Beauty Deals & Steals! Big Lots $1 Mini Haul

So...I had a bit of an impromptu retail therapy session today. Well, technically it was yesterday but I'm still up at 3a.m. posting this, so my day hasn't completely ended yet.

Raheem & I loaded up the babies and drove to Big Lots to grab a few household items. Now, I actually had no intention of buying anything for myself, but once I wandered into the cosmetics section & saw this whole $1 thing they had going on, I had to pick up a few things.

I picked up 7 items altogether & spent $7 total (+tax of course). I got 4 nail polishes, 2 nail polish strip kits, and a mascara.

3 of the polishes I picked up are the Julie G for Jesse's Girl polishes. If you're not familiar, Julie G is a YouTube "beauty guru" who has in conjunction with Jesse's Girl created her own nail polish line sold on Jessesgirl.com & at RiteAid drug stores. The colors I picked up are from the holiday 2012 collection. Although the color "Light it Up" has made it's way to the 2013 permanent collection.

I also picked up some sally hansen goodies! I grabbed an Insta-Dri polish and two Salon Effects nail polish strip kits.

I swatched all of the polishes (2 coats on "Gift Wrapped" & "Ornamental", 4 coats on "Light it Up" & 3 on "Purple Haste") & I have to say, I really like all of the colors. The Julie G polishes are winning over the Insta-Dri though. The Insta-Dri's dry time isn't very "insta" and it seems to be one of those polishes that doesn't harden completely once it does dry. Making it easy to chip, scratch & ding up the finish once you start using your hands. Not to mention the funky brush it has. It's one of those flat brushes, but the bristles are a bit wonky & frayed, making it difficult to get a neat & even coat. Not sure if they are all like this or if it's just mine.

And lastly, I grabbed this l.a. colors navy blue mascara. I've been wanting one for a while and just never picked one up. I did try it on one eye and it is very navy. The color is extremely subtle almost bordering on drab. I think I'll try it paired with a jet black smokey eye to see if it pops more. Future Post!

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Dove Cleartone: 4 Week Update

Ok, so if you've been following me through this 30 day Dove Cleartone trial, you probably know by now that I am not impressed. This post won't be very long because there isn't much to report. I initially purchased the product because of it's claim to "visibly reduce dark maks" & leave you with "even skintone". Well, After using this product for 1 month, I can firmly state that it does NOT do what it claims.

I saw no improvement in my hyper-pigmentation. In fact I feel as though it may have made it a bit worse than before.

I do however have to admit one thing, the product does keep you fresh and dry just as good as if not better than any other deodorant/antiperspirant I've used in the past.

Bottom line, I would not recommend this product to anyone looking to improve or correct their underarm hyper-pigmentation. It does NOT work.

So now I'm back to square one. I will definitely be posting on the next thing I try though!

Stay tuned :-)

To view my 2nd & 3rd week update Click here!

To view my initial post on this subject Click here!

The Magnum Gold Experience ;-)

So, while on a recent road trip, a hot...long...hot summer road trip, I decided to try something I'd never tried before...

 We pulled over at a rest stop gas station, I considered my options and decided to give in to my craving. After all, I had been cooped up in a hot van for the past 6 hours, rolling through endless miles of farmland and nothingness. I felt I deserved a bit of a treat, something to lift my spirits before continuing with the rest of the 12 hour journey.

Now that I'm quite sure I've successfully drawn most of you in...I should probably inform you of one thing. I am referring to ice cream. Magnum Gold?! ice cream bars to be exact :-)

As I combed the freezer section looking for the perfect frozen treat. I saw the Magnum bars and grabbed one. It wasn't until I opened the package that I realized this was something different. It's described as "Silky vanilla bean ice cream swirled with sea salt caramel and covered in a golden coating made with Belgian Milk Chocolate". I was surprised to see that the golden coating is actually golden. A semi-sparkly metallic-ish gold. Like it had been painted with luster dust (for all you cake decorating folks).

The gold doesn't translate very well in the photo.
Much more of a golden shimmer in person.

As for the taste, well...it is a Magnum bar. Needless to say, it was devoured down to the stick in about 5 minutes flat.

My thoughts altogether: This is officially the diva of all ice cream bars & I will probably break down during a future grocery shopping trip and buy a box.

Have you tried these yet? If not, pick up one the next time you're out and let me know what you think!

And just because I came across it, here is the commercial for these things. It's beyond completely random & kinda Mission Impossible-y. But, it's starring Joe Manganiello (Alcide Herveaux from True Blood). Yeah...Him. I don't think I need to say much more ;-)

Enjoy!

Dove Cleartone: Week 2 & 3 Update

So, I'm back with my second and third week updates after using the Dove Cleartone antiperspirant. I followed the same routine as always and still I have seen NO CHANGE. I'll give it one more week since I committed to testing it out for a full month. But, I am doubtful that there will be any changes. I've already begun looking into other ways of lightening hyper-pigmented underarms & I will definitely be doing some more experimentation after this month is over.

Don't have much more to say, so here are pics :-/

For previous update Click here!

For the first post on this subject Click here