Haul: Sephora VIB Sale 2014

Curious to see what I picked up in the Sephora VIB Sale this year? What did you get?

Almost all the items I flagged to buy were sold out by the time I went shop online and therefore a majority of these products were impulse buys. 

Products mentioned:

Candies Leopard Print Backpack from Kohl's

SEPHORA COLLECTION Colorful Dual Antibacterial Sharpener Colorful Dual Antibacterial Sharpener Purple

Detangling Brush Detangling Brush

Ribbon Hair Ties Ribbon Hair Ties Purple

Face & Eye Travel Tool Kit Face & Eye Travel Tool Kit 

The High Roller

Z Palette Z Palette Small - 3 14/16'' X 3 14/16 '' X 3/4''

Dior Diorshow Maximizer Lash Plumping Serum Diorshow Maximizer Lash Plumping Serum DiorShow Maximizer Lash Plumping Serum

Koh Gen Do Cleansing Spa Water Cleansing Spa Water 3.38 oz

Makeup I am wearing: (Eyes Lips Face Cosmetics) ELF Moisturizing lipstick in Velvet Red, ELF Moisturizing Foundation Stick in Nude, ELF Contouring Blush & Bronzing Powder in Fiji, ELF Pressed Mineral Blush in Cabo Cabana

Wet N Wild Color Icon lipliner in 717 Berry Red

Revlon Nearly Naked Pressed Powder in Light

Revlon ColorStay Pressed Powder in Medium

MAC Eyeshadow in Arena

Coastal Scents Hot Pot Eyeshadow in Raisin Berry

Wet N Wild Creme Eyeliner in Cocoa Riche (brows)

Jordana 12 HR Made to Last eyeliner in Jade Jewel

Heavy Rotation Eyeliner

Anastatia of Beverly Hills Lash Genius

Maybelline the Rocket Mascara in Waterproof

samples

DERMAdoctor DD Cream 15-Benefits-In-1 Dermatologically Defining BB Cream Broad Spectrum SPF 30

Dr. Jart+ PORE MEDIC Pore Minish Primer

ALTERNA Caviar Repair Lengthening Hair & Scalp Elixir

shown at the end 

Sephora Holiday Tote Bag

Murad Rapid Results Set Rapid Results Set

Lancôme HYPNÔSE DRAMA WATERPROOF HYPNÔSE DRAMA WATERPROOF Excessive Black

Fresh Sugar Lip Legends Sugar Lip Legends

stila Stay All Day® Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner Stay All Day® Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner Black

Fresh Skincare Idols Skincare

stila Smudge Stick Waterproof Eye Liner Smudge Stick Waterproof Eye Liner Stingray

Fresh Sugar Ruby Romance Sugar Ruby Romance

Sephora Loves: Your Shopping List

Deal Alert: CVS Semi Annual Clearance 50%-75%

Once again it is time for the semi-annual CVS clearance on drugstore makeup. It officially starts on November 14th 2014 but I heard some CVS locations were starting theirs early. Indeed a few were. I checked out 4 in the San Diego area and 2 has not started yet and the other 2 had. I here is my haul if you want to see what i got.

Lots of 50% off to 75% off I saw Physcian's Formula, Covergirl, Revlon, NYC Color, Wet N Wild, NYX, Rimmel, Neutrogena, Milani, Sally Hansen just to name a few. Note that many CVS's do not mark these things as clearance but if you use the scanner you can verify they are before purchasing.

The wonderful Blog I reference in the video is from Nouveau Cheap.

*One interesting note and this has never happened to me before for the CVS Semi-Annual clearance before but the CVS closest to my house has nothing on clearance! I triple checked on three different trips and days to the one on Scripps Poway in San Diego. Rest assured fellow Scripps Ranch and San Diego people the rest of the CVS' I visited clearanced now (November 21. 2014)

Equitance Brightening Serum

Hello Beauties!

If any of you know me, I am all about finding the best brightening serums for the most part. I swear by them to lighten up old acne scars and fade sun spots. So I was really excited when I received the Equitance Brightening & Spot Corrector Serum from influenster complimentary for testing purposes. Finally a product right up my alley!

The card that came with this product it reads:

"Clinically proven to reduce the appearance of dark discolorations"
"Patented technology that delivers clinically proven brightening ingredient to the skin"
"83% of women reported diminished appearance of dark spots"
"*Based on clinical study after 4 months. Study conducted and evaluated by a dermatologist"

A 30g size of this product retails for $125. You are supposed to apply 2-3 drops on your face in the morning and evenings. For a brightening serum this price is about mid-range.

I've been using this for about 2 weeks now after my toner and before my moisturizer. I do not own the whole line of products shown in their brochure and website to use in conjunction with each other. I have not used the product long enough to know if it is making a difference. However, I would really really love to win a whole set and test the whole line out. I feel like I would be the perfect candidate!

If any of you would like try products from Equitance I have a promo code that expires November 20th 2014. With code INFL15 you will receive 15% off their brightening & spot correcting serum and a trial starter kit worth $37. They also have free shipping with any order. http://www.equitance-us.com/

Wet N Wild The Style Award Goes To Limited Edition Displays

My Paris France City Pharma Haul

Hello Beauties!

It has been less than a week since I've been back from Paris and I have just finished editing my YouTube Paris Skincare Haul. It is not often that I also write about a haul but this experience was quite unique so I thought I would try to help anyone else out here who might also be a French Pharmacie newbie.

Before arriving in my Paris my plan was to seek and buy local French drugstore makeup that is hard to come by in the USA. Through a quick search I found that drugstore makeup is not sold in Pharmacies in France. Pharmacies in France are quite different and focus much more on skincare and medicine.

I was able to pinpoint a very specific Pharmacie on 26 Rue du Four that seemed like every single person had visited. This place also happened to be really close to our hotel. I told my husband about it and he actually booked a hotel close by on purpose. The first time I walked in I was completely overwhelmed. I had been warned by bloggers to be prepared with a list. They were not kidding. Most products are in french and there are absolutely shelves full of new products that are unfamiliar to the US shopper. I left there feeling completely overwhelmed. But I did go back a few days later armed with a list and was able to get in and out pretty quick. 

What I picked up:

BioDerma Crealine H20: I picked this two pack up for €15.40. Every single person in the shop had some form of Bioderma solution in their basket, it was obvious to me that this was the thing that one must not miss.

 Sanoflore Veritable Eau Florale: Snagged this for €5.50. I grabbed this based on a blog (design mom) I read for it's under eye soothing properties.

Safforelle: I heard that one does not know how clean you can be down there until you've tried this stuff. I picked up this 2 pack for €8.99.

Biafine Emulsion: I picked this 93g tube up for €2.99.

Nuxe Reve de Miel (in stick form): I picked up this stick form because I prefer that format. This is the only item I did not pick up from City Pharma because they didn't carry the stick form. I snagged this two pack for €6.00.

I looked for Homeoplasmine but I was told they don't carry it anymore. I also asked for Avibon which I could not understand the shop sales woman's response.

The 3 largest sources of my list came from the following videos and links.

Fleur De Force's French Skincare video as linked below:

Lisa Eldridge's French Pharmacie Favouries linked below:

Gweneth Paltrow's famous goop list.

Freeman Beauty 2014 Mystery Bag

I received an email this morning regarding the 2014 Freeman Beauty Mystery Bag. I was so excited I ran to the website to see the bag is $30 and free shipping. But I started to lose my excitement when I thought to myself, wasn't this bag only $20 last year in 2013? And to get to my free shipping last year I pretty much got to pick out my own extras? After logging into my account I indeed confirmed to myself the mystery bag was only $20 last year. My immediate thought was whether or not the 30% price increase will be justifiable. So do I wait to see what other people get and if it possibly sells out? Or should I try it?

The offer claims to include up to $100 in product this year. What do you think? Did you get one last year and will you go in on it this this year? Let me know. I still haven't decided. I will say that I loved everything I got last year. 

See my 2013 Spooky mystery bag from last year in the video below. 

Survivor Season 29 First Impressions

Survivor San Juan Del Sur Season Premiere: Blood VS Water

If you’re a gymba24 follower you will already know that I post randomness of what I love. I have been a regular survivor fan since Season 1 with Susan’s infamous snake/rat speech. I always enjoy other’s take on survivor episodes of seasons past so I thought why not start a weekly blog on my take.

The season opener started out with an all new cast. Thank you CBS for giving us fresh faces and doing a rather efficient job introducing each cast member. I’m not going to hash through and every member but I will give you my first impression of who stood out to me and why.

Jeremy Collins: Perhaps a wolf in sheep’s clothing? He appears to be very likeable and I was moved by the emotions he expressed having to send his wife to Exile Island. Jeremy is playing smart by recognizing the credibility he gained by allowing the soft side of him to show. It appears he has made the majority of his tribe feel comfortable with him as an ally.

Wes Nale: Likeable to the viewers but perhaps in danger. Having been sent to Exile Island first in the game may have limited his bonding time with the tribe, luckily for him their tribe escaped Tribal Counsel. Sadly, I get the feeling he values the bond between firemen more than Jeremy does.

John Rocker: Tower of douche baggery. I hope this guy changes my first impression of him.

Val Collins: A firecracker, her strong personality it might not carry her far. I’m pretty sure she did not find the idol and I am pretty sure I know who has it.

Dale Wentworth: Strategic but naïve. How can he not think that necklace he found by the well is NOT an idol? He values his ability to start fire more than the rest of his tribe. He seems safe so long as the male alliance that has formed continues but he should not rest on that laurel. At this point I see him as a voting number and pawn or a weakness and thrown out early. Early prediction from me is he will not be winning.

Josh Canfield: A people person. Everyone seems to trust and be drawn to him. He must have a trusting air about him which is a good quality to have in a social game. Kudos to him for not reacting to Nadiya’s rude assumptions about him.

I’m happy to see Survivor remove the dual, when you’re gone… you’re gone. I would like to see the return of an idol with special powers (you can play it after the vote is read). Looking forward to a new season with my favorite host in reality TV Jeff Probst. Hope you all enjoyed my recap and thoughts on the first episode of Survivor Season 29.