Sephora Birthday Gift 2015

 It is that time of year!  I used to look forward to birthdays when I was a child but you grow up and it is just another day.  But companies does a good job to make you feel special with freebies and promos just for your birthday month/ day.  Sephora, the best friend for all women, gives you a cool birthday give every year and may I say, the somehow seem to manage to top last year's gift year after year!  Last year was a Make up forever lipstick and black eyeliner, and this year it is..... *drumroll*.... NARS velvet matte lip pencils. And not one, but two of them!  And if you are a VIB rouge, they throw in an extra gift with is a "larger then life long-wear eyeliner" in the shade Via Venieto.

Luckily my birthday is in February so I get to enjoy it early hehe.  So this post, I bring you close up pictures and swatches for you curious cats.

Sephora black Friday 2014 haul

 Finishing off the black Friday hauls I did which isn't very much since I only went to two stores.  Nothing else was good.  I was hoping to get a good deal on the Macbook pro too, but there wasn't anything that great for me to splurge. But on the happier note, Sephora had some pretty amazing deals for only $10 for each item.  For those that shop at Sephora, you know that is a steal of a deal since you can step into the store and not wanting to buy anything and then step out of the store paying $100 for two products.  They have this $10 deal every year, and if you want to check the whole list, you can see it on Temptalia's blog page here.

I was eyeing one product indefinitely and would have been super heartbroken if I couldn't buy it and it was the bite beauty lip trio.  Just one of the mini lip glosses sold for $15, so for three for the price was $10 was definitely a steal.  The other products I was on the fence about were the Nest fragrance trio and maybe even the Tarte set if I could get my hands on it.

I tried to wake up at 6:30 am and get to the mall before they opened but I was slightly still sleepy.  I finally got out of bed at 7:30 am and bused to the mall at 8:45 am or so.  I was so scared that everything would have been sold out but I was lucky and everything was still there :D.

Anyways, let's get into the haul :).  I have been talking for too long.

Sephora VIB 20% off sale haul

First off, I know this post should have went up about a week and a half ago.  In my defend, there are like 97 photos, nearing 100.  That's 97 BLOODY PHOTOS I HAVE TO EDIT and ADD MY NAME ON IT so no one steals my photo again.  And if they do, then thank you for the free advertising ;).  So I have finally finish editing and now having to write this post.

*WARNING:  This is a long long long long blog so grab some popcorn, get yourself a nice cup of tea and enjoy the photos.*

Did you guys get to enjoy yourself in the sale?  I know there is also the beauty.com that also has 20% off and a couple other brands that has 20% off.  What did you guys get?  I'd love to see/ hear from you guys in the comments down below or tag me to your instagram photos @christinahello.

Curious to see what I got?  Click read more!

Sephora VIB 20% off haul

I was going to rush and try and do a Sephora 20% off haul, but because I am going through some decisions, and such, I don't think it would be a good idea to do a thorough haul with close up pictures and such since I am going to return a few products here and there.  But the star of the haul has to be the Marc Jacobs eyeshadow palette which costed a lot of pretty pennies, but is really worth it!  I also got the Naked basics 2 and a surprise product which I didn't expect to buy which is the Nars contour blush in Olympia.

I got some products for presents, and the big super star set isn't mine haha.  It is for a friend but I really recommend getting that set if you do have the discount.  There is a full sized smashbox BB cream, Chole roller ball perfume, full sized (i believe) Nars orgasm, full sized urban decay shadow and a full sized Anastasia brow wiz.  I got the brow wiz too, but I came him today and rolled up the product to see how much there was inside the pencil and there IS SO LITTLE!  The pomade, which I got originally only costed $23 while the pencil cost $27... Not please.

Anyways, I will do a full haul when I get all the products sorted out, and see which products I will keep in my collection.

I'd love to hear what you got for the Sephora 20% off sale or the beauty.com 20% sale :).  Leave a comment down below!

Sephora $20 off $50 haul

Last month in December, Sephora had their second sale which was $20 off $50 and I couldn't skip it! I was already in an coma from the first sale which was 20% off everything for VIB only and I spent some pretty pennies in that sale. 

 There was still a few products I wanted to try so I just bit the bullet and went ahead and purchased the Naked 3.  Luckly during the time I was ordering the Naked 3 palette which came out Dec. 15, they also had the Urban decay limited edition Black Market eyeliner set which went on sale for $28 (original price $45) which was an absolute steal!

Sephora holiday discounts!

For those of you that missed the 20% off because you weren't a VIB, don't worry! From December 4- 16, you can use the gift cards that they sent out for those that have their memberships before Nov. 2013.  

So technically, this isn't really a gift card with money value, more like a big discount.  But I mean, its $20 off $50! That never happens in places like Sephora! Only once a year :).  This is a better deal then the 20% off sale since it is 40% off one item.  Sadly it is a one time use only in stores.  I wanted to confirm it in person and i did get denied since the girl says it shows on the computer.  

BUT! I did find a loophole :P.  For those of you that got the $20 off $50 (only VIB), you get a promotion code that you can use online and I have used the code twice already and it still works.  So if you are naughty enough ;), it is more worth it to buy online. 

If you want to save more money, make sure you check out ebates! It is absolutely free to join and you get money back. Who doesn't love free money~ Well technically it isn't free, but getting back money you are already spending isn't half bad.  

How this website works is, you firstly, sign up obviously.  Then login, search to see if they have the website or store that you are shopping at and it will show up on their website like the picture above. Click on "shop now" and it will link you back to the store you are shopping at.  You have to click their link to get money back because the store you are shopping at will recognize that you were referred on ebates and then ebates can then give you the money.

On special holidays such as black Friday, cyber Monday and maybe boxing day, they have an event called double cash back.  Just a few hours ago, they had Cyber Monday 2 and their cash back percentage was 10%! I had to jump on that and stack coupons :D. I jumped ship and bought YSL products on top of the Naked 3 palette I bought a few days ago.  I'm so naughty this Christmas :/.

Happy shopping, hope the tip of helps ;).

Sephora 15% off haul

It has been far too long since I have posted my last blog post.  I have been just working non stop and fighting with my boss over law essentially.  Its ridiculous when I don't even get enough sleep and even the law states it.  But no more of my problems, back to the haul.

Most of the items here are actually for my mother, only the urban decay setting spray is for me.  I didn't buy much since I'm saving my money to go to the Vancouver Imats this year.  I swore the first time I went when imats was in town the first ever time to never go back to the vancouver once since it wasn't that great, not compared to the LA one for sure.  If I'm lucky, this year there would hopefully be actually 40 vendors.  I just wish it was as big as any other imats ni the world :( but that is the sad truth.

My mom isn't much of a make up women but she wanted an eyeliner that would actually wor since her make up forever aqua liner doesn't statisfy her needs. I showed her the bobbi brown once since I have many good things about it but they didn't have a nice brown and I noticed all their gel liners had simmer in it so it was a no good.  This one was have the price of the bobbi brown one $16 CAD and it is super creamy too.  I couldn't exactly review this since it is my mothers but i could give it a try and do a good impression :D.

The only few things my mom does on a daily basis is her lips and eyebrow.  So I thought she could take advantage of my discount and use it on something really good, a brand that is focused only on brows.  This kit was quite expensive actually, well everything in sephora is I think haha.  I'm used to E.L.F prices which is dirt cheap.  I don't know if it just me but everytime I go into sephora and want to look around, i never end up buying anything since there is so many products in there. Hopefully its not just me Hehe.

Another collective beauty haul...yet again

Somebody help me.  This is seriously getting out of control.  My name is Christina and I have a shopping addiction.  I think I like it too much and the satisfaction of getting a deal is going through my head.  I mean my TJX membership card can prove it since my membership is valid until frinkin 2016!! HAHA omg Yes I do have a problem.

Another VIB coupon! $20 off $50

For those that had the privilege to have 20% off at sephora, now its everyone's turn to get an awesome discount too! Just yesterday I received a $20 off $50 which was a miracle for me since I didn't really go crazy with the 20% off sale but I really wanted to get more of the Korres lip butters because my lips are always chapped :(.  I saw this awesome set on sephora's website which was three lip butters and four body butters for $34 USD but I told myself that I could never find that set in Canada since its always the states that always get the awesome stuff.  Long and behold when I went to Metrotown today, TADAAA~

 Since the coupon was $50 off $20 for V.I.B only ($15 off for everyone else), I had to get $50 or above.  Funny thing is this set for Canadians is $49 which is a little bit more expensive then for the Americans across the border but it still is a good deal :). 3 lip butters is already $48 before tax so this is an awesome deal.  I love love love Christmas times since the value sets is always unbeatable.  I was talking to one of the girls that was there and she helped me think of finding something that was only $1 HAHA.  That was hard since everything is $10+.  She's like Oh! You can always get one of these $1 soap pods LOL.  I wasn't going to since I found the Korres Pomegrante cream gel but I didn't want to pay another $50 :/.  I had to let it go but I know I'm going to regret it since that moisturizer sells out fast!

 This set comes with three lip butters: Guava (a clear color), Jasmine (light peachy beige color) and Quince (Rose pink color).  I really can't wait to use these! I absolutely love my mango one but I wanted more variety! Orange on my lips in the winter isn't the best thing, especially when I it always gets to the corner of my mouth and I look like I didn't wipe my mouth after eating a popsicle, not a good look.

 The four body butters that came with this set was Jasmine, Guava, Basil lemon and apple blossom.  I haven't smelt most of them but I did smell a few in the store and I like the clean and crisp nature of these.  They are really moisturizing without being too oily which I love! It reminds me of the Au lait body cream I got from Winners that I have used up already so I've been desperate find some more for ma bodyyyyy! Happy happy happy :)

 I originally was going to get this set since i didn't see the big one I wanted but I knew I wasn't going to be happy with it since this set was $34 and I would have to find something else that i didn't need. I was also crazy enough that I was going to get this, the big kit and the pomegranate cream gel moisturizer.  That would have been $150! Thank god I stopped myself but I remember thinking to myself to just get it so I can get the V.I.B and lock it for next year too :D.  LOL

This was a small haul but it was a big deal to me because I set out just to get these things and the hello kitty collection items  :D. I just got another coupon too for the $15 off $50 so I'm guessing the VIB's get two coupons? Do they want me broke? Holy cows!

What was your most favorite value sets? Did you buy it or are you still waiting for the right moment?

Sephora V.I.B 20% off sale haul

I know that a lot of people know that the past weekend was the sephora V.I.B sale that happens only once a year.  Most people take complete advantage of this sale and so did I but i kept in mind that i wanted to go all out for Boxing day sales so i restricted myself.

 I honestly was going to get only the sugar lip treatments but the set of six for $58, but the impulse and hoarder inside of me just keep walking around in the store and kept picking up things I didn't need but only want just to secure my next year 20% off V.I.B status.  I believe that all V.I.B that went in that weekend to buy anything would receive their reusable Sephora bag.  I read only that a lot of people were dissapointed since last year they got umbrellas.  I'm not going to complain because this is the first time I got to be a V.I.B so whatever :), still got a cool bag.

 Ughh i still droll over this set but I knew I couldn't even finish using one of these in a month! Look at all those pretty colors! I know that when summer hits, I'm going to get that coral shade (maybe if i ever finish my Korres lip butter in Mango).

 I thought that the set of six was the only value set so I was quite pleased there was a smaller trio set.  So i just picked this one up just to be more sensible and the fact that i didn't want to spend almost $60 for lip balms LOL.  I can get frugal sometimes I know.

 This set comes with the colors berry, Honey and passion.  I'm most excited to use the Honey color since it looks like a really nice nude browny color, my favorite!  I haven't tried the other two but I think it would be somewhat the same thing as Rose which I got for free from Sephora's free birthday present. Got this set for $25.60 after discount.

I finally picked up the beauty blender! I know I know, this has been out for decades and I never really got into the whole WHOO EGG SHAPED BLENDER! I was a little bit hesitant on getting this since it is $26 for a little sponge but I decided why not since I do have 20% off :D.  I used it the other day and I have to say I really love it! I couldn't believe my eyes but this little egg thing actually makes my skin look flawless! I'm no longer scared of using foundations since foundations usually make me look dry but not anymore! I also picked up the solid soap for this for $8 (original price $10) which smells really herbally and clean,  Works quite well but I will also have to try cleaning the egg with regular soap too. 

 Isn't this boring? Got a duo eyelash glue which I would NEVER use all of.  I had to throw the tube away from about three years ago that which I never even made a dent in the tube.  One thing I really don't like is the smell! It smells like stinky plastic :/.  I thought it was just my old tube but the new tube smells the same too.  Yuck!  Doesn't really matter since I don't use false lashes that much but this is nice to have :).

The sephora girl gave me a small sample size of the NARS eye make up remover which was really sweet of her :D.  I didn't even notice that she gave me a sample since it was hiding under the bag.  I noticed two days later when I went back into my bag to take these pictures. I'm happy since I can leave this in my purse, I always needed some make up remover on the go anyways!

I think I did okay for an impulse and hoarder that i am.  I spent $75 after tax so I think I did okay.  I was walking around the store and picked up the Cinderella mirror that i liked for $26, another Korres lip butter in guava, sephora deluxe face sample for $57, benefit porefessional for $18? and the little benefit sampler for $47.  Yea needless to say, i got myself under control in girl paradise.  

What did you guys buy in the sale? Did other people get their 15% off yet or is that later on?