Summer is my favorite season. This Summer I sojourned in the Carolinas - the Outer Banks to your East and the Smokies to your West - amidst dense greenery and hop-scotch away from the authentic aroma of salt water and seafood. I am not too fond of the outdoors with the exception of beaches.
It was quite a learning experience and awesomely memorable even though I faced some challenges here and there, like shacking up with some creepy crawly critters and other tits and bits of life. The storms were definitely unsettling, but the lush greenery, colorful flowers, sunshine, and warmth was well worth the floods. Most of the days it rained buckets upon buckets, but every now and then came along the perfectly beautiful day. I think anyone can relate to that rush of adrenaline you feel gushing in your chest and the pep in your step on a bright Summer day, when you can sit on the patio, sipping an iced beverage, and feeling a warm breeze blanket your bare shoulders.
What did I do on these uplifting days might you ask? Shopping among other things! Well, not every time the Sun said hello, but still I was a bit naughty. Especially naughty because I happened to find myself a partner in crime. My fellow culprit and I spent our days serving the people of the community with their legal woes and then on some evenings when we were not deathly exhausted, we lifted our spirits with some beauty blabber, retail therapy, and self-pampering.
Today I would like to share with my readers the products I accumulated since May. My Summer is coming to an end soon as classes resume by the end of August. My time off from classes is mainly when I gather goods for haul posts and then the rest of the term I post reviews. So, please leave a comment below and let me know your requests for reviews of the products shown below. Of course I will post swatches and reviews of all or most of the products below, but if anyone is especially eager to hear about any one of these products, then do let me know by leaving me a comment.
*** HAIR PRODUCTS ***
I purchased the following Carol's Daughters hair products at Belk. These items were 50% off when I purchased them a little over a week ago. The Belk employee in the beauty department told me that Carol's Daughters products will be on sale until their stock is finished. I wonder why Belk wants to clear their stock of this brand. Perhaps new packaging or a new release?
The prices I have listed are the retail prices of these products. The 50% off on these items was quite a nice bargain. I checked the Belk website today and saw that the sale is still going on. I cannot comment on the stock with certainty. When my friend and I made our purchases a little over a week ago, the stock appeared limited. Don't get me wrong though. The Belk I went to had two displays. I am only saying limited in case people run wildly to Belk for this sale.
Carol's Daughters products are also available at ULTA.
Carol's Daughter MONOI (Strengthening / Anti-Breakage) Shampoo ($18) and Conditioner ($20)
Carol's CHOCOLAT (Anti-Frizz) Shampoo ($18) and Conditioner ($20)
Carol's Daughter CHOCOLAT (Blow-Drying) Leave-in Conditioner Cream ($22)
Carol's Daughter BLACK VANILLA (Detangling) Leave-in Conditioner Spray ($14)
Carol's Daughter MACADAMIA (Anti-Frizz) Heat Protection Serum ($18)
*** SKIN CARE PRODUCTS ***
SIBU Sea Buckthorn Balancing Facial Cleanser ($17.99 @ Whole Foods or $17.95
online)
SIBU Sea Buckthorn Hydrating Serum ($39.99 @ Whole Foods or $39.95
online)
GIOVANNI Detox System Step 1 Purifying Facial Cleanser ($9.99 @ Whole Foods, Earth Fare, and Walmart)
The online links I have provided for SIBU are NOT affiliate / sponsered links. I have only inserted them for your convenience. If you find this convenient, then please comment below so I will add links for all products in future haul posts. In my opinion, hauls are most helpful if the products are still available in stores/online.
To my knowledge SIBU is mainly sold online. I had not seen it in Whole Foods until recently. Whole Foods had a stack of $2 off coupons hanging by the display of SIBU products. One coupon applies to one item. Whole Foods also had a $ 2 off coupon a purchase of two Giovanni detox system products.
Victoria Secret PINK Spring Break 2-in-1 Body Scrub and Wash Passionfruit Hibiscus and Jasmine Lime (Limited Edition Spring/Summer 2013) ($16.00 each / $7 - $8 each at the Semi-Annual Sale)
Bath and Body Works Body Wash Pink Chiffon (Free w/ Coupon)
Mr. Pumice Ultimate Extra Coarse Pumi Bar ($2.79 each @ Sally's Beauty Supply) Ticklish, but great for exfoliation. One of my friends told me that this product is not only meant for feet, but is useful for exfoliating elbows and legs. Fortunately, I do not have any dry skin issues, but wearing flip flops and sandals and staying outdoors in the Summer can make your feet dirty and this product works well for scuffing off dirt.
*** NAIL COLORS, LIP COLORS, etc... ***
OPI's
Koala Berry,
You're Such a Buda-pest, and
Lucky Lucky Lavender. ($9 each / Buy two for $15 promotion @ ULTA / Bought two of each shade and gifted the additional shades to a friend.)
Revlon's Lily ($4.99 @ Target)
Essie's Navigate Her ($8 / Used a $2 off coupon on Essie @ ULTA)
Essence Nude Glam Cafe' Ole' ($0.99 @ ULTA)
All Sephora by OPI polishes are currently marked down at Sephora for $4.50 each or three for $10. I was not aware of the "three for $10" sale, so I paid $4.50 for each polish. I believe the "three for $10" sale is a recent development.
Sephora by OPI Nail Strengthener
Sephora by OPI Casting Call
Sephora by OPI Bare to Be Different
NARS Pure Matte Lipstick Terre De Feu ($26 @ Sephora) This lipstick is loved and approved! I cannot wait to post a review and swatches of this one.
NARS Lipstick Tolede ($26 @ Sephora) I will not be able to review this lipstick because I returned it. I opened it up at home and the lipstick looked peach. I had tested the color on my arm while in Sephora and it had looked like a baby pink shade. The lighting in some stores is awful and plays tricks on your mind. Yuck! I am not a fan of peach or coral pinks at all, so I returned it immediately.
Essie's
Ballet Slippers,
Mint Candy Apple,
Fiji (not pictured),
Boxer Shorts, *New*
Full Steam Ahead, *New*
Under Where, and *New*
No More Film (not pictured)
. ($7.79 - 8 each / Available @ Kohl's, Bed Bath and Beyond, and ULTA / Paid $5 - 6 each after in-store coupons)
Sephora by OPI Call Your Mother
Oh my gosh moment! Following this post, I will be posting up a review of Essie Boxer Shorts and Ballet Slippers. My extremely sweet Supervising Attorney, Kim, surprised me with a gift certificate for a pedicure and Essie's Boxer Shorts. The second pedicure experience of my life, so it is still very exciting for me. I found the gift on my desk as soon as I got in to work. It was tucked away to one side and had a work related sticky note by it. I gasped when I read the label "boxer shorts." Oh my gosh!
Essie's Boxer Shorts was quite the talk of town when it made its debut. Unfortunately, for me it was "ya snooze, ya lose." I do not know how in the world Kim came across this shade in a store. She found it at a Kohl's. I am sure I could have found it online, but I don't like to shop online, except for necessities like school books. I like to see, touch, and investigate something before I buy it. Anyways, when I eventually heard about this shade, I looked for it in Target, ULTA, and other drugstores, but could not find it. Right now I am having the same "ya snooze, ya lose" luck with Essie's Topless and Barefoot.
*New* Bare Minerals Marvelous Moxie Lipsticks Call the Shots and Break Away. ($18 @ Bare Minerals)
Bare Minerals Prime Time Eyelid Primer ($18 @ Bare Minerals)
*New* Bare Minerals Lash Domination Mascara ($18 @ Bare Minerals) I got the cute little sample for free.
I purchased the primer and lipsticks during the Friends and Family Sale and received 20% off my entire purchase.
Smashbox Be Legendary Lipstick Truffle ($9.99 @ Nordstrom Rack) Smashbox lipsticks retail for $19 at Sephora and ULTA stores, but I have not seen the "truffle" shade sold at either place or on their websites.
*New* Yves Saint Laurent (YSL) Rouge Volupte' Shine # 10 Chocolate in Style ($34 @ Sephora)
Ou la la!!! Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet #40 La Sensuelle ($34 @ Belk) One of my close friends, Alex, surprised me with a luxurious going-away gift. I still feel giddy when I recall the moment the little classy parcel was placed in my hands, while we were at work. I screamed, "oh my goodness, oh my goodness!" The Chanel gift wrapping was so classy - white paper with the Chanel logo print tied with a black bow with the Chanel written across the ribbon. I am gutted that I did not take a picture. Thank you, Alex, for this special gift. Everyone at work thought I reacted as if Prince Charming came in through the window and proposed.
*New* Bobbi Brown Sheer Lip Color # 2 Hot Raspberry ($25 @ Belk) This shade is far out of my comfort zone, like somewhere in outer space. However, I am willing to be slightly adventurous. Being a little "coco-nut" for collecting lip colors, I suppose mauve neutral shades are not always the most exciting.
Well, that is all for the Summer shopping folks. Fall collections are already on there way to us. Fall has its own beauty wonders - deep wine lips, oxblood nails, taupe smokey eyes, boots, and fuzzy sweaters. I feel cold very easily, so accessorizing is completely pointless for me during the Fall season as I hibernate in layers of clothing and a larger than life woolen coat. I also catch a bout of winter blues as the trees shed their leaves and snow swallows up the ground. Well, perhaps I'm getting ahead of myself...
Kim, Alex, and K & V - This Summer was well worth the creepy crawly critters because I found some very special friends.
Have a happy happy happy day! Come back soon!
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