5 Must Haves from Lacey (& Hubs Shares, Too!)

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Meet Lacey. I am beyond words excited to introduce you to her. Thanks to the powers of Facebook, I am almost positive I can declare her my oldest friend! How cool is that?? I moved around growing up so don't have many long-time friends yet Lacey's someone I always thought about.

We were middle schools pals here in Florida and she is the most sweet, genuine, good hearted person you'll ever meet. And, while I haven't seen her in person in at least 15 years, I still remember her having a laugh that made you smile. Heck, just her smile does that! I feel so fortunate to have met when I was younger and I'm thrilled to reconnect. Especially since we now have kiddies just a few months apart... those little ones are destined for a playdate!

Love Lacey's must haves. Have to admit that she sent me about 10 and forced me to narrow them down (hard work!). HYSTERICAL SIDE NOTE: When her husband asked what she was working on, he created his own awesome top five list; so classic guy I love it! ANSWER: Food, water, shelter, TV, comfy chair and sex! LOL. Dying. So awesome.

Ok, now that I've written a novel, please take a few more moments to read Lacey's 5 must haves, in her words...

Stud Earrings For Your Wallet

I know crazy right, but I’ve needed these more than a few times.  You’re in a hurry in the morning and realize only when you look in the rear view mirror half way to work that you forgot earrings. Doh!  This is my back up pair of earrings.  They hold up great in my wallet and don’t take up much room!  I have a pair of 10mm silver ball stud earrings.  Love them!!

TAGG tip: LOVE this earrings set from Target: silver ball stud earrings and faux diamonds, just $14.99!

Maybelline Eyestudio Gel Eyeliner

I love the soft look of pencil liner but I can’t stand that it disappears and is gone by the end of the day. I’ve tried liquid liners but I really don’t like how defined the line is, too dark and harsh. I need the best of both worlds something that has a smudge to it but great staying power… This is it!
So easy to apply (brush is included) and lasts all day! LOVE IT!! $7.99
(Bobbi Brown sells a similar liner but this one works just as great and a fraction of the cost).

Crystal Light To Go Packs

I struggle to drink my daily quota of water. Because water is just so bland to me, I have to perk up my water with Crystal Light (Raspberry Lemonade) to go packs. I always have one or two in my purse when I need a pick me up from my boring water.

 

Gold Bond Ultimate Healing (Aloe) Lotion

Large bottles, medium tubes and small travel tubes! Travel tube in my purse, a medium tube in my office and car and large bottle at home.  This stuff  is the best.  It doesn’t irritate my sensitive skin, it’s moisturizing and quickly absorbs into the skin without being greasy!
TAGG tip: She's right! I  know, a little strange because Gold Bond was associated with other less glamorous things, but this lotion is awesome. When my hands were crazy dry last year due to meds a nurse could not stop raving about this; I tested and they're right.

 

Clear makeup bag for all of my loose items

There is nothing worse than looking for your lipstick at the bottom of your purse, pulling out everything out except for the one thing you need!  I put all of my loose cosmetics in this little bag: lotion, lipstick, ibuprofen, compact, lip gloss etc. Everything is always in it's place and is easy to find in the bag because the bag is clear!! I got mine for $3 at Wal-Mart.  SCORE!

Check out Lacey's other must-haves....
Cover Girl Lash Blast mascara, a purse with a POP (hers is yellow); Lysol travel-size wipes; and Bobbi Brown Long Wear Cream Shadow (cement; a great natural color).

Review: Birchbox (beauty to your doorstep!)

It’s about time I shared with you my beauty love: 

BIRCHBOX.

Have you heard of it yet? If not, read carefully. This is important scoop:

Let’s call it a beauty club. For $10/month, Birchbox sends to you deluxe beauty samples of the newest, best and often, the most coveted  products.

I just received my second box (they come once a month) so now I'm fully capable of giving you my two cents… actually, a lot more!

Here's how the box looks once unwrapped from mailing box...

Moi's vote on Birchbox after two month's of service? A!

Before I tell you why I graded it so well, must confess that I’m not a beauty junkie or the gal who would ever test out and cross compare four eyeliners, for example.

However, as I’m getting older (and wiser!), I am interested in products that can keep some lines at bay and keep my skin looking young and vibrant. I also increasingly find myself seeking affordable new products to make me look my best.

What I find so appealing about Birchbox is that I get to try products and brands I never would have purchased on my own. Some of which, by the way, are only available online or in upscale stores that might make me feel uncomfortable to test products. Those women can be so rude or snooty! Haha. 

The $10 monthly price is worth it right there!

Before you receive any products, Birchbox requests you complete a quick beauty profile. This way, they send you the types of items you want and that are ideal for your needs.

Here’s what my Birchbox looked like this month when I opened it.

And, here's last month's...
(mental note to fully unwrap before snapping pics; lots more beauty goodies hidden inside!

Last month, a favorite was Zoya nail polish in a shimmery gold. This month, my fave is the Jouer moisturizing lip gloss. I’ve been ddyyyyiinnngggg to try this brand the past few weeks so was thrilled to see it here.

(And, it is indeed amazing; ample moisture with a sparkly shimmer).

Each box comes with this handy dandy card like this one to give you the full deets on each product.

If you love an item so much you want it full size, you can buy it from Birchbox and earn loyalty points along the way good toward future purchases. And, during the month, Birchbox sends you a few informative emails with a make-up tip or trick, the scoop on a new product or something else.

I haven’t tried all my products yet (or confession: even one or two from my last box),

however my $10/month is totally worth what I have tried so far…

and nothing beats the fun of getting a package in the mail every 30 days.

Happy holidays to me!

Have you tried Birchbox? Are you a fan?

Or, are you going to give it a go?

Giveaway: Sephora Gift Card!

You gals amaze, inspire, educate and make me smile each day.

Really, I can't imagine my life without this blog and the wonderful women I've met.
It's been a transformative experience beyond words that little make me tear up a bit. (nerd, I know!)

To thank YOU, I'm giving away a $30 gift card to Sephora to one lucky reader, good for any wonderful item you'd like at one of the best stores ever! Woohooo!

Why Sephora?
Compelled because today I noticed that a few of my go-to make-up products are running low. Boo. Hate that because it gets pricey to buy all at once. Those $20-something items add up. Thinking that I'd love some extra flow to spend at Sephora, I'm assuming you would as well! Right? 

If  I had it to spend, here's my current make-up bag needs...

Nars blush, Orgasm, $27

Best blush on earth. Period. Try it if you haven't.

Benefit concealer, Boi-ing, $18

Love this concealer. Use it under my eyes and other spots that need it. Doesn't cake!

Smashbox photo finish primer, $17 (travel size)

I'm super curious to try primer. Love that this hugely popular one has a travel size so I can test before committing the bucks! (also eager to try Smashbox eye primer ($17), rec's by beauty guru, Erika, from the make-up/fashion blog, Girly Things by *e).

TO ENTER to win $30 to Sephora:

Required (1 entry):

1. Follow my blog through Google Friend Connect (on the right-hand column) and leave a comment below sharing one of your go-to beauty products, whether it's available at Sephora, Target or anywhere in between.

Additional entries (1 entry each; leave a seperate comment for each)

1. "Like" my blog on Facebook and leave a comment here letting me know.

2. Follow me on Twitter (@avggirlsguide) and leave a comment here letting me know.

3. Tweet about this contest.

Details: Contest ends Wednesday, May 18 at midnight. Available to anyone, anywhere
(thank you e-gift cards!)!

Thanks again everyone for being so wonderful. Make it a great day!



Beauty VIP: Rid Yourself of the Dark Circles

Happy Monday, ladies! I don't know about you but I was feeling especially tired this a.m. It doesn't help that I have naturally dark-ish circles so a tired morning is not a pretty morning for this gal! Fortunately, I have a few key make-up products to add some light to the eyes (and of course that skinny vanilla latte for that extra caffeine dose doesn't hurt either!).

One dark-circle-diminishing fave? Benefit's Lemon-Aid.

This stuff has become a g-dsend! It's nothing super new, but one more gals need to know about. It's a color-correcting eyelid primer that totally hides darkness, redness, you name it. It looks super yellow in the container, which is a perfect color to neutralize your eyes natural shades. Benefit really has some of the best products... Benetint and Bo-ing concealer are other staples in my make-up bag.

To apply: since the biggest complaint is that it can be thick (which I experienced at first), dab the littlest amount on your finger and then dab (don't rub) it in. Really, too much and you'll think it's too yellow or it can show it up in your crease line. Once on, sweep over some loose powder to set, and voila: a perfect, perky eyelid!

To buy: It's about half the price on Amazon compared to Sephora, so review there and then shop on Amazon!

Beauty VIP: Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara

Don't forget, just two days left to enter the giveaway for gorgeous-for-spring Stella & Dot earrings, courtesy of wonder woman Angelica Wyke!

And, if you're local, catch me tonight on CBS12 during the 7 pm news dishing about tasty chocolate bars under 200 calories that are delish (promise!), yet won't kill your diet. I'll share them here tomorrow.

Now to today's post... Say hello to gorgeous (lower) lashes.Can I start with an AMEN, SISTA?! Fasten your seatbelts and get ready because your lower lashes are never going to be the same.

Me, your average, typical, gal, has always struggled with applying mascara to my bottom lashes because
1. I'm not a make-up artist.
2. I don't have so many lashes to work with.
3. A mess always ensues making me look like I kind of got punched in the face (or that I'm a five-year-old trying to apply make-up, ha) so I often choose to skim even doing them.

Until now! Enter:
Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara!
{applause, applause}

While Sephora lets you test everything before you buy it, you'll have to trust me on this one. You can't effectively test this because you can't use one of Sephora's generic disposable mascara brushes to sample. The mystique around this product is the extra-small brush specially designed for coating our mini lower lashes. It's so much more fool-proof than the regular mascara wand. No globs or goops or clumps (yay!) because you can easily access each lash, almost individually. It's dare, I say, genius.

Comes in black or a black/brown (my choice), for a very worthy $10.

Gaga Makes Me Want to Get Nude

Hoping it would catch your attention! 

After reading last week's post with Dori's 5 must haves to get flawlessly camera ready, I realized I needed to love my lip color as much as she did hers! So, I ventured to The Gardens Mall (a crazy must if you live anywhere near me) in search of new color. Rough Sunday afternoon outing, huh?

Since Dori and I are blessed with similar complexions, I was all set to buy her MAC combo of Viva Glam V lipstick and lip glass, until... I discovered the most jaw-dropping perfect shade of nude lipstick ever. Inspired by Lady Gaga, MAC recently unveiled this limited edition wonder in a lipstick and lip glass. I'm OB.SESSED. I want to wear it to sleep I love it so much. Hahaha!

Nudes are totally in for spring with apparel and accessories, and your lips are no exception. This warm beige covers all the pigment in your lips, giving you this perfect, subtly glamorous look with a matte finish (that's not drying at all).

If you want a little gloss or slight color, consider topping it with a gloss of your choice or first lining your lips with an light brown lip pencil. I got the Viva Glam V  lipglass to layer on top and also wear on its own.

PERK: ALL of the proceeds of MACs Viva Glam products -- including their special edition ones like this -- go toward the M∙A∙C Aids Fund. It kind of makes me wish their lipsticks were more than the bargain price of  $14.50 (was totally expecting $22ish each). Check it out here or head to a MAC store to get nude with Gaga!

Beauty VIP: A Face Fave

You know that product you've been using since you were a teenager that you can't give up? Sometimes it's necessary to loosen the reigns because there are better products out there, but sometimes: stick with what works!

That's how I feel about St. Ives Facial Scrub. It's not only a fave of moi, Allure named it a best beauty product as have countless other mags and beauty blogs.

It perfectly (and not to harshly) exfoliates.... cleaning my pores and preventing blech breakouts. Not sure if you're supposed to use it every day but I do.

Oh, use it elsewhere too... I give my arms some St. Ives love, too, and they always thank me for it!

If you're one of a few who haven't given this lovely scrub a whirl, test it out. It's available everywhere and under $5. Why spend four times as much when there's perfection in this little white bottle? Yay.

xoxo

5 Must Haves: to be Camera Ready

Meet Dori. She's one of my oldest friends: we met during the high school years, became sorority sisters at UF and now, lifelong friends. I think she's truly amazing. She's smart, gorgeous, talented and tells the best stories (trust me when I tell you this girl doesn't forget a detail). I wish we got to see each other more often because it's the best. You know those few friends who it just clicks every time you see each other? That's us. We laugh, we shop, we gossip, we have the best time.  We're known as DorAl, just like Brangelina, of course. Lol, don't judge. But back to the stuff more relevant to this post... 

Did I happen to mention she's kinda famous? Yeah, she is! I'm so proud of her. She's worked her way up the tv ranks and is now an evening anchor for the CBS station in the Capital Region (that's the Albany, New York area). I have high hopes she'll make it back to the Sunshine State, but until then there's always that game of phone tag we love!

Since she's on TV every day, I figured who better to give make-up insight! Her skin has to look flawless daily -- especially now that there's HD! -- so here she is with...

5 must haves, in her words... to be Flawlessly Camera Ready!

First things first: this is probably going to sound like a big sales pitch for MAC makeup. And I apologize for that. But overall, when it comes to being camera-ready, whether for video or still, their products really ARE among the best when it comes to being effective and efficient.

MAC, Studio Tech

For starters, their Studio Tech can pull double-duty as both a concealer and foundation. I apply with a foundation brush to make sure it's even and smooth.

Sheer pressed powder

We all know how being "shiny" can ruin a photo. Don't you hate that -- when everyone else looks fab, but you think you look so slimy and gross?! I've found that using sheer pressed powder, MAC's in particular, is the best way to get rid of the shine and get a truly flawless finish. But it's not just the product itself that matters; it's also the application. Instead of using the included puff applicator, use a large makeup brush to apply the powder more lightly and evenly. A little goes a long way.

Too Faced eye shadow palette

I used to be the WORST about knowing where different eye shadows are supposed to go on the lid, and which shades are meant to compliment one another. That is, until I discovered the "Natural Eye" palette from Too Faced. It offers the perfect neutral combinations for day, night and fashion, as well as helpful cards showing you exactly where each shade for each look is applied on the lid. Totally foolproof -- and totally one of my favorite makeup finds yet.

Eyeliner - Almay / MAC

Every woman has their one type of makeup item they can't live without, the one item they "have" to have on before they leave the house. Without a doubt, mine is eyeliner. If I'm running errands on the weekends, it's just a quick once-over of an Almay retractable liner. For work and all those camera-ready occasions, it's MAC's Fluidline gel liner. The. Best. Using a flat brush that's rinsed and dried every time, line both top and bottom as close to the lash-line as possible.

MAC lip products

When it comes to lips, three products get the award for "Best Supporting Role." Find your signature shade of lipstick, lip liner and lip gloss, that are all relatively neutral but have a little pop. For me, it's a coating of MAC's Viva Glam V lipstick, followed by an outline of MAC's Spice lip pencil, and a swipe of MAC's Viva Glam V Lipglass on top. All three are pretty universally flattering shades, so get ready to pucker up for some fun kissy-face pics!

5 Must Haves: Girly Things By E

Erika Llenza, blogger for Girly Things by E:
Five Must Have... Drugstore Beauty Buys!

Meet Erika. She's a self-proclaimed beauty junkie, and proud of it! So excited to have her here: she's constantly dolling out awesome recommendations on her blog and posting how-to videos on YouTube for everything from applying eyeshadow just perfectly to curling your hair (which for some reason, this average girl can never make look just right!)!

It all started for her when the search began for hair products that would tame her unruly curls. Serums, shampoos, conditioners, leave-in treatments, hairspray, oh my! As you can see by her gorgeous photo, she got that hair perfectly straight. Plus, growing up, Erika's father, who worked for a large drugstore chain, would pass along gift cards he received. She would stock up in the makeup and beauty aisles with her sister, using his dad's employee discount to stretch the value. She loves all products -- lipsticks, hair products, nail polish, and beauty goodies -- and you can still find Erika perusing the beauty isles at Target, TJ Maxx, Sephora, and other retailers for bargains, treats and new beauty essentials.

In her own words, here's her five drugstore beauty buys!
(and, always check local drugstore promotions; one brand is always BOGO 1/2 off!)

e.l.f. Hypershine Lipgloss

At a mere $1, this wallet-friendly vanilla-scented lipgloss is comparable to Stila's lip glazes. Find these little gems at most Target stores or on the e.l.f web site. They come in a nice array of colors, my favorites are Flirt, Honey, and Sugar Plum (a nice subtle way to do fall's plum lips for those who are timid about this bold trend). Bonus: e.l.f recently released holiday colors, available in holiday gift sets for $3 and $5.

TAGG tip: e.l.f. just started a new promotion today, take 50% off its top 25 favs, when you spend $25 or more (so it becomes just $12.50!)

Cover Girl Eye Enhancers 3-kit Eyeshadow in Cafe au Lait

I can't attest for the other color combos that Cover Girl makes in these three-shadow kits, but I can say that I love the colors in cafe au lait ($4.50). It is a great go-to palette that will compliment many skin tones, and is great for the office, school and casual weekends. Heck, use the darkest color a little more at night to smoke the look out. This palette has good color pay off and is neutral so you can use it year round. For the makeup novice, it even gives you application guidance for a pretty natural look. And, at less than $5, you can afford to keep one at home, in your travel bag and in your purse to transition from the office to some after-hours drinks. For extra savings, check out your local Sunday paper for coupons.

L'Oreal Elnett Hairspray

While about $13 seems pricey for hairspray, it's actually quite a bargain considering this little gem was previously not available in the U.S. A coveted commodity, hairstylists would stock up whenever they did fashion shows or shoots abroad, bringing back as many as they were allowed or their suitcases could handle. It's been a long-standing staple at many runway shows, and while the formula is slightly different in the U.S. than it is in Europe, this hairspray is light as a feather while offering fantastic results. I'm partial to the Strong Hold (the lightest formula) for everyday use, and the Extra Strong Hold UV Hairspray for hair do's that require significantly more hold. The best part about this hairspray is that it gives you hold while still allowing movement and when you are done with your 'do all you have to do is brush your hair out and restyle -- no sticky, hard residue left behind. Check your Sunday paper for coupons: I recently clipped a $3 off coupon for Elnett hairspray. (At $10, that's more than half what some pricey name brands charge, ahem, Aveda Airspray...)

Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Nail Polish

Can't bear the thought of paying for high priced nail polishes? Sally Hansen offers great products for a fraction of the price ($2.55), and offer a generous array of colors, comparable to the trendy colors of each season. To top it off, these offer great color pigmentation and last about as long on your nails as the pricey brands like China Glaze and OPI. My current favorite: Wet Cement. Don't forget to check for coupon savings.

L'Oreal Voluminous Carbon Black Mascara

Why pay $25 or more for mascara, when there are so many drugstore mascaras out there that offer great formulas with nearly identical results? Put those savings toward more makeup essentials (extra lipgloss or eyeshadow anyone?). This mascara ($5.99) is one of my go-to staples. I like the brush size, the jet-black color and its volumizing results. Other great drugstore mascaras: CoverGirl LashBlash and Maybeline Lash Stilleto. Plus, all of these brands run monthly coupons in the Sunday paper.

For more words of beauty wisdom, find Erika online at her blog, Girly Things by *e*, YouTube channel and Twitter.

Divine Deal: The Body Shop Groupon

Groupon is the newest way to snag serious deals -- up to 90% off in your city -- for dining, shopping, events, you name it.  Starting in Chicago, it's been around about two years and is growing quickly around the country. You get one day to take advantage of a major discount. Today's deal is a must share:

Get a $40 gift certificate to The Body Shop for $20!!! Such a steal. This store has so many fantastic product lines for make-up, skin care, everything. Take advantage of this awesome nationwide Groupon. It's one you'll surely use for yourself, or for the holidays: think gifts for family, co-workers, friends, teachers.

New to Groupon? Click here. Already a member and want get today's deal, click here! The deal is only valid today, though you can use the coupon through 2.25.2011 and it can be used with other coupons.