Birchbox: Beauty Samples at Your Door

Sure, we may live in a digital world, but I still love receiving good, old-fashioned snail mail. Peeking into the mailbox and seeing a People mag or wedding invitation inside is a lovely little pick-me-up at the end of the day. But the most exciting day of the month is when my monthly Birchbox arrives!

Makeup in my mailbox!! Yeehaw!

Have you ladies heard of this fantastic company? For $10 a month, Birchbox sends it’s members 4-5 beauty samples from luxury brands. Mascara, shampoo, perfume, nail polish, lip balm, the list goes on. Every month it’s a different mix of samples. And every month, I squeal like a little girl when I open the package.

You can fill out a beauty profile online to specify what products you like and work well for your skin/hair. Birchbox assembles your samples and ships them out in a cute, hot pink box. It’s an easy way to try new and different brands (you can buy full-size products on their web site). And if you’re cheap like me, it’s easy to stretch out the lifespan of a sample. I’m still using my Blinc tube mascara from October’s box!

Two huge thumbs up to Birchbox. Hint: this would make an awesome present for a friend! Subscriptions are available in 3, 6 and 12-month plans. Click to sign up!

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Fashionable Stocking Stuffers

Christmas stockings are a big deal in my household. I love opening a bunch of small gifts all carefully wrapped in green and red tissue paper. My family always has a few predictable stocking stuffers (lotto tickets, Cheese Balls), but in case you’re in need of a few fresh ideas, I’ve pulled together eight fashionable and thrifty stocking stuffers!

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Where to shop: (1) Forever 21 Embossed Leopard Print Clutch $16 // (2) Sonia Kashuk “Circle Of Hope” kabuki Brush // (3) Chronicle Books Elephant Journal $9.95 // (4) Target Cable Knit Stocking with Sequins $13 // (5) Wet Seal Bling Bow Waist Belt $11 // (6) Goody Doublewear Elastics $4.99 // (7) Minimergency Kit for Her $13 // (8) Sally Hansen Salon Effects in Kitty Kitty $8.11.

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Maybelline Giveaway

Note: The giveaway is now closed. Reader Ari is the winner! Stay tuned for more giveaways…

Tis the season… for a makeup giveaway!

Last week, my blogger buddy, Belle Belle Beauty, shared her current Maybelline obsessions with Style Me Thrifty readers (check it out if you missed it!).

After reading her picks, I immediately hit up Target and am now rocking Maybelline Baby Lips. Yum. And since I’m in the Christmas spirit, one lucky reader will be adding this lip balm to her makeup bag, along with Maybelline’s Eye Studio Master Drama and Colorsensational LipColor.

Feeling lucky?

Here’s how to enter:

• Step 1: Follow Style Me Thrifty on Facebook OR Twitter.
  
• Step 2: Leave a comment confirming you’ve done step 1.

That’s it! Just 2 easy steps (and yes, even if you already follow Style Me Thrifty, you must still leave a comment). The contest ends Friday, December 2 at 5:00 pm EST so get your comments in before then. Good luck!

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Maybelline Mania

Maybelline Mania

Style Me Thrifty has been busy dishing out a lot of fashion advice lately. It’s time for a makeup-inspired post! I wanted to shake things up a bit and turn to my blogger friend, Lindsay, to write a guest post for us.

Lindsay is the beauty and brains behind Belle Belle Beauty — a blog focused on cosmetic reviews, from drugstore to luxury. Check out her fab blog, you won’t be disappointed! Since we’re more drugstore gals here at Style Me Thrifty, Lindsay reviewed some of her current fav Maybelline products for us.

Take it away, Lindsay…

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Hey there! Some of the best drugstore finds these days are by Maybelline. Not only are they a great bargain, but are serious performance powerhouses. These four favorites have earned a permanent place on my vanity:

1. Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles Treatment Concealers for $9.99 (nothing refreshes my face like covering those dark circles and this is SO easy to use)
2. BabyLips SPF 20 Moisturizing Balm for $3.99 – such adorable packaging and it really heals dry winter, lips
3. Eye Studio Master drama for $7.99 – creamy, high intensity liner perfect for the evening cat eye (and comes in fun colors like Sapphire)
4. Colorsensational LipColor for $7.49 (incredibly rich colors that don’t dry out
   

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I’m loving Lindsay’s picks so much that I’m planning a Maybelline giveaway in the next week. Stay tuned!!

(Thanks, Lindsay!)

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The Buzz on Burt’s Bees Tinted Lip Balm
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Speed Up Your Morning Beauty Routine

Reader Question: I’m on my second straight month of 80-90 hour work weeks and my styling routine has gone straight down the gutter. I don’t have time to pick an outfit, shower, put on makeup, and style my hair before I have to run out the door. Do you have any tips for saving time and energy in the morning while still looking professional at an office that requires business attire?

Style Me Thrifty: Oh the life of a high-powered female attorney. I’m guessing when your boss first warned you about these infamous 90-hour work weeks, you eagerly nodded your pony-tailed head and said, “No problem! I don’t mind!“

And then you swore under your breath.

And called your mom for sympathy.

Chin up, my little Ally McBeal. You are a smart, driven, career woman. If you have to work a hellish 13-hour day, you might as well look polished while doing it! Here are some ideas for a faster a.m. routine.

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Hair
Shower at night. It’s a relaxing way to end a long day and it will save you styling time in the morning. But make sure you get to know your hair. Whenever I go to bed with soaking wet hair, it dries all kinky and I look like a crazy lion when I wake up. So I either blow dry it after my shower OR put my damp hair in a bun on top of my head and take it out in the morning. Then I just work in some curing cream, pull it back into a low pony, and hairspray it so it doesn’t frizz. Love this gal’s slightly undone pony:

But don’t wear a ponytail everyday! Keep things interesting and try a loose half-up style every once and awhile. Twist, pin, and go.

Clothing
Take a weekend and organize your closet by outfits. Do you have a few tank tops that all look good with a black cardigan or blazer? Then group them all in one section. Sandwiching similar items together will make choosing an outfit in the morning a quicker and easier process. And use your nightly shower to brainstorm tomorrow’s outfit. Morning clothing crisis averted!

Makeup
I’m a big believer that I don’t need to put on my entire face just for my coworkers. Sorry guys, but it’s time consuming and a waste of my makeup! Try to cut your routine in half and just spend time on your fav features. As a gal with blonde eyelashes, I always put on mascara. Or maybe you’re a blush girl, like Kristen Bell. Mascara, blush, and lipgloss are 3 beauty products that will quickly brighten you up and help hide the sleep deprivation.

Accessories
When all else fails, accessorize. Adding colorful bangles to a basic work outfit will instantly add some glam. Plus, they take no time to put on and can be super cheap, like these Forever 21 bangles for $6.80!

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