked. Big splurge--$20. But, I ordered a jacket from Macy's before Christmas, didn't like it, wanted to return it, hated losing my shipping, and maybe a restocking fee, so I exchanged the twenty-some-odd dollar jacket for the Clarins cleanser. So it is like getting it for free, except it will end up costing about $35. Oy, I'm dumb....

baby wigs

Cuz yer never too young to dislike the way God made you. My self-loathing didn't start until puberty, and all I can think is what progress I could have made if I'd started 12 years earlier.

A little self improvement never hurts, right? Bald babies are a thing of the past! They are so 2011! For $3.59 you can hide your baby's shame with these charming wig bands. According to the listing, 42 people have taken the plunge into baby wigs, or, in this case, baby sideburns. What are you waiting for? Perfect shower gift--get this and a jumbo jar of stretch mark cream for the mommy, and they'll know how much you truly care.

$3.50 off a $10 purchase at Ulta

Found this code at Nouveau Cheap. The code is 62548, if you are using it online. They also have free shipping with a $25 purchase, that code is SHIPJAN12.

awwww...so pretty

Very Bridesmaid Pippa, but even better...



I always went the half-up 'do route on job interviews, because I never liked cutting my hair, and I'm not crazy enough about my face to wear a chignon. My hair doesn't tease well, so I'm debating a Bumpit, but my hair is fine, and I don't know how well I can hide it. I have an antique hair receiver, and collected my hair and planned to make a rat, but I never got around to it. They have some cheapie foam rats on eBay, they are usually .99 with free shipping, maybe I'll give those a shot.

E.L.F 32 Color Eyeshadow Palette $2.13 w/free shipping

Found on Hip2Save. The palette, from Target, is $2.37 with free shipping, and there is a 10% off code, TGTHTT5Z, making the final price $2.13.

bathtub full of...

heaven. That is what you get by mixing Philosophy's Have a Cherry Christmas with Yves Rocher's Florida Orange.

Bubbles galore. The Cherry Christmas bubbles are pinky red on the skin...I'm as soft as silk, no lotion required.

Oh, I also bought a new shower curtain, I bought the
Titanic Shower Curtain, and recommend it highly. My cat recommends it too, because he bit the daylights of it the first week. He never bothered the last one. The one that was $2.00 from the Dollar Store or Walmart, or wherever I bought it.. Pity.