My Latest Beauty Buys

HEY KIDDOS!

In last couple weeks I picked up a few things. One of the main reasons I got more stuff was because I left my job at JCPenney’s, and on my last day with my discount Sephora inside JCP was having a Too Faced event. Twist my arm! But for the two weeks prior I was picking up some clearance items just so I could get them a little bit cheaper before I gave up my associate discount. I am telling you that is about the only thing I am going to miss about that job- my discount in Sephora. Oh bleeding hearts!! But I think I will cope. I have a much better deal going on right now anyway! So here we go!

This is what I got! Starting at the left and proceeding clockwise:

-Salon Perfect Nail Art Pen in Silver (Walmart, $3.98. These are alright for the money. Wanted it to do some 4th of July nail art, but the silver didn’t show up at all. I think if I got a different color, like black or white, it would work nicely as the tip of the pen is fine and works well.)

-L’Oreal Voluminous Original Mascara in Carbon Black (Target, $5.89 but has $1.50 instant coupon. I just needed a new mascara and never tried this classic. Love it so far!)

-Too Faced Candy Bar Palette (Sephora, $25, on sale for $15, with discount $11.25)

-Too Faced Sweethearts Blush in Peach Beach (Sephora, $30, with discount $22.50)

- Clinique Superbalm Moisturizing Gloss in Mango (Found it at work so free, no one claimed it, brand new, got to take it home on my last day, and yes, I did sanitize it! But if you wanted to purchase them they are $15 at Clinique counters or online)

-Tarte Cheek Stain in Flush (Sephora, 100 point Beauty Insider gift)

-Rimmel 60 Seconds Nail Polish in Red, Steady, GO... (Yes, another one! Walmart, $1.50)

-NARS Lip Gloss in Orgasm (Sephora, 100 point Beauty Insider gift)

-NYX Mega Shine Lip Gloss in Flush Red (Target, $4.99)

The top swatch here is the NYX Mega Shine Lip Gloss, which I cannot even fully describe to you how lovely this gloss is! First, the gloss just smells soooo good. It’s a fruity almost citrusy smell, but it is not too overwhelming. Second, just look at that color pay off!! The pigment of this gloss is out of this world! This swatch was just one tiny swipe! Wow! I had my eye on this gloss for a long while and I’m glad I finally just bought it for the 4th of July weekend. Saturday night I wore it out on top of a Bite red lip crayon hoping to keep it in place longer. My only qualm with this gloss is because it is so creamy and smooth it does feather and bleeds into the lines around your lips. In the future I will either wear it with a read liner or my Milani Translucent Lip Primer/Liner to keep it in place.

NARS Lip Gloss in Orgasm is the next swatch. I totally understand why this is such a cult classic. It is a beautiful peachy, pinky shade with a gold sheen. It is quite a long-lasting lip gloss as well. I have to say this formula of their lip gloss is a lot better than one I had previously tried which was super sticky and stinky! This one is much creamier, but is still just a little sticky and doesn’t have much of a scent at all. It was a 100 point beauty insider gift so I thought why not try it for free to see what everyone was talking about. It is only the deluxe sample size, but since I don’t wear lip gloss a lot it is a perfect size! (and I am featuring 3 glosses in this post?) I do understand now! It is a lovely color, not too gold, not too pink. Just perfect for a summer glowing look.

The Clinique Superbalm Moisturizing Gloss is the last swatch, and as you can tell by the photo there isn’t much color pay-off. It is just a very sheer, very shiny gloss. Nice to put over any lip color you have to give it a glossy finish. I wear it alone when I need a little moisture. It is very moisturizing and lasts fooooorever! And the makeup gods just blessed me with it as a departing gift from JCP! ;)

So this little diddy is the Too Faced Candy Bar Palette! Too cute, more like it! I picked this up because *in the Price is Right announcer type voice* “for one day only it was on sale for $15 instead of $25!” (Even though I saw it on Haute Look the next day for $15 and is also that way on the Too Faced website.) I am totally that woman marketing people target! I am such a sucker sometimes!! But it was the last day with my discount, and it comes in an iPhone5 case! So more bang for your buck! These 11 eyeshadows, matte bronzer, and blush are all packed into a palette no bigger than your phone!! It will fit perfectly in your bag for some on-the-go touch-ups. I haven’t used it yet so I couldn’t bring myself to swatch all the colors, but from experience Too Faced eye shadows are very smooth, creamy, and very well pigmented. The bronzer is their Chocolate Soleil Matte Bronzer (it may be the Milk Chocolate one because it looks just a little lighter than the one I have), which is my favorite bronzer for contouring at the moment so I  was super excited to see that in there! Bonus, it all smells like chocolate!! But a good fragrance of chocolate, not like a nasty scratch-n-sniff sticker of chocolate. Remember those!?! Oh! Or the scented markers and crayons! Haha! Gross! Yeah, not like that!  

HAAALLLEELUJAH!!! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Am I ever so happy my friends in Sephora talked me into snagging up this beauty!! This is the Too Faced Sweethearts Blush in Peach Beach, which I had my eye on since they introduced these a while back. I could never bring myself to buying a $30 blush though. It was my last chance to get it with a discount though so I went for it. If you are wanting a lovely, subtle, beachy glow this summer. This blush is for you!! The folks in Sephora said this was the best selling shade, and there were only two left during the event. So I just had to put it on hold to get it! This is so versatile and worth the money because you do get a lot of product!

As you can see from the photo of the blush, there are three different shades in it. To me, the two outside shades are very similar, but as you can see in the swatches, the first is a bit lighter and more gold, and the third is a bit darker and more peachy, bronze. The middle color is a beautiful shimmery rose. The last, large swatch is just swiping through all the three colors making a more bronzy, rose color. I use them separately on my face to create an allover glow. The first shade I use on the tops of my cheekbones, brow bone, down the bridge of my nose, and on my cupid’s bow as a highlight. It does have bigger chunks of glitter in it so if you do not prefer glitter than it may not be for you, but if you use just a little it looks beautiful! The middle rose shade I apply as a blush on the apples to my temple with an angled blush brush. The third shade on a fluffy brush as a bronzer, so on my temples, the contour of my cheek, around my hairline, and along my jaw. This shade is also glittery so a little goes a long way! But would also be sooooo pretty has just a blush shade mixed together like the very last swatch shown.

This swatch is of the Tarte Cheek Stain in Flush; another 100 point Beauty Insider gift. I had wanted to try these since they came out, but never wanted to pay for the full size one if I didn’t end up liking it. It comes in a large stick similar to a lip balm. It smells really nice and gives you a natural flush. It does go on a little dewy but just blend it in a little and some of the sheen goes away. Haven’t used it on my cheeks yet, but it seems like something that would be really nice to wear poolside since it is a stain. A little BB cream or a tinted moisturizer, this cheek stain, and a waterproof mascara would be a nice little flash of color that will last on a hot day on the beach or poolside!

YES!! I found where I can get The Balm products! I see The Balm all over YouTube, and couldn’t find it anywhere near me, until now! I went to Kohl’s to check out their selection of Lorac as they pulled their product from Sephora and signed a new contract with Kohl’s. UGH! And my lazy ass did not want to go to Kohl’s just so I could get my loved Lorac Natural Performance Foundation, but now it will just have to be regular stop because, BEHOLD, there is The Balm! WHOOT WHOOT! Anyway, I wanted to give something of theirs a try and this palette was only $12! This is the Smoke Balm Smokey Eye Palette (hehe! so punnie!) It is a beautiful neutral palette!

These are the shades inside. I wanted something similar to the Lorac Pro To Go Trio. This was that plus it was cheaper! The photo makes Spark look more brown than it is, it is actually a matte gray. Flame is a lovely dupe of Lorac’s beige which I am touching pan on in my trio! I just freaking love this trio so far. Also, I just love The Balm’s packaging and their punnie names! This looks like a stinking matchbox! LOVE IT! They also had another trio with a really deep forest green color, matte brown, and a similar champagne shade. On my wish list from this brand is the Mary-Lou Manizer and one of their Instain long-wear staining powder blush. I am so impressed and just can’t wait to buy more of their products.

When I mentioned picking up bits and bobs on clearance before I lost my discount? Well, it was mostly buying all kinds of nail polish! And let me just tell you, I. AM. OBSESSED!! I first bought the one in the back row on the far right (the black and yellow) for about $2.40 with my discount. Then I went back a few days later during the clearance event I talked about in my last post and got price adjustments making each bottle of these about $1.60! HECK YES!!

Close up in the bottle, these Effects Top Coat from Formula X for Sephora look as though they would just come out like a glitter, but they don’t…..the effect is much cooler!!!! To me, they look more like paint splatters! AWESOME SAUCE!

But this one………*sigh*.....it SUCKED! I fell in love with the color! A neon pink with a blueish-purple undertone glitter. Sounds pretty. Looks pretty in the bottle. Looks like sh** on your nails. It dries matte so it shows every fault in your painting skills, also chipped the next morning after I painted them! Didn’t even last 12 hours! Not a fan!!!!

But daaammmnnn, guuurrrlll!!! Don’t the effects top coats redeem the brand?!? They just look amazing with any pastel color as a base!!

So yuppers!! This is what I have been wearing for the past couples weeks, and I am just loving it! Well, most of it anyway!

Needing some post ideas, so hit me up on Instagram @ruthiejeankahl; Twitter @ruthiejeankahl; and on Facebook, facebook.com/ruthiejeankahl and let me know what you think!

CHECK YOU LATER!

-RuthieJeanJellieBean

Spring/Summer Fashion Haul

HEY KIDDOS!

These are all the goodies that I have bought this spring (even though it is long over evident by the scorching heat)/ summer!! Over the last couple months this is what I have picked up. Most things are from JCPenney’s, H&M, or Forever 21. Oh yeah, and KATE SPADE! EEEEEEKK!!  

In this photo: H&M floral sneakers; MIX IT brand from JCP nude embellished sandals; necklaces hanging from bag are also MIX IT which came together; the red, white, and blue beaded necklace laying in front is from Forever 21; and last but not least Kate Spade “old time radio” iPhone5 case and mint green laser-cut cross-body bag. 

  

I have found with the H&M sneakers I should have gotten one size smaller. I also didn’t wear socks with them for the first time to work and the insoles shifted so I then had sticky feet. Booo...but I will continue to wear them through the summer because they are too stinking cute and are a nice alternative to sandals for the days my big, lazy booty don’t want to paint my rachet toenails! The nude sandals, I just adore them! But you do get what you pay for. They are only about $8 and after wearing them several times some of the jewels are coming loose. But for the price...meh! They go with everything, I’ll wear them until they fall apart, and just buy another pair of sandals next summer!

Just a detail shot of my bag and the cute little spade on the side of the case!! I can’t say much about these items except that I AB-SO-FREAKIN-LUTELY LOVE THEM! I was a bit of a splurge, but on an outing with my sister to the Premium Outlets in Chesterfield,MO we came across the Kate Spade Memorial Day Sale!!(And yes, it’s been that long ago I bought these things and am now posting them. #Win for this productive champion! HA!) ANY WHOVILLES, it was 50% off everything in the store INCLUDING clearance so I picked up the bag for $75 and the case for $20! WHOOT WHOOT! Sales associates were saying this was the biggest sale at the outlet store until Black Friday. No thanks! Bitches ain’t gonna find me no where near any retail establishment this Black Friday because I am not working in retail anymore! I value my life and sanity so I will be staying home since I am not obligated to be there anymore. I will take the bag now, and stretch my budget this summer thank you very much! It is such a cute summer bag. Small so you don’t lug too much stuff around on hot days. In memory of my grandma, I tied a silk scarf I had given her as a gift after I returned from my semester abroad in Wales. The scarf was a soft dusty pink and complemented the green well.

Oh so cute! A close up of the phone case. A little more than what I would usually spend on a phone case, but was totally worth it!!

I got this beauty from Forever 21 for about $7-$8, can’t really remember, to wear for the 4th of July celebrations! I had to use a necklace extender with it because the chain was broken off, and Forever 21 did not offer a discount for the defect. Thanks for nothing! But it was the only one they had left and I really wanted it to go with my outfit so whatevs got it anyway (outfit shown below). I have such a love/hate relationship with Forever 21.

I purchased these little bitties from Target for $29.99 to fulfill my need to follow the Birkenstock looking sandal trend. Good thing I did because these are my favorite, most comfortable sandals of the summer. They come in silver too!!

Probably my favorite pair of shorts I have had in a LOOOONNNGG time! These are high-waisted, side-zip, floral print shorts from Forever 21. They are only $12!! So that is the love part of my relationship with them because I have been living in these shorts. They look great with this sleeveless, sheer Nicole by Nicole Miller top from JCP I got on clearance for about $7, and the orange Bisou Bisou nylon bandeau also from JCP and about $5! I have also worn these shorts with a pink button-down blouse tucked in, a chunky, blue beaded necklace, and the black Target sandals. Adorable! Well, I thought it was anyway! ;)

Bandeaus: Part Two!! The other reason I got the bandeaus was to wear them under these Arizona rompers (a.k.a. playsuits, or jumpsuits) I also got from JCP. They were about $15 for the rompers and $5 for the bandeaus. The right is the outfit I wore for the 4th along with the necklace I mentioned above from Forever 21, and my red, high-top Converse Chuck Taylors. The outfit on the left right was just too dang pretty to pass up! It also looks really cute with the three piece necklace set that was also pictured above! Too cuuuuteeee!!!

So this I just HAD TO HAVE! I literally pulled this off the Z-racks as it was coming off the truck at JCP. I spent a little more for this because I could not wait for it to get marked. If I wait for things in the Bisou Bisou brand to get marked down there usually aren’t any of my sizes left! :/ Each piece was $24.99 on sale down from $36. I just had to get something for the matchy-matchy crop top and skirt trend that’s been around. The print is what sold me though. It is gorgeous!! Throughout this season I have been very attracted to the combination of blues and oranges! Hence, this is now in my wardrobe! If anyone is afraid of pencil skirts and just want to be comfortable in a skirt give the Bisou Bisou brand a try. They are incredibly comfortable. Trust. I have 4 of them now! Oh and their camis/under shirts, have about 8!! I am the definition of addiction.

Just wanted to share a detail of the print. There is a lot going, but it just works all together!

Another item I was instantly GAGA over when it first hit the floor in JCP. This is a Nicole by Nicole Miller dress. It was a doorbuster, plus my discount, plus some coupons so it ended up being about $20. I think it was originally $60 or something?? I don’t really remember because I got it CHEAP! HA! It was also meant to be because it matched my manicure that day. It has side cut-outs, and my bulge may be too bulgy, but I do not even care!! Got this to wear to a friend’s wedding in August so with the cut-outs I will just have my own personal air vents!

OOOHHH Look who had to jump in while I was taking photos! My little fur baby! This dress has been Miss Vixey approved!!

Let me introduce everyone to the love of my life!! Well, at least this summer’s fling! This kimono is also from JCP and is Olsenboye brand (the Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen line for JCP). It was $25 and was a great investment for the summer because it is just too fabulous! I have worn it a lot. Over a short, black, jersey dress. With a black maxi skirt with a bright, yellow tank tucked in. And with a black tank and light denim shorts from H&M pictured below. So obviously versatile, and a wonderful statement piece.

Detailed shot of the print on the kimono!

So let me tell you about this wonderful adventure I had into H&M a couple weeks ago!! Walked in just to see what was new….and behold…...HOLY CLEARANCE!! They had soooooo much marked down. These shorts, unfortunately, were not on clearance but they were only $19.95! Why not!? They are a very light-wash denim. Loose-fit with a drawstring so very cool and comfortable in the blazing summer! The necklace, a clearance buy for $3, is a silver coin necklace. I just love the old coin look in jewelry, and like it so much more when it is that cheap! They also have it in gold!

Close-up of the coin necklace.

When I went back to H&M a week later to check out the 4th of July $4 deals I discovered they were having a buy one, get one sale on clearance accessories, and also jewelry. I got these earrings to wear with the Nicole dress above for the wedding. Finally, found an earcuff (top right) that I love the design of, and also found this cute little rope ring (so nautical) in antiqued gold. Purchased all for $11!

Now I am going to share my unwavering, unconditional love for these oversized t-shirts from H&M! These are on clearance now for $5 so I got every color/print I could in my size. Since they are made so large too I could get one size smaller than I usually am!! Makes me feel too good about myself! They are also from the Conscious line so they don’t make me feel as guilty for buying so many! I got the Leopard print, red, white/gold, and a zebra print (not pictured here but a detail below).

 

Detail of the Leopard print.

Detail of the white/gold. It is very subtle when you wear it. It is only when you are this close that you notice the gold in it. From far away it just seems as the shirt has a sheen.

Detail of the zebra print. I will confess, I lived in this particular shirt for about 3 days!! In love!

Another H&M clearance buy. Some floral print leggings for $5. Comfy comfy. I wish they had more of these. They had the same prints as the t-shirts, but I thought that would be a bit excessive (yeah Ruthie, but having 4 of the same shirt is not!?). I need to reevaluate my life. For real.

Close-up of the floral print. I just really loved the color of these leggings.

This was actually one of the first purchases I made in the spring. This pleated, coral, midi-skirt came from ASOS Curve was about $28. A great color for spring and summer, but is also a great investment piece because it can be worn throughout the seasons. I have been wearing it high-waisted with different crop tops I have. I always get so many compliments when I wear this skirt!

Thursday before the holiday, I went with my friend Jayme to Payless so she can pick up a pair of shoes for her daughter. I haven’t been in a Payless in a long time, and boy am I glad I popped in with her. That day they had an extra 20% off clearance! HECK YES! The silver shoes I got for $7!!

These are also from Payless and these were $8!! Both pairs are Christian Siriano for Payless. These are a dark blue with a faux suede on top and a faux leather heel! I am going to wear these with the Nicole dress and H&M earrings for the wedding in August!! So excited!!!!!

Now to end another ridiculously long post, but this did cover my haul for all of spring and summer!! There are always more things I want to get, but for now this will be it for the season. I got a few more bits of makeup and that will be the post to come. Hopefully soon I will be posting some outfits of the day so all can see what everything looks like on and together!

Also, another update! I do not work for JCP anymore!! WOO HOOOO!! No “Back to School” or “Black Friday” for me!! It did feed my shopping addiction (and the discount didn’t hurt), but it was time to move on! Retail is very exhausting, depressing, and not very rewarding anymore. It was making me more cynical of a person, and I was extremely unhappy. So moving on to better things! Got an office job and love it!! Going to concentrate on my art and ceramics for now.

So as one of my last purchases with my discount I got a new bed set. Actually a bed in a bag! I bought it for $30!! Then went back a few days later when they were having a clearance event, which was an extra 25% off clearance items, to get the price adjusted getting $13 back!! So I got this bitch for $17!!!

More makeup purchases coming up next!! As always, follow me on Instagram @ruthiejeankahl; Twitter @ruthiejeankahl; and on Facebook, facebook.com/ruthiejeankahl

CHECK YOU LATER!

-RuthieJeanJellieBean