Sephora Precision Pore Cleansing Pad

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I love to purchase skincare products from Sephora because I don't mind spending a little more on my skin; on a trip over to Sephora, I stumbled upon something called a Precision Pore Cleansing Pad,  which Sephora described it as a "flexible silicone pad that gently massages the face and helps deliver deeply clean, radian results," I was very intrigued and for only 5 bucks I thought...."Why not?"

 What does this product claim to do? Well on the packaging, Sephora claims that "this tool uses tiny bristles to invigorate the skin and effectively clean pores, helping to exfoliate and soften the skin." I already use a scrubbing brush from Sephora, the Face Complexion Brush, which I  have a review here, but I did want to buy something a little bit more gentle, for an every day use.

The first thing I noticed when using this product is that the cleansing pad lathers up so quickly and so much, which is very amazing considering its such a small palm sized silicone pad.  This product is very gentle, yet the scrubbing is very effective, the bristles not only massage dirt and makeup off your skin, but it also scrubs away any dead skin

I love this product because it doesn't require me to take off my makeup before washing my face, typically I will use makeup removing wipes first, but this silicone pad does all that work for me in a few gentle scrubs. This product is similar to using a very gentle exfoliant, therefore after my initial use I did notice my skin was very soft and smooth, which by the way I was very surprised simply because the bristles can barely be felt on a wet lathered face!

The steps to using this product are very simple

1) Wet your face

2) Apply facial cleanser to the cleansing pad

3) Gently in a circular motion scrub your face

4) Rinse your face with lukewarm water

I do believe the product does live up to the claims, the cleansing pad does provide a deep cleansing experience, it did {gently} exfoliate my skin, and smooth out my face as well! I now use this product in conjunction to my Sephora Face Complexion Brush but I alternate, basically the cleansing pad is for everyday use, and the complexion brush is twice a week (for a deeper scrub).

I would recommend this product for anyone with sensitive skin, because you can barely feel the pad on your skin and you still get a deep pore cleansing experience. I also recommend this product to anyone who wants an easier time washing their face, pretty much a product that will make your face washing experience a breeze, but also fun at the same time!  If you are interested in the Precision Pore Cleansing Pad please visit the Sephora site by clicking here. I know that L'Oreal 360 Clean Deep Facial Cleanser has a similar scrub but I've never used it, not sure if its similar, have any of you tried that one?

 Have you tried the Sephora Precision Pore Cleansing Pad? What do you use to exfoliate and scrub your face?

♥ Glitz Glam Budget ♥

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Accessory Giveaway Open WorldWide!! *CLOSED*

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I was recently contacted by the owner of Haute Glam Boutique, to test out a product of my choice and provide an honest review! I was super ecstatic because upon looking at their site I fell in love with literally everything, not only that, I love that this boutique ships WORLD-WIDE!   Haute Glam Boutique is an online women's retailer that specializes in affordable trendy and contemporary fashion, jewelery, accessories, swimwear, and so much more!

 

The item I picked out was an accessory, a "Stretch Bead Bangle Bracelet" valued at $26.00. I picked it because I thought it would look so beautiful for those Spring/Summer months, especially with pastel, neon, and color blocking being such a big trend this season!  Before receiving it I wasn't sure what to expect, but needless to say I was blown away by the amazing quality!

The band that holds everything together is very stretchy which makes it easy to slip on and off the wrist, but to my amazement the band is not flimsy at all, and seems very sturdy (without being too constricting); I basically stretched it very wide, and the bracelet stayed in-tact.

The beads and pendant appear to be made of very high quality material, because of its "weight" it doesn't feel "light-weight" like some cheap bracelets, but don't get me wrong its not super heavy on the wrist, you can just feel the high quality in this product!

Overall, I am very amazed at the quality of this bracelet, I've been wearing this bracelet on and off for the past several weeks, and I have received nothing but compliments from friends, family, and even strangers!

The lovely owner of  Haute Glam Boutique is giving one of my readers a chance to win an accessory of their choice! Below are some of my favorite accessories from the boutique, but to view all the accessories available you can click here which will take you to the site. 

The giveaway rules:

1. The only requirement is that you are a public GFC follower of Glitz Glam Budget.

2. You have many Optional ways to earn multiple entries, which can result in higher chances of winning, such as following through twitter, liking Facebook page, etc.

3. Contest will run for about 2 weeks 03/30/12 - 04/14/12.

4.  Winner will be chosen using random.org

5. Winner will be notified by email and will have 48 hours to respond (with the accessory of their choice); otherwise a new winner will be chosen.

6. Prize will be mailed out by Haute Glam Boutique.

Please follow the RaffleCopter Form below:

a Rafflecopter giveawayGood Luck Everyone!
UPDATE CONGRATS BEAUTY MAKEUP ADDICT YOU ARE THE WINNER

♥ Glitz Glam Budget ♥

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Blogger Appreciation Award

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Welcome to the 1^st ever Blogger Appreciation Award! 

I decided to create this award to show my appreciation to my readers, followers, and supporters! The purpose of the Blogger Appreciation Award is for the blogger (myself) to acknowledge those of you who have commented on my blog post after post, and those of you who have interacted continuously with me on twitter and/or Facebook, simply  because I am very thankful for all the support! 

I love interacting with all of you, and I have met some pretty awesome bloggers along away, so I definitely want all of us to keep growing as a blogging community and support each other!

Here are the rules of the Award: 

1)      Thank the person who gave you the award with their blog link on your post.

2)      Answer the following 4 questions.

3)      Award the Blogger Appreciation Award to as many readers/commenters/supporters/followers as you’d like.
4) Let the blogger know you've just awarded them, either through leaving a comment, a tweet, an email, etc..

Now onto the questions: 

1)      How long have you been blogging?

2)      What are 1-2 reasons why you started blogging.

3)      What types of blogs do you like to follow/read?

4)      What is 1 thing you would like to improve on as a blogger/on your blog?

My answers:

1)      I’ve been blogging for about 5 months (since the end of October 2011).

2)      I started blogging because I wanted to share my Budget-Friendly expertise with other women, in hopes that I can help others save money on anything beauty & fashion related!

3)      I love following/reading all sorts of blogs, from beauty, fashion, DIY, to couponing, and lifestyle.

4)      As a blogger what I want to improve on is that I would like to comment more often on other bloggers’ posts, it’s hard at times because I’m so busy posting articles myself, but I’m definitely working on it!

I award the Blogger Appreciation Award to the following supporters:

ChannelHMC

SDGlitter

Fashaholicchic

Glossandglitz

Pasionstarbutterfly

Soshewritesbymissdre

Beautybykrystal

Yourbeautyfashionfitness

Beautymakeupaddict

Meinmode

Beautybyarielle

Glitterglossandglaze

Beautytherapy83

Thank you ladies for all the wonderful comments, the fun interactions, and just overall support from all of you...I certainly appreciate it!

♥ Glitz Glam Budget ♥

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Nivea Express Hydration Daily Lotion

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Several months ago I received a small Nivea Lotion sample from Target, which I absolutely loved so I am planning to purchase a full size very soon!  The lotion is Nivea Express Hydration Daily lotion, its active ingredient is Hydra IQ, which is supposed to balance the skin's moisture level throughout the day.

It is a very light weight formula that absorbs into the body fairly quickly, without leaving any greasy residue behind!  A small amount of product is really all you need to feel that sudden hydration on your skin! The lotion has a very silky texture and it applies very smoothly, and once it dries it is not sticky or greasy at all!  Immediately upon using this lotion,  you will feel a sudden change in your skin, even the driest spots will become a bit smoother and over time be completely soft!

It does have a scent which is very light and floral,  in fact the scent listed on the bottle is "Lotus Flower." It is not overpowering at all, and what I love about it is that the light scent lingers throughout the day! I do find myself wanting to apply this lotion throughout the day, not necessarily because it is needed, but because I love the scent so much! 

Lotus Flower below:

I am already a big time fan of Nivea lotions, particularly their Nivea Creme in a little blue tin! I actually reviewed it last year, you can click here to check it out! I am now addicted to the Nivea Express Hydration Daily lotion especially on those winter months when my hands and legs are super dry and I need that extra boost of moisture. I would recommend this product to everyone, if you have normal skin a little product will go a long way, if you have dry skin this will provide plenty of moisture for you!

The full size product comes in in a 8.4 Fl.oz container, priced around $4.99; it is available at all drugstores, such as Target, Walgreens, CVS, Walmart, etc. 

Have you tried any Nivea lotions, particularly this one? 

♥ Glitz Glam Budget ♥

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Vera Wang New Makeup Line at Kohl's

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I was recently inspired to do this post thanks to a blogger which I simply love: BudgetBabe (click here to see her blog). She posted the picture below of a new makeup line by Vera Wang which was featured in a recent Magazine:

Photo Source: BudgetBabe

Who  is Vera Wang....? Well she is a designer recently known for designing Kim Kardashian's *short lived* wedding dress, but also she has provided perfumes such as "Princess" which can be found at Sephora, in addition to her clothing and accessory line already at Kohl's which is called "SimplyVera."   

She has recently partnered up with Kohl's once again, with an exclusive makeup line also called "Simply Vera."

Photo Source: Refinery29

Vera Wang will launch her brand her cosmetics collection only available at Kohl's stores in April. Her line will include concealer, eye shadows, lipsticks, eyelash serum, and much more, with prices ranging anywhere from $16.50-$39.50.

Although I am usually very ecstatic when a designer partners up with such an affordable store, I am a little bit disappointed with the prices, I really hope with such high prices, that some of the collection comes in palettes, otherwise if just 1 item is priced at $16.50 I will be sure to pass it up!

 

Photo Source: Runaway411
 What do you think of Vera Wang's exclusively for Kohl's collection? 
Have you purchased anything from Vera Wang's other collection such as clothes, accessories, or perfume? Do you think you will be checking out this makeup line once it launches?
To view the Simply Vera Wang Collection at Kohl's you can click here.

♥ Glitz Glam Budget ♥

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Traveling Essentials (The 3-1-1 Carry On Rule)

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Hello Friends! I recently traveled for business purposes, hence the lack of posts lately, and I was inspired to do this post because of these frequent trips and flights! 

 Not sure if any of you have traveled but there are very strict regulations as to what you can bring on flight (with your carry on luggage).  Airports actually have something called: "3-1-1 For Carry Ons" pretty much what that means is that you can only carry 3.4 oz bottles (or less), in a 1 quart sized clear plastic zip-top bag, limit is 1 per person.  This is unbelievably small considering the amount of products women use on a daily basis, however it is do-able!

 

Rather than buy a zip-top bag from the grocery store, I decided to buy a travel set from Bed Bath and Beyond, which comes with a few 3 oz bottles already in a heavy-duty zip-top bag! The bag only costs $4.99 and the one I picked up actually contributed a certain percentage of the purchase price to breast cancer research so I felt really good about buying it!  I love these sets because everything they provide is already approved by the TSA (Transportation Security Administration) so you know you shouldn't have any issues passing through security at the airport!

What I usually bring with me....  

The 4 bottles which are included in the bag from BBB, I fill up with body wash, shampoo, hair serum/leave in conditioner, and perfume (container w/pump). In addition, I am able to fit the following products in my travel zip-top bag:

Almay Truly Lasting Color Foundation 1 Fl.oz

Hard Candy Glamoflauge Concealer .71 Fl.oz

ELF Eyeshadow Primer .17 Fl.oz

Bare Escentuals Lip Gloss 1.3 Fl.oz

Maybeline Great Lash Mascara .43 Fl.oz.

I also carry eyeshadow and makeup brushes which are included in another "makeup-bag" but since they are not liquids the 3-1-1 Carry On rule doesn't apply!

I hope you found this helpful, whether you are a frequent traveler, or a newbie, making sure that you follow the 3-1-1 Carry On rule really ensures that you pass through security in a speedy manner! For those who don't know, if you don't follow the 3-1-1 Carry On rule, they make you throw away the liquids (that go over the 3.4 Fl.oz limit and if they are not in a zip-top bag), or they make you check in your luggage, therefore please make sure you're prepared when flying!

♥ Glitz Glam Budget ♥

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First Makeup Brand/Products I Used

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I was recently looking through old photographs and couldn't help but laugh at myself and how funny I looked during my younger years, not necessarily my physical appearance, but how I dressed and applied makeup!! I've gone through a lot of different changes throughout the years, and I've experimented a lot with makeup and fashion! I guess I had an idea of what type of clothes looked cool, and what kind of makeup or hairstyles were "in" and even though my mother would tell me something looked ridiculous, I still went forward with it!

Thinking back, my addiction to drugstore beauty items started at a very young age, in fact a lot of makeup brands I use today are brands I actually used when I was younger! I never really wore makeup at a younger age, a lip-gloss here and there, a lot of nail polish, and a TON of sweet tasting chap-sticks is usually what I went for!

The very first makeup brands I remember using when I was younger were:

Wet n Wild

I loved their nail polishes, I remember buying a glitter polish and a clear one to top it off! And even though I always "went outside the lines" I had so much fun playing with WnW polishes! (Which by the way is still one of my favorite cosmetics brand!)

Bonne Bell

I probably can't count the number of Lip Smackers I had, I wanted all the flavors, and if  a new one came out I wanted to try it immediately! I remember going to the local drugstore (believe it was RiteAid) and running to the Bonne Bell section to see if a new Lip Smackers came out that I hadn't tried yet! It never went to waste, I would finish all the Lip Smackers, I carried one with me at all time! This is probably why  now days I feel "naked" without any lip products on!

NYC

I loved NYC's liquid lip shine, and although their old formula was super sticky I didn't care! Clear and Frosty Pink were my 2 color choices, I remember thinking I was so grown up when I started wearing this...now looking back all I can do is laugh!

I asked a few of my favorite bloggers on twitter what was their 1st makeup brand/product they used and a lot of the same brands came up repeatedly.  I receive a lot of responses but below are just a few:

Niki ‏ @Cheapalicious the first makeup brand that i used was wet n wild. it was nail polish, lol. i think i was about 16...

janna ‏ @GlossAndGlitz I'll never forget;) it was COVERGIRL Coffee Bean lipstick!!! 12 yrs old. xo 

Sandra D ‏ @makeupjunkie19 think it was Bonnie Bell at the age of 12! 

Lisa‏ @MsPrettyfulGirl 1st makeup product would be Lip Smackers roller ball gloss. I stole it from my big sis & I broke it accidentally. Oops. 

BeautyFashionFitness ‏ @YourB_F_F Covergirl Clean pressed powder! I can still smell it, lol!15yrs old ;) 

...So She Writes... ‏ @SoDreWrites I think it was Wet n Wild lipstick and I was like 13? Don't quote me on that. I remember my mom throwing it away lol 

Aquaheart ‏ @aquaheart Covergirl powder compact in a color that was 3 shades dark. Lol 

Nancy-Lee ‏ @fashionCHICsta I was 13 Mom bought me my very own Covergirl palette! 4 shadows, blush & mascara!  

Drugstore Divas ‏ @drugstoredivas tinkerbell perfume. my third grade boyfriend bought it for me..

This post really brought back a lot of wonderful memories of my childhood! Now I ask you, what was your first makeup brand/product that you remember using? Are you still using any of the brands to this day? I'd love to know!

♥ Glitz Glam Budget ♥

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Sephora Instant Refreshing Toner

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I am a firm believer that everyone should invest in good skin care products! I usually splurge on skin care products because having good, clean, clear skin is very important to me, and I do find that when my skin looks good I spend less money on makeup, since I don't have to cover up as many blemishes!

One skin care item that I absolutely love is from the Sephora line, and although a lot of their products are very expensive, I do buy most of my skincare from them because they are of excellent quality! One product that I am absolutely addicted to is the Sephora Instant Refreshing Toner.  

  Sephora claims that the product:

"Adds the perfect final touch to makeup removal, working instantly to leave skin incredibly refreshed, toned, and prepared for the application of moisturizer....A hydrating mist that refreshes and tones skin after makeup removal."

 

I can definitely confirm that the claims are completely accurate, this product leaves my skin feeling refreshed and hydrated; just imagine your skin being thirsty and you just gave it some water...that's how refreshed my skin feels.  

How I use this product:

 After washing my face with the Philosophy Purity One-Step Facial Cleanser, which you can find my review here, I pat dry my face, and spray a few spritz of the Sephora Instant Refreshing Toner pretty much to cover all angles of my face, then take a cotton ball, and in a circular motion I rub in the toner onto my face, until it is completely dry.

 The product does help remove any excess makeup and dirt which may be left behind after cleansing, and it is not drying at all, best part is that it is perfect for any skin type; I have sensitive skin and the product never once stung or irritated my skin. It is very lightweight, which means it really can be used either in the morning or nighttime.  It is not sticky, unless you over-spray it, therefore I suggest spraying 2-3 times (enough to cover your entire face).

I've been using this toner for about 4 months, and I've noticed my skin has been feeling very soft and smooth, my pores have drastically diminished, my skin has a bit more vibrancy to it and it is not as dull as it was several months ago. The product comes in a 6.76 fl.oz bottle, and although it is priced at $12 it is such a good deal seeing that I've used it for 4 months and I haven't even reached half way through the bottle! It can be purchased at a Sephora store, or online here.

 

Want a cheaper alternative TRY Dickinson Witch Hazel you can click here for my review. 

Make sure to check out my next favorite skin care product from Sephora which is an awesome facial scrub/mask...coming soon!  

Which is your favorite toner? Have you tried this toner from Sephora? Any drugstore or high end toner suggestions for others?

♥ Glitz Glam Budget ♥

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