Clothing Haul!

Hey all! It has been a while since I've posted, but I'm back with a budget haul that I think you'll enjoy! Over the past month, I've been getting rid of a lot of clothes and have had to buy pieces to replace them. I bought quite a few things on a budget, and I wanted to come share them with you guys! The only things that will be difficult to find, if you're interested in purchasing, are the thrift store items, but everything else is in the stores NOW if you want to go pick it up for yourself or a friend! Enjoy ;)

1. Catch Cream Floral Peplum Top (Burlington Coat Factory) $14.99

When I saw this top I couldn't resist! I love the lace detail in the center as well as the fun, coral flowers printed on the top. The gold chain is a cute little additional detail!

2. Rockwood Street Black Peplum (Citi Trends) $10.99

I actually saw this top before the cream one, and I love the cut of the peplum section on it. It adds something a little fun. The sheer strip in the middle is also super cute! It's sexy, but tasteful and not overly revealing.

3. Julie's Closet Leopard Top with Gold Studs (ROSS) $10.99

My leopard print obsession continues! I love the little gold studs on the top and it fits snugly, but not too tightly. The material is very comfortable and good for summer since it's not hot.

4. Double Take Black and Sheer Blouse with Butterfly Print (ROSS) $9.99

I mentally debated for about 15 minutes about whether or not I like this blouse, and eventually decided that I did. Once I tried it on, I fell in love with the loose, comfortable fit that it has without looking baggy or making me look bigger. I love the butterfly print as well.

5. Ava James Hot Pink and Navy Sheer Blouse (Burlington Coat Factory)  $12.98

This blouse was a no-brainer to buy. I love the color combination, sleeves, and the gold buttons and detailing. It feels comfortable to wear and the sheer material is very breathable.

6. Indulge Leopard Print Shift Dress with Gold Details (ROSS) $12.99

I'm in love with this dress! I've worn it 3 times and I love it a little more each time I wear it. It's shorter in the front, right in line with the current trends, and is flattering on my shape without looking too tight.

7. Pinc Black Peplum Dress with Lace Sleeves (ROSS) $12.99

This was actually the dress I got for my birthday! I love a good peplum dress, and I prefer black dresses to any other color, so no surprise here! This is my favorite dress at the moment, hands down.

8. Bobbie Brooks Purple & Lavender Maxi Dress (Thrift Mart) $4.98

I already own too many maxis, but come on $4.98? Who would pass that up! Fits like a glove, love it.

9. Bobbie Brooks Black & White Maxi Dress (Thrift Mart) $4.98

This is my first mainly black maxi dress, and I love it. It's a size larger than the purple one, so incidentally the fit looks a little different, but I can't complain. Love it!

10. D. Jeans Skinny Jeans (Burlington Coat Factory) $19.99

This is the most expensive item out of the bunch, but I'm not surprised since a good pair of jeans will require a bit more money spent. I've needed a new pair of jeans for quite some time, and I didn't want to spend $20 on these...but after trying them on I knew I had to get them. They fit my curves (or lack thereof lol) perfectly and are SUPER comfortable, which is one of the top 3 things I look for in my jeans. Well worth the $20!

Hope you guys enjoyed this haul. I'm going to be doing reviews on new beauty products in the near future! If you find any of the items and like them, let me know how they work out for you! If you have any budget beauty products that you would like for me to review (makeup, skin care, hair care, and related items), please send your request to me at lindsi.green@gmail.com. Looking forward to hearing from you! ;)

Nude/Neutral Lipsticks for Brown & Dark Skinned Women (All Under $5!)

Hey all! So I just wanted to show my 4 favorite neutral/nude lipsticks for brown and dark skinned women. Nude and neutral colors can be worn any time of year and never go out of style. Although this post is more geared toward darker skinned women, these colors also look great on fair skinned women if you're looking for soft tan or brown (depending on your complexion), bold, but natural looking shades! 

1. Nicka K (NK) Cosmetics, Natural #934, $1 (K's Beauty Supply Store)

This is a cool toned, gorgeous and moisturizing color infused with Vitamin E for softer, more moisturized lips! I would suggest a plum colored lip liner with this one to make the transition seamless. The finish is shiny, but not overly glossy or oily looking.

2. Wet n Wild MegaShield SPF 15 Lip Color, Ring Around the Rosy #365S, $3 (Walgreens)

This lipstick has a high shine finish, is very moisturizing, and has SPF 15 to protect your lips from the sun's rays. It's warm toned, so it's perfect for people like me with reddish undertones. I would suggest a plum or brown liner with this one, or feathering it gently at the edges of your lips for a smooth transition.

3. NYC New York Color Ultra Last Lipwear, Plum Rum #410 $3 (Family Dollar)

This shade is the darkest of the bunch and is my favorite for really deep, dark chocolate skin tones. It's great for all day wear and has a medium shine finish. I personally never wear liner with this one, it's just perfect!

4. Wet n Wild MegaLast Lip Color, Bare It All #902C, $1.20 (CVS)

This shade is the lightest out of them all, and the only one with a matte finish. I absolutely LOVE to wear this with a heavy smoky eye for a night out on the town. It doesn't smear and holds up well to food, drinks, and even kisses ;). I don't wear this without lip liner because of how light it is, but with liner it's the perfect matte nude for me!

That's all folks! If you get any of these colors and like them, or even if you hate them, let me know your thoughts! If you have any budget beauty products that you would like for me to review (makeup, skin care, hair care, and related items), please send your request to me at lindsi.green@gmail.com. Looking forward to hearing from you! ;)

Brands that I Love! Ruby Kisses

Most women who have been to beauty supply stores have seen Ruby Kisses products. There are a vast variety of products made by this company, and I love most of the products by them that I have tried! The very first Ruby Kisses product I ever bought was a wine colored lipstick in college. This is around the time I was first getting into makeup, and I didn't have a lot of money to spend on makeup (and still don't lol). When I first put it on when I got home, I was really impressed with the quality of the lipstick. I honestly thought that it wouldn't be much good, considering the fact that it only cost me $1. Ever since that first purchase, I have bought countless other Ruby Kisses lipsticks and other products as well. Their eyeshadow primer works really well, and their colored mascaras are highly pigmented and last all day. I also love their lip glosses eyeshadow sticks as well. The only product that I was displeased with that was a nail polish. The smell is very offensive, the color takes a long time to dry, and also chips extremely easily. That is the only product that I have purchased that I hated. Ruby Kisses products are found in beauty supply stores. Every item that I purchased has been $5 and under, which is an amazing deal for the quality of their products. If you try them out, let me know how you like them!

- Lindsi

* If you have any budget beauty products that you would like for me to review (makeup, skin care, hair care, and related items), please send your request to me at lindsi.green@gmail.com. Looking forward to hearing from you! ;)

Brands that I Love! Milani

Hi! I'm back with another post. This is the first in a new series of blog posts that I will be doing called "Brands that I Love!". They won't be a review, more like suggestions of a brand you may want to give a try, why I like it, and where to find products. My absolutely favorite brand of cosmetics at the moment is Milani. It has only been in the past few months that I have started really loving this brand. The first Milani product I ever purchased with a pressed powder foundation. It ended up being a shade too light and I was pretty sad about it; however, I discovered that it was the perfect powder to use to set my concealer underneath my eyes for a brightened, awake look! On days I don't use concealer, I use it alone and the effect is essentially the same. It lasts long and had great color pay off, and I use it practically every day. After this purchase, I bought one of their lipsticks and fell head over heels in love. The smell is WONDERFUL. Each of the lipsticks has a sweet, berry candy sort of smell to it. The finish of the lipsticks are more of a sheen than a high gloss and are easily mattified by blotting or using a translucent powder. I also own one of their baked blushes and a volumizing mascara, and I love them both. I haven't bought any product from Milani that I haven't ended up absolutely loving. The pricing is pretty reasonable as well. Milani can be found in drugstores. All my Milani products were found in either CVS or Walgreens. Each one of the products that I have bought from this company have been under $10! Check them out, and let me know what you think ;)

- Lindsi

* If you have any budget beauty products that you would like for me to review (makeup, skin care, hair care, and related items), please send your request to me at lindsi.green@gmail.com. Looking forward to hearing from you! ;)

Blushing Beauty! Favorite Drugstore Blushes

Hey everyone! I'm sorry for being gone for so long, but I'll be in with two posts today so hopefully you'll forgive me ;). In the past year or so, I have really fallen in love with blush. I used to think that blush wasn't something that women of color needed, but boy was I wrong! A hint of blush is a great way to liven up your face, create a youthful flush, or even to do a fierce editorial look! High end blushes can be very expensive, and that's why I love Walmart and drugstores! Here are my top 3 favorite blushes. Each of these companies sell a variety of colors that are of just as great quality of the ones I will list below. I chose these three because they work with every complexion from the very fair to deep ebony complexions. I have used each of them on my friends and family members when I have done their makeup, and the results have been beautiful each time! I will list them in order of price, from lowest to highest. Each of them have AMAZING color pay off and blend beautifully. This isn't a review, just a suggestion for affordable blushes that I think everyone will love!

Wet 'n Wild ColorIcon Blusher, 833E Mellow Wine, Walgreens - $2.99

• This price is my personal favorite! The blush is very pigmented; however, the coverage is buildable. You can either do a very light application or a heavier one, depending on the look you're trying to achieve.

Black Radiance Artisan Color Baked Blush, 8306 Toasted Almond, Walmart - $4.74

• Out of all of the blushes, I use this one the most on myself. It's an absolutely beautiful, warm color that is very flattering on everyone, but especially on women of color with warm undertones. The color is intense, so if you purchase this, apply lightly and gradually build coverage.

Milani Baked Blush, 07 Fantastico Mauve, Walgreens - $8.49

• Although this is the most expensive of the three, the money is well worth it. Very highly pigmented, so apply with a light hand, or you may end up overdoing it. It's a dusty rose color with fine sparkles, so pretty! I love using this on women with cool undertones. I wouldn't recommend on those with lots of acne on their cheeks, since sparkles and shimmer accentuate bumps and acne and make them much more noticeable.

* If you have any budget beauty products that you would like for me to review (makeup, skin care, hair care, and related items), please send your request to me at lindsi.green@gmail.com. Looking forward to hearing from you! ;)

Site Recommendation

A good friend of mine shared these links with me. The prices are really good and a lot of the items are name brand! Ebay always has good deals. There's one for some of everything from clothing to makeup to DVDs. The only catch is that you must have an Ebay account to be able to use them. Please enjoy them, I'll list them below ;)

http://www.ebay.com/usr/bhfo

http://stores.ebay.com/bidashoe/

http://stores.ebay.com/Phoenix-Trading-Company?_rdc=1

http://stores.ebay.com/Palm-Beach-Cosmetix?_rdc=1

http://stores.ebay.com/FRIENDSHIPCAFE?_rdc=1

http://stores.ebay.com/Paulas-Stop-and-Shop?_rdc=1

http://stores.ebay.com/Dexter-Makeup?_rdc=1

8 Tips for Thrift Shopping (Thrifting)

As someone who is on a tight budget, I have to be very cautious about my purchases and the cost of my purchases. Despite this, I love to shop! I like to see new trends and I enjoy finding things that fit my body well and make me feel good and confident. For me, the perfect solution to this is shopping at thrift stores, AKA thrifting. My personal style is a mix of vintage 40's, 50's, and a hint of 90's with a splash of modern flair, and thrift stores suit me perfectly! Over half of my wardrobe consists of thrift store clothing. The prices are amazing, and it's not hard to find quality pieces if you search. I have found quite a few name brand, quality items for ridiculously cheap prices. I have found some of everything in thrift stores, from purses to shoes, and I really enjoy going! Often, I have talked to people who don't enjoy going into thrift stores and shopping there, and I was quite surprised, since I've found so many gems. The biggest problem that they run into is being overwhelmed! Thrift stores have a LOT of items. Some of them are even cluttered with things all over the place. It can definitely be a frustrating process, especially if you're not used to thrifting. I wanted to share a few of my personal tips for thrifting, for those who might be interested. Here they are! They're in no particular order, I'm just typing them as I go. ;)

1. Go thrifting when you have PLENTY of time to browse and search the store.

• Most of the time, it is not wise to try to make a 'quick trip' to the thrift store. It takes time to search racks and familiarize yourself with where items may be, especially if you're new to thrifting. If you're in a hurry, you may want to wait to go until you're not. Also, don't go close to closing time, you will end up feeling rushed, because the workers would like to go home when it's time to close up shop.

2. Look in your closet and make sure you know your size and size range.

• It's so important to know what sizes to look for when you're in a thrift store. Many times, you may not be able to return an item if it doesn't fit properly.

3. Find out the return policy of the store.

• Before you purchase something, it's good to know if you'll be able to bring it back if you don't like it. Most thrift stores, in my experience, will not give money back, only store credit if anything.

4. Walk around the store a few times and get a feel for where everything is.

• Upon entering a store, I walk around a few times and make a mental note of where everything is, so I know where to go once I decide what I am looking for. 

5. If possible, try it on!

• Certain things like jackets, coats, blouses, and shoes, can be tried on in-store. Ask a cashier or worker if they have a dressing room as well. Not many thrift stores have dressing rooms, but there are usually chairs and mirrors where you can sit down (to try on shoes) or stand up and have a good look at the item you're considering purchasing. If you want to try on shoes, wear socks or stockings. Do not try on shoes with bare feet, you don't know where those shoes have been.

6. Carefully examine all the items you've picked up before making your final purchase.

• Be sure to look for rips, tears, stains, discoloration, worn down spots, scuffs, missing buttons, etc. before going up to the register with your items. If you feel like it is an imperfection that you can't deal with, it is not a wise purchase.

7. Find out about discount and restocking days!

• Check into student discounts, military discounts, senior discounts, and whatever else may apply to you. Also inquire about holiday specials and deals. You never know about the great deals you may be missing out on by not asking. Also, find out when the store restocks, so that if you can be there around that time, you can find and pick what you like before everyone else!

8. Don't expect to find something EVERY time, be patient.

• There's no guarantee that you'll find something you'll fall in love with every time you thrift. It's ok to leave empty handed if you don't see anything that strikes you, because there's always next time!

Hope you enjoyed these tips! Here are a few pictures of some of the great things I've found in thrift stores, I'm sure you'll find even more amazing things. ^_^

* If you have any budget beauty products that you would like for me to review (makeup, skin care, hair care, and related items), please send your request to me at lindsi.green@gmail.com. Looking forward to hearing from you! ;)

Quick Site Recommendation

http://www.buymebeauty.com/buy-revlon-cosmetics.aspx?gclid=CISkj6qKmLoCFUOe4AodylsAkQ 

A good friend of mine shared this site with me the other day. There are lots of cosmetic and skincare products on this site and they have great prices.You can also buy your favorite products that have been discontinued here for a discounted price! Most of the items on the site are reasonably priced, and I think it's well worth checking out. Happy Shopping!

* If you have any budget beauty products that you would like for me to review (makeup, skin care, hair care, and related items), please send your request to me at lindsi.green@gmail.com. Looking forward to hearing from you! ;)